iStock/Thinkstock(LONDON) -- The death toll from an explosion in an apartment building in rebel-held northwestern Syria has risen to 69, including 17 children, a monitoring group said on Monday.



The explosion happened on Sunday morning in the town of Sarmada, when a weapons depot in the basement of an apartment building detonated, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Most of the residents in the building had been displaced from Syrias Homs province, the organization said.



Fifty-two of those killed were civilians, including 17 children, and the rest were mostly rebel fighters, the monitoring group said.



The White Helmets, a Syrian search-and-rescue group, gave a slightly lower toll, saying 67 people were killed and another 37 injured in the explosion. The group said the explosion destroyed two buildings and that the search-and-rescue operation took 22 hours.

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A: Weve been in business 20 years, as of Aug. 1. Weve been in Oak Park the whole time; we just moved six doors east. After 20 years in business, the business profile changed. We started doing more and more print, and we needed the space for that.  We opened in the new space July 31. Aug. 1 was our 20-year anniversary, and I wanted to be in this new space on Aug. 1. The square footage is larger in this space. We had 1,200 square feet, and now we have 1,785 square feet. We share the building with the McCarthy Eye Center.  We do banners, business cards, fliers, Every Door Direct Mail. Were like an extension of a small business. About five years ago, we started marketing to funeral homes, for obituaries and prayer cards. We found that niche.
Iran is "categorically" rejecting a report by UN experts which says al-Qaida's leaders in Iran "have grown more prominent" and have been working with the extremist group's top leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, to influence events in Syria.

The report quoted unnamed UN member states saying the Iranians and al-Zawahiri countered the authority of the leader of an al-Qaida-linked group and caused "formations, breakaways and mergers of various al-Qaida-aligned groups in Idlib" in rebel-held northwestern Syria.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said on Tuesday that he intends to look further into the reasons why the prominent Jewish-American critic of Israel, Peter Beinart, was detained for an hour on Monday evening after landing at Ben Gurion Airport by Shin Bet agents for political questioning.

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Mandelblit launched the probe on the matter following public criticism leveled against the Shin Bet in the aftermath of the incident, despite apologies by the agency and by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for what was described as an administrative mistake. Mandelblits inquiry also came in response to appeals by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

Judicial sources noted that Shin Bet rules specifically outline the importance of the agency for the preservation of democracy in Israel, but emphasized the need for proportionality and the fact that its discretion does not include involvement in political discourse.

AG Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Yair Sagi)

The Association for Civil Rights appealed to the High Court of Justice (HCJ) in 2013 against the authority of the Shin Bet to question social and political activists under caution.

A year-and-a-half ago, HCJ judges determined that the questioning by the Shin Bet of such activists does fall within its remit, but also laid down binding rules on the matter.

Two weeks ago, the Association for the High Court of Justice filed an appeal due to two incidents in which people were stopped and questioned under caution.

The association demanded that the Shin Bet observe standard procedures and instructions provided by the judges regarding the exceptional cases who determined that the Shin Bet was authorized to hold discussions under caution only.

At the same time, the association also approached Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber and the legal advisor to the Population Authority asking them to instruct border control inspectors that they do not have the authority to detain Israeli civilians entering Israel at the request of the Shin Bet or for any other reason. They also asked that they be told that the only legal justification for detaining foreigners would be ensuring that they are lawfully entering Israel.

Attorney Col. Liron Libman (res.), a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute and a former head of the IDF's international law department said after the Beinart incident that a distinction must be drawn between questioning to prevent terror and ensuring security on planes, and questioning people who oppose the policies of the state of Israel.

Peter Beinart

Delegitimization is denying the State of Israels right to exist, not a protest against this or that policy by the government, he said.

The officials who say that we need to fight against the phenomenon of delegitimization are PR officials. The authority of the Shin Bet and its resources cannot be used to deal with issues that do not constitute a real threat to security, he continued, adding that the events involving Beinart require a clarification and new thinking about the Shin Bet policy and the parts of its authority in dealing with issues such as these in Israel.

Beinart published an article in the Forward entitled I was detained at Ben Gurion Airport because of my beliefs after the incident.

We flew to Israel for my nieces Bat Mitzvah, where I was detained and interrogated about my political activities at Ben Gurion airport, Beinart wrote.
Hezbollahs Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday that his organization is in a stronger position than ever since its founding, and is stronger than the Israeli army.

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Delivering a speech at an annual event under the banner of July Victory of 2016 celebrating 12 years since the Lebanon-based terror organization held its last military conflict with Israel in the Second Lebanon War, Nasrallah said: Twelve years have passed since the victory and we continue to celebrate this event.

Twelve years Israel has threatened to go to war. At the same time, it talks about the strengthening of the resistance in Lebanon, Nasrallah said his his speech that was broadcast on a big screen at the ceremony, which took place in al-Janubiyya, a suburb in Beirut.

Hassan Nasrallah delivers speech

Let me tell you: We are not the strongest army after the Israeli army in the region. Hezbollah is even stronger than the Israeli army, the secretary-general bragged.

We are totally confident in our faith today. We are ready to sacrifice a lot more than their army, we are confident in our victory more than any other time, he continued.

Nasrallah also addressed the civil war taking place in Syria in which his organization has been bogged down participating in the fighting on behalf of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

In a few more days we will also celebrate in al-Karmel the first anniversary of the liberation from terror organizations. With Allahs help, we will soon emerge victorious, also in the bigger regional campaign. Victory is near, Nasrallah declared.

The terror organization's leader also told his listeners that Israel was responsible for the Syrian civil war and was exploiting its continuation to gain strength in anticipation of the next war with Hezbollah.

For the last seven years the entire region has been at war with the aim of strengthening Israel. Everything is done for it and serves it, he claimed.

Crowds at the event in Lebanon

Israel and the United States, he said as he continued his tirade, knew that they were doomed to lose in any future war, just as they had done so in every other war so far. No one scares us away from wars. Anyone who wants war: Theyre welcome.

Nasrallah also praised Iran, which arms and funds his organization in its proxy war against Israel, describing it as the power base of the path of resistance.

It stood by Syrias side in the struggle, stood by Lebanon, Palestine and Gaza. Its position is also clear regarding what is happening in Yemen and in the region. So what did they do? They imposed sanctions in order to make the Iranian people overthrow the regime, Nasrallah theorized.

However, the Hezbollah leader insisted that the pictures flowing out of Iran are not an accurate portrayal of the situation in the country. According to the information in my hands, there is no truth to the idea that the Iranian people will topple the regime. This is an illusion. Iran is stronger today than any other force in the region, he claimed.

Returning back to Israel, Nasrallah said that the country had clearly been deterred by virtue of the resistance.

They established a completely new strategy for the Israeli army, appointed a new chief of staff and conducted maneuvers, Nasrallah said as he offered evidence of his statements.

What are the maneuvers for? They are because they know that in Lebanon there is a force that constitutes a big threat for them which preoccupies them, he argued.

Israel is hiding behind the fence. For the first time in Israels history, it is formulating a defensive plan for a campaign in the Galilee, not in south Lebanon. That is what we see in the maneuvers it carries out.

Nasrallah also cited a senior Israeli officer who he said described Hezbollah as the strongest army in the Middle East after the IDF.

Israel in 2018, and I repeat my words: The resistance in Lebanon, with the weapon at its disposal and its abilities, its expertise, its belief and its bravery, is in the strongest position since its founding, he reiterated.

The opposition and rebels in Syria, he said, referred to Israel as friends and it hoped that Damascus would be a friendly capital for it. (Israel) predicted that Assad would fall, that the Syrian army would collapse. Israel hoped that the world would recognize its sovereignty in the Golan Heights after the Syrian regime collapsed. All these hopes have gone.

Everyone is now standing in line today to renew diplomatic relations with Assad. They dont recognize Israels sovereignty over the Golan Heights, he said before ending his remarks on Gaza.

Gaza has not surrendered despite the ineffectiveness of the world. Gaza is detached from the world, subjected to a siege, and Israel is still limited in how it can deal with it. They (Hamas) have succeeded in forcing on Israel an equation whereby a bombing will be met with a bombing.
The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said on Tuesday his group was stronger than ever and would "very soon" celebrate victory in Syria, where it has been fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad.

Nasrallah was speaking on live television to mark the anniversary of a 2006 war it fought with Israel, which regards Iran as its biggest foe and Hezbollah as the top threat on its borders.

"The resistance in Lebanon today, in its possession of weapons and equipment and capabilities and members and cadres and ability and expertise and experience, and also of faith and determination and courage and will, is stronger than at any time since its launch in the region," Nasrallah said.
White House national security adviser John Bolton will meet Russian officials in Geneva next week as a follow-up to the summit meeting that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had in Helsinki last month, the White House said.

Bolton, as part of his trip, will also visit Israel and Ukraine for meetings with officials in those countries, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.
The uproar over the Nation-State law is outrageous and is symptomatic of a country that is sleepwalking into a future bereft of any national identity. According to those who wish to see it overturned, the law allegedly encroaches on, or caters for the infringement of, the rights of minorities, it engenders friction and divisions and it is particularly offensivealmost ungratefulto the Druze population whose sons serve loyally in the Israel Defense Forces.

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The reports in the media and the thousands of protesters in the streets would have us believe that Israels extremist right-wing government is embarking on a path reminiscent of 1930s Germany. These are abhorrent not only because of their odious comparison, but because they contain not a shred of truth.

No doubt, a substantial number of these people are constantly seeking to join the bandwagon against the current government and slam anything that it does.

Doubtless too, they have not actually read the text of the Nation-State Law. A cursory glance at some of the key clauses should suffice to silence what is essentially a group of people who, if Israels existence were to be re-declared today, would opt for the abolition of any references whatsoever to a Jewish state from the countrys fundamental tenets.

The land of Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people, in which the State of Israel was established, so reads the opening of the law. The opponents are simply aghast at the notion that a sovereign Jewish state would dare to enshrine in law that it is a Jewish state.

The State of Israel is the national home of the Jewish people, in which it fulfills its natural, cultural, religious and historical right to self-determination, the law continues. Critics are outraged that this clause fails to mention specifically that the state is also the home of Christians, of Druze, of Muslims and every other religion and that it fulfills their respective natural, cultural, religious and historical right to self-determination.

It certainly is that to those who live in Israel and this notion is enshrined in other laws which will be discussed below. However, the very raison detre for Israels existence was to fulfil the national aspirations of the Jewish people. While that was never to be at the expense of other minorities and Israels establishment, it was also never about creating anything other than a Jewish state which also protects its minorities.

The right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people. This is perhaps one of the most controversial clauses, yet such controversy is without cause. The fear-mongering interpretation is that this law infringes on rights of other minorities to self-determination; but the essential word in the clause is unique, rather than restricted or limited.

Protest against Nation-State Law in Rabin Square (Photo: Tal Shahar)

Other minorities within the state certainly have the right to exercise self-determination, but there is a unique aspect as it pertains to the Jewish people. For a reason which is beyond baffling, the laws opponents are loath to acknowledge this and seem hellbent on ensuring that it is not enshrined in law.

Yet ironically, it is many of those same opponents who are the first to criticize the current government for pursuing what they argue are land policies that are dragging Israel into a self-defeating future in which the country will sooner or later lose its Jewish demographic majority. Is this not a racist idea, too? That Jews should actually dare to strive to ensure that they remain a majority? Why should they be entitled to an automatic majority? What gives them the right? Why should Palestinian refugees and their descendants not be afforded the right to return too? And yet, the laws detractors know full well why. They, too, wish to preserve a Jewish future in the Jewish state, but openly admitting in this context of the Nation-state Law has become anathema to the extreme liberal dogma to which they subscribe.

Nobody, and nothing in the current law, should raise fears among anyone regarding individual rights, especially not the Druze population, who are a cherished minority and whose reaction has been entirely blown out of proportion. The encouragement they have been given by some on the Zionist Left is shameful. This is not and never has been a Druze state. Nor is it a Christian or Muslim one. It is the nation-state of the Jewish peoplea Jewish state which safeguards the rights of its minorities as equals.

The following clause in the law demonstrates that Israel does ensure religious tolerance and respect. The Sabbath and the festivals of Israel are the established days of rest in the state; Non-Jews have a right to maintain days of rest on their Sabbaths and festivals; Details of this issue will be determined by law.

Then there is the section of the law that addresses the use of Arabic in the public domain. By changing it from an official language to one of special status, the reaction that it has evoked would have any stranger believe that Netanyahu has just ordered a state-sanctioned assault against Arabic speakers.

But the truth lies in the text itself:

A. The states language is Hebrew.

B. The Arabic language has a special status in the state; Regulating the use of Arabic in state institutions or by them will be set in law.

C. This clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect.

Once again, just as many argue that Israel, as a sovereign state, has the right to determine its own borders, its own capital and own destiny, so too does it have the right to determine its official language. Arabic does not have to be elevated to be more than a special-status language. Due to traditions and history of the country, recognizing it as a special language seems appropriate. It is, however, deserving of being awarded official language status in Israel no more than it is in the UK or any other European country. Nobody is calling for the persecution of Arabic speakers and here, point C in the section above should be kept in mind.

There are, throughout the law, multiple references to the Jewish people and heritage. Practically every clause contains an emphasis on the promotion of Jewish nationality, religion, heritage, culture, history and language. Every one of them, which is already practiced de facto, could be labelled as racist by the laws opponents. Yet if that is true, the very essence of Israels foundation should be cast onto the trash heap of history and mourned as a racist epoch in the Jewish journey.

On Saturday night, dozens waved Palestinian flags at a mass demonstration against the law in Rabin Square. Those people are against Israels existence in any form. The more moderate Israelis and Jews who attended the rally cannot, of course, be placed in the same category, but their actions and excessive criticism does provide ammunition for Israels staunchest enemies, both within the country and abroad.

If Israel were re-declared today, this group would eschew the right of return as another racist stain on Israels blue and white flag of Zionism. This group would undoubtedly rally in Rabin Square alongside Druze and other minorities and call for the erasing of any mention of the Jewish spirit is yearning deep in the heart in the national anthem. The verse To be a free people in our land would be subject to constant critical analysis of what people and what is meant by our land.

While this can be dismissed as conjecture, we are seeing much of it take place before our very eyes. Even people whose stated love for Israel are now allowing themselves to be misled by a fashionably extremist progressive ideology, resulting in their taking for granted the precious gift of a Jewish state that was bestowed upon us by our forefathers and paid for in blood. Sadly, questions can still be heard over whether Israels national anthem is inherently racist

What the critics fail to understand is that rabid Israel-haters such as the UKs Jeremy Corbyn would propound identical arguments designed to chip away at Israels legitimacy and brand it as a racist state. These are the very same assertions as those being articulated by Israelis opposing the Nation-State Law. Perhaps this is uncomfortable for some to acknowledge, but it is the truth.

After all, with this in mind, how then can Corbyn be accused of being an anti-Semite for refusing to adopt the clause in the international working definition of anti-Semitism which reads thus:

Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.?

The Nation-State Law is no more than a codified expression of Zionism and its fundamental principles. If that is racist, Jeremy Corbyn and his cronies are either not anti-semites or the official definition of anti-Semitism is erroneous and Corbyn is right to reject it. Perhaps worse, many in Israel are unwittingly leaving themselves open to the accusation by Israel's enemies that they too are anti-Semitic by their own standards. The onus falls on the Nation-States critics to choose.

The fact is that Israel has anchored full civil rights in its declaration of independence, in the law of Acquisition of Israeli Nationality, in the Protection of Holy Place Law, in Basic Law- Human Dignity and Liberty. As is a common trend in modern Jewish history, too many Jews in Israel are bending over backward to demonstrate their own so-called egalitarian values at the expense of those which gave rise to a flourishing free Jewish state.

Questioning Prime Minister Netanyahus motive is one thing and asking why now is a legitimate political debate, but claiming that the Nation-State Law is a toxic and racist concoction by the Right places you not in the Zionist Union camp, but firmly in the Corbyn camp. It makes you an easy tool for a rebuttal by people who are vehemently pedalling an anti-Semitic mantra under the guise of anti-Zionism.
Friday's canoe launched on Lake Michigan may be the first Native American canoe launch in more than a century: 'The spirits who live on this lake, they know who we are. Were not strangers here.'
The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) revealed on Monday that house sales in Pilbara region had increased significantly during the June quarter this year.

Tthe improvement was headlined by an increase in sales activity in Karratha and Port Hedland, up by 24.7% and 16.1%, respectively. Annual sales in both spots also rose, with Karratha ticking up 41.2% and Port Hedland seeing an improvement of 5.2%.

As a result of these sales increases, home listings dropped accordingly, as 27.4% fewer properties for sale were recorded in Karratha compared to the June 2017 quarter, while Port Hedland saw a 32.3% drop.

REIWA President Hayden Groves said that that Pilbara region is currently in a position to encourage healthy competition in the market.

With sales activity increasing significantly this quarter, listing stock in the Pilbara region is now being absorbed at such a rate that theres genuine competition amongst buyers for quality properties.

The report also highlighted the stabilisation of house prices in Karratha and Port Hedland. Karrathas median house price is expected to settle at $315,000 for the June 2018 quarter, while Port Hedlands median house price should sit at $205,000.

Interestingly, both median house prices have performed well over the last year, with minimal changes in either price.

Groves is convinced that the region will continue to register positive results and contribute to economic development moving forward.

The Pilbara region is one to watch over the next 12 months. The announcement of three new mining projects in the region by BHP, Rio Tinto and FMG has gone a long way to restoring confidence in the area, he said. These new projects are expected to create 20,000 local jobs in the 2018-19 financial year, which will support population growth in the region and improve demand for housing in the area.

Its no secret the Pilbara regions housing market was greatly affected by the WA market downturn. However, the June 2018 quarter results are very encouraging and indicate the Pilbara region is finding its feet again.

Related stories:

Billions Of New Investments Are Seen To Lift Karratha Property Market

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Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom.

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The owners of the Fricke Farm property  among them Bruce Fricke, William Fricke and Dawn Fricke  along with CalAtlantic Homes of Indiana, filed the suit in Lake Superior Court Aug. 8 seeking to overturn the commissions decision to deny the 212-lot subdivision planned for the southwest corner of 109th Avenue and Iowa Street. Part of Edgewater, plans for the farms development were originally conceived in 2014 but fell through; CalAtlantic Homes picked it up.
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US to look at climate emissions from oil and gas lease sales

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  The Biden administration announced Friday that industry regulators for the first time have begun analyzing greenhouse gas emissions from federal oil and gas leases on a national

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Acacia Mining plc, together with its subsidiaries, mines, processes, and sells gold in Africa. The company has three gold mines in north-west Tanzania, including Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi, and North Mara; and a portfolio of exploration projects at various stages of development in Tanzania, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Mali. It also produces co-products, such as copper and silver. The company was formerly known as African Barrick Gold plc and changed its name to Acacia Mining plc in November 2014. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Acacia Mining plc is a subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation.

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Westpac Banking Corp. engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Bank, Business Bank, BT Financial Group (Australia), Westpac Institutional Bank, Westpac New Zealand and Group Businesses. The Consumer Bank segment covers consumer banking products and services under the Westpac, St. George, BankSA, Bank of Melbourne and RAMS brands. The Business Bank segment involves in sales and customer service of small-to-medium enterprise, commercial and agribusiness customers under the Westpac, St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA brands. The BT Financial Group (Australia) segment manages wealth and insurance division. The Westpac Institutional Bank segment delivers a range of financial services to commercial, corporate, institutional, and government customers. The Westpac New Zealand segment comprises sales and service of banking, wealth, and insurance products for consumer, business, and institutional customers. The Group Businesses segment treasury which is responsible for the management of the Group's balance sheet, group technology which includes functions for the Australian businesses, and core support which covers

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The Ghana Education Service (GES) recruits new staff each academic year to ensure smooth operations in public schools. Like any other academic year, the agency is recruiting new staff this year. What are Ghana Education Service recruitment requirements and application procedures for the vacant positions?

Ghana Education Service logo. Photo: @ges.gov.gh

Source: Facebook

The GES vacancies are open to all Ghanaians. However, its worth noting that you can only apply for posts you are qualified to hold. Otherwise, you will be wasting your money, effort, and time. Here is the current news about GES recruitment, available positions, and application procedure:

Ghana Education Service recruitment categories

GES recruitment can be divided into the following categories:

Teaching staff : These are the people directly involved in tutoring students in schools.

: These are the people directly involved in tutoring students in schools. Non-teaching staff: Support staff for teachers. These people do not teach students.

GES recruitment for graduate teachers

The agency is currently accepting applications from graduate teachers. Here are the various details you need to know about job requirements, application procedures, and what documents you should have.

GES graduate recruitment requirements

You should have the following minimum prerequisites before applying:

You must have a Bachelors Degree in Education.

You should also have completed the National Service Training.

A Teacher Licensure Examination certificate is mandatory.

You must be prepared to work in any part of Ghana where GES decides to post you.

Priority is given to applicants with high-demand subjects such as Early Childhood, French, TVET, and Sciences. This should not discourage you from applying.

You will not be shortlisted if you do not meet any of the GES recruitment requirements. You will need the following documents:

Your birth certificate

Junior high certificate (BECE)

Senior high certificate (WASSCE)

NTC certificate

TIN or SSNIT number

GES recruitment of university graduates procedure

Follow the following steps to declare your candidature:

1. Buy a voucher: The voucher costs GHC. 5. Use the following procedure:

Go to the promotions portal: Use the official address.

Use the official address. Tap Click to Buy: Once the website fully loads, you will see this button under the eVoucher Card Tab. Click on it.

Ghana Education Service recruitment procedure. Photo: @ges.gov.gh

Source: Facebook

Select the type of voucher: This should be an application eVoucher, which costs GHC. 5.

This should be an application eVoucher, which costs GHC. 5. Select your mobile money network: This could be either Vodafone, Tigo Cash, Airtel Money, and MTN Mobile Money.

This could be either Vodafone, Tigo Cash, Airtel Money, and MTN Mobile Money. Specify your phone number: Type in your ten-digit correct phone number and move to the next step.

Type in your ten-digit correct phone number and move to the next step. Enter your email: Ensure it is correct as you will use it to log in to the portal.

Ensure it is correct as you will use it to log in to the portal. Click Submit: Wait for the transaction to be approved. As you do so, go to your mobile wallet and approve the transaction.

If the procedure was successful, you will receive an SMS containing your voucher code.

2. Start the application: Go to the "Graduates Recruitment" tab and tap on the green button below to start your application.

3. Log into your account: User your eVoucher code and email to do so.

4. Fill in your personal details: You will be asked for your age, name, address, contacts, nationality, languages, and so forth. Make sure you enter the details correctly.

5. Fill in your academic details: List all the qualifications you have, your teaching experience, and so forth.

6. Specify your subject preferences: Choose your first, second, and third subject preferences. You should only select these based on what you studied.

7. State your non-teaching experience: If you have previously worked in any industry not related to teaching, be sure to list that under this section.

8. Choose your preferred posting area: You should choose your first choice, second and third. These are the areas where GES will consider posting you if your application is successful.

9. Provide your NSS number: If you have done the Licensure Exams, then type in the NSS code you were given upon completion.

10. Submit the form: Confirm whether you have entered the correct details. If yes, then click on the Submit button.

If your application was a success, you should see a pop-up message telling you so.

Ghana Education Service recruitment of non-teaching staff

The GES agency is also recruiting non-teaching staff to fill vacancies in the newly created regions. The following vacancies are available:

School health education programme coordinator Special education coordinator Guidance and counselling coordinator Science technology mathematics innovation education coordinator Technical, vocational education and training coordinator Second cycle coordinator Basic school coordinator Early childhood coordinator Girl child coordinator Sports coordinator Culture coordinator Educational management information system officer Human resource manager Budget officer Planning officer Inspectorate Training officer Administrator Supply officer Public relations officer

Requirements

Ghana Education Service recruitment certification. Photo: @ges.gov.gh

Source: Facebook

You should fulfil the following prerequisites:

Be a graduate professional teacher.

If not, you should be experienced with school administration.

Having a second degree is an added advantage.

You must have satisfactory work experience.

Application procedure

Use the following steps:

Acquire application copies from the municipal or district officers. Fill in the forms. Attach the needed certificates. Attach a passport in all four forms. Support your application with your head's appropriate staff performance appraisal form. You will need photocopies of your confidential report, current payslip, and your recent promotion letter.

Application deadlines

Make sure you submit your application with all the needed documents to your regional director by October 4th this year.

GES contacts

In case you have any questions or you experience technical difficulties, reach out to the GES support team via the following details:

Toll-free help-line : 0800-900-101

: 0800-900-101 Send us a quick message on Facebook:

The above are the available Ghana Education Service recruitment vacancies. Use the procedures stated in each category to apply.

Yen.com.gh shared a step-by-step guide on how to use UEW student portal. The portal contains exclusive academic databases that are readily accessible for both prospective and continuing learners.

Through the portal, new and continuing learners can now inquire, register, pay fees, and access all vital information concerning their academics. UEW scholars can now achieve their academic goals from the comfort of their homes.

Source: Yen Ghana
Life, rightly described as a comedy for the rich, has proven not to be as favorable to the poor. And in all of ours, there will come moments when we are faced with difficulties that seem overwhelming.

For the purposes of a middle-aged man, Wisdom, overwhelming" takes on a whole new meaning when that difficulty is the fruit bore from the conscious effort of a group of persons to make the life of another miserable, simply because they can afford to do so - the rich oppressing the poor, simply because they can.

Wisdom's story is one that overwhelms and saddens at the same time; a riveting series of events that left one wondering and in shock.

READ ALSO: I have shamed my critics - Nana Addo

It is a story that hit me as better suited to a movie script than to reality. And as he sat solemn and head-bowed, recounting it to me I couldnt help but feel like the audience of a man telling of chapters of a horror that he would rather have put behind him, quickly.

Left to Wisdom, the torture would have ended over a year ago, but unfortunately, his story remained unheard and conveniently forgotten. Till now. (Photo: Supplied)

His story is one of an undisguised apathy, exploitation, and injustice that started with a gut-wrenching accident that would change his life forever. Left to him, the torture would have ended over a year ago, but unfortunately, his story remained unheard and conveniently forgotten. Till now.

According to him, the accident occurred on 28th March 2018 on the premises of International Packing Ghana Limited during his night shift at around 3 am as he went about his duties as a factory-hand for the company.

Speaking to Wisdom as he spoke in Twi with an accent that made him sound Ewe, he said, I was working with a colleague in the company when the machine abruptly stopped so I switched it off in attempt to find out what the problem was.

Unknowingly, my colleague who I thought had gone out to make a call had gone to turn it back on with my hands still in it. I realized it too late and ended up having to yank myself out of the machine.

From his account, Wisdom would have lost more than just an arm if he hadnt reacted swiftly enough. Luckily, he was rushed to the Tema General Hospital immediately after the incident.

He fell unconscious almost instantly and only realized he was in a hospital after he had woken to find his left arm, the greater part at least, mangled beyond recognition or repair.

I had to restrain myself from imagining the scene, even from hindsight, it was one too gory to be beheld. And that is how his wife, Margaret Agyabeng, found him after she had rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news.

Under the circumstances, he knew an amputation was inevitable  and so did his doctor. So according to medical records, he was sedated and put under the knife. And now Wisdom Agyabeng, father, husband, and son who left his family a whole man would return having lost an arm and what would later be a means of living courtesy of a crude accident. But he had not lost hope, not yet  it was all he had left.

In accordance with the extent of his injuries, Wisdom received permission for a four-month leave and a monthly stipend of GH300.00; a measly increase from the GH220.00 he previously earned.

The next couple of months would prove to be perhaps the most challenging of his life. He had now been forced to learn to adapt to his new circumstances fighting through physical and psychological pains left behind by the disaster.

He no longer had the ability to do the menial jobs he did on the side to complement his salary, lamented his wife, who worked as a petty trader, narrated.

Tthe effects of that came hitting hard and fast; what little he received from the company was quickly proving not to be enough to bear up the costs of catering for three children and a wife.

Although she sold cassava and plantain in an attempt to augment the ever-increasing cost of surviving.

His new-earned disability had robbed him of the opportunity to fend for his family in the ways he had always done before. To top it all off, the company only refunded his medical bills after he had paid for them from his salary.

And I find it rather suspicious that the management, headed at the time by a Lebanese known only as Mr. Edgar, expected the cost of medical care after an injury of this degree could be covered by three hundred cedis.

It seemed to be a very convenient way of having the victim himself cut down on medical expenses without having to directly force him to do so.

By all indications, it worked because before long, Wisdom stopped going for his visits to the hospital on account of inability to pay for his medical expenses he told me.

If the constant pain and easy exhaustion he complains of are anything to go by, he is paying dearly for that decision after more than a year in its making.

But his woes were far from over, at the end of the four-month leave a warning came  he had to start work or risk losing his meager pay.

He didnt heed the warning due to health complications and true to their word, he wasnt given a dime that month.

He had no option than to brave through the pain to report for work in the next month.

His bosses deemed it fit, it seemed, to pile insult on injury and they did so with an impudence. The job for which he had been threatened was to have him sit around with the security personnel, an unofficial security guard of sorts.

Although according to him, it was a means of denting his already insufficient funds, even more, having to spend money daily on transportation only so he could sit around all day wondering why he had come in the first place.

If you ask me it was all part of some atrocious strategy to have him quit so they could have an excuse to wash their hands off their duty of compensating him properly.

As it were, was not the first, the last or the worst of the atrocities committed by this Lebanese-owned company against this man. In the weeks following his injury, the company leadership promised to have him fitted with a prosthetic arm which would be billed to the company.

So with that assurance, Mr. Wisdom headed out to the Nsawam Orthopedic Centre where he was dismissed after consultation with reason that he lacked a formal document proving that the said company would foot the bill for the required operation.

READ ALSO: Nana Appiah Mensah finally flaunts his cult group in latest photo?

That was over a year ago, and the company has provided neither the formal document nor refunds of the bill he paid for that consultation.

This story is the first installment in a two-part investigative series produced exclusively for YEN.com.gh by a freelance journalist, Kojo Yorke.

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- Pastor Mensa Otabil says he was not involved in the routine management of Capital Bank

- Mensa Otabil, in a statement, says he has submitted himself for investigations by EOCO

- The Bank of Ghana has revealed telling reports on how managers of UT and Capital Banks caused the collapse of their banks

General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Dr. Mensa Otabil, has finally broken his silence over the collapse of Capital Bank.

In a 9-point press statement, the pastor, who was then the board chair of the bank, argued that his position as board chairman of Capital Bank was a "non-executive role."

Mensa Otabil stated that he was not "involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the Bank."

READ ALSO: Full story of how factory worker at Tema watched his arm chopped off by machine

The pastor further clarified that it was not intended of him to watch the bank collapse. Mensa Otabil clarified that he was only helping a young man (the CEO) who had wanted to change the fortunes of other people through Capital Bank.

Touching on the thousands of workers severely affected by the collapse of the bank, Dr. Otabil revealed that they always remain in his prayers as a pastor.

Below is the full statement of what Mensa Otabil wrote concerning the collapse of Capital Bank:

1. I have observed with concern, the ongoing media discussions regarding developments in the Banking Sector and my role either directly or indirectly.

2. I accepted to be Board Chairman of Capital Bank in a bid to help strengthen a promising Ghanaian enterprise that had potential but also challenges. I was excited about the prospects of a young man from a disadvantaged background who was daring to create opportunities and employment.

3. My position was a non-executive role. I was therefore not involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the Bank.

4. In the course of time, some decisions made turned out well while some did not turn out as well as had been anticipated. As far as I can tell, everything was done with the best of intentions and the interest of various stakeholders in mind.

5. My foremost concern, as has been the case over the past year, is for the well-being of those who lost their jobs and those who may have been adversely affected in any way as a result of these developments. My heart goes out to them and to their dependents. I continue to pray for Gods guidance and sustenance as they navigate the course of their lives.

6. Since the takeover of the bank exactly a year ago today, various mandated state institutions have been investigating and working to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of what happened, why it happened and who was responsible for what. I have been invited by EOCO and I have submitted myself to their processes and answered all their questions faithfully.

7. For some time now, many discussion platforms have made varied references to me and to my perceived role. Some have reached out to me for clarications regarding issues that have been raised. I have preferred not to respond in the public domain, not as an admission of guilt, but out of respect for the due process and the ongoing investigations.

8. Notwithstanding some unforeseen outcomes, I remain resolute in my belief in the Ghanaian and African entrepreneurial spirit. I will, therefore, continue to lend my support and mentorship to inspire others who dare to dream and work towards the promise of Africas growth and transformation.

9. Meanwhile, as a believer in the rule of law, I will continue to cooperate with the mandated institutions of the state as they complete their investigations. I am condent that in the process, the national interest and the rights of all parties involved will be protected.

Background

Seven local banks have all collapsed in the past few months and recent audit reports from the Bank of Ghana has shown that one of the major issued that collapsed these banks were poor decision making.

The defunct bank which has attracted much controversy of late is Capital Bank which had Pastor Mensa Otabil as the board chairman.

Mensa Otabil's wrongdoing so far has been his inability to ensure due diligence in a loan he granted some key players in the collapse of Capital Bank.

Funds raised through the commercial paper issuance by MC Management Services Limited and Breitling Services were used as capitalization for the establishment of the Sovereign Bank Limited.

The Bank of Ghana in its report spotted some red flags including some GHC 27.5 million used for business promotion and handled by a board member; transfers to IFS amounting to GHC 23.9 million, transfers to Nordea Capital amounting to GHc 65 million, and transfers to Alltime Capital amounting to GHC 130 million.

In all this, the General Overseer of the ICGC, Dr. Mensa Otabil assured management that he would ensure the funds were returned by March 2016.

After these damning reports, there have been calls for heads to roll. In fact, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has mounted investigations into the matter.

Calls for Otabil's prosecution

The question that remains unanswered is if Mensa Otabil could face the full rigors of the law should he be found guilty of financial malfeasance.

Amidst the expression of dissatisfaction over the telling reports from the Bank of Ghana is a general call for Mensa Otabil to be prosecuted. According to the Member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, Mensa Otabil must not be left out of any prosecution.

Anyone, including MensaOtabil whos responsible for the current banking crisis must face the music. You cant use the peoples money anyhow. Lets see if this administration has the spine to go after the rich and powerful, he posted via his Twitter handle.

Despite calls for his prosecution, Mensa Otabil seemed to have gained some popularity in social media from supporters and congregants of his church who have expressed their solidarity.

The "I stand with Mensa Otabil" tagline has literally swamped social media as supporters including popular journalists and media personalities.

READ ALSO: I have shamed my critics - Nana Addo

So far, the presbytery of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), has also issued a press statement hailing Mensa Otabil as a man of integrity.

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When the new Samsung Galaxy S7 was released back in March 2016, it was the best smartphone Samsung had ever created. Being the flagship of the company, the model was highly anticipated to boast of the new features in the revolutionizing tech-world. With the Samsung S7 price in Ghana costing an arm and a leg, it was a worthwhile smartphone that wont disappoint. But it has been edged out by the predecessors such as the Samsung S8 and the newly launched Samsung S9.

SOURCE: slickwraps.com

The release of the phone also saw the comeback of the microSD card slot which had been missing in the Samsung S6 and S6 edge. It also packs an amazing design. It also features a dedicated camera with a water-resistant body that has been a crafter from top quality materials. In case you are a Samsung enthusiast, the Samsung Galaxy S7 price in Ghana cedis retails around GHc2, 300 at Jumia and other outlets.

Overview

The good

It has an improved IP 68 waterproof design

It has a fantastic screen and power

Amazing camera experience

MicroSD card slot

The bad

Still anchored on Touchwiz and carrier bloatware

Does not have a user-replaceable battery

Poor quality of speakers

Fingerprint magnet

Samsung Galaxy S7 specification

Network Technology: GSM/ HSPA/ LTE

Status: Available, Released March 2016

Body dimensions: 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 in)

Weight: 152g (5.36oz)

Build: Front/back glass (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum frame

SIM: Single SIM (Nano-SIM)  G930F

Resolution: 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (-577 ppi density)

Multi-touch: Yes

Card slot: MicroSD, up to 256 GB (uses SIM 2 slot)  dual SIM model only

Internal: 32/64 GB, 4 GB RAM

Hardware

SOURCE: samsung.com

Design

The design of the smartphone is worth every cent that you will spend. It has been streamlined to perfection. The manufacturers went to extreme lengths to develop unprecedented hose lines that make a smooth and solid finish. They handpicked the top-quality materials to ensure a redefined look. Both the Samsung S7 and S7 edge have perfected curve lines. The proprietary process in the making of the design was the 3D thermoforming.

Display

Not only are the headlines changes but there are also other mild updates with the Samsung S7. The s7 has a 5.1 in Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560. The Super AMOLED has always been a major highlight of the S-series. It also has a super sharp pixel density of 577 ppi and has a quality that is top notch. It also covers a full 100% of the Srgb color gamut. This assures you a production of a pitch-perfect 0.00cd/m2 blacks and a super high contrast ratio which makes it spectacular.

This maintains a high display even when you are going through web pages, gaming or watching a video. It comes with a peak brightness of 353.74cd.m2, which is lesser brighter than most of the LCD-based smartphones. But when it is switched to Auto brightness, and a torch is shined on the adaptive light sensor, and this will increase to around 470cd/m2. It is the same technique that was harnessed in the S6 hence easier to use the phone when under bright sunshine compared to other Super AMOLED smartphones.

The Always on the Display technology is a common feature in the S-series which displays information such as the time, date and the battery status when the screen has been turned off. This makes it easier to have a glance at the information such as the date and time without necessary turning on the screen. It is also a downer that the widget is less functional like the traditional Android Marshmallow notifications.

The Always on Display feature wont even take much of your batterys life with only a 1% usage of the phones battery life within an hour after being enabled. This is enabled by the feature of the Super AMOLED screen which only illuminates the pixels that are needed to display the information.

Processor, storage and performance

Samsung seemed to have dumped the Qualcomm and its Snapdragon line of the CPUs with the previous model Galaxy S6. The previous chip was the Snapdragons 2015 flagship 810 had a hard time with issues of overheating. This led to the Exynos 7420 of the Samsung-mad silicon which powered the s6. The s7 comes with the powered version of the 8890 which entails eight cores with four running a 2.6 GHz while the remaining four at 1.59 GHz. The duo is paired with a Mali T880 GPU.

It also has a new custom CPU, a powerful GPU with the 4 GB RAM that gives an awesome combination. This makes it smooth to run an app, play games, and stream videos. The CPU is 30% faster than the predecessor Samsung Galaxy S6. The GPU is up to 64% faster than also the S6.

With the microSD support, users are handed the option to extend the storage capacity to suit their needs and preferences. No need to delete files, videos or photos to create space. The Samsung Galaxy S7 dual SIM card slot has also been designed to work out easily for the users. In case of need for more storage, users can insert the microSD and a SIM card. The card also can be used to accommodate two separate lines for your convenience. Users do not also need to bother to switch off the phone to switch the SIM cards.

Battery

Both of the Samsung S7 and S7 edge have a big battery capacity to give you time to stream, listen to music and chat hours on end. The enhanced CPU and GPU assure that the batteries maximize their potential use. According to the tests carried, the S7 can last 15 hours on standby while the S7 edge can last 18 hours. The time that has been indicated is for the video playback with the AOD off. For the actual battery life, their length varies depending on the user.

It also has a fast charging potential. With the big batteries in play, it has the fest charging features to give you freedom from being tethered to an outlet for many hours. The S7 takes 90 minutes to reach full charge while the S7 edge takes up 100 minutes.

The battery life of the S7 gives you an enhanced life of your day to day basis running on the 3,000 mAh battery that is managed on the incredible 17h 48 m in the continuous video playback test with the screen brightness set to the standard 170 cd/m2.

Speaker & call quality

With this phone, you can never go wrong as the call quality is so good that you get to hear the call clearly. When it comes to listening to your downloaded music, the Samsung Galaxy S7 speaker is highly dependable as the music comes out very clearly

READ ALSO: Samsung Galaxy A8 price in Ghana, specs and review

Software

OS & features

The 3D glass was melded with precision for that complete finished look of the metal alloy to make it perfectly seamless and have a strong uni-body. It also comes with a comfortable grip. The grip is due to the dual-curve backs ha have been installed. It has naturally lined that flow from the thin form factor. This assures that when you are handling the device, there is a firm but comfortable grip.

Waterproof devices are becoming a necessity in todays era of smartphones. Samsung made this clear after the inclusion of the water and dust resistance feature to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. This gives users the chance to post for pictures while at the pool or the beach. This is due to the addition of the IP (Ingress Protection) that has an overall rating of 68. The smartphone can be immersed for up to 30 minutes in 1.5 meters of water. These are the awesome Samsung Galaxy S7 features

Camera

The most awesome fact about the camera is with the low light performance. The most iconic photographic moments happen when there is low light. It does not matter whether it is indoors or after sunset. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are packed with a brighter F1.7 lens and a large 1.4 um pixels embedded on the image sensor capture to ensure more light comes from the photos in a sharp and detailed manner.

It also has the dual pixel 12 MP LENS. Every one of the pixels embedded on the image sensor comes with two photodiodes instead of one. This assures that the professional-grade dual pixel sensor focuses quickly as more precisely same as the eyes. It also has a revolutionary focus on each of the every of the single pixel on the Dual Pixel Sensor that is used for the face detection. It also enables the autofocus that is quick and seamless and captures even sudden movements in the act. This is also when the light begins to fade.

The hyperlapse enables users to capture the energy of the city in a precise and professional-grade time lapse. For users with shaky hands, this is compensated by the new Vdis technology with the clearest frames that have been stitched together to offer quality footage each moment.

The quality of the pictures of the S7 and S7 edge has improved. The phone sensor is about 12 megapixels, but due to the f/1.7 aperture, it can also handle the low-light photography with far less distortion. It also has an ever-evolving image processing nets and can make you shoot up o 4K resolution even in lower resolutions up to the 240fps.

Review

SOURCE: samsung.com

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are refined, comfortable, waterproof and expandable. In 2016, the Samsung Galaxy S7 marked the highest tier of the top shelf smartphones to enter the market. It also features the fingerprint magnet which is a fair share of the bloat ware. If you dont mind the few smudges, you can buy Samsung Galaxy S7. It is nice to see the reintroduction of the microSD card slot and the water-proofing feature in the model.

The Galaxy flagships have been at the forefront when it comes to the imaging, and their cameras have always been at the top of their performers in the market. There is a twist of numbers when Samsung such as the uptake of fewer but larger pixels with all 12 million having the capability of phase detection. The lighting fast autofocus was a promise that was kept after the release of the Samsung S7 and S7 edge.

The launch of S8 seemed to have taken the interest from the S7 but not he respect. It has an improved and premium design that takes from the Samsung S6 and adopts new features from the Galaxy S5 that were missing in the Galaxy S6. It is a perfect comeback for both the model and the brand.

READ ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge price in Ghana and review

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are still a handset that deserves its respect even with the intro of S8 and S9. But the price of Samsung Galaxy S7 is too high compared to other prices that deliver the same such as Sony, HTC, and Huawei. The features of Samsung Galaxy S7 such as the fingerprint magnet is an area that needs improvement during manufacturing. With the introduction of the Android Oreo, users can update to the latest version which increases the performance.

It Is a worthwhile phone especially if you a gamer, photographer or an ardent user of tech generally. In case you are wondering how much is Samsung Galaxy S7? Well you will have to dig deep in your pocket to acquire this gadget.

Source: Yen
A renowned US-based Ghanaian lawyer, Professor Kwaku Asare, better known as Kwaku Azar, has taken Pastor Mensa Otabil to the cleaners, with respect to the latter's released statement about the defunct Capital Bank.

The man of God, who is the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), reportedly released a statement in which he sought to defend himself with respect to his role as a non-executive director of the then Capital Bank.

In the statement, he described the circumstances under which he accepted to be the Board Chairman of the Capital Bank, as well as his efforts to ensure that the bank achieved success.

Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare Source: Supplied

READ ALSO: Mahama has no future in Ghana's politics; he is finished - Owusu Bempah

He went on to add that he had been deeply concerned about those who lost their jobs when the Capital Bank was taken over by the GCB Bank.

According to him, he is cooperating with the relevant state agencies to ensure that everything is settled.

This however did not go down well with the law professor who argued that even as a non-executive director, Pastor Otabil was expected to exercise care and diligence in his work.

He added that a violation of the Banking Act and Regulations was enough grounds to establish the culpability of an official of the bank.

Professor Asare concluded by stating that dereliction of duty on the part of a non-executive director is a serious offence, especially in a situation where deposits by customers of the bank are diverted elsewhere.

A cross-section of Ghanaians expressed support for Professor Asares position, as they added their voice to the matter:

In the year 2017, the Central Bank ordered the collapse of the Capital Bank and the UT Bank. The assets and liabilities of both banks were assumed by GCB Bank.

READ ALSO: Bullet reacts to Ebpny's father's claim that he 'stole' money from him

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Adams went in a house and came out a short time later with a gun in his hand and started to swing it toward Hobson, court records state. Hobson said he grabbed Adams arm and pushed him up against the house and got the gun away from Adams, the affidavit states. The two struggled and Hobson said he struck (Adams) with the gun in the head and it fired, according to the affidavit. Hobson told police Adams came back at him and he shot again and saw (Adams) fall to the ground, the affidavit states.
The founder and leader of the Anointed Palace Church (APC), Reverend Obofour, has waded into controversy with recent comments he made about the existence of heaven.

In a video sighted by YEN.com.gh, Obofour was seen preaching to his congregants and suggesting that the concept of heaven may even not be real.

In an obvious pushback at criticisms that pastors have been concentrating too much on preaching prosperity rather than salvation, Obofour stated the best way to sustain salvation is for the 'saved' to do well in life and not face hardships which will force them to go back.

Moreover, the existence of heaven cannot even be verified so it was better for church members to prosper on earth where they can see and feel it.

READ ALSO: Pretty 42-year-old lady dies after being beaten by boyfriend on her birthday (Photos)

For me, I dont know heaven, it is this earth I know. Even if I like I will not believe in heaven. Where is heaven? Do I know there? I have traveled to America, Washington, everywhere but didnt see heaven there, he stated.

Likening Christianity to academic education, Obofour stated that we have not even passed the exams God has set for us on this earth than to think of other things we know nothing about.

"How do you say you want to do your doctorate when you have not even passed your JHS exams?" he questioned.

Obofour further praised Muslims saying their religion is growing faster they love themselves while he condemned the backbiting attitude of the Christians.

READ ALSO: Afia Schwars 4-yr-old daughter shows off beautiful body art in latest photo

Citing an example, he pointed out that his recent purchase of a GHC100,000 Ford Mustang for his nine-year-old daughter has been highly criticised but these same people have refused to acknowledge that he bought car for a thief who once attacked.

"So they are okay with outsiders enjoying and not my family? I should send a taxi driver to go and pick my daughter and ran away with her?"

This is not the first time Reverend Obofour has done something as eyebrow-raising as this one in recent times.

Apart from Obofour reportedly purchasing a car worth a little under GHC 100,000 for his daughter, he recently gave away over 15 cars in his church.

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- Owusu Bempah says he admires NDC general secretary, Asiedu Nketiah, very much

- The prophet says he supports Asiedu Nketiah's political ambitions

- Owusu Bempah had earlier stated he refused a bribe from the NDC

The founder and leader of Founder and leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministry, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, has revealed that Johnson Asiedu Nketiah of the NDC is his close friend.

One would have thought that the controversial general secretary will be the least of Owusu Bempah's choice for friendship but as it stands out, the man of God says they are good friends.

When I heard Asiedu Nketia was contesting for the position again, I was very happy because I think his work is not done. I will pray for him to win. I admire him and he is a good friend, he stated on Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen programme Monday.

READ ALSO: Full story of how factory worker at Tema watched his arm chopped off by machine

Meanwhile, Owusu Bempah, who predicted the victory of Nana Addo during the campaign season, made claims of refusing some gifts from the NDC in the lead up to the 2016 election. He says his rejection of the 1 million dollars together with a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 was basically based on moral grounds.

"Even the NDC offered to give me a V8. They wanted spiritual guidance but I rejected the offer although I also prayed for them," Owusu Bempah revealed in an interview with Okay FM in Accra.

Owusu Bempah was the focal point of prophecies during and after the 2016 elections, due to his prophecies on how Nana Addo will win the 2016 elections.

Meanwhile, the Christian Council of Ghana says the prophecies of doom by the founder of the Glorious Word Power Ministry, are troubling.

Chairman of the council, Rt. Rev. Senyo Agidi bemoaned the manner in which Owusu Bempah has found love in creating fear and panic through his prophecies.

READ ALSO: I have shamed my critics - Nana Addo

Following recent prophecies on the death of Ebony Reigns and the late former vice president, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, the Christian Council has argued that Owusu Bempah should have prayed to avert these prophecies.

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- A Ghanaian woman, Vida Patty Agboletey, has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for defrauding an American citizen

- Together with a Nigerian, Chigozie Awom, they succeeded on taking a number of items as well as money from the victim

- They used fake names to help them carry out the act

A Ghanaian woman, Vida Patty Agboletey, who conspired with an accomplice, Chigozie Awom, to dupe an American has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Information available to YEN.com.gh shows that Agboletey, using the fake name, Elizabeth Cakdwell, teamed up with Awom, who used the name Davis Wingate, to dupe the unidentified American of an unspecified amount of money and other materials, including mobile phones, laptops and digital game.

Awom is alleged to be the mastermind behind the act, whiles Agboletey used her account to receive the monies sent by the victim.

Source: Supplied

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Video of church members carrying a pastor in a chair goes viral

The convict and her partner were, however, unable to withdraw the money because the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) froze the account due to the suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

Apart from the custodial sentence, the court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, sentenced Agboletey to pay a fine of GHC12,000.00 or in default spend 48 months in jail.

EOCO has also been ordered by the court to transmit US$20,000.00 in the convicts frozen bank account at Fidelity Bank.

Awom reportedly met the complainant, who is a flight attendant with US Airways on an online dating site.

The two later established a relationship and Awom began to demand items and money from the American.

He reportedly asked for money and promised to pay back the money after the completion of a purported project in Ghana.

The court, at the end of the trial, found Agboletey guilty of two charges; conspiracy to defraud by false pretenses and money laundering.

READ ALSO: Rev. Obofuor blasts critics in latest video

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Its fair to say it hasnt been a smooth ride for Nana Akufo-Addo since he was voted as President of Ghana some 18 months ago.

From his travels to appointments and to his sackings; everything he does seem to always be in the spotlight.

But what can you expect when you are the first gentleman of a free-speech country like Ghana?

President Nana Akufo-Addo. Source: presidency.gov.gh

READ ALSO: Ghana faces FIFA ban for government interference

Unfortunately for the President, though, he does not always have to speak before he comes under the spotlight.

Sometimes, by the mere fact that his name is mentioned in any controversial statement by another person could also get the media talking.

That is why early this week when Rev. Owusu Bempah claimed that certain appointees of the President are plotting his exit in 2020, it became a matter of public discussion,

The pastor, who many perceive to be a staunch supporter of the ruling NPP, may not have mentioned names but the rumour mail is already in full swing.

READ ALSO: Court throws Ghanaian woman into jail for sakawa

Here are five government appointees who are allegedly plotting Akufo-Addo's defeat in 2020:

1. Alan Kyerematen

Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, is a man who has always competed against Nana Akufo-Addo for the NPPs flagbearership.

In 2008, 2012 and even in 2016 he contested against Nana Addo to become presidential candidate of the NPP but lost on all occasions. He has also often been very quiet, and doesnt speak much on issues of government lately.

2. Mustapha Hamid

Mustapha Hamid is one of the very close persons to President Akufo-Addo, however, having been hit by the recent reshuffle, questions are being raised.

Reports in certain quarters suggest some 'Akyems' within government undermined him as Information Minister and that is believed to be what led to him being reassigned to the Zongo Ministry.

3. Kennedy Agyapong

The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, is one of the most vocal personalities in the NPP.

The maverick lawmaker has constantly criticized his own government on several issues and it is alleged that he is unhappy about some decisions of Nana Addo.

READ ALSO: 5 families Ghanaians are talking about right now

4. Boakye Agyarko

Perhaps the most obvious among the lot, Boagye Agyarkos name has popped up as one of the persons that would allegedly want to see the back of Nana Addo in 2020.

Having been sacked from his post as Energy Minister over the AMERI deal, Agyarko took to social media to respond by saying he will come out with his own version of the story at the right time. What could that mean?

5. Alfred Obeng

Former BOST CEO, Alfred Obeng is another person who makes this list. He was one of the key financiers of Nana Addo's campaign during the 2016 elections.

However, he was recently kicked out for alleged acts of corruption he perpetuated while occupying office as CEO of BOST.

Ghana News Today: Shatta Waly May Become A President Of Ghana | #Yencomgh

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- Owusu Bempah says Mahama will never win the 202 elections

- The prophet says former president Mahama's presidential charisma has waned

- Owusu Bempah had earlier stated he refused a bribe from the NDC

Prophet Owusu Bempah has warned against the return of former president, John Dramani Mahama, as the flagbearer of the NDC ahead of the 2020 elections.

In an interview with Citi FM, the founder and leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministry, Owusu Bempah claimed there is no way Mahama will ever win an election in Ghana.

I hear people saying that President John Mahama could come again. In the spiritual realm, it is not so. Someone can say NDC can win the election but to me, not with former president John Mahama. If they bring Mahama thousand times, he will lose a thousand times. Mahama cant be president again in Ghana, Owusu Bempah revealed.

Already, all ten regional chairmen of the NDC have accented on any resolve by Mahama to lead the party in the 2020 elections.

In fact, the general secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, revealed in an interview with Joy FM that Mahama will definitely contest the 2020 presidential candidate.

The NDC has slated December 7, 2018, to elect a presidential candidate to lead it into the next poll.

Meanwhile, Owusu Bempah has revealed that the Johnson Asiedu Nketiah of the NDC is his close friend.

READ ALSO: Full story of how factory worker at Tema watched his arm chopped off by machine

One would have thought that the sarcastic general secretary of the NDC will be the least political brains will be the least choice for Owusu Bempah but the famous prophet reveals he so much admires him.

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The convention center will need an adjacent 225 room full-service hotel; 400 other rooms within walking distance; and 700 hotel rooms in the immediate area, according to Krueger. He said that the sites also must be near restaurants and shopping so conference attendees have places to go.
I am cautiously optimistic that we are headed in the right direction, he said. Porter County is experiencing the first decrease in drug overdoses in several years. We are just now getting things going in the right direction, and we still have a long way to go to overcome this crisis.
The Puerto Rican government, relying on updated statistics it first reported in June, detailed a $139 billion reconstruction plan and that there were 1,427 more deaths from September to December 2017 than the average for the same time period over the previous four years. The governments official death total is 64.
"BUILD grants, formerly known as TIGR grants, could be mobilized for something like this. Possibly other federal grant opportunities we haven't looked at and the state has become an increasingly proactive economic partner," he said. "As we prove out the physical viability of this option, I think it would also make sense to go back to the state and see if they want to participate too."
Fort Wayne police have said Fernandez was traveling on U.S. 30 at the U.S. 33 interchange when he was involved in an altercation with another driver. Both men stopped along the highway, and the other man exited his pickup truck, went over to Fernandez' car and beat him before driving away.
With all the damage the farmers of today are doing to the planet with all there pesticides, it's really hard for me to really care if the tariffs are taking a few bucks out of there pockets. I used to pull corn out of the bean fields when I was a kid, but know they take the easy way out and use poison to do the trick. Sometimes you get what you ask for, and the easiest way isn't always the right way to get the job done. You have to wonder how many bees there killing and the effects the long-term damage will do to our food supply and our water ways were the damage is staring you in the face as we speak!
One of the ideas for that property was for a hotel, which also included a significant residential component as well as a retail component, Barker said. That project actually got us thinking that, well, once 8000 North got through the process, we ought to start thinking about a hotel as the next logical iteration of development opportunity in downtown Skokie.
As a possible explanation for reluctance to have a priest lead his home parish, Reszel smiled and quoted Mark 6: A profit is not without honor except in his native place, and among his own kin and in his own house.
He was a dedicated father who coached his sons soccer teams for years when he was little, Farren said. And it had been 27, 28 years of being an avid fisherman on Lake Michigan, in Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii. It was the love of his life  next to my mom.
The arcade would cater to children between the ages of 4 and 12 with regular arcade games and redemption games in which winners can get tickets to be redeemed at local businesses, including the toy store, the gelato store and, eventually, other area businesses, according to the request from Hoffmann which went to Winnetka Village Council.
Public Utilities Commission hears concern over nuclear energy

A Colorado Public Utilities Commission hearing was held at the El Pueblo Museum Oct. 28 where activists opposed the possibility of a nuclear power plant.
The scale of Chinas urbanization over the past four decades is a staggering feat in human history.

In 1978, the year in which China started its policy of reform and opening-up, the urban population was just over 171 million  17.9 percent of the total population. In 2016, the urban population was nearly 783 million  56.8 percent of the total population.

However, history is still in the making as the countrys urban population is on course to hit the one billion mark by 2030.

The government is taking a leading role in supporting this urbanization. One of the primary reasons for this is because research shows that a countrys urbanization level is correlated with its level of economic growth.

The city cluster plan

Of the 19 city clusters, the central government has prioritized three of them to become world-class clusters by 2020. These three clusters, in the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, will be the most innovative and internationally competitive of all the clusters, and thus drive national economic development.

The other 16 clusters will have relatively less economic clout. These other 16 clusters can be classified into eight medium-sized and eight small-sized clusters.

Medium-sized clusters each comprise about 3 to 9 percent of national GDP and focus on driving regional economic development. Meanwhile, each small-sized cluster is equal to or less than 2 percent of GDP and focus on driving provincial economic development.

It is likely that two of the eight medium-sized clusters, the Yangtze Mid-River cluster and the Chengdu-Chongqing cluster, will eventually graduate to join the ranks of the three world-class city clusters.

Furthermore, the combined economic contribution of the countrys clusters is astounding.

In 2015 Chinas 11 largest city clusters accounted for one-third of the countrys population and two-thirds of its economic activity, according to the Asian Development Bank. Meanwhile, The Economist reports that the 19 city clusters account for nine-tenths of the countrys economic activity.

Although each cluster is ambitious in its own right, the government plans to link the clusters along two-horizontal and three-vertical corridors. The two horizontals are the Land Bridge Corridor in the north and the Yangtze River Corridor; the three verticals are the Coastal Corridor, the Harbin-Beijing-Guangzhou Railway Corridor, and the Baotou-Kunming Railway Corridor.

To extend the international influence of China and its clusters, one of the horizontal corridors and one of the vertical corridors will be linked to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Yangtze River Corridor will be linked to the land Belt section, while the Coastal Corridor will be linked to maritime Road section.

Reasons for the city clusters

Although city clusters are not unique to China, the sheer scale of the governments ambitions for city clusters are beyond those of any other country. The average size of the five biggest clusters in China is 110 million people, which is almost triple the size of Tokyo, the biggest city cluster currently in the world, with a population of 40 million.

Some of the reasons for using city clusters in China are also specifically relevant to the countrys new and current stage of economic development. The government recognizes that the economy is slowing down, and to sustain the economy, it needs to rebalance away from a reliance on export- and investment-led growth, moving towards consumption-led growth.

City clusters and its intended urbanization may help because urban dwellers with higher incomes generally consume more than rural dwellers. Clustering can also increase Chinas productivity and innovation by grouping more firms and increase the size of the labor market.

Well-connected infrastructure and transport facilities are vital to this because the effective size of a labor market is defined by the average number of jobs accessible per worker in less than a one-hour commute.

The integration of clusters with more developed hubs, and less developed peripheral cities, may assist China with its policies of supply-side reforms and high-quality growth. Through clustering, resources will be reallocated from bigger cities to smaller cities.

This will allow smaller cities, which tend to be at earlier stages of industrialization, to move up the value chain and away from heavy polluting industries, while bigger cities can move further up the value chain by focusing on innovation and the Made in China 2025 industrial strategy.

The free trade zones (FTZs) will also assist the bigger cities in attracting more innovation-based investment.

Question marks around the city clusters

Due to the size of the clusters, each cluster will require effective coordination involving different levels of government.

The plan is for central government to be more responsible for inter-provincial coordination, while provincial governments will be more responsible for intra-provincial coordination.

However, there are concerns that cluster-wide coordination will be difficult, especially in the short run. One of the main causes for concern is that there is a tradition of municipal and provincial governments competing for projects and investment opportunities. More regional governance is therefore needed.

In the case of the Yangtze River Delta cluster, for example, the authorities of Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui agreed on a three-year action plan for 2018-2020, and launched the Collaborative Advantage Fund to manage resources.

Some sceptics also think that the governments plans are unrealistic. For example, there are concerns that the labor market of each cluster will not actually be as populous as planned because high-speed train stations are usually far from city centers, which means travel between cities in a cluster can be more than one hour.

Further, the government has only completed plans for 12 clusters  the remaining plans expected by 2019. Even the exact number of clusters is not clear  some sources report that planning could be extended to as many as 22 clusters.

Despite these concerns, China has a record for historical development achievements, and achieving these records in its own unique way. One only has to look at Chinas urbanization over the past four decades.

Although investors should approach clusters with caution and diligence, they should also recognize that clusters should be taken seriously  there are a lot of potential opportunities in Chinas next phase of urban development.
You are here: Arts

Forty-two films will be screened this year at an annual forum celebrating young directors who make Chinese-language films, the event's main organizer said Tuesday.

The China Film Association said the 13th Chinese Young Generation Film Forum would be held between Sept. 12 and 16 in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. The municipal government sponsored the event.

The association's vice president Zhang Hong said the event aimed to foster a new generation of Chinese-language film makers.

The 42 films were selected from hundreds of candidates submitted since the forum called for entries in May. Some of them were produced overseas. The films cover a wide range of genres, including drama, action, thriller, sci-fi, romance and animation.

The organizers said they would take some of the films to screenings overseas to give young directors more international exposure.
Xiamen port in East China's Fujian province will open 10 more cruise routes to economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative in the second half of this year, as part of its broader efforts to bolster ties with them.

"Xiamen port plans to open a total of 15 cruise routes related to the B&R Initiative this year, which is expected to bring about 60,000 tourists in total," said Chen Zhiping, chairman of Xiamen Port Holding Group Co.

"The port will put routes to the B&R economies high on the agenda with an aim of building it into a transportation pivot helping the development of the B&R Initiative," he added.

The move came after Xiamen port launched a cruise route passing through six nations involved in the initiative earlier this year.

The 220.6-meter-long, 30.8-meter-wide cruise liner made a loop and visited attractions in the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Xiamen port, which handled more than 10 million containers over the past year, has moved up to the 14th largest container port globally for the first time.

By now, more than 50 such cruise routes have been opened at the port, accounting for over one-third of its total lines and linking 38 ports across 18 countries and regions.

In the first half of this year, it had already developed five new cruise routes to the B&R economies and has handled more than 21,000 tourists.

Chen noted that the port will also open some themed cruise routes with cultural performances and experiences to attract more people from both home and abroad.

"Fujian is home to many overseas Chinese. By launching themed routes like this, we expect to enhance cultural exchanges through the cruise trips," he added.

Lines related to the B&R economies have become hot tickets as epitomized by their popularity among tourists.

Zhang Haijun, head of cruise business at Xiamen International Cruise Home Port, said many cruise routes passing through B&R countries and regions have been fully booked.

"An increasing number of tourists choose to take tours along the Maritime Silk Road as more people have a deeper understanding of the initiative," he said.

To back such routes, Xiamen port is set to bolster its competitiveness by leveraging latest technologies including cloud computing, wireless communication and unmanned automation.

Jobs like loading, unloading, and stockpiling containers can be completed by automated machines controlled by computers in the terminal's central control room.
World-renowned investor Jim Rogers has told China.org.cn he is not in favor of the decision of President Donald Trump to raise tariffs on Chinese goods, and appealed to both sides to stop the trade war.

The United States announced earlier last week it would start imposing extra tariffs on another US$16 billion worth of Chinese goods from Aug. 23. This follows the move by the Trump administration to impose additional tariffs on US$34 billion of Chinese products starting on July 6.

In a tit-for-tat response, China decided on Aug. 8 to impose the same amount of tariffs on American products, to take effect on the same days as the American actions.

Describing how the business sector would be affected, Rogers said: "The ones subject to tariffs are already seeing price hikes and slower business; but this is just starting. Higher prices, less demand at least partly because of uncertainty."

To force China bow to American hegemony, the Trump administration added further to the tensions in August by threatening to impose a 25 percent tariff on an additional US$200 billion worth of Chinese imports.

However, Rogers, co-founder of the Quantum Fund, described Trump as a serious protectionist, and added: "There is no evidence that any trade war has ever succeeded."

Despite U.S. tariffs, China's exports surged more than expected in July, rising 12.2 percent year-on-year, according to data released on Aug. 8 by China's General Administration of Customs. In particular, China's exports to the U.S. rose 11.2 percent year-on-year, compared with a 12.5 percent increase in June. Meanwhile, China's imports from America grew by 11.1 percent in July, shine.cn reported.

At the same time, imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union and Australia jumped 30.2 percent, 20 percent and 33.7 percent, respectively, possibly suggesting China is trying to find alternative import sources to cope with the fallout from the trade war.

The escalation between the United States and China has also impacted stock markets on both sides. When the market closed on Aug. 2, Chinese stocks were worth a total of US$6.09 trillion, which meant China temporarily lost its status as world's second-largest stock market to Japan, whose shares were valued at US$6.16 trillion. As of today, the Shanghai Composite Index has fallen about 16 percent this year partially due to the continuing uncertainties and frictions in the Sino-U.S. trade relationship.

"The market is down a lot, but so what? This happens all the time in markets," said Rogers, adding he believed the Chinese stock market would rebound when the U.S. market rallies, "since its time for some good news leading to a rally."

However, the Chinese stock market problem is more than just about the trade war. Recently, China's top securities regulator has been making moves to seek more stability. On Aug. 8, The China Securities Regulatory Commission released a statement saying the authorities would continue to deepen listing system reform and positively promote mergers and acquisitions of listed companies. China's share prices then rebounded the next day.

Rogers, a 75-year-old American businessman, has long been optimistic about the Chinese economy and national power. His faith in China has never been swayed by any event. "What has happened in last five months that is so momentous to make me change my mind?" he asked with a laugh.

"There are still bubbles in the U.S. stock market, in some property markets, in some things," he added.

Rogers has visited China as a tourist many times since 1984, including making a motorcycle tour of the vast country in 1988. During that time, he realized that China would be the next great economy and he began to make monetary investments in China in the late 1990s.

He even moved his family from the United States to Singapore to provide his daughters with access to a Chinese environment. Now, he is very bullish about the Chinese agriculture sector.

The Chinese word "weiji" (normally translated as "crisis") is one of his favorites. He understands that, in Chinese, it means disaster and opportunity "are the same thing." So, for the current tensions between the world's two biggest economies, he offers this suggestions: "Be worried. Get prepared. And stop the trade war."
Legal experts are calling for new legislation to enhance privacy protections as soon as possible to better deal with spam and unsolicited text messages as well as identity fraud.

Although telecom and technology companies are prohibited from sending unsolicited advertisements to customers, "there is no rule clarifying what punishments the enterprises will face if they break the rule," said Li Ya, a lawyer with Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm.

"There are no punishments and no deterrents," he said.

Apple Inc recently said it is exploring ways to reduce spam, including using advanced technology to identify unsolicited messages and rolling out more tools to block unwanted downloads. It has been working to reduce spam for some time, according to the China News Service.

Li welcomed the move, but he said the more crucial and urgent issue is to pay attention to privacy leaks, and solve it by legislation.

"We've made legal efforts on privacy protection in recent years, such as providing heavier punishments for those stealing others' information and highlighting protections in our civil laws, but this has not been totally effective," he said.

"The articles dealing with privacy protection are scattered throughout 14 laws and regulations instead of being concentrated within one," he said. "Each of them is only loosely related, let alone powerful enough to combat problem.

"According to existing regulations, judicial authorities and technology companies as well as government authorities are doing their own job without communicating with each other. So it is unclear who should play the leading role and what responsibilities each party will take when a privacy leak occurs," he said.

China has been carrying out periodic campaigns to address the problem.

For example, Beijing police detained 138 people suspected of selling, illegally providing and obtaining citizens' personal information during a crackdown in May.

"I don't think occasional crackdowns are an effective way of eradicating the problem," said Yan Chuan, a colleague of Li who handles privacy infringement disputes. Yan added that privacy-related legislation should be put on the agenda as quickly as possible.

"Many companies can block or remove users' unwanted information on their platforms by advanced technology, but they don't do that because of the current weak rules," Yan added.

Zhu Wei, an associate professor at China University of Political Science and Law, also supports new legislation.

"We need a unified law to figure out which party's interest should be more protected or which should take more responsibility if personal data is found to be stolen," he said.

"We also need a new law to be a 'bridge' between scattered articles, guiding law enforcement departments to do their work efficiently and accurately."
Nine people died and another 16 were injured after a fire at a hospital in New Taipei City, local authorities said on Monday.

"We are pained by the accident and express our condolences to our Taiwan compatriots who lost their lives, to the bereaved families and to the injured," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The fire started on a seventh-floor ward at Taipei Hospital at around 4:30 am on Monday. There were 33 patients on the floor at the time, most aged over 50.

A nurse discovered the fire, and the four patients in the ward were safely evacuated, China Times reported.

Life-support machines for some patients had shut down, and they were unable to breathe during the evacuation procedure, while others suffered from smoke inhalation, media reported.

"When we arrived, there were flames shooting out of the ward. The rest of the wards on the floor were filled with heavy smoke," said a firefighter surnamed Chen.

Hospital staff members helped some patients escape, while others climbed up stairs to the top floor and were rescued by firefighters using cranes.

Some 208 firefighters were dispatched to the blaze, which was extinguished by 5:30 am.

The outside of the ward was blackened by the thick smoke.

New Taipei fire department official Hung Liang-chien told reporters that an initial probe showed that the fire was likely caused by a short circuit in an electrical device.

"We are clarifying whether it was the power cable of a patient's electric bed or a device brought in by relatives," he said.

Local Fire Chief Huang Te-ching earlier denied reports that the hospital's sprinkler system had malfunctioned.

"The sprinkler device was on, but there's some distance between it and the fire, so the fire couldn't be immediately extinguished," he told reporters.

He added that authorities were also examining why there was a nine-minute delay by the hospital in reporting the fire.
Asia's largest mega yacht, "Illusion Plus," has been unveiled at the Port of Yantai, Shandong Province. It's heading for Monaco via Shenzhen, reports iqilu.com.

"Illusion Plus" is 88.5 meters long and 15.4 meters wide. It was manufactured and designed by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Limited. It is the largest in Asia. There are less than 100 yachts in the world over 80 meters in length.

"We've participated in the process from Illusion Plus's design to after-sale services, which has included the whole process of a super yacht's manufacturing. The yacht can be operated by a single person thanks to the advanced automatic system," according to a designer of the yacht.

Some 2 million working hours were put into building "Illusion Plus."

"Our dream is to fulfill people's expectations for living a beautiful life," the designer added.
You are here: China

Four ancient irrigation sites from China have been inscribed world's Heritage Irrigation Structures, including the Dujiangyan irrigation system.

Others inscribed are the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Jiangxiyan irrigation system in Zhejiang Province, and the Changqu Canal in Hubei Province.
Total solar eclipses formed by the moon shadowing the sun are spectacular opportunities for scientists to observe the sun's corona, but too short and rare to capture.

So Chinese scientists have put forward a novel idea to view a total solar eclipse in space by using the earth to cover the sun, so they might have a longer and more accurate observation and study the source of solar storms.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, the fastest spacecraft in history, blasted off on Sunday, on a mission to study the sun at a closer range than any other spacecraft. The probe is expected to enter the sun's fiery corona after a journey of about seven years.

Chinese scientists have proposed another approach: flying in the earth's shadow.

The corona -- the sun's rarefied gaseous envelope -- is more than a million degrees centigrade and often generates solar storms that damage satellites, navigation and communication systems, said Luo Bingxian, a researcher at the National Space Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

"The heating process of the corona is one of astronomy's biggest mysteries, but our understanding of it is still lacking due to our inability to observe it," Luo said.

"It's very difficult to see the corona clearly from Earth, since its brightness is less than a millionth of that of the sun's disk," Luo said.

The corona is normally visible only during a total solar eclipse, when it is seen as an irregularly shaped glow around the darkened disk of the moon.

However, total solar eclipses are rare and usually last only minutes. Sometimes the best view is from the ocean or the weather conditions are poor, making them very difficult to observe.

Although scientists have devised a special instrument, the coronograph, to observe the corona, it's easily affected by factors such as stray light, vignetting and atmospheric scattering.

"Since we can see the moon between the sun and earth during a total solar eclipse, I thought we could put a telescope, the earth and sun in a straight line," said Luo.

His team calculated the best place for the telescope was close to the second Lagrange point (L2) of the sun-earth system, about 1.4 million kilometers from the earth.

There, the relative positions of the sun, earth and telescope would remain unchanged with the gravity of the sun, earth and a little propulsion, Luo said.

Cooperating with scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China and the Innovation Academy of Microsatellites of the CAS, Luo took the idea to a contest of innovative future technologies in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, recently and it was selected as one of 30 winning projects. The contest encouraged young Chinese scientists to conceive groundbreaking technologies and trigger innovation.
The Chinese Defense Ministry on Tuesday expressed opposition to the China-related contents in a new act adopted by the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 into law. The act includes clauses such as directing a whole-of-government strategy on China and submitting the assessment and plan on strengthening Taiwan's force readiness.

"The China-related contents in that act are filled with a cold-war mentality, advocating confrontations between the two countries and interfering with China's internal affairs," said Wu Qian, spokesperson with the Ministry of National Defense.

Wu identified the related contents as violations to the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three joint communiques between China and the United States. He highlighted their damage to the bilateral relations, military ties, mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.

"Chinese armed forces firmly oppose the contents and have lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side," said Wu.

Taiwan is a part of China and the Taiwan issue, concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, is the most important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations, according to Wu.

Wu reiterated the resolute opposition to any form of official or military contact between any country and Taiwan, and stressed that "We will never allow anyone, at any time or in any form, to separate Taiwan from China."

Wu called on the United States to adhere to the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three joint communiques between China and the United States, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, so as to avoid damaging China-U.S. relations, the military ties or the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Along with the #MeToo movement, and the growing focus on tackling sexist behavior in general, the problem of gender-based street harassment has become the focus of growing attention from social activists and the media.



A video of actress Shoshana Roberts walking through New York and having to endure disgusting comments from strange men over a period of ten hours went viral in the United States in 2014. The decision by France to legislate against the problem  imposing a fine of between 90 to 750 euros (US$100-870)  was also helped by the release of a video that focused attention on the problem.

Security footage from an outdoor cafe showed a man shouting at a 22-year-old French student named Marie Laguerre, and then throwing an ashtray at her and punching her in the face after she tells him off. The video exposes the falsity of one of the main defenses some people use to excuse catcalling.

This is not just a distasteful way of speaking. It's a statement of male privilege in society and it's a threat. A culture where catcalling is accepted is one where society gives men the power to say whatever they want to demean, objectify, and attack women who have no recourse to response.

It's the kind of culture where male crimes of this nature are explained away by the circular excuse, "Oh, it's just men being men," a display of their macho side.

It's not such a rare occurrence that verbal harassment leads to physical violence when women dare to respond. Christine Sisto, a National Review contributor, described an experience on a train in which a man who had harassed her then followed her and threatened violence.

The definition of assault is to make a threatening statement that results in the listener developing a credible fear of a physical attack. If catcalling is associated with a fear of possible violence, then any threatening street harassment is itself assault.

Oftentimes, the words of a street harasser are themselves directly call for violence. Women describe explicitly sexualized catcalls and body gestures involving male genitalia. It is a call for rape.

The street is a public space, where everybody should feel safe. No one should be seen as making any kind of choice to open themselves up to abuse when they step outside.

It is not just men being men. Excusing street harassment because it happens, perhaps with a shrug of the shoulders implying "oh, that's just him." is utterly wrong. Not all men are street harassers, and it's the responsibility of every male to control themselves, whatever impulses they might feel.

Most men comport themselves with a higher degree of decency than this; however, the feeling of insecurity a woman might feel in the presence of a strange man in public should be recognized and respected.

Having pointed out the harm in street harassment, defenders of the act have a responsibility to point to any good that comes out of it and any reason why it should not be banned.

One argument is that it is a violation of one's freedom of expression to ban people from yelling aggressive words at strangers randomly as they are walking somewhere. In order for this argument to stand, one would have to point to any public value whatsoever in those words. Banning catcalling does not in fact interfere with the expression of opinions on political or social issues.

There is the idea that people will be prosecuted for asking for directions or something similarly harmless and benign. Distinctions can be made. If a man tries to start a conversation for whatever reason and is told off, then they must back off.

Non-threatening, non-harassing speech does not fall under a law against street harassment. The possibility of an overly broad law being drafted is a possibility in almost any kind of law. This might be a legitimate argument against a particular law and how it was drafted; however, it is not an argument against all laws banning street harassment.

One of the most absurd arguments is that banning catcalling will end romance. Anyone who believes this needs to find examples of women who met the most charming guy and had a stable, loving marriage with him after he had whistled at her from nearby a construction site.

Naturally, there's an argument that such laws won't be effective. No law will be able to stop all harassment. People continue to rape and murder, but no one argues for repealing laws against such acts.

Now, France at least has a tool at its disposal to punish verbal harassers, hopefully making a casual sexist think twice. Certainly, it won't make the problem worse. Society might not be able to stop all harassment, but at least we don't have to pretend it's okay.

Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:





http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm





Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.




China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their strategic partnership, created in 2003 to reflect a realization of the long-term potential of their ties.



ASEAN was established in 1967 and subsequently expanded to encompass 10 members  Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It's one of the most vibrant regional organizations surviving various vicissitudes and flourishing over the decades.

China being a close neighbor of almost all the ASEAN members has always attached special importance to its relations with ASEAN and tried to cultivate cooperation in multiple fields as a model of global geo-strategic politics as well as friendship.

Having robust diplomatic ties with ASEAN, as a group as well as with all the individual members, is, therefore, the avowed policy of China. And this was reiterated by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi when he attended the China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting last week in Singapore.

Wang called for building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future based on mutual respect, as well as increasing cooperation in non-traditional fields like disaster prevention, relief and humanitarian assistance.

"We will share opportunities and face challenges together, so as to build a closer community with a shared future," he said.

There are two strands of this relationship, and equal focus on both is essential in moving forward. The first part relates to Sino-ASEAN trade and economic ties. The two sides face the challenge how to increase their economic cooperation and keep up the trajectory of such booming ties.

It's not just about good statistics linked with investment capital or money earned through export-import channels. There needs to be put in place an effective institutional framework for developing clear long-term policy implications for all.

Xinhua news agency reported that the ASEAN countries had agreed to an early conclusion this year of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade agreement (FTA) scheme of the 10 member states and its FTA partners, namely China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

China also wants to upgrade the China-ASEAN cooperation framework from 2+7 to 3+X as part of vision to deepen the strategic partnership.

According to Xinhua, "2+7" refers to a cooperation framework proposed by China in 2013, which emphasizes a two-point political consensus  enhancing strategic trust and promoting economic cooperation  and seven cooperation fields including trade facilitation, inter-connectivity and security exchanges.

It says that the 3+X, using the alphabetical letter "X" adopted in mathematical formulae to represent the unknown, means China-ASEAN will touch upon many fields while focusing on three pillars  political security, economy and trade, and people-to-people exchange.

The second strand of China-ASEAN ties is related to the resolution of disputes through peaceful means and without any foreign intervention. It's encouraging that the two sides realize a durable solution to their bilateral and regional problems can only be explored through mutual dialogue based on goodwill and respect for each other's sensitivities.

The recent agreement at the China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Singapore on a single draft negotiating text of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea is a milestone towards peaceful resolution of issues. The COC will help to stabilize the situation in the South China Sea and open up new avenues for cooperation.

Issues related to the various territorial claims of countries abutting the South China Sea issue were exploited in the past by certain groups and countries for their vested interest. It is heartening to note that China and ASEAN are showing great resolve and readiness to seek a lasting solution.

Peaceful relations between China and ASEAN will not just stabilize the bilateral ties but also greatly contribute towards peace and stability in the East Asia and Asia-Pacific regions. Thus, a positive trajectory in their ties has both regional and global ramifications.

To further integrate and promote the relationship, ASEAN should actively take part in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is based on a future vision for inter-connectivity and win-win cooperation between countries and regions.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:





http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm





Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.








Hu Dongdong knows the history of Karen Blixen House, one of the historical sites in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi, more than most locals.





The 26-year-old employee of the PowerChina International Group is a volunteer guide and translator for the growing number of Chinese tourists who visit the museum located 10 kilometers from the city center.





Hu told Xinhua that he chose to work as a guide at the site due to the inspiration drawn from the life of Karen Blixen, the Danish author who lived in the facility between 1917 to 1931 during the colonial times in Kenya.





"She is a role model because of the way she treated and interacted with the local community," Hu said.





Hu normally volunteers at the museum during the weekends when he is not at work. "I like my duties because the Chinese guests appreciate my work," he added.





Hu is among the eight volunteers who spend their weekends guiding fellow Chinese nationals who visit the historical site.





The National Museum of Kenya (NMK) has partnered with the PowerChina International to reduce the language barrier and hence improve its service to Chinese tourists.





Damaris Rotich, the Senior Curator at the Nairobi Museum, said the Karen Blixen Museum has seen an upsurge in the number of Chinese tourists.





Rotich said that given that most Chinese visitors are not fluent in English, this has created a communication gap between the Chinese and local guides.





"The Chinese volunteers therefore are a vital resource that will help to increase our service provision towards Chinese visitors," she said.





According to the NMK, the Karen Blixen Museum receives between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors annually with Chinese nationals making up approximately ten percent of the guests.





"We hope that the Chinese tour guides will significantly increase the share of Chinese visitors," he added.





Rotich said tourists from the Asian country could help Kenya diversify its tourist revenues that has traditionally relied on international visitors from the west.





When Blixen lived in the farm house, it consisted of 4,500 acres of farm land as well as a coffee processing facility.





The historical site currently consists of all her household belongings that depict her life and cordial relationship with the locals.
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The Chinese naval hospital ship Ark Peace arrived in the Tongan capital of Nukualofa on Monday for an eight-day goodwill visit and humanitarian medical service.





Escorted by a Tongan navy patrol boat, Ark Peace, which is on Mission Harmony - 2018, arrived at Vuna Wharf of Port Nukualofa.





At a grand welcome ceremony attended by Tonga's Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika, Chinese Ambassador Wang Baodong, local citizens as well as overseas Chinese and representatives of the Chinese enterprises, the Tongan royal military band played the national anthems of both China and Tonga, the local people presented garlands to the commanders of the Chinese mission and the young Tongans performed local dance.





Semisi Sika warmly welcomed Ark Peace's second visit to Tonga on behalf of the Tongan government and conveyed his heartfelt appreciations for the support and assistance rendered by the Chinese government and its people.





For his part, Wang said that on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Tonga, Ark Peace's visit to Tonga is of paramount importance, which will help enhancing the mutual benefit and cooperation between two countries in terms of health and military and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.





The commander of Mission Harmony - 2018 also said Ark Peace will help more people as always with sincere love, medical skills and services and fulfill the consensus reached by top leaders in Beijing in March with concrete action, so that their strategic partnership can further develop and the two peoples can benefit from the bilateral cooperation and exchanges.





The VIPs from the Tongan side were invited to tour the Chinese ship onboard.





Tonga is the fourth stop of Ark Peace's current mission, which had visited Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji. The ship paid her first visit to the South Pacific island nation in 2014.
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U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday began a visit to Brazil, where he spoke with government representatives about continued military cooperation.





His visit is part of a four-nation swing through South America that will include stops in Chile, Argentina and Colombia.





On Monday morning, Mattis first met with Brazil's Foreign Relations Minister Aloysio Nunes, and then Defense Minister Joaquim Silva.





On the agenda were alternatives for advancing cooperation in technical, scientific, political-military and defense industry areas.





Mattis is also set to meet with individuals from the defense industry and political-military areas to increase bilateral cooperation.





According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Mattis will give a talk at the Superior School of War and pay a visit to the national monument honoring Brazilian military members who were killed in World War II.





Although Brazil and the United States don't have a military alliance, when it comes to defense and weapons, the United States is one of the largest importers of products from Brazil.





The U.S. government is currently negotiating the purchase of 300 Embraer EMB-314 planes known as Super Tucano, a type of turboprop light attack aircraft.
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Pakistan's National Flag was flown at full mast in a flag hoisting ceremony to mark the 72nd Independence Day of Pakistan at the Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing on Aug. 14, 2018.

The event was celebrated with patriotic fervor and the valiant founding fathers of the nation were remembered. Homage was paid to all those who sacrificed during the independence struggle particularly Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, whose vision materialized in the shape of an independent homeland for Muslims of South Asia.

The event began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. The national flag was then raised by the Ambassador to the sound of the national anthem, evoking patriotic passion. The messages of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were also read out by the ambassador.





The President in his message said, "National days are celebrated with the purpose of educating society, particularly the new generation about the objective and the struggle for the attainment of Pakistan. I believe that the objective of developing the country and rekindling its glorious past can only be achieved if we work single mindedly keeping aside our personal interests.





The Prime Minister in his message said, "Our beautiful country is blessed with every gift of the nature. From an ideal geo-strategic location to the most talented and progressive youth, we have all the ingredients to carve out our own destiny and rise as a successful nation of the world. Unswerving commitment to the ideals of the Quaid and following the principle of 'Unity, Faith and Discipline' would certainly help us overcome our present-day challenges and make Pakistan a self-reliant, economically vibrant and a prosperous country."

Ambassador Masood Khalid, while addressing the Pakistani community, congratulated them on the auspicious occasion and urged them to take pride in being citizens of an independent nation. He also mentioned that Pakistan has recently successfully completed the political transition. He highlighted the significance of Pakistan-China ties which have grown from strength to strength. Ambassador heralded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a beacon of prosperity and shared future.





National songs were performed by the Pakistani children and a cake was cut on this occasion.
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Getting your four legged best friend to cooperate with photos (let alone selfies) can be a truly herculean task!

The Woofie is one neat gadget made for helping you take the best photos of or with your dog.

My two little Chihuahuas, Pippa and Lola, are like herding cats when it comes down to trying to get them to pose for photos. The younger one, Lola, is especially tricky to get to sit still for the camera! Most of the good photos I have of the two of them involve them taking a nap (see photo below).

The Woofie really is a clever and easy way to get your dogs to cooperate a little more on the photo front and its so easy to use. You clip the thinner end to your smartphone or your tablet, and the wider part at the top is where you simply slide your dogs favorite treat.

Your dog is going to be so excited about their favorite treat its going to really get their attention and take all the work out of working it for the camera!

Its such a genius little gadget and definitely one of my new favorite thingsand Pippa and Lolas too! You can also easily throw it in your bag and carry it around with you. It barely takes up any space at all!

Another great thing about the Woofie is that Model Citizen, the company that creates them, donates a percentage of all their sales to help animals in local shelters. How sweet is that? I love gadgets that make your life easier while helping those in need!

You can get a Woofie for yourself here!

Bre is a female millennial go getter residing in New York. One part entrepreneur, one part geek, she obtained her degree in Textile/Surface Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology.

She has held some exciting roles in both fashion as a designer working for brands like Victorias Secret and Henri Bendel, as well as in ad tech working for publishers like Ziff Davis.

Today she operates her own luxury label and is also the Chief Chick at Chipchick.com which reaches millions of women each month.

Bre is passionate about keeping women informed of the latest technology trends and products to improve their lifestyle and believes in providing real, useful information and advice to her readers.

Chip Chick was provided with this product for free, in exchange for our honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed are our own and not influenced by the company and/or its affiliates in any way.
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While it is common knowledge that popping pimples can leave you with temporary inflammation, unsightly blemishes and scarring, many people are unaware of the dangerous consequences of picking at spots in one particular facial area.

The Triangle of Death, also known as the Danger Triangle, stretches from the tip of the nose to a point on either side of the lips, roughly where dimples usually appear.

And according to medical experts, picking at skin inside this danger zone can have serious implications for your overall health.

The Triangle of Death, also known as the Danger Triangle, stretches from the tip of the nose to a point on either side of the lips, roughly where dimples usually appear

Popping a pimple within the danger triangle is cause for alarm due to the blood supply in this region of the face.

According to Jeremy Brauer, clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Centre, the veins running behind our eye sockets lead back to the 'cavernous sinus' which is located in the brain.

He told Men's Health that when we pick or pop pimples, dirt from our hands and airborne bacteria can infect the open wound, triggering serious infection.

The veins behind our eyes form clots to contain infections, which in turn puts pressure on the brain leading to partial or full paralysis and, in some cases, even death.

Left untreated, an infection of the sinus cavity can also lead to a total loss of vision, brain abscesses and meningitis.

Meanwhile Dr Sandra Lee, aka Dr Pimple Popper, explained that in worst-case scenarios, if inflammation from a spot spreads to the inner part of the brain, there is potential for blindness and massive stroke.

WHAT IS THE MOST HYGIENIC WAY TO POP A PIMPLE? According to Sandra Lee - AKA Dr Pimple Popper - people are best advised to leave spots alone as picking at them is damaging to the skin. She recommended putting band aids over the affected area or covering with spot cream containing disinfectant properties such as hazel to reduce inflammation. With stubborn pimples the expert said the best thing to use is a warm compress to take down swelling. Advertisement

The condition, known as Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis by medical professionals, kills 30 per cent of those who contract it.

However, when speaking to The Doctors, she cautioned that the chances of this happening are 'slim to none'. However, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't take every possible precaution when dealing with spots.

Dr Lee recommends dabbing hazel onto stubborn spots in the Danger Triangle to disinfect the area and reduce swelling.

But while picking at skin inside the triangle can certainly lead to grave infections, it is far more likely youll experience significant facial scarring as infections must be left to develop in severity before they become life threatening.



Controversial US based celebrity medic Dr Mehmet Oz cautioned that even plucking a hair from inside your nose can leave you susceptible to infection within the triangle, as a tiny volume of blood leaks out from the disrupted follicle.

To avoid this, Dr Erich Voigt of New York University suggests trimming nose hairs rather than plucking them.
Statement brows is very much the look of the moment and beauty fans are convinced they've found the perfect tweezers for the ultra-groomed look.

According to thousands of Amazon customers from the US and UK, TweezerGuru's slanted pluckers are the 'best ever' and will root out every stubborn hair with their precision grip.

What's more, they cost a very purse-friendly $9.97 (4.95), compared to more than $20 or 21.95 in the UK for slanted tweezers from a rival brand such as Tweezerman.

More than 5,000 people from the UK and US have left five-star reviews for TweezerGuru's offering on Amazon alone.

The brand was created in a small family home in New Jersey with the aim of offering premium beauty tools at reasonable prices.

According to thousands of Amazon customers from the US and UK, TweezerGuru's slanted pluckers costing $9.97 (4.95) are the 'best ever' and will root out every stubborn hair with their precision grip.

The brand's tweezers have received more than 5,000 five-star reviews on Amazon in the US and UK, and those who have bought the budget beauty tool claim it's the 'best ever' at precision hair removal

According to the brand, its slanted model features 'perfectly calibrated tension for more control and a stress free tweezing ritual'.

And the stainless steel slant tip is durable and easy to cleaning, meaning 'you'll never need another pair of tweezers'.

'The tension is just right and I was able to grab a couple of hairs without any problem, I think I'm sold,' one five-star reviewer commented.

Another added: 'These tweezers are absolutely the BEST I have ever used. They have grasped eve tiny hairs and got them out that the others would cause to break.

TweezerGuru was set up in New Jersey to provide affordable beauty tools to the masses and fans say its budget slanted variety are just as good as more expensive rival brands

'They are sharp, but don't cut the skin, and precise. I am a customer for life.'

It's not the first time a product from Amazon's beauty department has sent customers into a frenzy.

In Dember 2017 it was reported that a silk sleep mask costing just 7.50 in the UK and $9.99 in the US has completely transformed bedtime for those who struggle to nod off.

The Alaska Bear natural silk sleep mask and blindfold now has has more than 10,000 five star reviews on Amazon with shoppers hailing it as the best product of its kind for its ability to completely block out light.

The China-based manufacturers say its success is all down to being made from 100 per cent breathable mulberry silk on both sides.

'The breathable, natural fibres of hypoallergenic silk allows healthy oxygen in while keeping dry air out,' they claim.
The Queen's favourite snack is famously chocolate biscuit cake, and it appears she may be in need of another pair of hands to help prepare it.

Buckingham Palace has launched a search for a new kitchen porter - and on-site accommodation is a perk of the job.

The vacancy, posted on the Royal Household website this week, outlines the need for a new member of the catering team who will help to provide 'outstanding' service.

The role, which pays 19,935.80 per annum, comes with 33 days holiday per year - including bank holidays - and meals provided.

On-the-job training is also offered for candidates who haven't previously worked in catering.

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The Royal Household have uploaded a new vacancy to their site this week, advertising for a Kitchen Porter role at Buckingham Palace with the option of live-in accommodation- and the successful candidate would be working for the Queen (pictured at an RAF event in July)

The vacancy, advertised on the Royal Household's website, says the palace staff's 'extraordinary service' is what sets them apart.

It reads: 'You'll join a committed Kitchen team who work together to prepare and serve food to the very highest standards.

'By maintaining the kitchen and clear-up areas you'll ensure our chefs and assistants have all they need to deliver meals throughout the day. You'll also on occasion assist with food preparation.

'And whether you're based in Buckingham Palace or travelling to other locations, you'll ensure all kitchens are presented to the same exceptional standard.'

The role, which pays 19,935.80 per annum, offers 33 days holiday per year and even provides live-in accommodation with all meals included (Buckingham Palace seen)

Explaining that experience isn't necessary, the advert describes the need for a 'natural team player with initiative', who is interested in working as part of a professional hospitality operation.

According to the Queen's former chef Darren McGrady - who went on to serve Diana, Princess of Wales, and now runs his own catering company in Dallas, Texas, the palace is a wonderful place to work.

Speaking to Mailonline in 2016 about working at Buckingham Palace, Darren McGrady said: 'Cooking at Buckingham Palace was amazing.

'It was everything I expected it to be. They have the most amazing produce, the best quality food, the best ingredients to work with.

'Just little things like picking up the phone and calling Harrods and asking for a rack of lamb with a two-inch eye of meat and six bones  you got everything you wanted.'

The vacancy, advertised on the Royal Household's website , describes their staff's 'extraordinary service' as what sets them apart

Opening up about the Queen's eating habits, he admitted she was 'not a foodie at all', and prefers 'throwing dinners to actually eating them'.

'She's not a foodie at all,' Darren revealed. 'She eats to live; it's Prince Philip that lives to eat. He loves food, he's interested in food, he wants to know where it comes from. The Queen, not so much.'

And even revealing her quirky dislikes, he said: 'We could never serve garlic to the queen but Prince Philip loved it. If we were at Balmoral and she was out, we'd slather his steak in garlic.

According to the Queen's former chef Darren McGrady - who went on to serve Diana, and now runs his own catering company in Dallas, the palace is a wonderful place to work

Opening up about the Queen's eating habits, he admitted she was 'not a foodie at all', and prefers 'throwing dinners to actually eating them' (Darren seen working in the royal kitchen)

'But when she was at the table, there was no garlic at all. She was very Victorian and believed when she was brought up that you don't eat garlic - because if you were holding an audience the next day, you didn't want to be breathing garlic. It was seen as anti-social.'

He added that the monarch - who insists that the menu is written in French - preferred 'very bland' food and would avoid anything spicy, and that her ideal meal would be venison medallions with a whisky mushroom cream sauce, rice and salad.

Darren also outed Her Majesty as a 'chocoholic' with a penchant for a dessert called a 'chocolate perfection pie' - a pastry case lined with meringue, cinnamon and chocolate cream.
She gave birth to her baby daughter more than seven months ago.

And Gold Coast fitness star Emily Skye has already got back the incredible washboard abs she's famous for.

But it's been far from easy.

The young mother-of-one revealed she's been bombarded with negative remarks about 'bouncing back too quickly' since debuting her fit physique.

Taking to Instagram, the 33-year-old social media star said she has been working extremely hard to retain her enviable frame.

Fitness star Emily Skye has already got back the incredible washboard abs she's famous for

The mother has been documenting her astonishing body transformation after giving birth

'I have been getting a fair few comments from women saying that I got back into shape too fast after giving birth to Mia,' she said.

'It's not the case, it's been seven-and-a-half months and while I'm happy with myself, I am nowhere near as fit, strong or lean as I used to be and I didn't "bounce back".

'Being a fitness professional doesn't automatically make it easier than others to get back in shape - yes I know how to do it but it still takes hard, consistent work.

'I just want you to know that it does take a while for most people. Even though I'd been exercising for about a decade before falling pregnant it has still been tough for me to get my fitness back. I'm getting stronger all the time though.'

She also admitted she doesn't 'spend hours in the gym and I don't train every day'.

The young mother welcomed her baby daughter Mia into the world on December 18

Since welcoming her little girl into the world on December 18, Emily has been hitting the gym again in recent weeks for her gruelling workouts.

The super-fit mother has been documenting her incredible body transformation - as she revealed her exercise regime.

'Over the past few weeks I've really noticed a big difference in my core stretch and upper body strength,' she said.

'I'm able to do 20 full push-ups in a row whereas a few weeks ago I couldn't even do one properly. It feels so good getting strong again. I feel on top of the world.

'I'm happy with how my body is looking right now too and my goals are to gain muscle, get stronger and work on my explosive strength like sprinting and box jumps.'

She wanted to remind her 2.4 loyal fans on Instagram that it takes commitment, dedication, time and patience to get into shape

She wanted to remind her 2.4 loyal fans on Instagram that it takes commitment, dedication, time and patience to get into shape.

'Remember to be patient while working on your goals. It takes commitment, time and dedication, but you can do it,' she said.

'Don't expect changes straight away, that will only set you up for disappointment which can be very demotivating.

'Focus on being consistent and before you know it you'll start feeling and seeing changes.

'I've gotta be honest with you though, I did have some moments when I was being impatient and would whinge to Declan [husband] because I wasn't "bouncing back".'

Since welcoming her little girl into the world on December 18, Emily has been hitting the gym again in recent weeks for her gruelling workouts

She also urged her fans to avoid comparing themselves to other Instagrammers.

'It's hard not to feel disheartened when others seem to get results fast. This is exactly why we shouldn't compare ourselves to others,' she said.

Remember, I started working out nine years ago so I have muscle that has taken me years to build and muscle memory

'We're all different so don't compare your journey to me or anyone else. Remember, I started working out nine years ago so I have muscle that has taken me years to build and muscle memory.

'I'm nowhere near as fit as I was pre-baby and I do want to get fitter and build more muscle but again, that will take time.

'I just want to feel good, and be healthy so I can be the best I can be without putting pressure on myself. I love my body right now and will keep working to get fitter and stronger.'
A psychic mother who can communicate with the dead revealed her gift is so strong that she has to wear a hoodie to block out messages from spirits.

Sofia Grundqvist, 43, of Norway, first discovered her paranormal powers as a child when she realised she could hear and see things that others couldn't.

However she was scared of her abilities and, without an explanation as to what was happening, decided to 'block it out'.

Now she has embraced her powers and helps people communicate with their dead loved ones, on the side of her full-time job in a medical factory.

Psychic Sofia Grundqvist, 43, pictured, communicates messages between this world and the afterlife. She said she is mainly contacted by spirits who want to speak to a living loved one

The mother-of-one, from Norway revealed her gift is so strong that she has to wear a hoodie (like the one pictured) to block out messages from spirits and give herself time to rest

She said: 'When I was younger, I didn't know how to control my gift.

'But now I've learned to turn it off and on. I can pick up spirits every day if I want to, but sometimes it's exhausting. It sounds bizarre, but I've actually found covering my head with a hoodie helps block it out and gives me some rest.'

Ms Grundqvist, whose son is 18, believes she was born with the ability to communicate with the dead.

As a child she recalls seeing 'see-through people' around the house but believes they were only 'good spirits'.

She confided in her mother but the family did not believe the young girl was communicating with the dead.

The psychic first discovered her supernatural ability as a child (pictured). She confided in her mother about being able to see 'see-through' people in the family home but was not believed

She said: 'My family thought the noises I heard were just the house creaking, or the wind, and that the things I was seeing were bad dreams.'

Their doubt made her start to panic because she was unable to find an explanation for the things she was seeing and hearing.

How does Sofia communicate with the dead? She said: 'If someone wants to give me a message, or guide me, I will feel a tension in the air, like someone is standing next to me or watching me. 'I dont actually physically see them, like you would with a living person. Its more in my minds eye, like I can very clearly envisage them. 'I then send out a thought that I am here, and I can hear them. Thats like sending out a beam of light out the top of your head to spirits, showing them youre listening.' Advertisement

She continued: 'It gradually grew more and more intense, so when I had nobody else there to explain it for me, I grew scared.

'That's when I blocked it out, and I don't remember having the ability for quite some years after that.'

Her powers returned when she was 25 and she could feel spirits asking questions, asking how they could pass to the afterlife and speak to their loved ones.

Ms Grundqvist embraced her powers and signed up to a year-long course to learn how to manage her ability.

Now Sofia's powers are so strong that she can even pick up if a person has a spirit present whilst talking to them over Facebook or the phone.

'I do prefer to meet in person, though,' she added. 'It can help to have a photo of the person who has passed too.'

The psychic explained that spirits primarily want her help to contact loved ones from beyond the grave. But she said she is always cautious about delivering the message.

She said: 'My friends all know about who I am and what I can do, so I don't mind taking them to one side and telling them I have a message.

Sofia, pictured, said she has come across people who are skeptical of her abilities but said she is relaxed about their approach. She added she is not trying to 'convert' anyone to believing

But I would never walk up to a stranger and start talking about their lost loved one. I can imagine that would be very shocking.'

Ms Grundqvist said she understands some people remain skeptical about the afterlife and communicating with the dead.

She said: 'I've never had anybody directly say to me that I'm a hoax or imagining things, but I can see they are sceptical by their facial expressions when I talk.

'If that happens, I just change the subject. Of course, everybody wants belief in what they do, but I'm not a full-time medium. I don't do this as a job, I just help people who want it, so I'm not out to convert anybody.

'I'm very relaxed. Nobody has to agree with me, but if they do, and they want help, then I am willing.'
A first-time mother who have birth on the bathroom floor is believed to have had one of the shortest labours on record after giving birth in nine minutes - and was pushing for just two.

Nicole Jamieson, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, barely had time to get out of bed before her 6 lbs 3 oz son Jack arrived suddenly in the middle of the night.

The 25-year-old hotel receptionist didn't even realise she was in labour and initially thought she needed the loo.

Nicole and partner Jack Fallon, 25, had been outside enjoying the sunshine on May 7 as Nicole was still three weeks from her due date.

Nicole Jamieson with partner Jack Fallon and son Jack, who was born in May three weeks from his due date and arrived in nine minutes - one of the shortest UK labours on record

Nicole Jamieson's bathroom floor in Manchester, where she gave birth in just nine minutes after her partner made her cry with laughter - prompting her waters to break suddenly

Returning home that evening, they had chicken fajitas for dinner before staying up late watching films.

At 1.55am Nicole's waters broke, but she put it down to Jack making her cry with laughter by singing a rendition of Britney Spears' hit Baby One More Time.

The new mum said: 'Jack was making me laugh, he'd been doing stupid voices and singing Britney Spears.

'I was crying with laughter so that must have been what set it off. I didn't even realise I was in labour.

'He was making me laugh that much. I told him to stop it because I needed to go to sleep, but as I turned over I felt this big pressure drop down. It was my waters, but I didn't know it was my waters.'

Nicole Jamieson before giving birth unexpectedly at home. She and her partner had chicken fajitas for dinner before staying up late watching films

Nicole Jamieson's entire labour took just nine minutes before she gave birth to son Jack, and the family were subsequently taken to hospital (pictured) but luckily the infant was happy and healthy

Nicole ran to the bathroom thinking she'd wet herself. She ran herself a bath but after seven minutes felt the need to push.

'The next thing I knew he was there, on the bathroom floor,' she said. 'I looked at my phone just after and it was 2.04am.'

Jack, a labourer, almost missed the birth as he'd run outside in his boxers to call for help due to the poor phone signal in the flat but he made it back just in time to grab his newborn son as he popped out.

An ambulance arrived after half an hour to check the pair over, cut the cord and take them to hospital as a precaution.

Nicole had been scheduled to be induced on May 25 as she had been suffering from low PAPP-A which can indicate issues with the placenta, resulting in complications such as restricted growth, pre-eclampsia, premature birth or foetal death.

Nicole Jamieson with partner Jack Fallon and baby Jack, now 13 weeks old. The first-time mother gave birth on her bathroom floor in one of the shortest labours ever recorded

But Jack was happy and healthy - and Nicole only took two paracetamol tablets five hours after the birth.

She recalled added: 'It was nine minutes in total from my waters breaking. I was pushing for two minutes. It didn't hurt but I didn't really know what was going on.

'Obviously as soon as I realised he'd arrived I was worried, but Jack grabbed him and shoved him onto my chest and then he peed on me and started crying, so I knew he was OK.

'As for motherhood, it's great. Little Jack is amazing, I wouldn't change him for the world. He never stops smiling.'

Births that short are extremely rare and are known as precipitate labours if they last less than two hours.

Labour usually lasts for between 12 and 18 hours and can be faster if it is not the mother's first birth.

Nicole Jamieson with her newborn son Jack. Nicole had been scheduled to be induced on May 25 as she had been suffering from low PAPP-A which can indicate issues with the placenta

The fastest UK time recorded is said to have been Daisy Stewart, 20, from Dundee, who says she gave birth to 6 lbs 3 oz baby Poppy in five minutes and just three pushes.

However she had been induced and was in hospital, so Nicole has reason to believe hers may have been the fastest non-induced labour yet.

Nicole and Jack are now considering approaching Guinness World Records to see if they can claim the title.

Clare Livingstone, professional policy advisor at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said: 'A woman whose baby is born within two hours of their contractions starting will have their labour described as "precipitate labour" as that is the medical term used by healthcare professionals to describe a labour that is short in duration.

'Every woman is unique and each individual pregnancy will be different. However, where there is a previous history of a quick labour in a previous pregnancy it's worth being prepared in advance.

Nicole Jamieson with son Jack, now 13 weeks, who arrives in under ten minutes after she went into labour unexpectedly in the middle of the night and gave birth on the bathroom floor

'Your midwife will need to be aware and you should put a contingency plan in place as your due date approaches to cover immediate needs, such as childcare.

'Having a very quick labour is generally not something to worry about. However, it is a good idea to line up a couple of friends or relatives in case your birth partner cannot make it in time. A fast labour can be quite a frightening experience so it's important that there is an opportunity afterwards for discussion and debrief.

'Postnatal care is vitally important, regardless of length of labour or type of delivery. This area of maternity care needs much more investment to help mothers and babies off to the best start.

'The postnatal period can often be a very difficult time for women and good support is essential for the best outcomes, including successful feeding, bonding, physical wellbeing and mental health'.
An Instagram flirt, who thought he was in for some 'action' when a blonde beauty replied with a saucy snap, got a shock when the cheeky picture turned out to be her fiance - wearing her knickers.

The online Casanova messaged 21-year-old Amy Perkins from Manchester asking if he could take her for a drink, without knowing she was sat next to her fiance Ashley Wells, 24.

When she refused and explained she was engaged to her boyfriend of two years, the would-be Romeo then offered to marry her if the relationship ever went sour.

Stunned by the lothario's boldness Ashley decided to have some fun with the messages, squeezing into a pair of Amy's knickers and pulling them up to replicate a thong before posing in the mirror to take a photo.

Being careful to hide his face, Ashley then sent the snap to his fiancee's admirer and received an excited response asking, 'are you up for that action I was talking about?'.

Not wanting to lead the mystery man on too long the prankster couple, from Manchester, replied with a similar picture but showing Ashley's face and Amy was blocked immediately.

Ashley Wells, 24, and his fiancee Amy Perkins, 21, from Manchester decided to have some fun by pranking a stranger who sent her a message out of the blue to ask if he could take her for a drink

Ashley decided to don his girlfriend's underwear at their home in Manchester and send a cheeky snap to the man who had tried to woo her online, much to the excitement of the online Romeo who thought he'd received a saucy snap of Amy

Ashley donned his girlfriend's underwear and pulled the knickers up to replicate a thong before posing in the mirror to take a photo, which he sent to the man who had offered to marry her if things didn't work out between them

Manufacturer Ashley said: 'I wasn't annoyed, I have been with Amy a long time and I trust her and knew she wouldn't have responded with anything bad.

'She's beautiful and that's why people always message her but we are engaged and I love and trust her.

'I just thought I'll just play it on a little bit. I jumped out of bed and asked her where she kept her knickers.

'They weren't very comfy. I had pulled them up so it looked like a thong but it was worth the discomfort.

'I took a picture and he commented something nice, so he must have liked it but he obviously thought it was Amy.

'Then I sent a picture of my face and he blocked us straight away. I was only playing it on. I didn't want to upset him.

'Since posting the screenshots online I have had loads of comments on my bum which is a strange feeling.'

Ashley Wells, 24, Amy Perkins, 21, from Manchester have been together for years and when a stranger messaged the bride-to-be to ask her out for a drink, her fiance decided to have a bit of fun at his expense

Ashley and Amy celebrating their engagement on holiday. Ashley, from Manchester, decided to prank a stranger who told Amy that he'd happily marry her if things didn't work out between them

Amy admits that at first she wanted to delete the message and leave it but couldn't stop laughing when Ashley put her knickers on.

The hairdresser wasn't surprised the bachelor believed it was her rear as she says Ashley 'has a lovely bottom'.

Amy said: 'I was sat with Ashley when I got the message and he asked me 'what is he saying?'.

'I was going to delete it but he said lets reply and we'll teach him a lesson.

An Instagram flirt, who thought he was in for some action when blonde Amy sent him a saucy underwear snap, not realising it was a prank by her boyfriend AShely who had donned her underwear

The happy couple enjoying a holiday in Ibiza. They were immediately blocked by an Instagram prankster after Ashley sent him a cheeky snap wearing his girlfriend's underwear

'I was quite one worded with him as I didn't want to be too nice to him and lead him on. Then Ashley just flew out of the bed and asked 'where are your knickers?'.

'He just put them on. He's always messing around so I wasn't too surprised. I don't think he was very comfy in them.

'I had to leave the room because I was laughing so much and the whole room was mirrored.

'I hid in the bathroom, but I felt really mean. Ashley said it would be funny and he promised he wouldn't take it too far.

Amy Perkins from Manchester with her fiance. A would-be Romeo offered to marry her if the relationship ever went sour, but joker Ashley was able to have the last laugh by sending the lothario a cheeky snap wearing his partner's underwear

Ashley and Amy from Manchester enjoying the sunshine at a festival. The pair said they have no hard feelings towards the internet lothario who said he'd marry Amy if their relationship didn't work out

Ashley Wells, 24, from Manchester said that since his story went viral, he's been surprised and flattered by lots of positive comments about his physique

Ashley Wells, 24, and Amy Perkins, 21, from Manchester, pictured soaking up the sun on holiday. The pair are happily engaged and decided to have some fun when a stranger tried to chat Amy up online

'He just blocked us as soon as we sent the picture with Ashley's face.

'We wanted to send it as quickly as possible because we didn't want to lead him on too much.

'We have no hard feelings towards him. It's funny because he does have a good bum so it worked.

'We were reading through the comments and so many people are saying how he's got a good bum which is a bit strange.'
A mother whose 20-year-old son is in jail for the murder of a teenage boy in a gangland feud has told how his crime has left her 'ashamed' - and desperate to make amends for his crimes.

Ali Zahawy was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2017 for the murder of Andre Aderemi, 19, on the Monks Hill estate in Croydon, South London, in August 2016.

His mother Dunia Shafik, who appeared in Channel 5's Lawless Britain on Monday night and makes frequent visits to her son at Belmarsh Prison, told how she has thrown herself into working for charities tackling gang violence following the brutal killing, as part of a desperate attempt to somehow make amends for Zahawy's crimes.

'I take any responsibility for any part that went wrong, because he's my son and I'm his mother,' she said on the show, which offered a terrifying insight into gang culture in London.

An emotional Dunia, who lives less than half a mile from the victim's mother, Yemi Hughes, also spoke of how every time she sees her she longs 'to give her relief even if it's just for one minute, because no mother should be experiencing this'.

The mother, who was filmed bringing clothes to her son at prison, insisted she was neither looking for sympathy nor attempting to make excuses for what Zahawy did, but said it was important to tell her story so that other, 'ordinary people' like her could spot warning signs and prevent more senseless killing.

Dunia Shafik is the mother Ali Zahawy who was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Andre Aderemi in August 2016 amidst a bitter gang feud

Andre's mother Yemi Hughes appeared in Channel 5's Lawless Britain where she spoke of the grief of losing her son to gang crime, saying she didn't need an apology from the mother of her son's killer but from Zahawy himself

The victim's mother Yemi said the programme she it was Zehawy who needed to take responsibility, not Dunia.

She said: There is nothing they can say where I would be like ok maybe I can sympathise with why you did what you did, there is no reason, none.'

Andre was brutally stabbed, kicked and beaten with a metal pole and bled to death on the Monks Hill Estate in Croydon, in August 2016, by teenage love rival Zahawy, who boasted about 'shanking' gang members in a video footage filmed just months before the murder.

Zawahy was convicted of murder alongside Rodney Mukasa, 21, and another gang member Fabio Cela, 21, who was found guilty of manslaughter in May 2017.

Dunia said of life since that day: 'It is very painful, because at the end of the day I am a mum.

'If this is the pain I am going through then shes not having this opportunity. It just gives me the feeling of being so ashamed.'

Zahawy was a member the gang Shrublands Boys - which included Cela and Mukasa - which was locked in a bitter feud with the Money Habits gang, of which Andre was a member.

Andre was killed when he tried to defend his best friend from her controlling boyfriend Cela. He wanted the girl - who cannot be named because of her age - to break up with Cela because of the way he treated her.

Hostilities escalated until Cela recruited Zahawy and Mukasa to attack Mr Aderemi on the Monks Hill Estate in Croydon.

Andre had lived on the estate for most of his life with his mother and two brothers, but had been forced to move away just weeks before over fears for his family's safety.

Ali Zahawy, 20, seen left, was sentenced to 22 years in 2017 for the murder of Andre Aderemi, 19, seen right, who was stabbed to death on the Monks Hill estate in Croydon, South East London, in August 2016

Andre had been brutally stabbed, kicked and beaten with a metal pole before bleeding to death in the planned attack at the hands of Zawahy, his accomplice Rodney Mukasa, who was also found guilty of murder and a third man Fabio Cela who was found guilty of manslaughter

Dunia has been trying to make amends for her son's crime, working with charities to raise awareness of knife crime and says that she feels the perpetrator's story should be told so that parents can spot any danger

Dunia said her son became troubled between ages 18-20 when he made friends with a gang called the Shrublands Boys in Croydon. She said he was 'out of education and employment' and within two and half months Zahawy had murdered Andre

Dunia said in the programme: 'From the day that he [Zahawy] got arrested, life really becomes meaningless. Happiness is not there anymore, its a huge amount of conflict.'

Since her sons conviction Dunia has been seeking to make amends for her sons crime by working with charities working to stop gang violence and knife crime.

Why I am doing this? Im not looking for sympathy or empathy. I need to tell my story so parents look out or signs and do something. We are ordinary people who need to put an end to this.'

However, speaking out has meant Dunia has received a large amount of negative backlash from people who she says are interpreting it as a mother coming up with excuses for her sons crime.

That is not what I am doing, the perpetrators side of the story needs to be told because they know why things can go wrong.

Thats why I am putting myself out there, you are going to accuse me you are going to blame me and I am accepting that because the purpose is much higher.

Things went wrong, if you blame me I take responsibility but there is more to it. If you keep blaming me nothing is going to change out there.'

The mother has stood by her son and regularly visits him in prison, in the documentary she is seen taking three bags of clothes to him

The two mothers finally met face-to-face earlier this year during an appearance on LBC Radio, where Dunia apologised for her son but Yemi later said that it's not Dunia who should be sorry

Yemi, whose life was forever changed the moment she found out of her son's murder, met Dunia live on LBC Radio in April of this year, where Dunia offered her apologies and agreed they were both fighting for the same cause.

But Yemi later said on the Channel 5 programme: 'She didnt kill my child. So even when she said to me I apologise, I said to her you do not need to apologise to me because this is not what youve done, your son made his own choices like young people do.

They are making a choice good or bad, and they need to take responsibility for what is going on.'

The mother, who has two other sons, later added of dealing with her grief: Some days I feel angry, very angry.

'Some days I feel nothing. You know, you killed my child and there is no explanation for that, theres no reason why you did what you did. Theres none.

There is nothing they can say where I would be like ok maybe I can sympathise with why you did what you did, there is no reason, none.'

Lawless Britain is available to watch on Channel 5 player now
French chef Raymond Blanc revealed he was was the subject of an unprovoked xenophobic attack on a recent train journey.

The 68-year-old, who has lived in Britain for 46 years and is one of the nation's most beloved culinary talents, told how a passenger said he was glad 'we [Britons] voted you foreigners out' in a bizarre outburst prompted when Blanc started coughing.

Michelin-starred Blanc admitted the exchange left him feeling 'dark in his heart' because he 'loves this country very, very much.'

Verbal attack: French chef Raymond Blanc, pictured, who has lived in Britain for 46 years, told how a train passenger said he was glad 'we [Britons] voted you foreigners out' in a bizarre outburst on a journey from London. Blanc admitted it had left him feeling 'dark in his heart'

Proud: Blanc, pictured with Russian-born girlfriend Natalia Traxel in December last year, said he had applied for British citizenship in the wake of Brexit despite being '150 per cent' French

Speaking in an interview with The Times, Blanc also revealed he had applied for British citizenship in the wake of Brexit, despite still considering himself '150 per cent' French.

He recalled how the train exchange started when he started coughing as a result of his asthma on a journey out of London.

A father sitting nearby asked the chef to move because he didn't want his young daughter to 'catch anything'.

After Blanc, who speaks with a French accent, explained his asthma was not contagious, the man responded: 'Well, I'm glad we voted you foreigners out.'

Laying down roots: Blanc told how he had integrated himself in British life and that his sons Sebastien and Olivier (pictured with his father in 2013) were both born in England

The chef, who was awarded an honourary OBE for his work, continued: 'All my life, I've tried to bring those two cultures together.

'We have British friends, my children were born in England, I love this country very, very much... On that day I felt dark in my heart.'

Blanc, owner of the two Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, in Oxfordshire, said he 'was not political' but that he thought Brexit 'might be a mistake'.

Award-winner: Blanc, owner of the two Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, in Oxfordshire, pictured, said he 'was not political' but that he thought Brexit 'might be a mistake'

The chef was one of 140 European stars who signed a 'love letter' to Britain in the heat of the Brexit campaign in June 2016.

Blanc joined high-profile figures including Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to sign a letter saying: 'Britain, please stay' and warning Brexit would threaten the 'bonds of admiration and affection' between the UK and Europe.

Speaking today, Blanc said the vote to leave the EU had divided his sons, Olivier and Sebastien, who came down on either side of the debate.
A woman has told how she was reduced to tears in cafe after a fellow diner told her that breastfeeding her newborn baby was 'putting her off her teacake'.

Nikki Davis, 32, from Lawford, Essex, was left 'distressed' after a customer made the comment as she was feeding her eight-week-old daughter Dulcie.

Nikki, who was dining with her friends at the time, says she also overheard the customer describe the group as the 'mammary brigade'.

'This was really distressing to hear and actually made me cry,' she said.

New mother Nikki Davis, 32, from Lawford in Essex, is seen with daughter Dulie, now eight weeks. The new mother says she was left 'distressed' after a customer made a derogatory comment - saying she was 'putting her off her teacake' and calling Nikki and her friends 'the mammary brigade'

Mistley Park Place cafe in Essex, where Nikki Davis and her friends were dining when a fellow customer said they were putting her off her food by breastfeeding at the table, rather than in the toilets

'I met two friends from my National Childbirth Trust class. We've all recently had babies so wanted to meet up to support each other at the cafe at Mistley Park Place petting zoo.

'I then overheard a woman describe us to her family as the 'mammary brigade' and stated we were 'putting her off her teacake' by breastfeeding our babies.

After hearing the comments, Nikki decided to confront the female customer with a friend to explain how the comments had upset her.

Nikki said: 'The woman responded stating she found it offensive and we should feed our babies in the toilet.

'This whole incident has really knocked my confidence as a new mum.

New mum Nikki (pictured with newborn daughter Dulcie) was recently dining with her friends from her NCT group at an Essex cafe when she overheard a customer describe the group as the 'mammary brigade'

Nikki Davis, 32 with baby daughter Dulcie, was reduced to tears by a stranger's cruel breastfeeding comment and says incidents like these are the reason so many British women are reluctant to feed their babies in public

Speaking after a woman made a cruel comment about breastfeeding in public, Nikki Davis (pictured with baby Dulcie) said: 'My main hope is that people will just be kind to breastfeeding mums and realise it is a tough job and we are doing our best'

'It really is difficult, which is why the UK has the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, with only one per cent of babies still being exclusively breastfed at six months despite the health benefits of breast feeding.

'My main hope is that people will just be kind to breastfeeding mums and realise it is a tough job and we are doing our best.

'Ostracising us for doing something so natural does cause a lot of upset and has the potential to stop mums breastfeeding despite the health benefits to babies.'

Nikki is now encouraging businesses to register as baby friendly locations to welcome breastfeeding mums.

Peter Taylor, owner of Mistley Place Park Cafe, said breastfeeding mums were welcome. He said: 'We have got no problem with women breastfeeding at all as it's just a natural thing to do.'
A terminally ill mother-of-three with stage four breast cancer has married her partner in an emotional ceremony.

Tracy Swinferd, 47, from Bixby, Oklahoma, fought back tears as she tied the knot with partner Martin, 48, in front of friends and family.

She explained how she was first diagnosed with cancer in April last year, before receiving the devastating news that it had spread to her lungs and was incurable.

Her partner Martin, a truck driver, immediately proposed to her - but Tracy said no at first, as she feared she would be putting him through unnecessary heartache.

However, Martin remained persistent and got down on one knee three more times before Tracy finally accepted his proposal.

Tracy said she 'feels blessed' that she was able to marry her best friend, adding that she felt 'beautiful again' for the first time since her diagnosis on her wedding day.

Tracy Swinferd, 47, from Bixby, Oklahoma, married partner Martin, 48, (pictured on their wedding day) in a romantic ceremony this summer after being diagnosed with terminal cancer

Tracy explained how she feels 'blessed' to have been able to marry her 'best friend' and partner Martin in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. They posed for photographs after the ceremony (above)

The mother-of-three admitted that she has no idea how long she has left to live, saying her 'days are numbered', but says she feels grateful for every moment she gets with Martin.

Tracy. who resigned from her role as a healthcare director last May, said: 'My breast cancer was diagnosed as triple negative.

'It's the most aggressive kind; the ugliest kind of cancer. They discovered the cancer had metastasized to my lungs which made it stage four.

'Chemotherapy has made some of my tumors shrink, but it won't ever go away. It is terminal. When I was diagnosed, Marty immediately proposed but I was scared.

Tracy (pictured with partner Martin after undergoing chemotherapy treatment) was diagnosed with breast cancer in April last year, before being told it was incurable

'I felt like I didn't want to put him through that when my death certificate was practically already signed. But he kept saying I'm not leaving. He told me it didn't change anything between us.

'I grew to like the idea, but I thought there was no way I could ever plan a ceremony when I was so ill and in the middle of chemo.'

Martin described how he was left devastated after Tracy told him about her terminal diagnosis, but was determined to make her his wife.

'When Tracy came home and told me about her diagnosis it took my breath away. What do you do in that situation? We talked about it and she called her kids,' he said.

Tracy (pictured in her wedding dress ahead of the ceremony, with her bridesmaids) described how she felt 'beautiful again' for the first time since her diagnosis on her wedding day

Tracy and Martin both fought back tears as they tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The couple are pictured here during the ceremony in June

Tracy and Martin got married in front of family and friends at Restore House in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in June. The couple are seen sharing a kiss after tying the knot

'I always wanted to marry Tracy, but in the last year I asked her four times to marry me.

'I kept telling her I wasn't going to have it any other way. It didn't change anything between us. Life's short and it can be taken from you at any point.'

Tracy and Martin tied the knot in an emotional ceremony on June 7 in front of their six children and seven grandchildren.

The couple said their wedding would not have been possible without the help of Wish Upon a Wedding, a non-profit organization that helps couples coping with terminal illnesses tie the knot.

Tracy revealed how Martin (pictured together in a selfie) proposed to her four times before she finally said yes. She said she didn't say yes at first because she hadn't wanted to put him through unnecessary heartache

Local businesses donated everything from Tracy's wedding dress, to the ceremony and reception at Restore House in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, thanks to the charity.

Tracy said she felt beautiful for the first time since her diagnosis as she walked down the aisle in front of her 50 guests.

She added: 'The best part of the day was marrying my best friend. I also felt beautiful again for the first time in a long time.

'I felt like a woman. Cancer takes so much away from you and you lose yourself. There are no words for what this has done for our family. We're so full of gratitude. We feel blessed.'

Tracy and Martin (pictured together during the ceremony in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma ) were able to tie the knot thanks to Wish Upon a Wedding, a non-profit organization

Local businesses donated Tracy's wedding dress, as well as the ceremony and reception at Restore House in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The couple are pictured together on their wedding day in June

Tracy described how the best part of the day was 'marrying her best friend'. The couple are pictured exchanging vows on their wedding day in June

Martin added: 'The day was fabulous. They went above and beyond to try and help up. It was such a special gift. All day I was on a natural high.

'My favorite moment of the day was when she said "I do". Watching her walk down the aisle, it brought tears to my eyes. Words can't describe it.'

Although Tracy says her illness will rob her of precious time with Martin and her family, the mom says it has taught her to take joy in the little things.

'I'm so thankful for each day I have because they are numbered. I'm so glad I got to marry my best friend. I couldn't have hoped for a better husband.'

Tracy explained how she feels 'blessed' after being able to marry her best friend, and says she is 'thankful for every day'. The couple are pictured here together on their wedding day
A woman who wed her husband on Don't Tell the Bride has recalled in heartbreaking detail the moment she discovered his affair while he lay in a coma in hospital.

Bianca John, 25, from Pontypool, Monmouthshire, married Adam Ledner on the reality show in April 2016 before giving birth to their son Brock just two months later.

The heartbroken bride hit headlines last month when she revealed she had uncovered her husband had been embroiled in a five-month affair behind her back.

And now she has recalled the moment she discovered a string of texts on Adam's phone from another woman that confirmed her worst fears, before fleeing the hospital in tears.

Speaking to Closer magazine this week, Bianca said: 'I felt sick with anger and my hands were trembling.

Bianca John, 25, married her husband Adam Ledner on Don't Tell The Bride in 2016, before discovering he was having an affair - just 11 months after the couple said 'I do' in front of the cameras. She revealed this week how she told nurses, 'I won't be here when he wakes up'

Biana John and Adam Ledner in happier times. Just months after they tied the knot, during a visit to hospital a message from another woman flashed up on his phone, with Bianca discovering he had been having an affair- which started just nine months after she gave birth

Bianca John and Adam Ledner starred on Don't Tell The Bride in 2016. She was left fuming when he blew the budget on a chartered plane and bought a 'tacky' bridal gown. Bianca, then seven months pregnant, later gave birth to their son Brock in June of that year

'Here I was, sitting in hospital, worried about my husband when he'd been betraying me. I wanted to get out of there.'

She told nurses, 'I won't be here when he wakes up,' before driving home to be comforted by her mother.

Bianca also revealed how her understandable anger was mingled with a 'pang of guilt' as Adam recovered from an enlarged heart, the result of strain placed on his body by the couple's newfound healthy lifestyle.

But she stood her ground and three days later, when Adam was discharged from hospital, his heartbroken wife told him it was over.

Speaking to Closer, Bianca said: 'He loved himself too much to love me, too. I know I'm better off without him.'

Adam told the magazine: 'I was going to end things with the other woman after the bodybuilding competition but, unfortunately, I ended up in hospital.

'I woke up in intensive care and was told that Bianca knew everything. I regret it, and if I hadn't been caught, that would have been the end of it.'

Adam Ledner and Bianca John, who tied the knot on TV in 2016. But just a few months later the mother-of-one's world collapsed when Adam was taken ill and fell into a coma for three days

Bianca John and Adam Lednger tied the knot on Don't Tell the Bride in 2016. The ceremony took place aboard a plane (pictured) costing the groom 5,000, much to Bianca's dismay

Bianca previously told how her suspicions were aroused when in March 2017 Adam started to become 'distant', and just a few months later her world collapsed when he was taken ill and fell into a coma for three days.

Shockingly, as Bianca sat by his bedside during a visit to hospital, a message from another woman flashed up on his phone, she told the Sun.

A devastated Bianca discovered he had been having a five-month affair- which started just nine months after she gave birth to their little boy, now two.

Infuriated, she drove all of his possessions to the hospital and told him she was leaving him when he woke up.

Recalling the traumatic incident, Bianca told The Sun about the moment she uncovered the affair.

After seeing a message from another woman flash up on her husband's phone, Bianca said: 'Curiosity got the better of me and as I scrolled through the rest of Adam's messages I found conversations of him bragging to his mates about having sex with another woman multiple times.'

In July 2016, scenes aired showing heavily pregnant Bianca John, aged 23 at the time, breaking down in tears over fiance Adam's tacky choice of bridal gown on Don't Tell The Bride

Recalling her shock, Bianca revealed that she messaged the other woman from his phone to tell her she knew all about them.

'The next day I went home, threw all his things in his car and dropped his keys off with [the hospital] nurses. I made sure they phoned me every few hours to give me an update on his situation,' she added.

Bianca told how Adam called her upon waking up to an empty room, and she told him that she knew everything and would never take him back.

'I was devastated', she added. 'Adam took the phrase Don't Tell The Bride to a whole new level. I'm just glad I'm rid of that rat.'

Bianca met Adam on dating app Tinder in 2014 before the couple spent time travelling together.

Just over a year after meeting, Adam proposed to his bride in Thailand by spelling out 'Marry me?' in rose petals and candles.

Heartbroken Bianca John, from Monmouthshire, tied the knot with Adam Ledner on Don't Tell the Bride, with the groom given a 14,000 budget. Their reception was held at a warehouse covered in 400 worth of sand and 130 of plastic buckets (pictured)

Bianca JOhn (pictured with a friend on the Sky1 reality show) has now separated from husband Adam Ledner for good and added: 'Adam took the phrase Don't Tell The Bride to a whole new level. I'm just glad I'm rid of that rat' (seen on the show)

But 18 months after his romantic proposal, in July 2016, scenes aired showing heavily pregnant Bianca, aged 23 at the time, breaking down in tears over Adam's 'tacky choices' on Don't Tell The Bride.

The programme, which aired on Sky 1 and NOW TV, saw the couple provided with 14,000 to pay for their dream wedding.

As per the show's format, the pair were kept apart for three weeks leading up to the big day, leaving the groom to plan the entire wedding, and they weren't able to communicate until they met again at the alter.

However Bianca, at the time seven months pregnant, was horrified to see that Adam had bought her a 140 knee-length bridal gown.

The ceremony took place aboard a plane, costing the groom 5,000, and their reception was held at a warehouse covered in 400 worth of sand and 130 of plastic buckets.

Livid, Bianca was seen telling her new husband: 'Babe it's awful. It's proper like s***'.

'The suit's tacky the dress is tacky, the flowers are tacky. At least you kept a link and it all ties in. I don't hate it it's just like shocking.'
A 22-year-old student has revealed she is hoping to make 750K from selling her virginity online to the highest bidder despite being 'very shy', and never having been on a date.

Danielle Breene from Brazil was inspired to take extreme measures to tackle her growing debts after reading about other girls who have done the same, and wants to buy a home for her mother and sister and pay off her student loan.

Although completely confident she's making the right decision, Danielle - who is concealing her face to protect her family - told Femail: 'I'm a little anxious, and I'm nervous about how things are going to be, after all, it's my first time.

'I've never dated and I'm very shy. I hope the winner be a kind and polite person, a gentleman.'

Student Danielle Breene, 22, from Brazil is auctioning her virginity online to the highest bidder in order to pay her debts and buy a house for her mother and younger sister

Danielle hasn't told her family what she's doing and is obscuring her face to protect them. Only her best friend knows about the auction, and will be her point of contact on the day to make sure she's safe

Danielle revealed her main motivation behind the drastic step is financial security.

'I study and work part time. The money that I make doesn't cover the expenses and the cost of living in my country is very difficult. I have debts that only grow,' she explained.

'I will use the money to buy a home to live with my mom and my little sister, pay our debts and also pay my student loans that I would probably take a lot of years to pay.

'I also want to invest in my career building my own business, to secure my future. I hope with this I'll be able to provide a life without financial difficulties for my family.'

The student has never dated and describes herself as 'very shy' but is confident that auctioning her virginity online to the highest bidder is the right decision for her

Since setting up her website in June, Danielle has received two serious bids, the highest being for 220,000.

She's hoping to attract an offer of 750, and says she won't agree to anything unless she feels assured of her safety.

'The auction is something I've been thinking about for several months, I've done a lot of research and I'm taking everything very carefully.

'I expect to reach 750,000. It would be the best thing that could happen to me. Let's see how it flows.

'For the day of the meeting, I'm going to have a bodyguard. Security is very important to me, and I'm taking all the necessary precautions for this.

Brazilian student Danielle intends to hire security on the day she meets the winning bidder to have sex for the first time and insists that staying safe is her top priority

'I also have my trustworthy person, and I will periodically report that I am well, where I am and with whom I am.

'Being secure is a worry, so I put rules on the site that favour my security, and the bidder's as well. Nothing will happen until everything is in order.'

Danielle's family don't know about the auction, but she has confided in her best friend.

'She was a little nervous when I told her because she cares about my safety,' she said.

'I have explained to her all the precautions I will take to make everything happen safely and to I won't be duped. She gives me support when I need to talk about it. She is my trustworthy person.'

Brazilian student Danielle, 22, has no qualms about negative comments about her decision and says that people's opinions aren't going to pay her bills

One thing Danielle isn't concerned about is the potential impact on future relationships.

'I do not have to tell anyway, I can either make up a story or just tell the truth, and if he does not like it, he's just not the guy for me,' she explained.

'I also do not care what people are going to say. The only thing I care about is my family reaction.

'The mean comments I receive are not going to pay my bills and solve my problems. I don't regret this decision and I'm fine with it.'
Marks & Spencer sent fashion fans into a frenzy with a pair of sandals that look strikingly similar to a high-end pair by A-list favourite Ancient Greek Sandals.

The high street retailer's Velvet Bow Mule Sandals come in a timeless navy or trendy dusty rose and feature a thick velvet strap with playful bow detailing.

They are almost identical to the Taygete bow-embellished velvet slides by Ancient Greek Sandals, whose designs have been worn by celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Michelle Obama and Beyonce.

High-street heroes: Marks & Spencer's 25 Velvet Bow Mule Sandals come in a timeless navy or trendy dusty rose, pictured, and feature a thick velvet strap with playful bow detailing

Celebrity favourite: They are almost identical to the 155 Taygete bow-embellished velvet slides by Ancient Greek Sandals, pictured, whose designs have been worn by stars including Beyonce

Fashion frenzy: Bargain hunters were blown away with the M&S summer slides on Instagram. Dozens responded to the post praising the 'divine' and 'super cute' design

But while Ancient Greek Sandals' summer slides retail for 155, M&S is offering their version for 25 - a sixth of the price.

The description on the M&S website reads: 'These velvet sliders make it simple to slide right into chic summer style.

'Beautifully designed with a touch of luxury in their textured velvet bow details, these women's sandals will look fabulous with all your warm weather looks.'

Ready for summer: The Ancient Greek Sandals, pictured, are sold out in all but one size on Net-a-Porter. They cost six times as much as M&S' almost identical offering

Attention to detail: The M&S sandals, picture, feature a similar velvet bow across the strap and heel height to the high-end version. They also boast rope-tie detailing around the sole

Must-have: Excited shoppers tagged their friends and shared their excitement on Instagram

An Instagram post shared over the weekend was met with a flurry of comments from bargain-hunters eager to get their hands on a pair.

One posted: 'You can never have enough sandals and those are gorgeous.'

Another agreed: 'Oh love the navy & the pink I will have to get both.'

Snapped up! Those hoping to snap up a pair for themselves will have to act fast - the pink version is sold out on the M in every size except for a three and a eight, pictured

Those hoping to snap up a pair for themselves will have to act fast - the pink version is sold out online in every size except for a three and a eight.

The Ancient Greek Sandals slides have proved similarly popular on Net-a-Porter, where they are sold out in all but one size.

The online designer retailer recommends styling the Taygete slide, named after a nymph from Greek mythology, with distressed denim.
There is a greater choice of beauty products than ever before, but there is one mascara that is sending shoppers into a frenzy this summer.

Lancome's Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara has seen a spike in popularity on Pinterest, with a 316 per cent increase in the number of 'saves' in the last four months.

The must-have, which has sold-out on the Lancome website, has also received more than 250 five-star reviews on Boots from British shoppers delighted with the effects.

But such incredible results do not come cheap - a standard 10ml tube will set you back 21.

Must-have: Lancome's Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara, pictured, has seen a 316 per cent spike in the number of Pinterest 'saves' in the last four months as interest takes hold

Transformation: This image taken from the Lancome website reveals the extraordinary effects of the 21 mascara, which is a waterproof version of the best-selling original

Glamour magazine reported how Pinterest data revealed a surge in 'saves' of the Lancome product since April as interest in the mascara took hold.

The Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara is a follow-up to the original Monsieur Big, which has become a best-seller since its launch last year.

The mascara promises 12x the lash volume and to hold for up to 24 hours.

It boasts a brush with bristles made of soft fibers which hug the lashes and ensure a smooth application, while separating and lifting.

Social media hit: Pinterest has reported a surge in the number of times the product has been 'saved' since April. It has also appeared on a number of lists of the best waterproof mascaras

Meanwhile a video on the brand's website demonstrates how the mascara stays perfectly in place even when the wearer splashes her face with water.

However the Glamour article noted that the mascara's staying power is such that users will need an oil-based cleanser to remove it from their lashes.

The mascara has received more than 250 five-star reviews on the Boots website, with dozens of shoppers praising the product as a 'good all-rounder'.

How it works: This graphic from the Lancome website breaks down the benefits of the mascara

One posted: 'I would normally never buy a waterproof mascara, but i can honestly say i would buy this time and time again.

'It's very easily applied, makes your lashes look great, no transfer and even more importantly, comes off easily with make up remover.'

Another added: 'This is fantastic, so fantastic my daughter has pinched it and it makes her lashes look like false lashes.'

However not everyone was so impressed. One of the two shoppers who left one-star reviews wrote: 'I thought this was a very poor mascara and was highly disappointed.

'Its very dry and doesnt coat my lashes well at all. I couldnt really tell it had been applied.'
Alton Towers Smiler crash victims Leah Washington and Joe Pugh looked utterly loved-up as they stepped out for a lunch date on Monday.

Miss Washington, who recently celebrated her 21 birthday, and Mr Pugh donned matching monochrome looks as they enjoyed a bite to eat in Manchester.

The couple, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, had only been together for six weeks when they were injured in the rollercoaster crash at the Staffordshire theme park in June 2015.

Going strong: Alton Towers Smiler crash victims Leah Washington, 21, and Joe Pugh held hands as they stepped out for a lunch date in Manchester on Monday

Loved-up: The couple, who started dating just six weeks before the June 2015 theme park crash, chatted happily as they made their way to the car following the meal

Horror crash: Miss Washington and Mr Pugh, circled, were among those injured when their rollercoaster carriage crashed into a stationary carriage. Miss Washington was forced to have her left leg amputated while Mr Pugh's knees were so damaged he had to learn to walk again

Miss Washington was forced to have her left leg amputated following the crash while Mr Pugh's knees were so damaged he had to learn to walk again.

Now, more than three years later, the pair are still going strong and are occasionally spotted enjoying romantic dates.

Yesterday the couple looked effortlessly stylish as they popped out for lunch.

Miss Washington looked on-trend in a baggy white Saint Laurent slogan t-shirt, which she teamed with a pair of black wide-leg three-quarter length trousers.

Stylish: The couple donned matching monochrome outfits for the outing on a drizzly day. Miss Washington showed off her sartorial flair with an on-trend white t-shirt from Saint Laurent

Light-hearted: Mr Pugh said something to make his girlfriend laugh as they strolled together towards the car. Miss Washington has previously said they could be together 'forever'

Relaxed: Miss Washington carried a pocket umbrella in case it rained but the pair managed to avoid the worst of the weather. They have now been together for more than three years

She finished the look with sunglasses, fresh white trainers and a taupe chain cross-body bag.

Meanwhile Mr Pugh opted for an all-black ensemble of ripped drainpipe jeans, high-top trainers and an oversized top with the slogan 'all day every day'.

The couple were seen smiling and chatting as they strolled hand-in-hand from the restaurant to their white Range Rover.

Miss Washington, who wears a 60,000 prosthetic leg, got into the driver's seat.

Heading home: The couple got into a white Range Rover, with Miss Washington climbing into the driver's seat. The amputee wears a 60,000 prosthetic left leg

Celebrations: Miss Washington, pictured getting into the car yesterday, turned 21 last month

The 21-year-old has previously said she thinks there is a 'real chance' she will be with Mr Pugh 'forever'.

Speaking to Cosmopolitan, she said: 'Joe and I both understand what the other one has been through in a way that no one else can.'

Miss Washington said that after she lost her leg she doubted whether Mr Pugh would want to continue dating an amputee and thought he would let her down gently by ending the relationship once she had regained her strength.

She later found out that even her brother had spoken to Joe and told him he didn't have to stay with Leah if he couldn't cope, but he insisted.

Ongoing cost: Miss Washington wears a state-of-the art prosthetic, seen in this Instagram picture, that allows her to walk unaided. It will need to be replaced every few years

Support: Miss Washington and Mr Pugh have been by each other's side throughout the ordeal. Pictured, the couple outside Stafford Crown Court after operator Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd was fined 5million for health and safety breaches in September 2016

An investigation into the 2015 accident concluded that the crash was due to human error; an engineer had wrongly restarted the ride while a stationary carriage was on the track in front of it.

Alton Towers owner Merlin Attractions were fined 5million for health and safety breaches which were blasted by Judge Michael Chambers QC as a 'catastrophic failure'.

They were fined an initial 5million, and interim payments have covered Leah and Joe's medical and physio bills to date - but the pair have also submitted a 'substantial' compensation claim.

Leah's 60,000 prosthetic leg - which contains a microprocessor knee - will need replacing every few years, which will amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds over her lifetime.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden and her family are moving across the pond and relocating to Florida.

The Swedish royal court announced this month that Madeleine, 36, and her husband Chris ONeill, 44, are heading to the Sunshine State this fall with their three children: Princess Leonore, four, Prince Nicolas, three, and Princess Adrienne, four months.

'The time and opportunity for the United States is good for the family when the children are still in pre-school age,' the press release explained.

Princess Madeleine and her husband Chris ONeill are moving to Florida with their three children: Princess Leonore, four, Prince Nicolas, three, and Princess Adrienne, four months

Moves: The couple, pictured in Stockholm at the christening of their third child Princess Adrienne in June, lived in New York and London, before moving back to Sweden

Madeleine, who is the seventh in line to the Swedish throne, will continue her work with the World Childhood Foundation.

'Princess Madeleine has a great commitment to childrens rights and will continue working with the World Childhood Foundation and, through the move, be able to focus more on the activities in the United States,' the Swedish Royal Court added.

Along with the announcement about their planned move, the Royal Court also released a new family portrait showing the happy couple posing with their three children.

The royal's financier husband was born in London and has dual U.K. and U.S. citizenship. He has previously been working in the United States but will continue his business in Europe as well.

In the image, which was taken outdoors in the summer sunshine, shows Madeleine and Chris smiling at the camera, with the princess wearing a simple white dress and a pair of nude sandals.

The daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf is seen holding her son Nicolas's hand, while Chris is pictured cradling their youngest child, daughter Adrienne, in his arms.

Moving on? Interestingly, the couple sold a five-bedroom property in Palm Beach earlier this month for $3.65 million

Something new: The property was purchased by Anglo-American Chris in June 2008, six years before he married Princess Madeleine, and was frequently used by his mother

Somewhere special: It is not currently known where the family is planning to live - or if they will even stick to Palm Beach, which is where their old holiday home was located

Princess Leonore, the eldest of the three siblings, holds a bouquet of wild flowers, while happily grinning towards the photographer. The little girl is dressed smartly in a pretty pink dress, with matching sandals and a bow in her hair, while her younger brother matches his mother in a white shirt and beige shorts.

This isn't the first time that Princess Madeleine, who is seventh in line to the Swedish throne, has made a home in the United States; the royal was actually living in New York City when she first met Chris, having famously fled to America in 2010 to escape a broken heart after her split from Swedish attorney Jonas Bergstrom.

The couple then continued to live in the Big Apple even after they married in Stockholm in the Royal Palace chapel in June 2013, and the couple's first child, Princess Leonore, was actually born in New York in 2014.

In recent years, however, the family has called London home, where they are thought to still own a residence, but Madeleine and Chris chosen to move back to Sweden for the birth of their third child, Princess Adrienne, who was born on March 9 of this year.

Adrienne was christened in Stockholm in a beautiful ceremony on June 8, the day of her parents' fifth wedding anniversary.

Princess Madeleine and her husband also previously owned property in Palm Beach; however, they sold the five-bedroom holiday to a limited liability company just last week for an impressive $3.65 million.

Back they go! Madeleine and Chris, pictured in Manhattan in 2013, actually met in New York City after she moved there in 2010 after her split from Swedish attorney Jonas Bergstrom

The sprawling summer house is thought to have been used on occasion as a holiday home by Princess Madeleine's mother-in-law when she made trips to Florida, while the royal couple are thought to have also stayed there whenever they made trips to the Sunshine State.

Globe-trotter: The princess, pictured in London in 2017, and her husband also lived in the British capital, before returning to her home country of Sweden

Anglo-American Chris managed the house through his company, Bahama Beach Holdings LLC, and according to the Palm Beach Daily News, the financier first purchased the property - which came complete with a palm tree-lined swimming pool - for close to $2 million back in June 2008, six years before he tied the knot with Princess Madeleine.

The home, which was built in 1954, boasted 4,360 square feet of living space, has a modern, state-of-the-art kitchen, private garden, marble bathrooms, and is located on a third-acre piece of property.

It is currently not known whether the family has purchased - or is planning to purchase - another home in the area, or whether they will choose to look further afield before settling on their future hometown.

Madeleine is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, 74, his German-Brazilian consort; she has two older siblings - Crown Princess Victoria, and Prince Carl-Philip.

The royal family, whose role is ceremonial, remains hugely popular in Sweden and the monarchy enjoys widespread support despite the egalitarianism that otherwise characterizes society in the Nordic country.
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Some celebrities keep their designer handbags in their walk-in closets, but Kylie Jenner had a custom closet built exclusively for her collection of handbags.

The 21-year-old, whose Kylie Cosmetics empire is worth an estimated $900 million, gave her fans a full tour of the room in her house that is solely dedicated to housing her countless handbags, some of which cost tens of thousands of dollars. Indeed, many of the vintage and limited edition designs are considered priceless - putting the entire worth of Kylie's collection close to $1 million.

In the YouTube video, Kylie reveals she even has a few handbags set aside for her six-month-old old daughter Stormi, including a $7,700 pink Hermes bag that will likely be her little girl's first purse.

Investment: Kyle Jenner has given fans a tour of her purse closet, which houses a collection of handbags that are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars

Variety: The 21-year-old's many extravagant designs from labels like Hermes, Dior, Chanel, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Supreme. The top row of this picture alone is worth over $169,000 alone (including two hidden Hermes Kelly bags behind Kylie's head)

Organization: Kylie's handbags are mostly grouped by designer, color and size, and are placed on white shelves, while some of the larger pieces - such as her $3,650 Supreme x Louis Vuitton holdall (bottom corner) - appear to rest on the floor

'This is pretty much where I keep all my purses,' Kylie says at the start of clip.

'I made a little room for them in my house, and I did this all custom so they all could have a little home and be lit up really pretty.'

The reality star's handbags are grouped by designer, and Kylie explains that her 'favorite row' is definitely the one featuring her growing collection of Hermes bags.

'I have been collecting these bags for a minute. They are also a great investment,' she says of her Hermes bag collection, which is worth more than most people's homes.

Kylie has at least four leather Hermes Birkin bags, which cost $11,000 or more a piece, while her orange suede Birkin retails for about $20,000.

Cream of the crop: Kylie says her 'favorite row' is the top shelf, which houses her Hermes collection, including an incredibly rare Dalmatian-print design (second from left). She has numerous Christian Dior bags on the shelf below

Made for a millionaire: Kylie's orange suede Birkin (pictured far right) retails for about $20,000, while some of the other more plain designs, such as the black bag in the background, are priced at around $11,000 each

'The one that I think is the most unique and cool is definitely the Dalmatian. I think it is really beautiful,' she says of the limited-edition Birkin, which costs about $20,000.

Kylie also thinks her Hermes So Black Birkin is 'pretty cool' because it has all black hardware. The limited-edition style, which was estimated to be worth $10,000 to $15,000, went for $24,000 at a Christie's auction.

The mother-of-one is also a fan of the French luxury label's iconic Kelly bags and has a variety of the style, including a extremely rare matte white Niloticus Crocodile Retourne Himalaya Kelly bag.

'This one here is really special. If my house was on fire, I would take this one out of all of them if I could only choose one,' she explains.

Special: Kylie has an extremely rare matte white Niloticus Crocodile Retourne Himalaya Kelly bag (far left), which says would be the one bag she'd take if her house was on fire. It sits next to a vintage 32cm Brown Crocodile Kelly, worth close to $45,000

Pricey: Christie's auctioned off a version of the bag for about $83,000, although it is unclear what Kylie paid for the rare find

Another treat: 'The one that I think is the most unique and cool is definitely the Dalmatian. I think it is really beautiful,' she says of the limited-edition Birkin, which costs about $20,000

Christie's auctioned off a version of the bag for about $83,000, although it is unclear what Kylie paid for the rare find.

Kylie also has a large black leather Kelly bag worth approximately $11,800, a $13,995 green Kelly backpack, and two small leather Kelly bags that cost $10,900 a piece.

She even has a tiny Hermes Mini Kelly Pochette that will be Stormi's first handbag, despite it's $7,700 price tag.

'Kourtney [Kardashian] gave me this, which I think is super cute,' she explains. 'I was really surprised because I feel like Kourtney never really cares about Christmas gifts, so when she gave me this last year, it was really special.

'This one I am definitely going to let Stormi wear, probably when she says, "Mommy I want to carry a purse." So this is probably going to be her first purse,' she adds.

Sleek: Kylie also thinks her Hermes So Black Birkin is 'pretty cool' because it has all black hardware. The limited-edition style went for $24,000 at a Christie's auction

Pretty in pink: She even has a tiny hot pink Hermes Mini Kelly Pochette (pictured) that will be Stormi's first handbag, despite its $7,700 price tag

Vintage: Kylie says her mom, Kris Jenner, gave her and her sister Kendall these Louis Vuitton Sac HL Mini Speedy bags when they were kids, and she plans on passing it down to Stormi

Too cute: Little Stormi is only six months old, but she already has an impressive handbag collection waiting for her

Kylie also plans on giving her daughter the vintage Louis Vuitton Sac HL Mini Speedy bag that she has had since she was a child.

'My mom gave these to me and Kendall when we were like super babies,' she explains, 'so I am definitely going to give this to Stormi.'

The bag, which is worth approximately $620, may have been Kylie's first Louis Vuitton, but it certainly wasn't her last.

The millionaire has a Louis Vuitton backpack that costs approximately $2,000, a Louis Vuitton canvas shoulder bag worth an estimated $1,500, and a $640 Louis Vuitton multicolor monogram cosmetic pouch.

Kylie has bags from all of the Louis Vuitton collaborations over the years, including the Takashi Murakami collection and the recent Supreme collection featuring the American brand's logo.

Collector's items: Kylie has a host of Louis Vuitton collaboration designs, including keepalls created with the likes of Takashi Murakami (far right, $3,230), Supreme (center, $3,650), and Stephen Sprouse (far left, $1,610)

Hilarious: Kylie's limited edition Louis Vuitton Xupes X Year Zero London Handpainted 'Momager' bag features a cheeky portrait of her mother; there were only three of these bags made in the world

Pastels: The millionaire also has a $2,100 Chanel Deauville Chain Tote (left) and a Chanel Medallion Tote (right), which retails for approximately. $2,200

Her Supreme x Louis Vuitton collection ranges in price from $1,800 for the Danube shoulder bag PPM to $3,650 for the Keepall Bandouliere.

The entrepreneur also takes a minute to pull down a Louis Vuitton Xupes X Year Zero London Handpainted 'Momager' Alma PM featuring a cheeky portrait of her mother, Kris Jenner.

Although handpainted vintage bag from the '90s only costs an estimated $1,400, the work of art is undoubtedly priceless to Kylie.

'My mom gave me this for Christmas also,' she says, 'and she knows how obsessed I am with her, so she got this really cool piece from an artist.'

Another bag that is near and dear to Kylie's heart is the $5,495 Judith Leiber Couture Seductress Crystal Lipstick Clutch bag her sister Kim Kardashian gifted her.

Woza: Kylie's new Fendi Kan I medium velvet shoulder bag costs $7,150

Present: Kylie's sister Kim Kardashian gave her this $5,495 Judith Leiber Couture Seductress Crystal Lipstick Clutch

Sentimental: Kylie says her mother gave her this Prada change purse when she was a baby. 'This is in all of our baby photos,' she says 'Me and Kendall were always holding these'. It currently sits among her collection of pricey Chanel bags

'This Judith Leiber bag is special to me because Kim gave this to me. She loves collecting Judith Leiber bags, but my mom gave me this little lipstick one too,' she says, pulling out a mini version of the clutch.

'I am definitely going to have to wear this out soon,' she adds.

Other highlights from Kylie's close includes a $7,150 Fendi Kan I medium velvet shoulder bag, a $2,100 Chanel Deauville chain tote, and a Chanel Medallion tote, which retails for approximately. $2,200.

At the end of the clip, Kylie opens up about another priceless item in her closet: a vintage black Prada coin purse.

Although the bag is only worth a couple hundred dollars, it has plenty of sentimental value because Kris gave one to Kylie and Kendall when they were babies.

'You know she keeps everything, so I still have it. It's a little dirty,' she says. 'This is in all of our baby photos. Me and Kendall were always holding these. I love this little coin purse.'
Potatoes have fallen out of fashion with millennials who are cooking more rice and noodles instead, new figures suggest.

Sales of the humble spud were down by 5.4 per cent, industry figures reveal, according to The Grocer magazine.

Despite being a staple of classic British dishes such as Sunday roasts, steak dinners and fish and chips, younger generations are shunning potatoes because they are a 'faff' to prepare and have an unhealthy reputation.

Instead, they are opting to cook more 'exotic' rice and noodle side dishes, and opt for convenient microwaveable options, industry experts have suggested.

Potato sales have dropped by 5.4 per cent, according to The Grocer magazine, which it blames on younger generations opting for rice and noodles instead of the humble spud

Sales of rice have shot up by 30 per cent in the last four years, while noodles of all types also performed better than potatoes, the magazine reported.

It added that microwaveable rice is now worth 250 million a year, despite only being introduced to supermarkets about 15 years ago.

The Grocer magazine said: 'Shoppers have a new squeeze when it comes to carbohydrates. Rice and noodles are viewed as everything many say the spud is not  healthy, convenient and exotic.

'Many, particularly millennial and Generation Z consumers, see spuds as stodge that will make them fat. To boot, they're often a faff to prepare.'

Some potato experts claim sales are not in fact plummeting and that despite their reputation, they boast health benefits such as slashing your risk of a heart attack and even protecting against dementia

But potato experts have argued that the humble spud is now dwindling in popularity at all.

Christine Watts, marketing officer of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), told The Telegraph that sales had actually increased by 2.6 per cent since 2015, accoridng to figures from consumer data company Kantar WorldPanel.

She added that sales of fresh potatoes also rose by 2.1 per cent.

Ms Watts told The Telegraph: 'Our hugely successful Potatoes: More than a Bit on the Side campaign was launched in July 2015, with the aim of re-engaging younger consumers with the potato, demonstrating its health and nutritional virtues, as well as showing modern and contemporary ways in which they can be used to fit in with today's busy lifestyles.'

Earlier this year, scientists said that you could eat potatoes for a year and remain healthy because they are good for your health.

In a medical U-turn, scientists who reviewed a host of evidence are pushing for potatoes to be reassessed for their 'clear' health benefits.

They uncovered evidence in a 60-page report that the humble crop could slash the risk of having a heart attack and even protect against dementia
Any New Yorker with a sweet tooth is going to want to get on this, stat: A candy-themed immersive museum is opening in Manhattan this week.

Called Candytopia, the 'interactive art installation' is, as the name suggests, about all things candy, from the marshmallow ball pit to the unicorn and dragon sculptures fashioned entirely out of jelly beans.

And they wouldn't let guests salivate over all that sugar without offering a way to meet those cravings, either: Candytopia has given away several tons of candy so far, including Trolli gummies, Nestle Crunch bars, and Lindt truffles.

Let it rain! An 'interactive art installation' called Candytopia is opening in New York City

Yum! It features over a dozen exhibits including works of art made entirely out of candy

Mouth open! It first opened in Santa Monica earlier this year, where visitors loved the sprinkle gun

Thanks guys! Curated by 'Hollywood Candy Queen' Jackie Sorkin, the museum was made in partnership with fabricator Zac Hartog and retailer John Goodman

So mallow... uh, mellow! It also features a popular marshmallow ball pit

Says their site: 'Welcome to Candytopia, where colossal candyfloss constructions meld with a tantalizing taffy twistedness'

According to its website, Candytopia is meant to be a fever dream of sugar, sugar, and more sugar.

'What if an eccentric chocolatier and a daredevil pop star had a whirlwind romance, got married while skydiving, and had a glamorous, glittering love child who grew up to rule a small nation?

'Welcome to Candytopia, where colossal candyfloss constructions meld with a tantalizing taffy twistedness!'

Curated by 'Hollywood Candy Queen' Jackie Sorkin, the museum was made in partnership with fabricator Zac Hartog and retailer John Goodman.

It already had a run in Santa Monica earlier this year, where it was wildly popular  and attracted dozens of celebrities.

Cool decor: It's set to open in NYC August 15, and San Francisco in September

Pure imagination: It includes several candy-themed pieces of art, like this rendering of Willy Wonka made out of candy

Works of art: They also recreated more famous works, like The Scream and Starry Night

Dope! Guests are treated to candy with the price of their ticket

Around every corner: The rooms are filled with sculptures made out of candy, like this jelly bean seahorse

Delish: The museum was Instagram gold in Los Angeles, and is sure to be popular in NYC too

Family fun! Naturally, the museum is quite kid-friendly, and those three and under get in free

Drew Barrymore stopped by with her kids, while Gwyneth Paltrow visited for her son Moses' birthday. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tyra Banks, Lance Bass, Jaime King, and Seal were spotted there as well, while rapper Wiz Khalifa shared an Instagram picture of himself enjoying the marshmallow pit.

Besides that pit, the dozen-plus rooms are filled with sugary displays, many of which are interactive. There are sculptures of mythical creatures like flying pigs, a unicorn, and a dragon that are made of jelly beans, and colorful backdrops and floors that make for Instagram gold.

Several famous paintings were recreated in candy, like a Freida Kahlo self-portrait rendered in jelly beans, Starry Night in licorice, and an Andy Worhol in gummy bears.

Star power! Celebrities have already come out in large numbers (pictured: Gwyneth Paltrow)

Celeb bait: Sarah Michelle Gellar (left) and Tyra Banks (right) both hit up the Santa Monica pop-up

Black and mallows: Even Wiz Khalifa stopped by to play in the marshmallow pit

Insta perfection: Drew Barrymore brought her daughters along to enjoy it

Stars out! Nicky Hilton (left) and Seal (right) also treated their kids to a day at the museum

What dreams are made of! Hilary Duff and her son Luca loved the sprinkle gun

Bring the whole fam! Jaime King also turned up for some candy fun

There's also the popular sprinkle gun, which an employee wields and sprays over guests, creating a fun-looking photo opp.

Naturally, there's plenty of candy to go around, too. The museum offers a ton of name-brand options, and gave away literal tons of taffy, Pixy Stix, and truffles in Los Angeles.

On August 15, it opens in New York for its three-month run, and will open another location in San Francisco in mid-September.

Adult tickets cost $34, while kid tickets cost $26. Kids three and under get in for free.
Parents really do feel their children's pain - and depression is no exception, new research suggests.

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the US, and has been steadily rising among teenagers.

The mood disorder is deeply influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, including our human relationships.

Researchers at Northwestern University found that about one quarter of teenagers who were diagnosed with depression had parents that suffered from it too.

But there is hope for the whole family: even when their parents did nothing about their own depression, when teenagers got treatment, mothers and fathers both had fewer symptoms.

About five percent of American teenagers are depressed, and so are one quarter of their parents, new research suggests. But, parents also get better when their children are treated

'Depression is a massive public health concern that will take a variety of approaches to better manage,' said lead study author Dr Mark Reinecke, a Northwestern University psychologist.

Being a teenager is difficult, and so is being a parent. Being a parent of a teenager with depression or the child of a depressed parent adds an extra layer of difficulty for families.

More than one in every 20 teenagers and children are depressed or anxious in the US, and that doesn't include those who suffer from one of the conditions but haven't been diagnosed.

Nearly half (45 percent) of parents struggle with depression as well.

In part, depression takes a set of diverse approaches to treat because it is a condition with a range of possible causes and risk factors - and we still have a great deal to learn.

We know that when our brains' levels of certain neurotransmitters (namely, serotonin and dopamine) are imbalanced, we can lilt toward depression.

We know that everything from air pollution to poverty in our environments can tip the scales in depression's direction.

More recently, we have learned that there are a whopping 44 genetic risk factors for depression, and just about everyone is carrying at least one around with them.

These DNA risk factors are shared by parents and their children, who also influence one another's mental health just by being around each other.

'The concept of emotions being 'contagious' and spreading from person to person is well-known by psychologists,' said the study's second author, Kelsey Howard.

To explore how much parents and their kids influenced one another's moods and mental health, the Northwestern University researchers recruited 325 teenagers who had been diagnosed with clinical depression.

Alongside the teenagers, 325 of their parents participated in the study.

SIGNS OF TEEN DEPRESSION EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW Depression in teenagers and adults shares some core characteristics, but it can look different in younger people. Hormonal changes during their teenage years means children may seem more moody than usual, but it is crucial to not dismiss their symptoms. Behavioral changes like skipping school, violence, drug and alcohol abuse and recklessness can be indicators that something more is up. Some of the top symptoms of teenage depression are: Sadness or hopelessness

Irritability, anger, or hostility

Tearfulness or frequent crying

Withdrawal from friends and family

Loss of interest in activities

Poor school performance

Changes in eating and sleeping habits

Restlessness and agitation

Feelings of worthlessness and guilt

Lack of enthusiasm and motivation

Fatigue or lack of energy

Difficulty concentrating

Unexplained aches and pains

Thoughts of death or suicide Source: HelpGuide Advertisement

About a quarter of the parents told researchers they felt moderate to severe depression, too.

Each teenager was randomly assigned to receive either cognitive behavioral therapy, an antidepressant or a combination of the two treatments.

Their parents were given no treatment, but the mental health of each adult and child was evaluated throughout the nearly a year of active study and again in a follow-up appointment another year later.

It didn't matter which treatment the child got, as their symptoms improved, their parents' depression subsided too.

'We believe our study is among the first to evaluate how the emotional health of a child can impact that of the parent,' said Dr Reinecke.

Most psychologists recommend that talk therapy - including CBT - can be hugely beneficial to teenagers with any level of depression.

In fact, one study of 465 British teens found that any form of therapy reduced symptoms like feeling down and hopeless by an average of about 50 percent for children between 11 and 17.

For kids and adults with more severe depression (and who can afford it), the most effective treatment combines both drug and talk therapy treatments.

But scientists are increasingly convinced that mental health has a very social component and the ripple effect that the Northwestern University team saw supports that notion.

'This work opens up a range of possibilities for future research on the family-wide effects of treatment for adolescent depression,' said Howard.

Among these possibilities, the study's results suggest that when an individual - especially a teenager - comes to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, evaluating not just her or his own symptoms but those of the entire family may give doctors a leg up in treating their patients and even help the rest of the group inadvertently.
Care homes will be replaced by luxury developments to keep pensioners independent for longer, ministers have announced.

The Government will invest 76 million annually for the next three years on putting spas, hairdressers and beauty salons in homes specially designed for those who are frail, elderly or disabled.

These luxury developments will allow elderly people to have their own flats, but with sensors and video monitors to track the most vulnerable.

A scheme in Manchester is developing 135 flats for elderly people with an onsite spa, beauty salon and bistro. Across the UK, 3,300 specially designed new homes have been built so far.

Such properties include bungalows with curved walls and no sharp edges for autism patients, as well as bedrooms being built below ground level to reduce noise disturbances in Bicester.

Care homes will be replaced by luxury developments, ministers have announced (stock)

DO MEN MAKE AS GOOD CARERS AS WOMEN? Elderly men make just as good carers as women, research suggested in August 2018. Older males spend the same amount of time looking after their ill spouses as females do, a study found. Yet young men are not as caring towards their unwell partners as women are, which may be due to them having less time to run errands or do housework due to work commitments compared to their retired counterparts, according to the researchers. The scientists claim their findings are important due to people living longer and therefore requiring greater levels of care. Study author Dr Laura Langner, from the University of Oxford, said: 'With the gender gap in life expectancy closing, and children becoming less available to care for their parents, it is likely that many more men will be called upon to care for their partners. 'Our findings at least suggest that women won't have to worry that their partners are not up to the job of caring for them'. The researchers analysed 538 couples from Germany with an average age of 69. One member of each couple required care from their spouse. The scientists assessed how many hours the caregivers spent looking after their partners, whether that be responding to their physical needs, running errands or doing housework. Advertisement

'Communities likes these can improve quality of life'

According to care minister Caroline Dinenage older people often end up in hospitals and residential care when they could have remained at home for longer.

She believes initiatives like the above are necessary to respond to people's 'ever-evolving health needs'.

Ms Dinenage told The Telegraph: 'Communities likes these can improve quality of life, help more people live in the community for longer and keep the pressure off our health and social care system  something we all want to see.

'There are still far, far too many people living in substandard accommodation, faced with stairs they can no longer climb or cupboards beyond their reach.

'This is not the quality of life we would want for our own mums or dads  or indeed ourselves.'

In London, homes are being built for adults with learning disabilities, which include communal areas and around-the-clock staff.

The Government's announcement comes alongside NHS plans to embed smart technology into at-risk people's homes.

Known as the Healthy Towns project, the NHS is working with developers to allow remote monitoring of people with health conditions, with results being sent directly to GPs and hospitals.

Movement sensors and other smart technology in the new builds will be linked to a tablet computer, with health tips flashing up on a screen if a person's activity levels fall.

Training care workers could prevent 20,000 deaths from dementia a year

This comes after research released last month suggested that additional dementia training for care home staff could save the lives of up to 20,000 people a year across Britain.

Experts from Exeter University calculated that providing proper training for care assistants would cost just 4,500 for every life saved.

Assistants in Britain's 28,000 care homes usually require no formal training, with doctors saying any training that is available is not based on any evidence that it actually works.

Some 70 per cent of the people in residential care homes have dementia, around 300,000 people, who have distinct special needs.

Yet the vast majority of such patients are over-medicated and left for hours at a time without any human interaction at all, with experts warning the average patient only talks to another person for two minutes every six hours.
Astonishing pictures have today emerged of a mother's heart-shaped womb that left doctors in Russia stunned.

The unidentified 39-year-old was born with a bicornuate uterus, an abnormality believed to strike one in 1,000 women.

Doctors warned for years that she would struggle to ever have children - but she defied their expectations to become pregnant with twins.

Before she gave birth, only a dozen cases of twins born to mothers with the unusual condition had ever been recorded in medical literature.

Actress Lena Dunham also suggested she has a bicornuate uterus earlier this year, when she revealed she had a heart-shaped womb.

The woman, from Moscow, required a Caesarean section to give birth to her twins, who were both born healthy (pictured: her heart-shaped womb)

Doctors warned for years that she would struggle to ever have children - but she defied their expectations to become pregnant with twins (an ultrasound of her twins in her womb)

The woman, from Moscow, required a Caesarean section to give birth to her twins, who were both born healthy.

She named her son Evgeny, who was born weighing 7lbs, and daughter Varvara, born weighing slightly under 6lbs.

Does the abnormality affect women's chance of getting pregnant?

Local reports state the woman had been told for years that she had 'no chance of children' due to her womb abnormality.

But experts say having the unusual-shaped womb does not cause extra problems with conception but there is a slightly higher risk of miscarriage.

However, women with with a bicornuate womb are often urged to have a C-section because it can affect the way their baby lies in pregnancy.

Moskovsky Komsomolets, a daily newspaper in Moscow read by nearly one million people each day, was the first to break the story.

They reported that 'when doctors took the uterus out they could not believe their eyes, it had the perfect shape of a heart'.

Actress Lena Dunham suggested she also has a bicornuate uterus earlier this year, when she revealed she had a heart-shaped womb

The woman, from Moscow, required a Caesarean section to give birth to her twins, who were both born healthy. She named her son Evgeny, who was born weighing 7lbs, and daughter Varvara, born weighing slightly under 6lbs (pictured: one of her twins after they were born)

Doctors at Bauman Moscow Clinical Hospital number 29 (pictured) said the woman revealed she did want to extend her family at some point

The newspaper also revealed 'the uterus was not removed, it was only photographed and put back' so the woman could have more children, if she wishes.

Doctors at Bauman Moscow Clinical Hospital number 29 said the woman revealed she did want to extend her family at some point.

The medics published the incredible picture on their official Instagram account, with the mothers' permission.

More than 3,000 people have liked the post since it was uploaded yesterday.

The chief doctor on duty for the twins' birth was Dr Olga Lukanovskaya. Other medics involved were Dr Konstantin Ryabtsev, Dr Elena Chebotaryova and anaesthetist Dr Alexei Kiselyov.

The chief doctor on duty for the twins' birth was Dr Olga Lukanovskaya (left). Other medics involved were Dr Konstantin Ryabtsev (right)

Dr Elena Chebotaryova (left) and anaesthetist Dr Alexei Kiselyov (right) were also involved

WHAT IS A BICORNUATE UTERUS? Figures suggest three per cent of women are born with an irregular uterus, of which a heart-shaped womb is one of the most common defects. A bicornuate uterus - the medical name for a heart-shaped womb - is an abnormality believed to strike one in 1,000 women. Experts say having the unusual-shaped womb does not cause extra problems with conception but there is a slightly higher risk of miscarriage. However, women with with a bicornuate womb are often urged to have a C-section because it can affect the way their baby lies in pregnancy. Turkish doctors were astounded when they came across a woman with a bicornuate uterus who gave birth to twins in 2013. The team at Kutahya Dumlupinar University published the tale in the journal Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Writing in the publication at the time, they said: 'To date, there are only 12 reported cases of twin pregnancy in bicornuate uterus.' Advertisement

How rare is the abnormality?

Figures suggest three per cent of women are born with an irregular uterus, of which a heart-shaped womb is one of the most common defects.

Turkish doctors were astounded when they came across a woman with a bicornuate uterus who gave birth to twins in 2013.

The team at Kutahya Dumlupinar University published the tale in the journal Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Writing in the publication at the time, they said: 'To date, there are only 12 reported cases of twin pregnancy in bicornuate uterus.'

Does Lena Dunham have the abnormality?

Dunham, creator and star of hit series 'Girls', had a hysterectomy to combat her endometriosis-related pain, she revealed earlier this year.

The actress, 31, revealed she had the procedure in the March issue of Vogue, in which she described her uterus as being heart-shaped.

Doctors discovered she had other medical issues that were causing her pain during the procedure.

She said: 'My ovary has settled in on the muscles around the sacral nerves in my back that allow us to walk.

'Let's please not even talk about my uterine lining. The only beautiful detail is that the organ  which is meant to be shaped like a light bulb  was shaped like a heart.'
More women suffer migraines than men due to their higher levels of oestrogen and other sex hormones, research suggests.

For years, scientists have been baffled as to why women are three times more likely to be struck down by the agonising condition.

But a new Spanish study finally offers hope of an answer - and could even lead to a new route for personalised drugs for patients.

Researchers reviewed decades of medical literature to suggest oestrogen may sensitize key cells to triggers of the agonising pain.

For years, scientists have been baffled as to why women are three times more likely to be struck down by the agonising condition

The team at Universitas Miguel Hernandez in Elche delved into the links between sex hormones, migraine sensitivity and the cell responses to migraine triggers.

Their evidence, based on lab trials and animal studies, suggests sex hormones affect cells around the trigeminal nerve - responsible for pain perception.

Oestrogens - which are at their highest in levels in women of reproductive age - may sensitize these cells to migraine triggers, the researchers say.

Other hormones - such as prolactin - appear to make migraines worse. While some, such as testosterone, were shown to protect against migraines.

They do this by making the cells' ion channels, which control the cells' reactions to outside stimuli, more or less vulnerable to triggers.

The pain of migraine Migraines are caused by a complex neurological condition which can affect the whole body - causing crippling headaches, nausea, blackouts, vomiting and even paralysis.

Roughly 8.5million people in Britain suffer from migraines, three quarters of them women, with attacks lasting between four and 72 hours.

Sufferers experience an average of 13 attacks each year, usually in clusters or episodes of a few days.

But for about half a million people - those with chronic migraines - the attacks come at least every other day.

Migraines are the sixth most common cause of disability around the world, and are strongly linked to depression and work absenteeism.

Current drugs include Triptans - which deal with the symptoms but not the cause - but if they are taken too often they actually increase the frequency of attacks.

Other treatments which ward off attacks are all designed for other conditions - such as botox, epilepsy medicines and beta blockers for heart disease.

The new drug works in a completely different way - attacking the cause of migraines by stopping a protein which causes blood vessels to swell in the brain. Advertisement

Professor Antonio Ferrer-Montiel, who led the study, argued further research is needed on some hormones to confirm their role in migraine.

However, as a result of their review, oestrogen stands out as a primary candidate for understanding the prevalence of the agonising condition.

Oestrogen was first considered a trigger years ago, when scientists questioned why the condition is more common in menstruating women.

The new study now suggests oestrogen sensitize cells around the trigeminal nerve to stimuli. That makes it easier to trigger a migraine attack.

Professor Ferrer-Montiel argued the new research, published in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, is only preliminary.

He said: 'We can observe significant differences in our experimental migraine model between males and females.'

Professor Ferrer-Montiel added they were trying to understand the 'complex process' responsible for the gender difference.

He continued: 'We believe that modulation of the trigeminovascular system by sex hormones plays an important role that has not been properly addressed.'

The researchers said that future studies should focus on the relationship between menstrual hormones and migraines in hope of better drugs.

The current work relies on in vitro and animal models, which Professor Ferrer-Montiel and colleagues said aren't easy to translate to human migraine sufferers.

Professor Ferrer-Montiel said: 'If successful, we will contribute to better personalised medicine for migraine therapy.'

The NHS says migraine strikes around one in every five women and around one in every 15 men.
A burlesque teacher who is a perfect match for her kidney patient fiance has scrapped plans to donate her organ to him  because theyve split up.

Mel Greenall and Jay Charles have agreed that the life-saving transplant should no longer go ahead because of the ill feelings between them.

Mr Charles, 40, beat huge odds to-one to discover his partner Ms Greenall, 45, was a match and he was due to undergo an operation in October.

But now Mr Charles, who has suffered two failed transplants, will have to start his search again and re-join the waiting list.

It could take him years to find another, as the demand for kidneys in the UK far outstrips the limited supply. Chances of finding an unrelated donor is one in 100,000.

He admitted the pair were in desperate need of counselling and often 'danced around' speaking about the pending op, which created fear and anxiety.

The ex-teacher has blamed a lack of support from doctors as the main contributing factor to wrecking their five-year romance.

But Mr Charles claims the transplant coordination team simply 'backed off' once Ms Greenall, 45, also known as 'Kitty', discovered she was a match.

Now living in a one-bed flat in Whitby, he argued this led to resentment between the couple and ultimately doomed their relationship.

Jay Charles beat odds of 100,000-to-one to discover his partner Mel Greenall was a match and he was due to undergo an operation in October

Mr Charles, who spends three days a week travelling to a dialysis unit in Middlesbrough, said: 'We simply didnt see or hear from anyone. I couldnt believe it.

'As a couple struggling through renal failure together we desperately needed to speak to someone. Mel was donating a major organ to me, its a big deal.

'I feel as though Ive lost everything. Above all, though Ive lost my life partner. I still love Kitty but I do understand why we cant be together.

'Renal failure is a severe lifelong illness - its difficult enough to live with without adding in all the social and psychological factors.'

Plans scrapped

He added: 'Doctors repeatedly asked me if Mel would still carry on with plans to donate.

'It was Mel and I that decided it would not be right because of the bad blood between us at the time.

'Mel had told me shed still donate but with so much ill feeling and resentment surrounding our breakup, I just felt it wouldnt be right to go ahead.'

Ms Greenall, a mother-of-two, told how she no longer recognised Mr Charles as the man she once loved after he became lost in his illness.

Mr Charles claims the transplant coordination team simply 'backed off' once Ms Greenall, 45, also known as 'Kitty', discovered she was a match.

Now living in a one-bed flat in Whitby, he argued this led to resentment between the couple and ultimately doomed their relationship

WHAT IS A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT? Kidney transplants replicate the function of the organ, such as the removal of waste and excess fluid, hormone production, drug excretion and blood pressure control. Failing kidneys can sometimes be prevented or delayed by dialysis, which helps to remove waste from the body but does not replicate all of the kidneys' functions. A patient's blood group and tissue type determine whether they match with a potential donor. Up to 90 per cent of kidney recipients live at least a year after the procedure, while around 50 per cent survive 15 years. Risks of the operation include bleeding and infection. It has also been linked to cancer and death in rare cases. If organ rejection occurs, it usually does so within six weeks. This can be detected via blood tests. The University of California Davis Transplant Center claims the 'chance of finding an exact match with an unrelated donor is about one in 100,000'. Source: Kidney Research UK Advertisement

She said: 'Jay was tired all the time. Hed come home from the hospital and just sleep.

'I was having to do absolutely everything and it was becoming harder and harder for me to cope with what was going on.

'When Jay was awake he was frustrated and angry. Wed argue a lot. Our money situation was becoming desperate too which didnt help.

'Our plight was reaching a pitch. I didnt recognise Jay as the man I loved and the arguments were breaking me. It was a very difficult time for both of us.'

Renal failure 22 years

Mr Charles, of Whitby, North Yorkshire, was diagnosed with a rare blood condition aged 11 and has been in renal failure for 22 years.

Kidney failure is where the organs ability to do these things falls below 15 per cent of its normal capacity, causing toxins to build up in the blood.

The most effective treatment is a transplant, but demand for organs far outstrips supply.

And patients often endure waits of many years before doctors are able to find an organ that won't be rejected by their immune system.

The University of California Davis Transplant Center claims the 'chance of finding an exact match with an unrelated donor is about one in 100,000'.

Ms Greenall, a mother-of-two, told how she no longer recognised Mr Charles as the man she once loved after he became lost in his illness (pictured together)

Where did the two meet?

He started seeing burlesque teacher Ms Greenall, also known as Kitty, five years ago after meeting at Whitby Goth Weekend.

However, four years into their relationship, Mr Charles became ill again after his second kidney transplant began to fail in October 2017.

He was told he needed a third one and his loving fiancee volunteered to offer to donate one of her kidneys.

Without a donated organ, Mr Charles would have to stay on dialysis to remove a build-up of toxins in his blood until another could be found.

A viable match

Match tests proved positive, and mother-of-two Ms Greenall was indeed a viable match for Mr Charles, who was stunned at the news.

She said: 'I immediately asked the nurses on the renal unit if I could be tested to see if I would match... I knew I would. It was meant to be.

'Wed always kinda joked about being perfect partners. Ever since day one, before I even knew that my transplant was failing.'

Mr Charles is now living in a one-bed flat in Whitby and spends three days a week travelling to a dialysis unit in Middlesbrough.

Sadness at her son's split

His mother Glennis Charles, 69, has told of her shock and sadness at her son's split with Ms Greenall.

She said: 'The whole thing is very sad. I am 150 miles away from him, they are both adults and there is not much I can do.

'There is nothing I can do or say [to change it]. It has happened I am afraid.'

Mrs Charles, who donated a kidney to her son 11 years ago - his second transplant - said she didn't know the full reasoning behind the split.

She said: 'I am not really sure what happened. I think it might be to do with the stress of everything and the anxiety.

'When Jay was younger, I got to know the hospitals and the staff when I looked after him. But since Jay moved away, I don't know the hospitals as well and it is more difficult.

'It is such a shame, everything that has happened. I thought he had found his soul-partner and I am surprised.'

Mrs Charles, married to Stuart, 70, and lives in Mansfield, said she had always got on with Ms Greenall and had no hard-feelings towards her.

She added: 'I have always liked Mel, she is a very positive woman. I always think anyone who offers a transplant is very, very brave.

'They have the option of opting-out, even if they were sat on the trolley ready to be wheeled to theatre. I wouldn't be angry at anyone who changed their mind.

'I always told Mel she had the option to change her mind and there would be no hard feelings from the family.

'I just hope anyone who reads the story about Jay decides to join the register as everyone should.'
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A 21-year-old woman became the youngest person in the United States to receive a face transplant, three years after shooting herself in a botched suicide attempt.

Katie Stubblefield doesn't remember the day she tried to take her own life in the bathroom at her older brother's home in Mississippi on March 25, 2014 - nor much in the months after that.

She was transferred from her local hospital in Oxford to one in Memphis, Tennessee, then on to Cleveland, Ohio, in a desperate bid to save her life.

By the start of 2016 she was declared stable, and on May 4, 2017 she made history, undergoing 31 hours of surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to receive a face transplant that will restore her face structure, and allow her to chew, swallow and breathe independently for the first time in years.

'I get a second chance at life now,' Katie, now 22, said in a National Geographic documentary, released today to coincide with the cover story 'The Story of a Face', revealing her struggle.

Katie is the 40th person in the world to receive a face transplant, and the third at the Cleveland Clinic, which is regarded as the pioneer in facial reconstruction in the US.

However, hers was slightly different to the ones that came before: not only is she the youngest ever, but it was the longest face transplant ever performed - pushing the surgical team to new limits.

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Historic: Katie Stubblefield tried to take her own life in March 2014 with a rifle. On May 4, 2017, she became the youngest person ever to receive a face transplant. Pictured: Katie (left) aged 17, eight months before her attempted suicide; and (right) at 22, a year after her transplant. She is now on immunosuppressant drugs as she learns how to walk, speak, and read Braille

Katie (pictured, left, before her operation and, right, after) is the 40th person in the world to receive a face transplant, and the third at the Cleveland Clinic

Katie's parents Alesia and Robb lived in the Ronald McDonald house in Cleveland during Katie's recovery period

MOVING CITIES, MEDICAL WOES, FAMILY STRUGGLES, AND HEARTBREAK: THE AGONIZING TWO YEARS THAT LED TO KATIE'S SHOOTING

Relatives told National Geographic that Katie was a fun girl with an infectious sense of humor and wit growing up in Lakeland, Florida. She was close to her older sister Olivia and older brother Robert.

But over time, they say, they started to see her recoiling, pressuring herself to be the best in academia and sport.

When she was around 16 years old, her parents Alesia and Robb, a minister, moved the family to Kentucky, then a year later to Oxford, Mississippi.

There, both Alesia and Robb became teachers at the same Christian school where Katie enrolled as a student.

According to the magazine, when Katie arrived at school she met a fellow student who immediately captured her attention. The two started dating and she was soon talking 'love' and 'marriage'.

He was a rock for Katie as she endured uncomfortable and severe health problems. In January 2014, in her senior year, she had her appendix taken out, the digestive issues she had long battled started to flare up, and she had her gallbladder removed.

But in March, the headmaster of the school - who Katie saw as a source of support - made both her parents redundant.

On March 25, she saw texts on her boyfriend's phone from another girl, and when confronted, he ended their relationship.

She went to her brother's house, distressed. After a while, she went to the bathroom and shot herself under the chin using his hunting rifle, a .308-caliber.

Robert told National Geographic he rushed upstairs, found Katie on the floor, and 'her face was gone'.

Katie's was the longest face transplant ever performed, and she is the youngest recipient.National Geographic photographers shadowed her for two years, and today shared her ordeal in their cover story The Story Of A Face

LIFE OR DEATH: HOW DOCTORS IN THREE CITIES WORKED NIGHT AND DAY TO SAVE KATIE FROM DEATH

According to National Geographic, when Katie was hospitalized in March 2014, she was taken straight to a hospital in Oxford, Mississippi, with intracranial injuries.

Shortly after, she was transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, where doctors stabilized her.

They inserted a tracheostomy, stabilized her jaw and cheekbones, sewed her eyelids shut so her corneas could heal, and patched up a torn brain membrane.

Over the next two weeks they opened her skull up to stem bleeding on her brain, used skin grafts to close open wounds on her face.

However, her wounds would not stay shut because the skin grafts kept failing, so they recommended transferring her to Cleveland Clinic, which is a world leader in intracranial trauma.

As surgeons raced to save her and patch up her external and internal wounds, they mentioned the term 'face transplant' to Katie's family. They had never heard of it before.

The doctors explained that Katie was young, and at the time not stable enough to undergo such an operation, but that Cleveland may be able to help them.

On May 2, 2014, she was transferred to Ohio. First thing,they repaired her bone structure, including her nose, nasal passage and jaw,

The next two years were a whirlwind of operations, with Katie being ferried in and out of hospital, rehab and the Ronald McDonald house where her family was staying to be near her.

Eventually, at the end of 2015, she was declared stable. Katie was on the transplant list from March 2016.

While they were waiting for a donor, there was plenty of work to be done.

Before the surgery, Katie's eye were not aligned and were far apart, so at the beginning of April 2016, surgeons cut through the bones surrounding her eyes, and applied a 'distraction device' to her face.

The device consists of a metal disk on each of her cheeks, with two metal rods connecting them, which can be adjusted accordingly as the bone regrows.

While the device was still working, they other things to do to prepare her face for the transplant.

On April 15, they removed some facial tissue that was at risk of infection. A couple of days later they inserted tissue expanders on her right cheek to stretch the skin and make it easier to work with. A week later, they fitted more plates around her eyes to keep them in place.

Katie kept the distraction device on for two more months, until the end of June.

Donor: Katie received the face of Adrea Schneider (pictured), a mother-of-one who died of a drug overdose at 31

THE DONOR: MOTHER-OF-ONE, 31, WHO DIED OF AN OVERDOSE AFTER A LIFETIME OF TURMOIL SET OFF BY HER DRUG ADDICT MOM

At the start of May 2017, a donor emerged.

Katie has received the face of Adrea Schneider, a mother-of-one who died of a drug overdose at 31, according to National Geographic.

Adrea's grandmother Sandra had to adopt her at 11 years old due to her mother's drug addiction. Adrea's mother died two years later.

Though Adrea was a registered organ donor, Sandra had to approve the use of her extremities.

Adrea's 15-year-old son knows that his mother has saved the lives of seven people thanks to organ donation, but he still doesn't know her face was used, National Geographic says.

Katie will not look like Adrea, because the face molds to her body.

Nonetheless, such a transformation is a psychological ordeal that defies our entire understanding of our sense of self.

Katie was given hours of therapy and psychological screening to ensure she was ready for such a step.

Then, on May 4, 2017, she went in for the operation.

THE OPERATION: 3D PRINTING, VIRTUAL REALITY, AND 31 HOURS OF INTRICATE SURGERY

The surgery involved 11 surgeons and virtual reality techniques, spanning overnight.

There were 15 specialities involved in Katie's operation: plastic surgery, neurology, endocrinology, nursing, transplant surgery, anesthesia, dentistry, ophthalmology, infectious disease, pharmacy, psychiatry, nutrition, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, vasuclar medicine and surgery.

Given the fact that just seven have been performed in the US - bar Katie's - face transplants are still considered 'experimental'.

Both full transplants, as Katie had, and partial transplants involve replacing the patient's face with new skin, nerves, blood vessels, and bone from a donor.

Before going into the operating theater, the surgical team 3D-printed a lower jaw that would account for 90 percent of the final result. The new version is modeled on a scan of her older sister's jaw.

Then they went in.

Before going into the operating theater, the surgical team 3D-printed a lower jaw that would account for 90 percent of the final result. The new version is modeled on a scan of her older sister's jaw

There were 15 specialities involved in Katie's operation: plastic surgery, neurology, endocrinology, nursing, transplant surgery, anesthesia, dentistry, ophthalmology, infectious disease, pharmacy, psychiatry, nutrition, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, vasuclar medicine and surgery

The surgery involved 11 surgeons and virtual reality techniques, spanning overnight

The team had to gradually mold the face to fit Katie's skull structure. Adrea's face was wider than Katie's, and Katie's bone structure was longer. Here, one of the surgical team members uses photos taken of Katie before the operation as a guide

'Her whole story made our team come together much faster, and we sort of ran toward her to take care of her,' explained Dr Brian Gastman, who was part of the surgical team

It was an operation that galvanized the cream of Cleveland's medics.

'Her whole story made our team come together much faster, and we sort of ran toward her to take care of her,' explained Dr Brian Gastman, who was part of the surgical team.

'We would do that for anybody, but many of us are parents ourselves and we saw what her own parents were going through.'

For the operation, the surgeons had to replace her scalp, nose, upper cheeks, upper jaw, half of her lower jaw, forehead, eyelids, eye sockets, muscles, skin and most of her facial nerves.

This involved connecting the blood vessels of Adrea's face to Katie's face, to allow blood flow into the face.

There were many challenges to the surgery, Dr Gastman said.

The surgery reconstructed Katie's nose and jaw in a way that would only have been possible with a face transplant (pictured before and after)

'In this case it was to get any foreign material out of her, getting her brain from being exposed to the environment, trying to preserve any critical structures - like her major arteries and her nerves, and her eyes also - [from being] exposed to the elements,' he said.

'Then there [were] functional aspects, getting her to breathe and talk and eat, even. Those were all part of our reconstructive plan.'

Dr Gastman said it will hopefully give Katie a 'functional life.'

'The main goal was, in one large surgery, to give her back both form and function, that was the main goal, and then to give her the chance to psychologically rehabilitate.'

She will be able to breathe, speak, chew and express emotions more effectively - all things she has not been able to do since she was a teenager.

'With a new nose, lips, palate, eyelids and jaw, she now has the opportunity to re-integrate into society and have a future just like any other young adult. The surgery can give her back the self-esteem and confidence she lost,' Dr Gastman explained.

They say facial reconstruction alone wouldn't have accomplished that because of the extensive nature of the damage to her skin and bones.

'This was an excellent result. Given the situation, I am very happy with how she's doing,' Dr Gastman said.

RECOVERY: KATIE NOW 'HAS A MISSION IN HER LIFE' TO HELP OTHER SUICIDE SURVIVORS

Katie was discharged on August 1, 2017. She is now on a cocktail of immunosuppressant drugs as she continues therapy to re-learn how to walk, move, speak, and read Braille.

Surgery and post-operative care can cost patients $70,000, and sourcing the funds can be tough.

'Plastic surgery is about restoring form and function,' said Dr Frank Papay, chairman of the Clinic's Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute and who co-directed the surgery.

'Function comes before form, and prior to the face transplant, this patient had extremely poor function and form.

'Our job in reconstruction is to weigh the risk versus the benefit of doing face transplantation, and we felt the risk was well worth it to give [Katie] better function, better social form and, ultimately, a better life.'

Now, Katie (pictured recently) will be able to breathe, speak, chew and express emotions more effectively - all things she has not been able to do since she was a teenager

Katie exercising with physical therapists Becky Vano and Nicole Bliss to boost strength in her legs three weeks after surgery

Family love: Katie's parents Alesia and Robb (pictured) have been by her side through her recovery in Cleveland, Ohio

'[Katie's parents] were heartbroken and shocked at what happened, but they have embraced it,' said photographer Maggie Steber, who has shadowed Katie and her family for two-and-a-half years, every waking moment of every day.

'They are warriors. They're like eagles who are protecting a young bird. And now Katie has a mission in her life. She can try to save other young lives.'

As for Katie, she hopes to go back to school online, heading towards qualifying as a counselor. Ultimately, she says, she would like to work with other suicide survivors.

For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here

For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here

For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here
A five-month-old boy who underwent a heart-lung transplant is defying odds after doctors told his parents he may not live past birth.

When Tiffany Palmer, 35, was 20 weeks pregnant, she and her husband Chuck were told that their son, Jack, was suffering from a congenital heart defect that made it difficult for blood to flow through his body properly and was damaging his lungs.

Jack survived pregnancy and birth but, shortly after, his parents were given two options: put Jack on a potential months-long waiting list for a heart-lung transplant, or withdraw care.

The couple, from Kansas City, Missouri, chose the first option and, just five months later, a pair of organs became available.

Jack underwent the procedure in May and his parents say he is now thriving, finally being discharged from the hospital two weeks ago.

If he lives one year past his surgery, he will make history as the first infant under one-year-old to undergo a heart-lung transplant to live that long.

Jack Palmer (left and right) became the youngest person in 10 years to undergo a heart-lung transplant. Jack was born in January with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect in which the left side of the heart does not from correctly while the baby is in the womb

His parents, Chuck and Tiffany, learned about the condition when Tiffany was 20 weeks pregnant and were told that one option might be in utero surgery. Pictured: Tiffany and Chuck with their children, 11-year-old Allison, two-year-old Max, and Jack

Tiffany and Chuck, who are also parents to 11-year-old Allison and two-year-old Jack, learned they were expecting for a third time in May 2017.

But the couple's happiness soon turned to fear when they went for a 20-week ultrasound.

They were told that their unborn child was suffering from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect in which the left side of the heart does not from correctly while the baby is in the womb.

Because the left side of the heart is unable to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, the right side is responsible for pumping blood to both lungs and the rest of the body.

According to the CDC, about 960 babies are born in the US every year with this defect.

Problems quickly arise soon after birth including difficulty breathing, a weak pulse, and a bluish skin color.

Because this is a lifelong condition, medications may help lower blood pressure and strengthen the heart muscles.

Surgery is another option to help restore heart function by increasing blood flow throughout the body.

However, if the defect is severe or surgeries leave the heart weak, then a heart transplant is necessary.

At first, doctors told Tiffany and Chuck that in-utero surgery might help their baby's heart develop, reported TODAY.

But a fetal echocardiogram revealed there was too much damage for surgery to be performed and the parents were told Jack might not survive delivery. Pictured: Tiffany and Chuck with Jack

Jack (pictured) was delivered via C-section at St Louis Children's Hospital on January 16 before immediately being taken away for emergency treatment

But a fetal echocardiogram revealed there was too much damage for surgery to be performed and they were told he might not survive delivery.

'We were just devastated, crushed, hopeless,' Tiffany told TODAY.

'Instead of planning to bring home a new baby like we were hoping, we were feeling [as if] we had to plan a funeral.'

Despite the defect, Jack continued to grow and was delivered via C-section at St Louis Children's Hospital on January 16 before immediately being taken away for emergency treatment.

By the time Jack was three weeks old, he had undergone two open-heart surgeries.

But there were even more problems. Jack's lungs had not fully developed and he had a condition known as an intact atrial septum.

This is when a natural hole between the heart's upper chambers where blood pumps through is closed.

According to a 2004 Harvard Medical School study, only about six percent of babies born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome have an intact atrial septum.

Doctors told Chuck and Tiffany that they had two options: put Jack on a waiting list for a heart-lung transplant or to withdraw care.

By the time Jack (left and right) was three weeks old, he had undergone two open-heart surgeries. But there were even more problems. Jack's lungs had not fully developed and he had a condition known as an intact atrial septum

Doctors told Chuck and Tiffany (pictured, with Jack) that they had two options: put Jack on a waiting list for a heart-lung transplant or to withdraw care

'We were told he wouldn't even survive the delivery. So here we were and Jack was, yes, in NICU, but with us,' Tiffany said.

'We had gotten to hold himall of those emotions played a factor in our decision to move forward with transplant.'

On May 23, the parents learned that a pair of organs had become available and Jack became the 20th infant less than one year old to undergo a heart-lung transplant and the youngest in 10 years.

According to the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation, none of the 19 other babies have survived more than a few weeks after the surgery.

If Jack lives a year past his transplant, he will make history.

Chuck and Tiffany said the change in Jack's health following the procedure was almost immediate.

'The first thing I noticed was how pink he was,' Tiffany told TODAY.

'His movements were better, he was growing and he was smiling all the time.'

The couple chose the transplant and, on May 23, a pair of organs became available and Jack underwent the 10-hour surgery

Jack is the 20th infant less than one year old to undergo a heart-lung transplant and, if he survives a year past the surgery, he will be the first to do so. Pictured: Tiffany and Chuck with their children Allison, Max and Jack

Chuck and Tiffany say Jack (pictured) is now thriving and, on August 1, he was discharged and was able to experience life for the first time outside hospital walls

On August 1, Jack was discharged and was able to experience life for the first time outside hospital walls.

Although the couple and their two other children, 11-year-old Allison and two-year-old Max, have been living in an apartment in St Louis near the hospital, they say they plan to head back to Kansas City soon.

There are a number of things that the Palmers will have to watch out for.

Jack will have to visit a doctor's office twice a week and wear a mask so he is not exposed to odors that could irritate his lungs and send him into respiratory failure.

'Parts of this journey have felt like a nightmare we couldn't wake up from,' Tiffany told the Storm Lake Pilot Tribune.

'This part of the journey feels like a dream and I keep pinching myself making sure it's not. Jack has been through so much in his short life and we can't wait to tell Jack how his journey started.'

The family has created a Facebook page titled Jack Liam's Journey where they provide updates about his condition.
Lack of sleep can literally kill your social life, warns a new study.

Researchers have found that sleep-deprived people feel lonelier and less inclined to engage with others, avoiding close contact in much the same way as people with social anxiety.

Worse still, the alienation they feel makes sleep-deprived people more socially unattractive to others, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found.

The study also suggests that well-rested people feel lonely after just a brief encounter with a sleep-deprived person, potentially triggering a viral contagion of social isolation.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, are the first to show a two-way relationship between sleep loss and becoming socially isolated, shedding new light on the global loneliness epidemic.

Sleep-deprived people feel less social and more lonely, and appear less socially attractive to others, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley

'We humans are a social species. Yet sleep deprivation can turn us into social lepers,' said senior study author Dr Matthew Walker.

Dr Walker is a member of the contingent of scientists waging war on another worldwide 'epidemic': lack of sleep.

In the US, one in three people don't get the seven hours of sleep that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend each night.

Sleep deprivation raises the risks of all manner of diseases and chronic health conditions, but it also has dramatic effects on our day-to-day mental health and, according to the latest research, the health of our social lives.

The researchers found that brain scans of sleep-deprived people as they viewed video clips of strangers walking toward them showed powerful social repulsion activity in neural networks that are typically activated when humans feel their personal space is being invaded.

Sleep loss also blunted activity in brain regions that normally encourage social engagement.

'The less sleep you get, the less you want to socially interact,' said Dr Walker.

'In turn, other people perceive you as more socially repulsive, further increasing the grave social-isolation impact of sleep loss.

TIPS TO REST WELL TONIGHT FROM 'SLEEP DIPLOMAT,' DR MATT WALKER 1. Give yourself a non-negotiable eight hour sleep opportunity Without giving your brain and your body the chance to actually get all of the sleep that it needs, probably none of these other tips are going to transact as efficacious a benefit as they could do. 2. Regularity You should go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time. Try to never deviate. If you do, you're not going to feel sleepy at the appropriate time because you havent built up enough of that healthy sleep pressure. Then, you go to bed even later, and start to drift dangerously forward in time. We see this on the weekend, then it all comes crashing down on Sunday night, of course. We call this 'social jet lag.' 3. Temperature Keep it cool. Keep the bedroom at about 18.5C (65.3F). Your brain and body need to drop their core temperature by about one degree Celsius to initiate good sleep, and thats the reason that its always easier to fall asleep in a room thats too cold than too hot. The cold room is at least taking your brain and your body in the right temperature direction for sleep. 4. Light (Or, darkness, in truth) We are a dark-deprived society in modern times. We need darkness in the evening specifically, to allow for the rise of a hormone called melatonin, which helps time the natural and normal, healthy onset of our sleep. If were exposed to too much light in our environment - especially the harmful light that comes from LED screens, such as iPads and tablets and computer screens, they will essentially put the brakes on your brain, fooling it into thinking that its day time, even when its nine or 10 in the evening. So, no wonder you dont feel sleepy at the right time. 5. Don't stay in bed, awake, too long If you can't fall asleep for 20 minutes, or you've waken in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, go to a different room. There, you can have a dim light and a book to read; no emails, no screens, and try not to eat. If you stay awake in bed, your brain quickly learns the association of your bed being a place of wakefulness, rather than a place of sleep. Only return when you are actually sleepy and, that way, your brain can re-learn an association about your bed and your bedroom as a place of sleep. 6. No tea, coffee after 2 pm, and no 'night caps' Caffeine in the brain will keep you from going into deepest stages of sleep, even if you are able to fall asleep. Many people use alcohol to help them get to sleep, and it is a myth. Alcohol is a sedative, but sedation is not sleep. Alcohol knocks out your cortex, but you will wake up throughout the night and feel unrestored by your sleep. Alcohol will also block your dream sleep, which is critical for for many parts of health, especially mental and emotional health. Advertisement

'That vicious cycle may be a significant contributing factor to the public health crisis that is loneliness.'

Loneliness has been found in previous studies to increase the risk of dying by more than 45 percent - double the mortality risk associated with obesity.

Study lead author Dr Eti Ben Simon, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr Walker's Center for Human Sleep Science, said: 'It's perhaps no coincidence that the past few decades have seen a marked increase in loneliness and an equally dramatic decrease in sleep duration.

'Without sufficient sleep we become a social turn-off, and loneliness soon kicks in.'

The study challenges the assumption that humans are programmed to nurture socially vulnerable members of their tribe for the survival of the species.

Dr Walker, author of the bestseller Why We Sleep, has a theory for why that protective instinct may be lacking in the case of sleep deprivation.

He said: 'There's no biological or social safety net for sleep deprivation as there is for, say, starvation.

'That's why our physical and mental health implode so quickly even after the loss of just one or two hours of sleep.'

To gauge the social effects of poor sleep, Dr Walker and Dr Ben Simon conducted a series of experiments.

First, they tested the social and neural responses of 18 healthy young adults following a normal night's sleep and a sleepless night.

The participants viewed video clips of people with neutral expressions walking toward them. When the person on the video got too close, they pushed a button to stop the video, which recorded how close they allowed the person to get.

As predicted, sleep-deprived participants kept the approaching person at a significantly greater distance away - between 18 and 60 percent further back - than when they had been well-rested.

The participants also had their brains scanned as they watched the videos of people approaching them. In sleep-deprived brains, researchers found heightened activity in a neural circuit known as the 'near space network,' which is activated when the brain perceives potential incoming human threats.

In contrast, another circuit of the brain that encourages social interaction - called the 'theory of mind' network - was shut down by sleep deprivation, worsening the problem.

This is the set of brain regions that talk to one another and enable us to hold our own beliefs, desired and general emotional states, observe and understand these states in others, and know the difference between theirs and ours.

For the online section of the study, more than 1,000 observers recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk marketplace viewed videotapes of study participants discussing commonplace opinions and activities.

The observers were unaware that the subjects had been deprived of sleep and rated each of them based on how lonely they appeared, and whether they would want to interact socially with them.

Time and again, they rated study participants in the sleep-deprived state as lonelier and less socially desirable.

To test whether sleep-loss-induced alienation is contagious, researchers asked observers to rate their own levels of loneliness after watching videos of study participants.

They were surprised to find that otherwise healthy observers felt alienated after viewing just a 60-second clip of a lonely person.

Finally, the team looked at whether just one night of good or bad sleep could influence one's sense of loneliness the next day.

Each person's state of loneliness was tracked via a standardized survey that asked such questions as 'how often do you feel isolated from others?' and 'do you feel you don't have anyone to talk to?'

The researchers found that the amount of sleep a person got from one night to the next accurately predicted how lonely and unsociable they would feel from one day to the next.

'This all bodes well if you sleep the necessary seven to nine hours a night, but not so well if you continue to short-change your sleep,' Walker said.

'On a positive note, just one night of good sleep makes you feel more outgoing and socially confident, and furthermore, will attract others to you.'.
Pictured: Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite

Rising numbers of holiday-makers have been rendered ill after visiting Mexico.

Public Health England has warned potential tourists after launching an investigation into the dozens of tourists infected with the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, this year.

As of 3 August 2018, there were 63 laboratory-confirmed incidents of the parasitic infection, which causes vomiting, body aches, headache, fever and explosive diarrhoea.

Nearly all of these patients travelled outside of the UK - and 89 per cent of them visited Mexico.

Specifically, cases have stayed at several different hotels in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region (mostly on an all-inclusive basis), suggesting the source is likely to be a foodstuff that has been distributed to hotels throughout the region.

Worryingly, this is the fourth successive year since 2015 that cases of the infection have been reported in travellers returning from the central American country.

According to updated information on the Public Health England site, infection is commonly derived from food or water contaminated by human faeces.

The foods commonly involved are soft fruits such as raspberries and salad products such as coriander, basil, and lettuce.

Location, location, location: Specifically, cases have stayed at several different hotels in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region

C. cayetanensis is a common infection in the tropics and the vast majority of cases reported in the UK are associated with travel to these areas.

The risk of infection presented by imported foods is considered to be low.

Previous infections

Earlier this year, more than 200 people were sickened by the parasite after consuming pre-packaged Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? The time between infection and becoming sick is usually one week. Cyclospora cayetanensis infects the small intestine (bowel) and usually causes watery diarrhea, with frequent, explosive bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea and fatigue. Vomiting, fever and other flu-like symptoms may be noted. Some people who are infected with Cyclospora cayetanensis do not have any symptoms. SOURCE: Centre for Disease Control Advertisement

There were 212 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, last July.

The 212 cases occurred in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and technically also Michigan, but the instances of illness in Michigan were reported as related to people who bought products in Wisconsin.

Products distributed to each of the four states, as well as Illinois and Indiana, were recalled.

Most infected people reported buying and consuming the trays from Kwik Trip convenience stores, the Centre for Disease Control said.

Similarly, earlier this month, more than two dozen types of salads and wraps sold nationwide at Trader Joe's and Walgreens contained the parasite.

The same parasite sickened more than 200 McDonald's customers after they ate the chain's salads.

The CDC recommends those infected with cyclosporiasis be placed on an antibiotic and those experiencing diarrhea due to the illness get plenty of rest and take care to stay hydrated.
Scientists have discovered how cannabis eases the agony of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), new research suggests.

Compounds in marijuana, known as cannabinoids, are structurally similar to the naturally produced molecules endocannabinoids, which control inflammation in the gut, a US study found.

IBD occurs due to gut inflammation, with Crohn's disease affecting the entire digestive system and ulcerative colitis (UC) just the large intestine.

Medical cannabis will available on prescription in the UK after it was approved by the Government last month.

Marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes in 30 US states, including California, Florida and Ohio. Nine states permit the drug for recreational use.

Scientists have discovered how cannabis eases the pain of inflammatory bowel disease (stock)

IS MEDICAL CANNABIS LEGAL IN THE UK? Medical cannabis will be available on prescription in the UK after it was approved by the Government in July 2018. Doctors will be able to prescribe medicine derived from marijuana 'by the autumn', the Home Office announced. Home secretary, Sajid Javid, said: 'Following advice from two sets of independent advisors, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products  meaning they will be available on prescription. 'This will help patients with an exceptional clinical need.' Mr Javid added it is 'in no way a first step to the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use.' This comes after he granted an exceptional licence for Alfie Dingley, six, and Billy Caldwell, 12, to use cannabis for their epilepsy. Possession of the class B drug will still carry an unlimited fine and up to five years in jail, while dealers face 14 years in prison. Advertisement

How does cannabis reduce gut inflammation?

In the study, mice were treated with a chemical that damages their gut lining, leading to inflammation.

The researchers discovered gut inflammation is regulated by two processes, the first being the body's immune response to pathogens in the bowel.

Although this response is necessary to kill bugs, it can damage the gut's lining.

The second process involves molecules that move across the gut, turning inflammation 'on or off'. This mechanism requires endocannabinoids.

If endocannabinoids are not present, inflammation is out of balance, which can result in the body's immune cells attacking the gut lining.

Cannabinoids are structurally similar to endocannabinoids and may therefore have the same effect, according to the researcers.

'There's been a lot of anecdotal evidence about the benefits of marijuana'

Speaking of the findings, study author Dr Beth McCormick, from the University of Massachusetts, said: 'There's been a lot of anecdotal evidence about the benefits of medical marijuana, but there hasn't been a lot of science to back it up.

'For the first time, we have an understanding of the molecules involved in the process and how endocannabinoids and cannabinoids control inflammation.

'This gives clinical researchers a new drug target to explore to treat patients that suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases, and perhaps other diseases, as well.'

Although the results, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, are positive, the researchers add further studies are required.

Professor Randy Mrsny, from the University of Bath, who was also involved in the study, added: 'We need to be clear that while this is a plausible explanation for why marijuana users have reported cannabis relieves symptoms of IBD, we have thus far only evaluated this in mice and have not proven this experimentally in humans.

'We hope, however, that these findings will help us develop new ways to treat bowel diseases in humans.'
A six-year-old boy was left with brain seizures and brain swelling hospitalized after he contracted a virus from a mosquito bite.

Noah Surrett, six, from Waynesville, North Carolina, began complaining of headaches two weeks ago.

His mother, LoriAnne and father, Dakota, gave him pain medication but it didn't help. The next day, Noah became unresponsive and had a seizure.

After he was rushed to the hospital and several tests were run, doctors told LoriAnne that Noah had contracted a rare virus known as LaCrosse encephalitis, which is transmitted via mosquito bites.

LoriAnne told Daily Mail Online that Noah is not out of the woods yet because he's on seizure medication for the next two months and said she's sharing her son's story to warn parents about the disease and hopefully prevent a similar situation from occurring to their children.

Noah Surrett, six (left and right), from Waynesville, North Carolina, was left hospitalized for almost a week after he contracted a rare virus from a mosquito bite. Noah began complaining of headaches about two weeks ago

Pain medication did little to relieve his headaches and the next day, Noah (pictured) became unresponsive and suffered a seizure

LaCrosse encephalitis (LAC) is a rare virus that is contracted through mosquito bites and is most common in Midwestern and mid-Atlantic states.

Although many who are infected the virus don't show any symptoms, signs don't typically appear until five to 10 days after being bitten.

Symptoms can include fatigue, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.

According to the CDC, severe cases can result in an inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, with side effects such as seizures, coma, and paralysis.

There is no treatment for LAC, although severe cases may require hospitalization, respiratory support and IV fluids.

The CDC says that between 2004 and 2013 in the US, there were 787 total cases of LAC and 11 deaths.

On Saturday, August 4, LoriAnne and Dakota were taking Noah and his two older brothers to his grandparents' house when he began complaining of a headache.

After giving him some pain medication, she said Noah seemed fine and he stayed the night with his grandparents.

Doctors performed a chest X-ray, a CT scan, a blood test, a urine test, and a spinal tap before diagnosing him with LaCrosse encephalitis. Pictured: Dakota and LoriAnne Surrett with Noah (second from left) and their four other sons

LAC is a rare virus that is contracted through mosquito bites and although many who are infected don't show any symptoms, signs don't usually appear until five to 10 days after being bitten. Pictured: Noah in the hospital

Severe cases can result in an inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis, with side effects such as seizures, coma, and paralysis. Pictured: Noah in the hospital

The next day, after complaining of a headache again, LoriAnne received a call from her mother-in-law that Noah was 'in a daze' and not responding.

'Then I heard: "Oh my god, he's having a seizure" and I heard my father-in-law in the background yelling: "Call 911!"' she told Daily Mail Online.

An ambulance transferred Noah to Mission Hospital in Asheville, about 30 minutes away from where the Surretts live because it is the closest hospital with a pediatric unit.

Noah's temperature was 102.3F and the EMS first believed he was having a febrile seizure, which is when young children experience seizures or convulsions due to fevers.

However, doctors performed a chest X-ray, a CT scan, a blood test, a urine test, and a spinal tap.

When the spinal tap results came back, LoriAnnne was told that Noah had LAC.

'I was absolutely clueless because they said LaCrosse encephalitis and I was like: "What is that?"' she said.

'So they brought the pediatric ER doctor down who explained it to me that it's close to meningitis.'

It turned out the headaches that Noah was complaining about were actually his brain swelling with fluids.

Noah spent the next five days in the hospital, only responsive when he wasn't on pain medication.

Noah (pictured, in the hospital) spent the next five days in the hospital, only responsive when he wasn't on pain medication

On August 10, Noah was discharged from the hospital. LoriAnne says he's doing better, finally getting his appetite back after losing five pounds while in the hospital. Pictured: Noah, right, with one of his brothers

Noah is on seizure medication twice a day for the next two months. If he experiences any more seizures, he'll have to see a neurologist. Pictured: Dakota and LoriAnne with Noah (first row, far right) and their four other sons

'He was kind of in like a coma state of mind and his mind wasn't there,' LoriAnne said.

'The only thing they could do for him is give him medicine and let [the virus] run its course.'

On August 10, Noah was discharged from the hospital. LoriAnne says he's doing better, finally getting his appetite back after losing five pounds while in the hospital.

However, he's on seizure medication twice a day for the next two months. If he experiences any more seizures, he'll have to see a neurologist.

LoriAnne said she was shocked because she's gone to great measures to protect her sons against insect bites.

'We live in the country, and I religiously put bug spray on all five of my kids,' she said.

'They have bites at all times from being outside but none that have resulted in anything.'

LoriAnne posted photos of Noah in the hospital on Facebook on August 8, which she hopes will help spread awareness of the virus.

So far, the post has received more than 8,800 reactions and has been shared more than 14,000 times.

A family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds to cover Noah's medical bills.

Currently, $150 has been raised out of a $5,000 goal.
Fears of another Ebola pandemic have today been raised amid an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Virologists warn the situation will be hard to control because the affected area is a war zone, roamed by armed militias.

Professor Paul Hunter admitted this poses substantial problems for aid workers battling round-the-clock to contain the outbreak.

Health officials in the African nation fear 39 have so far been killed by the lethal virus, considered one of the most lethal pathogens in existence.

The outbreak on the border of Uganda was announced just days after another was declared over in the north west DRC.

Virologists feared it was 'reminiscent' of the 2014 Ebola pandemic, which decimated West Africa and killed 11,000 people.

But the new outbreak has already dwarfed the one earlier this summer, and has stoked more fears among the medical community.

Professor Hunter, of the University of East Anglia, praised an experimental vaccine that has boosted the odds of stopping the spread of Ebola.

Health officials in the African nation fear 39 have so far been killed by the lethal virus, considered one of the most lethal pathogens in existence

He said: However, the effectiveness of any immunization campaign depends on the ability to deliver that vaccine to the appropriate people is a timely manner.

Unfortunately the latest outbreak is in an area of armed conflict and this poses substantial difficulties for effective prevention.

Firstly, the threat to the lives of health workers from armed militias will prevent easy access to at risk populations, leading to delays in running vaccination campaigns.

Secondly the exposed populations are themselves far from settled with many people migrating out of the area and into neighbouring countries.

This makes it very difficult to trace potentially exposed people to offer them immunization.

Also, if people incubating the disease are migrating out of the area this can hasten the spread of the disease to surrounding communities and neighbouring countries.

Professor Hunter added: The greater population density and poor sanitation in many refugee camps can further multiply the cases of infection.

Officials in the African nation have confirmed nine deaths so far (pictured: Doctors Without Borders team members walk through an Ebola security zone at the entrance of a hospital in DR Congo, where a fresh outbreak of the virus was declared in the east of the country)

How was the new outbreak triggered?

The unsafe burial of a 65-year-old Ebola sufferer triggered the latest outbreak in the DRC, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

After she was buried members of her family began to display symptoms of the virus 'and seven of them died'.

Officials at the DRC's Ministry of Health have confirmed only 12 deaths but believe the virus is responsible for more.

They are currently testing 27 other suspected cases in the laboratory to either confirm or exclude EVD.

EVD, caused by the virus with its namesake, kills around 50 per cent of people it strikes  but there is no proven treatment available.

Three healthcare workers have been struck down by Ebola so far in this outbreak, of whom one has died.

Genetic analysis has confirmed the virus strain in this latest outbreak is the Zaire strain, the same as the one earlier this summer.

However, Peter Salama, WHO deputy director for emergency preparedness and response, last week revealed it is genetically different.

Where is the outbreak?

Most of the confirmed cases have been recorded in Mabalako, 18 miles (30km) west of the trading hub of Beni, where 230,000 people live.

DRC health officials have also confirmed five cases of EVD in Beni itself, which borders Uganda and Rwanda. Another seven are suspected.

Aid workers have been told they will have to navigate their response among more than 100 armed groups.

HAS THE DRC HAD AN EBOLA OUTBREAK BEFORE? DRC escaped the brutal Ebola pandemic that began in 2014, 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 tenth since the discovery of Ebola in the country in 1976, named after the river. The outbreak earlier this summer was its ninth. 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. Advertisement

A WHO spokesperson said last week: 'This is an active conflict zone. The major barrier will be safely accessing the affected population.'

The outbreak earlier this summer

Vaccinations began today, following the success of the jabs in Equateur province, which two weeks ago declared the end of an Ebola flare-up.

Some 33 people were feared to have died in that outbreak, which started in the poorly-connected region of Ikoko-Impenge and Bikoro.

It travelled 80 miles (130km) north to Mbandaka, a port city on the river Congo  an essential waterway - with around 1.2 million inhabitants.

There was a concern it would spread to Kinshasa  364 miles (586km) south, which has an international airport and 12 million people residents.

Dr Derek Gatherer, a virologist from Lancaster University, warned the outbreak earlier this summer was 'reminiscent' of the 2014 Ebola pandemic.

All neighbouring countries were alerted about the outbreak of Ebola before it was declared over amid fears it could spread easily.

Experimental vaccine

Officials hailed the use of an experimental vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, in stemming the Ebola outbreak in North West DRC in July.

More than 3,000 doses remain in stock in Kinshasa, allowing authorities to quickly deploy it to the affected areas near the Ugandan border.

Barthe Ndjoloko, who oversees the health ministry's Ebola response, said officials are working to identify those who may be infected.

He revealed last week the vaccination campaign will focus on healthcare workers and those who have come into contact with confirmed cases.

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.
Plans to roll out a controversial smartphone app that lets patient speak to their GP have been blocked by NHS chiefs amid fears over patient safety.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock wants to see the technology 'available to all' on the NHS and 'not just the select few' in London.

The app, which works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, claims to reduce pressure on primary care and hospitals.

But attempts by private firm Babylon Health to expand its 'GP at Hand' app into Birmingham have so far been thwarted by health chiefs.

New Health Secretary Matt Hancock uses a controversial smartphone app called Babylon Health that offers virtual consultations with a GP

NHS England has blocked the move over concerns it could lead to patients missing vital tests, screening appointments or treatment because they will no longer be registered with a local GP.

Currently, national screening services, such as mammograms, can only be accessed via the patient's GP referring them to local services.

As patients have to de-register from their local family doctor to use the app, they worry it could lead to people falling through the cracks.

GP leaders are concerned about virtual consultations and fear they will miss serious, less obvious symptoms that doctors pick up when they see patients face to face.

Others say it 'cherry picks' young and healthy patients, financially destabilising traditional GP practices.

Since it was launched in west London, more than 26,500 people have signed up to the service including Mr Hancock.

But GP leaders are very concerned about virtual consultations and fear they will miss serious, less obvious symptoms that doctors pick up through their gut instincts

In his first speech as Health Secretary, Mr Hancock said he is 'passionate' about 'revolutionary' new technology.

'Emphatically the way forward is not to curb the technology - it's to keep improving it and - only if we need to - change the rules so we can harness new technology in a way that works for everyone: patient and practitioner,' he said at the time.

THE APP AT A GLANCE What it provides: Video appointments with an NHS GP for patients living in one of five London locations. How it works: Set up by four GP partners and backed by the NHS, this lets you book a free video appointment day or night, with an NHS GP who will discuss symptoms and book a face-to-face appointment if necessary. The doctor can prescribe medication, which you can pick up at a pharmacy. But controlled drugs such as tramadol and other strong painkillers cannot be prescribed during the digital consultation. GP at Hand claims it can advise on conditions from lactose intolerance to tonsillitis, urinary tract infections and back pain. Advertisement

Yesterday, a committee of Hammersmith and Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group, where it is based, also voted against the expansion.

A spokesman for GP at Hand said it had done everything necessary for it to be given the green light.

He said: 'Commissioners have known for more than nine months of the proposed national expansion of GP at hand. The NHS has not been able to put in place the screening arrangements that enable this.

'As a result, the choice of GP practice promised by the NHS to people across the country is being held back and the opportunity to reduce pressure on primary care and A&Es is being missed.

'We hope this issue will be resolved without further delay so that safe, effective and extremely convenient primary care can become a reality for anyone who chooses it.'
The need to hire talent is a good indication that your business is scaling up, but entrepreneurs looking to make new additions should proceed with caution.

Finding candidates that fit the bill can be a challenge, with over a third of small businesses reporting a shortage in talent for positions they need filling, according to joint research by American Express and the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

Making a dud hire could inhibit your firm's growth and firing an employee can be a headache as you'd have to dedicate even more time and resources to that and finding a replacement.

Over a third of small firms report a shortage in talent for positions they need filling according to joint research by American Express and the Centre for Economics and Business Research

But what are the attributes of a 'good' hire? Should you employ candidates with the right skills - on paper - or those with less experience but the right mindset?

We asked the head of a recruiting firm for his tips.

James Reed, chairman of REED Recruitment, replies: When Im interviewing candidates, I look for many things but the first thing I want to establish is whether I trust this person or not. Importantly, when it comes to doing a job there are two types of trust that are necessary:

Does the candidate have the skills required to do the job? Are they honest, and will they bring integrity to their approach to their work and to the company that they work for?

If a candidate has the right skills on paper, but you suspect them of being dishonest or untrustworthy in some way youre unlikely to want to include them in your team.

But what if their skills appear incomplete and yet you admire their integrity, their openness to new ideas and their resilience? What if your candidate lacks all the necessary skills to do the job, but displays the desired mindset? Should you hire them or not?

Obviously, the best applicants demonstrate both, but when push comes to shove mindset trumps skillset.

When we asked top employers around the world how much they value mindset, they told us that a person with the right mindset is on average seven times more valuable to their organisation than a normal employee.

More than anything, it is your people who will determine how your company progresses and how your culture develops.

They are your future and every time you hire someone you are adding to your companys DNA.

Don't hire in your own image

More organisations are recognising the importance of creating and nurturing diverse teams that are composed of people with a range of different backgrounds, personalities and beliefs.

James Reed, chairman of REED Recruitment, says mindset trumps skillset

Today the best managers know that finding the right fit for the team isnt about hiring in your own image; instead, its about nurturing a group of people with complementary skills and experiences.

Hiring a team of individuals with similar personality traits who get along in the traditional sense will hollow out creativity and greatly reduce the likelihood of innovation.

Hiring in your own image is an ever-present danger for companies who rely on staff referrals for their new hires. They simply arent casting the net widely enough.

This is an easy trap to fall into but the best ideas are often developed with the input of different people, and sometimes you need a new perspective to join the team and disrupt the status quo in order for true progress to happen.

Teams tasked with developing new products and technologies in particular require a level of variation when it comes to different personality types and skill sets.

Truly innovative teams should have extroverts and introverts, creatives, analytical types and disruptors.

Challenge your first impressions

Many of us can make snap decisions when were interviewing. Rightly or wrongly, its commonplace to jump to conclusions in the first five minutes of the interview.

You can often judge within the first few moments whether youre going to get along with this person or not - thats human nature. But thats not what youre there to do. Youre not there to have a friendly chat, youre there to make a hiring decision.

Dont let your first impressions cloud your judgement. If after the first couple of questions youre thinking this person seems perfect  spend the rest of the interview challenging your own opinion.

Alternatively, if at the beginning of the interview, the candidate slips up in some way and you dont think theyre much good, spend the next 55 minutes challenging this assumption.

Spending a serious amount of time on hiring does make a lot of sense. Smart organisations dont simply invest in new products, they invest particularly in the people behind them.
Five American troops have now been killed in combat so far this year in Afghanistan, following the death of a Special Forces soldier on Sunday.

Sgt. 1st Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, of Waikoloa, Hawaii, died at a hospital in Germany five days after he was injured by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.

In yesterday's announcement of his death, the Pentagon said that he died 'of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near him while he was conducting combat patrol operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

This image provided by the Army shows Sgt. 1st Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, from Waikoloa, Hawaii. The U.S. military says the Army special forces soldier died on Sunday, August 12, from wounds he received earlier this month in southern Afghanistan

'Transfiguracion was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.'

He had been wounded last Tuesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near him while he was on patrol.

Transfiguracion was a staff sergeant when he was wounded but was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class, said Maj. Beth Riordan, spokeswoman for 1st Special Forces Command.

He was an engineer assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

Born in the Philippines, Transfiguracion enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard in 2001.

He joined the active duty Army in 2008, and later went through special forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Transfiguracion deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2008, and then went to the Philippines in 2010 for six months, Riordan said.

His latest war tour in Afghanistan started in March.

Among his numerous awards, Transfiguracion received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a Meritorious Service Medal as a result of his Afghanistan service.

It was the second Purple Heart he received during his military career.

The Pentagon said it was investigating the explosion.
Between 20,000 and 30,000 Islamic State fighters remain in Iraq and Syria despite the jihadist group's defeat and a halt in the flow of foreigners joining its ranks, according to a UN report released Monday.

The report by UN sanctions monitors estimates that between 3,000 and 4,000 IS jihadists were based in Libya while some of the key operatives in the extremist group were being relocated to Afghanistan.

Member-states told the monitors that the total IS membership in Iraq and Syria was 'between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals, roughly equally distributed between the two countries.'

A member of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) removes an Islamic State group flag in the town of Tabqa, just west of Raqa, the former IS capital in Syria

'Among these is still a significant component of the many thousands of active foreign terrorist fighters,' said the report.

The sanctions monitoring team submits independent reports every six months to the Security Council on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, which are on the UN terrorist blacklist.

IS once controlled large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, but last year it was driven out of Mosul and Raqa -- the twin seats of power of the Sunni extremist group.

By January 2018, IS was confined to small pockets of territory in Syria, although the report said the group 'showed greater resilience' in eastern Syria.

IS 'is still able to mount attacks inside Syrian territory. It does not fully control any territory in Iraq, but it remains active through sleeper cells' of agents hiding out in the desert and elsewhere, said the report.

A wall with the logo and slogans of the ISIS terrorist militia in Mosul, Iraq, was struck off in May 2017

Some member-states raised concerns about new IS cells emerging from the densely populated Rukban camp for internally displaced persons in southern Syria, on the border with Jordan, where families of IS fighters are now living.

The flow of foreigners leaving IS 'remains lower than expected' and no other arena has emerged as a favorite destination for foreign fighters, although 'significant numbers have made their way to Afghanistan', said the report.

There are an estimated 3,500-4,500 IS fighters in Afghanistan and those numbers are increasing, according to the report.

The flow of foreign fighters toward IS 'has essentially come to a halt,' it added.

IS finances are drying up, with one member-state estimating that its total reserves were 'in the low hundreds of millions' of US dollars. Some revenue from oil fields in northeastern Syria continues to flow to IS.

An undated ISIS propaganda image showing an explosion from aerial bombardment of the city center of Ayn al-Islam, Syria by Russian aircraft

IS commands only 250 to 500 members in Yemen, compared to between 6,000 and 7,000 fighters for Al-Qaeda.

In the Sahel, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara is active mostly at the border between Mali and Niger but has less of a foothold than the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JMIN).

The Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab dominates in Somalia but the report said that IS 'has the strategic intent to expand to central and southern Somalia'. Some Somali IS fighters may choose to relocate to Puntland, said the report.
Meghan Markle will not speak to her father Thomas until he makes contact in a 'respectful manner' and stops airing his grievances in public, DailyMail.com has learned.

The Duchess of Sussex, 37, has not spoken to Markle Sr since shortly after her wedding to Prince Harry in May when the royal, 33, allegedly berated the retiree for staging a series of fake photos with a Los Angeles-based paparazzi photographer.

Since then, the 74-year-old has gone on to give a series of interviews in which he claimed Meghan would be better off 'if I was dead' and said he had been cut off by Kensington Palace and has no way of contacting his youngest daughter.

But a close friend of the 37-year-old has now told DailyMail.com that Markle Sr does have a means of contacting Meghan  via her mother Doria Ragland, 62.

The couple, who divorced when their daughter was six, have remained in touch and, shortly before the royal wedding in May, Markle Sr was seen delivering pots of Mother's Day flowers to his ex-wife's home in Los Angeles, California.

A source close to Meghan Markle says Thomas Markle Sr has a greater chance of getting in touch with his estranged daughter by contacting her mother, Doria, 62

Meghan and her dad have been estranged since her wedding, but he has gone on to give a series of interviews, claiming he has been cut off by his daughter and has no way of contacting her

'The only reason Meghan hasn't spoken to her father yet is because she's yet to hear from him in a respectful manner,' the source told DailyMail.com.

'Thomas is speaking to the press more than he's reached out and spoken to his own daughter.'

The friend added: 'Despite Thomas's claim that he has no way to reach Meghan, he knows that her mother Doria is in touch with her and Thomas knows how to reach Doria.

'If Thomas truly wanted to speak with Meghan, he could easily have sent a letter to her mother and asked her to pass it along.

'Unfortunately that wouldn't sell papers or fit into his fabricated and salacious narrative.'

The pair have a history of rifts, as DailyMail.com has previously revealed, with Markle Sr claiming the latest one began because Meghan asked him to cut off contact with her half-sister Samantha.

Kensington Palace has been approached for comment by DailyMail.com.

The new revelations come after Markle Sr gave another interview this past weekend to the Mail on Sunday in which he once again moaned about being unable to contact Meghan, claimed to have sent her two birthday cards, and admitted that he lied to Prince Harry about the paparazzi photos scandal.

Thomas Sr, 74, and Doria Ragland, 62, divorced when Meghan was six, but the two are believed to have remained in touch. He was photographed on Mother's Day delivering potted plants to his ex-wife's Los Angeles home, days before the royal wedding

He told the paper of the now-infamous pictures of him being measured for a suit: 'I told him [Prince Harry] I was being measured for a new hoodie.'

Markle Sr also lashed out at the Prince for remonstrating with him over the photo scandal while he was allegedly lying in his hospital bed recovering from a heart attack in San Diego, and described the timing of the call as 'rude'.

The septuagenarian then went on to speak of his hurt over not receiving a wedding invitation to frame and revealed that he was upset that Meghan had decided not to let him make a speech at her wedding.

Markle Sr said: 'I was going to recount the funny story about how she broke the news to me about dating Harry: 'Daddy, I've met a man Daddy, he's English Daddy, he's a prince.'

'I thought it was a cute story. Like any father I wanted to say a few words. I was going to thank the Royal Family for welcoming my beautiful daughter into their family. But it was a speech that I was never going to be allowed to give. That hurt.'

He also launched a defense of his decision to speak to the media and claimed his Mail on Sunday interview would be his last  although he went on to speak to a tabloid newspaper less than 24 hours later.

Speaking to The Sun on Sunday night, he added: 'I want to say good luck and God bless to my daughter. I don't expect to see her or hear back from her  and that's OK.

'All I was doing was saying things I wanted to say. I just want to re-establish the relationship with my daughter.

'I now want to go on vacation somewhere to try and get some peace.'

The latest round of interviews come just seven days after the 74-year-old spent nine hours with the Mail on Sunday, during which he admitted to a drug-taking past, said Princess Diana would have 'loathed' the way he is being treated and hit out at Prince Harry  saying: 'I don't care if Harry never speaks to me again, I'll survive.'

The source accused Markle Sr of selling salacious interviews to the press, and claims he has spoken to the media more than he has tried to contact Meghan

Meghan's half-sister Samantha, 53, has also turned on her and has given multiple interviews slamming the former actress over her treatment of their father  despite being estranged from the retiree himself

His outbursts in the press follow a series of statements made to gossip website TMZ during the period around the royal wedding in May, following the paparazzi photo scandal.

Although Markle Sr had been due to attend  and had his name printed in the program  he pulled out last minute after claiming to have suffered a heart attack.

Despite telling the Mail on Sunday that he spent the day in a San Diego hospital bed, Markle Sr actually watched the nuptials from a $31-a-night Airbnb in Baja Malibu  a scruffy residential compound close to his home in San Antonio del Mar.

He returned home on the Monday after the wedding and was pictured purchasing a creamy drink from Starbucks en route.

Since then, the retired Emmy winner has repeatedly spoken out about his daughter and has insisted that he will continue to do so until she contacts him.

He has also been pictured out and about in Los Angeles, where he was spotted purchasing a McDonalds meal on his birthday last month.

Despite his public protestations to the contrary, Markle Sr has been repeatedly pictured tucking into fast food  including McDonalds Happy Meals and KFC; the latter shortly after he revealed he had had a heart attack.

Although ex-wife Doria has remained silent about the Markle debacle currently engulfing the royal family, Meghan's half-siblings have spoken out  with sister Samantha describing the Duchess's treatment of her father as 'inhumane'.

She told the Mirror newspaper on Monday: 'There would be no just reason for her not to want him in her life, as he was good enough to use to make her everything she is.'

Samantha, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, later took to Twitter to lambaste her half-sister, describing her as 'heartless, arrogant and inhumane' in a series of late-night messages.

The 53-year-old was echoed by her brother Thomas Markle Jr, 51, of Grants Pass, Oregon, who also slammed the former actress over her treatment of their father  despite being estranged from the retiree himself.

He told the Mirror: 'It's heartbreaking to see how this has changed her and the devastation it has caused to my family.

'Anyone who saw Meg when she was growing up knew her and my dad were inseparable. Now it looks as though they may never speak again.'
A Los Angeles woman flew into a rage and hurled racist insults at two Latino construction workers before throwing a cup of hot coffee directly at one of their faces.

Miguel Sanchez was the first to arrive at the site of job he had landed through a contractor at an upscale apartment complex in Century City and stepped outside to allow his co-worker Jesse access into the building the morning of August 4.

When the men were about to enter the complex's garage, Rhonda Michelle Polon paused from walking her dogs and started arguing with both men, questioning their motives before attacking Sanchez with the hot drink.

In the video that has gone viral since the incident, the woman can be heard accusing them of being thieves, according to Sanchez.

A Los Angeles woman flew into a rage and hurled racist insults at two Latino construction workers before throwing a cup of hot coffee directly at one of their faces

'She was calling us w*tbacks, and that we were probably there to steal stuff. After all those racial comments on us, I got my phone out and started recording,' Sanchez told KLTA.

Sanchez remained cool and recorded the video with his cell phone before Michelle completely went berserk. She took a couple of steps towards him and tossed a cup of coffee at the defenseless man's face.

Both men were trying to attempt to get to their vehicle, but Polon continued to verbally abuse Sanchez, whose face had turned red and whose t-shirt was completely drenched by the coffee.

Michael Sanchez (left) was the victim of a racist insults by Rhonda Michelle Polon on August 4. Polon then threw coffee in Sachez's face. She is seen holding the cup of the hot beverage right and his stained shirt is seen left

The woman, who owns Spin Gal Fitness in West Hollywood and has since shutdown her Instagram account, @spin_gal_fitness, continued to berate the men before leaving the scene.

While Sanchez recorded additional footage of the shocking incident, another tenant appeared from behind the condo's lobby entrance dressed in a bathrobe and walking barefooted.

He accused them of previously having stolen his bicycle before going toe-to-toe with Jesse and hurling more racist epithets at the men.

Sanchez declined to press charges on Polon, who was given a citation.

Rhonda Michelle Polon hurled racist epithets at two Latino men that were hired to work at her upscale apartment in Los Angeles.

'I had compassion which I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have with me if it was the other way around. I know I made the right decision, and I know deep down that she will not change her point of view about us (latinos, mexicanos, hispanos, etc,etc) but I still tried to show good values and hopefully to pass them on,' Sanchez wrote on his Facebook account.ht decision, and I know deep down that she will not change her point of view about us (latinos, mexicanos, hispanos, etc,etc) but I still tried to show good values and hopefully to pass them on,' Sanchez wrote on his Facebook account.

'Despite the job I have, the color of my skin or where I came from, I tried to be the better man, and that's how you win. There is only one race, HUMAN RACE.'
The religious leader of one of Melbourne's largest mosques who was dismissed for sexual misconduct has lost his unfair dismissal case.

According to a Fair Work Commission decision, Sheik Mohamad Abou-Eid was sacked as Imam of Preston Mosque after several female members of its congregation accused him of 'inappropriate sexual conduct'.

The controversial cleric, who is known for been vocal, was relieved of his duties while the Board of Imams Victoria investigated the matter.

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According to a Fair Work Commission decision, Sheik Mohamad Abou-Eid (pictured) was sacked as Imam of Preston Mosque after several female members of its congregation accused him of 'inappropriate sexual conduct'

Fair Work Commissioner Michelle Bissett said when reviewing Abou-Eid's unfair dismissal case there were a number of factors to be taken into consideration.

She said the Islamic Society of Victoria sacked Abou-Eid based on the investigation by BOIV, which was 'hurried' and 'lacked procedural fairness', news.com.au reports.

'Many of the statements made were hearsay or were statements that could not be tested,' she said.

'It is perilous to rely on the outcomes of an inquiry conducted by another organisation where that inquiry is conducted in private and its procedures not known and where procedural fairness is not afforded.'

In regards to sexual misconduct, Ms Bissett said she was not satisfied the decision was reached based on 'reasonable grounds' but added, Abou-Eid's 'riotous behaviour' during his tenure as Imam did constitute serious misconduct.

Mr Abou-Eid's was sacked from his role as Imam at Preston Mosque (pictured) pending the investigation

According to a Fair Work Commission decision, it was around the time of the sexual misconduct allegations that Abou-Eid accused Preston Mosque of misappropriation of donated money.

According to the decision, in an interview with Channel 9's A Current Affair, the religious leader accused the organisation of stealing money intended for Syrian refuges and Lebanon graves.

He told the media organisation ISV were 'thieves, criminals, money launderers, money smugglers and gangsters who had stolen millions of dollars'.

Fair Work Commissioner Michelle Bissett said Abou-Eid was not compelled to attend the violent scenes that took place outside Preston mosque

After being let go from his role, Abou-Eid later made the same claims outside the mosque, where protesters engaged in what ISV referred to as 'riotous behaviour'.

ISV president Tarek Khodr said the inappropriate behaviour of Abou-Eid involved being accompanied by men who are known to be 'underworld figures'.

'Finally, your conduct following the suspension by the Islamic Society of Victoria  was inflammatory and evidenced your flagrant disregard of lawful directions given to you by your employer.' the ISV said in its termination letter.

In determining Abou-Eid's dismissal, Ms Bissett said whether the 'outrageous claims' of misappropriated funds were true or not, it ultimately had no influence on the unfair dismissal claim.

She added in regards to the violent scenes that took place outside Preston mosque, Abou-Eid 'was not compelled to go to the Mosque but he went anyway'.

Ms Bissett concluded that Abou-Eid's behaviour was not appropriate for a religious leader, and added that the ISV had 'reasonable grounds' to justify dismissal.
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A 12-year-old boy has been dramatically rescued after being trapped in a raging river during flash floods in Pennsylvania.

The boy was at risk of being swept away as he was perched precariously on a pile of branches in a river in Charleston Township, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia.

And a bride and her groom also had to be plucked to safety after their vehicle became stranded on their wedding day, after heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding in parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania.

Emergency crews were kept busy rescuing motorists from deluged roads and waterways, or evacuating people as rapidly rising water gushed into homes and businesses in the mountainous coal regions.

This image shows the moment the 12-year-old boy was carefully rescued from a pile of branches, to the left of the picture above, to the bank on the other side of the river

Near Little Falls, police officers rescued a bride from the roof of her car, when she and her groom were stranded on their wedding day

Floodwater from Fishing Creek and West Creek is seen in the downtown area of Benton, Pa., following heavy rains Monday

With some people unable to quickly escape the flooding, Kyle Morgan, of the Schuylkill Haven Rescue and Recovery Dive Team, told CBS: 'We made our way with our boats, because they had some areas they [emergency crews] couldn't access anymore, with their heavy brush trucks.'

Near Little Falls, police officers rescued a bride from the roof of her car, when she and her groom were stranded on their wedding day.

State highway and emergency management officials yesterday reported numerous closed roads from Williamsport to the Philadelphia suburbs.

PennDOT workers clear debris from the Swatara Creek on a Route 443 bridge after more flooding in Pine Grove, Pa

The Ryan Township dive team uses a boat to transport a person for medical problems along Pike Street in Port Carbon, Pa

Floodwaters surround homes along West Main Street in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., after overnight rainfall triggered flash flooding in parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania on Monday, closing down a heavily traveled interstate and sending water into homes in the mountainous coal regions

A sinkhole opened up near the Giant foods store parking lot, on Progress Avenue in Pottsville, Pa., after flooding on Monday

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) said that the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center was 'activated to monitor ongoing flooding in central and eastern PA. Stay alert for rapidly changing conditions and never drive through floodwater.

PEMA warned of 'ongoing flash flood threat courtesy of overnight heavy rain across central and eastern PA. [The] threat continues through late evening with more heavy downpours.'

Today, the US National Weather Service State College PA said: 'The pesky, slow-moving area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere will bring yet another day of numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms, capable of bringing locally heavy rain and flooding of some small streams, creeks and poor drainage areas.

'The greatest threat for heavy rain will be across the Central and northeast portions of the state.'

It added: 'Never drive cars through flooded areas. The water may be too deep to allow safe passage. Most deaths occur during flooding are related to vehicles trying to cross flooded roadways.'

In Port Carbon, borough workers Larry Eich Jr., left, and Bob Faust, unclog storm drains on Spruce Street after flooding

A barefoot man walks during a heavy rainfall along the corner of Wyoming Avenue and Mulberry Street in downtown Scranton, Pa

Members of the Columbia/Montour SWAT team and a crew from a Montour water rescue team help evacuate the Jason Simpkins family from their home in Benton, Pa.

People sit on the front porch in Benton, Pa., as floodwater fills the street and flows around their home, covering the bottom steps

First responders make their way through floodwaters in Darby, Pa. The forecast has warned of storms to continue, causing flooding in the southcentral, northcentral and eastern parts of the state through to Wednesday

The National Weather Service in State College said there were numerous reports of six inches of rain or more in Schuylkill and Columbia counties

Hazel Coles said water rose so quickly at her home in Darby, outside Philadelphia, that she had to evacuate through a window.

She said there was about three feet of water on her street, and some people had to be evacuated by boat. Coles said the Red Cross was helping displaced residents, adding: 'It's just crazy. I thank God it wasn't worse.'

The National Weather Service in State College said there were numerous reports of six inches of rain or more in Schuylkill and Columbia counties.

The weather also caused choppy waters on the Lehigh River, prompting conflicting reports of a group of missing rafters.

Two occupants from a front-end loader walk up Route 487 as a water rescue team moves towards them, after the loader ended up off the roadway in the floodwater from Fishing Creek near Benton, Pa.

Floodwater swept through businesses and homes, prompting officials to warn people to remain 'alert' given the conditions

Water rescue teams from Lehigh and Northampton counties were dispatched to an area near Slatington, Pennsylvania, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) north of Philadelphia after a rafting company reported that they could not account for nearly 150 rafters.

The Morning Call reported that emergency officials have talked to the company and they said they believed everyone was accounted for and on their way home.

Police in Bloomsburg set off a mandatory evacuation siren late Monday afternoon for a few hundred people in the west end of town, after Fishing Creek burst its banks and rose rapidly.

Columbia County emergency official Dave Witchey said a fire hall in Berwick was accepting evacuees, and another shelter may be opened if necessary.

Workers clean up debris swept into the street during flooding in Upper Darby, Pa. Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in central and southeastern Pennsylvania

A car sits submerged at an intersection in Pottsville, Pa., after heavy rain triggered flash flooding in parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania

'If it keeps coming up, it could be a lot worse,' said Bloomsburg Mayor William Kreisher, who said a state-of-emergency declaration was being prepared.

National Weather Service meteorologist Aaron Tyburski said the latest downpours followed weeks of a stalled weather pattern that is drawing moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, hitting some communities repeatedly.

'It's been quite a rough go for them over the past three weeks,' Tyburski said.

In the Benton area north of Bloomsburg, three helicopters with a group run by the National Guard and the state Fish and Boat Commission performed about 10 rescues, including people plucked from the roofs of their homes, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Buildings were deluged along a street in Port Carbon, Pa., and ended up damaged as Mill Creek overflowed its banks. High water in Port Carbon caused some evacuations and prompted firefighters to launch rescue boats and rafts

Water rushes across Market Street in Port Carbon, Pa. Overnight rains triggered flash flooding in parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania, closing down a heavily traveled interstate and sending water into homes in the mountainous coal regions

The agency also said that in Columbia County, a helicopter team rescued nine people stranded on roofs, three of whom were children.

High water in Port Carbon prompted evacuations, as firefighters launched rescue boats and rafts. Parts of Pottsville were inundated with floodwater, and three shelters were set up in response.

Schuylkill County emergency management director John Matz said water levels were starting to fall by early afternoon Monday, and officials were making plans to assess the damage.

He said the recent flooding could have caused more damage than the high water that hit the county a few weeks ago and affected several hundred structures.

Mill Creek overflowed its banks, damaging a structure along Pottsville Street in Port Carbon, Pa., on Monday. Gov. Tom Wolf activated the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center on Monday morning and the National Guard was notified to be ready to help, if needed

People inspect a car and truck partly submerged in floodwaters in Darby. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads

'The difference now is, once we hit the center part of the county, it's a more populated area,' Matz said.

In the Philadelphia area, the Schuylkill Expressway was closed in both directions at the busy King of Prussia Mall exit. The waters affected dozens of stores and a parking garage at the mall.

Upper Darby and Montgomery County police reported numerous rescues of people trapped in cars by flooding.

Gov. Tom Wolf activated the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center and the National Guard was notified to be ready to help, if needed.

The forecast has warned of storms to continue, causing flooding in the southcentral, northcentral and eastern parts of the state through to Wednesday.

Firefighters look on as floodwaters rise over a road in Darby, Pa. People had to be rescued from stranded cars in central and southeastern Pennsylvania
Three men who came to the aid of a distraught teenager after she was allegedly sexually assaulted while walking to catch a tram are being sought by police.

The woman, who is in her late teens, was attacked while walking along Flinders Street toward Swanston Street in Melbourne's CBD just after 1.45am on June 9, police said.

A man approached the girl, put his arm around her shoulders and neck and began talking to her as she walked, police said.

Police have released images of the man (pictured in red) over the alleged attack on the teenage girl near Swanston Street in Melbourne on June 9

He pulled the woman toward him and kissed her as they passed the Metro Tunnel.

She pushed him away and continued walking, but the man grabbed her again.

He then dragged the woman into an alleyway behind metal gates, locked the gates, and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The woman screamed before fleeing onto Flinders Street.

Three men walking nearby noticed the distressed woman and helped her get in touch with a friend and organise a ride home. She did not tell the men she had been assaulted, police said.

Police have released image of the Good Samaritans in the hope they will come forward to assist in the investigation.

Police have released this CCTV image of the one of the men who helped her in the hope he will come forward

Officers said the victim have been left 'extremely traumatised' by the attack and alerted police in July.

Officers are urging anyone who saw the victim leave the alleyway or heard her screams to contact police.

The attacker was seen earlier in the night at a bar below a hostel located between Elizabeth and Degraves streets.

The man (pictured in red hoodie) approached the girl and put his arm around her shoulders and neck before the assault, police said

Anyone who captured dash cam or social media footage in the vicinity of the incident, particularly near the bar the man was at prior to the attack, are also encouraged to contact police.

The man is described as being aged in his early 20s, around 178cm tall with a lean build, dark brown skin and short hair.

He was wearing a dark coloured jacket and long pants.
A woman has been arrested after allegedly making threatening hoax phone calls to two primary schools in Sydney's west.

Teachers and staff at Bellambi Public and Corrimal East Public became concerned on Monday after allegedly received threatening calls from a woman at 9.30am.

Students from both schools were evacuated as a precaution.

A woman has been arrested after allegedly making threatening hoax phone calls to Bellambi Public and Corrimal East Public (pictured) in Sydney's west

The 32-year-old woman, who allegedly made the calls, was arrested later arrested and taken to Wollongong police station (pictured, left) where she allegedly assaulted two police officers

Police were alerted and searched the schools but didn't find anything suspicious, according to a NSW police spokesperson.





The 32-year-old woman who allegedly made the calls was later arrested at her home and taken to Wollongong police station, where she allegedly assaulted two police officers.

She has been charged with giving false information, making a hoax threat and assaulting police.

The woman was refused bail and faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
The national president of notorious outlaw motorcycle gang the Nomads has been charged after allegedly meeting with four bikies in an exclusive seafood restaurant.

Dylan Patrick Brittliffe was slapped with crime prevention orders restricting his civil liberties in an unprecedented move from the NSW Supreme Court in April this year.

The movement, which is the first of its kind in the state, came about amid fears of a devastating turf war erupting in NSW's Hunter Valley and Newcastle regions.

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The national president of the outlaw motorcycle gang, the Nomads (pictured with a glamorous blonde), was charged with seriously breaching a series of crime prevention orders

Giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court, Nomads national president Dylan Patrick Brittliffe (pictured) said there had been no problems between the gangs for more than a year

Police allege Brittliffe met with four other Nomads bikies at the high class seafood restaurant, Little Beach Boat House in Nelson Bay, Daily Telegraph reported.

He is strictly forbidden from meeting with any outlaw bikie gang members as part of the crime prevention order.

He was charged with two counts of contravene a non-association or place restriction order.

Police hoped to prevent Brittliffe and four other high-ranking gang members from driving at night, entering licensed premises and using encrypted communication platforms including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Wickr and Hushmail.

Nomads bikie Bradley Bowtell (left and right) appeared in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney to oppose the order

Left: Nomads Newcastle leader Bradley Bowtell. Right: Nomads National president Dylan Patrick Brittliffe

Nomads motorcycle gang member James Kenneth Quinnell leaves court after fighting a police attempt to restrict his movements

Nomads member Blake Kevin Martin leaves court wearing a gold watch and sunglasses with satchel over his shoulder after fighting impositions on his civil liberties

By targeting the 'elements that are central to gang activity', such as group association and territory, the orders intend to limit an individual's opportunity to re-offend by reducing his or her exposure to high risk situations.

Four other members of the gang also had the penalties imposed on them, James Kenneth Quinnell, Bradley Bowtell, Blake Kevin Martin and Kane Benjamin Tamplin, as well as five members of rival gang, the Finks.

The men testified in court to have their penalties dropped or reduced, arguing there was no turf war between the rivals to raise alarm.

The Newcastle chapter of the Nomads, which is allegedly part of escalating violence between rival bikie gangs around the city, north of Sydney

Police argue the members have been going 'tit for tat' with the Finks for over 12 months, with seven drive by shootings and firebombings involving the gangs across the Hunter Valley throughout the first nine weeks of this year.

The Newcastle chapters of the Finks and Nomads have seen their numbers rise in the first few months of 2018, as the two groups battle for supremacy in the region.

Police sources have told Daily Mail Australia they fear a bikie war could erupt, leading them to initiate a task force specifically to crack down on the local rival gangs before the violence turns deadly.

Breaching a non-association order is punishable by six months imprisonment.

Brittliffe's matter was discussed at Maitland Local Court, and will reconvene in court at the end of this month.

The Newcastle chapters of the Finks and Nomads have seen their numbers rise in the first few months of 2018, as the two groups battle for supremacy in the region

Police sources have told Daily Mail Australia they fear a bikie war could erupt, leading to mass casualties
A group of bikies have been handcuffed and thrown to the ground outside their hotel rooms when police responded to threats made against senior officers.

Eight members of the Rebels bikie gang and three associates were rounded up during a raid of a hotel in Parramatta, Sydney's west.

Heavily-armed police swooped on the hotel after officers, including a superintendent, were threatened and intimidated at a shopping centre earlier.

Bikies from Western Australia and South Australia had travelled to Sydney last week for an outlaw motorcycle gang gathering, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Heavily-armed police stormed a hotel complex in Parramatta, Sydney's west, last week where they detained and searched members of the Rebels bikie group from Western Australia

Police Transport Command officers had been walking along Church Street just after 10.30pm on Thursday when they noticed a group of men and women who they believed to be members of a bikie group.

They spoke to the group inside the Westfield shopping centre before they left the area.

The State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad Strike Force Raptor and the Public Order and Riot Squad were called in and tracked the group to the hotel on George Street.

It was there police detained and searched the group of 11.

Two men from the group, aged 43 and 48, were charged with affray and participating in a criminal group.

The 43-year-old was also charged with intimidate police officer in execution of duty and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm.

The pair were granted conditional bail and they will appear in Parramatta Local Court on September 26.

Detective Superintendent Debbie Wallace told The Daily Telegraph police would not tolerate outlaw motorcycle groups from NSW or interstate.

Police tracked the group of bikies to serviced apartments in George Street, Parramatta (pictured)

'The Sydney club members know if they act up, especially in a public place there will be consequences for their entire club. The same goes for anyone visiting here,' Det Supt Wallace told the publication.

Police are also reportedly searching for a third man, who is believed to have fled back to Western Australia.

The group were kicked out of the hotel and banned from staying there again.

Days later on Saturday, a group of Rebels bikies from South Australia were evicted from a hotel in Liverpool, Sydney's south-west, after police searched the complex following a tip-off.
Stalkers should be banned from setting up fake Twitter profiles, MPs have urged.

Reports of stalking in England and Wales have trebled since 2014  while prosecution rates have halved. Social networking sites have become the most common medium of pursuit.

Now ministers are facing calls to impose orders restricting stalkers ability to go online or even ban them from using the internet altogether.

Twitter has also been accused of not doing enough to combat the problem, which is said to have affected one in five women and one in ten men.

Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston has lodged a Private Members Bill calling for tougher powers to intervene against stalkers before they reach the threshold for prosecution.

Stalkers should be banned from setting up fake Twitter profiles, MPs have urged (file photo)

It proposes stalking protection orders which would require stalkers to divulge all their online aliases, punishable by up to six months imprisonment if terms are breached.

The Bill will be debated in the Commons in November.

In 2014-15 there were 2,882 recorded offences of stalking, the Home Office said. By 2017-18 this had rocketed to 10,214.

However, over the same period, the number of people charged with stalking decreased from just under half  49 per cent  to a quarter.

The Home Office admitted more needed to be done and said it was backing Dr Wollastons Bill to catch perpetrators at the earliest opportunity.

Twitter denied it was not doing enough and said tougher legal action was needed.
A former soldier has swapped the battlefield for his very own love dungeon, which he shares with his wife, fiancee and two submissive sex slave girlfriends.

James Davis, 36, and his unusual family live in Armidale, northern New South Wales, and are to star in a new five-part series about their polyamorous BDSM lifestyle.

Mr Davis, who has given himself the title of 'patriarchal overlord', requires the four women to wear collars, ask permission to use the bathroom, and call him 'master'.

James Davis, 36, and his unusual family live in Armidale, northern New South Wales (pictured from right are Mr Davis, his wife Charlotte, girlfriends Hanna and Sophie and fiancee Hunter)

Kitted out with bondage equipment including an A-frame (pictured), a cage and numerous sex toys, Mr Davis said he lives there while his 'slaves' have the upstairs

Eager to get out of Sydney, Mr Davis constructed a dungeon, called House of Cadifor: Fetish Playroom, in the basement of his Armidale home (pictured are Mr Davis's sex toys)

Aged between 19 and 27, the women are also in different types of relationships with one another and participate in sex parties at their home.

In a sneak-peak of the series 'Cadifor: A story about love, family and slavery', the girls can be seen kneeling in front of Mr Davis to greet him.

'Good morning Master, your owned property Slave 808497061 has missed you, and is here presented ready and waiting to serve you,' Mr Davis's wife Charlotte said while in a submissive pose in front of him.

She was then followed by Mr Davis's fiancee, Hunter, and his girlfriends Hanna and Sophie, who made identical statements while he sat on the sofa in front of them.

The unique living arrangement has led to Mr Davis 'receiving a lot of hatred', but the former soldier said he is just misunderstood (pictured is Mr Davis and his girlfriend Hanna)

Mr Davis moved to Armidale, which he described as a 'highly conservative town' after serving 17 years in the military.

Eager to get out of Sydney, Mr Davis constructed a dungeon, called House of Cadifor: Fetish Playroom, in the basement of his Armidale home.

Kitted out with bondage equipment including an A-frame, a cage and numerous sex toys, Mr Davis said he lives there while his 'slaves' have the upstairs.

The unique living arrangement has led to Mr Davis 'receiving a lot of hatred', but the former soldier said he is just misunderstood.

'[People] think I must be some kind of abusive oppressor, a misogynist, manipulator, or even a monster,' he said.

Aged between 19 and 27, the women are also in different types of loving relationships with one another and participate in sex parties at their home (pictured is Mr Davis and his girlfriend Hanna)

In a sneak-peak of the series Cadifor: A story about love, family and slavery, the girls can be seen kneeling in front of Mr Davis to greet him (pictured)

'But the truth is, I'm just a guy who loves both freedom and commitment, and who was lucky enough to find some incredible women to love, and who love me back.'

Mr Davis describes himself as a 'rope performer, fetish photographer, BDSM writer, kink educator, lifestyle dominant and consent advocate'.

He also claims to be a licensed gynaecologist.

The series on Mr Davis's lifestyle is currently raising funds on Indiegogo, and will examine the dynamics of the family's relationships.

'Cadifor will explore gender roles and family dynamics in an utterly unique setting,' according to the crowdfunding page.
Commuters are being warned of impending chaos as Victoria bus drivers prepare to walk off the job this week.

About 1,000 bus driver's are expected to strike on Thursday for 24 hours after a break down in pay negotiations.

Melbourne passengers who use Doncaster Area Rapid Transit and SmartBus services are being advised that very few or potentially no buses will run as drivers refuse to get behind the wheel.

Public Transport Victoria chief executive Jeroen Weimar said the strike will create a huge disruption for at least 100,000 passengers.

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Expect an empty bus lane in Melbourne on Thursday as bus drivers prepare to walk off the job after negotiations over pay break down

The two companies involved in the strike are Melbourne's largest bus companies, CDC and Transdev. Combined they carry 150,000 passengers a day

The city's largest bus companies, CDC and Transdev, are at the center of the strike.

Transdev operates 30 per cent of Melbourne's bus network and CDC Victoria runs around 17 per cent of Victoria's bus services.

Combined they carry 150,000 passengers a day. Both operators also run school bus services.

Transport Minister Jacinta Allan is urging the parties to get back to the table.

'I'm very disappointed to see that this action may be taking place,' she told 9News.

She said CDC and Transdev had been successfully working through issues and urged them continue with negotiations.

CDC drivers' want a four percent pay rise and one percent superannuation increase as part of their enterprise bargaining agreement.

Bus passengers are being advised to plan ahead as drivers prepare to strike on Thursday

They walked off the job in July over pay negotiations.

The Transdev Melbourne drivers' strike comes after a separate Enterprise Agreement negotiation.

The Transport Workers Union, which represents drivers from both companies, has been approached for comment.

Train (metropolitan and regional), tram and other bus services, will not be affected and will operate as normal.
Spiralling numbers of non-EU migrants are entering Britain by exploiting a 'gaping loophole' in the system, a report reveals today.

A total of 58,000 visas were issued to migrants and their families last year using 'intra-company transfers'. That is a rise of nearly 25 per cent in a decade.

The scheme allows multinational firms to bring in workers from overseas and was designed to allow senior executives to move to and from the UK easily.

But a report by the MigrationWatch think-tank says IT firms are abusing the scheme to bring in workers, typically from India, to fulfil contracts with UK firms.

Workers who arrive under intra-company transfers are not included in the Home Office cap on skilled work permits, currently set at just over 20,000.

The report warns that transfers 'distort the visa system' and 'undermine the integrity of the immigration system'.

A total of 58,000 visas were issued to migrants and their families last year using 'intra-company transfers'. That is a rise of nearly 25 per cent in a decade (pictured: the Home Office)

The loophole is also damaging the prospects of British IT workers, it says.

Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of MigrationWatch, said: 'Many people are asking why non-EU migration has not been reduced.

Here is part of the answer. Either the Government have taken their eye off the ball or they have been too heavily influenced by a small group of companies and have ignored their own advisory committee.'

The report reveals that in 1992 some 7,185 intra-company transfer visas were issued. That figure has increased eightfold and the scheme now accounts for 60 per cent of all work permits.

Last year a total of 94,000 Tier 2  or skilled worker visas  were issued, of which 58,000 were transfers. MigrationWatch found a majority of these are for 'third party contracting'. But it warned there appeared to be 'little political will' to deal with deficiencies in the system.

The workers also enjoy beneficial tax breaks meaning neither they, nor their employer, pay National Insurance for the first year they are in the UK  making them cheaper to employ than UK nationals.

The transfers are unlimited and do not require a test to see whether the job could be carried out by a UK worker.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'The Tier 2 (intra-company transfers) is a temporary visa route which supports inward investment to the UK.

'In 2017, following recommendations from the migration advisory committee, we implemented a series of reforms to make sure that the route did not undercut or displace resident workers.'
Sydney could be hit with dust storms from Wednesday as winds increase and temperatures rise.

Conditions are so dry in rural New South Wales that the dust could be carried from western inland areas to the eastern coast.

The storms could mirror those of 2009 when the Sydney skyline turned a deep red, grounding the city's transport network to a halt.

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A dust storm reminiscent of the one which hit Sydney in September 2009 could arrive this week - with its likelihood increasing as the week goes on according to the BoM

Sydney's ferries could be seen docked at Circular Quay in a red haze as the September 2009 dust storm enveloped the NSW capital

A strengthening cold weather front this week means that dust could be carried from South Australia and western parts of New South Wales and towards the NSW coast.

David Wilke, duty forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said although it was more likely to see areas in western NSW hit by dust storms - it was possible they could hit Sydney.

Mr Wilke said: 'The next strong cold front will likely come at the end of this week but there is a weaker front at the moment and we do have very dry conditions.'

The forecaster said cold fronts often lead to dust storms as warm columns of air lift and carry soil and dirt particles from dry areas.

Mr Wilke added that if a storm were to hit, it would be unlikely to be as strong as 2009 - but said the BoM could issue a weather warning if the conditions aligned.

New South Wales remains in drought, with farms in Mondurah in central NSW registering just 100mm of rain this year and Balranald in the western part of the state recording just 50mm.

The other side of Sydney Harbour couldn't be seen on September 23 2009 as a misty red glow shrouded the NSW capital

A man could be seen walking his dog in the extraordinary haze, which BoM forecaster David Wilke said only happens in Sydney every eight years or so, on September 23 2009

The Bureau of Meteorology have released maps showing the severity of the drought, with less than 40% of the average rainfall for April to August being recorded across Australia.

New South Wales is suffering particularly badly from the drought, with the state receiving just 20 per cent of its normal rainfall since January.

Farmers have had to resort to drastic measures, such as shooting their stock, to keep afloat while some are spending thousands of dollars to feed their animals hay.

What causes dust storms? Dust storms occur when columns of warm air, carried by weather systems called cold fronts, pick up soil and dirt particles from dry areas. They usually happen during times of extremely dry weather, such as in the current drought. The columns of air are more likely to pick up dust particles when the ground is dry, rather than stuck to the earth when rain has fallen. The 2009 dust storms started when thousands of tons of soil particles were carried from central Australia to the NSW coast. If a similar storm were to occur later this week, it would be as a result of particles carried from south-western New South Wales and South Australia. Advertisement

Australia has had its driest July since 2002, and the driest Autumn since 1902.

South-western regions NSW have had their crops 'sand-blasted' by rising winds, with conditions so dry most of the winters crops have failed to germinate - according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Andy Gorman, who manages a property in Balranald, said conditions were so dry most of the winter crop in the area hadn't germinated.
Amazon has been banned from claiming that its 79 a year 'Prime' service offers next day delivery on all items.

The US retail goliath, whose success has been instrumental in decimating the nation's high streets, has been found guilty of misleading customers.

The Amazon Prime service was set up on the basis that customers would pay a single annual fee or subscription - 79 - to get one day delivery on millions of purchases.

The Advertising Standards Authority decided that marketing claims used by Amazon's Prime service cannot be believed

The promise of fast and convenient deliveries gave it an edge over traditional bricks and mortar stores in the sense people had no need to visit the high street with all the associated costs in terms of time and money.

However, in a landmark ruling the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has decided that the marketing claims that appear to offer next day delivery on all Prime products cannot be believed.

The issue came to a head in the weeks before Christmas when Amazon continued to advertise its Prime service offering 'one day delivery' despite the fact customers were reporting long delays.

It also used the claim to try to entice new customers to sign up to the service to do their festive shopping.

In fact, the company contracts out deliveries to courier firms and freelance drivers who were simply unable to cope with the blizzard of orders and bad weather.

Despite complaints from customers and clear evidence that Christmas purchases were not being delivered the next day, Amazon continued to make the claim on its website.

In a ruling to be published this week, the ASA, which received 280 complaints, concludes 'a significant proportion of Prime labelled items were not available for delivery the next day'.

As a result, it said the website claim 'must not appear again in its current form'.

In a ruling to be published this week, the ASA concluded 'a significant proportion of Prime labelled items were not available for delivery the next day' (file photo)

Significantly, the watchdog said: 'We told Amazon to make clear that some Prime labelled items were not available to be delivered by the next day.'

If Amazon cannot offer next day delivery, many consumers may wonder why they are paying 79 a year for the service.

In its defence, the online giant says customers get a number of other services within the Prime subscription, including access to films, TV programmes and music.

Amazon confirmed to the ASA that it is not always able to deliver Prime items the next day and pointed out there was a better chance if the order was placed before 2pm.

The watchdog said it accepted that the majority of orders are delivered on time. However, it said: 'A smaller but significant proportion of orders at each of the time slots, including before 2 pm, were not forecast for delivery the subsequent day, meaning that a significant proportion of Prime labelled items were not available for delivery the next day.

'Because consumers were likely to understand that, so long as they did not order too late or for Sunday delivery, all Prime labelled items would be available for delivery the next day with the One-Day Delivery option, when a significant proportion of Prime labelled items were not available for delivery by the subsequent day with One-Day Delivery, we concluded that the ad was misleading.'

In its defence, Amazon said it believed consumers understood that next day delivery was only available on a certain proportion of Prime products.

The company said its website carried a disclaimer which made clear that items would be delivered the next day, depending on the time the order is placed, the delivery address and whether it was in stock.

And Amazon told the ASA that it considered purchases were 'on time' if they arrived one day after they were dispatched, not one day after the order was placed.

The company is now advertising the service with the claim: 'Prime delivery means fast and convenient ways to get millions of items, on your terms'.

It continues to offer one day delivery, but this comes with a caveat, stating: 'One Day Delivery is 1 business day after dispatch, including Saturdays, but not including Public Holidays.'

The company said: 'Amazon Prime offers fantastic benefits to members including One-Day delivery on millions of eligible items at no extra cost.

The expected delivery date is shown before an order is placed and throughout the shopping journey and we work relentlessly to meet this date.

'The overwhelming majority of One-Day Delivery orders are delivered when promised.

A small proportion of orders missed the delivery promise last year during a period of extreme weather that impacted all carriers across the UK, and we provided support to impacted customers at the time.'
A chief constable has defended his officers taking coffee breaks  because they foiled an armed robbery during one.

The thieves threatened staff with weapons and stole cash from a Starbucks drive-through outlet unaware an armed response unit was in the queue at the same time.

The team drew their weapons and chased the robbers. One man aged 29 was later arrested on suspicion of robbery and cash was recovered.

Searches were carried out for a second man thought to be involved in the incident at a retail park in Northampton at 5am yesterday.

Nick Adderley, Northamptonshire Chief Constable, has defended his officers taking coffee breaks  because they foiled an armed robbery during one

Officers tweeting about the arrest used the hashtag Coppercino. One user replied: Not easy to hold a coffee in one hand a Glock [gun] in the other and a croissant held between the teeth.

Nick Adderley, Northamptonshire Chief Constable, tweeted: A fantastic job. Armed officers had to self-authorise, draw their weapons and pursue the armed robbers.

'Hopefully this will quieten down those who criticise the police for having refreshments on duty!! Great work, thank you.
Shop workers have been told to call the parents of shoplifters instead of the police because the force will not respond unless the value stolen is over 200, it has been claimed.

A member of a city centre security team has said police told him they could no longer afford to respond to low-value shoplifting.

He said officers had told him not to detain adults any longer than 30 minutes and that it would be best to call the parents of young offenders.

The security worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims a member of Devon and Cornwall Police gave him the advice even as the number of shoplifting incidents continues to rise.

Retailers have apparently been told not to bother reporting low-value shoplifting to the police as officers do not have the resources to deal with them (stock photo)

He said: 'Police are no longer going to attend shoplifting arrests in stores. We have also been advised that we cannot detain anyone for longer than 30 minutes.

'But if anyone is under 18 we've been told we have to just get the stock back and release them, with parental consent.

'We were told we should only call the police if the parents can't be contacted.

'They said they wouldn't attend if we had a shoplifter and it would be down to us to deal with it.

'We could send it through as a crime and they may take it up afterwards but if it's under 200 it would more than likely be shelved and not dealt with.

'There a national no attendance for shoplifting policy that's been around for ages now but Devon and Cornwall Police have been avoiding it but it's here too now.

'It means we won't get cover if we've got under two hundred pounds worth of shoplifting and if we can't get their details for a civil recovery we have to let them go.

'It was all about deterring and not letting them take it rather than if they do actually take it, what do we actually do. We said that doesn't work'

Cornwall Council's Rob Nolan said he has heard from the city's retailers that shoplifting is already out of control.

He said: 'I'm not surprised to hear this. I hear that shoplifting is out of control in Truro, and the Manager of a large store told me that they were losing 800 a week in alcohol alone.

'The police are working flat out, but their resources have been cut to the bone and they don't have enough officers to cope.

'We need the Government to do a u turn and properly resource our police, or stores are going to have to employ security guards and look after themselves.'

Inspector Rick Milburn, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said there is no policy based on value.

A city centre security worker said officers had told him not to detain adults any longer than 30 minutes and that it would be best to call the parents of young offenders (stock photo)

He said: 'There is no policy, forcewide or locally driven which dictates a shoplifting value which will determine if Police do or do not attend.

'My resources at Truro are finite. In addition to the incidents that the public would expect Police attendance there are also expectations from our local councillors, partner agencies and businesses.

'To determine and prioritise our attendance at incidents we need to carefully assess threat, risk to the public and potential harm.

'There will be occasions whereby we face very high demand, a prime example being a recent Saturday where 53 incidents were recorded in Truro.

'During these periods it is inevitable that some incidents will be assessed as a lower priority. Shoplifting per se, is not a low priority offence.

'If there are aggravating factors such as violence used, or a child stealing food then these type of incidents will be reprioritised accordingly.

'Any force used by Security Guards using Common Law has to be reasonable especially in the circumstances where the shoplifter is a child.'

A spokesperson for the OPCC said: 'The police is committed to tackling shoplifting and ensuring those responsible are held to account for their actions.

'Each week they charge many offenders to court with shoplifting offences throughout Cornwall.

'In-store prevention can also play a part and the force is always looking at the best way to work with retailers to help stop them becoming victims.'
Instagram influencer Kate Szepanowski (pictured) says she has received complimentary treatments to promote cosmetic clinics and brands online

Cosmetic surgeons have been accused of offering free procedures to social media stars in exchange for online endorsements.

Instagram influencer Kate Szepanowski, 23, told Four Corners she'd received complimentary treatments to promote cosmetic clinics and brands to her 45,000 followers, claiming the practice was 'normal'.

'I had some cosmetic fillers, had all my laser treatments and everything like that free, facial treatments free, for like a whole year,' Ms Szepanowski said.

'Everyone as soon as they turn 18, they're getting something done. And if they can get something done before they turn 18, they get their parents' consent.

'Instead of hiding it - like they would a few years ago - most people are flaunting it either to get discounted rates [or] doing collaborations with cosmetic surgeons.'

Some cosmetic surgeons have become social media stars in their own right, re-posting racy bedroom photos which their clients had sent to them

'I had some cosmetic fillers, had all my laser treatments and everything like that free, facial treatments free, for like a whole year,' Ms Szepanowski (pictured) said

Ms Szepanowski said a surgeon offered her a half-price Brazilian butt lift, but she 'got scared' and refused to undergo the dangerous procedure.

Specialist plastic surgeon Dr Pouria Moradi said exchanging free surgery for online promotion was 'unethical and illegal' and said he had been approached by social media stars who wanted to collaborate.

'They write to you and it's pretty much a standard text... saying, ''look, here's my Insta page, I've got this many loyal followers. If you perform surgery for me, I will promote you on my page'',' Dr Moradi said.

'[It] is totality illegal, immoral and unethical... I would say no to them.'

Specialist plastic surgeon Dr Pouria Moradi (pictured) said exchanging free procedures for online promotion was 'unethical and illegal'

'Everyone as soon as they turn 18, they're getting something done,' Ms Szepanowski said

Some cosmetic surgeons have become social media stars in their own right, two who call themselves 'The King of Boobs' and 'The Breastmaster'.

The doctors regularly re-post racy bedroom photos which their clients had sent to them. It is not suggested either surgeon has offered to exchange social media endorsement for free or discounted procedures.

Meanwhile, the Four Corners investigation revealed how doctors are performing low-cost procedures on women in what has been described as a 'boob factory' business model.

One cosmetic clinic reportedly offered implants at a heavily discounted price and on a $5-a-day payment plan.

This photo was shared on a social media page of a cosmetic surgeon who his clients call 'the king of boobs'

'[It] is totality illegal, immoral and unethical... I would say no to them,' Dr Moradi said. His team are seen performing an operation

The implants usually cost upward of $10,000, but the payment plans made the procedure drastically cheaper at $5,990.

A former nursing unit manager claimed to the program a number of patients who had breast implants at the surgery were on Centrelink benefits.

Another ex-employee described the company as a 'boob factory' and that the business model was run like 'McDonald's'.

Ms Szepanowski said a surgeon offered her a half-price Brazilian butt lift, but she 'got scared' and refused to undergo the dangerous procedure

One cosmetic clinic reportedly offered breast implants on a $5-a-day payment plan - and it's completely legal (stock)

The former operations manager said: 'We worked on high volume, lots of people coming through the doors and doing it at a low cost.

'The whole system was set up just to make money. It was a boob factory.'

After going under the knife, patients can experience infections and pain caused by contracture of the implant, as well as deformity.

Ms Szepanowski concluded: 'It's kind of just this generation I guess, it's just kind of normal.'

In an investigation by ABC's Four Corners, a former nursing unit manager claimed to the program a number of patients who had breast implants at the surgery were on Centrelink benefits (stock)
Paint peeling off the walls, rotten floors and collapsed ceilings - these are the features you can now expect to find in some of Australia's million-dollar properties.

These derelict homes are almost uninhabitable, with many houses in Sydney and Melbourne in such a poor and dangerous state that they'd have to be renovated immediately upon purchase.

Despite some of the properties missing parts of the floor and ceilings, they are on the market for prices nudging $2 million.

Scroll down for video

This house in Fitzroy, a north-Melbourne suburb, has an estimated selling price between $1.3 million and $1.4 million

These derelict homes are almost uninhabitable, with many houses in Sydney and Melbourne in such a poor state that they'd have to be renovated immediately

A house in the inner northern Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy has an estimated selling price between $1.3 million and $1.4 million, despite part of the property missing.

The 244 square-metre property has exposed wires, timber falling down from the ceiling and rubbish covering the back yard.

Realestate.com.au describes the house as 'an impressive double-fronted facade' that is 'bursting with potential'.

'Bring your imagination and be inspired by the outstanding size and irresistible scope presented by this inner-city home'.

In Sydney things aren't too different, as run-down homes with high price points serve as a stark reminder of the severe shortage of affordable properties.

There are fewer than 140 houses within five kilometres of Sydney's CBD available under $1.5 million,The Daily Telegraph reported.

Some houses in Marrickville, Erskineville and Newtown in Sydney's inner-west are so run down that they haven't been lived in for years.

There are fewer than 140 houses within five kilometres of Sydney's CBD available under $1.5 million

This house in Erskineville is listed for $800,000 and has no front door, rusty barred windows, paint peeling off the walls and weeds growing into the house

'It's a desirable area so few (house) owners ever sell in the inner city most years and even less are now selling because of the way the market is going,' Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said.

She said that most people who sell the properties in such a bad condition really need the money and have urgent reasons for the sale.

One house in Erskineville is listed for $800,000 and has no front door, rusty barred windows, paint peeling off the walls and weeds growing into the house.

A house in Newtown has rubbish flooding the front yard, two of the rooms have wooden panels missing from the floor and parts of the ceiling are falling down.

Despite this, the inner-west property has an estimated selling price of up to $1.7 million.

The listing on real estate websites claims that the 177 Denison Street house has endless creative possibilities

This Newtown property has no floor and is falling apart has an estimated value between $1,375,000 and $1,724,999

The housing affordability crisis is nothing new, as reports surfaced earlier this year that Australia's housing affordability hit a 'crisis point' as Australia became the second most expensive country in the world for real estate.

LJ Hooker-Newtown agent Candice Huffman said that buyers are finding it hard to finance renovations on the run-down homes.

She said that the big cities such as Melbourne and Sydney attract buyers with a lot of money, so as soon as quality homes are put on the market, they don't stay available for long.

'The rest of the buyers then have to compete for what is left,' she said.
Minnesota Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison's ex-girlfriend, Karen Monanhan, says she firmly stands by her allegations that he physically abused her during their relationship.

The claims first came to light Saturday night when her son shared a Facebook post in which he alleged he saw a video in 2017 on his mother's computer of Karen being dragged off a bed by Ellison who was screaming at her, calling her a 'f****** b*****' and telling her to 'get the f*** out of his house.'

In an interview with ThinkProgress on Monday, Karen said she initially did not want to go public with the video or texts. So far she has released some text exchanges between herself and Ellison, but has not released the video in question.

'I didn't want to mention the video or the texts,' she said. 'I'm not here to prove to anyone. I'm just here to share my story.'

Ellison is running for Minnesota attorney general and faces a primary election Tuesday.

Monahan added, speaking about Ellison, 'You know this is true. You know what you did.'

Co-chair of the Democratic National Committee and current Minnesota Congressman vying for the Democratic ticket for Attorney General on Tuesday, Keith Ellison, is accused of dragging his ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan (pictured together) off a bed by her feet while screaming obscenities. She is vehemently defending her accusations in interviews and on social media

Karen (pictured) has spoken publicly in interviews and on social media, telling the congressman 'You know what you did to me.' She also shared a text message exchange to a news outlet where she pointedly says to Ellison 'We never discussed  the video I have of you trying to drag me off the bed,' he did not reply to that texts message, or others after

Monahan, who is a Minneapolis political organizer, tweeted similar sentiments directed at Ellison on Sunday evening, writing that what her son posted to Facebook was 'true.'

'What my son said is true. Every statement he made was true. @keithellison, you know you did that to me. I have given every opportunity to get help and heal. Even now, u r willing to say my son is lying and have me continue to leak more text and info just so others will believe him.'

'When he [Austin] put that out, and I stand with him  it made everything about 'well, where's that, where's this? It's become about, 'she needs to prove, prove, prove,'' she continued to ThinkProgress.

'He had to sit and stay silent,' Monahan said of her son, adding that after he saw the supposed video, he texted Ellison and said, 'I know what you did to my mom. You're not the man I thought you were.'

According to texts that appear to be between Karen and Ellison, released by Karen on her Twitter account on Sunday, the Congressman expressed his concerns to her about her son reaching out to him regarding their relationship.

Ellison shared this shot of Monahan and her son Austin on Twitter in April 2016

In those texts, Ellison writes: 'Karen, when I come to drop your stuff off, what should I expect from Austin? He seems pretty upset.'

He adds, 'I'm sorry Austin feels this way... Its not appropriate for me to discuss our relationship with him. So he's just angry and yet I can't (won't) offer him any answers.'

Karen says she has been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder for the past few years over the alleged abuse, adding 'It dang near took my life at the end.'

She also says she has braced for speculations about the veracity of her disturbing allegations against a prominent member of the Democratic party, and was ready to face public scrutiny.

'I know who I am. I know what I was going to go through,' she added. 'We aren't anywhere in society where I wasn't going to get smeared.'

'As an Iranian, as a woman of color who is an immigrant,' Monahan said, 'do you honestly think I'm gonna get validation from a society who's been telling me since I was young that I don't have a voice?'

Karen has been tweeting about the abuse, without mentioning Ellison by name, for more than a year, often replying to Ellison himself.

Monahan and Ellison in happier times. A tweet shared by Ellison in September of 2016 at event

Ellison denied the allegation of physical abuse. A spokesman for his campaign also denied the congressman had sent threatening text messages.

'Karen and I were in a long-term relationship which ended in 2016, and I still care deeply for her well-being,' Ellison said in a statement. 'This video does not exist because I have never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false.'

Minnesota Public Radio News reported Sunday that it reviewed more than 100 text and Twitter messages between Ellison and Monahan that showed the two communicating over months after their breakup, including coordinating her getting her things from his house.

MPR said the tenor was sometimes friendly, sometimes combative. MPR said in one message, Monahan told Ellison she planned to write about their 'journey' and Ellison warned her not to, calling it a 'horrible attack on my privacy, unreal.'

MPR reports that in one particular screenshot of a text message from December 2017, Monahan confronts Ellison for the first time that a video exists of the alleged abuse.

'We never discussed  the video I have of you trying to drag me off the bed,' Monahan wrote to Ellison, quoting abusive language he allegedly shouted at her.

Ellison did not respond to that message or others that followed.

Ellison, who is divorced, is a six-term congressman and a leader within the Democratic Party.

Co-chair of the Democratic National Committee and current Minnesota Congressman vying for the Democratic ticket for Attorney General on Tuesday, Keith Ellison, is accused of dragging his ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan (right) off a bed by her feet while screaming obscenities. He denies the allegations against him & denies the existence of a tape showing such an incident

Austin Monahan's full post, alleging he saw a video of his mother being dragged off a bed

He became deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee last year after falling just short of the top job. He announced this summer he would leave Congress after six terms representing the Minneapolis area and run for the state's open attorney general's office.

With a huge fundraising advantage and star power over his opponents - including a visit from Vermont Sen. and 2016 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders - Ellison was considered the heavy favorite heading into Tuesday's primary.

Ellison's Democratic opponents pounced on the allegations.

State Rep. Debra Hilstrom circulated the initial Facebook post Saturday night, calling the allegations 'troubling.' Tom Foley, a former county attorney, called on any video or messages to be turned over to law enforcement for an 'immediate investigation.'
Did anyone ever think a Trump White House wouldn't be the most dysfunctional hell hole in history? Putin sure made the best bet any Russia leader ever made! Monday morning everyone was talking about Omarosa-- what the fuck is that? Did that ever belong in a United States government? "A lowlife," as the asshole who hired her, called her!n She had just given NBC'sshow "an exclusive" on a secretly recorded tape of the former host of. It shows Putin's pick for "president" clueless and "having no idea that Newman had been dismissed by his Chief of Staff John Kelly."

Newmans disclosure of the recording came just one day after she told NBCs Meet the Press , in an exclusive interview, that she has personally heard a tape of Trump using the N-word during filming for NBC's The Apprentice -- a revelation she says "confirmed that he is truly a racist."

NBC News does not know what was said before or after that exchange. The White House had no comment when asked about the exchange between Trump and Newman.

Omarosa? Omarosa whats going on? I just saw on the news that youre thinking about leaving? What happened? Trump is heard saying on the tape, which Newman said was made one day after her termination in December 2017 when Trump called her.

Like someone didn't know he is a racist?

As for his feigned shock at finding out Kelly had fired her? Give me a break. That's his tactic for pushing blame onto his subordinates. It's always a sign of a cowardly and pathetic executive, which is another Trump trait-- as much as his racism-- and another symptom of a dysfunctional, in this case, White House. She told the Today audience that he's a con. What a surprise! Here's Senator Marco Rubio in 2016-- "a con artist":

Here's Mike Bloomberg saying the same thing: "a con."

And here's the classic Mitt Romney 2016 speech pointing out that Trump is "a con man, a fake":

How about Ted Cruz? Republican voters heard it from their own elected politicians over and over and over. And they elected him president of the United States and ushered chaos and dysfunction into the White House:

Let me tell you a story about Stephen Miller and chain migration.





It begins at the turn of the 20th century in a dirt-floor shack in the village of Antopol, a shtetl of subsistence farmers in what is now Belarus. Beset by violent anti-Jewish pogroms and forced childhood conscription in the Czars army, the patriarch of the shack, Wolf-Leib Glosser, fled a village where his forebears had lived for centuries and took his chances in America.





He set foot on Ellis Island on January 7, 1903, with $8 to his name. Though fluent in Polish, Russian, and Yiddish he understood no English. An elder son, Nathan, soon followed. By street corner peddling and sweat-shop toil Wolf-Leib and Nathan sent enough money home to pay off debts and buy the immediate familys passage to America in 1906. That group included young Sam Glosser, who with his family settled in the western Pennsylvania city of Johnstown, a booming coal and steel town that was a magnet for other hard-working immigrants. The Glosser family quickly progressed from selling goods from a horse and wagon to owning a haberdashery in Johnstown run by Nathan and Wolf-Leib to a chain of supermarkets and discount department stores run by my grandfather, Sam, and the next generation of Glossers, including my dad, Izzy. It was big enough to be listed on the AMEX stock exchange and employed thousands of people over time. In the span of some 80 years and five decades, this family emerged from poverty in a hostile country to become a prosperous, educated clan of merchants, scholars, professionals, and, most important, American citizens.





What does this classically American tale have to do with Stephen Miller? Well, Izzy Glosser, is his maternal grandfather, and Stephens mother, Miriam, is my sister.





I have watched with dismay and increasing horror as my nephew, who is an educated man and well aware of his heritage, has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our familys life in this country.





I shudder at the thought of what would have become of the Glossers had the same policies Stephen so coolly espouses the travel ban, the radical decrease in refugees, the separation of children from their parents, and even talk of limiting citizenship for legal immigrants been in effect when Wolf-Leib made his desperate bid for freedom. The Glossers came to the U.S. just a few years before the fear and prejudice of the America First nativists of the day closed U.S. borders to Jewish refugees. Had Wolf-Leib waited, his family would likely have been murdered by the Nazis along with all but seven of the 2,000 Jews who remained in Antopol. I would encourage Stephen to ask himself if the chanting, torch-bearing Nazis of Charlottesville, whose support his boss seems to court so cavalierly, do not envision a similar fate for him.





Like other immigrants, our familys welcome to the USA was not always a warm one, but we largely had the protection of the law, there was no state sponsored violence against us, no kidnapping of our male children, and we enjoyed good relations with our neighbors. True, Jews were excluded from many occupations, couldnt buy homes in some towns, couldnt join certain organizations or attend certain schools or universities, but life was good. As in past generations there were hate mongers who regarded the most recent groups of poor immigrants as scum, rapists, gangsters, drunks and terrorists, but largely the Glosser family was left alone to live our lives and build the American dream. Children were born, synagogues founded, and we thrived. This was the miracle of America.





Acting for so long in the theater of right wing politics, Stephen and Trump may have become numb to the resultant human tragedy and blind to the hypocrisy of their policy decisions. After all, Stephens is not the only family with a chain immigration story in the Trump administration. Trump's grandfather is reported to have been a German migrant on the run from military conscription to a new life in the USA and his mother fled the poverty of rural Scotland for the economic possibilities of New York City. (Trumps in-laws just became citizens on the strength of his wifes own citizenship.)





These facts are important not only for their grim historical irony but because vulnerable people are being hurt. They are real people, not the ghoulish caricatures portrayed by Trump. When confronted by the deaths and suffering of thousands our senses are overwhelmed, and the victims become statistics rather than people. I meet these statistics one at a time through my volunteer service as a neuropsychologist for HIAS (formerly the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), the global non-profit agency that protects refugees and helped my family more than 100 years ago. I will share the story of one such man I have met in the hope that my nephew might recognize elements of our shared heritage.





In the early 2000s, Joseph (not his real name) was conscripted at the age of 14 to be a soldier in Eritrea and sent to a remote desert military camp. Officers there discovered a Bible under his pillow which aroused their suspicion that he might belong to a foreign evangelical sect that would claim his loyalty and sap his will to fight. Joseph was actually a member of the state-approved Coptic church but was nonetheless immediately subjected to torture. They smashed my face into the ground, tied my hands and feet together behind my back, stomped on me, and hung me from a tree by my bonds while they beat me with batons for the others to see.





Joseph was tortured for 20 consecutive days before being taken to a military prison and crammed into a dark unventilated cell with 36 other men, little food and no proper hygiene. Some died, and in time Joseph was stricken with dysentery. When he was too weak to stand he was taken to a civilian clinic where he was fed by the medical staff. Upon regaining his strength he escaped to a nearby road where a sympathetic driver took him north through the night to a camp in Sudan where he joined other refugees. Joseph was on the first leg of a journey that would cover thousands of miles and almost 10 years.





Before Donald Trump had started his political ascent promulgating the false story that Barack Obama was a foreign-born Muslim, while my nephew, Stephen, was famously recovering from the hardships of his high school cafeteria in Santa Monica, Joseph was a child on his own in Sudan in fear of being deported back to Eritrea to face execution for desertion. He worked any job he could get, saved his money and made his way through Sudan. He endured arrest and extortion in Libya. He returned to Sudan, then kept moving to Dubai, Brazil, and eventually to a southern border crossing into Texas, where he sought asylum. In all of the countries he traveled through during his ordeal, he was vulnerable, exploited and his status was illegal. But in the United States he had a chance to acquire the protection of a documented immigrant.





Today, at 30, Joseph lives in Pennsylvania and has a wife and child. He is a smart, warm, humble man of great character who is grateful for every day of his freedom and safety. He bears emotional scars from not seeing his parents or siblings since he was 14. He still trembles, cries and struggles for breath when describing his torture, and he bears physical scars as well. He hopes to become a citizen, return to work and make his contribution to America. His story, though unique in its particulars, is by no means unusual. I have met Central Americans fleeing corrupt governments, violence and criminal extortion; a Yemeni woman unable to return to her war-ravaged home country and fearing sexual mutilation if she goes back to her Saudi husband; and an escaped kidnap-bride from central Asia.





President Trump wants to make us believe that these desperate migrants are an existential threat to the United States; the most powerful nation in world history and a nation made strong by immigrants. Trump and my nephew both know their immigrant and refugee roots. Yet, they repeat the insults and false accusations of earlier generations against these refugees to make them seem less than human. Trump publicly parades the grieving families of people hurt or killed by migrants, just as the early Nazis dredged up Jewish criminals to frighten and enrage their political base to justify persecution of all Jews. Almost every American family has an immigration story of its own based on flight from war, poverty, famine, persecution, fear or hopelessness. These immigrants became the workers, entrepreneurs, scientists and soldiers of America.





Most damning is the administration's evident intent to make policy that specifically disadvantages people based on their ethnicity, country of origin, and religion. No matter what opinion is held about immigration, any government that specifically enacts law or policy on that basis must be recognized as a threat to all of us. Laws bereft of justice are the gateway to tyranny. Today others may be the target, but tomorrow it might just as easily be you or me. History will be the judge, but in the meanwhile the normalization of these policies is rapidly eroding the collective conscience of America. Immigration reform is a complex issue that will require compassion and wisdom to bring the nation to a just solution, but the politicians who have based their political and professional identity on ethnic demonization and exclusion cannot be trusted to do so. As free Americans, and the descendants of immigrants and refugees, we have the obligation to exercise our conscience by voting for candidates who will stand up for our highest national values and not succumb to our lowest fears.
Two controversial far-right activists say they have suffered a 'financial blow' after their Auckland speaking show was cancelled due to bomb threats.

Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux were tabbed to speak at the Bruce Mason Centre on Auckland's North Shore in early-August.

But their show was cancelled amidst concerns for 'the health and safety of the presenters, staff and patrons'.

After a subsequent Auckland show was also cancelled, this time due to a bomb threat on Twitter, the pair reached out to those who bought tickets, asking if they'd like to donate the cost instead of getting a refund.

Lauren Southern (pictured) and Stefan Molyneux have had two Auckland venues cancel their shows amidst fears of protests and a bomb threat

The controversial views on immigration, gender and religion have caused riots and protests throughout their show. Pictured: A protest in Melbourne during their July show

Molyneux and Southern had been on a international speaking tour, wrapping up their Australian shows in late-July.

Controversial views on immigration, feminism, gender and Islam led to heightened security around their shows.

In anticipation of one of her shows in England, Southern was spotted handing out leaflets with the words 'Allah is gay' written on them.

Increased security included venue locations being kept secret and only being sent via SMS or email to ticket holders 24 hours prior to each event.

But after two venues cancelled on the pair, Molyneux reached out to those who bought tickets and asked whether they would donate the cost of the tickets.

Molyneux argued against the move, but recently emailed supporters to ask them to consider donating the cost of their tickets, as bills related to cancelled shows pile up

The speech they never gave was uploaded to YouTube, attached in an email to supporters

In an email to supporters, seen by the New Zealand Herald, Molyneux reportedly wrote: 'It is certainly a financial blow to have a venue cancel on us.'

He went on to cite flight costs, specialised security teams, paying immigration lawyers, accommodation, shipping out merchandise and paying for meals as costs that were piling up.

As a result of the growing costs, Molyneux asked his supporters to donate the price of their tickets to the continuation of the tour, instead of asking for a refund.

The tickets ranged from $99 for general admittance to as much as $749 for a sit-down dinner with the pair.

'If you would like to donate the cost of your ticket to covering the expenses incurred, Lauren and I would certainly appreciate that,' Molyneux wrote.

The Powerstation venue in Auckland pulled out of hosting the pair just hours ahead of the Friday event, citing a disagreement with the speakers' message

He also said their supporters costs from travelling to see the event now had 'financial battle scars in the war for free speech that we all bear, and nobly so'.

Some people asked why backup venues hadn't been considered, to which Molyneux said that they were denied.

'I imagine largely due to the hysteria about us spewed out by the mainstream media - well let us just say the welcome mat was not exactly rolled out for our event.'

At the conclusion of the email, Molyneux said that those who didn't follow the links to donating their ticket costs, a refund would be issued on the 18th of August.
A lesbian NYU professor, philosopher and feminist has been suspended by New York University after the school found that she sexually harassed a gay male student.

Nimrod Reitman, 34, accused Avital Ronell, 66, of physically and verbally sexually harassing him for three years, beginning in 2012 while he was a student.

Two year's after graduation Reitman filed a Title IX suit, investigating Ronell's alleged misconduct against Reitman which he says was 'sufficiently pervasive to alter the terms and conditions of [his] learning environment.'

In the Title IX final report, obtained by The New York Times, Reitman revealed dozens of emails in which she referred to him as 'my most adored one,' 'Sweet cuddly Baby,' 'cock-er spaniel,' and 'my astounding and beautiful Nimrod.'

Reitman, who is married to a man, says Ronell kissed and touched him repeatedly, held his hand, forced herself in his bed, would call and email him nonstop and refused to work with him if he did not comply. '

Ronell has vehemently denied the claims against her.

Avital Ronell, 66, a world renowned professor at NYU has been accused by her former student of physically and verbally sexually harassing him

Ronell has had a successful career as an author, chair of Philosophy at the European Graduate School and was recently given the award of Chevalier of Arts and Letters by the French government. Her students have gone on to teach at leading research institutions in the US, France and Germany.

Ronell, a professor of German and Comparative Literature, wrote in a statement to The New York Times: 'Our communications - which Reitman now claims constituted sexual harassment - were between two adults, a gay man and a queer woman, who share an Israeli heritage, as well as a penchant for florid and campy communications arising from our common academic backgrounds and sensibilities.

'These communications were repeatedly invited, responded to and encouraged by him over a period of three years.'

After the investigation found Ronell responsible for sexual harassment, the university made a confidential decision this spring to suspend her for the upcoming school year.

This prompted a group of about 50 scholars and prominent feminists from around the world to send a letter to NYU defending their colleague, who they call 'one of the very few philosopher-stars of this world'.

'Although we have no access to the confidential dossier, we have all worked for many years in close proximity to Professor Ronell,' the professors wrote in a letter posted on a philosophy blog in June. 'We have all seen her relationship with students, and some of us know the individual who has waged this malicious campaign against her.'

Among the names on the letter are Judith Butler, an influential feminist scholars and author of the book 'Gender Trouble', as well as Slavoj Zizek, one of the world's most famous living philosophers .

'We testify to the grace, the keen wit, and the intellectual commitment of Professor Ronell and ask that she be accorded the dignity rightly deserved by someone of her international standing and reputation,' the professors wrote.

Nimrod Reitman says for three years she would force herself in his bed, constantly send emails and call and touch him repeatedly

Their defense is riddled with emphasis on Ronell's achievements, painting her as a victim, attempting to discredit Reitman.

Their cries echo the reaction of those questioning women in the #MeToo movement when they came out against powerful men who are suspected of sexual harassment, such as Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Matt Lauer to name a few.

Earlier this year, Ronell said Reitman is 'comparing me to the most egregious examples of predatory behaviors ascribable to Hollywood moguls who habitually go after starlets.'

Professor of Philosophy and Law at the University of Chicago Law, Brian Leiter, published the text of the letter in his blog, 'Leiter Reports.'

He titled his reaction post toward the letter: 'Blaming the victim is apparently OK when the accused in a Title IX proceeding is a feminist literary theorist.'

Meanwhile, people close to Ronell have said Reitman's initial filing of the complaint came as a 'total shock' to her, especially claims that accused her of 'psychological abuse'.

NYU suspended Ronell for this upcoming school year prompting about 50 of Ronell's colleagues, who consist of feminists and top scholars from around the world, to write a letter to the university defending her

Reitman says the harassment began in the spring of 2012 when Ronell invited him to stay with her in Paris for a few days.

He said she first asked him to read poetry to her while she took a nap, which he thought was a 'red flag', but went along with it as to not 'make a scene'.

Reitman says she then pulled him into her bed.

'She put my hands onto her breasts, and was pressing herself - her buttocks - onto my crotch,' he said. 'She was kissing me, kissing my hands, kissing my torso.'

He says he confronted her the next morning to say her behavior was 'not okay' reminding the 66-year-old that 'you're my advisor'.

Then in the fall of 2012, after Hurricane Sandy wiped out the east coast, Reitman says Ronell showed up at his apartment because her power was out and convinced him to let her stay.

Once she was there, he says she insisted they sleep in the bed together, groping a kissing him each night.

Retiman shared email exchanges between them after the Paris trip with The New York Times.

'I woke up with a slight fever and sore throat,' she wrote. 'I will try very hard not to kiss you - until the throat situation receives security clearance. This is not an easy deferral!'

In July, another email to him: 'Time for your midday kiss. my image during meditation: we're on the sofa, your head on my lap, stroking you forehead, playing softly with yr hair, soothing you, headache gone. Yes?'

Ronell claims that Reitman desperately sought her attention and guidance, while Reitman says he feared negative repercussions to his career if he did not comply.

The Title IX report concluded that there was not enough evidence to find Ronell guilty of sexual assault due to lack of witnesses both in Paris and in Reitman's apartment.

However, the email and text messages were sufficient evidence for inappropriate verbal contact.

Reitman's lawyer said he and his client have drafted a lawsuit against NYU and Ronell.
Several shocking excerpts from Omarosa Manigault-Newman's tell-all from her time in the White House have been unveiled, including her claim that President Trump dreamed of being sworn into office with his own book, rather than the Bible.

In the former aide's anticipated memoir, 'Unhinged,' set for release Tuesday, Manigault-Newman alleges Trump asked what her thoughts were on him using 'The Art of the Deal' during the inauguration ceremony.

Manigault-Newman claims Trump talked-up the nontraditional idea and boasted to her that his book is a 'bestseller' and the 'greatest business book of all time' - and that taking an oath to it would be a wonderful way to promote it.

The former Apprentice contestant and TV personality claims she laughed off the idea and advised Trump not to repeat it.

Trump allegedly even discussed selling special inauguration copies afterward.

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Donald Trump is sworn in as president on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Trump places his hand on a bible as he takes the oath of office as the next president of the United States on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington

In her new memoir, 'Unhinged,' former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault-Newman claims Trump considered getting sworn in for the presidency on his book, 'The Art of the Deal'

Trump and Manigault-Newman attend a church service, in Detroit, Michigan on September 3 2016

She claims she told him the idea was 'too crazy' and that he wouldn't be seen as the 'traditional president' he promotes himself to be.

'It's how I'm going to make great deals for the country. Just think how many copies I'd sell - maybe commemorative a inauguration copy?!,' she claims Trump said.

Manigault-Newman wrote further: 'Since the Bible has little significance to Trump, it may have felt disingenuous to him to take an oath on it.

'But "The Art of the Deal" meant a lot to him. Nothing has more meaning to Donald than himself.'

The alleged exchange comes with several others published in the tell-all book on shelves tomorrow - including claims that Trump used the N-word and other racial slurs, lied to the American people and disparaged his own family.

The White House has already slammed the book and said it is 'riddled with lies and false accusations'.

Trump's re-election campaign organization revealed it is considering filing a breach of contract lawsuit against Manigault-Newman.

The organization is responding to what a campaign official says are 'ongoing' violations of a non-disclosure agreement the former White House aide signed in 2016.

The official, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, told DailyMail.com that other campaign aides who are mentioned in Manigault-Newman's memoir also have initiated discussions with the campaign about filing defamation lawsuits of their own.

The non-disclosure agreement, the official added, specifically prohibited her from publicly disparaging Donald Trump at any time after she signed it - and 'she's violating it right now.'

The clause specifically barred her from publicly denigrating Trump 'during the time of your service, and at all times thereafter.'

President Trump tweeted Monday that the White House's former African-American outreach director had signed an NDA, but didn't specify whether it came before or after he took office.

Trump said Monday before leaving for an appearance at Fort Drum, N.Y. (pictured) that Manigault-Newman signed a non-disclosure agreement before she wrote a tell-all book about her nearly 11 months at the White House

The president tweeted that his onetime African-American outreach director had signed an NDA, but didn't say it happened after his inauguration

'Wacky Omarosa already has a fully signed Non-Disclosure Agreement!' Trump told his 53.7 million Twitter followers. The tweet confirmed what his counselor Kellyanne Conway suggested a day earlier.

It's unlikely an NDA signed by a government employee is enforceable. But an agreement made with a campaign committee  a private entity without the Constitutional restrictions faced by the federal government  could have a smoother legal ride.

Manigault-Newman said Monday on MSNBC that 'they've been threatening legal action. Theyre trying to figure out how to stop me.'

She has broken in recent days the veneer of any confidentiality the Trump administration may have imagined a previous NDA had cemented in place.

The onetime reality TV villain provided a recording to NBC News of White House Chief of Staff John Kelly firing her during a closed-door meeting in the ultra-secure Situation Room.

In another audio file, President Trump called her a day later to say he hadn't been told she was let go and wasn't happy about it.

Manigault Newman told Savannah Guthrie to 'calm down' and repeatedly snapped as she was being grilled about Donald Trump during a heated 'Today' interview on Monday

WHAT OMAROSA SAYS IN BOMBSHELL BOOK AND INTERVIEWS ABOUT TRUMP President uses the N-word and other racial slurs In 'Unhinged,' Omarosa says she was told he had been recorded using the N-word in outtakes from The Apprentice. Now she says she personally heard it after the book went to press: 'When he talks that way, the way he did on this tape, it confirmed that he is truly a racist.' In the book she claims he called Kellyanne Conway's husband George, who is half-Filipino, 'a goo-goo' and a 'flip.' Isn't competent to hold office 'They continue to deceive this nation by how mentally declined he is, how difficult it is for him to process complex information. How he is not engaged in some of the most important decisions that impacts our country.' She also writes: 'Donald has only a surface-level understanding of the content hes signing into law.' Is in mental jeopardy She writes of his interview with NBC News's Lester Holt in which he addressed his firing of James Comey: 'Donald rambled. He spoke gibberish. He contradicted himself from one sentence to the next. 'While watching the interview, I realized something real and serious was going on in Donalds brain. They thought Trump was being Trump, off the cuff. But I knew something wasnt right.' Lies and leads an administration which lies 'This is a White House where everybody lies; the president lies to the American people,Sarah Huckabee [Sanders] stands in front of the country and lies every single day.' Disparages his family He called Jared Kushner 'sweet', a term for gay, and called Don Jr. 'a f***-up' after the notorious Trump Tower meeting with Russians, saying: 'He screwed up again, but this time, hes screwing us all, big time!' Wanted sworn in on a copy of The Art of the Deal Claims she told him: 'Its the greatest business book of all time. Just think how many copies Id sellmaybe a commemorative inauguration copy?!' ... and what she says about John Kelly Manigault-Newman says former Chief of Staff John Kelly is the real boss and that he has mistreated more people than just her. 'John Kelly is running this White House,' she said, 'and Donald Trump has no clue whats going on. Hes being puppeted, and thats very dangerous for this nation.' 'Rob Porter is accused of allegedly abusing his wives. And you know what John Kelly said about Rob Porter? He said he was a man of great integrity. And he's accusing me of integrity violations?' ... and about Melania Omarosa says the First Lady wore the notorious 'I really don't care, do you?' coat to visit separate immigrant children at the border solely to shame her husband - and it wasn't the first time. 'The messages behind her style choices aren't always clear, but they are never accidental. Taken as a whole, all of her style rebellions have served the same purpose, and not only misdirection and distraction - strategies her husband knows all too well. I believe Melania uses style to punish her husband.' ... and about herself I was complicit with this White House deceiving this nation. I had a blind spot where it came to Donald Trump.' Advertisement

White House officials have since begun to consider whether Manigault-Newman was recording her in-house conversations for months during 2017.

'There could be hundreds of tapes for all we know,' one official said Monday in a background conversation. 'Did she bring a hidden microphone into the Oval [Office]? No one would have checked.'

Manigault-Newman joined forces with Trump in the summer of 2016 and spent far more time working in the West Wing than on the campaign trail.

Her book publicity tour so far hasn't included any bombshells that date from before the president's inauguration.

But even so, the campaign official said Monday, publicly denigrating the president after she left the White House in December 2017 runs against the NDA she signed more than two years ago.

The official confirmed that the president's 2016 campaign committee that entered into the NDA with Manigault-Newman is the same organization currently working to re-elect him. It's that legal entity that would assert it has standing to sue her.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the federal government from intervening in the exercise of free speech, and whistle-blowers protect government employees who decide to inform inspectors general or even Congress about nefarious White House activities.

But private citizens don't enjoy the same benefits when entering into contracts with non-governmental organizations.

The D.C. Federal Circuit Court ruled in 1983 that former federal employees have a First Amendment right to talk publicly about government information that isn't classified.

That ruling specified that 'the government has no legitimate interest in censoring unclassified materials.'

It did not address third parties with whom a prior agreement might have existed.
A free exhibition has been labelled as 'shifty and deceptive' after curious passerbys discovered links to the Church of Scientology.

The 'Mental Health and Human Rights' exhibit in Sydney's Martin Place has sparked outrage online after connections to the controversial church were revealed.

Following a 'significant number of complaints' about the exhibition, the City of Sydney has requested the stall close within the next 24 hours.

The 'Mental Health and Human Rights' exhibit in Sydney's Martin Place has sparked outrage online as the group running it was founded by the Church of Scientology

A photo, along with a warning about the exhibit, was shared on Reddit this week.

The reddit user who posted the image said the exhibit was 'mostly bulls***' and a 'front for the church'.

'When you go in this tent there's cameras on you at all times. They try and get you to sign petitions asking for your name and address, so it all feels pretty off.'

One commentor called the set up 'creepy', while another labelled the exhibit 'shifty and deceptive'.

'I'd respect them more if they had the balls to slap a big Scientology banner on that tent with "come in and see why we're against psychology" underneath it,' a reddit user said.

'I mean, they're entitled to their opinion. Instead, they have a vague, wishy-washy name in a bid to weasel out of bad publicity, except we all know it's Scientology anyway. Call a spade a spade, fellas.'

The exhibit is being run by Citizens Commission on Human Rights Australia.

'Come to this important exhibit and get the answers and facts behind this growing rate of prescriptions,' CCHR said on its Facebook page.

The CCHR was co-founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology and Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus Dr. Thomas Szasz, its website states.

A City of Sydney spokesman said the display organisers had originally claimed they were a mental health charity.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia is one step closer to cheaper and more reliable energy, citing 'overwhelming' partyroom support for his policy.

It is understood former Prime Minister Tony Abbott was one of only a handful of coalition MPs to speak against the National Energy Guarantee policy at the 2.5-hour closed-door meeting on Tuesday.

'We've had a good debate in the coalition party room - overwhelming support for the National Energy Guarantee,' Mr Turnbull said after the meeting.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) says Australia is one step closer to cheaper and more reliable energy, citing 'overwhelming' partyroom support for his policy

Former prime minister Tony Abbott (pictured) was one of only a handful of coalition MPs to speak against the National Energy Guarantee policy

'[The] object is cheaper, and more reliable energy and at the same time, of course, meet our commitments to reduce emissions in accordance with the Paris agreement.'

The legislation setting an emissions reduction target of 26 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 for the electricity sector - to be introduced to federal parliament this sitting fortnight - will be put to a teleconference of state energy ministers on Tuesday night.

It is possible Mr Abbott and those of similar mind could cross the floor when it comes to the legislation, which could make it a tight vote in the one-seat majority parliament if Labor also opposes it.

Asked about the possibility of losing the vote, Mr Turnbull said he shared colleagues' concerns about power prices.

He said the government would insist the changes be made by legislation, not regulation.

'We believe in democracy,' he said.

'We believe the parliament should have a say in this and so if we legislate that, then a subsequent government, whether it's on our side of politics or the other, would have to persuade both houses of parliament to make any changes to it.'

Starting in 2020, the NEG is designed to bring down energy bills by about $550 a year and requires retailers to source electricity that meets reliability and Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce (pictured) proposed an amendment to enforce price reductions

REACTION TO NATIONAL ENERGY GUARANTEE 'The time for shouting at the clouds and shouting at each other is over and the time for action and implementing this policy is right now.' - Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison. 'We want a bipartisan investment framework put in place sooner rather than later, to bring to an end the very deep energy crisis that has emerged under this prime minister.' - Labor's Mark Butler. 'This is not a policy designed to end the climate wars, it is a policy designed to end the war inside the coalition party room.' - Greens leader Richard Di Natale. 'The National Energy Guarantee has been trimmed, pulled, poked and prodded to the point that we are now left with a weak and inadequate policy that fails across the board, especially when it comes to effectively tackling climate change.' - Climate Council's Greg Bourne. 'The immutable law of energy policy is lower emissions mean higher prices.' - Institute of Public Affairs' Daniel Wild. 'It is now time for the politicking to end and all state and territory governments to get behind the framework quickly.' - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief James Pearson. 'This is another step in the right direction but there is more work to do.' - Business Council chief Jennifer Westacott. 'With its pathetic 26 per cent emissions reduction target for electricity and its refusal to develop any policies to reduce emissions in other sectors of the economy, the Turnbull government has effectively walked away from the Paris climate change agreement.' - Smart Energy Council chief John Grimes. Source: AAP Advertisement

Mr Abbott had argued coalition MPs would be 'dead wrong' to back it. Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce proposed an amendment to enforce price reductions.

One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson took to social media to call on the policy's high profile coalition opponents to cross the floor to block it.

Poll Do you believe the National Energy Guarantee will bring down power prices? Yes No Unsure Do you believe the National Energy Guarantee will bring down power prices? Yes 2 votes

No 81 votes

Unsure 6 votes Now share your opinion





'If they [Mr Abbott and Mr Joyce] can't stand up for Australian families and cross the floor, then they have no right to hold leadership positions ever again,' she tweeted.

'Fact - renewable energy targets drive up electricity prices. The Government should pull out of the UN's Paris Agreement and ditch the NEG.

'Any Government MP who doesn't cross the floor and vote against these terrible policies is putting the UN's green agenda first and Aussie families last.'

As well as rolling out the NEG, the Turnbull government is expected to underwrite new power generation projects, which could include coal-fired plants.

This is in line with one of 56 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommendations to cut power prices.

Labor leader Bill Shorten earlier told a caucus meeting the prime minister had surrendered to climate sceptics in the government.

'The only thing guaranteed to come out of today is higher power prices and less renewable energy. We have cobbled together today a Frankenstein's monster of a policy,' he said.

'While Mr Turnbull goes around attacking Mr Abbott, Mr Turnbull is, in fact, giving in to a lot of Mr Abbott's values when it comes to climate change and energy.'

Crossbench conservative senator Cory Bernardi (pictured) believes policy will push up prices

Crossbench conservative senator Cory Bernardi believes the policy will push up prices.

'Unless they remove the barriers to nuclear power ... and until they walk away from the Paris Agreement, they won't have my vote,' the former Liberal senator told Sky News.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said walking away from the Paris deal would torpedo Australia's chances of a free-trade deal with the European Union, negotiations for which are underway.

Greenpeace said there was no evidence to support Mr Turnbull's claim the NEG would reduce power prices.

'The government is relying on a single Excel spreadsheet to justify their claim that the NEG will reduce power prices,' Greenpeace Australia's Alix Foster Vander Elst said.

'Either that or the government is covering up the full report on the impact of the NEG because they have taken the political gamble that risking a cover-up is better than making the modelling and assumptions behind it public.

'There is not a single reference to a $550 price drop in this document. The government is just plucking random numbers out of the air.'
An elderly Australian professor has been living in Manila's international airport for the past week after he was denied entry into the Philippines.

Human rights activist Gill Boehringer was barred from entering the country after being placed on the Philippine Bureau of Immigration's blacklist.

The 84-year-old US-born academic, who is married to a Filipino woman, has not left the airport's international zone since he arrived on a flight from China on August 8.

The NSW professor says he was ordered on Monday afternoon to board a flight back to Guangzhou but his lawyer later confirmed the airline had refused to take him.

Australian professor Gill Boehringer (pictured) was barred from entering the Philippines after being placed on the Philippine Bureau of Immigration's blacklist

'Airlines will not board him without a medical certificate that he is fit to travel,' his lawyer Maria Sol Taule told AAP late on Monday.

Prof Boehringer has said the Philippines government incorrectly believes he participated in a rally three years ago.

Ms Sol Taule wants a medical expert from outside the airport to check her client but said BI has denied her client's latest application to stay in the country on medical grounds.

'We all agree that my "vital signs' are normal", the professor posted online on Monday.

'But what only the bureau fails to understand (or care about) is that you cannot predict that a person is fit to travel and not in danger from a deep vein thrombosis - which I have previously suffered - and nearly died from with a blood clot in my lung.'

The bureau said it was not detaining the Australian professor.

The 84-year-old US-born academic, who is married to a Filipino woman, has not left the airport's international zone since he arrived on a flight from China on August 8

It said he was instead in the custody of his airline because he had not been allowed entry to the Philippines.

Prof Boehringer said there was no basis for his exclusion from the Philippines.

Geneve Rivera-Reyes from advocacy group Health Action for Human Rights examined Prof Boehringer after he arrived in the Philippines and said he was suffering from deep vein thrombosis and cellulitis in both legs.

She agreed it was 'not safe' for him to travel again without a medical clearance.

The government claims it banned Prof Boehringer because his participation in a November 2015 rally violated an order 'prohibiting foreigners from engaging in political activities in the Philippines'.
A hero police officer saved the life of a domestic violence victim outside a Las Vegas apartment complex where the woman was viciously stabbed by her boyfriend.

The Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call about a stabbing from a female neighbor who witnessed the horrific incident at The Virginia Apartments located on 5350 East Tropicana Avenue last Wednesday night.

Frantic 911 audio obtained by DailyMail.com hears the neighbor as she explained how the attack by 30-year-old William Fuller went down.

The neighbor told the dispatcher: 'He's cutting her! He's cutting her! He's stabbing her! You need to get here.'

Screengrabs from Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Daniella Cino's body cam show the fatal shooting of William Fuller

Fuller is seen above standing over his unidentified girlfriend whom he stabbed several times last Wednesday

She said the attack began inside the apartment before the victim managed to make her way outside into the parking lot, where the stabbing ensued.

'Oh my God... there's babies in the house. He's cutting her up... you need to send somebody out here now,' the neighbor said in the audio clip.

Body cam shows Sgt. Daniella Cino at the time she arrived to the scene moments later.

Fuller stood over his unidentified girlfriend's body, sporting a white T-shirt splattered in her blood.

Cino is shown pointing a handgun toward Fuller, who has blood splattered on his white shirt

The man, still holding the eight-inch butcher knife in hand, stood up and walked toward Cino before he charged after her

Cino ordered Fuller: 'Get off of her! Get off! Get off!'

The officer then told the man a to drop the knife - which he did not comply to.

A mugshot of Fuller is pictured above. He was pronounced dead in the hospital

Fuller, still holding the eight-inch butcher knife in hand, stood up and walked slowly toward Cino before he charged after her.

That's when the officer fired two gunshots at him using a glock 17 9mm handgun.

Fuller was transported to the Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The victim was also transported to the local hospital, where she survived. She is said to be in good condition.

Local police believe the couple had been in the midst of a separation at the time of the attack.

Metro Assistant Sheriff Brett Zimmerman spoke in a Monday press conference, where he applauded the officer's actions.

Assistant Sheriff Brett Zimmerman released a public statement and photo of the knife used by Fuller

The attack happened at 5350 East Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Metropolitan Police Department responded to call about the stabbing from a female neighbor who witnessed the incident at The Virginia Apartments (above)

'I believe Sgt. Cino acted bravely and decisively,' Zimmerman said.

'Her actions prevented a woman from being killed in a domestic violence incident. This event is tragic and troubling.'

Zimmerman said the attack played out in front of four young children, believed to be the couple's, inside the apartment.

'Luckily, they were unharmed... I wanted to remind our community that there are resources available to get out of domestic violence situations.

'The Family Justice located at 861 North Mojave Road houses multiple services to get you out of bad circumstances.'

The assistant sheriff further implored the public to get involved and report other domestic violence incidents - regardless of how big or small. He added: 'Do not stay silent.'

If you or someone you know is seeking help out of an abusive relationship, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
The man charged over the alleged hit-and-run death of a Dutch backpacker has smiled at cameras on his way to court.

Michael Panayides, 26, was arrested on Melbourne's busy Bourke Street Monday afternoon after a passer-by recognised him from police footage.

He spent the night in custody and will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday over a number of hit-and-run offences.

The victim, a 27-year-old female cyclist, was struck by a white Mercedes-Benz on Sunday morning, knocking her into the path of an oncoming car.

She has not yet been identified and was in Australia on a working visa, and died at the scene.

Michael Panayides charged over the alleged hit-and-run death of a Dutch tourist has stared down cameras on his way to face Melbourne Magistrates Court (pictured)

The arrest comes after a woman died in Melbourne's southern suburb of South Yarra on Sunday, when a white Mercedes-Benz struck her on her bicycle and into another car

Pictures taken by 7 News show Panayides in the back of a police car, smirking at the camera on his way to court.

The homeless man is facing Melbourne's Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He appeared in court with his left arm bandaged and what appeared to be a small cut near his left eye, according to The Age.

He nodded to his lawyer as he entered the court but did not speak.

Panayides has been charged with culpable driving, failing to stop after collision, failing to render assistance and negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He was remanded in custody to return to court on December 4.

Panayides spent Monday night in custody after being arrested on a Melbourne street

Police will allege that the Mercedes-Benz was stolen from a home in Elsternwick, about 15 minutes from the scene of the incident.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning at around 10.00am, when a driver tried to cut across a bike lane in Melbourne's southern suburb of South Yarra.

The driver also hit a moving car and other parked vehicles, before he fled the scene.

The tourist's bicycle was left as a crumpled wreck after it was crushed against the other vehicle.

Police arrested the 26-year-old man on Monday afternoon after a passer-by recognised him

Inspector Stuart McGregor previously described the man behind the wheel of the car as 'despicable'.

'We've lost the life of a young girl who was just going about a Sunday morning bicycle ride,' Inspector McGregor said.

'Unfortunately for her, the driver of the white Mercedes decided he was going to cut through on the left-hand side of the other vehicles and at the same time he's collided with her and pushed her up against another car.

'His first thought was to run. It wasn't to help, it wasn't to stop, it wasn't to think about the poor person he's hit.
Disgraced politician Salim Mehajer has been blasted by a judge after telling him he would be 'on vacation' during an upcoming court appearance - despite being pegged to still be locked up at the time.

Mehajer appeared via video link from his cold cell at former 19th century mental institution, NSW's Cooma Correctional Centre, hoping to appeal two separate sentences, news.com.au reported.

Mehajer hoped to overturn a judge's decision of guilt regarding an assault on 7 News journalist, Laura Banks, which led to the reporter suffering a hand injury.

Former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer told a Judge he would be unable to attend an upcoming court appearance due to holiday arrangements, despite being pegged to still be imprisoned at the time

District Court Judge David Frearson decided to remand Mehajer in custody, with a hearing related to Ms Bank's assault case postponed until January

District Court Judge David Frearson decided to remand Mehajer in custody, with a hearing related to Ms Bank's assault case postponed until January.

Mehajer promptly told the judge that date wouldn't suit him, as he planned to be on vacation in January.

The erratic claim comes despite Mehajer currently serving a minimum 11-month sentence which started in June for election fraud.

Mehajer (pictured) promptly told the judge that date wouldn't suit him, as he planned to be on vacation in January

Before his imprisonment, Mehajer (pictured) lived a lavish lifestyle of vacations and getaways

'I don't understand how you can be on vacation while you're in jail,' Judge Freason said.

Mehajer was first appealing the decision to impose a three-year good behaviour bond for assaulting a taxi driver.

In April of 2017, Mehajer threw an EFTPOS machine at taxi driver Nazir Syed.

In addition to the good behavior bond, Mehajer was ordered to undergo anger management counselling.

Judge Frearson described the assault on the taxi driver as 'reprehensible and disgusting' behaviour and proposed an increase in Mehajer's sentence.

'I thought you were dealt with very leniently,' Judge Frearson told an astonished Mehajer.

When asked if he'd still like to proceed with the appeal, knowing it may result in a heavier sentence, Mehajer balked.

'If that is the case, I won't proceed with that matter,' Mehajer told the judge.

Mehajer appeared via video link from his cold cell at former 19th century mental institution, NSW's Cooma Correctional Centre (pictured)
The ABC will not be renewing the controversial Tonightly with Tom Ballard comedy program, with the announcement coming in the wake of a number of on-air controversies and allegations.

It was only recently that the television watchdog cleared the ABC of any wrongdoing after the show ran a satirical skit that called a conservative politician a c**t on-air, The Australian reported.

Ballard himself was also accused of sexual misconduct in recent months, an accusation he has completely denied. It is not suggested the decision to not renew the program is related to the sexual assault allegation.

The ABC will not be renewing Tonightly with Tom Ballard (pictured) as it looks for a 'fresh approach' to attract younger audiences

In the controversial sketch, which centred around the by-election in the Melbourne electorate of Batman, comedian Greg Larson labelled an Australian Conseratives candidate a 'c**t' for refusing an interview.

As a result of the skit, Communications Minister Mitch Field complained to the Australian Communications and Media Authority after the broadcaster refused to apologise for the comment.

But despite agreeing that the language was offensive, the ACMA later found the show did not breach the harm and offense provisions of the ABC Code of Practice.

Ballard himself denied the recent accusation of sexual misconduct.

In a statement issued by the TV host, Ballard said he believed he'd had a 'consensual sexual experience with someone', adding that he had 'absolutely no idea [the other person] believed it wasnt consensual'.

'This false claim has been spread via social media, text messages and gossip. It has been deeply distressing for me, my friends and my family. It has affected my work and my mental health,' he wrote.

In a controversial skit, comedian Greg Larson (left) labelled Australian Conseratives candidate Kevin Bailey (right) a 'c**t' for refusing an interview.

The ABC said they were proud of the program's on-air team (pictured), but added it was time to move on and focus on new projects

At the time, the ABC issued a statement that said: 'The ABC takes any allegation of harassment very seriously and does not condone or tolerate any inappropriate behaviour.'

In regards to the show's axing, the broadcaster said in a statement on Monday that they were proud of the program, but added it was time to look for a 'fresh approach' to attract younger audiences.

'We remain committed to exploring and developing projects that connect with different demographics,' the statement read.

Tom Ballard himself was accused of sexual misconduct in recent months, an accusation he has completely denied

Ballard said that getting to host the show was an 'absolute honor and privilege, even though we never got to be on Media Watch'.

'I feel so proud of the "work" we made and I feel so lucky to have been surrounded by laughter and stupidity for an entire year' he added.
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The daughter of a woman whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase and dumped in a river has cried in court while listening to evidence about her mother's injuries.

Both the ex-husband and daughter of Annabelle Chen, whose body was found by two fishermen in Perth's Swan River on July 2, 2016, have been accused of her murder.

Tiffany Yiting Wan, 25, and her father Ah Ping Ban, 65, are separately on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court.

They both denied killing the 58-year-old, but have admitted to being accessories to her death.

Ms Wan became emotional in court on Tuesday when the court was shown x-ray images of Ms Chen's injuries.

Two fishermen found the suitcase that contained the body of Annabelle Chen (pictured), floating in Perth's Swan River on July 2, 2016

She was allegedly beaten to death at her Mosman Park home, in Perth's western suburbs, before her body was stuffed into the suitcase and thrown into the river.

Forensic radiologist Dr Chris O'Donnell testified that Ms Chen suffered an 'extreme force' that fractured her skull.

She also suffered an 'extreme force' that injured her ribs and hand.

As the court heard this, Ms Wan wiped her tears with tissues and kept her head down during most of the proceedings.

Mr Ban did not express any emotion.

Alex Sambell was one of the fisherman who found Ms Chen's body floating in the river in 2016 and testified that he saw a foot poking out of the suitcase when his friend gave it a shake.

The 23-year-old said he could also smell a strong odour coming from the suitcase.

When they realised there was a body inside, he and his friend rushed it to the water police.

'I was going as fast as my little boat could go,' he said.

Prosecutor Justin Whalley told the court that there was no motive established in the circumstantial case.

He also said it wasn't known for sure when an intention to murder Ms Chen was formed, or who played each role.

Some of the tiles in the bag matched those in a home Ms Chen owned in Mosman 11 years ago, pictured, the property has changed hands twice since she sold it

Both the accused gave the same false version of events when talking to police, who said their 'orchestrated litany of lies' were created to cover up their wrongdoing.

Ms Wan kept sending text messages to her mother following her death, in an attempt to cover up the murder.

Prosecutor Whalley said that the 25-year-old's actions showed that she had no sense of remorse.

'They acted together in the murder of Annabelle Chen,' he said.

'Their individual involvement in the cover up was of such a nature and such a degree that the only reasonable inference to be drawn from it was that each was responsible.'

At the time of the murder, there was blood found in Ms Chen's Mosman home, and she had traces of alcohol in her system, the court heard.

Evidence pointing to Mr Ban included glasses found in the river that were similar to those he wore, and phone cell tower data.

Her body was found in the suitcase (much like the one pictured) after she suffered 25 blunt force injuries to her head, resulting in a fractured skull

Prosecutor Whalley told the court that Ms Wan transferred a total of $135,000 in two instalments into her father's bank account following the death.

The 65-year-old husband's defence lawyer, David Brustman, told the court that his client arrived in Perth from Singapore at the end of June, and was 'confronted with a horrible scenario'.

Mr Brustman claims that the victim was killed during an altercation with her daughter at Ms Chen's Mosman home days before the body was found, and he helped to dispose of the body.

'This is no more than a parent trying to protect his or her own child, though in an utterly misguided way,' he said.

Mr Ban has plans to testify during the trial.

The daughter's defence counsel, Simon Freitag, told the jury that Ms Chen was not the murderer, but was guilty of being an accessory and initially lied to police.

'Was she lying to protect herself  or was she lying to protect Mr Ban for something he had done?'

The trial is continuing.
Police have fined an international licence holder more than $1000 for riding a scooter the wrong way down a street in Sydney's business district.

According to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, the female food delivery rider was also wearing a helmet with the strap undone and was carrying the food order in a plastic bag in the footwell of the scooter  held in only by her feet.

The rider travelled for some time down Wattle Street  a major thoroughfare through Sydney  while other drivers flashed lights and sounded horns at her.

A food delivery driver has been fined $1385 for driving the wrong way down a busy city street

She eventually did a U-turn to face the correct direction of travel before being stopped by police.

The incident took place at around midday and the rider was issued with four penalty notices  one for not wearing her helmet correctly, another for driving with an unsecured load, a third for not keeping left of the dividing line and a final one for disobeying the no left turn sign.

The penalties racked up a total bill of $1385 for the food delivery driver.

The driver was holding an international licence and picked up four penalty notices

The images and description were posted on the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command  NSW Police Force Facebook page, and resulted in the heavy criticism of those driving with international licences.

Many comments called for international drivers to take a test if they wish to drive a vehicle on Australian roads.
Police investigating the murder of a Russian businessman exiled in London have today released CCTV footage of a black van seen driving past his home on the night he was strangled.

Scotland Yard say they need to find the driver of the Volkswagen Transporter filmed near Nikolay Glushkov's suburban house the night before he was found dead earlier this year.

The 68-year-old, who was a close friend of Vladimir Putin critic Boris Berezovsky, died at his house on Clarence Avenue, New Malden, on March 12.

He was found dead by his daughter, Natalia, just eight days after the nerve agent attack on spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in March.

Police waited four days to launch a murder investigation as sources said his death was made to look like he had hanged himself.

Mr Glushkov was one of the last surviving members of an ill-fated circle of Russian exiles - led by Putin's enemy Boris Berezovsky - who was also found dead five years ago.

The black van police wish to trace in connection with the murder of Russian businessman Nikolay Glushkov

Nikolai Glushkov, 68, was found dead by his daughter, Natalia, right, at his suburban home in New Malden just eight days after the nerve agent attack on spy Sergei Skripal in March

An inquest opening heard his cause of death was compression to the neck, believed to be by strangulation.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'The Volkswagen van was seen in and around Clarence Avenue between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on Sunday March 11.

Mr Glushkov, an outspoken critic of Putin, was strangled but police were initially unsure if it was suicide

'Detectives are keen to identify the van and driver, who they believe could have information that may help with their inquiries.'

Mr Glushkov fled Russia after being accused of fraud during his time as deputy director of the Russian airline Aeroflot, and had lived in London for two years.

Last year, during a trial in absentia he was sentenced to eight years in a Russian prison, convicted of stealing 87 million from the airline.

He was due to attend the commercial court in London to defend himself on March 12  the day his body was discovered.

Police, who launched a murder investigation four days after his death, say they have obtained a total of 286 witness statements and have seized 1,086 exhibits to date.

There is currently nothing to suggest any link to the attempted murders in Salisbury, or any evidence that he was poisoned, the force added. No arrests have been made.

Mr Glushkov was jailed in Russia in 2000 and held at the notorious Lefortovo Prison for five years until being cleared of fraud and money laundering and freed.

Mr Glushkov claimed political asylum in Britain and decided to live a quieter life in suburban south London before he was found dead

Mr Glushkov had lived in this suburban London home for two years before his murder on the eve of a High Court case

Police hunting for clues inspected the extension and lifted the patio as the mystery over his death continued

Glushkov's Land Rover was also taken away by detectives, who insist his death has nothing to do with the Skripal assassination attempt

However, at the time of his death he was preparing for a 90million High Court showdown with his former employer Aeroflot.

Mr Glushkov was being sued by the airline, which is 51 per cent state-owned, for the return of 90million which it alleges he embezzled along with Boris Berezovsky, the anti-Putin oligarch who is thought to have committed suicide in 2013.

Mr Glushkov was handed a second eight-year sentence by a Russian court in his absence over the alleged theft from Aeroflot, where he was previously finance director.

Mr Glushkov's former bodyguard revealed the extent of his worries over his safety and the measures they took to preserve his safety.

The minder told how Mr Glushkov had hatched an escape plan which included a hideaway should his life be put in danger.

He said: 'When we were informed things were a little tense, we were told to prepare a getaway for Glushkov.'

The bodyguard had also worked with Glushkov's friend and former business partner Boris Berezovsky and said the exiles saw poison as 'always a threat'.

The security guard said: 'Boris [Berezovsky] spoke openly that the orders came directly from Putin to eliminate him and his friends.'

Boris Berezovsky was said to have taken his own life after he was found strangled at his Surrey mansion in 2013, although Mr Glushkov was always among those who refused to accept that his billionaire oligarch friend killed himself.

Another of his close acquaintances, Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili, 52, also died in mysterious circumstances five years earlier.

In that case, police investigated claims he was the target of an assassination plot but a coroner was told he probably suffered a heart attack.

Mr Glushkov's friend Boris Berezovsky was found dead in his Berkshire home in 2013 and the death of another of their circle, Badri Patarkatsishvili, is also unexplained

Glushkov said shortly after close friend Berezovsky's death in 2013: 'You have the deaths of Boris and Badri over a short period of time.

'Too many bodies are happening. I'd say this is a little bit too much. I don't see anyone left apart from me.'

The Home Secretary has already ordered a fresh official inquiry into a number of other deaths in Britain that could be connected to Russia.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call police on 0800 789 321.
A heroic father-of-two who cracked open his skull while trying to save his son is fighting for his life in intensive care - as doctors can't believe he survived the fall.

Brad Lewis, 42, was at a friend's house in Church Point in Sydney's north on August 4 when his eight-year-old son Oscar playfully shot a few Nerf gun bullets at him.

The bullets missed and went over the first-floor balcony, and Oscar ran to see where they went, losing his balance.

Mr Lewis lunged at his son to save him, but they ended up both tumbling towards the concrete below.

During the fall, Mr Lewis pinned Oscar to his chest and curled around him in order to take the brunt of the impact - taking the full force of it on his head.

Mr Lewis's friend Beau Worthington was the first to respond, and recalled Brad's first words after the fall were 'Are the kids OK? Don't let them see me like this, don't let me die mate'.

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Brad Lewis, 41, (pictured with his wife, Suz), was found unconscious alongside eight-year-old Oscar

Mr Lewis lunged at his son to save him, but they ended up both tumbling towards the concrete below

During the fall, Mr Lewis pinned Oscar (left) to his chest and curled around him in order to take the brunt of the impact - taking the full force of it on his head

Mr Robinson said he was forced to hold his friend's skull together in his hands.

Oscar was concussed, fractured his skull and had bruising on the brain, but has since been released from hospital.

Mr Lewis sustained major head and neck injuries - cracking his skull open, bruising his brain, fracturing his C6 vertebrae.

His recovery is expected to last for at least six months, and a friend of the family has started a Go Fund Me page to raise money as his wife Suz has taken leave from her job to care for him.

Mr Lewis and his son were treated at the scene by paramedics and a Careflight team.

Oscar, the eldest of two boys, was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital by car after being tended to by road medics.

Mr Lewis - a former army officer - was flown to the Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious condition.

Oscar, the eldest of two boys, was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital by car after being tended to by road medics

Mr Lewis - a former army officer - was flown to the Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious condition

'CareFlight's specialist doctor and critical care paramedic treated the man at the scene for serious head injuries,' a CareFlight spokesman said.

Mr Worthington said the accident happened in front of multiple families who had gathered at his house for lunch.

'I've known Brad all my life and he does everything for his family. He's a tough guy,' he told News Corp.

'To see him like that was a freak of nature.'

Mr Worthington said the accident happened in front of multiple families who had gathered at his house for lunch
Teenage boys are being blamed for the rise in illegal train surfing in Sydney.

Train surfing is a when a person clings to the back of a moving train.

Despite being life threatening and illegal, the activity is increasing in popularity, with the number of people caught train surfing almost doubling in a year.

There were 110 people reported for train surfing last year, The Daily Telegraph reported. In 2016, there was just 43 people caught.

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More people are being caught train surfing in Sydney. The spike in the trend is being blamed on young boys giving in to peer pressure

Transport Minister Andrew Constance is blaming the spike on young men and peer-pressure.

'It seems to be young teenage boys who are the worst offenders of this  there's nothing cool about this. This is just idiotic behaviour and you're putting yourself at risk.'

'This reckless, stupid behaviour is not only endangering the lives of those individuals but the lives of others  we need this to stop.'

Train surfers are risking a fine of up to $5,500 and a serious, if not deadly, injury.

'The human body is no match for a 400 tonne train.'

Train surfing isn't just a popular activity in Sydney. There are dozens of social media accounts boasting about death defying rail rides across Melbourne too.
A string of volcanoes sitting underneath Melbourne could erupt at any moment and send lava flowing through the city's streets, an expert has warned.

The little-known Newer Volcanic Province has about 400 volcanoes stretching from Melbourne to South Australia's Mount Gambier, just over the Victorian border.

Tasmanian volcanologist Doctor Rebecca Carey said although the last eruption was about 5,000 years ago, Melbourne locals should prepare for potential disaster.

A string of volcanoes sitting underneath and around Melbourne could erupt at any moment and send lava flowing through the city's streets

Experts predict if any of the volcanoes do begin to stir, residents will have very little warning

'From what we can establish now, we're in a long phase of dormancy and that there is the possibility of an eruption in this province,' Dr Carey told 60 Minutes.

Dr Carey is in Hawaii where she is studying the active Kilauea volcano, which destroyed hundreds of homes in just one night in June.

She said similar impacts could be seen in Melbourne and Victoria's south-west.

'The impacts will of course be the same as here in Kilauea, where potentially properties are inundated with lava or the products of explosive eruption,' she said.

'But I think the impacts will be related to ash and aviation... that is a scenario that could happen in Melbourne.

'The manifestation of eruptive activity that we are seeing at Kilauea - low level explosions, lava ocean entry, lava flows - is typical of the type of eruptive activity that's occurred in that [Victorian] province.'

Dr Carey said similar impacts could be seen in Melbourne and Victoria's south-west

Newer Volcanic Province Newer Volcanics Province covers a broad 15,000 square kilometres of SE Australia.

There are 400 small shield volcanoes and explosive vents.

Prominent features of the volcanic field are the numerous small scoria cones, tuff rings, and maars that rise above the lava plain.

The youngest dated eruptions took place at Mount Schank and Mount Gambier about 5,000 years ago. Advertisement

Experts predict if any of the volcanoes do begin to stir, residents will have very little warning.

Without an advanced monitoring system in place, the first signs of disturbance would come in the form of gentle tremors.

'Once you see that happening, you know in a couple of hours something is going to happen,' Monash University volcanology lecturer Jozua van Otterloo told ABC.

The volcanoes differ across the state, with Mount Gambier's Blue Lake being a maar volcano, due to it's shallow, crater-like shape.

'The groundwater just sits there, and as it mixes with that groundwater it becomes very, very explosive and it just excavates a big hole in the ground, which gives us that big crater, which we call a maar.'

Without any possible indication of when the explosions may occur, residents should be cautious of their surroundings and have an action plan, to prepare for the worst.

Mount Gambier's Blue Lake (pictured) is a maar volcano, which could become highly explosive

Without an advanced monitoring system in place, the first signs of disturbance would come in the form of gentle tremors
A man who raped a homeless schoolgirl after befriending her on a train could walk free from prison after serving just three months.

Liam John Dreja, 34, was on the same train as a vulnerable girl, 11, who was carrying her scooter last February.

The schoolgirl from Scarborough, in Western Australia, was upset and Dreja had decided to sit and talk to her on the train.

A man who raped a homeless schoolgirl after befriending her on a train could walk free from prison after serving just three months. Liam John Dreja, 34, faced Western Australia's District Court on Tuesday

When the 11-year-old told him she was homeless, Dreja offered to help the girl find a place to stay, the court heard.

Yet after they got off the train, Dreja took the vulnerable girl to a park near her school where he sexually assaulted her, according to The West Australian.

Dreja had previously told police that the girl told him she was 18-years-old.

Dreja faced Western Australia's District Court on Tuesday, where the prosecutor and Judge Andrew Stavrianou said the claim that she was 18 instead of 11 was not believable, considering her height and scooter.

Prosecutor Christine Aynsley said: 'It must have been clearly apparent that she was not [that old] ... and he knew in his heart she was not.'

Judge Stavrianou told the court that the girl was 'vulnerable' and Dreja 'took advantage of her.'

Dreja had taken Valium and been drinking before he met the girl on the train, the court heard.

He had reportedly been taking drugs after a relationship breakdown with his wife and child.

Dreja was sentenced to jail for three-and-a-half years on Tuesday, but will be eligible for parole in November.
A middle school in a small Oklahoma town is closed for two days following comments made online threatening a 12-year-old transgender student.

The comments were made by adults on a Facebook page for parents of Achille students where one women posted a 'heads up' that 'the transgender is already using the girls bathroom'.

The post, which has since been deleted, received concerning responses, prompting the school to close for safety reasons as some parents referred to the student as 'it', 'thing' and 'maggot'.

One post by a man named Eddie Belcher was especially alarming: 'If he wants to be a female make him a female. A good sharp knife will do the job really quick,' he wrote.

The post was referring to 12-year-old Maddie, who has identified as a girl throughout her time at Achilles schools, and used the girl's bathroom on her first day of seventh grade.

A 12-year-old transgender student at an Achille middle school used the girls bathroom on her first day of seventh grade Thursday

The school is closed Monday and Tuesday for concerns of demonstrations

Brandy, the girl's mother, said since the fifth grade Maddie has used the staff bathroom.

But last Thursday was Maddie's first day of seventh grade at a new school, so she was confused and went to the girls bathroom, Brandy said.

A parent Jamie Crenshaw posted on the Facebook group after hearing about Maddie using the girls bathroom.

'Looks like it's gonna be a long year,' she wrote. Adding, 'enough is enough'.

What began as parents voicing their concerns in the comments quickly turned violent.

'Jus ttell the kids to kick a** in the bathroom and it won't want to come back!!', Kevin Bickerstaff wrote.

'This is terrible!! Ya'll have great kids and a lil half baked maggot is causing them probs,' Ty Hays said.

Another comment made by a man named David Carpenter reads: 'Why are parents letting their kids be transgender?'

Achille superintedent Rick Beene said they were asked by police to close schools Monday and Tuesday citing the possibility of demonstrations.

'Achille School and the administration take the safety of every student very serious,' Beene said.

He added that he is humiliated to have Achille associated with the hateful comments, but says the student is safe and accepted at school.

'Our kids, our parents, most of our community is very, very good people... very open to all ethnicities, all populations and, really, we've got a group of kids that love each other,' he said. 'We know of no bullying as far as this one situation is concerned.'

A parent posted in a Facebook page to give parents a 'heads up' that 'the transgender is already using the girls bathroom'

This sparked hateful comments from adults who referred to the student at 'it', 'thing' and 'maggot'

The district is hiring an extra resource officer to help keep students safe, and the victim's family has filed a protective order against Burney Crenshaw, who was tagged in the original post.

Sources say Crenshaw has actively campaigned against Maddie.

Beene said the district is now open to new resources for training. 'I need education; we all need to be educated. It's certainly something that people didn't deal with 20, 30 years ago,' he told News 4.

It wasn't long before outside LGBTQ organizations spoke out in defense of Maddie, including Sara Cunningham, founder of the group 'Free Mom Hugs'.

'My heart just sank when I realized what was happening,' Cunningham told News 4.

'But, I can say that, if one thing, one positive thing came out of that post is the exposure of the power of fear and ignorance, and I mean that term respectfully but that is a perfect example to the world of what fear and ignorance can do.'
Royal Mail has been fined 50million by the communications regulator for a 'serious breach' in competition law.

Ofcom said the company abused its dominant position by discriminating against Whistl, its only major competitor for delivering letters.

The penalty follows an investigation into a complaint by Whistl, which is one of Royal Mail's wholesale customers.

The complaint was linked to changes Royal Mail made to its wholesale customers' contracts in 2014, including price increases.

Royal Mail has been fined 50million by the communications regulator for a 'serious breach' in competition law

The price rises meant that any of Royal Mail's wholesale customers seeking to compete with it by delivering letters in some parts of the country, as Whistl was, would have to pay higher prices in the remaining areas - where it used Royal Mail for delivery.

Following notification of these new prices, Whistl, which was then known as TNT, suspended plans to extend delivery services to new parts of the UK.

Ofcom's investigation found Royal Mail's actions amounted to 'anti-competitive discrimination against customers, such as Whistl, who sought to deliver bulk mail'.

Jonathan Oxley, Ofcom's competition director, said: 'Royal Mail broke the law by abusing its dominant position in bulk mail delivery.

The penalty follows an investigation into a complaint by Whistl, which is one of Royal Mail's wholesale customers. Pictured: One of the firm's delivery vans

The complaint was about changes Royal Mail made to its wholesale customers' contracts in early 2014, including wholesale price increases it was introducing. Pictured: An employee empties a postbox in Southwark, London

'All companies must play by the rules. Royal Mail's behaviour was unacceptable, and it denied postal users the potential benefits that come from effective competition.'

The regulator added that Royal Mail's conduct was 'reasonably likely' to put other companies at a competitive disadvantage and restrict competition.

It found Royal Mail in breach of Section 18 of the Competition Act and Article 102 of the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits a firm from abusing its dominant position.

Royal Mail said it will appeal against Ofcom's decision, claiming its price changes were 'never implemented or paid'.

The firm said in a statement: 'Royal Mail is very disappointed by Ofcom's decision to impose a fine of 50 million. Royal Mail strongly refutes any suggestion that it has acted in breach of the Competition Act, and considers that the decision is without merit and fundamentally flawed.

'The company will now lodge an appeal with the Competition Appeal Tribunal within the next two months. No fine is payable until the appeals process is exhausted.'

In its statement it highlighted key reasons why it believed Ofcom's decision would be overturned.

It said that for an allegation of 'abusive price discrimination' to be established' the 'relevant prices must actually be paid' and 'the party paying such prices must be placed at a competitive disadvantage as a result.'

But Royal Mail added: 'In this case neither of these essential elements exist.'

It also said that Ofcom's claim that 'the notification of the price changes itself had an anti-competitive effect' is 'fundamentally flawed.'

It added: 'First, there is no case in which a mere notification has been found to be anti-competitive.

'Second, there is no basis on which it can be unlawful to notify a lawful price.'
Discount airline Jetstar have been revealed to only pay some of its foreign workers as little as $100 a week due to an obscure technicality in international flight rules.

Thai-based cabin crews working on Australian routes are being rostered shifts lasting up to 20 hours, but say they are struggling to even feed themselves on their wage.

Foreign cabin crews are paid about $60 for every 36 hours they spend away from home, while local crews earn almost $129 per night, according to a report from ABC.

While foreign crews are usually exclusively for international flights, a loophole in the law allows them to do more Darwin-Adelaide flights at a lower cost to the company.

Jetstar confirmed that more Thai crews were used for those domestic flights in the past month, but cited the technicality as allowing them to do so.

Foreign Jetstar staff are being employed on domestic routes thanks to international flight rules loophole (stock image)

In a statement to ABC, Jetstar said quoted salaries of $100 a week were misleading, as they were purely a base rate calculation for junior staff with no experience.

'Our Thai-based crew take home on average $2,600 a month, depending on seniority, which is five times the average monthly Thai salary,' the statement read.

A former Thai-based employee agreed that the salary was above standards back home, but claimed it became difficult to live off when he was forced to stay in Australia for large chunks of time.

Originally, foreign crews could only be used on international flights.

However, last month, the airline started using cheaper Thai crews on domestic flights under international 'tag' flights, which is when a domestic transfer or connecting flight is added to an international flight.

One pilot told the ABC that there's no way that Darwin to Adelaide return flights could fall under tag flight rules, saying that every single passenger uses domestic terminals, ticketing and security checks on those flights.

Jetstar refuted these allegations in a statement, saying that the Darwin to Adelaide flights went on to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, which would make it a tag flight.

The airline said school holidays as a peak period meant more crews had to be employed

Jetstar rejected accusations they were exploiting workers, saying that there was simply a higher need for staff on domestic flights during school holidays.

'The only recent change in patterning of overseas based crew on tag flights was during the busy school holiday period in July when we rostered more (still within the half a percent level),' a spokesperson said.

Daily Mail Australia have contacted Jetstar for comment.
Panama City, Aug 14 (efe-epa).- With their binoculars, cameras and other optical aids, birdwatchers are almost always ready to venture off to watch the Panamanian skies, where millions of birds migrate south each autumn from North America.

The birds will begin heading south into Mexico, Central and South America once the weather starts getting colder in more northern climes, seeking more moderate weather to rest, fatten themselves up and reproduce.

The October-November period is the prime time for observing migrating birds in Panama, which has a history of the activity dating back more than 120 years, with the country nowadays constituting a key destination for so-called "green tourism," which has grown markedly in recent years.

There are three basic migrations - birds of prey, shorebirds and songbirds - and millions of each kind travel to areas near the Panamanian capital, Venicio Wilson, a member of the Audubon Society of Panama, told EFE.

"In the sport of birdwatching, people come as collectors, and in that search for (observing) new species, Panama is a (key) destination," he said.

"It's not for nothing that ... the main (birding) country of Central America with 1,010 species of all sorts of birds, wants to attract more and more visitors from North America, Europe and Asia," he said.

In the international birdwatching competition known as the Global Big Day in May, the isthmus was No. 1 in Central America and sixth worldwide, with about 750 species of birds seen in a single day, exceeding Costa Rica's 685.

The head of the department of International Communications for the Panama Tourism Authority, Gilberto Alemancia, told EFE that the sector attracts mainly affluent visitors coming from the US, Canada, the UK, France and Germany.

"Many (people) wanting to document exotic species are ready to travel to distant locations, without regard for the cost, given that the majority are also experts and researchers," Alemancia said.
A 25-year-old man is trapped in a boy's body because he suffers from an agonising rare disease that makes him look just 12 years old.

Tomasz Nadolski, from the town of Olesnica in south-western Poland's Lower Silesian Voivodeship, suffers from a rare genetic condition known as Fabry disease.

He said: 'I am 25 years old and I would like to look like a man of my age. I hate this boy who I see every day in the mirror, because it is not me.'

Mr Nadolski's problems began when he was seven years old and began vomiting after every meal and started suffering from pains in his stomach, hands and feet.

For a long time, doctors were unable to work out what was wrong with him, suspecting his problems might be mental rather than physical.

Tomasz Nadolski, 25, is trapped in a child's body because he suffers from a rare disease that makes him look like a 12-year-old boy

Tomasz Nadolski, from the town of Olesnica in south-western Poland's Lower Silesian Voivodeship, suffers from a rare genetic condition known as Fabry disease

Mr Nadolski's problems began when he was seven years old and began vomiting after every meal and started suffering from pains in his stomach, hands and feet

'My parents were torn,' he said. 'They saw something going on, but they believed the doctors that I was mentally ill and that I should just eat more.'

Mr Nadolski says the condition has affected his relationships with his relatives who still treat him as a child because of his youthful appearance.

He said: 'When I'm at home, I'm just sitting in my room and spending my time alone. I feel lonely and I lack the support of my family and this is how it has been for many years. The disease has destroyed our family relationships.

'I often suffer sad situations. When I show the ID card in the office or if the police stop me, they accuse me of having a fake one.'

Fabry disease, which can affect many parts of the body including the kidneys, heart, and skin, results from the build up of a particular type of fat, called globotriaosylceramide, in the body's cells. It is a type of lysosomal storage disorder.

For a long time, doctors were unable to work out what was wrong with him, suspecting his problems might be mental rather than physical

Mr Nadolski's severe stomach problems mean he cannot eat and he has to be attached to a drip 20 hours a day. He also needs painkillers, including morphine patches, to help him cope with the pain he feels. His feet are so deformed that he has to wear special shoes

Fortunately, the manufacturer of the expensive treatment for the disease has agreed to provide him with the drug for free.

He lives on benefits worth the equivalent of 160 a month while the medicine costs nearly 170,000 a year.

Mr Nadolski's severe stomach problems mean he cannot eat and he has to be attached to a drip 20 hours a day. He also needs painkillers, including morphine patches, to help him cope with the pain he feels. His feet are so deformed that he has to wear special shoes.

He explained: 'I feel pain in my joints, bones, muscles. Every inch of my body hurts me. I am not able to sleep and live normally.'

Marcin Godek, an orthopaedic technician, confirmed: 'Every step with bare feet gives him great pain. We try to relieve his feet as much as possible.'
This is the incredible moment a cheetah jumps on to the roof of a jeep on safari to pose for a selfie with a family.

The group, who were on holiday in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, can't believe their eyes as the cheetah can be seen stalking the car before it took a leap near the open sun window.

A terrifying video shows the shocked group lost for words as the cheetah calmly sits on the car and peers in to look at them.

Leilani, 13, was brave enough to pose for a photo with a cheetah who jumped on their jeep in Serengeti

The predator lay in the shade and sat comfortably with its paw through the window while the frightened family stared in disbelief

The cat, who pants and flops his paw comfortably through the window, appeared to be more concerned about keeping himself in the shade than by the frightened family staring back at them.

The camera panned around the group who laugh nervously in disbelief at the once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the cheetah.

A fearless tour guide immediately takes his phone out to snap some photos and says 'it's a selfie!'

Thirteen-year-old Leilani came face-to-face with the predator as she neared close to the wild cat to have her photo taken.

The cat, who pants and flops his paw through the window, seems more concerned about keeping himself in the shade than by the frightened family staring back at them

The family appeared to laugh with disbelief as the wild cat hung around their jeep for a rest

Finally the cat decided to make a move and leaped back into the savanna to scare more tourists

But luckily the cheetah had just hunted, killed and eaten so it was not hungry for tourists.

Finally the curious cheetah decided to make a move and leaped from the jeep back back into the savanna to scare other tourists.

The end of the video shows the youngest member of the group staring with disbelief at the incredible photo opportunity she has managed to get.
The luxury apartment once owned by a former Rebels bikie whose decomposing body was found in his car in a remote area of New South Wales has been sold.

The three-bedroom Gold Coast property which Ricky Ciano called home went under contract last week after it failed to sell at auction earlier this month.

His widow Rachel Ciano has been told by a court she must move out when the apartment is sold - with a final agreement expected to be reached by September.

Ciano, whose body was found in the back of his BMW M3 on February 14 in a remote area of the NSW tablelands three days after he was last seen, bought the Glitter Strip apartment in 2016 for $915,000, according tonews.com.au.

The apartment home belonging to murdered bikie boss Ricky Ciano (left) on the Gold Coast has been sold - while his widow Rachel Ciano (right) has been told she must move out

The sleek high-rise apartment on the Glitter strip was bought by Ciano in 2016 for $915,000 and was sold after it failed to gain a buyer at auction earlier this month

Brisbane solicitor Prudence Poole has been put in charge of Mr Ciano's estate as the courts sort out his finances in the wake of his death.

Two men faced a New South Wales court last month charged with the murder of the former Rebels bikie after they were arrested at Sydney's Silverwater prison.

Police alleged in a statement that the two men, aged 33 and 44, gave Mr Ciano a cocktail of prescription drugs before driving him to Duckmaloi - where they abandoned his car with his body inside.

The bikie boss was found half-dressed in the back seat of the BMW with no visible signs of injury, and his post-mortem was inconclusive.

The last known footage of Ciano shows him talking to a highway patrol officer as part of a minor traffic stop - who points at a folder sitting on the car's bonnet.

Ciano, whose decomposed body was found half-dressed in his BMW in rural New South Wales three days after he was last seen, moved to the Gold Coast for a 'lifestyle change' following his departure from the Rebels Bikie gang in 2015

A judge has ordered the Gold Coast property to be administered by Brisbane solicitor Prudence Poole and for Rachel Ciano to move out when the property is sold

Police said they traced the car's movements from the traffic stop to Oberon on the other side of the Blue Mountains National Park, which is 14km away from Duckmaloi.

At a funeral service in Minchinbury in February, the 35-year-old was remembered as a doting father who could not wait for the arrival of his baby boy.

Ciano left the Rebels Bikie gang's Sydney chapter in 2015 when he moved to the Gold Coast for a 'lifestyle change' after surviving an attempt on his life outside his home on the Central Coast.

The former president of the Sydney chapter was also told to have any tattoos linking him to the gang removed.

Ciano's BMW was last traced by police to Oberon on the western side of the Blue Mountains National Park - which is 14km away from Duckmaloi where his decomposed body was found by the roadside
More than 100 cars have been set alight in across Sweden overnight, as gangs of masked youths went rampaging in a series of arson attacks believed to have been coordinated on social media.

Dozens of vehicles burned in Sweden's four major cities - Stockholm, Malmo, Gothenburg and Uppsala - on Monday evening and in the early hours of Tuesday.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven reacted with anger and did not hold back during a radio interview on Tuesday morning.

'I'm furious, for real. My question to these people is 'what the f*** are you doing?',' he told Sveriges Radio P1.

Damage: Burned cars are pictured at Frolunda Square in Gothenburg, Sweden, the morning after a series of coordinated arson attacks

Multiple targets: A person walks past burned cars parked at Frolunda Square in Gothenburg, after a night when cars burned in all Sweden's major cities, including Stockholm and Malmo

'You're ruining things for yourselves, your parents and your neighbourhoods,' Lofven said, adding the incident 'looked very coordinated, almost like a military operation'.

'Sweden has tolerated this for too long. This must end now,' Ulf Kristersson, leader of the conservative opposition party, the Moderates, wrote on his Facebook account.

In Gothenburg and surrounding towns of Lysekil, Falkenberg and Trollhattan, a total of around 100 cars have been demolished.

In Stockholm, and Uppsala, some 45 miles north of the capital, a total of 13 cars were set alight in a handful locations on Tuesday morning.

Gothenburg police say they have identified some of the culprits and and two people have so far been arrested.

Dramatic footage has emerged of cars being set alight by masked attackers in Sweden

Police said they were dealing with fires at a car park near a shopping centre and specialist hospital at Frolunda Torg, south-west of Gothenburg.

Around 60 vehicles had been vandalised in total, Swedish television reported, with stones also thrown at police by masked men

'We have already started making calls to the parents of the youths who were taking part in this,' Gothenburg police spokesperson Ulla Brehm told SVT.

'We chose not to arrest anyone on the spot, but have identified them.'

Ms Brehm could not confirm that the series of identical car fires had been orchestrated via social media but said that 'the fact that it has been co-ordinated in so many places indicate it'.

'What the f*** are you doing?': Prime Minister Stefan Lofven reacted with anger

All culprits in the attacks have been described by witnesses as wearing dark clothing and hoods.

Dramatic footage showed youths targeting vehicles in at a major shopping centre and hospital car park at Frolunda Torg, south-west Gothenburg.

The area around Frolunda Torg have seen several deadly shootings in the past two years as local gangs have been at war over drug trade in Gothenburg.

Due to the criminal gang activity and shootings, Frolunda was last year deemed as one of the more violent areas in Sweden's second largest city.

The two people arrested today, aged between 16 and 21, are both from Frolunda.

The largest group of youngsters apparently gathered in Kronogarden in Trollhattan north of Gothenburg where as many as 40 people threw stones and started fires.

Kronogarden has also seen a rise in gang violence in recent years.

It made international news in 2015, when 21-year-old Anton Lundin Pettersson killed three people at a local school, in a racist attack targeting Kronogarden due to its high immigrant population.

Police in Trollhattan have identified three people in connection with last night's violence, but all three are under the age of 15 and have therefore been released into the care of their parents, Aftonbladet reports.

Pictures showed cars on fire in Sweden as authorities tackled multiple blazes in the country

There were also reports of young people setting cars on fire in Hjallbo, to the north east of Gothenburg, in Malmo, at the southern tip of the country, and in the city of Helsingborg.

Emergency services were tackling the apparent outbreak of violence with no injuries reported, Swedish police said.

The violence comes just three weeks before Swedish voters go to the polls in a general election.

Systematically setting cars on fire has become a associated with gang violence in suburbs in Sweden's major cities.

Last year, 1,457 cars were 'deliberately' set on fire across Sweden, compared to 1,641 in 2016, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's figures.

Last year in February, two days after US President Donald Trump's baffling comments linking crime to immigration in Sweden, riots broke out in the immigrant-heavy northern Stockholm suburb of Rinkeby.

Dozens of youths clashed with police after they arrested a suspected drug dealer in Rinkeby. The rioters threw stones at police, burned cars and looted shops.
Drought-stricken farmers are being forced to send tens of thousands of sheep to market each week as they battle to carry livestock.

And while it has offered some besieged farmers in rural areas short-term financial relief, the future impact will be severe.

At Tuesday's Central West Livestock Exchange sale yards near Forbes, an estimated 40,000 sheep were offloaded - roughly 10,000 more than usual.

Auctioneer at KMWL Luke Whitty (centre) selling some of the more than 45,000 sheep being sold at the Central West Livestock Exchange sale yards in Forbes on Tuesday

Some of the more than 45,000 sheep being sold at the Central West Livestock Exchange sale yards in Forbes

Auctioneer at Langlands Hanlon and President of the Parkes Chamber of Commerce Geoff Rice

Geoff Rice, a farmer, agent and livestock auctioneer, said the market figures were highly unusual for August.

'We don't usually see these larger numbers until spring, it has come out of the blue a little bit,' he said.

'As people work out the feed isn't there and they're struggling to get it, they are just continuing to sell off.

'Most (sheep) will be sent to slaughter houses.'

Currently there is also a large disparity in animal quality, with some lamb fetching high prices.

Other drought-affected sheep has been selling for below market value.

'There are big numbers of sheep coming in based on the severe dry weather,' Luke Whitty, an agent from KMWL Forbes said.

Sheep ready for sale in Forbes on Tuesday at the Central West Livestock Exchange yards

'We are selling stock that we shouldn't really sell for at least another two to three months,' says Luke Whitty, an agent from KMWL Forbes

'That is bringing in a big mixture of quality.

'We are selling stock that we shouldn't really sell for at least another two to three months.'

By offloading so much livestock, farmers don't have to source expensive hay and fodder from other states across Australia.

But when the drought eventually ends, graziers will have limited stock to regenerate their numbers.

'That will be a huge issue when it does rain - and it will rain - trying to get back up and going,' Mr Whitty said.

'Once it rains it doesn't all get better, it can take a couple of years.'

Mr Rice also doesn't anticipate sales to reduce, as farmers prepare for dryer weather.

'Decisions are being made as we get closer to September, which is notoriously a warm, windy month,' he said.

'Without significant rain, that little bit of green that you see about will burn straight off.'
A man who abandoned his months-old puppy by hurling it over the fence of an animal rescue centre where it became impaled on one of the spikes and died in a pool of blood is being hunted by police.

The man was filmed parking his car outside the centre, where he picked the Fox Terrier Cross up by the scruff of its neck before throwing it high into the air in a callous attempt to abandon it.

CCTV footage showed how the dog ended up on one of the spikes at the top of the entrance gate and fell to the ground by his vehicle during the man's first attempt.

The man was filmed parking his car outside the centre, (pictured) where he picked the Fox Terrier Cross up by the scruff of its neck before throwing it high into the air

The burly man simply ignored the animal's suffering and plucked him from the floor to successfully throw him into the rescue centre back yard.

The distressing video appeared to show the dog - said to be six to eight months old - getting onto its feet shaken but unharmed.

But it later emerged the animal had bled to death. It was found dead by rescue centre staff with a stomach wound caused when it landed on the top of the gate during the first unsuccessful attempt to abandon it.

The incident happened at a centre called Asproan in San Roman de la Llanilla near the northern Spanish port city of Santander.

The local Civil Guard's Nature Protection Service SEPRONA has confirmed it is investigating.

The dog died shortly after it was abandoned at around 5.30pm on August 8.

A spokesman for Asproan Santander said in a statement: 'We want to ask for your help in publicising this video so we can track down the savage who did this to a poor little puppy.

A man abandoned his months-old puppy by hurling it over the fence of an animal rescue centre (pictured) where it became impaled on one of the spikes and died in a pool of blood

The distressing video shows the man walking up to the fence (left) and then throwing the dog high into the air (right) where it gets onto its feet shaken but unharmed

'In the images you can see how he throws him over the fence and the animal ends up impaled on one of the spikes before the man hurls him into the air again.

'The end result was that we found this puppy aged between six and eight months dead in a pool of blood with a gaping hole in its stomach.

'We need to find the person responsible for this cowardly and miserable act so he feels the full force of the law and everyone knows what a repugnant person he is.

'Please inform SEPRONA if you have any clues as to who he could be.

'He has been reported to the police and SEPRONA are doing everything they can to identify him.'

One local who watched the footage branded the man a 'son of a b***h.'

Karmele Abascal added: 'How can someone do this? I'm really horrified. Someone who behaves like this has to be punished.'
Jeremy Corbyn today admitted he did lay a wreath at a controversial ceremony where Palestinians linked to the Munich terror attacks were honoured - but said he was paying tribute to all those killed in terror attacks.

The Labour leader has sparked a storm of controversy after The Daily Mail exclusively published photographs of him holding a wreath at the cemetery.

Confronted over the controversy, he angrily rolled his eyes and said it was 'obvious' he was at the memorial service in Tunis in 2014, where members of the Black September group were honoured.

But he says he was there to honour all those killed in a 1985 attack on the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) headquarters, and not the men linked to the massacre.

Quizzed over the controversy today, he said: 'I was there when the wreaths were laid  that's pretty obvious.'

He added: 'There were many others there that were witness to that, I witnessed many other people laying many wreaths.'

He said his wreath was not for the Munich terrorists however.

He said it was 'in memory of all those that died in the 1985 Israeli attack, which as I've repeated now again, was condemned by the UN Security Council and the UK government and the US government'.

Asked directly if he would heed demands by his own MPs to apologise, Mr Corbyn refused, saying: 'No, I'm not apologising for being there at all.'

The Labour leader (pictured today) said it was 'obvious' he was at the memorial service in Tunis in 2014, where a wreath was laid to extremists linked to the Munich massacre but insisted he was there to honour all those killed in terror attacks. But he lost his temper while being quizzed on the controversy an rolled his eyes to the heavens

Jeremy Corbyn adjusts a wreath, held by Salman El Herfi, the Palestinian ambassador in Tunisia in 2014. He is standing by the graves of the men linked to the Munich terror attack. The picture, revealed exclusively by The Daily Mail, has plunged Mr Corbyn's leadership into fresh turmoil and sparked calls for him to quit

Mr Corbyn is seen posing with a wreath under a distinctive red canopy as other politicians look on. This canopy runs alongside the graves of Salah Khalaf, Hayel Abdel-Hamid, Fakhri al-Omari and Atef Bseiso, three of whom have been linked to Black September, the group behind the 1972 atrocity at the Munich Olympic Games

As questions were raised about the hugely controversial Tunis visit, Jeremy Corbyn visited Harper Adams University in Newport (where he is pictured, today, talking with staff) to promote his party's policy to build more in Britain. But the trip has seen overshadowed by the latest controversy

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured today at Harper Adams University in Newport) is facing fresh controversy over the wreath scandal as he appears to have failed to declare the 2014 trip in the register of MPs' interests - which would be a breach of parliamentary rules

Mr Corbyn (pictured today talking with with farm manager Scott Kirby during a visit to Harper Adams University) has become embroiled in a bitter row with the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu over his visit to the Tunis graveyard

But the Labour leader lost his temper in the interview and rolled his eyes while he was challenged over the controversy.

Tory peer Lord Sheikh attended controversial Tunis conference and admits terror group may have been there Lord Sheikh (pictured on BBC Newsnight last week) said he remembers Mr Corbyn from the conference, but did not attend the wreath laying Tory peer Lord Skeikh attended the controversial conference in Tunisia at the heart of the jeremy Corbyn wreath laying scandal. The Labour leader attended the conference before joining others there at a wreath laying ceremony to terrorists linked to the Munich massacre. Lord Sheikh - who last week condemned Boris Johnson over his burka comments - also attended the conference, although he was not at the wreath laying. He admitted that members of Hamas - a banned terror group operating in Palestine - may have been at the conference. He said: 'There may have been Hamas. I did not meet any Hamas people, I am very careful, obviously. 'When I talk on Palestine I'm very balanced with regards to Palestine. 'If you read my speeches in the House of Lords I have always been very, very balanced on the whole issue. Both sides obviously have to come to a compromise. 'So I don't sympathise with Hamas, I have no dealing with Hamas.' The Kenya-born and Uganda-raised politician was made a peer in 2006, the year after he created the CMF. He said that the north African country's government paid for accommodation and flights, which had been declared at the time. He said he remembers Mr Corbyn being at the event but did not know beforehand that he would be there and 'had no conversation with him'. Lord Sheikh added: 'If there was a wreath-laying ceremony I was not aware of the wreath-laying ceremony. I did not go to the ceremony.' Advertisement

He added: 'It was laid on the grave of all those who died. Look I totally condemned what happened in Munich in 1972.

'Appalling. Totally wrong by any stretch of the imagination. I condemn all killing. All killing is wrong.'

He has been condemned by the Israeli prime minister, relatives of the murdered athletes, Jewish groups and even his own MPs.

This morning, the President of the Board of deputies of British Jews today called for the Labour leader to apologise to the families of those murdered in the 1972 Munich massacre.

Marie van der Zyl told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that Mr Corbyn had been exposed for cavorting 'with terrorists'.

Meanwhile, it appears that the Labour leader flouted parliamentary rules by failing to declare his trip om the Register of Members Interests - even though other British politicians there did.

Ms van der Zyl said: 'After days of being evasive, Jeremy Corbyn has now admitted attending a memorial event for the terrorist murders of unarmed athletes. How can you say he is not involved?'

'In 1972, these are unarmed people who were attending the Olympics, they were savagely mutilated and murdered.

'There is no reason Jeremy Corbyn should not apologise to the widows and to the victims for this terrible massacre.

'He needs to also recognise that he can't cavort with terrorists.'

She added: 'Nothing is moving forward with Jeremy Corbyn. He is completely evasive.

'This Twitter war with Benjamin Netanyahu clearly shows his lack of credibility.'

The crisis escalated after an extraordinary interview in which Mr Corbyn appeared to admit being present at a wreath-laying for Palestinian terrorists thought to have been behind the 1972 killings, but said that he did 'not think' he was involved.

The attempted denial drew ridicule as pictures, exclusively revealed by the Daily Mail at the weekend, show him beside their graves at a cemetery in Tunisia.

It also appears that Mr Corbyn might have failed to declare the 2014 trip in the register of MPs' interests.

Under Commons rules any visits funded by outside groups have to be listed, and there is no entry under his name.

Corbyn faces parliamentary probe over why he did not register Tunis trip Jeremy Corbyn faces being investigated by the parliamentary authorities for not registering his controversial visit to Tunisia. The Government of Tunisia, who organised the trip, paid for it. Under Commons rules any visits funded by outside groups have to be listed if they pass a cost threshold. Mr Corbyn's spokesman said: 'The cost of the trip did not meet the declaration threshold.' Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has written to the parliamentary authorities to complain about the trip not being registered. if Mr Corbyn is found to be at fault then he could be ordered to apologise. Advertisement

Aides to the leader did not respond to requests for comment this morning.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has written to the parliamentary authorities to complain about the trip not being registered.

As questions were raised about the trip which has plunged Mr Corbyn's leadership into fresh turmoil, the Labour leader visited an agricultural university in Newport.

He chatted to staff at Harper Adams University and inspected the cows on the site as he faced international condemnation over the wreath controversy.

Supporters insisted Mr Corbyn had made clear his abhorrence for the 1972 Munich attack, when 11 Israeli athletes were killed, and that he condemned all terrorist acts.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell tried to launch a fightback last night, attacking Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for getting involved in the row.

'Jeremy Corbyn has devoted his life to promoting justice & peace &,yes,at times that means meeting people who haven't shared those ideals because only dialogue can lead to peace,' Mr McDonnell tweeted.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has today reported the Labour leader to the parliamentary authorities for not declaring his visit to Tunis for the controversial 'peace conference' on the Register of Members interests

'Having a politician like Netanyahu join the media feeding frenzy is a line in the sand. Enough is enough.'

What has Jeremy Corbyn and his team said about the Munich wreath laying scandal? Here is how Jeremy Corbyn and Labour sources have tried to explain his presence at the wreath laying in Tunis: When reports first surfaced in last year's election campaign: Jeremy Corbyn: 'I was in Tunisia at a Palestinian conference and I spoke at that Palestinian conference and I laid a wreath to all those that had died in the air attack that took place on Tunis, on the headquarters of the Palestinian organisations there. 'And I was accompanied by very many other people who were at a conference searching for peace. The only way we achieve peace is by bringing people together and talking to them.' Saturday August 11, 2018: Presented with photos of the wreath laying, a Jeremy Corbyn source said the Labour leader was at 'a Palestinian commemoration for those killed in the bombing in Tunis'. The source insisted that the pictures did not contradict Mr Corbyn's statements. And the insider said the picture showing Mr Corbyn apparently joining in a prayer was simply of him 'copying the others out of respect'. Monday August 13 (morning) A Labour party spokesman said: 'We have got nothing to say beyond what we have already said.' Monday, August 13 (lunchtime) Jeremy Corbyn: 'A wreath was indeed laid by some of those who attended the conference to some who were killed in Paris in 1992. 'I was present when it was laid, I don't think I was actually involved in it. 'I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident because we have to end it. 'You cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence. The only way you can pursue peace is by a cycle of dialogue.' Advertisement

And Labour MP Chris Williamson - a key ally of Mr Corbyn - today also defended the Labour leader and referred to the Palestinian extremist linked to the Munich massacre as an 'alleged terrorist.

He told BBC Radio 4 World at One: 'Jeremy has been very clear about it  he was there but wasnt involved in any ceremony relating to the alleged terrorists that has been suggested by various media outlets

'He was holding a wreath but was invited to participate by the Tunisian president in relation to the airstrikes by the Israeli air force on the PLO headquarters there

'Margaret Thatcher condemned the airstrikes at the time

'The fact that Jeremy Corbyn was there seems to me perfectly in order and an accepting thing to do.

However, writing on Twitter, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: 'If Jeremy Corbyn thinks terrorism is justified for the causes he believes in, how would he as prime minister have the moral authority to condemn terrorist murders of British citizens?

'Unbelievable and shocking.'

And he is facing growing pressure form his own MPs to apologise for attending the ceremony.

Dame Margaret Hodge, a Labour MP and former minister who lost family in the Holocaust, said the only way Mr Corbyn can get over the crisis is if he finally tackles the anti-Semitism among some of his supporters.

She said: 'The only way Jeremy Corbyn can put this issue to bed is to prove everybody wrong and take the action we are all urging him to take.

'That is he should adopt the internationally agreed definition of anti-Semitism in full.

'Until he does that incidents such as his presence at the laying of wreaths at the graves of those responsible for torturing and murdering innocent Jewish Israeli athletes in Munich will continue to emerge and despite his protestations, he will be judged by his actions not his words.'

And fellow Labour MP Luciana Berger, who is also Jewish and has spoken of the onslaught of anti-Semitic abuse she has received from Corbynistas said: 'Being 'present' is the same as being involved.

'When I attend a memorial, my presence alone, whether I lay a wreath or not, demonstrates my association and support.

'There can also never be a 'fitting memorial' for terrorists. Where is the apology?'

Corbyn ally says Palestinian extremist honoured at ceremony is an 'alleged' terrorist Labour MP Chris Williamson - a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn - today also defended the Labour leader and referred to the Palestinian extremist linked to the Munich massacre as an 'alleged terrorist. The Labour leader has admitted being at the ceremony where members of the Black September group - which masterminded the massacre - were honoured. But he said he was there to pay tribute to those killed in a 1985 airstrike on the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) headquarters in Tunis in 1985. Mr Williamson told BBC Radio 4 World at One: 'Jeremy has been very clear about it  he was there but wasnt involved in any ceremony relating to the alleged terrorists that has been suggested by various media outlets 'He was holding a wreath but was invited to participate by the Tunisian president in relation to the airstrikes by the Israeli air force on the PLO headquarters there 'Margaret Thatcher condemned the airstrikes at the time 'The fact that Jeremy Corbyn was there seems to me perfectly in order and an accepting thing to do. Advertisement

Finally responding directly to the controversy yesterday, Mr Corbyn said: 'I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who's died in every terrorist incident.'

The explanation was denounced by Jewish leaders and Labour MPs as an 'insult' to the families of those 'savagely murdered'.

Mr Netanyahu declared that Mr Corbyn deserved 'unequivocal condemnation' for his presence at the service honouring Palestinian 'martyrs'.

Writing on Twitter he said: 'The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between

However, Mr Corbyn escalated the row by challenging Mr Netanyahu's treatment of Palestinians.

He wrote: 'The Israeli PM's claims about my actions and words are false. What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children.'

Meanwhile, the controversy took a fresh twist today as Lord Sheikh - the Tory peer who last week called for Boris Johnson to be kicked out of the Tories for his burka comments - was at the same 2014 Tunisian conference as Mr Corbyn.

However, Lord Sheikh - who did declare the trip to the parliamentary authorities - said he was not at the wreath laying.

Corbyn condemned Reagan over visit to graveyard where SS officers buried Jeremy Corbyn is facing fresh pressure over why he was at a wreath laying to Palestinian terrorists after it emerged he condemned Ronald Reagan for attending a cemetery which contained the graves of SS officers. The US President was visiting a German Military Cemetery at Bitburg in 1985. But the Labour MP slammed the decision and called for it to be cancelled saying it would 'cause offence' for Mr Reagan to be anywhere near the graves. In an early-day motion on May 2, 1985, Mr Corbyn said the visit would cause 'offence to the memories of Jews and so many others persecuted and murdered by the Nazis,' and described it as 'insensitive and ill-advised'. He asked the then Tory government at the time to urge Reagan 'in the name of good relations between our countries and between all the allies in the war against Nazism to cancel that visit.' Mr Reagan went ahead with the visit on May 5, 1985,. But he also commemorated those murdered in the Holocaust. Advertisement

The Conservative, who sits in the House of Lords, said it was possible that the banned Palestinian terror group Hamas were at the conference.

He said: 'There may have been Hamas. I did not meet any Hamas people, I am very careful, obviously.

'When I talk on Palestine I'm very balanced with regards to Palestine.

'If you read my speeches in the House of Lords I have always been very, very balanced on the whole issue. Both sides obviously have to come to a compromise.

'So I don't sympathise with Hamas, I have no dealing with Hamas.'

The Kenya-born and Uganda-raised politician was made a peer in 2006, the year after he created the CMF.

He said that the north African country's government paid for accommodation and flights, which had been declared at the time.

He said he remembers Mr Corbyn being at the event but did not know beforehand that he would be there and 'had no conversation with him'.

Lord Sheikh added: 'If there was a wreath-laying ceremony I was not aware of the wreath-laying ceremony. I did not go to the ceremony.'

But Tory MP Robert Halfon, who is chairman of the education select committee, called for him to be investigated by party bosses.

He said: 'If this is true, re Lord Sheikh, in attending this conference alongside Mr Corbyn - & if it is true extremist anti semites &bHamas were in attendance & speaking, there needs to be an investigation by Conservative Party/inquiry re codes of conduct.'

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell tried to launch a fightback last night, attacking Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for getting involved in the row

The Israeli PM condemned Jeremy Corbyn on Twitter yesterday and urged those of the left and right to unite to in criticising the Labour leader

Mr Corbyn fuelled the extraordinary spat by hitting back at Mr Netanyahu's claims, calling them 'false' on Twitter
The first pictures have emerged of a woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car being driven by a 'troubled' man who shot himself after being pulled over.

Maddilyn Burgess, 28, from Massachusetts, was found stuffed into the back of a car being driven by 34-year-old Gyrth Rutan last week.

Police stopped Rutan's car near Gardiner, in Maine, on Thursday evening after noticing it was being driven erratically.

Maddilyn Burgess, 28, from Massachusetts, was found dead in the trunk of a car being driven erratically by Gyrth Rutan in Maine last week

Rutan, who also lived in Massachusetts, shot himself in the head with a shotgun immediately after being stopped by officers on Thursday night

After stopping he stepped out of his vehicle with a shotgun in his hand, pointed it towards his own head, and pulled the trigger.

Officers later discovered what they believe was the murder scene at Rutan's home in Sturbridge, around a three hour drive from where he was stopped.

Medical examiners said Burgess died of blunt force trauma.

Police haven't said what Rutan and Burgess's relationship was, though Burgess had often uploaded posts to social media talking about the trauma of a break-up.

On July 5, she shared a post which said: 'I hope one day you will realize I did truly care for you.

'I promise you're gonna miss me being there, putting up with you, refusing to give up on you. You're gunna regret everything you've done to me, including all the damage you've caused.

'And someday you'll turn back and I won't be waiting for you any longer. I might have been worthless to you, but you'll miss me when I become priceless to another.'

Burgess's exact relationship to Rutan is not clear, though she had posted about getting over a break-up multiple times on social media in recent weeks

Around two weeks later she uploaded another status saying: 'How to know you're on the right track to getting over someone: seeing/talking to them doesn't summon any feeling, positive or negative; there are no tears to choke back, your blood doesn't boil, and their pleas to "work things out" don't give you that fuzzy feeling- nothing.. huh, I'll take it.'

Rutan has a daughter, according to NECN, but it is not clear who the mother is.

Massachusetts authorities were at Rutan's home on Friday and discovered a crime scene, but they did not elaborate on what was found.

Sturbridge police and state police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office got involved after it was learned that Rutan lived in Sturbridge.

'It is not clear why Rutan drove to Maine, but he has family located in Maine and his Facebook page indicates that he grew up in Brewer,' Steve McCausland, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety said, according to the Bangor Daily News.

Rutan had visited a 38-year-old friend in Maine about a week before Thursday's incident, who did not want to be identified, but told the paper: 'He wasn't looking too great.

It is not known why Rutan was driving to Maine, though he had visited friends there around a week before, who said he 'wasn't looking too great'

Police inspect the scene of the traffic stop, near Gardiner, in Maine

Officers searched a house in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, after Rutan shot himself and discovered what they believe is a murder scene

'He was talking about troubles he was having with his finances, with work, with his most recent girlfriend.

'He came up for a few days and said he wanted to go camping but he didn't end up staying.'

The friend said Rutan arrived August 1, left that weekend, and never spoke about harming anymore.

'There was no indication things were as bad as they obviously were,' the man added.

The friend, who said he had seen Rutan previously around Christmas, was recently was 'accepted into the union' and was 'pretty proud of that.'

According to Rutan's Facebook page he listed himself as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 42, based in Manchester, Connecticut.

'He was making good money and working a lot of overtime installing power lines and running heavy equipment,' the man claimed.

For confidential support in the US call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.

For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.

For confidential support in Australia call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.
Armed police have surrounded a car and arrested a man after a number of pedestrians were hit before ploughing into security barriers outside Parliament today.

Witnesses heard a 'loud bang' as the silver vehicle hit barriers in Westminster at around 7.30am this morning.

Around a dozen armed officers swamped the vehicle and trained their rifles on a man in a black puffa coat who was pulled from the car and taken away.

Scotland Yard said this morning they were currently treating the incident as a serious road traffic collision and arrested a suspect at the scene.

But a large cordon was set up around Parliament this morning and up to 200 officers have been sent to Westminster who moved members of the public away from the area.

MailOnline brings you the latest updates here.

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Chilling mugshots of Victorian child offenders - some of whom were as young as ten when they were jailed - have resurfaced.

The black and white photographs, which originate from Wandsworth Prison in London, were taken in December 1872 to January 1873 when the concept of photography was still relatively new.

Most of these child criminals were arrested or brutally punished for stealing seemingly petty items that would barely warrant a police caution today.

George Davey, 10, (left) and William Jowers, 12 , (right) were both given one month hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing two live tame rabbits in December 1872

Thomas Casey, 13, was whipped and given four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a rabbit in January, 1873

Tammy Puplett, 14, was given three months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing 12 shilling and 9 pense, half a bottle of Gin and three shirt studs in January, 1873

James Leadbetter, 11, was whipped and given four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing celery in January, 1873

Thomas Savage, 11, was given four days hard labour and 10 strokes of a birch cane at Wandsworth Prison for stealing some iron, in December 1872

Charles Summerley, 13, was given 10 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing metal pipes worth five shillings, in December 1872

The striking images show George Davey and William Jowers - aged ten and twelve respectively - for stealing two live tame rabbits.

Also pictured is baby-faced James Leadbetter, eleven, who was whipped and given four days hard labour for stealing celery.

Other poignant shots show fourteen-year-old Thomas Goodstone who was given fourteen days hard labour for stealing 7lbs of pork over the Christmas period.

Meanwhile Thomas Savage, eleven, who was given four days hard labour and ten strokes of a birch cane for stealing some iron.

In the United Kingdom, birching was a judicial penalty in both juvenile and adult cases until 1948.

The 145-year-old collection also includes a mugshot of fifteen-year-old Joseph Oxford who was nicked for stealing a blanket on a cold January day - and fourteen-year-old Tammy Puplett who was put behind bars for ten days for stealing a bottle of Gin amongst other items.

In the 1800s, children were often imprisoned for what now would be considered minor offences and no distinction was made between criminals of any age.

John Morelle, 12, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a drinking glass January, 1873

William Simmer, 14, was given ten day hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing two bottles of lemonade in January, 1873

Thomas Goodstone, 14, was given 14 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing seven lbs of pork over the Christmas period in 1872

Samuel Snooks, 15, (left) was given 10 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing metal pipes worth five shillings in December 1872 and Samuel Stevenson, 14, (right) was given six weeks hard labour at the same institution for stealing paper in November 1872

Accordingly, young children were sent to an adult prison like Oxford Castle Prison for example. There are even records of a child aged twelve being hanged for petty theft and murder in 1829.

The Victorians were very worried about crime and following the development of the camera, police realised they could use the new technology to their advantage and took images of repeat offenders.

Officers released photos to warn the public when the criminal was to be released from prison. As the use of cameras became more common taking mugshots became the norm until it was made compulsory for everyone to be photographed after they were arrested.

It was not until the 1908 Children's Act that changes were made to the way child offenders were punished. Juvenile courts were introduced and children could no longer be placed in adult prisons or executed for capital crimes - however minors could still be whipped.

Joseph Charmon, 12, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a tame fowl, in December 1872

John Garmin, 15, (right) was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a blanket, January 1873. Eli Granger (left) 14, was whipped and given six months hard labour for attempting to commit identity fraud in the same month

James W Hempson, 13, was given 10 strokes of a birch cane and four days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a box of figs in January, 1873

John Webb, 13, (left) was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing four loaves of bread and a pot of jam, in December 1872. Samuel Stilley, 14, (right) was given one month hard labour for stealing two shillings and six pence in the same month

Charles Evans, 14, was whipped and given three days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a pile of books in January, 1873

George Whelan, 12, was given one months hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing one lb of beef, December 1872

Joseph Oxford, 15, was given 14 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a blanket in January 1873

George Davis, 14, was whipped and given three days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing a pile of books in January, 1873

Thomas Morris, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for one lbs of coal in January, 1873

John Connoer, 15, was given one month hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing in January, 1873

Samuel Warner, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing three cups in January, 1873

Thomas Thompson, 14, was given 21 days hard labour at Wandsworth Prison for stealing one shilling in January, 1873
A drunken woman who left a toddler home alone after drinking three bottles of champagne has avoided jail.

Latvian national Aleksandra Pavare, 33, of Abbey Hulton, near Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, drove off into the night to see her estranged husband leaving the youngster to fend for itself.

Magistrates heard when she returned later that night the child was awake in the living room and had been rummaging through food in the kitchen.



But she was spared a jail sentence after a court was told she had turned to alcohol to help cope with the breakdown of her marriage.

Latvian national Aleksandra Pavare (pictured) drove off into the night to see her estranged husband leaving the youngster to fend for itself

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Pavare had been drinking champagne before she decided to drive to the house where her husband was living in Stoke-on-Trent at around 10.30pm, leaving the young child alone.

After her return police were made aware of the situation and went to her address where she was arrested.

Estate agent Pavare was interviewed by police, but she answered no comment to their questions.

But she pleaded guilty to neglecting or abandoning a child. The court heard she had no previous convictions.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre handed Pavare a 12-month community order and ordered her to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours unpaid work

Pavare told a probation officer she had a history of depression and her 10-year marriage had recently broken down, leading to her use of alcohol as a 'coping mechanism'.

Simon Dykes, mitigating, said: 'She is a young lady of previous good character who is extremely shocked by the way she behaved on that night.

'She had a number of problems to deal with at the time, which are now being appropriately addressed. No harm came to the child.'

Magistrates handed Pavare a 12-month community order and ordered her to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours unpaid work.

She was also ordered to pay 185 court costs and an 85 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the case, an NSPCC spokesman condemned Pavare's actions.

'No toddler should ever be left to fend for themselves and it's right that this offender has been brought to justice,' the spokesman said.

'Anyone who has any concerns about a child can call the NSPCC Helpline for free and confidential advice on 0808 800 5000.'
A man who tried to leap about 12 feet from a rooftop on to his balcony after locking himself out of his apartment has died, say police.

Medics rushed David Truong, 31, to Mount Sinai Queens hospital on Saturday, after he attempted the 8am jump from an adjoining rooftop to his balcony, which overlooks the street on 48th Ave in Long Island City.

But, despite being transferred to Elmhurst Hospital Center, he died from his injuries.

David Truong attempted to jump on to his balcony (middle building, above) from an adjoining rootfop, but fell to the pavement below

Police told New York Daily News that Truong had recently moved into the apartment with his girlfriend, and used a duplicate key to lock the apartment before going out.

However, as his key failed to open the door, and his girlfriend was not home, he decided to attempt the leap from a neighboring rootftop, as the sliding door on his balcony was not locked.

That decision proved fatal, as rain had fallen beforehand, making the roof slippery.

Truong struck a fence, before ending up on the sidewalk below.

A resident who lives in an apartment beneath Truong, Thomas Bomba, told the Daily News that he had heard the man falling from the rooftop: I thought like an awning had fallen or something and I looked out my window. I saw nothing.

Upon looking over his balcony, there he was, on the ground, in a fetal position, broken and dying.

After contacting the emergency services, Bomba said that the fatal fall had left him shaken for a couple of hours [as] he didnt move.
Tory Brexiteers are plotting to ramp up the pressure on Theresa May by producing their own 'positive' plan for a hard departure from the EU.

The rival blueprint to the PM's Chequers plan, expected to be published next month, will set out the advantages of quitting the bloc on basic World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms.

It is likely to leave open the possibility of a Canada-style agreement, but only if Brussels backs down on demands for Northern Ireland to be effectively split off from the rest of the UK.

The paper, which could be endorsed by up to 80 Tory MPs, will heap difficulties on Mrs May as she struggles to hold the Conservatives together.

The paper, which could be endorsed by up to 80 Tory MPs, will heap difficulties on Theresa May (pictured at a commemoration in Amiens last week) as she struggles to hold the Conservatives together

Boris Johnson (pictured left this week) has already quit over the Chequers plan. Jacob Rees-Mogg is said to be putting together the rival blueprint

Her controversial Chequers plan, which would mean accepting EU rules for goods and collecting some tariffs on behalf of the bloc, has already triggered resignations from Cabinet - including that of Boris Johnson.

The Brexiteer plan is being put together by Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of Conservative MPs, according to The Times.

He is said to be cooperating with former Brexit minister Steve Baker to assemble the 'alternative view' to the government's white paper.

The document could be presented as a 'common position' by Conservative members of the ERG, posing a serious threat to the government's official position.

Downing Street will fear that the intervention could turn Brussels off engaging seriously with Mrs May's proposals, because they might not make it through Parliament.

However, there are questions over whether the ERG will be able to thrash out its own collective position.

One MP told The Times: 'We have made it very clear that we do not accept the Chequers proposals, but there is an acknowledgement that we need to make the case for an alternative.

'The tricky bit is coming to a common position that everyone can sign up to, but I'm confident that we should be able to achieve that.'

Conservative former cabinet minister Lord Lilley, an ERG member, wrote in the newspaper that while a Canadian-style trade deal would be 'the best outcome', no deal 'would be a good second best'.

'The Chequers plan is moribund and the agreement offered by the EU in March is unacceptable because the 'Irish backstop' means splitting the UK,' he wrote.

'No deal is likely and would be a good second best, making a better deal possible later.'
Men's public toilets are to get wet wipe bins in the latest move to prevent fatbergs in the capital.

Greater London Assembly members want to introduce sanitary bins to male bathrooms in an attempt to cut down on fatbergs in the city's sewers.

The plans hope to encourage men to bin rather than flush wet wipes and incontinence products.

Last year, a 130-ton, 250-metre-long (820ft) fatberg blocked up a Victorian tunnel in Whitechapel, east London (pictured). It took three weeks to clear

Fatbergs are blockages made up of flushed fat, oil, grease and other flushed waste such as wet wipes and illegal drugs. They form into huge concrete-like slabs and can be found beneath almost every UK city, growing larger with every flush.

They also include food wrappers and human waste, blocking tunnels - and raising the risk of sewage flooding into homes.

Last year, a 130-ton, 250-metre-long (820ft) fatberg blocked up a Victorian tunnel in Whitechapel, east London. It took three weeks to clear.

The Guardian reports that the plans hope to make people more aware of the damage caused by wet wipes and other materials that cause blockages when they find their way into the sewers.

More than 11 billion wet wipes are used in the UK every year, up by a quarter from five years ago - but many people do not know that they can't be flushed.

WHAT ARE FATBERGS? Fatbergs are blockages made up of flushed fat, oil, grease and other flushed waste such as wet wipes and illegal drugs. They form into huge concrete-like slabs and can be found beneath almost every UK city, growing larger with every flush. They also include food wrappers and human waste, blocking tunnels - and raising the risk of sewage flooding into homes. The biggest ever discovered in the UK was a 750-metre (2,460ft) monster found under London's South Bank in 2017 (pictured) They can grow metres tall and hundreds of metres long, with water providers last year declaring an epidemic of fatberg emergencies in 23 UK cities, costing tens of millions of pounds to remove. The biggest ever discovered in the UK was a 750-metre (2,460ft) monster found under London's South Bank in 2017. Fatbergs take weeks to remove and form when people put things they shouldn't down sinks and toilets. Advertisement

Every year in Britain around four billion disposable nappies are used, while sales of unflushable incontinence products for both sexes has gone up by 50 per cent to more than one billion a year.

In most public bathrooms men have nowhere to dispose of such items except down the toilet.

Caroline Russell of the Green party, chair of the LGA environment committee, told The Guardian: 'Public awareness around single-use plastics, in terms of disposable water bottles and coffee cups, is high. But what about other daily products  wet wipes, nappies and period products?

'We urgently need to educate people not to flush these items down the toilet, and take some practical steps to help the situation.'
Today's suspected terror attack outside the Houses of Parliament comes 17 months after the Westminster Bridge attack which left five people dead and 50 injured.

Khalid Masood, 52, ploughed a car into crowds on the bridge in London in March 2017, in the first of five terrorist attacks on Britain last year.

Masood abandoned his car then stabbed and killed unarmed PC Keith Palmer before he was shot by armed police in a courtyard outside Parliament.

This graphic shows Khalid Masood's attack in March 2017, and the latest attack today (in red)

Khalid Masood (left) ploughed a car into crowds on Westminster Bridge in March 2017, before abandoning his vehicle then stabbing and killing unarmed PC Keith Palmer (right)

A policeman points a gun at Masood on the ground at the Houses of Parliament in March 2017

Kurt Cochran (above) from Utah, was one of the victims of the attack. He was on a trip with his wife to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary

Masoods rampage left five people dead  48-year-old PC Palmer, who was on duty at the Palace of Westminster, along with US tourist Kurt Cochran, Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31, and Britons Aysha Frade, 44, and 75-year-old Leslie Rhodes, who were mown down on the bridge.

Parliament is surrounded with security barriers of steel and concrete, which were extended after last year's attack to provide further protection.

Security expert Chris Phillips said: 'The whole point of those barriers is they are to stop and slow down any vehicles getting close to the building and people inside.'

On ITV's Good Morning Britain today, he added: 'If you tried to crash through those barriers, it just wouldn't work. They're strong enough to stop a vehicle at 50mph.'

Masood was a Muslim convert with a history of violent crime - and unleashed his rampage more than a decade after turning his back on his family in Birmingham.

People stand near the crashed car and a injured person lying on the ground after the attack

The scene on Westminster Bridge in London following the terrorist attack in March 2017

The father-of-three, born Adrian Elms in Kent, changed his name after amassing a series of criminal convictions and spent years living in a series of terrorist hotbeds.

After Masood's rampage, there were four further attacks - at the Manchester Arena, London Bridge, Finsbury Park in North London and Parsons Green in West London.

Last week, a Muslim convert admitted plotting to kill more than 100 people by driving a truck into pedestrians on Oxford Street in the capital's West End.

Britain is on its second highest threat level of 'severe', meaning an attack by militants is 'highly likely'. Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism unit is leading today's probe.
Taliban fighters have overrun a northern Afghan army base killing at least 14 soldiers and capturing dozens.

The fall of the military unit in Ghormach district of volatile Faryab province comes as Afghan security forces struggle to hold back insurgents from eastern Ghazni.

Militants gained control of the base after days of heavy fighting, according to army spokesman for northern Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Rezaee.

Afghan forces have struggled to repel the Taliban since NATO combat troops pulled out in 2014.

The latest raid came while they were already stretched by the days of fighting in Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital two hours from Kabul.

Analysts now fears the Taliban is on the verge of a major expansion over southern and eastern parts of the country.

The attack on Ghazni is the largest tactical onslaught by the Taliban since an unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a brief stop, providing battle-worn Afghans some welcome relief

Rezaee said about 100 soldiers were on the base when it was first attacked on Sunday.

'It is a tragedy that the base fell to the enemy. Some soldiers were killed, some captured and some fled to nearby hills,' Rezaee told AFP.

Faryab MP Hashim Otaq said that 14 soldiers were killed and about 40 others were captured by Taliban fighters in the base, known as Chenaya.

Tahir Rehmani - head of Faryab's provincial council - said the base fell after the soldiers begged for reinforcements and air support from Kabul but were ultimately ignored.

'They were too busy with Ghazni,' said Rehmani.

The city, which the Taliban first assaulted late Thursday, remains in government hands, officials have said.

But the insurgents appeared entrenched there Tuesday, according to residents who said they were burning buildings, killing civilians and firing on security forces conducting a clearing operation.

Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and under intense pressure, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

The attack on Ghazni is the largest tactical onslaught by the Taliban since an unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a brief stop, providing battle-worn Afghans some welcome relief.

Analysts have said the insurgents may be seeking to demonstrate strength as they come under increasing pressure since the ceasefire to join peace talks.

Fears were growing of civilian casualties in Ghazni as Afghan security forces backed by US airpower struggled to push the Taliban out on the fifth day of fighting.

The United Nations said unverified reports put civilian casualties at more than 100, with residents also at risk from several days of US airstrikes.

An MP from Ghazni, Shah Gul Rezaye, said Tuesday that some parts of the city had been cleared.

But in others 'the Taliban have positioned their fighters in high buildings shooting at security forces from there', he added.

Map of Afghanistan locating Ghormach district, where the Taliban captured an army base Tuesday.

Communication networks remained largely down, making any information difficult to verify.

'Ghazni is a ghost city now. The Taliban are going from house to house to find government officials or their relatives to kill,' said one resident, Sayed Zia.

'Those who can are fleeing.'

Another resident also said the Taliban were killing civilians who refused to help them.

'I saw two trucks full of coffins going toward a cemetery in the city. They all seemed to be civilians,' said Abdullah, who asked to only use one name.

'The city is full of smoke. Everywhere they go they set the places on fire,' he said, adding that shops were being looted, with water and food scarce.

Other residents have told AFP of bodies littering the streets of the city in recent days.

'So far the fighting has reportedly resulted in 110 to 150 civilian casualties. The numbers still need to be verified,' said a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Reports the Taliban are hiding in residents' homes and marketplaces 'heightened the risk of civilian casualties arising from any military aerial response', the UN warned.

Bombs placed along the road leading north and south from the city also 'prevented civilians from safely fleeing the violence', it said.

On Monday the Afghan defence minister said at least 100 security forces had been killed in the fighting so far, and '20-30' civilians.

Ghazni lies along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively serving as a gateway between Kabul and the militant strongholds in the south.
Salim Mehajer's sister has been stabbed while trying to break up a violent brawl between young spear-wielding children in Lebanon.

Sanaa Mehajer traveled to the Middle Eastern country to help Lebanese and Syrian refugees who are living in cramped camps for the Girls on a Mission (GOAM) organisation she founded.

Ms Mehajer, 22, took to Instagram on Tuesday morning and posted an image and footage of the fight which showed one wooden stake-wielding boy supported with two other children ganged up on one boy.

Salim Mehajer's sister (pictured right) was stabbed while trying to break up a violent brawl between young wooden stake wielding children in Lebanon

A wooden stake wielding child was attacking a young boy and Ms Mehajer jumped in to stop the fight

She was recording the violent altercation revealing the ferociousness as the children threw punches and aimed the spear at the victim.

Not being able to handle the fighting anymore, Ms Mehajer jumped into the fray and tried to stop the assault.

The fight lasted about three minutes and as she was pulling them apart Ms Mehajer didn't realise that she had been stabbed.

Mehajer was recording the violent altercation as the children threw punches and aimed the stake at the victim

Her following post showed a blood-drenched towel from the injury she sustained during the fight.

She put up another photo revealing the deep stab wound.

'Realised I was stabbed when I got home and started seeing stars. Not as bad as it looks,' she wrote.

'It was defiantly (sic) an accident because of the adrenaline I didnt feel it at the time.

'PS I'm fine. I'm just being an attention seeker. Nothing stitches cant fix.'

Ms Mehajer showed a blood-drenched towel from the injury she sustained during the fight

'Realised I was stabbed when I got home and started seeing stars. Not as bad as it looks', she wrote in a post after the fight

Ms Mehajer said she doesn't blame the kids for their actions because that is the environment they were raised in.

'What do we expect when THIS is the environment they grow up in. They witness THIS and do as they see,' she wrote.

'War breeds violence and criminality, both at home and in the streets.

'I hope that by teaching compassion and by giving my love, this will change the dynamics significantly.

'Lets educate and change the world we live in. The abnormal shouldnt be the new normal.'

Ms Mehajer said she doesn't blame the kids for their actions because that is the environment they were raised in

Ms Mehajer, is one of the younger sisters of property developer and former Auburn deputy mayor, Salim Mehajer.

In December last year, Ms Mehajer married a former Nomad bikie, Mouhamed 'Moudi' Tajjour, 34, who is the cousin of Kings Cross nightclub identity John Ibrahim.

In 2007, Tajjour and his brother Sleiman were convicted of manslaughter over the death of George Nassour. The pair were both jailed, but released in 2010.

Within two months of the marriage, Ms Mehajer took out an AVO against her estranged husband who was allegedly abusing her.

As part of the AVO conditions, Tajjour was instructed by a court to not contact or approach his ex-wife for 12 months.
A boy had to be rescued by police after he was found naked and tied to a bed frame at home in central China.

The child often misbehaved and ran away from home, prompting the father to take the extreme measure of tying his own son to the wooden bed board so he would 'stay put', according to a local report.

Neighbours in the village of Zhaofan in Henan province found the boy and immediately alerted the local police.

The boy in Henan, central China, often misbehaved and ran away from home, prompting the father to take the extreme measure of tying his own son to the bed board so he would 'stay put'

An officer is seen using a butcher knife to cut the ropes that restrained the child

Video footage of the rescue operation on August 2 shows three policemen sawing off the ropes that restrained the little boy, who was lying on the frame completely naked.

The boy was completely unable to move, bound by at least seven ropes around his arms, neck, thighs and ankles. Two boys, presumably his younger siblings, were found sitting next to him, also naked.

Using a butcher knife and scissors, the police officers were finally able to cut the ropes and free the child. He was immediately given water to drink and a shirt to wear.

The child, later identified by his surname Liu, would run away from home and not return for several days, according to Shangcheng TV Station.

The child was immediately given water after he was freed from being tied up

Officers took the boy outside to cut the remaining ropes and also gave him a shirt to wear

The boy's mother, Li, is said to suffer from mental disabilities and could not take proper care of her children.

Feeling that he had no other choice, the boy's father decided to tie the boy up so he wouldn't be able to leave the house.

The police has issued a warning to the father after rescuing the child. He did not suffer from any injuries and is now under the care of his grandparents.

The local district government has also issued a 1,000 yuan (110) subsidy to the family, who is living in poverty in the Shangcheng county village.
Homebase is pressing ahead with a wave of store closures that will see 42 DIY outlets shut, putting around 1,500 jobs at risk.

The retailer is closing the stores via a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), a controversial insolvency procedure used by struggling firms to shut under-performing shops.

Restructuring experts at Alvarez & Marsal will carry out the CVA, which will require the support of landlords.

In a statement, Homebase CEO Damian McGloughlin - a former director at rival B&Q - claimed that the CVA was an 'essential measure for the business'.

The retailer is closing the stores via a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), a controversial insolvency procedure used by struggling firms to shut under-performing shops

'Launching a CVA has been a difficult decision and one that we have not taken lightly,' he said.

'Homebase has been one of the most recognisable retail brands for almost 40 years, but the reality is we need to continue to take decisive action to address the underperformance of the business and deal with the burden of our cost base, as well as to protect thousands of jobs.'

It comes days after it was feared the firm would shut up to 80 outlets.

It was first reported in June that Homebase was exploring further store closures through the procedure.

The latest restructuring would come on top of a store closure programme the retailer has been carrying out since February.

Homebase was bought by retail turnaround specialists Hilco Capital for 1 in May from Australian firm Wesfarmers

A total of 16 Homebase stores have been shut this year and the business has also axed 303 jobs at its head office in Milton Keynes.

Homebase could see some resistance from landlords to the CVA, who are due to vote later this month, with the property industry expressing disdain for the procedure, saying it leaves them out-of-pocket.

CVAs have been adopted by a host of retailers including New Look, Carpetright and Mothercare.

The Homebase store closures follow the sale of the business earlier this year by its former Australian owner Wesfarmers to Hilco, a retail turnaround specialist, for 1.

Homebase was bought by Wesfarmers for 340 million in 2016.

Wesfarmers is known for its Bunnings chain in Australia, and attempted to import the home improvement brand to the UK by converting a host of Homebase stores into the Bunnings format.

However, the strategy ended in disaster.

Prior to the Hilco takeover, Homebase had 250 stores at its peak and 12,000 staff.

Which high street retailers have closed shops in 2018? House of Fraser nearly plunged into administration but was rescued at the eleventh hour by Mike Ashley The year has seen a bloodbath of Britain's high streets - with many of the nation's retailers shutting stores and axing jobs. Here are some of the big name retailers which have lost out as they face fierce competition from the rise of online shopping Carpetright: The carpet retailer is closing 92 stores across the UK. These closures represent nearly a quarter of all UK Carpetright stores. Toys R' Us The UK's largest toy shop went into administration in February 201, leading to an estimated 2,000 redundancies. House of Fraser: The department store chain was on the verge of heading into administration but was rescued at the eleventh hour by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley. Maplin: The electronics giant has gone bust, closing shops across the country and putting thousands of jobs at risk. Mothercare: The baby and toddler chain is closing 60 shops across the UK putting up to 900 jobs at risk. Poundworld: Poundworld announced it was going into administration on June 11 after talks with potential buyer R Capital broke down, putting 5,100 jobs at risk. Homebase: The DIY chain set to close 42 DIY outlets shut, putting around 1,500 jobs at risk. Marks & Spencer: The retailer announced in May it plans to close 100 stores by 2022, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. In August stores in Northampton, Falkirk, Kettering, Newmarket, New Mersey Speke, Stockton and Walsall all ceased trading. Advertisement

It comes at a challenging time for Britain's high street businesses, with the Daily Mail running a campaign to save Britain's high streets.

Figures compiled by the Press Association show staggering 50,000 retail jobs were axed in the first half of this year and a number of well-known high street brands have perished.

Business leaders, shopkeepers and MPs blame punitive business rates that cripple high streets and hand a huge advantage to internet giants, like Amazon.

Earlier this year Toys R Us and Maplins both collapsed, while chain restaurants such as Prezzo, Byron and Jamie's Italian shut restaurants and culled hundreds of jobs.

The trail of destruction has also hit House of Fraser, which was bought out of administration by Mike Ashley's Sports Direct last week for 90million.

Hannah Maundrell, Editor in Chief of money.co.uk said: 'It's undoubtedly distressing news for employees of Homebase and their families, especially those who are yet to find out their fate.

'Homebase staff have been left in limbo after many jobs have already been cut this year. Those who fear they could lose their jobs should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Now is the time to check what redundancy rights you have and dig out any income or mortgage protection policies you hold just in case.

'Sadly this isn't the beginning of redundancies in the retail sector this year and I doubt it will be the end. Shoppers habits are changing, purse strings are tightening and our reluctance to pay full price becomes more problematic for stores.'
A Melbourne septuagenarian has admitted he tried to stab his wife to death when she wanted to leave him, and then deliberately drove in front of an oncoming train when he failed.

Albert Tedford, 77, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday to the October 16 attempted murder of his then 62-year-old wife Bridie with a knife, after she changed his colostomy bag.

He has also pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering serious injury when he drove in front of an oncoming train at Coburg, placing the driver and passengers at risk.

Albert Tedford, 77, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday to reckless conduct endangering serious injury when he drove in front of an oncoming train at Coburg (Pictured: train hitting Tedford)

The court was told the pair had been in a relationship for 25 years and married for eight, but their union was sometimes acrimonious and Mrs Tedford had moved into a bungalow at the rear of their Reservoir house.

On the day he tried to kill her, Mrs Tedford told her husband they should sell their house.

After she changed his colostomy bag that night, Tedford went to the kitchen and said: 'I've got something for you', the court was told.

Mrs Tedford yelled out 'Albert, what are you doing?' and asked him if he'd 'taken' anything.

He replied: 'I've taken enough of you' before thrusting a knife at her repeatedly.

During the attack, Tedford said: 'You are going to die tonight and I am going to die tonight. We are both going to die together.'

Mrs Tedford screamed for help and the pair's 17-year-old neighbour heard, alerting her family and then police.

He also pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday to the October 16 attempted murder of his then 62-year-old wife Bridie with a knife

The victim escaped, stabbing her husband as she left the bungalow.

Police found her with 13 puncture and stab wounds, lacerations to her face and scalp, bruises across her body, and seriously injured hands from where she'd grabbed the knife to defend herself.

After the attack, Tedford drove alone in his wife's car to the train station, speaking to himself, with his words recorded by the car's dash-cam.

'Come on, give me a train. I just want to die,' he was recorded saying.

'Come on you c***s, I need a choo-choo.'

On the day he tried to kill her, Mrs Tedford (pictured right with Tedford) told her husband they should sell their house

During the attack, Tedford said: 'You are going to die tonight and I am going to die tonight. We are both going to die together'. Tedford will be sentenced on August 24

After the collision with a train and subsequent release from hospital, Tedford allegedly asked his sister during a phone conversation: 'How you can get upset over a little f***ing stab wound or two?'

Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams read a statement from Mrs Tedford to the court, in which she described how her thoughts had become a 'tangled mess'.

'What a fool am I - a mere mortal for believing in your love,' Mrs Tedford said in a poem tendered to court.

Mr McWilliams said although Tedford was a man of advanced age with health considerations, 'this is a bad example of a bad offence'.

'The notion that a man can inflict violence on a woman for no other reason than she doesn't love him anymore is a concept that must be denounced,' he said.

Tedford will be sentenced on August 24.

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The couple accused of murdering rapper Jett McKee allegedly hid in a laneway near the scene of the crime as police launched and air and ground search for them.

Blake Davis, 28, and Hannah Quinn, 23, handed themselves in Monday evening following the incident in Forest Lodge, in Sydney's inner-west, last Friday afternoon.

Police alleged the couple murdered the former IT worker after he broke into their home, with Mr McKee allegedly punching Davis in the head before fleeing on foot, Nine News reported.

Detectives are unsure what Mr McKee wanted from the couple, who they say were not known to him, when he attempted to rob their house in broad daylight.

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Blake Davis, 28, and Hannah Quinn (pictured), 23, handed themselves in Monday evening following the incident in Forest Lodge, in Sydney's inner-west, last Friday afternoon

Police allegedly found $21,000 in the alcove used by the couple, who were earlier allegedly victims of a failed robbery at the hands of the former IT worker (Blake Davis pictured)

In the alcove used by the pair following their alleged murder, $21,000 was allegedly found along with a fake gun.

In chilling new details, a balaclava-clad Mr McKee, whose stage name was Scepaz, allegedly administered a hard punch to Davis, injuring his face, before fleeing.

As he ran from the home along Hereford Street, Quinn allegedly caught him before bringing him to the ground, with Davis approaching shortly after with a sword.

Davis allegedly struck the fatal blow to Mr McKee, who was on his hands and knees at the time, before he and Quinn ran home and changed their clothes.

Mr McKee died a short distance away in the middle of the road at Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent, with a balaclava, fake gun and knuckledusters found nearby.

Jett McKee (pictured) was identified as the victim of a fatal stabbing in Sydney's inner-west on Friday

He is being remembered as a member of the local hip-hop community

Police will allege the couple went home to change and dump the alleged murder weapon before fleeing once again to an alcove near Alfred Road.

Cash was later found at the alcove used by the couple, police will allege, but it is unknown if they had the amount the whole time, or collected it after the stabbing.

Police allegedly found a fake gun as well as the large sum of money in the laneway.

Mr McKee had allegedly recently racked up large gambling debts, Seven News reported.

Both Quinn and Davis have been charged with murder. Quinn did not apply for bail in court on Tuesday, nor did Davis when he fronted court on Monday.

Resident Lynn Charlesworth's car (pictured) was covered in blood from the victim as he tried to escape

Davis' solicitor Sherleen Chand said his injuries were 'quite significant' and he would plead not guilty - his case was adjourned to October 9.

One of Quinn's supporters told media outside court Tuesday, 'Thank you so much for your interest and support but please respect the privacy of the family.'

Neighbours heard arguing between McKee and another man and woman, before he staggered out the front of the house with a 'massive' head wound last Friday.

Emergency services were called but McKee was dead by the time they arrived.

Since his passing, members of the hip-hop community have remembered him as an 'awesome soul'.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media since the rapper who went by Scepaz passed

He has been remembered as a 'humble guy', and was well-respected in the local scene

Tributes have poured in for the IT worker who was desperate to become a rapper.

'RIP Scepaz....we only met a handful of times but all the homies told me what a good bloke you were,' fellow rapper The Tongue said.

'R.I.P Scepaz you will be remembered,' said another.

Police told residents they needn't be concerned for their safety following the incident.

'Police want to reassure the community that the attack is not considered random,' a NSW Police statement said.

New South Wales Police has appealed for a woman and man seen fleeing from the scene (pictured) of a fatal assault on Friday to come forward

Witnesses said they saw the victim staggering down the street and collapsing after he was attacked in the suburb of Forest Lodge, near Glebe, on Friday afternoon

Police seized a firearm and a number of weapons to be forensically examined but said no shots were fired.

Officers from Leichhardt Police joined forces with detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad to establish Strike Force Hedda to investigate the man's death.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are desperately hunting for a woman and man wanted in relation to the fatal attack of a man in a quiet suburban area on Friday afternoon (officers pictured at the scene)

Police were called to the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent at Forest Lodge around 12.40pm to find a body lying in the middle of the road (pictured)

Police raided a house in a nearby street following the discovery of a gun near the body, but later uncovered it was a replica.

Witnesses said they saw the victim staggering down the street and collapsing after hearing an altercation.

Resident Lynne Charlesworth heard a woman's screams and saw the victim slumped in the street, covered in blood.

Her car was covered in his blood as he tried to escape.

'I told him to stay still and he started to roll across the street,' she told reporters on Saturday.

'He got to our car, laid back on it and pulled himself up. He was doing anything to get away, anything at all. His head was covered in blood. I couldn't tell you what his features were.'

Heavily armed police and officers carrying a battering ram closed in on a house nearby in Cross Street just after the fatal attack in broad daylight

Resident Alex Ververis arrived home shortly after the incident and described it as 'really unexpected and kind of scary'.

'I came back with my kid after swimming lessons. We know everyone on the street, there's nothing untoward and nothing suspicious,' he told ABC News.

Police are yet to reveal exactly what caused the victim's fatal injuries, but said a man and woman were seen fighting with him before his death.

Officers followed a trail of blood from the body to a nearby property on Hereford Street, and heavily armed officers carrying a battering ram closed in on the house.

A wide-scale manhunt continued on Saturday while a man and woman remain on the run.

The pair reportedly live on the street where the attack occurred.

Pictures from the scene show the body covered with a white blanket surrounded by police at the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent

Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm on Friday, where Acting Superintendent Sam Crisafulli (pictured) told reporters that the victim was 'sadly found deceased on the street'

A builder working nearby told 9 News he and his workmates had heard a 'loud bang' and thought someone may have been run over by a car.

'One of the boys ran down to see if he was okay,' the man said.

He said the victim had 'a lot of blood coming out of his head'.

Another witness said she heard a lady yelling: 'Get away. Get the f**k away from me'.

The incident is believed to have been targeted and to have occurred after a man and a woman were 'seen in an altercation' with the victim prior to his death.

'We've spoken to a number of witnesses who tell us shortly before we were called a man and a woman were in an altercation with another man,' Superintendent Sam Crisafulli said.

'It was a violent attack with very, very serious consequences.'

Several crime scenes were established along Hereford Street on Friday, including inside a private residence

'We've spoken to a number of witnesses who tell us shortly before we were called a man and a woman were in an altercation with another man,' Superintendent Crisafulli said

A man and woman remain on the run after a man was killed in Sydney's inner west. Police were called to the intersection around 12.40pm on Friday and have reportedly already found a weapon

Detectives from the homicide squad are part of a strike force set up to investigate the man's death
Cumbria Police became embroiled in an unusual pursuit after residents alerted them that there was a sheep on the loose in Cumbria city centre.

Dashcam footage from one of the police cars shows the sheep dodging and running from officers who can be seen trying to chase and herd the animal on the residential streets.

Locals contacted the force on Saturday morning after seeing the rogue animal trotting around after seemingly escaping from a farm.

Officers are said to have responded rapidly as they made their way to the area to hunt down the animal.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: 'Police attended and a short time later caught the sheep and returned it to its owner.'

Afterwards, officers tweeted: 'A challenging pursuit this morning in Carlisle.

'A big thanks to the residents of Coledale Meadows for assisting in detaining the subject who is now safe and sound behind baaars.'

Challenging pursuit: Cumbria police force tweeted a 'big thanks' to residents in Carlisle for 'assisting in detaining the subject who is now safe and sound behind baaars'

Baaaaad idea: The footage shows officers trying to catch the sheep who appeared to have escaped from a field nearby

A little sheepish: Residents alerted police after seeing the rogue animal roaming the streets. The 'subject has now been returned to its owner




A tiny newborn panda has made his first public appearance in China, just two weeks after birth.

The pink and hairy cub, with his black and white furs barely distinguishable, is the latest addition to the panda family at the Chimelong Safari Park in Guangdong province.

Nicknamed the 'chubby cub' for his extraordinary size at birth, the panda was weighed and given physical examination in front of the press on Saturday.

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Too cute: The two-week-old panda cub is weighed on Saturday, coming in at 620g (1.37lb)

The pink hairy cub was born on July 29 to panda mother Ting Ting, weighing 166g (0.37lb).

Known only as 'the son of Ting Ting', the adorable animal came in at 620g (1.37lb) during Saturday's examination - having grown nearly four times his birth weight in a fortnight.

He has been called the 'chubby cub' by Chimelong Safari Park, since most newborn cubs weigh between 80g and 130g (0.18-0.29lb) at birth.

The panda cub's mother Ting Ting moved from Sichuan province to Guangdong province due to the catastrophic Sichuan Earthquake of 2008.

Originally from the Wolong National Nature Reserve, Ting Ting was moved to Chimelong Safari park in Guangdong province, where she is known as the 'beauty' due to her long limbs and beautiful fur.

This is Ting Ting's second baby. Her first cub, a female, was born in 2015.

The cub has been described as very active, just like his mother, which was described by one of the zoo's staff as 'a mad girl' due to her penchant for climbing trees, according to the park.

The new born has been described as being particularly active, just like his mother

'The son of Ting Ting' is the ninth baby panda to be born in southern China in the last six years.

He arrived hot on the heels of another baby panda born a month ago, known as 'the son of Long Long'.

Pictures of the two baby pandas alongside each other shows the difference of two weeks, with their size, and differentiation in fur colour much more visible on the older cub.

The measurements taken during the health examination included the length the cubs' heads, torsos and tails. For the older cub, these were noted as 10 cm, 31 cm and 6.2 cm respectively; the same measurements for the younger cub were 6.5 cm, 5.2 cm and 21 cm respectively.

The two new-born pandas cubs are weighed alongside each other on Sunday in Guangzhou

Both panda mothers are being monitored around the clock by experts from China's Giant Panda Protection and Research Center and a special nutrition teams, mostly for the safety of the cubs, according to the park.

Mother and child will continue to be monitored 24 hours a day until the cubs are five to six months old, at which point it will become night only.

Panda fans will have to wait to see the two cubs with their own eyes. The park is yet to announce a date to put the cubs back to their enclosure.
An aristocrat is suing France for 314million in damages claiming his family was tricked out of inheriting Monaco's throne more than a hundred years ago.

Count Louis de Causans, who lives in Paris, says France changed the succession rules early in the 20th Century amid fears the principality's throne would fall in to the hands of a German.

The 44-year-old denies he is trying to dethrone his cousin, Monaco's reigning Prince Albert II, head of the princely house of Grimaldi. Instead, he insists his actions are a matter of family honour aimed at addressing 'trickery' more than a century ago.

Count Louis de Causans (pictured) is suing France for 314million claiming his family was tricked out of inheriting Monaco's throne

Count Louis de Causans denies he is trying to dethrone his cousin, Monaco's reigning Prince Albert II (pictured, with wife Princess Charlene), head of the princely house of Grimaldi. Instead, he insists his actions are a matter of family honour aimed at addressing 'trickery' more than a century ago

Count Louis de Causans, who lives in Paris, says France changed succession rules early in the 20th Century amid fears the throne would fall in to the hands of a German. Pictured: Monaco's Royal Palace

Mr de Causans, who was born in France, told Le Parisien newspaper: 'I want the truth to come out and this injustice perpetrated by France on my family to be put right.

'In reality, my cousin Prince Albert acceded to the throne by a sleight of hand France found a solution to get its hands on Monaco. Afterwards, they managed business on the Rock as they wished.'

The aristocrat, whose full name is Louis Jean Raymond Marie de Vincens de Causans, says he is a direct descendant of Honore III, who ruled Monaco between 1733-1793.

But the row focuses on the early 20th Century, when Prince Louis II of Monaco, monarch between 1922 and 1949, had no official royal heir.

Under inheritance rules at the time, this meant that the bachelor was ineligible to reign in the sun-drenched tax haven.

The next in line to the throne at the time was Louis II's cousin, Wilhelm, the Second Duke of Urach - a German nobleman from Mr de Causans' branch of the family.

Under inheritance rules at the time, Prince Louis II of Monaco (left) was ineligible to reign in the sun-drenched tax haven. The next in line to the throne at the time was Louis II's cousin, Wilhelm, the Second Duke of Urach (right) - a German nobleman from Mr de Causans' branch of the family

A law change enabled Prince Louis II to adopt Charlotte Louise (pictured) - the illegitimate daughter he had with his cabaret-singing lover Marie-Juliette Louvet. In doing so, he was then able to get round the succession problem. Mr de Causans said that this meant a child 'who had no connection to the royal family' succeeded to the throne

But Jean-Marc Descoubes, a lawyer for Mr de Causans, said that 'it was quite simply unacceptable for a German to reign over Monaco then, on the eve of the First World War'.

Under French pressure in 1911, a law was passed that allowed Louis II to reign. The law change enabled him to adopt Charlotte Louise - the illegitimate daughter he had with his cabaret-singing lover Marie-Juliette Louvet. In doing so, he was then able to get round the succession problem.

According to the Guardian, Mr de Causans said a child 'who had no connection to the royal family' later succeeded to the throne.

Descoubes told the BBC: 'There were secret meetings in Paris and Monaco between the French ambassador and Monaco authorities, they signed a secret pact. I have some evidence, and will give it to the court if the French government doesn't want to pay.'

Mr de Causans insists that under the rules at the time, his branch of the Grimaldi family should have inherited the throne in the tiny Mediterranean principality.

He said: 'I thought it was the Grimaldis fault, but then I found out it was the French state that caused this dramatic turnaround for us.'

The claim figure of 351m is the result of calculations made by accountants and lawyers based on Mr de Causans's age and the Grimaldi fortune, Descoubes told the BBC.
Daniel Crowley, 18, (pictured outside court) threatened and manipulated five girls - aged between 12-15 - from across the UK in a year-long campaign of online abuse

A vile troll who bullied underage girls into sending him naked pictures has been spared jail because he was just 16 when he began his cruel online campaign.

Daniel Crowley, 18, of Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, threatened and manipulated five girls - aged between 12-15 - from across the UK in a year-long campaign of online abuse.

He posed as boys called 'Tom Phillips' and 'Dan' and then forced the victims into sending him naked pictures which he then used to threaten them.

Crowley was finally caught after several schools and colleges across the UK warned pupils about a social media troll targeting young girls.

He admitted four charges of controlling children and causing a child to engage in sexual activity and three offences of making indecent images of children.

Crowley initially pleaded guilty to four charges of controlling children, subjecting them to sexual exploitation.

But Judge Sylvia de Bertodano asked the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider whether the sexual exploitation charges were the appropriate offences, so they were replaced by four further charges of causing children to engage in sexual activity.

She then allowed him to vacate his pleas to the original offences, and he pleaded guilty to the new charges  after which she gave him a three-year community order and ordered him to sign the sex offenders' register for five years at Warwick Crown Court on Monday.

Judge de Bertodano said: 'You did what young people are very able to do very easily these days, and that is create a lot of social media accounts.

'But what you used it for was to create accounts in different names and to contact girls, and over the year or so this continued, your contact with them became very serious offences.

'These are really serious offences. These children were between 12 and 15, and they were desperately frightened by what you did.

'You cruelly abused them over a year-long period.

Crowley admitted four charges of controlling children and causing a child to engage in sexual activity and three offences of making indecent images of children

'This is the nightmare that parents of teenagers face, that their children can be exposed to this type of behaviour online - and that when we believe they are safe in their bedrooms, they are being subjected to sexual manipulation like this.

'If you were an adult, you would be looking at a sentence approaching double figures. But I have to treat you as a child.

'I have to consider what the benefit of sending you to prison today would be, and I don't think anyone would be protected in the long term if I were to do that.'

The court heard Crowley contacted the girls using fake social media accounts.

Prosecutor Daniel Wright said: 'He asked them to send images of themselves committing sexual acts, and kept them and used them to coerce the girls to send further images.

'He used various identities, sometimes encouraging them to contact other people who were also, in fact, him.

'That enabled him to exercise control over them in a bullying manner, and he also used threats of self-harm if they refused to do as he requested.'

The first girl police spoke to said Crowley contacted her in 2016 and demanded she send him pictures of her in her underwear.

When she did he ordered her to send him more and threatened to kill himself if she refused.

Crowley also sent images of a naked woman to her friends, claiming it was her, he warned her she was 'not safe,' so she sent him a naked picture.

Another of his victims was so scared of him she sent him 50 pictures of herself to him after he repeatedly used threats if she refused.

Crowley even used other fake accounts to taunt her about the naked pictures to make the victim believe the snaps were being widely circulated.

Another girl sent him images of her bare breasts, and he threatened that if she did not send more, he would show them to other people.

Mr Wright said when Crowley was arrested his phone was seized, and on it were a number of downloaded indecent images including ones showing penetrative sex acts with toddlers.

In a victim impact statement, one of the girl's mothers told Crowley: 'You have stolen the daughter I had, slowly and systematically.

'She has shut down from all she enjoyed, and she has also been self-harming because of the torment you put her through.'

Delroy Henry, defending, said: 'What he did was cruel, really cruel.

'It is a sad testament of the technological age we now live in that it was done with such ease.'
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Russia has held a major military drill in a much disputed territory on Georgia's Black Sea coast, less than a week after the tenth anniversary of the countries' five-day war with each other.

The drills were conducted in Abkhazia, an autonomous region recognised as an independent republic by Russia but which Georgia still considers part of their country.

It involved a number of uniformed troops and Army tanks, Russian Air Force helicopters as well as vessels from the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet.

The war games took place two days after a Russian missile cruise and an anti-submarine destroyer were observed passing through the Strait of Gibraltar en route to the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday.

Big guns: Russian tanks are seen on a beach in Abkhazia, Georgia, during military 'war games' on the Black Sea Coast

The drills were held in the autonomous region of Abkhazia, which Russia recognises as an independent republic, but which Georgia still considers part of their country

A Russian serviceman with an Igla portable surface-to-air missile during tactical military drills of motor rifle divisions of the 7th military base of Russia's Southern Military District, the 4th army of the Russian Air Force and Air Defence, and the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet in Abkhazia, Georgia

Both ships conducted 'planned combat training' during their voyage, as reported by Russian media, and are set to join the Russian Navy's war efforts in Syria, supporting dictator Bashar al-Assad.

The military drills in the autonomous Georgian region in took place just days after the country marked the tenth anniversary of the war with Russia.

Georgia and its Soviet-era master Russia have long been at loggerheads over Tbilisi's bid to join the European Union and NATO, with the spiralling confrontation culminating in a full-out war on August 8, 2008.

The Russian army swept into Georgia - bombing targets and occupying large swathes of territory - after Tbilisi launched a large-scale military operation against South Ossetian separatist forces who had been shelling Georgian villages in the region.

Over just five days, Russia defeated Georgia's small military and the hostilities ended with a ceasefire mediated by France's then-president Nicolas Sarkozy, who at the time held the EU's rotating presidency.

The war games involved a number of uniformed troops and Army tanks, Russian Air Force helicopters as well as vessels from the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet

Since recognising Abkhazia as an independent republic, Russia has had permanent military bases on it Black Sea coast

The Russian Navy's Nikolay Filchenkov large landing ship is seen in the background while a group of people enjoy their day out on the beach in Abkhazia

A Russian serviceman removes his goggles during one of the drills held on Monday

British Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond shadowing two Russian warships, destroyer Severomorsk and cruiser Marshal Ustinov , as they passed through the English Channel on Tuesday last week before heading down to Gibraltar

After the war - that claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers and civilians from both sides - Moscow recognised South Ossetia and another separatist enclave, Abkhazia, as independent states where it then stationed permanent military bases.

The two regions constitute 20 per cent of the country's territory.

Georgia and its Western partners have condemned Russia's continued 'occupation' of its territory and demanded the Kremlin reverse its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

On Wednesday the Georgian presidency said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo phoned Margvelashvili to reiterate Washington's 'strong support to Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty'.

A Kamov Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter during Monday's tactical military drills on the Black Sea coast

Still present: The five-day war in 2008 saw Russia defeat Georgia's small military and the hostilities ended with a ceasefire

Nearby: A serviceman is seen during joint tactical military exercises held by Russian and South Ossetian divisions at the Dzartsem range

The Georgian foreign ministry denounced Russia's continued military build-up in the separatist regions.

'The Russian Federation has not implemented its international obligations despite constant calls from the international community... and has further reinforced its illegal military presence on the ground,' the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

In a show of solidarity with Tbilisi, the foreign ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, and Ukraine's vice premier visited the country and issued a joint statement urging Russia to 'start honouring international law and the right of sovereign neighbouring states to choose their own destiny'.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the 'Russian military presence in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia continues to violate international law'.

The German and French foreign ministries called Russia's recognition of the breakaway Georgian areas Abkhazia and South Ossetia 'unacceptable.'
Dredging of a heavily contaminated canal in New York City has resulted in the discovery of the remains of a shipwrecked Second World War vessel used to rescue downed pilots.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been dredging Gowanus Canal  a 100-foot-wide, 1.8-mile long canal in Brooklyn.

The waterway has been used as a major industrial transportation route since the mid-1800s, and waste was discharged into it from paper mills, tanneries, chemical plants and manufactured gas plants lining its banks.

Overflows from sewer systems, that carry sanitary waste from homes and rainwater from storm drains and industrial pollutants, also flowed into the canal, according to the agency.

Remnants of the 63-foot Aircraft Rescue Boat - built in 1943 - which was used to rescue downed pilots and air crew during the Second World War

The vessel was constructed by the Miami Shipbuilding Corporation. In 1939, the shipbuilders won the contract to build the first patrol torpedo-armed boats, which were used to rescue downed pilots

In New York, a scrap heap sits next to the polluted Gowanus Canal in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The canal, which was completed in 1869, has been polluted for decades, resulting in one of the nation's most extensively contaminated bodies of water

And as part of an ambitious $500million clean-up project, involving the dredging of hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of highly-contaminated sediment, sonar scans revealed about 40 large objects sitting on the bottom of the basin, including two boat wrecks.

One of these was a 63-foot Aircraft Rescue Boat  built in 1943 by the Miami Shipbuilding Co  which was used to rescue downed pilots and air crew during the Second World War.

The US military had it in service as a crash boat for about two decades, until 1963.

A sonar scan shows the sunken ship buried in the toxic sludge at the bottom of the canal

The boat underwent a refurbishment and was converted into a ferry named the Point OWoods V, to transport people to Fire Island from 1963 until 1985.

Then, in 1989 it was renamed as the Kokkomokko, and used as a houseboat in the Bronx until 2003, according to the EPA.

But, after suffering ice damage, the vessel was salvaged and towed to the Gowanus Canal, where it became a floating arts and community services space called the Empty Vessel project.

Twelve years ago, the boat had yet another name change, to the Green Anchor Yacht, also dubbed SS Gay, and used as an arts area/houseboat, and a 'queer and trans-friendly space', according to the EPA.

Unfortunately, 12 years at the bottom of the toxic canal has left the Second World War boat unsalvageable

Rescue boats being built during the Second World War. Miami Shipbuilding built six different models of their 63-foot crash boat design

However since sinking in 2009, it has been resting at the bottom of the toxic canal  until it was recently unearthed from the sludge.

Jonathan Bream, an archaeologist with Archaeology and Historic Resource Services, told New York Post that the toxic muck, including coal tar, covering this and other sunken items made it difficult uncovering such treasures.

When this stuff first comes out, it kind of has a fecal-petroleum-musty smell that you have to have a good stomach to be around.

The grossest part of it is when something accidentally falls in the drink and splashes you, because youre not expecting it, he said.

The EPA said: 'The Gowanus Canal has become one of the nation's most seriously contaminated water bodies.

'More than a dozen contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and heavy metals, including mercury, lead and copper, are found at high levels in the sediment.'

Unfortunately, 12 years at the bottom of the toxic canal has left the Second World War boat unsalvageable.

The EPA explained that metal parts of the vessel, however, will be recycled, and the WW II crash boat will live on.

The agency added: 'In its current wrecked and deteriorated state, the boat lacks integrity as an example of a World War II era crash boat.

'The removal of the original superstructure at the time of its conversion to a ferry and the later removal of its engines and machinery further weaken the boats historic integrity.

Trash litters the surface of Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal. About $500million is being spent dredging the waterway, to result in the removal of hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of the contaminated sludge, including coal tar

'The absence of any deckhouse, the defining characteristic unique to its conversion to a ferry, results in a lack of historic integrity as a potential example of a Fire Island Ferry.

'Numerous other examples of 63-foot Miami-built crash boats are known to exist, and the techniques for constructing these vessels are relatively well documented.

'As a result, the wreck has no archaeological value, nor is it eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.'

Aside from the rescue boat, a boat anchor has been recovered, along with a gantry crane that loaded horse-drawn delivery carts with coal in the late 1800s.

Dredging has also unearthed large spools and balls of yarn, which possibly came from the Zobel Color Works, a textile and dye manufacturer operating in the early 1900s.
A teacher who committed a series of crimes over an eight year period after his marriage broke down has been banned from the classroom for life.

Jeremy Clutson, of Croydon, failed to declare he had been convicted of a string of offences including burglary, harassment and drink-driving when he applied to work at a Catholic primary school in south London.

The 50-year-old - whose criminal behaviour meant he was denied access to his children - was jailed for 15 months in 2013 and ordered to undergo counselling, alcohol treatment and domestic-abuse programmes.

Jeremy Clutson, failed to declare he had been convicted of a series of offences including burglary and drink-driving when he applied to work at Catholic primary school St Francesca Cabrini in south London

Clutson was found guilty of misconduct for not declaring his previous convictions 'in a timely manner' in applying to work at London's St Francesca Cabrini primary school, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found.

The former teacher, who worked at the school as recently as last month, insisted he had a 'previously good record as a teacher', and was supported by the former head who told the panel Clutson 'built effective relationships with his pupils and parents'.

However, the TRA found Mr Clutson was 'not fit to act as a role models for pupils' and 'had not shown any true remorse' for his actions.

The tribunal heard that in 2006, Mr Clutson was convicted of drink-driving, which saw him banned from being behind the wheel of a car and ordered to pay a fine.

A year later he was convicted of harassment and given a conditional discharge.

In 2013 he was convicted of burglary and initially sentenced to four months in prison suspended for two years, ordered to undergo alcohol treatment and made the subject of a supervision order.

He was also convicted of harassment and threatening to damage or destroy property during the same trial. He was sentenced in total to 15 months imprisonment.

After his release, the teacher was convicted of seven counts of breaching a restraining order and ordered to carry out 20 hours community service.

In September 2016, when applying for a teaching role at St Francesca Cabrini Primary School in London, he failed to disclose fully or at all his criminal convictions.

Upon hearing the allegations, the panel concluded Clutson had 'demonstrated a lack of integrity' by misleading the school and banned from teaching for life.

A Southwark Council spokesperson said: 'We welcome the decision of the Secretary of State to prohibit Mr Clutson from teaching. There is no place in schools for deceit and dishonesty, and we were appalled to learn about this case from the Catholic Education Commission.

'In Southwark we demand the very best for our children, and we hope this is a warning to anyone who tries to gain employment working with children dishonestly, that they will be found out, and punished.'
Royston Dyke was jailed for nearly five years after scamming Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust out of 870,000

A greedy NHS boss ran a fraud that cost the health service more than 870,000 and led a life of luxury on the cash, a court heard.

Royston Dyke, 48, was jailed for four years and eight months after masterminding a scam to defraud Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Dyke used his position as the trust's associate director of capital and development to submit 204 invoices - at a value of 870,490 - for building work on his and family members' homes.

All but 12 of the hundreds of invoices were approved by Dyke and all but six were paid by him.

Some building work he put invoices through for did not even take place, the court heard.

Dyke benefited by 391,715, putting 200,000 of the NHS payments into his bank accounts - including 142,000 in cash during the period of 2012 to 2015.

Dyke's assets of 189,115 were confiscated and must be paid to the trust as compensation.

Tradesmen Vincent Smith, Graham Fallows and Peter Potente were also jailed for their part in the fraud at Bristol Crown Court.

Judge Mark Horton said there were few areas of society of which the British public were more proud than the NHS, with staff doing their best despite having to cope with limited funds.

Dyke used his position as the trust's associate director of capital and development to submit 204 invoices - at a value of 870,490 - for building work on his and family members' homes. Pictured: Dyke's home that is now up for sale under the Proceeds of Crime Act

But despite being well paid, Dyke became greedy and abused his power, trust and responsibility over a substantial amount of time. Pictured: The Gloucester home that Dyke used 400,000 of NHS funds to renovate

He said Dyke, of Gloucester, had been employed by the NHS since 1997 and had worked his way up 'effectively from store man to senior manager', becoming the associate director of capital and development in 2013.

But despite being well paid, Dyke became greedy and abused his power, trust and responsibility over a substantial amount of time.

The judge said he committed the fraud knowing full well that the NHS would be less able to care for the vulnerable and sick as a result.

He said: 'You created false invoices for work not done for the trust itself.

'You, Mr Dyke, had a lavish lifestyle. In an interview with a probation officer, you describe yourself as being simply greedy.

You describe how you swept all of your co-defendants into this. You committed this fraud, you ran it.'

The sentencing hearing followed the four men last year having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud.

Tradesmen Graham Fallows (top left), Vincent Smith (top right) and Peter Potente (bottom left) were also jailed alongside Dyke (bottom right) for their part in the fraud at Bristol Crown Court

Smith, 58, of Longlevens, Glos., and Fallows, 59, Longlevens, Glos., were jailed for three years and four months.

The money they made from the crime, 125,000, was confiscated and must be paid as compensation to the trust. They must also pay it 5,000 in costs.

Potente, 55, of Gloucester, was jailed for 16 months. The money he made from the crime, 155,317, was confiscated and must be paid as compensation to the trust. He must also pay it 5,000 in costs.

The judge said Dyke claimed that in mitigation he had been going through a stressful divorce and had not achieved the kind of promotion at the trust that he wanted.

But after the court heard that he went on holidays and decorated the house he shared with Claire Neely, Judge Horton said: 'No expense seems to have been spared.'

The court was told Dyke admitted being the prime mover in the fraud, telling his friends there was no risk of them getting caught and telling them what to put down on various documents.

Dyke benefited by 391,715, putting 200,000 of the NHS payments into his bank accounts - including 142,000 in cash during the period of 2012 to 2015. Pictured: Dining room of Dyke's improved home

Det Insp Wayne Usher, head of fraud and financial crime at Gloucestershire police, said: 'It's quite clear Dyke wanted to live this lavish lifestyle. He treated the NHS like a cash machine'

James Tucker, for Dyke, conceded that the public would feel a sense of 'revulsion' about the misuse of NHS money.

The court heard Smith and Fallows, who had worked together for 30 years, had before the fraud been honest builders with a good reputation and they had contributed to charitable causes.

Potente too was said to have had an unblemished character before he got involved with the scam.

All three were said to have been very remorseful about what had happened.

Dyke's partner, Claire Neely, was due to stand trial for alleged money laundering but the case was dropped.

After the trial of the four men, Det Insp Wayne Usher, head of fraud and financial crime at Gloucestershire police, said: 'It's quite clear Roy Dyke wanted to live this lavish lifestyle.

'He treated the NHS like a cash machine.'

Pictured: Invoices sent by Dyke from his NHS email account

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement: 'Roy Dyke grossly abused his position of trust by deceitfully taking money from the NHS to fund a lavish lifestyle.

'The severity of his sentence, the financial ruin and the loss of reputation of Dyke and his co-conspirators sends out a strong message of deterrent to anyone who thinks they can cheat the system in such a way and get away with it.

'Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, we are in line to recover 90 per cent or 594,433 of the money taken, an exceptionally high recovery rate, and Dyke's NHS pension will also be recovered.

'While new checks and balances have been introduced to ensure that our accounting processes are much more robust, it's reassuring to see that the supportive culture required within an organisation for this kind of practice to be identified and surfaced are in a strong position.

'We would like to pay tribute to the outstanding work undertaken by our local NHS Counter Fraud Service and Gloucestershire Constabulary in successfully convicting these criminals.'
A follower of a Catholic archbishop called a sex abuse victim 'rubbish' after the disgraced clergyman was given home detention for concealing sex crimes against children.

The member of the entourage made the offensive remark to Peter Gogarty, who is a victim of paedophile priest Jim Fletcher.

Mr Gogarty asked the former Catholic archbishop to apologise for concealing the abuse he and others endured during the 1970s by Fletcher.

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Peter Gogarty (pictured) is a sexual abuse victim of notorious paedophile priest Jim Fletcher. He asked the disgraced archbishop to apologise for concealing child sex abuse

He said: 'Any words for me, Philip?

'Philip, will you say sorry for what you have done to me and other child sex abuse survivors?'

The supporter asked Mr Gogarty why he didn't come forward 40 years ago and later said: 'I don't have time for rubbish like you, mate.'

Wilson was found guilty of concealing the crimes of a paedophile priest in May this year.

Archbishop Philip Wilson(pictured) was found guilty of concealing the crimes of a paedophile priest in May this year.

During the 1970s, Jim Fletcher sexually abused children in the NSW Hunter Region.

Wilson has spent the past weeks on bail while both he and his sister's home were assessed for home detention, the ABC reported.

He was sentenced to a years' detention with six months non-parole.

When he was sentenced, Magistrate Robert Stone told Newcastle Local Court Wilson showed 'no remorse or contrition' and protecting the Catholic church was his 'primary motive'.

Wilson remains an ordained bishop within the church with no episcopal authority.
Rainbow trout can now be labelled and sold as salmon in China, the authorities ruled.

The new regulation aims to quash previous public complaints that rainbow trout had for years been mislabelled as salmon in China. It says that all salmonidae fish can now be sold under the umbrella name of 'salmon'.

The controversial announcement raised suspicion and outrage from net users on social media, with many citing health concerns.

Rainbow trout can now be labelled and sold as salmon in China, the authorities ruled. Many net users who enjoy salmon sashimi (pictured) complained that they could now be easily misled

Similar but different: Rainbow trout (left) live in fresh water while salmon (right) live in salt water. They both belong to the salmonidae family and have similar reddish orange meat

Rainbow trout and salmon both belong to the salmonidae family and have similar reddish-orange meat. However, rainbow trout live in fresh water while salmon live much of their lives in salt water.

The new practice was issued on August 10 by the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA), an organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture, along with 13 Chinese fishery companies.

'In recent years, the consumption of salmon in China has been increasing, but a lack of safety standards have caused concerns from Chinese consumers. These concerns have adversely affected the industry and the market,' according to The People's Government of Qinghai Province citing a Qinghai Daily report.

As a result, the organisations decided to standardise labelling and group rainbow trout under the umbrella name of salmon, which is the general term for salmonids.

When filleted, rainbow trouts also have reddish-orange meat similar to that of salmon

Food companies are now required to adhere to strict rules on parasite control and regulations

The statement also stated that food companies are required to adhere to strict rules on parasite control and regulations, as well as to label the source and species of the meat on packagings, such as 'Salmon (Atlantic salmon)' or 'Salmon (Rainbow trout)'.

The regulation came after China Central Television Station reported in May that around one-third of the salmon sold in China were bred in Tibet.

The report prompted Chinese consumers to suspect that the Tibet-bred salmon were actually rainbow trout, causing wide-spread condemnation from the public.

After the new rule was announced, a topic page titled 'Rainbow trout now classified as salmon' is now trending on Twitter-like Weibo, with nearly 28 million views.

Many net users who enjoy having raw salmon as a sashimi dish are worried that they could now be easily misled, at the same time citing concerns about parasite contamination.

'Trout is trout, salmon is salmon,' one commented. 'They are not the same at all.'

China imported nearly 215,000 tonnes of salmon last year, according to official data

'I'm never going to eat salmon again, especially raw salmon. I don't want to get sick,' another said.

'This is just an excuse for the food companies to charge consumers more money,' one said. 'Trout is way cheaper than salmon.'

One net user even uploaded a composite picture of a whale, a shrimp, a chicken, a pig and even an alien and labelled the image 'The salmon family'.

However, The China Fisheries Association reassured the public that whether salmon has parasites does not depend on whether it is bred in sea water or fresh water.

Domestic rainbow trout are bed in a safe and quarantined environment and therefore all sources of contamination would have been eliminated, according to the association.

China produced more than 40,000 tonnes of trout and imported nearly 215,000 tonnes of salmon last year, according to a separate report by CAPPMA.

Fish-buyers in the country are expected to consume up to 250,000 tonnes of salmon in 2025, the report added.
A suspended L-plate driver who was found with a cocktail of methylamphetamine, amphetamine and cannabis in her system after she crashed and killed an aged care nurse has been found not guilty of drug driving.

Bianca Harrington was driving a Holden Commodore from Sydney to the NSW Central Coast when she clipped another car on Mann Street.

Harrington's car ended up on the other side of the road and collided with Kay Maria Shaylor's vehicle.

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Bianca Harrington (pictured outside court) was driving a Holden Commodore from Sydney to the Central Coast when she clipped another car on Mann Street

Harrington's car ended up on the other side of the road and collided with Kay Maria Shaylor's (pictured) car, and Ms Shaylor died at Royal North Shore Hospital

Ms Shaylor eventually died at the Royal North Shore Hospital.

As Ms Shaylor was lying injured in the wreckage two people, believed to be helping her, stole her credit cards.

They were later convicted for this.

Harrington pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death.

However the 22-year-old pleaded not guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death under the influence of drugs.

The more serious charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Acting Judge Rodney Madgwick said that Crown had not proven beyond reasonable doubt Harrington was 'very substantially impaired' by the illicit drug cocktail, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The suspended L-plate driver was found with a cocktail of methylamphetamine, amphetamine and cannabis in her system after she crashed (Pictured: the crash)

Harrington pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death but pleaded not guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death under the influence of drugs

The judge said any impairment seen by police after could potentially be attributed to shock and that Harrington could have built up a tolerance to any drugs found in her system.

In a police interview Harrington admitted she was smoking pot daily in the lead up to the crash.

She said she smoked four or five bongs before the crash.

In a police interview (pictured) Harrington admitted she was smoking pot daily in the lead up to the crash. She said she smoked four or five bongs before the crash

Outside court Harrington told 9 News: 'I just want to say sorry to the family. That is all I want to say.'

Ms Shaylor's friend Debra Starkey also told the program: 'We are very unhappy with the result and we will wait for sentencing.

'I cant believe [what the judge said]. It is all a joke.'

Harrington is pregnant and is expected to give birth in October.

She will be sentenced in November.

The charge she pleaded guilty to carries a maximum of ten years.
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A series of spectacular images capture a huge herd of wildebeest stampeding through a fast-flowing river infested with hungry crocodiles.

Up to 80,000 of the creatures - some weighing up to 43 stone - risk death as they dash through the treacherous waters in their annual migration.

The wildebeest migrate from the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania to the greener plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya on a tough two-month long 1,800-mile journey.

Wildlife photographer Ingo Gerlach, 64, captured the journey across the Mara River where a sea of crocodiles lay in wait.

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Up to 80,000 wildebeest were photographed as they stormed the waters to begin their annual migration from the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania to the greener plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya on a tough two-month long 1,800-mile journey

The animals risked death as they dashed through the treacherous waters, with many losing their lives during the crossing due to being crushed, drowned or becoming victims of hungry crocodiles

'It can often take hours for the animals to start crossing the river and any disturbance at this moment drives the animals back again,' Wildlife photographer Ingo Gerlach, 64, explained

Each June, around 1.3million wildebeest gather in the Serengeti to calve. They slowly mass into a huge single herd, until the dry season withers their supply of fresh grass. The sheer amount of animals makes the ground appear black

The wildebeest are seen stampeding into the water as they journey across the Mara River, powerfully churning the water as race across. 'It becomes a scramble to get across the river as they haul themselves out on the other side,' Ingo said

The animals kick up huge amounts of dust as they make the dangerous trek. 'You can tell they are all nervous, but the thousands of beasts keep pushing each other towards the river until eventually they are forced into the water,' Ingo said

In their attempt to cross, some of the animals hit a wall on the other side of the river where they slipped on the wet rocks bordering the river's edge and struggled the climb steep river bank wall

Lurking amongst the pack are a few expertly hidden zebra who are skillfully camouflaged within the massive herd. Their black and white stripes do little to help distinguish them from the mass of moving bodies

'A small herd of zebras, a so-called family association, tried to cross the dangerous river at the same time,' Ingo said. 'Only with difficulty could these intelligent animals assert themselves against the overwhelmingly running wildebeest'

The Wildebeest Migration is seen as one of the 'Seven New Wonders of the World', taking place between July and October each year as part of a natural cycle that replenishes and renews the grasslands of East Africa
Police patrols were today stepped up across Britain after a car collided with cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into security barriers in Westminster.

British Transport Police said commuters will see extra officers this afternoon and evening on trains and at stations around England, Scotland and Wales.

And workers trapped inside Parliament Square buildings were told to hide in basements and stay away from windows after the crash at about 7.40am today.

British Transport Police said commuters will see more of its officers this afternoon (file picture)

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said there was 'no intelligence at this time of further danger' to Londoners following the attack.

But he added: 'Detectives from the counter-terrorism command are making various other urgent enquiries to ensure that there is no outstanding risk to the public.'

Scott Hawkins, who works in IT support for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in Westminster, was told to hide in the basement of his building by police.

He did not know when they would be allowed out, saying: 'Police advised us to stay in the basement of our building as being near windows is a security risk right now.

Westminster station on the London Underground's Circle, District and Jubilee lines is closed

'I was walking through Parliament Square just before the crash so I missed the actual event. The police have put our building on lockdown.'

BTP said anybody with concerns following the incident outside the Houses of Parliament can speak to a member of rail staff or a police officer.

Superintendent Chris Horton said: 'We know incidents such as this are likely to cause concern, so our officers will be highly visible both on board trains and at stations.

'We are there to reassure the travelling public so please don't be alarmed if you see our officers, including firearms officers, on your journey.'

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said today (pictured) that there was 'no intelligence at this time of further danger' to Londoners following the attack

Surrounding roads including Westminster Bridge, Abingdon Street and Whitehall all closed today, along with Westminster station on the London Underground.

But Transport for London said that by 1.30pm Westminster station had fully opened and trains on the Circle, District and Jubilee lines were stopping as normal again.

On arrival at Parliament, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson said: 'Hopefully people will be able to go about their normal days as soon as possible.'

The driver, who is in his late 20s, has been arrested on suspicion of terror offences and is being held in custody at a police station in South London.

Armed officers swarmed the scene following the suspected terror attack and the man, wearing a black puffer jacket, was led away in handcuffs from a Ford Fiesta.
Kathleen Folbigg is Australias worst female serial killer, convicted of killing her four children over a ten-year period between 1989 and 1999, and now she is fighting for a judicial review of her case.

The discovery of her diary entries, in which she wrote passages such as 'I knew I was short tempered and cruel sometimes to her. She left, with a bit of help,' were crucial in securing her conviction in 2003.

Folbigg was initially sentenced to 40 years in jail, which was subsequently reduced to 30, for the murders of her two sons, Patrick and Caleb, and two daughters, Laura and Sarahall of whom died before the age of two.

Kathleen Folbigg was found guilty of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter in 2003

Throughout the trial and the time since, Folbigg has been protesting her innocence, saying that each child died from natural causes.

In recent years, Folbiggs team have begun lobbying for a judicial review of her case, which has received the support of forensic pathologist Professor Stephen Cordner, who concluded that there was no forensic evidence to prove that all four of Folbiggs children were murdered.

Who is Kathleen Folbigg?

Kathleen Folbigg (nee Donovan) was born on June 14, 1967. When Folbigg was just 18-months-old, her father stabbed her mother to death in Sydney.

In 1987 she married Craig Folbigg and their first child, Caleb, was born on February 1, 1989. However, 19 days later, Folbigg said that she found her son lifeless in the cot. His death was ruled as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

In June 1990, Folbiggs second son Patrick was born, but at four months he too was found lifeless in his cot, having suffered from an acute life-threatening event. He was resuscitated but was diagnosed with epilepsy and cortical blindness. However, four months later, Patrick was found dead by Folbigg.

Folbiggs first daughter, Sarah, was born on October 14, 1992. However, in August 1993, Sarah, then aged ten months, was discovered dead, with the death being ruled as another SIDS.

Folbiggs second daughter and fourth child, Laura, was born on August 1997 lived till the age of 18 months. In a similar pattern to the previous deaths, Folbigg discovered the bodies and was unable to resuscitate the children.

Kathleen Folbiggs diaries

The Crowns case against Folbigg was already being formed when her husband discovered her diaries. Detective Bernie Ryan told Australian Story, the ABC programme, in 2004: From the moment I read the diary, it was a murder investigation.

Her diary entries were used to convict her of her childrens murders. Passages included: 'I feel like the worst mother on this earth. Scared that she'll leave me now like Sarah did.'

Folbigg also wrote: 'I knew I was short tempered and cruel sometimes to her. She left, with a bit of help.'

However, Folbigg argues that the diaries were not an admission of a crime, but the thoughts of an insecure mother, telling her friend in a phone call from prison: 'You've got to understand that those diaries are written from a point of me always blaming myself.

'I blamed myself for everything. It's just I took so much of the responsibility, because that's, as mothers, what you do.'

Kathleen Folbiggs trial

The Crowns case was simply that Folbigg smothered her four children. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence of a mother suffering from stress and murdered her children in bouts of rage.

The defence stressed that there was no physical evidence of injuries on the children and that Folbigg was a loving mother.

The trial lasted seven weeks until Folbigg was found guilty of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter.

The jury rejected the defences argument that the deaths were of natural causes and Folbigg was sentenced to 40 years in prison, 30 without parole, which was ultimately reduced to 30 years.

Folbigg described her state during the conviction announcement: 'Look, it was just so overwhelming. There are no words. No words to even describe it,' Folbigg told her friend in one of their telephone calls.

'It was shattering and it was devastating and it was overwhelming. If I had started screaming, I would have sent the courthouse into a big, giant frenzy.

'Thats what I felt like I was doing on the inside.'

Kathleen Folbigg judicial review

In 2013, a group of lawyers and academics began calling for a judicial review of Folbiggs case.

Isabel Reed, one of the barristers who began the petition calling for a review of Folbiggs case, argues that the mothers conviction was made based on insufficient evidence.

'We don't want her released from prison. We just want an inquiry to look at the evidence and consider: has there been a miscarriage of justice here?' Ms Reed told The Sydney Morning Herald.

'I didn't think when we started this that that was a big ask.'

The group commissioned Professor Stephen Cordner to review the forensic evidence and his report ultimately cast doubt on the prosecutions case.

He found that Caleb and Sarahs death were correctly identified as SIDS, while Patricks death was connected to his epilepsy, while Lauras was caused by myocarditis.

Significantly, he also said that there were no signs of smothering.

The findings cannot rule out smothering in one or more of the cases, but especially in the case of Laura, not only is there an acceptable natural cause of death easily visible microscopically, it is important that there are neither general nor specific signs of compression of the face present, he said.

If the convictions are to stand, they must do so without the support of forensic pathology, and in Laura's case at least, against the forensic pathology view.

There is no positive forensic pathology support for the contention that any or all of these children have been killed, he concluded in the report.

And now, the NSW Attorney-General has hinted that a review of Folbiggs case could be on the cards.

'Ms Folbigg's petition raises complex questions to which I am giving appropriate consideration and have taken extensive advice,' he told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

'I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.'
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It was the day that marked the end of the biggest and bloodiest war in human history - August 15, 1945, or V-J Day, or the day Imperial Japan surrendered to the US.

The announcement that the Japanese had accepted the terms of surrender sparked wild celebrations around the world, from China to Britain, and Australia to America.

Here, the wild abandon of that day is given new life in photographs that have been colourised by 53-year-old Royston Leonard, from Wales.

Mr Leonard also added color to images of victorious American troops in the Pacific and the atomic blast over Hiroshima - one of two blasts that forced Japanese leaders to surrender despite vowing to fight to the bitter end.

A signalman from the US Navy kisses a woman on the mouth as others pose for the camera during V-J Day celebrations at an unknown location somewhere in America. Japan accepted the terms of surrender on August 15, 1945, effectively bringing the Second World War to an end. The day is commemorated in the US on September 2, which is when the formal surrender ceremony took place

Hundreds of residents of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, flood into Jackson Square waving copies of The Knoxville Journal announcing the end of the war. The Allies had already accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, meaning this marked the end of the Second World War

A nurse shouts news of the Japanese surrender from the back of a tram somewhere in America. Japanese commanders had vowed to fight on to the bitter end and the US was preparing for a bloody invasion of the mainland when two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing the Japanese to accept defeat

Two female recruits pose with copies of the St-Petersburg Times, now the Tampa Bay Times, announcing the declaration of war and the news of peace. Right, a sailor poses with a newspaper seller in Wisconsin spreading news of surrender

Male and female recruits link arms and march through the center of London as news of peace spreads. Wild celebrations also took place in China, large parts of which were occupied by the Japanese, and Sydney, as thousands of Australian troops had been involved in the conflict

Pictures show a US Navy signalman kissing an unknown woman somewhere in America, residents of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, flooding the streets to celebrate, and a woman shouting the news from the back of a tram car.

Other images show nurses and sailors celebrating with copies of newspapers announcing the victory, while a string of servicemen are also shown parading through central London.

In an image taken around three months before the surrender, Marines celebrate victory on top of Okinawa Hill, following the Battle of Okinawa.

The island saw some of the most raucous celebrations on V-J Day, when troops 'took every weapon within reach and started firing into the sky', according to contemporary accounts.

In fact that firing was so intense that six men were killed by falling bullets while dozens more were hurt. Americans hips moored offshore even sounded their sirens, thinking a kamikaze attack was underway.

US Marines pose on top of Okinawa Hill on the Japanese island after their victory there in June 1945. Okinawa saw some of the most raucous celebrations after the surrender, with troops firing their weapons into the air. Six men were killed by falling bullets and dozens injured, with ships moored off shore sounding their alarms, thinking an attack was underway

United States Marines pose on top of Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. This is the same location where the famous Associated Press photograph of the flag raising was taken. Iwo Jima saw the bloodiest fighting of the Pacific campaign and was the only battle where US total casualties outnumbered those of the Japanese

US Marines pose with flags taken as trophies from Japanese soldiers on the island of Iwo Jima. Capturing the island was deemed of vital importance to the war effort, but its value has since been questioned. The plan was to use the island's three airstrips to help launch an assault on the Japanese mainland, but that attack never happened

A mushroom cloud rises over Hiroshima, Japan, as the first ever nuclear bomb is used in conflict (left). The 'Little Boy' nuke was dropped from the Enola Gay on to Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 before a similar device was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9. Six days later the Japanese accepted surrender, and on September 2 representatives of the Empire of Japan gathered on the deck of the USS Missouri (right) to sign the official declaration

Two LSTs - which stands for Landing Ship, Tank - offload troops as they prepare to bring armored vehicles ashore on the Philippines island of Leyte. The Battle of Leyte marked the start of the American campaign to recaptured the entire Philippines archipelago from the Japanese

Marines pose under the turret of an unknown US warship, exact date and location unknown. Letters recovered from Japanese soldiers during the conflict showed the fear inspired in them by the Marines, who were described as: 'No ordinary troops but... a special force recruited from jails and insane asylums for blood lust'

Two more images document the destruction left after the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor three years beforehand which dragged America into the conflict.

The surprise attack saw the majority of the US Pacific Fleet either sunk or badly damaged, with more than 2,000 American troops killed and another 1,500 wounded.

Japanese Admiral Hara Tadaichi later summed up the Japanese result by saying: 'We won a great tactical victory at Pearl Harbor and thereby lost the war.'

Speaking about his work, Leonard said: 'The message is already there for all to see in the pictures themselves but I do feel that colourisation helps the younger generation to understand that what happened was real.

'I love giving more life to the pictures and I think that colour improves the story that the photographs tell.'

The USS California sinks into the waters of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, described by President Roosevelt as 'a date which will live in infamy'. The battleship was hit by two bombs and two torpedoes and the crew was ordered to abandon ship for fears she might explode, as the Arizona did

Sailors attempt to put out fires on board the USS West Virginia following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The West Virginia was hit by a total of seven torpedoes, one of which tore away her rudder, and spilled burning oil on to the nearby California
Florida candidate Melissa Howard, 46, admitted on Monday that she lied about having a college degree from Miami University in Ohio, which she never actually completed

A Republican Florida state house candidate has admitted she lied about having a college degree that she never actually completed, but said she will stay in the race and 'lead by example from now on'.

Melissa Howard, 46, posted a photo of herself last week with what looked like a diploma from Miami University in Ohio after being accused of lying about her marketing degree.

But the Ohio university later sent out a statement saying Howard had attended the school but never actually graduated.

They also said the diploma Howard posted was fake.

Howard, who is running for the Sarasota-based seat, apologized on Monday via her campaign Facebook page and admitted she didn't graduate from the school.

'I would like to apologize to my family and my supporters for this situation. It was not my intent to deceive or mislead anyone,' she said.

'I made a mistake in saying that I completed my degree. What I did was wrong and set a bad example for someone seeking public service.

The 46-year-old posted a photo of herself last week with what looked like a diploma from Miami University in Ohio after being accused of lying about her marketing degree

The Ohio university later sent out a statement saying Howard had attended the school but never actually graduated. They also said the diploma Howard posted (above) was fake

'I am staying in the race and intend to win and lead by example from now on.'

Even if she dropped out, it would be too late to get her name off the ballot ahead of the August 28 primary given vote by mail ballots were sent out a month ago.

The seat represents portions of Manatee and Sarasota counties, where about 20,000 Republican votes have already been cast.

While some have taken to social media to say Howard should drop out, local party officials say the matter should be left to voters.

'We should just let nature take its course. Let the voters decided if they want her to win the primary,' Manatee County Republican committeewoman Peggy Simone said.

Howard was found to have attended the school, but there were no records of her completing a degree. The above record shows that she was only enrolled at the school

At the time, Howard said the questions surrounding her degree were 'lies' and claimed they were pushed by her primary opponent, Tommy Gregory (right)

Howard came into the spotlight last week after questions were raised about the degree in Bachelor of Science in Marketing that she claimed to have completed in 1994. She later amended the year to 1996.

After initial reports that she had lied about getting the degree, Howard traveled back to Ohio and posted a picture of her partial college transcript and a copy of her diploma.

Howard was found to have attended the school, but there were no records of her completing a degree.

According to the general counsel at the University, the school does not offer a Bachelor of Science in Marketing but does offer a Bachelor of Science in Business.

At the time, Howard said the questions surrounding her degree were 'lies' and claimed they were pushed by her primary opponent, Tommy Gregory.
Kathryn Jones outside Preston Crown Court in June where she pleaded guilty to two counts of theft

A mother who stole more than half a million pounds from her employer to fund lavish holidays and expensive gifts has been jailed for two years.

Kathryn Jones transferred money from Technical Plastics Limited into her own bank over a five-year period, using it to pay for holidays to Cuba, Mexico and Tenerife.

As an admin assistant, the 50-year-old from Darwen in Lancashire, had main access to employees' wages and expenses.

Her colleague Beryl Shore, 61, stole more than 184,000 and continued to accept payments after she had retired.

At Preston Crown Court yesterday the two former colleagues pleaded guilty to theft between 2011 and 2016.

Prosecutor Peter Cummings said the women were responsible for dealing with staff wages, invoices, internet banking, electrical banking and record keeping.

He told the court the company supported Jones when she was diagnosed with cancer and paid her a full wage.

Beryl Shore, 61, (left outside court in June and right with her partner), stole more than 184,000 and continued to accept payments after she had retired

Jones tried to cover up the anomalies in company accounts by saying she was paying sub-contractors. She spent the money on holidays and designer goods (pictured)

Jones, who had an annual salary of 15,572 at the time, tried to cover up the anomalies in company accounts by saying she was paying sub-contractors.

But the company launched an investigation in September 2016 and found Jones had electronically transferred thousands of pounds into both her own and her husbands' accounts.

Jones initially denied the theft before she was dismissed for gross misconduct in October 2016. She also admitted to fiddling petty cash from her previous employer.

When asked why she took the money she said: 'I don't know, I just don't know.'

Mr Cummings added: 'Shore approached Jones for a loan of 500 and when she started getting the payments she allowed it to continue.

'She said when her co-defendant was diagnosed with cancer, she didn't want to report the matter as she thoughts things would be more difficult for her.

'She said she was a 'coward' and used the money to pay off credit card debts and to give presents and money to friends and family.'

Kathryn Jones, 50, far left and Beryl Shore, right. The company they worked for has since suffered a significant financial loss

Jones tweeted pictured from her holiday in Marbella, including this one with Life on Marbs star, Josh Ortega

The court heard the company has since had to lay off staff and has spent more than 100,000 in legal fees.

Jones' defence Jon Close said: 'When she was diagnosed with a serious condition of cancer, she thought she was receiving a death sentence.

'She has made three suicide attempts since these offences come to light.She has lost all of her friends. Since these matters came to light she has had two years of hell. At the time she did not consider the consequences.'

Jones was sentenced to 28 months in custody, and will serve half in prison and the remaining on license

Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of theft while Shore pleaded guilty to a single count of theft.

Appearing side by side in the dock, Shore rocked in her seat whilst Jones wept.

Shore's defence Rachel Woods said: 'She has repaid 68,000 by selling her property, handing over her pension to her former employer and using a probate of 6,800 taken from her mother's equity.'

Jones has repaid 27,368.38 of the money she had stolen, the court heard.

Recorder Alexandra Simmonds told Jones: 'You have paid back a small fraction of what you owe.

'Even when you were absent for a long period of time in 2014 having been diagnosed with cancer, you asked to carry on your role and continue to look after the bank accounts during treatment.

'The company was forced to reduce its workforce. This would not be necessary if you had not stolen considerable sums of money. You stole their buffer.'

Jones was sentenced to 28 months in custody, and will serve half in prison and the remaining on license.

Shore was sentenced to 16 months suspended for 12 months, and 25 rehabilitation requirement days. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours' unpaid work.

Speaking after the trial, John Sturgess, the company's managing director, said the women 'had no regard whatsoever for the impact on colleagues'

Kathryn Jones used some of the 800,000 she stole to by this Audi

Speaking after the trial, John Sturgess, the company's managing director, said: 'We are glad that they had to face up to their greed, lies and deceit.

'It was a complete breach of trust and they had no regard whatsoever for the impact on colleagues.'

Detective Sergeant Richard Buckley added: 'Jones and Shore have acted in pure greed, defrauding a family-owned business from hundreds of thousands of pounds over a number of years.

'Jones clearly thought she was going to get away with it. She took full advantage of her position and betrayed her long-term employers for her own personal gain.'

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to distinguish how much can be paid back to the company has been listed for January 18 next year.
Tourists were heavily criticised today after posing for selfies next to a police cordon shortly after the terror attack outside the Houses of Parliament.

The visitors seemed to be unaware of the seriousness of the attack which saw a car collide with cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into security barriers.

The tourists caused a backlash online as they smiled for the camera this morning in front of police officers standing on Westminster Bridge to guard the scene.

Three tourists pose for a group selfie at the police cordon on Westminster Bridge today

A man poses for a photo on Westminster Bridge today after it was cordoned off to traffic

Tourists pose as a man takes their picture at the Westminster Bridge police cordon today

People watch as tourists have their picture taken following the terror attack in London today

One Twitter user said: 'Some people have no consideration for others', while another tweeted: 'What the hell is wrong with people?'

Another said: 'What's with those tourists taking selfies near Parliament after the attack this morning? They wouldn't be doing that if they were the ones that got hit by the car... idiots.'

And one person added: 'I've said it before - I'll likely say it again - but our society is terminally ill. This is not the hallmark of a healthy, adjusted populace.'

A further tweeter said: 'Absolute morons. Something serious occurs and here they are like it's a film set.'

Twitter users were left angry by the pictures of tourists posing for selfies in front of the bridge

Ben Lewis, chief Europe correspondent for Australian network SBS News, tweeted how it was 'bizarre' that a tourist photographed her daughter in front of the scene.

He said: 'Will never understand people who take selfies at crime scenes. One tourist taking photos of her little daughter next to me with armed police in background.'

And BBC journalist Edward Lawrence, who was also at the scene, added: 'There's literally a tourist group at the terror cordon having a tour, in the middle of road.'

Following the attack at about 7.40am today, police cordoned off a large area around Parliament, which is usually bustling with tourists and government workers.

Journalist Ben Lewis said it was 'bizarre' that a tourist photographed her daughter at the scene

Today, Scotland Yard said the terror suspect accused of deliberately crashing a car outside the Houses of Parliament was not known to police or MI5.

The man, in his late 20s, is being held in custody at a police station but is not co-operating with officers. He was arrested on suspicion of terror offences.

The silver car can be seen in footage of the incident coming along the road next to Parliament Square before moving to turn right towards Westminster Abbey.

As an ambulance passes the car, the vehicle swerves left, crossing oncoming traffic and a pavement before entering a small road and crashing into a security barrier.
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's defense ended Tuesday without calling a single witness or the lobbyist himself - and declared: 'The government has not met its burden of proof.'

The move makes the case solely about whether the Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation team have made a case against Manafort beyond reasonable doubt.

Outside court Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing said he did not call any witnesses because the prosecution had not made their case.

That is likely to be his central argument expected Wednesday for an acquittal.

The defense may also try to point to doubts expressed by the judge in the course of the trial, which has been marked by a series of clashes between him and the prosecution.

And they are likely to attack the motives and reliability of the star witness, Manafort's turncoat deputy Rick Gates, who was given immunity to testify but who admitted stealing from his old boss and keeping a mistress in a London apartment - and who was accused of at least four more affairs by the defense.

They are unlikely, however, to be allowed to mention Mueller by name and cannot refer to Donald Trump at all, as they try to convince the jury to land what would be a stunning blow on the special counsel probe by acquitting Manafort.

The prosecution will also have an hour and a half to make their case, which will center on their ten days of evidence, much of it financially detailed, that they say shows Manafort defrauded the IRS and his banks to maintain a lavish lifestyle.

The end of the witness phase of the trial came when Manafort himself addressed his fraud trial for the first time today as his defense team rested their case without calling on a single witness.

Manafort slowly approached the microphone before responding to four questions in a clear, unwavering voice.

The 69-year-old was called to the stand to confirm that he didn't want to take the witness stand at US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

Judge T.S. Ellis told the veteran lobbyist he had an 'absolute right' to give testimony on the 18 bank and tax fraud charges that could put him behind bars for life.

Defense team: Paul Manafort's attorneys, including from left Jay Nanavati, Kevin Downing, Brian Ketcham, Richard Westling, and Thomas Zehnle, arrived at federal court where they did not call any witnesses or have their client testify

Key case: Paul Manafort, a one-time Trump campaign chairman, is the first person to go on trial on charges brought by the Robert Mueller special counsel probe. He declined to testify, now the Mueller probe's evidence will be for the jury to decide

If Manafort declined, however, Ellis said he would direct the jury to say they could not hold his silence against him under his Fifth Amendment rights.

Ellis then asked Manafort if he had discussed giving evidence with his lawyers, to which the defendant replied: 'I have, your honor.'

The judge inquired whether Manafort - who was wearing a smart black suit, white shirt and dark tie - was satisfied with the legal advice he had been given, to which the married father-of-two responded: 'I am your honor.'

Ellis asked if he had a reached a decision. 'I have decided,' came the reply from Manafort, whose wife Kathleen, 65, was sat in her usual spot in the front row of the public gallery, just a few feet behind him.

'Do you wish to testify?' Ellis asked Manafort, whose normally coiffured, jet black hair is turning visibly more silver with each day he languishes in custody.

'No sir,' Manafort said in a clear, calm voice, before being ushered back to his seat without glancing up or saying another word.

His attorney Kevin Downing then confirmed the defense will not call any witnesses, clearing the way for the jury to hear closing arguments Wednesday in what will be the trial's 12th day.

Tensions between Ellis and the prosecution re-emerged Tuesday when they discussed what directions jurors should be given about the veteran judge's repeated quips and interruptions.

Attorneys for Mueller's office filed two complaints during the trial claiming the 78-year-old belittled their case and created a risk of prejudice against them.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye said he wanted to made clear that the court held no opinions about the evidence.

'I just don't think that's where the court wants to be,' he said.

Ellis, a Reagan appointee who has been on the bench for 31 years and has a reputation for toughness in the courtroom, bristled when it was suggested he change his proposed wording.

With the jury already gone home for the day, Ellis said he was legally entitled to make comments during trials as long as he made clear they were his personal remarks and could be disregarded.

'Appellate courts don't like that but it's still the law,' he barked. Ellis criticized the diction of the proposed prosecution amendment but added to laughs: 'At least it didn't split the infinitive.'

He then asked Greg Andres, the lead prosecutor with whom he repeatedly clashed and even accused of crying during the proceedings, if he had made any such opinionated remarks.

After an awkward silence, Andres stood up and said 'yes', giving an example of where Ellis interrupted Rick Gates' testimony last week to scoff at his suggestion that Manafort monitored his money diligently.

'That really hurt the government, didn't it? Never mind, never mind,' Ellis said dryly, dismissing the topic.

After a brief recess the judge returned with an amended set of instructions which were accepted by all parties.

The former Trump aide is accused of failing to pay tax on $16.4 million he made working for a pro-Kremlin political party in Ukraine between 2006 and 2015.

Prosecutors say he hid his massive earnings by having the money wired to foreign shell corporations and then sent to him as loans.

They allege that Manafort funneled $30 million through a complex network of offshore bank accounts while splashing the undeclared cash on properties and luxury items.

These include a $21,000 watch, a $15,000 ostrich jacket and season tickets for the New York Yankees costing $226,800 a year.

Manafort is further accused of lying to banks about his income and debts to fraudulently secure $26 million worth of loans when his Ukrainian earnings dried up.

Tuesday's proceedings were held up for several hours while Ellis had more sealed discussions with the two legal teams.

Proceedings were underway by 11:30am at which point the veteran judge denied a defense motion to acquit Manafort on the basis that attorneys for special counsel Robert Mueller's office had not made their case.

Motions to dismiss are a routine step taken by defense teams and almost never succeed, experts say.

Manafort was present at the now-notorious Trump Tower meeting where Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner met a Russian attorney who claimed to have incriminating information about Hillary Clinton.

But while this is the first trial to emerge from Mueller's probe of Kremlin interference in the 2016 US election, prosecutors haven't mentioned alleged Trump-Russia meddling at all.

They have however touched upon Manafort's stint as campaign chairman, arguing that it helped entice a bank CEO to push through $16million in risky loans in the hope of landing a job in the Trump administration.

Prosecution witness Dennis Raico described how his boss, Steve Calk, chairman and CEO of the Federal Savings Bank in Chicago, used him as a go-between to inquire about the posts of Treasury Secretary or Housing and Urban Development.

Raico said he was even asked by Calk to pass on his resume to Manafort, who was chairman of the Trump Campaign from March to August 2016.

Key case: Paul Manafort, a one-time Trump campaign chairman, is the first person to go to trial on charges brought by the Robert Mueller special counsel probe. The case has been marked by fiery clashes between U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III and prosecutors

Power brokers: Rick Gates (left) and his boss Paul Manafort (second for right) ran the Trump campaign during the 2016 R

The bank's vice president John Brennan told the court he would not have approved the transactions if not for the personal intervention of Calk.

Prosecutors made their case even more explicitly in the form of a November 30, 2016 email which they entered into evidence Monday night, in which Manafort overtly pitches Calk to Kushner.

'Jared I am attaching resumes of 3 individuals who should be a part of the Trump Administration,' Manafort wrote.

'Stephen Calk was active supporter of campaign since April. HE served on the National Economic Policy Advisory Committee for Trump campaign and has made over 40 television interviews during the course of the General Election.

'His background is strong in defense issues, management and finance. His preference is Secretary of the Army.'

Manafort then went on to list the alternative positions of Undersecretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance, Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs and Deputy Secretary of Commerce.

Calk never got a job but the loans reeled in by Manafort were the largest the Federal Savings Bank in Chicago had ever issued and were eventually written off at a loss of $11.8 million.

The trial has heard how Manafort secured another $3.4million mortgage refinance loan from Citizens Bank on a condo he owned in Manhattan after urging his son-in-law Jeff Yohai and daughter Jessica to pretend they lived there.

Manafort was renting the place out on Airbnb but he allegedly maintained the deception because the maximum figure he could take out against a rental property was $1million.

Another $1million came from the Banc of California after Manafort allegedly ordered his business partner Rick Gates to falsify his profit-and-loss accounts to boost net income from $400,000 to $4.4 million.

The prosecution's case will largely hinge on the credibility of 46-year-old Gates who was originally charged as a co-conspirator before agreeing to give testimony against his former friend in the hope of leniency.

Gates struck a plea deal in February, admitting two charges of conspiracy and lying to the FBI in return for telling prosecutors how the pair concealed the vast fortunes they made lobbying in Ukraine.

In ten hours of testimony last week, he told the jury of six women and six men in forensic detail how the pair hid their income in foreign bank accounts to evade federal taxes.

Manafort's attorneys responded by attacking married Gates as a thief and serial adulterer who embezzled money from Manafort's overseas accounts to lead a 'secret life'.

They told the court he stole millions over the years to fund his own lavish jet-setting lifestyle and secret mistresses, then committed tax and bank fraud under Manafort's name in order to cover up his own crimes.

Under cross examination, Gates admitted stealing 'several hundred thousand' dollars from Manafort by submitting false expense reports and confessed to having an extramarital relationship.

The defense largely depends on whether jurors believe Gates, who assured them: 'I regret it clearly and I'm taking responsibility for it.'

Under the terms of his deal - which can still be revoked if it's established he's lied on oath - Gates faces up to six years in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of conspiracy and lying to the FBI.

Manafort however has been warned by Judge Ellis he faces the possibility of spending 'the rest of his life in prison' if found guilty.

Make me treasury secretary: Steve Calk (left) wanted an executive at his bank to ask Manafort for help to get a Trump cabinet position. He had posed with the then candidate before the election but sought to enlist Manafort's aid after also pushing the executive to give the lobbyist loans

'On it!': Jared Kushner's response to Paul Manafort's email asking for his banker to become a Trump cabinet member of ambassador was revealed in piles of evidence disclosed as part of the trial

Ellis has made headlines himself throughout the 11-day trial for badgering prosecutors over the pace and merits of their case, even going so far as to taunt one attorney for supposedly crying during the proceedings.

After yelling at prosecutor Greg Andres for not looking at him, Ellis said: 'I understand how frustrated you are. In fact, there's tears in your eyes right now.'

The 78-year-old judge was later forced into a humbling apology for blasting another government attorney Uzo Asonye for letting a witnesses observe the trial before giving evidence.

After it was pointed out from court transcripts that Ellis had in fact given IRS Agent Matthew Welch express permission to sit inside court, he was forced to tell jurors: 'I was probably wrong.

This robe doesn't make me any more than human.' Ellis also barred prosecutors from using the term 'oligarch' to describe wealthy Ukrainian businessmen - arguing that its 'pejorative' - and warned them not to pore over Manafort's excessive spending habits.

'It isn't a crime to have a lot of money and be profligate in your spending,' he told the court on day one.

Ellis has asked both the prosecution and defense to trim their 'excessive' two-hour closing speeches to an hour and a half.

'It is very hard for any juror to pay attention for two hours straight,' he told them today.

That was followed by a rare moment of levity when he gave the defense a 2pm deadline to prepare their guidance on jury instructions, reminding them of 'what Sam Johnson said about the man who is about to be hanged'.

Samuel Johnson famously said that the prospect of an impending death concentrates the condemned man's mind 'wonderfully'.

The reference caused Downing to quip: 'I'm assuming I'm not going be hanged?'

Ellis replied with a smirk: 'Hanging is merely a metaphor. What will happen to you might be worse.'

Manafort denies five counts of filing false income tax returns, four counts of failing to report foreign bank accounts, four counts of bank fraud and five counts of bank fraud conspiracy.

The bank fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of 270 years, failing to report foreign bank accounts a possible 20 and filing false tax returns a further 15. The trial continues.
A young mother has pulled her son out of school after he was bullied by a teacher because he is vegan - as she vows to educate all of her 'Flower Children' at home.

Student nurse Kirsty Rother, 23, and her husband Kenny have three children, Byron Marley, six, Matilda Rainbow, two, and Luna Peaches, 10 months, who are all raised as vegan.

Byron was taken out of school because he was singled out by a teacher who mocked him for his parents' beliefs, so the Queensland couple chose to home-school him themselves.

'Sending Byron to school is not something we would ever consider again,' said Kirsty, who refers to all three siblings as her 'Flower Children'.

Kirsty Rother with her three children, Byron Marley (left), six, Matilda Rainbow (right), two, and Luna Peaches, 10 months (middle)

Kirsty calls her children (pictured Byron and Matilda) 'Flower Children' as she happily raises them to be vegan

'We actually decided to home-school when Byron was in reception, but it turned out to be a massive flop. We returned him to school, then only months later realised it was a mistake and schooling wasn't suited to him as an individual or us as a family.

'So, we put a plan in place the second time and it's been successful ever since.

'Regular school didn't work for us because it needed a set routine. We were also extremely upset when Byron was bullied by a teacher who didn't agree with him being vegan and singled him out because of it.

'I found that a lot of what they were teaching Byron was the opposite of what we were teaching in the first place, so it was extremely counterproductive.

Kirsty has mastered the best way to educate her children (pictured) at home and they no longer have to stick to a routine

Kirsty and her husband Kenny openly raise their children as vegan and refer to them as their 'Flower Children'

'We aren't restricted to just weekends or school holidays to do things. We can trial and error and adjust our learning program to what suits us at that particular time. Byron can choose what he wants to learn, rather than be told.'

Kirsty said the move had helped her learn more about her children because she is constantly by their side.

'We usually start the morning off with yoga, meditation and affirmations to give them a positive start to the day. The children start their yoga or meditation anywhere from 5am to 6.30am depending on when they wake up,' she said.

'Then we plan Byron's day out with a white board with his usual learning program and ask him something in particular he is interested in learning that day, so we can incorporate that into his learning.

All five members of Kirsty's family are vegan, even Luna Peaches who drinks vegan smoothies from her baby bottle

Byron (pictured) is seen trying to solve a code by using Lego for his homeschooling work

'We teach them things such as geography, culture, art as well as the classics of science, maths and English. Byron is incredible at maths and he really enjoys it.

'Yesterday we spent the whole day on English, so we did four hours of reading, activities and handwriting. But sometimes we may only spend a couple of hours doing it or we won't even need to focus on English in a day.

'In the meantime, we can organise activities to keep Matilda entertained so that she is also learning but at her own level. She really loves things like reading and art.

'She's still very young but has managed to pick up an incredible amount so far.'

Kirsty tries to teach Byron (pictured) life lessons about money. 'Byron can choose what he wants to learn, rather than be told,' she said

Kirsty said the move had helped her learn more about her children because she is constantly by their side

All five members of Kirsty's family are vegan, even Luna Peaches who drinks vegan smoothies from her baby bottle.

Kirsty chooses to educate herself and her family on the lifestyle they have chosen to show her children the work of industries who are cruel to animals for the sake of consumerism.

'We are happier and healthier within ourselves and so far, I've lost 44kg since going vegan,' said Kirsty.

'We don't contribute to any of the industries who condone animal suffering. We wouldn't ever want to go back to consuming animal products.'

Kirsty has faced criticism for choosing to home-school her children because of the potential effects this can have on the child's sociability and the level of education they receive while growing up.

'My children don't miss out on anything from being home-schooled,' added Kirsty.

'We teach them things such as geography, culture, art as well as the classics of science, maths and English,' Kirsty said

Kirsty holding her youngest child Luna Peaches as she prepares a vegan meal

'Some people say that home-schooled children don't get any socialisation, but I find this funny because I remember when I was in school and my teacher would regularly say ''you aren't here to socialise'', but our children socialise regularly.

'We have met quite a few friends from places such as local libraries, parks or home-schooling events.

'I also believe that in a classroom with thirty students and just one teacher it's impossible to spend that individual time with each student. But now we home-school Byron we have the time to sit with him as an individual and really help him to understand concepts.

Kirsty's husband Kenny is pictured with their youngest child, Luna

Pictured: Luna Peaches being cuddled by Byron, and Matilda in the background

'School was a very negative experience for me. I had teachers that damaged my self- esteem which led me down a path of not caring for my education.

'By home-schooling them myself, I hope that we can have many memories together, that our children have close relationships and that our children aren't moulded into the same person, but they can remain an individual.

'We receive more positive comments than negative ones, but like anything in life, if people don't know enough about it they tend to criticise it. But we just ignore the negativity.'

You can see more of Kirsty's lifestyle by visiting her Instagram, @raisingflowerchildren

A vegan meal prepared by Kirsty as her and her husband, who are releasing a series of vegan recipes
Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion have given their baby son, Sebastian, his first taste of charity work - bringing him along to a breakfast for drought-stricken farmers.

The trio arrived a united front at the Mullaley Memorial Hall in north-west New South Wales on Friday for a free farmer's breakfast and morning tea.

Young Sebastian appeared on his best behaviour, spotted being happily nursed in his mother's arms and at one point having a little lie-down inside the car.

Barnaby Joyce (left) and Vikki Campion (centre) have given their baby son, Sebastian (front), his first taste of charity work - bringing him along to a breakfast for drought-stricken farmers

The trio arrived a united front at the Mullaley Memorial Hall in rural north west New South Wales for a free farmer's breakfast and morning tea (Ms Campion and Sebastian pictured)

While Joyce spoke as a guest on the morning broadcast by 2GB's Alan Jones, his former secretary and their son put on a joyful display as they mingled with attendees.

Ms Campion, 33, wore a full-length white dress and knitted cream poncho to introduce her son to the community battling the worst drought in 66 years.

The little one had a number of outfit changes, at one point spotted rugged up in a jumper with the face of a tiger on the front, and also wearing an all-white onesie.

The flame-haired munchkin was inquisitive as he peered over his mother's shoulder at people she was speaking to.

While Joyce (seated left) spoke on 2GB's Alan Jones' (seated right) morning broadcast, his former secretary and their son put on a joyful display as they mingled with attendees

Ms Campion (pictured with Sebastian), 33, wore a full-length white dress and knitted cream poncho to introduce her son to the community that's battling the worst drought in 66 years

The little one (pictured) had a number of outfit changes, at one point spotted rugged up in a jumper with the face of a tiger on the front, and another wearing an all-white onesie

He was taken to the back of a car and laid down on a make-shift change table at one stage throughout the morning - likely where he had his outfit swap.

Meanwhile, his father was hard at work discussing the urgency of help being issued to farmers whose livelihoods were severely damaged by the drought.

In an interview with Mr Jones, the New England MP implored the Government to address the 'the number-one issue  drought and power prices'.

'It's a one-in-100-year event. It is a natural disaster. What else do you need to happen? It's not something that can just be dealt with as one-policy announcement,' he told listeners.

The flame-haired munchkin (pictured with Ms Campion) was inquisitive as he peered over his mother's shoulder

Meanwhile, Joyce was hard at work discussing the urgency of help being issued to farmers whose livelihoods were severely damaged by drought (Sebastian and Ms Campion pictured)

It would seem Joyce had a more polite reception for photographers at the event, a stark contrast to his blow-up outside church after news of his affair broke.

The former deputy prime minister filmed Sydney-based photographer Guy Finlay outside a church in Armidale in a heated confrontation that divided the nation.

Joyce became frustrated the photographer would not give his name or the name of his employer, while Finlay claimed Joyce 'sized him up'.

Joyce posted the video to Twitter with the caption 'Coming out of church, guess who is hiding in the bushes taking photos, yet won't give his name or who he works for'.

'How can you seriously come out of a church and size someone up to punch them,' Mr Finlay claimed.

'You pulled your right hand back and if I hadn't actually walked away you would have clubbed me.'

Mr Joyce refutes the allegations in the video - instead asking over-again for the photographer's name and 'who he works for'.

Twitter users appeared to favour the media and questioned whether Joyce was upset because he wasn't being paid for the images.

'Wake up to yourself Barnaby, you are a public figure & since last Sunday, so is Vikki, you were Deputy PM & you brought down the biggest sex scandal on this Govt since the Profumo Affair. You court the media in one breath then tell them to go away in the next,' one woman said.

'Are you annoyed because this guy won't pay you for the photos?,' said another woman.
An elderly man had to be rescued after passing out and getting his neck trapped in a pedestrian fence in central China.

The man, reportedly in his 70s, suddenly fainted from a heat stroke and fell on the fence, leaving his head stuck between the narrow gaps of the rail in Xiangyang city.

Onlookers and patrolling officers joined forces to free the man by lifting him up carefully. He has been taken to hospital and did not suffer from serious injuries.

An elderly man in his 70s had to be rescued after passing out and getting his neck trapped in a pedestrian fence in central China's Hubei province last Thursday

Paramedics transported the man to hospital after onlookers lifted him up from the fence

Video footage of the dramatic incident in Hubei province last Thursday shows the man's head stuck in a U-shaped fence at around noon.

He was unable to speak or move as he clutched desperately onto the panels in a kneeling position in the middle of the road.

Helpful passers-by and nearby patrolling officers supported his legs as they awaited paramedics to arrive.

They also gave him water and shaded him from the sun with umbrellas to keep him cool.

Eventually, after discussing, the crowd decided to lift the man's body gently to see if they could relieve his pain.

They succeeded freeing the man without hurting him and he was taken to hospital immediately. He is now in stable condition.

Passers-by splashed water on his face to keep the man cool before paramedics arrived

The man, later identified by his surname Zhou, later said he was taking a walk but felt unwell

The man, later identified by his surname Zhou, later said he was taking a walk but felt unwell as the weather was too hot, according to Shaanxi Television.

The road fence is a standardised U-shaped barrier that is commonly used across the country. It is about one-metre-tall (3.3ft), however, the space between each panel is only about a palm's width.

The design of the fence is a safety hazard to many pedestrians in China, often causing injuries and even death in some cases.

In February, a young woman suffocated after tripping over her luggage and getting her neck stuck in a Fence in Hankou city, also in Hubei province.

In 2015, a pensioner was killed after his head got stuck in a fence in Beijing.
President Donald Trump has hit out following 'another terrorist attack' in London which he blamed on 'crazed animals'.

In an early-morning string of tweets from Washington, Trump wrote: 'Another terrorist attack in London... These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!'

Trump has previously accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of failing to tackle extremism and crime in the city while blaming high levels of immigration.

At least ten cyclists were hit when a silver Ford Fiesta was driven across the sidewalk in central London around 7.30am local time before accelerating toward police outside the Houses of Parliament.

Donald Trump has spoken out after the terror attack in London, hitting out at what he called 'crazy animals' and saying they should be dealt with 'through toughness and strength'

Cyclists abandoned their bikes after the collision with one being treated for injuries in the middle of the road as terror came to London's streets again

Armed officers swamp a crumpled silver car after a rush hour crash at Westminster today that left two pedestrians injured

The car smashed into a reinforced security barrier and began smoking before it was swarmed by armed officers who hauled the driver out and arrested him.

A black man in his 20s is being held by police and being treated as a terror suspect

Officers say the suspect was not known to police or MI5 and is refusing to cooperate.

Three people were injured in the crash, including a female cyclist left with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, which Mail Online understands is a broken hip.

Neil Basu, the Met's Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations, said the suspect appears to have been working alone and there is 'no intelligence at this time of further danger' to Londoners.

He added: 'It appears to be a deliberate act. We are treating it as a terrorist incident. The man is in his late 20s and he's been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences and has been taken to a South London police station where he remains in custody.

'Our priority now is to formally establish the identity of the suspect and establish his motivation if we can. He is not currently co-operating'.

Parliament is closed today but most MPs are away because it is during the summer recess.

The crash comes 17 months after Khalid Masood drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge - killing five - before stabbing to death PC Keith Palmer at the gates of Parliament.

The man in the left of the picture was arrested at the scene where two people were injured at just after 7.30am yesterday

This is the scene in the minutes after the crash and shows the vehicle was within the network of barriers outside Parliament. These were increased after the terror attack there last year

Masood's attack was one of five to take place in Britain last year, including three more which happened in London.

In June three terrorists drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before running into nearby Borough Market with knives and stabbing people.

Eight people died before the attackers were shot dead by police.

Later the same month Darren Osborne drove a van at Muslim worshipers outside a mosque in Finsbury Park, killing one and leaving nine others injured.

A court subsequently heard that Osborne had adopted racist views on Muslims after watching a documentary on the Rochdale grooming gang.

In September, 22 people were injured when a bomb partially detonated on a tube train at Parsons Green.

Police arrested 18-year-old Iraqi refugee Ahmed Hassan shortly afterwards.

The deadliest attack on British soil last year was the Manchester Arena bombing, in which 22 people were killed and more than 200 wounded while leaving an Ariana Grande gig.

More than half of the victims were children, and police subsequently said the attackers had deliberately targeted the youngsters.
Authorities investigating the decades-old disappearances of several girls say they've found possible evidence during a search of an abandoned suburban Detroit warehouse.

The warehouse was formerly used by Arthur Ream, 67, who was found guilty of the 1986 murder of Cindy Zazycki in 1998.

Ream used to work operate a carpeting business out of the warehouse.

He was jailed in 1998 after police revived their investigation and spoke to some of Cindy's friends for the first time since her death.

This is the warehouse that was searched in Warren, Michigan, on Monday as part of an investigation into four missing girls who vanished in the 70s and 80s

In 2008, he led officers to her remains in an effort to lessen his conviction.

Arthur Ream, 67, used to work in the warehouse. He is serving a life sentence for the 1986 murder of another girl

He maintains that she died by accident in the very warehouse police are now searching and says he buried her unlawfully.

Ream claims he knows nothing about the disappearance of four other girls who vanished around the same time, but police say they have uncovered 'valuable documents' at the warehouse.

They would not go into further detail but said no human remains have been found.

Police are still searching for the killers of Kimberly King, who disappeared aged 12 in 1979, and Kim Larrow, Nadine O'Dell and Kellie Brownlee, all of whom vanished in 1981 and 1982.

The building is now connected to Butcher Boys, a business which has not ever used it.

Ream is serving a life sentence for Cindy's murder.

Inside the warehouse is shown above. Ream operated a carpeting business out of it

On Monday, authorities ripped up the floors and peeled off wallpaper in their search

The warehouse was piled high with boxes and paint buckets and has been untouched since Ream left it in the 1990s

Still missing: Kimberly King (left) vanished in 1979 when she was 12. Kellie Brownlee (right) vanished in 1982 when she was 17

Nadine O'Dell (left) vanished in 1982 when she was 16. Kim Larrow (right) vanished in 1981 when she was 15

She was dating his son when he killed her after trying to come on to her.

Ream is serving a life sentence for the murder of Cindy Zarzycki, his son's 13-year-old girlfriend who he attacked in 1986

After his arrest, also claimed that he had a 'thing' for teenage girls - or said he had in the 70s and 80s.

It is not known why it has taken police so long to search the warehouse or connect Ream to the other girls' disappearance.

Earlier this year, they searched the site where Cindy's remains were found in 2008 but found nothing.

Police in Warren say it is 'incredible' that the warehouse has remained untouched since the killer worked there

'Its amazing to us that they have been untouched, that that particular location hasnt been used since he went to prison and we are finding what we believe are very valuable documents that will assist us in our ongoing investigation.

'That will eventually, hopefully, bring closure to the Kimberly King family and other victims we have identified in the past,' he told local network WXYZ.
An Afghan asylum-seeker has been arrested after injuring four people in a drunken and frenzied knife attack in a sleepy French town.

The incident began last night with the 19-year-old man, who is said to have psychological problems, lashing out at cars outside his home in Perigueux, in the country's south west.

He was seen 'kicking and banging a first vehicle with his feet and fists, then a second' and also 'rounding on female motorists', according to the head of the ambulance service for the area, Jean-Jacques Girard.

An Afghan asylum-seeker has been arrested after injuring four people in a drunken and frenzied knife attack in a sleepy French town (file picture)

Two paramedics who witnessed the incident tried to calm the man down but after disappearing inside his home he returned with a knife and attacked them, leaving them with injuries to the head and neck.

He then turned on two brothers aged 64 and 68 living next door, leaving one with a perforated lung and the other with stab wounds to the back.

The man was eventually overpowered by one of the brothers and a man of Cameroonian origin, who stepped in to help wrestle his knife away.

Police arrested the man and placed him in custody on charges of aggravated violence.

They ruled out any terrorist motive.
Angelika Graswald, 37, (pictured leaving court on Monday) was awarded an undisclosed portion of the $500,000 her fiance left her in his life insurance payout after she caused his death in 2015

A woman who caused her fiance to drown by pulling the drain plug on his kayak in 2015 won a portion of his $500,000 life insurance payout on Monday despite being convicted fir her role in his death.

Angelika Graswald was freed from prison in December, two years after watching her 46-year-old fiance Vincent Viafore being swept away by choppy waters on New York's Hudson River.

She pulled a drain plug out from his kayak and pushed a paddle away from him as he got into choppy waters.

Last year, the 37-year-old pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and she was sentenced to up to four years in prison.

Graswald, a Latvian immigrant, was released six weeks after her conviction based on the two-and-a-half years she spent behind bars waiting for her trial.

She has spent the time since then trying to land the 45 per cent of his $1million life insurance policy payout and on Monday, she was awarded an undisclosed settlement from his mother and sister.

'There is a financial settlement, the amount of which is confidential,' said Anthony Piscionere, her attorney.

The man's family, who had tried to stop her from winning anything, said they were happy the matter was now behind them.

Angelika pulled the drain plug out of her fiance Vincent Viafore's kayak during a trip on the Hudson River in New York in 2015. She wanted him dead because she had grown tired of his incessant sex demands, it was claimed

Graswald pulled out the drain plug on her fiance's kayak (pictured) which caused it to fill up with water. She also pushed away a paddle which he could have used to save himself

'Its time to let this family move on,' Allan Rappleyea, the attorney for the Viafore family, told CBS New York.

Vincent's distraught mother Mary Ann fought Graswald's attempts to get the money but said on Monday she was happy the matter was behind her

The settlement gives Viatore's mother and sister at least $500,000 - the money the have been entitled to since he died - plus whatever remained of the other half after Griswald's payout was factored in.

In January, they were stubborn in their view that she should not seea penny.

'Its been a nightmare for the last almost three years. She doesnt deserve the money. She caused his death!' Vincent's mother Mary Ann told The New York Post.

'Of course she was reckless. She removed the cap, and the kayak filled up and he went in the river. And then she did something to the paddle,'

When Vincent died, his fiancee was named as the beneficiary of half of his life insurance policy which entitled her to a payout of $491,000.

His mother and sister were listed as the beneficiaries of the other half.

They are appealing to a judge to side with them and issue an order which stops her from claiming the money.

Prosecutors used Graswald's social media posts as proof that she was happy her partner had died. In the days after his death, she posted happy videos and selfies

After her release in December, Portale, Griswald's attorney, whisked her out of jail and to an upscale restaurant where she ate steak and drank wine.

She was still wearing her prison trousers when she was released.

During the course of her prosecution, police uncovered diary entries she had made before Vincent's death where she complained about his sex requests.

They also pointed to selfies she posted on social media, days after he was killed, which they said proved she was happy he had died.

She maintains that his death was an accident and that she has been treated unfairly.

'I loved Vince very much and miss him terribly.'

'I don't believe I was treated fairly.

'This entire process was incredibly one-sided and unjust,' she said in a statement which was read by her lawyer after she was released.

Had she been convicted of murder, Graswald would have been prevented from claiming the money under the slayer law which stops murderers profiting from their crimes by way of inheritance.
A boat full of tourists had to be evacuated after catching fire on the sea near Taiwan yesterday afternoon.

All 44 tourists and two crew members on the whale-watching boat were saved after the flames broke out in the engine room and spread throughout the boat in less than 10 minutes, according to local reports.

One passenger told the press that consequences of the fire would be disastrous had the rescue boats arrived five minutes later.

Huadong 2 (pictured) caught fire yesterday afternoon shortly after leaving a port in Taiwan

All of the 46 people on board were evacuated within five minutes to nearby vessels, report said

Footage shot from other vessels shows thick black smoke billowing into the air and flames ripping through the boat.

The boat, Huadong 2, had just sailed 2.2 nautical miles when the incident happened, according to Taiwan News.

It is said that Huadong 2 departed from Taiwan's Hualien port at around 1:10pm and the fire broke out at around 1:30pm.

All people on Huadong 2 were evacuated within five minutes to Whale World 3, another whale-watching boat that is operated by the same tourist company and happened to be in the area.

Several other vessels were dispatched to put out the fire, including two patrol boats, its sister boat Huadong 1 and a fishing boat, said Taiwan's National Rescue Command Center.

One woman was said to suffer minor muscle injuries on the thigh and was taken to the hospital.

Footage shot from another boat shows thick black smoke billowing into the air from Huadong 2

Several other vessels were dispatched to put out the fire, including Huadong 2's sister boat

The fire broke out from the engine room, according to Taiwan's United Daily News.

One passenger with the surname Lin recalled to the news outlet that a crew member first rushed to the captain and 'whispered in his ear' before a sharp smell started to fill the cabin.

The passenger also claimed that if the rescue boats had arrived five minutes later, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times reported the flames spread throughout the boat in less than 10 minutes.

The owner of Huadong 2 claimed that the boat was 17 years old and its engine had been replaced four years ago, said Liberty Times.

The boat was last maintained in May, said the owner.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A Chinese man who swallowed 87 nails and seven drawing pins after a suspected argument with his girlfriend has survived.

Doctors from southern China's Hunan Province extracted all 87 nails from the 25-year-old last Thursday.

An X-ray of the man's body showed a bundle of nail-shaped pieces located at the top of the patient's torso, as well as a few 'lose' nails near his groin.

X-ray showed a 'bundle' of nails in his upper torso and a few 'floating' pieces near the colon

The man was rushed to Chengzhou City No.1 People's Hospital on August 8 after suffering from abdominal pain.

While he initially claimed that the stomach cramps started after he accidentally ate a 'steamed bun filled with nails', doctors quickly realised it was more than a case of indigestion after taking an X-ray on the same night.

Surgery to extract the nails took place the following evening and was completed in four hours. The surgeons managed to extract the 87 nails which were described as being 4-5 cm long each.

Surgeons extracted all 87 'swallowed' nails from the young man's torso in Hunan Province

The hospital extraction process was filmed and broadcast by Mango TV, which is under the same umbrella as Hunan TV.

The video shows doctors taking nails out of the body and dishing them onto a plate, while explaining how 'stomach acid' reacts with the metal to produce a strange odour.

It is thought that the patient had been arguing with his girlfriend days before the incident, and that she had threatened to break up with him.

The surgery took four hours to complete and as the surgeons worked through the night

According to Xiaoxiang Chenbao, a local Hunan newspaper, the young man left doctors a 'farewell letter' for his girlfriend, in case 'they could not find his parents'.

He is currently recovering in the hospital's intensive care unit having regained consciousness on August 10.

One of the surgeons told the paper that the man also swallowed seven pins, six of which had already passed out of his body.

The remaining pin, located near the colon, should also pass through given its small size.
A senator has been slammed for using a Nazi term as he demanded a ban on Islamic immigrants.

Labor and the Greens attacked the Katter's Australia Party senator after his maiden speech to parliament on Tuesday, when he called for a plebiscite on which migrants can come to Australia.

'The final solution to the immigration problem is of course a popular vote,' he said.

Scroll down for video

Senator Fraser Anning has been slammed for using a Nazi term as he demands a ban on Islamic immigrants

Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen said the use of the term, which has been historically associated with the Nazi plan in World War II to kill millions of Jews, was 'utterly unacceptable'.

'It has connotations and meanings to history which it are deeply offensive to right-thinking people, not only in Australia but across the world,' he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said if Senator Anning had a shred of decency he would apologise, saying using the same language as Nazis was vile, racist and bigoted.

But Senator Anning hit back at those claims, arguing left-wing politicians had taken him out of context to shut down debate on immigration.

'As I called for a plebiscite on the immigration mix, this baseless and ridiculous criticism is simply an effort to play the man and not the ball,' the Queensland senator said.

He said it was ironic to be criticised by the same politicians who voted against his pro-Israel stances on funding the Palestinian Authority and moving Australia's embassy to Jerusalem.

In his speech, Senator Anning called for an end to Muslim immigration and a program that favours 'European Christian' values.

In his speech on Tuesday, Senator Anning called for an end to Muslim immigration and a program that favours 'European Christian' values

He claimed a majority of Australian Muslims live on welfare and do not work.

'While all Muslims are not terrorists, certainly all terrorists these days are Muslims,' Senator Anning said.

'So why would anyone want to bring more of them here?'

The plebiscite would allow people to decide whether they want wholesale non-English speaking immigrants from the third world, he said.

Senator Anning said Australia was entitled to insist migrants were predominantly of 'European Christian composition'.

He called for the government to ban all welfare payments to migrants in the first five years of living in Australia, labelling many asylum seekers as 'welfare seekers'.

'Ethno-cultural diversity - which is known to undermine social cohesion - has been allowed to rise to dangerous levels in many suburbs,' the Queensland senator said.

'In direct response, self-segregation, including white flight from poorer inner-urban areas, has become the norm.'

Other issues he noted were countering the growing threat of China, slashing government spending, building coal-fired power plants, supporting agriculture and taking back culture from left-wing extremists.
Zimbabwe's president-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa (C) delivers a speech at the commemoration of Heroes Day in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Aug. 13, 2018. Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday urged Zimbabweans to focus on rebuilding the economy following the July 30 polls with the outcome being contested by the opposition MDC Alliance in court. (Xinhua/Shaun Jusa)

HARARE, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's president-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday urged Zimbabweans to now focus on rebuilding the economy following the July 30 polls whose outcome is being contested by the opposition MDC Alliance in court.

In a speech to commemorate the country's departed heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for the attainment of Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980, Mnangagwa said the time for politics was over and all efforts should now be placed on reviving the economy for Zimbabwe to become a middle-income economy by 2030.

"It is now time to put elections behind us and for us to embrace the future. The task facing us today is a great one. Let us unite as Zimbabweans, revive our economy and rebuild our great nation," Mnangagwa said.

He urged Zimbabweans to shun political differences and unite for the good of the nation.

"It is indeed important for us to close ranks and collectively push forward the national agenda and forge our country to new frontiers of economic development. Let us move forward with single mindedness, determination and unity of purpose," he said.

He reiterated that Zimbabwe held a free, fair and credible election despite opposition claims that the election outcome was rigged in his favor.

The opposition MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa on Friday filed a constitutional court petition challenging Mnangagwa's victory, a move that stalled his inauguration planned for Agu.12.

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Mnangagwa polled 50.8 percent of the vote, against his nearest rival Chamisa's 44.3 percent.

Chamisa is claiming that ZEC tampered with the votes to deny him victory in an election he also says was marred with several irregularities.

He wants the constitutional court to either declare him the winner or call for a fresh election.

In his address Mnangagwa once again blamed the MDC Alliance for instigating the post-election violence on Aug. 1 that resulted in the death of six civilians when soldiers opened fire to disperse the protesters.

He urged political parties in the country to remain peaceful and to always strive to do that which is in the public good and in the national interest.

Mnangagwa urged the nation to continuously cherish the political independence from Britain and always safeguard national security and territorial integrity.

"Let us never allow our differences to separate us, cause animosity or stir violence among us," he said.

The nation, he said, should also strive to develop solutions to its challenges in its quest to grow the economy.

"At the national level we will continue to scale up efforts to attract investment into our country and ensure we become the prime investment destination for increased wealth creation and decent jobs," he said.

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A little boy from Wisconsin is recovering after his face was bitten by a dog.

Adam Sanders who is two-years-old was attacked by a cousin's pet in their backyard, in the town of Pleasant Prairie.

The youngster, who is from Kenosha, had spent the day swimming when without warning the dog bit him across his cheek and through part of his nose.

Adam Sanders, 2, was bitten by a cousin's pet. The dog's teeth cut right through his cheek leaving him with serious injuries and he had to be rushed to hospital

The youngster has been shaken up by the incident and the injuries may very well leave scars

'He ran up to the dog, and petting and patting it,' said Rachel Talbert, Adam's mom to Fox 6. 'The next minute he was in pain crying and moaning. My baby's face was gone!' she said.

The dog's teeth cut right through Adam's cheek leaving him with serious injuries and he had to be rushed to hospital.

Mom, Rachel says she is unsure what provoked the dog, an Akita, into attacking her son who has been around the pup many times before.

'We're comfortable with the dog, but just this instance, kids were running, patting, and petting him, he got him,' Rachel said.

Mom, Rachel ,says she is unsure what provoked the dog into attacking her little boy

One family member claimed Adam had been hitting the dog before it lashed out and bit him

'He didn't accidentally bite my baby's face off. He bit him two times,' she continued.

The owner of the dog insisted to Fox News that their pet was not vicious and blamed the child for upsetting the animal, telling the station the dog had been hit before it lashed out.

Pleasant Prairie police are investigating. The dog is currently in a ten-day quarantine at its home but no decision has been made on his future.

Investigators say the dog was looked over by a vet and appears to be up to date on vaccinations.

Adam's parents now keeping a close eye on him and hope that the wounds will heal as best they can.

'He has to live with this for the rest of his life,' said Rachel.

The attack happened in the town of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin in a family member's backyard
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Four endangered tiger cubs have taken their first steps outside a British zoo - and played around like kittens.

The Amur Tiger cubs finally stepped out as a family with mum Naya just over a month after they were born at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

And zookeepers say the cubs, which are native to the Russian Far East, are as playful as kittens.

Four endangered Amur tiger cubs took their first steps outside just over a month after they were born at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Mother Naya (pictured above with cub) spent several days carrying her babies in her mouth one-by-one after the birth to familiarise them with their surroundings

The tigress became pregnant with the cubs just 121 days after arriving at the zoo. Proud dad Botzman moved to the zoo in 2013 from Moscow

The tigress spent several days carrying her babies in her mouth one-by-one after the birth to familiarise them with their surroundings.

She became pregnant with the cubs just 121 days after arriving at the zoo.

Proud dad Botzman moved to the zoo in 2013 from Moscow.

The pair were introduced as part of the European Endangered Species breeding Programme.

The Amur Tiger is classified as 'endangered' with only 500 believed to be left in the wild.

But the Zoological Society of London says thanks to conservation efforts this is ten times the number estimated to exist in the 1940s.

The pair were introduced as part of the European Endangered Species breeding Programme. Pictured: Mother Naya picking up each cub in her mouth and giving them little one-on-one tours of the enclosure

Team leader, Donovan Glyn, said: 'They are just as energetic and playful as one-month-old kittens would be, and we can't wait to watch them learn and grow under their mum and dad's watchful eyes'

The Amur Tiger is classified as 'endangered' with only 500 believed to be left in the wild but the Zoological Society of London says thanks to conservation efforts this is ten times the number estimated to exist in the 1940s

Team leader, Donovan Glyn, said: 'Seeing all four of these endangered tiger cubs out and about, playing in the grass together, is the perfect way for us to begin the summer here at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

'They are just as energetic and playful as one-month-old kittens would be, and we can't wait to watch them learn and grow under their mum and dad's watchful eyes over the next few months.'

'Naya has been such a patient, dedicated mum, picking up each cub in her mouth, and giving them little one-on-one tours of the enclosure, to help them get to know their surroundings and build their confidence.'
Two Alaska residents and a tourist could face charges for violating wildlife rules after one of the men waded into a river to photograph brown bears as they fed on salmon.

National Park Service officials said the three individuals entered a closed area below Brooks Falls at the Katmai National Park and Preserve Thursday evening around 6.50pm as at least five bears were feeding.

Officials said one man came within within 50 yards of the bears. The incident was also caught on the park's explore.org bear cam.

Two Alaska residents and a tourist could face charges for violating wildlife rules after one of the men waded into a river to photograph brown bears as they fed on salmon. The man was within 50 yards of the bears

In the video, the man is seen wading in the water as the bears stand near a small waterfall catching fish.

The man, who has not been identified, was seen taking out his camera to photograph the brown bears.

He stops to take a selfie, walks a bit farther out and then squats down to put his hands in the water.

The man takes one last photo before walking out of the water.

Wildlife officials said the group violated National Park Service wildlife viewing regulations by putting themselves and wildlife at risk.

Immediately after the incident, Katmai rangers received multiple reports from concerned visitors and viewers who observed the violation on the bear cam.

The group was contacted by park rangers and charges are pending.

Details on their identities will be released when charges are finalized.

He then walks a bit farther out and squats down to put his hands in the water

In Katmai, approaching within 50 yards of a bear using a concentrated food source, like migrating or spawning salmon, is prohibited. The park (file image) provides elevated viewing platforms at Brooks Camp to facilitate a safer atmosphere for thousands of visitors

'People need to recognize that these are wild brown bears. These visitors are lucky that they escaped the situation without injury. The possible consequences for the bears and themselves could have been disastrous,' superintendent, Mark Sturm, said in a statement.

In Katmai, approaching within 50 yards of a bear using a concentrated food source, like migrating or spawning salmon, is prohibited.

Because of concentrated bear activity at Brooks Falls, area closures are in place from June 15 through August 15, in order to allow bears access to essential food resources that allow them to survive through the winter.

These closures help prevent negative bear-human interactions.

Katmai National Park and Preserve provides elevated viewing platforms at Brooks Camp to facilitate a safer atmosphere for thousands of visitors from around the world to observe wild brown bears in their natural environment.

The park relies on visitors to adhere to park regulations to protect themselves and bears.

The incident comes after two July incidents involving Katmai bears.

One bear pawed a visitor's pant leg after approaching the individual, and a second bear that was being chased by another bear pawed an employee of Katmailand's Brooks Lodge.
This is the moment an inquisitive puppy was rescued by firefighters after getting wedged in a gap between a shed and her new home.

Holly, a 12-week-old boxer, had to be rescued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service after managing to squeeze into the tiny gap in Ashford while out exploring.

The dog ended up on her back with legs in the air, whining for help, and her owners spent more than an hour trying to get her out yesterday.

Holly was rescued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service after managing to squeeze into the gap

They eventually called for help, and firefighters freed her using hydraulic rescue equipment  before she had a cuddle with them and was given dog treats.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: 'An inquisitive 12-week-old boxer puppy got herself stuck in a tight spot yesterday.

'While exploring her new home in Ashford she became wedged in small gap between the shed and house.

'Her owners called Kent Fire and Rescue Servic for help after trying to get Holly out for more than an hour themselves.

Holly the 12-week-old boxer had a cuddle with the firefighters and was given dog treats

'They were very grateful to the animal rescue unit crew who managed to free their new - and adorable - pup using hydraulic rescue equipment, spreading the shed away from the house.

'Afterwards she enjoyed a cuddle with the firefighters who came to her rescue and some dog treats.'

Kent Fire and Rescue Service's all-terrain rescue unit says it works with the farming community, animal owners, the RSPCA and vets to help animals in need.

The larger animals most commonly rescued by crews in the county are horses, cattle, pigs, sheep and deer which can be trapped in machinery, rivers or ditches.

In London last year, firefighters carried out 445 animal rescues, including 26 foxes, eight deer, six horses, three swans and one snake.
Newly-released police body cam footage shows the moment officers shoot a South Florida man who steals one of their tasers and points it at them, after he had just been rescued from crashing his car into a lake.

Jahmal Parker, 29, was shot in the leg by Miami-Dade police officers on March 29, along Interstate 95, just south of Florida City.

In the minutes leading up to Parker being shot, he takes a taser from the officer closest to him and runs off with it, before pointing it in their direction from afar after he's seen ignoring multiple officers' orders.

The footage was released as part of Parker's criminal trial, who has been charged with six felonies, one misdemeanor and two driving-related infractions.

Parker had crashed his car through a fence and wound up in a lake, before police were called to the scene by a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officer who said Parker had been refusing orders, the Miami Herald reported.

Parker had just been in a collision with another vehicle shortly before noon, near the 114 Mile Marker on I-95, which ultimately sent his vehicle with him still inside careening into a small lake, with its front end completely submerged in water.

Another driver stopped to helped Parker out of the vehicle, to safety.

When Miami-Dade police arrived on the scene, Parker was stoic and expressionless as he refused their orders to sit down, standing against the rear doors of an ambulance.

Police body cam footage shows Jahmal Parker, 29 (right), being shot in the leg by Miami-Dade police officers on March 29, along Interstate 95, just south of Florida City, after stealing one of their tasers and pointing it at them

'Sit down,' one officer says. 'Sit down, dude. Do yourself a favor, just sit down, man. This isn't, like, what you think it is. You just need to sit down right now.'

The officers can be heard telling Parker that he needs medical treatment, but Parker keeps refusing.

'We just want to relax, make sure everybody's OK, and then we're done,' a second officer says, who can be seen in the video.

The officers can be heard telling Parker that he needs medical treatment, but Parker keeps refusing, trying to argue with the police about whether he's bleeding

It sounds like Parker then says, 'I gotta sleep,' to which the officer on camera replies, 'No, you're not. you're bleeding.'

'No, I'm not,' Parker says,.

'Yeah, you are, look at your hand,' the officer on camera says.

The officer then steps back, out of view of the body cam, and says, 'Sit down or you're gonna get lit up,' while pointing his taser at Parker. Gesturing with it as he speaks, he says, 'You're gonna sit down one way or another.'

The officer who had been doing most of the talking before this point, who is seemingly the one wearing the body cam, then moves around to Parker's left side and places his hand on his shoulder.

That's when Parker grabs the officer's taser.

The officer who had been doing most of the talking before this point, who is wearing the body cam, moves around to Parker's left side after the officer on camera points a taser at Parker

As the officer places his hand on Parker's shoulder, Parker grabs the officer's taser and runs

A taser can be heard going off in the background as Parker runs toward the front of the ambulance, but it's not clear whether the other officer fired his taser at Parker, or Parker set off the one he had stolen

A taser can be heard going off in the background as Parker runs toward the front of the ambulance, but it's not clear whether the other officer fired his taser at Parker, or Parker set off the one he had stolen.

At this point, Parker has stopped near the driver-side door to the ambulance and is pointing the stolen taser at the officers.

'Drop it, drop it now,' an officer yells, before six gunshots are fired and Parker falls to the ground in front of the ambulance.

At this point, Parker has stopped near the driver-side door to the ambulance and is pointing the stolen taser at the officers

'Drop it, drop it now,' an officer yells before six gunshots are fired and Parker falls to the ground

Parker yells out in pain, 'Ah, sh**!' nine times, before an officer radios in, 'Shots fired'

Parker then yells out in pain, 'Ah, sh**!' nine times, before an officer calls out, 'Shots fired,' over his radio.

After that, officers then shout for the wounded Parker to get on his stomach, moving him into that position themselves and cuffing them.

An investigation remains underway by the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office to determine whether an officer broke the law by firing on Parker.

Parker was, however, ultimately charged with six felonies, and under Florida's 'fleeing felon' law, officers are permitted to shoot at someone suspected of committing a felony, even if that person is retreating.

Officers then shout for the wounded Parker to get on his stomach, moving him into position

Parker was charged with six felonies, and under Florida's 'fleeing felon' law, officers are permitted to shoot at someone suspected of a felony even if that person is running away

As for whether Parker constituted a serious threat to the police, defense lawyer Brian Tannebaum told the Miami Herald that's debatable, but Parker stealing a police weapon must be factored into that equation.

'Those are the split-second decisions officers have to make,' he said of the officer's choice to open fire.

Parker is now charged with felony resisting an officer with violence, two felony counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony depriving an officer of his weapon/radio, felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor attaching a tag or plate not assigned to a vehicle.

He's also charged with two infractions, including careless driving and failure to provide proof of vehicular insurance.

Parker's next hearing in the case has been scheduled for August 23 at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami, with the Honorable Milton Hirsch presiding.

Parker is from Pompano Beach, which is located on the east coast of Florida, about 70 miles north of Florida City, and about 11 miles north of Fort Lauderdale.
Civil liberty experts have praised moves to stop a supermarket from using wand scanners on its customers in an attempt to catch out thieves.

New Zealand supermarket chain Countdown has taken a backward step on using handheld wand scanners to check shoppers in their store after a number of customers complained.

Privacy law expert Kathryn Dalziel spoke with the NZ Herald and said customers had every right to question the 'heavy handed tactics encroaching on their personal liberty'.

New Zealand supermarket chain Countdown has taken a backward step on using hand held wand scanners to check customers in their store after a number of customers complained

'From a legal point of view, stores have got no right to insist that you stop, they've got no right to insist that you submit to that sort of search with a scanner, so I'm just not sure on what basis any shop thinks this is a good idea,' she said.

After a customer had publicly complained about the practice at the Ferrymead Countdown supermarket the NZ Herald contacted the company.

Soon after the store manager was ordered to stop scanning customers.

The store manager had been using a wand scanner, like the one pictured, to scan customers within the store

'We have a numbers of ways to deter theft at our stores, however, it is not our policy to scan customers at checkouts and we don't have equipment in our stores to do this,' a Countdown spokeswoman,' a Countdown spokeswoman told the NZ Herald.

Civil liberties lawyer Michael Bott said it was encouraging that Countdown had listened to customer feedback and discontinued the practice.

'Unless one is prepared to take one's rights seriously, people almost try to chip away and diminish them,' he said.

Countdown is New Zealand's leading supermarket chain with 184 locations country wide, and 18,000 staff.
Tory peer Lord Sheikh must be investigated for attending the controversial conference in Tunisia at the heart of the Jeremy Corbyn wreath laying scandal, a senior Conservative today said.

The Labour leader attended the conference before joining others there at a wreath laying ceremony where terrorists linked to the Munich massacre were honoured.

Lord Sheikh - who last week condemned Boris Johnson over his burka comments - also attended the conference, although he was not at the wreath laying.

He today admitted being on the trip, which was paid for by the Tunisian government, and said members of Hamas - a banned terror group operating in Palestine - may have been at the conference.

Tory MP Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, said the party must launch a formal investigation into the peer.

He said: 'If this is true, re Lord Sheikh, in attending this conference alongside Mr Corbyn - and if it is true extremist anti-Semites and Hamas were in attendance and speaking, there needs to be an investigation by Conservative Party/inquiry re codes of conduct.'

Tory peer Lord Sheikh (pictured left on BBC Newsnight last week) and Jeremy Corbyn (pictured right today at a trip to Newport) both attended a controversial 'peace' conference in Tunis in 2014 which extremists in Hamas took part in and praised violence

Tory MP Robert Halfon, chairman of the education select committee, said the party must launch a formal investigation into the peer.

Tory Mp Zac Goldsmith - who stood as the party's candidate in the London mayoral election two years ago - also called for a party probe

And Tory MP Zac Goldsmith also called for an investigation, tweeting:' If this man is not immediately expelled from the Conservative Party, the Party hierarchys complaints about Corbyn will look entirely cynical.'

Lord Sheikh fuelled a major Tory party row last week after he demanded Boris Johnson be kicked out of the party for comparing women wearing burkas to letter boxes and bank robbers.

He said Theresa May should remove the party whip from her former Cabinet minister after he sparked outrage by making the remarks.

But today he faces his own calls to be reprimanded by party bosses today afer he admitted going to the controversial conference.

It comes after MailOnline revealed that the conference featured speeches by terror chiefs who called violence 'magnificent' and compared Israel to ISIS.

At the event in Tunisia, top Hamas leader Oussama Hamdan presented a 'four point vision to fight against Israel' and praised the group's 'great success on the military and national levels', adding that the violence was 'magnificent'.

He had just given an interview to Lebanese media in which he said that the anti-Semitic myth that Jews drank Christian blood was 'not a figment of imagination or something taken from a film. It is a fact.'

Othman Jerandi, a former Tunisian foreign minister, also gave a speech at the conference and stated: 'ISIS and Israel are the same thing'.

Lord Sheikh today said Hamas may have been at the conference, although he did not meet anyone from the terror group.

Jeremy Corbyn adjusts a wreath, held by Salman El Herfi, the Palestinian ambassador in Tunisia in 2014. He is standing by the graves of the men linked to the Munich terror attack. The picture, revealed exclusively by The Daily Mail, has plunged Mr Corbyn's leadership into fresh turmoil and sparked calls for him to quit

He said: 'There may have been Hamas. I did not meet any Hamas people, I am very careful, obviously.

'When I talk on Palestine I'm very balanced with regards to Palestine.

'If you read my speeches in the House of Lords I have always been very, very balanced on the whole issue. Both sides obviously have to come to a compromise.

'So I don't sympathise with Hamas, I have no dealing with Hamas.'

The Kenya-born and Uganda-raised politician was made a peer in 2006, the year after he created the CMF.

He said that the north African country's government paid for accommodation and flights, which had been declared at the time.

He said he remembers Mr Corbyn being at the event but did not know beforehand that he would be there and 'had no conversation with him'.

Lord Sheikh added: 'If there was a wreath-laying ceremony I was not aware of the wreath-laying ceremony. I did not go to the ceremony.'
The teenage driver accused of Snapchatting and speeding when she crashed her car in March killing her best friend says she wishes she had died instead and thinks of the girl every second of every day.

Cristina Pavon-Baker, 17, was driving to the Southlake Mall in Georgia on March 26 with her best friend, Makayla Penn, when Pavon-Baker lost control of her Mini Cooper on a curve on I-75 North in Morrow and crashed killing Penn.

The girls were participating in senior ditch day at Community Christian School, a day chosen by seniors for the entire class to skip school. Last week, Pavon-Baker was indicted on vehicular manslaughter and reckless conduct charges.

'I honestly wish it was me instead of her,' Pavon-Baker said during a press conference, according to 11Alive. 'Not a single second has passed where I don't think about Makayla and her family.'

Cristina Pavon-Baker was driving when she lost control of her car while going around a curve. Prosecutors said the 17-year-old was speeding and was allegedly on Snapchat at the time of the crash

Authorities said the car ran off the road, flipped over several times and crashed into a tree. The force of the crash uprooted the tree, police said.

Pavon-Baker was seriously injured in the crash and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. Penn, 18, had to cut from the wrecked vehicle, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

'I remember when the accident happened, I was just praying Makayla was OK. I got out of the car and I ran to her side and I was looking at her ... I was just hoping that she was OK and praying,' Pavon-Baker said. 'I can't express how sorry I am that the whole accident happened.'

Prosecutors said Pavon-Baker was traveling 106mph in a 65mph zone when she lost control of the car while going around a curve. They also accused the teen of being on Snapchat at the time of the fatal crash - something Pavon-Baker's attorney Jackie Patterson denies.

Patterson said his client misjudged the curve and blamed the state for not putting signs up to warn drivers after 63 other crashes were reported at that curve.

Makayla Penn, 18, was killed in the March 26 crash. Pavon-Baker said she wishes she had died in the crash instead of her best friend

'The ramp is inherently dangerous,' Patterson said. 'We believe the state should have had those signs there prior to this tragic accident.'

During the press conference, Pavon-Baker told reporters that life without her best friend has been 'terrible'.

'Life is not the same. There are so many times I just want to pick up the phone and call Makayla and I can't,' she said.

The penalty for first-degree vehicular homicide in Georgia is three to 15 years in prison.
A huge fight broke out on a London Underground train before spilling out onto a platform - after a woman accused a man of calling her a 's**g'.

Passengers were stunned as the man and woman brawled through the carriage of the Hammersmith and City line train travelling through East London towards Barking.

Witnesses claimed the argument began around Mile End station on Saturday night when the woman in a red skirt and the Asian man got into a verbal row.

The woman in a red skirt (centre) and the Asian man (left) got into a verbal row on a Tube train

The man is said to have asked a passenger: 'Are you racist? What you just said is racist' - before the woman replied: 'This is nothing to do with you.'

The Asian man also appeared in a video to say 'What you f**ing going to do, you racist motherf***er?' - and this seemed to be in the direction of another man.

The woman was with a male friend who was standing in between her and the Asian man, but their verbal argument quickly led into a physical brawl.

By the time the train had reached West Ham, the duo were fighting and the woman could be heard shouting: 'Don't ever call me a f***ing s**g, ever.'

The woman also claims the Asian man called her a 'sl*t', saying: 'I will f**ing kill you.'

The brawl took place on a Hammersmith and City line train travelling through East London

The man in grey (left) had been pulling the woman back, but then laid into the Asian man

The Asian man ended up on the floor on Saturday night as the attack continued on the train

The man accompanying the woman had been trying to hold her back, but then he also got involved in the fight, witnesses claimed to MailOnline.

This left the Asian man on the floor - as someone shouted 'no, enough, enough' - before the group jumped out at Plaistow to continue brawling on the platform.

The footage was recorded at about 0.30am in the early hours of Sunday morning by a 35-year-old dental professional, who did not wish to be named.

But she said: 'This behaviour was totally unacceptable and shameful, putting a few hundred people's safety at risk and also distressing them.

'I left the scene badly shaking. I literally was scared for my life as it seemed like I might get the next punch.'

The brawl then spilled out onto the platform at Plaistow station on the Underground network

Three men were seen involved in a brawl at one end of the station on Saturday night

Three other men were also involved in a brawl on the other end of the platform at Plaistow

A British Transport Police spokesman said: 'Officers were called to Plaistow London Underground station at 12.19am on Sunday following reports of a fight at the station.

'Officers attended and are making enquiries into the circumstances of this incident. No arrest have been made yet.

'It is believed that a fight broke between two groups of males at approximately 12.15am on board a District Line train. The fight then continued onto the platform. It is not believed there were any serious injuries.

Police said anyone who was in the station at time and/or who might have seen anything should contact 0800 405040 or text 61016, quoting '15 of 12 August'.
Sean Young (seen in New York) said she had been subjected to a 'slander campaign' by her former colleagues on the film Charlie Boy

Sean Young has fought back against allegations she stole two laptops from a production company that fired her from a new film she was directing, saying she was trying to fetch her own computers.

The Blade Runner star said she had been subjected to a 'slander campaign' by her former co-workers on the film Charlie Boy, who she accused of using the incident to gain attention for the new release.

Young said she had permission to collect her belongings from the Queens apartment, but ended up taking the production laptops rather than her personal ones by mistake.

'This is a slander campaign in order to create a buzz about their film,' she told The New York Daily News over email. 'I have email confirmations from the owner of the building for permission to pick up my belongings, which is what I was doing.'

A New York Police Department spokeswoman said on Monday no charges have been filed against the 58-year-old star. However, detectives are still looking into the matter.

CCTV taken on Thursday showed Young and her son, Rio, leaving the Astoria apartment being used as a production office by School of Old/Pendragon Pictures Production carrying two laptops, which they put into an SUV before driving off.

CCTV taken on Thursday showed Young and her son, Rio, leaving the Astoria apartment being used as a production office by School of Old/Pendragon Pictures Production with the laptops and a table and chairs (pictured)

Film director Timothy Hines and screenwriter Greg Kritikos called report that Young had stolen the $6,000 MacBooks.

They also claimed she had been fired in June due to her heavy drinking, which saw her downing as many as 16 glasses of wine over lunch.

Young dismissed as false the allegation she had been drinking while working on the movie and said she decided to quit because of conflicts with her co-workers and issues with the budget.

The actress has had a high-profile battle with alcoholism, and checked into rehab in 2008 after heckling George Clooney and Marion Cotillard at the Directors Guild of America Awards.

Young said she had spent two months trying to secure the return of the laptops and some external hard drivers after leaving them in the office two months ago.

Director Timothy Hines on Friday inside the production office which he accused Young of breaking into a day earlier

They got inside the building and went throng a hallway window (pictured) and climbed through the bathroom window to get into production office apartment, he said

On Thursday, after initially failing to gain access, she climbed onto the roof and entered the apartment through the bathroom window and took the laptops, a table, several chairs and some curtains, according to Hines.

Her manager, Gregg Edwards, contradicted Hines' account. He said his client had pre-arranged with the building owner to enter the apartment, and the door was open when she arrived. 'She assumed it was open so she could get in,' he said.

Young said she had arranged for the laptops to be returned and swapped for her own. The actress claimed she had 'received threatening voice mails from Hines who has been releasing untrue slanderous statements to the press.'

Hines said one of the two computers, open on a desk, belonged to a Russian assistant editor 'and the keyboard was in Russian'.

'Her claim that she walked away with the wrong computers does not hold water. One look at it, she could tell it was a Russian keypad,' he said.

Young, seen in Blade Runner, left, and right at a New York film screening in May 2015, allegedly took off with two laptops that contained footage of the film Kritikos was working on

The actress (pictured with her dog Rainer in March this year) also denied claims by her former co-workers that she was fired from the new film Charlie Boy in June due to her drinking

Young starred in Blade Runner in 1982 alongside Harrison Ford. Also in the 1980s, she appeared in 'No Way Out' and 'Wall Street,' and more recently on TNT in 'The Alienist'.

Her troubles began following her romance with Oscar-nominated actor James Woods in 1989.

The couple met on the set of The Boost and had a brief affair before Woods dumped her and returned to his fiancee.

He claimed that a furious Young sent him and his new girlfriend pictures of corpses and mutilated bodies, and even left a mutilated doll at his door as a reminder of his fiancee's abortion, People reported at the time.

Young's tumble from celebrity began following her romance with Oscar-nominated actor James Woods in 1989 who she met on the set of The Boost (pictured)

The 58-year-old (pictured in Astoria in November 2016) has not had any charges filed against her, according to NYPD

Woods had Young arrested for stalking and filed a $2 million harassment lawsuit against her, which was later settled out of court.

Young claimed the incident was a 'misunderstanding.'

In another famous incident in 1992, she arrived at the Batman Returns set in a homemade Catwoman suit after she lost out on playing the part.

Years later, Young donned a cat suit for a skit on the Late Show with David Letterman.

A clip showed her wearing the homemade suit, as she begged people for work, while screaming 'I'm not crazy!'
RIYADH, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi air forces announced on Monday the interception of a ballistic missile fired toward the border city of Najran, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Turki Al Maliki, spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition, said the forces detected the missile shot from Saada Province in Yemen toward the southern border of Saudi Arabia.

It targeted Najran and was intercepted and destroyed, with any injuries or damage reported, he added.

Missile attacks against Saudi border have increased recently but most of them were destroyed without reporting causalities.

Saudi Arabia has been targeted by Yemen's Houthi militias because of its leading role in the war in the country that completed its third year in March.

[ Editor: WPY ]
A Pennsylvania man has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he beat a 16-year-old boy to death over loud music.

David Skalla, 24, of Elizabethtown, is accused of punching Blake Shearer in the face and head four times in Elizabethtown Borough Park on the afternoon of August 6.

A spokesperson for the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office said Shearer was in the park with friends, playing music that contained profanities, and he was apparently singing along with the lyrics.

David Skalla (left), 24, has been charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault in the beating death of 16-year-old Blake Shearer (right) during a spat over loud music

Shearer was playing and singing along with a profanity-laden song in Elizabethtown Borough Park in Pennsylvania on August 6 when Skalla confronted him

At around 4pm, Skalla, who was in the park with his girlfriend and two young children, came up to Shearer and asked him to turn down the music because he did not find it appropriate, according to LancasterOnline.com.

The man and the teen had some words, and according to several witnesses, Skalla escalated the verbal dispute to a physical attack by punching Shearer, who made no attempt to defend himself.

Shearer collapsed to the ground after being struck multiple time and was later taken to Hershey Medical Center to be treated for head and brain injuries.

Shearer (left and right), a rising high school junior, passed away from head trauma after spending five days in a coma

After the assault, Skalla left the park with his family in his girlfriends car, which was photographed by one of Shearers friends. That photograph eventually led police to the suspect.

According to police, Skalla told his girlfriend that he 'blacked out' during the deadly altercation with Shearer.

After spending nearly five days in a coma, the 16-year-old victim was pronounced dead at 2.20pm on Friday, the boys father, Nate Adams, announced in a post in the Prayers and Justice for Blake Facebook group.

That same day, Shearer was charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault.

He is currently in custody on an unrelated parole/probation matter and will be arraigned at a later date on the counts related to Shearer's death.

According to his obituary, Shearer lived with his mother, Brooke, and his stepfather in Bainbrdige. He was preparing to enter his junior year at Elizabethtown Area High School.

The teen (left) is survived by his mother (pictured), father, stepfather, two step-sisters and a half-sister

The teen loved hunting and fishing, was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fun and 'enjoyed listening to music.' He is survived by his parents, stepfather, two step-sisters and a half-sister.

'Dear Blake my amazing man you will be missed more than I can put in to words,' Shearer's stepfather, Kevin Hook, wrote on Facebook after his passing. 'I will miss your strong will personality arguing everything to no end and the most stubborn at the same time but also the biggest heart of anyone I have ever known.'

A candlelight vigil was held on August 10 in the Elizabethtown park in memory of the slain teenager. A funeral service for Shearer will be held on Friday, followed by a private burial.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Shearers family with his final expenses. As of Tuesday morning, just over $4,400 has been raised.
Ignat Sharapov, 15, (pictured) admitted he set fire to one of Russia's most historic churches

A teenage 'Satanist' has been detained after he 'confessed' to destroying one of Russia's most historic churches in an arson attack.

The wooden Dormition orthodox church on the shore of Lake Onega was erected in 1774 by Catherine the Great - and burned down in a raging inferno last week.

Now a 15 year old schoolboy named as Ignat Sharapov - whose social media is full of satanist signs and images - has admitted he set fire to the structure by using five litres of petrol to ignite its dry timber, police said.

A teenage 'Satanist' has been detained after he 'confessed' to destroying one of Russia's most historic churches in an arson attack (pictured)

The wooden 250-year-old Dormition orthodox church on the shore of Lake Onega was burned down in a raging inferno last week. Pictured before (right) and during (left) the fire

An expert said it will cost 1 million to reconstruct the 138 ft church - as tall as a 12 storey building - at Kondopoga in Karelia republic in northern Russia.

'He classifies himself as a Satanist,' a law enforcement source said.

'Allegedly he just did not like the church.'

A witness said: 'He was a Satanist, dressed in black.

'And when he was detained by police, he laughed.'

Earlier, he ate breakfast and told his relatives he was going to destroy the church which had stood beside Lake Onega for 244 years.

They thought he was joking.

A 15 year old schoolboy named as Ignat Sharapov has admitted he set fire to the structure by using five litres of petrol to ignite its dry timber, police said

Earlier in the day, Sharapov (pictured) had eaten breakfast and told his relatives he was going to destroy the church

Next he asked his grandmother to wrap up some homemade biscuits for him to give to his friend.

He met his friend, then read something on his tablet computer.

'His expression changed - he got up and said: 'I'm going to burn down the church,' his friend said.

He doused the church in petrol then set fire to it.

'He took with him five litres of gasoline, and walked along the lake ... The dry timber caught like a candle,' the church caretaker said.

Twenty four firefighters with six appliances rushed to the scene of the famous church but were unable to extinguish the flames which destroyed the bell tower in a few minutes and the entire structure in two hours.

Twenty four firefighters with six appliances rushed to the scene of the church but were unable to extinguish the flames which destroyed the entire structure in two hours

Church restoration expert Tatiana Vakhrameeva said it would cost as much as 1 million to reconstruct the church which was burned virtually to the ground

The boy then fled the scene and was apprehended after his grandmother called the emergency services to report the fire.

He has been held by police in detention pending further investigations into a criminal case involving arson.

Sharapov's social media contained a picture of a burning church before the attack on the historic 18th century building, along with many satanic images.

State-run TV named the boy citing law enforcement sources and showed his satanic 'temple' in a disused poultry farm building daubed in devil-worshipping signs and slogans.

'He believed in Satan. He was into pentagrams, and he has a hall of evil spirits,' Sharapov's cousin Ilya Kornilov told Vesti news.

Ignat Sharapov shared photos of another Orthodox church burning down on his social media accounts

Recently, he was seen cutting the heads off hens 'just out of interest'.

He refused to swim in the lake with other teenagers if he could see the church.

'He would not swim if the church was visible,' said a friend.

The church was destroyed on the same day - 10 August - as Norwegian pagan Varg Vikernes murdered Mayhem guitarist ystein 'Euronymous' Aarseth.

Vikernes, 45, was also convicted of church-burning in Norway.

The boy's mother Larisa Sharapova, 49, has not commented.

Church restoration expert Tatiana Vakhrameeva said it would cost as much as 80 million roubles - almost 1 million - to reconstruct the church which was burned virtually to the ground.
A widower has branded one of the UK's biggest holiday firms 'disgusting' after they charged a 400 cancellation fee following his wife's death.

Devastated Nigel Cook paid a 600 deposit for a holiday with TUI but his 'baby girl' died a month before they were due to fly.

Nigel, 48, from Beddau, near Cardiff, was offered a 200 refund and claims a TUI employee told him he was 'lucky to get anything at all'.

Branding the firm 'w*****s', Nigel said their handling of the matter had made the death of his wife, Wendy, who was 59, a 'thousand times worse'.

Devastated Nigel Cook paid a 600 deposit for a holiday with TUI but his 'baby girl' Wendy died of a stroke a month before they were due to fly

Wendy, who had been in good health, suffered a stroke in March, followed by a second stroke in May. After three months in hospital she died on August 1

When Nigel cancelled the holiday, TUI sent him a confirmation letter which detailed a 400 cancellation fee. He has refused TUI's offer to return the remaining 200 of his deposit

He posted on Facebook: 'Fair play to Tui the holiday company. They felt It necessary to take 400 of me for the holiday I had to cancel because I lost my baby girl Wendy'

The couple booked their holiday to Antalya, Turkey, in January, and were due to fly out on September 1.

But Wendy, who had been in good health, suffered a stroke in March, followed by a second stroke in May. After three months in hospital she died on August 1.

When Nigel cancelled the holiday, TUI sent him a confirmation letter which detailed a 400 cancellation fee. He has refused TUI's offer to return the remaining 200 of his deposit.

He posted on Facebook: 'Fair play to Tui the holiday company. They felt It necessary to take 400 of me for the holiday I had to cancel because I lost my baby girl Wendy.

'How sick are these big companies? What a bunch of w*****s.'

Branding the firm 'w*****s', Nigel said their handling of the matter had made the death of his wife, Wendy, who was 59, a 'thousand times worse'

The couple booked their holiday to Antalya, Turkey, in January, and were due to fly out on September 1

He said today: 'I've never felt so angry in all my life and I can't feel like that because I feel I've already lost enough.

'When I contacted them I was told to provide proof of death, so I gave them her death certificate.

'I was told if I had taken out insurance at the time I would have got a full refund, but like everyone else does, I was planning on taking that out a month or so before we were due to fly out.

'I was told by TUI employees that I was lucky to get any money back at all.'

He added: 'It's absolutely disgusting. With the loss of my wife I'm already 1000 times worse off. I've lost my best friend in the whole world.'

Mr Cook said: 'I've never felt so angry in all my life and I can't feel like that because I feel I've already lost enough'. Pictured: Nigel, centre, and his late wife, Wendy, (L) with friends on a previous holiday

On social media, people also voiced their disgust with TUI

On social media, Kathryn Edwards said: 'Wtf disgusting hun.'

Anthony Morris commented: 'No compassion, just company policy.'

Lynda Steinz said: 'Absolutely disgusting Nigel!'

And Dicky Thorne said: 'Scum. Sub-human scum.'

A spokesman for TUI said: 'We're sorry to hear of Mr Cook's experience and his family's situation.

'We would ask the customer to contact us directly so that we can look to resolve the situation.'
A partially dressed female air passenger has been filmed with her arms and legs tied together and screaming after she had to be restrained by cabin crew.

The blonde woman, topless except for her black bra, was restrained after she started 'causing havoc' on a flight from the Russian capital city of Moscow to the resort city of Antalya in south-western Turkey.

Cabin crew said the woman was 'out of control' after drinking too much in the duty free bar at Moscow airport before boarding the flight, and had to restrain her shortly after take-off.

It is unclear why the woman was not wearing a top when she was filmed screaming and banging her head against the wall of the air craft

The woman was violent and abusive and her behaviour was frightening other passengers, they said.

They tied her legs together and her hands behind her back, before sitting her on the floor of the plane away from other passengers. It is not known why she was only partially dressed.

Smartphone footage shot by an eyewitness shows her trying to hit her head on the wall of the plane.

The woman can be heard shouting in Russian: 'I am begging you. My arms are tied. I cannot get hold of you, please. You see what is going on. Look at me. Look at my blood. Those are beasts, those are liars, they are trying to trick you.'

The woman had allegedly been abusive and violent after 'drinking too much in the duty free bar. She was restrained by the crew shortly after take-off

The woman claimed she could see invisible people who she said were 'trying to kill her'.

Russian media reports that the woman was released on arrival at Antalya Airport. Turkish police reportedly said they had no interest in charging the woman and let her go free.

Some commentators expressed concern about the passengers health and well-being after seeing the footage.

Netizen 'CrystalNova' said: 'Seriously, they simply let her go? No fines? No black list? No nothing? Just go, get some tan, you drunk woman...'

And 'maimung' added: 'I am always shocked that people like that are even allowed on board. I think drunkards should be fined, as well as the people who let them get on board.'
Tara Hegarty, 23, was arrested after she was accused of kicking, punching and ripping out the hair of staff at a Florida hotel

A Pennsylvania woman has been arrested after she was accused of kicking, punching and ripping the hair out of staff at a Florida hotel.

Tara Hegarty, 23, became enraged after she was asked to prove that she was staying as a guest at the Hampton Inn in Cape Coral on Friday, but was unable to do so.

Two hotel employees said that Hegarty asked to enter a room, but couldn't provide any identification at all.

After one of the workers agree to escort her to her room to retrieve her ID she refused to show it.

It was at that point authorities say she then went berserk, kicking the manager twice before lighting several cigarettes and throwing them onto the floor.

As one of the employees tried to pick up the cigarettes, Hegarty grabbed her by her hair and dragged her around the room.

Cops say Hegarty kicked the manager twice, then lit several cigarettes to throw on the floor

As another hotel employee tried to intervene, Hegarty then allegedly punched and kicked her several times as well, including twice in the face.

The workers then fled the room to wait for police. Officers found Hegarty on the bed drinking a beer.

Hegarty became enraged when she couldn't prove she was a guest at the hotel, The Hampton Inn in Cape Coral, Florida

The News-Press reports Hegarty was taken to Cape Coral Hospital for treatment, where she continued to 'be verbally and physically aggressive with staff' and had to be placed in restraints.

She was then taken to Lee County Jail and booked on six charges including simple assault of an officer, resisting an officer and two counts of battery.

She remains jailed on $27,500 bond with her next court appearance on August 28
The motorway bridge which collapsed in Genoa, Italy, killing at least 35 people had been the subject of a series of 'exorbitant' maintenance works and had been causing issues for decades, it has emerged.

Engineering experts had warned that it would have been more cost effective to knock the bridge down than to continue to repair the 'uneven' construction.

The Morandi Bridge, built in 1967, was a main thoroughfare connecting the A10 and A7 highways and had therefore been heavily trafficked for more than 50 years.

Tuesday morning was no different, and dozens of cars fell several hundred feet when a 260ft section of the concrete bridge collapsed shortly after 11.30am.

Tragedy: This graphic shows the part of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa which collapsed on Tuesday morning, killing at least 35 people

Transport and Infrastructure minister Danilo Toninelli called the incident 'an enormous tragedy', vowing that those responsible for the collapse would 'pay up'.

'The first information would seem to say that the maintenance had been carried out, but it can not be so. These tragedies can not happen in a civilized country like Italy.'

Despite its majestic design, the structure of the Morandi Bridge, using two types of reinforced concrete, had caused issues over the decades and required expensive maintenance.

In the early 1990s, the suspension cables along the bridge had to be replaced, and further restructuring work was carried out in 2016.

In 2016, Antonio Brencich, associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Genoa warned that the Morandi Bridge's maintenance costs 'are so exorbitant that it would be cheaper to build a new one'.

Before: The 3,615ft long Morandi Bridge, completed in 1967, had needed several rounds of maintenance work over the past decades

Shocking: The bridge collapsed on Tuesday morning as Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli vowing those responsible would 'pay up'

Rescuers at work amid rubble and wreckage after the collapse of a section of the Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa

The collapse came two years after a professor of civil engineering warned that the Morandi Bridge's maintenance costs 'are so exorbitant that it would be cheaper to build a new one'

In the article, quoted by Il Tempo, Professor Brencich says issues with the bridge being uneven and 'semi-horizontal' had plagued the construction since the early 1980s.

In December 2016, Genoan newspaper Il Secolo XIX claimed maintenance of bridges in the area had been lacking funds because authorities 'preferred to allocate more funds to new works'.

The paper accused officials in the Liguria region of only making important restorations when issues with bridges had become obvious.

Ian Firth, a former president of The Institution of Structural Engineers said the Morandi Bridge's 'very unusual' design creates a 'stiff arrangement' between the supports which is not common in cable-stayed bridges.

Mr Firth added: 'It is too early to say what caused the tragic collapse, but as this reinforced and prestressed concrete bridge has been there for 50 years it is possible that corrosion of tendons or reinforcement may be a contributory factor.

'There are no obvious signs to say what specifically triggered the collapse at this time; the fact that there was reported to be a storm at the time may or may not be particularly relevant.'

The highway operator said today that work to shore up the foundation of the Morandi Bridge was being carried out at the time of the collapse, adding that the bridge was constantly monitored.

Tuesday's incident is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of economic stagnation.

Designer: The Morandi Bridge was named after its designer, Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi

Same same, but different: The Morandi Bridge's sister bridge, the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge in Venezuela, which partially collapsed in 1964

The Morandi Bridge, also known as the Polcevera viaduct, was named after the engineer who designed it - Riccardo Morandi.

Morandi, who died in 1989, specialised in working with reinforced and pre-stressed concrete to design a series of bridges in Italy, South America and Libya.

The bridge which carried his name took four years to complete and was opened to the public in 1967, with the then-President Giuseppe Saragat presiding over the inauguration ceremony.

The bridge over the Polcevera stream was 3,615ft long, 148ft high and its longest span stretched 690ft.

Another Morandi bridge in Venezuela, built to a similar design to the one in Genoa, partially collapsed in 1964 after being hit by an oil tanker, just two years after it finished.

The General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge, also known as the Lake Maracaibo Bridge, had been completed just two years earlier when a tanker steered into it - killing seven people.

The collapsed part of thee bridge was rebuilt eight months later and no major issues have been reported since.

The CNR civil engineering society called for a 'Marshall Plan' to repair or replace tens of thousands of bridges in Italy that have surpassed their lifespans, having been built in the 1950s and 1960s with reinforced concrete.

The group said the bridges were built with the best-known technology of the time, but that their working lifespan is 50 years.

It added that in many cases, the cost to update and reinforce the bridges is more than it would cost to destroy and rebuild them.

The CNR called for a major program to replace most of the bridges with new ones that would have a lifespan of 100 years.

It cited previous collapses, including one in April 2017 in the northern province of Cuneo that crushed a carabinieri police car.

Fortunately, the officers and the driver they had pulled over in a traffic stop heard the creaking noise and got out of the way in time.

Another was an overpass in the northern city of Lecco that collapsed under exceptional weight, crushing a car and killing the driver.
A Mexican-American priest who miraculously survived a plane crash in July has returned to his Chicago church and celebrated a bilingual, outdoor mass.

The Rev. Esequiel Sanchez was one of 103 passengers on Flight 2431 traveling from Durango to Mexico City on July 31.

The plane jetted down the runway and was starting to ascend in the middle of a hail storm before gusty winds suddenly made it plummet and crash.

The cabin of the Aeromexico aircraft was filled with smoke and within seconds burst into flames. All passengers and flight crew somehow fled the airliner and managed to survive the accident.

Rev. Esequiel Sanchez celebrates his first mass, two weeks after surviving a plane crash in Durango, Mexico, while on vacation with his family

The Aeromexico flight bound from Durango to Mexico City crashed near a grassfield near the Durango International Airport on July 31, leaving 49 passengers injured

The priest, who returned to Chicago three days after the crash, fractured his arm and had to undergo surgery before resuming his duties at the altar.

The Rev. Esequiel Sanchez (right) celebrates his first mass

In front of a standing-room only crowd of churchgoers at a sunny outdoor service, with the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe serving as a backdrop in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Sanchez detailed the countless miracles that came about on that rainy airfield.

He revealed that, for a momenthe had thought 'this is the end for me' as a family trip to celebrate his 50th birthday nearly ended in tragedy.

Sanchez hailed everyone on board the flight for their bravery in the moments after the plane crashed and billowed with smoke before it burst into flames.

'If you have faith, what comes out of it is courage. There were many moments of miracles and grace,' he said.

While the first reaction could have to jump and run away as soon as the doors were hatched open, Sanchez witnessed how everyone lent other strangers a hand.

'I as well as other brothers and sisters where inside that crash,' Sanchez said.

'Could have easily ran away as fast as we could but there were brothers and sisters inside the plane [and] as soon as they got out that went back to pull out the man that is hurt, to get them out as quick as you can,@ he aid.

'We can say the miracle is about the airplane crashing and not burning up immediate so people could get out ... But the miracle I see was that there were so many who cared about each other'.
A Brazilian model and her friend allegedly viciously attacked their male flatmate during an argument over bond money in their beachside Sydney apartment.

Brazilian nationals Flavia Botelho, 27, and Ligia De Silveira, 20, have been charged after they launched themselves at their flatmate Vinicius Vargas, police allege.

The argument at the Manly apartment it believed to be about returning full deposit for the bond, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Ligia De Silveira, 20, (pictured) has been charged with assault after she allegedly attacked a male so viciously a red fingernail was left in his mouth

Vinicius Vargas, 34, (pictured) was beaten and scratched he suffered a haemorrhage to his left eye

Vargas allegedly planned to withhold some of the money to pay for a key which hadn't been returned.

After the argument, the 34-year-old was left beaten and bruised with a red acrylic fingernail in his mouth.

De Silveira is believed to have run across the living room to take $700 off the bench and began 'clawing the face' of her male housemate.

Flavia Botelho, 27, (pictured) lived in the Manly flat and she and Vargas and were in a relationship for two months before the attack

The day before the Brazilian brawl, Vargas allegedly spat on one of the women. He appeared at Manly Local Court on Monday and was charged with spitting on the woman

The former couple of two months, Botelho and Mr Vargas, then went head-to-head with the part-time model allegedly punching her ex-partner in the face.

Her friend then scratched him in the eye and across the face. It is believed Botelho and De Silveira were in the process of moving out of the flat.

A doctors report said Mr Vargas suffered a haemorrhage to his left eye and his face was bloodied, bruised and swollen after the brazen attack.

De Silveira is believed to have run across the living room to take $700 off the bench and began 'clawing the face' of her male housemate

Two other women broke up the fight and the entire group went to the local police station.

Both Botelho and De Silveira initially accused Vargas of attacking them and said he was the instigator of the fight.

They were later charged with one count of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The day before the Brazilian brawl, Vargas allegedly spat on one of the women.

He appeared at Manly Local Court on Monday and was charged with spitting on the woman.
Britain will not take in any migrants stranded on a rescue ship in the Mediterranean.

The Aquarius on Friday picked up 141 Africans - half children - in two operations but has been stuck in international waters since because no country let it dock.

The Italian government yesterday said the UK must house the migrants because the French-German ship is registered in Gibraltar, a British territory.

But today other countries agreed to share the migrants between them and so Malta finally agreed to let the ship dock.

The Aquarius (pictured) has been stranded at sea after operations to save the group, which includes 67 unaccompanied minors and is mainly made up of Somalis and Eritreans

Members of SOS Mediterranee organisation and Doctors without borders, part of the crew of the rescue boat Aquarius hand over life jackets to migrants on a wooden boat

Spain said it would accept 60 people, while Portugal offered to welcome 30, with the remainder distributed between France, Germany and Luxembourg, government sources in Malta and Spain said.

The boat, run by the Franco-German charity SOS Mediterranean and Doctors without Borders (MSF), has been in a four-day standoff in which Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Malta refused the ship entry.

The latest migrants had been rescued from boats off Libya, and Malta had initially argued that they should be taken to Libya, Tunisia or the Italian island of Lampedusa, all closer to the rescue points.

'Following discussions between France and Malta, a number of European Union member states, with the support of the European Commission, agreed on a responsibility-sharing exercise regarding the rescued migrants,' the Maltese government said.

The Aquarius, which hit the headlines in June after being stranded with 630 migrants on board, causing a major diplomatic row, resumed its rescue operations off Libya last week.

Spain's new Socialist government helped resolve the first standoff by allowing the boat to dock in Valencia and was again at the forefront of the solution on Tuesday.

'Spain has coordinated a pioneering agreement with six countries to share the hosting of the people on the Aquarius... Spain will take 60 people,' Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

Migrants on a wooden boat are seen after receiving life jackets from crew members of the rescue boat Aquarius

Malta confirmed afterwards it would allow the ship to dock to disembark its passengers, many of whom are unaccompanied children from violence-wracked Somalia and repressive Eritrea.

'Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so,' said a government statement posted on Twitter.

European Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the bloc needs to find a long-term solution to the migrant issue.

'We cannot rely on ad-hoc arrangements, we need sustainable solutions. It is not the responsibility of one or a few Member States only, but of the European Union as a whole,' he said in a statement.

The Aquarius, which was left stranded with 630 migrants on board in June after being turned away by Rome and Valletta, resumed rescue operations off the Libyan coast last week.

On Friday, it picked up 141 people in two separate operations, half of them children, but it has again struggled to find a port to bring them ashore.

Migrants read books on board the MV Aquarius, in the Mediterranean Sea, between Malta and Linosa, August 13, 2018

The Aquarius, which was left stranded with 630 migrants on board in June after being turned away by Rome and Valletta, resumed rescue operations off the Libyan coast last week

Sophie Beau, president of the vessel's operator SOS Mediterranee, said the ship, currently situated between Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa, had again received 'official negative replies' from the two countries.

'We're asking all European countries to find a solution. We're asking them to be responsible and find a safe port in the Mediterranean,' she said, accusing Italy and Malta of flouting international maritime law.

Tove Ernst, a spokesman for the European Commission, said it was in contact with 'a number of member states that have approached us regarding the incident' to try to find a 'swift resolution' to the standoff.

Amnesty International said in a statement: 'Italy and Malta's disgraceful refusal to allow refugees and migrants to disembark in their ports is pure cruelty.'
Yosemite National Park was due to reopen to tourists on Tuesday after a 20-day closure.

One of the busiest parks in the US, it was forced to shut during peak visitor season when a devastating wildfire took over 150 square miles and killed two firefighters.

Before most of the popular area packed up business for nearly three weeks on July 25, the fires in California's Sierra Nevada mountains had been raging for 12 days.

Wildfires (pictured August 6) spread across the Yosemite area on July 13, causing the park and surrounding areas to close down temporarily while emergency services tried to battle the disaster

Yosemite National Park is getting back to regular service after wildfires devastated the area

The Ferguson Fire meant that tens of thousands of visitors from around the world had to cancel trips and with more than 600,000 people estimated to visit each August, it's a huge loss, according to the National Park Service.

Visitor bureaus in the area have figured that approximately $50million in combined tourism dollars have been lost.

'From an economic standpoint, it's majorly significant to the region,' Steve Montalto, creative director at Visit Yosemite Madera County, said. During a trip to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias at the National Park on Monday, he added: 'It's like a big breath of fresh air to be able to get in there and explore these places again.'

Hotels in the surrounding area are just some of the places affected by the Ferguson Fire, with owners believing it will take weeks to return to regular levels of booking.

Douglas Shaw, who runs the 120-person Majestic Yosemite Hotel, has seen a $200,000 dip in revenue. While his property is usually sold out at this time of year, he estimates only 45 per cent of rooms will sell this week. Only 10 stayed overnight on Monday.

As a result of the wildfire, he has been forced to make eight of his 43 employees redundant and may retire early to avoid similar devastation in the future.

'If I hadn't had savings, which is depleted, I'd be scrambling for money or I wouldn't have a business,' Shaw said Monday, adding that 'it's a huge setback'.

Flames from the wildfire burned down hillsides including this one in Mariposa County, California

It's estimated to have caused a $50million loss to local tourism. Guests are seen leaving The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, formerly The Ahwahnee Hotel in July

Highway 41 announced the closure of Yosemite National Park last month near Oakhurst

He is one of hundreds of business people in the nearby small communities who earn their living from Yosemite tourism. However, with the Ferguson Fire and several others claiming at least a dozen lives in recent weeks, tourism has suffered.

The latest a firefighter to have died was on Monday when the Utah man battled a blaze north of San Francisco.

'Once the closure hit that three-week mark there's a full panic across the board for visitors, whether they're from Beijing or Paris or San Francisco,' he said.

Tom Lambert, who rents out an apartment within the park, said he and his wife have lost about $20,000 in income because of the closure.

And because the apartment is located along the one entrance to Yosemite Valley that will remain closed for at least a week, he said his next booking isn't until August 31.

Yosemite National Park employees and visitors from France promote the reopening of the popular location with #YosemiteNOW hand fans

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in northwest Montana (pictured) has also suffered from recent wildfires

'And now people are starting to cancel into September and we have October people asking about canceling,' 55-year-old Lambert said. 'It's still rough. The summer is pretty much lost.'

The park and visitor bureaus are trying to get the word out internationally that the park is back open. They've begun posting pictures of themselves and visitors at attractions along with red paddleboards that say #YosemiteNOW, and they're encouraging visitors to do the same.

As for the park itself, the dent in visitor fees will impact park improvements, such as fixing roads and updating facilities, according to park Ranger Scott Gediman.

Because those projects are planned years in advance, Gediman said all improvements for this year will be covered but that projects in the following years will be impacted. He said it was too soon to know which ones.

In Montana, a wildfire destroyed structures and forced evacuations Monday from the busiest area of Glacier National Park. Park officials said structures on the north end of Lake McDonald were lost, but they did not provide details.

Although the fire near Yosemite was 86 percent contained on Monday, visitors likely will notice some smoke and may even see flames on their way in, Gediman said.

But the smoke 'is the best I've seen it in several weeks,' and the fire impacts minimal, he added.

Although Yosemite Valley reopens Tuesday, a major road from the south, Highway 41, and a popular park attraction known as Glacier Point will remain closed for likely at least another week for fire operations, Gediman added.
JERUSALEM, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israel's largest workers union Histadrut is planning for a labor dispute and considering a general strike in early October after several workers were killed on Monday at two construction sites.

Two of the workers fell from a collapsed scaffold, 13-floor high at a construction site in the city of Rosh HaAyin in central Israel.

Electra Construction, the construction company of the site, has been warned 10 times by the Israeli Ministry of Labor since 2012 because of defects discovered at its construction sites.

Data show some 27 workers have been killed since the beginning of 2018 because of safety defects at construction sites, an increase of 40 percent from the same period in 2017.

Avi Nissenkorn, chairman of Histadrut, told the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that the disgrace of contempt for human life in the field of work safety is unacceptable.

"In Israel, an employee's life has become worthless," he warned.

[ Editor: WPY ]
If you've ever dreamed of owning your own multi-million dollar beachside home but the chequebook just wouldn't allow it, you how have a chance to own one for just $5.

A new nationwide raffle being held by the RSL Art Union has a $4million home in North Curl Curl, on Sydney's northern beaches, as first prize.

Tickets for the raffle are just $5 and the winner will be calling the five-bedroom, three-bathroom, double garage home their own.

If you've ever dreamed of owning your own multi-million dollar beachside home but the cheque book just wouldn't allow it, you now have a chance to own one for just $5

A new nationwide raffle being held by the RSL Art Union has this $4million home in North Curl Curl, on Sydney's northern beaches, as first prize

The first prize also includes $179,000 worth of furniture and electrical appliances - and the estimated yearly rental income at the property is $140,400.

RSL Lotteries general manager Tracey Bishop told The Daily Telegraph that the newly renovated home was a stunning first prize.

'I think its magnificent, its such a quality home and its $5, its the price of a cup of coffee,' she said.

The Domain property report lists it as sitting on a 457-square-metre plot of land on Austin Avenue, only metres from the beach.

The first prize also includes $179,000 worth of furniture and electrical appliances, and the property's estimated yearly rental income is $140,400

Rates and water bills are also covered for an entire year for the lucky winner and a $2000 travel voucher to celebrate the wind fall

Rates and water bills are also covered for an entire year for the lucky winner and a there's also $2000 travel voucher to celebrate the windfall.

The competition won't be open until August 26.

The RSL Art Union was formed in 1956 as a means of raising money to provide much needed services to veterans.

The RSL Art Union was formed in 1956 as a means of raising money to provide much needed services to veterans

There will only be 3,450,000 tickets available for the raffle that Mrs Bishop said would be 'incredibly popular'

The RSL Art Union helps to support 3200 veterans every year, provides home visits for 8300 people in the veteran community each year and counselling and support.

Those are only a fraction of the services funded through the RSL and its various sub branches.

There will only be 3,450,000 tickets available for the raffle that Mrs Bishop said would be 'incredibly popular'.
Michael Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, offered some details on his policy views Tuesday as he weighs an outsider Democratic bid for the White House.

Fresh off a visit to early-voting Iowa, Avenatti said he would release more information over time, but said 'people want to know how I stand on the issues at 20,000 feet.'

In a new policy document, Avenatti said he supports a 'basic Medicare plan for all Americans,' with an option to purchase additional coverage, and backed a path to citizenship for the young immigrants known as 'Dreamers.'

He also wants to see a national paid family leave program.

Challenger: Michael Avenatti is exploring a run for the 2020 Democratic nomination, using his role representing Stormy Daniels as a springboard for a direct challenge to Donald Trump

On the stump: Michael Avenatti traveled this month to the traditional grassroots event in Des Moines, Iowa, the Democratic Wing Ding, which is is seen as a starting point for a run for the party's nomination

Marijuana should be decriminalized at the federal level, so-called assault weapons should be banned and the United States should re-join the Paris climate accord, according to Avenatti.

Those positions generally align Avenatti with the left flank of potential 2020 Democratic presidential prospects, but he is more moderate on some of the issues.

While other Democrats - including Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Kamala Harris - have called for outright abolition of the federal government's chief immigration enforcement agency, Avenatti said: 'We should not eliminate ICE but we must change the way ICE carries out enforcement.'

Avenatti is a self-styled provocateur who has gained national attention for representing Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump following an alleged 2006 affair, which the president denies.

For months, he's been a fixture on cable news shows, taunting Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets. Avenatti also has a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan.

He pledged that should he run, he will not take corporate PAC money - putting him in line with a number of potential 2020 prospects.

Avenatti is more general on some issues in the brief outline, saying he wants an economic plan that 'delivers good quality jobs' and that college must be 'more affordable for all Americans.'

He promised a detailed infrastructure plan called the 'Real Deal.'

On trade, he said America must 'be aggressive in dealing with countries that have gamed the system - but smart about how we fight back to avoid inflicting unnecessary harm on American workers and farmers.'

And on international relations, he said the United States must 'negotiate denuclearization agreements with North Korea and Iran.'

Avenatti said he is studying the issues, consulting experts and will be releasing more information, including a 'detailed economic infrastructure plan in the coming weeks.'

The document also serves as a statement of principle for the attorney who has never run for office. It stresses his support for all Americans 'regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity.'

He fully backs unions and said teachers need more financial support, according to the document.

THE AVENATTI DOCTRINE: PORN STAR'S LAWYER BACKS UNIONS, SEX HARASSMENT PROTECTION AND 'GOOD QUALITY JOBS'
A Georgia police chief said his officer was justified in using a Taser on an 87-year-old Syrian woman after she didn't obey commands to drop a kitchen knife in her hand.

Martha Al-Bishara was charged with criminal trespass and obstructing an officer on Friday, when police held her at gunpoint before bringing her to the ground with a jolt from the electrified prongs of a stun gun.

Relatives said Al-Bishara is from Syria and her native language is Arabic. She doesn't speak English and was merely out cutting dandelions near her home in Chatsworth, about 85 miles north of Atlanta.

Martha Al-Bishara, 87 (pictured in her mugshot), was Tasered on Friday in Georgia and charged with trespass and obstructing an officer for refusing to drop a knife

Chatsworth Police Chief Josh Etheridge (left) said his officer was justified in using the Taser on Al-Bishara (pictured in a hospital, right)

Al-Bishara was caught cutting dandelions with a steak knife just outside this fence surrounding the Boys and Girls Club in Chatsworth, Georgia

'An 87-year-old woman with a knife still has the ability to hurt an officer,' Chatsworth Police Chief Josh Etheridge told the Daily Citizen-News of Dalton.

'There was no anger, there was no malice in this,' Etheridge said. 'In my opinion, it was the lowest use of force we could have used to simply stop that threat at the time.'

Martha Douhne (left), Al-Bishara's great-granddaughter, says the woman is stressed and has trouble sleeping after her arrest

Etheridge responded along with two other officers Friday after an employee of a local Boys and Girls Club called 911 to report a woman with a knife was walking outside the facility's chain-link fence holding a knife and would not leave, reported WRBC-TV.

'She's old so she can't get around too well, but,' the employee said on the 911 recording. 'Looks like she's walking around looking for something, like, vegetation to cut down or something. There's a bag, too.'

When Al-Bishara didn't follow commands to drop her knife, Etheridge said, he tried to communicate with her by taking his own pocket knife and throwing it on the ground.

Al-Bishara continued holding the knife at stomach level, prompting one of the officers to Tase her in the chest.

The jolt caused the octogenarian to collapse to the ground and drop the knife, after which she was handcuffed and led away by police, just as her daughter-in-law arrived.

Al-Bishara's relatives said the officers should have shown more patience towards the woman, who they say suffers from dementia, reported WDEF.

Al-Bishara (far right) is from Syria and her native language is Arabic

'If three police officers couldn't handle an 87-year-old woman, you might want to reconsider hanging up your badge,' said Solomon Douhne, the woman's great-nephew.

Family members said Al-Bishara's spent about two hours at the Murray County jail before being released Friday and that she still has trouble sleeping and is nervous about going outside.

'She is OK,' said Martha Douhne, a great-granddaughter. 'She is still repeating the incident over in her mind and telling us she didn't mean for this to happen and apologizing that she didn't want to bring this on us. She is having trouble sleeping and is stressed.'

Etheridge said the police department is conducting an internal use-of-force review.
A Polish mother-of-three was beaten up in what she describes as a racist attack by a gang of women.

Anna Maria Serafin Podolska said she was beaten up by about 15 women in the attack in the West Midlands town of Tipton.

Ms Podolska said she and her three children were verbally assaulted by a group of women who told them to 'go back to Poland'.

Anna Maria Serafin Podolska said she was beaten up by about 15 women in the attack in the West Midlands town of Tipton (left before the attack and right afterwards)

Sharing photographs of the black eye she suffered on Facebook, she said she and her children had been returning home from a walk.

She said: 'One of them followed us, and once we reached our street I turned around and was struck in the face with a fist; a fight broke out.

'When I was lying on the street, 15 women or more, of different ages, ran up to us. I received blows from all sides.'

Police and medical personnel arrived at the scene after the victim's neighbours were alerted by the woman's son.

Ms Podolska added: 'I have been living in Tipton nearly five years and similar situations have been happening all the time - child beatings, name-calling.

'Several weeks ago I was attacked with water-filled bags.'

MailOnline has contact West Midland Police for comment, who have yet to confirm Ms Podolska's claims.
A North Carolina women caught in an online romance scam has been charged with plotting to kill her 88-year-old mother to get more money to pay the fraudster.

Roxanne Reed, 65, of Garner, North Carolina, was arrested Sunday and charged with felony conspiracy to commit murder, according to jail records.

Garner Police Capt. Joe Binns said that Reed, who had financial problems, appeared to be planning the death of her mother, who shared a small house with her, so she could keep sending money to the scammer who was using romantic pretenses to bilk her.

Roxanne Reed, 65, is accused of plotting to kill her 88-year-old mother to get money to pay the person who was scamming her in an online romance

'It was related to money,' Binns said Tuesday. 'It was all about money, about sending this person money.'

Investigators were still piecing together how the mother's death would have supplied Reed with more cash.

Binns said Reed is considered a suspect in other financial frauds but didn't elaborate.

He didn't know if Reed, who was held in jail Tuesday, had an attorney. Digital courthouse records didn't list a lawyer.

Binns said relatives alerted police to concerns that Reed was being scammed by someone using a false identity to woo her.

Binns said Reed described plans to kill her mother in text messages to the online scammer.

Investigators haven't determined who or where the scammer is, but an arrest warrant indicates the person was falsely using the name of a physical therapist and business owner in Texas.

Reed, said to be having financial problems, lives in this Garner, North Carolina, home with her 88-year-old mother. Relatives told authorities they worried that Reed was being scammed

The likeness of that man has been used without his knowledge in multiple online scams, Binns said.

WRAL reported that the name being used by catfishers is 'Scott Humpal.'

'This is a poor guy who lives in Texas somewhere that has nothing to do with anything, and apparently he's been victimized multiple times - somebody using his name, his picture or his information,' Binns said.

The Texas man said in an email he was traveling Tuesday and didn't have time to do an interview.

A relative identified as a witness in court records, Mason Reed, declined to comment when reached by phone.

Mason Reed, whose primary address is in Maryland, is listed in county property records as the owner of the approximately 1,000-square-foot (93-square-meter), 1-story house where the women lived in the town south of Raleigh.

Court records indicate Roxanne Reed filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and was in the process of paying off debt through a plan approved by a judge.

The records, which match Reed's current address and other information, say she was single and unemployed but had income from social security and worker's compensation. The bankruptcy filing listed about $30,000 in debt from credit card purchases and a personal loan.
Right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopolous is returning to Australia later this year with right-wing mouthpiece Ann Coulter after his last tour sparked violent protests.

The pair will arrive in Queensland in late November ahead of events on the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

A website selling tickets to the events says that the topics covered by the speakers will include 'gender fluidity in schools, multiculturalism, and South African genocide.'

The tour includes speaking dates with tickets ranging in price from $79 for general admission to $449 for VIP tickets.

Right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopolous (pictured) is returning to Australia later this year

Right-wing mouthpiece Ann Coulter (pictured) will join the tour which begins in November

There are also VIP yacht cruise tickets available at the Gold Coast and Sydney for $899 a piece.

The website says these tickets include a 'private 1.5 hour mingle with Milo and Ann.'

The news follows on from Canadian alt-right speaker Lauren Southern's recent tour of Australia.

Coulter is a former New York city lawyer who has become a prominent conservative social and political commentator.

She has written 12 best-selling books, including 'Adios, America: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country Into a Third World Hellhole' and has been an outspoken Clinton critic and Trump supporter.

In June this year, following outrage over the family separation policy of the Trump administration in dealing with border jumpers, she said immigrant children were 'child actors weeping and crying' and Trump should not 'fall for it.'

The news follows on from Canadian alt-right speaker Lauren Southern's recent tour of Australia

Milo Yiannopoulos has revealed he will return to Australia after last year's controversial tour

Protesters violently clashed outside venues in Sydney and Melbourne last year during Yiannopoulos's tour

Yiannopolous gained infamy as a controversial writer for alt-right website Breitbart News.

During his Sydney show last December, Yiannopoulos attracted 100 protesters who chanted 'F*** off Nazi' in violent scenes that led to seven arrests.

His Melbourne leg of the tour was even more violent, with police forced to use batons to keep the demonstrators at bay.

Last week it was revealed Yiannopoulos and his promoters are yet to pay a $50,000 bill they were asked to cough up for extra police resources at the Melbourne event.

'He hasn't paid it,' Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville told 3AW Radio.

'He was presented with a bill and he hasn't yet paid it. I know there is discussions going on at the moment with... our government solicitors.'

Hundreds of police were sent in to control up to 500 left-wing and around 50 right-wing activists who clashed outside the Kensington event on Monday night. This left-wing protester was arrested

The promoter of last year's tour, Damien Costas, previously argued 'his people' had nothing to do with the violence and said he would refuse to cover the cost.

'This is political grandstanding. It's actually absolute nonsense,' he told Daily Mail Australia in December.

'My answer to politicians that like to get political mileage out of something - in this case the Police Minister - my answer to her is quite simple: 'Sue me'.'

Hundreds of police were sent in to control up to 500 left-wing and up to 50 right-wing activists outside the event.

Five officers were pelted with bottles and rocks and two protesters, one from each side, were arrested during the violent scenes.

Yiannopoulos slammed the 'violent' left-wing protesters for causing the trouble that required heavy police presence.

'There was a lot of kerfuffle out front,' he told Alan Jones on 2GB Radio at the time.

'It was not as the newspapers reported ''a clash between the far left and far right'' it was the left, showing up, being violent to stop freedom of speech.

Yiannopoulos' tour promoter Damien Costas (pictured right) argued 'his people' had nothing to do with the violence and said he would refuse to cover the cost for the police presence

'The left really showed us who they are. They attack the police, they attacked other people, they attacked journalists - they showed us they are petulant babies.'

Last year, Yiannopoulos controversially mocked Aboriginal art and the digeridoo.

'Australians in this bizarre form of middle-class guilt have decided to pay a basics to a culture that failed to invent the wheel and whose signature musical achievement is a big stick,' he said.

At his shows in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, he also flashed up the word 'unf***able' on big screens next to an image of Australian feminist and writer Clementine Ford.

Yiannopoulos reacts during a press conference on arrival at the Sydney International Airport

A Campaign Against Racism and Fascism supporter and a Yiannopoulos supporter are pepper sprayed by police outside his Melbourne event last year

Twitter went wild with condemnation, particularly as the photo apparently showed Ms Ford when she was about 19-years-old.

Yiannopoulos' speeches on university campuses in the US have previously sparked violent protests.

He was banned from Twitter in 2016 after being blamed for a barrage of racist abuse directed by his fans toward Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones.

He has previously likened feminism to cancer, Islam to AIDS and has spoken out against gay rights and the Black Lives Matter movement - despite being openly homosexual and married to an African American man.

Yiannopoulos lost a book deal after a video emerged in February 2016 in which he said some relationships between older men and teenage boys could be beneficial.
The security services are conducting 676 'live' terrorism investigations and have foiled 13 Islamist plots over the past 18 months, it was revealed today.

Evidence of the scale of the threat to the UK came as Theresa May urged the public to be 'vigilant' and defy the extremists.

In a statement after the suspected terror attack at Westminster, when a man in a Ford Fiesta mowed down cyclists before crashing into barriers around Parliament, the Prime Minister said the incident was'shocking'.

'The threat to the United Kingdom from terrorism remains severe. I would urge the public to remain vigilant - but also to come together and carry on as normal, just as they did after the sickening attacks in Manchester and London last year,' she said.

The car was stopped in its tracks by a new security barrier designed to stop a lorryborne attack used in Nice or Berlin

Cyclists abandoned their bikes after the collision with one being treated for injuries in the middle of the road as terror came to London's streets again

'The twisted aim of the extremists is to use violence and terror to divide us. They will never succeed.'

The PM's spokesman said that over the past 18 months 13 Islamist terrorist plots had been foiled, and four far-right plots.

There are 676 live terrorism investigations in progress, he said. The previous figure given in March was that there were 'over 500'.

The government's COBRA emergency committee met to consider the situation earlier, but no ministers were present.

Mrs May is on holiday in Switzerland, but Downing Street insisted she was being kept fully briefed on the situation.

Chancellor Philip Hammond is the ranking minister on duty in Westminster.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid is breaking his family holiday - which was only just starting - to help with the response.

'For the second time in as many years the home of our democracy, which is a potent symbol of our precious values of tolerance and freedom, has witnessed terrible scenes just yards from its door,' Mrs May said.

'My thoughts are with the innocent members of the public who were hurt in this appalling incident.

CCTV footage of the car unearthed by the BBC shows the car on the wrong side of the road then swerve left, hitting cyclists and pedestrians before hitting a barrier

Theresa May (pictured at a commemoration in Amiens last week) is on holiday in Switzerland today, but Downing Street insisted she was being kept fully briefed on the situation

'I wish them a speedy recovery and we must be thankful that nobody suffered life-threatening injuries.

'I also wish to praise the formidable courage of our emergency services, who were on the scene immediately and in significant numbers.

'Once again, they did not flinch and ran towards a dangerous situation in order to protect the public.

'The country is hugely grateful for their calmness and professionalism.'
The first images have emerged of a woman who is feared drowned after being swept into the ocean in New York.

Anna-Kaye Miller Clarke, 35, was wading in waist-high water at Bayswater Point State Park around 5.30pm on Sunday when she was pulled under by the current.

Owen Miller, Anna's father, told CBS New York that she could not swim and had only just started learning.

Anna-Kaye Miller Clarke, 35, is missing feared drowned after she was swept away while wading in waist-high water in Far Rockaway, New York, around 5.30pm on Sunday

'I guess she saw the low tide and decided to take a walk across there,' he said.

In fact Anna disappeared at high tide while trying to cross a channel alongside 44-year-old husband Dayle.

At one point she became distressed and sank below the water-line, prompting her husband to dive in after her.

A passerby also attempted to grab her hand but was unable to hang on as the current pulled her under, the New York Post reports.

Marceline Wright, Anna's cousin, told the paper that she had been married to Dayle for five years and the pair had recently gone on holiday to Jamaica.

Anna's father Owen Miller explained that she did not know how to swim but had been learning before she was swept out to sea (file image)

Anna had been into the water at the park before, Wright said, but had never gotten into trouble in the past.

Wright described Dayle as 'numb' following his wife's disappearance.

Anna's mother, Miriam, said she had seen the pair before they left for the park on Sunday afternoon.

'They were both leaving and I said, "Where are you going?" and they said, "We'll soon be back."'

Police crews including a helicopter were called to the scene on Sunday and spend the evening searching for her, though called off efforts around 8pm as it got dark.

Anna's family were back at the park on Monday alongside emergency workers, though the area was closed to the public which the search continues.
A Jet2 flight from Portugal to Leeds was forced to make an emergency landing in France after the cabin pressure failed while cruising at altitude.

Passengers had to be given medical treatment after their plane was forced to land prematurely following the pressure failure while cruising at altitude.

The Jet2 flight was flying from Faro, Portugal was forced to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux, southwestern France, sparking panic among passengers.

A Jet2 flight from Portugal to Leeds was forced to make an emergency landing in France after the cabin pressure failed while cruising at altitude. Passengers had to be given medical treatment after their plane was forced to land prematurely

The Jet2 flight was flying from Faro, Portugal was forced to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux, southwestern France, sparking panic among passengers.One relieved traveller quickly took to social media following the incident to praise Jet2 staff for their reactions

One relieved traveller quickly took to social media following the incident to praise Jet2 staff for their reactions.

Andrew Jackson said: 'Thank you Jet2 for landing us safely in Bordeaux! Flight from Faro to Leeds Bradford lost cabin pressure at 30,000 feet and the oxygen masks came down!

'Very nervous next 45 minutes as we descended very quickly (ears took a real bashing) and then landed at Bordeaux airport.

'Thankfully all passengers safe and well although a few ear problems and a nose bleed and some very upset/nervous individuals but also very thankful.'

A spokeswoman for Jet2, said: 'Flight LS252 from Faro to Leeds Bradford diverted to Bordeaux Airport on Friday, August 10, due to a technical fault.

'The flight crew followed standard procedure and made a controlled descent before landing safely.'

Adding that no passengers' safety was jeopardised at any point, Jet2 say a replacement aircraft was flown to Bordeaux to allow passengers to continue their journeys.

Apologising for the disruption, the travel company said they were launching a full investigation into the fault.
Senior MPs renewed demands for cars to be banned from Parliament Square today after the latest suspected terrorist attack.

Politicians were urged to heed the 'wake up call' and back moves to pedestrianise the area in front of the famous building.

Earlier this year the authorities at the Houses signed off more than 150,000 of funding for tests of how traffic could be managed if Parliament Square was partly or even fully closed off.

The proposals could mean that only vehicles belonging to politicians, their staff and delivery firms are allowed access to the road running past the historic building.

This is the scene in the minutes after the crash and shows the vehicle was within the network of barriers outside Parliament. These were increased after the terror attack there last year

The idea of pedestrianising Parliament Square was originally raised a decade ago, and reached the stage of having plans drawn up by renowned architect Norman Foster (pictured). But it was dropped by Boris Johnson when he became London Mayor in 2008.

Plans for a secure 'air lock' were pushed ahead after a review in the wake of the attack in March last year, when Khalid Masood used a car to mow down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before roaming on to the estate and stabbing a policeman to death.

But one senior MP told MailOnline that they now needed to 'go forward' without delay. There has previously been frustration at resistance from some MPs to stepping up security measures.

'The House has been woken up again to the dangers of terrorism,' they said.

Tory backbencher Nigel Evans suggested cars should be barred from the whole square to reduce the risk.

He told TalkRadio that when he came to parliament 26 years ago there were 'not even armed police'.

'All of that has been stepped up as a response to incidents in the past, and I suspect this will reignite the debate on whether the whole of parliament square should be pedestrianised to ensure that anybody cant weaponise a vehicle and disrupt and indeed destroy out democracy," he said.

A 'war game' that simulated gun-wielding terrorists ramming a car through the gates was previously said to have exposed glaring weaknesses - concluding that four extremists armed with automatic weapons could get into the Commons chamber and massacre MPs.

Barring non-parliamentary traffic from the area would make it easier to protect the vulnerable main entrance.

Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who chairs the parliamentary security group, gave a presentation to MPs and peers on the plans before Christmas.

The car was stopped in its tracks by a new security barrier designed to stop a lorryborne attack used in Nice or Berlin

The 'Parliament Square Streetscape' project', which is being put together with Westminster Council, is also understood to have support in principle from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Mr Khan pledged to part-pedestrianise the square, a prime tourist spot, during his election campaign.

The idea was originally raised a decade ago, and reached the stage of having plans drawn up by renowned architect Norman Foster. But it was dropped by Boris Johnson when he became London Mayor in 2008.

In an answer to a written question in November, Mr Khan said a 'multi-agency steering group' was considering options ranging from 'minimal changes to more significant changes to the square'.
BRASILIA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday began a visit to Brazil, where he spoke with government representatives about continued military cooperation.

His visit is part of a four-nation swing through South America that will include stops in Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

On Monday morning, Mattis first met with Brazil's Foreign Relations Minister Aloysio Nunes, and then Defense Minister Joaquim Silva.

On the agenda were alternatives for advancing cooperation in technical, scientific, political-military and defense industry areas.

Mattis is also set to meet with individuals from the defense industry and political-military areas to increase bilateral cooperation.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Mattis will give a talk at the Superior School of War and pay a visit to the national monument honoring Brazilian military members who were killed in World War II.

Although Brazil and the United States don't have a military alliance, when it comes to defense and weapons, the United States is one of the largest importers of products from Brazil.

The U.S. government is currently negotiating the purchase of 300 Embraer EMB-314 planes known as Super Tucano, a type of turboprop light attack aircraft.

[ Editor: WPY ]
A beauty supply store owner is facing charges after he was caught on camera punching a mother in the face after her three-year-old son took a 99 cent keychain.

The video, filmed by a bystander, shows Changseok Jun and April Harding arguing outside Jun's Beauty Supply in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Sunday.

As the two continue to yell at each other in the clip, Harding makes a hand gesture near Jun's face and turns around.

Jun then grabs Harding's arm and punches her right in the mouth with a closed fist.

Oklahoma beauty supply store owner Changseok Jun is facing charges after he was caught on camera punching customer April Harding in the face after her son took a 99 cent keychain

Harding can be seen covering her mouth before spitting up blood as Jun walks back into the store. She suffered a swollen lip that required three stitches.

Jun has since been charged with assault and battery, a misdemeanor.

Tulsa Police Department Sgt Shane Tuell told Yahoo! that Jun will likely be fined or ordered to complete community service. He said Harding also has the option to sue.

Harding, a hairdresser who often shops at the store, said she had paid for her stuff when she realized her son was holding the 99 cent keychain.

'The man, the owner, he said something to me. I took it from my son and I threw it back in the store because I was trying to discipline my son at the same time,' she explained on a Facebook Live video.

The video, filmed by a bystander, shows Changseok Jun and April Harding arguing outside Jun's Beauty Supply in Tulsa

Jun then grabs Harding's arm and punches her right in the mouth with a closed fist (pictured)

'Nothing was ever taken from the store. We never got out of the store with anything.'

But when Harding walked out of the store, she realized Jun was right behind her.

'He's behind me saying something, it was aggressive,' she said. 'I turned around to say something verbally back to him.'

'Then I went ahead and got up in his face and attempted to walk away. It looks like I hit him, but I didn't.'

Harding can be seen covering her mouth following the shocking punch as Jun walks away

Harding can also be seen spitting blood onto the ground after Jun punched her in the lip

'I did my hand like this, like "whatever", and when I did, he grabbed my arm and spun me around and punched me in the lip.'

The video was posted to Facebook on Sunday, where it was viewed more than 500,000 times in 24 hours.

Jun's Beauty Supply shut both of its locations on Monday as protesters lined up in front of the store where Harding was punched and encouraged people to boycott.

'For him to hit her is unacceptable,' protest organizer Cleo Harris told Tulsa World.

'You're taking the black dollar, but you don't trust us coming in to buy your product that is a creation of us.'

DailyMail.com could not reach Jun's Beauty Supply for comment on Tuesday.
A hilarious video shows the moment a Transportation Security Administration officer accepted a young boy's dance challenge.

Officer Joshua McCall was admiring the boy's dance moves at a checkpoint at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday.

McCall was processing a family-of-five through security when the little boy challenged him to a dance-off.

A hilarious video shows the moment a Transportation Security Administration officer accepted a young boy's (pictured in light blue) dance challenge

In a video that TSA posted on social media, the officer and the boy show off their best dance moves, including The Floss.

The Floss dance was created by Russell Horning, the dancing social media megastar, better known as The Backpack Kid.

McCall and the boy are seen doing The Floss multiple times before they change it up with another move and then clap above their heads.

New Jersey TSA federal security director Tom Carter said the agency's officers would 'be happy to accept any dance challenges from passengers,' as long as they're not too busy.

Carter said McCall not only helped keep the family safe, but he also made their checkpoint experience pleasurable and memorable.

'It's a good example of the human side of our great and dedicated professionals on the front lines of homeland security,' he said.
Actor and martial artist Blake Davis, also known as Tommy Blake, is the man accused of fatally stabbing rapper Jett McKee after he tried to rob his house.

Davis, 28, and his barista girlfriend Hannah Quinn, 23, handed themselves in on Monday evening following the incident in Forest Lodge, in Sydney's inner-west, on Friday afternoon.

The couple have been charged with the former IT worker's murder after he tried to rob their granny flat wearing a balaclava, carrying a fake gun and knuckledusters.

Blake Davis, 28, and Hannah Quinn (pictured), 23, handed themselves in Monday evening following the incident in Forest Lodge, in Sydney's inner-west, last Friday afternoon

Police allegedly found $21,000 in the alcove used by the couple, who were earlier allegedly victims of a failed robbery at the hands of the former IT worker (Blake Davis pictured)

Police were called to the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent at Forest Lodge around 12.40pm to find a body lying in the middle of the road (pictured)

Blake Davis (right, pictured with Housos star Paul Fenech, left), is the man accused of fatally stabbing rapper Jett McKee after he allegedly tried to rob his house

Actor and martial artist Blake Davis, also known as Tommy Blake, is the man accused of fatally stabbing rapper Jett McKee (pictured) after he allegedly tried to rob his house

Blake Davis (pictured), 28, and his barista girlfriend Hannah Quinn, 23, handed themselves in Monday evening following the incident in Forest Lodge, in Sydney's inner-west

The couple have been charged with Jett McKee's murder after he tried robbing their granny flat wearing a balaclava and carrying a fake gun and knuckledusters (Davis front right)

Police alleged the couple murdered the 30-year-old after he broke into their home, with McKee allegedly punching Davis in the head before fleeing on foot, Nine News reported.

Quinn's lawyer Lauren MacDougall didn't apply for bail in Newtown Local Court on Tuesday but asked for a hearing on Thursday.

She later told reporters outside court her young client had not been behind bars before and was 'very distressed'.

'I just want 24 hours to get the matter ready, I'm going to go and see her now and spend some more time with her,' she said.

Davis also did not apply for bail during his appearance via video link in the Newtown court.

He is due to reappear via video link at the same court on October 9.

His lawyer Sherleen Chand said Davis intends to plead not guilty and suffered 'quite significant' facial injuries in the alleged violent incident.

Davis, described as a 'confident, highly professional, polite person with excellent vocal skills' on his Star Now profile, appeared on Network Seven's My Kitchen Rules in 2012. He is also said to be an expert rapper and dancer.

He also played a role as a police officer on season two of Australian series, Housos, and claims on his acting profile to have starred in a NSW police corporate video in 2013.

With 11 years training in martial arts and an accomplished gymnast, he is listed as being capable of 'high intensity stunts' and to have acted and performed stunts in productions for NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art).

Police alleged the couple murdered the 30-year-old after he broke into their home, with McKee allegedly punching Davis (left) in the head before fleeing on foot

Davis (pictured), described as a 'confident, highly professional, polite person with excellent vocal skills' on his Star Now profile, appeared on Network Seven's My Kitchen Rules in 2012

In the 2014 movie Fat Pizza Vs Housos, he played a bogan and also appeared in a catalogue advert for Fantastic Furniture.

Davis has had roles in feature films including Empire of the Ninja and Ticket 61 Sydney Underground, and appeared in MTV promotions.

Detectives are unsure what McKee wanted from the couple, who they say were not known to him, when he attempted to rob their house in broad daylight.

In the 2014 movie Fat Pizza Vs Housos, Davis (pictured in character for Housos) played a bogan and also appeared in a catalogue advert for Fanastic Furniture

With 11 years training in martial arts, he is listed as being capable of 'high intensity stunts' and to have acted and performed stunts in productions for NIDA (Davis pictured far left)

In chilling new details, a balaclava-clad McKee, whose stage name was Scepaz, allegedly administered a hard punch to Davis, injuring his face, before fleeing.

As he ran from the home along Hereford Street, Quinn allegedly caught him before bringing him to the ground, with Davis approaching shortly after with a sword.

Davis allegedly struck the fatal blow to McKee, who was on his hands and knees at the time, before he and Quinn ran home and changed their clothes.

McKee died a short distance away in the middle of the road at Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent, with a balaclava, fake gun and knuckledusters found nearby.

Jett McKee (pictured) was identified as the victim of a fatal stabbing in Sydney's inner-west on Friday

Jett 'Scepaz' McKee has been remembered as a member of the local hip-hop community

Police will allege the couple went home to change and dump the alleged murder weapon before fleeing once again to a laneway near Alfred Road.

Detectives allegedly found $21,000 along with a fake gun in the alcove, but it was unknown if they had the amount the whole time, or collected it after the stabbing.

McKee allegedly recently racked up large gambling debts, Seven News reported.

Both Quinn and Davis have been charged with murder. Quinn did not apply for bail in court on Tuesday, nor did Davis when he fronted court on Monday.

Both Quinn and Davis (left, with Housos star Elle Dawe) have been charged with murder. Quinn did not apply for bail in court on Tuesday, nor did Davis when he fronted court on Monday

Resident Lynn Charlesworth's car (pictured) was covered in blood from the victim as he tried to escape

Davis' solicitor Sherleen Chand said his injuries were 'quite significant' and he would plead not guilty - his case was adjourned to October 9.

One of Quinn's supporters told media outside court Tuesday, 'Thank you so much for your interest and support but please respect the privacy of the family.'

Neighbours heard arguing between McKee and another man and woman, before he staggered out the front of the house with a 'massive' head wound last Friday.

Emergency services were called but McKee was dead by the time they arrived.

Since his passing, members of the hip-hop community have remembered him as an 'awesome soul'.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media since the rapper who went by Scepaz passed

He has been remembered as a 'humble guy', and was well-respected in the local scene

Witnesses said they saw the victim staggering down the street and collapsing after he was attacked in the suburb of Forest Lodge, near Glebe, on Friday afternoon

Tributes have poured in for the IT worker who was desperate to become a rapper.

'RIP Scepaz....we only met a handful of times but all the homies told me what a good bloke you were,' fellow rapper The Tongue said.

'R.I.P Scepaz you will be remembered,' said another.

Police seized a firearm and a number of weapons to be forensically examined but said no shots were fired.

Officers from Leichhardt Police joined forces with detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad to establish Strike Force Hedda to investigate the man's death.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police looking for evidence in relation to the fatal attack of a man in a quiet suburban area on Friday afternoon

Heavily armed police and officers carrying a battering ram closed in on a house nearby in Cross Street just after the fatal attack in broad daylight

Police raided a house in a nearby street following the discovery of a gun near the body, but later uncovered it was a replica.

Witnesses said they saw the victim staggering down the street and collapsing after hearing an altercation.

Resident Lynne Charlesworth heard a woman's screams and saw the victim slumped in the street, covered in blood.

Her car was covered in his blood as he tried to escape.

'I told him to stay still and he started to roll across the street,' she told reporters on Saturday.

'He got to our car, laid back on it and pulled himself up. His head was covered in blood. I couldn't tell you what his features were.'

Pictures from the scene show the body covered with a white blanket surrounded by police at the intersection of Hereford Street and Minogue Crescent
Bridget Woodson (pictured) said her boss at Spencer County Animal Shelter twice instructed her to put sick cats in the freezer but she refused and took them to a vet to be humanely put down instead

An Indiana animal shelter is being investigated after an employee said she was told to freeze cats as an alternative to having them put down by a vet.

Bridget Woodson said her boss at Spencer County Animal Shelter twice instructed her to put sick cats in the freezer but she refused and took them to a vet to be humanely put down.

On one occasion, animal control officer Christina Payne replied over text to her concerns by arguing freezing cats to death was 'no less humane' than taking them to a vet.

'I was sick to my stomach,' Woodson told WEVV. 'She instructed me to go ahead and put it in the trash bag you know that's assigned to it's specific color and then just put it into the freezer. I told her it was alive. I told her it was up and moving.'

Woodson said the first time she was asked to perform the crude euthanasia technique it was on a kitten that was badly injured.

On one occasion, animal control officer Christina Payne replied to her concerns by arguing freezing cats to death was 'no less humane' than having them euthanized by a vet

Realizing she was uncomfortable, Payne gave Woodson the option of taking the cat to the vet, which she did.

The second time, Woodson also took the cat to the vet and sent a text to Payne afterwards expressing her concerns.

'Hey, I took the cat to the vet and had it put down,' she wrote. 'You can take the cost out of my pay check if that's a problem. I will not be putting live animals in the freezer if there's another option available, please don't ask me to do that again.'

Payne replied: 'That's fine but so you know, the freezer option is no less humane. It's fine though, Bridget, I'm here for my employees. Always.'

Woodson said the first time she was asked to perform the crude euthanasia technique it was on a kitten that was badly injured

Woodson said she told the shelter's board of her concerns and resigned when they failed to take action.

The method is not allowed under the American Veterinary Medical Associations (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals, which also insists euthanasia is only carried out by fully-qualified vets.

Spencer County Sheriffs Office Detective Chris King said more witnesses had come forward about other freezer deaths. One claimed recounted an incident in which four animals died after being put in the freezer at the same time.

King said the investigation had been passed to the county due to conflict of interest concerns at the local police. Investigators are ensure exactly how many cats died through freezing, Eyewitness News reports.

Spencer County Animal Shelter has not commented publicly on the allegations. Dailymail.com phoned the shelter but was unable to leave a message.
Steve Shapiro, 71, who argued 30 cases before the US Supreme Court, was shot dead inside his Chicago home Monday night

A prominent attorney was shot dead during a domestic altercation inside his Chicago home Monday night.

Steve Shapiro, 71, who argued 30 cases before the US Supreme Court, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the gunman broke into Shapiro's home just before 7.20pm. After the dispute, the suspect fled the scene into a wooded area nearby.

The suspect then made his way to his apartment complex located near Tower and Green Bay roads in Winnetka, about three miles away.

Officers surrounded the building where the suspect had barricaded himself inside.

The suspect gave himself up to authorities and was taken into custody without incident around 10.35pm.

Police haven't released the suspect's identity or the circumstances of the shooting.

The Mayer Brown law firm says it is shocked by Shapiro's death.

Police said the suspected gunman entered Shapiro's home (pictured) just before 7.20pm. After a dispute, the suspect fled the scene into a wooded area nearby

The suspect then made his way to his apartment complex located near Tower and Green Bay roads in Winnetka. Officers surrounded the building where the suspect (pictured, being arrested) had barricaded himself inside

Shapiro joined the firm in 1972 and was a deputy solicitor general during the Reagan administration.

The firm's website says Shapiro argued several cases for corporate clients before the Supreme Court as recently as 2012.

'Steve personally has been responsible for briefing more than 200 cases and for arguing 30 cases before the US Supreme Court.'

Shapiro was the founder and senior member of the Supreme Court & Appellate practice at Mayer Brown.

According to the firm's website, it was because of Shapiro's leadership that the firm has grown to become the largest Supreme Court & Appellate practice in the country.

'We are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Steve Shapiro, our friend and colleague,' the firm said in a statement.

'Steve joined our firm in 1972 and was promoted to partner in 1978, becoming one of the most accomplished appellate lawyers in the United States. Our thoughts are with Steve's family at this difficult time.'

Shapiro's storied career saw him successfully represent the 15 leading underwriters and mutual funds in the nation before the Supreme Court in the 2007 case Credit Suisse v. Billing, the largest private antitrust case in history.
A carer in China has been accused of brutally beating a 86-year-old woman she was hired to look after.

Her cruel act was bust when the pensioner's son, Liu, was watching live footage from his home surveillance camera on his mobile phone last week, a family member told Xinhua.

The carer, Cui, has been detained by the Shenyang police in Liaoning Province after they carried out an investigation.

The carer in China has been accused of physically abusing 86-year-old Tang multiple times

Tang's children claimed that the carer had attacked the sick pensioner for no reason

After Liu saw the footage of his mother being beaten by her carer on the night of August 5, he immediately drove back home in Shenyang to check on his mother, Liu's sister told a reporter from Xinhua.

It is said that Liu was horrified to see multiple bruises and injuries on his mother's head. Liu decided to call the police.

Liu's mother, Tang, was diagnosed with brain shrinkage three years ago and needed around-the-clock care, according to Huanqiu.com, an affiliation to People's Daily.

Tang's husband, who is 90, is deaf in both ears and cannot look after Tang. Therefore, their children decided to hire a carer to tend to their mother.

Cui was hired last September by Tang's husband, who had been unhappy with the previous carer. She was paid 5,000 yuan a month (570).

The video grab shows Tang crying after being allegedly beaten by her carer at home

One of Tang's daughter told Huanqiu.com that Cui looked 'honest' and 'behaved well' in front of them.

However after Liu discovered Cui's shocking behaviour, the family reviewed more security footage and discovered that their mother had been physically abused by Cui on seven or eight occasions in the two weeks before.

It seems that Cui had attacked Tang for no reason, Tang's daughter told Huanqiu.

A picture supplied by Tang's children to Huanqiu.com shows injuries on Tang's head

Liu reported the case to the Tiexi Branch of Shenyang Public Security Bureau on August 7.

Upon investigation, the police detained Cui on August 8 on suspicion of abusing those under her care, a statement issued by Shenyang police said.

According to Chinese criminal law, any offenders of the crime could face imprisonment of up to three years.

The case is being investigated further.
A 75-year-old man has been charged with murdering his elderly wife and dismembering her body with a machete.

Elue McDonald Watson was found by police near the train tracks in Lake Mary, Florida, on Friday.

Sanford police said in a statement that Watson had called 911 and requested that someone check on his wife, Alice Watson.

A 75-year-old man has been charged with murdering his elderly wife and dismembering her body with a machete inside their home (pictured)

Elue McDonald Watson was found by police near the train tracks (pictured) in Lake Mary, Florida, on Friday. Detectives said Watson was had parked their silver SUV on the tracks and was wandering around the area in blood-soaked clothing

When police arrived to their Sanford home, Alice's body was found tied to the bed.

According to Fox 35, she had been cut several times by a machete and her finger had been severed.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. A cause of death has not been determined.

Detectives found her husband near the train tracks where he had parked their silver SUV.

Watson was wandering around in the area in blood-soaked clothes. Inside the vehicle police said they found a machete on the floorboard.

Sanford Police spokesman Ronny Neal said the department is conducting a homicide investigation. Watson is currently the only person of interest.

Authorities said Watson was taken to the hospital for an unrelated medical condition before he was arrested. Police are still trying to determine a motive.

Anyone wishing to report information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS (8477).
Brittney Whetzel, 28, allegedly told her colleagues in a group chat that she 'couldn't control' herself when she slept with two students

A South Carolina teacher accused of having sex with two teenage students at a party she and another teacher hosted allegedly bragged in a group chat about the illicit encounter saying she 'couldn't control' herself.

Brittney Whetzel, 28, and Akina Andrews, 23, were arrested in August after they threw a booze-fueled spring break party at Whetzel's home in Lady's Island and invited three students from Battery Creek High School, where they both worked.

Authorities accused the teachers of supplying the teens with beer, tequila and wine at the April 9 soiree. Whetzel was accused of having sex with two of the male students, both 18 or over.

According to the Island Packet, new details reveal that a few hours after the alleged sexual encounter Whetzel boasted about it in a group chat with her colleagues.

'I can't control myself,' she allegedly wrote, adding that she 'would do it every day'.

One of the teachers in the group chat contacted police about the incident, and told police that Whetzel had previously joked about 'hooking up' with the teen and saying she couldn't wait until he graduated on June 3rd so she could have his 'beautiful babies'.

The investigation also revealed that two days before the party Whetzel did a Google search trying to find information on whether it was illegal for a teacher to have sex with a student.

Whetzel's co-worker, Battery Creek High media assistant Akina Andrews (pictured) was also arrested for allegedly giving underage students alcohol

'Can teachers get in trouble for sleeping with former students?' was one of two searches authorities reportedly found in her cellphone.

Though both students Whetzel allegedly had sex with were 18 or older, under South Carolina law, it is illegal for teachers to have sexual contact with their students, even if the students are above the age of consent.

Whetzel, who taught English at the school, initially denied the allegations telling investigators that she thought somebody was trying to set her up.

'I feel like somebody's trying to, like, get me in big trouble and I did not do anything, ... I would never do that to a child,' she reportedly said.

But the students gave different accounts from that night.

In a second interview with police, Whetzel reportedly admitted that two of the students had spent the night and that she had driven them home the next morning.

Though both students Whetzel allegedly had sex with were 18 or older, under South Carolina law, it is illegal for teachers to have sexual contact with their students, even if the students are above the age of consent. Pictured is the Battery Creek High School

She then claimed a combination of alcohol and a new medication had caused her to forget parts of her day.

When asked if she had had sex with the students, she told deputies 'I probably did'.

Police arrested Whetzel on April 16. She was charged with two counts of sexual battery and three misdemeanor counts of transfer of beer or wine for an underage person's consumption between April 9 and April 10, according The Island Packet.

She was released from jail the following morning on a $10,000 surety bond.

Andrews, who worked as a media assistant, was charged with providing alcohol to minors at the same party. She was not charged with sexual battery of any kind.

The SC Department of Education suspended Whetzel's teaching certificate on April 24.

'Due to the serious nature of this allegation to misconduct, Ms. Whetzel may pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of students who may be under her instruction, and that emergency action is required,' the department said.
Longtime informal Donald Trump advisor Roger Stone claims special counsel Robert Mueller probing his 'personal, private' and family life in order to gain leverage to try to force him to testify against the president.

Stone made the claim in a lengthy plea for donations to a fund to benefit his legal defense  on the final day of the prosecution's case in the trial of his longtime political and business associate Paul Manafort on fraud and tax evasion charges.

'Muellers hit team is poking into every aspect of my personal, private, family, social, business and political life  presumably to conjure up some bogus charge or charges to use to pressure me to plead guilty to their Wikileaks fantasy and testify against Donald Trump who I have known intimately for almost 40 years,' Stone vented in an online post for the Daily Caller, where he is identified as the Men's Fashion Editor.

Informal Trump advisor Roger Stone is appealing for help with his legal defense fund, and claims special counsel Robert Mueller is probing his personal life

He charged: 'Mueller is running a criminally abusive, constitutionally unaccountable, professionally and politically incestuous conspiracy of ethically conflicted cronies colluding to violate my Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights and those of almost everyone who had any sort of political or personal association with me in the last 10 years.'

Readers who click on a link are steered to a legal defense fund to combat 'those who would silence Roger.' Donors are encouraged to donate from $25 to $5,000 in single or monthly increments.

Stone lays out some of the ways investigators have been closing in on his circle.

Muellers team of partisan prosecutors seek to prove the unprovable  that I received allegedly hacked e-mails from the Russians or Wikileaks and passed them on to Donald Trump.

Muellers hit team is poking into every aspect of my personal, private, family, social, business and political life,' Claims Stone

Stone friend and former employee Kristin Davis, the 'Manhattan Madam' testified before a grand jury for an hour in the probe. Davis, who brought prostitutes to disgraced former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, told CNN investigators wanted to know about some of his online missives which could show advance knowledge of actions by WikiLeaks, like his tweet that it would be soon be Clinton campaign chair John Podesta's 'time in the barrel.'

Mueller has been calling in Stone associates such as the 'Manhattan Madam' Kristin Davis

"I think there's the general concern for some things that he seemed to predict," Davis told CNN. Stone denies knowledge of anything other than what WikiLeaks said publicly, and called his direct message exchange with hacker Guccifer 2.0 'innocuous.'

Comedian Randy Credico is set to testify in September. Stone has said Credico passed on information from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about the forthcoming release of Hillary Clinton emails.

'They probably want to talk to him about Roger Stone and Julian Assange,' his lawyer Martin Stolar told CNN.

After a dispute with Credico over differing accounts, Stone emailed him: 'Lets get it on. Prepare to die c*** sucker, Mother Jones reported.

Stone says his legal defense costs could hit $2 million

Last week, a federal judge held Stone associate Andrew Miller in contempt of court for refusing to testify before the grand jury.

'If you followed the news last Friday, you know that my longtime friend Kristin Davis testified before Special Counsel Robert Muellers grand jury, that my longtime associate and wingman Andrew Miller was held in contempt for his refusal to testify for the grand jury, and that a subpoena was dropped on Randy Credico who, despite his public denials, was the source who first told me that Wikileaks had the goods on Hillary and would release them in October,' Stone wrote.

'It was a Deep State Trifecta!' he added.

Stone made his appeal in a column in the conservative Daily Caller, where he is Men's Fashion Editor

Stone also claims the 'ongoing inquisition' has wiped 'out my tiny savings and caused me to liquidate the small fund generated by my book sales for college education. My defense could ultimately cost as much as $2 million.'

He didn't specify who or what the college education expenses were for. A separate gofundme campaign by Stone grandson Nick Stevens states that his grandfather 'has even been forced to use the small amount he has made from the sale of the five books he has written that was supposed to help pay for my college education and the college education of my sisters and my cousins  all of Roger Stones grandchildren.'

Stone refused to comment when contacted on the amount of the funds or how they were set up and for whom.
This is the first image of a construction worker who is said to have destroyed five retirement homes worth 4m.

Romanian national Daniel Neagu, 30, was charged after the properties were destroyed over the weekend in Buntingford, Hertfordshire.

In an image obtained by The Sun Online, Neagu can be seen posing in front of the Houses of Parliament wearing a pair of sunglasses.

Daniel Neagu, 30, (pictured) was charged after the properties were destroyed over the weekend in Buntingford, Hertfordshire

Mr Neagu was in court yesterday, where he was charged with one count of criminal damage costing around 4m following the destruction of the homes using a builder.

Neagu, of Harrow, north west London, who had performed work for the firm, did not enter a plea during the hearing at Hatfield Magistrates' Court.

Using an interpreter, he appeared via videolink from police cells following the demolition of the McCarthy and Stone properties.

He will now appear for a plea hearing at St Albans Crown Court on September 10.

Around 4million worth of damage was caused to the homes on Saturday

The front part of this home has been completely destroyed using a digger

Investigators are trying to find out whether his alleged rampage is connected to his dismissal, where a missing work vehicle appeared in Romania, 1,500 miles away.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said officers arrested a man at the scene after being called at about 5.40pm on Saturday.

Jennifer and Peter Lobb spoke to The Sun Online yesterday about their devastation that their new two-bedroom property had been destroyed.

Mrs Lobb, 68, said: 'We were just in shock, disbelief. It was like a bad dream.

'We just keep laughing, it feels like an April Fool's joke.'

It is believed that Neagu had been working on the site finishing the properties before he was allegedly sacked.

A spokesperson for McCarthy & Stone said: 'Following an incident at our Buntingford site on Saturday, our response team has been on-site and we can confirm that five newly built bungalows have been damaged.

A turqoise digger is pictured near the scene of the damage, where houses have been completely destroyed

'We are now awaiting a structural engineer's report, so we can plan the work required to repair or rebuild these properties.

'The five properties were all unoccupied at the time, with homeowners set to move in in the coming weeks.

'We are absolutely devastated for the purchasers affected; and our priority is to continue to stay in close contact with them and their families, and to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.

'We will also continue to assist the police with their enquiries; and we can confirm that the individual who has been charged is not an employee of McCarthy & Stone.'
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- In an upsurge of violence in the Syrian civil war, more than 130 people were killed, including "many children" in three governorates over the weekend, the United Nations said on Monday.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), based at the UN Headquarters, said ongoing hostilities in northwestern Syria have killed at least 134 people, including many children, over the weekend in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo governorates.

"At least 59 civilians were reportedly killed, 17 of them children, when a weapons and ammunition depot exploded in a residential building near Sarmada town in northern rural Idlib Governorate," UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at a regular briefing.

The UN Children's Agency (UNICEF) counted "28 children were reported killed in Idlib and western Aleppo in northern Syria" in the last 36 hours, he said.

"Three UNICEF-supported health facilities were attacked," Haq said. "Two of them - providing aid to women and children - are now out of service."

Education authorities reportedly suspended all school activities in Khan Shaykun, Maarrat An Numan and Kafr Nobol in Idlib for three days due to hostilities," he said.

"We remind all parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect all civilians and civilian objects, including schools and health facilities; and to allow safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to all in need in compliance with international humanitarian law," the deputy spokesman said.

[ Editor: WPY ]
An immigrant mother says her 14-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by a worker at a border detention center.

Edith Alarcon says the girl confided during a phone call that a member of staff at the Southwest Key center in Phoenix, Arizona, had entered her room on numerous occasions and repeatedly made advances towards her, kissing and intimately touching her.

'There was a mishap with your daughter, a man that's employed here kissed her and grabbed her (behind)', recalled Ms Alarcon of the chat she had with an official from the center during an interview with Univision on Monday.

And now she believes US immigration authorities are still hiding information about the attack.

The Salvadorian mother, who lives in Nebraska, has now demanded her daughter's release, as well as that of her seven-year-old son who is also being held there.

On July 25, a witness phoned the Phoenix Police Department revealing that an employee at the site, a shelter housing immigrant children who arrive in the US without a legal guardian, was seen touching Alarcon's daughter.

Edith Alarcon (left) desperately wants the release of her 14-year-old daughter (right), who reported she was sexually abused by a worker at an immigration detention site.

On July 27 between 9pm and 10.30pm, he was once again seen entering the room on multiple occasions.

Ms Alarcon also told Univision that her daughter fought back while the man told her, 'what's wrong with you? This is normal?'

About a week later, Fernando Magaz Negrete, 32, admitted his wrongdoing to the cops. He's been held since July 31 on charges of aggravated assault, child molestation and sexual abuse.

It took five weeks for the Central American mother to get the news from authorities about the incident.

Ms Alarcon, who has been living in the US for four years, also told Univision she believes the suspect might have done more than she has been told.

Fernando Magaz Negrete is accused of sexually abusing an immigrant minor at a Southwest Key shelter, where unaccompanied children are held.

She has demanded a thorough medical evaluation of her daughter to rule out any possibility of rape and sexually transmitted diseases, and has now formally requested her kids' releases.

'I tell her, my love, let me know if that man did anything else , tell me, it won't bother me,' said Alarcon.

The incident happened at the same border detention center visited by First Lady Melania Trump on July 28

'Because she always says to me, 'mom I am worried that you might get sick, mom I am afraid that something will happen, mom I don't want anything to happen to you. But when I am with you we'll talk,' Ms Alarcon recalled.

First Lady Melania Trump visited the immigration shelter on July 28, the day before Ms Alarcon's daughter was harmed.

'I will not be at peace until I am with my daughter,' Alarcon said.

'I demand that my children are returned to me.'
Faye Doomchin, 66, was arrested at her Long Island, New York home on Tuesday over the fatal stabbing of a 60-year-old British tourist

A New York woman has been charged with stabbing a British tourist to death with a kitchen knife because she allegedly wanted to 'rid her home of evil'.

Faye Doomchin, 66, was arrested on Tuesday at her Long Island home after allegedly stabbing the 60-year-old woman a day earlier.

Police said Doomchin and the victim, who was on vacation from England, had only just been introduced that day by a mutual male friend.

The trio had lunch on Monday before going back to Doomchin's home for cake and coffee, and to listen to the mutual friend play piano.

Detective Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said the group were sitting in the living room talking when Doomchin suddenly said she didn't like the British woman.

Moments later, Doomchin allegedly said she 'needed to rid the house of evil'.

Doomchin allegedly then grabbed a knife from the kitchen and plunged it into the woman's chest.

'They never met before, they just met that day, came back to the house and then this incident happened,' Fitzpatrick said.

Doomchin was charged with second degree murder over the attack and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. Footage shot by News12 showed her being escorted from prison

The victim, a 60-year-old woman visiting from England, was found stabbed at Doomchin's home on Monday afternoon

Police found the victim with stab wounds to her chest inside Doomchin's home on Monday at about 4pm.

The woman was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police are withholding her identity until they can alert her family.

Police said the victim had only arrived in the US last week and was due to stay for three weeks.

Doomchin was charged with second degree murder over the attack and pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Tuesday.

She is believed to have lived at the home with her husband Michael and their adult daughter, according to online records.

Doomchin has a prior assault record from back in 1999. Police said she used a weapon in that instance as well.
Harvey Weinstein lost a bid to have a new lawsuit accusing him of sex trafficking thrown out of court on Tuesday.

The judge gave his permission for British actress Kadian Noble to continue with her suit, which accuses Weinstein of violating laws against sex trafficking by luring her to his Cannes hotel room with the false promise of a role for the purpose of sex.

US District Judge Robert W. Sweet agreed with Noble's lawyers that the exchange could constitute a 'commercial sex act', and rejected defense arguments that 'nothing of value' was exchanged during the encounter.

Kadian Noble (left, speaking about the alleged abuse in New York on November 28, 2017) can continue with her suit, which accuses Weinstein (right, arriving at court in New York on July 8) of violating laws against sex trafficking

Weinstein invited Noble to his hotel room in February 2014 to watch her demo reel before allegedly molesting her and forcing her into a bathroom to watch him masturbate.

The actress claimed Weinstein set up the encounter a year before in London, when he told her that he 'had a role in mind for her and that 'it will be good for you,'' reported the New York Post.

When they met in Cannes, the movie mogul asked Noble to meet him at Le Majestic Hotel to talk over her film reel.

But instead he started massaging her and told her walk up and down the room for an 'audition' before assaulting her in the restroom, the court heard. 'Everything will be taken care of for you relax,' Noble claimed he said.

Judge Sweet ruled Weinstein's behavior could fall under the federal definition of sex trafficking, explaining that previous courts had applied it to 'defendants who have lured women, under false pretenses, with lucrative promises for sexual purposes'.

'Here the pattern of behavior  alleged a knowing and understanding that Harvey would use fraudulent means to entice Noble to engage in a sex act with him,' he added.

Weinstein is escorted in handcuffs into State Supreme Court in New York City on July 9 after his arraignment on charges of assaulting a woman

The judge cited evidence that Weinstein had promised Noble a film role and said 'everything would be taken care of'.

He also noted that, for an actress, the mere fact of meeting a world-renowned film producer carries value.

'The opportunity, moreover, for the actress to sit down with that producer in a private meeting to review her film reel and discuss a promised film role carries value that is career-making and life-changing,' he said.

'The contention, therefore, that Noble was given nothing of value - that the expectation of a film role, of a modeling meeting, of 'his people' being 'in touch with her' had no value - does not reflect modern reality,' the judge continued.

He included a footnote at the word 'reality', citing sources that explain that the concept of the ''casting couch' - in which aspiring actors and actresses are promised valuable professional opportunities in exchange for sexual favors - has been in the American lexicon for 'nearly a century'.

Weinstein denies wrongdoing, and claimed through his lawyers that letting the lawsuit proceed to trial means sex trafficking laws now cover all sexual activity between adults when one person holds power and influence over the other.

Sweet said that even if the prospect of a film role, a modeling meeting or a continued professional relationship with Weinstein were not enough to constitute 'things of value' necessary under the sex trafficking statute, then her 'reasonable expectation of receiving those things in the future, based on Harvey's repeated representations that she would, is sufficient.'

Sweet also dismissed Weinstein's brother Robert from the lawsuit, saying the prosecution had not convincingly argued he knew of his brother's actions.

Weinstein's lawyers Phyllis Kupferstein said: 'This decision is just the first round, and merely finds that plaintiff has alleged enough to proceed with her case.

'It does not mean that there is merit to the case. We will seek to appeal the decision. We believe these claims are not legally or factually supported, and ultimately will not be sustained.'
A Utah firefighter has died after being injured while fighting the largest recorded fire in California history.

Draper City Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, 42, of Draper, Utah, died Monday while fighting the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco.

California officials have declined to provide details about what led to Burchett's injuries and death.

Utah firefighter Matthew Burchett, 42, died Monday after sustaining injuries while working to fight the flames in California's Mendocino Complex wildfires

The Draper City Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday that Burchett had been injured on Monday night while combating the Mendocino fire near Pillsbury, California.

He was given advanced life support care by crews on site and airlifted to California's Ukiah Valley Medical Center within 40 minutes. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Burchett, a 20-year veteran firefighter, left his Draper home in early August and volunteered to head to California along with 37 other firefighters from the state to help battle blazes that have been ravaging homes in the coastal state.

City and fire officials in the Salt Lake City suburb where Burchett lived and worked mourned his death on Tuesday.

A large American flag flew at half-mast outside the town hall, and smaller American flags were put up lining the sidewalk.

Burchett (left) left his Draper, Utah, home to work on the California flames in early August

After Burchett (far left) was injured, he was given advanced life support care by crews on site and airlifted to California's Ukiah Valley Medical Center, where he later died

Burchett's Draper City Fire Station No. 21 flew their flag at half-staff Tuesday to honor him

Draper Mayor Troy Walker said at a news conference that Burchett was a veteran firefighter with extensive experience working on wildfires. He said he didn't have details about the events that led to Burchett's death.

'These men are American heroes. They literally stand in the fire to help other people,' Walker said. 'I don't know how you get better than that. I know he was proud to do it. I know all of them are.'

He was one of five Draper firefighters who went to California, Walker said.

Burchett had just started with the Draper Fire Department in May after 20 years with another Salt Lake City area fire department.

He was a battalion chief who was hired to oversee the city's wildland firefighting efforts, colleague Bart Vawdrey said.

Burchett was a good man with a dry wit who was very professional and a 'master of his craft,' said Vawdrey, a fellow battalion chief in Draper.

'It's tough anytime you lose a brother,' Vawdrey said. 'We get into this profession to help people, and Matt jumped at the chance to go assist in California.'

Burchett was a veteran firefighter with 20 years on the job. He was said to have had experience combating wildfires before traveling to California to combat the wildfires. (Stock image of firefighters monitoring a blaze in the Mendocino Complex fire from August 7)

Firefighters from all over the country have been helping California battle a series of deadly and devastating wildfires in recent weeks that have spread through drought-parched forests and rural communities.

Six firefighters, including Burchett, have died in the wildfires so far.

Funeral services are pending for Burchett.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said in a statement that he's heartbroken over Burchett's death and offered his prayers for Burchett's wife and six-year-old son.

'When he left with his fellow firefighters to battle the wildfires in California we were so proud of his service - now his heroism leaves us both proud and devastated,' Herbert said. 'He gave everything to defend the lives of others.'

The Salt Lake City Tribune reported that the four other Draper firefighters who had traveled to California to help combat the wildfire have been pulled off the line and are expected to return to Utah soon. They remained by Burchett's side throughout the incident.
Monsignor Thomas J. Benestad

Monsignor Thomas J. Benestad is one of the 300 clergymen named in the grand jury report.

In 2011, the Allentown Diocese was approached by a man who alleged that Benestad sexually abused him from 1981 to 1983.

The victim was nine years old when the alleged abuse began.

The allegation was reported to the Northampton County District Attorneys Office, which investigated the matter and found that the boys accusations were credible.

The victim told authorities that when he was a boy enrolled in Catholic school, he was taken out of class by a nun and sent to Benestads office because he had worn shorts to Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) study.

Since wearing shorts were sinful, the boy was told to get on his knees and start praying once inside Benestads office.

Benestad then unzipped his pants and told the boy to give him oral sex, the grand jury report alleges.

The boy did so. Afterward, Benestad squirted holy water into the boys mouth and told him it was to purify him.

No charges were ever brought because the alleged crimes took place beyond the statute of limitations.

Other alleged victims also complained about Benestad, who was allowed to continue to minister.

Benestad, who has denied all of the allegations, is now retired in Boca Raton, Florida.

Reverend Thomas J. Bender

In 1972, the Allentown Diocese received a report from a Deacon who also happened to be a Pennsylvania State Trooper.

The Deacon reported that another Trooper found Bender in a car with a male student from Nativity High School in Pottsville, where the clergyman was assigned.

Both Bender and the boy had their pants off, according to the Deacon.

Thomas J. Welsh, who was the Bishop of the Diocese, received the report. It stated that the Trooper gave Bender a 'lecture and sent him on his way.'

When Bender was confronted about the incident, he claimed this was the first time this had happened. He was allowed to continue as a priest.

In 1984, a young male came forward and told church officials that three years earlier, when he was in seventh grade, Bender sexually abused him.

This abuse entailed oral and anal sex while Bender and the boy were in bed together.

Church officials sent Bender to psychotherapy, but still allowed him to continue to minister.

In 1986, the victim overdosed on drugs and was admitted to a psychiatric institute.

The victim and his family reported Bender to the authorities and filed a lawsuit against the church.

The next year, Bender was placed on a leave of absence. In 1988, he was arrested and convicted.

Bender was given a light sentence of probation. He was kept on a leave of absence until 2002, when he successfully applied for retirement benefits, including health insurance, life insurance, a living allowance, retreat fees, and car insurance.

In 2004, the Diocese received more reports of alleged abuse by Bender. Those allegations, some stemming from as far back as 1966, were reported to the authorities in Pennsylvania.

In 2006, Bender was arrested by an undercover police officer in New York State who posed as a '14-year-old boy' whom the former cleric tried to lure to a hotel room on Long Island.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and lifetime probation. Bender is a registered sex offender in the State of New York.

Father Ronald Yarrosh

In 2004, Father Ronald Yarrosh was found to be in possession of a tremendous amount of child pornography.

A week later, Yarrosh was removed from his priestly ministry and ordered to undergo evaluation and treatment.

In May of that year, Pennsylvania State Police charged Yarrosh with 110 counts of sexual abuse of children.

Yarrosh was found to have had hundreds of child pornography photos, books, magazines, video, and DVDs in his possession, according to the grand jury report.

During a subsequent investigation, Yarrosh was also found to have embezzled $23,000 from his parish.

A year after his arrest, he pleaded guilty to theft and possession of child pornography.

He struck a plea bargain and agreed to serve between three and 23 months in prison.

Yarrosh ended up serving just three months. Upon his release, he registered with Pennsylvania State Police as a sex offender.

After his release from prison, Yarrosh was allowed to continue as a priest.

The Diocese granted him residence at St. Francis Villa in Orwigsburg - even though church officials considered him a moderate to high risk to again use pornography and/or consort with prostitutes.

In November 2006, authorities learned Yarrosh took trips to New York City with a seven-year-old child.

Yarrosh was also found to be in possession of child pornography - a violation of his court-ordered supervision.

Pennsylvania authorities sentenced Yarrosh to four-to-10 years behind bars.

In June 2007, the Diocese removed Yarrosh from the priesthood.

Reverend Joseph Zmijewski

In October 2004, the Allentown Diocese received a complaint from an adult woman who alleged that one of its priests sexually abused her when she was a child.

The victim told the Diocese that she was a member of the St. Mary Greek church in Reading.

She also attended Catholic school at St. Peter.

When she was in ninth grade in 1950, she met Father Joseph Zmijewski.

She said she frequently sought Zmijewskis advice as she was having difficult meeting new friends and being acclimated to a new school.

Zmijewski came recommended by another priest because he was a registered psychologist.

The woman said that Zmijewski recommended that she come to his home in order to be treated with hypnosis.

She agreed to the hypnosis sessions.

The first three sessions did not go well and she was becoming frustrated.

During the fourth session, Zmijewski tried to hypnotize her once more. He told her to undress until she was naked, and she complied.

He then left the room while she was naked and did not return for some time.

After Zmijewski came back into the room, he instructed her to get dressed. She never returned for another session.

The woman kept the story to herself until well into adulthood.

Zmijewski died in 1968.

The Allentown Diocese referred the woman to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which served the area at the time since there was no Allentown Diocese as of yet.

Very Reverend Henry Strassner

In August 1988, the Allentown Diocese received a complaint from a 19-year-old man who alleged that Father Henry Strassner kissed him four times on the lips 'in the same way a woman would kiss.'

The alleged incident occurred during a counseling session which Strassner administered to the man.

Strassner, when confronted about the incident, first denied knowing the man.

But then he admitted to the claims, saying that he 'did not intend anything sexual.'

Strassner later claimed the victim 'was essentially parentless and I wanted to simply affirm his sense of self-worth.'

He was was sent to see a counselor who then told the Diocese that there was 'a lot more going on here than Father Strassner has admitted.'

In 1991, the Diocese received more complaints about alleged sexual abuse of children at the hands of Strassner.

One victim claimed Strassner molested him on more than one occasion when he was between the ages of six and nine.

The victim also claimed that another priest was involved in the abuse.

Another victims gave a much more detailed description of Strassner's behavior.

The victim's mother invited Strassner to their home after hearing him give a lecture on drugs.

During a counseling session, the victim, who was told to trust Strassner, confided in him.

At one point, Strassner told the victim he needed to 'touch him.'

Strassner then began to masturbate the victim and perform oral sex on him.

After this incident was reported, Strassner was reassigned to a local Catholic high school.

The Diocese possessed documents indicating that between 25 and 30 people complained they were sexually abused by Strassner.

The victims reported post-traumatic stress, drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, and suicidal thoughts in the years after they were assaulted.

Strassner was never removed from his position by the church. He died in 2009.

Reverend A. Gregory Uhrig

In May 2010, a 44-year-old woman submitted a complaint to the Allentown Diocese alleging that Father A. Gregory Uhrig sexually abused her when she was a 13-year-old girl.

The woman said the abuse took place when she was a seventh-grade student at St. Anthony Catholic school in Easton.

She said at the time she was working in the parish answering telephones.

During her time spent in the office, she got to know Uhrig, who was often invited to her familys home for dinner.

Uhrig developed a relationship with the girl, who was suffering at the time from low self-esteem.

The priest would often compliment her as a way of building up her confidence.

The relationship became more physical, as Uhrig would hug her, hold her hands, and at times even kiss her on the lips.

The touching eventually escalated to full-scale groping, as Uhrig cupped her breasts through her clothing.

Uhrig also forced the girl to touch his leg and thigh area. He even pointed out when he had an erect penis.

These incidents took place in the rectory and in Uhrigs car.

The woman said that these incidents contributed to three failed marriages.

The Diocese apparently knew of allegations against Uhrig back in 1995 and reported them to authorities.

But he was never prosecuted due to statute of limitations.

Reverend Bruno M. Tucci

In 1991, the Allentown Diocese received a report from a male who said that he was sexually molested by Father Bruno Tucci when he was 14 years old.

Tucci tickled him and put his hands down the back of his pants, the victim said.

The priest, on a different occasion, unbuttoned his pants and the victims pants.

Tucci then pulled both his pants and the victims pants down and forced skin to skin contact.

In order to avoid suspicion, Tucci would tickle the boy in front of his parents.

The victim also said that when his parents were at church for Christmas Eve mass, Tucci took off his pants and played with him.

That same evening, when the whole family was at midnight mass, the victim served at the altar for Tucci.

When the Diocese was told of these allegations, officials confronted Tucci, who confirmed them exactly as the victim reported.

Tucci said it was just touching and that he did not commit sodomy.

Tucci was reassigned to a church position in New Mexico. He was then allowed to return to active ministry as a pastor in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania.

In 1993, the victim told the Diocese he wanted to confront Tucci, who was allowed to continue as a priest.

This outraged the victim.

In 2002, Tucci offered to resign. The Bishop accepted.

That same year, the Diocese received another letter from a man who said that Tucci sexually molested him when he was a minor.

The crimes took place between 1977 and 1978. Tucci responded by saying that he could not recall specific details.

In 2005, Tuccis request for him to be laicized was granted.

Tucci was last known to be a resident in Salisbury, Maryland.

Reverend Andrew Aloysius Ulincy

In 1981, Father Andrew Ulincy was reported to the Bethlehem Police for allegedly fondling a 17-year-old boys penis after he took a shower in a rectory.

Ulincy is alleged to have offered the boy alcohol. He also offered to dry him off after the shower.

The priest then pinned the boy down on a bed and anally penetrated him, the victim told an investigator working for the Diocese in June 2010.

The police knew of these details in 1981, and Ulincy admitted that the victim was telling the truth.

But no criminal charges were ever filed.

The Diocese was not only aware of the 1981 incident, but another that took place a decade later.

While a group of contractors were renovating St. Joseph church in Frackville, Ulinsky, who was living in the rectory at the time, dropped his pants, in front of a 25-year-old male workers.

Ulinsky was said to be drunk at the time. It is also believed he targeted the male for indecent exposure.

A report was submitted to law enforcement, but nothing came of it after the contractor was paid $2,500.

It wasnt until September 2010 - almost 30 years after the first report of sexual assault - that he was removed from active ministry.

Reverend Thomas C. Kelley

The late Reverend Thomas C. Kelley preferred mutual masturbation, oral sex, and anal sex with men between the ages of 18 and 25.

At least five men came forward to accuse Kelley of inappropriate sexual conduct.

One victim was paid $34,500 as part of a lawsuit in which Kelley was named.

His superiors in the Diocese, upon hearing of one of the complaints against Kelley, sent him to a treatment facility for psychotherapy in 1995.

Kelley was dissuaded from returning to the Erie Diocese because of his past behavior.

Instead, he relocated to Texas, where he was allowed to serve as a minister.

Kelley died in 2005.

Monsignor Thomas Snyderwine

In 1996, a young girl enrolled at St. Boniface Catholic school told a nun that she was forced to take a shower with her godfather, Monsignor Thomas Snyderwine, who proceeded to touch her in ways that made her uncomfortable.

The girl said the incident took place when she stayed overnight five years earlier in Snyderwines trailer.

Snyderwine bought the girl dresses and showered her with gifts.

The girls parents asked the nun, Sister Steff, to talk to Snyderwine.

When the nun confronted Snyderwine, she threatened to report him to the Bishop Michael Murphy of the Erie Diocese if the behavior was repeated.

The matter was not revisited until 2002, when news media reports about massive sex abuse and coverups in the Catholic Church were common.

Sister Steff brought up the matter with Bishop Donald Trautman, who said he would speak to the Review Board and later decide on Snyderwines future.

But Trautman said he was stymied when Sister Steff refused to give him the name of the victim.

The victim, who was now a freshman in college, and her parents had no interest in pursuing the matter.

Snyderwine was also said to have said mass for the family when a relative died.

Trautman eventually decided there was no need to report the issue to authorities.

Reverend Philip A. Altavilla

On December 15, 1998, Father Philip A. Altavilla drove a 13-year-old girl home after she helped as an altar server during midnight mass.

After mass, Altavilla gave the girl alcohol and gave her a ride home. On the way, he pulled the car into an empty parking lot.

Altavilla then swung the girls legs across his lap, touched her feet, and worked his hands up her thigh towards the girls vagina.

When the girl told him to stop, he did.

It wasnt until April 2014 that Altavilla was arrested and charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors.

He admitted to authorities that he had fetishes with feet, legs, pantyhose, strangulation, and chloroform.

Soon afterward, he resigned from the Scranton Diocese.

Altavilla had admitted to the alleged victim in a consensual phone intercept that he had touched her inappropriately, according to a letter written by the Diocese.

But the case against him was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired.

A civil lawsuit was brought against Altavilla in 2014. That case was eventually settled.

The Scranton Diocese has encouraged more potential victims of Altavilla to come forward.

Reverend Robert M. Timchak

On December 9, 2008, the Scranton Diocese received an anonymous letter alleging that Father Robert M. Timchak was downloading child pornography.

The Diocese turned over the material that was received to the Pike County District Attorneys Office.

After a police investigation, Timchak was charged with possessing child pornography.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to state prison.

On January 24, 2014, Pope Francis granted dispensation to Timchak.

Reverend W. Jeffrey Paulish

In 2013, Father W. Jeffrey Paulish was caught having sex with a 15-year-old boy on the campus of the University of Scranton.

He was arrested in September of that year and charged by the Lackawanna County District Attorneys Office.

Paulish eventually pleaded guilty to corruption of a minor and was sentenced to between eight and 23 months in prison.

The Scranton Diocese urged parishioners who were either aware of similar situations involving Paulish to report them to law enforcement.

Reverend Samuel B. Slocum

Despite a history of inappropriate relationships with young boys and girls going back 30 years, Father Samuel B. Slocum was never reported to the authorities by the Erie Diocese.

In 1980, a fellow priest reported Slocum to a senior church official after it was learned he maintained an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl.

That same year, Slocum was also engaged in inappropriate relations with a 16-year-old boy.

Slocum admitted to the grand jury last year that these relationships gave him emotional or sexual gratification.

He denied touching the girl, but did say that he engaged in physical wrestling, tickling, and touching with the young boy.

Slocum ingratiated himself with the childrens parents - a practice known as grooming - as a way of gaining their trust and cementing his relationship with the kids.

He was known to have done this with at least four children before he was arrested.

In 2012, he was convicted by a jury of concealment of the whereabouts of a child and corruption of minors.

Slocum told the grand jury that a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl were in love with him and wrote him love letter.

He touched one of the girls thighs and buttocks, though he insisted it was accidental.

When one of the girls came forward to complain, he enlisted the assistance of a third party to apply pressure and have her recant her accusation against him.

Slocum was also known to have showered another minor with gifts from

Abercrombie and Fitch.

In 1995, the Diocese became aware of an unhealthy relationship Slocum had with a high school senior, including offers of cash, invitations to drink beer, and working with the student late into the night.

The boys mother was a teacher employed by the Diocese. She submitted a complaint at great risk to her employment.

It wasnt until 2011, when criminal charges were filed against him, did the Diocese remove Slocum from ministry.
A former reality star was found dead on a sidewalk in Manhattan wearing no pants and in possession of cocaine. She was 20 weeks pregnant.

Lyric McHenry, 26, was discovered above the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx around 5am on Tuesday after a night of barhopping across Manhattan for her birthday.

McHenry, who appeared in the E! show EJNYC with Magic Johnson's son EJ, died of a suspected drug overdose, according to police.

Authorities said McHenry was dressed in a pajama top and underwear but was not wearing pants.

Lyric McHenry, who appeared in the E! show EJNYC with Magic Johnson's son EJ (pictured together), was found dead on a sidewalk in Manhattan wearing no pants on Tuesday

Police sources said McHenry (pictured hours before her death) was 20 weeks pregnant and in possession of cocaine. She had been out celebrating her birthday

Her knees were bruised but she had no other injuries, according to the New York Daily News.

Police sources said some cocaine was also found on her.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine her exact cause of death. It is unclear if McHenry knew at the time that she was pregnant.

It appears that McHenry had been celebrating her birthday in the hours before her death.

Throughout the night she had posted a slew of Instagram videos at various hotspots across Manhattan.

Her last known address, according to public records, was in the Lower East Side, 11 miles away from where her body was found.

Throughout the night she had posted a slew of Instagram videos at various hotspots in Manhattan, taking a selfie in a bathroom and enjoying a rooftop bar

McHenry first posted a boomerang of a chessboard at The Frederick Hotel in Tribeca, before she moved to the Soho Grand Hotel

She then made her way to the Dream Downtown, a hotel in Chelsea, and enjoyed rooftop views

While McHenry spent the bulk of her birthday celebrations in lower Manhattan, she was found in the Bronx

McHenry was discovered above the Major Deegan Expressway (pictured) in the Bronx around 5am on Tuesday

McHenry first posted a boomerang of a chessboard at The Frederick Hotel in Tribeca, before she moved to the Soho Grand Hotel.

'This is where my heart is,' she wrote over the picture, which showed bread and cheese.

McHenry, who was wearing a silk pink dress throughout the night, later took a bathroom selfie at an unknown location.

She then made her way to the Dream Downtown, a hotel in Chelsea.

McHenry was described as EJ's 'best friend since birth' when it was revealed she was cast in his New York spin-off from The Rich Kids of Beverly Hills

EJNYC lasted for one season E! and featured EJ and a slew of close friends in Manhattan. McHenry was also a producer on the show (they are pictured here on a recent trip to Miami)

One snap showed off her male companion's suit while another showed them on a rooftop, holding drinks as he happily exclaimed 'It's your birthday!' while she blew a kiss to the camera.

McHenry's sister Maya, who also appeared on EJ Johnson's reality show, was likewise at the birthday celebration.

She posted an Instagram story of McHenry happily posing for the camera, the caption reading '@lyric_leigh bday turnup'.

McHenry was described as EJ's 'best friend since birth' when it was revealed she was cast in his New York spin-off from Rich Kids of Beverly Hills.

Before her stint on television, McHenry was a Ron Brown scholar at Stanford University and worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign when she was just 15 years old

EJNYC lasted for one season on E! and featured EJ and a slew of his close friends in Manhattan. McHenry was also a producer on the show.

Before her stint on television, McHenry was a Ron Brown scholar at Stanford University and worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign when she was just 15 years old.

She went on to work as an agent trainee at UTA before moving on to jobs in video production at Complex Networks and Refinery29.

McHenry had also worked for Artists For A New South Africa, a charity that helps to 'improve post-apartheid South African society through combating HIV/AIDS', since she was 11 years old.
Current TSA Administrator said he supports a federal program aimed at surveilling travelers, including US citizens, in American airports who have not been accused of a crime and are not on the government's 'No Fly' list.

The 'Quiet Skies' program, created in 2011, currently has eyes on 50 domestic flyers each day on flights across the country who have been identified by computer software as potentially risky to safe air travel, according to leaked documents obtained by and sources who spoke with CBS News.

'In my view, in looking at this "Quiet Skies" program, I think it makes an awful lot of sense, to be able to look at some risks that we think exist on certain flights and put air marshals on those flights,' TSA Administrator David Pekoske said.

But there's plenty of disagreement on the topic, particularly from Democratic leaders concerned with privacy like US Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey, and on the other side from rank-and-file air marshalls who think people being followed might not be suitable to fly.

Current TSA Administrator David Pekoske said the 'Quiet Skies' program aimed at surveilling travelers, including US citizens, in American airports who have not been accused of a crime and are not on the government's 'No Fly' list 'makes a lot of sense'

'The "Quiet Skies" program is the very definition of "Big Brother," and innocent Americans should not be subject to this kind of violation of their rights,' Markey said.

The program didn't allow for teams of air marshalls to be assigned to follow flyers in airports and during air travel until March.

'Our job overall as an agency, and the air marshals in particular, in flight, are working to make sure that we mitigate any risks that could occur in aircraft at 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 feet,' Pekoske, who is a retired US Coast Guard Vice Admiral, told CBS News.

'If an agency responsible for security has some information that might indicate that there may be -- emphasis on may be-- more risk with a particular passenger, providing some mitigation or some risk management on the flight is a very important and very reassuring thing to me.'

But Markey highlighted the privacy concerns inherent in that line of thinking, and added it's important to know how these people are being selected for inclusion in the 'Quiet Skies' program.

'Depending on what criteria are being used for selecting individuals to surveil, including ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion, the program may be unconstitutional,' Markey said.

Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey has called for answers to looming questions about the 'Quiet Skies' program; Markey is shown here speaking during a news conference on a petition to force a vote on net neutrality on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on May 9

TSA told CBS News in a statement in July that race and religion are not factors that determine who will be watched under the 'Quiet Skies' program.

Factors that are considered include specific travel patterns, affiliations or some specific links to people who are on watch lists, CBS reported.

'Different passengers present different levels of risk,' Pekoske said.

'Passengers have a right to fly and if we ever thought the risk reached the point where the passenger shouldn't fly, then we have the authority to deny flight for that particular passenger.'

Once flagged, under the program, a person typically remains on the list for up to 90 days, and receives enhanced screening at airport checkpoints during that time.

Despite these revelations, many questions remain about the 'Quiet Skies' program, including whether enhanced screen extends past the 90 day period, how many individuals have been watched under the initiative, whether people repeatedly end up on the list, and what happens to listed individuals in terms of airport security and other governmental watch lists after those 90 days.

'We need answers about this questionable program, including if it actually resulted in arrests or prevented terrible events,' Markey said.

Leaked documents show the kinds of things noted by air marshalls following flyers include 'excessive fidgeting,' 'excessive perspiration' or having a 'cold, penetrating stare.'



According to a TSA statement, the program's primary purpose is to 'ensure passengers and flight crew are protected during air travel,' and the program 'is not intended to surveil ordinary Americans.'

'With routine reviews and active management via legal, privacy and civil rights and liberties offices, it is a practical method of keeping another act of terrorism from occurring at 30,000 feet,' the statement said.

No mention was made of whether the statement or agency defined what is considered an 'ordinary American.'

The program is said to comply with security constraints and privacy requirements, according to sources that spoke to CBS.

Pekoske is the seventh Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

He was confirmed to the role on August 3, 2017, so the 'Quiet Skies' program predates his position.
An Ohio father accused of torturing his eight-year-old son by locking him in a basement, withholding food and making him endure dog bites has pleaded not guilty.

Alex Shadlow, 30, entered a written plea on Monday to a kidnapping charge, according to Hardin County District Court records.

Shadlow, whose trial date has not yet been set, faces a potential life sentence if he is convicted.

His girlfriend, Traci Tyler, also has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping with her trial scheduled to start in September.

Alex Shadlow, 30, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to kidnapping and torturing his eight-year-old son last year in Ackley, Ohio. His girlfriend Traci Tyler has already pleaded not guilty

An arrest affidavit says the boy was locked up for at least nine hours a day last summer in a small space under the basement stairs at the couple's home in Ackley.

He slept on concrete without bedding and had no access to a bathroom. They allegedly gave him a coffee tin to use as a toilet.

The boy was allegedly only allowed out of the basement to attend school across the street.

Police say Tyler also urged her dog to attack the boy, which left scars on his back and limbs.

Tyler is also accused of frequently hitting the boy with the handle of a flyswatter.

Police said the boy now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Teachers alerted authorities after the boy returned to school in September 2017.

They described him as looking underweight, with patches of his hair falling out. He repeatedly sought out food at school as well.

He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to kidnapping and torturing his eight-year-old son (above) after he was allegedly locked in a basement without food and forced to endure dog bites

An arrest affidavit says the boy was locked up for at least nine hours a day last summer in a small space under the basement stairs at the couple's home in Ackley (above)

A teacher contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services after a boy admitted he was being locked in the basement under his stairs after school every day.

The boy was promptly removed from the home.

Police had visited the home back in June 2017 after a concerned caller reported that the boy was being forced to carrying weights and make circles around the garage.

The boy told the officer he had been forced to carry the weights 'for a few hours'.

Shadlow later told police that the weights had been a lesson to get his son to 'stop lying, stealing, and to stay off the glass stove that he was climbing on'.

'Oh no, I deserved it,' the boy told police. 'It's okay, I'm punished.'

The county attorney's office did not press charges in that instance because the boy had not been injured.

Shadlow and Tyler are currently being held at the Hardin County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

They face up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Worldwide condemnation has engulfed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn after the Daily Mail published photographs of his presence at a wreath-laying ceremony for terrorists linked to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.

Yet the day before his visit to the terrorists' graves at a Tunisian cemetery in 2014, he was a guest of honour at an equally controversial event, sharing a conference platform with senior figures from a terrorist organisation as well as with a speaker who compared Israel to the terrorist organisation ISIS.

The conference on the Palestinian situation took place in the five-star Le Palace Hotel in Tunisia's seaside resort of Gammarth and was attended by the president of Tunisia, Dr Moncef Marzouki, who swept in accompanied by armed guards.

Jeremy Corbyn attended a conference on the Palestinian situation at the five-star Le Palace Hotel in Tunisia (pictured)

The president did not disappoint his fiercely partisan audience when he said: 'Israeli soldiers and authorities must be held accountable for their crimes against innocent civilians in Gaza.'

Corbyn clapped enthusiastically from his privileged spot on the main platform along with six other VIP guests.

The gathering, on September 30, 2014, was called 'The International Conference on Monitoring the Palestinian political and legal situation in the light of Israeli aggression'.

Dressed casually in a beige summer jacket, the Islington North MP could not have imagined in his wildest dreams that within 12 months of the conference he would be the Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition.

Back then he was a lowly backbench MP best known in Parliament for regularly opposing the Labour Party's own leadership.

But at the conference Corbyn was feted by many of the 200 speakers and guests, who were mainly academics and politicians. He was well known in the Middle East as a hardline opponent of the state of Israel.

He was interviewed by the Iranian state-run Press TV channel which was banned from broadcasting in the UK. In the interview Corbyn boasted how he would be supporting a Commons motion the following month to recognise a Palestinian state.

Clearly relaxed, he described the gathering as a 'conference searching for peace', adding: 'The only way we achieve peace is by bringing people together and talking to them.'

The conference took place just a day before the wreath-laying ceremony the politician attended for terrorists linked to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre (pictured)

But peace did not seem to be on the mind of many of the speakers, including senior figures from the terrorist organisation Hamas, who talked of waging armed conflict with Israel. Other speakers spewed out vile anti-Semitic rhetoric.

One of the most high profile speakers at the gathering was Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in the Lebanon, who shared a platform with Corbyn.

In a four-point plan he called for 'armed resistance' to Israel. In the past he's threatened to send missiles deep into Israel and said: 'Killing children . . . is engraved in the historical Zionist and Jewish mentality.'

Just before the conference, Hamdan had given an interview to Lebanese media in which he said that the anti-Semitic myth that Jews drank Christian blood was 'not a figment of imagination or something taken from a film. It is a fact.'

Corbyn has no difficulty rubbing shoulders with such individuals as Hamdan or with Hamas, which is regarded as a terrorist organisation not only by Britain, but the EU, Israel and the U.S.

Indeed in 2009 he called for Hamas to be removed from Britain's list of banned terror groups.

Two others listed to speak at the conference were Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Zahar who has declared that killing Jewish children is 'legitimate'. In a TV interview he added that Jews were 'hungry dogs and wild beasts' who had 'no future among the nations of the world' and were 'headed to annihilation'.

He was listed alongside Mousa Marzook, the Hamas second-in-command designated a terrorist by the U.S. and found guilty of financing terror by an American court.

Mr Corbyn (pictured in Newport on Tuesday) was one of six 'VIP guests' at the event attended by Tunisia's president

Speaker after speaker condemned Israel at Corbyn's 'peace conference', while the former Tunisian foreign office minister Othman Jerandi compared the country with the blood-soaked terrorists of ISIS.

He said: 'ISIS and Israel are the same thing.' There was not a murmur of disapproval from Corbyn.

Other speakers included Anouar Gharbi from the Muslim Brotherhood, who is close to Sheikh Raed Salah, an individual jailed in Israel for eight months for inciting anti-Jewish racism.

Corbyn invited Salah, who blamed the Jews for the 9/11 Twin Towers atrocity, for tea in the Commons.

Among delegates at the conference was lawyer Sabah al-Mukhtar who appeared as an expert witness in 2010 for extremist cleric Abu Hamza when he was resisting moves to be stripped of his British citizenship.

Hook-handed Hamza, who preached at London's Finsbury Park Mosque, was deported and in 2015 given a life sentence in prison in the U.S. for terrorism and kidnapping offences.

There were two other British MPs at the conference, both close to the Labour leader. One was Francie Molloy, a Sinn Fein MP, who like all his party colleagues never takes his seat in the Commons as he refuses to swear loyalty to the Queen.

In December 2015, ahead of a Commons vote on whether Britain should join international bombing raids against ISIS militants in Syria, Molloy tweeted. 'Brits back to what they do best: Murder.'

Molloy and Corbyn were photographed together at a demonstration in 1992 to mark 20 years since the Bloody Sunday shooting in which 28 civilians were shot dead by the British Army in Northern Ireland.

There was also an appearance from Lord Sheikh, the president of the Conservative Muslim Forum, who called last week for Boris Johnson to be ejected from the Tory Party for saying women in burkas looked like 'letter boxes' and 'bank robbers'.

Mr Corbyn shared the conference with a speaker who claims Jews drink Christian blood (pictured, the Le Palace Hotel in Tunisia)

Two years ago Sheikh led a delegation to Syria, paid for by Palestinian lobbyists, to meet the country's President Assad.

He was photographed warmly shaking hands with Assad. He is now facing calls to be censured by the same party disciplinary machine that has been mobilised against Boris Johnson.

Earlier this month Corbyn, under pressure over the deepening anti-Semitism row, apologised for sharing platforms with extremists whose views he neither 'accepted or condoned'. The apology came after it emerged that in 2012 he had chaired a meeting at the House of Commons where Israeli actions in Gaza were compared with those of the Nazis during the Holocaust.

The meeting was called The Misuse of the Holocaust for Political Purposes. While Corbyn never condoned the comparisons, he never attempted to contradict or challenge speakers who made the deeply offensive comparisons.

Judging by some of the people he shared a platform with in Tunisia, it is almost certainly time for another apology.

Shame you find it so tiresome, Jeremy! Extracts from Corbyn TV interview when the Labour leader rolled his eyes at questions about him laying wreaths at gravesite of Munich terrorists Extracts from the TV interview with an eye-rolling Jeremy Corbyn yesterday: Reporter: 'So did you lay that wreath on those graves or by those graves?' CORBYN: 'I, along with other colleagues ... laid a wreath in memory of all those who have died in the hope that we have a peace process and peace in the future.' Reporter: 'So to be clear...' CORBYN: 'I'm totally clear, I'm totally clear, that the way forward is of peace...' Reporter: 'So you did lay a wreath?' CORBYN: 'In memory of all those that died in the 1985 Israeli attack, which as I've repeated now again, was condemned by the UN Security Council and the UK government and the US government.' Reporter: 'But was that wreath not laid by the graves of those who were killed in the Mossad strike in Paris in 92?' CORBYN: 'It was laid on the grave of all those who died. I totally condemned what happened in Munich in 1972. I condemn all killing.' Reporter: 'You said yesterday you 'didn't think' you took part in the wreath laying but you're now saying you were part of the wreath laying?' CORBYN: 'I was there when the wreaths were laid. That's pretty obvious...' Reporter: 'Did you lay the wreath?' CORBYN: 'I laid one along with many other people in memory of all who died in the awful attack in 1985, which I keep repeating ... was condemned by the whole world.' Reporter: '[Labour MP] Luciana Berger wants an apology for you being there.' CORBYN: 'I'm not apologising for being there at all.' Advertisement

A previous version of this article said that Grahame Morris MP was among the attendees at the 2014 conference in Tunisia. In fact, Mr Morris was not at the conference. We apologise for the error.
A man killed his pregnant girlfriend just before he took his own life by committing suicide by driving into the Mississippi River.

Arkansas cops released a chilling 911 call made by Cornell Henry, 38, after shooting dead his girlfriend, 20-year-old Cherrkisha Jones.

In the phone call obtained by FOX13, Henry can be heard telling a dispatcher that he had killed Jones.

Cornell Henry, 38, right, told dispatchers he killed his pregnant girlfriend Cherrkisha Jones, 20

Both the couple's bodies were found in a car which had been driven by Henry into the Mississippi River, 70 miles west of Memphis

Henry then drove straight into the Mississippi in Helena-West Helena, about 70 miles southwest of Memphis.

'This is Cornell Henry, and I just killed somebody  and I am about to kill myself,' he is heard saying in phone call.

Jones was apparently pregnant with her second child at the time of her murder

He then warned dispatchers that if there was any attempt made to stop him they would not succeed.

He then elaborated on the murder of his girlfriend saying that she was killed because 'she had been playing games.'

'By the time they get out here it will be too late anyway. Only thing they can do is drag her body out of the river because she is already dead,' he told dispatchers.

Phillips County Sheriff Neal Byrd told FOX13 that the couple had been arguing before the murder-suicide , which may have centered around Jones possibly dating someone else.

Authorities have said that there was a history of domestic violence between the pair.

'This is something that has really traumatized this community,' Byrd told WMC-TV. 'Never would we have expected for anything like this to happen.'
Vo Tan Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)s Ho Chi Minh City Branch, held that Vietnam and Hong Kong (China) are key major trade partners of each other with bilateral trade reaching US$9.2 billion in 2017, up 22% from 2016.

As of June 2018, Hong Kong (China) was the sixth largest foreign investor in Vietnam with a total capital of nearly US$19 billion, he said.

With the ASEAN-Hong Kong (China) free trade agreement, trade and investment between Vietnam and Hong Kong (China) are both expected to grow fiercely in the near future. Vietnam is encouraging firms to expand investment abroad to popularise Vietnamese products across the world.

Thanh hailed Hong Kong (China) as a free, developed economy with a strategic location, modern infrastructure, and large capital inflows.

According to him, if Vietnamese enterprises venture onto this market, they could access a massive capital source and tap into one of the worlds busiest seaports, thereby bringing goods to even further markets.

Stephen Phillips, General Director of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (IK), said Hong Kong (China) is calling for investment in the fields of financial services, consumer goods, transportation and industry, tourism-restaurant-hotels, technological innovation, and innovative industries.

He lauded Hong Kong (China) for its active international business environment, convenient business registration procedures, modern infrastructure, and low tariffs, adding that it now has a mechanism to provide support for newly-established and mature firms, from planning and opportunity evaluation to visa application and marketing.

Phillips said business opportunities in Hong Kong (China) are widespread for Vietnamese enterprises. However, other issues should be considered, including high office rent, workforce costs, and intense competition with other multinational corporations, he noted.

Therefore, the IK representative suggested opening sales, marketing, and financial offices in Hong Kong (China) to tap into existing advantages in managing supply chains, while placing logistics facilities and warehouses elsewhere in order to save costs.
A 2,000-pound rodeo bull broke free from the Oklahoma City Stockyards late Monday and charged through the city streets while being pursued by cowboys and a fleet of police cars.

The four foot-tall animal managed to escape a pen at the stockyards at around 9.45pm then made its way downtown towards a hospital and bus station, forcing one person to jump into the river to escape.

The bull chased several people but there were no serious injuries reported, according to police spokesman Megan Morgan.

The four foot-tall animal managed to escape a pen at the stockyards at around 9.45pm then made its way downtown towards a hospital and bus station, before being corralled by police cars (pictured)

He also rammed a police car and nearly crushed someone with a charge but missed, reported The Oklahoman.

Footage shows the bull running down a main road followed by its pursuers several yards later.

The cowboys and cops eventually corralled the bull but he collapsed and died.

Oklahoma City police identified the animal as Rodeo Bull, who had brown hair and black eyes.
A Florida judge on Tuesday kept bond at $100,000 for Michael Drejka, who had invoked the state's 'stand your ground' law before he was charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man who assaulted him outside a convenience store.

Judge Joseph Bulone in the Pinellas County court on Tuesday said that if the 48-year-old suspect posts bail, he must surrender all of his guns to the sheriff, wear an ankle monitor and not leave the county.

He said he didnt have the money to hire a private attorney, which means a public defender will be appointed. Drejka appeared in court from the county jail via video.

Drejka was arrested on Monday over the death of 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton in Clearwater on July 19.

Michael Drejka makes his first appearance at the Pinellas Courthouse in Clearwater, Florida, Tuesday from the county jail via video, facing manslaughter charges

Drejka, 47, was arrested on Monday (left in his mugshot) over the shooting death of 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton (right) in Clearwater on July 19

McGlockton's girlfriend Britany Jacobs and father Michael McGlockton were on hand for Drejka's first appearance Tuesday

Pinellas County Sheriff's Detective George Moffett revealed that Drejka had threatened three other drivers previously.

Three months before the fatal July incident, Drejka allegedly threatened to shoot Richard Kelly, a black septic truck driver, and hurled racial slurs at him when the driver parked in the same handicapped-accessible parking space as McGlockton, reported CNN.

Kelly drove away, but his boss told Moffett that Drejka later called, telling him 'that he was lucky he didnt blow his employees head off.'

Moffet also said that in 2012, drivers involved in two separate road-rage confrontations with Drejka said he pointed a gun at them.

Moffet said that in one of the cases, 18-year-old Tyler Smith was driving in front of Drejka's truck when he stopped at a yellow light, which allegedly enraged Drejka and prompted him to display a black gun at the teenager, and later follow him. Smith declined to press charges.

In another incident that year, a woman told police that Drejka pointed a gun at her and the occupants of her car.

When police interviewed the suspect, Drejka denied pointing a gun at the other vehicle, but said he honked at the motorist because she was driving too slow through a school zone.

Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court Judge Joseph Bulone kept bond at $100,000 for Drejka and said that if the suspect posts bail, he must surrender all of his guns to the sheriff

Jacobs (center), said after the brief hearing: 'I can tell my kids now that the police got the bad man'

In November 2013, Drejka was again interviewed by police in connection to a road-rage incident, in which he was accused of deliberately causing another vehicle carrying two children to rear-end his truck.

Drejka claimed he missed a turn, but the trooper who responded to the scene wrote in his report that based on the evidence, it did not appear like the motorist had attempted to turn before the crash, and Drejka was cited for stopping or sudden decrease in speed without signaling.

On July 19, Markeis McGlocktons girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, was seated in the couples car with two of their children, ages 3 years and 4 months, when she said Drejka confronted her for being parked in a handicapped-accessible space.

McGlockton had gone into the store with the couples 5-year-old son, also named Markeis.

Jacobs said Drejka yelled at her to move the 'f**king car'.

After exiting the store and seeing the argument, McGlockton shoved Drejka to the ground before Drejka pulled out his handgun seconds later and fired.

Video showed McGlockton leaving the store and shoving Drejka to the ground. Seconds later, Drejka pulls a handgun and shoots McGlockton as he backs away. McGlockton then runs back into the store clutching his chest. Witnesses said he collapsed in front of young Markeis, who was waiting inside.

'I can tell my kids now that the police got the bad man,' Jacobs said, following the brief bond hearing. She was one of several family members who attended. 'Im still answering their questions about when daddy is going to wake up. And all I can tell them is, daddy is resting right now.'

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri originally declined to charge Drejka, saying one day after the shooting that the man was protected by Floridas stand-your-ground law. The sheriff passed the case to prosecutors for a final decision.

Gualtieri stood by his decision not to arrest Drejka, saying the man was defending himself and had claimed he was in fear for his life.

The family, civil rights groups and others had been holding protests demanding Drejka be charged.

The State Attorney had reviewed the case and decided to pursue charges against Drejka.

'The charges are only one step in this journey to get justice for the unbelievable killing of Markeis McGlockton in front of his children,' said Benjamin Crump, the familys attorney. 'They understand when you look at the history of the state of Florida and stand your ground that this doesnt equal a conviction.

'All of America is watching Clearwater, Florida to see if there will be equal justice for Markeis McGlockton ... If the facts were in reverse, nobody would doubt what the outcome would be.'

Following the State Attorney's decision, Sheriff Gualtieri said in a statement: 'I support the State Attorney's decision and will have no further comment as the case continues to work its way through the criminal justice system.'

Markeis McGlockton (left, standing) was shot dead by Michael Drejka (kneeling) outside a store following a dispute about a parking spot. McGlockton had shoved Drejka to the ground before Drejka pulled out his handgun and fired

McGlockton's videotaped shooting revived debate over Floridas 'stand-your-ground' law.

Under the law, people are allowed to use deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and have no obligation to retreat.

'I didn't make the law, and I do not do what people want because of outrage,' sheriff Gualtieri said at the time. 'If you're outraged by the law and don't like the law, then change it.'

Under a change made by the Legislature last year, if a suspect raises a stand-your-ground defense, prosecutors must prove the law doesn't apply.

The case drew hundreds to a rally earlier this month in Clearwater.

McGlockton's family, who had been pushing for charges to be filed against Drejka, released a statement on Monday saying the update provided a small measure of comfort.

'While this decision cannot bring back our partner, our son, our father, we take solace in knowing our voices are being heard as we work for justice,' they said.

'This man killed Markeis in cold blood, without a second thought about the devastating impact his actions would have on our family, but this charge gives us a measure of hope that the truth will win and justice will prevail in the end.'

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri recently stood by his decision not to arrest Drejka, saying the man was defending himself and had claimed he was in fear for his life

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the victim's father Michael McGlockton said that if the law didn't exist, his son might have gone home that night.

'No law should be able to protect somebody to the point that they kill somebody on the street and they can lay in the bed the same night,' McGlockton said.

'To me and my family, that's a slap in the face. (Drejka) would've thought twice before he pulled the trigger. With the law, he knew that he could hide behind that.'

'He didn't have to pull that trigger. But because of 'stand your ground,' this is what happens.'

McGlockton said it is his son who was defending himself and his family against a threat.

'Every man raises his kid to be that ultimate man for his family,' McGlockton said. 'That's exactly what he was doing, standing up for his family. I'm so proud of him because he did exactly what I taught him to do.'
Lisa Marie Presley has denied paying her husband to sign a post-nuptial agreement that gave him nothing if they split up, a court heard Tuesday.

Presley, who was in the witness box at LA Superior Court on the second day of her divorce trial in Los Angeles, was dressed in a black dress under a black velvet coat covered with rhinestones.

Elvis's daughter was questioned by her estranged husband Michael Lockwood's attorney, Jeff Sturman, about the post-nup in which both gave up claims to each other's property and spousal support.

'Did you pay Michael any money in 2007 (when the post-nup was signed by both) to waive his claim to spousal support?' asked Sturman. 'Not to my recollection,' Presley, 50, replied.

She also denied giving Lockwood any property, or promising 'to do anything for him in the future', in order to persuade him to sign the post-nup.

Lisa Marie Presley said she did not pay her husband of ten years Michael Lockwood (pictured in 2005) in order to persuade him to sign a postnup that would give him nothing if they split

Lisa Marie Presley took the witness stand again on the second day of her divorce trial on Tuesday and accused her estranged husband, Michael Lockwood (seen above), of secretly running up 'possibly millions' on her credit card

When Sturman added, 'In 2007 you thought it was fair that if the marriage ended Michael would not get spousal support?' Lisa Marie answered, 'Correct.'

Cross-examining Presley on her court claim on Monday that she discovered Lockwood had run up 'possibly millions' on her credit card, Sturman asked her, 'Do you consider that money is owed to you by Michael?' 'Yes,' she replied.

'Did he pay you off?', 'No,' said Presley again.

Sturman contested her answer, producing a document related to Presley's financial assets and liabilities which she acknowledged signing a year after discovering the credit card charges.

'There is nothing on this document that indicates that Michael owed you a thing,' he said.

Earlier in court on Tuesday, Jane Saltsman, the attorney Presley hired in 2007 to draw up the post-nup, told Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman that when she spoke with Lockwood's lawyer at the time, Alan Neiman, he told her that Lockwood had no objections to the wording of the agreement.

'He was fine with no community property and he was fine with no spousal support,' she said.

Lockwood signed the first post-nup in July 2007 but asked for a clause to be added giving shared rights to him and Presley for any music they created together during their marriage.

That clause was added to the original post-nup and they both signed the second version in November that year.

Presley told the court that before they married, she and Lockwood discussed having a pre-nup agreement but none was ever signed. Lisa Marie Presley is seen second from right with daughter Riley Keough, and her twin girls who she had with Lockwood (far left) in October 2017

Both Presley, 50, and Lockwood, 57, signed the post-nup a year after their January 2006 wedding when Presley was worth almost $63 million and Lockwood's net worth was zero.

Lockwood, wants the document torn up, calling it invalid because, he claims, he was coerced into signing it, he didn't read it properly, his lawyer at the time - who has since died - didn't explain the agreement to him, and he doesn't remember the period when the post-nup was negotiated and signed.

But Presley's attorney, Gary Fishbein, has fought back in court papers filed at LA Superior Court, accusing Lockwood of 'feigning amnesia or ignorance' and saying he 'had the full and complete opportunity to negotiate the terms of the agreement, was competently represented by counsel and entered into the agreement freely and voluntarily, without duress or coercion.'

On Monday, Presley took the witness stand and accused Lockwood, of secretly running up 'possibly millions' on her credit card.

'I uncovered that he had been in control of finances for the 10 years before,' she told Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman at Los Angeles Superior on the first day of the expected four-day trial.

'He had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, possibly millions on my credit card.'

When Presley angrily confronted musician Lockwood in March 2016, three months before she filed for divorce, he didn't deny running up the credit card bills, she said.

And she insisted that he sign an agreement consenting to sell all his guitars, recording equipment, computers and other musical equipment to help make up for some of the credit card losses.

'It allowed me to pay off some of the Tennessee state taxes I owed,' she added.

Lisa Marie, daughter of music legend Elvis (pictured in 1970) allegedly asked her husband to sign a post-nup agreement 'to protect her assets and her inheritance'

Presley hired Lockwood for $3,500 a week as her musical director for her upcoming concert tour, in 2014 and married him two years later.

In court Monday, she had trouble recalling the time of that marriage, her fourth.

When Lockwood's attorney, Jeff Sturman asked her the date she got married she replied, 'I don't recall the date.'

And when Sturman asked her, 'Do you remember what year?' she answered, 'I believe it was 2007.'

In fact, she married Lockwood in Japan in January 2006.

Presley told the court that before they married, she and Lockwood discussed having a pre-nup agreement but none was ever signed.

Then, the year after they married, she asked him to sign a post-nup agreement 'to protect her assets and her inheritance.'

To support his argument that Lockwood voluntarily agreed to sign the post-nup twice - in July and November 2007 - Presley's lawyer Gary Fishbein asked her: 'Did he (Lockwood) express any objections to signing the pre-nuptial agreement? Did you hold a gun to his head? Did you threaten to leave him if he didn't sign?'

Presley answered 'No' to all three questions.

And when Fishbein asked her, 'Did he tell you that he never wanted anything from you,' she answered, 'Yes, he did.'

When Fishbein asked her if the spousal support clause of the pre-nup - in which both she and Lockwood agreed not to seek spousal support from the other if they divorced - was important to her, Presley said, 'Very.'

Presley admitted that she did pay spousal support to her first husband, Danny Keough, when they divorced but she added, with a chuckle, that she didn't have to pay support to husband number 2, Michael Jackson, or husband number 3, actor Nicholas Cage.

Earlier in the day, giving his version of the couple's fight over the credit card in March 2016, Lockwood told the court that Presley 'was extremely upset. We were having an argument about a credit card.'

He added that he agreed to sell all his musical equipment 'to appease her.'

Asked by his lawyer, Sturman, why he signed the post-nup in 2007, Lockwood said: 'Because my wife wanted me to.'

He said she became angry when he first hesitated to sign after his lawyer told him there were possible issues in the agreement that needed to be sorted out.

But he signed anyway, he said.

'She's not a take-no-for-an-answer kind of woman,' he said of his soon-to-be-ex wife.

Asked if he would like the court to find that the pre-nup agreement is invalid, he added, 'I believe it's something the court should decide.'

Lockwood told the court that when he and Presley separated in June 2016, he had nowhere to go so he first stayed in a Holiday Inn, then 'couch-surfed' for about two years, and has been making around $2,000-$2,500 a month working as a store clerk, a factory worker, teaching guitar and playing guitar in session recordings.

He said that he's now living with his girlfriend Stephanie to whom he's engaged to be married.

The revelation prompted Presley's attorney to ask, 'Do you know that when you re-marry you would lose the spousal support from your previous marriage? Does that change your mind about getting married again?'

Lockwood answered, 'I don't know about that.'

Presley - who was in court in a black dress and beige coat and ankle boots - said she doesn't want to pay up and, countered Lockwood's attorney, Sturman: 'She's feeling angry and vindictive. She wants him on the street. She's fine if he has nothing.'

Earlier in his opening statement, Presley's lawyer Fishbein told Judge Gould-Saltman that he found it 'incredible and unbelievable' that Lockwood's 'position is that he didn't read the post-nuptial agreement - which he signed twice.'

'You don't need to have graduated from MIT to understand that you are waiving spousal support,' added Fishbein who also questioned Lockwood's contention that when he signed the post-nup, his attorney - now deceased - didn't explain it to him.

'This attorney had been practicing law since 1956 - he had more than 40 years experience in family law.

'Now Lockwood is trying to get out from under a agreement he voluntarily agreed to and signed. He wants a chunk of cash and a bunch of spousal support.'

Lockwood's attorney, Sturman hit back telling the court that Presley, her lawyers and business manager took an 'unfair advantage' of Lockwood when they persuaded him to sign the post-nup.

'They cooked the books - they wanted him to sign something they thought could be enforceable later on.'

Despite the post-nup Sturman told the court, 'Spouses have a fiduciary (financial) duty to each other.

'Miss Presley is living off her inherited wealth.and Mr Lockwood has little or nothing. He is living at the poverty level. (Presley) is feeling angry and vindictive. She wants him on the street. She's fine if he has nothing.'

Lockwood - who wore a blue suit and tie and a black shirt in court Monday - told Fishbein under questioning that didn't remember signing the prenup.

'I don't really understand contracts,' he said, adding that he didn't find 'contracts and legalese interesting.'

But, he continued: 'Had I read it I would not have signed itI think it's unfair.'

The trial continues.
The Labour leader yesterday sighed and rolled his eyes as he faced questions about pictures showing him holding a wreath by the graves of members of Black September, the terror group that massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics.

In his latest attempt to explain himself, he said there were 'many people laying many wreaths' during the visit to a cemetery in Tunisia where Palestinian 'martyrs' are buried.

Mr Corbyn continued to insist that he had laid a wreath to honour those killed in air strikes on a Palestinian Liberation Organisation base in Tunis in 1985.

However, the Daily Mail this week presented evidence that he was by the graves of men accused of being behind the Munich Massacre when he was pictured holding a wreath and in an apparent prayer position.

Here is an extract from a TV interview with him today, as he still refuses to apologise.

Images from the Palestinian Embassy Website archive in Tunisia showing Jeremy Corbyn in Tunisia in October 2014 - seemingly laying a wreath at the gravesite of the Munich terrorists

Reporter: 'So did you lay that wreath on those graves or by those graves?'

CORBYN: 'I, along with other colleagues ... laid a wreath in memory of all those who have died in the hope that we have a peace process and peace in the future.'

Reporter: 'So to be clear...'

CORBYN: 'I'm totally clear, I'm totally clear, that the way forward is of peace...'

Reporter: 'So you did lay a wreath?'

CORBYN: 'In memory of all those that died in the 1985 Israeli attack, which as I've repeated now again, was condemned by the UN Security Council and the UK government and the US government.'

Reporter: 'But was that wreath not laid by the graves of those who were killed in the Mossad strike in Paris in 92?'

Extracts from a TV interview show the Labour leader rolling his eyes at questions regarding the laying of a wreath at the burial site of the Munich terrorists

CORBYN: 'It was laid on the grave of all those who died. I totally condemned what happened in Munich in 1972. I condemn all killing.'

Reporter: 'You said yesterday you 'didn't think' you took part in the wreath laying but you're now saying you were part of the wreath laying?'

CORBYN: 'I was there when the wreaths were laid. That's pretty obvious...'

Reporter: 'Did you lay the wreath?'

CORBYN: 'I laid one along with many other people in memory of all who died in the awful attack in 1985, which I keep repeating ... was condemned by the whole world.'

Reporter: '[Labour MP] Luciana Berger wants an apology for you being there.'

CORBYN: 'I'm not apologising for being there at all.'
The Labour leader faces an investigation into why he failed to register his controversial trip to Tunisia with Parliamentary authorities.

Jeremy Corbyn's office originally refused to say who paid for his flights and accommodation as he attended a conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Last night a Labour spokesman revealed it was the Tunisian government.

The 2014 visit was not declared in the Register of Members' Interests at the time.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism and Tory MP Andrew Bridgen have referred Jeremy Corbyn to the Parliamentary watchdog over his failure to declare his controversial 2014 trip to Tunisia

The spokesman said this was because the costs fell below the threshold for declarations, which was then 660.

Last night the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said it was referring the case to the Parliamentary standards watchdog.

A letter was also submitted by Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who said the controversy had caused significant damage to the reputation of the House of Commons.

It comes a month after DUP MP Ian Paisley was suspended after he failed to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

The conference in Tunis was also attended by Lord Sheikh, a Tory peer and founder of the Conservative Muslim Foundation.

Jeremy Corbyn adjusts a wreath, held by Salman El Herfi, the Palestinian ambassador in Tunisia in 2014. He is standing by the graves of the men linked to the Munich terror attack. The picture, revealed exclusively by The Daily Mail, has plunged Mr Corbyn's leadership into fresh turmoil and sparked calls for him to quit

Lord Sheikh, who last week demanded the expulsion of Boris Johnson from the Tory Party in the burka row, admitted that members of the terror group Hamas may have been in attendance.

He did declare the trip in the Lords' version of the Register of Members' Interests - but did not reveal its value. Stephen Silverman, of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: 'The public needs to know why Jeremy Corbyn did not declare the money he allegedly received from the Tunisian government.

'He has a track record of receiving donations from people with close links to terrorist organisations and extremists,'

'We need to know who is pulling his strings, which is why we have made a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.' Labour insisted the trip's cost did not meet the declaration threshold.

But a party source said: 'Unless he got the deal of the decade, it seems highly unlikely a return flight, hotel accommodation and meals would have come under the threshold.'
A Chicago police officer who is facing murder charges for the shooting death of teenager Laquan McDonald, donned a bullet proof vest prominently displayed over his button down for his Wednesday court appearance.

Officer Jason Van Dyke was in Leighton Criminal Court sporting the protective vest ahead of his scheduled murder trial, which is set to begin September 5.

During the proceedings, Judge Vincent Gaughan ruled that McDonald's mother, Tina Hunter, must appear in court this Thursday after numerous subpoenas for her testimony on behalf of the defense have been ignored. The judge said if she failed to attend she will be barred from the cop's upcoming trial.

Van Dyke is charged with murder stemming from the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old in October of 2014.

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The suspended without pay, Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, sported a bullet proof vest prominently displayed over his button down during his court appearance Wednesday

Laquan McDonald (pictured) was 17-years-old, when he was walking away from officers while armed with a knife. He was shot 16 times by Van Dyke who is claiming self-defense

In police dashcam video McDonald can be seen with a knife in hand walking away from police officers.

Van Dyke, now 40, shot the teen a total of 16 times, which included additional shots fired into the 17-year-old's body while he was on the ground.

In later released police radio traffic recordings, dispatch repeatedly asked for a responding officer with a taser. Another officer responds that the teen is walking away from them with a knife.

Dispatch says 'let me know when he's in custody guys', with the next transmission you hear is a 'shots fired by police!'

If the defense gets its way and Hunter does appear in court to testify, Van Dyke's legal team will want her to discuss her son's troubled past, as they try to paint him as an out of control teen, according to the Chicago Tribune.

She was supposed to appear to testify in court last month but never showed up and and at the last minute excused herself saying she had a young child in her care.

Van Dyke's team is pursuing the claim that he acted in self-defense, which in a criminal case under Illinois law, evidence may be allowed to be introduced that the victim had a violent history or nature, even if the officer was unaware of his past at the time of the crime.

After Chicago Police Department released the dashcam video of the shooting, the city erupted in protests against the officer's actions

This undated autopsy diagram provided by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office shows the location of wounds on the body of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald who was shot by a Chicago Police officer 16 times in 2014

An attorney for Hunter previously objected to the defense gaining access to McDonald's juvenile records calling the request 'a fishing expedition' to shift focus away from the graphic police dashboard-camera video.

Van Dyke has been suspended without pay and is facing the charge of first-degree murder. The officer has plead not guilty, saying he acted in self-defense.

Once the disturbing dashcam footage of the shooting was released, Chicago erputed with protests.

The case has roiled the city since.
John F. Madaio, a 63-year-old attorney from Paxton, died at Harrington Hospital after the piercing object 'was kicked up or fell from another vehicle' on Route 9

A former Massachusetts prosecutor was killed in an accident on Monday when a crowbar flew into the windshield of his SUV.

John F. Madaio, a 63-year-old attorney from Paxton, died at Harrington Hospital after the piercing object 'was kicked up or fell from another vehicle' on Route 9.

Madaio was struck in the head as the crowbar came through the glass of his 2016 Toyota Rav 4 around 10am, according to police reports obtained by the Boston Herald.

The SUV hit a curb and an empty vehicle in a parking lot of the Crestview Condominiums before flying into an embankment.

The SUV hit a curb and an empty vehicle in a parking lot of the Crestview Condominiums before flying into an embankment

First responders broke into the man's passenger window to get access to him, taking him to the hospital where he eventually died.

Madaio was struck in the head as the crowbar came through the glass of his 2016 Toyota Rav 4 around 10am

'John touched many people in his life with his sharp wit, his compassion and his legal abilities. He will be missed by all who knew him. This is a big loss for community,' said Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

'John was a great father, great lawyer and extremely well-respected member of the DA's office for more than 15 years,' Early had said in a Monday statement.

'More recently as a defense attorney, John was a dedicated advocate for his clients.'

Most recently, Madaio was an attorney and he was involved in the high-profile case of Mathew Locke.

Locke, from Ware, misled police about the murders of the West Brookfeild Burmedez family.

The victims in the killing included: Sara Bermudez, 38, Madison Bermudez, eight, James Bermudez, six, and Michael Bermudez, two.
Rogue senator Fraser Anning has defended his controversial maiden speech in which he attacked Muslim migrants and called for a plebiscite on immigration.

Addressing outrage over his use of the Nazi term 'final solution', the Katter's Australia Party senator said it was taken out of context by the 'thought police'.

Mr Anning said on Wednesday morning he simply wanted the Australian people to be able to decide what kind of immigrants the country accepts.

He later compared Muslim migrants to poisoned jelly beans and stood by his call for Islamic immigration to be halted altogether.

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Addressing outrage over his use of the Nazi term 'final solution', the Katter's Australia Party senator said it was taken out of context by the 'thought police' (pictured is Mr Anning during his maiden speech)

Mr Anning also stood by his claims the majority of Muslim immigrants do not work and are on welfare and over-represented in criminal activity (stock image)

'All I'm calling for is a plebiscite and a vote for the Australian people to see who they want to come into the country,' the Queensland senator told the Today show.

In his maiden speech Mr Anning said 'the final solution to the immigration problem is of course a popular vote'.

The term 'final solution' was used by the Nazis as part of their plan to murder the entire Jewish population of Europe which resulted in mass genocide.

Mr Anning denied making a deliberate reference to Nazi Germany, but refused to apologise for his choice of words.

'If people want to take it out of context that's entirely up to them. It was never meant to denigrate the Jewish community,' he said.

Mr Anning also stood by his claims the majority of Muslim immigrants do not work and are on welfare and over-represented in criminal activity.

When asked why he had singled out Muslim immigrants in the speech, Mr Anning said it was because 'they mean us harm'.

Mr Anning said he agreed the vast majority of Muslim were hardworking and law-abiding, but claimed a small minority 'want to kill us'.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, Mr Anning said he wanted the Australian people to be able to decide what kind of immigrants the country accepts (pictured is Mr Anning during his maiden speech to parliament)

WHAT THEY SAID - REACTION TO FRASER ANNING'S SPEECH Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: 'Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world built on a foundation of mutual respect. We reject and condemn racism in any form.' Opposition leader Bill Shorten: 'There is no place in the parliament for these outdated and racist views.' Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton: 'I say to people all the time, who say to me "we should stop Muslim migration, or we should stop people coming into our country"  intellectually, it is incompatible to say that you can have a migration program where we think every person from a particular race or religion is bad or good.' Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge: 'Fraser Anning's comments on immigration do not reflect the views of the Government nor the views of fair minded Australians. We will always maintain a non-discriminatory immigration program.' Greens leader Richard Di Natale: 'Fraser Anning's vile comments in the Senate today were absolutely beyond the pale and if he has a shred of decency, he will immediately apologise.' 'Australia was forced to confront the fact that there are individuals who will seek to exploit questions of race, ethnicity and religion for base political motives.' Minister of the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg: 'These comments by a member of the Australian parliament were ignorant and insensitive, they were hurtful and they were divisive.' 'I call on Fraser Anning not only to apologise, but also to go and visit a Holocaust museum, and to hear first-hand from the survivors how the pain is still raw, and to see the devastation and destruction caused by the Nazi war machine.' Labor MP Peter Khalil: 'We have a responsibility as political leaders to call it out and fight against what is effectively a fascist view of the world, which is judging people based on their race or their ethnicity or faith.' Independent senator Derryn Hinch: Mr Hinch described the speech as 'excruciating' and 'Pauline Hanson on steroids'. 'There was hardly a group of Australians he did not offend unless you were very close to being a member of the Ku Klux Klan.' Shadow Multicultural Minister Tony Burke: 'He [Mr Anning] has decided to invoke the term "final solution". Another speech belittling Australians, another speech dividing the nation, another speech wanting to incite debate. 'There has to be a point when this Parliament says enough, and if we haven't reached that point tonight then for some of us there is apparently no limit at all.' Labor senator Penny Wong: 'Think of what might be happening in some of the schoolyards in Australia today. Those of us who have been on the receiving end of racism know what it feels like. And know what leaders say matters.' Labor MP Graham Perrett: 'This is a myopic red-neck reaching out from another time to another people. Modern Australia has moved on' Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm: 'It is an over-reaction to a term which has multiple meanings. Nobody owns the term "final solution". 'If you are a little snowflake, you can go rushing around, taking offence at all kinds of things.' Source: AAP, ABC News Advertisement

'I don't want those people in this country. I think the vast majority of Australians agree with me. No-one wants to put it to a vote,' Mr Anning said.

Speaking on talkback radio later on Wednesday morning, Mr Anning likened accepting Muslim immigrants to poisonous jelly beans.

'If you can tell me which ones [Muslims] are not going to cause us harm then fine, that'd be great,' he told Alan Jones on 2GB.

'Unfortunately if you have a jar of jelly beans and three of them are poison you're not going to try any of them.'

The speech to parliament was widely condemned by politicians from both major parties, and the Greens.

Poll Do you think there should be a plebiscite on immigration? Yes No Unsure Do you think there should be a plebiscite on immigration? Yes 833 votes

No 131 votes

Unsure 17 votes Now share your opinion





Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull retweeted a statement from Alan Tudge, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

'Fraser Anning's comments on immigration do not reflect the views of the Government nor the views of fair minded Australians,' Mr Tudge said.

'We will always maintain a non-discriminatory immigration program.'

'Well said Alan,' Mr Turnbull wrote in response. 'Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world built on a foundation of mutual respect.

'We reject and condemn racism in any form.'

Greens leader Richard Di Natale slammed Mr Anning's speech as racist and bigoted and demanded he apologise for using the term 'final solution'.

'Fraser Anning's vile comments in the Senate today were absolutely beyond the pale and if he has a shred of decency, he will immediately apologise,' Mr Di Natale said.

After his speech was attacked by Mr Di Natale and senior Labor frontbenchers Tony Burke and Chris Bowen, Mr Anning released a statement dismissing their criticism.

'Some in the media and left wing politicians are simply afraid of the Australian people having a say on who comes here,' Mr Anning said.

'As I called for a plebiscite on the immigration mix, this baseless and ridiculous criticism is simply an effort to play the man and not the ball.

Mr Anning said it was ironic that he was being criticised by politicians from Labor and the Greens who had voted against his pro-Israel proposals in the past.

Senator Fraser Anning (pictured) has defended his controversial maiden speech in which he said all terrorists are Muslim and called for a plebiscite on immigration

'[They] are the same people who refused to support my efforts to stop Australia funding the Palestinian Authority who finance terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli women and children,' he said.

Mr Anning's maiden speech was also criticised for defending the White Australia Policy, and for repeated attacks on Muslim immigrants.

Callig for an end to Muslim immigration and advocating a program that favours 'European Christian' values, Mr Anning claimed a majority of Australian Muslims live on welfare and do not work.

'While all Muslims are not terrorists, certainly all terrorists these days are Muslims,' Mr Anning said.

'So why would anyone want to bring more of them here?'

Malcolm Turnbull was among those who condemned Mr Anning's controversial speech (pictured, above)

His proposed plebiscite would allow people to decide whether they want wholesale non-English speaking immigrants from the third world, he said.

Mr Anning said Australia was entitled to insist migrants were predominantly of 'European Christian composition'.

He also called for the government to ban all welfare payments to migrants in the first five years of living in Australia, labelling many asylum seekers as 'welfare seekers'.

'Ethno-cultural diversity - which is known to undermine social cohesion - has been allowed to rise to dangerous levels in many suburbs,' Mr Anning said.

'In direct response, self-segregation, including white flight from poorer inner-urban areas, has become the norm.'

Mr Anning also warned of a growing threat from China and called for government spending cuts.

He suggested building more coal-fired power plants, supporting agriculture, and called for culture to be 'taken back' from left wing extremists.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten responded to the speech by saying he will move a motion praising the dismantling of the White Australia policy.

Mr Shorten's motion will recognise bipartisan support for the former Holt government's moves to end the policy, and the resulting national and international benefits to the country.
Instagram users have taken to social media to complain that their accounts have been hacked, with some claiming Russian cybercriminals are behind the attack.

Fans of the picture sharing site have found themselves locked out of their accounts, with their email addresses and access passwords changed.

It's not yet clear how or why the attack has been launched, but it will ring alarm bells after allegations hackers under the direction of President Putin targeted Facebook.

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Instagram users have taken to social media to complain that their accounts have been hacked, with some claiming Russian cybercriminals are behind the attack. Twitter user Ale Scarpa was one of the first to raise the alarm

Fans of the picture sharing site have found themselves locked out of their accounts, with their email addresses and access passwords changed. This map shows searches for 'Instagram hack' performed worldwide on Google

Twitter user Ale Scarpa was one of the first to raise the alarm to the attack.

Writing on the site, he said: 'Some Russian man hacked my Instagram!

'I cant contact in any way. I tried to email Instagram but that was not possible.'

When Instagram eventually replied, they informed Ale Scarpa was informed that the account password and email had been changed in early August to a mail.ru account, a popular Russian language web based email hosting service.

A spike in reports of cyber-attacks on Instagram has appeared on various social sites in recent days.

When Instagram eventually replied, they informed Ale Scarpa that their account password and email had been changed in early August to a @mail.ru account, a popular Russian web based email hosting service

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT RUSSIA IS BEHIND THE HACK ON INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS? Instagram users took to social media to complain that their accounts had been hacked throughout August 2018. Some claimed that Russian cybercriminals were behind the attack. Affected users found they had been logged out of their accounts. Trying to regain access revealed that login email address had been changed .ru domains, which are based in Russia. Many were associated with mail.ru, a popular Russian language web based email hosting service. It's not clear how the hackers gained access to the accounts. Advertisement

Mashable reports that Twitter users have tweeted Instagram's account with the word 'hack' 798 times in August, compared to 40 times in July.

A similar jump has been reported on Reddit and other social sites. #Searching Google Trends revealed a spike for the term 'Instagram hack' performed worldwide on the search site.

According to the site one Instagram user, Krista, who has more than 4,500 followers on her fitness account, noticed on Saturday evening that she had been logged out of her account.

Trying to regain access also revealed that her login email address had also been changed to a .ru domain.

This appears to be a common trend among those affected.

A number of disgruntled Instagram users have have shared their displeasure at losing access to their accounts online.

Mashable reports that Twitter users have tweeted Instagram's account with the word 'hack' 798 times in August, comparred to 40 times in July. Google Trends reveals spikes for the term 'Instagram hack' performed on the search site (pictured)

It's not yet clear how or why the attack has been launched, but it will ring alarm bells after allegations hackers under the direction of President Putin targeted Facebook

Writing on Twitter, Karen Hughes said: 'Its bad enough having my private insta account hacked & not being in control of removing photographs of my daughter without it being very nearly impossible to contact or report the problem!'

Gaby Estrella added: 'If anyone follows me on Instagram, please go and report the account!!!! Someone has hacked it and changed all my info.

'The username to my account is now machizuge. Please report this guy so the account gets deleted! Thanks guys!'

Sam Healey wrote: 'My Instagram account was hacked yesterday, they have changed my email, password and username!

'How can I get control of my account back, I've emailed your support team but so far they have been unhelpful! Please help!'

Abigail Nowak added: '@POTUS thousands of @instagram accounts are being hacked by Russians.

'We know this because we see the ending email .ru. Instagram is cowardly and unresponsive, an imposter has access of copyrighted, personal material thats not okay for them to ignore this MASSIVE ISSUE.'

A number of disgruntled Instagram users have have shared their displeasure at losing access to their accounts online

It's not yet clear how the hackers have accessed the affected accounts.

Many have seen their public handle and avatar changed, often to an animated gif from Disney and Pixar films, as well as their bios and photos deleted.

Most of the affected account did not have two-factor authentication enabled, but some hacked accounts were using the advanced protection method.

The additional measure didn't protect Chris Woznicki, according to Mashable, who was using two-factor authentication when his account was hacked.

Instagram did contact him to inform him that his email address had been changed and that two-factor authentication had been disabled.

However, by this point he had already been locked out of his account.
Amputees can be tricked into 'feeling' life-like sensations from robotic limbs using virtual reality headsets, according to new research.

By combining the senses of sight and touch using the VR headset, scientists were able to convince patients a prosthetic hand belonged to their own body.

Patients wore virtual reality goggles which showed the index finger of the prosthetic limb glowing at the same point researchers administered artificial touch sensations.

This unique combination of sight and sensation convinced people the prosthetic was a natural extension of their own body.

The latest findings could revolutionise treatment of maimed members of the Armed Forces and other people who have lost arms or legs, scientists say.

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Amputees can be tricked into 'feeling' life-like sensations from robotic limbs using virtual reality, according to new research

It is estimated that half of amputees with prosthetics do not actually use them because their missing limb simply does not fit their prosthesis.

Commercially sold prosthetic limbs are rarely able to provide sensory feedback to the wearer, other than what they are able to see themselves.

This means the patient has no sense of touch from the prosthetic limb and must constantly watch it for correct use.

Dr Giulio Rognini and colleagues from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne have proven that using virtual reality amputees can be convinced the prosthetic hand belongs to their own body.

In preliminary experiments the groundbreaking technique worked on two patients who have lost hands, according to the paper published today in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Instead of using the sense of sight alone, researchers managed to incorporate touch as well.

'The brain regularly uses its senses to evaluate what belongs to the body and what is external to the body', said Dr Rognini.

By combining the senses of sight and touch, scientists managed to convince patients a prosthetic hand belonged to their own body

'We showed exactly how vision and touch can be combined to trick the amputee's brain into feeling what it sees, inducing embodiment of the prosthetic hand with an additional effect that the phantom limb grows into the prosthetic one.

'The setup is portable and could one day be turned into a therapy to help patients embody their prosthetic limb permanently.'

In two hand amputees, scientists provided artificial tactile sensations at the tip of the index finger - of the phantom limb - by stimulating the patient's nerve in the stump.

At the same time, the patient wore virtual reality goggles which showed the index finger of the prosthetic limb glowing in synchrony with the administered touch sensations.

Both patients reported feeling as though the prosthetic hand belonged to their own body.

When asked to evaluate the position of their hands, both patients felt as though their phantom limb had extended into the prosthetic limb.

In two hand amputees, scientists provided artificial tactile sensations at the tip of the index finger - of the phantom limb - by stimulating the patient's nerve in the stump

Previous to the experiment, they both reported that the phantom hand was small and directly connected to the stump.

They said it felt as if the phantom limb had no forearm, a change in size referred to as 'telescoping' in scientific jargon.

In fact, their phantom limb extended during the experiment, and remained extended for up to ten minutes afterwards.

The experiment requires the patient to passively observe two sensations on the fingertip, the visual glow and the artificial touch happening in synchrony, in order for this to take place.

The study builds upon research that opened new avenues is prosthetics.

In 2014, in a European collaboration led by EPFL, scientists overcame a major hurdle by giving an amputee the ability to feel - in real-time - with the help of their prosthetic hand.

Information about touch coming from sensors at the prosthetic fingertips were directly processed and relayed into the nervous system via electrodes that were surgically wired to the stump's main nerves.

Two years later in 2016 scientists showed that the enhanced prosthetic technology could even help the same amputee detect differences in texture.
A range of indicators recorded in the first six months of 2018 demonstrated the booming Vietnamese economy. Its gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.1% year on year, the fastest since 2011. The output of Vietnams manufacturing sector increased 13.1% on year.

According to QNB analysts, the manufacturing boom fueled exports to annually surge 20% in the period compared to the 17% increase posted for the entire 2017.

The bank attributed manufacturing and export success to Vietnams ability to attract a large volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) into sectors like garment, footwear and electronics. FDI inflows in the Southeast Asian country also boomed, with total value estimated at US$13 billion in the first half of this year, an annual increase of 11%.

The GDP figure for 2017 was about US$220 billion, according to the latest data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The QNB said Vietnams economic success is noteworthy as it comes at a time when many developing economies are struggling to match the success of Asias previous tigers like Singapore and the Republic of Korea. It said the basis for such achievement is obvious, namely favourable demographics, low wage rates, political stability, and geographical location.

The commentary cited recent research from the Brookings Institute think tank in the US which highlighted that the ability to build on these solid foundations via good policies is what really sets Vietnam apart.

There are three critical factors behind the countrys high growth. First, Vietnam has eagerly pursued trade liberalisation on both multilateral and bilateral basis. Trade agreements have dramatically lowered the external tariffs its exports face, helping integrate Vietnam into the global economy and further accelerating FDI investments.

Second, Vietnams investments in human capital i.e. education have helped the country maximise its demographic potential. Vietnam was ranked 8th out of 72 participating countries in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which tests high school students in maths, science, and other subjects. The result surpassed several top economies of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which conducts the PISA.

Third, investments in human capital have been supported by progress in improving the local business climate. Vietnam has steadily moved up in both the World Economic Forums competitiveness index and the World Banks ease of doing business survey.

The QNB noted the success might come along with vulnerabilities and challenges. FDI in Vietnam mostly concentrates in the textiles and electronics sectors, creating jobs, which tend to be of low skills and low wage with little value added. This leaves Vietnam exposed to the crossfire of a US-China trade war in the short term. In longer term, Vietnams competitive advantages might fade, as the country climbs the development ladder, and wage rates and living standards improve.

The bank also pointed to new economic drivers that could help Vietnam sustain its current position in a few years. Vietnams high PISA scores suggested that the country should be able to move up the global value chain more easily than most emerging markets.

Prospects for rapid growth in the service sector, particularly tourism, could help drive economic growth over the longer term. In the latest data, tourist arrivals in the country was up nearly 25% in June from 2017.
Nokia's 8110 'banana phone' is about to hit the shelves.

The firm is set to release the 8110 on Wednesday - more than five months after the revamped retro phone was first unveiled.

HMD Global, the Nokia brand licensee, has brought back a few classic Nokia feature phones in the past year, including the beloved 3310.

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Nokia's retro 8110 'banana phone' is back. The firm is set to release the 8110 on Wednesday - more than five months after the revamped retro phone was first unveiled

Now, the firm is giving the classic 'banana phone,' made famous by 'The Matrix,' a new lease on life.

Prospective buyers were able to place a pre-order for the device starting on Aug. 9.

The company has confirmed a price of 69 ($87) for a SIM-free version.

The updated phone features 4G support, 25-day battery life and the iconic game, Snake.

HMD first announced that it was issuing a revamped 8110 at technology trade show Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year.

HMD chief executive Florian Seiche said the company wanted to 'create a unique identity for the brand' and the range of new devices was to 'expand and refresh' the Nokia portfolio.

The revamped 8110 is, like the original, curved to fit the shape of the face and has a snap cover that is used to unlock the phone or answer calls.

The revamped 8110 is, like the original, curved to fit the shape of the face and has a snap cover that is used to unlock the phone or answer calls

WHAT FEATURES DOES THE NOKIA 8110 HAVE? - The slider handset now supports VoLTE calls and 4G connectivity - It runs on Smart Feature OS, and is powered by the Qualcomm 205 dual core processor, 4GB storage, 512MB LPDDR3 RAM and 1500mAh battery - It has a 2.4-inch QVGA curved display and comes with a 2MP rear camera - Like the original, curved to fit the shape of the face and has a snap cover that is used to unlock the phone or answer calls - Instead of being black and white, the screen is now colour and it has a 25 day battery life Nokia's retro 8110 'banana phone' is back. The firm revealed an updated version of its curved mobile phone first seen in 1996 and made famous by 'The Matrix' at Mobile World Congress Advertisement

Dubbed the 'original slider phone', the updated 8110 now comes with 4G support.

Instead of being black and white, the screen is now colour.

Using HMDs Smart Feature OS, the phone can handle a selection of apps including Facebook, Mail for Exchange, and Snake.

The tech firm also announced a series of new handsets, including the entry-level Nokia 1, mid-range Nokia 6 and 7 Plus and a new version of its flagship Nokia 8 called the 8 Sirocco.

The company's new flagship phone, the Nokia 8 Sirocco, comes with a 5.5-inch curved 2K OLED display as well as dual rear cameras and wireless charging.

The device is Nokia's attempt to entice users away from the likes of Apple and Samsung.

The firm revealed an updated version of its curved mobile phone first seen in 1996 and made famous by 'The Matrix' at Mobile World Congress. The updated version of the phone is yellow and, unlike its predecessor from the 90s, has a colour screen

Using HMDs Smart Feature OS, the phone can handle a selection of apps including Facebook, Mail for Exchange, and Snake. Pictured from left to right: Nokia 6, Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8110, Nokia 1 and the Nokia 7 plus

At the other end of the scale is the company's new Nokia One, a budget device, but one that runs a streamlined version of the latest Android software, called Android Oreo Go Edition.

Mr Seiche said the phone combined the 'durability of a feature phone with the latest software experience'.

HMD also announced two new mid-range devices for its line-up  the Nokia 6 and Nokia 7 Plus.

The 6 features a rear camera containing optics technology by camera specialists Zeiss and supports fast charging, while the 7 Plus has dual rear Zeiss cameras and Nokia claims a two-day battery life.
Its been over two weeks since NASA revealed that the massive dust storm battering Mars since May has finally begun to die down.

But despite the clearing skies, theres still been no word from the Opportunity rover.

Opportunity fell silent back in June, with no way to power its solar battery as dust continued to block out the sun.

Engineers involved with the mission were at first hopeful that the robotic Mars explorer would wake back up once the storm abated  but, after more than 60 days of silence, they now admit morale is shaky.

In effort to keep their spirits high and inspire the rover to wake up, the team has been crafting a themed playlist with a new song to kick off each Martian day from the control room.

So far, the list includes 18 songs, from Wham!s Wake Me up Before You Go-Go and The Beatles Here Comes the Sun to Queens Keep Yourself Alive.

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The dust storm began on May 30th as a relatively small-scale event, but by June 20, it had gone completely global. The pictures above show the dramatic changes to the visible surface features, as dust blanketed the entire planet. It began to die down at the end of July

Opportunity hasnt let out a peep since June 10, and its unclear when the rover will wake up  if it does at all.

Morale has been a little shaky, Michael Staab, an engineer for the program at JPL that helped instate the themed playlist, told Space.com.

This is the first time she [Opportunity] has stopped talking to us and not resumed communication when we expected.

The dust storm began on May 30th as a relatively small-scale event, but by June 20, it had gone completely global.

Much about what causes these phenomena remains a mystery, though scientists estimate they occur on Mars every six to eight Earth years (three to four Martian years).

After raging for two months, the storm finally began to subside at the end of July, when NASA confirmed it was the beginning of the end for the planet-encircling event.

Opportunity fell silent back in June, with no way to power its solar battery as dust continued to block out the sun. The animation shows how the rover (center) was directly in the path of the raging storm

Scientists from Nasa first observed a smaller-scale dust storm on May 30, but by June 20, it had gone global. The high resolution stereo camera on board ESA?s Mars Express captured this impressive upwelling front of dust clouds, visible in the right half of the frame

While the team anticipated it would still be some time before the skies cleared enough for Opportunity to turn back on, confidence has begun to wane over two months of radio silence.

Thats a long time to not hear from your rover, and we dont know what its doing, Staab told Space.com.

The team has been chipping away at the growing wakeup playlist since August 4, and is even taking bets on when Opportunity will come back on.

Well just keep playing until she decides to talk to us, Staab said.

The dust storm moved into its decay phase on July 23, when the space agency confirmed that more dust was falling from the sky than being raised into it.

Its been over two weeks since NASA revealed that the massive dust storm battering Mars since May has finally begun to die down. But despite the clearing skies, theres still been no word from the Opportunity rover (artist's impression)

LISTEN TO THE WAKE-UP PLAYLIST NASA MADE FOR OPPORTUNITY In effort to keep their spirits high and inspire the rover to wake up, NASA's Opportunity team has been crafting a themed playlist with a new song to kick off each Martian day from the control room. So far, the list includes 18 songs, from Wham!s Wake Me up Before You Go-Go and The Beatles Here Comes the Sun to Queens Keep Yourself Alive. Advertisement

In the weeks since, surface features have finally begun to reappear; at its peak, the dust storm had blanketed all of Mars.

Opportunity has been asleep, or in low power mode, since the beginning of June as it awaits clear skies and sufficient solar energy to charge up its batteries.

Even if it does come back on, however, NASA is anticipating 'complexity' with the rover's mission clock.

Without enough energy to sustain its mission clock, which is thought to be the only instrument still working, the rover won't know what time it is.

Amateur skygazers back here on Earth were able to witness the effect the storm had on the red planet, armed with relatively inexpensive hobbyist telescopes. This image of the dust storm was taken in Coronado, Costa Rica, using a Cassegrain 8 inch Meade telescope

WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY ROVER? NASA launched the Opportunity rover as part of its Mars Exploration Rover program in 2004. It landed on Mars' Meridiani Planum plain near its equator on January 25, 2004. Opportunity was only supposed to stay on Mars for 90 days, but has now lasted an astounding 14 years. In its lifetime, Opportunity has explored two craters on the red planet, Victoria and Endeavour, as well as found several signs of water. It survived a bad dust storm in 2007 and is now being closely watched to see if it can survive a massive storm that has an estimated opacity level of 10.8, a sharp increase from the earlier storm's 5.5 tau. NASA has made several updates to the spacecraft since it landed on Mars, such as its flash memory. Advertisement

When Opportunity wakes up, it will set its timers at regular intervals to see if it can communicate with Earth, the space agency explained earlier this summer.

In the meantime, the team will just have to wait it out.

'We will be prepared to listen and respond to the rover when that happens,' said Opportunity Project Manager John Callas during a NASA press conference earlier this summer.

'So were concerned but were hopeful that the storm will clear and the rover will begin to communicate with us.'
Instagram users took to social media to complain that their accounts had been hacked throughout August 2018.

Some claimed that Russian cybercriminals were behind the attack.

Affected users found they had been logged out of their accounts.

Trying to regain access revealed that login email address had been changed .ru domains, which are based in Russia.

Many were associated with mail.ru, a popular Russian language web based email hosting service.

It's not clear how the hackers gained access to the accounts.
On land, heatwaves can be deadly for humans and wildlife and can devastate crops and forests.

Unusually warm periods can also occur in the ocean. These can last for weeks or months, killing off kelp forests and corals, and producing other significant impacts on marine ecosystems, fishing and aquaculture industries.

Yet until recently, the formation, distribution and frequency of marine heatwaves had received little research attention.

Long-term change

Climate change is warming ocean waters and causing shifts in the distribution and abundance of seaweeds, corals, fish and other marine species. For example, tropical fish species are now commonly found in Sydney Harbour.

But these changes in ocean temperatures are not steady or even, and scientists have lacked the tools to define, synthesize and understand the global patterns of marine heatwaves and their biological impacts.

At a meeting in early 2015, we convened a group of scientists with expertise in atmospheric climatology, oceanography and ecology to form a marine heatwaves working group to develop a definition for the phenomenon: A prolonged period of unusually warm water at a particular location for that time of the year. Importantly, marine heatwaves can occur at any time of the year, summer or winter.

Unusually warm periods can last for weeks or months, killing off kelp forests and corals, and producing other significant impacts on marine ecosystems, fishing and aquaculture industries worldwide (pictured)

With the definition in hand, we were finally able to analyse historical data to determine patterns in their occurrence.

Analysis of marine heatwave trends

Over the past century, marine heatwaves have become longer and more frequent around the world. The number of marine heatwave days increased by 54 per cent from 1925 to 2016, with an accelerating trend since 1982.

We collated more than 100 years of sea surface temperature data around the world from ship-based measurements, shore station records and satellite observations, and looked for changes in how often marine heatwaves occurred and how long they lasted.

This graph shows a yearly count of marine heatwave days from 1900 to 2016, as a global average.

We found that from 1925 to 1954 and 1987 to 2016, the frequency of heatwaves increased 34 per cent and their duration grew by 17 per cent.

These long-term trends can be explained by ongoing increases in ocean temperatures. Given the likelihood of continued ocean surface warming throughout the 21st century, we can expect to see more marine heatwaves globally in the future, with implications for marine biodiversity.

'The Blob' effect

Numbers and statistics are informative, but here's what that means underwater.

A marine ecosystem that had 30 days of extreme heat in the early 20th century might now experience 45 days of extreme heat. That extra exposure can have detrimental effects on the health of the ecosystem and the economic benefits, such as fisheries and aquaculture, derived from it.

A number of recent marine heatwaves have done just that.

In 2011, a marine heatwave off western Australia killed off a kelp forest and replaced it with turf seaweed. The ecosystem shift remained even after water temperatures returned to normal, signalling a long-lasting or maybe even permanent change.

That same event led to widespread loss of seagrass meadows from the iconic Shark Bay area, with consequences for biodiversity including increased bacterial blooms, declines in blue crabs, scallops and the health of green turtles, and reductions in the long-term carbon storage of these important habitats.

Examples of marine heatwave impacts on ecosystems and species. Coral bleaching and seagrass die-back (top left and right). Mass mortality and changes in patterns of commercially important species s (bottom left and right)

Similarly, a marine heatwave in the Gulf of Maine disrupted the lucrative lobster fishery in 2012. The warm water in late spring allowed lobsters to move inshore earlier in the year than usual, which led to early landings, and an unexpected and significant price drop.

More recently, a persistent area of warm water in the North Pacific, nicknamed 'The Blob', stayed put for years (2014-2016), and caused fishery closures, mass strandings of marine mammals and harmful algal bloom outbreaks along the coast. It even changed large-scale weather patterns in the Pacific Northwest.

As global ocean temperatures continue to rise and marine heatwaves become more widespread, the marine ecosystems many rely upon for food, livelihoods and recreation will become increasingly less stable and predictable.

The climate change link

Anthropogenic, that is human-caused, climate change is linked to some of these recent marine heatwaves.

For example, human emissions of greenhouse gases made the 2016 marine heatwave in tropical Australia, which led to massive bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, 53 times more likely to occur.

Even more dramatically, the 2015-16 marine heatwave in the Tasman Sea that persisted for more than eight months and disrupted Tasmanian fisheries and aquaculture industries was over 300 times more likely, thanks to anthropogenic climate change.

For scientists, the next step is to quantify future changes under different warming scenarios. How much more often will they occur? How much warmer will they be? And how much longer will they last?

Ultimately, scientists should develop forecasts for policy makers, managers and industry that could predict the future impacts of marine heatwaves for weeks or months ahead. Having that information would help fishery managers know when to open or close a fishery, aquaculture businesses to plan harvest dates and conservation managers to implement additional monitoring efforts.

Forecasts can help manage the risks, but in the end, we still need urgent action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. If not, marine ecosystems are set for an ever-increasing hammering from extreme ocean heat.

Source: Eric Oliver, Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University; Alistair Hobday, Senior Principal Research Scientist - Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO; Dan Smale, Research Fellow in Marine Ecology, Marine Biological Association; Neil Holbrook, Professor, University of Tasmania; Thomas Wernberg, ARC Future Fellow in Marine Ecology, University of Western Australia in a piece for The Conversation.
The last time I travelled to Scotland, the land of my birth, was ten years ago when I was a young and agile pup. But recently I have been dreaming of bouncing through the heather again.

Being a West Highland terrier of a certain age, I thought I might need a young travelling companion and decided to invite my Scottie friend Otis.

Otis  14 in dog years to my 84  leapt at the idea and we decided to circumvent the long drive to Fort William by taking the Caledonian Sleeper (or the 'non-sleeper', as my mistress calls it).

Dog's life: Scottie Otis and West Highland terrier Puff on the breezy ferry ride to the Isle of Mull

Otis and I were happy with our spot on the floor after boarding at Euston. On arrival, we all piled into a rented car and set off.

Kilcamb Lodge is set in 22 acres on the shores of Loch Sunart, the longest sea loch in the Highlands, and I gathered it has four stars  not that I cared. I was just hungry and anxious to get inside.

To my horror, the teenage Otis made a beeline for the loch, leapt straight into the water and swam, splashing, in small circles. He then shook himself vigorously and headed for the hotel door, leaving paw marks all over the threshold.

Luckily, Kilcamb Lodge is a dog-friendly establishment. In truth, it is more than friendly; it's positively accommodating to animals like us. In the bedrooms, there were bowls, towels, treats, toys  even our own bed cover for the inevitable jump up.

Bright and beautiful: Tobermory, on Mull, is known for its multicoloured waterfront houses

While my mistress and Otis's mum, Lucy, tasted the delights of the local fish prepared by chef Gary Phillips, we had a snooze.

Taking the Lochaline ferry to the island of Mull the following day was an adventure. Otis and I travelled on the top deck during the ferry ride to feel the wind in our fur.

Mull is great for walkies and we headed straight for the white sands of Calgary Beach, where, of course, Otis went swimming and made a lot of noise. It was then time for a drink in the village of Tobermory, which is full of multicoloured waterfront houses, cafes and pubs.

Hospitable: Country house hotel Kilcamb Lodge offers dog bowls and toys in its bedrooms

Next day, we were driven to the Laudale Estate on the Morvern Peninsula to take up residence in one of the holiday cottages  all pretty and designed with dogs in mind.

We stayed in one called Riverside. My mistress was thrilled with the three-bedroom, three-bathroom cottage, with its proper kitchen, pantry, huge TV, wood stoves and internet. Otis imagined he was a fisherman and tried to run off with the anchor to one of the boats.

What an idiot he is. But his company was enlivening, and as we returned on the sleeper to London, I thought I might even invite him along next time.

(As told to INGRID SEWARD)
North Korea is believed to have stopped processing tourist visas for foreigners ahead of high profile celebrations in the country next month.

The measure follows reports that Pyongyang had suspended visits by Chinese tour groups as it prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the country is officially known.

Chinese-based Koryo Tours, a popular agency among Western tourists seeking to visit the North, said on its website it had been 'informed on 13 August by our partners in Pyongyang that they had been instructed from above that all tourist visa applications currently underway are to be frozen'.

North Korea is believed to have stopped processing tourist visas for foreigners ahead of high profile celebrations in the country next month. Pictured is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

It was not given a reason for the freeze, the company said, but was told it would apply until the anniversary on September 9.

The firm added: 'This suggests to us that... a higher power in the country is simply pressing pause on tourism until it is clear to them who is coming in such delegations and how many people.'

Pyongyang has previously lavishly celebrated the date with military parades or mass games involving thousands of people performing acrobatic choreography in unison, and is expected this time to hold its first mass games for five years.

Speculation has also mounted that the nuclear-armed North could be preparing to mount a parade - at which it normally shows off some of the weapons that have earned it multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is speculated to be on the guest list, as officials in the North told South Korean journalists that he was invited to the event.

Tourists take pictures in Pyongyang. No official reason has been given for the freeze on tourist visas

In his New Year speech in January, leader Kim Jong Un said North Korean people would 'greet the 70th founding anniversary of their Republic as a great, auspicious event'.

The occasion comes during a rare diplomatic detente on the Korean peninsula which has seen the South's president Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un meet twice, with a third summit planned for September.

The rapprochement also led to a landmark summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, where the two leaders signed a vague agreement on denuclearisation.

Although Trump touted his summit with Kim as a historic breakthrough, the North has since criticised Washington for its 'gangster-like' demands of complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament.

The US has urged the international community to maintain tough sanctions on the isolated regime.
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From quirky retreats to sprawling palaces and even a home made entirely from glass, Airbnb has a vast array of listing from around the globe.

And to mark its 10th anniversary, Airbnb has revealed the properties that have been 'wish-listed' the most on its site over the past 10 years.

Whether its a tropical treehouse or conical villa, scroll down to see the top ten most wanted homestays.

I Sette Coni  Trullo Edera (Ostuni, Italy) - wish-listed: 164,444 times

I Sette Coni  Trullo Edera villa in Puglia, Italy, which is the most wish-listed property on Airbnb in the last 10 years

For 63 ($80) a night, guests can stay inside the villages iconic white stone walls by night and hang outside reading under an olive tree by day

The most wish-listed property on the listings site is the conical Italian villa I Sette Coni  Trullo Edera located close to the towns of Bari and Brindisi.

The villa sleeps up to four people and offers stunning views across the Puglia landscape.

For 63 ($80) a night, guests can stay inside the villages iconic white stone walls by night and hang outside reading under an olive tree by day.

Hector Cave House (Santorini, Greece) - wish-listed: 133,869 times

The Hector Cave House on the Greek island of Santorini, which was carved into the caldera cliff more than 250 years ago

The living area of the Hector Cave House, which is perfectly perched on the side of a cliff for watching the crowds in the village below

Originally used as a wine cellar, the Hector Cave House in Santorini was carved into the caldera cliff more than 250 years ago.

The stunning property has one bedroom that can accommodate up to five guests as well as a private veranda for sunbathing.

Guests say the house is perfectly perched, great for watching the crazy crowds of the village of Oia from above.

Farm Cabana (Armenia, Colombia) - wish-listed: 99,622 times

A romantic cabana is made entirely from bamboo in the coffee region of Colombia, which is the third most wish-listed property on Airbnb

The cabana only has one bedroom, pictured, enough for one couple but comes in at just 31 ($39)per night

Tucked away near the mountains of the coffee region of Colombia, the romantic cabana is made entirely from bamboo.

Guests staying there can also enjoy the tropical fruits and vegetables that are grown on the small organic farm, where the property stands.

The cabana only has one bedroom, enough for one couple but comes in at just 31 per night.

Eco bamboo home (Bali, Indonesia) - wish-listed: 77,177 times

The eco-bamboo home in Bali, which guests must book up six months in advance as it is so popular

Guests say the two story eco-home exceeds the hype thanks to its total solitude in a quiet Balinese village

Not only is this hideout in Bali among the most wish-listed property, it is also one of the most booked, filling up six months ahead of time.

Guests say the two story eco-home exceeds the hype thanks to its total solitude in a quiet Balinese village.

Prices start from 137 ($174) per night and guests get use of a scooter for free.

Stone Villa (Crete, Greece) - wish-listed: 76,658 times

This cave property on the Greek island of Crete was once a family home but is now a holiday let and available on Airbnb

Two guests can stay at the property from 45 per night and also comes complete with a kitchenette and dining room

Another property carved out of natural rock, this cave in Crete was once a family home but is now a holiday let.

It was recently rebuilt to include a balcony where guests can enjoy the turquoise waters of Kissamos Bay.

Two guests can stay at the property from 45 ($57) per night and it also comes complete with a kitchenette and dining room.

Tropical Treehouse (Fern Forest, Hawaii) - wish-listed: 66,336 times

The tropical treehouse is within the jungle canopy on the outskirts of the Big Islands Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The property is totally off the grid with no running water and only solar power for electricity

Located on the outskirts of the Big Islands Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the tropical treehouse is within the jungle canopy.

It is elevated on stilts and has 360 degree views of the lush jungle and can accommodate up to two guests.

Prices start from 235 ($300) per night but the property is totally off the grid with no running water and only solar power for electricity.

Eco-cottage (Bali, Indonesia) - wish-listed: 65,644 times

This bamboo hut in Bali only sees a mosquito net come between the guests who stay here and the elements

A total of four guests can stay at the hut next to a rice field at a time with prices starting from 51 ($64) per night

This bamboo hut in Bali only sees a mosquito net come between the guests who stay here and the elements.

That's because anything thicker would spoil the view of the fireflies shimmering above the rice fields after dark.

A total of four guests can stay at the hut next to a rice field at a time with prices starting from 51 per night.

It House (Yucca Valley, California, USA) - wish-listed: 63,669 times

The IT House in Yucca Valley in California, which is an off the grid property with guests urged to bring their telescope so they can gaze up at the night's sky

The house is located in a remote location within Yucca Valley and is powered entirely by solar energy

Made entirely of glass, this property is an off the grid home where guests urged to bring their telescope so they can gaze up at the night's sky.

It boasts two bedrooms, with enough room for four guests and is powered entirely by solar energy.

The house is located in a remote location within Yucca Valley and prices start from 314 per night.

The Cosy Palace (Marrakech, Morocco) - wish-listed: 59,838 times

Guests say pictures of this restored riad do not do the rooms justice at the Cosy Palace in Marrakech

Vibrantly tiled archways decorate the property where prices for four guests start from 39 ($49) per night

Guests say pictures of this restored riad do not do the rooms justice at the Cosy Palace in Marrakech.

Vibrantly tiled archways decorate the property, which can accommodate up to four guests.

Prices start from 39 per night and is located close to the heart of the Medina.

Waterfront villa (Kotor, Montenegro) - wish-listed: 52,964 times

A night at waterfront villa in Montenegro starts from just 31 ($39) per night and has an outside table for al-fresco dining

Boasting an unobstructed view of two beautiful Bay of Kotor islands this villa is one of the most popular Airbnbs in Europe

Boasting an unobstructed view of two beautiful Bay of Kotor islands this villa is one of the most popular Airbnbs in Europe.

The waterfront property can accommodate up to four guests and is described as perfect for families.

A night at the home starts from just 31 ($39) per night and has an outside table for al-fresco dining.
She made a splash as a model in Manhattan as a young teenager in the 1990s.

And on Monday Jaime King stepped out for a quick coffee and cigarette break in Hollywood dressed in a casual ensemble of a gray tank sweater dress and fuzzy soled Birkenstock-style sandals.

This comes on the same day that the mother of two took to Instagram for the second time in less than a week and shared a female empowerment post.

Chillin': Jaime King was spotted taking a cigarette and coffee break in Hollywood on Monday

Jaime shared a picture that showed her leaning back on some grass dressed in frayed black jeans, a white t-shirt and her long blonde tresses pulled back in a ponytails.

'To every woman, you are POWERFUL. You are capable of anything and everything. You are BEAUTIFUL. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise,' she wrote in the caption.

'You are INSIGHTFUL. Let your story be heard. You are passionate, worthy, radiant, creative, gracefulTo sum it all up, you are LOVED.'

Quirky ensemble: The model/actress dressed very casual in a gray tank sweater dress and fuzzy soled Birkenstock-style sandals

She looked chic in her long gray maxi dress, which was short sleeved

Just four days earlier, the 39-year old shared a picture that showed her dressed in underwear.

'For all the women out there- sometimes you need to feel yourself the way other people wont. To know your touch is to understand. Intimacy translates to into-me-see.'

She continued: 'That understanding leads to a fulfillment that may be shared alone or with others in loving, truth and inner ecstasy which is innately available to all yet not given nor shared by all. Lets change that. #beauty #shameless #allgood Godspeed,' she said, adding a heart emoji.

Female Empowerment: 'For all the women out there': Jaime shared on Instagram last Wednesday

On the career front, Jaime most recently starred alongside Sylvester Stallone and Dave Bautista in the action movie Escape Plane 2: Hades.

She is currently filming the upcoming Netflix zombie series Black Summer, which is set to premiere in 2019.

Jaime is married to director Kyle Newman. The couple met on the set of Fanboys in January 2005 and tied the knot November 23, 2007, at Greystone Mansion, Los Angeles, where Kyle had proposed. They share sons James, four, and Leo, three.

Standing together: Jaime took to Instagram for the second time in less than a week and shared a female empowerment post: 'To every woman, you are POWERFUL. You are capable of anything and everything. You are BEAUTIFUL. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise'
She just got done gracing the stage of Broadway.

And on Monday, actress Melissa Benoist was back at work filming for the upcoming season of her CW show Supergirl.

The 29-year-old was spotted on set in Vancouver, Canada donning her superhero's cape as she films scenes with co star Jesse Rath for Season 4.

Back on set: On Monday, actress Melissa Benoist, 29, was all smiles as she went back to work to start filming for the upcoming season of her CW show Supergirl after a long run on Broadway

The Glee alum was all smiles and looked casual in character as a reporter in an elegant gray, business dress for her return as the Girl of Steel.

While filming at the Vancouver Art Gallery, she wore a black jacket on top to keep her warm and kept her hands in its pockets as she talked to friends on set and in between takes.

Her blonde tresses were tied back and parted slightly to the left and it looked as if she had light makeup on.

The star seemed happy to be back at work playing Kara Danvers on the hit series.

News lady: The Glee alum was all smiles and looked casual in character as a reporter in an elegant gray, business dress for her return as the Girl of Steel

Location: Melissa and costars were filming at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Style: She wore a black jacket on top to keep her warm and kept her hands in its pockets as she talked to friends on set and in between takes

Her look: Her blonde tresses were tied back and parted slightly to the left and it looked as if she had light makeup on

Melissa was seen working and prepping scenes with her costars Mehcad Brooks and Jesse Rath.

She busted out her infamous uniform and cape as she filmed a stunt scene.

Season four of Supergirl is scheduled to premiere on Sunday October 14 on The CW.

Work: Melissa was seen working and prepping scenes with her costars Mehcad Brooks and Jesse Rath

Takes: While filming, the beauty ran on set with a bottle in her hand

Busy summer: Melissa just got done starring in Carole King's Broadway musical

Switching it up: She also busted out her infamous uniform and cape as she filmed a stunt scene

New hair: When donning her cape, Melissa wore her strands down and curled instead of pinned back when she's a reporter

This is the first time Melissa has been seen this season, as she was on Broadway until now

Costars: Melissa was seen working and prepping scenes with her costars Michad Brooks and Jesse Rath, pictured here with her

Next: Season four of Supergirl is scheduled to premiere on Sunday October 14 on The CW

Benoist is currently dating her Supergirl co-star Chris Wood.

Falling in love on set, Melissa and Chris' were outed as a couple in March 2017, during a romantic vacation in Mexico.

In December 2016, the Colorado-native finalized her divorce from fellow Glee actor Blake Jenner after two years of marriage.

The former couple met on the set of the musical FOX show in 2012.

Love life: Benoist is currently dating her Supergirl co-star Chris Wood, pictured here during an earlier season of Supergirl
He was one of the most talked-about contestants on Love Island Australia.

But it looks like Eden Dally is unlikely to parlay his reality TV fame into a career as a celebrity chef.

The 25-year-old prison guard shared a photo to Instagram on Monday of his rather lacklustre attempt at a home-cooked meal.

Scroll down for video

'Who els loves to cook?' On Monday, Love Island Australia's Eden Dally tried to impress his Instagram followers with his a very depressing, dimly-lit meal for one (pictured)

The meal consisted of five small pieces of crumbed chicken, three boiled potatoes, a spattering of peas, a half corncob and a lone slice of pumpkin or sweet potato.

Seemingly fancying himself as a skilled chef, Eden asked his 145,000 Instagram followers: 'Who els [sic] loves to cook?'

Eden's bland dinner comes after fans speculated that he had split with girlfriend Erin Barnett because they had 'stopped liking each other's posts'.

The next MasterChef winner? Seemingly fancying himself as a skilled chef, Eden asked his 145,000 Instagram followers: 'Who els [sic] loves to cook?'

Last week, Eden shared a photo of his mother on Instagram.

It was the fifth post he had shared that Erin had not interacted with, sending fans into a flurry of speculation about a possible break-up.

'But are they still a couple? My heart is breaking [because] they haven't liked each other's post in a while,' one fan commented.

'Are you and Erin still together?' another asked.

Trouble in paradise? Eden's bland dinner comes after fans speculated that he had split with girlfriend Erin Barnett (right) because they had 'stopped liking each other's posts'

Responding to the speculation at the time, Eden confirmed the couple were still together by posting a photo of himself and the busty nurse.

'Hi guys! I would like to shut down these rumours about Erin and I splitting up! It is 100 per cent untrue,' he wrote in the caption.

'Erin and I are still very much together and I'll be seeing her this weekend in Melbourne! Love my girl and cant wait to see her!'

It's over? Last week, Eden shared a photo of his mother (right) on Instagram. It was the fifth post he had shared that Erin had not interacted with, sending fans into a flurry of speculation about a possible break-up

On Love Island Australia, Eden was accused of aggressive and bullying behaviour.

In July, he defended himself in an interview with Yahoo Be, adding that he was sorry if his actions were misinterpreted.

'[Bullying] is definitely not something I condone and if I came off that way I apologise for that,' he said.

'I also know bullying can lead to depression and it's something I hold close to my heart - I've had it and I've got close mates who have had it.'
The HFR was established in June 2013 as a result of the "Dash for Impact" competition, which was launched by the International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC) to call on youth projects to directly and positively impact the society.

Recognising the fact that there is an increasing amount of leftover food, while there are many people living in difficulties, a group of students from the Hanoi-Amsterdam, Foreign Language Specialised School, and Chu Van An high schools gathered together to rescue the food.

The HFRs goals are to raise public awareness of food saving and create a sharing atmosphere in the community through charitable activities.

One of the challenges facing the HFR in its initial days of operation was calling for sponsors. As the first organisation to be launched by youngsters with a focus on work related to food in Vietnam, the HFR received less trust and appreciation from business partners.

In addition, human resources were also another obstacle as most of the members were students, who were busy with their studies and thus had limited spare time for volunteer activities.

HFR Chairperson, Tran Anh Duong, recalled that during the first days of establishment, the team members had a lot of difficulties in finding sources of food surpluses which still met the standard of food hygiene and safety.

However, thanks to the huge effort of the entire team and support from REACH - a local non-government and non-profit organisation operating in providing vocational training and employment for Vietnams most disadvantaged youth, the first packets of leftover food were handed over to disadvantaged people in Hanoi in September 2013.

Starting from only 15 members and 50 volunteers, after five years of operation, the HRF now has an additional 30 members and 80 volunteers, who have brought 50,000 free edible meals to more than 16,000 poor people, patients, and orphans in the city, provided by 30 local hotels, restaurants and cafeterias.





The HFRs goals are to raise public awareness of food saving and create a sharing atmosphere in the community (Photo: Hanoi Food Rescue)

The leftover food is divided into individual portions and packaged into containers before being shipped to people in need.

As most of the team members are students, the food is transported by buses in the afternoon so that the activity doesnt affect their school time.

Dang Thanh Lam, a team member of the HFR, said that after one year of participating in the project, Lam has increased his awareness of saving food, while understanding the meaning of sharing in life, as well as the joy in supporting others.

Nguyen Thi Van Anh, an 11th grader from Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students, said that thanks to the HFR, she can contribute her vitality to warm the hearts of underprivileged people.

In addition to regularly collecting and handing leftover food, which is carried out five days a week, the HFR also hosts an annual programme titled Tet Donation, which calls for support from beneficiaries to help students in northern and remote provinces to celebrate the Tet (lunar New Year) festival

In the first edition in 2014, the Tet Donation programme presented 185 Tet gifts to students in Vu A Dinh elementary school in Dong Quan commune, Luc Yen district, Yen Bai province. The most recent event for the lunar Tet celebration 2018 received more than 7,000 gifts, which were granted to students at San Sa Ho 1 school, Sapa town, Lao Cai province.

We hope that through our activities, the HFR members will convey a message of sharing and compassion for underprivileged people in society, expressed HFR Chair Tran Anh Duong.

HFR members present Tet gift to students at San Sa Ho 1 school, Sapa town, Lao Cai province during the HFR's 'Tet Donation; programme 2018 (Photo: Hanoi Food Rescue)
MIC has clearly been in decline for years  which is arguably an achievement considering it was full of non-entities to begin with.

The characters in the early series were never exactly classy  despite their ancestors  but had a certain snooty glamour and allure. Sadly, any traces of these were now also history (dead).

A simple detail on Made In Chelsea: Croatia provided stark, conclusive, proof of this and what a poor, pale, imitation, of its former glory it had become.

Awful: MIC has clearly been in decline for years  which is arguably an achievement considering it was full of non-entities to begin with (Pictured Sophie 'Habbs' Habbooo')

Nothing could have been more damning or desperate than the caption for tonights big double date scene which listed the star names it featured were: Jamie, Ell, Miles, and Tabitha.

Phew! Hold me back! Or rather, who?!

It was hard to imagine MIC had ever shown a more anonymous, anodyne, quartet of characters. Veteran buffoon Jamie Laing looked like Marlon Brando next to the others.

You longed for someone  anyone  from the shows heyday to still be in it: not necessarily MIC icons like Spencer Matthews and Lucy Watson (who had the sexual chemistry of Burton & Taylor by comparison). Suddenly, even Lucy Watsons sister (whatever her name was) would have been a Godsend.

Uncouth: The characters in the early series were never exactly classy  despite their ancestors  but had a certain snooty glamour and allure. Sadly, any traces of these were now also history (dead); (Pictured Sam Thompson)

Woeful: Nothing could have been more damning or desperate than the caption for tonights big double date scene which listed the star names it featured were: Jamie, Ell, Miles, and Tabitha (Pictured Jamie Laing and Ell Agostinelli)

In hindsight colossal dullards like Ryan the Ry-Man Libbey, JP, Digby Digbertson III, or Alik Alfus seemed fascinating after all. (Well maybe not Alik.)

Episode Two made last weeks season debut look like a Quentin Tarantino film.

One couple split up having been together for one night (supposedly sharing one kiss) while Harry Baron was grilled by his girlfriend about one hour he spent with another woman in a bar not even in a hotel room.

As for the double date featuring Jamie & Ell plus Miles & Tabitha, if you can write down a single fact about more than one of these then you need some major life changes.

Ridiculous: Episode Two made last weeks season debut look like a Quentin Tarantino film. One couple split up having been together for one night (supposedly sharing one kiss) while Harry Baron (pictured) was grilled by his girlfriend about one hour he spent with another woman in a bar not even in a hotel room

Actually we did discover Miles had soft skin (according to Jamie) and soft lips (according to Laings girlfriend Ell) - both of which were weird.

Jamie Laings jealousy about Ells friendship with Miles became so bad even Ell snapped: this is just tedious now !

Jamie was convinced Miles was trying to lure Ell away from him but couldnt decide whether his nice guy act meant he was some kind of an evil genius.

No-one called Miles could ever be an evil genius! purred Mark-Francis.

Boring: Jamie Laings jealousy about Ells friendship with Miles became so bad even Ell snapped: this is just tedious now ! (Pictured Jamie Laing and Ell Agostinelli)

As for the girls, the only interesting about watching Ell, Tabitha, Habbs, and Melissa was trying to work out exactly which one was the dullest.

You knew MIC had hit a new low when the most loved-up couple was Olivia and Digby, the most deadly boring, warring, pair in the previous series.

Elsewhere though there was trouble in paradise/the Dalmatian Islands for every other couple to some degree.

Ell showed how highly she valued being on the show (and with Jamie) by flying back to London for a modelling assignment.

Miles splitting up with Tabithas could hardly be called a break up given that they werent really together.

Pathetic: Miles splitting up with Tabithas could hardly be called a break up given that they werent really together

Harry hadnt actually been ditched by Melissa (yet) but was in the dog house.

The way Melissa grilled Harry about his admission that technically, theoretically, Sams allegation that he was spent an hour in Las Vegas with another girl was true was worthy of the Old Bailey.

How did you get to the bar?! How did she get to the bar?! demanded Melissa. At what point did you make that decision to go for a drink?

The nights most impassioned split was actually between Sam and Harry, with Sam calling Harry a f***ing w****r, and storming off like a posh version of the Harry Enfield character Kevin the Teenager.

Drama:The nights most impassioned split was actually between Sam and Harry, with Sam calling Harry a f***ing w****r, and storming off like a posh version of the Harry Enfield character Kevin the Teenager (Pictured Sam Thompson)

Sam was indignant about Harry betraying his confidence, admirably oblivious to the minor detail he had effectively cheated on Sophie Habbs Habboo and then lied to her face about it.

Is that all youre sorry for? Habbs checked after Sam sheepishly apologised for the tantrum and the denial.

WellYeah! he bumbled oafishly, still not realising having sex with someone else was the worse bit.

He even had the gall to protest and interrupt her when she blamed herself for thinking the way he had treated her meant he was different to other men.

I feel like such an idiot! she bemoaned. Its so embarrassing!

Liar: Sam was indignant about Harry betraying his confidence, admirably oblivious to the minor detail he had effectively cheated on Sophie Habbs Habboo and then lied to her face about it (Pictured Sophie Habboo)

Im sorry Habbs! Im going to have to stop you there! Sammy spluttered preposterously, sounding/looking even more like Nigel Farages nephew than usual. Im not an arsehole. Im a human !

Debatable frankly.

Earlier we had seen Sam attentively putting suncream on for Habbs, tracing a shape on her back, and challenging her to work out what it was.

Penis! Habbs declared instantly.

At the time it sounded as if she was guessing he had drawn a classic, characteristically adolescent, outline.

In hindsight though perhaps it was her perfect one-word summary to described what a ***** he was.
Will the 'world's hottest grandmother' be the next bride on Married At First Sight?

That's the question fans were again asking on Tuesday after blonde bombshell Gina Stewart, 47, posted a suggestive photo of herself on Instagram.

She posed on a bed wearing just a skimpy white negligee for the snap, which also appeared to contain a hidden message.

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Can you spot the hidden message in this photo? 'World's hottest grandma' Gina Stewart, 47, dropped a MAJOR hint she's going to appear on Married At First Sight in her latest selfie

Gina notably wore a wedding garter on her left thigh, in what is believed to be a subtle reference to Married At First Sight.

It has been rumoured for weeks that the Gold Coast model is joining the cast of Channel Nine's top-rated show.

Last month, Daily Mail Australia revealed she had been approached by producers but it is unclear if she accepted their offer.

Blushing bride to be? Gina notably wore a wedding garter on her left thigh, in what is believed to be a subtle reference to Married At First Sight

Reality TV opportunity: Last month, Daily Mail Australia revealed the Gold Coast mother-of-four had been approached by producers but it is unclear if she accepted their offer

Gina, who has four children and one grandchild, was nicknamed 'Australia's hottest granny' earlier this year when she entered the Miss Maxim 2018 bikini competition.

And after a headline-grabbing interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night last month, rumours began swirling of a possible appearance on MAFS.

'Married At First Sight producers are desperate to get her on the show, and an offer has been made,' a production source told Daily Mail Australia in July.

Claim to fame: Gina, who has four children and one grandchild, was nicknamed 'Australia's hottest granny' earlier this year when she entered the Miss Maxim 2018 bikini competition

'She's a perfect fit for the show, and she's single. The fact her Sunday Night interview went down so well is encouraging too,' they added.

'She's a natural in front of the camera and really likable.'

When approached for comment at the time, Gina said: 'I have had a few shows approach me, including Married At First Sight. I'm still considering some of the offers.'
Tyrese Gibson's much documented money problems appear to have gotten worse.

The model turned actor responded to his ex-wife Norma Gibson's request for him to pay for her divorce attorney.

According to his financial records obtained by TMZ, not only can't he afford to pay for her legal fees, he also can't afford to keep up his lifestyle.

In the red: Financial record show Tyrese Gibson can't afford to keep up his lifestyle

Bitter dispute: The actor's financial records show he also can't afford to pay his ex-wife's divorce lawyer; former wife Norma Gibson pictured in September 2017

Those records show The Fast & Furious star spends about $114,000 a month on bills that includes: his mortgage, utilities, child care and groceries. Add another $10,000 a month in child support payments to his estranged wife and that brings the monthly total to $124,000.

Currently he brings in about $51,000 a month, which translates to a $73,000 a month deficit.

Things have reportedly gotten so bad the 39-year old's savings account has withered down from $800,000 in cash to $130,000 over the last nine months.

Money issues: According to documents the actor is in the red by about $73,000 a month

Caught in the middle: The Fast & Furious star has been in a bitter custody battle over his 11-year old daughter Shayla; father and daughter are pictured in Los Angeles in April 2016

Tyrese has cast blame on his ex for his recent money problems -- maintaining that the bad press that he got after she accused him of domestic violence last year made it difficult for him to land more movie rolls.

The former couple have been engaged in a bitter custody battle over their 11-year old daughter Shayla. At one point, Norma requested a restraining order against Tyrese, who she claimed allegedly beat their daughter. A judge ultimately denied the request, claiming there wasnt an ongoing pattern of harassment against Norma or their daughter.

The former couple currently have shared custody, but Tyrese wants Shayla to live with him at his Atlanta mansion rather than remain with her mother in Los Angeles.

Last year, the LA native tied the knot with New Jersey-born Samantha Lee and they announced in April that they are expecting a baby together. The baby girl is due in September.

Tyrese has been a part of a number of blockbuster films that includes: roles in five of the Fast & Furious action movies beginning in 2003, Annapolis (2005), Transformers (2007), Death Race (2008), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) and Ride Along 2 (2016).
They're the proud 'bogans' who landed in hot water with The Block producers after buying petrol, barbecue chicken and fish hooks on a Channel Nine credit card.

And contestants Norm Hogan, 40, and Jess Eva, 33, were stirring up more trouble at the Gatwick Hotel on Monday night's episode.

While discussing how they should furnish their zone, the Queensland couple argued over what posh people have in their guest bedroom.

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'High-end people don't watch TV, they read!' On Monday's episode of The Block, 'bogans' Norm and Jess had a heated exchange over what posh homeowners should have in a guest bedroom

The tension began when Norm pointed out what he thought was the best place for a bed to go in the completed room - but Jess disagreed with him.

'We can't have the bed there, no way,' Jess told her fiance, prompting him to snap back: 'Why?'

'Because if you have a bed there, and windows on top of it, every time you want to open the window you have to stand on the bed,' she explained

Trouble at The Gatwick! The tension began when Norm (pictured) pointed out what he thought was the best place for a bed to go in the completed room - but Jess disagreed with him

Norm then reminded his partner that he could find space on the wall for a television, because it was a 'high-end' design.

Jess had different ideas about what constituted a high-end guest bedroom, however, saying: 'But high-end people don't watch TV, they read! I promise.'

The conversation eventually reached boiling point between the two, with Jess walking away and Norm getting even more frustrated.

'Don't shake your head at me like that,' Norm said, while pointing at her angrily.

Bizarre: Norm then reminded his partner that he could find space on the wall for a TV, because it was a 'high-end' design. Jess replied: 'But high-end people don't watch TV, they read!'

It comes after New Idea reported on Monday that the couple had 'misused a Channel Nine credit card' during filming, purchasing petrol, barbecue chicken and fish hooks.

A Channel Nine spokesperson later confirmed the story to Daily Mail Australia, saying the network's bank Suncorp had noticed unusual spending, 'including a transaction at Charcoal Chicken'.

At the beginning of the show, contestants are given their own credit card to budget for their build. They are given strict instructions only to use the card to purchase items for their renovation.

After the pair failed to submit an invoice for their bathroom build, they were confronted by the show's host Scott Cam who was furious at their rule breaking.

The Block continues Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine
At 43-years-old, she has legs that put women half her age to shame.

And on Sunday, Charlize Theron stepped out in LA, toned gams on full display.

The mother-of-two was casually styled in a black Beyond Yoga dress, complete with a hooded neckline.

Looking lovely: On Sunday, Charlize Theron, 43, stepped out in LA, toned legs on full display

The beauty continued with her casual look in a pair of Adidas sneakers.

Charlize accessorized with a delicate pair of hoop earrings, minimal rings, shades, and a small purse.

The actress stuck to her go-to look of minimal make-up and effortless hair.

Naturally stunning: The actress stuck to her go-to look of minimal make-up and effortless hair while showing off her bare legs in the Beyond Yoga dress

Not seen with the South Africa native were her two children, Jackson and August.

The blonde beauty adopted son Jackson in March of 2012, followed by daughter August in July 2015.

She is currently single, and was previously engaged to actor Sean Penn from December 2014 until June 2015.

Busy: Charlize is currently set to star in four films up until 2019. She is seen in LA last weekend

Charlize is currently set to star in four films up until 2019.

The actress will return to her role as Lorraine Broughton in Atomic Blonde 2, and play journalist Megyn Kelly in Fair and Balanced.

She'll also voice Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, and star alongside Set Rogen and Alexander Skarsgard in Flarsky.
She's endured a difficult year.

But Abby Lee Miller seemed to be in great spirits while taking to Instagram to update her followers on her cancer battle.

On Monday, the Dance Moms star, 51, shared a picture of herself suspended in a harness as she walked on a treadmill during a therapy session after cancer surgery.

Progress: Abby Lee Miller, 51, was in great spirits while taking to Instagram on Monday sharing a picture of herself suspended in a harness as she walked on a treadmill during a therapy session after cancer surgery

'Just put one foot in front of the other & soon you'll be walking out the door! #spinesurgery #abbyleemiller #abbylee #aldc,' the former reality TV star captioned the smiling photo as she held onto the bars of the machine.

She was working on strengthening her back and legs after the extraordinarily taxing rounds of cancer treatments she's undergone in recent months.

Fans instantly started commenting on the dance teacher's photo and gave her uplifting words of encouragement.

One user wrote, 'YES GIRL . so PROUD YOU CAN DO THIS.'

Cancer update: The professional choreographer seemed to be in high spirits as she just undergone her final spinal tap just days prior

The author was wearing a black T-shirt with her Abby Lee Dance Company logo on it paired with black pants.

Her hair was tucked under a black knit hat and she went without makeup on.

The professional choreographer seemed to be in high spirits as she just undergone her final spinal tap just days prior.

The TV star shared a video to Instagram on Sunday, before getting the procedure.

Jail time: Miller learned she had cancer when she was hospitalized for excruciating back pain shortly after being released from prison

'Sixth and hopefully the final Lumbar Injection (spinal tap) in this Chemo treatment!' Miller captioned the clip.

'This is my, I hope to God, final lumbar injection,' she explained while filming the inside of the room before her procedure, which she explains in great detail.

'This is the table. They're going to put me on my stomach and then my arms are underneath me so I can't move. And then they twist [your back] on a diagonal so that you're spinal fluid goes down into your spinal cord, lower.'

Diagnosis: The Pennsylvania native was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after an emergency spinal surgery in April

The Pennsylvania native was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after an emergency spinal surgery in April.

Miller learned she had cancer when she was hospitalized for excruciating back pain shortly after being released from prison.

The star had been staying in a halfway house following her release from jail, where she was serving a year and one day after being found guilty of bankruptcy fraud.
A court has ordered Kim Richards to cough up $266,000 over a 2015 incident in which a woman claims she was injured in an attack from the reality star's pitbull, Kingsley.

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 51, was sued by a woman named Kelly Crossley over the incident, which Crossley said left her with a number of debilitating injuries after the canine bit her, The Blast reported.

Crossley told the court she dealt with aftereffects that included scars, and mental and physical ailments, as a result.

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Judgment: A court has ordered Kim Richards, 51, to cough up $266,000 over a 2015 incident in which a woman claims she was injured in an attack from the reality star's pitbull, Kingsley. Kim was snapped last year in LA

Crossley sued the Southern California socialite for unspecified damages over the bite and its aftermath, but Richards was a no-show in court to answer to the claims, nor did she respond to the legal filing.

This led to the judge on August 7 issuing a default judgment toward Crossley for $266,092.39 and $865 in related fees.

Kim, whose sister Kyle remains a regular on the Bravo series, had been previously sued on multiple occasions over the canine's actions.

Kim and Kyle were named in a suit from a stylist named Paige Sanderson, over an April 2015 attack that occurred at Kyle's home.

Dog days: Kim's pet pitbull Kingsley has been accused in multiple attacks

Sisters: Kim and Kyle Richards shot to reality TV fame on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The suit was settled for an undisclosed sum earlier this year, the outlet reported.

Sanderson had sought the court make Kyle open her home to inspection, two days before both parties agreed to a deal.

Richards has had legal woes attributed to the alleged attacks of the dog, according to TMZ, once sending Kyle's daughter Alexia to the hospital in 2014. Kingsley had also been linked to attacks of a trainer and an 80-year-old woman.
She just celebrated her 21st birthday with a lavish party.

And on Monday, Kylie Jenner showed no sign of taking a break from the spotlight as she stepped out with her baby daddy Travis Scott.

The reality star showcased her enhanced curves in a skintight black latex bodysuit paired with black skinny jeans for the outing in Calabasas, California.

Shopping trip: Kylie Jenner stepped out with baby daddy Travis Scott in Calabasas, California, on Monday just days after celebrating her 21st birthday

She carried a pinstripe jacket in one hand as she held onto the rapper, 26, with her other as they left a jewelry store.

Her bottle blonde hair was tied back from her face showing her naturally dark roots.

She also perched a pair of black-framed sunglasses on her nose as she walked along in strappy black heels.

Travis, the father of Kylie's baby daughter Stormi, kept his eyes down as he strolled with his braids falling down over his face.

Skintight style: The reality star showcased her enhanced curves in a black latex bodysuit paired with black skinny jeans for the outing to a jewelry store

Reality star: Her bottle blonde hair was tied back from her face showing her naturally dark roots. She also perched a pair of black-framed sunglasses on her nose

Bra-less: She carried a pinstripe jacket in one hand as she held onto the rapper, 26, with her other at the outdoor mall near her Hidden Hills home

Rapper daddy: Travis, the father of Kylie's baby daughter Stormi, kept his eyes down as he strolled with his braids falling down over his face

Travis was dressed in a graphic white tee and distressed black jeans along with yellow Air Jordan 4s.

He was blinged out with a couple of neck chains, a bracelet and a gold watch as he showed off his arm tattoos in the short-sleeved t-shirt.

The Houston, Texas, native hooked up with the Keeping Up With The Kardashians castmember in April 2017 after she broke up with longtime boyfriend Tyga.

Kylie gave birth to their daughter this past February.

Romance: The Houston, Texas, native hooked up with the Keeping Up With The Kardashians castmember in April 2017 after she broke up with longtime boyfriend Tyga

Travis was dressed in a graphic white tee and distressed black jeans along with yellow Air Jordan 4s

Couple: He was blinged out with neck chains, bracelet and gold watch as he showed off his arm tattoos in the short-sleeved t-shirt. Kylie gave birth to their daughter Stormi in February

After ringing in her 21st birthday with family and friends in Los Angeles Thursday night, Kylie headed to Las Vegas with Travis where he performed at the Marquee Nightclub inside The Cosmopolitan.

His new album Astroworld is number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Meanwhile, Kylie, who found fame on her family's E! reality series, has built a cosmetics and endorsements business under the tutelage of momager Kris Jenner.

The 21-year-old is the youngest of Kris's six children - Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob from her marriage to late O.J. Simpson defense attorney Robert Kardashian and Kendall and Kylie from her marriage to Caitlyn Jenner.

Number one album: After ringing in her 21st birthday with family in Los Angeles Thursday night, Kylie headed to Las Vegas with Travis where he performed at the Marquee Nightclub
She's never shy to flaunt her flawless figure.

And Ariel Winter proved on trend as she was spotted in an ensemble that left little to the imagination in Los Angeles on Monday.

The 20-year-old actress showed off her ample assets in a skimpy crop top and denim short shorts as she enjoyed her sunny day out.

Stunner: Ariel Winter proved on trend as she was spotted in an ensemble that left little to the imagination in Los Angeles on Monday

Daring to impress, the Modern Family star commanded attention as she showcased her taut and toned tummy.

Her gorgeous gams were thrust on center stage as the denim shorts cut high on her thighs and she stomped the streets in a pair of cowboy boots.

Speaking at Us Weekly last year, she said of her beau Levi Meaden: 'Hes just the loveliest person, he loves me through thick and thin.

'Hes always telling me, no matter what Im wearing, no matter what Im doing, that Im beautiful.

Taut: Daring to impress, the Modern Family star commanded attention as she showcased her taut and toned tummy

'What I think is important about every boyfriend, and what I think every boyfriend should focus on, is not always your looks,' she continued.

'Every boyfriend should tell their girlfriend they look beautiful, but also what I think is important is that every boyfriend focuses on the fact that they love you for the person you are.'

She recently talked about their 10 year age-gap with Refinery29 last year, she said:'Im happy, and whatever people want to say, they can say.

'I dont understand why someone would even comment on our situation at all. There are tons of people of all ages that live with their boyfriend.'

She then added: 'There are tons of people that live with their girlfriends, [and] tons of people that dont live together and are super happy.

But I'm super happy in the arrangement that we have. We love living together. Its just great.

'I have to say he is the most incredible person Ive ever met and that Im so lucky to be with him.'
He reunited with the mother of his children Kourtney Kardashian at her younger half-sister Kylie Jenner's 21st birthday bash last week.

But on Monday, Scott Disick was the dad in charge as he ran errands with son Mason in Calabasas, California.

The 34-year-old was in full hands-on dad mode as Kourtney, who just split from toyboy Younes Bendjima enjoyed some solo spa time, posting a snap of herself in a bikini in a float tank.

His mini me: Scott Disick, 35, was in full-on dad mode on Monday as he went shopping with his son Mason, eight, in Calabasas, California

Scott, 35, and Mason were simpatico in t-shirts and shorts along with black sneakers.

The little boy held onto his father's hand as they picked up some supplies.

Mason is the oldest of Scott's three children with Kourtney - they also share a daughter Penelope, six, and son Reign, three.

Scott and Kourtney, who never married, found fame as part of the family reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians under the tutelage of momager Kris Jenner.

Following their split, Scott has gone on to date Lionel Richie's 19-year-old daughter Sofia.

Happy together: Scott and Mason were simpatico in t-shirts and shorts along with black sneakers. The little boy held onto his father's hand as they picked up some supplies

Father of three: Along with Mason, Scott is also dad to daughter Penelope, six, and son Reign, three, from his relationship with now ex-girlfriend Kourtney Kardahsian

Rumors of a possible reconciliation between Scott and Kourtney, 39, resurfaced recently following the oldest Kardashian sisters break-up with her younger model beau.

She ended her 18-month romance with 25-year-old French Algerian Younes last week after reports of him cheating on her.

But, according to TMZ, Scott and Kourtney who called their rocky relationship quits in 2015 are just friends and 'will never' get back together.

Carefree: Mason's mom Kourtney, 39, who just split from toyboy Younes Bendjima, 25, enjoyed some solo spa time, posting a snap of herself in a bikini in a float tank on Monday
Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang made the statement at a meeting with President Widodo in Jakarta on August 13 after presenting his letter of credence to the Indonesian leader.

Reporting to the President on the development of the strategic partnership set up in 2013 and on the two countries implementation of the action programme for 2014-2018, Ambassador Quang affirmed that Vietnamese leaders and people want to further deepen these ties.

He stressed that Vietnam and Indonesia both have large populations and are big economies in the region, hence they have significant potential for stronger economic cooperation.

The diplomat affirmed that the Vietnamese Government has always created favourable conditions for long-term and effective operations of foreign investors, including those from Indonesia.

Ambassador Quang proposed that the President and the Indonesian Government continue to encourage Indonesian firms to expand business and partnerships in Vietnam, thus increasing bilateral trade to fulfil demand and reach its full potential.

On the occasion, the ambassador wished Indonesia successful organisation of the ASEAN Leaders Gathering (ALG), and the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group next October. He told his host that Vietnam will be sending a delegation to the events.

For his part, President Widodo extended his delight at the bilateral relations and congratulated Vietnam on its recent socio-economic development.

The President wished Vietnam success in hosting the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi from September 11-13.

President Widodo said he is looking forward to discussing bilateral and multilateral matters with Vietnamese leaders as part of his visit in September.

Anticipating that the visit will see new agreements signed, the Indonesian leader stated that the Indonesian Government and business community wish to increase multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

He believed the two nations will strengthen their mutual support concerning regional and international issues, thereby helping to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

The President congratulated Ambassador Quang on his taking office during a critical time of bilateral relations, believing that the diplomat will make worthy contributions to the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership with practical and effective outcomes.
She's a bona fide bombshell.

And Emily Ratajkowski proved on trend as she posted a scintillating snap via Instagram that left little to the imagination on Monday.

The 27-year-old American beauty showcased her bountiful bosom as she filtered out her nip slip for a black and white photo.

Risque: Emily Ratajkowski, 27, posted a scintillating snap via Instagram that left little to the imagination on Monday

Daring to impress, the I Feel Pretty actress revealed her ample cleavage as the black tank top featured a plunging neckline.

Her trademark brunette tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders.

The video vixen recently made headlines with her surprise wedding to Sebastian Bear-McClard at a New York courthouse in February.

Emily exchanged vows with Sebastian, 31, in a small ceremony with just a handful of friends in attendance in February.

In Form: Emily stayed true to form on Wednesday, as she shared a photo of herself posing against a mirror in a bathroom

Their marriage came as a shock to Ratajkowski's 16.6 million followers as the two were only dating for a few weeks prior to the wedding.

They only became a couple a few weeks before the wedding but a source told UsWeekly that she'd known him 'for years'.

Meanwhile, the cover girl admitted she doesn't take compliments 'too seriously' in an interview with FASHION magazine in April.

Gorgeous: The model pushed out her perky derriere in the sultry image, which was taken in a Paris bathroom

'I dont take the compliments too seriously, therefore I dont have to take the negativity too seriously,' she told the publication. 'I separate the really nice things people sometimes say on social media from real life. It makes it easier to ignore the rude comments.

'You just cant seek that kind of validation from the outside world. Because, again, people just dont care that much about you.

'Even when they are giving you a really nice compliment, its just a passing thing. If you care too much about that, you start to rely on that and thats a slippery slope.'
He became known for his roguish Lothario ways in the Love Island villa.

Yet Adam Collard, who is now dating co-star Zara McDermott, proved he has well and truly changed his ways as he was spotted during a public appearance at Blackpool's Home HQ on Monday evening.

The 22-year-old personal trainer was accosted by a bevy of stunners in the hot spot, however insiders claim his overzealous admirers were so keen to kiss and cuddle the Newcastle-native that they were eventually ejected from the club.

Ahem: Adam Collard proved he has well and truly changed his Lothario ways as he was spotted during a public appearance at Blackpool's Home HQ on Monday evening

Adam was a late entrant into the villa, where he became something of a villain due to his womanising ways, after racking up an incredible list of conquests including Rosie Williams, Darylle Sargeant, Kendall Rae-Knight and Zara.

After being kicked off the show, he pursued his romance with Zara and the duo have been displaying their loved-up status on social media ever since.

While Zara waited dutifully away from the hunk, the obliging star posed happily for snaps alongside his adoring fans, all of whom looked delighted to meet him.

In between beaming grins, the handsome star was hugging the ladies who were also pulling him close for whispered conversation throughout the PA.

Moving on: He became known for his roguish Lothario ways in the Love Island villa, yet the star, who is now dating co-star Zara McDermott, has now changed his ways

Agh! The 22-year-old personal trainer was accosted by a bevy of stunners in the hot spot, however insiders claim his overzealous admirers were so keen to kiss and cuddle the Newcastle-native that they were eventually ejected from the club

In depth: While Zara waited dutifully away from the hunk, the obliging star posed happily for snaps alongside his adoring fans, all of whom looked delighted to meet him

Up close and personal: While Zara waited dutifully away from the hunk, the obliging star posed happily for snaps alongside his adoring fans, all of whom looked delighted to meet him

There is nothing to suggest the ladies pictured with Adam are those who were ejected from the nightclub. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Adam and bosses at Home HQ for comment.

Adam has been capitalising big time on his instant stardom with reports he will rake in 305,000 for a series of public appearances, reports The Sun.

The star who was voted out of the villa alongside Alex Miller, Darylle and Ellie Jones, announced a 61 date PA tour to his 724,000 Instagram followers.

Loggerheads: Adam was a late entrant into the villa, where he became something of a villain due to his womanising ways, after racking up an incredible list of conquests including Rosie Williams (right), Darylle Sargeant, Kendall Rae-Knight and Zara

Happy days: Adam has been capitalising big time on his instant stardom with reports he will rake in 305,000 for a series of public appearances, reports The Sun

Up close: The star who was voted out of the villa alongside Alex Miller, Darylle and Ellie Jones, announced a 61 date PA tour to his 724,000 Instagram followers

Changed man: His mammoth tour began with the PA at the BH Hotel Majorca before he flies home to the UK to spend the night at Edwards in Peterborough

His mammoth tour began with the PA at the BH Hotel Majorca before he flies home to the UK to spend the night at Edwards in Peterborough.

He will take in cities including Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, before wrapping up his tour at Glasgows Savoy on November 17.

It was claimed the star will make an average of 5,000 per appearance, making him one of the show's first contestants to amass a fortune. Announcing the news, he wrote: 'Heres a list of all of my appearances in the upcoming months. Come say Hi'.
They have been stepping out of their famous parents' shadow by conquering the modelling world.

And Delilah Hamlin, 20, was inseparable from her sister Amelia, 17, when they stepped out for a pampering session, in California on Monday.

The duo, who have borrowed a number of style tips from modelling queens and sister act Bella and Gigi Hadid, accessorised with trendy micro sunglasses.

Always together: Lisa Rinna's model daughters Amelia and Delilah Hamlin wore micro sunglasses as they stepped out for ice cream and pampering session on Monday

Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin's daughters indulged on ice creams during their fun-filled day out.

Delilah effortlessly bundled her locks into a half updo hairstyle and she donned a 'for the kids' hoodie with her loose-fitted sweatpants.

Meanwhile, Amelia hung up her catwalk heels as she sashayed out in trainers which she teamed with her plain white tee and leggings.

They were glad to be in the company of Patsy Palmer's son son Fenton Merkell, 17, whom Amelia has been dating since March earlier this year.

Trendy looks: The duo, who have borrowed a number of style tips from modelling queens and sister act Bella and Gigi Hadid, accessorised with micro sunglasses

Casually cool: Amelia hung up her catwalk heels as she sashayed out in trainers, teamed with her plain white tee and leggings

The Hamlin daughters' shopping trip shortly follows Amelia's candid interview with PEOPLE where she documented her battle with an eating disorder.

The youngest Hamlin sister admitted she felt 'more like a person' after sharing her past health problems in an interview with PEOPLE magazine and on Instagram.

'I think its important because at the end of the day I think a lot of people forget that no matter the industry or what job you have, we are all human beings.'

Delicious: Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Lisa Rinna and actor Harry Hamlin's daughters indulged on ice creams when they headed out with their friends

What a treat: Delilah and Amelia enjoyed the day in each other's company as they treated themselves to a pampering session

In the light of her previous health battle, she told the publication: 'Its nice to be able to connect with my social media followers.'

Amelia confessed she was 'really surprised' about the positive feedback she had received from her admirers across social media.

'I wasnt sure what the response would be at first, but I was so surprised and so proud of myself for helping people,' she said. 'Thats something that I love to do.'

Bonding session: The Hamlin sisters were joined by Amelia's boyfriend and Patsy Palmer's son son Fenton Merkell on their shopping trip where they grabbed ice cream

Sweet touch: Amelia and Fenton have gone from strength to strength since reports of them being a couple emerged in March
Channel Seven's new series, Dance Boss, has fallen flat in the TV ratings once again after the premiere episode drew in just 599,000 viewers.

On Tuesday, TV Tonight reported the highly-promoted talent show failed to garner a favourable audience share, dropping to a dismal 479,000 viewers on Monday night, losing 120,000 fans from its debut episode.

However the 14th season of The Block continued to be a ratings winner for Channel Nine across the five metropolitan cities on Monday, scooping up 961,000 viewers.

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Lost its' rhythm?! Dance Boss falls flat again in the TV ratings as The Block continues to dominate drawing in almost 1 million viewers. Pictured host Dannii Minogue

Even though overall viewership fell for the hit renovation show last night (as opposed to last Monday night's 1.14 million fans) the series still took out the slot.

The ABC's Australian Story and 7:30 Report nabbed second place, according to the publication.

Network Ten's Australian Survivor finished third last night, climbing to 651,000 viewers, a significant rise from last Monday night's 592,000 fans.

The latest survey comes after the Dannii Minogue-hosted series made its debut earlier this month to less than stellar ratings.

Hit renovation show! The 14th season of The Block continued to be a ratings winner for Channel Nine across the five metropolitan cities on Monday, scooping up 961,000 viewers. Pictured host, Scotty Cam

The premiere episode drew in just 599,000 viewers across Australia, a disappointing result for the television network.

The new series sees teams of workers from different professions competing against each other in a dance-off battle.

A team of celebrity judges, made up of Adam Garcia, Sharni Vinson and Timomatic, critique the performances.

Strong: Even though overall viewership fell for the hit renovation show last night (as opposed to last Monday night's 1.14 million fans) the series still took out the slot

But even with Australia's star power behind them, the show turned out a lackluster audience.

Meanwhile this year's season of The Block is proving to be unstoppable in the TV ratings war.

Sunday night's episode of the hit renovation reality show drew in a whopping 1.19 million viewers.

Dropping: Russell Coight's All Aussie Adventures appears to be losing viewers, with Sunday night's episode down by 247,000 viewers compared to the week before

It left other programs in the same time slot trailing way behind, with Channel Seven's Little Big Shots and Channel 10's newly revived Russell Coight's All Aussie Adventures failing to outperform.

By comparison, Little Big Shots drew in 878,000 viewers, while All Aussie Adventures attracted just 634,000 viewers - almost half of that of The Block.

After years of dominating the TV ratings, the hype around The Block doesn't appear to be dying down anytime soon.

Sunday night's ratings saw an increase from the previous week, which brought in 1.16 million viewers.

This year, contestants are renovating Melbourne's historic Gatwick Hotel, transforming the notorious building into a series of luxury apartments.

At the end of the series, the apartments will be auctioned off with the winners poised to rake in $100,000 in prize money.

It's proven to be a winning formula for the network.
Katie Price, 40, shamelessly promoted a blue face mask for Zero Skin on Instagram on Monday after she was given three months to pay off her 250,000 debt.

The businesswoman, who was once estimated to be worth 45million, asked her 1,900,000 followers to 'swipe up' for more information about the beauty product.

In the extreme close up snap, the former glamour model lathered the brightening blue substance on her face to promote the brand amid her bankruptcy woes.

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Pictured: Katie Price shamelessly promoted a brightening blue face mask on Instagram on Monday amid her bankruptcy woes

Katie also shared a clip on her social media page showing her followers how to use the product  which has already racked up 170,588 views.

She wrote in the caption: 'Loving this @lovezeroskin blue mask my friend gave me i'm obsessed! I use it 2-3 times a week to bring back an instant glow. It contains salicylic acid which keeps any breakouts under control.'

Katie has built up a social media empire of 1,900,000 Instagram followers and a Facebook page with 2,349,410 that like it and 2,268,349 that follow it.

Plan of action: The businesswoman, who was once estimated to be worth 45million, asked her 1,900,000 followers to 'swipe up' for more information about the beauty product (2018)

The reality star was given three months to come up with a plan to pay off her debts, totalling more than 250k and including more than 20k in tax debt.

The latest claims suggest Katie shelled out 2million on three exes, according to reports in The Sun.

The newspaper made claims that she cleared her estranged husband Kieran Hayler's 50,000 debts when they first got together.

DIY: Katie also shared a clip on her social media page showing her followers how to use the product  which has already racked up 170,588 views

Katie was also said to have paid her toyboy lover Leandro Penna a six-figure sum to stop him talking about their relationship.

Bringing the alleged total to 2million, the former glamour model gave her second husband Alex Reid a weekly allowance.

Katie was not present at the High Court building in London on Tuesday, with her team submitting proposals for an individual voluntary agreement (IVA).

Explained: She wrote in the caption: 'Loving this @lovezeroskin blue mask my friend gave me i'm obsessed! I use it 2-3 times a week to bring back an instant glow'

An IVA sees creditors paid back over an agreed period of time and her application will be heard in 12 weeks on October 30.

It was previously reported that the hearing could see her formally declared insolvent, even though she was once estimated to be worth 45million.

She is already thought to be selling her 2million West Sussex mansion, which she bought in 2014, as well as all of her beloved farmyard animals.

Popular: Katie has built up a social media empire of 1,900,000 Instagram followers and a Facebook page with 2,349,410 that like it and 2,268,349 that follow it

According to the Daily Star, Katie was reportedly snubbed by a horsebox dealer after she tried to sell her 150,000 pink horse box amid her bankruptcy woes.

The glamour model is also reportedly hoping to sell the rights to her life story and cash in on the drama in order to pay off her colossal debts.

A source revealed to MailOnline: 'Katie would endorse a movie made of her life. There's certainly enough subject matter to support a good meaty storyline thriller!'

Katie has been bidding for months to stave off bankruptcy after her once lucrative media empire began to fall apart last year, following the demise of her third marriage to Kieran Hayler, and the collapse of her businesses.

The TV personality split from the former stripper, 30, last summer, after his affair with the family nanny emerged.

She has since found love again with Kris, who she met through her son Harvey's new fitness plan.

Despite only confirming their romance weeks ago, Katie and Kris have already holidayed in Bruges, Glasgow and now Thailand.

She told OK! in June: 'Hes a mans man. Hes got his own job, hes not false or fame hungry. In that respect, I think this is going to be a more normal relationship and less toxic.'
On the back of allegations of domestic violence in his relationship with Tara Pavlovic, Sam Cochrane says he's making time to 'build' himself again.

Taking to in which he's sitting by the pool in Bali, the 31-year-old thanked unnamed 'angels' who helped him through the split and its aftermath.

'Bali, thank you. So many angels over here. You allowed me the time and space to exhale and build again. Im ready to come home,' he wrote.

Regrowing: On the back of allegations of domestic violence in his relationship with Tara Pavlovic, Sam Cochrane says he's making time to 'build' himself again. Taking to in which he's sitting by the pool in Bali, the 31-year-old thanked unnamed 'angels' who helped him through the split and it's aftermath (pictured)

The former Bachelor in Paradise star also thanked his supporters for all their messages.

'Side note Ive not had a chance to look through all messages... but I will. Thanks so much guys, youre incredible. Lets do this!' he wrote.

The image pictured a relaxed Sam, wearing a cap, blue shorts and a striped shirt, sitting on a sun lounge and giving a fist pump to the camera.

Sam also indicated he'd now returned from Bali and had recently been in Perth.

It comes after reports that the couple had endured a tumultuous relationship.

Drama: It comes after reports that the couple had endured a tumultuous relationship. Pictured Sam (left) and Tara (right)

Bad romance: Since announcing their split in June, both Sam and Tara have accused one another of being abusive in their relationship

Since announcing their split in June, both Sam, and Tara, 28, have accused one another of being abusive in their relationship.

Intimate details of their breakup were made public when Sam accused Tara of being physically and verbally abusive towards him.

Tara has since admitted she was physically abusive towards her ex, while simultaneously accusing him of being emotionally abusive towards her.

Supporter: Speaking to Woman's Day, Rachael Gouvignon recounted seeing Tara left devastated by her actions while filming Bachelor in Paradise

Speaking to Woman's Day, fellow reality star Rachael Gouvignon recounted seeing Tara left devastated by her actions while filming Bachelor in Paradise.

According to Rachael, she'd been having breakfast with Nina at their hotel, when Tara ran through the lobby in tears.

'Tara said she'd 'messed up',' she recalled to Woman's Day. 'Sam was too embarrassed to speak to us.'
Ten Eyewitness newsreader Natarsha Belling has suffered a terrible fall while grocery shopping in Sydney.

The 48-year-old took to Instagram to share a grizzly photo of her left leg on Tuesday, with a long row of small wounds down the front.

Speaking to Confidential, she said: 'I thought I'd broken my back and I have cuts all down my leg, it looks like a shark has attacked me. I am very lucky and I am okay.'

'I thought I'd broken my back': Ten newsreader Natarsha Belling suffers terrible fall while grocery shopping as she shares gruesome photo of her injury after needing 12 stitches

Natarsha explained that she only had a short window of opportunity to get some shopping done.

'I was rushing around and I had heels on and missed the first step and fell down the whole lot of them,' she said.

When asked by the publication if she was going to take legal action against the unnamed shopping centre, she said 'of course not'.

'I am very lucky and I am okay': Natarsha assured fans she was doing okay, and thanked 'the wonderful doctors and nurses'

In Natarsha's Instagram post, she wrote: 'So, someone once said shopping can be dangerous... heres proof!'

'Very sore and sorry today after falling 12 steps down an escalator... And I was sober!' she joked.

'Thank you to all the kind people who helped me and to the wonderful doctors and nurses for putting me back together!'

'P.S Please excuse the crutches and hopping as I co-host the Cure Cancer Australia fundraiser tonight!'
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She is well-known for her incredibly gym-honed physique and her penchant for a bikini.

And Michelle Rodriguez was ensuring she flaunted all her best assets during a bikini-clad jolly in a barely-there white two-piece, as she was joined by the model Jordan Barrett and film producer Mohammed Al Turki for a sun-soaked jaunt at the Fontelina Beach Club in Capri on Monday.

The 40-year-old The Fast and the Furious beauty looked sensational as she larked around in the water with her all-star fellow holidaymakers for a lengthy day of luxury in the Mediterranean sea.

All white? Michelle Rodriguez was ensuring she flaunted all her best assets during a bikini-clad jolly in a barely-there white two-piece, as she was joined by the model Jordan Barrett and film producer Mohammed Al Turki for a sun-soaked jaunt at the Fontelina Beach Club in Capri on Monday

Michelle, who has been in the industry for more than two decades, having shot to fame in the first The Fast and the Furious film in 2001, proved just why she is one of Hollywood's hottest pin-ups during the boat trip.

Looking incredible, she was keen to throw herself into all the fun and frolics of the day as she stripped down to the white number while going totally make-up free.

She layered dainty chains over her cleavage while her lengthy brunette tresses were worn in wet loose lengths falling over her shoulders and from a centre parting.

Jordan meanwhile was going for super stylish white trousers with a loose-fitting cut while also showing off his rippling six-pack to perfection for the outing.

Dipping away: While Michelle floated in the water, Jordan held her up as they proved their friendship was stronger than ever

Taking the plunge: Michelle's dive was expertly executed as she proved her sporting prowess extends to many realms

Making a splash: She was kicking back as she reclined in the water and let her troubles wash away

Making a splash: She looked stunning on the shores as she yet again hung out with Jordan

Golden boy: Jordan meanwhile was going for super stylish white trousers with a loose-fitting cut while also showing off his rippling six-pack to perfection for the outing

Mohammed was dressed in all-white as he larked around on the boat alongside his pal, just days after living it up with Rita Ora during a fun-filled boat trip.

Michelle has enjoyed a career in Hollywood spanning almost two decades, with prominent roles in the Resident Evil franchise, Machete Kills and James Cameron's Avatar. However, she recently admitted it was her involvement in the hugely successful Fast & Furious films, playing Letty Ortiz, that truly cemented her star status.

Speaking with The Daily Beast, the actress recently reminisced about appearing in the very first Fast and Furious film, made in 2001. She recalled: 'I was just excited to be in the same room as objects that were blowing up and cars that were racing.

'To be around real racers and remember what it was like on the streets of Jersey at two oclock in the morning hoping that no cops would show up.' She added: 'Imagine - Im living the dream, I wasnt paying attention to the script. I thought, "Ill deal with it later."'

Lunch time! Michelle looked laid-back as they tucked into their food following the day in the sea

Cheeky! Not only were her incredible abs stealing the show, she was also making the most of her peachy derriere

Hot stuff! She layered dainty chains over her cleavage while her lengthy brunette tresses were worn in wet loose lengths falling over her shoulders and from a centre parting

White hot! Looking incredible, she was keen to throw herself into all the fun and frolics of the day as she stripped down to the white number while going totally make-up free

Having a giggle: 'Its been 14 years since Ive been the lead in a movie, since Ive carried a movie on my own,' she said, 'Ive just been so shocked by life in the last two years. Im going to open up'

Covered up... sometimes! She pulled on a loose-fitting grey shirt later on in the day while Jordan remained shirtless

'Its been 14 years since Ive been the lead in a movie, since Ive carried a movie on my own,' she said, 'Ive just been so shocked by life in the last two years. Im going to open up.

'Ive kind of made myself a carcass of safety and Ive protected myself against playing the girlfriend or the girl who gets raped and THEN gets empowered, the girl who gets empowered and then dies theyre always taking the power away from the women.'

Her next film, cyberpunk thriller Alita: Battle Angel, is released in December.

Not to be beaten! Jordan would not be outdone in the diving realm as he too showed off his impressive skills

A bit of all white! The scalloped number helped highlight all Michelle's best bits thanks to the simple yet stunning style

Larking around: Michelle made the most of her stunning figure as she climbed in with her beau

Firm friends: Michelle and Jordan are often seen hanging out and enjoying a number of holidays together
Teresa Palmer has commemorated her move to Bali by dressing in traditional clothes worn by the locals and attending a welcome ceremony.

The Australian actress, 32, announced earlier this week that along with husband Mark Webber and children Bodhi Rain, four, and Forest Sage, one, they are 'starting to build roots' on the Indonesian island.

However, the dream start to their new life was delayed when a 7.0-magnitude quake struck nearby island, Lombok, on August 05.

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'We committed!' Teresa Palmer and family don traditional Balinese wear after moving to the Indonesian island during 'devastating' earthquake in Lombok

'Our first ceremony in Bali and we committed,' Teresa gushed on Instagram alongside her family snap on Tuesday.

Just days before this she opened up about the 'devastating' natural disaster that had occurred shortly after they arrived.

'Mark and I have just moved to Ubud for a two month stay, we plan on living in Indonesia for at least a few months every year for the foreseeable future,' Teresa wrote.

'As we were starting to build our roots here in Bali, the earthquake struck Lombok.'

Natural disaster: Just days before attending the welcome ceremony Teresa opened up about the earthquake which struck shortly after they arrived in Indonesia

Setting themselves up: Teresa revealed will move to Bali for several months each year with husband Mark Webber and children Bodhi Rain, four, and one-year-old Forest Sage

Teresa continued: 'We are devastated about how many lives have been changed forever and the uphill battle theyre facing.'

'The death toll is rising, thousands are injured and tens of thousands more are without shelter.'

Getting acquainted: 'The local people here have the most beautiful hearts, so loving, warm and gentle,' Teresa wrote while discussing the effects of the natural disaster

'The local people here have the most beautiful hearts, so loving, warm and gentle.'

'They would give the clothes off their back just to help others in need, it's just who they are. We now have to dig deep and help them in any way we can.'

The big screen star then linked through to a GoFundMe page raising funds for the victims in Lombok.

Doing her bit: The big screen star then linked through to a GoFundMe page raising funds for the victims in Lombok




It's the Australian drinking custom that tends to baffle international visitors.

And on Monday, Grant Denyer posted an eyebrow-raising video of himself doing a 'shoey' from 'cow poo' boots at a wild charity night in Bathurst.

Grant, 40, drank from the cowboy boots after reaching the charity's target at the Black Tie & Boots Ball.

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That's one way to celebrate! Grant Denyer did a 'Shoey' as he knocked back booze from 'cow poo' boots at raucous charity night on Monday

As the Rural Aid ambassador is also a massive car fan, it's no surprise he copied the celebratory move trademarked by Formula One to celebrate his own victory of raising a lot of money for farmers.

'When the drought charity night took an epic left turn,' he penned in the caption of the raucous clip shared on social media.

The television personality joked he had an 'internal fungal infection' after drinking from the farmer's cowboy boots.

'Knocked back a booty straight off a farmers foot whod been in the cattle yard all day standing in cow (poo emoji). I think I have an internal fungal infection now.

'Raised a tonne of $$ for the farmers tho. B****y worth it.'

Knocking it back! As a massive car fan, it's no surprise he copied the celebratory move trademarked by Formula One to celebrate his own victory of raising a lot of money for farmers

Eye-opening scenes show the fundraiser pouring the remnants of his beer into the cowboy boots when he joined the band playing on stage.

A Shoey is traditionally a person drinking champagne from a shoe.

WHAT IS A SHOEY? - A Shoey is traditionally a person drinking champagne from a shoe Advertisement

Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo often celebrates a win on the podium by knocking back the alcohol poured into his trainers.

Patrick Stewart and Gerard Butler are even said to have sipped champagne from the Formula One racer's shoe after winning at the races, according to The Independent.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Formula One Licensing were granted a trademark for the word Shoey in August last year.

Elsewhere, Grant elaborated on the successes at Rural Aid for raking in funds for struggling farmers on their charity night.

Wild: In the disgusting clip, the Rural Aid ambassador drank from the cowboy boot after reaching the charity's target at the Black Tie & Boots Ball in Bathurst

He wrote: 'We did it!! WHAT.A.NIGHT. Nailed the target amount at our @ruralaid Black Tie & Boots Ball in Bathurst and the brilliant news is... we ARE GETTING a rural Counsellor on the ground within the month to help our struggling farmers!!

'The emotional toll of the drought is high & sadly mental health issues are skyrocketing... thats why we all rallied together to get our farmers their own professional specialist to help.

'THANK YOU BATHURST !!!! breathtaking community spirit & fundraising. So proud of you right now. So proud..'
VFF President Man welcomed the Singaporean delegations visit which is concurrent with the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two nations.

He said the bilateral strategic partnership is growing steadily and effectively across many fields, evidenced by increased mutual understanding, visits at all levels and channels, as well as new strides in economic cooperation.

As many as 12,000 Vietnamese people are currently living, studying and working in Singapore, while over 18,000 Vietnamese officials joined training courses as a result of the cooperation agreement with Singapore. More and more Singaporean people are also investing in Vietnam, serving as an important bridge for bilateral links.

VFF President Man hoped that the PA would continue working with Singaporean authorities to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese people in the country.

The VFF and other relevant Vietnamese agencies will offer all possible support to Singaporean firms and people in Vietnam in line with the law, he pledged.

He also expressed his wish that the PA would continue to assist the VFF in training, community building, and holding meetings with lawmakers.

Tan, for his part, affirmed that the PA will do its best to realise signed agreements, thereby strengthening VFF-PA collaboration, as well as the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Earlier, Vice President and Secretary General of the VFF Central Committee held talks with Chief Executive Director of the PA Desmond Tan.

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation programme for the 2018-2020 period. They agreed to share experiences in community connectivity and building, self-governance in communities, and public involvement in social management, all helping to serve as a bridge between the government and its people.

During the period, the two sides will also offer mutual support in training, community connectivity and building, as well as popularising the culture and people of each country through festivals.
He's the fashion bad boy who's recently been snapped partying aboard a luxury yacht in Italy with a slew of celebrities, including Rita Ora, Tahnee Atkinson and Emily Ratajkowski.

Now, model Jordan Barrett, 22, has been spotted flaunting his svelte physique alongside US actress Michelle Rodriguez, 40, at the Fontelina Beach Club in Capri on Monday.

The Byron Bay born star looked every inch the male model as he stripped down to nothing but a white towel during his sun-soaked jaunt in the luxurious Isle of Capri.

Shirtless Jordan Barrett (pictured) flashes svelte physique as he strips down to just a towel during lavish Capri getaway

The Australian model gave onlookers a gaze at his toned chest and bronzed frame as he posed in the low-hanging garb.

Clad in his trademark-clear spectacles and layers of gold chains, Jordan cut a cool figure as he enjoyed a lengthy day of luxury in the Mediterranean sea.

At one stage, Jordan forgoed the towel to reveal a pair of tight and white board shorts.

Cool for the summer: Clad in his trademark clear spectacles and layers of gold chains, Jordan cut a cool figure as he enjoyed a lengthy day of luxury in the Mediterranean sea

Ridiculously good-looking! The Byron Bay born star (pictured) looked every inch the male model as he stripped down to nothing but a white towel during his sun-soaked jaunt in the luxurious Isle of Capri

The model showed off his NSW coastal upbringing as he was spotted diving effortlessly into the Mediterranean sea.

At one stage, The Fast and the Furious bikini-clad beauty joined Jordan for a leisurely dip.

While Michelle floated in the water, Jordan held her up as they proved their friendship was stronger than ever

Dipping away: While Michelle (left) floated in the water, Jordan (right) held her up as they proved their friendship was stronger than ever

Australian made: The model showed off his NSW coastal upbringing as he was spotted diving effortlessly into the Mediterranean sea

Specs-appeal! Later, Jordan hit the outdoor shower to cool off and couldn't help but ooze sex appeal in the process

Model behaviour: Jordan was spotted rinsing off after his dip in the Mediterranean sea on Monday

Later, Jordan hit the outdoor shower to cool off and couldn't help but ooze sex appeal in the process.

Elsewhere, the blond star was spotted soaking up the European sun on the deck of the luxury yacht.

Jordan was spotted sporting a sultry stare as he reclined on the stern of the luxe vessel.

Model bone structure: As the model gazed out onto the high seas, he offered fans a generous glimpse of his chiseled cheekbones and defined jawline

Fun in the sun: The cheeky 'it' boy swapped his serious pose for an animated look as he flashed the paparazzi a peace sign

Peace: Jordan flashed the peace sign during his sundrenched sojourn in Capri

Hi seas! Jordan appeared to be in high spirits as he enjoyed a shirtless swim in the Mediterranean sea

As the model gazed out onto the high seas, he offered fans a generous glimpse of his chiseled cheekbones and defined jawline.

The cheeky 'it' boy swapped his serious pose for an animated look as he flashed the paparazzi a peace sign.

Jordan was later spotted traipsing around the tourist hotspot with the famous brunette in a pair of super stylish white trousers and a loose-fitting unbuttoned brown shirt.

Jordan recently sailed to the Italian Island of Sardinia to attend the UNICEF gala dinner.

Flawless friends: Jordan (left) was later spotted traipsing around the tourist hotspot with the famous brunette (right) in a pair of super stylish white trousers and a loose-fitting unbuttoned brown shirt.

Yachtlyfe: Jordan soaking up the Capri sun alongside friends on Monday

Friends in high places! Jordan frolicked on a yacht alongside US actress Michelle Rodriguez, 40

Isle of Capri style: Jordan cut a cool silhouette in a pair of super stylish white trousers and a loose-fitting unbuttoned brown shirt
She started out on TV as a regional reporter for WIN Tasmania before starring as The Bachelorette in 2016.

And now Georgia Love can add actress to her list of achievements following her performance on Tuesday's episode of True Story with Hamish And Andy.

The 29-year-old featured in an episode of the Channel Nine comedy anthology in a cheesy 90s-style commercial for a charter boat company.

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'All enquiries through my management please!' Georgia Love's legions of fans have praised her performance following her acting debut on True Story with Hamish And Andy, on Tuesday

Georgia shared a clip of her performance on her Instagram, joking in the caption: 'WOW what a thrill! All acting enquiries through @22mgmt please.'

She continued: 'Enquiries for my 2019 Logie nomination directly to @tvweekmag come on, water you waiting for?'

Her former Bachelorette suitor Cam Cranley commented: 'I feel you crushed this line. Hours spent rehearsing were well worth it.'

That's a wrap! Georgia shared a clip of her performance on her Instagram, joking in the caption: 'WOW what a thrill! All acting enquiries through @22mgmt please.' Pictured: Georgia with Jack Post, Hamish Blake, Dave Lawson and Andy Lee

Fellow bachelorette turned Home And Away actress Sam Frost simply wrote: 'incredible.'

Her close friend and former Big Brother star Tully Smyth commented: 'Nailed it!'

While her boyfriend Lee Elliot did not share a comment or his thoughts on her performance, there's no doubt he was very supportive in her creative endeavour.

Her rock: While her boyfriend Lee Elliot did not share a comment or his thought's on her performance there's no doubt he was very supportive in her creative endeavour

Georgia dressed in a white nautical themed outfit with a head band and a glass of wine in hand.

The budding thespian portrayed her character in an awkward manner and perfectly executed her one-word delivery saying: 'yeah!'

Earlier, she took to her Instagram to share a photo of herself in character with Hamish and Andy's radio producer Jack Post and comedian Dave Lawson.
Lisa Oldfield has slammed a mother who appeared to be rejecting her gay son.

In a column for Kidspot, the The Real Housewives of Sydney star replied to a message from a woman known as 'Trish' who worried about her son's 'lifestyle'.

The 43-year-old wrote: 'Why are you devastated? Angry? Sad? He likes d**k for Christ sake, not heroin!'

Loves her boys: Lisa Oldfield has slammed a mother who appeared to be rejecting her gay son, saying she loves her own boys unconditionally no matter who they grow up to be. Lisa is pictured with sons Bert, 6, and Harry, 8

She added to the woman, who was concerned her younger children could be affected by her older's son's sexuality, should 'love her boy unconditionally'.

Lisa wrote of her own sons, 'I love my two little boys Harry and Bert more than life itself. There is nothing I wouldnt sacrifice for those two little guys.'

The reality star was inspired to write the column after learning mothers at an LGBTIQ Pride rally in Austin, Texas were offering free 'mum hugs'.

Lisa was saddened to learn of LGBTIQ people who were rejected by their families after coming out, writing: 'I am sure tears would have started to well in my eyes, if I hadnt blocked my tear ducts with that last botched Botox job.'

Anything for them: Lisa wrote of her own sons, 'I love my two little boys Harry and Bert more than life itself. There is nothing I wouldnt sacrifice for those two little guys'

After making an Instagram post about the 'mum hugs' the brunette revealed that she received many messages from LGBTIQ people among her fanbase who'd been ostracised by their families, and offered them her public support.

The businesswoman has in the past admitted that she allows her sons to use swear words as long as they remain 'decent human beings'.

The wife of former One Nation co-founder David admitted that she would get criticism for her parenting style.

Hugs: The reality star has inspired to write the column after learning mothers at an LGBTIQ Pride rally in Austin, Texas were offering free 'mum hugs' for people who'd been rejected by their own families after coming out

'Oh yeah, I'm half expecting DOCS (Family and Community Services) to knock on my door. But they'd see a very well kept, very well loved little boy,' she told The Daily Telegraph last year.

But the mother defended the bad language used by her younger son, Bert, 6, and her older boy, Harry, 8.

'He's whip smart. And he's foul-mouthed. As long as he's an honest and decent human being, they can use all the language they like,' she said of Bert.
Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson were spotted passionately kissing on Tuesday, in confirmation of their new romance.

The supermodel, 26, was seen getting cosy with the Pretty Little Liars star, 28, at London's Heathrow Airport, shortly after they touched down in the UK together.

The pair first set tongues wagging in April, when they stepped out hand-in-hand during what looked like a double date in NYC.

Pucker up: Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson were spotted passionately kissing on Tuesday, in confirmation of their new romance

Loved-up: The supermodel, 26, was seen getting cosy with the Pretty Little Liars star, 28, at London's Heathrow Airport, shortly after they touched down in the UK together

The pair looked besotted with each other as they queued up for a taxi outside the terminal, with Cara wrapping an affectionate arm around the actress.

Smiling widely as they chatted, the couple were then seen indulging in a number of passionate kisses as they waited for their ride into London.

Seemingly proving their close relationship further, Ashley even sported a delicate gold 'C' pendant around her neck, in apparent tribute to her new love.

Sweet: The pair looked besotted with each other as they queued up for a taxi outside the terminal, with Cara wrapping an affectionate arm around Ashley's shoulders

Delighted: The pair smiled widely as they chatted, and indulged in a number of passionate kisses in the queue

Tribute: Seemingly proving their close relationship further, Ashley even sported a delicate gold 'C' pendant around her neck

Cosy: Cara and Ashley cuddled as they waited for their taxi, with the model planting a number of kisses on the blonde's head

MailOnline has contacted representatives of both Cara and Ashley for further comment.

The Suicide Squad star was almost unrecognisable with a heavily braided hairstyle, which matched her boho suede jacket.

However, Cara teamed the quirky look with baggy grey tracksuit bottoms and trainers, in order to keep comfortable for the long journey.

Striking: The Suicide Squad star was almost unrecognisable with a heavily braided hairstyle

Trendy: The hairstyle matched her tan boho jacket, with Cara known for her quirky sense of style

Casual:However, Cara teamed the quirky look with baggy grey tracksuit bottoms and trainers, in order to keep comfortable for the long journey

Feeling good: Ashley meanwhile kept things equally low-key in a denim jacket and T-shirt, but she beamed widely as she joined Cara at the airport

Ashley meanwhile kept things equally low-key in a denim jacket and T-shirt, before adding dark sunglasses to her face in a bid to keep a low profile.

Ashley and Cara first sparked rumours of a romance in April when they were spotted holding hands outside Lucky Strike, New York, in the early hours of the morning.

The duo had appeared in good spirits as they left the establishment, and made their way to the Soho Grand Hotel hand-in-hand with a group of pals.

Ashley and Cara had been working together on their upcoming movie Her Smell at the time, which is believed to be released in 2019.

Close: The pair were seen cuddling as they waited for their taxi

Off we go: They then lugged their cases to the car and headed off to their next destination

Setting tongues wagging: Ashley and Cara first sparked rumours of a romance in April when they were spotted holding hands in New York, in the early hours of the morning

Work together play together: Ashley and Cara met after working together on their upcoming movie Her Smell, which is believed to be released in 2019

After seemingly hitting it off on set, the glamorous pair were subsequently spotted on a string of nights out in the Big Apple.

However, their cosy outing came shortly after Cara was romantically linked to Paris Jackson, 20.

It was only in March that they were seen indulging in a passionate kiss at the end of a double date with Paris' actor godfather Macaulay Culkin and his girlfriend.

The pair never spoke publicly about their relationship, but Paris had shared an Instagram post of a new British flag tattoo on her back that same month - with Cara leaning in to kiss it for the camera.

She has previously dated singer St Vincent and actress Michelle Rodriguez and while she was linked to Harry Styles in 2013, he denied it, saying: 'She's not my girl.'

Hitting it off: After seemingly hitting it off on set, the glamorous pair were subsequently spotted on a string of nights out in the Big Apple
Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy winner Gwyneth Paltrow was 'mortified' when she forgot her credit card while shopping with her 14-year-old daughter Apple in East Hampton last weekend.

According to Page Six, the 45-year-old mother-of-two was forced to use Apple Pay on her phone at high-end boutique Blue & Cream in order to avert the credit crisis.

The Head Over Heels producer's ex-husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, was also in Long Island on Saturday performing at the ninth annual benefit Apollo in the Hamptons.

Oops! Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow was 'mortified' when she forgot her credit card while shopping with her daughter Apple in East Hampton last weekend (pictured August 4)

Quelle horreur! The 45-year-old mother-of-two was forced to use Apple Pay on her phone at high-end boutique Blue & Cream in order to avert the credit crisis (2009 stock shot)

Gwyneth and the 41-year-old Englishman - who are parents to Apple and 12-year-old son Moses - ended their decade-long marriage in 2016 after 'consciously uncoupling' in 2014.

At one point, a seemingly intoxicated brunette in a black mini-dress joined the seven-time Grammy winner onstage Ronald O. Perelman's estate for a quick dance.

In a fan video, Chris could be seen politely whispering to the mystery woman (resembling his girlfriend Dakota Johnson), spinning her around, and she walked off the stage without incident.

Tux: The Head Over Heels producer's ex-husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, was also in Long Island on Saturday performing at the ninth annual benefit Apollo in the Hamptons

'Consciously uncoupled': Gwyneth and the 41-year-old Englishman - who are parents to Apple, 14; and Moses, 12 - ended their decade-long marriage in 2016

Stage crasher: At one point, a seemingly intoxicated brunette in a black mini-dress joined the seven-time Grammy winner onstage Ronald O. Perelman's estate for a quick dance

Resembled his girlfriend Dakota Johnson: In a fan video, Chris could be seen politely whispering to the mystery woman, spinning her around, and she walked off the stage

And while it's unclear whether the 28-year-old Fifty Shades Freed star attended the bash, her father Don Johnson was definitely there belting Rob Parissi's 1976 hit Play That Funky Music with Jamie Foxx.

Paltrow will walk down the aisle for the second time later this year with her fiance Brad Falchuk, who has two children with his ex-wife, According to Jim producer Suzanne Bukinik.

'I'm about to get married again. I'm a little scared, but also very optimistic,' the Brentwood bride-to-be admitted in the July 26 episode of her weekly Goop Podcast.

Miami Vice alum: And while it's unclear whether the 28-year-old Fifty Shades Freed star attended the bash, her father Don Johnson (grey shirt) was definitely there belting Rob Parissi's 1976 hit Play That Funky Music with Jamie Foxx (grey hat)

'[Choosing a partner is] such a crazy game of chance because who knows if you're going to grow in parallel, if your paths are going to diverge, [or] what's going to happen.'

The Avengers: Infinity War actress and the 47-year-old Emmy winner - who got engaged in January - first met when she filmed her first of five guest stints on his Fox show Glee back in 2010.

Falchuk also happens to be producing Gwyneth's next project, Netflix comedy series The Politician, which also features Ben Platt, Barbra Streisand, and Zoey Deutch.

'I'm about to get married again!' Paltrow will walk down the aisle for the second time later this year with her fiance Brad Falchuk, who has two children with his ex-wife Suzanne Bukinik (pictured June 17)
KIIS FM's Kyle Sandilands' and The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich will star in a new Judge Judy-style show, Trial By Kyle, on Channel 10 next week.

And on Tuesday, the criminal lawyer-turned-reality TV contestant won a favourable verdict from her new outspoken co-star, 47.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday the radio shock jock admitted the blonde star is 'vital' to the show's success.

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'She is vital to the show': Kyle Sandilands (left) delivers verdict on co-hosting alongside The Bachelor's Anna Heinrich (right) on new Judge Judy-style show Trial By Kyle. Pictured at Channel 10's Pilot Week launch on Tuesday

'She is the handbrake to my accelerator. She is vital to the show working,' Kyle said.

'Anna is super smart,' Kyle added in reference to his new bubbly blonde co-star.

Kyle explained he was initially 'dumbfounded' by the concept surrounding the Judge Judy-style show that will feature in Channel 10's Pilot Week.

However Kyle said as soon as the film crew broke for lunch on the first day of shooting he felt a sense of ease wash over him.

'I was really apprehensive even on the day of shooting but by the time we broke for lunch I went 'this is easy.' It is really just listening to two people's point of view and trying to come to some common ground,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

Pilot Week launch: The unlikely colleagues stepped out together for the launch of Network Ten's Pilot Week on Tuesday night in Sydney

The unlikely colleagues stepped out together for the launch of Network Ten's Pilot Week on Tuesday night in Sydney.

Last week Network Ten released a first-look trailer of its Pilot Week lineup, including a glimpse of Kyle's new program, Trial By Kyle.

The Judge Judy-style show, co-starring Anna will air on 23 August at 8.30pm.

In a teaser clip unveiled last Wednesday, Kyle delivers a verdict in the favour of a young couple who are then shown kissing in the dock.

The video also highlights the other programs in Network Ten's 'groundbreaking' Pilot Week, including an Australian version of Drunk History.

Last month, the struggling TV network unveiled its Pilot Week schedule of eight new programs that will be either commissioned for full seasons or cancelled depending on ratings performance and viewer response.

While the experimental approach claims to 'put the viewer in charge', the apparent lack of talent diversity rankled the likes of Em Rusciano, Jane Kennedy, and Meshel Laurie.

Coming soon! Network Ten has released a first-look trailer of its Pilot Week lineup, including a glimpse of Kyle Sandilands' new program Trial By Kyle

Jane, who co-hosts Triple M's Kennedy Molloy, complained on Twitter at the time that all the shows were hosted by men.

She tweeted: 'Oh, look! How very exciting for all these men! And look... there's a lady in this picture with the remote control so she can watch all the clever funny men who have the opportunity to pilot their own shows.'

Meshel responded by tweeting, sarcastically: 'We're so lucky we have so many funny men to laugh at.'

Must-see TV! The Judge Judy-style show, co-starring criminal lawyer-turned-Bachelor contestant Anna Heinrich (pictured) will air on 23 August at 8.30pm

The discussion between Jane and Meshel soon caught the attention of Em, who shared a screenshot of Jane's original tweet to Instagram.

The 2Day FM radio host wrote: 'My love for [Jane] has just reached fever pitch. Channel 10 have a pilot week coming up, of the EIGHT shows they're trying exactly ZERO are fronted by women and exactly EIGHT are straight, white men.

'I've got a show idea, so do about FIFTEEN other funny women I know. POOR FORM.'

Happily ever after! In a teaser clip released this week, Kyle delivers a verdict in the favour of a young couple who are then shown kissing in the dock

Following the controversy, Ten program chief Beverley McGarvey said she was 'a bit disappointed' by the response.

'The reaction's probably not surprising but we are a bit disappointed,' she told the Herald Sun.

She added that the network has 21 new shows on air this year and that their eight Pilot Week programs aren't representative of the entire roster.

The air dates for Pilot Week shows are as follows: Skit Happens, Sunday 19 August at 8.00pm; Disgrace!, Sunday 19 August 8.30pm; Drunk History, Monday 20 August at 9.30pm; Taboo, Tuesday 21 August at 9.00pm; Kinne Tonight, Wednesday 22 August at 9.00pm; Trial By Kyle, Thursday 23 August 8.30pm; Dave, Friday 24 August at 8.30pm; and Bring Back Saturday Night, Saturday 25 August at 7.30pm.
He's been teasing fans that he could be the next James Bond.

And Idris Elba certainly looked the part when he was pictured soaking up the sun in Ibiza recently.

The star, 45, showed off a hint of his muscular frame underneath a black T-shirt, while wearing a pair of designer shades.

He's in double 0 heaven: Idris Elba looked suave as he sat in the sun in Ibiza... amid claims he is set to be the next James Bond

Secret agent: Daniel Craig is the current Bond but On Sunday, Idris posted an artistic selfie under the words 'my name's Elba, Idris Elba,' echoing the spy's famous catchphrase

Flashing his megawatt smile, it's little wonder that Idris is the name on everyone's lips to take over the role of secret agent Bond from Daniel Craig.

The actor himself stoked speculation that he could be the man for the job, after offering an enigmatic Twitter post that fuelled the buzz about him.

On Sunday, he posted an artistic selfie under the words 'my name's Elba, Idris Elba,' echoing the spy's famous catchphrase.

Guessing game: But before fans go overboard, Elba posted another tweet a few hours later saying, 'Don't believe the HYPE...'

New role? Idris recently sent James Bond fans into a frenzy with this cryptic tweet

American film producer Antoine Fuqua stoked long-running speculation about Elba taking on the role last week, when he told Britain's Daily Star that Bond movie boss Barbara Broccoli had said 'it is time' for a non-white actor to play agent 007.

But before fans go overboard, Elba posted another tweet a few hours later saying, 'Don't believe the HYPE...'

So while fans are kept guessing, the pictures of Idris come after it was revealed he DJ'd at the wedding of Superdry's co-founder Julian Dunkerton at the weekend.

According to Sebastian Shakespeare, Idris, who is known for roles in crime dramas The Wire and Luther, was behind the decks as Dunkerton celebrated his marriage to Jade Holland Cooper, a designer 22 years his junior.

Dunkerton, 53, is said to have amassed a fortune of 366 million since setting up fashion brand Superdry and he spared no expense for his wedding

It was believed to have been held in the Cotswolds where he owns a string of hotels and restaurants.

Taking to the decks: Craig David and Idris provided the music at the wedding of Jade Holland Cooper over the weekend




The SNL Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che are busy preparing to present the 2018 Emmy Awards next month.

The pair were announced as the Emmys hosts back in April and have since gone on to hint that the awards ceremony may be less political than expected.

'It is kind of fun for us to do something that is not political, he told Vanity Fair.

The exciting part is to do things about television and that particular awards ceremony and make it, in general, less political than normal, he said. There's a lot to celebrate in television right now. It's a very strong time.

Here is all you need to know about Emmy hosts and Saturday Night Live stars Michael Che and Colin Jost including who they are, and what their net worths are.

SNL Weekend Update stars Michael Che and Colin Jost will host the 2018 Emmy Awards

Who is Michael Che?

Michael Che was born on May 19, 1983 in Manhattan, New York. Growing up, Che had no desire to become a comedian, instead preferring to focus on art.

He made and sold his own T-shirts that ended up catching the attention of fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. Hilfiger actually offered Che a job and paid $1,000 for a Che shirt. Che turned him down for a job.

In his mid-20s Che started visiting stand-up clubs as an audience member but ultimately plucked up the courage to go up on-stage himself.

I was like: "I might not be as good as the good ones but I could be as bad as the bad ones, and theyre not afraid to be bad, so why am I?"' he told the Guardian.

Excited to announce that @ColinJost and Michael Che will be hosting this years #Emmys! pic.twitter.com/6S2qu1Ic6d  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) April 26, 2018

So I tried it, and I immediately left the stage and went to another one because I wanted to try it again and again.

Over the next four years, Che moved around on the circuit, quickly attracting attention from fellow comedians and scouts.

He was first tapped up by Jon Stewart for The Daily Show back in 2014 but just three months later left the show to front Saturday Night Lives The Weekend Update alongside Colin Jost.

In December 2017, alongside Jost, he was named as the SNL co-head writer.

Michael Che Instagram

Che is becoming more and more famous for his Instagram activity, despite not featuring a single post on his account.

The comedian prefers to use the social media services Stories feature, updating fans on his antics that include sending a clown to Josts birthday dinner with his girlfriend Scarlett Johansson and voicing his opinion on the state of comedy, leading to a particularly odd Instagram story conversation about whether Che has seen Hannah Gadsbys Nanette.

What is Michael Ches net worth?

Michael Ches net worth is estimated to be $1 million, according to Married Biography.

Who is Colin Jost?

Colin Jost was born on June 29, 1982 in Staten Island, New York. He has one brother, who is a writer on Impractical Jokers.

Jost attended Harvard, where he was the president of the Harvard Lampoon, and was at the university at the same time as Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg.

I did go to college with him but everyones always like, Did you meet Mark Zuckerberg? Did you hang out with him? and Im like no because he was in a lab creating Facebook and I was, like, learning about alcohol.

'Well, we did go to school and I think I'm not really benefiting from that relationship in any way, Jost joked on Watch What Happens Live.

After graduating from Harvard, Jost joined the writing staff at SNL in 2005, working his way up to writing supervisor, co-head writer between 2012 and 2015, Weekend Update host and co-head writer again in December 2017.

Jost is also a published writer having had a Shouts and Murmurs column published several times in The New Yorker. He was also published in the New York Times Magazine and the Huffington Post.

Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson

Colin Jost is currently dating Avengers: Infinity War star Scarlett Johansson. Rumours the two were an item first started back in May 2017 when they were spotted kissing at an SNL after-party.

Several months later they appeared to confirm their status as they attended the American Museum of Natural History Gala in New York.

The pair have made several high-profile red carpet appearances including for Johanssons Avengers: Infinity War premiere and later at the Met Gala.

What is Colin Josts net worth?

Colin Josts net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Fans can have first peek at the set of Disney's upcoming live action remake of its smash hit 1998 animated musical Mulan.

Director Niki Caro posted an Instagram photo Monday of Chinese-born American actress Liu Yifei, 30, in costume as the title character.

The scene being filmed was practically a mirror image of Mulan's soaring ballad Reflections from the original animated feature.

However, Niki said last year there would be 'no songs' in her Mulan, before later giving a more opaque statement on the matter - so it is unclear whether what was filmed this week was the actual musical number or merely a scene based on it.

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First look at the set: Niki Caro, director of the live action Mulan, posted an Instagram photo Monday of Chinese-born American actress Liu Yifei, 30, in costume as the title character

In the song, Mulan struggles with her identity and the gender roles of ancient China.

'When will my reflection show who I am inside?' goes one of the lines from the song, which like the rest of the numbers was written by David Zippel and Matthew Wilder.

'Mulan. Day #1. Reflections. #mulan #disney #yifei_cc,' captioned Niki on her Instagram photo of the start of production.

In the Instagram snap, Yifei can be seen strolling alongside a false pond with a gorgeous tree a short way behind her and a green screen in the background.

Basis: The scene being filmed was practically a mirror image of Mulan's soaring ballad Reflections from the original animated feature

The image recalls a shot from the animated version of the movie in which Mulan, during this same number, walks mournfully by a pond near her family's home.

This song's apparent inclusion might be a surprise to some, as Niki said to Moviefone last March that her Mulan would have 'from what I understand, no songs right now, much to the horror of my children.'

More enigmatically, she told The Hollywood Reporter later that month: 'We're still exploring the role that music's going to play in it, but for sure there will be music.'

In the 1998 film, when her elderly father is drafted to fight invading Huns, Mulan dresses as a man in order to pretend to be his son and take his place.

Ready for battle: A publicity still of Yifei wielding a sword as Mulan has already been released in aid of the film, which is slated to release in theaters in 2020

In the original film, the character's speaking voice was provided by Ming-Na Wen, while her songs were performed by musical theater star Lea Salonga.

A publicity still of Yifei wielding a sword as Mulan has already been released in aid of the film, which is slated to release in theaters in 2020.

Movie star and martial artist Jet Li will feature in the live-action version as China's emperor, who in the original was voiced by Pat Morita, a man beloved by moviegoers as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid.
On last night's Made In Chelsea: Croatia, Harry Baron was seen engaging in a furious argument with Sam Thompson, as each accused one another of cheating on their respective girlfriends.

But this clearly hasn't put a dent in Harry's romance with girlfriend Melissa Tattam - as the pair were spotted shooting scenes for the new autumn season in London on Tuesday.

Also of note was the fact that some unknown cast members appeared to be shooting too, seen bumping into Harry and Melissa on the street.

Back in town: Harry Baron and Melissa Tattam were out and about in London on Tuesday, shooting scenes for season 16 of the show

A pair of blondes were spotted in bright dresses, swinging shopping bags and sashaying along the Chelsea street.

One wore a bubblegum pink dress and toted a black purse, as the other wore a light blue number with ankle boots.

The blonde in pink seemed perfectly at ease as she stood chatting merrily away in the street between takes.

Harry looked typically suave in a blue blazer and skinny white jeans, seen carrying his girlfriend's shopping bags for her.

New girls: A pair of blondes were spotted in bright dresses, swinging shopping bags and sashaying along the Chelsea street

Fresh faces: The unknown cast members were seen bumping into Harry and Melissa on the street

Parting ways: After bumping into Melissa and Harry in the street, the new girls were seen disappearing off in different directions - with one going into a gate and into a house

What's so funny? Harry and Melissa meanwhile continued on along the street, smirking about something

Melissa wore a figure-hugging charcoal dress, wearing her brunette locks loosely around her shoulders.

She also walked a black poodle on a lead as the pair sauntered along the sidewalk in the sunshine.

After bumping into Melissa and Harry in the street, the new girls were seen disappearing off in different directions - with one going into a gate and into a house.

Harry and Melissa meanwhile continued on along the street, smirking about something.

Waiting around: One cast member was seen taking a seat on the pavement

After the storm: The couple's appearance comes after Harry's furious argument on Monday night's MIC: Croatia with Sam Thompson

The couple's appearance comes after Harry's furious argument on Monday night's MIC: Croatia with Sam Thompson.

In what looked as if it would turn into a fist fight, the pair were seen screaming at each other in the streets of Hvar, after Sam trusted Harry to keep it to himself that Sam had slept with someone in Las Vegas, behind Sophie Habboo's back.

But Harry couldn't help but tell Melissa, who in turn spilled the beans over a dinner with Sam and Habbs in attendance.

Savage: In what looked as if it would turn into a fist fight, the pair were seen screaming at each other in the streets of Hvar, after Sam trusted Harry to keep it to himself that Sam had slept with someone in Las Vegas, behind Sophie Habboo's back

Drama: Harry couldn't help but tell Melissa, who in turn spilled the beans over a dinner with Sam and Habbs in attendance

On a break: Sophie Hermann was also spotted on a shooting break

This led to Sam announcing that Harry had disappeared off with the same girl for an hour, with no-one knowing what went on.

Harry, in turn, announced that Sam had also hooked up with a different girl on the same night, leaving Habbs even more upset.

The scene played out as the climax to Monday night's episode, with Melissa joining in the argument as well. The status of Harry and Sam's friendship is still unsure but Harry and Melissa don't appear to have let it affect them in any way.

Also spotted was Sophie Hermann, who was taking a timeout with a crew member in a stylish black top and checked leggings.
Singapore is currently the largest foreign direct investor in Ho Chi Minh City with over 1,100 projects worth more than US$ 10.6 billion in total, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Tuyen said, noting that it has contributed to local development and dynamism.

He expressed his wish that Singapore will retain its leading position and realise the cooperation potential in carrying out sub-projects for Ho Chi Minh Citys smart city building plan, including building a smart operations centre and developing new residential areas. The Vietnamese southern hub also hopes to expand bilateral partnerships in priority fields, such as waterway transport, logistics, and flood prevention.

In appreciation of the goodwill of Singaporean businesses, the official spoke highly of the countrys expertise and capacity in applying high technology in the development process. He suggested that cooperation with Singaporean firms in building an operations centre to help Ho Chi Minh City swiftly deal with urgent problems like transport, water, and other innovative city building and development issues.

For his part, Peter Ong, who is also a senior economic advisor at the Singaporean Ministry of Trade and Industry, noted with satisfaction that the two countries have together built close-knit relations, especially in terms of economy.

Singaporean firms are looking to make long-term cooperation and investments in Vietnam, which is reflected in the fact that Singapore respectively ranks first and third among foreign investors in Ho Chi Minh City and in Vietnam, he noted.

He added that his countrys enterprises highly value the attractiveness and potential of Vietnams investment climate, particularly in terms of infrastructure, industrial parks, and transport. They hope to contribute to the socio-economic development of Vietnam.

Peter Ong emphasised that with a young and industrious workforce, Ho Chi Minh City holds necessary conditions to continue its dynamic development trend, especially if it is able to apply high technologies and techniques in an appropriate fashion.

Singapore has many businesses experienced in building data centres and supplying solutions and technologies for developing transport systems and urban infrastructure. They are ready to share those experiences and join the making of master plans and the construction of a local urban innovation centre.

Aside from the geographical proximity and long-standing friendship, smart city building is a good chance for Singaporean firms to strengthen ties with Ho Chi Minh City in the future, he noted.
She's been candid about her past as a glamour model.

And Love Island's Megan Barton-Hanson is reportedly trying to make a name for herself in the world of high-end modelling by giving up pricey Instagram advertising deals.

According to The Sun, the reality TV stunner, 24, is set to meet a number of modelling agencies in the coming weeks, and shunned the route of clothing and cosmetics endorsements that many Love Island stars sign up for after the show ends.

Moving on up: Love Island's Megan Barton-Hanson, 24, 'turned down 100,000 in lucrative Instagram deals to become a successful model'

An insider close to Megan told the publication: 'Megan is keen to change her public image and wants to put her glamour girl reputation behind her for good.

'She's turned down over 100,000 of paid Instagram advertising in the last week alone and cancelled all her PA's because she's serious about making it as a model.'

The source added that Megan understands she's 'too curvy' for the runway, but is keen to see what's up for grabs, with big meetings with top modelling agencies in the pipeline.

Insiders added: 'Megan isn't planning on following the same paths as her fellow islanders and is wants to become a global name.'

New outlook: The former glamour model shunned the route of clothing and cosmetics endorsements that many Love Island stars sign up for after the show ends

A representative for the former stripper told MailOnline: 'Megan has turned down hundreds of requests for her to promote various products and services since she has left the villa.

'The reason for this is that she values the audience who follow her on social media and believes that using her platform to market products that she doesnt use or believe in would be inappropriate.

'Megan understands that her followers are interested in what she is up to since leaving the show. As such the focus is on using her platform to share that journey.

'Megan will be working with a few key brands over the coming months and her followers can be sure that anything she promotes will be close to her heart, something she believes in wholeheartedly and genuinely uses.'

Changing her image: An insider close to Megan told the publication: 'Megan is keen to change her public image and wants to put her glamour girl reputation behind her for good

Earlier this month, Megan reportedly cancelled all of her upcoming nightclub appearances citing 'personal reasons.'

The former stripper was scheduled to visit Lourenzos Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland, but cancelled the appearance, with club managers saying the rest of the dates have been scrapped.

A statement posted on the venue's Facebook page read: 'Management cancellation: Megan Barton.

'Unfortunately Love Island star Megan Barton has decided to CANCEL ALL personal appearances due to personal reasons.

'Lourenzos sincerely apologise to everyone who was excited about meeting Megan on Saturday 4th August but unfortunately the situation is out with our control.'

MailOnline has contacted Megan's representatives for comment at the time.

The news comes shortly after the blonde beauty divulged on her previous occupation as a stripper, and said she doesn't understand the negativity surrounding her former career.

Changing careers: The news comes after the blonde beauty divulged on her previous occupation as a stripper

In an interview with Grazia magazine, Megan explained: 'I did it for a year - I got in, I got out, I earned my money, I didnt hurt anyone, I dont see why its so negative. Men enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, couples came in everyone is happy!'

While Megan appears in the throes of love with Love Island beau Wes Nelson, 20, , she lifted the lid on her past experiences with dating as she recalled some of her worst encounters.

Megan admitted: 'I was getting the worst bumble dates ever. I ran away from one, I got egged on one!

'I had people telling me they thought I was a catfish so they didnt turn up.

The Essex beauty proved to be a hit with her male counterparts on Love Island, finding brief spells of romance with Eyal Booker and Alex Miller before falling love with Wes, and finished the show in fourth place with the hunky nuclear engineer.
She's never been one to take herself too seriously.

And Charlotte Dawson showed off more of her wild side as she took part in a hilarious task for ITV2's CelebAbility.

In scenes due to air on Wednesday night's show, the 26-year-old Ex On The Beach star is seen sniffing the bottoms of strangers in order to guess 'what snack is in the crack'.

Cheeky! Charlotte Dawson took part in a hilarious task for ITV2's CelebAbility, sniffing the bottoms of strangers in order to guess 'what snack is in the crack'

Blindfolded, the reality starlet is lead towards a underwear clad man, who has a snack smeared on his briefs, whilst she is tasked with identifying the food using only her sense of smell.

Squealing in horror and anticipation, the daughter of the late Les Dawson then has to whisper what she believes the food to be into an aide's ear, before a member of the opposing team also takes a turn guessing.

CelebAbility sees a team of five celebrities take on a team of five friends in a series of challenges and airs Wednesday on ITV2 at 10pm.

Loving life: Charlotte is a fun-loving girl who has never been one to take herself too seriously

Charlotte's light-hearted TV appearance comes amid a tense time for the star, as her boyfriend Matthew Scarsfield narrowly avoided jail after punching a stranger.

Matthew 26, was left 'sickened' in court hearing details of how he drunkenly landed a single blow to Daniel Jackson's bottom lip on April 2 this year, which may leave him with permanent scarring.

Following the ruling, Charlotte paid tribute to her boyfriend with a cosy snap of the pair together, as she wrote in the caption: Unbreakable... had a tough few months but with the bad there always comes the good babayy the rough with the smooth n all that....

'Cant wait for our next chapter now the only way is up my cheekeh cherub face love you forevs.'

Grim: Blindfolded, the reality starlet is lead towards a underwear clad man, who has a snack smeared on his briefs, whilst she is tasked with identifying the food using only her smell

Oh dear: Squealing in horror and anticipation, the daughter of the late Les Dawson then has to whisper what she believes the food to be into an aide's ear

It came days after Sarsfield's appearance in court. Sarsfield hit the aspiring actor without warning in an unprovoked attack, Wigan and Leigh magistrates heard.

Mr Jackson's female pal, who moments before the attack was approached by Sarsfield, described him as acting 'quite smarmy' and seemingly wanting to dance with her.

Prosecuting, Steve Woodman, said when she turned away and returned to her group, Sarsfield appeared at her side and rounded aggressively on the two men she was with, one of whom was Mr Jackson.

It takes two: CelebAbility sees a team of five celebrities take on a team of five friends in a series of challenges and airs Wednesday on ITV2 at 10pm

The 'out of the blue' attack in the early hours of the morning at Cafe Stella in Leigh, Greater Manchester left Mr Jackson needing 15 stitches.

Sarsfield was sentenced to six months in prison which has been suspended for two years, as well as being handed a community order and hefty fine.

Defending, Shahid Ali said Sarsfield's family had recently received news about his mother and this may have affected his temperament that night.
Grunge rock icon Courtney Love was known to trash a hotel room in her nineties hey-day, and she just put her neglected Washington State home on the real estate market for $319K.

According to Variety, the listing for the 54-year-old Golden Globe nominee's two-story fixer-upper in rural Olympia humorously indicates that it's in need of 'everything.'

The five-time rehabbed rocker originally purchased the abandoned, wooded property for $447K in early 1995 shortly after her husband Kurt Cobain committed suicide with a self-inflicted shotgun wound.

Grunge rock icon: Courtney Love was known to trash a hotel room in her nineties hey-day, and she just put her neglected Washington State home on the real estate market for $319K (pictured August 2)

Run down: The listing for the 54-year-old Golden Globe nominee's two-story fixer-upper in rural Olympia humorously indicates that it's in need of 'everything'

Ominously, there were no pictures posted of the 2,302-square-foot house's interior - which includes double-stacked porches, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

Out back, there's a guest cottage with considerable fire damage as well as a door-less two-car garage.

The crown jewel of Courtney's former residence has to be the eight-stall horse barn, which has been totally tagged in graffiti.

Love's colorful old stomping grounds are located near Swift Creek and about seven miles outside of downtown Olympia.

Mourning purchase: The five-time rehabbed rocker originally purchased the abandoned, wooded property for $447K in early 1995 shortly after her husband Kurt Cobain committed suicide with a self-inflicted shotgun wound

Yikes! Ominously, there were no pictures posted of the 2,302-square-foot house's interior - which includes double-stacked porches, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms

There's a story there: Out back, there's a guest cottage (L) with considerable fire damage as well as a door-less two-car garage (R)

Squatters? The crown jewel of Courtney's former residence has to be the eight-stall horse barn, which has been totally tagged in graffiti

Rural: Love's colorful old stomping grounds are located near Swift Creek and about seven miles outside of downtown Olympia

The barn seen from afar: The four-time Grammy nominee's sad former estate sits on nearly seven acres of overgrown, ungroomed foliage

The four-time Grammy nominee's sad former estate sits on nearly seven acres of overgrown, ungroomed foliage.

Fans of the RuPaul's Drag Race guest judge will recall how she sang about Olympia on Hole's 1994 single, Rock Star, but it was actually the Nirvana frontman who lived there from 1989-1991.

Courtney - who attended schools in California, New Zealand, Ireland, and Oregon - penned the track to criticize Olympia's riot grrrl music scene.

The lyrics include: 'Well I went to school in Olympia / Everyone's the same / And so are you, in Olympia, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya / Everyone's the same / We look the same / We talk the same yeah / We even f*** the same.'

Where they fell in love: Fans of the RuPaul's Drag Race guest judge will recall how she sang about Olympia on Hole's 1994 single, Rock Star, but it was actually the Nirvana frontman who lived there from 1989-1991 (pictured in 1992)

'Everyone's the same': Courtney - who attended schools in California, New Zealand, Ireland, and Oregon - penned the track to criticize Olympia's riot grrrl music scene

Love (born Harrison) will next celebrate their visual artist daughter Frances Bean Cobain's 26th birthday this Saturday.

On July 17, the Emmy-nominated Montage of Heck producer joined her grandmother Wendy O'Connor and aunt Kim Cobain at the opening of The Museum of Style Icons' Growing Up Kurt Cobain exhibition in Ireland.

'He's unavoidable in my life, I see a Nirvana shirt every day,' Frances - who's said to have a $100M inheritance - told Reuters at the time.

'Hot weather opens the skull': Love will next celebrate their visual artist daughter Frances Bean Cobain's 26th birthday this Saturday (pictured last Saturday)

Family reunion: On July 17, the Emmy-nominated Montage of Heck producer joined her grandmother Wendy O'Connor (R) and aunt Kim Cobain (M) at the opening of The Museum of Style Icons' Growing Up Kurt Cobain exhibition in Ireland

'On some days it feels a little frustrating, like I've had emotional breakdowns in Ubers and he's come on [the radio] and I've been like, "I needed you so much right now." It plays out on different days in different ways.'

Items on display through September 30 include his sketches, drawings, clothing, hand-written lyrics, and the only car he ever owned - a powder blue 1965 Dodge Dart.

Career-wise, the Menendez: Blood Brothers actress joined her ex-boyfriend Billy Corgan onstage New Jersey's PNC Bank Arts Center on August 2 for the Smashing Pumpkins' 30th Anniversary concert.
She married Sebastian Bear-McClard in New York this year.

And Emily Ratajkowski was spotted sharing a passionate kiss with her new husband during an outing in the city that never sleeps this Tuesday.

As she reached over to wrap an arm around her man, her crop top rode up a bit to offer a faint glimpse of the black bra underneath.

So in love: Emily Ratajkowski was spotted sharing a passionate kiss with her new husband during an outing in the city that never sleeps this Tuesday

The duo stopped by a local eatery with a female friend, settling down to an alfresco table where Emily got the outward-facing view.

Emily flashed her chiseled midriff beneath her red and white collared Coca-Cola sweater top with its full sleeves pushed up to the elbow.

Accessorizing with a sleek pair of black cat-eye shades, she added a splash of glitz with hoop earrings, a jewel necklace and a matching pair of bracelets.

Adding yet more jewelry to the look by way of a gleaming watch, she slung a metallic purse from her left shoulder and showed off her vertiginous legs in Daisy Dukes.

Hinting: As she reached over to wrap an arm around her man, her crop top rode up a bit to offer a faint glimpse of the black bra underneath

In repose: The duo stopped by a local eatery with a female friend, settling down to an alfresco table where Emily got the outward-facing view

Meanwhile: Sebastian was wearing a neon green top advertising a 2017 indie film he helped produce called Good Time, starring Robert Pattinson

Meanwhile, Sebastian was wearing a neon green top advertising a 2017 indie film he helped produce called Good Time, starring Robert Pattinson.

He clashed the jacket elegantly against a pair of fossil grey sweats, slipping into a bulky pair of sneakers and carrying a Laval bag.

The modeling sensation, who has a swimwear line of her own, was also seen strolling with a male pal in the city that same day.

Only the best: He clashed the jacket elegantly against a pair of fossil grey sweats, slipping into a bulky pair of sneakers and carrying a Laval bag

Backdrop: Emily made a splash with her surprise courthouse marriage to producer Sebastian in New York, wearing a $200 Zara trouser suit

Holding forth: Emily, who has a penchant for showing off her figure on red carpets and social media, told the June issue of Marie Claire her breasts are 'a key to my sexuality'

That day, she posted an Instagram snap of herself in this outfit, captioning: 'Summer looks' with eye emoji in the place of each letter 'o.'

Emily, who has a penchant for showing off her figure on red carpets and social media, told the June issue of Marie Claire her breasts are 'a key to my sexuality.'

The Gone Girl supporting player told the magazine: 'Boobs are funny. They hurt sometimes, and sometimes theyre the thing that makes me feel the most powerful.'

'Boobs are funny': The Gone Girl supporting player told the magazine: 'They hurt sometimes, and sometimes theyre the thing that makes me feel the most powerful'

Swirling claims: Though they only became a couple weeks before the wedding, a source told Us Weekly that 'Emily has known Sebastian for years'

'I remember there was some article like: "Emily Ratajkowski Is the Mozart of Breasts." What was so bad is someone sent it to my dad, who sent it to me,' she recalled.

'My dad still sees me as a little kid. I love my boobs. I love other peoples boobs. Boobs are kind of great,' rhapsodized the I Feel Pretty actress.

The actress, who while showing Vogue around her vast apartment in 2015 said she was for a platform to 'redistribute wealth in this country,' married in February.

Emily made a splash with her surprise courthouse marriage to producer Sebastian in New York, wearing a $200 Zara trouser suit.

On the go: The modeling sensation, who has a swimwear line of her own, was also seen strolling with a male pal in the city that same day

Step lively: Emily flashed her chiseled midriff beneath a red and white collared Coca-Cola crop top with its full sleeves pushed up to the elbow

Gltiz: Accessorizing with a sleek pair of black cat-eye shades, she added a splash of glitz with hoop earrings, a jewel necklace and a matching pair of bracelets

Though they only became a couple weeks before the wedding, a source told Us Weekly that 'Emily has known Sebastian for years.'

The London-born model and actress recalled to Marie Claire: "People came after my marriage, like: "Wow. I give it three weeks." Im like: "What?"'

Emily groused: 'No one can take women seriously on any choices that they make, especially if theyre unique to them and they dont play into the way we think women should get married. It's a constant writing-off.'

Social media maven: That day, she posted an Instagram snap of herself in this outfit, captioning: 'Summer looks' with eye emoji in the place of each letter 'o'

Star-studded: Proving that you can almost run into just about anybody without noticing in New York City, Joe Jonas and Emily passed right by one another and didn't even blink an eye
Standing out has never been hard for doll-faced supermodel Lily Cole, thanks to her pre-Raphaelite red hair, porcelain skin and willowy body.

Now, she's added another distinguishing feature.

The 30-year-old has had the name of her two-year-old daughter, Wylde, tattooed on her left hand by trendy Ukrainian artist Stanislava Pinchuk.

Eccentrically, each letter of Wylde's name was inked along the sides of her fingers and wrist.

'I went to Paris to get one tattoo then I ended up getting five. Fun day,' says Cole, who graduated from Cambridge with a double first.

Doll-faced supermodel Lily Cole has had the name of her two-year-old daughter, Wylde, tattooed on her left hand by trendy Ukrainian artist Stanislava Pinchuk

Eccentrically, each letter of Wylde's name was inked along the sides of her fingers and wrist

The talents of the Queen's furniture-making nephew David Linley have never been in doubt. But now his wife, Serena, appears ready to demonstrate artistry of her own. She has been spotted at the 2,500-a-week Catalyst Art Retreat in Tuscany, learning to sculpt animal bronzes.

'She's very talented,' I'm told. Catalyst promises to 'reignite the smouldering embers of your creative fire'.

Will David  the 2nd Earl of Snowdon since his father's death last year  be able to compete with smouldering Serena?
He has been spotted making various outings to a tattoo parlour in a bid to get his inking tributes to estranged wife Katie Price removed.

And on the next instalment of My Crazy Life, Kieran Hayler is seen unveiling his huge tattoo of the former glamour model on his leg to get lasered off, before quipping that the potential pain of it was 'not as painful as being married to Katie Price.'

Attempting to laugh off his nerves at the impending treatment, Kieran went on to tell cameras: 'It's good riddance to five stressful years. The marriage is over and it's time to move on with life.'

Savage: On the next episode of My Crazy Life, Kieran Hayler is seen unveiling a huge tattoo of his ex to get lasered off, before quipping that the pain wouldn't be as bad as his marriage to Katie Price

In the clip, Kieran is seen coming to the end of a laser session for the small K ink on his finger, revealing: 'Having the tattoo removed was painful, but I suppose the pain from having the tattoo removed is not as painful as being married to Katie Price.'

Back in the tattoo parlour, he tells the nurses: 'Okay so that's one tattoo I've got, I've got another tattoo.

'Maybe you can give me an opinion on how long it'll take to remove it, and if it's going to absolutely kill?' he asked.

On to the next: Attempting to laugh off his nerves at the impending treatment, Kieran went on to tell cameras: 'It's good riddance to five stressful years'

After getting the K ink on his finger removed, Kieran admits: 'I've got another tattoo of Kate on my leg. It's a portrait, you can definitely see it's Kate'

Explaining in further detail to the camera, Kieran states: 'I've got another tattoo of Kate on my leg. It's a portrait, you can definitely see it's Kate. That also needs to be changed or removed. I'm dreading that!'

The nurses then examine his tattoo, before offering their expert opinion: 'There's a lot of ink there, the shading will go really quickly. You could probably get rid of the face really quickly as well.'

Kieran then humours: 'Maybe it's just the face that needs to go to be honest.'

'You could probably get rid of the face really quickly': The nurses then examine his tattoo, before offering their expert opinion

Kieran then humours: 'Maybe it's just the face that needs to go to be honest'

He goes on to admit: 'One lesson in life is don't get a tattoo of a woman, or of a woman's name, because you never know what's going to happen.'

A few months ago, sources told The Sun, Kieran wants to get rid of the 'constant reminder' of Katie on his wedding finger.

'Kieran is looking into getting the wedding tattoo lasered off. He doesnt see the point in keeping it and wants to get rid of it.

'Its just a daily reminder of his marriage, which is now over. He wants the whole thing removed and is booking in sessions for it to get lasered off.'

'He doesnt see the point in keeping it': A few months ago, sources told The Sun, Kieran wants to get rid of the 'constant reminder' of Katie on his wedding finger

Crisis: Meanwhile, Katie has reportedly lost 5,000 from her terrifying carjacking in South Africa, amid her recent financial woes

Meanwhile, Katie has reportedly lost 5,000 from her terrifying carjacking in South Africa, amid her recent financial woes.

According to The Sun, the reality star, 40, failed to correctly insure the goods that were stolen from her car by drug-crazed attackers, while she was filming for her reality show with kids Princess and Junior back in April.

The loss marks yet another blow for the star, who narrowly avoided bankruptcy last week - causing her ex-husband Peter Andre to 'offer a helping hand' amid her difficult time.
It's been over a year since Matty Johnson and Laura Byrne professed their love for each other in The Bachelor Australia finale.

And as the lovebirds prepare to move in together in Sydney's Bondi Beach, Laura has discovered a sweet memento from their early days.

The ToniMay jewellery designer, 32, found her old date cards while packing up her belongings in her Rushcutters Bay home on Tuesday.

'Packing up the house, I just found our date cards': Laura Byrne has revealed she kept special mementos from her time on The Bachelor... a year after finding love with Matty Johnson. Pictured: Matty and Laura on The Bachelor 2017

She captioned a short Instagram clip of the cards: 'Packing up my house for the big move and just found our date cards... Matty, remember this?'

The first card read: 'Laura, I am really drawn to your creative side. Matty'.

The second read: 'Laura, Do you believe your destiny is written in the stars? Let's see what the future holds for us. Matty.'

How sweet! The ToniMay jewellery designer, 32, discovered her old date cards while packing up her belongings in her Rushcutters Bay home on Tuesday. She is currently in the process of moving into Matty's Bondi Beach home

Laura also kept the 'Name-A-Star' certificate she received from the Sydney Observatory dated April 18, 2017.

During a single date, the couple had decided to name a star 'Mattaura', a portmanteau of Matthew and Laura, in honour of their fledgling romance.

Matthew, 31, was chosen as Australia's fifth Bachelor in 2017 after placing runner-up in the previous year's season of The Bachelorette.

Love story: Matthew, 31, was chosen as Australia's fifth Bachelor in 2017 after placing runner-up in the previous year's season of The Bachelorette. Pictured: Matty and Laura in the finale

He was left heartbroken by Melbourne newsreader Georgia Love in the Bachelorette finale, but eventually found his happily ever after with Laura.

There was some controversy at the time after it emerged Matthew and Laura had actually met before the show was filmed.

They later downplayed their prior relationship, however, insisting they had simply had a chance meeting at Bondi Icebergs.

The new season of The Bachelor, starring former rugby player Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins, premieres Wednesday night at 7:30pm on Network Ten.
Having worked side-by-side for almost two decades, it's no wonder radio stars David 'Hughsey' Hughes and Kate Langbroek butt heads on occasion.

And the pair didn't hold back when they clashed during an off-air argument in recorded in July this year.

At the time, the duo were forced to record their two-hour show from opposite sides of the world, with Hughsey calling in from Montreal at 2.30am to coincide with Kate's broadcast from Australia.

'You take over for once, rather than sitting back like a f***ing Queen Sheba!' Footage of an off-air clash between David 'Hughsey' Hughes (pictured) and Kate Langbroek was uploaded to the radio duo's Facebook page this week

Unfortunately, Hughsey ran into trouble when he couldn't log into his Skype account, meaning that he was unable to see Kate during their show.

'We can still do a f***ing show, Katie! We will do a show without this [Skype] f***ing bulls**t!' You're not going to look at me! I'm sorry I'm not that pretty,' he ranted during a behind-the-scenes video shared to the show's Facebook page this week.

'But I want to look at you! God!' Kate insisted, before breaking into a laugh.

'We can still do a f***ing show, Katie!' Unfortunately, Hughsey ran into trouble when he couldn't log into his Skype account, meaning that he was unable to see Kate during their show

The playful argument continued when Hughsey forgot his Phonebox account password, leaving Kate with the responsibility to answer listeners' phone-calls.

'You take over for once  rather than sitting back like a f***ing Queen Sheba!' Hughsey exclaimed in jest.

'No, you c**t!' Kate hit back, adding: 'Remember, you're angry at yourself.'

'No, you c**t!' The playful argument continued when Hughsey forgot his Phonebox account password, leaving Kate with the responsibility to answer listeners' phone-calls

Despite suffering the occasional tiff, Hughsey and Kate maintain a close friendship.

In March, the comedians' producer Sacha French revealed to News Corp the secret behind their success: 'They have such respect and they love talking to each other, both on air and off air.'

'They genuinely enjoy surprising each other on air with content and their chemistry, you just can't manufacture that,' she said.
It's the viral video challenge that has swept the internet.

And now Australian electronic dance DJs Nervo have got in the act, attempting Drake's 'Kiki Challenge'.

Twins Mim and Liv Nervo, who hail from Melbourne, filmed their version in Ios, Greece, where they are currently touring.

Is this the hottest Kiki Challenge yet? Aussie DJs the Nervo twins wear skimpy bikinis as they dance to Drake's In My Feelings in Greece

The blonde beauties look simply sizzling in a video clip posted to Instagram, in which they are seen dancing in skimpy bikinis.

Liv shows off her cleavage as she bounces around in a black triangle bikini, while her sister Mim is red hot in a strapless scarlet two-piece.

At one point Mim pats her bottom as she flashes her pert derriere at the camera.

Hot stuff! The blonde beauties look simply sizzling in a video clip posted to Instagram, in which they are seen dancing in skimpy bikinis

'Kiki if you love me #voteNERVO @champagnepapi #kikichallenge #kikidoyoulovemechallenge #inmyfeelingschallenge,' they captioned the clip.

It comes as no surprise that the social media video was a hit with the sisters' fans, who flocked to the comments section to praise the girls on their impeccable job.

Nervo are one of the most popular music acts in Australia, and boast a large international following thanks to their EDM music.

Nice setting! Mim and Liv Nervo, who hail from Melbourne , filmed their version in Ios, Greece , where they are currently touring

They have produced tracks for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Ke$ha, and also co-wrote the single When Love Takes Over by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.

Meanwhile, many other celebrities have been getting in on the 'Kiki Challenge'.

Will Smith performed the dance on a Budapest bridge while local celebrity Sophie Monk did a hilarious version of the challenge with her father.

Popular: The Nervo girls are one of the most popular music acts in Australia and boast a large international following
Australia can kiss goodbye to a lucrative trade deal with Europe if it withdraws from an international pact on climate change, a senior government minister has warned.

Tony Abbott signed up to the so-called Paris Agreement while he was prime minister, but is now demanding Australia pull out.

Mr Abbott is also railing against the National Energy Guarantee because it will legislate carbon reduction targets which he committed to under the deal.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo is in the process of negotiating a free-trade agreement with European nations, and delivered a blunt warning against following Mr Abbott's advice.

"I can tell you one of the very first consequences if we were to adopt that approach would be that we could kiss goodbye to doing a trade deal with the European Union," he told Sky News on Tuesday.

"They would walk away from it. I have no doubt about that at all. The impact on Australian exports and Australian jobs would be profound."
During a meeting on August 13, the Indonesian leader expressed his belief that the two countries will continue strengthening their cooperation and coordination in regional and international issues, thereby contributing to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the globe.

He expressed his hope that his upcoming visit to Vietnam this September will witness the signing of new agreements, affirming that the Indonesian Government and businesses wish to expand their multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

For his part, Ambassador Quang conveyed the regards of President Tran Dai Quang and the other leaders of Vietnam to the Indonesian leader.

Briefing the President on the development of the bilateral strategic partnership, the diplomat affirmed that the Vietnamese leaders and people want to maintain and further deepen the bilateral ties.

He said he believed that President Joko Widodos state visit to Vietnam in September will create new momentum for the bilateral strategic partnership.

He proposed that the President and the Indonesian Government should continue to encourage Indonesian firms to their expand business and cooperation in Vietnam.
Australian energy policy is being surrendered to climate change sceptics, argues Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

The Turnbull government's proposed National Energy Guarantee is at the centre of a coalition joint party room meeting on Tuesday, with a small group of coalition MPs determined to torpedo the energy plan because it focuses too much on cutting emissions.

"Whilst Mr Turnbull goes around attacking (former prime minister) Mr Abbott, Mr Turnbull is in fact giving in to a lot of Mr Abbott's values when it comes to climate change and energy," Mr Shorten told a caucus meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.
A Queensland woman has been dragged along a road while trying to prevent her mobile phone from being stolen.

The 24-year-old woman was showing the phone to three teenage boys after listing it for sale online when they tried to steal it by driving off from a property in Cairns on Monday afternoon.

The woman was dragged a short distance as she tried to retrieve the phone, sustaining grazes to her arms, knees and feet with the trio of 17-year-old boys arrested a short time later.
As a divided coalition thrashes out its energy policy, an emboldened Bill Shorten has taken strength from positive polls to accuse Malcolm Turnbull of belittling voters.

The Labor leader welcomed back three MPs and introduced another new one to caucus after four successful by-elections over the winter break.

The latest YouGov/Galaxy poll, published in The Courier-Mail, shows the government's hopes of holding its 21 Queensland seats are slipping.

The major parties are now locked at 50-50 on a two-party-preferred basis, after the LNP was ahead 52-48 in May.

Another new Essential poll also has Labor ahead 52-48 on the national two-party preferred vote.

Mr Shorten took aim at disunity in the coalition over energy and Mr Turnbull's attitude to voters who "got it wrong" in the by-elections.

"He was belittling people complaining about the cuts to the ABC and the cuts to schools and the fact that pensioners have been losing their energy supplements," Mr Shorten told the Labor caucus on Tuesday.

"That performance should have sent a shiver down the spine of every marginal seat government member."

The government's National Energy Guarantee is causing angst among the climate change sceptics in the Liberal and National parties, as they try to thrash out an agreement on Tuesday.

"For five years, the current Liberal government has said that they will bring down power prices and, in fact, power prices have gone up," Mr Shorten said.

"Tony Abbott was lying five years ago. Malcolm Turnbull is lying now."

The coalition joint party room is meeting in Canberra to consider the details of the NEG, which aims at bringing down energy bills, securing reliable power and delivering emissions reduction targets.

But former prime minister Mr Abbott argues coalition MPs would be "dead wrong" to approve it.

He's been leading a backbench revolt and demanding changes that would likely see Labor state governments refuse to sign up to the deal.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said any move to dump Australia's commitment to the Paris emissions targets would kill chances for a huge trade deal.

"One of the very first consequences if we were to adopt that approach would be that we could kiss goodbye to doing a trade deal with the European Union," he told Sky News.
A man has admitted breaking into a Perth home, murdering a resident and attacking his partner.

Damian Eric Maxfield, 34, was due to stand trial before a judge alone in the Supreme Court of WA on Monday, accused of stabbing 40-year-old Scott Martin to death and seriously injuring his partner Erelle Mason, 32, in their Halls Head apartment in January last year.

Maxfield instead pleaded guilty to murder, aggravated burglary, and doing an act likely to endanger the life, health or safety of a person.

The latter charge was downgraded from attempted murder on a public interest basis, Prosecutor Laura Christian said.

Maxfield showed no emotion when he entered his pleas, but there were tears in the packed public gallery.

According to a crowdfunding page that was created the day after the crimes, the couple had lost their three-week-old boy Mason to SIDS.

Maxfield, who broke into the property while Mr Martin and Ms Mason were asleep, will face a sentencing hearing on Thursday.

Justice Michael Corboy will in the meantime decide whether the victim's mother Carol Martin can read out her victim impact statement in court.
Former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson will have to wear a tracking device as he serves at least six months in home detention for covering up child sex abuse.

Wilson was handed a one year custodial sentence in July for concealing abuse by pedophile priest James Fletcher in the NSW Hunter region.

But magistrate Robert Stone on Tuesday told Newcastle Local Court the 67-year-old was suitable for home detention following an assessment by authorities.

He ordered Wilson be detained at his sister's house near Newcastle for at least six months, when he'll be eligible for parole.

Mr Stone said Wilson's detention would be under strict supervision and he would have to wear a tracking device as required.

Wilson, who was forced to resign as Archbishop of Adelaide after becoming the most senior Catholic clergyman in the world to be convicted of concealing child sex abuse, showed no emotion when the decision was handed down.

His lawyer Ian Temby QC told the court Wilson planned to lodge an appeal against his conviction on Tuesday but would not be applying for bail.

Outside court, Wilson was confronted by Peter Gogarty - one of Fletcher's victims.

He repeatedly asked the clergyman if he would apologise as he was led to a waiting car but was ignored.

"I'm beside myself about this," Mr Gogarty told reporters.

"I'm still here, still hurting ... and not a single, solitary word to say sorry."

Mr Gogarty said Wilson's home detention was too lenient, labelling it a six-month "holiday" at his sister's home.

Mr Stone found Wilson guilty in May during a landmark magistrate-only trial of failing to go to the police to report the repeated abuse of two altar boys by Fletcher.

Fletcher was found guilty of child sexual abuse in 2004 and died in jail of a stroke in 2006.

Wilson for two months refused to quit following his conviction, claiming he wanted to wait for the outcome of his appeal.

But under mounting pressure from child abuse victims and Catholic priests to resign, and calls from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for the Pope to sack him, Wilson offered up his resignation as a ''catalyst to heal pain and distress''.

Mr Stone found Wilson had shown no remorse or contrition for the cover-up and his primary motive had been to protect the Catholic Church.

The magistrate accepted Wilson was unlikely to re-offend but had to serve a period of detention to act as a deterrence to others.

He said given Wilson's age, mental and physical conditions and the fact he had previously been of good character, a home detention order was an adequate punishment.
A senior West Australian Liberal has rejected talk of internal rumblings to replace opposition leader Mike Nahan.

"It's not being discussed," Deputy Opposition Leader Liza Harvey told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "There may be a couple of disgruntled members who like to stir the pot who might be complaining but no-one has been complaining to me."

On Sunday, Dr Nahan told a state Liberal party conference mainstream media are not as influential as they once were, pointing to the recent Darling Range by-election where voters were reached by social media and "shoe leather" campaigning.

The state's only major daily, The West, on Tuesday cited Liberal sources as saying confidence in Dr Nahan was wavering.
Melbourne are wary of a free-wheeling Parramatta already with an eye on next NRL season when they clash at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Despite their contrasting ladder positions, the third-placed Storm are out to avoid a third consecutive loss while the second-last Eels can boast three straight wins if they pull off an upset victory.

Defending champions Melbourne fell to fellow heavyweight Cronulla last round while Parramatta smashed St George Illawarra, with Jarryd Hayne scoring his first hat-trick in five years and Mitchell Moses setting up four tries and grabbing one himself.

Melbourne centre Curtis Scott said the Eels were playing like they had nothing to lose, which made them dangerous.

"They're playing pretty much for nothing as they can't make the finals," Scott said.

"They'll be coming down here trying to knock off the Melbourne Storm to pump up their tyres for next season."

Scott said the Storm were yet to complete their review of the Sharks' loss but it was clear where the major weakness was.

"We're just giving away too much footy and not completing. I think it was only 61 per cent in the first half," the 20-year-old said.

"In games where we complete over 80 per cent we are beating teams by 30 points so it's simple - we just need to hang on to the footy."

Scott said the Eels' season was a reminder about how quickly things could change in the NRL.

Their last meeting was in a qualifying final, won by the Storm by two points last September.

"We versed them in the first final and they were top four so it's amazing how things change," he said.

"They were probably backed to be up there again this year but things didn't go so well for them.

"But they've been playing really well lately."
TERRITORIES' RIGHTS ON EUTHANASIA

WHAT THE BILL BEFORE THE SENATE WOULD DO

* Crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm's private bill would give the Northern Territory and ACT the ability to make their own laws on voluntary assisted dying.

* It would repeal a 1997 federal law that banned the ACT and NT from legislating on euthanasia.

THE CASE FOR

* Territories should have the same rights as states to make laws.

* Terminally ill people deserve the right to die with dignity on their own terms.

* Euthanasia laws have strict checks and balances to protect vulnerable people.

THE CASE AGAINST

* The bill would lead to assisted suicide becoming legal in the ACT and NT.

* It is more about legalising euthanasia than territories' rights.

* It's a slippery slope that could lead to involuntary state-sanctioned killing.

WHY PARLIAMENT IS DEBATING IT

* Leyonhjelm insists he struck a deal with Malcolm Turnbull to debate and vote on the bill in both chambers of parliament.

* The prime minister denies the agreement, which Leyonhjelm says was in exchange for his vote on re-establishing the construction watchdog.

* Liberal MP Kevin Andrews, who was behind the 1997 law to ban territories' rights on euthanasia, says he's been assured the House won't debate it.

* Leyonhjelm is confident there is enough support for the bill to pass the Senate.
Victoria's environmental watchdog has noted growing support for the development of a waste-to-energy plant.

The Environment Protection Authority is considering an application from a Latrobe Valley paper mill to burn waste as a fuel to produce steam for direct use in the mill or to drive a turbine that could add electricity to the grid.

In a report released on Tuesday the authority's chairperson said submissions from more than 100 stakeholders have indicated significant support for the proposal, which uses technology already operating safely overseas and prevents waste going to landfill.
Two brothers have pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the death of a man during a violent brawl at Mount Gambier.

Jordon and Dominic Von Stanke, who were originally charged with murder, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday over the death of Rex Court last year.

Prosecutors previously alleged the duo threw Mr Court to the ground, where they fatally kicked and stomped him.

The brothers maintained the killing was not murder, and they acted in self-defence.

A 15-year-old boy was initially also charged with murder, but that charge was dropped in the youth court.

He last week pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious harm to Anthony Wilson - a friend of Mr Court's - during the brawl.

The Von Stanke brothers' bail was continued and they will next face court in October.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia made the request during his working session with the Steering Committee and the Organising Committee of the exchange programme, in Hanoi, on August 13.

At the event, the agencies and units concerned reported on the implementation progress to prepare the third border friendship exchange programme 2018 as per the defined plan.

The programme is scheduled to take place from August 23 to 26, with the delegates representing the border protection forces of six countries Vietnam, China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

In particular, the cultural exchange programme will be held in Hanoi on August 25 and will be broadcast live on VTV1 channel of Vietnam Television.

The programme is expected to offer a golden opportunity for the border guards from the six countries to share experience and initiatives in border defence, management, and construction.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott says the explanation given about how the National Energy Guarantee will bring down prices is "merchant bankers' gobbledegook".

Mr Abbott said in a statement after a coalition partyroom meeting on Tuesday there were at least four government MPs who could cross the floor on legislation and at least a dozen who have "serious concerns" about the policy proposed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull - a former merchant banker.

"Unfortunately, most explanations of how the NEG (as it stands without price targets) might theoretically get prices down sound like merchant bankers' gobbledegook," he said.
Sydney Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa has declared himself ready to resume his role as forward pack leader in the absence of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for the next month.

Waerea-Hargreaves was on Monday ruled out for up to week one of the NRL finals after breaking his ribs in Friday's win over South Sydney, paving the way for Napa to step up.

"It's really tough to lose him but there's been plenty of games where we've played without Jared. We might be a man down, but it's next man up," Napa told AAP on Tuesday.
WHAT SENATORS ARE SAYING IN THE TERRITORIES' RIGHTS ON EUTHANASAIA DEBATE

FOR:

"We would not subject animals to the agony and pain that victims of mesothelioma go through after they contract that disease." - Labor's Doug Cameron

"Both of my grandmas passed away after long struggles with dementia. These experiences have certainly shaped my own views about the end of life and the way we support those who are dying." - Labor's Jenny McAllister

"This decision-making power should be rightfully returned to the legislatures in the territories." Labor's Kristina Keneally

"I have faith that none of us, no matter or upbringing or faith, desire to see people and particularly those close to us suffer a distressing death." - Centre Alliance's Stirling Griff

"How on earth we cannot allow people to end their lives with dignity and grace is beyond me." - Greens' Sarah Hanson-Young

AGAINST:

"I believe where there is life there is hope." - Nationals' John Williams

"We can have no confidence that we are producing legislation that ensures adequate safeguards for Australians who elect to end their own life." - Liberal Jane Hume

"It shows a complete disregard of the general basic ethical foundation of our society where every single life is valued." - Liberal Eric Abetz
A crossbench senator has called on the government to scrap the GST on breastfeeding aids, on the back of a pledge to end the tax on tampons and sanitary pads.

The Liberal Democrats' David Leyonhjelm won support for a motion in the Senate on Tuesday labelling the aids an essential healthcare product for many mothers and babies.

Government minister James McGrath said there were no plans to scrap the GST on breastfeeding products.

"A change to the rate or base of GST would need to be supported by all the states and territories," Senator McGrath told parliament.

But Senator Leyonhjelm's motion noted the health minister could give health products GST-free status.

He pointed out that it had been done previously with incontinence pads, condoms, lubricants and nicotine patches.

The Turnbull government announced earlier in the month it would move to scrap the tax on tampons.

The change in heart came after years of lobbying from advocates pointing to items like condoms and lubricants already being exempt.
South Sydney have opted to keep skipper Greg Inglis on ice for one more week as he continues to recover from a broken thumb.

Dane Gagai will start at fullback to take on Brisbane on Thursday after Alex Johnston suffered a hamstring injury in last week's loss to the Sydney Roosters.

In other team news, Jordan Kahu returns for the Broncos; Penrith utility Tyrone May will start at five-eighth against Newcastle and Kurt Mann is also to don the No.6 jumper for St George Illawarra's clash with Wests Tigers.
HOW THE IPSWICH CITY COUNCIL SPIRALLED INTO A CORRUPTION CRISIS

2017

June 6 - Mayor Paul Pisasale resigns for health reasons, a day after his office is raided by the Crime and Corruption Commission, and less than a month after he is stopped at Melbourne Airport carrying $50,000 in a bag.

June 20 - Pisasale is charged with extortion and other offences.

July 20 - Solicitor Cameron McKenzie is charged with extortion over his alleged involvement in an incident connected to Pisasale.

August 24 - Former policeman Andrew Antoniolli announced as the new mayor after the August 19 election.

August 31 - Barrister Sam Di Carlo is charged with perjury, drugs and ammunition offences. It is alleged he lied to the CCC during an investigation.

September 13 - Council official Craig Maudsley is charged with misconduct in public office.

September 14 - Chief executive officer Jim Lindsay is charged with corruption, disobedience to statute law and disclosure of a confidential document.

October 5 - Former long-time CEO Carl Wulff, who resigned in 2013, and his wife Sharon Oxenbridge are charged.

2018

January - Lindsay resigns as CEO four months after he was charged.

May 1 - Council employee Sean Madigan is appointed chief executive officer.

May 2 - Mayor Andrew Antoniolli is charged by the CCC with seven counts of fraud linked to using council funds to buy goods off charitable organisations.

May 3 - Mr Antoniolli stands down as mayor, with Deputy Mayor Wayne Wendt to act in the role. The Queensland government then announces it will appoint an administrator at the council.

May 17 - The Queensland government passes legislation granting the local government minister authority dismiss or suspend elected council officials charged with corruption or integrity offences or where it is deemed in the public interest.

June 20 - Ipswich City Council is issued with a second notice to show cause why it should not be sacked.

June 27 - The council lodges a request with the Brisbane Supreme Court to overturn the second notice, arguing Mr Hinchliffe does not have the rule to dismiss or suspend elected officials.

July 9 - The Queensland government announces it will introduce special legislation to sack the council.

August 14 - The Crime and Corruption Commission releases a report of its investigation into the council revealing damning details about its toxic culture and the working conditions faced by staff.
Getting the National Energy Guarantee through the coalition party room was a delicate balancing act for Malcolm Turnbull.

His tightrope walk isn't over.

First he has to get the states onboard, and keep them there, without promising them ambitious renewable energy targets his backbench will hate.

The prime minister also has to keep the right wing of his party happy, which might mean annoying the states with promises on coal or keeping prices down.

And Turnbull has to negotiate with Labor, who are balancing whether to kill off the policy or avoid being the scapegoat for higher power bills.

In a nutshell, there is a reason energy policy has been a complete mess in Australia for more than 10 years.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott is willing to vote against his own party, and the number of MPs he brings with him will be key to Turnbull's success or failure.

Abbott claims a dozen MPs are unhappy with the guarantee, and if they all cross the floor the temptation for Labor to kill the bill will be strong.

But then Bill Shorten will have to decide whether fighting an election on energy policy is a battle he thinks he can win, after the pain Labor has suffered before on that front.

It's a delicate business trying to end a decade of the climate wars, and Turnbull has very little room to make a mistake.
Graduates and students will have to start forking out for student loan repayments when their earnings hit $45,000 when changes begin next July.

As part of the Turnbull government's push to cut tertiary education spending, the loan repayment threshold will be reduce from $55,000.

The borrowing limit will also be capped at $104,440, or $150,000 for medicine, dentistry and vet sciences students, under the new legislation.

It passed the Senate on Monday night and amendments to introduce the new start date of July 1, 2019, were passed by the lower house on Tuesday.

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek says the changes will hit people in lower paid jobs hard, while women will be hit disproportionately.

"Investment in education doesn't just benefit the individuals who receive the education, it benefits our nation," she said.

Amendments to remove loan fees were also approved.
Queensland crossbench senator Fraser Anning has laid out a radical immigration agenda, calling for a "final solution" plebiscite on which migrants come to Australia.

The Katter's Australia Party upper house MP called for an end to Muslim immigration and a program that favours "European Christian" values.

He claimed a majority of Australian Muslims do not work and live on welfare, in his maiden speech to parliament on Tuesday.

"While all Muslims are not terrorists, certainly all terrorists these days are Muslims," Senator Anning said.

"So why would anyone want to bring more of them here?"

He called for the government to ban all welfare payments to migrants in the first five years of living in Australia, labelling many asylum seekers as "welfare seekers".

Senator Anning also wants a plebiscite on who comes to the country to allow people to decide whether they want "wholesale non-English speaking immigrants from the third world".

"The final solution to the immigration problem is of course a popular vote," he said.

He said Australia was entitled to insist migrants were predominantly of the "historic European Christian composition".

"Ethno-cultural diversity - which is known to undermine social cohesion - has been allowed to rise to dangerous levels in many suburbs," the Queensland senator said.

"In direct response, self-segregation, including white flight from poorer inner-urban areas, has become the norm."

Senator Anning called for a cultural counter-revolution to restore traditional values and redefine national identity.

He said anyone persuaded to advocate the "false claim" there was an infinite number of genders had surrendered their political soul.

"To describe the so-called safe schools and gender fluidity garbage being peddled in schools as cultural Marxism is not a throw-away line, but a literal truth," Senator Anning said.

Senator Anning, who entered parliament under the One Nation banner, took a dig at his one-time leader, Pauline Hanson.

He says loyalty isn't a one way street in Bob Katter's party and leadership is more than a cardboard cutout, a reference to Senator Hanson's representation in the Longman by-election.

The 68-year-old outlined plans to boost agriculture through re-establishing rural state banks and re-establishment of marketing of farm goods through grower co-operatives.

Other issues he noted were countering the growing threat of China, slashing government spending, building coal-fired power plants and taking back culture from left-wing extremists.

Senator Anning said Joh Bjelke-Petersen's reign as Queensland premier was the state's "golden age".
A century-old motorcycle numberplate worth up to $1 million has sparked a turf war among investors and superannuation funds as it goes on public sale for the first time in 80 years.

The historic NSW motorcycle number plate "1" is expected to net its anonymous owner between $500,000 and $1 million.

"It is without a doubt the most valuable, impressive and sought-after motorcycle plate in Australia," numberplates.com.au director Steven Hantos said.

The single-digit plate has rarely changed hands and has gone on public sale even fewer times.

First owned by Honda motorcycle importers Bennett and Wood in 1918, it was sold to Honda's general manager in 1935.

It was then transferred in 1978 to a family in the NSW Southern Highlands region, who was attached to an Italian-built MV Agusta Motorcycle, before ending up in the hands of the current, secret owner.

The market for historic plates has grown in the past decade with the oldest, single-digit plates returning the highest return for investors.

The NSW "4" car plate set an Australian record when it was sold at auction for $2.45 million in 2017.
Addressing the meeting, Vinh underscored that 2018 marks an important milestone in the Vietnam-Australia relations, with a joint statement on the establishment of a strategic partnership and the celebration of 45 years of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations and 20 years of their defence ties.

Defence cooperation has been accelerated by the two countries, with significant outcomes generated, thus meeting the interests of both sides, he said.

The official stated that the two defence ministries are currently making active preparations for the official visit to Australia by Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, deputy secretary of the Central Military Commission and Vietnamese Minister of Defence, later this year.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh (R) presents a souvenir to the Australian defence official. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Vinh took the occasion to thank the Australian Department of Defence for its support to the Vietnamese side in the fields of English skills improvement, expertise training and capacity building for Vietnams peacekeeping forces.

He called on the two sides to continue to boost their bilateral defence cooperation in a substantive and effective fashion, focusing on the exchange of delegations, consultation/dialogue mechanisms at various levels, education and training, participation in UN peacekeeping operations, and the settlement of consequences left-over by the war.

For his part, Stephen Moore agreed with Vinhs view on the directions for their bilateral defence cooperation in the future, while affirming that, in his position, he will continue to make active contributions to the development of the relations between Vietnam and Australia as a whole and between the two countries armies in particular.
A future Labor government will consider cracking down on overseas tax havens after the Turnbull government left it out of its own reforms.

Australia has adopted all but two multinational tax avoidance measures proposed by the G20 group of nations, leaving the optional article on tax havens to one side for now.

Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh told parliament on Tuesday he was "particularly concerned" by the Turnbull government's decision not to adopt that article and not giving a clear indication as to the reason for their decision.

He said a future Labor government would use Treasury's resources to examine the ramifications of not adopting it and revisit the idea.

Mr Leigh made the comments while backing the government's wider tax avoidance changes, which passed parliament's lower house on Tuesday night.

The changes, which will now go before the Senate, would prevent companies fragmenting entities or splitting contracts to avoid having a permanent taxable presence in Australia, or one of Australia's 35 tax treaty partners.

Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer said the proposal would complement other tax avoidance measures and bring Australia in line with international best practice.
Former Melbourne school principal accused of child sex crimes, Malka Leifer, is fit to face an extradition hearing in Israel.

Jerusalem's chief psychiatrist recommended to an Israeli court on Tuesday that Leifer was fit for the hearing, the ABC reports.

'Big sigh of relief!' Dassi Erlich, who has accused Leifer of abusing her, posted on her Facebook page.

Former Melbourne school principal accused of child sex crimes, Malka Leifer (pictured, right), has been deemed fit to face an extradition hearing in Israel

Ms Leifer fled to Israel in 2008 and has been fighting extradition since 2014. She is wanted on 74 counts of child sex abuse

'It's been 4 years since she has been arrested, it is time to finally have an extradition trial!'

Dassi Erlich and her two sisters Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper allege they were sexually abused by Ms Leifer at Melbourne's ultra-orthodox Jewish Adass Israel Girls School between 2003 and 2006.

Victorian police want to bring the 54-year-old, who was arrested in Israel in February, back to Australia to face 74 charges of child sexual abuse.

Ms Leifer was captured in more than 200 hours of footage visiting shops and socialising with others in Immanuel, Israel, despite claims that she was unable to communicate and mentally unfit to stand trial.

'She was claiming that she was, in the lawyer's words in Israel, a ''sack of potatoes''. She was claiming that she wasn't able to understand what was going on, she wasn't able to have basic human interactions; she needed a carer for her daily living,' Dassi Elrich said.

Alleged victim of the sex crimes, Dassi Erlich, shared the news on her Facebook page: 'Dassi Erlich; Beyond a Survivor'

A water bottle with a camera inside was used to film Ms Leifer in part an investigation that was carried out by anti-child abuse organisation Jewish Community Watch.

The footage led to Ms Leifer's arrest after it was given to Israeli police in February.

The accused paedophile and mother of eight was filmed speaking on the phone, catching the bus, shopping and buying toys for her grandchildren.

She will next appear in court on November 14, when it is expected Leifer's lawyers will challenge two reports that recommend she stand for the hearing.

Ms Leifer is currently being held in an Israeli high security women's prison.

Nicole Meyer (pictured), the sister of Dassi Erlich, claims Ms Leifer - a mother of eight - sexually abused her while she was a student
People who share revenge porn could spend up to seven years in prison under new laws cracking down on "online creeps".

Fines of up to $525,000 for corporations and $105,000 for individuals would be levied on those who share intimate images of people without their consent, under the government's proposed changes.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says the laws are aimed at protecting victims and send a strong message about such behaviour.

"The non-consensual sharing of intimate images is unacceptable in our society," he said in a statement.

"The Turnbull government is cracking down on online creeps who want to cause harm, distress, humiliate or embarrass their victims."

After passing the Senate in February, the laws will be introduced to the lower house on Wednesday with amendments creating two new offences for perpetrators.

One would carry a maximum jail term of five years, while repeat offenders could spend up to seven years behind bars.

The amendments have replaced those made by Centre Alliance in the Senate, to now include new criminal provisions to allow the legislation to better fit with existing state and territory laws.

The changes would give extra powers for the eSafety Commissioner, whose office would be the point of call for those who want to make complaints.

The commissioner could also facilitate the removal of images of people who initially gave their consent for them to be shared, but have since changed their mind.

The developments come after research by the eSafety office revealed one-in-five Australians have had intimate images or videos of themselves shared without their permission.

The office had received 119 inquiries about image-based abuse as of early June, and 241 reports about images that were available across 385 websites.

Images were of women 79 per cent of the time while in more than one in three cases the victims was under 18 when the pictures were taken.
Today in History, August 15

August 15: Highlights in history on this date, famous birthdays and a thought for the day.

HIGHLIGHTS IN HISTORY ON THIS DATE:

1834 - South Australia Act is passed by Britain's Parliament, allowing for establishment of colony there.

1844 - Charles Sturt leaves Adelaide but returns two years later without having found in his search an inland sea or arable land.

1903 - New Zealand wins first rugby union test against Australia, 22-3.

1907 - Members of Australia's federal parliament vote themselves their first pay rise, of 50 per cent.

1945 - Millions worldwide celebrate the end of World War II with Victory over Japan Day after the Asian nation's surrender a day earlier.

1947 - After 200 years, India becomes independent from British rule with Jawaharlal Nehru as prime minister.

1948 - South Korea becomes independent and is formally proclaimed as the Republic of Korea, with Syngman Rhee as its first president.

1960 - Republic of the Congo is proclaimed an independent nation.

1961 - East German workers begin to build Berlin Wall.

1969 - Arab saboteurs blow up an oil pipeline in Israeli city Haifa.

1990 - Saddam Hussein offers to withdraw from Iranian territory and release prisoners of war in a bid to win favour with Tehran against United States.

1991 - UN Security Council authorises Iraq to export $US1.6 billion of oil to finance desperately needed food, medicine and emergency supplies.

1995 - Fifty years after World War II ended in the Pacific, Japan makes its first clear-cut apology for the country's war-time actions.

1998 - A car bomb blast in Omagh, Northern Ireland, kills 29 people in the worst single attack in nearly 30 years of violence.

2000 - A group of 100 separated family members from North Korea arrive in South Korea for temporary reunions with relatives they have not seen for half a century.

2001 - The death toll in the ambush of a refugee train by Angolan rebels rises to 252 after rescue workers identify 100 more bodies.

2004 - Pope John Paul II struggles through Sunday Mass at a French shrine that draws desperate people seeking miracle cures.

2005 - Indonesia and rebels from Aceh sign a peace deal in Helsinki aimed at ending one of Asia's longest-running conflicts, which cost more than 12,000 lives in nearly three decades of fighting.

2006 - The British Defence Ministry says more than 300 British soldiers who were executed by the military for cowardice during World War I will be pardoned.

2007 - India celebrates the 60th anniversary of its independence from British rule a day after Pakistan celebrates.

2008 - Leftist Fernando Lugo becomes Paraguay's president, ending six decades of one-party rule.

2009 - A fire set by an arsonist at a wedding tent kills at least 41 women and children guests in Kuwait City and injures 76.

2012 - A painting by Australian artist Arthur Boyd titled Bride Running Away fetches a record price of $1.68 million at auction in Melbourne; Commonwealth Bank sets a record for an Australian bank with a $7.09 billion net profit for the year to June 30.

2013 - The death toll of ousted Egyptian President Morsi's supporters soars past 600 in the country's deadliest day since the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat ruler Hosni Mubarak.

2014 - Medical charity MSF warns the Ebola outbreak is moving faster than aid organisations can handle, with more than 1000 deaths so far declared in west Africa.

2015 - Salim Mehajer, deputy mayor of Auburn in western Sydney, marries Aysha Learmonth in a lavish wedding that includes four helicopters and a fleet of cars that literally stops traffic.

2016 - Some of NSW's most senior officers give evidence at the inquest into the 2014 Sydney Lindt Cafe siege that claimed the lives of cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson.

2017 - Australia's ongoing political citizenship crisis sparks a diplomatic brawl between Australia and New Zealand after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she would find it had to trust a NZ Labor government if they had any role in undermining the Turnbull government by investigating Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's citizenship.

Today's Birthdays:

Napoleon Bonaparte, French emperor (1769-1821); Sir Walter Scott, Scottish novelist-poet (1771-1832); Ethel Barrymore, US actress (1879-1959); Jacques Ibert, French composer (1890-1962); Julia Child, US author-cook (1912-2004); Robert Bolt, British playwright, screenwriter and director (1924-1995); Oscar Peterson, Canadian jazz pianist (1925-2007); Mike Connors, US actor (1925- 2017); Abby Dalton, US actor (1935-); Princess Anne (1950-); Tess Harper, US actor (1950-); Stieg Larsson, Swedish author (1954-2004); Debra Messing, US actress (Will and Grace) (1968-); Ben Affleck, US actor (1972-); Waleed Aly, Australian writer, academic and TV presenter (1978-); Jennifer Lawrence, American actress (1990-).

Thought For Today:

We must not read either law or history backward - Helen Cam, English historian and educator (1885-1968).
A trailblazing Muslim MP says better awareness of the sustained racist abuse some endure could help parliaments look more like Australia's streets and suburbs.

Mehreen Faruqi addressed the NSW upper house for the final time on Tuesday evening, telling colleagues she'd been subjected to "toxic, racist and sexist trolling" in her five years in parliament.

Dr Faruqi became the first Muslim woman elected to an Australian parliament in 2013 and will soon become the nation's first female Muslim senator.

Her valedictory speech coincidentally came minutes after future colleague Fraser Anning claimed during his maiden speech in the Senate that most Australian Muslims live on welfare and all Muslim immigration should end.

Pakistan-born Dr Faruqi thanked the Greens and the NSW community for the trust they had placed in a "migrant, Muslim woman with an accent" in getting her to parliament.

But she noted constant abuse was directed her way "not because of what I'm doing but because of who I am, where I come from and the colour of my skin.

"No matter how much I brush it aside, it does take its toll," she said.

She urged all to be more aware of the sustained abuse "some of us" have to weather.

"This might go some way to helping encourage others like me to put their hand up and make this chamber look a bit more like the streets and suburbs of the country we live in," Dr Faruqi said.

"It troubles me that ordinary citizens in a democratic society feel disempowered to pursue political positions.

"This must change.

"Those of us that are already here are responsible for behaving in a manner that encourages people to make the same journey as us, no matter where they come from, their economic capacity, social standing, the colour of their skin, their religion, sexuality or gender identity."

Dr Faruqi, a civil engineer by training, also spoke of the frustration of seeing evidence-backed policy discarded to satisfy a narrow political agenda, citing the flow of public money to the gambling industry and "cruel greyhound racing" among numerous examples.

She will take up the Greens' sole NSW Senate seat after the resignation of Lee Rhiannon.
An 84-year-old Australian human rights activist who spent six nights detained at an international airport in the Philippines is due to arrive in Sydney.

NSW professor Gill Boehringer will arrive on Wednesday morning after flying from Manila via the Chinese city of Guangzhou on Tuesday.

The elderly man was barred from entering the Philippines on August 8 after being placed on the Bureau of Immigration's blacklist for attending a rally in the country three years ago.

He spent nearly a week in Manila's international airport after being unable to pass immigration control and not being allowed to fly back with China Southern Airlines.

His lawyer Maria Sol Taule said her client, who is suffering from deep vein thrombosis and cellulitis in both legs, boarded the fight without medical clearance.

She applied to the Bureau of Immigration to allow him to stay in the country on medical grounds and requested that a medical expert from outside the airport assess him, but this was denied.

"We are very frustrated by Prof Gill Boehringer's arbitrary and whimsical inclusion in the blacklist order. It has no basis at all," she told AAP on Tuesday.

"Prof Boehringer is a lawyer and active human rights advocate and this attack against him by Philippine government apparatuses is unacceptable."

The US-born academic said the bureau incorrectly believes he participated in a rally three years ago and insisted his work in the Philippines was based on supporting education and protecting human rights.
The prime minister has assured a woman who became legally blind after contracting meningococcal B two decades ago he's raising Australian doctors' awareness of the deadly disease.

Tasmanian Erica Burleigh, 34, met Malcolm Turnbull and Health Minister Greg Hunt in Canberra on Tuesday, about four weeks after a 16-year old died from the disease in her home state.

The death prompted Ms Burleigh and her friend Kacee Johnstone to launch a campaign for free meningococcal B vaccines and better education on the condition for GPs and the public.

"I said we need to do something," she told AAP.

But as Mr Turnbull told parliament ahead of his meeting with the 34-year-old, the government can't make the vaccine free off its own bat.

To be listed on the the National Immunisation Program, which makes vaccines available free to Australians at various ages, it must be recommended by an expert committee.

Mr Turnbull has urged a company that makes the life-saving vaccine to make another attempt at becoming listed, which would mean it receives government subsidies.

GlaxoSmithKline has so far made three attempts to have its meningococcal B vaccine put on the program, with the most recent being in mid-2015.

Ms Burleigh said she is interested in speaking with GSK about whether it intends to make another application.

Despite that hurdle, Ms Burleigh said she was pleased the government was working with peak health groups to roll out a program to help educate doctors about meningococcal.

She said the 16-year-old's death in July had made her feel like little had changed since a doctor told her she had the flu when she was 17.

Ms Burleigh was in a coma five hours later and legally blind three days after that.
From the assisted suicide of a father to the tragic death of another senator's fiancee, federal politicians have weighed in on an emotional parliamentary debate.

Crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm's private bill to lift a 1997 ban on the ACT and Northern Territory legislating on euthanasia will again be top priority in the upper house on Wednesday.

Senator Leyonhjelm is confident of having the numbers to progress the bill through the Senate, but it appears unlikely to be voted on in the lower house.

Debate kicked off on Tuesday, with senators remembering deaths of terminally ill loved ones.

Greens senator Nick McKim said his father died by euthanasia in a Tasmanian palliative care ward last year.

"I thanked the medical professionals profoundly from the bottom of my heart for killing my father," Senator McKim told parliament.

"He wanted it, he was lucid, he was rational and it was the right thing to do based on compassion and humanity."

One Nation's Peter Georgiou said with a heavy heart he couldn't support the bill despite his own heartbreaking experience.

In 2003, his fiancee died after battling a rare form of cancer for several years.

"She took her last breath and found her peace. Witnessing this was by far the most gut-wrenching and painful experience of my life," Senator Georgiou said.

He'd prefer to see palliative care improved than assisted suicide legalised, noting concerns about safeguards in euthanasia laws.

ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja is a staunch opponent of the bill.

"The passage of this bill will inevitably lead to assisted suicide in the ACT and almost certainly with minimal safeguards," he said.

ACT Labor's David Smith opposes voluntary euthanasia, citing risks for the vulnerable but will back Senator Leyonhjelm's legislation because he supports territories' rights.

Labor's Senate leader Penny Wong said Kevin Andrews' 1997 bill had created two classes of citizens across states and territories.

She's supporting Senator Leyonhjelm's legislation but her partyroom colleague Pat Dodson will vote against it.
Katter's Australia Party senator Fraser Anning has dismissed "ridiculous" criticism for using the term "final solution" in his maiden speech.

The Queensland senator spoke out against fierce criticism of using the term which has been historically associated with the Nazi plan in World War II to kill millions of Jews.

In the speech, Senator Anning called for a plebiscite on which migrants can come to Australia.

"The final solution to the immigration problem is of course a popular vote," he said.

But after senior Labor frontbenchers Tony Burke and Chris Bowen attacked the speech, Senator Anning responded by saying people on the left were trying to shut down immigration debate.

"Claims that the words meant anything other than the ultimate solution to any political question is always a popular vote are simply ridiculous," Senator Anning said in a statement.

"Anyone who actually reads them in context will realise this."

Greens leader Richard Di Natale called the speech racist and bigoted for using the phrase "final solution".

"Fraser Anning's vile comments in the Senate today were absolutely beyond the pale and if he has a shred of decency, he will immediately apologise," Senator Di Natale said.

Senator Anning said it was ironic to be criticised by the same politicians who voted against his pro-Israel stances on funding the Palestinian Authority and moving Australia's embassy to Jerusalem.

He also wants to ban Muslims from migrating to Australia.

"While all Muslims are not terrorists, certainly all terrorists these days are Muslims," he said.

"So why would anyone want to bring more of them here?"
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull managed to get his signature energy policy through his party room but now he could have a fight on his hands to get it through parliament.

Up to a dozen coalition members have identified concerns with the plan.

Tony Abbott, George Christensen and Andrew Hastie have reserved their right to cross the floor and vote against the policy.

Others publicly raising issues include Craig Kelly, Tony Pasin, Eric Abetz, Barry O'Sullivan, Kevin Andrews and Andrew Gee, while Barnaby Joyce has signalled specific amendments he wants to see.

With a tight majority in the lower house, questions are being raised about whether the policy can make it over its next hurdle.

Commonwealth legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament before the end of next week.

ACT Energy Minister Shane Rattenbury questioned whether the government could get it through, saying the final outcome could come down to how the federal Labor votes.

If the opposition sides with the government, the bill will move to the Senate but if not the outcome will depend on the coalition's final numbers in the lower house.

"A handful (of coalition MPs) indicated they may cross the floor and given the relatively close numbers, it does beg the question," Mr Rattenbury told AAP.

After Mr Turnbull secured party room support for the plan, state and territory ministers agreed in a phone hook-up on Tuesday night to put draft state legislation out for consultation from Wednesday morning.

Ahead of the call they were given copies of the commonwealth legislation, which Mr Rattenbury said had raised further concerns around the emissions reduction target.

It has been a consistent issue for the ACT, Victoria and Queensland governments, who have so far refused to give their support for the energy plan.

The draft laws would exclude Western Australia and the Northern Territory from the whole scheme, including the emissions reduction target rather than just the reliability requirement as had been previously thought.

Mr Rattenbury also raised concerns about an apparent lack of willingness by the federal government to negotiate with them.

He said it would be a "far more fertile strategy" for Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg to start talking to states and territories about their issues than to deal with the "hardcore of his backbench".

"We will reach a point of political stalemate," he warned.
The event aimed to honour the great contributions of the late leader to the revolutionary cause of the Party as well as the building of great national unity bloc.

Ton Duc Thang was born on August 20, 1888 into a peasant family in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. He was one of the first leaders of the Vietnamese workers movement in the early 20th century.

During his life, he always held the Partys ideology in high regard and overcame difficulties despite his detainment in prison and the atrocities of war in order to achieve national liberation.

Speaking at the get-together, President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man affirmed that President Ton Duc Thang was a loyal communist who devoted all his life to the revolution and the nation.

He was an eminent leader of the Party, State and the VFF, and an example for us and next generations to follow, Man stressed.

From President Thangs example, the VFF committees at all levels will continue stepping up emulation movements in study and production, as well as regularly take care of policy beneficiary families, poor households and those affected by natural disasters.

They will also actively engage in combating corruption and wastefulness, building the pure and strong Party and administration, increasing social consensus, and joining Party and State efforts to fulfill socio-economic development targets and ensure social security, the VFF leader said.
Two men have been accused of staging accidents to lodge false claims as part of an insurance scam in Sydney.

A 28-year-old man and a 50-year-old man were arrested after police raids on smash repairers at Concord West, Greenacre and Homebush West, and a home unit at Strathfield on Tuesday morning.

Police allege the men were involved in staging or fabricating crashes in order to lodge fraudulent claims against the compulsory third party or other insurance schemes. Both men were granted bail and are due to appear at Burwood Local Court on September 10.
Firefighters are searching into the night for survivors and bodies amid the rubble of a motorway bridge that collapsed in the northern Italian port city of Genoa, killing dozens.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte called Tuesday morning's bridge collapse "an immense tragedy ... inconceivable in a modern system like ours, a modern country."

There was confusion over the death toll, with officials in the Liguria region saying 26 had died while fire brigade sources said at least 35 were killed.

Sixteen people are believed injured.

The disaster, on a major interchange connecting Genoa and other northern cities with beaches in eastern Liguria into France, focused attention on Italy's aging infrastructure, particularly its concrete bridges and viaducts built in the postwar boom of the 1950s and 1960s.

What caused the Morandi Bridge to fall remained unknown, and prosecutors said they were opening an investigation but had not identified any targets.

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the collapse was "unacceptable" and that if negligence played a role "whoever made a mistake must pay."

Early speculation focused on the structural weakness of the span.

Witnesses reported hearing a roar as the 45-metre bridge collapsed in a torrential rain during midday traffic on the eve of a major holiday that sees most Italians abandoning cities for beaches and mountains.

One unidentified woman who was standing below told RAI state TV that it crumbled as if it were a mound of baking flour. Video of the collapse, showing a misty scene of crumbled concrete, captured a man screaming: "Oh, God! Oh, God!"

Civil protection authorities said at least 30 cars and three heavy vehicles were on the 80-metre section of the span that collapsed in the industrial area of warehouses.

A man who was standing under the bridge in front of his truck at the time of the collapse called it "a miracle" that he survived. The middle-aged man, who did not give his name, said the shock wave sent him flying over 10 metres into a wall, injuring his right shoulder and hip.

"I was in front of the truck and flew away, like everything else. Yes, I think it's a miracle. I don't know what to say. I'm out of words," he said, walking away from the site.

More than 300 rescue workers and canine crews were on the scene. They used heavy equipment and dogs to search for survivors in the rubble. At least four people were pulled alive from vehicles under the bridge, ANSA reported.

"Operations are ongoing to extract people imprisoned below parts of the bridge and twisted metal," said Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy's civil protection agency.

Officials evacuated several hundred people living along the raised highway that traverses the city as a precaution.

The effort would continue into the night.

"It is a bit like working on an earthquake," said firefighters spokesman Luca Cari. "The main difficulty is removing the rubble and safeguarding the rescue teams."
Former Australian archbishop Philip Wilson (C) became one of the highest-ranked church officials convicted of covering up child sex abuse when he was found guilty in May of concealing crimes by priest Jim Fletcher

A former Australian archbishop convicted of concealing abuse by a notorious paedophile priest in the 1970s was confronted by enraged victims outside a courthouse Tuesday after a judge spared him jail and ordered he serve his sentence at home.

Philip Wilson became one of the highest-ranked church officials convicted of covering up child sex abuse when he was found guilty in May of concealing crimes by priest Jim Fletcher in the Hunter region of New South Wales state.

The Newcastle Local Court sentenced the 67-year-old to 12 months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of six months, but also ordered that he be assessed to serve it in home detention.

Wilson had since been on bail and on Tuesday magistrate Robert Stone decided he will not need to spend time behind bars, with his age and prior good record taken into account.

But he will have to wear a tracking device while serving his sentence.

Wilson said nothing as he left the court, where he was mobbed by abuse survivors and members of the media.

Peter Gogarty, one of Fletcher's victims, asked Wilson to apologise, but the cleric stayed silent.

"Any words for me, Philip? Philip will you say sorry for what you have done to me and other child sex abuse survivors?," he yelled. "Philip, please, something ... one word of contrition."

One of Wilson's supporters asked Gogarty why he did not come forward 40 years ago.

A fuming Gogarty called him "a pig, a typical Catholic", to which the Wilson aide replied: "I don't have time for rubbish like you, mate."

Another Fletcher victim Daniel Feenan also criticised Wilson for failing to say sorry.

"I'd like to see him show some type of remorse and I'd like to see him apologise," he told the Newcastle Herald.

- In our prayers -

Wilson resigned as Archbishop of Adelaide last month soon after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on the Vatican to sack him. He remains an ordained bishop but has no official role.

He has long denied the charges and initially resisted calls to quit pending an appeal against his conviction.

Stone found him guilty of concealing a serious indictable offence of another person, concluding his primary motive was to protect the church.

During sentencing Stone added that "there is no remorse or contrition showed by the offender".

Wilson's conviction comes amid a host of accusations that the Catholic Church ignored and covered up child abuse in Australia, charges that have also plagued other countries.

There was no dispute during the trial that Fletcher, who is now dead, sexually abused an altar boy, with the hearing focused on whether Wilson, then a junior priest, was told about it.

In a brief statement, Bishop Greg O'Kelly, who is running the Adelaide archdiocese until a new archbishop is appointed, said Wilson was "in his prayers as he formally commences this stage in his life, while also remembering the victims and survivors of abuse in the Church".

Wilson served as a priest in New South Wales before Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Wollongong in 1996. Five years later he became the Archbishop of Adelaide.
SpaceX has vowed to send its first astronauts into orbit on schedule next year as part of a plan to restore America's dominance in the space race.

Gwynne Shotwell, president of the aerospace manufacturing company, said an unmanned flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in November would pave the way for SpaceX's first manned mission in April 2019.

'Predicting launch dates could make a liar out of the best of us. I hope I am not proven to be a liar on this one,' she told journalists during a briefing in Los Angeles.

The pledge from the firm, which is spearheaded by multi-billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is in stark contrast to an independent report from the US government.

The government report, published in July, claimed it was highly unlikely SpaceX would be able to send astronauts to the ISS next year.

However, SpaceX president Ms Shotwell said the mission is scheduled to go ahead as planned as soon as SpaceX was 'ready to fly these folks safely.'

The news comes at SpaceX held a secret conference in Colorado called the 'Mars Workshop' to formulate a plan to land people on Mars and build an outpost on the planet.

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Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, said an unmanned flight to the International Space Station in November would pave the way for a manned mission in April 2019 and the mission is on schedule

Nasa awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 as part of its commercial crew program, which aims to help private industry build spaceships for low-Earth orbit.

On August 3, the agency named the first nine astronauts who will fly to space in Boeing and SpaceX vehicles in 2019 - a mix of novices and veterans.

Those named for the SpaceX test crew include shuttle veterans Bob Behnken, Michael Hopkins and Douglas Hurley, alongside naval aviator Victor Glover, a novice to spaceflight.

The flights to the ISS will be the first time flights to put people into orbit have left US soil since the iconic space shuttle program ended in 2011.

For seven years, Nasa astronauts have hitched rides to the orbiting outpost on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft  at a cost of $80 million a seat.

During a media briefing about SpaceX's plans, president MsShotwell said the manned mission will go ahead as soon as SpaceX is 'ready to fly these folks safely.'

'Next in line we want to make sure not only that we get these folks up and back safely but that that's reliable and a mission that we conclude,' she added.

'We want to hit all the boxes do everything we need to do, to demonstrate that this vehicle is capable of taking astronauts up from US soil as often as Nasa will allow us.'

WHO ARE THE NINE ASTRONAUTS GOING TO SPACE NEXT YEAR ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT? On August 3, Nasa named the first nine astronauts who will fly to space on Boeing and SpaceX vehicles in 2019 - a mix of novices and veterans. These are: Robert 'Bob' Behnken, 48 SpaceX Crew Dragon test crew member Is a U.S. Air Force colonel Was chief of the Astronaut Office, the highest leadership role Has a bachelor's physics and mechanical Engineering from Washington University and a master's and doctorate in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology Eric Boe, 53 Boeing Starliner test crew member Born in Miami Is a U.S. Air Force colonel and member of the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Has a bachelor's in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and a master's in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology Enjoys outdoor sports, reading, scuba diving, and skiing Josh Cassada, 45 Boeing Starliner first mission member Grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota Is a U.S. Navy commander and test pilot with more than 3,500 flight hours Will be taking his first trip to space Has a bachelor's in physics from Albion College and a master's and doctorate in physics with a specialty in high-energy particle physics from the University of Rochester Chris Ferguson, 56 Boeing Starliner test crew member Born in Philadelphia Is Boeing's director of Starliner Crew and Mission Systems Retired from the Navy as a captain and pilot; also a former shuttle astronaut Has a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University and a masters of science in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School Enjoys golf, woodworking, running; and played drums for Max Q, a rock and roll band Victor Glover, 42 SpaceX Crew Dragon first mission Is from Pomona, California Is a U.S. Navy commander and test pilot with almost 3,000 hours flying Has made 400 carrier landings and has flown 24 combat missions Has a bachelor's in general engineering from California Polytechnic State University and a master's in flight test engineering from Air University as well as a master's systems engineering from Naval Postgraduate School and a master's of military operational art and science from Air University Michael Hopkins, 49 SpaceX Crew Dragon first mission member Born in Lebanon, Missouri Is a U.S. Air Force colonel and flight test engineer Has spent 166 days on the International Space Station for expeditions 37 and 38 and conducted two spacewalks Has a bachelor's in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois and a master's in aerospace engineering from Stanford University Douglas Hurley, 51 SpaceX Crew Dragon test crew From Apalachin, New York Is a U.S. Marine Corps colonel Piloted the final space shuttle mission, Atlantis' STS-135, as well as Endeavor's STS-127 Has a bachelor's in civil engineering from Tulane University Nicole Aunapu Mann, 41 Boeing Starliner test crew member From Penngrove, California Is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and F/A-18 test pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours Will be taking her first trip to space Has a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a master's in mechanical engineering with a specialty in fluid mechanics Sunita Williams, 52 Boeing Starliner first mission Is from Needham, Massachusetts Is a U.S. Navy captain and test pilot Has spent 322 days aboard the International Space Station for expeditions 14 and 15 and expeditions 32 and 33 and performed seven spacewalks Has a bachelor's physical science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Florida Institute of Technology (L-R) Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover, the Nasa astronauts chosen for the Commercial Crew Program to fly on the SpaceX Crew Dragon Advertisement

A mock up of the Crew Dragon spacecraft is displayed during a media tour of SpaceX headquarters and rocket factory in Hawthorne, California. The flights to the ISS will be the first leaving US soil to put people into orbit since the iconic space shuttle program ended in 2011

The SpaceX spacesuit to be worn by Nasa astronauts when they travel to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule

SpaceX unveiled its astronauts, all clad in blue overalls and smiling proudly in front of the module that will transport them to the ISS, to answer questions from the media.

'Being able to fly as a first flight a vehicle as a test pilot is a 'once in a generation' type of opportunity, so obviously I'm very thankful for it,' said Mr Hurley.

'But I would also say that we've got a lot of work left to do.'

SpaceX held its inaugural 'Mars Workshop', first reported by Ars Technica, to plan its Mars mission last week.

TIMELINE OF HOW SPACEX WILL TAKE ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT SpaceX has revealed that it will be launching a demo/test flight of its Dragon capsule lkater this year. It has originally pencilled the launch in for a November launch. The launch manifesto for the firm states there will be two demo launches before a manned mission. The first people to board a Dragon Capsule into orbit will be in April 2019, if the original timetable is accurate. It will use the Falcon 9 rocket to achieve the feat. Advertisement

The firm sent out 60 invitations to scientists and engineers to participate in 'active discussions regarding what will be needed to make such missions happen.'

The individuals were asked to keep the meeting private and not to divulge any information about the conference.

According to Ars Technica, the workshop may be 'the first meeting of such magnitude' in SpaceX's quest to land humans on and ultimately colonise the red planet.

No specifics have been divulged by the meeting's participants but a SpaceX representative told Business Insider that this is not necessarily a new tact for the company.

A spokesperson said: 'We regularly meet with a variety of experts concerning our missions to Mars.'

The space exploration firm claims it has had the technology to launch and land on mars for some time, but the principle issue focuses around making the missions suitable for human habitation.

'The main hindrance is the human factor. If you really are going to land a person on Mars, you have to feed them, keep them healthy, and build them habitats,' D. Marshall Porterfield, the former director of Nasa's Space Life and Physical Sciences Division said.
A private Russian firm, Sewa Security, provides close protection for Central African Republic President Touadera, whose security advisor is also Russian

Touting military cooperation and "instructors," arms deals and investment, Russia is making a comeback in Africa after years of inactivity and now aims to rival European countries and even China, analysts say.

Moscow has worked hard over the last three years to strengthen its position in Africa, a pace that seems to have accelerated in recent months, they say.

Its effort is most prominent in the Central African Republic (CAR), a grindingly poor and unstable country that traditionally has turned to the former colonial power France for help.

Since the start of the year, Russia has supplied weapons to the CAR army after gaining UN authorisation to do so and provides security for President Faustin-Archange Touadera, whose security advisor is Russian.

It has also sent five military officers and 170 civilians as "instructors" for CAR's armed forces, even though its troops are already being trained by the European Union.

Experts believe the "instructors" could be from a shadowy mercenary group named Wagner whose forces are reportedly fighting in Syria -- three Russian journalists were killed in the CAR last month while investigating their activities.

Elsewhere, Russia is shipping arms to Cameroon for its fight with Boko Haram jihadists and forged military partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Uganda and Angola and cooperation on nuclear power with Sudan.

It is also working with Zimbabwe's and Guinea's mining industries -- sectors where China is an emerging force in Africa.

Africa remains "at the bottom" of Russia's foreign policy priorities, but is "starting to gain more importance," said Dmitry Bondarenko of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Since 2014 and the annexation of Crimea, Russia is in confrontation with the West and openly demonstrates its desire to become a global power once again. Therefore it can't ignore this part of the globe."

But the interest, he argued, is less for economic gain and more for "political advancement".

- Strategic shift -

The Soviet Union maintained a very strong presence in Africa as part of its ideological war against the West, backing African liberation movements and sending tens of thousands of advisors to countries that had ended colonial rule.

But the collapse of the Soviet Union, economic problems and internal conflicts in Russia during the 1990s caused Moscow to abandon its African projects.

Lack of funds meant many embassies and consulates closed, aid programmes were cut short and ties drastically reduced.

A decade or so ago, the Kremlin started to rebuild its old networks and gradually return to the continent, seeking new partners as ideological concerns gave way to contracts and arms deals.

Russia is also trying to shoulder its way into mining, a sector in Africa where China has a growing presence

President Vladimir Putin began the process with visits to Algeria, South Africa and Morocco -- the countries that, with Egypt, it had traditionally had close ties.

His successor for one term, Dmitry Medvedev, visited Angola, Namibia and Nigeria, pitching for business with a delegation of 400 people.

This year, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov toured five African countries, Putin flew to Johannesburg for a BRICS summit that was also attended by Angola, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda, and Russia showcased African business at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

- 'Tangible alternative' -

For some African countries, improved ties with Russia are attractive, enabling them to play the competition card with Europe and China, say commentators.

It means "having another partner, that is, another channel for investment and development and the support of a country that's powerful on the international scene," said politics expert Yevgeny Korendyasov, a former Soviet and Russian ambassador to several African countries.

In addition, Russia has none of Europe's colonial burden in Africa -- something that may appeal to African countries, where many top officials received university education in the Soviet Union.

Map of the Central African Republic (CAR)

The CAR seems to be the first example of the benefits of Putin's shift.

During the Cold War, the country was never close to the Kremlin, but it now eyes Russia to help its troops roll back the militias who control most of the country's territory.

"Before, the countries that the West did not want to cooperate with, such as Sudan or Zimbabwe, could only turn to China," said Bondarenko.

"Now Russia is presenting itself as a tangible alternative."

This new situation "could perceptibly change the geopolitical order on the continent."

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A former South Korean presidential contender has been acquitted of raping a female aide several times, prompting immediate protests outside a court in Seoul.

Ahn Hee-jung had been widely seen as a strong candidate to replace President Moon Jae-in when his term ends in 2022, but resigned from his post a regional governor within hours of the public rape allegations in March.

Ahn's secretary claimed in an interview on live television that her boss had raped her several times and that she couldn't say no because of how powerful he was.

Today, Ahn was found not guilty of forced sexual abuse, sexual intercourse by abuse of authority and other charges by the Seoul Western District Court.

Ahn Hee-jung, former South Korean presidential contender, was acquitted of forced sexual abuse, sexual intercourse by abuse of authority in Seoul today

'I am sorry and I am so ashamed,' he said on the courthouse steps.

'I have disappointed many. I will make efforts to be born again,' he went on, as women's rights activists shouted 'It's not over yet!' at him.

Ahn is by far the highest-profile named publicly in South Korea's still-growing #MeToo movement.

South Korea remains socially patriarchal despite its economic and technological advances, with a male-dominated legal system often accused of handing out verdicts favouring men in sex abuse cases.

Ahn was governor of South Chungcheong province when his aide Kim Ji-eun told a television interview earlier this year that he had raped her four times after she was hired.

Fighting back tears, she said she had been unable to reject her boss in the rigid hierarchy of her office.

Allegations: Kim Ji-eun, seen right on a television screen, claimed Ahn had raped her several times and that she couldn't say no because of how powerful he was

The 53-year-old politician issued a formal apology and stepped down from his post, and was later indicted, but has always insisted the sex was consensual.

The court said it saw 'little evidence' that Ahn used his authority to force Kim into sex, adding the evidence presented by the prosecution - which had demanded four years' jail for Ahn - was 'not enough to prove that Kim's sexual freedom was violated against her will'.

'There are also many things that were questionable and incomprehensible in the victim's testimony,' the court ruling said.

Tuesday's verdict was delivered as dozens of women's rights campaigners condemned Ahn while the politician's supporters cheered for him outside the courtroom.

'Repent, Ahn Hee-jung! What you did was sexual violence!' the activists chanted in unison.

The scandal was an astonishing fall from grace for Ahn, who had enjoyed huge popularity among young, liberal voters thanks to his wholesome image and good looks.

He came second to the current head of state Moon Jae-in in the contest for the ruling Democratic Party's presidential nomination last year and was seen as a favourite for the next elections.

The #MeToo campaign against the abuse of women swept the South this year after Seoul prosecutor Seo Ji-hyeon defied convention to appear on live television in January to speak out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of a powerful superior.

The move by Seo opened the floodgates, prompting more women to come forward to accuse powerful figures in politics, arts, religion, education and entertainment of abuse.
Houij hopes his two-month trek will help convince authorities, holidaymakers and average Tunisians that the sea should not be used as a giant garbage tip

Bin bags at the ready, "long-distance activist" Mohamed Oussama Houij moves methodically along a beach in Tunisia's Mediterranean town of Nabeul, scooping up all kinds of trash as he goes along.

The 27-year-old sanitary engineer set out in July to walk a 300-kilometre (185-mile) stretch of coastline in northern Tunisia and clean up 30 beaches along the way.

He hopes the two-month trek will help convince authorities, holidaymakers and average Tunisians alike that the sea should not be used as a giant garbage tip.

With a sturdy pair of boots and a hat to shield him from the summer sun, Houij began his journey in the central coastal city of Mahdia and plans to finish in Solimane, 40 kilometres from the capital Tunis.

The trip will take him through crowded hotspots like Daar Chaabane in Nabeul, but also along secluded coves and shores.

"I believe in citizen mobilisation and I chose to act... and to raise awareness about the problem of pollution on our beaches," the activist told AFP.

The Facebook page of his "300 Kilometres" campaign has more than 13,000 followers and is entirely independent, he boasted.

"No political party is welcome... 300 Kilometres is a free citizen initiative and will remain forever," the activist wrote on the page.

- 'Drop of water' -

But while Houij may be a dreamer, he is also realistic.

"The 300 Kilometres action is not really about cleaning... I know I'm just a drop of water in the ocean," he said.

"I want to raise public awareness and get people thinking: 'Wait, it's not normal, all these bottles, these caps... all these plastic bags'."

Since Tunisia's 2011 revolution, the proliferation of waste has steadily worsened across the country -- in big cities, rural areas and beaches alike.

One contributing factor has been the absence of elected municipal councils.

Between the fall in 2011 of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and local polls held in May 2018, town halls were managed by "special delegations" that often neglected issues like littering and waste management.

But there is also a lack of environmental awareness among Tunisians, Environment Minister Riadh Mouakher said in mid-2017 as he announced the launch of a special "green police" unit to combat the North African country's rubbish woes.

At his first beach stop, Oussama estimates he collected about 100 kilogrammes (more than 200 pounds) of waste. After that, he simply stopped weighing the bags.

Nearly 150 kilometres and 14 beaches later, Houij is astounded by the sheer volume of waste he's found along the shore.

"We're talking tonnes of rubbish... The more you clean, the more you find. It never ends," he said.

- Sleeping rough -

From plastic bottles and soiled diapers to commercial refuse, Oussama says he's seen "all forms of pollution" seeping into the sea.

"I've seen a wide array of pollution, from the personal pollution of people who come to the beach through to the industrial pollution" of local and public companies, he said.

"The authorities do not take the problem of pollution in Tunisia seriously," said Houij.

The environmental activist is also frustrated with holidaymakers who treat him as a "zabel" (rubbish collector) and don't hesitate to ask him to pick up their waste.

Travelling with nothing but a rucksack and a guitar, on lucky nights he is offered shelter and a bed. Most nights, though, he sleeps rough.

Reactions from those he meets along the way range "from one extreme to another", he said.

"There are people who are very active, who encourage you and who help you clean up... but others kill your desire to work for the cause," he added.

"Each day brings enough trouble of its own, but the will is there... there's no reason for me to stop."
Iraq's National Symphony Orchestra has lost more than half its members since the start of the year, when the Iraqi government barred state employees with two jobs from receiving two salaries

In a dusty Baghdad dance studio, conductor Mohammed Amin Ezzat tries to fire up the musicians of Iraq's National Symphony Orchestra, whose enthusiasm has been dampened by eight months without pay.

An ageing air conditioner fights to beat back the summer heat in the cramped space at the capital's School of Music and Ballet as the 57-year-old maestro leads the group through a rehearsal of Modest Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain".

The shaggy-haired Ezzat and the 40 musicians surrounding him are gearing up to perform at Baghdad's National Theatre on Saturday, but the group's morale is at an all-time low.

Officially created in 1970 after several unsuccessful attempts, Iraq's national orchestra has survived decades of upheaval

The ensemble has lost more than half its members since the start of the year, when the government issued a directive barring state employees with two jobs from receiving two salaries.

The anti-corruption measure was suggested by the World Bank and should affect only about a third of the orchestra's musicians, but because of delays in carrying out the reform wages have been withheld from the entire group.

"The orchestra is in great danger," Ezzat said. "Some don't have enough money to come, and others are disappointed by the impact of politics on the orchestra."

- 'On the precipice' -

Officially created in 1970 after several unsuccessful attempts, Iraq's national orchestra has survived decades of upheaval.

It has survived wars, an invasion, a 12-year international embargo and a devastating three-year battle against Islamic State group jihadists, which came to an end last year.

But this may be the last straw for the outfit, a collateral victim of Iraq's "war on corruption".

Ezzat became the orchestra's first Iraqi conductor in 1989

"Not being paid for eight months has had a terrible psychological effect on the musicians, but we'll continue to resist peacefully with our music," said Ezzat, who became the orchestra's first Iraqi conductor in 1989.

"We're on the precipice but sure that we won't jump."

When all its salaries are tallied up -- including the maestro's $1,200 a month, peanuts for a major conductor -- the orchestra costs the state about $85,000 (73,000 euros) a year.

The sum is a pittance compared to the exorbitant figures syphoned off by ministers and high officials who have either fled or been arrested.

Ezzat's daughter Noor, a timpanist in the orchestra, is going without pay as well as her two brothers. "As long as we live, music will live. It's our culture," she says

The conductor, his daughter Noor, a timpanist, and his sons Hossam and Islam, who play the cello and viola respectively, have all been without a salary since January.

But according to Raed Allawi, the head of administrative affairs at Iraq's culture ministry, there is no reason to panic -- the wages will soon be paid.

"The finance ministry has asked for a regularisation of contracts. Verification measures are under way and this explains the late payment of wages," Allawi said.

"The orchestra is one of the country's cultural showcases (and the ministry) respects its artists and their talent."

For the symphony's musicians, however, these are empty words they have heard already.

- 'Two professions, same passion' -

Saad al-Dujaily, an obstetrician and a flutist, is now entitled to only one salary. "In Iraq, we're proud to have more than one job, to have more than one love, to practise two professions with the same love and passion," he says

Saad al-Dujaily, a professor of medicine and a flutist, thinks the measure is regressive.

"I've been an obstetrician and a flute player since I was very young," he said.

Because of the directive, the 57-year-old practitioner -- who teaches at Baghdad's al-Nahrain University and plays in the national orchestra -- is now entitled to only one salary.

"In Iraq, we're proud to have more than one job, to have more than one love, to practise two professions with the same love and passion," said Dujaily, who plans to continue with the orchestra to help preserve its quality.

Further along into the rehearsal, the studio's electricity cuts, a common occurrence in a country plagued by power outages.

The orchestra cannot afford the diesel to fuel the building's generator.

The orchestra rehearses in a dusty dance studio, with intermittent power outages cutting out the lights and an ageing air conditioner

But the musicians play on in the windowless room, using their cell phones to illuminate the sheet music.

"There have been crises in the past, but this is the worst," said Doaa Majid al-Azzawi, an oboe player.

"Especially since my father and I are musicians. We don't know what will happen, but if the orchestra has to stop, it's culture in Iraq that will be dealt a deadly blow," the 25-year-old said.

When the studio's lights eventually make a flickering return, so too does the players' enthusiasm, and the music swells.

"As long as we live, music will live. It's our culture," said Noor, the conductor's daughter.
The pro-Beijing groups gathered outside waved China's national flag, chanting "Get out of Hong Kong! We Chinese people don't welcome you!", describing the FCC as "thieves"

Hong Kong independence activist Andy Chan attacked China as an empire trying to "annex" and "destroy" the city in a no-holds barred speech Tuesday at the city's press club which Beijing wanted cancelled.

In comments that will incense Chinese authorities, Chan, who leads the tiny Hong Kong National Party, said Beijing was semi-autonomous Hong Kong's "colonial master".

"We are a nation that is quickly being annexed and destroyed by China," Chan told a packed Foreign Correspondents' Club.

He said he had been under increased "surveillance" by groups of people he did not know, who had been following him and knocking on his family's door to take pictures of them in the lead-up to the speech.

Hong Kong enjoys freedom of speech and assembly unseen on the mainland under a handover agreement between Britain and China.

But Beijing has become increasingly intolerant of any mention of independence for Hong Kong as President Xi Jinping emphasises territorial integrity as key to China's resurgence.

Rival protesters gathered outside the FCC, with pro-independence activists clashing with police, saying they had been given no space for their rally, while dozens of pro-Beijing supporters chanted slogans including "Gas the spies!"

Pro-independence activist Wayne Chan is removed by police from a location outside the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC), as people protest ahead of a speech by pro-independence activist Andy Chan

The lunch address -- entitled "Hong Kong Nationalism: A Politically Incorrect Guide to Hong Kong under Chinese Rule" -- drew objections from China's foreign ministry and Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam, as fears grow that freedom of speech in the semi-autonomous city is increasingly under attack.

The club stood by its decision to go ahead with the event, saying the views of different sides in any debate must be heard.

Chan called on Britain and the United States to help Hong Kong and said Taiwan was an inspiration for his party as it had gone from a dictatorship to a democracy.

China still sees self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, using force if necessary.

Ahead of Chan's talk China's foreign ministry had said: "We resolutely oppose any external forces providing a platform for 'Hong Kong independence' elements to spread fallacies."

- Party ban -

The Hong Kong government said Tuesday that while it backs freedom of the speech and the press, it "deeply regrets" the event since advocating independence contravened the city's Basic Law, or mini-constitution.

"It is totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any person to openly promote and advocate the independence of Hong Kong," a spokesman said.

"As such, it is also totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any organisation to provide a public platform to espouse such views."

Chants from protesters outside could be heard throughout Chan's address.

Pro-Beijing groups have long opposed any discussion of Hong Kong independence

A small group called the Students Independence Union turned out in support of Chan, waving independence banners outside the club in Hong Kong's Central district.

Other pro-democracy protesters said they did not support independence but were supporting Hong Kong's right to freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

The pro-Beijing groups gathered outside waved China's national flag, chanting "Get out of Hong Kong! We Chinese people don't welcome you!", describing the FCC as "thieves" and demanding the government "take back" the colonial-era FCC building it leases to the club.

Chan's Hong Kong National Party is facing a ban from city authorities who say it is a threat to public security despite having only a dozen core members.

It is the first time such a ban has been sought since Britain handed over Hong Kong in 1997.

Asked about whether Chan agrees with calls from some in the independence movement for radical action, Chan said he "condemned violence".

Calls for the city's independence have infuriated Beijing even though they attract little support.

Chan was banned from standing for office in 2016.

His talk was part of the FCC's "club lunch" tradition which has seen an array of speakers, including Chinese officials, speak to members and the media.

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US Attorney General Jeff Sessions is pressuring immigration judges to speed up deportations

US immigration judges say they are under increasing pressure from President Donald Trump's administration to speed up immigrant deportations -- or risk removal if they delay.

This pressure is highlighted in the case of a judge in Philadelphia, Steven Morley, who was informed that a case he was handling was reassigned to another court so it could be closed and deportation procedures could begin.

The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) filed a grievance on August 8 with the US Department of Justice for what it considers a violation of courtroom authority.

The judge "should be left alone and protected in his ability to handle the case from the beginning," said NAIJ president Ashley Tabaddor, who told AFP she felt she had "a target on my head" for speaking out.

In the United States, immigration courts are part of the executive -- not the judicial -- branch of government. Judges are appointed by the US attorney general, who is the head of the Department of Justice.

Since the judges are appointed, the attorney general can also fire them.

Trump came to office spouting anti-immigrant rhetoric, especially against Mexicans, calling them drug dealers, criminals and "rapists."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, an early Trump supporter and immigration hardliner, announced this year that he would evaluate these judges based on the number of cases they close -- in an overloaded system with hundreds of thousands of open cases.

The NAIJ also filed a complaint over this measure.

"There is anxiety and concern among the judges," Tabaddor told AFP. The judges "feel tremendous pressure to try to do more work faster."

Immigration cases "are not like some product that's being manufactured where you can do everyone in a certain amount of time," said NAIJ president emeritus Dana Leigh Marks.

Some cases involve people seeking to immigrate because their lives are threatened in their home countries.

"We are deeply aware of the fact that the stakes in these cases are incredibly high," she told AFP, adding that the current system amounts to hearing "death penalty cases in a traffic court setting because the volume is so intense."

And those cases take time.

A spokesman for the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review said action was taken in Judge Morley's case because of "potential violations of processes and practices governed by federal law and EOIR policy," but gave no specifics.

"In any situation where a concern is raised about an immigration judges conduct, regardless of whether that concern is raised by a representative, third-party group, or following an internal review, EOIRs OCIJ investigates the issue thoroughly and will address it appropriately as the facts warrant. We look forward to fully vindicating the issues surrounding this matter."

- 'Worst nightmare' -

Central American migrants walk along the train lines in Mexico preparing to jump on "The Beast," a train that will take them to the border with the United States

In Philadelphia, Morley was handling an immigration request from Guatemalan Reynaldo Castro-Tum, who crossed the border into the United States unaccompanied in 2014 when he was 17 years old.

Castro-Tum was handed over to his brother-in-law living in the United States. Officials used that address to contact him.

The court sent Castro-Tum five citations -- but the Guatemalan never showed up.

Morley gave the case an "administrative closure," meaning a pause to make sure that Castro-Tum was actually receiving the court summons.

The letters for Castro-Tum were going to a trailer park community, according to CNN. But it was not known if the family had moved.

Sessions -- who in this case can operate unilaterally -- overturned Morley's decision, arguing that immigration judges do not have the authority to close cases.

He ordered a new citation, meaning that if Castro-Tum did not show up for a May 31 hearing, he would be deported.

The hearing came, and Castro-Tum was again absent.

Morley agreed to a request by attorney Matthew Archambeault for time to try to find the young man -- but soon after received an email from Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jack Weil informing him that the case had been reassigned because Morley "had been expected to make a decision" on May 31.

A judge was sent from Washington to close the case and order Castro-Tum's deportation, even though it's unclear if the Guatemalan is still in the United States.

"It's kind of our worst nightmare come true that the department seems to be unhappy with how he's handling a case," Marks said.

So they take the case away and hand it to a judge "that they feel is going to be more amenable to their perspective," she said.

Marks said all administrations have exerted pressure of some kind on immigration judges, including Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, but "no other time than now have they become as pronounced as they are."

Under Trump, "they have crossed all the lines and done so with gusto," she said.
The PM congratulated PepsiCo  an American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation  on its successful operations in Vietnam in recent times.

He spoke highly of the cooperation between PepsiCo Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, specifically their participation in a public-private partnership group on fruits and vegetables in 2010.

PM Phuc hailed the US firm for expanding its cultivation area of potato in Vietnams Central Highlands province of Lam Dong from 55 hectares to over 450 hectares, while also supporting farmers with cultivation skills that can help them increase their output three times the average level.

He expressed his hopes that PepsiCo Vietnam will research intensive processing of artichoke in order to create high added-value products from this kind of plant, and bring them into the companys distribution chains.

The leader suggested PepsiCo expand cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Vietnamese farm households across various fields of Vietnams strength.

For his part, Mike Spanos said Vietnam is one of PepsiCos top 20 priority markets across the globe, and the eighth in the Asian-Middle Eastern-North African region.

PepsiCo has invested over US$500 million in Vietnam over the past five years, attracting about 3,000 workers. It is currently implementing cooperation programmes with Vietnamese farmers and supporting over 580 farm households.

The company is keen to do long-term business in Vietnam in the field of food and beverages, among others, Spanos said.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Sarath Ratanavadi, founder and CEO of Thailands Gulf Energy Development. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)

While receiving Sarath Ratanavadi, PM Phuc reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Government always creates the best conditions for foreign businesses to invest in the country. This is one of the reasons why many Thai firms have chosen to enter the Vietnamese market, with 492 projects worth US$10 billion, he noted.

The PM underlined Vietnams policy of discouraging investment in coal-fired thermal power generation, but welcoming investment in renewable and clean energy.

Vietnam needs more abundant energy to meet the countrys economic development, he said, adding that this is a good opportunity for the Thai company.

Sarath Ratanavadi said his business has started to invest in Vietnam through a solar power project with a capacity of 100MW.

The company plans to continue investing in the field of energy to increase electricity for Vietnam, as well as draw more investors, he said, adding that his firm is also able to provide hot water or cooling water for the industrial sector.
Pyae Phyo Aung training in Myanmar's Karen state in preparation for an attempt on Hkakabo Razi in the north of the country -- a peak so treacherous it has only been conquered once

A two-week jungle trek followed by a sheer climb up avalanche-prone slopes to a jagged ridge of icy pinnacles awaits three Myanmar mountaineers planning to take on Hkakabo Razi, a peak so treacherous it has been conquered only once.

Believed to be the highest in Southeast Asia, the mountain stands at an estimated 5,881 metres (19,294 feet) in the northern tip of Myanmar near the border with China and India, a Himalayan cap of the largely tropical nation.

The formidable route to the top starts with a gruelling 240-kilometre (150-mile) slog by foot through Kachin state's dense jungle, filled with venomous snakes and bloodsucking leeches.

But it is the challenging climb itself that has thwarted nearly all of the handful of attempts to reach the summit, one of which resulted in a deadly rescue attempt.

"The difficulty level of the mountain is extreme," Zaw Zin Khine, 32, told AFP during a break from a training session on a limestone karst cliff in eastern Karen state.

The team will have to negotiate precipitous faces of loose scree, frequent avalanches and a choice between ridges spiked with towers of rock and shrouded in snow and ice.

Aung Khaing Myint coils a rope as fellow mountaineer Zaw Zin Khine prepares gear ahead of training at a gym in Yangon ahead of their attempt on Hkakabo Razi

"There is a risk we wont come back alive," the climber added.

He and his two partners Pyae Phyo Aung, 36, and Aung Khaing Myint, 32, aspire to make history as the first all-Myanmar team to summit the mountain.

They also hope to settle a decades-long dispute over whether Hkakabo Razi or the nearby Gamlang Razi -- also in Myanmar -- claims the honour as the regions highest.

- 'Makes Everest look easy' -

The three climbers, now waiting for the right window in the weather to start their expedition, have been in intensive training for months, including a trip to Nepal and sessions in a Yangon gym, wearing masks to simulate low-oxygen levels at altitude.

Team member Pyae Phyo Aung is one of only two people from Myanmar to have summited Mount Everest but he says Hkakabo Razi's isolation and lack of infrastructure makes it far more perilous.

The three climbers, now waiting for the right window in the weather to start their expedition, have been in intensive training for months

"Even if you're 70 years old, you can get to the top of Everest if you have the money to pay people to pull you up," he says.

"They maintain the routes from the base camp to the summit, have lots of porters and it's easy to find people by air if they're missing. That's not the case on Hkakabo Razi."

The first known attempt to scale the mountain was by British explorer and botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward in 1936.

In his book "Burmas Icy Mountains", he describes how the peak "utterly defeated" him, forcing him to turn back a vertical kilometre below the top.

It took another 60 years before Japanese mountaineer Takashi Ozaki and his Myanmar climbing partner Nyima Gyaltsen prevailed on their third attempt.

Ozaki, the first-ever climber to successfully tackle Mount Everest's north face, reportedly described the peak as "one of the most difficult and dangerous mountains in the world".

Two separate expeditions in 2014 both met with costly failure.

One local Myanmar team never returned, a tragedy magnified when a rescue helicopter crashed, killing one pilot.

Myanmar mountain

The other ill-fated ascent is the subject of a National Geographic documentary.

The expedition ground to an icy halt on what team member Emily Harrington remembers as a "nightmare ridge" that dropped off for hundreds of feet on either side, leaving them "depleted on all fronts".

"We kinda assumed it would be like Nepal and Pakistan where the culture is centred around the mountains," the 31-year-old told AFP from California.

"But it's not. Theyre not used to people coming here to trek so we had to take more on ourselves."

- 'Listen to the mountain' -

This years expedition organisers are preparing for anything.

Tycoon Tay Za, who was behind both the 2014 Myanmar teams failed attempt and the successful ascent of Everest, is also bankrolling this venture, which is expected to take around two months.

The three climbers will have a five-member support team and some 70 porters to help -- compared to 25 last time -- as well as several rescue helicopters on stand-by.

"If we complete this, we can be proud Myanmar citizens," Zaw Zin Khine said.

"We plan to plant the nation's flag with our own hands at the summit."

He also hopes they will inspire more climbers in a country that only boasts a few dozen enthusiasts.

But Harrington warns that reaching the summit is not everything and advises the team to "listen to the mountain".

"If its telling you not to go for it then dont go for it. In my head the only thing that matters is that you come back alive."
Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross says in a new toll

Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, the Red Cross said Tuesday, after thousands protested at a mass funeral.

Fifty-six children were also among the 79 people wounded in the Thursday strike on Saada province, a rebel stronghold that borders Saudi Arabia, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a new toll.

The child deaths have been an embarrassment for Western governments which supply the coalition with warplanes and other weapons and have sought to prevent the conduct of the war being scrutinised too closely.

The coalition has promised an internal inquiry but analysts and aid groups have voiced doubt it is ready to provide the transparency and accountability demanded by the wider international community.

The new casualty toll came after a mass funeral was held for many of the dead children on Monday at which thousands vented anger against Riyadh and Washington.

Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

Thousands of Yemenis vent anger against Riyadh and Washington as they take part in a mass funeral in the rebel stronghold of Saada on August 13, 2018 for the children killed in the Saudi-led coalition air strike

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 as Huthi rebel fighters closed in on the last bastion of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government.

The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since then -- the vast majority of them civilians -- and caused what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN Security Council called on Friday for a "credible" investigation into the deadly strike.

But it stopped short of demanding an independent inquiry as urged by UN chief Antonio Guterres after past probes failed to lead to any significant reduction in the high civilian death toll from the coalition's more than three-year bombing campaign.

- Western powers back ally -

The coalition has been repeatedly blamed for bombing civilians, including a strike on a wedding hall in the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha in September 2015, in which 131 people died. It denied any responsibility for those deaths.

In October 2016, a coalition air strike killed 140 people at a funeral in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

Coalition commanders have admitted a small number of mistakes, but there has been no public disciplinary action or changes to the rules of engagement.

Commander have accused the rebels of using civilians as human shields.

The coalition initially called the strike on the bus a "legitimate military action" in response to a rebel missile attack on the Saudi city of Jizan on Wednesday.

But as photographs of dazed and bloodied children flooding into hospitals were beamed around the world, it was forced to concede to an investigation.

Saudi Arabia has deployed US-manufactured F-15 fighter jets in large numbers for its sometimes controversial bombing campaign in neighbouring Yemen

Western government have condemned the civilian deaths, but they remain political and military backers of Saudi Arabia, which is a regional ally and spends billions of dollars on arms from the United States, Britain and France.

During US-led air campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria since 2001, Western forces occasionally admitted "collateral damage" when civilians were killed unintentionally.

But they too resisted independent investigations into the circumstances of major errors.

Key Saudi coalition ally, the United Arab Emirates, said Monday that the child deaths were a manifestation of the "ugly" side of war for which both sides were to blame.

"Unfortunately, this is really part of any confrontation," the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said, adding that those calling for independent investigations should instead urge tighter rules of engagement.
The Aquarius is a 77-metre (250 foot) rescue boat which has the capacity for carrying between 200 and 500 people

Five European countries on Tuesday offered to take in the 141 migrants marooned on board the Aquarius rescue vessel after it was given permission to dock in Malta, resolving a new standoff over the charity ship.

Spain offered to take 60 people and Germany said it would take "up to 50".

France said it would accept 60 from the Aquarius as well as a second rescue boat that arrived earlier in Malta, and Portugal offered to welcome 30 people. Luxembourg was also part of the deal.

The agreement is the fifth of its kind between Western European governments since June when Italy began turning away migrant rescue ships.

EU sources said the five host countries would send immigration officials to Malta to vet their asylum claims and identify possible economic migrants, who would be returned to their countries of origin.

The boat was initially refused entry by Italy and Malta after rescuing the migrants in two separate missions off the Libyan coast on Friday.

The Aquarius first hit the headlines in June after being stranded with 630 migrants on board, causing a major diplomatic row.

Spain's new Socialist government helped resolve the first standoff by allowing the boat to dock in Valencia and said it was again at the forefront of the solution to the latest one on Tuesday.

"Spain has coordinated a pioneering agreement with six countries to share the hosting of the people on the Aquarius... Spain will take 60 people," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

But Malta and France said the deal to allow the ship disembark its passengers, many of them unaccompanied teens from violence-wracked Somalia and repressive Eritrea, was their initiative.

"Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so," said a Maltese government statement posted on Twitter.

Thanking Malta for its gesture, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter: "There is no alternative to cooperation."

But EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned that Europe could not rely on "ad-hoc arrangements".

Calling in a statement for "sustainable solutions", he said: "It is not the responsibility of one or a few member states only, but of the European Union as a whole."

- European attitudes hardening -

SOS Mediterranee says the Aquarius rescued the latest group of migrants in international waters off the Libyan coast on August 10

After elections in March that brought a populist, anti-immigrant government to power in Italy, far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini began turning away rescue ships operated by foreign NGOs.

For years, Italy had pleaded with its EU partners for help with a massive influx of arrivals that has seen 700,000 people land in the country since 2013, most of whom had made the short but treacherous sea crossing from Libya.

On Saturday, Salvini said the Aquarius would "never see an Italian port" again, accusing it of encouraging smugglers and migrants to take to the water in the knowledge that they will be rescued.

The Italian coast guard continues to rescue migrants, however.

Malta's government initially defended its decision to turn the Aquarius away, saying it was "neither the coordinating nor the competent authority for such a rescue" and had "no legal obligation" to provide a place of safety.

The government of the British territory of Gibraltar also announced late Monday that the ship would no longer be allowed to operate under its maritime flag.

The increasingly hostile stance reflects hardening public opinion in Europe towards migrants -- despite arrivals dipping sharply since 2015, when over a million people fleeing war or poverty crossed the Mediterranean.

The Aquarius rescue ship is operated by French charity SOS-Mediterranee along with Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

The Aquarius has become a symbol of the unwillingness of many European countries to accept more newcomers, with Italy siding with conservative governments in eastern Europe intent on keeping out migrants.

At a summit in late June EU leaders agreed to consider setting up migrant processing centres outside the bloc, most likely in North Africa, in a bid to discourage them from boarding smuggler boats.

They also agreed to look at setting up "controlled centres" on European soil to sort refugees in need of protection from economic migrants -- but no country has offered to host any such centres.

The proposals are due for discussion at an EU migration summit in Austria in September.
Tougher protections in New Caledonia in the South Pacific are designed to protect near-pristine coral reefs

New Caledonia agreed Tuesday to tougher protections around a huge swathe of some of the world's last near-pristine coral reefs, in a move conservationists hailed as a major breakthrough.

The Pacific nation, a French overseas territory, is home to a rich array of wildlife including 2.5 million seabirds and over 9,300 marine species, such as dugongs -- marine mammals related to manatees -- and nesting green sea turtles, many of which thrive in and around remote zones off the island nation's coast.

The archipelago boasts some of the world's healthiest reefs, including Astrolabe, Petrie, Chesterfield and Bellona, which are considered exceptional examples of coral ecosystems.

After years of work, the New Caledonia government Tuesday voted to set up marine protected areas (MPAs) surrounding the reefs, and to strengthen an existing one around Entrecasteaux, which is already a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The move will see 28,000 square kilometres (10,810 square miles) of waters safeguarded from commercial and industrial fishing and other exploitation, helping conserve habitats and allow marine life to feed and reproduce undisturbed.

Tourist activity around the reefs is also set to be more rigorously controlled.

According to the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, New Caledonia had 27,000 visits in the first three months of the year, making up around six percent of trips to the South Pacific region.

"This is the kind of leadership we need to see in coral reef conservation and we applaud it," said John Tanzer, the head of oceans for WWF International.

"With good management, these marine protected areas will help maintain fish populations and ecosystem health that will build the reef's resilience to the impacts of climate change in future."

Christophe Chevillon, head of the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy in New Caledonia, which helped draft the plans, said it would elevate the territory as a global leader in ocean protection, but more could still be done.

"Although we believe this to be a major breakthrough, we are convinced that New Caledonia can still go further and lead the way for other Pacific countries," he told AFP.

"In fact, the 28,000 square kilometres protected only represents two percent of the Coral Sea Natural Park."

The MPAs fall within New Caledonia's enormous 1.3 million-square kilometre Coral Sea Natural Park, which was established in 2014 and covers the country's entire exclusive economic zone.

Protections here, such as limiting shipping and banning shark, turtle and whale fishing, are not as comprehensive as under an MPA.

Coral reefs, which only cover 0.1 percent of the ocean's surface but support a quarter of known marine species, are on the decline globally, threatened by climate change, pollution and overfishing.

WWF estimates the world has already lost about half of its shallow water coral reefs.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen gave a speech in Los Angeles, California, prompting a rapid response from Beijing

Taiwan's president has given a speech in the United States -- the first time in 15 years that a leader of the island has spoken publicly on American soil -- prompting an official protest from Beijing.

During a stopover en route to Paraguay, Tsai Ing-wen, whose government refuses to endorse Beijing's view that Taiwan is part of China, vowed to defend democratic values.

"We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy," she said on Monday.

China views Taiwan as part of its own territory -- to be reunified by force if necessary -- even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

Beijing is always swift to condemn any move that could be interpreted as de facto diplomatic recognition of the government in Taipei and has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), came to power in 2016.

Tsai made her speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, whose namesake she praised for his contribution to Taiwan-US relations, including a commitment not to pressure Taipei to negotiate with Beijing.

"Everything was negotiable except two things: our freedom and our future," she quoted from Reagan's remarks in her talk, adding that this is also the sentiment of Taiwanese people at the moment.

Her transit in Los Angeles was the most high-profile since former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian's 2003 stopover in New York, where he accepted a human rights award and delivered several public speeches.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979, but it remains the island's biggest arms supplier and most important unofficial ally.

Ties have warmed further since Donald Trump came to power, and were further bolstered by the passage this week of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a commitment to support Taiwan militarily.

Last month, the US sent two warships into the Taiwan Strait. That followed a string of military drills staged by Beijing around the island.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Tuesday reiterated its opposition to any attempt to promote Taiwan's independence when asked to comment on Tsai's US transit.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. We firmly oppose any attempt to create 'two Chinas', 'one China, one Taiwan' and 'Taiwan independence' in the international arena," it said in a statement responding to a question from AFP.

The Chinese foreign ministry said it had lodged an official protest with the United States as it recalled that it has always "firmly opposed" the US or other countries with diplomatic relations with China arranging such transits.

The ministry urged Washington to "scrupulously abide by the one China principle" and "not send any wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' forces".

Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times accused the US and Taiwan of "shady dealings", warning that the mainland was capable of giving the Taiwanese authorities "a drastic punishment".

Tsai's trip to Paraguay comes as Taiwan seeks to firm up ties with its dwindling band of diplomatic allies, whose number fell to 18 after Burkina Faso and the Dominican Republic switched recognition to Beijing in May.

Under pressure from Beijing, a growing number of international airlines and companies have also edited their websites to refer to the territory as "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei".
Gill Boehringer was blacklisted by the Philippines for allegedly violating laws barring foreigners' participation in politics

An Australian professor left the Philippines on Tuesday, nearly a week after being barred entry and placed in limbo at an airport in what rights groups say was part of a crackdown on critics of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Philippine government said Gill Boehringer, 84, was put on a blacklist for allegedly violating laws barring foreigners from engaging in political activities after he attended a protest in 2015.

The former law school dean denies the charges.

"I am not a terrorist. I am a human rights defender," Boehringer said in a video message recorded on Monday in an airport exclusion room where he had been staying since his arrival last week.

He was the latest foreigner ordered out of the Philippines following Australian Catholic nun Patricia Fox, who has been fighting deportation since April after drawing Duterte's ire.

After winning the presidential election in 2016, the Philippine leader launched an unprecedented campaign against illegal drugs that has left thousands dead and sparked allegations of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

The defiant Duterte has lashed out at foreign critics of his drug war -- including the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor and United Nations rights experts -- and personally ordered the arrest of Fox in April.

Like Fox, Boehringer had joined a fact-finding mission looking into alleged rights violations in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao where Duterte had declared martial law, said Maria Sol Taule, the professor's lawyer.

"This is the concerted handiwork of a defensive and paranoid government," Philippine rights group Karapatan said in a statement, and opposition congressman Carlos Zarate described Boehringer's expulsion as "alarming".

Manila denied Boehringer's expulsion was part of a crackdown on critics, saying the policy against foreigners' participation in politics was "nothing new".

"If they (foreigners) have issues or concerns about how the government is being handled, there are other ways of expressing their opinions, other more peaceful ways," Dana Sandoval, a Bureau of Immigration spokeswoman, told AFP.
Plastic bags have become an environmental curse -- Burundi is the latest country to crack down on their use

Burundi's president, Pierre Nkurunziza, has issued a decree banning the use of plastic bags in the small central African country within the next 18 months.

"The manufacture, import, storage, sale and use of all plastic bags and other plastic packaging is prohibited," said the presidential order signed by Nkurunziza on Monday and seen by AFP Tuesday.

"A grace period of 18 months is granted, before the entry into force of this decree, to allow for the disposal of current stocks and orders already placed," the decree read.

The decree includes some exemptions that may be authorised for "biodegradable plastic bags, bags and plastic materials used in medical services, and in industrial and pharmaceutical packaging".

When the law comes into force Burundi will join a growing list of African countries that have introduced total plastic bag bans to fight pollution, including Morocco, Rwanda and Kenya.
Musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, also called Bobi Wine, took part in demonstrations last month against a controversial tax on social media

Ugandan musician and opposition lawmaker Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, was arrested Tuesday after an incident in which security officers shot his driver dead, a police spokesman said.

"We arrested Bobi Wine and others this morning and he is in our custody," said Emilian Kayima, Uganda's police spokesman.

Kyagulanyi was arrested in the northwestern town of Arua where he was campaigning for an opposition candidate in a hard-fought by-election that also drew President Yoweri Museveni in support of the ruling party candidate.

Following parallel rallies on Monday, Kayima said Kyagulanyi was arrested for obstructing the presidential motorcade, during which one of Museveni's official vehicles had a windscreen damaged.

In the ensuing chaos, police fired live rounds to disperse the crowd, killing Kyagulanyi's driver.

On Twitter, before his arrest, Kyagulanyi alleged the killing was a case of mistaken identity.

"Police has shot my driver dead thinking they've shot at me," he said, posting a photograph of a blood-drenched man slumped at the wheel of a car.

Opposition candidate Kassiano Wadri was also arrested.

The by-election, due to be held on Wednesday, was triggered by the unsolved June assassination of Ibrahim Abiriga, the late ruling party MP.
He asked the diplomatic sector and the chief representatives in particular to focus on implementing the orientations and tasks set at the 30th Diplomatic Conference, which took place in Hanoi from 13-17.

Accordingly, it is a necessity to continue reforming thoughts in both diplomacy and national development amidst current changes in the global situation as well as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he said.

The President tasked the diplomats with affirming the Party and States consistent policy of being a friend, trustworthy partner, and responsible member of the international community.

He also highlighted the role of diplomats in protecting national interests, urging them to heed raising the quality of economic and cultural diplomacy while continuously improving their capacity for research and strategic forecast.

The diplomats should raise initiatives at multilateral, regional, and international forums in order to spotlight Vietnam as a responsible member and demonstrate its position, the State leader said.

One of the key tasks for the chief representatives this year lies with overseas Vietnamese affairs and citizen protection work, the President noted.

Apart from personnel training, they need to pay attention to Party building; preventing degradation in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, as well as the phenomena of self-evolution and self-transformation, he said.

President Quang asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue its coordination with relevant ministries and agencies to propose specific solutions to the Party and the State to build or restore overseas Vietnamese representative offices.

The Diplomatic Conference, which was initiated in 1957, convenes every two years to provide a venue for the diplomatic sector to reach a consensus on awareness, resolve, and action to effectively implement the Party and States foreign policy.
A road in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City on May 14, 2018, where three people were killed in an explosion on Tuesday

Three people were killed Tuesday in an explosion at a market in Baghdad, including a woman and child according to a security source.

The blast struck in the Shiite bastion of Sadr City, a sprawling district where authorities regularly carry out raids close to the busy market to seize illegal weapons.

"Three people were killed and four others injured in an explosion in a covered market near the Mreydi souk in Sadr City," Baghdad's military operations command said in a statement.

A source from the security services told AFP that a woman and a child were among those killed.

Authorities did not detail the cause of the blast and said an investigation would be launched.

The Mreydi souk is an important hub for illegal weapons sales and the area has seen years of violence since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In June, at least 16 people were killed and some 30 injured in an explosion at a house in the area where weapons were stored.

Sadr City is the former bastion of the Mahdi Army, which before being dissolved was blamed by Washington for killing US soldiers and thousands of Sunni Muslims.

The militia was led by Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose political alliance triumphed in this year's parliamentary elections.

Violence has fallen in Iraq and particularly Baghdad, which suffered numerous jihadist attacks, since the government declared victory over the Islamic State group in December.

But despite government forces retaking all of Iraq's towns and cities from IS, clandestine jihadist cells remain present, analysts say.
Visitors, mainly from Saudi Arabia and Asia, formed long queues in Istanbul outside luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada after the lira took a severe hit against dollar, losing over 16 percent of its value on Friday

The collapse of the Turkish lira has caused trauma as Turks see their purchasing power slashed, but bargain-hunting foreign tourists visiting the country at the peak of the summer season are cashing in on a currency windfall.

Visitors, mainly from Saudi Arabia and Asia, formed long queues in Istanbul outside luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada after the lira took a severe hit against dollar, losing over 16 percent of its value on Friday.

"Everything is getting cheaper and cheaper," said Saudi Arabian tourist Nasir El-Nabir, outside a chic store in an upscale Istanbul neighbourhood.

"It's like a 30 percent sale, so I am really affected in a positive way."

Laden with shopping bags, tourists have enjoyed a shopping bonanza before retailers hike prices to take account of the lira's devaluation, under the slightly bewildered gaze of Turks who have borne the brunt of the crisis.

The queues suggest that the plunge in the lira, driven by Turkey's bitter dispute with the United States, is set to give a boost to the key tourism industry, which struggled greatly after a failed coup and terror attacks in 2016.

- Tourism revival -

The lira's plunge -- which had been ongoing for weeks -- was turned into a rout on Friday when US President Donald Trump tweeted that Washington was doubling aluminium and steel tariffs for Turkey.

The Turkish currency has since clawed back some ground.

Xenos Lemis, a tourist from Cyprus, said he had been following the currency drama in real time.

The queues suggest that the plunge in the lira, driven by Turkey's bitter dispute with the United States, is set to give a boost to the key tourism industry, which struggled greatly after a failed coup and terror attacks in 2016

"We check the price of the lira every two hours and there is a significant change. So for shopping for a tourist, this is a blessing," he added.

But some visitors lamented that they also lost money when they converted a large sum of foreign money to the Turkish currency just before the crisis broke.

"I'm quite surprised because I took a lot of cash from the bank in lira and when I woke up in the morning I found out that I almost lost (the equivalent of) one hundred or two hundred during one night," Kobe Wu Kejia, a Chinese tourist, told AFP.

"This is pretty scary."

Turkey's tourism sector, which came under severe pressure due to the attacks and failed coup of 2016, had already appeared to have sprung to its feet this year despite the country's economic woes.

The industry has managed to diversify its appeal, with sharp rises in the numbers of visitors arriving from countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, while traditional tourism from Europe also revived.

Meanwhile, Russian tourism -- critical for the economy on Turkey's Mediterranean coast -- has also sprung back to life after being devastated by a political crisis between Ankara and Moscow in 2015.

Firuz Baglikaya, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), said there was a 30 percent increase in tourism in Turkey compared to last year.

"We expect a $32 billion foreign currency inflow," he told the state-run Anadolu news agency.

"We have a target of having 40 million tourists since 2017, and if there's nothing negative, this objective will be achieved."

Package holiday giant Thomas Cook said this month, before the lira crisis struck in earnest, that it has seen a 63 percent increase in bookings for Turkey from last year, with Antalya now its most popular airport for British holidaymakers.

- 'Extra stay'-

In Istanbul's historic Eminonu neighbourhood, tourists expressed mixed feelings about their cheaper vacation in Turkey.

"In the first place of course it's an advantage for us," German tourist Barbara said on the Golden Horn, walking with her husband.

The industry has managed to diversify its appeal, with sharp rises in the numbers of visitors arriving from countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, while traditional tourism from Europe also revived

"But in second place we also feel kind of sorry because the men in the shop do not earn so much anymore for what it's worth. So there are these two sides."

Martin Bifrare, from Switzerland, said he might extend his family vacation with his wife and children over the currency difference.

"With this economic situation, we could decide, for example, to stay an extra week or to allow ourselves a few excursions that we wouldn't necessarily have done otherwise," he said.
Health workers in DR Congo have turned to an experimental treatment and an unlicensed vaccine - both of which have undergone safety trials - to fight Ebola

Raging conflict is hampering efforts to rein in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the WHO chief warned Tuesday, urging a ceasefire to stop the virus from transmitting freely.

As the death toll in the outbreak declared on August 1 in DRC's violence-wracked North Kivu province hit 41, the World Health Organization chief also called for the rapid roll-out of an unlicenced drug being used for the first time to treat Ebola patients.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva he feared conditions on the ground in the eastern province had created "a conducive environment for the transmission of Ebola."

Tedros, who travelled to the epicentres of the outbreak in Beni and Mangina in recent days, said he had been very worried before his trip, but that after the visit "I am actually more worried."

The outbreak in North Kivu's Beni region, which shares borders with Uganda and Rwanda, was declared a week after WHO and the Kinshasa government hailed the end of an Ebola flareup in northwestern Equateur province, which killed 33 people.

The latest outbreak, which now counts 57 probable and confirmed cases of the deadly virus, is the country's 10th since 1976, when the disease was first identified in the DRC near the Ebola River.

- 'Red zones' -

DRC health authorities said Tuesday that for the first time since the outbreak was announced, one fatality was recorded outside of North Kivu -- in the neighbouring province of Ituri.

The new outbreak poses the same problems as past cases in the DRC, including major logistical hurdles in a volatile country with weak health infrastructure.

But in North Kivu, health workers are being forced to navigate their response among more than 100 armed groups, and Tedros said that there have been 120 violent incidents since January alone.

He said the region was sprinkled with so-called "red zones", or inaccessible areas.

"That environment is really conducive for Ebola ... to transmit freely."

"We call on the warring parties for cessation of hostilities, because the virus is dangerous to all. It doesn't choose between this group or that group," he said.

Ebola causes serious illness including vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases internal and external bleeding. It is often fatal if untreated.

- Prototype drug -

In a bid to halt the virus's lethal advance, DRC health authorities said Tuesday that doctors in Beni had begun using a prototype drug called mAb114 to treat patients.

The treatment is "the first therapeutic drug against the virus to be used in an active Ebola epidemic in the DRC," the health ministry's directorate for disease control said.

Developed in the United States, the prototype drug is a so-called single monoclonal antibody -- a protein that binds on to a specific target of the virus and triggers the body's immune system to destroy the invader.

In May, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said it was carrying out the first human trials of mAb114 to test it for safety and tolerance.

Tedros said five patients had received the unlicenced drug so far, and that WHO would like the roll-out "to speed up as much as possible."

Use of the experimental treatment in the field comes on the heels of deployment of an unlicensed vaccine in the earlier Ebola outbreak in the DRC this year.

The decision to use the vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, came after trials during the 2013-2015 pandemic in West Africa showed it to be safe and effective, the WHO says.

The vaccine played a significant role in halting Ebola's spread in Equateur province, and should also be useful in fighting the new outbreak.

Targeted vaccination, aimed primarily at front-line health workers, began last week, and so far 216 people have received a jab.

But Tedros warned that lack of access could impact the efficiency of the current vaccine campaign, which is based on so-called ring vaccination aimed at immunising every person who has been in contact with the sick, and all of their contacts.

He said WHO and its partners were considering other approaches, including possibly vaccinating all 1,200 people living in Mangina, where at least seven health workers have been infected.
Several accidents involving US military aircraft in Japan have stoked tensions between Washington and Tokyo and led to protests against the deployment of Ospreys by residents living near US bases

Two US military Osprey aircraft made separate emergency landings at airports on Japanese islands on Tuesday, with no injuries or damage reported, local media said.

One of the two MV-22 Ospreys landed at Amami Airport in southwestern Kagoshima prefecture Tuesday afternoon, according to the Kyodo and Jiji news agencies.

The tilt-rotor aircraft left the Japanese airport two hours later, interrupting some commercial flights, public broadcaster NHK said.

The other Osprey made an emergency landing further south at the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Friday afternoon, Kyodo said, quoting government sources.

There were no reports of injuries or damage following the two incidents.

Immediate confirmation of the news reports was not available.

The Osprey, a hybrid helicopter-turboprop with a chequered safety record, has two engines positioned on fixed wingtips that allow it to land and take off vertically. It can travel much faster than a helicopter.

Several accidents involving US military aircraft in Japan have stoked tensions between Washington and Tokyo and led to protests against the deployment of Ospreys by residents living near US bases.

The incidents have included emergency landings by US military helicopters, a piece of a helicopter falling on the grounds of a Japanese school, and the deadly crash last year of an MV-22 Osprey which forced a massive rescue operation.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis apologised to his Japanese counterpart over the mishaps in January.
Sri Lankan forces face allegations of widespread abuses during the bloody civil war against ethnic Tamil separatists

Sri Lankan police on Tuesday arrested a navy intelligence officer in connection with atrocities committed during the island's bloody civil war, including the assassination of a prominent Tamil politician.

Lieutenant commander Sampath Hettiarachchi was wanted in connection with the abduction and illegal detention of 11 young men between 2008 and 2009, police said, the final phase of the war between government forces and ethnic Tamil separatists.

The 11 men are believed to have been killed while being illegally held by the navy. Their bodies were never found.

The then-navy spokesman D.K.P. Dissanayake is also a suspect in the case. He was arrested last year and is currently on bail.

"We have now arrested one of the most wanted men and we are very close to concluding the investigation," a police source said, adding that Hettiarachchi was also wanted in connection with the 2006 slaying of Tamil lawmaker Nadarajah Raviraj.

There have been persistent allegations that senior military personnel and members of the former regime of strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse were responsible for a number of high-profile killings.

Several military intelligence officers are facing prosecution in connection with the assassination of a prominent anti-establishment newspaper editor, and for orchestrating attacks on other journalists and dissidents during Rajapakse's rule that ended in January 2015.

The former leader and several members of his family are also being probed for large-scale financial fraud and murder during his decade as president.

Rajapakse successfully crushed the separatist rebels, known as the Tamil Tigers, but the government offensive also sparked allegations of widespread abuses, including the killing of 40,000 minority Tamils by the ethnic Sinhalese-dominated armed forces.
The Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza has been closed to most goods since July 9, with fuel intermittently banned during that time

Israel will reopen its only goods crossing with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday if calm is maintained, after having prevented most deliveries since July 9 over border tensions, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

"Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman this afternoon held a situation assessment" with security chiefs, his office said in a statement on Tuesday.

"In the meeting it was decided that if the quiet which has been maintained on the Gaza border continues until tomorrow morning, Kerem Shalom crossing will open tomorrow at 9:00 am (0600 GMT) and the fishing zone will be expanded back to nine miles from the beach."

Kerem Shalom has been closed to most goods since July 9. Fuel has intermittently been banned during that time, including since August 2, though food and medicine has been allowed.

Last month, Israel also reduced the limits of the fishing zone it allows fishermen off the blockaded Gaza Strip to three nautical miles offshore.

Gaza border protests and clashes broke out on March 30 and have led to months of tension that have also seen several military flare-ups.

Israel has also been seeking to stop kites and balloons carrying firebombs over the border fence to burn Israeli farmland.

At least 169 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli fire since March 30, mostly during clashes and protests.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July.

Israel says its blockade is necessary to keep Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used for military purposes.

There have been efforts by United Nations officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, though Israeli officials have not commented on them.

A fragile truce came into effect Thursday night, mediated by Egypt and the UN, according to a source close to the negotiations.

Thursday saw extensive Israeli air strikes in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies beginning on Wednesday night.

Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, including a mother and her 18-month-old daughter, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire as hundreds took refuge in bomb shelters.

It was one of the most serious escalations since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of rising tensions.

Gaza's only other goods crossing is at Rafah on the Egyptian border.

That checkpoint had largely been kept closed in recent years, but Egypt opened it in mid-May and it is has mostly remained so since.
President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was injured when his car was "accidentally" shot at by a soldier, according to the government's version of the October 2012 events

A Mauritanian court has handed a six-month jail term for "slanderous denunciation" to a soldier and a former senator who contradicted the official account of how the country's president was shot and injured in 2012, a judicial source said Tuesday.

According to the government's version of events, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was injured on October 13, 2012 when his car was "accidentally" hit by rounds fired by a soldier on patrol about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the capital Nouakchott.

The incident left the former general needing a short period of hospital treatment in France.

On Monday, Mohamed Ould Ghedde, a former opposition senator, and soldier Mohamed Ould Mohamed Mbarek -- who had been alongside the trooper who fired the shots -- were given six-month terms, three months of which were suspended, for casting doubt on this account.

Soldier Mbarek, in a posting on the senator's Facebook page, had said his comrade neither aimed at the president's car, nor did he hit it -- an account that appeared to suggest a darker motive for the president's injury.

Mbarek was arrested following a complaint by his fellow trooper, Lieutenant Elhaj Ould H'Moudy, who supported the official account.

During the trial, which began on August 9, Mbarek retracted his claim, saying that his version of events had been "the fruit of his imagination", while adding that he "needed the money" which the senator promised to give him.

Mauritania's president came to power in a coup in 2008 and was elected in 2009 and again in 2014 for a second five-year term.

He championed a controversial referendum in August 2017 which included a constitutional amendment that abolished the country's senate.

The accused senator also faces another trial for "corruption", in a separate case linking him with other former lawmakers who opposed the constitutional amendment.
The ICG says that the "intensity of the conflict against Boko Haram in Cameroon's Far North (pictured in February 2018) has diminished," but there are still some major challenges to achieving long-term stability

Violence in northern Cameroon by Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadists has diminished but rooting out their threat will need deft handling, the International Crisis Group (ICG) warned on Tuesday.

"The intensity of the conflict against Boko Haram in Cameroons Far North has diminished, though the movement still poses a threat and the humanitarian situation remains precarious," the thinktank said.

Two major challenges must be overcome to consolidate long-term stability, it said: "First, dealing with former combatants and other Boko Haram members; and, secondly, determining the future of community self-defence, or vigilante, groups."

A militant movement that reviles Western influence and seeks to impose an Islamic state based on Sharia law, Boko Haram has caused the deaths of at least 20,000 people since it took up arms in Nigeria in 2009.

Its insurgency has spilled into neighbouring countries, including Cameroon's Far North Region.

Since 2014, the group has killed 2,000 civilians and soldiers and kidnapped about 1,000 people in Cameroon, according to the ICG's estimates.

The main tools to fight the jihadists in the Far North include encouragement to desert, and the use of around 14,000 vigilantes to provide intelligence for the security forces and protection for villages.

"Since October 2017, the Cameroon government has been more willing to accept Boko Haram deserters. To date, almost 200 have surrendered," the ICG said.

But the government should strengthen this policy by announcing that it will protect surrendering Boko Haram members "and afford them due process."

It should also devise a programme of support to help former jihadists reintegrate in the community, the report said.

As for the vigilantes, the authorities should keep closer supervision of their activities, train them better, demobilise them in areas where they are not needed and investigate all accusations of abuses by them.

"International support for measures to deal with former Boko Haram members and vigilantes will be critical, given the lack of local expertise and the strain on public finances, with the October presidential election looming and Cameroon hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019," the report said.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis tells Brazilian military leaders the United States wants a stronger relationship with the South American giant

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis urged closer strategic ties with Brazil on Tuesday in what appeared to be part of a concerted pushback against growing Chinese influence in Latin America.

Mattis, who is starting a tour of the region, told military officers at Rio de Janeiro's war college that Brazil and the United States had interests built on shared geography, democracy and battlefield history dating to World War II.

Mattis said the United States wants a "stronger relationship," with a focus on using the Brazil's Alcantara space center, whose location near the equator makes launches more effective.

China is developing its space infrastructure in Latin America, with a base in southern Argentina's Patagonia region. It has also pushed deep into the continent's economies as an investor and major client for agricultural, mineral and other commodities.

Mattis said that US interest in Alcantara was "not because it lies along the equator, a happy accident of geography, but because we want to work with Brazilians -- our hemispheric neighbors whose values we share politically, as well as your technological orientation."

"Others cannot credibly say the same," he said in what appeared to be a pointed reference to China.

China's regional rise comes after long decades of deep, sometimes controversial US influence in Latin America. Mattis, due to visit Argentina, Chile and Colombia next, made clear that Washington is in no mood to give way.

"We see Latin America as our neighbor. Some people say we don't pay much attention to it. That is certainly not the case in the military," Mattis said in separate comments issued by the Pentagon's press office.

Adam Isacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research organization, told AFP that Mattis is trying to make up for lost time.

"He's going to South America now simply to raise the United States' defense profile in a region that hasn't had a visit from a defense secretary since 2014," Isacson said.

"The Pentagon probably feels a need to raise the US profile amid concerns about increasing Russian and Chinese influence on the continent."

- Brazil lead on Venezuela -

Mattis told officers in Rio that following an April discussion with Brazil's defense minister, Joaquim Silva e Luna, he ordered staff "to transform our defense relationship with Brazil, to reenergize it."

Mattis singled out Brazil as a regional leader, praising the country's record of multiple peacekeeping missions and its stand against the deeply anti-US government in chaotic Venezuela.

Mattis described the Venezuelan leadership as a "power-hungry, oppressive regime that forces refugees into Brazil and into Colombia, and elsewhere."

The Brazilian defense minister said Monday after talks with Mattis that his US counterpart believed "the solution (in Venezuela) should be led by Brazil."

In an interview with Brazil's O Globo newspaper earlier this week, Mattis again emphasized what he said were the shared democratic values in the US-Latin American partnerships, specifically comparing this to the nature of the new regional rivals China and Russia.

Admiral Kurt Tidd, commander of the US Southern Command, explicitly underlined Washington's fears in a speech in June, warning that Latin America tends to get forgotten in strategic considerations.

Russia has made "a noticeable increase" in its military and intelligence presence in Latin America during the last six years, as well as leveraging the effect of its international state-controlled media to "discredit, distort or outright fabricate stories about the United States," Tidd said.

China, he said, could be using its massive investment activities as cover "for China's strategic interests at the expense of others."
This undated handout photo released by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services shows convicted murderer Carey Dean Moore, who on Tuesday became the first person in America to be executed with the opioid fentanyl

Nebraska on Tuesday carried out America's first execution using fentanyl -- the opioid at the center of the country's deadly overdose crisis -- as part of an untested four-drug combination.

Carey Dean Moore, who was sentenced to death for two 1979 murders, was the first prisoner executed in the Midwestern state in 21 years, and the first ever by lethal injection.

Moore was pronounced dead at 10:47 am (1547 GMT) in an execution that lasted approximately 20 minutes, according to Scott Frakes, Director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

It was a pivotal test for Nebraska, where the state legislature abolished the death penalty in 2015, only to see voters reinstate it the following year in a referendum. It last performed an execution in 1997 with the electric chair.

"I recognize that today's execution impacts many people on many levels," said Frakes, adding that the lethal injection was carried out with "professionalism, respect for the process and dignity for all involved."

Three of the four substances used had never been used for lethal injections -- underscoring the difficulty states across America have had in obtaining previously employed execution drugs.

The protocol consists of the sedative diazepam to render unconsciousness, the painkiller fentanyl citrate, the muscle relaxer cisatracurium to stop an inmate's breathing, and, finally, potassium chloride to stop the heart.

Only potassium chloride has been used before in executions.

Last week, German drug maker Fresenius Kabi challenged Moore's execution in court, believing it had been the source of two of the drugs and contending those were improperly acquired.

The state insisted the drugs were legally obtained and a federal judge on Friday sided with the state. An appellate court also ruled against the German firm on Monday.

- 'I am guilty' -

Moore had been on death row for 38 years and said he did not want further delays.

While still in his early 20s, Moore was sentenced to death in 1980 for the killings of two Omaha taxi drivers five days apart. He admitted to shooting to death the first driver during a robbery committed with his brother.

In his final words, Moore alluded to a written statement dated August 2, in which he pointed to other death row inmates in Nebraska who claim to be innocent.

"I am guilty, they are not," he wrote. "Why must they remain there one day longer?"

Moore also asked forgiveness from his brother.

Moore's was the 16th execution in the US this year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Speaking at the reception, Vice Chairman Liem said that the time-honoured friendship between Laos and Vietnam has seen positive developments in various fields, bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries.

Ho Chi Minh City is one of the leading localities in the country in terms of its cooperation with Lao localities, actively contributing to strengthening and developing the fine relationship between the two countries, he added.

He also expressed his hope that, through the working visit made by the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Laos, the two sides would continue to have close cooperation, specifically in the field of science and technology, in order to further promote the socio-economic development of both countries.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Sundara Sourioudong said that the Lao delegation wishes to learn about experience in promoting policies on science - technology and intellectual property of Ho Chi Minh City.

At the meeting, the two sides exchanged on policies related to supporting science and technology of Ho Chi Minh City, the State management system on intellectual property, and policies to support intellectual property development in Ho Chi Minh City.
Palestinian postal workers go through sacks of previously undelivered mail, blocked by Israel from entering the West Bank for up to eight years, in the city of Jericho on August 14, 2018

Palestinian postal service employees are working overtime to sort through some 10 tonnes of letters and packages blocked by Israel for up to eight years, Palestinian officials said Tuesday.

The parcels, dating from between 2010 and this year, had been prevented by Israel from entering the West Bank via Jordan but were released in a one-time deal, the officials said.

The goods range from simple letters to medicine and even wheelchairs for the disabled, AFP journalists found at the sorting centre in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho.

Palestinian Telecommunications Minister Allam Mousa accused Israel in a statement of having blocked the delivery and of delaying the implementation of an agreement on postal services.

Israeli authorities confirmed the packages had been transferred and said an agreement was in the works, but did not comment in detail.

Ramadan Ghazawi, an official at the sorting centre in Jericho, said he understood some items had been blocked for security reasons, while others were barred on administrative grounds.

"A few days ago Israel allowed more than 10 tonnes of postal parcels that were stuck in Jordan," he told AFP.

He said it would take his staff another two weeks to sort through all the parcels and get them delivered to their recipients.

Israel controls all entrances and exits to the West Bank and can prevent goods passing through as it sees fit.

Palestinian officials say such control cripples their economy and freedom of movement.

In the sorting centre, hundreds of bags were piled on top of each other as workers picked through them in the stifling summer heat.

Ghazawi said that the parcels and letters, mostly the former, had been sent from all over the world.

Many were goods ordered online by Palestinians that never arrived.

A note attached to a wheelchair said it was sent from Turkey in 2015 and meant to be delivered to the Gaza Strip.

COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civilian coordination in the Palestinian territories, said the release was part of confidence building measures after the two sides agreed on a postal entry deal "about a year ago".

It said while the deal had not yet gone into force for future deliveries, it had "allowed a one-time transfer of approximately ten and a half tonnes of mail that had been held in Jordan".

Some of the transferred goods had been broken, and Ghazawi said that to avoid complaints they were delivering them along with a statement saying Israeli authorities had delivered them in this condition.
President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort is on trial on bank and tax fraud charges

The explosive trial of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort headed toward final arguments Tuesday after defense attorneys rested their case without calling witnesses on the veteran political operative's behalf.

After hearing some 20 witnesses for prosecutors describe how Manafort allegedly evaded taxes on millions of dollars and repeatedly lied to banks as he borrowed millions more, a jury of 12 could begin deliberating on the case as early as late Wednesday, according to US media.

Lawyers for Manafort, 69, who faces 18 counts related to tax and bank fraud, had tried to get federal Judge T.S. Ellis to throw out some or all of the charges against him, but Ellis rejected the motion.

In a two-week trial that highlighted Manafort's lavish spending on clothing, including $15,000 for an ostrich-skin bomber jacket and landscaping one of his homes with a flower bed shaped like the letter "M", the jury heard from a former partner and a former accountant on how the longtime political consultant doctored his accounts and laundered tens of millions of dollars through offshore banks.

The case was the first to be tried in the sprawling investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which is focused on possible illegal collusion between President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign and Russia.

Trump has denounced the probe as a politically motivated "witch hunt" and denied there was any collusion with Moscow to defeat Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

While several others charged in the investigation, including former Manafort aide Richard Gates, have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate in the Mueller probe, Manafort has stubbornly battled the prosecution's charges.

Yet Trump and the 2016 election campaign were barely mentioned during the trial.

The charges against Manafort relate mostly to his handling of money he earned working for Russian-favored politicians in Ukraine from 2005 to 2014, including helping tycoon Viktor Yanukovych become president in 2010.

Besides the trial underway in the US district court in Alexandria, Virginia, Manafort faces multiple charges of conspiracy, money laundering and obstruction of justice filed separately by Mueller's team in the Washington, DC district court.
An Angolan sergeant, similar to the soldiers pictured here in 2012, has been jailed after shooting a boy during an August 2016 demonstration against the demolition of houses for an industrial project

An Angolan army sergeant was jailed for 18 years on Tuesday for shooting dead a 14-year-old boy at a protest two years ago, in a sentence welcomed by rights groups.

Rufino Antonio died after the military opened fire in August 2016 at a demonstration against the demolition of houses for an industrial project in Zango, a working class suburb on the outskirts of the capital Luanda.

Witnesses said the soldiers fired without warning into the air and at protesters' feet to disperse the crowd, with Antonio shot fatally in the neck in an incident that caused widespread anger in Angola.

The judge at the court in Luanda sentenced Jose Alves Tadi, who was found guilty of the killing, to 18 years in jail and ordered him to pay 1,000,000 kwanza ($3,700) to the boy's family.

"We hope today's verdict and sentence will send a clear message that nobody is above the law in Angola," Zenaida Machado, Angola specialist at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

Family lawyer Luis Nascimento confirmed the sentences, but called for higher compensation.

Three other soldiers were sentenced to one year in jail.
In a file photo taken on June 23, 2018, NGO workers carry out a rescue drill near the Aquarius rescue vessel chartered by French NGO SOS-Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), on open sea between Lampedusa and Tunisia

Tunisian authorities on Tuesday denied accusations by Italy that migrants it arrested as they tried to cross the Mediterranean for Italian shores were "terrorists".

Tunisia's interior ministry on Monday announced the arrest of 15 people heading for European shores, stating that nine of them were considered by police as "Salafists", or fundamentalist Muslims.

On Tuesday Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini tweeted about the arrest of nine "ISLAMIST EXTREMISTS" attempting to travel to Italy, saying: "That's for those who say 'terrorists don't arrive by boast.'"

Salvini, who is also leader of the far-right League party, in March described migrants arriving illegally to Italy as "delinquents".

Reacting to Salvini's tweet, spokesman for Tunisia's National Guard Houssemeddine Jebabli told the country's Mosaique FM radio that "there was no terrorist project against Italy in this attempt to migrate illegally".

"They wanted to flee Tunisia in search of a better life, like other migrants," Jebabli told AFP, adding that those arrested were men aged 28 to 42 and that none of them were suspected of having links to terrorist groups.

A growing number of Tunisians seeking a better future are trying to cross the Mediterranean and enter Europe illegally.

In the first half of 2018, Tunisian authorities arrested 2,659 people for trying to cross the sea illegally, compared to 564 people during the same period last year.

Hundreds have drowned in a series of deadly shipwrecks in recent months -- that latest on June 3 left 87 people dead.

Separately on Tuesday, the interior ministry announced the arrest of two youths suspected of having received training over the internet from Islamic State group jihadists on how to make explosives and carry out knife attacks.
An Israeli air strike rocks Gaza City on August 9, 2018

A key partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition on Tuesday condemned moves for a long term truce agreement with Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, hawkish head of the religious nationalist Jewish Home party, said his party would oppose such an agreement if it were put to a government vote.

"In light of the agreement being forged between Israel and Hamas, (Bennett) announced tonight that the Jewish Home Party would oppose an agreement based on a temporary calm," his office said in a statement.

Such a deal "would allow Hamas to rearm and regroup for the next round of terror," it said.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008.

A wave of protests and clashes erupted along the strip's border with Israel on March 30, since when at least 169 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July.

Since July there have also been three major military flare-ups between Israel and Hamas, with Palestinian rocket and mortar fire into Israel answered with Israeli air strikes and tank fire.

A fragile ceasefire came into effect Thursday night, mediated by Egypt and the United Nations, according to a source close to the negotiations.

The defence ministry said on Tuesday that Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman had ordered some easing of Israel's blockade of the coastal Palestinian territory if the current calm was maintained.

It said that Israel would reopen its only goods crossing with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning if there were no incidents, and restore Gaza's offshore fishing zone to nine miles, which had been reduced last month to three.

There have been efforts by United Nations officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, though there has not so far been any official comment from the Israeli government.

Bennet slammed his political rival Lieberman's decision to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

"Lieberman's gestures to Hamas are a mistake -- Jewish Home ministers will vote against the Israel-Hamas agreement," he wrote in the English-language statement.

Israeli media said that the security cabinet was expected to convene on Wednesday to debate the Gaza situation.

"After 130 days under attack and rocket fire, we must not reward terrorists," Bennet added. "The terrorists will learn that terror pays, and Israel's power of deterrence will be harmed."
Sean Rad, founder of dating app Tinder, is among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging that parent company IAC manipulated the value of the company

Tinder founders and early employees filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing parent firm InterActiveCorp of cheating them out of billions of dollars by manipulating the value of stock options for the popular dating app.

The suit filed in New York contends that IAC and its spinoff Match Group, which owns Tinder, schemed to dramatically drive down the value of stock options and then eliminate them altogether.

The companies "made contractual promises to recruit and retain the men and women who built Tinder" but then "lied, bullied, and violated their contractual duties, stealing billions of dollars,"said attorney Orin Snyder, who filed the suit on behalf of Tinder co-founders Jonathan Badeen, Justin Mateen, Sean Rad and others from its startup days.

The suit names IAC and Match as defendants, accusing the companies of breach of contract and called for at least $2 billion in compensation along with punitive damages.

Tinder, created in 2012, uses geolocation to propose nearby romantic matches for users to quickly scroll through, then "swipe" left or right to signal interest.

It was launched as a project from IAC-owned Hatch Labs, and the holding company eventually acquired a majority stake.

According to the lawsuit, IAC last year "manufactured a fake Tinder valuation of $3 billion" which was unchanged from two years earlier, despite its revenues having grown 600 percent and user base grown 50 percent.

By "lowballing" the value of Tinder and then merging it into Match, the companies "robbed the Tinder plaintiffs of billions of dollars," the suit alleges.

IAC and Match said the allegations were "meritless" and pledged to contest the lawsuit.

"Mr. Rad (who was dismissed from the company a year ago) and Mr. Mateen (who has not been with the company in years) may not like the fact that Tinder has experienced enormous success following their respective departures, but sour grapes alone do not a lawsuit make," the companies said.

Match Group has paid out more than a billion dollars in equity compensation to Tinder founders and employees, according to IAC.

Plaintiffs in the case identified themselves as the team that built Los Angeles-based Tinder.

The lawsuit also claims the company sought to cover up allegations of sexual harassment against former Match Group chief Greg Blatt.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks during his visit to the Brazilian War College in Rio de Janeiro

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis got some alarmingly direct insight into Rio de Janeiro's violent crime wave when gunfire burst out close to his hotel during an official visit to the Brazilian city.

Mattis, at the start of a South American tour, said Tuesday the sound of shots overnight had been upsetting.

"You remember every time you hear one of those shots somebody's life could be changing," he told reporters aboard his airplane. "So I didn't make light of it. I was sad to hear it frankly."

Mattis was staying near Copacabana beach, an area where wealthy residents live a stone's throw from an impoverished favela called Chapeu Mangueira.

Rio's many favelas are almost daily witnesses to shootings, either between rival drug gangs or police and drug gangs. Stray bullets are a constant menace to favela residents and also to people living in the surrounding streets.

Mattis acknowledged that parts of the United States also suffer serious gun violence.

"We have some cities in America that we know are tragically having this problem as well. This is what happens if we don't keep, I would call it consensual policing where the whole community helps police and is able to keep lawless elements at arm's length," he said.
This photograph by Taiwan agency CNA Photo shows Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaking during her visit to Los Angeles, California

President Donald Trump's administration denied Tuesday any change to its "One-China" policy after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen made a political speech in the US, the first time in 15 years a Taiwanese leader has done so.

Beijing said that it had lodged an official protest with the United States over Tsai's speech Monday in Los Angeles, where she said Taiwan's freedom and future was not negotiable.

Tsai spoke at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library while in transit on a trip to Paraguay and Belize, two of the few countries that continue to recognize the government in Taipei.

State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the speech did not represent any move by the Trump administration to alter the official US stance that accepts Beijing as the sole government of China, and does not officially recognize Taiwan's government.

"Our policy on Taiwan has not changed," she told reporters.

"The United States in regard to this trip facilitates from time to time representatives of the Taiwan authorities to transit the United States."

"Those are largely undertaken out of consideration for the safety and the comfort of those travelers, and that is in keeping with our One-China policy."

Yet previous US administrations have prevented Taiwan leaders from making speeches in the United States that would implicitly elevate their diplomatic status and irk Beijing.

Tsai's transit in Los Angeles was the most high-profile since former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian's 2003 stopover in New York, where he accepted a human rights award and delivered several public speeches.

Tsai, a firm defender of Taiwan's independence, said in the speech Monday that "We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy."

Tsai's stopover came amid a rise in tensions between China and Taiwan that has raised concerns in Washington.

In April the Chinese military held live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait in what was widely seen as a move to intimidate Taipei.

In Singapore in June, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned China not to alter the security status quo in the region.

Last month, Beijing forced several international airlines, including US carriers, to begin listing Taiwan as a part of China in advertising their services.
Debra Tice (R), mother of US journalist Austin Tice, who is thought to have been taken captive in Syria, speaks during a press conference with her husband Marc in the Lebanese capital Beirut on July 20, 2017

President Donald Trump's administration believes missing US journalist Austin Tice is still alive, six years after he is thought to have been taken captive in Syria.

"We believe him to be alive," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on the sixth anniversary of his disappearance.

"We remain deeply concerned about his well-being, and we are actively working to bring Austin Tice home."

Nauert declined to provide information on how the United States has reached that conclusion or where he is being held, and by whom.

Tice was a 31-year-old freelance photojournalist working for AFP, McClatchy News, The Washington Post, CBS, and other news organizations when he was detained at a checkpoint near Damascus on August 14, 2012.

A former marine, he appeared blindfolded in the custody of an unidentified group of armed men in a video a month later.

Since then, there has been no official information on whether he is alive or dead.

Earlier this year, the US government announced a reward of $1 million for information about Tice.

Speaking to the Washington Post, his parents said they hoped the Trump administration would open direct talks with the Syrian government to secure his release.

"We really do believe that this administration has a greater commitment to bring people home," his mother Debra Tice said.

With US-Syria relations broken off, Nauert declined to answer directly when asked if direct talks with Damascus on Tice were possible.

"I can assure you that we're doing everything that we can to try to bring him home," she said.
BEIJING (AP) - As China's leaders gather for their annual Yellow Sea retreat, the country's political waters are looking choppy.

Chinese President and ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is beset by economic, foreign policy and domestic political challenges just months after clearing his way to rule for as long as he wants as China's most dominant leader since Mao Zedong.

Mounting criticism of the Xi administration's policies has exposed the risks he faces from amassing so much power: He's made himself a natural target for blame.

FILE - In this June 8, 2018, file photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Just months after clearing the way to rule in perpetuity president and ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is best by a wave of economic, foreign policy and domestic political challenges. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

"Having concentrated power, Xi is responsible for all policy setbacks and policy failures," said Joseph Cheng, a retired City University of Hong Kong professor and long-time observer of Chinese politics.

Notably, Xi used to dominate state-run newspapers' front pages and the state broadcaster CCTV's news bulletins on a daily basis but has in recent weeks made fewer public appearances. "He can't shift the blame, so he's responding by taking a lower profile," Cheng said.

The challenges so far aren't seen as a threat to Xi's grip on power, but for many Chinese, the government's credibility is on the line.

Of greatest concern to many is the trade war with the U.S. that threatens higher tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese exports. Critics say they've yet to see a coherent strategy from Beijing that could guide negotiations with Washington and avoid a major blow to the economy. Beijing instead seems to be opting for defiance and retaliatory measures of its own.

Both the stock market and the currency have weakened in response and the Communist Party itself conceded at a meeting last month that external factors were weighing heavily on economic growth.

At the same time, a scandal over vaccines has reignited long-held fears over the integrity of the health care industry and the government's ability to police the sprawling firms that dominate the economy.

"Trust is the most important thing and a loss of public confidence in the government could be devastating," said Zhang Ming, a retired professor of political science in Beijing.

And last week, the authorities mobilized a massive security effort to squelch a planned protest in Beijing over the sudden collapse of hundreds of peer-to-peer borrowing schemes that underscore the government's inability to reform the finance system to cater to small investors.

Meanwhile, Xi's signature project, the trillion-dollar "Belt and Road" initiative to build investment and infrastructure links with 65 nations, is running into headwinds over sticker shock among the countries involved. Some Chinese have also questioned the wisdom of sending vast sums abroad at a time when millions of Chinese remain mired in poverty.

That in part plays into concerns over Xi's abandonment of the highly pragmatic, low-key cautious approach to foreign relations advocated by Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China's economic reforms that laid the groundwork for today's relative prosperity.

Leaders are likely to discuss at least some of these challenges during informal discussions at the Beidaihe resort in Hebei province as part of a tradition begun under Mao. Xi and others generally drop out of sight for two weeks or more during the summer session.

Xi's mildly bombastic brand of Chinese triumphalism "has not been popular with many in the party," leading critics to speak out, said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at London's School of Oriental and African Studies.

Some have even called for the sacking of one prominent proponent of the rising China theme, Tsinghua University economist Hu Angang, with 27 graduates of the elite institution signing a letter to that effect.

Resentment lingers also over Xi's moves to consolidate power, including pushing through the removal of presidential term limits in March and establishing a burgeoning cult of personality.

That resentment was given voice in a lengthy jeremiad titled "Imminent Fears, Imminent Hopes" penned by Tsinghua University law professor Xu Zhangrun, who warned that, "Yet again people throughout China ... are feeling a sense of uncertainty, a mounting anxiety in relation both to the direction the country is taking as well as in regard to their personal security."

"These anxieties have generated something of a nationwide panic," Xu continued before listing eight areas of concern including stricter controls over ideology, repression of the intelligentsia, excessive foreign aid and "The End of Reform and the Return of Totalitarianism."

Even more boldly, Xu called for a restoration of presidential term limits and a re-evaluation of the 1989 pro-democracy movement centered on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The peaceful protests were crushed by the military and remain a taboo topic to this day.

Although Xu is reportedly out of the country and has not been officially sanctioned, another longtime critic, retired professor Sun Wenguang, found himself carted off by police in the middle of a radio interview with the Voice of America in which he railed against China's lavish spending abroad.

A sign of the Xi administration's anxieties is a new campaign to promote patriotism among intellectuals - a recurring tactic when public debate is seen as needing a course correction.

The notice of the new campaign, issued July 31, cites "the broad masses of intellectuals" and the "patriotic spirit of struggle," while giving little in the way of specifics.

Much of the discontent with Xi can be traced to his administration's perceived ineffectiveness, said Zhang, the retired academic.

"If you want to be emperor, you must have great achievements," Zhang said. "He hasn't had any, so it's hard to convince the people."
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New Brexit talks planned to find way of resolving Northern Ireland border issue

LONDON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A crucial round of negotiations to try to resolve the issue of a post-Brexit border between Northern Ireland and the neighboring Irish Republic are to be held Thursday in Brussels, Britain's Department for Exiting the European Union said Monday.

The future of the 500 km border between the two is one of the biggest unresolved issues as Theresa May's government seeks to find a way of ensuring a frictionless border on the island of Ireland.

Brexit Seretary Dominic Raab and the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will not be taking part in the new round of discussions. Instead high ranking negotiators from both sides will seek a way through the current deadlock.

On Friday the negotiations will switch to a proposed future relationship between Britain and the EU's remaining 27 member states after next March.

Meanwhile, new figures Monday from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the Irish Republic accounts for 27 percent of Northern Ireland's international export trade. The United States accounted for 25 percent, making it Northern Ireland's second biggest international export partner.

Northern Ireland's biggest export across the border into Ireland was food and live animals, particularly dairy products, which represented 33 percent of total exports to the Irish Republic.

More than two thirds (68 percent) of exporting businesses in Northern Ireland were small companies employing up to 49 workers.

Commentators in Britain and Ireland have warned that a no-deal Brexit could have serious consequences for industries that have extensive cross-border supply chains.

Last month May made her first visit to the Irish border since the 2016 Brexit referendum. She held talks with workers and business representatives from both sides of the border.

During her two-day visit May reaffirmed her commitment to a Brexit that avoids a hard border and protects the Belfast Agreement which brought to an end decades of conflict and troubles in Northern Ireland.

In a government white paper Britain has ruled out any kind of hard border.

"Daily journeys will continue to be seamless and there will be no checks or infrastructure at the border to get in the way of this," said May.

"I've also been clear we will not accept the imposition of any border down the Irish Sea and we will preserve the integrity of the UK's internal market and Northern Ireland's place within it," she added.

Media reports in Brussels said later that EU negotiator Barnier had rejected key elements of Britain's new trade proposals outlined in May's blueprint for a future post-Brexit trading relationship with the bloc.

Barnier made clear British offers to collect customs duties for the EU as part of efforts to avoid friction on Northern Ireland's new EU border had failed to convince already skeptical Europeans.

Both sides are aiming to have draft deal in place by October, but observers fear a no-deal outcome is looking increasingly possible.

Last week Britain's international trade secretary Liam Fox said the chance of a no-deal Brexit is growing, blaming the "intransigence" of the European Commission. Fox put the chance of failing to come to an agreement at "60-40", but 10 Downing Street has insisted the British government remains confident it can get a good deal with Brussels.
Ed Bledsoe swears the sound of angels was the last thing he heard before a call from his great-grandson abruptly ended and a wildfire killed the 5-year-old boy, his 4-year-old sister and their great grandmother while consuming their Redding, California, home.

So the irony, the message or whatever you want to call it wasn't lost on him that angel figurines were among the few things he has recovered while scavenging through the rubble of his charred home.

"I found three angels, a little boy, a little girl and I found my wife's big angel, a woman reading Scripture," Bledsoe said Monday after paying another visit to the remains of the home where he and his wife were raising their great-grandson, James Roberts Jr., and his 4-year-old sister, Emily.

Ed Bledsoe tries to hold back tears as he searches through what remains of his home, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Redding, Calif. Bledsoe's wife, Melody, great-grandson James Roberts and great-granddaughter Emily Roberts were killed at the home in the Carr Fire. (AP Photo/John Locher)

He also recovered a small photo of his wife, Melody, and a few other keepsakes, including a knife he had taught his great-grandson to make while he made one for himself.

"I found his knife but not mine," Bledsoe, a 76-year-old handyman - his voice breaking - said by phone from a son's house in Shasta Lake.

In three weeks, the Carr Fire that took his home has consumed 317 square miles (510 kilometers), destroyed more than 1,000 homes and killed eight people. It's 61 percent contained.

The flames had appeared to be a safe distance away on July 26, when Bledsoe left home to run a few errands. Soon his wife, and then his great-grandson, called to tell him to hurry home because flames were at the back door.

Authorities say they had gone door to door warning people to evacuate, but Bledsoe said he never got the notice. Authorities have said they would investigate.

Since the tragedy, Bledsoe has kept busy salvaging keepsakes from the house and planning a memorial later this month.

He still refers to his wife and great-grandchildren in the present tense, saying he copes by sometimes imagining they're just on vacation and will return.

In the meantime he's fashioning a headstone out of a crystal ball that he made for his wife years ago and pieces of jade that survived the fire.

He intends to engrave each name on it and place it in his new home when he finds one.

"I tell myself I'm going to see them again when they come back to me," he says. "Or if they don't come back to me I'm going to see them again when I go over that hill for the last time."

Ed Bledsoe cries after searching through what remains of his home, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Redding, Calif. Bledsoe's wife, Melody, great-grandson James Roberts and great-granddaughter Emily Roberts were killed at the home in the Carr Fire. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Ed Bledsoe displays a photo of his wife, Melody, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Redding, Calif. Bledsoe's wife, great-grandson James Roberts and great-granddaughter Emily Roberts were killed at the home in the Carr Fire. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Ed Bledsoe rests as he searches through what remains of his home, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Redding, Calif. Bledsoe's wife, Melody, great-grandson James Roberts and great-granddaughter Emily Roberts were killed at the home in the Carr Fire. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Ed Bledsoe tries to hold back tears as he searches through what remains of his home, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Redding, Calif. Bledsoe's wife, Melody, great-grandson James Roberts and great-granddaughter Emily Roberts were killed at the home in the Carr Fire. (AP Photo/John Locher)
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Facing a growing trade dispute between the world's largest economies that threatens Kentucky's growing auto industry, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin struck an optimistic tone during a meeting with China's ambassador to the U.S. as he pledged to woo more Chinese-owned companies to the state.

Bevin and Ambassador Cui Tiankai (suwee' tee-ahn-khi) met Monday in the Kentucky Governor's Mansion.

The meeting comes after President Donald Trump's administration announced it would impose tariffs of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of Chinese goods. China responded by pledging equal duties on $16 billion of U.S. goods. Both tariffs are set to take effect Aug. 23 and will apply to cars, which are largely responsible for Kentucky's 60 percent increase in exports to China last year.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, right, and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai speak with reporters at the Governor's Mansion on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Frankfort, Ky. Tiankai met with Kentucky's Republican governor Monday to discuss economic development opportunities amid a growing trade dispute between the world's largest economies. (AP Photo/name)

At a joint news conference with Cui, Bevin defended Trump and described the trade dispute as part of a larger negotiation that will eventually "settle down."

"I think the intent for the long term is to make sure we get to the point where the nations are trading not only freely, but in a fair and equitable way given we are the two largest economies in the world," Bevin said.

Bevin said he and Cui did not discuss the tariffs much but focused on economic development opportunities in Kentucky. Bevin noted China is the world's second-largest economy, yet only seven Chinese companies operate in Kentucky, employing about 8,200 workers. By comparison, more than 200 Japanese companies operate in Kentucky, employing about 45,000 people.

Cui said that for many in China, knowledge of Kentucky begins with Kentucky Fried Chicken, a chain of fast food restaurants whose parent company is headquartered in Louisville. He said Kentucky has more to offer.

"The business community in China has a strong interest in making investments in the United States in general and in Kentucky in particular," Cui said. "The job of the governments is to try to reduce possible barriers so people could facilitate such economic trade and investment and cultural ties between our two people."

It's unclear how that can proceed with a growing trade dispute between the two countries. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Kentucky reporters he supports Trump's aggressive actions toward China because the country has been "eating our lunch" on trade.

Bevin noted decisions on trade are above his authority. But he predicted prosperous future between the two countries, saying he would like to see 200 Chinese companies operating in Kentucky over the next two decades. Bevin is scheduled to attend the China International Import Expo in Shanghai this November. He said he's going because China has "a massive appetite in products made in the United States."

"This should excite all of us. It should excite consumers in China, excite those of us in the United States that make products," he said. "This is not a bad time for business between China and the United States. This is a great time, an incredible time."
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Latest on heavy rains in Pennsylvania (all times local):

11:25 p.m.

Emergency officials say they are fairly confident Monday evening that a group of rafters is safe after a report that they were missing on Lehigh River.

Workers clean up debris swept into the street during flooding in Upper Darby, Pa., Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in central and southeastern Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Nearly 150 rafters appear to be safe almost three hours after water rescue teams from Lehigh and Northampton counties had been dispatched to search for them. They were on a rafting trip about 70 miles (113 kilometers) north of Philadelphia.

The Morning Call reports that emergency officials have talked to the rafting company and they appear to be happy with the numbers of those accounted for.

An emergency official says that the company believes the rafters were returning home on buses.

___

9:50 p.m.

Water rescue teams from Lehigh and Northampton counties have been dispatched Monday evening to the Lehigh River after officials say several rafters could be missing.

A rafting company had reported that they could not account for nearly 150 rafters.

The Morning Call reports that one official says it's possible everyone is safe, but they must account for every rafter.

A county dispatcher says there are "conflicting reports" if there is anyone missing on the river near Slatington, Pennsylvania, about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) north of Philadelphia.

___

5:10 p.m.

Officials are evacuating a few hundred people from part of a central Pennsylvania college town after a rain-swollen stream began to inundate their neighborhood.

Police in Bloomsburg triggered a siren late Monday afternoon for a mandatory evacuation on the west end of town, where Fishing Creek is out of its banks.

County emergency official Dave Witchey says a fire hall in Berwick is accepting evacuees, and another shelter may be opened, if necessary.

Heavy rains overnight caused flooding in a wide swath of Pennsylvania, including areas that have been soaked by a series of unusually heavy rains in recent weeks.

Bloomsburg evacuated some residents about a month ago over high waters on Fishing Creek and the Susquehanna River.

___

12:30 p.m.

Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in central and southeastern Pennsylvania.

WNEP-TV reports that Fishing Creek in Columbia County spilled from its banks Monday, flooding Benton and nearby areas.

In the Philadelphia area, the Schuylkill Expressway segment of Interstate 76 was shut down and a Pennsylvania Turnpike section was closed but later reopened.

Upper Darby and Montgomery County police report numerous rescues of people trapped in cars by flooding. The National Weather Service office issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads.

Governor Tom Wolf says the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is working with county and local emergency management to ensure residents are safely evacuated and get help.

___

12 p.m.

Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in central and southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Schuylkill Expressway segment of Interstate 76 was shut down at Route 202, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed between Valley Forge and Norristown due to flooding but later reopened.

Upper Darby police report officers "actively rescuing people trapped in their cars due to flooding." Montgomery county police reported officers responding to "dozens" of flooding and water rescue calls.

The National Weather Service office issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads.

Governor Tom Wolf says the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is working with county and local emergency management to ensure residents are safely evacuated and get help.

___

11 a.m.

Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey says numerous road closures and water rescues have been occurring.

Forecasters issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads.

The Schuylkill Expressway segment of Interstate 76 was shut down in both directions at Route 202 due to dangerous flooding.

Upper Darby police report officers "actively rescuing people trapped in their cars due to flooding."

The Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed between Valley Forge and Norristown due to flooding but later reopened.

Montgomery county police reported officers responding to "dozens" of flooding and water rescue calls.
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) - The most senior Roman Catholic cleric convicted of covering up child sex abuse was ordered by an Australian court Tuesday to serve his 1-year sentence in home detention rather than jail.

Newcastle Magistrate Robert Stone on Tuesday ordered former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson to be detained at his sister's house for at least 6 months before he is eligible for parole. He will be under strict supervision including having to wear a tracking device that would alert authorities if he left the house.

Wilson, 67, has denied the accusations and had refused to resign pending an appeal. But Pope Francis accepted Wilson's resignation last month after mounting pressure including from the Australian prime minister for him to be fired.

Former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson leaves Newcastle Local Court, in Newcastle, Australia, after a post-sentence decision, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The most senior Roman Catholic cleric convicted of covering up child sex abuse has been ordered by an Australian court to serve his 1-year sentence in home detention rather than jail. (Darren Pateman/AAP Image via AP)

Stone in May found Wilson guilty of failing to report to police the repeated abuse of two altar boys by pedophile priest James Fletcher in the Hunter Valley region north of Sydney during the 1970s. Wilson was an assistant priest at the time. Fletcher died of a stroke in 2006 while serving a prison sentence for child sex abuse.

Wilson, dressed in the black suit of a cleric, showed no emotion when the decision was announced.

His lawyer Ian Temby told the court Wilson planned to appeal his conviction but would not be applying for bail.

Outside court, Wilson was confronted by one of Fletcher's victims, Peter Gogarty, who repeatedly asked Wilson if he would apologize as he was led to a waiting car, but the clergyman did not respond.

"I'm beside myself about this," Gogarty later told reporters. "I'm still here, still hurting ... and not a single, solitary word to say sorry."

He called Wilson's detention lenient, labelling it a vacation.

Stone found Wilson had shown no remorse or contrition for the cover-up and his primary motive had been to protect the Catholic Church.

The magistrate accepted Wilson was unlikely to re-offend but found he had to serve a period of detention to deter others.

He said home detention was adequate punishment given Wilson's age and mental and physical conditions and that he had previously been of good character.

Bishop Greg O'Kelly, who is running the Archdiocese of Adelaide until a new archbishop is appointed, said in a statement he was keeping Wilson "in his prayers as he formally commences this stage in his life, while also remembering the victims and survivors of abuse in the church."

Former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson, center, arrives at Newcastle Local Court, in Newcastle, Australia, after a post-sentence decision,Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The most senior Roman Catholic cleric convicted of covering up child sex abuse has been ordered by an Australian court to serve his 1-year sentence in home detention rather than jail. (Darren Pateman/AAP Image via AP)
LAKEPORT, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on wildfires burning across the US West (all times local):

10:15 p.m.

Authorities say a Utah firefighter has died battling the largest recorded blaze in California history.

A boat taking off from Apgar heads across Lake McDonald on Monday morning, Aug. 13, 2018. Three fires burning in the park have reduced visibility and air quality. (Brenda Ahearn/The Daily Inter Lake via AP)

Authorities say the man died Monday night at a hospital after he was injured at the site of the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco.

Details haven't been released.

Firefighters from all over the country have been helping California battle a series of deadly and devastating wildfires in recent weeks that have spread through drought-parched forests and rural communities.

Six firefighters have died in those wildfires.

The deadliest fire, the Carr Fire, has left eight people dead, including three firefighters.

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8:15 p.m.

Authorities say a firefighter has been killed battling the largest record blaze in California history.

State fire officials say the firefighter died Monday at the site of the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco.

Details haven't been released.

Six firefighters have now died in connection with a wave of massive wildfires that struck Northern California in the past weeks.

The deadliest wildfire, the Carr Fire, has left a total of eight people dead, including three firefighters.

Two firefighters have died fighting a fire near Yosemite National Park.

The Mendocino Complex - actually twin fires being fought together - has burned for more than two weeks. The fire has burned nearly 150 homes and about 547 square miles (1,415 square kilometers) of brush and forest. That's an area larger than the city of Los Angeles.

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4:45 p.m.

A relatively light wildfire season across the Northern Rockies has roared to life as firefighters scrambled to try to stamp out more than 30 new blazes in recent days.

Authorities reported Monday that several new large fires have taken hold in Montana after a recent heat wave brought triple-digit temperatures.

That includes a 3-square-mile fire that has triggered an evacuation order for residents of 15 houses southwest of the town of Ennis and a fire in Glacier National Park that forced evacuations around Lake McDonald

Fires have charred a combined 30 square miles in Montana so far this year. By comparison, more than 2,400 square miles burned last year.

In Colorado, a wildfire in the southwestern portion of the state ignited by lightning July 29 had burned across 34 square miles (88 square kilometers) by Monday.

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11:00 a.m.

A wildfire is forcing evacuations in the most heavily-trafficked area of Glacier National Park and has destroyed an unknown number of structures around Lake McDonald.

The National Park Service said the 25-site Sprague Creek campground was being evacuated Monday, a day after the fast-moving fire forced the evacuation of 82 rooms at the historic Lake McDonald Lodge.

A second campground with 87 sites and some private residences also have been evacuated. A portion of the Going-to-the-Sun-Road remained closed to traffic.

The fire is one of several started in the park by lightning on Saturday evening. Windy, dry conditions on Sunday caused the blaze to spread rapidly.

Park officials had no estimate on the fire's size.

It's the second year in a row that wildfires prompted evacuations from Lake McDonald.

8:30 a.m.

A growing wildfire in Glacier National Park in northern Montana has forced the evacuation of an historic lodge and a campground.

The National Park Service says the Lake McDonald Lodge and the Avalanche Creek Campground were evacuated Sunday night and a portion of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic. Some private residences in the area also were evacuated.

The fire was one of several started in the park by lightning on Saturday evening. Windy, dry conditions on Sunday led to the fire growing Sunday.

Park officials had no estimate on the size of the fire, which is burning on the north side of Lake McDonald. The tourist areas on the south side of the lake are not affected by the fire.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska carried out its first execution in more than two decades on Tuesday with a drug combination never tried before, including the first use of the powerful opioid fentanyl in a lethal injection.

Carey Dean Moore, 60, was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m. Moore had been sentenced to death for killing two cab drivers in Omaha in 1979. He was the first inmate to be lethally injected in Nebraska, which last carried out an execution in 1997, using the electric chair.

Witnesses said that there appeared to be no complications in the execution process, which also was the first time a state used four drugs in combination.

Protestors are photographed by members of the media outside the Nebraska State Penitentiary in the public area, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska carried out its first execution in more than two decades on Tuesday with a drug combination never tried before, including the first use of the powerful opioid fentanyl in a lethal injection. Carey Dean Moore, 60, was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m. Moore had been sentenced to death for killing two cab drivers in Omaha in 1979.(Eric Gregory /Lincoln Journal Star via AP)

At one point while on the gurney, Moore turned his head and mouthed several words to his family, including "I love you."

In his final written statement , Moore admitted: "I am guilty." But he said there are others on Nebraska's death row who he believes are innocent and he said they should be released.

"How might you feel if your loved one was innocent and on death row?" Moore asked.

Moore's execution comes a little more than three years after Nebraska lawmakers abolished the death penalty, only to have it reinstated the following year through a citizen ballot drive partially financed by Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts. The governor, a wealthy former businessman, has said he was fulfilling the wishes of voters in the conservative state.

The Nebraska drug protocol called for an initial IV dose of diazepam, commonly known as Valium, to render the inmate unconscious, followed by the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, then cisatracurium besylate to induce paralysis and stop the inmate from breathing and potassium chloride to stop the heart. After each injection, prison officials sent saline through the IV to flush out any residue and ensure all the drugs had entered the inmate's system.

Diazepam and cisatracurium also had never been used in executions before.

According to prosecutors, Moore was 21 when he fatally shot Reuel Van Ness during a robbery with his younger brother, and used the money to buy drugs and pornography. Moore fatally shot Maynard Helgeland by himself five days later, saying he wanted to prove he could take a man's life by himself. Moore was arrested a week later. He was charged and convicted of first-degree murder, while his 14-year-old brother was convicted of second-degree murder.

In his statement, Moore also apologized to his brother, who was with him during the 1979 robbery and murder of Van Ness.

"I should (have) led him in the right way to go instead of bringing him down, way down," Moore said of his brother.

Moore had faced execution dates set by the Nebraska Supreme Court seven times since he was convicted, but each was delayed because of legal challenges and questions over whether previous lethal injection drugs were purchased legally. For some relatives of Moore's victims, that was far too long - and they hope his name and crimes will finally vanish from headlines.

"We're sick of hearing about Carey Dean Moore," Steve Helgeland, one of Maynard Helgeland's three children, said ahead of the execution.

Helgeland said the numerous delays in executing Moore had left him ambivalent about whether his father's killer dies by lethal injection or spends the rest of his life in prison. Helgeland said he plans to be present at the prison for the execution to honor his father's memory, but that he won't witness it.

"There was a point in my life when I probably would have pulled the switch myself, but 39 years has a way of dissipating your anger," he said.

A Germany-based drugmaker tried to halt the execution last week, filing a lawsuit that alleged the state had illegally procured at least one of the company's drugs. The company, Fresenius Kabi, argued that allowing the execution to go forward would harm its reputation and business relationships.

But a federal judge sided with state attorneys , who argued that the public's interest in carrying out a lawful execution outweighed the company's concerns. The judge also noted that Moore had stopped fighting the state's efforts to execute him.

A federal appeals court upheld that ruling Monday, and Fresenius Kabi decided not to take the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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FILE - This file photo provided by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services shows death-row inmate Carey Dean Moore. Nebraska prison officials are preparing to execute Moore on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, for the 1979 murders of two Omaha cab drivers. The execution comes three years after Nebraska lawmakers voted to abolish capital punishment, but did an about-face driven largely by the state's Republican governor. (Nebraska Department of Correctional Services via AP, File)

FILE - In this April 18, 2018, file photo, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts speaks at the legislature, in Lincoln, Neb. Three years after Nebraska lawmakers voted to abolish capital punishment, the state is preparing to carry out its first execution since 1997 on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in an about-face driven largely by Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts who helped finance a ballot drive to reinstate the punishment after lawmakers overrode his veto and abolished the punishment in 2015. (Gwyneth Roberts/Lincoln Journal Star via AP, File)

From left, media witnesses Brent Martin of Nebraska Radio Network, Joe Duggan of the Omaha World-Herald, Chip Matthews of News Channel Nebraska and Grant Schulte of The Associated Press answer questions after the execution of Carey Dean Moore on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Nebraska carried out its first execution in more than two decades on Tuesday with a drug combination never tried before, including the first use of the powerful opioid fentanyl in a lethal injection. Moore had been sentenced to death for killing two cab drivers in Omaha in 1979. (Gwyneth Roberts /Lincoln Journal Star via AP)

From left, media witnesses Joe Duggan of the Omaha World-Herald, Chip Matthews of News Channel Nebraska, Brent Martin of Nebraska Radio Network and Grant Schulte of The Associated Press answer questions after the execution of Carey Dean Moore on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Nebraska carried out its first execution in more than two decades on Tuesday with a drug combination never tried before, including the first use of the powerful opioid fentanyl in a lethal injection. Moore had been sentenced to death for killing two cab drivers in Omaha in 1979. (Gwyneth Roberts /Lincoln Journal Star via AP)
More than 313,000 ballots were cast in the hotly contested Republican primary for Kansas governor, but the two candidates are separated only by about 200 votes.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach leads Gov. Jeff Colyer after all regular ballots were counted, including mail-in and absentee votes. Now the winner will be determined by a review of some 9,000 provisional ballots.

A closer look at provisional ballots and how they work:

Johnson County chief council Don Jarrett speaks during the Johnson County Board of Canvassers meeting, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Olathe, Kan. County election officials across Kansas on Monday began deciding which provisional ballots from last week's primary election will count toward the final official vote totals, with possibility that they could create a new leader in the hotly contested Republican race for governor. Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by a mere 110 votes out of more than 313,000 cast as of Friday evening. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

WHAT EXACTLY ARE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS?

When a voter shows up at the polls and questions about their eligibility cannot be easily resolved, federal law requires that person to be offered a provisional ballot. The problem could involve a name not showing up on the voter rolls or a voter's address not matching a photo ID in states where that is required. Prior to the passage of a 2002 law, fewer than half of states offered provisional ballots.

HOW OFTEN ARE THEY USED?

During the 2016 presidential election, nearly 41,000 provisional ballots were cast in Kansas, according to data collected by the Election Assistance Commission. More than 2.4 million provisional ballots were cast in the U.S. that year.

An analysis by the commission found that the use of provisional ballots nationally has been steady since 2006. They account for roughly 1.1 percent of all ballots cast in midterm elections and 1.8 percent of all ballots cast in presidential elections since then.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AN ELECTION?

Provisional ballots are typically kept separate from regular ballots. If a voter is determined to be ineligible, the provisional ballot is rejected and will not be counted.

Between 2006 and 2016, states and territories reported that roughly 2.5 million provisional ballots were rejected out of some 10 million that were issued, according to the Election Assistance Commission.

Local election officials reported the most common reason for rejecting a provisional ballot was a voter not being registered in the state. Other reasons include provisional ballots being cast in the wrong county or wrong precinct and problems with a voter's identification or signature.

The ballots sometimes require a voter to take additional action. For example, in some states that require photo identification, voters who show up at the polls without an ID are directed to cast a provisional ballot and then present identification at their local election office within a few business days.

Federal law requires election officials to provide a way for voters to check on their provisional ballot, typically by using a toll-free phone number or a website. If a provisional ballot was not counted, a reason should be provided.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS?

Voting rights experts say provisional ballots are an important tool to ensure that a voter is not disenfranchised due to an administrative error. They also create a paper trail for identifying potential areas of concern, such as overly aggressive efforts to remove eligible voters from the rolls.

Experts also caution against provisional ballots being overused because there is no guarantee that they will be counted.

"Provisional ballots need to serve their function, which is to give an eligible voter the opportunity to cast a ballot that will count," said Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Brennan Center's Democracy Program. "If it's merely window dressing and in the end is not going to be a realistic way to solving the problem, that's not going to be helpful."

An Associated Press review last year found a large number of provisional ballots rejected in Kansas. Overall, the state rejected 13,717 provisional ballots in the 2016 election, slightly more than the 13,461 ballots that were tossed out in Florida, which has about seven times more residents.

WHO MAKES THE RULES?

Although federal law requires provisional ballots to be offered, the process for issuing them and determining which ones are eligible is left to state and local election officials.

In some states, if a voter has moved within a county but has not updated his or her registration, that person is given a provisional ballot. Other places have same-day voter registration so a voter could update an address and vote at a new polling place. And some places allow voters to cast a ballot anywhere in the county where they live.

In Kansas, it's unknown how many of the provisional ballots will affect the vote totals in the GOP primary. Some were cast in the Democratic primary, and there are questions about how voters with no party preference were treated when they showed up at the polls.

By law, they are allowed to declare a party preference by signing a statement and can cast a regular ballot.

Kobach, the state's top election official, said it's likely that about two-thirds of the 9,000 provisional ballots were cast in the Republican primary based on past elections and that a majority of them will be counted. Kansas counties have until Aug. 20 to finish their ballot review.

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Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AP_Christina .

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Board of County Commissioners 1st District Commissioner Ron Shaffer, left, talks with Barbara Holzmark, of Leawood, Kan., following the Johnson County Board of Canvassers meeting, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Olathe, Kan. County election officials across Kansas on Monday began deciding which provisional ballots from last week's primary election will count toward the final official vote totals, with possibility that they could create a new leader in the hotly contested Republican race for governor. Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by a mere 110 votes out of more than 313,000 cast as of Friday evening. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Leah Vukmir, a Wisconsin state senator and close ally to Gov. Scott Walker, defeated a former Marine who cast himself as a political outsider to win the Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Vukmir, who beat political newcomer Kevin Nicholson despite being outspent by as much as $8 million, advances to face Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Republicans nationally have targeted Baldwin and outside groups have already spent millions in television ads attacking her.

Vukmir won the endorsement of the Wisconsin Republican Party and the backing of most prominent GOP officeholders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, on her way to victory. She ran as the proven conservative in the race, pointing to her long voting record in support of Republican priorities.

FILE - In this July 26, 2018, file photo, Republican U.S. Senate candidates Leah Vukmir, right, and Kevin Nicholson debate in Milwaukee. Nicholson, running as an outsider, is running against Vukmir, a 15-year veteran of the Legislature who had the state GOP endorsement. The Republican primary battle for a Wisconsin U.S. Senate seat pits two loyalists to President Donald Trump who agree on most of the issues. (Tyger Williams/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)

Both she and Nicholson ran as strong supporters of President Donald Trump. Vukmir overcame the release just two weeks before election of a 2016 tape of her making negative comments about Trump and saying voters would have to hold their noses before casting a ballot for him.

Vukmir said Republicans must come together if there's any chance of defeating Baldwin.

"We have to unify the party," Vukmir said in an interview. "I hope that we do come together otherwise we will end up with Tammy Baldwin."

Vukmir said she will emphasize "over and over again" where Baldwin has let the state down, including opposing Trump's nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Baldwin said in a statement that Vukmir was "bought and paid for" and that voters want someone who will stand up to special interests.

"Leah Vukmir has a long record of putting her corporate special interest backers ahead of hardworking Wisconsin families, making the choice clear this November," Baldwin said.

Trump, who narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016 by less than 1 percentage point, did not endorse in the primary. Neither Nicholson nor Vukmir initially supported Trump in 2016, but both got behind him in the general election.

Nicholson, who was national head of the College Democrats and spoke at the 2000 Democratic National Convention, failed to overcome that past. He had argued that his combat experience in the U.S. Marines and work in the private sector helped lead to his conversion to the GOP. He also lost despite millions more being spent on his behalf by outside groups.

Vukmir, a 60-year-old retired nurse, won the Wisconsin Republican Party endorsement at its state convention in May and since then has been endorsed by a host of high-profile officeholders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Vukmir closely aligned herself with Walker, who officially stayed out of the race even though his son works for Vukmir and his wife held a fundraiser for her. Vukmir said that her experience in the Legislature, including voting for a host of GOP priorities like Walker's anti-union Act 10 law, made her the proven conservative choice.

With Vukmir and Nicholson largely agreeing on the biggest issues, the race came down to a fight over their backgrounds, style, approach to the job and loyalty to Trump.

Michael Kruszka, a Republican from St. Francis, voted for Vukmir because thought Vukmir was a better candidate and ran better ads.

"I just liked her. Just personal preference," he said. "Nothing really specific."

Two GOP megadonors who were divided in the primary, Vukmir backer Diane Hendricks and Nicholson supporter Richard Uihlein, scheduled a unity fundraiser on Friday, a strong signal that Republicans plan to unite behind Vukmir.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Randy Bryce, a union ironworker known by the nickname "Iron Stache," won Tuesday's Democratic primary in the race to replace Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan in Wisconsin for a seat he's held 20 years.

Republicans, for their part, pinned their hopes on a former Ryan aide, picking Bryan Steil, an attorney who is from a prominent family in the same hometown of Ryan, in a five-way primary. Steil will face Bryce in the Nov. 6 general election.

Bryce called Steil a Ryan "clone" and branded him "Lyin' Bryan" in a statement his campaign texted to The Associated Press on Tuesday evening.

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2018, file photo, union iron worker Randy Bryce, a Democratic primary candidate in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, addresses supporters in Janesville. Bryce, a union ironworker known as "Iron Stache," won the Democratic primary Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in the race to replace retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan. (Angela Major/The Janesville Gazette via AP, File)

"He has no idea what people in this district need," said Bryce, who defeated Janesville teacher and school board member Cathy Myers in the Democratic primary.

Steil predicted voters will see stark contrasts in their policies. He said he wants to keep money in Wisconsin residents' pockets. He said Bryce wants to pump more cash into Washington, D.C., and will work for a government takeover of health care.

"I don't think people are going to be attracted to the failed economic policies of the past," Steil, who since 2016 had served on the University of Wisconsin board of trustees, said in a telephone interview.

Bryce, who entered the race months before Ryan announced his retirement in April, fueled hopes among Democrats that they can take the southeastern Wisconsin seat that leans Republican. The thickly-mustachioed Bryce burst onto the national political scene with a slick campaign launch video a year ago, raising $6 million and snagging high-profile endorsements from the likes of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who campaigned for him, and labor activist Dolores Huerta.

But Republicans say the hype surrounding Bryce is just that. And personal baggage, including a history of legal and financial trouble, has plagued Bryce and fueled attacks from Myers. She argues that Bryce's past, which includes failure to pay child support and a 20-year-old drunken-driving arrest, makes him unreliable and unelectable.

In other Wisconsin congressional races:

- 3rd District: In this Milwaukee district, seven-term Democratic incumbent Gwen Moore beat Gary George, a former state senator who was convicted of a felony in a kickback scheme in 2004 and ran unsuccessfully against Moore in 2014 and 2016. On the Republican side, deliveryman Tim Rogers beat Cindy Werner, a U.S. Army veteran who moved to Milwaukee 18 months ago from Texas.

- 5th District: In the suburban Milwaukee district, Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, the second-longest serving member of the House first elected in 1978, defeated pediatrician Jennifer Vipond in his first primary in a decade. Sensenbrenner will face Democrat Tom Palzewicz in the general election.

- 7th District: In this northern Wisconsin district, Democrat Margaret Engebretson, an attorney, beat Brian Ewert, a doctor, for a chance to take on Republican Rep. Sean Duffy.

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FILE - In this Sunday, April 22, 2018, file photo, attorney Bryan Steil, a former driver for House Speaker Paul Ryan, announces he is running to succeed Ryan in Congress, in Janesville, Wis. House Speaker Paul Ryan's retirement creates an opening in his southeastern Wisconsin congressional district for the first time in 20 years, fueling hopes among Democrats that they can pick up the seat that leans Republican. (Jake Magee/The Janesville Gazette via AP, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - A year after the Trump administration introduced its strategy for Afghanistan, the Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield even as U.S. officials talk up hopes for peace. That's raising questions about the viability of the American game plan for ending a war that began when some of the current U.S. troops were in diapers.

A Taliban assault on Ghazni, a key city linking areas of Taliban influence barely 75 miles from Kabul, has killed about 100 Afghan security forces and 20 civilians since Friday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. That has demonstrated the militants' ability to attack, if not hold, a strategic center on the nation's main highway, and highlighted the vulnerability of Afghan security forces.

In a reminder that U.S. troops and their families are paying a heavy price, even with Afghan forces in the lead combat role, the Pentagon announced Monday that a 36-year-old soldier, Staff Sgt. Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion of Waikoloa, Hawaii, died Sunday of wounds sustained on a combat patrol in the Helmand province.

In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, photo, Afghan security personnel patrol in the city of Ghazni province west of Kabul, Afghanistan. A Taliban assault on Ghazni, a key city linking areas of Taliban influence barely 75 miles from Kabul, has killed about 100 Afghan policemen and soldiers since Friday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. A year after the Trump administration introduced its strategy for Afghanistan, the Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield even as U.S. officials talk up hopes for peace. That's raising questions about the viability of the American game plan for ending a war that began when some of the current U.S. troops were in diapers. (AP Photo/Mohammad Anwar Danishyar)

Against that turbulent backdrop, some wonder whether President Donald Trump can resist pulling the plug on a war in which the U.S. is still spending $4 billion-plus a year just to keep Afghan forces afloat. He said when he introduced his strategy on Aug. 21, 2017, that his instinct was to withdraw entirely.

Fighting across the country has intensified in recent weeks despite a fleeting outbreak of peace earlier in the summer. Taliban and the Afghan government called separate, briefly overlapping, national cease fires in June, and the administration has made its own contact with the Taliban in hopes of nudging them into talks with Kabul.

The strategy revisits an approach that was tried, and failed, under President Barack Obama: increasing military pressure to push the Taliban into peace negotiations with the Afghan government. Signs point to Trump pressing ahead; he is about to send a new Army general, Scott Miller, to take charge of the U.S.-led coalition in Kabul.

David Sedney, who has worked on Afghan issues as a civilian, including multiple years in Kabul and at the Pentagon, since the war began in October 2001, said he believes the chances for peace are the best they've been.

"That doesn't mean they're great," he said in an interview. "It just means they're better."

Among the meaningful factors at play, Sedney says, is Trump's announcement a year ago that the U.S. would no longer set time limits on its military support for Afghanistan. This introduced an element of uncertainty for the Taliban, he said. On the other hand, the current U.S. push to draw Taliban leaders into peace negotiations with Kabul must succeed soon, he said, or risk following the failed path of previous efforts.

Trump also gave the U.S. military more leeway to attack the Taliban, and a few thousand additional U.S. troops were sent to Afghanistan this year as part of an effort to improve the effectiveness of training and advising Afghan ground forces, while also developing a small Afghan air force. The battlefield results have been mixed, however, as the Taliban have managed to preserve their influence in numerous districts.

Early in 2018 the U.S. military declared Afghanistan to be its top combat priority, supplanting the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Key U.S. warplanes, including A-10 ground attack aircraft, were switched to Afghanistan, and the Pentagon introduced a newly formed outfit called a Security Force Assistance Brigade of U.S. soldiers assigned to help Afghan forces closer to the battlefield.

With Ghazni under threat, the U.S. has dispatched military advisers to assist the Afghan forces in retaking the besieged city, and has launched airstrikes.

Seth Jones, a longtime watcher of Afghanistan and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it was unlikely the Taliban will be able to hold populated areas of Ghazni for long. The militants have lacked sufficient popular support and military power to hold population centers.

But the Taliban's ability to mass forces in multiple areas of Afghanistan at virtually the same time_including in Ghazni, Faryab, Baghlan, and Kunduz provinces - should worry Afghan and U.S. officials. Tribal leaders and local officials had been repeatedly warning Afghan policymakers in Kabul that the Taliban was preparing for a broad offensive in Ghazni, Jones said.

He remains skeptical the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan will work as he sees no sign that Trump is willing to take what could be a game-changing move: to target the top Taliban leaders in their Pakistan sanctuaries.

"Much like Bush and Obama, the Trump administration has other areas of the world that it would rather focus on, whether it's the Korean Peninsula or Iran or China more broadly, and to move on, if possible, from Afghanistan," Jones said. "If a settlement is the way to do that, then they are willing to give that a shot. The challenge, though, is that it is still not clear to me that the Taliban is seriously interested in peace negotiations" in terms that would be acceptable to the U.S. and the Afghan governments, including making a formal, public break with al-Qaida.

"The Taliban is willing to talk a little bit about talks, but not to sit down and formally negotiate," he added. "I think they view time as in their favor and that the longer the war continues, the better their negotiating position."

The group has growing regional clout. The Taliban assault on Ghazni began as the head of its political office was wrapping up a rare diplomatic foray in neighboring Uzbekistan.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who helped persuade Trump last summer not to quit Afghanistan, says it's too early to render judgment on whether peace talks will emerge anytime soon.

"No doubt the strategy has confronted the Taliban with a reason to go to cease fires ... and to go into discussions" about potential negotiations, he said Aug. 7. "But it is still early in that reconciliation process."
Iran vows not to renegotiate landmark nuke deal with U.S.

TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran will never enter a new round of talks with the United States over the 2015 nuclear deal as Washington is "bullying and cheating" in negotiations, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday.

Khamenei's remarks came in response to the recent U.S. gestures for unconditional renegotiation of the 2015 landmark Iranian international nuclear deal after its astounding withdrawal in May.

Tehran will not again sit at the negotiation table with the "cheating" U.S. government, Khamenei's official website said.

"Over the past 40 years, Americans have requested for negotiations for many times, but only met with Iran's negative answers," he was quoted as saying by Press TV.

"During negotiations, Americans only give promises using apparently assuring words, but want real concessions from the opposite side and do not accept promises," he said.

Negotiations with the United States at the present time will certainly be to Iran's disadvantage and are "forbidden," the Iranian top leader noted.

"We can only embark on negotiating with the United States after we reach the economic, political and cultural power that we have in mind so that the U.S. pressures and ballyhoo would not be able to affect us," he added.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said a recent proposal by the United States to enter into negotiations with Iran over Tehran's nuclear issue while re-imposing sanctions against the country is nothing but propaganda.

"Iran will never change its policies in the region under the U.S. sanctions and pressure," Zarif was quoted as saying by state TV.

"Iran will also never hold negotiations about its missile program, because our missiles do not threaten anybody," he added.

A day earlier, Zarif dismissed reports that Iran has plans to talk with the United States on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting.

On Friday, Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iranian deputy foreign minister for European and American affairs, also said he doesn't see "any reason" for talks between Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the 73rd UN General Assembly meeting next month.

"What expectations could you have from a person who pulls out from international engagement and now says let's hold talks," Ravanchi noted.

U.S. President Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, on May 8.

Since then, the Trump administration has slapped a number of sanctions on Iran while vowing to apply more.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - Paul Manafort's defense rested its case Tuesday without calling any witnesses in the former Trump campaign chairman's tax evasion and bank fraud trial. Manafort himself chose not to testify.

The decision not to call witnesses clears the way for the jury to hear closing arguments in the first trial to emerge from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Those arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Manafort is accused of hiding millions of dollars in income he received advising Ukrainian politicians. The defense has tried to blame Manafort's financial mistakes on his former deputy, Rick Gates. Defense attorneys have called Gates a liar, philanderer and embezzler as they've sought to undermine his testimony.

Members of the defense team for Paul Manafort, including Thomas Zehnle, left, Brian Ketcham, and Kevin Downing, leave federal court during a break of the trial of former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The defense has rested their case. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Manafort's decision not to testify and not to call witnesses was announced by his attorney, Kevin Downing, before the jury on Tuesday afternoon. Asked by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III whether he wished to testify in his defense, Manafort responded: "No, sir."

The announcement came after a more than two-hour hearing that was closed to the public. The judge has not given any explanation for the sealed proceeding, only noting that a transcript of it would become public after Manafort's case concludes.

After announcing that they were resting their case, Downing told reporters outside the courthouse that they did so because they believe "the government has not met its burden of proof."

Also Tuesday, Ellis rejected a defense motion that the case should be dismissed on those same grounds. Manafort's lawyers asked the judge to toss out all the charges, but they focused in particular on four bank-fraud charges.

The government says Manafort hid at least $16 million in income from the IRS between 2010 and 2014 by disguising the money he earned advising politicians in Ukraine as loans and hiding it in foreign banks. Then, after his money in Ukraine dried up, they allege he defrauded banks by lying about his income on loan applications and concealing other financial information, such as mortgages.

Manafort's lawyers argued there is no way that one of the banks, Federal Savings Bank, could have been defrauded because its chairman, Stephen Calk, knew full well that Manafort's finances were in disarray but approved the loan to Manafort anyway. Witnesses testified that Calk pushed the loans through because he wanted a post in the Trump administration.

Ellis, in making his ruling, said the defense made a "significant" argument, but he ultimately ruled the question "is an issue for the jury."

Prosecutors rested their case on Monday, closing two weeks of a testimony in which they introduced a trove of documentary evidence as they sought to prove Manafort's guilt on 18 separate criminal counts. The prosecution depicted Manafort as using the millions of dollars hidden in offshore accounts to fund a luxurious lifestyle.

The case against Manafort does not relate to any allegations of Russian election interference or possible coordination with the Trump campaign, the main thrust of Mueller's investigation.

Still, the proceedings have drawn President Donald Trump's attention - and prompted tweets - as the president has worked to undermine the standing of the Mueller investigation in the public square.

Trump has distanced himself from Manafort, who led the campaign from May to August 2016 with Gates at his side. Gates struck a plea deal with prosecutors and has provided much of the drama of the trial so far.

Gates testified that he helped Manafort commit crimes in an effort to lower his tax bill and fund his lavish lifestyle. During testimony, Gates was also forced to admit embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manafort and conducting an extramarital affair.

After jurors were excused on Tuesday, lawyers for both sides conferred with the judge in open court on the language Ellis will use to instruct the jurors in their deliberations.

The only dispute was about what jurors should be told about how to interpret questions and comments interjected by the judge during the course of the trial.

Prosecutors, who have been frustrated by Ellis' tendency to interrupt and chide prosecutors in front of the jury, sought stronger language to make clear that jurors do not need to adopt any opinions expressed by the judge.

At one point in the discussion, Ellis asked prosecutors whether they thought he had ever interjected his own opinions. Prosecutor Greg Andres, who has had the strongest confrontations with Ellis, said "yes."

Ellis eventually came up with compromise language that was agreeable to both sides.

Defense attorney Kevin Downing makes a statement to the media after leaving federal court in the trial of former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The defense has rested their case. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Defense attorney Kevin Downing, second from right, makes a statement to the media after leaving federal court in the trial of former Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The defense has rested their case. With Downing are members of the defense team for Manafort, from left, Thomas Zehnle, Jay Nanavati and Brian Ketcham. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Democrats embraced diversity Tuesday in a primary night of firsts, while Republicans in Minnesota rejected a familiar face of the GOP old guard in favor of a rising newcomer aligned with President Donald Trump.

In Vermont, Democrats rallied behind the nation's first transgender nominee for governor. Minnesota Democrats backed a woman who would be the first Somali-American member of Congress. And in Connecticut, the party nominated a candidate who could become the first black woman from the state to serve in Congress.

Still, Democrats in Minnesota also backed a national party leader who is facing accusations of domestic violence. He has denied the allegations, yet they threaten to undercut enthusiasm in his state and beyond.

Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist, a transgender woman and former electric company executive, applauds with her supporters during her election night party in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

On the other side, Trump tightened his grip on the modern-day Republican Party as the turbulent 2018 primary season lurched toward its finale. A one-time Trump critic, former two-term Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, lost a comeback attempt he was expected to win.

All but 10 states picked their candidates for November's general election by the time the day's final votes were counted. While the full political battlefield isn't quite set, the stakes are clear: Democrats are working to topple Republican control of Congress and governors' offices across the nation.

Four states held primaries Tuesday: Vermont, Connecticut, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Kansas' gubernatorial primary, which was held last week, was finalized when Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer conceded defeat.

In Minnesota, Republican County Commissioner Jeff Johnson defeated Pawlenty, who once called Trump "unhinged and unfit" and was hoping to regain his old post. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker, endorsed just this week by Trump, won the right to seek a third term.

The president's pick for Kansas governor, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, scored a delayed victory against Colyer, who became the first incumbent governor to fall this season.

In Vermont, Democrat Christine Hallquist won the Democratic nomination in her quest to become the nation's first transgender governor. The former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative bested a field of four Democrats that included a 14-year-old.

While she made history on Tuesday, Hallquist faces a difficult path to the governor's mansion. Republican incumbent Phil Scott remains more popular with Democrats than members of his own party in the solidly liberal state.

Vermont Democrats also nominated Sen. Bernie Sanders, who hasn't ruled out a second presidential run in 2020, for a third term in the Senate. The 76-year-old democratic socialist won the Democratic nomination, but he is expected to turn it down and run as an independent.

Democrats appeared particularly motivated in Wisconsin, where eight candidates lined up for the chance to take on Walker.

Walker's strong anti-union policies made him a villain to Democrats long before Trump's rise. State schools chief Tony Evers, who has clashed with Walker at times, won the Democratic nomination and will take on Walker this fall.

Once a target of Trump criticism, Walker gained the president's endorsement in a tweet Monday night calling him "a tremendous Governor who has done incredible things for that Great State."

Trump also starred, informally at least, in Wisconsin's Senate primaries as Republicans try to deny Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin a second term.

Longtime state lawmaker Leah Vukmir, who was backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, won the Republican primary, even after struggling to explain footage recently unearthed from 2016 in which she called Trump "offensive to everyone."

Tuesday's primaries served as a test of Democratic enthusiasm in the upper Midwest, a region that has long been associated with liberal politics but has been trending red. Trump won Wisconsin by less than 1 percentage point in 2016, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since 1984.

It was much the same in Minnesota, where Trump lost by less than 3 percentage points in a state that hasn't backed a Republican presidential contender since 1972.

Nearly twice as many Minnesota Democrats as Republicans cast ballots in their parties' respective gubernatorial primaries.

Pawlenty had been considered the heavy favorite in a two-person Republican contest for his old job. But he struggled to adapt to a GOP that had changed drastically since he left office in 2011 and flamed out early in a 2012 presidential bid.

The former two-term governor strained to live down his October 2016 comment that Trump was "unhinged and unfit for the presidency," remarks that incensed many Republican voters in Minnesota and beyond. Johnson, his underfunded opponent, circulated Pawlenty's critique far and wide, telling voters that he was a steadfast supporter of the president.

Johnson will face Democratic Rep. Tim Walz, who won a three-way race for his party's nomination.

Three Minnesota women won Senate nominations, including incumbent Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.

Smith, who had been appointed to replace disgraced Democrat Al Franken, will face Republican state Sen. Karin Housley, ensuring a woman will hold the seat once held by Franken, who left Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct toward women.

Nationwide, a record number of women are running this year for governor and Congress.

Meanwhile, a new scandal threatened to dampen Democratic enthusiasm.

Rep. Keith Ellison, the Democratic National Committee's deputy chairman, captured his party's nomination in the race to become the state's attorney general. That's after Ellison's candidacy was rocked by allegations over the weekend of domestic violence amid a broader national outcry against sexual misconduct by powerful men in business, entertainment and politics.

Ellison has denied a former girlfriend's allegations that he dragged her off a bed while screaming obscenities during a 2016 relationship she said was plagued by "narcissistic abuse."

Also in Minnesota, Democrat Ilhan Omar, the nation's first Somali-American legislator, won her party's congressional primary in the race to replace Ellison.

In Connecticut, Republican businessman Bob Stefanowski emerged from a field of five Republicans seeking to replace the unpopular outgoing governor, Democrat Dan Malloy. Former gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont won the Democratic nomination.

Connecticut Democrats picked a former teacher of the year, Jahana Hayes, to run for the seat vacated by Rep. Elizabeth Etsy, who is leaving Congress after bungling sexual abuse claims levied against a former staffer. Hayes could become the first black woman from the state to serve in Congress.

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Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin contributed to this report.

Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, center, is greeted by his supporters after returning to the watch party, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Plymouth, Minn. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)

FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill, Md. Walker won the Republican primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, dispensing nominal opposition as he mounts bid for a third term. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In this June 1, 2018, file photo, Republican state Sen. Karin Housley speaks at the Republican State Convention in Duluth, Minn. The sudden downfall of Sen. Al Franken amid the rise of the #MeToo movement could set up a two-woman race for his seat, part of an unusual primary featuring both of Minnesota's Senate seats on the same ballot. Franken's successor, Democrat Tina Smith, and the endorsed Republican candidate, state Sen. Karin Housley, were heavy favorites in their respective races. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)

FILE - In this Jan 3, 2018, file photo, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., smiles after being administered the Senate oath of office during a mock swearing in ceremony with Vice President Mike Pence in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. The sudden downfall of Sen. Al Franken amid the rise of the #MeToo movement could set up a two-woman race for his seat, part of an unusual primary featuring both of Minnesota's Senate seats on the same ballot. Franken's successor, Democrat Tina Smith, and the endorsed Republican candidate, state Sen. Karin Housley, were heavy favorites in their respective races. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski, center, is congratulated by his daughters, from left, Megan, 15, Lauren, 23, and Rachel 19, at the Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, Wis., after winning the primary, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. At right is his father, Robert Stefanowski Sr. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)

Tony Evers, with his wife, Kathy, speaks after his win in Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary election during an event at Best Western Premier Park Hotel in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Tim Pawlenty stands with his wife, Mary, background left, and running mate Michelle Fischbach as he concedes his run for governor at his election night gathering at Granite City Food and Brewery, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Eagan, Minn. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

Rep. Keith Ellison speaks to supporters after winning the Democratic nomination for Attorney General during his primary party at Nomad World Pub, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Minneapolis. (Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's bid to win his old job back fizzled Tuesday as the two-time governor who had harshly criticized Donald Trump late in the 2016 presidential campaign failed to connect with an electorate that has shifted in the years since he last held office.

Pawlenty, who once called Trump "unhinged and unfit for the presidency," lost to Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, the party's endorsed candidate who was nonetheless considered an underdog in the race. Johnson now faces Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, who won a three-way race on the Democratic side.

"I think it is just further indication that the rules have changed, not just in Minnesota, not just in our party," Johnson said. "People are expecting something different from candidates."

Tim Pawlenty stands with his wife, Mary, background left, and running mate Michelle Fischbach as he concedes his run for governor at his election night gathering at Granite City Food and Brewery, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Eagan, Minn. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

Republicans needed only the governorship to take full control of state government in Minnesota, a traditionally left-leaning state that had become a lone outpost of divided government in the conservative Upper Midwest. Big donors saw Pawlenty as the man to do it.

Johnson had been viewed as a longshot given Pawlenty's unparalleled name recognition and the money that quickly flowed to his campaign when he announced his campaign in early April. Pawlenty was the last Republican to win statewide in Minnesota with his 2006 victory for a second term.

But voters were unwilling to coronate Pawlenty, who didn't bother challenging Johnson at the state party convention. His loss effectively ends a political career that peaked with two terms as governor and a short-lived 2012 presidential bid.

"Obviously not the result we hoped for and worked for," Pawlenty said Tuesday night before congratulating Johnson on doing "a great job."

Pawlenty struggled to live down his October 2016 critique of then-candidate Trump, though he later assured Republican voters that he still voted for the president and supported the bulk of his policies. And the insults weren't one-sided; Johnson once called Trump "a jackass" but positioned himself as a steadfast supporter of the president.

His post-political career as a lobbyist for the nation's largest banks came with the aura of establishment politician trying to force his way back into Minnesota.

Several voters said they liked Pawlenty but believed he'd already had his time. For 21-year-old Republican voter Emma Glynn, Pawlenty's two prior terms were a knock against him.

Glynn said she's concerned about the influx of refugees resettling in Minnesota - which is home to the largest population of Somalis outside of east Africa. While both GOP candidates have made a crackdown on illegal immigration cornerstones of their campaign, Glynn said she felt Johnson was better suited to put an end to refugee resettlement.

"And if he's not, at least he's someone who's new," said Glynn, who works as a server in a restaurant and in a psychiatric group home.

Democrats had expected Pawlenty to win, spending months preparing to face him in the fall. Pawlenty served as a foil in Democratic candidates' advertising, with Walz saying "I won't let Tim Pawlenty take us back" in one TV spot. A heavily liberal outside political group spent millions bashing Pawlenty in the lead-up to the primary, with millions more in advertisements reserved for the fall.

Even for some Republicans, the reminders of Pawlenty's tenure were enough to make them reconsider.

"I have too many teacher friends that are very upset with what happened to schools back then," 65-year-old Linda Speidel said, referencing the deep budget cuts to schools Pawlenty's administration enacted in the midst of the recession.

Walz said Johnson's upset over Pawlenty changes nothing for Democrats as they turn to November.

"The message that was coming out of Jeff Johnson's campaign and Tim Pawlenty's campaign were very similar. They were trying to out-Donald Trump each other," he said.

Walz narrowly defeated state Rep. Erin Murphy to capture his party's nomination. Attorney General Lori Swanson, once considered a top contender, conceded early Tuesday night after late accusations against her - including that she pressured official employees to boost her political ambitions - led to disappointing results.

Walz likely benefited from booming voter turnout, driven by a handful of other competitive Democratic primaries for attorney general and U.S. House races. In Minneapolis, where a crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Keith Ellison only added to voter excitement, elections officials had tallied nearly 75,000 ballots by dinnertime, far outstripping a recent high watermark of 51,000 in 2010. A polling place in suburban Eden Prairie had doubled its expected turnout with hours of voting to go.

The state's no-excuse absentee voting law started in 2014 was responsible for at least part of the spike. More than 117,000 early absentee ballots had been cast by Monday morning, crushing previous records for a primary election.

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FILE - In this May 31, 2018, file photo, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty speaks at a news conference in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota Democrats are settling a three-way battle for governor in a stacked primary election, while former two-term Gov. Tim Pawlenty is seeking to win back his old job on the Republican side. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)

Tim Pawlenty supporters check early results at his election night gathering at Granite City Food and Brewery, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Eagan, Minn. Minnesota Democrats were settling a three-way battle for governor in Tuesday's primary election, while former two-term Gov. Tim Pawlenty sought to win back his old job on the Republican side. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

FILE - In this Saturday, June 2, 2018, file photo, minutes after receiving the Republican Party endorsement for governor, Jeff Johnson pauses behind the stage, in Duluth, Minn. Johnson has been supportive of President Donald Trump. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)

FILE - In this March 12, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson speaks during an interview at the Capitol in St. Paul. Minnesota voters are confronting their busiest primary election in recent memory, with races for governor, both Senate seats and three congressional seats all on the ballot. The biggest unsettled question may be the Democratic primary to succeed Gov. Mark Dayton. U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, Attorney General Lori Swanson and state Rep. Erin Murphy all have a path to victory entering Minnesota's primary on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2017, file photo, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., waves during his mock swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington. Minnesota voters are confronting their busiest primary election in recent memory, with races for governor, both Senate seats and three congressional seats all on the ballot. The biggest unsettled question may be the Democratic primary to succeed Gov. Mark Dayton. U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, Attorney General Lori Swanson and state Rep. Erin Murphy all have a path to victory entering Minnesota's primary on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson, File)

Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, center, is greeted by his supporters after returning to the watch party, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Plymouth, Minn. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)

Supporters of Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson cheer as they watch the returns on television, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Plymouth, Minn. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)

Tim Pawlenty stands with his wife, Mary, background left, and running mate Michelle Fischbach as he concedes his run for governor at his election night gathering at Granite City Food and Brewery, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Eagan, Minn. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

Tim Pawlenty stands with his wife, Mary, background left, and running mate Michelle Fischbach, background second from right, as he concedes his run for governor at his election night gathering at Granite City Food and Brewery, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Eagan, Minn. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)

Tim Pawlenty stands with his wife, Mary, as he concedes his run for governor at his election night gathering at Granite City Food and Brewery, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Eagan, Minn. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans who once criticized President Donald Trump are now fighting each other for his support. Minnesota faces a #metoo moment. And Democrats weigh whether to send the "Iron Stache" to Congress.

What to watch as voters in four states - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont and Connecticut - head to the polls Tuesday:

WHO LOVES TRUMP THE MOST?

FILE - In this Saturday, June 2, 2018, file photo, minutes after receiving the Republican Party endorsement for governor, Jeff Johnson pauses behind the stage, in Duluth, Minn. Johnson has been supportive of President Donald Trump. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)

In both Minnesota and Wisconsin, GOP candidates are battling to cast themselves as the strongest Trump supporter.

GOP primaries in those states will test - yet again - the president's pull within his own party. Both states are upper-Midwestern battlegrounds that Republicans believe will be key to Trump's re-election chances.

In the Minnesota governor's race, the two Republican candidates - former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson - have spent much of their time on the campaign trail fighting over who previously insulted the president the least.

Both men criticized Trump during the 2016 campaign, with Johnson calling the president a "jackass" and Pawlenty pulling his support after the "Access Hollywood tape" of Trump bragging he could grope women because he was famous. He said then that Trump was "unhinged and unfit for office." Now, they both say they voted for Trump in the end and would welcome the president's support. Trump has not endorsed either candidate, which is notable in a primary season in which the president hasn't been shy about making his preferred candidate known.

In Wisconsin's Republican Senate race, the state party is backing state Sen. Leah Vukmir, an ally of Gov. Scott Walker. But her critique of Trump as "offensive to everyone" during the 2016 primaries has provided an opening for Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson, a former Democrat who spoke on behalf of Vice President Al Gore at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

Their GOP primary race is rated a toss-up. The candidates are running for the chance to challenge Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

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#METOO MINNESOTA

Rep. Keith Ellison is fending off allegations of domestic violence, with former girlfriend Karen Monahan accusing the Democratic congressman and candidate for Minnesota attorney general of emotional and physical abuse.

Monahan's son claimed to have seen a video of Ellison dragging his mother off a bed by her feet as he screamed profanities at her. Ellison has denied the allegation. Monahan has so far declined to provide any video or copies of text messages to The Associated Press.

Still, the development complicates the crowded race for Minnesota attorney general. Ellison, one of the most liberal members of the House and the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, faces four opponents in the race.

The allegations come in a state that's already been roiled by the #metoo movement: In January, Sen. Al Franken, a Democrat, resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. On Tuesday, Minnesotans will choose who will compete in a special election to finish out Franken's term, which ends in 2020. The race could end up being between two women, incumbent Democratic Sen. Tina Smith and Republican state Sen. Karin Housley.

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RACE TO REPLACE RYAN

Tuesday's Wisconsin contests will determine who gets to compete for House Speaker Paul Ryan's open seat. Ryan announced his retirement in April.

On the Democratic side, the primary race between iron worker Randy Bryce - known as the "Iron Stache" for his bushy mustache - and Janesville School Board Member Cathy Myers has grown increasingly nasty. National Democrats rallied to Bryce after his campaign ad went viral. He's been endorsed by independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Myers, who says she's tired of being asked to "take a back seat to less-qualified men," is backed by a number of local groups.

Bryce's history of nine arrests, including for drunken driving, and being delinquent on child support to his ex-wife, could complicate his path to the seat. Myers also filed a Federal Election Commission complaint against him, claiming he used campaign dollars for personal expenses.

In the Republican primary, Ryan has backed his former staffer Bryan Steil, a corporate lawyer and University of Wisconsin regent who's seen as the front-runner against four lesser-known challengers. The general election race is considered a toss-up.

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RAINBOW WAVE

In Vermont, Democratic candidate Christine Hallquist is vying to move one step closer to becoming the country's first transgender governor.

The former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative is part of a "rainbow wave" that's swept the midterm elections, as a record number of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender candidates run for office this year.

Hallquist has a shot at winning the primary; polling shows her with the highest name recognition in the field of four Democrats. The candidates include 14-year-old Ethan Sonneborn, who is taking advantage of an apparent oversight by the state founders more than 225 years ago of not having an age requirement for gubernatorial office.

But she'll face a tough fight in November: Republican incumbent Phil Scott remains more popular with Democrats than members of his own party in the solidly liberal state.

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CONNECTICUT SEES RED?

In a year when the political momentum seems to favor Democrats, Republicans find themselves with a rare shot to pick up a seat in deep-blue Connecticut.

Gov. Daniel Malloy's deep unpopularity, due in part to his economic policies, has opened up an opportunity for Republicans to retake the governor's mansion for the first time in eight years. Malloy isn't seeking a third term.

Democrats seem likely to nominate Ned Lamont, a liberal Greenwich businessman known for beating then-Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary for Senate. He faces Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, who was convicted of extortion in 2003 and served seven years in prison.

The Republican field features three businessmen vying against former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst and longtime Danbury mayor Mark Boughton, who's been endorsed by the Republican Party.

The big question for Republicans this fall is whether unhappiness with Malloy will overpower deep dislike for Trump among voters in the liberal state.

FILE - In this May 31, 2018, file photo, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty speaks at a news conference in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota Democrats are settling a three-way battle for governor in a stacked primary election, while former two-term Gov. Tim Pawlenty is seeking to win back his old job on the Republican side. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)

FILE - In this July 26, 2018, file photo, Republican U.S. Senate candidates Leah Vukmir, right, and Kevin Nicholson debate in Milwaukee. Nicholson, running as an outsider, is running against Vukmir, a 15-year veteran of the Legislature who had the state GOP endorsement. The Republican primary battle for a Wisconsin U.S. Senate seat pits two loyalists to President Donald Trump who agree on most of the issues. (Tyger Williams/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)

FILE - In this July 18, 2018, file photo, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., asks a question at a House Committee on Financial Services hearing in Washington. Ellison decided to leave Congress for a chance to make a difference as his state's attorney general, but an ex-girlfriend's late accusation of domestic abuse clouded what had been his race to lose. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, July 12, 2018, file photo, four of the eight Democratic candidates for Wisconsin's governor, from left, Josh Made, Kelda Helen Roys, Paul R. Soglin and Kathleen Vinehout stand on stage prior to a debate at the UWM MainStage Theatre in Milwaukee. Wisconsin's primary election will decide which Democrat challenges Republican Gov. Scott Walker this fall and whom Republicans back in a big-money race for U.S. Senate. (Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, July 12, 2018, file photo, four of the eight Democratic candidates for Wisconsin's governor, from left Tony Evers, Matt Flynn, Mike McCabe, and Mahlon Mitchell stand on stage prior to a debate at the UWM MainStage Theatre in Milwaukee. Wisconsin's primary election will decide which Democrat challenges Republican Gov. Scott Walker this fall and whom Republicans back in a big-money race for U.S. Senate. (Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin state schools chief Tony Evers, a cancer survivor known for his even-keeled demeanor, won the Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday and will face Republican Gov. Scott Walker in November as he seeks a third term.

Evers emerged from a field of eight Democratic candidates to win the primary, which comes as Walker has warned supporters that a blue wave could be coming if they aren't vigilant.

Evers had a nearly 2-1 lead over his nearest competitor based on early results.

FILE - In this March 15, 2017, file photo, Wisconsin State Superintendent Tony Evers talks with reporters in Madison, Wis. Evers won the Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, and will face Republican Gov. Scott Walker in November as he seeks a third term. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer, File)

Walker prepared to launch a statewide tour Wednesday where he will begin to unveil his agenda for a third term. He posted a series of tweets shortly after polls closed, touting the cutting of $8 billion in taxes and taking on "big government unions" and promising more to come.

Evers was the only one of eight Democratic candidates to have won statewide before. He's in his third term as state superintendent, first elected in 2009, and focused his campaign squarely on Walker. He argued the governor has failed public schools while diverting funding to expand private voucher schools.

Evers said in an interview after his win that to beat Walker he will attack him on his record and talk about issues important to Wisconsin voters including education, national resources, jobs and health care.

"All the things, frankly, Scott Walker has failed at," Evers said.

Evers, who was criticized by some Democrats for not being inspiring enough, downplayed concerns he couldn't defeat Walker.

"I am who I am, that's what I say," Evers said. "I will take the fight to Scott Walker but I will also be equally passionate about the issues. I never believe that shouting is necessary or that talking loud is connected to leadership."

Republicans have portrayed Evers, 66, as a bureaucrat who wasn't aggressive enough in revoking licenses from teachers accused of wrongdoing in the classroom. The Wisconsin Republican Party unveiled a new $500,000 television attack ad minutes after Evers won that accused Evers of failing to keep kids safe.

Evers has worked with Walker on some education issues in the past, even praising his most recent state budget as "kid friendly." But Evers also signed the petition to recall Walker in 2012 in the fight over collective bargaining rights for teachers and other public workers.

Charlie and Ann Campbell, a married couple in Madison, both voted for Evers. They were among several Evers supporters who said they saw him as the most electable Democrat.

"We love him because he's strong on education, personable and knowledgeable," said Charlie Campbell, 80, a retired nurse anesthetist.

Robert Michalski, 64, a Democrat who lives in St. Francis and is retired, said Evers has the best chance of beating Walker.

"I was trying to figure who's got the strongest possibility of winning, was the one thing. And the other part was, he seems like the smartest," Michalski said.

Walker has built up a big financial advantage for his re-election bid, and run more than a dozen television ads touting his record of the past eight years. The Democratic Governors Association, fearful that whoever wins the primary will emerge broke, has been working to shore up money and other support that the nominee can access immediately.

Evers and the other Democratic candidates were largely united on the issues: opposing a potential $10 billion Foxconn Technology Group development Walker secured with President Donald Trump's administration, supporting the legalization of marijuana, and scaling back Walker's signature Act 10 law that effectively ended collective bargaining for public workers.

Only four of the other seven Democratic candidates raised enough money to run TV ads in the days leading up to the primary: former state Rep. Kelda Roys, state firefighter union leader Mahlon Mitchell, former state party leader Matt Flynn and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.

State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, political activist Mike McCabe and corporate attorney Josh Pade weren't able to advertise on TV.

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FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill, Md. Walker won the Republican primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, dispensing nominal opposition as he mounts bid for a third term. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, July 12, 2018, file photo, four of the eight Democratic candidates for Wisconsin's governor, from left, Josh Made, Kelda Helen Roys, Paul R. Soglin and Kathleen Vinehout stand on stage prior to a debate at the UWM MainStage Theatre in Milwaukee. Wisconsin's primary election will decide which Democrat challenges Republican Gov. Scott Walker this fall and whom Republicans back in a big-money race for U.S. Senate. (Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)
Hikers and nature lovers returned to Yosemite National Park's scenic valley Tuesday after a rare 20-day closure because of smoke from wildfires. Some said they didn't mind the hazy air that obscured scenic vistas; others came prepared with eye drops and face masks.

Park officials also advised visitors to expect limited lodging and food services at Yosemite, one of the busiest national parks in the U.S., as it gets back to full speed following the longest closure in decades.

In Montana, hundreds of people were hastily evacuated from Glacier National Park where a wildfire destroyed at least nine homes and cabins in one of the park's historic districts.

Park Ranger Alex Martinez passes maps out and directs visitors at the Highway 140 gate as Yosemite National Park reopens in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

The hit to national parks comes as wildfires continue to rage across parts of the West. California, like several other states, has faced a longer and more destructive wildfire season because of drought, warmer weather attributed to climate change and homes built deeper into forests.

Yosemite's closure came at the height of tourist season, costing the park and nearby communities millions of dollars. The park draws more than 600,000 visitors during a typical August, according to the National Park Service.

Undeterred by lingering haze, cars packed with visitors lined Yosemite's entrance gates.

"It's smoky, but you can see most of the mountains - just not the tops," said Dutch tourist Gert Lammers, who entered a gate on the western side of the park near the town of El Portal, driving past fire crews and burned out cars and structures.

"We feel lucky that it's open today," said Lammers, 48, who heads back to Holland on Friday after a three-week tour of California with his wife and two children.

Others packed special gear.

"I brought face masks for breathing, and I brought eye drops because the smoke will irritate your eyes," said Michael Aitken, 57, who has a permit to climb Half Dome later this week.

Standing at the usually scenic Tunnel View, Aitken listed what he could not see.

"Normally, I'd see mountains. On the left side you would see Half Dome from here, and you'd see Glacier Point," he said. "But you can't see any of it. You can just see outlines."

Tens of thousands of visitors from across the globe had to cancel trips to Yosemite, which closed its valley and other areas on July 25 because of smoke from a nearby wildfire that has burned 150 square miles (389 square kilometers) and killed two firefighters since it started July 13. Though the blaze didn't reach the heart of Yosemite Valley, it burned in remote areas of the park and choked popular areas with smoke.

Some fires still burned on hillsides near the park's borders, several miles from the scenic valley.

As of Tuesday, all of the park was reopened except a major road from the south, Highway 41, and a popular park attraction known as Glacier Point that is expected to remain closed for at least another week, park officials said.

The fire in Montana's Glacier National Park, meanwhile, raged through the park's busiest area, prompting evacuations of an area with hundreds of summer homes, cabins and a lakefront lodge.

The lost buildings include the so-called Big House at Kelly's Camp, a resort developed early last century serving auto travelers along Glacier's famous Going-to-the-Sun Road, park officials said Tuesday. Also destroyed were a second cabin at the camp, seven private summer residences and other structures under park ownership.

Firefighters managed to save several historic structures that caught fire. Among them were the Lake McDonald Ranger station and the Wheeler Cabin, built by the family of former Montana U.S. Sen. Burton Wheeler. But the Wheeler boat house, several outbuildings on the property and a boathouse at the nearby Lake McDonald Ranger Station were lost, the park said.

Kristy Pancoast, a visitor to the park, took a photo showing the flames engulfing a cabin Sunday night.

"It was insane I never have seen anything like that up close," said Pancoast of Big Fork, Montana. Pancoast said she watched the flames for an hour across the lake before she was evacuated. "When we realized there were a bunch of other structures over there, it makes your heart drop," she said.

Glacier National Park Conservancy Executive Director Doug Mitchell said it was devastating to lose some of the park's historic structures.

"Wheeler is such an iconic name," Mitchell said. "It's always such a gut punch when something so iconic, so much a part of the parks' cultural fabric is taken away and lost in this way."

Yosemite spokeswoman Jamie Richards said Yosemite was still calculating the financial impacts, noting not all campsites were reopening immediately and visitors should check the park's website to see what services were still closed.

"We are working to get campgrounds back up and running," Richards said, adding that food services were also not yet running at full capacity.

Air quality in the park will vary depending on the time of day and location.

"You are going to smell and see smoke," Richards said, adding, however, that from her office in Yosemite Valley she was looking out at clear, blue skies Tuesday morning.

While hotel owners and other businesses are relieved about the reopening, they say it will likely be weeks before bookings return to normal.

Neal Misener, the owner of Cozy Bear Cottages, a small lodge in Yosemite, said the closure has brought business to a painful halt.

"It basically put us out of business," he said, estimating lost revenue up to $35,000. Even though Yosemite Valley is back open, people are still canceling reservations.

"The problem is the air quality in the valley," said Misener, 78. "That's what people are afraid of. People are still canceling because of the smoke."

Officials are trying to get the word out that the park is back open. They have posted pictures of themselves and visitors at attractions holding red paddleboards reading #YosemiteNOW, and they're encouraging visitors to do the same.

Visitors' bureaus in the area and the park are estimating roughly $50 million in combined tourism losses, said Steve Montalto, creative director at Visit Yosemite Madera County.

As for the park, the dent in visitor fees will affect improvements, such as fixing roads and updating facilities, Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman said.

Because those projects are planned years in advance, all improvements for 2018 will be covered, but future projects will be affected, Gediman said, though it was too soon to know which ones.

The fire near Yosemite is one of several devastating blazes in California that have killed at least a dozen people - the latest being a firefighter from Utah who died Monday while battling the largest fire in recorded state history north of San Francisco.

___

Gecker and Associated Press reporter Lorin Eleni Gill contributed reporting from San Francisco, and Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Associated Press Writer Amanda Lee Myers contributed from Los Angeles.

Tourists ride through a smoky and hazy vista from Tunnel View as Yosemite National Park reopens in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

A boat taking off from Apgar heads across Lake McDonald on Monday morning, Aug. 13, 2018. Three fires burning in the park have reduced visibility and air quality. (Brenda Ahearn/The Daily Inter Lake via AP)

Park Ranger Alex Martinez passes maps out and directs visitors at the Hwy 140 gate as Yosemite National Park reopens after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

From left to right, Arvin, Lisa and Nathasja Lammers watch the activity in the sky, as helicopters fly in and out to put out fires in Yosemite National Park which reopened after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Park Ranger Anne Simmons passes maps out and directs visitors at the Highway 140 gate as Yosemite National Park reopens in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Unified Fire Authority's Jay Torgersen pauses while talking to media after a press conference in Draper, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Draper Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett was killed on Monday night while fighting the largest blaze in California history, the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

A fire helicopter takes off through smoke rising to make a drop on active fires in Yosemite National Park after the park reopened after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Draper Battalion Chief Bart Vawdrey hugs a fellow firefighter during a press conference in Draper, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Draper Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett was killed on Monday night while fighting the largest blaze in California history, the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

Hein and Teijs Reijnders try to see through the smoke at the famous Tunnel View vista in Yosemite National Park during its reopening day in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Park Ranger Anne Simmons passes maps out and directs visitors at the Hwy 140 gate as Yosemite National Park reopens after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

In this photo taken Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, a fire burns next to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in northwest Montana. The fire, which was started by lightning on Saturday night, has forced the evacuation of the Lake McDonald Lodge and a nearby campground. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News via AP)

From left to right, Mitsuhiro and Misae from Japan, and son, Mits Nakanura, deal with the heavy smoke while viewing the famed Tunnel View vista in Yosemite National Park as the park reopened after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, the Howe Ridge Fire burns at Glacier National Park, Mont. At least nine homes and cabins in a historic district of Glacier National Park have been destroyed in a wildfire that raged through the Montana park's busiest area and prompted the hasty evacuation of hundreds of visitors. Park officials said Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, that the lost buildings include the so-called Big House at Kelly's Camp, a resort developed early last century serving auto travelers along Glacier's famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. (Kristy Pancoast via AP)

Mohammed Alsekhan and Ann-Cathrin Riepe take in a moment for a photo even though the famed Tunnel View vista in Yosemite National Park is blocked by a smoke screen from existing fires as the park reopened after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018 photo, the Howe Ridge Fire burns at Glacier National Park, Mont. At least nine homes and cabins in a historic district of Glacier National Park have been destroyed in a wildfire that raged through the Montana park's busiest area and prompted the hasty evacuation of hundreds of visitors. Park officials said Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, that the lost buildings include the so-called Big House at Kelly's Camp, a resort developed early last century serving auto travelers along Glacier's famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. (Kristy Pancoast via AP)

Allison Kerper photographs the south wall of Yosemite Valley as tourists begin to stream in after the park reopened Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. The park reopened its scenic valley Tuesday after a nearly three-week closure due to nearby wildfires but advised visitors to expect some smoke in the air and limited lodging and food services in the popular California park. (Eric Paul Zamora/The Fresno Bee via AP)

Visitors photograph El Capitan through a thin veil of smoke after Yosemite Valley reopened Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite National Park, Calif. The park reopened its scenic valley Tuesday after a nearly three-week closure due to nearby wildfires but advised visitors to expect some smoke in the air and limited lodging and food services in the popular California park. (Eric Paul Zamora/The Fresno Bee via AP)

Tourists like Marijn and Monique Post and Tim and Nadine Robbins look at Pohono Bridge, though smoky and hazy, in Yosemite National Park during its reopening day in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Sam Bee takes some photos through the smoke from a wildfire in remote areas as he and others were at the famous Tunnel View vista in Yosemite National Park during its reopening day in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Hein and Teijs Reijnders try to see through the smoke at the famous Tunnel View vista in Yosemite National Park during its reopening day in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Tourists ride through a smoky and hazy vista from Tunnel View as Yosemite National Park reopens in California, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. The nearly three-week closure was the result of a wildfire. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Draper Battalion Chief Bart Vawdrey hugs a fellow firefighter during a press conference in Draper, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Draper Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett was killed on Monday night while fighting the largest blaze in California history, the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)
BEIJING (AP) - China appealed to Washington on Tuesday not to misuse security concerns to hamper business activity after President Donald Trump signed a law that expands the jurisdiction of an investment review panel.

The law signed Monday by Trump expands the authority of a government security panel to scrutinize foreign investments. It was prompted by complaints Chinese companies were taking advantage of gaps in U.S. law and improperly obtaining technology and possibly sensitive information.

"The United States should treat Chinese investors objectively and fairly and avoid making a national security review an obstacle to Chinese-U.S. enterprises' investment cooperation," said a Commerce Ministry statement.

In this Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, photo, a man stands near a poster depicting a mural of U.S. President Donald Trump stating that all American costumers will be charged 25 percent more than others starting from the day president Trump started the trade war against China, on display outside a restaurant in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province. The recent trade war between the world's two biggest economies has forced many multinational companies to reschedule purchases and rethink where they buy materials and parts to try to dodge or blunt the effects of tit-for-tat tariffs between Washington and Beijing. (Color China Photo via AP)

Other governments including Germany and Britain also are uneasy about rising Chinese investment, the communist Beijing government's behind-the-scenes role and acquisitions of technology that might have military uses or is seen as an important economic asset.

The U.S. security panel, known as CFIUS, reviews foreign acquisitions of American assets for possible security threats. Critics say legislation governing its powers, last updated a decade ago, was antiquated and failed to take into account tactics used by some Chinese companies.

The legislation signed by Trump expands CFIUS jurisdiction to cover entities that might own a minority stake in a company that makes a purchase. It also gives CFIUS authority to prevent loss of sensitive personal information.

The legislation also gives CFIUS authority to initiate its own investigations instead of waiting for a buyer to seek approval.

Lawmakers who proposed the legislation last year expressed concern that Chinese companies were using joint ventures with foreign companies or minority stakes in ventures to gain access to sensitive technology.

Last month, a proposed Chinese purchase of a German power company was blocked when a state-owned utility bought the company instead. German news reports said Berlin also planned to block a Chinese acquisition of an engineering company but authorities said later that bid was withdrawn.

Also last month, Britain's government announced a proposal to expand its powers to block foreign acquisitions that pose security concerns. It would apply to deals in which a foreign buyer acquires as little as 25 percent of a company.

Germany and other governments also complain their companies are barred from buying most Chinese assets at a time when China's companies are in the midst of a multibillion-dollar global acquisition spree.
CAIRO (AP) - It reads like a murder mystery set in an exotic locale: an abbot found dead in a desert monastery; a monk defrocked and arrested; another held by police and hospitalized after trying to kill himself - or did his fellow monks stage a revenge attack?

The killing of Bishop Epiphanius, who was found dead on July 29, has opened a window into the cloistered world of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world and the one that introduced monasticism to the faith.

Authorities investigating the killing at the 4th century St. Macarious Monastery north of Cairo have questioned nearly 150 people, including monks and bishops, and news of the investigation has been splashed across front pages and discussed on TV talk shows.

FILE - In this May 27, 2017 file photo, a priest walks in front of St. Samuel the Confessor Monastery in Maghagha, Egypt. The killing of a respected bishop in a desert monastery north of Cairo has opened a rare window onto the cloistered world of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church. It's one of the oldest Christian communities in the world and the one that introduced monasticism to the faith. But the killing of the abbot, and the arrest of two monks suspected in his death, has shaken the church. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

The case has exposed a side of the church that few in Egypt - Muslim or Christian - knew existed, including the growing power and independence of monks in remote monasteries who appear to be at odds with Pope Tawadros II and the church's central leadership.

Among these monks are "isolationists" who see themselves as guardians of the true faith. They are pitted against a more mainstream faction that favors building bridges with other churches and lending political support to the government.

"Some monasteries have for long enjoyed relative independence from the church. The Monastery of St. Macarious is one of them," said Shady Lewis Botros, a London-based researcher. "The killing will be taken advantage of by the church to extend full control over the monasteries."

The church already appears to be doing just that.

In a statement last week, it suspended admission of novices to its monasteries for a year, threatened to expel monks found to have established "illegal" monasteries and gave monks a month to shut down social media accounts. No media interviews without prior permission, it decreed.

Adding to the intrigue, the church's statement appealed to lay Christians not to enter into any financial deals with monks, suggesting that corruption exists in some monasteries. It urged the monks to strictly observe the church's ancient rules of asceticism or face expulsion.

"These decisions are meant to streamline monastic life and there will be more measures in the future in this regard," Pope Tawadros said in a sermon last week. "There is a need to safeguard monastic life and the monasteries."

Orthodox monasteries can be found across Egypt, but those located in remote desert areas, like St. Macarious, have traditionally enjoyed an elevated status because they revived the ascetic traditions of early monasticism. They witnessed a renaissance over the past century after hundreds of years of neglect that saw many of them abandoned.

They now attract university graduates and professionals who have energized the faith and, in some cases, turned the larger monasteries into farming and dairy enterprises, giving them financial independence.

The monasteries are now at the center of the identity of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, whose followers constitute the large majority of Egypt's Christians. Christians make up about 10 percent of the Muslim-majority country's population of 100 million.

That a respected senior member of the clergy could be killed inside a monastery - apparently at the hands of his own monks - has shaken the community.

"The crisis is about much more than just a murder ... it's now about monks and the monastic system," said Ishak Ibrahim, a leading expert on the church from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal rights, a Cairo-based research center.

The abbot was killed in the middle of the night in a part of the vast monastery not covered by security cameras, according to security and judicial officials involved in the investigation. They said he was killed with a single blow to the head by an iron bar.

Suspicion immediately fell on a monk known by his monastic name of Isaiah, who was defrocked by Pope Tawadros a week later. The church said he had a record of behavior "unbecoming" a monk, according to the officials, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters on the case.

A second monk, identified as Faltaous, was formally placed under arrest over the weekend while hospitalized for injuries sustained from a fall off a four-story building inside the monastery. The other monks told prosecutors he tried to kill himself, but the officials said they now suspect he may have been victim to a revenge attack by those angered by the killing of the abbot.

Church spokesman Boulis Halim declined to comment on the officials' suspicion.

Both men joined the monastery as novices in 2010. The officials said they were close friends who led a rogue faction within the monastery that undermined the abbot's authority.

Kamal Zakher, an expert on the church, said the killing has shattered the deep reverence in which monks are held by many lay Christians.

"We are dealing with an incident that shocked and angered many. Those who revere monks too much, on the other hand, are refusing to believe it," he said. "This crime restores the human side of life in monasteries that many appear to have forgotten."

FILE - In this April 17, 2013 photo, monks pray at the ancient monastery of St. Anthony in the eastern desert southeast of Cairo, Egypt. The killing of a respected bishop in a desert monastery north of Cairo has opened a rare window onto the cloistered world of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church. It's one of the oldest Christian communities in the world and the one that introduced monasticism to the faith. But the killing of the abbot, and the arrest of two monks suspected in his death, has shaken the church. (AP Photo/Manoocher Deghati, File)

FILE- In this April 16, 2013 photo, a monk walks on the grounds of the ancient monastery of St. Anthony, southeast of Cairo, Egypt. The killing of a respected bishop in a desert monastery north of Cairo has opened a rare window onto the cloistered world of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church. It's one of the oldest Christian communities in the world and the one that introduced monasticism to the faith. But the killing of the abbot, and the arrest of two monks suspected in his death, has shaken the church. (AP Photo/Manoocher Deghati, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2018 file photo, a priest leads prayers prior to Christmas Eve Mass at the Virgin Mary church, in Cairo, Egypt. The killing of a respected bishop in a desert monastery north of Cairo has opened a rare window onto the cloistered world of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church. It's one of the oldest Christian communities in the world and the one that introduced monasticism to the faith. But the killing of the abbot, and the arrest of two monks suspected in his death, has shaken the church. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The Taliban overran a remote base in northern Afghanistan, killing 17 soldiers, as Afghan forces battled the insurgents for the fifth straight day in the eastern city of Ghazni on Tuesday, trying to flush them out of the city's outskirts, officials said.

The Taliban claimed that dozens of forces at the northern base, known as camp Chinaya, had surrendered while others were captured. At least 19 soldiers were wounded in the assault, according to Defense Ministry spokesman Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed.

The Taliban had besieged the base, which housed about 140 Afghan troops, for three days before the attack late Monday, said the local provincial council chief, Mohammad Tahir Rahmani.

An injured boy rides in an ambulance on the Ghazni highway, in Maidan Shar, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Afghan forces battled the Taliban in the eastern city of Ghazni a key provincial capital, for the fourth straight day on Monday, following a massive assault on the eastern city last week that overwhelmed its defenses and allowed insurgents to capture several parts of it, officials said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Rahmani said the base fell to the Taliban after the soldiers ran out of ammunition, food and water. He said 43 troops were killed and wounded in the attack but did not give a breakdown.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying 57 Afghan soldiers had surrendered to the Taliban while 17 others were captured. He said eight military Humvees were also seized.

In Ghazni, meanwhile, Afghan forces battled the Taliban in the outskirts of the city five days after the insurgents launched a massive attack on it. Hundreds of people have fled the fighting in the city, which has so far killed about 100 members of the Afghan security forces and at least 20 civilians.

Nasart Rahimi, a deputy spokesman at the Interior Ministry, said security forces were combing Ghazni on Tuesday, searching for any remaining Taliban fighters. Military helicopters were supporting the ground operations, said Abdul Karim Arghandiwal, an army media officer in southeastern Afghanistan.

On Friday, the insurgents overwhelmed defenses and pushed deep into the city, which is just 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the capital, Kabul. The United States has carried out airstrikes and sent military advisers to aid Afghan forces in the city of 270,000 people.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, denied the insurgents had been driven from Ghazni and said sporadic gunbattles were still ongoing. The Taliban destroyed a telecommunications tower on Ghazni's outskirts during the initial assault, cutting off landline and cellphone links to the city.

The fighting has brought civilian life to a standstill, with most residents sheltering indoors.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says around 20 percent of the city's population depends on the municipal water system, which has been down since the start of the fighting. It said it had organized an effort to truck in water, serving around 18,000 people.

In recent months, the Taliban have seized several districts across Afghanistan, staging near-daily attacks on security forces, but they have been unable to capture and hold urban areas.

The U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, but have since then repeatedly come to the aid of Afghan forces as they struggle to combat the resurgent Taliban.

Afghan police officers search a vehicle at a checkpoint on the Ghazni highway, in Maidan Shar, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Afghan Defense Minister Gen. Tareq Shah Bahrami said Monday that about 100 policemen and soldiers as well as 20 civilians have been killed in past four days of battle in the eastern capital of Ghazni. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
LONDON (AP) - Police flooded central London streets and cordoned off the city's government district Tuesday, after a speeding car plowed into cyclists and crashed outside Parliament in what authorities were treating as an act of terrorism.

With the driver in custody, counterterror detectives were working to uncover the motive behind what they suspect is the fourth vehicle attack in Britain - and the second on Parliament - in 18 months.

"Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident," Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, Britain's top counterterrorism officer, told reporters.

Forensics officers work near the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning rush hour. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

A rooftop camera recorded the silver Ford Fiesta driving past Parliament and suddenly veering sharply to the left, striking cyclists waiting at a set of lights, then crossing the road and crashing into a barrier outside Parliament. Armed police surrounded the car within seconds, pulling a man from the vehicle. Police said the driver was alone and no weapons were found in the car.

Three people were hurt, none critically.

Police arrested the 29-year-old driver, a resident of England's Midlands region who was not previously known to counterterrorism police or the intelligence services. Basu said the suspect was not cooperating with police.

Security Minister Ben Wallace said the man, whose name was not released, was a British citizen originally from another country.

Police said the car was driven from Birmingham in central England to London late Monday and was in central London for more than seven hours before the crash. Detectives were searching two properties in Birmingham and one in another Midlands city, Nottingham.

Police said they did not believe there was any ongoing threat from Tuesday's incident. After a meeting of the government's crisis committee, COBRA, officials said Britain's terrorism threat level would remain at "severe," meaning an attack is highly likely. It has briefly been raised to the highest level, "critical," after some previous attacks.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who was on vacation in Switzerland, praised "the formidable courage of our emergency services and urged the public "to remain vigilant - but also to come together and carry on as normal."

"The twisted aim of the extremists is to use violence and terror to divide us," May said in a statement. "They will never succeed."

Police cars and ambulances flooded London's government district just after 7:30 a.m., after witnesses reported seeing a silver car traveling at high speed hit pedestrians and cyclists, then crash into a barrier designed to protect Parliament from vehicle attack.

One injured person was treated at the scene and two were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated and released.

"The car drove at speed into the barriers outside the House of Lords. There was a loud bang from the collision and a bit of smoke," Ewelina Ochab told The Associated Press. "The driver did not get out. The guards started screaming to people to move away."

Police shut the nearby Westminster subway station, and asked people to stay away from the area, which is filled with government offices and major tourist attractions, including Westminster Abbey.

Donovan Parsons, a cameraman for ITV's "Good Morning Britain," was filming outside Parliament when he heard a loud crash.

"I saw the car crashed into the barrier outside Westminster Palace, with smoke coming out of the vehicle. Police were around it, telling people to get back. ... They dragged someone out of the car," Parsons said.

"It didn't look like an accident," said Jason Williams, who lives nearby. "How do you do that by accident?"

The early morning scenes brought a sickly sense of deja vu to many Londoners, whose city has been a target of violent attacks over the decades - from Irish militants, Islamic jihadists and far-right extremists.

Last year alone, the city was hit by three deadly attacks. In March 2017, Khalid Masood plowed a car into crowds on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, then fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead in a courtyard outside Parliament.

Less than three months later, a van rammed into pedestrians on London Bridge before three men abandoned the vehicle and attacked weekend revelers in the nearby Borough Market. Eight people were killed and 48 injured.

In June 2017, a far-right extremist drove a van into a crowd of worshippers leaving a London mosque, killing one man and injuring eight others.

That attack followed the suicide bombing a month earlier at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester that killed 22 people.

British authorities say the threat is not diminishing. Since March 2017 they have foiled 13 Islamist-inspired plots and four far-right plots, and currently have 676 live counterterrorism investigations, officials said Tuesday.

This time, there was relief that no one was killed and that there was a quick return to normality. Most of the cordons were lifted by mid-afternoon, apart from a stretch of road right outside Parliament, where forensics officers in blue coveralls collected evidence from the crashed Ford Fiesta.

While May and other British politicians expressed sympathy for the victims and thanks to first responders, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that the crash was "another terrorist attack in London."

"These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!" Trump added.

Trump has a history of tweeting about violence, or alleged violence, in London. He angered many when he said a London hospital was like a war zone because of knife violence.

Tuesday's crash raised questions about security at Parliament, which has grown progressively tighter after previous attacks. Concrete and steel barriers protect against vehicle attacks, armed police officers patrol the grounds and visitors undergo airport-style security screening.

Since last year's vehicle attacks, concrete barriers or bollards have been erected along bridges and beside some major roads to prevent cars mounting the sidewalk to hit pedestrians, and there are calls for the street outside Parliament to be closed to traffic.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said authorities would learn lessons from the latest incident.

"Just as the terrorists, the bad guys, evolve and find new ways to kill, to injure, to maim, to divide our communities, the police, the security services, the emergency services evolve and find ways to keep us safe," he said.

A forensics officer works near the scene near of a car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament to the right of a bus in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning rush hour. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)

In this frame grab provided by UK Newsflare, emergency services attend the wounded after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. A car plowed into pedestrians and cyclists near the Houses of Parliament in London during the morning rush hour Tuesday, injuring a number of people in what police suspect is the latest in a string of vehicle-based attacks in the British capital. (UK Newsflare via AP)

Bicycles are placed against a wall near the scene where a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning rush hour. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Forensics officers work on the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament to the right of a bus in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning rush hour. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Forensics officers work near the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning rush hour. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Forensics officers work near the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning rush hour. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Forensics officers work near the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Authorities said in a statement Tuesday that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning rush hour. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The 24th World Congress of Philosophy (WCP) opened Monday in Beijing. It is the first time that the once-every-five-year event is held in China.

Themed "Learning To Be Human," the event will include more than 1,000 activities, such as plenary sessions, symposia, lectures, and roundtables, according to the Chinese Organizing Committee of WCP 2018.

More than 6,000 philosophers and academics from 121 countries and regions have been invited to attend the event, which will end Aug. 20.

Attendees will share diverse philosophical thoughts and take part in dialogues focusing on major issues confronting the development of the global civilization and challenges that mankind will face in the future.

This year's event is organized by the International Federation of Philosophical Societies, and Peking University.

Lin Jianhua, chairman of the Chinese Organizing Committee of WCP 2018, hopes that the dialogue between Chinese philosophy and the philosophies from other parts of the world could promote understandings, seek consensus, and bridge the gap between China and other countries.

The first WCP was held in 1900 in Paris and has become one of the largest philosophical events across the world.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions.

Addressing a conference of his ruling party faithful in the capital, Recep Tayyip Erdogan added fuel to the spat with the U.S., even as local business groups called on his government to settle it.

Investors seemed to look through the fiery rhetoric, pushing the lira off record lows on confirmation that Turkish and U.S. government officials met on Monday.

People walk past a currency exchange shop in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018.The Turkish lira has nosedived in value in the past week over concerns about Erdogan's economic policies and after the United States slapped sanctions on Turkey angered by the continued detention of an American pastor. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

"We will implement a boycott against America's electronic goods," Erdogan told the conference. He suggested Turks would buy local or Korean phones instead of U.S.-made iPhones, though it was unclear how he intended to enforce the boycott.

The move is seen as retaliation for the United States' decision to sanction two Turkish ministers over the detention of an American pastor on terror-related charges, and to double tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports.

Behind the scenes, however, diplomatic dialogue appears to have resumed. U.S. officials say National Security adviser John Bolton had met with the Turkish ambassador to Washington on Monday.

That helped ease the turmoil in financial markets, with the Turkish lira stabilizing near record lows. It was up about 5 percent on Tuesday, at about 6.52 per dollar, having fallen 42 percent so far this year, with most of those losses coming in recent weeks.

Investors are worried not only about Turkey's souring relations with the U.S., a longtime NATO ally, but also Erdogan's economic policies and the country's high debt accumulated in foreign currencies. Independent economists say Erdogan should let the central bank raise interest rates to support the currency, but he wants low rates to keep the economic growth going.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the industrialists' group TUSIAD and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges called on the government to allow the central bank to raise interest rates to help overcome the currency crisis.

The business groups also urged diplomatic efforts with the United States and an improvement in relations with the European Union, which is Turkey's major trading partner.

The finance chief, Berat Albayrak is due to address hundreds of foreign investors on Thursday in a teleconference, the state-run Anadolu Agency said. On Tuesday, he said the government is working on steps to help banks and support companies affected by the currency crisis.

Meanwhile, the lawyer representing Andrew Brunson, the American pastor at the center of the dispute, renewed an appeal for his release from house arrest and for a travel ban imposed on him to be lifted. It was not clear when the court would consider the appeal.

Brunson, 50, is being tried on espionage and terror-related charges, which he and the U.S. government vehemently deny. Although he was released to home detention, he faces a prison sentence of up to 35 years if he is convicted at the end of his ongoing trial.

The United States' top diplomat in Turkey, Jeffrey Hovenier, visited Brunson on Tuesday and called for his case - and those of others detained in Turkey - to be resolved "without delay" and in a "fair and transparent manner."

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov voiced support for Turkey during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, saying that the wide use of sanctions reflect the U.S.'s desire to dominate and secure advantages for its businesses.

He said Russia and Turkey have set a goal to switch from dollars to national currencies in mutual trade.

Independent economists caution it would be difficult to unseat the dollar as the top reserve currency as it is used widely in the global economy, for example to trade in oil and for commercial deals.

"We view the policy of sanctions as unlawful and illegitimate, driven mostly by a desire to dominate everywhere and in everything, dictate policies and call shots in international affairs," Lavrov said. "Such policy can't be a basis for normal dialogue and it can't last long."

Erdogan on Tuesday maintained that Turkey's economy was under attack and that the currency turmoil did not reflect its strength. He renewed a call on Turkish citizens to convert their dollars into the local currency.

"Believe me, if we divert our money to foreign currency ... then we will be in the position of having surrendered to the devil," Erdogan said.

A group of small business owners earlier gathered in front of a currency exchange office in Ankara to change dollar bills they held in their hands in a show of support for Erdogan, local media reports said.

In Istanbul, 35-year-old Sukru Gumus, one of millions of Turks grappling with the country's economic crisis, said the crisis was raising costs for his business.

The owner of a store that sells goods for brides-to-be said the lira's devaluation against foreign currencies has affected his ability to import goods.

"Most of the products we sell come from abroad, the raw materials... That's why we are directly impacted in an extreme way."

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Associated Press writers Ayse Wieting in Istanbul and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Erdogan said his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods amid a diplomatic spat that has helped trigger a Turkish currency crisis.The Turkish lira has nosedived in value in the past week over concerns about Erdogan's economic policies and after the United States slapped sanctions on Turkey angered by the continued detention of an American pastor.(Pool Photo via AP)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he delivers a speech in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Erdogan said his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods amid a diplomatic spat that has helped trigger a Turkish currency crisis.The Turkish lira has nosedived in value in the past week over concerns about Erdogan's economic policies and after the United States slapped sanctions on Turkey angered by the continued detention of an American pastor.(Pool Photo via AP)

Tourists and Turkish people queue outside a luxury store in an upscale neighbourhood of Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, as the Turkish lira sinks to a record low. Turkey's president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Tourists and Turkish people queue outside a luxury store in an upscale neighbourhood of Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, as the Turkish lira sinks to a record low. Turkey's president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, shakes hands with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, following a joint news conference in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

People walk in a market in Istanbul, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Turkey's central bank announced a series of measures on Monday to free up cash for banks as the country grapples with a currency crisis. The Turkish lira has nosedived over the past week and tumbled another 7 percent on Monday as the central bank's measures failed to restore investor confidence. (AP Photo/Mucahid Yapici)

A man shops in a market in Istanbul, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Turkey's central bank announced a series of measures on Monday to free up cash for banks as the country grapples with a currency crisis. The Turkish lira has nosedived over the past week and tumbled another 7 percent on Monday as the central bank's measures failed to restore investor confidence. (AP Photo/Mucahid Yapici)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, gestures as he delivers a speech to Turkish ambassadors at the Presidential Palace in Turkey, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Erdogan says his country is under an economic "siege" that has nothing to do with its economic indicators. He insisted that Turkey's economic dynamic remain strong and said the Turkish currency would soon settle "at the most reasonable level." (Pool Photo via AP)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, shakes hands with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, following a joint news conference in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, listens to the translation during a joint new conference with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, listens to a reporter's question during a joint news conference with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Tourists and Turkish people queue outside a luxury store in an upscale neighbourhood of Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, as the Turkish lira sinks to a record low. Turkey's president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Tourists and Turkish people queue outside a luxury store in an upscale neighbourhood of Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, as the Turkish lira sinks to a record low. Turkey's president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures prior to delivering a speech in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Erdogan said his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods amid a diplomatic spat that has helped trigger a Turkish currency crisis.The Turkish lira has nosedived in value in the past week over concerns about Erdogan's economic policies and after the United States slapped sanctions on Turkey angered by the continued detention of an American pastor. (Pool Photo via AP)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he delivers a speech in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Erdogan said his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods amid a diplomatic spat that has helped trigger a Turkish currency crisis.The Turkish lira has nosedived in value in the past week over concerns about Erdogan's economic policies and after the United States slapped sanctions on Turkey angered by the continued detention of an American pastor. (Pool Photo via AP)
BEIRUT (AP) - Representatives from Syria's Kurdish-run northeastern region met with the government in Damascus last week to discuss self-administration in a postwar Syria, a leading Kurdish official said Tuesday.

It was the second meeting between the two sides, and they agreed to continue their discussions, said Ilham Ahmed, the co-president of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Council.

The SDC delegation pressed for constitutional reforms to enshrine regional self-administration, said Ahmed, who described the government's response as "not positive."

A Russian military police officer stands guard at the border crossing point of Jdedeh Yabous, Syria, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Syrian government officials vowed Monday to ensure the safe return of refugees and urged Western countries to encourage the process by lifting sanctions. Public Administration Minister Hussein Makhlouf said authorities are working to rebuild hospitals, schools and other infrastructure to help accommodate refugees. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

"We have lots of work ahead of us, and I don't think this will be easy," said Ahmed.

The Syrian government has vowed to reassert its rule over the whole country after surviving seven years of civil war.

President Bashar Assad is demanding the departure of U.S. troops, who are embedded with the military arm of the SDC, the Syrian Democratic Forces, in the northeast Rojava region.

U.S. forces supported the Syrian Democratic Forces in their campaign against the Islamic State group in northeastern Syria. An estimated 2,000 U.S. troops and military advisers are in northern Syria, and the U.S. operates air bases in the Kurdish-administered region.

The Trump administration remains noncommittal about its plans for northern Syria.

Ahmed said the Kurdish-run region would not participate in nationwide local elections slated for next month, despite pressure from the government.

She said the SDC delegation met with officials from Damascus's authority on local administration and the ruling Baath Party's National Security Bureau, which oversees all intelligence operations in Syria.

Also Tuesday, Syrian state media said five drones were shot down in the coastal Latakia province as they approached a Russian air base in the area.

The air base, known as Hemeimeem, is the headquarters for Russia's military operations in support of Assad's forces. Russia has been a major ally and has turned the tide of the civil war in his favor.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says the drones were downed late Monday. It says this is the fifth time in as many days that drones have been shot down as they tried to reach the air base.

The Observatory and Syrian state media say the drones were launched by rebels holding territory in the neighboring Idlib province in northwestern Syria.

In a picture taken through a bus window, people drive their cars in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Syrian government officials vowed Monday to ensure the safe return of refugees and urged Western countries to encourage the process by lifting sanctions. Public Administration Minister Hussein Makhlouf said authorities are working to rebuild hospitals, schools and other infrastructure to help accommodate refugees. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: A car crashes into pedestrians outside British Parliament, primary season comes to Wisconsin and Minnesota, Trump threatens Cuomo.

1. PEDESTRIANS INJURED IN CRASH OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT IN LONDON

A car slammed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament, injuring a number of pedestrians. London's Metropolitan Police say that they are treating it as a terrorist incident.

A woman checks the currency exchange rates at a currency exchange shop in Istanbul, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Turkey's central bank announced a series of measures on Monday to free up cash for banks as the country grapples with a currency crisis. The Turkish lira has nosedived over the past week and tumbled another 7 percent on Monday as the central bank's measures failed to restore investor confidence. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

2. 'BLUE WAVE' TO BE TESTED IN KEY MIDWESTERN PRIMARIES

Democrats are fighting to beat back Republican gains across the Midwest as the 2018 primary season roars through Wisconsin and Minnesota, two states where President Donald Trump's appeal among working-class voters threaten to upend decadeslong political trends this fall and beyond.

3. TRUMP THROWS GAUNTLET DOWN TO CUOMO

Trump is daring New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to challenge him in 2020, warning the Democrat that "anybody that runs against Trump suffers."

4. TRUMP AND OMAROSA SPAR OVER CLAIM HE USED N-WORD

Trump has tackled Omarosa Manigault Newman's explosive claim that she had heard an audiotape of him using the N-word.

5. WHERE TALIBAN OVERRUN AFGHAN ARMY BASE

The Taliban overran a base in northern Afghanistan, killing 17 soldiers, even as Afghan forces battled the insurgents for the fifth straight day in the eastern provincial capital of Ghazni on Tuesday, trying to flush them out of the city's outskirts.

6. WHICH COUNTRY SAYS IT WILL BOYCOTT US GOODS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods amid a diplomatic spat that has helped trigger a Turkish currency crisis.

7. BUSINESS OWNERS, VISITORS REJOICE AS YOSEMITE REOPENS

Most of Yosemite National Park is set to reopen Tuesday after a 20-day closure that cost the tourist magnet millions of dollars and devastated local businesses.

8. GATES TESTIMONY DREDGES UP TRUMP INAUGURAL SPENDING MYSTERY

Paul Manafort's longtime deputy has admitted he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from his boss - and that he "possibly" was wrongfully reimbursed by Trump's inaugural committee.

9. JUDGE SETS BAIL FOR ADULTS ARRESTED AT NEW MEXICO COMPOUND

A judge cleared the way for five defendants arrested on child abuse charges at a New Mexico compound to be released despite authorities' suspicions that the group was training children to use firearms in preparation for an anti-government mission.

10. WHERE AN ABBOT'S MURDER IN THE DESERT HAS SHOCKED CHRISTIANS

The killing of a respected bishop in a desert monastery north of Cairo has shocked Egyptians and shaken up the Coptic Church, one of the world's oldest.

A forensics officers prepares to examine the scene near a car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament to the right of a bus in London, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. London police say that a car has crashed into barriers outside the Houses of Parliament and that there are a number of injured. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
CAIRO (AP) - The U.N. refugee agency says it's concerned over a Libyan militia forcing 1,900 displaced people out of their refugee camp in the capital, Tripoli.

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler says the militia ran 370 families, originally from the western city of Tawergha, out of their homes in the Triq al-Matar camp last week.

He says the militia also "arrested" around 100 of the Tawerghas, 12 of whom are being held in dismal conditions.

He said Tuesday the displaced in other Tripoli camps are also at risk of "forced evictions."

Libya plunged into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moammar Gadhafi and is now split between rival governments, each relying on several militias.

The Misrata militia, which is dominant in Tripoli, blames the Tawergha for siding with Gadhafi.
BENI, Congo (AP) - Congo's latest deadly Ebola outbreak has spread into a neighboring province, the health ministry said Tuesday, as health workers began using an experimental treatment for the disease.

Health officials are hoping the mAb114 therapy, isolated from a survivor of an Ebola outbreak in 1995, will be effective in this outbreak that so far has 30 confirmed cases including 14 deaths.

Five patients have been given the treatment, said the World Health Organization's director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Four other experimental treatments have been approved for use, he said.

The outbreak spread from North Kivu province into neighboring Ituri province in Congo's turbulent northeast when a man who had been treated for heart problems in Mangina, where the outbreak was declared Aug. 1, returned home, the health ministry said. He has since died and tests confirmed he had Ebola.

Vaccinations began last week in Mangina and Beni, the major town about 30 kilometers (18 miles) away where Ebola treatment centers have been set up. Health authorities are using what is called a ring vaccination technique in which health workers are vaccinated first, along with contacts of Ebola patients and their contacts.

Seven of the nearly 75 health workers in Mangina have been infected, Tedros said. More than 200 health workers have been vaccinated, along with 20 residents in the Beni region, he said. There are 3,000 vaccine doses in Congo.

The work to contain Ebola is challenged by the presence of several armed groups in the densely populated region close to the Ugandan border. WHO has called for secure access to all affected populations and for the cessation of hostilities.

"The virus is dangerous to us all," Tedros said.

There are designated "red zones" where health workers cannot go because of the insecurity, raising concerns that cases could easily spread there, he said.

"We are on an epidemiological precipice," WHO's emergency preparedness chief, Dr. Peter Salama, said in a Twitter post, with a limited window of opportunity to stop the outbreak from spreading into those areas.

For now the epicenter of the outbreak is in and around Beni so aid workers have been able to move with relative safety, said Jean-Philippe Marcoux, Congo country director for Mercy Corps.

The area around Mangina and Beni, however, is "almost completely surrounded by armed groups," the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement.

North Kivu is densely populated with more than 1 million displaced people, and while this is Congo's tenth Ebola outbreak health officials have said the local population is not familiar with the disease. That makes outreach more challenging.

"The unknown can create more fear," Marcoux said.

The WHO chief said the risk of international spread is low. He said officials have been in contact with neighboring Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

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Petesch reported from Dakar, Senegal.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa
BERLIN (AP) - Police are investigating two threatening letters containing a white powder that were sent to the American and Israeli embassies in the German capital, authorities said Tuesday.

Police spokeswoman Heidi Vogt said the two letters, sent last month, were analyzed by experts and the powder was determined to be a harmless substance.

She said police are focusing on a suspect known to them as the sender of both of the letters, but would give no further details due to the ongoing investigation. The suspect is being investigated on two counts of disturbing the peace by threatening a crime but no arrests have been made.

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2013 file photo the US flag flies at the main entrance of the US embassy in Berlin. Berlin police say threatening letters containing a white powder have been sent to both the American and Israeli embassies in the German capital. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)

The Israeli Embassy received the first letter on July 24 and the U.S. Embassy the second on July 26, said police spokeswoman Kerstin Ismer.

Neither embassy had any immediate comment, saying in general they do not comment on security issues.
CHICAGO (AP) - Defense lawyers highlighted a lack of physical evidence as the trial started Tuesday for two men charged in the shooting death of a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities.

Separate juries are hearing the cases against Micheail Ward and Kenneth Williams in the January 2013 death of Hadiya Pendleton. Lawyers gave opening statements and began questioning witnesses Tuesday.

Ward's attorney, Julie Koehler, told jurors that investigators don't have the gun and found no shell casings at the scene or gunshot residue in the car used by Ward and Williams.

From left, attorney Matt McQuaid, defendant Kenneth Williams, attorney Julie Koehler, attorney Gina Piemonte, defendant Micheail Ward, and attorney Scott Kozicki, stand at the start of the the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Williams and Ward are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Pendleton was with friends at a park 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from Obama's Chicago home when she was shot in what prosecutors say was a botched attempt at gang retaliation. Prosecutors said the then-18-year-old Ward was the gunman and that Williams, who was 20, was the getaway driver.

Assistant State's Attorney Barbara Dawkins told jurors the trial would teach them about "how rivalries and friendships are determined by gang boundaries and about how disputes are handled through violence on the street."

Koehler countered by saying that while a "beautiful young lady" lost her life, prosecutors have nothing connecting Ward to the crime.

"Did you ever hear (the prosecutor) talk about physical evidence?" Koehler asked the jury. "Nope. Because there isn't any."

Prosecutors said Ward confessed to opening fire on a crowd of teenagers who'd taken cover from the rain under a shelter at the park, believing he was shooting at members of a rival gang. Ward recanted his confession, given after 48 hours in police custody that included 17 hours of interrogation.

Pendleton's friend, Klyn Jones, testified she was standing near Pendleton when she suddenly saw a man pointing a gun at the group and heard four shots fired as she and Pendleton ran.

"I turned around and she was running still, but she was obviously slowing down, and then she grabbed her chest and said, 'I think I got shot,'" Jones testified. "I said, 'Stop playing, we have to go.' And she said, 'No, seriously, I think I got shot.' And fell to the ground."

A former Chicago police officer who lives near the park testified he saw a man with a gun running from the scene of the shooting. Ronald Evans said the man was wearing a "weird blue color" sweatshirt that matched the one prosecutors showed him.

Prosecutors also called a gang member, Ernest Finner, who testified he couldn't remember the day Pendleton was shot. Prosecutors said Finner gave them a detailed statement and testified before a grand jury that he overheard a nervous Williams confess to the shooting. When shown the sworn statement, Finner said he didn't remember. He also said police forced him to make the statement.

In his 2013 State of the Union address , Obama said Hadiya had become a symbol of the senseless gun violence in Chicago.

Obama pushed for gun reforms that Congress didn't enact following Hadiya's death and the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

First lady Michelle Obama attended Hadiya's funeral. In an emotional speech a few months later, she spoke about the shooting as she urged Chicago leaders to take action to curb gun violence, saying Hadiya's life in many ways mirrored her own growing up on Chicago's South Side.

"Hadiya Pendleton was me and I was her," she said.

This combination of photos provided by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Kenneth Williams, left, and Micheail Ward. On Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, jury selection began in Chicago for the trial of the two men charged in the January 2013 fatal shooting of 15-year-old student Hadiya Pendleton just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Cook County Sheriff's Office via AP)

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2013, file photo, a mourner holds up a funeral program for Hadiya Pendleton, outside the Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church during the funeral service. Jury selection begins Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in the trial of two men charged in the fatal shooting in January 2013 of Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Prosecutors from left, Brian Holmes, James Papa and Barbara Dawkins appear at the start of the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Separate juries are hearing the cases against Micheail Ward and Kenneth Williams in the January 2013 shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, mother of shooting victim Hadiya Pendleton, walks with supporters into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Opening statements begin today on two men standing trial in the 2013 shooting of Pendleton. Separate juries have been selected to hear the cases against Micheail Ward and Kenneth Williams in the death of the 15-year-old. (Ashlee Rezin /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Nathaniel Anthony Pendleton, father of shooting victim Hadiya Pendleton, walks into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Opening statements begin today on two men standing trial in the 2013 shooting of Pendleton. Separate juries have been selected to hear the cases against Micheail Ward and Kenneth Williams in the death of the 15-year-old. (Ashlee Rezin /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Defendant Kenneth Williams, center, is flanked by attorneys Matt McQuaid, and Julie Koehler, during opening arguments in the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Williams, and Micheail Ward are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Defendant Micheail Ward, center, is flanked by attorneys Gina Piemonte and Scott Kozicki during opening arguments in the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Kenneth Williams, and Ward are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Nathaniel Anthony Pendleton, father of shooting victim Hadiya Pendleton, walks into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Opening statements begin today on two men standing trial in the 2013 shooting of Pendleton. Separate juries have been selected to hear the cases against Micheail Ward and Kenneth Williams in the death of the 15-year-old. (Ashlee Rezin /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Defendant Micheail Ward's attorney Julie Koehler delivers opening arguments in the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Tuesday Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Kenneth Williams, and Ward are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Prosecutor Barbara Dawkins stands during the beginning of the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Two men are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of Pendleton, a15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Defendant Micheail Ward's attorney Julie Koehler delivers opening arguments in the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Tuesday Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Kenneth Williams, and Ward are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Defendant Kenneth Williams' attorney Matt McQuaid delivers opening arguments in the Hadiya Pendleton murder trial at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Tuesday Aug. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Williams, and Micheail Ward are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities. (Jose M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)
MONTICELLO, Fla. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, under fire from Florida's Republican governor, isn't backing down from comments that Russian operatives have penetrated some of his state's election systems ahead of this year's crucial election.

During stops in north Florida over a two-day period, the three-term Democrat said that state and local officials need to take Russian meddling as a "serious threat" and that county election supervisors need to make sure they have help to protect their election systems. Russian hackers targeted at least 21 states, including Florida, during the last election.

"It would be foolish to think that the Russians are not continuing to do what they did in Florida in 2016," Nelson said. "It is unfortunate that some Florida officials are trying to use this for partisan purposes."

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2018 file photo, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., speaks during a roundtable discussion with education leaders from South Florida at the United Teachers of Dade headquarters in Miami. Nelson isn't backing down from comments that Russian operatives have penetrated some of his state's election systems ahead of this year's crucial election. Nelson on Monday, Aug. 13, said that it would be "foolish to think" the Russians are not continuing their efforts to target Florida. Russian hackers targeted at least 21 states, including Florida, ahead of the 2016 election. He said criticism of his comments are for "partisan political purposes." (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Nelson, while responding to questions from a reporter, said last week that Russians were able to get inside the election systems of "certain counties" and "now have free rein to move about." He added that "the threat is real and elections officials - at all levels - need to address the vulnerabilities." But Nelson has declined to go into details, saying the information is classified.

Scott, who is challenging Nelson this fall, has demanded that Nelson provide proof of Russian efforts and has suggested that the senator was either making it up or releasing classified information. Scott is challenging Nelson in this year's election.

"People need to know the facts and I don't think he's been transparent," Scott said Tuesday.

Later in the day, Scott put out a statement calling Nelson "irresponsible" and said "he is the one who has politicized a serious concern that our supervisors of elections and state officials are focusing on every single day."

The Scott administration has called on federal authorities to rebut Nelson's statements. Last week the Department of Homeland Security put out a statement that the agency had not seen "any new compromises by Russian actors of election infrastructure." But U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, head of the Senate intelligence committee, and Sen. Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican who sits on the committee, have declined to either confirm or deny Nelson's statements.

During his campaign stop in Monticello that attracted a small crowd of Democrats, Nelson was asked about Russian meddling. He noted that both he and Rubio were asked by the Senate intelligence committee to write officials in Florida in early July and warn them.

Nelson maintained that foreign nations have the capability to infiltrate election systems and that the threat of American retaliation is the only thing preventing more aggressive actions.

"You take a sophisticated nation state like Russia or China, they can get into anything," Nelson said.

While many details of the 2016 hacking efforts have remained murky, an indictment released last month said that Russian operatives sent more than 100 fake emails to elections offices and personnel in Florida. State officials have never acknowledged how many counties were targeted by the Russians.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) - A man has been arrested and charged with kidnapping after a woman told police he held her in a South Carolina motel room for about a month.

News outlets reported that Spartanburg police were called to a motel Sunday night where the woman told officers she had been choked, hit, placed in handcuffs and pepper sprayed.

Forty-year-old Ryan Cornelius Sharpe, who was also charged with domestic violence, denied that he had prevented the woman from leaving the motel room.

Sharpe is being held in the Spartanburg County jail. It wasn't known if he has a lawyer.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - A Dutch court has sentenced the father and mother of an 8-year-old German boy to three years in prison for abusing the child on a campsite in the eastern Netherlands last year.

Judges in Zutphen ruled Tuesday that the parents, both 35-year-old Germans, kicked their son, bound his arms and legs and gave him insufficient food and drink over a period of nearly two months from June 1, 2017.

In a statement, the court called the offenses "very serious child abuse."

The campsite was in Winterswijk, close to the Dutch-German border and about 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Amsterdam.

The court said the parents, whose identities were not released, were convicted in Germany of child abuse in 2012 for mistreating the woman's oldest son from a previous relationship.
Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome on Monday said Chinese investment plays an indispensable role in the East African country's industrialization drive.

Speaking after visiting the Chinese built Eastern Industry Zone, 37 km south of Addis Ababa, he said the industrial zone, which has more than 80 factories in it, is a showcase in how with right management and planning Ethiopia's transition from an agriculture-based economy into an industrial powerhouse in the next 10 years can be successful.

The Eastern Industry Zone inaugurated in 2010 is Ethiopia's first industry zone that inspired the Ethiopian government towards establishing more industry parks across the country towards becoming the manufacturing hub of the African continent.

"A decade ago the land the Eastern Industry Zone currently lies on was just an agricultural land, but with hard work it has become today a showcase of high quality industrial factories in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, pulp and textile," said Teshome.

"I hope our local entrepreneurs will learn from the success of Eastern Industry Zone and take this opportunity to enter into the manufacturing sector," he further said.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Tan Jian, who accompanied the Ethiopian president in his visit to the Eastern Industry Zone, said the bilateral relationship can be a model of South-South cooperation.

Ethiopia has the biggest economy in the East African region and the second largest population in Africa with around 100 million people, he said.

In that regard, China's cooperation with Ethiopia can be seen as a model for China-Africa and South-South cooperation, Tan told Xinhua.

Chinese investment and expertise have been crucial to build a 4 billion U.S. dollars 756 km electrified rail line from Addis Ababa-Djibouti, helping ease the bottleneck for landlocked Ethiopia and assisting the East African country maintain its double-digit economic growth over the last decade, said Tan.

Ethiopia-China partnership can be strengthened, be it infrastructure development sector, industrial park development, agricultural sector development and human resource development, said Tan.

"As part of our multifaceted cooperation every year we provide 400 scholarships to Ethiopians, as we see human resource development is very important for our bilateral partnership," said Tan.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Federal prosecutors investigating the alleged forced disappearances of 36 people in the northern Mexico border city of Nuevo Laredo have inspected a marine base in the city.

Investigators from the Attorney General's office for forced disappearances made the visit Monday with relatives of the missing people observing. Some relatives accuse marines of seizing the missing people.

In a statement late Monday, the Attorney General's Office said that its investigators inspected vehicles, weapons and radios.

The Nuevo Laredo Human Rights Committee said in a statement that the inspections should have been made months ago.

In May, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Mexican government to "take urgent measures to stop the wave of forced disappearances in Nuevo Laredo and surrounding areas."
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Anyone who has seen Kristen Bell break down in (happy) hysterics over a sloth knows the actress' affinity for animals, especially those of the cute and cuddly variety. So when the people behind the new IMAX original film "Pandas" asked "The Good Place" star if she would consider narrating the documentary, it was a no-brainer.

"I'm not un-secretive about the fact that I'm an animal lover, or an IMAX lover to be totally honest with you," Bell said. "I think they produce some of the best content out there and I take my kids to the science center every time there's a new IMAX movie. I just think the patience with which they produce particularly their animal documentaries is kind of astounding."

"Pandas," from David Douglas and Drew Fellman ("Born to Be Wild" and "Island of Lemurs: Madagascar"), takes audiences to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China where scientists are working toward a goal of releasing captive-born pandas into the wild, where only about 2,000 remaining pandas live.

FILE - In this March 17, 2018 file photo, Kristen Bell holds a stuffed panda teddy bear at the LA Premiere of "Pandas" in Los Angeles. Bell narrates the documentary which will be in wide release beginning Friday. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

The film, which will be in wide release beginning Friday, focuses in on one, Qian Qian (pronounced Chen Chen), from cub stage to her supervised release in the wild and the humans trying to make that happen. Hou Rong, the director of research at Panda Base since 1994, has raised over 200 baby pandas during her tenure and hopes that one day their work will help pandas thrive outside of captivity.

In an inspiring display of cross-cultural solidarity, she travels to New Hampshire to observe how a man named Ben Kilham has for 20 years been successfully raising orphaned black bear cubs for eventual release in the wild. At Kilham's suggestion, Panda Base hires American conservation biologist Jake Owens, whom Douglas calls "the Indiana Jones of biologists" to help supervise Qian Qian's transition from city panda to country panda.

Bell, who got involved later in the process, didn't get to meet the pandas but hopes that one day she will. But that didn't stop her from peppering the scientists like Owens with questions, like how much do they weigh ("150 pounds"), how much do they feel like they weigh ("about 300 pounds") and what do they smell like ("sweet grass and milk")?

An avid watcher of nature documentaries, Bell said that she and her young daughters Lincoln and Delta particularly love David Attenborough and the "Planet Earth" series. The girls saw an early cut of "Pandas" and "loved it," which makes Bell all the more excited for additional kids and families to experience "Pandas," too.

"It's inspiring the next crop of biologists and conservationists," she said.

She thinks the film will connect beyond animal die-hards, too.

"It makes you feel good," Bell said. "It's inspiring, it's beautiful, it's adorable, it's educational and personally I think currently the world could use more things that feel good, you know?"

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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows giant pandas in a scene from the IMAX documentary "Pandas." The film, from David Douglas and Drew Fellman, takes audiences to the Chengdu Research Base For Giant Panda Breeding in China where scientists are working toward a goal of releasing captive-born pandas into the wild, where only about 2000 remaining pandas live. (Drew Fellman/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - An Ethiopian official says a notorious special police force in the country's Somali region killed 41 people and wounded 20 others as ethnic violence poses a challenge to the reformist new prime minister.

Local spokesman Miski Mohammed says the Liyu Police attacked Sunday in East Hararghe while people fled fearing further attacks. Regional spokesman Negeri Lencho has said those targeted were ethnic Oromos.

Months of tensions between Somalis and Oromos in Ethiopia have displaced more than a million people.

The Somali region's president, Abdi Mohammed Omar, resigned in recent days after deadly violence in the regional capital, Jigjiga, between Somalis and local ethnic minorities destroyed churches and businesses.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has encouraged peace among ethnic groups but hundreds of thousands are displaced amid multiple inter-communal disputes.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan officials say they will appeal a federal judge's ruling against eliminating straight-party voting.

The Detroit News reports Secretary of State Ruth Johnson on Monday filed a notice to appeal. That came two weeks after U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain said preventing voters from checking a single box to vote for all of a party's candidates discriminate against blacks, who tend to use the straight-party option at a higher rate.

State officials have said there are no constitutional violations in the straight-ticket voting ban.

Gov. Rick Snyder and other Republicans say a ban would inspire voters to do their homework instead of simply choosing a party.

Nearly half of all Michigan ballots were straight-party during the 2016 election. It's also common in Republican-friendly counties won by President Donald Trump.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on wildfires burning across the U.S. West (all times local):

5:30.m.

Authorities say that one of the smaller wildfires in Northern California was sparked accidentally by a vehicle tow chain dragging on the ground and was not arson.

A fire helicopter takes off through smoke rising to make a drop on active fires in Yosemite National Park after the park reopened after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said the driver had been towing a recently acquired trailer.

The office had opened an arson investigation into the wildfire near the community of Covelo, California, prompted by concerns from residents.

The fire destroyed a large amount of wooden fencing and threatened homes but no homes were lost. It is 100 percent contained.

Covelo is about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of San Francisco.

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12:45 p.m.

Authorities say a Utah firefighter who died battling the largest wildfire in recorded California history was hit by a falling tree.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection division chief Todd Derum tells the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa that Matthew Burchett was battling flames when a tree fell on him and other firefighters.

Derum, who is the division chief for Sonoma, Lake and Napa counties, says three others were injured Monday.

He says Burchett and the Utah crew were working alongside California firefighters, who rushed to give him medical aid after he was injured.

Mendocino Complex Fire spokesman Christian Linnemann said Tuesday that he couldn't immediately confirm how Burchett died because of the ongoing investigation.

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This corrects the Mendocino Complex Fire spokesman's last name to Linnemann.

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11:50 a.m.

Cars are lining up to enter Yosemite National Park after smoke from a nearby wildfire closed its famed valley for nearly three weeks.

Among the first to enter the park Tuesday was Dutch tourist Gert Lammers, who said he felt lucky to get to see Yosemite after thousands of tourists had to cancel trips.

He said he didn't mind the lingering smoke in the air and was looking forward to seeing some of the park's iconic waterfalls and granite cliffs.

Park spokeswoman Jamie Richards said air quality had improved since Yosemite Valley was shut July 25 but visitors should still expect to see and smell some smoke.

Richards said the park was running limited services, with some campgrounds still closed and limited food services.

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10:45 a.m.

At least nine homes and cabins in a historic district of Glacier National Park have been destroyed in a wildfire that raged through the Montana park's busiest area and prompted the hasty evacuation of hundreds of visitors.

Park officials said Tuesday that the lost buildings include the so-called Big House at Kelly's Camp, a resort developed early last century serving auto travelers along Glacier's famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Glacier Conservancy Executive Director Doug Mitchell says it's a "gut punch" to lose some of the park's iconic buildings.

Firefighters managed to save several historic structures that caught fire. Among them was Lake McDonald Ranger station and the Wheeler Cabin, built by the family of former Montana U.S. Sen. Burton Wheeler.

The 4-square-mile (10-square-kilometer) is burning near other historic cabins and buildings around Lake McDonald.

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9:45 a.m.

A Utah firefighter who died battling the largest recorded wildfire in California history leaves behind a wife and 6-year-old son.

City of Draper Mayor Troy Walker told reporters Tuesday that Matthew Burchett was a battalion chief who joined the Salt Lake City suburb's fire department in May after 20 years with another agency in the area. He says the 42-year-old had extensive experience battling wildfires.

Walker had no details about Burchett's death. Authorities say Burchett died Monday night at a hospital after being injured in the Mendocino Complex Fire north of San Francisco.

He was one of five firefighters the city sent to California in early August.

Fellow Battalion Chief Bart Vawdrey says Burchett had worked other large fires and was hired to oversee Draper's wildland firefighting efforts because of his experience. He says Burchett was a good man with a dry wit.

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8:45 a.m.

Yosemite National Park officials say tourists returning after a nearly three-week closure could still face smoky air from a wildfire.

Most of the park reopened Tuesday after flames burned in remote areas of Yosemite and left it shrouded in smoke during the height of tourist season.

Park officials say a major road from the south, Highway 41, and a popular park attraction known as Glacier Point will remain closed for likely at least another week for fire operations.

Despite the reopening, officials have warned that the air quality in Yosemite Valley has been poor and are recommending visitors reduce prolonged times outside or heavy exercise.

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12 a.m.

Most of Yosemite National Park is set to reopen after a 20-day closure that cost the surrounding communities an estimated $50 million in lost tourism dollars.

Yosemite Valley, which includes most of the park's major attractions, is set to reopen Tuesday but hotels and other businesses say it will likely be weeks before bookings return to normal levels.

The nearly three-week closure was the result of a nearby massive wildfire that has burned 150 square miles and killed two firefighters since it started July 13.

The blaze is one of several in California that in less than three weeks have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and killed at least a dozen people. The latest fatality was a Utah firefighter killed Monday in a blaze north of San Francisco.

Park Ranger Alex Martinez passes maps out and directs visitors at the Hwy 140 gate as Yosemite National Park reopens after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

From left to right, Arvin, Lisa and Nathasja Lammers watch the activity in the sky, as helicopters fly in and out to put out fires in Yosemite National Park which reopened after a three week closure from smoke and fires that led to most tourists canceling their trips Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)

Draper Battalion Chief Bart Vawdrey hugs a fellow firefighter during a press conference in Draper, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Draper Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett was killed on Monday night while fighting the largest blaze in California history, the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018 photo provided by the National Park Service, people walk along the shore near Lake McDonald Lodge as the Howe Ridge Fire burns in Glacier National Park, Mont. A wildfire destroyed structures and forced evacuations Monday from the busiest area of Montana's Glacier National Park, as officials in California prepared to reopen Yosemite National Park Tuesday following a nearly three-week closure at the height of the summer season. (National Park Service via AP)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Yaisah Val recently came out publicly as a transgender woman on YouTube, a potentially risky move in a country like Haiti where LGBT residents face pervasive hostility in most spheres of public life.

Two proposed anti-LGBT laws are pending in Parliament. The major churches are firm in their condemnation of homosexuality. Gay Haitians are frequent targets of attacks and harassment, and police are often unsympathetic to victims of anti-gay violence.

"We told my family beforehand," Val told The Associated Press of her decision to come out. "And they said, 'You're going to be stoned.'"

Yaisah Val a transgender woman get her makeup done at her home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 12, 2018. Val recently came out publicly as a transgender woman on YouTube, a potentially risky move in a country like Haiti where LGBT residents face pervasive hostility in most spheres of public life. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Instead, Val says she's developed a supportive fan base - many of them straight people and mothers who gratefully view her as a role model for their transgender daughters. Val says she's occasionally recognized on the streets by people who want to be photographed with her. And she recently attended a meeting in Washington, D.C., as part of a delegation trying to strengthen LGBT rights in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Her situation is indicative of the struggle for LGBT rights in Caribbean nations like Haiti, where incremental progress toward acceptance is seen as a major step in the face of deep-rooted cultural opposition to gays. Val and other activists have been pushing for greater equality and access to education, and have been welcomed into some broader civil-society initiatives, including events supported by Haiti's first lady.

They also realize it's an uphill fight in a country with a strong anti-gay stigma - contributing to an HIV prevalence rate among gay men that's nine times higher than for the adult population as a whole.

The SEROvie Foundation, a 20-year-old organization providing free HIV treatment and prevention services for LGBT Haitians, says many gay and bisexual men avoid seeking care because they fear mistreatment or disclosure of personal details. Executive director Reginald Dupont said several men had committed suicide in the city of Jeremie after their HIV status was publicly revealed.

As a precaution against harassment, there's no exterior sign identifying the foundation's main clinic in Port-au-Prince - a two-story building in a neighborhood housing several international organizations.

The complex includes an emergency shelter in the rear courtyard where victims of anti-gay violence and harassment can stay for up to two weeks. It was busy last year, staffers said, when debate in the Senate over anti-gay laws triggered a spate of attacks.

According to the latest figures from UNAIDS - the United Nations agency that fights HIV and AIDS - about 2.1 percent of all Haitian adults are living with HIV, while prevalence rate among gay and bisexual men is 18.2 percent.

The overall HIV prevalence rate, though still among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, is down sharply from a decade ago. UNAIDS says new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have both decreased by about 25 percent since 2010.

However, further progress will be difficult without addressing the persistently high infection rate among gays and bisexuals, said Dr. Jean William Pape, who founded Haiti's largest HIV/AIDs organization in 1982 and also teaches at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Anti-gay bias is prevalent even among health care providers, said Pape, who recounted how one of his senior staff members complained about the flamboyant appearance of some gay men.

"I told him, 'They can look the way they want. Our job is to provide care,'" Pape said.

The head of the UNAIDS operation in Haiti, Yafflo Outarra, says he and officials of other humanitarian organizations have been prodding the government to be more active in countering anti-LGBT prejudice. But he acknowledges the task is daunting, given the results of a survey last year commissioned by Haiti's Health Ministry with support from UNAIDS and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among the 1,089 respondents in the nationwide survey, 90 percent rejected the idea of equal rights for LGBT people and 75 percent said Haiti should ban gays and lesbians from entering the country.

"The results were not encouraging," Outarra said.

Given that background, it's striking that Haiti's most prominent LGBT activist, while dismayed at the hostility, is hopeful about the future.

"More and more young people, bringing their skills, are getting engaged in our fight," said Charlot Jeudy, president of Kouraj, Haiti's leading LGBT-rights group. Jeudy founded the group in 2011, seeking to counter anti-gay sentiment that intensified after the previous year's devastating earthquake.

Prior to Kouraj's founding, Haiti's LGBT community remained largely underground because of social stigma, even though there are no laws criminalizing homosexual relations as there are in several English-speaking Caribbean nations. Two years ago, an LGBT cultural festival in Port-au-Prince was canceled after organizers received threats and a local official, calling it a violation of moral values, sought to ban it.

Last year, Haiti's Senate passed two bills targeting LGBT Haitians. One would formalize a ban on same-sex marriage, and prohibit public demonstrations in favor of LGBT rights. The other would include gays among categories of people who could be denied a "certificate of good standing" - a document required as part of many job applications.

Kouraj and other advocacy groups, as well as some foreign diplomats and international organizations, voiced opposition to both bills, which have not advanced in Parliament's lower house.

Jeudy attributes much of the anti-LGBT animosity to the influence of Haiti's Catholic and Protestant churches. The main exception, Jeudy said, is the Voodoo religion, which is more welcoming to LGBT people in keeping with its tradition as a spiritual home for marginalized communities.

Yaisah Val's husband, Richecarde, experienced religious disapproval firsthand. When he told his father, a Protestant pastor, that he planned to marry a transgender woman, his father replied, "You know that's the devil."

Richecarde subsequently left the church, is estranged from his father, and devotes himself to the cause of transgender rights.

Yaisah Val, who is now 46, started her gender transition at age 29 in Haiti and completed it five years later with sex-reassignment surgery in Philadelphia.

She and her husband are now seeking to raise funds to open a first-of-its-kind shelter for transgender Haitians that would help them pursue an education and get appropriate health care.

"Most people want to be activists behind the scenes," she said. "If you really want to make change, you need to be out and about in public."

Yaisah Val, 46, right, a transgender woman walks with her husband Richecarde Val, 28, in a street market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 12, 2018. Richecarde experienced religious disapproval firsthand. When he told his father, a Protestant pastor, that he planned to marry a transgender woman, his father replied, "You know that's the devil." (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Yaisah Val, 46, left, a transgender woman, sits next to her husband, Richecarde Val, 28, in the clothing store they own with a friend in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 13, 2018. Her situation is indicative of the struggle for LGBT rights in Caribbean nations like Haiti, where incremental progress toward acceptance is seen as a major step in the face of deep-rooted cultural opposition to gays. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Yaisah Val, 46, left, a transgender woman, talks with her husband, Richecarde Val, 28, as she irons his shirt at their home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 12, 2018. Val started her gender transition at age 29 in Haiti and completed it five years later with sex-reassignment surgery in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Yaisah Val, 46, a transgender woman, talks with her husband, Richecarde, 28, at their home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 12, 2018. She and her husband are seeking to raise funds to open a first-of-its-kind shelter for transgender Haitians that would help them pursue an education and get appropriate health care. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Yaisah Val, 46, a transgender woman, holds her cellphone displaying a picture when she was a five-year-old boy, at her home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 14, 2018. Val started her gender transition at age 29 in Haiti and completed it five years later with sex-reassignment surgery in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Yaisah Val, 46, left, a transgender woman, laughs with Charlot Jeudy, center, president of Kouraj, Haiti's leading LGBT-rights group, at their office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 13, 2018. At right is her husband, Richecarde Val, 28. Jeudy founded the group in 2011, seeking to counter anti-gay sentiment that intensified after the previous year's devastating earthquake. "More and more young people, bringing their skills, are getting engaged in our fight," he says. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Nov. 14, 2015 photo, "Rihana" poses for a picture before the start of a gay beauty contest in Grand Goave, Haiti. Among the 1,089 respondents in a 2017 survey commissioned by Haiti's Health Ministry, 90 percent rejected the idea of equal rights for LGBT people and 75 percent said Haiti should ban gays and lesbians from entering the country. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Nov. 14, 2015 photo, before the start of a gay beauty contest, people hold candles in memory of fellow LGBT community members who were victims of violence, in Grand Goave, Haiti. In 2017, Haiti's Senate passed two bills targeting LGBT Haitians. One would formalize a ban on same-sex marriage, and prohibit public demonstrations in favor of LGBT rights. The other would include gays among categories of people who could be denied a "certificate of good standing" _ a document required as part of many job applications. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Nov. 15, 2015 photo, "Francesca" competes in a gay beauty contest in Grand Goave, Haiti. Among the 1,089 respondents in a 2017 survey commissioned by Haiti's Health Ministry, 90 percent rejected the idea of equal rights for LGBT people and 75 percent said Haiti should ban gays and lesbians from entering the country. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

In this Nov. 23, 2015 photo, Jean Richardson Joubert 32, foreground, poses for a photo with his partner, Stanley Desire 28, inside his bedroom in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In 2017, Haiti's Senate passed two bills targeting LGBT Haitians. One would formalize a ban on same-sex marriage, and prohibit public demonstrations in favor of LGBT rights. The other would include gays among categories of people who could be denied a "certificate of good standing" _ a document required as part of many job applications. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

Yaisah Val, 46, a transgender woman, watches a movie with her husband, Richecarde Val, 28, in their home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on July 14, 2018. Val recently came out publicly as a transgender woman on YouTube, a potentially risky move in a country like Haiti where LGBT residents face pervasive hostility in most spheres of public life. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the counting of provisional ballots in the tight Republican primary for Kansas governor (all times local):

8:30 p.m.

Democratic nominee for Kansas governor Laura Kelly is launching attacks against Republican opponent Kris Kobach now that Gov. Jeff Colyer has conceded the GOP nomination to him.

Board of County Commissioners chairman Ed Eilert checks his cell phone following the Johnson County Board of Canvassers meeting, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Olathe, Kan. County election officials across Kansas on Monday began deciding which provisional ballots from last week's primary election will count toward the final official vote totals, with possibility that they could create a new leader in the hotly contested Republican race for governor. Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by a mere 110 votes out of more than 313,000 cast as of Friday evening. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Kelly said on Tuesday evening that Kansas families suffered under former Gov. Sam Brownback, who left office earlier this year for a position in President Donald Trump's administration. The state senator form Topeka slammed Kobach for his pledge to return to what she called Brownback's failed policies and Kobach's extreme partisanship and self-promotion.

Kobach, currently the secretary of state, is promising to push for lower income and sales tax rates and tighter controls on local property taxes a year after bipartisan supermajorities in the state Legislature rolled back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback.

Kelly said she would push for strong schools, good jobs, balanced budgets and steady leadership.

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7:40 p.m.

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer has conceded in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary, saying he will endorse Secretary of State Kris Kobach a week after their neck-and-neck finish threatened to send the race to a recount.

Colyer accepted defeat Tuesday evening after a review of some provisional ballots from most Kansas counties failed to find enough votes for him to overcome a deficit of 110 votes at the time of poll closing in the Aug. 7 primary, out of more than 311,000 votes initially counted.

Kobach will face Democrat Laura Kelly in the November general election.

Colyer is a 58-year-old plastic surgeon from suburban Kansas City. He served as lieutenant governor for seven years and took over as governor in January when Sam Brownback resigned to become ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

Kobach had the support of President Donald Trump.

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5:40 p.m.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is still leading Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican race for governor after provisional votes were counted in the state's most populous county.

Several counties were tallying provisional votes Tuesday, a week after the primary election.

Johnson County released its count Tuesday evening, which pushed Kobach over Colyer by just 345 votes out of more than 315,000 cast.

That's a slight increase from earlier in the day, when the state's second largest county, Sedgwick County, released its numbers and put Kobach ahead of the sitting governor by just 298 votes.

Kobach has been narrowly ahead since the Aug. 7 election.

Provisional ballots are cast when a voter's eligibility is questioned. Those votes are now being counted by state's 105 counties in a process that's expected to stretch into Monday.

But under state law, the candidates must decide by Friday whether to seek a recount.

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11:40 a.m.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has slightly widened his lead over Gov. Jeff Colyer in the state's Republican primary for governor.

The state's second largest county released its count of provisional ballots late Tuesday morning.

With the updated Sedgwick County numbers, Kobach now leads the sitting governor by just 298 votes out of more than 314,000 cast.

Kobach had a 206-vote lead on Monday, the first day of counting provision ballots.

The state's largest county, Johnson County, isn't expected to release updated numbers until late Tuesday afternoon.

Fourteen smaller counties also began canvassing votes Tuesday, a week after the primary election.

On Monday, more than two-thirds of the state's counties reviewed provisional ballots, which are given at the polls to voters when their eligibility is in question.

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6 a.m.

Kansas county election officials are set to continue reviewing some 9,000 provisional ballots Tuesday as the two candidates in the state's tight GOP primary for governor dig in for a long battle.

On Monday, more than two-thirds of the state's counties reviewed provisional ballots, which are given at the polls to voters when their eligibility is in question.

How to handle such ballots emerged on the first day of canvassing as the most contentious issue in the razor-thin race for the Republican nomination for governor.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by about 200 votes when the vote counting stopped for the day Monday, with 43 counties left to report results in the coming days. Fourteen counties are to begin canvassing Tuesday.
HOUSTON (AP) - The attorney taking on President Donald Trump over his alleged affair with an adult film actress went to immigration court Tuesday to try to secure the release of a 9-year-old boy from Guatemala.

A judge denied Michael Avenatti's request to dismiss the removal case against the boy, whose mother was deported in June.

Avenatti and another attorney had offered to take the boy from court to the airport and fly him to Guatemala. Instead, the judge agreed to let the boy voluntarily depart the U.S. in the next 60 days, as part of the ordinary process when an immigrant child who entered the U.S. without legal permission wishes to return.

Attorneys Michael Avenatti and Ricardo de Anda exit the building of the Houston Immigration Court, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Houston. Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, offered some details on his policy views Tuesday as he weighs an outsider Democratic bid for the White House. (Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Standing outside court on Tuesday, Avenatti denied that he was representing the boy as a publicity stunt.

"I've been representing dozens of mothers and children for weeks now, traveling around the country," he said. "My record speaks for itself."

In addition to his legal fights on behalf of actress Stormy Daniels, Avenatti has taken up the cases of immigrant families separated under the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy on border crossings. He has also started to draw some attention as a potential challenger to Trump in the next presidential election.

Aside from Avenatti's notoriety, the Guatemalan boy's case falls into the same legal situation as hundreds of children who were taken from their parents, only to have their parents removed without them.

The U.S. government said last week that it counted 365 children in that category, out of 2,500 children who were separated before the Trump administration officially stopped the policy.

Four government departments submitted a plan last week on how it would reunify the families. Government officials are supposed to track down parents in their countries of origin to confirm they want their children sent back and that there is no reason to stop reunification, then coordinate with those countries to return the children.

But immigrant children without a parent in the U.S. have their own legal rights, said Jennifer Podkul, director of policy at the legal group Kids in Need of Defense. They can file claims to try to stay in the U.S. even if their parents are no longer here.

"If a child wants to stay and make a claim for protection, we want to make sure ... that the child's voice is always heard," Podkul said.

In the case of the boy Avenatti is representing, both the boy - who is being identified only by his first name, Antony - and his mother have said they want to be reunited in Guatemala as quickly as possible, said Ricardo de Anda, the attorney working with Avenatti on the case.

Attorneys Ricardo de Anda and Michael Avenatti, right, talk to the media Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Houston. Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, offered some details on his policy views Tuesday as he weighs an outsider Democratic bid for the White House. (Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via AP)
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) - Two Greek soldiers freed after months in a Turkish prison returned to their home country by government jet early Wednesday after their unexpected release eased tensions between the neighbors and historical rivals.

Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said he phoned his Turkish counterpart to express his satisfaction with the soldiers' release and invite him to visit Greece.

"I hope that their release ... will herald a new day in Greek-Turkish relations," Kammenos told reporters. "We can live together peacefully, for the benefit of both our peoples."

Greek soldiers Aggelos Mitretodis, left, and Dimitros Kouklatzis, second left chat with relatives after their arrival at the airport of the the northern city of Thessaloniki , after spending months in a Turkish prison , early Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. The men were arrested on March 1, 2018 for illegally entering Turkey after crossing the heavily militarized land border. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has hailed the decision as "an act of justice" that will help boost friendship between the two historic regional rivals.(Yannis Moisiadis /InTime News via AP)

The soldiers, an army junior officer and a sergeant, were met by Kammenos, the army chief of staff and an honor guard after their arrival before dawn at the airport in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

"All I want to say is thank you,"2nd Lieutenant Angelos Mitretodis told reporters.

The men were arrested on March 1 for illegally entering Turkey after crossing the heavily militarized land border. Greece strongly protested their long detention in the western town of Edirne, arguing that they had strayed across during a patrol amid poor visibility due to bad weather.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed their release as "an act of justice," and provided the jet he uses on official foreign journeys to bring them back.

"(Their release) will contribute to strengthening friendship, good neighborly relations and stability in the region," Tsipras said in a statement. "I want to congratulate and thank (the two men) and their families for their fortitude, patience and trust in our efforts, which were finally justified."

The men's arrest had considerably strained Greek-Turkish relations. Kammenos, the defense minister, had claimed that they were being held "hostage" by Turkey, which is trying to secure the extradition of eight Turkish servicemen who fled to Greece after the 2016 failed military coup in Turkey.

Ankara accuses its servicemen of involvement in the coup, but Greek courts have refused to extradite them, arguing they would not get a fair trial in Turkey and their lives would be in danger there.

The two Greeks were released Tuesday pending the outcome of their trial by a Turkish court. Turkey's state Anadolu Agency said that in a court hearing to review a request for their release the two said in their defense that they had crossed the border by mistake.

2nd Lieutenant Mitretodis' father told the AP that his son had shown great strength in prison.

"My wife phoned and told me the news, and at once I called the Greek consul (in Edirne) and confirmed that the lads have been set free," Nikos Mitretodis said. "They didn't do anything wrong, and they spent a long time in prison. But they were strong during all that time, and remain strong, they have to be."

"I want to thank everyone for their solidarity - the media, our political leadership, the Church and anonymous people who stood by us," he added.

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Paphitis reported from Athens. AP writer Suzan Fraser contributed from Ankara, Turkey.

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Follow Kantouris at http://www.twitter.com/CostasKantouris

Turkish paramilitary police officers escort Greek soldier Aggelos Mitretodis following a court appearance in Edirne, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Turkey on Tuesday released from prison two Greek soldiers held since March 1 for allegedly illegally crossing the border between the two countries, in a move hailed by Greece's prime minister as "an act of justice." (DHA via AP )
Patients are evacuated after a fire broke out at a hospital in New Taipei City, Taiwan, early on Monday. Some patients life-support machines shut down and other patients suffered smoke inhalation. ZHAO SHUANGJIE / CHINA TIMES

TAIPEI  Nine people died and another 16 were injured after a fire at a hospital in New Taipei City, local authorities said on Monday.

"We are pained by the accident and express our condolences to our Taiwan compatriots who lost their lives, to the bereaved families and to the injured," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The fire started on a seventh-floor ward at Taipei Hospital at around 4:30 am on Monday. There were 33 patients on the floor at the time, most aged over 50.

A nurse discovered the fire, and the four patients in the ward were safely evacuated, China Times reported.

Life-support machines for some patients had shut down, and they were unable to breathe during the evacuation procedure, while others suffered from smoke inhalation, media reported.

"When we arrived, there were flames shooting out of the ward. The rest of the wards on the floor were filled with heavy smoke," said a firefighter surnamed Chen.

Hospital staff members helped some patients escape, while others climbed up stairs to the top floor and were rescued by firefighters using cranes.

Some 208 firefighters were dispatched to the blaze, which was extinguished by 5:30 am.

The outside of the ward was blackened by the thick smoke.

New Taipei fire department official Hung Liang-chien told reporters that an initial probe showed that the fire was likely caused by a short circuit in an electrical device.

"We are clarifying whether it was the power cable of a patient's electric bed or a device brought in by relatives," he said.

Local Fire Chief Huang Te-ching earlier denied reports that the hospital's sprinkler system had malfunctioned.

"The sprinkler device was on, but there's some distance between it and the fire, so the fire couldn't be immediately extinguished," he told reporters.

He added that authorities were also examining why there was a nine-minute delay by the hospital in reporting the fire.
ROCKPORT, Ind. (AP) - Authorities in southern Indiana are investigating allegations that an animal shelter has been freezing kittens to death as an alternative to accepted forms of euthanasia.

Bridget Woodson told the Courier & Press that she quit working at the Spencer County Animal Shelter and spoke to authorities after the animal control officer twice asked her to put injured but alive kittens in a plastic bag and then into a freezer to kill them.

"I had to do something," Woodson said. "I'm super concerned about the animals. If this is deemed as acceptable and no one is held accountable, what else will start to slip through the cracks?"

Woodson shared with the newspaper a screenshot of a text exchange she said was between her and the animal control officer. During that exchange, Woodson claimed the officer told her that "the freezer is no less humane" than euthanasia by a veterinarian.

The officer did not respond to messages requesting comment.

The "slow chilling or freezing of unanesthetized animals" is an unacceptable form of euthanasia, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.

Attorneys for the Spencer County Animal Control Board released a statement to WFIE-TV saying the "board acknowledges that actions have occurred that are fundamentally opposed" to its mission of proving humane care and treatment of animals.

"In response, the Board has carefully reviewed its policies and has adopted new policies and procedures to address these unacceptable actions," the statement said.

That would appear to satisfy Woodson.

"This is the only shelter resource in this town and for so many surrounding towns. I don't want it closed," Woodson said. "I just think the guidelines and policies absolutely need to change. The management and board absolutely needs to be changed."

The Spencer County Sheriff's Office turned the investigation over to the prosecutor's office due to a potential conflict of interest. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Thomas Pulley declined to comment on the case.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - The investigation into an assassination attempt on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro using drones has widened to include the arrest of two high-ranking military officers, the nation's top prosecutor said Tuesday.

The list of suspects - including an exiled opposition lawmaker - has now risen to 34, and officials are seeking arrests in Colombia, Peru and the United States, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said.

"There are 14 detainees who have been presented and charged before the criminal courts," he said.

A supporter of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds up his picture during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) organized the rally to show support for the president following what the government called a failed assassination attempt with explosives-laden drones. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

That list of suspects and detainees has nearly doubled since last week, when authorities said they had eight of 19 suspects in custody.

Officials say an assassination plot involved two drones loaded with plastic explosives that detonated near Maduro as he spoke Aug. 4 at a military celebration in the capital of Caracas.

The first explosion in front of the grandstand caused hundreds of soldiers standing in parade formation to scatter. Seven soldiers were injured, but Maduro and several senior officials nearby were unharmed.

The incident came at a time of political and economic crisis in Venezuela, a once-wealthy oil power that is suffering runaway inflation and shortages of food and medicine that have driven hundreds of thousands to flee abroad.

Saab identified the two detained officers as Col. Pedro Zambrano Hernandez and Gen. Alejandro Perez Gamez of the National Guard. He did not describe their suspected roles.

A 29-year-old opposition lawmaker, Juan Requesens, is also under arrest and charged with treason and attempted homicide.

Officials have released a videotaped statement of Requesens that they say shows an admission, but he never appears to confess or mention the attack.

It shows Requesens telling investigators he helped prominent opposition lawmaker Julio Borges, who lives in Bogota, bring a man into Venezuela from Colombia.

Relatives of Requesens say he is jailed for being an outspoken critic of Maduro's government, but that he never participated in a crime.

Venezuelan officials have asked Colombia to extradite Borges, and Maduro has offered to show the FBI evidence in support of their case against exiled Venezuelans living in Miami suspected of financing the failed plot.
SAO PAULO (AP) - A leading rightist presidential candidate blamed the left on Tuesday for Brazil's rise in crime as he promised to give further protection to one of the most lethal police forces in the world.

Legislator Jair Bolsonaro, who is running second in polls on the October election, published a platform of generic suggestions for the economy, education and health care. But he also loaded it with criticism of human rights groups and left-leaning politicians, accusing them of permissiveness that he says has fueled the rise in violence and drug use.

Bolsonaro registered the plan at Brazil's top electoral court in Brasilia, saying that "policemen need to be sure they will be protected by a judicial backbone in the exercise of their professional activities."

He calls for an extension of the right of self-defense, which human rights groups see as an authorization for police to kill without prosecution when they commit excesses.

A report released last week counted an average of 14 deaths a day at the hands of Brazilian police officers last year, which it said was a 20 percent increase over 2016.

Overall, a record 63,880 people were slain in Brazil in 2017, the report said. The South American country is the world leader in overall homicide numbers, and now its per-capita homicide rate is one of the highest.

In a crowded presidential field, Bolsonaro trails only jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in opinion polls, but the popular ex-leader is expected to be barred from the ballot by Brazil's electoral justice.

Bolsonaro released his platform on the same day that he faced questions about using government funds to pay for the upkeep of a vacation home.

He denied wrongdoing in payments to Walderice Conceicao dos Santos, listed by his office as a secretary.

The newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported Tuesday that Dos Santos had been fired following news reports that she actually worked selling acai in Angra dos Reis, about 105 miles (170 kilometers) southwest of Rio.

Bolsonaro told the newspaper that she helped take care of his vacation home near Angra dos Reis.

The congressman's office said that he had no further comment.
BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq is reducing visa charges for Iranian pilgrims who visit to mark a major religious occasion later this year.

The reduction will only apply to pilgrims of the "Arbaeen," the anniversary of the passage of 40 days after the death of the deeply revered Shiite Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.

News of the reduction of the visa charges, which are normally $40, was posted on the government's website Tuesday. It did not say how much the reduction will be.

The move followed this week's cancellation by Iran of a visit by Iraq's prime minister, who apparently angered Tehran by saying Iraq will heed the latest U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Haider al-Abadi sought to soften his stance Monday, saying Baghdad will only observe the ban on transactions in dollars.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - The Latest on a Florida man charged with manslaughter in a fatal shooting at a convenience store, after police initially declined to arrest him citing the state's "stand your ground" law (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

A Florida judge has kept bond at $100,000 for a man charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man who assaulted him during a parking lot dispute.

Michael Drejka is seen in an Aug. 13, 2018 photo provided by the Pinellas County, Fla., Sheriff's Office. Drejka was charged with manslaughter Monday in the July 19 death of unarmed black man Markeis McGlockton outside a Clearwater convenience store. (Pinellas, Fla., County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Judge Joseph Bulone in the Pinellas County court on Monday said that if Michael Drejka posts bail, he must surrender all of his guns to the sheriff, wear an ankle monitor and not leave the county.

The 48-year-old Drejka was charged with manslaughter in the July 19 shooting of 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton during a parking lot confrontation. That videotaped shooting revived debate over Florida's "stand-your-ground" law.

1:35 a.m.

Markeis McGlockton's father says he knows the manslaughter case against the man accused of killing his unarmed son outside a Florida convenience store will take months, possibly years.

He's talked to others who have been in a similar position - notably, the family of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin. Attorneys have briefed him on legal strategy.

But on Monday, there was a brief feeling of justice for McGlockton when prosecutors announced they were charging a 48-year-old white man, Michael Drejka, in the July 19 shooting of Markeis, a 28-year-old black man, during a parking lot confrontation. That videotaped shooting revived debate over Florida's "stand-your-ground" law.

"I know this is going to be a long road," said Michael McGlockton. "We are up for the task."

Drejka was arrested and jailed on $100,000 bail and awaited a first scheduled court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - An estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans had fled the crisis-wracked country as of June, mainly to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, the United Nations said Tuesday.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that those fleeing - about 7 percent of Venezuela's 32.8 million people - cite lack of food as the main reason for leaving. U.N. humanitarian officials report that 1.3 million of those who fled were "suffering from malnourishment," he said.

Oil-rich Venezuela has been sinking deeper into an economic and political crisis. Hyperinflation and widespread shortages of food and medicine are battering the country, and the International Monetary Fund projects inflation could top 1 million percent by year's end.

FILE - In this July 17, 2016 file photo, Venezuelans wait in line to cross into Colombia through the Simon Bolivar bridge in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela. The United Nations says an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans had fled the country as of June 2018, mainly to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro often blames Venezuela's poor economy on what he claims is an economic war being waged by the United States and Europe. Despite widespread discontent over the country's economic and political problems, he won a second six-year term as president in a May election that his leading challenger and many nations have not recognized as legitimate.

Dujarric said severe shortages of basic medicines and medical supplies in Venezuela "have led to a sharp deterioration of the quality of hospitals."

U.N. officials say more than 100,000 HIV patients are at risk due to lack of access to necessary medication, the U.N. spokesman said. Formerly eradicated diseases including measles, malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria "are present and on the rise," he added.

As a result of the dire economic and health care situation, rising numbers of Venezuelans are joining in an exodus that has set off alarms across Latin America.

According to a report cited by the International Organization for Migration in April, population outflows from Venezuela "considerably increased" in recent years, with an estimated 1.6 million Venezuelans abroad in 2017 compared with 700,000 in 2015.

Of the 1.6 million, it said approximately 885,000 were in South America, 308,000 in North America, 78,000 in Central America, 21,000 in the Caribbean and the rest scattered elsewhere.

The exodus has been more dramatic this year.

Last week, Ecuador declared a state of emergency in three of its provinces in an effort to cope with the growing influx of migrants from Venezuela. The Foreign Ministry said up to 4,000 Venezuelans are seeking entry into Ecuador each day.

Before leaving office Aug. 2, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos granted 440,000 refugees from Venezuela temporary residency permits for two years and urged Maduro's government to stem the spreading humanitarian crisis.

Dujarric said U.N. and humanitarian agencies report that Venezuelan migrants need assistance with their legal status, documentation, shelter and access to health care and other basic services.

U.N. agencies are helping and neighboring countries are "showing great generosity," he said. "We would hope that other countries who are able to would also help and support those countries which are helping refugees."
Nearly 31 percent of registered voters in Kansas have no party preference but they are allowed to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries if they declare allegiance to one of the parties before casting their ballot.

But these unaffiliated voters and what constitutes "declaring allegiance" are at the center of an increasingly contentious battle as 298 votes separate Secretary of State Kris Kobach from Gov. Jeff Colyer out of more than 314,000 ballots cast in the state's Aug. 7 Republican primary for governor.

Currently, local election officials are reviewing an estimated 9,000 provisional ballots to determine which ones will be counted and who will face Democrat Laura Kelly, a longtime state legislator from Topeka, and likely independent candidate Greg Orman, a Kansas City-area businessman, in November.

Board of County Commissioners 1st District Commissioner Ron Shaffer, left, talks with Barbara Holzmark, of Leawood, Kan., following the Johnson County Board of Canvassers meeting, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Olathe, Kan. County election officials across Kansas on Monday began deciding which provisional ballots from last week's primary election will count toward the final official vote totals, with possibility that they could create a new leader in the hotly contested Republican race for governor. Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by a mere 110 votes out of more than 313,000 cast as of Friday evening. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

There are questions surrounding how voters with no party preference were treated when they showed up at the polls.

By law, they are allowed to declare a party preference by signing a statement and can cast a regular ballot.

But there have been reports that some of these voters were mistakenly directed to cast a provisional ballot and were not told they had to sign a party declaration.

Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rucker, who is overseeing election certification after Kobach recused himself, has told local officials that Kansas law requires a party declaration be completed.

"If an unaffiliated voter does not complete a party affiliation document, that voter is not entitled to vote at a party primary election," Rucker said Sunday in a statement.

But the governor's office has said provisional ballots cast by unaffiliated voters in a primary should be considered evidence of voter intent and must be counted.

HOW COMMON IS THIS?

States vary considerably in who can vote in party primaries.

Nine states, including Florida and Nevada, only allow voters registered with a party to vote in primaries. These are considered closed primaries, and any registered independents or unaffiliated voters are not allowed to cast ballots unless they register with a party in advance. The goal is to discourage crossover voting, in which members of one party vote in another party's primary in an effect to sway the outcome in their favor.

Fifteen states, including Georgia and Texas, let anybody vote in a primary. In these open primary states, each voter selects a ballot from either party and that information is kept private. They are not considered registered with that party.

Some states allow independents to remain unaffiliated, and some are like Kansas in that a party declaration is required.

In Kansas, unaffiliated voters outnumber registered Democrats. Registered Republicans comprise the bulk of all voters in the state.

Stephan Metzger, 27, of Manhattan, has been unaffiliated since he registered to vote and Tuesday was the first time he decided to vote in a primary. He was able to cast a regular ballot after signing a party declaration.

"From a purely selfish standpoint, it's nice to affiliate the day of," Metzger said. "Typically, if you want to switch parties, you have to do that a month before the actual election, and a lot can happen in that last month that could sway you one way or the other."

WHY DID SOME UNAFFILIATED VOTERS RECEIVE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS?

It appears some poll workers mistakenly thought unaffiliated voters should be given provisional ballots instead of a regular ballot, as outlined in state law.

It's not clear how many of the 9,000 provisional ballots handed out on Election Day were unaffiliated voters. More information is likely to be released in the coming days as local election officials continue their ballot reviews.

In Johnson County, the most populous in the state, officials said there were 92 unaffiliated voters who were mistakenly instructed to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day.

COULD THIS AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE?

Yes. Every vote matters with just 298 votes separating the two leading GOP candidates.

And the battle over these provisional ballots could very well end up in a courtroom. A key legal question would be whether a poll worker's failure to provide a party declaration form to an unaffiliated voter negates that voter's ballot. In general, it should not but how state law is written and whether there is any legal precedent on this question will determine the answer, according to Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Brennan Center's Democracy Program.

"Voters should not have to bear the brunt of poll worker error, when there is a way to assess or account for voter intent and to effectuate the reasonable steps the voter undertook to cast a ballot," Perez said. "Mistakes that were committed in response to instructions from poll workers should not impede their ability to have a voice."

Some 35 provisional ballots in Johnson County were not counted because an unaffiliated voter did not complete the declaration for party affiliation. In Sedgwick County, the second most populous county, election officials said they would count all provisional ballots cast by unaffiliated voters regardless of whether a party declaration was completed as long as the voter did not intentionally refuse to sign it.

"But where unaffiliated voters appeared at a voting place and expressed their desire to cast a ballot, their votes should be counted, even if the election worker made a mistake in the process of permitting that voter to cast a ballot," County Counselor Eric Yost wrote in a letter to the Board of Canvassers.

In Sedgwick County, there were 187 provisional ballots attributed to clerical errors and the vast majority of those involved unaffiliated voters, according to election officials. All those ballots were counted, along with 14 other unaffiliated voters who did receive the correct paperwork but failed to complete it properly.

Counties have until Aug. 20 to finish the review of ballots.

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Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AP_Christina .

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Board of County Commissioners chairman Ed Eilert talks with 1st District Commissioner Ron Shaffer, left, during the Johnson County Board of Canvassers meeting, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Olathe, Kan. County election officials across Kansas on Monday began deciding which provisional ballots from last week's primary election will count toward the final official vote totals, with possibility that they could create a new leader in the hotly contested Republican race for governor. Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by a mere 110 votes out of more than 313,000 cast as of Friday evening. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - The Taliban's use of civilian homes in the city of Ghazni as fighting positions is forcing Afghan government forces to move slowly in expelling the insurgents in order to limit civilian casualties, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday.

Mattis told reporters during a visit to Brazil and Argentina that the fighting in Ghazni was continuing, five days after the Taliban overwhelmed defenses and pushed deep into the city, which is the capital of the province with the same name.

"It looks like many of the enemy have run, but some are in the town, in homes, fighting from inside homes," he said.

Afghan police officers search a vehicle at a checkpoint on the Ghazni highway, in Maidan Shar, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. A Taliban assault on Ghazni, a key city linking areas of Taliban influence barely 75 miles from Kabul, has killed about 100 Afghan policemen and soldiers since Friday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. A year after the Trump administration introduced its strategy for Afghanistan, the Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield even as U.S. officials talk up hopes for peace. That's raising questions about the viability of the American game plan for ending a war that began when some of the current U.S. troops were in diapers. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Asked whether the Taliban assault reflects any new capability on their part, Mattis said, "To me it's simply a continuation of their willingness to put innocent people in harm's way. There's nothing new. It's the usual: endangering civilians. That's part and parcel of what they've done the past 20 years."

The United States has carried out airstrikes and sent military advisers to aid Afghan forces in the city.
NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on laptops actress Sean Young is accused of stealing (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

Two laptops actress Sean Young was accused of stealing from a movie production company that had fired her were returned Tuesday after the new director urged her to "please turn yourself in to the police, who are looking for you."

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2018 file photo, actress Sean Young attends the premiere of TNT's "The Alienist" in New York. Police say Young is still under investigation in New York on suspicion she stole two laptops belonging to a production company that fired her from a new film she was directing. A New York Police Department spokeswoman said on Monday, Aug. 13, that no charges have been filed. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

The two laptops producers said she stole from a New York studio of the "Charlie Boy" movie suddenly appeared at her Manhattan attorney's office.

The 58-year-old star of the 1982 movie "Blade Runner" told the New York Daily News that producers had attempted a publicity stunt for their film via the media brouhaha over the missing laptops.

Timothy Hines, who took over from Young as director, walked out of the midtown Manhattan office with the laptops containing production plans he called "irreplaceable."

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1:45 p.m.

Actress Sean Young says the producers of a movie from which she was fired are attempting a publicity stunt by accusing her of stealing two laptops.

The 58-year-old star of the 1982 movie "Blade Runner" told the New York Daily News the producers are trying to promote their "Charlie Boy" movie by claiming she stole the laptops with production software.

Young says she entered a building in Queens last Thursday to retrieve her belongings and mistakenly took production computers instead of her own.

Police are investigating.

Timothy Hines, who took over as director, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Young is the one creating the publicity stunt. He had a message for her: "Sean Young, please turn yourself in to police."
More than 4,000 signatures had been collected by Monday on the White House petition website, urging US President Donald Trump to apologize for reportedly saying "almost every student that comes over to this country is a spy."

Chinese students account for 32.5 percent of total overseas students in the US, more than any other country for eight consecutive years, according to a white paper issued by education agency MentorX in June.

More than 350,000 Chinese students studied in the US last year, a 6.8 percent year on year growth.

Chinese students contributed $12.55 billion to the US last year, the white paper said.

Chinese observers condemned the president's fear-mongering comments as "regrettably irrational" and dangerous to the Chinese community residing or studying in the US.

United Chinese Americans (UCA), a federation of Chinese-American organizations from all across the US, issued a statement on Thursday denouncing Trump's "wrongheaded and un-American" remarks.

UCA called the comments "unjustified" and "deeply offensive" and called on the White House to clarify the president's disparagement of Chinese students.

The White House has yet to comment on Trump's statement.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University's institute of international relations, said the event reflects not only the top US leader's individual discriminative opinion but also the policymaking elites' common voice against China and Chinese people.

Such irrational comments, especially from a US leader, will aggravate US society's fear of China and the Chinese people and endanger the Chinese community in the US, Li told the Global Times on Monday.

Li warned that the US under its irrational leadership is losing its competitiveness as a major innovation center capable of attracting worldwide talent.

"I'm worried if my child would be captured by the US just because they suspect he is a spy," one Beijing mother with a child planning on US study told the Global Times on Monday. She refused to be named.
NORTHFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Police say an attorney who argued 30 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court has been fatally shot during a domestic altercation inside his suburban Chicago home.

The Cook County medical examiner's office says 71-year-old Steve Shapiro died in the Monday night attack in Northfield. Police say the suspected gunman fled and was arrested a few hours later after officers surrounded a home in nearby Winnetka.

Police haven't released the suspect's identity or the circumstances of the shooting.

In this undated photo provided by Mayer Brown LLP shows attorney Steve Shapiro. Police say Shapiro, an attorney who argued 30 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, has been fatally shot during a domestic altercation inside his suburban Chicago home. The Cook County medical examiner's office says Shapiro died in the Monday night attack Aug. 13, 2018 in Northfield, Ill. Police haven't released the suspect's identity or the circumstances of the shooting.(Mayer Brown LLP via AP)

The Mayer Brown law firm says it is shocked by Shapiro's death. Shapiro joined the firm in 1972 and was a deputy solicitor general during the Reagan administration.

The firm's website says Shapiro argued several cases for corporate clients before the Supreme Court as recently as 2012.
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - Chile's Supreme Court has sentenced 24 former police agents to prison for the disappearance of a man who was arrested during the "dirty war" crackdown on leftists under dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The ruling released Tuesday says Jorge Arturo Grez Aburto was detained in 1974 by agents of the National Intelligence Directorate and was tortured before vanishing in July, presumably killed.

The sentences range from four to 13 years and cannot be appealed. Forty-four other ex-agents were absolved for lack of evidence.

Chile's Museum of Memory and Human Rights says Grez Aburto was a leatherworker who had been active in a clandestine armed Marxist group before his arrest.

Chile's government estimates 3,095 people were killed during Pinochet's dictatorship from 1973 to 1990, including about 1,200 who were forcibly disappeared.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A man who died when he flew a plane into his own house after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife had full access to his employer's plane because he had earned the firm's trust, the president of the Utah company said Tuesday.

Duane Youd, 47, was a "rock-solid" employee and a good person during 13 months as company pilot, Leon Van Sickle told The Associated Press. He is the president of the VanCon, Inc., a general engineering company.

He said Youd had the digital access code to the airplane hangar, though he had no idea he would take the plane early Monday. Youd was a stellar pilot who flew employees to business meetings around North America in the company's only plane, a twin-engine Cessna 525, Van Sickle said.

The scene of a plane crash is blocked off as Federal Aviation Administration officials investigate the area in Payson, Utah on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Authorities say the small plane has crashed into a house in Utah, killing the pilot. (Scott G Winterton /The Deseret News via AP)

"He's the manager of the plane," Van Sickle said. "He had full access to it. . . It all boils to trust. I don't know what we would have done different. He flies with our lives at stake and we thoroughly trusted him beyond measure. He took great care of us. He never took chances. Everything was by the book."

The crash occurred at about 2:30 a.m. Monday in Payson, a city of about 20,000 people about 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. He had posted bail just hours earlier after being arrested after witnesses reporting seeing him assault his wife, authorities said.

His wife and her 24-year-old son escaped as the two-story house became engulfed in flames, authorities said They had not disclosed how Youd gained access to the company plane.

Youd took the plane out of a hangar at the small Spanish Fork-Springville Airport, where there are no air towers or traffic control monitoring of who takes off or lands, said airport manager Cris Child.

Van Sickle said he heard rumblings that Youd was having some marital problems but that he never fathomed he would do what he did. He was not aware of the domestic violence incident Sunday night or another one in April, he said.

"I couldn't' believe it. It's unbelievable," Van Sickle said. "The guy was just golden. He was rock solid. You just can't even fathom this. It's just so tragic."

Payson police Sgt. Noemi Sandoval said Monday that investigators believe Youd hit his house intentionally.

Having surveyed the wreckage and knowing Youd as a pilot, Van Sickle said he agrees it was intentional. He noted that Youd had to fly under high-voltage power lines and avoid other houses to hit his own house without causing any more damage.

"That took some skill," Van Sickle said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

The FAA has no records of previous accidents, incidents or enforcement actions against Youd, said agency spokesman Ian Gregor.

It is the second bizarre airplane incident in recent days. On Friday an employee stole a turboprop plane from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle and flew it for more than an hour before dying in a crash on an island southwest of Tacoma.

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This story has been corrected based on updated information from police to show that the other person in the house was the woman's 24-year-old son, not a child.

This photo shows a damaged house after a plane crashed in Payson, Utah, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. A Utah man flew the small plane into his own house early Monday just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

This frame from video shows the scene of a small plane that crashed into a house in Payson, Utah, on Monday, Aug 13, 2018. Authorities said the pilot was killed in the crash. (John Wilson/KSL-TV/Deseret News via AP)

This photo provided by the Utah County Sheriff's Office shows Duane Youd. Youd, of Utah, flew a small plane into his own house early Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said. The pilot, Youd, died. His wife and a child who were in the home got out and survived despite the front part the two-story house being engulfed in flames, Payson police Sgt. Noemi Sandoval said. (Utah County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Federal Aviation Administration investigators take photos at the scene of a plane crash in Payson, Utah on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Authorities say the small plane has crashed into a house in Utah, killing the pilot. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)

Federal Aviation Administration officials investigate the scene of a plane crash in Payson, Utah on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Authorities say the small plane has crashed into a house in Utah, killing the pilot. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)

In this frame from video, emergency personnel work at the scene of a small plane that crashed into a house in Payson, Utah on Monday, Aug 13, 2018. Authorities said the pilot was killed in the crash. (John Wilson/KSL-TV/Deseret News via AP)

Joslyn Youd, 21, gets a hug from her aunt Nikki Ewell outside a damaged house, background, after a plane operated by Youd's father crashed in Payson, Utah, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. A Utah man flew the small plane into his own house early Monday just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

Joslyn Youd, 21, center, with her brother Parker Youd, 17, talks near their damaged house after a plane crashed in Payson, Utah, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. A Utah man flew the small plane into his own house early Monday just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

This photo shows a damaged house after a plane crashed in Payson, Utah, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. A Utah man flew the small plane into his own house early Monday just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

Federal Aviation Administration officials investigate the scene of a plane crash in Payson, Utah on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Authorities say the small plane has crashed into a house in Utah, killing the pilot. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)

Federal Aviation Administration investigators take photos at the scene of a plane crash in Payson, Utah on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Authorities say the small plane has crashed into a house in Utah, killing the pilot. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)

Federal Aviation Administration officials investigate the scene of a plane crash in Payson, Utah on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Authorities say the small plane has crashed into a house in Utah, killing the pilot. (Scott G Winterton/The Deseret News via AP)
A Georgia congressional candidate convicted of drunken driving was ordered by a judge Tuesday to spend the next six months in jail - a sentence that would keep the candidate locked up long past Election Day.

It was unclear what would become of Democrat Steven Foster's campaign after he was sentenced by a Superior Court judge in Whitfield County. He was the only Democrat to run in the May 22 primary for the party's nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Tom Graves in northwest Georgia's 14th Congressional District.

Dan Lovingood, the 14th District chairman for the state Democratic Party, said Foster could remain on the November ballot if he refuses to quit the race.

FILE - This Aug. 6, 2018, file photo released by the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office shows Steven Lamar Foster, Democratic candidate for Congress in Georgia's 14th District. Foster was jailed Monday, Aug. 6, after a jury in Dalton, Georgia, convicted him of driving under the influence. He was sentenced Tuesday, Aug. 14, to spend the next six months in jail, a period that would keep him locked up past Election Day. (Whitfield County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

"Ultimately, it's his decision whether he decides to withdraw," Lovingood said.

Georgia law says state Democratic Party leaders could select a replacement candidate if Foster withdraws from the race or is disqualified under party rules. Party officials did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.

Foster, 61, is a former physician from Dalton near the Georgia-Tennessee state line. He signed up for the race against Graves in March, nearly six months after he was charged with driving under the influence. A jury convicted him Aug. 6.

Even if he could campaign as a free man, Foster would be considered a longshot for the congressional seat Graves has held since 2010. President Donald Trump easily carried the 14th District in 2016. Graves ran unopposed in the last two elections. When he last defended his seat against a Democratic challenger in 2012, Graves won with 73 percent of the vote.

Foster's defense attorney, Richard Murray, did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday.

Lovingood said he was stunned by Foster's sentence - six months in jail followed by six months on probation, with credit given for the past week Foster spent locked up awaiting sentencing. The court clerk's office confirmed the sentence to The Associated Press.

"We thought it would be time served at worst, and maybe some community service and DUI school, whatever he needs to do, and pay fines and court costs," Lovingood said. "To me it doesn't seem fitting."

In Georgia, DUI is a misdemeanor until the fourth offense. First-time offenders face possible imprisonment of 10 days to a year.

Police pulled over Foster's silver Mercedes on Sept. 23. A Dalton police report says Foster was stopped because he was driving with his headlights off after dark.

Foster told the officer he drank two or three beers about three hours earlier. The report said he swayed and stumbled during a field sobriety test. He then agreed to a breath test, which showed his blood alcohol content was .103. That's above the legal limit of .08.

The patrol car's dash camera recorded Foster ranting at officers, the Daily Citizen-News of Dalton reported .

"I hate this county. I prayed to God that he would curse it," Foster said on the police video. "And guess what? He did. Man, I saw it hit and cursed, and I saw people laid off right and left - white people."
NEW YORK (AP) - Former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman declared Tuesday that she "will not be silenced" by President Donald Trump, remaining defiant as her public feud with her former boss appeared to shift to a possible legal battle.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Manigault Newman, who is promoting her new book about her time in Trump's orbit, said she believes the president's campaign organization is trying to keep her from telling her story. She commented just hours after Trump's campaign announced it was filing an arbitration action against her, alleging violations of a secrecy agreement she signed.

"I will not be intimidated," she told the AP. "I'm not going to be bullied by Donald Trump."

Television personality and former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in New York. Manigault Newman declared she "will not be silenced" by President Donald Trump, remaining defiant as her public feud with her former boss shifted from a war of words to a possible legal battle. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Still, the former reality TV star-turned-political aide declined to answer several questions about her experiences during her year as the highest-ranking African-American aide in Trump's White House, citing the arbitration action. She said she'd been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's office, but would not discuss details.

She did defend herself against criticism that she didn't do enough to help African-Americans at the White House, which currently has no African-American in a senior role following her departure.

Manigault Newman continued to unleash scathing criticism of the 72-year-old Trump, saying he's in mental decline and unfit to be president, and is intentionally sowing racial division. She accused him of using his rowdy political rallies to divide, even suggesting Trump is promoting violence.

Discussing the differences between their views, she said: "One, I want to see this nation united as opposed to divided. I don't want to see a race war as Donald Trump does."

The White House counters that Manigault Newman is a disgruntled former staffer with credibility and character issues who is now trying to profit through false attacks against someone she has worked with and supported for more than a decade, including his presidential campaign.

"She worked here for a year and didn't have any of these things to say," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters in Washington. "In fact, everything she said was quite the opposite. And not just the year that she worked here, but the time that she spent on the campaign trail and I think it's really sad what she's doing at this point."

Manigault Newman, who has known Trump since she was a contestant in 2003 on his reality TV show, "The Apprentice," said his proclivity for racial division is evident "when you see at every single opportunity he insults African-Americans." She noted, as examples, Trump's recent criticism of NBA player LeBron James and California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters.

Trump recently tweeted that it took the "dumbest man on television" - also an African-American - to make James "look smart," and he regularly refers to Waters as "low I.Q."

"He wants to divide this nation," said Manigault Newman, who spoke to the AP during the publicity tour for her book, "Unhinged," in which she portrays Trump as racist and misogynistic.

"He wants to pit his base against successful African-Americans," she said. "He uses his rallies to really encourage people to bring down African-Americans. That is truly evidence that this man is not trying to unite us. But he is specifically trying to divide us."

In addition to speaking publicly about her experiences in Trump's White House, Manigault Newman has been releasing audio recordings of conversations and meetings held in the building, including a snippet of one she says is of her telephone conversation with Trump the day after she was fired in December by White House chief of staff John Kelly.

She declined Tuesday to answer questions about her recordings, which she has described as a "treasure trove," and the extent to which colleagues are secretly recording each other at the White House, again citing the arbitration action.

But she insisted she pushed for diversity in the White House. She noted that hiring and personnel were the responsibility of others, but said she has "tons and tons of emails" in which she pushed job candidates for consideration.

"And it just didn't seem good enough for this White House," Manigault Newman said, suggesting the president is uninterested having a diverse staff. "There is no excuse that there's not another African-American assistant to the president. No excuse whatsoever."

She talked about helping secure funding for the nation's historically black colleges and universities, of which she is a graduate.

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Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap

Television personality and former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman listens during an interview with The Associated Press, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on a state hearing on proposed rule changes for California's legal marijuana market (all times local):

2 p.m.

The nation's largest legal marijuana market is struggling.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 20128, file photo, JP Noda stocks cannabis at The Apothecarium shortly before the store opened for its first day of recreational marijuana sales in San Francisco. California cities on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, objected to a proposed change in state rules that they say would allow unchecked home marijuana deliveries in places that have banned local pot sales. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

California cannabis regulators heard a long list of complaints and concerns Tuesday at a Los Angeles hearing, as the state considers changes to rules that govern the pot economy.

They include a flourishing illegal market that is undercutting licensed shops. A shaky supply chain that has customers looking at empty shelves. And testing that some say doesn't go far enough to find mold and other potential health risks.

The state's top marijuana regulator, Lori Ajax, said the state remains in a difficult transition period as it attempts to transform what was once a largely illegal market into a multibillion-dollar, regulated economy.

She says, "Unfortunately, there is confusion out there."

California kicked off broad legal sales on Jan. 1.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2018, file photo, an employee stocks cannabis at a store shortly before its first day of recreational marijuana sales in San Francisco. California cities on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, objected to a proposed change in state rules that they say would allow unchecked home marijuana deliveries in places that have banned local pot sales. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on primaries in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin (all times local):

11:20 p.m.

Former state Rep. Joe Radinovich has won a crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan in a northeastern Minnesota swing district.

People vote at Edison High School in northeast Minneapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. It's Minnesota's busiest primary in recent memory, with races for governor, both Senate seats and three contested congressional races. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP)

Radinovich defeated Rep. Jason Metsa, longtime former news anchor Michelle Lee and others on Tuesday. Radinovich served one term in the state House and managed Nolan's 2016 re-election campaign.

It sets up another hard-fought general election in what has become one of the most expensive and competitive congressional districts in the country. Radinovich will face Pete Stauber, a St. Louis County commissioner and retired Duluth police officer.

Nolan announced his retirement earlier this year after narrowly winning three terms. The 8th District was a Democratic stronghold for decades before becoming more competitive in recent cycles. President Donald Trump carried the district by 15 percentage points.

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11:10 p.m.

Democratic Rep. Tim Walz has won a three-way primary for Minnesota governor.

Walz leveraged his rural Minnesota connections and a geographically balanced ticket to defeat state Rep. Erin Murphy and Attorney General Lori Swanson in Tuesday's primary. Walz is leaving Congress after six terms representing southwestern Minnesota.

Walz's outstate appeal and pedigree as a former teacher and a National Guard veteran had long made him a favorite among Democrats trying to hang on to the office as two-term Gov. Mark Dayton retires.

But he lost the party's endorsement in June to Murphy and shook up his campaign soon afterward.

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11:05 p.m.

County Commissioner Jeff Johnson has beaten former Gov. Tim Pawlenty in Minnesota's Republican primary for governor, derailing Pawlenty's bid to reclaim his old job.

Johnson won Tuesday despite Pawlenty's enormous fundraising and name recognition advantages. He also won despite his own history as the party's losing candidate for governor four years ago.

Johnson positioned himself as a more conservative candidate than Pawlenty. He branded the former two-term governor as part of the "status quo" and bashed him for calling Trump "unhinged and unfit for the presidency" in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election.

Pawlenty was hoping to resurrect his political career after flaming out as a presidential candidate in 2011. He spent the intervening years as a Washington lobbyist.

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10:55 p.m.

Madison businessman and political newcomer Bob Stefanowski has won the Republican primary for Connecticut governor, defeating four fellow GOP contenders.

The 56-year-old former General Electric executive promoted his ability to turn around struggling companies and dubbed himself "Bob the Rebuilder" in his campaign advertisements.

Stefanowski was the second-biggest spender in the campaign primary, trailing only former Greenwich hedge fund manager David Stemerman.

Stemerman and former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst questioned Stefanowski's Republican pedigree, noting he became a Democrat only to switch back to the GOP shortly before announcing his candidacy for governor.

Stefanowski was the first to launch a major TV ad campaign in the race. He has called for eliminating the personal income tax.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is not seeking a third term.

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10:40 p.m.

A Wisconsin state senator and close ally to Gov. Scott Walker has defeated a former Marine who cast himself as a political outsider in the state's Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

Leah Vukmir beat Kevin Nicholson in Tuesday's primary and now advances to face Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Vukmir won the endorsement of the Wisconsin Republican Party and the backing of most prominent GOP officeholders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. She ran as the proven conservative in the race, pointing to her long voting record in support of Republican priorities.

Both she and Nicholson ran as strong supporters of President Donald Trump.

Nicholson failed to overcome his past as a Democrat. He also lost despite millions more being spent on his behalf by outside groups.

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10:25 p.m.

Former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos has won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Connecticut Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut, who came under fire for her handling of a sexual harassment case in her office.

The party's endorsed candidate defeated two GOP rivals - Ruby Corby O'Neill of Southbury and Rich Dupont of Watertown - in Tuesday's primary.

Santos has called President Donald Trump's economic policies "dead on" and has vowed to fight tax increases and unnecessary spending.

He comes into the general election at a significant financial disadvantage. Recent reports show he has less than $500 in cash still on hand for the race.

Esty, a Democrat, abruptly announced in April she would not seek a fourth term. She apologized for not protecting her employees.

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10:20 p.m.

Pete Stauber has won the GOP primary for the northeastern Minnesota congressional seat being vacated by Democrat Rick Nolan.

Stauber, a St. Louis County Commissioner and retired Duluth police officer, defeated former Duluth School Board member Harry Robb Welty on Tuesday to advance to a general election contest that's seen as one of the Republicans' best chances anywhere in the country of picking up a House seat now held by a Democrat.

The 8th District was once a Democratic stronghold but has evolved into a swing district.

Stauber's campaign got a boost from visits in June by President Donald Trump and last week by Vice President Mike Pence. Trump carried the district by 15 percentage points in 2016.

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10:10 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison has won Minnesota's Democratic primary for attorney general.

Ellison defeated four other candidates to win Tuesday's primary days after a former girlfriend accused him of domestic abuse. Ellison denied the allegation.

Ellison decided to give up his safe Minneapolis-area seat to try for attorney general when incumbent Lori Swanson ran for governor. He said it was a chance to make a difference in pushing back against some of President Donald Trump's policies that he says are hurting people.

In 2006, Ellison became the first Muslim elected to Congress. He is also vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Republicans haven't held the Minnesota attorney general seat for more than half a century.

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10:08 p.m.

Randy Bryce, a union ironworker known as "Iron Stache," has won the Democratic primary in the race to replace retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Bryce defeated Janesville schoolteacher Cathy Myers in Tuesday's primary. Former Ryan aide Bryan Steil (STY'-uhl) was the Republican front-runner, facing token opposition in the primary.

Bryce captured national attention with a slick announcement video last year, before Ryan announced his retirement. He's raised more than $6 million, six times what Myers brought in. He won endorsements from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and labor activist Dolores Huerta.

Democrats are optimistic for their chances to pick up the southeast Wisconsin district that Ryan has represented for 20 years. But opponents argue that Bryce's past, which includes failing to pay child support and a 20-year-old drunken-driving arrest, makes him unreliable and unelectable.

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10:05 p.m.

Jennifer Zielinski has won a three-way Republican primary for the Minnesota seat in Congress being vacated by Democrat Keith Ellison.

The 35-year-old Zielinski had the GOP endorsement over two little-known rivals. She is a business services worker for Allina Health who hasn't held elected office before.

The Minneapolis-area seat is so reliably liberal that a Republican hasn't held it since 1960. She will face Minnesota state Rep. Ilhan Omar, the nation's first Somali-American legislator. She won the Democratic primary Tuesday.

Ellison was leaving the seat to run for state attorney general.

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10 p.m.

Wisconsin state schools chief Tony Evers has won the Democratic primary for governor and will face Republican Gov. Scott Walker in November.

Evers emerged from a field of eight candidates in Tuesday's primary.

He was the only candidate to have won election statewide before and now faces his biggest challenge against Walker.

Walker has built up a big financial advantage for his re-election bid. He's already run more than a dozen television ads touting his record of the past eight years.

The 66-year-old Evers has been the state's education chief since 2009 and has clashed with Walker in the past on mostly education issues.

Walker's campaign and Republicans criticized Evers for not revoking the license of a teacher who was caught viewing pornographic emails on his school computer.

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9:55 p.m.

Minnesota state Rep. Ilhan Omar, the nation's first Somali-American legislator, has won a crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Keith Ellison in Congress.

Omar's victory Tuesday all but ensures she'll set another historic mark as the first Somali-American in Congress. Minnesota's 5th Congressional District includes Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs that tilt heavily Democratic.

Omar positioned herself as the best-equipped to counter President Donald Trump's administration. She rose to national prominence after winning her legislative seat in 2016.

The first-term lawmaker defeated former state House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (KEL'-uh-hur), state Sen. Patricia Torres Ray and others.

Ellison triggered a scramble for the seat when he filed a last-minute run for Minnesota attorney general.

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9:50 p.m.

A former aide to House Speaker Paul Ryan has won the Wisconsin Republican primary race to replace him.

Bryan Steil (STY'-uhl) won Tuesday over five other competitors. Steil far outraised his opponents and secured the backing of prominent donors and Republicans, including Ryan.

He will face either Randy Bryce or Cathy Myers in November.

Steil is general counsel for Charter NEX Films Inc., an independent producer of polyethylene film used for food and consumer packaging. He previously worked eight years as a corporate attorney at electric motor manufacturer Regal Beloit Corporation.

He is from Janesville, the same hometown as Ryan, in southeast Wisconsin, not far from the Illinois border. The congressional district leans Republican.

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9:45 p.m.

Minnesota state Sen. Karin Housley has easily won the state's Republican primary in a race to finish the last two years of Al Franken's Senate term.

Housley faced no major challengers when launching her campaign in the days after Franken announced his resignation over allegations of sexual misconduct.

His departure unexpectedly put a Democrat-held seat in play, complicating the party's hopes of retaking the Senate. But Minnesota hasn't yet appeared as a top pick-up target for Republican groups.

Sen. Tina Smith was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to replace Franken in January. She won Tuesday's Democratic primary for the seat.

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9:40 p.m.

A celebrated teacher has defeated the party-endorsed candidate in the Democratic primary for a Connecticut U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, who acknowledged mishandling sexual harassment complaints in her Washington, D.C., office.

In Tuesday's primary, 2016 National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes bested former Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman. If elected in November, Hayes would become the first black woman elected to Congress from Connecticut.

The 45-year-old educator from Wolcott has attracted significant out-of-state political contributions and endorsements from unions and liberal organizations. She says there's an "appetite for change" among voters.

Recent campaign finance reports show Hayes leading Glassman and all three Republican candidates in fundraising.

Esty abruptly announced in April she would not seek a fourth term. She apologized for not protecting her employees.

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9:35 p.m.

Sen. Tina Smith has won Minnesota's Democratic primary to finish the final two years of former Sen. Al Franken's term.

Smith took her spot in the Senate in January after Franken resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations. She was the state's lieutenant governor before Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton appointed her to the seat.

She defeated several Democrats to clinch the party's nomination, including Richard Painter, the former GOP ethics attorney whose profile rose as a strident critic of President Donald Trump.

Smith is a longtime political operative in Minnesota.

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9:30 p.m.

Minnesota state Rep. Jim Newberger has won the GOP primary to take on incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (KLOH'-buh-shar).

Newberger beat three other candidates Tuesday but faces an uphill battle in November against the popular Klobuchar, who is seeking a third term in the Senate.

Klobuchar won her first two terms by at least 20 percentage points and has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2020.

Newberger, a paramedic from Becker, has served three terms in the Minnesota House.

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9:25 p.m.

Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker has dispensed with a nominal GOP challenger as he awaits the winner of a crowded Democratic primary.

Walker is seeking a third term in office after a failed 2016 presidential run. Eight Democrats were seeking to challenge him in November.

Walker handily defeated his token opposition, Robert Meyer, who was not actively campaigning. Walker has amassed nearly $5 million and has already run more than a dozen television ads as he positions himself for the fall election.

Democrats are optimistic that this year presents their best chance ever to take down Walker. They've scored unexpected election victories in other races this year and polls generally show Republicans to be vulnerable.

In 2012, Walker became the first governor to ever defeat a recall election.

___

9:20 p.m.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (KLOH'-buh-shar) of Minnesota has easily won a Democratic primary as she seeks her third term.

In a year marked by high-profile lawmakers losing primary challenges, Klobuchar had no serious opposition Tuesday.

Klobuchar is one of Minnesota's most popular politicians, winning her first two terms by at least 20 percentage points. She has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2020.

___

9:15 p.m.

A former utility executive from Vermont has become the first transgender candidate to win a major political party's nomination for governor.

Christine Hallquist defeated three other Democrats en route to victory in Tuesday's primary.

The former CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative says she's running because she feels she has the best plan to help Vermont residents get higher-paying jobs, provide health care for their families and better educate their children.

The 62-year-old Hallquist is part of a wave of LGBTQ candidates seeking higher office across the U.S.

Hallquist is being supported by The Victory Fund, a political action committee that backs LGBTQ candidates across the country. The committed labeled her a "game changer."

___

9:10 p.m.

Vermont's Republican Gov. Phil Scott has won his party's nomination to run for a second term as the state's top executive.

Scott angered many people in the GOP base for supporting a series of gun restrictions but on Tuesday defeated Springfield businessman Keith Stern, a perennial candidate who described himself as a conservative Republican and campaigned on financial issues.

Scott based his first term as governor on the premise of making the state more affordable by helping to balance the budget without raising taxes or fees. He supported gun restrictions after what law enforcement authorities said was a narrowly averted school shooting.

Scott lost some voters with his gun stance but was supported by others who favored the restrictions.

___

9:05 p.m.

Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin is advancing to the November general election after facing no opposition from her own party.

She faces a tough re-election bid against one of two loyalists to President Donald Trump who are seeking to run against her. Baldwin is the only Democrat in a statewide office of importance in Wisconsin, and outside groups have already spent millions on television ads attacking her.

Baldwin's campaign has played up her work on moderate and core Wisconsin issues, including her buy-America plan that Trump supports and her work with Republican Sen. John McCain on lowering drug costs.

The Republicans battling to run against her are political outsider Kevin Nicholson and state Sen. Leah Vukmir. Polls show their race to be very close.

___

9 p.m.

Polls have closed for primary elections in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Polling places across the two states shut their doors at 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday. Local election officials are now counting the votes. Results will trickle in over the coming hours.

Primaries in both states included races for governor and Senate, and both Senate seats were on Minnesota's ballot because of a special election to finish Al Franken's term.

Key House races included the Wisconsin primary for the seat that currently belongs to House Speaker Paul Ryan and a Minnesota seat being vacated by Democrat Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to serve in Congress. Ellison is running for state attorney general amid domestic abuse allegations from an ex-girlfriend. He denies them.

DFL gubernatorial candidate Tim Walz, center, his son Gus and his running mate, Peggy Flanagan, left, greet supporters during their primary election night party at the Carpenters Union Hall in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP)

FILE - In this July 26, 2018, file photo, Republican U.S. Senate candidates Leah Vukmir, right, and Kevin Nicholson debate in Milwaukee. Nicholson, running as an outsider, is running against Vukmir, a 15-year veteran of the Legislature who had the state GOP endorsement. The Republican primary battle for a Wisconsin U.S. Senate seat pits two loyalists to President Donald Trump who agree on most of the issues. (Tyger Williams/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)

FILE - In this July 18, 2018, file photo, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., asks a question at a House Committee on Financial Services hearing in Washington. Ellison decided to leave Congress for a chance to make a difference as his state's attorney general, but an ex-girlfriend's late accusation of domestic abuse clouded what had been his race to lose. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, July 25, 2018, file photo, Randy Bryce answers a question during a debate with his opponent, Cathy Myers, at the Rock County 4-H Fair in Janesville, Wis. House Speaker Paul Ryan's retirement creates an opening in his southeastern Wisconsin congressional district for the first time in 20 years, fueling hopes among Democrats that they can pick up the seat that leans Republican. (Angela Major/The Janesville Gazette via AP, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2017, file photo, state Rep. Ilhan Omar is interviewed in her office two days after the 2017 Legislature convened in St. Paul, Minn. Somali-American legislator Ilhan Omar made history Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, by winning the Democratic congressional primary in a Minneapolis-area district so reliably liberal that her victory is likely her ticket to Congress. (AP Photo/Jim Monem File)

FILE - In this Thursday, July 12, 2018, file photo, four of the eight Democratic candidates for Wisconsin's governor, from left Tony Evers, Matt Flynn, Mike McCabe, and Mahlon Mitchell stand on stage prior to a debate at the UWM MainStage Theatre in Milwaukee. Wisconsin's primary election will decide which Democrat challenges Republican Gov. Scott Walker this fall and whom Republicans back in a big-money race for U.S. Senate. (Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)

FILE - In this Sunday, April 22, 2018, file photo, attorney Bryan Steil, a former driver for House Speaker Paul Ryan, announces he is running to succeed Ryan in Congress, in Janesville, Wis. House Speaker Paul Ryan's retirement creates an opening in his southeastern Wisconsin congressional district for the first time in 20 years, fueling hopes among Democrats that they can pick up the seat that leans Republican. (Jake Magee/The Janesville Gazette via AP, File)

In a Friday, June 1, 2018 photo, Minnesota state Sen. Karin Housley, R-St. Mary's Point, speaks to delegates at the Republican Party of Minnesota convention as her husband, NHL Hall of Famer Phil Housley, looks on in the Duluth, Minn., convention center. (Dave Orrick/Pioneer Press via AP)

Marci Glaus holds her one-year-old son, Fredrick as she casts her vote during Wisconsin's primary election Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 in Roxbury, Wis.Democrats are fighting to beat back Republican gains across the Midwest as the 2018 primary season roars through Wisconsin and Minnesota, two states where President Donald Trump's appeal among working-class voters threatens to upend decadeslong political trends this fall and beyond. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

FILE - In this Jan 3, 2018, file photo, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., smiles after being administered the Senate oath of office during a mock swearing in ceremony with Vice President Mike Pence in the Old Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. The sudden downfall of Sen. Al Franken amid the rise of the #MeToo movement could set up a two-woman race for his seat, part of an unusual primary featuring both of Minnesota's Senate seats on the same ballot. Franken's successor, Democrat Tina Smith, and the endorsed Republican candidate, state Sen. Karin Housley, were heavy favorites in their respective races. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, July 12, 2018, file photo, four of the eight Democratic candidates for Wisconsin's governor, from left Tony Evers, Matt Flynn, Mike McCabe, and Mahlon Mitchell stand on stage prior to a debate at the UWM MainStage Theatre in Milwaukee. Wisconsin's primary election will decide which Democrat challenges Republican Gov. Scott Walker this fall and whom Republicans back in a big-money race for U.S. Senate. (Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, File)

Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist, a transgender woman and former electric company executive, applauds with her supporters during her election night party in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A Philadelphia mother who made headlines for a $25,000 elaborate prom send-off for her son has been charged with Social Security benefits fraud.

The U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia announced charges of wire fraud, theft of government funds and Social Security fraud Tuesday against 44-year-old Saudia Shuler.

Prosecutors say that Shuler applied for benefits, describing herself as disabled and unable to work, but continued working - including operating a restaurant called Country Cookin' - costing the government close to $37,000.

Saudia Shuler (right), the mom who dropped $25,000 for her son's 2017 prom, has been charged with wire fraud, theft of government funds and Social Security fraud

Prosecutors say that Shuler applied for benefits, describing herself as disabled and unable to work, but continued working - including operating a restaurant called Country Cookin' - costing the government close to $37,000 (pictured with rapper Lil Uzi Vert)

'There's evidence she defrauded the government and no matter who you are the government brings charges,' Beth Leahy, Deputy Chief of Health Care Fraud, explained to ABC 6.

Leahy added that the woman claimed to be disabled as far back 2014. But she was found to have still operated her eatery.

She stated: 'When asked about the quality of life she said that she couldn't, rarely cook any meals and that her cousin cooked for her. In reality, Ms. Shuler was running a food take-out business for Country Cookin.''

This year, she threw a 'Black Panther'-themed prom send-off with an actual panther for neighborhood kids

She said the party cost was in the six figures. The neighborhood went wild for the bash, above

Shuler could face a staggering 140 years with the maximum sentence, according to Fox 29. The period would include supervised released and full restitution of the money to the government.

Last year's pre-prom party on in Philadelphia included a live Arabian camel

Her lawyer, Tariq El-Shabazz, asserted that the allegations weren't true.

'Ms. Shuler suffered from a stroke and as a result of that she was in rehab and unable to do anything for two-plus years around the same time she was allegedly perpetrating this particular fraud,' he said.

Shuler threw a $25,000 Dubai-themed prom party for her son - Johnny Eden Jr. - last year.

The pre-prom party on June 2, 2017, in Philadelphia included a live Arabian camel, a rented Lamborghini, Range Rover and Rolls Royce, three tons of sand, and three dates all wearing custom designed gowns costing $1,500 each and Giuseppe Zanotti, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent shoes at $1,000 to $1,400 per pair.

Not to mention the three Styles By Chey custom-made outfits for the lucky teen.

At the time, the mother told the New York Post: 'He struggled a lot when I was sick. I couldnt walk, I couldnt go to the bathroom on my own. He had to go through all that and still go to school. And I said, "If I make it through this, Im going to make his prom the best."'

This year, she threw a 'Black Panther'-themed prom send-off with an actual panther for neighborhood kids. She said the party cost was in the six figures.

She even had a cake made in the shape of the Quran - her son's religion
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) - A former Virginia Tech student pleaded guilty Tuesday to concealing the body of a slain 13-year-old girl, but still faces trial on a more serious charge of being an accessory to the teen's killing.

Natalie Keepers is scheduled to go on trial in September, accused of being an accessory before the fact in the killing of Nicole Lovell, a Blacksburg middle school student.

Keepers, of Laurel, Maryland, and David Eisenhauer, of Columbia, Maryland, were freshmen engineering students at Virginia Tech when Lovell was fatally stabbed in 2016.

FILE - This January 2016 file photo provided by Blacksburg Police Department shows Virginia Tech student Natalie Keepers, who was arrested in connection with the death of Nicole Lovell. Keepers pleaded guilty Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, to concealing the body of 13-year-old Lovell, but still faces trial on a more serious charge of being an accessory to the teen's killing. (Blacksburg Police Department via AP, File)

Eisenhauer is serving a 50-year sentence after pleading no contest to charges of first-degree murder, abduction and concealing a body.

Prosecutors say Eisenhauer met Lovell online and communicated with her for months before meeting her at least once in person. They say he subsequently killed her because he feared she would expose their relationship. Lovell's body was found just over the state line in North Carolina. A medical examiner had testified that she had 14 stab wounds, including a lethal wound to her neck.

Attorneys for Keepers argued Tuesday that prosecutors should be barred from presenting evidence of the concealment of Lovell's body when considering the accessory charge, which alleges that Keepers helped plan the killing. They said the two issues are "separate and distinct."

The judge said he would wait until the trial to decide about certain evidence that the defense wants to exclude.
DENVER (AP) - Nine people were injured, one critically, by an apparent natural gas explosion in Denver on Tuesday, firefighters said.

Capt. Greg Pixley, a spokesman for the Denver Fire Department, said seven bystanders were treated for minor injuries and released after a portion of a brick rowhouse was leveled in the blast just south of downtown. A man was critically injured, and a woman who was pulled from the debris is in stable condition.

Pixley said some of the injured were burned, and the fire department is working with Xcel Energy to determine what happened.

Rubble from an apparent gas explosion in a row of homes is strewn along a block on Santa Fe Boulevard Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Denver. Firefighters are still determining how many people were injured in the explosion, which leveled a portion of a brick row house just south of downtown. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Pieces of wood were thrown like sticks, and bricks were spilled on the ground in front of the one-story building, which was searched by a cadaver dog.

"Our goal is not to find a victim but to rule out that a victim is there," Pixley said shortly after the explosion.

The fire department tweeted Tuesday night that no additional victims were found.

Alexander Ponton, whose car was hit by the blast, said he and a few other people helped pull a couple from the debris.

"As I got in front of that building, it blew up right next to my car," he said. "Threw my car over a foot and a half to 2 feet. ... After it blew up, all you could smell was gas. That's all you could smell."

Alex McMahill, who was working at a nearby auto repair shop, said he heard the explosion and thought a vehicle had fallen from its lift.

"I just started running," said McMahill, who also helped pull people from the debris.

"I'm thankful for my friends, my family, and I hope that everybody could be safe because it's a crazy life," he said.

Rubble from an apparent gas explosion in a row of homes is strewn along a block on Santa Fe Boulevard Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Denver. Firefighters say 10 people have been injured, one critically, in the apparent explosion, which leveled a portion of a brick row house just south of downtown. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Rubble from an apparent gas explosion in a row of homes is strewn along a block on Santa Fe Boulevard Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Denver. Fire officials are still determining how many people were injured in the blast, which leveled a portion of a string of brick row houses just south of downtown. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A Denver Police Department officer, left, instructs a motorist on how to fill out an accident report after his car was hit by a wall of rubble from an apparent gas explosion in a row of homes Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Denver. A portion of a brick rowhouse was leveled in Tuesday's blast just south of downtown. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Fire Department firefighters keep watch on the rubble from an apparent natural gas explosion in a row of homes strewn along a block Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Denver. A portion of a brick rowhouse was leveled in Tuesday's blast just south of downtown. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A worker checks for a natural gas leak near the scene of an apparent gas explosion in a row of homes along a block Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Denver. A portion of a brick rowhouse was leveled in Tuesday's blast just south of downtown. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Oceanic resources important substitute as inland minerals depleting

China's unmanned submersible Qianlong 2 achieved a new record for voyage length and working time during the country's 49th ocean expedition which ended on Sunday, allowing scientists to explore sulfide resources in the seabed of west Indian Ocean.

Chinese research vessel Xiangyanghong 10 reached Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province on Sunday after 250 days in the Indian Ocean, where Chinese scientists surveyed the distribution of polymetallic sulfide, the hydrothermal area, as well as ocean microplastics for the first time, covering southwest and northwest Indian Ocean.

During the voyage, the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) operated for 257 hours in nine separate underwater missions and covered 654 kilometers, according to a statement sent to the Global Times on Monday by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The AUV helped discover polymetallic sulfide, a mineral resource produced from seafloor hydrothermal activities. The expedition discovered three mineralization zones of polymetallic sulfide, and with the help of Qianlong 2, scientists confirmed the distribution characteristics of the mineral resource.

In 2011, China entered into a deal with the International Seabed Authority for a polymetallic sulfide exploration area of 10,000 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean for 15 years.

The expedition discovered three mineral zones of polymetallic sulfide, which means hydrothermally formed deposits of sulfides and accompanying mineral resources which contain concentrations of metals, including inter alia, copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver.

The international mining industry is interested in the mineral resource because of the gold and silver deposits.

The AUV also succeeded in working without help from its mother vessel and working while using multiple sensor modules, Science and Technology Daily quoted the trip's chief scientist, Tao Chunhui, who is also a researcher at the State Oceanic Administration's Second Institute of Oceanography.

Measuring 3.5 meters long, 1.3 meters high and 0.7 meters wide, the Qianlong 2 was designed by Chinese scientists, and is capable of driving to depths of up to 4,500 meters. The AUV was unveiled in October 2014, and has conducted 50 underwater missions in the last three years, the statement said.

Gan Yanping, a professor at Ocean University of China, told the Global Times that oceanic resources would be an important substitute as inland mineral resources are depleting.

China has made progress in maritime research expeditions with the help of deep-sea exploration equipment, including the Jiaolong, Hailong and Qianlong, which form a complete system of deep-sea exploration for China, Gan said.

China also plans to put three maritime satellites in space to improve maritime research, reports said.

The maritime economy generated 7.8 trillion yuan ($1.22 trillion) in 2017, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) announced in January.

In the past five years, China has expanded its international seabed mining scope to 86,000 square kilometers in the last five years, CCTV reported.
A firefighter has been killed battling the largest recorded blaze in California history  the sixth fatality in a matter of weeks.

State fire officials did not immediately provide details of the death, which occurred north of San Francisco where the fire has been burning since July 27.

Two other wildfires in Northern California have claimed five other firefighters and six other lives.

In Montana, Glacier's Sprague Creek campground was closed and evacuated, a day after a fast-moving fire triggered the evacuation of dozens of guests from the historic Lake McDonald Lodge late on Sunday night.

The fire grew to between two and four square miles by Monday afternoon.

A structure and vehicles burn in the wake of the Oak Fire on Sunday near Grass Valley, California

Smoke emanates from a structure and subsequent vehicles that succumbed to the Oak Fire in Nevada County, California

'It just completely exploded. Yesterday we were watching it grow all day, and now it's so smoky you can't see anything,' said Kyersten Siebenaler with Glacier Outfitters, which rents boats in Apgar, a small community at the south end of the lake.

A second campground, a motel and private residences inside the park's boundary also were evacuated.

A 30-mile stretch of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic.

Triple-digit temperatures across parts of the state - paired with lightning from passing thunderstorms - set the stage for several new large fires to take hold in Montana in recent days.

Among them was one that triggered an evacuation order for residents of 15 houses south-west of the town of Ennis.

The fire was burning in challenging mountain terrain with a mix of pine, fir and spruce trees, said fire information spokesman Dave Sabo.

In Colorado, a wildfire in the south-western portion of the state ignited by lightning on July 29 had burned across 34 square miles by Monday.

Yosemite was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday after being largely closed since July 25 because of smoke from fires in remote areas that choked the scenic Yosemite Valley.

The closure caused upheaval for thousands of tourists whose summer trips were cancelled.

Visitors were warned to expect limited hours and services as the park returns to normal.

The fire burning in Glacier was one of several started in the park by lightning on Saturday evening.

Windy, dry conditions on Sunday caused the blaze to spread rapidly, in full view of tourists and people who live and work around Lake McDonald.

Two planes from Canada were brought in to help battle the blaze, but officials said high winds prevented their pilots from flying close enough to the fire to be effective.

It is the second year in a row that wildfires have prompted evacuations around Lake McDonald.
The communications regulator has fined Royal Mail 50 million for a serious breach of competition law.

Ofcom said the company abused its dominant position by discriminating against its only major competitor for delivering letters, Whistl.

The penalty follows an investigation into a complaint by Whistl, one of Royal Mails wholesale customers.

Ofcom has delivered a 50 million fine to Royal Mail (Rui Vieira/PA)

Royal Mail fined 50m for breaking competition law: https://t.co/ZaiSFCWolO  Ofcom (@Ofcom) August 14, 2018

The complaint was linked to changes Royal Mail made to its wholesale customers contracts in 2014, including price increases.

The price rises meant that any of Royal Mails wholesale customers seeking to compete with it by delivering letters in some parts of the country, as Whistl was, would have to pay higher prices in the remaining areas  where it used Royal Mail for delivery.

Following notification of these new prices, Whistl suspended plans to extend delivery services to new parts of the UK.

Ofcoms investigation found Royal Mails actions amounted to anti-competitive discrimination against customers, such as Whistl, who sought to deliver bulk mail.

Jonathan Oxley, Ofcoms competition director, said: Royal Mail broke the law by abusing its dominant position in bulk mail delivery.

All companies must play by the rules. Royal Mails behaviour was unacceptable, and it denied postal users the potential benefits that come from effective competition.

The regulator added that Royal Mails conduct was reasonably likely to put other companies at a competitive disadvantage and restrict competition.

It found Royal Mail in breach of Section 18 of the Competition Act and Article 102 of the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits a firm from abusing its dominant position.

Royal Mail said it will appeal against Ofcoms decision, claiming its price changes were never implemented or paid.

The firm said in a statement: Royal Mail is very disappointed by Ofcoms decision to impose a fine of 50 million. Royal Mail strongly refutes any suggestion that it has acted in breach of the Competition Act, and considers that the decision is without merit and fundamentally flawed.

The company will now lodge an appeal with the Competition Appeal Tribunal within the next two months. No fine is payable until the appeals process is exhausted.
A mill is to be demolished as fire crews dampen down a blaze which led to the evacuation of nearby homes.

About 30 properties were evacuated as a precaution as more than 50 firefighters worked to stop the flames spreading in Greenfield Lane, Rochdale, on Monday night.

Bury and Rochdale Magistrates Court was opened as a shelter, but residents were soon allowed to return to their homes.

Pictures from the scene showed the building engulfed in fire, with flames visible from miles around. There were no reported injuries.

Flames rip through the building (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service/PA)

The fire service said crews were called to the mill, which was used to store candles and vehicles, at just before 10.35pm on Monday.

On Tuesday, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said it had scaled down its operation overnight, but four fire engines and a hydraulic platform remain at the scene as the blaze is still not out.

The roof of the building has collapsed inwards and firefighters are arranging demolition of the building so they can reach the pockets of fire that remain inside the building, added GMFRS.

Station manager Nick Hince said: Crews have made great progress and we have scaled back the incident overnight. Seats of fire remain in the building and will be difficult to reach until the building has been demolished.

Smoke in the area has been reduced and is currently blowing away from local residents, but the safety advice remains the same  please keep your windows and doors closed if you live locally.

One side of Queensway has reopened, but the other side remains closed so please avoid the area if you can. We are working hard to extinguish the fire completely so please bear with us as we do so.

Crews will remain at the scene throughout the day but I would like to thank all of our firefighters and partner agencies who have worked throughout the night, helping us bring the blaze under control.
Homebase is pressing ahead with a wave of store closures that will see 42 DIY outlets shut, putting around 1,500 jobs at risk.

The retailer is closing the stores via a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), a controversial insolvency procedure used by struggling firms to shut under-performing shops.

Restructuring experts at Alvarez & Marsal will carry out the CVA, which will require the support of landlords.

Homebase is closing several stores

An official announcement from the company is due later on Tuesday.

The Press Association first reported in June that Homebase was exploring further store closures through the procedure.

The latest restructuring would come on top of a store closure programme the retailer has been carrying out since February.

A total of 16 Homebase stores have been shut this year and the business has also axed 303 jobs at its head office in Milton Keynes.

Homebase could see some resistance from landlords to the CVA, with the property industry expressing disdain for the procedure, saying it leaves them out-of-pocket.

CVAs have been adopted by a host of retailers including New Look, Carpetright and Mothercare.

The Homebase store closures follow the sale of the business earlier this year by its former Australian owner Wesfarmers to Hilco, a retail turnaround specialist, for 1.

Homebase was bought by Wesfarmers for 340 million in 2016.

Wesfarmers is known for its Bunnings chain in Australia, and attempted to import the home improvement brand to the UK by converting a host of Homebase stores into the Bunnings format.

However, the strategy ended in disaster.

Prior to the Hilco takeover, Homebase had 250 stores at its peak and 12,000 staff.
A former law lecturer arrested in Romania almost three years after he fled his crown court trial in England has been returned to the UK and charged with 11 further offences.

Julian Myerscough, 56, a former criminal law lecturer at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, went on the run from Ipswich Crown Court in September 2015 before a jury found him guilty of downloading indecent images of children.

He was convicted, shortly after he went missing, of 13 counts of possession of indecent images of a child and three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Julian Myerscough was detained by law enforcement officers in Romania last month (Suffolk Police/PA)

Julian Myerscough, who was arrested almost three years after fleeing a crown court trial, has been returned to UK and also charged with 11 additional offences. Read more here https://t.co/3QwPbH5dgS  Suffolk Police (@SuffolkPolice) August 14, 2018

He was sentenced in his absence at Chelmsford Crown Court last year to three years and six months imprisonment and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Myerscough was detained by law enforcement officers in Romania last month and his extradition was approved at a Romanian court.

He was collected from Bucharest by Suffolk Police officers and arrived back in the UK on Monday, the force said.

Myerscough was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre and charged with 11 other offences alleged to have happened between 2001 and 2010.

He is charged with two counts of raping a girl under the age of 13, four counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by penetration, four counts of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14 and one count of assaulting/ill-treating a child to cause unnecessary suffering.

He has been remanded in custody to appear before Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Myerscough, originally from Bolton but who was living in Lowestoft, Suffolk, initially fled to Ireland after he absconded.

He was spotted on a ferry from Holyhead and was detained at a Dublin city centre hotel by Garda officers under a European Arrest Warrant in October 2015.

However, he thwarted extradition efforts with a series of appeals over two years, and was released from prison in Ireland as the High Court in Dublin deemed in August 2017 that too much time had passed.

A decision was taken to sentence him in his absence in September 2017.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ratcheted up the pressure on Jeremy Corbyn in the anti-Semitism row, warning he would have no moral authority to condemn terrorist attacks on British citizens if he ever became prime minister.

The Labour leader came under attack from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday after it emerged that he attended a ceremony where a wreath was was laid in memory of Palestinians suspected of being behind the Munich Olympics massacre.

Mr Corbyn has acknowledged he was present at the event at the Palestinian Martyrs Cemetery in Tunisia in 2014, but said he did not think he was involved in the wreath-laying.

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of lacking the moral authority to condemn terrorist atrocities (Jane Barlow/PA)

Supporters insisted he had made clear his abhorrence for the I972 Munich attack, when 11 Israeli athletes were killed, and that he condemned all terrorist acts.

If @jeremycorbyn thinks terrorism is justified for the causes he believes in, how would he as Prime Minister have the moral authority to condemn terrorist murders of British citizens? Unbelievable and shocking  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) August 14, 2018

However, writing on Twitter, Mr Hunt said: If Jeremy Corbyn thinks terrorism is justified for the causes he believes in, how would he as prime minister have the moral authority to condemn terrorist murders of British citizens? Unbelievable and shocking.

The president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Marie van der Zyl, poured scorn on Mr Corbyns claim his that he was not involved in the wreath-laying and said he needed to understand he could not cavort with terrorists.

After days of being evasive, Jeremy Corbyn has now admitted attending a memorial event for the terrorist murders of unarmed athletes. How can you say he is not involved? she told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

In 1972, these are unarmed people who were attending the Olympics, they were savagely mutilated and murdered. There is no reason Jeremy Corbyn should not apologise to the widows and to the victims for this terrible massacre.

He needs to also recognise that he cant cavort with terrorists.

The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 13, 2018

However, Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, a founder of Jewish Voice for Labour and a member of Momentum, claimed the row had been cooked up to damage the Labour leader.

Jeremy Corbyn made absolutely clear from the first that the Munich atrocity was absolutely abhorrent to him, she told Today.

When he was in Tunis he was there for a pro-peace Palestinian conference. I just feel that this whole thing is yet another a cooked-up example of people trying to attribute guilt to the Labour Party leader by association.

Jeremy Corbyn is not a supporter of terrorism. He has always condemned and abhorred every terrorist act. He is opposed to all forms of violence. This is really just barracking him, it is intimidating him the whole Labour Party.

The row originally erupted after the Daily Mail published pictures of Mr Corbyn holding a wreath in the cemetery, which it said were taken in front of a plaque honouring the founder of the Black September terror group.

The nation state law sponsored by @Netanyahu's government discriminates against Israel's Palestinian minority.



I stand with the tens of thousands of Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel demonstrating for equal rights at the weekend in Tel Aviv.  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 13, 2018

Labour said he had attended the event to remember victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike on Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) offices in Tunis.

However, in a highly unusual intervention, he was accused by Mr Netanyahu of laying a wreath at the grave of one of the terrorists responsible for the Munich attack.

The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between, he wrote on Twitter

However, Mr Corbyn hit back, saying the Israeli leaders claims were false.

He added: What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children.

Earlier, during a visit to Walsall, Mr Corbyn confirmed that a wreath had been laid to -those that were killed in Paris in 1992  an apparent reference to assassinated PLO intelligence chief Atef Bseiso.

He added: I was present when it was laid. I dont think I was actually involved in it (laying it).
Witnesses have described a car ploughing through cyclists and into a security barrier outside the Houses of Parliament in a deliberate attack, as police arrested a terror suspect.

Counter-terror police were leading the investigation after a Ford Fiesta crashed into a number of cyclists and pedestrians at around 7.40am on Tuesday, officers said.

Scotland Yard said the driver, a man in his twenties, was arrested at the scene by armed officers on suspicion of terrorist offences.

Geoffrey Woodman, a strategy consultant from Battersea, south-west London, had stopped at the traffic lights by Parliament Square on his cycle to work when the car swerved into cyclists and towards the security barriers.

I was getting off the bike and put my foot down, then there was a sound like tyres screeching, he said.

This car turned round to the left and swerved into the wrong lane of traffic and into the bank where all the cyclists wait.

Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He said most people managed to jump off their bikes to safety but one woman who seemed in some distress was clipped by the bonnet of the car as it passed.

It went through everyone and turned round, continuing down the next 50 metres before turning into the lay-by where taxis pick up politicians, smashing into the barrier, he said.

Mr Woodman added that paramedics from a passing ambulance, captured on camera passing behind the car, stopped to help the cyclists and armed police arrived on the scene within 10 seconds.

Ewalina Ochab, who asked to be identified only by her name, told the Press Association: I think it looked intentional  the car drove at speed and towards the barriers.

She continued: I was walking on the other side [of the road]. I heard some noise and someone screamed.

I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement.

Jason Williams, 45, from Kennington, south London, was walking to work when he saw the crash and heard a loud bang.

I saw a car going at high speed towards Parliament. It hit a bollard, he told the Press Association.

It looked deliberate. It didnt look like an accident. How do you do that by accident?

Bus driver Victor Ogbomo, 49, was driving passengers past the front of Westminster just after the crash.

All I saw was the smoke coming out of a vehicle, a silver vehicle I just stopped the bus, he told the Press Association.

The police said we have to move back, then in less than five minutes the response team came.

They went to the vehicle, so we had to push back. I saw the car in the barrier, I didnt know how it got there.

I think someone was inside the vehicle because many police went towards the vehicle.

He said officers had their guns aimed when they arrested the driver.

Cyclist James Maker, 30, of Chelmsford, Essex, passed the scene in Westminster within minutes of the crash to see a woman injured on the floor and the car crashed into the barrier.

I looked to the right-hand side and there was a cyclist on the floor, clearly been injured, the head of policy at the County Councils Network told the Press Association.

It was a woman, they were clearly quite injured, they werent moving and they were in the recovery position.

Cyclists in the aftermath of the crash (Geoffrey Woodman)

Fellow cyclists were helping her, he said, adding: There were a couple of cyclists who had clearly been involved who were sitting on the floor and perhaps had minor injuries.

I must be honest, Ive got a young son and a wife and my initial reaction was as long as paramedics were seeing to the woman I wanted to get away from the incident.

Mr Maker then saw the silver Ford Fiesta crashed into the barrier outside Westminster Palace.

Youve got to have an intent to go for that barrier, theres so many security barriers and the way the car ended up in that part it would appear deliberate to me. Its gone up the driveway and hit the actual barrier thinking perhaps it would open, he said.

He believes the car, driving clockwise around Parliament Square, then took left onto the exit on the wrong side of the road to get near the injured cyclist before crossing the road to the barrier.
Family members of three Scottish soldiers murdered by the IRA in Belfast are to request that CCTV be installed to protect memorials to them.

Dougald McCaughey, 23, was killed along with brothers John and Joseph McCaig, 17 and 18 respectively, from Ayr in 1971.

Memorials to the three soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers at White Brae, Ligoniel and at Ballysillan in north Belfast have been repeatedly attacked.

In total they have been attacked 27 times since they were installed in 2010 following fundraising by the Oldpark/Cavehill branch of the Royal British Legion.

The White Brae memorial, at the remote roadside where the soldiers were killed, is the most frequently targeted.

They are among the most attacked memorials in Northern Ireland.

In the most recent incident at the weekend, a flower pot was stolen.

Previously, paint was poured over the memorial stone at Ballysillan, and during other incidents IRA slogans were daubed on the memorial and poppies destroyed.

David McCaughey, cousin of Dougald, said the repeated attacks make him sick to his stomach.

These are memorials to three innocent men, they were not bad people, yet their memory is the most disrespected by local gangs, he said.

Kris McGurk, director of the Three Scottish Soldiers Campaign for Justice group, said he will be writing to Belfast City Council on behalf of the families on Tuesday to request CCTV be installed at the sites.

If these people cannot once and for all leave the memorials alone and let our boys peacefully be remembered, we are left with no other option but to request the assistance of Belfast City Council in adding some prevention measures in the area, he said.

In 2018 it would be a terrible shame if CCTV were required to simply stop a memorial to three innocent boys being disrespected.

A previous attack at a memorial to the Three Scottish Soldiers

Before the weekend, the last incident had been in November 2016.

Mr McGurk said the families had hoped the memorials would be left alone.

To desecrate a memorial is a terrible shame, regardless if the attack is on the memorials or anything placed by them  the principle is the same, he said.

Even in death, their memory is being caught up in the crossfire of these twisted people, the constant and deliberate disrespect they are shown must stop immediately.

The soldiers had been off duty at a bar in Belfast city centre on March 10 1971 when they were befriended by IRA men who lured them into a car promising to take them to meet girls at a party.

Instead they took them to White Brae, Squires Hill, off the Ligoniel Road and shot them dead.

Mr McCaughey has pledged to keep fighting for justice.

This is a scar in my family that has never healed. I made promises to family that are no longer living that I would never let these boys be forgotten, I will never break that promise, he said.

I suffer from ill health due to cancer, I now know that if my health took a turn for the worse that there are good people in this campaign working to fulfil my original promise.
Auditors have warned increasing evidence indicates parts of Scotland lack adequate numbers of intensive care beds.

An audit of more than 46,000 patients admitted to specialist wards for the most severely ill or injured last year found the quality of critical care is high but bed shortages are causing problems.

The intensive care unit (ICU) at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee had the highest percentage of patients discharged early at 7%, more than three times the Scottish average, with most being sent to another ward in the hospital.

Auditors warn of a lack of intensive care beds in parts of Scotland (Julien Behal/PA)

The report states: This figure suggests that the number of physical ICU beds available at Ninewells Hospital is inadequate to meet the demands of the service.

At times of peak occupancy, ICU bed demand appears to exceed the supply and patients were discharged early to a lower level of care.

Elsewhere, a shortage of general hospital beds means patients fit to leave intensive care cannot be moved.

A quarter of patients in intensive care units audited across Scotland had their discharge delayed by more than four hours and for high dependency units this was 22%.

Forth Valley Royal Hospital intensive care unit had the worst record with more than half of discharges (52%) delayed for more than four hours, with main reason a lack of beds elsewhere in the hospital.

Nearly two thirds (60%) of patients in the surgical level one unit at the Western General Hospital Hospital faced similar waits.

Crosshouse Hospital surgical high dependency unit had the longest average length of stay of its type, at almost six days which is said to be a ongoing issue due to lack of available ward beds.

A total of 19% of patients admitted to intensive care died before being discharged from hospital, a similar figure to 2016.

No unit was found to have a significantly higher mortality rate compared to the rest of Scotland.

The most common diagnosis for intensive care patients in 2017 was bacterial pneumonia, followed by post cardiac arrest and self-inflicted overdose, all similar to recent years.

The percentage of patients in intensive care who developed a healthcare acquired infection remained steady at 2.7%.

Chairman of the audit group, Dr Stephen Cole, said: This report provides reassurance that the quality of critical care available within Scotland is of a very high standard.

There is, however increasing evidence that some areas of the country really do lack sufficient numbers of intensive care beds.

The report this year highlights some real disparity between the provision of critical care across the territorial NHS Boards and I would urge those boards that appear to have lower levels of critical care provision to scrutinise this report in detail and to consider their local investment decisions.
Reform and opening up was a game-changing move in making China what it is today; it now remains a game-changing move for China to achieve its two centenary goals and realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said an article titled Reform and Opening up ushers China into bright future under the byline of Xuanyan published on Peoples Daily on Monday.

A game-changing move, a vivid term of deep Chinese cultural tradition, was quoted from Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The description, which portrays the Chinese Communists and the Chinese peoples understanding and perception of reform and opening up, declares Chinas strong faith and determination to steadfastly push ahead with reform and opening up, said the article.

China has made a giant leap forward over the last 40 years, the article pointed out, elaborating that reform and opening up has incorporated China into the world and made the latter discover a new China.

Even the most stubborn followers of the Western-centered theory have to admit that China has integrated into the world unprecedentedly and the world sees China as an increasingly indispensable part, the paper pointed out.

With a clear direction, the ship of China has voyaged out of the shallow waters by overcoming various difficulties, and now has sailed into a new and broader space in full swing, the commentary added.

When analyzing on why the reform and opening up can bring earthshaking changes to China, the paper pointed out that the most important secret is such endeavor proceeds according to the logic of the history and develop in line with the evolvement of the times.

The characteristics of the times are peace and cooperation, opening up and integration, as well as reform and innovation, it explained.

Reform and opening up is the right path China must always adhere to in order to become stronger and enrich its people, and a commitment to this development path will usher it into a better future, the article concluded.

Xuanyan, which in Chinese means declaration, is a byline invented for the marshalling of important viewpoints.
A bridge over an industrial area in the Italian city of Genova has partially collapsed during a storm, leaving vehicles crushed in the rubble below.

There have been reports of fatalities after a 650ft section of the Morandi Bridge fell in the north-western city, as well as claims that one person had been pulled alive from the rubble.

Maria Luisa Catalano, a police official in Genoa, said authorities are still involved in rescue efforts and do not yet know the number of victims.

The bridge would have been busy with holiday traffic (ANSA/AP)

The disaster occurred on a highway that connects Italy to France and other resorts on the eve of Ferragosto, a major Italian holiday, and traffic would have been heavier than usual as many people travelled to beaches or mountains.

Transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, called the collapse an enormous tragedy.

Broadcaster Sky TG24 said the section of the bridge collapsed over an industrial zone. Firefighters have raised concerns about gas lines.

A truck stopped right at the edge of the area where the Morandi bridge collapsed (Vigili Del Fuoco/AP)

Photos published by the ANSA news agency on its website showed a huge gulf between two sections of the bridge.

Video captured the sound of a man screaming: Oh god, oh, god. Other images showed a green truck that had stopped just yards short of the gaping hole in the bridge.

Interior minister Matteo Salvini said some 200 firefighters were responding to the accident.

He said on Twitter: We are following minute by minute the situation for the bridge collapse in Genoa.

One person was said to have been pulled alive from the rubble (AP)

The Morandi Bridge was inaugurated in 1967. It is 295ft high and just over three-quarters of a mile long, with the longest section between supports measuring 650ft.

The bridge is a main thoroughfare connecting the A10 highway heading towards France and the A7 highway that continues north towards Milan.

ANSA said authorities believe a structural weakness caused the collapse.
At least 23 people have been killed and another 14 injured after a long-distance bus overturned on a highway near Ecuadors capital, officials said.

The Colombian-registered bus was travelling to Quito and hit another vehicle in an area known as dead mans curve at about 3am local time on Tuesday.

@PoliciaEcuador junto a entidades de emergencia atendieron accidente de transito en el sector de la Curva de la Muerte via #Papallacta. Se registro 23 fallecidos y 14 heridos producto de choque, volcamiento y estrellamiento de bus de turismo internacional. pic.twitter.com/tsctXkSf5P  Policia Ecuador (@PoliciaEcuador) August 14, 2018

Quito district security secretary Juan Zapata told Colombias Blu Radio that Colombian and Venezuelan nationals are among the dead.

23 people have been killed in a bus crash in Ecuador (PA)

Ecuadors emergency response agency said the bus overturned after running into a smaller vehicle.
At least 24 people have died and another 19 were injured when a bus collided with another vehicle at high speed and overturned on a highway near Ecuadors capital.

The Colombian-registered bus was travelling to Quito when it hit a smaller vehicle in an area known as dead mans curve at about 3am local time, Ecuadorean authorities said.

Quito district security secretary Juan Zapata told Colombias Blu Radio that Colombian and Venezuelan nationals were among the dead.

The crash is the second such tragedy to strike Ecuador in a matter of days (AP)

BRINDAMOS AUXILIO || Nuestros equipos policiales continuan atendiendo la emergencia en el sector denominado Curva de la Muerte via #Papallacta, tras suscitarse un accidente de transito. pic.twitter.com/bVHvO6voDA  Policia Ecuador (@PoliciaEcuador) August 14, 2018

Three people, including two minors travelling in the smaller vehicle, were also killed.

A small fleet of ambulances and emergency workers rushed to the crash site about two hours from Quito before dawn.

They found the severely wrecked bus overturned and several homes adjacent to the highway damaged and strewn with metal debris.

The crash is the second such tragedy to take place in Ecuador in the past three days.

@PoliciaEcuador junto a entidades de emergencia atendieron accidente de transito en el sector de la Curva de la Muerte via #Papallacta. Se registro 23 fallecidos y 14 heridos producto de choque, volcamiento y estrellamiento de bus de turismo internacional. pic.twitter.com/tsctXkSf5P  Policia Ecuador (@PoliciaEcuador) August 14, 2018

On Sunday, 12 people were killed and another 30 injured when a bus carrying fans of the Ecuadorean football team Barcelona SC overturned on a highway after a game.

On Monday, relatives of the victims bid farewell to their loved ones at a collective wake held at Barcelonas stadium in Guayaquil.

Police are still investigating the causes of the earlier crash, but some eyewitnesses told local media that the bus carrying members of the Sur Oscura fan club that accompanies Barcelona to all its away games was seen trying to overtake other vehicles shortly before the crash.
Michael Avenatti, the lawyer taking on US president Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, has offered some details on his policy views as he weighs up a possible Democratic bid for the White House in 2020.

In a new policy document, Mr Avenatti said he supports a basic Medicare plan for all Americans with an option to purchase additional coverage, and backs a path to citizenship for the young immigrants known as Dreamers.

He also wants to see a national paid family leave programme.

Mr Avenatti has been a thorn in the presidents side (AP)

The lawyer added that cannabis should be decriminalised at the federal level, so-called assault weapons should be banned and the United States should re-join the Paris climate accord.

Those positions generally align Mr Avenatti with the left wing of potential 2020 Democratic presidential prospects, but he is more moderate on some issues.

Many have asked me my position on various issues. Below is a summary of where I stand. This is not an exhaustive list and more positions & details will follow. Most importantly, I didn't have to hire a pollster or political consultant to tell me what to say or what to believe. pic.twitter.com/hbXj1Vv3O9  Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) August 14, 2018

While other Democrats  including senators Kristen Gillibrand and Kamala Harris  have called for outright abolition of the federal governments chief immigration and customs enforcement agency (ICE), Mr Avenatti said: We should not eliminate ICE but we must change the way ICE carries out enforcement.

Mr Avenatti is a self-styled provocateur who has gained national attention for representing Ms Daniels in her lawsuit against Mr Trump, following an alleged 2006 affair which the president denies.

Mr Avenatti came to prominence as the lawyer for adult film star Stormy Daniels (AP)

For months, he has been a fixture on cable news shows, taunting Mr Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets. Mr Avenatti also has a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan.

He pledged that, should he run, he will not take corporate Political Action Committee (PAC) money  putting him in line with a number of potential 2020 prospects.

Mr Avenatti is more general on some issues in the brief outline, saying he wants an economic plan that delivers good quality jobs and that college must be more affordable for all Americans.

He promised a detailed infrastructure plan called the Real Deal.

The lawyers views align him with the left wing of the Democratic party (AP)

On trade, he said America must be aggressive in dealing with countries that have gamed the system  but smart about how we fight back to avoid inflicting unnecessary harm on American workers and farmers.

On international relations, he said the United States must negotiate denuclearisation agreements with North Korea and Iran.

Mr Avenatti said he is studying the issues, consulting with experts and will be releasing more information, including his detailed economic infrastructure plan, in the coming weeks.

The document also serves as a statement of principle for the lawyer, who has never run for public office. It stresses his support for all Americans regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity.

He fully backs unions and said teachers need more financial support, according to the document.
Jeremy Corbyn said he will not apologise for attending a controversial event at a Palestinian Martyrs Cemetery because he was trying to promote peace in the Middle East.

The Labour leader had been widely criticised after he said he was present when wreaths were laid at the Tunis site in 2014 to the victims of an attack in Paris in 1992 but did not think he was actually involved in it.

Mr Corbyns comments on Monday prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accuse him of honouring one of the founders of the Black September terror group which carried out the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, who died in the incident in the French capital.

Jeremy Corbyn has refused to apologise (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger said being present at the event was the same as actually being involved while Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he lacked moral authority when it came to condemning terrorist atrocities.

Speaking during a visit on Tuesday to the Harper Adams University in Newport, Shropshire, Mr Corbyn insisted the wreath he laid at the cemetery in Tunis had been to commemorate all those killed during an Israeli air strike on the Palestinian Liberation Organisations offices in the city in 1985.

I, along with other colleagues laid a wreath in memory of those who died in the hope that we have a peace process and peace in the future so those raids are never repeated, he said.

Im not apologising for being there at all. I went to a conference to try and promote peace in the Middle East.

If @jeremycorbyn thinks terrorism is justified for the causes he believes in, how would he as Prime Minister have the moral authority to condemn terrorist murders of British citizens? Unbelievable and shocking  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) August 14, 2018

The Labour leader appeared to become increasingly exasperated as he was questioned about what happened during a pooled television clip, at one point rolling his eyes as he was repeatedly pressed on the wreath laying.

He said the Tunis attack, in which women and children had also died, had been condemned at the time by the then UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher and former US president Ronald Reagan, as well as the UN Security Council.

Of the ceremony in Tunis, he said: I was there when the wreaths were laid, thats pretty obvious. There were many others there who were witness to that. I witnessed many other people laying many wreaths.

I laid one wreath along with many other people in memory, as Ive said, of all those who died in the awful attack in 1985 which as I keep repeating was condemned by the whole world.

The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 13, 2018

The row originally erupted after the Daily Mail published pictures of Mr Corbyn holding a wreath at the cemetery which it said were taken in front of a plaque honouring the founder of Black September.

During a visit to Walsall on Monday, Mr Corbyn suggested that a wreath had been laid to those that were killed in Paris in 1992  an apparent reference to assassinated PLO intelligence chief Atef Bseiso, who was accused by the Israelis of being involved in the Munich outrage in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed.

The nation state law sponsored by @Netanyahu's government discriminates against Israel's Palestinian minority.



I stand with the tens of thousands of Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel demonstrating for equal rights at the weekend in Tel Aviv.  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 13, 2018

However the Labour press office said on Tuesday that those who carried out the Munich attack were not buried in the cemetery in Tunis and there had been no ceremony for them.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Hunt said: If Jeremy Corbyn thinks terrorism is justified for the causes he believes in, how would he as prime minister have the moral authority to condemn terrorist murders of British citizens? Unbelievable and shocking.

Meanwhile, a Tory peer confirmed he was also at the peace conference in Tunis, which Mr Corbyn attended, and that members of Hamas may also have been present.

Lord Sheikh, the founder of the Conservative Muslim Foundation (CMF), said he did not meet any figures from the banned terrorist organisation and did not attend the wreath laying ceremony at the Palestinian cemetery.

I did not meet any Hamas people, I am very careful, obviously, he told the Press Association.
Two high-ranking military officers have been arrested in the investigation into an assassination attempt on Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro.

The list of suspects  including an exiled opposition MP  has now risen to 34 and officials are seeking arrests in Colombia, Peru and the United States, Venezuelas attorney general Tarek William Saab said.

There are 14 detainees who have been presented and charged before the criminal courts, he said.

Nicolas Maduro was unharmed by the incident (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Officials say an assassination plot involved two drones loaded with plastic explosives that detonated near Mr Maduro as he spoke on August 4 at a military celebration in the capital of Caracas.

The first explosion in front of the grandstand caused hundreds of soldiers standing in parade formation to scatter. Seven soldiers were injured, but Mr Maduro and several senior officials nearby were unharmed.

Mr Saab said that the two detained officers include a general in the Venezuelan National Guard.

A 29-year-old opposition MP, Juan Requesens, is also under arrest and charged with treason and attempted homicide.

Relatives say he is jailed for being an outspoken critic of Mr Maduros government, but that he never participated in a crime.

Venezuelan officials are asking Colombia to extradite Julio Borges, a prominent opposition MP living in Bogota.
Royal Bank of Scotland will pay a 4.9 billion US dollar (3.85 billion) fine to settle allegations it misrepresented the types of mortgages it sold to investors during the housing bubble that ultimately led to the 2008 financial crisis.

The US Justice Department (DoJ) said in a statement that the penalty is the largest it has imposed for financial crisis-era misconduct at a single company.

Royal Bank of Scotland Agrees to Pay $4.9 Billion for Financial Crisis-Era Misconduct https://t.co/omw1RLvOln  Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) August 14, 2018

The DoJ has issued billions of dollars in fines against Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and other big banks in the years following the crisis to settle similar allegations.

Royal Bank of Scotland (Jane Barlow/PA)

The government accused Royal Bank of Scotland and many other big banks of understating the risk and quality of the mortgages they sold to investors at the height of the housing bubble, in RBSs case between 2005 and 2008.

These investors bought up tens of billions of dollars in mortgages from RBS and other banks, and experienced massive losses when borrowers failed to repay and housing prices collapsed nationwide.

This settlement holds RBS accountable for serious misconduct that contributed to the financial crisis, said acting associate attorney general Jesse Panuccio.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said people must keep an open mind about the suspected terror attack in Westminster.

A car collided with cyclists and pedestrians outside Parliament at about 7.30am on Tuesday, and a man was arrested over what police are treating as a terrorist attack.

Speaking at the Home Office, Mr Javid said he was limited in what he could say as the investigation was live.

Huge thanks to our emergency services for their rapid reaction to incident in Westminster this morning. My thoughts are with those injured.  Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) August 14, 2018

He said: There are understandably a lot of questions about the incident and what has happened. I think people will appreciate its only just happened in the early hours of this morning.

The briefing I have received from counter-terrorism police and the security services is that work is ongoing and they are doing everything they can to find out more about the incident.

We must keep an open mind about what has happened and Im sure when they do have more information they will say more.

We must give the time the police need to do their work. 

Forensic officers at the scene (Victoria Jones/PA)

Londoners would not allow anybody seeking to exploit terrorism to divide communities, Mr Javid added, as he praised their resilience.

I would also like to thank the people of London, he said. This is not the first time we have seen an incident of this type on the streets of London.

I would like to thank them for their resolve and resilience, and their determination to make sure those who seek to exploit these types of incidents will not be allowed to divide us.

The Home Secretary also paid tribute to those inured, as well as to the emergency services who helped those affected by the attack.

My thoughts are with the members of the public injured in this attack, he said. Thankfully none of them received life-threatening injuries and I would like to take this opportunity to wish them a speedy recovery.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the emergency services for the speed at which they responded and apprehended immediately the suspect.

This is a reminder to us all of the work they do  day in, day out  to keep us safe.
Documentary filmmaker Sean McAllister has said he saw empowerment in the faces of children who came to a free screening of his latest film, which was held in protest at the age rating it has been given by censors.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has issued guidance that McAllisters A Northern Soul should not be seen in cinemas by young people under the age of 15.

The factual film follows the story of warehouse worker Steve Arnott, from Hull.

Sean McAllister has criticised the BBFC (Nick Ansell/PA)

Arnott is struggling to raise money while funding his social enterprise project, a hip hop bus that he drives around disadvantaged communities in the Yorkshire city.

McAllisters film was shot in 2017, when Hull was UK City of Culture.

The BBFC deemed that the language in the film was too strong for it to be given a 12A certificate, which would allow younger children to watch it with a guardian.

Bring kids for fre tonight in Hull Vue cinema @northernsouldoc and judge for yourself ? Kids of all ages loved it last night! And their parents -  true family film experience with some substance for discussion on the bus home. Top floor of process Quay just show up its free ! https://t.co/b1KPAWXIbF  Sean McAllister (Dr Doc) (@mcallisterfilms) August 14, 2018

McAllister attended a free 12A screening of A Northern Soul in Hull on Tuesday.

The film can be shown in the city with a lower rating as its council had independently classified it before the BBFC published its guidance.

McAllister told the Press Association the BBFCs decision was based on the films depiction of poverty and called for its guidelines to be changed.

McAllister said: They clearly need reform. I dont know whether some of it is down to personal interpretation.

I saw a quote that indicated it was down to how the language was used and that upsets me even more if that is the case.

Theyve not just done the f-word count, theyve interpreted it to have been used in a way that is dangerous.

The f-word is embedded into what I would call a cultural description of how people speak every day.

The fact that theyve interpreted it to be dangerous means it wasnt the f-word, it was probably the p-word that steered them  poverty.

The BBFC noted that the film contained around 20 uses of strong language and therefore exceeds by some margin anything we have ever permitted at 12A.

The film will be shown in selected cinemas across the UK as a 15.

McAllister, who was nominated for a Bafta for his last film Syrian Love Story, added: If you could have seen the cinema tonight, what you saw in the faces of all those kids was one simple word  empowerment.

From seeing the spirit and transformation of the kids that are getting involved with Steve in the film and from the spirit and credibility of him as a hip hop artist. He is real because of the way he speaks.

I think the solution is to invite the classification people to Hull, because I think they need to get out a bit more.

A Northern Soul will be shown on BBC Two later this year.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria Aug 12 (Reuters) - Nigerian troops staging a protest at the airport in the northeastern city of Maiduguri on Sunday shot into the air for around four hours, soldiers and local people said.

The soldiers were protesting their redeployment to a restive part of the Northeast to fight insurgents from the Islamist militant Boko Haram group. Maiduguri is the capital of Borno, the state worst hit by the nine-year insurgency. (Reporting by Ola Lanre; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
YANGON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has provided relief fund for Myanmar people in flood-affected areas in Yangon Monday.

On behalf of the RCSC, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang handed over 100,000 U.S. dollars' relief fund to Myanmar Red Cross Society.

Hong expressed his belief that these fund could be a help in carrying out the relief operations in flood-affected areas and pledged to provide more assistance if necessary.

"China has been providing assistance for the disaster-affected people in Myanmar. We really appreciate China's assistance and promise to use the fund in our relief operations," Mya Thu, chairwoman of Myanmar Red Cross Society, told Xinhua.

In accordance with the figures from the National Natural Disaster Management Committee and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, at least 20 people were killed by flooding across Myanmar, especially in southern part of the country recently.

Relief operations and provision of humanitarian assistance to the flood-victims are being carried out by the authorities.

Due to the torrential rainfall and strong wind, houses, bridges and roads have also been destroyed by flooding in some regions and states in southern part of the country.
By Julie Zhu

HONG KONG, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Sequoia Capital China is teaming up with a state-owned venture capital (VC) fund and e-commerce powerhouse JD.com to raise up to 40 billion yuan ($5.81 billion) for a new investment firm to focus on late-stage tech investments, sources said.

The yuan-denominated fund of Starquest Capital, or Xingjie Capital, underlines growing efforts by Chinese venture capitalists to fatten their wallets as valuations and financing needs rise with firms spending more time remaining private.

Startups in China are up to 40 percent more expensive than their U.S. counterparts and, in some cases, even valued at twice the price, according to recent investor estimates.

Starquest has so far raised about 10 billion yuan from domestic sources such as banks, said one of the sources.

It is in talks with prospective investors to secure the rest, the sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on condition of anonymity as the fundraising plans were private.

Sequoia China said it is a shareholder in Starquest but does not participate in the fund's management. Starquest, the state-owned VC fund - China State-Owned Capital Venture Investment Fund, and JD.com declined to comment.

The VC fund's controlling shareholder - China Reform Holdings - did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the sources, Starquest will primarily seek private-equity, late-stage investment opportunities in technology, particularly in sectors Beijing considers to be strategically significant such as artificial intelligence.

FOCUS AREAS

China has been pushing for growth in sectors like robotics, semiconductors and autonomous vehicles, while in artificial intelligence, it aims to be a global leader by 2030 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-tech/chinese-capital-dangles-carrots-to-lure-foreign-talent-to-its-silicon-valley-idUSKCN1GB0UF.

A mounting trade war with the United States, with tensions running high over market access, intellectual property and technology transfer, has infused a new sense of urgency into Chinese efforts to ramp up development.

Beijing in 2016 launched the 200 billion yuan China State-Owned Capital Venture Investment Fund and tasked China Reform with investing "in strategic emerging industries related to national security and the lifeblood of the national economy".

The fund, also financed by Postal Savings Bank of China , China Construction Bank and Shenzhen Investment Holding, was the sole investor in Canyon Bridge Capital Partners https://reut.rs/2MbfGRT, a California-based buyout fund.

Canyon Bridge in 2016 planned to buy Lattice Semiconductor for $1.3 billion, but the deal was blocked by U.S. President Donald Trump over national security concerns.

Among the other backers of Starquest, JD.com, China's No.2 e-commerce firm, has been investing in tech companies, including online fashion retailer Vipshop Holdings and Indonesian ride-hailing startup Go-Jek.

Sequoia China, founded in 2005 by Neil Shen, one of the best-known venture capitalists, has been diversifying its focus to include pre-IPO funding, while retaining its traditional focus on early-stage investments.

It is close to raising 15 billion yuan in its fifth yuan-denominated China-focused fund, the largest of its kind, while parent Sequoia Capital is raising an $8 billion global fund in its largest-ever fundraising.

Shen serves as chairman of Starquest, the sources said.

Sequoia China, however, said Shen was not involved in the day-to-day management or investments at Starquest. ($1 = 6.8833 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Julie Zhu; Editing by Jennifer Hughes and Himani Sarkar)
Synology Inc Sales Manager Mike Shay handing over the partnership award to Active Solutions CEO Ahmed Shaheer. Active Solutions Head of Channel Lalith Hewawasam is also in the picture

Active Solutions, one of the largest data storage providers in Sri Lanka, was felicitated by Synology Inc. in recognition of their 15-year partnership as a Distributor for Synology products in the island,at a special event held in Colombo recently.

A special award celebrating the long-standing partnership between the two companies was handed over by Mike Shay  Sales Manager of Synology Inc. to Ahmed Shaheer  CEO of Active Solutions. Mike Shay also conducted a special training session outlining the new features of the latest Synology products to resellers gathered at the event.

Active Solutions was formed in the year 2003 and was nominated as the Distributor in Sri Lanka for all Synology products in 2004. The Synology Network-Attached Storage (NAS) marketed by the company enables organizations to store large amounts of data over a network in a safe, secure manner. Active Solutions provides a wide array of related services including data recovery in the rare occurrence of a device crashing. Over the years, the companys portfolio of Synology clients has grown rapidly with the addition of a diverse range of organisations such as hospitals, TV stations, insurance companies, blue chip companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses.

Synology Inc Sales Manager Mike Shay addressing the gathering

Founded in 2000, Synology is a Taiwan-based technology company that creates Network-Attached Storage (NAS), IP surveillance solutions, and network equipment tohelp transform the way users manage data, conduct surveillance, and manage networks in todays cloud era. By taking full advantage of the latest technologies, Synology is committed to delivering products with forward-thinking features coupled with best-in-class customer service.

Addressing the gathering, Active Solutions CEO Ahmed Shaheer stated, Synology is clearly a world-class company that offers the latest in data storage technology to Sri Lankan customers.We are proud to be recognised in this manner having worked closely with them for the past 15 years and look forward to building on these ties for years to come. Safe, reliable and secure data storage is a vital aspect of any organization, irrespective of its size, and especially for certain industries in todays fast-paced world where information needs to be at your fingertips. Given such a backdrop, it is important that organisations only work with companies that have years of experience, proven expertise and reliable after-sales services for the products they are selling. Active Solutions is a company that easily meets all these requirements and our impressive track record certainly proves this fact.

Active Solutions CEO Ahmed Shaheer

Synology Inc Sales Manager Mike Shay stated, Active Solutions has been one of the oldest Distributors for Synology products in the world and we are happy to celebrate this special partnership and recognize their growing contribution during the past 15 years. As a global company, we believe in working closely with our partners in each country and only tie up with companies that are able to provide the high standard of customer service that we aspire to.

In addition to Synology products, Active Solutions also provides VPN, Data Recovery, Managed Wi-Fi, Network Troubleshooting and IT Consultancy services.The company works with several internationally-reputed brands to offer full support infrastructure in order to ensure their clients and resellers have access to the best support they need.

Active Solutions, one of the largest data storage providers in Sri Lankaand enjoys a 15-year partnership with Synology
China is printing currencies for the governments of several countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Brazil, the Chinese media reported, quoting a top official of the state-owned banknote printer.

Liu Guisheng, Chairman of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, wrote in an article in May in China Finance, a bi-monthly journal run by China's central bank, that China obtained the first international commercial order for printing money from Nepal in 2015.

The state-owned firm won the bids of 100 rupees, 1,000 rupees and 5 rupees from Nepal, Liu said.

Since then the company had "seized the opportunities brought by the initiative" and "successfully won contracts for currency production projects in a number of countries" including Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brazil and Poland, Liu wrote.

The 'China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation' confirmed that money production plants across the country were running at near full capacity to meet an unusually high quota set by the government this year. It said that most of the demand comes from participants in the 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI).

Chinese yuan bills only made "a small proportion of the orders" as most of the Chinese now got used to mobile or digital payments, it added.

The BRI focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe. China says over 60 countries have signed up for BRI investments. The BRI includes the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a project over which India has protested as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The 'China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation', headquartered in Beijing, describes itself as the world's largest money printer by scale. With more than 18,000 employees, it runs more than 10 strictly guarded facilities for the production of paper notes and coins, the paper said.

The nation's largest currency paper mill in Baoding, Hebei province, sprang in to action with the sudden arrival of "big orders", according to an employee working in the 604 Factory, a subsidiary of the corporation.

"Our machines have been running at full steam for months," the paper quoted an employee working at the facility as saying. (PTI)
Sri Lanka provides high quality staff for highly valued jobs and is not the repository for cheap unskilled labour.

CEO Simon Culhane Chartered FCSI

The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, the leading professional body for securities, investment, wealth and financial planning professionals which is based in the UK, relocated to its new office premises in Sri Lanka at 345, R.A De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 03.

The Sri Lanka office, functions as the institutes international operations centre providing support to all CISIs international operations. CISI Sri Lanka is a fully functioning representative office of CISI UK and comprises of all corresponding business functions including Business Development, HR, Customer Support, Learning and Development, Marketing, Finance and IT departments.

Chairman Sir Alan Yarrow Chartered FCSI said: These are high value jobs for highly valued staff; and Sri Lankas highly educated, English speaking, service orientated, adaptable workforce has resulted in easy integration of our London based operating units. We have been able to find sophisticated technical skills resulting in a workforce of highly skilled professionals delivering professional qualifications

The Sri Lankan office predominantly deals with operations for the APAC and the Middle East with the call centre servicing members and students throughout the region.

Crystal Martil, Operations Manager and the first everCISI Sri Lankan staff membersaid:When the institute began its operations in Sri Lanka in 2011, we had only five staff members. Today we have 36 employees and we outgrew our current premises which is why we had to move.

Almost all UK departments have some of their staff located in Sri Lanka and our increasing links and visits between offices enable us to understand cultures and people, which contributes to our continuous transformation from a London based professional body to a global organisation.

Chief Executive Simon Culhane Chartered FCSI said today: Sri Lanka should not be seen as a repository for cheap unskilled labour, it is a hidden gem with high quality, highly talented and high valued people

The Chief Guest, State Minister of Mass Media and Finance Hon. Eran Wickramaratne said: The development of human capital one of this governments strategic goals so I am particularly delighted to be here at CISI and witness what can be achieved. The CISI has tapped into just a fraction of our highly skilled talent pool, we have much more to offer.
The Maritime Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) today said that it would request the Ministry of Environment to discuss with the Indian High Commission at a diplomatic level urging India to prevent clinical waste from being released towards Sri Lanka.

MEPA CEO Dr Terney Pradeep Kumara said that they had started collecting and sorting the waste that had been washed ashore on the coastal areas off Puttalam.

He said the clinical waste would incinerate them in chemical waste incinerators.

We are going request the Indian High Commission through the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment to take action to prevent clinical waste of India washing ashore on Sri Lankan beaches, he said.

On Tuesday the MEPA confirmed the clinical waste which had washed ashore was from India.

The India Today News website earlier reported the waste included a large stock of expired drugs, manufactured in India.

Similar clinical waste had previously washed ashore in this manner in Vadamarachchi, Thondaimanaru and other parts of the Jaffna District on November 17, 2017.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror MEPA Puttalam District officer Ms Priyanga Samarasekera said they had started cleaning the beach in Udappuwa in the North Western coastal belt to Cinna Padu in Puttalam with the support of the team of eight personnel.

We are going to conduct a examine after collecting the clinical waste, she said

But from the collected clinical waste so far, ninety per cent of them are from Sri Lanka. We could not collect at least five kilograms of Indian chemical waste from the beach.

We did not found any syringes, needles or anything related to India, she said.

Most of the waste was found was cosmetic bottles, food wrappers, multivitamin bottles and plastic bottles manufactured in Sri Lanka. The bottles that are suspected to be from India were found without labels, she said.

The hazardous waste would be sent to the Holcim Cement for incineration. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Video by Jude Samantha
Doubles 1Q net profit to Rs.738mn

Revenue up 74% YoY to Rs.9.4bn



The excise duty reforms on beer in November last year have delivered social and financial returns to all stakeholders, Sri Lankas largest brewery, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC (LION) said releasing its first quarter results for the 2018/19 financial year.



In November 2015, the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayke raised excise duties on beer by as much as 70 percent compared to the 25 percent increase in duties on local spirits with little or no regard for consequences.



LION considered the tax policy as highly discriminatory against the beer industry which offered a distinct competitive advantage to hard alcohol.



However, this situation was corrected by the new Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in his November 2017 budget.



As a result, LION returned to profit in the final quarter of FY 17/18 on higher beer sales and continued its upward performance in the first quarter of FY2018/19 (1Q19) as well.

According to the interim financial accounts released to the Colombo bourse yesterday, LION more than doubled its net profit to Rs.737.7 million during 1Q19 compared to the Rs.315.8 million net profit reported for the corresponding period, last year.



The earnings per share for the period improved to Rs.9.22 from Rs.3.95.



LION said 1Q19 performance cannot be compared with the corresponding quarter of the last year due to dramatic changes in the operating environment.



However, the LIONs consolidated revenue for the quarter under review rose 74 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.9.4 billion, while operating profits rose over 100 percent YoY to Rs.1.5 billion.



LION said continuing growth in the tourism sector contributed to its performance during the year.



As arrivals continue to increase, this sector will become increasingly more important to our business. Importantly, we are seeing a greater influence from the tourist sector in the retail alcobev (alcoholic beverage) shops rather than from the larger hotel chains.



This seems to confirm the available empirical evidence that more and more tourists are moving into accommodation in boutique hotels, hostels & the informal sector, LION said in an earnings release.



For the first seven months of the year Sri Lanka has attracted little over 1.38 million tourists.



Meanwhile LION said its exports during the quarter under review 21 percent in volume terms.



The company exports to 19 countries and remain market leader in the Maldives.



However, LION called on the policy makers to apply the earlier concessionary income tax rate of 14 percent on export profits instead of the current 40 percent.

Whilst we are making every effort to grow our export business, it is unfortunate that profits from these revenues no longer attract the concessionary rate of 14%. Instead our export profits are taxed at the highest applicable rate of 40 percent.



Since the country needs to drive a significant growth in exports in the short & medium term, we call on policymakers to apply the concessionary income tax rate on all export profits as was done previously, LION said.



During this quarter, the beer industrys contribution to government in the form of excise duty increased by 46 percent. LION said since the November 2017 reforms, excise duty from the beer industry has averaged over Rs 2 billion a month. From VAT, the industry has contributed an increase of 51 percent.



Further, we are seeing evidence of a reduction in the consumption of illicit alcohol. Thus, the excise duty reforms of November 2017 have resulted in both social and financial returns to all stakeholders, LION noted.



Carson Cumberbatch group owns 60.75 percent of shares in LION both directly and through subsidiaries. Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad owns 25 percent of shares of the company as the second biggest shareholder.
Navy Sampath, who was wanted by the CID in connection with the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths, had been arrested yesterday, the Police said.

Hettiarachchi Mudiyanselage Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath was wanted by the CID in connection with the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths in 2008 and 2009.

Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said the suspect was arrested by the CID on the Lotus Road in Colombo with a fake identity card.

The Fort Magistrate had earlier issued an open warrant on Navy Sampath, who was a former Lieutenant Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Earlier on several occasion, the CID released photographs of Navy Sampath seeking public assistance to trace the suspect.

The 41-year-old suspect is a resident of Wellampitiya.

Earlier, the CID arrested several Navy officers including former Navy Spokesman Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake in connection with the case. (Darshana Sanjeewa)

Video by Prasanna
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today it was improper and unacceptable for some MPs to criticize his decision on the opposition leaders post and insult him via the media.

The Speakers office said in a statement that the tradition in democratic countries in the world was to accept the speakers ruling and if unable to do so to take further action democratically.

It said a decent society would not accept any criticism by MPs when the opinion given was not to their liking.

Speaker Jayasuriya has acted impartially and devoid of political interference since his appointment on September 1, 2015, the statement said.

It is unreasonable to make baseless allegations without realizing the background for appointments of previous opposition leaders and the present appointment which was the first appointment under the national government concept.

The speaker said he gave the ruling after studying the opinions expressed by the experts on parliament democracy, world parliamentary traditions, the countries representing the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth.
Polonnaruwa District Secretary Ranjith Ariyaratne has been appointed as the Post Master General (PMG).

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Minister of Posts, Postal Service M. H. A. Haleem said the Cabinet approval had been sought two weeks before the appointment was made.

He said the Cabinet had to direct the request to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Establishment Matters headed by Dr Sarath Amunugama and the approval was received today.

Mr Ariyaratne had held the Deputy Post Master General position in the Northwestern and the Central Provinces earlier.

He had stepped down from his portfolio as the Polonnaruwa District Secretary yesterday and is yet to assume duties in the new position.

The PMG position was vacant since July 10 following former Post Master General Rohana Abeyratne was transferred to the Presidential Secretariat. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)
By Nishel Fernando

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Monday announced the relaunch of the annual Sri Lanka Tourism Awards, which is scheduled to be held on December 6, following a six-year hiatus.



The award ceremony is aimed at celebrating the achievements of Sri Lankas tourism industry stakeholders, recognising contributions made by organisations as well as individuals and uplifting the industry standards through promotion of competition.



Addressing a press conference this week to announce the sixth Annual Sri Lanka Tourism Awards, Tourism and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga applauded the SLTDA for taking the initiative to relaunch the award ceremony.



I commend the chairman of the SLTDA to having initiated Tourism Awards after six years of absence. The industry has grown since the last award ceremony we had, therefore its essential to recognise the good service of our industry stakeholders, Amaratunga said.



It (awards) will undoubtedly create competition and at the same time, it will uplift the standards, he added.



The minister was also cautiously optimistic about Sri Lanka being able to surpass the landmark of three million tourist arrivals next year, while meeting the target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals this year.



If nothing adverse takes place, the climatic conditions remains good and people remain calm, we can go up to 3-3.5 million tourists next year, he said.



Sri Lanka Tourism Awards 2018 will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the SLTDA plans to honour 72 best performers in the industry, under 11 award categories.



Sri Lanka Tourism Awards Project Coordinator Trevin Gomez said that the awards would be divided into three major categories: Accommodation, Travel and Tourism and Specified Tourism Sectors.

SL to partner Alibabas Fliggy to attract more Chinese tourists

Sri Lanka will partner with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibabas online travel platform Fliggy, to jointly promote Sri Lanka to initially attract additional 1,000 Chinese tourists per week, Tourism and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga told reporters on Monday.



The minister said the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) would sign the relevant memorandum of understanding (MoU) shortly with Fliggy after securing the SLTPB board approval.



SLTPB Managing Director Sutheash Balasubramaniam said the proposed joint promotion partnership with Fliggy would assist Sri Lanka to attract Chinese tourists who are keen on travelling without the assistance of travel agencies.

He further said that Sri Lanka would have a page on Fliggy as a destination with relevant content while Alibaba is expected to approach destination management companies, hotels and tour operators to bring them to the platform.



Balasubramaniam noted that the SLTPB is in the final phases of finalising the MoU with Alibaba.



Fliggy has already launched an online visa centre for Chinese travellers visiting Sri Lanka.



Fliggy is also equipped with a mobile app to create one-stop shop for travel services through partnerships with major airlines, ticketing and travel agencies.



Fliggy has over 200 million registered users and has access to more than 500 million mobile monthly active users on Alibabas China retail marketplaces.
Chinese naval hospital ship Ark Peace concludes visit to Fiji

SUVA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Diana, a six-year-old Fijian girl, with long eyelashes, had a severe malformation on her right hand, left leg and on her toes, which had inflicted restrictions upon her daily movements.

On the evening of Aug. 4, Diana received plastic surgery conducted successfully by doctors of the Chinese naval hospital ship Ark Peace.

"She was born with the defects," said Diana's mother. "She is neither willing to extend her hands before her companions nor to be dressed in skirt."

On Aug. 3, a day after Ark Peace's arrival in Suva, Diana boarded the ship together with her mother for treatment. On the second day after she was admitted as inpatient, a two-hour operation was conducted under general anesthesia on the little girl following pre-examinations, and the malformation on her hand and foot were successfully corrected.

Before checking out of the hospital ship, a new dream came to the little girl following the success of the operation.

"After growing up, I now wish I could go to China to thank you by dancing a ballet," Diana told the Chinese nurse who had accompanied her during her treatment.

Fijians from all walks of life have appreciated the free medical services offered by Ark Peace, which last Thursday wrapped up her eight-day goodwill visit to the South Pacific island nation with a population of more than 880,000 people.

During the visit, the second of its kind since 2014, Ark Peace, which is on Mission Harmony 2018, deployed 12 batches of medical teams to local health centers to provide medical services while conducting all-weather consultations and treatments on the major platform onboard.

A rescue helicopter carrying a medical team was dispatched to the island of Vatulele, more than 100 km away from the Fijian capital city of Suva, to provide the most needed medical services for the islanders. The hospital ship provided consultations and treatments to a total of 6,577 persons, auxiliary examinations for 3,074 people and surgical operations for 32 cases, while admitting 26 inpatients.

Fijians have been more than satisfied with the medical services provided by the Chinese medical teams who have done their best to help solve local people's health problems.

Some of the medical teams' exploits have touched the hearts of the Fijians seeking free medical services.

Marisia Daurewa Vasunyla, a 71-year-old teacher of Fijian nationality, had been suffering from eye trouble. She has been a teacher for 50 years and has worked as a teacher in Vanuatu over the past couple of years.

When Ark Peace was in Vanuatu for her first visit in 2014, she missed the opportunity due to her busy schedule. She was very happy after learning that Ark Peace would visit Vanuatu for a second time as she could take this opportunity to get treated.

The doctor of ophthalmology from Ark Peace carefully examined her and diagnosed her with a cataract on her left eye. But there was not enough time for the surgery as Ark Peace was to depart shortly from Vanuatu for Fiji.

"Fiji is my home country and I'd like to go to Fiji for the surgery," said Vasunyla excitedly. She immediately booked an air ticket and arrived in Fiji two days before Ark Peace's arrival at Port of Suva.

On Aug. 4, Vasunyla boarded Ark Peace with her husband and she successfully received cataract ultrasonic emulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

"What a cross-border appointment is this!" said Vasunyla. "You are the envoys of brightness from China and I will bear your kindness and help in my mind forever..."

As for Fiji's former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, he boarded Ark Peace twice and experienced the medical treatment.

"When Ark Peace was in Fiji four years ago, I was the then president and witnessed Fijian people's openness and gratitude to Ark Peace. For this visit, I can feel the same openness and gratitude from the Fijian people as before. Whenever Ark Peace comes to Fiji, I will be always ready to greet you!" he said.

In addition, Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama boarded the hospital ship three times. He inspected the guards of honor onboard and visited the medical staff and local patients.

Bainimarama lauded Ark Peace's humanitarianism, acknowledging that the visit has further deepened the traditional friendship between the two peoples and shown the world the good bilateral ties between Fiji and China.
A ship sails through the Ningbo Zhoushan Port. [Photo: China Plus]

Authorities in charge of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang are suggesting the 'Belt and Road' Initative has created a need for an expansion of their facilities.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative being proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.Since its launch, the Belt and Road has seen increased trade among countries along the routes, including China.This has created a boom for the Ningbo Zhoushan Port, which is an intersection for both the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is the busiest port in China, with nearly 250 sea routes linking more than 600 harbors around the world.

Chen Yi, general manager of a trading Company in Ningbo, says the 'Belt and Road' has allowed their company to tap markets in Central and Eastern Europe.

"In the last few years, Chinese consumers were not familiar with goods from the Central and Eastern European countries. With the support from government, we bring their quality products to China. Chinese consumers give the top evaluation after they have experienced our products with lower price. For example, many consumers think Polish milk is much cheaper, healthier and tastes good."

The volume of trade among Ningbo and Central and Eastern European countries hit nearly 3 billion dollars last year, up 23 percent year on year. Last year, Ningbo-Zhoushan port moved 300-million standard containers among the four main ports in central and eastern Europe, a yearly rise of 37 percent.

Jiang Wei is with the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group.

"In the past five years, we have achieved the goal, known as "Four Big Steps in Four Years". The cargo throughput reached 0.9 billion tons at our port in 2016. Last year, it hits 1 billion tons which makes the port the first in the world to exceed such volume. With the promotion of "the Belt and Road", the port has maintained a rapid development from the point of "quantity" view."

Jiang Wei adds the port intends to attract more business in the future.

"With the deepening of reform and opening-up, along with the promotion of the 'belt and road', we have long lasting relationship with ports and shipping enterprises along the routes. The fourth Martime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum opened in Ningbo in June. Over 400 representatives from more than 40 countries flocked into the city for the event. So things here, I think, will get better and better in future."

By 2022, the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is set to handle 1.2 billion tons of cargo per year.
Participants attend a dialogue between UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and Chinese representatives in Geneva, Switzerland, on Aug. 13, 2018. China's mid-term assessment of the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (2016-2020) is ongoing, and generally speaking, good progress has been made in achieving the goals set concerning the ethnic minorities, a Chinese official said here Monday. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

GENEVA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's mid-term assessment of the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (2016-2020) is ongoing, and generally speaking, good progress has been made in achieving the goals set concerning the ethnic minorities, a Chinese official said here Monday.

Xu Hong, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks during a dialogue with UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) which is reviewing China's report on implementation of the related Convention.

He told CERD members that the right of China's ethnic minorities to participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs has been earnestly ensured.

Currently, he said, all the 55 ethnic minority groups in China are fully represented at the National People's Congress, or the national legislature of China, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body.

The head of administration of China's 155 ethnic autonomous localities, including prefectures, counties and banners, are led by officials from ethnic minorities, he added.

According to the official, ethnic minorities and areas inhabited by ethnic groups have witnessed rapid economic and social development. In 2017, the eight multi-ethnic regions or provinces saw their investment in fixed assets grow by 11.8 percent, 4.6 percentage points higher than the national average.

Poor population in ethnic minority areas has dropped from 14.11 million in 2016 to 10.32 million in 2017, and 21 out of the 28 poor counties that have successfully eradicated poverty in that year are located in the western and ethnic minority areas, Xu said.

Also education for ethnic minorities has developed rapidly, since China has exempted rural students from all tuitions and fees for compulsory education, provided students from financially difficult families with free textbooks and students of boarding schools with living allowances and increased the public funding for primary and secondary schools providing compulsory education in rural areas.

Ethnic minorities' right to use and develop their own languages has been effectively protected, Xu said, adding that so far, 14 ethnic minority projects have been put on the UNESCO's "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity", and 479 ethnic minority works have been put on the catalogue of national intangible cultural heritages.

CERD is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its State parties. All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented.
Jill Epstein Courtesy

Miracle Babies, a nonprofit organization that provides financial and emotional support to families with critically ill babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), has named Carmel Valley resident Jill Epstein as its executive director. In addition to providing monetary support to needy families with babies in the NICU so they can be together for essential breastfeeding and Kangaroo Care, Miracle Babies hosts Miracle Hours for NICU parents at local hospitals. These Miracle Hours provide a meal, crafts, and a brief opportunity to escape the isolation of the NICU. Miracle Babies also delivers thousands of care bags each year to moms with babies in the NICU.

Epstein said, Having a baby in the NICU is a terrifying experience for any family. When there are financial barriers to being with your baby - limited money for transportation to and from the hospital or no child care for siblings  the experience becomes even more overwhelming.

The 9th Annual Miracle Babies Gala will be held on Oct. 20 at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, where proceeds will be raised to fund these essential programs.

The generous contributions from donors and sponsors allows Miracle Babies to directly impact these families, explained Epstein. When mothers and fathers can be with their babies, the benefits to the babies can be profound.

Prior to joining Miracle Babies, Epstein was the executive director of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), an independent professional organization representing the interests of 32,000 licensed marriage and family therapists. Epstein came to CAMFT after serving as the first chief operating officer of the California Massage Therapy Council (CMTC), an organization created by the California Legislature to develop and implement statewide voluntary certification for massage therapists.

Epstein moved to San Diego from Chicago, where she spent seven years as the chief executive officer of the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Society of Chicago, one of the worlds largest financial analysts society..

During Epsteins 11 years in Washington, DC, she worked for the American Medical Association, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and AARP.

Epstein received her bachelors degree in political science from the University of Michigan  Ann Arbor. She received her Juris Doctorate from the American University  Washington College of Law in Washington, DC.
Since the beginning of this year, the utilization of foreign capital in China has continued to grow at a steady pace and with increasing quality, even though the global competition for attracting foreign investment has become progressively more intense.

This July, many foreign enterprises announced new plans for investment in China.

The BASF Group, the worlds largest chemical producer, has released plans to build a petrochemical company with a total investment of over $10 billion in southern Chinas Guangdong province. Tesla will build a super factory which is expected to produce 500,000 all-electric vehicles annually in Shanghai. BMW plans to increase the capacity of its joint venture plants in China by around 16 percent.

In addition, the proposal for stabilizing foreign investment, made during a meeting held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on July 31, further enhanced the confidence of foreign enterprises to invest in China.

China sees remarkable mid-year results in the utilization of foreign capital

"Statistics from the first half of 2018 indicate a steady overall rate and a slight increase in our actual utilization of foreign capital," said Huo Jianguo, vice chairman of the China Society for WTO studies, adding that China has scored well in attracting foreign investment during the first half of this year.

Although many countries have introduced policies to attract foreign investment, the overall situation in terms of the global direct investment market is not so rosy.

Last year, global foreign direct investment totaled $1.43 trillion, down 23 percent year-on-year, according to the World Investment Report 2018, released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

"Under this context, China's steady use of foreign capital is particularly eye-catching," said Sang Baichuan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics.

Statistics from Chinas Ministry of Commerce indicate that the actual use of foreign capital in China during the first half of 2018 was $68.32 billion, up 4.1 percent since the previous year. In particular, during the first two quarters of this year, there were 29,591 newly established foreign-funded enterprises throughout the country, an increase of 96.6 percent compared with the same period last year.

In the first half of this year, Chinas main sources of foreign investment have injected more money into China. Actual investment in China from the U.S., Singapore, South Korea and the U.K. increased by 29.1 percent, 19.7 percent, 43.8 percent, and 82.5 percent respectively.

Moreover, foreign investment in China from ASEAN countries and those along the Belt and Road rose by 24.4 percent and 24.9 percent respectively when compared with the same period last year.

Chinas capacity to attract foreign investment has markedly improved. In the first half of the year, the actual use of foreign capital in Chinas manufacturing industry was 134.83 billion yuan, up by 4.9 percent year-on-year and accounting for 30.2 percent of the total use of foreign capital in China.

The actual use of foreign investment in Chinas high-tech industry during the first half of the year was 43.37 billion yuan, an increase of 25.3 percent year-on-year. In particular, the actual use of foreign capital in electronics and communication equipment manufacturing, office equipment manufacturing and medical equipment manufacturing increased by 36 percent, 31.7 percent and 154.4 percent respectively.

Chinas high-tech services saw an actual use of foreign capital totaling 50.03 billion yuan, of which the use of foreign capital by services concerning the commercialization of science and technological achievements increased by 22.2 percent from the previous year.

With the further enhancement of Chinas opening up policy, foreign investment is flowing into China at a speedier pace.

Shanghai, for example, established 17 more regional headquarters of multinational enterprises and eight more foreign-invested R&D centers in the city during the first half of the year.

Owing to the great momentum of its economy, Shanghai is now home to 642 regional headquarters of multinational corporations and 434 foreign-funded R&D centers.

"Foreign capital has been injected into a broader range of field through more diversified channels in China. It is evident that in the eyes of foreign investors, China is still an attractive hot-spot for investment," Sang said.
By Alex Sosnowski

14 August 2018

(AccuWeather)  A couple of very tough months are ahead for the wildfire season and firefighting efforts in the western United States, especially California.Approximately 110 large wildfires are burning across the U.S., and most of these fires are burning in the West, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Countless acres of brush, which growth was spurred on by winter and spring moisture, have had all summer to dry out.Extreme heat, dryness, blazing sunshine, and accidental and intentional incidents by humans have already contributed to a formidable fire year.As much as 90 percent of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans, according to the National Park Service.On Monday, 13 August 2018, it was announced that a firefighter, who was from the Draper City, Utah, Fire Department, was killed while battling the Mendocino Complex Fire. At least six firefighters have died battling wildfires in California this season. However, even as sunshine and average temperatures decline moving forward into the autumn, episodes of wind traditionally increase during September and October.Temperatures can still spike to triple-digit levels during the first part of autumn. Temperatures have topped 100 F in Los Angeles well into October, and have climbed into the 90s in San Francisco during October.In coastal areas of California, extreme temperatures during the late summer and autumn are often accompanied by gusty Santa Ana, Diablo, and Sundowner winds. []Recurring drought and humid activity have essentially extended the fire season to a year-round concern. []The great number and size of the existing fires are producing a vast area of smoke.Light winds and heat tend to trap the smoke in populated areas. The current smoke event is delivering the longest period of unhealthy air quality since Environmental Protection Agency record began in 2000, according to the National Weather Service in Medford, Oregon. [more]
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PORTLAND (AP)  Seven ships loaded with wheat grown in the Pacific Northwest are sailing for Yemen, where civil war has pushed over 8 million people to the brink of starvation. The U.S. Agency for International Development purchased the wheat to benefit America's wheat farmers and people in crisis.

Two Oregon politicians, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and Republican state Rep. Mike McLane, said in a joint statement they're proud to see Oregon wheat being used in one of America's most effective peacebuilding tools, its Food for Peace program.





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RICHLAND (AP)  The state of Washington will not allow the federal government to quickly shore up an aging tunnel containing radioactive waste left over from the production of nuclear weapons.

The U.S. Department of Energy wanted to immediately start filling the tunnel, which is in danger of collapsing, with a concrete-like grout intended to strengthen the structure located on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.





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The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced on Tuesday that bank employees will take a four-day holiday from Monday, August 20th to Thursday August 23rd to celebrate the Islamic Eid-Al-Adha, which starts on Tuesday, August 21st.

The country's stock exchange will also close on those days.

Business at banks and the stock exchange will resume on Sunday 26 August as employees are off as usual on the weekend days of Friday and Saturday.

The Ministry of Manpower also announced that state employees will take a four day paid holiday from 20 to 23 August, while private sector workers will take a three day paid holiday from 20 to 22 August.

Muslims around the world are expected to celebrate the religious holiday Eid Al-Adha - - the Feast of Sacrifice - from Tuesday 21 August to Friday 24 August.

On Monday 20 August, pilgrims will perform the Stand on Arafat ritual as part of hajj.

The four-day Eid Al-Adha is one of the two most important religious holidays of the Islamic calendar, along with Eid El-Fitr.

The Eid holiday coincides with the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Eid Al-Adha marks the anniversary of the willingness of the Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son in an act of obedience to Gods command.

Muslims celebrate the occasion by the sacrificial slaughtering of an animal such as a sheep, a cow, or a goat, with the meat distributed as alms to the poor.

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Egypt's minister of petroleum and mineral resources Tarek El-Molla signed three agreements on Tuesday for the exploration of oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean, Western Sahara and Nile Delta regions with investments worth $139.2 million (EGP 2.5 billion)

The first agreement, worth $105 million, was signed between the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Egypt's Tharwa Petroleum, and Italy's multinational gas and oil giant Eni to drill two new wells at Noor Al-Bahareya in Egypt's Mediterranean Sea.

Molla said that the second agreement was signed with the Egyptian Petroleum Authority, Italy's Eni, and Croatia's Ina to drill nine wells in the area of Raas Qattara in Egypt's Western Desert, a total investment worth $11.7 million.

The third agreement was made between the Egyptian Petroleum Authority, Italy's Eni, and British multinational oil company British Petroleum (BP) to drill four wells worth $22.5 million in the Nile Delta.

The minister explained that a $55 million grant will be allocated for digging the 15 new wells.

El-Molla said that the petroleum sector will continue to sign more agreements to attract foreign investments and that Egypt's petroleum prospects both across the land and sea sectors are strong.

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The meeting focused on the necessity of supporting Yemen and maintaining its national unity

The speaker of Egypts parliament, Ali Abdel-Aal, met with Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Cairo on Tuesday, according to a statement from the parliamentary press office.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Egypt and Yemen, according to the statement.

"During the meeting, the speaker also highlighted the historic relations between Egypt and Yemen and confirmed the fact that Egypt is fully committed to supporting the legitimate government in Yemen, led by President Hadi, and maintaining the national unity of the Yemeni state," read the statement.

"The speaker also stressed that the stability and security of Yemen is of maximum importance to Egypt's national security in particular and to the Arab region in general," according to the statement.

The speaker also expressed Egypt's support for the ongoing efforts aimed at finding a political solution to the Yemeni crisis.

"The speaker stressed that all political parties and warring factions in Yemen should reach an agreement in line with the Arab Gulf initiative, the recommendations of the national Yemeni dialogue, and the resolutions of the UN Security Council," said the statement.

Hadi reviewed the most recent political developments in Yemen and the Arab and international efforts aimed at supporting the legitimate government there.

"President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi told the speaker that he was keen to visit Egypt's parliament to express Yemen's appreciation for the Egyptian people and for Egypt's role in giving different forms of help to Yemen to restore stability and security after three years of civil war," read the statement.

Mohamed El-Shadadi, the speaker of the Yemeni parliament, also thanked Abdel-Aal for "his personal role in supporting the legitimate Yemeni parliament and government during the latest round of meetings of the International Parliamentary Union in Geneva."

The meeting was attended by the Egyptian parliament's secretary-general Ahmed Saad Eddin, and most representatives of political parties in parliament.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had met with Hadi in Cairo on Monday.

El-Sisi said at a press conference that Egypt will not tolerate Yemen's civil war posing a threat to navigation in the Red Sea, or allowing non-Arab forces to gain a foothold in Yemen.

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Iran's Khamenei rejects Trump offer of talks

Irans Supreme Leader on Monday rejected US President Donald Trumps offer of unconditional talks to improve bilateral ties.

Washington reimposed the sanctions last week after pulling out of a 2015 international deal aimed at curbing Irans nuclear program in return for an easing of economic sanctions. Trump has also threatened to penalize companies that continue to operate in Iran.

"AMERICA CANNOT BE TRUSTED"

I ban holding any talks with America... America never remains loyal to its promises in talks, said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on policy in the Islamic Republic. Americas withdrawal from the nuclear deal is a clear proof that America cannot be trusted, state TV quoted Khamenei as telling a gathering attended by thousands of Iranians.

The sanctions target Irans trade in gold and other precious metals, its purchases of US dollars and its car industry. Washington had said Irans only chance of avoiding the sanctions would be to accept Trumps offer to negotiate for a tougher nuclear deal.

Washington had said Irans only chance of avoiding the sanctions would be to accept Trumps offer to negotiate for a tougher nuclear deal. Iranian officials already rejected the offer but it is the first time Khamenei has publicly commented.
Egypt's Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek ordered on Tuesday the detention of six "terrorist elements" for 15 days pending investigation into accusations of their involvement in a failed terrorist attack on a church near Cairo on Saturday.

Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution has charged the detainees with "harming the national unity and social peace, embracing tafkiri beliefs, carrying out hostile acts against vital state installations, places of worship, the military and police forces, and targeting the Church of the Virgin Mary in Qalioubiya," a prosecution statement read.

The prosecution has also charged the detainees with joining an illegal terrorist group which aims at obstructing the provisions of the constitution.

On Saturday, Egyptian police foiled a suicide bombing attempt at a church in the town of Mostorod in Qalioubiya governorate. The attacker detonated his explosive belt killing himself.

There were no other casualties.

One day following the failed attempt, the interior ministry revealed that it had identified the deceased as 29-year-old Omar Mostafa, a member of a terrorist cell, as well as six other suspects.

Tight security around all Egypt's churches, according to police statements, were the reason why Mostafa detonated his explosives before he could enter the church.

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Egyptian police arrested 13 fugitive leaders and members of the Muslim Brotherhood in 6 October city who were aobut to launch a plot to disrupt the country's security, the interior ministry said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said that National Security Intelligence had detected communications between fugitive members of the Brotherhood abroad and inside the country.

They aimed at reviving the activities of the organisation by spreading rumours to provoke citizens and incite protests and disrupt the countrys security on the five-year anniversary of the dispersal of the Rabaa Al-Adaweya sit-in, which falls on Tuesday.

The arrested Brotherhood members and leaders are from Sohag and Beheira governorates. They possessed organisational plans, large amounts of money in different currencies and computers, according to the ministry.

The ministry said that legal proceedings have been initiated against them and they have been referred to State Security Prosecution for further investigations.

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Dr. Klaus MoosmayerBig pharma Novartis said Tuesday that it named Dr. Klaus Moosmayer as its new Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer.

Hell report to the CEO, Vas Narasimhan, and become a member of Novartis Executive Committee.

Moosmayer will join Novartis on December 1 and be based at the companys headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

He succeeds Shannon Thyme Klinger who recently became Group General Counsel.

Moosmayer has been the Chief Compliance Officer of Siemens since January 1, 2014.

During this time he played a key role in building up Siemens new, globally recognized compliance system, Novartis said Tuesday.

In 2008, Siemens paid $800 million in penalties and disgorgement to the DOJ and SEC to resolve FCPA offenses. It also paid German enforcement agencies about $800 million in penalties.

Before joining Siemens, Moosmayer practiced law in Germany, specializing in white collar crime, litigation and business law. He holds a JD from Freiburg University.

Hes been chair of the OECDs Anti-Corruption Taskforce of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee since 2013.

He now serves as vice chair of business compliance for the current G20 presidency, which he formerly chaired during the 2016/17 G20 presidency.

Novartis has about 125,000 employees worldwide. In 2017, it had $49 billion in sales.

In March 2016, Novartis AG paid $25 million to settle SEC charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act when two China-based subsidiaries bribed doctors and others to prescribe its drugs.

According to FCPA Tracker, Novartis disclosed another FCPA-related investigation in July 2016. The company said in later disclosures the investigation by the DOJ, SEC, and the Seoul Western District Prosecutor relates to Greece, Russia, and South Korea.

Novartis said Tuesday it created the role of Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, reporting to the CEO in 2014.

On April 1, 2018, the role was further expanded to include oversight of all risk management functions and became a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis.

CEO Vas Narasimhan said: Klaus has extensive experience in leading compliance for large global organizations and is internationally recognized in his field. As part of my executive leadership team, I am very confident that he will play a significant role in helping us to further define and shape our approach to ethics, risk and compliance in the coming years.

Moosmayer said: It is a great honor for me to be given the opportunity to join Novartis. Society has high expectations of the pharmaceutical industry and rightfully so.

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Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
The jewel of the Aegean, Izmir is the major resort for holidaymakers who are looking to explore this part of Turkey with its lovely landscapes and magnificent coastline.

Turkeys third-largest city, Izmir has been an important Aegean port since ancient times, when it was known as the Greek city of Smyrna; its seafront is as fetching and lively as any in the world. The citys rich and fascinating heritage reflects the fact that it has been the home of Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Levantines and Turks over the centuries. Today, the city still enjoys its small but culturally-colorful Jewish and Levantine communities  and its unique and delicious cuisine attests to this. Despite its monumental history, Izmir and its delightful sea towns are among the must see places during the summer. If you want to enjoy sun, sea and the sand, you should definitely add Izmir to your holiday-route.

Here are some of the holiday havens of Izmir:

Cesme

The biggest and most famous of the beach resorts around Izmir, Cesme is an essentially Turkish resort and thermal spa (Cesme means spring), dominated by its 14th-century Genoese fortress with a labyrinth of twisting back streets behind. The attractive promenade is iined with restaurants. The long, sandy beach where most of the hotels are concentrated lies a little outside the town.

Ozdere

A beautiful corner of the Aegean, Ozdere is a coastal town in the Menderes district of the Izmir region. With a temperate climate, favorable location and nearly 40-kilometer-long coastline and blue-flag beaches, Ozdere is a local centre of tourism.

The promenades and walkways along the shoreline host numerous taverns, shops and restaurants that cater to visitors.

Bergama (Pergamon)

The laid-back market town of Bergama is the modern successor to the once-powerful ancient city of Pergamon. Unlike Ephesus, which heaves with tourists year-round, Pergamon is for the most part a site of quiet classical splendour. Its ruins  especially the Asklepion and Acropolis  are so extraordinary that they were inscribed on Unescos World Heritage List in June 2014, the 999th site in the world (and the 14th in Turkey) to be so honoured.

The thermal springs of Pergamon made the city one of the principal centres of healing and beauty. One of the major thermal spas of Pergamon is within the Sanctuary of Asclepius (Guzellik Ilcas). It is believed to have been commissioned by King Euamens of Pergamon, and its healing and beauty properties were enjoyed by Cleopatra.

Alongside its historic and cultural heritage, Bergama is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Trekking along the route to Kozak Plateau through the pine forests covering the Kozak mountain range between Bergama and Ayvalk, dotted with ruins and rural landscapes, also provide opportunities for photo safaris.

Urla

38km from Izmir, Urla is situated in the centre of the peninsula bearing the same name.The Urla Peninsula prides itself on its 40km coastline, untouched small bays and 12 islets.

Urla has a very Aegean ambience with its small squares, coffee shops under the vines, village bazaars and restaurants serving delicious and healthy Aegean cuisine.

Liman Tepe is an archaeological excavation site not to be missed when visiting Urla. Liman Tepe, whose history goes back six thousand years ago, is recorded in history as the oldest settlement in the Urla district. It was one of the harbours of the Ancient Klazomenai City, and among the most significant harbour cities in the Aegean in the 3rd millennium B.C

Foca

Cockerels and seals are the symbols of Foca, an ancient city referred to in the Legend of Homer.

Very well placed for access to Izmir airport, this pretty fishing village has a lively harbor front with excellent seafood restaurants.

Foca offers a unique combination of historical, natural and urban preservation sites and has been declared a Special Environment Preservation Zone. It is also home to the endangered Mediterranean monk seals.

Dikili

Dikili, located 120km north of Izmir, ia a lovely district appealing to local and foreign visitors alike and is famous for its spas.

The sub-district of Candarl, is a major tourist spot with its rich history and extraordinary beauty.

Natural attractions include a crater lake in Merdivenli village and pine forests and historical caves in Demirtas and Deliktas villages.

We hope youve enjoyed our look at some of Izmirs coastal towns. Next time youre planning a visit to Izmir, why not give yourself time to visit one and see for yourself

Sources: Daily Sabah/Lonely Planet/Turkey Home
"To date the regulators focus on consumer protection has not worked, so were pleased that theyre trying a different approach to raise awareness"

A joint campaign has launched today by the FCA and The Pensions Regulator as new figures reveal that victims of pension scammers lost an average of 91,000 each in 2017.

The regulators have launched a TV advertising campaign to raise awareness of pension scams and the most common tactics used by fraudsters.

This comes as a new poll commissioned by the regulators reveals that almost a third (32%) of pension holders aged 45 to 65 would not know how to check whether they are speaking with a legitimate pensions adviser or provider.

The FCA and TPR are calling the publics attention to the tactics used by pensions scammers. One of the most common tactics is to offer a free pension review. Research reveals that one in eight 45 to 65-year-olds surveyed (12%) said they would trust an offer of a free pension review from someone claiming to be a pension advisor.

Mark Steward, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: The size of individual pension pots makes pensions savings an attractive target for fraudsters. Thats why were urging anyone who is thinking about transferring their pension to check who they are dealing with and only use firms authorised by the FCA. Pension scams can cause victims significant harm  both financially and mentally. If you are ever in doubt about a pension offer, visit the ScamSmart website.

Royal London's pension expert, Helen Morrissey, added: This joint initiative by regulators on scams is most welcome, but government needs to be much more proactive. Many scams start with a cold call on the telephone yet the government continues to dither and delay over the cold-calling ban. And the main regulation on electronic communications still refers to facsimile machines but has nothing to say about social media. Until the government takes this issue more seriously it will remain two steps behind the scammers.

Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, commented: To date the regulators focus on consumer protection has not worked, so were pleased that theyre trying a different approach to raise awareness via TV, radio and online adverts. Pension scams continue to ruin peoples lives and future retirement plans, yet a ban on cold calling to help snuff out the threat of fraudsters, remains on ice. Government needs to treat this as a priority. Naturally consumers feel exposed and angry when they get taken in.

Educating the public is a step forward, but consumers are crying out for a solution now, which can only come through a joined up approach between the regulators and the government.

Until then peoples savings will continue to be treated as a honeypot for fraudsters, who constantly find new ways to trick them and steal their lifetime savings.
Revibe Technologies (formerly known as FokusLabs Behavioral Solutions), a Wake Forest, NC-based manufacturer of Revibe Anti-Distraction Wristwear, received a funding round of undisclosed amount.

The round was led by Multi-Health Systems, with participation from CoFounders Capital, Bootstrap Advisors, BioVenture Partners, Tamiami Angel Fund, Charlotte Angel Fund, RTP Capital, and Blount Street Capital. As part of the deal, MHS President Hazel Wheldon joined the Revibe Technologies Board of Directors.

The company intends to use the capital to fund the launch of future technologies for Revibe.

Led by Founder and CEO Rich Brancaccio, who spent most of his career specializing in ADHD and Autism, Revibe Technologies provides a reminder wristband that reminds users to stay on-task in classrooms, at home, or in office settings. The wearable product mainly monitors and improves on-task behavior and productivity for students who struggle to stay focused and attentive in their day to day activities.

In the past year, the company received funding from the US Department of Education, NC Dept. of Commerce, and the the Kenan Institute of Engineering, Technology and Science to fund research and development of the Revibe platform.

FinSMEs

14/08/2018
Saudi Arabia has freed three Iranian fishermen detained by the kingdom's coastguard last year, Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted an Iranian official as saying on Tuesday, following negotiations between the two regional rivals.

Tension between Shia Iran and Saudi Arabias conservative Sunni monarchy has run high in recent years.

The two countries have backed opposing forces in wars across the Middle East, usually along sectarian lines.

Ardeshir Yarahmadi, the head of the fisheries department of Iran's Bushehr province, said the three fishermen were arrested in June 2017 after their boat drifted into the Saudi waters.

They had been freed this week after "negotiations between foreign ministry officials of both countries", Yarahmadi said, without giving the date of their release.

In February, Saudi Arabia freed nine Iranian fishermen detained for two years, accusing them of entering its waters.

Saudi authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. The country broke all ties with Iran in 2016.

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Enhancing immune health has become a growing priority for consumers across the globe, and as many as six in ten consumers say that they have become more conscious about... Read More
The political wing of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) went to Damascus last week for a second round of talks with the government, its co-chair said on Tuesday.

A delegation including members of the U.S.-backed SDF, which controls roughly a quarter of Syria, held talks with Damascus this month in their first declared visit to the capital.

The visits highlight efforts by the Kurdish-led authorities to open new channels to President Bashar al-Assad's government, as they seek to negotiate a political deal that keeps their autonomy within Syria.

Negotiations could also raise new questions for U.S. policy in Syria, where the U.S. military has deployed into SDF territory during the battle against Islamic State.

The SDF is spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, which has mostly avoided conflict with Assad and has said it aimed to secure Kurdish rights rather than topple the government.

This has set them apart from rebel factions fighting to bring down Assad since 2011, which have now been defeated in much of the territory they once held.

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) went for new talks on decentralization and the constitution, co-chair Riad Darar said on Tuesday.

The "long dialogue" included a proposal from Damascus for the de facto autonomous region to take part in the state's local elections next month, he told Reuters.

The SDC insists on preserving its structure of governance and self-rule in any future elections, he said. "The delegation from Qamishli decided it would return for more discussions."

State officials tabled many issues that the SDC saw as premature, Darar added. "We need to agree on service provision first and this could build trust between us and with the people."

The SDF seized swathes of land with U.S. help, though Washington opposes their ambitions of autonomy. The region they control spreads across much of northern and eastern Syria, rich in farmland, oil, and water.

Damascus says the U.S. forces are occupiers. For the first time, Assad said in May that he was "opening doors" for talks with the SDF, but also threatened force and said the Americans would leave one way or another.

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Hundreds of area residents joined hands along the riverfront at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Sunday in solidarity with like-minded peaceful protestors throughout Southwest Florida, decrying the condition of gulf and inland waters.

They were among the thousands of Hands Along the Water participants up and down both coastlines of Florida at at least 30 beaches, many affected by algal blooms and severe fish kills.

Dominique Kuzer, organizer at the Cape Coral event, said the idea was to come together in unity, leaving politics aside.

We want to give our voice to the water that it doesnt have. It started on a Facebook post. Me and another woman jumped on it and I created it in Cape Coral, Kuzer said. It just spread like wildfire.

Kuzer and many others have said they have never see water quality this bad.

In the Calooshatchee and canals in Cape Coral, Pine Island and North Fort Myers, nutrient-heavy, algae-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee have resulted in shore-to-shore pea-green blooms of toxic fish-killing cyanobacteria. The blue-green algae is also befouling the east coast of Florida along and around the St. Lucie River, which experienced a similar devastating bloom in 2016.

Meanwhile, along Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and other beach-front communities from Naples to Tampa Bay, there is on-shore outbreak of toxin-producing Karenia brevis, the organism that makes up red tide.

Both algae blooms are killing fish by the hundreds of thousands as well as sea turtles, porpoises and manatees.

At the Yacht Club this weekend, there were continuing remnants of the conditions, with some dead fish lying on the algae-speckled beach that has been closed to swimming.

Kathy Pecora moved here three years ago to live in paradise.

This, she said, is anything but.

Ive seen such a change in the last three years I dont even want to go near the water. Its really sad, Pecora said. I picked this city because it was supposedly one of the best places to move to. I want the water cleaned up for my generation and others to come.

Shan Davis said they live along a canal, and have been a little luckier than others where the algae is packed in. Still, the stink pretty much keeps them indoors.

It smells like cow manure. It doesnt seem to be getting the importance it should have. The problem is that I dont know if the rest of Florida gets it, Davis said. My biggest worry is that people will forget about it.

Susan Brown and Cindy Rooney, members of the Cape Coral New Residents Club, echoed what many have said for the past few months: It has never been this bad, with dead manatees and fish.

You cant even get into the water because youre going to get sick. Susan has given us the contact information on our congressmen, Brown said. Weve e-mailed Marco Rubio and were heard back from some of them.

What we need to do is clean up Lake Okeechobee and change the laws. The governor took away laws designed to protect the environment and the power we had to protect the environment, Rooney said. Its a multi-faceted situation. Lets get the regulations back in place.

Cindys husband, Mike, said he hasnt had his boat in the water all year because of seawall repairs needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma and now the algae.

After the seawall was done, its not worth putting it out in the water. I cant fish or enjoy the water unless I want to drive 20 miles out into the gulf, Rooney said. Even then I have to smell it.

Sundays event took less than a half-hour. Kuzer had everyone line up on the water at 10 a.m. At 10:14, everyone pointed to the water in honor of the marine life before joining hand for about 15 minutes.

During the event people chanted We want change, and Clean it up.

Many wore surgical masks and a handful were in costume.

Linda France, a 25-year resident, was there to lend her support and said the grass roots effort was amazing.

We gathered to speak for the fish and the residents. Were tired of getting kicked in the can so we decided to make a difference, France said. Its never been this bad and thats why I got involved. We need to clean Lake O and send the water south. I think the local and county government is doing good, but the state and federal have dropped the ball.

Hundreds join Hands Along the Water By Staff | Aug 13, 2018



Hundreds of area residents joined hands along the riverfront at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Sunday in solidarity with like-minded peaceful protestors throughout Southwest Florida, decrying the condition of gulf and inland waters. They were among the thousands of Hands Along the Water participants up and down both coastlines of Florida at at least 30 beaches, many affected by algal blooms and severe fish kills. Dominique Kuzer, organizer at the Cape Coral event, said the idea was to come together in unity, leaving politics aside. We want to give our voice to the water that it doesnt have. It started on a Facebook post. Me and another woman jumped on it and I created it in Cape Coral, Kuzer said. It just spread like wildfire. Kuzer and many others have said they have never seen water quality this bad. In the Calooshatchee and canals in Cape Coral, Pine Island and North Fort Myers, nutrient-heavy, algae-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee have resulted in shore-to-shore pea-green blooms of toxic fish-killing cyanobacteria. The blue-green algae is also befouling the east coast of Florida along and around the St. Lucie River, which experienced a similar devastating bloom in 2016. Meanwhile, along Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and other beach-front communities from Naples to Tampa Bay, there is on-shore outbreak of toxin-producing Karenia brevis, the organism that makes up red tide. Both algae blooms are killing fish by the hundreds of thousands as well as sea turtles, porpoises and manatees. At the Yacht Club this weekend, there were continuing remnants of the conditions, with some dead fish lying on the algae-speckled beach that has been closed to swimming. Kathy Pecora moved here three years ago to live in paradise. This, she said, is anything but. Ive seen such a change in the last three years I dont even want to go near the water. Its really sad, Pecora said. I picked this city because it was supposedly one of the best places to move to. I want the water cleaned up for my generation and others to come. Shan Davis said they live along a canal, and have been a little luckier than others where the algae is packed in. Still, the stink pretty much keeps them indoors. It smells like cow manure. It doesnt seem to be getting the importance it should have. The problem is that I dont know if the rest of Florida gets it, Davis said. My biggest worry is that people will forget about it. Susan Brown and Cindy Rooney, members of the Cape Coral New Residents Club, echoed what many have said for the past few months: It has never been this bad, with dead manatees and fish. You cant even get into the water because youre going to get sick. Susan has given us the contact information on our congressmen, Brown said. Weve e-mailed Marco Rubio and were heard back from some of them. What we need to do is clean up Lake Okeechobee and change the laws. The governor took away laws designed to protect the environment and the power we had to protect the environment, Rooney said. Its a multi-faceted situation. Lets get the regulations back in place. Cindys husband, Mike, said he hasnt had his boat in the water all year because of seawall repairs needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma and now the algae. After the seawall was done, its not worth putting it out in the water. I cant fish or enjoy the water unless I want to drive 20 miles out into the gulf, Rooney said. Even then I have to smell it. Sundays event took less than a half-hour. Kuzer had everyone line up on the water at 10 a.m. At 10:14, everyone pointed to the water in honor of the marine life before joining hand for about 15 minutes. During the event people chanted We want change, and Clean it up. Many wore surgical masks and a handful were in costume. Linda France, a 25-year resident, was there to lend her support and said the grass roots effort was amazing. We gathered to speak for the fish and the residents. Were tired of getting kicked in the can so we decided to make a difference, France said. Its never been this bad and thats why I got involved. We need to clean Lake O and send the water south. I think the local and county government is doing good, but the state and federal have dropped the ball. News from around the region County awards contract for Larry Kiker Preserve Pediatric Baker Act numbers up The past eight months have shown a steady increase in pediatric Baker Act admissions at Golisano Childrens ... Auditions for Rock the Stage Showcase running through Oct. 31 Auditions are currently running every Sunday through Oct. 31 at the School of Rock Fort Myers for Rock the ...




Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle must reportedly pay his ex-wife $1 after a jury on Monday found that he did intrude offensively upon her privacy by secretly recording her.

The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the athlete's ex-wife, Nicole, and her mother, WSOC-TV reported.

TONY STEWART MAY ENTER 2019 INDY 500, BUT NOT AS A SIDESHOW LIKE DANICA PATRICK

The pair alleged that, unbeknownst to them, Biffle had recorded them with cameras wired in the master bedroom, bathroom, and a guest room, of the couples North Carolina home, the Charlotte Observer reported. They also reportedly claimed that he has shown images captured by the hidden cameras to third persons.

During the trial, the former professional driver denied any wrongdoing, insisting that his ex-wife was aware of the recording equipment, WSOC-TV reported.

NASCAR CEO TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENSE AFTER ARREST, DWI CHARGE

What the jury said sends a loud message that they dont believe there was wrongdoing, Biffle said.

However, a lawyer representing Biffles ex-wife told the Observer that the jury found his behavior to be an unlawful invasion of privacy.

The lawsuit has never been about money for Ms. Biffle, the lawyer said. Its been about holding Mr. Biffle accountable for the complete violation of her dignity and the right to privacy that should be afforded all persons. And for that shes proud of the verdict against him.
Bella Thornes new beauty brand is already causing controversy.

The 20-year-old former Disney star launched her line Filthy Fangs on Saturday, but social media users quickly began pointing out how closely Thornes new eyeshadow palettes resemble those from black-owned makeup brand Juvias Place.

Founded by Nigerian entrepreneur Chichi Eburu, Juvias Place offers highly pigmented eyeshadow palettes with equally striking Afrocentric packaging that have made the line an Instagram favorite.

The companys Masquerade Palette features the same bright yellow packaging and bold, glittery shades (in similar purple, blue and red colors) found in Thornes Ocean Drive Palette.

But price-wise, the two sets couldnt be more different: The Juvias Place palette offers 16 shades for $30, while Thornes includes nine shades for $50. Filthy Fangs nine-shade Kyra Palette is even pricier, at $60 for nine shades.

Beauty fanatics were quick to call out the visual similarities, along with the obvious price difference.

Butthey look like Juvias place palettes? And theyre WAY more expensive, one Twitter user wrote. Im confused who thought this was a good idea. Added another, This that bootleg Juvias Place.

Despite the blowback, both Filthy Fangs palettes sold out in under 24 hours and have already been restocked, according to a tweet from Thorne.

Reps for both Thorne and Juvias Place did not immediately respond to Page Sixs request for comment.

This article originally appeared in Page Six.
The sixth season of House of Cards will be the show's last, and Cody Fern, who joined the show for its final episodes, said the vibe on set was resolute as the cast filmed following the ousting of Kevin Spacey amid sexual assault allegations.



Weve finished filming and its all wrapped. The dynamic on set was extraordinary, series newcomer and American Horror Story actor Fern, 30, told Fox News at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Grants Banquet in Beverly Hills, Calif.

I mean, it was a bunch of artists banding together to do something really important, and it was an incredibly welcoming environment. Everybody was putting their head down and doing the work. So, we had an extraordinary time and I cant wait for fans to see it.

The fate of the political thriller was unknown after "House of Cards" axed Spacey when several men accused him of sexual abuse. Actor Anthony Rapp first spoke out in October 2017 and claimed Spacey made a sexual advance toward him when he was 14, back in 1986. Spacey apologized and said he did not recall the encounter.

After some uncertainty, Netflix announced co-star Robin Wright would star in the sixth and final season.

We have beautiful showrunners, Frank [Pugliese] and Melissa [Gibson], and they killed themselves to rethink the whole show, actress Patricia Clarkson told The Talk in July. Its only eight episodes I think its going to be a stunning, stunning new season and Im thankful for it.

Netflix Vice President of Original Series Cindy Holland has said the series is ending on a high note.

I dont have a date to announce for you today," she told reporters last month at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour. "Were really proud of the show, and its a fitting end."
Melanie Griffith shot to fame after starring as Tess McGill in the 1988 film "Working Girl." And with her quick rise to fame came various Hollywood romances that resulted in four marriages with three men. Now, the actress explains why she feels the concept of marriage isn't "relevant for anyone anymore."

When it comes to finding love and relationships today, the actress said she is no rush to get married again.

I really dont think its relevant for anyone anymore, Griffith told InStyle Magazine. But especially if youre 60 and you have four kids and youre living the life youve always wanted. Then why get married? Its, like, I would love to fall in love and have a romance, a relationship, but I havent. I keep looking. Ive had a couple of lovers but not a relationship.

When asked if she would ever consider the modern day dating app fad, she boldly said, No, Jesus. Tinder or something would just be so tacky, I think.

She added, I think I can find someone on my own. But if you know of anybody, please tell me.

Griffith recalled meeting her first husband, Don Johnson, when she was just 14. The two were married a few years later, but their whirlwind marriage lasted for just a year before they split, only to get back together less than a decade later.

It was sort of a natural karmic thing for us to get back together and to have Dakota. She was meant to come into the world if you think about it," Griffith said of getting back together with Johnson and giving birth to "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Dakota Johnson.

The actress said that she and Dakota's father were imprinted on each other."

After her first marriage, Griffith married Steven Bauer. With Bauer, the star had Alexander. Following her split from Bauer, Griffith re-married Johnson for seven years before splitting with him once more and marrying Spanish actor Antonio Banderas.

Griffith explained that her marriage to Banderas was more exciting than playing a part in a story. You have to live your life and not just play somebody else all the time. And how can you play somebody else if you dont live your own life?

Banderas and Griffith share daughter Stella, who is currently a student at USC.

The two ended their nearly decade-long relationship in 2015, but have remained close. In fact, the 61-year-old actress said that she has remained "chummy" with all of her ex-husbands.

All of my husbands, my three husbands  I love them all so much, and were all very close," she said.

But Griffith said having time to herself after her divorce and watching her children grow up has allowed her to take on new career ambitions.

After getting divorced and, in a way, finishing up with my kids  my Stella is now 21  I have the time and the chance to reboot and revitalize my career, I guess you would say.

The star is considering writing a book based on her life events and wants to return to Broadway, where she starred as Roxie Hart in the hit musical "Chicago" almost 15 years ago.

"Thats my dream," she said. "I think that theater is kinder on a 60-year-old face.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden is heading to the Sunshine State, Fox News has learned.

The 36-year-old announced Tuesday she is moving to Florida this fall with her husband Chris ONeil and their three children: 4-year-old Princess Leonore, 3-year-old Prince Nicolas and 4-month-old Princess Adrienne.

ONeil, 44, is a British-American businessman.

A rep for the royal family confirmed the move to Fox News.

The time and opportunity for the United States is good for the family when the children are still in pre-school age, the Swedish Royal Court said in a press release.

Princess Madeleine has a great commitment to childrens rights and will continue working with the World Childhood Foundation and, through the move, be able to focus more on the activities in the United States, the announcement read.

Mr. Christopher ONeill has previously been working in the United States but will continue his business in Europe," it added.

Madeleine, whos seventh in line to the Swedish throne, is no stranger to America. People Magazine reported the family already has a summer home in Florida.

While still single, in 2010, Madeleine moved to New York City and began working as a project manager for her mother Queen Silvias World Childhood Foundation.

After they tied the knot in 2013, Madeleine and ONeill remained in the Big Apple and their firstborn was born at a private hospital stateside in 2014.

The family then moved to London, yet Madeleine returned to Sweden to give birth to the couples third child earlier this year.

To retain her royal title, Madeleine has not taken on her husbands surname. And ONeill, who preferred to retain his U.K. and U.S. citizenships, has no royal titles and is not an official member of the Swedish royal family.

Back in 2016, Madeleine told People Magazine shes just like any other parent on the go.

[Im] pretty much like a normal mom, she explained. [My children] wake me up and we fix breakfast together and the breakfast flies all over the place! And then we go out to the park and we swing, we try to do a lot of activities because my little Leonore, she has lots of energy, so we have to keep her stimulated and busy.

I think because my mom and father, of course, were so devoted to their work and as king and queen, they have lots of obligations, so they were away quite a bit when we were small. But when they were home, they were very present and I feel that I want to give my children as much as I can.
The UNs special envoy to Yemen has called for direct talks. But with Tehran upping its tug-of-war with Washington, it doesnt appear likely that a comprehensive settlement is near

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths has scheduled a meeting for consultations between the parties to the Yemeni conflict for 6 September.

In his latest briefing to the UN Security Council, he said that an opportunity was at hand for a settlement in view of the narrowing gap between the disputants that he had sensed during his recent rounds of talks.

He added that their shared willingness to release POWs and detainees might stimulate an initiative that would relaunch the settlement process.

The forthcoming Geneva meeting will be the first to bring together the warring parties since the collapse of the last round of negotiations in Kuwait two years ago.

In the interval, there have been major qualitative developments. Perhaps the most salient was the breakup of the alliance between the Houthis and former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh and, following his assassination, the transformation of that albeit tense alliance into another of the subsidiary conflicts in the Yemeni theatre.

It is noteworthy, in this context, that Griffiths mentioned that he had extended invitations to the Houthi Ansar Allah Movement and the internationally recognised government, but he made no mention of the portion of the General Peoples Congress (GPC) that remains loyal to the Saleh family.

Statements issued by officials from both sides that have been invited to Geneva indicate that they plan to attend.

Houthi officials have said that they would go to Geneva without preconditions regarding the agenda for talks there, whether with regard to the battle on the west coast in which the Arab coalition aims to wrest the port of Hodeida from Houthi control or with regard to the frames of reference of the settlement process, namely UN Security Council Resolution 2216, the Gulf Initiative and the outputs of the Yemeni National Dialogue.

On the other hand, the movement has refused to hand over missiles and other heavy weaponry in advance of talks, insisting that the interim political process must be set into motion first.

In its understanding of this process, the two sides  the Houthis and the legitimate government  would have equal status until general elections are held.

If the Yemeni government accepted the invitation, it did not do so with great enthusiasm. The government still prefers the military solution judging by its reactions to the invitation and previous stances in light of the shrinking scope of manoeuvrability for Houthi forces outside Sanaa and the progress pro-government forces have been making on the central and coastal fronts.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Yamani, speaking to the press from the UAE recently, insisted that the Houthis must withdraw from the western coast entirely, including Hodeida port and city, in the framework of the Hodeida initiative launched by the Yemeni government as a first step toward the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2216.

He charged that while the Yemeni government was working for peace, the Houthis were working to buy time.

According to Yemeni sources, the governments lack of optimism stems from its desire to regain control over Hodeida before returning to the negotiating table.

Griffiths has been working in a different direction, which is to persuade the Houthis to surrender the port city, not to the government, but rather to a UN-led administration.

Yemeni political analyst Abdel-Aziz Al-Majidi, in a telephone interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, adds: The problem now is that the government believes that Griffiths is handing the Houthis more cards and that he is treating both sides as equals. It also looks like pressure is being exerted by Western powers on the coalition with regard to the military campaign on the coast. Among those applying pressure are allies of the coalition countries, such as the US.

In the opinion of Yassin Said Noaman, a prominent Yemeni politician and diplomat, the Houthis acted as expected with regard to the UN envoys Hodeida initiative: the pledges they made to him were solely in order to buy time in the hope that mounting international pressure forced the coalitions military campaign to a halt.

It is sufficient to realise that during the time in which the government and the pro-legitimacy coalition suspended military operations in the Hodeida governorate, in response to the UN envoys request to allow him to continue his talks aimed at securing the Houthis peaceful withdrawal from the governorate in order to spare further destruction, the Houthis continued to plant mines, booby-trap the port and the sea, attack and infiltrate to bomb and recapture the positions from which they had been driven out. They have also been firing missiles at residential areas and at oil tankers in international shipping lanes, and they boast they brought down a drone by accident, launching boisterous media campaigns that are rivalled only by the bluster and bombast of the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard who continues to declare openly that the Red Sea is no longer safe.

Noaman believes that a political settlement that would provide for a power-sharing arrangement with the Houthi project would be a grave mistake. Yemen would remain a hotbed of warfare, polarisation and instability. That type of settlement would bring degradation to the nation-state project and to the Arab character, as a whole, in the region.

Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi, president of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee, offered to halt Houthi military operations in the Red Sea for a renewable two-week period if the pro-government and coalition forces responded in kind.

Instead, the coalition resumed its military operation in Hodeida, signalling that the time it had given Griffiths to work something out with the Houthis had lapsed.

The Houthis reciprocated, resuming missile fire into Saudi Arabia.

On Monday, they announced that they had fired a Badr-1 ballistic missile at Al-Wajeb Military Camp in Najran. Arab Spokesman Turki Al-Maliki announced that Saudi air defences had intercepted the missile.

Houthi officials claim that, last month, their forces fired 18 missiles into Saudi Arabia of which 14 were ballistic missiles.

Yemeni military experts maintain that the Houthis are generating a climate that inhibits opportunities for a settlement.

Against this backdrop, military analyst Jamil Al-Maamari believes that the Yemeni government is currently bent on liberating Hodeida before entering into any new negotiations.

Abdel-Aziz Al-Majidi fears that the human costs of such a battle would be enormous in view of the large amounts of mines and explosives that the Houthis planted during the recent interval.

He therefore believes that the coalition will confine itself to liberating just the port area, but even then, the coalition would encounter not just Houthi resistance but also international pressures rallied by Griffiths.

In light of the foregoing, while the warring parties may gather in Geneva as a way to demonstrate that they are responding to UN efforts, it is difficult to imagine that protocols and formalities will give way to serious and productive talks, given the current complexities.

This is all the more so in view of the regional/international dimensions of the complexities and, above all, Irans escalation in its utilisation of the Yemeni crisis in its tug-of-war with Washington and the US regional allies.

This Iranian strategy was most dramatically evidenced by Houthi missile fire targeting navigation in the Red Sea.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 9 August 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Yemen between Tehran and Geneva

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Police say a bomb threat prompted the abrupt cancellation of a Rascal Flatts concert mid-show last week.

Fans were initially left confused after the country group walked offstage in the middle of their concert in Indiana on August 9.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department says the bomb threat made Thursday night for Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center in suburban Indianapolis was deemed a credible danger. The department said in a statement Monday night that it won't release details about the threat while it is being investigated.

No arrests have been made concerning the threat.

The band didn't return for an expected encore, after which a public-address announcement said the show was over. Security guards told people to evacuate the outdoor amphitheater.

Rascal Flatts told Fox News last week that everyone was able to leave safely and thanked fans for their understanding.

"Indianapolis - Due to a security concern at the show last night, standard procedures were quickly executed and everyone was able to safely leave the building," the band said in a statement. "The safety of our fans, band and crew is always the top priority for us, so we are so thankful for everyone who jumped into action and for your understanding. We will be back soon!"

The scare comes one month after the Avett Brothers shut down their show after a man brought a gun into the venue. Last year, a Las Vegas country music festival was targeted by a crazed gunman who opened fire on the crowd killing 58 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sacha Baron Cohen's satirical seven-episode Showtime series "Who Is America?" has made headlines for tricking celebrities and politicians including Ted Koppel, Roy Moore, Joe Arpaio and more.

But not everyone Cohen has tried to dupe fell for the liberal comedian's antics. In fact, many of his marks easily saw through the now-decades-old act, and avoided becoming Cohens punchline.

Corey Lewandowski

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was able to avoid becoming a mockery when invited onto Cohen's Showtime series.

SACHA BARON COHEN'S CONTROVERSIES: FROM 'BORAT' LAWSUITS TO BOX OFFICE FLOPS

Lewandowski kept to his talking points as Cohen continuously prodded him with ridiculous questions, such as asking him about the far-right conspiracy theory that PBS is owned by the "Rastafarian lobby."

"I wouldnt know anything about that," a cool Lewandowski said.

Cohen posed as "Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr," a right-wing conspiracy theorist and "citizen journalist." He also asked the former Trump staffer to speak on a variety of sensitive topics such as his stance on neo-Nazis and if Trump is racist.

"I had the privilege of standing and sitting next to candidate Trump  and now the president for thousands of hours over my tenure running his campaign. Never, ever, ever did I ever hear him utter a racist word in his life. Ever," Lewandowski said.

Matt Gaetz

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) also didn't fall for the comedian's tricks when he was interviewed by Cohen, in character, as an Israeli anti-terror expert named Col. Erran Morad.

Cohen as Morad was trying to convince Gaetz to endorse a fictional program called "Kinderguardians," which would arm America's children to help prevent school shootings.

"You want me to say on television that I support 3 and 4-year-olds with firearms?" Gaetz asked Cohen. "Is that what youre asking me to do?"

Cohen replied, "Yes."

SACHA BARON COHEN'S 'WHO IS AMERICA?' ON SHOWTIME PULLS IN JUST 327,000 VIEWERS

Typically, members of Congress dont just hear a story about a program and indicate whether they support it or not," Gaetz said.

Gaetz spoke to "Fox & Friends" about being on the show, and said he was skeptical because his mother taught him to be that way.

"Good makeup artistry, good acting by Sacha Baron Cohen," Gaetz said. "They catch members of Congress at the end of the day, a little frustrated, a little tired. And I think they got some of my colleagues to say things they likely regret."

California gun store owner

In February 2017, Warrior One Guns & Ammo agreed to participate in a documentary about a Hungarian immigrant wanting to buy a gun in the United States. But when the stores owner, Norris Sweidan, saw the film's subject, he quickly realized he was getting duped.

When Cohen, in full disguise, asked to buy a gun, Sweidan says he immediately recognized the voice and called the celebrity prankster out.

Im looking at the producer and Im just like, Am I being fooled right here? the owner told FOX 11 in July. And I just kept looking at the guy and I was like, youre Borat, he said, recognizing Cohen from his 2006 film.

SACHA BARON COHEN SLAMMED BY STREET ARTIST SABO FOR STUNT IN 'WHO IS AMERICA?'

The whole event was caught on the California store's surveillance camera.

Sweidan said that as soon as the actor realized he was identified, he immediately turned and exited the store, leaving his camera crew behind. When Sweidan turned to the producers for answers that they werent able to give him, Sweidan said he'd finally had enough and threw them all out of his store.

"Once I knew it was Borat, we already know his game and his bulls---. So, we knew hes here to make a mockery, and of what? Gun owners? The gun business? Gun shops?"

Lee Zeldin

The office of Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) was told the congressman was chosen as one of 70 people being honored to mark Israels 70th anniversary by an Israeli TV station called Yerushalayim Television that wanted to interview Zeldin about the honor.

However, when Zeldin's communications director, Katie Vincentz, looked up the alleged TV station she found it had very little online presence. Once she noticed the producer had an American name, she became suspicious.

SACHA BARON COHEN'S PRANKS COULD LAND HIM IN LEGAL TROUBLE

"To be candid, it was a little suspicious that someone who was the producer of Yerushalayim Television in Israel would be 'Julia Harris'," Vincentz told the New York Post earlier in August.

Vincentz said another red flag was that she could not find anything online about the award Zeldin was said to have been receiving.

"There was no mention anywhere of this big award, which was surprising especially in light of the big names they claimed to have interviewed," Vincentz said.

Ultimately, Zeldin turned down the interview request and was saved from Cohen's pranks.
In-N-Out is coming to Canada  but just for one day.

The favorite burger chain of the West Coast is heading up north for an annual event in Langley  part of Vancouvers metro area.

TEXAS' WHATABURGER, RAISING CANE'S HAVING BUN CRISIS DAYS AFTER STATE'S IN-N-OUT RESTAURANTS CLOSE

In-N-Out will be opening a pop-up store to serve up burgers during the Langley Good Times Cruise-In car show on September 8.

This is not In-N-Outs first time over the border, however. The fast food chain has been setting up shop at the annual event for the past several years.

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Though there is another catch  In-N-Out will only be serving single hamburgers and bagged chips while supplies last. So, no animal style well done fries or double doubles for this one-day event. But those attending should still expect long lines at the burger truck.

Vancouver Courier reports that the money raised by In-N-Out during the event will go towards cruise-in charities.
Moving forward with an idea that most meat lovers have only dreamed of, but perhaps only hesitated to try because of a nagging cardiologist, the folks at McDonalds are introducing a new McGriddle sandwich with bacon, sausage, cheese and egg, all stuffed between two slices of French toast.

The item, officially called the McGriddles French Toast breakfast sandwich, is being billed as everything you love about breakfast in one sandwich by McDonalds Chef Mike Lingo, but it comes with a catch  the new McGriddle is currently only testing at 235 locations in Minnesota.

GIRL SCOUTS DEBUT NEW COOKIE FEATURING A 'HINT OF SEA SALT'

Were excited for our Minnesota customers to test our new McGriddles French Toast sandwich and help evolve McDonalds menu across the country, said Tom Butler, McDonalds Minnesota co-op president and franchise owner, in a news release. We look forward to hearing our customers response to this deliciously sweet and savory breakfast sandwich.

A representative for McDonalds was not immediately available to confirm when the item would roll out nationwide, should it prove successful.

If the McGriddles French Toast does make it out of Minnesota, however, McDonalds customers can expect savory and smoky flavors from the sausage and bacon along with creaminess, cheddar flavors and salt from the American cheese; [and] sweet cinnamon, spice and vanilla flavors from the French toast, says Lingo.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

In the meantime, purists across the country can still get the original McGriddle  featuring egg, cheese, and a choice of sausage or bacon  on the restaurants all-day breakfast menu, even if it now seems super lame by comparison.
A sixth-grader in Georgia is going to get an unbelievable gift from his technology teacher Tuesday: a kidney.

William Wilkinson, a teacher at Grace Christian Academy in Powder Springs, is serving as a living donor to his student, Kaden Koebcke, Fox 5 reported Monday.

The 12-year-olds first kidney transplant  performed when he was five years old with his father donating  didnt work out.

It came back so badly that they had to remove it within five days of them putting it in, so that  that definitely didn't go as planned, Koebcke, who was diagnosed with a kidney disease at the age of two, told the news station.

WASHINGTON MAN DONATES KIDNEY TO WIFE OF NEARLY 30 YEARS: WERE A TEAM

Koebckes family sought help through a Facebook page called Kadens Kidney Search.

"With his particular situation, he can't receive a kidney from a deceased donor, so he is in need of a living kidney donor," the page explains.

Koebckes mother, Cami, will never forget the day Wilkinson visited their home to reveal he had found a perfect match.

He says, Well, do you guys really wanna know? And we said, Yeah, we wanna know, we wanna thank him, she told the station.

And you know, He's like, 'Well, it's me.' And I mean it just  I mean ... it was unbelievable, Cami recalled.

ZIKA, WEST NILE VIRUS REPORTED IN ALABAMA, HEALTH DEPARTMENT WARNS

For Koebcke, life without dialysis would be something to look forward to.

Ive had to be on dialysis for about 10 years now, and itd really be awesome to live a normal life and not have to live life hooked up to a machine, he told the station.

Wilkinson appeared to have a successful surgery on Tuesday, according to Kadens Kidney Search.

Will's surgery is done and he did well with vital signs stable throughout! The kidney is already over to the other hospital and they are in the process of getting the kidney into [Koebcke]. Continue the prayers!!! the Koebcke family wrote on Facebook.
A North Carolina mother is warning others about a little-known mosquito-borne virus that almost killed her young son.

LoriAnne Surrett of Asheville, North Carolina, said her 6-year-old son Noah and his brothers were at their grandparents house when he complained of a headache, FOX Carolina reported. Noah was given some pain medication and he appeared better until Surrett received a phone call from her in-laws that the boy was not quite right. The grandparents called 911 and Surrett rushed to the house to see her son.

The mother wrote in an Aug. 8 Facebook post that her son was limp and had blue lips. Officials said the boy suffered a seizure. Noah underwent blood tests, a CT scan, a chest X-ray and a spinal tap, which revealed that he was suffering from La Crosse encephalitis.

TEEN BASEBALL STAR PARALYZED IN DIVING ACCIDENT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the rare virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Many people infected with LACV (La Crosse encephalitis) have no apparent symptoms. Among people who become ill, initial symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and tiredness. Some of those who become ill develop severe neuroinvasive disease (disease that affects the nervous system). Severe LACV disease often involves encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) and can include seizures, coma, and paralysis, the CDC said.

The mother said her son was treated at the ICU at Mission Hospital in Asheville, where he was responsive just a few times a day.

"Noah is a spunky little dude that sickness never brings him down," Surrett wrote in a Facebook post. "So this is breaking all of our hearts."

ZIKA, WEST NILE VIRUS REPORTED IN ALABAMA, HEALTH DEPARTMENT WARNS

Surrett said her son started responding to her on Thursday, and was opening his eyes. She warned others to wear bug spray to avoid the virus.

"I don't want to see another baby go through this," she said. "Use bug spray on your kids, check for bites. It's not 100 percent preventable obviously, but do what you can to try."

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said people can avoid contracting the virus by wearing long sleeves, bug spray and spend less time outside when mosquitoes are active.
A stranded parrot had an unusual way of thanking the firefighters who had come to rescue her  she cursed at them.

Officers from the London Fire Brigade were called to the scene on Monday to save Jessie, a turquoise and yellow Macaw parrot, who had gotten stuck on a roof for three days, the Telegraph reported.

GREEK CAT SANCTUARY HIRING CARETAKER TO LIVE ON ISLAND, SUPERVISE 55 CATS

Jessie had been on the same roof for three days and there were concerns that she may be injured which is why she hadnt come down, Chris Swallow, fire brigade watch manager, said to the Telegraph.

The fire crew set up a ladder and a volunteer went up to try and coax the bird over with a bowl of food. Jessies owners also instructed the firefighter to tell the bird I love you, to encourage her to come down.

'DESPERATE' OKLAHOMA MOM'S PLEA FOR ORANGE GARFIELD-LIKE CAT TO BORROW GOES VIRAL

However, Jessie, who reportedly escaped from her home nearby, was not feeling the love and instead told firefighters to f--- off" several times.

We then discovered that she had a bit of a foul mouth and kept swearing, much to our amusement."  Chris Swallow

Fortunately, the fire crew were professionals and did not take offense to Jessies strong language.

We then discovered that she had a bit of a foul mouth and kept swearing, much to our amusement, said Swallow.

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Fire crews unsuccessfully tried other ways to get the bird down, using the word come in both Turkish and Greek  languages her owner speaks and has taught her.

The sassy bird eventually decided to come down on her own, proving to not be injured.

Jessie flew off to another roof and then to a tree before ending up back with her owner, the Telegraph reported.
Chick-Fil-A was the scene of a yet another miracle Sunday, as a Georgia woman unexpectedly gave birth in the chicken chains parking lot.



Marcie Masselink and her husband, Scott, were on their way to a local hospital in Dallas when Marcie began to have severe contractions." Scott decided to pull the couples minivan over, despite the fact they were only a few miles from the nearest hospital, WFMY-News reported.

Moments later, Marcie gave birth inside the car, which was parked outside the restaurant.

TEXAS COUPLE DELIVERS BABY IN CHICK-FIL-A BATHROOM

Masselink said her husband pulled the car over "just in time."

"[Scott] was great considering what happened," Masselink said. "He stayed pretty calm under pressure, but it was pretty intense and emotional. I wouldn't recommend it."

The couples baby, who they named Oakley Ann, is healthy, according to WFMY-News.

This isn't the first time Chick-fil-A has played a part in someone's birthing story.

Last month, a Texas woman gave birth to her daughter in a Chick-fil-A restroom.

PETITION CALLS ON CHICK-FIL-A TO BRING CHAIN RESTAURANTS TO U.S. MILITARY BASES

Robert and Falon Griffin were meeting a family friend at the fast-food joint to drop off their two older daughters before heading to San Antonios University Hospital.

Unexpectedly, Falon began to have intense contractions and went into labor, giving birth in the restaurant's bathroom. The chain later offered the baby Chick-Fil-A for life and promised a job when she turns 14.

A spokesperson for Chick-fil-A did not immediately return Fox News' request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Fox News Janine Puhak contributed to this report.
One Michigan church has publicly apologized to a woman who claims she was shamed for breastfeeding inside the house of worship by a church leader, who described her actions as immodest and potentially inspiring lustfulness in men.

The Livingston Daily reported Monday that Ben Walls, Sr., lead pastor of The Naz Church in the Detroit suburb of Brighton, apologized to Amy Marchant for the June 17 incident on behalf of the parish.

The 29-year-old mother of three claims she was shamed for breastfeeding her one-year-old daughter inside the church while waiting for her four-year-old twins to finish Sunday school.

Of all the places, it is most hurtful when it comes from your own church, that you are going to cause guys to lust after you, Marchant told the Daily in an Aug. 9 interview, stating that she received a private Facebook message from a female church leader after she nursed her baby near the childrens worship area.

Of all the places, it is most hurtful when it comes from your own church, that you are going to cause guys to lust after you."  Amy Marchant

KINDERGARTNER'S FRUSTRATION WITH FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL GOES VIRAL

According to Marchant, she had gone to pick up her twins from the Sunday school area when her youngest child was getting fussy and asking to nurse.

I sat down on a bench and decided to nurse her like always, she said. I dont use a cover.

Later in the day, she was shocked to receive the social media message from the unnamed church leader shaming her for her actions, though no one said anything to her at the time.

She said that "nursing fully exposed," the term she used, was making people uncomfortable, Marchant recalled of the note. She told me to cover up, use an empty classroom or go down to the main worship area, to part of the bathroom, but which has a nursing area attached to it. It wasnt presented as an option. She told me to do one of those three things from now on.

Even if I wanted to go somewhere private, thats not reasonable when I have to watch my 4-year-old twins, and legally speaking, its not something she is allowed to ask, she added.

Pastor Walls said church staffers told him that Marchant was wearing a dress that was pulled down with both of her breasts exposed, the Daily reports, but that The Naz is very sorry for the humiliation caused to Marchant.

We have nothing against breastfeeding and we are in favor. Its very hard because we understand that she was very hurt and we apologize to her, he told the outlet. Were very sorry for the embarrassment and hurt caused when she was asked to cover or use one of those rooms. We apologize for her hurt and embarrassment; that wasnt the intention.

The lead pastor added that there are three discreet areas in the church for those who want a private space to nurse.

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Marchant met with church leaders to discuss the issue and the Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination Act, which was approved by Gov. Rick Snyder four years ago. The law prohibits women from being denied public goods, services, facilities and accommodations because of breastfeeding.

Church staff seemed more focused on continuing to describe the incident as immodest and questioning whether she planned to sue than addressing the issue, she said.

A lot of people have stopped nursing because of stuff like that, and I want to say something because a lot of people wouldnt, Marchant said.

Marchant said she doesnt plan to return to the church.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related Syrian refugee group returns from Lebanon

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group said on Tuesday the group was stronger in terms of its weapons, equipment, capabilities, expertise and experience than at any time since it was founded.

In a televised speech, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah also said that the Iran-backed Shia group would celebrate victory "very soon" in Syria, where it is fighting alongside the forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

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Apparently CNN thinks violent leftists cant be hate groups.

How else to explain the network downplaying the violent actions of Antifa, a group the Obama administration determined were perpetrators of domestic terrorist violence? Thats exactly what we saw with CNNs coverage of the Unite the Right rally in Washington, D.C., this Sunday.

About 40 white nationalists left their parents basements to gather in the nations capital on the anniversary of the deadly Charlottesville riot. This time, the racists were dramatically outnumbered by 200 violent and masked Antifa anarchists.

Antifa behaved as they always haveviolently. Fox News reported, Members of Antifa were seen launching eggs, fireworks and water bottles at police officers and the Secret Service, beating people in the street and threatening members of the media

Media covered the violence in real time on social media. There is film of the violence. Peaceful demonstrators captured the violence on cell phone video and posted attacks on the police and media for the world to see.

Americans have watched for years now as Antifa has attacked members of the media, police and even innocent bystanders. The increase of violence so alarmed the Obama administration that Federal authorities have been warning state and local officials since early 2016 that leftist extremists known as antifa had become increasingly confrontational and dangerous, so much so that the Department of Homeland Security formally classified their activities as domestic terrorist violence, according to interviews and confidential law enforcement documents, as Politico reported in September 2016.

The actual news is this: the average American could get more people at a backyard barbeque or poker game than the racists managed to organize this weekend, even with nonstop national news coverage.

Yet this weekend, the mask-wearing thugs  their violence well-documented for everyone to see  were actually described by CNN as an anti-hate group.

Thats right. A CNN screen banner during coverage of the violence announced, Anti-hate groups dramatically outnumber white supremacists in DC.

Apparently, for CNN, you can throw things at cops and attack journalists but as long as youre on the left-wing hate-Trump end of the political spectrum thats some A-OK anti-hate expression going on out there.

This is one of the reasons Americans have lost trust in mainstream media. They arent asking for news with which they agree all the time, they simply want the actual news. Gallup reported in 2016 Americans' trust and confidence in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly has dropped to its lowest level in Gallup polling history.

In CNN's case, the American public see a previously respected news organization abandon its duty to report the news in order to promote the fiction that Americans are divided and President Trump is at fault.

Thats the bottom line herethere is such an investment by legacy media to cast the president as a racist, and dividing the American people as a result, that even an event as clear as this had to be manipulated to fit that narrative.

The actual news is this: the average American could get more people at a backyard barbeque or poker game than the racists managed to organize this weekend, even with nonstop national news coverage. And 200 violent anarchists used it as yet another opportunity to put on masks, riot, and chant slogans about evil America and capitalism.

A divided America this does not make, however the media chooses to cover it. It was a pathetic gathering of irrelevant malcontents spewing hateful messages that Americans reject en masse, but desperate for the attention they knew the mainstream media would give them.

For CNN, it also showed their desperation to mold it into their latest Trump-hating narrative about an America they imagine and loathe.

The good news is, Americans no longer allow other people to feed them a false reality. Were told the nation is divided by race. Yet, African-American support for the president has doubled in the last year, from 15 percent in 2017 to 29 percent now, according to Rasmussen. In a recent Harvard Harris poll, Hispanic support for the president increased 10 points. This is happening because in real life everyones lives are improving due to the presidents policies.

But CNN needed to frame a clearly hate-filled event in a way that confirmed their fiction of racism stoked by President Trump.

Here is the irony: CNN cast as anti-hate a group designated by the Obama administration as dangerous and violent  and they did it because they cant see past their own hatred of Trump and anyone who voted for him.
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Both supporters and opponents of President Trump should welcome the firing of disgraced FBI Agent Peter Strzok, announced Monday. He and fired FBI Director James Comey and fired Deputy Director Andrew McCabe have done more damage to Americas premier law enforcement agency than anyone in its storied 110-year history.

Because President Trump has frequently tweeted denunciations of this trio, its understandable that many people view their firings as unjustified political vendettas by the president against his critics.

But while their clearly is no love lost between the president, Strzok, Comey and McCabe, there is no doubt that by any objective standard, all three deserved to be fired for misconduct. I say this as someone who spent 24 years proudly serving as an FBI special agent and who retired as an assistant director in charge of all FBI criminal investigations.

All three of these rogue FBI officials put themselves on pedestals and cast themselves as noble heroes willing to sacrifice their own careers for the cause of truth and justice. Thats great PR spin, and much of the media has fallen for it. But its simply not true.

FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich was fully justified in ordering Strzoks firing. The action was a decisive step in the right direction in correcting the wrongs committed by what has been described as Comey's "skinny inner circle."

Strzok left no doubt in many text message exchanges with FBI lawyer Lisa Page  his partner in an extramarital affair  that he was strongly opposed to Donald Trumps election as president, had only contempt for Trump, and desperately wanted Democrat Hillary Clinton to defeat Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

But the reasons for Strzoks firing, other than the texts, are still not public. It is clear to me that his effectiveness as an FBI agent was thoroughly compromised and his conduct was in direct contradiction to the FBI's core values.

In other words, Strzok was not fired for simply expressing his opinion privately. According to the Department of Justice inspector general, Strzok also used his private email to send and receive classified information  exactly the misconduct by Hillary Clinton he was supposed to be investigating.

The actions by Strzok, Comey and McCabe disgusted me and many of the dedicated, loyal, patriotic and courageous men and women who have served in the FBI  often willingly risking their lives in defense of our country.

I consistently hear from many current and former FBI employees who bitterly resent how Strzok, Comey and McCabe broke rules that all FBI employees are required to follow  from the lowest level up to the director.

The disgraced trio leaked to reporters for self-serving reasons. They put their thumbs on the scale of justice repeatedly to protect Hillary Clinton when investigating her improper handling of classified emails and the shady activities of the Clinton Foundation.

At the same time, the trio aggressively pursued every spurious lead and rumor that mentioned Donald Trump, who they clearly did not want to see become president.

On joining the FBI, every employee is told that politics have no place at this great law enforcement agency.

Instead, the work of the men and women of the FBI should be governed by steadfast professionalism and respect for the procedures and safeguards established by our Founding Fathers.

FBI employees are required to treat every investigation equally without making judgments and regardless of the identity and position of each person being investigated. Moral judgments are the bailiwick of judges and juries  not FBI agents.

This is not to say that the investigation concerning Russian espionage targeting our democratic institutions should be dropped. President Vladimir Putins Russia and his enablers are our adversaries.

Every American should want to know the full scope and extent of Russian actions designed to destabilize our democracy by interfering in our 2016 election, so that such interference never happens again.

However, all investigations should be treated with the same integrity, thoroughness and objectivity that the FBI has been known for. Politics aside, it is now clear to any rational observer that the actions of the skinny inner circle were motivated by ego and animus and strayed far from the values that should anchor every FBI action.

FBI Deputy Director Bowdich, who ordered Strzoks firing, is a consummate professional and undoubtedly took no joy in firing Strozk, who is an Army veteran and served in the FBI for over 20 years.

It is refreshing that Bowdich showed considerable courage and integrity in overruling his own highly bureaucratic Office of Professional Responsibility, which recommended a mere 60-day suspension and demotion for Strzok. That punishment was simply inadequate for Strzoks level of wrongdoing.

Bowdichs courageous action represents the best of the FBI because he made this decision despite the fact that radical anti-Trumpers have rushed to support Strozk financially in, among other things, a lawsuit against the FBI and Bowdich personally.

After Deputy Director McCabe was fired, anti-Trump elements rushed to set up a fund for him to draw upon.

A Friends of Special Agent Peter Strzok GoFundMe page had already amassed over $315,000 by Tuesday afternoon in just in a single day, and donations were pouring in.

All it takes for FBI executives to earn such golden parachutes is to violate their oaths of office and throw the agency into the vortex of politics and partisanship.

We certainly have not heard the last of this firing because Strzok, as a military veteran, has certain appeal rights. And, of course, he has the gratitude and support of the anti-Trump media.

The newly fired FBI agent, Comey and McCabe were clearly motivated by self-serving hubris and blind hatred of Donald Trump rather than rules and principals that are built into our criminal justice system to protect all Americans from the formidable powers invested in our federal investigative agencies.

Strzok, Comey and McCabe should stand in shame and dishonor for their failure to live up to the core FBI values of fidelity, bravery and integrity. America is better off with the firings of these three from an outstanding law enforcement agency.
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In the face of a bipartisan congressional effort to expand sanctions against Russia, the Trump administration is escalating pressure on the Kremlin over its interference in U.S. political life.

The State Department announced last week that it had called in Russias top diplomat in Washington and conveyed that the U.S. would not tolerate Kremlin attempts to use social media accounts to promote violent and divisive causes in the U.S.

U.S. social media companies are also taking actions. Facebook is removing over 30 pages and fake accounts that exploit social divisions and use methods employed by Russian agents who interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Facebooks diligence and pressure from U.S. authorities may help stem the threat, but by how much is uncertain.

Much of Russia's tradecraft in 2016, including on social media platforms, has been exposed by Special Counsel Robert Muellers indictments and congressional and media investigations. This diminishes its utility.

One ploy was Moscows attempt to manipulate the National Rifle Association, including through the alleged activity of Maria Butina, who federal prosecutors recently charged with conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent.

Former senior CIA Russian operations officer Charles Leven thinks the Kremlin may do more to incite violence, such as stoking racist and anti-immigrant passions by hyping alleged links to crime.

From the Kremlins perspective, the 2016 election interference may look successful despite political blowback in Washington and resulting expanded sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin may think he helped elect an American president that he favored.

Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says the Russians actually turned the election. If Clapper is right, perhaps not since the theft of U.S. atomic bomb secrets in World War II has Moscow been so successful in a covert operation in the U.S.

Russia will again threaten midterm elections in November, although by how much is unclear. On July 14 Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielson said Russia was not targeting the midterms with the same scale or scope as the 2016 presidential election. But on Aug. 2 Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats pointed to a pervasive messaging campaign.

The Kremlin may expect less favorable circumstances this November. To influence elections for the Senate and House, Moscow would have to invest on a wider geographical scale than in 2016.

Many states and localities will likely have hardened their electoral systems. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms will be more resistant to manipulation. And Moscow may assess that few congressional candidates will be as favorably inclined toward Russian interests as the Kremlin likely believes Trump to be.

For these reasons Moscow might be more restrained this year, but it could be wilier.

The Kremlin might try to funnel dark money, possibly though U.S.-based shell corporations, to issue-oriented social welfare groups that have divisive goals. Under section 501(c)(4) of the federal tax code, such groups are not required to disclose sources of funds.

Using disguised websites and trolls, Moscow may continue exploiting social tensions, as it did after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting by inflaming the gun-control debate.

Some states and localities might still not have high security in their vote-counting systems, and Kremlin hackers may seek to penetrate them to alter results.

At the July 16 summit in Helsinki, Putin made clear his preference for Trump in 2016 because candidate Trump talked about normalizing U.S.-Russian relations. The Kremlin may want to protect its investment. It could visibly back some of President Trumps opponents so as to deflect attention from its support for him. This would seem to validate Trumps claim that Moscow will favor Democrats in November.

Former senior CIA Russian operations officer Charles Leven thinks the Kremlin may do more to incite violence, such as stoking racist and anti-immigrant passions by hyping alleged links to crime.

The Kremlin also may not overlook open source intelligence collection, to learn where races are close and how candidates might be vulnerable. Granular insights can be obtained from regional and local newspapers, as well as expert political reports.

Russian operatives may spot and assess those whose views accord with the Kremlins and seek to cultivate them online as unwitting assets. Moscow might ask some to volunteer for campaigns of candidates it opposes, so they can report on or expose inside developments. The Kremlin also can be expected to wine and dine U.S. political figures who visit Russia and seem vulnerable.

Intelligence officers, as Putin once was, know they must adapt and improve their tradecraft to stay ahead of adversaries. So it may be with Kremlin election ploys this year.
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Special Counsel Robert Mueller seems determined to press forward with some version of the Spanish Inquisition  an increasingly indefensible, apparently groundless, objectively debilitating inquiry into what was initially one question: Did the Trump campaign knowingly coordinate with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election?

Barring something that has remained hidden for more than 20 months, Americans know the facts: Muellers inquisition was triggered by several Obama-Clinton partisans, including anti-Trump appointees at the FBI and CIA.

The names of these partisans now trigger nausea: Fired FBI Director James Comey; former CIA Director John Brennan; former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper; fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe; disgraced FBI Agent Peter Strzok (whose firing was announced Monday); former FBI lawyer Lisa Page (who was carrying on an extramarital affair with Strzok); and several others.

Even the story line is now nauseating. Comey, despite holding clearances as head of the FBI, contradicted himself before Congress, leaked documents through a secret cutout, proudly triggered Muellers appointment, and then cashed in with a big-money book.

Brennan traded his role as intelligence briefer in President Clintons White House for political gain in President Obamas. When he ran the CIA he fed partisan anti-Trump information to the FBI, possibly circumventing U.S. laws by procuring foreign involvement. By some reports, he may have even sought to legally block Trumps inauguration.

This increasingly baseless, meandering, delegitimized inquisition is not only distracting, discouraging and a dangerous drag on democracy  exactly what Russia, China and Iran want  but it does no one any good.

Clapper, already famous for misleading Congress under oath, became another vocal anti-Trump detractor.

Then Andrew McCabe, No. 2 at the FBI under Comey, turned out to be a subterranean anti-Trump partisan, who was reproached by the Justice Departments inspector general for breach of integrity.

And as for Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, despite FBI employment and centrality to an investigation clearing Hillary Clinton, both were prolific anti-Trump texting partners and made it clear that they did not want to see him become president.

The saga rivals a Shakespearean tragedy, and has frankly made average Americans disgusted. It now threatens to darken Americas midterm elections  exactly what the Russians have wanted, we know now.

So I have a recommendation for ending the tragedy before our country is consumed by this third-rate play, an ever-widening, seemingly unlimited inquiry into everything and anything that could possibly justify more authority, taxpayer dollars, distraction, time and the civil disruption. After all, that is what baseless inquisitions always do. This recommendation may save the nation from more mutual recrimination and civil unrest.

Clearly, Mueller wants to build a case for impeachment, despite every indication that there is no evidence to support the cause. He wants to compel an incriminating presidential deposition, trap President Trump into a contradiction to warrant obstruction of justice charges, and use that as a pretext to help partisan Democrats in Congress lead a fight to impeach the president.

It seems that Mueller wants to turn his team into heroes of the left  like Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame  by bringing down a Republican president. Who knows, maybe Mueller envisions an aging Robert Redford (who played Woodward in the film All the Presidents Men in 1976) coming out of his recently-announced retirement to play him on the silver screen.

Its time to bring this drama  or perhaps we should call it a farce  to a close. To end this inquiry, President Trump may need to step up, and not on Twitter. Thats because the Mueller probe is down to a game of chicken over whether to subpoena the presidents personal testimony  a risky course both for the president and for Muellers team.

If President Trump resists an open-ended deposition and Mueller seeks one by subpoena anyway, Mueller could lose at the Supreme Court. This would probably force the winding down of the special counsels unruly inquisition, and possibly tip public sentiment toward the president.

However, if Mueller gambles on the subpoena and wins, everything goes the other way. The president is forced to testify with fewer limitations, Mueller is re-empowered, public opinion tips against the president.

Notably, the average American loses in both eventualities. If Mueller wins, we can expect a grueling deposition, more tricks and traps  and a messy, drawn out and ultimately useless impeachment confrontation.

If President Trump wins at the Supreme Court, Muellers inquisition is dealt a blow, but with no incentive for closure or resolution, just stalemate. Muellers resentment could rise and the inquiry could go on even longer.

There is a third way. If it is to work, it needs to happen now, without delay. President Trump could offer a credible, workable compromise  perhaps some sworn answers to written questions and an interview on limited topics.

To wait until the subpoena is issued is a dead end. President Nixon tried that, and failed miserably. Yes, circumstances were different, but the gamble becomes a debilitating distraction  and ends any chance of compromise.

After U.S. District Judge John Sirica upheld the subpoena of tapes that President Nixon secretly recorded of his Oval Office conversations  and the Supreme Court sided with Sirica  Nixon tried to compromise. He offered transcripts, verified by a Democratic senator. That might have worked before the subpoena, but the offer came too late.

Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox had won on the tapes subpoena, so Nixons compromise was useless. Cox declined the compromise and Nixon fired him in the Saturday Night Massacre. The rest is history. Confronting impeachment, Nixon resigned and was also nearly indicted, until President Ford pardoned him.

What is the lesson from this page out of the history books?

For Mueller and President Trump: Do not put our nation through any more of this inquisition mess, even if Republicans continue to control Congress, even if the Supreme Court is likely to side with the president on personal testimony, even if both sides think they could win.

This increasingly baseless, meandering, delegitimized inquisition is not only distracting, discouraging and a dangerous drag on democracy  exactly what Russia, China and Iran want  but it does no one any good.

Lets find a way to end it, consistent with rule of law. To get to that end state, President Trump may need to compromise and so will Mueller. That outcome would be best for America. This is not medieval Spain circa 1478, but modern America 2018. Is that too much to ask?
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Having worked in the Clinton White House as a consultant for six years, I find it unconscionable that someone would surreptitiously record conversations with the president of the United States and his chief of staff, as Omarosa Manigault Newman admits she did when she was fired in December.

The mere thought of it  the lack of professionalism, the treachery, and the possible illegality  sends shivers down my spine.

What Manigault Newman did was not only unethical  it also created a risk to our national security that cannot be overstated. Foreign governments  both allies and adversaries  can and often do hack into personal cellphones and turn them into listening devices to pick up sensitive conversations between government officials.

This is why there is longstanding policy in the White House that employees are not allowed to bring unsecure phones into areas of the West Wing in which sensitive information is discussed.

The Situation Room  where Manigault Newman recorded her firing by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly  is the most sensitive area of them all. That she would put our nation at risk like this is disgusting.

Further, the way Manigault Newman has come out so cavalierly about her misdeeds makes one wonder if this was a regular habit of hers, and whether she made more recording at other times that further endanger our country.

And the fact that Manigault Newman is using her secret recordings to promote her new book so she can cash in on her White House service makes her actions deserving of even greater condemnation.

Given the abhorrent nature of Manigault Newmans behavior, I completely sympathize with President Trumps anger.

However, I would be negligent if I did not say that, at the same time, the presidents tweet characterizing any White House official  or any other human being, for that matter  as a dog is simply going too far.

President Trump tweeted Tuesday about Manigault Newman: When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!

It was my hope in contemplating this piece to write a full-throated denunciation of Manigault Newman and her behavior. That remains my attitude.

However, just one year after white supremacists marched in Charlottesville, Virginia and an innocent young woman was killed, this is not the way we ought to be talking to each other.

President Trump took a useful step Saturday when he tweeted: The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division. We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!

The presidential tweet came a day before a pathetic group of less than 40 hate-filled white supremacists staged a demonstration in Washington  and were met by thousands of counter-demonstrators protesting against racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice.

Regrettably, calling Manigault Newman that dog negated the presidents conciliatory statement over the weekend.

At this point my overarching message to the President Trump, Manigault Newman and, indeed, to our entire political class is: Just stop it.

Pull it together. Work to solve the serious problems our nation is facing on immigration, on health-care, and on the expanding deficit. We dont need more polarization and vitriol that only shows us to be a nation in crisis.

I need to conclude where I started: Omarosa Manigault Newman did something that is potentially actionable civilly and perhaps criminally as well.

The Justice Department, for the sake of our national security and the precedent that needs to be set, should prosecute Manigault Newman to the full extent of the law.

At the same time, I urge the president to tone down his rhetoric, try more consistently to bring this country together even when he is unfairly attacked, and work with Democrats to deal with the issues we face both at home and abroad.

We must recognize that no matter who we are, no matter where we work, no matter what we do, we have to work with each other as fellow Americans to address the challenges we all face.
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Several months ago I was delivering a speech to a group of patriots in our nations capital when I suddenly became ill and collapsed.

The following day, as I was recovering in the cardiac wing of a nearby hospital, I received a visitor  Col. John Teichert, then the commander at Joint Base Andrews.

I was a bit puzzled and surprised to see someone of Col. Teicherts stature standing in my hospital room  seeing how I did not know the man.

It turned out a mutual friend, a pastor in California, had summoned the colonel to my bedside. And for a little while he prayed for me and shared his testimony along with several encouraging passages from the Bible.

I was particularly moved by the colonels kindness and his compassion  a brother in the Lord who took time out of his very busy schedule to pray at the bedside of a stranger.

So you can imagine my surprise when I received a news release from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation calling for the arrest of now Brig. Gen. Teichert  the new wing commander at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is an organization that trolls military bases in search of any public display of the Christian faith. The group is typically triggered by Nativity scenes and Bibles placed on Missing Man tables.

Foundation founder Mikey Weinstein was especially angered to learn that Teichert owns a website called Prayer at Lunchtime for the United States.

The website encourages Bible-believing Americans to take time to specifically pray for our nation at lunchtime every day. It also features a prayer list  including among others President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Congress and the military.

Weinstein demanded that Defense Secretary James Mattis launch an immediate investigation  calling Teichert a fundamentalist Christian tyrant and religious extremist predator.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation claims to represent 41 people at Edwards Air Force Base who are allegedly offended by the generals personal website.

Brigadier General Tiecherts disgraceful, illegal and brazen promotion of his personal flavor of his weaponized version of Christianity represents one of the worst and most egregious cases MRFF has ever encountered in its 13 years of First Amendment civil rights advocacy, Weinstein said in a prepared statement.

Weinstein went on to allege the generals website violates the Uniform Code of Military Justice and demanded that Teichert be investigated, prosecuted, convicted and punished.

General Teichert should be doing time behind prison bars, not commanding a Wing wearing a Generals stars, Weinstein said.

The Pentagon has not responded to my inquiries about Weinsteins complaint, but the allegations are so outlandish they deserve no response.

The Air Force appears to be doing exactly what it should upon receiving a complaint from Mikey Weinstein: ignoring him, First Liberty Institute attorney Mike Berry told me. Like so many complaints by the MRFF, this complaint is vindictive, intolerant, and completely without merit.

First Liberty Institute is one of the nations most respected law firms handling religious liberty cases. It is not representing Teichert.

Bigoted demands that an officer be thrown in military prison because he prays for others should be rejected out of hand, First Liberty Institutes Berry said.

During the Obama administration, Weinstein once bragged about having a hot line to the Pentagon. Its beyond time for the Trump administration to disconnect the number.

Its time to put a stop to these vile and hateful attacks on Christian members of our military. Demanding that a general be imprisoned because he prays? Calling him an extremist predator? Outrageous!

It seems to me the only fundamentalist, extremist predator in this case is the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
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One of the all-time best lines in television and politics was delivered by the late Fred Thompson on Law and Order. To his assistant district attorney he advised, Jack, its not enough to do good. You have to be seen doing good.

So too with presidents and national security. Its not enough to keep America secure. Voters must feel more secure.

One of the key themes of the 2016 GOP convention in Cleveland was, Make America Safe Again. Turns out that a huge number of voters did not feel safe under Obama policies, despite his tenure being widely celebrated around the world. Demand for change was fed by talk of open borders, unenforced red lines, flexibility with Russia, ISIS, Benghazi, plus lost opportunities in manufacturing and energy.

Not only has the president and Congress made America safer, most Americans feel safer and better off. Republicans running on this record, together with the strong economic revival at home, stand a very good chance of defying history this election cycle.

Trump famously broke all predictive models in building a new electoral college coalition in 2016. He may be defying history and the best and brightest predictive models for the mid-term elections in 2018, with strategic moves on trade and foreign policy playing a major role.

Trump is winning on trade and diplomacy and that will help energize his base in midterms. People are proud after a long era of Democrats apologizing for America. ISIS is gone from the headlines. Finally, we have a president who puts muscle behind rebalancing alliance and trade relationships in our favor. Most experts mistake his approach as a revival of nationalism or isolationism, but in reality, Trump represents a new pro-American internationalism, without apology. And mainstream Americans support it.

Turns out it also is popular to keep promises made during a campaign. The U.S. embassy is now in Israels capital. The U.S. exited bad deals  the Paris Climate Accord and Iran deal. No more disappearing red lines and no more nation-building. And no more multilateral trade deals that weaken American sovereignty or our economy. Unconventional tweets and summits resonate with flyover America. Economic revival at home projects strength and opportunity abroad.

Absent a shock between now and election day, most Americans feel safer and more confident in Americas role in the world. Trump themes of sovereignty, security, fair trade, and international realism resonate strongly with mainstream America and are hard for Democrats to oppose.

Not only has the president and Congress made America safer, most Americans feel safer and better off. Republicans running on this record, together with the strong economic revival at home, stand a very good chance of defying history this election cycle. Were not tired of winning.
Fired FBI agent Peter Strzok took his anti-Trump rhetoric public on Monday, setting up a defiant Twitter account as a GoFundMe page sought to raise $150,000 to cover his "legal costs and lost income."

Strzok, who played a lead role in both the Russian meddling and Hillary Clinton email probes but became a political lightning rod after the revelation of text messages critical of Trump, wasted no time blasting the administration and House Republicans in his new social media account.

"Deeply saddened by this decision," Strzok wrote in the tweet shortly after his firing was announced Monday. "It has been an honor to serve my country and work with the fine men and women of the FBI."

He attached an image of a statement from his attorneys that criticized his firing, saying "the FBI and the American people deserve better." The letter specifically lambasted the decision of the deputy director of the FBI to effectively overrule the FBI's internal disciplinary body, which had recommended Strzok be suspended and demoted instead of terminated.

FIRED FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR RAISES $500,000 ON GOFUNDME

The Twitter account indicated that it had been established at some point in August, but it has "liked" several incendiary posts dating back more than a month.

One post "liked" by Strzok's account, written by humorist John Hodgman, calls President Trump a "moral monster."

"One reason this is so bracing is that since the election, the tactic of most establishment white dudes (on both sides) has been to blandly ignore, forget, and/or smugly eye-roll past what a moral monster Trump was and is," Hodgman wrote.

Another tweet liked by Strzok, written by comedian Jim Carrey, compares Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., to a "vile insect." Separately, Strzok also endorsed a tweet by "Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill decrying "complicit treason-weasels" in the Republican party.

Strzok's account follows a variety of other anti-Trump Twitter users, including Rosie O'Donnell and ex-CIA Director John Brennan.

The GoFundMe account described Strzok as a "proud husband" despite his affair with a former FBI lawyer, decried "politicized" attacks on his service and asked for money to go into a trust.

TERMINATED JAMES COMEY'S SECRET TWITTER ACCOUNT REVEALED

"Unlike those who typically become the focus of partisan investigations in Washington, Pete is not politically connected, hes not a wealthy lobbyist and hes not interested in using his notoriety for personal gain," the account stated. "Because of this, he doesnt have deep pockets that allow him to pay for the significant legal bills he has incurred to defend himself and the FBI against these political attacks, or to easily cover the expenses incurred by his lost income."

According to a bombshell report by the Justice Department's inspector general, bureau attorney Lisa Page texted Strzok in August 2016 to ask: [Trumps] not ever going to become president, right? Right?!

No. No he wont. Well stop it, Strzok responded. He was having an extramarital affair at the time with Page.

The DOJ watchdog found that Strzok's bevy of anti-Trump texts using FBI-issued phones had undermined the FBI's appearance of impartiality, although the IG did not definitively find that bias specifically motivated any of Strzok's official actions.

SEVEN BOMBSHELL REVELATIONS FROM THE DOJ INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT ON FBI, DOJ BIAS

At an incendiary hearing earlier this year, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, unloaded on Strzok, asking him "How many times did you look so innocent into your wife's eyes and lie to her?"

Strzok's actions on Twitter and GoFundMe have some recent precedent. Former FBI Director James Comey, who was fired last year, was revealed to have a secret Twitter account himself in late 2017.

And former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was fired in March -- just days before he would have been eligible for a lifetime pension -- also set up a GoFundMe account in March. He raised more than a half million dollars before shutting down the account, more than doubling his original goal of $250,000.

McCabe was fired after it was determined that he lied to investigators reviewing the bureaus probe of Hillary Clintons private email server.
Melissa Howard, the GOP candidate for a Florida state House seat who was accused of lying about her college degree and NRA rating apologized on Monday, pledging to stay in the race and lead by example from now on.

After questions arose about Howards academic credentials, the state House candidate posted a photo of what she said was a copy of her transcripts to Facebook. She also sent photos of what she said was her diploma to media outlets, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

But Robin Parker, general counsel for Miami University, told the Herald-Tribune that Howard never graduated from the college and questioned the diplomas authenticity.

On Monday Howard admitted on her Facebook page that she didn't graduate from the school.

"I made a mistake in saying that I completed my degree. What I did was wrong and set a bad example for someone seeking public service. I am staying in the race and intend to win and lead by example from now on," she said.

Even if she dropped out, it's too late to get her name off the ballot ahead of the Aug. 28 primary. Vote-by-mail ballots were sent out a month ago. The seat represents portions of Manatee and Sarasota counties, where about 20,000 Republican votes already have been cast.

The Herald-Tribune also reported that Howard posted about an A rating from the National Rifle Association on Facebook; however, Marion Hammer, a former NRA president who now leads the group's lobbying efforts in Florida, said Howard actually received a B grade.

Howard did not specifically reference the NRA rating controversy in her Monday apology.

Her primary opponent, Tommy Gregory, didn't immediately comment.

Fox News Kaitlyn Schallhorn and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In a stunning move, Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to debate Democrat challenger Cynthia Nixon on Monday, after she spent months pressing the incumbent to agree to a face-off.

The forum is set for Aug. 29 at Hofstra U. and will air live on WCBS-TV and other CBS stations around the state, according to the Cuomo-controlled state Democratic Party.

The Nixon campaign quickly agreed to the debate, even though it said it had no role in negotiating the debates rules.

TRUMP DARES CUOMO TO RUN AGAINST HIM IN 2020

Cynthia will debate Governor Cuomo backwards and in high heels if she has to, said top Nixon strategist Rebecca Katz.

Click for more from The New York Post.
The EU said Friday it will give Bosnia 6 million euros to cope with an influx of migrants crossing the country in hope of reaching Western Europe.

The aid, which comes on top of 1.5 million euros already granted in June, is aimed at helping the poor Balkan country provide housing and other basic services to the thousands of refugees and migrants inside its borders.

The new fund should also help Bosnian authorities to boost efforts against human trafficking and strengthen border control, the EU's delegation in the country said in a statement.

More than 10,000 migrants have entered Bosnia illegally since January, according to the latest government figures, carving a new route through the Balkans.

"About 60 percent of these people, or a little more, have emerged" and crossed into Croatia, an EU member state, said Bosnia's Minister of Security Dragan Mektic.

The rest remain stuck in two northwestern Bosnian towns near the border, with little to no support from the government.

Many have been camping out in parks or abandoned buildings, while the Red Cross and local volunteers have been providing meals and other basic services.

Anger has been mounting in Bihac, one of the main hubs, over the government's poor management of the influx.

Many of the migrants are young men, hailing from Iran and Pakistan.

So far the influx does not compare with the hundreds of thousands of migrants who arrived in Europe via the 'Balkans Route' in 2015-16, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

That trail, which mostly avoided Bosnia's mountainous terrain, was closed in March 2016.

Yet smaller numbers of people, seeking alternative ways, still cross the region to reach the EU.

In June Bosnia's Mektic accused the EU of refusing to finance a reception centre in Bosnia's northwest because it was too close to their border.

But on Tuesday he said the bloc had agreed to "temporarily" fund a centre until a better location could be found.

Another reception facility is being planned in a former military barracks in Hadzici, near Sarajevo, with support from The Council of Europe Development Bank.

The Czech Republic said on Tuesday it would provide an additional one million euros to help Bosnian police better patrol their borders.

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Hotly contested gubernatorial primary races across the country could make history on Tuesday, as Republicans hope to continue to erode Democratic control of New England governorships and progressives look to nominate the nation's first-ever transgender candidate to a state's highest office.

In deep-blue Connecticut, which went for Hillary Clinton by double-digits in the 2016 presidential campaign, Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim and wealthy businessman Ned Lamont are competing for the Democratic nomination to succeed deeply unpopular Gov. Dan Malloy.

Malloy, who decided not to seek a third term, was shown by some polls to be the least popular governor in the nation, with critics citing the state's high taxes and major budget woes. That's left an opening for Republicans, who are looking to continue to encroach on governorships in the traditionally liberal New England.

The GOP currently holds the governorships of four out of six states in the region, including Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

New England, long a liberal stronghold, has been home to something of a Republican insurgence in recent years, with GOP candidates attributing their success to a healthy mixture of fiscal conservatism, socially moderate views and a willingness to collaborate with political rivals.

TUESDAY'S BIG PRIMARY: WILL THE #METOO MOVEMENT HAVE A ROLE?

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, former First Selectman Tim Herbst, businessman Steve Obsitnik, former investment banker Bob Stefanowski and former hedge fund manager David Stemerman are the candidates for the GOP nomination in Connecticut's governor race, and they've also cited an additional factor: widespread unhappiness with state Democratic leadership.

"There is definitely frustration, and I think thats why you sort of see that red tide, a mini red tide if you will, out in this part of the state in terms of seats flipping from blue to red, Boughton, the GOPs endorsed candidate, told The Associated Press.

However, the Republican candidates have disagreed on what to do with the state's income tax. Stefanowski and Boughton have said they want to eliminate it entirely, while Stemerman and Obsitnik have balked at the idea.

Meanwhile, in Vermont, Republican Gov. Phil Scott is running for re-election  and is favored to win it. No sitting governor has been defeated in Vermont since 1962, but Democrats have two candidates running who could make history, and some Republicans remain upset about Scott's decision to sign gun-control legislation into law earlier this year.

WATCH: PROTESTERS HECKLE 'TRAITOR' VERMONT GOVERNOR FOR SIGNING ANTI-GUN LAW

Christine Hallquist is vying to be the first openly transgender woman to serve as a U.S. governor. A former CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative, Hallquist is focused on tackling climate change and implementing universal health care in the Green Mountain State.

"Nationally, I want to be known as the first trans candidate."  Christine Hallquist

She's appealed to Vermonters with a progressive message including a livable wage, Medicare for all, free public college education and high-speed broadband access  even to those who live on remote back roads.

"That's how I want to be known in Vermont," Hallquist, 62, told The Associated Press in an interview at her Burlington offices. "Nationally, I want to be known as the first trans candidate."

Another Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Vermont is hoping to make history on Monday, as well: a 14-year-old boy who took advantage of the state constitution's lack of an age requirement to hold office.

The boy, Ethan Sonneborn, has hit the ground running, attending debates and insisting he could lead the state.

"I think Vermonters should take me seriously because I have practical progressive ideas, and I happen to be 14, not the other way around," Sonneborn said in a recent televised gubernatorial forum. "I think that my message and my platform transcend age."

In April, Scott signed what for Vermont was historic  if mild by national standards  restrictions on gun ownership, angering his Republican base. His once sky-high popularity has waned, potentially leaving an opening for a well-funded Democratic challenger. Scott faces a primary challenge from Springfield businessman Keith Stern, who describes himself as a conservative running on financial issues.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin and Minnesota are home to tight races with national significance.

In Wisconsin, eight Democrats are running in the primary to take on incumbent Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican and former presidential candidate who faces only one challenger within his own party. Trump barely eked out a win over Clinton in the 2016 presidential election in Wisconsin, earning 47.8 percent of the vote compared to her 47.0 percent.

Walker has warned of a possible "blue wave" in November, saying "the wind's not at our back."

And in Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty is hoping to stage a political comeback and become Minnesotas governor again, in a race that Fox News considers a tossup.

Pawlenty is one of three candidates vying for the GOP nomination for governor to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. His main opponent is Jeff Johnson, who was the partys 2014 gubernatorial nominee. On the Democrats side are: state Rep. Erin Murphy, Minnesota Attorney Gen. Lori Swanson and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.

Pawlenty said he retired from politics after he suspended his 2012 presidential campaign. He was first elected as Minnesotas governor in 2002 and was re-elected four years later. After he left the statehouse, he spent several years working for the Financial Services Roundtable in Washington, D.C

Also in Minnesota, Rep. Keith Ellisons campaign for state attorney general was thrown for a loop after an ex-girlfriend publicly alleged he emotionally and physically abused her during the course of their relationship.

Ellison was considered the heavy favorite leading up to the primary, given his fundraising advantage and leadership in the Democratic National Committee as its deputy chairman. He also got support from 2016 presidential contender and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn contributed to this report.
Washington state political newcomer Sarah Smith, a 30-year-old progressive who has shared many of the left-wing views of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, was projected Monday to advance to the general election in her bid for Congress.

As a result, voters in Washington's 9th congressional district will have to choose between a Democrat named Smith and a Republican named Smith -- 11-term incumbent Adam Smith -- in November's general election.

The Associated Press called the second general election spot for Sarah Smith six days after the polls closed and thousands of mail votes were counted. According to the Washington Secretary of State's office, Sarah Smith led Republican Doug Basler by 2,886 votes Monday evening. Both contenders finished well behind Adam Smith, who garnered 48.5 percent of the 144,973 votes cast.

"We have an uphill battle in front of us, but we have the will, the drive, and the people behind us," Sarah Smith tweeted Saturday. "Lets do this."

Sarah Smith was recruited to run by Brand New Congress, the same group that backed Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's Democratic primary this summer. Smith, who like Ocasio-Cortez was drawn to politics by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, has welcomed the comparison -- at one point telling Reddit users that she was running for Congress "on the same slate as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."

Sarah Smith's platform espouses single-payer health care and free public college, views shared by the incumbent Rep. Adam Smith. She has also rejected corporate donations, calling them "legally protected bribery," and reportedly has raised about $47,000 for her campaign -- almost all of it from small, out-of-state donors.

By contrast, Adam Smith has raised approximately $600,000 and has expressed confidence the residents of the 9th district will return him to Congress for a 12th term.

"Queens is not SeaTac or Seattle, I am not Joe Crowley, and Sarah Smith is not Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez," Adam Smith told the Seattle Times last month. "You've got one candidate whos trying to hitch her star to some sort of national platform, youve got another one whos actually committed to the people that I want to represent."

Fox News' Andrew O'Reilly contributed to this report.
Allegations of domestic abuse against Rep. Keith Ellison, the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the first Muslim elected to Congress, continued to rock the race for attorney general in Minnesota as voters headed to the polls on Tuesday.

Key primary races were also underway in Connecticut, where Republicans hope to snatch yet another governorship in deep-blue New England, as well as Vermont and Wisconsin. The contests, which include House, Senate, and gubernatorial primaries, are a major test of President Trump's influence in the Midwest ahead of the November midterm elections, as several candidates fight to present themselves as the most pro-Trump choices.

But the abuse allegation against Ellison, who has vowed to fight President Trump's agenda by seeking to restore ObamaCare and net neutrality regulations, loomed especially large nationally. Critics accused party leaders of staying mum on the situation for political reasons.

State attorney general positions like the one Ellison is seeking are increasingly influential nationwide, as state governments escalate their legal assaults on the Trump administration over a variety of policy matters.

Ellison has long been a leader in the Democratic Party. The divorced 54-year-old is a six-term congressman who became deputy chairman of the DNC last year after falling just short of the top job. He was among candidates rushing to file for Minnesota's attorney general office after incumbent Lori Swanson made a late decision to run for governor.

But his efforts to secure the Democratic nomination for Minnesota attorney general were upended this weekend, when the son of Ellison's former girlfriend, Karen Monahan, posted on Facebook that he had seen angry text messages from Ellison to his mother and a video that showed him dragging Monahan off a bed.

Ellison denied any abuse or threatening messages and said the supposed video "does not exist because I have never behaved in this way."

Late Tuesday, just hours before polls closed in Minnesota, the DNC issued its first reaction to the allegations.

"These allegations recently came to light and we are reviewing them," the DNC told NPR. "All allegations of domestic abuse are disturbing and should be taken seriously."

Meanwhile, former DNC communications director Luis Miranda told NPR: "The party has no choice but to suspend him at a minimum until they figure out what's going on. Frankly, it would be malpractice not to. We've made it clear we're going to take these accusations seriously."

The DNC's delayed response to the episode had prompted backlash from top conservatives over the weekend.

"Its great to be the DNC," wrote former George W. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer on Twitter Monday. "If Ellison were a Republican, the press would have knocked over the doors of the RNC demanding a statement. But the DNCs co-chairman? No comment from the DNC. No feeding frenzy from the press."

KEITH ELLISON, UNDER FIRE FOR FARRAKHAN TIES, CLAIMS HE HASN'T SEEN THE RACIST LEADER SINCE 2013

Former Trump press sectretary Sean Spicer agreed, saying: "Not only is the DNC silent, the media has failed to cover it: DNC Silent As Deputy Chair Ellison Battles Domestic Abuse Allegations."

On Tuesday, Spicer added, "So the Sierra Club has issued a statement about the allegations against the Deputy DNC chairman......but the DNC still has not ....and most major 'news' outlets dont seem to have an issue with that."

With a huge fundraising advantage and star power over his opponents  including a visit from 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders  Ellison was considered the heavy favorite before the Monahan allegation surfaced.

SANDERS ENDORSEMENT THE KISS OF DEATH? SOCIALIST TORCHBEARERS FLAME OUT AFTER HIS RALLIES

Monahan, a Minneapolis political organizer, said via Twitter that her son's posting was "true." But she later told Minnesota Public Radio News that she would not release the video because it is "humiliating."

Also running in the Democratic primary were state Rep. Debra Hilstrom, former Department of Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, former Ramsey County Attorney Tom Foley and attorney Matt Pelikan.

Governor's races in Connecticut, Vermont, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

Connecticut is ground-zero for Republican efforts Tuesday to continue their gains in deeply progressive New England. Republicans hold the governorships of four out of six states in the region, including Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire -- which the GOP attributes to its candidates' fiscal conservatism, moderate social policies, and Democrats' financial mismanagement.

Even though Connecticut voted for Hillary Clinton by double-digits in 2016, the state's governor, Dan Malloy, is deeply unpopular, oweing to high taxes and an ongoing budget crisis. Malloy declined to seek a third term.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, former First Selectman Tim Herbst, businessman Steve Obsitnik, former investment banker Bob Stefanowski and former hedge fund manager David Stemerman are the Republicans looking to succeed him. They have disagreed on key issues, such as whether to eliminate the state's income tax.

In Vermont, Republican Gov. Phil Scott is favored to win re-election, despite drawing the ire of conservative critics by signing the state's first major gun control law earlier this year. No sitting governor has been defeated in Vermont since 1962.

WATCH: PROTESTERS HECKLE 'TRAITOR' VERMONT GOVERNOR FOR SIGNING ANTI-GUN LAW

Two Democrats are vying to make history in the state on Tuesday, despite long odds. Christine Hallquist is vying to be the first openly transgender woman to serve as a U.S. governor. A former CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative, Hallquist is focused on tackling climate change and implementing universal health care in the Green Mountain State.

And a 14-year old boy, Ethan Sonneborn, has also thrown his hat into the ring, taking advantage of the state constitution's lack of an age requirement to seek the governorship.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty -- who briefly ran for president in 2012 -- is hoping to stage a political comeback and become Minnesotas governor again, in a race to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton that Fox News considers a tossup.

Pawlenty has said he voted for Trump, but later called the president "unhinged and unfit" -- which may alienate conservatives in the state.

During the campaign, Pawlenty and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson have spent much of their time in the campaign fighting over who previously insulted the president the least. Both men criticized Trump during the 2016 campaign, with Johnson calling the president a "jackass" and Pawlenty pulling his support after the "Access Hollywood tape" of Trump bragging he could grope women because he was famous.

Now, they both say they voted for Trump in the end and would welcome the president's support. Trump has not endorsed either candidate.

Pawlenty is seeking the nomination against several other Republicans, including Jeff Johnson, who was the partys 2014 gubernatorial nominee. On the Democrats side are: state Rep. Erin Murphy, Minnesota Attorney Gen. Lori Swanson and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.

Finally, in Wisconsin, Democrats are making yet another effort to unseat Republican Scott Walker, a well-known union buster who is seeking a third term. A bevy of Democrats with some high-profile endorsements are competing for the right to take him on in November.

House and Senate races

A series of House and Senate races are also underway Tuesday. Broadly, Republicans are looking to make gains by winning some House seats in Minnesota, while Democrats are targeting House races in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Perhaps the most notable races are in Wisconsin, where Democrats are fiercely competing for the nomination to succeed outgoing Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, who announced his resignation earlier this year. Teacher Cathy Myers and union leader Randy Bryce are locked in a battle for the Democratic nomination; Ryan-backed businessman Bryan Steil is leading the GOP pack.

Also in Wisconsin, Republicans Kevin Nicholson and state Sen. Leah Vukmir are seeking to oust Sen. Tammy Baldwin in November. The seat is considered essential for Democrats if they want to hold the Senate, and in a sign of the race's importance, more than $35M has been spent in the race.

The state party is backing Vukmir, an ally of Gov. Scott Walker. But her critique of Trump as "offensive to everyone" during the 2016 primaries has provided an opening for Nicholson, a Marine veteran and former Democrat who spoke on behalf of Vice President Al Gore at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn and Associated Press contributed to this report.
The defense for Paul Manafort rested their case Tuesday without calling the ex-Trump campaign chairman to the stand to testify in the bank and tax fraud case against him.

Addressing the court for the first time during his trial, Manafort stood up and told Judge T.S. Ellis III that he did not want to testify.

After two weeks of testimony from prosecution witnesses, until now it had been unclear whether the defense would put forward witnesses or evidence of their own. Special Counsel Robert Muellers team rested their case Monday afternoon.

We believe the government has failed to meet their burden of proof and weve rested on that, Manafort defense attorney Kevin Downing told reporters outside court.

The trial now heads to closing arguments, set to begin Wednesday morning. Ellis told both sides to limit those arguments to one and a half hours each.

PROSECUTION RESTS CASE IN MANAFORT CASE

Manafort, 69, is facing tax evasion and bank fraud charges after being accused of hiding income earned from his Ukrainian work from the IRS. Hes also accused of fraudulently obtaining millions in bank loans.

Manafort has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ellis on Tuesday also ruled against the defenses motion to acquit. The trial was delayed for two hours Tuesday after the morning proceedings began under seal and were closed to the public and press.

Before the trial adjourned for the day, the court took part in whats called a charging conference - where the judge and lawyers from both sides discussed what the judge would tell the jury before deliberations.

Ellis, who has not shied from making colorful comments during the trial, signaled that he will tell the jury to disregard any comments he made during witness testimony that might have shown his opinion.

Do you think I made any comments, Ellis asked both sides.

After a short silence, prosecutor Greg Andres stood and said, Yes. There was audible laughter in the courtroom.

Last week, the prosecutions star witness, Rick Gates  Manaforts former business partner who struck a plea deal to cooperate with the government -- testified that he and Manafort committed bank and tax fraud together.

On Monday, James Brennan, the vice president of The Federal Savings Bank, testified under immunity about a loan the bank gave Manafort. According to Brennan, the bank approved $16 million in loans to Manafort by CEO Stephen Calk, who was angling for a cabinet position in the Trump administration.

When asked by prosecutor Greg Andres if he thought the loan should have been approved, Brennan replied, My recommendation was the loan not be made.

Brennan said the loan was approved because of Calk. He said the Federal Savings Bank ended up losing $11.8 million on the loan.

The prosecution had been expected to rest on Friday. But Ellis mysteriously delayed testimony in the case for five hours on Friday. The postponement was significant, as prosecutors had been hoping to finish calling witnesses Friday -- and Ellis has a reputation as a stickler for keeping trials moving.

Manaforts legal troubles wont end with this trial. He is also facing charges in a separate federal court case in Washington, including conspiring against the United States, conspiring to launder money, failing to register as an agent of a foreign principal and providing false statements.

Fox News Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
The Trump administration has made some dangerous changes to environmental policy, but the damage so far has been less than it initially appeared, former Vice President Al Gore said in an interview Monday.

He (President Trump) has had less of an impact so far than I feared that he would. Someone said last year his administration is a blend of malevolence and incompetence, Gore said in an interview with The Associated Press in Greensboro. I think theyve made some mistakes in some of the moves theyve made. The courts have blocked some of what they wanted to do as a result.

Even the Republican-controlled Congress has stepped in at times, he said. The U.S. system has a lot of inherent resilience, Gore said. Its hard for one person, even the president, to change things very quickly if the majority of American people dont want them changed.

Gore was in North Carolina on Sunday and Monday to speak on behalf of the Poor Peoples Campaign, which names ecological devastation as one of the problems hurting poor people. Gore shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his campaign to protect the environment.

He authored a 1992 book on the climate, Earth in the Balance, just before he became vice president. His work also includes the 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth. More recently he founded The Climate Reality Project .

Historians say a 1982 campaign against a PCB landfill in North Carolinas majority-black Warren County helped give birth to the environmental justice movement so its especially appropriate that the Poor Peoples Campaign has its roots in the state, Gore said. The campaigns co-chair is the Rev. William Barber, who founded the Moral Monday movement in North Carolina and has served as president of the state NAACP chapter.

Low-income communities typically suffer the brunt of environmental damage because they lack the economic and political clout necessary to make their case and defend themselves so theyre more likely to become locations of these pollution streams and waste sites, Gore said.

He said current dangers include the loosening of regulations for dumps for coal ash, which contains toxic metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.

The new acting secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew Wheeler, was quick to ease rules for handling the toxic ash from more than 400 U.S. coal-fired power plants. Coal ash is a particular issue in North Carolina, where a major leak from a Duke Energy site in 2014 left coal ash coating 70 miles of the Dan River on the North Carolina-Virginia border.
Former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, who resigned from office last year amid a lurid sex scandal, has not ruled out a run for U.S. Senate in 2020 against incumbent Doug Jones.

In a recent interview with Yellowhammer News, Bentley kept open the possibility of running, saying, If God shows me a new avenue where I can do that, Ill do it.

Adding to the speculation is new activity on Bentleys social media accounts.

But there is a potential legal hurdle. As part of Bentleys plea agreement with prosecutors investigating his actions, he was prevented from running for ofce again in the state -- yet one former prosecutor says Bentley could get around that agreement.

Yellowhammer News reported that former Deputy Montgomery County District Attorney Richard White says Bentley may be eligible for a Senate run, as the ban could be unenforceable since Bentley had already completed his probation and community service.

Coined the Luv Gov, Bentley resigned from ofce in May 2017 following an affair with his former political adviser Rebekah Mason. While governor, the Republican also was alleged to have misused state resources. And it was later found that Bentley and Mason exchanged multiple lewd text messages. Bentley eventually pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor offenses and served roughly a year of probation in addition to community service.

Alabama State Auditor and longtime Bentley critic Jim Zeigler says that a possible Bentley run against Democratic Sen. Jones would not hurt Republicans chances of winning back the seat -- because he says Bentley has no path to victory.

Local political analysts say a Bentley run most likely would not be taken seriously, and other prominent Republicans would emerge in the race.

I would be abbergasted if he was taken as a serious candidate, said Phillip Rawls, a journalism professor at Auburn University and former Alabama-based political reporter for the Associated Press. Rawls also called Bentleys plea agreement with prosecutors a huge hurdle to a possible Senate run.

Bentley and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls office did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News.
New York congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has excited the liberal base with her media blitz touting Medicare-for-all, the elimination of ICE and more.

But the Democrat's rapid-fire claims about the state of the economy and other issues have fact-checkers scrambling to provide a reality check.

The Washington Post was the latest to put her myriad claims under the microscope.

The newspaper took issue, for instance, with her claim that unemployment is low because everyone has two jobs. The Post shot this down, noting the number of people working two jobs is down from the recession -- and has remained steady at around 5 percent in recent years.

Other claims it summarily dismissed include a May 30 interview statement that ICE is required to fill 34,000 beds with detainees every single night. Both the Post and Politifact note that this is an urban legend and that ICE was only required to maintain that many beds -- not fill them.

Additionally, the Post called her out for saying a recent study found Medicare-for-all would cut health expenditures, when it found the plan would raise government expenditures by $32.6 trillion over 10 years. A separate fact check by The Associated Press aimed at this claim, made by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., notes it only cuts spending if hospitals accept Medicare-based payments of 40 percent less for those who have private insurance.

Some claims didnt warrant a check, including one appearance on CNN where she asked, Why arent we incorporating the cost of all the funeral expenses of those who died because they cant afford access to health care?

Huh? was the only response from the Posts fact-checkers.

Ocasio-Cortez has been on the interview circuit ever since her shock primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y. But the 28-year-old swiftly encountered some difficulties, starting with her interview with PBS Firing Line, in which she went in hot on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and talked about the occupation of Palestine. Asked to expand on her thoughts, she said, I am not the expert at geopolitics on this issue.

OCASIO-CORTEZ STARTS CONTROVERSY WITH COMMENTS ON ISRAELI 'OCCUPATION,' ADMITS SHE'S 'NOT THE EXPERT'



Less than two weeks later, in an appearance on The Daily Show, the candidate made a number of questionable statements on how she would pay for her big spending agenda.

"Just last year we gave the military a $700 billion dollar budget increase, which they didnt even ask for, she said. They were like, we dont want another fighter jet. Dont give us another nuclear bomb. They didnt even ask for it. And we gave it to them."

This caught the eye of Politfact, which gave her a false rating, noting that the $700 billion tag was the total defense budget for 2018, not the increase, and that the amount was more than the Defense Department settled in negotiations for Trumps budget request ($668 billion), but exactly what they requested in their annual wishlist to Congress.

Ocasio-Cortez has been pushing back against the critics. Last week, she appeared to make fun of fact-checkers criticizing her for what she called a small slip on a budgetary figure during [an] extemporaneous interview.

This girl is SO uninformed! She needs to stay quiet until she knows everything! she tweeted, while claiming they shrugged off GOP Sen. James Inhofes 2015 decision to bring a snowball to the Senate floor in a debate about climate change -- a move that was mocked by a number of outlets at the time, including The Washington Post.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Omarosa Manigault Newmans claims about a recording of President Trump using the N-word are being disputed by an ever-growing list of current and former officials, calling into question a key passage in her newly released political tell-all.

Manigault Newmans claims first surfaced this week in a media blitz to promote the book, Unhinged: An Insiders Account of the Trump White House, which hit the shelves Tuesday. In interviews and the book, she claimed she confirmed rumors of an old tape from The Apprentice in which Trump used the racial slur.

It is unclear at this point whether Manigault Newman ever heard the alleged tapeand whether it exists.

But multiple former and current officials close to the president have denied her claims.

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told Fox News he never heard of any tape.

I have never heard the president use that word ever, Lewandowski said Tuesday, adding that there was never a conversation about a tape and that it was never brought to [his] attention.

This is now a pattern of individuals who have worked inside the building who are trying to profiteer off of their relationship with the president, Lewandowski said. Its too bad, its shameful and our country, and the president, deserve better.

Michael Short, a former White House aide, also told Fox News he had no knowledge of the tape.

I never heard the president use any of the epithets alleged in the book or epithets of any kind, Short told Fox News.

Manigault Newman suggested the reason Chief of Staff John Kelly fired her from her White House post was her pursuit of the tape. She wrote in her book that former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks told Kelly that Manigault Newman was this close to getting her hands on the tape.

Given the circumstances and the timing, I had to believe that the purpose was to prevent me from getting the N-word tape, which, by logic, I was now convinced had to be real, she wrote in the prologue.

But the former Apprentice star has given varying accounts about the tape. In the book, she claimed she never heard the tape, but during interviews this week, she claimed she heard the recording after the book was written.

Lynne Patton, a former assistant to Eric Trump and now a Department of Housing and Urban Development official, pushed back on Manigault Newman's claims.

In a statement, Patton said she got a call from her on the day she was fired, informing me that she had personally heard a second-hand recording of President Trump using the N-word in a derogatory fashion. In that call, she said, Manigault Newman claimed she voluntarily submitted her resignation to Kelly and recommended that Patton should promptly do the same before the audio surfaced.

Manigault Newman claimed this week that the original source of the alleged tape was former Apprentice producer Bill Pruitt.

But Patton said she spoke to Pruitt, and he has NEVER had an audio tape of Trump using the slur.

Pruitt did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment.

Katrina Pierson, former campaign spokeswoman, also told "Fox News @ Night" that she has "no sources with that tape."

Pierson also denied ever having a conversation about the tape, adding that the reason Omarosa is facing a wrath of contradiction is because she cant keep her lies straight. Patton, too, denied being on a conference call with Manigault Newman discussing the tape rumors -- as she claimed in her book.

However, the emergence of yet another recording on Tuesday challenged that part of their claims. Manigault Newman released to CBS News a supposed recording of that phone call. It purportedly features her, Patton, Pierson and campaign communications director Jason Miller.

"I am trying to find at least what context it was used in to help us maybe try to figure out a way to spin it," Pierson says on the tape.

Patton is then heard describing a conversation she had with Trump about his alleged use of the slur.

"I said, 'Well, sir, can you think of anytime where this happened?' And he said, 'no,'" Patton is heard saying.

Manigault Newman responds: "Well, that is not true."

Pierson later says: "No, he said it. He is embarrassed by it."

Upon the release of the CBS tape, Pierson attempted to clarify her comments.

I never organized a conference call with Jason Miller to confirm Mr. Trump said anything. That discussion was nothing other than sifting through unconfirmed rumors regarding The Apprentice tape and the transcript supports my statement, Pierson said in a statement to Fox News Tuesday. Omarosa fabricated the story by conflating numerous discussions.

Also in the book, Manigault Newman claimed that pollster Frank Luntz had directly heard the N-word tape.

Luntz fired back on Friday, tweeting that her claim was flat-out false.

Im in @Omarosas book on page 149. She claims to have heard from someone who heard from me that I heard Trump use the N-word. Not only is this flat-out false (Ive never heard such a thing), but Omarosa didnt even make an effort to call or email me to verify. Very shoddy work, Luntz tweeted.

Trump on Monday night also tweeted that executive producer of The Apprentice Mark Burnett assured him there are NO TAPES where he used such a terrible and disgusting word.

@MarkBurnettTV called to say that there are NO TAPES of the Apprentice where I used such a terrible and disgusting word as attributed by Wacky and Deranged Omarosa. I dont have that word in my vocabulary, and never have. She made it up, Trump tweeted.

Fox News' Ed Henry contributed to this report.
President Trump blasted Omarosa Manigault-Newman as a crazed, crying lowlife on Tuesday morning and went so far as to call her a "dog," rapidly escalating the already heated battle between the president and the reality TV star who made her name on his show.

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog! Trump tweeted.

The presidents harsh words for Wacky Manigault-Newman, as he referred to her on Monday, come as the former White House aide and Apprentice stars book is released.

Manigault-Newmans media blitz to promote her book, Unhinged: An Insiders Account of the Trump White House, has drawn tough criticism from the White House, as she revealed she had secretly recorded Chief of Staff John Kelly as he fired her in the Situation Room.

Over the weekend, Manigault-Newman released the recording of Kelly notifying her of her firing. Manigault-Newman said Sunday that Kelly was threatening her in the White House.

In the recording, Kelly seeks Manigault-Newmans friendly departure from the administration without any difficulty in the future relative to your reputation. According to the tape, Kelly says things could get ugly for her, and that she would be open to some legal action for conduct that would merit a court martial if she were in the military.

She later released a tape of a phone call with Trump himself.

OMAROSAS REVENGE: BOOK TRASHES MOBLIKE TRUMP, EXPOSES FAMILY DRAMA, BASHES EX-COLLEAGUES

In her book, her firing is a key section. In it, she goes so far as to claim that Kelly and the White House lawyers present, upon notifying her of her termination, were holding her against her will in the Situation Room, suggesting she was at risk of an asthma attack because she initially couldn't get her inhaler.

I am an asthma sufferer, and I began to feel a tightness in my chest. I had to calm myself down or I could have had a full-blown asthma attack, Manigault-Newman writes in the prologue. I asked if I could go get my purse where I had stashed my inhaler, and they wouldnt let me leave the room. I asked why I was not allowed to leave, and they said this is how Kelly had set up the meeting.

Manigault-Newmans assistant was ultimately allowed to go get [her] purse with the inhaler.

Manigault-Newman also writes in the book that she believed her firing was related to her knowledge of a tape made in the early 2000s, in which Trump supposedly uses the N-word.

Trump strongly disputes the claims of such a tape.

White House officials, meanwhile, blasted her for making recordings of Trump and Kelly.

The thought of doing something like that to a fellow employee, not to mention the leader of the free world, is completely disgraceful, Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told "Fox & Friends."

TRUMP BLASTS WACKY OMAROSA AFTER LEAKED TAPE: VICIOUS BUT NOT SMART

And Trumps personal attorney, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said Monday that Manigault-Newman violated national security rules by taping White House officials inside the West Wing without their consentespecially in the highly secure Situation Room.

And on Monday, Trump tweeted that, People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart.

Throughout the book, though, Manigault-Newman dishes out her own insults, blasting Trump as moblike and likening him to a cult leader. She slams Vice President Pence as a swamp creature, and even calls Trump mentally and physically impaired.

In another skirmish, Trump tweeted Monday that Manigault-Newman signed a non-disclosure agreement upon her exit from the White House. But the former White House aide writes in her book that she refused to sign an NDA.
Smoke from the wildfires raging across the West is reaching as far as the East Coast, according to the National Weather Service.

A team of scientists from five universities and a handful of federally funded agencies are flying a specially equipped plane through the plumes to do the most extensive anaylsis of wildfire smoke ever.

"We'll take this aircraft behind me as close as we can into fires as safety allows," according to principal investigator and Assistant Professor Emily Fischer, with Colorado State University. CSU is one of the institutions participating in the far-reaching study.

"We're primarily looking at the smoke in the first day that it's in the atmosphere because there's a lot of interesting chemistry that will eventually determine the air quality and climate impact of that smoke," Fischer said.

The C-130 aircraft flies out of Boise, Idaho, because of that city's proximity to multiple fires. The plane's instruments pull the air in and generate information in real time about the composition of the smoke. Samples are also captured for later analysis in the lab.

"What's different about this field campaign is just the extensive instrumentation that's on the plane," Fischer explained. "What we're doing is repeatedly sampling smoke under as many environmental conditions and fire types in as many takes as we can."

The information is badly needed, especially out west where a smoky haze has covered parts of several states all summer. In Sacramento, one person complained to TV station KOVR that it feels, "A lot like allergies, my eyes are irritated, I feel like it's harder to breathe, all of my senses just kind of feel affected."

Sutter Health emergency room doctor Adam Dougherty told the station, "It's a toxic exposure, it's like second-hand smoke everywhere. I've definitely seen more pediatric airway issues things you would normally see in January in the middle of flu season."

Dr. Anthony Gerber at National Jewish Health in Denver said there's simply not enough known about what's in wildfire smoke to make precise predictions about how it will affect everyone.

"The chemistry is complicated," said Gerber. "What's burning, is not the same. I mean, so not all forests are the same. How much soil that becomes part of the particulate cloud is not the same. If it burns structures it's not the same and then as it moves and mixes with other pollutants, it can really change."

The researchers say while they may be flying into the smoke of an active fire, they are not there to battle it, and take precautions to stay out of the way of firefighting planes and crews.

The team members said full results aren't expected for another year, but within the next three months they could have some unique insight.
The Hong Kong office of China's foreign ministry condemned Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club on Tuesday for allowing a speech by a Hong Kong independence activist, saying the reporters' group was not outside the law.

The club should be very clear that freedom of the press cannot be abused, the office said in a statement on its website.

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An extremely rare 1913 Liberty Head nickel is expected to fetch between $3 million and $5 million when it is auctioned on Wednesday.

The Liberty Head nickel is one of only five in existence, Vicken Yegparian, vice president of Numismatics at auction house Stacks Bowers Galleries, told Fox News.

No-one really knows the circumstances of their production, he said. This is the best of the five, its known as the Eliasberg specimen.

DISCOVERY OF A LIFETIME: 'FAKE' GOLD COIN ACTUALLY WORTH MILLIONS

Named for Louis E. Eliasberg Sr., the banker and famed coin collector who bought it in 1948, the nickel will be auctioned at the American Numismatic Associations Worlds Fair of Money at Philadelphias Pennsylvania Convention Center on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. EDT.

Yegparian told Fox News that the five Liberty Head nickels were produced just before the U.S. Mint began producing nickels with a Buffalo Head design.

Of the remaining four, two are off the market  one was donated to the Smithsonian in the seventies, and one was donated to the American Numismatic Association in the 1980s, he said. There remain two other ones in private hands.

2,200-YEAR-OLD GOLD COIN DISCOVERED IN EGYPT

The nickel comes from the family of Dr. William Morton-Smith, who Stacks Bowers describes as an old-time collector of coins.

Rare coins are big business. Earlier this year, a small $5 gold coin produced by the San Francisco Mint during the height of the California Gold Rush was estimated to be worth millions of dollars. The coins owner had initially thought that the money was fake.

Fox News Chris Ciaccia contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
In popular science literature, much ink has been spilled on the supposed collapse of Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, as it's known in the local language.

Jared Diamond's 2005 book "Collapse," for example, presents a chilling version of what happened in the centuries after Polynesian seafarers colonized the remote Pacific island around A.D. 1200: Rivalry between clans drove the islanders to build hundreds of increasingly big "moai," the larger-than-life statues carved from stone. This fierce competition and population growth caused a hubristic over-exploitation of resources, driving the Rapanui people to desperation, and even cannibalism, and Europeans arriving in the 18th century encountered a society well on its way to decline, according to Diamond's account.

But archaeologists who have been studying the ancient quarries, stone tools and other resources on the island have recently been building a different picture of what happened before European contact. A study published today (Aug. 13) in the Journal of Pacific Archaeology adds a new piece of evidence to the case against Rapa Nui's collapse. [Image Gallery: Walking Easter Island Statues]

Rapa Nui is probably most famous today for its 1,000 moai, the towering statues that were placed on platforms ("ahu") and sometimes adorned with colossal hats or topknots called "pukao." The monuments which weigh as much as 82 tons (74 metric tons) and are found all over the island's coastal areas were amazingly built without the help of wheels or large animals.

Previous archaeological research has shown that no one clan had all the stone resources within its territory to make these massive monuments, and that there were preferred quarries for each type of stone. For example, the majority of moai came from a singletuff source, and most of the pukao came from a single red scoria quarry complex. In the new study, Dale Simpson, Jr., an adjunct professor of anthropology at the College of DuPage in Illinois, set out to investigate the origin of basalt stone tools that were used in the moai carving.

"Each quarry is like a finger and each stone you pull from it is going to have a fingerprint," Simpson told Live Science. Simpson and his colleagues sought to match the geochemical signatures in a set of 21 basalt picks and adzes (or "toki") with basalt quarries on the island. He said that he and his colleagues were "pretty amazed" to find out that the stones were mainly coming from one quarry complex, even though there are other sites to get basalt on the island.

"This continued pattern of minimum sources-maximum use suggests a form of collaboration," Simpson told Live Science. In other words, he thinks the clans had a system of exchange that allowed them to trespass on each other's territory to share resources. "I think that that goes against the collapse model that says all they were doing was competing to build bigger statues," he added. [7 Bizarre Ancient Cultures That History Forgot]

Study co-author Jo Anne Van Tilburg, a UCLA archaeologist who is also director of the Easter Island Statue Project, said the results support "a view of craft specialization based on information exchange, but we can't know at this stage if the interaction was collaborative." In a statement, Van Tilburg suggested that it's possible that the quarrying of the stone tools "may also have been coercive in some way," and that the study "encourages further mapping and stone sourcing."

Carl Lipo, a professor of anthropology at Binghamton University in New York, who was not involved in the study, said the results aren't really surprising. "The fact that there isn't 'control' of resources is pretty clear when one looks at other aspects of the record," Lipo said in an email to Live Science. "Yet, such findings are important because of the degree of misunderstandings and assumptions people have about the island."

"What archaeologists who conduct fieldwork on the island have learned in the past 20 years is that the evidence dramatically contradicts the tales that most people have heard," he said. Lipo explained that there is no archaeological evidence for the control of resources or any hierarchical distribution of resources, which is leading to a new narrative about the pre-contact Rapa Nui society: that the island was not dominated by massive chiefdoms, and rather, communities shared resources without any prehistoric warfare.

Simpson noted that there are still thousands of Rapanui people alive today. Other archaeological research has suggested that population levels on the island peaked around the time of first European contact, in 1722, and then went into sharp decline in the century that followed. In another study that he published earlier this year in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Simpson argued that the impacts of colonization, which included disease, violence and forced labor, "arguably played the largest catalysts for Rapanui cultural change."

Original article on Live Science.
The Air Force will soon operate F-35s with fast-evolving collision-avoidance technology able to help fighter jets avoid ground collisions by using computer automation to redirect an aircraft in the event that a pilot is injured or incapacitated.

Later this year, the Air Force will fly an F-35 equipped with an existing technology now in F-16s called Air-Ground Collision Avoidance System, or AGCAS.

The system is slated to be fully operational on an F-35A as early as summer, 2019, service officials said.

Preliminary AGCAS development work has been conducted as part of ongoing F-35 development.

AGCAS development and integration efforts were completed previously on the F-16 post-block aircraft. Lessons learned from the F-16 AGCAS effort will be applied to the F-35, Air Force spokeswoman Capt. Hope Cronin told Warrior Maven.

AGCAS uses sensors to identify and avoid ground objects such as nearby buildings, mountains or dangerous terrain; AGCAS has already saved lives, senior Air Force officials tell Warrior Maven.

There can of course be a range of reasons why an aircraft might collide with the ground, one of which could simply be that a pilot winds up pulling so many "G's" that they lose consciousness, a senior Air Force weapons developer said.

The technology calculates where the aircraft is and where it would hit the ground based upon the way it is flying at the time, service officials said. If the fighter jet is flying toward a potential collision with the ground, the on-board computer system will override the flight path and pull the aircraft away from the ground.

Most of the algorithms, developed by Lockheed Martin, are continuously being refined and testing using simulation technologies.

Interestingly, results from a case study featuring test-pilot input on AGCAS details some of the ways pilots can learn to work with and trust the systems computer automation. This question of how pilots would rely upon the system emerged as a substantial concern, according to the research, because the system takes control away from the pilot.

Understanding pilot trust of Auto-GCAS is critical to its operational performance because pilots have the option to turn the system on or off during operations, writes an essay about the case study called Trust-Based Analysis of an Air Force Collision Avoidance System in Ergonomics in Design: The Quarterly of Human Factors Applications.

The essay further explains that results from their study found that AGCAS was deemed far superior by test pilots to previous warning systems which are prone to false alarms and can degrade trust.

Warning systems require the user to manually respond and thus are not effective when the pilot is incapacitated or spatially disoriented, and the pilot may not always correctly recognize a warning or correctly make the terrain collision evasion maneuver, the essay writes.

Air-to-Air Collision Avoidance

In a concurrent but longer-term effort, the Air Force is now also working to develop algorithms to stop air-to-air collisions. This technology, developers explain, is much more difficult than thwarting air-to-ground collisions because is involves two fast-moving aircraft, rather one aircraft and the ground.

Envision a scenario where two or more supersonic fighter jets are conducting combat maneuvers in such close proximity, that they come less than 500-feet away from one another -- when an automatic computer system engineered into the aircraft takes over and re-directs the fighters, saving lives and averting a catastrophic collision.

This is precisely the scenario scientists at the Air Force Research Lab are hoping to make possible by the early 2020s through an ongoing effort to deploy Air Automatic Collision Avoidance System, or ACAS.

Algorithms are being specifically developed to automatically give computers flight control of an F-16, once it flies to within 500-feet or less than another aircraft, Air Force Research Laboratory developers have told Warrior Maven. The computer systems are integrated with data links, sensors and other communications technologies to divert soon-to-crash aircraft.

There have been several successful tests of the ACAS technology at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., using F-16s.

So far, the Air Force has conducted 19 "two-ship" flights and one "three ship" flights using the system to prevent collisions, officials said.

The system is also engineered to identify and divert aircraft that are "non-cooperative," meaning not from the US Air Force, AFRL developers said; sensors are designed to work quickly to detect a flight path or approaching trajectory with the hope of thwarting a possible collision.

While this effort has been underway for quite some time, an Air National Guard mid-air collision of two F-16s in South Carolina last year underscores the service's interest in rapidly expanding promising collision avoidance technology to incorporate air-to-air crashes as well as air-to-ground incidents. Fortunately, in this instance both pilots ejected safely without injury, multiple reports and service statements said.

More Weapons and Technology - WARRIOR MAVEN (CLICK HERE)-
Cinemas cant lure viewers away from Netflix with big screens  so now theyre trying three big screens.

Movie houses across the world are increasingly adopting a new gimmick called ScreenX, which surrounds audiences in 270-degrees  one screen at the front, two at each side  for an experience that is supposed to be more immersive than the home film-watching experience.

The South Korean technology has been around since 2012, and is now installed at more than 150 theaters across the globe  recently debuting in the UKs largest cinema chain, which eventually plans on rolling it out at more than 100 of its locations.

Three cinemas in the US have also installed ScreenX  two in California and one in Las Vegas.

Last years Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was the first film released in the US to utilize the three screens, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer described the panoramic viewing experience as exciting at the time.

Seeing our film span three entire walls of an auditorium, and to be able to have the film extend beyond the screen has been exciting, he enthused in a press release.

But a reviewer for Los Angeles Magazine said only around 10 to 15 percent of the film actually included the extra visuals, and said it didnt really live up to expectations.

The main screen was the same size, but the visuals extended down the walls and into the audiences peripheral vision. Of course, theater walls also have things like doors with lighted exit signs, so they arent a perfect viewing surface. Even so, ScreenX had my attention, the mag wrote.

The extra-wide ocean looked great  and then it was gone,

Since then, Black Panther and Kingsman: The Golden Circle were both released in ScreenX format  but again reviewers werent blown away.

While some of the African vista shots are beautiful, the visual quality of the extended footage projected onto the ScreenX theatre walls is not of the same high quality as the main film footage, Business Insider wrote of Black Panther.

While we enjoyed some of the expanded visuals, the overall experience was underwhelming.

Its a costly experiment  it costs about $400,000 for the suite of projectors and control center needed for ScreenX, according to a Variety report.

And some movie buffs note that 3D was also supposed offer an immersive viewing experience to draw customers back to the silver screen  but interest seems to have faded.

In 2009, when films like Ice Age and Avatar were coming out, [3D] was the great new thing, says Variety film reporter Robert Mitchell.

That lasted for a couple of years until people started to realize that some films were being made that didnt really use the enhancements well. And it started to put people off going.

With Post Wires
Police raced to evacuate animals from a shelter in California as the rapidly spreading Nelson Fire quickly approached, video posted to social media on Monday showed.

Officers from the Vacaville Police Department could be seen in the footage guiding dogs and cats into their vehicles as smoke from the approaching grew thicker on Saturday.

As the Nelson Fire raced towards the south end of town, it looked like the Solano SPCA would be the first to be hit by the flames, the department posted on Facebook. Our officers worked with Humane Animal Services, SPCA staff and volunteers to evacuate all they could in a race against the clock.

All animals are safe in foster homes at this time, the SPCA later wrote in an update. Unfortunately we do not have power or water at this time but all 60 of our animals are safe in foster homes for the time being. We are hoping to get in there tomorrow to clean up the ash and debris inside our kennel building and around the property. We thank you all so much for your donations, love, support, and concerns. The Vacaville community has been so gracious to open their homes and hearts for us. If you have pictures from last night feel free to post them on our page.

The fire burned more than 1,700 acres and was contained on Sunday morning, according to Fox 40.

That comes after the largest wildfire ever recorded in California  the Mendocino Complex  destroyed more than 100 homes north of Sacramento. By Sunday, it had covered 525 square miles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The children discovered at an extremist Muslim compound in New Mexico earlier this month were both trained to use firearms and taught multiple tactical techniques in order to kill teachers, law enforcement and other institutions they found corrupt, state prosecutors revealed on Monday.

The prosecutors provided more details about the accusations during a court hearing in which they asked that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and four other defendants be held pending trial on child abuse charges.

But the judge in the case ruled against prosecutors request.

Judge Sarah Backus said although she was concerned by "troubling facts," prosecutors failed to articulate any specific threats to the community.

She set a $20,000 bond for each defendant and ordered that they wear ankle monitors and have weekly contact with their attorneys.

It was also announced Monday that 3-year-old Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, who had been missing since December, allegedly died amid a ritualistic religious ceremony intended to cast out demonic spirits, Reuters reported.

It was a religious ritual carried out... a ritual intended to cast out demonic spirits from Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, Taos County Prosecutor John Lovelace said.

Public defenders argued the boy's father was trying to heal the child by reading passages from the Koran but prosecutors claimed he was denying the boy medication. One of the children taken into custody claimed that the boy had died in February.

The children said they were told the boy would be resurrected as Jesus and guide them on which "corrupt institutions" to attack, NBC reported citing investigators.

It wasnt immediately clear if the remains of a child found on the grounds of the compound were Abdul-ghani Wahhaj.

The defendants were arrested and 11 children were taken into custody during a raid Aug. 4 on the compound near the Colorado state line.

Wahhaj and the others were seated with their public defenders in a Taos courtroom Monday as prosecutors presented books that were found at the compound, documents related to Wahhaj's trip to Saudi Arabia and a handwritten notebook that appeared to be some kind of teaching manual. They also pointed to evidence that Wahhaj had taken a series of firearms courses while in Georgia.

Defense attorneys, meantime, argued that prosecutors were trying unjustly to paint their clients as armed militants. Public defenders also argued that the rifles and handguns found on the property were common guns that could be bought at retail stores and that their clients made no aggressive efforts to defend their compound.

Wahhaj is the son of a Brooklyn imam, also named Siraj Wahhaj, who was named by prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the New York Post reported. The elder Wahhaj, who heads Masjid At-Taqwa mosque, was a character witness in the trial for Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, the notorious blind sheikh who was convicted in 1995 of plotting terror attacks in the U.S.

Fox News Travis Feschun, Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two sisters who oversaw cafeteria operations at two separate schools in the same Connecticut town are accused of stealing nearly half-a-million dollars from the school system over a period of at least five years.

Authorities say Joanne Pascarelli, 61, and 67-year-old Marie Wilson turned themselves in to New Canaan police this weekend after warrants were issued for their arrest. They have been accused of first-degree larceny by defrauding a community.

Investigators said the pair apparently skimmed money from cafeteria cash registers for up to 15 years, though Connecticut's statute of limitations prevents investigators from going back further than 2012.

According to the arrest warrants, cashiers did not count the money in their cash registers before or after their shifts. Instead, Pascarelli and Wilson collected the cash drawers and counted the money in their offices. Some employees told police that Pascarelli would visit between lunch periods and take large bills out of the registers. The warrants also said that the suspects would have the cashiers sign blank deposit slips for the bank.

The two were put on administrative leave last year after a worker complained of possible theft. Both women resigned in December of 2017.

In all, authorities claimed Pascarelli stole $137,682 from Saxe Middle School, while Wilson took $350,906 from New Canaan High School.

An attorney for Wilson told The Associated Press she is innocent and is "not going to be scapegoated." An attorney for Pascarelli could not be reached.

The sisters have been released after each posted a $50,000 bond, and will be in court later in August.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Arizona cops are desperately searching for a 19-year-old woman who vanished earlier this month after she sent a strange text message to her roommate are appealing to the public for help.

Kiera Lanae Bergman was last seen at her home on Aug. 4, and has not returned since, the Phoenix Police Department said in a statement. Bergman left her home without her purse, her wallet, her keys or extra clothes, FOX10 reported.

"Her family is very concerned for her welfare," Phoenix police said on a missing-person poster.

Bergman's roommate and best friend, Destiny Hall-Chand, told KPHO-TV that Bergman did not come home after sending Hall-Chand an odd text message.

"She was saying that she was going to go out with some guy she met at the store a couple days ago, which is something that's not like her, that's not something she would do," Hall-Chand told KPHO-TV.

Bergman, originally from San Diego, had moved to Phoenix in March to be with her boyfriend. During a vigil on Saturday, family members told the Arizona Republic that Bergman had later broken up with her boyfriend and moved in with Hall-Chand.

Bergman's mother, Kirsten Bragg told FOX10 she reached out to her daughter on Saturday, but there was no reply to her text message. When she tried calling her daughter's phone, it was off. The family has traveled from San Diego to Arizona, and spent last week posting flyers in the Phoenix area.

MOLLIE TIBBETTS INVESTIGATORS ASK FOR HELP IN IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO SHOWED 'BEHAVIORAL CHANGES'

"I'm crazy. I'm going crazy," Bragg told FOX10. "I'm a nervous wreck. I'm exhausted just thinking of all these scenarios in my head."

Family and friends held a vigil on Saturday in the Phoenix-area city of Glendale to offer "prayers for Kiera."

"My biggest fear is that they're gonna find her, and she's not gonna be here anymore," Bragg said. "That's my biggest fear."

Police said Bergman is 5-3 and weighs 145 pounds, but officials didn't provide a description of what she was last seen wearing. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bergman is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department's Missing Persons Unit at 602-534-2121.
A Colorado school district is attempting a $1 million science experiment -- cutting its school week to four days.

District 27J officially slashed Mondays off the school calendar and started a four-day school week in a move designed to cut costs and attract teachers -- but parents are concerned it will cost them money instead.

Students who attend school in the district had their first day of school on Tuesday. Middle and high school students will attend school from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays and be off on Mondays, FOX 31 reported. Teachers will have to attend work one Monday a month, but only for half the day.

MOLLIE TIBBETTS SEARCH NOW FOCUSING ON CAR WASH, TRUCK STOP AND AREAS IN AND AROUND BROOKLYN, IOWA

The school district, which serves about 18,000 students in Brighton, Commerce City, Henderson, Thornton and Aurora, said the move will save about $1 million per year in costs that would have otherwise gone to paying substitute teachers and running school buses.

Monday was chosen because it gives the students an extra day to prepare, District 27J Superintendent Chris Fiedler said.

"We really feel like Monday is the day to prepare and to be better for kids," Fiedler told USA Today. "This will give people a chance to have a weekend and then come in on Monday  whether they're paid to or not because they're doing that work anyway to be prepared for kids and to be better for kids."

NEW YORK SUBWAY RIDERS ATTACK CONDUCTOR AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT TRAIN WOULD BE MAKING ONLY EXPRESS STOPS

However, some parents were concerned about who would watch their child on Mondays while they were at work, FOX 31 reported. The district said it would offer child care for children under 12 for $30 on Mondays, KHOU 11 reported.

District 27J is not the first school district to implement four-day school weeks. Several school districts in Oklahoma, Montana and Oregon have also made the change, NBC News reported.
California authorities late Monday said a firefighter died battling the massive Mendocino Complex fires that have burned 336,399 acres in the state and forced mandatory evacuations.

The firefighter was not immediately identified, and the next-of-kin was being notified.

Commanders from CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service confirmed the death. The firefighter is the sixth fatality in a matter of weeks.

About 3,900 firefighters, including a crew of 40 volunteers from New Zealand, had been battling the fire, contending with temperatures in the high 90s and winds gusting to 25 mph.

The wildfire is the biggest recorded in California and is located about 100 miles north of San Francisco. The fire spread quickly due to what officials said was a perfect combination of weather, topography and abundant vegetation turned into highly flammable fuel by years of drought.

PHOTOS FROM THE FIRE

The Mendocino Complex is actually two blazes burning so close together that authorities are attacking them as one, a common practice at Cal Fire. The fires started within an hour of each other about 15 miles apart. Officials have not determined the cause of either one.

When the fire started July 27, thousands of firefighters were hundreds of miles north battling a massive blaze that spread into the city of Redding, destroying more than 1,000 homes, in addition to a dozen other major blazes.

Full containment is not expected on the until Sept. 1, fire officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Venezuela chief prosecutor Tarek Saab said on Tuesday that two high-ranking military officers were linked to drone explosions during a speech by President Nicolas Maduro this month, adding the pair had been presented in court on Monday.

Venezuela's leftist government has accused opposition politicians of scheming to assassinate Maduro with explosives-laden drones.

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A Florida man, upset his girlfriend's toddler painted on a photo of him, viciously beat the 3-year-old and shoved the naked girl in a shower, where she was found dead Friday, cops said.

Dennys Llopiz, 27, was arrested Monday on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Skylar Hartley, Miami Beach Police said, NBC 6 reported.

The arrest comes after authorities were called to Llopiz's home on Friday, where the 3-year-old girl was found naked and unresponsive, the news station reported. The apartment was in disarray when officers arrived, according to NBC 6.

Llopiz allegedly told authorities he put the girl in the shower because she defecated herself. When he later called for her, Llopiz told police the girl didnt respond. When he returned to the bathroom, he claimed he found the girl slouched against a wall in the shower, NBC 6 reported.

GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER, WIFE FOUND STABBED TO DEATH; TEEN IN CUSTODY

He also told authorities Skylar had fallen on some rocks while fishing the day before, claiming the alleged fall caused abrasions and a small injury to the girls head.

After her body was taken to a local medical center and checked by a medical examiner, however, it was determined there was bruising on the girls head and face, a laceration on her liver, a few fractured ribs and a ruptured air sac, according to a police report obtained by NBC 6.

"I thought I was preparing a birthday, not a funeral."  Maria Lopez

Based on her injuries, the medical examiner determined she had suffered blunt force trauma a few hours before her death, the report said.

When questioned, Maria Lopez, the girl's mother, told authorities the girl had not been fishing the day before nor had she fallen on any rocks. Police also reviewed text messages between Lopez and Llopiz that indicated the man was upset with the young girl for painting on a photo of him, according to NBC 6.

Llopiz is now in jail and being held without bond.

"I thought I was preparing a birthday, not a funeral," Lopez told the news station of her daughters upcoming birthday. "She didn't deserve this."

A GoFundMe account was created to help the family with funeral expenses.

NEW YORK SUBWAY RIDERS ATTACK CONDUCTOR AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT TRAIN WOULD BE MAKING ONLY EXPRESS STOPS

She was such a precious little human, a heart of gold, and a smile to brighten anyone's day, a description of Skylar on the crowdfunding page reads. She had so much love to give; her life hadn't even begun.
Nine people were injured Tuesday in an apparent natural gas explosion at an apartment complex in Denver.

Fire officials told Fox31 that two victims were in the building at the time of the explosion. One man was hospitalized in critical condition while one woman has pulled from the rubble and hospitalized in stable condition. Seven bystanders were treated and released at the scene.

Denver Fire Department spokesman Capt. Greg Pixley told The Associated Press that some of those injured were burned.

The blast leveled part of a one-story brick rowhouse located just south of downtown.

Television helicopter footage showed pieces of wood thrown like sticks and bricks spilled on the ground in front of the one-story building.

Alan Rodriguez, who lives four blocks away, told Fox31 that he thought his roof was caving in when he heard the blast. When he went outside to see what was going on, he saw a "mushroom cloud" of smoke.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A teen was charged Monday in the stabbing deaths of a Georgia police officer and his wife, officials said.

The victims were identified as Savannah police officer Luis Molina, 53, and his wife, 28-year-old Akia Molina, according to WTGS-TV. The man was found dead inside a home on Wilmington Island and his wife was found dead next door, according to Chatham County police.

We are saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of a Savannah Police officer and his wife, Savannah police public information officer Bianca Johnson told WGS-TV. His family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers. Savannah PD is continuing to work with and cooperate with the ongoing investigation into this incident by Chatham County Police Department.

Michael Barber, 16, was charged with two counts of malice murder, the Chatham County District Attorney said. Despite his age, police identified him because of the severity of the charges, the station reported.

Barber was believed to be a relative of Akia Molina and was living with the two, according to WTGS-TV. He was detained at the scene.

It's a tough day in Chatham County for law enforcement for sure, Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said at a press conference.
A viral video that appears to show a visitor at the Los Angeles Zoo hop a fence, sneak up from behind and spank a hippopotamus has prompted a police investigation, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The bizarre video was posted last week and showed the unidentified man approach the two hippos, named Rosie and Mara. Rosie, 4, was the one who was spanked. The report said the hippo did not have any visible injuries, but an encounter like that could be stressful.

We seriously feel this was an isolated incident, April Spurlock, a zoo spokeswoman, told the paper. Most people know not to go in with the animals. Its common sense.

Hippos are dangerous animals. Last weekend, a tourist from Taiwan was killed in Kenya during an attack and, in another incident, a local fisherman was mauled to death.

Hippos are the worlds deadliest large land animal due to their aggressive nature and sharp teeth. The animals can weigh up to three tons and kill about 500 people in Africa every year, the BBC reported.

Fox News' Katherine Lam contributed to this report
Several hundred Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania were accused of sexually abusing more than a thousand children, a grand jury report on Tuesday said, in an alleged cover-up described as sophisticated by the states attorney general.

Over the course of a two year investigation, launched by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiros office, a grand jury heard several witness statements and pored over documents from six dioceses in the state.

AUSTRALIA ARCHBISHOP GETS HOUSE DETENTION FOR ABUSE COVER-UP

Those dioceses included Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Upwards of 300 "predator priests" stand accused of the decades-long abuse, the report said.

The cover-up was sophisticated. And all the while, shockingly, church leadership kept records of the abuse and the cover-up, Shapiro said at a news conference. These documents, from the dioceses' own 'Secret Archives,' formed the backbone of this investigation.

Its possible that the real number of abused children could be in the thousands due to missing records or other victims who feared speaking about the allegations, according to the grand jurys report.

In order to prevent the Catholic Church from suffering bad publicity or financial liability, the panel claimed that a series of bishops and other diocesan leaders attempted to hide the alleged abuse.

US BISHOPS: SEX CLAIMS SHOW US CARDINALS MORAL FAILURE

The report faulted Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the former longtime bishop of Pittsburgh who currently leads the Washington archdiocese, for what it said was his part in the concealment of clergy sexual abuse. Wuerl defended himself, releasing a statement Tuesday that said he had acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Texas father convicted in the 2012 murders of his son-in-law and his daughter's best friend -- in what was described in court as a set of "honor killings" -- was sentenced to death Tuesday.

Ali Mahwood-Awad Irsan, 60, was convicted of capital murder last month in connection with the deaths of his American son-in-law, Coty Beavers, and Iranian women's rights activist Gelareh Bagherzadeh.

Prosecutors said Irsan, a conservative Muslim who immigrated to the U.S. from Jordan, became enraged after his daughter Nesreen married Beavers and converted to Christianity. According to investigators, Bagherzadeh had encouraged Nesreen Irsan to marry Beavers.

Police said Irsan, his wife Shmou Alrawabdeh and their son, Nasim, followed Bagherzadeh to her parents' home in January 2012, and that Nasim Isran shot her in her car.

Eleven months later, the elder Irsan slipped into Beavers' unlocked apartment near Houston, waited for his daughter to leave for work, then shot his son-in-law, according to Alrawabdeh, who testified as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Alrawabdeh testified at trial that her husband tried to "clean his honor" with the killings.

Irsan portrayed himself as a devoted father who became upset after his daughter ran away from home. At trial, Irsan told jurors that he wasn't involved in the deaths. He said his daughter had caused his family pain by marrying Beavers.

Nesreen Irsan testified that she had to obtain a protective order to prevent her family from harassing her after she moved out. Alrawabdeh told jurors that her husband had also planned to kill his daughter.

Irsan, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, was sentenced to federal prison in 2015 for scamming the Social Security Administration.

Nasim Irsan is awaiting trial on a capital murder charge in the two killings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A woman dubbed the kayak killer -- who drowned her fiance by pulling the plug on the couple's small boat -- was awarded a portion of his $491,000 life insurance payout Monday.

Angelika Graswald and the family of Vincent Viafore came to an agreement that would give the convicted Latvian native a financial settlement, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported.

"Everything has gotten resolved," Graswalds lawyer Anthony Piscionere told the news site. "There is a financial settlement, the amount of which is confidential. However, as a result of that settlement, the administrator of the estate has withdrawn that action to disqualify her from taking any funds."

As part of the agreement, Viafores family agreed to drop their wrongful death lawsuit against Graswald. In return, Graswald dropped her appeal in her homicide case.

'KAYAK KILLER' SIPS MARTINIS, EATS STEAK LUNCH AFTER WALKING OUT OF PRISON

Viafores family filed the lawsuit to prevent Graswald from getting a single penny of her former fiances life insurance payout.

Its been a nightmare for the last, almost three years, Viafores mother, Mary Ann Viafore, previously told the New York Post. She doesnt deserve the money. She caused his death!

Graswald was released from prison in December after spending nearly three years behind bars for criminally negligent homicide in Viafores death. She pulled the train plug on Viafores kayak while they were paddling on the Hudson River in 2015 and watched him drown. She then reported him missing until officials found his body a month later.

She admitted in court that she failed to see her actions would lead to Viafore's death.

The criminal plea did not disqualify our client from taking these funds. They still had to prove that she recklessly or intentionally committed this murder, and I think that was going to be a very high bar for them to meet, Piscionere told CBS New York.

Graswald was entitled to receive 45 percent of Viafores death benefits as the policys primary beneficiary, according to the report.
Authorities in Southern California are searching for the person or persons behind a believed brutal sexual assault and battery of a pit bull who had just been adopted, The Orange County Register reported on Monday.

The 5-year-old dog named Valarie was found dying on Aug, 6, the report said. The dog was adopted on July 23 and was at a local shelter for three months.

She had suffered trauma to her vagina and her aorta was ruptured, Ghetto Rescue, an Anaheim-based rescue center said, according to the report.

She was comfortable, and on pain medication. The only thing we can be thankful for is she did not die on the sidewalk alone, the groups Facebook post read.

The Los Angeles Police Department reportedly learned about the incident and has interviewed potential witnesses.

There are two possible crimes, bestiality which is a misdemeanor, and intentional injury to the dog that was meant to inflict pain, suffering or death to the dog, Det. Al Erkelens, told the paper. If (someone) did something to cause the aorta to rupture, that is a felony.

Local dog rescues have donated money to raise a reward for finding the culprit to $4,500.

He told the paper the department responds to about 10 cases of bestiality a year.
A grown man was no match for a group of girls who used kicks, punches and coffee to escape their potential kidnapper, police said.

The girls  ages 11 to 14  were leaving a Speedway convenience store in Millington, Michigan, when a 22-year-old man followed them across the street and grabbed the youngest girl around the head, the Millington Police Department said in an online statement.

The suspect, later identified as Bruce Hipkins, approached the girls as they were walking home from a local festival Friday night, The Washington Post reported.

FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED FOR BEATING 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO DEATH, COPS SAY

As he grabbed one of the girls  identified by The Post as Allison Eickhoff, 11  he told her she was coming with him, the police department said.

"[The man] grabbed my face, and he swooped me up and said, Youre coming with me, and I was really scared at that point, Allison recalled to The Post.

But the young girl was saved thanks to her 13-year-old sister and their two friends, who kicked, hit, and threw their hot coffee on him, the Millington Police Department said.

"They fought the suspect  and they won.  Millington Police Chief Jason Oliver

Hipkins allegedly grabbed another girl, who has not yet been identified, by her hair. But again, the girls say they kicked and hit him until he let her go.

The suspect then fled as all four girls, who were shaken up but uninjured, ran to a nearby inn and asked for help.

LOS ANGELES POLICE SEEK SUSPECT IN ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF PIT BULL

Authorities then located and arrested the suspect. He is now being held on a $250,000 bond at the Tuscola County Jail, where he is facing four felonies and a misdemeanor, USA Today reported.

When asked how they knew how to fend off the suspect, Allison told The Post she and the other girls watch a lot of Law and Order and Dateline and also my dad taught us some moves.

I think they did great, Millington Police Chief Jason Oliver told The Post of the girls brave actions. They did exactly what they should have done. They fought the suspect  and they won.

Oliver was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Fox News Tuesday afternoon.
Nebraskas first execution since 1997 was carried out on Tuesday, in this case using a type of lethal injection never before administered in the state.

Carey Dean Moore, 60, was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m. after being injected with a drug combination that included the powerful opioid fentanyl.

Moore was the first inmate to be lethally injected in Nebraska, which carried out its last execution in 1997 using the electric chair.

He was convicted in 1979 for the murder of two cabdrivers in Omaha.

In his final written statement, he admitted his guilt but said that there are others on Nebraska's death row who he believes are innocent and should be released.

Prosecutors said that at the age of 21, Moore fatally shot Reuel Van Ness during a robbery with his younger brother, using the money to buy drugs and pornography.

Moore fatally shot Maynard Helgeland by himself five days later, saying he wanted to prove he could take a man's life by himself. Moore was arrested a week later. He was charged and convicted of first-degree murder, while his 14-year-old brother was convicted of second-degree murder.

8 ALABAMA DEATH ROW INMATES ASK TO BE EXECUTED BY NITROGEN GAS

The Nebraska drug protocol called for an initial IV dose of diazepam, also known as Valium, to render the inmate unconscious, followed by the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, then cisatracurium besylate to induce paralysis and inhibit respiration and potassium chloride to stop the heart. After each injection, prison officials sent saline through the IV to flush out any residue and ensure that all the drugs had entered the inmate's system.

Moore's execution comes a little more than three years after Nebraska lawmakers abolished the death penalty, only to have it reinstated the following year through a citizen ballot drive partially financed by Gov. Pete Ricketts. The Republican governor, a wealthy former businessman, has said he was fulfilling the wishes of voters in the conservative state.

Nebraska's Office of the Attorney General called the execution a "somber event" which put an end to "what has been a lengthy enactment of justice."

"Our sympathy is extended to the families of Reuel Van Ness and Maynard Helgeland for the loss of their loved ones nearly thirty-nine years ago," the statement read.

NEVADA DEATH ROW INMATE STUCK IN LEGAL LIMBO: JUST GET IT DONE

A German drug company attempted to halt the execution last week, alleging that the state had illegally obtained on the companys drugs and that proceeding with the execution would harm the firm's reputation and business relationships.

U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf ruled that blocking the execution would frustrate the will of the people.

Fox News' Bill Mears and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Taliban are considering announcing a ceasefire during next week's Eid holiday, despite heavy fighting seen over recent days in the central Afghan city of Ghazni, two senior Taliban officials said.

They said no decision had been taken but senior leaders would meet either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday to discuss the option, which was being pushed by some Muslim states and other parties with good relations to the movement.

If agreed, it may be announced in Ghazni province, where the Taliban say they control most of the districts around the provincial capital.

Prior to the fighting in Ghazni, which has killed and wounded hundreds, there had been strong hopes of a repeat of the three-day truce during the Eid-al Fitr holiday in June, the most concrete sign of progress towards peace since talks between the government and Taliban broke down in 2015.

The government said last month it was considering offering a ceasefire during Eid-al Adha, the annual feast of sacrifice, which begins next week but has so far not confirmed the offer and there has been no response from the Taliban.

"Our friends are advising us that we should announce a four-day ceasefire for the upcoming Eid-al Azha so that the people of Afghanistan can peacefully celebrate their Eid like they did two months ago," one of the Taliban officials said.

"As usual there would be divided opinion on a ceasefire like we faced last time during Eid-al Fitr but our supreme leader Sheikh Hahahahah Akhunzada would then play his role and would either announce the ceasefire or may ask the fighters to continue their fight," said the official, a member of the shura, or leadership council.

Another Taliban leader said he hoped their leadership might announce a ceasefire as last time it had helped win hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan, with unarmed fighters and soldiers seen mingling on the streets of Kabul and other cities.

"The demand is for one week but our leadership may announce four days of ceasefire to enable the Afghan people to buy sacrificial animals and celebrate Eid-ul-Azha in a peaceful environment," he said.

Asked who the "friends" were, the first official said the Taliban had friends and allies in many parts of the world.

In January, President Ashraf Ghani offered the Taliban peace talks without conditions and the United States has dropped its previous refusal to talk to the Taliban, saying it would be willing to participate in an Afghan-led process.

Taliban officials say they have spoken directly to the top U.S. official on Afghanistan and Pakistan in Qatar, where the Taliban maintains a political office and a delegation travelled to Uzbekistan this month to discuss issues including peace.

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The state judge who on Monday set a $20,000 bail for five defendants arrested at a remote New Mexico compound where authorities say children were being trained to conduct school shootings has a history of issuing low bail to violent offenders.

Judge Sarah Backus, an elected Democrat, ordered the two men and three women to wear ankle monitors, have weekly contact with their attorneys and not consume alcohol or own firearms while on bail. She said although she was concerned by troubling facts, prosecutors failed to articulate any specific threats to the community.

The five suspects were arrested more than a week ago when police raided a squalid makeshift living structure near the Colorado state line in response to a report of children living in filth, severe hunger and dangers including a leaky propane tank. The 11 children found at the compound were placed in state custody.

HORRIFYING DETAILS RELEASED IN INVESTIGATION OF NM COMPOUND THAT ALLEGEDLY CONDUCTED SCHOOL-SHOOTING TRAINING

Prosecutors on Monday said Siraj Ibn Wahhaj provided some of the children with firearms training  including tactical skills such as speed loading guns and firing while in motion.

What Ive heard here today is troubling, definitely. Troubling facts about numerous children in far from ideal circumstances and individuals who are living in a very unconventional way, Backus said.

Monday isn't the first time Backus has issued low bail for suspects accused of violent crimes.

Just last month, she set a $10,000 bond for Rafael Orozco, a 24-year-old Taos man accused of battering his girlfriend, his newborn child and a health care worker at Holy Cross Hospital in September 2016.

Police said Orozco prompted a lockdown at the hospital after punching his girlfriend as she breastfed their newborn in front of a male doctor, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Cops said Orozco then grabbed the mother by the throat and slapped the baby.

Orozco reportedly fled the hospital and was arrested in Rio Arriba County a few months later. While in prison, Orozco was accused of other crimes, including obtaining Suboxone, an opioid medication, and pulling a fire alarm. A year later, he and his brother, Cristian Orozco, were charged with assaulting and threatening a guard.

In September, Backus approved an order to incarcerate Orozco at the Lea County Correctional Facility until his trial. His defense attorney recently filed a motion arguing for his release and last month, Backus ruled in his favor.

'EXTREMIST' RINGLEADER OF NEW MEXICO COMPOUND PREVIOUSLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR EXPLOSIVES: EX-COP

According to the New Mexico Courts website, Backus was first appointed to the bench in June 2011 by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. She was elected to the post in 2012 and is expected to remain there until at least 2020.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Backus  a graduate of the University of California Hastings College of the Law  served as a deputy public defender and deputy Attorney General in San Francisco. She's lived in Taos since 1994.

Martinez issued a statement after Mondays hearing saying she strongly disagreed with the outcome and Backus decision.

Unfortunately, it highlights how extreme the New Mexico Supreme Court has been in dictating pretrial release for all kinds of dangerous criminals, she said.

Ryan Cangiolosi, chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said Backus decision to release suspected terrorists into the community has put the people of the state at risk.

By releasing these suspects without even requiring them to post bail, Judge Backus has put people in danger and created the risk that they could flee and harm other children and communities as well, he said in a statement. If New Mexico Democratic Party leaders are serious about keeping our state safe, they should join me in denouncing Judge Backus and the incredible failure of leadership and judgment demonstrated by her terrible decision.

INVESTIGATORS FIND AMMO, DIRTY DIAPERS AT SQUALID 'EXTREMIST MUSLIM' COMPOUND IN NEW MEXICO

Elsewhere there was a swift social media backlash against Backus, with many calling for her resignation.

Despite being issued bail, however, Wahhaj is likely to remain locked up pending a warrant for his arrest in Georgia on accusations he abducted his own son, Abdul-ghani, from the boy's mother in December and fled to New Mexico. The four other defendants  Jany Leveille, Lucas Morton, Subhannah Wahhaj and Hujrah Wahhaj  may be released on house arrest as early as Tuesday.

Family members say the remains of a boy found at the compound last week are those of Wahhaj's disabled son, though state medical examiners have not yet identified the body conclusively. Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe testified Monday the remains of a young boy were found inside tunnels that had been dug from inside the compound to an opening 100 feet away.

Defense attorneys argued prosecutors were trying unjustly to paint their clients as armed militants. They also argued the rifles and handguns found on the property were common guns that could be bought at retail stores and the group made no aggressive effort to defend the compound.

Fox News Travis Fedschun, Nicole Darrah, Matt Richardson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A New York woman stabbed a British tourist she met earlier in the day in a crazed bid to rid the evil from her house, cops said Tuesday.

Faye Doomchin, 66, was charged with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a 60-year-old woman who was visiting the U.S. for three weeks, FOX5NY reported. The woman, who was not identified, met Doomchin for the first time earlier Monday through a mutual friend they shared.

Doomchins seemingly unprovoked violent rage came after the trio had lunch together. They decided to head back to Doomchins home in Great Neck, Long Island, so the mutual friend could play the piano for them, the report stated.

At one point, Doomchin said she didn't like the woman and needed to rid the house of evil," police said. The 66-year-old then allegedly grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the British woman in the chest.

Police were called to the house just before 3:50 p.m. and rushed the woman to the hospital, where she died.
A blanket of red tide along Florida's Gulf Coast that's killing marine life in addition to emptying normally packed beaches with an unrelenting stench has caused the state's governor to declare a state of emergency for parts of the region.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott's declaration covers Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, which will have "all state resources" deployed to ensure residents are safe and businesses can recover.

As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of red tide, we will continue taking an aggressive approach by using all available resources to help our local communities," Scott, a Republican, said in a statement. "I am issuing an emergency declaration to provide significant funding and resources to the communities experiencing red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts."

Scott said he's ordering $100,000 for additional scientists to help with clean-up efforts and another $500,000 to help local communities and businesses struggling with lost income as tourists flee. The governor also directed another $900,000 in grants to help Lee County's clean-up efforts.

Red tide  a naturally occurring toxic algae bloom that can be harmful to people with respiratory problems  has spread throughout the region since October and stretches about 150 miles from Naples to Anna Maria Island.

The algae turns the water toxic for marine life, and in recent weeks beachgoers have discovered turtles, large fish, and even manatees washed up dead. In Sarasota County, 11 dead dolphins have been found and marine biologists are investigating if their deaths are linked to red tide, according to FOX13.

TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM KILLING MARINE LIFE, MAKING PEOPLE SICK ALONG FLORIDA'S GULF COAST

Adam Stoneking, the general manager of Le Barge Tropical Cruise, told FOX13 he hasn't seen the local dolphin populations recently.

"The fact that we just aren't seeing them and that they're not in the area anymore shows just how bad of a problem it is," he said.

The Florida Wildlife Research Institute says the number of dead and stranded sea turtles this year is nearly three times higher than average. More than 450 stranded and dead sea turtles have been recovered in four affected counties, and the institute estimates that 250 to 300 died from red tide poisoning.

In Sarasota County, officials said Friday that since Aug. 1 they have removed more than 66 tons of fish from county beaches. The stench from the fish is making it miserable for residents and tourists to be by the water.

"I can't describe the smell. It's like unbelievable. It makes you throw up," Holmes Beach resident Alex Kuizon told the Associated Press. Kuizon, who has lived in the area for decades, had to hold a handkerchief over his mouth and nose while talking to a reporter, according to the AP.

RED TIDE CRISIS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE TOXIC ALGAL BLOOM ON FLORIDA'S GULF COAST

Officials are now trying to figure out why this year's red tide is so intense. Some researchers have noticed aggressive blooms after hurricanes; Irma swept past Florida's Gulf Coast in the summer of 2017 and a period of red tide affected Florida after the powerful 2004-2005 hurricanes.

Growing anger over the large death of marine life drew hundreds to a protest in Fort Myers on Saturday about the state of the waterways.

"Theres just too much death and destruction," protestor Robin Adams told FOX4. "I feel terrible that I moved my family here."

Adams, who moved from Pennsylvania to the Fort Myers area and named her daughter Marina out of love for the ocean, said the amount of dead fish washing up from red tide along beaches and algae in Lake Okeechobee has made her question the move.

[Marina] wants to move back to Pennsylvania she says, Mommy the creatures aren't dead there like they are here,'" she told FOX4.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The shocking deaths of two men in just four days who intentionally crashed the airplanes they were piloting highlights a form of suicide that's gaining more prominence.

On Monday, Duane Youd was killed after crashing a twin-engine Cessna 525 into the Utah home he owned just hours after being charged with domestic violence. Police said the 47-year-old intentionally piloted the aircraft into the building where his wife and a child were staying.

Photos of the wreckage showed the white plane charred and in pieces in the front yard nearby an overturned and crushed car. Most of the upscale house was still intact, but heavily burned in the front. Youds wife and the child escaped the crash unharmed.

Meanwhile, in Seattle, police are investigating the death of 29-year-old Richard Russell, an airplane mechanic, who stole a Horizon Air turboprop plane from Sea-Tac International Airport and crashed it on an island in Puget Sound on Friday night.

Officials said Russell was suicidal at the time of the incident. Investigators are trying to determine what happened -- including how Russell knew how to properly activate the buttons and switches needed to initiate takeoff.

These two incidents are part of six confirmed or suspected suicides by plane in the last four years.

Here is a list of other recent crashes involving possible or rumored pilot suicide:

- March 15, 2017  1 fatality

Xin Rong, an experienced pilot, took off from Ann Arbor, Michigan in a Cessna 172P and disappeared. The aircraft was found -- wrecked -- near Manitouwadge, Ontario, Canada with the right-hand door open and no human remains inside or nearby. Investigators believe that Rong deliberately jumped out somewhere en route and the aircraft ran out of fuel before crashing. His body has not been found and he was subsequently declared dead.

- Oct. 11, 2016  1 fatality

Jordanian student pilot Feras Freitekh was killed and his instructor injured after they reportedly argued and wrestled for control of the Piper PA-34 Seneca they were flying. The plane crashed into a utility pole near the Pratt & Whitney headquarters in East Hartford, Connecticut. Investigators concluded the crash was an intentional act motivated by suicide.

- March 24, 2015  150 fatalities

A Germanwings Airbus A320 crashed into a mountain while en route from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany. Preliminary information indicates that the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, locked the captain out of the cockpit before deliberately crashing the aircraft, killing 150 people. Officials said Lubitz had previously been treated for depression and suicidal tendencies.

- March 8, 2014  239 fatalities

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing, China disappeared after all contact was lost about 40 minutes after takeoff. It is assumed the aircraft crashed in the Indian Ocean and searches for wreckage have turned up empty. Experts have theorized that the pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, selected a route that would effectively render the plane invisible on radar in order to commit suicide. The planes disappearance is still under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A U.S. appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit that accuses U.S. Customs and Border Protection of illegally barring photography at border crossings.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected a judge's conclusion that restrictions on photography were justified by the need to maintain security at the border and protect U.S. control of its territory.

The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the court came in a lawsuit filed by two activists who say authorities deleted photos they took while on public property at California crossings with Mexico.

The men, Ray Askins and Christian Ramirez, say they have a First Amendment right to photograph border protection officers when the officers are working in areas exposed to public view.

An email to the border protection agency was not immediately returned.
A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, who was supporting Operation Freedoms Sentinel, has died from wounds he received in a bomb blast in Afghanistans southern Helmand Province, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Sgt. 1st Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, of Waikoloa, Hawaii, died Sunday at a hospital in Germany. He was wounded five days earlier after an improvised explosive device detonated near him while he was on patrol.

The Pentagon told Fox News that the incident is under investigation.

Transfiguracion was a staff sergeant when he was wounded, but was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class, said Maj. Beth Riordan, spokeswoman for 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne).

He was an engineer assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

Born in the Philippines, Transfiguracion enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard in 2001.

He joined the active duty Army in 2008, and later went through Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Transfiguracion deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2008, and then went to the Philippines in 2010 for six months, Riordan said. His latest war tour in Afghanistan started in March.

Among his numerous awards, Transfiguracion received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a Meritorious Service Medal as a result of his Afghanistan service. It was the second Purple Heart he received during his military career.

He was awarded a posthumous Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal, Riordan told Fox News in a statement.

Fox News Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A bit of sweetness has entered the life of at least one of the men formerly held at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

Ahmed Ahjam opened a small stall selling Arabic pastries Monday at a public market in the Uruguayan capital, passing out free samples of cellophane-wrapped ma'amul to supporters, local officials and potential customers.

Ahjam is one of six former detainees accepted by Uruguay in 2014 after U.S. authorities decided they posed no threat but couldn't be sent to their homelands.

Ahjam spent a dozen years imprisoned at Guantanamo, and like the other five detainees here, he has struggled to adapt to the South American country. But the former jeweler from Syria learned to make sweets such as baklava with recipes from his sisters and has been earning money selling them at fairs and private events. He used that money to buy his cash register and other tools needed for his first business.

A city development agency helped him open the stall at the Mercado Agricola, a historic covered market with nearly 100 shops.

"Many thanks to all the Uruguayans who are helping me. I'm going to work hard to fulfill this dream," he said smiling as he cut the ribbon on the stand during the opening attended by Montevideo Mayor Daniel Martinez and officials who have aided the former detainees.

Edison Mourino, a musician who met Ahjam when they were neighbors, said he was touched by the crowd that gathered to support Ahjam.

"I'm very impressed that someone who is so humble has achieved this," Mourino said. "And I'm impressed by the openness of Uruguay in allowing this."

Ahjam is the only one of the six  four Syrians, a Palestinian and a Tunisian  who has managed to find a regular job in the country of 3.2 million people.

The government has been giving the men a stipend of about $420 a month and covering their rent, as well as offering job and language training. But the aid is due to run out at the end of this year.

The most discontented detainee, Abu Wa'el Dhiab, left Uruguay in late June and went to Turkey, said Christian Mirza, the government's liaison with the ex-detainees. He said he wasn't sure where Dhiab is now.
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The leader of Bosnia's Serbs called on Tuesday for a government report that acknowledged the massacre of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995 to be revoked, triggering possible new tensions in the war-scarred Balkan state.

Milorad Dodik spoke at a parliamentary session of the autonomous Bosnian Serb republic, demanding that the legislature revoke the 2004 report compiled by a previous government which acknowledged the massacre  the worst carnage in Europe since World War II. He said the report is biased and does not mention Serb victims.

Dodik, who advocates that Bosnian Serb territories should split and join Serbia, has always rejected rulings by the U.N. war crimes court that genocide was committed in Srebrenica. He accused "some Western states" and rival Bosnian Muslims of staging the massacre.

"The Srebrenica crime is a staged tragedy with an aim to satanize the Serbs," Dodik said without elaborating.

He called for the forming of an "unbiased" international investigation into the Srebrenica massacre "in order to stop manipulation with the victims."

Srebrenica survivors were outraged.

"Dodik's initiative is shameful and inhumane toward the victims," said Sehida Abdurahmanovic, a member of the Mothers of Srebrenica rights association. "Genocide was confirmed in Srebrenica. We cannot allow that someone changes the number of victims for something that is definite. We are again returning to the facts that we thought were confirmed."

Bosnian Serbs overran the majority Muslim town on July 11, 1995, rounding up Srebrenica's Muslims and killing more than 8,000 men and boys.

The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has sentenced Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic and his military commander Ratko Mladic over the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities of the 1992-95 war.

Although the international court has labeled the Srebrenica killings as genocide, Serbs have never admitted that their troops committed the ultimate crime and nationalist politicians have viewed Mladic and Karadzic as heroes.

It is widely believed that Dodik's reopening of the debate over Srebrenica is intended to secure the support of hard-line Bosnian Serbs ahead of the Oct. 7 general election. Dodik has had the support of Russia for his separatist stands.

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Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia, and Radul Radovanovic from Srebrenica, Bosnia.
A car ramming outside Parliament on Tuesday was being treated as a terror incident and a male suspect has been arrested, British authorities said.

The countrys counter-terrorism command was leading the investigation. Two people were hospitalized and one person was released, Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said. A woman was also being treated for serious, but non-life threatening injuries, he said.

The suspect was described to be in his late 20s and he was arrested on suspicion of terror offenses, Basu said. He was driving a silver Ford Fiesta before collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into the barriers during the morning commute. He was in custody, but wasn't cooperating with police. He wasn't immediately identified.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and London Mayor Sadiq Khan thanked emergency responders for being on the scene quickly.

My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response, May said in a tweet.

Khan added: Im in close contact with @MetPoliceUK Commissioner about the incident at Parliament Square this morning. Thank you to the first responders who were on the scene so quickly. Enquiries are continuing.

President Trump commented on the incident, saying "Another terrorist attack in London... These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!

The Westminster Tube Station was closed as police investigated the incident.

Ewalina Ochab, a witness, told the Associated Press that the collision appeared to be deliberate.

"I was walking on the other side [of the road]. I heard some noise and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement," she reportedly said.

London saw a slew of terror incidents in 2017.

The area was the site of a terror attack in March 2017 when Khalid Masood ploughed a car into crowds on Westminster Bridge, killing four people. Masood abandoned his car then stabbed and killed a police officer before being shot in a courtyard outside Parliament.

Months prior to the March attack, Khan came under fire for saying terror attacks were "part and parcel of living in a big city."

A van with three attackers inside drove into pedestrians on London Bridge on June 3, 2017. The attackers got out of the van and stabbed people nearby before being fatally shot by police. At least 11 people, including the three attackers, were killed.

Weeks later, a van drove into people walking near Finsbury Park Mosque in London. One person was dead and 11 others were injured in that incident.

Two police officers were injured in Aug. 25, 2017 when a suspect reached for a sword while being confronted. The man was charged with intent to commit an act of terrorism.

In September of that year, a homemade bomb partially detonated on a train in Parsons Green station. At least 22 people were injured in the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Fighting between two pro-government factions in Yemen has killed at least 18 people on both sides in the past two days, officials said Tuesday, as a U.N. delegation visited children wounded in an airstrike last week that killed dozens of civilians.

The fighting in the southwestern city of Taiz pits forces loyal to Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar against supporters of Aboul Abbas, a militia commander. Both are part of the Saudi-led coalition that has been at war with Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2015.

The officials said Amin Mahmoud, the governor of Taiz, meanwhile survived a roadside bomb targeting his convoy in the southern port city of Aden. It was unclear whether the attempted assassination was related to the violence in Taiz.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to reporters.

In a separate development on Tuesday, two U.N. officials visited children wounded in a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in the rebel-held north last week. The airstrike killed 51 people, including 40 children, and wounded another 79, including 56 children, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Lise Grande, the U. N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said the airstrike that hit a bus carrying civilians in a busy market was a "tragedy" that could never be justified.

Meritxell Relano, of the U.N. children's agency, said the "very shocking" attack would leave the children with physical and psychological wounds.

Thursday's airstrike took place in the Dahyan market in Saada province, a rebel stronghold bordering Saudi Arabia.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres has called for an "independent and prompt investigation" into the airstrike.

The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government has been fighting the Houthis since March 2015. The stalemated war has killed more than 10,000 people and pushed the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.
More than thirty people -- including a child -- were killed when a raised highway in Genoa crumbled during a sudden and violent storm, sending several vehicles plunging to the ground where rescuers desperately searched for survivors.

Italy's civil protection agency Angelo Borrelli said in an earlier news conference that 20 people were killed and 13 others were injured when a 650-foot section of the Morandi bridge collapsed over an industrial zone just after 12 p.m. local time. The bridge is part of the A10 highway that connects Italy to France.

Italian transport official Edoardo Rixi initially said 22 people were killed and eight were injured. The figure has now climbed to 35, Reuters reported, citing police.

The victims appear to all have been in vehicles when the structure crumbled beneath them, causing them to plunge nearly 300 feet to the ground, according to Borrelli. The concrete pieces also crushed two warehouses below, but officials believe no one was inside because the buildings were closed for summer holiday.

About 20 vehicles were involved, firefighter Amalia Tedeschi told RAI state TV.

The transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, earlier said the collapse was likely "an enormous tragedy."

"We are following minute by minute the situation of the bridge collapse in Genoa," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini wrote on Twitter.

Tedeschi said two people were pulled from the rubble alive as rescuers searched the scene for survivors.

The exact cause of the collapse was unclear, though a witness said he saw lightning strike the structure, which fell apart soon after.

"It was just after 11:30 a.m. when we saw the lighting bolt hit the bridge and we saw the bridge go down," witness Pietro M. told ANSA.



Authorities earlier said they suspected there was a structural weakness.

Images posted by state police and witnesses showed a huge section of the bridge missing and crushed trucks and cars. Parts of the structure also landed on the rooftops of nearby buildings. Video captured the sound of a man screaming: "Oh, God, oh, God!"

Firefighters said they are concerned about gas lines in the area.

The bridge was inaugurated in 1967 and is about 0.6 miles long. It's an interchange between the northern regions of Lombardy and Piedmont and the beaches of Liguria.

The collapse also occurred on the eve of Ferragosto, a major Italian holiday. Authorities said traffic on the bridge was expected to be higher than usual because many people travel to beaches or mountains during the holiday.

Two years before the deadly collapse, an engineer said the bridge was bound for disaster. Antonio Brencich, who is also a professor at the University of Genoa, said in July 2016 that there were problems with the structure, Ingegneri.info reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A raised highway in the Italian city of Genoa crumbled to the ground Tuesday due to possible structural weaknesses exposed during a violent storm -- and a professor may have predicted the disaster two years ago.

At least 20 people were killed and more than 10 others injured when the Morandi Bridge collapsed just after 12 p.m. Tuesday. Several vehicles were crushed amid the rubble as rescuers rushed to the scene to find survivors. About a 650-foot section of the bridge was obliterated.

The bridge, part of the A10 Highway that connects Italy and France, was inaugurated in 1967 and praised during its construction as the solution to a maddening traffic problem. Designed by engineer Riccardo Morandi, the bridge was a little longer than half-a-mile and nearly 300 feet high.

But the structure was constantly being repaired -- despite being labeled a masterpiece of engineering. Antonio Brencich, an engineering professor at the University of Genoa, said in July 2016 the bridge must be replaced or rebuilt.

The Morandi bridge is referred to as a masterpiece of engineering, in reality it is a bankruptcy, Brencich said in an interview with primocanale.it. There will be a time when maintenance costs will exceed those of reconstruction, and then we will have to proceed with the replacement.

ITALIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSES IN GENOA, KILLING AT LEAST 22, OFFICIAL SAYS

The raised highway had already went through significant maintenance in the 1980s and 1990s. Work to rebuild concrete structures and make the structure safer was being done before Tuesday's disaster, Italy's motorway operator Autostrade said in a statement on Tuesday.

The works and state of the viaduct were under constant monitoring and supervision, the statement said, according to Reuters. The causes of the collapse will be thoroughly investigated as soon it is be safe to access the site.

Italian officials have already spent 80 percent of the money used for the bridges construction on the maintenance.

Brencich said there have been bridges that have stood for 100 years without any maintenance, proving the Morandi bridge is an engineering failure.

The raised highway is an interchange between the northern regions of Lombardy and Piedmont and the beaches of Liguria, where many people travel to during the holiday.
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The Latest on a ship carrying rescued migrants in the Mediterranean (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

Two French aid groups operating a ship carrying 141 migrants say they are relieved the rescued people will soon reach shore but they've been warning the European Union for months and countries must have seen the problem coming.

Rescue ship the Aquarius has been sitting halfway between Malta and Italian territory since Monday morning, blocked by authorities in both countries from entering. Malta has now agreed to let the ship dock, with the migrants then transferred to five other EU countries.

Sophie Beau, Vice President of SOS Mediterranee's international network, told reporters Tuesday that "we know perfectly well that Italian ports are closed."

She says SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders have been warning European authorities for two months of the need for a mechanism to avoid such standoffs at sea.

The groups say the Aquarius could reach Malta late Tuesday if its admission is officially confirmed. Of the 141 people aboard, 67 are under 18 years of age. The groups say there are no urgent medical cases aboard but that the state of the migrants' health is generally in decline.

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4:05 p.m.

Malta says it will allow the private rescue ship Aquarius, with 141 migrants aboard, enter port as part of an EU deal.

The Maltese government said Tuesday that the migrants, who were rescued in the waters off Libya four days earlier, will be distributed among other European Union nations  France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. Meanwhile, Malta will serve as a logistical base for Aquarius.

Malta in a statement calls the arrangement's a "concrete example of European leadership and solidarity."

The aid groups SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders, with staff aboard the ship, had appealed to Italy and Malta for safe harbor.

Italy's new populist government had refused.

Malta noted that it rescued 114 migrants at sea on Monday and that 60 of those will also be distributed among other EU nations. .

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12:15 p.m.

Two officials in France are urging national authorities to allow docking access to a boat carrying 141 migrants rescued last week in the Mediterranean Sea, stressing humanitarian concerns.

The ship, Aquarius, is operated by French groups. It is currently situated between Malta and the Italian island of Lampedusa, with Italy's new anti-migrant government refusing to let it dock.

Jean-Guy Talamoni, the president of Corsica's local assembly, told Europe-1 on Tuesday that, "it's an obligation to help people in danger."

The director of the port of Sete near Montpellier, Jean-Claude Gayssot, also said the evening before on BFM-TV that "there are emergency situations and you have to deal with them."

The boat needs the authorization of French authorities to enter any port. French President Emmanuel Macron has not yet commented.
A Missouri woman who traveled to Australia last August to visit a man she met online was caught smuggling cocaine -- inside the heels of her shoes, officials said.

Denise Marie Woodrum, 51, was busted while going through customs at the Sydney Airport on Aug. 4 last year. She was stopped by officers who discovered two pounds of cocaine in her luggage, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday.

Woodrum, who is a lay associate with the Catholic order Adorers of the Blood of Christ, claims she was duped by a man named Hendrick Cornelius and that the items in her luggage were meant for him.

She was groomed to provide financial gain for this person, Hendrick Cornelius, whatever person or persons it was behind this identity, her lawyer Rebecca Neil said in court last week, the newspaper reported. She went on this trip, she was bringing artifacts for him.

A spokesperson for the Adorers of the Blood of Christ told Fox News on Wednesday that Woodrum was known to them for at least five years and that she was not a nun or a sister with the order, as previously reported.

Cheryl Wittenauer, communications director for the Adorers of the Blood of Christ in St. Louis, said a lay associate with the order is someone who is inspired by the spirituality of a particular order and seeks to follow it in their private life. She said Woodrum once considered becoming a nun, but decided against it.

According to Woodrum, she had crippling debt due to major health problems and a failed marriage. She thought the man she met online was someone special.

However, despite exchanging hundreds of text with this mystery man, Woodrum never met him face to face. Her lawyer claims the 51-year-old was a vulnerable woman who had been preyed on.

In January, Woodrum pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. However, Judge Penelope Wass has questioned Woodrums explanation, saying its inconsistent and at times unbelievable.

According to court documents, Woodrum flew from Missouri to Texas and then to Trinidad and Tobago on July 18, 2017. From there she traveled to the Suriname capital city of Paramaribo.

On July 30  still in the South American country  Woodrum reportedly texted Cornelius: Riding in his car to get stuff no signature needed. That same day she traveled back to the U.S. via Trinidad and Tobago.

On August 2, she texted Cornelius a list of expenses and departed to Sydney from Miami via Los Angeles.

Its been a pleasure serving together Woodrum reportedly texted after landing.

Stopped at the Sydney airport, Woodrum reportedly told officers she traveled to the Australian city to see the Harbour Bridge and the aquarium. She said the shoes in her suitcase were a gift for her mother.

A substance was reportedly detected inside the heel of a shoe, a wallet and buttons on clothing.

After the shoes tested positive for cocaine, Woodrum reportedly replied: Why, how much did you find?

She later told investigators shed been given gifts and clothes in South America to give to people in Sydney.

All the while, Cornelius was reportedly sending her messages that read: Are you OK? What are you doing honey? Shuttle? In taxi?

Woodrum has remained in custody since her arrest and is due to be sentenced early next month.

Meanwhile, Woodrums father told the Fairfax Media that his daughters arrest was a big shock to the whole family.

It just came out of the blue, Tom Rozanski, who lives in Illinois, added.

He said his daughter was a former teacher with a masters degree in marketing, who suffered from depression and had undergone a hysterectomy.

All of a sudden she met someone she talked to, Rozanski said. She said she was going to be doing some traveling.

He added: Life took a turn. She has never done anything like this before, and this experience has been difficult for me to understand. Mostly because none of our family has had anything happen to them that even remotely resembles what Denise has done."

Editor's Note: Denise Woodrum was misidentified as a nun of the Catholic order of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ in the original version of this story. She is a lay associate.
Although the Taliban overran a base in northern Afghanistan, and Afghan forces were battling insurgents for a fifth day in the eastern city of Ghazni on Tuesday, the U.S. military reported that the city remains under Afghan government control.

What we observed as these Afghan-led operations drove a large portion of Taliban from the city over the last day or so, was the retreating Taliban attacking the more vulnerable surrounding districts, which Afghan forces are reinforcing, Lt. Col. Martin L. ODonnell, a U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesman, told Fox News. That said, some Taliban forces remain in the city. These insurgent forces do not pose a threat to the citys collapse.

The U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, but since have come to the aid of Afghan forces as they struggle to combat the resurgent Taliban.

They never went away, Marine veteran and author C.J. Chivers said about the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan on The Story with Martha MacCallum. He noted the war had unrealistic goals. He said the Afghan security forces werent up to standing alone: The way we trained them often was too hasty, the equipment wasnt enough and you dont make a military in a few years to fight the Taliban.

The Taliban besieged the base, which housed about 140 Afghan troops, for three days before the attack late Monday, said the local provincial council chief, Mohammad Tahir Rahmani.

Rahmani said the base fell to the Taliban after soldiers ran out of ammo, food and water. He said 43 troops were killed and wounded in the attack but did not give a breakdown.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying 57 Afghan soldiers had surrendered to the Taliban while 17 others were captured. He said eight military Humvees were seized.

The attack on Ghazni came as a shock, The Washington Post reported, because the Taliban used massive force, which included non-Afghan Islamist fighters, and the assault showed signs of long-term planning.

The Taliban who have hidden themselves amongst the Afghan populace do pose a threat to the civilian population, who were terrorized and harassed, ODonnell said.

The fighting has brought civilian life to a standstill, with most residents sheltering indoors.

The Red Cross said roughly 20 percent of the citys population depends on the municipal water system, which has been down since the start of the fighting. It said it had organized an effort to truck in water, serving 18,000 people.

The Taliban, who falsely and repeatedly claim that they do not target civilians, have executed innocents, destroyed homes, burned a market and created the conditions for a potential humanitarian crisis with this attack, ODonnell said. Clearly the Taliban have paid no heed to the calls of the Afghan people for them to reconcile and join the peace process.

In Ghazni, meanwhile, Afghan forces battled the Taliban on the outskirts five days after the insurgents launched a massive attack on it. Hundreds of people have fled the fighting in the city, which has so far killed about 100 members of the Afghan security forces and at least 20 civilians.

Nasart Rahimi, a deputy spokesman at the Interior Ministry, said security forces were combing Ghazni on Tuesday, searching for any remaining Taliban fighters. Military helicopters were supporting the ground operations, said Abdul Karim Arghandiwal, a military media officer in southeastern Afghanistan.

On Friday, the insurgents overwhelmed defenses and pushed deep into the city, which is just 75 miles from the capital, Kabul. The United States has carried out airstrikes, and sent military advisers to aid Afghan forces in the city of 270,000 people.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the Talibans use of civilian homes as fighting positions is forcing Afghan government forces to move slowly in expelling the insurgents from Ghazni.

Mattis told reporters Tuesday during a visit to Brazil and Argentina that the attacks reveal nothing new about Taliban capabilities. He said those attacks show the Taliban forces remain focused on fighting among civilians.

Fox News Jennifer Griffin, Martha MacCallum and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The event concluded with video-recorded remarks by the Third Tenor himself.

With his expertise and research, we will continue to be at the cutting edge of transplantation, Carreras said of Hill. The research being done at the Fred Hutchinson is a great example of how scientific advances can lead to cures.

Carreras also gave a nod to the physician-scientist whose work was instrumental in curing him more than 30 years ago: Following in Dr. Thomas exemplary footsteps, researchers at the Hutch are at the forefront of a new generation of therapies aimed at curing cancer.

Sustained funding spurs innovative research

Endowed chairs provide sustained funding that helps retain the best researchers and enhance efforts to recruit the finest minds in the world. Such funding frees Hutch scientists to pursue innovative research directions and collaborations that make significant contributions to lifesaving research. Endowments also provide donors an opportunity to establish a lasting legacy, as by design they are sustainable resources that are continually replenished by investment returns.

When the Carreras/Thomas chair was established in 2007, it was the third-ever endowment in the history of the Hutch. Today there are nearly 20 endowed chairs at the Hutch. Gillilands goal is to have 40 such chairs in place by Dec. 31, 2019.

Toward that end, the Fred Hutch board of trustees approved an unprecedented matching program through which a $2 million endowed faculty chair can be established with a first-time donor pledge of $1 million, which is complemented by an equal investment of $1 million from Fred Hutch. Matching funds are drawn from income generated by the Hutchs success in extending the reach of its scientific innovations through partnerships with the private sector, including more than 30 spinoffs launched over the past four decades.

Each match is a reinvestment that transforms our commercialization and business development success into direct support of a valued scientist, said Kelly OBrien, vice president of Philanthropy. And each donor who makes this leadership gift helps to ensure that our faculty have the support they need to accelerate the prevention, detection and treatment of cancers and other diseases.
Harrison Karisa, director for Egypt and Nigeria of international research organisation WorldFish, describes the potential of Egypts fish-farming industry

Fish has long been a cheap source of protein for many Egyptians, with tilapia, known as bolty, costing less than 15 per cent of the price of red meat and around a quarter of the price of a kg of chicken.

According to WorldFish, an international non-profit research organisation, fish accounts for 25.3 per cent of the average Egyptian households protein intake.

With the River Nile and coasts overlooking the Mediterranean and Red Seas, people often ask why there never seems to be enough fish.

The truth is that all these areas together only provide around 25 per cent of total fish production, and most of the fish that Egyptians consume is produced on fish farms.

Aquaculture production in Egypt in 2014 came to around 1.1 million metric tons, accounting for around three-quarters of the countrys total fish production, according to data from WorldFish. Most of this is consumed in the country.

Aquaculture had been practised in Egypt for millennia and since the Ancient Egyptian dynasties.

One drawing on the wall of a Pharaohs tomb dating back to 2,500 BC shows a man harvesting tilapia from an earthen pond, documenting the first aquaculture activity in history, according to a paper entitled Aquaculture in Egypt: Insights on the Current Trends and Future Perspectives for Sustainable Development.

Tilapia is the most farmed species of fish in Egypt, said Harrison Karisa, country director for Egypt and Nigeria of WorldFish, which, headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, and with offices in Asia, Africa and the Pacific, works on improving livelihoods through fishing and aquaculture.

The organisation carries out research in Egypt, Nigeria, Zambia and Tanzania that can be scaled up for implementation elsewhere.

It has been working in Egypt since 1997 and has helped to improve tilapia stock. This work has helped to improve the production of fish in Egypt, Harrison said.

He added that Egypt is the largest producer of fish in Africa and the seventh in the wider world. It also holds the top position in tilapia production.

It is unique because 70 per cent of the fish consumed in Egypt comes from fish-farming, Harrison said, whereas in other countries most fish is caught in lakes, rivers and the sea. He attributed this to strong government support for fish-farming later followed up by private-sector investments.

However, Harrison said it was regrettable that production from the Mediterranean and Red Seas did not add more to total fish production in Egypt, caused by over-fishing in both. Oil-drilling and exploration has also affected the fish in both seas, since fish flee extensive activity.

The Nile only produces 4.8 per cent of Egypts fish, while the Mediterranean produces around eight per cent and the Red Sea around 12 per cent.

Meanwhile, fish-farming has been growing exponentially to reach 1.8 million tons in 2017, up from around 200,000 tons in the 1990s, or a growth rate of around eight to 10 per cent a year.

Local production still does not cover consumption, however, with Egypt importing up to 500,000 metric tons of fish a year, according to UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) statistics.

Harrison said that people were wrong to think that farmed fish were somehow less clean than those caught in the wild. When they know it is from a farm, some people may claim a fish is less good, but if they are given a blind tasting they cannot tell the fish apart, he said.

He explained that the law stipulates that water should be used on crops before it goes to fish farms. That could cause impurities in the fish, but when they have been tested fish that have been farmed have shown no signs of being affected by the water.

Such fish are tested for pesticide residues, and any that are found have been within allowed limits.

Harrison suggested that the law should be revised to allow people to raise fish wherever there is suitable water. Fish do not use water. They live in water. People should not fear that fish-farming could be a cause of water shortages, he said.

Moreover, the water that fish live in is rich in nutrients because of fish waste, and it could be used to irrigate crops, helping to lower the use of chemical fertilisers, he said.

He said there were around 15,000 fish farms in Egypt, as well as some that are not registered or are considered illegal because they are located in areas not set aside for this purpose. He said fish should be raised wherever they can grow, suggesting the need for changes in the law.

Many people also depend on fish-farming for their livelihoods and food security, and the sector provides employment for 816,000 people in Egypt, according to WorldFish.

The total market value of the industry was $2.2 billion in 2015, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture.

Scaling up production is needed not just to meet local consumption, but also to stimulate exports, Harrison said.

China exports fish to Africa, so why cant Egypt export fish to Africa as well, he asked.

There is a lot of demand for the fish being produced in Egypt, and it would be cheaper for African countries to import and be a source of income for Egypt.

However, for exports to flourish it is essential that quality standards are observed, he said. For example, EU monitors regularly check any fish exported to European countries.

Currently, only around 30,000 metric tons of Egyptian tilapia and other fish are exported, Harrison said.

We have to produce enough before we think of more exports, he added.

In order to boost production, the government has recently launched several mega-fish farms, one of them in Berket Ghalioun 134km north of Cairo in the Kafr Al-Sheikh governorate.

The project, of which only the first phase has opened, is expected to produce five million kg of fish and shrimps a year.

Any attempt at increasing production and reducing imports is good for food security, Harrison said. While the fish the government is producing might not reach the very poor because some of it is expensive, it can be exported or go to the tourism industry, he added.

It is a good sign that the government is serious about fish-farming, both fresh water and marine, as this will help to feed the population, he said.

Berket Ghalioun includes an industrial zone where there will be a fish-feed factory as well as a shrimp-feed plant and refrigeration facilities and packaging plants.

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is fish feed, and Harrison suggested that the government reduce customs on fish-feed inputs. If the price of fish feed goes down, this will mean cheaper fish for consumers, he said.

Another challenge is post-harvest processing in Egypt. This is one of the biggest impediments to the proper pricing of fish, he said, explaining that fish is usually sold fresh at the farm gate as there are not enough cold-chain facilties in Egypt.

Only three per cent of the fish produced is processed, forcing farmers to sell their fish at lower prices to stop it going bad, Harrison added. When the fish is harvested it needs to be iced and then moved to areas where it can be processed, he said.

Part of the reason there is not enough processing, according to Harrison, is because Egyptians prefer to eat fresh fish.This stops us from processing enough fish, and we are losing jobs by not adding value through processing, he said.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 9 August 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Fishing for opportunities

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Oxford, Oxfordshire  14th August 2018 - Those rambunctious renegades at Rebellion have released a gameplay revelation - six minutes of brand new STRANGE BRIGADE action!

Featuring bamboozling new levels and the recently unearthed Score Attack and Horde Modes, the trailer is now available to watch on home motion picture screens!

Watch the GAMEPLAY OVERVIEW trailer here

Today's terrific new trailer gives newcomers to STRANGE BRIGADE all the info needed to become a fully-fledged hero. From the lowdown on the Brigade's supernatural powers to the veritable legion of mystical malefactors in their way, this video has got the lot!

Jump into rip-roaring 1930s adventure for 1-4 players when STRANGE BRIGADE launches on August 28, 2018 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

REVIEW COPIES, YOU SAY?

Yes, review copies will be available very soon! If you are interested in reviewing STRANGE BRIGADE, please email [email protected] with your preferred format.

About Rebellion

Founded in 1992, Rebellion is one of Europe's leading independent game developers and publishers. Whether it's the breathtaking intensity of Sniper Elite 4, the face-hugging terror of Aliens vs. Predator or the grindhouse frenzy of Zombie Army Trilogy, the Oxford-based studio is known for creating stand-out games that thrill players.
Woman and child threatened : 51-year-old detected after racist incident in tram line 66

Konigswinter The police found the 51-year-old man in connection with the racist incident in the tram line 66 in Konigswinter. The man is known to the authorities. He threatened to kill a woman and her child.

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The police in Bonn detected the 51-year-old man, who had threatened to kill a 44-year-old woman of Turkish descent and her 5-year-old son in the tram line 66. As reported the incident happened on the route between Niederdollendorf and Konigswinter.

We found the man. Officers of the State Protection Unit have called on him and checked his details. He was warned in a potential risk person speech, said a police spokesperson on Monday in a conversation with the GA newspaper.

The investigation against the 51-year-old, who is from Konigswinter according to information the GA newspaper received, continues. He wants to reply to the accusations in the next few days, said the spokesperson. The man is known to the authorities. He was not arrested.

The man was identified thanks to CCTV footage in the tram. Also the 44-year-old victim has identified him on pictures when shown to her in the police station during the morning.

The man had said that he wants to kill and burn my mother, my brother and every foreign person, said Yasmin Akkaya, the 21-year-old son of the victim, in an interview with the GA on Friday. He was called by his mother from the train. Other passengers, who tried to protect the mother and her child, were also threatened by the man.

The Turkish Consulate General pointed out that it is not true that the Consulate advise the victims to contact Turkish media to spread the story. It is true, that the victims and their family did not contact the Consulate at any time and that the Consulate did not advise to contact Turkish media, said the authority on Monday. We have a very good relationship with the German security authorities and always advise Turkish people to contact them, said Consul Nagi Tayru in a conversation with the GA.
Problem birds : Rose-ringed parakeets in Bonn cause noise, dirt and joy

Bonn Again and again the mainly green parakeets are populating the trees along the Rhine river banks in Bonn and causing serious noise and dirt. Since the 1970s the birds, who originally come from Africa and Asia, are familiar to the area.

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Whats all-green, screeches, sits in trees and causes some amount of dirt? The answer: rose-ringed parakeets. They are populating the trees at the river banks of the Rhine in Bonn - as well as the Tannenbusch dune, the castle in Poppeldsorf, the Villa Hammerschmidt and the Rheindorf fortress. Where they live in larger groups, a sometimes deafening noise in the shape of their continuous screeching can be heard. And whoever dares to stand under one of the trees occupied by them has to expect at least some bird poo from above

It can get a bit unpleasant if a large group of the birds spreads over the backyards of the inner city. Residents are then faced with the question: How to get rid of them? A few of the birds have been seen in the western part of the city too.

The animals grew so much in numbers that experts are already discussing if they are threatening domestic species. The rose-ringed parakeet can be a problem for the local cave breeders. According to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the rose-ringed parakeet is potentially invasive, which is why the agency suggests the need to keep an eye on the situation.

People like the parakeets

The originally Northern African and Asian bird species came to Bonn in the 1970s. At first there were only a few birds. But over the years the population is growing noticeably.

But the presence of the exotic birds seems to be no problem for Bonn people: According to the city council nobody had yet complained about nuisances caused by the birds. There are also no plans by the city to banish the birds from Bonn. Quite the opposite, as many people are delighted to see the parakeets, said a spokesperson for the city council.

What you need to know

Of course the feeding of the birds should be avoided at all times. This could cause the birds to stay longer in one place than they should. Private measures to banish the birds, especially if those could lead to causing harm to the animals, are not only inappropriate or even explicitly prohibited, but can lead to fines for animal abuse or other violations of the animal and species protection act.
After the fire : Structural engineers examine ruined houses in Siegburg

Siegburg Important decisions for the 20 victims of the blaze last week are about to be made in Siegburg. Structural engineers began examining the ruined houses carefully on Monday morning.

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By the end of the week, the affected families will know if their properties can be renovated or if they need to be torn down entirely, the GA was told by the city council in Siegburg. We are definitely preparing everything we can, to support the affected people as well as possible, said Jan Gerull, cit council spokesperson.

The necessary files for demolition or new construction permits are already being collected to be able to deal with them faster. The experts who are advising the owners have another important task. They determine, which parts of the houses can be accessed and which cant, said Gerull. Already, some areas are in danger of collapsing. The houses can only be entered in the company of an expert. Since Monday the owners themselves are responsible for the safety in the ruined houses - not the city council any more. The houses are still cordoned off. Also the security company, who is controlling the admission to the affected roads, remains in charge. It is not yet clear what caused the fire at the railway embankment in Bruckberg.

First the criminal investigation department from Cologne took over the investigation, but now the officer of the regional police are continuing the examination. Several witness reports, including one video taken from the drivers cabin of one of the passing trains, were handed in, said police spokesperson Georg Kupper. So far, none of the reports have produced a successful suggestion on how the fire started.

As reported, air turbulences caused by a passing ICE train may have aided the fire to spread into a large blaze. Some of the people affected by the fire had expressed incomprehension as to why the train traffic was not immediately interrupted, at the latest after the first passenger train had passed the fire.

City Council offers apartments

This question is also part of the investigation, said Kupper. At the same time he emphasised that the flames spread within a few minutes to the other side of the train tracks while the communication which interrupts train traffic needs a bit of time. Fire brigade and Deutsche Bahn already issued a statement in which the closure of the track was reported as having been initiated immediately. Of the 32 people injured in the fire, none remained in hospital anymore, according to the city council. One person in need of care is currently in a assisted living home.

One family who cannot use their home since the fire, found temporary accommodation. They asked around and found a new apartment, said Gerull. Other affected people will be informed about possible accommodation during the week. Once we know what the future living situation will be, we can access the donated goods accordingly, said the spokesperson. And the amount of donations had grown even more.

Five classrooms were filled with donated items such as furniture etc. in the charity collection in the former school in Haufeld on Saturday. The event was organised by the city council. Many employees and volunteers of the initiative Lohmar hilft as well as 15 refugees helped taking in the boxes and packages full of goods and sorted them into the rooms. About 200 people came to donate items. Many came, emptied their car boot and headed off again, said Manu Gardeweg, chairwoman of theLohmar hilft network. She estimates the number of donors to be as high as 300 even. One man even travelled from Belgium to drop off donations.

Tons of clothes

Gardeweg: People mostly handed in furniture, and some of them extremely valuable. The helpers also took in flat-screen TVs, bed linen, crockery and about 2.5 tons of clothes. The organisation of the event by the city was extremely good, said Gardeweg. But not everything was actually useful. Like a Christmas tree and carnival costumes.

Combined with the donations which were handed in immediately after the fire, the clothes collection amounts to approximately five tons. To be able to handle these masses, the German Red Cross provided Lohmar hilft with a large tent normally used in disaster control situations. On Tuesday, the helpers will begin to sort the donated goods there.

Help also came from somebody else: The Scouts St. Johannes Singular and eXodus Kaldaune collected donations in Troisdorf and Siegburg of 761 Euro.
Location of Long Valley supervolcano

Scientists have discovered 240 cubic miles of semi-molten magma below the Long Valley Caldera, a supervolcano in eastern California near Mammoth Mountain.









The study was published in the journal Geology

Some 240 cubic miles' worth of magma sat deep below the Long Valley Caldera, researchers reported in the journal Geology. But that doesn't mean it is about to erupt on anything like the scale it has in the past.The supervolcano erupted over six days about 760,000 years ago, coating the surrounding 30 miles of land in hot ash and shooting volcanic material as far as Nebraska, the team wrote. After experiencing smaller eruptions, it has stayed dormant for the last 100,000 years or so.Today, the 20-mile long Valley Caldera lies on the spot. Gradual uplift at the center of the caldera garnered significant interest over the last 40 years. But until this latest study, scientific understanding of what lay beneath the surface was patchy.More than 20 studies found small features a few miles down, and larger one deep underground, study author Ashton Flinders of the U.S. Geological Survey told New Scientist. This has left a bit of a shadow zone in the midcrust, where the shallow studies cant see and deeper studies tend to blur anything they do see, he said.Flinders and his team created a 3D image of the rocks using seismic data collected over the past 26 years by stations up to 100 miles from the caldera. Their data suggested a huge store of magma lies in the previously obscured region.Because less than half of the magma is thought to be molten, its very unlikely to see the kind of supervolcano eruption of 760,000 years ago. Flinderss team believe only about 27 percent of the magma is liquid.But smaller regions of the supervolcano may be closer to the 50 percent melt threshold, which means normal-sized eruptions are theoretically possible.I imagine there could be smaller eruptions and indeed they are the most likely, Robert White at the University of Cambridge, U.K., told New Scientist. But there hasnt been anything for a very long time.Meanwhile, scientists recently discovered Wyomings famous Yellowstone supervolcano may have formed not by a plume of magma rising up through cracks in Earths crust but by the fracturing of a massive slab of oceanic crust underneath part of the North American continent.
The World Bank's International Finance Corporation said on Tuesday it is keen to provide more than the pledged amount of $2 billion in financing to the Egyptian private sector by 2019, targeted primarily at entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Mouayed Makhlouf, the IFCs director for the Middle East and North Africa, told Ahram Online during a roundtable on the groups Arab World Competitiveness Report 2018, that IFC is committed to providing the $2 billion financing to Egypt, and even more financing for the countrys small and medium-sized enterprises.

IFCs CEO Philippe Le Houerou told Investment Minister Sahar Nasr in July of the groups promised financing to 2019 for the private sector, as well as its provision of technical support on the execution of public-private partnerships in the field of renewable energy.

Makhlouf said the support from the group came due to reforms carried by Egypt in recent years.

There are the kind of reforms that we want to see in the Arab world, Makhlouf said, citing Egypts efforts through its 2014 embarked economic reform program and other reforms which helped it securing a $12 billion loan package from the International Monetary Fund.

Thats where we want to put our money, in countries similar to Egypt, he said, citing Egypts GDP of 5.2 percent and an anticipated 5.8 percent in the next fiscal year, as predicted by the IMF.

Theres an interesting momentum in Egypt, Mirek Dusek, the deputy head of geopolitical and regional affairs at the World Economic Reform said from Geneva during a conference call at the IFCs headquarters in Cairo.

The IFCs total investments in Egypt are worth $1.2 billion, according to a statement last week.

The investments have helped in creating job opportunities, improving infrastructure, and boosting economic growth, according to the IFC.

Egypt ranks 100th globally in the Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018, out of 137 countries, and 11th out of 12 Arab countries, according to the IFCs Arab World Competitiveness Report 2018, which was released on Tuesday.

UAE was ranked as the most competitive economy in the region, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The ranking by the World Bank groups IFC and the World Economic forum is based on 12 factors, including education and infrastructure, that are critical to productivity and economic growth.

It also focused on the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in the countries economic performance and growth.

The report cites improvements which have taken place over the last decade in the fields of infrastructure development and technological advancement across the region, but warns that countries in the region are struggling to diversify their economies, to create more jobs and to build a competitive private sector.

The IFC added there were concentrated efforts by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other Arab countries in providing crucial funding to start-ups, including the Central Bank of Egypts effort in pushing banks to gradually raise their financing for smaller businesses to 20 percent of their total credit portfolio by 2019.

According to Makhlouf, there were about 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises in the Middle Eastern and North African region, with two out of three smaller businesses not having access to credit.

You dont expect a bank to support start-ups; its a different mindset; but you expect them to support small and medium-sized enterprises, Makhlouf said.

Comprehensive programme

Egypt has been proceeding with efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises, encouraging informal businesses to register with official structures.

In May, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced a five-year tax exemption for small and medium-sized businesses that register formally.

El-Sisis comments come nearly two years after he announced an initiative to provide EGP 200 billion in loans for small and medium-sized businesses through the central bank over four years.

In 2016, the Central Bank of Egypt explained its plan to incentivise banks to participate in a comprehensive programme to help finance smaller businesses to create jobs and support the economy.

The programme involves offering loans with interest at not more than 5 percent.

The programme aimed to finance 350,000 companies and create 4 million new job opportunities over a period of four years, according to the central bank.

Financing for small and medium-sized enterprises Egypt had ramped up to reach EGP 8.5 billion at the end of March 2018, compared to EGP 4.9 billion in 2017, a rise of 91.5 percent, according to the countrys Financial Regulatory Authority in May.

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damyti at 13-08-2018 09:51 PM (3 years ago) (m)

Justin Bieber and his fiancee Hailey Baldwin who got engaged last month, during their vacation in Bahamas, have decided to postpone their wedding until 2019, as they dont want to put pressure on themselves and rush the big day.

Justin Bieber and his fiancee Hailey Baldwin who got engaged last month, during their vacation in Bahamas, have decided to postpone their wedding until 2019, as they dont want toon themselves and rush the big day.



Though TMZ gathered that Justin, 24, and his model girlfriend, 21, are still excited about becoming man and wife, they feel theyve made the commitment, and thats the most important thing.



Justin and Hailey are waiting until sometime next year to tie the knot as they feel theyve made the commitment, and thats the most important thing a source told TMZ.





On the criticism the couple faced for getting engaged so quickly, the source revealed the pop star is sure Hailey is the one, having been besotted with her for many years.



The insider continued: Justins been in love with her for a long time, so this didnt just come from out of the blue.





Recall that Justin proposed to Hailey, who is the daughter of actor and producer Stephen Baldwin, during a trip to the Bahamas last month. After two days of swirling rumours, the Sorry hitmaker went on to confirm the news to fans on Instagram, with a sweet tribute to his blonde beauty.



He wrote: Was gonna wait a while to say anything but word travels fast, listen plain and simple Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you!



So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you loving you patiently and kindLY. I promise to lead our family with honor and integrity letting Jesus through his Holy Spirit guide us in everything we do and every decision we make.



My heart is COMPLETELY and FULLY YOURS and I will ALWAYS put you first! You are the love of my life Hailey Baldwin and I wouldnt want to spend it with anybody else.



Justin Bieber and Hailey have known each other since 2009 as members of the Hillsong Church, which they regularly attend together in LA. However, eyebrows were raised over the pairs engagement, considering the pop star only split from Selena Gomez in March. Though TMZ gathered that Justin, 24, and his model girlfriend, 21, are still excited about becoming man and wife, they feel theyve made the commitment, and thats the most important thing.a source told TMZ.On the criticism the couple faced for getting engaged so quickly, the source revealed the pop star is sure Hailey is the one, having been besotted with her for many years.The insider continued:Recall that Justin proposed to Hailey, who is the daughter of actor and producer Stephen Baldwin, during a trip to the Bahamas last month. After two days of swirling rumours, the Sorry hitmaker went on to confirm the news to fans on Instagram, with a sweet tribute to his blonde beauty.He wrote:Justin Bieber and Hailey have known each other since 2009 as members of the Hillsong Church, which they regularly attend together in LA. However, eyebrows were raised over the pairs engagement, considering the pop star only split from Selena Gomez in March.

Post Reply Posted: at 13-08-2018 09:51 PM (3 years ago) | Upcoming
kejguv at 14-08-2018 12:20 PM (3 years ago) (m)

Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA), has arrested and detained 159 stray animals across Minna, the Niger State capital. The General Manager of the agency, Mr Lucky Barau, told the News Agency of Nigeria, on Saturday in Minna, that the agency task force made the arrest in two days. He said that the animals, which consisted of goats and sheep were also arrested with their kids and lambs. But their owners are free to get them back for just N1000.

Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA), has arrested and detained 159 stray animals across Minna, the Niger State capital. The General Manager of the agency, Mr Lucky Barau, told the News Agency of Nigeria, on Saturday in Minna, that the agency task force made the arrest in two days. He said that the animals, which consisted of goats and sheep were also arrested with their kids and lambs. But their owners are free to get them back for just N1000.





Post Reply Writing is my passion and facts-proofing is my hobby, I have been writing at Gistmania for close to a decade now and It is one of the most exciting things I do. Outside writing, I love enjoying time with my loved ones - if you have any tip for me, please do get in touch Posted: at 14-08-2018 12:20 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac
As we sat down in his home in Zamalek, peeking at the Nile from his fabulous balcony that overlooks the river, I was going over the question I spent the whole night writing and rewriting while waiting for my first meeting with Samir Amin, one of the greatest economists I had ever heard of, a man who has more books mentioning his name than the prolific number of books, papers and articles he authored.

He emerged and greeted us wearing a traditional Egyptian navy blue galabiyya, something you would only wear at home or in a casual setting with friends.

While I expected that such an interview would be more formal and strict, I started to ask myself if that meant that this will be a long or a short interview, but before I could find an answer to my questions, he started the conversation with the kind gesture of offering to change his clothes in case we intended to take photos. From that minute forward ran a prolific conversation over capitalism, Islamism and equality that lasted for more than two hours, a lot longer than we ever expected. In fact, parts of that interview are still unpublished six years later.

Samir Amin, who departed our world on Sunday 12 August at the age of 86 in Paris, less than a month from his 87th birthday, was one of history's most radical Marxists and economists, who championed equality and social justice in face of the cruel and brutal capitalism, especially in its neo-liberal phase.

The author of The Liberal Virus was hospitalized in Paris on 21 July with a brain tumour, discharged from the hospital last Saturday, and then promptly died the next day on Monday 12 August.

He described himself as a "creative Marxist" who believed that we should begin with Marx, but not end with him, Lenin, nor Mao."

Unexpected long life

In a 2011 interview with Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Amin revealed the story that determined his whole life as a Marxist.

Samir Amin was born on 3 Sep 1931 to an Egyptian father and a French mother, both of whom were medical professionals.

The late economist was only expected to live a few days after his birth, for Amin was born weak and ill with biliary secretion, and was unable to get any oral nutrition as he spat even water out. He was only alive through solutions that were injected into him; his condition was so bad that some family friends advised his parents to let him die, but his French mother insisted on giving him all the care he required.

By the time he turned one, his family had visited a village in Egypt's Nile Delta when they ran by a peasant who asked them about the baby's health. After the mother explained his condition in detail, the peasant invited them into her home to help find a treatment for the boy. The peasant gave them a mix of herbs and within a few days, Amin was completely healed, but the doctors insisted that he stay away from certain types of food until his adulthood, the foods that all kids love: candy, chocolate and ice cream.

The genesis of Amin's strong self discipline and his socialistic viewpoints began at that moment. At the age of six, he saw a little boy digging through the trash for food and he asked his mother why the boy was doing that. His mother said "because society is bad", so he replied "I'm going to change that society."

That incident stuck with Amin and influenced his decision to study economics. After studying in Egypt, he went on to receive a diploma in political science in Paris in 1952 before getting a degree in statistics and then a doctorate in economics.His thesis was titled The Origins of Underdevelopment  Capitalist Accumulation on a World Scale, which he published in a book in 1970.

Amin was one of the founders of the Egyptian Communist Party in the 1940s. After his graduation, he worked among the teaching staffs at several French universities and escaped the successive imprisonment campaigns during the Nasserite era of the 1950s and '60s.

He returned to Egypt in 1957 to work at the Institute for Economic Management before he left Egypt after realizing Nasser's problems with Communism. He then moved between countries and became director of the Third World Forum in Dakar, Senegal in 1980.

Throughout his academic life, he introduced many concepts such as euro-centrism and the idea of the centre and peripheries.

Centre and the Periphery

In his analysis of the global accumulation of capital, he defined two distinct patterns: the centre and the peripheries, where development is at the centre while the periphery is dependent on the centre.

In a paper published in January 2007, Samir argued that "central development is characterised by the dominance of economic activity to satisfy mass consumer needs and the consequent demand for production goods. The power of the masses is enlisted in a 'social contract' that allows the establishment of a limited economic viability at a national level. However, the internationalisation of productive capital increasingly threatens that stability. The peripheral systems are dominated by production of luxury goods and exports and the consequent lack of importance of internal mass markets. This leads to growing inequality, technological dependence, political weakness among the oppressed  in sum, marginalization."

He expanded on the idea in a 2012 interview by saying that "capitalism is centred around polarization between centres and periphery, determined by the law of value; a model that applies to capitalism throughout its historical evolution, and the polarity increases throughout since the logic of capital accumulation doesn't enable the periphery to ever catch up with the centres."

He therefore saw capitalism and imperialism as interdependent phenomena, for the first cannot exist without the second, although throughout history the imperialist model changed and thus so did the relation between the centres and periphery. Since the masses at the periphery reject this situation, the capitalist system was never stable and history witnessed this tension on the political level.

Amin has always called for a multi-polar world, where America doesnt have the power to solely rule the world.

He believed that world capitalism maintains its rule through five monopolies  control of technology, access to natural resources, finance, global media, and the means of mass destruction.

And that only by overturning these monopolies could real progress be made.

Amin has vehemently criticized imperialist attempts to "help" the economies of the periphery, saying that any effort that doesnt denounce imperialism first would fail as it doesnt challenge the existing structure of power that controls the world order, an order where peripheries (developing countries) would supply the centre (western countries) with the means of development while themselves staying underdeveloped.

Islamists and the Brotherhood

The author of Capitalism in the Age of Globalization tied his stance on Islamism and the Muslim Brotherhood with his stance on capitalism and imperialism. He believed that they would apply the same neo-liberal policies that the centre wanted applied on the periphery once they were in power.

He argued in an interview in 2012 while Egypt was still under the rule of the Brotherhood that the Brotherhood was "liberal economically," and not just a conservative party.

Amin said that after the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, it was required to build a national project to escape privatization and to protect it from the negative impacts of globalization. However, he also stated that isn't the the Brotherhood project supports, as they argue that neither capitalism nor the market is not the problem.

He thought that the Muslim Brotherhood shouldn't be looked at as just a political Islamist power, but also as a "backward movement that rejects workers movements and social justice, and prefers to talk about charity as a way to ensure their control over the people. The Islamists accept the policies of dependency under the guise of open market and private ownership rights; they openly accepted the American role in the region and their support for Israel, including the Camp David agreements."

Samir Amin believed that what happened in Egypt in 2011 was bigger than an uprising, but short of a revolution.

He was a radical and creative thinker who rejected dogmas and historically accepted facts and theories in favour of an approach that "takes proper account of the perspective and aspirations of the truly dispossessed in the world."

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In Lithuanian version only corrected the date for setting the shareholders right to receive dividends. No corrections to the english version made.





On 5 September 2018 the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Public limited liability company Novaturas, code 135567698, registered at A. Mickeviciaus st. 27, Kaunas, the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter, the Company), is being convened (hereinafter, the Meeting) upon the initiative and decision of Board of the Company.



The place of the Meeting  hotel Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva, conference centre (Konstitucijos ave. 20, Vilnius). The Meeting commences at 9.30 a.m. (registration starts at 8.30 a.m. and ends at 9.15 a.m.).

The meeting of the Board was convened in accordance with request of the Shareholder Central European Tour Operator S.a.r.l., personal code B133714, registered address at L-1653 Luxembourg 2, avenue Charles de Gaulle which holds 3,700,874 ordinary registered shares of the Company, which constitute 47.4% of all the shares issued by the Company and votes carried thereby in the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (hereinafter  the Shareholder), dated 8 August 2018, to convene the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. The purpose of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders is to pay dividends for the period shorter than the usual financial year.

The Meetings accounting day  29 August 2018. The persons who are shareholders of the Company at the end of accounting day of the General Meeting of Shareholders or authorized persons by them, or the persons with whom shareholders concluded the agreements on the disposal of voting right, shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting.

The Board of the Company initiates and convenes the Meeting, which on 9 August 2018 approved the following agenda of the Meeting:

Agenda of the meeting:

Announcement of Interim Report of Public limited liability company Novaturas for the period of six months as of the end of 30 June 2018.

Draft decision proposed:

The Interim Report of Public limited liability company Novaturas for the period of six months as of the end of 30 June 2018, was announced for the Shareholders of the Company. The decision is not adopted on this matter of the agenda."

Approval of the set of audited interim financial statements for the period shorter than financial year as of the end of 30 June 2018.

Draft decision proposed:

"Approve the set of Interim Financial Statements of Public limited liability company Novaturas for the period of six months as of the end of 30 June 2018 audited by UAB DELOITTE LIETUVA, the Companys auditor.

The allocation of dividends for shareholders of Public limited liability company Novaturas for the period shorter than financial year as of the end of 30 June 2018.

Draft decision proposed:

"Considering the fact that all conditions for the allocation of dividends for a period shorter than the financial year set out in Paragraph 5 of Article 601 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania are fulfilled, to approve for Shareholders of Public limited liability company Novaturas the allocation of dividends in the amount of 0.77 EUR per share of Public limited liability company for the period of six months as of the end of 30 June 2018."

Election of the auditor for the performance of audit services for annual financial statements of the companies of the group of the Company and determination of the conditions of audits services for the 2018  2019 period.

Draft decision proposed:

To elect auditor UAB DELOITTE LIETUVA for the performance of audit of annual financial statements of the companies of the group of the Company for 2018 and 2019 and determine that the payment for the performance of the audit services shall not be paid more than EUR 85,000 excluding VAT in 2018 and EUR 95,000 excluding VAT in 2019.

The right to receive dividends will only apply to those, who are shareholders of Public limited liability company Novaturas at the end of 19 September 2018. In accordance with Article 60 Item 5 of the Company Law of the Republic of Lithuania the Company will pay allocated dividends not later than within one month from the day of the adoption of a decision on the allocation of dividends.

The total number of the Companys shares of EUR 0.03 par value each and the number of shares granting voting rights during the general meeting of shareholders is the same and amounts to 7,807,000.



ISIN code of the Companys shares is LT0000131872.

The Company shall not provide the possibility to participate and vote in the Meeting through electronic communication means.



Draft resolutions on agenda issues, documents to be submitted to the Meeting and other information related to the exercising of the shareholders rights are available on the website of the Company www.novaturasgroup.com on the menu item For investors. This information will also be available for the shareholders at the head office of the Company (A. Mickeviciaus st. 27, Kaunas, the Republic of Lithuania) on business days from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m.



The shareholders holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes shall have the right of proposing to supplement the agenda of the Meeting by providing the draft resolution on each additionally proposed issue or in case no resolution is required  the relevant explanation. The proposals to supplement the agenda shall be submitted in writing or by e-mail. The proposals shall be presented in writing to the Company on business days or by sending them to its registered mail address, A. Mickeviciaus st. 27, LT-44245 Kaunas, the Republic of Lithuania. The proposals submitted via e-mail shall be sent to tomas.staskunas@novaturas.lt . The proposals to supplement the agenda with the additional issues shall be received in the Company till 22 August 2018, 4 p.m. In case the agenda of the Meeting is supplemented the Company will notify on it no later than 10 days before the Meeting in the same manner as on convening of the Meeting.



Each shareholder holding shares that grant at least 1/20 of all votes at any time before the general meeting of shareholders or during the meeting shall have the right of proposing draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders, as well as the additional candidates to the members of the Supervisory Council of the Company (if elected). The proposed draft decisions must be presented in writing sending them by registered mail or providing them against signature at the address of the registered office of the Company indicated in the notice.



The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the issues of the agenda of the Meeting to the Company in advance in writing. The shareholders shall present the questions not later than 3 business days before the Meeting via electronic mail to tomas.staskunas@novaturas.lt . The Company undertakes to respond to the submitted questions via electronic mail till the Meetings day, except the questions related to the Companys commercial (industrial) secret, confidential information, as well as if the questions will be received in the Company later than 3 business days before the Meeting.



Responses of a general character shall be posted on the Companys website www.novaturasgroup.com . The Company will not respond personally to the shareholder if the respective information is posted on the Companys website.



Each shareholder shall have a right in the manner established by the laws to authorise other (natural or legal) person to attend and vote at the general meeting of shareholders on his/her behalf. At the general meeting of shareholders an authorised person shall have the same rights as would be held by the shareholder represented by him/her, unless the authorized persons rights are limited by the power of attorney or by laws. The authorized person must provide a power of attorney certified in the manner established by laws. A power of attorney issued in a foreign state must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised in the manner established by laws.



Shareholder shall also have the right to authorize through electronic communication means another person (natural or legal) to participate and vote in the Meeting on shareholders behalf. Such authorization shall not be confirmed by the notary public. The power of attorney issued through electronic communication means must be confirmed by the shareholder with a safe electronic signature developed by safe signature equipment and approved by a qualified certificate effective in the Republic of Lithuania. The shareholder shall inform the Company on the power of attorney issued through electronic communication means by e-mail tomas.staskunas@novaturas.lt no later than on the last business day before the Meeting by 4:00 p.m. The power of attorney and notification shall be issued in writing. The power of attorney and notification to the Company shall be signed with the electronic signature but not the letters sent via e-mail. By submitting the notification to the Company the shareholder shall include the Internet address from which it would be possible to download free of charge software to verify an electronic signature of the shareholder.



Each shareholder or representative thereof shall have the right to cast his/her vote in advance in writing by filling in a general ballot paper. The form of a general ballot paper is provided on the Companys website www.novaturasgroup.com on the menu item For investors. Upon a written shareholders request, the Company no later than 10 days before the Meeting shall send a general ballot paper by registered mail or hand it in person against signature. The general ballot paper filled shall be signed by the shareholder or his/her representative. In case the ballot paper is signed by the shareholders authorized representative, such person together with the filled ballot paper shall submit the document confirming the voting right. The ballot paper filled and the document confirming the voting right (if required) shall be submitted in a written form to the Company by its registered mail address, A. Mickeviciaus st. 27, LT-44245 Kaunas, the Republic of Lithuania, or by submitting it to the Company. Valid will be dully filled-in ballot papers, received in the Company until the Meeting.

Attached:

General voting ballot; Interim financial statements with Interim Report.

Attachments
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunwing has confirmed that they will be returning to Sudbury this winter and will be adding a new flight service to Montego Bay. The travel company has operated from Sudbury for the past 11 years, but this coming season will mark the first time that they have offered local residents two different destinations for their winter escape. The new flight service will depart Thursdays between December 20, 2018 and April 11, 2019. In addition, the tour operators perennially popular seasonal flight service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic will operate weekly from December 19, 2018 until April 3, 2019.



Lined with sparkling white-sand beaches, Montego Bayor MoBay as its affectionately knownoffers the ideal ambience for both relaxation and adventure. Travellers can experience all the destination has to offer with an array of Sunwing Experiences, from reggae and culture tours to visits of one of the islands historical plantations. They could also take a tranopy tour of the islands lush interior or scale world-famous Dunns River falls.

President of Tour Operations, Andrew Dawson, for Sunwing explained that the move to expand the number of destinations from Sudbury this coming winter was a result of consumer demand and feedback from our travel agency partners in the Greater Sudbury region. Our seasonal Sudbury flight service has been consistently well received so we were delighted to be able to add Jamaica, another one of our most popular destinations.

We are thrilled to welcome Sunwing back to Greater Sudbury for their 12th season," said Todd Tripp, CEO of the Greater Sudbury Airport. "Punta Cana has always been a popular sun destination choice for Sudbury travellers and we are delighted that Sunwing is doubling their flight service over the 2018/2019 winter season to now offer Montego Bay, Jamaica as an option. Both Punta Cana and Montego Bay provide local travellers with excellent winter escape choices."

Sunwing offers a wide range of resort options in Montego Bay including Sensatori Azul Beach Resort Jamaica , which now also benefits from an adults only section. Situated on the shores of the famous Seven Mile Beach, this resort is both family and adult-friendly with cooking classes for kids, an exciting Splash Park, as well as an exclusive beach and pool area that comes with butler service for adults who upgrade to the Premium Couples room category.

Popular among families, the recently-renovated RIU Palace Tropical Bay welcomes guests with new modern rooms, a redesigned pool area, an action-packed RiuLand Kids Club with an enlarged pool and playground, as well as a new lounge bar and cafe. Featuring an enviable beachfront, the resort also offers guests many complimentary activities included such as kayaking, water volleyball, windsurfing, boogie boarding and snorkelling. Plus, vacationers who travel with Sunwing will enjoy exclusive RIU-topia inclusions such as unlimited a la carte dining, spa discounts and much more.

All vacation packages include return flights on Sunwing Airlines where passengers can look forward to starting their vacation off in style with award-winning inflight service that includes a welcome sparkling wine toast, buy on board Sunwing Cafe menu with selections inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford, and backpacks for children filled with games and toys.

To book your next all inclusive vacation visit www.sunwing.ca or contact your travel agent.

About Sunwing

As the #1 to the sun and North Americas largest vertically integrated travel company, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 33 airports across Canada to over 45 popular sun destinations. This scale enables Sunwing to negotiate the best deals and exclusive offers at all of the top-rated resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Renowned for its award-winning service, Sunwing is consistently voted the #1 leisure airline by travel agents and is the perennial winner of the Consumer Choice Award. Customers can look forward to starting their vacation off in style with award-winning inflight service, which features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine*, tea and coffee and non-alcoholic beverage service; together with a buy on board menu of light meals and snacks (including kids choices) inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Sunwing customers also benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey.

* service may be unavailable on select flights

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Rachel Goldrick

Senior Corporate Communications Manager

Sunwing Vacations

1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca

https://www.facebook.com/SunwingVacations

https://twitter.com/SunwingVacay

https://www.instagram.com/sunwingvacations

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzjZ-lcuaqBQH7Sq0u3ru7A

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9fcf80ca-7ae3-43cb-b927-865e6ee7ab59

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a90379e3-7487-4511-a9e9-3d21fee8e7b7
A mother in Central Asia who converted to Christianity from Islam has been forced by her husband to either deny Jesus Christ or risk losing her baby, a persecution watchdog group has revealed.



Open Doors USA shares the story of Sameda, a woman who converted from Islam to Christianity three years ago. Despite leaving Islam, she married a Muslim man due to societal pressures to get married.



"Initially, we were very happy until he became more interested in my faith. Certainly, I did not hide the fact that I am a Christian and told him that God touched my life one day. After these words, my husband seemed to change," the woman revealed.



Because he was not a devout Muslim, Sameda's husband Rashid was not opposed to her Christian faith - at first. However, after realizing she was serious about following Jesus, he began pressuring her to convert back to Islam. He beat her a number of times - even when she was five months pregnant - yet Sameda refused to renounce her faith.



"Of course, I told him I would remain faithful to Christ," the woman said. "I can't imagine my life without Jesus anymore."



But after Sameda gave birth to their daughter, the persecution worsened. Rashid threatened to leave her and take the baby if she refused to convert back to Islam. Eventually, he kicked her out of the house because of her faith, along with her daughter.



"It was so hugely stressful and such a tragedy for me," she said. "My beloved husband, who always seemed so kind and caring; he kicked me out of his house with a month-old baby without any means of subsistence!"



Today, Sameda and her baby now live with her mother in the capital city. However, she could still lose her child if a divorce is to be finalized, Open Doors notes, due to laws in that country that give fathers custody of children in such cases.



"I don't ask God to give me back my husband, to keep my family," the woman said. "Most of all, I need to be strong in my faith. I don't want to lose it, to lose the relationship with Christ, but sometimes it is too hard. I need to have contact with other believers."



Open Doors revealed that it has been assisting Sameda with basic needs and with care for the baby. The organization urges Christians around the world to pray for the safety of Sameda and her daughter and peace in the midst of these trials.



Earlier this year, the Christian organization released a list highlighting some of the greatest human rights offenders toward Christians. "Islamic oppression" was overwhelmingly identified as the top driver of Christian persecution in a number of countries.



"Islamic Oppression is one of the most widely recognized sources of persecution for Christians in the world today - and it continues to spread - aiming to bring many parts of the world under Sharia law," says Open Doors. "The movement, which often results in Islamic militancy and persecution of Christians, is expanding in Asia (Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia) and Africa (Egypt, Nigeria, Somalia)."



The organization said the list of Christian persecutors was not created to "stir up anger - although righteous anger is expected - but to move us all toward prayer and action."



"So as we pray against the evil mentioned in this article, we can also pray hopefully that God's kingdom would come, and His will would be done," says Open Doors. "Here on earth now, and then in completion for eternity."


The push for federal subsidies for child care is gaining momentum. Ivanka Trump has urged Congress to pass a tax deduction for child-care expenses. During the 2016 presidential campaign, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders proposed new federal preschool and child-care programs. And recently, one commentator even advocated opening federally subsidized care centers nationwide The concern is understandable. According to 2016 data compiled by Child Care Aware, the average annual cost of full-time center-based infant care varies dramatically nationwide , from $5,178 in Mississippi to $23,089 in the District of Columbia. That amounts to 27.2 percent of median single-parent family income in Mississippi and fully 89.1 percent in D.C. Such high burdens not only have a crippling financial impact on poorer families but can make it uneconomic to work and pay for child care at the same time.Yet none of the proposed solutions to costly care would make it cheaper. They would simply transfer the high costs to taxpayers. A better starting point would surely be to ask: Why is child care so expensive? One important answer, it turns out, is state-level regulation. Staff-child ratio rules and worker-qualification requirements, in particular, increase prices and reduce availability, particularly in poor areas. These are things state legislators can do something about.Suppose a staff-child ratio is made more stringent, meaning that fewer children can be cared for per staff member, and qualification requirements for directors of infant centers are increased. These could theoretically improve care by heightening the quantity and quality of interactions with children. The regulations may even convince wary parents that their child would be well cared for, increasing demand for formal, center-based care.But both regulations raise the cost of serving a given number of children. These increased costs reduce supply, increasing prices and encouraging parents to use less-costly alternatives. Child-care centers could try to compensate by paying staff lower wages, but this may mean the industry attracts lower-quality workers. They might also try to hire cheaper, lower-quality support staff. Both could actually lower quality, rather than increase it.Empirical research analyzing differences across states shows that the net effects of these requirements are costly and that relaxing them would have beneficial effects without significantly compromising quality. Mercatus Center economists Diana Thomas and Devon Gorry, for example, estimate that loosening ratios by just one child across all age groups would result in prices falling by 9 percent or more. That's over $2,000 per year for a family using full-time infant-center care in D.C. Requiring lead teachers to have high-school diplomas likewise raises prices by between 25 percent and 46 percent.It's a matter of supply and demand, as research by economists Joseph Hotz and Mo Xiao shows. They find that tightening the staff-child ratio by one child reduces the number of child-care centers in an average area by 10 percent with no apparent impact on quality. Increasing the average required years of education for center directors by one year has modest positive effects on quality, but likewise reduces the number of centers by between 3.2 percent and 3.8 percent.Crucially, the negative consequence occur almost entirely in poorer areas, and they disproportionately impact single mothers, who are particularly sensitive to child-care costs in terms of deciding whether to work. Costly center-based care also appears to drive parents toward home-based day care or using unlicensed relatives, alternatives that, in the absence of regulation, may result in much lower quality care.To increase accessibility and reduce the price of formal child-care, then, we need state legislatures and regulators to liberalize these regulations. This should not be considered crazy. Many European countries have no statutory limits on staffing, with no ill effects. Parents demand a safe environment from their providers. It should be up to them to decide what price-quality bundle they want and for providers to be able to operate efficiently to deliver that.Federal subsidies, in contrast, amount to just disguising the high costs through the generosity of others. They may not even improve access if the program is badly designed. Of course, families would see lower out-of-pocket payments, but others' tax bills would rise to pay for this. And attempts to subsidize "free" care often bring huge unintended consequences. In the United Kingdom, for example, the number of child-care centers is falling as they struggle to maintain profitability given low subsidy rates.Deregulation of child care is a preferable means of both reducing the cost of care and increasing its availability. It would not put taxpayers on the hook for a single dollar. Rather than introducing a whole new federal entitlement, let's unpick the state-level interventions that drive up the costs of care in the first place.
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.
Since the Trump administration signed off on rules to ease the regulation of short-term and so-called association health plans, states have launched legislative and legal fights against them.Both types of health plan were restrictedunder the Obama administration. They are controversial because while they offer consumers a lower-cost option for health care, they arent required to fully comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They can reject people with preexisting conditions and refuse to cover benefits like maternity care, mental health and hospitalization. Critics of short-term plans refer to them as "junk insurance."Twelve state attorneys general have sued the Trump administration over association health plans, citing concern over past abuses from their insurers."Health insurance markets for individuals and small businesses were much more prone to abuse, including discrimination in pricing and benefits ... prior to the ACAs enactment, the AGs wrote in their suit , noting that the American Cancer Association and the American Heart Association have raised concerns about the rule.Meanwhile, some states are seeking to prevent or limit short-term plans.The Connecticut Department of Insurance determined last week that its state laws prohibit short-term plans. Hawaii and Maryland recently passed laws that severely limit their use, and Washington state's insurance commissioner is reportedly in the process of rewriting rules to do the same. California's legislature is considering an outright ban.Association health plans are sold through trade organizations or industry groups that arent subject to the same regulations as health insurance companies, while short-term health plans are expected to be sold on the ACA marketplace this fall.This all comes at a time when ACA premiums have been on the rise, in part because of moves by the Trump administration. But critics of short-term and association plans worry that if too many people sign up for them, ACA premiums could rise further."The more healthy people drop out and go to skimpier coverage, the more [other ACA] plans become unaffordable," says Dania Palanker, assistant research professor for the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University.Health policy experts seem to agree that both short-term plans and association health plans will add a bit of instability to the ACA marketplace -- but the question is how much."Will they draw significant numbers of healthy people out of the [ACA]pool? We'll see," says Trish Riley, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy.But while advocates of these controversial plans tout their lower premiums, some reports indicate that ACA premiums are already starting to stabilize in more than a dozen states. reported earlier this month that six states -- Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, Illinois, Iowa and Wyoming -- will likely see a decline in premiums. And the Kaiser Family Foundation found that insurers in eight other states -- Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia -- are also planning on decreasing premiums in at least one of their plans this fall. Premiums are expected to be finalized in the next couple of months."The federal government is a bit unpredictable, but for what weve seen with preliminary filings, there looks like well see some stability for 2019," says Riley.Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, for example, announced that rates throughout the state would decrease by 4 percent this year. If the Trump administration had made fewer changes to the marketplace last year, premiums would have likely decreased by 15 percent or more, according to North Carolina Health News. In addition to introducing the idea of loosening short-term and association health plan regulations, the Trump administration last year also brieflyended some payments to insurers that were meant to help offset the costs of subsidies, drastically cut outreach funding for the ACA and shortened the ACA enrollment period. Congress, meanwhile, repealed the individual mandate, which required every American to have health insurance.Experts say the marketplace may see more stabilization this year because insurance companies already accounted for a lot of those changes in their 2018 rates."There were probably a lot of inaccuracies with how they priced silver plans versus bronze plans, and some may have raised rates more than they needed to because of the uncertainty," says Palanker. "We also already saw the price effect of the loss of the individual mandate, with insurers already expecting it to get rolled back or just not enforced last year."But even in states where premiums could plateau or decrease, they will still be expensive for the people who don't qualify for ACA subsidies, which is about 15 percent of marketplace users. For example, in Pennsylvania, the cost of the most popular silver plans are expected to drop 20 percent -- from $636 to $484 a month.The Trump administration is, however, helping a handful of states at least temporarily lower ACA premiums through the use of reinsurance programs. But Palanker warns that the short-term and association health plans could have a domino effect in the years to come: "Looking at 2020 and beyond," she says, "there could be more instability."
All sexual assault victims who enter an Illinois emergency room will soon be treated by a nurse trained to care for them.Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation Friday night that will require hospitals to train enough medical providers in how to treat sexual assault patients that when a victim arrives, a trained provider is present within 90 minutes. Hospitals will have until Jan. 1, 2022, to comply.An earlier Tribune investigation found that although experts recommend that rape victims be treated by providers trained in that specialty, few nurses undergo the training. The care a patient receives can depend on which emergency room he or she goes to and when; one hospital may have multiple sexual assault nurse examiners on staff while another has none.The Illinois attorney generals office has for years provided free training for Illinois nurses, but many say they have not been able to attend or complete it because of a lack of time or money. Nurses often spend their own time to attend training programs and their own money to travel to them.Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Friday that since 2003, her office has provided the classroom portion of training to more than 1,600 nurses across the state, but just 188 nurses practicing in Illinois emergency departments have completed the full training, which includes practicing genital exams and observing testimony in court.Advocates have long said that more nurses should undergo training; government and health experts say its beneficial both to those who have experienced trauma and to providers who handle medical evidence. Madigan pushed for the legislation, saying experienced nurses provide stronger evidence, which leads to bolstered prosecutions and more criminals in prison.
Local officials spread across Kansas' 105 counties will exercise an incredible amount of power this week when they determine whether thousands of ballots should count in the closest primary race for governor in Kansas history.The roughly 9,000 provisional ballots, awaiting rulings from county officials across the state, will likely decide whether Gov. Jeff Colyer or Secretary of State Kris Kobach emerges as the Republican candidate in the fall.More than 40 percent of the provisional ballots were cast in the state's two most populous counties, Johnson and Sedgwick. The ballots have the power to swing the Kansas race in Colyer's favor or solidify a victory for Kobach.Kobach's role as the state's chief election official has heightened the scrutiny of the vote-counting process in the contentious race. After a backlash this week, Kobach announced Friday that Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rucker will oversee the process in his stead.Colyer's campaign plans to send representatives to all 105 canvassing board meetings to ensure the governor receives every possible vote. The candidates went into the weekend separated by a mere 110 votes.The uncertainty about the winner has drawn comparisons to the standoff between George W. Bush and Al Gore during the 2000 presidential election, when a few hundred votes separated the two candidates in Florida.Bryan Caskey, who works under Kobach as the state's director of elections, said that usually 60 to 70 percent of provisional ballots end up being counted in the final tally."We always count more than we don't count," he said.County election offices spent the days after the election separating provisional ballots into categories. Canvassing boards will then vote on whether to accept the ballots in each category.Caskey said a voter may be told to cast a provisional ballot for a variety of reasons, including the lack of a government-issued ID, but the most common reason is that voters changed their addresses and forgot to update their voter registrations."That's the No. 1 reason every election," he said. A change of name could also force a voter to cast a provisional ballot on Election Day, he said.Colyer's campaign has identified specific categories of concern, including unaffiliated voters who were told to cast a provisional ballot.Kansas voters must belong to a party to cast a primary ballot, but Kansas law allows a voter to declare a party at a polling place on Election Day.Hundreds of mail-in ballots also may be in legal limbo because of a dispute between Kobach's office and Colyer's campaign about whether they require a postmark to prove they were sent by the primary day deadline."Our hope is that he gets a fair shake," Marr said of Colyer. "I think there's a few things we can do to ensure that, several of which we've included in our letter to the secretary of state."Friday evening, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced that he was instructing all counties to preserve election records for "any potential litigation related to this election."Kobach, who has frequently warned about voter fraud as a threat to election integrity, responded to Colyer in an open letter Friday afternoon, telling him that his accusations do "nothing to increase the public's trust in the elections process and is beneath the office of governor."Kobach said "local election officials have earned a reputation of providing Kansans with honest and accurate elections. I have every confidence that these local officials will carry out their obligations in this tradition of excellence."
A judge threw out a new state law Monday, ruling that it violated the constitutional rights of at least two politicians whose 2018 campaigns the law had targeted.Chris Anglin, a Republican candidate for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, had sued the legislature along with Rebecca Edwards, a Democrat who is running to become a district court judge in Wake County. Earlier this summer, the legislature passed a new law that would have prevented Anglin or Edwards from being able to have their party affiliations on the ballot.They argued that the law unfairly targeted them because their competitors in this November's elections would still have their own parties listed on the ballot.Anglin, who is believed to have been the main target of the new law, is one of two Republicans running for the Supreme Court seat against a single Democratic candidate."Their actions have shown exactly why I'm running," Anglin said Monday after winning the case. "They want to make the judiciary an extension of the legislature."The GOP had previously endorsed the other Republican, incumbent Barbara Jackson. Anglin had been a registered Democrat until shortly before he entered the race, and his campaign consultant is Democratic operative Perry Woods -- leading Republicans who control the General Assembly to cry foul about Anglin's intentions.Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore can appeal the ruling, but neither committed to an appeal right away."Republican or Democrat, 'candidates' shouldn't be able to switch parties at the last minute to split the vote," said a spokesman for Berger, Bill D'Elia. "It's a dirty trick that both sides of the aisle have rightfully condemned. We're reviewing our legal options as we consider next steps."Jackson is running what's likely to be a close campaign against the Democratic challenger, Anita Earls, who has so far raised twice as much money as Jackson and is counting on the so-called "blue wave" of Democratic voters expected to turn out this fall to boost her and other liberal politicians.Anglin's attorney, the Raleigh lawyer and Democratic politician John Burns, argued in court that Anglin's partisan leanings had nothing to do with whether or not his rights were violated."That's up to the voters," he said.The case came down to whether the legislature violated Anglin's and Edwards' rights when it passed the new law, after filing for judicial races had already ended, that stripped the party affiliations of any candidates who changed their party registration within 90 days of the filing deadline. Since it applied retroactively and with no opportunity for the candidates to comply with its new requirements, Wake County Superior Court Judge Becky Holt overturned the law as it applied to Anglin and Edwards.In a press conference after the trial Monday, Burns said this case was important in a broader sense because it will "keep the government from reaching back in time and doing something you can't react to."But Moore's office criticized the judge's decision Monday, saying that the legislature does indeed have the power to act as it did."Today's misguided ruling protects Democrats' deliberate effort to split the vote by confusing voters about a candidate's true affiliation, despite the state legislature's longstanding authority to set party label rules for candidates and efforts to conform judicial races with every other public office statewide," a spokesman for Moore, Joseph Kyzer, said. "Lawmakers are reviewing their legal options."
North Dakotans will vote this November on a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana, state officials announced Monday.Secretary of State Al Jaeger said that Legalize ND, the group leading the charge to get the question on the ballot, submitted 14,637 signatures last month, about 1,200 more than required.If passed, the ballot measure would permit non-violent marijuana related activity for North Dakotans aged 21 and up, according to the Grand Forks Herald.The measure allows for unlimited possession and growth of marijuana and opens the door for the state to expunge marijuana-related criminal records.The state voted to legalize medical weed in 2016, but it has not yet been made available to the public, as officials are still licensing dispensaries and growing facilities.
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GIS 14 August, 2018: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade will sign two Memoranda of Understanding namely with the China Foreign Affairs University and China Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China and the Estonian School of Diplomacy of the Republic of Estonia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade will sign two Memoranda of Understanding namely with the China Foreign Affairs University and China Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China and the Estonian School of Diplomacy of the Republic of Estonia.

Cooperation under the two Memoranda of Understanding will be implemented by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Trade, set up under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India.

The areas of cooperation include exchange of information on the structure and content of the training programmes; working or study visits to share experiences and ideas; the carrying out of coordinated research on subjects in mutually agreed areas; mutual assistance in designing IT-based course content for distance learning; and the organisation of workshops, forums and seminars in areas of interest to both Parties.
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GIS  14 August, 2018: The three-day third round of negotiations on the Mauritius-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) opened yesterday at the Hilton Hotel in Flic en Flac. The FTA aims at further expanding bilateral trade and investment exchanges between Mauritius and the Peoples Republic of China.

The Mauritian delegation is being led by Dr Sunil Boodhoo, Director, International Trade Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade. The twelve-member Chinese delegation is headed by the Deputy Director General, Ministry of Commerce, Mr Hu Yingzhi.

In his opening statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, pointed out that the substance of the FTA should be that of a framework agreement which shows the way forward and conveys that both countries mean business. It should add the block and structure to make Mauritius and China an example of friendship, common interest and win-win situations to the rest world, he emphasised.

The FTA, the Minister pointed out, will in fact materialise and give substance to a strong friendship which has existed for so long between our two countries. China-Mauritius represent a beautiful story of friendship based on the principle of working together in the interest of each other, he said.

Speaking about Africa-China cooperation, Mr Lutchmeenaraidoo highlighted that it is necessary to find a solution which is related to the finalisation of two agreements namely: the first FTA which China is currently negotiating with an African country that is Mauritius; and, the Road and Belt initiative. The latter initiative implies that China wants to play more and more a positive and substantial role when it comes to the development of the whole planet, he stated.

The Minister also spoke how Mauritius although small in land size can act as a transmission belt and connecting link between the philosophy of China and the vision of Africa. This is where we are today, a new world and planet which is developing and where we are moving away from the West to the East and where the East wants to be present in world affairs, he said. It is on this basis that we are working collaboratively on these two initiatives, he remarked.

For his part, the Head of the Chinese delegation, Mr Hu Yingzhi, observed that the negotiations on the FTA have already reached an advanced stage within a short span of time. In addition, he expressed hope that the establishment at an earlier date of a Free Trade Area between both countries will help in further strengthening our long-lasting friendship. The FTA is also of great significance in ensuring the promotion of Africas economic, trade and investment cooperation with China, he stated.

Mr Hu recalled the recent friendship visit effected by Chinese President Xi Jinping two weeks earlier to Mauritius. This visit has not only brought new impetus to Mauritius-China friendly ties but has further triggered Chinese peoples interest towards Mauritius, he added.

Moreover, Mr Hu observed that President Xi and the Mauritian Prime Minister, Mr Jugnauth, acknowledged the progress made so far with regards to the FTAs negotiations and the two leaders expressed hope that both the Chinese and Mauritian delegations will work closely with accelerated efforts to advance the negotiations with the aim to achieving a comprehensive high level and mutually beneficial FTA in the near future.

The FTA is expected to be finalised by the end of August this year. It will be signed in Beijing in September 2018 during the Forum on China Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in the presence of Prime Minister Jugnauth and Chinese President Xi.

The first round of negotiations on the Mauritius-China Free Trade Agreement kicked off in April 2018 while the second round was held in June.
Say the Poulsbo, Wash., Police Department gets a 911 call about somebody with a mental health problem disturbing the peace in a public area. The cops show up and arrest that person. Poulsbo is a small town, so the person winds up in Kitsap County Jail, a half-hours drive south in Port Orchard.More often than not, the Port Orchard [police] will have an interaction with them, said Penelope Sapp, a lieutenant in Kitsap County Sheriffs Office.Maybe the person goes back to jail. Perhaps they wind up at Western State Hospital for a mental health evaluation. Or they go to a homeless shelter. Or maybe they have a health problem and its an ambulance ride to the nearest emergency room.Each of those interactions represents a weight on the social security net. Each one of them is a cost for a department or organization trying to keep its costs down.In common parlance, these people are often called frequent flyers. Its not a new problem  in the local emergency services ecosystem that exist between ambulances, hospitals, police, fire departments, homeless shelters, mental health service organizations and caseworkers, many communities have struggled to find ways to break the cycle these people keep traveling through.There are people who will call 911  19 times a day, and that requires law enforcement to respond to that, Sapp said.Kitsap County thinks its found a way to bring that number down  by simply sharing information better. The county is one of the earliest partners for RideAlong , an early stage startup that got its start working closely with the Seattle Police Department.Briefly put, RideAlong is a means of building a profile for individuals whose names frequently run through the 911 system  with a focus on people who have mental health problems. When various people interact with one of those individuals, they can rely on the knowledge of others who have interacted with that person before.It can be very simple information  for example, to not bring up a persons parents when talking to them. Or to ask what a persons name is, because they have dissociative identity disorder.Key to the system is that it helps people involved in different organizations know what the best action is to take in a given situation.Our app is almost like a cheat sheet to make the best referral for that person in the moment, said Katherine Nammacher, CEO and co-founder of RideAlong.The company has met with some early success. In Seattle, RideAlong studied a group of about 200 people who the citys police interact with more than almost anybody else  the frequent fliers, as it were. They documented a 35 percent drop in 911 calls related to those people in the six months after Seattle PD started using RideAlong, relative to the six months prior.Extrapolating the resources saved between the police department, hospitals, courts and jails, RideAlong estimates the city saved more than $400,000 by avoiding those 911 calls. Its not easy to say exactly whats changed with those individual cases, but its safe to say its keeping them out of jail.There are a lot of resources spent on this population that can actually be streamlined and not duplicated, Nammacher said.The problem is not so much that the people in the emergency services ecosystem dont know how to deal with high utilizers. Its that different people have different information, like puzzle pieces scattered across a county. By putting all the information in one place, any person with access to the system can do whatever has worked before.Theres a lot of information scattering in places like Kitsap County, where the Sheriffs Office is working with four municipalities, two Indian reservations and the jail to use RideAlong as a common tool.The office was actually already involved in a crisis intervention committee trying to figure out how to effectively share information when it found out about RideAlong.Weve always been banging our heads, how are we gonna share this information? Sapp said.What the lieutenant thinks is the tools biggest strength is its ease of use. The office has response plans for many people, but theyre PDFs and they arent easy to find.If youre a deputy you dont have time to go through the records system or go look through a PDF, she said. Like, we could write response plans day and night  but when youre in a crisis you dont have time to go through that information.RideAlong attaches information about an individual along with the information coming out of the dispatch center. A link to a response plan will show up in the computer-aided dispatch system; one click and the responder knows what everybody else who has worked with that individual knows.Importantly, the office isnt going to put data protected by Criminal Justice Information Services or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act into the system, and only the cooperating agencies will have access to the information.A responding officer doesnt care if somebody is bipolar  they dont care what kind of medicine theyre on, Sapp said. They care about, How are we going to get them to calm down and get them to [a service] in a positive way?In addition to Seattle and Kitsap County, RideAlong is also working with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs as well as the San Francisco Department of Public Health, which operates a team of people who deliver medical care in the field.Theres a lot of work that is being done around homelessness that is very similar to what San Francisco is doing, especially in 2018 because of how visible the growing population of individuals currently experiencing homelessness is, Nammacher said.
(TNS)  For years now, experts have hammered this message home to students: If you want your pricey college degree to pay off, you should major in a STEM field  science, technology, engineering or math.A fresh release of higher-education data for Washington state shows just how well students have listened. The information from Washingtons Education Research & Data Center released this month shows that the number of students majoring in STEM disciplines has been growing at a ferocious pace since the end of the recession. (The trend is true nationally, too.)Meanwhile, humanities and liberal-arts majors  including English, history, philosophy and foreign languages  are languishing.In 2016-17  the latest year for which data are available  the number of students majoring in computer science more than tripled. Related fields also saw boom times  the new discipline of informatics went from four graduates in 2012-13 to 190 graduates in 2016-17. (The University of Washington, which offers an informatics program, defines it as the study, design, and development of information technology for the good of people, organizations, and society.)Statewide, 370 students majored in biochemistry, a 75 percent increase from 2007-08. Chemical engineering was up by 77 percent, electrical engineering up 101 percent and mechanical engineering  one of the most popular of the engineering disciplines, with 502 graduates in 2016-17  was up 132 percent.On the other hand, its been a bad decade for English majors. Their numbers went from 600 in 2007-08 to 381 in 2016-17.In 10 years, the number of history majors dropped by 41 percent, from 416 to 244. A broad major identified as liberal arts and sciences dropped 21 percent, from more than 1,000 students 10 years ago to 800 students in 2016-17.The ratio of men to women majoring in STEM hasnt changed over the past 10 years  it remains at 60:40, with more men than women going into these lucrative fields, ERDC experts say.In 2013, Ben Schmidt, an assistant professor of history at Northeastern University, argued that the media was hyperventilating about the humanities crisis. Last month he posted a mea culpa, writing: The last five years have been brutal for almost every major in the humanities.Here are some other interesting trends from the new data:In the past 10 years, the number of Hispanic/Latino students earning an undergraduate degree has doubled  from 4.6 percent of all undergraduate degree earners in 2007-08 to 9.4 percent in 2016-17. Their representation among STEM degree earners also doubled in the same time period.In 2016-2017, for the first time in 10 years, there was a slight decline in the number of undergraduates coming here from China. However, the number of Chinese graduate students increased. Most students from China attend the University of Washington.Theres been a modest increase overall in the number of Washington resident students enrolled as undergraduates in a four-year public university  from 84,954 students in 2007-08 to 92,987 students in 2016-17, an increase of about 9 percent. This happened during a time of population growth for the state overall. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of Washington public-school students graduating from high school grew by about 6 percent, according to the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, which keeps track of high-school graduates in its annual report,  Knocking at the College Door.
(TNS) - Exposure to toxic chemicals is a routine part of the job for firefighters, increasing their risk for cancer and other illnesses.State leaders are now taking steps to help protect them, including a bill recently signed by Gov. Charlie Baker that designates cancer as a work-related injury for state and local firefighters.The designation gives firefighters diagnosed with cancer better medical coverage, paid leave and more access to disability benefits."Cancer is a very real hazard of the job, and we want to make sure were doing what we need to do to help those who serve, Baker said at the bill's signing.Richard MacKinnon, president of the Professional Firefighters Association of Massachusetts, said firefighters with a cancer diagnosis are often forced to use sick and personal days for treatments. Most communities don't pay for coverage of cancer-related illnesses, either."We've had firefighters who had to use all of their sick time to get treatments," he said. "Some have even lost insurance coverage because they aren't working.Since 2016, nearly 300 active firefighters in Massachusetts have been diagnosed with cancer, according to the union, and at least 29 have died from the disease.Nationally cancer is a leading cause of death for firefighters, accounting for about 3 in 5 deaths in the line of duty, according to recent studies.The new law also includes coverage for breast and reproductive cancers, MacKinnon said.He noted that firefighters are exposed to burning plastics, chemicals and toxins -- including flame retardant chemicals used to treat furniture -- each time they respond to a burning structure or vehicle. The materials emit carcinogenic fumes, such as benzene and hydrocarbons, that can be absorbed through skin.Rep. Paul Tucker, D-Salem, a member of the Legislature's Public Safety Committee, said cancer diagnoses are more likely among firefighters than others."The numbers speak for themselves," he said. "These guys are putting themselves in harm's way so anything we can do to help them, we need to do."A 2015 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found firefighters are 9 percent more likely than the general population to develop cancer, and 14 percent more likely to die from it.The International Association of Firefighters reports 61 percent of line-of-duty deaths from 2002 to 2016 were cancer-related.Decades ago firefighters were most often diagnosed with asbestos-related cancers, but now the cancers are more typically leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among the most aggressive cancers are oral, digestive, respiratory and urinary.Cancer-causing agents can be absorbed through the skin, the CDC notes, and studies have shown that more toxins are absorbed as skin gets hotter.State lawmakers were considering a ban on flame-retardant children's products and household furniture, but the bill stalled before its formal session ended.At least 13 states -- including California, Maine, New York and Vermont -- ban flame-retardant products, while a dozen others are considering similar restrictions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.But the industry is resisting and suing to block laws that seek to keep flame retardants off the market or require labeling of new products.Federal policymakers, in the meantime, are trying to get a handle on the problem by creating a cancer registry.In June, President Donald Trump signed a law directing the Centers for Disease Control to collect data on the occurrence of cancer among firefighters, potentially leading to better prevention and safety protocols.Under the law, firefighters will voluntarily enter health information into a database that hopes to better determine their cancer risk.Besides requiring cancer coverage, Massachusetts lawmakers have also earmarked funds for equipment to minimize firefighters' exposure to carcinogens.An amendment to the fiscal 2019 budget, sponsored by Rep. Linda Campbell, D-Methuen and others, calls for $420,000 to purchase so-called "extractors" -- commercial-grade washing machines that allow firefighters to wash chemicals and toxins off their gear after a shift.Cash-strapped fire departments can't afford to buy the equipment -- which can cost $9,800 or more -- or a second set of gear for firefighters, she said."The goal is to eventually get one of these extractors in every fire station," Campbell said. "It's something that can be done, right now, to help them."Christian Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for the North of Boston Media Group's newspapers and websites. Reach him at cwade@cnhi.com.2018 The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)Visit The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.) at www.eagletribune.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS)  The Federal Aviation Administration gave the Northern Plains UAS Test Site permission to fly unmanned aircraft beyond the operator's line of sight, up to 30 miles around the Grand Sky commercial testing site.To commemorate the authorization and the site's first flight of this kind, U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson will be at Grand Sky next Monday.The new authorization means Grand Sky can fly larger UAS aircrafts at higher altitudes, Northern Plains site director Nicholas Flom said. "Most of the operations that are currently done are at lower altitudes," Flom added.Flom, North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford, UAS executives, military personnel, U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D. and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., will join Wilson Monday."This authorization continues to build North Dakota's competitive edge when it comes to UAS development, testing and research," Hoeven said in a statement Monday. "In 2016, the Northern Plains Test Site became the first place in the nation with authorization to fly large UAS beyond line of sight by relying on a ground-based system to ensure flight safety. The test site has now demonstrated that this system is safe enough to eliminate the need for a manned plane to observe the UAS flight."Hoeven was recently at Grand Sky with Kirstjen Nielsen, secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to tell local UAS leaders how drones can assist national security.Heitkamp also had a statement Monday afternoon, citing her experience on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee."As I've worked to advance North Dakota's civilian and military UAS research and development, I've pushed the FAA to take steps like this one that will help protect national security and develop technologies to keep our borders secure, prevent the trafficking of drugs, and protect against acts of terrorism," Heitkamp said. "Grand Sky is on the cutting edge of UAS development, and this authorization will allow our world-class aviation pioneers to continue to advance the technology that has a big future for both commercial and national security purposes."Referring to a General Atomics announcement last week that the company will expand its Grand Sky presence from six to 20 acres, U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said the FAAs authorization will be a deciding factor for UAS companies looking to increase their presence in Grand Forks. I will continue to work with my colleagues, local officials, and the Administration to support UAS development in the area, Cramer said.
(TNS)  ALBANY  Officials confirmed Friday that a plan is well underway to replace all 12,500 streetlights throughout Albany and Dougherty County with new, more efficient, camera-ready LED smart streetlights. The Albany City Commission is set to vote on the issue, which would cost taxpayers upward of $6.5 million, Tuesday.The new infrastructure initiative to improve illumination, which proponents tout would make streetlights up to 40 percent more efficient, comes at a time when Albany already faces the rollout of the new $20 million utility grid smart meter system and a potential $300 million sewer system overhaul.Officials admit the new smart streetlight initiative would produce no immediate savings because of the debt service associated with the project and no long-term reduction of utility bills, which has many asking, Why spend the money?I cant say that this will lower peoples utility bills, Albany City Manager Sharon Subadan said Thursday when asked about the streetlight plan. But it will be a cost avoidance in the future.Albany Assistant Manager for Utility Administration Stephen Collier confirmed on Aug. 4, during an unofficial meeting at Merry Acres with a group of about 50 residents and business owners, that Albany Utilities had no intention of transferring savings on to its utility customers.Albany resident and business owner Chad Warbington asked Collier at the meeting, If, through these infrastructure improvements, Albany Utilities generates a surplus of savings, would that savings be passed on to customers through lower utility bills?No, Collier responded.We should have an opt-out clause for some customers, one resident and business owner who asked to remain anonymous said about the infrastructure upgrades. You will have some people who do not want smart meters or smart lights for various reasons, 5G signal health issues, privacy issues, etc.The new LED smart streetlights are immediately recognizable. The color and intensity of the LED light is completely different from historically used metal halide or high-pressure sodium bulbs, and LEDs are much brighter.LED, which stands for light emitting diode, shines bright white, in contrast to the tradition soft orange hue of streetlights.As massive rollouts of LED streetlights have occurred in large metropolitan cities such as Seattle and New York, adverse health effects have been reported, so many so, that in 2016, the American Medical Association issued a warning about LED streetlights.Despite the energy efficiency benefits, some LED lights are harmful when used as street lighting, AMA Board Member Dr. Maya A. Babu said. The new AMA guidance encourages proper attention to optimal design and engineering features when converting to LED lighting that minimize detrimental health and environmental effects.According to the AMA, high-intensity LED lighting emits a large amount of blue light that appears white to the naked eye and creates worse nighttime glare than conventional lighting.Discomfort and disability from intense, blue-rich LED lighting can decrease visual acuity and safety, resulting in concerns and creating a road hazard, the AMA report said. In addition to its impact on drivers, blue-rich LED streetlights operate at a wavelength that most adversely suppresses melatonin during night.It is estimated that white LED lamps have five times greater impact on circadian sleep rhythms than conventional street lamps. Recent large surveys found that brighter residential nighttime lighting is associated with reduced sleep times, dissatisfaction with sleep quality, excessive sleepiness, impaired daytime functioning and obesity.The detrimental effects of high-intensity LED lighting are not limited to humans, according to the AMA.Excessive outdoor lighting disrupts many species that need a dark environment, the agencys report said. For instance, poorly designed LED lighting disorients some bird, insect, turtle and fish species, and U.S. national parks have adopted optimal lighting designs and practices that minimize the effects of light pollution on the environment.
Drivers of electric vehicles in Virginia can expect to see more public charging stations installed along major highways and popular destinations.The state intends to spend about $14 million over the next three years to install DC (direct current) fast chargers along major interstates and U.S. highways, as well as Level 2 chargers  a slightly slower charging unit  at popular destinations, said Gregory Bilyeu, director of communications for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the agency administering the program. EVgo Services , based in Los Angeles, has been contracted to develop the charging network. The project will be paid for by funds allotted to Virginia as part of the Volkswagen settlement, which included a gigantic package of fees and fines attached to the German automaker following the 2016 revelation that Volkswagen diesel engines were fraudulently bypassing pollution controls.Virginia received $93 million from the settlement. Its not yet clear how the bulk of the money will be spent, say state officials.By providing added charging infrastructure, the hope is that more consumers will opt to switch to electric vehicles, which are credited with contributing to improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.Virginia has more than 10,000 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, said Bilyeu. The goal is to reach 15 percent penetration of EVs by 2027. Accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles is a critical step to Virginias efforts to fight climate change.EVgo fast chargers can provide about 50 miles of driving range in 15 minutes. Drivers will be able to pay for the service via a credit card or a mobile phone app, noted company officials. The cost for charging ranges from about $0.20 to $0.35 per mile, according to the EVgo website. However, a $9.99 monthly membership can reduce this pay-as-you-go rate. EVgo operates more than 1,000 charging stations in 34 states.Other states like Oregon have explored opportunities to incentivize the installation of charging infrastructure in locations like multifamily housing to encourage more residents to choose electric vehicles. For now, the Virginia DEQ charging infrastructure plan is not focused on apartment buildings, said Bilyeu.However, the siting of EV infrastructure under the state's efforts may provide potential for overlap in use cases, said Bilyeu in an email, adding some chargers could be located in close proximity to multifamily housing developments.Virginia is taking a leading role to develop and deliver a statewide electric vehicle charging network that is driver-focused, user-friendly, and promotes electric vehicle usage, said Gov. Ralph Northam, in a statement. Through this partnership with EVgo, Virginia will accelerate electric vehicle adoption, generate more private investment in electric vehicle technology, and help provide citizens in the Commonwealth with cleaner air.
(TNS)  The U.S. Senate hopes to aid rural areas across the country in expanding access to broadband Internet with $425 million allocated in its agriculture appropriations bill.Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., announced the funds for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Services broadband grant-loan pilot program Tuesday. The new grant-loan program, created with funds in the omnibus spending bill passed in March, allows companies, municipalities, Native American tribes and other organizations to apply for funding to build or improve broadband technology in rural and tribal areas or acquire the facilities and equipment for it.According to a release from the senators, more than a third of residents in rural areas and 41 percent of tribal residents lack broadband Internet.Internet access has become one of our most basic necessities, yet some rural communities still dont have access to this essential technology, Sen. Gillibrand said in a statement. People, schools, hospitals and businesses all rely on high-speed Internet to succeed at work and have a good quality of life.The bill also includes $53 million for grants to purchase transmission facilities, interactive video equipment, audio equipment, computer hardware and technical assistance to expand telemedicine services in rural areas.Of the $53 million, $20 million would be dedicated to efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Kevin Lynch, CEO of Slic Network Solutions, said in an email that having broadband could help connect addicts and their families to hospitals, medical practitioners, schools and counselors.Ultimately broadband connects people. It provides opportunities for education, employment and economic growth, he said. Those connections can help counter some factors that contribute to addiction.Companies like Slic, Nicholville, Mohawk Networks, Hogansburg and others have been broadening their broadband Internet service throughout the Northern New York in recent years with help from federal funding and support from officials like Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro.Slic has been working on expanding broadband access to an additional 6,775 properties in parts of St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Washington and Warren counties, an effort aided this year with $26 million in state funds. Mr. Lynch said the company recently added customers in Bellmont, Lyon Mountain and Schroon Lake and has been building fiber optics in Black Lake, Newcomb, Minerva and its home of Nicholville.Should lawmakers pass the agriculture appropriations bill into law, Mr. Lynch said, Slic may consider applying for a portion of the $425 million for its expansion efforts.We carefully consider all opportunities to expand our coverage to the underserved and unserved communities in and around the North Country and we are hopeful that this will be an excellent opportunity to continue fulfilling our mission of connecting communities to the world, he said.Our major build outs in St. Lawrence and Franklin County in the 2012-2015 time frame were funded in part by the USDA RUS programs. The funding was transformational in the growth of our company and the quality of life for the households and businesses who were available to subscribe to fiber-based broadband in the North Country.
The state of New Jersey has created a new C-level innovation post and hired a former federal tech leader to make government services more responsive and jumpstart its innovation economy.New Jersey has hired Beth Simone Noveck as the states first-ever chief innovation officer, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Aug. 13 and Christine Lee, press assistant, confirmed toNoveck is founder and director of The Governance Lab (GovLab) at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn and was the first U.S. deputy chief technology officer, and director of the White House Open Government Initiative under the Obama administration according to LinkedIn A graduate of Harvard University and Yale Law School, she was named one of the Worlds 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government 2018 byand was named one of the Top Women in Technology by the, the state said.Creation of the state chief innovation officer position is aimed at advancing Murphys promise to spur and expand innovation across New Jersey and within its government, the state said in a news release. In a statement, the governor said Noveck, one ofs Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers of 2010 , will help the state lead in government effectiveness.To reclaim our innovation economy, we must have fresh, cutting-edge ideas that will not only bring New Jersey into the 21st century but also improve the lives of our 9 million residents, said Murphy.Noveck, a transparency advocate under Obama, will have state responsibilities including creating more effective and agile government services; collaborating with other agencies, educational institutions and the private sector; utilizing new technologies to resolve public problems; and creating a 21st-century government capable of making decisions using high-quality data and diverse collective intelligence, the state said.Governor Murphy is a strong champion for using technology and innovation to seize the opportunities of the future, namely to spur economic growth, educate our children, increase health and wellness, and create new jobs, Noveck said in a statement, calling it an honor to work for the administration and advance these goals for residents of her home state.Data analysis is a topic with which Noveck is intimately familiar and wrote about forin 2017, announcing the launch by GovLab and the Justice Management Institute of the Data Justice Network , a knowledge-exchange platform aimed at accelerating data-driven justice reforms by enhancing collaborations between lawmakers and criminal justice officials.When analyzed and used appropriately, data allows for a better understanding and segmentation of relevant populations, matching people to programs more effectively, and measuring what works, Noveck and co-author Batu Sayici wrote, calling the network a means to an end, and the surest and fastest route to genuine reform.In 2016, she discussed the somewhat cyclical power of open data  with the availability of data drawing researchers to work on it, driving partnerships between cities and universities and how those collaborations prompt governments to open more data.I think what youre seeing is not just open data, but kind of shades of open  the desire to make the data open to university researchers, but not necessarily the broader public, Noveck said at the time Also that year, Noveck and GovLab spearheaded  Smart Crowdsourcing , a multinational attempt to rethink strategy on the Zika virus, partnering with public health departments, waste management firms and officials in four South American countries to dissect larger issues for smaller, actionable findings.
New Mexicos top technology official, a longtime and key architect of its IT policy and modernization, will step down in two weeks and return to academia, the states governor announced Department of Information Technology (DoIT) Secretary Darryl Ackley will resign effective Aug. 27 to rejoin the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology as chief technology officer at the Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis (ICASA), Gov. Susana Martinez announced on Aug. 13.Martinez nominated Ackley as CIO and DoIT secretary in January 2011, shortly after the start of her first term, saying at the time her administration sought to maximize government efficiency through technology. She indicated his background would be a significant asset as the state looked to streamline the flow of information.During his time as CIO, Ackley spearheaded the modernization of systems including SHARE, the states human resources and capital management system; its public safety radio infrastructure; and he led multiple digital government initiatives including creation of the New Mexico One-Stop Business Portal, the state said in its news release.Ackley led major upgrades to the states electronic payroll system that rolled out last year; and said in a May interview withhe expects the state to overcome legacy technology like copper wiring to achieve a digital convergence of public safety communications.Theres a long way to go for that, but I think that convergence is on the way, the CIO said at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Midyear conference in Baltimore. Ackley was chosen to represent NASCIO in the FirstNet national public safety network initiative in 2013, and served as NASCIO president from 2015-2016.With people like Secretary Ackley, weve been able to accomplish incredible things for New Mexico, Martinez said in a statement. Darryl has dedicated himself to improving New Mexico and has been a tremendous asset to our state.Ackley described his tenure as CIO as a privilege, adding in a statement, Under the governors leadership, weve modernized state government and helped prepare New Mexico for the future.A member of Martinezs cabinet, Ackley had previously been assistant director at ICASA, one of the many research centers at New Mexico Tech, from 2006 to 2011 according to his LinkedIn profile. Van Romero, New Mexico Techs vice president of research and economic development, toldthe CTO position had gone unfilled since its previous inhabitant, Michael Smith, became director in 2006.It turns out that ICASA, right now is getting a lot more funding than it has in the past and we are in the process of expanding the workforce there. The timing couldnt have been better for us and for Darryl, Romero said, noting that the former CIOs responsibilities will likely be somewhat different as CTO at ICASA, where hell start at the end of August.What ICASA does is much more on the research side  what are the new tools that need to be developed to address not only cybersecurity but big data issues? He wont be plugging leaks. Hell be finding new ways to prevent the leaks from ever happening, Romero said, noting that ICASA focuses not just on virtual but physical attacks in private life and in wartime.Following Ackleys departure, Deputy DoIT Secretary Estevan Lujan will serve as acting cabinet secretary, the state said. Additional details on the states job search for its next CIO were unclear.
Niki Lauda may not be able to return to the F1 circuits any time soon.

Recently, as he recovers in intensive care from a lung transplant, the F1 legend's surgeon said Lauda should be able to return to "normal life" eventually.

But Osterreich newspaper claims the Mercedes team chairman had a setback over the weekend, when he had to be connected to a dialysis machine.

Lauda, 69, has since improved, but Osterreich says he will not be able to travel by plane for six months.

And he has been told to holiday only in "neighbouring countries" so that he can return quickly to the hospital in Vienna if need be.

(GMM)
Daniel Ricciardo may not have a car to win races in 2019, the Australian's new boss has admitted.

Ricciardo and Renault shocked the F1 world recently by announcing that the 29-year-old is leaving Red Bull at the end of the year.

"His commitment to us proves our will to accelerate the catching-up process to the top teams," Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul told Auto Motor und Sport.

"It's also a recognition of the work we have done over the past two and a half years.

"Daniel's talent and charisma are a big bonus for us. We have to repay that trust by providing him with the best possible car," the Frenchman added.

However, Abiteboul acknowledges that Ricciardo may not be in a winning position until 2020 or 2021.

"With Ricciardo, the big objective is to fight for the title in 2021, but we hope that he can start winning races in 2020," he told France's Auto Hebdo.

"But I have also realised that these 29, 30-year-old drivers - and it's the same thing with Nico (Hulkenberg) - they not only want to drive but they aspire to something else.

"It's not the same with everyone, but I do believe it is with these two guys," Abiteboul said.

He also said Ricciardo had "justified doubts" about Red Bull's Honda engines for 2019.

(GMM)
ZAF Energy Systems Inc. (ZAF), a developer of echargeable nickle-zinc (NiZn) batteries (earlier post), has received $300,000the first installment of a $600,000 investmentfrom Missouris Department of Economic Development (DED) fund as part of the states Venture Capital Co-Investment Program.

The company will use the investment to hire employees, expand production, and forge strategic supply chain partnerships. ZAF says that this additional production capability will enable it to meet growing customer demand, which will accelerate licensing and joint venture negotiations and commercialize NiZn batteries on a global scale.

ZAF has cultivated relationships with companies in the commercial trucking, telecommunications, and large-scale data storage industries that are in search of powerful, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly battery solutions. ZAFs NiZn batteries have potential uses in a wide range of applications including: automotive, heavy trucking, remote telecom, renewable energy, and marine.

ZAF says that NiZn batteries have the potential to disrupt the $50-billion conventional lead-acid battery market with their ability to provide twice the storage capacity and three times the power of legacy lead-acid batteries in a smaller, lighter package.

ZAF says that it has solved the NiZn legacy problems of dendrite growth, zinc migration and dry-out to deliver the highest levels of performance and reliability.
News

Sheikh Mohammed meets President of Seychelles at Expo 2020

His Highness discussed with the Seychelles President ways to enhance ties between the two countries, especially in the fields of economy, trade and tourism, in light of the efforts to facilitate smooth travel between the two countries and the restoration of normalcy in different regions of the world.




Haiti - Security : Operation Boukle lari a, the PNH deploys 3,000 police officers





Monday at a press conference, the National Police of Haiti (PNH) announced the launch of the operation "Boukle Lari a" whose mission is to ensure the safety of the population and tourists during the last two weeks of the summer season. No less than 3,000 police officers are mobilized for this purpose in this operation.



According to the new spokesperson of the PNH, the Commissioner Michel Ange Louis Jeunes https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25136-haiti-news-zapping.html the operation "Boukle Lari a" aims at reinforcing the police presence in the streets, getting closer to the population and reassuring her that it can work in all peace of mind with its daily activities.



Moreover, in order to protect order and public peace, the PNH has decided to limit night-time activities organized throughout the national territory. According to Jean Ismane Auguste, the Chief of Cabinet of the Departmental Director of the West, during working days these night activities will be allowed until 10:00 pm and on weekends until midnight. Offenders to these measures will be recalled to order.



TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Agreement on migration and the interests of the population in Haiti and abroad





Guy Andre Junior Francois, the resigning Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) and Fabien Sambussy, the Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), signed under their respective mandates a Cooperation Agreement strengthening their ties to promote migration policy and the interest of the Haitian population in Haiti and abroad.



In his speech, Minister Francois emphasized that the migration, the diaspora and the economy of Haiti are priorities for his Ministry and the Government. Recalling that the mission of the MHAVE is: to provide services to Haitians living in the diaspora in order to facilitate their integration in Haiti and in the host countries; promote and formalize the participation of the diaspora in the process of socio-economic and political development of Haiti and formalize and boost the links between the various Haitian communities living abroad and the national components, on the one hand, between these same communities and the Haitian government, on the other hand.



Fabien Sambussy, stressed that the signing of this Agreement was the condition "sine qua non" for IOM to support the efforts of the MHAVE in the establishment of an inclusive, constructive dialogue and structured with its nationals living abroad, in order to facilitate the alignment of the priorities of each party. Adding that as part of IOM's integrated approach in Haiti, technical support will be provided to the MHAVE for the mobilization of the diaspora and the management of migration for the promotion of the country's political, social and economic development.



Through this Cooperation Agreement, the MHAVE and IOM have formalized their long-standing partnership and collaboration to address common interests.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Health : The new Hospital of the State University of Haiti completed at 80%





On Monday, Dr. Laure Adrien, Director General of the Ministry of Public Health accompanied by Dr. Jessy Colimon, Executive Director of the Hospital of the State University of Haiti (HUEH) and Dr. Alix Lassegue, Technical Advisor at the Ministry provided an update on the situation of the Hospital of the State University of Haiti (HUEH).



Laure Adrien after having diagnosed the problems related to the functioning of the HUEH, Dr. Jessy Colimon, for her part, advocated for a better hospital organization, the respect of the dignity and the rights of the patients, as well as the improvement of the working conditions of health personnel for better quality of health care service.



Alix Lassegue explained that studies have been conducted to achieve a real change and a new modern hospital with a new form of governance including a medical permanence. Doctors will be available 24/24, political and financial decisions are considered to adjust the salary grid. In order to reduce the flow of patients arriving at HUEH, the health authorities are working hard to strengthen the peripheral emergency centers and are working diligently to reduce the number of hospitalization times in the emergency department.



Engineer Reynold Pauyo Head of the Technical Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Economy Project Manager of the HUEH Reconstruction Project has from the begenning reported on the difficulties encountered by the HUEH in welcoming patients and providing them with the same efficiency during the reconstruction period. "Despite the state's foresight to build reference community hospitals to reduce the number of of patients at the General Hospital, the latter usually prefer to go to the HUEH," announcing the upcoming opening of the community hospital of Delmas 2. Talking about the progress of the work, he recalled that the HUEH, a hospital complex consisting of 10 buildings (25,800 m2 built area) were 80% completed, stating that the road service, various networks and mechanical and electrical work was being completed.



Note that the preparation works for the HUEH construction site started on October 1, 2013 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16518-icihaiti-health-monitoring-of-the-construction-of-the-hospital-of-the-state-university-of-haiti.html and that the construction of this hospital, executed by the Spanish firm "Teyico Elecnor" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9139-haiti-health-reconstruction-of-hueh-beginning-on-september-2013.html is co-financed with 50 million dollars by France and the United States in equal shares, Haiti will provide $ 33.2 million for the logistics of the new Hospital https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11471-haiti-health-end-of-phase-i-of-the-reconstruction-of-hueh.html



Moreover, concerning the impact of the closure of the 176-bed obstetric hospital of Medecins Sans Frontieres https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25038-haiti-humanitarian-doctors-without-borders-closes-2-major-hospitals-in-haiti.html , he indicated that the Ministry was making all the necessary arrangements to strengthen the maternity and pediatric services at the Delmas hospital 33 in order to mitigate the impact of the departure of Medecins Sans Frontieres which offered these services.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25038-haiti-humanitarian-doctors-without-borders-closes-2-major-hospitals-in-haiti.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16518-icihaiti-health-monitoring-of-the-construction-of-the-hospital-of-the-state-university-of-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11471-haiti-health-end-of-phase-i-of-the-reconstruction-of-hueh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9139-haiti-health-reconstruction-of-hueh-beginning-on-september-2013.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1230-haiti-reconstruction-50-million-for-the-haiti-s-state-university-hospital.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - DR : More and more Haitians are ripped off by counterfeiters





Last week the Dominican driver of a minibus, Agustin Torres and his 18 Haitian passengers (11 men, 4 women and 3 children) were arrested during a migratory control by members of the Dominican army in the community of Sabaneta, Province of Santiago Rodriguez.



The 18 Haitians were carrying false papers, they explained to the Dominican authorities, that they had paid in Haiti the equivalent of 25,000 to 30,000 pesos to obtain these documents but that they were convinced that they were legal documents... The Haitians were handed over to Migration authorities for repatriation to Haiti, while the driver of the minibus was made available to the public prosecutor's office, said Colonel Jose Manuel Duran Infante, commander of the Fourth Brigade with headquarters in Mao.



In Haiti, the disastrous socio-economic situation pushes Haitians to try to leave the country by all means in the hope of a better life, becoming easy prey for mafia networks of counterfeiters in Haiti in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Fort Liberte, Ounaminthe among others...



In the Dominican Republic, to 17 days after the final closure of the National Plan for the Regularization of Foreigners (August 26, 2018) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25154-haiti-news-zapping.html , the risk of expulsion puts pressure on nearly 200,000 compatriots who to avoid the return to Haiti after August 26, 2018, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25236-haiti-social-nearly-200-000-haitians-risk-being-expelled-from-dr.html do not hesitate to enrich counterfeiters to obtain false documents, ineffective during biometric checks more and more frequent.



Migration services and the military report that among the people who are arrested in the border zone, in the Northwest, in Santiago and in other parts of the country, many are carriers of altered or false documents. Recently, the military authorities have detected in separate operations in the border area four people carrying identity cards bearing the name of the same person, but with different photos ...



Military sources said that because of the increased surveillance at the border and the proliferation of migratory controls throughout the Dominican territory, many Haitian citizens are being scammed by their compatriots and Dominicans for falsified residence documents to reside on the Dominican territory. Thousands of fake documents have already been seized, among other things, of fake PNRE cards, fake Haitian passports, false visas, fake Dominican identity cards (cedula), fake birth certificates... etc...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25154-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24380-haiti-flash-rush-on-false-papers-in-dr.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-24051-icihaiti-rd-seizure-of-nearly-6-000-fake-documents-in-the-hands-of-illegal-migrants.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23913-haiti-social-new-seizures-of-fake-migratory-documents-in-dr.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23522-haiti-flash-more-than-250-haitians-arrested-in-santiago-dozens-of-false-documents-seized.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22776-haiti-dr-seizure-of-141-passports.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-22708-haiti-pnre-fausses-cartes-plus-d-une-centaine-d-haitiens-vont-etre-expulses.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21746-haiti-flash-dismantling-in-dr-of-a-mobile-laboratory-of-false-haitian-papers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20762-haiti-dr-seizure-of-more-than-2-200-false-documents-in-the-hands-of-haitians.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















(HedgeCo.Net) The SEC has filed a civil injunctive action against Chad Anthony Lewis, a Kentucky resident for unlawfully acting as an unregistered broker and selling unregistered investments in two oil and gas companies based in Texas.

The SECs complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Lewis illegally solicited and raised money from investors for Aegis Oil, LLC and 7S Oil & Gas, LLC. Both of these companies offered and sold unregistered securities in the form of joint venture units in oil and gas development projects located in Texas.

According to the SECs complaint, Lewis, who worked at different times both for Aegis and 7S, helped train a network of sales agents that unlawfully solicited investments for Aegis and 7S and assisted agents in closing sales calls with investors. The SEC alleges that Lewis directly solicited at least one investor, who purchased investments in both Aegis and 7S. Lewis was paid transaction-based compensation in the form of a sales commission of 2% on all investor proceeds raised through the offerings. He also received commissions ranging from 20% to 31% from the proceeds of the investments he sold to one investor. In total, Lewis received about $374,000 in commission payments from the Aegis offerings and $250,700 from the 7S offerings.

The SECs complaint charges Lewis with violating Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 15(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Without admitting or denying the SECs allegations, Lewis has consented to the entry of a judgment permanently enjoining him from future violations of the above provisions the federal securities laws, and ordering him to pay disgorgement plus prejudgment interest and a civil penalty, in amounts to be determined by the Court at a later date upon motion by the SEC.
The bill would allow businesses with no more than 20 staff to make lay-offs on personal grounds.

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has announced its preparedness to take union-specific action if the government refuses to scrap a bill for the so-called redundancy act, arguing that the bill would place employees in an unequal position.

Now is also the time to abandon a bill that would make arbitrary lay-offs possible at small businesses, declared Jarkko Eloranta, the chairperson of SAK. Particularly as [the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy] Etla and [the Labour Institute for Economic Research] PT have already concluded that the employment impacts would likely remain limited.

The bill is being considered also by the Finnish Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis.

We have agreed on the timetables and workplace-specific action plans together with the unions. These will be discussed by the managements of our member unions in the weeks to come. We will take action unless the government withdraws the bill, he reiterated.

Eloranta also commended the government for withdrawing its proposal to allow employers to hire under 30-year-old job seekers who have been without a job for at least three months on fixed-term basis without providing justification for the fixed term. The bill, he explained, would have undermined the ability of young people to integrate into the labour market.

SAK on Monday also voiced its tentative concern about the upcoming budget session. Petteri Orpo (NCP), the Minister of Finance, said last week he has appointed three permanent state secretaries to identify additional measures with a positive short-term impact on the employment situation.

We do not yet know what will come out of the budget session, but so far the government has offered more stick than carrot with its measures, Eloranta said.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Markku Ulander  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Thomas Fortescue Carter had never before worked as a war correspondent when he found himself, at age 22, covering the Anglo-Boer War of 18801881. It was the first time I had been under fire, he would write, and I confess that the sensation was not a pleasant one. Carter had come from England to the British colony of Natal, in southeastern Africa, in 1879, two years after Britain annexed the Transvaal in hopes of resolving a long-running border dispute between the Boers and the Zulus. War broke out in 1880 after the Transvaal Boers formally declared their independence from the United Kingdom. It fell to Major General Sir George Pomeroy Colley, a British Army officer whod been named commander in chief of Natal, to put the rebellious Boers back in their place, and on February 26, 1881, he led some 360 British troopswith Thomas Carter in towon a night march to the top of Majuba Hill, which overlooked the main Boer position. But as dawn broke, the Boers charged the summit, and the Battle of Majuba Hill ended with heavy British casualties (Colley was shot in the forehead and died), while the Boers suffered only one killed and five wounded. By the time the war fizzled to an end just a few weeks later, it was already regarded as one of the most humiliating defeats in Britains history.

The Boers took Carter prisoner after the battle but soon released him. His book, The Narrative of the Boer War: Its Causes and Results, was published in 1882. One reviewer called it so determinedly just as to have met with considerable disapproval in quarters where feelings are hot on either side, and where plain truths are not palatable.

The following account of the Battle of Majuba Hill is drawn from Carters book, which, nearly 140 years later, remains the classic contemporary account of the First Boer War. Carter never again worked as a journalist. He died in 1945 in what today is the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal.

We were 40 yards at the farthest from the enemys main attacking party. In traversing these 40 yards our men would have been terribly mauled, no doubt, by the first volley, but the ground sloped gently to the edge of the terrace along which the enemy were lying, and the intervening space would be covered in 20 secondsat all events, so rapidly by the survivors of the first volley, that the Boers, mostly armed with the Westley-Richards cap rifle, would not have had time to reload before our men were on them. I am not sure that the first rush of the infantry would not have demoralized the enemy, and that their volley would have been less destructive than some imagined. If only a score of our men had thrust home, the enemy must have been routed. At a close quarter conflict, what use would their empty rifles have been against the bayonets of men who would have the additional advantage of the higher ground? If a bayonet charge was impracticable at that moment, then, as an offensive weapon, the bayonet is a useless one, and the sooner it is discarded as unnecessary lumber to a soldiers equipment the better. It was our last chance now, though a desperate one, because these withering volleys were laying our men prostrate; slowly in comparison with the number of shots fired, but surely despite of our shelter. Some out of the hail of bullets found exposed victims. In a few seconds our left flank, now practically undefended, and perfectly open to the Boers scaling the side of the mountain in that direction, would be attacked with the same fury as our front.

Looking to the spot Cameron had indicated as the one where the general stood, I saw His Excellency standing within 10 paces directing some men to extend to the right. It was the last time I saw him alive. A sudden piercing cry of terror, which will ring in my ears for many a long day, rose from the line or group of infantry. We glanced round to our rear in dismay to ascertain the cause, imagining that some mishap had befallen the small party still left to guard the crest of the mountain there. Parties of men were moving rapidly in twos and threes towards our only line of retreat in the direction of Mount Prospect. Simultaneously the ranks of the defenders beside us ceased firing; three, four, five men turned and ran past us down into the hollow of the basin.

What the devil are you doing? Come back, come back! was heard above the din of the enemys rifles. Ill shoot you if you dont return, was the last intelligible thing I heard from an officer, who, with revolver cocked, pointed it at one of the runaways. Five, six, seven, eight more men broke from the ranks in front of us and fled. The rest wavered, and before Cameron and myself could rise to our feet, the whole lot went rushing wildly over us down into the bottom of the basin, making towards the track to the right (as they faced now) by which they had gained the summit of the hill during the night. There was another despairing cry heard, which chilled ones blood, as the men faced about and rushed helter-skelter for the next ridge.

It was not long before I was on my feet and running with the rest. Right in our path was the hospital, and we had to go round it to avoid jumping over the bodies of the wounded. Racing side by side with a stalwart Highlanderhe was on my right, and had therefore the benefit of the curve in going round the hospitalgrudged him the benefit at the moment, as shoulder to shoulder we ran. The thought was hardly out of my mind when the poor fellow threw up his arms and fell headlong, and a terrible volley from the stone ridge we had just left let us know that the Boers were there already. It told horribly on the fugitives, for I saw several in front and right and left of me stopped in their flight.

After delivering this first volley the Boers kept up a terrible fire, and every moment their number increased as they swarmed up the hill, now on all sides except that we were running for. It was cruel work; our poor fellows dropped by the score. I had still to run up the sharp brow of the basin on the hill-top before I could get out of this murderous fire, and my long mackintosh, with inside pockets stuffed with tins of meat, etc., was a great encumbrance, as the loaded skirts of the garment swung about and dealt me knocks on the shins.

I thought of turning sharp round and remaining by the hospital, but it struck me it would fare ill for any one found on the top of the hill whilst the enemys blood was up, whether surgeon or civilian, so I continued my headlong course, loosing off as I ran, and letting go my mackintosh, provisions and all. Going up the rise now was horrible work; the Boer rifles charged incessantly, and I could see the men still falling in every direction in front of me, mown down like grass. One Highlander, who was certainly not more than five yards from me, and directly in front, fell with an agonizing cry, O my God! right across my path, and I had to jump over his body. On the right I saw one whom I thought was Cameron fall dead. The Boers behind us were taking a terrible revenge now.

It is singular how many thoughts flash across the brain of a man when he is expecting momentarily his death-blow. One of the most practical that entered my mind was, that the direction our men for the most part were taking, towards the spot at which we had arrived on the mountain, would lead them right into the line of fire of Boers stationed down the slope of the hill there. That the enemy was there in force I knew, so I directed my steps to that part of the edge of the basin on the other side of which I knew there was a precipice and bush in the kloof below. At all events, it was less likely that the enemy would be round so soon to stop the way at that point. The death-cries of the fugitives in every direction, the expectation of death every moment from one out of the shower of bullets coming from behind, made me redouble my efforts, but I never did more than hope to gain the ridge.

Every man who came up out of the basin to the ridge at any point along the whole face of the mountain was almost certainly shot down, as he presented a fair mark on the sky-line, not more than 50 yards distant from the enemys rifles. I gained the ridge, but was cowed at sight of the 40 feet sheer drop in front of me. I hesitated, and for the moment wished I had taken the same route as most of our men. Up to my side came two men of the 58th, and they also halted at sight of the chasm. A bullet from our rear struck one of them to the ground, and thinking it was as well to die of a broken neck as to be shot in the back, I sat down on the edge of the precipice, and dropped. Fortunately, there were growing out of the sides tufts of a kind of heather, and clutching frantically at these in my descent, I managed to land on my feet unhurt. I was hardly better off now than before, for the bush was very thin, and the ravine full of immense boulders, some lying flat, others tilted up on end, but every where monkey rope and undergrowth blocked the way. The uninjured 58th man who had been left on the ridge of the basin above, had followed my lead down the precipice, and as he got down safely he called out to warn me I would never get through the way I was going. He himself struck off to the left of the ravine, to gain a slope which was only grass-covered. I sang out to him to keep to the right, and make for the bush, as he would not have a chance of life in the open in a few minutes.

Already the Boers, seeing no attempt to rally was made, were in pursuit of our men, and had gained the face of the mountain looking down on our line of flight below. If their fire had been terrible before, it was equally so now. They poured continuous volleys into the ravine down which I was trying to make my way; their bullets pinged on the stones all round. Scrambling sometimes on hands and knees, tumbling and slipping at every other step, now tripped up by my feet catching in those confounded and confused monkey ropes, now coming to a dense mass of undergrowth which barred the way, I had not traveled many yards before I felt thoroughly exhausted; and, indifferent to bullets or anything else, I halted and gave myself up for lost. One of these showers of whistling missiles must sooner or later strike me; they could not keep impinging on the rocks, within a foot or less of my body, every second much longer. I lay on my back in the place where I had last fallen, and after a minute or two, with the renewed energy which despair brings, I rose and forced my way on again, always tumbling and falling, and being impeded by some obstacle or another. It was useless, however, and panting for breath, and thoroughly knocked up, I had to halt again. The fierce sun poured down on my head (my helmet had gone long ago), and increased my misery. I felt certain that I could not be hit now, or I should have been knocked over long since; so I again lay still, whilst strange thoughts came and went in rapid succession. For a second time, however, I made an attempt to get out of the fire. The ringing sound of the bullets on the stones was a wonderful incentive to renewed exertion; besides, some little way forward I saw the bush was dense, and offered cover from the enemys sight. Twenty yards more and I saw a slab of rock lying flat, the ends supported by being lodged on boulder-points. Under this slab there was a cavity large enough to hold three men in a crouching position. No bullet coming from the hill above could strike any one under that massive shelter, so I halted here, and took refuge under its friendly cover.

Barring a ricochet, or the Boers continuing the pursuit down this ravine, I was safe for the present. When night came, I might manage to sneak through down the mountain, and gain our camp. Meanwhile, the enemys fire continued without intermission, and I could hear that it was on all sides. MHQ

This article appears in the Autumn 2018 issue (Vol. 31, No. 1) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Massacre at Majuba
The Battle of France began on May 10, 1940. It ended just six weeks later on June 25, when the French government capitulated to Nazi Germany after a disastrous, humiliating defeat. By that time, Belgium, the Netherlands, and tiny Luxembourg had also fallen to the Germans, leaving Adolf Hitler in complete mastery of Western Europe.

Although shocking at the time, the fall of France has since come to be seen as the inevitable result of a supine French high command and a French republic demoralized by the political infighting of the 1930s. The famed French historian Marc Bloch, who served as a reserve officer in 1940, summed up the debacle in the title of his war memoir: Strange Defeat.

But as Harvard professor Ernest R. May persuasively argued not long ago, the events of MayJune 1940 might better be summarized by the title Strange Victory. Although conceding that German air and armored doctrine was better than that of the Allies, he noted that the Allies actually had more aircraft, more and heavier tanks, and more infantry than did their adversary. Far from defeatist, Maurice Gamelin, the French commander in chief, greeted the May offensive with an almost jaunty confidence, while many of Hitlers senior field marshals feared the worst. As for the notion of some national French malaise, May considers it the worst kind of hindsight. At the time, the French were quite willing to fight (and during the battle France lost 240,000 dead to prove it), whereas international observers in Berlinand Hitlers own Gestapo noted that most Germans greeted the outbreak of war with disquiet.

Key to the German triumph was a fateful decision to thrust into France in a go for-broke armored offensive through Belgiums Ardennes forest, followed by an audacious crossing of the Meuse River near the French border town of Sedan. The French troops defending this region were second-rate, outnumbered, and outclassed. The best Allied divisionsas the Germans anticipatedhad responded to the German offensive by driving rap idly into Belgium, hoping to establish a strong defensive line east of Brussels, and sending their very best mechanized forces on a lightning run toward Breda in the Netherlands. The Allies adopted this strategy, known as Plan D, because they felt certain the main German thrust would come thereacross the Belgian plainas had been the case in 1914.

It took the Allied high command four fateful days to discover their error, and by then it was too late. German armored columns slashed their way to the English Channel; by May 21 the best Allied troops were hopelessly cut off in Belgium. A few hundred thousand would escape in the famous Dunkirk evacuation; the rest would perish or sit out the war in German POW camps.

This strange defeat destroyed France as a great power and left Great Britain to face Germany alone for the next year, until Hitler launched his massive attack on the Soviet Union. Yet it requires only a minimal rewrite of history to convert defeat into respectable defense, even out right victory. Until January 1940, Case Yellow, the German operational plan for a western offensive, contemplated a primary attack against Belgium and Holland. The objective was not to defeat France in a bold stroke, but to establish forward airfields for what would presumably be a protracted war against Britain and France. In other words, the German high command proposed to do exactly what the Allies expected.

Everything changed because on the evening of January 9, one Luftwaffe major named Helmuth Reinberger accepted a generous offer made by another, Erich Hoenmanns. Reinbergers assignment was to convey details of the most recent revision of the German plan to 1st Air Corps headquarters in Cologne. He planned to go by train, but Hoenmanns said he would be delighted to fly Reinberger in his Messerschmitt Me 108 Taifun, an advanced four-seat touring aircraft. During the next-morning flight the Taifuns Argus V-8 engine developed mechanical trouble, and Hoenmanns decided to make an emergency landing. A heavy mist obscured the terrain, but Hoenmanns descended until he could make out the broad ribbon of the Rhine River and landed safely on what he sup posed was German soil.

He was disastrously mistaken. The broad ribbon turned out to be the Meuse River, and the Taifun was on Belgian soil, near the town of Mechelen. Belgian soldiers quickly appeared to investigate. Reinberger desperately tried to burn the plans entrusted to him, but the Belgians captured most of the documents intact. Belgian intelligence soon confirmed that they were genuine. The conservative version of Case Yellow had to be scrapped. But for the incident near Mechelen, it is almost certainly the plan that would have been implemented.

Such an offensive would have run into the best Allied divisions, which had more tanks than the Germans. They were better tanks too, with larger main guns and heavier armor. Two tank battles that did occur in May 1940 (Hainaut, Belgium, and Arras, France) suggest that the Germans would have suffered heavier losses than the Allies. The likely result for the Germans would have been, at worst, an outright defeat and, at best, an offensive that achieved its limited objective but at such heavy cost as to preclude a follow up offensive into France.

Either way, the French Third Republic would have survived intact. A quick col lapse of Nazi Germany would have been the likely sequel to German defeat, and even a successful initial German occupation of Belgium and the Netherlands would have left Germany facing a strategically tenuous situation. First, the French army, the British Expeditionary Force, and surviving Belgian (and perhaps Dutch) forces would have tied down most German forces in a replay of the 19141918 western front. Second, German submarine bases would have been confined to the Norwegian fjords; without access to the French ports, their ability to depredate Atlantic shipping would have been greatly curtailed.

Third, Italywhich, in direct response to the unexpected German success, leapt into the war on June 10, 1940would likely have continued its neutrality. Fourth, both the French and British armed forces would have grown stronger over time (especially the French air force, which had excellent aircraft but was caught in the middle of an organizational transition at the time of the German attack). Finally, an invasion of the Soviet Union would have been out of the question for Germany, and Stalin almost certainly would eventually have ignored the August 1939 GermanSoviet Treaty of Non-Aggressionjust as Hitler eventually didand attacked Nazi Germany.

Had France held, it is difficult to imagine any subsequent scenario sufficiently plausible to restore the trajectory of events back toward an early French defeat: if France did not fall in 1940, it quite likely would not have fallen at all. And Germany would have suffered an early defeat, perhaps in 1940, certainly no later than 1942. A sputtering Argus V-8 engine may well have been the unlikely pivot on which the whole history of the Second World War turned.

Originally published in the July/August 2007 issue of World War II Magazine. To subscribe, click here.
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SAO PAULOCarrefour, Brazils leading food retailer, has announced it will sell exclusively cage-free eggs at its supermarkets throughout Brazil, becoming the first supermarket company in the country to make this commitment. Carrefour operates almost 650 stores throughout Brazil and will complete its transition to cage-free eggs by 2025 for Carrefour-brand eggs and by 2028 for all other brands sold in its supermarkets.

This announcement comes after many years of working with Humane Society International/Brazil (HSI) and discussions with other organizations, such as Mercy For Animals, Forum Nacional de Protecao e Defesa Animal, and Animal Equality. Carrefour and HSI will continue to work together on the implementation of this policy. A joint workshop and farm tour for the companys Brazilian egg suppliers to share best practices and technical expertise in cage-free production are already scheduled to take place at Carrefour headquarters in France this year.

Sign the no cages pledge: Let them move!

In a policy statement, Paulo Pianez, Carrefour sustainability and corporate responsibility director in Brazil, stated: With this commitment, we are taking another important step towards promoting sustainability in our supply chain. We understand that as a retailer we have the role of creating a valuable link between the consumer and the production chain, collaborating to promote significant changes in consumption habits.

Maria Fernanda Martin, animal welfare specialist for HSI Farm Animals in Brazil, said: We applaud Carrefour for becoming the first supermarket chain in Brazil to pledge to sell only cage-free eggs, and we look forward to continuing to work with the company and its egg suppliers on the implementation of this policy. This move will relieve millions of egg-laying hens from a life of extreme confinement and sends a clear message to the egg industry in Brazil that the future of egg production is cage-free.

Egg-laying hens in Brazil are typically confined for their whole lives in wire cages so small that they cannot even fully stretch their wings. Cage-free production systems typically offer hens higher levels of welfare, allowing the birds to express more of their natural behaviors, including moving around, laying eggs in nests, perching, and fully spreading their wings. HSI works together with the food industry in Brazil and worldwide to help ensure a successful transition to these higher animal welfare production systems, through farm tours, technical workshops on cage-free systems, and the exchange of best practices.

Carrefour joins other food corporations that have committed to sourcing exclusively cage-free eggs in Brazil and throughout Latin America. Nestle, the largest food company in the world, and Unilever have committed to a global cage-free egg supply chain by 2025. After working with HSI, Burger King and Arcos Dorados, which operates McDonalds in Brazil and 19 other countries in the region, committed to switching to 100 percent cage-free eggs, as did other restaurant operators, accounting for thousands of restaurants in Brazil and Latin America. Brazils leading food service companies, including Compass Group (GRSA), Sodexo, Sapore, and Grupo Lemos Passos also announced cage-free egg policies in partnership with HSI. Alsea, the largest restaurant operator in Latin America and Spain, and Grupo Bimbo, the worlds largest bakery company, announced their cage-free egg policies after several years of talks with HSI specialists. Other leading food and hospitality companies such as Kraft-Heinz, International Meal Company (IMC), Cargill, Brazil Fast Food Corporation (BFFC), Subway, Intercontinental Hotels Group, AccorHotels, Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Giraffas, Barilla, Divino Fogao, Habibs, Grupo CRM, and Bauducco have also pledged to go cage-free in Brazil. Take action and donate to help chickens and other animals.

Media contact: Maria Fernanda Martin, mfmartin@hsi.org, +55 (11) 9 5770 9922
In animal welfare, we work in a challenging world. We speak for those who have no voices and represent a population whose natural reaction is to befriend and trust. That approach is more than a simple behavior, its a charge that compels us to come together when others seek to divide.

We were recently made aware that the K9 Rehab Institute, a private dog training business in Rio Rancho, New Mexico is offering a bumper sticker with a highly inappropriate, disturbing and even threatening message: Rehabilitate a Dog. Euthanize an Animal Control Officer.

The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), American Humane, The National Animal Care & Control Association and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) find this kind of language completely unacceptable and in direct conflict with our commitment to improving the lives of animals, the people who care for them and the communities in which both live and thrive.

It is our ardent hope that the K9 Rehab Institute immediately retract this offensive bumper sticker and work to build a better, more collaborative and understanding relationship with animal control professionals who are on the front line protecting both animals and people.
Warning: This document includes content that is graphic in nature.

Note: This press release was updated on August 24 to add the additional reward offer.

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the mutilation of eleven cats in Thurston County, Washington. Thanks to an anonymous donor, the Humane Society of the United States is able to offer an additional $5,000 to the original $5,000 reward. This is in addition to an existing reward of $20,000 from organizations including Pasados Safe Haven, which brings the total reward to $30,000.

The Case: Eleven mutilated cats have been found in Thurston County, Washington, since February 2018. According to reports, three cats found in late July and early August were all confirmed to have been mutilated by a human, not an animal. The injuries included blunt force trauma and strangulation. The perpetrator sliced the cats either in half or down the stomach and removed part of each cats spine All of the remains were displayed in public locations. Investigators determined that they were killed at another location and their bodies left at the public area.

Animal Cruelty: Securing the serious attention and engagement of law enforcement, prosecutors and residents in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the whole community. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and many other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.

These are among the most disturbing and heartbreaking crimes I have ever seen, said Dan Paul, Washington senior state director for the Humane Society of the United States. We hope that anyone with information about the individual or individuals performing these monstrous acts of brutality will come forward.

Paul urges all cat owners to keep their cats safely indoors for their protection.

The Investigators: Thurston County Joint Animal Services is investigating the case. Anyone with relevant information should contact Officer Erika Johnson at 360-352-2510.

Resources: The Humane Society of the United States Animal Cruelty Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence while providing a variety of resources and support to law enforcement agencies, social work professionals, educators, legislators and families. We offer rewards in animal cruelty cases across the country and works to strengthen laws against animal cruelty.

The Humane Society of the United States has doubled its standard cruelty reward from $2,500 to $5,000 thanks to a generous donation from a board member. To see information on statistics, trends, laws and animal cruelty categories, visit our animal cruelty statistics page.
This new digital data highway is scheduled to be ready for use in 2020. The cable will guarantee high capacity transmission and run between Portugal and Brazil, with plans to extend connectivity to both Latin America and within the EU.

This transatlantic link will provide researchers and companies with an essential facility for the development of the data economy. It will significantly strengthen the links between research and education networks in the two continents, enabling new collaborative activities. This will be a step ahead in the creation of an EULatin America common research area and will support innovation and knowledge-sharing, for instance in improved earth observation services.

In addition to the construction of the undersea cable, BELLA will support improved interconnectivity between Latin American networks for research and education, and will finance sections of the cable running between countries in the region. This will reduce Latin America's digital divide with Europe and internally.

The signature of the contract is a key milestone in connecting Europe and Latin America. Construction of the underwater cable will only start once the contract enters into force. This is expected to happen shortly.

The partners in this ambitious project

Since 2015, a wide array of public and private organisations on both sides of the Atlantic have been bringing this large-scale ambitious project to life in collaboration with EllaLink (formerly known as the EULALINK Joint Venture).

The European Commission is investing around 26.5 million alongside the group of public stakeholders that form the BELLA consortium, with two aims:

To guarantee a dedicated section of the new cable to link European and Latin America research and education networks, with 10 million of funding under the Horizon 2020 programme from the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology (DG CONNECT) and 8.5 million of funding from the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) under the Copernicus programme;

To extend high capacity to academic research networks in Latin America, with funding of 8 million under the regional Development Cooperation Instrument from the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO).

The BELLA consortium is composed of 11 European and Latin American research and education networks from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain, together with the regional networks RedCLARA, the Latin American research & education network, and GEANT, the pan-European research and education network. It has been established to take full advantage of the future high-capacity link and extend it to other academic networks in Latin America, ensuring equal access for academia and non-profit organisations in the region. Latin American members of BELLA consortium are contributing with cash and in-kind resources to both the deployment of the submarine cable and the in-land connectivity extension. The total equivalent amount of mobilised resources is more than 53 million.

Background

European and Latin American Heads of State and Government have repeatedly given their strong support to the development of direct high capacity links between Latin America and the EU. The EU-Brazil Summit in 2014 welcomed plans for a future undersea cable, and the Brussels Declaration signed at the EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit on 10-11 June 2015 gave further political support to the initiative.
The Wigwam Gift Shop, cabins and residence were purchased this month with plans to redevelop the property.

North Adams Planners OK Lodging, Coffeehouse Plans for Wigwam

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Wigwam on the Western Summit of the Mohawk Trail is going to be rejuvenated with a shot of caffeine  and wine and cabins.

Owner and manager Wayne Gelinas appeared before the Planning Board on Monday with a presentation on how he will restore the closed gift shop, rebuild cabins and turn the residence into a wine and coffee bar. He anticipates the renovations and construction would be done in three phases.

"If we implement this, we believe people will come, we've already seen that actually. We had over 150 people up there today," he said. "It's really amazing the support from the area. "People could stay in our cabins, come to drink the coffee and sit on the deck along with people just traveling through."

Gelinas said work has already begun on clearing away overgrown brush. "It's really opened up the view," he said, showing an image of North Adams far below.

The gift shop would be seasonal and provide merchandise essentials and coffee for travelers; the side overlooking the valley would have new, larger windows placed and a deck. The main house, with five rooms, two bedrooms and one bathroom, would be renovated into a coffee and wine bar with a separate apartment unit.

The main coffee shop in the house would have a deck on the back would also offer baked goods, prepackaged sandwiches and snacks. Wine and cheese and suitable snacks would be available later in the evening.

Three existing cabins would be completely refurbished because of their poor condition and brought back to their original look and another two new cabins would be constructed later.

Gelinas envisions weekend season events, such as two coffee mornings with antique cars in October, as well as trail runs and snowshoeing and possibly a hot dog cart. He also hoped to upgrade the existing trail and link it into the nearby Berkshire Natural Resources Council trails.

Six log lean-to cabins would be built and two regular 12-by-16-square foot log cabins with wood stoves.

"The significant thing here is the lean-tos would be elevated off the ground at 8 feet with a deck in the back and suspension bridges between them," he said. "It's kind be really unique but I think they're really going to enjoy it."

Gelinas said the area under the lofted cabins would have a screened area with bathroom and shower area.

Prior plans for the developing the summit had run into septic issues that put them on hold, and the planner asked Gelinas how he was going to deal with that.

"I've got a meeting with the [Department of Environmental Protection] on Wednesday to go over some of our options," he said to questions about the septic. "Whether it be composting toilets, tying into our current system  there are restraints there. Just understanding what we have to do to accommodate that."

Gelinas purchased the 3.8-acre property as Wigwam Western Summit LLC from R&C Arrowhead LLC on Aug. 3 for $225,000. Arrowhead had attempted to reopen the gift shop, which was run for a while by Berkshire Emporium owner Keith Bona, but only lasted a season.

The Wigwam is about a 100 years old and built shortly after the opening of the Mohawk Trail. The popular tourist spot offered dining, sleeping cabins and a tower that could be climbed. Operated by Hans-Werner and Inna Gertjie for more than 30 years, it was sold in 2005 to Stephen and Karen Andrews. The Andrews sold the entire 37 acres to the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, which then carved out the four-acre plot with the buildings. Main Street Hospitality, which runs the Porches and Red Lion Inn, had looked to develop the site but ran into issues and sold it a few years later.

The Planning Board approved the special permit for the project along with permits for a host of other new and relocating businesses.

Seven permits in all were approved with no debate and few questions for the Norad Mill on Roberts Drive. The former Excelsior mill was purchased by local developer David Moresi and has fast filled with tenants of all sizes. Moresi said he still has a few more applications coming before the board but the mill is largely at capacity.

Permits were approved for Studio North Dance Arts, Tax Solutions of the Berkshires Inc., Skin Envy, publishers Tupelo Press Inc. and Leapfolio LLC, Spin off Yarn Shop and Clinical Providers Staffing.

Also approved was an application by David York to open Camp Ground Coffees at 45 Main St., the former Sushi House. York said the shop would offer a variety of coffee drinks such as espressos and nitro brews but didn't anticipate offering any food at this point. The goal, he said, was to get something open for the fall. York also owns the Bowlin' on the River salad and coffee eatery around the corner on Marshall Street and the Museum of Dog on Canal Street.

An application by Black Loom LLC, the restaurant planned for the former church at 1288 Massachusetts Ave., was postponed at the request of the applicant.
An Adams man says he was threatened with a ticket for riding his motorized scooter along the rail trail.

Scooter-User Threatened With Fines on Rail Trail

ADAMS, Mass.  A disabled local man who uses a motorized scooter won't be fined for riding on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation has confirmed that rules that ban the use of motorized vehicles such as snowmobiles or motorcycles don't apply to adaptive equipment such as scooters and wheelchairs.

Residents took to Facebook this weekend after news broke that William Lego was told Friday by a state trooper that he could not be on the trail with his scooter.

"He was on the bike trail and a state trooper stopped him and said he was not allowed to have his scooter on the bike trail," Lego's home health aide Tina Bookman-Smith said. "They told him he could be fined up to $50 and that made him mad."

Lego, speaking with WNYT Channel 13 News on Monday, said the trooper had stopped him and told him he could be fined $30 to $50 if he was caught on the trail again. Lego has been using the three-wheeled motorized scooter for about eight years because he can't walk long distances.

Bookman-Smith said Lego quickly created a petition with hopes of making sure such a stop does not happen again.

She wanted to help him with his efforts, so she reached out to the state DCR to get the official policy and posted on Facebook.

"I wanted to check the story out a little bit myself and we spoke in length and they said they were trying to figure it out," she said. "He said it was hard to determine who could be on the trail with a powered wheelchair and who couldn't because you could have a disabled person who should be allowed on there or you could have an obese person who just doesn't want to walk. ...

"I told them I think it is discrimination. You are discriminating against a handicapped person and telling them that they can go on the bike trail it is not right."

Bookman-Smith said she suggested having individuals use their handicapped parking cards given to them from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

"If they carry that with them while they are on the bike trail they shouldn't be hassled," she said. "They should be able to show their card and be on their way."

Bookman-Smith said she reached out to News Channel 13, which spoke with Lego, but also reached out to DCR, which seemed to have changed its tune with the news program.

"They just told them that wheelchairs were allowed on the trail and that was it," she said. "I thought boy how quickly things changed because we must have had a half-hour conversation about fine lines and what is allowed."

iBerkshires.com also reached out to DCR and was told: "The use of motorized wheelchairs and other powered mobility devices by persons with disabilities is allowed on trails and pathways in and around DCR parks, such as the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail."

DCR did add that the Massachusetts State Police have jurisdiction to enforce and ticket on state park land.

Bookman-Smith said copies of Lego's petition were placed at the Daily Grind on Park Street as well as the Police and Fire departments.

She said he has already gained hundreds of signatures.

"He dropped them off anywhere he could think of," she said. "He has hundreds of signatures  this was a good cause."

Bookman-Smith said the rail trail is an important mode of transportation for many of her clients. She said it is much safer than the road and noted that Lego himself has been hit three times. The downtown sections of the trail runs from Russell Field to Cook Street, and parallel to Route 8.

Bookman-Smith said she hopes Lego's story makes people more of aware of mobility issues handicapped people face.

"I have clients that can't walk at all and why shouldn't they be able to go out on the bike trail?" Bookman-Smith asked. "I am glad that they are saying that they are allowed now because now if he gets stopped by a state trooper again he can say 'go ahead give me a ticket I'll give it to DCR' it is his right."
The Unimoni Asia Cup 2018 is alls et to commence from 15 September and will see Asian neighbours  India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan - fight for the trophy. Star Sports, the official broadcaster, has released its first film for the tournament which speaks of the unique aspect of 'The Tournament of Neighbours' and this very aspect is at the heart of the campaign.

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Devansh Doshi (front) and Arpit Chaudhary play the lead roles in Evening Shadows, which won the jury award for Best Mens Feature at the North Carolina LGBT Film Festival. Indian American author and activist Mohammed Shaik Hussain Ali, one of the producers of the film, said: I am elated to see that our narration of the journey of a loving courageous mother has been accepted, respected and celebrated. (photo provided)
Indian national Sadashiv Walunj, who was visiting family in the U.S., has been sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a young girl. (photo courtesy of Bucks County, Pa. District Attorneys office)
Lovely Varughese (front, right) and her husband Mathew Varughese sit beside a portrait of their late son, Pravin, who was killed Feb. 14, 2014 night by Gaege Bethune. Sentencing for Bethune was delayed at the 11th hour as he obtained a new attorney in an attempt to get his conviction overturned. (screen grab of YouTube video)
After a consultation period, Industrial Minerals has suspended the following four grades of graphite:

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Home Search ICH US Bomb Parts Found at Yemen Site Where Saudi Arabia Killed 51 People Including 29 Children By RT August 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - A Raytheon Mark 82 general-purpose free-fall bomb was likely used by the Saudi-led coalition to strike a bus full of children in Yemen on Thursday, a local journalist claims, after bomb fragments from the scene were recovered. The Saudi-led coalition struck a school bus in the Dahyan area of the Houthi-controlled Saada province last Thursday, leaving 51 dead, most of them children, and injuring at least 79 others. Just as the dust was settling at the scene of the strike with charred bodies being recovered, locals found fragments of the bomb used. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Harrowing images from the site, shared by journalist Nasser Arrabyee, show fragments that appear to be from the 500-pound MK-82 bomb, which the US continues to sell to Saudi Arabia. The remnants of the US bombs that killed Yemen children in the latest US-Saudi massare and war crime of August 9th, 2018



In Saada north Yemen. pic.twitter.com/z8bvadwncG  Nasser Arrabyee (@narrabyee) August 11, 2018 While the photo of the fragments has yet to be independently verified, pieces of MK-82 bombs have surfaced repeatedly amid the ongoing Yemen bombing campaign. The MK-82 made shocking headlines in 2016 when the Saudi-led coalition bombed a community hall in Sanaa during a funeral for Sheikh Ali al-Rawishan, killing more than 140 people and wounding 525 others. Arms sales to Saudi Arabia have repeatedly been condemned by human rights organizations, who view them as one of the main contributing factors to the skyrocketing death toll in the war-torn country. More than 10,000 people have been killed in three years of war, according to United Nations estimates, while the Saudi Arabian blockade continues to contribute to starvation and disease in the country. Despite repeated calls by NGOs and even US lawmakers to halt arms supplies to the Saudis amid the ongoing conflict, in 2016 and 2017, the Pentagon went on to award Lockheed Martin/General Dynamics key contracts to supply the MK-82 500-pound bombs to the Arab coalition. Yemeni journalists found this fragment of the bomb Saudi Arabia dropped on a school bus full of children in Yemen https://t.co/ooLcwBpMwZ



It's a US-made MK-82 guided bomb, which has been used in previous attacks on Yemeni civilians



The cage code on the bomb is Lockheed Martin's pic.twitter.com/Wu6OSZeKJ2  Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) August 11, 2018 Yet, despite the apparent arms sale trail between Washington and Riyadh, the Pentagon advised earlier this week that it might be impossible to tell where the bomb that annihilated the school bus came from. In 2016, the US approved MK-82 sales to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, France, and Iraq, while extending the deal to Australia and Bahrain the following year. We may never know if the munition [used] was one that the US sold to them, Army Maj. Josh Jacques, a spokesperson for US Central Command, told Vox. We dont have a lot of people on the ground. This article was originally published by "RT " - The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== Note To ICH Community We are currently searching for a new comment system as we have run out of options on how to prevent the constant bickering and attacks by troll's, whose intention is to paint our website and newsletter as, anti-Semitic, anti-American, pro-Russian fake news. We can no longer afford to invest hours of our time each day, trying to have people behave in a manner befitting those who say they are concerned for others, while offering abuse and hostility to other ICH community members. When we have found such a comment system we will restore the comment function. We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. This would be a better use of out time than trying to prevent abuse of our comment system. Thank you for your continued support. Peace and joy Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.
By Kathy Kelly

August 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - On August 9, a U.S.-supported Saudi airstrike bombed a bus carrying schoolchildren in Saada, a city in northern Yemen. The New York Times reported that the students were on a recreational trip. According to the Saada health department, the attack killed at least forty-three people.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, at least twenty-nine of those killed were children under the age of fifteen, and forty-eight people were wounded, including thirty children.

CNN aired horrifying, heartbreaking footage of children who survived the attack being treated in an emergency room. One of the children, carrying his UNICEF issued blue backpack, is covered with blood and badly burned.

Commenting on the tragedy, CNNs senior correspondent Nima Elbagir emphasized that she had seen unaired video which was even worse than what the CNN segment showed. She then noted that conditions could worsen because Yemens vital port of Hodeidah, the only port currently functioning in Yemen, has been under attack for weeks of protracted Saudi coalition-led airstrikes. Ms. Elbagir described the port of Hodeidah as the only lifeline to bring in supplies to Yemen.

This conflict is backed by the U.S. and the U.K., Elbagir said, concluding her report with, They are in full support of the Saudi-led activities in Yemen today.

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U.S. companies such as Raytheon, General Dynamics, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin have sold billions of dollars worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Saudi-Emirati-led coalition which is attacking Yemen.

The U.S. military refuels Saudi and Emirati warplanes through midair exercises. And, the United States helps the Saudi coalition warmakers choose their targets.

Isa Blumi, an associate professor at Stockholm University and author of the book Destroying Yemen, has said the United States is front and center responsible for the Saudi coalition attacks.

Looking for a helpful way to describe U.S. support for the Saudi-Emirati operation in Yemen, journalist Samuel Oakford recently offered this comparison: If an airstrike was a drive-by and killed someone, the U.S. provided the car, the wheels, the servicing and repair, the gun, the bullets, help with maintenance of thoseand the gas.

The August 9 attack against children and other civilians follows a tragic and sordid list of Saudi-Emirati attacks causing carnage and extreme affliction in Yemen. On June 12, Doctors Without Borders reported an airstrike which destroyed its newly constructed facility for treatment of cholera, in the town of Abs, built in anticipation of a third epidemic outbreak of cholera in Yemen.

Scores of people were killed and wounded in an August 3 attack near the entrance to the port of Hodeidahs Al Thawra hospital. Analysts examining the munitions used in the attack believe the killing and destruction was caused when United Arab Emirates forces situated near the Hodeidah airport fired mortars into the area.

Why have the Saudis and Emiratis led a coalition attacking Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab peninsula, since March of 2015?

Professor Isa Blumi believes the goal is to bludgeon Yemenis into complete submission and exert control over a gold mine of resources, including oil reserves, natural gas, minerals, and a strategic location. Blumi notes that the war against Yemen costs the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 200 million dollars per day, yet Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , who commented that a prolonged war is in the interests of Saudi Arabia, seems to believe the cost is worth it, considering potential future gains.

Business profits seem to also motivate U.S. weapon companies that continue benefiting from weapon sales to the Saudi-Emirati led coalition.

The United States is deeply implicated in the appalling carnage in Yemen. It is our responsibility as citizens to do what we can to demand an end to this complicity.
Home Search ICH What If There Were No Official Narratives? By Caitlin Johnstone August 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - One of the weirdest things about the post-Iraq invasion world is how the mass media has actually gotten less accountable instead of more accountable for its reporting since that time. Right now in the UK theres an amazingly viral smear campaign against Jeremy Corbyn running across all mainstream outlets, which, from what I can tell, consists entirely of narrative spin and no actual evidence. The powerful elites who control British mass media have an obvious vested interest in keeping the UK government from moving to the left, so they advance the absolutely insane narrative that Corbyn is a secret Nazi. They just keep saying it and saying it like its true until people start believing it without feeling any pressure at all to substantiate their narrative with facts. Its been jaw-dropping to watch. More and more we are seeing narratives about cyber-threats being used to advance reports of attacks and acts of war being perpetrated which, as far as the public is concerned, consist of nothing other than the authoritative assertions of confident-sounding media pundits. There was a recent NBC exclusive which was co-authored by Ken Dilanian, who is an actual, literal CIA asset, about the threat of hackers working for the Iranian government. The alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US elections is now routinely compared to Pearl Harbor and 9/11, despite no hard, verifiable evidence that that interference even took place ever being presented to the public. This UK campaign to smear Corbyn as anti-Semitic follows old playbook vs those who defend Palestinian rights, amplified by neo-liberals who also hate JC's progressive agenda. Sorry to pull this card, but as a Jew & descendant of Holocaust victims it's embarrassing & disgraceful: https://t.co/YkNjdgmsV6  @aaronjmate After the mass medias complicity in selling the Iraq invasion to the western world, we should have seen scores of people fired and changes put in place to prevent such unforgivable complicity from ever occurring again. Instead, no changes whatsoever were made to ensure that news media outlets never facilitate another disaster at the hands of secretive government agencies, and now these same outlets are allowed to promote world-shaping narratives on no evidentiary basis beyond Its true because we said so. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Theres a consensus, agreed-upon narrative about whats going on in the world that is advanced by all mass media outlets regardless of what political sector those outlets market themselves to. Exactly what should be done about individual events and situations might vary a bit from pundit to pundit and outlet to outlet, but the overall how it is narrative about whats happening is the same across the board. This is the official narrative, and the plutocrat-owned media/political class has full control over it. We all know the official narratives, right? The US and its allies are good, the latest Official Bad Guy is bad. You live in a democracy where your vote counts and your government is accountable to you and your countrymen, just like they taught you in school. The two political parties are totally different and their opposition is totally real. The news man on TV never reports any falsehoods because if he did hed lose his job, which means that the Russian hacking thing, the Syria thing, the 9/11 thing, all happened exactly as the government told us they happened. Iraq was maybe kinda sorta a mistake, but nothing like that could ever happen again because mumble mumble cough hey look what Kanye West is doing. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." ~ Sagan "What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." ~ Hitchens "We have to believe that Russia is attacking our democracy because the TV and the CIA told us to." ~ Russiagaters  @caitoz Lets consider a hypothetical scenario, though. Lets imagine a world where there were no official narratives. About anything. At all. What if there was no dominating elite class telling the public how they were meant to interpret events and situations? What if there was only the raw, publicly available information about whats going on in the world, and people individually interpreted that information for themselves? And what if they came to differing conclusions, and that was allowed to be okay? What if there was no elite class telling everyone that whoever doesnt believe X, Y and Z is a paranoid conspiracy theorist, a raving lunatic, and/or a Kremlin propagandist who needs to be shunned and silenced? What if all that were solely determined by the collective, without the control or oversight of any powerful, dominating class? What would that be like? You may find that your results in this thought experiment depend largely on where you place your trust. If you trust the dominating class more than you trust people as a collective, you probably find this idea terrifying. What if everyone starts thinking wrong thoughts and believing wrong beliefs? What if everyone decides that humans can fly when they leap from rooftops and running with scissors is safe? What if everyone decides the Holocaust never happened and says Hell, that means we get a freebie! Lets get our Final Solution on yall! Yeehaw! If, however, you trust humanity as a collective more than you trust a small group of sociopathic, omnicidal, ecocidal oligarchs who killed a million people in Iraq, you might suspect that whatever happened would surely be better than what happens in the current paradigm. Without an elite class manipulating the way people think and vote into alignment with plutocratic interests, people would still be able to take actions in response to their best guess about whats going on in the world. The narrative of anthropogenic climate change for example would in my opinion have a much better fighting chance of winning out in the marketplace of ideas if it were permitted to stand on the merit of the raw supporting data, rather than the manipulations of big oil on one hand and an elite faux liberal class convincing everyone that climate chaos can be averted by banning straws and buying a Prius on the other, and the collective would be able to democratically mobilize to avert catastrophe far more effectively than it can now. All the suspicious behaviors of the mass media can be understood by considering the fact that mass media outlets are controlled by a few powerful elites who are acutely aware that they are vastly, dangerously outnumbered by the general population they exploit every day.  @caitoz Now lets consider another hypothetical scenario: what if one day, everyone gets tired of official narratives? What if something happens and everyone gets fed up with being told how they have to think about the world by a thoroughly discredited media and political class? What if, to borrow from a popular Marxist meme, the public decides to seize the means of narrative production? This might look like the increasingly distrusted propaganda machine of a failing empire pushing an increasingly oppressed populace too far and too hard at some point, maybe in the direction of war, mass censorship or austerity, and losing control of the narrative in a nonviolent populist information rebellion. Instead of the elites being lined up for guillotines, the mass media outlets and talking heads on TV are simply seen for the discredited voices that they are, and people begin creating their own narratives about situations and events. The most popular narratives rise to the top and determine the direction that society takes itself, rather than the narratives forcefully promulgated by media-owning plutocrats. This would be made far easier without the imperialist divide-and-conquer tactics of the establishment manipulators who keep us all pitted against each other in insulated political factions. Whoever controls the narrative controls the world. The world is better off being controlled by the collective will of the people rather than the will of a few sociopathic oligarchs, and we absolutely have the ability to take that control by force whenever we want to. All we have to do is shift value and credibility from plutocrat-generated narratives to popular collective narratives, and cultivate an aggressive disgust for all attempts by the powerful to manipulate the public dialogue. Once the way people think, act and vote is no longer manipulated by an elite class which does not represent the interests of humanity, our species will have a fighting chance at moving society out of its patterns of exploitation, war and ecocide and into a direction of health, harmony and thriving. Im just going to keep pointing out that this is always an option, hoping for a spark to catch someday. Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== Note To ICH Community We are currently searching for a new comment system as we have run out of options on how to prevent the constant bickering and attacks by troll's, whose intention is to paint our website and newsletter as, anti-Semitic, anti-American, pro-Russian fake news. We can no longer afford to invest hours of our time each day, trying to have people behave in a manner befitting those who say they are concerned for others, while offering abuse and hostility to other ICH community members. When we have found such a comment system we will restore the comment function. We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. This would be a better use of out time than trying to prevent abuse of our comment system. Thank you for your continued support. Peace and joy Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load.




The admission in Haaretz is the ultimate expression of the IDFs impunity, as its war crimes against Palestinians have been ignored for so long that it now openly admits that it is targeting civilians in the worlds largest open-air prison.





By Whitney Webb

August 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - A newspaper article published in the Hebrew-language version of Israeli newspaper Haaretz has stated that the Israeli military (IDF) is intentionally targeting civilians in Gaza as a form of collective punishment aimed at placing Hamas  which Israel continues to regard as a resistance group, though it has governed Gaza since winning elections there in 2007  in a problematic situation.

The article states that, after a rocket launched by Hamas armed wing landed in Beersheva, the IDF began to attack civilian targets, including population centers, with the goal of causing the residents to understand the price of escalation and placing Hamas in a problematic situation. In other words, the article acknowledges that the IDF is deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza to collectively punish all those living in Gaza for the primitive rockets allegedly launched by Hamas into Israeli territory.

The article goes on to claim that the IDFs deliberate targeting of civilian sites is a change in policy for the IDF, as past Israeli airstrikes had focused on Hamas clear military objectives, mostly in areas where civilian presence is sparse. Yet, past airstrikes have targeted civilian infrastructure, which were then labeled, after the fact, as Hamas military sites and assets.

The tactics mentioned in the article seem to refer exclusively to IDF airstrikes, as the article does not mention the fact that the IDF, since March 30, has shot over 17,000 unarmed Palestinian civilians, killing at least 164, for approaching the Gaza-Israel border fence during recent protests. Furthermore, the IDFs change in policy also comes after it was recently reported that the IDF has already killed a record number of Palestinian children in Gaza this year, with still just under five months to go.

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Yet, in terms of airstrikes, this new IDF policy of targeting civilians is unsurprising given that Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman infamously asserted earlier this year that there are no innocent people in Gaza, despite the fact that around half of all Gazans are under the age of 18. Furthermore, the IDF had long targeted Gazas civilians in past military operations even before Hamas was voted into power in 2007, suggesting that the IDFs justification of punishing Hamas is merely the pretext to justify the climbing civilian death toll in Gaza in the absence of a major military conflict.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz openly says Israel is targeting innocent civilians and densely populated areas to punish Hamas. An admission of open, collective, arbitrary massacre of civilians. https://t.co/f64meXitwu  Tamara Nassar (@TamaraINassar) August 9, 2018

A week of terror

The startling claim, which some analysts have called an open admission of war crimes, comes after a week of terror for Gazan civilians that resulted in several gruesome civilian deaths and the destruction of one of Gaza Citys most important cultural centers. The most disturbing of these events took place Wednesday night when an Israeli airstrike killed an 18-month-old girl, Bayan Khammash, and her mother, Inas, who was nine-months pregnant at the time of her death. Bayans father was injured but survived the attack.

Given the climbing civilian death toll in Gaza before and after this IDF change in policy, the Haaretz article seems to suggest that IDF attacks on Gazan civilians have become so brazen that it is no longer possible to claim that its targets are linked in any way to Hamas military assets. Thus, the new policy does not represent a change in actual military policy but instead represents a change in the justification for that military policy, as the IDF can no longer hide the fact that civilians are being intentionally targeted.

Above all else, the admission in Haaretz is the ultimate expression of the IDFs impunity, as its war crimes against Palestinians have been ignored for so long that it now openly admits that it is targeting civilians in the worlds largest open air prison.

Whitney Webb is a staff writer for MintPress News and a contributor to Ben Swanns Truth in Media. Her work has appeared on Global Research, the Ron Paul Institute and 21st Century Wire, among others. She has also made radio and TV appearances on RT and Sputnik. She currently lives with her family in southern Chile.
August 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Jeremy Corbyn is a paragon of a leftist, one who has fought his whole life for the values he believes in. Israelis regard him as a sort of alien  the left here has never been led by an Israeli Corbyn, nor by anyone who can hold a candle to him.

Corbyn is a brave man. He voted in parliament 553 times against his partys position, and yet he took its leadership by storm. He voted against the war in Iraq, against nuclear weapons and against British rule in Northern Ireland. He was active in Amnesty against Augusto Pinochet, and was arrested in anti-apartheid demonstrations in South Africa.

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With such a conscience and courage he wouldnt have gotten anywhere in Israel, apart from Breaking the Silence. In Britain he has a good chance of being elected the next prime minister. Nothing lights up the imagination and inspires hope more than that. Anyone who wants to see the world take action against the Israeli occupation should dream of Corbyn.

Corbyn has been declared the next enemy of the Jews. Viktor Orban is a righteous among the nations; the American alt-right is the rock of Israel and its savior; Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines leader who called to kill millions like Hitler, is a welcome guest in Israel  and Corbyn is the enemy of the people.

The Jewish establishment in Britain and Israeli propaganda have taken out a contract on him, to foil his election: Hes an anti-Semite, Labor is anti-Semitic, Jewish life in Britain is in existential danger, no less, as three British Jewish newspapers cried out in a joint editorial.

While the situation of any Jew in Britain is better, safer, more egalitarian and freer than the condition of any Arab citizen in Israel, not to mention the Palestinians in the occupied territories, the Jewish establishments desperate cry for help raised an uproar and commotion against Corbyn.

The Israeli press hastened to join the incitement campaign  branding every Labor utterance as anti-Semitic. Party Member Peter Willsman branded the rabbis who accused his party of anti-Semitism as Jewish Trump fanatics  gevalt, anti-Semitism. Some commentator accused Corbyn of being too apologetic, another accused him of not apologizing. Even a young, impressive journalist like Antonia Yamin of Kan hastened to join the instigation crusade.

Let it be said: Corbyn is a staunch, consistent opponent of Israels occupation policy. That is his right; as a true leftist its his duty. On Labors fringes there are certainly anti-Semitic circles; Corbyn stated several days ago in an op-ed in The Guardian that they have no place in his party. The attempt to reduce what Labor defines as anti-Semitic, unlike the prevalent definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, doesnt necessarily make the party anti-Semitic.

But the Jewish-Israeli propaganda persists: When Israel enacts the apartheid law and its soldiers kill 160 unarmed demonstrators on the Gaza border, the only response is to accuse anyone who criticizes this of anti-Semitism. It works, it places the accused in the prosecutors role.

Israel has enacted a law saying it is the nation-state of the Jewish people. In other words, anything Israel does represents the entire Jewish people. This has a price.

When an Israeli sniper shoots dead a legless man in a wheelchair, and a nurse  the Jewish people is a partner. Thus Israels policy is inflaming anti-Semitism in the world. It may and should be criticized, as Labor does and as Corbyn does, and the gagging, in the form of labeling any criticism as anti-Semitism, is outrageous. It also increases anti-Semitism and the feeling that the Jews are acting like bullies and using their power of emotional blackmail.

Hajo Meyer, a Dutch Holocaust survivor and human rights activist, once coined the phrase, Once an anti-Semite was a man who hates Jews. Today an anti-Semite is a man whom the Jews hate.

Leave the incitement campaign against Corbyn and wish him luck: Hes a man of conscience, and I hope hell be Britains prime minister. It could be good for Israel as well.
By Philip M. Giraldi

August 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The United States Department of Justice would apparently have you believe that the Kremlin sought to subvert the five-million-member strong National Rifle Association (NRA) by having two Russian citizens take out life memberships in the organization with the intention of corrupting it and turning it into a mouthpiece for President Vladimir Putin. Both of the Russians  Maria Butina and Alexander Torshin  have, by the way, long well documented histories as advocates for gun ownership and were founders of Right to Bear Arms, which is not an intelligence front organization of some kind and is rather a genuine lobbying group with an active membership and agenda. Contrary to what has been reported in the mainstream media, Russians can own guns but the licensing and registration procedures are long and complicated, which Right to Bear Arms, modeling itself on the NRA, is seeking to change.

Maria Butina, a graduate student at American University, is now in solitary confinement in a federal prison, having been charged with collusion with Torshin and failure to register as an agent of the Russian Federation. It is unusual to arrest and confine someone who has failed to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, but she has not been granted bail because, as a Russian citizen, she is considered to be a flight risk, likely to try to flee the US and return home. It is to be presumed that she is being pressured to identify others involved in her alleged scheme to overthrow American democracy through NRA membership.

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Indeed, in any event, it would be difficult to imagine why anyone would consider the NRA to be a legitimate intelligence target. It only flexes its admitted powerful legislative muscles over issues relating to gun ownership, not regarding policy on Russia. In short, Butina and by extension Torshin appear to have done nothing wrong. Both are energetic advocates for their country and guns rights, which they appear to believe in, and Butinas aggressive networking has broken no law except not registering, which in itself assumes that she is a Russian government agent, something that has not been demonstrated. To put the shoe on the other foot, will every American who now travels to Russia and engages in political conversations with local people be suspected of acting as an agent of the US government? Once you open the door, it swings both ways.

One might dismiss the entire Affair Butina as little more than a reflection of the anti-Russia hysteria that has been sweeping the United States since Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election, but that would be unfair to those remaining honest FBI agents who may have investigated Butina and Torshin and come up with what they believed to be a plausible case for an indictment. There were possibly suspicious money transfers as well as email intercepts that might be interpreted as incriminating.

But two important elements are clearly missing. The first is motive. Did the Kremlin seriously believe that it could get anything substantial out of having a gun totin attractive young Russian woman as a life member in the NRA? What did the presumed puppet masters in Moscow expect to obtain apart from the sorts of group photos including Butina that one gets while posing with politicians at the annual NRA convention? Sure, the photo might even evolve into a cup of coffee together, but what is the end game?

Second is the lack of any of the hallmarks of an intelligence operation, which is referred to in the business as tradecraft. Spies meet secretly or at least outside the public eye with prospective agents whereas Maria operated completely in the open and she made no effort to conceal her love for her country and her desire that Washington and Moscow normalize relations. Spies also communicate securely, which means that they use encrypted systems or various cut-outs, i.e. mis-directions, when maintaining contact with those who are running them. Again, Maria did none of that, which is why the FBI has her emails. Also spies work under what is referred to as an operating directive in CIA-speak where they have very specific information that they seek to obtain from their contacts. There is no indication that Maria Butina in any way sought classified information or intelligence that would relate either to the security of the United States or to Americas political system. And finally, Maria made no attempt to recruit anyone and turn them into an actual controlled Russian agent, which is what spies eventually seek to do.

It has come down to this: if you are a Russian and you are caught talking to anyone in any way influential, there is potentially hell to pay because the FBI will be watching you. You are automatically assumed to be part of a conspiracy. Once evidence is collected, you will be indicted and sent to prison, mostly to send a message to Moscow. It is the ultimate irony that how the old Soviet Unions judiciary used to function is now becoming standing operating procedure in the United States.

Philip Giraldi is a former counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest.
To Hell With US Jobs, Let's Get Iran! By Eric Margolis



August 13, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - President Trump keeps vowing to create more jobs in America. But his actions often speak differently. The most egregious example was Trumps cancellation of the multi-national Iran nuclear treaty that had been welcomed by the world as a major step to Mideast denuclearization.



In abrogating the international treaty signed by the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, the US humiliated its allies and rivals who were strongly in favor of the accord. Iran had already handed 97% of its enriched uranium to Russia, shut down reactors and centrifuges, and allowed UN inspectors to run all over its nuclear facilities when Trump tore up the deal that had been under negotiation since 2015.



Iran has been under a harsh US-led trade embargo since its 1979 revolution that was designed to cripple its economy and military and drive the people to rebel against their government. Washington used the same tactics  without success  against Saddam Husseins Iraq and Fidel Castros Cuba. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter So intense is the Trump administrations hatred for Islamic Iran that it decided to scrap the multinational nuclear deal that would have meant opening Iran to western commerce and a bonanza for US and European companies. The key element of the deal was to have been the sale of some 210 commercial jet airliners to Iran by the US and the European Union, a deal worth some $40-50 billion, not counting future sales of spare parts.



The US embargo of Iran since 1979 has made it unable to modernize its commercial airline fleet. Iran was denied modern aircraft, spare parts, engines and instruments, leaving it with decaying aircraft from the 1970s.



The grim result of the US-imposed embargo has been 17 crashes of Iranian civilian aircraft with 1500 deaths.



Most of Irans commercial aircraft  a grab bag of old, mostly 25-year old Boeing, Airbus, Chinese and Soviet aircraft  are flying coffins. Irans maintenance, training and air traffic control are substandard. Flying over and around Irans lofty mountains is a challenge for the best of pilots, even for a handful of newer ATR turboprop aircraft.



Washingtons denial to Iran of Boeing Aircraft (and Airbus planes because they contain US-made parts), means the loss of tens of thousands of highly-paid jobs in the US and Europe. Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claims he talked Trump into canceling the Iran nuclear deal and the Boeing orders.



Its hard to validate Netanyahus claim but it is clear that Americas ever more powerful Israel lobby and its ally fundamentalist Christian Zionists played a key role in thwarting the Iran nuclear deal and sale of commercial aircraft.



We dont yet know the full cost of lost American jobs and business to help keep Iran isolated. But one could argue that part of the $20 billion lost should be counted as part of annual US aid to Israel.



Russia and Chinas aircraft industries will soon be able to deliver modern passenger aircraft to Iran and accept payment in oil. Chinas C919 and ARJ21 are now nearing service. Russias Sukhoi Superjet 100 will be ready soon. Trump could be cutting off his nose to spite his face.



Trump and his allies are trying to push Iran into a corner and provoke it to lash out at US forces that are poised around it. A navel clash in the Gulf is the obvious pretext for war.



While the US goes after Iran, it has opened a new anti-Muslim front against old ally Turkey by imposing heavy duties on Ankaras exports to the US and attacking the always vulnerable Turkish lira. This, in turn, has set off a financial crisis across Europe, notably among EU banks that have large, soft loans made to Turkey.



Trump & Co. are trying to force Turkey to bend the knee and support US-Israeli-Saudi policy goals. Turkey and Iran remain the last significant supporters in the region of the Palestinians. Trump and the New York City real estate developers, and the money men who surround him, are determined to show the independent-minded Iranians and Turks who is the big boss. Eric S. Margolis is an award-winning, internationally syndicated columnist. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune the Los Angeles Times, Times of London, the Gulf Times, the Khaleej Times, Nation  Pakistan, Hurriyet,  Turkey, Sun Times Malaysia and other news sites in Asia. ericmargolis.com



Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2018 The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. ====== Turkish lira drops further despite central bank action: Erdogan lashes out at economic traitors as currency crisis escalates Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames lira crash on Donald Trump 'plot' Erdogan warns Trump that Turkey will 'find new friends' as US row deepens Russia SHUNS US dollar for trade as it joins Turkey in protest against Trump Note To ICH Community We are currently searching for a new comment system as we have run out of options on how to prevent the constant bickering and attacks by troll's, whose intention is to paint our website and newsletter as, anti-Semitic, anti-American, pro-Russian fake news. We can no longer afford to invest hours of our time each day, trying to have people behave in a manner befitting those who say they are concerned for others, while offering abuse and hostility to other ICH community members. When we have found such a comment system we will restore the comment function. We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. This would be a better use of out time than trying to prevent abuse of our comment system. Thank you for your continued support. Peace and joy
Beijing is willing to work with Tokyo to safeguard political foundations, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and properly manage differences under the principles of the four key bilateral political documents, said Premier Li Keqiang.

Li made the comment when exchanging congratulatory messages with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday, the day marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, one of the four landmark bilateral pacts.

Forty years ago, the treaty was signed to legally confirm principles of the China-Japan Joint Communique, Li said of the statement in 1972. Bilateral ties have developed enormously since, bringing benefits to both peoples and contributing to regional and global prosperity and stability, Li said.

In May, Li paid an official visit to Japan, helping put bilateral relations back on the right track.

China is ready to work with Japan to comply with the four political documents, in the spirit of "taking the past as a mirror and looking forward to the future", to promote long-term, sound and stable development of the ties, Li added.

Thanks to joint efforts, bilateral ties have witnessed substantial development in areas such as economy, culture and people-to-people exchanges, Abe said in his message.

The two countries should continue deepening cooperation and contributing to finding solutions to problems facing the international community, he said.

Abe spoke highly of Li's visit to Japan, calling it tremendously vital for the future development of bilateral ties. He said he is looking forward to visiting China later this year to help bring China-Japan ties to a new stage.

In a related activity, at a symposium in Beijing on Saturday held to mark four decades since the 1978 treaty, over 100 government officials and academics from both countries gathered to honor the spirit of the treaty.

Former state councilor Dai Bingguo said the signing of the treaty summarized the political problems between the two countries and opened up a new chapter for bilateral ties.

"Japan has been supporting China's economic development by providing capital and technological help and has also shared in the fruits of China's fast development," Dai told the symposium hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Yukio Hatoyama, former Japanese prime minister, said in a speech at the event that the two neighbors have gradually established governmental dialogue mechanisms at various levels and enhanced people-to-people exchanges since the treaty was signed 40 years ago.

The treaty was signed based on the political insights at the time of leaders from both sides, including looking at the bigger picture and properly handling sensitive issues, and bilateral ties also suffered twists and turns over the past four decades due to historical and territorial factors, Hatoyama said.

He added that the two sides should look at the bigger picture and reach a consensus on shelving differences, and Tokyo should seize the opportunity to work with Beijing under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Yutaka Yokoi, Japanese ambassador to China, said both countries are major economic powers and share great responsibility in the global community, and he is impressed by China's achievements over the past 40 years, especially in the field of science and technology.
The Cable News Network (CNN) Breaking News claimed on the morning of August 10 that a US warplane with a CNN journalist aboard flying over the South China Sea that day was warned by the Chinese military plane six times.

However, Yang Yujun, former spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) and currently the head of the Academy of Media and Public Affairs, Communication University of China, said this is obviously not breaking news but a show jointly made by the US military and the CNN.

According to the CNN report, during the flight, the crew received six warnings in total from the Chinese military, telling them they were inside Chinese territory and urging them to leave. Leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding, the Chinese military said.

The last time CNN was given access to a US Navy mission over the South China Sea was in September 2015, when the aircraft was also warned off by the Chinese military, the CNN said. Since then, Beijings island building in the contested waters has moved forward at a rapid pace.

Yang Yujun said, the US militarys provocation over the South China Sea together with the US media this time comes as China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries made major progress in the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. "It is obvious that the US intends to make a mess of the South China Sea situation, mess up the COC, and wreck Chinas relations with the countries surrounding the South China Sea," Yang added.

As for the so-called six warnings to the US warplane by the Chinese military, Yang said, "The US had known how China would respond. The border and coastal defense units of any sovereign country would do the same and even react more fiercely."

He continued, Since the US warplane arrived without invitation, flying over Chinese airspace, why cannot China issue a warning? If a Chinese warplane flew over Hawaii, how would the US military react?

Yang mentioned particularly that the US President Trump has defined the CNN as enemy of the people reporting fake news, yet the US miltary still chose the CNN to hype up tensions in the South China Sea. Have they ever considered the sentiments of their president?

Disclaimer: The author is Guo Yuandan and Liu Yang, reporters with the Global Times. The article is translated from Chinese into English by the China Military online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author from the Global Times and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity.
In addition to these events, the firm will fund 60 projects with over $900,000  that competition will launch on August 28.

Finding ways to bring people together and foster a sense of belonging to a community is not

only a nice thing to do, its necessary, said Colm Holmes, president and CEO at Aviva

Canada. We know that bringing people together can help create stronger and healthier

communities.

Aviva Canada knows that when people come together for a common purpose to create positive change, their community thrives. For the last 10 years, the ACF [the community fund] has stood for these values because we believe communities are truly #BetterTogether, Holmes added.

The firm said it has donated over $8.5 million to 280 causes across Canada since 2009 through the fund.
Vancouver, British Columbia - August 14, 2018 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Contact Gold Corp. (TSXV: C) (the "Company" or "Contact Gold") is pleased to announce drill results from an additional 12 holes, totaling 2,500 metres from its 2018 drill program at the Pony Creek gold property ("Pony Creek"), located in Elko County, Nevada, adjacent to Gold Standard Ventures' Railroad-Pinion Project.

Drill Highlights:

0.42 g/t Au over 33.53 metres oxide from 4.57 metres in discovery hole PC18-018 at West Target Including 1.11 g/t Au over 4.5 metres

0.61 g/t Au over 21.34 metres oxide from 103.63 metres in drill hole PC18-012 at Bowl Zone

0.18 g/t Au over 25.91 metres oxide from surface in drill hole PC18-07 at Bowl Zone

These drill holes were designed to begin testing the 2 km long gold-in-soil and CSAMT anomalies ("West Target"), which were generated through the 2017 exploration program and to build upon areas of open gold mineralization at the Bowl Zone. Drilling by previous operators in the area of the West Target failed to reach the structural control for gold mineralization identified by Contact Gold. The West Target is 1 kilometre north of the property's Bowl Zone and is interpreted to be located along the same major north-south structure associated with oxide gold mineralization at the Bowl Zone, and potentially Gold Standard Ventures' Jasperoid Wash zone.

"The team is very excited with this genuine new discovery of gold at Pony Creek. The West Target was generated through first-principles exploration methods, including geology, geochemistry and geophysics completed in 2017. Intersecting oxidized, near surface gold mineralization in the first hole into a fresh target is what every exploration geologist dreams of and it happens very rarely in a mature area like the Carlin trend. The West Target is over 2 km long and we intend to aggressively drill test both the west and east flanks of it in the coming months," stated Vance Spalding, VP Exploration of Contact Gold.

Drilling through 2018 is designed to expand mineralization at the Bowl Zone, and to test new large-scale targets, including the North Zone and the West, Moleen, and Elliot Dome targets, generated by Contact Gold since acquiring the property one year ago. The Company has completed 29 holes in 2018, totaling over 6,000m of 16,000 planned metres of drilling. The drill program forms part of a comprehensive property wide exploration program comprising over 4,000 soil samples and geological mapping to support additional drill target generation. Assays are pending for 12 holes, with drilling scheduled to run through November 2018.

Key Points:

Oxide gold mineralization has been discovered by Contact Gold in the first holes drilled by the Company at the West Target within newly recognized Pennsylvanian-Permian host rock calcareous sandstones and conglomerates - interpreted to be same host rocks as Gold Standard's nearby North Dark Star deposit

Contact Gold continues to focus on discovering new zones of oxide gold mineralization like the West Target, and expanding known mineralization at the Bowl and North Zones

The West Target discovery demonstrates the potential of Pony Creek to produce additional gold discoveries, and validates the systematic targeting methodology employed by Contact Gold

10,000 meters of additional drilling will be completed before year end, including 12 holes dedicated to follow-up the West Target

For a map of the Pony Creek target areas and drill collar locations, please click:

http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/news/Pony-Creek-Plan-Map.pdf

For a detailed map of the West Target drill collar locations, please click:

http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/newsWest-Target-August2018.pdf

For a detailed map of the Bowl Zone drill collar locations, please click:

http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/news/Bowl-Zone-August2018.pdf

For a cross section showing drill hole PC18-018 please click:

http://www.contactgold.com/resources/news/PC18-018-Section.pdf

Table of 2018 Pony Creek Drill Results:

Pony Creek is an early stage exploration property and does not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource estimate at Pony Creek. Additional information about Pony Creek is summarized in a technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Pony Creek Gold Project, Elko County, Nevada, USA" dated April 18, 2017, and effective March 15, 2017), prepared by Michael M. Gustin, C.P.G. of Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada (the "Technical Report"), which can be viewed under Contact Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Vance Spalding, CPG, VP Exploration, Contact Gold, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Drill intercepts were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 0.14 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of material averaging less than 0.14 ppm gold for low grade intervals and higher grade intervals were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 1.00 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of assays averaging less than 1.00 ppm gold. Gravimetric assays are used for all Fire Assays above 4.00 ppm gold. True width of drilled mineralization is unknown, but owing to the apparent flat lying nature of mineralization, is estimated to generally be at least 70% of drilled thickness Quality Assurance / Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference standards, blanks, and duplicates. All failures are followed up and resolved whenever possible with additional investigation whenever such an event occurs. Multi element geochemical assays are completed on composites using the MEMS 61 method. All assays are completed at ALS Chemex; an ISO 17025:2005 accredited lab. Check assays are completed at a second, reputable assay lab after the program is complete.

About Contact Gold Corp.

Contact Gold is a gold exploration company focused on leveraging its properties, people, technology and capital to produce district scale gold discoveries in Nevada. Contact Gold's extensive land holdings are on the prolific Carlin, Independence and Northern Nevada Rift gold trends which host numerous gold deposits and mines. Contact Gold's land position comprises 275 km2 of target rich mineral tenure hosting numerous known gold occurrences, ranging from early - to advanced-exploration and resource definition stage.

Additional information about the Company is available at www.contactgold.com.

For more information, please contact: +1 (604) 416-0576

John Glanville - Director Investor Relations

Chris Pennimpede - Corporate Development

E-mail: info@ContactGold.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to the anticipated exploration activities of the Company on the Pony Creek property.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

More Info:

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders

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Samsung has once again managed to set the smartphone display bar higher with the Galaxy Note 9. With the iPhone X last year, Apple managed to snatch the best performing smartphone display award from DisplayMate dethroning the Note 8 which the Korean company managed to again reclaim with the Galaxy S9 earlier this year.

Now, with the Note 9, Samsung is taking things up a notch. In DisplayMates testing, the 6.4-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel of the Note 9 managed to set a new record for brightness which was 27 percent higher than that of the Note 8. In numbers, the Note 9s display is capable of reaching a peak brightness of 710 nits which is even higher than some of the best LCD panels around. Additionally, the score for contrast rating for high ambient light was also higher by 32 percent compared to the previous Note.

In the Absolute Color Accuracy benchmark, the Note 9s display hit a record-high which it says is visually indistinguishable from perfect. Other areas where the panel managed to set a new record include that of color accuracy and intensity, small color shits, brightness shifts, and viewing angles.The panel also had the lowest screen reflectance of 4.4 percent, largest native color gamut of 113 percent and 142 percent of sRGB, highest contrast ratio, and more.

Ultimately, the Note 9s display managed to get an A+ rating from DisplayMate, the highest rating possible from the publication.

The Galaxy Note 9 is the most innovative and high performance Smartphone display that we have ever Lab tested, breaking and establishing many new Display Performance Records that are listed above. The Galaxy Note 9 delivers uniformly consistent all around Top Tier Display Performance and receives All Green (Very Good to Excellent) Ratings in All of the DisplayMate Lab Test and Measurement Categories  only the second display we have ever tested to get All Green in All Categories  the Galaxy S9 was the first. The level of display performance and excellence has been increasing each year, and the Galaxy Note 9 has now raised the bar significantly higher.

It is commendable to see Samsung raise the display bar so much higher with the Note 9 this year. It shows that despite already having the best OLED panels around in the market, the company does not want to rest on its laurels and wants to push the bar even higher.

It will definitely be interesting to see how the OLED panels on Apples upcoming 2018 iPhones compare to that of the Note 9. After all last year, Apple managed to beat Samsung in its own game after procuring the OLED panels from the Korean company itself last year.

[Via DisplayMate
SUVA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark arrived in the Tongan capital of Nukualofa on Monday for an eight-day goodwill visit and humanitarian medical service.

Escorted by a Tongan navy patrol boat, Peace Ark, which is on Mission Harmony - 2018, arrived at Vuna Wharf of Port Nukualofa.

At a grand welcome ceremony attended by Tonga's Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika, Chinese Ambassador Wang Baodong, local citizens as well as overseas Chinese and representatives of the Chinese enterprises, the Tongan royal military band played the national anthems of both China and Tonga, the local people presented garlands to the commanders of the Chinese mission and the young Tongans performed local dance.

Semisi Sika warmly welcomed Peace Ark's second visit to Tonga on behalf of the Tongan government and conveyed his heartfelt appreciations for the support and assistance rendered by the Chinese government and its people.

For his part, Wang said that on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Tonga, Peace Ark's visit to Tonga is of paramount importance, which will help enhancing the mutual benefit and cooperation between two countries in terms of health and military and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.

The commander of Mission Harmony - 2018 also said Peace Ark will help more people as always with sincere love, medical skills and services and fulfill the consensus reached by top leaders in Beijing in March with concrete action, so that their strategic partnership can further develop and the two peoples can benefit from the bilateral cooperation and exchanges.

The VIPs from the Tongan side were invited to tour the Chinese ship onboard.

Tonga is the fourth stop of Peace Ark's current mission, which had visited Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji. The ship paid her first visit to the South Pacific island nation in 2014.
File photo: Chinanews.com

High-pressure oxygen therapy and portable barracks are being introduced to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to boost the People's Liberation Army (PLA) combat capability, a Chinese expert said on Monday.

All frontline training troops and border outposts have been equipped with oxygen generators and oxygen cylinders, the official PLA website 81.cn reported Sunday.

Army Medical University's Xinqiao Hospital in Xigaze, Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is developing a high-pressure oxygen therapy that could effectively solve altitude stress for troops stationed on the plateau, PLA Daily reported on Monday.

Oxygen therapy used to cure brain damage and carbon monoxide poisoning can be calibrated for high altitude.

The improved therapy has proved effective against altitude stress, 81.cn reported.

Oxygen stations have been built along border roads for soldiers to recover stamina.

"Altitude stress makes troops have breathing difficulties, results in headaches and insomnia," a former military officer who served in Tibet told the Global Times on Monday. He refused to be named.

Thin air damages combat capability, lowering troops' strength and durability, Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Monday.

Applying oxygen therapy helped soldiers to recover in the harsh conditions and enhanced their combat capabilities, he said.

The PLA is also improving troops' quality of life, the 81.cn report said.

Beginning last year, portable barracks specifically designed for plateau areas have been replacing the old prefabricated houses at Tibetan military bases.

Their design and materials make them sturdy, moisture-proof and cold-resistant, keeping the room temperature at 15 C even in the worst of snow storms, the report said.

Equipped with cutting-edge camouflage nets, the barracks are difficult to detect and suitable for field operations, the website reported.

Phone cover is increasingly available in all training zones enabling the troops to make calls or surf the internet.

The combined challenge of thin air and low temperatures makes winters in Tibet difficult for troops.

Many soldiers and officers suffer frostbite in Tibet, the former military officer said, noting the new facilities provide strong logistical support and ensured the troops' combat capability.

Four warm meals and soup are now included in the canteen meal.

New barracks and other improvements can let troops have enough rest and guarantee their quality of life so that they can work together with better morale, according to Song.

"Logistical support is essential to plateau combat," Song said.


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Trump declared the US "Indo-Pacific strategy" in a high-profile manner during his first visit to Asia Pacific at the end of 2017 after he took office. Since the beginning of this year, the US has promoted and developed the "Indo-Pacific strategy" through various methods to curb China's development.

The exclusive alliance expands constantly

The US Secretary of Defense James Mattis hosted a ceremony at the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to rename the headquarter of the United States Pacific Command to the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) on May 30, 2018.

The name change does not have substantive meaning since it wont result in any major alteration to the geographic scope and force structure of the former Pacific Command. However, the change has not only clarified the spokesperson and executive body of the US Indo-Pacific strategy, but also demonstrated the US determination to move forward the strategy.

The scope of the "Indo-Pacific strategy" has expanded significantly in this context. Since the US, Japan, India and Australia have already become allies, it became the most conspicuous display of the US in curbing China with more diverse and intensified measures.

Japan who proposed the "Indo-Pacific strategy" at first was to maintain the momentum of strengthening relationship with the US while striving to improve the relationship with China.

During his visit to China on April 27, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed China as a "key partner" at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). However, he also showed a positive attitude towards the vision of the "Indo-Pacific strategy".

Australia has gained huge economic benefits from China on one hand, and has been extremely active in the "Indo-Pacific strategy" on the other hand.

In addition, the US has emphasized ASEANs "central position" in the "Indo-Pacific region" and showed a clear attempt to bring ASEAN into the "Indo-Pacificstrategy". Among the 10 member states of ASEAN, Vietnam and Indonesia have expressed clear support for the "Indo-Pacific strategy".

Vietnam depends on extra territorial power like the US to balance against the growing influence of China. More recently, Vietnam is strengthening its tie with the US. The US Navy aircraft carrier Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with 5,000 officers and soldiers docked in Da Nang, Vietnam for a four-day visit on March 5 this year. This was the first time for a large US ship to visit Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 and the symbolic meaning of the visit was self-evident.

As early as 2013, Indonesia expressed its interest in the "Indo-Pacific" which was only an academic concept at that time. It even proposed that the parties to the East Asia Summit signed an Indo-Pacific Treaty. As an archipelago country across the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, Indonesia has demonstrated an obvious attempt to strengthen its status in the region and the international community by promoting the concept of "Indo-Pacific".

New Zealand in the South Pacific also hopes to enhance its status and influence in the South Pacific region by joining the island chain strategy in the "Indo-Pacific strategy".

For the first time this year, New Zealand has written the "China threat theory" into its national defense policy. In early July, it announced that it would spend $1.6 billion to order four advanced anti-submarine patrol aircraft from the US to improve its maritime surveillance. This is the countrys largest military purchase in decades, exposing its impulse to respond to the Indo-Pacific strategy.

While the US is expanding the scope of the India-Pacific alliance, it has clearly showed the exclusion of China.

The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) is a biennial multi-national joint military exercise led by the US and participated by the Indian Ocean and Pacific Rim countries. In May of this year, the US side withdrew Chinas participation in the "RIMPAC 2018", revealing the fact that the US is establishing an exclusive military alliance in this region.

Targeted military system is constructed steadily

The US has strengthened its military presence around China since the beginning of this year.

The first F-35A fighter squadron of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) at the Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, Japan announced its capabilities to fight at the beginning of July. Japans first destroyer equipped with the Aegis Combat system was launched in Yokohama on July 30.

The Aegis Combat system is highly sensitive as it enables the US and Japan to share target information in the battlefield during wartime in high capacity, thus allowing the two to coordinate operations with high standard.

As of today, there are 28,500 US troops in the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the US is moving its headquarter in the ROK from Seoul to the Camp Humphreys, 70 kilometers south of Seoul. Since the relationship between the US and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been apparently eased, then, what is the US militarys next task in the ROK?

Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, said bluntly: "The US troops in the ROK and the ROK troops have considered carrying out missions in a wider region. They may have displayed growing interest in actions aimed at demonstrating support for common interests and values outside the peninsula, including the South China Sea and parts of the Indo-Pacific region."

While the US Department of Defense announced the withdrawal of its invitation to China to participate in the RIMPAC on May 23, it announced the invitation to Vietnam for the first time. By "rejecting" one country on one hand and "pulling" another country on the other hand, the US has proved its clear attempt to separate China-Vietnam relationship by harnessing the South China Sea dispute and make use of Vietnam to contain China on frontier.

The "2019 National Defense Budget" was issued by the US Department of Defense on June 19. The budget systematically illustrated the "Indo-Pacific strategy" and formulated an "integrated strategy" aiming at China, including support for joint military exercises with Japan, Australia and India to strengthen security cooperation, so as to counter China's growing influence in Asia, Southeast Asia and other regions. In particular, words such as "to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities, including arms sales to Taiwan" deserve special attention.

The US has strengthened its relationship with Taiwan since the Trump administration took office. After the US canceled its invitation to China to the 2018 Pacific Rim military exercise, the Taiwan military asked if it could join the exercise but received no response from the US.

However, what will happen in the future needs to be observed continuously as the US people in political and military circles who incite Taiwan to join the military exercise have not given up their efforts.

Support economic plan is gradually taking shape

A military strategy without economic structure support is weak if not "rootless". The Trump administrations "Indo-Pacific strategy" certainly needs the support of the economic structure. Just as the Trump administration wages trade wars all around the world, the economic plan has come along to support the "Indo-Pacific strategy".

Australias Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the guideline for infrastructure cooperation among the US, Japan and Australia in the India-Pacific region on July 31. Afterwards, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the overseas private investment companies of the financial institutions under the US government, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia and some other institutions stated that "the framework for consultation and cooperation is underway" in a joint statement.

Undoubtedly, the US, Japan and Australia have taken actions in Southeast Asia with the purpose to hedge the attraction and influence of Chinas "Belt and Road" initiative on Southeast Asian countries, and serve its "Indo-Pacific strategy" to contain China.

However, almost at the same time as the US, Japan and Australia take moves, Single Draft Negotiating Text (SDNT) of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea was reached at the China-ASEAN 10+1 Foreign Ministers meeting on August 2, which would undoubtedly become an important focus of cooperation between China and Southeast Asian countries.

On top of that, China has made years of efforts to help the regional countries realize that stirring up troubles at their doorstep is definitely not something beneficial. Though you cannot choose your neighbors, distant relatives are not as close as neighbors. The extent to which the US, Japan, and Australia can reach their attempts remains a question.

To sum up, the US has transformed the concept of the "Indo-Pacific" to the "Indo-Pacific strategy", using political suppression, diplomatic isolation, military exercise and arms sales to create military alliances and military situation in favor of itself, using various means such as providing economic structure support for the "Indo-Pacific strategy" to make it a reality.

The US "Indo-Pacific strategy" and its geopolitical influence require China to treat it seriously and keep high vigilance.

Disclaimer: The author is Wu Minwen with the IT and Communications College of the PLA National University of Defense Technology. The article was published on the China Youth Daily and translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity.
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Japan's defense ministry held a ceremony in Yokohama on July 30 for naming of the country's seventh Aegis escort warship; it has been named Maya and is likely to be commissioned around March 2020.

Maya is the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's first vessel equipped with cooperative engagement capability (CEC), a device that can share a large volume of data in real time without the use of satellites and has the capability to intercept missiles and enemy fighter aircraft.

With China in mind, Japan wants to strengthen cooperation with the US military. Aegis warships and E-2D airborne early warning aircraft of the US military stationed in Japan have already been equipped with CEC.

Since March this year, the Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have been showing interest in converting Izumo, a helicopter carrier, into an aircraft carrier. In fact, speaking in parliament recently, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera conceded that the ministry is studying the feasibility of retrofitting Izumo so that US F-35B stealth fighter jets could land on it. The retrofitted Izumo would provide rear-area support to US military operations.

Besides, the LDP's proposals for the new National Defense Program Guidelines for the 2019-23 period urge the government to introduce a "multipurpose aircraft carrier". The Japanese government plans to release the guidelines later this year,

If Izumo were converted, the Asahi Shimbun said in a recent editorial, it would be an aircraft carrier with highly enhanced attacking capabilities. And Japan's gradual shift away from its defense-only principle could trigger a lose-lose arms race with its neighbors.

Among its major defense procurement programs, Japan is mulling spending 466.4 billion yen ($4.2 billion) to deploy the Aegis Ashore system units made by Lockheed Martin at its Ground Self-Defense Force's maneuvering base in Akita prefecture in the north and Yamaguchi prefecture on Honshu island to counter potential missiles from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China. The advanced radar system to be installed has a range of about 1,000 kilometers, and the Aegis Ashore would start operation in fiscal 2025.

Japan also plans to have all three SDF wings jointly operate the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, which is expected to be introduced in fiscal 2021, in a bid to monitor security situations, including the military movements of China and the DPRK. A Sankei Shimbun report said the Ground Self-Defense Force is also studying a plan to hire merchant vessels for transporting personnel and materiel to Japan's southwestern islands in an emergency.

The Shinzo Abe administration has proposed major changes in Japan's defense policy, which would change Japan's pacifist defense policy into a more dynamic one based on bilateral and even multilateral relationships. To that effect, Japan has signed Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreements with Canada and France, in a bid to strengthen cooperation between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Canadian and French militaries.

The Canadian government has released a statement saying the deal would allow the two countries to make efficient use of each other's military equipment during operations and exercises in Canada, Japan and other locations. And the French Ministry of the Armed Forces said in a statement that the agreement is aimed at "strengthening interoperability, reducing the cost of mutual support services between our armies, and facilitating, in the long term, joint military interactions".

Japan's "defense" moves prompted Moscow to express concern over Tokyo's plan to deploy the Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system at the "two-plus-two" meeting between Japanese and Russian foreign and defense ministers in Moscow on July 31, a day after the naming of Maya. Actually, Moscow has long contended that the Aegis Ashore system is a direct national security concern for Russia, as it is part of the US plan to deploy a missile defense system in Asia.

With all these developments, Japan's new defense program should be observed closely, because it is an indicator of where the country's security policy is headed.
Main photo: press service of Defense Ministry of Kazakhstan

Source: bnews.kz

Units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army head over Chebarkul Polygon in the Chelyabinsk Oblast of the Russian Federation by railway trains through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan as part of the preparation for the joint anti-terrorist headquarter exercises of the SCO member states under the name of Peaceful Mission-2018, BNews.kz correspondent reports with a reference to the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan.

The units pass the route of Dostyk-Aktogay-Ayagoz-Aul-Lokot, then they pass the territory of Russia. China's troops will be accompanied by the guard in Regional Command East.

It was earlier reported that in the training Peaceful Mission, more than 3000 military personnel of the SCO member states would take part: India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and more than 500 weapons and military vehicles.

Following the exercises, it is planned to drill joint actions of the Armed Forces of the member states in case of the seizure of power by terrorists or that of a part of the territory of one of the member states. Military troops of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan are planned to be deployed to the site of exercises on August 18 of the present year.
Guided by a Tongan Navy patrol boat, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark sails towards the Port of Nukualofa, Tonga on August 13, 2018, local time. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Jiang Shan)

PORT of NUKUALOFA, TONGA, Aug. 14 (ChinaMil) -- The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark (Hull 866) arrived on Monday at the Port of Nukualofa, Tonga, the fourth stop of its Harmonious Mission 2018, for an eight-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical service.

Guided by a Tongan Navy patrol boat, the Peace Ark sailed into the Port of Nukualofa at about 10 a.m. The Tongan side held a grand welcoming ceremony at the port.

Tongas Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika and Chinese Ambassador to Tonga Wang Baodong, local citizens as well as overseas Chinese and representatives of the Chinese enterprises in Tonga attended the welcoming ceremony.

At the ceremony, Semisi Sika, on behalf of the Tonga government, warmly welcomed the Peace Ark' second visit and expressed sincere thanks to the Chinese government and its people for their support and assistance over the years.

Ambassador Wang Baodong said, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga, the Peace Arks visit to Tonga has a special significance, which will promote win-win cooperation in health and military fields between the two countries and deepen friendship between the two peoples.

The commander of the Harmonious Mission 2018 said in the speech that the Peace Ark will benefit more Tongan people with sincere goodwill, excellent medical skills, and attentive medical services, so as to further promote the China-Tonga strategic partnership.

After the ceremony, personnel from the Tongan side boarded the Peace Ark for a visit and praised its professional design and advanced medical equipment.

Chinese sailors dress the Chinese hospital ship Peace Ark with nautical flags as the ship arrives at the Port of Nukualofa, Tonga on August 13, 2018, local time. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Jiang Shan)
ROSEBURG, Ore.  Authorities in Douglas County are looking for any information that will lead them to two suspects from the town of Glide, accused of burglarizing the former home of decorated veteran Retired Major General Marion Carl and stealing war memorabilia.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO), Major General Marion Carl served in the US Marine Corps, seeing action in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. During those conflicts, Carl earned numerous medals and commendations, including the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, and the Air Medal, amongst others.

In 1998, a now-retired Major General Carl was murdered in his home during a home-invasion robbery. The Roseburg airport was later named after him.

Since then, Carl's home has remained in possession of his family, where they continued to keep his personal effectsincluding his medals and war memorabilia.

On July 22 of this year, DCSO says that they were called to investigate a burglary of Carl's former residence in Glide. They found that some of Carl's campaign ribbons, knives, ammunition and fishing gear were stolen in the burglary. One of the stolen knives reportedly had Major General Carl's name inscribed on it.

Investigation led deputies to several people apparently connected to the burglary, leading to the arrests on August 2 of three people and the recovery of Carl's fishing gear. 19-year-old Kalianna Gilkey-Sorensen, 20-year-old Brady Anderson-Vierra, and 56-year-old Kelly Crawford were all charged with Theft by Receiving.

Carl's war memorabilia remained missing, and deputies came to believe that the parties responsible for the theft were 41-year-old Soren Sorensen [pictured] of Glide and another man only identified as "Matt."

Soren Sorensen and Matt have not yet been located, and DCSO asks that anyone with information on the location of the campaign ribbons, knives, or either of the suspects contact the Sheriffs Office at 541-440-4471 or by email. Anonymous information can also be left on the Sheriffs Office Tip Line, 541-957-2099.

Major General Carl reportedly had 18.5 "enemy kills" to his credit while flying combat missions, and later served as a test pilot, flying with other notable veterans such as General Chuck Yeagar and setting a world airspeed record in 1947. When Carl was killed during the 1998 robbery, his obituary appeared in the New York Times.

Carl grew up on a dairy farm in the town of Hubbard, Oregon.
Theres nothing to see across Okanagan Lake right now, except for smoke, as this photo from the Kelowna Yacht Club area shows.
A file photo shows what is believed to be a launcher of the FL-3000N missile, which is now the backbone of the PLAs coastline shield against potential threats from neighboring countries. Photo: Wikimedia

It has been revealed that platoons of seamen and technicians from the Peoples Liberation Armys three theater commands were called up for an air defense and anti-missile exercise in the East China Sea last week to extend air defense from inland to littorals and open sea for greater guarantee of national security.

The PLA Daily reported that more than 10 corvettes randomly chosen from the naval fleet participated in exigent deployments to fend off anti-ship missiles, in preparation should hostilities break out between China and potential belligerents such as Japan or the regiments of US troops stationed there.

PLA interceptors based on existing ship-borne anti-air missiles were reportedly tested in the drill.

If the first round of interception failed, the vessels [carrying these interceptors] must adjust [their] position in no time so as to launch another bid, the paper said.

The main gun of the Meizhou fires at targets during last weeks exercise in the East China Sea. Photo: PLA Daily

The 1,500-ton Meizhou of the navys South Sea Fleet, a Type 056 corvette fitted with the YJ-83 anti-ship missile as well as the Flying Leopard-3000N surface-to-air missile that is modeled on the HQ-10 (Red Flag-10) system, shot down an incoming anti-ship missile on the first attempt.

The FL-3000N missile, usually fully automatic without the need for human intervention, utilizes a combined guidance system that incorporates both passive radio frequency and imaging infrared guidance as a fire-and-forget weapon. Developed and manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the missiles hit range is more than 9 kilometers for subsonic targets and 6km for supersonic targets.

The Tongren of the same class with the East Sea Fleet deliberately missed the first attempt to shoot down a mock missile but destroyed the target and decoys with an immediate follow-up launch of an interceptor rocket, according to the PLA Daily.

Earlier this month, the PLA held another drill in the Yellow Sea.

This article was originally produced and published by atimes.com. View the original article at
ROSEBUEG, Ore. -- A Douglas County judge on Monday morning ruled against a teenager accused of killing three members of his foster family.

Lawyers for Kevin Adams, 16, said his case should be tried in juvenile court. The judge disagreed, pointing out that the case was never in juvenile court, and the charges were too serious.

Adams' attorneys say they'll petition the Oregon Supreme Court to get his case moved.

Adams was arrested in November at his home near Lookingglass where his foster mother, foster sister and biological sister were found shot dead.

Officials say Adams confessed to killing the victims.

He'll be back in court in October and his trial is scheduled for February.
NORTH BEND, Ore. -- The man who stole a plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington before being killed in a fiery crash used to own a bakery in North Bend with his wife.

Richard Russell, 29, and his wife, Hannah, once owned Hannah Maries Artisan Breads and Pastries in the coastal Oregon city.

Most people KEZI spoke with in North Bend said they remember Hannah more than they remember Russell. They said Hannah mostly ran the bakery, occasionally with help from Russell.

But none of them ever thought there was anything off about him until they heard about what happened over the weekend.

Authorities said the ground service agent with Horizon Air stole the plane from Sea-Tac Friday evening before crashing it on a nearby island. He was killed in the crash.

The FBI and NTSB are investigating.

Russell's conversations with air traffic control during the flight have now been heard around the world.

"Just a broken guy whose got a few screws loose, Russell said while piloting the stolen plane. I guess I never really knew it until now."

One former bakery customer, Herb Yussim, said Richard also went by the name Beebo.

Yussim said when he heard that name on the news it was a shock to him.

He seemed to be a normal guy, Yussim said. Then I saw it on the news. At first I thought, Beebo, I know that name, Beebo. But that couldnt be him. Then I saw his picture again, and it was like, oh my, it was him! But I thought, he was never crazy.

The World newspaper reports that Russell used to be a leader at Young Life youth ministries in Coos Bay.

According to a number of other reports, Russell moved from Alaska to Coos Bay to attend school, where he met his wife in 2010.

They got married in 2011 and ran that bakery until 2015 when they moved to Seattle for Russell to take his job with Horizon Air.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Seven ships loaded with wheat grown in the Pacific Northwest are sailing for Yemen, where civil war has pushed over 8 million people to the brink of starvation. The U.S. Agency for International Development purchased the wheat to benefit America's wheat farmers and people in crisis.

Two Oregon politicians, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and Republican state Rep. Mike McLane, said in a joint statement they're proud to see Oregon wheat being used in one of America's most effective peacebuilding tools, its Food for Peace program.

At a Friday news conference in Portland, Stephen Anderson of the U.N.'s World Food Program said the wheat will provide much-needed relief.

Darren Padget, a wheat farmer from Grass Valley, Oregon, said he's pleased the wheat is going to the needy.
A third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be held in Pyongyang in September, officials from both sides told reporters after cross-border talks Monday.

Ri Son-gwon, the chairman of North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, told reporters, "The schedule is now fixed... But we decided not to announce the exact date to keep you guessing."

But Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said, "The two sides agreed to have further negotiations on the specific date later depending on various factors." Asked why his announcement differed from Ri's, Cho said, "The two sides only agreed on 'a date sometime in September.'"


Documents submitted to the Environment Ministry reveal that BMW knew about defects in the exhaust gas recirculation module in March 2017, 14 months before recalling affected cars in June this year over a series of spontaneous engine fires.

According to a status report obtained by Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Shin Bo-ra of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee on Monday, the German automaker informed the government in March 2017 that problems with the EGR were detected in 2,412 BMW 535d and other diesel models.

In the report, BMW said blockages appear to be forming in the internal valves in the EGR cooling system. Asked by the Environment Ministry to provide a detailed explanation of the defect, BMW submitted additional document last October, saying that coolant fluid from the EGR could leak into the exhaust valves and result in blockages by causing soot on the surface of the cooling system.

It added that in rare cases the EGR cooling system would not be able to withstand the heat and rupture.

That is the same reason it gave recently for the cause of 520ds catching fire in Korea. The EGR cooling system in the two models is the same.


ZUMBROTA, Minn.  Authorities are investigating the death of a child after a swing set collapsed.

The Zumbrota Police Department says it was called to a home at 10:12 am Monday for the death of a four-year-old child. The child was apparently swinging on the swing set when it collapsed on top of the child.

Police say Zumbrota Area Ambulance Service responded within minutes and North Air Care was simultaneously dispatched. Officers say lifesaving efforts were exhausted at the scene.

The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiners Office is investigating this death.

The Zumbrota Police Department says it would like to thank the Zumbrota Area Ambulance Service, North Air Care, and the Goodhue County Sheriffs Office for their assistance in this matter.
ZUMBROTA, Minn.- At least 72 people are showing signs of being sickened by a waterborne illness at the Shades of Sherwood Campground, according to The Minnesota Department of Health.

But, the owner of the campground and those who are long term campers say The Department of Health hasn't even come out to test the water. The owner of the campground says that these are not actual confirmed cases. He says the 72 people are just people who called saying they were suffering from symptoms of Cryptosporidium or E.Coli which happen to be the same symptoms of many common sicknesses, like the flu or food poisoning.

"It worries us because we like this place so well and we've been here so long." Linda Baier and her husband have been living at the shades of sherwood for 28 years. "I personally don't know of anybody that has gotten sick yet." She says if anyone would get sick...it would be her or her great grandson who spends most of his summer there. "Because we're down in all 3 parts of the water and we've never gotten sick."

The owner, Mike Thorson says he's frustrated with the numbers being put out by The Department of Health. "The number that they're putting out there of 72 people have not been confirmed cases. These are just people that they've talked to on the phone that have said they've been sick and also stayed at Shades of Sherwood Campground...it feels like The Health Department is doing as much damage as possible because they sit on these press releases and wait to issue them until right be fore the weekend every time when we're the busiest and when it does the most damage and chaos to our business."

And it is in fact hurting his business "Since these releases that they keep putting out, we've seen our numbers cut in half for every one of these weekends moving forward."

Linda says she hopes its all sorted out soon because to her this is more than a campground, it's a home. "This is a lovely place its a fantastic place. I don't know what we'd do if something happened...we have no where else to go!"

Mike says he has followed several of the recommendations by The Department of Health. They have hyper chlorinated the pool to kill any existing Cryptosporidium, posted safe swimming signs that require swimmers to sign a paper saying they have not been sick before swimming, and closed the man made pond for the time being.
ELDORA, Iowa  A father accused of holding his son prisoner under the stairs is pleading not guilty.

Alex Craig Shadlow, 30, and Traci Lynn Tyler, 39, are charged with 1st degree kidnapping. Authorities say the two forced Shadlows biological son to stay locked up in a six foot by six foot area under the basement stairs of their Ackley home.

Shadlow entered a not guilty plea Monday. No trial date has been set. Tyler pleaded not guilty on August 6 and will stand trial on September 10.

According to court documents, Shadlow and his girlfriend Tyler kept Shadlows son locked in a 6x6 unlighted area under the basement stairs. Authorities say the boy was kept in the makeshift cell for nine hours or more each day, being released each morning to attend the school across the street from Shadlow and Tylers home.

Law enforcement says the boy was not allowed out from under the stairs to use the bathroom and was given a small tin coffee can instead. Authorities say he was also forced to sleep on the cement floor without a mattress, pillow, or blanket. In addition, Shadlow and Tyler reportedly told the boy that a dog had died or was buried in the space in the space under the stairs.

Tyler is also accused of hitting the boy repeatedly with the handle of a fly swatter and urging her dog to bite and attack the boy. Shadlow and Tyler are also accused of depriving the boy of food.

Authorities say the boy suffered permanent scarring on his back and limbs from the abuse and has shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The boy was removed from Shadlows home after teachers reported he showed low body weight, had hair falling out in patches, and repeatedly demonstrated what is described as food-seeking. A teacher said the boy eventually said he was locked under the stairs after school each day and not released until the next morning. A Department of Human Services worker made an unannounced visit to the home, photographed the enclosure under the basement stairs, and reported that Tyler admitted they locked the boy in there.

1st degree kidnapping in Iowa is a class A felony, punishable by life in prison without possibility of parole. This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation with the assistance of the Ackley Police Department, Hardin County Sheriffs Office, and Hardin County Attorneys Office.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa  A man accused of a violent confrontation involving fishing poles is pleading not guilty.

Steven Duane Strand, 68 of Forest City, is charged with 1st degree burglary, assault, assault on a peace officer, and driving while revoked. The Worth County Sheriffs Office says the charges stem from an incident on June 29 when Strand stole some fishing poles from a Fertile home and punched the man who lived there. Deputies say Strand resisted arrest after they arrived.

His trial is due to start on September 26.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  A gas leak Monday morning caused the temporary closure of Highway 14.

The Rochester Fire Department says it was called to the 3800 block of Highway 14 East just a little after 11 am on a report of a two inch gas line being severed by a construction crew. Fire crews shut down traffic and, with the help of Minnesota Energy Resources, clamped off the damaged line and stopped the leak.

Once the leak was stopped, Highway 14 was reopened and Minnesota Energy Resources went to work fixing the line and restoring gas service.

No one was injured in this incident. The Olmsted County Sheriffs Office assisted at the scene.
OSAGE, Iowa - The Mitchell County Veterans Affairs is looking to help veterans hear better through a new government program called "Heroes with Hearing Loss."

A company called Hamilton CapTel is allowing veterans to have a choice between two different phones that can allow those with hearing loss to hear and read word for word captions of phone conversations. Veterans can get these phones free of charge as long as they're certified by a doctor, audiologist or veteran services officer.

Larry Klemesrud is the Director of Mitchel County Veterans Affairs and is also a veteran himself, having served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era. He says since he got the information in last Thursday, he's already reached out to two people, with one of them strongly interested in the program. He predicts more will be interested as well.

"A veteran wants anything for free. And I imagine some of the spouses might be a little bit more...put a little more pressure on the veteran to come up and get it, at least have it."

In addition, he says the program is one way to help veterans.

"The important thing is if it helps a veteran, if they qualify for it...then by all means get it for them and do all we can."

Hearing loss is the number one service related injury affecting veterans. According to recent studies by the U.S. Department of Defense Hearing Center of Excellence, 60% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan come home with tinnitus and hearing loss.
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa  Authorities are investigating overnight burglaries to two Clear Lake businesses.

The South Shore Donut Co. in Clear Lake posted on Facebook Tuesday that its front door was smashed, 10 pounds of hamburger was stolen along with hot dogs and chips. The business is located at 1205 S. Shore Dr. Owners John and Whitney Mixdorf said that the store will be closed Wednesday and will reopen Thursday morning.

In addition, Randy's Neighborhood Market on 1st Avenue South had a front window shattered, though there was nothing taken.

Assistant Manager Zach Majerczyk said that the window has since been replaced, though customers haven't noticed much of a difference.

"Most people don't. In fact, I've been talking to some of them, they don't even realize that the window is clear now. It doesn't have any decals or stickers that it once had."

He adds that Clear Lake is not exactly a place where break-ins and vandalism typically happen.

"It's a fairly quiet town, so you don't expect it at all."

Clear Lake police said Tuesday that an investigation is underway and no arrests have been made.

Police said the vandalism happened sometime overnight.
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP)  Authorities say a man convicted in a 1996 northeast Iowa slaying has died in a state prison facility.

The Iowa Corrections Department said Monday that Robert Richey died of natural causes at 9:40 a.m. Sunday at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville. He was 74.

Richey had been housed there because of chronic illness.

He was sentenced to life in prison after his conviction for the shotgun killing of a Garner city councilman, Don Larkin Jr. Authorities say Larkin had been dating Richey's former wife.
MASON CITY, Iowa  Getting caught with meth is sending a North Iowa man to jail for three months.

Brian Lee Kiefer of Mason City was arrested on April 30. He pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine-2nd offense and was sentenced Monday to 94 days in Jail. Kiefer will also have to pay a $625 fine.

Mason City police say Kiefer confessed to delivering the drug to someone else.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A man arrested for stealing from an old cement plant will not be going to prison.

Justin Laroy Dutcher, 41 of Mason City, reached a deal with Cerro Gordo County prosecutors where he entered a guilty plea to attempted 3rd degree burglary and possession of burglars tools. In exchange, Dutcher will serve two years of supervised probation and must pay restitution to the owners of the Holcim cement plant in Mason City.

Police say Dutcher was caught on January 11 with electrical wire and other equipment from the plant.
The government last November killed a drive by the Park Geun-hye administration to establish a chair of Korean studies at Columbia.

According to documents Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Cheong Yang-seog called in from the Foreign Ministry on Monday, the government had been seeking to set up a Korea chair at Columbia since Park visited the U.S. in September 2015.

Columbia president Lee Bollinger had asked the Korean government to help create the position amid growing demand for Korean courses in addition to economic and diplomatic exchange programs, and the government here wanted to counter the growing influence of Japanese studies at U.S. universities.

Columbia secured US$2.5 million in funding, and negotiations were held over which of its schools would host the chair. Initial plans were to it set up in the School of International and Public Affairs.

Columbia, citing internal disagreements, instead proposed the School of East Asian Languages and Cultures, but the government rejected that proposal and the plan was eventually scrapped.

The Foreign Ministry says there are already three Korean chairs at the school and there was no reason to create another. But there are suspicions that the plan was simply scrapped because the government wants to overturn everything the last administration did amid a huge public backlash against Park, especially her often bizarre cultural policies.

Earlier this year, the government also cut off funding for the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, the only think tank in Washington specializing in Korean affairs. The only reason seems to have been that the institute resisted pressure from Cheong Wa Dae to replace its right-leaning chief.


MASON CITY, Iowa  A North Iowa woman has changed her plea in a drug case.

Maggie Jean Abben, 30 of Mason City, entered guilty pleas Monday to a controlled substance violation and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. Maggie and Travis Abben were arrested on January 10 after law enforcement said they found 147 grams of marijuana and 10 methamphetamine pills in their home.

Travis Abben pleaded guilty to prohibited acts and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. He was given five years of supervised probation.

Maggie Abbens sentencing is scheduled for October 11.
MITCHELL COUNTY, Iowa  A man who Mitchell County authorities searched for Monday in a corn field was found with a bottle of whiskey and had a blood-alcohol level of .223.

Mitchell County Sheriff Greg Beaver said authorities responded to a vehicle accident at 12:15 p.m. Monday and attempted to locate the person for a welfare check due to potential injuries.

At around 8 p.m., Joseph Seltun was taken into custody at Cameo Ave. and 440th St. northwest of St. Ansgar. He was found around two miles from the crash scene.

According to the criminal complaint, blood stains were found in the vehicle and Seltuns phone was pinged in a corn field. A K9, drone and emergency notifications were used in the search.

Seltun told me that he had seen the drone in the field but did not come out, the criminal complaint states. Seltun admitted to me that he had a bottle of whiskey in the field and was sitting down drinking it.

Seltun has been charged with public intoxication, leaving the scene of an accident and interference with official acts.

Beaver said the Mitchell County notification system played a large role in locating Seltun. Beaver said a citizens report led to finding Seltun.

Thats been a great tool for us, Beaver said.
ROCHESTER, Minn.- An idea being implemented in our area is aiming to help local students in need find free wi-fi in local restaurants and shops. For the last three years, the Rochester-Olmsted youth commission has taken four students to Washington DC for the National League of Cities Congressional conference.

Students there got the idea to create a wi-fi map for students.

It's called the homework gap map .

The Youth Commission is in the preliminary stages of developing the map and are currently searching for businesses to offer a free space and wifi for students.

Isabella Dunbar and Sandy Kumar are high school seniors and members of the Youth Commission.

She believes this map will help students complete their homework on time.

A lot of homework now is using google classroom and is necessary to turn things in even before the next day and if you dont have access to the internet it's almost automatically late, said Dunbar.

Kumar wants to connect with you if you are a business looking to offer a space for students to use their wifi.

You can email Mary Gorfine, the Youth Commission adivsor. Her email gorfine.mary@co.olmsted.mn.us or Sandhya Kuma kumarsandhya@live.com

They plan to create pamphlets of the map to hand out in schools and other locations.
More on the Mollie Tibbetts search.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP)  Investigators searching for a University of Iowa student who vanished last month are launching a new website to generate tips from potential witnesses.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation unveiled FindingMollie.Iowa.gov at a news conference Monday.

Mollie Tibbetts has been missing since July 18, when the 20-year-old was last seen jogging in her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Her disappearance has sparked an enormous search involving local, state and federal authorities and volunteers.

Assistant DCI Director Mitch Mortvedt says investigators are considering all scenarios but that it's "possible that Mollie has come into contact with someone who has caused her harm." He asked the public to report information about anyone who has recently displayed odd behaviors.

The site seeks tips from people who were in specific Brooklyn locations on July 18, including a car wash and a truck stop.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A Coralville woman is set to stand trial for punching a Cerro Gordo County jailer in the face.

Misty Lea Whitecotton, 40, pleaded not guilty Monday to assault on person engaged in certain occupations resulting injury. She was arrested in Clear Lake on July 2 for public intoxication and authorities say while Whitecotton was being moved to another cell, she struck a county correctional officer in the face with a closed fist. The jailer suffered a black eye with swelling and redness.

Whitecottons trial is due to being on November 6.
Supply of cold in the summer and heat in the winter: A hotel and two office buildings in Bonn use an underground aquifer for this purpose. (Photo: Paul Fleuchaus, KIT)



In this years record summer, everybody wishes to have a cooled home or office. But air conditioning systems consume a lot of energy and are far from being environmentally compatible. Researchers of the GeoSpeicher.bw project coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are studying alternatives with a reduced energy consumption. These include storage and later retrieval of heat and cold in underground water-bearing layers, so-called aquifers.

In a new project, they evaluate the efficiency of one of the largest aquifer-based geothermal facilities in Europe and the only one of this kind in Germany. Since 2009, an underground aquifer storage system has supplied the Kameha Grand hotel and two office complexes in a newly developed district of Bonn with cold in the summer and heat in the winter. The system supplies up to 80% of the heat and cold of the buildings of about 60,000 m in area, says Steffen Groe from EcoVisio GmbH, the responsible utility company. As compared to conventional energy supply, energy consumption of this geothermal facility is lower by about 1700 MWh every year. CO2 emissions are reduced by 400 tons annually.

The aquifer storage system in Bonn supplies up to 80% of the heat and cold in three buildings covering a total area of 60,000 m. (Photo: Paul Fleuchaus, KIT)

We are very lucky to have this facility in Bonn, says Professor Philipp Blum of KITs Institute of Applied Geosciences (AGW). We have access to data covering a period of nearly ten years and, hence, can study various aspects ranging from energy efficiency to building technology. Steffen Groe and his colleagues hope that scientific data analysis will result in an optimization of the system. Due to the changing climate, we partly have to start cooling the buildings in March already, he reports. Within the GeoSpeicher.bw project, we cooperate with geologists and experts for energy and building technologies to derive the best possible operation mode under the changed boundary conditions in the future.

Conventional geothermal heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular in Germany. About 350,000 systems are installed in new buildings in particular. These geothermal heat pumps are mainly used for heating in winter, says Philipp Blum. Aquifer storage systems, by contrast, can do both: cooling in summer and heating in winter, he points out. Paul Fleuchaus, doctoral researcher of AGW, adds: When constructing new buildings in Germany, hardly anybody considers energy supply by aquifer storage systems. This is different in the Netherlands, he says. There, more than 2800 systems are operated successfully. Due to their large capacity, aquifer storage systems are suited in particular for large buildings, such as museums, hospitals, office buildings, or hotels. Also in residential areas, aquifer storage systems combined with local heat networks can be used. In the Netherlands, the technology is also applied for industrial complexes, such as greenhouses or computing centers. According to calculations of the scientists, a return on investment is often reached after two to ten years already.

The scientists of the project GeoSpeicher.bw say that thanks to the geological conditions, a number of regions in Germany and Europe, but also worldwide are suited for aquifer-based geothermal energy supply. The experts of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the universities of Heidelberg and Stuttgart, and the universities of applied sciences in Biberach and Offenburg also study heat and cold storage with the help of tunnel systems, such as the Rosensteintunnel in Stuttgart.

We expect energy consumption for air conditioning systems to increase by a factor of 33 by 2100, says Paul Fleuchaus. The recent collapse of the power grid in parts of California shows that this can be managed with neither the existing grid nor conventional energy carriers, he says. To identify alternatives, technical analyses are accompanied in the project GeoSpeicher.bw by studies relating to public acceptance and current legislation. In the Netherlands, we found that close cooperation of authorities, scientists, the public, and utility companies is very effective, Fleuchaus says.

More information:



https://www.kit.edu/kit/pi_2017_005_geothermie-den-sommer-im-winter-ernten.php (in German only)

http://exhibition.klimaexpo.nrw/projects-pioneers/hotelkameha.html

https://www.energieagentur.nrw/geothermie/geothermie/energiekonzept-fuer-das-kameha-grand-hotel-in-bonn (in German only)

Current Publication

Fleuchaus et al.: Worldwide application of aquifer thermal energy storage  A review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, volume 94, October 2018, Pages 861-876. Abstract online unter: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118304933

Details about the KIT Climate and Environment Center: http://www.klima-umwelt.kit.edu/english/index.php

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,600 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 23,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 14 (Reuters) - South Africa mines minister said on Tuesday he was concerned by bullion miner Gold Fields' plan to cut around 1,100 jobs without due regard to processes outlined in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.

Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said some companies were not meaningfully engaging with the department on their restructuring plans but "only brief us as a mere formality or tick-box exercise."

Gold Fields said it would cut around 30 percent of its workforce at its South Deep mine, soon after Impala Platinum announced plans to slash about a third of its workforce.

(Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg Editing by James Macharia)

Messaging: tanisha.heiberg.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
(Recasts on comment from union, changes date in dateline)

By Antonio De la Jara

Aug 14 (Reuters) - The union at the world's largest copper mine, Escondida in Chile, has called off a strike planned to start on Tuesday after agreeing to extend talks with operator BHP for another day.

The announcement early on Tuesday comes amid fears of a repeat of last year's strike at Escondida, which jolted markets and dampened economic growth in Chile as it dragged on for 44 days. The extension follows five days of closely-watched talks over pay at the mine that have been mediated by the government of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

"We've managed to clear up the points that had stalled the negotiation. But there are still some important points to be resolved," the union said in a short statement, without giving further detail.

Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP also said in a statement that it had agreed to extend talks with the union through Tuesday.

In its last known offer more than two weeks ago, BHP offered a signing bonus of about $18,000, plus separate bonuses intended to buy out clauses in a previous contract that allowed for housing benefits and a loan program.

The total package was valued at $27,700, including a salary increase of 1.5 percent.

But the union had asked for a signing bonus almost double that offered by the company, and had requested a salary increase of 5 percent, leaving a wide gap between the two sides.

The union said it would have to take any potential deal on Tuesday back to its members for approval.

Escondida produced 925,400 tonnes of copper last year.

On Monday, the union at Chile's Caserones copper mine said it was also postponing a strike over a new labor contract in order to continue government-mediated talks with management through Thursday.

(Reporting by Antonio de la Jara Writing By Mitra Taj Editing by Marguerita Choy and Joseph Radford)
* Share price falls around 5 percent* Company maintains full-year output guidance* Expects decision on $1.3 bln mine expansion by year-end* No labour contract negotiations expected until next year

(Adds detail, CEO quotes)

By Barbara Lewis

LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Chilean copper producer Antofagasta said first-half core earnings fell 16.2 percent from a year earlier, citing weaker ore quality, and said trade tensions clouded the broader market outlook in the short term.

Its share price was down by 5.4 percent by 0913 GMT, while the broader sector was 0.8 percent lower.

Antofagasta maintained full-year guidance for its own output of 705,000-to-740,000 tonnes, saying it will mine higher grade ore for the rest of this year and into next year.

It has also restored production at its Los Pelambres operation following a pipeline blockage that disrupted first-half output. The company cited "considerable market uncertainty with the outcome of current international trade negotiations unclear," although it said the longer term prospects for copper were favourable.

Copper prices have fallen by around 15 percent this year, dragged lower by tension between the United States and China over trade and doubts about demand from China, the world's biggest commodity consumer.

CEO Ivan Arriagada said in a telephone interview he still saw strong Asian demand for a metal needed for increased electrification and construction and said Antofagasta was investing in new supplies.

The board is expected to decide by the end of this year on a $1.3 billion expansion project at its flagship Los Pelambres mine, he said.

While the focus is on investing in production, the company has divested power assets as it strives to manage costs.

"It is more and more appropriate for third parties to develop infrastructure," Arriagada said, citing its sale of electricity transmission lines announced in July. Analysts Bernstein, which rates Antofagasta "outperform", said in a note it continued to like copper in general and specifically Antofagasta as a copper-focused company poised to benefit from expected strong demand over the medium to long term.

It said the main risks were specific to Chile -- including options for investment in new supply and labour issues.

Antofagasta has successfully concluded contract negotiations with its unions and Arriagada said no more were scheduled until the second half of next year.

On Monday, the union at Escondida in Chile, operated by BHP , called off a strike planned to start on Tuesday after agreeing to extend talks for another day. Last year, a 44-day strike at Escondida, the world's largest copper mine, jolted markets and eroded Chile's economic growth.

(Additional reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Adrian Croft)

Reuters Messaging: barbara.hm.lewis.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
"All UN member states are required to implement Security Council resolutions," he added. "Sanctions will remain in place until North Korea takes concrete and verifiable steps toward denuclearization."

"I'm aware that South Korea has investigated and will take some kind of action against those entities that are involved in that," Harris said.

New U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris on Monday said Washington is watching what action Seoul will take over recent illegal shipments of North Korean coal in breach of UN Security Council sanctions.

Harris' remarks reflect the worries of some U.S. officials that Seoul is taking the lead in easing sanctions on North Korea. Since a tip-off from the U.S. Embassy last October about the illegal shipments, Washington has refrained from mentioning the issue directly.

Asked about the matter, a U.S. State Department spokeswoman only said South Korea is "a faithful and reliable partner in the maritime implementation of UN Security Council resolutions" and that the two countries "work closely together on North Korea issues, and remain in close contact."

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom on Aug. 8 accused the media of continuing "negative reports" on the issue even though Washington trusts the South Korean government.

White House national security adviser John Bolton said on Aug. 7 after a conversation with his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong, "They've been cooperating fully with us, and they'll do what's appropriate under South Korean law, including prosecution."

But he warned the U.S. has also "looked at ways to increase enforcement of the existing sanctions, not yet putting new sanctions on but making sure the existing sanctions are not evaded."

In an interview with Voice of America the following day, Ted Poe, the chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, called for third-party sanctions even against South Korean companies if they are involved in illegal imports of North Korean coal.

Meanwhile, Harris said it is "too early" to declare a formal end to the Korean War, another issue where Washington fears Seoul is getting ahead of itself.

"With regard to the end-of-war declaration, I think it's in the early days. Yet it's too early for that even as we seek improvement in relations between the North and the South and between the North and the United States."

He reiterated Washington's position that it will be possible only if Pyongyang takes tangible measures toward denuclearization, including submitting a list of its nuclear and missile programs and a timetable on a denuclearization process.


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The descendants of independence fighters during the Japanese occupation have been granted Korean citizenship.

The Justice Ministry in a ceremony at government headquarters in Gwacheon southern Seoul awarded citizenship to 31 overseas-born descendants of a dozen independence fighters.

They include descendants of Heo Wi and Gye Bong-woo.
Navajo Code Talkers Day, August 14





Shortly after the United States entered World War II, the Marine Corps began recruiting and training Navajo men to develop and use an unbreakable military code based on their language.



Navajo Code Talkers - Image courtesy of US Department of the Interior



Fighting in the battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Tinian and Saipan, Navajo Code Talkers saved lives by signaling enemy movements, transmitting orders and coordinating attacks under fire.



Navajo Code Talker Keith Little - Image courtesy of US Department of the Interior


Court experts sift fact from fiction

From:Shine | 2018-08-14 01:29

Shanghaiprosecutors have recruited six psychologists to serve as human lie detectors in difficult cases.

The psychologists question and observe the behavior of suspects, and their findings are given to prosecutors for reference. Over the past year, these experts have been involved in nearly 100 cases, prosecutors say.

Chen Zheying, from Changning District Peoples Procuratorate, is one of these experts.

In one case assigned to Chen, a university graduate identified as Xiaoqi filed a lawsuit against a businessman surnamed Liu, accusing him of raping her. Xiaoqi said Liu approached her with a job offer in May last year. According to Xiaoqi, Liu said the interview would take place in a hotel room, but when they met in person Liu covered her head with a pillow and sexually assaulted her.

Liu claimed that he did not force the young woman to have sex, and presented WeChat messages between the two which seemed to support this story.

Chen designed a set of questions to test the claims of Liu and Xiaoqi. Based on their answers and reactions to these questions, Chen concluded that Liu was lying. Liu later admitted to his guilt in court.

Chen also consulted on a smuggling case against a woman accused of evading more than 310,000 yuan (US$45,052) in taxes on luxury goods bought in South Korea. The woman claimed she had been directed to the non-declaration channel at Hongqiao Airport, and as surveillance tapes of her arrival had been destroyed, there was no evidence to challenge this claim.

Chens assessment again concluded that the suspect was lying. The accused smuggler later admitted to lying to police and confessed her guilt in court.
By Kim Jae-kyoung, Park Hyong-ki



MBK Partners, a local private equity giant, seemingly wants to sell ING Life Insurance before the end of the year after holding onto the insurance company for five years, multiple sources said Tuesday.



Shinhan Financial Group has been in talks with the firm to acquire ING since April when it filed a public disclosure that it is considering the acquisition.



However, a Shinhan spokesman said it was not "near closing the deal." Weber Shandwick, a public relations agency representing MBK only said both sides were "negotiating," without giving more details.



A Shinhan official told The Korea Times earlier that the two sides were currently deadlocked over the value of ING  the deal could be valued at 2 trillion won ($1.8 billion). Morgan Stanley is lead-managing the sale.



"Negotiations are underway, and price is the most critical issue," the official said, asking not to be named.



"But since MBK is a private equity firm and focuses on price, there is little flexibility in negotiations," he added.



MBK holds a 59.15 percent stake in the insurance company. ING went public in 2017, after MBK failed to unload it from its portfolio.



The firm has been seeking to sell ING since 2016. Potential Chinese buyers including China Life Insurance and China Taiping Insurance were supposedly interested at the time, but the deal fell through amid a diplomatic conflict between Korea and China over a U.S. antimissile battery deployment.



Private equity firms usually seek to sell their assets five years after acquisition to deliver maximum returns to their investors.



MBK bought ING Life Korea from ING Group for 1.8 trillion won in 2013. The firm is also apparently anxious to sell it before the deadline to use the ING brand expires this year. ING recently decided to change its name to Orange Life, pending approval from MBK.



Given there are no other interested buyers for ING, a person familiar with the talks said MBK is "hoping to keep negotiating" with Shinhan Financial.



Previously, KB Financial had shown interest in the insurer, but walked away due to the high asking price.



Another person with knowledge of the deal said MBK also wanted to unload ING as it had "too many" assets in its portfolio, which also need to be sold for its investors.



If Shinhan acquires ING's assets and debts, it would boost the value of the group, which has been seeking to increase the competitiveness of its nonbanking assets such as insurance and investment banking.



Analysts remain neutral about Shinhan Financial buying the shares in ING, even though the insurer is attractive given it has the industry's highest reserves measured by risk-based capital (RBC) ratio at 438 percent as of June. Regulators require insurance companies to maintain the RBC ratio at around 150 percent.



It could help the group diversify its business, but the question remains as to how it would finance the deal without affecting shareholder value.



"There is a chance Shinhan Financial could affect the value when raising capital to finance the acquisition," said Yoo Seung-chang, an analyst at KB Securities.



Shinhan Financial has cash and cash equivalents of over 18 trillion won as of the end of March, according to an audit filing. ING has total assets of 31.5 trillion won with debts of 27.9 trillion won as of June.




By Jung Da-min





The Armed Forces will not hold a military parade to mark their 70th anniversary on Oct. 1.







But they will hold a concert, an aerobatic demonstration by the Air Force Black Eagles and a "dronebot" show, among others, the Ministry of National Defense said Monday.







A demonstration of future combat systems by each military branch is also planned.







Seoul's decision not to hold a big parade comes as the two Koreas are warming to each other. They just announced an agreement to hold a summit in Pyongyang in September, the third between President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong-un.







Meanwhile, the North is expected to conduct military parades on Sept. 9 to mark its 70th foundation day but there is speculation the scale may be reduced.







According to the Voice of America, Tuesday, the Aug. 11 satellite images by private satellite company Planet Labs showed what appeared to be a preparatory gathering at Kim Il-sung Square.







The North staged military parades at the same venue on Feb. 8 this year for the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the (North) Korean People's Army.


Beijing warned Friday it was prepared to impose new tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods if Washington ups the ante in the escalating US-China trade war.

The commerce ministry issued a statement saying the new duties would be applied if Washington pulled the trigger on President Donald Trump's threat to raise tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

The statement said China reserves the right to apply "other countermeasures".

"China always believes that consultation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit is an effective way to resolve trade differences," the ministry said.

"Any unilateral threat or blackmail will only lead to intensification of conflicts and damage to the interests of all parties."

The threat came a day after Chinese officials appealed for dialogue based on "mutual respect", with Foreign Minister Wang Yi urging the United States to remain "cool-headed".

US officials said Wednesday that Trump had asked the US Trade Representative to consider increasing the proposed tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25 percent from the planned 10 percent.

Washington and Beijing are locked in battle over American accusations that China's export economy benefits from unfair policies and subsidies, as well as theft of American technological know-how.

Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on virtually all of China's exports to the United States in the tit-for-tat trade conflict. (AFP)
Retired psychologists heal troubled minds

From:Shine | 2018-08-14 02:29

Xu Jinyao, a 69-year-old psychology consultant, works with a patient at the Kashgar Social Welfare Home in Xinjiang. The patients face is blurred to protect his privacy.

Editor's note:

A Shanghai Daily reporter was part of a journalists tour to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to see first-hand how the devotion and experience of senior Shanghai volunteers are making a difference in the lives of people there. This is her second report. To read the whole series, go to shine.cn.

XuJinyao, a 69-year-old psychology consultant from Shanghai, is working for a second summer at the Kashgar Social Welfare Home, which houses a mix of young and old.

It is important to read the body language of children, which I call language behind language, said Xu. Some have scarred hearts and are searching for compassion.

Xu is one of 20 retired professionals from Shanghai working in Xinjiang this summer under a volunteer program that encourages skilled people like her to apply their talents to hardship areas in Chinas west.

The group, which ends its two-month stint later this month, is spread across 10 work units in the city of Karamay, the prefecture of Kashgar and the counties of Yecheng, Shache and Bachu.

Xu is part of a contingent of psychologists.

She helps calm angry elderly people, gets mentally retarded youngsters to open up and instills a sense of self-worth in children who lack self-esteem.

She calls herself a fire captain because of the frequency with which she is called on for crisis intervention.

There are many seniors living here, and some are bad-tempered and act like children, said Zumuret Naimaiti, office director at the home. When they quarrel or fight, Xu steps in to defuse the situation and often helps them resolve disputes.

More than 70 people live in the welfare home. Xu drew up a psychological profile of each one on her first visit in 2015. The files are updated by nursing staff trained by her.

Xu uses specially designed games to observe and record the behavior of children. Pictures they draw help her understand what is lacking in their lives. She uses cartoons to convey messages for them to absorb.

The cartoon pictures are a sort of psychological prescription, she said.

One resident is a 21-year-old surnamed Ma. He was trafficked as a child and lost contact with his family. At 6, he was left homeless. Today is mentally handicapped.

Ma often cried, telling Xu that he sees his mother in his dreams. In a sense, Xu became a surrogate mother, which calmed Ma. He now helps senior residents in the home and does chores about the place.

She also helped a man in his 70s overcome depression by holding long talks with him.

Xu also organizes shows and encouraged children to give performances. These help build their self-confidence and add a bright note to the home environment.

They are like my own children, said Xu, wiping away a tear.

Another psychologist, Ren Guoqian, 63, is working in the Karamay Municipal Peoples Hospital this summer, helping people suffering from anxiety and depression.

The need is great here, said Ren, who formerly worked at the Hongkou District Commission of Health and Family Planning.

One of her patients is a 44-year-old woman whose mother died when she was 11. Her father remarried six days after the death, and relations with him were frozen for the next 16 years. The patient had three failed marriages, suffered from serious depression and had attempted suicide three times.

The scars were deep in her heart, said Ren.

After 10 sessions with Ren, the woman slowly emerged from depression. Her nightmares ceased, and she began to feel positive about life.

She told me before she left that she would be brave for her two children, Ren said. That was a big relief for me.




Korea is providing a lot of opportunities to social science researchers and analysts with various programs. Recently an influential workshop, titled "Korea Workshop for Foreign Residents in Korea" was held last month through the collaboration of the Korea Foundation and East Asia Institute.



The program included distinguished speakers and participants from different institutions and universities. The topics which were discussed during the program were really fascinating and significant to get a better insight about Korean foreign policy.



Ko Young-hwan who worked as a high-ranking official for North Korea and defected to South Korea in 1991 talked about the latest developments on the peninsula. He gave comprehensive information about the daily life of North Koreans and family relations of the Kim dynasty. He addressed the inequality and social injustice to show the current situation of people there.



According to him, the military is the backbone of North Korea, and there is no possibility to make any move against the leadership without the support of the army. In this case, he answered my question on the possibility of a coup. He said there cannot be a civil coup without military support because there is no possibility of a civil uprising since there is no social media use in the country. A military coup is also unexpected because of two important issues  the strong hierarchical formation of the army, and coordination problems during the process.



Another speaker Lee Jae-hyon made a presentation about the relations between Korea and ASEAN. As a middle power, Korea aims to maximize its role in the region with peaceful methods. According to him, the term "Confident Korea" is needed to make the country more active in regional policy. Therefore, all governments should follow this way for establishing a solid and stable posture for Korean foreign policy.



A clear definition of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region should be made, and Korea needs to find its own place among American and Chinese preponderance. He also said the regional classification of Korean foreign policy is important to analyze. For example, the New Asia Initiative was declared during the former President Lee Myung-bak administration in 2009. This time, new regional approaches were presented such as the New Southern Policy which includes ASEAN and India, and the New Northern Policy which comprises Russia, Mongolia, and Eurasia. These are solemn steps for Korea to create an effective foreign policy.



Bae Jong-Yun, similarly defined the main routes of Korean foreign policy by highlighting challenges and opportunities. In his opinion, conservative and progressive strategies were the main dilemma for the foreign policy direction of Korea. On the other hand, the bilateral alliance with the U.S. and multiple bilateral relations with China and Russia stand as other potencies to be accepted by the government. In the case of North Korea, there are two different concepts to be implemented by policymakers such as national security and unification. It can be seen that these variations are occurring in all presidential changes when we analyze all periods from the early 2000s till today. Passive and active foreign policy choices, as well as priority issues, are up to governments.



On the final day, the workshop concluded with the field trips to the War Memorial, the DMZ and Ganghwa Island. The participants had a great chance to learn of the peninsula's turbulent past and they hoped for a peaceful future. This kind of activity has a vital importance for foreign researchers in Korea to make better analyses. This will help to make peace.





Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu (oztarsu@gmail.com) is a Turkish analyst in Seoul.


When it comes to thin-skinned, autocratic, and self-destructive leaders who overreact to Twitter, who comes to mind? Did you say Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the day-to-day leader of that nation?



Didn't think so. But you could.



For months, the 32-year-old bin Salman has promoted his campaign to reform the monarchy and make it more progressive. In June the Saudis touted a monumental symbol of that change: For the first time, women were allowed to drive.



But Saudi authorities also have arrested several prominent activists, many of whom campaigned for the right of women to drive.



Several days ago, Canada's Foreign Ministry called on Riyadh to release those activists, including two who have family in Canada. The blogging brother of one of those activists has been publicly caned for running a liberal website, the New York Times reports.



After Canada tweeted, the Saudis blew a gasket. Big time. The government halted all new trade and investment deals; recalled its ambassador and expelled Canada's; and stopped direct flights to Canada.



The latest attention-grabber: Saudi authorities have yanked some 800 doctors in training in Canada, leaving hospitals a few weeks to scramble to fill the sudden loss. The Saudis are able to recall these students because the government is paying for their educations.



Talk about an Incredible Hulk-like overreaction. This move punishes blameless medical students, who likely will have their educations set back.



The Saudis say that those students can study and prepare in other nations. Maybe so, but that takes time. And we wouldn't be surprised if other countries are leery of accepting students after this episode.



Patients in Canada may suffer too because their care could be disrupted. By the way, some of those patients could be Saudi nationals, because the government often sends its citizens overseas for complicated treatments.



The Saudis demand an apology. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refuses. "Canadians have always expected our government to speak strongly, firmly, clearly and politely about the need to respect human rights at home and around the world. We will continue to do that." We're with our northern neighbors. We hope their leaders continue to speak their minds, albeit politely.



And America's response to this dust-up between two allies? Tepid. The U.S. State Department has scrupulously avoided taking sides, urging the two countries to resolve their differences with the usual sternly worded diplomatic statements.



The Saudis have invited the world to do business with them. But beware, executives: The Saudis are highly allergic to even the mildest criticism of their questionable human rights record. Choose your words, and tweets, carefully. If you're going to ruffle feathers in Saudi Arabia, best to do it in private, where no one else can hear.





The above editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Third summit should focus on denuclearization



The two Koreas have agreed to hold the third summit between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang next month. The agreement is raising expectations that the summitry will break a stalemate in negotiations between North Korea and the United States over how to denuclearize the North.



The planned inter-Korean summit is part of the Panmunjeom Declaration which President Moon and North Korean leader Kim issued at the end of their first meeting at the truce village April 27. It will also come after Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump held their historic summit in Singapore, June 12.



Against this backdrop, the new summit between Moon and Kim will have significant implications in the denuclearization and peace process on the Korean Peninsula. It will be all the more important because the two leaders are required to make a real breakthrough, not only in realizing the dismantlement of the North's nuclear arsenal, but also in bringing reconciliation, peace and prosperity to the divided nation.



If the summit is held as agreed upon in September, it should focus on getting rid of the gridlock in achieving Kim's commitment to the complete denuclearization of the peninsula. To that end, the two leaders need to present concrete plans on how to denuclearize. First of all, Kim must come up with a roadmap and a timeline for giving up his nuclear and missile programs.



In this regard, President Moon will have to play a more active role of mediating between the North and the U.S. to help narrow their differences over the denuclearization process. This will not be easy, given the current impasse. But it is not impossible for him to do so if he exercises his leadership to the best of his ability.



Pyongyang and Washington have yet to take a first step toward scrapping the North's nuclear weapons. The reason is because both sides are poles apart over the methods of denuclearization. The Trump administration wants the North to dismantle its nuclear arsenal first before getting compensation such as security guarantees and the normalization of diplomatic ties.



But the Kim regime still prefers a simultaneous and reciprocal formula, under which the North can get rewards for every step it takes toward denuclearization. It is calling on the U.S. to declare an end to the Korean War, which finished with an armistice, not with a peace treaty, in 1953. Kim seems to consider such a declaration to be the first step toward obtaining a security assurance from the U.S.  eventually with a peace treaty. He is also seeking sanctions relief before denuclearization.



However, Washington is opposing the North's demand, fearing that Pyongyang might renege on its denuclearization commitment after the U.S. declares the war's end. Apparently the Trump administration does not want to play into the hands of Kim without getting anything in return.



This deadlocked situation poses a serious challenge to President Moon who has been trying to take the driver's seat in the peace process. Moon should persuade Kim to take sincere and faithful steps for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. He also must reassure Kim that the North can get the full benefits of peace, coexistence and co-prosperity only after dismantling its nuclear weapons.


By Bernard Rowan





These days, gugak, Korean traditional music, has experienced something of a renaissance. There are several prominent artists. Consumers of Korean culture can enjoy various performances, recordings, and online videos. We can savor a taste of Korea's ancient past and keep it alive today!



I've written before about my favorite form of this music, "jongmyo jeryeak," which as I understand it amounts to Confucian ritual or court music. It is Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 for Korea. The complex but finally satisfying strains of these compositions combine with traditional clothing, instruments, and dance to provide a wonderful experience. I've attended performances at Korea House in Seoul.



Of course, I'd be leading one astray to claim this is the most famous of Korea's traditional music forms. Pansori, a particular kind of folk-singing, holds that title. Itself a complex style of many forms, pansori often features a sole performer intoning ages-old laments, songs of praise, Buddhist hymns, and poems familiar to Koreans. UNESCO has named pansori an intangible cultural property. The films of the famous Im Kwon-taek often feature a performance of pansori or other traditional music.



Korea.net contains a wonderful introduction to Korean traditional music. Wikipedia also provides an excellent survey under the title "Music of Korea."



I recommend checking out an online presentation of "Korea Traditional Music Instruments" at the Google Arts and Culture website. It displays live performances of all the major instruments with helpful descriptions.



Finally, many forms of Korean traditional music appear on Wikipedia's page "Intangible Cultural Property (South Korea)." Each one opens a window to Korea through traditional music.



It might surprise, but traditional music is part of the Korean wave or hallyu. I find several associations devoted to cultivating gugak. They exist in the United States, Canada and elsewhere.



Among popular and noted artists of Korean traditional music, I recommend Kim Jin-hi, whose website forms something of a curriculum itself. Park Ae-ri, Moon Oak-joo, and Ahn Sook-sun are among the major names.



There has been a festival of Korean traditional music held in Seoul for several years called the Yeowoorak Festival at the National Theater. At this year's festival in July, Coreyah, a group that mixes traditional music with present-day rhythms and style, performed.



Ba-Being is another similar group. I think the original or traditional versions of the form continue to need cultivation. It's also wonderful that younger Koreans diffuse the musical forms in fusion mixes.



A recent article by Keith Howard argues that devotees of Korean music must be wary of its death. State support for the art-form, as well as public and private funding and promotion efforts, need to occur.



Support for the arts typically ranks low on the list of public priorities in many countries, but that's not the case in Korea. Both approaches work for the current flourishing of interest in Korean traditional music.



Foreigners like me at first will find the music of Korea sound different, even odd or off. The first time I listened, it sounded to me like squawking birds, a few perhaps under flattening!



Of course, this vulgar prejudice or ethnocentrism reflects ignorance and bias. Western melodies reference analogues of symmetry and harmony. What we think of as "dissonance" has more prominence in Korean traditional music. However, don't think that way! It's a different approach to beauty in sound.



Finally, there is a national center for traditional music called the National Gugak Center. Its website (www.gugak.go.kr) has a wide variety of links for learning more about Korea's traditional music. Located in Seocho-gu, Seoul, this Mecca of culture deserves a visit.



There one can see and hear and touch traditional music and instruments. There are performances and programming to enjoy. Jindo and Busan have branches of the museum. The museum sponsors a "Program for Foreigners" that I'd love to try myself.



Whether Korean or foreigner, try to find and enjoy traditional music. It stays with me even when I'm far from Korea as a source of calm, memory and peace in an often busy and dizzying world.





Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.


By Emanuel Pastreich





I had several hours before the departure of my flight from Incheon International Airport. So I went out searching for a notebook and a pen so I could write down a few ideas for use in my book manuscript. But nowhere could I find anything of use for sale.



All I was confronted with was stores full of expensive designer clothes, or slick handbags, with few or no customers, and manned by women in uncomfortable dresses who looked remarkably bored.



I found liquor stores, and other shops that displayed expensive watches, perfumes and lotions, or electronic devices in their windows. Finally I found something hidden in the corner of a bookstore I could use.



This was not the airport I remember from my visits to the United States before I lived here. The airport back then was not a temple to the consumption of luxury goods. Something has gone terribly wrong.



Yet, if we think about the airport in purely economic terms, in terms of profits, the system makes perfect sense. The profits to be generated from an occasional bored wealthy customer purchasing a luxury watch, or designer dress, far exceed the profits to be made from selling notebooks, or fruit, or sunscreen to ordinary people.



The result is that the culture of the airport has been distorted beyond belief. It has become a shrine to indulgence and idleness that is forced upon us, and which distorts our values.



I stopped at a cafe at a museum in Seoul to read a book soon after that incident and I picked up the magazine that was lying on the parquet table. It was a Chinese glossy fashion magazine featuring sophisticated photographs and layout that was clearly aimed at wealthy Chinese tourists. The magazine focused exclusively on expensive Korean hanbok clothing for women, traditional with some modern variations by contemporary designers.



But the poses adopted by the models shocked me. The women draped themselves on luxurious furniture, taking up suggestive poses while wearing the exquisite hanbok dresses. Their languid expressions exuded an extreme of indulgence and boredom. They lounged around, without any particular point, in neo-classical palaces that could only be read as a tribute to the Versailles of Louis XVI.



But hanbok clothing originally upheld as its ideal modesty and subtlety. It has nothing to do with a celebration of decadence and ennui. The entire Korean tradition has been turned on its head to match the tastes of a limited group of wealthy Chinese tourists. And yet, if we can just forget about the health of Korean culture, that magazine made great sense.



If you could persuade just one wealthy Chinese visitor to purchase just one of these designer hanbok dresses, that would provide more profit than hundreds of books on the history of Seoul or performances of traditional pansori.



Every time we turn on the television we are forced to watch television dramas set in luxurious houses such as most Koreans have never stepped foot in. The discussions about tragic love are carried on in exclusive coffee shops alien to the daily life of Koreans.



But those of us over 50 can remember a day when television dramas and commercials were set in the homes of ordinary middle-class families and it was considered offensive to show off wealth impulsively. It was true in the United States and it was even truer in Korea.



What a tragedy that working young girls, spending an exhausting day standing in a convenience store, are persuaded by such images that they must be rich and bored in order to be fashionable.



One thing is certain: if we do not start to address the concentration of wealth and its dangerous distortion of our culture, we will sow the fields for future political radicalism of a scale we have not seen in our lifetimes.



It is unnecessary to explain how this problem was addressed in the French Revolution, the Paris Commune and other extreme efforts to create a more equitable society by artificial means. I would only suggest that the extremity of the approach employed in those cases resulted in such a tremendous backlash in the next generation that the efforts were more destructive than they were helpful.



Confucianism treats the issue of social and economic equality in a sophisticated manner, with an eye toward the long term. Although the oppressive "feudalistic" class system of the Joseon Dynasty was a reality, we forget the manner in which the king and the yangban families were required to be frugal in their behavior and to refrain from indulgence and waste of the sort witnessed in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.



It goes back to Confucius' suggestion that we "be most concerned about inequity" (). Later followers of his ideals, such as King Sejong, made the question of inequity central. They sought out long-term solutions to the inequity in the economy, not quick fixes.



The question of equality of opportunity in the Confucian sense is explicitly addressed in the preamble to the Korean Constitution   . In a sense, the distortions in society born of such concentrations of wealth can be interpreted as inherently unconstitutional.



The Korean Constitution states: "For each citizen, in the political, economic, and social realms, opportunities should be equal and he or she should be able to realize his or her abilities to the maximum extent. Each citizen should fulfill his or her social responsibilities that follow from his freedom and his rights so as to assure domestically an equal rise in the living standards for citizens"



Trying to undo the radical inequality in our society by pretending it does not exist will lead only to greater extremes, and eventually to violent confrontations.



Giving out handouts of money from time to time to certain groups, without addressing the distortions within our society that create such gaps in the first place, will encourage a dependence on the state that is psychologically unhealthy and that will do little to create a stable society. Rather, a healthy culture of true equality of opportunity must be established. We have not even begun the debate on how we will create such a culture.


Shelley Johnson and Wyatt Coutlee have opened WySh Designs, using the first letters of their names, in downtown Auburn.
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Pickup trucks and SUVs are the cornerstones of the success of Great Wall Motor (hereinafter referred to as GWM). When GWM facing the important period of automobile industry transformation, to plan the layout of the new energy market is the key to its sustainable development. At present, GWM has mapped out a core strategy to invest more in the new energy sector. It aims to obtain a dominant position in the new energy market in the next 3-5 years.

The cooperation with BMW Holding B.V. (hereinafter referred to as BMW) is one of the important measures that GWM to plan the layout of the new energy market and to promote its development. On July 10, witnessed by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the two parties formally signed a framework contract on joint venture (JV) operation in Germany, named the new JV " Spotlight Automotive Ltd. ".

On July 11, Wei Jianjun, Chairman of GWM who flew back to China right after the contract signed the day before, participated in a media conference in the afternoon. The main content of the conference is about the cooperation between GWM and BMW, and to interpret details of the signed contract.

1. About the GWM electric vehicles produced by the JV.

According to the contract, apart from producing the MINI Electric, the new JV will also produce electric vehicles for GWM.

Regarding the producing of the MINI Electric had been confirmed before the signing, electric vehicles produced for GWM will belong to the Spotlight. The new brand, which name is temporarily undecided, will lead GWM to a higher end of the new energy market. In terms of dealer network, the two brands will also adopt different channels. MINI Electric will adopt BMW's existing sales and service channels, while the electric vehicles of the new brand will be sold through GWMs channels.

2. Why is the new JV named "Spotlight"?

Firstly, both BMW and GWM hope to name the JV an independent name without any features of the two companies so as to pursue a more independent development. At the same time, the word "spotlight" can be linked to clean energy, representing the sustainable and positive energy of both parties and the bright future of cooperation.

3. Is the Spotlight has any relations to the Ora?

There are no relations between the two brands, said by the company. First, the Spotlight is a JV between GWM and BMW. The GWM electric vehicles it produced also belongs to the JV, aiming at leading GWM to enter a higher end market. The products produced by Spotlight will base on a new platform, but it will refer to the technical part of Ora. In addition, the first product will be a compact SUV with a maximum cruising range of around 500 kilometers. It will be launched in the first half of 2021.

However, the Ora will be manufactured on the ME platform. The first model will be officially launched in October this year, with a maximum cruising range of 350 kilometers. In addition, in next July, another new product of the Ora will also be introduced to the market.

4. Is the future cooperation scope of the Spotlight limited to electric vehicles?

Perhaps many people regard this cooperation as the result of Dual-credit scheme introduced by the Chinese government. It is a scheme for gasoline cars' fuel consumption and new energy car production. Those automakers who fail to meet the goals will have to buy credits from others or be fined. However, according to the contract, the JV can both conduct the R&D and production of new energy vehicles (NEV) and produce and develop internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. In this regard, Zhao Guoqing, vice president of GWM said, The JV will produce fuel vehicles, but the time is undetermined.

According to the contract, it is a JV that 50% of the shares will be held by GWM and BMW respectively, with a registered capital of 1.7 billion RMB yuan (approx. $252 million) and a total investment of 5.1 billion RMB yuan (approx. $756 million). The registered address is in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province. The city locates in the region of Yangtze River Delta where features developed economy, transportation and sufficient talent reserve. The JV has planned an international advanced vehicle plant with an annual standard capacity of 160,000 vehicles, and the maximum capacity can be expanded to 250,000 vehicles. For the dual-credit distribution, it will also be allocated according to the JV's share ratio of 50% to 50%.

Whether it is forced by the pressure of dual-credit scheme or the trend of resources optimization of the global automobile industry, it is better for GWM to cooperate with BMW, the internationally renowned automobile company, than to act alone in the market. The reason why BMW selected GWM as its world's first BEV joint venture partner is that the sufficient technology experience in the field of vehicle R&D, fuel power, and R&D and manufacturing of the core parts of NEV. With the in-depth cooperation between the two parties in brand building, management system, manufacturing, technology, and R&D, we will accelerate the globalization process and the new energy development of GWM, and become a high-end international brand eventually.
Home  Just In  Modi, Oli to inagurate 400-bed dharmashala in Pashupati

Kathmandu, August 14

Prime Minister KP Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi will inaugurate a 400-bed dharmashala (travelers rest) during the Indian PMs visit to Nepal during the BIMSTEC Summit.

According to officials, Modi and Oli will inaugurate the Indian aid funded dharmashala on August 31.

Indian Prime Minister is to arrive in Kathmandu on August 30 for the two-day summit. According to Pashupati Area Development Committee, the two-and-half storey building with 82 rooms was recently completed.

The committee is yet to decide how to operate he facility and how much to charge pilgrims. The building will also have a dining area for pilgrims.
Home  Just In  Oli-Dahals Nepal Communist Party faces name duplication charge again

Kathmandu, August 14

The legality of ruling Nepal Communist Party formed after the merger of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre has once again been questioned with the Election Commission receiving a complaint that demands the partys registration be scrapped.

Rishi Kattel, who heads a small party with the same name, has filed the application claiming the party jointly led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal attacked his partys existence.

The issue had surfaced while the UML and the Maoist Centre announced the merger in May 2018. However, the Election Commission had made it easy for the ruling party by giving a different acronym.

Whereas Kattels partys acronym is NeKaPa in Nepali, the Commission had given the acronym of Ne.Ka.Pa. (with dots) to the new party.

But now, Kattel claims the dots do not make it different as no one pronounces dots while reading the name.

Meanwhile, Kattel has also accused mass media of promoting the party formed on shaky legal grounds.
Kathmandu, August 14

Roads of the capital will get the privilege of hosting public buses with air conditioning facility for the first time in history, on Wednesday.

Thrift Multipurpose Company is launching the operation of 10 new buses with the brand name of Sambriddhi Yatayat tomorrow. The buses will also boast offline multimedia facilities and wireless internet connection.

Of 10 buses, six will operate along Naya Bus Park  Narayan Gopal Chok  Ratna Park  Tripureshwor  Kalimati  Kalanki  Sitapaila route. The second route for four other buses will begin at Naya Bus Park and move through Chabahil, Airport, Tinkune, Naya Baneshwor, to end at Ratna Park.

We have entered the business with a motive to improve the public transport system. Now, buses to ply major routes of Kathmandu should be big and with various facilities, a promoter of the company says, We believe such buses will free members of the public from difficult travel on small microbuses and minibuses.

Seats of the new buses are comfortable for differently abled people. Likewise, there is space for two wheelchairs as well.
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Anyone hoping to ride a Bird or Lime scooter in Santa Monica is out of luck Tuesday. The two companies took their own fleets offline to protest the possibility they might be shut out of the city's mobility pilot program, putting their future in the city at risk.

"We voluntarily paused service in Santa Monica to demonstrate the community's reliance on our scooters," a Bird spokesperson said, clarifying that the company is not closing up shop.

Bird deactivated its scooters Monday -- calling the action a "Day Without a Scooter" -- and Lime joined it on Tuesday.

Bird and Lime have been the focus of a heated, divisive debate over urban mobility options in Santa Monica, Los Angeles and cities across the nation.

While riders applaud the electronic scooters as a cheap, environmentally-friendly alternative to driving a car around, cities have scrambled to catch up with regulation and accused operators of not doing enough to ensure rider and pedestrian safety.

Santa Monica's Planning and Community Development Department released a memo recently on its Shared Mobility Pilot Program in which the committee ranked the bike and scooter operators that had applied for permits with the city.

Based on seven categories, which included "Experience," "Compliance" and "Parking & Safety," the committee placed Bird 10th out of 12 scooter companies. Lime ranked fourth.

Depending on your preferences, this is either the worst day or the best day of your life: Bird and Lime declare today "A Day Without a Scooter" and have declared Santa Monica a no-ride zone. pic.twitter.com/tsRwxld9Gs  Alissa Walker (@awalkerinLA) August 14, 2018

Because the committee is recommending that only the top-two-ranked operators be allowed to participate in the pilot program, Bird and Lime are worried they'll be left in the dust.

City officials said Bird and Lime "can continue service in Santa Monica under the terms of their current permits through September 16." The pilot program is set to begin Sept. 17 and is expected to run for 16 months.

"Santa Monica is not involved in any decisions that current operators make to stop or suspend service," city spokeswoman Constance Farrell wrote in an email to LAist.

On top of worrying about their uncertain future, Bird and Lime took issue with the companies that did rank No. 1 and 2. The operators recommeded by the committee to be chosen for the program are Lyft and Jump, which is owned by Uber.

"Giving complete control of sustainable transportation alternatives to Uber and Lyft is like giving Exxon and BP a monopoly on solar power," Bird said in an email to customers. "They have every incentive to only minimally operate the less profitable green option and direct customers to their more profitable core business."

Both companies urged riders to show their support for the service by emailing Santa Monica city leaders.

Got separate, sad emails from Bird and Lime about Santa Monica wanting to ban them. Let me pull out my tiny violin. You can't pull the victim card when you start out rogue and operate with a forgiveness-over-permission-mentality.  Yolanda Enoch (@YolandaEnoch) August 14, 2018

Lime sent a similar email to users, asking its supporters to join them for a rally outside City Hall at 5 p.m. Tuesday to tell officials they want the company to stay in the city. Lime also offered an incentive for would-be demonstrators: a $5 credit for "all rides that end near City Hall."

Santa Monica officials are taking public comments regarding the mobility pilot program until 2 p.m. on Aug. 17.

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Rent control could soon be coming to mobile homes -- or rather, the parks the homes sit on.

Residents of mobile homes generally own their physical residence but rent the land where they park the structure. And in the same way apartment rents all over Los Angeles County have skyrocketed in the past few years, so too have rents in mobile home parks.

That's why L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has proposed an ordinance that would effectively bring rent control to mobile home parks in the county's unincorporated areas. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a motion that would limit rent increases in mobile home parks to 3 percent each year.

"It's really about protecting the tenants," Hahn told KPCC/LAist. "If we believe in affordable housing, and we believe in keeping these people from being homeless, we should really protect people who are in our mobile home parks in L.A. County."

Hahn says the issue came to the attention of the board after residents in a Rowland Heights mobile home park reported their ground lease payments were becoming unaffordable.

Notwithstanding this ordinance, there are few tenant protections allotted for mobile home residents in unincorporated L.A. County. Around California, about 100 jurisdictions have rules on the books that are similar to what's being proposed in L.A. County, according to the Mobile Home Park Home Owners Allegiance. That includes the city of Los Angeles and Riverside County.

Mobile homeowners can be particularly vulnerable to rent increases because they can't necessarily just move, even if they want to, Hahn said.

"You can't just pick up and move. Mobile homes, actually, aren't mobile," Hahn said. "They tell me that it costs maybe $60,000 to actually move your mobile home. It's a very expensive proposition. So, what happens, they can't afford the rising rent, they can't afford to actually move their mobile home. So, the landlord sometimes takes ownership of the mobile home, and begins the process all over again."

The ordinance affects about 8,500 mobile home units in the unincorporated portions of L.A. County. It's technically a temporary "interim" ordinance. After 180 days, it will expire unless re-extended. Hahn said that's because their office heard landlords might try to raise rent in advance of a comprehensive rent control law, still in the works.

On the flip side, mobile home park owners and operators worry the ordinance is premature, and that the county should more thoroughly study the extent to which mobile home park residents are rent burdened.

"There's really no need to create a public policy solution for a problem that does not exist," said Jarryd Gonzales, a spokesperson for the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association, which represents mobile home park owners. "We're saying take a wait-and-see approach, as opposed to rushing right in and limiting increases on rent, and going on in with a rent control ordinance."

Rent control could have a lot of unintended consequences that could end up making things worse, Gonzales said.

"If you're limiting the amount of rent increases, makes it harder for a park owner to have a fair rate of return on their investment," said Gonzales. "Because of the unpredictability of the rent increases, it makes it more difficult to want and be able to put in capital improvements to keep the parks up. If park owners are at a place where they're barely making ends meet, they may be forced to close."

Hahn said she understands that concern, but argues that the urgency of L.A.'s homeless problem means the county must do everything in its power to keep people in the homes they already have.

"We're not going to be able to build enough housing, build enough shelters, have enough bridge housing to get people off the streets," said Hahn. "We've got to keep people from falling into homelessness. That has to be a big part of our strategy to us. Stabilizing people's rent is a huge part of how we're tackling homelessness."
Tesla Inc.s board of directors said Tuesday it was forming a special committee to explore Chief Executive Elon Musks desire to take the Palo Alto electric carmaker private even as at least three shareholder lawsuits have been filed alleging he made false and misleading statements about the effort.

And in keeping with the uncertainty that has surrounded the buyout plan from the start  Musk tweeted last week that he had funding secured despite there being no firm deal in place  questions arose Tuesday about whether two financial firms were working as advisors to him.

The committee of three independent directors has not yet received a formal proposal from Mr. Musk to take the public company private nor has it reached any conclusion as to the advisability or feasibility of such a transaction, Tesla said in a statement.

A final decision to proceed with a buyout will require approval by the committee, which has full power to evaluate and negotiate a potential transaction, Tesla said.

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The committee members are Brad Buss, a retired executive at SolarCity Corp. and several other tech firms; Robyn Denholm, chief operations officer at telecom firm Telstra Corp.; and Linda Johnson Rice, chief executive of Johnson Publishing Co.

Musk roiled Tesla and its stock last week by saying on Twitter that he was considering taking Tesla private and that he had the funding to do so at $420 a share.

The Aug. 7 tweet caused Tesla shares to jump 10% that day, but then they declined the rest of the week as questions arose about the likelihood of a deal and whether Musk had violated securities laws by making the public comments.

Tesla stock fell 2.5% Tuesday to $347.64.

The board announcement and a tweet from Musk showed Tesla moving full speed ahead on looking into whether to take Tesla private.

The boards special committee has retained the Latham & Watkins law firm as legal counsel and plans to hire an independent financial advisor to help review any formal proposal. Tesla also said it has retained the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati law firm in connection with a possible going-private move.

Musk tweeted Tuesday he was excited to work with Silver Lake, a technology private equity firm, and investment bank Goldman Sachs Group as financial advisors on the privatization proposal, as well as two law firms  Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Munger, Tolles & Olson  as legal advisors.

But Reuters quoted an unnamed source as saying Silver Lake was offering unpaid assistance and had not officially been hired as a financial advisor. Separately, Bloomberg cited unnamed people as saying Goldman Sachs hadnt formally signed on as a financial advisor.

At least three class-action suits have been filed against Tesla on behalf of company shareholders alleging the company and Musk violated securities laws by making false and misleading statements about the going-private funding. Those statements caused investors who owned the stock from Aug. 7 to Aug. 10 to lose money as Teslas share price declined after the initial jump, the suits allege.

When this fraud began to be disclosed, investors in the companys securities were harmed, said a statement from the Scott and Scott law firm in San Diego after announcing its federal suit.

The Schall Law Firm in Los Angeles said Monday that it had filed one of the suits, noting reports that the Securities and Exchange Commission was looking into Musks statements.

Both the SEC and Teslas board of directors are reportedly investigating Musks tweets on the matter, the firm said in a news release. Because of that, Teslas public statements were false and materially misleading and when the market learned the truth about Tesla, investors suffered damages.

The other suit was filed Friday by Seattle-based law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro.

Musk said in a blog post Monday that his tweet last week about having secured funding to take Tesla private was based on meetings with Saudi Arabias sovereign fund that left him with no question that they could strike a deal.

No deal has been completed. Musk said he would present a more complete financing plan later.

I continue to have discussions with the Saudi fund, and I also am having discussions with a number of other investors, he said. It is appropriate to complete those discussions before presenting a detailed proposal to an independent board committee.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Twitter: @JimPuzzanghera

UPDATES:

2:40 p.m.: This article was updated with information about a third class-action suit and about advisors to Tesla and Elon Musk, and with Teslas stock movement.

This article originally was published at 8:55 a.m.
At a gathering of corporate travel managers, the head of the Transportation Security Administration defended a once little-known program to target airline passengers whose travel patterns raise suspicions.

During an on-stage discussion before thousands of travel managers and in an interview, TSA Administrator David Pekoske said the program known as Quiet Skies helps protect airline travelers from terrorist attacks.

The program, in which TSA agents and air marshals track passengers after they board U.S.-based airlines, made headlines last month when the Boston Globe first reported on it, prompting calls from civil rights groups and lawmakers for more information on the surveillance endeavour.

Despite complaints from some civil rights groups, Pekoske said the program continues to track passengers whose travel patterns raise red flags with the TSA.

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I think its still very important to add to in-flight security, he said in an interview Monday about the program.

Pekoske also defended the program during an on-stage discussion before several thousand members of the Global Business Travel Assn. at their annual conference at the San Diego Convention Center.

The TSA chief said the agency has long required passengers whose travel patterns raise suspicions to undergo extra screening at airport security checkpoints. But he said the TSA recently began deploying federal air marshals to board the flights of those travelers who raise red flags.

Essentially what it does is it allows us to look at the patterns of travel and, based on patterns of travel, assess ... what kind of risk that passenger might present, he said in an interview.

Pekoske acknowledged that the media attention to the program has forced him to answer questions from lawmakers who had not been told about the operation. But he said Quiet Skies continues without changes.

We have a lot of questions from lawmakers who had not been briefed, Pekoske said.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.
The co-founders of Tinder and seven current and former executives have filed a lawsuit against the dating apps parent companies alleging that the firms undermined the apps valuation to deny them billions of dollars worth of stock options.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in New York state court, seeks a minimum of $2 billion in damages from IAC/InterActiveCorp and its subsidiary Match Group Inc.



For the record: An earlier version of this post said there were eight current and former Tinder executives among the plaintiffs. There are seven.

The plaintiffs, who include Tinder co-founders Sean Rad, Justin Mateen and Jonathan Badeen, allege that IAC and Match repeatedly falsified financial information to lowball the apps valuation. That prevented bigger payouts to the co-founders and executives, the suit says.

Under the contracts between IAC/Match and the employees, the more valuable Tinder becomes, the more IAC/Match is required to pay, the plaintiffs said in a statement.

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IAC and Match said the lawsuit had no merit, stating that they have paid Tinders founders and employees billions of dollars in equity compensation and that the valuation process was conducted properly with independent oversight from two investment banks.

Mr. Rad (who was dismissed from the Company a year ago) and Mr. Mateen (who has not been with the Company in years) may not like the fact that Tinder has experienced enormous success following their respective departures, but sour grapes alone do not a lawsuit make, IAC and Match said in an emailed statement.

West Hollywood-based Tinder was founded in 2012 out of Hatch Labs, an incubator jointly owned by IAC and Xtreme Labs. The app is largely credited with introducing a sea change in the way mostly young adults connect to date and hook up.

The lawsuit alleges that IAC agreed to set valuations of Tinder four separate times: in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021. Based on those valuations, the plaintiffs would be able to exercise their stock options and sell the shares to IAC  and since the plaintiffs owned more than 20% of Tinder, buying the shares would be a considerable cost for IAC, the suit says.

IAC and Match undermined the agreement by spreading false, misleading and incomplete financial information and projections about Tinder and securing a lowball $3-billion valuation for Tinder in 2017 based on those bogus numbers, the lawsuit alleges. Then, it contends, the companies converted the plaintiffs undervalued Tinder stock options into an unfairly small amount of Match stock options.

To carry out the scheme, the plaintiffs say, Rad was removed as Tinders chief executive and replaced with Match Chairman and CEO Greg Blatt. The suit describes Blatt as a lackey for Barry Diller, IACs chairman.

Blatt remained interim CEO of Tinder through the 2017 valuation process and a subsequent merging of Tinder with Match  a merger the plaintiffs said had no justification other than to keep them from reaping the future upside of Tinder.

Based on the $3-billion valuation, IAC and Match converted all the plaintiffs Tinder stock options into Match stock options and terminated the valuations set for 2018, 2020 and 2021, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit also alleges that Blatt groped and sexually harassed Rosette Pambakian  Tinders vice president of marketing and communications, who is a plaintiff in the suit  at a 2016 holiday party in Los Angeles.

Pambakian is one of four plaintiffs who still works at the company. The others are Badeen, who is Tinders chief strategy officer; James Kim, vice president of finance; and Joshua Metz, director of marketing.

The former executives involved in the suit are Paul Cafardo, who was director of engineering; Gareth Johnson, former lead designer; Alexa Mateen, who had been head of U.S. expansion; and Ryan Ogle, the apps former chief technology officer.

Tinder has been marred by controversy over the years. Rad and Justin Mateen were sued in 2014 by a former female executive alleging sexual harassment and discrimination. The suit was resolved two months later without admission of wrongdoing, and Justin Mateen left the company. The plaintiff, Whitney Wolfe, went on to launch Bumble, a rival dating app.

david.pierson@latimes.com | Follow me @dhpierson

UPDATES:

2:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information from the lawsuit and background information.

11 a.m.: This article was updated with a statement from IAC and Match.

This article was originally published at 9:20 a.m.
Just two months before the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is scheduled to begin demolition on a portion of its La Jolla building to make way for an expansion and renovation, more than seven dozen critics, architects and architectural historians have signed an open letter describing some of the proposed changes as a tremendous mistake.

The $75-million expansion, designed by New York-based Selldorf Architects, is set to add 30,000 square feet of gallery space to the museum, which has lacked a dedicated area in which to show its permanent collection. As part of the plan, the museums entrance will be moved south along the museums Prospect Street facade.



For the record: An earlier version of this article reported that the expansion of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego was budgeted at $55 million. The correct figure is $75 million. In addition, the museums Axline Court will not be used as an education center, but as a public gathering area.

The entryway, completed in 1996, was designed in the Postmodern style by the influential architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. (He is a Pritzker Prize-winner, and many believe she should have received the honor as well.) The design from their Philadelphia firm Venturi Scott Brown includes an exterior colonnade that leads into Axline Court, a neon-accented atrium topped by a star-shaped clerestory window. The atrium serves as the museums principal point of access. Under the renovation plan, the colonnade and the entrance will be removed and the atrium will be repurposed as a public gathering space.

Axline Court, the Venturi Scott Brown-designed atrium at MCASD. (Phillipp Scholz Rittermann)

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We recognize the museums need to expand, but we ask that it do so without irreparably damaging a cultural landmark and in the process severely weakening La Jollas beloved village center, reads the letter, which was circulated late last month by Izzy Kornblatt, a graduate student in architecture at Harvard University. It has been signed by a design world whos who, including Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critics Paul Goldberger and Inga Saffron, former Yale University architecture dean Robert A.M. Stern, and Brett Steele, dean of UCLAs School of the Arts and Architecture.

In an opinion piece written for the design website Dezeen, Los Angeles curator and critic Mimi Zeiger, who this year served as co-curator for the U.S. pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, noted that Venturi Scott Browns design falls into that period in which a design can look dated but is not yet considered historic.

While the La Jolla design may no longer suit present sensibilities, she writes, it represents a key part of [Venturi Scott Browns] oeuvre.

Annabelle Selldorf, founder of Selldorf Architects, said she is surprised by the blowback.

The project has been public for four years, she said by phone from New York. Ive talked about it in practically every lecture. Its a very surprising thing.

The decision to relocate the entrance and remove the colonnade comes from the desire to create a more visible entrance, one that isnt obscured by a colonnade.

Had the entrance worked, I would have kept it there, said Selldorf, who is known for sensitive renovations of historic museum buildings, such as the Neue Galerie in New York and the Clark Art Institute in Massachusetts. I dont do anything unless I think there is a need for it. Its not to fulfill my ego that we proposed these changes.

A rendering for a new wing and entrance at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego by Selldorf Architects. (Selldorf Architects)

Moreover, she noted that the San Diego museum isnt a single building but a number of buildings that have been added to and reconfigured over time.

At the heart of the complex is a 1915 residence that early California Modernist Irving Gill designed for philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, and that later served as the museums first home in 1941. Over time, additions by San Diego-based Architects Mosher Drew and, later, Venturi Scott Brown, have added gallery space, an auditorium and the exuberant atrium.

A view of the various MCASD building projects over time. (Selldorf Architects)

Scott Brown, 87, told The Times that the removal of the colonnade and the closing of the entrance she and her husband designed in the 90s breaks our heart. Its like losing a baby.

Above all, she said that Selldorfs proposed redesign doesnt take into account her firms urban planning goals  a point echoed in the petition. VSBs design, the letter notes, arises from careful study and understanding of La Jollas urban form. Its street frontage, museum store, and cafe extend the rhythm of Prospect Streets lively storefronts.

The museum is at the end of a commercial stretch on Prospect Street in La Jolla, at a point where the commercial thoroughfare becomes residential.

Im a city planner and an architect, said Scott Brown. Ive done years and years of small Main Street renewals. We knew how to make the relationship between Prospect Street and the museum, so that shoppers on Prospect could become visitors to the museum.

This, she said, was achieved by creating a sequence of experiences that would engage the average pedestrian, such as a sidewalk cafe.

There is a cafe, there is a patio, Dad can be there with the kids, she stated. Its a nice place to be. It makes for a good entrance.

Selldorf, however, noted that the entrance she has designed does engage the town: It faces the commercial stretch on nearby Silverado Street, which features a church, offices and restaurants. (It also faces another Gill-designed building, the La Jolla Womans Club, completed in 1914.)

Museum director Kathryn Kanjo said that the new plan is an attempt to make a more overt entrance for the museum.

This is the sixth renovation, she said. We wanted to bring clarity and logic.

And she said its not a decision that the museum has taken lightly.

This was a very methodical selection process, she said. It was a thoughtful process that included site visits, reviewing many proposals, reviewing the work of four architects.

The board remains deeply impressed by Annabelles design and enthused about moving forward.

A part of the colonnade designed by Venturi Scott Brown has already been removed. Construction is slated to begin in October.

An overhead rendering of the proposed MCASD renovation as seen from the east. (Selldorf Architects)

ALSO

Hauser Wirth & Schimmels inside edge: Architect Annabelle Selldorfs quiet spaces are the grand gesture

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego marks 75 years with launch of bold expansion plan

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego picks architect for expansion

Ugly carpets and green marble: The design of the Los Angeles Times buildings changed along with the city, though not always gracefully

The women at the helm of 2018s Venice Architecture Biennale and the unexpected generosity of design

carolina.miranda@latimes.com | Twitter: @cmonstah
Likening themselves to Donny and Marie without the sexual tension, comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short have been touring North America with a side-splitting variety show that includes stand-up humor, music, fake ventriloquism, goofy childhood photos and even a human bagpipe.

A Netflix special that captures the melange  titled An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life  recently grabbed four Emmy nominations.

Before hitting the stage in Vancouver, Canada, earlier this month, the longtime friends spoke by telephone with The Envelope, cracking jokes as they discussed the shows evolution, their aversion to political humor and the perils of performing in daylight.

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Your show began in 2011 with an invitation to interview each other at a Montreal comedy festival. What inspired you to later expand to a vaudeville-type approach?

Martin Short: We were getting tired of the conversation [format].

Steve Martin: When we got out with audiences who were paying to get in, we thought: We need to deliver!  Marty already had a one-man show. I worked with a band [The Steep Canyon Rangers] and we said lets combine em. You know, when I first started as a comedian, I didnt have any material, but I did have stuff. I could juggle, I could play the banjo, I could do magic, and I had a few comedy bits. And I just put em in the kitchen sink. And thats kinda what this is  a kitchen sink.

Looking down the road 20 years, which of todays stars do you see doing a duo act like yours?

Martin: Well, first of all, Im not really looking down the road 20 years. Im looking at more like eight.  Second, people arent really looking to work together. A comedy duo is not a thing [anymore]. It was so big in the 30s and 40s and into the 50s, and then it just stopped. The Smothers Brothers were the last twosome.

Why do you think duos went away?

Martin: Because who wants to split the money?

Short: Thats the absolute correct answer.

Your show largely steers clear of politics. I assume thats deliberate?

Short: Our audience is filled with people of all political beliefs, so you dont want to make anyone feel badly because they are left or right. Also, people need a respite occasionally from the constant barrage.

Martin: Also, thats what late-night television does every night. So, I always think lets just try to be funny and let late night take care of [politics], because what are we going to do thats better? And, also, I dont feel didactic. I dont want to preach or teach or anything like that. I want to kind of humorously stimulate by turning a phrase or getting a laugh.

Is anything else off limits?

Short: Yeah, lots of things. Our agenda is not to offend. To push an envelope at this stage of our lives would seem so desperate.

Do you have veto power over each others material?

Short: I wouldnt say we have veto power, but I would say that were very open to each others opinion because both our names are on the show. So if I was going to do a joke that, in any way, Steve strongly felt was offensive, even if I didnt agree with him, I would cut it.

What is the main thing youve each learned from your friendship?

Martin: I look at Marty and I think, This guy gets me Emmy nominations.

Short: I dont know how to answer that. Steve and I have so many similarities in the way we work, what makes us laugh. And weve been friends for so long. And thereve been so many dinners and laughs and vacations, I cant really think in terms of what Ive learned from him.

How often do you ad-lib in the show?

Short: Theres lots of ad-libbing. You dont want to throw each other off  but if an ad-lib happens and is followed by another ad-lib and a third ad-lib, the second we walk off the stage, we go to our script and put it in.  Were aware that our show has been on Netflix, so we have to keep evolving material and changing it.

You appeared at Orange Countys Pacific Amphitheatre on July 20, but you normally prefer indoor venues. How come?

Martin: We really had a good time in Costa Mesa, [but] its always a little more complex to perform outdoors and in daylight [because] the audience is not as united as they are in a darkened theater. One of the secrets of getting the audience to laugh is when they cant see each other. As long as they can see each other, theyre acting as individuals. When they cant see each other, theyre acting as an audience  not checking to see if other people are laughing.

Short: Its like seeing a movie at a drive-in vs. seeing a movie in a theater.

Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Maher have said political correctness, especially on college campuses, is wrecking things for comedians. Your take?

Short: I totally understand what theyre saying and I think there is oversensitivity and an overreaction a lot of the time. But it doesnt play into our shows too much, because our agenda is more of a joyful thing as opposed to going after somebody. Were not social satirists. Were more clowns.

Martin: You cant tell an audience how to respond. If 20% of the audience is offended by something that youre doing that you believe in, well, [you] really shouldnt be performing for that audience. So, I understand why they dont want to go to a college, because thats a hotbed of opinion  and rightfully so. Thats where it should be.

Short: Let me ask you one question. Of the two performers in the show, you must have a personal favorite?

Thats tough. I grew up watching SNL, and listening to Steve, and watching SCTV...

Martin: Well, theres your answer!

Short: Let him finish! Let him finish!

This is like Sophies Choice. Lets just say that my favorite performer at the show was someone whose name includes the word Martin.

calendar@latimes.com
The nations second-largest school system kicks off a fresh year Tuesday with dozens of first-time programs to spur student achievement and recapture enrollment.

But not everything new at L.A. Unified was planned, including recent leadership turnover at the top. As for details of plans to deal with intractable problems, including deficit spending and lagging achievement, they havent yet been publicly laid out.

This years additions include dozens of magnet schools and language programs developed over the last two years under former Supt. Michelle King.

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King left in September on medical leave and never came back  which was not anticipated at this time last year. Nor was the downfall of former school board member Ref Rodriguez, who stepped down as board president last year after being charged with political money laundering and resigned from the school board last month, when he pleaded guilty.

The new schools chief is businessman turned philanthropist Austin Beutner. The new school board president is longtime board member Monica Garcia. As for the board, for now it now has six members, not seven, until it decides how to replace Rodriguez.

New programs

There are 36 new magnet programs this fall  and 70 have been created over the last three years. The original goal of magnet schools was to offer special programs that would attract white students so that campuses would become or remain integrated. But in these days of declining enrollment and competition from charter schools, magnets are intended more as a general lure to keep any kind of student in the school system.

Our parents love them, our students love them, and the results speak for themselves, Beutner said in an interview Monday. Its something we want to nurture and continue to grow.

The districts dual-language programs will increase by 45 this fall. They offer students regular instruction in English as well as in a second language. The goal is to have them emerge fluent in both.

Some schools have more than one dual-language program. Kittridge Elementary in Van Nuys, for instance, now will offer Armenian and Spanish. In all, there will be 137 programs at 120 schools.

Were in earlier stages, but we think this is a really powerful way to increase student achievement, increase enrollment and prepare students for a job of the future, Beutner said.

1 / 7 Leslie Toriz, in white shirt, plays with her cousin Alex Toriz as the third-graders wait for doors to open on their first day back at Dolores Huerta Elementary School in Los Angeles on Tuesday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 7 Apolonia Aragon holds the hand of daughter Josefa Aragon as parents with students form a line at the front door on the childrens first day of kindergarten at Dolores Huerta Elementary School in Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 7 Kelly Rodriguez comforts her daughter, Ashley Morales, on her first day of kindergarten, at Dolores Huerta Elementary School. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 7 Students form lines on the playground as they prepare to go to their classrooms on the first day of the school year at Dolores Huerta Elementary. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 7 Students arrive at Baldwin Hills Elementary School for the first day of class for the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest school system. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 7 School bus driver Sharon Clark comforts a teary-eyed Porter Everist, 6, as he arrives at Community Magnet School on the first day of class. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 7 Students wait for their school bus on Rodeo Road in Los Angeles, as LAUSD begins the new school year. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Coming attractions

The district has been talking for years about making it easier for students and their parents to find out about  and sign up for  its schools. Thats supposed to get easier starting Sept. 5, when the district rolls out the next phase of unified enrollment. The idea is to provide one online location to find and compare programs and schools.

Parents will be able to use the system to enroll in magnets, dual language, so-called permits with transportation (which, in rare cases, provide transportation for students to attend a school in a different part of town than where they live) and schools for advanced studies (accelerated programs within neighborhood schools). Some campuses with admission criteria, including an all-boys and an all-girls school, also will be included on the site.

Not every public school option will be available. The site wont for now include independently operated charter schools.

The districts online school finder, a separate widget on the same starting page, is getting better. Its now able to provide basic descriptions of schools and lists of schools by category and location, but the information provided still is limited, and comparing schools and navigating through the education jargon is difficult.

The best way to get started is by going online to apply.lausd.net. Trying to get to it from the districts homepage remained next to impossible during a recent trial run.

Long-term agenda

Beutner has yet to unveil his plan of action for the districts ongoing problems, which include labor unrest and the ongoing tension between district-run campuses and independent charter schools.

The growth of charters and demographic changes have led to a steady drop in district enrollment. Last year, K-12 enrollment in district-operated schools was 583,173; this years forecast is 571,855, a 2% decrease.

Beutners top two priorities appear to be resolving the districts long-term budget problems and breaking through at schools in which academic achievement has been low for years, even generations.

On Monday, he said a third priority would be to get the entire community invested in the fate of the school system.

He also pushed a novel approach in a speech to principals last week: Break some rules, he told them, when students would benefit as a result.

Breaking rules

Beutner has yet to offer examples about how his rule-breaking philosophy might work. L.A. Unified principals have been conditioned to be all about rules.

And most rules exist for a reason, even if the result is less than ideal. For example, schools must manage the education of students with disabilities through a system of complex, time-consuming rules because these students were overlooked in the past. Simplifying these rules would have to be managed with care, some consistency and perhaps legal oversight.

Union leaders, for their part, see rules as a way to protect members and their working conditions, which then become the learning conditions of students.

On the other hand, does it help students when the labor contract for teachers approaches the size of a Manhattan phone book?

A principal could break a rule by letting a family enroll a child quickly, with less red tape. But would that principal cut the red tape faster for a high-achieving student? And what if that student got enrolled so quickly, that no one checked for the required vaccinations?

Political calculus

On Aug. 21, school board members will debate a proposal to schedule a special election for March to replace Rodriguez. Theyll also have to decide whether to appoint a replacement until an election can be held.

Recent school board races have become high-spending affairs pitting candidates backed by the teachers union against those backed by charter-school advocates. The pro-charter side has spent more and also had more recent success. About a year ago, charter advocates celebrated when the candidates they backed won a board majority for the first time.

Rodriguez was one member of this narrow 4-3 majority. Now theres more of a balance of power, with the direction of the board potentially up for grabs.

Another factor in the mix is a possible strike by teachers, who have been working without a contract. The process leading up to a strike likely would take at least two months. The district and teachers union have had trouble even agreeing on the agenda for talks, let alone the size of raises. Most other unions have settled with the district.

howard.blume@latimes.com

Twitter: @howardblume
Pittsburg Police Officer Michael Sibbitt was ready to testify in a murder trial when a lieutenant from his own department rushed to the courthouse to reveal a startling secret.

The lieutenant told the court that the officer had resigned more than a year earlier during an investigation into whether he had falsified reports and used excessive force.

Details about allegations against Sibbitt and his partner had not been disclosed in more than a dozen other criminal cases in which the officers had made arrests.

The revelation in a Contra Costa County courthouse in 2015 had a sweeping effect: Nineteen convictions secured with help from the two officers were dismissed after prosecutors learned of the misconduct investigation.

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The incident rocked the criminal justice system in this Bay Area suburb and showed how information from officers confidential disciplinary files can change the outcome of cases  if courts are made aware of the material.

The case was unusual because the lieutenant took it upon himself to reveal the officers background. Most of the time, getting this information into court is a convoluted process that often leaves judges, attorneys and jurors in the dark about misconduct by officers who take the stand in criminal proceedings.

Its one of the more stark examples of why we need to have more transparency about police officers backgrounds, Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who teaches criminal law at Loyola Law School, said about the case.

Internal records of police misconduct are confidential in California, but state law allows judges to order police agencies to bring personnel files to court if an officers credibility is formally challenged.

Judges, who review the files privately with only a representative from the police agency, rely on departments to present them with complete and accurate documents. Unlike in open court, where lawyers can argue about evidence, prosecutors and defense attorneys are not allowed to review the records with the judge.

Los Angeles Times

This is not how much of the country operates. In 21 states, records of significant police discipline are public. In many others, prosecutors and defendants are able to access them, eliminating the need for a judges private review.

But California is the only state in which even prosecutors cannot directly access the personnel file of a police witness. State lawmakers are weighing a proposal this month that would allow the public to see some law enforcement misconduct records.

The police lieutenant in Pittsburg, Calif., a small industrial city 34 miles northeast of San Francisco, said he decided to inform a judge after learning that his department had not given the court information about Sibbitt and his partner in other cases.

The lieutenant, Wade Derby, knew about the investigation because hed been the one to conduct it. The officers resigned before his inquiry was finished, but months later, some of the people whom the cops had arrested were still facing trial.

When judges ordered the Pittsburg Police Department to show them evidence of wrongdoing in the officers files, the agency did not bring documents from Derbys investigation, court records show.

Derby raised concerns in memos to his chief that the department wasnt revealing the evidence and could be violating the law. He said he was prepared to tell the court himself.

My whole career I have tried to stand up against wrong, and sometimes it was going on in my own place of work, he said.

Pittsburg Police Chief Brian Addington acknowledged that his agency failed to properly disclose the documents, but he said the omission was unintentional. He declined to answer additional questions.

Document If we do not disclose this information we will likely compromise or have a criminal conviction on a domestic violence homicide case overturned. In addition there will likely be civil ramifications from the victims family. Finally, I believe we will bear possible criminal culpability for violating State and/or Federal laws for nondisclosure.  Memo by former Pittsburg Police Lt. Wade Derby see the document



Sibbitt and his partner, Elisabeth Terwilliger, filed a lawsuit denying they used excessive force and accusing a department supervisor of ordering them to write reports that left out details about hitting suspects with flashlights. They said the department forced them out after Sibbitt complained that the agency required officers to falsely downgrade reports of serious crimes to misrepresent its crime statistics.

In court papers, the department denied the officers claims, but it later agreed to pay them $47,500 each. The city said it would note in their personnel files that the internal affairs investigation was never completed and that no negative findings were ever made, according to a copy of the settlement agreement. The officers agreed they would never work for the city again.

The agreement, which includes a confidentiality clause, was not disclosed by the city until Wednesday, a day after this article was originally published online.

Sibbitt declined to speak about the case; Terwilliger did not respond to requests for comment.

My flashlight is getting to play

Sibbitt had been a cop for five years when he began mentoring Terwilliger, a rookie officer.

Derby, the internal affairs lieutenant, found troubling messages on the officers patrol car computers.

Sibbitt sometimes wrote advice to Terwilliger, teaching her how to instigate high-speed chases and find people to arrest, according to internal department chat messages obtained by The Times.

Just drive with your lights on back and forth on Leland until you get a vehicle that doesnt yield and takes off on you. Totally illegal but it works, he wrote to her in late 2013 from his patrol car computer.

A few months later, he warned the officer not to attribute that type of advice to him. Terwilliger replied: Ill just call it fishing. Officer Sibbitt taught me to fish.

Document

JUST DRIVE WITH YOUR LIGHTS ON BACK AND FORTH ON LELAND UNTIL YOU GET A VEHICLE THAT DOESNT YIELD AND TAKES OFF ON YOU. TOTALLY ILLEGAL BUT IT WORKS

 Message sent on patrol car computer by former Pittsburg Police Officer Michael Sibbitt

see the document

On April 26, 2014, Terwilliger said she wanted to watch a police dog gnaw on someone. But the dog was not available, Sibbitt replied.

Maybe a flashlight party is in order? she wrote. U have to teach me that good flashlight work.

The next night, Sibbitt struck a boy with his flashlight as Terwilliger struggled with the suspect, according to court records. The juvenile, who officers thought was armed, had an unloaded BB gun.

Some departments warn officers against hitting people with flashlights because they can inflict more severe injuries than batons.

Two weekends in a row my flashlight is getting to play, Sibbitt wrote his partner about an hour after the incident.

Good flashlight work kid, replied Terwilliger, whose last name was Ingram at the time.

The officers failed to document that they hit people with flashlights on two occasions, according to a Pittsburg police memo filed in court. The department launched internal-affairs and criminal inquiries into whether they used excessive force and lied on reports.

Their badges and guns were seized on June 18, 2014. They resigned six weeks later.

Messages sent by a police officer in Pittsburg, Calif., from his patrol car computer led to an investigation into excessive force and false reporting. Josh Edelson / For The Times

None of this was told to judges or the people who were still facing trial after being arrested by Sibbitt and Terwilliger.

In one case, Terwilliger took the witness stand against a man she had arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs and a firearm but never mentioned that she had been placed on leave two days earlier.

Terwilliger testified that Carl Schoppe was combative and made evasive movements near his car when she approached him. She found a glass pipe in his pocket and discovered a pistol and baggies of powder that turned out to be methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Schoppe accused the officer of lying, saying that he had never made any furtive movements and that he had cooperated with Terwilliger from the start. His girlfriend, who was in the car at the time, said the weapon was hers, not Schoppes.

Schoppe filed a so-called Pitchess motion asking a judge to review any potential evidence of misconduct in Terwilligers file.

After granting the motion, the judge ordered a police representative to bring the officers internal affairs file to a judge for a private viewing.

Under the law, if a judge determines that some of an officers file is relevant to the case the court may release some information, but the documents are not entered into the public record.

Los Angeles Times

Police advocates say the process is necessary to balance an officers right to privacy against a defendants right to a fair trial. Robert Rabe, an attorney who represents several police associations in California, said that the 1978 law that created the Pitchess system has stood the test of time and that problems are rare.

The great majority of the men and women in law enforcement  comply with Pitchess requests and provide whats necessary, he said.

But in Contra Costa County, the Pittsburg Police Department failed to deliver the documents about Sibbitt and Terwilliger after judges had ordered the files be brought to court. Judges had no way of knowing there were, in fact, relevant records that should have been handed over.

Schoppes Pitchess motion yielded no records on Terwilliger. He pleaded no contest to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

Two other defendants who filed Pitchess motions also entered pleas after judges said there was nothing to disclose about Sibbitt or Terwilliger.

They were among the 19 defendants whose convictions depended on the word of the two officers.

Priscilla Cardenas was eating at a Salvadoran restaurant in Pittsburg in 2013 when a waitress called the police on her. The waitress, whod been a victim of an armed robbery at a food stand months earlier, said she recognized Cardenas as one of her attackers.

Sibbitt responded to the call and showed up at the restaurant. He spoke to the waitress, wrote down Cardenas contact information and issued a police report of the encounter.

Priscilla Cardenas says that after being arrested and convicted, shes had difficulty finding jobs and stable places to live. Josh Edelson / For The Times

Cardenas, then a 21-year-old community college student with a clean record, was later arrested and accused of using a handgun and a knife in the taco truck robbery  an offense that carried a maximum seven-year sentence.

Cardenas claimed she was innocent and had been four hours away in Bakersfield at the time of the robbery. The waitress said the robber spoke fluent Spanish with a Salvadoran accent. Cardenas, a California native, said she does not speak Spanish well.

Cardenas attorney said no one notified her of any reason to distrust Sibbitt, so she didnt file a Pitchess motion seeking background on the officer.

Sibbitt testified at Cardenas trial, six months after he had resigned from the Police Department and four months after he had taken a job as a Macys loss-prevention officer. He told the jury the waitress was shaking and stuttering upon seeing Cardenas at the restaurant. That testimony helped convict Cardenas in February 2015.

She was sentenced to three years in prison.

It would take several more months before Derby revealed the extent of Sibbitts file to a judge in the murder trial in October 2015.

After Derby filed a civil claim alleging retaliation by the Police Department in March 2016, the two officers alleged misdeeds were made public. His allegations, first reported by the East Bay Times, prompted the countys public defenders office and local prosecutors to launch a review of the officers cases.

In his civil case, Derby described his investigation against Sibbitt and Terwilliger, claiming he was pushed out of the department by his managers after exposing the information. The department denied wrongdoing, noting that Derby had agreed to resign after he was found to have sexually harassed another officer. A judge recently dismissed Derbys civil suit and he is appealing.

Former Lt. Wade Derby says supervisors at the Pittsburg Police Department retaliated against him after he exposed information about fellow officers misconduct. Josh Edelson / For The Times

The U.S. Supreme Courts 1963 decision in Brady vs. Maryland and later rulings require prosecutors and police to alert defendants to favorable evidence, including information that could undermine the credibility of government witnesses. Once the details about Derbys investigation became public, several defendants argued that theyd been unlawfully deprived of the information about the officers alleged wrongdoing and never had the chance to attack their credibility.

Contra Costa County prosecutors looked into other criminal cases where the two officers had testified to determine whether the defendants should have been notified about the information. That also included a look at cases in which defendants accepted plea deals without going to trial.

If I have reason to doubt the credibility of an officer, or a witness, then anything that witness introduces, I cant use, said Lynn Uilkema, a Contra Costa County prosecutor who was involved in the dismissals.

Those concerns pose an especially high risk to prosecutions of low-level crimes, such as drug possession and resisting arrest, which often rely heavily on an officers eyewitness account. An internal affairs finding that an officer has lied in the past could undermine the prosecution of a minor crime in which there is little evidence other than an officers word.

Of the 19 convictions thrown out by Contra Costa County prosecutors, seven involved nonviolent felonies, such as drug possession or being a felon carrying a firearm. Eleven others were misdemeanors or infractions  DUI, petty theft, domestic abuse, false representation to a police officer, disturbing the peace or resisting arrest. Most of the defendants pleaded no contest.

In at least some cases, there was compelling evidence that defendants were in fact guilty. One man convicted of carrying a loaded, concealed firearm told The Times the weapon had indeed been in his car.

In the murder trial in which Derby revealed the extent of the records on Sibbitt, prosecutors dropped him as a witness rather than risk his credibility being questioned in front of jurors.

Even in Cardenas case, which involved other evidence on top of Sibbitts testimony, prosecutors found they could no longer stand by her conviction, given the allegations about the police officers past misconduct.

They offered to throw out Cardenas armed robbery charge and release her immediately if she would plead no contest to a lesser count of grand theft. She agreed.

Since her release, she said, shes had difficulty finding permanent jobs and stable places to live.

Before she was arrested, Cardenas was taking courses at a local college near Pittsburg and was interested in studying criminal justice.

I was going to be a police officer, she said.

Times staff writer Ben Poston contributed to this report.

maya.lau@latimes.com

Twitter: @mayalau

UPDATES:

4:50 p.m., Aug. 15: This article was updated with additional details about a settlement between the city and Sibbitt and Terwilliger.

This article was originally published Aug. 14 at 3 a.m.
Clarence Sibsey sat alone at a table in the Twin Pine Casino evacuation center, tired and dejected.

Once again, a fire was threatening his community and he had to leave home. Two years ago, he fled the massive Valley fire. Now he had been driven away by the Mendocino Complex fire, which at more than 340,000 acres is the biggest in California history.

Weve never had fires like this before, Sibsey said. Why now?

The battle to control the massive blaze continued Monday, as officials announced the death of a Utah firefighter on the front lines. The unidentified firefighter was airlifted to a hospital, where he died. Authorities said fact-finding on the accident was underway.

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The news came amid progress in containing the fire, which enabled more residents to return home.

But the blaze has been a grim reminder for Lake County residents of how their area is now an epicenter for fires.

A Los Angeles Times analysis found that more than 50% of the countys land has been burned since 2012. And it has sparked debate for some residents about whether living in this rural enclave about 120 miles north of San Francisco is worth it.

Gretchen Fritsch, left, and Jay Michael rest in their car after being evacuated during the Ranch fire. (Getty Images)

The Pawnee fire recently threatened nearby Spring Valley, whose residents had to evacuate for a second time in just a few months.

Two years ago, the Clayton fire tore through almost 4,000 acres and 300 structures, many of them mobile homes and rentals. The blaze hit the town of Lower Lake particularly hard, destroying a 150-year-old church and a Habitat for Humanity office.

In 2015, three wildfires ripped through Lake County, including the Valley fire, which destroyed more than 1,300 homes and killed at least four people.

Resident Bo Stover said he wont be around for the next big blaze. Hes tired of the displacement and dangers, and plans to move to Arkansas.

As of Monday, the Mendocino Complex fire had burned more than 340,000 acres. Sources: Nextzen, OpenStreetMap, Cal Fire. (Priya Krishnakumar / Los Angeles Times)

Im sick of all this. Im too old. Im looking for peace in my life, the 61-year-old said as he sat in the evacuation center.

In the last five to 10 years, the Lake County region has become one of the most active in the state in terms of fires, said Lynne Tolmachoff, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Twenty years ago, it was Southern California  in areas such as Orange and Riverside counties  that experienced the most fires, officials said. Now Lake County competes for the top spot, along with Mariposa County.

Lake Countys topography, specifically its canyons, mean winds travel quickly there, Tolmachoff said. But what has made the area more prone to fire recently is the growing popularity of Napa and Sonoma valleys wine country spilling into Lake County, she said. More people means more opportunities for fires to start.

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said the Mendocino Complex fire  actually two blazes, the Ranch fire and the River fire  became so bad because of explosively flammable vegetation, warm overnight temperatures and the lingering effect of years of drought. The blaze has burned mostly into the Mendocino National Forest.

Full coverage of the California wildfires 

Its sort of this middle elevation, where youre above the marine layer, but youre not high enough in the mountains to really cool down either, he said.

Lake County has about 64,000 residents, most of whom live in communities along the shore of Clear Lake. While considered part of wine country, it does not share the same upscale vibe as Napa and Sonoma counties to the south.

Rick Bennett, who lives in the community of Nice, said Lake County has seen some big fires over the years, but nothing compared to the Mendocino Complex. He wondered what the landscape will look like when the fire is finally contained.

Were losing so many of our natural resources, he said. People are afraid to come. Id be a liar if I said there wasnt a part of me that wants to leave.

Longtime residents said it has proved difficult to deal with this new constant threat of fire.

You think, Oh, itll never happen to me, Bennett said, adding that he tends to forget about the fires until temperatures start to climb. Thats when he gets anxious.

Its getting to where I dread the summer. I dont want to see summer come, he said.

When the Mendocino Complex fire forced him to evacuate, Bennett took a small bag full of essentials. Hes had to use resources from the Red Cross, such as clothing and toiletries.

Rose Mary Santana, an Upper Lake resident who lost her mobile home to the Mendocino Complex fire, said she was shocked by how it had spread.

I wasnt expecting it. Weve had so many threats, and they never made it to Upper Lake, she said.

This time was different.

When it came time to evacuate, Santana was in the home of one of the senior citizens she cares for, packing up her clients valuables. She had nothing on her, not even her purse.

But, she said, she was hesitant to give up living in Lake County, where she moved to escape the rat race.

God would never put too much on my shoulders, Santana said. I have the will to keep going.

But Shelly Clayton, who lives in Nice, said she is thinking of moving back to Torrance, her hometown, to avoid the danger.

She said the Lake County climate is beginning to feel like one long fire.

Its emotional watching your community lose their livelihood, she said. Its just horrible. Im sick and tired of it. Its a beautiful area, but Im done.

Reyes-Velarde reported from Lake County and Krishnakumar from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II in San Francisco contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

7:50 a.m.: This story was updated with more details about the firefighter who died.

This story was originally published at 4 a.m.
For years, neighborhood activists have argued that the Jefferson Boulevard facility that sits next to apartments is no place for oil drilling.

Now their hopes could be realized as the oil company says it plans to give up petroleum production at the South Los Angeles site.

Sentinel Peak Resources turned in paperwork Monday saying that it intends to abandon the wells and prepare the site for another yet to be determined use.

The move comes nearly a year after Los Angeles demanded the company follow new and stringent rules in order to keep operating the Jefferson Boulevard facility. Those rules were billed by officials as the toughest requirements for any drill site in the city.

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Sentinel Peak Resources had bristled at the demands and filed a lawsuit, arguing that the city had imposed unduly oppressive conditions that were not based on proven violations. It complained that the new requirements  including the demand to erect a 45-foot-tall enclosure around drilling equipment  would force the company to curtail or cease its operations there.

Now the company says it plans to plug the wells. In paperwork filed with the city, Sentinel Peak Resources said it was seeking to modify the rules for operating the South L.A. site to accommodate the process of abandoning the wells, which it estimated could take as long as three years.

Many of the requirements that the city had imposed, including an enclosure around its equipment, would be inconsistent with that process, the company wrote.

If Sentinel Peak Resources is successful in modifying those conditions, the company plans to work to prepare the site for an alternative future use, said Christine Halley, its director of environmental health and safety, in a brief written statement Tuesday. She did not address why it had decided to abandon wells at the site.

Halley added that the lawsuit will remain ongoing as we attempt to work collaboratively with the city on developing an adequate solution.

Filing the paperwork is only the first step in a process that will include a public hearing, according to the city.

Today, we have measures in place that address the health and safety of our residents, planning department spokesman Yeghig Keshishian said in a statement Monday. We wouldnt be acting in accordance with our own city rules and procedures if we simply set them aside.

While their application will be taken under advisement, we still need additional information from the applicant as to their future plans for the site  and the community needs to be a part of those conversations, Keshishian said.

The news was celebrated by environmental and community activists who have held rallies and complained at City Hall about foul smells and thundering noise from the facility. Activists worried about urban drilling cite a Community Health Councils study that found the Jefferson Boulevard drilling site sits closer to homes than any other in the city.

This is what weve been hoping for, said Richard Parks, president of the South L.A. nonprofit Redeemer Community Partnership. This should give hope to tens of thousands of Angelenos who face toxic drilling in their backyards.

Others were less pleased. Oil and gas attorney Ed Renwick, who does not represent Sentinel Peak Resources, said the decision would hurt homeowners who had been getting royalty checks, and whenever we shut down production here, that just means theres that much more that we have to import.

City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents the area around the Jefferson Boulevard facility, said Tuesday that his office had ongoing concerns about quality-of-life nuisances there and would work with city agencies and the company to ensure the negative conditions are fully abated throughout the process to abandon the site.

The Jefferson Boulevard site measures nearly two acres and has dozens of wells laid out in a U shape. It had been producing oil and gas as recently as February, but production levels had dropped sharply over the last decade, according to state records.

The same company has already floated plans to shut down another Los Angeles oil site and replace it with affordable housing. The United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council, which represents residents in the area, welcomed the idea of repurposing the site at 4th Avenue and Washington Boulevard but has raised concerns about whether it would be cleaned up properly.

In June, the neighborhood council complained to City Council President Herb Wesson that Sentinel Peak Resources had broken promises to work on plugging old wells only while the neighboring school was not in session, had failed to notify the school or air-quality regulators before tearing down structures, and misrepresented its plans when it sought a demolition permit, evading environmental review.

Unless those problems are addressed, the neighborhood group wrote, it would oppose any projects tied to those unsafe practices and improper processes.

Halley said in a statement last week that all work has been completed in compliance with all established regulations and with all necessary permits at the 4th Avenue site. She added that demolition work had been delayed at the request of the school district and is now substantially complete.

Los Angeles is a metropolis built on oil, speckled with more than 800 active oil and gas wells. Across the county, the industry directly employs more than 30,000 people and produces nearly $7 billion in state, local and federal tax revenue, according to a Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation study commissioned by the Western States Petroleum Assn.

Environmental and neighborhood activists have pressed the city to step up its oversight of oil production, with some urging officials to halt drilling near schools and homes entirely.

Two years ago, the city announced the hiring of a petroleum administrator to oversee oil and gas operations across Los Angeles  a job that had not been filled consistently for decades. That was a good step, City Controller Ron Galperin said in a recent report, but L.A. has continued to suffer from a lax and reactive approach to checking if oil sites are in line with city conditions.

emily.alpert@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlpertReyes

UPDATES:

5:55 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from attorney Ed Renwick.

12:40 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

11:25 a.m., Aug. 14: This article was updated with comment from Sentinel Peak Resources.

This article was originally published at 6:55 p.m. on Aug. 13.
A former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy pleaded guilty Monday to taking part in a drug-trafficking scheme in which he charged up to $250,000 to protect large shipments of drugs being transported out of state, negotiating the payments with an undercover federal agent, court documents show.

Kenneth Collins, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Collins  who separated from the Sheriffs Department about a month after his January arrest  faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November.

Law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the law, which is why we hold them to a higher standard of conduct, U.S. attorney Nick Hanna said in a statement. Deputy Collins didnt just break the law, he trampled his oath by agreeing to sell his badge to assist drug traffickers.

Collins attorney could not be reached for comment.

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Undercover federal authorities met Collins in August 2017, when an FBI agent posed as the partner of a wealthy investor who wanted to finance the production, distribution and sale of controlled substances, according to a plea agreement Collins reached with prosecutors.

Collins claimed to run teams, including other law enforcement officers, who provided security for illegal marijuana grow houses and drug transports. He offered to recruit a team for the undercover agent.

They met again a few weeks later, where Collins brought along an alleged co-conspirator, David Easter, and flashed his sheriffs badge and gun to prove his ties to law enforcement, the plea agreement said. Toward the end of the meeting, Collins accepted a $5,000 cash payment stuffed in a magazine.

In October, the plea agreement said, Collins sold 2 pounds of marijuana to the agent for $6,000, considered a test run that could have led to the sale of up to 2,000 pounds of marijuana  $4 million worth  a month. Easter delivered the drugs to a second undercover agent, the agreement said.

The following month, Collins demanded $25,000 to escort a shipment of methamphetamine, marijuana and counterfeit cigarettes from Pasadena to Las Vegas, justifying the expense by saying he and his team were cops.

All of our transports make it through, Collins said, according to the plea agreement. Unbeknownst to him, the methamphetamine was fake.

During the drive to Las Vegas, Collins drove behind the transport vehicle, while Easter drove in front. A third person, Grant Valencia, rode in the car with an undercover agent and the drugs, according to the court filing. All three were keeping an eye out for police and other threats. If they spotted officers, Collins and Easter planned to distract them by driving erratically.

After that, Collins and the agent started making plans to transport an even larger shipment of meth and cocaine in January, according to the plea agreement. Since more drugs were involved, Collins named a higher price: $250,000.

When the trio showed up in Pasadena early on Jan. 16 to carry out their end of the deal, they were arrested by FBI agents. Easter and Valencia have pleaded not guilty and are slated to go to trial in October.

Prosecutors say Collins met Valencia through the Emerging Leaders Academy, a life-skills class to help people with criminal pasts reintegrate into society. Collins was an instructor, Valencia a student.

According to the plea agreement, Collins also admitted to illegally seizing $160,000 in cash during a bogus traffic stop he conducted in 2014 that he never reported. Before the stop, he knew there would be a large amount of cash in the car, the agreement said.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek
A firefighter from Utah died Monday battling the largest wildfire in recorded California history, marking the latest fatality in a fire season that has taken a grim toll on first responders.

The firefighter was injured while working on an active portion of the Ranch fire within the massive Mendocino Complex blaze. He was flown to a hospital, where he died. Authorities said fact-finding on the accident is underway.

We are extremely heartbroken for this loss. We are dedicated to investigating what happened, Sean Kavanaugh, a fire incident commander, said at a brief news conference. We mourn as we also battle Californias largest wildfire that continues to burn extremely steep and remote terrain.

On Tuesday, authorities identified the fallen firefighter as Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, 42, of the Draper City Fire Department in Utah.

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By Monday evening, the Mendocino Complex blaze, made up of the Ranch and River fires, had scorched more than 328,000 acres, destroyed 139 homes and left two firefighters injured. It was 67% contained.

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman urged residents who have defied evacuation orders to leave.

These are very dangerous areas, Allman said. If this could happen to a firefighter, it certainly could happen to citizens.  Today, tomorrow and the next year, we will mourn the loss of a true hero.

The firestorms that erupted across the state amid scorching heat and bone-dry conditions have taken a devastating toll on fire crews.

Full coverage of the California wildfires 

A Redding firefighter, a bulldozer operator and a Pacific Gas & Electric utility worker have died during the Carr fire, which has destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Shasta County. Two more firefighters died while battling the Ferguson fire in Yosemite.

A mechanic with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who had been assigned to the Carr fire also died in a vehicle crash in Tehama County.

It has been an explosive summer in California, adding to a year of unprecedented fire destruction. Since last fall, thousands of homes have been lost and more than 40 people killed from wine country down to Ventura County. In addition to the lost firefighters, four civilians  including two children  died in the Redding fire.

The fires in July and August have been fueled by record-setting heat, which has left brush dry and highly flammable.

The conditions have taken a particular toll on firefighters, who say theyve been stretched thin as new fires keep breaking out.

On July 14, Braden Varney, a heavy-equipment operator with Cal Fire, died in rugged terrain while fighting the Ferguson blaze. Varney was driving a bulldozer cutting firebreaks when the machine overturned.

Two weeks later, Brian Hughes, captain of the Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots, was killed when he was struck by a tree while working with his crew to set a backfire  a tactic designed to limit a fires spread  on the east side of that same blaze. He was treated at the scene, but died before he could be taken to a hospital.

Then, as the Carr fire exploded into Redding neighborhoods on July 26, Jeremy Stoke, a fire prevention inspector, was killed. Authorities said Stoke died while working to ensure the residents of west Redding had a chance to escape the flames.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek

UPDATES:

Aug. 14, 1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with the identity of the fallen Utah firefighter.

10:45 p.m.: This article was updated with statements from a news conference.

10:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

8:25 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that the firefighter died Monday.

This article was originally published Aug. 13 at 8 p.m.
The son of Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson said Monday that he and his wife have reimbursed the city for $2,768 in security services provided at their wedding.

The Times reported last week that the Los Angeles Police Department, at taxpayer expense, assigned four officers and a sergeant to the wedding of Justin Wesson and Alexis Marin, a staffer for Councilwoman Nury Martinez.

An LAPD spokesman said at the time that the city was not reimbursed for 38 hours of wedding security provided at the Sept. 9 event. But on Monday, after a series of inquiries from The Times, Wessons office sent a statement from Justin Wesson saying he has decided to cover the security costs.

While we had no control over the LAPDs decision to assign officers to protect city leaders at our wedding, we want to remove even the hint that there was any special consideration for our event, so we have reimbursed LAPD, he said in an emailed statement.

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Justin Wesson, who is viewed as a possible council candidate in the 2020 election, did not say in his statement what day the payment was made and did not respond when The Times asked. He has been an aide to his father since 2011 and currently earns $103,188 annually, said a spokesman for the personnel department.

Marin, his wife, earns $90,376 a year as the legislative director for Martinez.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, who attended the wedding but not the reception, had his own two-person LAPD security detail with him at the event, said a mayoral spokesman.

The LAPD referred questions about the reimbursement to Wessons office. But last week, former Police Chief Charlie Beck defended the decision to send officers to the Wesson-Marin wedding, saying the department provides security for events with high-profile people who are at elevated risk.

Herb Wesson, the council president, raised the issue of public safety threats two years ago, discussing his experience receiving a public comment card that featured drawings of a burning cross and a man hanging from a tree  images typically associated with the Ku Klux Klan  and a racial slur.

Wesson said he considered that card, submitted at a meeting by attorney Wayne Spindler, to be a potential threat to his family and the city workforce. The citys lawyers later obtained a restraining order requiring Spindler to stay at least 100 yards away from Wessons home, car and city office.

The order said Spindler, who frequently testifies at council meetings, could continue to attend public city meetings and participate in public comment.

Despite Wessons statements, prosecutors in Dist. Atty. Jackie Laceys office opted against prosecuting Spindler for making a criminal threat against Wesson, citing 1st Amendment concerns and other factors. Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Spindler crossed the line between constitutionally protected speech and punishable true threat.

Spindler denied that he made a threat and later filed a federal lawsuit against the city, arguing that his free speech and other constitutional rights had been violated.

The Times is at odds with the city over security expenditures. The newspaper sued the city last month after officials refused to provide records on security costs for out-of-state trips taken by Garcetti.

david.zahniser@latimes.com

richard.winton@latimes.com
Housing groups are criticizing a developers plan to displace dozens of residents from rent-controlled bungalows in the working-class neighborhood of Westlake to make way for a $64-million affordable housing project.

Nonprofit developer Abode Communities is seeking to build a 100-unit affordable housing project on Grand View Street, near MacArthur Park. The developer plans to demolish 36 rent-controlled apartments, where some residents pay less than $900 a month.

Abode is applying for public funds, including money from Proposition HHH, a voter-approved bond, to help pay for the new building, said Robin Hughes, chief executive of Abode Communities.

She described the development as having long-term benefits for a city grappling with rising rents and homelessness. The building would be deeded as affordable housing for the next 55 years, and in some cases, rents would be lower than what tenants now pay.

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Our overall goal is to increase the affordable housing stock in Los Angeles, Hughes said. We are strongly committed to work with the residents to make sure that they receive the relocation benefits that they are eligible for.

I sympathize with the residents out there and I know there are concerns, she added. First and foremost, they will have the right to return to the development when it is complete.

But at a news event Monday in front of the bungalows, community activists said some tenants may not be able to return if, for instance, their income levels disqualify them.

And if federal money is used in the development, residents who lack U.S. citizenship would be ineligible to live in the building because of federal funding requirements, activists said.

We have a crisis of homelessness and affordability. You cannot solve that crisis by tearing down affordable housing, said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which focuses on healthcare and housing.

The taxpayer money proposed for the project is being squandered, he said, arguing that the $64-million price tag is too expensive.

Kassandra Reyes, 20, and her mother, Maria Reyes, 55, pay $880 for a one-bedroom unit and have lived in the bungalows for more than a decade. Kassandra Reyes said her mother works as a street vendor and doesnt earn enough money to live in a more expensive neighborhood.

Its affordable for my mother, said Kassandra Reyes. This is our home.

Larry Gross, executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, said affordable-housing developers are competing with market-rate developers for sites in the hot real estate market.

Abode is building what the city needs, which is more affordable housing, said Gross, who didnt take part in Mondays event.

But the downside is that theyve decided to build on existing affordable housing. Were pitting one group of tenants against another, he said. It would be better if they found a commercial or vacant lot for their affordable housing project.

Hughes defended the sites location and said Abode is also looking to build on vacant sites. Given that Abode is applying for Proposition HHH funds, the developer is planning to set aside half the units at the new development for homeless people, she said.

Construction is expected to start in 2020 and end in 2022, she said.

Tenants in rent-controlled buildings have strong protections against eviction and are entitled to relocation assistance.

Under the states Ellis Act, landlords are able to evict tenants if they intend to take the housing off the rental market or demolish the building to put up new apartments.

As Los Angeles property owners cash in on the booming real estate market, an increasing number of rent-controlled buildings are being taken off the market. More than 24,000 rent-controlled units have been removed since 2001, according to the Coalition for Economic Survival.

Hughes said there were multiple offers on the Grand View Street property.

Activists Monday also criticized Abode for sending out a letter that stated that all tenants seeking relocation assistance must show proof of U.S. citizenship.

The letter, sent by a relocation company hired by Abode, goes on to state that some assistance is available to those without proof of residency.

Susan Hunter, a caseworker with the Los Angeles Tenants Union, said residents received the letters only in English, not Spanish, and accused Abode of purposefully misleading the tenants.

Theyre causing confusion, said Hunter, who attended Mondays event.

The letter has language that we have to follow, Hughes said. And we probably could have done better in framing it in a more accessible way.

Abode also faced criticism in 2016 from tenants living in a South L.A. complex, who accused the developer of misleading them about the relocation process.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmith
Prosecutors charged a white man with manslaughter Monday in the death of an unarmed black man whose video-recorded shooting in a store parking lot has revived debate over Floridas stand your ground law.

Michael Drejka, 47, has been charged with the July 19 death of Markeis McGlockton outside a Clearwater convenience store, Pinellas County State Atty. Bernie McCabe said. Drejka was being held at the county jail on $100,000 bail. It was unknown whether he had an attorney.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, relatives of McGlockton said they were pleased with the charge.

I know this is going to be a long road, said Michael McGlockton, the victims father. We are up for the task. I just hope for a good outcome.

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Family attorney Michele Rayner said that the ultimate goal is conviction, and that she believed manslaughter was the correct charge. She also noted that Monday was bittersweet.

Its little Markeis first day at school, she said, referring to McGlocktons 5-year-old son.

McGlocktons girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, who was seated in the couples car with two of their children, ages 3 years and 4 months, said Drejka confronted her for being parked in a handicapped-accessible space. McGlockton, 28, had gone into the store with young Markeis.

Video shows McGlockton leaving the store and shoving Drejka to the ground. Seconds later, Drejka pulls a handgun and shoots McGlockton as he backs away.

In court documents, McCabe and Pinellas County Sheriffs Det. George Moffett cited three other drivers who said Drejka threatened them during confrontations that preceded his run-in with McGlockton. Two of them said he displayed a gun.

A black man who drives a septic truck told Moffett he parked in the same handicapped-accessible spot three months before McGlocktons shooting, the documents show. The man said Drejka began yelling at him and said he would shoot him. The driver said he left, but as he pulled away Drejka shouted racial slurs. The mans boss told Moffett that Drejka later called, telling him that he was lucky he didnt blow his employees head off.

In separate 2012 cases, drivers reported that Drejka waved a gun at them during road rage confrontations. In both cases, officers stopped Drejka and found a gun in his car, but he denied showing it to the other drivers.

McGlockton family attorney Benjamin Crump  who gained national prominence representing the family of Trayvon Martin after the black teens fatal shooting by a Latino man in 2012  said in a statement Monday its about time Drejka was arrested.

The family, civil rights groups and others had been holding protests demanding he be charged, saying if Drejka had been black and McGlockton white, deputies would have arrested Drejka immediately or shot him.

Michael Drejka in an Aug. 13, 2018, photo. (Associated Press)

This self-appointed wannabe cop attempted to hide behind stand your ground to defend his indefensible actions, but the truth has finally cut through the noise, Crump said.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri originally declined to charge Drejka, saying one day after the shooting that the man was protected by the stand-your-ground law. The sheriff passed the case to prosecutors for a final decision.

The law says people can use deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and have no obligation to retreat. Under a change made by the Legislature last year, if a suspect raises a stand-your-ground defense, prosecutors must prove the law doesnt apply.

Gualtieri said in a statement Monday that he supported McCabes decision.

Store security video shows the confrontation began about a minute after Jacobs pulled into the handicapped-accessible spot. Jacobs told Moffett that two trucks blocked her from getting to other spaces. McGlockton and young Markeis got out and entered the store.

Drejka pulled up in his SUV seconds later, parking perpendicular to Jacobs. Drejka got out, walked to the back of Jacobs car, looked at the license plate and then went to the front, where, Jacobs told Moffett, Drejka began yelling at her.

The video then shows McGlockton leaving the store, walking toward Drejka and shoving him with both hands. Drejka lands on his back and McGlockton takes a step toward him. Drejka sits up, pulls his gun and points it at McGlockton, who takes three steps back until he is about 12 feet away. Drejka fires, hitting McGlockton, who runs back into the store clutching his chest. Witnesses said he collapsed in front of young Markeis, who was waiting inside.

Crump also represented the family of Martin, a 17-year-old who was fatally shot in 2012 by George Zimmerman, who is of white and Latino heritage. Zimmerman, who was his Orlando-area neighborhoods watch captain, had confronted Martin, who was walking back to the home of his fathers fiancee after making a purchase at a convenience store.

Zimmerman said he thought Martin might be a burglar casing homes. They fought and Zimmerman fatally shot him. There were no witnesses or videos. Zimmerman said he feared Martin, who was unarmed, was about to kill him and a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder.
Not for the first time this year, 2018 primary voters could elect politicians accused of (or who have admitted to) ethical lapses in a number of top races across the country. Theres a candidate for the House defending his criminal record, a candidate for governor who served seven years in jail, and two high-profile races in Minnesota where #MeToo accusations hang heavy.

Not that any of this is surprising for the era of politics were in. It seems that behaving badly, and even being convicted of crimes, is no longer a disqualification for elected office. On one primary day in June, Democratic voters in South Carolina nominated a man who admitted to beating his ex-wife, Republican voters in Nevada nominated a brothel owner for a state Senate seat, and Republican voters in Virginia nominated a supporter of Confederate symbols to the U.S. Senate.

Already, two convicted felons have run in primaries (they lost), and two more are on the ballot this month  including one Tuesday. For a few days last week, a New York congressman up for reelection refused to drop out of his race as he fights insider trading charges.

This is all happening under the umbrella of a president facing multiple sexual harassment allegations, two allegations of paying off women he allegedly had affairs with, and who is at the center of an independent investigation  that he consistently tries to undermine  about Russian election interference.

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Speaking of President Trump, nearly every top Republican in a high-profile race Tuesday is trying to convince voters that they actually like the president after dissing him in unequivocal terms when he was running for president.

Heres where much of the ethical drama will play out Tuesday:

Democratic voters in Connecticut could nominate a convicted felon for governor.

In the Democratic primary for that states open governors race, businessman Ned Lamont is facing Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. Ganim served seven years in jail on corruption charges stemming from the last time he was mayor of Bridgeport and how he ran the city. (He got out of jail in 2010 and won his old job back in 2015 under the campaign slogan Im truly sorry.) The primary between the two is competitive.

A front-runner to replace House Speaker Paul D. Ryan has a criminal record.

Wisconsin Democrats feel like the wind is at their backs after they won several state elections this year. Besides trying to unseat Republican Gov. Scott Walker in November, their second top prize would be to take the seat held by the retiring U.S. House speaker.

Their top candidate in that race, a mustachioed iron worker named Randy Bryce, has gained national attention and raised millions  and he has had to defend his history of arrests, including on charges of driving under the influence. Bryce failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest, CNN reported. Hes also defended being delinquent on child support in 2015.

In Wisconsin, it seems, everyones got a past theyd rather voters not remember.

Wisconsins Republican Senate primary is one of the biggest races in the state Tuesday, since Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, could be vulnerable in November.

Republican state Sen. Leah Vukmir has positioned herself as pro-Trump, but conservative website Breitbart recently posted a potentially troubling video of her describing Trump as offensive to everyone.

Republican U.S. Senate candidates Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson debate in Milwaukee on July 26. (Tyger Williams / Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Her opponent in that primary has positioned himself as the true outside conservative, but Kevin Nicholson once worked for the Democratic Party, a part of his past hes been fuzzy about.

In Minnesota, a national Democrat is denying allegations that he abused a woman he was dating.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), a top Democratic Party leader and the favorite in Minnesotas Democratic primary for attorney general, is denying allegations made over the weekend that he dragged a woman off a bed by her feet while yelling at her and using profane language.

This video does not exist because I never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false, he said in a statement.

And one primary Tuesday in Minnesota wouldnt be happening if it werent for serious allegations of groping that brought down a U.S. senator. Democrat Al Franken resigned in December after being accused by eight women of inappropriately touching them.

Lets stay in Minnesota for a second to talk about how Republicans are trying to contort themselves before Trump. That states open governors race in November has two Republican candidates trying to explain their about-faces on Trump.

Former state lawmaker Jeff Johnson has the state Republican Partys backing, but has called Trump a jackass.

And former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican trying to get his old job back, called Trump unfit. In a debate this month, each accused the other of being a hypocrite and a poser.

In the Democratic primary, one of the top candidates, Atty. Gen.Lori Swanson, is in a nasty fight with one of her former aides about allegations that she used the position to advance her political career. She released his criminal record, and he filed a restraining order against her.
Three months ago, there was a firestorm of protest over a proposal to build a homeless shelter in the heart of Koreatown. Today, that battle is over, and a tentative agreement on a new site for the shelter has been reached between community leaders, service providers, advocates for the homeless and City Council President Herb Wesson, who represents the area. As best we can tell, this is an example of the system working the way it is supposed to, for the good of the homeless in the community and for the neighbors who live nearby.

Frankly, there wasnt much wrong with the previously proposed site  a city-owned parking lot on Vermont Avenue  except that its selection stirred outrage from Koreatown activists and business owners who said they had not been consulted before Wesson enthusiastically put it forth.

But Wesson declared himself willing to reconsider, and he spent weeks talking with all the parties, including community groups, about what would be a better location. The talks, facilitated by United Way official Chris Ko, led to the selection of the new site  a triangular snippet of the southern end of Lafayette Park, bordered by Wilshire Boulevard on the north, Hoover Street on the west and Lafayette Park Place on the east. Its barely in Koreatown, although its only about half a mile east of the original site. Its in Wessons district, near the border of Councilman Gil Cedillos district. The area around the park is inundated with homeless encampments, which makes it a great place to put a shelter. The plan is to encourage those sidewalk dwellers nearby to move into this shelter.

The goal of these community conversations should be to determine where to put shelters  not to reopen the question of whether shelters are needed.

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Winning community buy-in is a good thing in itself. But furthermore, as a result of the talks with the community, other sites have emerged as possible locations for housing. A privately owned site in the area is now being considered for permanent supportive housing. The controversial original site is being looked at as a location for low-income senior housing. And Wesson has offered his district office parking lot for a small shelter that might house 20 people.

Those are all positive outcomes, and they are the result of listening to the community rather than trying to impose solutions from above.

Of course, there are still issues that need to be resolved. Some community leaders are worried  as neighbors often are when they consider living near the homeless  about the people who will move into the shelter. Will they all have mental illness and substance abuse problems, and if so, will that create special kinds of problems for those who live nearby? Some neighbors are worried about security, or about noise. These concerns are understandable, and it is the job of the city and the service providers who will run the shelter to help mitigate them. Wesson has committed to continuing the community meetings so these kinds of questions can be answered.

Thats the way this process should work. Its challenging to figure out the perfect mix of location, neighborhood and housing for homeless people. Neighborhood groups should be able to ask legitimate questions and offer suggestions to elected officials and service providers.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

But community input is different from NIMBYISM or unwavering opposition. With tens of thousands of homeless people living on the streets, in their cars and in encampments throughout Los Angeles, it is imperative that new housing units and temporary shelters be built. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti has urged all City Council members to find locations (sooner rather than later) for shelters where homeless people can stay for several months until they can secure permanent housing. Wesson, to his credit, raised his hand first.

The goal of these community conversations should be to determine where to put shelters  not to reopen the question of whether shelters are needed. Community groups and politicians around the city should take away that lesson from the Koreatown brouhaha. This should not be seen as an invitation to yell at your council member until he or she scotches plans entirely for a shelter.

Shelters are essential all over the city. And thats just step one, just the interim plan. The ultimate, long-term goal is to build permanent housing for homeless people. City officials must not lose sight of that.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
People are making this so complicated.

A couple of weeks ago, the New York Times editorial board hired a technology writer, Sarah Jeong. When it was revealed that she had tweeted barbs against white people, conservatives formed a Twitter mob to demand her dismissal. While a few on the right said  or claimed  that they were offended by the substance of her tweets, the overriding passion derived from an understandable outrage about liberal double standards.

The argument took a familiar form: If a white or conservative person said something like this about any other group, her career would be over!

Many liberals responded that conservatives just dont get it. There is no such thing as anti-white racism because racism is all about power. Whites  or white men  have it, other groups dont.

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Perhaps because this theory defies lived experience, progressives offered a new defense: We dont really mean it when we attack the pale patriarchy.

The notion that racism is solely about institutionalized white power simply doesnt compute for most Americans.

Voxs Ezra Klein recalled that he didnt like the slogan Kill all men, which apparently became popular in his progressive circle a while back. I didnt like it. It made me feel defensive. It still makes me feel defensive.

But, Klein added, I also knew that wasnt what they were saying. They didnt want me put to death. They didnt want any men put to death. They just wanted things to be better for women.

Klein had a point. I have no doubt that many of his female  or male!  compatriots arent much interested in wholesale androcide. Nor do I think Jeong is interested in cancelling white people. These are shibboleths of the Woke Establishment.

But what Klein and others miss is that they cant play Humpty Dumpty when it comes to the language they use. When I use a word, Humpty Dumpty famously said, it means just what I choose it to mean  neither more nor less.

The notion that racism is solely about institutionalized white power simply doesnt compute for most Americans. In common parlance, racism means prejudice or bigotry on account of race or skin color. Period. The pathetic racists who marched on Washington this weekend dont have much cultural power. Surely that explains their racism more than it mitigates or absolves it.

If a neo-Nazi paints a swastika on a Jews front door, no decent person withholds judgment pending an audit of the victims social or institutional power. We just call it anti-Semitism. It makes no sense to claim that Louis Farrakhan is not a racist when he says, White people are potential humans  they havent evolved yet, but David Duke is a racist when he says something similar about blacks.

Even if we were to collectively accept that racism means structural oppression by whites, wed still need a word for hating or degrading people solely on account of their race. Why reinvent the wheel? And why muddle the principle that this is bad?

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

Think of it this way: Would you want your kids to go to a school where the white kids were taught that the slightest racial insensitivity was a profound sin but all the non-white kids were free to say whatever they wanted about the white kids?

It is right and proper to teach kids that bigotry against blacks or other particular groups is especially evil for historical reasons. But it is morally daft to celebrate or condescendingly explain away bigotry against whites as some sort of historical comeuppance for the sins  real or alleged  of their ancestors. (Its also counterproductive: Theres ample evidence that calling non-racist people racist actually makes them more racist.)

Double standards breed resentment and rage, regardless of ideological orientation. Theres a reason white supremacists co-opt the language of the left, demanding identity politics for white people. I consider myself a civil and human rights advocate focusing on the underrepresented Caucasian demographic, Jordan Kessler, the racist Unite the Right rally organizer, told NPR.

The double standard that says the left can say whatever it damn well pleases, but the right must constantly check its privilege, fuels hateful buffoons like Kessler.

jgoldberg@latimescolumnists.com

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
Newsoms budget proposes $3 million for Alzheimers research, brain task force By Melody Gutierrez Amyloid plaques, shown here in human brains, are a hallmark of Alzheimers disease. (UCLA School of Medicine) Gov. Gavin Newsom will call for the creation of a brain health task force and dedicate $3 million annually from the states general fund to Alzheimers disease research in the budget proposal he will release Thursday, a source close to the administration said. The money for Alzheimers research would target the new grants at understanding why the disease is more prevalent in women and people of color. Former California first lady and Alzheimers activist Maria Shriver pushed for the funding to be included in the state budget. Shriver said in a statement Wednesday that the funding would make California the first state to make understanding our brains a priority. The states former first lady, whose late father Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimers, founded the Womens Alzheimers Movement, an advocacy group raising awareness about womens increased risk for developing the disease. In 2011, she wrote a comprehensive assessment on the disease, to which Newsom  then mayor of San Francisco  contributed a portion called What one city is doing. This is personal to me, just like it is to millions of California families, Shriver said. Alzheimers is one of the largest medical, social and economic crises in our state, and of our time. I am so proud that, once again, California is leading the way. Wiping out Alzheimers is going to require bold thinking, and there is no doubt in my mind that California is home to bold thinkers who can make this happen. Facebook

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Gov. Gavin Newsom orders reinvention of troubled California DMV By Patrick McGreevy A line of people stretches around the South L.A. location of a California Department of Motor Vehicles Office on Aug. 7. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which has been plagued by hours-long wait times at field offices, computer crashes and voter registration errors involving tens of thousands of customers. Just a few days after taking office, Newsom appointed a top advisor to a new DMV Reinvention Strike Team to revamp the beleaguered agency over the next six months. By any metric, California DMV has been chronically mismanaged and failed in its fundamental mission to the state customers it serves and the state workers it employs, Newsom said in a statement, adding Its time for a reinvention. The governor appointed state Government Operations Agency Secretary Marybel Batjer to lead the strike team with a goal of modernizing the agency and enacting changes that improve customer satisfaction, employee performance and transparency. Newsom also ordered an accelerated review of initial findings of an ongoing audit ordered last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. The action was welcomed by lawmakers who have been critical of the DMV, including Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield). The egregious management failures of the DMV have been self-evident, which is why I have been calling for new leadership and a comprehensive independent audit of this troubled state agency over and over again as the problems grew significantly worse, Fong said. Last summer, Californians seeking new driver licenses complained of wait times of four to six hours at DMV offices, which the agency blamed partly on snafus caused by a rush of people trying to get Real IDs, a new identification card design required for airline passengers starting in late 2020. Delays were also blamed on computer crashes at DMV offices as the agency struggled to update its aging automation systems. The DMV also admitted that there were an estimated 23,000 errors as people either were unknowingly registered to vote or mistakes were made in their registration status as part of the states new motor voter program. The agency registered to vote as many as 1,500 people with legal U.S. residency but no citizenship. Last month, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto retired from the agency. Legislators were angered earlier this week when the DMV said it needed an additional $40 million to prevent the return of long lines at its field offices. In addition, the agency has been under fire for issuing driver licenses in the last year that do not comply with the federal Real ID standards requiring two forms of identification by applicants. Facebook

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California police unions are preparing to battle new transparency law in the courtroom By Maya Lau Just as a landmark police transparency law is going into effect, some California police agencies are shredding internal affairs documents and law enforcement unions are rushing to block the information from being released. The new law, which begins to unwind Californias strictest-in-the-nation protections over the secrecy of law enforcement records, opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. But the lawsuits and records destruction, which began even before the law took effect Jan. 1, could tie up the release of information for months or years, and in some instances, prevent it from ever being disclosed. The fact that police unions are challenging this law is on some level not surprising, said Peter Bibring, director of police practices at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, one of the principal supporters of the new law. They have a long history of fighting tooth and nail against transparency. Read More Facebook

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Secretary of State Alex Padilla begins second term with challenge to ensure every Californian is counted By Jazmine Ulloa Secretary of State Alex Padilla takes the oath of office as his family stands by his side on Monday in Sacramento. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn in for a second term on Monday, saying he would continue the battle to protect the right to vote at a time when voter suppression efforts, online disinformation campaigns and interference from foreign adversaries have polarized the public and threatened to undermine trust in U.S. elections. I am doubling down on our fight here in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., to defend our democracy, he said. Working on the front lines with so many of you, I know that our collective resolve has never been stronger. But the loudest applause came when Padilla promised to fight back against the Trump administrations changes to the U.S. census, saying he will ensure every Californian gets counted. Padilla, a former state senator and Los Angeles City Council member from the San Fernando Valley, led the cause for a new motor voter registration law in 2015, and a new system for online business registrations. But the programs have had experienced problems: More than 23,000 Californians were registered to vote incorrectly by the state DMV, the agency reported last year. On Monday, Padilla said he would continue to push back against false claims of voter fraud in California and pointed to the states voter turnout as proof that his office was involving more people in the democratic process, a promise he made when he was first sworn in four years ago. More than 12.7 million voters cast ballots in the Nov. 6 midterm election, representing roughly 65% of the states registered voters, the highest number of any midterm election since 1982, according to state certified results. I made that promise based on a shared belief that we are a stronger democracy and a better California when we hear all voices from all corners of California, and when those voices are not just heard but counted, Padilla said. Facebook

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Ricardo Lara, Californias first statewide officeholder to come out as gay, sworn in as insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara on the floor of the state Senate in 2016. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Ricardo Lara took the oath of office as California insurance commissioner on Monday, pledging action to boost healthcare coverage and combat climate change. Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, is the first elected statewide officeholder in California who has come out as gay. He began his speech in downtown Sacramento by thanking LGBTQ leaders who came before him and celebrated the occasion. Today, because of you, weve shattered the pink ceiling, Lara said. In his inaugural speech, Lara announced the creation of an executive position in his office to address climate change. There is no other industry that has the necessary expertise to ensure that California is prepared to mitigate and reduce risk to our communities and our environment, Lara said. Our planet cant wait. Im ready, and I hope you are too. Lara served as a state legislator and in 2017 introduced a bill to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state. He promised to work with new Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand coverage across California. Lara was sworn in by retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who declared unconstitutional Californias Proposition 8 gay marriage ban. State Sen. President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) was on hand for the ceremony along with multiple other state lawmakers. Facebook

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New California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she will help expand access to universities in the state New Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, center, is shown in June talking with attendees at the Power to the Polls rally in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) More Californians should be given access to public universities, Eleni Kounalakis said as she took the oath of office Monday to become the states first woman elected lieutenant governor. Kounalakis was given the oath of office by Gov. Gavin Newsom, her predecessor in the job, who pledged they would work together. As lieutenant governor, Kounalakis serves on the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees, she noted in a speech at her swearing-in ceremony at the main Sacramento Library. In that role, she said, she will be committed to expanding access to affordable public higher education here in our state. Its wise, its smart and it is the best way to address our rapidly changing digital economy. Kounalakis is former president of a development company founded by her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, and served during the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary. In November, she won her first run for statewide office. Also attending the ceremony were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Facebook

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California meets Dutch Newsom, who steals the show at his fathers inauguration By Taryn Luna Gov. Gavin Newsom gives his inaugural address while holding his youngest son, Dutch. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In the California political world, all eyes were on Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday until his 2-year-old son stole the show. Dutch, the youngest of four children in the Newsom brood, climbed onstage in the middle of his fathers inaugural address in a tent outside the Capitol on Monday. The unplanned moment saw the 51-year-old governors big day interrupted by the toddler, bringing levity to the ceremony. Newsom was recounting Gov. Jerry Browns last inaugural speech and reference to the Sermon on the Mount, a biblical story about two men who built separate homes on sand and rock, when Dutch approached his father, a pacifier in his mouth and blanket in hand. Now more than ever we Californians know how much a house matters and children matter, Newsom said, improvising as he scooped the boy into his arms. The governor kissed Dutch on the cheek and held him for several minutes as he continued with the speech. This is exactly how it was scripted, Newsom joked. Newsom eventually put his child down and Dutch walked to the edge of the stage before retreating behind the podium to hide from his mother, First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The crowd roared. Siebel Newsom was able to briefly divert her son only for him to return to the stage minutes later. She grabbed him again and this time, the crying toddler did not reemerge. When fires strikes, when kids cry and the earth shakes, well be there for each other, Newsom said. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who said the moment humanized Newsom, threw cold water on any theories that Dutchs cameo was planned. No, I know it was not, Garcetti said with a laugh after Newsoms speech concluded. I could see that look of absolute abject terror [on Newsoms face]. Weve all been there. Kids always think its about themselves and theyve proved it. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) agreed. I worked in early childhood education for 20 years and theres no way you can ever get a child to do anything when you want them to do it, Rendon said. Facebook

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Fiona Ma takes oath as Californias new treasurer By Liam Dillon State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Fiona Ma took the oath of office in Sacramento on Monday as the states 34th treasurer, promising to boost Californias economy. Ma previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the state Assembly and on the California Board of Equalization. I want to thank everyone for entrusting me with this important job. I understand my role here as your state treasurer is to build that financial wall around California so that we will remain the fifth-largest economy, Ma said in brief remarks. That is my promise to you. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye administered the oath to Ma. Following the ceremony, Ma held an ice cream social for guests. On Wednesday, she will host a public event in San Francisco to celebrate her swearing-in. State Treasurer Fiona Ma takes the oath of office. (Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Times) Facebook

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Expectations are high for newly sworn-in state schools chief Tony Thurmond Tony Thurmond shakes hands with retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco after taking the oath of office. (Melody Gutierrez / Los Angeles Times) Tony Thurmond took the oath of office as Californias state superintendent of public schools on Monday, promising a labor-friendly agenda before the teachers, students and Democratic officials who filled an auditorium at McClatchy High School in Sacramento to watch him being sworn in. We cant close the achievement gap without a great teacher at the head of every class, Thurmond said Monday to applause. We have to make sure we provide quality compensation and support to our teachers and our classified staff and all the educators who support our kids. Thurmond, a Bay Area Democrat who served in the state Assembly, won a hotly contested and expensive race with the help of labor leaders against charter school executive Marshall Tuck. The race took several days to sort out after Tuck held an initial lead in early returns on election night before falling behind thereafter. Thurmond was sworn in Monday by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco. He was joined on stage by labor rights leader Dolores Huerta and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). Thurmonds former colleagues in the state Assembly took turns praising him and promising to be an ally in improving schools. Many said they expected Thurmond would be a strong leader focused on improving student outcomes. We know we are going to work hard to give you the money you need and the budget you need to fully fund education and our schools so we can put our money where our mouth is and make sure our children have everything they need, Assemblywoman Connie Leyva (D-Chino Hills) said. As state superintendent, Thurmond will oversee the education of 6.2 million students at 10,000 schools. Thurmond was a member of the West Contra Costa County School Board and a Richmond city councilman before he was elected to the state Assembly. Tony is the right man at the right time to fight the federal, Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos anti-child, anti-education, anti-civil and -human rights agenda, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. Tony is going to do that for us. Facebook

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State Controller Betty Yee takes oath of office with call for more affordable housing and healthcare State Controller Betty Yee California Controller Betty Yee took the oath of office Monday for a second term, saying she still has work to do addressing problems that include a lack of affordability in housing, healthcare and higher education. A San Francisco native, Yee is the chief financial officer of California  the fifth-largest economy in the world  having first won election to the post in 2014 before winning reelection in November. No region is spared from the widening inequality and increased poverty that plague our state, fueled by the lack of affordable, stable housing, the cost of healthcare and transportation, limited educational opportunities, student loan debt, displacement caused by disasters and more, she said. Yee was administered the oath of office by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento before an overflow crowd that included state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. As a public official it is about governance that delivers results and stays accountable while upholding the underlying value of dignity for all, Yee said. Facebook

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California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra begins new term promising to fight Trump policies California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Monday took the oath of office for a new term, saying he would continue his role as a leading challenger to Trump administration actions that he believes are counter to the states interests. Becerra, a former 12-term congressman, has become a national opposition figure to Trump, having sued the federal government 45 times since he was appointed as the states first Latino attorney general in 2017. Weve been a little busy stopping the dysfunction and insanity in Washington, D.C., from infecting California, Becerra told an audience during a swearing-in ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento. Whether its the criminals on our streets or the conman in the boardrooms or highest office of the land, Becerra said, the California Department of Justice, well, weve got your back. Becerra won his first statewide election as the states top cop in November, two years after he filled the post vacated when predecessor Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has peppered the Trump administration with lawsuits challenging federal policies on healthcare, the U.S. census, the environment and immigration. Our state builds dreams, not walls, he said in a direct criticism of Trumps proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Just last week, Becerra led a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general in announcing an appeal of a federal judge in Texas that ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. The ACA has been the law for nearly a decade and is the backbone of our healthcare system, Becerra said last week. This case impacts nearly every American  workers covered by employers, families, women, children, young adults and seniors  so we will lead the ACAs defense as long and far as it takes. Facebook

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California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Daraka Larimore-Hall announces bid to lead group By Christine Mai-Duc Daraka Larimore-Hall. (Dominic Parisi / Courtesy of Daraka Larimore-Hall) Daraka Larimore-Hall, a top official at the California Democratic Party, said Monday hes running to replace former chairman Eric Bauman, who resigned abruptly in November after being confronted with allegations of sexual misconduct. Larimore-Hall, a longtime state party activist and former chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County, was one of the party leaders who urged Bauman to resign following the allegations. In an email to supporters announcing his bid, he urged both structural and cultural change at every level of our Party. He also repeated his call for a top-to-bottom investigation of the allegations, the party and its culture. In a Times investigation, 10 party activists and staff members said Bauman made crude sexual comments and engaged in unwanted touching and physical intimidation in professional settings. In order to be where we need to be for 2020, we have to confront the culture of abuse and fear that allowed someone to behave in such a vile way for so long, Larimore-Hall said in an interview. We cant brush it aside or think that our activists or our candidates or our donors are going to forget about this overnight. Larimore-Hall said his first priority would be to fully investigate the allegations and restore rank-and-file confidence in the partys leadership. The second would be to refocus the party on political priorities as the 2020 presidential election nears. The Bauman episode, Larimore-Hall said, threatens to derail the Democrats plans to help defeat President Trump and keep the seven congressional seats gained in the midterm elections. Its definitely a crisis, Larimore-Hall said. But the component parts  the energy, the enthusiasm, the volunteers, the infrastructure  its still there. We just need to direct it toward something. Larimore-Hall was elected vice chairman of the state party in February following Baumans razor-thin victory over Bay Area activist Kimberly Ellis. Ellis has announced another bid for the chairmanship and former state Senate leader Kevin de Leon is also mulling a run. The vote will take place at the partys May convention in San Francisco. Facebook

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Newsom will vow to seize this moment, and swipe at Trump in Monday inaugural address By Melanie Mason Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family attend an Inauguration Family Event at the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Building on the theme of California exceptionalism that defined his campaign, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will depict the state as a guardian of progressive values and a counterweight to President Trump in his inaugural address Monday, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. What we do today is even more consequential, because of whats happening in our country, read the excerpts obtained by The Times. Peoples lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe  they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us. The future depends on us. And we will seize this moment. The speech casts Californias political stakes in a decidedly national scope, promising an agenda that will unify and be an example to the rest of the country. It contrasts the governing goals of Newsom, a Democrat, with that of Trump, the incoming governors perennial foil. We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House, the excerpts say. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people. Newsom campaigned on an ambitious and wide-ranging platform, promising sweeping solutions on housing, healthcare, education and other issues that rank among Californians top concerns. In the weeks after his election, he struck a more muted tone, taking pains to emphasize his fiscal caution and need for patience in achieving those goals. The inaugural excerpts indicate a return to lofty pledges. While Newsom will vow to prepare for uncertain times ahead by building budgetary reserves and paying down debt, the prepared remarks quickly turn to a vow to be bold. Newsom has already floated several proposals for his first budget that carry significant price tags, including a nearly $2-billion plan to boost early childhood development for low-income families and a dramatic expansion of paid family leave from six weeks to six months. When asked for a preview of his inauguration speech during a news conference Sunday evening, Newsom predicted pundits would criticize his address as short on specifics. Well, of course, Im at an inaugural, Newsom said. But Ill be very detailed in the budget, a few days later. And then we will architect, in much more nuance and detail, in state of the state. I really see this as three opportunities  to communicate over the next few weeks our agenda, our vision for the state. Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. Read More Facebook

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Newsom-hosted benefit concert raises nearly $5 million for wildfire victims By Taryn Luna Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom speaks at a concert to benefit wildfire victims at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) On the eve of the gubernatorial inauguration, Californias political class rubbed elbows in Sacramento for a benefit concert hosted by Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and headlined by the rapper Pitbull. Newsom told the crowd gathered at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday evening that the fundraiser brought in nearly $5 million for the California Wildfire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the families of fallen firefighters and communities affected by wildfires. You know, a lot of folks feel anxious about not just politics, but government, Newsom said on stage before introducing the rapper and activist Common. But those firefighters, they are the antidote to the fear and cynicism; they are the manifestation of why government matters and why you should care. Top sponsors, including Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente and other interest groups, paid up to $1 million each to support the cause and curry favor with the new administration. Nathan Click, a spokesman for Newsom, said organizers sold more than 7,000 tickets. Several state lawmakers attended the concert alongside Capitol staff, lobbyists and business types, who mingled on the floor of the arena and offstage in private VIP areas. The rock band X Ambassadors and a duo called the Cold Weather Sons from the town of Paradise, which was destroyed by fire in November, were among several performers who entertained the crowd during the four-hour event. The California Rises concert is the final in a series of festivities held Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of Californias 40th governor. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum and his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Newsoms inauguration is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday on the steps of the Capitol. Facebook

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Inauguration fever hits Sacramento as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom prepares to take office By Phil Willon Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom holds his son, Dutch, as he and his family attend an inaugural event at the at the state Railroad Museum Sunday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom doesnt officially take the oath of office until Monday, but the parties celebrating his inauguration were in full swing all day Sunday. Newsom and his family were mobbed by well-wishers at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront in the afternoon, where his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families. He just has charisma. Hes able to really connect with people, said Rosielyn Pulmano, an attorney from Elk Grove who came to see Newsom with her husband, two sons and her niece. I think he cares about working Californians and a lot of their issues. Newsom arrived with his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their four young children, and the governor-elect spent a good deal of his time wading through crowds, taking selfies with supporters and signing autographs as music boomed in the background. As the family toured the inside of the museums locomotives and the bevy of exhibits, Newsoms two-year-old son, Dutch, was wide-eyed, impressed by all the train cars and seemingly a little overwhelmed by the crowd. Newsom said that for his son, all that was missing from the museum was Thomas the Train, popular fictional locomotive in childrens books and cartoons . If theres one thing I can contribute to Sacramento maybe its getting a Thomas the Train exhibit for the two years olds, Newsom joked when talking with reporters afterward. Newsom said he wanted to include such an event in his inaugural festivities to highlight families and children, whose wellbeing will be among the top priorities of his administration. Youll see that not only as a preamble to the inaugural and the budget that well be submitting next week, but I think itll be a big part of the administration, Newsom said. The museum event followed a private, high-dollar brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum. A steady rain failed to dissuade as many as 200 guests who sipped wine and dined on chicken and salmon while waiting for a photo with Californias new first couple. Seen at the event were representatives of some of the states most powerful political interests, among them organized labor, healthcare companies and tribal gaming interests. A few other high-profile guests attended, too, including Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants, and Erika Jayne, a singer and cast member of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Im excited to see someone like Gavin  young, vibrant  taking over the state and leading us into the future, Jayne said after attending the brunch with her husband, attorney Tom Girardi. Hes got a lot of great plans. Attendees said the event, which was closed to reporters and held under a tent in the museums outdoor atrium, did not include prepared remarks by Newsom. Among those seen leaving the event were representatives of AT&T, the California Medical Assn., Uber, Kaiser Permanente and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. A fundraising invitation obtained by The Times offered bundled tickets to all of the inauguration events, including those on Sunday and the Monday ceremony, ranging in price from $25,000 to $200,000. The money will be collected by a committee specifically organized to pay for Newsoms inaugural weekend. Sundays festivities are scheduled to end with a benefit concert headlined by Pitbull at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBAs Sacramento Kings, to raise money for the victims of Californias recent deadly wildfires. Among the attendees at @GavinNewsoms pre-inaugural leadership brunch: Real Housewife of

Bev Hills @erikajayne. Im excited to see someone like Gavinyoung, vibranttaking over the state and leading us into the future. Hes got a lot of great plans. pic.twitter.com/561NHiy2XQ  Melanie Mason (@melmason) January 6, 2019 Facebook

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As Newsom inaugural events begin, he unveils more state budget promises on education and paid family leave Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, seen here last April, will propose new state budget efforts on paid family leave and education subsidies. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Californias incoming governor, who must send his first state budget plan to the Legislature this week, has already signaled a significant new focus on programs to help families and children from infancy to college. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom campaigned on a platform that included a number of child-focused efforts specifically aimed at helping lower-income families. The price tag for the initial efforts is expected to approach $2 billion  a cost paid out of an unrestricted tax revenue windfall that could be one of the largest in state history. Newsom may also seek help for families through new subsidies paid by California employers. The governor-elect is expected to propose a dramatic expansion of paid parental leave  from six weeks to six months  according to an internal document provided by a source close to the Newsom transition team, first reported on Sunday by the New York Times. The document doesnt offer a full explanation for how the program will be funded, saying instead that the budget will set a goal of ensuring that all newborns and newly adopted babies can be cared for by a parent or a close family member for the first six months. Employers across the state are currently assessed a payroll tax that helps offer a subsidy to parents who temporarily leave their job to care for a newborn. Newsoms plan, according to the document, would pay for some of the new costs by shrinking the mandated cash reserve of the state fund that administers the program, allowing more of the money to be paid in benefits. The increase in paid leave would not all happen at once but instead be phased in over a multi-year period. A task force to help implement the expanded care plan is also envisioned, according to the document. It would determine whether two parents could split the six months of paid leave and whether an extended family member could be enlisted to help care for the child of a single parent over the six-month period. The incoming administrations focus on young children will also include $1.8 billion in new spending on early childhood education programs, with a particular focus on training childcare workers and pushing for more California schools to offer full-day kindergarten. Those costs, according to an overview memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times, are considered to be a one-time expense while leaving the long-term costs of the effort to be determined later. More community college students would get free tuition under a third initiative expected in the new governors budget plan. Newsom will propose spending $40 million to offer a second year of tuition-free college to California students, according to an outline provided by a transition official, first reported by Politico. Students are already eligible for a single year of paid tuition under a plan agreed to by Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers in 2017. The incoming governor embraced the idea of free community college during the 2018 campaign as part of a broader focus on additional investments in higher education. Education is an economic development strategy, Newsom said at a higher education forum last spring. We need to significantly increase the investment from the general fund of this state on higher education. Theres no greater higher return on investment. Whether the proposal would be targeted to students based on a familys financial need is unclear. Many low-income students are already eligible for fee waivers at community colleges. The new governor must submit his full state budget plan to lawmakers no later than Thursday. Facebook

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Gavin Newsom and his family decide Sacramento is the place to be The Old Governors Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will move his family into the mansion. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family will give up the Marin County life and move to the Victorian-style governors mansion in Sacramento after he takes the oath of office Monday. Newsom and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had debated whether or when to relocate to the state capital since his election in November. The couple have four young children and expressed reservations about moving in the middle of a school year. To best serve the people of California while also maximizing family time together, the Newsoms have therefore decided to move to Sacramento, said Newsoms spokesman, Nathan Click. On Monday, they will move into the Governors Mansion  along with their four children, their two family dogs, and their family bunny rabbit  and reside there for the immediate future. The Newsoms currently live in Marin County. Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife, Ann Gust Brown, moved into the grand house in 2015 after it underwent $4.1 million in renovations to update electrical and plumbing systems, as well as to remove lead-based paint and install a fire sprinkler system and other security features. The mansion was built in 1877 and has been home to 14 governors, but before Brown it had not housed a California governor for nearly half a century. The state bought the mansion from a wealthy Sacramento hardware merchant, Albert Gallatin, in 1903 for $32,500. It was one of the few California homes at that time to have indoor plumbing. Facebook

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Newsom announces top labor, business liaisons as he prepares to take office Julie Su will be secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday named two advisors on issues related to the California economy, each recognized for their expertise on business and labor. The incoming governor will appoint Julie Su as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Lenny Mendonca as chief economic and business advisor and director of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. Su, 49, has served as state labor commissioner under Gov. Jerry Brown since 2011 and has led an office tasked with the enforcement of Californias labor laws. She won a MacArthur Foundation genius grant in 2001 and previously worked as a civil rights attorney representing low-wage workers. In her new position, Su will be tasked with coordinating the work of several workforce departments in state government, including those that administer unemployment benefits and oversee the relationship between agriculture workers and employers. Mendonca, 57, has been a longtime advocate for rethinking government operations as co-chairman of the nonprofit organization California Forward. Previously, he was partner at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. While he will be a key advisor to Newsom on the states economy, Mendonca will also lead the office often referred to as Go-Biz, designated as a high-level way to encourage job growth and economic development. In his new role, Mendonca will help ensure that California is rolling out the welcome mat to current and future California businesses and growing a sustainable economy for every Californian, said a statement from the Newsom transition team. Newsom will take the oath of office as governor Monday. He has previously selected key advisors on the state budget, legislative affairs and the executive branchs wide array of agencies and departments. Facebook

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Joshua Groban, aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, sworn in to California Supreme Court By Taryn Luna California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban gives remarks after he is sworn into the court by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. (Taryn Luna) California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban, a lawyer and longtime aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, was sworn into the states highest court Thursday in Sacramento. The ceremony marked Browns fourth appointment to the state Supreme Court and gave the seven-member bench a Democratic majority. We live in a highly chaotic, ever-changing and ever-confusing world, Groban said in prepared remarks at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. But Im happy to report that Im joining an institution whose fundamental purpose, at core, is to provide stability and consistency amidst this chaotic place we live. I look forward to doing that with a sense of reflection, respect, fidelity to the law and compassion. None of Browns appointees, Groban included, have judicial experience. Groban served as legal counsel to Browns 2010 gubernatorial campaign and joined the administration as a senior advisor to the governor, overseeing the appointments of some 600 judges over the last eight years. Prior to working with Brown, Groban, 45, practiced law for more than a decade. In perhaps his final public appearance before his successor, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, takes office next week, Brown pushed back on notions that he stacked the court. I dont want this to be known as a Brown court, the governor said before administering the judicial oath of office. First of all, the so-called Brown appointments do not agree with themselves and nor should they. They are individuals. They will differ. Its not anybodys court. The governor called the court a high calling and said Groban possesses the values for the job. Probably, next to my wife, Ive talked to no person as much as Ive talked to Josh Groban, Brown said. I think youve talked to him more, Californias First Lady Anne Gust Brown interjected. I cant tell you what the hell hes going to do, Brown later quipped. I warned him, dont screw up, at least not at first. Facebook

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California campaign watchdog agency seeks law barring use of campaign funds to fight harassment claims Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). ( (Steve Yeater / Associated Press)) Elected officials accused of harassment or discrimination would be barred from using political contributions to cover their legal defense costs under legislation proposed by Californias campaign watchdog agency. The state Fair Political Practices Commission has agreed to pursue a law change to clear up confusion after an attorney for one former state lawmaker argued political funds could be used in such legal defenses. Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said putting a prohibition into the law would provide some much needed clarity. As chair, I would like to show the public their lawmakers are held to a standard that is above reproach, Germond said in a statement. People dont give money to campaigns for lawmakers to use it to defend their own bad behavior, so lawmakers shouldnt be able to use it in that manner. The issue came up a year ago when an attorney for former Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) sought a formal opinion from the FPPC after the Senate launched an investigation that later concluded Mendoza likely engaged in a pattern of harassment against female aides. Mendoza resigned in February under threat of expulsion by the Senate. In a Jan. 10, 2018, letter, Cassandra Ferrannini, an attorney for Mendoza, wrote to the FPPC that she believed Mendoza should be allowed to establish a legal defense fund able to defray his legal expenses in defending himself against the allegations. The use of campaign funds for attorneys fees under these circumstances would fall squarely within the scope of legislative matters, since it involves the alleged conduct of a legislator with regard to legislative staff that he supervised, Ferrannini wrote. The commission staff originally issued an advice letter that said Mendoza may use campaign and legal defense funds to defend himself from claims of sexual harassment that arose directly out of his activities or status as a candidate or elected officer. But the panel later rescinded the letter after some members questioned using campaign funds to fight sexual harassment claims. That left uncertainty about what was allowed, which Germond said could be cleared up by a new law. The FPPC is still looking for a legislator to carry the bill, a spokesman said. Facebook

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Californias landmark police transparency law takes effect after court denies police union effort to block it California Supreme Court building (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) A new state law allowing the public disclosure of internal police shooting investigations has gone into effect after the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a bid by a police union to block it. The law opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. challenged the law last month, asking state Supreme Court justices to decide that the law only apply to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. The court rejected that request Wednesday, allowing members of the public to seek all applicable records held by police departments. Union president Grant Ward said in a statement that his organization was disappointed with the decision and is now seeking other legal options. We feel this is a statewide issue and should be considered accordingly, Ward said. Last month, the city of Inglewood authorized the destruction of more than 100 police shooting investigations and other records in advance of Jan. 1, when the disclosure law was scheduled to take effect. California law requires police departments to keep such records for five years, and Inglewood City Council voted to destroy records older than that. Mayor James T. Butts has said the decision had nothing to do with the new law. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Michel Moore has said that complying with the new disclosure rules could take hundreds of thousands of hours of work. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of the transparency law, has said she has no immediate plans to propose changes to it. Facebook

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Few complaints of racial profiling are sustained by police agencies in California, state panel finds CHP Officer J. Nelson stands outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown as activists in 2015 support requiring the tracking of police stops. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Law enforcement agencies in California sustain few citizen complaints of racial or identity profiling, according to a report Wednesday by a state panel set up to help reduce bias in policing. The states Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board recommended in its annual report that law enforcement agencies improve training and adopt clear guidelines for tracking and reporting data on who is stopped by officers. The panel said that 453 law enforcement agencies in the state received 9,459 civilian complaints in 2017, including 865 complaints alleging racial or identity profiling. Of the racial and identity complaints that reached a disposition that year, 1.5% were sustained, 14.6% resulted in officers being exonerated and 83.9% of complaints were not sustained or were determined to be unfounded, the report said. A clearer picture of the issue is expected from a 2015 law that requires police agencies to report demographic data on all detentions and searches. The first reports by the eight largest agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, are due to be submitted in April. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, whose office oversees the board, said tracking of all detentions and searches will be helpful to understand the scope of the issue. The Boards recommendations will help make our law enforcement agencies more transparent and promote critical steps to enhance, and in some cases, repair the public trust, Becerra said in a statement Wednesday. Facebook

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California housing crisis podcast: What Minneapolis decision to end single-family zoning might mean for California A view of downtown Minneapolis in 2014 (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images) Theres a national movement brewing to roll back zoning rules in cities that only allow one house on a plot of land. The epicenter of that movement is Minneapolis, which passed a plan last month to eliminate single-family zoning citywide and let landowners build duplexes and triplexes on residential property. On this episode of Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, we talk about the reasons why Minneapolis leaders took this action, including their desire to combat a history of racial exclusion and spur more housing density to fight climate change. We also debate how Minneapolis decision might affect housing politics in California. Our guest is Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender, who helped shepherd the new zoning rules to passage and a former San Francisco city planner. The episode also crowns 2018s Avocado of the Year  the most ridiculous story exemplifying Californias housing woes  and includes our predictions for the most under-the-radar important themes in housing politics in 2019. Gimme Shelter, a biweekly podcast that looks at why its so expensive to live in California and what the state can do about it, features Liam Dillon, who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau, and Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CALmatters. You can subscribe to Gimme Shelter on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Facebook

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How young immigrant Dreamers made flipping control of the House a personal quest By Jazmine Ulloa Gabriela Cruz, who was brought to the U.S. illegally when she was 1, couldnt vote, but in the final hours before the Nov. 6 election, she was making one last run to get people to the polls. The sun was setting in Modesto when she found Ronald Silva, 41, smoking a cigarette on a tattered old couch behind a group home. He politely tried to wave her off until she reminded him he had a right that she as an immigrant without citizenship didnt have. It could really make a change for us, said Cruz, 29. Read More Facebook

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Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose almost $2 billion for early childhood programs (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Seeking to frame his new administration as one with a firm focus on closing the gap between children from affluent and poor families, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose spending some $1.8 billion on an array of programs designed to boost Californias enrollment in early education and child-care programs. Newsoms plan, which he hinted at in a Fresno event last month, will be a key element in the state budget proposal he will submit to the Legislature shortly after taking office Monday, a source close to the governor-elects transition team said. The spending would boost programs designed to ensure children enter kindergarten prepared to learn, closing what some researchers have called the readiness gap that exists based on a familys income. It would also phase in an expansion of prekindergarten and offer money to help school districts that dont have facilities for full-day kindergarten. The fact that hes making significant investments with his opening budget is really exciting, Ted Lempert, president of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Children Now, said Tuesday. Whats exciting is the comprehensiveness of it, because its saying were going to focus on prenatal through age 5. A broad overview document reviewed by The Times on Tuesday shows that most of the outlay under the plan  $1.5 billion  would be a one-time expense in the budget year that begins July 1. Those dollars would be a single infusion of cash, an approach favored by Gov. Jerry Brown in recent years. Most of the money would be spent on efforts to expand child-care services and kindergarten classes. By law, a governor must submit a full budget to the Legislature no later than Jan. 10. Lawmakers will spend the winter and spring reviewing the proposal and must send a final budget plan to Newsom by June 15. Though legislative Democrats have pushed for additional early childhood funding in recent years  a key demand of the Legislative Womens Caucus  those actions have typically come late in the budget-writing season in Sacramento. Quite frankly, to start out with a January proposal that includes that investment in Californias children reflects a new day, state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said. The governor-elect will propose a $750-million boost to kindergarten funding, aimed at expanding facilities to allow full-day programs. A number of school districts offer only partial-day programs, leaving many low-income families to skip enrolling their children because kindergarten classes end in the middle of the workday. Because the money would not count toward meeting Californias three-decades-old education spending guarantee under Proposition 98, which sets a minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges, it will not reduce planned spending on other education services. Close behind in total cost is a budget proposal by Newsom to help train child-care workers and expand local facilities already subsidized by the state, as well as those serving parents who attend state colleges and universities. Together, those efforts could cost $747 million, according to the budget overview document. An expansion of prekindergarten programs would be phased in over three years at a cost of $125 million in the first year. The multiyear rollout would, according to the budget overview, ensure the system can plan for the increase in capacity. Lempert said the Newsom proposal is notable for trying to avoid the kinds of battles that in recent years pitted prekindergarten and expanded child care against each other for additional taxpayer dollars. The reality is we need to expand both simultaneously, he said. Another $200 million of the proposal would be earmarked for programs that provide home visits to expectant parents from limited-income families and programs that provide healthcare screenings for young children. Some of the money would come from the states Medi-Cal program, and other money from federal matching dollars. Funding for the home visits program was provided in the budget Brown signed last summer; the Newsom effort would build on that. Emphasizing a policy area with broad appeal in his first state budget could reflect Newsoms political sensibility about the challenges ahead. Democratic lawmakers and interest groups will be especially eager to see how Newsom addresses the demand for an overhaul of healthcare coverage in California  especially after a 2017 effort to create a single-payer, universal system fizzled. The path forward on healthcare is complex and costly, making early childhood education a more achievable goal in the governor-elects early tenure. Newsom is likely to face considerable demands for other additional spending. In November, the Legislatures independent analysts projected that continued strength in tax revenues could produce a cash reserve of some $29 billion over the next 18 months. Almost $15 billion of that could be in unrestricted reserves, the kind that can be spent on any number of government programs. Kim Belshe, executive director of the child advocacy organization First 5 LA and a former state health and human services secretary, said the initial Newsom budget proposal suggests the next governor will focus on a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for children from low-income families. School-ready kids deserve quality early learning, strong and well-supported families, and access to early screening services, Belshe said. Newsom understands the whole child, multifaceted needs of our kids and is clearly ready to lead. Mitchell, the chair of the Senate budget committee, said shes eager to see the details of the governor-elects proposal to determine whether it might signal the beginning of an even broader expansion of early education efforts. Similar efforts have been hindered by a lack of money and ongoing debate over which services to help children 5 and younger need state funding the most. Universal preschool, in particular, has been debated for more than a decade. California voters rejected a ballot measure to fund a full prekindergarten system in 2006. Its clear theres a new movement afoot trying to engage on investment for universal preschool, Mitchell said. How we invest, and how we prioritize that investment, is going to be a great conversation for the coming months. Facebook

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California Politics Podcast: A final conversation with Gov. Jerry Brown No Californian has served longer as governor, signed more laws, granted clemency to more felons or waged more high-profile campaigns than Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown will leave behind a unique legacy when he packs his last belongings for the trip from the governors mansion in Sacramento to his Northern California ranch. His final two terms in office could be his most consequential. The governor reviewed some of the more notable moments from the past eight years in a far-reaching interview with The Times on Dec. 22. This weeks podcast episode includes extended portions of that conversation. Facebook

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A sagging economy could doom a 2020 ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes, Gov. Jerry Brown says Gov. Jerry Brown, at his Colusa County home on Saturday, said a ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes could struggle in 2020. (Randall Benton/For The Times) An effort to remove commercial property in California from the tax limits imposed by the landmark Proposition 13 could be felled by an economic slowdown, Gov. Jerry Brown said. In a Saturday interview with The Times at his Northern California ranch, Brown said liberal activist groups that have successfully placed the proposal on the November 2020 statewide ballot shouldnt read too much into early poll numbers showing support for the plan. That isnt as easy as you think, Brown said. Because youre going to be in a downturn of the business cycle. And youre talking many kinds of business. And the cost of doing business in California is already high. The ballot measure would allow counties to more frequently assess the market value of commercial property in California than allowed under Proposition 13, a 1978 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to place strict limits on assessing property values and taxation for both homeowners and businesses. An analysis of the new measure, which qualified in October for the 2020 ballot, estimates it could bring in some $10.5 billion a year in new tax revenue. The business community will fight it, Brown said. And the minimum wage, the family leave, the environmental rules  business[es] have left California, thats going to be the big argument. And I think thats something you really have to think a lot about. The governor, who leaves office early next month due to term limits, declined to either endorse or oppose the ballot measure. He said Californias economic health in two years time could be a key factor in how voters weigh the proposal. Well be in a recession by then, Brown said. So its anybodys guess. Facebook

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Inglewood to destroy more than 100 police shooting records that could otherwise become public under new California law By Jack Dolan Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) The city of Inglewood has authorized the shredding of more than 100 police shooting and other internal investigation records weeks before a new state law could allow the public to access them for the first time. The decision, made at a City Council meeting earlier this month, has troubled civil liberties advocates who were behind the state legislation, Senate Bill 1421, which takes effect Jan. 1. The law opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The legislature passed SB 1421 because communities demanded an end to the secrecy cloaking police misconduct and use of force, Marcus Benigno, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said in a statement. Inglewood PDs decision to purge records undermines police accountability and transparency against the will of Californians. California law says police departments must retain records of officer shootings and internal misconduct investigations for five years. The city of Inglewood, however, had kept records longer than that, including case files of police shootings dating to 1991. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of SB 1421, intended for her bill to allow public access to all qualifying records held by a department, no matter the date of the incident. Inglewood City Council approved the destruction of records that have been in the police departments possession  more than 100 cases  longer than required by law. The city staff report and council resolution describing the action makes no mention of the new police transparency law. Instead it says the affected records are obsolete, occupy valuable space, and are of no further use to the police department. It added the traditional method of destroying such records is to shred them. It is unclear whether the records have since been destroyed. A spokesman for the Inglewood Police Department along with Inglewoods city manager, attorney, clerk, four council members and Mayor James T. Butts, a former Santa Monica police chief, did not respond to requests for comment. Inglewoods City Hall is closed the last two weeks of December. The Inglewood Police Department has a reputation for secrecy and using excessive force. In 2008, the departments officers fatally shot four men in as many months, three of whom turned out to be unarmed. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights probe and found significant flaws in the way the department oversaw use-of-force cases and investigated complaints against officers. Civil rights advocates still question why Inglewood police opened fire on a couple found sleeping in a car in 2016, killing them both. California police have a long history of shredding records to avoid scrutiny of their actions. In the 1970s, the LAPD famously destroyed more than four tons of personnel records after defense attorneys began requesting them as part of criminal cases against their clients. The move resulted in the dismissal of more than a hundred criminal complaints. In response, the Legislature demanded that records be preserved but then took other measures, supported by police unions, to ensure the public had very little access to them, making California the most secretive state in the nation when it comes to police misconduct. Skinners legislation begins to unwind those laws, which have been on the books since 1978. No video or audio of the Dec. 11 council action is available on the citys website and neither are meeting minutes or any record of the decision. A city spokeswoman, Courtney Torres, confirmed that the council had voted in favor of the police records purge, and said all the relevant reasons for the decision were included in the city staff report. The Jan. 1 implementation for SB 1421 has prompted other police officials to act. A police union in San Bernardino is asking the state Supreme Court to determine that Skinners bill only applies to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner earlier this month warning that complying with the law in regard to older records in the departments possession could take hundreds of thousands of work hours. Facebook

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Federal officials question California DMVs process for issuing Real IDs (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has notified the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its process for providing residents with federally recognized identification cards is not adequate. DMV spokesman Armando Botello said Friday that 2.3 million residents who received Real IDs under the current process will have to submit additional documentation when their cards are renewed in five years but will be able to use them in the meantime. The DMV is developing a way for residents to submit more documentation online or via email to comply with the stricter federal requirement, he said. But some state legislators are upset about delays in notifying them of the problem and say Homeland Security could eventually require additional documentation provided by current holders. The DMV has known for a month that millions of Real IDs theyve been dolling out are potentially invalid, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said. The DMVs only hope is that the Department of Homeland Security takes pity on California and gives the DMV more time to fix this mess. Real IDs are a new kind of driver license and identification card that federal law will require legal residents to present when boarding domestic flights or visiting military bases and other federal facilities starting Oct. 1, 2020. The DMV has only been requiring one form of documentation, including a current lease or utility bill, to verify the residence of a card applicant. But the federal government said in a Nov. 21 letter to the agency that two such documents are needed. On Friday, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto released a letter defending the current process but said her agency will start requiring a second document to prove residency in April. In order to minimize confusion among our customers, the CADMV will work to inform individuals who have been issued a Real ID under the current process that their card will be accepted for official federal purposes, even if their renewal occurs after the October 1, 2020, final enforcement date for Real ID, Shiomoto wrote to the federal agency. Legislative officials worry there is still a possibility that those issued Real IDs in the past might be required to present a second document to have their cards designated as compliant. The more complex process for obtaining Real IDs has led to hours-long waits for customers at DMV field offices this year, although wait times have been reduced recently by an increase in staffing. Shiomoto last month announced that she is retiring amid problems with the motor voter registration system and after the governor ordered an audit of her agency in response to the long wait times. On Friday, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido blasted the DMV for waiting a month to tell legislators of the problem. This is unacceptable and flies in the face of security for our citizens, which is what Real ID was created for in the first place, she said in a statement. Facebook

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Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom taps Keely Bosler to be his finance director Keely Bosler, the director of the California Department of Finance, will continue in that role under Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (California Department of Finance) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday appointed Keely Martin Bosler as director of the California Department of Finance, continuing the role she has served under Gov. Jerry Brown since August. Bosler will become Newsoms chief fiscal advisor, and will play a pivotal role in shaping Newsoms spending plan for the state that will lay the foundation for his top policy priorities. Newsom must roll out his first budget plan within days of taking office on Jan. 7. Californias brighter future depends on a strong, stable fiscal foundation, Newsom said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Keely is an accomplished public servant of sound fiscal judgment. She understands that state budgets are more than numbers on a page  they are value statements affecting the fate and future of millions of families reaching for the California Dream. We are fortunate to have her on our team. Prior to being appointed finance director, Bosler served as Browns cabinet secretary for two years and, before that, as the chief deputy director for budget in the Finance Department for three years. Earlier this year, Brown picked Bosler to lead an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles, which had come under fire for long wait times at DMV field offices and numerous computer problems, including errors in the new motor voter program that registered Californians to vote. As we have discussed, long wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles do not reflect the high standards of service that Californians expect from their state government, Bosler wrote in a letter in September to DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. The audit is still ongoing, but Shiomoto has since announced she will retire at the end of the year. Facebook

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Californias legislative analyst, after decades of nonpartisan research for lawmakers, calls it a career Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, who has led the state research unit since 2008, will retire on Dec. 31. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Only five people have led the independent research office of the California Legislature since its creation in 1941. And each of them has had a pretty simple mantra to live by in reviewing public policy proposals and government programs: Call it like you see it. The job of any analyst, to me, is you maintain that nonpartisanship, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor said. Taylor, 65, will retire from the post at the end of December after a four-decade career with the research team that began, as he likes to tell it, just after the passage of the landmark property tax rollback, Proposition 13, in 1978. He became the leader of the office, with the title of legislative analyst, in October 2008. Two months later, state government found itself in arguably the worst fiscal crisis in its history  a projected shortfall that ultimately grew to $42 billion by the following winter. There were forces beyond our control, Taylor said of that time. But dont underestimate the policy changes that were made afterward. Those changes, most notably a boost in taxes paid by high-income earners and a robust state budget cash reserve fund, have helped lead to successive years of fully funded government services. The state is projected to have some $24 billion in reserves by the end of the current fiscal year. Taylor announced his intention earlier to step down this year. Leaders from both houses of the Legislature select the analyst, who leads a staff of almost five dozen researchers. The office provides in-depth reports on pending legislation, as well as on broader policy topics like education and healthcare, and produces an independent analysis for every proposed ballot measure. A succession of lawmakers and governors alike have praised or panned the work of the Legislative Analysts Office based on their own political worldview. Taylor said his staff is mindful that they work for legislators, but try to ignore the rhetoric that follows the release of a major report. People are going to do what theyre going to do with our information, he said. They dont always like it, but they appreciate that we give them our best advice. Taylor oversaw a transformation in the way the Legislative Analysts Office distributes its information, embracing the release of research reports through social media instead of relying on traditional printed copies and journalist roundtable events. But he said the work of the researchers has remained largely unchanged through the decades. Having an independent take on things, I think, is good for the Legislature, he said. No replacement for Taylor has been announced, which means a short transition for his eventual successor before Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom sends his first budget proposal to lawmakers in early January. Taylor, who lives in the Sacramento suburbs, said he will honor the tradition of his predecessors in stepping away from public policy debates in order to give the new analyst space to lead the team as he or she sees fit. He said he hopes to travel in the coming years and spend time with his children who have moved to the East Coast. Forty years in state government, Taylor said in why he was stepping aside now. Isnt that enough? Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown sues to save California sentencing laws By Don Thompson, Associated Press (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown sued Thursday to protect one of his signature actions in office, a voter-approved measure that allows most prison inmates to seek earlier release and participate in rehabilitation programs. His administration filed a lawsuit challenging a pending 2020 initiative that seeks to toughen criminal penalties as part of an effort to roll back reforms adopted by voters within the last decade. Browns lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court contends the measure lacked enough valid signatures to overturn a previously approved constitutional amendment. County officials and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified the signatures in July but said they were submitted too late to qualify for last months election. The lawsuit names Padilla and the ballot measures official proponent, Nina Salarno Besselman, president of the advocacy group Crime Victims United. Padilla said the measure exceeded the required roughly 366,000 valid signatures, equal to 5% of votes cast for governor in 2014. Browns lawsuit says he used the wrong threshold. It says changing the state Constitution requires 8%, or more than 585,400 signatures. That makes the pending initiative more than 150,000 signatures short, the lawsuit says. Hes wrong, said Jeff Flint, a spokesman for the campaign backing the measure. He predicted a judge will be reluctant to reject a measure that already has qualified for the ballot. The secretary of state told us how many signatures are required, and thats how many we collected, Flint said. Padillas office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure would reverse reforms adopted by voters through Proposition 47 in 2014 and Proposition 57 in 2016. Proposition 57 allows most inmates to seek earlier paroles, and Proposition 47 reduced some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The combination has helped keep Californias inmate population below a population cap set by federal judges. Corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters said the measure gives corrections and parole officials broad discretion to protect our communities and fashion a rational system of rehabilitation and punishment. This new initiative unlawfully seeks to supplant the departments constitutional authority to implement these critical reforms to our criminal justice system. The pending initiative would shorten the list of crimes that qualify for earlier parole and change some theft crimes from misdemeanors back to felonies. It would also increase the number of crimes for which DNA is collected, a list that was limited when some crimes went from felonies to misdemeanors. Those supporting the tougher penalties say easing criminal penalties has increased the number of dangerous criminals on the streets, but those backing the changes say they have helped reduce mass incarceration and rehabilitate convicted criminals. Facebook

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California Supreme Court orders records unsealed in pardon of ex-state Sen. Roderick Wright Former state Sen. Roderick Wright (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) The California Supreme Court has granted a request to unseal court records involving Gov. Jerry Browns decision last month to pardon former state Sen. Roderick Wright for felony convictions involving lying about living in his legislative district, officials said Thursday. The court order was in response to a request by the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, which argued that the public has a right to know what information went into the governors decision to grant clemency to Wright. This is an important victory for public access to court files involving the exercise of executive clemency, said coalition spokesman Glen A. Smith. We are gratified the court has recognized that these decisions should be subject to the same public access rules that apply to other judicial records under California law. The court gave Browns office until Jan. 2 to redact confidential material before giving the court documents that can be released to the public. The court files submitted by the governors office include letters of support for a pardon and an internal review of Wrights case. The court denied a motion to unseal the records of all clemency cases but left open consideration of requests on other individual cases. Browns office is currently evaluating the courts decision, said spokesman Brian Ferguson. The governor argued against unsealing records in a recent court filing that said confidentiality is consistent with historical practice and is supported by state law. In pardoning Wright on Nov. 22, the governor wrote: He has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law abiding citizen. Facebook

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California political watchdog agency fines BART, urges prosecution over using public funds for campaign A Bay Area Rapid Transit train leaves the station in Oakland in this 2013 file photo. (Ben Margot / AP) Californias state political watchdog agency on Thursday imposed a $7,500 fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and called for a possible criminal or civil prosecution over allegations the district used public resources to campaign for a 2016 bond measure. The state Fair Political Practices Commission levied an administrative fine against BART for its failure to disclose spending on YouTube videos, social media posts and text messages to promote Measure RR, which authorized $3.5 billion in general obligation bonds. Though the panel lacks authority to seek criminal charges over the misuse of public funds, it also urged county district attorneys in the BART service area and the state attorney general to pursue possible criminal or civil charges over the spending of taxpayer dollars for campaign purposes, Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said. It is the concept of misusing public funds that I think we all here are very disturbed about, and we want to send a warning and not create a precedent that is a minor, little slap on the wrist, Germond said, adding that the referral to criminal prosecutors would further send a message that this is wrong. Commissioner Brian Hatch also called for the state Legislature to consider granting the FPPC power to go after public agencies that spend taxpayer money on campaigns. Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) called on the agency to increase the fine to the maximum level of $33,375. The proposed $7,500 fine represents a slap on the wrist for a very serious violation of the law and the publics trust, Glazer said in a letter to the panel. In supporting the fine recommended by the staff, Germond said BART has agreed to pay the penalty. Somebody did something wrong and they have admitted it, she said. A staff report said there were factors in favor of a fine below the maximum. Although the Commission considers BARTs violations to be serious, the absence of any evidence of an intention to conceal, deceive, or mislead; the voluntary filing of the delinquent campaign statement; and the absence of a prior record are mitigating, the report said. Facebook

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California police union seeks state Supreme Court review of new law disclosing internal investigation records Los Angeles Police Department officers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A police union is asking the California Supreme Court to block the release of internal officer investigations before a new state law takes effect next year. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. filed a petition Tuesday asking justices to rule that only investigations of incidents that occur after Jan. 1 would be available under the law  and not those the department has on file from years prior. The litigation comes after this years passage of Senate Bill 1421, which opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department has told the union it intends to make available in response to public records requests all the information it has. The union is very concerned about any plans to retroactively apply Senate Bill 1421, Grant Ward, the unions president, said in a statement. We believe retroactive application violates our members rights and we hope the California Supreme Court will consider the serious issues raised by our legal challenge. The bills author, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), does not agree with the unions interpretation. She has said her legislation should apply to all the records in a police departments possession because the law simply declared that affected records were no longer confidential. If the record exists, its disclosable, Skinner said. A decision on what records will be available under the law is key to how far-reaching it will be. If the court restricts access to incidents that occurred prior to 2019, those cases will not be subject to public scrutiny. The police union in San Bernardino County is not the only one raising concerns about the law. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner expressing concern that his agency would be overwhelmed if the law required the department to disclose older incidents. Even if the law only applied to the previous five years, Moore wrote, it could take nearly 300,000 hours of work to comply with its provisions. The LAPD operates with a guiding principle of Reverence for the Law; as such, we will diligently comply with SB 1421, Moore wrote. We maintain, however, that a retroactive implementation of SB 1421 will be exceptionally burdensome and would require significant reallocation of front-line investigative personnel. Skinner said if complying with the law becomes untenable for law enforcement agencies that maintain records for a long time, she would consider modifications. But she said agencies did not raise this concern during discussion over the bill. SB 1421 went through multiple committee hearings, multiple floor debates, extensive opportunity for all parties to weigh in on concerns with its structure, she said. That was not an issue that was raised by law enforcement at the time. Facebook

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Gov. Brown warns of backlash for Republicans in 2020 if Obamacare repeal is upheld Gov. Jerry Brown at the National Press Club in April. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown warned Republicans on Tuesday that repeal of the Affordable Care Act would devastate the partys political chances in the 2020 election. Brown, speaking at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton and Brown family historian Miriam Pawel, said a federal judges ruling last week to strike down the 2010 law  if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court  will build such a backlash that the Democrats will not only take over the Senate, theyll win the presidency and will win with the kind of momentum, particularly on the issue of healthcare, that [the law] will be replaced probably with something even better. The governor, who leaves office in less than three weeks, said he did not believe the ruling by a Texas judge would ultimately prevail. I think the decision will probably be overturned, Brown said. Few states have embraced the law championed by former President Obama more than California, both through its healthcare exchange, Covered California, and by expanding access to government-funded services under Medi-Cal. Some 12 million Californians now receive healthcare through Medi-Cal, and Brown said a final ruling affecting the federal dollars that subsidize that care would be a serious blow. California would not be able to afford it without the subsidy, the governor said. Facebook

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Bars in Los Angeles, San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks (acuna-hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses, and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors, and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook

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Bars in Los Angeles and San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks. (Acuna-Hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook

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Californias DMV director announces retirement amid problems with motor voter program (Kent Nishamura/Los Angeles Times) The director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles will retire at years end with a number of questions unanswered about the implementation of a major voter registration system and long wait times experienced by customers for much of the past summer. Jean Shiomoto will not continue in her current role as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom takes office, and announced to staff several weeks ago her intent to retire at the end of the year after 38 years in state service, spokesman Armando Botello said in an email to The Times on Friday. Newsoms transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who might lead the department in 2019. Shiomoto was appointed DMV director by Gov. Jerry Brown in the fall of 2013, having served in prior leadership roles with the department. DMV officials have been sharply criticized by lawmakers in recent months for delays in serving customers at its field offices across the state. Last week, DMV officials revealed errors in registering California voters for the November election  mistakes that followed a series of problems in the rollout of the states new motor voter registration system. Secretary of State Alex Padilla last week said he had lost confidence in Shiomotos leadership as a result of the voting registration problems. Facebook

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New law could break the stalemate over housing on the site of a near-vacant Cupertino mall By Liam Dillon For more than a decade, developers have tried to build new housing on the site of an all-but-empty mall in Cupertino, a city in the heart of Silicon Valley and home to Apple headquarters. A well-organized group of neighbors, upset about traffic, building heights and the potential loss of the communitys suburban lifestyle, turned away every plan. Now, for the first time, the stalemate might be broken  thanks to a decision made in the state Capitol. In an effort to address Californias housing affordability problem, legislators passed a law last year that requires cities and counties to approve housing projects if they comply with local zoning rules and other standards, forcing some resistant communities to agree to new homebuilding. In September, the city of Cupertino, citing the state law, approved developer Sand Hill Property Co.s proposal to build an office park and more than 2,400 homes where the Vallco Shopping Mall sits. Read More Facebook

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Local government was a last bastion for struggling California Republicans. Not anymore By Mark Z. Barabak Theres no shortage of watery metaphors to describe the disaster that befell California Republicans this midterm election. A blue wave. A Democratic tsunami. But the most apt may be a flood, with the casualties steadily rising as the vote count climbed in the days and weeks following Nov. 6. Eventually half the GOP congressional delegation was washed away, along with the entire slate of statewide Republican candidates. In Sacramento, Democrats claimed 29 of 40 state Senate seats and seized three-quarters of the 80-member Assembly  the largest number since 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was serving in the White House. Read More Facebook

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For the Republicans left in Californias Legislature, fewer lawmakers will have to do more work By John Myers From January to late summer every year, the California Legislature is a perpetual motion machine. And in the new year, the people most likely to struggle in keeping up will be Republicans, vastly outnumbered but still responsible for representing millions of the states residents. There are 22 standing committees in the state Senate, plus at least a dozen more subcommittees or special committees. And after Novembers election, only 11 Republican senators will be left to divvy up the work. To the victors go the spoils. To the vanquished go the extra assignments. Read More Facebook

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Californias DMV failed to finish registering 329 new voters before November election (Los Angeles Times) Officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the agency failed to send information for 329 new voters to state elections officers in time for the November election, the latest revelation in a string of mishaps regarding voter registration. Secretary of State Alex Padilla responded with a blistering letter, calling on Gov. Jerry Brown or Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom to replace Jean Shiomoto, the DMV director. The Director of DMV has lost my confidence and trust, Padilla wrote. In all, the agency revealed that 589 mailed voter registration records that should have been processed under election deadlines werent sent to Californias secretary of state until late November, including forms from 260 drivers who had intended to update their address on existing voter registration records. The DMV had been instructed to not send registration forms that came in after Oct. 22, but the voters in question had forms that were postmarked before the deadline. In some cases, when the postmark wasnt legible, the agency said, documents inside indicated the voter had intended to finish their registration in time for the Nov. 6 election. The DMV recognizes the pause in transmittals was an error and affected the timing of the registration of the 589 individuals referenced above relative to the November election, Shiomoto wrote in a letter to Padilla on Friday. The pause was due to a misunderstanding on the part of the department, for which we take responsibility. Those who were trying to update their address for voter registration would not have been blocked from casting ballots. But officials said its unclear whether any of the 329 new voters were able to participate in the election. Shiomoto said in her letter that DMV will work with elections officials. The errors were not related to previous DMV mistakes about registering voters, problems associated with the rollout of the states new motor voter law. In those cases, multiple registration forms were sent to local elections offices for some voters, some people were assigned the wrong political party preference and others who are noncitizens were incorrectly placed on the list of registered voters. DMV officials have yet to respond to questions posed by The Times over the last several weeks about who knew of those mistakes and when. Facebook

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Newsom appoints a labor advocate and a former staffer as his chief deputy Cabinet secretaries By Taryn Luna A labor advocate and a San Francisco political operative have accepted positions in Gov.-elect Gavin Newsoms new administration. Angie Wei, a Capitol insider with deep ties to organized labor in California, will serve as a chief deputy Cabinet secretary with a focus on policy development. As a legislative director and chief of staff at the California Labor Federation, Wei has represented more than 1,200 unions and 2.1 million workers in Capitol fights over a host of policy issues, including drug-pricing transparency and paid family leave. The governor-elect also tapped Jason Elliott, a policy advisor to Newsom during his time as mayor of San Francisco and a chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, as another chief deputy Cabinet secretary overseeing executive branch operations. Elliott and Wei will serve under Ana Matosantos, Newsoms previously
Paul Manaforts lawyers rested their case Tuesday without putting him or any other witnesses on the stand, gambling that federal prosecutors have not convinced the jury that President Trumps former campaign chairman is guilty of tax evasion and bank fraud.

Lawyers for the two sides are expected to deliver their closing arguments on Wednesday, meaning the high-profile criminal case  the first trial on charges brought by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III  could quickly reach the jury and a verdict.

Manaforts team disclosed their decision after U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III denied a defense motion to dismiss the 18 criminal charges against Manafort, a former Republican operative and influential lobbyist. Such motions are routinely filed, but rarely granted.

Moments later, Manafort addressed the court for the first time since the trial opened 11 days ago when the judge asked him to confirm that he doesnt plan to testify.

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No, sir, Manafort replied, standing with his hands resting on the podium.

Solomon Wisenberg, a white-collar defense attorney who worked for independent counsel Kenneth Starr during the investigation of the Clinton White House in the late 1990s, said he wasnt surprised that Manaforts lawyers decided not to call any witnesses despite the voluminous evidence against him.

Last week, Manaforts lawyers hammered at the credibility of the governments star witness, Richard Gates, accusing him of being a liar, an embezzler and an adulterer. It remains to be seen whether thats enough to convince jurors that prosecutors relied on shaky evidence and did not provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the legal standard for conviction.

But Wisenberg said the defenses best chance for an acquittal may be if one of the 12 jurors  six men and six women  decides to support Manafort for political reasons. Their only hope of winning is if one or more people on the jury says, I like Trump, I dont like Mueller, he said.

Harry Litman, a University of California law professor and former federal prosecutor, said defense lawyers often call a handful of witnesses to chip away at bits of the governments case. But Manaforts team may be betting that they stand a better chance if they strike a confident stance in their closing argument.

They are likely to argue to the jury that the government hasnt landed a glove on us, so there was no reason to put on a defense, Litman said.

Shanlon Wu, a white-collar defense lawyer who previously represented Gates, said its not unusual for defense attorneys to decline to call witnesses. The decision leaves the burden of proof squarely with prosecutors.

Its a sign of some confidence on the Manaforts team part that they did enough with just the cross-examination, Wu said. They feel theyve done what they needed to do.

Andrew McBride, a former federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, said he was surprised by the defenses decision, however.

I would have expected some witnesses on how Manafort trusted and relied upon Gates and gave him independent control of his finances, he said. Now the defense is limited to arguing reasonable doubt. Tough road to hoe with two weeks worth of damaging testimony.

The trial has been marked by unusual exchanges between prosecutors and the judge, who repeatedly chastised them or ordered them to hurry up. Prosecutors, in turn, urged Ellis not to misstate facts or law in front of the jury.

They twice filed formal motions asking the judge to tell the jury to ignore a prior outburst. He did so once, telling the jury last Thursday that he was probably wrong and to disregard his comments about a government witness.

Manafort, 69, has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges connected to his work advising Ukraines former president, Viktor Yanukovich, and his political party.

They include five counts of filing false tax returns between 2010 and 2014, four counts of failing to report foreign bank accounts, and nine counts of bank fraud and conspiracies to commit bank fraud.

Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington 

If convicted, Manafort could spend the rest of his life in prison. Even if he is acquitted, he faces a second, related trial next month in Washington. In that case, he has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, failing to register as a foreign agent and attempted obstruction of justice.

During the trial in Alexandria, prosecutors outlined an elaborate scheme, arguing that Manafort used offshore bank accounts to illegally shield millions of dollars from U.S. taxes over a period of years, sometimes wiring the money directly to American stores to purchase expensive clothing, cars, antiques and home renovations.

After Yanukovich was ousted from power in 2014 and Manaforts lucrative work in Ukraine dried up, prosecutors said, he turned to bank fraud to finance his extravagant lifestyle, lying on applications for bank loans and mortgages on multiple homes.

Some of the alleged crimes overlapped with Manaforts five months working for the Trump campaign in 2016, prosecutors said. None of the evidence suggested that Manafort had conspired with Russian intelligence to help Trump win the White House, the primary focus of the Mueller investigation.

Prosecutors called more than two dozen witnesses, but they relied most heavily on Gates, Manaforts former deputy at his consulting firm and on the Trump campaign, who testified for 2  days. Defense lawyers, in turn, did their best to convince jurors he could not be trusted.

Gates was initially charged in the case, but pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to investigators in February. He agreed to testify as long as prosecutors didnt oppose his lawyers request for probation when hes eventually sentenced.

He testified that Manafort often asked him to present false information to accountants and banks to help illegally reduce his tax bill or obtain loans through fraud.

But defense lawyers highlighted his admission that he initially lied to the special counsel, embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manaforts company, and had at least one extramarital affair. They also suggested he had stolen from Trumps inaugural committee, which Gates did not deny outright.

One of the prosecutions final witnesses was James Brennan, a vice president at Chicago-based Federal Savings Bank.

He testified that Manaforts finances appeared on shaky ground in 2016 when he applied for two loans worth $16 million, but the banks chief executive, Stephen Calk, overruled those concerns and approved the loans.

Previous testimony indicated that Calk hoped to land a Cabinet-level position in the Trump administration, and Manafort pushed his name as a potential Army secretary after the election. Calk ultimately did not join the administration.

chris.megerian@latimes.com

Twitter: @chrismegerian

UPDATES:

3:20 p.m.: This article was updated with analysis from outside lawyers.

9:30 a.m.: This article was updated to say the defense had rested without presenting witnesses.

This article was originally published at 3 a.m.
President Trump on Monday signed a $716-billion defense policy bill named for John McCain but included no mention in his remarks of the Republican senator, who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona.

Trump and McCain are engaged in a long-running feud that dates to Trumps 2016 presidential run. At campaign rallies, Trump regularly castigates McCain  without using his name  for casting a dramatic thumbs-down vote that doomed Trumps effort last year to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted by President Obama.

Trump said there was no better place than right here at Ft. Drum to celebrate passage of the defense bill, which will boost military pay by 2.6%, giving service members their largest increase in nine years.

The bill  formally the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act but referred to by Trump as simply the National Defense Authorization Act  will introduce thousands of new recruits to active duty, reserve and National Guard units and replace aging tanks, planes, ships and helicopters with more advanced and lethal technology, Trump said.

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Hopefully, well be so strong well never have to use it. But if we ever did, nobody has a chance, he said.

Later Monday, Trump referenced McCain  again without naming him  while talking about Obamas health law at a fundraiser in Utica, N.Y., for Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney.

I wouldve gotten rid of everything, but as you know, one of our wonderful senators had thumbs down at 2 oclock in the morning, Trump said, pantomiming the gesture.

The Republican audience  like those at Trump rallies, where his mockery of McCains vote is a staple  signaled by its boos and anti-McCain heckling that it knew what senator he was talking about.

The bill authorizes billions of dollars for military construction, including family housing.

Besides setting policy and spending levels, the bill weakens a bid to clamp down on Chinese telecom company ZTE. It allows Trump to waive sanctions against countries that bought Russian weapons and now want to buy U.S. military equipment. The bill provides no money for Trumps requested space force, but authorizes the military parade he wants in Washington in November.

The compromise bill removes a provision reinstating penalties against ZTE and restricting the companys ability to buy U.S. component parts. ZTE was almost forced out of business after being accused of selling sensitive information to nations hostile to the U.S., namely Iran and North Korea, in violation of trade laws.

The annual measure sets policies and a budget outline for the Pentagon and will be followed by a later appropriations bill.

Trump and McCain have had a strained relationship for years. During his election campaign, Trump declared that McCain, who was a prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam, was not a war hero, and he has publicly and privately blamed McCain for undercutting the Republican healthcare bill last year.

In a statement Monday, McCain expressed pride in the bill.

Los Angeles Times staff contributed to this report.
Seven local doughnut shops recently made the day a little sweeter for Burbank first responders.

Members of the Golden Girls Cookie Brigade collected 30 dozen doughnuts from local businesses and dropped them off at the local police and fire headquarters.

Boxes were distributed to the departments, located at the headquarters, and a fire department employee delivered the rest of the boxes to each of the six fire stations.

Businesses donating to the project were Donut Prince on Irving Drive, Dads Donuts & Bakery, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Martinos Bakery, Dunkin Donuts, Family Donuts and Donut Hut.

The cookie brigade was founded by Sally Peterson and Doris Owings, members of St. Robert Bellarmine Church.

Once a month, volunteers make four dozen cookies that are delivered to the Burbank police and fire headquarters and the six fire stations.

There are now 38 women who take turns baking the cookies.

For the projects one-year anniversary, brigade members decided that instead of baking cookies, they would solicit donations from doughnut shops around town, Peterson said.

We love our police and fire departments, and we are so proud of them, she said.

The gesture is a way to show gratitude for all the positive things they do in the community, she added.

Rosemary Ennis, another volunteer, echoed that sentiment.

I feel so safe in my city of Burbank, she said. A cookie a month is a small way to say thank you for your service and thank you for putting your lives on the line for all of us, because we appreciate it.

Owings said she enjoys participating in the project because of the satisfaction she receives giving the firefighters and police officers a boost.

Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse said he is grateful for such a supportive community.

This community is big on providing us with support, and this is just another manifestation of the kind of support that we get, he said. The cookie brigade comes monthly. This is an anomaly. They generally bring cookies, but they brought doughnuts this month. Theyll go to good use.

Fire department Battalion Chief Mark Hatch said the project is wonderful.

Everybody likes a little pat on the back and a little appreciation and all the organizations in this community reach out constantly, Hatch said. This gesture brings a smile to everyones face and makes your day brighter for sure.

The Golden Girls Cookie Brigade is a branch of the churchs SIREN ministry, which was created to boost morale of Burbank first responders. SIREN is an acronym for Supplication, Intercession, Rosaries, Encouragement and Needs.

Peace poster contestant wins third place

The Burbank Noon Lions sent four winners of its annual Peace Poster contest to the district level, and Luther Burbank Middle School student Lillian Raesler received third place.

The district includes more than 40 clubs in Southern California.

Lillian received a commendation and a $25 check.

Lillian Raesler, of Burbank, received third place on the district level of the Lions Clubs International Peace Poster contest. (Photo by Joyce Rudolph)

JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.
Editors note: This letter refers to a November ballot measure in Newport Beach that seeks to require voter approval for a certain level of use of certificates of participation, a funding mechanism for capital projects.

On Friday, the real opponents of the ballot measure being advanced by Team Newport will go to court to displace the phony arguments filed by Team Newport supporter Bob Rush.

The following is the ballot argument Team Newport is trying to keep residents of Newport Beach from reading:

Dont be fooled, this measure may sound good, but consider that no other city in California has adopted this restriction. That should tell you that it is not a good idea.

Lease obligation debt by definition does not increase taxes. A special election could cost over $350,000, project costs will be increased as projects are delayed, and politics, not fiscal analysis, will decide which projects are sent to the voters and which are funded with cash.

This measure will require projects be submitted to the voters without going through a competitive bidding process; alternatively, bids will be padded by as much as 30% due to election delay.

This law is so bad, the authors have tried to exempt all of the projects such as seawalls and disaster repairs that might actually fall under these provisions. Seawalls may still need a vote if they are not in imminent danger of failing. Do you really want to vote on a new police headquarters building or vehicle replacements? Do you want to have to raise campaign funds to get a new park near your home?

City staff did not recommend this, our financial advisors did not recommend it, the city Finance Committee did not recommend it and no best practice supports this. Its just a cynical effort by some members of the City Council to give them an issue to run on in the absence of any real accomplishments.

They will use the ballot measure campaign to raise funds in excess of the contribution limits to augment their personal campaigns. They do this without regard to the impact of the future ability of the city to maintain its essential public infrastructure. Dont buy this con. Vote no on Measure ___ and restore good government to Newport Beach.

Mike Henn, Rush Hill, Keith Curry, Jean Watt

Newport Beach

Councilwoman Foley is watching the Costa Mesa store

I have read the June 20 Daily Pilot article Costa Mesa council approves $163.7-million city budget after closing $40,000 hole and I appreciate Costa Mesa Councilwoman and 2018 mayoral candidate Katrina Foley watching the store when it comes to the Costa Mesa city budget.

At the June 19 City Council meeting, Foley presented a 10-point plan to reduce the budget. She identified nearly $2 million in the capital improvement project budget alone. The $2 million was in the budget for projects that had already been canceled or found to be non-viable. Foley proposed the money be reallocated from the CIP budget to other budget categories. Katrina was the only council member to identify this unique source of budget reduction.

It was proposed to transfer $625,000 from the discontinued Costa Mesa High School bleachers account, which had been canceled because the Newport-Mesa Unified School District decided against taking the funding. However, after a lengthy discussion, the council approved an operating and CIP budget that directed staff to transfer only $40,000 from the discontinued bleachers account and asked the staff to bring back for council consideration a reevaluated CIP program. Hopefully, more of the nearly $2 million will be reallocated.

As a woman business owner who has helped scores of franchise systems grow and thrive, I know the importance of watching the budget and making sure it balances with the needs of the system (or in this case, the city).

As a result, I plan to vote for Foley for mayor in November so she can continue her diligent and detailed watching of the Costa Mesa store, as she always has.

Mary Ann OConnell

Costa Mesa

Most council members and candidates are late in expressing opposition to needle exchange

The Orange County Needle Exchange Program approved by the California Department of Public Health had a lengthy 90-day comment period, open to the public, to aid in the decision process.

Four cities  Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim and Costa Mesa  were targeted for the needle exchange program.

In the past week, two Costa Mesa council members submitted published letters to the editor that were in equal disdain for the needle exchange. As a candidate for City Council District 4, I have been very concerned because of the proximity of the exchange site to my neighbors and the potential for negative impacts.

In trying to understand the states thinking in approving this project, I submitted a public information request asking for all council members and current candidates letters sent to the state that would have have been considered in the decision process. I was shocked to learn that council members John Stephens, Katrina Foley, Jim Righeimer and Allan Mansoor apparently did not submit a protest on behalf of their constituents.

Mayor Sandy Genis sent a comprehensive and thorough counter against the program. Of all the district candidates, only Arlis Reynolds, Michelle Figueredo-Wilson and myself wrote comments in an attempt to protect our city and stop the needle distribution.

My inquiry and public information request indicated that the entire council, except for Mayor Genis, did not address this issue directly to the state, instead remaining silent, then jumped on the train after it had left the station.

I felt it was my obligation to address the needle exchange because of the dire consequences it would have on my city and my district. I expected those in public office and those wanting to hold public office to have the same concern. I was wrong and disappointed on both counts.

Steven Chan

Costa Mesa

(Editors note: Council candidate Rebecca Trahan provided the Daily Pilot with an email she sent to the City Council on April 28 opposing the needle exchange and said she submitted a complaint about it on the Contact us page of the state Department of Public Healths website. Her email to the council states: I represent many voices in Costa Mesa, CA, specifically in District 5. We do not want any needle exchange programs in our city. While we understand the drug problem, addiction, and dont want diseases to spread, this program is not the answer. The answer is better addiction treatment, counseling and mental health treatment. Regarding this program we say no!)

Local election coverage provides great service to voters

I want to thank you for highlighting local elections well before Election Day. Keep it up.

In the 21st century, we no longer vote on the first Tuesday of November. Most voters vote by mail well before that date. Down-ballot elections are often overlooked and won by word of mouth. We may stop at the top of the ticket because we dont know anything about school board, city council or even congressional candidates. You are doing a great service toward voter education.

Interviews with candidates that include who supports them and funding sources contribute to our opinion of how a candidate will transform into a legislator.

I look forward to more incisive articles about our local candidates by the Daily Pilot.

Patricia Goodman

Huntington Beach

The middle will put Rouda over the top

Once again I agree with another Barbara Venezia column (Harley Rouda thinks the sweet spot is in the moderate middle, Aug. 10), but she fails to make one salient distinction.

Roudas opponent, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) has completely abandoned representing the moderate middle, a sizable slice of the electorate in the 48th Congressional District. This is not to say Rohrabacher ever represented anyone to the left of the moderate middle.

While so-called liberals and progressives can moan about backing a centrist candidate, Rouda is doing what it takes to represent everyone in the district. This will make him a winner.

Tim Geddes

Huntington Beach

Enough is enough with Rohrabacher

Dana Rohrabacher believes Democrats were behind the white nationalist riots a year ago in Charlottesville, Va., and said calling them white nationalist riots is a liberal media deceit. Under his scenario, a former Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders supporter got Civil War reenactors to gather there under the guise of protecting a Robert E. Lee statue.

It was a setup for these dumb Civil War reenactors, Rohrabacher said [in a San Francisco Chronicle article last year]. It was left-wingers who were manipulating them in order to have this confrontation and to put our president on the spot, a scenario also touted by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars.

Close ties with Russia, a 93% positive rating with the NRA, doesnt believe in [man-made] climate change, voted against the Affordable Care Act and equal pay for women, doesnt support equal rights for the LGBTQ community, refuses to meet with his constituents, the list goes on and on. When is enough just too much?

Rohrabacher does not represent most of us in Congressional District 48. Its time to elect someone who will  Harley Rouda.

Michele Burgess

Huntington Beach

UPDATES:

5:50 p.m.: The letter from Steven Chan was updated with an editors note about Rebecca Trahans position that she sent messages opposing the Orange County Needle Exchange Program early in the process.

This article was originally published at 10 a.m.
I made my annual summer trek to Laguna Beach to attend the 86th annual Festival of Arts and the 85th Pageant of the Masters. Ive been attending this event ever since I was in grade school. This years Pageant and art show runs through Sept. 1. Dont miss it, it is a good one!

Carrying the theme Under the Sun, this years event truly depicts our California history, beginning with the Mission era. One segment that is ever so close to our own valley was the depiction of the Ranchos. We were certainly smack dab in the middle of those living pictures.

Another era that was featured in the presentation that certainly meant something special to me was the one called The Orange Rush, with depictions of glorious orange crate labels that were always so colorful.

Cutting Glass by artist Gary Prettyman is a dramatic tableau vivant featured at this years Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. The theme for this years pageant is Under the Sun. (Courtesy of Pageant of the Masters)

I grew up in the SoCal community of Ontario, surrounded by orange trees. I could step out my front door to pick an orange for my afternoon snack. In fact, the first navel orange tree planted in Ontario was in our yard. There was a big rock with a brass plate on it commemorating the fact. Sad to say, but that historic tree has since been ripped out to make way for a new housing development.

Anyway, this years Pageant of the Masters is so well done under the producer-director Diane Challis Davy. This is Davys 23rd turn at the helm.

Asked about her inspiration for this years theme, Davy said she was taken by the changing light on the foothills of Saddleback Mountain one evening last year and the words under the sun came to her. The phrase is from Ecclesiastes, and I think it serves us very well, she said. I wanted the theme to express an awareness and appreciation of the beauty of nature, to focus on artists who choose to paint in the open air and to acknowledge how French impressionism influenced artists around the world to record their own personal reflections.

In this new production not only did we see the development of Laguna Beach as an art colony with re-creations of some of the work of their early artists in tableaux vivants, but there was also plenty of New Wave action, as art and sculpture representing Lagunas surfing culture was recreated. If you like the music of the Beach Boys, your toes will be tapping during this segment.

Catching Fish by artist Franz A. Bischoff, who immigrated here from Austria and became an American citizen, is featured in this years Pageant of the Masters. Bischoff was part of the burgeoning Southern California artist colony during the early years of the 20th century. (Courtesy of Pageant of the Masters)

During intermission there was fun to be had by watching a demonstration by expert skateboard athletes. Also during intermission the audience tossed around big beach balls. It was fun to see how long the ball would stay in the air.

In the second half of the show, honor was paid to artists such as Monet, Gauguin and Sargent. Just as it has most of the years since 1936, the Pageant ends with the recreation of Da Vincis The Last Supper.

Here are some fun facts about this event: Roughly 1,200 volunteers try out to be in the show. Approximately 500 are either cast or work behind the scenes and they contribute more than 6,000 hours to the effort. The youngest cast member is 4 and the oldest cast member is an octogenarian. The first Pageant of the Masters in 1933 ran only eight days. Today the Pageant has 57 performances. The event has been rained out only three times in its history.

Each year the theme is different. I can hardly wait to know what the theme for next year is.

JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Canada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com with news of your special event.
Kenley Jansen had just finished breakfast in Denver last Thursday when his heart started beating erratically and wildly. He waited a few minutes to see if the episode would pass. When it did not, he summoned the Dodgers training staff.

He said he was not scared, even as an ambulance rushed him to a hospital. This was not the first episode of atrial fibrillation for Jansen, and he knew exactly what the doctors would do before they did it.

They shocked my heart right back to normal, he said.

He said he felt better immediately. The Dodgers felt better Monday upon seeing their closer back in the clubhouse, full of his usual smiles and laughter.

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If he has no side effects from the blood thinners he has been prescribed, Jansen said, he is confident he can return well short of the widely speculated absence of a month or more.

Its not going to be four weeks, he said. Its not going to be six weeks.

This was not the first time Jansens heart had started racing in the mile-high altitude of Denver, but he said the Dodgers should not try to avoid future episodes by banning him from Colorado.

Im going back to Denver, man, he said. Cant be scared of life.

While altitude can trigger atrial fibrillation, Jansen said doctors told him that dehydration could too. Jansen said he had diarrhea in Oakland on Wednesday and suspected his body might have been excessively depleted of minerals and fluids.

I probably had some angry cells by my heart, he said.

There is a very high percentage he will need a second ablation surgery this winter, he said, repeating the one he had six years ago. That procedure requires an estimated recovery time of three months, he said.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he was encouraged that Jansen could return sooner than expected. Jansen threw a bullpen session Monday and is scheduled for two more this week. He also plans to lift weights and run this week, and to travel with the team to Seattle.

If it were up to Kenley, he would pitch tonight, Roberts said.

The Dodgers will make no decisions on Jansens return until the closer visits a cardiologist Aug. 20. However, Roberts said he was upbeat upon seeing Jansen on Monday, for the first time since he suffered the episode.

To hear it in his voice, and to look in his eyes, I saw the confidence, Roberts said.

In Jansens absence, the Dodgers relievers lost three of the four games in Denver and blew a lead in the other game. The Dodgers entered play Monday with 21 blown saves, tied for third-most in the major leagues.

Jansen said he felt a sense of responsibility for the weekend bullpen fiasco, given his absence. However, he said, all the relievers need to pitch better.

I believe in every single one of these guys in the bullpen, he said. At some point, we need to step up. Its not about me being out.

At some point, if you want to be in the playoffs, everybody needs to step up and do the job, so we can go far in the playoffs.

On Monday, the Dodgers activated reliever Erik Goeddel and optioned reliever Pat Venditte to triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers thus optioned Venditte for the seventh time this season, and the second time in five days.

The Dodgers also need to make roster moves to accommodate the activation of Alex Wood, the scheduled Tuesday starter, and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the scheduled Wednesday starter. The Dodgers have moved starters Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling to the bullpen.

Roberts said he hoped that Julio Urias, currently on a minor league rehabilitation assignment, could return by the end of the month.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Follow Bill Shaikin on Twitter @BillShaikin
Former Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith was released from jail Tuesday after serving five months for a felony assault in Pasadena.

The Raiders cut Smith on the day before he pleaded no contest to the assault in Los Angeles County Superior Court in March.

Witnesses testified that Smith stomped on the head of his sisters then-boyfriend while the man lay bleeding and unconscious near Arroyo Parkway and Colorado Boulevard in the early morning of July 4, 2017.

Doctors had to insert a metal plate and screws underneath the mans right eye and repair five fractures around his left eye socket.

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Smith, a Pasadena native who signed a four-year, $40-million contract with the Raiders in 2016, tweeted not long after being released at 5:07 a.m. Tuesday.

Finally FREE!!!!!!! So much to say but Im headed to the gym. Ill catch up wit yall later, he wrote.

Finally FREE!!!!!!! So much to say but Im headed to the gym. Ill catch up wit yall later   Sean Smith (@SeanSMITH24) August 14, 2018

nathan.fenno@latimes.com

Twitter: @nathanfenno
Ever since he was left dangling from a zip line stretching over a London park during the 2012 Olympics, it has been hard to take Boris Johnson too seriously.

With his floppy blond hair, disheveled suits and penchant for using inflammatory language, he cuts an unlikely political figure.

Yet, buffoonery and controversy aside, Johnson has scampered steadily up the political ladder in Britain  first as the mayor of London and then as the unexpected star of Brexit, the successful campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.

When Prime Minister David Cameron resigned after the Brexit vote in 2016, Johnson threw his name in the hat as successor, a position that many believe has always been his ultimate goal. When Theresa May was named prime minister instead, she tapped Johnson to be her foreign secretary.

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Mays rationale for picking Johnson, it was widely reported, was that it was better to keep your enemies close.

But much has changed this summer and Johnsons future  whether its to rise to Britains top job or finally fall from grace  hangs in the balance.

Johnson resigned as foreign secretary in July over the terms of the Brexit deal now being negotiated, saying that the dream of regaining full independence from the EU was dying because of needless self-doubt.

Suddenly he was out of the inner circle of British politics and forced to make his case for a so-called hard Brexit from the sidelines.

And then last week he dived head first into controversy again  this time by saying women who wear burkas look like letter boxes and bank robbers.

If you say that it is weird and bullying to expect women to cover their faces, then I totally agree, Johnson wrote in his regular column in the Telegraph newspaper on Aug. 5. I would go further and say that it is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes.

The strength of the outrage and condemnation for his flippant remark on traditional head coverings worn by some Muslim women has been fierce.

Demonstrators gather in Uxbridge, England, to protest former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnsons remarks in an Aug. 5, 2018, column. (Christopher Furlong / Getty Images)

May publicly condemned his comments and urge him to apologize. The Conservative Party launched an inquiry after receiving dozens of complaints and the Muslim Council of Britain called on the prime minister to stand for nothing less than a full investigation.

While this could be a career-ending moment for a different politician, Johnson has an uncanny ability to bounce back  often with renewed energy.

This will probably turn out to have benefited Boris quite a bit, said Andrew Gimson, author of Boris: The Rise of Boris Johnson.

Its very difficult to sink Boris. He is the expression of a kind of merry old England conservatism. He is offering an alternative type of leadership to someone like Theresa May.

As a result, Gimson believes, many are willing to dismiss Boris as simply being, well, just Boris.

Boris is saying something the other politicians wont say, he added. The wider public quite like the idea of politicians who say provocative things.

In much the same way that Donald Trump has tapped into populist politics and speaks in what his supporters see as refreshingly honest terms about contentious issues such as immigration, so too does Johnson.

But the mistakes and gaffes over the years have not always been slight, and this could be one blunder too far.

When President Obama visited Britain before the 2016 Brexit referendum to encourage the electorate to vote to remain in the EU, Boris used a newspaper column to criticize him and label him part-Kenyan, widely interpreted as a slur.

As foreign secretary he was widely condemned for wrongly saying jailed British mother and charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was teaching journalists in Iran, which the Iranians seized on to strengthen their case that she was a spy.

Then-London Mayor Boris Johnson stands on a balcony overlooking the Crossrail construction site at Tottenham Court Road subway station in 2009. (Oli Scarff / Getty Images)

Jacob Rees-Mogg, a conservative member of Parliament and staunch Brexiteer, said any investigation into the former foreign secretary is actually a show trial intended to prevent him from becoming leader one day.

Could it be that there is a nervousness that a once and probably future leadership contender is becoming too popular and needs to be stopped? said Rees-Mogg, a Johnson supporter.

Some seem eager to show their support for Johnsons outspoken ways.

In the town of Hadleigh, in the east of England, some residents showed their support for Johnsons statement by covering a red mailbox in a black liner.

Johnson has been tight-lipped about his comments, refusing to apologize but also refusing to say any more.

To reporters outside his Oxfordshire home over the weekend, he gave a very British no comment by walking down his driveway in board shorts and a scruffy rugby jersey and simply offering the waiting journalists cups of tea instead.

Boyle is a special correspondent.
A bridge on a main highway linking Italy with France collapsed Tuesday in the Italian port city of Genoa during a sudden, violent storm, sending vehicles plunging nearly 150 feet into a heap of rubble below. The citys mayor said at least 25 people were killed, although some people were found alive in the debris.

A huge section of the Morandi Bridge collapsed at midday over an industrial zone, sending tons of twisted steel and concrete debris onto warehouses below. Photos published by the Italian news agency ANSA showed a massive, empty gulf between two sections of the bridge.

The head of Italys civil protection agency, Angelo Borrelli, said 30-35 cars and three heavy trucks were on the 260-foot section of the bridge that collapsed.

Hundreds of firefighters and emergency officials were searching for survivors in the rubble with heavy equipment. Firefighters said at least two people were pulled alive from vehicles and taken by helicopter to a hospital.

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Video of the collapse captured a man screaming: Oh, God! Oh, God! Other images showed a green truck that had stopped just short of the edge and the tires of a tractor trailer in the rubble.

There was confusion over the exact death toll, which kept rising during the day.

Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci told Sky TG24 that the number of dead was above 25 people and that 11 injured were rescued. Two other officials earlier put the death toll at 22 with 13 injured but said those figures were expected to rise.

Borrelli told a news conference in Rome that all the victims appeared to have been in vehicles that fell from the bridge.

The disaster occurred on a highway that connects Italy to France, and northern cities like Milan to the beaches of Liguria.

It came on the eve of a major Italian summer holiday on Wednesday called Ferragosto, which marks the religious feast of the Assumption of Mary. Its the high point of the Italian summer holiday season when most cities and business are closed and Italians head to the beaches or the mountains. That means traffic could have been heavier than usual on the Genoa highway.

The Morandi Bridge is a main thoroughfare connecting the A10 highway that goes toward France and the A7 highway that continues north toward Milan. Inaugurated in 1967, it is 148 feet high, and just over a half-mile long.

Borrelli said highway engineers were checking other parts of the bridge and that some areas were being evacuated as a precaution. He said they were still trying to figure out the reason for the collapse.

You can see there are very big portions of the bridge [that collapsed]. We need to remove all of the rubble to ascertain that all of the people have been reached, he said, adding that more than 280 rescue workers and canine units were on the scene.

Operations are ongoing to extract people trapped below parts of the bridge and twisted metal, he said.

Borrelli said there was no construction going on at the time on the bridge.

Firefighters told the Associated Press they were worried about gas lines exploding in the area from the collapse.

Italian Transportation Minister Danilo Toninelli called the collapse an enormous tragedy.

ANSA said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will travel to Genoa later in the day.

We are following minute by minute the situation, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Twitter.

French President Emmanuel Macron offered his countrys help in a phone call with Conte.

It was the second deadly disaster on an Italian highway in as many weeks.

On Aug. 6, another major accident occurred on a highway near the northern city of Bologna. A tanker truck carrying a highly flammable gas exploded after rear-ending a stopped truck and getting hit from behind. The accident killed one person, injured dozens and blew apart a section of a raised eight-lane highway.

UPDATES:

9:05 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from the Genoa mayor.

7:40 a.m.: This article was updated with reports of at least 20 dead and 13 injured and the correct height of the bridge.

5:35 a.m.: This article was updated with a report of 11 fatalities.

This article was originally published at 5:05 a.m.
Turkeys president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions.

Addressing a conference of his ruling-party faithful in the capital, Recep Tayyip Erdogan added fuel to the spat with the U.S., even as local business groups called on his government to settle the dispute through diplomacy.

Investors seemed to look through the fiery rhetoric, pushing the lira off record lows on reports that Turkish and U.S. government officials held talks on Monday.

We will implement a boycott against Americas electronic goods, Erdogan told the conference. He suggested Turks would buy local or Korean phones instead of U.S.-made iPhones, though it was unclear how he intended to enforce the boycott.

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The move is seen to be in retaliation to the United States decision to sanction two Turkish ministers over the continued detention of an American pastor on terror-related charges, and to double tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports.

Behind the scenes, however, diplomatic dialogue appears to have resumed. Turkeys state-run news agency and U.S. officials say U.S. national security advisor John Bolton had met with the Turkish ambassador to Washington on Monday.

That helped ease tensions in financial markets, with the Turkish lira stabilizing somewhat near record lows. It was up 5% on Tuesday, at 6.55 per dollar, having fallen 42% so far this year, with most of those losses coming in recent weeks.
After over a month of suffocating sanctions that left many Gazans on the brink of economic collapse, relief may be on its way.

Israels Defense Ministry said Monday that two days of complete quiet on its border with Gaza have led Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to consider easing the closure it imposed on the sole commercial entryway into the Gaza Strip on July 9.



For the record: An earlier version of this report inadvertently dropped the word daily in reference to the dozens of kites and balloons launched into Israel.

A senior Israeli official familiar with the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly told The Times that the deal with Hamas, the Islamist militia that rules the Gaza Strip, is virtually done.

Also Monday, Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, announced two new programs to help Gaza. One will provide 4,400 new short-term jobs; the other will help 200,000 extremely poor Palestinians buy food for the next six weeks.

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For Gazans of every social class, the relief cant come soon enough.

At nightfall Sunday, Abu Karam Bourno, 60, sat on the step of his darkened electronics shop and contemplated an evening without a single customer. Traffic was busy on Omar Mukhtar Street, one of Gazas liveliest thoroughfares, but many shops appeared to be empty.

Gaza has been partially blockaded by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took over the territory in 2007. More recently, Israel shut down any possibility of importing or exporting consumer goods. The extreme measure was taken after months of sometimes violent protests at the border and as Gazans launched dozens of flaming kites and balloons daily into Israel, incinerating acres of agricultural fields.

Palestinians watch kites fly as they take refuge at the Bureij camp near Deir al Bala, Gaza Strip, on May 9, 2018. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

On Wednesday and Thursday, about 200 rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza, prompting Israel to respond with a similarly heavy bombardment. On Friday, three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire during border demonstrations.

But on Monday, Israel said that it had detected only one blaze and that it was not caused by a balloon.

Gaza business owners have become very adaptable over almost a dozen years of limitations on their ability to engage trade freely and move outside the Strip. But the last year has been brutal.

In January, President Trump announced the United States would withdraw its usual contribution to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which runs schools and provides food, medical care and employment for thousands of Palestinians across the Middle East.

In April, UNRWA head Pierre Kraehenbuehl said the U.S. paid only $60 million of a promised $365 million for the year, leaving a gaping shortfall for the neediest Gazans.

In July, Israel closed the Kerem Shalom crossing, where hundreds of trucks loaded with goods usually rumble daily in and out of Gaza, and limited the ability of Gazans to fish off the Mediterranean coast. It made an exception for humanitarian necessities such as food and medicine.

Even the supply of fuel and gas has been intermittently halted.

Palestinians steer their boat as they protest against Israels naval blockade of Gaza, in Beit Lahia on the border with Israel in the northern Gaza Strip on Aug. 11, 2018. (Mahmud Hams / AFP/Getty Images)

Bournos Lamar laptop shop supports a family of seven, including Karam, his 34-year-old son, who is single and works in the store. In recent weeks, they started stocking cellphones and phone accessories and offering telephone repair services for clients who could no longer afford to buy the few laptops still on the shelves.

On Saturday, the Bournos scrambled and briskly tried to fix the phones of people who couldnt afford to upgrade or who couldnt find new devices to replace broken ones.

All the shops along Omar Mukhtar Street have been hurt. Gazans who managed to thrive despite the blockade and the cutbacks to UNRWA also had to contend with sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority. To punish its rival faction, Hamas, the authority slashed the salaries of government employees and imposed cutbacks on the supply of electricity.

On Sunday, few electronics shops had light. On the sidewalk in front of the Bournos store, a young man tried to sell shirts hed folded on a sheet on the pavement. Clothing shops, mini-marts selling foodstuffs and household appliances, perfumeries  all showed signs of the inability of Gazans to buy and the inability of the shops to sell.

Faced with over a month of stasis, the elder Bourno said: I cant further reduce my level of income. Were all used to a certain standard of living, and now I sometimes request loans, as it is the only way Ive found to move ahead with life until economic conditions improve.

Its not just him. Everyone he does business with, he said, depends on credit now.

Osama Nofal, director of planning and policy at Hamas Ministry of National Economy, said in an interview that 75% of Gazas 650 construction-sector factories have been shuttered since July 9 and that an additional 15% are operating at less than half capacity.

Gazas economy is on the verge of collapse, Ali Hayek, chairman of the Palestinian Businessmen Assn. in the territory, said last week. Commercial and financial activities has stopped almost completely since Israels decisions to tighten the siege on the Gaza Strip.

He said the recent sanctions had cost 75,000 people their jobs, an unprecedented rate of unemployment and poverty, even in the Gaza Strip.

Exporters have also been hurt. Ibrahim Bashir, owner of Bashir Co., said he lost $30,000 because he cant sell most of the sweet potatoes he purchased from local farmers for export. Sweet potatoes are considered a luxury in Gaza, and those who buy them tend to do so in winter rather than summer, he said.

Now Bashir is afraid that his Jordanian and Saudi Arabian clients will cancel their contracts because they no longer have confidence in his ability to deliver their orders.

Tahseen Saqqa, general manager for marketing at the Gaza Ministry of Agriculture said the halt in fruit and vegetable exports was costing the enclave about $100,000 in daily losses.

Israel is preventing the export of potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, zucchinis, cauliflowers, grapes, all of which are in season now, he said.

Even if Israel loosens the barrier to commercial exchange and money flows in from new international aid programs, not everyone believes that Gaza will be able to recoup its losses.

If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to open all crossings and allow all goods to enter  you wont feel any economic improvement, said Mohammed Abu Jayyab, editor in chief of the economic newspaper Eqtisadia. The disease is the absence of money and liquidity in the hands of Gazan citizens and in the private sector. Without an inflow of money and regular disbursement of salaries, nothing will have a significant effect on the lives of people in Gaza.

Special correspondents Tarnopolsky and Salah reported from Jerusalem and Gaza City, respectively.
Hundreds of area residents joined hands along the riverfront at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Sunday in solidarity with like-minded peaceful protestors throughout Southwest Florida, decrying the condition of gulf and inland waters.

They were among the thousands of Hands Along the Water participants up and down both coastlines of Florida at at least 30 beaches, many affected by algal blooms and severe fish kills.

Dominique Kuzer, organizer at the Cape Coral event, said the idea was to come together in unity, leaving politics aside.

We want to give our voice to the water that it doesnt have. It started on a Facebook post. Me and another woman jumped on it and I created it in Cape Coral, Kuzer said. It just spread like wildfire.

Kuzer and many others have said they have never see water quality this bad.

In the Calooshatchee and canals in Cape Coral, Pine Island and North Fort Myers, nutrient-heavy, algae-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee have resulted in shore-to-shore pea-green blooms of toxic fish-killing cyanobacteria. The blue-green algae is also befouling the east coast of Florida along and around the St. Lucie River, which experienced a similar devastating bloom in 2016.

Meanwhile, along Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and other beach-front communities from Naples to Tampa Bay, there is on-shore outbreak of toxin-producing Karenia brevis, the organism that makes up red tide.

Both algae blooms are killing fish by the hundreds of thousands as well as sea turtles, porpoises and manatees.

At the Yacht Club this weekend, there were continuing remnants of the conditions, with some dead fish lying on the algae-speckled beach that has been closed to swimming.

Kathy Pecora moved here three years ago to live in paradise.

This, she said, is anything but.

Ive seen such a change in the last three years I dont even want to go near the water. Its really sad, Pecora said. I picked this city because it was supposedly one of the best places to move to. I want the water cleaned up for my generation and others to come.

Shan Davis said they live along a canal, and have been a little luckier than others where the algae is packed in. Still, the stink pretty much keeps them indoors.

It smells like cow manure. It doesnt seem to be getting the importance it should have. The problem is that I dont know if the rest of Florida gets it, Davis said. My biggest worry is that people will forget about it.

Susan Brown and Cindy Rooney, members of the Cape Coral New Residents Club, echoed what many have said for the past few months: It has never been this bad, with dead manatees and fish.

You cant even get into the water because youre going to get sick. Susan has given us the contact information on our congressmen, Brown said. Weve e-mailed Marco Rubio and were heard back from some of them.

What we need to do is clean up Lake Okeechobee and change the laws. The governor took away laws designed to protect the environment and the power we had to protect the environment, Rooney said. Its a multi-faceted situation. Lets get the regulations back in place.

Cindys husband, Mike, said he hasnt had his boat in the water all year because of seawall repairs needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma and now the algae.

After the seawall was done, its not worth putting it out in the water. I cant fish or enjoy the water unless I want to drive 20 miles out into the gulf, Rooney said. Even then I have to smell it.

Sundays event took less than a half-hour. Kuzer had everyone line up on the water at 10 a.m. At 10:14, everyone pointed to the water in honor of the marine life before joining hand for about 15 minutes.

During the event people chanted We want change, and Clean it up.

Many wore surgical masks and a handful were in costume.

Linda France, a 25-year resident, was there to lend her support and said the grass roots effort was amazing.

We gathered to speak for the fish and the residents. Were tired of getting kicked in the can so we decided to make a difference, France said. Its never been this bad and thats why I got involved. We need to clean Lake O and send the water south. I think the local and county government is doing good, but the state and federal have dropped the ball.
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Srinagar : Two Pakistani troopers were killed by the Indian Army in response to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said here today.



Indian troops carried out operations last night after the ceasefire violations. "In retaliatory action to unprovoked ceasefire violations and repeated attempts to facilitate infiltration by Pakistan Army in Tangdhar sector, own troops carried out calibrated operations last night in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed, " Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said. PTI

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Its barely 6:00 am and Alfred is already busy milking cows. But when his chores on the farm are done, he wont be going home hell be returning to his prison cell. In Sweden, which prioritizes rehabilitation over long prison sentences, Alfred is one of 60 inmates preparing to reintegrate into society at a minimum security open prison functioning as a farm in the town of Mariestad, about 300 kilometres (185 miles) southwest of Stockholm. Imprisoned since April for illegally possessing a gun, Alfred, a grandfather in his 50s who is due to be released in November, cant hide the joy he gets from spending time with the animals. I like them... they calm me down, he says with a sigh, wearing a cap, his arm covered in tattoos. In this agricultural prison called Rodjan the biggest of the Swedish penitentiary systems three farmshis routines are the same every day. He meets up with his work assignment partner Sofian (both names have been changed to protect their identities) in the morning for two and a half hours of work and then once again in the evening. I clean [the udder] to avoid the bacteria, then I disinfect it before pulling the teats, Alfred says enthusiastically. Other inmates work on the farm watering the plants, repainting the gates, and mowing the lawn. And a dozen of them are in charge of the livestock.Sweden is among the countries with the fewest prisoners in the world: there are 0.5 inmates per 1,000 inhabitants, which is half of that in France (one per 1,000), Swedish and French prison data show. The Scandinavian nation spends twice as much as France on each detainee, including those placed under surveillance, and works hard to avoid confinement. Instead, it prefers to put people on probation, favours widespread use of ankle monitors, sentences people to community service, and releases prisoners after two-thirds of time served. Sweden also invests heavily in reintegration through language classes and vocational training. Its our system for bringing people out into society in a good way, so they dont come back to prison again, Britt-Marie Johansson, head of the Rodjan institution, tells AFP. In Sweden, just under a third of prisoners re-offend after leaving jail or serving their term, which is half of that in France, according to the Swedish and French prison statistics. As in all penitentiaries across Sweden, inmates have their own cells. At Rodjan, theyre unlocked. There are no security cameras, no gates, no barbed wire, and inmates are allowed to move about freely.Sweden has more than a dozen open prisons across the country. Inmates at Rodjan are serving sentences for all types of convictions, ranging from driving without a licence to tax crimes or assault, but prisoners placed there are all considered to not pose a threat to society. We count the prisoners in the morning, during the day and in the evening, and we know where they are all the time, assures Johansson. If they do something wrong, they go to a higher security level facility, she adds. Closing the fence to the meadow after he finishes milking the cows, Alfred jokes that the cows are more locked up than the prisoners.The inmates work 35 hours per week with two days off and are paid 13 kronor (1.2 euros, $1.15) an hour. On his days off, Alfred admits that he regularly steps into the barn to see if everything is fine. Other inmates have been known to call the prison while on their days off if they know the cows are due to give birth, to ask How did it go? Did it go well with the calf? Johansson says, amused. Michael Henningsohn, the farms production manager, praises the detainees work. Many work incredibly well despite never having done this before. Its fascinating to see their attitudes after only a few days of training, he says with a smile. In 2012, the farm received an award from Swedens King Carl XVI Gustaf for the quality of its milk. The establishments key to success lies in the strict routines required for running a farm, according to Henningsohn. Despite enjoying his time with the cows, Alfred does not see himself staying in the farming business after completing his sentence, even though he grew up surrounded by cows on his grandparents farm. I saw how it went for them... its too hard, he says.
On Monday 13 August, just as Pakistans new parliament were taking oath after the recent elections, fourteen workers died in a coal mine near Quetta. The miners were trapped by a gas explosion inside the mine on Sunday.



The Newspaper Dawn reported that:

Bodies of 10 of the 14 labourers trapped in a coal mine in Quetta's Sanjadi area have been recovered so far following a gas explosion last night  rescue teams told DawnNewsTV on Monday.

In addition to this, five rescue workers who had gone to recover the trapped miners also went missing earlier in the day, two of whom have been found dead, Quetta Commissioner Hashim Ghilzai told DawnNewsTV.

Rescue teams are trying to recover four other coal miners and three rescue workers who are still believed to be trapped in the mine, Ghilzai said. The excavation operation has been underway since yesterday.

Following the blast, the Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority had said that the rescue teams were trying to retrieve the trapped miners, but had remained coy about the chances of their survival.

The miners belong to Shangla, Swat and Dir areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Poor working conditions inside coal mines in Balochistan claim the lives of miners on an almost daily basis in Harnai, Sowrange, Dukki, Mach and other parts of the province, but often go unreported.

Coal mining is considered much more hazardous than hard rock mining due to flat-lying rock strata, generally incompetent rock, leakage or explosion of poisonous gases and coal dust, collapsing of mine stopes or general mechanical errors from improper use and malfunctioning of mining equipment.

According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation, between 100 and 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents every year.



Just a few months ago in May, twenty-three coal miners died and thirteen were injured in the same area when two mines collapsed. Twenty-one of those who died belonged to the same family of Shangla, near Swat in Pukhtoonkhwa.

In Balochistan, around one hundred thousand coal miners work in four hundred mines in inhuman conditions. Starting work at five in the morning, the working day lasts between sixteen and eighteen hours and the average wage is $10 per week. Workers tend to be between thirteen and thirty years old. They stop work after the age of thirty, not due to retirement or the fact that they have received a pension, but because they contract fatal diseases preventing them from continuing. Indeed, many workers die before even reaching the age of thirty from various illnesses caused by their work, with tuberculosis being the most common. Others die soon after quitting their jobs.

Whilst there are laws for health and safety standards for coal miners, no one pays any attention to them. Workers are never provided with safety gear and not allowed to form unions  there is not a single union for these workers in the whole region. In fact, forming a union has become an unofficial crime in all sectors of Pakistan and any activity in this direction is crushed by the industrialists with the help of the police, judiciary and labour department.

Many mines are operating illegally and are not even registered. Only twelve-thousand miners are registered in the Mines Department in Balochistan while all others are unregistered. These miners are forced to work in precarious conditions to earn their living. It is usually young teenagers who are sent to work in the difficult, narrow parts of the mines because those who are older than twenty often contract lung diseases making them unfit to work there. The miners families have been working here for generations; when a father dies, his son will take his place. High unemployment and falling living standards have meant that these people are forced to continue to sacrifice their lives at the altar of the blood-thirsty mine owners and the government employees bribed to allow it all to continue.

The most common accidents are methane explosions or the collapse of mines. Moreover, since no rescue teams or medical facilities are available to cope with these accidents, fellow miners usually attempt to rescue their colleagues themselves, which only results in more deaths and injuries. These accidents could easily be avoided if technology was properly used and safety standards were followed, but the mine owners choose to use primitive methods because, for them, the life of a coal miner is the cheapest commodity on the market.

There are laws supposedly requiring owners to pay compensation to the families of workers killed whilst working, but this compensation is rarely paid. Owners often blame the workers themselves. They claim that, if workers die, it is their own fault.

These coal miners are not alone. Workers in other sectors in Pakistan face similar conditions and are brutally exploited by the capitalists and the ruling elite. Governments and various departments are merely tools in the hands of these brutal exploiters who spill the blood of workers like water. No political party has condemned this brutality, and no MP in the new Assembly has spoken against this horrible exploitation. In fact, the new government has planned to privatise two hundred more public-sector departments in its first one-hundred days. This will only mean even more attacks on working-class people already living in monstrous conditions.

Long live the working class! Workers of the world, unite!

The only way forward for the working class is to fight against these attacks. Red Workers Front has condemned this brutality and has announced its complete support for the coal miners of Balochistan. They have appealed to other trade unions to come forward against this brutality and organise protests for the rights of coal miners. A protest was held in May in Quetta on the call of the Pakistan Workers Confederation to protest against the killings of coal miners, but it is important to widen these protests and agitate on a much bigger scale. Only the unity of working class can stop this barbarism and rescue the workers from this bloodthirsty capitalism.










How is a data center like a tractor? Supporters of past failed attempts to exempt data center equipment from sales taxes will be trying another tactic in the upcoming legislative session: Equating data center equipment to agricultural and manufacturing equipment.

Proponents of the exemption say that it would attract data centers to Idaho, noting that surrounding states such as Nevada, Oregon, and Washington  all with cheap power  now house a number of them. Washington, Nevada, and Wyoming all have such an exemption, while Oregon and Montana have no sales tax.

By: Sharon Fisher
MCB Group Limited has announced on the 28th Spetembre 2020 its audited results for the year ended 30 June 2020.

Commenting on the results, Pierre Guy Noel (Chief Executive  MCB Group Ltd) said:

The material deterioration in the operating context since early 2020 has led to a reversal of the strong growth in results re corded by the Group during the first semester of FY 2019/20. Profits attributable to ordinary shareholders dropped by 16.1% to reach Rs 7,912 million for the year ended 30 June 2020, essentially due to a substantial increase in Expected Credit Losses (ECL) resulting from the high level of uncertainty engendered by the rOVID-19 crisis. Indeed, additional ECL on the Groups performing asset portfolio amounted to Rs 3,364 million to reflect an inherent increase in credit risks on a forward-looking basis, thus contributing to impairment charges of Rs 5,076 million for the year under review.

Operating results, however, improved on the back of our diversification strategy as demonstrated by a growth of 8.5% in opera ting income to Rs 21,954 million. Notwithstanding a decline in margins on our international activities, net interest income rose by 11.2%, supported by an expansion in loans and advance s and higher investment in Government securities amidst continued high liquidity locally. On the other hand, with business activities being impacted by the difficult market conditions and confinement measures, net fee and commission income declined by 4.7%, mainly due to a reduced contribution from MCB Capital Markets Ltd and lower fees recorded within the banking cluster, particularly during the last quarter of FY 2019/20.

Other income increased by 15.0% in spite of lower contribution from MrB Real Assets otd, mainly driven by a growth of 22.2% in profit on exchange and net gain from financial instruments carried at fair value. The resilient performance on the revenue side has led to a further drop in our cost to income ratio wh ich reached 35.5% after accounting for a growth of 3.7% in operating expenses.

The share of profits of associates remained close to the prior years level, being down only marginally, with improved results posted by BFrOI being offset by a subdued performance recorded at the level of Promotion and Development otd.

We have preserved our financial soundness in these turbulent times. The Group has maintained strong funding and liquidity pos itions alongside further strengthening its capital buffer, with the overall capital adequacy and Tier 1 ratios improving to 18.6% and 17.2% respectively.

The operating context remains particularly challenging, with low visibility on the evolution of the situation going forward. Difficult market and economic conditions are expected to continue taking their toll on customer segments across markets, albeit to varying degrees. Whilst some business segments, notably on the international front, are anticipated to be resilient, our operating results are likely to be down in view of restrained business activities amidst the economic slump and resulting dampened investor confidence as well as squeezed margins.

Pressures on asset quality are likely to intensify with the degree of the impact remaining highly dependent on the duration a nd severity of the rOVID-19 pandemic and the effectiveness of the support measures from the authorities, including financial assistance from the Mauritius Investment corporation to economic operators. Against this backdrop, the Group will maintain its market vigilance and monitor the situation closely with regular assessment of potential scenarios. We will seek to maintain adequate buffers in terms of capital adequacy as well as funding and liquidity ratios, thus preserving our financial soundness. \currently, while reviewing its short -term priorities, the Group will continue to invest for the future and create the necessary conditions to bounce back when economic conditions start to heal.

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KABUL  Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan H.E. Salahuddin Rabbani met with Charge dAffaires of Netherlands in Kabul Mr. Ernst Noorman.

Describing Netherlands activities in Afghanistan, Mr. Noorman announced the deployment of an additional 60 Dutch soldiers in the framework of Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister also appreciated the activities and sacrifices of Dutch soldiers for bringing stability in Afghanistan. Both sides discussed bilateral relations, security situation, development, peace process and elections.
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,
West Rockhill supervisor requests another look at township resolution regarding bridges
Letter to editor: Congress can get this right
By By:

Dr. Francis R. Souder, 85, formerly of Telford, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 in the skilled nursing unit of Peter Becker Community, Franconia Township. He and his wife Marion R. (Parker) Souder celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July.

Born in Souderton, he was a son of the late Elvin B. and Mary (Rittenhouse) Souder.

A 1938 graduate of Souderton High School, he received his undergraduate degree in 1941 from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Souder went on to receive his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1944 and completed his internship at Hahnemann Hospital from Oct. 1944  July, 1945.

He served with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps for 30 months in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif. during WW II and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to his discharge. He entered his second tour of duty during the Korean War where he served in Panama City, Fla. as the medical officer for the Panama City Naval Air Station and the Tyndal Air Force Base.

Dr. Souder owned and operated his family practice on Main Street in Telford from 1947-1989. He served on the staff of Grand View Hospital, and as its president, and taught at the Grand View Hospital Nursing School. He was a member of the Pa. Medical Society, the Bucks County Medical Society, Diplomat American Academy of Family Practices, and served on the board of trustees at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville.

He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Telford, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the MacCalla Lodge #596 in Souderton, the Raja Shrine, and Lehigh Consistory.

In addition to his widow, he is survived by a son, Dr. Ronald L. Souder, and his wife Susan L. of Green Lane; a daughter, Susan J. Souder, and her husband Stephan Russo of New York, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Jennifer A. Souder of Philadelphia; Emily E. Souder of Philadelphia; Kathryn A. Souder of Washington, D.C.; Noah Russo of New York, N.Y., and Rebekah Russo of New York, N.Y., and two brothers: Attorney Elvin B. Souder of Souderton and Dr. Lawrence Souder of Souderton.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. in Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 S. Main St., Telford, with calling hours following the service.

Interment will be private in Trinity UCC Cemetery Telford.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grand View Hospital, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, Pa. 18960.

Arrangements are by Sadler-Suess Funeral Home, Telford.
August 14, 2018 UN Sanction Monitor: U.S. Stands By While ISIS In Syria Recuperates, Gains Money From Oil Since November 2017 the U.S. largely stopped the fight against ISIS in north-east Syria. It gave ISIS the chance to regain power. A new report to the UN Security Council now confirms that ISIS in north-east Syria recuperated. It again profits from oil extraction under the nose of U.S. forces. As noted here in April: The U.S. military in Syria has refrained from fighting ISIS for months. The map of the territory held by ISIS (grey) at the Syrian-Iraqi border in the U.S. controlled zone north of the Euphrates (yellow) has not changed since November 2017.

Livemap: Nov 30 2017, Apr 24 2018 - bigger, bigger (The yellow corridor going south east towards Iraq on the map is misleading. The U.S. has no forces there and ISIS crossed it several times to attack Syrian forces (red) across the river.) The British group Airwars documents the U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. ... The U.S. strikes hit, if anything, only very minor targets.

...

It is obvious that the U.S. wants to keep ISIS alive and well to again use it, if need be, against the Syrian and Iraqi government. The Sanctions Monitoring Team of the UN Security Council recently released its 26nd report (pdf). It notes in the summary: [The] Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), having been defeated militarily in Iraq and most of the Syrian Arab Republic during 2017, rallied in early 2018. This was the result of a loss of momentum by forces fighting it in the east of the Syrian Arab Republic, which prolonged access by ISIL to resources and gave it breathing space to prepare for the next phase of its evolution into a global covert network. By June 2018, the military campaigns against ISIL had gathered pace again, but ISIL still controlled small pockets of territory in the Syrian Arab Republic on the Iraqi border. It was able to extract and sell some oil, and to mount attacks, including across the border into Iraq. Under the nose of more than 2,000 U.S. forces in north-east Syria ISIS recuperated and again gained force. It is still able to pump oil from the ground and sell it into the local market. In the details of its report the Sanctions Monitor writes: It appears that ISIL can still draw on some of its traditional funding streams, including hydrocarbons and extortion, earning millions of dollars per month. In its previous report, the Monitoring Team highlighted the groups loss of control of oil and natural gas fields however, the slowdown of military progress against ISIL in early 2018, mentioned earlier, allowed the group to regain access to some oil fields in north-eastern Syrian Arab Republic. As a result, oil remains a primary source of revenue, with the group using primitive methods to extract it, both for its own consumption and for sale to locals, in addition to the extortion of distribution networks. Oil extraction can certainly be seen by surveillance drones of which the U.S. flies plenty in the Syrian airspace. But there is not one report of an airstrike against oil related targets in the U.S. military reports collected by Airwars for April, May or June 2018. After a slight uptick in May and June airstrikes against ISIS in July were again down at a very low level.

Source: Airwars - bigger Publicly announced U.S. operations against ISIS in north-east Syria have a Groundhog Day feeling to them: Zana Amed @zana_med - 11:17 AM - 13 Jul 2018

#DeirEzzor - After a short surveillance tour by Gen. Funk, Gen. Jarrard and #SDF commander in Middle Euphrates River Valley heval Ciya yesterday, operation to liberate #Hajin to start today in the evening. Para Keta @ParaKeta - 8:55 AM - 14 Aug 2018

#SDF commander said they will launch Operation to Liberate #Hajin in a few days to clear the final places held by #ISIS to the east of the Euphrates. The U.S. claimed that it had to stop its operation in east Syria because its Kurdish proxy ground force, the SDF, was busy fighting the Turkish invasion of Afrin in north-west Syria. But U.S. air attacks against ISIS in Syria already slacked in November 2017. The Turkish invasion of Afrin started on January 20 and ended on March 24. Hardly any Kurdish units from east Syria were involved in the fight. Giving ISIS time and liberty to recuperate and to make more revenue seems to be a deliberate strategy. It is a repeat of the earlier U.S. coddling of ISIS. During the ISIS occupation of eastern Syria in 2014 and 2015 oil extraction and its sale to Turkey was ISIS' main financial resource. But the U.S., despite declaring a grand coalition against ISIS, never made the lucrative ISIS oil operations a target. Only when Russia's President Putin showed aerial pictures of thousands of oil tankers, waiting in the desert to load ISIS oil, to his colleagues at the G20 summit in Turkey, was U.S. President Obama shamed into attacking them. A day after the G20 summit the U.S. airforce started to bomb the long lines of oil tankers. The UN Sanctions Monitor also notes another ISIS relevant area under U.S. protection: The densely populated Rukban camp in southern Syrian Arab Republic contains some 80,000 internally displaced persons, including families of ISIL fighters, a situation which Member States fear might generate new ISIL cells. The Rubkan camp in the semi-desert at the Jordan border is within the 55 kilometer protection zone of the al-Tanf border crossing to Iraq which the U.S. military occupies. Syrian government forces got bombed by the U.S. when they tried to reach it. Currently the Syrian Army is fighting ISIS forces which earlier attacked Suweida and massacred some 250 people there. Those ISIS forces are now surrounded at the Safa lava field nearby. They will be defeated because the Syrian army isolated them from their sources of supplies in the U.S.protected zone: Desert Hawk @Syrian_Uruk - 7:31 utc - 14 Aug 2018

The #SyrianArmy surrounded ISIL gatherings at #Safa after cutting off their supply lines between the Zalaf & Rahim Dam while the #SAA secured a wall between the #US #tanf base to cut off roads from Al-Rikban and Al-Tanf camps and separate them from each other #Syria #OpDignity The Syrian army is still preparing for the operation in Idleb governorate which is mostly under al-Qaeda's control. Under the Astana de-escalation agreement Turkey has been given until early September to solve the al-Qaeda problem in the province. It is unlikely that Turkey will succeed with that. The Sanctions team finds: [The Al-Nusra Front (ANF)] is assessed to remain the controlling force within the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) umbrella, which has accordingly been added by the Sanctions Committee as an alias of ANF. Syrian national Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani is the leader of both ANF and HTS. HTS maintains a position of strength in Idlib province, but is under pressure from other Syrian opposition groups. Member States assess that HTS and its components still maintain contact with Al-Qaida leadership. ... According to one Member State, HTS recently seized territories from Ahrar Al-Sham and other armed groups after being reinforced by the arrival of military and explosives experts from Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. Some ISIL fighters, such as the leader of the ISIL Green Brigade in north-western Syria, have also joined HTS.

...

Extortion remains a primary source of financing for ANF, which earns money through its control of Idlib and checkpoints, including by taxing the movement of commercial commodities. Kidnapping for ransom of locals is another source of revenue, and the group may earn some funds through external donations. 'Western' media continue to play down the Idleb problem and al-Qaeda's influence there. Their 'experts' cry crocodiles tears about the upcoming Syrian operation. But these ain't 'moderate rebels'. Al-Qaeda in Syria, under the Nusra or HTS label, continues to be a danger not only to the local population and not only to Syria. It must be eliminated as soon as possible. But the same way the U.S. continues to use ISIS for its imperial interests, it will likely continue to use al-Qaeda in Syria to exercise pressure on the Syrian and Russian government. As soon as the Idleb operation starts we can expect another full propaganda onslaught with daily news of the "last hospital bombed", more faked 'chemical attacks' and fake rescue videos. Posted by b on August 14, 2018 at 17:38 UTC | Permalink Comments
In a national movement for stricter gun control measures, Morgan Hill is set to join a growing number of cities that are passing their own set of gun safety ordinances.

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Following the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla. at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school on Feb. 14, students across the country protested U.S gun regulation. Morgan Hill students joined the National School Walkouts on March 14,and city council members responded.

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After talks with local high school students, council members decided to move forward with a proposed ordinance to regulate guns in Morgan Hill, which City Attorney Donald Larkin said had been long discussed by the council.

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On March 7, the City Council adopted a resolution condemning gun violence. Community members who voiced concerns at that meeting were then invited to a small roundtable meeting Aug. 8 to discuss a proposed ordinance.

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Council members Rich Constantine and Rene Spring were present at the informal meeting. Had anymore council members been present, the meeting would have been classified as a formal meeting of the council, and would have required a public notice and a published agenda.

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Larkin and Morgan Hill Chief of Police David Swing also attended.

The constituents invited to the meeting included gun owners as well as gun control advocates. As the meeting started, nearly all attendees said they would support some kind of compromise in an ordinance, but as the meeting wore on it was clear there were multiple conflicting ideas.

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The general proposals of an ordinance written by Larkin included four points: requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to the Morgan Hill Police Department, requiring safe storage for firearms not in use, outlawing the owning of large capacity magazines and requiring a permit for gun or ammunition sales.

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Larkin said an ordinance will likely be drafted within the coming weeks. With the council eager to pass something about gun safety soon, Larkin said, the ordinance will likely be voted on in September or October.

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As the Aug. 8 meeting progressed, many pro-gun constituents present disagreed with all proposed aspects of the ordinance. Larkin held up the proposed ordinance points and asked the room if anyone agreed with anything written on the page; there was no response.

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Many of the attendees felt education and psychological services should be addressed either in addition to or instead of the ordinance.

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Dave Truslow, a volunteer gun safety and gun sport instructor, was present at the meeting and wrote several of his own proposals on the whiteboard of the conference room. Many of the education or safety programs he recommended were implemented by the National Rifle Association, a national gun industry lobbying group and firearms safety organization.

Spring said he planned to propose that the council look into creating some kind of program about gun safety.

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While Larkin said it was unlikely any program taught by the NRA would be implemented, Spring said, I personally am not ruling out anything. Spring said he would have to look into the specifics of individual programs more closely.

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Larkin said the ordinance proposals were based on similar ordinances implemented in other cities that have been tested in court. A Sunnyvale ordinance was recently upheld in March by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Many of the proposals elaborated on existing California gun laws. Reporting lost or stolen firearms to the Morgan Hill Police Department would be specifying California law, which requires reporting to local law enforcement. Larkin said there are many local law enforcement agencies and that the specification in a city ordinance would clarify the laws.

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Large-capacity ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds are also illegal in California, if they werent purchased before the year 2000.

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While some in attendance felt the proposals would accomplish anything of significance, the two council members felt that even if the ordinance only saved one life it would be a success.

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Constantine compared the idea that an ordinance would not create major change to speed limits. He said that even if not everyone follows the rules of the road, That doesnt mean there shouldnt be a speed limit.

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Truslow said at the meeting that while he agreed with some of the proposals on the surface, it came down to the details of the ordinance.

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Constantine asked the attendees to use common sense when analyzing the proposals for the ordinance. Both council members said they understood gun control is a sensitive issue and they appreciated the respectful nature of the discussion.

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Constantine added at the roundtable, that as a gun owner he is in favor of implementing gun safety measures.

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This is an emotional issue, said Constantine. I cant help but put my daughter in that issue.

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While no consensus seemed to be reached at the meeting, the council members said they had both learned from the conversation. Larkin said he gained knowledge on what language should be used when crafting the ordinance.

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I definitely know more about their concern, Spring told the Times in an interview. He said the council had been considering gun safety measures for some time, especially in light of the rate of gun related suicide in Morgan Hill. In 2016, suicide by firearm accounted for 59% of gun-related deaths in Santa Clara County.

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Truslow still did not support the citys proposals made for the ordinance. What bothers me most is that none of Mr. Larkins proposals to-date have been demonstrated to make a tangible difference, Truslow told the Times.

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MBS RECAP: Mismatch Between Headlines and Bonds

Another day, another chance for market watchers and pundits of all types to make mountains out of Turkish molehills. Yes, the financial crisis in Turkey is important and it's still a thing, but no... it's not the most important market mover for bonds or stocks at the moment. There's only a very small possibility that it's even the biggest risk to the global financial market. Stocks and bonds agreed today, as neither covered any special new ground despite another big drop in the value of Turkish currency. There were also some unsubstantiated headlines that caused a bit of intraday volatility--but that was mostly limited to Turkish markets. 10yr Treasuries, for instance, were unchanged to slightly weaker. Same story for MBS. Had domestic markets been taking any compelling cues from Turkish market movement, we'd be seeing much stronger levels this afternoon. Bottom line: Turkish drama kept increasing, but bonds generally ignored it today. While that may not continue to be the case, it could just as easily be the first sign that domestic markets have traded as much of this sideshow as they're going to trade.

MBS Pricing Snapshot Pricing shown below is delayed, please note the timestamp at the bottom. Pricing shown below is delayed, please note the timestamp at the bottom. Real time pricing is available via MBS Live.

MBS FNMA 4.0 101-25 : -0-02 Treasuries 10 YR 2.8768 : +0.0178 Pricing as of 8/13/18 5:28PMEST

Today's Reprice Alerts and Updates

A recap of Alerts and Updates provided to MBS Live subscribers

10:26AM : Fake News Behind a Reversal in Bonds?

MBS Live Chat Highlights

Live Discussion on the A recap of featured comments from theon the MBS Live Dashboard

Sung Kim : "1000% for sure"

Jennifer Turner : "Lock today?"

Sung Kim : "View in Log Sung Kim: 12/29/16 2:50PM The guides state that you need an employment authorization document, which is EXACTLY what a H1B is. They are reading it literally to mean you need an EAD. The EAD is post H1B when they are trying to go to perm residence"

Jason Anker : "also says an EAD car isn't needed when you have an H1B. The verbiage they use is less than helpful."

Sung Kim : "the UCSIS website calls it a document that authorizes employment - fwiw"

Sung Kim : "when the handbook was first released there was very heated debate on here as to exactly what an EAD is. many thought what this underwriter thinks, and that is the literal card as opposed to a (D)ocument that (A)uthorizes (E)mployment"
The Dayton Metro Library and The Dayton Art Institute seek to commission site-specific artwork for the new Trotwood Branch Library, which will be located at 855 E. Main Street in Trotwood. Proposals will be accepted August 12 through October 15, and the commissions will be announced in November.

ReImagining Works is a partnership between the Library and the DAI to acquire original artwork for each of the Dayton Metro Librarys new or renovated locations. Susan Anable is The Dayton Art Institutes project manager for ReImagining Works.

We are excited to share the latest RFP for the Trotwood Branch, which offers four highly visible spaces for artwork, said Anable. Since the project began in 2014, we have commissioned 32 works of art to enhance the vibrancy of our new and remodeled Dayton Metro Libraries.

For the Trotwood Branch, regional artists (within a 250-mile radius of Dayton, Ohio) are invited to propose new artwork in response to two inspirational pieces in the DAIs permanent collection: Centerpiece by Wiener Werkstatte, and Pathway by John Safer. These pieces were chosen by community vote, particularly by patrons of the Trotwood Branch Library, to represent their unique community and Library.

An informational meeting for artists is scheduled for Saturday, August 25, 11:00 am at the DAI. Ruetschle Architects will be on hand to review the building plans and answer questions.

This is a great opportunity for artists to gain a better understanding of the building space and art locations, and also see the DAI inspiration pieces in person, said Anable, who is also available for individual phone conversation with artists on Monday, August 27, between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.

The newly designed 13,000 square foot Trotwood Branch Library has a targeted opening date of January 2020. The architecture employs geometric expression with a cozy interior. Amenities include a quiet reading room, dedicated teen space, a larger childrens area, study rooms, an information commons, and an after-hours accessible community meeting room.

Proposed artwork should reflect the distinctive personality of this location; resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds; inspire collaboration, learning and creativity; and contribute to an inviting, engaging, stimulating environment. The ReImagining Works Committee welcomes submissions that relate to the mission of Dayton Metro Library or that provide a springboard for educational programming or collaborative learning opportunities.

Supporting our community of artists while making our libraries warmer and more inviting places is a win-win for our city, said Anable. What a great legacy for an artist to have their work on view in a public space in their hometown.

Questions prior to the DAI meeting can be emailed to Susan Anable at sanable@daytonart.org. R.S.V.P. for the meeting or schedule a time to discuss proposals by emailing sanable@daytonart.org.

ReImagining Works is made possible by an anonymous bequest. More information about the project, including photos of installations at completed Libraries, can be found at DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Works.
State

Governor Acharya calls for public support to Naga peace process

PB Acharya

DIMAPUR, AUG 14 (NPN) | Publish Date: 8/14/2018 12:30:08 PM IST

Nagaland Governor, PB Acharya has appealed to all sections of Naga people, particularly tribal hohos, civil society groups, NGOs, youth and hard-working womenfolk and farmers to come forward and support the ongoing Naga peace process with a spirit of understanding, brotherhood and unity.

In his Independence Day message, the governor also hoped that peoples efforts would help Nagaland in scaling new heights of development, which would contribute significantly to the progress and prosperity of the nation.

Acharya expressed his appreciation and gratitude to armed forces, paramilitary forces, State police and other security agencies for their concerted efforts in securing lives and property of the people, adding We are proud that Northeast has also contributed equally for the freedom of our country.

Commenting that Nagaland had indeed progressed in the last 54 years, he remarked that our farmers with organic produce have an opportunity of becoming members of cooperative movement and thereby become empowered financially and get a better price for their produce. He said the agro-climatic conditions in Nagaland provided commercial opportunities for agro-based and forest-based industries, horticulture, food processing, mining, tourism and handloom and handicrafts.

Meanwhile, according to the governor, every Indian was now proud of being an Indian, and he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this as Indias reputation had improved worldwide.

Acharya claimed that common man had been given better privileges, which had led to his social and economic empowerment.

He pointed out that Government of India had introduced a number of welfare projects that had empowered the people of the country.

He said the Prime Minister had brought transparency to the system through legislative and institutional changes and had given this country scam-free governance.

The quality of life in villages had improved with better roads, electricity, affordable rural housing, toilets and gas connections, he added.

Mentioning that Government of India was developing market architecture in the countrys agricultural sector, he said the farmers could benefit even more if the Centre and the State governments come up with joint decisions upholding the spirit of cooperative federalism.

He said the healthcare delivery in India was now uniquely poised to undergo a change at all stages prevention, diagnosis and treatment  with the launch of Ayushman Bharat, National Health Protection Mission. In this regard, he said Nagaland government and Tata Trusts, Mumbai had signed a memorandum of understanding recently to implement a programme for providing comprehensive cancer care in the State.

Acharya said the new idea of Rajyapal  Vikas Ke Rajdoot or Catalytic Role of Governors as Agents for Change in Society  in the recently-concluded Conference of Governors discussed how governors could be catalytic agents for change in the society.

Under this, he claimed to have motivated all the five universities, Indian Red Cross Society, Bharat Scouts & Guides, Rajya Sainik Board and North East Zone Cultural Centre, of which he is the ex-officio head. They have to reach out to strengthen the society and be the nodal agents to identify and motivate the beneficiaries of Central and State government flagship programmes, he stressed.

He claimed to have called upon these institutions to adopt villages and constitute teams to visit identified villages to interact with targeted beneficiaries of the flagship welfare schemes/projects during his interactions with them. The need of the hour was to reach out to the un-empowered sections along with our constitutional responsibilities, he added.
State

Various Naga political groups celebrate Naga Independence Day

Correspondents/Staff Reporter KOHIMA/DIMAPUR/MON, AUG 14 (NPN) | Publish Date: 8/14/2018 12:16:17 PM IST

Various Naga political groups (NPGs) Tuesday celebrated Naga Independence Day with patriotic fervour at their respective headquarters. Besides, Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) and Naga Students Federation (NSF) also commemorated Naga Independence Day at CBCK, Cezo Mepu, Billy Graham Road, Kohima and Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU) office Dimapur respectively.

NNC, FGN the only nationally-mandated institutions: Metha

Addressing the 72nd Naga Independence Day celebration function held at Peace Camp, Chedema on Tuesday, the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) Kedahge gen. (retd) Viyalie Metha asserted that Naga National Council (NNC) and FGN were the only two nationally-mandated institutions and established government of the Naga people to uphold the historical and political rights of the Naga nation.

He said NNC and FGN did not and would not recognise any faction or organisation that might commit Naga citizenship to any other country. Metha affirmed to stand in protecting Naga sovereignty and independence.

Commenting on the issue of integration of contiguous Naga areas, Metha remarked that Nagas were an integrated nation even before the official proclamation of their Federal Republic on March 22, 1956.

In this connection, he said Nagas had always been an integrated nation occupying a continuous Naga territory throughout all the aeons of human history.

Kedahge said that NNC and FGN would consider any acts of integrating Naga territory under the constitution of any foreign country as acts of treason against the nation.

In her presidential message, NNC president Adinno Phizo said the national foundation was laid by her organisation and, with the national foundation in place, Nagas had been able to uphold our right up to this day.

Whether others acknowledge it or not, Nagas have a unique history because they never entered into any treaty that has bound them in any legal connection to any other country, she claimed.

Earlier, Metha unfurled the Naga national flag which was followed by the anthem. The cadres were presented with awards of recognition while various cultural troupes presented folk songs and dances on the occasion.

Final solution as and when God is pleased with us: Khole

NSCN (I-M) vice president Gen. (Retd) Kholi, in his speech on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day, has asserted that final solution to the Naga political issue will come as and when God is pleased with us.

Kholis speech was read out by NSCN (I-M) Kilo Kilonser, Hukavi Yepthomi, during the 72nd Independence Day held at Council Headquarters (CHQ) Hebron on Tuesday.

Stating that Naga political struggle began with God and would be accomplished with God, NSCN (I-M) vice president said they had done what they could in all these years of political negotiations with the Government of India, and there was not much to be done now.

He, therefore, called upon the Nagas to examine their lives and see whether or not God finds reasons to be pleased with them. Let us remind ourselves of the Gospel truth that, with God everything is possible, and that God is the answer to every problem of a believer, he said. Reiterating that Naga history and political rights have been acknowledged and recognized by the government of India, Kholi, however, said the problem that still remained to be resolved was the danger of self-destruction. Nagas are bound to perish together until and unless we realize that our greatest enemy is within ourselves in the form of egotism, jealousy, selfishness, hatred, self-righteousness etc, he remarked.

(Full text on P-6)

Naga Plebiscite will be basic foundation of any political solution: Neokpao

In his 72nd Independence Day speech, GPRN/NSCN president, Gen. (Retd.) MB Neokpao, asserted that the Naga Plebiscite of May 1951 would be the basic foundation of any political solution.

Stating that the essence and spirit of Naga plebiscite was duly acknowledged by the government of India, Neokpao said It is with this strength that we signed an Agreed position with the GOI on 17th Nov 2017.

Further, he stated that the November 17, 2017 Agreed position document bears testimony that the two entities, firmly retaining the essence of Naga plebiscite of 1951, were determined to take the Indo-Naga issue to a logical conclusion.

Neokpao maintained that a prolonged conflict like ours cannot be resolved through piecemeal solution. He said there had been agreements in the past which did not have the approval and consent of the Naga people. GPRN/NSCN president also stated that a political problem cannot be solved through economic considerations. (Full text on p-6)

Nagas are not lost people: Wangtin

NSCN (Reformation) president Y.Wangtin Naga, on the occasion of the Naga Independence Day, asserted that Naga people are not lost people and their History cannot be erased.

NSCN (R) celebrated the 72nd Independence Day at Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) office, Mon with NSCN (R) president Y.Wangtin Naga as chief guest.

After unfurling the Naga national flag, the NSCN (R) president delivered his speech, in which he stated described the coming together of six NNPGs as fulfilment of the aspirations of the Naga people for unity among Naga revolutionary groups.

Wangtin stated that the Working Agreement signed between government of India and NNPGs stood taller than any political agreement signed thus far between government of India and Nagas. He said through that agreement the government of India has officially recognized the historical and political rights of the Nagas and their distinct identity to determine their future.

He also informed that NNPGs and government of India have jointly worked out a formula for peaceful co-existence between the two entities and was likely to ink final deal before autumn season of Indian Parliament, provided the situation and time favours.

Earlier, a silent prayer in remembrance of the fallen Martyrs was also observed.

The programme was chaired by NSCN (R) deputy secretary Mansham, invocation prayer by Chaplain, vote of thanks by Omnyei Konyak, Advisor to the collective leadership and benediction by mass. The celebration was attended by rank and file of NSCN(R), civil society leaders, various NGOs and business community members.

KSU expresses solidarity with Naga movement

Khasi Students Union (KSU) has expressed solidarity with the Naga movement.

Addressing a gathering of student leaders and members of Naga Students Federation (NSF) at Dimapur Naga Students Union office, Dimapur on Tuesday to commemorate the 72nd Naga Independence Day, KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah remarked that while rest of the country had been celebrating Independence Day since 1947, people of the Northeast were still struggling for their right to self-determination.

In his solidarity message, Thabah recounted the sacrifices made by earlier generations, but he said he was saddened that no one knew the history of Nagas struggle for self-determination. Citing an instance, he said, as Jallianwala Bagh tragedy was a part of history, the injustice and atrocities committed on the Nagas in their quest for self-determination too should be part of school curriculum.

The KSU leader recounted the gross violation of human rights during Operation Blue Bird at Oinam, a Poumai Naga village in Manipur, where villagers were subjected to inhuman treatment and extra-judicial killings, and where even churches were not spared. He said incidents like those in Oinam should be a part of history.

Talking about the attitude of mainlanders towards the Northeast, he pointed out that while the Northeast made an attempt to understand mainland Indias culture, the former hardly knew the regions people and their culture. They (mainland India) want us to assimilate and that is unacceptable, he asserted.

To prove his point, Thabah expressed his displeasure at the recent comment on Naga headgear by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. He said it proved that people from mainland India knew very little of the Northeast, adding it was unacceptable that a symbol of culture was labelled hilarious and outlandish.

Urging the gathering to stir up the spirit of Naga nationalism, the KSU leader remarked: Log drums were beaten earlier to announce new developments like an attack from the enemy. Now, they are being beaten to echo into the ears of people and invoke in them the spirit of Naga nationalism, brotherhood amongst various tribes, sacrifices for homeland and to etch a better future generation.

Thabah ended his address by reaffirming that NSF and KSU would continue to strive for brotherhood and strengthen the bond existing between the Khasis and Nagas.

Earlier in the programme, NSF president Kesosul Christopher Ltu thanked KSU for being part of the celebrations and reminded those present that the struggle for Naga sovereignty was the bounden duty of everyone, including the students and youth.

The programme was chaired by NSF general secretary Imtiyapang Imsong and invocation was pronounced by pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Burma Camp, Neikholie Wetsah. The other highlights of the programme were unfurling of the Naga national flag and felicitation of office-bearers of both KSU and NSF.

Ex-national workers: Ex-national workers of Mangmetong celebrated 72nd Naga Independence Day Tuesday at Mangmeton village. At the programme, the Independence Day speech was delivered by I. Tia Imchen, Kilonser cum Caretaker CAO, Ao region while MBA Pastor I. Lolen Imchen shared the Word of God. One minute silence in memory of the departed souls was also observed on the occasion.
By UNI

NEW DELHI: The extradition process of Rs 13,500 crore PNB fraud scam-tainted Mehul Choksi is likely to be 'delayed' as the Director of Public Prosecution in Antigua may not be available to take up the case till August end.

Antiguan Law Minister Steadroy Benjamin told 'Republic TV' that - "It is only the Director Public Prosecution who handles these cases."

The Minister said Antiguan foreign ministry has already forwarded the request made by India for the extradition of Geetanjali Group Chairman but the matter "being so serious" only the Director of Prosecution himself will have to look into it.

India does not have any existing bilateral extradition treaty with Antigua and Barbuda. The Indian government is aware of the fact that Antiguan passport would allow PNB scam co-accused Choksi, visa-free travel to over 100 countries. Hence Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a notification on August 3 saying that the provisions of Extradition Act, 1962, shall apply to Antigua and Barbuda as a designated Commonwealth Country under provisions of its own Extradition Act, 1993.

Taking cognizance of a request from CBI, a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs has also handed over a formal extradition request to the government in Antigua.

"Since the submission of the extradition request we have been told that they (Antiguan government) are examining the request so it is a little bit premature to react at this stage as to what their formal response is. We will have to wait and as and when there are developments," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar told reporters here last week.

Observers suggest stage is virtually set for 'legal course' as Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne has indicated his willingness to cooperate with India on the case.

Notably, as the Law Minister has fielded questions pertaining to Mehul Choksi and he is referring to the role of 'Director of Prosecution', it is most likely that the matter may be taken up in a court of law in Antigua.

However, as Choksi is now a citizen of that country, it is also clear a 'due process of law' would have to follow.

The MEA sources said that the notification specified that the provisions of India's Extradition Act, 1962 shall apply to Antigua and Barbuda with retrospective effect from 2001 when the Caribbean nation had notified India as a designated Commonwealth Country under its extradition law.

Under the Citizenship by Investment Program of Antigua and Barbuda, a person can take their passport on a minimum investment of USD 1,00,000 in the National Development Fund. Choksi's citizenship in Antigua was cleared in November 2017 and he fled India only on January 4 this year.

He later took the oath of allegiance in Antigua on January 15.
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: Cyber criminals managed to hack into the ATM server of Pune-based Cosmos Bank, one of the oldest cooperative banks in India, and siphon off Rs 94 crore. According to the police complaint filed by the bank, hackers waged a malware attack on the ATM Switch (server) at the banks headquarters at Cosmos Tower in Pune and accessed information of VISA and RuPay debit card holders.

Using the stolen data, the hackers carried out a total of 14,849 transactions. Of these, 12,000 were related to VISA debit cards through which Rs 78 crore was siphoned off. RuPay debit card holders lost Rs 2.5 crore through 2,849 transactions.

Suhas Gokhale, managing director, said customers need not worry because their money has not been compromised. The malware attack was not on the core banking system in which customers accounts are maintained. Customer accounts or balances are not affected at all. CBS of the bank is fully safe, he said.

How the hackers did it

Hackers stole Cosmos Bank customers data by infecting the banks ATM server with a malware. They then cloned Visa and RuPay debit cards of the bank and carried out fraudulent transactions through 25-odd ATMs located in Canada, Hong Kong and a few in India. Visa and RuPay detected it and alerted RBI
Anuradha Shukla By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Post the governments decision to include private banks in its scout to fill up posts in Public Sector Banks (PSBs), three senior executives of private banks have emerged as the top contenders among those shortlisted.As directed by the Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, the process of selection is going on. So far, seven candidates have been shortlisted, out of which three are from private sector banks, a senior official from the Finance Ministry, who is aware of the developments, told TNIE.

While he refused to divulge the names, speculations are rife that HDFC Bank MD Paresh Sukthankar may be one of the contenders. There are so many speculations, however, at this point of time. It will be improper to take names. The final list will come only after a go-ahead from all the regulators. Things will be clear by the end of August or the first week of September, the official said, without divulging further details.

Earlier this month, Goyal had said that the government will put on fast track the process of appointing chiefs for several PSBs, posts that have been lying vacant for long. The Banking Board Bureau has completed the interviews of candidates...We will expedite the process, Goyal said, adding that the criteria for qualification has been expanded to allow even top officials of private banks to apply for such posts, in a reply to a question in Rajya Sabha this monsoon session.

So far, Banks Board Bureau, headed by former DoPT Secretary B P Sharma, has been entrusted with the task of shortlisting candidates for about 30 top-level vacancies in the PSBs beginning June 13.

When it failed to get suitable candidates, the government expanded the horizon to include even private banks.

Banking sector outlook to stay negative: Fitch

The outlook for the countrys banking sector is likely to remain negative until its capital position strengthens in proportion to the bad loans and weak financial performances, according to Fitch Ratings. The rating agency said the $151-billion stock of bad loans remains a risk for the sectors weak income base.
Rashmi Belur By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The shoes distributed to state government schoolchildren under the free shoes and socks scheme are allegedly of poor quality and the State Primary and Secondary Education Minister has himself raised suspicions about a scam in this. This issue came to light during a recent meeting called by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy where Deputy Commissioners of all districts and CEOs of all Zilla Panchayats were present.

In the meeting, Primary and Secondary Education Minister N Mahesh directed his department officials to look into the issue and submit a report.

According to official sources who were present at the meeting, "When Principal Secretary to Primary and Secondary Education Department Shalini Rajneesh was briefing the meeting about the scheme and said everything would reach schools by August 15, the minister interrupted and raised the issue about the quality of shoes."

"The minister pointed out that shoes in schools of several districts were of low quality. He even mentioned about the difference in the quality of sole and upper part of the shoes provided to the kids and asked the department officials to verify the same with DCs and district officers and submit a report," said an official who was present in the meeting.

To substantiate this, in a recent incident, the minister himself verified the facts by inspecting a shoe worn by a student.

Recently, Mahesh visited Chamarajanagar district for an event. There, the first thing he did was taking the shoe worn by a student in his hands and verifying it.

"He mentioned particularly about the supply of poor quality shoes. In the meeting, he clearly said, these could be imitations of shoes from a branded company, or the company which supplied the shoes itself was providing poor quality shoes," said a source.

The procurement of shoes is not done at the state level by calling a tender. Instead, the responsibility of

purchasing shoes has been given to School Development and Monitoring Committees at their levels.

Meanwhile, following the issue raised by the minister in a meeting chaired by the CM, the Department of Public Instruction has asked the taluk officials to verify the same randomly and send reports.

Statistics

Total pairs of shoes supplied: 46 lakh

Students studying in Class 1 to 10 are beneficiaries

Only for those studying in government schools

Price is in three ranges: Rs 265,

Rs 295 and Rs 325 based on the age and shoe size of the child
By Express News Service

CHENNAI : A 59-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday for cheating more than 20 women over the last eight years by giving fake matrimonial advertisement and later escaping with their jewellery and money.

M Murugan, a resident of Burma Colony in Thiruneermalai, Tambaram was arrested after a complaint by a 47-year-old woman from Hosur, who had lost her eight-sovereigns chain to the man. Murugan, had been giving a fake advertisement in a regional Tamil daily since 2010. The advertisement read, seeking bride for second marriage. Seeing this, a few women came forward and contacted him, said the investigation officer.

His advertisement mentioned that he was earning Rs 60,000 a month and owned a travel company. He would then speak over phone to the women, gain their trust and fix a place to meet, the police said. Convincing them about his sad past with his first marriage, he would take their jewels and money assuring to keep them safe in bank lockers.

Trusting him, the women handed over the jewels. It was only after they returned home, they would realise they were cheated, when they found his phone switched off, the officer added. Police seized more than 50 SIM cards from the man which he used to contact different women. Most of the women who fell a prey to this advertisements were either divorcees or widows. An investigation revealed that Murugan previously worked as a security guard in private apartments, but for eight years he was unemployed. Police recovered 18-sovereign chains, Rs 30,000 in cash and one motorbike.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police Tuesday transferred the investigation into the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University PhD scholar Umar Khalid outside the Constitutional Club of India, near Parliament, by an unidentified armed man to the Special Cell, police officials said.

The order came on the day when Khalid was scheduled to meet the officials at the Special Cell to discuss for his security two months after he had requested for the same. A case of attempt to murder was filed at the Parliament Street Police Station, based on Khalid's statement.

ALSO READ: Guarantee no attack on critics of government: Umar Khalid to PM Narendra Modi

After speaking to the DCP (New Delhi) Madhur Verma, Khalid told TNIE the officer had informed him that his application requesting police protection has been sent to the police headquarters. Khalid will be apprised as and when the officer gets any information from the headquarters.

The DCP could not be reached for a comment. In the application written to the Delhi Police, following the attack on him, Khalid said: "I want to state that there is a continuous threat to my life and limb. This has increased after today's attempt on my life. I urge you to take cognizance of this and provide me with police security."

This is the third time Khalid has asked for police protection. He first requested for security in March 2016 and for a second time in June 2018.

"In the last two years, I have demanded police protection twice from the Delhi Police, but only to be met with a callous response. I have been given death threats several times in the past and receive several threats and inciteful messages every day on social media. After yesterday's incident, what is the Delhi Police waiting for?" Khalid wrote on Facebook.

ALSO READ: Twitter reacts to attack on Umar Khalid, Omar Abdullah, Shehla Rashid, Gurmeher Kaur, condemn incident

A senior officer at the Special Cell confirmed a scheduled meet on August 14. The officer also claimed that multiple attempts were made to approach Khalid to discuss for security protection since June. However, he was unavailable.

In a conversation, August 14 was decided for a meet. A screen grab of the CCTV footage installed at Vitthalbhai Patel Road showing a perpetual suspect released in the morning was also confirmed to be of the accused by a senior Delhi police officer.

The accused, as claimed, had grabbed Khalid by his neck from behind near the club. When chased by Khalid's friend, he managed to escape, but accidentally dropped his country-made pistol, which was "jammed and rusted".
By IANS

MUMBAI: A picture is worth a thousand words, and Sonali Bendre's latest photographs are proof that the actress has a strong support system in her close friends Sussanne Khan and Gayatri Oberoi, as she battles cancer.

Sussanne shared three photographs in which she is seen in warm and friendly shots with Sonali and Gayatri.

In an accompanying emotional post, Sussanne wrote: "What I know for sure... I know for sure that no matter what the tide brings in we have each other to carry on our backs and swim safely to the shore.

"I know for sure in a world filled with question marks, these have all my answers, and I definitely know how beautiful the future is going to be because I have them to share it with. My force field Sonali Bendre, Gayatri Oberoi. All for one, one for all."

Sonali is getting treated in New York, and has been receiving messages of support from film fraternity members and fans galore.
Gopinath Rajendran By

Express News Service

Shes been a model, played a blink-and-miss role in last years Velaiilla Pattadhari 2, featured in the first season of Bigg Boss Tamil, and now, its all come to fruition for Raiza whose debut as lead in last weeks release Pyaar Prema Kaadhal has come in for quite some praise. The actor, just like her films co-star Harish Kalyan, expresses much gratitude to Bigg Boss Tamil. The show let the world know who I am and how I look. Moreover, when the team of PPK was looking for a lead, they wanted a fresh face, and thats how things fell into place, says Raiza, who says shes very happy with the positive reception the film has received. Everybody who has seen the film has had good things to say about it. We all did our roles well, and its our joint effort that has made the film a hit. Im proud to have been a part of this film.

The chemistry she shares with Harish has been cited as one of the reasons for the films success. I know Harish through Bigg Boss, of course. We spent a little bit of time together in the Bigg Boss house, says Raiza, adding that theyre good friends. We had a lot of rehearsals along with the workshops, and so, we spent quite a bit of time together. We really got comfortable with each other and that, I guess, translated onto the screen. It was far easier than working with a stranger would have been.Her character in the film is that of an urban, independent woman. Every girl today is ambitious. Women want to work, and have dreams. Many of them are independent and so Im sure everyone would identify with Sindhuja.

Raiza says she didnt consider acting to be her only option after modelling. I kept my options open. Acting was one of many choices because I didnt think it would be a sure-shot opportunity, says the actor. Acting is a much bigger ball game and its a whole different world altogether. Ask her how the transition to cinema has been, and she turns philosophical. Nothing in life is easy (smiles). Anything thats going to give you a lot of money and get a lot of people watching, is going to be hard. So the minute I signed the film, I knew I had to put in much hard work, says Raiza. I was mentally prepared for the role and my acting classes came in handy as well.

Her Wikipedia page says that she did her schooling in Ooty. Did that perhaps make it easier for her to learn her Tamil lines? Some of the info on my Wiki page isnt true actually, but the Ooty part is correct (laughs). To be honest, though, that didnt really help me with the language as I studied in a school where we barely communicated in Tamil, says Raiza. But in the Bigg Boss house, there was a rule that we had to converse only in Tamil. So Id say Bigg Boss helped me improve my Tamil, adds Raiza, who says she isnt quite following the events of the shows second season.

Before I can complete my question about her promotion from a supporting artist in VIP 2 to the lead in PPK, Raiza interjects, My role in VIP 2 wasnt really a supporting role. I think it was more a modelling assignment. I had no lines and simply had to stand in scenes that had me. So I dont really consider it an acting role. The actor will next be seen in Arjun Reddys Tamil remake Varma that is directed by Bala and features Vikrams son Dhruv in the lead. Im playing a cameo in Varma and Im not allowed to speak about the film. I want to work more in the industry. So Ill be listening to a lot of scripts. I dont really mind which language I work in though, says Raiza.
By Express News Service

Telugu actor Allu Arjun, who is known for his philanthropy, has now announced a contribution of Rs 25 lakhs to the CM's flood relief fund.

A red alert was declared in Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Calicut areas. So, people in these areas should be careful, said Allu Arjun, urging his fans and others to help the people of Kerala in whatever way they can.

ALSO READ | Kerala floods: Mohanlal will donate Rs 25 lakh to CM's Distress Relief Fund

Vijay Devarakonda contributes to CM's flood relief fund

The 'Stylish Star' also posted a note on Twitter: "People of Kerala will always occupy a special place in my heart for the unmatchable Love & Affection they shower. Their Love & the Loss is Unmatchable. But still I take the Honour to do my bit. I hereby pledge to donate 25,00,000 for the #KeralaFloodRelief."


Abhijit Mulye By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: He is the big Daddy of the underworld, now lodged in the Nagpur central jail. But Arun Gawli appears to have taken a leaf out of Munna, the filmi gangster of 2006 comedy-drama Lage Raho Munnabhai, and mugged up all about Mahatma Gandhis life. Only, while Munna had to cheat to win a quiz on Gandhi, Gawli has come out with flying colours in an examination on the Mahatmas life, scoring 92 per cent marks. Though there has been no word on whether Gawli is also adopting the ideals of the father of the nation in his real life, a la Munna, he is said to have scored 74 out of 80 marks in the exam.

The exam was conducted in January. I dont know how the news about Gawli excelling in it has come out now. But, its good. It will help spread Gandhis ideas, said T K Somaiya, trustee of Mumbai Sarvoday Mandal, the organisation that has been conducting these examinations since 2003. Asked about the impact of the exercise, Somaiya said, Laxman Gore from Ghatkopar in Mumbai was lodged in Nashik jail in around 2006. He came across Gandhis autobiography and decided to follow him. He confessed all his crimes before the judge on the next hearing. I met him once in the jail. He came to us after serving the sentence and stayed here for six years. Now, he travels across the state spreading Gandhis message.

"Gandhis message of truth, non-violence, love and compassion should be known to everybody. That is the simple thought behind conducting the examinations, he said.

It has now become a regular practice in jails. Gandhis preaching help the inmates a lot, said Yogesh Desai, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Prisons) at Nagpur. Over 3,500 prisoners in Maharashtra jails had taken the exams till now, said Somaiya. Some 160 jail inmates took the exam with Gawli in Nagpur jail.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly likely to make an announcement regarding the shifting of the biennial Aero India Show from Bengaluru to Lucknow in his Independent Day speech.

Though the defence ministry is maintaining silence over the issue, the Uttar Pradesh government has apparently started preparations for the show that is likely to be advanced to October this year.

The show was scheduled to take place in February, 2019. But the central government is contemplating advancing it in the wake of 2019 elections.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had requested Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to hold the prestigious air show in the state and assured high-end logistical and infrastructural facilities. The defence minister had maintained a guarded silence over the issue at an event in Aligarh last Saturday. A defence spokesperson at the Central Command in Lucknow, maintained that they were yet to get any official communique about the possible shifting of venue of the event.

However, highly-placed sources said that a few days ago, district administration officials, along with a team of PWD officials and IAF officers, had recently conducted a survey of the air force station at Bakshi-Ka-Talab (BKT).Besides exploring the options for parking space for fighter planes from across the world, loader aircraft and armoured vehicles, the team also looked for space to display arms and ammunition.

A senior district administration official said the agricultural fields around the BKT air base might also be cleared to make way for more space. The officials also surveyed the area for accommodating a gathering of 5,000-10,000 guests and visitors. Hospitality industry sources in Lucknow claimed that booking of rooms in some of the high-rated hotels has started for the occasion.

UP civil aviation minister Nand Gopal Gupta said the department was waiting for a nod from the defence ministry for hosting the four-day event.However, Karnataka is crying foul. Deputy CM G Parmeshwara slammed the Centre in a tweet. We have been Indias defence hub since independence (sic.) but under the NDA, we are constantly losing key defence projects....
By Express News Service

MUMBAI: Maharashtras Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Monday seized more materials, including weapons, in connection with the recent explosives haul while busting a purported pistol manufacturing factory at Nalasopara in Palghar district, around 60 km from Mumbai, A team from the Karnataka SIT probing the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh has arrived in Mumbai as Vaibhav Raut, the principal accused in the Nalasopara arms haul, has been found to have had contact with some of the accused in the Lankesh murder case.

From Nalasopara, police have seized five country-made pistols, three partially ready country-made pistols, 11 rounds of 9 mm, bullets, 30 rounds of 7.65 mm bullets, springs, triggers and several other kinds of materials including pistol spares.It appeared like a karkhana (factory), officials said. Apart from this, a laptop, hard disk, pen drives, a cell phone, several SIM cards, wi-fi dongles, a motorcycle, a car and several documents have been seized during raids in Pune, the officials said.

The ATS arrested Vaibhav Raut (40), Sharad Kalaskar (25) and Sudhanav Ghondalekar (39) last week. They have been booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.Last week, when Raut was arrested, the ATS seized eight crude bombs and explosive material sufficient for making another 15 .

The ATS officials said that from Raut alone, the investigators had seized 12 indigenous explosives, two gelatin sticks, four electronic detonators, 22 non-electronic detonators, safety fuse wires, 1,500 grams of white powder, two bottles marked as poison, ten batteries of six volts and a battery connector.

Police suspect that the men were working to make homemade bombs to spread panic at public gatherings.

The ATS is also probing their role in the murder of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Communist leader Govind Pansare, writer MM Kalburgi and journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh. Meanwhile, on Sunday evening hundreds of people gathered outside Rauts home in Nalasopara to plan a campaign to demand his release. They alleged that the ATS had searched Rauts home without a search warrant.
By UNI

SRINAGAR: The Army on Tuesday paid floral tribute to a soldier killed in a counter-infiltration operation on Monday near the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that the Army paid the tribute with full military honour to a soldier, Sepoy Pushpendra Singh, who attained martyrdom while battling the infiltrators.

In a solemn ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Lt. Gen A K Bhatt, Chinar Corps Commander and all ranks, paid homage to the martyrs on behalf of a proud nation.

"In a show of solidarity, representatives from other security agencies also joined in to pay their last respects to the martyr," he said.

He said Sepoy Singh sustained bullet injury during the gun battle at Tangdhar, Kupwara district. He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to Army's 92 Base hospital, where he succumbed.

"The martyr, Sepoy Singh (28), had joined the Army in 2011 and belonged to Village Khutiya of Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh and is survived by his wife and a son," he said.

Col Kalia said the mortal remains of the martyr were flown for last rites to his native place, where he would be laid to rest with full military honours.

In this hour of grief, he said the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved family of the martyr and remains committed to their dignity and well being.
By ANI

PATNA: A government officer of Under Secretary level, who was shot at in his house by unidentified people this morning, died in the hospital. Rajiv, 58, posted at the Patna Secretariat, was about to retire.

The incident took place after unidentified people barged into his house this morning and shot at him. The officer was rushed to the hospital under critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries. Further details are awaited.

A day before, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) leader Manish Sahani was shot dead inside his office premises in the Jandaha area in Vaishali district, triggering violent protests by his supporters outside the Jandaha police station.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR : Chhattisgarh Governor Balram Das Tandon, a founding member of the erstwhile Jan Sangh, died of a cardiac arrest on Tuesday. He was 90.Officials in the Raj Bhavan said Tandon complained of a chest pain in the morning at around 8.30 am. Following a massive cardiac arrest, he was rushed to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital where his condition further deteriorated.Tandon was put on the life support system, and kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). But the veteran leader breathed his last despite best efforts by a team of doctors, the officials added.

Chief Minister Raman Singh went to the hospital on getting the news of Tandons illness. He was the father figure to Jan Sangh, BJP and also to all of us. The people of Chhattisgarh will always remember him. Tandon had been appointed as the Governor on July 14, 2014.The Chhattisgarh government declared a seven-day state mourning from Tuesday. The occasion of Independence Day would be ceremonially observed on Wednesday but there will be no cultural and award giving event on August 15.

President Ram Nath Kovind gave Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel the additional charge of Chhattisgarh. Patel will discharge the additional duties until the regular arrangements are made, Kovind said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders, including Manohar Lal Khattar and Amarinder Singh, expressed grief over the demise of the Chhattisgarh Governor.Tandon began his political career as a corporator from the Amritsar Municipal Corporation in 1953. He was a six-time MLA and also a deputy CM of Punjab. He served as a Cabinet minister in 1977-79 and later in the Prakash Singh Badal government from 1997-2002.
Sumi Sukanya dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Centres big-ticket national health protection scheme, Ayushman Bharat, will have a comparatively modest rollout  in less than 80 of the total 720 districts in India  with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating it to the nation this Independence Day. Packaged as the biggest government health insurance scheme in the world that aims to provide cashless hospitalisation with coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh to about 50 crore people, it will be launched in 11 states and Union Territories in the first phase. The states that are on board are Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

About 100 hospitals, most of them in the government sector, will first start offering the services for surgeries and other medical interventions requiring hospitalisation. In all, about 1,000 medical conditions have been listed for the scheme but not all hospitals will offer all of them.Starting August 15, the programme is being rolled out rather than being launched nationwide and therefore its being announced only in districts which are prepared for the pilot phase, Indu Bhushan, CEO of the scheme told TNIE.

The PM, in his Independence Day speech, will present all the features of the scheme. People in about 70-80 districts spread across 11 states can avail the services, Bhushan said. Other officials in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, however, conceded the programme is being soft-launched because of the lack of preparedness on the part of the states and also because eight states are yet to sign the MoU with the Centre for implementing the scheme.Even states that are on board have issues with empanelment of hospitals, IT preparedness, choosing the right insurance model and identification of beneficiaries, a senior official said.

Telangana, Odisha, Delhi may opt out

Talks on with Maharashtra, Kerala, TN, Karnataka, Punjab. Delhi, Telangana and Odisha are unlikely to join for now due to political reasons

Who all will get to avail the scheme

Beneficiaries of the scheme will be based on entitlement and their names have been finalised through the socio-economic caste census
By IANS

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat Government on Monday announced that it has planned to move an ordinance recommending harsh punishment of seven to 10 years in jail for chain-snatching.

Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja told reporters here: "The state government has taken yet another solid step towards women's safety. We propose to amend Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by adding a few clauses and promulgate an ordinance, which will be sent to the Governor."

According to the Minister, the present punishment of three-year imprisonment and financial penalty for chain-snatching is not adequate. Through the Ordinance, two clauses, IPC 379(A) and 379(B) will be added.

According to these clauses, the person attempting to snatch chains will undergo imprisonment of five to 10 years and be penalised Rs 25,000. The person committing the crime will be sentenced to seven to 10 years in jail with a penalty of Rs 25,000.

According to sub-clause 379 (A)4, if during such an attempt, the victim is harmed physically, an added punishment of three years will be recommended.

Jadeja said drug-peddling was another issue bothering the state government and some action was being planned to check this.

"Comprehensive steps to track down drugs network will be taken up by the government," the Minister said.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Questioning the inaction of local authorities over an alleged illegally constructed bungalow in Alibaug belonging to fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, the Bombay High Court today said that it will direct the state government to initiate an inquiry into the issue A bench of justices AS Oka and RI Chagla is likely to pass an order on Thursday directing the inquiry.

The bench also questioned how the collector of Raigad district, where Alibaug is situated, had decided to exempt Modi's bungalow from demolition.

It was hearing a petition filed by activist Surendra Dhavale seeking that the court direct the authorities to demolish all unauthorised construction "within the low and high tide areas" in a bunch of villages in Alibaug.

As per the petition, such construction had been carried out in violation of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority rules and the land laws of the state.

There are around 175 such private residences in CRZ areas in villages such as Varsoli, Sasvane, Kolgaon and Dokvade, among others, in Alibaug taluka, belonging to several "wealthy persons including Nirav Modi, and several businessmen and film actors", the PIL claimed.

In compliance with a previous order of the bench, Raigad collector Vijay Suryavanshi filed an affidavit today.

In the affidavit, Suryavanshi said that the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) concerned had referred a total of 159 cases of alleged illegal construction in Alibaug to the Maharashtra Coastal Management Zone Authority.

In the affidavit, he said that 12 of these were demolished, land records of several others were still being ascertained, and it was found that Modi's bungalow was not in violation of any norms.

As per the affidavit, Modi's bungalow was constructed prior to 1986-- before the coastal zone norms were ratified for the Raigad area, and therefore, it couldn't be held in any violation.

The collector's office also submitted that since the said bungalow had now been attached by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), it could not take any action.

The bench, however, took strong exception to the above submissions.

"The affidavit merely states that Mr Modi's bungalow was constructed prior to 1986. But what is the basis of this finding? Is there any land record or official document to affirm the same?" the bench asked.

"Also, what use is the statement that the collector's office can't take action in view of the CBI having attached the property? The collector is not helpless," the bench said.

The bench also noted that, through an order passed in June this year, the SDO had dropped all proceedings against Modi's bungalow and closed the file.

"How was it the SDO's prerogative to close the file? The manner in which the local authorities are behaving when it comes to this bungalow is forcing us to direct the principal secretary of the state Revenue Department to initiate an inquiry in the case," the bench said, while posting the matter to Thursday for passing of orders.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR : Gajanand Sharma, a Jaipur resident who languished in a Pakistan jail for over 36 years,

is free. Sharma was one of the 29 Indians handed over to the BSF at Wagah on Monday. His family had, for long, thought he was no more after he had gone missing in 1982. For his wife Makhni Devi and sons Rakesh and Mukesh, Monday was nothing short of a miracle. Makhni Devi is busy carrying out Teej rituals as her prayers have been answered.Rakesh says he was a kid when his father disappeared. It was only when the police came to us a few months ago to confirm my fathers identity that we realised he was in a Lahore jail.

Jaipur Rural SP Rameshwar Singh says his men reached out to the Sharmas after he got an inquiry from the police headquarters on May 1 about Gajanand Sharma.Makhni Devi was unable to register a missing complaint as illiteracy came in her way. It was tough times for the family of three as Mukesh and Rakesh were barely 12 and 15 when their father went missing.We had never stopped praying for his return and now my mother is very happy. She has instructed her daughters-in-law to cook the best dishes and also prepare a room for him. We are, though, unsure how he will react...., Mukesh says.

Vipra Foundation Punjab president Sahdev, who is escorting Sharma to Jaipur, says Sharma is physically fine but mentally a bit unstable. It is unsure how he will behave when he meets his family. He will be in Jaipur by Tuesday morning. It still remains a mystery as to how Gajanand reached Pakistan. According to a PTI report, Gajanand was sentenced to two months in jail but ended up for as many as 36 years due to lack of Consular access.

Nevertheless, his release gives hope to families of many others whose kin are behind bars in Pakistan. Jamaldeen, a resident of Jaisalmer, is one such case. His wife Hanifa is unsure whether her husband is still alive. The family claims Jamaldeen was grazing cattle when he crossed the border. Similar is the story of Bhagu Singh, a resident from Barmer. He had crossed the international border while gathering wood.

India, Pakistan release prisoners

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan released prisoners on Monday in reciprocal goodwill gestures on the eve of the 71st anniversary of Independence of both countries. Twenty-six Indian fishermen and three civil prisoners were handed over to BSF officials at Wagha-Attari border. We thank authorities in Pakistan for their invaluable assistance, tweeted the Indian high commission in Islamabad.

India released six Pakistani civil prisoners and one fisherman. As per lists exchanged between the two foreign ministries on July 1, there were 53 civilian prisoners and 418 fishermen  Indians, or believed to be Indians  in Pakistani jails, while there were 249 Pakistani civilians and 108 fishermen in Indian jails. The two countries exchange lists of prisoners twice every year on January 1 and July 1. Ramananda Sengupta
By UNI

JAMMU: A Principal of Kendriya Vidalaya School died of suspected cardiac arrest in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday morning.

Ajeet Singh Meena (48), the Principal of KV School Rajouri, fell unconscious on the school premises, police sources here said.

They said that he was rushed to the hospital but declared brought dead.

"The body is lying in the hospital and will be handed over to legal heirs after post-mortem," police added.
By IANS

BHOPAL: A Madhya Pradesh court has awarded death sentence to a man for abducting, sodomising and murdering a 10-year-old boy in Datia district.

Special Judge (POCSO) Hitendra Dwivedi imposed the extreme penalty on Nand Kishore Gupta late on Monday.

According to public prosecutor Pushpendra Kumar Garg, Gupta had kidnapped the victim from Indergarh on March 2. He, along with his accomplice, kept the boy hostage and demanded Rs 1 lakh ransom from the father.

When the family failed to pay up, they sodomised and killed the boy and disposed of the body in the Deluva canal.

The judge, in his order, held Gupta guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for kidnapping for ransom, murder and unnatural offence. He was also found guilty under the relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Gupta was also fined Rs 85,000.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: As India gears up to celebrate 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday, insurgents in Nagaland celebrated the "Naga Independence Day" on Tuesday.

The Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), which has been bargaining hard with the Centre to settle the "Naga political issue", celebrated the day at its central headquarters Hebron off commercial hub Dimapur."On this day in 1947, the Naga people declared independence from the British colonialists, one day ahead of Indian independence.

This was the result of the right and timely decision of the visionary Naga leaders of the time. I have great respect for these national workers who serve the Nation with their fullest commitment and selfless sacrifice. I thank and appreciate the Naga Army which has been defending the Nation from various kinds of forces without any reservation, NSCN-IM leader "Gen" (retd) Kholi said in a statement.

He continued: "The NSCN should be reminded that our political struggle began with our people and it shall end with the people. Our revolution is of the people, for the people and by the people. We will honour and respect the history and the rights of other people and nations. We are also ready to understand together with our neighbours on issues of each others' history and rights provided they come with national and realistic approach and are prepared to appreciate the history and the rights of the Naga people".

Elsewhere in Assam and Manipur, protesting the alleged occupation of the Northeast by "India", some rebel groups called for "a total shutdown" on Wednesday and urged people to boycott India's Independence Day.

The Paresh Baruah faction of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the Coordination Committee (CorCom), which is an umbrella body of Manipur-based militant groups, in a joint statement said: "We beseech the entire peoples of our region to be alert and make the boycott a complete success as was done before, as a mark of solidarity against Indian occupation".

In the wake of the rebels' call for boycott of the I-Day celebration, security, particularly in Assam and Manipur, has been heightened. There were reports that a group of ULFA militants had sneaked into Assam from Myanmar to carry out subversive activities especially in Upper Assam. A senior Assam police official told TNIE that all measures had been taken to thwart any act of terror by the militants.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Amid talk of a Congress-TDP pre-poll alliance, both the parties seem to be cosying up -- something which was evident at a meeting Congress President Rahul Gandhi held with Industrialists in Hyderabad today.

While there were many industrialists who were present there including sons of TDP leaders, the presence of AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's daughter-in-law Nara Brahmani in the meeting, raised many an eyebrow.

The issue of special status for Andhra Pradesh too came up for discussion and the Congress Chief is said to have given an assurance that the Congress will fulfill the demand of special status if the party comes to power.

According to Congress party insiders, besides Nara Brahmani, who is also the Executive Director of Heritage Foods Limited, several prominent industrialists including TG Bharat, son of TDP Rajya Sabha member TG Venkatesh and JC Pavan Reddy, son of another TDP leader JC Diwakar Reddy was among those who were present at the meeting with Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi spoke about the problems faced by the people in general post demonetisation and GST. ''These were utter failures of the Narendra Modi government,'' he told his audience.

When a few participants raised the issue of special status, Rahul Gandhi said that Modi government failed to fulfill the promises made to both Telangana and AP. ''The Congress will form the government at the centre and we will give special status to AP. Only Congress can make it happen,'' he is understood to have said as all industrialists including Brahmani, wife of Nara Lokesh, who is also the IT Minister in AP, were all ears to Gandhi.

Though Rahul Gandhi has been taking potshots at PM Modi with his ''suit-boot ki sarkar'' jibe and has targeted a select few Industrialists, he has often clarified that his party has been targeting Modi government for ''favouring'' a select few Industrialists.

Though Rahul Gandhi did not make any direct statement on the pre-poll alliances, the Congress and the TDP have been working in close coordination for some time now. The Congress supported TDP's CM Ramesh as public accounts committee (PAC) member, while TDP supported Congress candidate in the recent election to Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: The Railway Ministry on Monday released the third party survey report on station cleanliness conducted by Quality Council of India (QCI). Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal was present to grace the event.

The audit-cum survey was conducted by the Railways to increase the level of cleanliness standards and also to motivate states governments across the country to engage in a healthy competition when it comes to promoting railway stations.

Speaking on the occasion, Goyal said, "The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged the Railway Ministry to prioritize cleanliness in stations across India."

Goyal further added, "In last four years, the Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat campaign has witnessed tremendous improvement in terms of cleanliness standards in platforms, trains, toilets, and trains."

Launching the survey, Goyal asserted, "To be very honest, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has been the greatest tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. For instance, during the last 4 years, the sanitation coverage in the country has gone up to 83% from just 38% in 2014. This is a major improvement."

The third survey declared Jodhpur as the cleanest railway station in the country followed by Jaipur and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

In A category stations, Marwar has been placed at the first position, while Phulera station takes the second spot. Both the stations are from North Western Railway in Rajasthan. Warangal station of South Central Railway in Telangana has been placed at the third spot.

The third cleanliness survey covered 407 stations, including 75 stations in A1 and 332 stations in A category stations.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and Assam government on a PIL accusing the armed forces and state police of allegedly indulging in fake encounters in the state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also issued notices to the CRPF, the National Human Rights Commission and others.

The bench yesterday also sought responses from General Officer Commanding of 4 Corps and chairperson of Operational Group, Unified Command -- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) -- CRPF commandant posted in Chirang district of Assam.

Some of the senior officials of the central forces are named in the petition filed by former bureaucrat E A S Sarma.

The PIL is based on a report filed by CRPF IG Rajnish Rai in April 2017 alleging "cold blooded fake encounter killing of two suspected members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) faction" on March 30 last year in Assam's Simalguri village.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for Sarma and cited newspaper reports claiming that Rai had met some of the witnesses to the alleged fake encounter.

The former bureaucrat has sought a thorough probe into the March 30, 2017, joint operation by Army, Assam Police, CRPF and SSB at Simalguri village in Chirang district, resulting in the killing of suspected NDFB(S) members Lucas Narzary aka N Langfa and David Islary alias Dayud.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to take up a petition filed by over 350 Army personnel challenging the CBI probe against security forces in disturbed areas.

The petitioners challenged the dilution of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and contended that military operations against insurgency would be adversely affected by such probe against soldiers. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra heard the urgent mentioning of advocate Aishwarya Bhati and slated it for detailed hearing on August 20.

According to the petition, Military operations in border areas will suffer if dilution of AFSPA in disturbed areas was allowed as it exposed security forces to unnecessary risks. Protection of soldiers acting in good faith under AFSPA is imperative to protect the soldiers engaged with direct and proxy enemy and insurgency and cannot be diluted without a specific and categorical amendment in law.

The plea was filed after two weeks of the CBI statement before the apex court that the agency had filed two charge sheets against 15 security personnel in connection with fake encounter killings and 14 of them had been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.The SC had in July 2017 directed a CBI probe into alleged extra-judicial killings by Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police in the insurgency-hit State. It had asked the CBI Director to appoint an SIT to conduct the probe into the alleged killings. The order had come on a PIL seeking probe and compensation in the alleged 1,528 extra-judicial killings by security forces in Manipur between 2000 and 2012.

The petition by Army men is essentially against the top courts recent orders to the CBI to register FIRs, investigate and prosecute security forces for alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur during operations in the insurgency-hit northeastern state in the past two decades.The petitioners have demanded laying down of specific guidelines to protect the bona fide action of soldiers under AFSPA, so that no soldier is harassed by initiation of criminal proceedings.
Santwana Bhattacharya By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In Keeping the Faith, his memoirs published in 2010, Somnath Chatterjee comes out more as a parliamentarian than a politician bearing affiliation to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). No surprise there  thats what Chatterjee was  a parliamentarian with an 11-term record. A social democrat, steeped in parliamentary procedures, a diehard upholder of the rights of the legislature.

His passing away, at age 89, offers a way to read a whole era in politics. It was a cusp moment, as we can see now. As Lok Sabha Speaker, he took on the judiciary in the Jharkhand assembly case, asserting that the legislature and its presiding officer was neither subservient nor secondary to any other constitutional wing. On foreign trips, he would create a fuss if the Speaker wasnt accorded the same status at airports.

This devotion to parliamentary norms, its prestige and its independence, would cost his political life dearly  an expulsion from his party, the CPI-M, for refusing to quit the Speakers post in 2008 when it brought the no-confidence motion against then UPA government. He cited parliamentary propriety, prestige and the independence of the chair, putting it above party politics.

The UPA won the vote, Chatterjee lost. It was almost full circle  he began his career as an independent supported by the CPI-M and ended his career an independent, cut off from the party.His speakership was not eventless. Office of profit controversy, the cash-for-vote scandal all happened under his watch. Had it not been for him in the chair, it wouldve ended up being a darker day for democracy.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: NDA partner RLSP on Tuesday targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the rise in crime in the state after an RLSP leader was shot dead in Vaishali district.

After visiting the family of the slain leader, RLSP chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha said there now seemed to be an absence of law and order system in Bihar. How do so many murders take place in Bihar in broad daylight? Where is the rule of law? asked Kushwaha, who had said last month he does not want Nitish Kumar to be projected as NDAs next CM candidate for the Assembly polls in Bihar due in 2020.

Manish Sahni, a block head of RLSP in Vaishali district, was gunned down by two bike-borne assailants immediately after he came out of the BDOs office at Jandaha on Monday. Sahni received three bullets and lay there bleeding profusely. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but he died on the way.

A fierce public protest that followed the murder led police to open fire on the protesters. One man was killed and seven others were injured in the police firing.

Nitish Kumar is the head of the state government. Who else should I aim my complaints at? It is shocking that the killers got away though the police station is just a few hundred metres away from the BDOs office, said Kushwaha, who had criticised the Bihar government over the issue on Twitter on Monday.

The RLSP chief denied that he was engaging in politics over a murder. I am extremely sad at the loss of a fellow party man, and I demand that the killers be arrested immediately, he said.

RLSP national general secretary and spokesperson Madhaw Anand said: The Bihar government and the administration have become completely passive and insensitive. The incidents in Bihar are an intense example of the governments absence.

CM Nitish Kumar, when asked by reporters about the murder and RLSPs criticism, merely said: A probe is on. JD(U) national general secretary KC Tyagi said: Nobody agrees with Kushwahas assessment of the law and order situation in Bihar. It is driven by political rivalry and jealousy.

Meanwhile, an undersecretary of Bihars planning department was shot dead by criminals during a robbery bid at his residence in Patna on Tuesday, raising more questions over the law and order situation in Bihar.
By PTI

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board has told all madrassas functioning from its properties to celebrate the Independence Day by chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' after the hoisting of the national flag and singing of the national anthem.

The state government has also issued orders on celebration of Independence Day at state madrassas.

"We have directed the madrassas running under the Shia Waqf Board to ensure 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' is chanted by students after hoisting of the national flag and singing of the national anthem," Board Chairman Waseem Rizvi told PTI.

The board warned of "strict action" against those not complying with the order.

Rizvi said there were over 1,500 madrassas and schools running on Waqf properties in the state which will have to abide by the directive.

Asked whether the Uttar Pradesh government had also issued any order making chanting of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' mandatory for students in madrassas, UP Minority Welfare Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary avoided a direct reply.

"Jo Bharat Varsh mein paida huaa hai usse to Bharat Mata ki jai bolni hi hai (A person born in India has to say Bharat Mata ki Jai)," he told PTI.

"We have issued orders that on August 15, the tricolour will be hoisted, tributes will be paid to freedom fighters and martyrs, students will be told about their heroic deeds, and plantation of saplings will be done," the minister said.

"This is only a departmental order, and nothing more. This should in now way be seen as move to test the patriotism of Muslims," he said responding to a question.

He said August 15 is a national festival.

"On this day, there is hoisting of the national flag, tributes paid to martyrs and chanting of Bharat Mata ki Jai is natural. This is followed by all the departments. Since the minority welfare department is under me, hence the orders for the madrassas," Chaudhary told reporters here.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Australia has lifted a ban on its nationals to adopt children from India after eight years.

The ban was put in place in 2010 amid concerns that trafficked children were being put for adoptions by many shelter homes, including those aided by the government.

Australia has decided to recommence the adoption programme with India, as per the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption, the WCD Ministry said. The adoptions from India had earlier been put on hold by the Government of Australia eight years ago, on the reported charges of trafficking of children for inter-country adoption by some of the recognized Indian placement agencies.

The Central Adoption Resource Agencys data show that the new adoption regulations have given boost to adoption by foreigners, who also show preference towards special and older children.
By PTI

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon, who was one of the founder members of the BJP's parent organisation the Jan Sangh, died after suffering a heart attack at a government hospital here today, an official said.

He was 90.

Tandon breathed his last at the state-run Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital where he was rushed in the morning after he complained of uneasiness, the governor's secretary, Surendra Kumar Jasiwal, told PTI.

He was kept in the hospital's critical care unit in view of his serious condition, he said.

Tandon suffered a heart attack, the hospital's medical superintendent, Dr Vivek Choudhary, said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, who visited the hospital earlier on getting the news of Tandon's illness, announced a seven-day state mourning in view of the governor's demise.

The Independence Day will be observed in a traditional manner tomorrow and there will be no award and cultural ceremonies, the chief minister said in an official release.

The body was kept at the Raj Bhavan for people to pay their last respects.

Later in the evening it was flown in a state plane to Chandigarh, Tandon's native state, in Punjab, after it was accorded full state honours, including the guard of honour, public relation officer at Raj Bhavan Harsha Pauranik said.

Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal, Singh and his cabinet colleagues, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel were among those who paid their last respects to Tandon.

Chief Minister Singh said Tandon was like a father-figure to him.

"In last four years during his stint as governor, I always got guidance from him on subjects related to state's interest and betterment of public," he said.

"His demise is a personal loss for me. He was a simple, genuine and sincere person. We rarely find people like him in politics," Singh said.

Baghel, Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo and other Congress leaders also expressed grief over the demise of the governor.

Tandon had assumed the office of governor in Chhattisgarh in July 2014.

He was one of the founder members of Jan Sangh, out of which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was born.

During his long political career, Tandon served on various posts, including as deputy chief minister of Punjab.

The six-time MLA was also jailed from 1975 to 1977 during Emergency.
Social News 14/8

Draft decree on spending $3.4m for 91,000 retired female employees













As many as 91,000 female employees who retire between 2018 and 2021 will be able to receive between 0.2 and 12 per cent of their pensions as a bonus as well as their current pensions.This is part of the draft decree on the adjustment of pensions for retired female employees from 2018 to 2021 by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).The pension adjustment would apply to female employees starting to receive pensions from 2018-21.Due to the different time periods of paying social insurance premiums by female employees, the rates of pension deduction is also different, leading to the adjustment calculated based on the amount of time of paying social insurance premiums and the year of retirement.As a result, MOLISA has proposed increasing pensions by between 0.27 per cent and 12.31 per cent depending on the period of social insurance contribution.Female employees retiring between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018, will be eligible for the pension adjustment after their pensions are adjusted.Female employees retiring between January 1, 2018 and the date of adjustment of their pension as prescribed above will be entitled to receive the adjusted pension from previous months after the first month of retirement.The Vietnam Social Security forecasts that the number of female employees starting to receive pensions from 2018 to 2021 with 20 years or more of social insurance contribution will be 91,000. Of that, 20,500 people will retire in 2018; 22,000 people in 2019; 23,500 people in 2020 and 25,100 in 2021.The labour ministry estimates that the budget for the pension adjustment for the period from 2018 to 2021 is about VN80 billion (US$3.4 million). Of that, 2018 needs VN27.8 billion ($1.19 million), 2019 needs VN23.7 billion ($1 million); 2020 needs VN18.1 billion ($778,000) and 2021 needs VN10 billion ($443,000).  VNS









Lotte Mart staff in Ha Noi text to support the Viet Nam Red Cross programme for people in flooded areas.



A programme to raise funds for flood victims via text message has received VN429.8 million (US$19,100), according to Viet Nam Red Cross Society.



The programme, launched on July 8 by the society and the national humanitarian information portal, will last until September 4 and aims to raise at least VN1.5 billion to buy necessities, build and repair houses for the households hard hit by the recent floods and landslides in the northern mountainous areas, as well as help victims find ways to earn their living.



So far 21,490 text messages have been sent to the programme so far, each with a donation worth VN20,000.



People can text VL to the number 1407 to donate to the SMS programme. They can also send donations in cash or in kind should be addressed to the Viet Nam Red Cross offices in Ha Noi and HCM City. Money can be transferred to the account of the Viet Nam Red Cross, account No. 124 0202 005348 at the Viet Nam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hoang Mai branch.



Lotte Mart Viet Nam JSC called on its staff and customers to respond to the campaign to help people in flooded areas at a ceremony on Saturday in Ha Noi.



More than 2,000 staff members of Lotte Mart Viet Nam at 13 Lotte commercial centres nationwide will take part in the campaign as well as carry out communication activities to encourage customers to support the Viet Nam Red Cross programme for people in flooded areas.















Tran uc Minh, former director of PV Coating. file photo



The Supreme Peoples Procuracy has prosecuted seven former leaders of PetroVietnam Coating Joint Stock Company (PV Coating) for alleged embezzlement and violation of State regulations on economic management causing serious consequences.



The Peoples Court of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province has received the cases indictment from the Supreme Peoples Procuracy.



On August 1, Tran uc Minh, former director of PV Coating; Pham Ngoc Minh, former deputy director; Bui Nhat Vinh, former head of Technical Economics Department; Nguyen Thi Ha Nhung, former chief accountant also head of Finance and Accounting Department, were prosecuted for embezzlement of State property.



Defendants Nguyen Phuoc Toan, former deputy director of PV Coatings Pipe Plant; Nguyen Cong Chuong, former deputy head of finance and accounting office, and Kim Van Anh, former director of PV Coatings Pipe Plant, were prosecuted for intentionally violating the States regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences.



PV Coating was set up in 2007 with headquarters in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province under PetroVietnam.



Tran uc Minh was PV Coatings director from June 2013 to October 2016. He was accused of embezzlement of VN48.3 billion (US$2 million) in the implementation of the Nam Con Son 2 gas pipeline project.

Health minister urges hospitals to reduce patient overload





Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien talks with patients at Cho Ray Hospital.









Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has asked large hospitals in HCM City to take drastic measures to reduce patient overload by focusing on satellite clinics at district-level hospitals and applying information technology.

Major city-level hospitals should transfer patients with non-serious ailments to district- and provincial-level hospitals, Tien said during her visit yesterday to Cho Ray Hospital and HCM City University Medical Centre.

Tien spoke with a patient, Nguyen Thi Phuong, 42, from Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa, who was waiting in the HCM City University Medical Centres digestive department.

Phuong told the minister that she arrived at 6am and then had to wait for four hours to see her doctor again.

On her first visit a day earlier, Phuong spent an entire day at the hospital for gastroscopy, and was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

After examining her tests and drug prescriptions, the minister said that her disease could be treated at Khanh Hoa General Hospital in her native province.

But Phuong said that her sister had advised her to visit doctors at the HCM City University Medical Centre.

Her neighbours in Nha Trang also visited large hospitals in HCM City for medical treatment, she said.

Every day, an average of 7,000 outpatients visit the HCM City University Medical Centre for health check-ups and treatment, resulting in long waiting lines of patients at most departments.

Many patients at Cho Ray Hospital, which provides check-ups and treatment to 6,000 outpatients a day, said they did not trust hospitals in their provinces.

Nguyen Hoang Bac, director of the HCM City University Medical Centre, said the hospital had adopted electronic patient records and IT to improve the quality of patient care and efficiency of patient record management and hospital administration.

However, patient overloading still continued, she said, adding that the hospital planned to build a new facility to meet demand.

The hospital has asked the Health Minister to either set aside state funds for investment in IT or allow hospitals to add some of their IT costs to check-up and treatment fees.

Besides building new facilities, Tien proposed that the two hospitals expand their satellites at district- hospitals and provincial-level hospitals to reduce patient overload as many patients from other cities and provinces visited these two hospitals for treatment of common diseases.

During her visit, Tien also spoke with the two hospitals about the quality of health check-ups and treatments, health insurance payments, and salaries and bonuses for health workers.

Thanh Hoa holds flood preparation, response drills

At the event





Flood preparation and simulated response drills took place in Tho Xuan district in the central province of Thanh Hoa on August 13.

In the first scenario, officers and soldiers of Military Region 4 were required to work with local authorities to evacuate 50 households with 150 people in Van Lo hamlet, Tho Nguyen commune, to a local secondary school as heavy rain drenched the locality while a section of the nearby dyke was at risk of collapsing.

After local residents were relocated, they were also given food, water, and other necessities.

In the second scenario, a dyke collapsed in Tho Nguyen commune, Tho Xuan district. The drill involved 150 officers and soldiers from Military Region 4, relevant units, and 90 local residents using trucks and other materials at hand to promptly shore up and stabilise the dyke, which they managed to do within 30 minutes.

Meanwhile in the third scenario, relevant forces searched and rescued 26 households with 96 persons located on loose-soil ground in Tho Nguyen commune, using canoes and boats to save humans and assets.

The drills were successful in helping to improve the capacity of relevant units and their coordination in case of potential future disasters.

Fatherland Front leader receives Singaporean official









PA Chief Executive Director Desmond Tan visits a VFF traditional display house





President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 13 for Chief Executive Director of the Peoples Association (PA) of Singapore Desmond Tan.

Man welcomed the Singaporean delegations visit which is concurrent with the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two nations.

He said the bilateral strategic partnership is growing steadily and effectively across many fields, evidenced by increased mutual understanding, visits at all levels and channels, as well as new strides in economic cooperation.

As many as 12,000 Vietnamese people are currently living, studying and working in Singapore, while over 18,000 Vietnamese officials joined training courses as a result of the cooperation agreement with Singapore. More and more Singaporean people are also investing in Vietnam, serving as an important bridge for bilateral links.

Man hoped that the PA would continue working with Singaporean authorities to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese people in the country.

The VFF and other relevant Vietnamese agencies will offer all possible support to Singaporean firms and people in Vietnam in line with the law, he pledged.

Man also expressed his wish that the PA would continue to assist the VFF in training, community building, and holding meetings with lawmakers.

Tan, for his part, affirmed that the PA will do its best to realise signed agreements, thereby strengthening VFF-PA collaboration, as well as the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Earlier, Vice President and Secretary General of the VFF Central Committee held talks with Chief Executive Director of the PA Desmond Tan.

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation programme for the 2018-2020 period. They agreed to share experiences in community connectivity and building, self-governance in communities, and public involvement in social management, all helping to serve as a bridge between the government and its people.

During the period, the two sides will also offer mutual support in training, community connectivity and building, as well as popularising the culture and people of each country through festivals.

Scholarships to be presented to poor Mekong Delta students









At the press conference



Disadvantaged students with outstanding academic results in the 2017-2018 academic year in the Mekong Delta will receive scholarships from the Vietnamese Seeds Fund by the Nhan dan (Peoples) newspaper for the first time this year.



Nguyen Hong Sam, head of the newspapers bureau in Can Tho city, told a press conference in the locality on August 13 that the scholarships will be funded by the Lien Viet Post JSC Commercial Bank.



Established in 2012, the fund aims to step up the campaign for building a more educated society, which involves improving the quality of learning at secondary schools located in wards and communes nationwide.



The awards ceremony is due to take place at Can Tho University on August 18, honouring 1,300 students from primary, secondary, and high schools across 13 regional cities and provinces.



Each scholarship will be worth 3 million VND (132 USD) which will granted to 100 students from each locality, at a total cost of 3.9 billion VND.



According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the rate of school dropouts in the Mekong Delta remains high compared to that in the Central Highlands and northwest, standing at 0.45 percent in elementary schools, 3.26 percent in secondary schools, and 3.94 percent in high schools.



It is largely attributed to the poor living conditions of many households, forcing children to leave school and earn a living in order to cover simple daily needs.



The scholarship programme looks to encourage their studies and support tens of thousands of poor students with excellent academic performances, thereby ensuring the welfare of society and nurturing young talent.

Son La suspension bridge out of order









The Hai Son suspension bridge was damaged, seriously affecting the lives of local residents.





A suspension bridge was damaged after being hit by a truck, seriously affecting the lives of residents in Chieng Khoong Commune in the northern mountainous province of Son La.

The Hai Son suspension bridge, spanning the Ma River, is the main route for thousands of residents in Chieng Khoong Commune.

This is the second time the bridge has been put out of order.

Pham Ngoc Thach, a resident in Hoang Ma Village, said that in 1997, a lorry hit the bridge and five people were injured.

The Hai Son suspension bridge was completed in 1997 by the Song Ma District authorities.

The bridge last underwent periodic maintenance in December last year.

However, on August 11 this year, a truck travelling to Son La City hit one of the cables and caused the bridge to tilt.

At present, residents in Chieng Khoong Commune are harvesting thousands of tonnes of longans. Now that the bridge is out of order, farmers are worrying about how to transport the fruit.

ang Van Thua, head of Hai Son 1 Village, said that if the bridge was repaired, transporting longan would be easier and the prices would be more stable.

Moreover, the new school year is approaching. The bridge was an important route for students and teachers.

Now, thousands of residents must find alternative routes to school and work.

Cam Thi Ngoc Yen, deputy chairwoman of the Song Ma District Peoples Committee, said that the committee had assigned inspectors to check the state of the bridge and develop solutions.

The committee also set up warning signs at the two ends of the bridge, and signs redirecting residents to other routes.

The committee has sent reports to the Son La Province Peoples Committee, the provincial Department of Construction and the provincial Department of Transport about the incident.

Detailed plans to repair the bridge will be drawn up once relevant organisations complete their inspections.

Two people die in Lao Cai landslide









A landslide kills two people who are traveling on a district-level road in Lao Cai Province.-- Photo danviet.vn





A landslide killed two people who were traveling on a district-level road on Saturday evening, Duong uc Huy, Party Secretary of Bao Yen District in Lao Cai province, announced.

The victims were a grandmother and grandchild from a family living in Nam Cam Village. The child, 16, was driving his grandmother, 60, on a motorcycle towards the centre of Bac Ha District. Rescuers found the two bodies after a search lasting an hour. Local authorities provided granted the family of the victims a total of VN5.4 million.

Bao Yen Districts official said that the prolonged rain in the area led to weakened soil and a high risk of landslides.

Four students drown while fishing in river

Chairman of An Hao ong Commune Peoples Committee, in the central province of Binh inh, Nguyen inh Hung confirmed that four students from the communal primary school had drowned in the An Lao River on Saturday afternoon.

When the children failed to return home in the evening, their parents started to search for them. Arriving at the river, they found some of the childrens belongings on the bank.

Once alerted, local authorities and residents searched for the kids and retrieved their bodies late at night. All four children were from poor local families.

Overseas Vietnamese association reaches out to community









Young Overseas Vietnamese visit a mangrove swamp in Can Gio in March.





Great efforts have been made to mobilise potential from Viet Kieu (Overseas Vietnamese) communities around the world, but few results have been achieved, according to experts speaking at a meeting with representatives of Overseas Vietnamese communities in HCM City last Thursday.

Peter Hong, deputy chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Businesspeople Association, said talented, successful people who have studied abroad should deal with Overseas Vietnamese communities.

Dr Luong Bach Van, chairwoman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association of HCM City, said that local agencies should care more about students of Vietnamese origin in these countries who were born abroad and do not have Vietnamese nationality.

Van said that many overseas families value and preserve Vietnamese cultural and traditional characteristics.

Prof. ang Luong Mo, an Overseas Vietnamese from Japan, said he was ready to help the city to establish a bank of talented Overseas Vietnamese who would promote and exploit the potential of the Overseas Vietnamese communities in all areas of life.

The chairman of HCM City Association of Overseas Vietnamese, Phung Cong Dung, said the association had contacted young Overseas Vietnamese who have re-settled in Viet Nam in order to build a network, with an aim to better exploit the potential of the community for the development of HCM City and Viet Nam.

He said the association has a plan to organise a conference to connect the intellectual circles of Overseas Vietnamese communities with universities in Viet Nam to promote research in teaching and learning.

The association has been preparing a startup forum for members of the communities from home and abroad to link young members who have ideas, projects, and models to be proposed to HCM City authorities.

The deputy chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Businesspeople Association, Peter Hong, said the association has faced challenges trying to connect with members.

Hond said the associations representatives had received a list of 1,176 enterprises invested in by Overseas Vietnamese in HCM City.

The association has telephoned, sent emails and faxes to all of them, but has received replies from only 13 of them.

There are more than 6,100 enterprises run by members of Overseas Vietnamese communities, but the association has found it difficult to connect with them, said Hong.

He said the association should build a database for its members, including older members who have made contributions to the association and to their homeland, and young members as well.

Ha Giang repairs landslide road due to heavy rain

The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang is urgently repairing several roads that have been severely damaged by landslides due to many days of heavy rain.



Ma Quoc Truong, deputy chairman of Meo Vac District Peoples Committee, Ha Giang Province, said the highway from Meo Vac District centre to some communes including Tat Nga, Nam Ban, Niem Son and Niem Tong has been blocked for days due to prolonged heavy rains causing soil and rock to fall down the road.



The most seriously damaged section of road passes through Tat Nga Commune, where such a large amount of rocks slid onto the road that traffic came to a standstill.



Prolonged heavy rains in Xin Man in recent days caused the national highway from Bac Quang District to Xin Man District, and the road from Coc Pai Town to Xin Man border gate to become seriously cracked due to landslides. It became nearly impossible for local people to travel along the roads.



In Bac Me District, heavy rains lasting from the night of August 7 through the entire day of August 8 caused water levels in rivers and streams to rise, seriously damaging homes, cops and State works.



According to preliminary statistics, heavy rains damaged dozens of hectares of rice in Minh Ngoc Commune. The spillway of Minh Ngoc Commune to Thuong Tan Commune, Bac Me District was partially washed away by the flood, causing the main road to Thuong Tan Commune to become separately blocked.



According to Yen Bai Provinces Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue, after the heavy floods at the end of July, the province has provided nearly VN5 billion (US$215,000) to the families of dead and missing persons and people whose homes completely collapsed.



The province also provided nearly 20 tonnes of rice, instant noodles and drinking water and six tonnes of dried food for flood victims.



Kon Tum village isolated



Dozens of houses were flooded and 10 villages still were isolated due to heavy rains in Ia HDrai District in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Kon Tum.



Traffic in the district has been impeded.



The Peoples Committee of Ia HDrai District has instructed communal authorities and relevant offices to carry out support works, aiming to move local people to safe areas and clean the flooded areas.



The authorities deployed forces around the clock at critical locations such as landslide-affected areas and spillways to warn local people not to enter when the water was rising and to prepare food for people in isolated areas.



Colonel Pham Ngoc Phu, Border Guard commander of Kon Tum Province, said army forces were coming to Ia HDrai Districts flooded areas to co-ordinate with local authorities to rescue people.

Tan Son Nhat Airport expansion plan needs further clarification: Deputy PM





Roads leading to Tan Son Nhat Airport face traffic congestion.





The expansion plan for the HCM Citys Tan Son Nhat does not clearly define the airports civil, defence and security functions, and does not include plans for using the areas of land under the management of the defence ministry, said Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung.

The deputy PMs statement was released by the Government office on Wednesday.

The expansion plan aims to ensure the effective use of the land fund as well as defence and security functions, and meet the rising demand for air transport, according to the Governments announcement.

Deputy PM Dung asked the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and relevant agencies to consider areas of land used for defence, security and economic purposes, and to confirm or specify the areas for construction of a terminal and other facilities for both civil and defence purposes.

MoT was told to agree with the Ministry of Defence on the area of land (under the latters management) to be used for the expansion plan, and consider areas of land to be used for both civil and defence purposes.

To ensure aviation security and safety, the management and operation of the airport should also be further clarified.

The ministry was told to figure out how much investment is needed for the expansion as well as other airport needs, as instructed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Relevant agencies were asked to map out the best plans for the terminal to ensure economically effective use of land at the airport.

MoT was also told to collaborate with the ministries of Planning and Investment, and Finance and relevant agencies to identify the sources of investment, especially capital from the State, required for the expansion project.

The Government asked the HCM City Peoples Committee to join hands with MoT to plan for transportation infrastructure in areas around the airport and to ensure the effective operation of the road networks (around the airport) as well as environmental protection.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam sent the final adjusted plan for the expansion to the transport ministry which was then submitted to related ministries and the HCM City Peoples Committee for approval in June.

Under the adjusted plan, a new passenger terminal in the southern area of the airport would accommodate 20 million passengers per year, and by 2025, the airport would have a capacity for up to 50 million passengers per year.

Cargo terminals, aircraft parking and technical maintenance areas will be built in the northern area of the airport.

Gang of illegal loggers arrested









Illustrative Photo. Several public dalbergia tonkinensis trees have been illegally logged in Ha Noi.



Ha Noi Police on Thursday announced that they arrested a group of six loggers for illegally chopping down public sua (dalbergia tonkinensis) trees.



According to the police report, on July 27, the city Criminal Police Department started investigating six suspects: Le Van Trong from Tu Son District in Bac Ninh Province, Nguyen Van Tu from Thanh Oai District in Ha Noi, Pham Van Hung from Tien Du District in Bac Ninh Province, and o Van Khuong, Le Van Phuc and o Quoc Tuan from Van Lam District in Hung Yen Province.



This six were found to have committed illegal logging activities in Ha ong District on July 21.



They cut down a sua tree in front of oan Ket High School, chopped it into pieces, transferred it to Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province and sold it for VN56 million to an acquaintance of Trong.



The miscreant loggers also sawed another sua tree at Ngu Hiep Commune Institute of Medicine in Thanh Tri District, Ha Noi.



The force is still investigating the case.



The Dalbergia tonkinensis is a type of tree commonly planted along Ha Nois streets. It is featured in the International Union for the Conservation of Natures Red List of Endangered Species and ranked as vulnerable. In Viet Nam, Dalbergia tonkinensis trees are well-known for their quality and high value.

Police seize illegal mooncakes









Each cake costs VN2,000-3,000 (US$0.13), which is a fifth or a sixth the price of a similar cake.  Photo cafef.vn





Some 10,000 illegally traded mooncakes were seized by the Ha Noi Market Watch Unit at a store selling agriculture products in Hoai uc District on Wednesday.

According to the unit, no items in the batch included production dates, receipts or certificates of origin, but the labels on the products showed that they were illegally traded.

Each cake cost VN2,000-3,000 (US$0.13), which is a fifth or a sixth the price of a similar cake.

The owner of the batch admitted this was his third batch in the last two weeks. The cakes would be sold on Zalo, a mobile messaging application.

The market watch unit said for illegal food trades, they normally apply fines based on the value of the goods, but in this case, the cost is so low that the fines would not be strict enough.

National Young Informatics contest held in Ba Ria-Vung Tau









The National Young Informatics Contest aims to contribute to the development of young talent for the IT field.



The annual National Young Informatics Contest for students is being held at Le Quy on High School in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province from August 9-10.



The contest this year has 257 contestants in the first to 12 grades from a total of 51 cities and provinces.



The contests organisation committee has selected 30 of 106 innovative products to join the final.



The contest aims to contribute to the development of young talent for the field of information and technology.



According to the organisation committee, this year the contestants products are diverse with many good products and high applicability.



The quality of products is better than in the previous year, especially hardware.



In addition, the technologies used in the products vary, which reflects the adoption of the latest technologies by many students.



This year, the organisation committee added Scratch programming language so that contestants could create products for daily living, such as a smart trash bin, salt intrusion warning system, and products to support people with disabilities.



The National Young Informatics Contest, which began in 1995, was held by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Information and Communication and Viet Nam Association of Information and Technology.















An endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) was released to the sea in a Nang.  Photo courtesy a Nang Agriculture and Rural development department



An endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) has been released to the sea after being captured and kept at a house in the central city, a source from the citys sub-department of Aquatic Resource Protection said yesterday.



The source said the turtle, which had been kept in an aquarium belonging to a family in Son Tra peninsula, was healthy when it swam back to the ocean.



The sub-department said the green turtle was listed as an endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Red Book of Viet Nam also named the turtle as a threatened species in need of special protection.



In July, the sub-department released another sea turtle after it was caught in a fishing net.



According to Le Xuan Ai, an expert in sea turtle conservation from the Cham Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) management board, several beaches in central coastal Viet Nam, including Thua Thien-Hue, a Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai are popular destinations for turtle reproduction. But rapid urban development, the speedy construction of beach resorts and hotels, the overexploitation of seafood and extensive pollution had destroyed their habitats.



Cham Island, off the coast of Quang Nam Province, was the first location in central Viet Nam to begin a sea turtle conservation project by hatching eggs to repopulate local turtle populations.



Viet Nam has five species of sea turtles living in waters off the islands of Truong Sa (Spratly), Hoang Sa (Paracels), Bach Long Vy, Tho Chu and Co To and provinces of Quang Ninh and Quang Tri, and from Quang Nam to Phu Yen.






Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: The two main political parties of Jammu and Kashmir - National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party - reacted vehemently against the Shaurya Chakra awarded to Major Aditya Kumar of the 10 Garhwal Rifles, whose unit had fired at a stone-pelting mob in Ganovpora village of south Kashmir's Shopian district on January 27 this year, killing three people.

After the local police filed an FIR against him, his father Lt Col Karamveer Singh moved the Supreme Court, which restrained the Jammu and Kashmir Police from taking any coercive steps against army officers, including Major Aditya.

President Ram Nath Kovind, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on Tuesday approved 131 Gallantry Awards to military and paramilitary forces which include one Kirti Chakra, 20 Shaurya Chakras, three Bar to Sena Medals, 93 Sena Medals, 11 Nao Sena Medals and three Vayu Sena Medals.

Honouring Major Aditya with the Shaurya Chakra would further alienate the people of Kashmir, PDP chief spokesman Rafi Ahmed Mir told The New Indian Express.

"If fingers are being raised against an officer for committing human rights violations, then the officer should not have been awarded. Normally it should not have happened. The charges against him should be taken care of," he said. "It is unfortunate that when FIR was registered against Major Aditya, the case went to Supreme Court and the apex court stayed the proceedings in the FIR. This adds to the situation that is messy here and fuels further anger among the people. Maybe he deserves the award, but his act (in which three civilians were killed) was condemned widely and the army should have taken care of it before honouring him."

The National Conference provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani concurred, saying "It is better to avoid these kind of actions so that people also feel wanted and don't consider themselves unwanted.

Apart from Major Kumar, Rifleman Aurangzeb, of the 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, who was abducted and murdered by terrorists in June this year when he was travelling home to celebrate Eid, received the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. Though he received it for an earlier operation in Kashmir, sources said he had violated Standard Operating Procedures leading to his abduction and killing.

Last year, there was widespread outrage in Kashmir after Major Gogoi, who used a civilian as a human shield by tying him in front of an army vehicle and paraded him in over a dozen villages in Beerwah area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, was awarded the Army chief's commendation card.
By PTI

PATNA: The police today conducted raids at the office and residence of Manisha Dayal, a former model whose NGO runs a shelter home for mentally challenged women, where two of the inmates died recently.

According to police sources, raids were conducted at the office of the NGO 'Anumaya Human Resources Foundation' in the posh Boring Road locality and Dayal's residence in the vicinity.

Dayal, along with her associate Chirantan Kumar, was arrested on Sunday after the death of two inmates of 'Aasra' shelter home came to light.

The duo was sent to three days in police custody by a court yesterday.

The other two accused -- a doctor and an auxiliary nurse midwife attached to the shelter home -- are absconding since the deaths were reported.

The incident at the Patna-based home, coming close on the heels of Muzaffarpur sex scandal case in a government-funded shelter home, has laid bare the sorry state of affairs in such institutions managed by the social welfare department.

Police sources said a number of documents related to the shelter home have been seized from both the places, while people close to Dayal, including some members of her family, have been questioned.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, Atul Prasad told PTI "we have deputed officials from our own department, as an ad hoc measure, to ensure that the inmates of the shelter home do not remain unattended".

"We had sent a team of doctors to the shelter home where at least three inmates were found to be severely anaemic.

They have been admitted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital," he added.

Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) founder Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who raised the issue of Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal in the Lok Sabha, held a press conference here and demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the "Aasra" shelter home episode as well.

"Manisha and Chirantan appear to be involved in a high-profile racket, the matter be handed over to the CBI. The Nitish Kumar government in the state should also explain what criterion it had adopted while entrusting the NGO with the upkeep of a shelter home for mentally challenged women, " he said.

"We have heard that a huge amount was paid as bribe to officials concerned for bagging the contract in favour of the NGO. This needs to be investigated. Call details of Manisha and Chirantan must also be examined to expose their close links with senior bureaucrats and political figures," the Madhepura MP alleged.
A Surya Prakash By

The release of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam indicating that around four million of the states residents could be illegal migrants has generated loud protests from the national leadership of the Congress, followed by some confused, calibrated responses from its leaders in Assam. Although the party knew that the final draft of the NRC would be out around this time, it appears to have gifted away the initial advantage to the BJP by failing to acknowledge its past commitments to the detection and deportation of foreigners.

While the Congress seasonal fellow travellersregional and caste-based parties far removed from the realities of Assamcan afford to raise their voices against the NRC in the hope of signalling solidarity with Muslims in their areas of influence, Indias Grand Old Party just cannot be whimsical about it because of its repeated commitment to detect and deport foreignersa commitment first made by PM Indira Gandhi in 1971 and firmly reiterated by PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.

Ms Gandhi initiated the dialogue with the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) and the negotiations eventually culminated in the Assam Accord in 1985.

Looking at the Congress flip-flop on this issue, one is reminded of the partys angry protests over the nuclear tests conducted by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in May 1998 (Pokhran-II) and its subsequent volte-face. When it realised that the nuclear tests had given the NDA government a major political boost, its leaders began sheepishly claiming that it was actually Ms Gandhi who had turned India into a nuclear state with Pokhran-I in May 1974! But the realisation came a bit too late. The BJP had walked away with the prize!

Here again, the Congress ambivalence on the NRC issue is inexplicable. Apart from Ms Gandhis public declarations in this regard, the Assam Accordsigned on 15 August 1985 between the Union government headed by Rajiv and the AASU and AAGSPgave specific guarantees to the people of the state. The accord said that in February 1980, the AASU had conveyed its fear about the adverse effects this infiltration had on the state and Ms Gandhi, being fully alive to the genuine apprehensions of the people of Assam, initiated the dialogue with the AASU and AAGSP, leading to the agreement of 1985.

The main points of the agreement were: Foreigners who came to Assam on or after 25 March 1971 shall continue to be detected and practical steps shall be taken to expel such foreigners; foreigners who came to Assam after 1 January 1966 and up to 24 March 1971 shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964; names of foreigners so detected will be deleted from the electoral rolls in force and on the expiry of 10 years following the date of detection, names of all such persons which were deleted from the electoral rolls shall be restored; all persons who were expelled earlier, but have since re-entered illegally into Assam, shall be expelled.

Although the Illegal Migrants (Determination) Tribunals Act (IMDT Act) was brought in with much fanfare, it failed to fulfill its purpose. The failure of the Act to detect and deport foreigners also resulted in some adverse observations by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Sarbananda Sonowal Vs. Union of India & Anr. The petitioner is the CM of Assam today. The court, in its judgment delivered on 12 July 2005 declared the IMDT Act ultra vires the Constitution.

It said the initial affidavit filed by the state government showed that 85 per cent of the enquiries initiated were rejected and no reference was made to the tribunal. Similarly, the restrictions imposed on an applicant, a citizen of India doing a national duty of pointing out the presence of an illegal migrant in Assam, does not carry any sense. The court concluded thus: A deep analysis of the IMDT Act and the rules made there under would reveal that they have been purposely so enacted or made so, so as to give shelter or protection to illegal immigrants who came to Assam from Bangladesh on or after 25 March 1971 rather than to identify or deport them.

Later the court stepped in once again in Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha & Ors Vs. Union of India & Ors. In this case, the court issued several directions and asked the Union government to expedite the border fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border. The court also declared the schedule to govern the work of updating of the NRC in Assam so that the entire updated NRC is published by the end of January 2016.

In other words, the preparation of the draft NRC has its origins in the firm commitments given by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi to detect and deport foreigners from Assam and is subject to the directions given by the Supreme Court, which is closely monitoring this exercise.

The Congress does not even acknowledge the fact that this issue is being closely monitored by the countrys apex court. It is trying to tell the people that the NRC is part of the BJPs divisive politics. It is also trying to pretend it has nothing to do with this issue in the hope that this will help it retain its share holding in what is called the Muslim vote bank.

Since millions of illegal migrants have entered the country and spread themselves out with the patronage of some political parties, leading to social tensions and security concerns, this is a major issue agitating the minds of genuine citizens. By not standing up for the rights of citizens, the Congress could well be ceding more political ground to the BJP like it did after Pokhran II, and that too in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls!
By Express News Service

GUNTUR: A tense atmosphere prevailed in Narasaraopet and neighbouring Assembly constituencies on Monday as the police thwarted the YSRC fact-finding committees visit to illegal limestone mining areas in Gurajala. The police made preventive arrest of several YSRC leaders to obstruct them from visiting the illegal limestone mining areas.

Following a PIL filed by former MLC TGV Krishna Reddy, the High Court had taken a serious view of illegal mining of limestone. To probe the matter, YSRC chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy had constituted a fact-finding committee, which was supposed to visit the illegal mining areas on Monday. However, the police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of IPC in Gurajala, Macherla and Narasaraopet to prevent the visit of the fact-finding committee.

While the YSRC chief contended that the police action itself was enough to prove that who was culpable for illegal mining of limestone, the TDP said the agitation of the Opposition party was depriving hundreds of workers of their livelihood.

Hundreds of the party activists reached Narasaraopet even as the police cordoned off the residence of YSRC Gurajala constituency incharge Kasu Mahesh Reddy. A huge police force was deployed in Narasaraopet, Gurajala, Macherla and Duggirala Assembly constituencies to thwart any untoward incident.

Apart from Mahesh Reddy, Narasaraopet MLA G Srinivasa Reddy at Narasaraopet and Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy at Macherla and YSRC leader Janga Krishna Murthy at Piduguralla were placed under house arrest to thwart their visit to the mining areas. Guntur East MLA Md Mustafa and YSRC senior leader Botcha Satyanarayana were also taken into preventive custody at the tollgate of Kaza on NH-16 and shifted to Duggirala police station while they were on their way to Guntur.

Mahesh Reddy, speaking to reporters, said the loss to the exchequer due to illegal mining was estimated at more than `300 crore. Botcha alleged that the TDP government was not probing the allegations against Gurajala TDP MLA Yarapathineni Srinivasa Rao despite a huge quantum of loss to the exchequer due to illegal mining. The Mines and Geology officials had filed a case against Anji Babu, a mining worker, stating that he illegally mined limestone worth `63 crore to save the ruling party MLA. But the court would not spare anybody as it had taken a serious view of illegal mining, he said.

YSRC MLC Ummareddy Venkateswarlu said the TDP government was fearing to give permission to the fact-finding committee to visit the mining areas as it would expose the illegal activities of the ruling party leaders. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is trying to save his MLA Srinivasa Rao. Naidu had instructed the police to see that the Opposition leaders do not expose the illegal mining of the ruling party leaders, the MLC said.

Refuting the allegations, Gurajala MLA Srinivasa Rao said the YSRC leaders were trying to tarnish his image in the Assembly constituency by resorting to mudslinging on the illegal mining issue. He accused the YSRC leaders of trying to mislead the public in the name of illegal mining of limestone. But the people of Gurajala were well aware of the fact and who were the real culprits in the illegal mining issue. The mining workers are losing their livelihood due to the agitation of YSRC, the MLA said.
Nejma Sulaiman By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The spillway shutters of the 123-year-old Mullaperiyar reservoir at Thekkady were opened on Wednesday after the water level reached 139.15 feet. The water level had risen considerably following heavy rain in the upstream of the dam for the past 48 hours. The permitted level of water in the dam is 142 ft, while the total capacity is 152 ft. With the evel rising to 137 ft by Tuesday afternoon, Tamil Nadu issued an alert to the Idukki district administration that the shutters may be opened any time. The district administration, in turn, warned the people and safety preparations were taken.

As a precautionary measure, five shutters of Idukki dam, where the water released from the Mullaperiyar would be accommodated, were opened at 5 pm, releasing 600 cumecs of water. It will be increased to 750 cumecs at 1 am on Wednesday. Shaji M K, Peerumade deputy tahsildar, in-charge of the taluk control room, said an alert was issued when the water level reached 136 ft on Tuesday. However, the catchment areas received heavy rainfall for the past 24 hours and the inflow of water into the dam increased considerably. Although the permitted level of water in Mullaperiyar dam is 142 ft, the decision to open the shutters was taken in view of rising water level in other major reservoirs and Vaigai dam inching to its full capacity, he said. Water drawn by TN from Mullaperiyar is stored in Vagai dam.

While the total capacity of the dam is 70 ft, the water level crossed 61 ft on Tuesday. There was anxiety among people as the water level was kept over 135 ft for over a week with TN drawing water at a controlled level, decreasing the intake whenever there was a fall in inflow. Though TN was drawing water at 2,200 cusecs, the inflow was 4419.40 cusecs and the additional water was stored in the dam resulting in a surge in the water level.

Chief Sec issues alert to people on Periyar banks

TPuram: Chief Secretary Tom Jose on Tuesday issued an alert to the people who live on the banks of the Periyar River. The State Relief Commissioner of Tamil Nadu has intimated that Tamil Nadu may release water to Kerala side of Periyar from Mullaperiyar reservoir, considering the high inflow into the reservoir. Hence, the State Executive Committee of KSDMA has decided to release more water from Cheruthoni dam. People living close to Periyar in Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur should comply with the directions issued by the Collectors and move to relief camps, he said in a statement.
Manoj Viswanathan and Toby Antony By

Express News Service

KOCHI: While the Indian Navy is known for its role as a mid-sea saviour, extending emergency support to sailors in distress, the Pakistan Navy is known for its haughtiness. A group of 12 fishermen from Kochi had a taste of Pak navymen's unabashed arrogance recently as they got stranded around 300 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast due to a snag in the boat.

Responding to a distress call, the Pak Navy helped the fishermen repair the boat, but made them shout 'Pakistan Zindabad' as a token of gratitude for their magnanimity. The incident, which occurred on April 27, has ruffled feathers at the high echelons of security agencies. Officers from the intelligence agencies have recorded the statements of the 12 fishermen.

The 12 fishermen on board St Mary, a long line fishing vessel, had set off from Thoppumpady fishing harbour on April 14. The fishermen hailed from Colachel and Nagapattinam areas in Tamil Nadu. The boat was accompanied by two other boats Johan and Maries.

On April 15, the boat developed a technical snag. However, the crew of St Mary were confident of repairing the boat and the other two boats continued their voyage.

However, all efforts to repair the boat proved futile and it started drifting towards Yemen Coast. Though several vessels responded to the distress call, none could help repair the engine. A Keralite in a tanker vessel also responded to the distress call and reported the matter to a church in Colachel.

On April 27, Pakistan naval frigate PNS Alamgir responded to the distress call. They provided food, water and medical aid to the fishermen and repaired the engine. They dismantled the engine, took it on board PNS Alamgir and rectified the problem. However, the fishermen were surprised as the Pak navymen asked the fishermen to shout 'Pakistan Zindabad' after repairing the engine. "The fishermen in their statement said the Pak navy men asked them to shout the slogan in return for the assistance provided by the navy. Also, the videos of Indian fishermen hailing Pakistan was broadcasted by Pakistan TV," a Special Branch officer said.

PNS Alamgir

PNS Alamgir was previously operated by US Navy as USS McInerney. Commissioned by the US Navy in 1970, it was handed over to the Pakistan Navy in 2010.
S Kumaresan By

Express News Service

MADURAI: The claim, made on Monday by M K Alagiri, an erstwhile functionary of the DMK and elder brother of M K Stalin, that the DMK cadre are all with him, seems to have no rational basis as the partys constitution is very clear that it will be the general council which will decide who controls the party. And, unfavourably for him, the general council is now filled with Stalins supporters, according to party insiders.

A party district secretary recalled how even Vaiko, who enjoyed massive support from the party members, could not make great impact. When Vaiko left the party in 1993, he had the support of 45 per cent of the general council members. He took with him nine district secretaries. Even with such a huge support from within the party, he could not cause a vertical split in the party. All he could do was to float a new party, he said on condition of anonymity.

ALSO READ | Alagiri opens to Express, says DMK did not oppose government well

On the powers of the general council, the party constitution goes as follows: The general council alone shall have the power to make any addition or amendment or deletion to the principles, policies, rules and regulations of the Kazhagam. Such additions or amendments or deletions shall be passed only when two-thirds of the general council members are present and a majority vote in favour.

Currently, the general council has as many as 1,608 members. If Alagiri has to win over the party to his side, he needs to muster support of at least around 800 members, which looks almost impossible. Alagiris outbursts appear to have been triggered by Stalins refusal to give any space, he said.

Political commentator Raveenthran Duraisamy says that it is a preemptive move by Stalin. Karunanidhi did a mistake when he shared his 1971 electoral success with MGR. Later, MGR became a competitor. Hence, Stalin does not want to share the space at the beginning itself. He may think Alagiri will cause much bigger damage if he reenters DMK, he told Express.

Condolence meetings for Karunanidhi

Chennai: The DMK is planning to conduct condolence meetings for its late president Karunanidhi. According to a statement from the party, the meetings will be held at Tiruchy on August 17, Madurai on 19 and in Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Chennai on August 25, 26 and 30 respectively.
S Kumaresan By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The DMKs executive committee meet on Tuesday made it plain that the party would stand behind working president M K Stalin, one of the sons of late president M Karunanidhi. The speeches of the dozen senior party leaders  many of whom were sobbing  invariably ended with a call for Stalin to take on leadership of DMK from where his father left off.When Durai Murugan, party principal secretary and deputy floor leader, referred to Stalin as working president who is going to take charge as president, the hall, with 1,000 functionaries, resounded with non-stop applause for two minutes.

Former union minister and member of the partys high-level committee, T R Baalu, who broke down talking about Karunanidhi, said, Our thalaivar (leader) has shown the (future) leader to the party. MK Stalin has the calibre and capacity to lead the party and he can bring the party to power.

Stalin, choked with emotion at the meeting condoling his fathers death, recalled how he pleaded with the Chief Minister for space for Karunanidhis burial at the Marina. But in his address was a veiled message to elder brother M K Alagiri, who questioned his leadership. Stalin said he would have buried himself next to Karunanidhi if DMK had lost the legal battle to have his father buried at the Marina, recalling a statement his father made during a battle for the party symbol and flag.
Kaushik Kannan By

Express News Service

MADURAI: The loyalists of M Karunanidhis elder son M K Alagiri want him to be taken back into the DMK fold. A former Union Minister, Alagiri, who was expelled from the party in 2014, has stayed away from the party affairs for the past four years. On Monday, Alagiri, along with his family members, paid homage to Karunanidhi at his memorial on the Marina.Addressing media persons, Alagiri said, All true loyalists of Karunanidhi, in Tamil Nadu, are with me and supporting me. This statement has stirred up a controversy.

ALSO READ | Alagiri opens to Express, says DMK did not oppose government well

Speaking to Express, P M Mannan, former deputy mayor of Madurai Corporation, said that he has been a loyalist of Alagiri for more than 25 years. Referring to Alagiri as a political king maker, Mannan said, He (Alagiri) is known for his hard work, especially during the elections. Using his political strategy, he made the southern districts a stronghold of the DMK. This was possible as Alagiri has a strong connection even with the grassroot party cadres in the southern districts.

Even today, Alagiri has expressed his discontent at not being able to be work for and serve the party. Alagiri remained silent as Thalaivar (Karunanidhi) had decided to re-induct him (Alagiri) into the party. However, no announcements in this regard were made because of the chiefs health condition. Even though the decision of re-inducting Alagiri is that of the party high command, my wish is that Alagiri should be taken back into the DMK to strengthen the party, Mannan said.

Echoing the same confidence, former councillor of Madurai Corporation, I Mubarak Mandiri, another Alagiri loyalist, told Express that Alagiri is known for his work of strengthening the DMK party in the southern districts. Most of the party cadres will be very happy if he is re-inducted as he is an expert in dealing with party affairs and shares a good rapport with the cadres. They will work with renewed enthusiasm if he comes back since they know that he will recognise those that have been with the DMK for a long time.

Mubarak Mandiri also noted that Alagiri does not have any big expectation except the deep desire to work for the party again.Speaking to Express, former leader of the Opposition in Madurai Corporation and an Alagiri loyalist, M L Raj said that even though they had been expelled from the party, he considers himself a DMK functionary and continues to wear the DMK striped dhoti. All three loyalists were expelled from the party in 2014.
Vikram Sharma By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Four years after his mother and the then Congress President Sonia Gandhi presided over the bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh  which ended up with the grand old party losing both Telugu States to TRS and TDP  current party president Rahul Gandhi landed in Hyderabad on Monday with a tall claim that, whether it is the Special Status for Andhra Pradesh or unfulfilled promises made to Telangana, only Congress can deliver.

The aim was to woo not only the locals but also the people of Andhra settled in Telangana  a majority of whom seem comfortable with the TRS as the State has remained peaceful after bifurcation. Simultaneously, Rahul also wanted to send across a message to the people in Andhra Pradesh that the Congress is still an option.

Rahul Gandhi, flanked by TPCC

chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy,

greets people in Hyderabad.

(Photo| R Satish Babu/ EPS)

Rahul Gandhi, who is on his maiden visit to Telangana after taking over as Congress President, just stopped short of calling Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao an agent of the BJP, something his Telangana-based party leaders have been repeating quite often. However, he did draw several similarities between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chandrasekhar Rao. The style (of working) of the Prime Minister and Telangana Chief Minister is the same. Both make false promises, Rahul said in Hyderabad on Monday.

Attacking the Chief Minister, Rahul claimed KCR had failed to deliver on the promises he made and compared him with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If Modi says he will deposit Rs 15 lakh in all bank accounts, Rao says he will construct 22 lakh double bedroom houses. Four years have gone and not even 5,000 houses have been made. Both are making false promises one after the other, he said.

He also attacked KCR for failing the Dalit farmers in the State. Though the Chief Minister assured 3 acres of land to Dalit farmers, only 1 per cent of beneficiaries actually got the lands, Rahul said at the Praja Chaitanya bus yatra that was attended by a host of Congress leaders, including Andhra Congress Committee chief N Raghuveera Reddy.

Alleging that Telangana had become a corruption capital Rahul attacked the family rule by the chief minister. If Narendra Modi, who calls himself as desh ka Chowkidar has now become bhaagidar, the same can be said of the Telangana Chief Minister as well, he said. Ironically, Rahul himself has been under severe attack from rivals for dynasty politics.

People of Telangana have not got their due and instead of asking the Centre to fulfil the demands, Chandrasekhar Rao keeps supporting Modi government, be it on demonetisation, GST and many other issues. The Government of India is not working for Telangana but Telangana government supports Modi on everything, he said.

I can guarantee that only Congress can do justice to both Telangana and AP. We will fulfil all commitments. I am not interested in making a single false promise like the PM and the Telangana CM. He said he would continue to raise the issue of Special status for AP and all unfulfilled promises to Telangana in Parliament.

Listing out the unfulfilled promises made by Rao, Gandhi said that every family was assured of one job which was not implemented even though there are one lakh vacancies in government jobs. Not even 10,000 jobs were given. According to him, as many as 4,000 farmers committed suicide in Telangana. When Congress was in power (in united AP), it was a revenue surplus state. Now, Telangana is in huge debts and there is a loan of `2.6 lakh per family in Telangana.

Gandhi also had a message for his own party leaders. Before elections, all those who take a parachutes and land (in New Delhi) seeking a ticket, I will cut their parachutes. Only those who fight the battle on the ground will get tickets from the party. I want every Congress worker to go door-to-door and educate people about the false promises made by Modi and Chandrasekhar Rao.

People of TS, AP are like brothers: APCC chief

AP Pradesh Congress Committee president N Raghuveera Reddy, who attended Rahul Gandhis meeting, said that though Andhra and Telangana are separate, the people of both the States were like brothers. He alleged that both AP and Telangana State governments were like servants of Modi.

Rahuls salvos

Let PM Modi have a debate with me. We will talk about Rafale and then the country will know where the theft has taken place.

Modiji cannot see me in the eye. When i speak in the Parliament and look straight in his eye, he starts looking elsewhere.

Even the media is under pressure. Be it Telangana or the national media, if they write, they are being thrown out. I want to assure them, dont fear. TRS will go from here and Modi will go from Centre.
By PTI

NEW YORK: Over 100 people, including some Indians, have been detained by the US border patrol and immigration officials in separate enforcement actions for illegally entering and living in the country.

Federal Officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 45 people in the Houston area for violating US immigration laws during a five-day enforcement action.

The agency did not give the total number of Indian nationals arrested during the operation.

Individuals arrested during this operation included nationals from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, Nigeria, India, Chile and Turkey, ICE said in a statement.

The local enforcement operation targeted at-large criminal aliens, many of whom had absconded from prior immigration proceedings, it said.

The agency said some of the individuals arrested during the operation will face federal criminal prosecution for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after deportation.

Arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted, will be detained in ICE custody and administratively processed for removal from the US, it said.

In a separate action, US Border Patrol agents discovered 78 illegal aliens inside a locked refrigerated trailer at a checkpoint in Texas last week.

The illegal aliens were found in good health and identified as being from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Brazil, Ecuador, India and Dominican Republic.

"These criminal organizations continue to use tractor trailers and view these individuals as mere commodities without regard for their safety.

"The blatant disregard for human life will not be tolerated.

We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these organizations and prosecute those responsible," said Laredo Sector, Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jason Owens.

Earlier, nearly 100 Indians, mostly from Punjab, were detained at two immigration detention centres for illegally entering the US through its southern border.

President Donald Trump had reversed his controversial decision on immigration by signing an executive order to end the separation of immigrant families on the US-Mexico border, following widespread protests against the move of his administration to separate children from their parents who illegally enter the country.
By AFP

BAMAKO: Malian opposition candidate Soumaila Cisse said he would reject the results of a presidential runoff marred by accusations of fraud, violence and low turnout, calling on the population "to rise up."

Ballot counting was underway on Monday across the vast West African country after the vote Sunday saw one poll worker killed and hundreds of stations closed due to insecurity.

"The fraud is proven, this is why there are results we will not accept," Cisse said at his party's headquarters in Bamako.

"I call on all Malians to rise up... We will not accept the dictatorship of fraud," he added.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 73, is the clear frontrunner in a reprise of his 2013 faceoff against former finance minister Cisse, 68.

But Cisse's team and other opposition contenders have repeatedly accused the government of fraud, including ballot-box stuffing and vote buying.

However, the African Union (AU) election observers said the voting was carried out "in acceptable conditions," in a preliminary report published Monday.

At this stage there is "no tangible element" pointing towards voting irregularities, the observers said, congratulating the Mali government for its efforts to improve the voting process and noting a drop in the number of untoward incidents in the second round of voting.

The European Union also said that in the 300 polling stations its observers visited, no "major incident" occurred.

Nearly 500 polling stations were unable to open on Sunday, the government said, mostly in regions plagued by jihadist violence and ethnic tensions.

"We had a little over 3.7 per cent of stations which had not functioned properly" during the first round on July 29, Salif Traore, Mali's security minister, said on Monday.

The figure fell to 2.1 per cent of the 23,000 polling booths in Sunday's runoff vote, which Traore said was due to the deployment of more military.

In a reminder of the jihadist threat that was a major campaign issue, the overseer of a polling station in Arkodia, in the northern region of Timbuktu, was shot dead on Sunday by armed Islamist militants, local officials said.

Aside from this "dramatic case," the government said the poll occurred without incident.

Turnout, however, was just 22.38 per cent, local monitors of the POCIM (the Mali Citizen Observation Pool) said. In the first-round vote on July 29, Keita was clearly ahead, with 42 per cent against 18 per cent for Cisse.

Despite fierce criticism of Keita for his handling of the security crisis, Cisse failed to rally the support of other parties behind him for the runoff, leaving the incumbent seemingly on track for a second consecutive landslide.

Results are expected by mid-week at the earliest. The three main opposition candidates had mounted a last-ditch legal challenge to the first-round result, alleging ballot-box stuffing and other irregularities.

But their petition was rejected by the Constitutional Court.

Cisse's party told AFP in the early hours of Sunday that ballot papers were already circulating, several hours before polls opened.

In at least six stations in the capital of Bamako, voting reports -- which give the number of voters and votes cast for each candidate -- were signed before the numbers were filled in, an AFP journalist witnessed.

The opposition leader, in a meeting where hundreds of supporters had gathered on Monday afternoon, also said the programme his party uses to count votes -- which had put him in the lead until then -- was hacked overnight.

Six members of his campaign team, including four French, were arrested on Sunday, the team and Traore, the minister of security, said.

Five of the six were released without charges after being held for two hours in a Bamako police station, a source close to the team said. Their phones and laptops were seized.

Mali, a landlocked nation home to at least 20 ethnic groups where the majority of people live on less than $2 a day, has battled jihadist attacks and intercommunal violence for years. Beyond its borders, the international community hope that the winner will consolidate a 2015 accord that the fragile Sahel state sees as its foundation for peace.

The deal brought together the government, government-allied groups and former Tuareg rebels.

But jihadist violence has spread from the north to the centre and south of the vast country and spilled into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, often inflaming communal conflicts.

A state of emergency heads into its fourth year in November. France still has 4,500 troops deployed alongside the UN's 15,000 peacekeepers and a regional G5 Sahel force, aimed at rooting out jihadists and restoring the authority of the state.
By AFP

SAADA: Thousands of Yemenis vented anger against Riyadh and Washington on Monday as they took part in a mass funeral for children killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition.

At least 29 children were among those killed in the air raid Thursday on a bus in a crowded market in Dahyan, Saada province, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The mass funeral was held in Saada city, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, with images broadcast by the rebels' Al-Masirah television.

Around 50 vehicles brought coffins into a large square in the city.

The coffins were covered with green drapes and portraits of the victims were lined up on the ground, where relatives cried over them and the Islamic prayer for the dead was recited.

Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

"America kills Yemeni children," read several banners.

The Saudi-led coalition has taken part in Yemen's conflict since 2015 in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government in its fight against the Huthis.

The head of the rebels' revolutionary council, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, took part in the funeral and slammed the raid as a "crime by America and its allies against the children of Yemen".

The Huthis' health ministry said that 51 people were killed in the raids including 40 children.

It also said 79 others were wounded, including 56 children. Al-Masirah did not say how many victims were buried on Monday. Some families had already buried their loved ones, according to residents.

The coalition said Friday it would launch a probe to "assess the events (and) clarify their circumstances", while the United Nations Security Council has called for a "credible investigation".

The UAE, a key Saudi ally in the coalition battling the Huthis, on Monday said that both sides in the conflict had been to blame.

Anwar Gargash, the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, bemoaned the "ugly" side of war and played up the coalition's own probe into the strike.

"In this war we have seen civilians shot at, bombed, killed and, unfortunately, this is really part of any confrontation," he said in Dubai.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by telephone on Monday, discussing topics including efforts by a UN special envoy to "to resolve the conflict in Yemen", the State Department said.

The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has invited the warring sides to talks on September 6 in Geneva.
By AFP

LOS ANGELES: Senior members of the Trump administration were due in California Monday as blazes that have killed at least eight people continued to cut a catastrophic swathe through the country's most populous state.

Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes over the last month, with 14 blazes still threatening land and property from south of Los Angeles to the state's border with Oregon.

READ| California wildfire slows down, but conditions remain challenging

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, wrapping a two-day tour of the Carr Fire's path to the west of Redding, northern Californi, will meet rescuers alongside Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Firefighters made encouraging progress on the inferno, which has destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other property, over the weekend, according to federal and local government data.

But the 203,000-acre (82,000-hectare) blaze is still less than two-thirds contained after killing eight people and prompting the evacuation of 40,000.

The temperatures have remained in double digits but emergency workers say they are bracing for hotter weather, dry air and gusty winds over the coming days.

Around 130 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Redding, the Mendocino Complex wildfire, California's largest in history, has scorched 345,000 acres.

The blaze is made up of the Ranch and River fires, which were respectively 59 percent and 93 percent contained by Monday morning, according to Cal Fire.

Zinke's visit with Perdue comes days after President Donald Trump suggested that California's environmental policies had deprived firefighters of water and left too many trees that could fuel fires.

Some activists have acknowledged that many of the state's forests are too dense and require more aggressive management but Cal Fire officials have stated they have enough water.

Other experts have added that California's most destructive blazes have started in shrublands, not thick forests, and that the devastating fire season has been lengthened by climate change.

Zinke angered activists by downplaying the importance of global warming in wildfire management as he began his California visit on Sunday.

"I've heard the climate change argument back and forth," he said in an interview with television station KCRA 3. "This has nothing to do with climate change. This has to do with active forest management."

Fourteen of California's 20 largest wildfires have started since 2003 -- a period boasting some of the hottest, driest years on record in the US.

Zinke focused instead on environmentalists, accusing them of delaying forest management projects involving the removal of trees, according to the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

Congress passed a measure in March as part of the omnibus spending bill providing almost $2 billion for containing wildfires in fiscal year 2018, while in California legislators have made $200 million available.

Zinke has said that he and Perdue will ask Congress to streamline procedures for clearing out dead and dying trees.

Authorities have charged a 51-year-old man, Forrest Gordon Clark, with multiple arson-related charges in connection with the 22,714-acre Holy Fire in Orange County, to the southeast of Los Angeles.

Evacuation orders remained in place for thousands of people living in the path of the blaze as the flames edged toward a retirement community between the Santa Ana Mountains and an interstate highway.

The wildfire prompted voluntary evacuations for 1,300 units in the Trilogy Glen Ivy community, while some of the area's affected districts have delayed the return to school until next week.

Plumes of dark gray smoke could be seen billowing from behind a nearby hillside as containment for the Holy Fire rose to 52 per cent.

Helicopters and aeroplanes continued to drop fire retardant on flames burning in otherwise inaccessible terrain as the fire entered its eighth day.
By AFP

TUNIS: Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi on Monday announced plans to submit a draft bill to parliament equalising inheritance rights between men and women. "I propose to make equal inheritance a law," he said in a televised speech on Tunisia's Women's Day.

The text of the bill will be presented to lawmakers after the end of the parliamentary recess in October, he said. The proposal to equalise inheritance is among the most hotly debated of a raft of proposed social reforms, guided by a commission the president set up a year ago.

READ| Inter-faith couples in Tunisia unable to marry despite law change

The commission suggested inheritance should by default be shared equally among male and female heirs. Similar to many Muslim-majority countries, Tunisian law currently stipulates that male heirs should receive double the assets given to females of the same level of kinship.

"We will overturn this situation" and make equality the rule, while unequal sharing of inheritance will require special dispensation, Essebsi said.

"It is my duty as president of all Tunisians to unite and not to divide," he said. Following the announcement, around 2,000 supporters of the change rallied in the capital Tunis, police said.

"We have come back down onto the street for equality," crowds chanted on Monday evening, waving banners and the national flag. The proposed inheritance equality law would be incorporated into the country's 2014 constitution, which has been praised as a key milestone.

Tunisians making a last will and testament would still be able to divide their assets as they see fit, with the equality law being applied in cases where no such preferences have been stated.

Long seen as a pioneer for women's rights in the Arab world, Tunisia has pushed ahead with other reforms promised after its 2011 revolution.

"We give hope to all women in the Arab world," said Bochra Belhaj Hmida, head of the commission which proposed the changes.

Some opponents of the bill argue men should have greater inheritance rights because they must provide for their families.

But according to Hlima Jouini, a member of the Tunisian association of women democrats, such an approach fails to take account of societal changes. "Nowadays the woman is responsible for her parents, for her family, the man is no longer the only person responsible or the head of the family, therefore the legislation must conform to this change," she said.

As part of Tunisia's reforms, a law on violence against women was passed last year and came into force in January. After several months of consultations with civil society and political parties, the commission also proposed decriminalising homosexuality and abolishing the death penalty.

More than 5,000 people protested against the proposed reforms in front of Tunisia's parliament on Saturday. Some held copies of the Koran and shouted "we will defend Islam with our blood!"
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
On 15 November 2017 there was a facade of a change of guard. A new dispensation was promised. Zimbabweans welcomed the intervention and there was dancing in the streets. But the dancing was not to last. The people had been deceived. Those who had preached constitutionalism had done so not out of love for the people but out of love for themselves. They immediately took over power for themselves at the highest levels of government in cabinet, in the presidency and in Zanu PF.
The Zambian government is to introduce a tax on internet phone calls in a bid to protect jobs in the telecommunications sector.

The 30 ngwee ($0.03; 0.02) daily tariff will be charged through mobile phone operators and internet providers, government spokesperson Dora Siliya said after a Monday cabinet meeting.

She said the increase in online phone calls was coming at the expense of traditional providers such as Airtel, Zamtel and MTN.

That research indicted that 80% of Zambian citizens were using Whatsapp, Skype and Viber to make calls, she added.

The tax comes weeks after Uganda implemented a social media tax to boost government revenue and to end "gossip" on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.

It is not yet clear when the tax will come into effect.

Zambia's main opposition party has condemned the government's move to introduce the daily tax.
Pilot at LAX: 'We Believe There

Is a Shooter in the Terminal'
(Newser)  He's only 14 but that isn't stopping Ethan Sonneborn from running for Vermont's top office. The rising high school freshman from Bristol is taking advantage of the state's lack of an age requirement to hold the office to take his place among the other Democrats on the primary ballot this Tuesday, per the AP. Vermont only requires that a candidate have been a resident of the state for the prior four years. As his website says (yes, he has a website), Ethan has lived in Vermont for all of his 14 years. As the AP notes, Ethan recently took the opportunity of a gubernatorial forum to tell voters exactly why age is just a number. "I think Vermonters should take me seriously because I have practical progressive ideas, and I happen to be 14, not the other way around," he said. "I think that my message and my platform transcend age."

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Ethan has named issues central to his campaign as healthcare reform, economic development, and education while espousing smarter gun laws and speaking out as "a dedicated champion for middle and working class families" per his website. Most importantly, though, Ethan says he cares about the Vermonters he's running to represent. You dont have to be a Kennedy or a famous minister to be a coalition builder, he told the Boston Globe. You just have to have an issue you care about and be willing to speak out on your platform. Vermont is one of only two states without an age requirement for statewide office. The other is Kansas, where six teens have similar designs to Ethan's. (Read more Vermont stories.)
(Newser)  The wife of the Sutherland Springs gunman who murdered 26 people in a Texas church last year has spoken out. In interviews with the San Antonio Express-News, Danielle Kelley has described for the first time what life with husband Devin Kelley was like leading up to the day he kissed their young children goodbye, tied his wife to a bed, and left the house never to return. "No one just leaves in all-black attire with a ballistic vest," Danielle said, recalling the moment she watched her husband leave the house armed with an assault rifle and knew something horrific was going to happen. Many of the people Devin went on to kill that Sunday were people Danielle knew and loved. "If it was only me that could've died and everybody else could've been alive," Danielle said. "I would've gladly taken that."

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Devin Kelley also injured 20 people before fleeing in a car and ultimately taking his own life. Still, Danielle Kelley insists she won't let what her husband did change the way she felt about him, starting when the two met as high school students. "No matter what, I will love him," Danielle said. "Even though he went off and ruined more people's lives than I could ever imagine." Per CNN, Danielle said she doubted her faith in God for a period but has since returned to the very church her husband terrorized nine months ago and been welcomed with open arms. She said she shared her story in the hope it will empower people struggling with mental illness to get help. (The San Antonio Express News has the rest of Danielle's story.)
(Newser)  A Utah man flew a small plane into his own house early Monday just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said. The pilot, Duane Youd, died, the AP reports. His wife and a child who were in the home survived despite the front part the two-story house being engulfed in flames, Payson police Sgt. Noemi Sandoval said. Investigators believe the twin-engine Cessna 525 belonged to Youd's employer and that he intentionally flew into his own house around 2:30am; Sandoval said he was an experienced pilot. It wasn't immediately clear who employed Youd or whether he was authorized to take the plane. It's also unknown if the child in the house is related to Youd.

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Youd, 47, was arrested about 7:30pm Sunday after witnesses called police to report that he was assaulting his wife, Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon said. The couple had been drinking and went to American Fork Canyon to talk about problems they were having, authorities said. Youd was booked on suspicion of domestic violence and posted bail, Cannon said. Youd requested an officer escort him to his home so he could get his truck and some belongings around midnight. That occurred without incident, Sandoval said. Within hours, Youd was taking off in the plane from the Spanish Fork-Springville Airport about 15 miles north of his house. He flew directly to his neighborhood and smashed into his house, Sandoval said.

(Read more plane crash stories.)
(Newser)  A bit of sweetness has entered the life of at least one of the men formerly held at the US Guantanamo Bay prison camp. Ahmed Ahjam opened a small stall selling Arabic pastries Monday at a public market in the Uruguayan capital, passing out free samples of cellophane-wrapped ma'amul to supporters, local officials and potential customers. Ahjam is one of six former detainees accepted by Uruguay in 2014 after US authorities decided they posed no threat but couldn't be sent to their homelands. Ahjam spent a dozen years imprisoned at Guantanamo, and like the other five detainees here, he has struggled to adapt to the South American country. But the former jeweler from Syria learned to make sweets such as baklava with recipes from his sisters and has been earning money selling them at fairs and private events, per the AP.

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A city development agency helped him open the stall at a historic covered market with nearly 100 shops. "Many thanks to all the Uruguayans who are helping me. I'm going to work hard to fulfill this dream," he said as he cut the ribbon on the stand during the opening attended by Montevideo Mayor Daniel Martinez. Ahjam is the only one of the sixfour Syrians, a Palestinian and a Tunisianwho has managed to find a regular job in the country of 3.2 million people. The government has been giving the men a stipend of about $420 a month and covering their rent, as well as offering job and language training. But the aid is due to run out at the end of this year. The most discontented detainee, Abu Wa'el Dhiab, left Uruguay in late June and went to Turkey, said Christian Mirza, the government's liaison with the ex-detainees. He said he wasn't sure where Dhiab is now. (Read more Guantanamo Bay stories.)
(Newser)  The long-rumored "Trump Tapes," alleged Apprentice outtakes in which the host uses the n-word, are in the news againand President Trump is insisting that they don't exist. Trump tweeted Monday night that Apprentice executive producer Mark Burnett had called him "to say that there are NO TAPES of the Apprentice where I used such a terrible and disgusting word as attributed by Wacky and Deranged Omarosa." He was using his new nickname for former Apprentice contestant Omarosa Manigault Newman, who says she heard a tape in which Trump used the slur multiple times during filming. "I don't have that word in my vocabulary, and never have," Trump said in his tweet. "She made it up."

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Tom Arnold, who has previously claimed to have the tapes, tweeted Monday night that Trump and Burnett are lying, the Hollywood Reporter notes. "Apprentice Employees gave statements about @realdonaldtrump saying multiple 'n' words on the set of @ApprenticeNBC & 100 other horrible things," Arnold said. "I spoke to 2 Executive Producers & Mark Burnett in person. They all said Trump's a liar & there is #TrumpTapes." Trump administration official Lynne Patton issued a statement Monday night saying she spoke to former Apprentice producer Bill Pruitt and he firmly denied ever playing the damning tape to Omarosa, reports Business Insider. The tape "is a figment of her imagination and merely a destructive tool of manipulation applied only when it best serves her interests," she said. (Read more President Trump stories.)
(Newser)  A 3-year-old boy whose remains were found at a New Mexico compound where children were allegedly trained to conduct school shootings died during an exorcism-like ritual, prosecutors say. Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, allegedly taken from his Georgia home late last year, suffered from seizures, and his father believed he was possessed by the devil, per court papers cited by the BBC. Some of the 11 hungry children found at the squalid compound during an early August raid described a days-long ritual "intended to cast out demonic spirits," which involved Siraj Wahhaj putting his hand on his son's head as he recited Koran verses, per the BBC and CNN. Per the FBI, Wahhaj's partner, Jany Leveille, was believed by the family to be able to communicate with God, and the family thought the boy would return "as Jesus" and ID targets for violent attacks, including law enforcement, per Reuters.

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Wahhaj and Leveille are among five related adults facing child abuse charges. All but Wahhaj, who has a warrant against him for child abduction in Georgia, have been granted release on bail. Though authorities admitted finding weapons and ammunition in a vehicle carrying Wahhaj, Leveille, and seven children through Alabama in Decembermore weapons were found at the compoundState District Judge Sarah Backus on Monday said prosecutors failed to show the group posed a threat to the community. "The state alleges that there was a big plan afoot, but the state hasn't shown to my satisfaction, in clear and convincing evidence, what that plan was," she said. A defense lawyer added his clients were being unfairly treated as black Muslims. "If these people were white and Christian, nobody would bat an eye over the idea of faith healing," he said. (Read more New Mexico stories.)
(Newser)  Marie Wilson says "the only thing she is guilty of is feeding a child who had no money or giving somebody a cookie." New Canaan officials say otherwiseabout Wilson and her sister, Joanne Pascarelli. The two women have been charged with larceny after allegedly stealing $478,588 in lunch money from the school cafeterias they worked at in the tony Connecticut town, reports the AP. The theft allegedly took place between 2012 and 2017, though police say the scheme may have been ongoing over a 15-year period. The New York Times has a statement from New Canaan Public Schools explaining the district didn't pick up on the "relatively small ... discrepancies until it instituted new financial controls specifically related to the collection and depositing of cash in the cafeterias."

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Wilson and Pascarelli, ages 67 and 61, respectively, surrendered over the weekend, though both deny the charges against them. Police allege Wilson personally handled the daily counting of cafeteria cash at New Canaan High School; cafeteria workers say Pascarelli did the same at Saxe Middle School and allege she also took large bills from the register. The Hartford Courant cites additional details from the arrest warrants: The women would allegedly have cashiers sign blank bank deposit slips, and a co-worker says Pascarelli put her on dishwashing duty for months after she raised some financial questions. The women resigned in December, and police say the middle school's daily cash intake immediately rose from below $40 to about $150. (This lunch lady quit after she said her school made her shame poor kids.)
(Newser)  Classes were canceled Monday and Tuesday in a small Oklahoma school district after a 12-year-old transgender student was threatened online. It was the girl's first day of classes at the middle school in Achille, Okla., last Wednesday and she used the girls' bathroom. At her elementary school, she had been using the staff restroom, but no one had yet told her where the staff bathroom was at her new school, her mom tells KXII. A parent in the district found out and complained on a group for parents in the district, "Heads up parents of 5th thru 7th grade girls. The transgender is already using the girls bathroom. We have been told how the school has gone above and beyond to make sure he has his own restroom yet he is still using the girls. REALLY... Looks like its gonna be a long year." Derogatory and threatening comments quickly followed.

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"If he wants to be female, make him female. A good sharp knife will do the trick," wrote one commenter, according to the Oklahoman. "Just tell the kids to kick ass in the bathroom and it won't want to come back," wrote another. The post has since been removed, but screenshots were widely shared, leading LGBTQ advocates and others to express support for the girl. The superintendent tells KFOR law enforcement asked the district to cancel classes over fear that demonstrations might break out on campus. He adds that the Facebook group where the comment was made is not officially affiliated with the district, and that most of the commenters were not parents of district students. "Private discussions held on the social media do not reflect the views of Achille school, staff, administration, or school board," he says in a statement. Law enforcement agencies including the FBI are looking into the social media comments, and the local sheriff says the student's mother filed a protective order against one parent. (Read more transgender stories.)
New Delhi:

Strengthening security in the national capital ahead of the Independence Day on August 15, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said parking at Delhi Metro stations will not be allowed from Monday till August 15.



ALSO READ | Amarnath Yatra 2018: Yatra suspended from Jammu base camp due to inclement weather

The temporary ban on parking at Delhi Metro stations is effective from 6 am Monday, DMRC said in a statement.



"Parking facilities will not be available at the Delhi Metro stations from 6 am on August 14, 2018, till 2 pm August 15, 2018, in view of the security measures adopted on the occasion of Independence Day," DMRC said.



ALSO READ | Somnath Chatterjee made Indian democracy richer, says PM Modi

Some gates at Lal Quila, ITO, Delhi Gate and Jama Masjid will remain close for security reasons, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in the release.

Train services between Indraprastha and Mandi House will remain suspended when the Prime Ministers convoy passes through Tilak Marg on August 15.

In the event of any untoward incident, commuters can dial the new Metro helpline number launched on August 10. The Central Industrial Security Force on Friday launched a new electronic surveillance control room and security helpline number -- 155655 -- for Delhi Metro commuters.

Efforts are on to strengthen security arrangement in Delhi to prevent any terror attack or untoward incident in view of the Independence Day celebration on August 15.
New Delhi:

A day after Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid was allegedly attacked by an unidentified gunman at the Constitution Club near Parliament, the Delhi Police on Tuesday claimed that it was not intimated about the assassination attempt in the heart of national capital. The statement came after several questions were raised about security arrangements in Lutyens's Delhi following the attack on the JNU leader, who escaped unhurt.

However, late on Monday, the police said that they have released a CCTV grab of the suspect, who was caught on camera while escaping from the spot. The grab has been installed at Vitthalbhai Patel Road.

Meanwhile, the incident took a dramatic turn after student activist Shehla Rashid Shora on Tuesday filed a case in Srinagar against mafia don Ravi Poojary for allegedly threatening her, Khalid and Jignesh Mewani to kill if they don't stop mobilising people on social media to join theirA civil society group United Against Hate.

"FIR number 45/2018 u/s (under section) 506 RPC filed by Jammu and Kashmir Police against Ravi Poojary on my complaint," Shora wrote on Twitter.

The student activist also put on a shocking WhatsApp conversation on Twitter, in which Poojara warned her to shut her mouth or otherwise he will shut her mouth forever. "Tell Umar Khalid and Jignesh Mewani also. Mafia don Ravi Poojary," the screenshot read.

"Meanwhile, got this death threat from right-wing Hindutvawadi fundamentalist Ravi Poojary. He warns Umar Khalid, Jignesh Mevani and me to shut up! Threat by SMS #DigitalIndia," shora captioned her tweet.

Meanwhile, got this death threat from right-wing Hindutvawadi fundamentalist Ravi Poojary. He warns Umar Khalid, Jignesh Mevani and me to shut up!



Threat by SMS #DigitalIndia pic.twitter.com/NaC0m3nb5M a Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) August 13, 2018

Read | JNU student Umar Khalid attacked in Delhi, culprit will be arrested soon, says Delhi Police

On Monday, Khalid and his friends met at the Constitution Club and were supposed to hold a discussion on mob lynching and minority alienation under the Narendra Modi regime but failed to do the same following the sudden attack on him.

Khalid and group were trying to gather eyewitnesses from different parts of India, including Rajasthan, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, where several incidents of mob-lynching have been taking place in the name of Hindutva and cow protection.

Khalid, Kanhaiya Kumar, Shehla Rashid, who in 2016 were implicated in a sedition case for allegedly raising anti-national slogans, have been receiving frequent death threats from several Hindutva supporters across India.

Rashid, on the other hand, is also receiving rape threats on social media. Despite repeated complaints, the police did not take any action against these online offenders so far.

Read | JNUTA condemns attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid

While the trio has been facing assaults in various public platform since 2016, the murder attempt on Khalid has raised eyebrows over the safety of several JNU students and activists across the capital.
New Delhi:

Bollywoods hottest couple Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone has been dating each other since they were shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Ram-Leela and recently they were rumours of them to take further step in their relationship and get married. If sources are to be believed, the celebrity couple have fixed a date to tie knot in Italy.

A source very close to Deepika-Ranveer popularly known as #DeepVeer told to Filmfare Its a very special day for both Ranveer and Deepika which is why they just want the close ones to be present for their wedding ceremony. Mostly it will be their families and a few close friends.

The guest list consists of merely 30 people and thats exactly how these two want it. Italy is a favourite destination of both Ranveer and Deepika so they want to keep their big day more of a private affair. They are looking forward to hosting grand receptions once theyre back in India post the wedding, he added.

Also read | Namaste England first poster: Love between Parineeti Chopra-Arjun Kapoor can travel any distance

However, the couple has never even accepted their relationship in any public appearance but their name has always made headlines in the tinsel town.

Both Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone has done three films together which includes Ram Leela, Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. The interesting fact in these films is that all these three movies were directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Melbourne:

Rajkumar Hiranis Sanju emerged as the top winner of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) this year, bagging four awards, including the best picture and best director.

Actor Ranbir Kapoor was honoured with the Vanguard Award for his phenomenal performance in the film while Vicky Kaushal picked up the award for the best supporting role at the festival.

I am humbled and honoured to be here and I love Melbourne, Hirani said.

The gala last night was attended by several Bollywood stars including Rani Mukerji, who won the best female actor award for her film Hitchki. Manoj Bajpayee, Simi Grewal, Malaika Arora, Freida Pinto, Richa Chadha, Keerthy Suresh and Ali Faizal were also in attendance.

This is my first award after being a mother.. this award is kind of special because it raises the awareness on the Tourettes syndrome, Rani said.

Bajpayee won the IFFM Best actor award for his film Gali Guleiyan, while Rani picked her second award in the category of the Excellence In Cinema.

Also Read | Namaste England first poster: Love between Parineeti Chopra-Arjun Kapoor can travel any distance

Chaddha shared the supporting performance award with Kaushal for her film Love Sonia that bagged best indie film award this year.

Pinto, 33, was given the diversity award while the Equality In Cinema Award was given to Mahanati, the Telugu-language biographical film based on the life of actor Savitri.

Its a great responsibility when you are among the few people who represent your people, your country, their stories, their emotions across the world.

Thanking the Sanju team, Hirani said, I am humbled and honoured to be here and I love Melbourne.

Rani also served as the chief guest of the festival and hoisted the tricolour at the iconic Federarion Square building on Saturday to mark the Indian independence celebrations.

I think its a matter of national honour for anyone to hoist their national flag. And the fact that I am doing it in Australia so far away from home is even more special and makes it more patriotic.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The executive committee of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday held its first meeting post Karunanidhi's death on August 7. DMK Working President MK Stalin chaired the party's Emergency Executive Meeting, which is currently underway in Chennai. The Executive Committee meeting, which was originally announced to pass a resolution paying tribute to late DMK supremo Karunanidhi, is likely to name the next chief of the DMK.

Addressing the DMK members during the executive committee meeting, Stalin said, "Party has lost our leader but I have lost the leader as well as my father".

"When Kalaignar was in his last stage I held CM's hands and pleaded to fulfil his (Karunanidhi) last wish to be buried in Marina Beach but the government didn't agree," Stalin said.

Talking about the controversial Marina Beach issue, the DMK leader said, "I give the entire credit of the victory to lawyers. If this wouldn't have happened then surely I would have been the person to be buried along with our leader".

The DMK Executive meeting came a day after MK Alagiri, Stalin's elder brother threw an open challenge to his brothers leadership and stake a claim to Karunanidhi's political legacy.

Stalin is not working, was his cryptic remark to a question from a scribe on the elevation of Stalin as the president from the post of working president that he currently holds.

It was seen in Chennai bye-election, how DMK lost its deposit in RK Nagar bye-election that TTV Dhinakaran won, Alagiri told media persons in Chennai after paying homage to his father at his memorial at Marina Beach in Chennai.

"The true followers of Kalaignar are with me. They support me," the expelled DMK leader added.

Read | DMK Succession War: Alagiri mounts challenge against Stalin for Karunanidhis political legacy

Chennai: DMK Working President MK Stalin arrives for the party's Emergency Executive Meeting. #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/wKarhek2Qy  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2018

Tamil Nadu: DMK's emergency executive meeting is underway in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/Huc9td6eYr  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2018

Speaking to ANI about the ongoing political battle between Alagiri and Stalin, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said, "It'is normal to have jealousy between brothers. If one is doing good, another feels jealous. Algiri is not a politician, he is the elder brother. Grabbing lands, threatening and attempting murders are his kind of works".

"However, Stalin is neither God nor a saint. But he has sacrificed all his life for the well-being of DMK. He used to organise all the crucial party meetings along with his father Karunanidhi. The party will always go with him," Swamy added.

Meanwhile, being unfazed by Azhagiri's statement, the DMK has invited party MLAs, MPs, district-level organizers and other office bearers for August 14 meeting, even though they are not part of its executive committee.

Read | Karunanidhi Funeral: An era ends as Kalaignar is laid to rest at Marina Beach in Chennai

It seems like both the brothers have engaged in the newly surged succession war within the DMK and are on a desperate attempt to showcase their strength.

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New Delhi:

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate and said he was ready for debate with the prime minister anytime, anywhere but Modi will not accept the challenge. I am ready for a debate with Narendra Modi anytime anywhere. Let us talk about Rafale, Anil Ambani and aircrafts worth Rs 1600 crore. He wont accept this challenge, Rahul said.

Rahul alleged that the contract for Rafale jets was taken away from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and had been given to friends of PM Modi, adding Anil Ambanis company which got the Rafale contract was formed only 10 days before the signing of the contract.

Also Read | I challenge PM Modi for debate on Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi in K'taka

Addressing a rally in Hyderabad, Rahul alleged that PM Modi couldnt answer his questions in the Parliament.

I understand when you are corrupt you have to remain silent. At least he should talk about the increasing atrocities on women, Rahul said.

Also Read | PM Modis Independence Day speech to go LIVE on Google, YouTube

The Congress president also alleged that dreams of the people of Telangana remain unfulfilled.

I remember all those who lost their lives during the Telangana movement. However, after the formation of Telangana, dreams of the people remain unfulfilled, Rahul said.

Rahul continued his attack against Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, alleging there was neither any notification nor recruitment to fill the vacant positions in government jobs.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi addresses corporates;speaks on GST, other issues

CM said that 1 lakh govt positions are vacant. But neither is there any notification nor recruitment to fill the vacant positions.

The farmers were promised fair price both by Telangana CM and the PM. They would give lakhs of crores of rupees to big industrialists, but nothing to the farmers, Rahul alleged.

Also Read | Independence Day 2018 Delhi Traffic advisory

The Congress president urged the youth of Telangana to join the Congress party and assured to fulfill their dreams.

The youth of Telangana cant see a bright future. They need jobs and the Congress party can help you by creating jobs. I invite the youth of Telangana to join the Congress party. Together we can fulfill your dreams. If Congress party comes to power, the voices of the people of Telangana will be heard, Rahul added.

Rahul alleged that the contract for Rafale jets was taken away from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and had been given to friends of PM Modi, adding Anil Ambanis company which got the Rafale contract was formed only 10 days before the signing of the contract.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
London:

South Asian countries including India have fared poorly in a ranking of the worlds most liveable cities topped by Austrian capital Vienna, with New Delhi figuring at 112th and Mumbai 117th position in a list of 140 cities.

Pakistans financial capital Karachi and Bangladeshs capital Dhaka are among the worlds least liveable cities in the annual Global Liveability Index released by The Economist.

War-ravaged Syrias capital Damascus is on the bottom of the list which comprises 140 cities globally.

Also Read | Pakistan Independence Day: Imran Khan calls for 'New Pakistan'

The top 10 cities are Vienna, Melbourne, Osaka, Calgary, Sydney, Vancouver, Tokyo, Toronto, Copenhagen and Adelaide respectively, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report.

It is the first time that a European city has topped the rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) annual survey.

Survey editor Roxana Slavcheva said that security has improved in several western European cities and Viennas top place reflects a relative return to stability across much of Europe.

Also Read | MHA issues advisory against use of plastic National Flags

South Asian cities rank low in @TheEIU #Liveability index. Of the 6 we cover New Delhi top (112th) then Mumbai next at 117th, Chief Economist and Asia Managing Director at EUI Simon Baptist said.

The list ranks 140 cities on a range of factors, including political and social stability, crime, education and access to healthcare.

The 10 least liveable cities are Senegals Dakar on 131, Algerias Algiers 132, Cameroons Douala 133, Libyas Tripoli 134, Zimbabwes Harare 135, Papua New Guineas Port Moresby 136, Karachi, 137, Nigerias Lagos 138, Dhaka 139 and Damascus is on 140, the report said.

The EIU said that crime, civil unrest, terrorism or war played a strong role in the ten-lowest scoring cities.

Also Read | Happy Independence Day 2018: WhatsApp messages, wishes and Quotes

The liveability index quantifies the challenges that might be presented to an individuals lifestyle in 140 cities worldwide, and assesses which locations provide the best living conditions, the EIU said.

The survey rates cities worldwide based on 30 qualitative and quantitative criteria, which fall into five general categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

The EIU, the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, describes itself as the world leader in global business intelligence.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The Cabinet chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier yesterday lauded the great services and huge facilities provided by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to enable pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals easily and comfortably.

The session wished all pilgrims a great pilgrimage. HRH the Premier extended deepest congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH the Crown Prince, the Bahraini people and Muslims all over the world on Eid Al Adha, wishing all of them many happy returns of the auspicious occasion.

HRH the Prime Minister saluted Bahraini youth, marking the International Youth Day 2018, themed Safe Spaces for Youth, lauding the key role they are playing in the kingdoms development progress.

The Premier underlined the governments unwavering keenness to support Bahrain youths effective involvement in the decision-making process, and interest in providing safe spaces for them to develop their skills and capabilities through programmes and initiatives in its action plan.

HRH Premier gave directives to relocate the current scrap area in Mazraa to another site to ensure its security and administrative organisation, prevent violations and irregularities and pave the way for supervision over it.
Sometimes the worlds media resembles a giant echo chamber. A high proportion of the liberal media is consumed by endless criticism of President Donald Trumps divisive policies  often justifiably. So with Trump reimposing sanctions on Tehran, this vast media machine has steamrolled ahead, thoughtlessly denouncing Trumps tough position against Iran. We are treated to TV debate shows without any debate: Participants simply take turns repetitively and tediously arguing that the nuclear deal seemed to be working fine, and Trumps approach will only undermine Irans moderates.

Meanwhile  instead of working with America to create a workable successor deal  Europe is vigorously trying to appease Tehran and subvert US efforts, dreaming up a bizarre framework for conferring anti-sanctions protection for Western firms who have mostly been smart enough to interpret the wind direction and exit the Iranian economy as fast as possible.

The fundamental problem is what the nuclear deal didnt cover: Namely, the ballistic programme, the long-term future of Irans nuclear programme, and the unleashing of paramilitary hordes across the region to sabotage the governing systems of Middle Eastern states. Why is the latter point consistently ignored by the Western media?

Irans paramilitary proxies strategy is arguably an outgrowth of Western pressure on the nuclear program. During the 1980s, revolutionary Iran bankrolled paramilitary forces almost literally everywhere: Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, etc. However, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis death, it was the pragmatists  Ali Khamenei and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani  who curtailed this activity, allowing Iran to rebuild after the catastrophic war with Iraq.

We now know that Supreme Leader Khamenei, the pragmatist, spent the 1990s quietly pursuing breakout nuclear capacity so Tehran could menace its enemies  America, Israel, Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council states  with nuclear holocaust. When this program was discovered in 2003, Khamenei was forced to shelve his frenzied ambitions for nuclear apocalypse. So, in order to retain his warmongering abilities, Khamenei dusted off Khomeinis revolutionary blueprint for a transnational proxy army of brainwashed militants based on the hugely successful model of Hezbollah, which today outguns the Lebanese state itself.

Within a couple of years, Khameneis lieutenant, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, had armed and trained Iraqi Shiite militants for staging thousands of attacks against American, British and Iraqi forces, causing hundreds of fatalities. Then came the Syrian uprising, where around 60,000 proxies have retained Bashar Assad in power as an Iranian puppet. Iran, likewise, armed various parties in Afghanistan, while cashing in on the lucrative opium trade. In Yemen, Houthi terrorists rain down Iranian missiles upon Saudi Arabia and menace the globally crucial Bab Al Mandab Strait. Iran, meanwhile, has sought to exacerbate religious and political tensions throughout the Middle East and North Africa, while its arms smuggling networks penetrated deep into the African continent.

Sanctions are necessary. Yet, despite the accumulation of international sanctions after 2005, Irans paramilitary spending similarly mushroomed; partly because the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps filled its coffers through monopolizing sanctions-evading networks in oil, heavy arms, narcotics and basic goods. The IRGC reinforced its stranglehold on the economy while ordinary Iranians suffered.

During the 1980s, the Western media portrayed Khomeini as a deranged, bloodthirsty demagogue, while Khamenei was widely viewed as a pragmatic voice of reason. Today we have Hassan Rouhani and Mohammed Javad Zarif providing the reformist facade. Yet, from the earliest days of the revolution, Rouhani, alongside Khamenei, was a quintessential regime insider. Instead of meeting America halfway, Rouhani is today escalating his anti-Western rhetoric and winning plaudits from Soleimani and Khamenei.

What would be the point of negotiating with Rouhani, when the so-called president isnt sufficiently senior to be properly briefed about Khamenei and Soleimanis bellicose regional strategy? The presidency is a smiling facade for a repressive and hated terrorist regime. Lets not kid ourselves.

By trying to honor a deal that is already dead, Europe is undermining any hope of a holistic and enforceable containment program against Iran. Meanwhile, China, Russia and India will happily circumvent American efforts and provide Irans economy with back-door funds.

Yet Trump himself lacks a coherent Iran containment strategy. I doubt he clearly understands who the Hezbollah Brigades, Asaib Ahl Al Haq and the Houthis are, despite these factions threatening to attack American assets. Nevertheless, some officials driving Trumps policies comprehend Iranian meddling all too well. Defence Secretary James Mattis was on the ground in Iraq when US troops were being slaughtered by Iranian munitions. Mattis spent the past decade having his stark warnings of Iranian aggression being completely ignored by the Obama administration.

Sanctions ratchet up the pressure, but they are a blunt instrument that often produce perverse results  not least enriching the IRGC and paramilitary factions. If Trump has the stomach for confronting this militia menace, he must stop hinting about quitting Syria and block their further expansion, while working with allies to ensure that militants cannot dominate Iraqs forthcoming government. He must assist the GCC coalition in halting Irans pipeline of heavy munitions to the Houthis. Trump likes quick, easy wins  but there is no cheap win against Iran. Tehran is patient, tenacious and single-minded in building up its war-making assets across the region, until one day we wake up and it is the sole dominant force on the field.

Instead of castigating Trump for being mean to nice Mr Rouhani, the worlds media must take a hard look at what Iran is actually doing  and then criticize Trump for not going far enough in devising an all-encompassing strategy to stop Tehran in its tracks. Only this can prevent the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean from becoming Iranian zones of control, from which Iran can menace the global economy  with equally catastrophic consequences to the ayatollahs having been allowed to possess a nuclear bomb in the first place.

(Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East and the UK.)
A 30-year-old man suspected of theft, forcible intercourse and other charges escaped from a detention house of a police station in Tondabayashi in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Sunday.

Junya Hida, unemployed, had been locked up at the Tondabayashi police station since June 15 after being arrested four times by the police. He is also suspected to have been involved in an arson case in which a police vehicle and other objects of another police station were set on fire.

Hida is believed to have escaped from a visiting room of the detention facility on the police station's second floor by breaking an acrylic plate that divided the detainee and the visitor, informed sources said.

The Osaka prefectural police released a mug shot of Hida to put him on a nationwide wanted list, while 3,000 officers have been deployed in the search for his whereabouts on suspicion of aggravated escape.

According to the Tondabayashi police station, Hida met with his attorney in the visiting room from around 7:30 p.m. Sunday (10:30 a.m. GMT). The police found that Hida had disappeared when an officer checked the room at around 9:45 p.m.

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Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote Holdings Co Ltd said it would be interested in buying Seiyu if Walmart Inc puts the Japanese supermarket chain up for sale, as it expands its presence in the domestic market.

This comes after business daily Nikkei reported last month that the U.S. retail giant would offload its Japanese unit.

"If it came up for sale we would be interested and it is attractive," Don Quijote Chief Executive Koji Ohara told a news briefing on Monday.

Walmart has struggled to replicate the success of its low-price model with Seiyu, which has more than 300 stores, and a sale would mark its latest exit from a low-growth market to shake up its overseas business and invest in places like China and India.

A Walmart spokesperson, however, said the retailer has not decided to sell Seiyu, is not in talks with prospective buyers and is continuing to develop the business, reiterating what the company had said after the Nikkei report.

Last week, Don Quijote reported its 29th straight year of sales and profit growth. The chain is targeting 500 stores in Japan by 2020 from 420 currently but has struggled to find sites in some areas.
SoftBank Group Corp. is in talks to invest from $500 million to $750 million in Zume Inc., a startup that makes and delivers fresh pizzas with the help of robots, according to people familiar with the conversations.

Zume owns a patent for delivery trucks capable of cooking food while en route to customers. The startupas proprietary trucks are loaded in part by robots, and have ovens that fire up on demand via a remote cloud signal. The technology allows Zume to operate legally despite some laws preventing food truck companies from preparing food while a delivery vehicle is in motion.

In addition to delivering pizza, Zume creates technology to manage perishable supply chain logistics and sees an opportunity to partner with companies that wish to provide freshly cooked menu items to customers.

The investment shows SoftBankas Vision Fundas broader ambitions to attach itself to the food delivery business, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Earlier this year SoftBank led a $535 million funding round into meal-delivery app DoorDash. SoftBank also owns a 15 percent stake in Uber, which says its last-mile meal delivery business, Uber Eats, is growing quickly. In February, Uberas chief executive officer, Dara Khosrowshahi said food delivery already represented about 10 percent of Uberas business.

Right now, Zumeas pizza delivery business is only operating three trucks from its headquarters in Mountain View, California, but the small startup has ambitions to partner with food couriers such as Uber Eats and DoorDash.
About 150 police and firefighters in Yamaguchi Prefecture resumed their search on Oshima island Monday for a two-year-old boy who went missing after his grandfather sent him home alone from a beach excursion on Sunday.

According to police, the child, Yoshiki Fujimoto, who turned two on Monday, lives in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture. He was visiting his great-grandparents' home with his extended family for the weekend, Fuji TV reported. On Sunday at around 10:30 a.m., he went with his 3-year-old brother and his 66-year-old grandfather to play at some sand dunes 400 meters away.

However, the grandfather told police that Yoshiki started complaining about the heat and wanted to go back home. His grandfather let him head back home alone while he continued on to the sand dunes with Yoshikias brother.

When Yoshiki failed to return home, which was about 100 meters away from where he turned back, his parents looked for him and then contacted police at around 11:30 a.m.

When last seen, Yoshiki was wearing a long-sleeved red and white shirt, green shorts and green sandals. He is 86 cms tall
#Roh Tae-woo S. Korea to bid farewell to late former President Roh South Korea was set to bid farewell to late former President Roh Tae-woo on Saturday, marking the end of a five-day state funeral for a leader who drew both criticism and praise fo...
The 2018 Electoral Bill passed by the National Assembly on July 24 and forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, is alive and awaiting assent.The National Assembly forwarded it to President Buhari on Aug 3.Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang, gave the clarification against the backdrop of report published by a national daily that Buhari had again vetoed the 2018 electoral bill forwarded to him for assent.Enang said the vetoed bill was the one sent to the President on June 27 and not the one passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on July 24, the day it embarked on it annual recess.Enang said the vetoed bill was the one with contentious provisions and infractions on provisions of the 1999 Constitution.The reported vetoed bill was the one passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to the President for assent on June 27 2018, duration of which, in line with constitutional provisions, expires on July 26, 2018 , warranting the said veto .Yes , an electoral bill was vetoed or refused assent by the President but not the last version of the 2018 electoral bill transmitted to the President for assent on Aug. 3 that has just spent 11 days on his table and still having 19 days more for possible consideration and assent, he said.NAN reports that aside the vetoed version of the 2018 electoral bill forwarded to the President on June 27 and vetoed on July 26 in line with the 30 days constitutional life line for such bill, the President had earlier in the year, rejected the first of the 2010 Electoral Act ( Amendment ) Bill 2018 forwarded to it in February for assent.President Buhari had in vetoing the earlier one in February, cited three reasons for doing so, one of which was the new sequence of elections included in the bill through section 25(1).The President in his rejection, said the inserted section in the Electoral Act violated the provisions of Section 72 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to fix dates of elections and see to its conduct in all ramifications.Following the non assent, both chambers of the National Assembly reviewed the bill, deleted all controversial provisions kicked against by the President and resent it for assent.Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal on Aug 1, nullified the April 25 judgment of the Federal High Court, which struck out the National Assemblys election re-ordering provision of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018.A five-member panel of the court headed by its President, Zainab Bulkachuwa, ruled that a bill could not be challenged in court until it become an Act.Meanwhile, the national assembly had removed the controversial section prior to the Court of Appeal ruling and resent the revised edition of the bill to President Buhari for assent.
An Ikeja High Court has dismissed the murder charge filed against Mr Moshood Salvador, the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the PDP.Salvador was remanded in the Kirikiri Prisons following his arraignment at a Yaba Chief Magistrates Court alongside 10 others on two counts of conspiracy and unlawful killing on July 25.During Tuesdays proceedings, the vacation judge, Justice Obafemi Adamson dismissed charge after entertaining submissions from counsels in a counter suit challenging the charge filed by Salvador against the state.Justice Adamson in the ruling said that in view of the advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution which exonerated the PDP Chairman from the murder charge, Salvador should be released from the Kirikiri Prison.Earlier, Mr Olaitan Soetan, an Assistant Director from the DPP had informed the court that there was a new development regarding Salvadors prayers in the counter suit.Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, Salvadors defence counsel also told the court: the matter has been overtaken by circumstances.He urged the court to still grant all prayers sought.Salvador and the 10 other defendants were charged over the alleged murder of Mr Adeniyi Aborishade, the PDP Chairman of the Apapa Local Government Area.Aborishade was allegedly murdered on July 21, during the PDPs visitation meeting that held at Igbosuku Village, Eti-Osa LGA.The offences contravene Sections 223 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said the silence by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged dis...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said the silence by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged discovery of thousands of its Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at the private residence of President Muhammadu Buharis kinsman, the sacked Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, has indicted the commission.





PDP said INECs silence placed a huge doubt over its integrity and capacity to conduct a free and fair election.





In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party charged the National Assembly to immediately commence an investigation into the veracity of this allegation.





PDP noted that since the news of the sordid discovery broke, neither the INEC Chairman nor any other officer of the commission had offered any explanation to Nigerians, a development that suggests the commissions complicity in the allegation.





The party said Prof. Mahmood should stop playing the ostrich and immediately come out clear and inform Nigerians how thousands of electoral materials as sensitive as PVCs, under his watch, found its way to the custody of a kinsman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant.





Already, Nigerians are aware that a blood relation of President Buhari is in charge of operations in INEC.





On account of this established relationship between President Buhari and this INEC official, Mahmood owes Nigerians explanation as to the source of the PVCs allegedly found in possession of Daura.





Nigerians and the international community can now see how INEC, under Prof. Yakubu Mahmood has completely compromised the integrity of our electoral process, including frustrating genuine voters from accessing their voters cards, which the public now knows are being warehoused in homes of APC chieftains with the view to using them to allocate fake election results for President Buhari.





The party urged Nigerians to hold Prof. Mahmood directly responsible for this ignoble development, particularly, given that his INEC has been indicted of other various infractions tailored to undermine free and fair elections in 2019, including secretly creating of illegal 30,000 pulling units in remote areas through which they plan to fabricate figures and declare fake results in favour President Buhari.





This is in addition to the refusal of INEC under Prof. Mahmood to clean up its register and remove the host of underage voters which it used to rig elections for the APC in President Buharis home state of Katsina last weekend.





Nigerian are aware that INEC refused to involve other stakeholders in its investigation of the presence of underage voters in its register, and had also refused to make its findings public, following documented facts supporting the existence of minors in its register, particularly in Katsina, Kano and Kaduna states.





The opposition charged the public to note the efforts by INEC to conceal these manipulations of our electoral process in the run-up to a major general election and hold Prof. Mahmood responsible for them all.




The police say a suspected kidnapper who was arrested in a botched kidnap in Owo, Ondo state, has died following complications from a hig...

The police say a suspected kidnapper who was arrested in a botched kidnap in Owo, Ondo state, has died following complications from a high intake of tramadol.





According to NAN, Femi Joseph, spokesman of the state police command, disclosed this in Akure on Tuesday.





Joseph said the suspect died at Owo General Hospital where medical personnel had battled to revive him.





The suspect was said to have been unconscious since his arrest on August 5.





The suspect died nine days after we arrested him; we thought he would be revived so that he could help us in our investigation, he said.





Unfortunately, he died yesterday (Monday). This could be connected with the high intake of tramadol which he took.





We are using this opportunity to further educate the public, especially parents, to monitor their wards and the kind of company they keep.





The suspect and his gang had allegedly invaded Chinery Pharmacy in Owo with the intention of kidnapping the pharmacist.





The pharmacist, on sighting them with arms, was said to have escaped through an exit door at the back of the chemist.





The suspects reportedly snatched a Bajaj motorcycle from one Daodu Wale who came to the chemist to buy drugs.





While one of the suspects fell and was arrested, two accomplices escaped on the motorcycle.




In a bid to reduce unemployment level in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday promised two million (2m) Nigerians collateral-free loans to start up a business.Recall that one of the campaign promises of Buhari in 2015 was to reduce unemployment and increase employment opportunities among the teeming youths.In order to fulfil his promise and reduce the security challenges the country is facing, Mr. President through a statement disclosed by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the acting on Media and Publicity, promised free loans to two million Nigerians.Read the full statement below:In a determined and significant bid to further enlarge its financial inclusion agenda for all Nigerians regardless of social class and economic status, the Buhari administration has launched a new initiative under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), called the Trader Moni, which will empower two million petty traders between now and the end of the year.The scheme which was launched last week in Lagos would grant a minimum of 30,000 loans in each State of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.All together the 2 million mark is expected to be attained on or before the end of this year, with petty traders in Lagos, Kano and Abia States set to be the first round of beneficiaries to draw the collateral free loans.In addition to the 30,000 loans per State, States with larger populations like Lagos and Kano are expected to get more than 30,000 loans. Across the country, especially in the pilot states about 500,000 potential beneficiaries have so far been enumerated.In order to identify the beneficiaries, no less than 4000 enumeration agents have been engaged by the Bank of Industry which is deploying the new scheme.Trader Moni is designed to help petty traders expand their trade through the provision of collateral free loans of N10,000. The loans are repayable within a period of six months.Under the scheme, beneficiaries can get access to a higher facility ranging from N15,000 to N50,000 when they repay N10,000 within the stipulated time period.The goal of the Buhari Administration is to use the Trader Moni to take financial inclusion down to the grassroots, the bottom of the ladder, considering the contribution of petty traders to economic development. The Federal Government is also aware of the fact that many of the petty traders dont have what the commercial banks require to grant loans.This administration is keen to ensure that such traders at that level are able to build their businesses and grow.Trader Moni was launched last Tuesday in five markets in Lagos State with tens of thousands beneficiaries already.The Lagos markets already reached are Mushin, Ikotun, Agege, Ketu, and Abule Egba markets.The scheme will soon be taken to other states in the country, with Abia and Kano states next in line.Beneficiaries are already heaping praise on the Buhari administration for this initiative that will improve their businesses.A trader in one of the Lagos markets, Anna Enwerem thanked President Buhari for the initiatives. I sell clothes. This N10,000 would do a lot for me and my children. I like this programme so much. I will pay the loan before six months time. Before I didnt believe it, but now that I have received my money I believe.Similarly, Chief Mrs Mufiat Adewumi, a market women leader in Lagos said it will help ordinary Nigerians who cannot have access to commercial banks credit facilities because they dont have collateral, We are happy about the Trader Moni because this is what we have been expecting for long, that the Government should assist the masses, especially the traders. We thank the Federal Government so much.
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have just explained why the National Assembly cannot reconvene now.They stated that as a prelude to resumption, the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission would have held a meeting.Following this, the joint committees were also expected to meet with the joint Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Loans and Debts on the Eurobond loan request after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers.They added that none of these meetings had been held, implying that if lawmakers had reconvened, there would have been no report for them to consider.Until the committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, a statement joint signed by the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, and the Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs) to Speaker, Mr Turaki Hassan, said.
Hundreds of area residents joined hands along the riverfront at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Sunday in solidarity with like-minded peaceful protestors throughout Southwest Florida, decrying the condition of gulf and inland waters.

They were among the thousands of Hands Along the Water participants up and down both coastlines of Florida at at least 30 beaches, many affected by algal blooms and severe fish kills.

Dominique Kuzer, organizer at the Cape Coral event, said the idea was to come together in unity, leaving politics aside.

We want to give our voice to the water that it doesnt have. It started on a Facebook post. Me and another woman jumped on it and I created it in Cape Coral, Kuzer said. It just spread like wildfire.

Kuzer and many others have said they have never see water quality this bad.

In the Calooshatchee and canals in Cape Coral, Pine Island and North Fort Myers, nutrient-heavy, algae-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee have resulted in shore-to-shore pea-green blooms of toxic fish-killing cyanobacteria. The blue-green algae is also befouling the east coast of Florida along and around the St. Lucie River, which experienced a similar devastating bloom in 2016.

Meanwhile, along Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and other beach-front communities from Naples to Tampa Bay, there is on-shore outbreak of toxin-producing Karenia brevis, the organism that makes up red tide.

Both algae blooms are killing fish by the hundreds of thousands as well as sea turtles, porpoises and manatees.

At the Yacht Club this weekend, there were continuing remnants of the conditions, with some dead fish lying on the algae-speckled beach that has been closed to swimming.

Kathy Pecora moved here three years ago to live in paradise.

This, she said, is anything but.

Ive seen such a change in the last three years I dont even want to go near the water. Its really sad, Pecora said. I picked this city because it was supposedly one of the best places to move to. I want the water cleaned up for my generation and others to come.

Shan Davis said they live along a canal, and have been a little luckier than others where the algae is packed in. Still, the stink pretty much keeps them indoors.

It smells like cow manure. It doesnt seem to be getting the importance it should have. The problem is that I dont know if the rest of Florida gets it, Davis said. My biggest worry is that people will forget about it.

Susan Brown and Cindy Rooney, members of the Cape Coral New Residents Club, echoed what many have said for the past few months: It has never been this bad, with dead manatees and fish.

You cant even get into the water because youre going to get sick. Susan has given us the contact information on our congressmen, Brown said. Weve e-mailed Marco Rubio and were heard back from some of them.

What we need to do is clean up Lake Okeechobee and change the laws. The governor took away laws designed to protect the environment and the power we had to protect the environment, Rooney said. Its a multi-faceted situation. Lets get the regulations back in place.

Cindys husband, Mike, said he hasnt had his boat in the water all year because of seawall repairs needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma and now the algae.

After the seawall was done, its not worth putting it out in the water. I cant fish or enjoy the water unless I want to drive 20 miles out into the gulf, Rooney said. Even then I have to smell it.

Sundays event took less than a half-hour. Kuzer had everyone line up on the water at 10 a.m. At 10:14, everyone pointed to the water in honor of the marine life before joining hand for about 15 minutes.

During the event people chanted We want change, and Clean it up.

Many wore surgical masks and a handful were in costume.

Linda France, a 25-year resident, was there to lend her support and said the grass roots effort was amazing.

We gathered to speak for the fish and the residents. Were tired of getting kicked in the can so we decided to make a difference, France said. Its never been this bad and thats why I got involved. We need to clean Lake O and send the water south. I think the local and county government is doing good, but the state and federal have dropped the ball.

Hundreds join Hands Along the Water By Staff | Aug 13, 2018



Hundreds of area residents joined hands along the riverfront at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Sunday in solidarity with like-minded peaceful protestors throughout Southwest Florida, decrying the condition of gulf and inland waters. They were among the thousands of Hands Along the Water participants up and down both coastlines of Florida at at least 30 beaches, many affected by algal blooms and severe fish kills. Dominique Kuzer, organizer at the Cape Coral event, said the idea was to come together in unity, leaving politics aside. We want to give our voice to the water that it doesnt have. It started on a Facebook post. Me and another woman jumped on it and I created it in Cape Coral, Kuzer said. It just spread like wildfire. Kuzer and many others have said they have never seen water quality this bad. In the Calooshatchee and canals in Cape Coral, Pine Island and North Fort Myers, nutrient-heavy, algae-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee have resulted in shore-to-shore pea-green blooms of toxic fish-killing cyanobacteria. The blue-green algae is also befouling the east coast of Florida along and around the St. Lucie River, which experienced a similar devastating bloom in 2016. Meanwhile, along Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and other beach-front communities from Naples to Tampa Bay, there is on-shore outbreak of toxin-producing Karenia brevis, the organism that makes up red tide. Both algae blooms are killing fish by the hundreds of thousands as well as sea turtles, porpoises and manatees. At the Yacht Club this weekend, there were continuing remnants of the conditions, with some dead fish lying on the algae-speckled beach that has been closed to swimming. Kathy Pecora moved here three years ago to live in paradise. This, she said, is anything but. Ive seen such a change in the last three years I dont even want to go near the water. Its really sad, Pecora said. I picked this city because it was supposedly one of the best places to move to. I want the water cleaned up for my generation and others to come. Shan Davis said they live along a canal, and have been a little luckier than others where the algae is packed in. Still, the stink pretty much keeps them indoors. It smells like cow manure. It doesnt seem to be getting the importance it should have. The problem is that I dont know if the rest of Florida gets it, Davis said. My biggest worry is that people will forget about it. Susan Brown and Cindy Rooney, members of the Cape Coral New Residents Club, echoed what many have said for the past few months: It has never been this bad, with dead manatees and fish. You cant even get into the water because youre going to get sick. Susan has given us the contact information on our congressmen, Brown said. Weve e-mailed Marco Rubio and were heard back from some of them. What we need to do is clean up Lake Okeechobee and change the laws. The governor took away laws designed to protect the environment and the power we had to protect the environment, Rooney said. Its a multi-faceted situation. Lets get the regulations back in place. Cindys husband, Mike, said he hasnt had his boat in the water all year because of seawall repairs needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma and now the algae. After the seawall was done, its not worth putting it out in the water. I cant fish or enjoy the water unless I want to drive 20 miles out into the gulf, Rooney said. Even then I have to smell it. Sundays event took less than a half-hour. Kuzer had everyone line up on the water at 10 a.m. At 10:14, everyone pointed to the water in honor of the marine life before joining hand for about 15 minutes. During the event people chanted We want change, and Clean it up. Many wore surgical masks and a handful were in costume. Linda France, a 25-year resident, was there to lend her support and said the grass roots effort was amazing. We gathered to speak for the fish and the residents. Were tired of getting kicked in the can so we decided to make a difference, France said. Its never been this bad and thats why I got involved. We need to clean Lake O and send the water south. I think the local and county government is doing good, but the state and federal have dropped the ball. News from around the region Lee Health lifts visitation restrictions Consumer alert: Beware of vaccine status license scam Golisano Childrens Hospital Announces dates for Mobile Pediatric Vaccination Clinic






Stablemates impress while star heads to Taupo

Murray Baker couldnt be happier with the performances of Zacada and Jon Snow at Mondays Te Teko trials, but has put a public hit-out for stable star Bonneval on hold until next week.

Bonnevals countdown to another Australian campaign was planned to commence with a trial at Avondale on Tuesday, and the multiple Group One winner was on track for the appearance, until the wet weather upset the apple-cart.

Group One winner Jon Snow trialled well at Te Teko on Monday Photo: Darryl Sherer

Weve decided to wait and run her in one of those open trials before the first race at Taupo next week, Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, said.

With a heavy11 track to start with at Avondale and thats without any more rain, we wouldnt have got a real line on her.

Shes coming along well and has been working with Jon Snow and he trialled well at Te Teko.

Bonneval has been off the scene since last February and provided she acquits herself well in next Wednesdays Taupo trial she will continue along a path aimed at major weight-for-age events in Melbourne.

Jon Snow and Zacada are also being prepared for the Melbourne Spring Carnival with the Gr.1 A$7.3 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 6 on the horizon and both shaped very well at Mondays trials.

Jon Snow, ridden by Matt Cameron, led in his 1030m trial and was taken on near the turn then stuck to the inside and kicked on strongly. He went to the finish with his ears pricked and was nabbed on the line by Te Akau Shark.

It was his first decent hit-out since the Caulfield Cup, Baker said. He didnt see the other horse coming and could have won the trial.

Hes a big, powerful horse and is coming up really well.

Jon Snow has won three times on his two trips to Australia. He landed the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m) in Sydney as an autumn three-year-old and won the Gr.3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley last September before finishing third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

Hell either kick off at Hastings (September 1) or go to Melbourne for the Memsie Stakes (1400m) the same day at Caulfield.

We really need a bit of rain in Melbourne for him. Caulfield and Flemington are such good-draining tracks now.

Were keeping our options open and the beauty with him is we can throw him on a plane at the last minute and not worry about him. We know he travels well.

Though the Melbourne Cup is on Jon Snows radar, Baker believes the son of Iffraaj could be better suited to the 2400m of the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup.

Zacada, on the other hand, is proven at 3200m and the Melbourne Cup is the ultimate mission for the Zabeel six-year-old.

He finished fourth in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and went down by a nose last start when beaten by Who Shot Thebarman in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

Like Jon Snow, Zacada was making his first public appearance since an Australian campaign when he trialled at Te Teko and he passed the test with flying colours.

After being last on settling, Zacada looped the field and finished strongly to score by a length and a quarter from Big Mike.

That was a top trial, Baker said. He showed a bit of dash and he can go to Hawkes Bay for the open mile on the first day.

Well then look to get him to Melbourne. We know he can stay and hes tough.

The Baker and Forsman juggernaut rolled-on at the trials at Avondale on Tuesday, with a number of quality gallopers pleasing.

Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) winner Saint Emilion defeated Group Three-winning stablemate Highlad in a 1200m heat. Meanwhile, talented four-year-old Mongolian Marshal won his 1000m heat in solid fashion, and three-year-old filly Rubira caught the eye when closing for third in her heat over 1000m.  NZ Racing Desk
A video of a deformed-looking male goat has been doing the round online for over a month, with many referring to the animal as a goat monster. It turns out hes actually just a Damascus Goat.

Its true that the male in this viral video has some exaggerated facial features  disproportionately giant head, freakishly long neck, vaulted skull and weird underbite  but to be fair, the whole of the Damascus breed of goat looks like it should only exist in sci-fi or horror films. Not saying we should judge an animal by its looks alone  in fact Damascus goats are in many ways superior to most of the common-looking breeds  but theres no arguing the fact that these guys look like they ran face first into a wall at full speed.

Photo: video screengrab

Damascus goats have been bred in Syria and other Near East countries for millennia, but many of us Westerners only learned about their existence a few months ago, when an Egyptian man called Ahmed Ramadan posted a video of a bizarre looking male goat on Facebook. People were so freaked out about its appearance that they started sharing it and referring to the animal as a Goat Monster.

While the specimen in question was most likely the result of extreme animal breeding to emphasize some of the breeds physical traits, a simple Google search of Damascus goat reveals that most specimens have a very peculiar look about them. They have a blunt snout and raised nasal bridge, their ears look like cartilaginous tubes growing out of their skull and their eyes are located way up on the side of their head.



Interestingly, Damascus goats have a very normal looking snout when they are young, apparently to make it easier for them to suckle from their mothers, and only grow into their bizarre look over time. However, they are born with these extremely long ears, which are most often cut into shorter, tubular nubs.



Believe it or not, Damascus goats are valued by many for their looks, among other things. Like the Goat Monster in this viral video, some specimens are bred to sport these extreme facial features, which can apparently earn their owners more money. Believe it or not, a Damascus goat won the title of Most Beautiful Goat at the Mazayen al-Maaz competition in Riyadh, in 2008.

A post shared by Kamila (@kilagor666) on Nov 12, 2017 at 3:34am PST

As I said, there is more to Damascus goats than meets the eye. Although not as common as other more normal-looking breeds of goats, these animals are highly valued for the genetically superior quality of their milk, which apparently helps the young grow at a faster rate than other breeds, tasty meat and breeding prowess (2 to 4 kids per birth). Standing about 78 centimeters (31 inches) at the shoulder, Damascus goats are larger than most other goat breeds and yield more milk.



World News Australia once reported that the finest Damascus goats can sell for up to 250,000 Saudi Riyals ($ 67,000).



Sources: Lazer Horse, Newsweek
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In 2014 Apple's high profile "Glass Lantern" Store in Istanbul Turkey won a structural Award. Apple made a handsome investment in Turkey and entered that market in style. Now Turkey's President/dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would boycott American electronics in retaliation for US sanctions on his country. Speaking on Tuesday, the Turkish president vowed that the nation of 81m would no longer buy from Apple or other American technology producers.





The Financial Times report further noted that Mr Erdogan maintained that Turkey would not back down in its escalating row with the US despite the pain inflicted on the nation's currency, which has lost more than 40 per cent of its value since the start of the year.

Turkey is currently suffering from economic sanctions and raised trade tariffs imposed by the USA.

These sanctions were enforced as a push-back from Washington over Turkey's detention of an American evangelical pastor.

Just under 17% of all mobile devices in Turkey run on Apple's iOS software, so it's a hugely popular device in the country.

In any trade war with the U.S., countries are bound to hold Apple hostage. Perhaps President Trump's dinner with Tim Cook over the weekend was to discuss this development.

How Apple will react to a possible boycott over time is unknown at this time as it would be hypothetical. Perhaps the real test will be how Turkish Apple fans will react to Apple's new iPhones debuting next month. Stay tuned.

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German Economy Minister: US cannot tell us with whom we can do business

08/13/18

Source: Press TV

Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier says the United States is in no position to tell Berlin with which countries it can do business, vowing support for companies doing business with Iran.

Germany's economy minister has lashed out at US President @realDonaldTrump and criticized his global trade rows.@peteraltmaier also stressed in his interview with German paper @BILDamSONNTAG the importance of "lower tariffs, less protectionism and open markets". pic.twitter.com/TCb5xOWbg9  DW | Politics (@dw_politics) August 13, 2018

The German minister made the remarks in an interview with Bild am Sonntagnewspaper on Sunday, emphasizing that Berlin would not let the Washington dictate its trade rules on it.

He added that Washington's sanctions on Iran clearly showed America's neglect of its partners.

"We won't let Washington dictate us with whom we can do business and we therefore stick to the Vienna Nuclear Agreement," Altmaier said in reference to a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Under the deal, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear agreement in May, and said that he plans to reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose "the highest level" of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order re-imposing sanctions on Iran to levy "maximum economic pressure" on the Islamic Republic.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the German minister said his country should be more assertive and defy American sanctions particularly by investing more in Iran.

He emphasized that Germany and other European countries should feel free to pursue improved relations with Tehran.

"German businesses can continue to invest as much as they want in Iran," Altmaier was quoted as saying in a report that was also carried by the website of Russia Today, adding that the German government was looking for ways together with its European allies to ensure that financial transactions could still take place with Iran.

Altmaier's words came after US President Donald Trump ordered to restore a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iran's purchase of US dollars.

These restrictions, among other things, are aimed at damaging EU ties with Iran, which had flourished following the conclusion of the nuclear deal.

Last week, the EU responded to Washington's sanctions against Iran by calling on companies to disregard threats from the US.

Apart from the issue of Iran, the US and Europe are locked in a dispute over tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles.

With that in mind, the German minister said, the world now risks sliding into an all-out economic conflict, adding that "we are just a few yards from the edge," and "a global trade war would not know winners, only losers."

Politicians have no right to jeopardize hundreds of thousands of European jobs that depend on US-EU trade, he emphasized.

"We have learnt from the past that mostly customers are suffering from trade wars as goods and services are getting more expensive," Altmaier said, adding, "This trade war hampers economic growth and brings new uncertainties."
IRAN: Khamenei Blames President Rouhani For Economic Crisis, Forbids Negotiating With U.S.

08/14/18

Source: Radio Farda

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blamed the Islamic Republic's ongoing economic crisis on the Rouhani administration, and has forbidden negotiating with the United States, during a speech in Tehran on Monday August 13. In an unprecedented comment Khamenei said, "It was my mistake to allow negotiations with America," to forge the nuclear deal with the West, the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) quoted him as saying. However, he added that the Iranian negotiating team "crossed the redlines" he had "set for negotiations" with the West.



Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei



Khamenei added, "the Imam [Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini] forbade negotiations with America, and I forbid it once again."



Although he blamed the negotiating team, few believe that the nuclear talks lasting from 2013-2015 did not have Khamenei's approval at every turn.



At the same time he ruled out a military confrontation with the U.S. "Recently, American officials have been talking blatantly about Iran ... they are talking about war and negotiations ... They are exaggerating about possibility of a war with Iran. There will be no war ... We have never started a war and they will not confront Iran militarily," Khamenei retorted.



Elsewhere in his speech Khamenei described "the devaluation of the country's national currency as one of Iran's main problems," adding hat "the devaluation was caused by reasons originating inside the country."



This was also an unprecedented comment as so far Khamenei earlier was attributing all problems including the economic crisis and the social unrest it caused to foreign countries. This can be seen as a U-turn as Khamenei was in denial of Iran's economic crisis for several years.



Khamenei's sudden turnaround on major issues might be a sign of certain nervousness at the top of the Iranian hierarchy as renewed U.S. sanctions and internal dissent create a desperate situation for the leadership.



Meanwhile he expressed concern that the serious devaluation of the national currency makes life harder for low-income employees.



He admitted that sanctions were to blame "to some extent" but "the main reason for the sharp decline in the value of the Iranian currency (rial) was the government's performance. He further blamed "the lack of prudence and timely measures" by the government as the main reason for Iran's ongoing economic crisis.



Criticizing the mishandling of the foreign currency problem by the government, Khamenei said, "I am not saying this was an act of treason, but what happened marked serious mismanagement in policy-making and controlling the market."



During recent days every US dollar was exchanged for over 105000 rials. The rate of exchange more than tripled in seven months in the Iranian markets.



Khamenei's remarks on Monday are in line with other Iranian hardliners' verbal attacks on Rouhani. Conservative officials and other hardline political figures have recently blamed Rouhani's poor performance for the country's economic problems and demanded major changes in his cabinet.



The pressures have so far led to the impeachment and dismissal of Rouhani's labor minister, and the replacement of his Central Bank governor.



Although structural problems, mismanagement and widespread corruption played a major part in bringing the Iranian economy to the verge of collapse, Iran's economic situation dramatically worsened after the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran in May.



In recent months, economic crisis coupled with political dissent brought thousands of Iranians to the streets of Tehran and other cities where they chanted slogans against Khamenei and Rouhani and questioned the Islamic Republic's legitimacy.
Will Iran Benefit from Lack of Coordination in Trump Administration's Multiple Sanctions?

08/14/18

By Nader Habibi



"The Axis of Evil"

Source: Iranian magaine Mosalas

If assuring the success of the economic sanctions against Iran is one of Trump administration's top foreign policy priorities then there must be a good explanation for why it is simultaneously engaging in trade wars and imposing sanctions on some of Iran's major trade partners. Does U.S. expect Turkey, Russia and China to cooperate with U.S. sanctions and cut back their economic ties with Iran while they are themselves being punished by tariffs and economic sanctions for various reasons?

Russia is subject to multiple sanctions despite President Trump's attempts to reduce the current U.S.-Russia tensions. Some of these sanctions have been introduced by the U.S. Congress despite President Trump's opposition. With regard's to China and Turkey, however, the Trump Administration is directly responsible for the sanctions and tariffs against these countries. Yet the U.S. is demanding a cutback in these countries economic ties with Iran and threatening their private businesses that deal with Iran.

Last week Russia, China and Turkey announced that (independently that) they will not cut off their economic ties with Iran as demanded by the U.S. - at least not to the extend that Trump administration had asked them to. Now that the Trump administration has announced a new harsh tariff on Turkish metal exports, Turkey might be even less willing to contain its trade with Iran.

If these three countries continue to trade with Iran, the U.S. unilateral sanctions, which have already been rejected by several European governments, will become even less potent.

With respect to Turkey however, it is too early to predict how the current crisis will end and a number of diverging scenarios are likely. One possible scenario is that escalating tensions with the U.S. and nervousness of financial investors about the ability of Turkish government to service its large public debt can sharply increase the risk of a severe financial panic in the next few days. To avoid such a panic the Erdogan government might show an unprecedented effort to mend its tensions with the Trump administration. Under these circumstances, Turkey might find itself with no other alternative but to offer more cooperation with U.S. sanctions against Iran as a component of a broader settlement of U.S.-Turkey tensions. After all, averting a major economic crisis will be a higher priority for Turkey than maintaining economic relations with Iran at current levels.

An alternative scenario is that Turkey can manage to avoid a financial crisis without resolving its tensions with the U.S.. In this case the anti-American sentiments in Turkish government and some segments of Turkish society will grow even stronger. The Turkish government will then become even more defiant in ignoring U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Under this scenario, the U.S. economic pressures on Turkey will make it even more crucial for that country to expand its economic relations with Iran and Russia. The U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel products will cost Turkey nearly a billion dollars in export revenues and thousands of jobs. President Erdogan will have no reason to refrain from expanding Turkey's economic relations with Iran, which will welcome any opportunity for better economic ties with Turkey.

********

Yet, ironically, it might be premature to assume that refusal of so many of Iran's economic partners to join the U.S. sanctions will be a victory for Iran. These reactions are clearly a setback for the Trump administration but they do not mean an end to the U.S. efforts to confront and contain Iran in the Middle East. Economic sanctions were the least costly mechanism for the Trump administration but if they prove ineffective to alter Iran's foreign policy, the U.S. government might resort to other measures. These might include covert destabilization programs and selective military confrontations. Such policies will have an adverse effect on Iran's economic and political stability. They will also increase the risk of military escalation between Iran and the U.S and its regional allies.



About the author:

Nader Habibi is a faculty in Brandeis University. He is affiliated with the Crown Center for Middle East Studies and the department of economics in that university.


Proprietress of Imperial College of Arts (ICA), Nana Menyin Kwofie has poured cold water on wild assertion that technical and vocational education is for drop outs.



To her, countries that focuses on vocational skills are making strides by way of development and have improved the lives of its people.



As a result, she has appealed to government passionately to intensity its support for technical and vocational education in the country.



And using ICA where the focus has been on preparing students for both WASSE, technical, vocational as a classical example, she said the students have embraced the concept and stand the greater chance of entering universities and tertiary institutions to further their vocational programs than students with only core subjects.



She pointed out that the schools new vision which focuses on other significant courses and programs to ensure holistic knowledge and skills include beauty therapy, fashion design, graphic design, textile design and food and nutrition.



Started with just six students, the Kwabenya-based educational institution boats of about 40 students with ten dedicated tutors.



It currently has a boarding facility for its female students and are on the verge to secure National Accreditation Board backing, having received Ghana Education Service (GES) authorization.



Speaking at the schools Open Day in Accra on Saturday, she said Government is doing its part in the educational sector, but we want more attention to be accorded technical and vocational institutions."



It is high time we train students who come out of school and are able to put into practice what they learnt.



That is exactly what we do here, it is not true that Institutions like this are for drop outs, as we speak, some of our students have signed contracts to sew uniforms for some schools in the municipality, while others are also into bead making on contract basis for money, he said.



Special Guest of Honour for the occasion, Kojo Ampah Sahara, NPP Central Regional Financial Secretary lauded management of the school for the path it has chosen.



He said Nana Addo is doing well by giving technical and vocational education attention, that is the way to go and that is the path countries like Malaysia and Singapore have chosen and are doing so well at all fronts."



The appointment of Barbara Ayisi as Deputy Education Minister attests to how far the president want to take our education to; seminars, laboratories currently in our technical and educational institutions is an indication that Ghana has a future.



Rubbishing the assertion that technical and vocational institutions are for drop outs, he urged parents to encourage wards with vocational skills to encourage them (Wards).



The event was crowned with a grand fashion exhibition show of various works put together by the student which the gathering admired.



It was Dr George KS Arkofu, who chaired the event and indicated that bookish knowledge is no longer relevant, rather applying what one studies after school determines how well a student does in life.

Source: Kofi Aduonum









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Founder and General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Dr Mensa Otabil, has been explaining his managerial role in the now defunct Capital Bank.



The renowned man of God has been hounded by some since news went viral about how the top hierarchy of the Bank, inappropriately disbursed funds from the Bank of Ghana (BoG).



According to a report released last week by the BoG, Capital Bank misapplied 620 million cedis Liquidity Support it (BoG) extended to the then distressed financial institution.



The amount was meant to help the struggling bank stay viable.



But the managers, in what the Central Bank calls deceit, allegedly diverted the money into some other ventures.



In a statement issued early Tuesday, over his role in the collapse of Capital Bank as Board Chairman, Pastor Otabil explained that his "position was a non-executive role", but pointed out that "some decisions made turned out well while some did not turn out as well as had been anticipated."



"As far as I can tell, everything was done with the best of intentions and the interest of various stakeholders in mind," he added.





The full statement is published below.



Re: Capital Bank And Related Matters



Greetings!



1. I have observed with concern, the ongoing media discussions regarding developments in the Banking Sector and my role either directly or indirectly.



2. I accepted to be Board Chairman of Capital Bank in a bid to help strengthen a promising Ghanaian enterprise that had potential but also challenges. I was excited about the prospects of a young man from a disadvantaged background who was daring to create opportunities and employment.



3. My position was a non-executive role. I was therefore not involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the Bank.



4. In the course of time, some decisions made turned out well while some did not turn out as well as had been anticipated. As far as I can tell, everything was done with the best of intentions and the interest of various stakeholders in mind.



5. My foremost concern, as has been the case over the past year, is for the well-being of those who lost their jobs and those who may have been adversely affected in any way as a result of these developments. My heart goes out to them and to their dependents. I continue to pray for Gods guidance and sustenance as they navigate the course of their lives.



6. Since the takeover of the bank exactly a year ago today, various mandated state institutions have been investigating and working to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of what happened, why it happened and who was responsible for what. I have been invited by EOCO and I have submitted myself to their processes and answered all their questions faithfully.



7. For some time now, many discussion platforms have made varied references to me and to my perceived role. Some have reached out to me for clari?cations regarding issues that have been raised. I have preferred not to respond in the public domain, not as an admission of guilt, but out of respect for the due process and the ongoing investigations.



8. Notwithstanding some unforeseen outcomes, I remain resolute in my belief in the Ghanaian and African entrepreneurial spirit. I will therefore continue to lend my support and mentorship to inspire others who dare to dream and work towards the promise of Africas growth and transformation.



9. Meanwhile, as a believer in the rule of law, I will continue to cooperate with the mandated institutions of state as they complete their investigations. I am con?dent that in the process, the national interest and the rights of all parties involved will be protected.



Shalom, peace and life to you.



Signed, Pastor Mensa Otabil. 14th August, 2018.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A businessman and supposed financier of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alfred Agbesi Woyome, who was ordered by the Supreme Court to repay GH51.2 million that he fraudulently received from the State as judgement debt, has so far paid a total of GH4.6 million out of the amount.



However, this was not captured in the Auditor-Generals 2016 report on the Consolidated Fund, which revealed that Woyomes GH51.8 million had been completely omitted from the accounts for 2016.



The issue came to the fore yesterday at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament sitting when a member of the committee and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, asked the Controller and Accountant-General, Eugene Asante Ofosuhene, who was before the committee with a Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, about steps he was taking to retrieve those state funds from Mr Woyome.



In answering the question, the Controller and Accountant-General said that Mr Woyome paid the GH4.6 million in two tranches; first one was GH167,565 and the second was an amount of GH4.5 million.



He, however, could not disclose the settlement terms reached between Mr Woyome and the Supreme Court for the full payment of the money in a specified time.



He added that the Auditor-Generals Office can disclose the terms for the payment of the remaining GH46 million.



At yesterdays sitting, another contentious issue that popped up was the governments intention to write to Parliament to write off GH97.5 million debt owed the State by about 170 defunct state companies and other private companies, including the State Fishing Corporation, Ghana International Airways, Bonsa Tyres, State Hotels Corporation, Ghana National Trading Corporation, Kumasi Brewery.



Interestingly, public companies such as State Housing Companies, Ghana Cocoa Board and New Times Corporation also owe the government huge sums of money.



The Deputy Minister, Abena Osei-Asare, said that the debts of some defunct companies have been on the books for so long and that a consultant had been engaged to look into the equities of the affected companies and advise the government on the ones to write off.



A member of the committee and MP for Keta, Richard Quashigah, told DAILY GUIDE that he could not fathom why the supposed government agencies, which are to ensure the payment of the debts by those companies, should sit aloof for the debts to accumulate to this level.



According to him, the government must ensure that these companies abide by the law and that officials of the state-owned companies who flout the laws are punished.



He said the state cannot continue to offer financial assistance to such struggling state institutions for them to accrue bad debts.



We should avoid this lackadaisical attitude as a people when it comes to protecting state resources and not just sit aloof to allow such resources which could have been used for other purposes to just go waste, he added.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Akufo-Addo virtually stripped John Dramani Mahama naked by disclosing to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II that he cannot see the infrastructural projects the former president touted ahead of the 2016 polls.



Addressing Otumfuo and his chiefs at the Manhyia Palace, the President stated that Mr. Mahama openly boasted about the significant gains that his administration made in infrastructure and road development prior to the 2016 general election.



President Akufo-Addo, who is currently on a five-day working visit to the Ashanti Region, however, disclosed that Mr. Mahamas so-called infrastructural and road projects could not be found in all the regions that he had visited so far.



He said he knew that the ex-presidents so-called infrastructural projects were non-existent, but he (Nana Akufo-Addo) became a target of insults by Mr Mahama and his allies when he posed questions.



Otumfuo, I toured most of the regions in the country before coming to the Ashanti Region, and surprisingly all the regions that I have visited so far, I did not see Mr. Mahamas so-called unprecedented infrastructural development.



Interestingly, almost all the road networks are in deplorable state and the people are rather crying to my government to come and fix their bad roads, the president disclosed at the Manhyia Palace, which attract laughter from the gathering.



I knew that Mr. Mahamas so-called unprecedented infrastructural development was palpably false, but when I questioned him, Mr Mahama said, I was sleeping that is why I did not see his constructed roads.



Even before the president could conclude his statement, people, who had attended the Akwasidae Festival at the Manhyia Palace on Sunday, burst into laughter, forcing him to pause for a while.



President Akufo-Addo said now the political season, which Mr Mahama took advantage of to peddle falsehood are over and Ghanaians have seen whether I was sleeping as he (Mahama) claimed during the 2016 polls era.



According to the President, the current of state of roads in the Ashanti Region, especially Kumasi, the regional capital, clearly buttresses his point that roads in the country are in deplorable state.



No Cash



The president disclosed that Mr. Mahamas government left empty coffers which made it difficult for the current administration to fix the mess.



President Akufo-Addo stated: I am a courageous leader and so even though I inherited empty coffers, I will still work assiduously to raise funds to tackle the numerous problems that Mr. Mahama left behind.



GH500m For Ksi Roads



He stated that his administration was committed to fixing all the bad roads in the Ashanti Region, announcing that GH500 million had been allocated to fix the poor road network in the Ashanti Region, this year.



The president admitted that owing to the many years of neglect by the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, it would take time to fix all the deplorable roads.



I will appeal to Nananom to exercise patience and also explain to their people that the level of destruction of the roads is startling; I will fix the roads before my tenure ends, he added.



The president indicated that his New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration would generally improve infrastructure across the country.



According to him, providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youth and making the economy vibrant are part of his grand agenda, stating that with God on his side, his dreams would soon become a reality.



Otumfuo



The Asantehene, in his remarks, charged the president to quickly introduce his policies to improve the lives of the citizens and render proper accounts to Ghanaians after four years in office.



Otumfuo Osei Tutu indicated that the president has good plans to accelerate the development of the country, stressing that he (Otumfuo) would always support him with prayers to fulfill his dreams.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Northern Region has taken an action to suspend a member of its communication team, Alhaji Baba Alhassan, following yesterdays violent attack and removal of the Chief Executive Officer of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. David Zawumya Kolbila from office by a notable regional pro-government vigilante force, the Kandahar Boys.



In a brazen attack Monday morning that shocked and frightened hospital staff and health seekers, over five unarmed members of the Kandahar Boys walked uninterruptedly into the only referral facility in the countrys north and burst into the CEOs office and locked it up after ejecting him alongside a director of administration and a female secretary.



The party vigilante force accused the CEO of taking a unilateral decision, threatening staff with dismissal, illegally transfer of drugs to stock his private hospital and incompetence.



In a video of the attack, the attackers were seen asking the CEO and other occupants of the office to pack and leave. The CEO was made to clear his table and paraded out down the three-story complex amidst unrestrained verbal denigrations.



Immediately after the attack, a member of the group claimed they took the action because residents of Tamale were displeased with the management style of Dr. Akolbila.



We have locked up the place and the keys are with us. We took the action because we are concerned residents of Tamale and the people are not happy with him, he stated



The attackers did not physically harm the CEO and no property in his office destroyed. He was only pushed out and taken away from the facility in a waiting private vehicle. He was not allowed to use his official vehicle and has remained in hideout.



Moments after the eviction, another group of the party arrived at the facility to stamp support for the group. That group was led by the partys regional communications member, Alhaji Baba, who later granted interviews and justified the actions and threatened a next level showdown if the CEO returned to the office.



However, the New Patriotic Party in the region has distanced itself from the attack and attackers, however has moved to sanction a communicator for his role in the said attack.



The Regional Communications Director, Mohammed Issah confirmed that Alhaji Baba has been suspended from the communications team, explaining that the party does not condone such acts of lawlessness in the communication team.



We tool him off because of his role in that particular saga. If you say that if you have asked or sacked the CEO of the hospital and that if president even appoints a different person who comes in there to behave that same way or in a manner, you dont like you will still sack the person. That doesnt speak well of any government communicator or party communicator, the communication said.



Instead, the party would not handover the communicator to police but has referred his action to a disciplinary committee for further investigations.



The police have deployed men to the facility and they currently on 24hr guard. Northern Regional Police spokesman, DSP Mohamammed Yussif Tanko said a probe was already underway to unravel the identity of the attackers and arrest them to face charges.



This is the second attack on a CEO of the hospital in just 20 months, however, the net effect of this particular attack overrun the boundaries of unwalled facility into the acephalous compound of the Regional Heath directorate, which has remained disorganized since its head, Dr. Samuel Quershie suffered similar dreadful harassment while on duty more than six months now.

Source: MyNewsGh.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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An OPP officer displays bags containing fentanyl as Ontario Provincial Police host a news conference in Vaughan, Ont., on February 23, 2017. Canada's police chiefs are urging Ottawa to beef up its fight against the opioid scourge by closely vetting people who import pill presses. In a resolution passed at their annual conference in Halifax, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police says federal changes last year that made it illegal to import unregistered pill presses did not go far enough. The chiefs say illicit use of such presses has helped increase the supply of street drugs containing synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, contributing to a crisis of overdose deaths. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Greek soldiers Aggelos Mitretodis, left, and Dimitros Kouklatzis, second left chat with relatives after their arrival at the airport of the the northern city of Thessaloniki , after spending months in a Turkish prison , early Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. The men were arrested on March 1, 2018 for illegally entering Turkey after crossing the heavily militarized land border. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has hailed the decision as "an act of justice" that will help boost friendship between the two historic regional rivals.(Yannis Moisiadis /InTime News via AP)
Members of the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) march on Peco Energy headquarters in a protest that's part of its ongoing campaign for solar energy and green jobs. Read more

How's this for a David-vs.-Goliath scenario? On the stage this day in Tampa, Fla., sat the board of directors of one of America's most powerful financial institutions, PNC Bank. In the audience, surrounded by bank shareholders, was one lone dissenter, Eileen Flanagan, who'd come down from Philadelphia and  despite strict laws in the Sunshine State against verbal protests at public company meetings  had made it inside the room.

Despite those laws and despite PNC fleeing its Pittsburgh headquarters to meet 1,000 miles south of where Quaker environmental activists had disrupted the prior year's meeting, the Philadelphia-based protesters had connected with local students in the Tampa area to conduct a noisy protest outside. Now, Flanagan watched in amazement as the serious men in suits onstage raced through their meeting, reeking of fear that someone inside the room might do something disruptive.

Some 16 minutes in, Flanagan stood up to remove her jacket and reveal her T-shirt calling on PNC to stop its financing of earth-scarring mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia, and to pray in silence. The bank board moved to shut down the meeting immediately.

"They were so worried about what we were going to do," recalled Flanagan, a lifelong activist who was then board chairman of the Earth Quaker Action Team, or EQAT (pronounced "equate"). When she stood up and PNC board members cut short the meeting, she knew the protesters had all but won. Sure enough, PNC announced in early 2015 that, in essence, it would no longer fund the controversial coal-mining practice, and not long after that, a major firm involved in mountaintop mining filed for bankruptcy.

Today, Flanagan and her EQAT are deep into another long-shot underdog campaign  campaigning with the interfaith group POWER to persuade Peco Energy to draw more of its electricity from local solar to create jobs in Philadelphia  but they also have something else to offer that's of great importance: lessons for the thousands of newly created activists in opposition to the Trump presidency.

After all, the Earth Quaker Action Team, launched in 2009 by local activists disturbed over the lack of action in tackling climate change, was staring at many of the same obstacles as the so-called Trump Resistance: a large and mighty power structure with little interest or incentive to change its ways, and seemingly few tools to convince them otherwise.

Flanagan sees the hunger for change  and for figuring out what the heck to do about it  in the courses on effective activism that she teaches online. She had 160 students in her first classes, but since President Trump took office in early 2017, a whopping 700 people have signed up.

Much of what she teaches cuts against the grain. The bottom line is that while the prevailing modes of protest  the occasional big march, the flood of phone calls to a recalcitrant politician (cough, cough Sen. Pat Toomey)  are all fine and good, but they aren't the most effective way to change policies. The depressing reality is that in America as things go in 2018, elected officials are way too locked in to their big-money donors to care much about their angry constituents.

So what does work? Finding the smaller pressure points, where you can see an actionable result  a light at the end of the tunnel. Using a mix of escalating protest tactics  including civil disobedience, with a willingness to get arrested if necessary. And  most important  focusing not on the politicians, who seem pretty bought off and useless these days, but on organizations that actually care about their brand, typically consumer-facing corporations.

"The politicians in Pennsylvania and across this country get so much money from the fossil fuel industry that it's not the most effective way to make change," said Flanagan, noting that a lot of the folks signing up for her class are people who got frustrated by repeated and ignored phone calls to elected officials like Toomey.

She felt many of the same frustrations early in her life as a student activist in the 1980s  protesting U.S. support for apartheid in South Africa  until she latched onto a theory about social change developed by the veteran Philadelphia Quaker peace activist George Lakey. It called for changing society not by attacking the top of the power pyramid but the "pillars of power" that prop the pyramid up.

EQAT, which was cofounded by Lakey, Flanagan, and others, decided to fight climate change by tackling mountaintop removal  which pollutes streams and produces toxic dust, all in the name of producing more dirty, climate-harming coal. But it decided to do battle with mountaintop removal not by seeking legislation to ban the practice but by urging PNC Bank  which competes for customers here in Pennsylvania and elsewhere and which had touted both its Quaker roots and its support for the environment  to stop financing projects in the region.

Flanagan and other EQAT activists requested  and got  a meeting with PNC officials. "They did not take us seriously," she recalled. "They said, 'We don't make investment decisions based on anything other than money' "  and that this was the law. "If you want to change the law," the bank told the activists, "talk to the politicians."

Instead, according to Flanagan, EQAT launched a campaign of escalating protests  some 125 in all, including sit-ins in the bank lobby where members, including Flanagan, were arrested, and the high-profile actions at PNC's annual shareholder meetings  and grew its network from a Philadelphia living room to having allies in some 31 states. The protests drew negative headlines for the bank in the cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia where PNC advertises heavily for new depositors  thus achieving the one thing that cannot be tolerated in a corporate oligarchy: tarnishing the brand. It took five long years, but bank executives  just like Dorothy clicking her heels three times in The Wizard of Oz  decided they'd had the power to restrict loans for mountaintop removal all along.

"I think their brand is a big motivator for them," Flanagan said  possibly an understatement. EQAT didn't rest on its laurels but immediately hurled itself into its next campaign  urging Peco Energy, the electric utility serving Philadelphia and its suburbs, to pledge to get 20 percent of its energy from solar power (currently it's less than 0.5 percent) and focus efforts in North Philadelphia, with a goal of job creation. If anything, the Peco campaign  trying to persuade a big corporation to do something new, rather than stop doing something  is facing even steeper odds, but Flanagan and the EQAT team seem undaunted.

There's certainly a lot to learn from the Quakers' approach. Indeed, it's clear that corporate America is more willing to listen to the public than the U.S. government is. Look at gun safety in the wake of Parkland, with big companies like Dick's Sporting Goods, which stopped selling assault weapons, responsive to public outrage while Congress cowered in fear.

Of course, it takes patience, courage, and creativity  not always the easiest things to find these days. But if these mild-mannered, peace-loving Quakers can strike fear into the hearts of America's boardrooms, imagine what a mass movement could do?
Starting this fall, couples can say their vows at the most love-filled place in all of Philly  in front of Robert Indiana's iconic statue at LOVE Park  on two Wednesdays each month. October dates that are currently open for weddings are Oct. 10 and 24.

On the first Tuesday of every month, interested couples can register at Room 413 of City Hall for a 30-minute wedding in the park. The office opens at 8 a.m. and you must register to marry with the proper fee  $90 via credit card or money order  and documents, which include photo IDs and Social Security cards or official papers with Social Security numbers on them for both people getting married. You also have to pay a $50 fee online through the Fairmount Park Conservancy up to one day before your wedding or bring a money order to the ceremony. Couples are expected to arrive 30 minutes before their time slot with their marriage license.

The weddings last 30 minutes and take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You'll want to move fast, though, because only 12 lucky couples will be married each month.

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will do all the heavy lifting, so all you have to do is show up on your wedding day. Each couple gets a 20-foot-by-20-foot area in front of the statue for their guests, ambassadors to greet attendees, and an officiant to conduct the ceremony. Ceremonies also take place rain or shine, and umbrellas are provided for the bride and groom in case of inclement weather.

There's not a better place to celebrate love than in front of the LOVE sculpture, so best of luck in reserving your spot.

For more information, visit phila.gov and secureprod.phila.gov.
Passengers disembark from the New Jersey Transit Atlantic City Rail Line at Atlantic City Station on August 9, 2018. The line which runs between Philadelphia and Atlantic City is slated for a 5 month suspension. Avi Steinhardt / For the Inquirer Read more

Amid lengthening lines of business travelers carrying briefcases and wheeling suitcases in 30th Street Station's concourse last week, two tanned, middle-aged men, dressed like it was a lazy Saturday, boarded a train from a virtually empty platform.

Their only luggage was beach gear, which they easily found space to stow on the overhead racks.

Finding a seat on the 6:31 a.m. NJ Transit train to Atlantic City was no challenge. There were 110 seats per car on the four-car train to the Jersey Shore resort city, and virtually all were empty.

NJ Transit plans to shut down the line, served by 16 cars and four locomotives from Sept. 5 to early 2019 as part of a race against time to install positive train control (PTC), a critical safety system, by the end of the year.

The suspension has infuriated riders, workers, and politicians, who question the need to shut down the line. Train commuters, many of them casino workers, will have to rely on buses that could double their travel time, and train crews that have worked the line for years will likely be reassigned to routes far from home. Local NBC weatherman "Nor'Easter" Nick Pittman started a petition that has surpassed 2,600 signatures urging NJ Transit to reduce Atlantic City line service rather than end it completely.

"What we're concerned about is after that four- or five-month suspension  or whatever it is  the line not coming back," Pittman said. "I'd say I expect it to come back, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they decided to just pull the plug."

Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit's chief executive, has called the suspension temporary, and money is included in the 2019 budget for the Atlantic City Line. Meanwhile, officials with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have said NJ Transit is under enormous pressure to install PTC. Missing the federally imposed deadline could mean disastrous penalties.

"There are serious consequences to NJ Transit if we do not complete this federally mandated project," Corbett said in a statement last week, "such as FRA fines or a shutdown, or we run the risk of not being allowed to operate on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor."

PTC is 58 percent installed, the agency reported, but federal officials have said it will be a struggle to finish the job before the end of the year.

>>READ MORE: After Philly crash, railroads got more time to install a key safety system. Three years later, some still lag behind

By the end of a typical workday, fewer than 2,000 people will take a trip on the route, less than 1 percent of NJ Transit's total rail ridership, which includes serving nearly 100,000 people out of Newark or New York City's Penn Station.

The beachgoers, Richard Sibley, 58, and Michael Wiskowski, 55, of Bridesburg, take the train twice a month for $10.75 each way. They would likely keep taking beach trips after Labor Day, they said, but the shutdown might make that too inconvenient.

"I'm more inclined to go by the train than by the bus," Wiskowski said. "The train is so much quicker."

The train made a long arc through Northeast Philadelphia to its next stop, Pennsauken, where Eileen O'Brien, 79, boarded. She goes to Atlantic City to spend $60 a day on penny slots with a devotion others apply to morning runs or calls to prayer.

"I don't go down to collect seashells, for God's sake," the New Jersey native said.

Tyrone Comegys, 62, got on with her. The two filled two rows, with O'Brien laughing and chatting over the seat back as rain streaked the windows behind them.

"I enjoy it," Comegys said of the ride he's been taking for 25 years to work at casinos in Atlantic City, most recently in the mail room at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino. "One of the reasons why is the community on the train itself."

They're both skeptical of NJ Transit's reasons for shutdown.

"If I thought for one minute it was a safety issue," O'Brien said, "I would say, go ahead."

That concern was echoed by passengers and labor leaders who are wary of NJ Transit's commitment to the line, which costs $23.5 million a year to operate. Only 17 percent of that is covered by fare revenue.

Corbett's recent statements highlighted the scheduling disruption PTC installation has caused. Years of minimal hiring has led to a net loss of 50 engineers over eight years, he said, exacerbating the problem. An internal email from an NJ Transit executive stated that equipment from the line would be reassigned elsewhere. The 27 people who work the Atlantic City Line trains will be as well, NJ Transit has said.

>> READ MORE: Atlantic City-Philadelphia rail line to shut down in September

The decision could mean hours of commuting for conductors and engineers, said Steve Burkert, general chairman for United Transportation Union Local 60, which represents NJ Transit conductors. It also could create scheduling chaos. Atlantic City Line conductors tend to be veterans, he said, and seniority rules would give them bumping rights for any scheduling changes, which could displace North Jersey train workers from their routines.

"I'd love to be able to talk some options for [NJ Transit] to see if we wouldn't have to be able to shut down the entire line." Burkert said.

Critics see South Jersey riders and workers suffering to bolster service in the busier northern part of the state.

"We pay the same tax dollars here in South Jersey," O'Brien said.

Politicians have taken up the cause as well, with State Sen. Chris Brown (R., Atlantic) saying NJ Transit should keep morning and evening service running.

"Completely shutting down the Atlantic City Rail Line so that NJ Transit can transfer rail resources to other parts of the state at the expense of our local families is completely unacceptable," he wrote in a statement last week.

The train wasn't as empty after reaching Hammonton. People in casino worker uniforms filed onto cars, which buzzed with easy camaraderie.

"Bring back the train!" one woman shouted to a conductor. "We need it!"

The shutdown means more uncertainty for casino workers. Dolores Mammoccio of Monroe, a 25-year veteran of the industry, lost her job in 2016 when the Taj Mahal closed. Its successor, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, made her perform a song to showcase her personality before hiring her back as a porter, she said. Mammoccio did a few verses from Herman's Hermits "I'm Into Something Good" on the train to demonstrate how she won her job back.

Now, she'll have to travel to Avondale to catch the bus to Atlantic City and hope to get to work on time. During the suspension, NJ Transit will offer discounted rides on the Route 554 bus, a local, and the 551, an express route.

"It's going to be a huge inconvenience," she said. "A lot of people depend on this train."

Rail between Philadelphia and Atlantic City made the Shore town a vacation destination in the 19th century, but the line was considered underused in 2011, when service shrank from a train an hour to 12 trains per day out of Philadelphia.

"This is what you would do to a train line if you wanted to kill it on purpose," said Joseph Russell, a NJ Transit activist.

Ridership on the route dwindled along with the casino industry. Current ridership is almost half what it was just four years ago.

Nearly an hour and a half after leaving Philadelphia, the gamblers, workers, and sun worshipers disembarked and entered the 30-year-old Atlantic City Train Terminal. From rafters high in the station, banners promoting the rail service announce, "We've Got a Good Thing Going!"
Unidentified victims and families and sexual abuse victims sit on the stage as Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro releases the findings of a two-year grand jury investigation into clergy abuse at six of the stateOs Roman Catholic Dioceses, leading a news conference at the Capitol in Harrisburg on Aug. 14, 2018. DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer Read more

HARRISBURG  Top Roman Catholic leaders in Pennsylvania covered up decades of child sex abuse involving more than 1,000 victims and hundreds of priests, according to a long-awaited grand jury report released Tuesday.

Capping what may be the most comprehensive examination yet of clergy sex abuse across a single state, the nearly 900-page document accuses church officials in six Pennsylvania dioceses of routinely prioritizing their institution over the welfare of children in their care.

The allegations stretch back to the 1940s, detailing child rapes and groping that mirrored the reports that have roiled the church worldwide. But the document includes several uniquely disturbing accounts of its own  including one of a 1970s pedophile and child pornography ring in Pittsburgh among priests who whipped their victims and took photos of one boy as he posed naked as if on the cross.

One priest in Southwestern Pennsylvania is said to have sexually abused a boy in a confessional. Another, from Allentown, allegedly forced a boy to give him oral sex and then cleansed the child's mouth with holy water. Two priests impregnated teens; one urged an abortion, the other arranged a secret marriage.

In all, more than 300 priests were singled out  though some names remain redacted amid legal wrangling over the fairness of the investigation and the public report. Dozens of church superiors  including some now in prominent posts nationally  were also named as complicit.

"All of [the victims] were brushed aside, in every part of the state, by church leaders who preferred to protect the abusers and their institutions above all," the report says. "Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible not only did nothing: They hid it all."

More coverage

These 9 accused priests had postings around Philadelphia | Will report lead to change in Pa.'s statute of limitations? | Mike Newall: If the Church doesn't change now, time to walk away | Grand jury: A child porn ring in Pittsburgh diocese | Report says cover-up began at the top | Read the full report | Dozens of pages shielded from public | Maria Panaritis: Thank the law, not the Men of God

The abuse "was rampant and widespread," Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a news conference in the state Capitol. "It touched every diocese, and it is horrifying."

Many of those accused  including bishops implicated in alleged cover-ups  disputed the findings in responses attached to the report.

The panel's assertions are likely to fuel long-simmering battles in Harrisburg, including debates over the fairness of the state's grand jury system and stalled legislation that would allow childhood victims to sue their abusers and others decades after an assault.

The report also comes amid a new wave of accusations that have upended Catholic congregations worldwide and resulted in the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, formerly the archbishop of Washington.

Among those named by the Pennsylvania grand jury was McCarrick's successor in Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, a longtime Pittsburgh bishop and one of Pope Francis' prominent U.S. advisers.

Wuerl, who took over the Western Pennsylvania diocese in 1988, was faulted by the grand jury as failing to protect children from predators and withholding key information from parishioners during his two decades there.

Wuerl denied the claims Tuesday. His spokesman, Ed McFadden, called the investigation a "flawed process" steered "unwaveringly toward a predetermined result"  a statement that echoed concerns raised by nearly two dozen other clergy members who have disputed the report's accuracy in court and fought to have their names, at least temporarily, redacted.

"In factual ways large and small, the Attorney General's Office was more concerned with getting this report out than getting it right," McFadden said.

One woman, the report says, tried to commit suicide days after her testimony and later, from her hospital bed, urged grand jurors to finish their investigation.

Shapiro said he stood by the findings, the result of a two-year investigation by his office.

Despite the wide-ranging criminal behavior the attorney general outlined Tuesday, no new prosecutions are expected to emerge.

Two priests were indicted at earlier stages of the investigation. Many of the accused are either dead or long since removed from ministry, their offenses now beyond the state's statute of limitations for sex crimes. Some had previously been prosecuted, or the accusations against them made public years ago.

Still, in its scope and breadth, the grand jury's report was remarkable. The investigation drew upon testimony from dozens of witness and "secret archives" of priest abuse complaints obtained from the Dioceses of Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, Scranton, Erie, and Greensburg  together home to more than 1.7 million Roman Catholics.

Pennsylvania's other dioceses  Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown  were not included because previous grand juries had already scrutinized their handling of clergy sex-abuse claims.

>> FROM 2005: Grand jury says cardinals hid priests' abuse of children, but panel recommends no new criminal charges

But the state's largest city and only archdiocese weren't completely absent. Some of the accused priests at one point in their careers made stops in Philadelphia; one allegation recounted a boy being abused at one priest's family home in the city.

Several names fleetingly referenced in the report  including the late Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua and his former aide Bishop Edward Cullen  were church leaders in Philadelphia before or after service in other dioceses.

In many respects, the tactics described Tuesday mirrored those of the 2005 report that assailed the Philadelphia Archdiocese during their tenures here.

Priests preyed on vulnerable children, and their superiors either ignored or hid allegations while shuffling abusers from parish to parish. Lawsuits filed by accusers often ended in strict confidentiality agreements, ensuring their silence for years.

Problem priests were cycled through church-owned treatment centers  including the St. John Vianney Center in Downingtown. Tuesday's report dismissed the therapy at such facilities, saying it largely existed to "launder accused priests" and "provide plausible deniability to the bishops and permitted hundreds of known offenders to return to ministry."

In Allentown, grand jurors accused Msgr. Anthony Muntone of discounting a plea from a priest reporting he had molested a 12-year-old in 1982 and asking for help. Instead, the panel said, Muntone concluded "the experiences [would] not necessarily be a horrendous trauma to the victim" and allowed the priest to remain in active ministry for two decades.

In a response to the report's findings, Muntone denied he ever put children at risk and said all actions he took came after consultation with the diocese legal counsel.

In Erie, grand jurors assailed Bishop Donald Trautman for lauding the Rev. Chester Gawronski for his "many acts of kindness" and "deep faith" even after he admitted to fondling at least 12 boys during what he described as "cancer checks."

Trautman, in a statement, characterized many of the accusations against him as false.

And in the Pittsburgh Diocese, the report suggests, church officials weren't the only ones out to avoid public embarrassment. Former Beaver County District Attorney Robert Master told the grand jury that he proactively shut down an investigation into an accused priest in the 1960s, hoping to "prevent unfavorable publicity" and win support for his political career.

>> READ MORE: Stolen Childhoods: Decades later, the damage from one Philadelphia predator priest still torments a generation of victims

Response from church leaders began even before the report's release. Bishop Ronald W. Gainer of Harrisburg and Bishop Lawrence Persico of Erie sought to blunt the impact this month by opening their own archives and releasing names of all priests against whom there were "credible claims of abuse." Other dioceses followed suit Tuesday.

All the bishops noted that most of the accusations predated their tenures by decades and stressed steps their diocese had taken to improve, including instituting a zero-tolerance policy in investigating abuse allegations.

But their responses to specific allegations varied. Bishop David Zubik in Pittsburgh asserted that "he knew of no cover-ups in his three decades" there.

Meanwhile, Persico  the lone bishop to testify before the grand jury  insisted that "apologies and policies  are not enough."

"We are committed to publishing the abuses of the past and to being transparent with our decisions going forward," he said.

As church leaders were grappling with how to address their congregations, state lawmakers were gearing up for a battle over the report's recommendations  including suspending laws barring victims from suing their abusers decades after their assaults occurred.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) reiterated his support for a bill he authored to eliminate the civil and criminal statute of limitations for child sex abuse in some cases, saying it "takes a crucial step forward to help protect victims."

But Scarnati has been opposed to making any change to the statute retroactive, arguing that such a move would be unconstitutional and could lead to hundreds of lawsuits against the church.

House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R., Indiana) said he expects to schedule a vote on Scarnati's bill this fall, but indicated that discussions over its provisions are ongoing.

Even with that fight ahead, accusers and their advocates described Tuesday's win  exposing abuse kept secret over decades  as victory enough for now.

"I knew the truth would come out eventually," said James Faluszczak, a former priest from the Erie Diocese who says he was abused by a priest as a child, and who cried as Shapiro described the report. "I thank God, like, I think, all the other victims, that we've had this opportunity to have our voice finally heard."

Staff writers Tricia L. Nadolny, Chris Palmer, William Bender, Jessica Calefati and Craig R. McCoy contributed to this article, along with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporters David Templeton, Shelly Bradbury, and Julian Routh.
Comcast has expanded its low-cost high-speed internet program by adding nearly 20,000 low-income Philadelphia households and two million households nationally over the last year, the company announced Monday.

At the same time, the company announced that its Internet Essentials program will now include all low-income veterans living in its service area.

"Veterans have stood up for our country, and for our way of life, and we believe it's time for all of us to stand up for those veterans," said David L. Cohen, Comcast's senior executive vice president and chief diversity officer, speaking at a news conference Monday at a new housing community for veterans under construction near Fairhill. The expansion "will enable us to reach about a million low-income veterans."

Still, some advocates are calling for Comcast to do more.

While "we should ensure [veterans] have broadband internet access along with other necessary services," the program still "doesn't go far enough to meet the need," wrote Bryan Mercer, executive director of West Philadelphia's Media Mobilizing Project, which advocates for greater media access for working-class people.

"We need to see much more substantial investment in communities and options to address the gaps and ensure the modern right to communicate," Mercer said.

He said Internet Essentials offers "speeds that don't even meet the FCC definition of broadband" and a "series of restrictions" that take away the program as an option for people who struggle to afford service. Families and veterans with Comcast service within the last 90 days, or any outstanding bills, would not qualify for the program, he said.

"That is a real roadblock to someone trying to keep their utilities affordable and their families online," Mercer said.

Jennifer Bilotta, a Comcast spokesperson, said that all Philadelphians who had Comcast in the last 90 days could still join Internet Essentials, thanks to a commitment the company made in late 2016.

Bilotta also disagreed that speeds don't meet the FCC definition, and said the program offers speeds that are enough for homework, research, applying for jobs and more.

"There's nothing you can't do online with 15 mbps download speeds," she said.

Outside of Philadelphia, the 90-day stipulation still exists, mostly to encourage people who have never had internet service to sign up.

About 36,000 low-income veterans are in the commonwealth, Cohen said, and 70 percent of low-income veterans don't have internet access at home.

The program is meant to cut out a common roadblock to internet service, high costs, in the nation's poorest big city, where thousands live in poverty. Philadelphia is one of America's least-connected cities, and also home to the nation's largest internet provider.

Cohen also announced a $25,000 grant to go toward a computer lab in a new veterans housing community being built by the nonprofit Veterans Multi-Service Center.

The nonprofit is converting the old Edison High School near Fairhill into a housing community for veterans. The community, which will be called Edison 64, will offer 66 housing units, with on-site services including case management, job training and more, said Cohen, who spoke at the site. Sixty-four of the school's graduates died in the Vietnam War, the highest number of deaths recorded by any U.S. high school, according to the center.

The hope for the center is "to keep people in their housing," said Tim Williams, executive director of Veterans Multi-Service Center.

Keith Higgins, who was in the military, said he still knows plenty of veterans struggling to live, but the housing and expanded services could be the "perfect opportunity for a lot of veterans to get up on their feet."

"It's needed," Higgins said.

The Germantown native said he was "glad corporations are stepping up and helping the older generations of veterans out."

Over the course of the internet essentials program, more than six million homes nationally and 200,000 Philadelphians have used the service. Those qualifying generally need to be on some kind of public assistance, the firm's website said.

Nearly half of all adults with an income below $30,000 don't have home broadband service or a traditional computer, a 2017 Pew Research study said.

Comcast agreed to finance the program in 2011 as part of its NBCUniversal acquisition. That commitment expired in 2014 but the company has committed to funding it indefinitely, a spokeswoman said.

READ MORE >>> Comcast to wire thousands of public housing units with internet
Gwen Ragsdale, center, holds a branding iron used to brand slaves in the earlt 1800's as she stands in the Germantown Historical Society, which will give exhibit space to the Lest We Forget Black Holocaust Slavery Museum, until it can find a permanent home. MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer Read more

As a boy visiting relatives in Rock Hill, S.C., during summer trips south, J. Justin Ragsdale was fascinated by an old trunk that belonged to his Uncle Bub, who used to talk about a man called "Massa" who had taken Bub off to war to be a soldier.

Every time Ragsdale tried to look inside, his uncle would yell: "Get away from that trunk, boy! That ain't none of your business."

Years later, after Uncle Bub died somewhere around the age of 109, Ragsdale, by now grown, went back to South Carolina and searched through the trunk.

He found a Confederate uniform jacket and an "iron ball shackle," designed to clamp around a man's neck with a 20-pound weight that hung down to his groin  incentive to keep him from running away.

Those discoveries started Ragsdale on a 50-year journey to collect more than 1,800 artifacts about slavery and the Jim Crow era, what eventually became the Lest We Forget Black Holocaust Slavery Museum, operated from a warehouse in the unlikely location of Port Richmond.

Now, after 15 years there, a museum that many people have never known existed is seeking a new home. In the meantime, Ragsdale, now 80, and his wife, Gwen, 65, have announced they will temporarily house the museum at the Germantown Historical Society, operated by Historic Germantown, starting in September.

"The property taxes went up so high that we just could not hold onto it," Gwen Ragsdale said of the 28,000-square-foot warehouse on Richmond Street between Pacific Street and Castor Avenue, which closed in October. "We had to walk away."

But why was a slavery museum in Port Richmond anyway? The River Wards neighborhood with a population that's almost 60 percent white had once been considered a "sundown town," where black people were restricted after sunset, Gwen said.

It was her husband's family who first settled in Port Richmond in the 1950s, one of few black families there. Eventually, he operated a construction cleanup company from Port Richmond and bought a former rubber-gasket factory for his business, 3,500 feet of which was eventually used to house his collection.

At the time, Gwen was involved in a black history program for her employer, Bell Telephone Co. of Pennsylvania, and brought in the artifacts for an event. When the Ragsdales saw how people were interested, they began showing the items at conventions and expositions, and made the collection an official museum in 2002. Although they didn't keep a visitor count at the museum, they got visitors from all over, "more out-of-towners than locals," Gwen said, because local black people were hesitant to visit a Port Richmond location.

Still, the Ragsdales said, the neighborhood supported them.

"We never had any problems the whole time we were there," Gwen said. "The neighbors looked out for our building. If they saw something suspicious, they would contact us. It speaks to the relationship we built with the neighborhood."

But it was a site unknown to most Philadelphians.

Phillip Seitz, a former curator at the Cliveden mansion who wrote the book Slavery in Philadelphia: A History of Resistance, Denial and Wealth, said the Ragsdales have done a "heroic job trying to educate people about the strength and suffering of Africans and African Americans in this country," but have not gotten the recognition or funding they deserved because they are "collectors rather than museum professionals."

Nor have they actively sought publicity. As a result, he said, "they don't have philanthropists waiting in the wings to give them the support that more mainstream museums get."

The Ragsdales' collection is very important, said Diane D. Turner, curator of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University.

"It speaks to the trauma and the disruption that Africans have experienced here," Turner said. "It's important to have a history of the atrocities that American citizens of African descent have experienced over time.

"When you see all those chains, it speaks to the African resistance. African people were described as being docile and childlike, but you don't put people in chains and hold them against their will if they're docile."

<< READ MORE: House with ties to American Revolution gets a chance for new life

The Ragsdales' collection includes bills of sale for enslaved people and chains and shackles. It includes a Ku Klux Klan uniform a white man brought to them from a traveling exhibit in Lynchburg, Va.  he didn't want his children to know their grandfather was a Klansman. From the Jim Crow era was a box with a drawing of an alligator crawling toward a baby with the text: "Little African Licorice Drops: a dainty morsel."

<< READ MORE: Showcase focuses a wide lens on African American history and culture

In his talks to school groups and others who visited the museum, Justin describes horrific conditions African people endured aboard the slave slips that brought them to the Americas: how men were shackled to each other and kept in cramped quarters in the bottom of the ship, how they were branded in Africa so their open wounds burned in the seawater.

The people were kept in their own waste, and many developed disease and died on board. Before the slaveholders tossed the dead overboard, another person may have been chained to a body for days, watching it being consumed by vermin.

Justin doesn't sugarcoat the experiences, even for children.

"Blood was paid," Justin said. "Somebody paid in blood for us to be here today. Freedom is not free. That's why I'm working so hard to get tell this story and keep this museum going."

<< READ MORE: In Germantown, using history, art and place to bridge understanding

Now, the Ragsdales have their sights set on getting a permanent space in Germantown, where they might be a better fit. Down the street from the Germantown Historical Society, there's the Johnson House, a stop along the Underground Railroad, where some believe Harriet Tubman stayed. And a block away at Cliveden, the mansion owned by former Pennsylvania Chief Justice Benjamin Chew, was the scene of the Battle of Germantown during the Revolution.

The Ragsdales' museum "fits the mission of Historic Germantown perfectly," said Tuomi Forrest, that group's executive director. "The museum is lifting up critical stories that need broader exposure."
A new poll shows a virtual tie between U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (left), a South Jersey Republican, and Democrat Andy Kim (right). They are running in one of the most competitive U.S. House races in the country, based in Burlington and Ocean counties. Read more

WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur and his Democratic challenger, Andy Kim, are running neck and neck in a pivotal South Jersey congressional race, according to a Monmouth University poll released Tuesday.

The survey, one of the first public polls in a race targeted as critical to the fight for control of the House, also shows a stark geographic split in the district's views on President Trump, relatively low voter enthusiasm, and mixed reviews of the GOP's signature tax bill, which MacArthur supported.

Overall, the poll found MacArthur leading by 41 percent to 40 percent among voters who have participated in an election since 2010 or are newly registered. Kim, however, takes a narrow lead in models based on past midterms or in a Democratic surge like the ones that have been seen in other congressional elections this year.

Minutes after the poll was released, nonpartisan analysts at the Cook Political Report shifted their forecast of the race from "leans Republican" to "tossup."

"Considering this is a Republican-leaning district, the results suggest that MacArthur faces a significant challenge to keep his seat," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.

But he cautioned that New Jersey's electorate is "notorious" for deciding late. "That means these poll results reflect the fundamental contours of this race before voters actually engage with the candidates," he said.

The race in a district that President Barack Obama won twice and Trump captured in 2016 is considered one of the most competitive in the country.

Among the poll's findings:

 A major geographic split: In the Burlington County piece of the district, which is in the Philadelphia media market, voters are down on Trump: 38 percent approve of his job performance against 57 percent who disapprove (including 48 percent who strongly disapprove). But in the Ocean County portion, mainly in the New York market, 56 percent approve of Trump's work (including 41 percent who strongly approve) and 39 percent disapprove.

"Both candidates will need a combination of tactics to motivate their base and persuade undecided voters. The relative weight they give to these strategies is going to play out differently in the eastern and western parts of the district," Murray said.

 Not as much enthusiasm: 49 percent of voters in the district expressed a lot of interest in the congressional race. That's below what the poll has found in six other competitive races around the country, where interest has ranged from 53 percent to 62 percent. That might be a warning sign for Democrats, who are hoping a fired-up base can carry their campaigns.

 Tax bill struggling: The poll found an even split on the Republican tax bill, with 40 percent approving and the same share disapproving. GOP lawmakers had planned to campaign on the measure, and MacArthur took a risk in backing it  becoming the only New Jerseyan from either party to vote for it. Many more voters (45 percent) expect their taxes to go up because of the bill, while 13 percent expect to pay less. Independent analysts project that the vast majority of taxpayers should pay less, but the issue is complicated in New Jersey, where a popular break for local property taxes was capped.

 Little-known challenger: MacArthur was viewed favorably by 30 percent and unfavorably by 19 percent, the poll found, with 52 percent having no opinion. Kim is mostly unknown: 68 percent have no opinion on him, 20 percent see him favorably, and 11 percent see him unfavorably.

The poll surveyed 401 voters in the district from Aug. 7 to 9. It has a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points for the full sample and 5.7 percentage points for the likely voter models.
Saudia Shuler and the black leopard at the Wakanda-themed prom send off on 22nd St. in North Phila., Pa. on June 6, 2018. Read more

Saudia Shuler, the North Philly restaurateur who has been dubbed "the camel mom" for her decked-out pre-prom celebrations, has been indicted on eight federal counts of fraud and one count of theft of government funds.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced the indictment in a news release Tuesday. Shuler, 44, is alleged to have not reported work and income "including operating her own restaurant" while collecting Social Security benefits under her disability status. The indictment contended that she defrauded the government out of nearly $37,000.

Shuler, owner of Country Cookin' on North 22nd Street in Swampoodle, first made headlines for lavishing on her son, J.J. Eden, a Dubai-themed prom sendoff that included a live camel and three foreign cars, among other features. She said at the time that the event cost her $25,000, after seizures, cancer, and a stroke that had forced her to learn to walk again. Because of her health issues, she said, she was uncertain that she'd see her son reach that milestone, then was overjoyed when she did.

>>READ MORE: Not your parents' prom: Inside Philly's elaborate send-off culture

Since that 2017 prom, Shuler has enjoyed Instagram notoriety and has used that platform to engineer extravagant charity giveaways and prom sendoffs.

If Shuler is found guilty of the charges, she faces a maximum sentence of 140 years in prison.

She did not respond to a request for comment. Tuesday afternoon she wrote the following on her Instagram page, while introducing a line of canned gravies under the brand Country Cookin':

Y'all see it. They don't wanna see me win. They tryna stop me, but it's gonna make me go harder. If they stop this deal, Ima invent something else bigger. But y'all against me just like them. Wow. Y'all blind and it's went over y'all head. Saud ever the fraud. When it's all said and done. Make sure y'all stay right where y'all at. 
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro releases the findings of a two-year grand jury investigation into clergy abuse at six of the state's Roman Catholic Dioceses. Read more

A redacted version of the long-awaited grand jury report alleging decades of sexual abuse and cover-ups by Roman Catholic officials across the state was released Tuesday.

The 1,356-page document is the culmination of the Pa. Attorney General Office's investigation into seven decades of allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, and Scranton. The two other Pennsylvanian Catholic dioceses of Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown were also investigated in recent years.

More coverage

Hundreds of priests named in grand jury report | Grand jury: A child porn ring in Pittsburgh diocese | Report says cover-up began at the top | Dozens of pages shielded from public | Maria Panaritis: Thank the law, not the Men of God | Victim: 'It's your word against God's' | Key findings from each diocese | How the Allentown diocese dealt with an abuser | John Baer: Questions in wake of the report

In the report, the grand jury said the two-year investigation uncovered credible allegations of sexual abuse by over 300 priests, with thousands of victims.

The judge overseeing the grand jury ordered this report released in June. But about two dozen current and former clergy named in the report succeeded in blocking its release, claiming it would violate their rights to due process and reputation. On July 27, the Pa. Supreme Court ordered the report's release by Tuesday, with identifying information about those clergy petitioners redacted in the meantime, while the court considers their claims.

Section I  Introduction

Section II  The Dioceses

Section III  The Church and Child Abuse, Past and Present

Section IV  Recommendations of the Grand Jury

Section V  Appendix of Offenders

Responses included in the report:

>> READ THE FULL REPORT: 40th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury Report (interim, redacted)
Seated on the stage with 14 other sexual abuse victims, two members of the Fortney family console each other, as Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro describes the abuse their family suffered at the hands of Father Gus Giella. (MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer) Read more

One man held his cell phone toward the audience, panning to capture the long-awaited moment.

A mother held a photo of her son, his wide smile belying a pain she said drove him to substance abuse and death at age 31.

Five sisters  each a victim of abuse by the same Roman Catholic priest  held one another.

More coverage

Hundreds of priests named in grand jury report | Grand jury: A child porn ring in Pittsburgh diocese | Report says cover-up began at the top | Read the full report | Dozens of pages shielded from public | Maria Panaritis: Thank the law, not the Men of God | Key findings from each diocese | How the Allentown diocese dealt with an abuser | John Baer: Questions in wake of the report

"These women no longer need to be silenced," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said of the sisters seated behind him on stage as he discussed a sweeping grand jury report alleging abuse by 301 priests, and a decades-long cover up by church officials state-wide. "Today the grand jury finally gives this family of victims their voice."

The much-anticipated report was based on the allegations of more than 1,000 individual victims. On Tuesday, a group of victims and family members of victims, 16 in all, joined Shapiro on stage, and others filled the audience. Though few chose to speak publicly, some of their stories were told in a video played as the conference began.

"Who would have believed me?" 83-year-old Robert Corby said in the film. "A priest, in 1948 or '47, would abuse you?"

"It doesn't ever go away," said 48-year-old Shaun Dougherty. "It has an effect on you for the rest of your life."

"It's very lonely," said 37-year-old Carolyn Fortney, one of the five sisters. "Especially when it's your word against God's."

The room was silent but for the clatter of camera shutters and the cries of those on stage.

The sisters said they were abused by the Rev. Augustine Giella of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Shapiro on Tuesday said church officials became aware of allegations against Giella five years before removing him from ministry. He said Giella was charged in 1992, after the girls' mothers went to the police. He died awaiting trial.

>> FROM 2017: Stolen Childhoods: Decades later, the damage from one Philadelphia predator priest still torments a generation of victims

In a statement, family members said they needed a few days to "contemplate the magnitude" of the report before sharing their story.

"While five sisters were the first victims, our family and second generations continue to be impacted," they said. "The depth of this abuse has been life-altering for this and future generations."

James VanSickle, who has accused the Rev. David Poulson of the Diocese of Erie of abuse, called the report " a victory, a major victory," for those longing to be heard. But he said the day did not bring closure.

"I think that all of us will have a hole in our soul for the rest of our lives," he said while standing with two other victims and surrounded by a crush of cameras and reporters. "Healing is impossible."

"Catholicism is in my DNA, but they killed something in me," Juliann Bortz, beside him, said in response.

"But we can help others," VanSickle said. "And through that help, we've begun to heal ourselves."

>> FROM 2005: How silence let clergy abuse continue in Philadelphia diocese

They said they will continue to help other victims and lobby for legislative changes, such as eliminating the statute of limitations on how long victims of childhood sexual abuse have to file civil complaints.

"This is the murder of a soul," said James Faluszczak, a former priest who says he was abused by a priest as a child in the Diocese of Erie. "There is no statute of limitations on the crime of murder."
Christine Hallquist has become the first transgender gubernatorial nominee in U.S. history after winning the Democratic primary in Vermont. Read more

Voters in four states  Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Vermont  went to the polls Tuesday to determine party nominees ahead of November's midterms.

On the ballot were nominees for five Senate contests, three competitive gubernatorial races and several House races expected to be competitive in the general election.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday's elections:

 Six-term Rep. Keith Ellison easily won the Democratic primary for Minnesota attorney general, despite being accused of domestic abuse by a former girlfriend.

 In Wisconsin, the Democratic candidate known as "Ironstache" won the party's nomination, bolstering Democrats' changes of flipping a congressional seat in a safe Republican district being vacated by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

 Christine Hallquist is the first transgender gubernatorial nominee in U.S. history after winning the Democratic primary in Vermont.

Minnesota

In Minnesota, where there's a wide open race for governor, two Senate races and five competitive House seats, the race stealing the most attention is for the state's open attorney general spot.

Six-term Rep. Keith Ellison, the vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, easily secured the Democratic nomination despite domestic abuse allegations that were made by the son of Karen Monahan, a former girlfriend. Monahan has confirmed her son's report, but Ellison has denied the allegations of abuse.

As far as the governor's residence is concerned, former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty failed in his comeback bid to replace retiring incumbent Gov. Mark Dayton. Instead, it will be county commissioner Jeff Johnson facing off against Democratic Rep. Timi Walz, who is giving up his safe seat representing the First Congressional District.

>> READ MORE: Special election results in Ohio; primary results in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Washington

For the first Senate seat, incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar, who has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, easily secured her party's nomination. She's expected easily defeat state Rep. Jim Newberger in November.

Things are more interesting in the race for Minnesota's other Senate seat, which was vacated by Al Franken after he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Incumbent Sen. Tina Smith, who was appointed to replace Franken, secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday night over Richard Painter, George W. Bush's former ethics czar. Smith will face state Sen. Karin Housely, the winner of the Republican primary.

In the First Congressional District, four-time candidate Jim Hagedorn, a former Treasury official, will face former Obama official Dan Feehan, an Iraq War veteran who will attempt to keep the seat vacated by Walz in Democratic control in November.

In the Seventh Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson is expected to win in November despite representing a district rated R+12 by the Cook Political Report. Peterson, who has represented the district since 1991, will face Air Force veteran David Hughes.

In the Eighth Congressional District, Republicans hope to flip a Democratic seat vacated by outgoing incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan, who is on Swanson's gubernatorial ticket. St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber secured the Republican nomination Tuesday night, and will face former state Rep. Joe Radinovich in November.

Wisconsin

Back in April, Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced he would not seek reelection for his First Congressional District seat, and now Democrats are hoping to flip a district President Trump won by 11 points in 2016.

Ironworker and union leader Randy Bryce (who goes by the nickname "Ironstache") secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday night, defeating school board member Cathy Myers. Bryce will face off in November against corporate attorney and former Ryan aide Bryan Steil.

There's also an interesting gubernatorial race shaping up in the Badger state. Tony Evers, the state's superintendent of public instruction, emerged victorious from a crowded field of Democrats to secure the party's nomination. Evers will now take on embattled incumbent Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who is running for his third term.

>> READ MORE: Checking in on Pennsylvania's predicted 'blue wave' | John Baer

As far as the Senate is concerned, Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin will defend her seat against state Sen. Leah Vukmir, the winner of a fierce Republican primary against Kevin Nicholson, a former Democrat and outspoken Trump supporter.

Connecticut

Republicans think they have a legitimate chance to steal the governor's race in deep-blue Connecticut. Business executive and political newcomer Bob Stefanowski emerged from a five-man race to secure the Republican nomination. He will face-off against businessman Ned Lamont, who won the Democratic nomination to replace unpopular incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy, who decided not to run for a third term.

>> READ MORE: Poll: Tom MacArthur, Andy Kim neck-and-neck in key South Jersey U.S. House race

Connecticut's only real competitive House election this November will take place in the Fifth Congressional District. Jahana Hayes, an educator who was selected of "National Teacher of the Year" in 2016, won the Democratic primary to replace incumbent Rep. Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat who was accused to mishandling sexual harassment accusations against a staffer. Hayes will face off against former Meriden mayor Manny Santos, who won the Republican primary Tuesday night.

Vermont

Christine Hallquist has become the first transgender gubernatorial nominee in U.S. history after winning the Democratic primary in Vermont. Among those Hallquist defeated was 14-year-old high school student Ethan Sonneborn (who isn't yet old enough to vote). Hallquist will now face-off against incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott.

Longtime Sen. Bernie Sanders is also running for re-election. He coasted to an easy victory for the Democratic nomination, but just as he has done in previous elections, he will turn it down and run as an independent instead. Sanders will face token opponent in November from the winner of a field of four Republican candidates.

"I've always run as an Independent, and that's what I will do. I think the people of Vermont understand that," Sanders said on MSNBC following the primary win. "I suspect in this coming campaign, our campaign will be putting more money into a lot of good Democratic candidates."
Hundreds of area residents joined hands along the riverfront at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Sunday in solidarity with like-minded peaceful protestors throughout Southwest Florida, decrying the condition of gulf and inland waters.

They were among the thousands of Hands Along the Water participants up and down both coastlines of Florida at at least 30 beaches, many affected by algal blooms and severe fish kills.

Dominique Kuzer, organizer at the Cape Coral event, said the idea was to come together in unity, leaving politics aside.

We want to give our voice to the water that it doesnt have. It started on a Facebook post. Me and another woman jumped on it and I created it in Cape Coral, Kuzer said. It just spread like wildfire.

Kuzer and many others have said they have never see water quality this bad.

In the Calooshatchee and canals in Cape Coral, Pine Island and North Fort Myers, nutrient-heavy, algae-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee have resulted in shore-to-shore pea-green blooms of toxic fish-killing cyanobacteria. The blue-green algae is also befouling the east coast of Florida along and around the St. Lucie River, which experienced a similar devastating bloom in 2016.

Meanwhile, along Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and other beach-front communities from Naples to Tampa Bay, there is on-shore outbreak of toxin-producing Karenia brevis, the organism that makes up red tide.

Both algae blooms are killing fish by the hundreds of thousands as well as sea turtles, porpoises and manatees.

At the Yacht Club this weekend, there were continuing remnants of the conditions, with some dead fish lying on the algae-speckled beach that has been closed to swimming.

Kathy Pecora moved here three years ago to live in paradise.

This, she said, is anything but.

Ive seen such a change in the last three years I dont even want to go near the water. Its really sad, Pecora said. I picked this city because it was supposedly one of the best places to move to. I want the water cleaned up for my generation and others to come.

Shan Davis said they live along a canal, and have been a little luckier than others where the algae is packed in. Still, the stink pretty much keeps them indoors.

It smells like cow manure. It doesnt seem to be getting the importance it should have. The problem is that I dont know if the rest of Florida gets it, Davis said. My biggest worry is that people will forget about it.

Susan Brown and Cindy Rooney, members of the Cape Coral New Residents Club, echoed what many have said for the past few months: It has never been this bad, with dead manatees and fish.

You cant even get into the water because youre going to get sick. Susan has given us the contact information on our congressmen, Brown said. Weve e-mailed Marco Rubio and were heard back from some of them.

What we need to do is clean up Lake Okeechobee and change the laws. The governor took away laws designed to protect the environment and the power we had to protect the environment, Rooney said. Its a multi-faceted situation. Lets get the regulations back in place.

Cindys husband, Mike, said he hasnt had his boat in the water all year because of seawall repairs needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma and now the algae.

After the seawall was done, its not worth putting it out in the water. I cant fish or enjoy the water unless I want to drive 20 miles out into the gulf, Rooney said. Even then I have to smell it.

Sundays event took less than a half-hour. Kuzer had everyone line up on the water at 10 a.m. At 10:14, everyone pointed to the water in honor of the marine life before joining hand for about 15 minutes.

During the event people chanted We want change, and Clean it up.

Many wore surgical masks and a handful were in costume.

Linda France, a 25-year resident, was there to lend her support and said the grass roots effort was amazing.

We gathered to speak for the fish and the residents. Were tired of getting kicked in the can so we decided to make a difference, France said. Its never been this bad and thats why I got involved. We need to clean Lake O and send the water south. I think the local and county government is doing good, but the state and federal have dropped the ball.

Hundreds join Hands Along the Water By Staff | Aug 13, 2018



Hundreds of area residents joined hands along the riverfront at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Sunday in solidarity with like-minded peaceful protestors throughout Southwest Florida, decrying the condition of gulf and inland waters. They were among the thousands of Hands Along the Water participants up and down both coastlines of Florida at at least 30 beaches, many affected by algal blooms and severe fish kills. Dominique Kuzer, organizer at the Cape Coral event, said the idea was to come together in unity, leaving politics aside. We want to give our voice to the water that it doesnt have. It started on a Facebook post. Me and another woman jumped on it and I created it in Cape Coral, Kuzer said. It just spread like wildfire. Kuzer and many others have said they have never seen water quality this bad. In the Calooshatchee and canals in Cape Coral, Pine Island and North Fort Myers, nutrient-heavy, algae-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee have resulted in shore-to-shore pea-green blooms of toxic fish-killing cyanobacteria. The blue-green algae is also befouling the east coast of Florida along and around the St. Lucie River, which experienced a similar devastating bloom in 2016. Meanwhile, along Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and other beach-front communities from Naples to Tampa Bay, there is on-shore outbreak of toxin-producing Karenia brevis, the organism that makes up red tide. Both algae blooms are killing fish by the hundreds of thousands as well as sea turtles, porpoises and manatees. At the Yacht Club this weekend, there were continuing remnants of the conditions, with some dead fish lying on the algae-speckled beach that has been closed to swimming. Kathy Pecora moved here three years ago to live in paradise. This, she said, is anything but. Ive seen such a change in the last three years I dont even want to go near the water. Its really sad, Pecora said. I picked this city because it was supposedly one of the best places to move to. I want the water cleaned up for my generation and others to come. Shan Davis said they live along a canal, and have been a little luckier than others where the algae is packed in. Still, the stink pretty much keeps them indoors. It smells like cow manure. It doesnt seem to be getting the importance it should have. The problem is that I dont know if the rest of Florida gets it, Davis said. My biggest worry is that people will forget about it. Susan Brown and Cindy Rooney, members of the Cape Coral New Residents Club, echoed what many have said for the past few months: It has never been this bad, with dead manatees and fish. You cant even get into the water because youre going to get sick. Susan has given us the contact information on our congressmen, Brown said. Weve e-mailed Marco Rubio and were heard back from some of them. What we need to do is clean up Lake Okeechobee and change the laws. The governor took away laws designed to protect the environment and the power we had to protect the environment, Rooney said. Its a multi-faceted situation. Lets get the regulations back in place. Cindys husband, Mike, said he hasnt had his boat in the water all year because of seawall repairs needed in the wake of Hurricane Irma and now the algae. After the seawall was done, its not worth putting it out in the water. I cant fish or enjoy the water unless I want to drive 20 miles out into the gulf, Rooney said. Even then I have to smell it. Sundays event took less than a half-hour. Kuzer had everyone line up on the water at 10 a.m. At 10:14, everyone pointed to the water in honor of the marine life before joining hand for about 15 minutes. During the event people chanted We want change, and Clean it up. Many wore surgical masks and a handful were in costume. Linda France, a 25-year resident, was there to lend her support and said the grass roots effort was amazing. We gathered to speak for the fish and the residents. Were tired of getting kicked in the can so we decided to make a difference, France said. Its never been this bad and thats why I got involved. We need to clean Lake O and send the water south. I think the local and county government is doing good, but the state and federal have dropped the ball. News from around the region Island server beneficiary of Tip Challenge pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com Islander Stephen Longest is one of many happy recipients of the "Tip ... Medal of Honor recipients family supports memorial for veterans on Fort Myers Beach This August will mark 75 years since Sgt. Charles Andrew MacGillivary was distinguished with the Medal of Honor by ... Cape Council talks taxes Cape Coral City Council made significant changes to the city's mowing program Monday, changing the number of mows ...




AirAsia X Suspending Flights to Kathmandu Nepal

There is a short announcement here. We got this information yesterday and it is official. AirAsia X will stop flying to Kathmandu Nepal.The announcement came as the affected passengers received the email from AirAsia over the cancellation. AirAsia X will be stop flying to Kathmandu effective 13th October 2018.







The announcement stated that AirAsia X will be suspending flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu effective 13 October 2018 due to operational reasons.

Customers affected are advised to move flight, change destination or receive credits for their next trip.

We did a check on AirAsia.com on flights to Kathmandu and indeed the last flight will be on 12 October 2018.

We hope that AirAsia X will be flying to Kathmandu Nepal again one day as we have not visited that beautiful country yet. Thanks for reading.







Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S21 Ultra. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two.

I travel around 17 International trips per year. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For ads or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts
Planetary Science Caucus Launch Event in Washington, D.C.

After helping to establish the Planetary Science Caucus in January, the Society organized its launch event in May. Modeled after our After Cassini event the previous year, the Advocacy team leveraged connections with the Library of Congress, scientific and industry partners, and congressional offices to host a major event in Washington, D.C. for less than $500 of direct costs to the organization. The event featured five members of Congress, speeches by the two co-Chairs John Culberson and Derek Kilmer, hosting by Bill Nye and a significant portion of The Planetary Societys Board of Directors, and included exhibits from seven partner organizations, including Lockheed-Martin, Moon Express, and JHUs Applied Physics Laboratory.

Planetary Society co-hosts a space round table in Washington State

The Planetary Society, working with the University of Washington, co-organized and co-hosted a space round table meeting in Seattle that brought together state legislators, business leaders, and educators to discuss the future of the space industry in the state. The meeting discussed ways in which the space industry could partner with the higher education system to address both private and public needs.

Fundraising and survey responses

Our annual fundraising appeal for the Space Policy & Advocacy program succeeded in raising over $115,000 (not including the $50,000 in matching funds) and secured ~5,000 responses to our policy priorities survey. While this is significantly lower than 2017, it is in-line with previous years efforts.

The surveywhile not scientificnonetheless provides insights into the feelings of a committed subset of the membership and our organizations supporters. Notable was a strong interest in human spaceflight and landing on Mars, strong support for the ongoing operations of the ISS, and planetary defense.

Board member Bob Picardo makes first dedicated visit to Capitol Hill

In our effort to more fully engage the Board of Directors, the D.C. Advocacy team arranged a series of meetings during a visit by Bob Picardo. The focus was on delivering the Societys top-level message for exploration and increasing membership in the Caucus. Bob also made a trip to the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Space Advocacy 101 launches to members and the public

The Planetary Societys first online training course was released to its members via The Planetary Report. We are currently tracking the user experience and preparing for increased marketing in Q4.

Original Content

The team continued to provide regular columns to The Planetary Report, and wrote five original blog posts on space policy issues, generating 14,896 unique page views this quarter.

The Space Policy Edition (SPE) podcast average listenership increased by 10% from the previous quarter. The audience size remains in-line with the weekly episodes of Planetary Radio.

The monthly Space Advocate e-Newsletter audience dipped by 10% to just below 30,000 recipients by the end of the third quarter. This drop was due to the implementation of new opt-in privacy standards from the European GDPR law, which reduced the size of our deliverable list. Not adjusted for delivery permissions, the overall group continued its steady growth to nearly 36,000 individuals.

Actions

We released a new petition addressing the final stages of congressional activity for the FY 19 budget performed well, generating more than 13,000 messages in support of WFIRST, Planetary Science, and space science.

Looking ahead to Q4 (July 1st - September 30th)
KAMPALA  The Foreign Correspondents Association of Uganda (FCAU) an umbrella organisation of journalists working in Uganda for foreign and international news-media has Tuesday, August, 14 warned security agencies against violation of journalists rights.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, FCAU said that they have received information that journalists in Arua have been assaulted and detained by security forces and that equipment has been confiscated.

The authorities must release or charge all journalists detained in Arua, provide access to suitable medical care for those detained and investigate allegations of assaults on the media by security forces, they noted in a statement.

The foreign correspondents also warned that the detained journalists should be released unconditionally, it is essential that journalists are able to freely and independently report current events.

Various media houses on Monday evening including NTV and NBS televisions reported that their journalists went missing following the chaos and gunfire that rocked Arua town when they were reporting live about the death of MP Robert Kyagulanyis driver who was shot dead.

Some of the journalists that went missing include, NTVs Herbert Zziwa and cameraman Ronnie Muwanga but the duo have been released from Gulu Central Police Station on bond after being charged with incitement of violence and malicious damage of property.

Others include John Kibalizi for NBS television and several others

It was later reported that they had been arrested and were being detained at Arua Central police station before being transferred to Gulu Central Police Station.

Harassment of journalists is on the rise in Uganda, and freedom of speech is under threat, according to a recent report by Amnesty International.

Last year, journalists who were marching to commemorate the World press freedom day were badly beaten before being arrested by police in the city centre.

On most of these and many other occasions that have gone unreported by the media, police has walked away with impunity.

Various reports by human rights activists have for many years ranked police as the number one violator of human rights

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By: XANTHIA LENI & CONRAD AHABWE

PARLIAMENT  Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has appealed the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to allow chairpersons of various committees to complete their terms for them to finalising reports on various matters they started.

The committees in question are those of Commissions, State Enterprises and Statutory Authorities (COSASE), the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Local Government.

In the recent reshuffles announced by party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat, COSASE chairman Abdu Katuntu was replaced with Mubarak Munyagwa, PACs Angelline Osegge with Nandala Mafabi and Local Government Accounts chairperson Reagan Okumu with Judith Franca Akello.

But on Tuesday, Ms Kadaga said changing the party leaders at this point will frustrate Parliament business.

Whereas the FDC party is empowered under rule 157 to make changes in the leadership of standing committees, I believe the timing of these changes is not favourable to the smooth operation of those committees and especially parliamentary business, she said during plenary.

Ms Kadaga also revealed that Francis Mwijukye, who has been appointed FDCs new representative in the Parliamentary Commission, replacing Ms Cecilia Atim Ogwal, is illegal since the latter has not served for two-and-a-half years as stipulated in the Administration of Parliament Act.

the appointment of honourable Mwijukye cannot be effective since honourable Cecilia Ogwal has not served for the two-and-a-half years Therefore, the removal of such a member before the expiration of two years is not tenable, she said.

The Speaker added that the appointment of Mr William Nzoghu, the Busongora North MP, to the Pan African Parliament is not tenable since the term of representatives to the parliament runs concurrently with the five-year term for MPs, which ends in 2021.

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NTUNGAMO The bishop of Ankole diocese Rt. Rev. Dr Sheldon Mwesigwa has said Christians cant use force to make him submit to their demand to relinquish the Itojo Archdeaconry to be part of South Ankole diocese asking them to follow the right procedure if they want to split away from the current Diocese.

Speaking during the Service he presided over at St Augustine Archdeaconry church of Uganda Itojo during his first visit to the Archdeaconry since Christians openly protested his failure to relinquish part of the Itojo archdeaconry, saying the secession cant be forced.

I want to tell you anywhere you will go even when you go to the top most, using force you will never get anything. Whatever you do if you are on procedure you will achieve what you want. Bishop Mwesigwa said.

He said he had forgiven Christians who have been against him and will move with the church however saying he has powers to close the church if they remain adamant and fail to abide by the leadership.

I want to thank you for being saved, and born again, the challenges that happened here that you got saved on your heart. I want to tell you that on our heart we have forgiven you and we have no problem with you. Whatever went wrong we seek to be forgiven to, he added.

I want to tell you there is no one who has authority over church property including land, no Christian can come and say I want to use this land because its ours, you here some Bishop who has closed church and took away the keys, we have authority if it goes to extremes we can even close the church, the Locus of power is vested in the registered trustees of the church of Uganda, not the Christians. He said

A section of Christians including the head of Laity Mr Myres Tumusiime Katahwa had attempted to block his visit to the archdeaconry. They however later withdrew but did not attend the Sunday church service mainly attended by students from the nearby primary schools (Itojo Boys Primary school, Blue hope primary school, Itojo progressive primary school and Itojo parents primary school) who comprised more than 60% of the congregation.

There were no welcome songs from several church groups as its the norm for visiting bishops always and the gifts were handed over by the treasurer of the Itojo parish who was the only key member of the parish committee present at church.

In July, Christians at Ruhanga Parish Church of Uganda rejected a priest sent to them by the Ankole diocese opting to have a lay leader as head of the parish. Bishop Mwesigwa said this was only self denial as they are denying themselves services since the Diocese had even aided them sending them a priest.

The unfolding events broke loose on December 25 2017 Christmas day cerebration when Christians protested in the four parishes (Ruhanga. Itojo, Buhanama and Nyongozi) comprising of Itojo archdeaconry carrying posters with Bishop Sheldon crossed over. They demanded that the bishop give them away to South Ankole diocese in Ntungamo district, where they politically belong. Itojo Archdeaconry that takes the boundaries of Itojo sub county of Ntungamo district remain in Ankole diocese located in Ruharo Mbarara district despite other parts of Ntungamo district being in South Ankole Diocese.

Bishop Mwesigwa asked Christians to remain calm and avoid spinning and rumours on the time flame and other issues at hand but rather seek God to guide them in the process.

At least 100 pupils and other 15 Christians were confirmed during the service. The Itojo sub county chairperson Mr Ben Kwesigabo was the only politician from the sub county recognized during the service.

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(Photo: 5.11 Tactical) 5.11 Tactical

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EDI-USAs Terminator riot helmet is designed to be strong and resist tough riot threats faced by police officers, but also be lightweight and very mobile. The steel face cage in front also helps to protect officers against higher impact threats and is compatible with most gas mask models. This is the highest level of non-ballistic head protection manufactured by EDI-USA to protect police officers during riot operations. Available in multiple colors. http://ExecDefense.com

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Tru-Spec

Contractor Cap

The Tru-Spec Contractor Cap is made to complement any uniform or apparel, on duty or off duty. Available in 15 different colors and patterns, the Contractor Cap is designed to be comfortable and adjustable to fit most. It contains front and rear loop patches for secure placement of patches, badges, and name tapes. A loop patch on top allows securing electronics or glint tape. www.truspec.com/accessories/headwear/contractors-caps

(Photo: Team Wendy)

Team Wendy

Exfil Ballistic SL Helmet

Team Wendy says its Exfil Ballistic SL helmet is the lightest proprietary helmet on the market. A full 15% lighter than the original Exfil Ballistic helmet, it features a new SL rail system that allows tool-free installation of the new Exfil Ballistic Visor and Exfil Ballistic Ear Covers. These new accessories provide significant additional ballistic coverage for the wearer, while still meeting key industry performance standards. www.teamwendy.com

(Photo: US Night Vision)

US Night Vision

ATE (Above The Ear) Ballistic Helmet Shell

US Night Vision's ATE NIJ Level IIIA Ballistic Helmet was designed to provide the user with a solid entry level helmet, suitable for combat operations, but compatible with other manufacturers' liners, accessories, and even third-party products. The ATE Ballistic Helmet Shell is made from DuPont Kevlar. The FAST or High Cut Helmet offers significant weight savings, with the ATE weighing in at 3 pounds. Used by military, law enforcement, and security personnel, it's designed to provide the perfect combination of protection, weight, and comfort. http://usnightvision.com/hhv-ate-ballistic-helmet/
The Sacramento (CA) Police Department is reportedly making changes to its foot pursuit policy in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Stephon Clark after chasing him into the backyard of his grandmother's house.

According to the Sacramento Bee, "foot pursuits in risky circumstances like the one that ended Clark's life may be discouraged. Instead, officers will be asked to weigh their own safety, the safety of the public and the importance of apprehending the person before and during a pursuit."

"(I)t's really a policy to give direction and guidance ... around what our officers are supposed to do, what they're supposed to think about, what they're supposed to weigh anytime they get into a situation when they're chasing after a suspect," said Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn in an interview with The Bee.

But Hahn said the policy  which went into effect July 26  is a direct result of the Clark shooting and is the first major policy change the department has instituted after that incident.
VIDEO: Illinois Police Test New Less Lethal Device that Ensnares Resistive Subject

Police officers in Illinois are testing a new restraint weapon designed to fire an 8-foot Kevlar tether  at a range of up to 25 feet  that then ensnares resistive subjects in a high-tech lasso, according to Fox News.

When the device is activated, a 9mm blank propels the rope from the cartridge.

The new handheld device  known as the BolaWrap  costs $800 and each tether cartridge costs $30. It's just gone into production and is being used by a couple of law enforcement agencies in California.

The Las Vegas-based company says it's device is designed to restrain people who are unruly or uncooperative without having to resort to deadly force.

Buffalo Grove (Ill.) Police Chief Steve Casstevens told POLICE Magazine, "It may look like something from Spiderman but I find it very intriguing. I can really see situations where officers would find this as a great tool in their toolbox."
Embed from Getty Images

Police officers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison police and Dane County Sheriff's Office will not march in Madison's upcoming Pride Parade because some LGBTQ community members voiced concerns about feeling unsafe with officers participating armed and in uniform, according to NBC News.

Organizers had previously approved police marching in the parade as long as officers wore plainclothes.

Madison police Lieutenant Brian Chaney Austin  who founded Madison Police Department Pride  said hes disappointed but hopes to further dialogue between the groups.
"In recent years, our investment promotion activities tended to attract investment in targeted types of business activities," Dr. Somkid said. "We must not forget that investments are crucial to support national transformation.

"From now, we have to make sure that investment promotion activities can also effectively address the three major national agendas - increasing national competitiveness, reducing income and social disparity, and promoting sustainability."

He cited the development of the bioeconomy as an example. In promoting investment in the bioeconomy, value will be added to the country's backbone industries. While a bioeconomy would increase national competitiveness, it also generates an income for people and that directly contributes to the reduction of income disparity and points to a long-term sustainable outcome. In terms of environment and resources, the bioeconomy is also focused on environmentally friendly business activities, which contributes to environmental sustainability.

Dr. Somkid also advised the BOI to promote an investment ecosystem. He said that to attract entrepreneurial ventures, the country should not only provide investment incentives but also assist other activities that support the development of startups. Education, people training, infrastructure and a supply chain in the related industries should all be developed to help investors ensure success.

The BOI, which regularly reviews and adjusts its policy and direction to address changing economic and business trends and national agendas, also released its foreign investors' confidence survey for this year.

The board's processes have contributed to a significant improvement in investors' satisfaction and confidence.

The survey showed that investors' confidence reached the highest level in five years, with 98.5% of the respondents confirming that they would continue to invest in Thailand. Out of the 600 companies that responded to the survey, 33% said they planned to expand investment, while 65.5% said their investment in Thailand would continue.

The top three reasons that boosted their confidence in continuing and expanding their investment in Thailand were given as: the availability of raw materials and parts (54.7%), sufficient suppliers (50.8%) and attractive investment incentives (44.5%).

"From this year's survey, it was clear that the ecosystem and supporting industries play an important part in investors' confidence," said Ms. Duangjai Asawachintachit, Secretary-General to the BOI. "Having extensive resources, parts, raw materials and suppliers is key to this success.

"Realizing this, the government and BOI have been promoting local supporting industries throughout these years. New investment promotion incentives have also been customized and offered in response to rapid technology development and more intense business competition."

Survey respondents also expressed improved satisfaction towards BOI's level of service, incentives, services and assistance in visa and work permit solutions. They also cited information provided on its website, the services at BOI's OSOS center, easy access to services and service speed.

For more information, please contact:

Thailand Board of Investment

Email: [email protected]

Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111

Website: www.boi.go.th

Related Links

http://www.boi.go.th



SOURCE Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE: MYM)(CSE: MYM.CN)(MYM.CN) (the "Company" or "MYM") is pleased to announce it as engaged well-known tourism and recreational expert, Sylvain Audet, to develop the concept of the CannaCentre in Weedon, QC. The CannaCentre is associated with the Company's 1.5 million square foot medical cannabis greenhouse complex currently under construction in Weedon, Quebec. The CannaCentre will host a research centre, a training facility, an auditorium for cultural and scientific activities, a hotel, a restaurant, a medical cannabis interpretation centre and a medical clinic.

Mr. Audet will work in close collaboration with the Sherbrooke Historical Society to develop the concept of the medical cannabis museum as part of the CannaCentre. Mr. Audet is tasked with identifying the primary, indirect and complementary clientele targets, to suggest services and activities complementary to the project's infrastructure and evaluate the profitability of the overall project.

"The addition of Sylvain Audet provides the project with the expertise for a harmonious tourism and cultural development," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM. "Mr. Audet's expertise will allow the region to offer a world-class tourism product that is in line with the needs of the local population."

Mr. Audet's experience includes positions with high-end hotels and resorts, regional organizations promoting tourism and ski resorts in the Eastern Townships. Mr. Audet has more than twenty-five years-experience as a recreational tourism consultant for several companies and regional organizations in Canada. He has acquired extensive expertise in tourism brand development, financial benchmarking analysis, marketing research and business plan development in several recreational tourism fields.

Mr. Audet is currently an instructor at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) in the institution's Hospitality and Tourism Management program. Mr. Audet holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Universite Laval (Quebec City) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BAA) in Management and Tourism Intervention from UQAM. Mr. Audet is currently working on a PhD in Business Administration (DBA) at the Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Business School (Scotland).

About MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. is an innovative company focused on acquiring Health Canada licenses to produce and sell high-end medicinal cannabis supplements and topical products. MYM is a shareholder in two production projects in Quebec that are anticipated to have over 1.5 million square feet of production space. MYM is also a shareholder in two additional cannabis production projects in Australia and Colombia. The "Northern Rivers Project" in New South Wales, Australia is expected to have 1.2 million square feet of cannabis production space. In Colombia, MYM partner, Colombia Organica, currently hold a seed to sale license for low THC cannabis and are in the licensing process for the cultivation and production of high THC cannabis extracts. Plans are underway for MYM and Colombia Organica to build a cannabis production facility in the region. To ensure a strong presence and growth potential within the industry, MYM is actively looking to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the technology, nutraceuticals and CBD sectors. MYM shares trade in Canada, Germany and the USA under the following symbols: (CSE:MYM) (OTC:MYMMF) (FRA:0MY) (DEU:0MY) (MUN:0MY) (STU:0MY).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Rob Gietl, CEO

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

http://www.mym.ca

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

Twitter: @mymnutra

Facebook: @mymnutra

Instagram: @mymnutra

Linkedin: @mymnutra

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

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

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

Investor Relations

Terry Brown

+1-855-696-2261

terry.brown@mym.ca

SOURCE MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.
WILMINGTON, Delaware, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Peer-to-Peer Bitcoin Marketplace to Raise Construction Funds through Cryptocurrency Donations

Paxful, a global leader in peer-to-peer finance, announced the latest chapter in its #BuiltWithBitcoin charitable initiative: the construction of a school in Rwanda for students aged 6-15. Located in the Nyamata Sector of Rwanda's Bugesera District, the school will supplement Paxful's first bitcoin-funded school, which launched in the same district earlier this year and serves children aged 3-6.

Continuing its successful partnership with humanitarian organization Zam Zam Water, Paxful jumpstarted the project with a $20,000 donation. Total construction is estimated to cost $100,000, with the balance to be collected through an online crowdfunding campaign. Donations can be made via Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin and Dash. Paxful will match all community donations until the $100,000 goal is met.

"The #BuiltWithBitcoin initiative is a testament to the power of cryptocurrency," said Ray Youssef, CEO of Paxful. "We firmly believe that it can improve lives and make the world a better place."

The new school is expected to be almost double the size of the first, with six classrooms and six full-time teachers serving up to 300 primary school students. It will include a cafeteria, a 35,000-liter potable water well, solar panels for sustainability, and many other resources for the education and enjoyment of students, staff, and faculty.

"Education is a crucial tool for helping those in developing nations increase their standard of living, so we are very pleased to partner with Paxful to serve these bright young students," said Yusuf A. Nessary, founder and president of Zam Zam. "This is only a small glimpse into what we can and will continue to do with the power of cryptocurrency."

Paxful began the #BuiltwithBitcoin initiative in 2017 to promote philanthropy and charity within the cryptocurrency industry. The company plans to construct 100 African schools, as well as donate money for wells and other projects. To learn more about the #BuiltWithBitcoin project, please contact BuiltWithBitcoin@ZamZamWater.Org.

About Paxful:

Paxful is a peer-to-peer marketplace built on open source bitcoin and blockchain technology. It enables anyone in the world to buy, sell and accept bitcoin instantly. Paxful's platform has 1 million monthly active users globally and offers 300+ payment methods. Some of the most popular methods include PayPal, Western Union, Amazon Gift Cards, and iTunes Gift Cards.

About Zam Zam Water:

Zam Zam is a humanitarian organization devoted to playing a vital role in eradicating poverty by providing clean, sustainable water, access to quality education, and more equitable opportunities to villages across the globe.

To contribute to #BuiltwithBitcoin, send all donations to Zam Zam Water:

BTC (Bitcoin): 3Q5CESP85hhXTLSy2HDbSyNchb5Bi8D7ku

BCH (Bitcoin Cash): 15YGniLxo77kfMUWGoRNT6ShUQC93MvaXg

Contact:

Mark Prindle

Fusion PR

646-452-7109

Mark.prindle@fusionpr.com

SOURCE Paxful
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
The confidence Temasek has shown in our business model and development portfolio is a firm endorsement of our strategy, which we look forward to refining and executing on in tandem in the years to come.

Cypress Creek Renewables (Cypress), a leading developer and owner of solar generating assets, today announced that a group led by Temasek, a global investment company headquartered in Singapore, has agreed to purchase preferred equity interests in Cypress.

The $200 million investment represents the purchase by the group of preferred stock and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 10 percent stake of the common stock. Proceeds will support the Companys continued growth through creation, investment, maturation and monetization of its development portfolio. Cypress will continue to operate under its existing management and add two independent directors to its Board.

Temasek has shown itself to be a patient, forward-looking partner focused on generating sustainable long-term returns  and it is this shared vision that makes expansion of our relationship quite natural, said Cypress CEO Matt McGovern. The confidence Temasek has shown in our business model and development portfolio is a firm endorsement of our strategy, which we look forward to refining and executing on in tandem in the years to come.

Our strategy focuses on creating markets, originating projects and allocating capital to the most attractive risk-adjusted opportunities, with success being driven by our ability to navigate development, structural and financial complexities as well as assessing and pricing risk, commented Brad Bauer, Cypress Chief Capital Markets Officer.

Founded in 2014 by Ben Van de Bunt (Chairman), Michael Cohen (President), and Matt McGovern (CEO), Cypress has grown into a leading developer, investor and operator of solar generating assets in regulated and deregulated markets. By the end of 2018 the Company will have developed and placed-in-service over 3.2 GW of projects and own 1.7 GW on-balance sheet.

About Cypress Creek Renewables:

Cypress Creek Renewables is a developer and owner of solar generating assets. We originate, develop and build projects in targeted markets across the United States and create value by selling electricity and solar generating assets. Cypress is a recognized industry leader in this regard, and by the end of 2018 will have developed and placed-in-service over 3.2GW of solar generating assets. For more information about Cypress Creek Renewables, visit https://ccrenew.com/.

About Temasek:

Incorporated in 1974, Temasek is a global investment company headquartered in Singapore. Supported by its network of international offices, Temasek owns a US$235b portfolio as at 31 March 2018, with significant exposure to Singapore and the rest of Asia. Our investment activities are guided by four investment themes and the long-term trends they represent: Transforming Economies; Growing Middle Income Populations; Deepening Comparative Advantages; and Emerging Champions. Our investment strategy allows us to capture opportunities across the sectors in which we invest that help bring about a better, smarter and more connected world. We actively seek sustainable solutions to address present and future challenges. Across the three pillars of the Temasek Charter, we recognize the need to do well as an investor; to do right as an institution; and to do good as a steward. For more information on Temasek, please visit http://www.temasek.com.sg.
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Batty Over Halloween Celebration Was A Treat! The Central Astoria LDCs 6th annual Batty Over Halloween Celebration held on Sunday, October 24 was a real treat for everyone who came out. Excited...

Invest In Violence Intervention This week U.S. Senator Charles Schumer advocated for at least $5 billion in funding for Community-based Violence Intervention (CVI) programs to be included in the...
Rantoul, IL (61866)

Today

Cloudy with occasional light rain . Low near 50F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional light rain . Low near 50F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Moscow court refuses to seize $100 mln assets of Metrobank ex-managers

 RIA Novosti

10:59 14/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 14 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court has dismissed an application filed by Russias Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) seeking seizure of assets worth 6.2 billion rubles ($100 million) belonging to 6 ex-managers of Metrobank, the court documents read.

According to the DIA, former managers of the bank provided credits to technical legal entities, which were not involved in economic activity on the scale of the provided funds and did not have the property that could be used to pay off the debt.

In July 2015, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Metrobank bankrupt.
Russian citizen gets 9 years in prison for terrorist group membership

 RIA Novosti, Andrey Stenin

11:12 14/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 14 (RAPSI)  The North Caucasus District Military Court has sentenced a native of the Republic of Ingushetia Abdul-Malik Albakchiyev to 9 years in prison for joining the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization banned in Russia, the courts spokesperson Alena Katkalo has told RAPSI.

The court found that the defendant took part in warfare on the ISIS side in Syria from February to March 2015. He was arrested on his return to Russia in mid-March 2015.

The man has been charged with engagement in terrorist activity, illegal purchase, delivery, sale, storage, transport or bearing of explosives or explosive devices.

According to the courts spokesperson, Albakchiyev has pleaded not guilty.

The Islamic State, an organization which is prohibited in Russia, is currently one of the major threats to global security. Over three years, these terrorists have managed to seize large areas of Iraq and Syria. Currently, various forces combat the organization in both countries with battle for Iraqi Mosul as one of the most crucial directions.
Opposition activist Udaltsov arrested by Russian police once more

 RIA Novosti, Ramil Sitdikov

18:01 14/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 14 (RAPSI)  Russian opposition activist Sergey Udaltsov was arrested by police officers on Tuesday in the aftermath of a rally against national pension reform, his wife Anastasia Udaltsova wrote on her Twitter account.

According to Udaltsova, the activist was transported to the Meschansky District Court of Moscow.

On July 28, political left organizations held a mass rally against the pension reform in Russia. Allegedly, Udaltsov took part in the public action before appearing at the designated location for a rally.

On July 19, the State Duma passed in the first reading amendments to the pension system. The document, which was suggested in mid-June by the government, provides a gradual increase in the retirement age of up to 65 years for men and up to 63 years for women.
Cybercrime solving rate reached over 40% in 2017  Russian prosecutors

 flickr.com/Surian Soosay

14:23 14/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 14 (RAPSI)  Cybercrime solving rate reached 41.3% in 2017, Russias Prosecutor Generals Office reported Tuesday.

However, the number of undetected crimes in this field has increased almost by one third, from 790 to 1,031. The overall number of cybercrimes committed last year exceeded 90,000 representing 4.4% of the total number of all crimes recorded in Russia, the statement reads.

The most common cybercrimes are hacking, creation, use and distribution of malicious computer programs, according to prosecutors.

Most of cybercrimes were committed in Russias Udmurt (194) and Komi (132) republics, the Prosecutor Generals Office said. In Moscow 60 crimes were recorded in this sphere in 2017.
Russian businessman charged with embezzlement arrested in Germany

 flickr.com/tjuel

17:37 14/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 14 (RAPSI)  CEO of the construction company Express Valery Markovkin charged in Russia with embezzling over 60 million rubles (about $900,000) from housing investors has been arrested in Germany, the Russian Investigative Committees press service reports Tuesday.

Markovkin has been earlier put on the international wanted list, the statement reads.

After being informed of the businessmans arrest, Russian investigators forwarded a request for his extradition to German authorities.

According to investigation, Markovkin for years raised the citizens funds for participation in the shared construction in Veliky Novgorod. When he raised over 60 million rubles, he spent the money at his sole discretion. However, the construction has not been completed.

Investigation into the businessman is underway.
IMAGE: Umar Khalid looks on after an attempt was made to shoot him by an unidentified person at the Constitution Club near Parliament. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo

A day after he was attacked by an unidentified assailant in New Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid on Tuesday alleged the real culprits were people breeding an atmosphere of hatred, bloodlust and fear from their seats of power and those providing a complete impunity for assassins and mob lynchers.

On a day when the Delhi Police handed over the case to its special cell, which incidentally is already probing an old sedition case against him and two other students, Khalid also referred to the 'Tukde Tukde' hashtag being prefixed to his name when it was the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders who openly support those who say they will do 'tukde tukde' of the country (break the country into pieces) if a certain movie is released.

Khalid, who has often been target of the right-wing trolls on social media platforms with allegations of being anti-national ever since some anti-India slogans were allegedly chanted at an event in JNU, also alleged that he has been a victim of a media trial for the last two years without any evidence or charge sheet.

While the attack, which took place in the national capital's high security zone outside the Constitution Club at a short distance away from Parliament and just two days before Independence Day, has already raised questions about security cover of the city, Khalid launched a no-holds-barred attack on the government in a Facebook post and said he always got a callous response whenever he sought security from Delhi Police in the last two years.

In the post, he also tagged a picture in which he is seen with journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead last September in Bengaluru.

With the repeated death threats against my life, and having seen the assassinations of one activist after the other in the last few years, I somehow knew that someday a gun may be turned against me too, he wrote.

Dhabolkar, Kalburgi, Pansare, Gauri Lankesh the list of assassinations has been ever-growing. But can I say that I was ready for this? Can anyone ever say that they are ready for such an eventuality for real? No, he said.

Khalid said the fact that he was attacked by an armed assailant in one of the most high security zones of the national capital two days before Independence Day proved how some people felt they enjoyed impunity under the current regime.

He said he did not know his attackers but they were not the real culprits.

The real culprits are those who from their seats of power have been breeding an atmosphere of hatred, of bloodlust and fear. The real culprits are those who have provided an atmosphere of complete impunity for assassins and mob lynchers, he said.

The real culprits are those spokespersons of the ruling party and the prime time anchors and TV channels who have spread canards about me, branded me anti-national based on lies and virtually incited a lynch-mob against me, Khalid continued.

Why is it that hashtags like Tukde Tukde has literally become a prefix to my name, whereas BJP leaders openly support those who say they will do tukde tukde of the country if a certain movie is released? he asked.

Khalid was attacked when he was on his way to take part in an event at the Constitution Club after having tea at a shop outside the venue.

The police has said they were not intimated about the event in which Khalid was participating.

A police officer, privy to the probe, said police had seized the weapon and preliminary forensic examination suggested that the pistol had jammed.

He said they were yet to ascertain whether shots were fired as no empty cartridges were found on the spot.

The attacker had dropped the weapon and fled the spot, police and witnesses said. A case of attempt to murder was registered by the police later.
Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon, who was one of the founder members of the Bharatiya parent organisation Jan Sangh, died after suffering a heart attack at a government hospital on Tuesday, an official said. He was 90.

Tandon breathed his last at the state-run Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital where he was rushed on Tuesday morning after he complained of uneasiness, the governors secretary, Surendra Kumar Jasiwal said.

He was kept in the hospitals critical care unit in view of his serious condition, he said.

Tandon suffered a heart attack, the hospitals medical superintendent, Dr Vivek Choudhary, said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, who visited the hospital earlier on getting the news of Tandons illness, announced a seven-day state mourning in view of the governors demise.

In view of the governors demise, Independence Day will be observed in a traditional manner on Wednesday and there will be no award and cultural ceremonies, the CM said in an official release.

Tandons body will be taken to Raj Bhawan, the governors house, where it will be kept for people to pay their respects at 5 pm, Singh said.

The body will be taken later to Tandons native place in Punjab, he said.

In his condolence message, the chief minister said that as governor, Tandon offered his valuable services to Chhattisgarh for around four years.

He was like a father figure to me, Singh said.

Tandon had assumed the office of governor in Chhattisgarh on July 2014.

He was one of the founder members of Jan Sangh, from which the Bharatiya Janata Party was born.

During his long political career, he served on various posts, including as deputy chief minister of Punjab.

The six-time MLA was also jailed from 1975 to 1977 during Emergency.
The Madras high court on Tuesday transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation the probe into the police firing in Tuticorin district during the anti-Sterlite protests that claimed 13 lives and directed the central agency to conclude the investigation within four months.

It also quashed an order detaining six members of the 'Makkal Adhikaram,' a Left outfit accused of inciting violence in the district. Six of them were arrested under the National Security Act.

Transferring the case from Tamil Nadu Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department police, the court ordered the director of the CBI to set up a special team for investigation which shall be concluded within four months.

Pointing to several lapses, the court posed a series of questions, including how self-loading rifles found their way out of the armoury and came to be used in the firing, how snipers were perched atop vehicles and how persons came to be shot in the face and chest.

"These are the questions that cry for an answer," the court said in its order.

A division bench of Justices C T Selvam and Basheer Ahmed passed the order on a batch of petitions related to the police firing on May 22 when the protest demanding closure of the copper plant of Sterlite, a unit of Vedanta group, over pollution concern, turned violent.

In the police firing, 13 people were killed on May 22 and 23. The deaths drew widespread condemnation by opposition political parties, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in the state.

The petitions which sought different reliefs, including registration of murder case against the police officials for allegedly deploying snipers, probe by a high court judge and the CBI, were heard at the Madurai Bench of the court and the order was delivered at the principal seat in Chennai on Tuesday.

"It can hardly be expected that any investigation either into the wrong doings of the protesters or of the police or administration would inspire confidence if entrusted to agencies of this state," the bench said.

"Caesar's wife must be above suspicion and not only must justice be done it must also be seen to be done," it said.

The bench said the state government was liable to answer certain questions over the firing.

It noted that the absence of the district collector was rather unusual in the face of definite input of anti-social elements infiltrating the 100th day protest against Sterlite on May 22, which prompted promulgation of ban orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the area.

Also, the bench said police firing was ordered by an official who was not a jurisdictional executive magistrate and admittedly on his assuming powers which he did not possess.

The first information report stated that all actions required of the executive magistrate prior to passing the firing order were done, not by the magistrate, but by police officials, the bench said.

Noting that it was no secret that the first bench (of the court headed by the Chief Justice) had earlier questioned why the investigation should not be handed over to the CBI, the judges said: "We on independent consideration and for reasons aforesaid would affirm such opinion."

It will be duty of the CBI to get to the bottom of things and file such charge sheet or charge sheets as investigation reveals and necessitates.

The court also said even if the police firing was not premeditated, the officials had not followed the Police Standing Order (which lays down an elaborate step-by-step procedure to disperse unlawful assemblies).

The standing order by itself affords no assurance against subsequent occurrences of similar nature, the bench said.

"We direct the Director General of Police to form a committee towards recasting and modifying the Police Standing Order 703 so as to meet future contingencies," it said.

International standards for the use of force and fire arms as per the United Nations Guidelines as also other material or contemporary literature may usefully be referred to in modifying the standing order.
A day after Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah made a fresh push for simultaneous polls, the Congress on Tuesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha so that its elections could be held with those due in four states later this year, while Shiv Sena mocked its ally, saying it may hold Indian polls together with the United States and Russia.

On its part, the BJP asserted that it was in favour of holding simultaneous polls as per the law and with consensus, but rejected reports that it had plans to hold assembly polls in 11 states together with those of the Lok Sabha.

Amid mixed political reactions, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat virtually ruled out holding simultaneous elections anytime soon saying it was not possible without a legal framework as any extension or curtailment of the term of assemblies will require a constitutional amendment.

Bihar Chief Minister and BJP ally Nitish Kumar also spoke on similar lines, saying the 'one nation, one poll' proposal was not implementable in the forthcoming general elections though it was a good idea.

Amid talks of simultaneous polls, the Congress dared Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha early and announce general elections along with polls in four states where the terms of the assemblies end this year.

Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot asserted that postponing the upcoming state assembly elections and conducting these with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 is 'not possible' under the Constitution or the law.

He said elections in Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will have to be conducted before the terms of these assemblies end.

"There is only one way of holding simultaneous elections. The prime minister should dissolve the Lok Sabha and hold polls along with the four state assembly elections," Gehlot told a press conference.

"The Congress will welcome it. We are prepared," he said.

The BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena used the debate to take potshots at its bigger partner, saying it 'may even propose to hold the elections simultaneously with those in the US and Russia'.

Sena's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also wondered how holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously will benefit the country.

"They (the BJP) may conduct the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Or, they will hold the elections together with those in the US and Russia. You never know what will emerge out of the heads of top BJP leaders. What is the interest of the country in that (holding simultaneous polls)," he said.

The Chief Election Commissioner said a legal framework was required to implement the idea of holding simultaneous polls.

"If the term of some state assemblies needs to be curtailed or extended, then a constitutional amendment will be required... Logistics arrangements with regard to 100 per cent availability of VVPATs (paper trail machines) will be a constraint," he told reporters to a question on whether simultaneous elections can be held anytime soon.

"On the issue of 'one nation one poll', the Election Commission had given inputs and suggestions in 2015 itself.... Other requirements of additional police force, polling personnel would also be needed," he said.

The CEC said the poll panel would continue to deliver its responsibility of conducting elections whenever the term of any state assembly come to an end.

Nitish Kumar, who has been advocating simultaneous polls for state assemblies and Lok Sabha for quite some time, said it would not be possible in the next general elections. It is a good idea but the time is not yet ripe for its implementation, the Janata Dal-United president said.

Supporting simultaneous polls, Shah in a letter to the Law Commission on Monday had dubbed the opposition to it as politically motivated, and asserted that the exercise will curb expenditure and ensure the nation is not in "election mode" throughout the year as it hampers development work.

He said his party was committed to this idea and explicitly believed that in a progressive democracy like India, elections should be held at a fixed time and for a fixed tenure so that people's representatives can carry out their duties effectively.
Two Pakistani troopers were killed by the Indian Army in response to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said on Tuesday.

Indian troops carried out operations on Monday night after the ceasefire violations.

In retaliatory action to unprovoked ceasefire violations and repeated attempts to facilitate infiltration by Pakistan Army in Tangdhar sector, own troops carried out calibrated operations last night in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.
From Jammu and Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh and all the way to Kerala, the rains have wreaked havoc in the country.

Villages are flooded, roads have washed away and many people have lost their lives due to rains related incidents.

Altogether 776 people have lost their lives, 187 of them in Kerala, in incidents related to rains, floods and landslides in almost nine states during the monsoon season so far, the home ministry said.

According to the home ministry's National Emergency Response Centre, 2,406 villages in 14 districts of Kerala have been badly hit by the rains and floods and over 26,400 hectres of crops were damaged.

Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc in Jammu as some houses were damaged, roads washed away and livestock worth lakhs perished. Here's a view of 'Har ki Pauri' along the flooded Tawi River. Photograph: PTI Photo

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was also suspended after being blocked by multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Photograph: PTI Photo

In Srinagar too, heavey rains flooded the low-lying areas. Photograph: PTI Photo

However, torrential rains brought much-needed respite to the residents of Kashmir from the unusually high temperatures. Photograph: S Irfan/PTI Photo

A view of the Har Ki Pauri along the banks of flooded Tawi River after heavy rains in Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo

Odisha also faced the rain fury. The state government has asked all district collectors to remain alert to a possible flood situation amid a forecast of heavy rainfall across the state in the next 72 hours. The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the southern and western parts of Odisha, coastal areas and northern parts of the state on August 14 and western areas on August 15. Photograph: PTI Photo

The monsoon fury not even spared a police station in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad. According to the home ministry's National Emergency Response Centre, as many as 171 people have died in Uttar Pradesh so far, in incidents related to rains, floods and landslides. Photograph: PTI Photo

A view of a flooded George town police station following heavy rain in Allahabad. Photograph: PTI Photo

However, Kerala is facing its worst flood in history. The 'God's own country' is continued to reel under the impact of unprecedented floods as heavy rain pounded several parts of the state, triggering landslips and claiming many lives so far in the last six days. Here's an aerial view of the floods in Aluva town. Photograph: PTI Photo

In the picturesque Wayanad district alone, over 14,000 people have taken shelter in 124 relief camps, the state's disaster control room said. One unit of the Territorial Army has also been deployed in Kerala. The Indian Air Force has deployed one Advance Light Helicopter (ALH), two Mi-17V chopper, four AN 32 aircraft, the Indian Navy has deployed One ALH, 20 divers. The army has also deployed one column of Military Engineering Group with 37 persons at Calicut, one column with 37 persons at Idukki and one column with 32 persons at Aluva. Photograph: PTI Photo

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has sanctioned a grant of Rs 100 crore to flood-ravaged Kerala, with the state pegging its damages at Rs 8,316 crore. The Kerala government had sought an assistance of Rs 1,220 crore from the Centre to tide over the crisis. Photograph: PTI Photo

Landslides were reported from various places in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Idukki and Wayanad districts, as nearly one lakh people rendered homeless due to the deluge took refuge in hundreds of relief camps. Photograph: PTI Photo

The weatherman has issued a fresh warning asking fishermen not to venture into the sea, saying the coasts of Kerala and Lakshadweep may experience winds packing speeds of 35 to 45 kmph, sometimes going up to 60 kmph. Large parts of the state known for its verdant valleys and plantations looked like a massive swamp, with houses flattened and marooned, and crops destroyed. Photograph: PTI Photo

Kerala's worst-affected Idukki district continued to reel under the impact of unprecedented floods following the opening of the five shutters of Cheruthoni dam, part of Idukki reservoir. Photograph: PTI Photo

Nearly two lakh people have been living in relief camps in Kerala while 14 teams of National Disaster Response Force consisting of 399 rescuers and 34 boats were deployed in the state. Photograph: PTI Photo

The deluge and rains have hit 22 districts in West Bengal in which 170 people have lost their lives. Photograph: PTI Photo

In Assam, 11.45 lakh people have borne the brunt of the rains and floods, which also hit crops in 27,552 hectares of land. Altogether 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force were engaged in rescue and relief operations in Assam, the NERC said. Photograph: PTI Photo

At least 18 people were killed in Himachal Pradesh as heavy rains pounded parts of hill state, triggering landslides and many rivers flowing above the danger mark. Photograph: PTI Photo

Restoration has been works underway after a major landslide on the national highway near Malyana, in Himachal Pradesh due to heavy rains. Authorities have advised tourists to reschedule their visit to the state. Photograph: PTI Photo

Six national highways were among 923 roads closed due to landslides during heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh since Sunday, a state government official said. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Himachal Pradesh government has released Rs 96.50 crore for relief and rescue operations following loss of human life and the property. Photograph: PTI Photo

People residing in low-lying areas have been asked not to go near the Beas River as water is being released from the Pandoh Dam in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district. Photograph: PTI Photo

A view of flooded village as Suketi River hits danger mark following heavy monsoon rainfall, in Mandi . Photograph: PTI Photo
At least 30 people were killed after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy following a violent storm.

Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini was quoted as saying that 'around 30' have been killed and many injured in a serious condition'.

In the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, a large stretch of the A10 freeway tumbled on to railway lines in the northern port city.

The country's deputy transport minister warned that the toll could climb further.

Genoa is located between the sea and the mountains of northwestern Italy. Its rugged terrain means that motorways that run through the city and the surrounding area are characterised by long viaducts and tunnels.

The cause of the incident is still unclear; however, the authorities suspect the structural weakness as the reason behind the collapse.

Authorities also speculated that the cause of the collapse might be the unusually high traffic on the bridge.

The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, overspans dozens of railway lines as well as an industrial zone housing several factories.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that France was 'by Italy's side in this tragedy and is ready to offer all necessary support'.

Tuesday's incident is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of economic stagnation.

Photographs: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters
Major Aditya Kumar, who was embroiled in a controversy after his unit fired on a stone-pelting mob in South Kashmir's Shopian in January leading to death of three persons, is among 20 armed forces personnel named for the Shaurya Chakra award.

Rifleman Aurangzeb, left, who was brutally killed by terrorists in Pulwama in June when he was on his way home for Eid, will also be conferred the third highest gallantry award.

Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh has been named for the Kirti Chakra award posthumously. He was killed in an anti-terror operation in November 2017 in Algar village in South Kashmir.

Six women officers of the Indian Navy, who were part of the expedition to circumnavigate the globe, were awarded Nao Sena medals.

The list of gallantry award winners was released by the defence ministry on the eve of the Independence Day.

The awards were approved by President Ram Nath Kovind, in his capacity as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. No name for the Ashok Chakra, the highest gallantry award, was announced by the government.

A number of Army personnel who showed bravery and made sacrifices in anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir figured in the list of gallantry awardees.

On selecting major Aditya for Shaurya Chakra, an official release said he is being awarded for 'meticulous planning and gallant action' during an anti-terror operation in Budgam in Kashmir in November 2017.

The unit led by Major Aditya had opened fire on a group of stone-pelters in Shopian on January 27 following which the Jammu and Kashmir Police filed a first information report against the army personnel involved in the incident.

In February, the father of Major Aditya had moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the FIR. During hearing of the case, the Centre said the state government cannot lodge an FIR against serving army personnel when the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was in force in the state.

Rifleman Aurangzeb, who belonged to the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, was on way back home on June 14 to celebrate Eid when terrorists abducted him.

Hours later, his bullet-riddled body was found at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora, in Pulwama district. His killing triggered widespread outrage in Kashmir.

The official release said Aurangzeb is being conferred the award for his bravery during an anti-terror operation in South Kashmir on November 6 last year.

Separately, a total of 96 Army personnel have been named for Sena medal. 26 Armymen were also selected for Mention-in-Despatches award.

Moreover, Central Reserve Police Force has been awarded five Shaurya Chakras, two President Police Medal for Gallantry and 89 Police Medal for Gallantry.

Head constable A S Krishna, constables K Dinesh Raja and Prafulla Kumar of the 45th battalion of the force were decorated with the Shaurya Chakra for their gallant act of thwarting a suicide attack on their camp in Sumbal in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on June 5 last year.

As the troops were alert and prepared, the CRPF team eliminated the four terrorists and finished the operation in quick 45 minutes, the citation for the operation read.

Deputy Commandant K S Chahar and constable D Ravindra Baban (posthumously) of the 182nd battalion of the force won the military medal (Shaurya Chakra) for their brave act of thwarting a similar attack by three militants on the district police line camp in Pulwama on August 26 last year.

The encounter had gone on for 20 hours.

'Head constable Baban laid down his life for the cause of the nation in the treacherous gunfire,' the citation said.

The country's largest paramilitary force, with over three lakh personnel in its ranks, got the highest of these bravery medals and only its personnel were chosen amongst all the forces for the top notch President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).

It also got 89 Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) making the highest tally of these citations for it during any Independence Day.

While Constable Sharief-ud-din Ganaie and Head Constable Mohd Tafail got the PPMG posthumously for displaying raw grit and courage during the December 30 last year suicide attack on their camp in Lethpora (Awantipora district), eight of their colleagues were decorated with the PMG for the same operation.

The midnight attack on the 131-acre camp, that had inadequate perimeter security owning to ongoing construction, went on for over 36 hours during which five men of the paramilitary force were killed.

'Operation Lethpora was one of the most daunting and challenging operations and it was replete with numerous challenges, including logistical constraints, the enormous and knotty terrain, including rescue of scores of trapped force personnel in the buildings and overcoming of the initial casualities,' the citation said.

Three terrorists were killed at the end of the violent siege and a lethal cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from them.

While Ganaie, who was one of the sentries of the camp, and Tafail laid down their lives in the line of duty, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) A S Negi, assistant commandants Naresh Kumar and L Ibomcha Singh, Assistant sub-inspector Uttam Raj and constables S Prakash, Jitendra Kumar, Budhi Singh and Zulfiqar Ahmed were also awarded for rendering their duty with courage.

The CRPF had deployed close to 65 battalions in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-militancy and law and order assistance duties. Each of its battalion had about 1,000 personnel.

A total of 177 PMsG were awarded this time to various state police and central paramilitary forces, a government release said.

The CRPF was followed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police that was accorded 37 PMsG, Odisha Police (11), Border Security Force (10), Maharashtra Police (8), Chhattisgarh Police (6) among others.

A total of 942 state police and paramilitary personnel were decorated with various service medals on the eve of the 72nd Independence Day.

In addition to that, 14 officials of the border guarding force Indo- Tibetan Border Police have been decorated with the President's Police Medals for meritorious and distinguished service.

Those decorated include Deputy Commandant and Senior Administrative Officer Devinder Pal (distinguished service) and Commandant of the 51st battalion M S Guleria (meritorious service), among others.

The nearly 90,000-strong force is primarily tasked with guarding the 3,488 km Sino-India border apart from other internal security duties, including conducting anti-Naxal operations.

18 officials of the Railways' police force have been awarded the President's Police Medals for meritorious and distinguished service on the eve of Independence Day.

Those decorated include Dr S N Pandey, Inspector General, Railway Board, for distinguished service. Seventeen others were awarded for meritorious services.

The winners of the President's Police Medal for meritorious services include Sanjay Kumar Mishra, DIG/RPSF (Railway Protection Special Force), Nagsen Shetiba Menger, Sub-Inspector/Central Railway, Mal Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector/North Western Railway, among others.

The Railway Protection Force is a 65,000-strong security force entrusted with protecting passengers, passenger area and Railway property.

List of defence personnel who have been conferred gallantry awards

KIRTI CHAKRA:

Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh (Army) (Posthumous)

SHAURYA CHAKRA:

Lt Col Arjun Sharma (Army)

Major Pawan Gautam (Army)

Maj Aditya Kumar (Army)

Maj Pawan Kumar (Army)

Captain Kaninder Paul Singh (Army)

Capt Varma Jayesh Rajesh (Army)

Naib Subedar Anil Kumar Dhayia (Army)

Naib Subedar Vijay Kumar Yadav (Army)

Havildar Kul Bahadur Thapa (Army)

Havildar Jaweed Ahmad Bhat (Army)

Gunner Ranjit Singh (Army)

Rifleman Aurangzab (Army) (Posthumous)

Rifleman Rathva Lilesh Bhai (Army)

Rifleman Jaiprakash Oraon (Army) (Posthumous)

Captain P Rajkumar (Navy)

Head Constable A S Krishna (CRPF)

Constable K Dinesh Raja (CRPF)

Constable Prafulla Kumar (CRPF)

Deputy Commandant Kuldeep Singh Chahar (CRPF)

Dhanawade Ravindra Baban (CRPF) (Posthumous)

BAR TO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY):

Capt Rakesh Nair (Army)

Capt Umesh Lamba (Army)

Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani (Army)

SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY):

Lt Col Mahendra Pal Singh Bhadoria (Army)

Lt Col Samar Raghav (Army)

Lt Col Rakesh Tokas (Army)

Maj Ranveer Singh (Army)

Maj Jitendra Singh Mehta (Army)

Maj James Jacob (Army)

Maj Raman Gakhar (Army)

Maj Avijit Singh (Army)

Maj Vikram Sharma (Army)

Maj Abhishek Sinha (Army)

Maj Deepak Singh (Army)

Maj Khadse Nandkishor Dipak (Army)

Maj Kamal Kumar Chhetri (Army)

Maj Aditya Sharma (Army)

Maj Hemant Dutta (Army)

Maj V Rahul Saxena (Army)

Maj Jaikant Singh (Army)

Maj Bhanu Rana (Army)

Maj Mayank Mishra (Army)

Maj Sumeet Bharadwaj (Army)

Maj Girish Sharma (Army)

Maj Ishan Dhiman (Army)

Capt Sagar Prakash Pardeshi (Army)

Capt Shashank Sharma (Army)

Capt Krishnakumar K (Army)

Capt Udit Mohan Raj (Army)

Lt Navin Kumar (Army)

Subedar Karan Singh (Army)

Naib Subedar Bipin Singh (Army)

Havildar Ramvir Singh (Army)

Havildar Shiv Kumar (Army)

Havildar Ram Lal (Army)

Havildar Sandeep Kumar (Army)

Havildar Rakesh Kumar (Army)

Acting Lance Dafadar Hans Raj (Army)

Naik Satnam Singh (Army)

Naik Jagjit Singh (Army)

Naik Rakesh Kumar Chotia (Army) (Posthumous)

Naik Sanjay Singh (Army)

Naik Gulvir Singh (Army)

Naik Jagatinder Singh (Army)

Naik Bakshi Ram Singh (Army)

Naik Mudasir Ahmad (Army) (Posthumous)

Naik Zahir Abas (Army)

Naik Nazir Ahmad Bhat (Army)

Naik Surjeet Singh (Army)

Naik Devi Singh (Army)

Naik Dharam Pal (Army)

Naik Kulwant Singh (Army)

Naik Shreekant Kari (Army)

Naik Jagira Ram (Army)

Naik Lourdhu Raju Reddy Mosu (Army)

Naik Krashan Singh Rajput (Army)

Lance Naik Ajay Kumar (Army)

Lance Naik Partap Singh (Army)

Lance Naik Sanjay Yadav (Army)

Lance Naik Javaid Ahmad Bhat (Army)

Lance Naik Gopal Singh (Army)

Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar (Army)

Lance Naik Neelesh Singh (Army) (Posthumous)

Lance Naik Kainato K Achumi (Army)

Lance Naik Jatinder Singh (Army)

Sepoy Bhusare Shivaji Gangadhar (Army)

Sepoy Ravi Bhushan Shahi (Army)

Sepoy Vijay Singh Gurjar (Army)

Sepoy Surendra Kumar (Army)

Sepoy Dinesh Kumar (Army)

Sepoy Bhanu Pratap Singh Tomar (Army)

Sepoy Hariom Singh Pundir (Army)

Sepoy Abdul Aziz Khan (Army)

Sepoy Het Ram Godara (Army) (Posthumous)

Sepoy Jeewan Kumar (Army)

Sepoy Lalit Chand (Army)

Sepoy Sachin Kumar (Army)

Sepoy Mahesh Singh (Army)

Sepoy Lal Babu Yadav (Army)

Sepoy S P Somi (Army)

Sepoy Mukesh Singh (Army)

Sepoy Bansode Jivan Uttam (Army)

Sepoy Manjinder Singh (Army) (Posthumous)

Rifleman Krishna Chandra Jakhmola (Army)

Rifleman Sachin Kumar (Army)

Paratrooper Manas Tung (Army)

Gunner Ranjeet Kumar (Army)

Gunner Arvinder Kumar (Army) (Posthumous)

Sowar Rajesh Kumar (Army)

Sowar Rahul Singh Bhadouria (Army)

Sowar Sanjay Paswan (Army)

Signalman Kushwah Pradishingh Brijkishorsingh (Army) (Posthumous)

Sapper Pavan B S (Army)

Sepoy Pargat Singh (Army) (Posthumous)
The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that distinct IDs will be created by collecting biometric details of 40 lakh people filing claims and objections with respect to Assam's National Register of Citizens.

It said that after the publication of the final list of NRC, those people whose name will figure in it will be given usual Aadhaar number as applicable to legal residents in the country.

A bench of justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph was told by Attorney General K K Venugopal that the Centre has prepared the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as per apex court's earlier order.

The bench asked them to file the report before the registry and it will be taken up for hearing on August 16.

The government in its affidavit told the apex court that though it had been initially proposed that the process of claims and objections will happen from August 30 to September 28, it would be reasonable to give at least two months time for receiving claims and objections.

It said that during the course of the hearings by NCR authorities on disposing of claims and objections, the state government in collaboration with Unique Identification Authority of India will undertake the process of biometric enrolment of all the applicants of NRC.

"The biometric enrolment in respect of persons who are part of claims and those persons objected upon will be distinctive and separate ID will be generated. Once the final NRC has been published such persons who are included in the NRC will be given the usual Aadhaar number as applicable to legal residents in the country," the government said.

It said that in case a person already has Aadhaar number who is also a part of the claim or objected upon, his Aadhaar number will be obtained.

The government which filed the SOPs to be adopted for disposing of claims and objections with regard to NRC, said that various organisations have made representations that adequate time period at least 3 to 4 months be provided for the purpose of filing the claims and objections.

"It has been initially proposed that the process of claims and objections will happen from August 30 to September 28, 2018. However, it would be reasonable to give at least two months time for receiving claims and objections," it said.

Giving the timeline based on assumption, it said that Class-1 officers will be deployed by the State government and 5 hearing per day will take place or eight hearings per day for cases of children of 14 years or less.

It said that although the hearings on claims and objections will commence from December 15, 2018 but time line for disposal can only be firmed up once the actual number of claims and objections received are known.

It further gave the details as what documents will be needed and what not at the stage of filing of claims and objections and at the stage of hearing by NRC authorities.

On July 31, the apex court had made it clear that there will be no coercive action by authorities against over 40 lakh people, whose names do not figure in NRC, observing that it was merely a draft.

It had asked the Centre to formulate modalities and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including timelines for deciding claims and objections arising out of the publication of the draft NRC.

It had said that the modalities and SOPs prepared by ministry concerned of government of India should be 'fair and giving reasonable opportunity to everyone'.

Second draft NRC list was published on July 30 in which out of 3.29 crore people, names of 2.89 crore have been included in the draft NRC.

Names of 40,70,707 people do not figure in the list. Of these, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and the remaining 2,48,077 are on hold.

The first draft of the NRC for Assam was published on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 according to the top court's direction. Names of 1.9 crore people out of the 3.29 crore applicants were incorporated.

Assam, which had faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC, which was first prepared in 1951.

The top court, which is monitoring the NRC work, had earlier said that the claims of those citizens, whose names do not figure in the draft NRC for Assam published by December 31 last year, would be scrutinised and included in the subsequent list, if found genuine.
United States President Donald Trump allegedly joked he could play matchmaker for Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his aides told him that Modi has been estranged from his wife for several years, according to report in Politico.

Trump made the joke ahead of his meeting with Modi at the White House last year. After the US Presidents staffers told him that Modi would not be bringing his wife to the meeting, he allegedly joked, Ah, I think I can set him up with somebody, the report quoted two people briefed on the meeting as saying.

The report in Politico also spoke about Trumps lack of familiarity with South Asia.

The report states that during the same meeting about Modis visit to the White House, the US president appeared confused by Nepal, which he called Nipple, and Bhutan  which he called button, which lie sandwiched between India and China.

He didnt know what those were. He thought it was all part of India, a person familiar with the meeting was quoted as saying, adding, He was like, What is this stuff in between and these other countries?

Trumps joke about playing matchmaker is not the first he has made at Modis expense. According to a report in the Washington Post, he often used an Indian accent to imitate Modi in his conversations about US policy in Afghanistan.

Senior administration officials said that the president has been known to affect an Indian accent and imitate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Post had reported.

The report also spoke of his aides also have trouble explaining the concept of time zones, as the POTUS often expresses a desire to call foreign world leaders when its the middle of the night in their respective countries. He also has a bizarre fascination of calling world leaders without any real reason and just wanted to talk to him constantly.

Defending the US president, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Politico that Trump has developed strong relationships with "Americas closest allies, which allow for candid conversations.
Saeed Mirza on two young men who have broken barriers and emerged as beacons for a New India.

IMAGE: Jignesh Mevani and Kanhaiya Kumar protest against the Modi government earlier this year. Photograph: PTI Photo

Here now is a short note about two very special young men.

The first is a student who has courageously entered the overcrowded and largely corrupt political arena in India.

He was born and studied in a small village in Bihar, continued his educational journey and finally ended up in Delhi to do his PhD.

His name is Kanhaiya and I have just finished reading his book From Bihar To Tihar, which simply and eloquently documents his growing political and social awareness.

For those readers who are unaware of certain ironies in the title of his book, Bihar is considered a backward state in India, and Tihar is the country's most famous prison.

IMAGE: JNU student Kanhaiya Kumar addresses students inside the university campus. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters

Kanhaiya belonged to a very poor family, but what he inherited was an intuitive and analytical mind and innate curiosity, which helped him evolve into a mass leader.

This is manifested clearly in the vast crowds of students, the disenfranchised and the marginalised and just ordinary citizens who flock to his rallies as he talks about freedom: From hunger, from hate, from joblessness, from caste and communal violence, from gender inequality, from disease, from homelessness, from illiteracy, from corruption, from malnutrition, from sectarianism and from hopelessness.

It is a kind of freedom that Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Fidel Castro, Jeremy Corbyn, Pope Francis, Nelson Mandela, even Bernie Sanders have all espoused.

Yet Kanhaiya has chiselled his message not only from the textbooks he has read, but also from his own experiences and the people he met as he journeyed from his village to the capital of India.

It is a journey so tangible and evocative that it strikes a chord in the hearts of millions of young people as they try to negotiate their desperate lives in an emerging and uncaring new world.

His message of freedom was considered so dangerous that the regime in power had him arrested on charges of sedition and treason, but the courts overruled the preposterous charges.

I am glad that the freedoms Kanhaiya talks about still resonate across my land.

IMAGE: Jignesh Mevani, MLA and Dalit activist, attends a rally held to demand the release of Chandrashekher Azad, founder of the pro-Dalit Bhim Army, in New Delhi earlier this year. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The second young man came as a surprise to me.

His name is Jignesh Mevani.

He isn't a student but a young man who has picked up his political and social acumen from belonging to one of the most oppressed communities India has to offer.

He belongs to the scheduled castes, the 'untouchables' that the Brahminical code has imposed on the rest of humanity.

The tragedy is that I had never heard of Jignesh till about a few months ago when a senior television journalist, an upper caste of course, interviewed him in relation to the coming elections in the state of Gujarat.

Jignesh was part of a major revolt that the state was experiencing. Large sections of disenfranchised citizens were questioning the empty slogans of the same right-wing party that had promised them a paradise.

As a young man, Jignesh had been taken in by these slogans. Then, he began to question them.

With a little bit of common sense and a larger dose of political understanding, he realised how hollow they were.

The next thing he knew he was standing for elections -- and against the mightiest political machine the country had seen.

Jignesh won.

So when the journalist began to ask questions, he quickly realised that he couldn't deal with Jignesh's anger, wit and carefully calibrated political acumen.

Jignesh had smashed through the barriers of being just an oppressed scheduled caste citizen to being a voice for all the oppressed people in the country.

Excerpted from Memory In The Age Of Amnesia: A Personal History Of Our Times by Saeed Akhtar Mirza, with the kind permission of the publishers, Westland Books.
Boko Haram's Senegalese Foreign Fighters: Cases, Trends and Implications

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 4 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Boko Haram's Senegalese Foreign Fighters: Cases, Trends and Implications, 4 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d2fa.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 9

By: Jacob Zenn

May 4, 2018 05:52 PM

(Source: citifmonline)

Boko Haram's international connections have long been a subject of scholarly and analytical inquiry. While the group's communications since 2009 with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in Algeria and, to a lesser extent, al-Shabaab in Somalia  and with Islamic State (IS) in North Africa and Syria since 2015  are increasingly well documented, the group's ties to Senegal have rarely been explored. Nevertheless, ongoing court cases in Senegal shed light on how a group of Senegalese jihadists interacted with Boko Haram, including the group's leader, Abubakr Shekau, at a time when the group's power was at its height.[1]

It appears that Senegal, which was renowned for its tolerant form of Islam  despite the growing influence of a few pro-jihadist Salafist imams  is no longer immune from regional jihadist trends. This has in turn raised concerns over how long the country can remain invulnerable to attacks on its territory.

Senegal and Boko Haram

Given the geographical distance between Nigeria and Senegal and the scarcity of air routes between them, it was far from certain that any Senegalese jihadists would find themselves in Nigeria as foreign fighters. Much more common  and practical  for Senegalese jihadists has been to fight in neighboring countries, such as Mali. In 2012, for example, Senegalese fighters were reported in the ranks of AQIM and its allies in Mali. In 2013, some Senegalese imams voiced public support for jihadists in Mali, supposedly among the first in the country's history to do so (Le Figaro, July 4, 2012; VOA, May 28, 2013). However, no reports emerged of Senegalese fighters with Boko Haram in 2012 or 2013.

The first Nigerian militant reported to be active in Senegal was Khalid al-Barnawi. He was the founder of the Ansaru group, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2011. He had business interests in Senegal, which he reportedly used to fund major attacks in Nigeria, including the 2011 bombing of the UN headquarters in Abuja (Fulansitrep, November 24, 2015). He did not, however, launch attacks in Senegal itself.

Since the conflict in Mali reached a peak in 2013, interest in Senegalese jihadists has focused on those fighting as part of IS in Libya (France 24, January 2, 2016). Trials now under way in the Senegalese courts, however, have revealed that Senegalese jihadists fought not only in Libya and Mali, but also in Nigeria in 2014-2015. These trials offer some insight into how they arrived there.

Makhtar Diokhane

Makhtar Diokhane was arrested in Niger during a routine border check at the Niger-Nigeria border in November 2015. He was found to be in possession of a suspiciously large amount of money and was transferred by the Niger authorities back to Senegal in May 2016 (Dakaractu, May 3, 2016). Confidential reports that emerged from Diokhane's case show that he was a former student of the Senegalese Salafist imam Alioune Ndao, and that he was paid a "substantial" amount of money to become a Quranic teacher for Boko Haram at a time prior to 2014 when he was based in Mauritania.

Diokhane claimed when he was interrogated in 2016 that in 2014-2015 he had traveled to northeastern Nigeria where he met Boko Haram leader Shekau and set up a Quranic school in the so-called "Islamic State" that Shekau had declared in 2014. Diokhane also told of the difficulty he encountered when leaving Boko Haram. On the one side, there was the Nigerian military, which could arrest anyone found outside the camps and suspected of being a Boko Haram member, while on the other side, there was Shekau, who had to give authorization for anyone to leave the camp in the first place. Diokhane finally received Shekau's permission to leave the camp after some cajoling. Upon his departure from the camp, Shekau reportedly gave Diokhane 6,000,000 naira (about $20,000) to set up a Boko Haram cell in Senegal (Dakar Buzz, April 11). The cell was to be initially comprised of 11 Senegalese fighters, with the intention of recruiting new fighters to train in Kedougou forest in southeastern Senegal (PressAfrik, December 28, 2017).

Diokhane's arrest in Niger came about following the arrest of four other Senegalese men, aged between 20 and 30, who were found in possession of counterfeit money while crossing the border from northeastern Nigeria into Maine-Soroa, Niger (Dakaractu, May 3, 2016). After sending the men to prison in Zinder, Niger's second largest city, the authorities learned the four had fought for more than a year as Boko Haram militants and that they had spent time in the Sambisa Forest in Nigeria's Borno State, where Shekau was based. It became apparent that, at the time of their arrest, they were returning to Senegal to help form Diokhane's jihadist cell.

When Diokhane learned of the arrests, he traveled to Niger to "seek a solution to the problem," possibly through some undisclosed back-channel negotiation. By this time, however, French and Senegalese intelligence were already tracking his movements and phone conversations, and the Nigerien security forces were able to arrest him after his arrival in Zinder (Bamada.net, December 4, 2015).

After Diokhane's arrest in Zinder, the Senegalese security services searched his wife's home in Dakar and found 150,000 euros and a pistol (Jeune Afrique, December 4, 2015). His wife was arrested and the security services went on to raid the homes of several imams connected to Diokhane, who were found to be in possession of literature supportive of al-Qaeda.

Momodou Ndiaye (Abu Yusuf) and Moustapha Diatta

Another Senegalese, Momodou Ndiaye (alias Abu Yusuf), was also a member of Boko Haram between 2014 and 2015, a time when the group was conquering large swathes of territory in rural northeastern Nigeria. Abu Yusuf claimed to have witnessed some of Boko Haram's major battles, including the seizure of the town of Gwoza in Borno State  which became Boko Haram's "capital"  and Mubi in Adamawa State (Afrique Midi, December 28, 2017). He also said that he was nearly killed by rounds fired from a Nigerian army tank, but that the shots hit and killed his Senegalese co-fighter, Moussa Mbaye, instead

Abu Yusuf's arrest appears to have come about as a result of the Senegalese intelligence services' efforts tracking Facebook connections. Senegal's Division of Criminal Investigations (DIC) was following a Facebook group called "Dahwa Senegal" (or "Proselytize Senegal"), which, among its posts, condemned the celebrating of Valentine's Day. The creator of the Facebook group was Moustapha Diatta, whose friend Aboubacary Ndiaye was in Mauritania with Abu Yusuf sometime after the latter had fought in Nigeria (Dakaractu, February 18, 2016). Abu Yusuf had supposedly traveled to Libya to fight with IS after his period in Nigeria, and then returned to Mauritania, via Algeria, with Ndiaye.

The security services also discovered that Diatta, who maintained the Dahwa Senegal Facebook page, had met with the imam Alioune Ndao in the Senegalese town of Kaoloack, along with two other Senegalese men who went on to join IS in Libya (EnQueteplus, February 27, 2016).

When Diatta was arrested, he admitted he had met Ndao, but claimed it was only to discuss his wedding. He also denied helping the other men travel to join IS, but later said he had assisted a failed attempt to send the daughter of one of them to Senegal. Although he claimed to believe that the group was only going to Libya to "live under sharia," text messages, electronic documents and Arabic-language videos found at his home made clear he was familiar with IS propaganda (EnQueteplus, February 27, 2016). It also emerged that Diatta himself had sent three of his own children to Libya.

As an aside, Diatta's arrest appears to have pleased his neighbors, who complained he had previously tried to force them to stop holding dance parties on the grounds they were haram (religiously prohibited) (Dakaractu, December 25, 2017).

Implications

As many as 29 Senegalese citizens have been arrested on terrorism charges related to Boko Haram's Senegal network, but it is the cases of Diokhane, Abu Yusuf and Diatta that are perhaps the most illustrative of how that network operated. For analysts, there are seven important takeaways:

First, just as in Western Europe, where a single node related to one pro-jihad imam can lead to the development of a larger recruitment network, it appears Ndao, the imam at the center of Diatta's case, played a key role in the development of the Senegalese jihadist networks. Many of the Boko Haram fighters from Senegal, as well the Senegalese who fought with IS in Libya, have met him at one time or another. Pro-jihad clerics like Ndao may be few, but they can have an outsized influence. However, although he was arrested in 2015, as with jihadist imams in Europe, it appears to have been difficult to prove that he not only holds extremist views, but has actively incited others to fight for such views.

Second, notwithstanding the influence of clerics like Ndao, the rise of jihadism in Senegal can be attributed to factors in neighboring countries, rather than economic or political uncertainties at home. The Senegalese political system and economy remain stable, but Senegalese fighters have travelled elsewhere instead, fighting in Mali, Libya and Nigeria. However, in the case of the Senegalese in Nigeria, the fighters sought to establish a cell when they returned home. That indicates the possibility of returning fighters, having trained abroad, ultimately targeting Westerners or their own "un-Islamic" governments. Nevertheless, stability in the Sahel region should be supported, and Senegal will likely increasingly send its soldiers to neighboring countries as part of regional counter-terrorism initiatives.

Third, while women do not appear to have fought alongside their male counterparts, the cases of Diokhane and other Senegalese fighters indicate they do collaborate with their husbands. In particular, their role has been to store or watch over money when their husbands have traveled to fight. In other cases, the fighters have sent their daughters to IS in Libya so they can live under sharia. While this raises the question of whether women in these groups are making their own decisions or simply "following" their husbands, it nonetheless shows the need for the Senegalese security services to consider the roles women play as couriers and in other non-lethal capacities.

Fourth, Senegal's work to uncover the fighters with Boko Haram and in Libya shows it is engaging in a comprehensive counter-intelligence approach. It is tracking otherwise open-source information and social media, as well as working with French and Nigerien authorities on tracking and monitoring the phone calls of suspects. This indicates that regional counter-terrorism coordination may be improving, and it has led to successful arrests.

Fifth, the fact the Senegalese fighters with Boko Haram spoke little English suggests Boko Haram has a sizeable number of Cameroonian, Chadian or Nigerien fighters with whom the Senegalese fighters could communicate in French, if not also Fulani. Since 2015, Boko Haram has increasingly shown French speakers in videos, and it has been known to recruit extensively in Cameroon since at least 2013. If Boko Haram could host French-speaking recruits from Senegal, it could equally host other French-speaking fighters from elsewhere in West Africa, meaning it could potentially recruit new and experienced fighters from further abroad, such as Mali.

Sixth, the Senegalese who fought with Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Senegalese who fought in Libya appear to have interacted significantly with each other. They have built ties through mutual meetings with Ndao, stays together in Mauritania and shared connections on Facebook. This suggests that rather than, as elsewhere, jihadism expanding into multiple nodes, in Senegal there is one primary individual or group of fighters that has recruited and encouraged others. This could be a positive sign that once that node has been eliminated, there may not, for the time being, be other imminent jihadist threats in the country.

Seventh, and finally, when these Senegalese foreign fighters were with Boko Haram in Nigeria between 2014 and 2015, virtually no analyst knew about them, nor did journalists report on them. Could there be other foreign fighters below the radar from outside the Lake Chad region within the ranks of Boko Haram or its rival IS in West Africa Province in Nigeria now?

NOTES

[1] In addition to the cited articles, the author has benefitted from Abdou Cisse's fastidious journalism in recording the details of trials.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Iraq's Shia Militias Brace for Election Battle

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 4 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Iraq's Shia Militias Brace for Election Battle, 4 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d31a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 9

By: Rafid Jaboori

May 4, 2018 05:53 PM

Buoyed by their role helping to defeat Islamic State (IS), a number of the most prominent groups from among the more than 60 that make up Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) have come together under the banner of the al-Fateh coalition to contest this month's parliamentary elections (Iraqyoon, January 11). A number of Iran-backed PMU figures are already members of the existing Iraqi parliament, having been elected two months before IS' advance and the fall of Mosul in 2014, and this time they aim to win a significantly larger share of the Shia vote.

This election is shaping up to be intensely Shia-focused, with the Sunni population weakened in the aftermath of the campaign against IS and the Kurds suffering the consequences of their failed independence referendum last year. However, while al-Fateh may be able to capitalize on its image as a protector of the Shia community, burnished in the fight against IS, it faces strong opposition from other Shia representatives (Sky News Arabia, April 24).

Parliamentary or Paramilitary

The Iraqi parliament legitimated the PMU on November 26, 2016, formally recognizing it as part of the state security apparatus, despite opposition from Sunni parties. The law gave the PMU greater access to government funding but imposed restrictions on its political involvement (al-Hayat, November 26, 2016). That should have curtailed the PMU's electoral chances, but the militias managed to get around that hurdle by having their parliamentary candidates either resign or claim to hold no official title within the PMU. Nonetheless, the lines are blurred between where the paramilitary ends and the political begins.

A prime example is Hadi al-Amiri, who has occupied positions in the parliament and the cabinet since his return from the exile in Iran. He is now a candidate for prime minister. As the leader of the Badr Organization, the largest of the armed groups within the PMU, he heads al-Fateh (Baghdad Today, February 2). Similarly, there is Qais al-Khazali, who leads another al-Fateh member party, Asaib Ahl al-Haq (The League of the Righteous, or AAH), and Jamal Jaafar al-Ibrahimi, better known as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who leads Kataib Hezbollah.

Unlike Amiri, neither is competing in the elections directly. Al-Khazali hopes to build on his status as a Shia cleric who led an anti-American resistance group, while leaving direct political positions to his aides (Annahar, December 10, 2017). Ibrahimi will likewise deploy his lieutenants in political office.

All three men have strong ties to General Qassim Sulleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Quds force. Suleimani, whose role coordinating the activities of Shia armed groups in Iraq has become more apparent since 2014, is the most influential Iranian figure in Iraqi politics (elaph.com, June 16, 2017).

Aborted Alliance

All of Iraq's major Shia parties, including the Dawa Party of the U.S.-backed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, are on friendly terms with Iran. Even so, a fleeting alliance announced on January 14 between Abadi and al-Fateh came as a surprise. To much less surprise, it failed to last. While apparently tempted by the possibility of gaining a potentially greater say in decision-making and the allocation of funds available through an alliance with Abadi, al-Fateh called things off. Such a decision would have been made in consultation with Iran, and while al-Fateh officials cited Abadi's plans to put forward electoral candidates that al-Fateh had not endorsed, it reflects a concern over giving Abadi too much influence too early (al-Mayadeen TV [Lebanon], January 15).

Abadi appears to have suffered no significant political damage from these events. On the contrary, he has been relieved of the burden of al-Fateh and has moved on to run a campaign more consistent with his perceived image as a moderate Shia, favored by the United States and appealing to Sunnis.

In the last election, Badr ran as part of a coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki, the former prime minister. This time it appears confident enough to go into the elections alone (al-IraqNet, May 30, 2017). While al-Maliki has always been a close ally and supporter of the Iran-backed Shia armed groups, al-Fateh's decision not to join forces with the former prime minister, known for his sectarian and uncompromising policies, indicates that Iran recognizes just how hard it will be for al-Maliki, now alienated from the United States, to make a political comeback.

Al-Fateh's leaders are far from being Islamist zealots. They are realistic in their political thinking and recognize that Abadi has a good chance to emerge victorious. They also know that the electoral system, and a tendency for Iraqis to vote along sectarian lines, means victory will not give Abadi (or any other candidate) an outright majority. Instead, al-Fateh's leaders are putting their faith in post-election horse-trading, knowing that they have Iran on their side.

Muqtada al-Sadr

Abadi, who is expected to fare well with Shia middle-class voters, is far from al-Fateh's only competition. The anti-U.S. Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr represents an even more difficult challenge. He enjoys a solid following within the Shia poor, a constituency that is also important for al-Fateh.

Additionally, many of the PMU's rank and file came from al-Sadr's old militia, the Mahdi Army, and al-Sadr rarely passes up an opportunity to condemn the PMU for exploiting its role in the fight against IS (Jawabna.com, April 27). Like the PMU, the military wing of al-Sadr's movement  known by its current name, Saraya al-Salam (The Peace Brigades)  was also involved in the fight against IS, but kept its distance from the other groups, which al-Sadr criticizes for violations against Sunnis and frequently terms al-Militiat al-Waqiha ("shameless" militias).

While al-Sadr accepts that Iran and Sulleimani will have a role in Iraqi Shia politics, he claims to be independent and insists he will not fall under Tehran's influence. However, since he is primarily hostile to the United States, he will still likely side with Iran in the case of any U.S.-Iranian disagreement.[1]

Despite being a conservative cleric, al-Sadr has formed a coalition with the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP) in a bid to expand and diversify his voting base. He has also provided Abadi with much needed support over the past four years, albeit primarily due to the bad blood between him and Abadi's main rival, Maliki.

In the expected post-election negotiations, if faced with a possible al-Fateh-Maliki coalition, al-Sadr would likely support Abadi for another term. In such an event, the small party of al-Hikma, led by Ammar al-Hakeem, could emerge as a key player. Al-Hakeem is the former leader of the Iraqi Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), but split from ISCI last year to form al-Hikma. Although ISCI was once a major Shia party, divisions and disagreements have left it weakened, and it has now thrown in its lot with the al-Fateh alliance (Ashram al-Awsat, July 26, 2017).

Election Outlook

Since Iraq's first multi-party elections after the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, Shia parties in Iraq have won the largest number of seats in the 328-seat parliament. No matter how the vote is distributed, however, the choice of prime minister will not be entirely up to the winning parties. Although rarely acknowledged, no politician has managed to become Iraq's prime minister without the endorsement of both the United States and Iran, as well as the blessing of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shia cleric.

Al-Fateh will struggle to unseat the incumbent Abadi, who will likely find that the split in the Shia vote works in his favor. Instead, they will be aiming to win a larger block in parliament and a greater role in government, with the goal of making it harder for Abadi, or any other prime minister, to curtail their influence in future.

NOTES

[1] See al-Sadr's interview with the Iraqi TV station al-Sharqia (YouTube, November 22, 2017).

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Armenian Revolution Aided by Restraint of Military, Security Services

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 7 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Armenian Revolution Aided by Restraint of Military, Security Services, 7 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d33a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 69

By: Armen Grigoryan

May 7, 2018 08:30 PM

(Source: Euronews)

The protest movement in Armenia, which forced former president and recently appointed prime minister Serzh Sargsyan to resign on April 23 (see EDM, April 23, 24, May 3), has been particularly remarkable for the fact that, unlike during preceding mass street protests, this time Armenia's law enforcement and security agencies showed considerable restraint. In 2015, for instance, the police promptly used water cannons and tear gas and beat a number of protesters, even though those demonstrations were sparked by an arbitrary increase in domestic electricity prices and the participants made no explicit political demands. The incident prompted heavy criticism from the international community for the police's excessive use of force (see EDM, June 29, 2015). Before that, in 2008, ongoing protests against electoral fraud were brutally suppressed with the use of firearms, resulting in ten deaths.

This time, the police blocked some streets near the parliament and prime minister's residence with barriers and barbed wire, and used tear gas grenades during the initial stage of protests. Then, hundreds of protesters, including members of parliament and other known persons, were detained until April 23, when Sargsyan stepped down (see EDM, April 23). Yet, it seems the authorities never gave an order to launch a massive offensive, possibly because it may have caused a split within the police forces. On April 25, the chief of police, Vladimir Gasparyan, issued a statement asking police personnel not to support any political ideology (168.am, April 25). Moreover, he ordered the traffic police to cancel all fines issued between April 13 and April 25 for participation in road-blocking actions (News.am, April 26).

Remarkably, the involvement of the National Security Service (NSS) was relatively restrained as well, although there were some attempts to intimidate protesters through threatening statements. A day before Sargsyan's resignation, the NSS noted that, during the protests, some actions against the constitutional order were committed and further extremist actions could be expected (Lragir.am, April 22). But as the regime imploded the following day, the NSS abstained from further actions. According to some observers, warnings issued by some Western governments might have influenced the situation, persuading the authorities to abstain from the use of force (Scannews.am, May 4).

Armenian military personnel also generally refrained from involvement in the recent weeks' events, with the exception of a few dozen soldiers from an elite peacekeeping brigade stationed in Yerevan, who left their barracks and joined a demonstration hours before Sargsyan's resignation. Protest leaders soon reiterated that the military should continue fulfilling its duties and not become involved in the ongoing events. Although the military in general stood aside, Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan held a press conference earlier that day, criticizing the protest leaders, particularly for organizing mass actions instead of working through parliamentary institutions. He also complained that younger citizens stopped watching TV and have come to rely on the Internet for information, leaving the state unable to transmit any convincing messages to them (Araratnews.am, April 23).

Amidst the street protests, concerns mounted regarding Moscow's potential reaction due to the continued existence of the 102nd Russian military base (in Gyumri) as well as several Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) units inside Armenia. The FSB maintains a heavy presence in certain parts of the South Caucasus country's territory, mainly near the borders with Iran and Turkey. But the Russian security service has been known in the past to engage in local activities entirely unrelated to border protection, once even harassing a parliamentary member as she campaigned for reelection (Epress.am, September 30, 2013). While the Russian military did not make any move, some speculation about possible Russian involvement has continued  probably because of ambiguous hints to that effect coming from Moscow. Similar to Moscow's reaction a few months earlier, when Yerevan signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the European Union (see EDM, December 4, 2017), Russian officials stated that the current political turmoil was Armenia's internal affair, but Russian television simultaneously launched a mix of threats and insults (see EDM, May 3, 2018).

Speculation continued when, on April 25, an Ilyushin-96 plane from the Russian Special Flight Squadron, which serves top officials, arrived in Yerevan and departed back to Moscow 40 minutes later. The visitors from Russia were never named, but some sources suggested that the head of the Russian presidential administration, Anton Vaino, was on board (Panarmenian.net, April 25).

The next day, Armenia's acting Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduard Nalbandyan traveled to Moscow and met with several top Russian officials (Azatutyun.am, April 26). Then, on April 27, a group of representatives from both chambers of the Russian Federal Assembly (parliament) held meetings in Yerevan, attempting to intimidate protest leader Nikol Pashinyan (Aravot.am, April 27). Apparently, the mutual visits were part of acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan's unsuccessful bid to retain power (see EDM, May 3).

While Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov has again expressed hope that the crisis in Armenia would be solved with respect to constitutional norms and procedures and that relations between the two states will remain friendly (RIA Novosti, May 3), some Russian media outlets sustained their threats against Armenia. Moreover, a vice president of the state-owned oil company Rosneft, Mikhail Leontyev, used racist slurs on a talk show and suggested Russia should send "a couple of regiments" and forcibly end the Armenian revolution once and for all (YouTube, May 3). This and other aggressive statements caused strong outrage in Armenia. Consequently, the Russian embassy in Yerevan was compelled to issue a new statement reconfirming that Russia considers the events in Armenia an internal affair, and asserting that Russian policy is reflected only in official statements made by Peskov and foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova (Embassyru.am, May 5)

In an interview with RFE/RL, the chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Military Committee, General Petr Pavel, expressed his surprise at the fact that, so far, there has been no visible Russian interference in the Armenian crisis  particularly in light of Russia's military presence there and Moscow's stringent perception of so-called "colored revolutions" as a major security challenge (RFE/RL, May 4). Yet, the possibility of future involvement cannot be totally excluded. The National Assembly of Armenia will again attempt to elect a new prime minister on May 8, and if it fails, it may be dissolved, requiring snap elections. Any of these developments could encourage interference from internal or external forces interested in restoring the old regime or in a general destabilization of the situation.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Pashinyan Stiffens Armenia's Posture Toward Karabakh

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 10 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Pashinyan Stiffens Armenia's Posture Toward Karabakh, 10 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d37e.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 72

By: Eduard Abrahamyan

May 10, 2018 10:38 PM

New Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (Source: CNN)

With the change in power in Armenia, enabled by the so-called "Velvet Revolution," now essentially complete, the stage is set for shifts in the country's foreign policy. These shifts are coming despite declarations to the contrary by the newly elected Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and members of his reformist team. The first such transformation to Armenia's diplomatic posture  already underway  concerns the lingering conflict with Azerbaijan over the status of the latter's breakaway region of Karabakh (which recently officially adopted its historical name, Artsakh). As anticipated, following his May 8 election by parliament, the new Armenian prime minister paid a visit to Artsakh, on May 9, to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the liberation of the castle-town of Shushi. The trip was a deliberate signal that Karabakh holds top significance for Pashinyan and his team (News.am, May 9). The visit was also designed to dispel the long-standing narrative, consistently repeated by some supporters of former Armenian presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, that Artsakh will not remain secure unless Yerevan is led by someone with direct links to this region. And yet, Prime Minister Pashinyan, who is not from there, continues to unequivocally demonstrate a much tougher stance than his predecessors regarding the Karabakh problem. From Pashinyan's perspective, Armenia's foreign policy trajectory, including toward Karabakh, must be guided by principles of Armenia-centrism (or "Armenia First!"), which the new leadership conceptualizes as the starting point for an effective pursuit of Armenia's national interests.

As such, the new prime minister announced Armenia's new approach toward Karabakh during a news conference, symbolically convened in the regional capital of Stepanakert (in Azerbaijani: Khankendi), following his talks with the unrecognized region's president, Bako Sahakyan (Armenpress.am, May 9). Pashinyan made three bold points, which stand in stark contrast to the Armenian government's policy under Serzh Sargsyan's rule. First, while stating that the current negotiations format for resolving the Karabakh conflict is adequate, he nevertheless stressed that, as Armenia's prime minister, he would solely represent Armenia in the talks, noting that "only the leadership of Artsakh can speak on behalf of Artsakh" (1in.am, May 9). In other words, Armenia will no longer represent the interests of Artsakh, although it will retain its full commitment to the latter's security. Second, Pashinyan clarified that his government's policy toward the Karabakh resolution process represents a radical break from the previous regime. Specifically, he declared that "unless Azerbaijan reverses its militaristic rhetoric, threatening to annex Yerevan, Sevan, Zangezur and Stepanakert [Artsakh]," any dialogue with Baku on a potential consensus is pointless. And third, Pashinyan stated that "mutual concessions can be negotiated only if Azerbaijan gives a clear message that Baku is ready to recognize the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination" (Armenpress.am, May 9).

To understand the rationale behind Pashinyan's approach to Karabakh, it is important to bear in mind that  contrary to the ruling regime he has replaced  the "Velvet Revolution" leader currently enjoys near-total support from a consolidated society. This gives him sufficient political legitimacy to confidently and forcefully respond to any sharp rhetoric coming from Azerbaijan. And in seeking to harden Armenia's overall posture, Pahshinyan's ultimate strategic goal is to eventually see Artsakh internationally recognized as part of Armenia (1in.am, May 9).

During a radio interview approximately two years ago, Pashinyan  then an opposition member of parliament  outlined his personal views on the future of Karabakh and the eventual unraveling of Armenia's century-long dispute with Azerbaijan. In particular, he claimed that "Artsakh has its own" territorial grievances: namely, the Shahumyan region, part of Martakert district as well as the towns of Getashen and Martunashen, all claimed by Stepanakert but currently controlled by Baku. Therefore, "there is no land to hand over to Azerbaijan," he concluded, referring to the seven Azerbaijani regions now de facto part of Artsakh but that once surrounded the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. Pashinyan firmly declared that "the territory we hold is of significance to our survival as a country" (YouTube, July 11, 2016).

During the "Velvet Revolution" rallies, Pashinyan at least twice touched upon the issue of Artsakh, calling for the revitalization of the "Miacum" agenda  the unionist idea that initially catalyzed and propelled the separatist movement in Karabakh, resulting in violent unrest there in 1988-1991. Speaking to the protesters, he declared that Artsakh would eventually become "an inseparable part of the Republic of Armenia" (Azatutyun.am, May 2). Such pointed rhetoric was not only an effort to politically revive the "Miacum" ideology, but also an attempt to undermine the idea of Karabakh as its own independent state, which entered Armenian political discourse in the early 1990s.

Meanwhile, Pashinyan and his reformist, new generation political allies now taking up the reins of power in Yerevan are seeking to capitalize on the results of the "Velvet Revolution" in order to repair Armenia's reputation on the international stage, which was gradually damaged under both Kocharyan and Sargsyan. In particular, they are seeking to rebuild their country's perceived status as an "island of democracy" in a troubled neighborhood. The new ruling team's goal is to boost Armenia's credibility in the eyes of Western stakeholder, all the while preserving its deep strategic alliance with Russia.

The former government's foreign policy was long characterized as mostly static in nature but marked by spontaneously reactive features divorced from any thought-out, long-term strategy. The dominant view in Yerevan was that Armenia's foreign policy was sharply constrained by the country's persistent conflict with Azerbaijan over breakaway Karabakh's final status as well as by Turkey's border blockade, which left it highly vulnerable and reliant on security ties with Russia. And with the exception of last year's signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the European Union, this was hardly seen as an effective foreign policy posture. In contrast to its neighbors Georgia and Azerbaijan, Armenia's foreign policymaking has tended to be more passive and profoundly dependent on Russia, largely devoid of sustained efforts to try to diversify the country's economic, political or security relationships.

The "Velvet Revolution," however, has raised hopes domestically for a paradigm shift in Armenia's diplomatic posture, reorganizing Armenian foreign policy from a reactive to a proactive course. And for Armenians, the new prime minister's toughened stance on Karabakh is emblematic of that. But to achieve this ambition, Pashinyan's government will first need to address chronic opportunity shortages for Armenian skilled professionals as well as nepotism and a widespread conformist mentality within society. To what extent he will be able to succeed, remains to be seen.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Impact of the Change in Government in Armenia on the Karabakh Conflict: View From Baku

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 15 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Impact of the Change in Government in Armenia on the Karabakh Conflict: View From Baku, 15 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d39a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 74

By: Farhad Mammadov

May 15, 2018 04:49 PM

(Source: Al Jazeera)

The mass street protests across Armenia, which began in late March, forced the resignation, on April 23, of Serzh Sargsyan, who had recently taken over as prime minister (with strengthened constitutional powers) after ruling as president for the last decade. Shortly thereafter, on May 8, opposition politician and leader of the demonstrations, Nikol Pashinyan, was elected the new head of government (see EDM, April 23, May 10). Thus, the political history of this South Caucasus country now enters a qualitatively new phase because the leadership transition represents not simply a single change at the top, but also a broader upending of the political elite. For Azerbaijan, perhaps the most important issue to watch will be how this political change in Yerevan will affect prospects for the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Karabakh.

For the past 25 years, Armenia's domestic politics were always closely linked to developments in the conflict settlement process. Arguably, the resignation of Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan; the transfer of power in Armenia to the Karabakh politicians Robert Kocharyan and later Serzh Sargsyan; the shooting in the Armenian parliament, in 1999, resulting in the deaths of the parliamentary speaker and prime minster; the July 2016 seizure of a police building by the revolutionary "Sasna Tsrer" armed group; and the resignation of Hovik Abrahamyan's government in fall 2016 were all strongly influenced by events surrounding the Karabakh conflict (Vestnik Kavkaza, May 4).

While both international and local media coverage, not to mention the expert community, enthusiastically focused on the "democratic profile" of the recent protests in Armenia, many failed to highlight two important issues that will continue to have a significant impact on domestic politics, even despite the change in government: First, the so-called "Karabakh Clan"  composed largely of corrupt and often criminally linked generals who came to power in the 1990s, during or after the Nagorno-Karabakh War  remains entrenched in the Armenian economy and politics. Second, the country continues to be regionally isolated, with 83 percent of its border (with Turkey and Azerbaijan) closed as a result of Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territory.

The new Armenian government hopes to be able to relaunch a "Turkish-Armenian normalization" process  i.e., steps to reopen the Turkish-Armenian border, which Ankara closed in 1993, in support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. But such attempts had failed in the past, while the strategic nature of Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation has continued to grow in relevance thanks to a number of joint regional energy-transport projects and other initiatives (see EDM, January 5, 2012; March 11, 2014; October 16, 2017; October 26, 2017). The government may also seek to attract more financial aid from the West with the assistance of the Armenian diaspora. Following Pashinyan's election, the Armenian National Committee of America called on US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to support Armenia by considering allocating a new Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant worth $140 million (Anca.org, May 8).

Meanwhile, the new prime minister's populist statements proposing that the separatist Karabakh authorities participate directly in conflict negotiations as well as his declaration that "the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic should become an integral part of Armenia" (see EDM, May 10) tend to match the self-held beliefs of much of his domestic audience. As such, under Pashinyan's government, the Armenian Armed Forces cannot be expected to voluntarily abandon their long-held positions in occupied Karabakh and the seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan (A1plus.am, December 4, 2017; Mediamax.am, May 10, 2018; Rosbalt, May 13, 2018).

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev recently declared that his country and its people will not allow for the creation of second Armenian state on Azerbaijani soil, emphasizing, "If someone thinks differently, I believe he vainly lives in illusion" (President.az, May 10). At the same time, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov underscored that "the format of the negotiations has already been approved within the framework of the OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]. Armenia and Azerbaijan participate as negotiators . . . Such attempts [to allow Karabakh to be a party to the negotiations] were made earlier, but this is unrealistic, absurd and does not correspond with the negotiation process. Nagorno-Karabakh is an occupied territory of Azerbaijan, end of discussion" (Apa.az, May 10). Azerbaijani foreign ministry spokesperson Hikmet Hajiyev commented that Pashinyan's narratives on the Karabakh conflict are regrettable and controversial, designed to stir political agitation. As Hajiyev stressed, "Armenia and Azerbaijan were recognized as two sides of the conflict [in compliance with a 1992 decision by the OSCE], and the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the region were accepted as the interested parties." In addition, the United Nations Security Council resolutions "constitute the fundamental basis for a political settlement," he added (Mfa.gov.az, May 10). Therefore, in Baku's view, Pashinyan's statements will hamper the peaceful resolution process and muddle the negotiating format originally established by the OSCE Minsk Group.

Based on Prime Minister Pashinyan's early remarks, the new Armenian government could negatively affect the settlement process of the Karabakh conflict. In this context, the activity of the international mediators, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group  Russia, the United States and France  will be particularly important. The question is whether the co-chairs will continue pursuing a coordinated line, or whether regional and global tensions will also affect the workings of the Minsk Group format. Throughout the period of political crisis in Armenia, Azerbaijan hoped for the eventual formation of a government in Yerevan able to soberly to assess the regional security realities. But additionally, Baku was concerned that the Karabakh generals might exploit the political turmoil by heavily escalating the military situation on the frontline with Azerbaijan in order to arouse nationalist sentiment in Armenia. Provocations on the line of contact have repeatedly broken out since the Nagorno-Karabakh War ceasefire of 1994; however, in Armenia's present political reality, such future armed skirmishes will likely be perceived more emotionally, potentially leading to unpredictable consequences. Thus, Pashinyan's yet-to-be-formed vision regarding the Karabakh conflict could give rise to further frontline clashes to which Azerbaijan will likely respond forecefully, as it did in April 2016 (see EDM, April 6, 2016).

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Mayoral Campaigns in Moldova's Two Largest Cities: A Preview of Next Parliamentary Election

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 17 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Mayoral Campaigns in Moldova's Two Largest Cities: A Preview of Next Parliamentary Election, 17 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d3da.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 76

By: Mihai Popsoi

May 17, 2018 07:40 PM

Chisinau mayoral race front-runner, Ion Ceban (Source: oficial.md)

This Sunday, May 20, Moldova will hold early mayoral elections in the capital city of Chisinau, the second-largest city of Balti, and five other small localities. The mayoral seats in the two largest cities became vacant after the resignation of Balti mayor Renato Usatii, on February 13, and Chisinau mayor Dorin Chirtoaca three days later (Europalibera.org, February 16). Both municipal heads were facing criminal charges. On May 25, 2017, Chirtoaca was arrested for passive corruption in public procurement, while Usatii was charged, in October 2016, with ordering an assassination attempt on a controversial businessman in London, in March 2012; Usatii evaded arrest by escaping to Moscow (Publika.md, May 25, 2017; Prime.md, September 11, 2017). Both politicians have a questionable track record, but they deny the charges and accuse the leader of the ruling Democratic Party, oligarch Vlad Plahotiuc, of politically motivated prosecutions (Realitatea.md, September 6, 2017; Agora.md, January 24, 2017). These concerns are shared by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (Coe.int, October 19, 2017).

Despite, Chirtoaca being pro-European and Usatii being pro-Russian, both men became a problem for Moldova's most powerful billionaire because they stood in the way of his power consolidation. Chirtoaca's legal troubles began soon after his Liberal Party left the ruling coalition in disagreement over the change of the electoral system, while Usatii, according to polls from spring of 2016, was the most trusted politician in the country and a front-runner in the presidential race (Inprofunzime.md, April 12, 2016). In fact, the actual killer allegedly hired by Usatii confessed, in an interview on camera from his prison cell in Romania, that Plahotniuc had ordered the assassination in London, not Usatii (JurnalTV, November 2, 2017; Adevarul.md; November 3, 2017). So far, neither Chirtoaca, nor Usatii have been convicted, nor are they likely to find themselves in prison. One could argue that Plahotniuc has already achieved his goal of chasing the two mayors from their positions of power. The next objective is to ensure that the mayors to be elected on May 20 will not challenge Plahotniuc's authority. According to polls, the top three contenders in the Chisinau mayoral race are pro-Russian Socialist Ion Ceban, Plahotniuc-backed independent Silvia Radu and a pro-European opposition candidate, Andrei Nastase (TV8.md, May 15). Whereas, in Balti, Usatii's successor, Nicolai Grigorishin (Our Party) is competing against another Socialist, Alexandr Usatii (no relation to the previous mayor, Renato Usatii).

The importance of the mayoral elections, particularly in Chisinau, is hard to overestimate as the capital city comprises a third of the country's population and almost two thirds of its GDP. The mayor enjoys a national political platform, which historically helped propel the opposition into power. Realizing this risk, Plahontiuc orchestrated an elaborate stratagem to replace Chirtoaca with an unelected acting mayor  Silvia Radu. Benefiting from the administrative resources of the incumbency and the generous free publicity granted by Plahotniuc's media conglomerate, Radu became a serious contender. In order to shield Radu from Plahotniuc's toxic image, the ruling Democratic Party insists it has no links to the acting mayor, despite evidence to the contrary. The Democratic Party paid for political advertising promoting Radu, who appointed Plahotniuc's people to lead key departments in the mayor's office (Newsmaker.md, April 10; Zdg.md, May 10).

Yet, the front runner is a Socialist member of the City Council and presidential spokesperson Ion Ceban. He can count on the Russian speaking minorities and the older generation nostalgic for the Soviet past. Having almost no competition on the left, the Socialist candidate would win if the election was decided in a single round, as is the case with single-member parliamentary districts, under the controversial new electoral law. Yet, the left has a long history of defeat in Chisinau, and Ceban is likely to lose in the second round either to Silvia Radu or the unified pro-European opposition candidate Andrei Nastase. With a high voter turnout, Nastase would be well positioned to enter the runoffs. Nastase enjoys the support of all three Moldovan political factions belonging to the European People's Party (a pan-European umbrella grouping, drawing together the continent's Christian Democrat and center-right political parties). Apart from Nastase's own Dignity and Truth Platform Party (PPDA), he is also backed by the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), the most popular political party in the capital region. PAS leader Maia Sandu is vocally campaigning for Nastase, who backed Sandu in the 2016 presidential race. This unity of the pro-European Union center-right parties presents a challenge to Plahotniuc. Akin to Sandu's 2016 experience, Nastase is being targeted by a massive disinformation campaign, ironically with the same plot of having invited large numbers of Arabs to Moldova. Not just local but also US and European watchdogs have identified it as a deliberate disinformation campaign (DFRLab, May 13; Euvsdisinfo.eu, May 15); but the damage is done.

This avalanche of disinformation spells serious trouble for the pro-EU opposition in the year-end parliamentary elections, which, coupled with questions about the integrity of voters' lists and rampant use of administrative resources, may cast a shadow over the fairness of the election results, particularly under the controversial new electoral system (see EDM, January 10; Promo-Lex, April 19). The European Union recalled, during the recent Moldova Association Council meeting, "that transparent, inclusive and credible elections at central and local level are of key importance" (Consilium.europa.eu, May 3). The ruling party responded by setting up a legislative working group to address these concerns. Yet, just as the Democratic Party, together with the Party of Socialists, changed the electoral system to their advantage despite vocal criticism from Brussels, if the mayoral campaign is any indication, the parliamentary elections will be fought tooth and nail with little regard for democratic principles and European values.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Al-Shabaab Faces Leadership Battle as Speculation Over Emir's Health Mounts

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 18 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Al-Shabaab Faces Leadership Battle as Speculation Over Emir's Health Mounts, 18 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d403.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 10

By: Sunguta West

May 18, 2018 06:05 PM

Ahmed Umar

The secretive head of al-Shabaab is reportedly critically ill, giving rise to speculation that the Somali Islamist group is re-organizing itself ahead of his possible demise. Ahmed Umar has been emir of the al-Qaeda affiliate in East Africa for nearly four years, but now reportedly bedridden for more than six months, the installation of a new leader could be imminent (Daily Nation, April 20; Tuko, April 23).

Splits Within the Shura

Details of Umar's ailment are scarce. While it is possible he was badly injured in an attack, a Mogadishu-based source familiar with the militant group's activities told the Terrorism Monitor that Umar is suffering from a serious kidney problem that affected first one and now both kidneys, and has left him fighting for his life.

Umar's current location is unclear, but some reports say he is in the town of Jilib, in southern Somalia, where al-Shabaab maintains a stronghold. Others indicate the ailing leader may have fled to an undisclosed hideout in Gedo region, near the Kenyan border, following intensified bombardment by international forces (Daily Nation, December 14, 2017; Mareeg, December 7, 2017).

Since the advent of Umar's illness, the group has acted to save its leader's life, paying doctors and providing costly treatments that are depleting the group's financial resources. A consequence of this has been a failure to release funds to pay its fighters at battlefronts in parts of southern Somalia (Tuko, April 23).

Umar's condition is allegedly causing concern among the group's top leadership, at a time when al-Shabaab is pinned down by troops with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Sources say the situation is so critical that Umar's deputies in the Shura, al-Shabaab's executive council, have been meeting to discuss his possible succession. That has led to heated exchanges, splitting the council into different factions (Tuko, April 23).

At the moment, the Shura, which has a mandate to make important decisions regarding targets, finances and the group's ideological direction, is composed of eight members, among them Umar's deputies Mahan Karate, who heads the Amniyat, al-Shabaab's intelligence wing, Maalim Osman, the infantry commander, and Ali Dheere, the group's spokesman. It is believed the three do not see eye to eye on the matter of succession.

The deputies are concerned that a leadership vacuum would result in reduced operational capacity and the further loss of territory. Under Umar, the group has lost key areas and strategic towns in southern Somalia, which are crucial to revenue collection, recruitment and arms replenishment. It has also faced a split, with key leaders defecting to the government (The Star, July 1, 2017).

Controversial Rise to Power

A ruthless hardliner, Umar  who is also known as Abu Ubaidah or Ahmed Diriye  took over as al-Shabaab's leader on September 6, 2014, replacing the former supreme leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike on September 1, 2014 (Daily Nation, September 5, 2014).

Prior to this, Umar was a little-known cleric, an alleged member of the Amniyat, the secret intelligence group Godane formed to expose and eliminate dissident within the group. He was allegedly a close confidant of the late leader, who attempted to shape al-Shabaab into a regional jihadist group, and is believed to have participated in the bloody purge of dissenters ordered by Godane.

Umar is believed to be in his mid-40s and was known to be a hardliner within the movement (WardheerNews, September 10, 2014). He was born in the Kalafe area of the Ogaden region before moving to southern Somalia, where he helped establish Islamic schools. He also served as al-Shabaab's governor for the Bay and Bakool regions (Somali Current, September 6).

His ascendancy to al-Shabaab leadership was controversial. The Shura's decision to appoint him following Godane's death had not been unanimous, and it was clear that some Shura members disliked him and considered him uneducated (Intelligence Brief, June 20, 2016).

While analysts expected Umar to instigate a fresh wave of violence, an uncomfortable silence followed the weeks and months after his appointment. This sparked speculation that the poorly educated cleric lacked the leadership skills to re-energize al-Shabaab (Sabahi, October 31, 2014).

However, after nearly four years at the helm, his death would leave the militant group in a precarious situation with no obvious successor. Possible candidates include Mahad Karate, who the Shura by-passed when they picked Umar in 2014, Ali Mohammud Rage, alias Ali Dheere, and Hussein Ali Fiidow.

Possible Successors

Karate (a.k.a. Abdirahman Warsame) is al-Shabaab's deputy leader and continues to play a key role within the Amniyat. Like Umar, he is believed to be in his 40s. He hails from the Eyr sub-clan of the Habar Girir, an influential clan that was the backbone of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), from which al-Shabaab splintered.

The U.S government designated Karate a terrorist in 2015 and put a $5 million bounty on his head. He allegedly played a key role in the 2015 Garissa University attack, in which 148 students were killed (The Standard, November 11, 2015). In 2016, Karate, whose name is spelled variously as Mahad Mohammed Karatey or Mahat Karetey, was erroneously reported to have been killed in a strike by the Kenyan military (New Vision, February 18, 2016).

Sources describe Karate as battle-hardened and a religious hardliner, factors that boost his chances. He also worked as a deputy to Godane and now Umar, and both leaders came to trust him.

The other significant militant in the race is Rage, who is from the Hawiye Mursande clan and, like Karate, is a deputy emir for al-Shabaab. There was speculation that he too had been killed in a Kenyan-Somali commando operation in 2014 (Terror free Somalia, March 6, 2014). Months later, the rumors were disproved.

Hussein Ali Fiidow, a deputy who oversees al-Shabaab's governorates, is another possible successor. Fiidow is thought to be in charge of the group's finance and administration. He is influential and a rival to Umar. With the high number of recent defections to the government, some al-Shabaab members suspect that Fiidow is plotting a coup against Umar (Daily Nation December 14, 2017). He is thought to have recently attempted to eliminate the leader, forcing Umar to flee with his supporters (Mareeg, December 7, 2017).

An Opportunity to Strike

With Umar potentially incapacitated, it appears a leadership change within al-Shabaab is likely. While the group faces significant challenges that constrain its operations, the loss of strategic territory, the death of its commanders through airstrikes, defections and reduced revenue sources, a change of leadership could revitalize what remains one of Africa's deadliest militant groups.

That may mean increased attacks in Somalia as any new leader seeks to prove himself, with attacks potentially spreading to other East African nations  a growing al-Shabaab presence already exists in Kenya's Boni forest.

However, a change in leadership will also open a window of opportunity for international forces, which may be able to capitalize on the period of confusion and division that a leadership change will inevitably bring.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Islamic State After Syria: A Dangerous New Stronghold in the Sinai

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 18 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Islamic State After Syria: A Dangerous New Stronghold in the Sinai, 18 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d41a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 10

By: Tobias J. Burgers, Scott N. Romaniuk

May 18, 2018 06:01 PM

Islamic State Sinai Province militants

Having once held domain over some eight million people and controlled territory reaching nearly to Baghdad, Islamic State (IS) has undergone a monumental decline. Where the group was once in control of massive swathes of northeastern Syria and western Iraq, its so-called caliphate has since been dismantled. Militants appear to have deserted the group by the hundreds, and its territorial and battlefield losses have been mirrored online.

After the fall of its treasured Iraqi possession, Mosul, the group's de facto capital, Raqqa became the international coalition's next target. IS was predicted to take its last stand at Raqqa, fighting until its ultimate demise. However, rather than fighting to the last man, many IS fighters fled under an agreement to minimize civilian casualties, leaving only a minor force of about 300 to 400 fighters behind (Haaretz, October 15, 2017). Thousands of foreign and local fighters were allowed to leave Raqqa before the collapse of the city's defenses.

Some experts argued that these fighters would make their final stand along the Syrian-Iraqi border. Closed in by an offensive on the Iraqi side of the border, in Anbar province, IS fighters had no place to go. It was widely considered that the final battle would be for a stretch of land along the Euphrates, but the expected showdown never materialized. Demoralized local IS fighters chose to run, rather than face certain death. The group's foreign fighters, unable to blend into the local population, could now seek to repeat an earlier strategy  faced with battles that left it nearly defeated in 2009, IS opted for a survival strategy based on insurgency-style warfare that would ensure the group survived in one form or another.[1]

As the ring around IS has slowly but steadily closed, the group has adapted, establishing a new safe haven in the Sinai Peninsula, capable of serving as its stronghold in the Middle East. Meanwhile, hundreds of its fighters have crossed into Turkey. An extensive number of IS jihadists are now potentially strategically situated for future attacks against civilian and military targets in Turkey and across the wider region, including parts Europe. Turkey also serves as a valuable transit point for fighters seeking to reach other IS-controlled territories.

Emerging Threat in the Sinai

The basis for an IS insurgency in the Sinai already existed in the form of Ansar Bait al-Maqdis (ABM or "Supporters of Jerusalem"), which pledged allegiance to IS in 2013 (al-Jazeera, November 10, 2014). The group benefited from the governance chaos that followed the ousting of Egypt's former leader Hosni Mubarak. During that time, experienced jihadists were released from prison and the group sought to take advantage of the chaotic situation, extending its influence and operations in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula (Mada, February 16, 2014).

The Egyptian army, stretched thin as a result of its new role as an internal security actor, failed to quell the insurgency with its hard-handed approach (Ahram, July 18, 2013; MEE, March 13). Rather than pursuing a counter-insurgency approach, Egypt has opted to conduct traditional military-style engagements. However, this approach has not had positive results (al-Jazeera, March 7). Indeed, the Egyptian army has been responsible for a large number of incidents in which civilians have been killed, alienating large portions of the local population and serving as propaganda and incentives for IS recruitment (MEE, April 27). Already discontented with the lack of adequate governance, a framework for increasing IS support among the local population is already in place. Missteps on the part of the Egyptian government and its military, moreover, have served as a new means of luring foreign fighters to the Sinai.

In 2013, AMB became the Islamic State-Sinai Province (IS-SP), pledging allegiance to IS in a bid to secure more funding, weaponry and training. Ever since, it has evolved into one of the most successful IS franchises. IS-SP now controls some 900 square kilometers of territory in the restive Sinai. It assassinated the country's top prosecutor, besieged an entire town  only withdrawing once the Egyptian forces deployed heavy air assets  conducted the largest attack in Egypt's history when it killed 305 worshippers at a Sufi mosque and blew-up a Russian passenger jet operated by Kogalymavia, killing all 224 passengers and crew members on board.

Changing Dynamics

IS has morphed from a classical terrorist movement into a thriving insurgency-guerilla organization, retaining pieces of its old caliphate and securing entirely new territory (Mada, July 9, 2013; Aswat Masriya, July 2, 2015). As of mid-2017, a significant part of its forces constituted foreign fighters (Jerusalem Post, March 11, 2018). The group is estimated to currently have somewhere between 200 and 2,000 fighters, albeit 1000-1,500 is a more realistic figure (Cipher Brief, November 28, 2017). The group possesses heavy weaponry, including anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft capabilities, tanks and artillery. Most importantly, and rather unusually, IS continues to engage in state-building operations and governance, resulting in the continuation in some form of its so-called caliphate. As part of its enduring success story, IS has created numerous institutions, even operating a religious police force (Jerusalem Post, May 2, 2017). With its Syrian affiliate losing terrain and under pressure, the Sinai is becoming the latest frontline in the global war against jihadist extremism and a new hub for foreign fighters. As its only semi-secure territory, IS leadership may prefer to seek refuge in Egypt's Sinai region than resort to going underground or fighting along the Syria-Iraq border.

The Sinai offers IS a position of strategic significance, with more territorial opportunities. The group is also relatively sheltered, contending at present only with the Egyptian state, rather than external intervention or coalition airstrikes.

IS' violent operations conducted from the Sinai illustrate the strength of the group and the relative ineffectiveness of the Egyptian regime's counter-terrorism efforts. In the Sinai, the group's military opponents are weaker, it controls a greater amount of territory and it faces little in the way of jihadist competition. Rather than remaining in Syria, where IS faces formidable adversaries and retains little-to-no territory, the Sinai presents a dangerous new chapter for the group.

NOTES

[1] Barrett, R 'Beyond the Caliphate: Foreign Fighters and the Threat of Returnees', The Soufan Centre (October 2018). Available here.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
New Armenian Cabinet Formed Amidst High Expectations

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 22 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, New Armenian Cabinet Formed Amidst High Expectations, 22 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d43a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 78

By: Armen Grigoryan

May 22, 2018 04:17 PM

Pashinyan and his new cabinet (Source: Armenian Weekly)

Armenian protest leader Nikol Pashinyan, whose peaceful campaign resulted in the resignation of the country's former president and recently appointed prime minister Serzh Sargsyan (see EDM, April 23, 24, May 3), was elected the new head of government on May 8. Before that, on May 1, the parliamentary majority still belonging to Sargsyan's Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) had voted against Pashinyan. But after a general strike on May 2, with all automobile traffic in Yerevan blocked between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the Republican faction agreed that, on May 8, its members would not vote uniformly, so that some could vote for Pashinyan (Aysor.am, May 2). Ultimately, he received 59 votes (a minimum of 53 votes were required) (News.am, May 8).

Pashinyan's minority cabinet includes several technocrats with long-term government experience. Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan is a career diplomat who, as a deputy minister, was the principal negotiator on the Association Agreement with the European Union, which ultimately was not signed as then-president Sargsyan chose membership in the Russia-led Customs Union. In 2014, Mnatsakanyan was appointed Armenia's representative to the United Nations. The new minister of defense, Davit Tonoyan, also used to be a deputy minister, notably during the April 2016 "four-day war" with Azerbaijan (see EDM, April 16, 2016), and later was named minister of emergency situations. At the same time, the new cabinet includes several members of Pashinyan's Civil Agreement Party and its allies in the Way Out bloc, some of them quite young, as well as members of two other parliamentary parties  the Tsarukyan Bloc and RPA's former coalition partner, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (a.k.a. Dashaktsutyun) (Hetq.am, May 12, 2018).

Concerning relations with Turkey, Pashinyan expressed readiness to establish diplomatic ties, yet mentioned that Turkey was putting forward precondition  a demand to reach progress in negotiations on the Karabakh issue. According to Pashinyan, "that demand is illogical because it is illogical to put forward conditions related to a third country in order to establish [bilateral] relations . . . We do not change our position and we are ready to establish relations without conditions. At the same time, we remain committed to international recognition of the Armenian genocide." In response, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yldrm said, "If Armenia gives up its hostile attitude, which it has shown for years against Turkey, if [it] gives up its wrong attitude against Turkey's territorial integrity and borders, if [it] wants to opens [sic] a new page then we will respond accordingly after looking at the details" (Hurriyet Daily, May 11). Considering the initially expressed post-revolution approach to the Karabakh conflict resolution process (see EDM, May 10), it is difficult to expect quick progress in relations with Turkey, particularly since Azerbaijan would still oppose the possibility of an Armenian-Turkish rapprochement.

Pashinyan and some of the newly appointed cabinet members attended the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) summit in Sochi, on May 14. In his address to the summit participants, Pashinyan confirmed Yerevan's commitment to the previous agreements within the EEU framework but also referenced a number of obstacles for successful business development and economic cooperation (A1plus.am, May 14). He also had a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin for over an hour, most of it behind closed doors. The public part of the meeting included thanking Putin for a balanced approach and non-interference during the recent protest campaign inside Armenia, as well as assurances that political and military cooperation with Russia would grow. However, topics discussed without the presence of journalists likely included such strategic issues as Russia's arms sales to Azerbaijan and the price of natural gas for Armenian consumers, as well as obstacles created by Russian customs and sanitary inspection for Armenian agricultural exports (Gazeta.ru, May 14).

Later that same day, United States President Donald Trump congratulated Pashinyan on his election as prime minister, mentioning that progress on fighting corruption and toward a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict would be expected (Aravot.am, May 16). The co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk Group stated they expect to meet with the new Armenian leadership in June (Osce.org, May 15).

The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs approved the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed last year with Yerevan (see EDM, December 4, 2017), and recommended increasing support for Armenia, as well as ensuring that extraordinary elections, which may take place within a few months, fully legitimize any future government. A Finnish member of the delegation to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, Heidi Hautala, pointedly acknowledged the shortcomings of previous elections in Armenia. She declared that the South Caucasus country would need support in order to prevent vote buying, pressure on voters or other abuses this time around (Azatutyun.am, May 16). Pashinyan has confirmed his cabinet's commitment to hold extraordinary elections, noting that by the end of June at least an amended election code should be presented (Lragir.am, May 21).

Noticeably, some Western observers have openly recognized the situation in Armenia and the difficulties inherent in balancing its policies. Particularly, Washington-based analyst Stephen Blank noted that "if Armenia sought to emulate Ukraine in 2014, eject the entire old regime and repudiate Armenia's membership in Russia's organizations for military-economic control [...] Moscow would come down hard on the new regime." Therefore, he considers tangible Western support vital for diversifying Armenia's foreign and economic policies, which may help to reduce Russian domination, help Baku and Yerevan negotiate peace, and sustain Armenian democracy, so "Armenia can gradually and peacefully move back to Europe, which is the only hope for its people" (Washington Times, May 14).

Reforms will be difficult to implement, although officials have expressed readiness to depart from some old policies. Particularly, newly appointed Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan (no relation to this author), in a dispute with the former defense minister, Vigen Sargsyan, bitterly criticized the "nation-army" concept (see EDM, October 31, 2016). Grigoryan noted that it and related policies  such as a newly imposed tax, the attempt to remove university students' right to postpone military conscription, and proposed military-patriotic education  were failures (Aravot.am, May 21). A week earlier, the minister of education already ordered the withdrawal of the military-patriotic education concept (Panarmenian.net, May 14). Currently, with expectations for the new government quite high, it is actually unlikely that Pashinyan's cabinet will be able to quickly implement profound reforms: the holdover RPA parliamentary majority continues to retain control over a number of public institutions. Holding new elections as soon as possible could be an important step forward.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russia's Escalating War of Attrition With Ukraine

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 24 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russia's Escalating War of Attrition With Ukraine, 24 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d456.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 80

By: Pavel Felgenhauer

May 24, 2018 06:06 PM

(Source: cripo.com.ua)

Dry and sunny summer weather in the southern wooded and steppe reaches of the Russian-Ukrainian border means trouble and potential military escalation as the land dries up after the spring thaw. Vehicles may again move freely through dirt roads and fields, while aircraft pilots are better able to see their potential targets. Thus, tensions have traditionally increased every summer in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts). Since 2014, Donbas has been divided by a so-called "line of control" between Ukrainian government forces and Moscow-supported pro-Russia separatist formations. And in the past week, the area has again begun witnessing a drastic intensification of fighting, currently around the separatist-held town of Horlivka, north of Donetsk. Locally deployed observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have officially registered 7,700 ceasefire violations from May 14 to May 21 as the level of violence has grown. Both sides blame each other and have reported casualties. The OSCE mission has confirmed this was "the worst week this year." Both sides have reportedly been using heavy weapons. The overall position of the "line of control" has not changed substantially since February 2015, when pro-Russia separatists backed up by regular Russian troops captured the city of Debaltseve. Today, both sides are engaged in tactical armed clashes, attempting to improve their positions along the "line of control (see EDM, February 9, 2017)." But these relatively small tactical movements may easily escalate, according to the Russian foreign ministry, into something much worse if not checked. Russian diplomats of course put the blame squarely on the Ukrainian side and demand that Western leaders intervene to rein in Kyiv (Kommersant, May 23).

The Donbas conflict moved into this most dangerous summer period with all attempts at meaningful dialogue hopelessly stalled. The two so-called Minsk agreements, reached several years ago, had stipulated a ceasefire, a withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline, and presented a roadmap for a hypothetical settlement of the conflict. The first Minsk agreement was signed in September 2014, after an unofficial Russian military intervention stopped the Ukrainian forces from fully defeating the Moscow-backed separatist rebellion in Donbas. The Minsk Two accords were signed in February 2015, with German and French mediation, after Ukrainian forces were defeated in Debaltseve. Minsk Two contained a detailed roadmap of a settlement, none of which has ever been implemented. All sides seem to agree the Minsk accords are essential and accuse each other of failing to implement them. The ceasefire continues to be constantly violated, and all announced attempts to withdraw heavy weapons from the frontline have failed as both sides tend to quickly bring them back as soon as any new round of fighting erupts. In 2017, Moscow, Kyiv and Western leaders seemed to all agree on a possible introduction of armed United Nations peacekeepers in Donbas that could possibly keep the conflict better "frozen" than the unarmed OSCE observers. But the idea quickly fell flat as opposing sides put forward incompatible proposals for the mandate and scope of any possible UN mission. Moscow wanted a limited mission of peacekeepers armed with sidearms, with a mandate to simply "guard" the OSCE observers; moreover, the Russian side declared that the separatist authorities had to officially consent to the mission  all absolutely unacceptable to Kyiv. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Glushko recently complained, "We received no positive response to the peacekeeper proposal we made in October 2017" (Militarynews.ru, May 9).

The main Russian negotiator on the Donbas conflict, presidential aide Vladislav Surkov (53), is reportedly preparing to retire from government service or at least end his longtime involvement as the Kremlin's point man on Ukrainian issues. Since 1999, Surkov has been a deputy prime minister and has occupied top positions in the Kremlin administration. Surkov was reportedly instrumental in formulating both the Minsk One and Minsk Two agreements, which now seem hopelessly deadlocked; this may have been one of the reasons behind his possible resignation. Unnamed Kremlin insiders told journalists Surkov may have clashed with Russian special services and the military on how to proceed in the Ukrainian crisis. In any case, the pending Surkov resignation has already put on hold further possible consultations with the United States' Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker, complicating an already dire situation (RBC, May 14).

The Kremlin-financed news site Vzglyad recently opined about the Russian strategy in Ukraine being in tatters: Hope that the deadlocked Minsk process will somehow lead to the disintegration of the regime in Kyiv and the emergence of a pro-Russian government is not working. Moscow apparently believed prolonged attrition in Donbas would undermine internal support for the Ukrainian government, while the West would grow weary and eventually abandon Kyiv. A special " 'tourist' military strike force" has been deployed close to Rostov-on-Don, ready to invade and defeat the Ukrainian government forces if they move decisively to break the deadlock. But the Ukrainian regime is not "disintegrating"  its resolve is only growing stronger. So a major change in strategy must be made and perhaps some "peace enforcement" operation undertaken  like the Russian operation in Syria (Vzglyad, May 22).

The above-mentioned "tourist military force" is the 8th Army, which was formed in the Rostov oblast last year (Izvestia, March 17, 2017). The 8th Army headquarters are in Novocherkassk and are apparently in operational control of the two army corps of pro-Russia forces in Donetsk and Luhansk. This spring, the 150th motor-rifle division (also headquartered in Novocherkassk) was fully formed as the 8th Army's frontline "strike" unit. The division is reinforced by modernized T-72B3 tanks and heavy artillery (Militarynews.ru, March 27, 2018). According to the Ukrainian chief of the General Staff and commander of the Armed Forces, Viktor Muzhenko, "Experts predict Russia will be ready for a massive war with Ukraine in three years, but we are ready anytime to meet any limited or large operation" (Kommersant, February 25).

Nether Moscow nor Kyiv seem ready to make any serious concessions to help unlock the deadlocked peace process in Donbas. Many observers have expressed the opinion that this deadlock may become institutionalized as a "frozen" conflict, like in Abkhazia, Transnistria or Cyprus (RBC, May 14). While mediators remain unable to ensure the Donbas ceasefire holds, the current massive flare-up of fighting and carnage strongly suggest the war of attrition will continue. And left to spin out of control, the fighting in Donbas could easily escalate into a regional Russo-Ukrainian war.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Confrontations in Tbilisi Test Georgian Government and Democracy

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 29 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Confrontations in Tbilisi Test Georgian Government and Democracy, 29 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d47a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 81

By: Giorgi Menabde

May 29, 2018 11:03 AM

(Source: IWPR)

May 2018 has been a critical test for Georgia. Over the past several weeks, a series of events in the capital of Tbilisi have collectively raised questions in some quarters about the actual level of consolidation of Georgian democracy and have challenged Georgi Kvirikashvili's government to provide an effective response. Since May 12, liberals and conservatives have confronted each other in the streets of Tbilisi. This is normal for any democracy, but in Georgia, the demonstrations and rallies also saw the participation of radical fringe groups and were accompanied by violence, the threats of violence and extremist language (Agenda.ge, May 12; Civil Georgia, May 15).

Simultaneously, for the first time in the country's history, Neo-Nazi groups staged their own public actions. The authorities managed to prevent bloodshed with great difficulty. However, the problems did not disappear. The threat of violence and further activation of extremist groups still exists (Oc-media.org, May 18).

Mass rallies along Tbilisi's central avenue of Rustaveli began after police raided the popular nightclubs Basiani and Cafe Gallery (Civil Georgia, May 15). The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that the searches were necessitated by evidence of drugs being sold at these locations. And during the last month, several young people died from an overdose of an unknown drug (Civil Georgia, May 9).

During the raid, the police, armed with machine guns, forced all club-goers to run out into the street, and then closed the two facilities for several days. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that, as a result of the operation, five drug dealers were arrested. But the police action aroused widespread indignation among young Georgians. They kicked off a rally in front of the parliament building, on Rustaveli Avenue, accusing the government of attacking the "youth lifestyle" and violating their human rights (Civil Georgia, May 17).

Leaders of the associated "White Noise" (WN) movement for the decriminalization and legalization of drugs demanded that the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party change the law on drug use. A convicted drug addict in Georgia faces several years in prison. "It is a very cruel law, which violates human rights. You cannot punish a drug addict with imprisonment if the person does not distribute or sell drugs. We advocate the punishment of drug dealers but not the drug addicts themselves," one of the leaders of the WN, David Subeliani, stressed in an interview with this author, on May 22.

Subeliani added that during the club-goers' peaceful street demonstration, they were approached by an aggressive group that included Georgian Neo-Nazis. "They threatened violence . . . Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia came to us and warned that the police would use force against the aggressive groups and the Nazis [sic]. The leaders of [our] peaceful protest decided to stop the rally in order not to provoke violence and to start negotiations with the minister about the decriminalization and legalization of drugs," Subeliani said.

Ultimately, however, these talks with the government came to nothing. Therefore, the WN leader asserted, the youth action against the government's "brutal anti-drug policy" may resume any day (Author's interview, May 22). Georgia's strict drug laws have attracted growing criticism in society, particularly following the Georgian Constitutional Court's historic decision last year to declare the consumption of light drugs "a personal affair" (Interfax, November 30, 2017).

On May 17, Georgia, like many countries around the world, celebrated the international day against homophobia and transphobia (Jam-news.net, May 17). Local LGBT organizations planned to gather near the government building on that day to remind the authorities of their responsibility to protect minority rights. But this meeting had to be canceled because of threats from religious fanatics and radical far-right groups (Oc-media.org, May 16). Self-described "Georgian fascists" took to the streets carrying signs resembling Nazi swastikas (RFE/RL, May 17). Human rights defender Elena Tevdoradze told this author that she was horrified to see Neo-Nazis in the streets of Tbilisi. "My father died in the war against the fascists, so I nearly fainted when I saw their Nazi gestures," she declared (Author's interview May 24).

One of Georgia's well-known opposition leaders, David Darchiashvili, expressed concern and surprise in a conversation with this author that "the government does not take adequate measures against the Nazis and other radical groups" (Author's interview, May 22). It should be pointed out, however, that the police managed to prevent violent clashes that day with great difficulty. At the same time, the police detained four radicals. They have been charged under the administrative code for hooliganism.

As these far-right groups faced off against LGBT activists in Tbilisi, the non-governmental organization Transparency International Georgia published an interesting report entitled, "The Anatomy of Georgian Neo-Nazism." The study tracks the origin and activities of local radical groups Georgian March, Agreement of National Forces, National Unity as well as Georgian Force. Notably, the report points out that the leader of the Agreement of National Forces, Dmitry Lordkipanidze, simultaneously runs the pro-Moscow Primakov Foundation, in Tbilisi. Similar "pro-Russian relations" are also visible in the activities of other nationalist and radical religious organizations in Georgia, the document concludes (Transparency.ge, May 18).

One of the directors of Transparency International Georgia, Mamuka Andguladze, told the author, "We published the report on May 17  the day against homophobia and transphobia  when certain events occurred in Tbilisi. The groups mentioned in the report were the most aggressive [during the May street demonstrations]. We are continuing our research [into such extremist organizations in Georgia]  there are many new figures connected with the Russian government and the Russian establishment" (Author's interview, May 20).

In trying to control the street confrontations, the authorities have been determined "not to make sharp movements." The government fears that forceful actions against these extremist organizations could lead to even more radical street violence. Therefore, the police continue to try to calm the activists, negotiate with them and apply soft measures, including by handing out fines. But the perceived impunity of those openly calling themselves "Georgian fascists," could harm Georgia's image abroad and raise doubts, even among its friends, about whether this South Caucasus country is able meet the challenge of protecting fundamental human rights. The Georgian government's response at this juncture to the various protests and counter-protests that have hit the capital over the past several weeks could set far-reaching precedents regarding freedom of speech, the right to privacy, as well as the rights of minority-members to express themselves.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Kremlin's Proxy Attacks on Last Vestiges of Russian Federalism

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 31 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Kremlin's Proxy Attacks on Last Vestiges of Russian Federalism, 31 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d4ba.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 83

By: Vadim Shtepa

May 31, 2018 08:40 PM

Supreme Court of Buryatia (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

At the end of April, the Khural (parliament) of the Republic of Buryatia abolished the Constitutional Court of this federal subject (Kommersant, April 24). The decision was made on the initiative of the head of Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov, who last year was appointed by the Kremlin. The authorities justified the abolition of the Constitutional Court by citing the "high cost" of continuing to run this institution. But Dorzho Dugarov, a Buryat public figure who is now a political emigre, takes another view: "Tsydenov and the Khural, controlled by him, redirected the funds that had supported the work of the Constitutional Court for their own use [that is, to run the apparatus of the head of Buryatia]. This is the main reason for the need for 'economy.' " Dugarov provocatively called this decision "an act of political genocide of the Buryat people by the Kremlin through the collaborationist administration in the republic" (Afterempire.info, April 26).

Buryatia was by no means the first such case. In 2014, the regional Statutory Court of Chelyabinsk opposed a tax measure passed by the local parliament. The judiciary ruled that the new legislation undermined the social safety net statutorily mandated for local residents. In response, the oblast's parliament abolished the statutory court itself, similarly citing funding concerns (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, February 26, 2014).

The current authorities of Buryatia argue that the rights of citizens will not be violated as a result of this decision, because Buryatians will always have the opportunity to appeal their grievances to the Constitutional Court of Russia. However, each republic within Russia has its own constitution. And if the judicial institution that enforces it is abolished, this de facto makes republican law a mere formality.

Russia, according to its constitution, is a complex federation composed of subjects with different status. The republics have their own constitutions, while oblasts, krais and federal cities have statutes (ustav) with the status of a basic regional law. Constitutional (or statutory) courts were created in the 1990s in various regions to protect their own legislative specifics. At present, only 16 such institutions remain, even though there are 83 subjects in the Russian Federation (excluding Crimea and Sevastopol). Of these, 13 are constitutional courts in various republics, while the rest are statutory courts in the city of St. Petersburg and the oblasts of Kaliningrad and Sverdlovsk. In fact, they persist only in those regions that can still claim some minimum level of difference between their own legislation compared with federal laws.

Allegations by the authorities that it is too "expensive" to maintain the regional constitutional/statutory courts begin to look particular disingenuous when compared with the institution of federal district presidential plenipotentiaries. These federal districts are not provided by the Russian constitution at all. When first elected president, in 2000, Vladimir Putin divided Russia into seven federal districts, led by his appointed plenipotentiaries. This administrative innovation was a tool to institutionalize Putin's "vertical of power" under conditions when the regional governors were still freely elected by the population. The plenipotentiaries were tasked with controlling those governors. But even after Putin himself began to appoint governors, the institution of his federal district plenipotentiary survived and remains in effect. Thousands of government officials work at the level of the federal districts, but Russian authorities never claim this arrangement is "too expensive for the budget."

Today, the still-existing regional constitutional and statutory courts in Russia remain as vestiges of an era of federalism marked by genuine regional self-government. But as alluded to above, it is important to note that Putin's Kremlin has worked to dismantle Russian federalism not only by attacking local judiciaries, but also executive branch institutions. During the 1990s, the mayors of all Russian cities were freely elected by the local population. This practice was generally accepted, although it was never codified in the Russian constitution. And now, under the conditions of Putin's "power vertical," instead of freely elected mayors, most cities are run by so-called "city managers" appointed by governors, who, in turn, are selected by the president.

Currently, only eight regional capitals still hold free mayoral elections (Vedomosti, April 4). Until recently, there were nine of them, but this past April the post of elected mayor was liquidated in Yekaterinburg. In protest against this decision, Mayor Eugene Roizman, elected in 2013, resigned (Interfax, May 25).

The same year, 2013, opposition politician Galina Shirshina was also elected mayor of Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Republic of Karelia. But already in 2015, the Kremlin-appointed governor of Karelia, Alexander Khudilainen, forced her resignation and entirely annulled free mayoral elections in the republic's capital (Tvrain.ru, December 25, 2015). The next Kremlin appointee to head Karelia, Artur Parfenchikov put his former colleagues from the Federal Bailiff Service into several key positions in the republic (see Commentaries, September 28, 2017).

Observers sometimes suggest that President Putin is seeking to completely eliminate the national republics in Russia. As evidence, they point to the already abolished compulsory teaching of local state languages in republican schools (see EDM, May 27, 2015; April 13, 2017). However, the Kremlin is unlikely to make such radical changes to the constitution because of the civil unrest this would, in all probability, spark in the republics. Putin operates in a different style  one can expect that the interpretation of the federal constitution will be "softly" changed. Consequently, republics will officially remain, but their real rights will be lowered to the level of oblasts.

This trend was clearly demonstrated by the latest series of governors' resignations and presidential appointments to "temporarily" carry out their duties. At the end of May, Putin changed the heads of the Republic of Yakutia, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, as well as the Tyumen and Magadan oblasts (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, May 29). All these changes were carried out according to the same scheme  the regions were assigned "temporary acting governors," who will go through a formal election procedure on the "single voting day" (this year it will be held on September 9). Emblematic of the principle of "preventive democracy" (see EDM, November 17, 2017), these curated leadership reshuffles continue Putin's slow-motion efforts to usher in ever tighter political centralization of Russia.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russian Kremlin Critic Survives Murder Attempt in Kyiv After Being Reported Dead

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 31 May 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russian Kremlin Critic Survives Murder Attempt in Kyiv After Being Reported Dead, 31 May 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d4d4.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 83

By: Pavel Felgenhauer

May 31, 2018 08:24 PM

Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko (R), with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko (C) and head of the state security service (SSU) Vasily Gritsak, at a news briefing in Kyiv, May 30 (Source: Reuters)

The defense correspondent and fierce Kremlin critic Arkady Babchenko (41) was reported shot dead, on the evening of May 29, by an unidentified killer on the doorstep of his apartment in Kyiv. The news provoked an outpouring of grief and sympathy from many journalists, friends, as well as human rights and opposition activists in Moscow. The Russian authorities were accused of being behind the attack. All sides demanded a comprehensive investigation of the alleged crime. Babchenko worked for several years as a reporter for Novaya Gazeta before leaving Russia with his family in 2017, citing threats to his life because of his journalistic work. Novaya Gazeta quickly announced it would begin an investigation into his killing. Former Duma (lower chamber of the Russian parliament) opposition deputy Ilya Ponomarev (who is also living in self-imposed exile in Kyiv, like Babchenko), wrote on his Facebook page about an apparent plot to hire former Ukrainian Donbas conflict veterans to kill Russian political emigres residing in Ukraine: "More killings may follow," he warned (Interfax, May 29).

Less than 24 hours later, however, it turned out the "killing" of Babchenko had been simulated as part of a sting operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU). News of his death, the images of Babchenko lying face down in a pool of blood, his distressed wife  it all turned out to be theatrics. The Russian journalist faced the cameras, safe and sound and grinning, at a press briefing at SSU headquarters in Kyiv, together with Security Services chief Vasil Gritsak, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yuri Lutsenko and the chief of the National Police, Serhiy Knyazev. According to Babchenko and Gritsak, the SSU discovered a Moscow-sponsored plan to kill up to 30 people in Ukraine, and Babchenko was apparently on the list. Allegedly, some $30,000 had been offered for the contract killing of Babchenko, with $15,000 paid in advance to a contract killer  an unnamed Donbas war veteran who became an SSU informant and obtained immunity from prosecution. According to Babchenko, the SSU covert operation to prevent the alleged killing lasted two months. The Russian defense correspondent himself was approached by the SSU a month ago and agreed to cooperate by faking his own death in order to help arrest the culprits (Interfax, May 30). The alleged mastermind behind the planned assassinations was arrested; his name was disclosed during a court arraignment in Kyiv as "Boris German" (Pravda.com.ua, May 31).

To date, the Ukrainian authorities have not revealed any concrete evidence linking the alleged attempt on Babchenko's life to the Russian intelligence services. And it is not clear whether the elaborate sting operation that publicly faked Babchenko's death had obtained any additional proof for a criminal case that already seemed to be under the SSU's control. The operation involving the simulated murder was made known to only a small number of officials. President Petro Poroshenko was aware of it, but most of his cabinet, including the prime minister and foreign minister, apparently were not (Newsru.com, May 31).

Many people in Moscow are of course relieved that Babchenko is alive and well, but are distressed over the hoax. Russian authorities, while expressing relief that Babchenko is fine, began to actively push back, describing the entire event as a "provocation" and an example of the purportedly false accusations Russia has to constantly deal with. They equated the Babchenko case with the poisoning of double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England, on March 4, 2018, by a nerve agent known as "Novichok"  if one was a sting, the other could be, too. Western media and press-freedom watchdog organizations also rebuked the Ukrainian government, accusing it of misusing public trust and undermining journalistic credibility: Babchenko, a well-known professional journalist, pretended to be dead, thus helping to disseminate this news story world-wide. As critics have argued, this breached mainstream Western journalistic ethical principles. Moreover, Western officials and governments that had swiftly condemned the alleged killing now find themselves in an awkward position, while Russian officialdom is happily pointing fingers  suggesting the Babchenko case is representative of the falsehoods allegedly routinely disseminated by Kyiv's authorities and opposition journalists (Interfax, May 30).

In Russia, the state-run propaganda machine is using the opportunity to go on the offensive and attack the Ukrainian authorities together with a large portion of the Western media. Russian opposition news outlets  nowadays mostly confined to blogs and various Internet publications that do not reach the majority of the Russian population  are, with some reservations, expressing support for Babchenko and the theatrical SSU sting operation. Georgy Satarov, a former aide to then-president Boris Yeltsin, has written on his Facebook page that he is glad Babchenko is alive and he dismisses the ethical condemnation of the sting operation. Satarov believes the truly unethical actors are German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Russian President Vladimir Putin this past month. According to Satarov, Merkel and Macron are lucky Babchenko was not killed or they would have been morally responsible by de facto giving the Putin regime Western Europe's stamp of approval (Facebook.com, May 30).

Many opposition Russian journalists have, in fact, been killed over the past couple decades. The offices of Novaya Gazeta display a gallery of portraits of slain colleagues who had worked for the paper. Sometimes, like in the case of Anna Politkovskaya (murdered in 2006), those directly involved in the killing are convicted. Similarly, the man who stabbed Ekho Moskvy radio anchor Tanya Felgenhauer (she survived), on October 23, 2017, was declared legally insane by a court and committed to a psychiatric ward (Interfax, May 11). But even when the culprits are named and brought to justice, the masterminds who ordered the attacks are not. The Kremlin always denies any connection to the killings of journalists or opposition activists. But somehow, assassins only target opposition journalists or activists, never anyone from the pro-Putin crowd. Babchenko was not actually murdered, but the hit list is almost certain to grow.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Dangerous Amateurs: Indonesia's New Generation of Jihadists

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 2 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Dangerous Amateurs: Indonesia's New Generation of Jihadists, 2 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d4e6.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 11

By: James Brandon

June 2, 2018 09:52 AM

Members of Indonesian security forces (Source: Reuters)

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 woman's husband, Dita Oepriyanto, drove a car filled with explosives into the city's Surabaya Center Pentecostal Church. Almost simultaneously, the family's two teenage sons conducted a third attempt against another church in the city. Later that day, three others from a separate family  a husband, his wife and their teenage son  who were preparing a follow-up bombing, were killed when their homemade bombs exploded prematurely in an apartment in a low-income area on the city's 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 dead  the 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 2005  a 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 country's 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 group's 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 Naum  the most senior Indonesian in IS in Syria  using 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, JAD's 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 family's 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 Egypt's 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 Indonesia's 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 toddler  he 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 attacks  just 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 families  often tied together not only by kinship, but by a shared hardline ideology  to 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 militants  returning for instance from the Middle East or from jihadist conflicts in the Philippines  to 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.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Is the Georgian Opposition Capable of 'Dismantling the System?'

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 5 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Is the Georgian Opposition Capable of 'Dismantling the System?', 5 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d526.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 86

By: Giorgi Menabde

June 5, 2018 05:42 PM

Protesters in Georgia (Source: Ekho Kavkaza)

A so-called "Nationwide Protest Action" will be held in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, on June 10. This decision was made by the Council of Opposition Parties after Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili refused to resign (Kommersant, June 5). The opposition accuses the government of inability to investigate the brutal murder of two teenagers by their peers on December 1, last year. Suspicion is rampant that influential persons in the government are helping the guilty parties to avoid responsibility (Kommersant, May 31).

Zaza Saralidze, the father of one of the murdered schoolchildren, 16-year-old David, claims that several criminals participated in the killing of his son, not just two who received prison sentences. Moreover, these defendants were charged only with wounding his son with a knife  not for murder (Civil Georgia, June 4). One of the defendants is the son of prosecutor Mirza Subeliani. The opposition and Zaza Saralidze suspect that Subeliani is trying to thwart the investigation and is being supported in this endeavor by the prime minister or other cabinet members (Kommersant, May 31).

Prime Minister Kvirikashvili rejects all such accusation and has charged his internal minister with carrying out a new investigation. After meeting with the father of the deceased teenager, Kvirikashvili promised to punish all the guilty parties to this crime (Kommersant, June 5).

But the opposition is not convinced of Kvirikashvili's sincerity. The leader of the New Georgia Party (NG), Giorgi Vashadze, called on all Georgians to "come to Tbilisi from all regions on June 10 to begin to dismantle the system and defend their dignity and Zaza Saralidze's right to justice" (1tv.ge, June 3).

The well-known Georgian artist Giorgi Bugadze told this author that dignity is valued higher by Georgian people than maternal wellbeing: "There have never been rallies and protests in Georgia about social demands, although people live very badly because they have small salaries and incomes. But thousands of people go to protest rallies when the government violates their political rights and insults human dignity" (Author's interview, June 4).

The current protest movement is being led by the party of former president Mikhail Saakashvili, United National Movement. Saakashvili now lives in the Netherlands and cannot return, because a Tbilisi court sentenced him to three years imprisonment. He was accused of abuse of official authority in the case of Sandro Girgvliani (Georgianjourna.ge, January 5). But judging by the former president's posts on Facebook, he is closely following the events and directing the actions of his party from abroad (Kommersant, June 5).

The mass protests have already forced General Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze to resign. And the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has agreed for the first time to create an interim parliamentary commission to investigate the "Khorava street murder" (Civil Georgia, June 4). But the existence of this commission has split the opposition, sparking a disagreement between UNM and the largest opposition faction in the parliament  European Georgia (EG).

Saakashvili's party claims that by taking part in the parliamentary commission, EG facilitates the ruling regime's prejudicial investigation. "This commission will not be able to change anything, and the authorities will not respect its decision," declared Roman Gotsiridze, a member of parliament (MP) from UNM. He and the other UNM MPs have refused to participate in the work of the commission (Interpressnews.ge, June 4).

The political expert Tengiz Ablotiya argued that this key policy disagreement between Georgia's two largest opposition parties  UNM and EG  reduces the opposition movement's overall chance of success. "In Armenia, there was one opposition leader, Nikol Pashinyan. Everyone knew that it was he, who would assume the post of prime minister. But in Georgia, the opposition does not have a single leader to consolidate around," Abotiya stressed (Author's interview June 4).

Tellingly, the founder of the Georgian Republican Party, Levan Berdzenishvili, told this author that his faction will not support the revolution and will not take part in the planned June 10 rally, because, in case of a new revolution, Saakashvili might take advantage of it. "He is already [part of] our country's history. We do not want Mikheil Saakashvili to succeed the current ruler of Georgia, the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. They both equally disrespect human rights and the ideals of democracy," Berdzenishvili said. During the Soviet period, Berdzenishvili spent several years in prison for his support for human rights and Georgian independence (Author's interview, June 3).

Disagreements within the opposition are reinforced by the fact that Saakashvili has unexpectedly announced his desire to participate in next year's presidential elections in Ukraine. His lawyers are ready to file a lawsuit with the Strasbourg Human Rights Court for returning Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship. The former Georgian president had lost his Georgian citizenship when he took the post of governor of Odesa (Kommersant, June 5).

That said, Georgian authorities still expect the June 10 rally to go ahead. Georgian Dream MP Giorgi Gachechiladze is not worried the protests could spread nationwide, however. The opposition lacks resources to "destabilize" the country, he suggested. "Believe me, in a few days these protests will cease and we will not have to take radical measures," Gachechiladze said (Author's interview, June 3).

Political analyst Irakli Machavariani also doubts the ability of the opposition to organize a revolution or "dismantle the system." Nonetheless, he warns that serious problems might not disappear after June 10: Georgian Dream and Kvirikashvili's government will need to better manage the domestic situation. "They have to find good managers . . . Otherwise, they will lose the parliamentary elections of 2020," Machavariani cautioned (Author's interview, June 4).

The Georgian opposition is currently disoriented and weak. Therefore, the ruling party is not particularly concerned. Nevertheless, the government will need to take into account Georgian society's loud calls for justice and for the authorities to punish all those responsible for last year's murder of the two teenagers. No matter how the current political protests end, Prime Minister Kvirikashvili will be under pressure to take additional steps to restore the trust of ordinary people in his government.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moscow Hopes Gagauz Nation Can Help Save Russian Language in Moldova

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 5 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moscow Hopes Gagauz Nation Can Help Save Russian Language in Moldova, 5 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d544.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 86

By: Paul Goble

June 5, 2018 05:43 PM

Igor Dodon (Source: president.md)

Now that the Moldovan Constitutional Court has annulled the special status the Russian language has enjoyed in that republic since independence, Moscow is hoping to use the Gagauz nation within Moldova to defend the position of Russian there. But this decision to turn to the 200,000-strong Christian Turkic minority highlights Moscow's weakness and likely presages the further decline of the Russian language in Moldova. Nevertheless, in the meantime, Russia may still be able to stir up enough trouble with the Gagauz to slow Moldova's march toward integrating with Romania and the West.

Yesterday, June 4, the Moldovan Constitutional Court ruled that a 1989 law, "On the Functioning of Languages on the Territory of the Moldovan SSR," dating back to when Moldova was a constituent Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) within the Soviet Union, had been supplanted by subsequent legislation and was, therefore, no longer in effect. As a result, the Russian language no longer has the special status it did in Soviet times; and those who try to claim otherwise have no legal basis to maintain this stance (Newsmaker.md, June 4). Unsurprisingly, the Russian government is furious, viewing this action as an attack on "the Russian world" (Russkiy mir), which President Vladimir Putin increasingly defines in terms of language rather than anything else (Iarex.ru, June 5).

Moscow is angry even though it has hardly lost everything: the Moldovan high court declared that translations of normative acts into Russian, their publication in translation, as well as state guarantees of the right of residents to receive education in Russian "do not contradict the status of Romanian as the state language of Moldova" (Newsmaker.md, June 4). (Chisinau, by legislative act had declared "Romanian" rather than "Moldovan" to be the state language of the republic in December 2013.) And in the hopes of reversing the court or at least slowing down the ultimate implications of its decision  a further reduction in Russian-language use in Moldova and the rapprochement and perhaps ultimate unification of Moldova and Romania  Moscow is now looking for any allies it can find.

It does not have any good options. Moscow can apparently continue to rely on Moldovan President Igor Dodon, who yesterday condemned the court's decision as "the latest anti-popular, anti-constitutional decision" that, he insisted, undermined the consensus on which Moldovan statehood is based. "Any attempts to destroy this historic consensus," Dodon proclaimed, "can lead to the most irreparable consequences" (Iarex.ru, June 5). But the Moldovan president is out of step with the parliament and the majority of the people of his country. According to the 2014 national census, over 80 percent of the residents of Moldova identify as Romanians or Moldovans, with only 9.7 percent now saying they are ethnic Russians. And Moldovans predominantly use their national language: only 5.7 percent said they use Russian as their primary tongue. The next three largest minorities, the Gagauz, Ukrainians and Bulgarians  who form 4.2 percent, 3.9 percent and 0.5 percent of the total population, respectively  utilize Russian to a significant, but by no means overwhelming, extent. Thirty-three percent of the Gagauz, 50 percent of Ukrainians, and 33 percent of Bulgarians reported speaking Russian on a daily basis in 2014 (Statistica.md, accessed June 5).

Moscow and its clients in Chisinau are thus looking for allies to add to the roughly 10 percent of ethnic Russians in the population. The Bulgarians are too few to matter, Russian-speaking Moldovans appear unenthusiastic, and members of the ethnic-Ukrainian population of Moldova are hardly likely to join Moscow's corner given Russian aggression against their homeland and unrelenting anti-Ukrainian propaganda beamed across the former Soviet space. Consequently, Moscow is again turning to the Gagauz, a minority that it has used against Chisinau in the past (see Commentaries, April 4, 2014; EDM, November 11, 2014). And its exploitation by Russia is likely to weigh more heavily on the Moldovan government than this minority's relatively small size might suggest.

Even before the Constitutional Court's decision was handed down, Vladimir Kyssa, the head of the Gagauz regional parliament, said that his people would follow their own laws, which declare that there are three official languages among the Gagauz  Moldovan, Gagauz and Russian. Moreover, he added that his region would "support the Russian-speaking North of Moldova"  a euphemism for the breakaway Transnistrian "republic"  even though Chisinau takes no notice of what is certain to be Tiraspol's opposition to the court's decision and what activists there are already saying (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 30).

At various points in the last 25 years, Moscow has employed the Gagauz minority, together with the Transnistrian regime, to put pressure on Chisinau to do its bidding. It has implicitly threatened that if Chisinau does not back down on language issues, which some Russians argue are the primary cause of Transnistria's breakaway from Moldova, it will not only lose that territory forever but will push the Gagauz to follow its lead. And Russian commentators have played up the provisions in a 1994 agreement between Chisinau and the Gagauz that specifies the latter has the right to pursue independence if Moldova decides to unite with Romania, as some in its parliament and population would like to do.

It is almost certain, the Russian paper Nezavisimaya Gazeta implies, that the court decision will lead to a suspension in talks between Chisinau and Tiraspol. It is also highly likely that the Gagauz will press their case against Chisinau on the Russian language with protests and appeals to European institutions (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, May 30). If that happens, the Moldovan political situation could heat up quite quickly, possibly changing the electoral prospects of the various parties in advance of the parliamentary elections there later this year.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Ukraine's Everest Estate LLC v. Russia: About More Than Money

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 12 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Ukraine's Everest Estate LLC v. Russia: About More Than Money, 12 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d564.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 90

By: Olena Snigyr

June 12, 2018 11:16 PM

Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague (Source: EPA)

Last month (May 2018), the Russian Federation lost an important lawsuit lodged against it by "Everest Estate LLC and Others," 18 Ukrainian companies that had held assets in Crimea prior to Moscow's illegal annexation of this peninsula in early 2014. The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that the Russian government had illegally expropriated hotels, apartments and other Crimean real estate owned by the claimants, and it awarded them approximately $159 million (plus legal costs) for this breach of the 1998 Russian-Ukrainian bilateral investment treaty (Iareporter.com, May 9; Investmentpolicyhub.unctad.org, accessed June 11).

Even though Russia is fully expected to dispute the court decision and the claimants are unlikely to collect full restitution for a long time, the news of the PCA victory excited Ukrainian society. This was the first instance when victims of Russian aggression were able to legally secure some level of reimbursement for their losses incurred since 2014.

In launching its military campaign against Ukraine four years ago, Russia violated not only fundamental norms and principles of international law, but also a slew of bilateral and multilateral agreements. Ukraine has, thus, chosen to defend itself using conventional (military) means as well as legal challenges in international courts. The application of various international arbitration mechanisms, including the PCA, become one of these non-military instruments to force consequences on the aggressor. At the same time, however, the absence of legal precedent made pursuing such a case somewhat risky for the claimants. Notably, the application of an international arbitration mechanism in the case of lost investments in Crimea evoked certain concern in Ukraine that the court would not recognize this case as under its jurisdiction at all because, according to international law, Crimea is Ukrainian territory. At the same time, some feared that the ultimate decision might somehow provide a basis for the recognition of Crimea as part of the Russian Federation.

Taras Kachka, an advisor to the minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, said that the arguments of the Ukrainian companies in this recent case were based on the fact that although Crimea is Ukrainian territory, it is occupied by Russia and under the effective control of the Russian state. Hence, Russia is responsible for the protection of investments in Crimea (ZN.UA, May 20). The Hague-based arbitration body agreed with this position, declaring that, independent of who controls the territory de jure, the state that controls the territory is de facto responsible for violations of investors' rights. This case might become precedent-setting for future arbitration proceedings. At least eight similar cases are pending, brought by Ukrainian companies Ukrnafta, Stabil, Aeroport Belbek, Lugzor, Privatbank, Naftogaz and Oschadbank (Yurydychna Gazeta, May 2).

Additionally, investment protection arbitration procedures could likely be applied toward assets moored in the Donbas territories (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) held by Russia and its local proxies. Indeed, pre-existing legal precedents include cases such as "Hlebik v. Ukraine" and "Ilashku v. Moldova and Russia," which raise the probability that Russian control and, thus, Russian liability for these territories will be recognized as a legal fact (Yurydychna Gazeta, May 2).

These kinds of suits are likely to benefit from encouragement and comprehensive support of the Ukrainian government. In addition to international investment arbitration cases, some international law experts  for example, Borys Babin, the Kyiv-based permanent representative of the president of Ukraine in Crimea (Author's interview, April 10)  emphasize that Ukraine should adopt a more active policy in, inter alia, the fields of:

international humanitarian law (pursuing legal cases to address Moscow's drafting of Ukrainian citizens from Crimea into the Russian Armed Forces and the creation of illegal military groups, the illegal jurisdiction of Russian courts in Crimea, etc.),

international maritime law (opposing Russia's capture of Black Sea infrastructure and shelf resources, the militarization of maritime infrastructure, systemic interdictions of navigation through the Kerch Strait, violations of navigation security in the territorial sea and inland waters of Ukraine, etc.),

international air law (against breaches of air security),

violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations (legally responding to instances of unsanctioned foreign trade with Crimea as well as violations of Ukrainian intellectual property in Crimea and the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine).

Since 2014, Russian lawyers have been shifting their interpretation of the fundamental regulations and principles of international law, especially concerning issues of territorial integrity, the inviolability of borders and national self-determination. Dr. Olexander Zadorozhny, a legal scholar at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, details this in his 2015 book, Russian Doctrine of International Law After the Annexation of Crimea. Much like its attempts to create an alternative political reality in its neighborhood, Russia is trying to bring an alternative legal reality into existence in which strength and power trumps equal standing before the law.

The Euro-Atlantic region's post-Cold War security system based on law and trust remains under threat. The downward trend arguably began with the systematic undermining of human rights in Russia and escalated with Moscow's aggression against several independent states across the former Soviet space. It continues today with the creeping occupation and annexation of Georgian territories, the de facto occupation of Moldovan territory, and, in Ukraine, via the violation of international law in Crimea and in Donbas. The broader strategic impact of Kyiv bringing multiple arbitration cases against Moscow before international courts thus far outweighs simply seeking restitution for the loss of property or business. Such a situation seems to open the door to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova potentially cooperating in the use of international law as an instrument of defense.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Ukrainian President, Parliament Greenlight Court to Fight Top-Level Corruption

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 12 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Ukrainian President, Parliament Greenlight Court to Fight Top-Level Corruption, 12 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d576.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 90

By: Oleg Varfolomeyev

June 12, 2018 10:28 PM

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (Source: axar.az)

On June 7, Ukraine's parliament passed a long-awaited bill to establish an anti-corruption court, and President Petro Poroshenko promptly signed it into law four days later. The anti-corruption court is supposed to be the last link in the chain of bodies designed to fight top-level corruption. Under pressure from the United States, the European Union and international credit institutions, Kyiv established the first three of them between 2014 and 2016  the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the National Agency for Corruption Prevention.

Without the anti-corruption court, it has proved difficult to imprison corrupt top-level officials. The NABU complains that existing courts often thwart efforts to bring them to justice. In many cases, officials suspended over investigations into large-scale embezzlement were restored to their positions by the courts (Rbc.ua, January 29; Gordonua.com, February 8). Continuing reforms of the justice system have not freed judges from political and economic influence. Moreover, many of them flaunt their wealth, clearly living beyond their means. This calls into question the very idea of fighting top-level corruption in Ukraine, while a significant proportion of public funds and international assistance disappears without a trace.

The anti-corruption court is supposed to change this through built-in mechanisms ensuring the independence and honesty of its judges. Probably the most important of these mechanisms, and one that President Poroshenko's team had staunchly opposed all the way up until the vote in the legislature, is a panel of international experts to vet judicial candidates if doubts exist about their integrity or background. There was no place for such a panel in the original anti-corruption court bill, which Poroshenko submitted to the parliament last December. His team, which claimed the requirement violated Ukraine's sovereignty, backed down only under pressure from the G7, Washington in particular, and international credit institutions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) made it clear that it would stop lending to Kyiv if the law did not provide for setting up the panel of international experts (Ukrinform.ru, June 6).

Finally, while addressing the parliament ahead of the vote, Poroshenko announced that a compromise with the IMF was reached. He said the final version of the bill, just as the IMF and the G7 wanted, was in line with both the Ukrainian constitution and recommendations of the Venice Commission, Europe's leading advisory body of legal and constitutional experts. At the same time, Poroshenko stressed that the law would be "not for the Venice Commission, not for the Council of Europe, the European Union or the USA, but for Ukraine" (President.gov.ua, June 7).

According to the final version of the bill, a candidate for judge of the anti-corruption court may be vetoed by a panel of international experts if at least three of the panel's six members reject the candidate, said the head of the parliamentary law committee, Ruslan Knyazevych. After that, a joint meeting of the international experts and the Ukrainian qualification commission is to approve the veto by a majority vote, including at least three votes from the international experts. Also, the experts may invite candidates for interviews (Pravda.com.ua, June 7).

Opponents of the anti-corruption court were overwhelmingly defeated in the final legislative vote, as more than two thirds of people's deputies, 315 in the 450-seat unicameral parliament, voted in favor of the bill. Most of the votes against came from the Opposition Bloc, widely regarded as the political successor of the Party of Regions, whose notoriously corrupt leaders ran Ukraine until the EuroMaidan uprising in 2013-2014. Additionally, most representatives of the populist Radical Party abstained (Liga.net, June 7).

The approval of the bill may convince the EU to disburse a new one-billion-euro loan to Ukraine. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the loan on June 13 (Segodnya.ua, June 6). However, it is not yet clear whether the IMF will be equally convinced. Along with the anti-corruption law, the IMF has, since last year, been expecting Ukraine to increase domestic natural gas tariffs in order to balance the state budget. Higher gas prices should also encourage private consumers and utility companies to cut gas consumption, further diminishing Ukraine's dependence on imported gas, IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton said in a recent interview (Rbc.ua, April 26). Yet, the government has been reluctant to increase energy prices ahead of the elections scheduled for next year.

Fears persist that the ruling elite will drag its feet over the establishment of the anti-corruption court, which is viewed as a serious threat to certain vested interests. NABU chief Artem Sytnyk believes that six months should be enough to establish the court. At the same time, he doubts the authorities will rush (112.ua, June 11). The law provides for setting up the anti-corruption court within 12 months, so it may be established after next March's presidential election. However, it must be established before the parliamentary election scheduled for fall 2019, so that its first verdicts may influence the election outcome.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
'Security Belt': The UAE's Tribal Counterterrorism Strategy in Yemen

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 14 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, 'Security Belt': The UAE's Tribal Counterterrorism Strategy in Yemen, 14 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d5ba.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 12

By: Nicholas A. Heras

June 14, 2018 06:25 PM

Shabwa Elite Forces (Source: Twitter)

As international attention is focused on the Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) led coalition's campaign to capture the strategic Yemeni port city of al-Hudaydah from the Ansar Allah (Partisans of God-Houthi) movement, the coalition continues to wage a war against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State (IS) in several regions of southern Yemen. The UAE in particular has been quietly constructing an infrastructure of local Yemeni partner forces in southern Yemen, al-Hizam al-Amni (Security Belt), which is intended to provide a security architecture for stabilizing Emirati-controlled areas of southern Yemen and to provide a platform to stage operations against AQAP and IS (see: Militant Leadership Monitor, June 6; Militant Leadership Monitor, April 4). This Emirati-led effort in southern Yemen is primarily mobilized from a carefully selected group of tribes, each powerful in their particular area of this region. Nevertheless, this project is controversial among south Yemenis and is contested by local forces loyal to the government of Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi (al-Araby al-Jadid, December 31, 2017; al-Sharq [Aden], November 11, 2017).

Co-Opting the Tribes

From the start of the UAE's participation in the coalition campaign, which began in March 2015, the Emiratis were focused on securing territory in southern Yemen and building a security infrastructure from which Emirati forces could operate. The UAE was aware that the largest and most important component of its local partner force in southern Yemen would be tribal militias, which would include soldiers from the Yemeni national army who had remained loyal to Hadi.[1] Most of these forces would be operating in their particular area or governorate, and would be mobilized from tribes that were generally smaller and less widely distributed than the large tribal confederations of northern Yemen.[2] Over the course of the first phase of the UAE's operations in southern Yemen, the Emiratis determined that the al-Muqawama al-Janoobiyya (Southern Resistance) organization was the best organized and had the broadest appeal to the tribes. The movement has for years called for independence for South Yemen and a return to the sovereign country of the People's Democratic Republic of South Yemen that existed prior to the unification of Yemen that occurred from 1990-1994 (see Militant Leadership Monitor, July 2, 2017; Militant Leadership Monitor, September 30, 2015; Militant Leadership Monitor, August 31, 2015).

The Southern Resistance organization provided the Emiratis with a ready-made network of tribal militias that were seeking foreign support to combat the Houthis and their allies in the security forces  those who had remained loyal to the former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh  and in some areas of southern Yemen, against AQAP and IS. With the focus on rolling back the Houthis out of Aden and other areas of southern Yemen, the Southern Resistance network created a good working partnership with the UAE military that would become the building blocks of the Security Belt as the Emiratis entered into the stabilization and entrenchment phase of their operations in southern Yemen.[3]

Although the UAE did not have a defined "tribal strategy" at the onset of its operations in southern Yemen, over the course of the first two years of the war, the UAE actively sought to develop an overarching approach to the region's tribes that could best exploit the local and provincial reach of the tribes and their militias and adapt to their relative willingness to mobilize.[4] This approach needed to fit into a security structure that could be utilized by the Hadi government and the Emirati and coalition military forces based in Aden, in order to secure and stabilize southern Yemen.[5] The operations that would be tasked to local Yemeni tribal partner forces included defending territory from the Houthis and their allies, seizing territory and holding it, and in some areas conducting operations against AQAP and IS and preventing the re-infiltration of these organizations into captured areas and into Aden.[6]

Relatively early into its campaign in Yemen, the UAE sought to establish a modus vivendi with the tribes, intending to form a partnership with them against common opponents, particularly the Houthis and AQAP and IS, and over time to develop a system of patronage that would bond the tribes under the authority of the Hadi government (Khaleej Times [Dubai], November 25, 2015; Militant Leadership Monitor, September 30, 2015).[7]

Officially, the Emiratis still recognize the Hadi government as the sovereign authority in southern Yemen. Over the course of its military operations in this region, however, the UAE has increasingly relied on its own unilateral efforts to engage with the tribes (Militant Leadership Monitor, April 4). For the UAE, this has been a process of active learning on how to build tribal support while operating in the conditions that are present in southern Yemen. The most important feature of that has been to adopt a province-by-province and area-by-area approach to recruiting and mobilizing tribal militias, allowing these forces to operate where they fight best  in their local areas (Reuters, May 3, 2017). Reports also indicate that the national security policymaking leadership of the UAE is actively involved with the emerging Emirati tribal engagement strategy in southern Yemen. As an example, a senior member of the UAE's National Security Council recently met with the head of the tribal engagement office for Hadramawt governorate. Governorates such as the Hadramawt continue to be a core area of concern for the Emiratis because of AQAP's longstanding presence there, and the organization's close-knit relationship with some of Hadrawmat's tribes (al-Mandeb [Aden], June 5).

The ongoing challenge for the Emiratis has been how to network these locally-focused tribal militias into a larger security force that can coordinate the collective defense of the wider, expanding UAE zone of influence in southern Yemen.[8] This requires a common unifying principle for dispersed and disparate tribal militias and has led the UAE away from unequivocally backing the Hadi government, which is not so far removed from the ancien regime under Saleh. The Hadi government still grapples with unpopularity in many areas of southern Yemen, and is unable to stem support for the southern independence movement (Raseef [Aden], January 30, 2018; al-Sharq [Aden], November 11, 2017). As a result, the UAE has built a network of local partner forces throughout southern Yemen, most of which are loyal to the Southern Resistance and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) led by Major General 'Aidaroos Qasim Abd al-Aziz al-Zubaydi, and which is actively seeking to achieve independence for South Yemen (see Militant Leadership Monitor, July 2, 2017).

It is from this network of tribal, STC-linked militias that the UAE has been building its Security Belt, an organization that has been increasingly tasked with combating the spread of AQAP and IS in southern Yemen (see Militant Leadership Monitor, June 6; Militant Leadership Monitor, April 4). This mission has become more important as both Salafist-jihadist organizations have been infiltrating Aden and conducting attacks targeting the Emirati and coalition forces in the city (Militant Leadership Monitor, April 4). AQAP still represents a significant and active threat to the Emirati-led coalition forces and the stability of several governorates in southern Yemen, including in Aden, Lahij, Abyan, Ibb, Hadramawt and Shabwa. The UAE is responding to this threat by increasing the scope and seriousness of its tribal engagement activities in these governorates, and by developing component "elite forces," drawn from local tribes in particularly sensitive and problematic areas, such as Shabwa and Hadramawt, and integrating them into the Security Belt architecture (Aden Gad, August 5; Southern Transitional Council, August 1, 2017). These elite forces are being trained directly by the Emiratis and are being deployed in raids to capture high-value AQAP leadership figures, key infrastructure such as oil wells and to seize areas from AQAP (al-Omana, November 2, 2017; al-Ain, August 3, 2017).

Elite Forces

Shabwa governorate has been a particularly important proving ground for the UAE, and (working through the Emiratis) the United States, to test out the elite forces concept. Energy-rich Shabwa, which is the site of significant foreign energy corporation investment and contains Yemen's only working gas terminal at the port of Belhaf, has also been a key area of recruitment and control for AQAP. Working through the Shabwa Elite Forces, the Hadrami (Hadramawt) Elite Forces and other allied militias, the UAE and the United States conducted an extensive and successful campaign against AQAP in July and August 2017 (Military Times, August 4, 2017; Reuters, August 3, 2017).

Since the late summer 2017 campaign, the Shabwa Elite Forces have been responsible for stability and counterterrorism operations in the governorate (Gulf News [Dubai], April 29; Sky News Arabia [Abu Dhabi], February 26; Sky News Arabia [Abu Dhabi], November 27, 2017). Their recruitment started in the summer of 2016, beginning with a core group of specific tribes  Bel'abeed, Bani Hilal, Balharath and al-Wahadee  that were reportedly closely vetted by the Emiratis and mobilized with the support of the United States (Yemen Shabab [Ataq], August 12, 2017; al-Yemeny al-Gadeed [Aden], June 23, 2016).

This force was designed to be a pan-tribal, local militia that reported directly to the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition (i.e. the UAE) and could protect high value targets, such as energy resources, and conduct operations directly against AQAP and IS (Okaz [Riyadh], January 10; Al-Mowaten [Aden], August 4, 2017). The Shabwa Elite Forces support the STC, and in clashes in Aden between forces loyal to the Hadi government and those loyal to the STC, they have sided with the separatists (Tahdeeth [Aden], January 28).

Storing Up Trouble

The UAE initiative, however, has not been without consequences and resulting challenges, including how to prevent the return and infiltration of AQAP, how to provide security for suspicious tribes, and how to navigate the existential political question of southern Yemen's future relationship with the Hadi government (Akhbar Yemen [Aden], May 26; al-Bayan [Dubai], February 26; al-Arabiyya [Dubai], January 30). The Shabwa Elite Forces have been linked to arbitrary arrests and campaigns of intimidation targeting the powerful al-Awlaq tribe, believed to be the most numerous in the governorate, as well as conducting aggressive raids that have led to deaths and caused tensions with other tribes in the governorate, such as the Bifatima al-Na'mani (Masa Press [Aden], March 29; Masa Press, August 12, 2017; Militant Leadership Monitor, September 30, 2015). Since the beginning of its operations, the UAE has courted and worked with the al-Awlaq against the Houthis, but it also has a fraught relationship with this powerful tribe regarding the al-Awlaq's relationship to AQAP (Militant Leadership Monitor, September 30, 2015).

Ongoing tensions with the al-Awlaq, which are viewed with suspicion for being closely tied to AQAP, are an indication of the stress factors that the UAE engenders when it empowers certain tribes in its proxy forces, which then target other tribes in their home areas (Yemen Shabab [Ataq], August 12, 2017; al-Mashreq, August 11, 2017). The adversarial relationship between the Shabwa Elite Forces and the al-Awlaq tribe has led to accusations from opponents of the UAE in southern Yemen that the Emiratis are purposely pitting tribes against each other in order to maintain overall control (al-Jazeera [Doha], January 25; al-Sharq [Aden], November 11, 2017).

As a result of its relationship with the Emiratis and the United States, the Shabwa Elite Forces have generated a significant amount of controversy within their home governorate, as well as in the wider context of the social and political dynamics of southern Yemen (YouTube, August 6, 2017). As a proxy of the UAE in the governorate, they have become a target of, and symbol for, a persistent sentiment of dissatisfaction with the Emiratis, the local forces they have mobilized and the Emirati administration of southern Yemen, among some of the region's tribes (Golden News [Aden], December 2, 2017; Yemen Shabab [Ataq], August 12, 2017; Emirati Affairs, August 11, 2017).

This emerging narrative is dangerous for the Emirati strategy in southern Yemen, and demonstrates the challenges of operating in a politically divided region that has a celebrated history of fighting against foreign occupation. One aspect of this narrative is that the UAE zone in southern Yemen is being used as a permissive space for U.S. counterterrorism operations against Salafist-jihadist organizations such as al-Qaeda and IS. The increase in both the presence of U.S. forces in southern Yemen and the operational tempo of the American military against AQAP targets in southern Yemen in coordination with the Emirati forces is a delicate subject for many of the tribes in Yemen's south. Civilian casualties that result from these U.S. and joint U.S.-UAE operations creates problems for the Emiratis with some of the directly affected tribes, such as al-Awlaq, because the UAE is viewed as the actor who invited the United States into southern Yemen and is therefore responsible for its actions (Masa Press, August 27, 2017; Masa Press, August 12, 2017).

The second aspect of this narrative is that some of the tribes in southern Yemen perceive the Emiratis as a foreign power that, while a brother Arab nation, is acting in a manner that resembles how the British Empire historically administered South Yemen from Aden. Like the British before them, the Emiratis are purposely designing a security regime that plays tribes in southern Yemen against each other and creates proxy tribal forces (al-Arabi al-Jadid, November 22, 2017; al-Yemeny al-Gadeed [Aden], June 23, 2016). The perceived motive being to control southern Yemen's key resources, such as its strategically located ports and energy resources such as in Shabwa governorate (YouTube, August 21, 2017; al-Nahar [Beirut], August 7, 2017). As a result, there has been a slowly simmering protest campaign against the UAE administration in southern Yemen (see Militant Leadership Monitor, June 6). These tensions have reached the point that a sitting member of the Hadi government, Transport Minister Saleh al-Jabwani, publically asserted that the UAE was a bad actor. In public comments made in response to a question about the role of the Shabwa Elite Forces in street battles, al-Jabwani said that the UAE was trying to break up the country by supporting militias that are trying to create an independent South Yemen (al-Arabi al-Jadid, February 26).

Outlook

The Emiratis are aware that they are in competition with other state and non-state actors for the cooperation and potential loyalty of southern Yemeni tribes. The Security Belt apparatus, and the various elite forces that are components of it, are designed to create an overarching structure of patronage and support that extends from a definable center, in Aden.

This approach is designed to be strategic, fitting tribes in far-flung governorates in southern Yemen into a larger infrastructure of support that is operated from a central command. The Security Belt apparatus is designed to take local tribal militias on a region by region basis in southern Yemen and subordinate them under a force that is a platform for working with the Emirati military. The idea is to construct a type of order among the tribes of southern Yemen, while also incentivizing their cooperation with Aden and Abu Dhabi.

However, there are challenges to the Emirati strategy, in particular the rising discontent within southern Yemen toward the UAE's role in the region. Competitors to the UAE and its partner forces could weaponize this discontent, oppose the Emirati presence and frustrate the UAE's tribal engagement strategies. Likely competitors include a mix of local Yemeni opponents to the UAE and its strategic project in southern Yemen, such as rebellious tribes in the region, as well as forces loyal to the Hadi government, AQAP and IS, and other Arab Gulf states, including allied countries Saudi Arabia and Oman, which both have different perspectives on the future of Yemen.

The success of the UAE's Security Belt project will determine the viability of a long-term Emirati military presence based in southern Yemen, and the Emirati role as a regional powerbroker, in regard to south Yemen's stability. That in itself will be determined by the UAE's effort to mobilize local tribes against AQAP and IS, which are actively targeting the Emirati project in southern Yemen.

NOTES

[1] Author's interview with an adviser to the UAE National War College who contributed to the UAE stabilization and counterinsurgency strategy in Yemen. Interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 26, 2016.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Author's interview with an adviser to the UAE National War College who contributed to the UAE stabilization and counterinsurgency strategy in Yemen. Interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on May 8, 2017.

[4] Author's interview with an adviser to the UAE National War College who contributed to the UAE stabilization and counterinsurgency strategy in Yemen. Interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 26, 2016.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Author's interview with an adviser to the UAE National War College who contributed to the UAE stabilization and counterinsurgency strategy in Yemen. Interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on May 8, 2017.

[7] Author's interview with an adviser to the UAE National War College who contributed to the UAE stabilization and counterinsurgency strategy in Yemen. Interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 26, 2016.

[8] Author's interview with an adviser to the UAE National War College who contributed to the UAE stabilization and counterinsurgency strategy in Yemen. Interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on May 8, 2017.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Armenian Governments Takes up Fight Against Corruption and Organized Crime

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 25 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Armenian Governments Takes up Fight Against Corruption and Organized Crime, 25 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d5fa.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 97

By: Armen Grigoryan

June 25, 2018 05:53 PM

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (Source: Reuters)

The period of relative calm in Armenian politics that followed the May 8 election of protest leader Nikol Pashinyan as the new head of government (see EDM, May 22) may have come to an end. The new cabinet had previously announced that anti-corruption measures would be among its top priorities. And in mid-June, a sequence of dramatic events related to that anticipated campaign may bring long-lasting consequences for the landlocked South Caucasus state.

Throughout May, the National Security Service (NSS) revealed evidence of tax evasion by several Armenian companies, including a supermarket chain controlled by a member of parliament from the formerly ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Samvel Aleksanyan. Until recently, the authorities preferred to seek reimbursements of damages to the state budget rather than imposing criminal charges. However, on June 14, the NSS arrested two employees of the Yerevan city hall, still controlled by the RPA, on charges of corruption. Mayor Taron Margaryan, the son of a late former prime minister, has been refusing public demands for his resignation, voiced repeatedly after the "Velvet Revolution" in April.

More significant events followed soon, triggered by demonstrations demanding the resignation of Karen Grigoryan, the mayor of Armenia's fourth largest city of Echmiadzin. The demonstrations were apparently organized by Arthur Asatryan (a.k.a. Don Pipo), a businessman and supposedly a "thief in law" (vor v zakone  a professional criminal in the former Soviet space, who enjoys an elite and informal authority position within organized crime). Asatryan criticized both the mayor and his father, Lieutenant General (retired) Manvel Grigoryan. A former deputy defense minister and a member of parliament, Manvel Grigoyran is also the president of the Volunteers' Union "Yerkrapah," an influential paramilitary organization of war veterans (Factor.am, June 14). The Grigoryans, in turn, mobilized their own supporters, and the situation in the city started to grow heated.

On June 16, the NSS charged Asatryan with attempted kidnapping of several men who were allegedly plotting his assassination; the security service arrested him and his four associates  Russian citizens. At the same time, the NSS charged Manvel Grigoryan with illegal possession of weapons and arrested him as well (Azatutyun.am, June 16). Both men's houses, as well as the Yerkrapah offices, were searched, and a number of weapons were found.

The RPA protested Grigoryan's arrest, calling it "yet another instance of political oppression" (Azatutyun.am, June 16). The Republican Party's statement, as well as a declaration by the RPA's vice chair, Armen Ashotyan, suggested that the party would vote against revoking Grigoryan's parliamentary immunity (Hayastan24.com, June 16), meaning he would have to be released within 72 hours. However, another dramatic turn subsequently occurred: Prime Minister Pashinyan, announced via one of his regular live-streamed messages that Grigoryan's arrest had been justified not just by the illegal possession of weapons but also by the general's apparent embezzlement of canned food and other goods meant for rank-and-file military personnel  including some donations collected during the "four-day war" in April 2016 (see EDM, April 14, 2016). Pashinyan declared that such corruption would no longer be tolerated (Facebook.com, June 17).

After Pashinyan's live stream, the NSS issued a more detailed statement and also showed videos made during the searches of Grigoryan's house and other premises. Among the seized weapons there were 79 rifles and 39 handguns, more than 33,000 ammunition cartridges, 18 bazookas, as well as hand grenades and explosives. In addition, large amounts of cash and goods were found, including tons of canned food marked "not for sale," hygiene products and toiletries, first-aid kits, etc., along with boxes of handwritten letters from schoolchildren to soldiers. Part of the stored canned food appeared to have been used to feed a tiger and bears in Grigoryan's private zoo (Sns.am, June 17). Concerned with potential damage to the party's reputation, the RPA issued a statement, calling the misappropriation of provisions allocated for the army "unacceptable and repulsive" (Hhk.am, June 18). Ultimately, only 3 of 82 members of the Armenian National Assembly present at the extraordinary session voted against the motion to revoke Manvel Grigoyran's parliamentary immunity (Lragir.am, June 19). Grigoryan's son also announced he would resign from the post of mayor (Azatutyun.am, June 18).

Whether or not Manvel Grigoryan was chosen as the first high-ranked official to make an example out of because there were already rumors about goods for the army being stored at his home, clearly the eventual detailed disclosure of the findings had a strong psychological effect. The videos showing embezzled donations for the army together with children's letters sparked mass outrage and helped to break the RPA's resistance, undermining speculation that the attacks against Grigoryan were politically motivated.

Additional steps to tackle corruption and organized crime have already followed. In recent weeks, the police have apprehended a dozen "thieves in law" and a number of their associates (Aravot.am, June 20). Former defense minister Seyran Ohanyan, who had occupied the post in 2016, has been interrogated as a witness regarding the misappropriation of funds (News.am, June 20). Even more significantly, law enforcement has conducted searches of premises de facto belonging to Vachagan Kazaryan, the head of former president Serzh Sargsyan's security detail; reams of documents and large amounts of cash have reportedly been seized (Factor.am, June 21).

The Pashinyan government's high approval rating is quite secure at the moment, and practical steps to tackle corruption further contribute to its popularity. The cabinet is highly dependent on such popular support, particularly considering the prospect of snap elections that may take place in a few months. Delaying high-level corruption cases, particularly those involving former top officials, would damage its reputation. So in the next few weeks, several new criminal cases involving retired and still acting high-level officials may be opened, and tensions with the formerly ruling factions are likely to grow. Mass support, with a large number of people still ready to take to the streets to protect the results of the revolution, remains crucial both to Pashinyan as well as to prevent a possible violent reaction by cornered representatives of the old regime.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moldova's Democratic Facade Crumbles as Supreme Court Invalidates Democratic Election

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 27 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moldova's Democratic Facade Crumbles as Supreme Court Invalidates Democratic Election, 27 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d61a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 99

By: Mihai Popsoi

June 27, 2018 05:38 PM

Moldovan Supreme Court (Source: agora.md)

On June 25, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Moldova denied opposition candidate Andrei Nastase (leader of the Dignity and Truth Platform Party) legal recourse, thus upholding the June 21 decision of the Appellate Court to invalidate the mayoral elections in the capital Chisinau (Agora.md, June 25). On June 3, Nastase won 52.57 percent of the vote in a second round as a unified pro-Europe opposition candidate; the pro-Russian Socialist candidate, Ion Ceban, lost with 47.43 percent. Despite initially conceding and congratulating Nastase on his victory, Ceban later lodged a complaint about voting irregularities, but stopped short of demanding the cancelation of election results. Still, despite the elections being considered free and fair by domestic and international observers, a lower court nullified the election outcome. The lower court ruled on June 19 that a "get out the vote" campaign on election day amounts to pressure and undue influence on voters  even though this ostensibly democratic practice was employed by all the candidates in all of Moldova's previous elections, including the presidential election of 2016, won by the pro-Russian candidate Igor Dodon (Zdg.md, June 21; Agora.md, June 22). Thus, for the first time in Moldova's independent history, the judicial branch voided an outcome of a democratic election.

The Moldovan justice system is notorious for endemic corruption and a high level of political control. It is well known that the head of the Democratic Party, billionaire oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, exerts significant undue influence over the judiciary. He has appointed and promoted numerous loyalists to key positions in the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court. This allows him to control the political process by prosecuting his most vocal opponents while displaying leniency toward his supporters. Along with Action and Solidarity Party leader Maia Sandu, Andrei Nastase is among Plahotniuc's fiercest critics. Backed by a broad coalition of pro-European Union parties and endorsed by many prominent civil society figures, Nastase's win was a major upset for Plahotniuc. The oligarch had his own candidate in the race  the nominally independent then-incumbent mayor Silvia Radu, who lost in a landslide in the first round, on May 20 (see EDM, May 17). Plahotniuc then bet on the Socialist candidate, Ion Ceban, in the June 3 run-off, attacking Nastase via his media machine, just as he did in the last presidential election, when he undermined Maia Sandu to Igor Dodon's benefit (see EDM, November 14, 2016).

Nonetheless, Chisinau voters still voted for the unified pro-Europe opposition candidate. Evidently fearing a consolidation (ahead of the parliamentary elections at the end of this year) of center-right, pro-EU and anti-oligarchic forces around the national platform provided by the Chisinau mayoralty, ruling party leader Plahotniuc took drastic measures to deny the opposition their electoral victory. The decision to invalidate the democratic choice of a quarter million people undermines the already low trust in the democratic process and elections  a concern universally shared by Moldova's international partners.

The United States embassy reacted immediately, emphasizing, "Judicial independence is a key democratic principle, and today's ruling has reinforced the public's perception of political interference in the judiciary of the Republic of Moldova" (Md.usembassy.gov, June 25). EU Ambassador Peter Michalko also promptly issued a stern condemnation: "The will of the people expressed in free and fair elections, democratic values, principles of rule of law to which the Republic of Moldova committed in its relations with the EU, have not been respected" (Facebook.com/peter.michalko1, June 25). Earlier, the spokesperson of the EU External Action Service, Maja Kocijancic, said that it was "of utmost importance that the will of the voters is respected" (Eeas.europa.eu, June 20). The European People's Party, of which Andrei Nastase and Maia Sandu's parties are members, expressed outrage over the erosion of democracy in Moldova (Epp.eu, June 20), as did key members of the European Parliament (Europarl.europa.eu, June 21). The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and numerous international experts raised grave concerns about developments in Moldova, as well (Eap-csf.eu, June 26; Atlanticcouncil.org, June 25).

Yet, international condemnation did not sway Plahotniuc, who has claimed his party could not intervene in the court case to stop this dangerous precedent. Instead, he has complained that the criticism places his government in a bad light (Timpul.md, June 26). Plahotniuc also denounced domestic pressure on the justice system coming from the opposition, which organized mass protests on Sunday, June 24, attended by over 20,000 people in the main square in Chisinau and many more in the diaspora. Plahotniuc's media outlets reported that only 3,000 protesters took part (Publika.md, June 24). Interestingly, the highly controversial court decisions coincided with the historic, though only symbolic, United Nations General Assembly resolution urging Russia to withdraw its troops from Moldova (Un.org, June 22).

More importantly, and hardly coincidentally, the Supreme Court hearing of Nastase's case was scheduled for late afternoon, with the ruling issued at night  that is, after Prime Minister Pavel Filip had met with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington. The US readout of the meeting pointedly stated, "The Secretary reminded Prime Minister Filip that free and fair elections are a hallmark of a democratic government and must reflect the will of the country's citizens without political interference" (State.gov, June 25); yet, these remarks are missing from the Moldovan government communique (Gov.md, June 25). Now, Plahotniuc is purposefully projecting via his media a false image of Washington's support for his anti-democratic tactics. The smoke and mirrors covering up the ruling regime's increasingly authoritarian tendencies undermine the country's hopes for a democratic future in the European family of nations and could push Moldova back into Russia's orbit.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Fugitive Bangladeshi Militants Bring Jamaat ul Mujahideen to India

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 29 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Fugitive Bangladeshi Militants Bring Jamaat ul Mujahideen to India, 29 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d63a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 13

By: Animesh Roul

June 29, 2018 03:15 PM

Bangladeshi security forces (Source: Zee News)

A failed bomb plot that appeared to target the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as he visited a pilgrimage site in Bihar, India, has been blamed on the militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and an emerging Indian offshoot.

On January 19, a low intensity blast on the grounds of the Tibetan monastery in Bodh Gaya caused panic among devotees of the Dalai Lama. A subsequent sweep of the vicinity  the blast occurred after the Dalai Lama had left  led to the recovery of two improvised explosive devices near the monastery's Kalachakra (Wheel of Time) prayer ground (Indian Express, January 20). Investigations into the incident revealed the involvement of the Bangladesh-based JMB.

India's elite anti-terror National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF) believe the JMB was planning to avenge the atrocities on Rohingya Muslims in neighboring Myanmar by targeting Buddhist pilgrims and foreign nationals  actor Richard Gere was among those who visited the Dalai Lama  who had come to listen to the Dalai Lama during his month-long stay (New India Express, February 3). The NIA initiated a massive search and sweep operation in West Bengal, a well-known hideout for Bangladeshi militant fugitives. Subsequently, details of a newly emerged JMB network in India have surfaced.

Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India

In February 2018, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Kolkata (West Bengal) police arrested at least six people from the Murshidabad and Darjeeling districts with suspected links to JMB, including two who police say were involved in the planting of IEDs in Bodh Gaya (Hindustan Times, February 23). Following the arrests of the two men  who the authorities named as Azhar Hossain and Shish Mohammad  police in the town of Dhuliyan, in Murshidabad, seized more than 200 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, 50 detonators, timers and tiffin boxes (metal lunchboxes) that were allegedly to be used to make IEDs.

Two other suspects arrested, Paigambar Shaikh and Jamirul Shaikh, revealed more incriminating details about JMB's India wing and the recruitment drive in West Bengal and Bihar. The pair reportedly confessed that fugitive JMB leaders Salahuddin Ahmed (a.k.a. Salein) and Jahidul Islam, known as "Boma" Mizan for his expertise in explosives, were the creators of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India (JMI) and had planned to target Buddhist pilgrimage circuits in West Bengal and Bihar. They claimed that Salein was the chief of JMI and had been instrumental in recruiting several new members, and said that at least eight units of JMI, each comprising 10-12 members, had been tasked with carrying out anti-Buddhist attacks in India (New Indian Express, February 3).

The continued crackdown led to the arrest on June 11 of a suspected militant named Hazibullah, who the police claim helped in procuring explosives for the Bodh Gaya bomb plot (DNA India, June 12). Hazibullah was picked up in Bandel town, in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.

Before the formal founding of JMI, the remnants of a fleeing JMB contingent were visible on Indian soil, especially during the Burdwan bombing episode of October 2014. According to India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), JMI's chief and his deputy are responsible, along with other JMI members, for an accidental explosion in 2014 in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. The Khagragarh blast, which was followed by a police raid and a subsequent arms seizure, exposed for the first time a flourishing JMB network in India (Live Mint, December 1, 2014). Two JMB militants were killed in the accidental explosion and a number of others sustained severe injuries. Both NIA and Bangladesh's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Units have already announced monetary rewards for credible information relating to JMB fugitives and its burgeoning network.

JMB Fugitives

JMI's Salein has been a senior figure in JMB since 2001. He was in charge of Sylhet-Mymensingh region in Bangladesh, but fled Bangladesh and is in hiding. He has possibly been operating from Indian territory since he and Boma Mizan escaped from a prison van after a JMB orchestrated ambush in the Trishal locality of Mymensingh district in February 2014 (Daily Star, February 23, 2014).

A committed jihadist originally from Narayanganj, Salein has been sentenced to death in Bangladesh for his role in the Mymensingh court bombing in 2007, the targeting several Christian youths in Jamalpur and the killings of Hridoy Roy in April 2003 and Joseph Gani Gomez Mandal in September 2004 (Daily Star, February 21, 2013; Daily Star, March 08, 2015).

A cursory look at Salein's career within JMB's rank and file suggests he had been a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami party's radical student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS). He joined JMB while studying in Tejgaon Polytechnic Institute in Dhaka, and was influenced by JMB's military chief Ataur Rahman Sunny. He was arrested in late April 2006, during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation at Pahartoli in Chittagong. Boma Mizan is presently the deputy chief of JMI and has backed Salein since his dramatic 2014 ambush and escape.

Boma Mizan, who was finally arrested in May 2009 after years of work by the Bangladesh security agencies, came onto the security radar following JMB's countrywide serial bombings on August 17, 2005. He played a major role in making more than 500 bomb attacks across Bangladesh that killed and injured more than a hundred people. His bomb-making skills were employed by JMB in a series of attacks against the Court Houses and judges in Bangladesh, between October and November 2005 (Dhaka Tribune, February 23, 2014; BDNews24.com, September 26, 2017). He was arrested in May 2009 in the Mirpur area of Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital.

According to Bangladesh's investigating agencies, like many JMB operatives, Boma Mizan had received arms and explosives training from the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), an insurgent group that fought for the cause of Rohingya Muslim minorities and against alleged atrocities by Buddhists in Myanmar (Daily Star, May 19, 2009). These long-standing operational links with the Rohingya group may lie behind the attempts by fugitive JMB leaders to target Buddhist pilgrimage circuits in West Bengal and Bihar.

Proselytization, Training and Armed Combat

The founding of JMI on Indian soil indicates two things  that Bangladesh's concerted counterterror operations have pushed the JMB remnants into neighboring India in search of a safe haven, and that there has been somewhat of an ideological rift within the original JMB with the different strands adhering to either the jihadist ideals of al-Qaeda or those of Islamic State (IS).

Salein's al-Qaeda-influenced, India-based faction is attempting to regroup and recruit new members under the banner of JMI, and its seemingly broad based jihadist objectives and geographical reach. Long before the confessions of arrested militants in February revealed the existence of JMI, Salein and his team had attempted to reinvigorate the old JMB and had broadcast their future agenda through a Bengali language media arm, Sahm al-Hind (Dhaka Tribune, August 5, 2017).

JMI and Sahm al-Hind media used popular online publishing platforms like WordPress and Justpaste.it, as well as social media channels such as YouTube, to post their propaganda. In mid-July 2017, Sahm al-Hind published an interview with Salein that gave details about future activities and the objectives of his new group, although these details appear worryingly to have escaped the attention of India's intelligence agencies.[1]

Underscoring the JMB's reorganization as JMI and the larger agenda of jihad on the Indian subcontinent, Salein in his interview with Sahm al-Hind outlined JMI's three main objectives: proselytization, training and armed combat with a view to establishing Islamic rule across the Indian subcontinent. According to Salein, JMI's target would oust "unbelievers" in the "land of Allah" by force of arms. He vehemently denied the existence of any New-JMB in Bangladesh and rejected suggestions of a split in the JMB, calling the suggestion a conspiracy intended to malign the movement. He urged Muslims of the region to wage the mythical Ghazwa tul Hind (battle between infidels and believers in India) to establish a caliphate in the Indian subcontinent.[2].

Salein is highly critical of IS in Syria and Iraq and adheres instead to the ideals of JMB's original influencer, al-Qaeda. In sharp contrast, the Neo-JMB faction that has dominated the militant landscape in Bangladesh in recent years and masterminded several high profile attacks in the country  including the July 2016 attack on the Holy Artisan bakery  is ideologically and operationally influenced by IS and its violent principles (Prathom Alo, August 17, 2016; Hindustan Times, February 10).

India's northeastern region, including Assam and West Bengal, provides a safe haven for illegal immigrants and Islamic militants because of its porous border and poor security. The regions have predominate Muslim populations, with mosques and madrasa networks that have allowed Bangladesh-based militant groups like JMB and Harkat ul-Jihad Islami (HuJI) to raise money, material and manpower.

West Bengal's four districts: North 24-Parganas, Murshidabad, Malda and Nadia and Assam's Nalbari district remain major hotspots for Bangladeshi militants and have become a stronghold of JMB over the years. Bangladesh has taken stringent measures to tackle terrorism since the country suffered a series of terrorist attacks between 2013 and 2016, mostly claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Ansarulla Bangla Team (ABT) and the IS-inspired Neo-JMB. Now JMB jihadists have spilt over into neighboring India.

NOTES

[1] "Special interview of Emir Jamaatul Mujahideen Shaikh Salahuddin (Hafiz), (Author's translation from Bengali language) Sahm al-Hind Media, July 21, 2017, https://sahmalhind1.wordpress.com/2017/07/21/aaaaaaa?a-aa?aaaaaaaa-aa/

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
'We Don't Need Derna Anymore': What the Battle for Derna Means for Libya's Future

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 29 June 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, 'We Don't Need Derna Anymore': What the Battle for Derna Means for Libya's Future, 29 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d65a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 13

By: Andrew McGregor

June 29, 2018 03:20 PM

Derna, Libya (Source: Libyan Express)

Once an important Mediterranean port in the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans, the city of Derna is currently being leveled by artillery and airstrikes supporting a ground offensive led by 76-year-old "Field Marshal" Khalifa Haftar. A former loyalist of Muammar Gaddafi, a veteran of Libya's disastrous war in Chad and a one-time CIA asset, Haftar now seeks total control of Libya while acting as the commander of the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), nominally the military wing of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR), a rival government to the internationally recognized Presidential Council/Government of National Accord (PC/GNA) in Tripoli. The LNA is a coalition of former revolutionaries, Saudi-influenced Islamist militias and occasionally mercenaries who fight under Haftar's direction.

Derna once played an important role in U.S. military history. In 1805, Consul William Eaton led seven U.S. marines and several hundred Greek, Arab and Turkish mercenaries on a 500 mile march from Alexandria to Derna, where his odd little army took the city from a larger Karamanli force in little more than an hour. It was the young republic's first overseas land battle and a notable success after the French had failed to take Derna five years earlier.

Today, however, it has become known as a hotbed of jihadist activity. Haftar's campaign aims to bring an end to that, but the longer the LNA bombardment continues the less certain his political future is becoming.

Derna and Islamic State

Located on the coast near the green hills of the northeastern Jabal Akhdar region, Derna supplied over 50 fighters for the anti-American jihad in Iraq in the 2000s. In October 2014, a group of Islamist militants based in Derna (particularly dissident members of the Abu Salim Martyr's Brigade) pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) and took over much of the city despite opposition from other Islamists with close ties to al-Qaeda. IS rule was marked largely by beheadings and other forms of execution, or acts of public humiliation.

On December 12, 2014, fighters opposing IS within Derna formed the Majlis Shura al-Mujahideen Derna (Derna Mujahideen Shura Council, or DMSC). This group began to drive IS militants out of Derna in June 2015, even as the LNA imposed a loose siege on the city. The DMSC fought a merciless war against IS members responsible for murders and suicide bombings in Derna, frequently executing IS militants after obtaining their confessions (Libya Express, March 22, 2016).

In the meantime, the IS slaughter of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Sirte in February 2015 led to Egyptian airstrikes on IS strongholds in Libya, including DMSC targets in Derna. The DMSC declared they had "no relation with IS in Syria and Iraq," adding that they also had nothing to do with the IS beheadings of Egyptian Copts hundreds of kilometers away (Middle East Eye, February 19, 2015). Later that year, an American F-15 airstrike killed IS commander Abu Nabil al-Anbari (a.k.a. Wissam Najm 'Abd Zayd al-Zubaydi or Abu Mughira al-Qahtani) just outside Derna (BBC, December 7, 2015).

For a time, the IS fugitives were able to establish themselves in the industrial suburb of al-Fatayih, but were eventually forced from there in April 2016, bringing the DMSC's two-year campaign to an end (Libyan Express, April 20, 2016). Four days later, the DMSC complained that since the IS expulsion Haftar's small air force had mounted 12 airstrikes on civilian neighborhoods in Derna, while failing to attack fleeing IS fighters who were exposed in open country (Libyan Express, April 24, 2016).

The Egyptian air force bombed Derna again in May 2017 as retaliation for an attack on Christians in central Egypt that was blamed on IS militants from Derna (Libya Herald, May 26, 2017). The DMSC denied any involvement in the mass-killing, reminding Cairo that the IS had been expelled from Derna, while suggesting the accusation was an attempt to divert attention from the Egyptian government's inability to tackle its own security crisis (Libyan Express, May 28, 2017). The LNA's two-year-old siege of Derna was tightened in August, with residents describing it as "collective punishment" (Middle East Eye, August 7, 2017).

The Field Marshal

Inaccurate reports of Haftar's imminent death in April after a medical evacuation to Amman and then Paris may have sparked a succession struggle within the LNA, possibly resulting in the attempted April 18 car bomb attack on Haftar's LNA chief-of-staff, General Abd al-Razik al-Nazuri (218 TV [Libya], via BBC Monitoring, April 18).

Haftar's bid for power is supported by Russia, France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been accused by the UN of providing military helicopters and other aircraft to Haftar's LNA in violation of the UN arms embargo. There are also reports of Haftar seeking military support from Israel (The New Arab, July 27, 2017; Libyan Express, December 25, 2017; Middle East Eye, August 5, 2017).

Charges related to alleged LNA war crimes have been filed in France, the United States and with the International Criminal Court (ICC) (Libya Observer, May 2). Haftar has refused to turn suspected war criminals in the LNA ranks over to the ICC, and has even been charged with torture and murder himself in Paris (Middle East Confidential, May 3).

The Offensive Begins

As the LNA began to occupy the southern heights overlooking Derna in the third week of April, the DMSC appealed for reconciliation, extending "its hand in peace" and declaring its members were "ready to be accountable for any injustices we are proven to have committed." Oddly, the group suggested mediation through the offices of former Libya Grand Mufti Shaykh Sadiq al-Ghariani, one of Haftar's most bitter and vocal opponents (Libyan Social Media, via BBC Monitoring, April 22). Instead, the seizure of the heights allowed LNA artillery spotters to direct more intensive fire onto targets within Derna.

On May 7, Haftar announced a final offensive, vowing to "liberate" Derna even if "we have to evacuate all civilians from it" (Libyan Observer, May 7). Muhammad Amari Zayid, a member of the Presidential Council, described the offensive as a "war crime," saying it was being carried out to satisfy "personal ambitions" rather than serve the interests of the nation (Libya Observer, May 8). Zayid succeeded in meeting with the head of the Derna local council, who confirmed that Derna's civil and military institutions were affiliated with the PC/GNA (Asharq al-Awsat, May 10).

On May 11, the DMSC reorganized as the Derna Protection Force (DPF), possibly to build a common cause with less religiously-motivated fighters who nonetheless opposed Haftar and the imposition of his own form of strongman rule across eastern Libya. Some members of the DPF were formerly aligned with Ansar al-Sharia, an Islamist militia close to al-Qaeda that dissolved in May 2017 after suffering heavy losses in fighting with the LNA and its allies (Reuters, May 27, 2017). By May 15, LNA attacks had begun to strike civilian areas of Derna. Social media photos displayed indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas of Derna's Wasat al-Bilad district, with local sources saying bodies (including those of women and children) could not be recovered due to shelling and airstrikes (Libya Observer, June 9).

Worried residents of Derna were also threatened in a video released by an unidentified LNA fighter in which he warned they would be treated worse than the "Khawarij," a derogatory reference to the Kharijites, a violent and despised extremist sect in early Islam. "We will demolish your houses; we will kill everyone, even civilians, we don't need Derna anymore," the man threatened (Libya Observer, May 17). This was followed by an announcement from Haftar's "Information and Fighting E-Terrorism Unit" that they had a list of 21,000 "terrorists" they were seeking in the city of 125-150,000 people (Libya Observer, May 27).

A veteran Egyptian jihadist and qadi (religious judge), Umar Rifai Jumaa Surur (a.k.a. Abu Abdallah al-Masri), was killed in a May 21 airstrike on Derna, according to an LNA spokesman (Al-Wasat [Cairo], May 21; Al-Sharq al-Awsat, June 11). Surur was alleged to have acted as a recruiter of jihadists headed for Syria, Iraq and Egypt (Egypt Today, May 21). Known for his strong opposition to IS, Surur was formerly a lieutenant of Hisham Ali al-Ashmawy, an Egyptian military officer turned militant and an expert in tactics and weapons (al-Arabiya, June 10; see Militant Leadership Monitor, October 31, 2015). Two other militant clerics, Abu Zayd al-Shilwi and Abu Umar Abd al-Salam al-Awami, were killed the same day (Telegram Messaging via BBC Monitoring, June 11). The LNA also suffered losses  on May 22, the LNA announced the death in combat of 36th Brigade commander Brigadier Abd al-Hamid Warfali during clashes southwest of Derna (Libya Observer, May 23).

Nonetheless, Haftar announced on May 24 that the end of "four consecutive years of holy struggle" was approaching in Derna, while proclaiming he had ordered his men not to "harm the city's residents or their property" (Middle East Monitor, May 24). The LNA commander also called on the families of DPF fighters to pressure their kinsmen to abandon arms in the struggle against the LNA and seek the "fair trial" being offered (Reuters, May 25).

Egyptian airstrikes coordinated with the LNA struck central Derna and the Fatayeh industrial zone on May 26, 2017, followed by claims to have destroyed the DPF headquarters (Libyan Express, May 27, 2017; Middle East Eye, May 29). Drone attacks and heavy shelling forced the DPF to withdraw from al-Fatayeh on May 29, even as Derna's local council issued an appeal to all local, regional and international organizations to open Derna's port for humanitarian assistance, describing conditions as "disastrous" (Anadolou Agency, May 28; Libya Observer, May 29).

By June 1, the LNA claimed to have taken al-Fatayih and the heights overlooking the Bab al-Tobruk district of Derna (Middle East Eye, June 1). Shaykh Sadiq al-Ghariani took to Libyan TV to describe the attack during the holy month of Ramadan as "preposterous." Urging all Libyans to support the citizens of Derna with civil disobedience if necessary, al-Ghariani declared: "What is happening in Derna is not a war on terrorism, but a war on all Libyans in order to subdue them" (Tanasuh TV, via Libya Observer, June 2).

The LNA Enters Derna

The attacking force consisted of four battalions of LNA troops, with two battalions working their way into Derna from the west and two from the east, beginning on June 4. Troop movement is being directed by the Umar Mukhtar Operations Room, under the command of Major General Salim al-Rafadi. The troops are strengthened by elements of the al-Saiqa Special Forces brigade and supported by artillery and warplanes belonging to the LNA, Egypt and the UAE (The National [Abu Dhabi], June 5). France, which aided Haftar in his three-year siege of Benghazi, is reported to have secretly provided Haftar with a newly-obtained Beechcraft King Air 350 reconnaissance airplane for use over Derna (Libya Observer, June 3; Libyan Express, November 1, 2016). Publicly, France is promoting a peace process intended to lead to presidential and parliamentary elections in December.

At the forefront of the LNA offensive is Wanis Bukhamada's Saiqa Special Forces. Bukhamada insists his unit is "fighting members of terrorist groups operating under a variety of names . . . Libyan fighters . . . must resolve their issues with the Libyan state through the courts . . . As for foreign fighters, they have no place in Libya" (al-Wasat via BBC Monitoring, May 20). LNA forces captured Derna's security chief, Yahya Usta Umar, on June 8. Though appointed by the GNA, Haftar's representatives described Umar as an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist (Libyan Express, June 8).

By June 12, the LNA claimed to control the port and the rest of the city, save for an inner core of some 10 square kilometers. There fighting was described as "very heavy," with LNA losses due to desperate DPF suicide attacks (Middle East Monitor, June 12; Libya Herald, June 12). Mines and IEDs have taken the largest toll on LNA attackers.

With the LNA having developed a reputation for the mistreatment and even murder of prisoners, Haftar announced he had asked his troops to "respect legal procedures relating to prisoners" during the battle for Derna (AfricaNews, June 5). By June 8, the LNA claimed to control 75 percent of the city, with Haftar setting the final stage of the conflict in religious terms during a speech to his troops: "After four years of holy struggle against the Kharijites, we are close to the liberation of Derna" (Egypt Today, June 8).

LNA Brigadier General Abd al-Salam al-Hassi insisted that LNA forces would protect the lives and property of Derna's civilian population, but reports from inside Derna have described civilian deaths under bombardment and an inability to retrieve victims due to constant fire (Libya Herald, June 6; Libyan Express, June 7). Another LNA official dismissed reports of Egyptian troops participating in the assault on Derna as an attempt by the Muslim Brotherhood to diminish the significance of the LNA's impending victory, although he did acknowledge "high-level coordination and cooperation" with Egyptian officials (Asharq al-Awsat, June 10).

A report by Swiss-based NGO Reach detailed extensive damage from the siege to Derna's roads and its water, electric and sewage systems. Schools, mosques and bridges have been bombed, and those attempting to escape the destruction face harassment or violence at checkpoints if they manage to get through networks of mines and snipers.[1] Shortages of food and medicine have been exacerbated by daily shelling and airstrikes while access to water and electricity remains intermittent at best.

The Cost of Victory

It is likely that Haftar's decision to turn away from his march on Tripoli to consolidate his rear in Cyrenaica was strongly influenced by his supporters in Egypt, France and the UAE, all of whom regard Derna as a dangerous spawning ground for Islamist militants.

As the battle for Derna rages on, the international community looks away, having no particular objection to the elimination of this long-time Islamist hotbed, despite the similarity of Haftar's tactics to those used by Gaddafi in 2011. This time, there is no imposition of a "no-fly zone" or mobilization of the international community. Italy has stated its readiness to supply humanitarian aid if "access is granted by the parties involved," but this and a call for restraint from the UN Security Council constitute nearly the whole of international concern for the residents of Derna (Libya Observer, June 2). While the LNA claims to be working toward supplying "liberated" areas of Derna, other observers warn of an impending "humanitarian catastrophe" as the fighting continues (Middle East Eye, June 12). As the LNA commander is fond of referring to all his political opponents as "terrorists," the question is whether the license given to him by the international community in Derna will apply to future attacks on Tripoli and other centers of anti-Haftar resistance.

It took three years for Haftar to take Benghazi, with repeated proclamations of victory routinely followed by reports of continued resistance. DPF fighters show little sign they are about to capitulate. Rather than being "hours away" from total victory, as the LNA claimed on June 11, an extended period of urban warfare punctuated by deadly suicide attacks seems more likely. There is also a danger that the lightly-disciplined LNA fighters may commit abuses over time that could generate international disapproval. If this happens, it will have a serious impact on Haftar's ability to bring western Libya under his control before the elections scheduled for December. For Haftar, a quick victory is essential  prolonged civilian suffering combined with the brutal realities of urban combat and a perceived inability to secure Derna could easily damage the aging Field Marshal's political prospects and standing in the international community.

NOTES

[1] "Libya: Public services break down as conflict escalates in encircled city of Derna," Reach, Geneva, June 5, 2018 http://www.reachresourcecentre.info/system/files/resource-documents/reach_lby_situationoverview_ra_derna_jun2018_0.pdf

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Pakistani Taliban: Mullah Fazlullah's Death Revives Mehsud Clan Fortunes

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 13 July 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Pakistani Taliban: Mullah Fazlullah's Death Revives Mehsud Clan Fortunes, 13 July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d67a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 16 Issue: 14

By: Farhan Zahid

July 13, 2018 04:12 PM

Mullah Fazlullah (Source: Samaa.tv)

Mullah Fazlullah, the notorious Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) emir, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in June, along with four of his commanders, in the Marawar district of Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan (Tolo News, June 15). With Fazlullah gone, the group will likely change direction under the leadership of its new emir, Noor Wali Mehsud.

Since taking over as TTP leader in 2013, Fazlullah has planned a relentless series of terrorist operations in Pakistan from his base in neighboring Afghanistan. Under his command, however, the group was unable to remain the efficient terrorist organization it had been under the previous two emirs, Baitullah and Hakimullah Mehsud. While Fazlullah was known for a series of ruthless acts of terrorism in Pakistan  including instigating the 2007 and 2009 Islamist insurgencies in Pakistan's Malakand Division, ordering the attempted assassination of Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai in 2012 and masterminding the shocking killing of school children at the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014  on his watch, factions splintered from the group and a series of TTP commanders joined with Islamic State's (IS) Afghan chapter, IS-Khorasan.

Pakistani officials should also note that Fazlullah's elimination would likely only have been achieved with U.S. help. Despite the large number of military and security forces operations in tribal areas and settled districts in Pakistan, the Pakistani security forces have proved to be unable to eliminate significant senior jihadist figures. Baitullah and Hakimullah Mehsud, along with other key al-Qaeda leaders  such as Naek Mohammad Wazir, Qari Yasin and Atiya Abdul Rehman  have only been slain over the last 14 years as a result of U.S. drone strikes.

An Unlikely Leader

Fazlullah had been by some measures an unlikely choice for leader of the TTP as he was neither from the tribal areas nor, unlike the first two TTP emirs, from the Mehsud tribe.

Born in 1974 in the Kuza Bandia area of Swat, Fazal Hayat (a.k.a. Mullah Fazlullah) briefly studied at a madrassa but dropped out and joined Tehreek-e-Nifaz Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), the militant movement led by Moulvi Sufi Mohammad, a former district leader for the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami and who later became his father in-law (Dawn, November 7, 2013).

From the platform of TNSM, Fazlullah participated in Islamist insurgencies in 1994 and in 2001, amid the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Between 2007-2009 his fighters managed to overrun large swaths of the Malakand division of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, taking over territory as far as Swabi district, less than 100 kilometers from Islamabad. For six months, TNSM under Fazalllah ruled over the Swat Valley and Malakand Division. Fazal relocated to Afghanistan in 2009 after he was pushed out by Pakistani security forces. From there he masterminded terrorist attacks up until his death on June 13.[1]

The Fazlullah-led TNSM fell under the umbrella of the Pakistani Taliban when the TTP was formed by Baitullah Mehsud in 2007. The TTP provided human and material support to Fazlullah during his Islamist insurgency in Swat, and he later found safe haven in TTP-controlled areas.

Although he was not a member of the Mehsud tribe, Fazlullah managed to rise high enough in the TTP shura that after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in 2013 he was selected as the group's new emir. There was disappointment and anger among the TTP that Fazlullah was not from the tribal areas, nor a Mehsud, and a number of shura council members parted ways with the group as a result. Chief among them was Omar Khalid Khurassani, the former TTP emir of Mohmand district, who later formed his own faction of TTP, the Jamaat ul Ahrar.

Fazlullah's strategy as TTP leader was to attempt to create an environment of fear and perpetual disturbance in Pakistan, and to some extent he was successful. Omar Mansoor Naray planned the December 2014 Army Public School attack on his directions. It was the most lethal terrorist attack in Pakistan's recent past  TTP fighters killed 144 people, 132 of them school children (Dawn, October 18, 2017).

In other high profile terrorist attacks executed by Fazlullah, the group used an IED to attack the convoy of Lieutenant General Sanaullah Niazi, the man responsible for the Swat military operation against TTP. Niazi and four others were killed in the attack in the suburbs of Swat in September 2013 (News International, September 16, 2013). Prior to that, Fazlullah sent a team of assassins to target Malala Yousafzai, the teenage female education rights activist, who was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and two other girls who were part of Malala's campaign (News International, June 16).

Changes Ahead

After losing Fazlullah, TTP's central shura initially selected Fazlullah's deputy, Omar Rehman (a.k.a. Ustad Fateh), as interim emir. Rehman was a contemporary of Fazlullah and hailed from Swat district. He played a pivotal role in the Islamist insurgency in Swat from 2007 to 2009 and had remained active perpetrating attacks on security forces.

Over time, however, a new TTP can be expected to emerge. The TTP's central shura announced its appointment of Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud as the new TTP leader on June 23, while Mufti Hazratullah was named deputy emir (NDTV, June 24).

Born in 1978, Noor Wali Mehsud hails from the South Waziristan district of the tribal areas of Pakistan and studied at madrasahs in Karachi, Gujranwali and Rawalpindi. (BBC Urdu, June 23). His selection indicates that the TTP shura is keen to avoid the kind of ructions that occurred following the selection of Fazlullah, a non-Mehsud emir.

Mehsud, another wanted Islamist jihadist, is notorious for masterminding major terror attacks, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 2007, and an earlier attempted attack at a rally she held in Karsaz, Karachi. Mehsud claimed responsibility for these attacks on TTP's behalf in a 690-page book he wrote entitled, Inquilaab Mehsud South Waziristan: Farangi Raj se Ameriki Samraj tak (The Mehsud Revolution in South Waziristan: From British Raj to Oppressive America). He can be expected to plan lethal strikes in Pakistan and against U.S. interests in Pakistan to avenge the killing of his predecessor.

Outlook

Fazlullah's death in a drone strike reaffirms the importance of U.S. assistance to Pakistan in countering terrorism both at home and in the region. Islamabad would achieve less without it. Pakistani military operations have pushed the Islamist terrorists out of tribal areas of Pakistan, but the operations have not been enough to eliminate them, and a number have found safe haven in neighboring Afghanistan where the weakened government has been unable to tackle them.

Fazlullah's death may help turn the page on the deteriorating U.S.-Pakistan relationship, at least in countering terrorism in the AfPak region. For Pakistan and Afghan policymakers, it is time to capitalize on the opportunity provided by the transition to a new TTP leader, before the group begins to recover. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan could do more in partnership with the United States if they take advantage of the situation and stamp-out militant safe havens in the region, whether they belong to the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban.

NOTES

[1] Author's discussions with an Islamabad-based journalist (June 20, 2018)

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russian Federal Districts as Instrument of Moscow's Internal Colonization

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 16 July 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russian Federal Districts as Instrument of Moscow's Internal Colonization, 16 July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d69a.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 105

By: Vadim Shtepa

July 16, 2018 04:54 PM

(Source: Quora)

At the end of June 2018, President Vladimir Putin named six plenipotentiaries to run Russia's so-called "federal districts" (RBC, June 26). Four were holdovers, the remainder  new appointees. But all of them, notably, had close links to the Kremlin bureaucracy or the "power ministries" (siloviki). In May, Putin separately re-nominated the presidential plenipotentiary for the Far Eastern federal district; while the individual at the head of the Volga district was named in 2011.

Russia has eight federal districts: Central, Northwestern, Southern, North Caucasian, Volga, Ural, Siberian and Far Eastern. Their establishment was the first managerial decision taken by newly elected President Putin in May 2000, although the districts as an institution are not envisaged by the Russian Constitution. Their geographical extent closely mimicked that of Russia's seven military districts (the North Caucasian federal district was carved out from the Southern district in 2010). The federal districts and presidential plenipotentiary positions were created to exert Kremlin control over regional governors and republican heads, who, in 2000, were still freely elected by the population. However, even after Putin assumed appointment powers for governors in 2004, the federal districts were retained. And they have continued to function after the nominal return of gubernatorial elections in 2012 (see EDM, November 20, 2017).

Each of the eight federal district plenipotentiaries manages up to 100 employees, including "chief federal inspectors" who work directly in the regions. All these officials receive the high salaries of Kremlin employees because they are officially classified as part of the presidential staff. As a rule, they have no prior connections with the territories that they are instructed to control. In practice, this has frequently meant low interest in pursuing regional development initiatives (see below). Rather, their main task is to monitor and ensure that the Kremlin's orders are followed down at the regional level. In this way, they represent the ideal of Putin's "vertical of power"  one that in no way depends on voters (see EDM, November 17, 20, 2017).

Upon their introduction, the federal districts were met with general approval. They seemed like a reasonable way to manage Russia's huge territory: a "golden mean" between Kremlin centralism and the administrative division of Russia into 85, often small, federal subjects. Well-known urbanist Vyacheslav Glazychev expressed the hope that the federal districts would become an effective basis for the development of the country (Glazychev, 2004).

However, from the outset, evidence started to build that such hopes would be misplaced. In 2000, journalists from regions within the Northwestern federal district proposed the creation of inter-regional mass media outlets. These regions (which include St. Petersburg, the Republic of Karelia, Murmansk, and Veliky Novgorod) are interrelated economically and culturally, but are alienated from one another in a media sense; even today they do not have joint television channels or newspapers. Yet, the district's leaders declined to back the project, saying there was no need for it.

The plenipotentiaries' inability or lack of interest in developing stronger ties among the regions under their district continues to this day. Yury Trutnev, whom the Russian media has singled out as one of Putin's most influential plenipotentiaries, has led the Far Eastern federal district since 2013; he was reappointed to his post earlier this year. Trutnev recently complained that 70 percent of towns in the Russian Far East are not connected by air routes. Fedot Tumusov, the State Duma deputy from Yakutia, consequently asked, "It is good that the plenipotentiary speaks about the problem publicly. But would it not be better if he said what the state intends to do about it?" (Rosbalt, July 3). Indeed, Trutnev has not proposed any concrete solutions, and the Russian Far Eastern regions remain economically depressed (see Jamestown.org, September 13, 2016).

In his 2011 book, Internal Colonization: Russia's Imperial Experience, Professor Alexander Etkind notes that, unlike other past empires whose colonies were far away, tsarist Moscow imposed colonial-style tools of control even on nearby Russian lands. This model, which arguably persists today, explicitly precludes regional self-government. And "viceroys" from the metropolis can be used interchangeably. For example, Nikolai Tsukanov, who in 2016-2017 was Putin's plenipotentiary in the Northwest, was appointed plenipotentiary in the Ural federal district earlier this year (RBC, June 15, 2018).

Regional communities have no control over the Kremlin's appointees, who regularly avoid responsibility not only for corruption, but also for more serious crimes. For example, in 2017, the Central district's chief federal inspector for Yaroslavl region was accused of manslaughter in a hunting accident. But the Kostroma regional court released him of all criminal charges and slapped him with an insignificant fine (less than $1,500) rather than a prison sentence. He remains in his post (Pasmi.ru, January 23).

Nevertheless, regime loyalists continue to hope for reforms of the federal districts. Political scientist Maxim Fomin says Russia needs economic decentralization and has suggested transforming these districts into "project federal territories" (Vedomosti, July 3). This, however, would represent precisely the sort of political-economic restructuring that central authorities fear: If federal districts can launch their own development projects, it would violate the "vertical of power" principle that is the main reason for the districts' existence.

The processes of colonization and decolonization are historically ambivalent, however. Some observers have noted that the federal districts of Russia roughly correspond to the boundaries of states and principalities that existed before the formation of the Russian Empire  Muscovy, Novgorod republic, Siberia, etc. (Afterempire.info, June 28). The former Soviet dissident Vladimir Bukovsky, who foretold the collapse of the Soviet Union back in the early 1980s, evaluated the creation of federal districts ironically, in 2003: "We were wondering into what parts Russia will be divided [i.e., break apart]. But Putin created seven districts, and now we know" (Newsru.com, December 1, 2003).

Historically, the weakening of central power in Russia repeatedly led to periods of imperial disintegration. Most dramatically, this happened twice in the 20th century  in 1917 and 1991. Putin is not immortal, and it is debatable whether the political system he has created will outlast him (The Conversation, August 2, 2017). Nonetheless, it is at least possible that a new post-imperial political arrangement could emerge in Russia after his exit from the Kremlin. And if it does, it could very well focus on the level of the federal districts, since many Russian regions are too small and dependent on their neighbors to become sovereign political subjects.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Belarus: Enforcing the Law in an Illiberal Democracy

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 18 July 2018 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Belarus: Enforcing the Law in an Illiberal Democracy, 18 July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b728d6b6.html [accessed 30 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 107

By: Grigory Ioffe

July 18, 2018 04:15 PM

Alexander Knyrovich (Source: euroradio.fm)

Three sets of law enforcement actions recently administered in Belarus help to shed light on what rule of law means in this country. Thus, on July 4, Alexander Knyrovich, the CEO of SarmatThermo-Engineering, a company that makes heating network pipes, was sentenced to six years in prison and confiscation of his property. Some of his associates received sentences of between three and five years. Knyrovich was accused of systematically bribing bureaucrats in exchange for favoritism in pipe supply tenders and for establishing a fake Russia-based firm to reduce his corporate tax burden (Tut.by, July 4). Knyrovich, who also used to be a popular essayist, writing about favoring public recognition of entrepreneurship and reduced government regulations, has now been exposed as entirely dependent on state orders and facilitators (Telescope, July 13). Some critics of the court's decision suggested that Belarus's symbiotic relationships between private businesses and the state engender such violations of the law, and even make them unavoidable (Yury Zisser, July 5). Others do not buy this explanation, laying the blame on individual corruption.

Alleged corruption and tax evasion were also at the core of yet another set of arrests, these in the health care sector. On June 25, the chairman of the Belarusian KGB (unlike in other post-Soviet countries, in Belarus the state security service has retained its Soviet name) declared that his agency apprehended 37 suspects accused of pocketing bribes from distributors of deliberately overpriced medical equipment (Tut.by, June 25). The apprehended individuals include, among others, a deputy minister of health care (the most highly positioned suspect), the chairman of the Grodno regional health care administration, the chief doctors of several major hospitals, and the director of Belmedtechnika, Belarus's principal wholesale and retail distributor of medical equipment. On July 11, it was reported that Deputy Prime Minister Vassily Zharko, formerly the minister of health care, was also arrested, but this information was quickly disavowed (Tut.by, July 11).

The third series of arrests targeted members of Belarus's political opposition. In this case, penalties ranged from ten days behind bars to fines of $375, like that imposed on Ryhor Kastusyou, the chairperson of the Belarusian Popular Front. He and three other persons were penalized for their role in the ongoing obstruction of a restaurant in Kuropaty, which is located near a notorious Stalinist-era execution site (see EDM, June 20). Kastusyou was apprehended en route to the airport, where he was to take a flight to Warsaw to participate in a session of the International Commission of the Polish Parliament devoted to the "situation in Belarus." The session went forward without Katusyou, and condemned his and other related arrests (Euroradio, July 5). Some commentators noted the irony that the Polish parliamentary commission would adopt such a condemnatory resolution when the European Commission was in the midst of proceedings against Poland itself for breaching European common values and the rule of law (Melyantsou, July 7).

Several people, including opposition leader Nikolai Statkevich, were also penalized for an attempt on July 3, Belarus's Independence Day, to organize a protest "to express solidarity with the generation that liberated the world from [Adolf] Hitler, and with those who are fighting today for liberation of Belarus from a supporter of Hitler," the latter allegedly being Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka (Svaboda.org, July 5). During the July 6 episode of Radio Liberty's talk show devoted to exploring the connection between repressions in Belarus and its relations with the West, one of the on-air commentators opined that Statkevich's initiatives will not succeed if he continues to use the same tactics. The show's participants also bluntly refuted the view of 2010 presidential hopeful Andrei Sannikov that improvements in the Belarus-West relationship lead to more domestic repressions. They rejected Sannikov's argument on three grounds: First, there is no wave of political repression in Belarus today. In the first half of 2017, there were 293 arrests, in the second, just 18; in the first half of 2018, there were 13 arrests, with sentences amounting to one day behind bars. Second, Sannikov's views are a rhetorical dead end: He has to describe the situation as bad regardless of the reality, because he would otherwise lose the patronage of his Western sponsors, the guests asserted. The actual situation is the opposite of what he claims: Current improved relations with the West have demonstrably lessened the scope of political repression. And third, the core of Belarus's current socio-political conflict is not between the government and the opposition; rather, it is between the radicals from both sides (Svaboda.org, July 6).

As in past such instances, this recent outburst of punitive actions can best be conceptualized and explained by understanding Belarus as an illiberal democracy (ID), a concept introduced by foreign affairs commentator Fareed Zakaria in 1997. IDs are usually seen as the outcomes of ruling elites restraining civil liberties and political rights in the name of national interests, while dutifully conducting elections. But surprisingly, IDs are rarely looked at as bottom-up constructs, wherein minority groups' lack of bargaining power makes it possible for the mainstream society itself to limit the scope of the minorities' civil rights (Huffington Post, May 18, 2015). Belarus is one of Europe's most ethnically homogenous countries, but its ethnic majority itself continues to be fractured. Historically its segments used to gravitate toward external centers of power; whereas today, the largest segment of the populace rejects too close association with either Russia or the collective West. This effectively turns those still looking for external legitimation of their status into de facto minority groups. Cultural Westernizers and adherents of pervasive privatization are now such minorities in modern-day Belarus, and those groups in particular include the individuals caught up in the three sets of judicial proceedings described above.

It is unlikely that these "minority" groupings will be able to raise their status in Belarusian society if they continue to rely largely on external sources of legitimacy and foreign arbiters in the application of the rule of law, or if they continue to subsist on business practices that would be considered corrupt even under liberal democracy. Western policy toward Belarus, therefore, arguably suffers when it takes sides instead of focusing on supporting national consolidation and helping Belarusians achieve public consensus about entrepreneurial integrity.

Link to original story on Jamestown Foundation website

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
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A new scam has hit unsuspecting Sidney area residents. According to Jo Ellen Bartels FedEx delivered a brand new iPhone to her home address. Jo Ellen's husband was home and accepted and signed for the package thinking she had ordered it. She had not. When she got home and they opened the package it was a new iPhone X with a bill for $999.99 and a warning that if they didn't want the phone they needed to return it within 14 days or they will be liable for a restocking fee of $35. The return address was to Verizon Wireless so the Bartels brought it to Cellular Plus at 323 S. Central in Sidney, Montana. Jo Ellen said they were told that it had happened three other times in the past two weeks and that they would send the package to Verizon's Fraud Department. They did so and the Bartels were not held liable for any of the bill but with this happening so often Jo Ellen and her husband wanted to spread the word with others in the community.

I spoke with Richland County Undersheriff, Bob Burnison. He told me that Verizon Wireless is working with them on this and that it has been reported to have happened in Billings, as well. He said, as far as he knows, no one has lost any money to this scam and there have been no reports that identities have been stolen. If it looks like identities have been stolen, he said, the appropriate agencies will investigate. Undersheriff, Bob Burnison advises that if anyone is delivered a Verizon Wireless phone they did not order that they should contact local law enforcement and make a report. Then they should take the phone and report to the nearest Verizon Wireless dealer. According to Bob, the employees there will assist them with returning the phone so they will not be charged. "We are working with Verizon on this," said Bob Burnison, "to bring an end to it."
Montanas air quality has worsened this week due to fires burning in Oregon and California. State public health officials urge people across the state to take precautions as the potential for poor air quality reaches unhealthy levels in the coming days.

The Department of Environmental Qualitys Air Quality Bureau is predicting weather that could bring prolonged wildfire smoke exposure to communities in the state. Smoke levels can rise and fall depending on weather factors, including wind direction.

The wildfire smoke in the area may increase ones health risk, especially for older adults, young children, and people with asthma, respiratory, or heart conditions, said DPHHS State Medical Officer Greg Holzman.

Public health officials urge all Montanans to take the following precautions to avoid health problems during smoky conditions.

- Reduce the amount of time spent outdoors. This can usually provide some protection, especially in a tightly closed, air-conditioned house in which the air conditioner can be set to re-circulate air instead of bringing in outdoor air.

- Reduce the amount of time engaged in vigorous outdoor physical activity. This can be an important and effective strategy to decrease exposure to inhaled air pollutants and minimize health risks during a smoke event.

- Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution such as burning cigarettes and candles; using gas, propane, and wood burning stoves and furnaces; cooking; and vacuuming.

- Individuals with heart disease or lung diseases such as asthma should follow their health care providers advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms.

For more information about your communitys air quality, visit https://todaysair.mt.gov or to learn more about wildfire smoke and your health visit https://dphhs.mt.gov/airquality.
Senator Jon Tester sent his Chief of Staff, Aaron Murphy, to Sidney on August 9 for a brief meeting and tour of the Sidney Sugar Plant. Murphy was received by Sidney Sugars General Manager, David Garland, and other employees of the factory who expressed their sentiments of thanks to Senator Tester and spoke of their concerns regarding the sugar industry.

While gathered for the brief discussion at the plant, Murphy began by explaining, "I don't know the process very well. I know the smell in the air. I know it's Fall when I smell that stuff. I grew up in Cody, Wyoming, where there's a [sugar] plant. I know the industry, but don't know the process."

Tester, according to Murphy, knows agriculture well. Murphy explained that Tester's work in the United States Senate was conflicting with his work back on his Montana farm.

Murphy said, "Ordinarily, August is a recess month, but Senator McConnell said we had to come back, which is good because there's lots of work to do. But it does mean that we truncate his harvest time to work on the farm. And when I say, 'he's the farmer,' if you know Jon, he doesn't hire it out."

Murphy also had some criticism for President Trump. When asked what Tester's position was on the issues related to Trump's trade policy, he responded, "[Tester] is quite concerned about it. One of the things he's trying to do, as a bi-partisan effort, is to say the President shouldn't have unilateral authority to do this. There should be oversight by Congress."

"On July 5," Murphy continued, "he had a round-table to hear about it in Billings and to hear from the agricultural sector and we heard quite loudly about the impacts of the trade war on the agriculture sector, and on building and all the affiliated issues with it. The director of the library in Missoula wrote in to say they just fined a 30 million dollar library construction and the cost of rebar alone went up 700 thousand just because of the uncertainty caused by the trade war. This is an expense that's handed right down to the local taxpayer and people in Missoula will have to pay for it."

"This is really affecting the state, as you know. We're hearing from all sectors, cattle producers and others," Murphy said.

The Sidney Sugar executives explained to Murphy the issues relating to the current market, which included the size of the current grain crop and the need to empty bins. This requires dumping grain in the market, increasing supply and decreasing its value, which puts a strain on those in the industry. Durum (a variety of wheat that is locally grown), in particular, has been a problem, which is increased by competition with Canada. There was some confidence expressed in President Trump regarding his competency at negotiating trade deals.

"If trade deals are going to be renegotiated," Murphy retorted, "they need to be renegotiated to work. They need to be good and strong for Montana, but agreements don't need to be pulled out of if it is going to cause this instability."
Pictured are some of the items donated to the victims of the tornado that struck Watford City on July 10.

The McKenzie County Department of Emergency Management helped to organize a barbeque event for those adversely affected by the tornado that touched down and destroyed much of the Prairie View RV Park in Watford City, North Dakota. The event was not only meant as a gesture of care and compassion but also helped put emergency management personnel, volunteers and supporters in direct contact with those who need recovery assistance.

According to Jappe, there were probably 300 lots on the ground at the Prairie View RV Park, with 79 deemed unlivable, and everyone was invited to attend the barbeque. The event was kept open later for those who were working long days and wanted to attend after they got off work. All of those who were hit by the tornado were invited to attend, including a few residents who were right outside the park and got hit by the wind.

The Roundup spoke with Karolin Jappe, the McKenzie County Emergency Manager, about the event which brought together the emergency and disaster volunteers with the victims of the tornado.

"It was very nice," Jappe told The Roundup. "We have so far had 59 different families or single individuals that have came in. It means they could take whatever they wanted that we had available and also apply for assistance."

Jappe continued, "To qualify for the fundraiser that's been ongoing, those affected by the tornado have to qualify through Lutheran Social Services. And then, we have an Unmet Needs Committee, which will evaluate their specific situation. Once that intake is done and verify income and loss and so on, Lutheran Social Services should be able to disburse funds and get checks to people by September."

Not everyone with tornado damage has sought help, however.

Jappe reported, "Some people chose not to seek help for various reason. Some had insurance or some think that they don't need handouts. I'd rather we not really think about it as a hand out. And for some people, I don't know the reason they haven't sought the assistance that's available."

"The one who hosted the event was Equinor, formally Statoil, and they put the whole barbeque together for us. And then there are those who I call 'my little angels.' This are the ladies in the community that have been so, so helpful. There's no way I couldn't have done what I have done without the ladies in the community."

"For example," Jappe said, "ten days after the tornado I had a scheduled vacation, and I changed things around, but when I did have to leave they stepped up to help. They are a blessing in disguise. I'm bringing in a training in the future so if something like this happens again we'll have a little team put together."

Jappe reports that they have received approximately 250 thousand dollars in donations for the tornado victims.

Jappe said, "You can't imagine the number of people who have donated. I have a list, not of personal names, but of companies and businesses that have given. I also included in that record the people who have items and helped with the clean up, like those who brought the dump truck, the porta potties and so much more."

The sizable relief fund was not contributed to by the federal or state government, but was entirely locally supported.

Jappe said, "We really didn't need any help from the state. The county is amazing and I've never seen anything like it to be honest with you. I'm so grateful to live here and I'll probably live here the rest of my life."
China will on Tuesday release July numbers for industrial production, retail sales and fixed asset investment, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

Industrial production is expected to rise 6.3 percent on year, up from 6.0 percent in June. Retail sales are forecast to jump an annual 9.2 percent, up from 9.0 percent in the previous month. Investment is called unchanged at 6.0 percent.

Japan will see final June data for industrial production. In the previous reading, output was called lower by 2.1 percent on month and 1.2 percent on year, while capacity utilization sank 2.1 percent on month.

Australia will see July results for the indexes of confidence and conditions from NAB; in June, their scores were +6 and +15, respectively.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
China's industrial production and retail sales grew weaker-than-expected in July amid subdued expansion in fixed asset investment, highlighting difficulties in the domestic that are over and above the external uncertainties.

Industrial production growth held steady at 6 percent annually in July, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday. Economists had forecast a faster growth of 6.3 percent.

Retail sales grew at a slower pace of 8.8 percent year-on-year in July, slower than the 9 percent increase in June. Sales were forecast to climb 9.1 percent in July.

In the first seven months of 2018, fixed asset investment grew 5.5 percent from the same period of last year compared to 6 percent increase in the January to June period.

Another report from the NBS showed that housing sales advanced 16.2 percent and sales of commercial units grew 5.5 percent.

The activity and spending data for July all came in below consensus expectations, despite surprisingly strong external demand, Julian Evans-Pritchard, an economist at Capital Economics, noted.

The economist said this highlights the continued strong headwinds to domestic demand from slower credit growth.

The urban unemployment rate rose to 5.1 percent in July from 4.8 percent a month ago, the statistics bureau reported.

In July, China's State Council decided to take more "proactive" fiscal steps to help the economy grow in a reasonable pace amid external uncertainties, but to avoid a strong stimulus.

The International Monetary Fund had urged Chinese authorities to 'stay the course' and not to loosen credit if growth falls below target.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A report analyzing cryptocurrency regulation in Sub-Saharan Africa has found that despite cryptocurrencies exerting a notable presence in 36 African countries, only South Africa and Swaziland have adopted "a generally favorable and permissive [regulatory] stance" pertaining to cryptocurrencies.

African governments and central banks are mostly adopting a "wait and see" approach when it comes to regulating cryptocurrencies, says the report published by the pan-African bank, Ecobank Transnational Inc.

Many African governments and regulators recognize both the risks and the potential positive impacts of cryptocurrencies, but they have been reticent in authorising cryptocurrency transactions, and mostly remain apprehensive about the potential risks.

"African countries appear to be looking to their neighbours to regulate and innovate first, and learn from their mistakes, rather than being the first mover," according to the report.

Only Namibia has banned cryptocurrencies so far. In contrast, neighbouring South Africa and nearby Swaziland offer two of the most favourable regulatory stances in the continent. But with the exceptions of Cameroon, Rwanda and Senegal, no other Francophone government or central bank has made a policy statement on virtual currencies.

South African regulators are relatively progressive on cryptocurrencies. In 2014, the South African Reserve Bank released a position paper on virtual currencies which looked promising for the industry.

The South African government began working with blockchain company, Bankymoon in July 2017, to create a "balanced" approach to bitcoin regulation.

In mid-2017, the South African Reserve Bank, the country's central bank, indicated that they are trialling cryptocurrency regulations, with a view to potentially recognizing digital currencies as a form of legal tender.

Alongside, the revenue arm of the South African government is exploring ways in which cryptocurrency transactions and investments can be appropriately taxed.

In April this year, the South African Revenue Service announced that citizens must declare cryptocurrency-related taxable income as part of their capital gains statement.

Speaking at an economic forum in October 2017, Central Bank of Swaziland (CBS) chief Majozi Sithole issued a positive in terms of the country's recognition of the potential of cryptocurrencies. "It may not be wise to dismiss virtual currencies and as the CBS we are learning and we want to accept and support innovation. If this is innovation, we do not want to stifle it. We want to learn more about it," he told the conference.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
In retaliation for U.S. sanctions on Turkey over its refusal to extradite a U.S. preacher imprisoned in the country, Turkish President Recep Erdogan threatened to boycott U.S. electronic goods, including Apple's flagship iPhone device.

Speaking at a Symposium in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Tuesday, Erdogan said, "If they have iPhone, the other side has Samsung."

Erdogan also suggested Turkish smartphone brand Vestel Venus as an alternative for Turks to buy, reportedly prompting shares in that company to rise almost 5 percent.

The Turkish president also warned that those who are waging "economic warfare" against Turkey will pay a price.

"There is a price we're paying for the period we're in," Erdogan said, referring to the economic crisis deepened by the U.S. sanctions. "But there will be a price those who're waging economic warfare against Turkey will also pay."

Erdogan claimed he has been taking necessary measures to halt the recent slide in Turkish assets.

Even as Turkey's leader refuses to back down in the diplomatic dispute with America, Turkish stocks rebounded Tuesday and the lira rose by 5 percent.

U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement Friday that he would increase tariffs on steel and aluminum originating from Turkey had an adverse effect on the Turkish market, with the lira and stocks plunging sharply.

Turkey, which is America's European ally, accused Washington of stabbing it in the back by imposing sanctions despite being NATO partners.

Meanwhile, White House National Security Adviser John Bolton met Turkey's Ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Kilic and insisted the U.S. won't end the diplomatic row between the two countries until U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson is released from house arrest.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Cryptocurrencies are a sea of red Tuesday morning, as they extend their losses after Bitcoin fell below $6,000 late Monday.

The top cryptocurrency recovered since then and is trading above $6,000 as of 10.20 am ET.

Market capitalization also shrunk sharply and fell below $200 billion for the first time since November 12, 2017, according to data from CoinMarketCap.



As of 10.24 am ET, overall cryptocurrency market capitalization was $195.14 billion and the Bitcoin dominance rate climbed further to 54.3 percent.

Here is a wrap of the main news from the cryptocurrency and blockchain space over the past 24 hours.

Cryptocurrencies Tumble

Nearly all cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether, are continuing their sell-off Tuesday. Bitcoin, the most popular digital currency, fell below $6,000 late Monday for the first time since June, reaching near the lowest point in 2018.

Saudi Financial Regulators Warn Virtual Currencies Are Illegal

Financial watchdogs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have warned that trading in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin is illegal inside Western Asia's sovereign Arab state. The warning was released by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority in a statement issued by the standing committee for awareness on dealing in unauthorized securities activities in the foreign exchange market.

IBM Developing Blockchain Process To End Digital Spending Waste

IBM is developing a blockchain process with its Artificial Intelligence system Watson to help end digital spending waste in advertising. The system is expected to address transparency and trust issues among advertising partners.

Only Two African Countries Are Crypto-friendly

A report analyzing cryptocurrency regulation in Sub-Saharan Africa has found that despite cryptocurrencies exerting a notable presence in 36 African countries, only South Africa and Swaziland have adopted "a generally favorable and permissive [regulatory] stance" pertaining to cryptocurrencies.

Current Prices

As of 10.26 am ET, Bitcoin was down 4.73 percent at $6,093.08 and Ethereum was lower by 18.41 percent at $258.24 on Coinbase.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
President Donald Trump took another swipe at the nation's top law enforcement officer in a post on Twitter on Tuesday, seeming to blame Attorney General Jeff Sessions for the ongoing investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

In the tweet, Trump cites Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett, who suggested former Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr conspired to clear Hillary Clinton of wrongdoing and frame the president.

"'They were all in on it, clear Hillary Clinton and FRAME Donald Trump for things he didn't do.' Gregg Jarrett on @foxandfriends," Trump tweeted.

He added, "If we had a real Attorney General, this Witch Hunt would never have been started! Looking at the wrong people."

Trump has previously been critical of Sessions' decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation over undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambassador.



The president has suggested he would have picked someone else for Attorney General if he knew Sessions was going to recuse himself.

In subsequent tweets, Trump continued his attacks on former FBI agent Peter Strzok, who was fired last Friday for sending anti-Trump texts during the presidential campaign.

"Fired FBI Agent Peter Strzok is a fraud, as is the rigged investigation he started. There was no Collusion or Obstruction with Russia, and everybody, including the Democrats, know it. The only Collusion and Obstruction was by Crooked Hillary, the Democrats and the DNC!" Trump tweeted.

He added, "Strzok started the illegal Rigged Witch Hunt - why isn't this so-called 'probe' ended immediately? Why aren't these angry and conflicted Democrats instead looking at Crooked Hillary?"

Earlier this month, Trump called on Sessions to immediately bring an end to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, although the Attorney General purportedly does not have the authority to end the probe due to his recusal.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller to lead the investigation in May of 2017 after Sessions recused himself.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A majority of Americans think special counsel Robert Mueller should try to complete his investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election before the midterm elections in November, according to the results of a new CNN poll.

Sixty-six percent of Americans said Mueller should try to complete the investigation before Election Day, while 26 percent disagreed. Another 8 percent had no opinion.

The desire to see Mueller complete the investigation comes as a similar percentage of Americans said the Russia investigation will be at least "moderately important" to their vote for Congress.

Eighteen percent said the investigation will be "moderately important" to their vote, while 15 percent said it will be "very important" and 30 percent said it will be "extremely important." Thirty-four percent said the probe will be "not that important."

At the same time, the poll found that 58 percent of Americans think alleged Russian efforts to influence the election are a "serious matter that should be fully investigated."

Another 37 percent said the Russia investigation is "mainly effort to discredit Donald Trump's presidency," and 6 percent had no opinion.

The survey also showed majorities of Americans think Trump has attempted to interfere with the investigation and made false statements about the probe.

Seventy percent of Americans also said Trump should testify under oath for the investigation if asked by Mueller. Twenty-five percent said he should not testify.

The CNN survey of 1,002 adults was conducted by SSRS from August 9th through 12th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
On Thursday last week, a major development in the deaths of two babies who died after they were administered the M.M.R. vaccine at Safotu, Savaii, emerged.

After a few weeks of several investigations by different officials  including health experts from outside of Samoa - the Police and the Attorney Generals Office took the first step in what we anticipate will be one of many to be taken in the pursuit for justice over the deaths.

That step involved the filing of two charges against one of the nurses implicated in the deaths. The identity of the nurse has remained a secret up until now.

But Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil, confirmed that the woman faces two charges, one of alleged negligence resulting in death and perverting the course of justice. These are very serious charges.

Its very unfortunate that it has come to this (given) what had happened to the two toddlers, said Fuiava. However, because it is now on the hands of the law enforcement we have done our own investigation and all the element of the crime has been satisfied and those charges were the ones that stood out.

Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, added that the charges follow swift and hard-working investigations by the C.I.D. section of the Ministry of Police both in Apia and Savaii.

He said: The decision to charge was thereafter supported by advice and it is also confirmed by Police that investigations are still active and ongoing.

Well since this matter is due before Court, we dont want to delve into the details. Suffice to say, we believe a lot more developments will unfold over the next few weeks.

You see, we dont think we have seen the last charges in relation to this matter. There appears to be a lot more than meets the eye.

Now, a day after the charges were made public, another interesting development unfolded. This time, the President of the Samoa Nurses Association, Solialofi Papalii, questioned the decision to file charges against one of the nurses.

There are the two flat sides and the wheel in the middle, Ms. Papalii said about the pursuit for justice and truth.

We are so confused on how they were able to have charges, when results of the postmortem that was conducted by an Australian specialist is not here yet.

Another thing is that they have charged the senior Nurse and yet there was a manager who oversee everything as well as other nurses that were there and yet she is the only one that been charged and held in custody.

We were told that the nurse that is now in custody was the one who mixed the vaccination but we are not sure whether she was the one who mixed both vaccinations for both toddlers.

Ms. Papalii raises some valid points that should be taken into account. According to the S.N.A. President, the nurse who has been charged has 37 years of experience.

She is a very competent person and she is very honest with her work so Im not sure what happened but within the association we were always told that if we werent sure of anything then we have to double check it and ask the doctors, said Ms. Papalii.

Well that might be the case but everyone makes mistakes. What is more important in this case is getting to the bottom on it and finding the truth so that it doesnt happen again.

Which brings us to another critical point Ms. Papalii raised.

When it comes to the caring of patients, doctors and nurses have to work together to ensure the patient are given the right dose or the right vaccination, she said. So there is a big question mark on how the charges were made when the Commission of Inquiry is not complete and most especially the post mortem result is not here.

Again, the President of the Nurses Association raises another very valid point here. As far as we can see from an outsiders point of view, the deaths of those two babies was the result of a systemic failure on the part of the National Health Services and the Ministry of Health. True that it was the nurses who administered the vaccination but there has got be a thorough review  and investigation  of the whole process, which led to the deaths before we can draw any solid conclusions.

Since this tragedy, many people have been calling for blood. Thats expected given the anguish, hurt and all emotions involved in such a very sad event.

But lets make sure we take a wholesome approach to this matter so that we dont just scratch the surface and use one person as a scapegoat.

We want the full truth, not half-truths. We want full accountability, not bits and pieces of it. And it must be done in a transparent manner because it will be such a critical step in restoring the trust and faith of members of the public in a health system that is very low on that at the moment.

In other words, let justice take its course and let the public hear the truth.

Have a pleasant Tuesday Samoa, God bless!
Dear Editor,

Re: Unasa heads Party

Time for a new government in Samoa.

The S.F.P.P. led by a woman is the change Samoa is needing.

Go Iuni Go!!!!

Youve already achieved so much with the S.S.I.G. to help educate people about losing their customary lands. Now you can be the government to make sure it doesnt happen.

If the H.R.P.P. wins another term they will start by imposing property tax on customary lands and people will surely lose their lands.

Samoa and the average Samoan people need you before this government squanders everything the people have, in their obsession under the leadership of Tuilaepa, with developing Apia.

Most people of Samoa will never have access to all the luxury Apia will be offering anyway, because the government refuses to address the growing wealth inequality, so who is all this development really for.

Certainly not the majority of Samoans living in Samoa.

Wendy Wonder
The appeal against the decision of the Court to acquit the President of Land and Titles Court, Fepuleai Atilla Ropati, of assault charges has begun.

Counsels Rexona Titi and Aumua Ming Leung Wai, representing the Office of the Attorney General and the respondent Fepuleai, appeared before Supreme Court Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke last Friday to make their submissions.

Ms. Titi submitted that the presiding District Court judge had erred in law and did not give enough weight to the victim impact report which detailed the extent of the victims injuries.

The honorable judge erred in law/fact in not placing sufficient weight or consideration to the victim impact report in the assessment of the gravity of the offending.

The judge erred in law/fact in the assessment of relevant factors regarding the victims injuries, she submitted.

The counsel added that she disputed the findings by the sitting judge that there was no premeditation and that there was provocation.

Judge Papalii had placed too much emphasis on the mitigating factors rather than the aggravating factors of the offence. The injuries were serious but Judge Papalii had ruled they were minor.

She also had said in open court on 11 May that the gravity of the offending was minor but in her written judgment, she said the gravity of the offending was low to moderate. Therefore, Judge Papalii had erred when she said that the victims scalp was not affected.

Aumua, in response, submitted that the ordinary appellate principles applied in this particular Court appeal by the Office of the Attorney, but the Attorney General is wrong in that the appeal is framed and looks like a re-hearing.

The Attorney General is asking the Court to hear the matter afresh when the matter is an appeal, not a rehearing. As such, the Attorney General must identify where Judge Papalii had erred in respect of her decision, but it is not for the Supreme Court to rehear all the circumstances of the case.

Aumua further submitted that Judge Papalii did not err in law or fact as she applied the correct and relevant legal principles when making her decision.

The findings by Judge Papalii were open to her on the evidence and that relevant matters were taken into account by Judge Papalii.

For example, there was no premeditation as my client did not plan to assault the victim. My client was leaving the party when he came across the victim drinking beer when the victim is on duty as the night watchman/security.

My client asked the victim why he was drinking when he was told earlier not to, the victim smiled and that angered my client thus hitting the victim with the bottle. It was open on the evidence for Judge Papalii to find there was no premeditation and that my client was provoked, he stated in his submission.

Justice Leiataualesa adjourned the proceedings and reserved his ruling to be delivered in a fortnight.
Tongas Prime Minister Akalisi Pohiva has cautioned Pacific Island nations, saying they should slow down asking China for loans.

Speaking on the sidelines of the one-day Forum Foreign Ministers conference in Apia last Friday, the Prime Minister told Samoa Observer in an exclusive interview that the debts that Pacific Island states owed to China should be on the agenda at next months Pacific Islands Forum (P.I.F.) Leaders Summit in Nauru.

Each of the Pacific Island (states) owes debts to the Chinese Government and this should be an issue on the agenda of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting next month.

This should be an issue where the Pacific leaders should dialogue and open discuss ways to deviate from this predicament. We need to discuss the issue.

All the Pacific Island countries should sign this submission asking the Chinese government to forgive their debts and to me that is the only way we can all move forward, if we just cant pay off our debts, he said.

Tonga reportedly owes the Chinese government $160 million in debts and had its request for the deferral of the loan repayment or their conversion into grants knocked back by Beijing.

Mr Pohiva, during the interview, confirmed the stalemate with the Chinese government and revealed that they will start repaying the loan next month.

Nonetheless, we will start paying the principals for the loans. By September, 2018, we anticipate to pay $14million, which cuts away a huge part of our budget. Were supposed to start paying last two years, but we couldnt afford it, hence the delay and we will pay this year.

The loan from the Exim Bank of China was used to rebuild Nukualofa after the riots in 2006. Mr Pohiva said Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu also have loans from China.

Speaking of the debt burden that his country currently faces, Mr Pohiva said he also raised it in a meeting with the Japanese ambassador.

Were supposed to start paying last two years, but we couldnt afford it, hence the delay and we will pay this year.

The debt burden is so much and I have met with the Japanese Ambassador who is very sympathetic with our situation. Even the Japanese government knows we cannot afford to pay the loans.

And we have to find ways to comply and that is the cost of being so dependent on the donor partners to do the developments for small island states.

Pacific Island nations have two options, says the Prime Minister, either they pay off their debts or the Chinese government extinguishes them.

There are two options either we pay it or forget about it. And what I mean by that is have the Chinese Government forgive our loans.

One issue for certain is that we dont want the Chinese government to take the assets used as collateral for the loan, and when we dont request for loans, we will not be aligned with the developments of the world it is today.

Mr Pohiva said he is mindful of the consequences of defaulting in their loan repayment, which could see China claiming possession of state-owned assets such as buildings.

If we fail to pay, the Chinese may come and take our assets, which are our buildings and that is why the only option is to sign a submission asking the Chinese Government to forgive our debts, he said.

He said some lessons that could be learnt from the Chinese and Pacific nations loans controversy is for the funding recipient to begin debt servicing on time and avoid loans that the national budget will struggle to repay.
A farmer support charity is calling for the Australian government to spend less money abroad.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was in Samoa recently announcing millions of dollars in funding for various projects across the country.

The ABC reports that whilst in Samoa, Minister Bishop has had to defend the level of Government spending in foreign aid.

Brian Egan, co-founder of Australian Charity Aussie Helpers looks after farmers in times of need.

Currently farmers in Eastern Australia are facing a severe drought. Mr. Egan says the amount of dead livestock is devastating.

He told the ABC he thinks government money should go towards Australian farmers struggling in the drought.

Why arent we helping our own people at home, surely they must come first?

Much of the concern on foreign aid spending has been aired on social media, reports the ABC.

Shadow Minister of Human Services, Linda Burney said people should take responsibility for what they post online.

We should not be setting up one group of people against another, she said.

In a statement to the ABC, Minister Bishop said Australias foreign aid spending is 0.8 per cent of the national budget.

The aid budget does not divert any funds from social services or welfare budgets, she said.

In her statement, Minister Bishop said the Government does not have to decide between foreign aid and money for farmers.
Fathers deserve to be spoiled every once in a while and why not let them enjoy a game of billiard.

This was emphasized at the Fathers Day Vailima Hideaway Pool table tournament held at Taumeasina Hideaway over the weekend.

There were eight teams for double category and 16 singles. The doubles played for cash prize money of $600 with a trophy and two grates of beer, while singles played for $300 including a trophy and a grate of beer.

Tournament coordinator, Mase Iona said the sole purpose was for all fathers to come together, play, have fun and enjoy.

Playing billiard for us men or fathers to be exact, its a fulfilling game, the challenge and excitement is both there.

Judging from the looks on the players, they are all excited and relaxed, most of the participants are from Taumeasina village.

This is the first time we have done this, but we thank our major sponsor Vailima from Samoa Breweries for making this possible.

He said Vailima provided assistance through trophies and cash prices for the winners.

The village mayor of Taumeasina Lua Palala Leuluaialii said it is the first time for such tournament to be hosted in their village.

It has been three months since we have discussed this tournament in our village. Many of the players are very excited to be part of this event.

This is really great especially for us fathers, which is why it was a much anticipated game for us, Lua stated.

The tournament has brought nothing but happiness to us here, others claim that some games lead to fights and disagreements but not in our village, we have a strong village council that upholds rules and regulations, to uphold the peace.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  More than 1,000 children  and possibly many more  were molested by hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses, while senior church officials took steps to cover it up, according to a landmark grand jury report released Tuesday.

The grand jury said it believes the "real number" of abused children might be "in the thousands" since some records were lost and victims were afraid to come forward. The report said more than 300 clergy committed the abuse over a period decades, beginning in the mid-1950s.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the two-year probe found a systematic cover-up by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at the Vatican.

"The cover-up was sophisticated. And all the while, shockingly, church leadership kept records of the abuse and the cover-up. These documents, from the dioceses' own 'Secret Archives,' formed the backbone of this investigation," he said at a news conference in Harrisburg.

Significantly, the report faulted Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the former longtime bishop of Pittsburgh who now leads the Washington archdiocese, for what it said was his part in the concealment of clergy sexual abuse. Wuerl, one of the highest-profile cardinals in the United States, released a statement Tuesday that said he had "acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse."

The grand jury scrutinized abuse allegations in dioceses that minister to more than half the state's 3.2 million Catholics. Its report echoed the findings of many earlier church investigations around the country in its description of widespread sexual abuse by clergy and church officials' concealment of it.

Most of the victims were boys, but girls were abused, too, the report said. The abuse ranged from groping and masturbation to anal, oral and vaginal rape.

"Church officials routinely and purposefully described the abuse as horseplay and wrestling and inappropriate conduct. It was none of those things. It was child sexual abuse, including rape," Shapiro said.

The panel concluded that a succession of Catholic bishops and other diocesan leaders tried to shield the church from bad publicity and financial liability by covering up abuse, failing to report accused clergy to police and discouraging victims from going to law enforcement.

Yet the grand jury's work won't result in justice for the vast majority of those who say they were molested by priests as children. While the probe yielded charges against two clergymen  including a priest who has since pleaded guilty, and another who allegedly forced his accuser to say confession after each sex assault  the other priests identified as perpetrators are either dead or will avoid arrest because their alleged crimes are too old to prosecute under state law.

"We are sick over all the crimes that will go unpunished and uncompensated," the grand jury said.

The document comes at a time of renewed scrutiny and fresh scandal at the highest levels of the U.S. Catholic Church. Pope Francis stripped 88-year-old Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of his title and ordered him to a lifetime of prayer and penance amid allegations that McCarrick had for years sexually abused boys and had sexual misconduct with adult seminarians.

Wuerl has come under harsh criticism over his response to the McCarrick scandal, with some commentators questioning his claims of surprise and ignorance over allegations that McCarrick molested and harassed young seminarians.

Wuerl replaced McCarrick as Washington's archbishop after McCarrick retired in 2006.

The Pennsylvania grand jury, convened by the state attorney general's office in 2016, heard from dozens of witnesses and reviewed more than a half-million pages of internal documents from the Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton dioceses.

Some current and former clergy named in the report went to court to prevent its release, arguing it violated their constitutional rights to reputation and due process of law. The state Supreme Court said the public had a right to see it, but ruled the names of priests and others who objected to the findings would be blacked out pending a September hearing on their claims.

The identities of those clergy members remain under court seal.

A couple of dioceses decided to strip the accused of their anonymity ahead of the report and released the names of clergy members who were accused of sexual misconduct. On Friday, the bishop of Pittsburgh's diocese said a few priests named in the report are still in ministry because the diocese determined allegations against them were unsubstantiated.
The fax machine is widely considered to be a dinosaur of interoffice communications, but it lives on as part of all-in-one printers and may present a vulnerable point where hackers can infiltrate an organizations network, according to a new report from Israeli software company Check Point. The company said the vulnerability was identified as a result of research intended to discover potential security risks, not as the result of any attack.

Hackers can gain access to a network using the phone line connected to a fax machine, which is often connected to the rest of an organizations network. By sending an image file that contains malicious software over the phone line, hackers are able to take control of the device and access the rest of the network. The researchers were able to do this using only a fax number, which is often widely distributed by organizations on business cards and websites.

The report estimates that there are more that 17 million fax machines in use in the United States. The legal and medical fields rely heavily on fax machines to conduct business, because compared with email, fax is widely considered to be a more secure form of transmitting sensitive information and signatures. The banking and real estate sectors also frequently transfer documents containing signatures via fax.

With the advent of all-in-one products that include fax functions as well as printing and scanning, fax machines may be more prevalent in homes and offices than people realize. This particular vulnerability applies only if such a machine is connected to a telephone line, however.

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The only machines tested were from HPs line of all-in-one printers, but, according to the report, these vulnerabilities are likely to be found in machines from any manufacturer that use similar technology. HP issued a patch for its products before the report was published; it is available for download from the companys support website.

The report advises that if a fax machine is too old to support a software update, or if the manufacturer has yet to issue a patch to fix the vulnerability, fax capabilities should be used only on a segmented part of the network without access to critical data. The report also advises that the phone line connected to an all-in-one type machine should be disconnected if a user or organization does not use the fax functions.

Moore writes for the Washington Post.
A video of a man climbing a barrier at the Los Angeles Zoo and then slapping a hippopotamus on its rear end has sparked a criminal investigation by the LAPD, officials said Monday.

Zoo officials learned about the incident last week, after a video of the spanking began circulating on social media. Zoo officials responded by reporting the episode to police and by posting a No Trespassing sign on the exhibit. It is the first such sign to be placed on an animal exhibit, zoo officials said.

Any unauthorized interaction with an animal is unsafe for the animal and potentially unsafe for the patron, said April Spurlock, a zoo spokeswoman. It is never appropriate for anyone to attempt to have contact or interaction with any animal outside of our staff-led animal experiences.

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The video, which was filmed from the opposite side of the animal enclosure, shows the man vaulting a railing and creeping up slowly on two hippos, Rosie and Mara. The man then reaches out and slaps Rosie, who is almost 4 years old. The loud slap appears to startle Mara  Rosies mother  and she quickly lifts her head as the man runs off and raises his arms in a gesture of victory. Rosie does not appear to move after being struck.

Its unclear what damage or stress a hippo might experience in an incident like this, but because the hippo didnt have any obvious signs of injury, police arent investigating this as an animal cruelty case, an LAPD spokesperson said. Instead, Northeast Community Police Station detectives are investigating it as a case of trespassing.

State law prohibits entry into zoo enclosures, and violation of this law can be a misdemeanor or an infraction, Spurlock said. The L.A. Zoo warns patrons of this on its map, at several zoo access points and along the zoos perimeter fence.

L.A. Zoo hippos are accustomed to human interaction in very specific situations. Patrons can pay $20 to go behind the exhibit with educators and animal keepers and potentially pet the animals, with a barrier between them.

Still, it is potentially dangerous to alarm such a large creature.

Every animal is different and we dont know exactly what they were thinking, Spurlock said. But, its an invasion of the trust we work so hard to build with these animals.

Spurlock said incidents such as this are rare. The only similar incident occurred in 2011, when a visitor crossed two barriers to get close to two elephants. The animals werent touched and the woman wasnt harmed, but she was removed from the zoo and arrested.

We seriously feel this was an isolated incident, Spurlock said. Most people know not to go in with the animals. Its common sense.

On Monday morning, Mara and Rosie appeared relaxed as visitors walked by and admired them. They were inseparable and nuzzled their snouts together as they lounged underwater and came up for a breath every so often.

Mirranda Salas, who visits the zoo frequently with her two children, said she noticed the No Trespassing sign immediately.

I wondered if something had happened, she said. She was dismayed to learn of the slapping episode.

Thats upsetting that people would think thats funny, she said. If I saw that I would be upset, and to have to explain why someone would do that to the kids would be hard to do. I try to teach them to follow rules.

Salas and others said they wished people had sense enough not to go into the animal enclosures.

Two female hippos at the Los Angeles Zoo, where the LAPD is investigating an incident of a man jumping into the enclosure and slapping one of the animals. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

They obviously dont know that hippos kill more people in Africa than any other animal, said Glendora resident Justin Glanzman, who was visiting the zoo with his wife and 2-year-old. Theyre sweet until you mess with their family.

His wife, Taryn Glanzman, said she was concerned as well.

Thats kind of sad, she said. Thats animal abuse. Poor things.

alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com

Twitter: @r_valejandra
While San Diego may reign as a craft beer capital, a wave of cideries are bringing new tastes to the scene, thanks to several high-quality local producers.

Dating back to the Roman empire, cider has been pleasing apple-loving palates for millennia, with origins as a safe alternative to water and to provide nutrients. Now, mostly enjoyed for its taste, cider is carving out its own niche among the local drink market, offering up a variety of mouthwatering flavors and stellar reviews.

Here is the latest roundup of cider producers around San Diego County.

Bivouac Ciderworks

Inspired by traveling, climbing, surfing, hiking and all things outdoors, Bivouac mingles love of the environment with tasty cider. Along with the its popular Rising Star dinner series the cidery offers a full food menu from chef DJ Tangalin and a variety of housemade and guest ciders on tap. The term bivouac means a temporary camp without tents or cover, used especially by soldiers or mountaineers.

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3986 30th St., North Park, 619.725.0844, bivouaccider.com

Newtopia Cyder

Offering English-, French- and Spanish-style cyders in beautifully artsy cans and on draft, Newtopia crafts a flavor for every palate. Flagship varieties include India Pale with Mosaic, Belgian Pineapple with elderberry and cardamom, Semi-Sweet with hibiscus, and Wyld with marionberry.

10045 Carroll Canyon Rd., Suite A, Scripps Ranch, 858.926.4305, drinknewtopia.com

A variety of poured ciders (front to back): cranberry and Coriander fresh hopped cider, Belgium Pineapple, Wyld Cyder with marion berry and Sleepless in Sumatra coffee cider. (Nancee E. Lewis) (Nancee E. Lewis / )

Serpentine Cider

Run by wildlife biologists and inspired by a sidewinder snake, the craft cidery is housed in the Miralani Makers District alongside Lost Cause meadery and The Good Seed Food Company.

8665 Miralani Dr. #100, Miramar, 619.880.6697, serpentinecider.com

Guthrie Ciderworks

With the slogan because cider does not need to be sweet, Guthries British-style dry ciders (including Truly Dry and Semi) can be found around the county on draft and in bottles, with distribution locations available on its website.

6496 Marindustry Dr., Miramar, guthriecider.com

Guther CiderWorks. (Courtesy photo)

Julian Hard Cider

This veteran-owned cidery has been blazing the apple trail for years with a range of popular flavors including Harvest Apple fermented with Champagne yeast; Cherry Bomb with Montmorency cherries; Black & Blue with blackberries and blueberries; Apple Pie, Razzmatazz with raspberries; and Phenomenal with mint, pear and lime.

4470 Julian Rd., Julian, 760.765.2500, julianhardcider.biz

Julian Hard Cider. (Courtesy photo) (Rob Andrew / Rob Andrew)

Turquoise Barn Cider

What started out as a chicken ranch and four years of homebrewing turned into a popular cidery in Ramona with trademark flavors that include Apple Pomegranate and Apple Maple.

955 Maple St, Ramona, turquoisebarncider.com

Raging Cider & Mead Co.

Inspired by their own punk rock youth, owners Dave and Kerry Carr bring more than 20 years of homebrewing experience to the table. Utilizing wild fermentation techniques Raging Cider sources all of its fruits and honeys locally, as well as from its own estate and farm.

177 Newport Dr., Suite B, San Marcos, 760.801.8771, ragingcidermead.com

Twisted Horn Mead & Cider

Inspired by Vikings and Valhalla, this dual facility offers a variety of cider flavors including stgard with apricot and cardamom, Crimson Frost with lingonberries, Earth & Skye with roasted sweet potatoes, and Massacre with tart cherries.

1042 La Mirada Ct., Vista, 760.295.5888, twistedhornmead.com
August 14, 1965 The San Diego Union

The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year.

Saturday, August 14, 1965

In 1965 the arrest of a black motorist in the Watts section of Los Angeles on August 11 triggered a violent backlash.

In the week that followed, 34 people were killed in Los Angeles, and more than 1,000 injured. Members of a San Diego National Guard unit were sent to the area to help embattled police.

Unrest also spilled over into San Diego, where 11 fires were reported and 70 arrests made in the Logan Heights neighborhood.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:

Whole District Is An Inferno, Witness Says

By Jim McVicar

The whole Watts business district is an inferno. Wait a minute! Theyre shooting out there now!

Gilbert Youseff, who was barricaded in a liquor store a block or two from the center of the Los Angeles neighborhood, left the telephone momentarily.

I couldnt see who it was, just heard gunshots, Youseff told a reporter in a telephone interview last night. Then he talked about the fire. It was the third night of rioting.

They set the whole business district afire, he said. There are flames all around. I hear theyre even going to start burning some houses. Most of them are frame. Theyre tinder boxes.

THOUSANDS RIOT

They are the thousands of rioters who have terrorized the predominately Negro district for three nights and two days.

Were not the only ones barricaded in store buildings, Youseff said. Lots of businessmen are trying to protect their places from the looters.

Youseff was armed. He fired at some young intruders who broke the stores window early yesterday. They went away, cursing and screaming.

Where are the National Guardsmen? Youseff asked. We were promised them this afternoon, and they are not here.

There were no fire engines at the flaming buildings in Watts. Youseff did not know why, but guessed that firemen were hard-pressed elsewhere.

OWNER HOME

Youseff is an employe of Bob Martin, who owns the liquor store. Martin went to his Glendale home to sleep after staying up all Thursday night and yesterday morning.

Martins place of business is at 2066 E. 103rd St. At dusk last night, Martin said there were 3,000 people gathered three blocks from his store, at 103rd near Compton Avenue.

Like several other merchants in the area, Martin is a Caucasian. The neighborhood is now predominately Negro, but Martin has no quarrel with the Negroes.

I cant believe the people who live here are causing this trouble, he said in an interview. I know these people and they are law-abiding citizens.

View anniversary front pages online at sandiegouniontribune.com/150-years. For more from the Union-Tribune digital archives, go to newslibrary.com/sites/sdub. Searching is free, with registration. A fee is required to view full stories.
The chief executive of an Orange County check-cashing business pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to export tactical gear to Syrian rebels, federal prosecutors said.

Rasheed Al Jijakli, 57, a Walnut resident and U.S. citizen who was born in Syria, was indicted last year by a federal grand jury. According to the guilty plea, in 2012 and 2013 Jijakli, working with a group of people, bought tactical gear in the U.S. in order to provide it to the rebel groups, including Ahrar al Sham.

Jijakli also instructed others to withdraw thousands of dollars from his company, Palmyra Corporation, to pay for the gear.

According to the plea, Jijakli and his co-conspirators provided the groups with at least 43 laser boresighters, 85 day rifle scopes, 30 night vision rifle scopes, tactical flashlights, one digital monocular, five radios, and one bulletproof vest.

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He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3 in federal court in Santa Ana and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

paloma.esquivel@latimes.com

For more Inland Empire news follow me @palomaesquivel
Dick Fisher spent a portion of his childhood at a prison, and not just any penitentiary. This one was the legendary rock in San Francisco Bay known as Alcatraz.

You might say, he grew up there. His father, Floyd Fletcher Fisher, was hired as a junior correctional officer and stationed there for six years. In 1937, the family moved into the first floor of a former Army barracks there, simply known as Building 64.

There was just one bathroom, but laundry service was free, courtesy of inmates operating the prison laundry.

Al Capone may have washed our clothes, Fisher jokes, referring to the infamous mobster incarcerated there when he moved in.

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The prison fortress closed in 1963, and Sunday marked the final national parks-sponsored reunion of former prisoners, guards and island residents. They have met there each year to tell their stories to tourists. Among attendees was Fisher, 87, who lives in Chula Vista with his wife, Connie. It was my 23rd reunion, he says, calling the discontinuation bittersweet. An era has ended.

Dick Fisher, shown here with wife, Connie, spoke to tourists visiting Alcatraz on Aug. 12, 2018 about his childhood days living on the island. The government has said this was its last reunion, however, members of the Alcatraz Alumni Association may hold future gatherings. (Courtesy photo)

It may seem odd, but Fisher remembers Alcatraz as a safe place to grow up. His parents never locked their doors (unless an alarm rang). He laughingly recalls, Moms and dads did not have to worry about burglaries, peeping Toms, gangs, rapes or muggings  because all the bad guys were locked up top side.

Employees families were invited to watch the same movies the prisoners saw in a cell house locked with metal bars  of course, not at the same time as the prisoners. Unfortunately, we did not have access to popcorn, colas and others snacks, Fisher lamented in the memoir he wrote for his family.

The same room doubled as a sanctuary for religious services both for inmates and families. Since there were no schools, children of prison workers commuted to San Francisco by boat each weekday morning.

Dick and his older brother, Jack, shared a bedroom with a view of Treasure Island. They had prime seats for the nightly fireworks during the 1939-40 Worlds Fair.

There were several prisoner escapes while the Fishers lived there. Two inmates disappeared in 1937 and were presumed to have drowned. In 1938, three inmates made an unsuccessful breakout attempt and, on Jan. 13, 1939, Arthur Doc Barker, of the infamous Ma Barker family, was killed by a prison guard.

Because Dick suffered from asthma, his family relocated to Arizona in 1939. After Dick left to join the Army in 1951, though, his parents moved back to Alcatraz. In 1955, Dick enrolled in San Jose State College, 53 miles from the island fortress, and Alcatraz once again became his home on weekends and summer vacations. Alcatraz was listed as his hometown on his drivers license.

He recalls the notorious prison site as a fairly normal childhood environment, with a few notable exceptions. Fisher couldnt have pets (except for fish or turtles) and wasnt allowed to play with toy guns, knives or arrows. Many areas were off-limits, Halloween trick-or-treating was forbidden and cameras were banned.

Nevertheless, he calls it a great place to have been raised. Growing up with the limitations was a very natural thing.

Fisher admits he was too young to understand the real-life significance of Alcatraz. I only understood that there were men locked up for doing bad things, and I hardly ever saw them.

Today Fisher, a retired budget analyst with Rohr, Inc., talks to community groups about his fond memories of Alcatraz. He inherited several pieces of furniture from his familys home there. He plans to donate the furniture to the National Park Service, which plans to refurbish a residence for tours.

diane.bell@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1518

Twitter: @dianebellSD

Facebook: dianebell.news
A young man who groped and sexually assaulted four female students as they walked to their off-campus housing near San Diego State University last summer was sentenced Monday to a two-year prison term.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Polly Shamoon also ordered Minda Shewangizaw, 20, to stay away from the four victims and San Diego State for 10 years.

Shewangizaw pleaded guilty in April to felony and misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment and sexual battery. The defendant still faces charges that he tried to rape a woman in May 2017 at UC Riverside, where he was a student.

Deputy District Attorney Judy Taschner said the victims in the SDSU case ranged from 17 to 19 years old.

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He (Shewangizaw) attacked two separate groups of girls that were walking in pairs, the prosecutor said outside court. And even though they were walking with a friend, it didnt deter him from literally walking up to them and sexually assaulting them and grabbing them against their will.

One of the victims, identified only as T.H., testified during a preliminary hearing in January that she and her roommate, T.L., were walking near Montezuma Road and 55th Street, back to their apartment just after midnight last Aug. 29, when the defendant came up from behind and forcefully grabbed my butt.

T.L. testified that she noticed someone walking behind them before he began chasing them.

I said, You need to leave, T.L. testified. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him. He pulled my shirt down and grabbed my breast.

T.L. said she kicked the defendant and was able to break free. She and her roommate notified a security guard, who called campus police.

The witness said Shewangizaw was wearing an extremely distinctive blue Hawaiian shirt and she and her roommate were able to identify him a short time later, after his arrest following another attack.

A woman identified as Jane Doe 2 testified that she and Jane Doe 1 were on a pedestrian bridge near the Aztec Student Union, headed back to their dorm about 1 a.m., when she heard footsteps and was smacked on her behind by the defendant.

I was livid. I said, What are you doing? Dont do that! He laughed it off, she testified.

The witness said she kept walking and tried to ignore the defendant, but he followed and made a remark about her breasts before pulling her shirt down and putting his hands on her chest.

Jane Doe 2 said Shewangizaw went to Jane Doe 1 and said, How about you? What do you have?

Jane Doe 1 testified that Shewangizaw told them he was a junior at SDSU. The witness said she froze when the defendant grabbed her friends breasts.

I got really freaked out, she said.

She said Shewangizaw grabbed her breasts and buttocks and trapped her against a rail before laughing and walking away.

Shewangizaw was arrested and posted bail, but was re-arrested in connection with the alleged attempted rape at UC Riverside.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefield
Forty years after the passage of the landmark Proposition 13 ballot initiative in California, a coalition of social justice organizations, labor unions, elected officials and other groups is working to roll back the part of that proposition that lets many businesses avoid steep increases in property taxes.

The coalition, called Schools and Communities First, says it has collected more than 860,000 signatures to put a measure on the November 2020 ballot. The group needs 585,407 state-verified signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

When Proposition 13 passed in 1978, it limited property tax increases on both residential and commercial property. The constitutional amendment generally limits property tax increases to no more than 2 percent a year, even if the market value rises more than that. With some exceptions, only when a property changes ownership does an owner have to pay taxes based on a propertys current market value. Businesses can avoid paying taxes based on market value if less than a majority percentage of their property changes ownership.

The proposal by Los Angeles-based Schools and Communities First would eliminate that tax benefit for commercial properties, but not for residential properties  something known as a split roll initiative.

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We think Proposition 13 did a good thing when it helped residents stay in their homes, said Christopher Rice-Wilson, associate director of Alliance San Diego, one of the local groups endorsing the Schools and Communities First proposal.

The proposal would leave the tax benefit in place for small businesses who have less than $2 million in property in California.

If passed, the Schools and Communities First initiative is projected to collect between $6 billion and $10 billion more per year from businesses, with 40 percent going to schools and 60 percent going to local governments, according to a February review of the proposal by the states nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office. The actual amount raised would heavily depend on how well the real estate market is doing and would be considerably more volatile than property tax revenues have been historically, according to the review.

Proponents estimate the proposal, if passed, would transfer about $1 billion from businesses and give it to schools and local governments in San Diego County.

One of five simultaneous news conferences touting the proposal was held at Monroe Clark Middle School on Tuesday. Press conferences were also held in Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Bernardino and Fresno at schools and community centers.

San Diego Education Association board member Kisha Borden said at the San Diego news conference that the proposal would provide more revenue to schools for needed resources like counselors, nurses and school supplies. Proponents said revenue is also needed for roads, bridges, medical services, services for veterans and homeless and other needs.

Schools and Communities First cites the support of more than 270 organizations and elected officials. Many of the organizations are located in the Bay Area or the Los Angeles area.

There are relatively few backers in San Diego County, where the measure is endorsed by Alliance San Diego, a social justice group, and San Diego Organizing Project, a coalition of 31 religious congregations, as well as a Chula Vista Elementary School Board member and a Poway Unified school board member.

A lot of educators have been looking at, how do we bring more resources to education? The only way that we have found so far is to start looking at, OK, whos not paying their fair share of the taxes? said Chula Vista Elementary School District board member Francisco Tamayo, reached by phone later in the day. We see it every year, doing the budget  theres not enough resources.

Poway Unified School District trustee Kimberley Beatty confirmed that she supports the measure as well.

I have supported this initiative for over a decade, since connecting with like-minded parents across California who have done research on the lopsided commercial property tax structure, Beatty said by email. Because of the ability to structure sales to avoid reassessment on commercial properties, the state loses millions per year and a larger percentage of property tax revenue comes from homeowners. Despite recent increases to public education funding, California is still well below the national average.

The coalition has raised about $3.2 million from January to June of this year, according to Secretary of State records. Its three biggest financial backers are The San Francisco Foundation, the Million Voter Project Action Fund and Chan Zuckerberg Advocacy, a group connected to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

If passed, the proposal would likely influence businesses decisions about whether to grow or locate in California, according to the Legislative Analysts Office.

Taxpayers associations and other pro-business interests fear that eliminating the commercial property tax protections of Proposition 13 would significantly hike costs to many businesses and drive businesses away from the state. A split roll would cause California to lose about 400,000 jobs and $72 billion of business output, a 2012 Pepperdine University report predicted.

Theres absolutely no need for a massive tax increase that would drive up consumer costs and would result in job losses, said David Kline, spokesman for the California Taxpayers Association, in a phone interview. Kline said California has large reserves and has significantly increased public education spending in recent years, so theres no reason for an increase in taxes, he said.

Rice Wilson of Alliance San Diego disagreed.

The idea that its going to chase away business  false, said Rice-Wilson, who cited a June UC Santa Cruz report that said most of the potential commercial property tax revenue not collected under Proposition 13 comes from only 8 percent of business properties.

Kristen Taketa

Email: kristen.taketa@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @Kristen_Taketa

UPDATES:

5:00 p.m. This story was updated to include comment from Poway Unified School District trustee Kimberley Beatty.
Border activists who were stopped by officials for taking photos outside California ports of entry will be able to move forward with a lawsuit against the federal government, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleges that Customs and Border Protections policy requiring advance permission to photo or film on port of entry property violates First Amendment rights. A district judge in San Diego has twice dismissed the lawsuit, which was filed in 2012, finding that CBPs policy was the least restrictive way to protect government interests.

But the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that an amended complaint  filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the activists in 2015  had free speech claims that should be heard in court and sent the case back to the Southern District of California for further hearings.

One plaintiff is local activist and politician, Christian Ramirez, human rights director at Alliance San Diego.

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He had just crossed back into the U.S. from Mexico in June 2010 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry with his wife. They were walking on a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 5 when Ramirez saw male border officials patting down female travelers, according to court documents. He stopped to watch and took about 10 pictures with his cellphone.

Private security officers told him to stop taking photos and asked for his identification documents, and Ramirez refused to hand them over.

He and his wife walked away, and the officers called for backup. Between five and seven CBP officials stopped the couple and confiscated Ramirezs cellphone, deleting all of the images he had taken from the bridge, according to the lawsuit. The couple had to wait while another official took their documents away for review.

The other plaintiff, Ray Askins, an environmental activist concerned about vehicle emissions at border crossings, wanted to take a photograph of a vehicle inspection area in April 2012 at the port of entry in Calexico for a conference presentation.

He called CBP, and, according to court documents, was told his request would be inconvenient.

He ended up taking three or four photos from an intersection near the port before CBP officials demanded that he delete the images, the lawsuit states.

When he refused, the officials threatened to smash his camera, and then handcuffed him, confiscating his camera and holding him in a port inspection area, according to court documents. He was released about a half-hour later after CBP deleted all but one of his photos.

Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence

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kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter
Authorities in Nebraska on Tuesday morning used the powerful opioid fentanyl to carry out a death sentence, an unprecedented move that came as the state, which just three years ago briefly abolished capital punishment, completed a remarkable reversal and resumed executions for the first time in nearly a generation.

Nebraska experienced a series of firsts Tuesday morning: the states first execution in 21 years, its first lethal injection and the countrys first death sentence carried out with fentanyl, which has helped drive the opioid epidemic. The execution was even more unusual considering the states very recent history, which saw its legislature abolish the death penalty in 2015 before voters reversed that decision the following year.

Executed was Carey Dean Moore, a 60-year-old inmate who has been on death row for more than half his life. Moore was sentenced to death for killing two Omaha cab drivers in 1979. He said before the execution that he did not intend to stop it or want anyone else to intervene.

Nebraska had scheduled Moores execution to begin at 10 a.m. local time at the state penitentiary in Lincoln, the capital. The first of the four drugs used by Nebraska was injected into Moore at 10:24 a.m and the coroner announced his time of death at 10:47 a.m., corrections officials said.

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Moores case wound its way through the court system for nearly four decades, ever since the August 1979 slayings of Reuel Van Ness and Maynard Helgeland, both taxi drivers and Korean War veterans. Relatives of the men have said they were ready for a conclusion in the case.

Thirty-eight years has been long enough, Richelle Van Ness-Doran, Van Nesss daughter, recently told the Omaha World-Herald. Its just prolonging this  its like a slap in our face.

Moore faced execution warrants before Tuesday. He also appeared, albeit briefly, to be heading toward a sentence of life in prison when the Nebraska legislature banned the death penalty in 2015.

That move was a stunning shift for a heavily Republican state. Lawmakers voted to override a veto from Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who had strongly criticized the decision. A group with considerable financial backing from Ricketts and his family then pushed to have the issue added to the statewide ballot in 2016, where 60% of voters chose to restore capital punishment.

Whether Moore would be executed on Tuesday as scheduled was thrown into question last week when the drug company Fresenius Kabi filed a federal lawsuit accusing Nebraska of obtaining lethal injection drugs through improper or illegal means. The company said it believed two of its products were going to be used to execute Moore, and it asked the a judge to block the state from using the drugs and order them returned.

One of the drugs cited in the lawsuit, potassium chloride, was intended to stop Moores heart. Another drug, cisatracurium besylate, would paralyze his muscles. Nebraskas execution plans also call for the state to use diazepam, a sedative better known as Valium, and fentanyl to render Moore unconscious.

Nebraska officials argued they obtained their drugs legally and legitimately. The officials also said they had no backup option to obtain more, adding that they were facing a ticking clock because the states supply of potassium chloride expires at the end of August.

A federal district judge ruled against Fresenius Kabi last week. After a circuit court panel on Monday rejected the companys appeal, the firm said it would not seek further appeals in the case.

In recent years, states seeking to carry out death sentences have hit roadblocks in their attempts to obtain drugs, a situation fueled by drug companies objections to their products being used in capital punishment. In response, some states have turned to other methods of execution, including nitrogen gas or the firing squad. Others still have looked instead to untested drug combinations.

Nebraska is one such state, announcing plans to use fentanyl in its execution. Last month, Nevada was hours away from being the first state to use fentanyl in an execution when a lawsuit filed by another drug company prompted a judge to halt the lethal injection.

The choice of fentanyl for an execution points to a states desperation to find drugs, experts said.

Theres no particular reason why one would use fentanyl, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington nonprofit group. No one has used it before, and weve had hundreds and hundreds of executions by injection. That suggests that the state is using fentanyl because it can get its hands on it.

State officials in Nebraska have not elaborated on how they chose fentanyl, but they suggested their options in purchasing execution drugs were extremely limited.

Lethal substances used in a lethal injection execution are difficult, if nearly impossible, to obtain, Scott Frakes, director of Nebraskas Department of Correctional Services, wrote in an affidavit filed in federal court after the drug company sued his state. This problem is not limited solely to Nebraska, but exists in other death penalty states.

Berman writes for the Washington Post.
A Democratic congressional candidate in Georgia who called for restrictions on gun rights was arrested for murdering her former campaign treasurer, with whom she was in a relationship.

Kellie Collins, 31, was charged with murder and grand larceny Monday after she turned herself in, WSB-TV reported.

The aspiring politician was running in Georgias 10th Congressional District before she dropped out, citing personal reasons.

Collins is accused of fatally shooting her former campaign treasurer, Curt Cain.

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Authorities found the 41-year-olds body last week at the home the couple reportedly shared after conducting a wellness check when he didnt report to his office, The Augusta Chronicle reported.

He was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound on Aug. 7, according to the report.

Collins ran on a platform of responsible gun regulation to protect the community.

She was booked and transferred to the Aiken County Detention Center in South Carolina on Monday after being held at McDuffie County Jail in Georgia.
An Arizona woman injured last month when the recreational vehicle she was driving blew a tire, rolled and flew off Interstate 8 died almost two weeks later in a San Diego hospital, authorities said.

Yuma resident June Seikel, 76, was heading east on I-8 toward her hometown on July 23 when her RV crashed and flew off the freeway at Ribbonwood Road near Boulevard, east of the Golden Acorn Casino, according to the California Highway Patrol and San Diego County Medical Examiners Office.

Seikel and another person in the vehicle were injured, a CHP spokeswoman said at the time. Seikel died nearly two weeks later, on Aug. 5, at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest.

The crash happened a little before 11:30 a.m., and witnesses reported that a tire on the RV had blown out, causing the crash, CHP Offier Mary Bailey said.

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The RV struck the center divide and ... rolled over multiple times, according to the Medical Examiners Office.

The vehicle launched off the overpass and landed on Ribbonwood Road, which runs underneath the freeway, Bailey said. Emergency crews had to cut Seikel and another person from the RV; both were taken to hospitals.

Seikel was pronounced dead last week from multiple blunt force injuries. Her death was ruled an accident.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com
Faculty and students at an elite international summer music camp held in San Diego erupted in cheers Monday when they learned that an instructors stolen cello  a custom instrument worth $100,000  had been found undamaged.

John Walz, a principal cellist with the Los Angeles Opera, picked up the cello Monday from a Chula Vista womans living room, where shed been keeping it safe since her son found it Friday discarded on a downtown San Diego street corner.

Oh my God, the whole faculty, all the students, we were just screaming in the office, said Stanny Shiu, the founder and executive director of the Bravo! International Music Academy, an exclusive two-week program for cellists, violinists, pianists and other talented musicians held on the San Diego State University campus.

Losing an instrument like that is like losing your arm, Shiu said. Its one of a kind, like your baby. You play it every day. Its not replaceable. That was the heartbreaking part.

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Walzs custom cello was stolen Wednesday night, just after he arrived in San Diego to instruct the 60 or so summer campers, who came to the academy from cities across the U.S. and as far as Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Walz, an accomplished cellist who performs as a soloist and in the group Pacific Trio, had said on Facebook that he checked into his room Wednesday night at the Town and Country San Diego, went out to dinner, and when he returned, his room had been burglarized.

Everything stolen  including my cello, he wrote. Im still in shock.

Police said the suspect or suspects forced their way into the unoccupied guest room between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and made off with several items, including the custom cello made by Mario Miralles of Altadena,who is a well-known maker of stringed instruments.

Walzs Thursday morning Facebook post had been shared and commented on several hundred times by Thursday evening. That same afternoon, San Diego County Crime Stoppers issued a news release asking for the publics help to locate the instrument.

The next day, a man discovered the cello, still in its case, discarded near Ash Street and Third Avenue in downtown San Diego, Shiu said. The man took it to his mothers Chula Vista home, where they soon found news reports about the theft and realized the cellos value.

On Saturday morning, they began effort to return the cello to its rightful owner, but their attempts to reach Walz and the police were unsuccessful until Monday, when they got in touch with the world-renowned cellist on Facebook. They let him know they had his instrument, setting off the wild celebration at SDSU.

It is in perfect condition, Shiu said. We wonder if the gentleman who found it is a musician, because he knew how to take care of it. There was not a scratch on it.

Shiu said she felt terrible last week when the cello went missing while Walz was in her hometown for her music academy. She was equally as joyful Monday when Walz was reunited with the handcrafted cello.

She and Walz were also extremely grateful to the man who found the instrument and spent the weekend trying to get it back to them.

We would love to meet him or have him come out to see a performance, Shiu said. I want to ask if hes a musician, because he obviously knew the value of this. And we want to thank him for taking such good care of it and be willing to return it.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

8:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 5:45 p.m.
San Diego police on Tuesday identified the 33-year-old father who was shot to death early Monday morning following an altercation in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Joseph Aaron Holtz and a companion were near Fifth Avenue and Market Street when they got into a confrontation with a group of men about 2 a.m., police Lt. Matt Dobbs said. The quarrel escalated and, at one point, the victim was reportedly seen swinging a street sign.

He was later shot at least once in the upper body, and good Samaritans who jumped into action were providing medical aid when officers arrived, Dobbs said. Police and paramedics also tried to save the man, but he succumbed to his injuries about 2:20 a.m. at the scene.

Two men suspected of being involved in the incident fled the area in a cab that was later stopped by officers, Dobbs said. The two were questioned, and one of them  23-year-old Jonathan Hernandez  was arrested.

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Jail records show Hernandez was booked into the San Diego Central Jail a little before 1 p.m. Monday. He was booked on suspicion of murder and was being held without bail.

Holtz and Hernandez appear to be strangers.

Friends, family members and coworkers said Holtz was the bar manager and a chef at Myst Lounge, a restaurant, bar and hookah lounge thats about two blocks from where he was fatally shot. Holtz was also a father to a 3-year-old son.

The San Diego Police Department appreciates the assistance of citizens coming to the aid of the victim and providing timely information, which led to the identification of possibly involved parties, Dobbs said in a statement.

The lieutenant said streets in the area were crowded when the shooting happened, and encouraged anyone who may have witnessed the incident to call police at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (888) 580-8477.

Staff writer Lyndsay Winkley contributed to this report.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 10:05 a.m.
A broken water pipe on a hillside in Loma Portal triggered a mudslide that heavily damaged one home and prompted the evacuation of about 10 homes Monday, authorities said.

The pipe ruptured around 2:10 p.m., sending water and earth rushing into a home on Larga Circle south of Kemper Street, a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department battalion chief said.

What we had was large water break, mid-slope between two houses, Ed Kinnamon told OnScene TV. The above house is flooding the streets below it. We have one house that is totally flooded right now. We have three with potential problems.

Resident Bill McGuigan said he was sitting in his living room when he looked out his french doors and saw a landfall come sliding down the back of my hill.

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And then suddenly there was water spewing out all over the place, McGuigan told OnScene TV. And it started flooding into the house, and it started flooding me out of the house. Its knocked away a lot of the hillside so far.

In a tweet, SDFD said McGuigans flooded home has a couple feet of mud inside.

Broken water pipe on Larga Circle in Loma Portal. Ten homes evacuated. SDFD crews on scene and waiting for a City engineer to assess the hillside and soil conditions. One home has a couple feet of mud inside. E. Kinnamon pic.twitter.com/i2E1e4coYY  SDFD (@SDFD) August 13, 2018

Kinnamon said emergency crews were concerned about a sink hole forming because of the amount of soil that had been displaced.

Weve evacuated five houses down below, four up top, just for the concern of the sink hole possibility, Kinnamon said.

Emergency crews asked a structural and soil engineer from the city to evaluate the possibility of a sink hole forming, Kinnamon said.

Nobody was injured in the flooding, authorities said. One of the residents who left one of the homes had requested the assistance of the American Red Cross.

San Diego Gas & Electric secured power and gas lines in the area as city water crews worked to shut down nearby water lines, Kinnamon said.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

5 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes and information from McGuigan.

This article was originally published at 4:25 p.m.
A 46-year-old man suspected of kidnapping and assaulting a 3-year-old girl Saturday in the Oak Park community took the toddler out through an open window and was injured by the girls father in an ensuing confrontation, police revealed Monday.

Francisco Diaz is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on a slew of felony charges, including kidnapping, committing lewd and lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14, committing sodomy on a child under the age of 14, making criminal threats and burglary, according to jail records.

According to state records, Diaz is a registered sex offender who was convicted in 2007 of annoying or molesting a child under 18 years of age. Diaz was in compliance with his annual registration requirement at the time of his arrest, San Diego police Lt. Jason Weeden said.

Police first responded to the neighborhood about 9:45 a.m. Saturday after someone found the 3-year-old victim walking on Maple Street near 52nd and Nutmeg Streets.

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The police were called and the victims father confronted the suspect, Weeden said in a statement. Prior to the police arriving, the suspect was injured during an altercation with the father.

While investigating the incident, detectives learned that a male family member had seen Diaz looking into his bedroom sliding glass door sometime before the kidnapping, Weeden said. Investigators say Diaz removed the young victim from an open window in her bedroom and took her to the area of the suspects residence.

Following the events of Saturday morning, the victim was reunited with her parents while Diaz was booked into jail on eight felony charges, according to police and jail records. He was being held without bail Monday.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com
A woman came home from work Tuesday morning to find her 77-year-old husband slain, and homicide detectives are investigating, police said.

The 41-year-old woman made the discovery about 7 a.m. after returning home from her job at a local nursing home, Oceanside police spokesman Tom Bussey said.

When officers arrived at the residence on North Tremont Street near Surfrider Way, they found the man with trauma to his upper body, Bussey said.

The man died before he could be taken to a hospital.

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There were no disturbance calls in the area before the discovery, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call investigators at (760) 435-4748.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

8:15 p.m.: This article was updated with the victims age.

This article was originally published at 11:30 a.m.
A fire that charred 90 acres in the San Pasqual Valley area, injured a firefighter and prompted a handful of evacuations and a highway closure on Monday afternoon was started deliberately, officials said.

The fire broke out southeast of San Pasqual Road and state Route 78 near a brush-filled creek bed about 2:50 p.m. Firefighters and firefighting aircraft from multiple agencies rushed to battle the flames.

Roughly three hours later, fire crews had stopped the spread of the blaze around 90 acres, and it was 15 percent contained, according to Cal Fire San Diego and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

By 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, fire authorities said the fire was 40 percent contained.

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One firefighter sustained a minor injury and was treated at the scene. San Diego Metro-Arson Strike Team investigators determined the blaze was started by an arsonist, an SDFD spokeswoman said.

The blaze, dubbed the Cloverdale Fire, erupted near several houses, and deputies were sent to help evacuate residents from a number of homes in the 14400 and the 21200 blocks of San Pasqual Valley Road, sheriffs Lt. Amber Baggs said.

Residents who live on Rockwood Road and Brillwood Hill Road were warned to be ready to leave, if needed.

All evacuation warnings and orders were lifted around 8:45 p.m., the sheriffs department tweeted.

Around 4 p.m., flames jumped Route 78, prompting the highway to be closed between Cloverdale Road and the San Diego Safari Park. The park closed early, at 4:30 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., because of the highway closure, a spokeswoman said.

According to the California Highway Patrol, SR-78 remained closed Monday night between San Pasqual Road and Bandy Canyon Road. San Pasqual Road was closed between the highway and Old Milky Way .

Cloverdale Fire update - 100 acres. Forward rate of spread stopped. 15% contained. One firefighter injury. Because there were several recent fires in the San Pasqual Valley, metro arson strike team (MAST) investigators are at scene. #CloverdaleFire #teamwork #firefighters pic.twitter.com/AnYAUJm5Zk  SDFD (@SDFD) August 14, 2018

Mondays fire is the third to start in the area in recent weeks.

On July 27, a wildfire quickly charred 240 acres between San Pasqual and Ramona. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.

A brush fire sparked in the same area on Thursday, scorching another 250 acres. One firefighter suffered a minor injury. The blaze briefly threatened homes on Rangeland Road, but no structures were damaged.

Staff writer J. Harry Jones contributed to this report.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14: This article was updated with info about fire containment.

10:10 p.m.: This article was updated with information about road closures and evacuations being lifted.

8:30: p.m.: This article was updated with information about the suspected cause of the fire.

6:10 p.m.: This article was updated with details about the fires size and containment.

This article was originally published at 3:20 p.m.
Bishops and other leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania covered up child sexual abuse by hundreds of priests over a period of 70 years, persuading victims not to report the abuse and police officers not to investigate it, according to a report issued by a grand jury on Tuesday.

The report, which says there were more than 1,000 identifiable victims and covered six of the states eight Catholic dioceses, is the broadest examination yet by a government agency in the United States of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. There have been ten previous reports by grand juries and attorneys general in the United States, according to the research and advocacy group BishopAccountability.org, but those examined single dioceses or counties.

The report catalogs horrific instances of abuse, including a priest who raped a young girl in the hospital after she had her tonsils out, and another priest who was allowed to stay in ministry after impregnating a 17-year-old girl, faking a marriage certificate and then divorcing the girl.

Despite some institutional reform, individual leaders of the church have largely escaped public accountability, the grand jury wrote. Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing; they hid it all. For decades.

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The grand jury added that the church officials named in their report have been protected, and some have been promoted. Until that changes, we think it is too early to close the book on the Catholic Church sex scandal, the jury wrote.

Victims expressed relief that the Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his agents had conducted the investigation, after the victims efforts to get church officials to take action went nowhere.

I had gone to two bishops with allegations over five years, and they ignored and downplayed my allegations, said the Rev. James Faluszczak, an Erie priest on extended leave who was abused as a child and who testified before the grand jury. Its that very management of secrets that has given cover to predators.

There has been no comprehensive measurement of the full scope of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in the United States, though somehave tried. American abuse survivors have pushed for years for the government to undertake an nationwide inquiry similar to the one conducted in Australia, where a royal commission spent four years examining the sexual abuse of children by a variety of religious and civic institutions, including the Catholic Church.

The Pennsylvania grand jury report comes as the sex abuse scandal in the church has reached a new stage, with calls to discipline bishops who sexually abused younger priests and seminarians, or who have covered up for abusive colleagues.

Catholics are calling for independent investigations into why Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, was advanced up the hierarchy despite warnings to his superiors in Rome and fellow bishops that he had molested seminarians and young priests. Cardinal McCarrick resigned in July over allegations of sexually abusing minors, but since then priests in the diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, and seminarians in Boston and elsewhere have publicly accused their superiors of turning a blind eye to sexual misconduct.

The Pennsylvania grand jury met for two years and heard testimony from victims and the bishop of Erie. The report covers the dioceses of Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Two of the dioceses  Greensburg and Harrisburg  tried to quash the grand jury investigation last year, but later backed off that stance.

No other state has seen more grand jury investigations of abuses in the church than Pennsylvania, where about one of every four residents is Catholic and the local attorneys general have been particularly responsive to victims. Previous grand juries examined the dioceses of Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown; the new report covers the rest of the state.

Little if any of the evidence unearthed by the report is likely to lead to any criminal charges. The Pennsylvania State Legislature has so far resisted calls to lift the statute of limitation that has prevented childhood victims from filing civil lawsuits against the church after they turn 30. For many victims, it has taken decades to gain the courage to speak about the abuse, long past when the law would allow them to sue.

The church has lobbied against any change to the statute, with its effort led by Bishop Ronald W. Gainer of Harrisburg, president of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. But abuse survivors and advocates say that in September they plan to begin a fresh campaign to press lawmakers and e Bishop Gainer to drop their opposition.

If this doesnt start a serious debate on the elimination of the statute of limitation, theres something seriously wrong with my fellow Pennsylvanians, said Shaun Dougherty, now 48, who testified before the Altoona-Johnstown grand jury about being abused by a priest for three years starting at age 10.

About two dozen people named in the report petitioned the court to have their names redacted from it. One was the former bishop of the diocese of Erie, Donald W. Trautman, who later dropped his objections; he has issued a response to the grand jury report.

The dioceses of Allentown, Greensburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton have pledged that after the grand jury report is released, they will release the names of all priests in their dioceses who are accused of sexually abusing minors. The Erie and Harrisburg dioceses have already posted lists of accused priests on their websites.

Bishop Gainer in Harrisburg recently ordered that the names of accused priests and of bishops who mishandled abuse cases be taken down from all church buildings in the diocese.

The report says that one of the victims who had testified before the grand jury tried to commit suicide while they were deliberating.

From her hospital bed, she asked for one thing, the grand jury wrote in the report, that we finish our work and tell the world what really happened.
Officials have called off a five-day search and rescue operation for a Marine reported overboard while deployed on the amphibious assault ship Essex near the Philippines.

The unidentified Marine, deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Camp Pendleton, was reported missing at 9:40 a.m. Thursday.

Only after exhausting every possibility through persistent and thorough search efforts, we have concluded the at-sea search and rescue effort for our Marine, U.S. Navy Capt. Gerald Olin, the amphibious squadron commander in charge of the operation, said in a statement. We appreciate the continued support provided to us from the U.S. Embassy and Philippine Government.

The search and rescue operation involved the U.S. Navy, Philippine and U.S. Coast Guards. More than 110 aerial sorties covered about 13,000 square nautical miles in the Sulu Sea, Mindanao Sea and Surigao Straight.

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All of our Marines and sailors demonstrated a tremendous resilience and put forth an extraordinary effort over the past five days, said Marine Col. Chandler Nelms, the 13th MEU commanding officer. Our thoughts and prayers have been and will continue to be with our Marines family during this difficult time.

The Essex is home ported at Naval Base San Diego. It left San Diego with its complement of Marines July 10.

The circumstances of the incident are under investigation, the Marines said.

Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter.
A young boy sustained serious facial injuries after another child allegedly burned his face in a horrific incident.

Seven-year-old Julien was rushed to a Missouri hospital last Thursday after another boy, 8, covered his face in nail polish before setting him on fire, his mother Ashley Lyons told Kansas Citys WDAF-TV.

The burns were so bad that they had to go in immediately and do surgery that they had to scrape his face and all of his skin, Lyons said.

The other boy used a candle to start the fire during the incident, which occurred outside their apartment at the Hawthorne Place complex in Independence, Lyons told The Kansas City Star.

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This child basically dumped nail polish remover all over my son, she told the newspaper. My son kept saying Stop. What are you doing? Julien kept telling him to leave him alone and thats when he decided to burn him.

Officials arrived at the scene after a neighbor, using a wet towel, rolled Julien onto the ground. Police are investigating the incident, Lyons told the newspaper.

Lyons told WDAF that her son inhaled flames and had smoke deteriorate inside his nose.

It will take three to six months to find out if the lungs could still collapse, if we`re going to have to do skin grafts, she told the local Fox affiliate.

A GoFundMe page founded by Lyons has garnered over $45,000 in donations to help cover Juliens medical experiences.
TAOS, N.M.  Four people arrested on charges of abusing 11 children at a remote New Mexico compound could be freed as soon as Tuesday under bail terms set by a state judge.

Charges filed in another state are all that is keeping a fifth suspect from being freed under the order by Judge Sarah Backus.

Backus set $20,000 bond for each defendant and ordered that the two men and three women wear ankle monitors, have weekly contact with their attorneys, not consume alcohol and have no firearms.

Backus said prosecutors failed to articulate that the suspects issued any specific threats or had any plan against the community, despite providing concerning information that suggested the group plotted terror acts.

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More than a week ago police raided the five suspects property  a squalid makeshift living compound near the Colorado state line  in response a report of children living in filth, severe hunger, and amid such dangers as a leaky propane tank.

Five adults were arrested, and 11 children were placed in state custody.

Prosecutors presented evidence that the groups alleged leader, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj  the son of a controversial Brooklyn imam  provided some of the children with firearms training  including tactical skills such as speed loading guns and firing while in motion. Along with rifles, handguns and ammunition, authorities say they found books on being effective in combat and building untraceable assault-style rifles.

Various items litter makeshift living compound in Amalia, N.M. (Morgan Lee / AP)

Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors unfairly painted their clients as armed militants as the rifles and handguns found on the property are common guns that can be bought at retail stores.

The lawyers also contend that clients made no aggressive efforts to defend their compound as authorities closed in to serve search warrants earlier this month.

There was no gun battle, there was no resistance, said Tom Clark, the attorney representing Siraj Ibn Wahhaj.

Clark said his client had permits to carry his weapons and no criminal record  accusing prosecutors of holding adults at the compound to an unusual standard because of their race and Muslim faith.

They are black and they are Muslim, Clark said. If these were white people of Christian faith who owned guns, its not a big deal. ... But they look different and they worship different than the rest of us.

Prosecutors denied any discriminatory treatment based on religious background or race, and warned that the defendants came to New Mexico with their children on a violent and dangerous mission.

This was not a camping trip and this was not a simple homestead of the kind that many people do in New Mexico, said Deputy District Attorney Timothy Hasson.

Defendant Subbannah Wahhaj during court hearing, Monday in Taos, N.M. (Roberto E. Rosales / AP)

What Ive heard here today is troubling, definitely. Troubling facts about numerous children in far from ideal circumstances and individuals who are living in a very unconventional way, Backus said.

Four defendants  Jany Leveille, Lucas Morton, Subhannah Wahhaj and Hujrah Wahhaj  may be released on house arrest as soon as Tuesday.

Despite the release terms, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is likely to remain in jail pending a warrant for his arrest in Georgia on accusations that he abducted his own son, Abdul-ghani, from the boys mother in December and fled to New Mexico.

Family members say the remains of a boy found at the compound last week are those of Wahhajs disabled son, though state medical examiners have not yet identified the body conclusively. Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe testified Monday that the remains of a young boy were found inside tunnels that had been dug from inside the compound to an opening 100 feet (30 meters) away.

Testimony from an FBI agent shed some new light on the fate of the disabled child Abdul-ghani.

Agent Travis Taylor described interviews with two children from the compound, ages 13 and 15, after they were taken into protective custody by the state.

The 15-year-old described attempts to cast demonic spirits from Abdul-ghanis body through a ritual that involved reading passages from the Koran while Siraj Ibn Wahhaj held a hand on the boys forehead, and that Abdul-ghani apparently died after one of the sessions, Taylor said.

He said the children were told that Abdul-ghani would be resurrected as Jesus and would instruct others on the property about what corrupt institutions to get rid of, in reference to financial and government institutions that might include schools.
Embezzlement was on the menu in Connecticut as two lunch ladies stand accused of swiping nearly half a million dollars from two schools.

Joanne Pascarelli, 61, and sister Marie Wilson, 67, allegedly stole a whopping $478,588 between 2012 and 2017, said cops.

After bookkeeping discrepancies were spotted at Saxe Middle School and New Canaan High School, a forensic accountant was called in to investigate, according to authorities. The probe  which included about 20 interviews  pointed back to the sisters, who were charged with larceny.

The alleged thefts could run as far back as 2002, but the statute of limitations limits the charges to the past five years.

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Pascarelli and Wilson resigned in December 2017, when learning they were under investigation, noted police.

They turned themselves in last weekend and were released on bail after each ponied up $50,000.

There is much more to this story. Marie is innocent and did not personally divert a single nickel of town money for personal gain, said Wilsons attorney Mark Sherman, according to the New Haven Register. She is not going to be scapegoated for the missing money.
The Mooch moped after he got the boot.

One-time White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci retreated to a secluded office and broke into tears after President Trump fired him after just 10 days on the job, Omarosa Manigault Newman alleges in her new book.

Scaramucci was abruptly axed in the wake of giving a profanity-laced interview in which he derided several top administration officials.

Donald called him in and said, You have to go,  Manigault Newman writes in Unhinged: An Insiders Account of the Trump White House.

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After his termination, Scaramucci, 54, walked into a cubby-like office and started crying, according to Manigault Newman.

One of the assistants saw and heard the whole thing, Manigault Newman writes. She described it as a girly cry. 

Scaramucci did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily News.

Manigault Newmans explosive tell-all tome, which hit the shelves Tuesday, paints Trump as a belligerent narcissist who frequently spews racially charged and misogynistic language.

The White House has vehemently pushed back against the book, blasting it as riddled with lies and false accusations.

The Trump campaign took it one step further Tuesday, announcing its filing for arbitration against Manigault Newman over allegedly violating a 2016 nondisclosure agreement.

But legal experts have thrown cold water on the arbitration claim, noting that while nondisclosure agreements would be legal and binding for a political campaign, such agreements would be unenforceable to keep White House employees quiet.

Manigault Newman worked on Trumps campaign and later joined the White House as a senior communications official. She was fired in December 2017.
The founder of the Black Panthers San Diego chapter, Kenny Denmon saw a racist society dominated by whites.

But whites, he insisted, were not the enemy.

We will not stoop to the level of the Ku Klux Klan, he told a 1968 commission on race relations, to hate a person because of the color of his skin. What we do hate  and what I do resent and what I move on  is oppression, poor housing, an inadequate law system.

We hate that with a passion.

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Denmon, who died Aug. 7 at the age of 78, left behind a complicated legacy. A forceful advocate of San Diegos African-American community in the 1960s and 70s, by 1980 he was trying to settle gambling debts by committing robberies in the same community.

When that crime spree netted Denmon a 22-year prison term, a friend described him as a swashbuckler of 40 going on 18.

Kenneth Lee Denmon was born on Jan. 1, 1940, in San Diego. A member of the San Diego High School wrestling team, he served in the Marine Corps before entering San Diego State College in the 1960s. In 1968, Eldridge Cleaver, minister of information for the Oakland-based Black Panthers, asked Denmon to found the organizations San Diego chapter.

Denmon did, gathering a cadre of supporters drawn to his energetic leadership and forceful rhetoric.

I remember how fiery he was back in the day, said Henry Wallace, a local musician and bus driver who was an early Black Panther party recruit. He spoke at many of the rallies.

He had the gift of gab, Ibrahim Fardan, a classmate at San Diego State, told the Union-Tribune in 2016. He was focused on the Panthers, what we referred to at that time as the black movement. Like many students, he was trying to do something to deal with the injustices that had taken place.

Denmon was instrumental in starting the Panthers free breakfast program for children, initially at Christ the King Catholic Church. The Rev. James Gallas, then the pastor, soon received calls from the FBI, questioning the parishs involvement.

The FBIs secret COINTELPRO program tried to discredit what it called hate groups, including the Panthers. Congressional investigations later showed the FBI wrote and circulated fliers, purportedly from the Panthers, taunting a rival San Diego black power group, known as US.

Bloodshed soon followed. Between May and August 1969, two San Diego Panthers  John Savage and Sylvester Bell  were killed in separate shootings while one US member  Joseph Whaley  suffered serious gunshot wounds in a third incident. In another attack, the US offices were riddled with bullets.

Across the country, feuds between the Panthers and the police escalated into violence. Yet Denmon rejected calls for armed insurrections.

Kenny was too intelligent for that, Wallace said. He was trying to talk to people, open up a dialogue.

Denmon, who hosted Cleaver during the latters 1968 speaking engagements in San Diego, was a popular orator in his own right. In 1970, he was a guest speaker during the University of San Diegos Negro Culture event. He mentored African-American youth, encouraging them to pursue college educations.

He was responsible for getting a lot of minorities into the state college system, Wallace said. Hed show them how to apply for Pell Grants, get them to do their paperwork.

Even after internal disagreements sidelined the local Panthers, Denmon remained active in the African-American community.

He had the first black car lot, said his brother, Ronald Ron Dee Denmon. He opened up the first parolee program.

Privately, though, he was struggling to stay ahead of mounting gambling debts.

Hed gamble and he wasnt a good gambler, said Pete Savitch, a friend. Theyd say there would be a room with guys just watching the card games  and when theyd see Kenny come in, 10 guys would hurry to get a place at the table.

They all knew he could beat him.

To erase those debts, he pulled off a series of robberies  the police estimated he hit more than 40 stores in southeastern San Diego neighborhoods. While Denmon carried a gun, Savitch believes it was unloaded.

Nonetheless, he was convicted in July 1980 of 16 counts of armed robbery. Superior Court Judge David M. Gill chastised Denmon, noting that the local community had lost a leader.

You have kicked square in the face a lot of people who put their faith in you, Gill said. You certainly have let them down.

After his release from prison, Denmon moved to Georgia. About a dozen years ago, he returned to San Diego.

A convert to Christianity, he often joined Savitch for long conversations and sandwiches at a local Subway shop. He was fun to be with, had a great sense of humor, said Savitch, who is white. There was absolutely not an ounce of racism in him.

Alzheimers disease began to rob his memory, though, and Denmons conversations faded. He spent his final months in an El Cajon convalescent home, where he slipped into a vegetative state.

His funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Stephens Cathedral God in Christ Church, 5825 Imperial Ave. in San Diego. Survivors include his brother, Ronald, and sisters Elaine Elion, Judith Banks, Evelyn Denmon and Uzuri Shakoor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to help defray Denmons medical and burial expenses.
State leaders recent embrace of criminal justice reform is welcome and desperately needed. The anti-crime fervor that gripped the nation in the 1980s and early 1990s led to laws that were so harsh that they destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people who could otherwise have gone on to be productive members of society. Among those who have figured this out are conservative governors from across America.

Californias pursuit of such reform, alas, has not always produced flawless new laws. Propositions 47 and 57, adopted by state voters in 2014 and 2016, respectively, were both ham-handed. The first, without sweating details, reclassified several felonies as misdemeanors, leading to a system in which drug addicts who steal to support their habits face few consequences. The second, without sweating details, eased parole rules for those convicted of nonviolent felonies, meaning many violent crimes  including some types of sexual assault  get treated as misdemeanors in the parole process.

Now the Legislature appears ready to take up Senate Bill 10, which would force major changes in the states bail system. At first look, it appears free of the deep flaws of past reforms. Written by state Sen. Robert Hertzberg, D-Los Angeles, it would require that counties develop new standards that would set bail for defendants at the least restrictive level required to ensure they show up in court. It would also require prompt risk assessments after arrests to prevent the jailing of individuals unlikely to be threats to public safety.

The need for change is overwhelming. With median bail of $50,000, California has perhaps the harshest laws in the nation. Even those accused of nonviolent crimes have to come up with thousands of dollars to provide to bail bond companies to win their release. The many who cant afford it languish in jail at the expense of their families, jobs and education.

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Nationally, nearly two-thirds of those held in local jails havent been convicted of anything, and, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, many of them cant afford to pay bail. A staggering 2017 Human Rights Watch report found that in California, from 2011 to 2015, more than 250,000 people sat in jail for as long as five days, accused of felonies for which evidence was so lacking prosecutors could not bring a case. This group is disproportionately Latinos and African-American, making current state laws even more problematic.

This approach amounts to locking up people for being poor  and for no good reason. California does no better in getting defendants to show up for their trials than states with less severe laws. That means the approximately $1,000 a week it costs taxpayers to keep a person in jail is often wasted.

Personally destructive, pointlessly expensive and no more effective than many alternatives, state bail laws are ripe for reform. The day Senate Bill 10 becomes law will be a day to celebrate in California.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion
Re City victorious in suit over Balboa Park makeover (Aug. 13): What a glorious day in San Diego. Finally, the city can move forward with a visionary plan to transform Balboa Park, the jewel of San Diego, in its ability to accommodate the ever-increasing number of visitors.

Cory Briggs, San Diegans for Open Government and Save Our Heritage Organisation have delayed the implementation of the Jacobs-plan for years, costing us tens of millions of dollars in higher construction and legal fees. They should be forced to reimburse the city. When citizens donate to these groups they do tremendous damage to our city.

Thank you to Joan and Irwin Jacobs for hanging in there with this project. They are the other jewels in our city.

Paul Nestor

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Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

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Public open-air urinals?

Oh yes, theyre a real thing in Paris and theyre getting less than stellar reviews from some people who have seen them on public walkways throughout the city. The word in French is uritrottoir and theyre basically tanks filled with straw with a flower box on top where men can relieve themselves.

The city of Paris says theyre meant to cut down on public urination and unpleasant odors. Theyre also intended to be ecologically-friendly with the collection of the straw and urine for compost, allowing the recovery of naturally occurring nitrogen and phosphate in large amounts in the urine.

There are four in Paris right now and a fifth is expected to be installed soon. And theyre very obvious. Take a look.

A man uses a "uritrottoir" public urinal on August 13, 2018, near the Gare de Lyon in Paris. THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images

A picture shows a "uritrottoir" public urinal on August 13, 2018, on the banks of the river Seine in Paris. THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images

A bus rides past a "uritrottoir" public urinal on August 13, 2018, in Paris. Thomas SAMSON / AFP

Residents have written to the town hall in protest, according to CNN and other news outlets, and the response on social media hasnt been totally supportive either.

There is some prescedent for the public urinals, however, and also some support. Amsterdam has had them for years.

Ariel Weil, mayor of the fourth district of Paris, tweeted on Monday in defense of the urinals, calling them an invention of genius though hes told local news media hed be willing to move them to other locations.

And if you thought this is something youd only see in Europe, think again. Paris is not the only city trying out unconventional ways to deal with public urination or deification.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Tuesday that a team of five Public Works staffers are forming a so-called Poop Patrol to begin scanning alleys and hot spots in San Francisco known for soiled walkways  from humans and dogs alike  in a vehicle with a steam cleaner. It also reported new Mayor London Breed committed a portion of the citys new budget to constructing five new pit stop public toilets with expanded hours of operation.

San Diego added its own new slew of portable restrooms downtown in late 2017 in an effort to combat a hepatitis A outbreak that left 20 people dead and hundreds more in hospitals around the county. It also began power-washing sidewalks with a bleach and chlorine solution.

Would you support the use of these in your city?

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin
It was smokin in the offices of PACIFIC magazine when pitmaster Andy Harris stopped by to talk barbecue for the latest episode of Dish It Up.

A native of San Diego, Harris love of barbecue developed during summers spent as a youth in Texas. Now hes the owner of three-year-old Grand Ole BBQ y Asado in North Park and will soon be opening the doors to his next venture, Grand Ole BBQ in Flinn Springs.

His new project, which is in cahoots with hospitality group Social Syndicate, will bring Austin- and Central Texas-style barbecue to San Diegos East County with a complete menu that will include steaks, hamburgers and all the fix-ins.

Along with a space that checks all of Harris boxes, heres a look at what else he talked about with host Edwin Real of Facebook group Eating and Drinking in San Diego in episode 10 of Dish It Up.

New BBQ project in East Countys Flinn Springs

New location is unlike anything youve ever seen

Checking off all the boxes

You can drive 22 minutes from downtown and be in Texas

Addition of beer and wine to North Park location

Best beer to pair with BBQ

Sunday asados, the busiest 3 hours at Grand Ole BBQ y Asado

Partnering with Social Syndicate

East County mixing with North Park

Andys history with BBQ

Evolution of BBQ in San Diego

Great American Smokeout II + Oktoberfest (just announced for Oct. 1 at North Park location)

The beer culture at Grand Ole BBQ in North Park thanks to Nate Soroko

Local, national and international attention

Were not a mosey-on-in restaurant: SOLD OUT?! Cook more meat

Recommendations for what to order

The category of food Andy could eat solely for the rest of his life

North County vs. East County food scenes

Dish It Up is a collaboration between PACIFIC and Facebook group Eating and Drinking In San Diego.

Listen and subscribe to Dish It Up and sister podcast Kiss My Glass on Apple iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud.

Keep up

Grand Ole BBQ y Asado: 3302 32nd St., North Park, 619.213.3765; Grand Ole BBQ Flinn Springs: 15505 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon, grandolebbq.com

Facebook.com/grandolebbq

Facebook.com/grandolebbqflinnsprings

Instagram: @grandolebbqyasado and @grandolebbqflinnsprings

Twitter: @GrandOleBBQyA

More...

Cohn restaurants is building a restaurant and brewery in La Mesa

San Diegos best BBQ: Heres where to make a pit stop

Continue listening

Dish It Up: The only rule is to have fun

Dish It Up: You are what you eat

Dish It Up: Surround yourself with good people
Mason Thompson enjoyed an encouraging return from the disabled list.

The Padres 20-year-old pitching prospect allowed only one hit over four shutout innings in low Single-A Fort Waynes 3-2 win over visiting West Michigan, Thompsons first action since a right triceps strain landed him on the DL in mid-July.

Thompson struck out three and threw 30 of his 54 pitches for strikes, lowering his ERA to 4.71 through 80 1/3 innings in the Midwest League.

He has piled up 83 strikeouts against 33 walks and allowed a .240 batting average to opposing hitters.

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Right-hander Jose Quezada (1-, 3.86) allowed two runs  one earned  in three innings in the win and right-hander Evan Miller recorded the final two outs to save his fifth game.

Jack Suwinski (.226) drove in two runs on his eighth homer and Jeisson Rosario (.280) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

The TinCaps are 55-63 overall and 23-26 in the second half.

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (67-52)

Salt Lake 4, Chihuahuas 3: C Francisco Mejia (.298) went 2-for-4 and hit his second homer and 2B Luis Urias (.270) went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. LHP Jerry Keel (3.42) allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings before RHP T.J. Weir (2-1, 4.63) allowed two runs over his final three outs to suffer the blown save and loss.

SHORT-SEASON TRI-CITY (6-12, 24-32)

Hillsboro 3, Dust Devils 2 (10): SS Tucupita Marcano (.381) went 3-for-5 with an RBI, SS Grant Little (.256) went 2-for-4 with a double and his eighth steal and 2B Xavier Edwards (.133) went walked twice, scored twice and stole his second base. RHP Cole Bellinger (6.12) struck out five and allowed a run on three hits and a walk in six innings in the start.

ROOKIE DSL PADRES (30-31)

White Sox 6, Padres 2: RHP Eudi Asencio (4-2, 4.50) allowed five runs  four earned  on five hits and three walks in four innings in the loss. 3B Vladimir Echavarria (.205) went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk and C Brandon Valenzuela (.262) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Transactions

INF Carlos Asuaje was optioned to El Paso to make room for INF/OF Wil Myers activation from the disabled list.

was optioned to El Paso to make room for INF/OF activation from the disabled list. RHP Mason Thompson was activated from Fort Waynes disabled list.

Padres Videos  On Now Padres pitcher Chris Paddack on start vs. Mariners and possibility of making rotation On Now Meet the Padres: Ian Kinsler 5:18 On Now Catching up with Padres OF Franmil Reyes 5:18 On Now Meet The Padres: Greg Garcia 5:11 On Now Catching up with Padres reliever Craig Stammen 5:33 On Now Meet the Padres: Logan Allen 6:23 On Now Meet The Padres: Manny Machado 9:08 On Now Meet The Padres: Chris Paddack 5:08 On Now Three things that stood out from Machado's first day with the Padres 1:53 On Now Padres manager Andy Green on Machado joining his roster

jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders
The 49ers are down two running backs and have signed Alfred Morris.

It this is a sign of trouble or  with projected breakout fantasy star Jerrick McKinnon and his top backup, Matt Breida, out  just filling the need for a temporary body to take practice and preseason snaps?

The Breida situation is more clear.

He is reported to have a shoulder separation (AC joint sprain). Even if severe, he should be available for Week 1, though he could miss significant practice time.

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McKinnons status is more uncertain.

There was initial worry for a serious knee injury, but the news after an MRI was he has a calf strain and will be re-evaluated after one week of rest.

This does not mean McKinnon will play or practice after one week. It is more like a delayed flight where the airline says check back at the gate in an hour.

The hope is he wont be out much more than a week, but there is potential cause for concern.

The 49ers have a good medical staff, and often messages to media are not always precise, but I find it somewhat unusual that a knee MRI ends up showing a calf strain.

Either the information was not clear or the calf strain is very high up near the knee  higher than normal.

Assuming it is a calf strain, The potential good news is calf strains heal without surgery. There may be the use of injections like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or other agents, as well as therapy and immobilization.

However, the worry is often calf strains linger and re-aggravate easily. In my experience, mild strains can linger six weeks with issues continuing to flare up/be aggravated even when thought to be healthy.

The 49ers medical staff knows this and they will do the right thing.

Again, there is hope McKinnon is back in short order. But there shouldnt be surprise if the team is extremely cautious.


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Getting your birth certificate, deed, or unclaimed property is pretty straightforward  as long as you take a few precautions to avoid ripoffs and scams.

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Steve Weisman is a lawyer, college professor, author, and one of the countrys leading experts in cybersecurity, identity theft, and scams. See Steves other Con Watch articles.

Having a certified copy of your birth certificate is important if you are applying for a passport, applying for public benefits, enrolling in a school, enlisting in the military service, claiming a pension or insurance benefit, or getting a drivers license. Often people have misplaced or lost the original certified copies of their birth certificates and need a new certified copy. As with most tasks today, the first place many people turn to is Google or another search engine. This will bring up a long list of companies offering to get your birth certificate on your behalf from your birth states Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Simple and easy as can be, and what possibly could go wrong?

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For starters, not all companies that offer this service are legitimate. You might complete their online form and provide your credit card information for payment only to have that information turned over to an identity thief who runs up charges on your credit card. And, of course, you never get your birth certificate. While it is a simple matter to have the fraudulent charges removed, it will be necessary for you to obtain a new credit card number, which can be an inconvenience, particularly if you have regular charges made to your credit card. If you used a debit card, you even run the risk of having the bank account your debit card is tied to emptied if you do not report the fraud immediately. The laws that protect you from fraudulent debit card use are not as strong as those that protect you from misuse of your credit card. Never use your debit card for anything other than an ATM card.

You may wonder how scammers are able to get their websites listed high in internet search results. When ranking websites for listing in a search engine search, neither Google, Bing, nor any of the other search engines inquire as to whether or not the particular website is legitimate or a scam. Instead, the ranking is done by algorithms that analyze many factors. Anyone who is adept at manipulating the algorithms can improve their ranking. Scammers will also pay the search engines for an ad that will appear at the top of the page.

But it gets worse.

Even if you manage to find a service that will actually order your birth certificate for you, they might charge you five times the amount you would pay on your own. This is particularly outrageous when you consider how easy and cheap it is to order a copy of your birth certificate on your own directly from your birth states Bureau of Vital Records.

The National Center for Health Statistics provides links to the Bureau of Vital Statistics for all the states and U.S. territories, along with instructions for ordering your birth certificate on your own.

There is a similar scam related to obtaining copies of the deed to your home or information about abandoned property. The scam usually begins with a call, email, or letter informing you of the importance of having a copy of the deed, and that the company contacting you can obtain a certified copy of your deed for as little as $90.

Having your original deed or a certified copy of it is not very important once your deed has been recorded in your local Registry of Deeds (although it is a good document to have with your personal records). Obtaining a copy of your deed on your own from your local Registry of Deeds is simple and rarely costs more than a few dollars. In May 2018, Ohio passed a law requiring specific disclosures to consumers be made when a fee is requested to obtain a copy of a deed on your behalf. The disclosure must include the actual cost charged by the Registry of Deeds and also prohibits charging a fee of more than four times that cost. However, other states have not yet passed similar laws so you must be alert to this legal scam of overcharging you for a copy of your deed.

Finally, you might receive emails or letters informing you that billions of dollars of unclaimed or abandoned money is being held by various states, and some of that bounty has your name on it. For a fee, the person or company contacting you will help you find that property and claim it for you.

Its true that various state agencies are holding more than $24 billion of unclaimed money: State laws require financial institutions, such as banks, to turn over money from inactive accounts to the state. Among the assets held by these state agencies are savings and checking accounts, stocks, uncashed dividend checks, certificates of deposit, and utility security deposits. However, you dont need the help of these companies to retrieve your unclaimed assets. You can easily find out if money or other assets of yours are being held and then claim those assets on your own. The best place to start is at the website of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Here you will find links to the abandoned property agencies in your state, where you can determine if you are owed anything and, if so, start the simple claim process.

As with so many things, often the best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
Saskatoon, SK -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/14/2018 -- Dedicated web hosting services are hard to come by. Nowadays, most services are simply too unreliable and are unable to meet the requirements set by their customers. As a result, one not only has to deal with a lot of downtime and a multitude of stability issues, but they often are forced to pay inflexible costs and additional fees to keep their website up and running.



This is something that OffshoreDedi hopes to eliminate, providing premium quality web hosting services to their customers without any of the unnecessary costs. They wish to uphold values like guaranteed uptime, privacy protection through proper use of DMCA, affordable pricing, and high quality through their new offshore hosting services. All of this is coupled with customer support that many customers have praised in the past.



As a result of these features, and their impeccable streaming servers, OffshoreDedi has earned the title of being one of the premier online offshore web hosting services based in Belize. They promise unparalleled customer support to their many users, and promise to resolve any and all issues that might occur such as the ignore server certificate error that many users have to deal with in other web hosting services. They are also known for providing free migrations.



They've stated that they quite deeply understand how difficult and stressful it can be to deal with a bad hosting company, and this is why they make it their duty to provide an option to migration freely, and without any charges. Their professional and dedicated team ensures that the entire process goes smoothly and that one doesn't run into any major issues and that any smaller problems are dealt with quickly and effectively.



Over the course of their lifetime, they have been able to serve a number of different websites and strive to not only continue providing existing customers with great services and offers, but also making new links and connections with new users. Their competitive price is often the biggest attraction to their services, and is the reason why they are considered to be one of the premier options available for web hosting. These include the Shared plan, VPS hosting, and the Dedicated Plan for 19.99 annually, 6.99 per month, and 89 in a month respectively. Their Offshore Dedicated Server is one that is definitely worth a look.



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OffshoreDedi is web hosting provider based in Belize. The offshore host aims to provide everyone around the globe with hosting services so that they can publish without any privacy glitches and with maximum freedom. Harassment or censorship are antonyms for the offshore VPS Host. Shoot an email to make contact with OffshoreDedi at info@offshorededi.com.
Hyderabad, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/14/2018 -- In the Report "Chile Professional Hair Care Market: By Product (coloring, perming & straightening, styling gel, serum, shampoo & conditioning, hair spray)); By Gender (male) ;By End use (bridal, salons) By Geography - (2018-2023)" published by IndustryARC, the market is driven by hair conscious men that have propelled them to visit salons more frequently.



South American leading with major share in the Chile Professional Hair Care Market



The population of Chile in 2017 was 18.11 million, and it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 0.78% through 2023 and reach 19 million, which leads to a higher rate of adoption in the sub-regions of Chile. Chilean men spend $21 per capita on hair products, which is the highest in the South American region. Take home sales of styling and hair care categories from male customers is set to be robust in the market.



Selected Product Category Analysis done in the full Report:



The findings say prices of perming and straightening services are estimated to be higher. Whereas, being cheaper in price, hair color service is estimated to witness tremendous growth by 2023. Professional hair color products have the largest share of 50.9% in Chile professional hair products market. The market generated a revenue of CLP 11342.12 million ($19.07 million) in 2017 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% to reach a revenue of CLP 14685.78 million ($24.69 million) by 2023. Professional shampoo and conditioner holds 51.8% share of the overall market, where38.7% is for shampoo and 9.5% is constituted by treatment products. Professional shampoo and conditioner market of Chile were approximately CLP 9.53 billion ($0.016 million) in 2017, it is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 5.4% to reach CLP 13.06 billion ($0.022 million) by 2023. Professional hair perming & straightening product market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% to reach CLP 1.76 billion ($0.0025 million) in 2023. Compared with other products in the category, professional hair styling market is expected to witness the lowest revenue by the end of 2023. The above mentioned types are influenced by increasing fashion awareness is the demand for styling services market.



To access / purchase the full report browse the link below:

https://industryarc.com/Report/7398/chile-professional-hair-care-market-report.html



Excerpts on Market Growth Factors



Excess levels of fluorides and chlorine in the water of Chile coupled with elevated pollution levels are resulting in hair damage. Such reason is resulting in the increased adoption of frequent product launches of hair colors. Thus, hair treatment will drive the sales of high quality products.

Aging population in Chile is set to attract more customers to Hair salons as there will be an increase in demand for services such as hair care treatment.

Ammonia free and organic hair color products by Elgon, L'Oreal Professional and Wella have established a good distribution network in the country together, accounting for 77% of total professional hair color market.

Salon keratin hair straightening products include Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by Coppola, and Global Keratin Complex has been witnessing high demand for its various benefits. The higher rate of adoption itself shows that the hair care market is a growing trend in Chile.



Talk to one of our sales representative about the full report by providing your details in the link below:

https://industryarc.com/support.php?id=7398



Key players of the Chile Professional Hair Care Market



Cadiveu tops the list, with around 28% of total perming and straightening products market in Chile. The L'Oreal Group accounted for a share of 64.4% in the overall professional shampoo and conditioner product market. Revlon and Davines together contribute 10.4% to Professional hair styling product market. Distribution channel has a major hand behind the increased demand of hair care products in Chile. Retail chains such as Intersalon, Falabella, Walmart and others are used by manufacturing companies to widen their respective product reach. CASA Picharais, one of the major distributors in Chile, distributes Elgon and Davines brands' highly utilized products. Wholesalers and distributors held 59% of share in the overall supply chain market. Looking into the overall growth with respect to constant adoption, the market will create opportunities for companies to developed more products.



Chile Professional Hair Care Market report is segmented as below



The Global Chile Professional Hair Care Market study across various end user industries is incorporated in the report.



A. Chile Professional Hair Care Market By Category



1. Organized

2. Unorganized



B. Chile Professional Hair Care Market By Product Category



1. Coloring

2. Perming & Straightening

3. Shampoo & Conditioning

4. Styling



C. Chile Professional Hair Care Market by Distribution Channel



1. Direct

2. Distributor / Wholesalers

3. Others



D. Chile Professional Hair Care Market by Geography (covers 10+ countries)

E. Chile Professional Hair Care Market Entropy

F. Manufacturer Citied / Interviewed



1. Procter & Gamble Co.

2. Pidielle Srl

3. Silkey Mundial

4. Palumbo

5. Company 5

6. Company 6

7. Company 7

8. Company 8

9. Company 9

10. Company 10+



Related Report:



A. China Professional Haircare Market

https://industryarc.com/Report/7400/china-professional-hair-care-market-report.html



B. Vietnam Professional Haircare Market

https://industryarc.com/Report/3333/Vietnam-Hair-Care-Market-Analysis-Report.html



What can you expect from the report?



The Chile Professional Hair Care Market Report is Prepared with the Main Agenda to Cover the following 20 points:



1. Market Size by Product Categories & Application 11. Demand Analysis (Revenue & Volume)

2. Market trends & Relevant Market Data 12. Country level Analysis

3. Manufacturer Landscape 13. Competitor Analysis

4. Distributor Landscape 14. Market Shares Analysis

5. Pricing Analysis 15. Value Chain Analysis

6. Top 10 End user Analysis 16. Supply Chain Analysis

7. Product Benchmarking 17. Strategic Analysis

8. Product Developments 18. Current & Future Market Landscape Analysis

9. Mergers & Acquisition Analysis 19. Opportunity Analysis

10. Patent Analysis 20. Revenue and Volume Analysis



Frequently Asked Questions:



Q. Does IndustryARC publish country or application based reports in Brazil Professional Hair Care Market segment?

Response: Yes, we do have separate reports as mentioned below:



1. Americas Chile Professional Hair Care Market (2018-2023)

2. Asia Pacific Chile Professional Hair Care Market (2018-2023)

3. Europe Chile Professional Hair Care Market (2018-2023)

4. Category Chile Professional Hair Care Market (2018-2023)

5. Product Category Chile Professional Hair Care Market (2018-2023)

6. Distribution Channel Chile Professional Hair Care Market (2018-2023)



Q. Does IndustryARC provide customized reports and charge additionally for limited customization?

Response: Yes, we can customize the report by extracting data from our database of reports and annual subscription databases. We can provide the following free customization:



1. Increase the level of data in application or end user industry.

2. Increase the number of countries in geography chapter.

3. Find out market shares for other smaller companies or companies which are of interest to you.

4. Company profiles can be requested based on your interests.

5. Patent analysis, pricing, product analysis, product benchmarking, value and supply chain analysis can be requested for a country or end use segment.



Any other custom requirements can be discussed with our team, drop an e-mail to sales@industryarc.com to discuss more about our consulting services.



To request for a proposal, provide your details in the below link:

https://industryarc.com/subscription.php



Media Contact:



Mr. Venkat Reddy

Sales Manager

Email: venkat@industryarc.com

Contact Sales: +1-614-588-8538 (Ext-101)



About IndustryARC

IndustryARC is a Research and Consulting Firm that publishes more than 500 reports annually, in various industries such as Agriculture, Automotive, Automation & Instrumentation, Chemicals and Materials, Energy and Power, Electronics, Food & Beverages, Information Technology, Life sciences &Healthcare.



IndustryARC primarily focuses on Cutting Edge Technologies and Newer Applications in a Market. Our Custom Research Services are designed to provide insights on the constant flux in the global supply-demand gap of markets. Our strong team of analysts enables us to meet the client research needs at a rapid speed, with a variety of options for your business.



We look forward to support the client to be able to better address their customer needs, stay ahead in the market, become the top competitor and get real-time recommendations on business strategies and deals. Contact us to find out how we can help you today.
Hyderabad, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/14/2018 -- According to the new market research report by IndustryARC titled "Canada Professional Hair Care Market: By Product (coloring, perming & straightening, styling gel, serum, shampoo & conditioning, hair spray); By End use (bridal, salons) By Geography - (2018-2023)" the market is driven by the increased need for safer, bio compatible and flexible products.



The Canadian professional hair care market registered $352.8 million revenue in 2017, and is estimated to reach $388.58 million by 2023 at 1.37% CAGR. Among all the segments, hair coloring is dominating the market, registering $131.37 million in 2017, and is projected to reach $146.395 million by 2023. Followed by this, shampoo and conditioning segment is registering significant growth due to rising demand from end-users, and is projected to continue this growth at a CAGR of 1.7% during the forecast period.



Selected / Sample Analysis done in the full Report:



Cosmetic industry in Canada is highly competitive, with around 3,800 cosmetics companies, most of which are small and medium-sized players.

In recent years, the beauty market has witnessed about 7,000 new product launches, especially in terms of anti-aging products and denture care, in view of the aging population.

Health Canada, FDA and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) are the regulatory bodies in Canada that lay down acts, regulations and guidelines for the ingredients and chemical compositions of various cosmetics to ensure their safety.



To access / purchase the full report browse the link below

https://industryarc.com/Report/7396/canada-professional-hair-care-market-report.html



Excerpts on Market Growth Factors Mentioned in the Full Report:



The growing expenditure on personal care is expected to increase further in the years to come, propelling the market for various hair, beauty and personal care products.

Blogging and high social media activity by celebrities and style icons on websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, greatly influence people to follow their styles, which will contribute to the market growth.

The increased promotional activities and endorsements by celebrities to advertise the professional hair care products is another key market driving factor.



Talk to one of our sales representative about the full report by providing your details in the below link:

https://industryarc.com/support.php?id=7396



Key Players of the Canada Professional Hair Care Market:



L'Oreal Group, featuring the top professional hair care brands in Canada such as L'Oreal Professionnel, Redken, Pureology, Matrix, Kerastase and Shu Uemura, is the key player accounting for 29.5% of the total professional hair care market in Canada. L'Oreal Professionnel has added "Wet Domination" product line to the styling Series Tecni.ART for wet-styled looks.



Canada Professional Hair Care Market Report is Segmented as below.

Canada Professional Hair Care Market By Product Category:

Coloring

Perming & Straightening

Shampoo & Conditioning

Styling



Canada Professional Hair Care Market By Distribution Channel:

Direct

Distributor / Wholesalers

Others



Canada Professional Hair Care Market By Geography ( Covers 16+ Countries )

Canada Professional Hair Care Market Entropy

Companies Citied / Interviewed



PROCTER & GAMBLE CO.

KAO CORPORATION

SHISEIDO COMPANY, LIMITED

HENKEL AG & CO. KgaA

Company 5

Company 6

Company 7

Company 8

Company 9

Company 10+



Related Report:



A. United Kingdom Professional Hair Care Market

https://industryarc.com/Report/7419/united-kingdom-professional-hair-care-market-report.html



B. Chile Professional Hair care Market

https://industryarc.com/Report/7398/chile-professional-hair-care-market-report.html



What can you expect from the report?

The Canada Professional Hair Care Market Report is Prepared with the Main Agenda to Cover the following 20 points:

1. Market Size by Product Categories

2. Market trends

3. Manufacturer Landscape

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Close encounters between stars in Omega Centauri, the only star cluster visible to the naked eye, leave little room for habitable planets, according to new research.

Omega Centauri, also known as NGC 5139, is about 18,000 light-years away, 150 light-years in diameter and 12 billion years old.

Of the 200 or so globular clusters that orbit the Milky Way, this cluster is the largest, containing over 10 million stars.

It is also the brightest globular cluster in our Galaxy, at apparent visual magnitude 3.9 it is visible to southern observers with the unaided eye.

In the hunt for habitable exoplanets, Omega Centauri seemed like a good place to look.

Despite the large number of stars concentrated in Omega Centauris core, the prevalence of exoplanets remains somewhat unknown, said Dr. Stephen Kane, an astrophysicist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of California, Riverside.

However, since this type of compact star cluster exists across the Universe, it is an intriguing place to look for habitability.

Starting with a rainbow-colored assortment of 470,000 stars in Omega Centauris core, Dr. Kane and colleagues homed in on 350,000 stars whose color means they could potentially harbor life-hosting planets.

For each star, they then calculated the habitable zone, the orbital region around each star in which a rocky planet could have liquid water.

Since most of the stars in Omega Centauris core are red dwarfs, their habitable zones are much closer than the one surrounding our own larger Sun.

The core of Omega Centauri could potentially be populated with a plethora of compact planetary systems that harbor habitable-zone planets close to a host star. An example of such a system is TRAPPIST-1, Dr. Kane said.

Ultimately, though, the cozy nature of stars in Omega Centauri forced the team to conclude that such planetary systems, however compact, cannot exist in the clusters core.

While our own Sun is a comfortable 4.22 light years from its nearest neighbor, the average distance between stars in Omega Centauris core is 0.16 light years, meaning they would encounter neighboring stars about once every 1 million years.

The rate at which stars gravitationally interact with each other would be too high to harbor stable habitable planets, said Sarah Deveny, a graduate student at San Francisco State University.

Looking at clusters with similar or higher encounter rates to Omega Centauris could lead to the same conclusion. So, studying globular clusters with lower encounter rates might lead to a higher probability of finding stable habitable planets.

The findings will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

_____

Stephen R. Kane & Sarah J. Deveny. 2018. Habitability in the Omega Centauri Cluster. ApJ, in press; arXiv: 1808.00053
Based on its members reports, Intertanko noted that since the issue first emerged at Houston area ports in January, further deliveries of such contaminated fuel have spread to some Caribbean ports in April, followed by the first deliveries in Malaysia and Singapore later the same month.

We fear that this will become a global epidemic with the possibility of disastrous events, the global association of independent tanker owners warned. It is not acceptable that months after initial deliveries and months after problems were reported, there has been no action that we are aware of to initiate an investigation, Intertanko said.

It further noted that other than advisories from fuel testing laboratories, the only official information from an authority has been the Marine Safety Alert issued by the US Coast Guard, There has been no public sign of action by any authority as a matter of urgency to a) stop the continuing supply of contaminated fuels, b) investigate its origins and c) initiate corrective actions so that it does not re-occur, Intertanko added.

Read More: USCG warns on fuel contamination in US Gulf

Lamenting the complete lack of interest by official/governmental/authority to address these serious safety problems, INTERTANKO said it felt impelled to at least initiate a public debate, adding that the lack of action after so many months following such huge safety risk has left it with no other option.

Quoting one of its members who said: The industry has to voice its deep concerns on this most likely criminal act, beat the media drums and start to provoke a mindset change on the side of the bunker industry people, the association added there was also a need to provoke a mindset change on governments and authorities.

It reiterated: We are of the view that governments and authorities should investigate these fuel contamination cases and take appropriate actions, including giving serious fines together with restitution for the ships impacted.

Noting that similar incidents of contaminated fuels being supplied to ships from the same ports in the Houston area had occurred in 2007 and 2013, Intertanko said authorities should not have been surprised and believes that authorities and governments must take action and assume their responsibilities, at least to set up and oversee investigation mechanisms in case fuels delivered in their ports expose ships, their crews and the environment to serious risks.

Until the fuel supply industry and the authorities accept their share of responsibility, there is an obvious need for more public awareness in the media. A purely legal approach will not change the mindset of those who might deliberately put our crews, the environment, the ships and their cargoes in serious danger, Intertanko concluded.
Both ministers expressed their interest in reaching a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on maritime matters for which they started negotiations immediately. The MoU will implement projects and activities that contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.

The mutual contribution in areas such as maritime environmental protection, certification and training of seafarers, recognition of documentation of the ships, the port state, among others, has grown with the signature of the treaty signed by Panama and China in November 2017 on maritime transport that entered into force May 17, as the agreement promotes maritime and port development of Panama and China, strengthens the Ship Registry and supports the Chinese Maritime Authority in the maritime safety issues of Panama-flagged vessels sailing in its waters, said Barakat.

Since July 1, Panama Ship Registry receives the Most Favoured Nation treatment and the Panama-flagged vessels will enjoy the advantages and lower port costs applicable to other states which have similar agreements with China. The agreement includes transfer of knowledge and technical control of ships documentation and crews on board Panamanian vessels.

Read More: Panama and China sign accord on maritime transport

Likewise, we see cooperation between both administrations not only in maritime matters, but also in human resources and education, said Li who expressed the intention of his government to grant scholarships to Panamanian students to study at the Maritime University of Dalian.

Chinese investments are present in the maritime sector with the construction of the container terminal Panama Colon Container Port (PCCP), on the Atlantic side, on Isla Margarita, Colon, which is 30% complete, and when the project concludes, it will increase Panamanian ports capacity by 2.5m teu said Barakat.

Barakat encouraged the Chinese minister to continue promoting Panama so that Chinese companies can bet on this country for the development of port projects that will not only benefit Panama but also China to market their exports.
Press Release

August 14, 2018 Sponsorship Speech for Senate Bill 1898

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson

August 14, 2018 More at: https://pinglacson.net/2018/08/14/sponsorship-speech-committee-report-on-senate-bill-1898-transferring-police-recruits-training-to-pnp/ Mr. President, at the outset, let me state here and now: there is something unique in this piece of legislation. There are two most unlikely people in the world to become one and united in pushing for its immediate passage: Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, the principal author; and President Rodrigo Duterte, who personally conveyed through the Senate President, Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, and the chairman of the House Committee on Public Order, Rep. Romeo Acop, that I give priority in sponsoring this measure. For a moment Mr. President, I toyed with the idea to have this picture PhotoShopped parang magka-holding hands sila, pero baka pareho sila magalit at mademanda pa ako. For these reasons and more, it may be enough to just go through the motion of having this bill approved on second reading the soonest possible time. Distinguished colleagues, I have the honor to report on the floor Senate Bill No. 1898, entitled "An Act Amending Sections 66 and 67 of the Republic Act No. 6975, Otherwise Known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes," as embodied in Committee Report No. 413. Senate Bill No. 1898 is the consolidation of Senate Bill No. 574 authored by Senator Trillanes and Senator Villanueva, and Senate Bill No. 1834 by Senator Escudero. In the words of Aristotle, "The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living differ from the dead." Mr. President, in law enforcement, the training of a police officer spells the difference between life and death. Our police force is given extraordinary responsibilities and accordingly, extraordinary powers. In fact, they are among the few public officials authorized by law to use force in the conduct of their duty "to serve and protect." By delegating such power to individuals who are bereft of intellectual, physical and most importantly, moral competence, we do not only weaken the enforcement of the law; we also invite scorn and contempt for our national police force. It follows that for the State to preserve the integrity of its police force, there should be a high standard of education and discipline among our police recruits. As a former law enforcer myself, and the eighth Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), I know from experience that at the minimum, a police officer should have a deep understanding of the law, physical strength and fitness, knowledge of and facility with firearms, and the justified use of force -- be it lethal or non-lethal. More importantly, this representation believes that a police officer should stand firm against various tests of endurance; not just of physical, but oftentimes, of moral strength. Mr. President, thousands of non-commissioned officers and hundreds of commissioned officers are recruited into the ranks of the PNP every year. Despite this, the education and training of these uniformed men at present are not provided by the PNP but rather, by the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC). As an overview, the PPSC is the premier educational institution for the training, human resource development, and continuing education of all personnel of the PNP, Bureau of Fire and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as stipulated under Republic Act No. 6975, as amended by RA 8551. The Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and the National Police Training Institute (NPTI) are constitutive units of the PPSC with the mandates of training commissioned and non-commissioned officers, respectively. However, as far back as 2004, in the PNP Reform Commission Report, the PNP already viewed the setup as disadvantageous to the institution. Said report asserted that the quality of training conducted by the NPTI has deteriorated over the years. Further, the joint study conducted by the Government of the Philippines and United Nations Development Program (GOP-UNDP) in 2005 attributed the problem in police training to the PPSC's lack of accountability on its graduates' quality of performance, among others. Mr. President, the simple truth is that there is an evident mismatch between the PNP's training expectations and requirements to the actual services provided by the PPSC. Much to our dismay, public hearings held by the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs over the last couple of months bore a striking and appalling consistency: police officers involved in crimes and other shenanigans, such as bribery, kidnapping, drug use and planting of evidence, are the new members of the PNP. Kung sino pa ang kakalabas lang sa iskwelahan at bubot sa karanasan, sila pa ang pasimuno ng kalokohan at katiwalian. Mr. President, allow me to recount some of these police stories in a tale dark and grim. In August 2017, rookie cops - or those with ranks ranging from Police Officer 1 to Police Officer 3 - allegedly perpetrated the consequent murder of 17-year-old Kian Loyd De Los Santos and the alleged related killings of Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19 years old, and Reynaldo "Kulot" De Guzman, 14 years old. More recently, policemen of Muntinlupa City, among whom are five police newbies were busted in a case of kidnapping and hulidap or illegal arrest with robbery extortion. The victim of such crime: a 33-year-old woman and her seven-year-old child. Bukod pa rito, tatlong linggo pa lamang ang nakakaraan nang kumalat ang video ng isang bagitong pulis na nakuhanan ng cell phone camera na walang habas na nanampal ng isang bus driver sa Baclaran. Noong Hulyo 31, dalawang PO1 at isang PO2 naman ang nasakote sa Taguig sa kasong kidnap-for-ransom, samantalang patay ang isa nilang kasama na isa ring PO1 sa engkwentro sa mga pulis. Dahil sa nasabing malawakang krimen, sinibak ni NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar ang lahat ng 39 na pulis ng Presinto Uno ng Western Bicutan. On a positive note, let me take this occasion to cite and commend the renewed efforts of the PNP leadership under Chief PNP Oscar Albayalde to go hammer and tongs against what I referred to during my watch as the ICUs of the police force - the Inept, Corrupt and Undisciplined policemen. I urge them to continue scorching the earth and eviscerate the police ranks until not a single misfit is left in the PNP. The public deserves no less. Even the Philippine National Police Academy, the premier educational institution for police officers, is not immune from training unfit and erring police officers. In September 2014, the infamous P2-million robbery-extortion case tagged as the "EDSA hulidap" was later discovered to be masterminded and carried out by some members of PNPA Class of 2001. Meanwhile, just four months ago, six cadets who just graduated from PNPA were severely injured after being mauled by their underclassmen during an unsanctioned tradition called bawian or payback time. Consider this: Relative to the PNP's internal cleansing program from January 2016 to June of 2018, 1,787 uniformed PNP personnel were already dismissed from the service, of which an overwhelming proportion of 85% was holding the ranks PO1, PO2, and PO3. To stress, those who held the rank of PO1 comprised 45% or the largest fraction of dismissed personnel, while the other 40% held the ranks of PO2 and PO3. One question cries for an answer -- on whose heads shall we drop the ax? Mr. President, I feel the pain of having the name of the institution I once served with pride, dignity, and honor being dragged through the mire by police scalawags. Amid these anomalies that spark public outrage, we see clearly the lapses in the recruitment and education of our police officers - phases that make up the formative stage of becoming a law enforcer. You and I will agree that the formative stage is foundational in building the character and instilling the values of discipline and public service among recruits. At this point, standards should be high and uncompromising to weed out the would-be scalawags and deny them the opportunity to wear the PNP badge and uniform. Mr. President, I once chanced (upon) this passage in a book which reads: "Doctors bury their mistakes, while lawyers send theirs to jail. Unfortunately, untrained police officers do both." Ang sabi nga nila, ang mga doktor, hindi naman namamatay kasabay ng kanilang pasyente; kayong mga abogado na naririto, hindi naman kayo nakukulong kasama ng inyong kliyente. Pero kaming mga pulis, maaring mapatay o makulong sa pagtugon sa aming tungkulin dahil sa pagtatanggol sa mga taong hindi rin naman namin kaanu-ano o kakilala. Ako nga mismo, noong nasa serbisyo pa, hindi iilang ulit na ring muntik mapatay - sa ambush ng NPA sa Jones, Isabela; sa pakikipagbarilan sa mga pusakal na kriminal sa Tondo, Manila; sa di ko mabilang na pagliligtas ng mga biktima ng kidnapping; at marami pang beses sa iba't-ibang pagkakataon. Ilang beses na rin akong muntik makulong, kung hindi lamang ako magaling magtago. I am sure most of the police officers present here this afternoon have their own similar experiences to share. Time and again, we have heard of bitter exchange of words among previous and even the new leaderships of the PPSC and the PNP relating to human resource issues. We have proven over the years that this "blame game" resolves nothing. Even worse, this aggravates the looming problems in our police service. Rightly or wrongly, the common tao are not splitting hairs on who is at fault; what they demand is the assurance of security and safety our police force has sworn to provide us, the citizenry of this Republic. Perspective-wise, however, the PNP is at the receiving end of criticisms as it stands at the frontline of law enforcement. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, it is high time that we stop throwing blame and start pinpointing full responsibility. In fact, we should take note that agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have their respective training academies, while the PNP -- our very own national police force -- still outsources police education to the PNPA and NPTI, both academic institutions under the PPSC and are separate and independent from the PNP. It runs contrary to the argument that "a commander shall be responsible for the training of its personnel." This argument is best exemplified in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) which is under the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As the PNP is the civilian equivalent of the AFP, it stands to reason that the PNPA and the NPTI should also be placed under the control and supervision of the PNP. Our proposed bill sought it best to institute amendments to the current system of education and training of our PNP personnel by placing under the PNP the two constitutive units of PPSC -- the PNPA and the NPTI. In our proposal, the PNP Academy will be under the direct administrative and operational supervision and control of the Chief, PNP while the supervision and control of the NPTI will be determined in the Revised Organizational Structure of the said Unit. The transfer is also hinged on the fact that over the years, only a small percentage of PNPA graduates have opted to be assigned with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the largest portion of students choose to join the police force. From 1993 to 2018, PNPA already had 5,215 graduates, of which 4,447 joined the PNP, while only 443 and 325 cadets joined the bureaus of fire and jail, respectively. This translates to an annual average of 85% of PNPA graduates becoming police officers for 26 long years. With the greater proportion of PNPA cadets opting to be police officers, and the majority of Academy's personnel who draw salaries, benefits, and allowances from the PNP, it appears logical and rational that the PNP assumes leadership of the PNPA. There is no saying that there are no evident improvements in the PPSC - thanks to the proactive leadership of the current PPSC Head. However, this representation stands with the belief that the PNP can better serve the greater interest of the State if it assumes the mandate of the PPSC in the training and education of its personnel. As a consequence thereof, the PNP will be accountable to the entire gamut of responsibility from recruitment, education, field training and deployment of police officers. Nonetheless, under the proposal, the PNPA will still accommodate cadets for the BJMP and BFP for a period of five years from the enactment of the proposed measure. This interim period, which may be extended upon request to the PNP, is an opportune time for the said bureaus to develop and further professionalize their own personnel. In recognition of the importance of the BFP and BJMP, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to create learning institutions for the two bureaus under the PPSC within the five-year transition period. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, you and I will agree that we have to bridge the gap between the training programs and policing requirements. As the PNP represents 192,000 strong force mandated to maintain peace and order in every nook and cranny of this country, I am confident that it can assume the authority exercised by the PPSC over the PNPA and the NPTI. Mr. President, by instituting reforms in the current system, we are strengthening the foundation of a highly efficient, effective and competent police force. As former US President Calvin Coolidge once said and I quote, "No one is compelled to choose the profession of a police officer, but having chosen it, everyone is obliged to live up to the standard of its requirements." Thank you, Mr. President.
Legarda: Senate Supports President's Cash-Based Budget

Senator Loren Legarda today said that the Senate supports the government's move to shift from obligation-based to annual cash-based appropriations starting with the 2019 national budget.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that during their caucus on Tuesday afternoon, senators expressed their support to the President's cash-based budget.

"The Senate supports a cash-based budgeting system that will help discipline the bureaucracy, addressing the problem of underspending, which has long plagued the government," said Legarda.

"The Senate Committee on Finance will continue to conduct budget briefings based on the 2019 National Expenditure Program (NEP) that was submitted to Congress and we will introduce amendments as necessary," she added.

The Senator explained that a cash-based budget would address underspending especially for programs that have low obligation rate, such as the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), Farm-to-Market Roads (FMR), and the construction of school buildings.

An annual cash-based budget system means that agencies do not only obligate or award contracts for programs, activities and projects, but also ensure actual and full delivery of goods and services within the fiscal year.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), underspending in 2014 and 2015 was at 13% in both years, with combined amount of Php631 Billion.

Although government spending improved in 2016 when underspending rate was reduced to 4% and in 2017 at 3%, Legarda said that these still translate to billions of unspent funds--Php96.3 Billion for 2016 and Php85.2 Billion for 2017.

"With a cash-based budget system, projects will be done sooner, thus, people would also feel the benefits of government services sooner," Legarda said.

The Senator also stressed that the Committee on Finance will exercise strong oversight during the budget briefings.

"We will scrutinize not only the proposed Php3.757 Trillion national budget for 2019 but also the performance of agencies, especially those that have high underspending rate. Our aim is to further help government efficiently spend public funds and deliver basic services to the Filipino people," Legarda concluded.
Press Release

August 14, 2018 Creation of lone district in Calamba City gets Senate nod A bill which seeks to create lone legislative district of Calamba City in Laguna has been approved by the Senate on third and final reading. House Bill No. 990, sponsored by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, was approved with 19 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention. Angara said the creation of the new legislative district of Calamba City would "focus on the needs of its constituents and bring them to the national government's attention." He said Calamba City, a first-class city which serves as the seat of the provincial government in Laguna, "deserves to stand on its feet and to have a greater role in society." "In consideration of the size and continued progress of the city, it is only right that we give them proper representation in the national government," Angara said. He said that under the 1987 Constitution, "each city with a population of at least 250,000 shall have at least one representative" in the House of Representatives. "According to the latest census data in 2015, the present second legislative district of Laguna has 937, 282 residents, almost half of which or 454, 486 come from Calamba City," he added. Angara said providing for more representatives to relay the concerns of the constituents of large and densely populated communities would allow the national government to better address their issues and problems. "If the bill is passed, it would help the city of Calamba become more known as a rich, productive and progressive community," he said. (JDC)
Villanueva commends PH contingent for winning in the 14th Int'l Mathematics Contest in Singapore

Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday congratulated the Philippine team for topping the 14th International Mathematics Contest held in Singapore last July 27 to 30.

In Senate Resolution No. 841 filed by Villanueva, the senator commended the Philippine contingent for their "victory and sterling performance."

"This is another testament to the world class talent of the Filipino youth," Villanueva said.

The Philippine team, which was trained by the Mathematics Trainers Guild-Philippines, bagged a total of 196 medals consisting of 27 gold, 53 silver, and 116 bronze.

The Philippines bested 13 countries and territories including China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia.

"The victory of our Philippine team is a source of pride and inspiration to all of us. Their hard work and dedication have set a good example to our future generation--the Filipino youth," Villanueva said.
NZX first-half earnings fell as it lifted spending as part of a plan to position itself for future growth. It will return cash from the sale of non-core assets to shareholders as a special dividend.

Operating earnings from continuing operations fell 5.1 percent to $13.2 million in the six months ended June 30, the Wellington-based company said in a statement. Operating revenue advanced 2 percent to $33.4 million while operating expenses increased 7.3 percent to $20.2 million.

For the stock market operator, 2018 sets the platform for future growth as it embarks on a five-year strategy to revive its capital markets with new listing rules, an updated fee structure, a broader suite of products, deeper links with global bourses, and a stronger focus on its dairy derivatives market. In the past six months it divested non-core businesses including Farmers Weekly, AgriHQ and the Australian-based Grain Information Unit, with proceeds to be paid out to shareholders as a special 1.5 cent per share dividend.

"Six months into the delivery of our five-year strategy we have advanced the business materially," said chief executive Mark Peterson. "We have divested our non-core businesses, improved the exchanges customer service and business efficiency, increased liquidity in the secondary market, and progressed plans to simplify the New Zealand markets structure and rule set.

"We are pleased with progress being made across the key strategic areas fundamental to our future growth."

Peterson reiterated that the company expects full-year operating earnings of between $28 million and $31 million, largely flat from last year's $29 million.

He attributed the higher expenses in the first half to targeted investments in marketing, cyber security and the dairy derivatives market, one-off staff related costs, and expenditure which was driven by the growth in funds under management.

Meanwhile, the revenue growth was driven by strong growth in trading and clearing fees and funds management revenues, he said.

The exchanges global dairy derivatives market traded its millionth lot in May, which it noted as a significant milestone in the markets journey towards maturity. The dairy market gained additional trading functionality in March, its trading hours were extended in July, and new records continue to be set for volumes traded. It plans to translate the website to Mandarin in the second half.

NZX said it has expanded its dividend policy to pay between 80 percent to 110 percent of adjusted net profit after tax over time, subject to maintaining a prudent level of capital to meet regulatory requirements. As well as the special dividend announced today, the NZX will pay a 3 cent interim dividend on Sept. 14, unchanged from the year earlier level, and will offer a dividend reinvestment plan for both dividends at a 2.5 percent discount.

The company's net profit after tax fell to $4.41 million in the first half, from $7.95 million in the year-earlier period, impacted by a $2.89 million write down in the value of agri businesses it sold.

Its shares last traded at $1.09 and have fallen 9.2 percent over the past year.

(BusinessDesk)

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PGG Wrightson, which is selling its dominant seed and grain business, posted record full-year earnings but lowered its final dividend payment to shareholders, saying it was eyeing reinvestment opportunities.

Operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose to a record $70.2 million in the year ended June 30, in line with its forecast for earnings at the top end of its guidance range of $65 million to $70 million, and ahead of $64.5 million a year earlier, the Christchurch-based company said. One-time items pulled net profit after tax down to $18.9 million from $46.3 million.

Wrightson is reducing its final dividend to 1.25 cents per share from 2 cents last year, which pulls the 2018 annual dividend down to 3 cents from 3.75 cents in 2017.

"In declaring todays dividend, the board balanced the one-off nature of these items affecting npat and the strong underlying trading performance against the reinvestment opportunities available to the business," deputy chair Trevor Burt said in a statement. "We felt it prudent to reduce the final dividend this year."

The country's largest rural services business is undertaking a strategic review with Credit Suisse (Australia) and First NZ Capital, exploring growth opportunities, its capital and balance sheet requirements and potentially its shareholding structure. Earlier this month, it agreed to sell its seed and grain business, its largest unit, to Danish cooperative DLF Seeds for $421 million in cash and $18 million of debt repayment. It said it could return up to $292 million to its shareholders and was evaluating the full range of options, including debt reduction, distributions to shareholders and strategic growth opportunities.

Chief executive Ian Glasson said today the company would provide more information on its progress and an earnings forecast, at its annual shareholder meeting in October.

In the latest year, operating ebitda for seed and grain fell 4 percent to $35.6 million as strong sales volumes in New Zealand were offset by extremely dry conditions in South America and Australia.

Its agency group operating ebitda rose 12 percent to a record $20.1 million as higher sheep prices in the livestock business offset a lower number of dairy transactions while volumes in the wool business returned to more normal levels on a lift in underlying wool prices.

Meanwhile, its retail and water group increased operating ebitda 30 percent to a record $23.8 million. Glasson said the improvement was evenly split between retail and water, which improved its contribution despite the ongoing challenges facing the irrigation sector.

PGG Wrightson's shares, which are 50.2 percent owned by China's Agria Corp, last traded at 67 cents, and have gained 12 percent over the past year.

(BusinessDesk)

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Summerset Group Holdings said a flatter property market is providing smaller valuation gains for the retirement village operator and developer.

Underlying earnings, which strip out fair value movements in the value of the portfolio, rose to $45.2 million in the six months ended June 30, up 27 per cent from $35.78 million the year before, largely in line with guidance provided last month.

Net profit, however, fell 9 percent to $82 million. The Wellington-based company registered a $78.3 million unrealised gain on its $2.24 billion property portfolio, compared to an $87.1 million gain a year earlier.

"The lower fair value movement versus the corresponding period in 2017 reflects lower levels of retirement unit price increases across our portfolio in response to the flattening property market being seen in some areas of the country," chief executive Julian Cook said in a statement. "We are pleased with the underlying profit result, which reflects strong development and resales margins in the period."

New Zealand's retirement village operators are on a drive to push new development across the nation as they latch on to an ageing demographic providing a tailwind to the sector. That long-term trend was supported by rapid property price gains, where prospective residents selling into a rising market could pay higher prices for retirement village units.

More recently, the housing market has cooled as banks impose stiffer lending criteria and policymakers attempted to curb demand while encouraging construction, which has been seen as a potential threat to the retirement village sector.

Summerset's board declared an interim dividend of 6 cents per share, with an Aug. 28 record date, payable on Sept. 10. That amounts to 30 percent of underlying profit, the bottom end of the dividend policy. Payments are expected to remain near that lower end of the band "given the growth opportunities present for the business at this time," the company said.

The company had previously acknowledged a decline in sales volumes for the period, but Cook today said he's seeing "good levels of contracts on homes - both on resales and homes to be completed before the end of 2018 - many of which will settle in the second half of the year."

Summerset built 165 new homes in the first six months of 2018 and is on track to meet its 450-unit target, despite pressure in Auckland's construction market.

The company has 23 villages completed or under development with 3,443 retirement units and 858 care beds. Its landbank has the potential to add a further 3,041 units and 368 care beds.

Summerset recently got consent to build a village in the Christchurch suburb of Avonhead but was declined approvals for a site in Auckland's St Johns.

"We are currently working through this decision but remain confident we will be able to progress a successful village on this site," Cook said.

Consent applications in Lower Hutt and Wellington are still under consideration.

The shares last traded at $7.72 and have climbed 40 percent so far this year, making it the second-best performer on the S&P/NZX 50 index behind Synlait Milk.

(BusinessDesk)

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The poorest performing iwi investment in recent years has come from farming, which is often favoured for cultural rather than economic considerations, according to the latest annual Iwi Investment Insights report by ANZ Bank New Zealand.

In its 2018 annual Te Tirohanga Whanui research report, ANZ evaluated the asset base of 34 iwi and hapu, finding the commercial assets of the combined group had increased by just over $1 billion, or 12 percent, to $5.4 billion since 2015. The report found the most common asset in the top quartile for underlying returns was the significant holdings in managed funds which have performed well in recent years. On the flip-side, most iwi/hapu in the lower quartile were actively managing large farms.

In many cases cultural reasons were an important driver in the investment decision," ANZ head of Maori relationships David Harrison said. "This highlights non-economic considerations may be impacting financial outcomes."

ANZ noted iwi have about a third of their assets in the primary sector which means they are exposed to commodity cycles as well as new challenges confronting many of these industries.

"Both fishing and farming face increasing sustainability scrutiny, and along with forestry, all three are threatened with disruption from alternatives being developed by science and technology," the report said. "However these assets have largely been returned to iwi through settlements, or have been purchased with cultural considerations in mind, and are generally considered not for sale.

"This places increased pressure on the rest of the assets to ensure they are allocated or re-allocated to best fit investments that provide greater returns with the right balance between income and growth."

Three-year average returns varied across the group with the upper quartile for return on assets almost twice that of the lower quartile, the report noted.

The Maori economy is estimated to encompass $50 billion in assets, or about 6 percent of the total New Zealand asset base, and represents a rapidly growing segment of the wider New Zealand economy, ANZ said. Since the first settlement under the Waitangi Tribunal process in 1989 in respect of land at Waitomo Caves, Maori businesses have become economic powerhouses with investments spanning across hotels, farms, forests, bus companies and shopping malls.

Maori investment has historically been focused in key industries such as farming, forestry and fisheries. While strong ties to these industries remain, Maori are strengthening their footprint in other sectors. For example, weve seen a number of recent investments in tourism, horticulture and commercial property which is exciting for iwi," Harrison said.

ANZ found the biggest year-on-year growth from 2015 to 2017 was from transport and infrastructure, up 33 percent, and tourism, up 30 percent, both from growth in existing businesses and new acquisitions.

Cash and managed funds grew 19 percent from treaty settlement receipts and general growth in financial markets, and agricultural investments also grew 19 percent from investment and some treaty negotiated transfers/purchases. Meanwhile, forestry returned 9 percent and property 8 percent from a mix of investment and revaluations.

Harrison said one of the hardest commercial decisions iwi face is whether to distribute or reinvest profits.

There is pressure to increase returns and distributions, driven by growing populations hungry to see the tangible fruits of their tribes treaty settlement," he said. Opposing the need for strong financial return is the deep responsibility iwi and hapu carry as kaitiaki, often creating challenges in balancing risk and reward.

The overall trend for post-settlement iwi has similarities to a start-up business where initially capital growth is modest before it starts to build, he said.

At one end we see iwi with recent treaty settlements typically benefiting from asset transfers and revaluations, and low initial operating costs. Meanwhile, iwi who settled more than 10 years ago are seeing the advantage of having miles on the clock. However, some of those 4-9 years are showing signs of stalling or consolidating."

The report found the overall proportions invested in various asset classes remained reasonably stable.

(BusinessDesk)

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The High Court has ruled listed firms in voluntary administration don't need to meet NZX's continuous disclosure obligations designed to protect the integrity of trading.

Chief High Court Judge Geoff Venning found disclosure obligation don't apply for those listed issuers in voluntary administration, saying the legislation supporting the NZX's listing rules was based on the premise of an active market, which doesn't exist in an administration. Parliament's specific prohibition on share trading during an administration meant there was no need for continuous disclosure, which aims to facilitate and maintain the integrity of an operating market.

"The whole premise is that there is an active market and continuous disclosure is necessary to prevent trading without the market participants being fully informed," Justice Venning said in a judgment yesterday. "That does not arise when the issuer is in administration and trading in its shares are frozen."

The Financial Markets Authority put the question to the court, heard in the High Court in Auckland last week, to get some clarity after the collapse of insurer CBL Corp. The company had its stock suspended from the NZX in February over concerns about the information it provided on the solvency of its insurance operations. The FMA is one of several regulators investigating the company and focused on whether CBL kept the market informed of material information and met continuous disclosure obligations

The market watchdog's application was supported by NZX, which considered the listing rules continued to apply to listed firms in administration. The stock market operator didn't seek to be heard.

The FMA noted the findings and said it took the case stated procedure - which seeks the court's opinion on a point of law without taking action against a particular party - saying it was "grateful to the court for its prompt attention, both in providing a hearing date and issuing its findings". The authority thanked CBL administrator KordaMentha for its participation.

Justice Venning said the practical benefits of continuing disclosure for fund managers and investors to revalue their shareholdings weren't the interests the regime was designed to protect. Imposing those obligations on an administrator would distract them from their principal role to act in the interest of creditors.

"I consider there is force in the argument for the administrators that where a company is in administration a reasonable person would not expect information from the company to effect the price of the quoted shares, given that shares are unable to be traded," Justice Venning said. "The information may enable analysts to review the value they place on shares as opposed to the price the shares are frozen at on the market, but as noted previously that is not the purpose of continuous disclosure."

The judge said costs should fall where they lie.

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand house sales were largely flat in July as activity in the dominant Auckland market settled down in what's typically the quietest winter month.

The number of houses sold across the country rose to 5,661 in July from 5,619 in the same month a year earlier. Turnover in Auckland was up 2.1 percent to 1,712 on the same basis, the Real Estate Institute said. The house price index rose 4.9 percent to a new national record, and excluding Auckland climbed 8 percent as the country's largest property market continued to slow.

Chief executive Bindi Norwell said a shortage of housing pushed up prices in regions outside Auckland, with the national inventory shrinking 3.8 percent to 21,288, the lowest level in a year.

"The shortage of properties available for sale across the country is continuing to push prices up in all regions across the country except for Auckland," Norwell said. "With July producing another four regions with record median prices we desperately need to increase the supply of new houses  be that through KiwiBuild or from private developers and builders  in order to fill the significant shortage of properties around the country."

New Zealand's housing market has slowed after rapid price gains fuelled by cheap credit and an expanding population were restrained by tighter lending criteria and policy efforts to crimp demand and stoke new construction. Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr this week told TVNZ1's Q+A programme there's a chance prices may fall in Auckland from levels he said were "highly elevated" relative to income.

Auckland was the only region to register a decline in the median sale price from a year earlier, with prices dipping 0.1 percent to $835,000. That compares to a national gain of 6.2 percent to $550,000. The biggest increase was on the West Coast, where the median sale price jumped 31 percent to $225,000, still the lowest across the nation. Taranaki prices rose 15 percent to $375,000 and Nelson prices were also up 15 percent to $547,000.

Still, the Real Estate Institute said Auckland's observed median price decrease since June was fractionally smaller than expected, while the observed decrease in sales count was greater than expected.

The median number of days to sell increased to 37 days in July, one more than the same month a year earlier. That was weighed by Auckland where it took 41 days, four days longer to sell than in July 2017.

The rising median sale price meant fewer properties sold for less than $500,000, with 2,402 affordable properties changing hands, compared to 2,687 a year earlier. The number in the lower mid-range band of $500,000 to $750,000 rose to 1,715 from 1,516, while upper mid-range sales between $750,000 and $1 million climbed to 807 from 687. The number of top end of $1 million-plus properties sold increased to 737 from 729.

Norwell said the West Coast, Southland and Manawatu/Whanganui were the most affordable places for buyers of properties below $250,000.

(BusinessDesk)

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Fonterra Cooperative Group's new chair John Monaghan says the dairy giant's biggest challenge is to change the law which forces it to accept milk from any farmer and sell it to rivals at a subsidised price, according to a report in Dairy News.

Monaghan stepped into the role chairing the country's largest dairy processor just over a fortnight ago after John Wilson stood down due to ill health. He told Dairy News the need to secure changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, which enabled the 2001 creation of Fonterra, is the biggest challenge facing the cooperative. The legislation is currently being reviewed and the government expects to receive a report early next year with legislation tabled in parliament in 2019.

Under the current DIRA provisions, Fonterra has to accept milk from all-comers and must supply raw milk to rivals at a regulated price.

"We will push to get rid of the open-entry and open-exit provisions of DIRA; its well past the use-by-date," Monaghan told Dairy News.

He said the main purpose of DIRA was to promote competition and to give farmers and Kiwis choices, but today New Zealand farmers can choose from about 10 independent processors, only five of which are New Zealand-owned, according to the report.

Competition is a good thing for Fonterra and we believe competition is here to stay," he told Dairy News, noting Fonterras milk share had dropped to 82 percent from 91 percent due to increased rivalry. If the open-entry provision is left in place it will wipe out the progress thats been made," he said.

Once you have a few processors whove made inefficient investment decisions that only stack up with open entry, it has the potential to lead to significant excess manufacturing capacity in the industry," Monaghan told the publication. This creates a risk of a downward spiral of low-margin competition that will hold back moves up the value chain and ultimately result in business failures.

Under the current rules, Fonterra can't refuse a farmer joining the cooperative even though it may have concerns about a farm's animal welfare or environmental issues, and chief operator Miles Hurrell has recently spoken out about the cooperative's strong preference for no further expansion in the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island due to concerns about the negative impact on the region's sensitive environment.

Last week, Fonterra said it is facing weaker margins and won't pay a final dividend for its 2018 financial year and will trim its 2017/18 forecast farmgate milk price in an effort to bolster its balance sheet after paying Danone over the 2013 botulism scare and writing down its Beingmate Baby & Child Food investment. The company and its outgoing chief executive Theo Spierings are facing criticism due to the cooperative's poor performance and lacklustre earnings growth.

Spierings plans to leave the position in the course of this year, and Monaghan told Dairy News the cooperative has "strong external and internal candidates" and a decision on the new chief executive will be made by the end of this year.

Units in the Fonterra Shareholders' Fund, which give investors exposure to Fonterra's earnings, slipped 1.6 percent to a three-year low of $4.88, and have dropped 21 percent over the past year.

(BusinessDesk)

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Maxime Bernier slams Justin Trudeau for promoting ever more diversityCanadian PressPublished:August 13, 2018Updated:August 13, 2018 10:45 PM EDTConservative MP Maxime Bernier is photographed in his office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018.Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA  Conservative MP Maxime Bernier is taking issue with Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus oft-repeated support for diversity in Canada, calling it a form of radical multiculturalism.In a series of tweets published late Sunday in both French and English, Bernier says he believes promoting too much diversity could have the effect of dividing Canada into little tribes that cause division, erode Canadas identity and destroy what makes it a great country.Having people live among us who reject basic Western values such as freedom, equality, tolerance and openness doesnt make us strong. People who refuse to integrate into our society and want to live apart in their ghetto dont make our society strong, Bernier tweeted.Trudeaus extreme multiculturalism and cult of diversity will divide us into little tribes that have less and less in common, apart from their dependence on government in Ottawa. These tribes become political clienteles to be bought with taxpayers (money) and special privileges.Since the 2015 election campaign, Trudeau has championed diversity as a key feature of what makes Canada strong and has repeated that message in many of his public speeches and comments.On Monday, Bernier posted two more tweets insisting that hes not against diversity in Canada, but is opposed to pushing for ever more of it.Bernier, who narrowly lost the leadership of the Conservative party last year, has been a vocal critic not only of the Trudeau government but of his own partys position on supply management and was stripped of his role as an opposition critic in June.In his latest tweet, Bernier says, Something infinitely diverse has no core identity and ceases to exist.The comments have drawn sharp criticism from several partisans, including Liberal MP Marc Miller, who called on Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer to clarify whether the party supports Berniers views.Scheers spokesperson Brock Harrison issued a statement Monday expressing support for the idea of diversity, but without specifically mentioning Bernier or his comments.Canada has been built by people from all over the world coming here to enjoy the freedom, prosperity and equality that our country offers, Harrison said.Conservatives will continue to recognize and celebrate the contributions made to Canada from people from diverse backgrounds that have enriched our history and our society.Scheer would have nothing further to say on the matter, Harrison added.Conservative MP Michelle Rempel was among those who took issue with Berniers comments. In her own series of tweets Sunday, she criticized both Trudeau for his governments immigration policy and also those who make claims that Canada is becoming a ghettoized state.From a political perspective, its equally easy to say diversity is our strength, #welcometocanada as it is to infer Canadas pluralism has failed, if neither claim is backed up by data or policy, Rempel wrote.I am so bone weary of watching both sides of this debate be watered down into politically correct, puerile, or flat-out wrong arguments just for political expediencys sake. All of you who engage in this are cowards.Conservative strategist Carl Vallee defended Berniers comments saying he believes they do not put him at odds with the party. He said Berniers viewpoint is shared by many Conservatives and Canadians.The view expressed is one that agreed with multiculturalism, just not the extreme version proposed by Justin Trudeau, said Vallee, who formerly worked as a press secretary for Stephen Harper and is now at Hatley Strategies in Montreal.Mr. Trudeaus version of multiculturalism is more focused on creating public policy by segmenting Canadians (into) groups based on their race and religion. This was very obvious in the last federal budget that talked about racialized Canadians. More and more Canadians want politicians to focus on what unites us, not what divides us, Vallee said.Trudeau, meanwhile, remained undeterred from repeating his mantra that differences are always a source strength in Canada, during a speech Monday in Prince Edward Island.If theres something I know whenever I look out over a crowd anywhere in Canada, its that the different ages, the different faces, the different backgrounds  those are incredible sources of strength and resilience for our community, he told a crowd of supporters in Charlottetown.These are things that make us strong. Our differences are always a source of strength in Canada.The Liberal Party used the issue to send out a fundraising appeal on Monday night, asking would-be donors to chip in now to stop Andrew Scheers Conservatives from trying to divide us any further.Once again theyre showing that they are entirely out of touch with Canadians and this countrys commitment to inclusion, the letter stated.
At a recent media interaction, Kamal Haasan said that he has been traveling across India for the promotions of Vishwaroopam-2 and the response has been quite good. As usual, in Tamil Nadu, they are not highlighting the positive aspects of Vishwaroopam 2 because of politics, said Kamal Haasan.





Kamal said that such things had happened to MGR, so these oppositions are nothing big and he only sees it as a hidden wish. Kamal said that the film wasnt released in a few areas and politics could be one of the reasons so he asked media in a lighter vein to kick-start investigative journalism.





Kamal also added that for the first part, he gained opposition from theater owners for DTH release plan as a few people wanted to buy those places in Tamil Nadu and called such incidents as past tense hinting that Jayalalithaa is no more.




Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a special film screening of the actress, Boney Kapoor said, "She (Sridevi) couldn't complete her schooling, she couldn't complete her college because she was so involved in her work, she deserves the recognition, respect and the tributes which are being paid to her all across the globe."

On Sridevi's 55th birth anniversary, husband Boney Kapoor felt that she deserved every bit of respect that was being bestowed on her across the globe.

Continuing his tete-a-tete with the media, he thanked the Indian government for the honour they have bestowed on her through the film screening.

Remembering his wife, Kapoor said Sridevi's absence was apparent in his life and that of his two children.

"Today this vacuum, this void cannot be replaced, but at the same time the good wishes and the goodwill that she has left behind is something which we can hang on to, we can live with it. But, the legacy lives on, her body of work, the kind of work that she has done in her career, right from the age of four," he said.

Kapoor also revealed that Sridevi wanted to work in a Bengali film, but no good script came her way.

"She was keen to do films in all the Indian languages," he added.

Talking about the Mom star's acting skills, Kapoor opined that Sridevi never tried to act but instead became the character she played.

"This is what I tell my children too. You have got to become the part, not play the part," Kapoor asserted.

The film division, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, organised a special screening of Sridevi's movies in order to celebrate her 55th birth anniversary on Monday.
: The historic Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 72nd Independence Day tomorrow, has been put under a heavy security cover, along with other critical areas in the national capital. Police are on high alert in the wake of an attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid in the Lutyens' Delhi area yesterday and the incident in the UK, in which a car crashed into the security barriers outside the Parliament building today, a senior police officer said.

While nearly 70,000 Delhi Police personnel are guarding the national capital, close to 10,000 cops have been deployed at the Mughal-era fort, which will see the presence of senior ministers, top bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people during the PM's address tomorrow.

Delhi Police personnel have been specifically asked to keep an eye on the sky to ensure that no stray kites are seen in the areas around the Red Fort.

Last year, when the prime minister was addressing the nation on Independence Day, a black kite had landed below the podium. The kite landed quietly without causing any disturbance and the prime minister had continued his address unfazed. Kite-catchers have been deployed even though kite-flying has been restricted in the area till 11 am.

Over 500 CCTV cameras have been installed on the routes leading to the Red Fort with over 200 cameras in the fort itself. The footage is being monitored round the clock, police said.

This time, 36 women personnel of the Delhi Police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit will also be guarding the venue with their male counterparts.

Police have already carried out anti-sabotage checks in the area and visited hotels in the vicinity in search of suspicious elements, officials said, adding that a security audit of the residents, including tenants, has been completed.

At the Red Fort, a special team of NSG snipers and commandos will form the inner layer of the security cordon, while anti-aircraft guns have been deployed to thwart any aerial intrusion by objects like drones and projectiles, senior police officials said.

Delhi Police has already prohibited aerial activities, including para-gliding, flying UAVs and hot air balloons, across the city. The buildings facing the Red Fort will be secured by police and paramilitary personnel.

Security along the route to be taken by the Prime Minister's cavalcade, from his official residence to the Red Fort, will be monitored with the help of hundreds of CCTV cameras.

Special "spotters" of Delhi Police and the paramilitary will keep an eye on parking areas. Sniffer dogs will also be part of the extensive security deployment.

According to a statement by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, train services will run as usual. However, stations like Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate and ITO will have restricted entry and exit during the ceremony owing to security considerations. Parking will not be available at the stations till 2 pm tomorrow in view of the security measures, the DMRC said.
The article detailed a long list of "diplomatic faux-pas" Trump has made with foreign leaders around the globe, including a lack of telephone etiquette, "mispronunciations" and "awkward meetings."

: US President Donald Trump allegedly joked he could play matchmaker for Prime Minister Narendra Modi after learning from aides that the 67-year-old leader has long been estranged from his wife, according to a new report in Politico.

Trump also displayed a lack of familiarity with South Asia, according to the report.

Ahead of the meeting last year with Modi at the White House, Trump allegedly studied a map of South Asia and mispronounced Nepal as "nipple" and referred to Bhutan as "button," Politico said, quoting two unnamed sources. The US president seemed confused that the two countries - which border India - even existed, the report says.

"He didn't know what those were. He thought it was all part of India," a source told Politico. "He was like, 'What is this stuff in between and these other countries?'"

After Trump's staffers told the US president that Modi would not be bringing his wife along to the meeting at the White House, Trump allegedly joked, "Ah, I think I can set him up with somebody," the report said, according to "two people briefed on the meeting."

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Politico that Trump has developed "strong relationships" with "America's closest allies," which allow for "candid conversations."
Taiwan leader irks China with rare US speech



Los Angeles, Aug 14 (AFP) Aug 14, 2018



Taiwan's president has given a speech in the United States -- the first time in 15 years that a leader of the island has spoken publicly on American soil -- prompting an official protest from Beijing.

During a stopover en route to Paraguay, Tsai Ing-wen, whose government refuses to endorse Beijing's view that Taiwan is part of China, vowed to defend democratic values.

"We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy," she said on Monday.

China views Taiwan as part of its own territory -- to be reunified by force if necessary -- even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.

Beijing is always swift to condemn any move that could be interpreted as de facto diplomatic recognition of the government in Taipei and has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), came to power in 2016.

Tsai made her speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, whose namesake she praised for his contribution to Taiwan-US relations, including a commitment not to pressure Taipei to negotiate with Beijing.

"Everything was negotiable except two things: our freedom and our future," she quoted from Reagan's remarks in her talk, adding that this is also the sentiment of Taiwanese people at the moment.

Her transit in Los Angeles was the most high-profile since former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian's 2003 stopover in New York, where he accepted a human rights award and delivered several public speeches.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979, but it remains the island's biggest arms supplier and most important unofficial ally.

Ties have warmed further since Donald Trump came to power, and were further bolstered by the passage this week of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a commitment to support Taiwan militarily.

Last month, the US sent two warships into the Taiwan Strait. That followed a string of military drills staged by Beijing around the island.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Tuesday reiterated its opposition to any attempt to promote Taiwan's independence when asked to comment on Tsai's US transit.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. We firmly oppose any attempt to create 'two Chinas', 'one China, one Taiwan' and 'Taiwan independence' in the international arena," it said in a statement responding to a question from AFP.

The Chinese foreign ministry said it had lodged an official protest with the United States as it recalled that it has always "firmly opposed" the US or other countries with diplomatic relations with China arranging such transits.

The ministry urged Washington to "scrupulously abide by the one China principle" and "not send any wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' forces".

Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times accused the US and Taiwan of "shady dealings", warning that the mainland was capable of giving the Taiwanese authorities "a drastic punishment".

Tsai's trip to Paraguay comes as Taiwan seeks to firm up ties with its dwindling band of diplomatic allies, whose number fell to 18 after Burkina Faso and the Dominican Republic switched recognition to Beijing in May.

Under pressure from Beijing, a growing number of international airlines and companies have also edited their websites to refer to the territory as "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei".
Page Content

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

AT THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF FINANCE OF THE

PARLIAMENT OF SINT MAARTEN ON THE EFFECTS OF IRMA ON THE

GENERAL PENSION FUND (APS) AND AN UPDATE ON THE FAST TRACKING OF PROJECTS POST-IRMA





THE HON. MR. P. GEERLINGS

Honourable Mr Chairman, honourable members of the Committee of Finance,

The honourable people of Sint Maarten, good afternoon!

1. I am honoured to appear before you today, to discuss an essential item on the agenda of this committee, namely the effects of Hurricane IRMA on the General Pension Fund of Sint Maarten, APS, and the fast-track approach, adopted by APS after IRMA, to contribute towards the revitalization of the economy of Sint Maarten, as pursued by the Government.

2. Mr Chairman, depending on which source one follows, it has been estimated that IRMA caused over US$ 1.8 to 2 billion dollars in economic damage on Sint Maarten. Consequently, even with a Trust Fund sponsored by the Netherlands, in the amount of 550 million euros to finance the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as the damage pay-outs by insurance companies and investments made by citizens and local corporations, one thing is sure, we still have an enormous financial shortfall of several hundred million US Dollars for the reconstruction of the Sint Maarten's economy and infrastructure over the next few years.

3. Given the fragile situation of Sint Maarten's economy, we must applaud those investors that believe in Sint Maarten and the resilience of our economy, especially the local institutions. That is why, as a former member of this house, I was very much encouraged last October, when I learnt that APS would embark on a fast-track project implementation program, to contribute to the reconstruction of Sint Maarten in the coming years.

4. By putting its shoulders under the reconstruction of the economy of Sint Maarten, through a speedier process for third-party project approval and the shortening of the duration of projects it undertakes, and because of its capital base, APS can play an essential role in stimulating the economy of Sint Maarten.

5. Not only will there be an acceleration of project implementation, but this would also have a positive effect on various economic sectors and the labour market in Sint Maarten in the post-IRMA period. These measures will, in turn, be favourable for the future financial position of the Government, because of the collection of wage and profit taxes connected to the increased economic activities. As a result, the Governments deficit, which grew post-IRMA, will decrease over time.

6. However, fast-tracking has to consider the external and internal limitations imposed upon the Fund. In fast-tracking their projects, the APS is, for instance, dependent on the ability of the Government, to issue the necessary building and other permits on time. Furthermore, as future recipients of pension payable by the APS, we all want to ensure that, as a Pension Fund, the APS continues to adhere to the applicable Good Governance principles and standards, in safeguarding the pension entitlements of its members.

7. Therefore, even when projects are expedited, because of Sint Maarten's current situation post-IRMA, APS must continue to have due regard for the long-term interest of the participants of the fund, when making its investments. When I became Minister of Finance, I quickly visited APS to be informed of the state of affairs within the Fund, how it fared post-IRMA, and what contributions it was making since IRMA, given its promise to fast-track its large projects to help in the reconstruction of Sint Maarten's economy.

8. I was delighted to hear from the APS, that they have identified, and are very much in control of the challenges to the Fund, which are mainly of an external nature. These challenges include the outstanding arrears of the Government to the APS, and the ongoing discussion on the division of assets with the pension fund in Curacao, as well as the need for pension reform in Sint Maarten, due to the consequences of an ageing population. Addressing these challenges will protect the future financial position of the Fund.

9. Despite these challenges, Management and the Board of APS have demonstrated that they are committed to the fast-track implementation strategy, with due consideration of the Funds primary responsibilities and interests. I was particularly happy to learn that APS was considering the implementation of a new Sint Maarten Investment Bank, which could become a game changer through the attraction or facilitation of the necessary funds to accelerate the economic development of Sint Maarten into a regional powerhouse in the years to come.

10. Mr. Chairman, APS' commitment to implement the necessary projects, especially their focus on different economic areas varying from the construction sector, to housing, to the tourism sector, and the healthcare sector, gives me additional hope, that we have people and institutions on this island, that are willing and able to take on the challenge of revitalizing the economy of Sint Maarten, in a sustainable way.

11. That is why, I readily accepted the invitation from the Secretary-General on your behalf, to join you and your members here today, together with the representatives of APS, to present the members of your esteemed committee with the necessary information on the projects thus far undertaken by APS and their contribution to the further development of Sint Maarten.

12. Mr Chairman, may I suggest that the representatives of APS make a presentation on the way the Fund has fared since IRMA occurred, and share information on which projects they have been pursuing to actively contribute to the reconstruction of the economy of Sint Maarten? After the APS presentation, I am at the members disposal to consider any questions they may have for the representatives of APS or myself.

Thank you, Mr Chairman!




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TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clairvest Group Inc. (TSX: CVG) today reported results for the fiscal 2019 first quarter ended June 30, 2018. (All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated)

Highlights

June 30, 2018 book value was $715.1 million or $47.18 per share versus $667.3 million or $44.01 per share as at March 31, 2018

Net income for the quarter was $54.7 million or $3.61 per share

Clairvest, Clairvest Equity Partners V (CEP V) and Great Canadian Gaming Corporation completed the acquisition of gaming assets in the West Greater Toronto Area

Clairvest and Clairvest Equity Partners IV (CEP IV) completed the sale of MAG Aerospace in June 2018

Clairvest and CEP IV completed the sale of Centaur Gaming in July 2018

Subsequent to quarter end, Clairvest paid an annual ordinary dividend of $1.5 million, or $0.10 per share, and a special dividend of $5.2 million, or $0.3401 per share, both paid on July 25, 2018

Clairvests book value was $715.1 million or $47.18 per share as at June 30, 2018, compared with $667.3 million or $44.01 per share as at March 31, 2018. The increase in book value per share for the quarter was primarily attributable to net income for the quarter of $54.7 million, or $3.61 per share, net of $0.4401 of dividends per share accrued as at June 30, 2018. During the quarter, 5,100 shares were purchased and cancelled under the Normal Course Issuer Bid at an average cost of $42.83 per share.

As at June 30, 2018, Clairvest had approximately $628.8 million of capital available for future acquisitions through treasury funds, credit facilities, access to funds in its acquisition entities and uncalled committed capital in various Clairvest Equity Partnerships (the CEP Funds).

In May 2018, Clairvest and CEP V invested $29.2 million for a 45% ownership in Ontario Gaming West GTA Limited Partnership (OWGTALP), which operates four gaming facilities in the West Greater Toronto Area. Great Canadian Gaming Corporation owns the remaining 55%. Clairvests portion of the investment during the quarter was $8.4 million, bringing total investment in OWGTALP to $8.8 million.

In June 2018, Clairvest and CEP IV completed the sale of their equity interest in MAG Aerospace for aggregate proceeds of US$110.4 million, which represented 8.2 times invested capital, or an IRR of 57% over the 5+ year investment life. In Canadian dollar terms, Clairvest received sale proceeds of $37.9 million against its cost of this equity investment of $4.0 million, or 9.5 times invested capital.

In July 2018, Clairvest and CEP IV completed the sale of their interest in Centaur Gaming. Clairvest and CEP IV received aggregate sale proceeds of US$417 million and are entitled to deferred consideration of up to US$21 million payable over the next three years. Clairvests portion of the sale proceeds was US$167 million (C$219 million) and is entitled to deferred consideration of up to US$8.4 million payable over the next three years, against an investment of US$26.5 million. As at June 30, 2018, the valuation of Centaur Gaming of $225.6 million reflected the cash proceeds received plus the present value of the estimated deferred consideration.

Clairvests recent exits are part of the firms focus on portfolio sales and recapitalizations to take advantage of the current sellers market which features high transaction multiples across many industries as well as unprecedented liquidity in the capital markets. Over the past twenty months, Clairvest embarked on an aggressive strategy to monetize several significant wins in its portfolio. The following outlines Clairvests and its CEP Funds realizations of over $1 billion over the last twenty months:

Rivers Casino completed a dividend recapitalization in December 2016, resulting in a dividend distribution of US$41M to Clairvest and CEP IV, for total pre-tax realizations to date of 4.6 times invested capital;

The sale of Cieslok Media in January 2017 which generated a return of over 8.4 times invested capital and proceeds of $124 million to Clairvest and CEP IV;

The sale of LSNE in April 2017, resulting in a multiple of capital invested of 3.5 times in Canadian dollars and proceeds of $110 million to Clairvest and CEP III;

The sale of CRS Contractors Rental Supply in August 2017 which generated a return of 3.2 times invested capital and proceeds of $118 million to Clairvest and CEP IV;

The sale of Wellington Financial in January 2018 which generated sale proceeds in excess of $40 million for Clairvest, bringing total pre-tax profit to $58 million over the life of the investment;

The sale of Winters Bros. Waste Systems of CT where Clairvest and CEP IV received proceeds equal to their investment while continuing to own 23% of the business;

The sale of MAG Aerospace in June 2018 which resulted in a return of over 9.5 times invested capital in Canadian dollars and proceeds of over $140 million to Clairvest and CEP IV;

Digital Media Solutions completed a dividend recapitalization in July 2018, resulting in a distribution of US$31 million to Clairvest and CEP V, for total pre-tax realizations of 1.7 times invested capital while maintaining their ownership interest; and

Lastly, the recent closing of the sale of Centaur Gaming which generated a return of over 14 times invested capital, in Canadian dollars, to CEP IV and proceeds of over $550 million to Clairvest and CEP IV.

Clairvests exit and recapitalization activity has meaningfully bolstered our track record of actively invested capital and is a testament to the success of Clairvests proven investment strategy which focuses on industry knowledge and expertise, patient capital deployment and a partnership first mentality with operating partners. These transaction have resulted in a significant increase in our cash balances and we expect this to continue while Clairvest remains in the sellers seat. We do not believe that the current valuations are sustainable over the long run and when the inevitable correction takes place, Clairvests strong liquidity position will allow us to pursue attractive opportunities in the new market environment. That said, we continue to pursue interesting specialty situations which are surfacing as a result of our domain activity. said Ken Rotman, CEO of Clairvest.

Subsequent to quarter end, Clairvest paid an annual ordinary dividend of $0.10 per share and a special dividend of $0.3401 per share, such that in aggregate, the dividends represent 1% of the March 31, 2018 book value. Both dividends were paid on July 25, 2018 to common shareholders of record as at July 6, 2018 and are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.

Summary of Financial Results  Unaudited Financial Results(1)







Quarter ended June 30 2018 2017 ($000s, except per share amounts) $ $ Net investment gain (loss) 60,398 (23,164) Net carried interest income  realized and unrealized changes 23,595 2,290 Distributions, interest income, dividends and fees 5,245 17,043 Total expenses, excluding income taxes 26,425 10,024 Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) 54,655 (11,560) Basic and fully diluted net income (loss) per share 3.61 (0.76)









Financial Position





June 30 March 31, 2018 2018 ($000s, except share information and per share amounts) $ $ Total assets(1) 914,546 834,889 Total cash, cash equivalents and temporary investments and restricted cash(1) 158,067 147,924 Unrealized carried interest from the CEP Funds(2) 147,099 127,900 Corporate investments, at fair value(1) 560,569 515,172 Total liabilities(1) 199,460 167,568 Management participation(1) 106,683 91,267 Book value(2) 715,086 667,321 Common shares outstanding 15,157,895 15,162,995 Book value per share(2) 47.18 44.01



(1) Under IFRS, the Company is required to fair value certain acquisition entities and wholly-owned holding entities and record them as corporate investments. The Company is also required to recognize as revenue that portion of the carried interest from the CEP Funds which are allocated to the principals and employees of Clairvest through various limited partnerships which are controlled by Clairvest. In addition, Clairvest is required to record a liability for any entitlements of limited partners of a partnership where the limited partners are not part of the consolidated group of the Company but where the partnership is required to be consolidated by the Company. Accordingly, that portion of the carried interest from the CEP Funds that is allocated to the limited partners of these partnerships (MIP Partnerships) and the carried interest payable to MIP Partnerships by other partnerships which are consolidated by Clairvest (collectively, the Management participation) are recorded as an expense and a liability of the Company.

(2) Book value is a Non-IFRS measure calculated as the value of total assets less the value of total liabilities. The term book value does not have any standardized meaning according to IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. There is no comparable IFRS measure presented in Clairvests consolidated financial statements and thus no applicable quantitative reconciliation for such non-IFRS financial measure. The Company has calculated book value consistently for many years and believes that book value can provide information useful to its shareholders in understanding its performance, and may assist in the evaluation of its business relative to that of its peers.

Clairvests first quarter fiscal 2019 financial statements and MD&A are available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and the Clairvest website at www.clairvest.com.

About Clairvest

Clairvest Group Inc. is a private equity investor which invests its own capital, and that of third parties through the Clairvest Equity Partners (CEP) limited partnerships, in businesses that have the potential to generate superior returns. In addition to providing financing, Clairvest contributes strategic expertise and execution ability to support the growth and development of its investee partners. Clairvest realizes value through investment returns and the eventual disposition of its investments.

Contact Information

Maria Shkolnik

Director, Investor Relations and Marketing

Clairvest Group Inc.

Tel: (416) 925-9270

Fax: (416) 925-5753

mariak@clairvest.com

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to Clairvest Group Inc., its subsidiaries, its CEP limited partnerships and their investments. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Clairvest, its subsidiaries, its CEP limited partnerships and their investments to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include general and economic business conditions and regulatory risks. Clairvest is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise.





www.clairvest.com




Elon Musk says in talks with Saudis on taking Tesla private



Washington, Aug 13 (AFP) Aug 13, 2018



Tesla chief executive Elon Musk disclosed Monday that he was in talks with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and other investors to take the electric automaker private.

The revelation came after Musk claimed in an August 7 Twitter post that financing for a deal to take Tesla private had been "secured."

Musk said in a blog post on Monday he had "no question" that the Saudis would finance such a transaction following a July 31 meeting.

"I continue to have discussions with the Saudi fund, and I also am having discussions with a number of other investors, which is something that I always planned to do since I would like for Tesla to continue to have a broad investor base," Musk wrote.

"It is appropriate to complete those discussions before presenting a detailed proposal to an independent board committee."

The transaction would be structured with equity so as not to burden Tesla with crushing debt, Musk added.

Musk's surprise comments last week sparked speculation he would need to borrow massive amounts to take Tesla private, a move that could allow the company to operate without requirements for financial reports and other pressures of a publicly traded firm.

But the comments also raised questions about whether Musk ran afoul of securities laws by claiming backing without a firm financial commitment.

The disclosures about Saudi interest "helps reduce the legal risk fallout for Tesla," said Efraim Levy, an equity analyst at CFRA Research.

"It also helps clarify the going private situation even if the transaction is ultimately not consummated."

But Levy said taking the company private would be a mixed blessing for Tesla and Musk -- the company could avoid short-term pressures from Wall Street but also reduce its access to capital markets.

"They've had significant benefits from having access to capital markets, and the media attention has provided priceless free advertising," Levy said.

"Despite Musk protestations, we think remaining public has and will benefit Tesla," he added.

Tesla shares failed to sustain an early surge and ended with a small gain of 0.26 percent at $356.41.







- Less than $70 billion -



In his blog post Monday, Musk said that reports that more than $70 billion would be needed to take Tesla private "dramatically overstate the actual capital raise needed" because he expected some shareholders to remain invested in the firm.

His comment that he wanted to launch a buyout at $420 a share "would only be used for Tesla shareholders who do not remain with our company if it is private," Musk said in the post.

"My best estimate right now is that approximately two-thirds of shares owned by all current investors would roll over into a private Tesla."

Musk added that the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund "has approached me multiple times" starting in early 2017 about taking Tesla private and had already taken a stake of nearly five percent though share purchases.

He said the Saudis were interested "because of the important need to diversify away from oil" and added that the sovereign fund "has more than enough capital needed to execute on such a transaction."

Loup Ventures analysts Gene Munster and Will Thompson said in a research note that Musk has answered the question "where would the money come from?" but still faces a number of challenges.

"If Musk can help it, we believe he will limit additional investors to 20 percent equity (he owns 22 percent), which implies the Saudi fund could only invest $16 billion," the analysts wrote.

"We still believe there is a greater than 50 percent chance Tesla is private in a year, and the blog post slightly increased those odds."

California-based Tesla has become one of the most valuable automakers on expectations it will disrupt the industry, although it produced only slightly more than 100,000 vehicles last year.

The company has been struggling to boost production of its Model 3, which is less expensive than its first models and could held expand Tesla's base.
Senior Trump officials survey California fire devastation



Los Angeles, Aug 13 (AFP) Aug 13, 2018



Senior members of the Trump administration were due in California Monday as blazes that have killed at least eight people continued to cut a catastrophic swathe through the country's most populous state.

Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes over the last month, with 14 blazes still threatening land and property from south of Los Angeles to the state's border with Oregon.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke -- wrapping a two-day tour of the Carr Fire's path to the west of Redding, northern California -- will meet rescuers alongside Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Firefighters made encouraging progress on the inferno, which has destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other property, over the weekend, according to federal and local government data.

But the 203,000-acre (82,000-hectare) blaze is still less than two-thirds contained after killing eight people and prompting the evacuation of 40,000.

The temperatures have remained in double digits but emergency workers say they are bracing for hotter weather, dry air and gusty winds over the coming days.

Around 130 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Redding, the Mendocino Complex wildfire, California's largest in history, has scorched 345,000 acres.

The blaze is made up of the Ranch and River fires, which were respectively 59 percent and 93 percent contained by Monday morning, according to Cal Fire.

Zinke's visit with Perdue comes days after President Donald Trump suggested that California's environmental policies had deprived firefighters of water and left too many trees that could fuel fires.

Some activists have acknowledged that many of the state's forests are too dense and require more aggressive management but Cal Fire officials have stated they have enough water.



- Inaccessible terrain -



Other experts have added that California's most destructive blazes have started in shrublands, not thick forests, and that the devastating fire season has been lengthened by climate change.

Zinke angered activists by downplaying the importance of global warming in wildfire management as he began his California visit on Sunday.

"I've heard the climate change argument back and forth," he said in an interview with television station KCRA 3.

"This has nothing to do with climate change. This has to do with active forest management."

Fourteen of California's 20 largest wildfires have started since 2003 -- a period boasting some of the hottest, driest years on record in the US.

Zinke focused instead on environmentalists, accusing them of delaying forest management projects involving the removal of trees, according to the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

Congress passed a measure in March as part of the omnibus spending bill providing almost $2 billion for containing wildfires in fiscal year 2018, while in California legislators have made $200 million available.

Zinke has said that he and Perdue will ask Congress to streamline procedures for clearing out dead and dying trees.

Authorities have charged a 51-year-old man, Forrest Gordon Clark, with multiple arson-related charges in connection with the 22,714-acre Holy Fire in Orange County, to the southeast of Los Angeles.

Evacuation orders remained in place for thousands of people living in the path of the blaze as the flames edged toward a retirement community between the Santa Ana Mountains and an interstate highway.

The wildfire prompted voluntary evacuations for 1,300 units in the Trilogy Glen Ivy community, while some of the area's affected districts have delayed the return to school until next week.

Plumes of dark gray smoke could be seen billowing from behind a nearby hillside as containment for the Holy Fire rose to 52 percent.

Helicopters and airplanes continued to drop fire retardant on flames burning in otherwise inaccessible terrain as the fire entered its eighth day.
Tinder founders sue parent alleging cheating on stock options



San Francisco, Aug 14 (AFP) Aug 14, 2018



Tinder founders and early employees filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing parent firm InterActiveCorp of cheating them out of billions of dollars by manipulating the value of stock options for the popular dating app.

The suit filed in New York contends that IAC and its spinoff Match Group, which owns Tinder, schemed to dramatically drive down the value of stock options and then eliminate them altogether.

The companies "made contractual promises to recruit and retain the men and women who built Tinder" but then "lied, bullied, and violated their contractual duties, stealing billions of dollars,"said attorney Orin Snyder, who filed the suit on behalf of Tinder co-founders Jonathan Badeen, Justin Mateen, Sean Rad and others from its startup days.

The suit names IAC and Match as defendants, accusing the companies of breach of contract and called for at least $2 billion in compensation along with punitive damages.

Tinder, created in 2012, uses geolocation to propose nearby romantic matches for users to quickly scroll through, then "swipe" left or right to signal interest.

It was launched as a project from IAC-owned Hatch Labs, and the holding company eventually acquired a majority stake.

According to the lawsuit, IAC last year "manufactured a fake Tinder valuation of $3 billion" which was unchanged from two years earlier, despite its revenues having grown 600 percent and user base grown 50 percent.

By "lowballing" the value of Tinder and then merging it into Match, the companies "robbed the Tinder plaintiffs of billions of dollars," the suit alleges.

IAC and Match said the allegations were "meritless" and pledged to contest the lawsuit.

"Mr. Rad (who was dismissed from the company a year ago) and Mr. Mateen (who has not been with the company in years) may not like the fact that Tinder has experienced enormous success following their respective departures, but sour grapes alone do not a lawsuit make," the companies said.

Match Group has paid out more than a billion dollars in equity compensation to Tinder founders and employees, according to IAC.

Plaintiffs in the case identified themselves as the team that built Los Angeles-based Tinder.

The lawsuit also claims the company sought to cover up allegations of sexual harassment against former Match Group chief Greg Blatt.
40 children killed in Yemen bus strike: new Red Cross toll



Sanaa, Aug 14 (AFP) Aug 14, 2018



Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, the Red Cross said in a new toll Tuesday.

Fifty-six children were also among the 79 people wounded in the Thursday strike on Saada province, a rebel stronghold that borders Saudi Arabia, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

The new casualty toll came after a mass funeral was held for many of the dead children on Monday at which thousands vented anger against Riyadh and Washington.

Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 as Huthi rebel fighters closed in on the last bastion of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government.

The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since then, the vast majority of them civilians, and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

The UN Security Council called on Friday for a "credible" investigation into the deadly strike.

But it stopped short of demanding an independent investigation, and experts and aid groups voiced doubts that a promised coalition probe would provide transparency or accountability.

The coalition has been repeatedly blamed for bombing civilians, including a strike on a wedding hall in the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha in September 2015, in which 131 people died. The coalition denied responsibility.

In October 2016, a coalition air strike killed 140 people at a funeral in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

The coalition has admitted a small number of mistakes, but accuses the rebels of using civilians as human shields.

The high civilian death toll has been an embarrassment for Washington and other Western governments which supply the coalition with warplanes and other weapons.

But Washington continues to provide replacement munitions as well as intelligence and refuelling support for coalition aircraft.
40 children killed in Yemen bus strike: new Red Cross toll



Sanaa, Aug 14 (AFP) Aug 14, 2018



Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, the Red Cross said Tuesday, after thousands protested at a mass funeral.

Fifty-six children were also among the 79 people wounded in the Thursday strike on Saada province, a rebel stronghold that borders Saudi Arabia, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a new toll.

The child deaths have been an embarrassment for Western governments which supply the coalition with warplanes and other weapons and have sought to prevent the conduct of the war being scrutinised too closely.

The coalition has promised an internal inquiry but analysts and aid groups have voiced doubt it is ready to provide the transparency and accountability demanded by the wider international community.

The new casualty toll came after a mass funeral was held for many of the dead children on Monday at which thousands vented anger against Riyadh and Washington.

Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 as Huthi rebel fighters closed in on the last bastion of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government.

The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since then -- the vast majority of them civilians -- and caused what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN Security Council called on Friday for a "credible" investigation into the deadly strike.

But it stopped short of demanding an independent inquiry as urged by UN chief Antonio Guterres after past probes failed to lead to any significant reduction in the high civilian death toll from the coalition's more than three-year bombing campaign.



- Western powers back ally -



The coalition has been repeatedly blamed for bombing civilians, including a strike on a wedding hall in the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha in September 2015, in which 131 people died. It denied any responsibility for those deaths.

In October 2016, a coalition air strike killed 140 people at a funeral in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

Coalition commanders have admitted a small number of mistakes, but there has been no public disciplinary action or changes to the rules of engagement.

Commander have accused the rebels of using civilians as human shields.

The coalition initially called the strike on the bus a "legitimate military action" in response to a rebel missile attack on the Saudi city of Jizan on Wednesday.

But as photographs of dazed and bloodied children flooding into hospitals were beamed around the world, it was forced to concede to an investigation.

Western government have condemned the civilian deaths, but they remain political and military backers of Saudi Arabia, which is a regional ally and spends billions of dollars on arms from the United States, Britain and France.

During US-led air campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria since 2001, Western forces occasionally admitted "collateral damage" when civilians were killed unintentionally.

But they too resisted independent investigations into the circumstances of major errors.

Key Saudi coalition ally, the United Arab Emirates, said Monday that the child deaths were a manifestation of the "ugly" side of war for which both sides were to blame.

"Unfortunately, this is really part of any confrontation," the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said, adding that those calling for independent investigations should instead urge tighter rules of engagement.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International, Inc. (HIL), the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today that the Company received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) of its determination to commence proceedings to delist the Companys common stock. Furthermore, the NYSE announced the suspension of the Companys common stock. The determination to commence the delisting proceeding is a result of the Company requiring more time to become current in filing its late annual and quarterly reports, including its financial statements, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).



While Hill has made significant progress and has worked diligently with its independent accounting firm to complete its late reports, the Company informed the NYSE that it would not become current with its SEC periodic reporting by August 15, 2018. The delay is due to the time and effort necessary to prepare, finalize, and audit the Companys financial statements. The Company plans to become current with its SEC periodic reports in the third quarter of 2018.

As a result of the suspension, Hill expects its shares of common stock will begin trading on August 14, 2018 under the symbol HILI on the OTC Pink, which is operated by OTC Markets Group Inc.

Hill intends to file a Request for Review with the NYSE regarding the commencement of the delisting proceedings. The Company expects that the NYSE will hold a hearing on the Review Request on or after 25 business days from the date of filing the Review Request, and the Company expects to be current with its filings on or before the NYSEs hearing date.

The Companys potential delisting does not reflect on the financial fundamentals of Hill, which remain strong and continue to improve, said Paul Evans, Hill Internationals Interim CEO. We will complete our required filings and resolve our potential delisting in the near future to the satisfaction of our shareholders and our employees.

Hill International, with approximately 3,000 professionals in more than 50 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the eighth-largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any statements of belief or intent, any statements concerning our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations; and any statements regarding our intent to file late periodic reports are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that unfavorable global economic conditions may adversely impact our business, our backlog may not be fully realized as revenue, our expenses may be higher than anticipated, and the review of the Company's accounting, accounting policies and internal control over financial reporting, and the preparation of and the audit or review, as applicable, of filings may take longer than currently anticipated or additional restatement adjustments may be identified. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.

Hill International, Inc.

Elizabeth J. Zipf, LEED AP BD+C

Senior Vice President

Hill International, Inc.

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, 17th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Tel: 215-309-7707

elizabethzipf@hillintl.com

Hill International, Inc.

Marco A. Martinez

SVP & Interim Chief Financial Officer

(215) 309-7951

marcomartinez@hillintl.com

InvestorCom

John Glenn Grau

President

(203) 295-7841

jgrau@investor-com.com

(HIL-G)
Taliban 'showing strength' with assault on Afghan city: analysts



Kabul, Aug 14 (AFP) Aug 14, 2018



A major Taliban assault on Ghazni has triggered five days of fighting with Afghan security forces, with reports of scores dead and the strategic centre left a "ghost city".

Kabul insists it remains in government hands, but residents have told AFP the insurgents remain entrenched in the streets, burning buildings and targeting civilians. The United Nations said unverified reports put civilian casualties at more than 100.

NATO has dismissed the Taliban assault as an "eye-catching, but inconsequential headline", yet the demoralised Afghan security forces have struggled to overpower the insurgents despite backing from US airpower.

Analysts say the attack is a show of strength with the insurgents under pressure to hold peace talks. Here AFP examines what the Taliban's move means for Afghan security.



Why Ghazni?



Location is key, experts say.

Ghazni is barely two hours drive from Kabul, and straddles the Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively acting as the main artery to the insurgents' strongholds in the south.

Like other cities the Taliban have stormed in the past -- such as the western city of Farah in May, and Kunduz in the north in 2015 -- Ghazni is also a provincial capital, which are typically bigger and higher-value targets. And, analysts said, the Taliban already had key resources in the area.

"Ghazni has always been a contested province, with a heavy Taliban presence" in most districts, said Kabul-based military analyst Jawed Kohistani, adding that for months there had been reports that the insurgents were threatening the city.



Why now?



The Taliban, analysts said, are demonstrating strength amid tentative signs that diplomatic efforts to kick-start peace negotiations are starting to bear fruit.

"A major military and territorial victory on the eve of perhaps important and direct talks can win the Taliban even more political weight," Kohistani told AFP.

In June, Washington indicated a shift in its longstanding policy that negotiations must be Afghan-led. Last month Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar, militant sources have told AFP.

"Both sides have just shared initial demands and agreed to continue informal talks," a senior commander based at an unknown location in northwest Pakistan told AFP, adding that "no progress has been made".

The meetings come as the government and the Taliban declared a brief, unprecedented, and widely celebrated ceasefire in June.

Anticipation had been mounting about the possibility of a second government ceasefire announcement for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, which will be celebrated in Afghanistan on August 21.

Talks about talks have been held many times, but the only direct negotiations with the Taliban for peace took place in Pakistan in 2015. They were derailed by the confirmation that Taliban leader Mullah Omar was dead.



Were officials caught off guard?



It seems so, yes -- even after local authorities warned of the massing insurgents for months.

That raises questions about the ability of Afghan security forces three years after NATO combat troops pulled out, and the political leadership in Kabul, analysts said.

Afghan forces have taken staggering losses since they took over security for the country at the end of 2014. On Tuesday the army announced that a military base with 100 soldiers on it had fallen to the insurgents after days of fighting, with dozens feared killed and captured in the latest blow to morale.

But around Ghazni they may have been too relaxed, underestimating the Taliban's abilities and resources there and putting misplaced confidence in the threat of US airstrikes, analysts said.

Afghan-based political analyst Haroun Mir said generals in the field have also been hobbled by Kabul, citing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's reputation for micromanagement as a hindrance.

As parliamentary and district elections approach in October, Ghani, for his part, has appeared more focused on the campaign trail than confronting the Taliban.

On Sunday, the third day of fighting in Ghazni, Ghani delivered a wide-ranging speech to mark International Youth Day. In the nearly hour-long address he did not refer to the fighting once.

The glaring omission infuriated Afghans, with commentators berating the sidestep.

"He is totally oblivious," said Mir.

"The successful Taliban onslaught in Ghazni will definitely raise a lot of questions about the management of Afghan security and military leadership and increase calls for reform," said Kohistani.

Authorities have released little information about Ghazni, fuelling rumours of high tolls and mistrust in officials.

US-led forces in Afghanistan have been offering regular statements, but downplayed the fighting, branding it a "failure" by the Taliban to take the city.



What happens now?



Rahimullah Yusufzai, a Taliban and regional expert, said the Taliban had no desire to hold Ghazni, however -- just to show that they could.

"The strategy is to launch big attacks, to show their power, hold the city or town for some days, get their prisoners released, capture some weapons, get some money, create fear -- and then leave," he said.

Kunduz, which briefly fell to the Taliban in September 2015, was later recaptured by Afghan forces backed by US aircraft and NATO soldiers.

The militants launched a major attempt to take over Farah in May this year, triggering intense fighting with US and Afghan forces, who forced the Taliban fighters to the outskirts of the city after a day-long battle.
Yemen says waiting for peace talks invite, expectations low



Geneva, Aug 14 (AFP) Aug 14, 2018



Yemen's ambassador to the UN said Tuesday that his government had not yet been invited to peace talks planned for next month, but that it was open to attending despite low prospects for success.

"We are waiting for the invitation," Yemen's envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Majawar, told reporters.

The UN's peace envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council earlier this month that he wants to host warring parties in the Swiss city on September 6.

A Yemeni government source, who requested anonymity, told AFP on August 3 that it would attend.

Majawar underscored that in the two weeks since Griffiths announced the talks, the UN has not shared any details, including on the crucial issue of whether the government and rebels would be asked to meet face-to-face.

The government is waiting for clarity from Griffiths "on the mechanism and contents of the consultations," Majawar said.

"In my personal opinion, they will be very difficult consultations... We don't think the Huthis will make any compromises to help the talks to go forward," he added.

The war in Yemen has triggered what the UN has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster.

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since March 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition intervened to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government against the Huthis.

While all sides have been accused of major violations, global outrage in recent days has focused on the coalition after it carried out an air strike on a bus that killed 40 children in the rebel-held north.

The last attempt at UN-brokered talks broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government.
US: N. Korea talks moving 'in right direction'



Washington, Aug 14 (AFP) Aug 14, 2018



US talks with North Korea on denuclearization are making progress "in the right direction," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday.

Nauert said behind-the-scenes discussions with Pyongyang have normalized in the wake of President Donald Trump's June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and subsequent meetings between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other top Pyongyang officials.

"We consider meetings, negotiations, conversations as we move forward behind the scenes with those negotiations to be moving in the right direction," Nauert said in a press briefing.

"Conversations with the government of North Korea are becoming a far more normal matter."

The comments came after North and South Korea announced Monday that they had agreed to hold a summit in Pyongyang in September.

Nauert would not provide details of the talks -- where they were taking place, who is involved, or what issues are currently under discussion.

But she reiterated the US view that Kim told Trump he was willing to denuclearize, which is the primary US goal of the discussions.

She noted North Korea's recent release of the remains of US servicemen who died during the Korean War in the early 1950s as a sign of progress.

"That is certainly a step in the right direction," she said.

"We continue to have those conversations because Chairman Kim has committed to President Trump that they are willing to denuclearize. And so we will continue in a full good faith effort to have those conversations move forward."
-- Strong Demand and Continued Logistics Enhancements Drive Sale of ~165K Tons of Frac Sand --

-- Records 31% Margin on Adjusted EBITDA of $2.9 Million  255% Higher than $0.8 Million in Q1 2018 --

-- Significant Progress on Expansion Project to Boost Production Capacity by 67% to 1 Million Tons Per Year --

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Select Sands Corp. (Select Sands or the Company) (TSXV: SNS, OTC: SLSDF) today announced record operational and financial results for Q2 of 2018 and the filing of its financial statements and associated managements discussion and analysis on www.sedar.com. The Companys financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars to better reflect Select Sands operations and to improve investors ability to compare the Companys financial results with other publicly traded silica sand businesses in the U.S. Prior to reporting its Q4 2017 and full year results, Select Sands financial statements were stated in Canadian dollars. The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. Central to discuss its Q2 2018 results (see Conference Call Information section in this release for access information).

Q2 2018 Operational and Financial Highlights

Sold a record 164,872 tons of frac and industrial sand during Q2 of 2018, which was significantly higher than Select Sands' original outlook for the sale of 120,000 to 140,000 tons;

Q2 2018 Q2 2017 Q1 2018 Frac sand 164,848 52,480 92,191 Industrial sand 24 466 24 Frac and Industrial sand 164,872 52,946 92,215 Other sand & gravel 1,401 4,164 8,058 166,273 57,110 100,273

Increased sales volumes and pricing drove revenue to $9.5 million  68% higher than Q1 2018 revenue of $5.7 million;





Enhanced production-related and logistics efficiencies pushed gross profit up 130% to $3.0 million from $1.3 million in the Q1 2018, with the related margin increasing to 32.1% from 23.4% in the preceding quarter;





Reported record net income of $1.6 million in Q2 2018, or $0.02 per basic and diluted common share, versus Q1 2018 net income of $0.6 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted common share;





Generated a 31.0% margin of on adjusted EBITDA (1) of $2.9 million in Q2 2018, which was 255% higher than $0.8 million reported for the first quarter of 2018;





of $2.9 million in Q2 2018, which was 255% higher than $0.8 million reported for the first quarter of 2018; As previously announced, during Q2 2018, the Company exercised its option to purchase 223 acres of property in Independence County, Arkansas (the Independence Property) and secured a $3.9 million capital expenditure line of credit to fund its near-term expansion project on the Independence Property designed to increase production capacity to 1 million tons per year; and





As of June 30, 2018, cash and cash equivalents were $4.2 million, inventory on hand was $1.8 million, accounts receivable was $4.0 million and working capital was $7.0 million.





Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure and is described and reconciled to net loss in the table under Non-IFRS Financial Measures.

Zig Vitols, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, We are clearly pleased with our record results for the second quarter. Over the past months, we have put significant effort into further improving the efficiency of our production, shipping and inter-plant transportation capabilities. During the second quarter, this allowed our current scope of operations to fully benefit from the strong customer demand for our products. As in the past, I want to thank all of our employees and supporting contract personnel for their hard-work and dedication. Along with the rest of executive leadership, I look forward to continued close collaboration with our outstanding team as we further position Select Sands for long-term success.

Financial Summary

The following table includes summarized financial results for the three months ended June 20, 2018, June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2018:

Select Sands Corp. Summarized Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, June 30, March 31, 2018 2017 2018 Revenue $ 9,504,445 $ 2,302,048 $ 5,655,410 Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and depletion) 6,457,938 1,632,054 4,331,344 Gross Profit (Loss) $ 3,046,507 $ 669,994 $ 1,324,066 General and administrative ("G&A") expenses (1) 625,164 863,666 396,694 Depreciation and depletion 235,293 141,260 225,233 Interest on long-term debt 40,741 - 32,169 Operating Income (Loss) $ 2,145,309 $ (334,932 ) $ 669,970 Interest income 872 5,968 2,783 Foreign exchange gain (loss) 97,073 (474,454 ) (100,866 ) Share of (loss) income in equity investee (51,904 ) (42,200 ) 2,171 Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes $ 2,191,350 $ (845,618 ) $ 574,058 Provision for income taxes (586,272 ) - - Net Income (Loss) $ 1,605,078 $ (845,618 ) $ 574,058 Foreign currency translation adjustment (159,991 ) 269,299 (4,446 ) Comprehensive Income (Loss) $ 1,445,087 $ (576,319 ) $ 569,612 Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $ 0.02 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.01 Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $ 0.02 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.01 Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding 88,313,316 86,959,360 88,313,316 Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding 98,102,429 86,959,360 98,102,429 Adjusted EBITDA (2) $ 2,945,343 $ (200,127 ) $ 830,478 (1) Includes non-cash share-based compensation of $426,055, $462,031 and 1,189 for the second quarter 2018, second quarter 2017 and first quarter 2018. (2) Excludes depreciation and depletion, non-cash share-based compensation, interest on long-term debt, share of loss (income) in equity investee and provision for income taxes. See table under "Non-IFRS Financial Measures for reconciliation to net income (loss).

Expansion Project Update

Site work for ground stabilization and construction of settling ponds has started, while fabrication of components continues at the Companys shop location to build items such as conveyors.





Highlights and features of the Independence Property include: Sufficient acreage to complete the current expansion, with additional acreage available for future expansion of a new-build facility; Well suited for a future potential build of a 110-150 railcar loop track for efficient and economical loading of finished products; Elevated above the floodplain allowing for uninterrupted operations; Access to natural gas, three-phase electricity and water; and



Located next to a large coal power plant and adjacent to a state highway.





Select Sands expectation is to complete construction of the stand-alone facility by the end of Q4 2018, thereby bringing the Companys Sandtown operations to its expected total capacity rate of 1 million tons per year.

Outlook

Mr. Vitols concluded, Given our operations at Sandtown only began at the start of 2017, I am pleased with how far we have come. During this short period of time  and through relatively minimal initial and subsequent capital investment  we converted a brown sand excavation operation to a drill and blast quarry operation focused on processing premium-priced white sand, as well as materially expanded our production and logistics capabilities. Supported by this strong position, we have now embarked on our next phase of growth through our capacity expansion project on the recently acquired Independence property. This project will result in a material increase in our production capabilities and a lower cost profile for our overall operations, which will also allow us to better capitalize on the strong demand for our high-quality silica products given our strategic location near key oil and gas basins in the U.S.

Elliott A. Mallard, PG of Kleinfelder is the qualified person as per the NI-43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Central (CDT) to discuss its second quarter 2018 results. To access the conference call, callers in North America may dial toll free 1-855-669-9657 and callers outside North America may dial 1-412-542-4135. Please call ten minutes ahead of the scheduled start time to ensure a proper connection and ask to be joined into the Select Sands call.

A playback of the conference call will be available in MP3 format by contacting investor relations below.

About Select Sands Corp.

Select Sands Corporation is an industrial silica product company, which owns a number of properties in Arkansas and is currently in production at its 100% owned, Tier-1, silica sands property located near Sandtown, Arkansas, U.S.A. Select Sands goal is to become a key supplier of premium industrial silica sand and frac sand to North American markets. Select Sands Arkansas properties have a significant logistical advantage of being significantly closer to oil and gas markets located in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana than sources of similar sands from the Wisconsin area. The Tier-1 reference above is a classification of frac sand developed by PropTester, Inc., an independent laboratory specializing in the research and testing of products utilized in hydraulic fracturing & cement operations, following ISO 13503-2:2006/API RP19C:2008 standards.

Select Sands Sandtown project has NI 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resources of 42.0MM tons (TetraTech Report; February, 2016) and Bell Farm has Inferred Mineral Resources of 49.6MM tons (Kleinfelder Report; April, 2017). Both deposits are considered Northern White finer-grade sand deposits of 40-70 Mesh and 100 Mesh.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Information and statements which are not purely historical fact are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate to comments that include, but are not limited to further capacity expansion, a lower cost profile and continued customer demand for frac sand. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward-looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

Company Contact

Please visit www.selectsandscorp.com or call:

Zigurds Vitols

President & CEO

Phone: (604) 639-4533

Investor Relations Contact

Arlen Hansen

SNS@kincommunications.com

Phone: (604) 684-6730

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Select Sands Corp. Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) Three months Three months Six months Six months ended ended ended ended June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenue $ 9,504,445 $ 2,302,048 $ 15,159,855 $ 3,403,841 Cost of Goods Sold (excluding depreciation and depletion) 6,457,938 1,632,054 10,789,282 2,966,188 Gross Profit (Loss) 3,046,507 669,994 4,370,573 437,653 Operating Expenses Compensation and consulting 204,685 100,902 451,471 301,458 Depreciation and depletion 235,293 141,260 460,526 232,882 Interest on long-term debt 40,741 - 72,910 - Selling, general and administrative (5,576 ) 300,733 143,143 468,709 Share-based compensation 426,055 462,031 427,244 2,121,208 Total Operating Expenses 901,198 1,004,926 1,555,294 3,124,257 Operating Income (Loss) 2,145,309 (334,932 ) 2,815,279 (2,686,604 ) Other (Expense) Income Interest income 872 5,968 3,655 13,842 Foreign exchange (loss) gain 97,073 (474,454 ) (3,793 ) (345,281 ) Share of income (loss) in equity investee (51,904 ) (42,200 ) (49,733 ) (160,843 ) Total Other (Expense) Income 46,041 (510,686 ) (49,871 ) (492,282 ) Net Income (Loss) before Income Taxes 2,191,350 (845,618 ) 2,765,408 (3,178,886 ) Provision for Income Taxes (586,272 ) - (586,272 ) - Net Income (Loss) 1,605,078 (845,618 ) 2,179,136 (3,178,886 ) Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Foreign currency translation adjustment (159,991 ) 269,299 (164,437 ) 36,079 Comprehensive Income (Loss) $ 1,445,087 $ (576,319 ) $ 2,014,699 $ (3,142,807 ) Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $ 0.02 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.02 $ (0.04 ) Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $ 0.02 $ (0.01 ) $ 0.02 $ (0.04 ) Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding 88,313,316 86,959,360 88,313,316 86,226,118 Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding 98,102,429 86,959,360 98,102,429 86,226,118

Select Sands Corp. Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) As at June 30, December 31, 2018 2017 ASSETS Current Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,150,356 $ 2,047,515 Accounts receivable 3,970,871 3,385,597 Inventory 1,776,725 1,961,573 Prepaid expenses 89,257 83,223 Total Current Assets 9,987,209 7,477,908 Deposits 344,174 364,580 Deferred income taxes 1,987,308 2,356,000 Investment in Affiliate 1,266,863 1,275,409 Property, Plant and Equipment 15,516,633 13,415,238 Total Assets $ 29,102,187 $ 24,889,135 LIABILITIES Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 2,065,149 $ 1,418,182 Current portion of long-term debt 892,516 778,051 Total Current Liabilities 2,957,665 2,196,233 Long-term Debt 3,293,773 2,284,096 Total Liabilities 6,251,438 4,480,329 EQUITY Share Capital 34,717,344 34,717,344 Share-based Payment Reserve 5,301,475 4,874,231 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (106,899 ) 57,538 Deficit (17,061,171 ) (19,240,307 ) Total Equity 22,850,749 20,408,806 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 29,102,187 $ 24,889,135





Select Sands Corp. Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows (Expressed in United States Dollars) (Unaudited) For the Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2018 2017 Operating Activities Net income (loss) for the period $ 2,179,136 $ (3,178,886 ) Adjustments for non-cash items: Depreciation and depletion 460,526 232,882 Share-based compensation 427,244 2,121,208 Foreign exchange (7,663 ) 36,079 Gain on sale of equipment - (1,196 ) Share of (income) loss in equity investee 49,733 160,843 Accretion on finance leases 29,388 - Provision for income taxes 586,272 - Changes in non-cash operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (585,274 ) (2,256,048 ) Inventory 184,848 (1,751,252 ) Prepaid expenses (6,034 ) (5,437 ) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 331,426 520,383 Total Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities 3,649,602 (4,121,424 ) Investing Activities Deposits 20,406 (208,678 ) Investment in affiliate (100,000 ) - Proceeds for disposal of equipment - 5,835 Property, plant and equipment (1,063,426 ) (3,027,898 ) Total Cash Used in Investing Activities (1,143,020 ) (3,230,741 ) Financing Activities Warrants exercised - 780,713 Options exercised - 291,801 Proceeds from short-term loan 900,000 - Repayments of short-term loan (900,000 ) - Proceeds from long-term debt 266,558 - Principal repayments of long-term debt (609,542 ) - Total Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities (342,984 ) 1,072,514 Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash (60,757 ) 127,025 Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents 2,102,841 (6,152,626 ) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period 2,047,515 8,770,627 Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period $ 4,150,356 $ 2,618,001

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

The following information is included for convenience only. Generally, a non-IFRS financial measure is a numerical measure of a companys performance, cash flows or financial position that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance (nor does it have a standardized meanings) under IFRS. In evaluating non-IFRS financial measures, investors should consider that the methodology applied in calculating such measures may differ among companies and analysts.

The Company uses both IFRS and certain non-IFRS measures to assess operational performance and as a component of employee remuneration. Management believes certain non-IFRS measures provide useful supplemental information to investors in order that they may evaluate Select Sands' financial performance using the same measures as management. Management believes that, as a result, the investor is afforded greater transparency in assessing the financial performance of the Company. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, nor superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA: For the Three Months Ended June 30, June 30, March 31, 2018 2017 2018 Net Income (Loss) $ 1,605,078 $ (845,618 ) $ 574,058 Add Back Depreciation and depletion 235,293 141,260 225,233 Share-based compensation 426,055 462,031 1,189 Interest on long-term debt 40,741 - 32,169 Provision for income taxes 586,272 - - EBITDA $ 2,893,439 $ (242,327 ) $ 832,649 Add Back Share of loss (income) of equity investee 51,904 42,200 (2,171 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 2,945,343 $ (200,127 ) $ 830,478

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash share-based compensation, loss from flooding at its plant, and gain on sale of fixed assets. Select Sands uses Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental financial measure of its operational performance. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA to be an important measure as they exclude the effects of items that primarily reflect the impact of long-term investment and financing decisions, rather than the performance of the Companys day-to-day operations. As compared to net income according to IFRS, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in the Company's business, the charges associated with impairments, termination costs or Proposed Transaction costs. Management evaluates such items through other financial measures such as capital expenditures and cash flow provided by operating activities. The Company believes that these measurements are useful to measure a companys ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations or as a valuation measurement.

Indicated Resources Disclosure

The Company advises that the production decision on the Sandtown deposit (the Companys current Sand Operations) was not based on a Feasibility Study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will occur as anticipated or that anticipated production costs will be achieved.
English Danish

At the Extraordinary General Meeting of Jyske Bank held today, the motions set out in the agenda were finally adopted.

The motions concerning a reduction of the Banks share capital and amendments to the Articles of Association in this respect as well as the authorisation of the general meeting to the Supervisory Board for registration of the amendments to the Articles of Association were considered.

The Danish Business Authority is subsequently requested to register the adopted motions.

Yours faithfully,

Jyske Bank

Contact person: CFO, Birger Krgh Nielsen, phone +45 89 89 64 44.

Attachment
Boumerdes, August 13, 2018 (SPS) -The Spanish colonization archives on Western Sahara bear "irrefutable testimony" that the Sahrawis were masters of their territory, said Monday Teacher-researcher and legal expert in archives, Achour Sellal.



Speaking in a conference at the Summer University of the executives of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Sellal assured that these documents showed that the Sahrawis had the right to self-determination in accordance with the UN resolution 1514 of 1960.



Dating back to the period before or after the Spanish colonization, these records are important for the Sahrawi State and UN institutions, said the speaker.



In an expose themed SADR archives: Active and reactive memory, Sellal stressed that all these archives, notably those related to the Sahrawi population census, can be used as proofs in the country and abroad by the UN and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).



While calling on SADR leaders to defend and protect their territory, their history and their economic interests through these documents, Sellal stressed that "the Sahrawi archives kept in Spain could be the subject of international archival litigation."



In the same vein, he stated that Sahrawi authorities could demand from the international bodies concerned the legal and legitimate return of these written records.



Besides, the speaker stressed the need to reactivate these historical documents as they can be valuable "informational" resources in several areas.



In diplomacy for instance, Sellal said that Resolution 1514 of the UN General Assembly of 14 December 1960 allowed the use of archival documents relating to the colonial era.



In this regard, he assured that Sahrawi officials can have access to a series of archives including those on the census of Sahrawi populations conducted by the Spanish authorities in 1974 and all related data.



As regards economy, there are maps and plans on the exploitation of the mining industry and fishery resources during the Spanish colonial presence. They can be reactivated for economic and political purposes given that the Sahrawi territory contains coveted natural resources, he assured.



Studies showing that written records on the urbanization of the Sahrawi territory have existed for a very long time, recalled Sellal. (SPS)



062/SPS/TRA
English13/08/2018

SRNA News Roundup /III/ - August 13, 2018

REPUBLIKA SRPSKA



BANJALUKA  The Speaker of the Republika Srpska Parliament, Nedeljko Cubrilovic, told SRNAs Darko Gavrilovic that an international expert commission which will scientifically and impartially investigate the events in and around Srebrenica is expected to be formed, and that it will include the period from 1992 to 1995 and all the victims in that area.



BANJALUKA  Republika Srpska institutions must at any cost find a model to protect members of the Republika Srpska Army whose names are on the list which the president of the Mothers of Srebrenica Association, Munira Subasic, submitted to a German prosecutor, says the Republika Srpska Association of Women Victims of War.



BANJALUKA  Bojan Vidic, an SNSD member of the Republika Srpska Parliament, has said that a story invented by the opposition about a third entity is a classical deceit aimed at turning the publics attention from their shame of not heeding the call by the Republika Srpska president for consultations in connection with the shameful Srebrenica report, since they want that the persecution of more than 22,000 honorable people, former members of the Republika Srpska Army, continues.



BANJALUKA  NDP president Dragan Cavic has said that this party is interested in having the Srebrenica Commission Report about events in and around Srebrenica in the period July 10-19, 1995, be before the Republika Srpska Parliament, and that NDP MPs will work towards reaching a consensus by all political parties in Parliament regarding this issue.



BANJALUKA  The president of the United Srpska, Nenad Stevandic, has told SRNA that the failure of opposition leaders to heed the call by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik for consultations regarding a session of the Republika Srpska Parliament that will be held tomorrow shows their heartlessness towards 22,000 people.



BANJALUKA  The Republika Srpska Minister of Labor and Veterans Affairs, Milenko Savanovic, and members of the presidency of the Republika Srpska Alliance of Disabled Persons agreed that there are status issues that should be improved through legislation, but that this cannot be done before the formation of a new Government and Parliament.



LAKTASI  The Republika Srpska Minister of Transport and Communications, Nedjo Trninic, has said that activities aimed at promoting flights of the Rayanair Company towards Stockholm, Brussels and Memingem from Banjaluka Airport, which will start at the end of October, are insufficient and should be increased.





BANJALUKA  The Republika Srpska Minister of Education and Culture, Dane Malesevic, has expressed satisfaction with the successful cooperation with the Office of the US Embassy in Banjaluka, particularly in the field of elementary, secondary and higher education.



BANJALUKA - From the beginning of the year until August 12, Republika Srpska police discovered and registered a total of 2,174 migrants who illegally entered BiH. Sources in the Republika Srpska Ministry of Internal Affairs told SRNA that the greatest number of migrants was discovered in the area covered by the Bijeljina Police Administration, 804, the Zvornik Police Administration, 378, the Trebinje Police Administration, 252, and the Banjaluka Police Administration, 184.





SERBIA



BELGRADE  Serbia cannot and will not recognize unilaterally declared independence of Kossovo or give it a seat in the UN, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said today.



GORAZDEVAC  A memorial service was held today in the Church of Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God in Gorazdevac for boys Ivan Jovovic and Pantelija Dakic whom Albanian terrorists killed 15 years ago in the River Bistrica in Gorazdevac.



BELGRADE  The 15th anniversary of the crime in Gorazdevac, in Kossovo and Metohija, where Albanian terrorists killed two Serbian boys with automatic rifles and wounded four of their friends while they were swimming in the River Bistrica, was marked today in the Memorial Room of Kossovo Victims in Belgrade. /end/sg
VANCOUVER, B.C., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Otis Gold Corp. (Otis or the Company) (TSX-V:OOO) (OTC:OGLDF) is pleased to announce an updated independent mineral resource estimate at its 100% owned Kilgore Project (Kilgore) located in Clark County, Idaho. The new resource incorporates drilling completed from 2015 through 2017 and is a strong foundation for future growth by expansion drilling, engineering and metallurgical studies.

The Classified Mineral Resource estimate is quoted at a cut-off grade of 0.21 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and comprises:

An Indicated resource of 825,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 0.58 g/t Au in 44.6 million tonnes

An Inferred resource of 136,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 0.45 g/t Au in 9.4 million tonnes

Otis President & CEO, Craig Lindsay, comments: We are very pleased with the progress made over the past several years at Kilgore, as it has emerged into an exciting stand-alone gold deposit that exhibits clear expansion potential, and the broader 12,000 acre Kilgore Project has extremely promising growth potential to develop targets both within and external to current project boundaries.

Table 1: Otis Gold  Updated Kilgore Deposit NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate -

Pit constrained at $1,300/oz Au with sensitivity to Cut-off Grade

Indicated 1,2 Inferred 1,2 Waste

Tonnes Strip

Ratio Cut-off Au (g/t) Tonnes Ounces Grade Au (g/t) Tonnes Ounces Grade Au (g/t) 0.14 53,206,000 873,000 0.51 13,168,000 157,000 0.37 59,450,000 0.90 0.21 44,556,000 825,000 0.58 9,399,000 136,000 0.45 71,869,000 1.33 0.27 36,559,000 764,000 0.64 6,600,000 115,000 0.54 82,665,000 1.92 0.34 29,786,000 697,000 0.73 4,567,000 95,000 0.65 91,471,000 2.66

Pit input parameters: Selling price $2.20/oz, Recovery 80%, Mining cost $2/ton, Process cost + G&A $4/ton, Pit slope 50 Mineral resources constrained by optimized open pit shell

Otis Gold Corp. - Updated Kilgore Deposit NI 43-101 Resource Estimate - Conference Call

Otis executives will host a conference call to discuss the updated NI 43-101 resource estimate on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 1:15 pm PST/4:15 pm EST. You may access the call by dialing the operator at 778-383-7413 (Vancouver), 1-416-764-8688 (Toronto or International) or toll free at 1-888-390-0546 prior to the scheduled start time, or you may listen to the call via webcast by clicking here:

Webcast: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1817386/82BE4380E770F299F44B8D377BDD7FAA

Highlights

At a gold price of US$1,300/oz and a cut-off of 0.006 ounces per short ton gold (0.21 grams per metric tonne gold) the pit-constrained Kilgore mineral resource contains: An Indicated Resource of 825,000 oz Au in 44.6 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.58 g/t Au, which represents an increase of 59% in the number of Indicated ounces compared with the 2012 Resource Estimate An Inferred Resource of 136,000 oz Au in 9.4 million tonnes at a grade of 0.45 g/t Au (reduction from 2012 Inferred ounces due to conversion to Indicated category)

Deposit is robust in respect of sensitivity to lower gold prices down to $1,100 per ounce gold (see Tables 2 & 3 below)

Mineral resource estimate is supported by 323 drill holes totaling 68,814 metres with an increased proportion of core holes contributing to the resource

Otis has utilized modern 3D geologic modeling to constrain the resource using both lithology and structure, which will be used as both an exploration planning tool and for engineering activities

At a $1,300 gold price, and using a cut-off of 0.21 grams per tonne, 31% of the indicated ounces are contained within the Aspen Formation at an average grade of 0.69 grams per tonne. The increase in ounces contained comes from diamond core drilling across the Tertiary Volcanic  Cretaceous Aspen Formation contact

Comparable gold grade, cut-off and strip ratios to competing Great Basin gold deposits in Nevada

The next round of planned drilling will target near-surface resource expansion via step-outs to the north, west and south of the deposit

Approval of a new 5-year Plan of Operations is expected in August from the United States Forest Service which will enable step-out drilling at the Deposit that was not allowed under the previous permit.

This new permit will also provide significant flexibility to begin the process of drill-testing additional emerging targets at Kilgore. The majority of the property remains largely untested from a drill perspective, including approximately 5km of strike along the main controlling fault

Increased diamond core drilling over historic rotary and reverse circulation drilling will continue to better enable Otis geologists to evaluate alteration mineralogy, lithology and general structure; core drilling also provides needed geotechnical information for future mine planning

Table 2: Otis Gold  Indicated Resource Estimate Matrix  Gold Price vs. Grade

Indicated Au Ounces by Cut-off grade1 Indicated Tonnes by Cut-off grade1 Gold Price 0.14 g/t 0.21 g/t 0.27 g/t 0.14 g/t 0.21 g/t 0.27 g/t $1,500 890,000 840,000 777,000 54,667,000 45,666,000 37,407,000 $1,400 883,000 835,000 772,000 54,051,000 45,224,000 37,081,000 $1,300 873,000 825,000 764,000 53,206,000 44,556,000 36,559,000 $1,200 864,000 817,000 756,000 52,442,000 43,960,000 36,114,000 $1,100 836,000 791,000 734,000 50,229,000 42,211,000 34,758,000

Pit input parameters: Selling price $2.20/oz, Recovery 80%, Mining cost $2/ton, Process cost + G&A $4/ton, Pit slope 50

Table 3: Otis Gold  Inferred Resource Estimate Matrix  Gold Price vs. Grade

Inferred Au Ounces by Cut-off grade1 Inferred Tonnes by Cut-off grade1 Gold Price 0.14 g/t 0.21 g/t 0.27 g/t 0.14 g/t 0.21 g/t 0.27 g/t $1500 173,000 150,000 126,000 14,700,000 10,487,000 7,341,000 $1,400 166,000 144,000 121,000 14,029,000 10,008,000 7,017,000 $1,300 157,000 136,000 115,000 13,168,000 9,399,000 6,600,000 $1,200 148,000 129,000 109,000 12,295,000 8,781,000 6,189,000 $1,100 123,000 108,000 92,000 9,752,000 7,078,000 5,027,000

Pit inputs parameters: Selling price 2.20/oz, Recovery 80%, Mining cost $2/ton, Process + G&A cost $4/ton, Pit slope 50

Otis Vice President of Exploration, Alan Roberts, states, The increase in the resource is an encouraging step in the ongoing exploration at Kilgore since this has been achieved without aggressive step-out drilling. This estimated resource is contained within a single near surface pit with a corresponding low strip ratio. I believe that there is more gold to be found; the upcoming drill program offers the possibility of adding new resources adjacent to the existing Kilgore Deposit. Our 2018 drill program will commence after permits have been received and will first focus on step-out drilling around the Deposit. In addition to the proposed drill program, an extensive project-wide surface mapping and geochemical sampling program is underway; this is part of ongoing exploration with the goal of identifying new Kilgore-style deposits associated with the Kilgore Caldera margin.

The geologic model and mineral resource estimate for Kilgore was completed by David Rowe, CPG, of Rowearth LLC, an independent Qualified Person as defined by the National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, as the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Council, as amended. The geologic model was developed using Leapfrog Geo 4.3 in collaboration with Otis geologists and consists of a gold shell that is sub-divided into resource estimation domains based on structurally controlled models for lithology and alteration. 12,144 ten-foot composite samples were produced from 323 drill holes that are contained within five modelled domains. The block model estimation was produced with Leapfrog Edge and block gold grades were estimated from the composite samples by ordinary kriging into a block model with 20 ft x 20 ft x 10 ft parent blocks. Specific gravity (SG) from 671 core samples was developed for the block model using inverse distance cubed (ID3) estimation method. The mineral resource was classified based on drill hole data and confidence in the geologic model. Indicated Mineral Resource blocks are estimated by at least 6 samples captured within a 130 x 130 x 100 ft search range and require a minimum of 2 drill holes and samples captured within at least 3 search octants. All estimated blocks not assigned to the Indicated class within the gold shell are assigned to the Inferred Mineral Resource.

Global Resource Engineering, Ltd of Denver, Colorado constructed the open pit scenarios with reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction established from block models using Vulcans Lerchs Grosman miner Pit Optimizer software. A total of 21 pits were modelled based upon the imported block models. Sensitivities were run at a gold price varying from $1,500 to $500 per ounce gold price and gold cut-off grades varying from 0.000 ounces per ton (opt), or zero cut-off, to 0.020 ounces per ton cut-off; increments included 0.004 opt, 0.006 opt, 0.008 opt, 0.010 opt, and 0.015 opt. Tables 2 and 3 show a selection of cut-off values that are considered optimum for the Kilgore Project. Fixed input parameters included: gold recovery of 80%, selling cost for gold of $2.20 per ounce, a mining cost of $2.00 per ton, a processing cost of $4.00 per ton including $1.00 per ton G&A, and a pit slope of 50 degrees.

All drilling samples were sent to ALS Minerals in Reno, Nevada where they were analyzed by Fire Assay using a 50g charge with AAS finish to determine gold values. Over-limit assays greater than 10 grams per ton were analyzed by fire assay with gravimetric finish. Selected drill samples were also analyzed for an additional 33 elements by 4-acid digestion (HF-HNO3-HClO4 acid digestion, HCl leach) and ICP-AES analysis. ALS geochemical laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for specific analytical procedures, and ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for process and quality management systems. QA/QC procedures included the insertion of blank samples, gold standards, and duplicate samples into the sample stream. A check assay program was included as part of the overall QA/QC protocol.

Alan Roberts, MSc, CPG, and Vice President of Exploration, serves as the Qualified Person for this news release and has reviewed and approved the technical content contained herein. An NI 43-101 technical report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this news release.

Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are that part of the mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geologic evidence and sampling, which is sufficient to imply but not verify grade or quality continuity. Inferred mineral resources may not be converted to mineral reserves. It is reasonably expected, though not guaranteed, that the majority of Inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to Indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. The mineral resources reported in this news release were estimated using current Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) standards, definitions and guidelines.

About the Kilgore Project

The Kilgore Project lies on the north-eastern margin of the Miocene-Pliocene Kilgore Caldera complex in the Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho. The Kilgore Project contains the Kilgore Deposit with a current NI 43-101 compliant resource: Indicated Resource of 825,000 ounces Au in 44.6 million tonnes at a grade of 0.58 g/t Au and an Inferred Resource of 136,000 ounces Au in 9.4 million tonnes at a grade of 0.45 g/t Au (the Deposit). The Kilgore Deposit is a low-sulphidation, gold bearing, quartz-adularia epithermal system hosted in Tertiary volcanic rocks, local Tertiary intrusive rocks, and basement Late Cretaceous, Aspen Formation sedimentary rocks.

About the Company

Otis is a resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal deposits in Idaho, USA. Otis is currently developing its flagship property, the Kilgore Project, located in Clark County, Idaho and the Oakley Project, located in Cassia County, Idaho.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Craig T. Lindsay

President & CEO

For additional information, please contact:

Mr. Tony Perri  Corporate Development

Tel: (604) 424-8100 Email: tony@otisgold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the

TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities 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 US Securities Act) or any State securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to US Persons unless registered under the US Securities Act and applicable State securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information in this news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of Otis as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Otis's management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, drilling results, the Company's expectations regarding mineral resource calculations, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, production rates varying from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, imprecision in resource estimates or metal recoveries, success of future development initiatives, competition, operating performance, environmental and safety risks, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from local authorities, community agreements and relations, and other development and operating risks. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Although Otis believes that assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Otis disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
The combined entity will form an unprecedented combination of deep cloud-native expertise and delivery at scale, something long demanded by enterprises. Relus Cloud will also bolster Cloudreachs capabilities in data analytics and machine learning alongside further expanding their managed services capabilities.

NEW YORK and ATLANTA, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloudreach, a global cloud services provider, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Relus Cloud, a Premier Consulting Partner in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (APN) focused on the North American market. Financial terms of the proposed transaction are not being disclosed.

Cloudreach is a cloud-native software-enabled services business founded in 2009. The firm has significant presence in both Europe and North America and enables some of the worlds largest organizations including BP, Hearst Corporation and Volkswagen Financial Services. Cloudreach offers a comprehensive set of capabilities to help their customers build or migrate, optimize, modernize, and maintain applications in the cloud. It is a top tier partner of AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Cloudreach has also been recognized as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud Infrastructure Managed Service Providers for the second year running.

In February 2017, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities acquired a majority stake in Cloudreach, enabling the company to further expand its geographic reach and software development capabilities, and automate its managed services offerings. The Relus Cloud addition follows two previous Blackstone-backed Cloudreach acquisitions of Cloudamize and Emerging Technology Advisors (ETA).

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Relus Cloud began in 2013 as a born-in-the-cloud consulting services company focused solely on AWS adoption, migration and enablement. The firm made a name for itself in the North American cloud community by delivering customer solutions with a focus on digital transformation. It became a Premier Consulting Partner in the AWS Partner Network in 2017, and was recently a global launch partner for the AWS Machine Learning Competency. Relus Cloud is highly regarded for its data and analytics capabilities, migration acceleration and its focus on tech-enabled culture change to facilitate cloud adoption.

Working with Relus Cloud has been a critical component to our success. When you undergo an effort as large as a cloud transformation there are lots of challenges to success. The largest challenge is closing the skill set gap. Relus Cloud has brought us the skills necessary to make the transition to the cloud easier. Without them the hill would be much tougher to climb, says Don Browning, VP, Cloud Architecture at Turner.

The strategy behind Cloudreach's decision to acquire Relus Cloud is based on the continued demand from customers searching for partners with a combination of strong expertise in data analytics as well as a proven ability to scale and deliver cloud services at the enterprise level. Post acquisition, Cloudreach would have 700+ employees in eight countries across Europe and North America and more than two dozen offices. The addition of Relus Cloud will enable Cloudreach to combine the personalized enterprise caliber service for which it is already known, with scale at a level most smaller boutique cloud consulting organizations cannot reach. They will also bring the benefit of years of deep cloud native expertise when compared to more traditional and legacy-focused global system integrators.

In addition to scale, Reluss capabilities and proven expertise in data analytics and machine learning will improve on Cloudreachs own investment in this area. This will allow Cloudreach to harness the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive modeling so that enterprises can gain insight into their data to drive revenue, customer satisfaction and evolve through their digital transformation.

Cloudreach and Relus Cloud share a similar culture and a strong sense of purpose. Together, we have a significant community of cloud-native talent, proven solutions, and industry experience across North America and Europe. Cloudreach is now even better positioned to enable any organization to become a digital leader, says Aaron Painter, CEO at Cloudreach.

Relus Cloud was built around three simple principles: creating a company that makes its employees proud, building a responsible business model, and giving back to the community, says Mark Metz, CEO at Relus Cloud. Over time, we were able to implement these principles by listening to the voice of both our customers and employees and constantly evolving to meet their objectives. We built a values-based culture hyperfocused on the customer, delivering AWS solutions to help them in their journey to the cloud. Upon joining forces with Cloudreach, our combined leadership teams, North American coverage and highly skilled employee base will continue to provide enterprises with cloud-native expertise, innovation and guidance navigating their cloud journeys.

About Cloudreach

We believe tomorrows leaders will be those who take advantage of cloud technologies to beat the competition. Cloudreachs mission is to enable this outcome through intelligent and innovative cloud adoption by providing capabilities to enable, integrate and operate cloud platforms. Our primary partners are AWS, Microsoft and Google, whose cloud platforms underpin everything we do and have done since we started the business in 2009. Our experience in enabling, integrating, and operating IT (public cloud to some of you) is unparalleled. Cloudreach is part of Blackstones portfolio of companies. Blackstone is one of the worlds leading investment firms with assets under management of over $440 billion.

About Relus Cloud

Relus Cloud, a Premier Consulting Partner in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (APN), helps customers prepare for growth, eliminate uncertainty, train their technical teams, and move faster in a cloud-first world. Our core competencies are focused on Migrations, DevOps, and Data and Analytics, with an emphasis on strategy consulting, architecture and design, cloud migration, culture change, managed services, and talent delivery. For more information, visit www.reluscloud.com.



Media contact:

Kevin Wolf

TGPR

(650) 483-1552

kevin@tgprllc.com
Despite the Paris Agreement being a remarkable multilateral achievement, it comes with a certain irony. While being able to mobilise almost all countries on the planet to curb emissions and mitigate climate change, there is little focus on how climate-induced events in one country affects another. Instead, most measures are largely confined to national or local legislations.

In a study recently published in Global Environmental Change, centre PhD student Johanna Hedlund together with colleagues from the Stockholm Environment Institute, has made a first attempt at developing a global index of how climate change affects one country  and requires adaptation there as a result of climate change impacts in another country. Despite previous attempts there is no widely accepted terminology to describe this phenomenon.

As a consequence, it remains to a large degree ignored both in research and adaptation planning. In their study, Hedlund and her co-authors introduce the Transnational Climate Impacts (TCI) Index, a new perspective on the complexity of exposure to climate change impacts in a globalised world. The study provides further support for demands that trade, migration and investments policies make more extensive climate considerations.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

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.
U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has ordered over 40,000 SURG (Suppressed Upper Receiver Group) from Sig Sauer for some of its M4 assault rifles. The SURG actually replaces most of an M4 rifle as it includes a barrel and stock thus each SURG costs over a thousand dollars. SURG includes a 170mm (6.75 inch) barrel with a permanently attached suppressor. SURG has two gas settings, for subsonic and standard ammo. In other words, SURG is virtually silent at close range (using subsonic ammo to eliminate the distinctive crack of the round breaking the sound barrier)). The suppressor has nineteen baffles, which greatly reduces the sound of hot gasses coming out of the barrel behind the bullet, especially with standard (supersonic) ammo.

The subsonic ammo is accurate up to 100 meters and popular with farmers and hunters in areas where large numbers of wild pigs are a problem. Hogs are smart pack animals. If one in a group is alarmed the entire group will scatter. With subsonic 5.56mm ammo fired from a rifle with a suppressor (to muffle the bang of the hot gasses pushing the bullet out of the barrel) it is possible to take down four or more hogs when firing at more than 50 meters (where the muffled bang and sound of rounds being chambered and ejected is hard to detect). In combat SOCOM operators using military grade 5.56mm subsonic ammo (virtually identical to what hunters can obtain) do a lot of damage to the enemy, especially at night, using am M4 with a suppressor and subsonic ammo. SURG also has a short stroke piston gas system, which reduces buildup of carbon inside the rifle and is generally more reliable in sandy and dusty conditions. Deliveries of SURG will take place over five years (by 2023).

The M4 assault rifle has long been controversial because of the original gas-tube system to power the automatic reloading and loading system. The gas-tube system required more frequent cleaning to prevent fouling of the barrel and failure of the reloading system. There were a lot of other minor problems but these have been gradually addressed.

The main problem is that the U.S. Army will not make major (and expensive) changes to the M4. In 2015 the army agreed to implement another batch of upgrades for its existing M4A1, basically creating the M4A2 (or M4A1+, take your pick). The list of M4A2 improvement was still being compiled from user suggestions and analysis of what is affordable when the effort was cancelled in 2016 because of budget problems. Some of the most popular suggested improvements were a longer (by a third) Picatinny rail (to make some accessories easier to use), a floating barrel, a single stage trigger (preferred by snipers), a more effective flash suppressor, camouflage-colored components (to make the currently all black rifle less easy to spot), better cleaning tools (more like commercially available stuff) and some design changes (different shapes and materials for some components plus more efficient slings) to make the M4 easier to handle and carry. The "floating" means that the barrel is attached only to the main body of the rifle to reduce resonance (which throws off accuracy.) The new trigger would only be on M4s used by marksmen (about ten percent of all infantry) who are trained to be snipers.

The M4A2 effort came after yet another failure to find a replacement rifle. In 2013 the army held a competition to find a replacement for the aging (1980s vintage) M4 carbine. There has been a lot of pressure from the troops and Congress (where many of the complaints end up, after all, the M4 users are also voters). The basic infantry weapon, the M16, is half a century old and the M4 is a shortened version of that. The rifle the M16 replaced (the M14) lasted less than a decade and the one before that (the M-1) lasted two decades. The one before that (M1903) lasted three decades and so on, back to the Civil War (1861-65). The M4 is a variant of the M16 that was adopted in the 1980s, but there are still plenty of M16s in service. The army declared the competition inconclusive and went for yet another upgrade of the M4, which was later canceled.

Meanwhile, the army has been upgrading its older M4 assault rifles to the M4A1 standard since 2011. Ultimately upgrade kits were purchased for 70 percent of the armys half-million M4 carbines and that turns them into M4A1s. At the current rate, this will take until 2020. The kits replace the barrel, receiver, and auto-loading system with one that is easier to keep clean. There is also a heavier barrel and the ability to fire full automatic. There is also a stronger Picatinny rail on top of the barrel, for mounting scopes and such.

Most elements (except for the short stroke piston system) of the M4A1 were already incorporated by SOCOM for their own M4s, which were, in effect, the first M4A1 models to enter service. The marines are not upgrading their M4s (which are mainly used by support troops).

This conversion kit addressed years of complaints about the M4 and M16 assault rifles. The main change was replacing the main portion of the rifle with a new component that contains a short stroke piston gas system (to reduce buildup of carbon inside the rifle) and a heavier (by 142 gr/five ounces) barrel (which reduces barrel failure from too much heat, which happens when several hundred rounds are fired within a few minutes).

The user demand for the adoption of the short stroke piston gas system has been around for decades so that M16s would be more reliable and easier to clean. This came to a head (again) in 2007 when the army ran more dust and reliability tests on its M4 rifle. Four weapons tested were: the M4, the XM8, SCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle), and the H&K 416 (similar to the new M4 with the upgrade kit and short stroke piston system).

The testing consisted of exposing the weapons to 25 hours of heavy dust conditions over two months. During that testing period, 6,000 rounds were fired from each of ten weapons of each type. The weapons with the fewest failures (usually jams) were rated highest. Thus, the XM8 finished first, SCAR second, 416 third, and M4 last. In response, the army said it was satisfied with the M4's performance but was considering equipping it with a heavier barrel (to lessen overheating) and more effective magazines (27 percent of the M4s 882 jams were magazine related). The army noted that the M4 fired over 98 percent of its rounds without problems. That missed the point that the other rifles had far fewer jams. In combat, each jam is a life-threatening situation for the soldier in question. The army had been forced by Congress to conduct the tests. Congress was responding to complaints by the troops. But the army refused to adjust its budget priorities to act on the test results.

The XM8 had 127 jams, the SCAR 226, and the 416 had 233. Thus the M-4 had nearly eight times as many jams as the XM8, the rifle designed to replace it. The M4 had nearly four times the jams of the SCAR and 416, which were basically M4 type rifles with a short stroke piston system. Any stoppage is potentially fatal for the soldier holding the rifle, thus the disagreement between the army brass and the troops who use the weapons in combat.

In dusty places like Iraq and Afghanistan you have to clean your M16 and M4 rifles constantly, otherwise the combination of carbon (from the recoil system) and dust in the chamber will cause jams. The army and marines both decided to stick with their current weapons, rather than adopt an easier to maintain the weapon, like the XM8 or H&K 416, because of the billion or so dollars it would cost to switch rifles.

If the issue were put to a vote the troops would vote for a rifle using a short-stroke system (like the XM8, SCAR, or H&K 416). But the military is not a democracy, so the troops spend a lot of time cleaning their weapons and hoping for the best. The debate involves two intertwined attitudes among senior army commanders. First, they don't want the hassle, and possible embarrassment, of switching to a new rifle that might have even more difficult problems. Second, they are anticipating a breakthrough in weapons technology that will make possible a much-improved infantry weapon. This is likely to happen later, rather than sooner, but the generals kept obsessing over it. They are encouraged by recent success in the development of caseless and short case ammo for a new machine-gun design.

Earlier efforts to just get the troops a more reliable rifle have failed. Back in 2005, the U.S. Army's design for a new assault rifle, the XM8, was canceled. After that, the manufacturer incorporated one of the key components of the XM8 into M4 rifles and calls the hybrid the H&K 416. Heckler & Koch (H&K) designed the XM8, which was based on an earlier H&K rifle, the G36. SOCOM is using the 416 but no one else is (except for a few police departments).

The XM8 (like the G36 and 416) uses a short-stroke piston system. The M16 uses the gas-tube system, which leads to carbon build up and jams (rounds getting stuck in the chamber and the weapon unable to fire). The short-stroke system also does not expose parts of the rifle to extremely hot gases (which wears out components more quickly). As a result, rifles using the short-stroke system, rather than the gas-tube, are more reliable, easier to maintain, and last longer.

H&K developed the 416, for SOCOM, at the same time the XM8 was being evaluated by the army. SOCOM got the first 416s in 2004, a year before the Army canceled the XM8. The 416 looks like the M4, for the only thing that has changed is the use of the short-stroke system to automatically extracts the cartridge after the bullet has been fired and loads the next round. SOCOM can buy pretty much whatever they want, the U.S. Army cannot. SOCOM listens to what its troops want, the army often doesn't.

The army proposed some other changes, as part of the M4 component replacement. These included improved trigger pull characteristics, ambidextrous controls (to make life easier for lefties), and a round counter (in the pistol grip) to track the number of bullets fired over the lifetime of the rifle (makes for better data on how rifles perform over time and for scheduling the replacement of components). Few of these were implemented because of tight budgets after 2010.

The main problem with replacing the M4 is that the weapon is not dramatically inferior to most proposed replacements. Moreover, troops acknowledge it is the devil they know and will all the minor changes and new accessories that have become available since 2001 the M4 has managed to keep up. Army leaders point out that with constantly shrinking defense budgets you have to be careful with what you spend your money on. Replacing the M4 and M16 would cost over $5 billion and you might, as has happened to many other countries, get a weapon that looks good on paper (and in pictures) but reveals some serious flaws once it is exposed to sustained combat. Thats what makes most combat troops (especially infantry) willing to stick with an improved M4.
The Philippines is receiving another four OV-10 aircraft from the U.S. These are being provided at no charge. The United States still has six or more OV-10s in government service and the Philippines has several in storage because of lack of money to get them flyable. Of the four just sent to the Philippines two had been used by NASA and two had been upgraded and sent to Iraq in a combat test. Those two OV-10Gs were upgraded with a new glass cockpit and a fire-control system that allowed it to fire APKWS laser-guided 70mm missiles. The 2015 test was considered a success but the U.S. Air Force opposed adopting an OV-10 as a light attack aircraft and that was that. The two OV-10Gs had their military gear removed but were otherwise serviceable. The Philippines is receiving the four OV-10s disassembled and is using its own OV-10 technicians to assemble them and make them combat ready for service by early 2019.

Several dozen OV-10s are still in use worldwide out of over 300 manufactured. In Vietnam, the OV-10 was used more for reconnaissance and directing air and artillery strikes, than in using its own firepower. Since the 1990s, the Philippines have received 36 used OV-10s from the U.S. and Thailand. By 2018 eight of them were flyable and these were regularly used for reconnaissance and ground attack missions. The OV-10 is a two-seat, 6.5 ton, twin prop aircraft that can carry over two tons of weapons and stay in the air for three hours per sortie. Max speed is 450 kilometers an hour. Wingspan is 12.2 meters (40 feet) and length is 12.7 meters (41.6 feet).

The first OV-10 was delivered to the U.S. Air Force, specifically for use in Vietnam, in 1968. The last one was produced (for export to Indonesia) in 1976. The U.S. Air Force and Marines were the primary users of OV-10s and the last of these was retired, by the marines, in 1994. Over a hundred were exported to Germany, Thailand, Colombia, Venezuela, Philippines, and Indonesia. In mid-2017 the remaining eight flyable Filipino OV-10s were frequently seen attacking ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) targets in the southern city of Marawi, where hundreds of Islamic terrorists tried and failed, to take control of the city. The air strikes and ground troops crippled the several Islamic terror groups that had joined together and embraced ISIL, believing that would guarantee them victory.

In 2012 the Philippines equipped some of its OV-10s to use American made JDAM (GPS guided bombs). In early 2012 OV-10s used these smart bombs to attack an Abu Sayyaf (Islamic terrorist) camp on Jolo Island. American UAVs provided reconnaissance, using heat sensors to spot the terrorist camp and night cameras to confirm who was there and provide the Filipino OV-10 with GPS coordinates. The attack was made before dawn and the American UAVs recorded video of the survivors dragging off the dead and wounded before Filipino ground troops showed up. The Philippines Air Force later denied they had used smart bombs but hitting a target like that, at night, is nearly impossible with unguided bombs. In any event, the aircraft delivering the 227 kg (500 pound) bombs was definitely an OV-10. Accepting American technical advice, including high tech weapons, is a touchy political subject in the Philippines, which may explain the denials.

Since the 1960s advances in technology (materials, electronics and aircraft design) made the propeller driven single engine basic pilot training aircraft more robust and adaptable. Noting this trend at the end of 2017 the Philippines ordered six Brazilian A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft. These A-29s will be in service by the end of 2019. The A-29 is basically an armed trainer. The Super Tucano already has most of the market for such trainer/warplanes. This single engine, single-seat aircraft was built for pilot training but also performs quite well for counter-insurgency work. The Super Tucano is basically a prop driven trainer that has structural features making it easy to equip it for combat missions as the A-29, which comes with armor for the pilot, a pressurized cockpit, and an ejection seat.

The A-29 has a max takeoff weight of 5.4 tons and can carry up to 1.5 tons of weapons, including 12.7mm machine-guns (one under each wing), bombs and missiles. The Super Tucano has a GPS based navigation system as standard and can also carry a number of optional electronics systems. One is a FLIR (infrared radar that produces a photo-realistic video image in any weather) and a fire control system for bombing. Cruising speed is 500 kilometers an hour and average endurance is six hours. Max altitude is 11,300 meters (35,000 feet) and stall (slowest speed) is 150 kilometers an hour. Naturally, this aircraft can move in lower and slower than any jet can. A-29s can be equipped to use small (250 and 500 pound) GBU-12 and GBU-58 laser-guided bombs.

Several nations are using A-29s for counter-insurgency work. The aircraft is also used for border patrol. The Super Tucano costs $9 million each, and come in one or two seat versions. The Super Tucano suited Filipino needs much the same way the OV-10 did, but even more so and at greater expense. The A-29 demonstrates how a smaller, slower aircraft that can double as trainers. It's easier to train pilots to use the Super Tucano, cheaper to buy them, and much cheaper to operate them. It costs about $500 an hour to operate an A-29, which less than a tenth of what it costs for an F-16.

The Philippines selected the A-29 because of earlier experience with a similar aircraft, like the OV-10. By the 1990s it was obvious that these aircraft were suitable, and often superior, for counter-insurgency work. The A-29 is one of the best examples of that.
Current President & CEO Robert McNally to Retire Effective August 31

ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTCQB: GOVX), a biotechnology company developing human vaccines, announced today that David A. Dodd has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, succeeding Robert McNally, PhD, who has announced his retirement. Dr. McNally will remain as a member of the Companys Board of Directors.

It has been a privilege to serve GeoVax, its shareholders and employees, but after 40 years in the life science industry with the last 10 years at GeoVax, I now look forward to a fulfilling retirement, said Dr. McNally. I remain committed to continuing to help advise and guide the company as a member of its Board of Directors and am very pleased that David Dodd has agreed to assume the role of President and CEO. David brings a wealth of experience from a successful career of leading and developing multiple companies in the life science industry. His familiarity with GeoVax vaccine targets and overall growth strategy are huge assets in moving the company forward. Also, as a long-term colleague and friend, I look forward to continuing to work with David.

Mr. Dodd commented, On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, GeoVax staff, and our fellow shareholders, I want to thank Bob for his service to the Company, and we anticipate his continued contributions as a member of the Board. Under Bobs leadership, GeoVax has built an impressive pipeline of promising vaccines and immunotherapy programs to address unmet medical needs across a range of infectious diseases and cancer. I look forward to working with our excellent scientific team, our world-class collaborators and research partners to build upon the Companys strong scientific foundation and focus on the successful development and commercialization of our novel pipeline.

Mr. Dodd joined the GeoVax Board of Directors in March 2010 and was elected Chairman in January 2011. His executive management experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries spans more than 40 years. From September 2017 to June 2018, Mr. Dodd served as CEO, and as a member of the Board of Directors, of Medizone International, Inc., a medical device manufacturer. From April 2013 to July 2017, Mr. Dodd served as President and CEO, and as a member of the Board of Directors, of Aeterna Zentaris Inc., a drug development company. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aeterna Zentaris, Inc. from May 2014 to May 2016, and continued to serve as a member of its Board of Directors until May 2018. From December 2007 to June 2009, Mr. Dodd was President, CEO and Chairman of BioReliance Corporation, a leading provider of biological safety and related testing services. From October 2006 to April 2009, he served as non-executive Chairman of Stem Cell Sciences Plc., where he oversaw the development and implementation of a strategic growth plan, implementation of an experienced executive team, and the sale of the company to Stem Cells, Inc. in April 2009. He is also the CEO of RiversEdge BioVentures, an investment and advisory firm focused on the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industries, which he founded in 2009.

During Mr. Dodd's six-year tenure as President, CEO and Director of Serologicals Corporation, the market value of that company increased from $85 million in June 2000 to an all-cash sale to Millipore Corporation in July 2006 for $1.5 billion. That successful transformation followed his five-year term as President and CEO of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and as Chairman of its subsidiary Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Dodd held various senior management positions at Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, the Mead Johnson Laboratories Division at Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Abbott Laboratories.

He is a frequently invited speaker and panelist at business and economic development conferences, as well as various conferences focused on the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. He is a recipient of the Oglethorpe Award for UK-US Business Relationships, the Georgia BIO Industry Growth Award, and the FastTech 50 Growth Company Award (2000-2006) while leading Serologicals Corporation.

Mr. Dodd holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Georgia State University and completed the Harvard Business School of Advanced Management Program. His numerous public service activities include the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Board of Directors of the Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience at Georgia Institute of Technology.

About GeoVax

GeoVax Labs, Inc., is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human vaccines against infectious diseases using its MVA-VLP vaccine platform. GeoVax was the winner of the 2018 Best Biotech Vaccine Industry Excellence Awards, a finalist for the 2018 Best Prophylactic Vaccine Award for its Zika vaccine at the World Vaccine Congress, as well as a finalist for Pipelines of Promise at Buzz of Bio 2018. The Companys development programs are focused on vaccines against HIV, Zika, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, Lassa) and malaria. GeoVax also is evaluating the use of its MVA-VLP platform in cancer immunotherapy, and for therapeutic use in chronic Hepatitis B infections. GeoVaxs vaccine platform supports in vivo production of non-infectious VLPs from the cells of the very person receiving the vaccine. The production of VLPs in the person being vaccinated mimics virus production in a natural infection, stimulating both the humoral and cellular arms of the immune system to recognize, prevent, and control the target infection. For more information, visit www.geovax.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this document are "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 uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors, including whether: GeoVax can develop and manufacture its vaccines with the desired characteristics in a timely manner, GeoVax's vaccines will be safe for human use, GeoVax's vaccines will effectively prevent targeted infections in humans, GeoVaxs vaccines will receive regulatory approvals necessary to be licensed and marketed, GeoVax raises required capital to complete vaccine development, there is development of competitive products that may be more effective or easier to use than GeoVax's products, GeoVax will be able to enter into favorable manufacturing and distribution agreements, and other factors over which GeoVax has no control. GeoVax assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. More information about these factors is contained in GeoVax's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including those under "Risk Factors" in its Form 10-K.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- sPower, the largest private owner of operating solar assets in the US, recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its acquisition by The AES Corporation (AES) and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo). The partnership has delivered a powerful combination and accelerated sPowers growth plan and execution capabilities. Since closing one year ago, sPower has, among other impressive accomplishments:

Successfully closed two investment grade green bonds via the private placement market for portfolio refinancings of its operating solar and wind assets valued at approximately $420 million and $500 million, respectively. The first of these bonds was awarded Deal of the Year by Project Finance International .

. Signed new Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) for over 1,380 MW of new solar and wind projects, including previously-announced contracts with Basin Electric for a 220 MW wind farm in South Dakota, Microsoft for a 410 MWdc solar project in Virginia and CleanPowerSF for 130 MWdc solar project in California.

Brought the operating portfolio up to 1,350 MW of wind and solar assets with sPower Services providing full O&M Services on 1,030 MW.

Significantly expanded its presence in the wind space  reaching 551 MW of contracted wind assets.

AES and AIMCo have given us incredible support over the last year and the future of sPower is bright with their backing, said sPowers CEO, Ryan Creamer. Not only have we significantly expanded the portfolio, but we expect it to continue to grow in the coming months as we work to convert our current 2,100 MW of shortlists into contracted assets.

We are very pleased with sPowers operational and development performance, which has exceeded our expectations, said Tom OFlynn, AES Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In fact, sPowers signed PPAs year-to-date will be a key contributor to AES growth through 2020 and beyond.

About sPower:

sPower, an AES and AIMCo company, is the largest private owner of operating solar assets in the United States. sPower owns and operates a portfolio of solar and wind assets greater than 1.3 GW and has a development pipeline of more than 10 GW. sPower is owned by a joint venture partnership between The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), a worldwide energy company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation, one of Canadas largest and most diversified institutional investment fund managers. For more information, visit www.sPower.com
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rittenhouse Realty Advisors is pleased to announce the sale of the Julian Court Apartments, a 20-unit building located at 1521-1525 W. Union Street in Allentown, PA and a mixed-use property comprised of 8 apartments and 2 commercial units located at 142-144 N 7th Street in Allentown, PA.



Luke DeLuca, a Senior Associate at RRA who worked on the sale, summarized the transaction: The properties were sold as a portfolio to an out-of-state investor that is very high on the Allentown market. The portfolio was a great value-add opportunity for the new buyer who plans to renovate kitchens and baths and increase rents.

Ken Wellar, Managing Partner at RRA, added: We are seeing an increase in buyers from North Jersey and New York City looking to invest in the Lehigh Valley market.

The properties attracted a great deal of interest on the market due to their excellent locations in the city of Allentown. 142 N 7th Street is a block from the Hamilton District, which is the central hub of Allentown's revitalization efforts. The property is in the perfect location to fit into the live, work, play atmosphere that city has created.

Julian Court is a vintage building with large units, open floor plans and well-preserved original character. It is in a quiet, residential neighborhood in Allentown.

The portfolio was 100% occupied at the time of sale.

For more information on current rates or to view our available listings visit

www.RittenhouseRealty.com



Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rittenhouse Realty Advisors is a real estate advisory firm with an extensive focus in the brokerage of multi-family communities throughout the northeast region of the United States. Formed in February 2013 by a group of advisors with more than 30 years of commercial investment sales experience, our focus is on multi-family and mixed-use properties with significant residential components.

www.RittenhouseRealty.com

Press Contact: Corey Lonberger and Ken Wellar

Managing Partners

215-454-2852

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3bb74b64-36fd-456a-b82c-4d11ecd5a79b
Tanks contained within the sheer lines is the key according to principal designer Inigo Toledo who believes this approach will result in superior comfort and improved hull stability.

We like sailing boats and they offer a particular advantage  they are more sophisticated and fun than any kind of motor boat, explains Toledo. At the same time, weve been looking carefully at the market over the last few years and we can see that the sailing yacht market is on the decline.

Toledo puts this decline down to a lack of options on the market to entice owners, pointing to the motoryacht market by comparison, which sees many more proposals making their way to the market on a regular basis. When you look at the sailing yacht market, things have not changed at all over the last ten years, says the designer. With a few exceptions, there have been few concepts to truly challenge the norm within the sailing market but Toledo believe he may have reached a solution with his 44m Sailing Explorer.

Looking at the layout, the design is much like what you would expect with a full beam owners suite aft, with two doubles and two twin en suite cabins forward of this. Guest accommodation is separated from the crew areas by the engine and cold rooms, either side of which is the beach club and dive centre, revealed by two fold-down platforms. The owner can enjoy their privacy when on deck thanks to private access to the stern from the master cabin, which can be kept separate from the rest of the vessel.

We have approached this project more in a motor boat style with large crew quarters that look professional and provides somewhere nice for the crew, just like on a big motor boat, says the Spanish designer. So it is a sailing boat but also a motor boat as well. In terms of space, you are not getting the same as a 44m motor boat but it would be close to a 38m. The result is a stable and more comfortable boat that offers the space that owners want.

Toledo goes on to explain how many owners are drawn to the volume and stability that motoryachts afford  requirements he believes his new 44m meet. Alongside her 9.5m beam, the Sailing Explorer benefits from a 32-metric-tonne water-ballast system, which Toledo believes will significantly reduce the heeling motion when under sail.

We wanted to deliver a sailing boat that has a certain limit to the heeling angle while still achieving a decent speed, says the designer. So we designed this boat with a water-ballast system to limit the heel to 10-degrees or even less in many conditions, which is going to be fast and comfortable for all those on board.

This system is paired with a fixed 3.5m ballast keel and a retractable seven-metre centerboard that is lowered through the middle of the keel  an option the designer prefers over canting or lifting keel systems. Many sailing boats offer a lifting or canting keel system, which is fine and probably the best, he says. However, if you have a problem with this system in the Fiji islands for example, you are completely stuck as no-one can help you.

"With this design you have a boat with a draught of 3.5m with fixed ballast, so if you hit a rock, you are hitting the structure of the boat rather than a canting keel or lifting keel, which would break immediately and you would lose the stability of the boat and possibly capsize. Whereas with this set up, in the worst-case scenario, should you hit something with the centerboard when it is down and you loose it, you are not hitting anything structural in the boat or impacting on its stability.

As interest in this design grows, Barracuda Yacht Design continues to work on a handful of sub-30m production and custom projects, with a special 32m (105ft) interior refit project  built in England in 1972  beginning this summer for her architect owner. These projects come alongside the completed design of a 44m and a 38m  both motoryachts, which are out to tender.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia , Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks a media monitoring company. The purpose of this solicitation is to find a company to effectively monitor the full range of media in Ethiopia as well as the impact of USAID development outreach. This opportunity has no set-asides and quotes are due by August 28, 2018. For assistance in meeting this deadline with proper registrations and a strong offer, businesses may use third-party government registration firm, US Federal Contractor Registration (USFCR).

541840 is the associated NAICS code for this opportunity. All the exact specifications for this contract can be found on the Advanced Procurement Portal from USFCR. Questions and quotes can be submitted to Meiraf Kebede (addisprocurment@usaid.gov). Contracting officers will be unable to assist with specific contractor requirements such as registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).

SAM is the mandatory registration that all federal contractors must complete before making offers to perform any work for the government. This system can be tricky to handle, especially when trying to meet a deadline and put a quote together. For assistance with all of these matters, US Federal Contractor Registration is standing by to provide.

US Federal Contractor Registration (USFCR) is the world's largest third-party government registration firm. They have helped thousands of entities translate their capabilities into the U.S. Government's language and systems with the Simplified Acquisition Program, bid training, and proposal writing services. They not only register companies on their behalf in SAM, but also have pioneered the Advanced Procurement Portal (APP). APP shows active and historical federal business opportunity information in the same place, simplifying market research. Active federal buyers and vendors are not only cataloged in APP but also are also using the system, creating a powerful network. Businesses who partner with USFCR will be able to dedicate their complete effort toward their performance on a contract, rather than the acquisition of it.
Take A Mulligan: The Big 7-0

Here is the $64,000 question. Just exactly how old is old? In my teens, I figured it was about 35 but when I was getting close to that age, it ...
Albany, New York, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The IoT platform market depicts the existence of an emerging vendor landscape owing to extensive product innovations introduced by several players, says Transparency Market Research on the basis of a recently published report. Although the market is still in its nascent stage, with a steady increase in the number of players during the forthcoming years, the level of competition is expected to increase. The vendor landscape includes many companies that deal with patents, and are continuously coming up with technological improvements. These businesses are thus encouraging numerous organizations all over the world to adopt IoT based processes.

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Cisco Systems, Inc., Google Inc., Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Salesforce.com, Inc., SAP SE, PTC Inc., Amazon Web Services, Inc., General Electric, and IBM Corporation, are key players operating in the global IoT platform market. Apart from product differentiation, expansion of product portfolio, improving geographical spread, and regulating product and service costs, also are three prime schemes implemented by companies in this field. Widespread focus is being imparted by most companies to carry out quality research and development in order to enhance currently available services and products, most of which are still present in their infancy stages.

According to expert analysts, the global IoT platform market had gained revenue worth US1.7 bn in 2016. This revenue is further expected to increase up to US$10.0 bn by 2025. This growth is projected to occur at a stellar CAGR of 21.0% during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025.

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Need for Smooth and Efficient Processes Provides Boost to Market

A rising demand for increased connectivity using smartly designed electronic systems is primarily driving the global IoT platform market. This is mainly due to a great need for seamless connectivity and fast internet speeds, in order to achieve highly efficient functions. This demand is projected to further rise in the upcoming future, thus providing a boost to the global IoT platform markets growth. Both domestic and industrial setups in this context are foretold to expand rapidly. Since the introduction of this concept, IoT systems have always provided enhanced accessibility to data in the most difficult and remote locations too, besides its mainstream applications. By adopting these systems, there are high chances of saving costs in the long run, thus making it affordable for numerous companies to venture into this field. Thus, from an overall perspective, the global IoT platform market is expected to cash in on magnanimous expansion owing to such benefits, which would make more businesses develop in this sector.

Download Report TOC for in-depth Analysis at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/27821

High Initial Costs Stunt Expansion at a Great Extent

However, the global IoT platform market is greatly being hindered owing to initial high costs required to establish necessary systems. Due to such high costs, the end products and services also become being highly expensive, thus discouraging small enterprises having less capital from adopting IoT-based technologies. Moreover, increasing possibility of cyber-attacks, data loss, data encryption challenges, and other network and software based concerns is substantially hampering the global IoT platform market too. However, many companies are expected to introduce new IoT technologies soon enough, that address most of these concerns. In this way, restraints affecting the market are anticipated to get negated efficiently.

The information presented in this review is based on a TMR report, titled IoT Platform Market (Deployment - On-premise and Cloud; Application - Inventory Management, Human Capital Management, Customer Service, Enterprise Performance Management, Supply Chain Management, Infrastructure Management, and Security and Asset Performance Management; Industry Vertical - Retail, Healthcare, BFSI, Oil and Gas, Transportation and Logistics, Manufacturing, Government and Defense, Energy, and Education and Hospitality) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025.

Browse Research Release at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/iot-platform-market.htm

Key Takeaways:

Although the market is still in its nascent stage, with a steady increase in the number of players during the forthcoming years, the level of competition is expected to increase.

Since the introduction of this concept, IoT systems have always provided enhanced accessibility to data in the most difficult and remote locations too, besides its mainstream applications.



Key segments of the Global Iot Platform Market:

Global IoT Platform Market by Deployment

On-Premise

Cloud





Global IoT Platform Market by Application

Inventory Management

Human Capital Management

Customer Service

Enterprise Performance Management

Supply Chain Management

Infrastructure Management

Security and Asset Performance Management





Global IoT Platform Market by Industry Vertical

Retail

Healthcare

BFSI

Oil and Gas

Transportation and Logistics

Manufacturing

Government and Defense

Energy

Education and Hospitality

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Chicago, IL, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In todays fast-moving investing world, staying connected with the latest market news and analysis remains as critical as ever to investors. In response to the ever changing investing landscape, Zacks Investment Research, a leading provider of investment-related data, research, and commentary, is excited to announce major improvements to its recently launched mobile application, which is available now on iOS in the App Store ( https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id731593509?pt=2020671&ct=version3launch-PR&mt=8 ) and on Android on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zacks.androidapp&referrer=utm_source%3Dpress_release%26utm_medium%3Dreferral%26utm_campaign%3Dversion3launch ).



Zacks Mobile App will still feature real-time pricing data from BATS, access to portfolio tracking tools, Zacks Analyst blogs on current company developments, as well as the earnings estimates and revisions that drive the Zacks Rank and breaking news and commentary from their team of in-house industry analysts and equity strategists.

But now, Zacks subscribers can access Zacks proprietary content and all of Zacks Trading Services inside the app. We are extremely excited about being able to share this new feature with investors, says Michael Lewis, Director Audience Development & Web Analytics at Zacks. With this access, investors interested in a wide variety of strategies and sectors, can see what stocks are in each service portfolio, read daily portfolio commentary and opt-in to receiving real time trade alerts on their phone when trading service editors add or drop stocks from the portfolio they manage. With our new and improved App, even users outside the US and Canada will be able to get real time trade alerts," says Lewis.

In addition, all users can receive notifications when Zacks publishes new editions of its newsletters, such as its Profit From the Pros, when their favorite Zacks Senior Writers publish new articles, and daily personal portfolio tracker updates. App users will also benefit from faster content load times and other performance improvements. By downloading the app, investors can ensure that they never miss another market-moving headline or earnings announcement again.

Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +25% per year from 1988 to 2017. With the Zacks mobile app, investors have the unmatched power of the Zacks Rank at their fingertips.

For more information, on the new Zacks Mobile App visit: https://www.zacks.com/app

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HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD) ("Erdene" or "Company") is pleased to provide an update on second quarter corporate and project activities, along with an outlook for the second half of 2018. This release should be read in conjunction with the Companys Q2-2018 Financial Statements and MD&A on the Companys website or on SEDAR.



Our Company has had an active and successful second quarter where we reported some of the highest grade drill results to date from our flagship gold project Bayan Khundii, announced an updated resource estimate at our neighboring Altan Nar project that nearly doubled the total ounces, became the first foreign-listed company to cross-list its shares on the Mongolian Stock Exchange, and closed two oversubscribed financings, said Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO. Taken together, the solid progress this quarter has increased the fundamental value of the Company, and set the stage for further value enhancement in the months ahead. Looking forward, we anticipate announcing the maiden Bayan Khundii resource estimate in Q3, which will compliment the updated Q2-2018 Altan Nar resource estimate, both of which will form the basis of a Preliminary Economic Assessment, expected to be announced in Q4. Both of these projects are high-grade, near-surface open pitable resources, located within an exceptional gold and copper terrane that remains under-explored and that continues to be a core focus of the exploration team actively exploring for the new deposits adjacent to a growing mining region.

Project, Corporate and Financial Update

Bayan Khundii Gold Project  100% Erdene

The Company completed a 4,584 metre drill program at Bayan Khundii in Q2-2018 bringing total drilling to 42,656 metres since the project was discovered in Q2-2015.

In Q2-2018, multiple intersections returned very high gold grades, including: 18 metres of 21.6 g/t gold, including 2 metres of 169 g/t gold (BKD-238); 37 metres of 4.4 g/t gold, including 2 metres of 50.5 g/t gold (BKD-241); 10 metres of 16.9 g/t gold, including 2 metres of 17.5 g/t gold and 2 metres of 56.8 g/t gold (BKD-242); 12 metres of 11 g/t gold, including 3 metres of 35.6 g/t gold (BKD-245); and 81 metres of 2.6 g/t gold, including 17 metres of 9.2 g/t gold (BKD-254).

Significantly, the testing of a potential feeder zone in the Midfield Zone at the intersection of a deep-seated northwest-trending fault and the interpreted relay ramp structure, returned 7 metres of 34.4 g/t gold (BKD-244) from the widest zone of gold-bearing quartz-adularia veins intersected to date at Bayan Khundii.

All Bayan Khundii drill results were delivered to RPMGlobal in late July who have commenced work on the maiden Bayan Khundii mineral resource estimate, anticipated to be announced in Q3.

This maiden resource estimate will accompany the Companys updated resource estimate for Altan Nar (16 kilometres northwest of Bayan Khundii) announced in Q2-2018 (see below for further detail).

Following the announcement of a consolidated resource estimate for Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, the Company will advance both projects to the preliminary economic assessment stage, with results of that study expected in Q4-2018.

Altan Nar Gold-Polymetallic Project  100% Erdene (16 kilometres north of Bayan Khundii)

In Q2-2018, the Company announced an updated resource estimate for Altan Nar with significant increases over the maiden resource estimate announced in March 2015.

The Indicated gold equivalent (AuEq) resource increased by 208% and the Inferred AuEq resource increased by 172%, compared to the March 2015 resource estimate.

The Indicated Resource of 452,900 ounces (oz) AuEq averaged 2.8 g/t AuEq and the Inferred Resource of 277,100 oz AuEq averaged 2.5 g/t AuEq, within a total resource of 5.0 million tonnes (Mt) Indicated and 3.4 Mt Inferred.

Approximately 90% of the Mineral Resource is within 150 metres of surface with all zones open along strike and at depth.

Multiple undrilled and scout-drilled prospects along the 5.6 kilometre Altan Nar trend have the potential for hosting additional gold-polymetallic resources.

Regional District Exploration

The Company has completed significant exploration within the 11.4 kilometre long Bayan Khundii license.

Subsequent to the end of Q2-2018, the Company has completed reconnaissance drilling on multiple targets in the Bayan Khundii license area with additional drilling planned in Q3/Q4-2018.

In Q3-2017, the Company acquired a 51% interest, with the option to acquire up to 100%, in the Ulaan license, located immediately west of its Bayan Khundii license. Ulaan has no history of drilling and is host to very large, 3-kilometre diameter, intense alteration zone with characteristics thought to be related to a porphyry complex. The Company completed a surface geophysical program in Q3-2018 and intends to initiate a maiden drill program at Ulaan in late Q3.

Erdene continues to be active through its Alliance with Teck Resources Limited (Teck), Canadas largest diversified mining company, in assessing regional base and precious metal opportunities in southwest Mongolias prolific Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Between 2013 and 2017, Teck invested a total of $3 million through six separate private placements in Erdene, fulfilling the initial terms of the Companys original agreement with Teck. Teck will continue to have the right, through to Q1-2020, to elect to enter into a joint venture agreement on any designated properties within the Alliances Area of Interest submitted by Erdene and approved by Teck for acquisition.

Mining Studies Group

In Q2-2018, the Company formed a Mining Studies Group responsible for all technical and permitting-related studies pertaining to Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar. The team includes: Cameron McRae (Chair of Technical Committee of the Board and Erdene Director); Former President of Oyu Tolgoi LLC where he led the construction and start-up of the US$6 billion Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in southern Mongolia; Julian Lawrence (Erdene Advisor); Mining Engineer and qualified Project Manager with over 15 years experience in permitting and developing mining projects across the Asia region, including Mongolia; Paul Korpi (Erdene Advisor); Metallurgical Engineer and Mining Consultant with over 40 years experience in the mining sector, including 22 years with Newmont Mining Corporation, and 4 years with Centerra Gold where he was part of the development team and managed the first hard rock gold mine in Mongolia (Boroo mine) producing 250,000+ ounces per year; David Mosher (Erdene Director); Geologist and former President and CEO of High River Gold Mines where he developed and managed gold mines in Burkina Faso and Russia; and Chris Cowan (Erdene Chairman); Mining executive/engineer with over 40 years experience in senior industry positions, including 28 years with Falconbridge Ltd.



Permitting, Water, Energy, and HSEC

Permitting: Erdene has engaged several consulting firms in preparation of anticipated resource estimates, preliminary economic studies, mining license applications, and geological modeling and targeting for the Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects. Erdene also continues to update the baseline surveys at Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar to fulfill Mongolian regulatory requirements for registering mineral resources, including conducting geotechnical work and mine hydrogeology studies.

Water: A preliminary water resource was recently identified approximately 15 kilometres from Altan Nar, which is believed to be sufficient to meet the processing needs of both projects (Altan Nar and Bayan Khundii). Additional work will be required in 2019 prior to the completion of a feasibility study to better define the water resource.

Energy: Through an initiative of the International Finance Corporation, the Company participated in a co-financed study of renewable energy supply options at Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar. The study provided technical and financial analysis for potential mine electricity demand scenarios that indicated an optimal pairing of renewable power with rotating machines for lowest cost, most reliable energy supply.



Health, Safety, Environment & Community (HSEC): No Lost Time Injuries reported to date in 2018. Through a province-based, non-profit organization, the Company initiated cultivation trials of endemic plant species in and around its project sites as part of its commitment to stewardship of natural resources in Mongolias southwestern Gobi. The Company entered into an annual Local Cooperation Agreement with the local, provincial and county governments, which outlines the responsibilities and commitments of the Company and local governments in relation to regulating and increasing public awareness of the minerals sector. In 2018, Erdene approved voluntary contributions for over ten different initiatives at the county and province levels focused on improving local livelihoods, basic education, public health and natural resource management. The Company recently appointed a dedicated Health and Safety Officer and site-based Environmental Officer to assist with HSEC related efforts.



Financial and Corporate Update

As of August 14, 2018, the Company has a working capital position of approximately $3.95 million. Current working capital is expected to fund the Companys budgeted expenditures to Q1-2019.

Erdene's Q2-2018 Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis were filed with regulatory authorities on August 14, 2018 and are available on the Company's website and on SEDAR.

In Q2-2018, Erdene became the first foreign-listed company to cross-list its shares on the Mongolian Stock Exchange and closed an oversubscribed Mongolian financing for gross proceeds of $1.36 million. Concurrent with the cross-listing, Erdene completed a private placement with gross proceeds of $4.12 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recognized a net loss of $2,141,134, or $0.01 per share, compared to a loss of $2,664,797, or $0.02 per share for the same period in 2017.

Exploration expenditures, including capitalized costs, totalled $3,180,081 for the first six months of 2018 compared with $4,799,360 for the same period in 2017, a decrease of 34%. Together, the Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects represented $2,208,354 or 69% of the 2018 exploration expenditures compared with $3,753,946 or 78% of the 2017 exploration expenditures for the same period in 2017.

Excluding non-cash share-based compensation and depreciation, the cash corporate and administrative expenses for the first six months of 2018 were $738,017 compared with $904,207 for the same period in 2017, a decrease of $166,190 or 18%. Total corporate and administrative expenses were $1,278,047 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $1,725,192 in 2017.

The corresponding cash exploration expenditures for the first six months of 2018 were $2,825,044, compared with $4,209,544 for the same period in 2017. The cash corporate and administrative expenses represented 26% of cash exploration expenditures incurred the first six months of 2018 compared with 21% for the same period in 2017.

Outlook

With the Q2-2018 Bayan Khundii drill program complete, the Company has delivered all Bayan Khundii drill results to RPMGlobal who have commenced work on a maiden independent NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for Bayan Khundii to accompany the Companys updated mineral resource estimate prepared by RPMGlobal for Altan Nar announced in Q2-2018.

The Bayan Khundii resource estimate is expected to be announced in Q3-2018.

Following the definition of resources, the Company has commissioned RPMGlobal to complete a preliminary economic assessment for Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, anticipated to be announced in Q4-2018.

It is expected that the Company will progress through a series of increasingly more detailed and rigorous assessments through 2019. It is anticipated that these assessments will lead to a feasibility decision that will potentially lead into mine and plant development and construction and onto initial commercial production.

Regional exploration within the Tian Shan Belt will continue, however the Companys immediate focus will continue to be the advancement of Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, and evaluation and potentially acquisition of prospects in the surrounding Khundii District.

Qualified Person

Michael MacDonald, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Vice President Exploration for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

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 (Q2-2015), 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 161,775,791 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 185,951,320 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 a number of 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




Halifax-class maintenance supports more than 400 jobs at Halifax Shipyard

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Royal Canadian Navys Halifax-class frigate, Her Majestys Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montreal, arrived at Halifax Shipyard yesterday for a 53-week docking work period (DWP) that includes routine maintenance and upgrades to ensure the ships longevity.

More than 400 Halifax Shipyard employees will work on HMCS Montreal DWP, including apprentice and journeyperson crane operators, electricians, engine fitters, ironworkers, joiners/stagers, labourers, material handlers, pipefitters, riggers, and welders, who are members of Unifor Local 1.

HMCS Montreal is the third consecutive Halifax-class frigate from the Navys east coast fleet to enter the Halifax Shipyards graving dock for a DWP since 2016. HMCS Fredericton is in the final weeks of a DWP, returning to the Royal Canadian Navy in October 2018, and HMCS Halifax DWP took place from October 2016 to September 2017.

Our shipbuilders know the Halifax-class better than any other shipbuilders and we are proud to continue our legacy as the Halifax-class in-service support centre of excellence, said Kevin McCoy, President of Irving Shipbuilding.

Prior to the DWPs, all seven of the Royal Canadian Navys east coast Halifax-class frigates completed mid-life overhauls at the Halifax Shipyard as part of the Government of Canadas Halifax-class modernization program.

All seven frigates overhauled at the Halifax Shipyard between 2010 and 2016Halifax, Fredericton, Montreal, Charlottetown, St. Johns, Ville de Quebec, and Torontowere completed on schedule and under budget.

In addition to its Halifax-class ship maintenance work, Halifax Shipyard is building six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and 15 Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) over the next 25 years as part of Canadas National Shipbuilding Strategy. The first AOPS, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, is scheduled to be launched in September 2018.

About Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

Irving Shipbuilding Inc., Canadas National Shipbuilder, is the most modern shipbuilder and in-service ship support provider in North America. Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, our skilled team and innovative facilities provide efficient building, fabrication, conversion and servicing of vessels and offshore platforms. As Canadas chosen shipbuilder, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is working with the Royal Canadian Navy on the next class of Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) and Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) vessels under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). We are proud to continue our long history as a trusted partner in Canadian shipbuilding. Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is a member of the J.D. Irving, Limited group of companies, a diverse family owned company with operations in Canada and the United States. Learn more at www.IrvingShipbuilding.com or www.ShipsforCanada.ca.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eef1aa9c-a3d5-471a-b482-500b91e19e28

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f45d304-9242-4618-ad13-ef0dba3ef737
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Finalists for the 2018 Online Journalism Awards , representing a wide range of local and international media, nonprofit, public, academic and emerging technology organizations, were announced today by the Online News Association.



Thirteen of the awards come with $58,500 in prize money, courtesy of John S. and James L. Knight Foundation , the Gannett Foundation , the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and Journalism 360 . These awards honor data journalism, visual digital storytelling, investigative journalism, immersive storytelling, public service, technical innovation, student journalism and general excellence.

This years awards introduced a new category for Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships, honoring newsrooms and companies who formed innovative partnerships or collaborations to cover a topic or story with a digital focus. In addition, the General Excellence category now has a micro size group for newsrooms with 15 or fewer employees, thanks to the support of the Democracy Fund .

A special selection committee also granted the James Foley Award for Conflict Reporting to photojournalist Nicole Tung . She is the fourth recipient of the award, which honors journalists reporting under the most challenging conditions. Tung has covered social and conflict-related issues in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, including the conflicts in Libya and Syria, violence against women in Turkey and the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

"The selection committee was impressed by the power and variety of imagery Nicole has captured in conflict zones on multiple continents, and by her consistent focus on the humanity of her subjects, said Eric Carvin, Social Media Editor at The Associated Press and chair of the selection committee. Importantly, she's also been deeply involved in advocating for freelancer rights and safety, and has skillfully used her social presence to both bring attention to those issues and showcase her powerful visual journalism. Nicole knew Jim Foley well, and has been committed to carrying his legacy forward. We're proud and humbled to celebrate her stunning work, as well as her dedication to the well-being of journalists toiling under the most challenging of circumstances.

The 2018 winners  including winners of the Rich Jaroslovsky Founder Award and the new ONA Community Award  will be announced at the Online News Association Conference and Online Journalism Awards Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 15, in Austin, Texas.

A group of 132 industry-leading journalists and new media professionals teamed up to screen 1,138 entries and select semi-finalists. More than 25 judges representing a diverse cross-section of the industry then conferred to determine finalists and winners.

The finalists are:

Breaking News, Small Newsroom

Austin Serial Bombings, KUT Austin

Breaking News, Medium Newsroom

Collapse of the Florida International University Bridge, Miami Herald

Wine Country Wildfires, San Francisco Chronicle / Hearst

Thomas Fire Coverage, KPCC Southern California Public Radio

Breaking News, Large Newsroom

The Search Operation of the Submarine ARA San Juan, LA NACION

The Vegas Massacre, The New York Times

Horror on Yonge Street, Toronto Star

Explanatory Reporting, Small Newsroom

Three Rivers Rising, PublicSource

Nuclear Negligence, The Center for Public Integrity

Texas Tribune: Dangerous Deliveries, The Texas Tribune

Explanatory Reporting, Medium Newsroom

Dirty Gold, Clean Cash, Miami Herald

Walking While Black, Florida-Union Times and ProPublica

Project Nora, The Oregonian / OregonLive

Explanatory Reporting, Large Newsroom

California's Power Glut, Los Angeles Times

The Wall, The Arizona Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Boston. Racism. Image. Reality., The Boston Globe

North Korea, The Washington Post

Online Commentary

Seven Steps to Save 27,000 Lives, The Boston Globe

Nicholas Kristof and Colleagues, The New York Times

Sports, Small/Medium Newsroom



No finalists

Sports, Large Newsroom

Eight Seconds: The Life and Death of a Cowboy, The Globe and Mail

Olympics, The Globe and Mail

The Winter Olympics, The New York Times

Feature, Small Newsroom

Californians: Here's Why Your Housing Costs Are So High, CALmatters

Hot Spots, Ensia

First Nations Housing, The Discourse

LR9LIVE: Making Civil Rights History Come Alive, Youth Radio

Feature, Medium Newsroom

Europe Slams Its Gates, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting / Foreign Policy

Marshall Islands: The Poison and the Tomb, Mashable

Project Nora, The Oregonian / OregonLive

Feature, Large Newsroom

Betrayed: Chicago schools fail to protect students from sexual abuse and assault, leaving lasting damage, Chicago Tribune

A Betrayal, ProPublica and New York Magazine

The Road, The Globe and Mail

The Next Edition, The Washington Post

The David Teeuwen Student Journalism Award, Small Newsroom

Alone, University of California, Berkeley

Justice For Who?, University of California, Berkeley

Leaving Tracks: The Capture of Wolf No. 1553, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Arizona State University)

The David Teeuwen Student Journalism Award, Large Newsroom

The Deported: Life Beyond the Border, JOVRNALISM / University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

The Perfect Storm, The Eagle / American University

Aftermath, UNC School of Media and Journalism

Pro-Am Student Award

More Than a Mascot, Philip Merrill College of Journalism and Capital News Service

HEI6MAN EVOLUTION, University of Oklahoma and The OU Daily

Troubled Water, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Arizona State University) and Carnegie-Knight News21

The University of Florida Award for Investigative Data Journalism, Small/Medium Newsroom

Too Broke for Bankruptcy, ProPublica

Walking While Black, Florida Times-Union and ProPublica

The Taking, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica

The University of Florida Award for Investigative Data Journalism, Large Newsroom

Death & Dysfunction, NJ Advance Media

Bussed Out: How America Moves its Homeless, The Guardian US

The Follower Factory, The New York Times

The Number of Students Who Have Experienced Gun Violence at School Since Columbine, The Washington Post

Excellence in Immersive Storytelling

Yemen's Skies of Terror, Contrast VR and Al Jazeera

Augmented Reality: David Bowie in Three Dimensions, The New York Times

Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, Small Newsroom

Bundyville, Longreads and Oregon Public Broadcasting

The New American Songbook, The GroundTruth Project

She Says, WFAE  Charlotte's NPR News Source

Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, Medium/Large Newsroom

Strange Bird: Experimental Podcast and Player, Guardian Mobile Innovation Lab

Prosecutor Nisman Phone Interceptions Mapped in Playlists, LA NACION

Repeat, KPCC Southern California Public Radio

In Harvey's Wake, The Texas Tribune and Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting

The Wall Street Journal's Innovation in Audio Storytelling, The Wall Street Journal

Excellence and Innovation in Visual Digital Storytelling, Small Newsroom

The Last Generation, FRONTLINE and The GroundTruth Project

Gerda, KUERs RadioWest

Excellence and Innovation in Visual Digital Storytelling, Medium Newsroom

No finalists

Excellence and Innovation in Visual Digital Storytelling, Large Newsroom

The Uber Game, The Financial Times

Thousands Cried for Help as Houston Flooded, The New York Times

The Four Days In 1968 That Reshaped D.C., The Washington Post

The Waiting Game, WNYC and ProPublica

Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships

Verificado 2018, AJ+ Espanol, Animal Politico and Pop-Up Newsroom

Paradise Papers: Secrets of the Global Elite, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Suddeutsche Zeitung, The New York Times, The Guardian and more than 90 other media partners

Crossing the Divide, The GroundTruth Project and WGBH Boston

Gannett Foundation Award for Technical Innovation in the Service of Digital Journalism

Washington Post ARC Publishing, The Washington Post

Trint, Trint

The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Small Newsroom

The Daphne Project, Forbidden Stories

Digging into the Mining Arc, InfoAmazonia and Correo del Caroni

A Broken System, Injustice Watch

The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Medium Newsroom

On the Fire Line, an Investigation Into Rape, Harassment and Retaliation in the U.S. Forest Service, PBS NewsHour

Bombs In Our Backyard, ProPublica

Trump Town, ProPublica

Benefit of the Doubt, The Oregonian / OregonLive

The Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, Large Newsroom

From Russia With Blood, BuzzFeed News

Betrayed: Chicago Schools Fail to Protect Students from Sexual Abuse and Assault, Leaving Lasting Damage, Chicago Tribune

Toxic City: Sick Schools, Philadelphia Media Network

The Neglected Bridges, VG

Knight Award for Public Service

Taking Cover: How Cops Escape Discipline for Shootings in Suburban Chicago, Better Government Association, WBEZ

Lost Mothers, ProPublica and NPR

All Work. No Pay., Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting

Hacking Democracy, The Washington Post

General Excellence in Online Journalism, Micro Newsroom

Postdata.club

PublicSource

The New Food Economy

The Trace

General Excellence in Online Journalism, Small Newsroom

Longreads

The Marshall Project

The Texas Tribune

General Excellence in Online Journalism, Medium Newsroom

Austin American-Statesman

ProPublica

Quartz

Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting

General Excellence in Online Journalism, Large Newsroom

The New York Times

The Washington Post

Vox.com

The judges for finalists were:

Laura Amico, Senior Editor, Harvard Business Review

Heather Bryant, Founder, Project Facet

Audrey Cerdan, New Formats Editor, L'Obs

Florencia Coehlo, New Media Research & Trainer, LA NACION

Eva Constantaras, Data Journalist, Data Nomads LLC

Meghann Farnsworth, Director of Social Media, WIRED

Tiffany Fehr, Assistant Editor, Interactive Desk, The New York Times

Kim Fox, Managing Editor, Audience, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Ann Grimes, Associate Director, Brown Institute for Media Innovation, Stanford University School of Engineering

Robert Hernandez, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, USC Annenberg

Rafael Hohr, News Graphic Editor, Prodigioso Volcan

Rich Jaroslovsky, Vice President for Content & Chief Journalist, SmartNews

S. Mitra Kalita, Senior Vice President, News, Opinion & Programming, CNN Digital

Damon Kiesow, Knight Chair in Digital Editing and Producing, Missouri School of Journalism

Celeste LeCompte, Vice President, Business Development, ProPublica

Marian Liu, Communications Manager, JL Audio, Freelancer, CNN Diversity Fellow

Jacqui Maher, Freelance Journalist, Australia

Nathalie Malinarich, Editor, Mobile & New Formats, BBC Mobile and Online

Rebekah Monson, Co-founder and COO, WhereBy.Us

Kate Myers, Executive Director, Revenue and Operations, First Look Media

Nuria Net, Managing Editor, Radio Gladys Palmera

Angela Pacienza, Head of Experience, The Globe and Mail

Miguel Paz, Professor, CUNY Journalism School; Founder of Poderopedia

Eliana Vaca, Dataviz Trainer and Creative Director, Chicas Poderosas

Hannah Wise, Engagement Editor, The Dallas Morning News

Anita Zielina, Digital Media Strategy

*Judges were recused from discussing categories in which their own organizations were entered.

Launched in 2000, the OJAs are the only comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in digital journalism.

About ONA

The Online News Association is the worlds largest association of online journalists. ONAs mission is to inspire innovation and excellence among journalists to better serve the public. The membership includes news writers, producers, designers, editors, bloggers, technologists, photographers, academics, students and others who produce and distribute news for digital delivery systems. ONA hosts the annual Online News Association annual conference and administers the Online Journalism Awards .

About Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit knightfoundation.org .

About the Gannett Foundation

The Gannett Foundation is a corporate foundation sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc. whose mission is to invest in the future of the communities in which Gannett does business, and in the future of our industry. It supports projects that take a creative approach to fundamental issues such as education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.



About the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications is driving innovation and engagement across the disciplines of advertising, journalism, public relations and telecommunication. The strength of its programs, faculty, students and alumni  in research and in practice  has earned the college ongoing recognition as one of the best in the nation among its peers. The college offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and certificates, both online and on campus. The colleges strength is drawn from both academic rigor and experiential learning. The college includes seven broadcast and digital media properties and the nations only chair in public interest communications.

About Journalism 360

Journalism 360 is a global network of storytellers accelerating the understanding and production of immersive journalism. Our mission is to help news organizations, journalists, technologists, content creators and journalism educators experiment with all forms of immersive storytelling, including but not limited to 360 video, augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality. Its founding partners are the Knight Foundation, Google News Initiative and the Online News Association.
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amarillo Gold Corporations (Amarillo or the Company) (TSX.V:AGC) (OTCQB:AGCBF) Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Wednesday September 12, 2018 at 10:00 AM E.T. at the offices of Miller Thompson LLP, Scotia Plaza, 40 King Street West, Suite 5800, Toronto, Ontario.



ABOUT AMARILLO

Amarillo is developing an economic, open pit gold resource at its Mara Rosa Project in the mining friendly jurisdiction of Goias State in Brazil. An Updated Pre-Feasibility Study (NI 43-101 technical report) for the Mara Rosa Project was filed on SEDAR on May 4, 2017. The Mara Rosa Project was awarded its main (LP) permit which provides the social and environment permission to mine. Amarillo is progressing toward obtaining an installation permit (LI). The Posse Deposit at the Mara Rosa Project contains 540,567 ounces of gold in the Proven category from 9.27MT at 1.81 g/t Au, and 456,968 ounces in the Probable category from 9.74MT at 1.46 g/t Au, for total Reserves of 997,536 ounces from 19.01 MT at 1.63 g/t Au. In addition to the Mara Rosa Project, Amarillo has an advanced exploration project with excellent grades at Lavras do Sul, Brazil. A Mineral Resource Estimate Study (NI 43-101 technical report) for Lavras do Sul was filed on SEDAR on October 4, 2010. The Lavras do Sul Project is an advanced exploration stage property (190 sq. km.) comprising of more than 22 prospects centered on historic gold workings. The initial resource estimate at the Butia prospect reported 215,000 ounces of gold in the Indicated category from 6.4 MT at 1.05 g/t Au, and 308,000 ounces of gold in the Inferred category from 12.9 MT at 0.74 g/t Au using a 0.3 g/t cut-off grade. Both projects have excellent nearby infrastructure.

Mike Mutchler, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 guidelines, and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

For further information, please contact: Mike Mutchler

President & CEO

416-294-0736

mike.mutchler@amarillogold.com or Karen Mate

External Communications

416-230-6454

karen.mate@amarillogold.com 32 Richmond St. East Suite 201

Toronto, ON Canada, M5C 1P1



Website: www.amarillogold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release contains Forward Looking Statements regarding the Companys current expectations regarding future events, including with respect to the Companys business, operations and condition, and managements objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Various factors may prevent or delay our plans, including but not limited to, the trading price of the Common Shares, the ability of the Company to obtain approvals from the TSX-V in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, contractor availability and performance, weather, access, mineral prices, and success and failure of the exploration and development carried out at various stages of the program. Permission from the Government and community is also required to proceed with future mining production. Readers should review the Companys ongoing quarterly and annual filings, as well as any other additional documentation comprising the Companys public disclosure record, for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. Readers should also review the risk factors applicable to junior mining exploration companies generally to better understand the variety of risks that can affect the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any Forward Looking Statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as me be required by law.
With her extensive experience and many accolades in public service and the health and wellness industry,

the Company is pleased to welcome Barinder Rasode to its advisory board.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Isodiol International Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTCQB: ISOLD) (FSE: LB6A.F) (the Company or Isodiol), a global CBD innovator and market leader, is pleased to announce the appointment of Barinder Rasode to its advisory board. She will be focused on assisting the Company with its advocacy to various governmental and non-governmental organizations in Canada, surrounding new regulations and updates to the current laws governing access to natural health and wellness cannabidiol (CBD) based products.

Barinder Rasodes quintessential advocacy for Canadian values is nationally renowned. She has extensive experience working with government, industry, universities, patients, consumers, law enforcement and the private sector, finding common ground encouraging respectful, informed dialogue.

Barinder is currently the CEO of the National Institute for Cannabis Health and Education (NICHE), an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides impartial and evidence-based research about cannabis production and use in Canada. The goal of NICHE is to design and support a well-structured and holistic national strategy that considers the health and safety of Canadians as its fundamental priority.

As part of her distinguished background of accomplishments, she has served on the Board of Directors for Fraser Health, providing governance and vision for the largest health authority in British Columbia. Previously, Barinder has also served two terms as an elected Councillor for the City of Surrey, taking leadership roles in public safety and transportation.

A fierce advocate of womens rights, Barinder is also the co-founder and Advisory Committee Chair for a unique series of conferences called SheTalks, featuring inspirational women who share stories of leadership, transformation, innovation, and how to succeed in todays rapidly changing world. In addition, she is also leading the Cannabis Wise certification program, which is set to be a recognizable and trusted way for consumers to identify products that are created with quality control, legality, and responsible use in mind.

Marcos Agramont, CEO of Isodiol, stated: Barinder is a respected industry professional with an impeccable reputation as someone who demonstrates leadership and reinforces the importance of community building and consensus among stakeholders. We welcome her to the team and look forward to her role in representing our Companys initiatives and discussions with the federal and provincial governments and other industry associations in Canada.

Isodiol is a market leader in facilitating the next phase of CBD products entering the marketplace, based on the highest quality pharmaceutical ingredients, said Barinder Rasode. The company works hard to be a responsible stakeholder, helping shape the future of this industry, enabling positive changes in regulations and contributing to education and awareness campaigns that are needed to empower consumers.

Among her many accolades, Vancouver Magazine ranked Barinder Rasode as one of the 50 most powerful people in Vancouver.

About Isodiol International Inc.

Isodiol International Inc. is the market leader in pharmaceutical grade pure, natural CBD and the industry leader in the manufacturing and development of CBD consumer products.

Isodiol is the pioneer of many firsts in the CBD industry, including the commercialization of 99%+ pure, natural isolated CBD, micro-encapsulations, and nanotechnology for the highest quality consumable and topical skin care products. Most recently, the Company received approval for its CBD designated as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient for use in Finished Pharmaceutical Products, as was announced on April 26, 2018.

Isodiols growth strategy includes the development of over-the-counter and pharmaceutical drugs and continued international expansion into Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

Join Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsodiolInternationalInc/

Twitter: @Isodiolintlinc

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Marcos Agramont, CEO & Director

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

Ir@isodiol.com

www.isodiol.com

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business, products and future the Companys business, its product offerings and plans for sales and marketing. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Company's products and plan will vary from those stated in this news release and the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation and does not intend, to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and makes no reference to profitability based on sales reported. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release.
ROSEMONT, Ill., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology, scalp conditions, such as alopecia areata, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, are very common. In fact, researchers estimate that at least half of the people who have plaque psoriasis have it on their scalp. Fortunately, patients can improve their conditions using topical medications prescribed by their dermatologist. While these medications can come in many forms, including shampoos, lotions, sprays and oils, the most popular are solutions, which are liquid-based, and foams.

There are many safe and effective treatments for scalp conditions, and a few of these can even be purchased without a prescription, says board-certified dermatologist Amy J. McMichael, MD, FAAD, a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. However, applying these medications can be tricky if you dont have the proper technique.

For the most effective application, Dr. McMichael recommends applying scalp medications to dry hair using a simple, five-line approach. With a little practice, she says, the application should take less than two minutes to complete. However, its important to follow your dermatologists directions when applying scalp medications, she says, as different conditions may require different instructions.

To apply a solution medication, Dr. McMichael recommends the following steps:

Part your hair down the middle of your head. Then, use a dropper to apply the medication along the part, from the front of your scalp to the back. If your medication doesnt come with a dropper, you can get one from your local drugstore. Make sure you continuously squeeze out the medication as you work your way along the part with the dropper. Part your hair a second and third time to the right and left of your middle part, about 2 inches down. Continuously apply the medication along each part from the front of your scalp to the back. Part your hair a fourth and fifth time just above your right and left ears. Continuously apply the medication along each part from the front of your scalp to the back.

Solution medications are commonly used among those with naturally straight hair, including Asian-Americans and many Caucasians, says Dr. McMichael. For those with coarse, curly or chemically relaxed hair, including many African-Americans, foam medications may be easier to apply and more popular.

Foam medications can be applied the same way as solution medications, except that one would use the bottle cap instead of a dropper, says Dr. McMichael. Since foam medications are designed to melt when they come into contact with a persons body heat, she says, the medication will dissolve if its applied to the hands before its applied to the scalp.

To apply a foam medication, Dr. McMichael recommends these tips:

Part your hair down the middle of your head. Then, dispense a small amount of medication into the bottle cap. Bring the bottle cap up to your hair and use your fingertips to continuously rake small amounts of the medication out of the bottle cap and into your part, from the front of your scalp to the back. Part your hair a second and third time to the right and left of your middle part, about 2 inches down. Continuously rake the medication out of the bottle cap and into each part from the front of your scalp to the back. Part your hair a fourth and fifth time just above your right and left ears. Continuously rake the medication out of the bottle cap and into each part from the front of your scalp to the back. Wash your hands immediately after applying the medication.

No matter what type of scalp medication you use, its important to follow your doctors directions, says Dr. McMichael. If you have questions about your treatment options, or if you suspect you have an undiagnosed scalp condition, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.

These tips are demonstrated in How to Apply Scalp Medications, a video posted to the AAD website and YouTube channel. This video is part of the AADs Video of the Month series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair and nails. A new video in the series posts to the AAD website and YouTube channel each month.

Contacts

Nicole DiVito, (847) 240-1746, ndivito@aad.org

Amanda Jacobs, (847) 240-1714, ajacobs@aad.org

About the AAD

Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 19,000 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the AAD at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow the AAD on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology), Twitter (@AADskin), or YouTube (AcademyofDermatology).

To view this release in a media-rich format, go to: www.aad.new-media-release.com/2018/scalp_medication/
HOUSTON, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transwesterns second-quarter national office market report highlights continued improvement in the sector thanks in large part to a strong jobs market with remarkably low overall unemployment of 3.9 percent, and a 1.6 percent annual growth rate in office-using employment.



For the second quarter, office absorption totaled 18.8 million square feet, vacancy remained stable at 9.6 percent, and average asking rents increased by 3.4 percent annually to $25.71 per square foot.



As more individuals return to the workforce citing real wage growth, further tightening in the core metrics is anticipated through the balance of the year, said Stuart Showers, Research Director in Houston.



The rise in rental rates marks the 21st consecutive quarterly increase, with Minneapolis; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; San Antonio and Austin, Texas leading the nation in year-over-year rent growth. San Francisco edged out New York for the highest asking rates in the country at $74.40 per square foot.



Despite only 4 million square feet currently under construction in San Francisco versus more than 14 million square feet in New York, San Francisco is increasing total inventory by a higher percentage, which could drive asking rates even higher as new product comes online, said Ryan Tharp, Research Director in Dallas. Additionally, existing tariffs on steel and aluminum are likely to drive up construction costs, and landlords may need to bump up rental rates to compensate.



Worth noting is that while national quarterly absorption remained positive, the pace of absorption is slowing as quarterly totals are approximately 20 percent below three- and five-year quarterly averages. Overall, 34 of the 49 Transwestern reporting markets registered positive absorption in the second quarter, underscoring the strength of the sector.



Download the national office market report at: http://twurls.com/2q18-us-office



ABOUT TRANSWESTERN

Transwestern is a privately held real estate firm of collaborative entrepreneurs who deliver a higher level of personalized service  the Transwestern Experience. Specializing in Agency Leasing, Tenant Advisory, Capital Markets, Asset Services and Research, our fully integrated global enterprise adds value for investors, owners and occupiers of all commercial property types. We leverage market insights and operational expertise from members of the Transwestern family of companies specializing in development, real estate investment management and research. Based in Houston, Transwestern has 35 U.S. offices and assists clients through more than 211 offices in 36 countries as part of a strategic alliance with BNP Paribas Real Estate. Experience Extraordinary at transwestern.com and @Transwestern.



Attachment
At the rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, where Palestinian and Israeli flags were waved, those present felt hope. For the director of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Israelis, Arabs, Jews and Palestinians can work for the same purpose and stand together. Likewise, The Jews and Arabs who participated [in the rally] saw the notion of state reflected in the event, a state that is inclusive of all its citizens, said Bernard Sabella.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews)  Thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv last Saturday to protest against the Nation-State law, which was approved on 19 July. Jews and Arabs stood side by side to demand its repeal, calling for a just and democratic state.

Organised by Israeli Arabs, the protest began at 8 pm. Demonstrators marched from Rabin Square to the plaza next to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Although organisers had asked people not to, some brought and waved Palestinian and Israeli flags.

Members of various Israeli civil society groups and NGOs took part in the event. Ran Goldstein, director of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, was one of them.

The main purpose, the 'big statement' of this law is if you're not Jewish you won't have equal rights in Israel, Goldstein said.

This very statement goes against all the values that human rights organisations believe in. The meaning of his law is very dangerous, and Not only because it doesn't state that there will be equal rights for everyone.

For Goldstein, the meaning of this law is that the future can be a disaster for all Palestinians because no one can know what will happen next.

For us, for society it is very important to show that there are alternative ways to live in Israel, that there is a way to live with equal rights, to speak Hebrew and Arabic, with the same voice to support the same values of freedom of speech.

One of the successful aspects of the protest was a real demonstration of Jews and Arabs close together, fighting for the same purpose to have a democratic and equal society.

It's a personal feeling, but I felt it was a show of hope. It was very unique to have this demonstration in Tel Aviv because it was organised by the Arab leadership. They chose to do it in Tel Aviv and a lot of Israeli Jews supported it.

It was very unique: Israelis, Arabs, Jews and Palestinians coming together  with all the differences in our identities, because my identity is not the same, my background is not the same as that of an Arab who participated  so that we can understand and work for the same purpose and stand together.

It gave a lot of hope and energy and I hope it will bring cooperation, demonstrations. Those who support the narrow view of separation will lose one day. The real solution for the people in Israel is to live together.

Lastly, for Goldstein, We fight for values. [. . .] When we fight for the rights of asylum seekers, gay people, minorities, in the end, we give hope to the people.

For Bernard Sabella, a Christian member of Fatah, Jews and Arabs present at the event answered a question that touches the whole region: "What kind of state do we want? Can an Israeli state that is strictly for Jews ensure democracy and equality? Can it treat all its citizens as a state should?

"I think the problem of the whole Middle East  not just Israel  has always been 'what kind of state do we want?' With this law, Israel becomes an example that goes against a notion of citizenship that includes all the people living in the country."

"The Jews and Arabs who participated [in the rally] saw the notion of state reflected in the event, a state that is inclusive of all its citizens. This does not necessarily negate the democratic and Jewish values of the state.

"If Israel wants to be Jewish and democratic than it has to deal with its citizens on an equal basis. And it will clearly remain Jewish because the majority is Jewish. But to say that the only group that is entitled to self-determination is the Jewish people, then you're saying that others dont have that right.
San Diego, CA, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LionDesk Signs Exclusive Agreement with Realcomp II Ltd. to Provide Integrated CRM Solution to Michigan REALTORS

SAN DIEGO August 14, 2018-- LionDesk, the leading customer relationship management (CRM) and communications platform for real estate professionals, announced today that it has signed an exclusive partnership with Realcomp II Ltd., Michigans largest Multiple Listing Service, with more than 15,500 subscribers statewide.

The cloud-based LionDesk CRM will offer Realcomp subscribers unique tools and efficiencies through a wide range of features that include:

Contact Management

Lead Distribution

Third Party Lead Imports

Automated Drip Campaigns

Detailed email tracking/reporting

Full calendar and agenda

Social media contact lookup

Mobile app for IOS and Android

Easily filter, search and organize contacts

IDX/Website integration

We are excited about working with Realcomp and its subscribers, said David Anderson, LionDesks President and Founder. We know they are looking for the most cutting-edge tech partners and we couldnt be more thrilled to be working exclusively with them in the Michigan market.

Added Realcomp CEO, Karen Kage: We love that LionDesk is an integrated solution that will allow our subscribers to connect immediately and seamlessly into the LionDesk platform. We are always seeking the newest and best tools aimed at helping REALTORS succeed.

LionDesk is currently integrated with over 150 industry tech tools and with their new developer platform, expect to add dozens more this year. This new development tool will give MLS and Brokers the ability to offer a single sign-on solution for their team members as they will be able to manage their existing workflows directly in LionDesk.

For more information, please visit www.liondesk.com

About LionDesk

LionDesk is the leading Integrated Business Platform for sales professionals. Powerful and easy to use with features like CRM, intelligent drip campaigns, video emails and texting, text-2-sell tools, transaction workflows, integrated power-dialer and more, the LionDesk platform is a best-in-class solution with a reputation of proven results for agents, teams and brokers.

About Realcomp II Ltd.

Realcomp II Ltd. is Michigan's largest Multiple Listing Service, now serving more than 15,500 valued broker, agent, and appraiser customers in over 2,400 offices across Southeast Michigan. Realcomp II Ltd. is committed to providing the most reliable up-to date real estate information using state-of-the-art delivery methods. Realcomp offers its members top of the line customer service and every member has the authority to do what it takes to make certain each customer's experience positive.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. (the "Company" or "Abattis") ( CSE: ATT / OTC: ATTBF ) is pleased to announce that it has completed the sale (the Sale) of its 35% interest in Northern Vine Canada Inc. (Northern Vine) to Emerald Health Therapeutics, Inc. ( TSXV:EMH / OTCQX:EMHTF ) (Emerald) in exchange for $2 million in cash and $4 million in common shares of Emerald, 50% of which are free trading and 50% of which may be sold in 30 days.



The sale of Northern Vine is a great achievement for Abattis, stated Abattis President and CEO, Rob Abenante. We learned several valuable lessons setting up this pilot lab, which will prove to be of tremendous value as we launch our second industrial scale lab in Ontario with Xlabs.

The share purchase agreement governing the Disposition (the Agreement) also provides that, upon Northern Vine and/or Emerald earning gross revenues of $10 million from the sale of products or provision of services to customers introduced by Abattis, Emerald will issue Abattis an additional $4 million in common shares of Emerald.

In connection with the Disposition, Abattis has entered into a service and access agreement (the Services Agreement) with Northern Vine to provide for Abattiss continued use of Northern Vines laboratory as a preferred customer, including with respect to Abattiss development work on a hemp-infused cannabinoid-rich, THC-free craft beer with Faculty Brewing Co. and on nanoemulsified and liposomal platforms for transmucosal delivery of cannabinoid-rich hemp oil with the University of British Columbia.

This Disposition was very strategic for Abattis, added Mr. Abenante. We have monetized our minority interest in Northern Vine and strengthened our financial position while continuing to ramp up our focus on bringing revenue generating products and services to the market. In addition, thanks to the Services Agreement, we are able to continue using the Northern Vine lab for our downstream service offerings on a preferred basis, including for our CBD beer and UBC research and development work.

Mr. Abenante continued: It has been a pleasure partnering with Emerald on Northern Vine and we look forward collaborating with them in the future on other projects.

About Abattis Bioceuticals Corp.

Abattis is a leading diversified cannabis company, with interests in operations engaged in growing, extraction, testing, propagation and retail distribution. Over the past year, Abattis has made key acquisitions to leverage synergies and vertically integrate its business. Through its partnership with Northern Vine Labs and its investment in XLABS Therapeutics (ONT) Inc., Abattis has access to a fully licenced laboratory facility and an industrial size laboratory currently in the process of obtaining a Health Canada dealers license and, through its wholly owned subsidiary Gabriola Green Farms, it has applied for a Health Canada license to produce and sell Cannabis flower and oils. Abattis also operates a retail vaporizers business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Green Tree Therapeutics, which offers 10 unique branded SKUs online and across the country and owns a series of marketing, licensing and technology rights. Abattis has also partnered with a number of organizations, including the University of British Columbia Faculty of Land and Food Systems, with which it is developing delivery platforms with increased stability and bioavailability for cannabinoid rich THC-free hemp extracts. For more information, visit the Companys website at: www.abattis.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF

ABATTIS BIOCEUTICALS CORP.,

"Rob Abenante"

Robert Abenante, President & CEO

For more information, please visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com or www.northernvinelabs.com

For inquiries, please contact the Company at (604) 441-1304 or at investors@abattis.com.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", intends, "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: Abattiss continuing relationship with Northern Vine pursuant to the master services agreement; the setting up of a new lab with XLABS; Emerald common shares in the event Northern Vine and Emerald meet certain sales targets. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including: that Abattiss relationship with Northern Vine will not continue as expected or at all; that Abattis will set up a new lab with XLABS; that Northern Vine and Emerald will not meet the sales target of $4 million or that, even if such target is met, that Abattis will not be issued Emerald common shares in respect of such achievement; that the Company will not be able to execute its proposed business plan in the time required or at all due to regulatory, financial or other issues; that the Companys competitors may develop competing technologies; changes in regulatory requirements; and other factors beyond the Companys control. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements are made as at the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, where because of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

When you think of emeralds worn by the last Queen of the Hellenes, Anne-Marie of Denmark, your mind will almost certainly head straight for the grand emerald parure that belongs to the Greek royal family. But Anne-Maries collection also includes other emerald jewels, including the modern set of ruby and emerald jewels were looking at today.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

As is the case with many families that have lost their royal thrones, the information available about the Greek royal jewels is a bit murky. (They are essentially private citizens now, after all, and all the jewelry they continue to wear is theoretically personally owned.) Over the last decade, Queen Anne-Marie has worn an interesting set of jewels featuring emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and pearls. We dont appear to know much specific provenance information about them. Above, Anne-Marie wears the brooch in Luxembourg in 2008 for the celebrations of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresas silver wedding anniversary.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Heres a closer look at the brooch from the set. Ribbons of diamonds and emeralds wrap around a central element set with a large cabochon emerald, studded at the edges with four rubies. A single pear-shaped pearl drop is suspended from the bottom of the brooch. To me, the construction of the jewel suggests that it is a newer piece.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

This suspicion is also bolstered by the earrings from the set. Anne-Marie wore both the brooch and earrings together in 2012 for a major royal occasion: the wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Heres a closer view of the earrings, which also feature emeralds and diamonds in a modern setting, plus pendant pearl drops.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The innovative setting of the jewels, plus the traditional addition of the pearl drops, make this set an interesting choice for a former queen  a woman whose life has spanned a tumultuous period of upheaval and exile.
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) is celebrating a decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to dismiss a London, Ontario employers attempt to pit the Charter against the provinces Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act.



The case before the board, UFCW v. The Original Cakerie Ltd., resulted when the employer launched a Charter challenge after finding out its employees had contacted the UFCW to request help in joining the food workers union.

The employer attempted to argue that the provinces labour legislation violated employee privacy, but the employer failed to provide a single witness who could testify about so-called privacy concerns.

The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act requires employers to provide the union with a complete list of employees, and their contact information, once the union demonstrates that at least 20 percent of a companys workforce supports the effort to join the union.

In responding to the employers attempted argument, OLRB Chair Bernard Fishbein concluded the Act does not violate the Charter, and in any event, the Employer had no standing to make such an argument on behalf of its employees, and ordered the company to provide the list.



"Prior to the Act, irresponsible employers would often manipulate employee lists, and do other things to actively discourage their employees from exercising their right to join the union. All workers must have a fundamental and undeniable right to stick together, says UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema. In Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms must protect that fundamental right, and this decision reinforces that right by making it easier for workers to take the empowering step of forming a union.

We know that workers in a union have a better standard of living and a voice on the job, and in Ontario, and every jurisdiction across Canada, we must continue to make it easier for workers to exercise their constitutional right to join a union, adds the national president.

The union would also like to thank the Ontario Federation of Labour for supporting the UFCW effort, and for helping to make a stand for workplace democracy, by participating as an intervenor in this important case for labour rights in Ontario.

A full copy of the decision is available here: (http://www.ufcw.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32008:food-workers-celebrate-ontario-labour-board-decision-in-favour-of-union-rights&catid=9976&Itemid=6&lang=en).

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is one of Canadas largest trade unions, representing more than 250,000 people across the country, and 1.3 million internationally, who work in every aspect of the food chain, health care, security, and many other key economic sectors. To find out more about UFCW and its ground-breaking work, visit www.ufcw.ca.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Debora De Angelis

Regional Director, Ontario

UFCW Canada

416-675-1104

extension 2251

debora.deangelis@ufcw.ca

www.ufcw.ca


From an email message that I received earlier today:

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF LAW invites applications from both entry-level and lateral candidates for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position to commence in the 2019 Fall Semester. Candidates should have a particular interest in teaching in our Advocacy Clinic, an in-house, direct legal services clinic. The Advocacy Clinic is taught by multiple faculty members and covers a range of civil, juvenile, and criminal practice areas. The University of Tennessee Legal Clinic is the longest continuously operating clinic in the country with nine in-house clinics: Advocacy Clinic, Appellate Clinic, Business Clinic, Community Economic Development Clinic, Domestic Violence Clinic, Expungement Clinic, Family Mediation Clinic, Mediation Clinic, and Wills Clinic.

A J.D. or equivalent law degree is required. Successful applicants must have a strong academic background, expertise and experience relevant to the position, and a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

In furtherance of the Universitys and the Colleges fundamental commitment to diversity among our faculty, student body, and staff, we strongly encourage applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and others whose background, experience, and viewpoints would contribute to a diverse law school environment.

The Faculty Appointments Committee will interview applicants who are registered in the 2018 Faculty Appointments Register of the Association of American Law Schools at the AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference in Washington, D.C. Applicants who are not registered in the AALS Faculty Appointments Register are advised to send a letter of intent, resume, and the names and contact information of three references by September 21, 2018 to:

Tammy Neff

On behalf of Michael Higdon and Michelle Kwon, Co-chairs

Faculty Appointments Committee

The University of Tennessee College of Law

1505 W. Cumberland Avenue

Knoxville, TN 37996-1810

E-mail: tneff@tennessee.edu

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.
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Linkedin Dhiana Puspitawati and Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli (The Jakarta Post) Malang / Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia  Tue, August 14, 2018 17:18 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52faed2 3 Opinion South-China-Sea,maritime-security,Natuna-sea,Natuna,Indonesia,China,geopolitics Free

The South China Sea (SCS) is a semi-enclosed sea surrounded by a number of states and territories, namely China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and to a certain extent, Taiwan. By far the SCS could be regarded among the worlds most-claimed maritime areas. Its core area includes the islands of Pratas, Macclesfield Bank, Paracels and Spratlys. China declared its claim upon the SCS based on its nine-dash line map encircling almost the entire SCS based on Chinas historical waters.

In May 2009 China submitted a claim before the United Nations (UN), that several islands, which include Spratlys, Scarborough Shoal, Paracel and others should be included within its territory, combined with occasional references to the historic waters. In April 2012, the Philippines Navy caught eight Chinese fishing vessels in Scarborough Shoal located 220 kilometers west from the nations Luzon island. In January 2013 the Philippines raised objection to Chinas claims to the Permanent Court of Arbitration demanding cancellation of Chinas proposed map.

China has reiterated they will not obey the court ruling as it did not acknowledge its jurisdiction in the case, and refused to attend the entire proceedings in The Hague, the Netherlands.

So instead of moving away from the disputed area, Chinese military and non-military vessels have regularly undertaken activities to strengthen their de facto control of the SCS. This condition has brought several legal implications to the neighboring adjacent states surrounding the SCS, especially ASEAN members.

China is expected to eventually strengthen application of its domestic law in claiming several of those areas, thus more disputes may arise between China and other claimant states. The Chinese aggressive response to the international tribunals ruling might also result in further legal implications for less affected states like Indonesia.

While the SCS dispute does not presently directly affect Indonesia, this scenario might not be the same in future years. As an archipelagic state, Indonesia is entitled to draw baselines connecting the outermost point of its outermost islands. Although Indonesia does not formally claim any of the disputed islands located in the SCS, Indonesia has sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, which are adjacent to the SCS.

These islands are vital in establishing Indonesia as the worlds largest archipelagic state. As Natuna islands are in the middle of the SCS, Indonesia inevitably shares its maritime borders with Vietnam and Malaysia -- the Natuna isles are between Peninsula Malaysia and the Malaysian Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.

While agreements have been reached over delineating the continental shelf between states, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) delimitations remain unresolved. If China strengthens its claims and keeps asserting its military power within the area, China and Indonesia may be involved in future disagreements on maritime delimitations around Natuna Islands.

If a straight line is drawn from the coast of the Malaysian state of Terengganu towards Sarawak, obviously it would cross the Natunas. Apart from geographical connections, the Natuna Islands have always been historically influenced by the Malay states of Peninsula Malaysia.

The first ruling government in Natuna was established in 1597 by royalties from the Malay sultanates of Pattani and Johor-Riau. This proved the existence of close relationship between the rulers of Natuna with the Malay sultanates of Peninsula Malaysia. Due to these historical links and geographical proximities, questions may arise as to why these islands are not with Malaysia.

Would these historical ties possessed by Malaysia and China affect Indonesias sovereignty over these islands?

Based on history, Malaysia may have rights to claim sovereignty over the Natunas. Nevertheless, claims were never made and until now, Malaysia acknowledges Indonesias sovereignty over the Natuna Islands. International law dictates that a state may acquire territory by way of an actual exercise of sovereignty on a particular territory without clear objections from other countries. Thus Malaysias claim, if any, over the Natuna Islands may be rebutted on the fact that it has remained silent over Indonesias administration on those islands throughout almost 60 years.

Prior to the announcement of the above tribunal ruling in The Hague, President Joko Jokowi Widodo had said that while Indonesia lies considerably near the SCS, Indonesia does not have direct interests in the SCS. However, skirmishes with Chinese vessels led Indonesia to reiterate sovereignty over Natuna Islands, repeating claims it said had been conveyed earlier to Chinese authorities way back in 1996.

Indeed some areas of Indonesias EEZ in the Natunas do overlap with the Chinese nine-dash line. With Beijings non-acknowledgment of the above ruling, Indonesia should proactively formulate a legal and policy framework in exercising its sovereign rights over its EEZ in the Natuna Islands against any possible future Chinese claim. It is never too late for Indonesia to continuously protect its territorial integrity and remind other states of its patriotic mantra  that the unitary republic is non-negotiable, or NKRI harga mati.

***

Dhiana Puspitawati (PhD) teaches law at the Faculty of Law, Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java. Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli (Ph.D) is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and a visiting professor at School of Law, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
HOUSTON, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Era Group Inc. (NYSE: ERA) (Era), one of the largest helicopter operators in the world, will present at the Barclays CEO Energy  Power Conference to be held in New York City on September 4-6, 2018.



Eras President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Bradshaw, will present on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 4:25 p.m. ET and participate in investor meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday. He will be joined by Jennifer Whalen, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Grant Newman, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development.

The accompanying investor presentation will be available on September 4, 2018 on Eras website at www.erahelicopters.com .

About Era Group

Era is one of the largest helicopter operators in the world and the longest serving helicopter transport operator in the U.S. In addition to servicing its U.S. customers, Era also provides helicopters and related services to third-party helicopter operators and customers in other countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India, Nicaragua and Spain. Eras helicopters are primarily used to transport personnel to, from and between offshore oil and gas production platforms, drilling rigs and other installations. In addition, Eras helicopters are used to perform emergency response services, firefighting, utility, VIP transport and other services. Era also provides a variety of operating lease solutions and technical fleet support to third party operators.

For additional information concerning Era, contact Jennifer Whalen (713) 369-4636 or visit Eras website at www.erahelicopters.com.
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Linkedin Endy M. Bayuni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14, 2018 11:49 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52eb649 1 Opinion South-Korea,business,foreign-investors,Indonesia,ease-of-doing-business,Ease-Doing-Business-EODB-index Free

Indonesia may have significantly moved up the ranking of the World Banks Ease Of Doing Business Index these last few years under President Joko Jokowi Widodo, but he wants more. And who better to turn to than international investors who have the world view of where best to put their money.



A dialogue between South Korean investors on the one side, and Indonesian business executives and government officials on the other, in Jakarta last week revealed ample room for improvement.



One startling revelation, for example, was that Indonesia is missing out on South Korean small and medium enterprises relocating out of China for investment opportunities elsewhere. They go to Vietnam. Other problems emerged during the closed-door dialogue jointly held by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Jakarta and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).



Away from the prying ears of journalists, South Korean businesspeople openly discussed the problems found on the ground before representatives of the trade, industry and foreign affairs ministries, as well as the investment coordinating agency.



It is no secret that sometimes it takes foreign investors to get any response from the Indonesian government on problems that are commonly found in doing business in Indonesia. While Kadin and the Association of Indonesian Employers (APINDO) are doing their share of lobbying the government to improve the business climate, they welcome a contributing push from foreign investors.



Some of your problems are our problems, Kadin vice chairperson Shinta Kamdani said opening the dialogue attended by representatives of 10 South Korean companies with large operations in Indonesia.



Indonesia currently ranks 72nd out of 190 countries surveyed by the World Bank for its Ease of Doing Business Index. This is a huge jump from 91st in 2017, reflecting the success of more than a dozen economic reform packages issued since Jokowi took over the presidency in October 2014.



Indonesia is ahead of China at 78, but behind Vietnam at 68, Thailand at 26 and Malaysia at 24.



Indonesia could attract more investors if it improved the business environment. According to the World Banks 2018 report, Indonesia scored highly on issues such as getting electricity, getting credit, protecting minority investors and resolving insolvency, but scored poorly on starting a business, dealing with construction permits, trading across borders, paying taxes and enforcing contracts.



The President has been breathing down his administrations neck to meet his personal goal of ranking 40th by 2019.



While the World Bank report provides some clues about where Indonesia needs to improve, there is nothing like hearing straight from the horses mouth. Last weeks dialogue gave a rare opportunity for Indonesian regulators to hear complaints from the CEOs of top South Korean companies.



Unlike during the Soeharto years, government officials no longer try to defend themselves when criticized. Instead, during the dialogue with South Korean investors, they tried to explain the complex regulations and took notes on problems that require solutions higher up. One businessman complained about the discriminatory treatment Korean companies face on import tariffs while Japanese companies are exempted. As it turned out, Japan enjoys preferential tariff treatment under the bilateral free trade agreement signed with Indonesia, something that eludes South Korea. The suggested solution is to bring this up at the next general review of the Korea-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.



Another complained about the mandatory use of Indonesian-flagged vessels for transporting coal and palm oil (cabotage rule) while Indonesia does not have enough special vessels for the current and future volume of exports of these two important export commodities, not only to South Korea but also other markets.



A common problem is the poor coordination between different government agencies, and this is felt more every time regulations change, with one agency applying the new regulation while others would still enforce the old one.



A number of South Korean investors also complained about difficulties and confusion in using the online single submission system for licensing, launched last month.



One would have assumed that South Korean investors have the least problems given their massive and visible presence in Indonesia.



Almost every other mobile phone sold in Indonesia is a Samsung, more urban Indonesians shop at Lotte market, housewives now watch K-drama and youngsters tune in to K-pop. South Korea is becoming a popular tourist destination for the burgeoning Indonesian middle class with a growing appetite for foreign vacations. Korean restaurants are competing head-to-head with Chinese and Japanese restaurants in malls in Jakarta. Very soon, more Indonesians will be driving Hyundai, which announced last week its plan to set up a factory in Indonesia.



There could be a greater South Korean presence in Indonesia if the government addressed problems raised during the discussion. There is also commitment from the two countries leaders. The KITA-Kadin dialogue is held a month before Jokowi goes to South Korea, to return the visit of South Korean President Moon Jae-in to Indonesia last November.



In Jakarta, the two leaders agreed to upgrade the status of relations to special strategic partnership.



Ten months is not long to expect any big improvement since their last encounter, but at least they should be aware that their businesspeople are addressing problems to help improve Indonesias business climate and make this relationship truly special.

***

The writer, a senior journalist at The Jakarta Post, had permission to write this piece from organizers of the above closed dialogue.
Indonesia is currently the reluctant home of 14,000 of the roughly 65 million refugees displaced globally, who have fled their homes out of fear of violence, discrimination and persecution by the authorities in their home countries.

While the number of refugees in the world has increased incredibly in the past few years, most developed countries have been lackluster in responding to their pleas and offering them shelter.

While some countries have welcomed thousands of refugees following the 2016 mass exodus, they have learned that it is not easy for them to integrate into a new society. In some countries, clashes and heated, ugly debates on immigration have erupted.

Some have adopted policies to make sure societal disturbances wont happen from the very start. An unfortunate example of this is the vicious campaign of unlawful detentions by Australia, which is one of the most sought-after destinations for refugees.

These are the uncertain realities facing thousands of refugees stranded in Indonesia, with many scattered across the archipelago and likely to remain where they are for a very long time.

This plight was the subject of two films screened and sponsored by the Goethe Institut at the Refugees Up Close event on July 17th, which aimed the lens at these forgotten people and offered a deeper insight into their lives in Indonesia.

The first film, directed by Adrianus Oetjoe, is titled Respite, which tells the story of several refugees currently stranded in Makassar, South Sulawesi, which has the second-largest refugee population in Indonesia after Medan, North Sumatra.

Filmed in 2017 to 2018, Oetjoe focuses his lens on various lives as they adapt to their fate and their conditions, made worse by inhumane treatment by authorities from the Makassar Immigration Office, and the severe restrictions they have on their livelihoods.

Refugees are not allowed to work or open businesses legally in Indonesia as the country is not legally bound to accept refugees as they are not signatories of the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention.

As seen in the film, the refugees, who come from places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Syria and Myanmar, talk about how they are given a strict curfew and are usually severely punished when they break it.

Their interactions with the locals, however, are friendly. The refugees kill time by mingling with the local community, playing sports, hanging out or maybe choosing a more reserved activity such as tending pigeons. The people of Makassar themselves are portrayed as welcoming to the refugees and do express genuine sympathy.

Respite was the sadder film of the night, as it includes some heartbreaking scenes involving the refugees. In one such scene, an Afghan refugee named Yama reads some news on his phone about a 22-year-old Afghan man, who apparently came from the same village as he did, who committed suicide in the Makassar refugee detention centre after simply giving up hope.

Hope is all we have in this uncertainty. If we lose it, then we lose, Yama says.

In a film that is teeming with heartbreak, the most significant scene is probably the one in which Yama tells Oetjoe about the time United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) staff visited the detention center and told the dozens of refugees that there was no way they could be resettled.

They told us instead that its better for us to go back to our home countries, because there was absolutely no chance that countries like Australia or the United States would accept refugees waiting in Indonesia, he says.

Well, we cant. The reason we fled our homes is because it is no longer safe to live there. If we cant leave Indonesia thats fine, as the people here are very welcoming to us. All we want is for the government to allow us to work and not just keep us caged in one place so that we are able to contribute to this society that we have grown to love, Yama adds.

Meanwhile, the second film of the night created a more positive and light atmosphere despite also dealing with relatively tragic subject matter.

Performing Out of Limbo, a film made by a collective of anthropology students and researchers from the University of Indonesia (UI), tells the story of two Ethiopian refugees who fled their country fearing ethnic persecution against their tribe, the Oromo, which has been carried out by Ethiopias central government in recent years.

The two men, Hamza and Allamudin Alex, fled their country separately after being targeted by the authorities when they were accused of organizing and participating in peaceful Oromo-led protests against the governments constant taking of their ancestral lands.

As the men reached Indonesia and applied for refugee status at the local UNHCR office in Jakarta, they connected with each other and became friends, sharing a love for making music.

Starting out rapping and singing Oromo lyrics to free template songs, they eventually made friends with the anthropology researchers at the UI that initially studied them and quickly expanded their circle of friends through them.

They would soon be in contact with studio engineers and began playing together in campus shows, most significantly at a World Refugee Day event at the university in 2017. Their music even came to the attention of members of Indonesian rock band Gigi, who jammed out a song with Alex and Hamza at the end of the film.

The songs that both men wrote were sung in their native Ethiopian Oromo dialect, and their content was mainly about typical Oromo lyrical subjects as love and freedom.

A rather amusing song that Hamza composed was called Pondok Cina, named after the train station nearest to the UI campus in Depok, West Java, which he said was the first place he set foot in Jakarta. The song is, however, about an Indonesian girl he met at the station.

You cannot blame them for their cheeky demeanor throughout the film and in their music. Both men ooze charm, and the personal connection the two men forged with the university community has helped them understand the culture and reality of Ethiopia even better.

People dont necessarily have to understand the lyrics. They can just feel the soul, says subject Candra Winako in the film.

With all this said, it is not yet known when these two films will be available to the public as the filmmakers have raised concerns regarding the possible liability involved for the refugees featured in the film or the people and institutions involved.
DeepMind, the London-based artificial intelligence company that is owned by Alphabet Inc., plans to develop a medical product that will help doctors to detect more than 50 sight-threatening conditions from a common type of eye scan.

DeepMind trained artificial intelligence software to detect signs of disease better than human doctors, according to a study published Monday in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.

DeepMind and its partners in the research, Londons Moorfields Eye Hospital and the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, said they plan prospective clinical trials of the technology in 2019. If those trials are successful, DeepMind said it would seek to create a regulator-approved product that Moorfields could roll out across the U.K. It said the product would be free for an initial five-year period.

The software would be the first time a DeepMind AI algorithm using machine learning has ended up in a healthcare product.

Alphabet has several initiatives aimed at using artificial intelligence to improve healthcare. Earlier this year, Verily, an Alphabet company that says its goal is to extend human lifespans, teamed up with AI experts from Alphabets Google, to develop an algorithm that could spot a range of cardiovascular issues from a different kind of retinal image.

DeepMind itself has an entire division devoted to healthcare, and has research projects with the U.K.s National Health Service and with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, among others.

DeepMinds work with the U.K.s National Health Service has been controversial. Last year, the U.K. data privacy watchdog said a different NHS trust, the Royal Free Hospital, had illegally provided 1.6 million patient records to DeepMind to help it develop a mobile app that would alert doctors if patients were at risk of developing acute kidney injury.

Read also: DeepMind boss admits 'risks' of AI

In the eye scan study, DeepMind and its NHS partners took steps to avoid similar issues. Pearse Keane, the senior doctor who lead the Moorfields team working on the project, said in an interview that the hospital did everything we could to anonymize the 16,000 eye scans it used both to train and test the algorithms DeepMind developed. This process was approved and audited by the hospitals information governance department, and DeepMind was barred from trying to re-identify patients whose scans were being used.

The NHS also stressed that Moorfields owns the data used to develop the software, and can use it freely in other research. The DeepMind-Moorfields research looked at a type of eye scan called optical coherence tomography (OCT) that can be used to diagnose age-related macular degeneration (AMD), now the leading cause of blindness in the developed world, as well as other retinal disorders linked to conditions such as diabetes. But, Keane said, the use of OCT scanners has outstripped the training of experts who can correctly interpret their imagery. As a result, almost any abnormality picked up on OCT scan leads to a referral to an ophthalmologist for further review.

Between 2007 and 2017, ophthalmology referrals in the U.K. increased by 37 percent. This has led to waiting times that make treating those who actually need quick intervention to prevent blindness difficult. To benchmark the system, DeepMind tested the software on 1,000 scans not used to train the AI, and compared its performance to four senior ophthalmologists and four optometrists who had also been specifically trained to interpret OCT scans. The researchers found their AI could make the correct referral decision for over 50 eye diseases with 94 percent accuracy  better than most of the humans.

Critically, the software had zero false negatives  cases where it missed indicators of disease  and only two false positives, where the system recommended urgent assessment in cases where doctors had recommended the patient simply monitor their symptoms. This was better than any of the human experts.

DeepMinds software used two separate neural networks, a kind of machine learning loosely based on how the human brain works. One neural network labels features in OCT images associated with eye diseases, while the other diagnoses eye conditions based on these features.Splitting the task means that -- unlike an individual network that makes diagnoses directly from medical imagery  DeepMinds AI isnt a black box whose decision-making rationale is completely opaque to human doctors, Keane said.
Hendra Gunawans exhibition, titled Prisoner of Hope at Ciputra Artpreneur Gallery and Museum in Jakarta, is hailed as the centenary exhibition in celebration of the grand master of modern art.

Hendra continued painting while incarcerated. He actually painted life, never giving up hope. That is why the exhibition is titled Prisoner of Hope, explained businessman Ciputra, who is considered to have the largest collection of works by Hendra Gunawan.

It is almost unbelievable that the works with their vibrant colors were created from inside a prison cell.

They are awe inspiring  his glowing colors, his elongated shapes and the sense of motion in his works evoke a narrative beyond the usual.

Very special are also his iconic female figures with their protruding necklines and fishlike tails, painted in a style between the real and the surreal. They may well make us imagine legendary mermaids stepping out of the blue waters of fairy tales.

Some may be reminded of French painter Paul Gauguin, who sought to enrich his artistic vocabulary with exotic and color experiments in French Polynesia, but of course Hendras brushstrokes with an ever-present sense of dynamic motion are distinctly different.

If most of his female figures appear forever twisting, his landscapes too are infused with seemingly strong winds sweeping over a canal and causing the tree in Pemandangan Danau II (Lake View II) to bow to the left.

Pangeran Diponegoro Terluka (Wounded Prince Diponegoro) by Hendra Gunawan (Ciputra Artpreneur and Museum/File)

Such a notion is also tangible in Menangkap Kupu-kupu (Capturing a Butterfly), where the elongated shape of a woman as well as a child appear in the act of movement. Such concepts are also revealed in a large-scale painting featuring commotion around the wounded hero Diponegoro.

With a keen eye for village life, a great amount of Hendras paintings are about the lives of little folks, which endeared him as the peoples painter.

Vignettes of their harsh lives and hard work denote the working class, like feet with widely spread toes and the palms of their hands with widely spread fingers.

But his paintings on display at the exhibition, curated by Agus Dermawan T. and Aminudin TH Siregar, also show the leisurely character of folks, with women calmly picking lice from each others scalp or nursing a baby, like in Mengkutu (Tick) or Menyisir sambil Menyusui (Brushing while Breastfeeding), respectively.

Ciputra, trained as an architect, is also a major art collector. He is considered to have the largest collection of works by Hendra. I felt immediately attracted to his paintings, Ciputra said at the press conference preceding the vernissage of the exhibition.

That moment when he was first struck by one of Hendras paintings stretched into the rest of time, and intensified as time passed and he learned of harsh moments in Hendras life. I felt we had many things in common, Ciputra says.

Ciputra coined the term artpreneur for his combined passion. Whatever skill one has, there must be entrepreneurial awareness if one wants to succeed, he says.

Inventing him by Kemalezedine (Ciputra Artpreneur and Museum/File)

Ciputra seems to be proving what he preaches: Apart from his multiple property and education projects, he also established his Ciputra World, consisting of Ciputra Artpreneur Gallery and Museum, including an ultra-modern theater and a shopping mall plus an adjacent hotel on a 10,000-square-meter plot of land in Jakarta.

Like previous exhibitions of Hendras works at the Artpreneur museum, the centenary exhibition also comes with works by contemporary artists who tried to respond to the masters oeuvre.

Curated by Rifky Effendy, the Spektrum exhibition features works by 70 artists who have tried their hand at responding to Hendras oeuvre. Of course it cant possibly match Hendras genius, but the exercise is exciting and there are some works that are notable.

Some, like painters Kemalezedine and Yogie Achmad Ginanjar, come close to Hendras color scheme and swinging lines. Restu Taufik Akbars (Holy)day: Rhythmical Motion in Silence is also executed with a combination of tropical colors; Geugot Pangestu Sukandwinata worked with paper using a special technique to visualize Hendras life in the cell; while artist Eldwin Pradipta created a single-channel video consisting of four parts, which each present Hendras works under the title Reminiscent of Romanticism.

Artists Theresia Agustine Sitompul and Patricia Untario have taken to the fish that was close to the artists heart. Theresia formed her fish with cuttings of colored brocade and combined fiber and resin, while Patricia created a delicate work of glass and fishbone.

Meanwhile, Nasirun created a huge installation of workers feet at its base. But it is Muchlis Fachris The Ten Faces that has a fresh and comical take on one of Hendras paintings featuring the wayang (shadow puppets) figure of Dasamuka.

_________________

Spektrum exhibition runs until Aug. 16, while Prisoner of Hope is part of a permanent exhibition at Ciputra Artpreneur Gallery and Museum, Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio 3-5, Jakarta, Ph +62 21 29889889. www.ciputraartpreneur.com
Glenn Close may be known for playing strong, often ruthless women, but like her long subdued character in "The Wife" she says she's only just starting to feel comfortable in her own skin.

Close plays Joan, the self-effacing spouse of a successful novelist in "The Wife," which opens in the United States on Friday as women in Hollywood and beyond are demanding a louder voice.

Decades of suppressing her own talents and desires in support of her husband's career begin to unravel when he wins the Nobel Prize for literature and a biographer probes the couple's life.

"The film took 14 years to get made and who knew that it would be incredibly relevant?" Close, 71, told Reuters. The film is based on the 2003 book of the same name by Meg Wolitzer.

Close's performance has won rave reviews, sparking talk of a potential seventh Oscar nomination next year. The Hollywood Reporter said the actress "commands the center of 'The Wife': still, formidable and impossible to look away from."

Read also: Crazy Rich Asians to break ground, if not box-office records

Despite a 40-year career, three Emmy awards, three Tonys and six Oscar nominations, the star of "Fatal Attraction" and the TV drama "Damages" says she feels she is just beginning.

"I'm a very late bloomer. It took me a very long time to learn some basic things. That's why it's kind of wonderful and ironic for me to be at this point at my life and feel like it's just the beginning," she said.

Close launched her acting career in the theater in the 1970s and said she feels lucky to have found success in job she is so passionate about.

"I think I'm at a time in my life where I've finally accepted certain things about myself, and it's ok. The fact that I'm not a hugely social person, that I'm very much in my head is okay," she said.

"I feel happier and more calm and more excited about life than I ever have."
Cashierless food and beverage establishments are springing up across China as more dining spaces embrace technologies to improve efficiency and trim costs.

In July, Singaporean bakery chain BreadTalk Group Ltd unveiled its first unmanned outlet in Shanghai. Customers scan a QR code to register their presence and authorize payment via Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's mobile wallet Alipay.

There are cameras and sensors to detect when customers open the fridge door and items such as bread, buns, yoghurt and juices are removed from shelves. Money is deducted automatically as shoppers complete the purchase and close the fridge door.

BreadTalk said in a statement the self-help facility allows customers to circumvent long queues. The company said it hopes to leverage the consumer data generated from such purchases to adjust inventory and recipes.

The store marks another step for foreign catering brands launching cashierless services in China. It follows United States fried chicken expert KFC introducing its smart store last year in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where electronic kiosks allow diners to order and pay "with a smile".

"The addition of the 24/7 self-service aspect is set to bring in a new revenue stream, and is likely to maximize average customer spending and sales per unit area," said Chen Sheng, vice-president of Alibaba affiliate Koubei, which provides technological support and analytics services for merchants.

Read also: Chip labor: Robots replace waiters in China restaurant

The sector is attracting a growing army of data analytics players, such as Koubei, that are jumping on the smart catering bandwagon.

Beijing-based Keruyun Technology (Beijing) Co Ltd has developed a series of intelligent catering management devices to improve traditional restaurants' efficiency, including a self-service ordering desktop and smart cashier device.

Its systems are empowering and optimizing the operation of the likes of Spacelab, a restaurant featuring high-tech elements that has gained great popularity of late.

At Spacelab, customers can order food and pay through Keruyun's devices. Upon completion, the order will be quickly delivered to the kitchen via its display system. The chef will put the finished dish into a transmission orbit that conveys the food directly to customers. No waiter is required during the entire process.

While a 1,300-square-meter restaurant would typically require 80 to 100 service people, Spacelab only employs 40. Its turnover rate has also greatly improved, meaning that the restaurant can serve many more customers each day.

"The younger generations are comfortable serving themselves and are used to making their own choices. So we see great potential for self-service in-restaurant dining," said Lin Tingyang, founder of milk tea owner Heilongtang.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14, 2018 08:16 1173 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52ded19 4 Politics #2019PresidentialElection,2019-presidential-election,Jokowi,Maruf-Amin,Prabowo-Subianto,Sandiaga-Uno,KPU Free

Undergoing a medical examination does not mean that presidential and vice presidential hopefuls will automatically move forward as candidates in the upcoming elections, says the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan said presidential hopefuls could be replaced if they did not pass the tests.

If they are declared unfit, the KPU will ask political parties to put forward other names to replace them, he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Wahyu added that only the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) and Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) team, who were appointed to administer the physical and mental tests, had the authority to declare whether all hopefuls passed the examinations.

KPU chief Arief Budiman said the medical team would submit the test result tests on Monday night.

The KPU will announce the result to the public along with the hopefuls file verification status, which was submitted on the day of the registration.

Presidential hopefuls Prabowo Subianto and his running mate, outgoing Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno, arrived at the RSPAD in Central Jakarta on Monday morning to undergo the examination as part of the requirements to register as a presidential candidate for the 2019 election. Meanwhile, their opponents, President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Maruf Amin, had undertaken the test on Sunday.

Both started their examinations at 8 a.m. and it was estimated to have taken about 12 hours. The exams included a series of neurological and cardiology tests, as well as psychiatric examinations. (ris)
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14, 2018 18:32 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52fde78 1 National blasphemy,Banten,MUI,JellyfishKingdom Free

The Serang Police and the local chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Banten are investigating a religious cult called the Jellyfish Kingdom, which locals believe to be heretical for their beliefs that Prophet Muhammad was a woman.

Along with Serangs MUI and local neighborhood leaders, the police visited a house reported to have been hosting the Jellyfish Kingdoms activities in Kampung Sayabulu, Serang subdistrict in Serang, Banten, on Monday.

Were following up on reports from residents who were upset with the groups activities in the past two months, Serang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Komarudin said Tuesday as quoted by tempo.co.

We have confiscated several documents relating to the activities of this group, as well as people who claim to be the leaders of the Jellyfish Kingdom, said Komarudin.

Indonesia only recognizes six mainstream religions  Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism  and does not criminalize the other less mainstream religions. Law enforcement, however, has taken action against cult leaders claiming to be new prophets  such as Lia Eden and Ahmad Musadeq  based on edicts issued by the MUI.

Most of them have been convicted of blasphemy.

The police got documents on the structure of the group, which hosted activities every Thursday night. Their activities would last from night to morning.

Police have questioned the leaders of the Jellyfish Kingdom, identified as Nurhalim and couple Rudi and Aisyah. However, they have yet to charge these people with anything, said Komarudin.

Were just taking preventive measures so the residents will not do anything we dont want, he said. Whether this group is heretical or not, we will let the MUI, as the authority, handle the matter, he said.

The secretary of the MUI in Serang, Amas Tajudin, told local media bantennews.co.id that after meeting with the group's leaders for mediation he found several things that led him to conclude the group was heretical.

We concluded they are not Islam. They have spread [teachings], in the name of the Quran, and this upset society and I can say Islam is tainted [by them], Amas said as quoted by the local media on Monday.

He said Aisyah told him she was Ratu Kidul, a mythical figure who is the queen of the Southern Sea, who was the believer of the Sunda Wiwitan faith. Aisyah also recognized the Quran as the holy book and Allah as God.

During the mediation, Aisyah said God had a tomb. She believes Muhammad was a woman. And the funniest thing is that [she believes] we kiss Hajar Aswad [the Black Stone] because Hajar Aswad looks like female genitalia, and the Kaaba is not the kiblat [the direction of prayers] but a place of worship.

MUI secretary-general Anwar Abbas called on the MUI Banten to convince Jellyfish Kingdom followers to abandon their beliefs or face legal action.

"If they refuse to change, we will report them to law enforcement," he told The Jakarta Post.

Neighborhood unit head Surya Mihardha told the local media that he received reports from some residents about the sects activities. The sects leaders, Rudi and Aisyah, had lived in the house for two years, along with their followers.

Most of the followers come from outside Serang, like from Central and East Java, Surya said. (ahw)
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Linkedin Onur Ant (Bloomberg) Ankara, Turkey  Tue, August 14, 2018 22:43 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5306feb 2 Business Turkey,Erdogan,US,Trade,iPhone Free

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to boycott iPhones in a demonstration of defiance as the US held firm to its demand that Turkey release an evangelical pastor and Turkish executives called for action to bolster the lira.

Erdogan said the nation of 80 million people would stop buying American electronics, condemning the "explicit economic attack" against his country.

The lira lost a quarter of its value this month as Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports and slapped sanctions on two ministers. It rebounded on Tuesday as Turks sold dollars.

"There is a cost for those who are plotting the operation against Turkey, Erdogan said in the first of two speeches in Ankara, without specifying when the boycott would start or how it would be enforced.

Singling out the iPhone, he suggested Turks buy Samsung Electronics or locally made Venus Vestel smartphones instead.

While even a widespread Turkish boycott would do little to dent US economic interests, it shows Erdogan refusing to give in to market turmoil thats pushed borrowing costs to record highs and threatens to descend the nation into a financial crisis.

Erdogans boycott is reminiscent of the decision by President Vladimir Putin to ban food imports from countries that slapped sanctions on Russia in 2014 over its annexation of Crimea.

The difference is that unlike Russia, the US and Turkey are NATO members. Erdogan warned that the US is putting decades-old alliances at risk and pushing Turkey to seek allies elsewhere.While diplomatic tensions rage, the currency rallied for the first time in a week as Turks cashed in dollar savings to take advantage of the huge slump in the local currency.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14, 2018 12:05 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52ecb08 4 National hotspots,West-Kalimantan,fire,slash-and-burn-method,land-fires Free

A 7-year-old boy was killed when a blaze on Sunday consumed the field hut on his family's farm in Nanga Tikan village, Melawi regency, West Kalimantan.

The Melawi Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said on Monday that a wildfire broke out and burned down the hut that Vito, his brother Rio, 12, and father Adong, 65, were in.

The two surviving victims suffered severe burns and were taken to Citra Husada Hospital in Nanga Pinoh, Melawi. Vito died from his injuries while Rio and Adong remain in critical condition.

Melawi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ahmad Fadlin said that he had sent a team to conduct an on-site investigation. He suspected that the fire was started by Vitos family, but could not confirm his suspicion, as no witnesses were present at the time of the incident.

The Melawi Police have instructed local residents to avoid using the slash-and-burn method to prevent wildfires and forest fires.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded 2,130 hot spots in West Kalimantan from Aug. 3 to 13. (ris)
HOUSTON, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP) ("Targa" or the "Company") announced today that representatives from the Company will participate in investor meetings at the Citi One-on-One MLP/Midstream Infrastructure Conference Wednesday and Thursday, August 15-16, 2018 in Las Vegas.

A copy of the slides used for the conference meetings will be available in the Investors section of the Company's website at www.targaresources.com, or by going to http://ir.targaresources.com/trc/events.cfm.

About Targa Resources Corp.

Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream energy companies in North America. Targa owns, operates, acquires, and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and selling natural gas; storing, fractionating, treating, transporting, and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; gathering, storing, terminaling, and selling crude oil; storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products.

For more information, please visit the Companys website at www.targaresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Companys control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Company. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact the Company's investor relations department by email at InvestorRelations@targaresources.com or by phone at (713) 584-1133.

Sanjay Lad

Director - Investor Relations

Jennifer Kneale

Chief Financial Officer
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Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) Bajawa, East Nusa Tenggara  Tue, August 14, 2018 12:22 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52ed011 1 National East-Nusa-Tenggara,Flores,tourism,fire,Gurusina-village Free

A fire engulfed traditional houses and ritual sites in Gurusina traditional villagea popular tourist attractionin Ngada regency, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday.

Ngada Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Firman Affandy told The Jakarta Post that the fire razed 27 traditional houses in the village known for its rich cultural heritage. It also burned six shrines that functioned as a place to give offerings to ancestors during rituals.

No fatalities were reported in the fire. However, it was estimated to cost hundreds of millions of rupiah in damages as it burned traditional jewelry and woven fabric.

According to Pius Daku, 65, who witnessed the fire, the blaze allegedly started from Gode Fridus Nenos house and was caused by an electrical short circuit.

Local residents, Ngada Police and the local disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) tried to put out the fire as it spread quickly to nearby buildings.

The village is nestled between mountainous ravines and forest by a narrow winding road 21 kilometers away from the city of Bajawa in Ngada regency.

Buildings in the village reflect traditional beliefs, decorated with images of buffalo, chickens, horses, humans, weaponry and other forms with the purpose of protecting the inhabitants of the villages and ensuring their sustainable harmony with ancestral spirits and the environment. (ris/ahw)
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Linkedin Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14, 2018 09:14 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52e2f00 1 Business oil-and-gas-blocks,tender-offer,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,Djoko-Siswanto Free

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry opened on Monday tenders for six oil and gas blocks, three of which are onstream sites.

The onstream blocks are South Jambi B in Jambi, Makassar Strait in South Sulawesi and Selatpanjang in Riau. The three blocks went straight to auction as the current operators will not extend their contracts.

The existing contracts for South Jambi B and Makassar Strait blocks will expire in 2020, while Selatpanjang block will expire in 2021.

The three other exploration blocks are Banyumas, Andika Bumi Kita and South East Mahakam, all of which have potential investors, but they asked for more time to finalize the assessment, The ministrys oil and gas director general, Djoko Siswanto, said on Monday.

The government has set a $5,000 price tag for a bidding document, with a bidding submission deadline of Oct. 12 for onstream blocks and Dec. 10 for exploration blocks.

The ministry is optimistic the blocks will have new operators no later than December.

He explained that Selat Panjang blocks reserves stood at around 4.3 million barrel of oil and 47.8 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) of gas, while South Jambi Bs proven gas reserves stood at 217.2 bscf. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14, 2018 11:21 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52eaec8 4 Business Sukhoi-jet-fighters,barter-trading,preparation,Indonesia,Russia Free

The Trade Ministrys international trade director general has said that a working group representing the Indonesian and Russian governments would soon meet to discuss the technical aspects of purchasing 11 Sukhoi fighter aircraft through a countertrade scheme.

The Trade Ministry and the Russian government will talk thoroughly in the working group. All details will be discussed, international trade director general Oke Nurman said on Monday in Jakarta, as reported by kompas.com.

Indonesia has agreed to purchase 11 Sukhoi aircraft worth US$1.14 billion from Russia. In exchange, Russia is required to buy at least $570 million  about half of the aircraft's value  in several Indonesian commodities, such as palm oil, coffee, rubber and tea.

Oke did not call the scheme barter, and instead used the term "counterpurchase".

Through the working group, he said, Indonesia would prepare a list of commodities it would offer to Russia, while Russia would prepare a list of commodities it wanted to buy, and discuss other goods that did not appear on both lists.

If they want coffee [for example], although we are not ready, we will discuss the issue in the working group, said Oke.

Indonesia and Russia had already agreed initially to the commodities that Russia will purchase, but a more detail agreement was needed before the final transaction. Russia-Indonesia trade involves many items, some of which will be discussed in the working group, he said.

Oke added that the working group would commence discussions soon, and that his office was currently preparing its structure and personnel. (bbn)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Makassar  Tue, August 14 2018

Members of the National Polices Densus 88 counterterror squad arrested four men on suspicion of being members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin terrorist group in Bone and East Luwu regencies in South Sulawesi last week.

In separate raids, Densus 88 personnel arrested four suspects, who are believed to be members of the Poso-based terrorist network that had launched attacks on security personnel while hiding in the forests of Poso, Central Sulawesi.

Fifteen kilograms of explosive material was seized in the arrests, South Sulawesi Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Dicky Sondani said.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Genoa, Italy  Tue, August 14, 2018 22:04 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5306438 2 World Italy,accident,bridge-collapsed,infrastructure,victims Free

Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Monday that "around 30" have been killed after a motorway bridge collapsed in the northwestern port city of Genoa.

"Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious condition," Salvini told reporters in the Sicilian city of Catania. The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, came as the bridge was undergoing maintenance work, and the country's deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further.

Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were "dozens" of victims, while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged to the ground. Cars and trucks were tangled in the rubble and nearby buildings damaged by vast chunks of concrete, according to an AFP photographer at the scene. Angelo Borrelli, head of the Civil Protection service which manages disaster areas, told reporters in Rome that an additional 13 people had been injured. OMG. An aeral view of the tragedy in #Genoa, where a major motorway bridge has collapsed. This is appalling. #Italy

via @belcastrotw pic.twitter.com/jodF6eIUP8  Antonello Guerrera (@antoguerrera) August 14, 2018 Aerial footage showed more than 200 metres (650 feet) of the viaduct, known locally as the Morandi bridge, completely destroyed. The Italian fire service said that the bridge, located in an industrial area in the west of the city, collapsed at around noon (1000 GMT).
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Linkedin Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Tue, August 14, 2018 18:28 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52fcf2c 1 National Jambi,crocodiles,river Free

A resident of Jelutung district in Jambi city, Jambi, has caught one of three crocodiles seen swimming in the Asam River after fears that they might attack residents.

Mahaka Maryago caught the 1.5 meter crocodile on Tuesday morning when he was looking for worms to sell. He first thought that it was lizard but realized it was a crocodile after taking a closer look.

He caught it by using a plastic rope and placed it in his neighbors tub. Local residents fed pork to the crocodile.

Mahaka said the one that he caught was quite young, while the other two crocodiles measured in at 4 m.

We first saw the three crocodiles in the river about a week ago, he said, adding that he caught it because residents feared using the river.

Another resident, Rusminah, said she was glad one crocodile had been caught because the local children bathed in the river.

I am concerned that something bad will happen to the children in the river, she said, adding that the locals have urged the authorities to immediately catch the other two crocodiles. (rin)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom  Tue, August 14, 2018 15:21 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52f4958 2 World #London,#London-attack,#Terrorism,London,London-attack,truck-attack Free

A "number of pedestrians" were injured when a car crashed into barriers outside Britain's Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, with armed police swooping in to arrest the driver, Scotland Yard said.

"The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene," the police statement said. "A number of pedestrians have been injured."

Police did not say if they suspected terrorism, calling it only a "collision".

Armed police immediately surrounded the silver car after it crashed at 7.37am (06:37 GMT), pointing guns at the driver as he was removed from the vehicle, according to footage posted on Twitter.

Later images showed police holding the man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, in handcuffs as roads around parliament were sealed off.

Westminster was the scene of a terror attack last year, when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam, drove a car at pedestrians on a bridge over the River Thames, before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside parliament.

The attack left five people dead and around 50 injured, and only ended when police shot Masood dead.
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14, 2018 13:23 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52eed3f 1 Politics cabinet,PAN,politics,presidential-election Free

Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Asman Abnur, a National Mandate Party (PAN) politician, may have to resign or get fired in the near future following his partys decision to challenge President Joko Jokowi Widodos relection bid in 2019.

State Secretary Pratikno signaled on Tuesday that Asman, who is the only PAN representative in the Cabinet, could be shown the door in an upcoming reshuffle

"There is a possibility [of a reshuffle] as part of the consequences of dynamics in politics and presidential candidacy," Pratikno said. "It's also about who is inside and who is outside the coalition."

PAN has decided to join the opposition Gerindra-party led coalition for next year's election, backing presidential candidate pair Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno. The coalition comprises Gerindra, PAN, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party.

Pratikno, however, maintained that the President was satisfied with Asman's performance as a minister, particularly since the PAN politician was able to reform bureaucracy in state institutions to focus on serving the public.

"The [reshuffle] will be decided very quickly, we just need to wait for the President's decision," Pratikno said. (ahw)
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Linkedin Eva K. Sundari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 14 2018

Like founding father and former president Sukarno, current President Joko Jokowi Widodo loves the people too much and does not want the Republic of Indonesia to break away. Because of his love for Indonesia and for the sake of national unity, for example, Sukarno even refused to fight Soeharto  even though it was made possible by popular support  when the latter ousted the former in 1966.

Jokowi is no different. This was evident when he asked his supporters on Aug. 4 not to incite hostility, spread hate speech or slander others, although he also encouraged them to counter attacks in self-defense.

Jokowi also emulates Sukarnos fight for national unity, before and after independence. This is important considering the threat of disintegration as a result of rising sectarianism and regional dissent, particularly in Papua.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, August 14, 2018 14:34 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52f1a08 1 National blasphemy,Blasphemy-Law,TanjungBalai,North-Sumatra,azan Free

A Chinese-Indonesian woman of the Buddhist faith in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, faces a possible 1.5-year prison sentence after she was charged with blasphemy for saying that the azan (the Islamic call to prayer) that was blasted from a speaker of a mosque near her house was too loud and hurt her ear.

Her remark, made in 2016, is believed to have triggered one of the worst incidences of sectarian violence in the regency, with Muslims who claimed to have been offended by her words burning several Buddhist temples.

The 44-year-old woman, Meiliana, cried when prosecutors demanded that she be found guilty of blasphemy under Article 156 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to 1.5 years in prison.

We ask the judicial panel trying this case to hand down a prison sentence of 1.5 years to the defendant, Meliana, prosecutor Anggia Y Kusuma told the Medan District Court on Monday.

The prosecutors based their demand on a fatwa the North Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued, which affirmed that Melianas statement was blasphemous.

The prosecutors argued further that her statement had set off an anti-Chinese riot in Tanjung Balai that led to the destruction of several temples and allegedly forced a number of Chinese families to flee to neighboring countries.

The police arrested 19 people for their roles in the riot. Eight were charged with looting, nine with malicious destruction of property and two with inciting violence. All were given 1- to 4-month prison sentences.

Meliana is the latest to be charged under the nations Blasphemy Law, which human rights activists have widely criticized as "draconian".

The most prominent public figure convicted of blasphemy is former Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama for a statement he made in reference to a Koranic verse. His conviction was supported by an MUI fatwa. (ahw)
English French

MONTREAL, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NYSE:CAE) (TSX:CAE)  CAE announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed the Honourable John P. Manley, P.C., O.C., as Chair of the Board following CAEs 2018 annual meeting of shareholders held earlier today.



Mr. Manley has been an independent director of CAE since 2008. He succeeds Mr. James F. Hankinson who retired today, having served as a director since 1995 and as Chair of the Board since 2013.

Mr. Manley is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada, which represents the CEOs and entrepreneurs of leading Canadian corporations. Mr. Manley is former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. He was first elected to Parliament in 1988 and was re-elected three times. From 1993 to 2003, he served as Minister in the Cabinet portfolios of Industry, Foreign Affairs, and Finance.

I am honoured to succeed Jim as Chair, and grateful for the Board's confidence, said Mr. Manley. I look forward to working with my fellow directors and our management team to pursue our strategic focus on delivering innovative end-to-end training solutions on a global scale.

During my 23 years on CAEs Board, I have seen this remarkable company evolve and mature beyond many peoples expectations. It has been a privilege to lead a Board of this calibre, said Mr. Hankinson. I have every confidence that CAE will continue to thrive under Johns strong leadership.

CAE is also pleased to announce that General Norton Schwartz was elected to its Board as an independent director, effective today. General Schwartz is currently President and CEO of Business Executives for US National Security and is a retired US Air Force General, having served as its Chief of Staff from 2008 to 2012. General Schwartz was a member of the CAE USA Board prior to his election.

Also departing the CAE Board is retired US Army General Peter J. Schoomaker, who did not stand for reelection since he has reached the mandatory age limit for a CAE Director. General Schoomaker served as a director for nine years.

The vacancy created by General Schwartz joining the CAE Board is filled by General Frank Gorenc, effective August 13, 2018. He is a highly decorated retired General in the US Air Force and rose to the highest levels of leadership in the US military as one of twelve Air Force four-star Generals and to the highest levels of NATO as one of six commanders within the NATO Command Structure.

CAE also announced the final director election results from the 2018 Annual Meeting. The following 10 nominees were elected as Directors of CAE:

Nominee Votes for For (%) Votes Withheld Withheld (%) Margaret S. Billson 204,946,225 99.79% 423,065 0.21% Hon. Michael M. Fortier 204,509,061 99.58% 860,229 0.42% Alan N. MacGibbon 203,420,878 99.05% 1,948,412 0.95% Hon. John P. Manley 202,988,314 98.84% 2,380,976 1.16% Francois Olivier 204,453,865 99.55% 915,425 0.45% Marc Parent 204,861,985 99.75% 507,305 0.25% Michael Roach 204,535,072 99.59% 834,218 0.41% Gen. Norton Schwartz, USA (ret.) 204,916,874 99.78% 452,416 0.22% Andrew J. Stevens 202,848,060 98.77% 2,521,230 1.23% Katharine B. Stevenson 202,110,912 98.41% 3,258,378 1.59%

Final results on all matters voted on at the Annual Meeting are filed concurrently with the securities regulators.



About CAE

CAE is a global leader in training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. Backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to help define global training standards with our innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defence force readiness and enhance patient safety. We have the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 9,000 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, we train more than 120,000 civil and defence crewmembers and thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide. www.cae.com

Follow us on Twitter @CAE_Inc

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae

CAE contacts:



General Media:

Helene V. Gagnon, Vice President, Public Affairs and Global Communications,

+1-514-340-5536, helene.v.gagnon@cae.com

Investor relations:

Andrew Arnovitz, Vice President, Strategy and Investor Relations,

+1-514-734-5760, andrew.arnovitz@cae.com
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Saada, Yemen  Tue, August 14, 2018 08:38 1173 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52e0b1a 2 World #Yemen,Yemen,killing,Saudi-Arabia,#SaudiArabia,children Free

Thousands of Yemenis vented anger against Riyadh and Washington on Monday as they took part in a mass funeral for children killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition.

At least 29 children were among those killed in the air raid Thursday on a bus in a crowded market in Dahyan, Saada province, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The mass funeral was held in Saada city, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, with images broadcast by the rebels' Al-Masirah television.

Around 50 vehicles brought coffins into a large square in the city.

The coffins were covered with green drapes and portraits of the victims were lined up on the ground, where relatives cried over them and the Islamic prayer for the dead was recited.

Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

"America kills Yemeni children," read several banners.

The Saudi-led coalition has taken part in Yemen's conflict since 2015 in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government in its fight against the Huthis.

The head of the rebels' revolutionary council, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, took part in the funeral and slammed the raid as a "crime by America and its allies against the children of Yemen".

The Huthis' health ministry said that 51 people were killed in the raids including 40 children.

- 'Ugly' side of war -

It also said 79 others were wounded, including 56 children.

Al-Masirah did not say how many victims were buried on Monday.

Some families had already buried their loved ones, according to residents.

The coalition said Friday it would launch a probe to "assess the events (and) clarify their circumstances", while the United Nations Security Council has called for a "credible investigation".

The UAE, a key Saudi ally in the coalition battling the Huthis, on Monday said that both sides in the conflict had been to blame.

Anwar Gargash, the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, bemoaned the "ugly" side of war and played up the coalition's own probe into the strike.

"In this war we have seen civilians shot at, bombed, killed and, unfortunately, this is really part of any confrontation," he said in Dubai.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by telephone on Monday, discussing topics including efforts by a UN special envoy to "to resolve the conflict in Yemen", the State Department said.

The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has invited the warring sides to talks on September 6 in Geneva.
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Linkedin Rahimy Rahim (The Star/ANN) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Tue, August 14, 2018 17:38 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52fb9fb 2 SE Asia #SoutheastAsia,Mahathir-Mohamad,workers,Malaysia Free

The government will establish a single system to hire foreign workers without differentiating source countries, says Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the government is currently facing problems with illegal foreign workers and has decided to set up a common system.

"Bangladesh, Nepal and others, they will use the same system," he told a press conference after chairing a meeting on foreign workers in Parliament.

Mahathir said that the government had suspended the current system of 10 agents authorized for recruitment of workers from Bangladesh and was looking at opening up to all agents instead.

"However, this has resulted in a monopolistic situation with some charging as high as RM20,000.

"So, we want to open up to all agents there to allow competition," said Mahathir.

It is understood that since late 2016, more than 10,000 Bangladeshi workers have been brought into the country under the system, while more than 100,000 people are waiting for their turn.

It was also reported that some of the 10 authorized agents were merely fly-by-night companies created solely to rake in money by playing middleman between the workers and their prospective employers in Malaysia.

The prime minister also noted that the government would be forming an independent committee chaired by either a top government official, former judge or secretary-general, to be handled under the Institute of Labour Market Information and Analysis (ILMIA).

"This is to have an overview on the policies and management of foreign workers.

"We need to address these problems. We need the committee to address the issues," he said.

A ministerial joint committee between the Home Ministry and the Human Resource Ministry would be set up, added Mahathir.

He said the government would soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nepal to address the issue of foreign workers.

"We want to have a government-to-government agreement just like we have with Bangladesh, but the system will be the same," he said.

Last month, it was reported that the government of Nepal had barred its workers from coming to Malaysia with immediate effect.

The move came about as the Nepalese government expressed its unhappiness with the "restrictive" immigration requirements its workers faced before they can be gainfully employed in the country.

This includes having to go through a private company for security and medical check-ups as part of the visa requirement.
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Linkedin Beh Lih Yi (Reuters) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Tue, August 14, 2018 16:45 1172 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df52f708a 2 SE Asia #SoutheastAsia,#Malaysia,Malaysia,LGBT,lesbian,punishment Free

Two Malaysian women convicted for attempting to have lesbian sex will be fined and caned, a prosecutor said on Tuesday, in a rare case against gay people in the Muslim-majority country.

Islamic enforcement officers in the conservative northeastern state of Terengganu found the two Muslim women attempting to engage in sexual acts in a car during a patrol in April, according to prosecutor Muhamad Khasmizan Abdullah.

The women were charged under the Islamic sharia law known as musahaqah - which bans lesbian sex - and sentenced to six strokes of the cane and a fine of 3,300 Malaysian ringgit ($806) each this week after pleading guilty, the prosecutor said.

The conviction comes amid concerns around growing intolerance toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Malaysia after activists criticised some officials for making homophobic remarks in recent weeks.

"Sexual intercourse between people of the same sex is forbidden in Islam. It is an offence and morally wrong," Muhamad Khasmizan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.

"This verdict is a first for us," the prosecutor added, saying it was the first time people had been convicted for same-sex reltions in Terengganu.

Malaysia is home to 32 million people, where ethnic Malay Muslims make up more than 60 percent of the population and the remaining ethnic minorities practice other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.

It has a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims running alongside civil laws.

The two women, aged 32 and 22, are on bail pending the execution of the sentence on August 28, Muhamad Khasmizan said, adding that the religious officers who saw the women found one in a state of undress, and also discovered a dildo in the car.

"The caning would be carried out within the court premise," he said. "Under the sharia rules, they will be whipped with a rattan cane on their back with their clothes on while they are seated."

Thilaga Sulathireh from rights group Justice for Sisters condemned the court's decision as a form of torture. She said there have been previous cases of lesbian couples being arrested, but it was not known if they were convicted.

"Consensual sex between adults is not a crime. This is a precedence and it will increase discrimination toward LGBT people," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

A minister last week ordered the removal of portraits of two LGBT advocates from a public photography exhibition as they promoted gay activities, sparking criticism from rights groups.

Sodomy is a crime in Malaysia, which is punishable by up to 20 years in jail, although enforcement of the law is rare.
Taman Impian Jaya Ancol in North Jakarta is welcoming the 2018 Asian Games by holding a lantern festival as part of the parks Asian Festival series of events.

Taking place at Festival Beach, the event started on Aug. 10 and will run until September. Open to the public, the lanterns are shaped like famous landmarks and mascots from Asian countries, among them the Taj Mahal, the Merlion (Singapore's official mascot, a half-lion half-fish) and ondel-ondel (giant Betawi effigies). Some are placed on the ground, while others float on the sea.

Read also: Jakpost guide to Ancol

One of the attractions at Ancol Dreamland Park's Lantern Festival. It will be held from Aug. 10 to September. (Ancol Dreamland Park/File)

The Ancol Lantern Festival is the first and the biggest [event] that is held in Ancol, said Sunarto, vice president of Ancol Dreamland, in a press release. Aside from displaying icons of Asia, we also display Jakartas icons as one of the ways to introduce the archipelagos culture.

Visitors are able to enjoy music and dance performances from different Asian countries, including taiko drums from Japan, the tinikling dance from the Philippines and the buchaechum dance from Korea. Moreover, the park is also holding a culinary festival featuring foods and beverages originating from several countries in Asia. For coffee and tea enthusiasts, there will be the Asian Coffee and Tea Beach Festival from Aug. 16 to 26 from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Ancol Monument. (wir/wng)
Jl. Malioboro in the heart of Yogyakarta was livelier than usual at night last weekend, with stages erected on both sides of the citys legendary street.

For two consecutive nights on Saturday and Sunday, tourists and passersby could enjoy various performances on the stages presented as part of the Malioboro Night Festival (MNF) 2018, which was organized by the provincial tourism agency.

MNF 2018s media relations officer Amelberga Astri P. said eight stages had been prepared for the "Regeneration"-themed event. They comprise a main stage placed near the Yogyakarta governor office in the Kepatihan area and seven community stages.

A performance by Suji Pantomim Production. (Malioboro Night Festival 2018/File)

The theme was symbolized by presenting three generations of rappers, namely Widjilan Kidz, Sweet Martabak and Iwa K, Amelberga told The Jakarta Post prior to the event on Saturday.

Widjilan Kidz, Sweet Martabak and Iwa K performed on the first night on the main stage, together with Jasmine Akustik, Anterdans, Kopi Loewak and Tashoora. Performing on the same stage on Sunday were Luna Dance, KPJ Malioboro, Robbers, Bhatara Experimental Folk and Mocca.

The community stages could be easily recognized right from the north end of Jl. Malioboro near the provincial legislative building down to the south end of the street in the Ketandan area. They presented various art communities performing music, traditional and contemporary dance and other art attractions.

Read also: Five highlights of delightful Malioboro

Amelberga said Regeneration was chosen as the theme for this years MNF in the hope that the event could bring in the spirit of Malioboro in the past as a social interaction space for art performers and practitioners.

This, she said, was realized by inviting new and developing cultural communities as well as creative youths in need of a space for existence that colored the citys art and cultural dynamics.

The festival was first held in 2016.

Iwa K, Sweet Martabak and Widjilan Kidz perform on the main stage. (Malioboro Night Festival 2018/File)

The present condition of Malioboro, with comfortable pedestrian lanes and accessibility, shows the seriousness of this area to continue improving, Amelberga said.

Yogyakarta provincial secretary Gatot Saptadi concurred, saying that year after year the number of tourists visiting Malioboro continued to increase drastically.

He said Malioboro had since 1758 developed into a trade center after then-Yogyakarta King Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I developed a traditional market in the area.

Now after about 260 years, this place still survives as a trade center and has even grown into an icon of Yogyakarta, Gatot said in written remarks read out at the opening ceremony of MNF 2018 on Saturday evening. (kes)
The fourth edition of the Lake Sentarum Festival is to return on Oct. 25-28 at Lake Sentarum National Park in Kapuas Hulu regency, West Kalimantan.

Kompas.com reports that the festival will feature a series of activities, including the Sentarum Lake Cruise, Sentarum Ethnic Music Festival, Arwana Super Red Contest, a traditional boat parade, a cultural carnival and even a honey-drinking competition.

While the Lake Sentarum Festival will be centered in the national park, some activities will be held at four other locations in Putussibau, Lanjak, Badau and Sriaman.

Read also: Lake Sentarum Betung Kerihun Festival attracts 15,000 visitors

Tourism Ministry multicultural expert staffer Esthy Reko Astuti said the Lake Sentarum Festival was among the calendar events of the "100 Wonderful Indonesia" national tourism program, as it had both cultural and commercial values.

Esthy said that Kapuas Hulu's cross-border event also served to promote the countrys tourist destinations beyond the Riau Islands and East Nusa Tenggara.

The ministry's data showed that 7,865 people visited Lake Sentarum during last year's festival, of which 7,000 were Malaysian tourists.

Kapuas Hulu Regent A.M. Nasir said that the festival was among the regency's efforts to introduce its tourist attractions and increase the number of tourists to the regency. (jes/kes)
NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE: ABC) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws. To obtain additional information, go to:



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Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firms attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
On 24 July 2018, I graduated from Kings College London, with a decent 2:1. At that point, I had spent almost 3 years away from my home country, Singapore and made life-changing friends from all over the world. I had also become passionately involved in the student movement, being elected Vice-President Welfare and Community at my Students Union, extending my stay at Kings for a year. (This article is my opinion, and does not represent the views of KCLSU.) As I walked on stage to receive my degree, which was actually just a scroll with a letter from the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, it didnt feel as significant as Id thought it would. It felt, somehow, anti-climactic. For many students, however, graduation is both a time of celebration and a time of great uncertainty; Its their first step into the grown-up world. Its time to find a job, join the rat race, and try to pay off the almost 51,000 in debt the average student picks up during their time at university. With costs rising and universities expanding, some question the value of a degree. Universities Minister Sam Gyimah has proposed a MoneySuperMarket-style comparison platform, which would let students see if their degree would be worth it. The platform would include graduate salaries and employment data, alongside other information. Based on a report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies, it appears that certain courses, and certain universities, produce better graduate outcomes with graduates from those courses or universities earning more their peers. So far Minister Sam looks like he might be right, but theres a catch. As the IFSs researchers point out at every opportunity, graduate salary outcomes reflect the decisions students and employers make, not the quality of their degrees. Students with better social and emotional skills, or a preference for certain higher-paying careers, may choose to take a certain subject or go to a certain university. Better-paying employers, on the other hand, might choose to hire or promote one graduate over another graduate of equal skill, simply because of the reputation of the university they went to. Such unmeasurable factors mean that how much graduates earn, and how likely they are to be employed, are irrelevant to the actual quality of a university or a degree. Judging the quality of an education on graduate outcomes, then, is basically lying to the unfortunate students who have to use this platform. However, even if the data did reflect these unmeasurable factors, measuring the value of a degree by its financial benefits is still problematic. Arts and humanities degrees like Philosophy or History might not be the most employable or highest-paying degrees. However, the experience of studying a degree is valuable by itself; education develops a student as a person, and not just as a worker for the job market. This is something that cant be measured in numbers alone. At the same time, students and politicians are right to be concerned about value for money with around three-quarters of students never paying off their student loans in full, despite making payments well into their 50s. Thats a huge write-off.International students, like me, dont even have the dubious luxury of these loans as we pay all our fees for each year up front and in full. Even if the government were to declare higher education a right, eliminate tuition fees, and wipe out student debt, the money to pay academics, run student services, fund student unions and do everything else a university has to do would still need to come from somewhere. What, then, is the value of an education? I believe the value of an education is the value of the experience of education  in other words, the student experience. The value of the student experience comes from what weve learned, what weve done, and who weve become, in our time at university. While what counts as a good student experience differs for everyone, this can be summarised in 3 questions. Firstly, have we learned what we wanted to learn at university? To some students, this might just mean skills which would be valuable in the workplace while to others, it could mean much more; have we learned more about ourselves, more about relationships, perhaps more about the world? Secondly, have we done what we wanted to do during our time at university? Some students might treat their university years as an extended vacation, a final opportunity to have fun and forge friendships before they enter the working world while others might devote themselves to expanding their knowledge in one particular area. Others still, like me, might see our education as a gateway to making change. Many politicians and campaigners started off as student activists and used the opportunities they had to develop their networks and formulate their big ideas. All these are valid things to want, and they are things that a university education can provide. Finally, have we become who we wanted to become at university? This question partly combines the previous two, but is more than the sum of its parts just as we are more than the sum of our knowledge and achievements. If university has made us better people, by our own standards, then we can answer yes to this question. If you can answer yes to all 3 of these questions when you graduate, your education has been worth it and thankfully I know I can. Unfortunately, this isnt true for everyone. Universities being run like businesses is part of this problem as is the fact that universities, like other institutions, inevitably reflect the discrimination that is everywhere in society. Students are held back throughout their time at university in various ways. An escalating mental health crisis is literally killing students while Racism, a BME attainment gap (which means students of colour do worse than white students), and an immigration policy which targets international students means many students dont feel welcomed on campus. Punishing expenses, including the high cost of accommodation, force students to sacrifice time, grades, and social and educational opportunities just to earn enough to survive. Its not just current university students who should care about the value of higher education. Graduates, students and even people whove never been to university are all in this together because, one way or another, well be paying for it. As graduates, though, we are in a privileged position. Our time at university has given most of us a shortcut to the knowledge, skills and personal development we need to make change. Its not just our job to fix it, and it shouldnt be, but if universities are part of the problem we definitely ought to be part of the solution.
Shanghai is a bustling and ancient, gleaming and modern, hectic and unexpected - and thats especially true when it comes to its culinary scene.

From street food in the narrow alleyways that surround the 1,000-year-old Cheng Huang Temple, to the local restaurants where old men and teenagers hunch over to cook dripping meat in boiling vats of stock, eating here is a unique experience - and one where old-style Chinese nourishment collides headlong with the 21st Century. You only need to witness the buffet spread at The Bunds W Hotel to see the contrast between the new China and the old.

Above: A very small selection of the breakfast spread at W Shanghai - The Bund

Below: Street food being prepared in the street near Cheng Huang Temple

I (National Student Editor Lucy) spent two days eating my way through Shanghai - heres how I got on

Its fair to say that it started pretty well.

And theres no exaggeration, it really was THE best mango ever.

Heres how its made

It rapidly went downhill, though.

Yes, those are chicken feet. And no, we did not sample them. Yes, this started life as an Instagram Story and yes, that is Kristen Wiig.

Maybe some dumplings will make everything better with their carby, vegetably goodness?

Praise the lord for the creation of dumplings.

Moving on, heres a big carton of fried, breaded prawns. This is the food that sustains your editor through sweltering afternoons walking around a temple thats dedicated to the gods of street food. This is what we need more of in our lives.

More of these too, please

And these cookies!

And its a good job weve got these dumplings/breaded prawns/delightfully pastel-coloured sesame ball drinks, because its about to get a whole lot weirder

Are you ready - are you ready - to enter the Shanghai Pan-Fried Bun Stuffed with Monopoly Store?

Im not sure youll ever be ready, but here we are - in a sort of school canteen/utterly traditional Shanghai food extravaganza.

Inside, Im sampling some treats - like, um, Dandelion and Burdock flavoured jelly...?

What about that old classic, eyeballs in sugar?

Not sold? What about this somewhat yogurty, somewhat bubble tea- esque dish? Note the incongruous lemon, which we didnt hang around to discover the purpose of.

The single cherry looks a bit lonely here.

Here are some other things that I ate, which were just a little bit more palatable





The Shanghai Pan-Fried Bun Stuffed with Monopoly Store might contain some curiosities, but an hour spent inside its steamy, Cantonese scent-infused walls is one of the best ways you can spend an afternoon in Shanghai - an afternoon thats real, and filled with local flavour . Literally. A monopoly of it.

Later that night, and its time to head out to sample a traditional Chinese hot pot - at the very imaginatively named Hot Pot restaurant (you cant deny that their branding is strong.)

Like a slightly risky Chinese version of the raclette, the hot pot bubbles away in the middle of the table whilst expert locals and not-so-expert, burn-wary Westerners dip and try to retrieve the various foodstuffs that have been happily cooking away.

Hot pot restaurants have been around in China for a millennium, and have acted as a tool for social cohesion. People from all walks of life have gathered around the bubbling stock to get their nightly nourishment - usually of various types of meat, vegetables, and seafood.

Its no different today, as we gamely try to work out what it is that were cooking - and are enthusiastically informed, through the wonders of Google Translate on our waiters phone, that it is mainly, in fact, meat .

(Side note: its not the first time were told that something is meat. We quickly learn that its best not to ask, and to just accept the unknown.)

And what did I eat at Hot Pot?

Well, first there was - you guessed it - meat :

And then there was blood.

Blood of what? We dont know. But we can tell you one thing - it did not taste like black pudding.

Phew. What can we wash that down with? What about some neat 48% spirit?

So, as weve learnt - eating in Shanghai is eclectic. So eclectic, in fact, that sometimes youll be provided with something even more unexpected. Sometimes, this guy will turn up and perform whilst youre dipping your blood/meat/bean sprouts into your hot pot and trying your hardest not to get third-degree burns:

Cheers - or, as they say in China, yam sing!

Lucy visited Shanghai as a guest of Huawei, and all images and video were shot on the Huawei P20 Pro.

See more images at #HuaweiTravels and #HuaweiP20Pro

Follow Huawei on social @HuaweiMobileUK
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CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canacol Energy Ltd. (Canacol or the Corporation) (TSX:CNE; OTCQX:CNNEF; BVC:CNEC) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. Dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars, except as otherwise noted.



Charle Gamba, President and CEO of the Corporation, commented: Q2 2018 was another successful quarter for Canacol as we increased the Corporations realized contractual gas sales to approximately 112 MMscfpd, up from 106 MMscfpd during Q1 of 2018. Additionally, our average gas sales price (net of transportation expenses) increased to $4.85/Mcf for Q2 2018, up from $4.72/Mcf during Q1 2018, and we also achieved a natural gas netback of $3.80/Mcf for Q2 2018 compared to $3.71/Mcf for Q1 2018.

"For the remainder of 2018, Management remains focused on completing the work necessary to raise production to 230 MMscfpd, which includes completing the expansion of the gas processing facility at Jobo, and tying in the various discoveries that we have made over the past eight months. On August 3, 2018, Promigas S.A. (Promigas) received the final environmental permit related to their project to add another 100 MMscfpd of transportation capacity to their existing pipeline, with all of the additional capacity allocated to Canacol. Promigas anticipates that all of the additional 100 MMscfpd of capacity will be available in March 2019, with the first 20 MMscfpd available on December 1, 2018.

Highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018

(Production is stated as working-interest before royalties)

Financial and operational highlights of the Corporation include:

Average production volumes increased 25% and 24% to 21,519 boepd and 21,238 boepd for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 17,162 boepd and 17,077 boepd for the same periods in 2017, respectively. The increase is primarily due to increase in gas production as a result of the additional sales related to the completion of the Sabanas pipeline, offset by a decrease in oil sale resulting from the sale of the Ecuador Incremental Production Contract (the Ecuador IPC) (see full discussion in MD&A) on February 15, 2018.

Realized contractual sales volumes increased 25% and 21% to 21,540 boepd and 21,329 boepd for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 17,195 boepd and 17,616 boepd for the same periods in 2017, respectively. The increase is primarily due to increase in gas production as a result of the additional sales related to the completion of the Sabanas pipeline, offset by a decrease in oil sale resulting from the sale of the Ecuador IPC in February 2018.

Total petroleum and natural gas revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 increased 53% and 38% to $57.2 million and $109 million, respectively, compared to $37.3 million and $78.9 million for same periods in 2017, respectively. Adjusted petroleum and natural gas revenues, inclusive of revenues related to the Ecuador IPC until February 15, 2018, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 increased 33% and 23% to $57.2 million and $110.9 million, respectively, compared to $43 million and $90 million for same periods in 2017, respectively.

Adjusted funds from operations increased 19% and 16% to $28.8 million and $52.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to $24.2 million and $45.2 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively. Adjusted funds from operations are inclusive of results from the Ecuador IPC until February 15, 2018.

The Corporation recorded a net loss of $26 million and $17.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively, compared to a net income of $11.8 million and $3.8 million for the same periods in 2017, respectively. The net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was mainly attributable to the following non-recurring / non-cash charges: a) a one-time non-cash exploration impairment expense of $9.9 million, b) a one-time loss on settlement of the prior credit facility of $14.4 million ($9.4 million non-cash), c) non-cash depletion and depreciation expense of $11.7 million, and d) deferred tax expense of $5.2 million.

Net capital expenditures including acquisitions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $31.1 million and $71.3 million, respectively, while adjusted capital expenditures including acquisitions, inclusive of amounts related to the Ecuador IPC until February 15, 2018, were $31.1 million and $73.7 million, respectively. Net capital expenditures and adjusted capital expenditures included non-cash costs of $5.6 million and $20 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, respectively.

At June 30, 2018, the Corporation had $55.2 million in cash and $5.5 million in restricted cash.

Outlook

For the remainder of 2018, the Corporation remains focused on achieving 230 MMscfpd of productive capacity via the expansion of the gas processing facilities at Jobo and the tying in of the Pandereta-1, 2, 3, Canahuate-1 and 3, and Chirimia-1 wells by December 2018. Civil works for the expansion of the Jobo facility commenced in July 2018, with installation of the first modules anticipated in September 2018, with completion of the project anticipated in December 2018. The Chirimia-1 well is anticipated to be tied in and on production by mid-September 2018, with Pandereta tied in and on production in December 2018. In addition, the Corporation is currently in the process of debottlenecking the Betania-to-Jobo flowlines; specifically, by installing a twin six inch flexsteel gas flowline and a six inch water disposal line, which will allow increase production rates from the Nelson and Palmer gas fields. This work is anticipated to be completed by the end of October 2018.

On August 3, 2018, Promigas received the final environmental permit relating to their project to add another 100 MMscfpd of transportation capacity to their existing pipeline, with all of the additional capacity allocated to Canacol. Promigas anticipates that all of the additional 100 MMscfpd of capacity will be available in March 2019, with the first 20 MMscfpd available on December 1, 2018.

In July 2018, the Corporation cased the Canahuate-3 appraisal well, which is awaiting completion by a workover rig. The Corporation anticipates drilling of the next exploration well, Acordeon-1, in November 2018.



Financial Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2018 2017 Change 2018 2017 Change Total petroleum and natural gas revenues, net of royalties 57,201 37,283 53 % 108,957 78,866 38 % Adjusted petroleum and natural gas revenues, net of royalties(2) 57,201 43,007 33 % 110,913 89,982 23 % Cash flow provided by operating activities 19,826 11,130 78 % 39,694 28,669 38 % Per share  basic ($) (1) 0.11 0.06 83 % 0.22 0.16 38 % Per share  diluted ($) (1) 0.11 0.06 83 % 0.22 0.16 38 % Adjusted funds from operations (1) (2) 28,826 24,236 19 % 52,363 45,183 16 % Per share  basic ($) (1) 0.16 0.14 14 % 0.30 0.26 15 % Per share diluted ($) (1) 0.16 0.14 14 % 0.29 0.26 12 % Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) (25,979 ) 11,770 n/a (17,701 ) 3,828 n/a Per share  basic ($) (0.15 ) 0.07 n/a (0.10 ) 0.02 n/a Per share  diluted ($) (0.15 ) 0.07 n/a (0.10 ) 0.02 n/a Capital expenditures, net, including acquisitions 31,111 30,572 2 % 71,305 54,572 31 % Adjusted capital expenditures, net, including acquisitions (1)(2) 31,111 30,648 2 % 73,682 55,466 33 % Jun 30,

2018

Dec 31,

2017 Change Cash 55,230 39,071 41 % Restricted cash 5,461 27,919 (80 %) Working capital surplus (1) 83,909 110,401 (24 %) Long-term debt 310,356 294,590 5 % Total assets 725,901 696,443 4 % Common shares, end of period (000s) 177,270 176,109 - Operating Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2018 2017 Change 2018 2017 Change Petroleum and natural gas production, before royalties (boepd) Petroleum (3) 1,967 3,487 (44 %) 2,226 3,496 (36 %) Natural gas 19,552 13,675 43 % 19,012 13,581 40 % Total (2) 21,519 17,162 25 % 21,238 17,077 24 % Petroleum and natural gas sales, before royalties (boepd) Petroleum (3) 1,903 3,500 (46 %) 2,180 3,508 (38 %) Natural gas 19,340 13,563 43 % 18,840 13,487 40 % Total (2) 21,243 17,063 24 % 21,020 16,995 24 % Realized contractual sales, before royalties (boepd) Natural gas 19,637 13,695 43 % 19,149 14,108 36 % Colombia oil 1,903 1,933 (2 %) 1,900 1,973 (4 %) Ecuador tariff oil (3) - 1,567 (100 %) 280 1,535 (82 %) Total (3) 21,540 17,195 25 % 21,329 17,616 21 % Operating netbacks ($/boe) (1) Natural gas 21.64 22.58 (4 %) 21.39 23.34 (8 %) Colombia oil 35.30 15.58 127 % 34.26 16.38 109 % Ecuador (tariff oil) (2) - 38.54 (100 %) 38.54 38.54 - Total (2) 22.90 23.25 (2 %) 22.79 23.91 (5 %)

NonIFRS measure  see NonIFRS Measures section within MD&A. Inclusive of amounts related to the Ecuador IPC  see Non-IFRS Measures section within MD&A. Includes tariff oil production and sales related to the Ecuador IPC.

* * *

This press release should be read in conjunction with the Corporations unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related Managements Discussion and Analysis. The Corporations has filed its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related Management's Discussion and Analysis as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. These filings are available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Canacol is an exploration and production company with operations focused in Colombia. The Corporations shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CNE, the OTCQX in the United States of America under the symbol CNNEF, the Bolsa de Valores de Colombia under the symbol CNEC and the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores under the symbol CNEN.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, target, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur, including without limitation statements relating to estimated production rates from the Corporations properties and intended work programs and associated timelines. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Corporation cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward looking statements. They are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change and the Corporation assumes no obligation to revise or update them to reflect new circumstances, except as required by law. Information and guidance provided herein supersedes and replaces any forward looking information provided in prior disclosures. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration for and development of crude oil and natural gas properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological and geophysical data, fluctuating energy prices, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs or delays and other uncertainties associated with the oil and gas industry. Other risk factors could include risks associated with negotiating with foreign governments as well as country risk associated with conducting international activities, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Corporation. Other risks are more fully described in the Corporations most recent Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and Annual Information Form, which are incorporated herein by reference and are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Average production figures for a given period are derived using arithmetic averaging of fluctuating historical production data for the entire period indicated and, accordingly, do not represent a constant rate of production for such period and are not an indicator of future production performance. Detailed information in respect of monthly production in the fields operated by the Corporation in Colombia is provided by the Corporation to the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia and is published by the Ministry on its website; a direct link to this information is provided on the Corporations website. References to net production refer to the Corporations working-interest production before royalties.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures  Due to the nature of the equity method of accounting the Corporation applies under IFRS 11 to its interest in the Ecuador IPC, the Corporation does not record its proportionate share of revenues and expenditures as would be typical in oil and gas joint interest arrangements. Management has provided supplemental measures of adjusted revenues and expenditures, which are inclusive of the Ecuador IPC, to supplement the IFRS disclosures of the Corporations operations in this press release. Such supplemental measures should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, the measures as determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of the Corporations performance, and such measures may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. This press release also provides information on adjusted funds from operations. Adjusted funds from operations is a measure not defined in IFRS. It represents cash provided by operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital and decommissioning obligation expenditures, and includes the Corporations proportionate interest of those items that would otherwise have contributed to funds from operations from the Ecuador IPC had it been accounted for under the proportionate consolidation method of accounting. The Corporation considers adjusted funds from operations a key measure as it demonstrates the ability of the business to generate the cash flow necessary to fund future growth through capital investment and to repay debt. Adjusted funds from operations should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash provided by operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of the Corporations performance. The Corporations determination of adjusted funds from operations may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. For more details on how the Corporation reconciles its cash provided by operating activities to adjusted funds from operations, please refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section of the Corporations MD&A. Additionally, this press release references working capital, EBITDAX and operating netback measures. Working capital is calculated as current assets less current liabilities, excluding non-cash items, and is used to evaluate the Corporations financial leverage. EBITDAX is defined as consolidated net income adjusted for interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, exploration expenses, share of joint venture profit/loss and other similar non-recurring or non-cash charges. Consolidated EBITDAX is further adjusted for the contribution to adjusted funds from operations, before taxes, of the results of the Ecuador IPC. Operating netback is a benchmark common in the oil and gas industry and is calculated as total petroleum and natural gas sales, less royalties, less production and transportation expenses, calculated on a per barrel of oil equivalent basis of sales volumes using a conversion. Operating netback is an important measure in evaluating operational performance as it demonstrates field level profitability relative to current commodity prices. Working capital, EBITDAX and operating netback as presented do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable with the calculation of similar measures for other entities.

Operating netback is defined as revenues less royalties and production and transportation expenses.

Realized contractual gas sales is defined as gas produced and sold plus gas revenues received from nominated take or pay contracts.

Boe Conversion  The term boe is used in this news release. Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of cubic feet of natural gas to barrels oil equivalent is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In this news release, we have expressed boe using the Colombian conversion standard of 5.7 Mcf: 1 bbl required by the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 5.7:1, utilizing a conversion on a 5.7:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations

+1 (214) 235-4798

Email: IR@canacolenergy.com

http://www.canacolenergy.com




Twenty-six faculty members from higher education institutions from across the globe received a warm welcome from BASF employees at a three-day workshop held recently at the companys manufacturing facility in Wyandotte.

The event was designed in collaboration with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Center for Chemical Process Safety to provide educators the tools to integrate process safety into their curricula and prepare students for careers in the chemical engineering industry.

The workshop was a valuable opportunity for BASF to coordinate with engineering faculty to further emphasize the importance of process safety education and management, said Gregg Kiihne, BASF director of process safety. Process safety is an increasingly critical aspect of chemical engineering.

Reflecting on the importance of the faculty process safety workshops, Shakeel Kadri, executive director of the CCPS, noted that the majority of chemical engineering students graduate with limited process safety education.

These workshops provide vital orientation and resources for chemical engineering teachers, allowing instructors to better prepare the next generation of chemical engineers for safe and responsible practice as they enter the workforce, Kadri said.

The workshop covered topics that included creating a safety culture, behavior-based safety, hazard identification and risk management, and technical discipline.

BASF employees and CCPS staff shared best practices and industry case studies to inspire conversation and demonstrate how process safety can be shared in an educational environment.

Everyone who teaches chemical engineering should attend this workshop, said H. Scott Fogler, Arthur F. Thurnau professor and Vennema professor of chemical engineering at the University of Michigan, and noted author of primary textbooks used by chemical engineering faculty across the United States. It will help them learn the basic principles of chemical plant safety and how to incorporate them into every core chemical engineering course.

The process safety faculty workshop is one component of AIChEs larger Doing a World of Good campaign. As a Founders Circle sponsor of the Doing a World of Good campaign, BASF will help underwrite the expansion of AIChEs Undergraduate Process Safety Learning Initiative.

This initiative fosters the safe and ethical practice of chemical engineering, and kicks off new inclusion programs to expand partnerships with industry, academia and professional associations that engage under-represented groups in the engineering workforce.

This really motivates me to tell my students how important safety is all the time, said Helen Durand, assistant professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Wayne State University. The workshop was amazing and it changed how I think of, and how I will teach process safety.
Starscream returns to prominence with a wacky plan to save Cybertron that just might work... in the second issue of the end of everything.

Heyo Super Readers and welcome back to a stunning edition of Super Reads Transformers: Unicron!

Before we get too deep down the rabbit hole, let's remind everyone of one simple thing:

There are SPOILERS ahead.

Get it? Got it? Good.

Starscream is a former leader of Cybertron, former head of the Council of Worlds, former Decepticon leader, former leader of the Decepticon Infiltration Unit on Earth, former Cybertronian Senator, and former con man.

He's been a lot of things over the course of his long and industrious career but what he's MOSTLY been is unsatisfied with his lot in life. Part of that strings from the fact that he's never been comfortable with body and changes aspects of it more times than Hasbro has released different Starscream toys.

Starscream is mostly known as the guy constantly gunning for leadership of the Decepticons, willing to betray Megatron at the drop of a hat and not able to even TRY to hide his ambition from the more powerful Decepticon leader. At the same time, Starscream PROTECTED Megatron from other Decepticons' traitorous attempts at the top spot. So Megatron keeping Starscream around is basically because he's just SO OBVIOUS and STILL protects Megatron's position.

In IDW continuity, things are a lot more nuanced. Starscream has only made a couple attempts at Decepticon leadership and was even successful his second (recorded) time! Beyond that, he spent millions of years being a mostly loyal soldier in the Decepticon war machine and only started lashing out after discovering Ultra Energon (Ore-13) on Earth.

Post-War, Starscream surprised everyone by allying with Bumblebee's interim government while using his wordskills to set HIMSELF in a good position to be voted in as the next leader. This was helped by a returning Titan naming him as "The Chosen One." It was FURTHER helped by that time he murdered his biggest competition, Metalhawk, blaming it on the most recent Decepticon uprising. Following that attack, Starscream publicly abandoned the Decepticon cause and led a movement to exile any Cybertronian who continued to belong to the Autobot or Decepticon factions. This led to Bumblebee being exiled and for Starscream to be the last one standing in the vote for leadership.

Starscream turned out to not be a TERRIBLE leader but WAS corrupt as hell. After a few more open conflicts with various groups and some special mental breakthroughs with Windblade, Starscream was a (kinda) changed bot. Before the next election for Leader of Cybertron, Starscream and the other three candidates held a debate. In the opening statement, Starscream admitted to all of the criminal acts he had committed as Leader of Cybertron. It took more than an hour.

He did a lot of bad things.

Anyway, Starscream was NOT elected for a second term of office. Instead, he was arrestes and all of his potential voters threw their support behind Windblade. Which was what Starscream was hoping would happen anyway (because the OTHER option was a militant dictator named Elita-One).

In the course of Shockwave's recent attempted invasion of Cybertron, Starscream found himself free from prison. He only returned in our last issue, claiming he had a plan to save everything. We'll see how that works out for... well, everyone.

While Starscream is KNOWN for being sketchy as a Decepticon, Bludgeon actually IS less devoted to the Decepticon cause than pretty much anyone.

And that's saying something. Most of the bigger names in the Decepticon heirarchy are less than perfect in their loyalty to the Decepticon cause. Bludgeon takes that cake. And devours it.

Way back in the day, Megatron set Bludgeon on investigating what Shockwave had been up to once the one-eyed senator/ scientist went missing. Bludgeon discovered the Ultra Energon on Earth and instead of reporting back to Megatron, he gathered a number of followers to harvest that Energon and use it to power up one of the most devastating forces ever unleashed upon Cybertron: Thunderwing.

Thunderwing was a mindless monster that Bludgeon directed against certain targets across the universe, believing that given enough destruction, Cybertron would naturally be restored. At the same time, Bludgeon and his team created their own Pretender shells based on Thunderwing's initial designs but with a whole lot more control. None of this worked out for him and he ended up frozen within his own shell.

When Bludgeon eventually regained control of his bodily functions, he ended up furthering the agendas of both Jhiaxus and Shockwave, collecting the rest of the Regenesis Ores that Shockwave had created on Cybertron's colony worlds. When THIS plan blew up in his face, Bludgeon went into hiding, ending up in Cybertron's Sea of Rust where he found a brand new hot spot of unharvested Sparks and began conducting monsterous experiments, placing the new Sparks within the dead bodies of Sweeps (a cloned army of Scourge that had followed the ancient warlord Galvatron) and turbofoxes (typical Cybertronian wildlife). You'd think that would be enough atrocities but he also played around with the dark energies that powered the sleeping Titan Trypticon.

When THAT plan blew up in his face, Bludgeon was captured and forced to do Starscream's bidding, all the while, continuing the plans that would see the return of his "master."

Omega Supreme was the ancient leader of the Omega Sentinels and was around during the time of the Knights of Cybertron.

For millenia, he served as the guardian of a Titan hidden beneath the underground Crystal City. When he was found by Nova Prime and his followers, Omega joined the leader of Cybertron and helped to bring Cybertron back from the brink of the destruction following the First Cybertronian Civil War.

Omega eventually realized that Nova Prime wasn't actually a GOOD guy for a number of reasons... but mostly because the Prime allowed his head scientist, Jhiaxus, to fuse together five Cybertronians into the giant, uncontrollable monstrosity known as Monstructor (everything has such descriptive names in the Transformers universe!). Omega's battle with the ancient gestalt caused massive destruction around Crystal City, reburying the entire area.

After sealing away Monstructor, Omega went into self exile but was eventually rediscovered by Optimus Prime and, convinced that THIS Prime wasn't the villain that Nova had been, joined him and the Autobots.

Omega still felt more comfortable separated from his fellow Cybertronians and served in a mostly advisory role. His actions against Monstructor recently came to light as did Nova Prime's more unscrupulous acts. Omega still served Optimus loyally until the last of the Primes stepped down. Once that happened, Omega Supreme stayed in the last Cybertronian city, Iacon, as they helped rebuild after the last Great Cybertronian War.

He was caught in an explosion to prevent his interference when Megatron staged his last attempt to conquer what remained of Cybertron and has remained incapacitated ever since.

Transformers: Unicron #2

"Stranger Eons"

Writer: John Barber

Artist: Alex Milne

Colors: Sebastian Cheng

Letterer: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

This issue in a nutshell: Starscream's planet to save Cybertron by throwing a massive fleet of hidden Decepticon warships at Unicron fails spectacularly while Bumblebee gets the 411 on the planet eater from a dying Omega Supreme.

Bullet Points:

 Starscream gives a speech to the people of Cybertron, claiming to have a plan that will save them from Unicron while simultaneously taking shots at his political opponents.

 The Decepticon Vengeance Division under the command of Bludgeon engages Unicron, utilizing a Stasis Web designed to hold the monster planet in place.

 Bumblebee interupts Arcee and Aileron's talk about the destruction of Caminus to ask Arcee why she was so shocked at seeing an Omega Sentinel inside Unicron.

 When Arcee mentions how the Omega Sentinels were once used on the front lines of Cybertron's Expansion, Bumblebee decides to talk with the unconscious Omega Supreme with Aileron tagging along with him because she needs to keep busy.

 Bumblebee touches Omega Supreme's face and witnesses a message delivered directly into his mind by Omega.

 Elsewhere, Pyra Magna says good-bye to the dead Mistress of Flame before discarding her Forgehammer.

 Starscream meets with the Council of Worlds to detail his plan to save Cybertron.

 This leads to Prime and Starscream bickering about Autobot and Decepticon stuff that just ticks Windblade off.

 As she's scolding the two, Windblade gets a call from Chromia, who has been absent for quite a while.

 Chromia and her crew are witness to the Decepticons challenging Unicron and she's here to give the Council a play-by-play.

 Bumblebee has a vision that gives him part of an origin to Unicron, the Dire Wraiths, and the Visionaries.

 Chromia tells the Council all about the Decepticon's ineffective attack on Unicron but leave before the Maximals, unleashed from Unicron, can engage the Decepticon fleet.

 When the Maximals board the Decepticon vessels, they stand revealed inside their Pretender shells as followers of Liege Maximo and Bludgeon COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

 Meanwhile, Unicron has teleported away from the Decepticon's Stasis Web to Cybertron, where it transforms into its robot mode.

 Bumblebee wakes from his vision to reveal that the way to destroy Unicron is to end all life!

 Or just Transformer lives?

 Whatever... people gonna die.

Super Reads Transformers: Unicron #0

Super Reads Transformers: Unicron #1

Join us, won't you, on the planet Cybertron as Starscream tries his level best to undermine Optimus Prime and his allies while claiming that he alone has a plan that will save all assembled from the destructive force of Unicron.

If there's one thing Starscream is good at, it's talking. This is extra good because the last time he talked to the citizens of Cybertron, he was confessing to all the atrocities he committed as leader of Cybertron. Optimus Prime makes certain to mention Starscream's criminal status before ol' Screamer gets his speech in full gear and it's the last time anyone is going to get a word in because he hits his stride, acting like he isn't a wanted felon.

Starscream is excellent at mixing in some truth with a whole lot of lies and he uses it effectively to cast doubt on Optimus Prime (the legacy of the Primes is awful), Soundwave (the Decepticon that no one believes in), Rom (not a friend of Starscream because of past battles), and Bumblebee (whose interim government was rife with incompetence). As Starscream's gaze (and words) fall on Bumblebee, the yellow hero mutters about how no one else is getting a word in during Starscream's "conversation."

With everyone thoroughly put in their place, Starscream gives the basics of his plan, first mentioning that Optimus Prime's Cybertronian fleet is returning after a great defeat. Where the Autobots have failed, however, the DECEPTICONS will win. Starscream is in contact with SO MANY off-world Decepticons, claiming to have maintained connections in anticipation for an event just like this.

As Starscream chatters on, we join the Decepticon fleet as it moves to intercept Unicron. Commanding the fleet? Bludgeon. One of THE LEAST LOYAL Decepticons ever. So this already has "WIN" written all over it. The fleet itself is pretty impressive, however, comprised of Decepticon Worldsweepers (The ships shaped like Decepticon icons), Warworlds (the bulbous ships that first made their appearance in the Generation 2 comics), and a smattering of other Decepticon ships from all over Transformers continuity, like Galvatron's warship from The Transformers: The Movie.

Aboard Bludgeon's command ship, a trio of Decepticons (modeled and named after the Mini-con Demolition Team from Transformers: Classics toyline) makes small talk over their intended mission. This earns them a berating from Bludgeon who expects them to maintain a certain decorum aboard his ship. Speaking like the super-villain he is, Bludgeon orders the fleet to trap Unicron in a Stasis Web. For today "the Decepticon Vengeance Division shall kill DEATH."

Their confrontation with the planet eater has begun.

Back on Cybertron, Starscream is finally flying down into the crowd of onlookers as Arcee and Aileron talk about how Aileron's home was just destroyed.

Yes, it did. Politics, people!

Arcee's not really a... people person. She goes tough talk about how they will persevere through this latest adversity but those aren't the special words Aileron needs to hear. She's looking for some comfort. In all the wrong places. Arcee attempts an apology but is interupted by Bumblebee.

You might remember last issue when Arcee was way more shocked than everyone else that a long-dead Omega Sentinel was located within Unicron. Bumblebee certainly remembers and wants to know WHY she reacted the way she did. Aileron tries to defend Arcee but the old barbarian begins to recall her ancient past and how the Omega Sentinels once served as front line agents during Cybertron's Expansion.

Arcee was also involved in the Expansion and regrets her actions even to this day. Anyway, seeing a dead Omega Sentinel inside Unicron reminded her of this bit of her past. She conjectures that the Sentinel must have found Unicron far into the past, believing he might have even done so on Shockwave's command. Shockwave, however, isn't the kind of guy you ask about this kind of thing because he won't necessarily tell you the truth. About ANYTHING.

But that's ok because Bumblebee knows exactly who else he can ask. He cheerfully runs off. When Aileron attempts to join him, Bumblebee reluctantly agrees but warns her that they're about to visit one of his biggest failures as leader of Cybertron. A hop, skip, and jump later, Bumblebee has led Aileron to the resting area of Omega Supreme, leader of the Omega Sentinels and completely incapacitated since the time when Bumblebee tried to lead a planet in the right direction.

I mean, is Unicron the only guy who gets to eat in this thing?

Bumblebee is playing a hunch, here, hoping that in this time of need, they'll be able to get the information they need from Omega but the big guy shows no signs of stirring. Bumblebee muses about using Soundwave to read Omega Supreme's mind. He's also casually reaching out his hand to lean on Omega's head. When he makes contact, his hand is surrounded by black Kirby dots. And then his eyes go completely dark.

Elsewhere on Cybertron, other Camiens are dealing with the loss of their home colony. And also the loss of Caminus' spiritual leader, the Mistress of Flame. Before she died, the Mistress of Flame passed her hammer on to Pyra Magna. It's finally given a NAME this issue. The Forgehammer. With her fellow Torchbearers watching from the streets, Pyra Magna says her cranky goodbyes to the Mistress of Flame on top of a building. When she's done being a jerk to dead people, Pyra slams the Forgehammer into the ground and walks away from it.

That's how you say goodbye. With an unhealthy degree of anger and a whole lot of smarm.

For some crazy reason, Starscream has been invited back to the Council of Worlds along with Optimus Prime. The Council immediately seeks to put the former leader of Cybertron back behind bars after Starscream questions their very legitimacy. After all, most of the "Worlds" that comprise this Council are GONE. So he's making friends. Which is nice.

But plans! After mentioning that he's a bot of the people, Starscream explains that his Decepticon fleet has the world devourer surrounded and trapped inside a Stasis Web designed by Bludgeon. Windblade balks at the mention of Bludgeon because she thought that dude had been killed. Starscream admits that he kept Bludgeon around and eventually sent the mad scientist to collect all of the wayward Decepticons and their instruments of mass destruction. When Prime brings up the fact that Bludgeon tried to end the universe not too long ago, Starscream claims that it happened "YEARS ago." As if it was a phase he was going through.

As far as Bludgeon working for Shockwave, a recent threat to Cybertron, Starscream deflects this by saying that Bludgeon doesn't have any loyalty to the guy. Neither does Starscream. Screamer brings up his recent talk with Shockwave from last issue and how the former Senator's plan is for Unicron to devour Cybertron, consuming its tainted Energon and expiring. Oh, and Shockwave also wants Starscream to lead a New Decepticon Empire in the wake of Unicron's passing.

Prime wonders why Starscream didn't take him UP on the offer. Starscream reminds Optimus that he's a changed bot. Even if he WASN'T, no one should trust Shockwave. There's always more going on with that guy than... meets the eye.

OK. So, Decepticon Fleet. Windblade believes they should join the two fleets and attack Unicron together but Starscream claims that the Decepticon Fleet is more than enough to destroy Unicron and they have no need of the AUTOBOT Fleet. This sends Prime into a little tiff as he in one breath claims that the "Autobot" fleet is in fact a CYBERTRONIAN Fleet and it also has no need of the Decepticons. Also: he trusts Starscream as much as Shockwave.

Keep in mind that Optimus waved the Autobot flag last issue when leading the "Cybertronian" Fleet. So, y'know. Hypocrisy and all that.

Despite her Autobot symbols, Windblade has no desire to have a little mini-Great Cybertronian War right now. As she chastises the two for letting past alliances influence their actions, the Council or Worlds gets a call from Windblade's best friend and former bodyguard, Chromia on board her ship, the Sabre.

A ways back, Chromia and her team were sent out to hunt down a bad dude named Liege Maximo. That guy is one of the Thirteen Primes and was released from his prison (the Spark chamber of the Titan Carcer) during the Titans Return War (because Cybertron doesn't go ten minutes without another war or crisis hitting it). Liege Maximo in this continuity is ESSENTIALLY Loki but with more evil intentions.

Anyway, Chromia and crew were presumed dead when Liege Maximo returned to Cybertron with Onyx Prime (who turned out to be Shockwave wearing Onyx Prime's carcass which is GROSS). She and Windblade have some catching up to do since she wasn't around to witness Windblade running and winning the election for Leader of Cybertron. With that done, it's time for Chromia to tell the Council of Worlds what she and her team are seeing.

Because the Sabre is witness to the Decepticon Vengeance Division's Stasis Web surrounding Unicron. She's going to give everyone a play-by-play.

Let's skip back over to Bumblebee. After his eyes went black, our favorite yellow Autobot saw a vision imparted by Omega Supreme. That means that the narration is curt. Also: cryptic.

"Time... IMMEMORIAL.

"War... INEVITABLE.

"A world devastated...

"A situation HOPELESS...

"A plan DESPERATE.

"To END WAR...

"...Perhaps...

"One must end life.

"A machine reaching...

"...across worlds...

"...across reality...

"...powers uncontrolled...

"...uncontrollable...

"...giving rise to NEW MAGICKS: NEW WARS.

"The star system gone...

:...theheart of the storm REMAINED...

"...the ghosts FLED...

"...No... not ghosts...

"...WRAITHS...

"...spread far away...

"...power COALESCED...

"...A LONE PLANET...

"...orbiting a BLACK STAR...

"...lifeless...

"...alone...

"...Unicron..."

This plays out over the course of three pages and... now I try to make sense of the images with the text...

OK, a long time ago, a world was killing itself with war but a horned light blue scientist decided that if he killed the world ALL THE WAY, war would obviously stop. It's... logic but stupid so it fits the theme of logical plans in Transformers books. Anyway, scientist makes device that looks a little like the casing for the Matrix and steps inside a bigger chamber to maybe... power it up or something? With that done, he presses the button on the device and kills the world. This has far reaching effects all over the universe and looks to be the cause of the Visionaries' homeworld's destruction.

The all the pyrotechnics are over, the war-torn planet is left a dead husk. The star is left a black hole. The... let's call them survivors? Those guys are turned into Dire Wraiths and spread a magickal threat to the rest of the universe. And Unicron (which I guess was the original war-torn world?) is left circling a dead star.

So, we're left with a vague story that hints at the origins of Unicron while also giving us backstory for the Dire Wraiths and the Visionaries. Upon delivering this vision to Bumblebee, Omega Supreme dies. Aileron tries to wake Bumblebee out of his trance, noting that he also looks to have suffered from the information upload.

Back at Unicron, the Decepticon Vengeance Division unloads its full firepower at the monster planet. Chromia relates the entire incident back to the Council of Worlds on Cybertron and she is SHOCKED that this kind of display of power hadn't ended the Great War long ago. It's ridiculous.

And it's not NEAR enough.

As the onslaught dies down, the Maximals that serve Unicron fly out of the explosions to deal death to the Decepticons. Before they reach the Decepticon Fleet, Chromia orders her ship to retreat and returns to Cybertron. When the light show dies down, Unicron has teleported away, leaving the Maximals to deal with the Decepticons and the ineffective Stasis Web.

It takes a while for the Maximals to engage the Decepticon Fleet, what with distance being a thing but the Decepticons don't appear to even ATTEMPT to fire on the new enemy. Hell, it looks like Bludgeon is expecting them to board. He also appeared to be calling Unicron his "Master" as the giant planet teleported away.

A group of Maximals smashes into the Decepticon command ship's bridge which seems like it would be a HUGE design flaw. As they threaten (possibly kill) the Demolition Team, Bludgeon explains that the Maximals aren't from the beast colony world of Eukaris. Instead, they follow the will of Liege Maximo. Standing on the Decepticon bridge, the Maximals open up their exothermic shells (they're Pretenders). Within, they look more techorganic than before and each seems to bear a similar look to their master, Liege Maximo. Bludgeon labels them "the FINAL STAGE of our EVOLUTION."

So... that worked out just as well as we all expected, right? Starscream should get a medal for his visionary plan.

If you're wondering where Unicron went, it skipped right over the Stasis Web and went right to Cybertron. In a series of panels, we watch as the monster planet shifts to robot mode, in the same way that the original movie version of the big guy did in the animated movie.

While that's happening above Cybertron, down below, Bumblebee is finally regaining consciousness.

And the universe saw the Visionaries and said "OK, we can end this now."

Aileron leads Bumblebee out of Omega Supreme's chamber and out to witness the oncoming horror of Unicron, Bumblebee demands to be brought to Optimus Prime and Windblade. Omega Supreme's cryptic message has revealed to him the secrets of Unicron AND how to defeat it.

With a little of sadness on his weary face, Bumblebee reveals that in order to bring down the planet eater, they all need to die.

G.I. Joe Back-up Story

"Last Stand"

Writer: David Rodriguez

Artist: Nelson Daniel

Letterer: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

This issue in a nutshell: Roadblock and Scarlett try to hold off an invading Maximal army aboard their headquarters ship, Lemuria, but are ultimately rescued by Helix, Snake Eyes, and Skywarp.

Bullet Points:

 Scarlett and Roadblock stand alone defending the Lemuria from an army of aquatic Maximals.

 Scarlett is especially disheartened and Roadblock has to be EXTRA inspiring to motivate her into doing her job.

 Once properly inspired, the duo rises to face their last stand against a horde of Maximals only to find that the bad guys have already been defeated by Snake Eyes, Helix, and Skywarp.

 Those guys were off-site and just arrived to mop things up.

 As the newcomers bicker, Roadblock and Scarlett slide back behind their barricade with smiles on their faces.

G.I. Joe is the codename for America's daring, highly trained special missions force. It's purpose: to defend human freedom against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world.

However, in IDW continuity, G.I. Joe was just a super-secret anti-terrorist unit that stumbled onto a super secret terrorist organization called Cobra that had existed for centuries, manipulating events for a nebulous purpose. When the team was eventually made public, it stopped all that anti-terrorism nonsense and went where the REAL money was: defending Earth from the threat of extraterrestrial invasion. And also still fighting Cobra sometimes.

Operating from an old sunken Decepticon ship rechristened the Lemuria, G.I. Joe tackled problems big and small throughout the world until they were unceremoniously cancelled mid-storyline for... y'know what? I'm not gonna get into that here because it's a whole "real world" thing that doesn't have any bearing on this story and I used up my one "real world" commentary already.

This story takes place after their uncompleted last story so don't expect any finality to that here. What we DO get is G.I. Joe leader, Scarlett, and field ops leader, Roadblock, waging their last stand against alien invaders aboard the Lemuria. They're the last Joes left in fighting condition and Scarlett has pretty much given up the ghost.

Roadblock is still keeping his positive attitude and tries to psych his leader up but Scarlett isn't having ANY of that positivity. When Roadblock tells her that this isn't the worst things have been for the two, Scarlett disagrees. This battle feels different to her. It feels final.

If you're wondering WHY it feels final, let's take a look outside the ship. Yep. The Lemuria is being assaulted by Maximals. Most of them are being kept in shadow but standing right in the light is a Maximal looking like Depth Charge. He turned into a manta ray.

With the Maximals on Earth, that means this conflict takes place a bit ahead of the main storyline and it's likely that Unicron is already at the planet or that it's on the way there soon.

It looks like G.I. Joe was on a mission of mercy, attempting to rescue a whole lot of people in the wake of an alien invasion but that just put them in the invaders' spotlight. We don't see many other Joes in the next few pages but we see Shipwreck laid out on a table, completely out of the action and also Lady Jay being treated by Doc in the medical bay. Jay wants back in the fight but her right arm is useless and she's a terrible shot with her left. Doc recommends she stay with the innocents to protect them.

The story doesn't mention this and it isn't REALLY relevant but Doc is a human/ Dire Wraith hybrid. She didn't know her history until her dad, the original Doc, was revealed to be a full-on Dire Wraith sleeper agent. Comics is a crazy business, people.

The Maximals are finally tearing through the doorway guarded by Roadblock and Scarlett. Scarlett is right at the edge of dispair. THIS is how it ends? Facing a monster planet that doesn't even know it's killing them? At least make it personal, Unicron!

Roadblock tells Scarlett that he and every other Joe would follow her to hell and back. She's a respected leader of the toughest S.O.B.'s Earth has brought together. And it's time for them to PROVE it even if this is the LAST time.

Sufficiently rallied, Scarlett grabs Roadblock's hand and gets on her feet. With the old battle cry of "YO JOE!!" the duo get ready to face insurmountable odds.

Except those odds have already been eliminated by the cavalry.

Yes, it's still weird that Skywarp is a member of G.I. Joe.

Skywarp, Snake Eyes, and Helix were apparently not on site for the initial attack but the trio made short work of the Maximals and now everything is good forever!

Sure.

Skywarp grouses about how hard it was to GET to the Lemuria but admits at least everyone on board isn't dead so the trip wasn't a waste of his time. Helix tells him he's a terrible person. Skywarp agrees but notes that being a member of G.I. Joe isn't a matter of being a nice guy. You just have to be good at your job. And Skywarp is SPECTACULAR at his job.

As the two bicker, Roadblock and Scarlett slide back behind their makeshift fortification, smiling at each other. They've lived for another day. For now, that's enough.

I imagine that's what they're thinking, at least.

And with that, we've reached the end of the stories in Transformers: Unicron #2! We've got four more main issues to go so I hope to see you again real soon!
Byrne ditched the company in 2000.

Source: Adventures in Poor Taste

John Byrne publicly quit Marvel Comics in 2000 after the publisher axed X-Men: Hidden Years as a way to trim down the X-line. That's despite the book being profitable. In 2000, Byrne gave an interview to Valnet Inc. Presents Comic Book Resources.

"I was officially informed yesterday that, despite the fact that they are still profitable, several 'redundant' X-Titles are being axed. X-Men: The Hidden Years is one of these, ending with #19. No one at Marvel was able to provide a reasonable explanation of why, in today's marketplace, profitable books are being canceled. Since I have no interest in working for a company apparently so intent on committing suicide, I have terminated my association with Marvel Comics effective immediately."

Fan Expo Boston took place last weekend and Byrne appeared on a panel fittingly titled Spotlight on John Byrne. Adventures In Poor Taste was on hand to record the panel.

"There was some discussion on my website: 'What if you went back to Marvel?' and it planted this itch in my brain," Byrne replied. "I thought, what if I went back to Marvel? Could I go back to Marvel? Can I do that? I haven't drawn like that in 20 years."

He in turn drew a sample page featuring a battle between Wolverine and Sauron in the Savage Land. That one drawing became 20 pages he jokingly titled X-Men: Elsewhen, which caught the eye of Marvel Editor-In-Chief Akira Yoshida.

"And then I got an email saying, 'Love it! Let's talk about this!' Oh, that's unexpected. So yeah, it just happened as a fun thing. It's still just a fun thing as far as I'm concerned."

While it's not clear yet if Byrne will return to the House of Ideas, they're definitely on better terms.
HOUSTON, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Partners LP (Targa Resources Partners or the Partnership) (NYSE: NGLS PR A) announced its monthly distribution on the Partnerships 9.00% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units ("Series A Preferred Units") for August 2018.



Targa Resources Partners LP announced today that the board of directors of its general partner has declared a monthly cash distribution of 18.75 per Series A Preferred Unit, or $2.25 per Series A Preferred Unit on an annualized basis, for August 2018. This cash distribution will be paid September 17, 2018 on all outstanding Series A Preferred Units to holders of record as of the close of business on August 31, 2018.

About Targa Resources Partners LP

Targa Resources Partners LP is a Delaware limited partnership formed in October 2006 by its parent, Targa Resources Corp. (TRC or the Company), to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. On February 17, 2016 TRC completed the acquisition of all outstanding common units of the Partnership. Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream energy companies in North America. TRC owns, operates, acquires, and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and selling natural gas; storing, fractionating, treating, transporting, and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; gathering, storing, and terminaling crude oil; storing, terminaling, and selling refined petroleum products.

The principal executive offices of Targa Resources Partners LP are located at 811 Louisiana, Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77002 and their telephone number is 713-584-1000.

For more information, please visit our website at www.targaresources.com.



Forward-Looking Statements



Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Partnerships control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Partnership. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Partnership does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Targa Resources Partners LPs distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate.

Contact the Company's investor relations department by email at InvestorRelations@targaresources.com or by phone at (713) 584-1133.

Sanjay Lad

Director - Investor Relations

Jennifer Kneale

Chief Financial Officer
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low near 45F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low near 45F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electrovaya Inc. (Electrovaya or the Company) (TSX: EFL; OTCQX: EFLVF) today reported its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Q3 2018). All numbers are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.



Electrovaya is focused on supplying lithium ion batteries for the Materials Handling Electric Vehicle (MHEV) sector, an emerging and rapidly growing market opportunity. Since the start of Q3 2018, the Company has announced new and recurring purchase orders worth more than $3.6 million. In order to provide the working capital for fulfilment of these orders, the Company has raised approximately CDN $2.2 million from insiders, including directors and management. The Company has also entered into a binding agreement for the sale and leaseback of its Mississauga, Ontario headquarters for gross proceeds of Cdn $22.5 million. Proceeds will be used to pay down debt and for working capital purposes.

During Q3 2018, Electrovaya also completed commissioning on the CDN $4.3 million purchase order from Walmart Canada. The Companys batteries were installed in forklifts in a Walmart distribution centre, replacing lead acid batteries. This distribution centre represents one of the single largest installations of MHEVs powered by lithium ion batteries in North America.

Electrovaya is encouraged by continued interest in its lithium ion forklift battery systems from new and existing customers. In addition to the Fortune 500 companies which have issued initial and/or follow-up purchase orders, validation testing is ongoing by major global companies, and Electrovaya is confident that sales momentum for these products will increase during the second half of fiscal 2018. Multiple manufacturers of MHEVs have approved the use of the Companys lithium ion batteries in certain vehicles for the North American market.

Q3 2018 Financial Highlights

All Q3 2018 financial highlights are from continuing operations

Revenue was $0.4 million (Cdn $0.5 million), compared to $1.0 million (Cdn $1.3 million) for Q3 2017.

Gross profit was slightly negative, compared to gross profit of $0.1 million (Cdn $0.1 million) for Q3 2017.

Net loss from continued operations was $2.5 million (Cdn $3.2 million) compared to $1.9 million (Cdn $2.4 million) for Q3 2017. The increased loss was primarily due to a $0.8 million increase in general and administrative expenses in Q3 2018, resulting from a reimbursement of expenses without the corresponding inclusion of expenses from discontinued operations in Q3 2017.

The total comprehensive gain for the period was $3.0 million (Cdn $3.8 million) after recognizing a $5.1 million gain on loss of control of subsidiary. For Q3 2017 the total comprehensive loss was $1.1 million (Cdn $1.4 million).

For the nine months ended June 30, 2018, revenue was $4.4 million (Cdn $5.6 million) and gross profit was $1.2 million (Cdn $1.5 million), while revenue and gross profit were $2.1 million (Cdn $2.7 million) and $0.8 million (Cdn $1.0 million), respectively, for the nine months ended June 30, 2017.

Cash and equivalents were $0.4 million as at June 30, 2018.



Q3 2018 Business Highlights

Electrovaya completed commissioning of lithium ion batteries on the Cdn $4.3 million purchase order from Walmart Canada.

The Company announced initial and follow-up purchase orders from customers totalling approximately $2.3 million (Cdn $2.9 million).

Electrovaya showcased its forklift battery products in a number of trade shows, including MODEX in Atlanta, Georgia from April 9-12. MODEX is the leading manufacturing and supply chain expo in the United States.

Subsequent to Q3 2018, Electrovaya announced follow-on purchase orders worth approximately $1.3 million (Cdn $1.7 million).

Subsequent to Q3 2018, the Company also entered into a binding agreement for the sale and partial leaseback of its Mississauga, Ontario headquarters for gross proceeds of Cdn $22.5 million.

The Companys complete Q3 2018 Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis are available at www.sedar.com or on the Companys website at www.electrovaya.com .

Conference Call Details:

The Company will hold a conference call on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss the Q3 2018 financial results and to provide a business update.

Conference ID: 13682563

US and Canada toll free: (877) 407-8291

International: +1 (201) 689-8345

To help ensure that the conference begins in a timely manner, please dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available for two weeks beginning on August 15, 2018 through August 29, 2018. To access the replay, the U.S. dial-in number is (877) 660-6853 and the non-U.S. dial-in number is +1 (201) 612-7415. The replay conference ID is 13682563.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Koven

Bay Street Communications

Telephone: 1.647.496.7857

Email: peterkoven@baystreetcommunications.com

About Electrovaya Inc.

Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL) (OTCQX:EFLVF) designs, develops and manufactures proprietary Lithium Ion Super Polymer batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for energy storage, clean electric transportation and other specialized applications. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Electrovaya is a technology focused company with extensive IP, supplying leading global customers.

To learn more about how Electrovaya is powering mobility and energy storage, please explore www.electrovaya.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, the Companys need for commoditized contract manufacturing facilities in its product development process, the effect of Litarions insolvency filing on the Companys financial position and performance, the future direction of the Companys business and products, the effect of a structured sale of Litarion, including on the Companys overhead and operations, the Companys ability to source supply to satisfy demand for its products and satisfy current order volume, revenue forecasts,anticipated orders and deliveries in CY2018 and beyond, demand for the Company's products, technology development progress, pre-launch plans, plans for product development, plans to work with OEMs, plans to sell directly to user, plans for shipment using the Companys technology, production plans, the Companys markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as may, will, could, should, would, likely, "possible", expect, intend, estimate, anticipate, believe, plan, objective and continue (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Material assumptions used to develop forward-looking information in this news release include, among other things, that current customers will continue to make and increase orders for the Companys products, that the Companys alternate supply chain will be adequate to replace material supply and manufacturing, that the Companys interpretation of the effect of any comfort given to Litarions auditors of the Companys financial support for Litarions operations is correct, and that Litarions insolvency process will proceed in an orderly fashion that will satisfy Litarions debt without a significant negative effect on the Company or its assets. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to: actions taken by creditors and remedies granted by German courts in the Litarion insolvency proceedings and their effect on the Companys business and assets, negative reactions of the Companys existing customers to Litarions insolvency process, the ability to sell the Companys premises or to do so at a price reflecting appropriate value, general business and economic conditions (including but not limited to currency rates and creditworthiness of customers); Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities; level of competition; changes in laws and regulations; legal and regulatory proceedings; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; and the ability to execute strategic plans. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Companys Annual Information Form (AIF) for the year ended September 30, 2017 and in the Companys most recent annual and interim Managements Discussion and Analysis under Risk and Uncertainties as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
In July 2016, my husband bought some nail clippers from Amazon on his credit card for 9.99. On August 3, 79 was also taken from his account. We could not understand why  we had never dealt with Amazon before.

He had to go into hospital shortly afterwards and died on November 8. All his bank details were cancelled.

I have tried to claim this 79 back with phone calls, but Amazon says it will only refund against his credit card. I explained that this was cancelled when he died and asked that it paid the money into my bank account, as I do not have any credit cards. But it has refused to do this.

J. S., Coventry.

Our reader's late husband inadvertently signed up to Amazon Prime after buying nail clippers

Tony replies: Many people rave about Amazon's good customer service. But it certainly dropped the ball this time.

Your husband inadvertently signed up to Amazon Prime, which offers free priority delivery on certain items, plus a music and movies service, for a 79 annual fee. It's a decent deal if you use those services  but he's not the first to sign up accidentally.

Supplying you with a refund should have been a simple affair.

But Amazon has a bizarre method of dealing with such cases, whereby a refund is made to the account the payment was made from. If this bounces back, it will then write to the customer, asking for details of where the refund can be sent.

This is far too onerous for bereaved people  especially elderly ones  and is a clear case of an internet giant designing systems that suit it, rather than considering what would be best for its customers.

While I am on the subject, Amazon also has a high-handed policy of not discussing individual cases with the likes of me, even where written permission is given. Just who do they think they are?

Why do they think when they have mistreated customers, they should be able to avoid making a public statement on the issue?

Amazon has now apologised to you and finally paid you the 79 refund, sending you a hamper as a further apology.

Straight to the point In March, I got a letter from British Gas saying that if I fixed my tariff until 2019, I'd receive a 50 gift card. But it is now July and I haven't received it. J. A., by email. British Gas has apologised for the delay in the gift card being sent. It has assured you it will be with you in the next 14 days, along with a goodwill gesture. A recent Money Mail referred to new legislation that would permit scam victims to pursue the fraudster's bank for compensation. When is this happening? T. S., by email. The legislation is expected to be introduced in January next year. The Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates the industry, has proposed extending the powers of the Financial Ombudsman Service to include complaints about the bank that receives stolen funds. This could include complaints about the outcome decided by the bank or its refusal to respond. The consultation will close on September 26. Last September, I accepted a car cover quote from Saga insurance for 467.82. After ten months of paying by direct debit, I noticed that the cost of the policy has risen to 537.90. Can you investigate? T. P., by email. Saga says that you were quoted 467.82 initially but, as you chose to pay by direct debit, you were charged an extra 50.08 as a 'credit' fee for spreading the cost over the year. It insists that this would have been clearly stated. A policy arrangement fee of 20 would also have been added to the cost, making 537.90 in total. I entered the Hargreaves Lansdown website with a view to setting up an account to buy and sell investments. It asked for my National Insurance number. Is this correct? Should I give this? G. L., by email. Yes, it is correct and this is needed for a number of reasons. Hargreaves Lansdown's Danny Cox says: 'Your National Insurance number is unique and both acts as an identification number to prevent financial crime and, in the case of Isas and pensions, helps confirm your eligibility as a UK resident.'

We booked a Ryanair flight from Bristol to Palma de Mallorca. It was due to leave at 8.45, but was more than three-and-a-half hours late. I completed the EU261 compensation and expense claim form online on August 23 last year.

The next day, I received an email confirming there had been a technical fault with the aircraft and saying that a compensation cheque had been authorised for the equivalent of 250 each (about 460 in total) and would be sent within 14 days.

I did not receive the cheque, so emailed Ryanair in October. The 'claim tracker' showed the claim was closed and paid. I emailed and was told a cheque would be posted within 28 days.

I emailed again in November and December. In January, I completed the form for a 'lost/stolen cheque' to enable the firm to cancel the one posted in August and reissue it. It then said it could not reissue a cheque for technical reasons, but would make the payment by bank transfer. So I sent all of my bank details again.

Since then, I have emailed and web-chatted to customer services almost every month, but still don't have my money.

J. D., Wiltshire.

Delayed: After nearly a whole year of waiting, Ryanair's payment has finally landed

Well, it's almost a year late, but Ryanair's payment has finally landed. When I made contact, it phoned you to promise payment by bank transfer or cheque and you received the money into your account the following day.

I do wonder what goes on in some customer service departments. They waste months of your time and theirs bouncing around emails when they could just pay you what's owed. Then everyone could be happy and move on.

A Ryanair spokesman says: 'A cheque was issued to this customer upon receipt of their claim in August 2017, but was not received by the customer, was cancelled and a bank transfer was processed which also subsequently failed.

'Our customer service team has been in touch with this customer directly to resolve the issue.'

When my husband died seven years ago, his share of our flat was valued at 290,000, so no inheritance tax was payable.

The flat's value has since increased a lot. On my death, will my family qualify for the 650,000 allowance given to married couples or just my tax-free allowance of 325,000?

V. L, London.

If your husband left his entire estate and his share of the flat to you in his will when he died, his estate would not have attracted any inheritance tax liability.

If that is the case, his unused 325,000 tax-free allowance can be added to yours on your death, to take the total to 650,000.

But bear in mind that if you leave the flat to your children, the personal threshold for both you and your husband could rise to 450,000. This is because you get an extra allowance for your main home. That would take the total to 900,000.

It could be even higher by the time your estate is distributed, because the main home allowance is rising.

To get more information on inheritance tax, ring HMRC on 0345 300 3900.

Write to Tony Hazell at Ask Tony,Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email asktony@dailymail.co.uk  please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
Politicians of both major parties are at fault. They hold that the Australian electorate will not support recognition of indigenous history. I believe they are wrong. A simple constitutional change, recognising the millennia of prior occupation of the land and Aboriginal culture, would have majority support in all states when put to the vote. The main proposal of the Statement from the Heart  for a Makarrata (coming together) Commission to bring about agreement  does not require a vote, just leadership.

Telling the truth should be a simple matter, shouldnt it? Yet when it comes to the nations history, for those in positions of power it seems to be the hardest ask. No government has yet given it a place among the much-vaunted but ill-defined Australian values. Kevin Rudd said sorry for the stolen generation, but didnt go so far as to address the issue of the British invasion.

TWEED HEADS - Truth telling was the theme of this years Garma festival, held in northeast Arnhemland on the first weekend of August. Its also a crucial element in the Statement from the Heart made by the indigenous National Constitutional Convention at Uluru last year but rejected by the Turnbull government.

Most nations that consider themselves Western have a long way to go in confronting their history. Neil MacGregor, former head of the British museum and now inaugural director of Berlins Humboldt Forum, which opens next year, has found modern Germany to be a painfully admirable exception. Unlike the British, he says, the Germans are determined to find the historical truth and acknowledge it however painful it is.

Compare that approach with the furore that greeted the opening of the National Museum of Australia in 2001 when then Prime Minister John Howard, his cronies and the Murdoch press attacked its privileging of Aboriginal history. Howard, who labelled invasion stories the black armband view of history, stacked the board with his mates to pull the museum back into line  and into denial of the origins of modern Australia. (Despite this, the National Museum has gone on to produce some first-rate exhibitions, such as Margo Neales Songlines last year.)

Meanwhile millions have been expended on the War Memorial (which director and former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson believes should have a limitless budget), on memorials overseas and on war propaganda in schools, but nothing on the history of the battles on Australian soil.

In fact the countrys true history is now well established and is increasingly understood by thinking Australians  even though, like the science of climate change, its still denied by Neanderthal politicians, bigots and the self-interested.

It is a terrible story, novelist Richard Flanagan said in his eloquent speech to the Garma festival, but it is my story as much as it is your story, and it must be told, and it must be learned, because freedom exists in the space of memory, and only by walking back into the shadows is it possible for us all to finally be free.

There are two crucial lines along which historical understanding has developed: one concerns the 60,000 years of pre-colonial civilisation, the other the British invasion.

For almost 40 years historian Henry Reynolds has been writing about the frontier wars  Australias longest war, fought across the continent. His 2013 book Forgotten War is an excellent summary of his extensive writing on the subject. The conflict involved at least 500 massacres of indigenous peoples; they have now been mapped by his fellow academic Lyndall Ryan. Lest We Forget, says Reynolds, should apply to the heroes who fell resisting the invasion, but in Canberra the motto seems to be Best we forget.

What kind of society did the occupying colonists destroy? Even many historians who rejected the official theory of terra nullius continued to believe that the indigenous peoples were Stone Age hunter-gathers. This view has now been overturned. ANU historian Bill Gammage wrote in his 2011 book The Biggest Estate on Earth of the majestic achievement of Aboriginal land management.

In 2014 Bunorong/Yuin writer Bruce Pascoe took this appreciation a huge step forward with his book Dark Emu. It draws on both recent archaeology and the records of early explorers to show the extent of indigenous achievements in agriculture, craft and construction as well as land management. Dark Emu is now the subject of the most recent dance performance by Bangarra Dance Theatre, has been re-published in the UK and is being translated into European languages. This week Pascoe is in Scotland as an invited speaker at the Edinburgh Writers Festival, and then goes on to Berlin.

Perhaps truth tellers, like prophets, are not without honour save in their own country.

Dark Emu and Forgotten War are both essential reading for anyone who cares about Australian history. They should be on the syllabus of every high school and tertiary institution in the country.

There is a strong tendency in this country for good writing to sink into oblivion. It mustnt be allowed to happen with these books. As to why it happens at all, I dont buy the facile answer that Australians prefer sport. A recent panel on ABC-TVs The Mix, led by author Sunil Badami, raised the question of why so many books are forgotten. The speakers came up with some excellent reading-list suggestions, but the question itself remained unresolved.

I believe the collective amnesia has to do with the fact that writers and artists point us to the hard truths about society. Think Katharine Susannah Prichard, Judith Wright, Nene Gere, Randolph Stow and a host of others. More recently has come a great outpouring of indigenous voices  to name just a few: Alexis Wright, Kim Scott, Leah Purcell, Melissa Lucashenko. These writers give better expression to our unresolved history than all the government reports put together, and they should be celebrated.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 11 % for first six months of 2018 vs. 2017

Gross margin increased to 78% for the second quarter

Strengthened balance sheet with new $57 million term and revolver facility

DeepIntent, the Companys artificial intelligence platform, continued its strong growth trajectory

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Propel Media, Inc. (OTCPink:PROM), a performance focused digital media and advertising company, today announced its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $9.8 million, bringing the total for the first six months of 2018 to a record $19.0 million from $17.1 million in the same period a year ago. The improvement occurred despite revenues in the first half of 2018 improving only 2.6% to $41.2 million from $40.2 million in the same period a year ago.

Marv Tseu, Chief Executive Officer of Propel Media, commented: The Companys performance in the second quarter and first half of the year was outstanding. During the quarter, we focused on optimizing performance on our traditional direct response advertisers, and those efforts contributed to our improved Adjusted EBITDA on slightly lower revenues. As a result, we did not have to acquire as many new users to support our owned-and-operated network, thereby allowing us to grow gross margins significantly. Additionally, DeepIntent, our artificial intelligence and audience insights platform, is continuing to gain traction in the marketplace and showed meaningful month-over-month gains in the second quarter.

Performance Highlights for the Second Quarter 2018:

Revenue was $20.3 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $21.5 million in the second quarter of 2017

Gross margin increased by 13% to 75% in the second quarter of 2018 from 65% in the second quarter of 2017

Operating income was $8.7 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $8.9 million in the second quarter of 2017

Adjusted EBITDA grew to $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2018 from $9.7 million in the second quarter of 2017

Strengthened balance sheet with new $57 million, five-year credit facility, and eliminated $41.7 million in debt and other merger obligations since January 2015.

Mr. Tseu went on to say, Yesterday, we announced our intention to deregister our common stock and suspend our reporting obligations with the SEC. We believe that there is great opportunity through DeepIntent and other diversification efforts to build shareholder value. We believe that being able to focus intently on these initiatives without the associated burdens of being an SEC reporting company will help us to maximize shareholder value in the future.

Further details regarding the results of operations for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 are included in the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2018.

About Propel Media

Propel Media connects digital marketers with unique audiences through intent-based technology that delivers superior performance with measurable results. We Do Digital Differently with a distinctive approach to digital powered by proprietary contextualization technology and a unique supply of ad inventory. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Propel Media is distinguished by its ability to deliver consistent results and its commitment to providing the highest level of client services to its partners.

For more information visit: www.propelmedia.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements herein include those statements regarding Propel Medias capital structure, ability to execute its operating plan, anticipated financial flexibility and future financial performance and any other statements that are not statements of historical fact. These statements may be identified, without limitation, by the use of forward-looking terminology such as anticipates, expects, will or comparable terms or the negative thereof. Such statements are based on managements current estimates, assumptions that management believes to be reasonable, and currently available competitive, financial, and economic data as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of events, factors and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Propel Media and not all of which are known to Propel Media, including, without limitation, Propel Medias ability to realize anticipated cost savings from its deregistration, the ability to timely and effectively implement its deregistration plans, adverse effects on share price and liquidity following Propel Medias deregistration, as well as more general business and financial risks such as those risk factors described from time to time in Propel Medias reports filed with the SEC. Among the business and financial factors that could cause Propel Medias actual results to differ materially are: loss of key advertising customers; inability to acquire new advertising customers; limitations on its ability to acquire new users profitably or at all, including, but not limited to, due to changing policies of Google, Facebook or another larger industry participant; inability to protect its intellectual property; inability to comply with the covenants in its credit facility; inability to obtain necessary financing or enter into equity arrangements with existing or new institutional shareholders; inability to execute its acquisition strategy; inability to effectively manage its growth; failure to effectively integrate the operations of acquired businesses; competition; loss of key personnel; increases in costs of operations; continued compliance with government regulations; and general economic conditions. Further, investors should keep in mind that Propel Medias financial results in any particular period may not be indicative of future results. Propel Media is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise, except as required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to the results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, we present Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA, which is based upon the adjusted EBITDA which we report to our lenders, is a key measurement monitored by management, and is determined by taking net (loss) income (the nearest GAAP measure) and adding interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment charges, stock based compensation, bank fees, losses from extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring items, noncash items, merger and other onetime expenses and severance. We believe that this non-GAAP measure, viewed in addition to and not in lieu of our reported GAAP results, provides useful information to investors by providing a more focused measure of operating results, enhances the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allows for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. The non-GAAP measure presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA has been reconciled to the nearest GAAP measure in the table following the financial statements attached to this press release.

Press Contact:

David Shapiro

Propel Media

press@propelmedia.com





Propel Media, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets As of June 30, December 31, 2018 2017 Assets (unaudited) Current assets Cash $ 3,425,000 $ 5,081,000 Accounts receivable, net 6,841,000 9,502,000 Prepaid expenses & other current assets 1,100,000 1,157,000 Total current assets 11,366,000 15,740,000 Property and equipment, net 3,931,000 3,315,000 Intangible assets 1,069,000 1,201,000 Goodwill 6,028,000 6,028,000 Deferred tax assets, net 17,547,000 18,932,000 Other assets 286,000 137,000 Total assets $ 40,227,000 $ 45,353,000 Liabilities and Stockholders Deficit Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 3,050,000 $ 4,419,000 Accrued expenses 2,710,000 4,252,000 Advertiser deposits 1,157,000 2,137,000 Current portion of long-term debt 4,664,000 6,181,000 Revolving credit facility 7,000,000 - Total current liabilities 18,581,000 16,989,000 Long-term debt, less current portion, net 44,014,000 60,725,000 Obligations to transferors 4,868,000 15,203,000 Total liabilities 67,463,000 92,917,000 Stockholders' Deficit Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares, - - no shares issued or outstanding Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 250,010,162 at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 25,000 25,000 Additional paid-in capital 8,346,000 3,717,000 Accumulated deficit (35,609,000 ) (51,306,000 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,000 - Total stockholders deficit (27,236,000 ) (47,564,000 ) Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 40,227,000 $ 45,353,000

Propel Media, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income (unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenues $ 20,258,000 $ 21,515,000 $ 41,177,000 $ 40,147,000 Cost of revenues 4,486,000 7,423,000 10,048,000 14,356,000 Gross profit 15,772,000 14,092,000 31,129,000 25,791,000 Operating expenses: Salaries, commissions, benefits and related expenses 4,185,000 3,334,000 8,430,000 6,419,000 Technology, development and maintenance 1,477,000 817,000 3,054,000 1,635,000 Marketing and promotional 71,000 12,000 160,000 29,000 General and administrative 620,000 325,000 1,130,000 677,000 Professional services 182,000 323,000 604,000 599,000 Depreciation and amortization 535,000 376,000 997,000 772,000 Impairment of software and video library - - - 20,000 Operating expenses 7,070,000 5,187,000 14,375,000 10,151,000 Operating income 8,702,000 8,905,000 16,754,000 15,640,000 Other income (expense): Interest expense, net (2,174,000 ) (3,612,000 ) (4,997,000 ) (6,522,000 ) Gain from extinguishment of debt 6,861,000 - 6,861,000 - Other expense - - - (1,000 ) Total other income (expenses) 4,687,000 (3,612,000 ) 1,864,000 (6,523,000 ) Income before income tax expense 13,389,000 5,293,000 18,618,000 9,117,000 Income tax expense (1,664,000 ) (1,938,000 ) (2,921,000 ) (3,364,000 ) Net income 11,725,000 3,355,000 15,697,000 5,753,000 Other comprehensive income Foreign exchange gain 2,000 - 2,000 - Comprehensive income $ 11,727,000 $ 3,355,000 $ 15,699,000 $ 5,753,000 Net income per common share $ 0.05 $ 0.01 $ 0.06 $ 0.02 Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic and diluted 250,010,162 250,010,162 250,010,162 250,010,162

Propel Media, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Information (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended June 30, For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net income $ 11,725,000 $ 3,355,000 $ 15,697,000 $ 5,753,000 Depreciation and amortization 535,000 376,000 997,000 772,000 Impairment charges - - - 20,000 Interest expense, net 2,174,000 3,612,000 4,997,000 6,522,000 Stock-based compensation expense 241,000 227,000 488,000 456,000 Taxes 1,670,000 1,940,000 2,934,000 3,368,000 Bank fees 30,000 26,000 57,000 52,000 Amortization of DeepIntent deferred purchase price 211,000 - 449,000 - Other one-time expenses 14,000 206,000 175,000 206,000 Severance 83,000 - 83,000 - Gain on extinguishment of debt (6,861,000 ) - (6,861,000 ) - Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) $ 9,822,000 $ 9,742,000 $ 19,016,000 $ 17,149,000




MBABANE  Four companies have been enlisted as best evaluated tenderers for the supply and delivery of desks and chairs in different schools across the country during the 2018/19 financial year.



In tender results of the Swaziland Government Tender Board published by the Swaziland Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (SPPRA), the Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Sibongile Mtshali disclosed that ERG Swaziland (Pty) Ltd, Afritool (Pty) Ltd, Baobab Express Furniture (Pty) Ltd and J&D Agency Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd stood to be apportioned a share in the E2.2 million tender.



An independent analysis by the Business Desk uncovered that the largest piece of the pie will be given to ERG Swaziland.

The company could supply and deliver 3 120 desks and chairs to an undisclosed number of Lubombo primary and secondary schools for E837 720 after scoring 99 per cent during evaluation.



The lowest share of tender number 48 titled schools furniture tender could be granted to J&D Agency Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd who could supply 1 120 desks and chairs for E207 000 to Hhohho primary and secondary schools.

The wholesaler amassed 94 per cent during evaluation.



In terms of section 45 of the Public Procurement Act of 2011, Dr Mtshali announced that a period of 10 working days would be allowed for the submission of any application for review from the date of first publication of the intention to award contracts.



Issued



The results were issued on August 1, 2018.

The contract award decision does not constitute a contract, clarified Mtshali.

It should be mentioned that Marithas Investment did not make it to the list of companies which stand to be granted contracts because their prices were not competitive.



For instance, to supply and deliver 600 desks and chairs at Hhohho regions primary and secondary schools, the company had priced their bid at E219 600 while the winning company had submitted a lower bid of E207 000.
MANGCONGCO  Two decomposed bodies were found in separate places last week.



One of the bodies is that of a 24-year-old man who went missing last week.

He was found with his private parts, tongue and heart allegedly missing.



The other was that of a 30-year-old man whose corpse was found in a thicket around Velezizweni.

The 24-year-old has been identified as Sizo Shongwe, who went missing on July 20, 2018 and his family reported his disappearance to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) Bhunya Police Station the following day. His decomposed body was found by a team of about 50 residents, led by Shongwes grandfather, who is the community Indvuna, Masoma Solomon Zwane.

This was after a dog was seen at a certain homestead carrying a decomposed arm, which then later led to the shocking discovery.

The indvuna said he suspected that his grandson was murdered for ritual purposes as medical doctors at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital confirmed that the three body parts, (heart, private parts and tongue) were missing.



Narrating incidents leading to Sizos disappearance, Masoma said his grandson was sent to buy candles at the nearest store when he met up with a friend, who suggested that they head to Malutha instead.

Upon arrival at Malutha, they ran their errands and got into a bar where they enjoyed t alcoholic beverages. When they realised that it was late, they went into a homestead where one of their friends was.



They sat there and continued drinking until the two friends fell asleep, Zwane said.

He added that his grandson took a decision to leave the two friends and walk home, mainly because he knew that his family needed the candles. Zwane said it was then that he suspected Sizo met up with his assailants, who attacked and killed him.



When we discovered that he had not returned home, we contacted the friend who had been with him as he had alerted us that he was travelling with him to Malutha. He narrated everything about their trip there and that Shongwe had eventually left during the night. We then made a decision to contact the police as his disappearance was suspicious and further went looking for him with others residents. While searching for him, we received information that his backpack had been found by a certain family, and there was bread, candles and two Sibebe beers inside, Zwane added.



He mentioned that upon enquiring about the bag and whether anyone knew of his whereabouts from the family, Zwane said they only handed over the bag and said it had been found near a thick forest.
English French

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Mining Inc. (TSX: OSK) ("Osisko") and Beaufield Resources Inc. (TSX-V: BFD) ("Beaufield") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement dated August 14, 2018 (the "Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which Osisko has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Beaufield (collectively, the "Beaufield Shares" and each whole share, a "Beaufield Share") which it does not already own (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is expected to be completed by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Arrangement").

John Burzynski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko, stated: "We are very pleased to announce today's proposed transaction with Beaufield. By joining Osisko in our large scale exploration and development program at Windfall, Beaufield Shareholders have the opportunity to capitalize on the strong premium offered today and to benefit from the future growth of our project."

Ron Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Beaufield, stated: "We are very pleased to be joining forces with Osisko, which continues to demonstrate its leadership and strength in advancing its portfolio of resource projects including the flagship Windfall district. We believe the combination of our projects will provide benefit to the shareholders of both companies and look forward to participating in the future success of Osisko."

Particulars of the Transaction

Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, holders of Beaufield Shares ("Beaufield Shareholders") will be entitled to receive 0.0482 of a common share of Osisko (each whole share, an "Osisko Share") in exchange for each Beaufield Share held immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement, representing an implied offer price of $0.082 per Beaufield Share based on Osisko's closing price as of August 14, 2018 and a premium of approximately 54% based on the 20-day volume weighted average price of both companies' common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange, as the case may be, on August 14, 2018 (being the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Arrangement).

The Arrangement will require the approval of Beaufield Shareholders at a special meeting expected to take place in October 2018 (the "Beaufield Meeting"). In order to become effective, the Arrangement must be approved at the Beaufield Meeting by (i) at least 66 percent of the votes cast by Beaufield Shareholders, and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by Beaufield Shareholders after excluding any Beaufield Shares held by any "interested party" or "related party" of an "interested party" (as such terms are defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions). Directors and officers of Beaufield and certain Beaufield Shareholders holding approximately 7.5% of the issued and outstanding Beaufield Shares have entered into voting and support agreements with Osisko in support of the Arrangement. The board of directors of Beaufield, on the recommendation of its independent special committee, has unanimously approved the Arrangement and will recommend that Beaufield Shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement.

The Arrangement Agreement includes representations, warranties and covenants typical of a transaction of this nature, including with respect to non-solicitation, a right to match, and a fiduciary-out. In addition, Beaufield has agreed to pay a termination fee to Osisko upon the occurrence of certain events. The Arrangement Agreement, which describes the full particulars of the Arrangement, will be made available on SEDAR under the issuer profile of Beaufield at www.sedar.com.

Full particulars of the Arrangement will also be included in a management information circular of Beaufield describing the matters to be considered at the Beaufield Meeting, which is expected to be mailed to the Beaufield Shareholders in September 2018 and made available on SEDAR under the issuer profile of Beaufield at www.sedar.com.

The distribution of the Osisko Shares in connection with the Arrangement (as defined herein) will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Advisors and Counsel

Eight Capital has acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Beaufield. Eight Capital has provided a fairness opinion to the special committee of the board of directors of Beaufield that, based upon and subject to certain assumptions, limitations and qualifications in the opinion, the consideration being offered by Osisko in respect of the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to Beaufield Shareholders. Lavery, de Billy, L.L.P. is acting as legal counsel to Beaufield.

Maxit Capital LP has acted as the exclusive financial advisor of Osisko. Bennett Jones LLP is acting as legal counsel to Osisko.

About Osisko Mining Inc.

Osisko is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal resource properties in Canada. Osisko holds a 100% in the high-grade Windfall Lake gold deposit located between Val-d'Or and Chibougamau in Quebec and holds a 100% undivided interest in a large area of claims in the surrounding Urban Barry area and nearby Quevillon area (over 3,300 square kilometres), a 100% interest in the Marban project located in the heart of Quebec's prolific Abitibi gold mining district, and properties in the Larder Lake Mining Division in northeast Ontario, including the Jonpol and Garrcon deposits on the Garrison property, the Buffonta past producing mine and the Gold Pike mine property. The Corporation also holds interests and options in a number of additional properties in northern Quebec and Ontario.

For further information about Osisko please contact:

John Burzynski

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (416) 363-8653

About Beaufield Resources Inc.

Beaufield is a mineral exploration company with its exploration activity focused in Quebec and Ontario. Please refer to Beaufield's website at www.beaufield.com to view the Beaufield's properties in Urban, Eleonore-Opinaca, Tortigny, Hemlo and Launay.

For further information about Beaufield please contact:

Ronald Stewart

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (647) 409 0293

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement to Osisko, Beaufield and their respective shareholders; the exchange ratio and value of the Osisko Shares being delivered as arrangement consideration; the timing and receipt (if at all) of the required shareholder, court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals for the Arrangement; the timing and ability (if at all) of Osisko and Beaufield to satisfy the conditions precedent to completing the Arrangement; the anticipated timing to mail the management information circular to the Beaufield Shareholders and hold the Beaufield Meeting; the closing of the Arrangement (if at all); the length of the current market cycle and requirements for an issuer to survive in the current market cycle; future growth potential of Osisko and Beaufield and their respective business; and future mine development plans.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of Osisko and Beaufield, as the case may be, at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Osisko or Beaufield, as the case may be, to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions to closing of the Arrangement (including receipt of all necessary shareholder, court, stock exchange and regulatory approvals or consents and the absence of material changes with respect to the parties and their respective businesses, all as more particularly set forth in the Arrangement Agreement); the synergies expected from the Arrangement not being realized; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets and the market price of Osisko Shares and Beaufield Shares; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of Beaufield and/or Osisko, as the case may be, believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Beaufield and/or Osisko, as the case may be, cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forwardlooking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Beaufield and Osisko assume no obligation to update the forwardlooking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information contained herein.
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August 14, 2018

By Paula Bernier, Executive Editor, TMC





Businesses are always looking to get a jump on their competition and make the most of their assets. Thats a real challenge in this day and age, in which change is rapid and new, connected competitors can disrupt entire industries.

Thats why digital transformation has become an important trend. By adopting connected technologies, businesses can more easily respond to customer needs, market forces, and new competitors.

One way theyre doing that is through the adoption of new business communications and collaboration solutions. And cloud-based solutions on this front can allow businesses to enjoy the latest and greatest capabilities without significant upfront costs or new IT staff requirements.







Because Unified Communications (News - Alert) as a Service puts the responsibility of infrastructure investment and business communications system management in the hands of the UCaaS provider rather than the business customer. In the process it can lessen the hassle, and even the costs, for business customers like menswear company John Varvatos.

Indeed, John Varvatos is using a cloud-based IT solution to support international calling and meetings between its main office in New York City, its flagship store in London, and its Milan showroom. And at the upcoming webinar Deploying UCaaS to Achieve Operational Efficiencies and Outstanding User Experiences, the companys Manager of Technical Services Carlos Rivera will tell the companys story.

Hell be joined by Elka Popova, vice president and senior fellow of digital transformation at Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) , and moderator Erik Linask of media company Technology Marketing Corp. Together, they will address UCaaS market drivers and trends; the UCaaS value proposition; and tips for UCaaS success, including how to select a provider.

This RingCentral (News - Alert) -sponsored online event is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. pacific/1 p.m. eastern. To get more information, and to register, click here.
By Trend





Purposeful activity of Azerbaijani diplomacy has become decisive in defining the legal status of the Caspian Sea, editor-in-chief of the Baki Khabar newspaper Aydin Guliyev said.

He said that the fruitful work in this direction began in the mid-1990s and was based on continuous and concrete principles.

Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev personally played a decisive role in bringing the question of the legal status of the Caspian Sea to an active discussion and successfully conclude the negotiations after many years, Guliyev said.

Guliyev noted that the Convention on the Status of the Caspian Sea is one of the achievements of Azerbaijani diplomacy in providing a golden mean in the relations of the Caspian littoral states, which is a source of pride.

There have been attempts to sow discord among the Caspian littoral states, to turn the Caspian Sea into an open arena for the military forces of countries not related to this sea, not only five Caspian littoral states, but also close countries to a certain extent wanted to join the processes around the Caspian Basin, he said. Azerbaijan played a major role in the destruction of these plans, which were a source of threat in the region. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan made decisive efforts in preserving the Caspian Sea as a security arena and cooperation. The words of President Ilham Aliyev that the presence of military forces and military activities in the Caspian Sea should be carried out on the basis of the principles of ensuring equal security conditions for all the Caspian littoral states will remain as a special thesis in the history of all processes leading to the signing of the convention.

Guliyev said that Azerbaijani diplomacy created an even firmer guarantee of sustainable peace and security in the Caspian region and said that a new era of large transit, transport and logistical opportunities of Azerbaijan along the North-South and East-West corridors is now beginning.

Guliyev believes that all the resources of the Caspian Sea will be fully accessible for use in the name of the well-being of peoples. He said that Azerbaijans strategy to turn the Caspian Sea into a sea of ??security and cooperation has won.

On August 12, Kazakh city of Aktau hosted the ceremony of signing documents on the legal status of the Caspian Sea at the 5th summit of heads of the Caspian littoral states.

The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Greece's independent public revenues authority has launched yet another campaign, aimed at the millions of foreign tourists that visit the country, to remind them that they can pay for all sorts of goods and services via their debit and credit cards.

Coming amid the peak of the annual summer season, the ad campaign reiterates that hotels, eateries, bars, cafes, clubs and all types of shops in the east Mediterranean country are obliged to receive e-payments. At the same time, the authority calls on visitors to always request a receipt of their transaction issued by cash registers and POS devices.

The independent authority has already spread its English-language message via Google, while ads will also go up in airports around the country, complete with instructions on what a valid receipt must include and a list of consumers' rights - especially the right not to pay for a service or good if the proprietor does not issue a legal retail receipt for the transaction.

The word "apodixi", Greek for "receipt" is the main theme of the campaign, i.e. "Apodixi please!"

The campaign to train the tourists that visit the country on how they can ask for a receipt as follows:

Welcome to Greece!

This message aims to inform you about your consumer rights in our country. Under Greek law, all hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, car rentals and, in general, almost all suppliers of goods and services (with a few exceptions, such as taxi drivers and kiosks) are obliged to accept debit, credit or prepaid cards.

Therefore, you do not need to pay in cash. You can ask to pay by card.

Furthermore, all suppliers of goods and services are obliged to issue receipts to their customers. Consumer is not obliged to pay, in cash or by card, if he/she is not provided with a valid payment receipt (apodixi).

Restaurants, bars, cafes, stores, mini markets and in general, almost all suppliers of goods are obliged to have electronic cash registers and are not allowed to issue receipts that are handwritten or printed in regular paper.

For those exempt from the obligation to have an electronic cash register (namely certain suppliers of services, such as hotels, clinics, doctors, lawyers etc), receipts, which in most cases are printed, must contain the name, address and the 9digit tax identification number () of the supplier.

So in all cases, before you pay you have the right to ask for a receipt and you are not obliged to pay if you dont get one. Its so simple to say in Greek: Apodixi please!

One more thing. By using your card for your payments and asking for a receipt, you help the Greek Tax Administration collect taxes that are already included in the price you pay. Practically, you contribute to Greeces financial recovery and offer us the opportunity to provide you with even better services next time you come to our country.

Enjoy your stay!

Read more at protothema.gr/naftemporiki.gr

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: pixabay.com
In July, the balance was negative by 33,620 job positions, with new hirings reaching 239,080 and dismissals totaling 247,585 in the month

The balance of hirings/dismissals recorded positive performance since 2001 in the period January-July 2018, leaving a surplus of 289,561 job positions, according to "Ergani" IT system on wage employment flows in the private sector, ANA reports.

Furthermore, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) announced that the unemployment rate in May dropped to 19.5% compared to 21.7% in May 2017 while seasonal employment in tourism eased unemployment in the 15-24 age categor to 39.7% compared to 44% last year.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: pixabay.com
Greece, which was the fastest-growing destination this summer, continues to shine into the fall and early winter

The Middle East is seeing a comeback among upscale Americans this fall and holiday season, according to new findings from Virtuoso. The luxury travel network examined data from its warehouse of more than $40.7 billion in transactions to discover the most in-demand places for the coming fall and festive holiday season.

The findings were announced during the 30th annual Virtuoso Travel Week, which is taking place at Las Vegas Bellagio Resort & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa, August 11-17.

The Virtuoso Top 10:

The most popular fall and holiday travel destinations for Americans based on future bookings.

Italy France South Africa Israel Germany Japan Greece United States New Zealand Switzerland

The Top 10 Analysis: Always strong for summer travel, Europes allure extends into the fall, with five countries placing on the list. Germany, especially, holds strong appeal for river cruisers wishing to experience the famed Christmas markets. Japans blend of tradition and modernity has made it increasingly popular among upscale travelers, landing on this years Virtuoso Luxe Report list of top emerging destinations. South Africa and New Zealand, both perennially fashionable for families and adventure travelers, are compelling choices for seasonality, as they head into their spring and summer. Also noteworthy on the list: Americans desire to roam their own country and stay closer to home for the holidays.

The Virtuoso Hot 10:

The countries that have seen the largest percentage of growth in year-over-year bookings among U.S. travelers.

Turkey (+310%) Egypt (+264%) Morocco (+144%) India (+128%) Cayman Islands (+124%) Brazil (+92%) Israel (+88%) Switzerland (+82%) Indonesia (+76%) Greece (+74%)

The Hot 10 Analysis: The Middle East and North Africa are trending upward this fall and holiday season, demonstrating pent-up demand for this intriguing region of the world. In particular, Israel is one of three destinations to place on both the Top 10 and Hot 10 lists this quarter, indicating it is in high demand. Switzerlands world-class ski resorts attract upscale active families for holiday celebrations. Greece, which was the fastest-growing destination this summer, continues to shine into the fall and early winter. Luxury travelers are also seeking out warm-weather destinations that offer distinctive cultural experiences as well, such as India, Brazil and Indonesia.

Data is obtained from Virtuosos U.S. agency members and reflects future travel for September through December 2018.

Source: Virtuoso

Read more at travelagentcentral.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
Twenty-seven ferries were scheduled to leave during the weekend from Piraeus, thirteen from Rafina and six from Lavrio for the islands of the Argo-Saronic Gulf, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and Crete

Ports across Athens were full on Sunday as locals left the city to head for their summer holiday on the islands, ahead of Greeces much anticipated Orthodox holiday The Dormition of the Theotokou which takes place on August 15.

Twenty-seven ferries were scheduled to leave during the weekend from Piraeus, thirteen from Rafina and six from Lavrio for the islands of the Argo-Saronic Gulf, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and Crete.

The port authorities announced that on Saturday, 33,077 passengers left from Piraeus, 8,578 passengers from Rafina and 2,980 from Lavrio.

Read more at greekcitytimes.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
Marathi has only five inhabitants, it is located east of Patmos and has an untouched coastline of four kilometers

Beautiful Greek island inhabited by as few as five to as many as around 200 people where the mode of transportation is by donkey, not taxi are presented in the following artticle by greekreporter.com:

Marathi

This is the island to visit when you want total seclusion from the rest of the planet and to return to the natural beauty of unspoiled Greece. Marathi has only five inhabitants!

This picturesque island is only 355 square kilometers located east of Patmos and has an untouched coastline of four kilometers.

It was inhabited by the Emilianos family back in 1977, who built a small hotel and restaurant for visitors who stop by the island during the summer months.

Irakleia

Irakleia is an island with a population of only 141 inhabitants and is ideal for tourists wishing to explore nature and history.

The island is 17.795 square kilometers and it is situated between the islands of Naxos and Ios and can be reached by ferries from Athens, Naxos and Paros.

This small island may have only just over 100 inhabitants, but it has something really big  the largest caves in the Cyclades!

Besides this, the island has a rich history and has been inhabited from early antiquity sine many mysterious rock paintings on the island date back to some 5,000 years.

Donousa

Want to visit a small island? Check out the Greek island of Donousa which has only 167 inhabitants and an area of 13.75 square kilometers.

Donousa is located between Naxos and Amorgos and is one of the smallest islands in the Cyclades group.

It can be reached by ferry from Piraeus port near Athens or with a local boat from Naxos or Amorgos.

This island remains unspoiled by overtourism and has little means of transportation which means that when you are on Donousa you can walk around, and enjoy the beaches  most which are accessible by foot. Just pack an umbrella since the beaches on this island are not organized and have no proper facilities.

Agathonisi

Relax on a secluded beach and escape all the crowds this summer by visiting the Greek island of Agathonisi.

This small island is located in the northernmost point of the Dodecanese island complex in Greece.

A 1920s census recorded that the island had only 80 inhabitants at that time, most of whom were farmers and shepherds. Nowadays, there are 185 inhabitants on the 13.5 square kilometer island.

Many people come here for the secluded beaches, and to visit the two quaint villages on the island called Megalo Chorio, or Big Village, and Mikro Chorio, meaning Small Village. The Municipality of Agathonisi also offers an archipelago of uninhabited offshore islets including Glaros, Kouneli, Nera, and Psathonisio.

Read more at greekreporter.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

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Waldviertler License: CC-BY-SA
The national rail market has considerable growth potential, nevertheless, as evidenced by the Italian acquisition of rail operator TrainOSE and its interest in the railway carriage maintenance company Rosco

Greeces railway sector only accounts for 1 percent of all journeys travelled by passengers and 1.5 percent of freight transported per kilometer, leaving its rail market even smaller than that of Luxembourg, data from the countrys Rail Regulatory Authority (RAS) has indicated.

In Luxembourg, which is nearly the size of Pella prefecture in northern Greece, rail accounts for 4.7 percent of all passenger kilometers and 2.2 percent of tonne kilometers. Even countries that are much smaller in terms of size and population like Estonia and Croatia transport more people and freight per kilometer than Greece, the laggard in rail transport in the EU.

The national rail market has considerable growth potential, nevertheless, as evidenced by the Italian acquisition of rail operator TrainOSE and its interest in the railway carriage maintenance company Rosco. On top of that, other companies are also interested in utilizing the domestic rail network.

Established in 2016, Rail Cargo Logistics Goldair, a joint venture between the Austrian Rail Cargo Group (the freight division of Austrian state operator OBB) and Greek transport and storage company Goldair, was the first such operator to be licensed in Greece, after TrainOSE and Stasy, the company that manages fixed-track forms of public transport in Athens.

Rail Cargos first trains ran some weeks ago. The firm is focusing on the freight market and is expected to offer services on the Piraeus, Aspropyrgos, Thessaloniki and Idomeni routes.

The second such enterprise to receive a license is Piraeus Europe Asia Rail Logistics (PEARL), which provides rail logistics support and other freight forwarding services to and from Piraeus and other Greek ports provides rail services chiefly in the interest of Chinese company Cosco. The company, which is also focused on freight transport, has not yet commenced services.

As it controls 95 percent of the internal market, TrainOSE is not expected to face tough competition from any new carriers.

Freight transport by rail is the least developed sector of the rail market, with revenue not exceeding more than 20 percent of the total. According to the RAS, of the Greek rail sectors revenues of 62 million euros in 2016, only 12 million related to freight. This situation is due largely to the countrys focus on developing road-based passenger and freight transport. Indeed, until recently, the countrys largest port, Piraeus, had no rail connection. Even though it has long had a rail link, the line to the port of Thessaloniki needs a major upgrade.

Read more 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

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Tobias b kohler License: CC-BY-SA
More than 2.8 million tourists are expected to visit Greece in 2018 as a result of the strategic cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and the TUI Group, recording a significant increase of more than 10% for the second consecutive year.

At a meeting held at the Ministry of Tourism between the Minister of Tourism, Elena Kountoura and TUI Group Managing Director Friedrich Joussen confirmed the spectacular course of this year's tourist season for Greece and discussed the extension of the tour operators investment program to new Greek destinations, with a total of 10 major hotel investments already in progress.

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
Nortal, a multinational strategic change and technology company located at Estonia in Northern Europe, has appointed Marek Helm as its new general manager for the GCC and Africa region.



Nortal has extensive experience in carrying out mission-critical and high-impact projects across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and has been a partner and vendor for some of the most efficient tax organisations in the world.



Helm led the tax and customs board in Estonia, reported by the Tax Foundation repeatedly as the most competitive tax system in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 2011 to 2016, before joining Nortal in 2017 to head the public finance and change management team, said a statement from the company.



Before that, Helm had handled various managerial and executive positions in different ministries and authorities in the Estonian region for more than 20 years, it said.



Priit Alamae, founder and chief executive officer, said Nortal first entered the region nearly 10 years ago and has since built a track record of successful projects with a strong and committed team led by former manager Peeter Smitt.



We have proved that the export of our unique experience in digital transformations can be successful, and we see a lot of potential in this region which embraces innovation and new technologies, stated Alamae.



With world-class experience in digital transformations combined with 20 years of experience as an executive, Helm is a natural fit to run our operations in the GCC and Africa, he added.



On his new role, Helm said: I am looking forward to unlocking new opportunities for the company as well as contributing to executing the ambitious and innovative visions of the countries in the region."



Some of the key Nortal projects in the region include its role as a consultant for the Dubai government for the Smart Dubai 2021 vision which has set a target to make all public services available online round-the clock, said the Estonian company.



Under this initiative, there will be no need for residents to visit any government service centre in person as users will receive all the results and documentation of services in electronic form on mobile devices, it stated.



In June, Nortal had signed an agreement with Al Maskari Holding, one of the most reputable groups in the UAE, to introduce its unique experience in creating change in governments, as well as businesses, with a strategic approach and data-driven technology in the UAE, it said.



The group was also behind the renowned business e-portal Invest Easy that was named among the top five best government-to-business (G2B) solutions in the world by reputable Global Enterprise Registration rating.



Currently, using its extensive experience with modern technology and analytics, the company is working closely with Oman to introduce VAT and excise tax in the most advantageous way for the government and society, it added.- TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain Airport Services Company (BAS) recently honoured 13 employees who successfully completed a one-year specialised accounting and tax training course.



On this occasion, Salman Al-Mahmeed, CEO of the BAS, said: "In the time of commercial changes around the world, the need for qualified cadres in the field of accounting becomes important." He added that BAS decided to invest in its human capital for long and short-term goals. The most important of these is the qualification of these minds to participate in achieving the highest standards of quality and performance.



Al-Mahmeed also praised the Learning and Training Department for its efforts in developing the skills of the company's employees by curating well thought out and comprehensive plans that cover all the needs of knowledge employees.



He pointed out that BAS is continuously capable of creating jobs and providing Bahrainis with opportunities.



Also, BAS has raised the number of trainee beneficiaries during 2018 to twice the number of trainees last year. The total number of participants registered in the training programmes crossed over 2,800 during the first half of the year.



Bahrain Airport Services Company (BAS) was established in 1977 and is the official operator of ground services at Bahrain International Airport. BAS offers a number of commercial activities including aircraft and passenger handling services, catering services, aircraft engineering services, BAS Engineering Training Center (BAETC), as well as owns and manages airport lounges. - TradeArabia News Service
Turkey remains a popular tourist destination for GCC visitors, especially from Bahrain, with some 28,775 Bahraini travellers visiting the country between January and May - up 30.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data released by the Turkish Consulate General Cultural and Information office for the GCC countries.



In 2016, some 17,500 travellers from Bahrain travelled to Turkey, a number that grew to 22,031 travellers in 2017. These growing numbers of visitors further reinforce the strong historic ties between Bahrain and Turkey and both countries have expressed their intentions to encourage two-way travel, trade, tourism and investment opportunities.



Gulf Air, Bahrains national carrier, had announced a codeshare agreement with Turkish airlines last year. Gulf Air officials had stated that the agreement was put in place to directly respond to growing passenger demand.



Turkey continues to be an attractive destination for Bahraini business people, holidaymakers and those seeking medical services due to our strong cultural ties together, said Salah Ozer, Turkeys Attache of Culture and Information. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recently named Turkey as the worlds sixth most visited country in 2017, welcoming 39.9 million tourists. Such achievements and accolades will help in growing the number of tourists travelling to Turkey in 2018.



Other countries in the GCC also saw significant growth in outbound travel to Turkey. Kuwait registered 90,590 travellers, Qatar recorded 28,775 travellers and a total of 15,417 passengers from the UAE visited Turkey during the first five months of the year. - TradeArabia News Service
A Tawargha woman stands in front of her house in Triq al Matar settlement in Libya, which was demolished at night by a local militia intent on forcing her leave the settlement.  UNHCR/Tarik Argaz

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned about the forced eviction by militias of 1,900 internally displaced persons from Triq Al Matar settlement in Tripoli, Libya. Triq Al Matar was the largest IDP settlement in Tripoli, hosting 370 families originally from the city of Tawergha who had been living in the settlement since it was established in 2011.

According to residents, a local militia forced the entire population of Triq Al Matar to flee their homes last week, following three nights of indiscriminate raiding and the arbitrary arrest of 94 residents, 12 of whom remain detained by the militia in dismal conditions. Some women and girls were threatened with rape and the IDPs had to flee their homes at short notice, taking only a few belongings with them.

The IDPs are now dispersed, living in various areas in which they have relatives or acquaintances, including other IDP settlements. Some families who owned cars are now sleeping in them.

UNHCR is concerned that IDPs moving to other settlements in Tripoli are at risk of further eviction. Some families from Tawergha living in other settlements in Tripoli have already fled their homes for fear of being attacked. UNHCR calls for the respect of human rights, the protection of civilians and for the right of displaced persons to decide about their own future. UNHCR is closely following-up on the situation and liaising with all parties to ensure that the main needs of IDPs are met and any future evictions are prevented.

The people of Tawergha are an ethnic minority  approximately 40,000 people  who were forced to flee their homes in 2011. The majority of them sought refuge in informal settlements around Tripoli or Benghazi. They have now been internally displaced for seven years and are waiting to return home following a recent agreement by the parties involved.

In Libya, some 192,000 displaced people have been living in dire conditions for years. UNHCR calls for urgent solutions to end their suffering and return home in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
UNHCR's #IBelong campaign highlights the fact that 10 million people worldwide have no nationality and cannot go to school, get married, get a job or even see a doctor.  UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the adoption by Paraguay of a new law that helps to identify, protect and solve the situation of stateless people (persons who are not considered as nationals by any State).

Last Thursday (9 August), Paraguays bicameral Congress approved a bill presented in May 2017, which protects the rights of stateless people, as well as applicants for the recognition of such status, and a facilitated path to naturalization.

The new law assigns the National Commission for Refugees (CONARE) the responsibility for the determination of statelessness and helps ensure that the children of Paraguayan nationals born in a foreign country, who would otherwise be stateless, acquire Paraguayan nationality without having to settle in the country.

In 2012, Paraguay acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and in 2014 to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. With the adoption of this law, Paraguay establishes a procedure for the determination of statelessness and a regulatory framework for protection; the law also provides pathways for naturalization.

This law constitutes an important milestone for the region, which is working to eradicate statelessness within ten years as part of the commitments by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to the 2014 Brazil Plan of Action.

In November 2014, UNHCR launched the #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness before 2024, giving greater visibility to the specific problems that statelessness causes to women, men, boys and girls. The Campaign also seeks to strengthen the response of governments and civil society. Stateless people are often deprived of basic rights such as going to school, seeing a doctor, finding a job, opening a bank account, travelling or getting married.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Eminent journalist of Bangladesh Golam Sarwar is no more

Dhaka, Aug 13 ( UNI) Eminent Journalist of Bangladesh and Bengali daily Dainik Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar died this evening at a Singapore hospital at the age of 75.

Family sources and colleagues at the Samakal newspaper said Sarwar breathed his last at 9.25pm (local time) at the Singapore General Hospital where he was being treated for various ailments.

Samakal Senior Reporter Fasiuddin Mahtab told UNI that the elderly journalist was kept in life-support system since this afternoon as his condition deteriorated. He is survived by wife, two sons, a daughter.
On August 14, 2003, at about 4:10 p.m., New York City was suddenly powerless. All electricity disappeared when an overgrown tree branch hit a power line in Cleveland (and a utility company's alarm system failed). Eight northeast states, plus Ontarioin total more than 50 million peoplewere plunged into darkness.

While they had to endure about 30 hours without electricity, New Yorkers turned the blackout into a moment of urban solidarity: Citizens started to direct traffic since traffic lights were out; they helped each other out of trapped subway cars; welcomed in stranded colleagues who couldn't get home; restaurants held impromptu cookouts, sharing their food and beer with neighbors.



Crowds take the Brooklyn Bridge to commute home (Hayden Roger Celestin / EPA/Shutterstock)

It wasn't all fun: 413 subway trains and 400,000 passengers were stopped and all needed to be evacuated. That process took almost three hours, and a federal report noted, "Unfortunately, the passengers flowing into the streets from underground met a massive amount of congestion in the streets and on the sidewalks due to the volume of vehicles and pedestrians."



Of course, the bigger issue was the infrastructure of our energy supply. Here's Bryan Walsh, former environment and energy reporter for Time, discussing what caused the blackout with Brian Lehrer a few years ago.



Here's a tick-tock of just two minutes of the blackoutwhy this hasn't become a Netflix movie or limited series, I don't know:

4:10:38 p.m.: Midland Cogeneration, a Michigan plant owned by CMS Energy Inc., Dow Chemical Co. and El Paso Corp., suddenly stops producing 1,265 megawatts. The last connection between eastern Michigan and western Michigan fails. Voltage falls further in eastern Michigan and in northern Ohio. A circuit breaker severs the last link between Ohio and Pennsylvania. Seeking the path of least resistance, power surges east through Pennsylvania and New York, across Niagara Falls and into Ontario, trying to reach Detroit. Houston-based El Paso is the biggest U.S. gas-pipeline owner. Dow Chemical, the largest U.S. chemical maker, is based in Midland, Michigan. CMS is based in Jackson, Michigan, and owns that states biggest utility.



4:10:40 p.m.: Within four seconds, four major transmission lines in Pennsylvania and New York fail. Power surges from New Jersey to New York.



4:10:41 p.m.: A major central Ohio line fails. FirstEnergys Perry nuclear plant, generating 1,252 megawatts, shuts down. Two more lines fail, cutting off Cleveland.



4:10:42 p.m.: An 820-megawatt generator in western Michigan shuts down. A second later, a line connecting Michigan to Ontario fails. Two seconds after that, a circuit breaker separates the grids in eastern and western Ontario, and a major transmission line connecting northern New Jersey and New York fails. The blackout will spread no farther south.



4:10:46 to 4:10:55 p.m.: Circuit breakers sever all lines between New York and New England, which is producing enough power to sustain itself. Blackouts spread in New York and in Ontario, which cuts off 2,500 megawatts, enough to light 2 million homes, trying to curb the cascade of failures.



4:10:48 p.m.: Breakers sever lines to eastern New York, including New York City, from plants in western New York and Ontario.



4:10:50 p.m.: Breakers sever connections between New York and Ontario, except for a cluster of plants near Niagara Falls, for six seconds.



4:11:10 p.m.: Ontarios blackout soars to 22,500 megawatts, enough to power 18 million homes. New York City, the rest of eastern New York and western Connecticut are blacked out.



4:11:57 p.m.: The last lines between Michigan and Ontario fail.

And no, there was not a blackout baby boomone person told the AP, "Sex was the last thing on my mind. It was hot and muggy. We didn't have working showers. We went into survival mode, not sex mode."

Finally, the most disgusting fact the blackout left us with: 30 million gallons of untreated human waste were released into the East River. Happy anniversary!
New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Fossil, the lifestyle and accessory brand ropes in Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Shaikh as it's new brand ambassador in India.



'Fatimas collaboration with the brand will aim to amplify Fossils proficiency in creating timeless classics through inspired designs. She will be endorsing the watch and leather categories for the brand,' trade sources said.



Commenting on this association, Fatima said, 'Fossil as a brand is rooted in a distinctive modern-vintage design aesthetic. It is all about celebrating individuality and uniqueness. Im excited to be on board with Fossil and I really look forward to working with its youthful appeal and spirit to re-energise todays youth.'



'When deciding who to cast for our upcoming campaign we kept coming back to the attributes that make up our very DNA: an optimistic attitude, dedication to authenticity and, of course, creative spirit,' Steve Evans, EVP of Fossil brand said.



'At Fossil we believe that what you make time for defines who you areour cast and campaign embody that brand ethos, and exemplify how intentional time helps achieve both professional and personal happiness. There is an optimistic spirit reflected in this campaign and we are thrilled to have found a group of creatives that celebrate these values throughout their endeavours,' Steve said.



'We are launching what might be our most exciting campaign yet for Fossil brand, one that is all about celebrating authentic individuals. Our focus on authenticity is not only rooted in our people, but also our productswe want to continue to create watches, leather goods, wearables and more that represent our growing Fossil family and their unique individual style and spirit,' he added.



Fatima will be seen alongside actor Varun Dhawan in an upcoming brand campaign by Fossil, which celebrates creativity, authenticity, and most importantly optimism.



The campaign will feature the much awaited watches and bags from this years fall collection.



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Hindu refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh should get shelter in India: VHP general sec

Allahabad, Aug 14 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International General Secretary Milind Parande here on Tuesday demanded that Hindu refugees from Bangladesh and Pakistan get shelter in the country.



Addressing the media here, Mr Parande said Hindus were being tortured in Pakistan and Bangladesh. They were looking for shelter and India should extend sympathy to adopt them. But Muslims from these countries are intruders and they should be treated like that.
New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) Refuting the claim by Union Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad that it was an "established norm in defence procurement" in the country that in national interests, details are not shared, the Congress on Monday underlined that commercial price of various defence deals have been revealed on the floor of Parliament by the previous UPA-Congress government.

Charging the Law Minister with evading answers raised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party on the alleged irregularities in the deal for Rafale fighter jets, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said, "Modi Governments Law Minister is a habitual offender in weaving lies based on figments of his imagination. Today again he brazenly misled the people by sewing together a web of lies to save his master, Narendra Modi.



"Why did BJP president Amit Shah deliberately hide his sons contingent liabilities and credit facilities worth Rs 97.35 crore and how did Shah-Zaada multiply his earnings by 16000 times? And who benefitted from the unilateral Rafale deal which snatched the Rs 30,000 crore offset contract from HAL, thereby benefitting a private entity which has zero experience in manufacturing fighter aircraft?

Accusing Mr Prasad of trying to deflect attention from the alleged irregularities in the deal by referring to the taxation case against the Congress president, Mr Surjewala said, "Mr Rahul Gandhi asked the same questions that he has been asking from the Prime Minister that what is the reason of secrecy behind the Rafale Scam? Why did PM Modi bypass the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)? Why was Rs 41000 crore loss cause to public exchequer by 300% rise in the purchase price of Rafale planes from Rs 526 crore per aircraft to Rs 1670 crore per aircraft? Why was India denied the Transfer of Technology to manufacture Rafale aircraft? Why was Defence Procurement Procedure violated with impunity? The country feels sorry for the Law Minister, because instead of talking on the issue at hand, he was busy deflecting public attention by joining imaginary issues.



Refuting the claim by the Law Minister that it was an "established norm in defence procurement" in the country that in national interests, details are not shared, Mr Surjewala said, "We again underline that commercial price of various defence deals including the French MIRAGE Aircraft and the Sukhoi aircraft has been revealed on the floor of Parliament by UPA-Congress Government.

"Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad is speaking about the secrecy clause today and repeating the alibi which Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave during the No Confidence Motion debate. Mr Prasad should refer the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and The Government of the French Republic concerning the Protection of Classified Information and Material in the field of Defence [pages 2416-2425 (document page 2266 to 2275) in https://mea.gov.in/Uploads/PublicationDocs/177_foreign-relations-2008.pdf ] and tell which paragraph states that the Commercial Cost of Defence Deals cannot be revealed?"

Mr Surjewala added that the statement by the BJP that as per the secrecy deal between the two governments, the details of defence deals are not revealed in national interest was inconsistent with the March 8, 2018 interview by French President Emannual Macron.

"Mr Prasad has an inherent habit of lying. During the No Confidence Motion debate, PM Narendra Modi was conveniently hiding behind the statement of French Government for not disclosing the price, PMs stand is inconsistent with the statement made by the French President, Mr Emmanuel Macron on 8th March, 2018 in an interview to a prominent news channel stating that if the Modi government wanted to disclose some of the details to be revealed to the opposition and Parliament, he wont interfere in such a discussion where does the French President/Government say that the Commercial Cost of the Rafale Deal cannot be disclosed? he said.



Reiterating the demand of the Congress to set up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the Rafale deal, Mr Surjewala said, "If the Modi Government really wishes to adhere to establish standards of transparency and propriety, we demand that the Modi Government should immediately set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale Scam.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Prasad lashed out at the Congress president for his continuous attack against the Modi government on Rafale deal and said it is "established norm in defence procurement" in the country that in national interests, details are not shared. "By making wild and baseless charges against the BJP, if Rahul Gandhi thinks the charges against him on taxation matters can be diverted or minimised, such a thing will not happen," he said.

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Pakistan celebrates Independence Day; President raises Kashmir issue

Islamabad, Aug 14 (UNI) Pakistan on Tuesday said it would continue to make efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue under United Nations resolutions as the country celebrated its 72nd Independence Day.

"Pakistan will continue to provide its political and moral support to resolve the Kashmir issue under United Nations resolutions," President Mamnoon Hussain said in his address after hoisting the national flag at the Jinnah Convention Centre in the national capital, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

He said that the Pakistani people remember the people of Kashmir and their historic sacrifices and urged the international community to support their cause.
Polling begins for two assembly seats in Bihar 30 Oct 2021 | 7:24 AM Patna, Oct 30 (UNI) Polling for by-elections in two assembly seats- Tarapur and Kusheshwarsthan began here on Saturday on peaceful note at 7 AM amid tight security arrangements where 5.85 lakh electorate would be exercising their franchise to decide the fates of 17 candidates. see more..

Polling begins in MP by-elections 30 Oct 2021 | 7:14 AM Bhopal, Oct 30 (UNI) Voting began amid tight security at 0700 hrs on Saturday in Madhya Pradeshs Khandwa parliamentary constituency; Prithvipur, Raigaon and Jobat assembly segments where by-elections are underway. see more..

Kullu: Two women die as raft capsizes in Beas river 30 Oct 2021 | 1:44 AM Shimla, Oct 29 (UNI) Two women died and four other women were also injured in Kullu district on Friday after a raft capsized in the Beas river, police said. see more..
Perhaps I am biased, after a close brush with a tourist's rogue, rented Segway nearly removed half my face in Berlin, but I am skeptical of this recent push for publicly available electronic scooters. According to the Verge, though, electric scooter manufacturers are leering at New York City with cartoonish dollar signs in their eyes"salivating," as the Verge puts itbut bureaucratic hurdles have so far kept them at bay. It may be the only time I'll ever say this, but thank heavens for red tape.

Granted, New York City's public transit systems does have its holesa recent report from Comptroller Scott Stringer's office showed that 75 percent of New Yorkers have access to a subway station in their neighborhood, unless of course they're mobility-impaired, in which case that percentage drops to 51. And as the Verge points out, e-scooters could theoretically take some of the heat off our ailing subway system and help connect commuters to far-flung transit hubs, especially outside Manhattan. But will we use these zoomers as intended, or will we go the route of other commuters who came before us:

A post shared by Bird Graveyard (@birdgraveyard) on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:09pm PDT

spotted by @coreyharper A post shared by Bird Graveyard (@birdgraveyard) on Jul 28, 2018 at 4:31pm PDT

 @deadringer A post shared by Bird Graveyard (@birdgraveyard) on Jul 6, 2018 at 8:03pm PDT

The basic e-scooter modelas practiced by purveyors Bird, Lime, Spin, and othersallows members to locate a device with an app on their phones, and pay per minute to ride them around. When the user reaches their destination or gets bored, they can simply drop the scooter where it stands. Then, someone else can come along and ride it awayor, as has recently been the trend in scooter-besieged cities, someone else can (and will) come along and destroy it.

Despite some ostensibly good intentions (along with money lust) that prompt e-scooter companies to drop their product on unprepared cities, some urbanites across the country have balked at this unasked-for gift. In Los Angeles, for example, angry residents are flinging dockless Bird scooters into the sea; smearing them with poop; burying them on beaches; hurling them from balconies; attempting to flush them down toilets; and setting them on fire. E-scooters thrust upon San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and other unsuspecting cities have met a similar fate.

For the time being, riding the scooters is outlawed in New York, and violators may be punished by a $500 fine (though some transit experts say the ban is not really enforced). "They are illegal and I am not aware of anything in the works to change that," DOT Spokesperson Scott Gastel told the Times.

So why all this rage, you ask? Because, as the Verge notes, it's legal for scooter purveyors to simply spring their wares on cities without warning. Those cities, however, may lack the infrastructure to manage a dockless bike share system; as a result, streets and sidewalks end up littered with scooters, and pedestrians trip over these as if stumbling through a living room scattered with a negligent child's toys. Having recently returned from St. Louis, which just saw Lime bikes materialize as if from nowhere, I can report that the vast majority of the bicycles I saw were toppled over on lawns, abandoned in the middle of sidewalks, and strapped to the fronts of public buses with the rest of the privately owned bikes, suggesting that they had been commandeered as personal vehicles. I did not see many engaged in actual use.

But do we really think that New Yorkers, with their infamously short tempers, will tolerate an extra layer of stuff clogging up their city? I am not so sure. In my mind's eye, I too can see the e-scooter sailing through the air and landing with a tremendous crack on a taxi cab's windshield, further infuriating everyone involved.

(Meanwhile, Gothamist's Christopher Robbins downloaded the Bird app, despite the fact that Bird does not yet exist in NYC. "I just stare at its vastness and pray for the day they come," he said, somewhat creepily. "I welcome our stupid battery-powered overlords.")

Every day we draw nearer to the day when the scooters reach NYC and I, for one, cannot wait for the absolute collective meltdown this will produce.  Max RN (@MaxRivlinNadler) July 13, 2018

Motorized scooters list among the vehicles the DMV won't let New Yorkers register, so for now, this conversation remains hypothetical. But according to the Verge, sources close to the scooter share lobby cryptically insist that "whether it takes a change in city law or state law, [e-scooters are] coming." And indeed, one state senator is already working to legalize and regulate the use of e-scooters. The time is nigh, concerned citizens.

The Verge predicts that legalization would come with a slew of provisions, including a possible helmet mandate and possession of a driver's license. (Ideally, this would mean fewer reckless drivers leaving wreckage in their wake, like the aforementioned Segue bandit. But can you stop a drunken bro from scooter rampaging through the East Village?) Elected officials would also need to figure out which public spaces lend themselves best to scooting: Do we want them snaking through sidewalk crowds? Zipping through the bike lanes? Out in open traffic? And as far as our ability to use these devices without murdering them in fits of fury, dockless bikeswhich recently descended on the Rockawaysmay help clarify whether or not we as a city are ready for this model.

Because again, e-scooters do bring theoretical benefits. Lowering pollution levels by offering commuters a cleaner mode of transportation? Yes, please. Affording people who live far away from the train a better option than buses that may or may not arrive? Wonderful, let's do it. But can we be the responsible adults e-scooter slingers seem to assume we are? Or will we succumb to the same scooter-induced madness as those monsters in other cities? We'll find out soon enough.
Published: August 14, 2018

Mozambique, Bulgaria on Itinerary for ROTC Cadets in Summer Leadership Program

Emily Sanner 19 woke up in Mozambique for a month this summer. Shed interact with students learning English at the American Culture Center, visit the U.S. Embassy and Ambassador and tour the Naval and Army academies, interacting with cadets from Mozambiques defense force and learning how they live and train.



Participating in the program was extremely worthwhile and meaningful, and I wish every cadet in every ROTC program could have an experience like that, said Sanner, of Hadley, PA. Its critical that the leaders of todays Army understand and respect cultural differences. Its also important that we see the world through other peoples lenses and realize how small America truly is compared to the rest of the world.



Sanner was participating in the United States Army Cadet Commands Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program. She was one of three members of UTs Spartan Battalion who applied and were selected for nomination by Lt. Col. Scott Greco, director of UTs ROTC. Erika Roy 20, a psychology major, was slated to attend the program in Guyana but had to cancel last minute due to a medical emergency.

Each trip accomplishes a few objectives including increased cultural competence, community outreach and service projects, military-to-military training experience, and familiarization with theater security cooperation initiatives that we take as a nation to train, equip and support other nations, Greco said.



Tyler Kearney 21, a nursing major, attended a program in Bulgaria that focused on observing and participating in NATO joint operations. He also helped teach conversational English to Bulgarian soldiers studying for a required test for promotion.



A typical day included teaching English to the soldiers in the morning, having lunch with them, and conducting training exercises in the afternoon such as weapons familiarization, land navigation and first aid, among others, he said. Along with this, we also went to cultural and historical sights to get a better understanding of their country and culture.



Sanner, a biology major who was ROTC Cadet of the Year last year and also received the 2018 Active Citizenship Award at UTs Leadership Awards Night, said she was interested in participating in the program because of her two loves: traveling and humanitarian work.

I work for the PEACE Volunteer Center at UT, so I do a lot of this stuff on my own time as well, said Sanner, who spent part of her month-long experience in a rural area of Mozambique at a medical clinic and orphanage. I wanted to do it with the Army and see the differences between volunteering with them and doing it on the civilian side.



Greco lead a group of 44 cadets from various universities across the nation to a program in Cabo Verde off the northwest coast of Africa.



It gives the cadets an experience of a lifetime and gives the Army the opportunity to enter nations that we otherwise do not do much with, Greco said. It is an expensive investment, but it is well worth it in the long run.

Kearney said it was a humbling experience.



The Bulgarian military is not supported by the public and are even looked down upon, whereas in the states we enjoy a fairly high level of support from the average American, said Kearney. Professionally, I was able to get a small grasp of the importance of building a strong rapport with foreign allies, and I learned that I must be able to adapt my leadership style to accommodate the soldiers from different cultures that I may be working with in the future.





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Lost Migrations Topic of UW-Park Service Research Center Talk

Bison near the Union Pacific Railroad in Albany County are featured in the Deep Migrations documentary project, a book and exhibition examining the roots of Wyomings ungulate migrations through essays and photography. The project will be discussed at the UW-National Park Service Research Center Thursday, Aug. 16, in Grand Teton National Park. (Bailey Russel Photo)

A historian and a photographer will discuss Americas longest mule deer migration corridor, Interstate 80 as a wildlife barrier and Wyomings lost migrations at the University of Wyoming-National Park Service (UW-NPS) Research Center Thursday, Aug. 16. The center is located at the AMK Ranch in Grand Teton National Park.

Greg Nickerson, a writer, filmmaker and historian for the Wyoming Migration Initiative at UW, and Bailey Russel, a photography instructor in the UW Department of Art and Art History, will discuss Deep Migrations: Lost, altered, and conserved big game corridors in Wyoming as part of the Harlow Summer Seminars.

They will speak at 6:30 p.m. at the AMK Ranch, located north of Leeks Marina. A barbecue, at a cost of $5 per person, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are not required. The UW-NPS Research Center provides a base for university faculty members and government scientists from throughout North America to conduct research in the diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments of Grand Teton National Park and the greater Yellowstone area.

Nickerson and Russels program presents the interdisciplinary Deep Migrations documentary project, a book and exhibition examining the roots of Wyomings ungulate migrations through essays and photography. The project uses art and the humanities to complement scientific research and extend understanding of ungulate migration.

Nickerson and Russel will discuss the history of Laramie Plains bison and ongoing research to identify potential locations for pronghorn crossing structures along Interstate 80. Also included will be the story of a mule deer doe that made a world-record 242-mile migration from the Red Desert over the Tetons to Island Park, Idaho, passing within a few miles of the AMK Ranch.

Russel's images include tintypes created with the wet-plate collodion process, the same technology used by 19th century photographers such as William Henry Jackson. The photographs feature specimens of extinct mammoth and bison antiquus (ancient bison) from the UW Geological Museum.

Following the program, Russels photography exhibition will be on display in the Berol Lodge at the UW-NPS Research Center.

Nickerson, from Big Horn, earned a masters degree in history of the American West from UW. He joined the Wyoming Migration Initiative in 2016, bringing a humanities approach to sharing scientific research through social media, short films and public presentations.

Russel grew up in New Jersey and attended Princeton University, earning a bachelors degree in art history. He completed a photography masters degree in a joint program at New York University and the International Center for Photography.

Deep Migrations is funded by the 2017-18 UW College of Arts and Sciences interdisciplinary seed grant and the Wyoming Migration Initiative (www.migrationinitiative.org), a project of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at UW.

The project will debut an exhibition at UWs Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center, which also will feature photographs and animations of migration trails by Nicole Jean Hill, photography professor at Humboldt State University.

Copies of the Deep Migrations book may be ordered by emailing info@migrationinitiative.org or calling (307) 766-5491.

Formerly called the AMK Ranch Talk Series, the Harlow Summer Seminars program is named after retired UW Department of Zoology and Physiology Professor Hank Harlow, who helped make the UW-NPS Research Center a significant center for research and community outreach. Harlow began the popular weekly public seminars during the summer months.

For more information about the Harlow Summer Seminars, contact Michael Dillon at (307) 314-9833 or Michael.Dillon@uwyo.edu.
A celebrated female professor of German and Comparative Literature at NYU has been suspended for the coming academic year after an 11-month Title IX investigation found that she had sexually harassed, both physically and verbally, one of her former male students.

The NY Times reported on the story of Prof. Avital Ronell, 66, a star academic in the philosophy world. Former NYU graduate student Nimrod Reitman, 34, filed a Title IX complaint against Ronell, his former advisor, two years after he graduated. In the complaint, he claimed that Ronell had sexually harassed him for three years starting in 2012; he also shared dozens of emails in which she referred to him as "my most adored one," "sweet cuddly Baby," "cock-er spaniel," "baby love angel," and "my astounding and beautiful Nimrod." (NYU ultimately found her guilty of sexual harassment, but not other charges including sexual assault, stalking and retaliation.)

During the investigation, Reitman, who is married to a man, detailed Ronell's allegedly inappropriate behavior including kissing and touching him repeatedly, forcing him to sleep in bed with her, calling him constantly, and refusing to work with him if he did not reciprocate. He also included numerous emails in which she was explicit about her affection for him, such as:

"I woke up with a slight fever and sore throat, she wrote in an email on June 16, 2012, after the Paris trip. I will try very hard not to kiss you  until the throat situation receives security clearance. This is not an easy deferral! In July, she wrote a short email to him: time for your midday kiss. my image during meditation: were on the sofa, your head on my lap, stroking you [sic] forehead, playing softly with yr hair, soothing you, headache gone. Yes?

Ronell denied any harassment in a statement to the NY Times: "Our communications  which Reitman now claims constituted sexual harassment  were between two adults, a gay man and a queer woman, who share an Israeli heritage, as well as a penchant for florid and campy communications arising from our common academic backgrounds and sensibilities. These communications were repeatedly invited, responded to and encouraged by him over a period of three years." She added that she did not realize he was so uncomfortable until she read the investigators report.

The case has gained national prominence because of two major factors: first because the vast majority of Title IX cases involve a male perpetrator, not a female one. (Though it covers all sex discrimination, Title IX was established in order to address a history of sexual harassment and assault of women at schools.) And secondly, because a significant number of prominent intellectuals and feminists have come to Ronell's defense, often adopting the language of those who have questioned or denied the veracity of #MeToo victims.

The Times writes:

Professor Ronell and some who are backing her have tried to discredit her accuser in familiar ways, asking why he took so long to report, and why he seemed so intimate with Professor Ronell if he was, in fact, miserable. Maybe, Professor Ronell suggested, he was frustrated because he just wasnt smart enough. His main dilemma was the incoherency in his writing, and lack of a recognizable argument, Professor Ronell said in a January 2018 interview submitted to the Title IX office.

A group of these scholars, including leading feminist and gender theorist Judith Butler and philosopher Slavoj Zizek, sent a strongly-worded letter to NYU defending Ronell. "Although we have no access to the confidential dossier, we have all worked for many years in close proximity to Professor Ronell and accumulated collectively years of experience to support our view of her capacity as teacher and a scholar," it reads. "We have all seen her relationship with students, and some of us know the individual who has waged this malicious campaign against her...We deplore the damage that this legal proceeding causes her, and seek to register in clear terms our objection to any judgment against her. We hold that the allegations against her do not constitute actual evidence, but rather support the view that malicious intention has animated and sustained this legal nightmare."

Critics seized upon the letter as hypocritical victim-blaming from intellectual elites seeking exceptions. "We testify to the grace, the keen wit, and the intellectual commitment of Professor Ronell and ask that she be accorded the dignity rightly deserved by someone of her international standing and reputation," the letter reads. "If she were to be terminated or relieved of her duties, the injustice would be widely recognized and opposed." Professor of Philosophy and Law at the University of Chicago Law, Brian Leiter, published the letter in full on his blog, which you can download here.

Reitman added that he is considering filing a lawsuit against NYU and Ronell, though NYU spokesperson John Beckman noted, "given the promptness, seriousness and thoroughness with which we responded to his charges, we do not believe that his filing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the university would be warranted or just."
This year's Vietnam Foodexpo will include many returning and new exhibitors

This year, Vietnam Foodexpo 2018, covering an area of 13,000 square metres, will host more than 600 booths, displaying agricultural products, sea food, beverages, food materials, processed food, and food processing machines, among others.

The exhibition will welcome back numerous firms who have been returning exhibitors for three consecutive Vietnam Foodexpo events since it was first organised in 2015, including Quang Ngai Sugar JSC, Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation, and An Giang Fruit-Vegetables & Foodstuff JSC, among others.

Vietnam Foodexpo has been a runaway success since 2015

According to Vu Ba Phu, director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)'s Trade Promotion Agency, the organising board of Vietnam Foodexpo is collaborating with ministries and relevant authorities to support local and foreign firms in connecting with each other, increasing these firms competitive capacity in both the local and foreign markets.

Nguyen Phuong Linh, director of Bonie Bee Co., Ltd., stated: Thanks to joining the annual Vietnam Foodexpo events, Bonie Bees honey became popular in both local and foreign markets. The firms products are now present in famous supermarkets across South Korea and Japan, thanks to the successful transactions in previous exhibitions.

According to Vu Dung Thanh, marketing director of Moocos Vietnam Co., Ltd., joining the Vietnam Foodexpo is a great opportunity to introduce Moocoss products processed from Gac fruit, including Gac fruit oil, frozen Gac puree, and Gac powder, to leading local and foreign distributors.

Last year, Vietnam Foodexpo 2017 lured in 24,000 visitors, including 3,000 foreigners coming from 50 countries and territories across the globe. Besides, more than 3,000 contracts and cooperation agreements were signed at the exhibition.
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk says he is in talks with the Saudi government's sovereign wealth fund as part of his efforts to take Tesla private. (Photo: AFP/David McNew)

The revelation comes days after Musk's claim in an Aug 7 Twitter post that financing for a deal to take Tesla private had been "secured."

Musk said in a blog post on Monday he had "no question" that the Saudis would finance such a transaction following a Jul 31 meeting.

"I continue to have discussions with the Saudi fund, and I also am having discussions with a number of other investors, which is something that I always planned to do since I would like for Tesla to continue to have a broad investor base," Musk wrote.

"It is appropriate to complete those discussions before presenting a detailed proposal to an independent board committee."

The transaction would be structured with equity so as not to burden Tesla with crushing debt, Musk added.

Musk's surprise comments last week sparked speculation he would need to borrow massive amounts to take Tesla private, a move that could allow the company to operate without requirements for financial reports and other pressures of a publicly traded firm.

But the comments also raised questions about whether Musk ran afoul of securities laws by claiming backing without a firm financial commitment.

The disclosures about Saudi interest "helps reduce the legal risk fallout for Tesla," said Efraim Levy, an equity analyst at CFRA Research.

"It also helps clarify the going private situation even if the transaction is ultimately not consummated."

But Levy said taking the company private would be a mixed blessing for Tesla and Musk - the company could avoid short-term pressures from Wall Street but also reduce its access to capital markets.

"They've had significant benefits from having access to capital markets, and the media attention has provided priceless free advertising," Levy said.

"Despite Musk protestations, we think remaining public has and will benefit Tesla," he added.

Tesla shares failed to sustain an early surge and ended with a small gain of 0.26 per cent at US$356.41.

LESS THAN US$70 BILLION

In his blog on Monday, Musk said that reports that more than US$70 billion would be needed to take Tesla private "dramatically overstate the actual capital raise needed" because he expected some shareholders to remain invested in the firm.

His comment that he wanted to launch a buyout at US$420 a share "would only be used for Tesla shareholders who do not remain with our company if it is private," Musk said in the post.

"My best estimate right now is that approximately two-thirds of shares owned by all current investors would roll over into a private Tesla."

Musk added that the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund "has approached me multiple times" starting in early 2017 about taking Tesla private and had already taken a stake of nearly five per cent though share purchases.

He said the Saudis were interested "because of the important need to diversify away from oil" and added that the sovereign fund "has more than enough capital needed to execute on such a transaction."

Loup Ventures analysts Gene Munster and Will Thompson said in a research note that Musk has answered the question "where would the money come from?" but still faces a number of challenges.

"If Musk can help it, we believe he will limit additional investors to 20 per cent equity (he owns 22 per cent), which implies the Saudi fund could only invest US$16 billion," the analysts wrote.

"We still believe there is a greater than 50 per cent chance Tesla is private in a year, and the blog post slightly increased those odds."

California-based Tesla has become one of the most valuable automakers on expectations it will disrupt the industry, although it produced only slightly more than 100,000 vehicles last year.

The company has been struggling to boost production of its Model 3, which is less expensive than its first models and could held expand Tesla's base.
The planning of Binh Quoi  Thanh Da Urban Area mapped out by Bitexco. - VNS File Photo.

It had left thousands of households in the area uncertain of their future for the last 26 years after authorities made plans and solicited investment and investors signed up but later pulled out.

The city also instructed the department to allow residents to repair their houses after the long ban on construction works has caused many of them to deteriorate.

The 427-hectare Binh Quoi - Thanh Da ecological urban area project was approved by the Peoples Committee in 1992. The Sai Gon Construction Corporation was awarded the work in 2004, but the firm was unable to execute it.

A joint venture comprising Bitexco and Emaar Properties PJSC, a Dubai property developer, was awarded the project in 2015 at a cost of over VND30 trillion (US$1.28 billion).

However, the Dubai company pulled out after a long and fruitless wait for the land to be transferred.

Bitexco remains the investor of the project, which is located just five kilometres from the city centre.

There are currently some 2,000 houses with 13,000 people living on the Binh Quoi - Thanh Da Peninsula.

Nguyen Van Hanh, who lives on Binh Quoi Street, Ward 28, Binh Thanh District, said that local residents have waited too long.

With all construction work banned since it is a designated public works site, houses have deteriorated and roads are in bad shape.

Hanh said living conditions in the area are even worse than in the countryside.

Locals want reasonable land compensation rates or resettlement in that area, he said.

If that is not possible, they want the project scrapped so that they can decide what to do with their land, he added.
A gorgeous harbor seal was caught sunbathing on a rock in Inwood on Tuesday afternoon.

Inwood resident Taegin Reisman said she snapped the photos at around 1 p.m. in Spuyten Duyvil Creek. "A few other adults and kids were watching and taking photos, and the seal didnt seem to mind at all," Reisman said. "Its our newest Inwood resident apparently!"

According to Maxine Montello, a rescue program director at The Riverhead Foundation, the seal is just a yearlingonly a year or two oldand by the looks of the tag on its hind flippers, it's a rescue that's been released into the wild.

"Those circles around its eyes are hydration circles, meaning it's very hydrated, and they get their water from their food source, which is fish," Montello said. "It looks like it's pretty plump."

Montello added that usually harbor seals are seen in the New York City region around late fall or early spring. "It should be migrating north," Montello said.

Over the past month, other Inwood residents have spotted the seal. Some have apparently named it "Sealy," which, come on.

Another seal was photographed in June, though it appeared to be without a yellow tag.

Montello asked New Yorkers who spot seals and sea turtles to call Riverhead's hotline (631-369-9829), even if the animals don't look injured.

"It's useful for us to know where the animals are using habitats, and to keep track of the rescue animals," Montello said.
Putting ride-hailing platforms and transport companies into the same category would be a great step back

There has been heated debate about the sharing economy, especially in the field of transportation. Keeping an open-mind on sharing economy and ride-hailing platforms, several experts stated that the nature of technology platforms is in line with the regulations stipulated in Decree 52. Although the decree has yet to catch up to the fast-developing digital economy, there are still some relevant regulations.

In addition, the state is collecting comments on the draft decree to amend and supplement Decree No.86/2014/ND-CP on business and conditions for transportation business. Based on some of the comments, the tasks of the Ministry of Industry and Trade would be assigned to Ministry of Transport (MoT) if technology platforms are treated as transportation services.

According to Lai Viet Anh, deputy director general of e-commerce and the digital economy department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, technology platform providers must comply with the regulations stipulated by Decree 52. The decree has a whole chapter on digital service providers, including online auction, online trading, and online promotion floors. Decree 52 clearly defines the rights and obligations of digital platform operators as well as units selling goods and providing services on the platforms.

She added, The question is: should we impose the existing legal framework on new business models? Should we request all economic entities to abide by the existing regulations or ease the regulations for new business models to allow them to participate in the market and contribute to economic development?

Economic expert Ngo Tri Long shared his thoughts about the lingering debate over the draft decree to replace Decree No.86/2014/ND-CP. He pointed out that treating technology platforms as transportation service providers would adversely impact tech companies and passengers, which is a step back in the Industry 4.0 era.

Indeed, technology platforms boast numerous advantages, including big data processing systems and connected artificial intelligence to match customers with the closest vehicles as well as efficiently calculating fares for the trip.

By classifying technology-based service providers and transportation companies under the management of the MoT, it would eliminate specialisation and adversely affect the development of technology platforms. It is not fair to ask tech companies to comply with regulations specifically tailored for transportation companies.

The regulations will not only distort the nature of the platform but also undermine the overall benefits of technology, Long stated.

The application of technology to revitalise transportation has become a trend around the world. However, the debate over electronic contract-based vehicles and the amendment of Decree 86 continue to linger in Vietnam. Obviously, it would lead to overlapping enforcement mandates if tech companies, digital platforms, and transport service companies were put in the same category.

In addition, some of the regulations would overlap in areas where digital service providers collaborate with transportation companies. In this case, two different entities would bear similar responsibilitieswhen carrying passengers.

Commenting on this issue, Ngo Vinh Bach Duong, head of the economic law department under the Institute of State and Law, said that it would be unreasonable to define a ride-hailing firm as a provider of transportation services because their main product is technology. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Uber provides a service in the field of transport without classifying it as a taxi company.

It is obvious that companies do not cover all parts of the supply chain. They can choose one or several segments to invest in. In a bid to manage technology platforms, the government should focus on transaction conditions to assign responsibilities appropriately as well as protect the rights of consumers and partners in the transaction.

It would be inequitable to require technology platforms to comply with the regulations of transportation companies. It would be even more irrational to request digital companies to invest in a fleet of vehicles, fire prevention solutions, as well as provide driver training, he said.
114 member states of the  Friends of Syria  financed its destruction by the jihadists. But after they had failed, none of them want to pay anything for its reconstruction. However, they had no problem supporting the states who offer refuge to the Syrian refugees  given that, obviously, this was not a humanitarian gesture, but a means of draining off Syrias human resources.

Above all, they all hope to further enrich themselves by masking their crime and by obtaining reconstruction contracts.

On 7 and 8 August, meeting in Beirut, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), estimated the minimal cost of reconstruction at 388 billion dollars. It should deliver a detailed report on the subject in September. Already, aware that what that country experienced had very little to do with a  civil war , but rather with a foreign aggression, it has announced the title of this report - Syria, 7 years at war. Meaning Syria, 7 years at war and not 7 years of war [1].

By comparison, Lebanon, whose population is three times smaller, was only able to obtain 11 billion dollars of international aid during the CEDRE conference last April.

The United States, which had been planning the war against Syria since 2004, does not want to part with a penny. According to the Trump administration, this war was created by the Bush Jr. administration and led by the Obama administration. However, these two administrations were not serving the interests of the US people, but those of a transnational financial class. Not only did they destroy Syria, but also the US economy. Thus it is not for Washington to pay, but these people and the transnational corporations directly implicated in the war.

For example, the United States investment fund and rival of the Carlyle Group, Henry Kravis KKR (market value 150 billion dollars). It employs General David Petraeus and transferred funds and weapons to Al-Qaeda and Daesh [2]. Or Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota, which furnished all of Daeshs new vehicles (market value 170 billion dollars) [3]. Or again, Caterpillar, the manufacturer of construction machines, which sold to the jihadists the tunnel-building machinery necessary for the construction of their underground networks (market value 76 billion dollars). Not to mention the Franco-Swiss cement producer Lafarge-Holcim, which produced 6 million tonnes of cement for the construction of their bunkers (market value 40 billion dollars) [4], etc.

The engagement of these corporations in the implementation of Admiral Arthur Cebrowskis plan to destroy the states and societies of the Greater Middle East can probably be explained by their certainty that they would thus gain access to the regions natural resources, under the protection of the Western armies.

Making the multinationals pay does not exclude obtaining damages from certain states like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar or Turkey, which financed, or certain of whose citizens publicly financed the jihadists.

If the Syrian Arab Republic can gather the proof of their role during the war, it will be legally entitled to demand seizure before the tribunals of the country accommodating their headquarters. In the light of President Trumps arguments, it should be possible for them to count on the support of the new US administration.

It is therefore possible, even without managing to make the states pay, to collect the 388 billion dollars mentioned by the ESCWA.

At the end of all wars which called for the payment of damages, national companies were seized. The novelty this time will be drawing the conclusions of economic globalisation and seizing the transnationals.
Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn) and her glorious ponytail on Better Call Saul. Photo: Nicole Wilder/AMC/Sony Pictures Television/ 2018 AMC Network Entertainment LLC. and Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Television Academy does not currently give an Emmy to the Most Outstanding Ponytail in a Scripted Series. But if it did, the winner would undeniably be the magnificent, single ringlet that frequently swings from the head of Kim Wexler, the ultraprofessional attorney and one-woman support system for Jimmy McGill on AMCs Better Call Saul.

As worn by Rhea Seehorn  and as demonstrated in this weeks episode, Breathe  Wexlers swept-up, boing-boing-curled work of hair art is more than just a ponytail. Its a reflection of who Kim is and who she wants to be. Its a weathervane that suggests which way the wind is blowing for her, or the way it may be blowing in the very near future. Oh, and on top of all that: That thing is just flawless.

When Kim wears that ponytail in a courtroom or other work-oriented setting  and thats usually where she wears it  it is a reflection of her strength and sense of order. No strand is out of place. The coil is curled perfectly, as if it were sculpted with plans to put this ponytail on display in a museum. It is a ponytail that could only spring from the scalp of a grown woman who is formidable and unflappable. Its a total power pony.

But the ponytail, by nature, also has a whiff of girlish energy about it. A high and tight one like Kims is associated with cheerleaders and elementary-schoolers whose mothers insist that they look their best on class picture day. The way it swirls is reminiscent of the pigtails once worn by Cindy Brady, the baby of The Brady Bunch who swore she didnt sound like a baby, even though she totally did. Kim Wexler is smart enough to grasp all this, and thats probably why she chose the ponytail, too, aside from the practicality that comes with just putting up her hair and forgetting about it. Kim wants her colleagues to take her seriously, but in a male-dominated profession  and also in a firm like her former one, Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill  she realizes that it doesnt hurt to subtly project a bit of youthful femininity.

Kims ponytail is her signature, but its also something bigger than that. In the real world, her ponytail has inspired Reddit threads, fodder for Pinterest boards, and general fan obsession.

Ive had some people ask if they could see the ponytail, like its an entity, Seehorn said in a Vulture interview. Its like the ponytail is a Better Call Saul character all of its own. Which it kind of is, isnt it?

But the most important function Kim Wexlers ponytail serves is that of truth-teller. On a series whose protagonist is notoriously slippery and where even Kim herself has been seduced by the temptations of con artistry, that ponytail is always there  or absent, which is just as telling  to signal whats really going on with Kim, or what could be just ahead.

As this Uproxx piece from last year noted, Kims pony curl tends to be wound more tightly when she is stressed, loose when shes at ease, and, at home, it goes away entirely. Shes so relaxed in her own space  and no longer concerned about maintaining appearances  that she can let her locks just flow.

Thats been happening more frequently since the events that transpired at the end of season three. After her car accident, an event brought on by work-related fatigue, Kims ponytail went on sabbatical, partly because she hasnt been working and also, perhaps, because trying to tie a ponytail that sublime is next to impossible with a broken arm.

But Kim managed to pull it off in last weeks episode at the funeral for Chuck McGill (Michael McKean), brother of Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk), an event that she knew would be attended by plenty of her former colleagues. On an occasion that required her to pay her respects and also look like her usual professional self, she got her ponytail on. Which is why its extra-notable that for her confrontation with Howard (Patrick Fabian)  the big, gangbusters scene in Breathe  she didnt.

She comes to the Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill office as a representative of Jimmy and to get the information about what piece hell get of Chucks estate. Not surprisingly, the answer is not much. He inherits $5,000, the opportunity to serve on a board for a scholarship Chuck created, a personal letter from Chuck to Jimmy, and the chance to sort through the rubble at the house Chuck burned down  a property that is going to Chucks ex-wife  and take whatever he wants. Kim is furious at Howard for his condescension as he explains all this, and for telling Jimmy in last weeks episode that Chuck most likely committed suicide. She just unloads, laying into Howard about how unfair it is to suggest that Jimmy  dig around the fire-damaged wreck where his brother died, screaming and how rude it is to ask Jimmy to serve on a committee for a scholarship that Chuck never in a million years would have given to Jimmy. Never!

This is a huge moment for Kim, one thats played with perfectly deployed fury by Seehorn. It shows how loyal she is to Jimmy and how hurt she is on his behalf. Its also an opportunity for her to let fly the anger shes felt for years, for her own reasons, toward Howard. By the time its over, their conversation has firmly drawn a line between who Jimmy was when Chuck was alive and who he will be going forward. Stay away, Kim tells Howard when he asks what he can do to make things right. You get the sense that shes drawing a similar line between herself and her past life, too. If the shouting and well-earned rage dont already give that away, all you have to do is take one look at her hair in this scene to see it.

Its in a ponytail, as it usually is when she sees Howard. But that ponytail is gathered at the nape of her neck, and its messy  not organized neatly into its usual twist. Her hair is basically half-down and half-up, a reflection of the career and moral limbo Kim is about to face. Most significantly, that ponytail isnt fastened with the typical rubber band that blends in perfectly with Kims soft blonde hair. In a final screw you to Howard Hamlin, one that Howard would never notice in a million years, she shoves her hair into a barette. A barette. No other hair accessory says quite as loudly and clearly: I have stopped giving a shit what you think. Well, maybe a scrunchie, but that also says, I have stopped giving a shit how I look, and Kim is definitely not there yet.

Kims former boss no longer intimidates her, and she no longer feels like she needs to control herself in his presence. What does all of that mean for Kim? Im not sure whats next for her, but I know where Ill be looking to gauge her emotional state and her fate as the rest of this season progresses: right at Kims lovely mane and the various meaningful twists and tails it displays.
Better Call Saul Breathe Season 4 Episode 2 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next Photo: Nicole Wilder/AMC/Sony Pictures Television/ 2018 AMC Network Entertainment LLC. and Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Victors a pretty efficient guy. He helped Gus confirm that Nacho was behind the attempted murder of their mutual nemesis, Hector Salamanca. And when it comes time to dispatch of hothead Arturo (so long, Vincent Fuentes), hes right there to assist in binding him with zip ties and suffocating him to death with a plastic bag. This gives you an idea, then, of how desperate Gus had become by the time he slashed Victors throat to make a point at the outset of Breaking Bads fourth season.

For now, Gus is in the peak throes of his utter consumption with vengeance against anyone with the Salamanca surname, particularly its elder Hector, who lays post-comatose in a Lovelace Hospital bed with slim chances of survival after Nachos stunt. But contrary to what Guss personal physician seems to think, a near-death, vegetative state is still too good for this exceptional adversary. So Gus shuttles in a specialist from Johns Hopkins named Maureen Bruckner who plans to rewire Hectors neural pathways and essentially Frankenstein him back to health, presumably so Gus can kill him in exactly the unsentimental way he intended. And, handily, she can speak reassuringly in Spanish to terrifying cousins Marco and Leonel.

The subsequent scene, in which the twins verbally implore Arturo and Nacho to whisper sweet nothings to Hector so hes not exiled in a black hole of human communication  Arturos assurances about taking care of the shit gang on Lomas apparently didnt suffice  is the most awkward TV-criminal ICU visit since Paulie and Vito paid begrudged tribute to Carmela and Tony in The Sopranos. Its also a sign of how things are going for Jimmy that the episodes lone real bit of black comedy comes via the cartel.

Not that Jimmys in a Nacho-sized pickle. He isnt the essential property (yet) of Gus or any other criminal kingpin (and boy, did Nachos sentence of servitude bring back memories of Jesse Pinkman and BBs neo-Nazis), but hes running out of options for rebuilding his life after Chucks death. His little white lies to Kim about interviewing for management-level positions are mounting, and his patience for starting over as, for example, a low-level copier salesman for nitwits like Mr. Neff (shout-out to GLOW regular Andrew Friedman) is nil. It doesnt help matters that Mr. Neffs office shelves are populated with Hummel figurines, the very sort that Jimmy helped Mrs. Strauss estate-plan for back in season one, helping compel his decision to venture into elder law. No wonder Jimmy couldnt bring himself to work for these suckers, as he puts it, pushovers all too eager to hire some schmuck off the street who could wow them with razzle-dazzle nonsense. If one of those guys is born every minute, Jimmy may as well be charging them by the hour.

As it happens, Jimmy and his old pal Mike  whom Jimmy hopes to rope in for what appears to be a plan to cop Mr. Neffs Hummels and resell them for riches  arent so different. They both respect others who do their due diligence and dont suffer fools. So parallel to Jimmy traversing the region and principally rejecting one sales-associate gig after another, Mike makes it plain to Lydia that he will make it to all eight Madrigal warehouses and whip them into shape. She ought to think of it as a perk of his employment, he insists. She sees things slightly different, but Breaking Bad audiences will also recall Lydia is a touch neurotic. Nothing wrong with that, per se, at least far as Gus is concerned. So long as she plays ball, gives Mike a badge and doesnt get in his way, a secure phone line to voice her misgivings and be heard is always open.

Contrarily, Kim is rather effective at communicating to Howard that his access to her and Jimmy is severed. Despite still recovering from her injuries and getting around in a sling, she marches into HHM, undeterred by the gauche portrait of Chuck in the lobby, and acts as Jimmys proxy in settling Chucks estate. She and Rebecca make nice enough, but once the former Mrs. McGill is out the door, the gloves come off and Kim all but reduces Howard to a bedwetting 4-year-old, admonishing him for trying to put proverbial lipstick on the pig of Jimmys token inheritance. She even adds a few choice words about his transferring guilt onto Jimmy and burdening him with the notion that Chucks death was a case of self-immolation. Theres nothing he can do to make things better other than to not make them worse, she concludes, left with the terrible dilemma of whether to give Jimmy his brothers final, for your eyes only letter.

How fitting for Jimmy, the former mailroom worker  a time in his life oft-referenced throughout Breathe  that the very fate of his relationship with Kim may be swayed by whether or not she relays that envelope. Jimmys been searching for excuses to be freed from the responsibility of rising to others expectations. Kim, more than she realizes, is all thats keeping him from slipping into the persona of someone whose behavior would put that Chicago counterfeiter of his past to shame. Discovering that Kims withheld Chucks final message from the grave could provide Jimmy with an excuse to lash out at and alienate the only person left holding him to account. That is, if she doesnt first tally his minor moral transgressions and come to resent how much shes put on the line. The letter could simply be weaponized for spite, its contents concretizing Jimmys intent to obliterate anyones standards by removing James McGill from the public record entirely.

Not all of Breathe is as suspenseful as its final moments or cathartic as Kim eviscerating her old boss. Some of it is almost routine (youve been to one job interview, youve been to em all). But Arturos death, insignificant in the grand scheme as it may seem, underscores the ghosts that haunt Better Call Saul. We know Lydia, Gus, Victor, Tyrus, Mike, Hector, Marco, and Leonel all meet terrible, violent ends (to paraphrase Westworld). Their presence in this series, especially all in one episode, is unnerving and strange, and unites BCS with its post-dated predecessor Breaking Bad in ways that unsettle and get under your skin, which is far more rewarding than the surface titillation of worlds literally colliding. But collide they will, even if at a Gila monsters persistent pace.

Apart From All That

 Well, at least Nachos dads off the hook.

 By Hectors end in BB, he was sort of an anti-hero. Makes sense to plant seeds of sympathy for him here.

 Uh-oh, Jimmys hair is thinning. Fast track to Gene-ville.

 Jimmy has officially crossed over from sunk-cost phase to opportunity-cost phase. And time-is-a-wasting.

 Too bad we never got to meet Audrey in Neff HR.

 Im with Dr. Diseth.

 Always Jaws 3-D. Always. (Though, yes, Jimmys seeing things ever more in black and white. Symbolism noted.)

 Hopefully thats not Patrick Fabians curtain call. We love you, Howard!
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Meg may have surprised us all with its weekend box-office haul (with an estimated $44.5 million, its Warner Bros. top opening of 2018, besting Ready Player One and Oceans 8). But nobody will be shocked to learn that the movie  a dream matchup between Jason Statham and a megalodon, the largest shark that ever lived  takes certain liberties when it comes to science.

To fact-check the feasibility of the films plot and portrayal of megalodons, we spoke with two Meg experts who helped the Discovery Channel critique its own infamous 2013 documentary Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives: Dana Ehret, assistant curator of natural history at the New Jersey State Museum, who did his Ph.D. work on megalodon and fossil great white sharks; and Lisa Whitenack, a biology professor at Allegheny College, whose research includes the biomechanics, evolution, and paleobiology of sharks (and who dressed as Sharknado last year for Halloween).

The movie says: Megalodons were 70 to 90 feet long.

The experts say: The size is exaggerated. Based on what we know about the ratio of tooth size to body length in modern great whites, the megalodon is estimated to have been around 60 feet long, according to Whitenack. Ehret posits a range of 50 to 55 feet: There are some extremely large megalodon teeth, a few that would show that they might have been bigger than that, but certainly not 90 feet, he says. Definitely not.

How Realistic Are Shark Attacks in Movies?

Whitenack does applaud the visual effects team for the sharks dorsal fin, which has a ragged edge: They got reality points for that over the megalodon documentary on Discovery Channel. But she noticed the effects team gave the Meg eight gill slits when it should have had five. Every living shark, except for a handful of species, have five gill slits. So sixgills have six, sevengills have seven, and everyone else has five, including all the sharks in the same order that megalodon was in, she says. They made them flutter very prettily  thats actually what made me notice, Whats going on with this? Oh, God! No! That bothered me the whole time.

Also distracting to her: If we see the sharks dorsal fin and back as it chases humans at the surface of the water, we should also be able to view the tip of its caudal fin (read: tail). Unless it was swimming at a tilt, with just its head and part of its back up, which doesnt really work for speed, she says. (Also: shed like to know why Stathams heroic Jonas Taylor didnt don flippers when he swam out to put a tracking tag on the first Meg: I leaned over to my husband and I was like, Where are his fins? Like, just get in there barefoot?)

The movie says: Megalodons had jaws strong enough to bite a whale in half, and could potentially swallow an unbreakable polycarbonate dive cage whole (with a person, Li Bingbings marine biologist Suyin, inside it).

The experts say: Theyre skeptical about the Meg biting a whale in half, even with the Megs bite force estimated to be between 24,000 to 40,000 pounds per square inch. A very, very small whale, like a dolphin or something like that, sure. If they hit in the exact right spot, right between two vertebrae, then they might be able to, but thats like a one in a million shot, Whitenack says. [But] theres no doubt that they ate whales. There are all sorts of whale fossils that have bite marks that had to be from something large, like a megalodon. So we know that they were strong, and just based on their size, theyre gonna have a pretty hefty bite  definitely bigger than anything we have now force-wise.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

As for whether Meg could have cleanly devoured that cage? Ehret says a real megalodons jaws wouldve been six feet across, capable of swallowing a person without taking a bite. So if you ramp up the length of the shark and its jaw size, its conceivable. Whitenack, however, saw another problem with that scenario: Think about humans: we cant swallow very well with our mouths open, right? Try it. When you go to the dentist and theyre working in there, thats why they have the sucky thing. For the Meg, theres nothing in there that can move the cage back for swallowing it whole with its mouth so open like that, she says. There are sharks that can spit stuff out and suck it back in, but white sharks or megalodons really cant do that. It would have had to close its mouth completely with the cage inside to swallow that.

The movie says: Megalodons can breach  not just to attack swimmers on floating docks, but completely out of the water to eat a smaller Meg on the deck of a boat.

The experts say: First of all, Jonas & Co. would have needed a bigger boat. That small research vessel wouldnt have had a winch strong enough to raise any Meg aboard  or be floating soundly afterward. Some estimates of megalodons weight rival that of the blue whale, at 100 tons. It probably would have brought the boat down with it, Ehret says.

Both he and Whitenack agree that were Megs to breach  blue whales do, after all  it wouldnt be completely out of the water, like todays great whites. Whitenack understands why director Jon Turteltaub would include spectacular breaches  Who doesnt love an airborne shark?  but she had a particular problem with it jumping to attack that smaller Meg: How the heck did the bigger Meg know that the other Meg was even there on the back of the boat? Yeah, its probably dripping blood and gore into the water, but why would the shark think, Hey, Im gonna leap out and get that thing? Could it see up there? Im guessing not, she says. The only time Ive seen a shark track a person above the water is if theyre up at the surface, or they see you through like a plastic thing or something like that. So Im very skeptical of the whole premise of going, Hey, theres food up on that boat. Let me go get it.

For the record, Ehret also doubts that a large female Meg, which would have considerable girth, would come close enough to shore at Chinas Sanya Bay to encounter swimmers. It would have been a fairly thick animal and probably would have just run aground if it came in that close, he says.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

The movie says: A Meg would stare at a little 8-year-old girl (scene-stealer Sophia Shuya Cai) playing in the long glass hallway of an underwater research facility.

The experts say: Theyre not buying it. Based on where the eyes are, Im not sure that the shark actually would have been able to see the little girl while it was hovering there, Whitenack says. The eyes are on the side of the head, and Im pretty sure that visual field doesnt quite go right in front of the nose like that. Shes just happy that the shark didnt back up to gain momentum before leaving its bite marks in the glass. It was in Deep Blue Sea where the shark backed up, she says. Sharks cant really do that.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

The movie says: The little dog, Pippin, would have survived in the water with a Meg.

The experts say: Correct! That crowd-pleasing twist is earned. Why? Its ridiculous to think a dog would even have made it onto the Megs radar (though Ehret saw it as a fun nod to the original Jaws, nevertheless). Both Ehret and Whitenack question whether the Meg would even have bothered hunting people  or cared that Robert Taylors ill-fated Dr. Heller was splashing in the water while Ruby Roses tech wizard Jaxx wasnt. People are small. Theres not a lot of meat and fat there, so it seems like a five-foot or six-foot person wouldnt be worth pursuing, Whitenack says. It would be like a little bedtime snack at best.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

The movie says: Jonas could kill the large Meg by slicing the length of its body with his one-man sub, stabbing it in the eye, and letting the blood attract other sharks for a feeding frenzy.

The experts say: While we dont know how thick a female Megs skin was, we do know that female sharks today have skin tough enough to withstand males grabbing on to them with their teeth during mating because we see the scars. While it is thick and durable, its not impenetrable. In the movie world, sure, driving by and splitting it open is possible, Ehret says.

Considering the size of the Meg, Whitenack imagines the sub would have caused a little flesh wound, but probably wouldnt have been quite enough to kill it. Ditto the blinding. So the feeding frenzy was a smart resolution, albeit slightly problematic: The speed at which the sharks came in to eat the megalodon, like right after, was not good. Theyre not spectators. Theyre not hovering and watching this big fight going, Whos gonna win? like in high school or something, Whitenack says. Theres not that many sharks in that area usually. It takes a while for them to figure out theres some free lunch there, for those odors and bodily fluids to travel to bring them in.

The movie says: Megalodon is believed to have been extinct for more than 2 million years  until, as in the source book, Steve Altens Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror, it turns out some have been hiding in the Marianas Trench, the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean.

The experts say: Megalodon is definitely extinct (sorry, conspiracy theorists). In fact, Ehret has been working on a paper with some of his colleagues that says its been gone for probably more than 3 million years. Based on where fossils are found around the world, Megalodon lived along the continental shelf feeding on smaller-bodied whales, not in the deep dark with bioluminescent anglerfish and lantern sharks. It wasnt a deep-water shark, Ehret says. The idea that Meg was hiding in the Marianas Trench is just not plausible whatsoever. They showed a giant squid down there as well, but there wouldnt really be food resources down there to keep a shark that big alive.

Still, Ehret seconds the sentiment of a colleague at the Smithsonian whos embracing megalodons moment in the spotlight: If you take The Meg for a good summer action movie, its not that much different than Jurassic Park or something like that, he says. It has raised a lot of talk about Meg, which is fun  as long as we can get out the good word about what we actually know about them. Because the past couple of years have been really trying for us paleontologists with people asking if its still alive or not. I get that question almost every day.
The Transport Workers Union Local 100 and MTA president Andy Byford called for body cameras for MTA workers, in order to better identify and arrest people who assault MTA workers. Just this past weekend, three people assaulted an MTA subway conductor after missing their stop because the train went express. The incident, caught on video, shows the assailants trying to pull the conductor from his cabin, punching him, and throwing beer cans at him. No arrests have been made.

Ive been here long enough to see that everyday, pretty much, people are verbally assaulted, theyre spat at, they are punched, they are threatened, Byford said at a press conference in front of the Bowling Green station, reports the Daily News. That is unacceptable.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano said that wearing body cameras would be voluntary and that they would not be used to discipline or monitor the workers. The MTA would pay for these cameras.

An attack on one of our employees is an attack on all of usand this kind of conduct against the women and men who move millions of New Yorkers every day is unacceptable, MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said in a statement, reports the NY Post. We are going to work with our union partners and law enforcement to do everything we can to not only catch and prosecute the perpetrators but to also prevent these horrible incidents from happening.

The Transit Workers Union stated that abuse of transit workers is rising. They cite an 11% increase of bus and subway worker harassment in the past year. More serious misdemeanors and felony assaults increased for subway workers, but fell for bus drivers.
Photo: CBC

Theres a moment halfway through the first season of Kims Convenience that encapsulates the show: Mr. Kim (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee), the co-owner of a grocery store in Toronto, is peering at a black dude sifting through snacks by the register. As the customer moves along, Kim asks his daughter, Janet (Andrea Bang), What you think, steal or no steal? When Janet asks her father if the man took something, with more than a little skepticism in her voice, Mr. Kim dismisses the question: Hes a no steal, because hes a black guy, brown shoes.

This, Mr. Kim claims, is a cancel-out combo. White guys with white shoes are a steal. Brown women with blue jackets are a no steal. But, he says, a lesbian  thats a girl who is the gay  if shes whistling, thats a steal. But two lesbains? Surprise. Thats a no steal. Even if whistling. Thats a cancel-out combo.

Naturally, Janet asks her father about a fat Asian gay man long, straight hair, and a black lesbian with a ponytail and cowboy boots  steal or no steal? After a blip of confusion, her appa deems that scenario impossible: The fat Asian gay nudges the hypothetical into fantasy. Gay Asian is never fat, says Mr. Kim. Only skinny Asian is the gay. Thats rule. Thats how they doing like that.

In just over 90 seconds, the scene tackles racial profiling, privilege, and queer stereotypes at a breakneck pace; flubbing any one of those runs the risk of turning whole viewerships off of a show. But the delivery is so effortless, and the scenes flow is so natural, that the viewer has no choice but to laugh, gasping intermittently for air over the rest of the episode. In this way, Kims Convenience is both a balm and a riot: The series reached audiences beyond Canada through Netflix in mid-July, despite airing in its home country since October 2016. The story was created by Ins Choi, who originally wrote it as a play, and saw that script rejected by every major theater company in Toronto. Later, it would go on to earn the Best New Play at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2011, following an entirely sold-out run. Today, production is wrapping on the series third season, with a fourth already waiting in the wings.

Insofar as anything approximating a pure sitcom exists anymore, Kims Convenience is the ideal. The shows concept is simple, and its executed within an inch of its life. We have a family, the Kims, with all of the entrapments and plotlines a family unit can entail. Mrs. Kim (Jean Yoon) and Mr. Kim manage the store in relative harmony. Janet, their daughter, juggles photography school and her life around the shop. Jung (Simu Liu) is Janets brother, kicked out of the home by Mr. Kim for stealing, but he works at a car-rental spot in the city and is adored by his umma and Janet.

While the fault lines for conflict are in place, the series doesnt force itself into them. Jung is estranged, but not in a particularly extravagant way: He simply, mostly, avoids his father whenever possible. Mr. Kim, the familys patriarch, is a devoted shopkeeper who loves his family, even if hes a little mystified by them. Mrs. Kim dotes on her husband, although at least once every episode she delivers a line so cutting that it pierces through the screen. Janet lives between the pull of taking over the store, her passion for photography, and her ummas attempts to set her up with cool Christian Korean boys. And when a professor of Janets wonders why her background isnt informing her photographs, she gently tells the lady that her parents arent refugees.

Well, says the professor, boat people.

My parents flew here, says Janet.

You mean fled, says her professor.

No, says Janet. Flew. Air Canada, probably.

Kims Convenience launches from these potential tensions, and virtually always sticks its landings. The show doesnt pretend to see reality differently than you and I do, nor does it attempt to sell you on what life actually is, so much as what life can be. We get a mirror of a very specific world  one that is extremely funny  and watching the Kims interact with their neighbors is a joy in itself: They are Latino and black and white and Asian and queer and old and young. Mr. Kim escorts his buddy, Mr. Chin, on a double date with a Russian love interest. Jungs childhood friend, Kimchee, plays the jokester to his straight man. Mrs. Kims social circle is wildly mixed, and from the first episode where Mr. Kim tests his fledgling gaydar to watching Janet flirt with Jungs black childhood friend later on, Kims Convenience is the rare sitcom that understands that not every joke needs to be explained to the molecular level, because its viewers live in the world as well.

The air between bits gives them more weight. But there is, maybe, a preexisting burden placed on the narratives we consume today: If theyre entirely divorced from our current political hellscape, those stories are deemed willfully blind. If they lean too far into it, they run the risk of playing to an affectation. And then theres the art that reads the room, attempting to decode how life is endured alongside it  with the magnified warmth of Coco on one end of the spectrum, lets say, and the hyperanxiety of Ottessa Moshfeghs My Year of Rest and Relaxation on the other  and I dont know where Kims Convenience falls, exactly, but I do know that I havent laughed as hard all year, with feeling, as I have alongside the series.

It is one thing for a shows narrative thrust to be the tension of living, and another for it to reject that notion entirely, but watching Kims Convenience, you just want to live in their world. Its very much like the corner store you visit to buy a six-pack or an iced coffee or a lighter you dont really need; youre only looking to soak in the ambiance. You learn to love the owners. You learn about their lives. You learn what to ask about, and which subjects to avoid. Youre not exactly missing anything, and the rest of your life is waiting on the other side of the door, but you linger for a little while, because you can, and because the space makes you feel good, and because this is real life, too. And Mr. Kim, regardless of who you are or where youve come from or where youre going, is unflinching with his farewell, one you grow to expect and to look forward to, delivered from the heels, with feeling, unvarnished and unchanging: Okay, see you! Its less of an announcement than a promise, because youre certain that its true.

Kims Convenience is available to stream on Netflix.
Photo: Masha Weisberg/Awesomeness Films/Netflix

Love letters  whether written to confess feelings, break a heart, or just get someone all hot and bothered  are a tried-and-true staple in romance films. Movies are a visual medium, of course, but sometimes nothing gets the point across quite like the written word. Oftentimes, a letter is simply there to unload some exposition or add color to a relationship  but there are many movies where the letter (or letters) are integral to the plot. In Netflixs latest rom-com To All the Boys Ive Loved Before, letters are the movie. The films heroine, Lara Jean, writes love letters to five boys, but theyre meant for her eyes only. Obviously, though, those letters get mailed out  and thats where the story kicks off.

Although the secret letter mailing works out for Lara Jean, sometimes letters in movies are more trouble than theyre worth. Regardless of the outcome, theres always a lesson to be learned from characters trying their hand at expressing themselves and their hearts desires through writing. Weve taken a closer look at nine movies with letters baked into the plot to learn a thing or two about putting our hearts to pen (or quill or typewriter ink, really whatever youve got) and paper. Read on before you decide to mail out your own secret stash.

The Movie: To All the Boys Ive Loved Before (2018)

The Lovers: Lara Jean Song Covey (Lana Condor) and the five boys shes had crushes on.

The Letters: Shy high-schooler Lara Jean is afraid of love, so whenever she has overwhelming feelings for a boy, she writes a letter to him to get it out of her system. She then puts that letter in an envelope and addresses it. Its a surprise to literally no one except Lara Jean when those five letters, supposedly safely hidden away, get mailed out (spoiler: her little sister did it), and the boys have follow-up questions. Humiliation aside, the letters put Lara Jean back into the orbit of old crush and cool guy Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), and the two strike up an unlikely romance.

Are These Letters Any Good?: Theyre age-appropriate letters written by a hopeless romantic. I wouldnt suggest an adult plagiarize them for her or his own wooing purposes, but they feel true to the character.

Should These Letters Have Been Written?: Sure, why not? Theyre harmless, they help an introvert express herself, and despite some awkwardness with her older sister who discovers her ex got a letter from Lara Jean, they ultimately lead our heroine to find love. Write on, girlfriend.

Whats the Lesson Here?: Dont address secret love letters unless you want them to get mailed, ya dummy.

The Movie: Bright Star (2009)

The Lovers: Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) and John Keats (Ben Whishaw)

The Letters: Flirty, fashionable Fanny meets and falls hard for reserved, broke-ass poet John Keats. While hes off writing and trying not to be so broke, the two build their relationship over a series of gorgeous, swoony love letters. Would you expect anything less from John Keats? Theyre all I cannot exist without you and three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain. These letters and his poetry are really all Fanny has left of John when he dies of tuberculosis soon after.

Are These Letters Any Good?: No other letters need apply, these letters are the best letters.

Should These Letters Have Been Written?: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Both for them  they only have a few short years together  and for us; Keatss letters to Fanny Brawne are real, so feel free to swoon at your leisure.

Whats the Lesson Here?: If youre dating a poet and he isnt writing letters to you about wishing he were a butterfly, youre doing it wrong.

The Movie: The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

The Lovers: Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan) and Alfred Kralik (Jimmy Stewart)

The Letters: Ah, theres so much romance waiting in postbox 237. Klara and Alfred are co-workers who cant stand each other, which is super-inconvenient because they are also unknowingly falling in love with one another as anonymous pen pals (does it sound vaguely familiar? Picture Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as business rivals falling for each other over email). Their letters to each other run the gamut of topics, and its easy to see how they go gaga for each other. And when Jimmy Stewart reads some of those letters out loud, well, gird your loins, people.

Are These Letters Any Good?: Theyre no John Keats, but they are very, very nice all on their own.

Should These Letters Have Been Written?: How else would Klara and Alfred know theyre crazy for each other?

Whats the Lesson Here?: Be nice to your co-workers in case one of them turns out to be a secret love interest. I mean, it works out this time, but guys, that could get so awkward!

The Movie: Pride & Prejudice (2005)

The Lovers: Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Fitzwilliam Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen)

The Letter: Theres lots of letter correspondence throughout Pride & Prejudice but The Important Letter, in every adaptation, is the one Darcy writes to Elizabeth apologizing for being an ass, outing George Wickham as, well, a real dick, and explaining why he tore apart Bingley and Jane. It is an extremely large step toward Elizabeth and Darcy taking the blinders off their dumb, beautiful eyes and finally seeing each other for who they are: soul mates!

Is This Letter Any Good?: Its mostly business, but written in the style of the day, it still sounds flowery and romantic. On his sister and her ill-fated affair with Wickham, Darcy writes: I will not attempt to convey the depths of Georgianas despair. I mean, the brooding dude can turn a phrase.

Should This Letter Have Been Written?: Definitely! Of all the letters discussed today, this one has the most concrete purpose  most are meant to woo with words or break hearts, but this one is about righting wrongs and making sense of some confusing actions. Darcy isnt great at conveying emotion face-to-face, so if he needed to write a letter then he needed to write a letter. It gets a lot done.

Whats the Lesson Here?: Misunderstandings kill love pretty easily, so sometimes it is best to really clarify things without interruption via the written word. Also, apologize to people. Oh, and also: Read letters from mysterious men with moody music playing the background. It adds a special something to the occasion.

The Movie: The Notebook (2004)

The Lovers: Noah (Ryan Gosling, James Garner) and Allie (Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands)

The Letter: Theres a whole year worth of letters in this movie, but because moms are evil and hate love, Allie never receives the letters Noah wrote to her. Instead, they were torn apart, and her family moved away. When she reunites with Noah years later and is all, WTF didnt you write? hes like, Excuse me, I wrote my sad little heart out to you 365 TIMES. (Im paraphrasing, but Allies mom withholding those letters really messed things up.) Thankfully, she saved the letters and gives them to Allie (feeling guilty, mom?), so we do get to hear Noahs final letter to Allie, in which he tells her he knows its over (spoiler: it still isnt over!). He tells her that hell remember how we spent a summer beneath the trees, and honestly, people should take note that talking about spending time under trees is insanely romantic for reasons no one knows. Love is a mystery!

Is This Letter Any Good?: Ill take the dream house over the letter any day, but the best love is the kind that awakens the soul isnt so bad.

Should This Letter Have Been Written?: Technically, no. Noah shouldnt have needed to write this letter but, moms. At least the 365 letters offer proof that he didnt just abandon Allie and their existence helps reconcile things between them. I GUESS THERES THAT.

Whats the Lesson Here?: I know he joined the army and was thus a bit busy, but, like, if your true love isnt replying you should probably Go To Her at least once. Youll write for 365 days but you wont go knock on her door? Yeesh.

The Movie: Dear John (2010)

The Lovers: John (Channing Tatum) and Savannah (Amanda Seyfried)

The Letters: Yeah, yeah, Nicholas Sparks loves using letters as plot devices and really doubles down here with the whole Dear John letter thing. John and Savannah fall in love on the beaches of South Carolina while John is on leave from the Army. When he has to go back, the two stay in touch over letters until it gets to be too much for Savannah and she writes him AN ACTUAL DEAR JOHN LETTER because we are blessed. Channing Tatum is very sad, but eventually the guy she dumped him for dies and they reunite  so, thats weird and interesting.

Are These Letters Any Good?: Snoozefest. The best letter in this movie is actually not a romantic love letter at all, but the letter John writes to his dying father (played by Richard Jenkins) with whom he has a contentious relationship because of his fathers undiagnosed Aspergers. Now, thats a letter. This movie shouldve just been about John and his dad but I guess people want the love, so here we are.

Should These Letters Have Been Written?: They were in love and he was in the army, so it makes sense. Also, the movie is called Dear John so there better be letters somewhere.

Whats the Lesson Here?: I guess just beware if your name is John and someone likes writing letters to you because one day they may see the Dear John humor of it all and things will take a turn.

The Movie: Casablanca (1942)

The Lovers: Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman)

The Letter: When we first meet ex-pat and nightclub owner Rick, hes a bitter man with loyalty to no one. We quickly learn its because of this letter. Well, okay, its because of Ilsa, the person who wrote this letter. Rick and Ilsa had a whirlwind romance in Paris, but just as they are about to flee the city as it falls to the Germans, Rick is stood up by Ilsa at the train station. Friend and piano player Sam (Dooley Wilson) delivers a letter informing him that she cannot go with him and he cant know why. And all of this happens in the rain, making it infinitely sadder.

Is This Letter Any Good?: Its brusque and vague and offers no closure  Ilsa might as well have just written the lyrics to As Time Goes By if she wanted to break the guys heart so badly.

Should This Letter Have Been Written?: No! All Rick wanted to do was drink Champagne with her, love her forever, and say, Heres looking at you, kid. At the very least Ilsa shouldve dumped Rick in person. Her husband was alive  thats a very understandable reason to break up with someone. He wouldve understood! I mean, he still wouldve felt like he had his guts kicked out, but he wouldve understood.

Whats the Lesson Here?: Always read sad letters in the rain in order to mask your tears.

The Movie: Atonement (2007)

The Lovers: Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy)

The Letter: Ugh, this fucking letter. Robbie, the Talliss housekeepers son, writes a series of letters apologizing to Cecilia after the two get in a vase-based argument that is really about Robbies plans to go off to medical school and the boiling sexual tension that exists between them. He writes one very formal, very 1935 British version and one very sexually explicit version that might cause a person to clutch his or her pearls even in 2018. Mistakenly, it is this latter letter that he puts in an envelope and hands to 13-year-old Briony (Saoirse Ronan) to deliver to her older sister. Briony reads the letter, is scandalized because shes a 13-year-old who doesnt understand whats going on, and hurt because she loves Robbie. Jealous of her sister, angry with Robbie, bored, and naive, when Briony discovers her cousin has been sexually assaulted on the grounds, she accuses Robbie and offers the letter as proof of his deviancy. Robbie is wrongly imprisoned, the lovers are thwarted, and then World War II happens and if you can even believe it: things get devastatingly worse from there.

Is This Letter Any Good?: I mean, it gets to the point.

Should This Letter Have Been Written?: The hardest of nos.

Whats the Lesson Here?: Dont write letters.

The Movie: The Lake House (2006)

The Lovers: Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) and Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves)

The Letters: Lonely Chicagoans Kate and Alex realize that they own the same gorgeous glass lake house two years apart  and can communicate through time via their magic time-traveling mailbox. 2004 Alex and 2006 Kate begin writing honest, flirty, romantic letters to one another, and also one time Alex (hes an architect, naturally) takes Kate on a walking tour of Chicago by letter. Its hella cute. But this isnt some letter-writing time-traveling rom-com. This is a drama, people. Kate realizes that Alex has been killed two years in the past and she writes a letter to warn him  never has waiting for the flag on a mailbox to go down been so intense. It works and the lovers finally find each other in 2008. Why does this mailbox have these powers? No one knows and no one cares because the time-traveling mailbox reunites the two beautiful people from Speed.

Are These Letters Any Good?: Does it matter?!

Should These Letters Have Been Written?: Im sorry, did you not see the part where I said these letters travel through time and save Keanu Reevess life?

Whats the Lesson Here?: Whenever you move, always check the mailbox in case a romance that is unbound by time and space awaits you.
This Is Us. Photo: NBC

Beloved patriarch and wearer of facial hair Jack Pearson is known for throwing his all into every life experience, and it seems his tour of duty in the Vietnam War will be no different. At an Emmy consideration event on Monday, star Milo Ventimiglia told Vulture that he tapped his own fathers emotional experience in the war to inform Jacks story. Its going to be about his time in Vietnam, its going to be about what happened to his brother, Ventimiglia said of the plotline promised at the close of the second season. The arc is set before he meets Rebecca, the love of his life and mother of his children, and while his younger brother Nicky  to be played by Im Dying Up Heres Michael Angarano  is still alive and at his side during the war. How did he lose his brother? said Ventimiglia. Thats what I think at least for Jack what were really going to want to pay attention to. Its just a pretty impactful thing to have loss at that level.

The shows producers said that the depiction of Jacks service during season three would be ambitious on both a story and production level. Were trying to really break some barriers for network television, in terms of creating something thats so period, and so overseas, executive producer and co-showrunner Isaac Aptaker told Vulture, hinting at a sweeping scope to the story arc. Its a real timeline that were going to live in and devote some serious episodes to. So its going to be a very fully real-life world. Its not just little moments.

Executive producer and co-showrunner Elizabeth Berger told Vulture that the young writing staff was committed to getting the details of servicemens experiences right, so they turned to an acknowledged expert. The name we kept saying was, We need Tim OBrien, who is this premier author on Vietnam and a former vet, but that seemed like too good to be true. That was like our dream  and then we got him, explains Berger. Thats been incredible, because we never want to take anything on that we cant do authentically, and I think hes giving it that stamp of authenticity.

Ventimiglia said he sees clear parallels between Jack and his own father, Peter Ventimiglia, which hes applied to his performance. Jack is a man who has this heart of gold, he said. He outshines a lot of adversity that hes up against, and the one thing that I know my father said about his time in Vietnam was he was surprised that such a beautiful people and such a beautiful culture could be caught up in such a horrific war. I know from what Ive read already of the Vietnam storyline, Jack feels the same. Jack is a very caring, loving, nurturing man, and he has the same sentiment my father shared with me about this horrible war that he was in, the actor continued. So without specifics, its understanding that that war is a pretty horrible thing.

A clip for the first episode shown at the event featured a scene from Jack and Rebeccas very first date, shortly after hes returned from the war, and its clear hes struggling to find his footing now that hes back home. I dont like talking about the war or my brother, Jack tells her. It makes me sad. It makes me angry. But I like talking to you, a lot.

Jacks son Kevin, played by Justin Hartley, will also journey to Vietnam in the present day to connect with his late fathers experience, and the production expects to shoot sequences in the Asian nation as well. Justins heading there, Milos potentially heading there, [and] maybe some of our other cast members, series creator Dan Fogelman said on stage during the event.
Photo: ABC

Given the all-pervasive nature of video and social media nowadays, we can all safely assume we will, at some point, humiliate ourselves in front of the entire world. But while most of us correctly presume well be filmed, say, accidentally getting crushed under the wheels of our car doing the #InMyFeelings Challenge, recent $100,000 Pyramid contestant Evan Kaufman preemptively blew most of us out of the water: by mixing up deceased Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and former commander-in-chief Barack Obama. In front of former Saturday Night Live star Tim Meadows. And host Michael Strahan.

choking on my own tongue. pic.twitter.com/9VtRysTXEL  bobby (@bobby) August 13, 2018

After a clip of Sundays episode hit the internet, Kaufman took to Twitter to try to explain what led to what he describes as perhaps the most embarrassing moment of my life. The takeaway? Dont go on an ABC game show when you have a very young baby at home, or you will biff it. My son had been born two weeks prior. I am very tired but excited to win money for my family. We play up the whole tired Dad thing, Kaufman explains as part of his Twitter thread. The producers of the show tell us beforehand, if we get to the final round, to study the questions VERY hard. People misread them! They say. They have no idea.

After making it to the final round, Kaufman says he watched that fatal square turn. He writes, I breathe. I read People Whose Last Name is Obama. I freeze. Theres only one. BARACK OBAMA. The man I would have voted for three times*! (*H/T Jordan Peele). Instead of simply picking the former president or a member of his First Family, Kaufman says his mind chose to betray him. Heres what my brain decided. Who is associated with Obama? Who did he kill? What sounds like Obama!, he tweets. And so you have this perfectly viral clip. A clip that is insanely funny. It would be so funny if it wasnt me.

Tweets Kaufman, [T]his just goes to show you that even a liberal Globalist Cuck like yours truly has some inherent racism lurking in my brain. What a disaster. Unconscious racial and sociopolitical biases aside  man, that should have been an easy get! The guy was just president! In the end, however, it wasnt a total loss, for the contestant or for all of us watching at home. Despite his gaffe, Kaufman was able to correct himself and Tim Meadows still got the right answer. Concluded Kaufman, I leave with $8,500  and the story of the worst pyramid guess of all-time.
Dozens of schoolchildren on a field trip were killed in Yemen last week when a Saudi-led airstrike hit their bus. More than 50 people died; nearly 80 were wounded. Many victims were younger than 10.

Speaking by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a few days after the attack, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia's support for northeast Syria's urgent stabilization needs, its engagement with the Iraqi government, and its offer to help Iraq address its water and electricity shortages," according to the State Department. He reportedly never mentioned the bombing.

Bombings Continents and regions Donald Trump Middle East Middle East and North Africa Military Military operations Political Figures - US Saudi Arabia Unrest, conflicts and war Yemen

The decision to work with Saudi Arabia and condone its brutality did not begin with the Trump administration. A long string of American presidents has been deferential to this oppressive regime because it is seen as a source of stability in the Middle East, and because it is sometimes willing to do dirty work in America's broader interests.

But the Trump government is especially sympathetic to the Saudis, even at the expense of our closest allies. It says a lot when you're throwing your lot in with Saudi Arabia over Canada.

This despicable embrace of the Saudis should be a bigger scandal than it is. But the administration is benefiting from its own self-induced chaos and dysfunction. American journalists and the public are so focused on our domestic disorder that they pay ever less attention to conflicts abroad.

Our expectations have also adjusted steadily downward. It's disgusting that Pompeo didn't push the Saudis on their recent slaughter of children, but is it surprising?

After initially claiming that the attack was "a legitimate military operation," the Saudi government has now pledged to conduct an internal investigation. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called for "a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident," after refusing to confirm details because "we are not there on the ground."

Never mind that those Saudi Arabia internal investigations typically result in clearing them of any wrongdoing, and that the US government supplies many of the weapons used to kill thousands in a war-ravaged, starving country.

Saudi Arabia is an unapologetic violator of human rights, within its own borders and outside of them. In Yemen, the Saudi government has not only killed thousands in bombings, but it blocked humanitarian aid and other imports, triggering a massive famine and the worst cholera outbreak in history. Starving civilians seems to be an intentional part of its military strategy; so is barring journalists and human rights observers.

Yemen wasn't exactly within the sights of most Americans before Trump's election. But now, our interests have turned almost entirely inward, on the left and the right. As the midterms approach, the overwhelming weight of the political conversation is about Trump and domestic policy; immigration is about as close as we get to focusing on an issue related to people beyond our borders, and that's only because they're coming to those borders.

This political myopia makes sense, given the degree to which Trump and his cronies have upended American political norms, reshaped the Republican Party into something even more power-hungry and intellectually vacant, and threatened our very democracy.

But it also means that our narrowed view pushes crucial global issues to the periphery, and that the worst of American foreign policy is increasingly ignored. Journalists are doing their damndest to tell these stories and to press the powerful for accountability. But this administration has proven time and again that it is unapologetically unaccountable to the press.

And most average Americans either don't care about what happens to Yemeni kids or are too overwhelmed by immigrant kids held in chain-link pens here to add one more complex geopolitical issue to the mix.

And so we get Pompeo issuing thank-yous instead of excoriations and Trump staying silent (do we think he could even find Yemen on a map?). The press is laudably covering all of it. But not a single person will pay a price at the ballot box. Most Americans won't even notice.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.  An Alabama company has a five-year, $522 million extension to an Army contract for inflatable satellite antenna systems.

GATR Technologies Inc. of Huntsville first won the contract in 2013.

It said in early 2014 that the contract made the antennas more broadly available to the armed services, which already were using them in special operations units.

GATRs ground-mounted antennas look like giant beach balls with tie-downs to point them in the right direction.

The antenna inside is reflective fabric. Fans keep the air pressure in the top half slightly higher than in the bottom half, pushing the fabric down into the right shape.

The extension brings the contracts total maximum value to more than $960 million.

It was announced Friday in the Pentagons daily list of military contracts.
WAAY31 uncovered how a change in an Alabama law lead to previous victims of a now suspected killer to not be notified about his parole hearing in 2017.

Under Alabama's Justice Reinvestment Act the parole board no longer recognizes victims of 2nd or third degree burglary as victims. Only if a person is convicted of first degree burglary in the presence of a victim will a notification be sent out.

Jimmy Spencer, a man charged with killing three people in Guntersville, was serving a life sentence for 2nd degree burglary out of Franklin County when he was paroled in January 2018.

Spencer's original victim from Franklin County, who does not want to be named, said there is no excuse as to why he was not notified about Spencer's 2017 parole hearing. Franklin County District Attorney, Joey Rushing, was not notified either about Spencer's 2017 parole hearing.

"They did not notify the people that would know best on whether a person should be released from jail," said Rushing.

Before the Justice Revisement Act of 2015, the board did notify Rushing and Spencer's original victim about his hearings in 2008 and 2013.

"In a situation like this, it was a burglary case in which Mr. Spencer went into a residence and got shot. Obviously the victim was in a self defense mode and the defendant [Spencer] kept advancing into his home even after being confronted by the homeowner. If that's not evidence of violence or what Mr. Spencer was capable of, nothing is," said Rushing.

The change in 2015 said the parole board only needs to notify victims of specific crimes like homicide, class A felonies (excluding first degree burglary where a victim is present), and sex crimes.

"The parole board.. all they have is a piece of paper or what's in front of them. We know the facts the details that's why I think it's so important that they notify us anytime a person with a life sentence or extensive sentence like that comes up parole," said Rushing.

Rushing believes that portion of the law needs to be changed. We have reached out to the parole board numerous times asking about the Spencer case. They have not gotten back to us. We also asked for conditions of Spencer's parole but they denied our request and said his parole conditions are not public record.
Defense News has ranked the top 100 defense companies based on revenue in 2017. The top five companies, which account for 60% of all US based revenue, have a significant presence in North Alabama.

Lockheed Martin again ranks number one, making nearly $48 billion dollars  or 21% of the US market share of defense revenue. Jill Aitoro with Defense News said Lockheed Martin saw a ten percent increase in revenue over 2016. We cant point to a specific contract but with Lockheed you can assume that theyre getting some revenue associated with the F-35 (fighter jet) in 2017. 

Lockheed Martins revenue was almost double its next closest competitor, and number two on the list, Raytheon. Raytheon reported defense revenue of $23.5 billion. Aitoro said Raytheon has seen a lot of business based on missile defense and cyber security.

The numbers are compiled by Defense News by asking companies to submit revenue reports, breaking down the numbers to isolate defense dollars. That can include contracts for defense, military and homeland security. The top 100 companies accounted for a total of $375.6 billion in defense-related revenue, up 2.9% year to year.

US companies still benefit the most from defense spending. 60 cents of every dollar (59%) is spent at home. European companies account for 25% of defense revenue. Russian companies 7%. Asia and Australia combine for 6%, 2% from the Middle East and a fraction from companies in Canada, South America and Africa.

BAE Systems was third in the ranking, making $22.3 billion in fiscal year 2017.

Northrop Grumman was fourth on the list with just under $21.7 billion.

Rounding out the top five, Boeing with $20.5 billion in defense-related revenue. Aitoro said Boeing had been number two for many years but dropped because they established a services business. For the sake of this list, they removed all revenue associated with that services business from their total defense revenue. It's a little unclear whether some of what they removed is actually relating to defense. So next year we will see whether they bump up again, she said.

A Russian company made the top ten for the first time in many years. Aitoro said you cant read too much into that because of the spotty nature of revenue reporting. Because sometimes they submit their numbers, sometimes they do not. Almaz-Antey makes anti-aircraft defense systems, missiles and other military hardware and reported defense revenue of $9 billion last year.
A woman who works for a local credit union is warning others after a scammerpretending to be a credit union themselvestook hundreds of dollars from an elderly relative of hers. WAAY 31 learned more about that scam and how you can keep yourself from falling for it, too.

She was just at home, got a call," said Leslie Stone. "The caller ID had the name of her credit union. They told her a name and told her they were with that credit union. Stone works at Rocket City Federal Credit Union and says shes seen many cases of financial fraud that stemmed from someone answering a familiar number, but she never thought it would happen to her own family.

Told her that they thought her card had been used at a target that same day. She had not left home. The scammer in this casepretending to be Stones relative's credit uniontold her that the only way they could block the transaction was if she would provide them with personal information. "The 16-digit card number, the expiration, and the three-digit CVV code on the back," Stone said.

Unfortunately, Stones family member gave the requested information to the scammer, but when she hung up, she became a little worried. "She called to check the balance on her account and they had already gotten $500 at an ATM within a five-minute span. Thats why Stone, along with others from several credit unions in North Alabama, are working to make sure people dont fall victim to the same scam. "Just because a caller ID says something, it isnt true," Stone said.

If you get one of these calls, officials are asking that you hang up immediately and call your credit union using the number you have on the back of your credit or debit card to make sure its legitimate.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - A white man charged with manslaughter in the death of an unarmed black man whose videotaped shooting in a store parking lot revived debate over Florida's "stand your ground" law is scheduled to face an initial court appearance.

Forty-seven-year-old Michael Drejka has been charged with the July 19 death of Markeis McGlockton outside a Clearwater convenience store.

Pinellas County State Attorney Bernie McCabe says Drejka is being held at the county jail on $100,000 bail ahead of the scheduled Thursday afternoon court appearance. It is unknown if he has an attorney.

McGlockton's girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, who was seated in the couple's car with two of their children, says Drejka confronted her for being parked in a handicapped-accessible space. McGlockton had gone into the store with their 5-year-old son. Video shows McGlockton exited the store and shoved Drejka to the ground. Seconds later, Drejka pulled a handgun and shot McGlockton as he backed away.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
There's been a Mad Men-sized hole in our hearts ever since Don Draper taught the world to sing via a Coca-Cola ad. But creator Matthew Weiner will finally unveil his followup to the landmark show (the less said about Are You Here the better) this fall: The Romanoffs, a new Amazon Prime series that is basically the "prestige TV version of Love, Actually." Check out the first trailer below.

The Romanoffs is a contemporary anthology series set around seven countries across the globe featuring eight separate stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family. Each story takes place in a new location with a new cast. But boy oh boy, what a cast: the first episode, "The Violet Hour," stars Marthe Keller, Aaron Eckhart, Ines Melab and Louise Bourgoin. The second story, "The Royal We," stars Corey Stoll, Kerry Bishe, Janet Montgomery and Noah Wyle.

Also starring in future episodes of the show (deep breath): Diane Lane, Isabelle Huppert, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Amanda Peet, Jack Huston, Kathryn Hahn, Paul Reiser, Andrew Rannells, Mike Doyle, JJ Feild, Jay R. Ferguson, Ben Miles, Mary Kay Place, Griffin Dunne, Cara Buono, Ron Livingston, Jon Tenney, Clea DuVall, Radha Mitchell, Hugh Skinner, Juan Pablo Castaneda, Emily Rudd, Adele Anderson, Annet Mahendru, Hera Hilmar, Michael ONeill, and David Sutcliffe. (For those counting, we have spotted at least four Mad Men actorsHendricks, Ferguson, Buono and Slatteryin there.)

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Weiner explained the inspiration behind the show: "The reason that I picked the Romanovs is that in an era where we have social media and so much theoretical connection to each other it really seems like we're further apart than ever. And I love this idea that these characters believe themselves to be, whether they are or not, descendants of this last autocratic family who are part of one of the great true crime stories of all time. I also love that it's the chance to talk about nature vs. nurture, what they have in common, and what is left of a grand heritage." (He also said he hadn't ruled out doing a second season of the series if viewers like it.)

The first two episodes of the new show will be released on October 12th, with the other six coming weekly thereafterthe fact Weiner got the streaming service not to ceremonially dump the entire thing all at once is remarkable in and of itself.

yeah the ROMANOFFS trailer is cool but have you ever read that matt weiner strongarmed a streaming service into releasing his show week by week  Alison Herman (@aherman2006) August 14, 2018

Late last year, a former Mad Men writer, Kater Gordon, accused Weiner "of making a sexually charged remark to her while she worked on the series." She had won a writing Emmy for the second season of the show in 2009 before being let go at the end of the third season. Weiner responded through his pr rep, saying, "He does not remember saying this comment nor does it reflect a comment he would say to any colleague."

Following the accusation, Mad Mens Marti Noxon (who worked on the series as a producer and writer) said Weiner was an "emotional terrorist" who would "badger, seduce and even tantrum in an attempt to get his needs met."
State Senator Tony Avella, Jr., won his seat in 2010 by flipping his Queens district from red to blue, defeating longtime incumbent Frank Padavan. Four years later, Avella would join the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of Senate Democrats who aligned themselves with Republicans. "My only bottom line is, to do the most amount of good for the most amount of people," Avella told Gothamist recently.

Former City Comptroller John Liu, who is running against Avella for a second time, characterized Avella's justification for joining the IDC as "the biggest crock of crap Ive ever heard."

Senator Avella declined to respond. "Oh, I dont care what John Liu says," he explained.

Over his four terms in the Senate representing parts of Bayside, Whitestone, Flushing, and Fresh Meadows, Avella has opposed the Willets Point mall, and lobbied to curb airplane noise. He has unsuccessfully ran for borough president once and mayor twice, most recently last year.

On Friday afternoon, at a Bayside bakery, Senator Avella spoke to Gothamist about his reasons for joining the IDC, his legislation to protect pet pigs, and the "national hype" that is attempting to boot him out of office.

A lot more New Yorkers are paying attention to your race because you were in the IDC, and overall it is framed as IDC members versus real Democrats. Do you feel your reelection campaign is about

No. [Laughs].

Why?

Well, first of all, the IDC doesnt exist anymore so that issue is dead. This issue was brought up by my opponent in 2014 [John Liu] and he had much more support then than he does now, and he still lost.

People in this district, I think, are concerned about, what have you done? What are you going do? How hard you work. I think thats it. The type of campaign Ive always run is, heres my accomplishments, heres what I want to do, Im always accessible in the community, and Ill let the voters decide.

What would you say a the voter who says that the IDC prevented progressive legislation from passing?



Not true. Not true. The perfect example is, at the end of the budget, the IDC disbanded and merged with the Democratic conference. We still werent in the majority. So that whole argument makes absolutely no sense, because if we were to go back, they said "Oh, youll be in the majority." We werent. We never held up anything. As far as Im concerned, the Democratic conference when I first joined it was totally dysfunctional. They had no agenda, they had no policy, other than keep saying, "One day well be in the majority." Thats nice, but in the meantime what do you do? So the IDC was already set up, and as long as I didnt change my position or vote differently, which I never did, why not be in the position to get some things done until we get the Democratic majority.

But in your example, Republicans had the majority in the Senate, why align with them, the people who are trying to obstruct the things the Democrats are trying to do?

But again, even if there wasnt an IDC, wed still have to work with the majority. You know, when I was in the Democratic conference, the Republicans would every now and then put up a bill that some of their members didnt want to do, and theyd call the Democratic conference and say, are some of your members gonna vote for this? Same thing would happen.

This is all national hype, because everybodys so upset about Trump, and I understand that, but lets look at the reality of the situation. I would have been the same situation had we been in the Democratic conference. At the end of the day, I believe, youre supposed to work together to get things done. Were not gonna agree on everything, but, if both sides just consider each other the enemy, were never gonna get anything accomplished.



What are the marquee accomplishments of the IDC?

Paid family leave, I think Raise the Age, is a clear example, that would have never been done. And in terms of my situation, in the past three years, Ive gotten the most bills passed in the Senate of any Democratic Senator. And except for this year by one or two votes, the most bills passed by the Assembly and signed into law by the governor. So are they major things? Theyre things that help the state and my community, so again, why not get something done until we get the Democratic majority.

Otherwise Im sitting there twiddling my thumbs. I wasnt elected to do that, I was elected to try and get things done and work with people. I never gave [Republicans] a majority, I never caucused with Republicans, I never voted for Flanagan to be the majority leader. Which was interesting because I had the leader of the Independence group, she actually came in and met with me in my office. She thought I had voted for Flanagan, she said I caucused with the Republicans, I said thats absolutely not true, she didnt even know what she was talking about.



Speaking of the Independence Party, a judge has ruled that the joint fundraising account between them and the IDC is illegal, a state election official has said that the former IDC members should return around $1.4 million in contributions. You received around $25,000 of that total. Are you going to return the money? Why or why not?

First of all, there has been no official decision from the State Board of Elections that its illegal donations. Look at the judges decision. The judge said all that had to be done, was that Independence Party Campaign Committee, cannot have a member of the board of trustees, or whatever you wanna call it, of another party. That was actually done months before the judge came down with the decision. Thats all the court decision says. It doesnt say you have to give back the money, it doesnt say those donations were illegal.



Even though the top BOE enforcement official demanded that they be returned?

She did that on her own, she had no authority to do that. In fact, didnt the Board of Elections just rein her in? They took a vote, saying she has to get approval from the State Board of Elections before she takes an action. She did that on her own, she misinterpreted the judges decision. Just because she says something doesnt make it right. I have not gotten anything from the State Board of Elections that says to me I received illegal donations.

What do you make of the peace deal between Democrats and IDC members melting away, and politicians declining to endorse former IDC members or explicitly endorsing their challengers?

I think that has a lot to do with the fact that Joe Crowley lost, he was one of the principles of the deal, and people now are just like, Well now I dont have to pay any attention to anything now, Ill just do what I want.

Its just, heres the truth and reality, and heres some of the things that are being said. People are just saying things. And because the media plays it up, its almost like it becomes reality.

That sounds kind of Trumpian. People are saying things.

Well, thats what theyre doing. Theyre actually more like Trump than anybody.

Who?

The people with this fake news, theyre actually the ones reporting fake news. Again: was there a decision by the State Board of Elections saying that we have to return these donations? No. I dont see that anywhere. I read the judges decision. So people can talk whatever they want, but its not the truth, its not the reality.

Lets go back to this idea thatI understand wanting to get things done, and you not wanting to twiddle your thumbs. But couldnt you and those other IDC Democrats have been more effective working with the other Democrats, including the governor, to push for things like universal healthcare in New York State or

They werent doing that. Thats the problem. There was no agenda in that Democratic conference.

Yes but wasnt that because there was this group of Democrats who said, Were gonna go over to the other side and work with Republicans?

No, they were there before I got there. Nothing was was happening. There was no agenda, there was no policy.

Im going to read something John Liu said to me about you

Oh, I dont care what John Liu says.

You dont care about John Liu?

No, I dont.

OK, fair enough. Automatic voter registration was just signed into law in Massachusetts, and 14 states plus D.C. now have it. Is that something you would support in New York?

I have a bill for weekend voting, and I also have a bill to allow people to get an absentee ballot without having to give a reason. Automatic registration concerns me for one reason: people are then being enrolled to vote without their decision. And it artificially inflates the number of signatures that people have to get to get on the ballot, and its already tough enough to do that, and we have the most archaic petition laws in the country. So I would be in favor of that if the laws change to recognize the fact that youre really making it more difficult for independents, not so much the incumbent, to get on the ballot.



You sit on the transportation committee in the State Senate. Why has there been no really tough oversight hearings into the MTA, given how messed up the subways are?

Ask the chairman. Ask the chairman! Hes the one who controls the agenda. As an individual member of a committee, especially a Democrat, we dont have the authority to set the agenda. Thats the chairman.



Is that something you would support?

Oh, absolutely. Even if I wanted to have a hearing, even in the IDC, you cant do it without their permission, and they wouldnt give it, unless the chair actually does it themselves. You wouldnt get coverage, you wouldnt get the live stream, you wouldnt get it to be recorded. You could have a forum, but you couldnt have a real hearing.

Why not use your bully pulpit, the same way you publicly cut up your parking placards, to do something about it? I think one of the huge criticisms of the IDC from Democratic voters is, why arent these IDC members out there advocating for progressive issues?

Well, we were, behind the scenes. We were. And we were doing as much as we thought possible given our minority status. Even in this coalition we were still in the minority, we didnt have the authority to say to the Republicans, put this on the floor. Maybe in the beginning before I got there they may have had that, with the co-president relationship, but it quickly changed. And then it was just, we can get some things up.

Do you still cut up your parking placard?

Yes.



Have you been following the placard corruption scandals in the city?

Yeah, I always thought it was an abuse. And I dont think any elected official should have these perks. We should have to experience the same sort of problems that the average citizen does.

What about police officers and city employees and teachers and other people who get parking placards?

I think we should reduce the number of placards, greatly. I havent gone into specifics, but I think the numbers should be reduced. I understand the situation with teachers, because sometimes you gotta park 20 blocks away. Police officers, theres an emergency situation, sometimes they have to park. But elected officials?

Thanks to @TransAlt, who brought a radar gun, so we could see just how fast vehicles were traveling due to lack of speed cameras @NYC_SafeStreets pic.twitter.com/DoIl8RjOkr  Tony Avella (@TonyAvella) August 9, 2018

You stood with Transportation Alternatives yesterday and urged the Senate to come back and pass legislation that would reinstate school zone speed cameras in the City. Its been reported that one of the reasons Republicans might not want to pass them is that the Patrolmens Benevolent Association doesnt support them.

I have never heard that. I have never heard that.

Because they claim that the speed cameras could potentially take their jobs, but also because its a lot easier to get out of a speeding ticket if a fellow police officer pulls them over.

I have never heard that. Again, I have never heard that. I would tell you if I heard that. I have never heard that.

On your Senate website, you say that your favorite job was working as an aide to Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins. Is that why you keep running for mayor? You like being around City Hall?

[Laughs] I like being in a position to get things done. Because whats the point of getting elected if youre just sitting around not doing anything? I spend a lot of time dealing with City issues, and thats because my constituents are very upset. When youre in the executive branch you have the power to do more than if youre in the legislative branch. The legislative branch youre working with a lot of other people. And youre trying to get things done that you may agree is the right thing, but in the Senate you got 62 other members, you got 150 Assemblymembers, and then you gotta deal with the governor. In the executive branch as mayor, you can resolve a lot of things if you have the political will to do it. You control all the agencies, theres a lot more opportunity to get things done.

So its about your hunger for power!

No, no, its the hunger to get things done and change the system. I have no ambitions for power whatsoever, my only bottom line is, to do the most amount of good for the most amount of people.

One of the major prongs of your last mayoral campaign was homelessness, and where homeless shelters are located. There was that huge protest outside the Maspeth homeless shelter, people were chanting White Lives Matter. It looked really ugly. Is there anything about that part of the campaign that you regret, or wish you had done differently?

Well you know, you cant be responsible for what every individual says. The issue is, this mayor, has not solved the homeless problem. Nothing can be solved totally, but the homeless population has increased dramatically under his administration. The bottom line is that its getting too expensive to live here, and we need to do something about it. There also needs to be more public involvement in the siting, not only of homeless shelters, but any public facility. One of the first things I ever got involved in, many years ago, was changing the city charter to develop the system of the public review processcommunity input, giving community boards more advisory power. I see us going in the opposite direction. The City does more things now without community input, without listening to the community, than ever. I think thats a disgrace.

I dont think theres anybody in the City who doesnt want to resolve the homelessness crisis. But it has to be a cooperative relationship, I cant go to a person and say listen, youre taking this whether you like it or not. Thats not a solution, because that person is immediately gonna say, well thats not attitude, Im party of this city, Im part of this government. We should be incorporating this person into the decision-making process. At the end of the day, I believe people will do the right thing, if you involve them in the process.



One of the reasons why there is an affordable housing epidemic is that a lot of the Citys control has been taken away from it by Albany. Theres the Urstadt Law

Oh, I dont buy that for a second. The problem is, when we do affordable housing in the City, were not doing it for the people who need it. I was on the City Council, I saw it. I complained about it then. If you look at any of the recent developments where the so-called affordable housing component is, its not affordable to people in those neighborhoods. Thats what the argument about Inwood is about. All youre doing is kicking the people out of their own neighborhood, and putting in affordable housing components that are not really affordable.

To say that, "Oh, its not the mayors fault"it is the mayors fault. He has the power, he controls City Planning, he controls the Department of Buildings, and if you worked with everybody, you could do a better job. Im not saying you could solve it.



I think thats a fair critique, but Im talking about rent regulations.

Oh yeah, well thats one of the things that have to change. And thats only going to change when the Democrats have the majority. But, when I ran for Senate, in 2010, I met with one of the tenant PACs, and I was trying to get their support against the Republican, Frank Padavan. The person said to me, "Well, we dont know, were mad at the Democrats." And I said, 'Well, what do you mean?" That was the only two years they were in control. He said to me, Were mad because theyve been in control and they havent done anything that they said they would do.

The first thing I ever did out of college, I formed a tenant association in my own building. Im pro-tenant, I think we have to do things, but I think theres also a realization that just because everybody has said its going to happen, doesnt mean its going to happen. But I think there should be significant tenant reform, significant.



Senator Avella at a Bayside bakery (Scott Heins / Gothamist)

Ive heard from a lot of people in my district that they like Uber because its a transit desert here. I have noticed a tremendous increase in traffic. But my own experience has been anecdotal in that, I see a lot of these new TLCs that I assume are Uber or Lyft, and theyre stopping in the middle of the street to look at their phones because theyre lost. Thats an issue. But the main issue for me is, what has been done to the yellow taxi medallion owners. Not the fleets, but the individual owners. A lot of them live in my district. They mortgaged their livelihood, their home, their future, to buy their medallion, and now their medallion is worth nothing, and that is a disgrace, that we have done that to these families.

We need to take care of them. Im not so much concerned about the cap, as I am concerned about taking care of those taxi medallion owners. Theyre committing suicide. This is awful. They took away the American dream, and theyre immigrants, mostly, and we havent done anything to help them.

Youve had some pretty harsh things to say about congestion pricing in the past. What is your real argument against it?

We live in a transit desert, how is it going to help us? And I also know government. I dont trust government.

Sam Schwartz has met with me a number of times and we have had good discussions about this. To get me on board hes made some changes. He said that well the moneys definitely going to go for this. And I said Sam, theres no such thing as a lockbox. Theres a lockbox now for transportation, it gets raided all the time. You cant handcuff a future legislator, future governor, future mayor, for deciding that money has to go someplace else. You can never guarantee that once we put in congestion pricing, that money is gonna go for mass transportation.

If I knew there was a guarantee, I might be so inclined to support it. But theres no guarantee, and Ive seen that happen in government all the years Ive been there. Maybe you have to change the state constitution? Theres no such thing as a lockbox.

And whats the effects on small business? Theres a lot of tweaks that could be made to the system. He actually made that concession, I think for me, about having the bridges that dont go into Manhattan half-price. I told him, thats a good thing, but you cant guarantee that tomorrow it wont go back up again.

Dont you think people would pay a little more to drive if they knew driving wouldnt be so maddening?

So far nobody in my district has said that. [Laughs] My district hates congestion pricing, and so does the Queens Chamber of Commerce, a lot of groups in the borough of Queens. Yeah, we all want more transit. Especially buses. Im still fighting to get bus routes that were cancelled before I was elected to the Senate in 2010.

If I went to somebody and said, Listen if you pay $10 more its definitely gonna help bus transportation, I think theyd say yes. But I also have to use my good judgement know that, is that really gonna happen?

Other cities have implemented it with success, just like other cities are banning plastic bags.

You know something, I hate comparing New York City to other cities. New York City is unique. We are unique. I just think we have to come up with our own regulations. Im always willing to talk about this, but so far nothing I have heard has made me change my mind that this is a good thing for my district, and Queens.



You stood with Transportation Alternatives yesterday about speed cameras, but youve fought against some bike lanes in your time.

Oh yeah.

Have you ever fought a bike lane and then gone on to see that its actually not so bad?

Its funny, a reporter asked that question while I was doing the press conference. I didnt want to embarass Transportation Alternatives. They know we dont get along. I said to the reporter, Im standing here with you on this issue. And then later on I said, but I dont agree with you on the bike lanes, after the press conference was over. [Laughs]

Im in favor of bike lanes, but it goes to what I said about public input. You cant just tell people, this is where its gonna go no matter what you want. Government is for the people. Weve gotten to a situation where government tells us whats in our best interest. It shouldnt work that way. You know what? The government doesnt always have the right answer. And thats the situation with the bike lanes. They dont really seek community input.

The one on Northern Boulevard is a good example. The community board reversed its decision and said no. They went in the next day and did it.

There was another bike lane that went up, right along a park. And I said to the city, why arent you putting it in the park? The park is right there! Their answer was, thats another city agency, its just easier for us to do it. So DOT doesnt talk to Parks? Theres no coordination in this city between the agencies? Putting in the park, youre not telling me it wouldnt be safer than putting it on the street?

Youre saying youd rather have the bike lane in the park than outside of the park? You have bike lanes to protect cyclists from cars, and theres no cars inside the park.

But wouldnt it be safer? Wouldnt it be safer as a bicyclist to have a bike lane in a park, rather than on a public street? There have bicyclists who have written to me about the Northern Boulevard bike lane because they dont think its safe.

Im not saying every bike lane. But if youre going along the park, if its going right along the park, doesnt it make sense to have it on the parkland? [Laughs] Youll never get me to change my mind on that, that to me is common sense. When theres no park I can understand that.

Whats happening with your legislative efforts to help protect New Yorkers and their pygmy pigs?

Unfortunately nothing. I cant get support within the legislature. And yet more and more families are calling about this. But they dont come out in public because theyre afraid the city will crack down and summons them and get rid of their pet.

Is the City actively enforcing the ban?

They backed off the one on Staten Island because we got so much media attention. But theyre still living under the threat that the City could come in and make them remove it any day.

This interview has been edited and condensed.


As part of the COPES Programme, an awareness regional seminar, organized in partnership with Mauritian Customs, took place from 24 to 26 July 2018 in Mauritius. The event brought together Customs Senior Officers from Burundi, Comoros, RDC Congo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The aim of the COPES regional seminar was to raise awareness of the invited Members about the importance of knowing about evidence collection, seizures in order to be able to lead effective investigations and prosecutions and to raise awareness of the importance of border security.

This seminar enabled the first French-speaking regional COPES trainer to gain official accreditation, representing the culmination of the process that began last February in Paris. Following a train-the-trainer event, seven French-speaking Customs officials from Benin, Burkina Faso and France were pre-accredited. They will play a vital role in promoting best practice based on Members experiences and advocated by the COPES Programme.

For further information on the COPES Programme, please get in touch with Mr. Gilles Thomas (gilles.thomas@wcoomd.org).
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IL House passes amendment to allow those who refuse vaccine to be fired
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Aug. 14, 2018 | PADUCAH

By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 14, 2018 | 08:42 AM | PADUCAH

Multiple fire crews responded Tuesday to the scene of a reported fire at Paducah's Westowne Inn.



Paducah Fire Chief Steve Kyle said they were called to the motel after hot spots were detected following a fire on Monday.



Firefighters were on the scene shortly after 8 am Tuesday. The motel is on Hinkleville Road next to Hancock Fabrics.



Kyle said Monday's blaze was in a second-floor room being used by an employee, and was reportedly started by a cigarette that caught a mattress on fire, and spread to a nearby wall. Firefighters actually spotted the smoke coming from the building about 3:30 pm as they passed by the area in their truck.



On Tuesday, the call came from an electrician who noticed the hot spot while working at the motel.



No customers were evacuated on Monday, or during Tuesday's call, according to Kyle.
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By Mike Cooper

Aug. 13, 2018 | PADUCAH

By Mike Cooper Aug. 13, 2018 | 10:31 PM | PADUCAH

The McCracken County Fiscal Court approved 35 court orders at their Monday evening meeting, which included the transfer of property on Commerce Drive in Paducah.



The resolution, 2018-01, which deals with the written determinations of the Court with regard to the disposition of certain surplus County owned real property located at 5455 Commerce Drive in Paducah, authorizes Judge Executive Bob Leeper, to execute a general warranty deed of conveyance of the property, together with all other documentation necessary to complete the transfer.



Judge Leeper explained that the Commerce Drive property had been "deeded over to the City and County for another Economic Development project that fell through, so we are simply deeding it back to the Industrial Development Authority, so that they can hopefully make a deal to bring an industrial prospect in to that site."



In other business, the court approved the vouchers claims register from July 23rd to August 13th to show county bills in the amount of $992,662.77, and ordered to make cash transfers to pay county bills approved August 13th in the amount of $510,530.05, and approved an Emergency Management NIMS resolution, which was also an order.



The second reading of Ordinance 2018-05, which will amend Ordinance 2007-16, was completed. This is to alleviate confusion on the part of businesses regarding the details of the applicability and administration of the City of Paducah occupational license tax credit. It is also to clarify the specific parameters so that all taxpayers are properly informed of their responsibilities and of the fact that the credit applies only to the present taxable year upon which a timely return is being filed.



McCracken County Sheriff's Department new road deputy, Ramon Sotomayor, was introduced to the Court.



The court also approved three appointments: Russ Galloway being reappointed as a member of the Hendron Fire Department Board, expiring June 30, 2021, Joy Cook being reappointed as a member of the Board of Appeals, expiring August 30, 2020, and also David Connley being appointed to the Board of Appeals.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 13, 2018 | 07:27 PM | GRAVES COUNTY

A Graves County man was arrested Monday on methamphetamine and marijuana charges.

According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a home in the 5000 block of State Route 97 after receiving information that a wanted subject was there. The homeowner reportedly gave deputies consent to search the home.

In the back bedroom, deputies found 45-year-old Christopher Eigenrauch, along with a woman. Deputies reportedly saw evidence of marijuana use in an ash tray and a small plastic bag containing marijuana. Eigenrauch was also allegedly in possession of methamphetamine.

Eigenrauch was placed under arrest and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Another man, Dusty Scott, was also arrested on a warrant out of Jefferson County. Both were lodged in the Graves County Jail.
FARM LABOR THIS YEAR: SOME LOCAL FARMS HAVE ENOUGH, SOME DO NOT

THE LABORERS WHO LITERALLY FEED AMERICA

"OF ALL THE CHALLENGES FARMERS FACE, ADEQUATE LABOR IS THE GREATEST"

Were well into the middle of the agricultural season in Henderson County...when after a tough spring of heavy rain and flooding, locally grown crops are being harvested.

And a major issue, as always, for local farms is labor....having adequate labor to harvest everything from tomatoes to apples.

Mark Williams, who is the Ag/Business director for Henderson County, points out that itll be a few weeks before we hit the peak of the harvest season when maximum labor is needed. As always, he says, there arechallenges finding enough farm labor.

There are some government guest worker programs available, he said...and local farmers have never before really taken advantage of them. They are expensive, he said. This, he said, underscores the need for immigration and guest worker reform. Of all the challengers local growers are facing, said Williams, labor is the greatest one.

ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) raids can be a concern, he said, but at least here, ICE focuses on the real hard core criminal element.

There are two issues with illegal farm labor, says Williams. One is they are very hard working people who make a real contribution. The other issue is the fact that they are illegal, and many have over-stayed their permission to be here. So, says Williams, the government has a lot to do...to figure out how these issues can be resolved.

When you talk with local farmers, you find some with adequate labor while others are hurting.

Don Justus is a local farmer and apple grower...says he expects to have enough farm labor this year. His farm has been using the same family for about ten years. His workers are legal so hes not concerned about ICE rains.

Another local grower, Wayne Barnwell with Barnwell Orchards, says labor is scarce this year, so he anticipates a hard season.

Barnwell says he is concerned about possible ICE raid, rounding up illegal farm workers. He says, If it starts, itll just be a snowball effect.

Barnwell thinks the immigration issue can be solved...if all sides get together...It can be done.

Basically, local growers continue to do the best they can...getting labor this year where they can find them and hoping for the best.

Sources tell us that any meaningful immigration reform is not likely before the November elections...and many are skeptical of reform even after the elections.

By Larry Freeman and Tippy Creswell
Embed from Getty Images

It may have taken a few weeks to haul over the line, but Tiemoue Bakayokos Chelsea exit is now officially done and dusted.

The 23-year-old French midfielder has completed his move to AC Milan, with the Italian club confirming as much on Tuesday morning

Official Statement: Tiemoue Bakayoko joins AC Milan https://t.co/FguKEBXq8M  AC Milan (@acmilan) 14 August 2018

With the transfer deadline passing last week, it should be noted that Bakayoko is joining the Rossoneri on an initial 5million season-long loan, with an option to make it all permanent for roughly 40million-ish chucked in for next summer.

Signed for 40million as part of the great Monaco raid of 2016-17, the 23-year-old just never quite got going for Chelsea, looking off the pace and cumbersome as his appearance rate dwindled all the while.

Maybe the comparatively more sedate midfield tempo of Serie A will allow him to flourish more fully.

The Blues will certainly be hoping so if they have any designs on recouping their money.
A 75 year-old Ohio man crossed a dream off his bucket list recently, and it's a good thing he packed his parachute to do it.

Getting out of the senior center bus 75 year-old Eric newton moves a little slow these days, but as he's about to prove, he's still got a lot of spunk.

That's him and Austintown Trustee Jim Davis, heading 10,500 feet into the sky, both jumping for the very first time.

Down on the ground 82 year-old Cookie Chepke, wishing she were up there too.

But health problems kept her grounded.

Her advice to anyone with a bucket list, "Get busy and do it. Because you'll regret it if you don't."

That's precisely why this guy is going for it, a little slow getting out, but at this point there's no turning back.

The ride down, a dream come true, and it wasn't long until he was back on solid ground.

At 75 years young, Eric Newton still has it.
Last Thursday our Portland office held a traditional beer bust celebrating the opening of the incubator space on our second floor that i currently hosting 5 startups and 2 organizations. We had beer, wine, food, cookies, and of course pie.





About the PIE Shop

Autodesk have launched an ambitious program that looks to foster new product startups and help entrepreneurs overcome challenges tied to making physical objects.





Portland design and product agency Uncorked Studios, 3D software maker Autodesk Inc. and the accelerator Portland Incubator Experiment introduced PIE Shop, which will guide startups through the prototyping and manufacturing phases. The program will be housed in Autodesk's new office in the renovated Towne Storage Building.

Autodesks role in the residency program is to provide the space, technology, and expertise that complements PIE and Uncorked Studios visions for a diverse, connected network of local start-ups," the company said in a statement.





Here are some of the residents:

Mentor:



Rick Turoczy Mentor of the Pie Shop (Startup and Community legend in Portland and on the internets including his popular blog Silicon Florist.)





PDX Women in Tech

http://www.pdxwit.org/

Established in 2012, we are a community-based non-profit organization. Our purpose is to strengthen the Portland women in tech community by offering: educational programs, partnerships, mentorships, resources and opportunities.





Bip (https://bip.care/)

Bip is a small format connected device designed to be worn by residents of assisted living facilities as a means of opening lines of communication among between residents, staff, and family, and providing critical data points that inform other assisted living management solutions.





Foundry Collaborative

The team who built the Adidas connected ball has spun off from the apparel company to continue to innovate on the technology they created. They will serve as both a PIE Shop company and mentors in residence for the other companies in the space.





CMD Sense (http://cmdsense.com)

CMD Sense uses a variety of connected devices and other tools to gather outdoor and indoor data in cities in order to help transform cities into a place that benefits all urban citizens. Their first product modernizes surveying by leveraging connected devices to create more accurate measurements.





Dorsum (https://dorsumtech.com/)

Carrying unsupported weight puts strain on the back, increasing the risk for injury. Dorsum has designed and are developing the AdaptiveSpine, a spinal exoskeleton and supportive device that transfers weight and stress to the hips. The product, inspired by first responders, is being tested by AMR, which is located next door to Autodesk Portland.





Portland IQ https://www.portlandiq.org/

A Public Private Partnership formed when Portland's rapidly maturing higher-ed anchor institutions recognized that shared goals, overlapping constituencies, close proximity, increasing community investment, and complementary real-estate development projects presented a rare opportunity for collaboration  collaboration that would provide exponentially more value as a combined effort than it would as individual projects.

The first signs of this emerging collaborative ecosystem are already part of Portland, materializing in signature projects like the OHSU Collaborative Life Sciences Building, a joint project among OHSU, Oregon State University (OSU), and PSU located at the Tilikum Crossing bridgehead on Portland's South Waterfront. This area  fed by bicycle and pedestrian paths, light rail, streetcars, buses, and the Portland Tram  is quickly emerging as a hotbed for life science, medical device, and digital health startups.

Today, the inspiration from that initial project is already informing other collaborative and complementary pursuits like the $1 billion Knight Cancer Center and the creation of the Eastside Innovation Hub, a new lab-office space in the Central Eastside





I cant wait to show you more of the PIE shop as well as closer looks at the residents and their startups.
Land reform needs a meeting of minds

There are three broad approaches to which the land issue is debated  the instrumental, the functionalist and the symbolic.

President Cyril Ramaphosas late night announcement that the government was going to push ahead with implementing a decision taken by the African National Congress (ANC) at its national conference last year to expropriate land without compensation has set the cat among the pigeons.

Speculation is widespread that Ramaphosa gave in to the land expropriation without compensation proposition to appease a faction of former president Jacob Zuma which has positioned itself as a champion of radical economic transformation.

There is also the view that Ramaphosa is out to promote party unity and to outflank the Economic Freedom Fighters, to the partys left, in the buildup to the 2019 general election.

All this appears fair comment, and is no way unduly cynical. Politicians say things, whether or not it is entirely wise to say them, to get votes.

Yet the land debate is about much more than party politicking. In many ways, it goes to the heart of South Africas post-colonial politics. It speaks to fundamental racial chasms. This points to the very real danger that the different terms on which the land issue is debated simply dont address each other.

It would seem to me that there are three broad approaches to which the land issue is debated  the instrumental, the functionalist and the symbolic.

All three approaches have a number of things in common. They all recognise the dangers inherent in the grossly disproportionate amount of land owned by whites, they accept that this has arisen out of the injustices of the colonial past, and agree that it needs to be addressed for reasons of both social justice and political stability.

Beyond that there tends to be disagreement about ways, means and the urgency of land reform.

Its important to understand these different approaches and how they relate to the ANCs proposed implementation of land expropriation without compensation. Its particularly important for people who hold these different viewpoints to understand and find one another. South Africans cant afford to let the land debate be reduced to a shouting match.

The instrumental approach

This argues its case upon both ideological and constitutional grounds.

There is the argument that the ANCs move represents a fundamental undermining of property rights, to the extent that it might even threaten the ownership rights of ordinary house-owners in urban areas. As such, it constitutes a major disincentive to investment and totally contradicts Ramaphosas highly-touted goal of attracting USD$100 billion in investment over the next five years.

Furthermore, because of the threat to security it involves, the move will serve as major discouragement to commercial farmers, who are unlikely to pour money into infrastructural improvements if they fear being expropriated. As such expropriation without compensation is a major threat to both jobs and economic growth.

The property rights argument is backed up by those who posit that the considered constitutional amendment is unnecessary because the constitution already allows for the expropriation of property by the state for public interest purposes.

This, the constitutionalists argue, gives the state all the armoury it needs to pursue land reform with urgent speed without threatening property rights.

The functionalist approach

This says that there is a desperate hunger for land among impoverished black poor. This needs to be addressed on grounds of need and political stability.

Economically, the argument is that, while the role of commercial agriculture as the principal producer of the nations food supply and of significant exports need to be recognised, there are many areas where farming could be successfully undertaken by black farmers, given the right support. This perspective is steeped in history. It points out how white commercial agriculture was systematically advantaged by the state under white rule, and how prosperous black peasant communities, whose competitiveness constituted a threat to white farmers, were dispossessed.

Its argued that there is much land available in South Africa which could valuably be transferred into private or communal black hands. Such land includes property owned by the state, land held by speculators, and farms which over the last two decades have shed most of their workers as they have turned over from direct food production to become game farms.

The symbolic approach

This angle to the debate appeals to the heart as much to the head. It harps on the point that land belongs to Africans. It was stolen by the colonialists and should be given back.

The symbolic approach is overwhelmingly about African dignity. As such, it often involves notions of reparations. It tends to brush aside all the difficult policy issues about how land transfer should be managed, let alone the injustices which may be heaped upon white landowners who had nothing to do with the original theft of African land.

Meeting of minds

Ramaphosa is well known for playing the long game, a pragmatist who is ready to bend to political pressures to achieve his long-term objectives.

It may well be that he will bow to the ANC imperative to pass a law allowing for expropriation without compensation. But he will want to make sure that it will pass constitutional muster. He will ensure that this amendment meets the requirements of the property clause in the constitution.

From this perspective, its tempting to conclude that the huffing and puffing about the ANCs pursuit of expropriation without compensation is really about nothing. But thats not the case. The Zimbabwean experience confirms this.

It was the Zimbabwean governments lack of urgency about land reform in the first decades of independence which provided the backdrop to the war veterans seizure of white farms in the late 1990s. It was then that the Robert Mugabe government stepped in to give the land seizures legitimacy and to claim the credit.

Much controversy attends the land question in Zimbabwe to this day. Certainly, the post-2000 land reforms have not been a total failure. Nonetheless, what is beyond dispute is that the way they have been carried out has come at enormous cost to overall agricultural production. As such, the Zimbabwe mode of land reform is one South Africa cannot afford to adopt  or to be bundled into by a panic-stricken government scrambling to keep up with events on the ground.

The address of the land issue requires a meeting of minds. The instrumental, functionalist and symbolic approaches all have their important role to play, and humility and willingness to listen to competing perspectives should be at a premium.

Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Republican Rep. Tom Garrett, who represents Charlottesville, Virginia, said Monday that FBI officials told him and other members of Congress that Russian actors were attempting to sow discord around the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville last year before the event took place.

Garrett revealed the information publicly for the first time in an interview on CNN over the weekend and clarified separately that the activity took place before the rally.

"It was before. Via bots, the internet, and social media," Garrett said. "I'm frustrated because either both Republicans and Democrats do not understand what the Russians are actually doing, or they don't want to tell the truth about it, or both."

Garrett's recollection of the meeting with FBI officials was confirmed by fellow Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Virginia Republican who was sitting next to him during the briefing. Griffith recalls "jumping out of his chair" when he heard the news. Garrett asked if the information was classified, and FBI officials told him it was not.

Both congressmen say the FBI was clear that the interference was contained to social media posts and the internet and that they were told that there was no evidence that there was any Russian influence on the ground.

Two sources connected to the Senate Intelligence Committee also confirmed that there is evidence of Russian activity around the Charlottesville rally. They point out that the discord was not all connected specifically to the Unite the Right Rally, but more about the debate surrounding the removal of Confederate statues across the country. The purpose of the Unite the Right Rally was to protest the removal of a statute of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from downtown Charlottesville.

Garrett, who sits on the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees, argues that the information is an example of how the federal government is not paying close enough attention to the broad implications of the Russian threat.

"Oligarchs and people like Putin use things like this racial divisive fight, which ignores the commonalities we have regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, this is the sort of thing they do," Garrett said. "As a member of homeland security, seriously that's what scares me most."

Garrett's comments were echoed by Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, a Republican, who tweeted a response to the CNN report, saying, "Few Americans understand Putin's agents are now picking at the scabs of every cultural skirmish we have -- from race to guns to media tribes."
The man charged with manslaughter after shooting another man in a Clearwater, Florida, convenience store parking lot has a history of threatening drivers, according to documents from the Pinellas County Circuit Court.

Michael Drejka, 47, fatally shot Markeis McGlockton in July after McGlockton shoved him to the ground during a dispute over a handicapped-accessible spot. Drejka claimed he feared for his life and said he fired in self-defense. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri previously said Florida's "stand your ground" laws prevented him from arresting Drejka.

Continents and regions Crime, law enforcement and corrections Crimes against persons Criminal defenses Criminal law Criminal offenses Firearms Florida Law and legal system North America Self defense cases Shootings Southeastern United States Stand your ground laws The Americas United States Weapons and arms Demographic groups Families and children Family members and relatives Population and demographics Society Teenagers Law enforcement Policing and police forces

Drejka was ultimately charged and will make his first appearance in court Tuesday afternoon. CNN has tried contacting Drejka multiple times, but has not heard back and it was not clear whether he has an attorney.

Court documents show that the July incident wasn't the first time Drejka aggressively confronted drivers over parking spots or what he perceived to be traffic infractions. In one incident, he caused a traffic accident by "brake checking" a car behind him, according to reports.

A truck driver parked in a handicapped-accessible spot

About three months ago, Richard Kelly told a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detective he was confronted by Drejka at Circle A Food Store, the same store where he shot McGlockton. Drejka, documents said, was upset because Kelly parked in a handicapped-accessible spot. The exchange between the two became very loud and Kelly said at some point during the argument Drejka told him he was going to shoot him, documents said.

Drejka then went to his car and was rummaging around the center console, but documents said Kelly drove away. Drejka, Kelly said, also threw racial slurs at him. Kelly is black and Drejka is white.

Court documents said Drejka wanted to voice his complaint to Kelly's employer, AA Cut-Rate Septic Tank Service, so he spoke to the owner, John Tyler. Drejka told the business owner he was lucky he didn't blow his employee's head off, documents said.

A woman drove too slow through a school zone

On December 12, 2012, a woman told a Largo Police Department officer that a man driving a black Toyota truck, later identified as Drejka, pointed a gun at her and the passengers in the vehicle.

The woman pointed out the truck to the officer. The officer spoke with Drejka, documents said, and he told the officer the woman was driving too slow through a school zone.

Drejka denied pointing a gun at the occupants of the car, documents said, but he did have a gun in his vehicle. Drejka told the officer, according to police reports, that he honked at the people in the other car, and the people in that car made rude hand gestures at him.

A teen didn't drive through a yellow light

On January 10, 2012, Tyler Smith, 18, was driving with a friend when a traffic light turned yellow. Smith decided not to drive through the light and stopped his vehicle.

A truck, driven by Drejka, was behind Smith. Drejka honked his horn, documents said, and yelled at Smith. Drejka held a black handgun out the driver's side window of his vehicle and motioned for Smith to walk back to his truck, documents said. Drejka then followed the teen's vehicle, passed it and slammed on his brakes, according to police reports.

The teen did not press charges, documents said.

When officers confronted Drejka about the incident, he said the teen's car cut him off, the police report said. He said he neither followed the teen's car nor did he show his gun, but did admit to having one in his vehicle.

The 'brake-checking' incident

Drejka was driving his truck down US Route 19 Alternate in Pinellas County on November 13, 2013, when a woman turned onto the route, pulling into the center lane so that Drejka could pass, according to a police report. She then pulled out behind Drejka.

Drejka would later tell a state trooper that he felt the woman, who had her 4- and 7-year-old children in the car, almost hit him when she pulled into the center lane, the police report said. He began hitting his brakes "in an aggressive manner," closing the distance between him and the woman, the report said.

As she got closer, he again slammed his brakes aggressively and the woman rear-ended him, the report said. Drejka told police he was trying to turn into a store but missed the turn, the report said.

But he also acknowledged being upset with the woman, according to the report, and said he was "brake checking," a term for when you hit the brakes because another driver is riding your tail.

"Based on my training and experience and the damage to both vehicles, (Drejka) did not attempt to turn prior to the crash," the trooper wrote in the report, which said Drejka was cited for stopping or sudden decrease in speed without signaling.
UTICA - Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi held his own fundraiser in the east end of Utica, Monday night. The Democratic Congressional candidate in New Yorks 22nd district welcomed the public to the Chesterfield Restaurant for a people-powered fundraiser. While over 500 people attended, President Trump was not too far down the street.

Anytime the President comes to town it is a good thing, said Brindisi. I just think it is a little bit unfortunate that people have to pay 15,000 dollars to see him.

On the flip side, the Assemblyman only charged his guests ten dollars per person. He told WKTV that all the money raised tonight was going to support his grassroots campaign, one of which only has three more months left.

We need help knocking on doors, said Brindisi. Our competitor is outspending us on TV with her Super PAC, and we need to keep us competitive and get our message out there.

Summing up the night, Brindisi told WKTV if elected he has promises for the people of New York.

We can promise you that they will have a representative that is independent, who works with Democrats and Republicans, who works on protecting health care, Medicare, and social security, said Brindisi. That is what we need in Washington right now.
Shes lived 105 years, and on Monday she had a dream come true.

Lifelong Rome resident Mary Malinowski is a big fan of President Donald Trump, and on Monday she got to attend the fundraiser for Congresswoman Claudia Tenney that Trump hosted in Utica.

Back in July, Tenney brought Malinowski a special birthday gift: a birthday card signed by the president himself, as well as First Lady Melania Trump.

This came after Tenneys office found out that Malinowski had campaigned and convinced most of the residents on her floor at Rome Memorial Hospital Residential Healthcare Facility to vote for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

Ill tell him how hard I work for him to become a president, and I did, Malinowski said. Well, I read quite a bit about him, how he helped people, how he helped feed some people. In fact, I got the two books at home.

"Decades of life has not jaded her and she continues to live her life to the fullest each day," Tenney said about Malinowski back in July.
UTICA  Hundreds of people from throughout New York State were in Utica both in support of and protesting President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon and evening.

Trump was at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica hosting a fundraiser event for Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, who is seeking re-election to the 22nd Congressional District Seat.

Those participating in the Resist Tenney and Trump Protest gathered outside of the Utica State Office Building, just a few blocks away from where Trump is hosting the fundraiser. The protest was organized by Indivisible Mohawk Valley, Central New York Citizen Action and 1199SEIU Upstate NY, a healthcare union.

The people who gathered in support of Trump and Tenney were located on the opposite side of Genesee Street.

I think Donald Trump is the greatest president of all-time, said Dave from Frankfort. I love him, hes my president, and I love this country.

Dave said the back-and-forth rallies of Trump supporters and protesters is awesome and exciting.

Were all just chanting and having a good time here, he said.

Among those rallying in support of President Trump was Russell Brooks, Uticas fire chief on leave, whose son was attending the fundraiser with the president.

We have people exercising their First Amendment right and thats great, although Ive got to tell you Im not a hundred percent comfortable with those in opposition of the president because I dont see any flags  well, now I see a flag  but I see swastikas and I dont see how we can condone that and Im not in favor of these signs with vulgarities on them. Theres young children here and theyre looking across the street, seeing this stuff, so that kind of takes away from the First Amendment issues.

On the other side of Genesee Street, an organizer of the protest, Sara, said the organizations involved had about eleven days notice that the fundraiser was going to happen, and they immediately got to work organizing their protest.

Weve been collaborating together to bring this peaceful, non-violent, law-abiding protest here to Utica.

Everybody here, theres a lot of solidarity, a lot of great energy. Were all going to be voting here in the midterms, but we wanted to send the message that everybody needs to know that the Trump agenda is hurting central New York families and thats not okay.
Gary Thibodeau, the man who was convicted of kidnapping Heidi Allen of New Haven, Oswego County back in 1994 has died, according to a report from CNYCentral.

Eighteen-year-old Heidi Allen disappeared on Easter morning in 1994, and she has not been seen since her disappearance. She was working as a convenience store cashier at the time she went missing.

Thibodeau was convicted in 1995 of kidnapping Allen, and he has been serving a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.

Thibodeau maintained his innocence until his death, which occurred Sunday in hospice care at Coxsackie Correctional Facility, Thibodeaus attorney told CNYCentral. He was 63 years old.
UTICA, NY-- Roughly 1,700 people packed three blocks of sidewalks in downtown Utica to show their opposition to President Donald Trump and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney on Monday.

The president was visiting the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica, hosting a fundraiser event for Tenney, who is seeking re-election to the 22nd Congressional District seat.

The local group Indivisible Mohawk Valley and partner organizations protested outside of the State Office Building holding signs with messages that knocked President Trump's policies, such as health care, immigration reform and women's reproductive rights, among others.

"There's a lot of solidarity here and the energy is amazing," said Sarah Reeske, co-leader of Indivisible Mohawk Valley. "There's a lot of people here getting off the couch, stop yelling at the TV and are here on the sidewalk, peacefully, law-abiding non-violently protesting and everybody here feels that the Trump agenda hurts Central New York families."

Everyone had their own reasons for participating in the Resist Trump and Tenney Protest.

Katlyn Baughnan, a Utica resident, dressed in garb resembling a handmaid from "The Handmaid's Tale." The 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood and hit series on Hulu, revolves around a society in which women are stripped of their reproductive autonomy.

"Women are essentially just wombs and I feel like that's what Trump and Tenney are aiming towards," Baughnan said. "They have really poor health care policies, both pro-life which I defined as forced birth."

Another protester, Dylan Bennett, of Utica, said he served in the military and is transgender. He spoke about his concerns with the Trump administration.

"I'm a transgender individual I came out after I got out of the military, but I was in the military and it really means a lot, to a lot of trans people to be able to serve," he said.

According to NBC News, President Donald Trump announced on March 23 that he would endorse a plan by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to restrict the military service of transgender people who experience a condition called gender dysphoria. The policy replaced an outright ban on transgender service members that Trump announced last year on Twitter, citing concern over military focus and medical costs.

Last week a U.S. court ruled the Trump administration could not enforce the policy barring certain transgender people from serving in the U.S. military.

Janine Schiavi, of New Hartford, brought her two sons with her to protest.

"My children are here and as a mother it's really difficult to raise young boys with a great role model of a president under President Trump," she said. "It's a constant battle to explain his poor behavior and his immoral actions and we prefer to have a president who we can be proud of."

Zahar Omar, of Utica, is a refugee from Kenya, who came this area in 2010. She said she doesn't like President Trump or his policies.

"Because he doesn't like refugees," she said. "And America is peace, united freedom for everyone."

In April immigrant families were separated because the Trump administration began to prosecute as many border-crossing offenses as possible. In June the president signed a executive order reversing his policy of separating families  and replacing it with a policy of detaining entire families together, including children, but ignoring legal time limits on the detention of minors, according to NPR News.

One protester took his message a step further, by dressing up like President Trump, resembling a giant baby.

"Both Tenney and Trump I don't believe really represent the people," said John Bailey, of Hamilton. "Claudia she doesn't really represent her constituents, she doesn't listen. I know so many people have gone to her office and tried to talk to her and she doesn't listen and she won't have a town hall, I mean I went to her one pseudo town hall and I just think that's deplorable."

Reeske added that she hopes the hundreds of protesters that came to share their opinions send a message to others.

"Claudia Tenney does not have a easy road to re-election, all these people here are going to be voting and they're going be talking to friends and family about voting and how important it is to vote, " she said. "We have the power to shift the way things are, if we're not happy we need to get involved and go for it."
UTICA, N.Y. (AP) - President Donald Trump is claiming that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called and told him that he wouldn't challenge him for the presidency.

The Democratic governor's office didn't immediately respond to Trump's remarks, which came as the president spoke at a fundraiser Monday for Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney in Utica.

Trump says New York could have the nation's lowest taxes if Cuomo pursued different energy policies. He says, "It's very sad to see what's happened with New York."

He also says Cuomo called him and said, "'I will never run for president against you.' But maybe he wants to." Trump added: "Oh, please do it. Please. Please."

Cuomo is among the Democrats discussed as a possible 2020 White House contender.

The president says, "Anybody who runs against Trump suffers."
Utica, N.Y. - The local people who came out to show their support for President Trump in Utica on Monday may have been outnumbered by the Trump protesters who came out, but they were not out-passioned.

Retired U.S. Army veteran David Berberick of Vernon was chanting 'God Bless Trump' along with a few hundred other Pro-Trump supporters along Genesee St. while in clear view of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica where President Trump made a fundraising stop for Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New Hartford.

Berberick calls the people across the street, 'Trump-haters', and he believes they do not want to make the country better, "They dont want to compromise. They dont want to work together as a team. I mean it really frustrates me when people dont want to work together and compromise. Everyone has a good point and people should work together, especially for our country."

Joanie Miller of Utica says she and others were offended by the graphic language used in some of the signs held up by some of the Trump protesters. "Its disgusting what is going on across the street. Its just so full of hate. Its not right, thats disgusting, and Trump is really trying. Hes a good leader and hes really trying to help everybody."

One of those who was also offended by some of the graphic nature of some of the Trump protester signs was Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks. Brooks says he doesn't like President Trump's character, but he believes Trump is making America better. Brooks says this was an exciting day for both, those who support Trump, and those who don't, "It's exciting to have the President of the United States to coming to the city of Utica. What could be more exciting than that. You have people exercising their rights under the First Amendment, both sides."

Dave Ciccone of Frankfort brought a life-sized cut-out of President Trump with him to the rally. Many people stopped to take pictures with it. Ciccone says he appreciates everyone's right to free speech, "I was expecting more of a fight, not a fight, but retaliation, but that hasn't been that bad. I'm glad to be around these people though, because I feel like I'm around my brothers right now."
Two men have been arrested in connection to an animal cruelty case after a dog was found tied to a log near the Erie Canal a couple weeks ago.

According to the Central New York SPCA, 23-year-old Trevor Drake of Rome and 23-year-old Kyle Webb of Boonville are both charged with misdemeanor abandonment of an animal.

Last week, the CNY SPCA was asking the public for information about a dog  which has since been named River  that was found tied to a log near the Erie Canal in Rome on July 30. Officials said River was found on the canal trail at the end of Luquer Street, and she was in good health without any signs of being hurt or underfed, but officials believed she was left there intentionally.

SPCA officials say the case is being handled in Rome City Court. We are still working to obtain mugshots of Drake and Webb,
UTICA  President Donald Trump hosted a fundraiser event for Congresswoman Claudia Tenney in Utica on Monday.

The private event was held at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica on Lafayette Street, and tickets cost $1,000, $5,000 or $15,000.

Trump flew into Griffiss International Airport in Rome at 4:05 p.m. and then made his way to Utica, where hundreds of supporters and protesters were waiting with signs and chants.

The event was originally closed to the media, but a network pool camera provided live television coverage of Trumps speech.

Some of the topics Trump spoke about included the economy, jobs, taxes, energy, and political candidates he was supporting, such as Congresswoman Tenney and Chele Farley, who is running for U.S. Senate against Kirsten Gillibrand.

To listen to Trump's speech, watch the video above.
DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI)  Monday marks 18 months since Abigail Williams and Liberty German were killed on one of Delphi's historic trails.

Investigators want people to remember that although they may not hear something new about the case every day, it doesn't mean police aren't working on it all the time.

Indiana State Police Sergeant Kim Riley said his department has one officer assigned to the investigation full time and the same goes for the FBI.

Investigators have received more than 35,000 tips to date, they have processed roughly 11-hundred of those.

The only thing they are doing differently is re-visiting some of those tips a third and fourth time. Sgt. Riley every time this case is talked about in the media or shared on social media, investigators are flooded with new leads.

Sergeant Riley said given the amount of evidence they have, it will be a long time before investigators stop calling it an active case.

"Basically when you've extinguished all of your leads all of your tips all of your information that you have gone as far as you can go with what you have that is when you're looking at a cold case, we are a long way from that," said Riley.

Sergeant Riley said there is still information investigators haven't even tapped into. He said no tip is too small and encourages people to continue sending them in and keep sharing the sketch on social media.
DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI)  Delphi Community School Board members are looking for ways to bring art classes back to the middle and elementary schools. The topic was discussed at Monday night's meeting.

No one at the meeting disagreed having art in schools is important. Board members said they are willing to try and come up with funding for the program through grants or maybe consider hiring a part-time position.

There is just more of a logistical issue when it comes to scheduling and cooperation between the schools.

Back in June News 18 shared one Carroll County parent's concerns about the district not offering traditional art. The community had the chance to voice those concerns to the board.

Administrators said they want a cooperative K-12 art program, not separate elementary, middle and high school programs.

Currently, only the high school offers traditional art classes. Elementary Principal Bill Shidler said he wants parents to realize art is still happening in the middle and elementary schools, it just may look different than what they'd expect.

"1975 I would take my art home on a piece of paper a lot of this is visual it's on the computer, it's online it's on a computer itself that stays at the school so we can do a better job of showcasing the great things our kids are doing," said Shidler.

The elementary school added a class called integration technology this year. No word on when the schools could see what people consider "traditional art classes" come back to the curriculum.

However, board members said they are taking all comments made tonight into consideration. We will continue to follow the progress.




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Brymbo residents asked to keep windows and doors locked after reports of four males trying to enter a property

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 14th, 2018

A warning has been issued to residents this evening following reports of four males attempting to gain entry to a property.

Police are asking residents in the Phoenix Drive area to keep their windows and doors locked.

If anyone has any information about the incident or may have seen a dark grey BMW 1 series in the area please ring 101 quoting W114928
Health board staff raise over 6500 in honour of colleague diagnosed with terminal cancer

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 14th, 2018

A team of therapists have raised thousands in support of their colleague who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Area head of occupational therapy for Wrexham and Flintshire, Lesley Cotter has been given the terminal diagnosis due to the development of brain tumours  news which inspired her team to begin a drive to raise money in her honour.

Lesley has worked for the NHS primarily at Wrexham Maelor Hospital since 1986 and is a well-respected occupational therapy leader in Wales.

Over the summer, Lesleys Ladies have been putting in the mileage and participating in various events to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and therapy team managers  along with friends and family of the team  have completed a series of events including the 5k Race for Life in Chester, Alyn Waters 5k and Crystal Palace 10k.

Staff chose to complete 5 and 10 kilometre distance events to honour occupational therapists commitment to breaking down barriers and enabling people to be independent and achieve success in a way that is personal to that individual.

Occupational therapist, Vicky Warburton who led the team at the Chester Racecourse Race for Life said: It was blisteringly hot on the day but we were so proud because everyone who entered, finished the event.

The whole team got involved wearing wigs and tutus. The camaraderie was fantastic and there was laughter and smiles.

We didnt want to leave anyone out and so some of our male colleagues also came to support us dressed up as female cheerleaders as they were unable to register for female only race.

We were so pleased that Lesley also made it to the race on the day to cheer us all on and she received lots of rather sweaty hugs on the finish line. We want her to know how much we care.

Colleague Rupert Leslie spoke of his pride at taking part and supporting Lesleys Ladies. He said: The very worst of situations often result in a demonstration of the very best in people.

We came together on the day for a cause close to everyones hearts, mobilising a huge team of support, not only for the charity but for each other too.

Lesley spoke of her pride in the team. She said I am immensely proud of all my colleagues, friends and family, who came together to raise monies for a charity that supports the work to beat this horrible disease.

Anyone wishing to donate to Lesleys Ladies can do so here.
Hundreds of prospective students set to attend Wrexham Glyndwr University open day this Saturday

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 14th, 2018

Hundreds of visitors are expected at Wrexham Glyndwr University at an open day this weekend.

Taking place between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 18th August, the event gives prospective students the chance to visit the university and find out more about courses they are hoping to study.

During the day a series of events and workshops will take place  along with university lecturers and staff on hand to offer any advice and answers potential students may have.

Earlier this year Wrexham Glyndwr University became a Top 100 University in the Guardian University Guide 2019, rising 24 places in the league tables  with the university also being one of the top 10 risers in the UK.

Andy Cairns, Glyndwrs events, experience and CRM officer said: If you are thinking of taking an undergraduate degree this year, theres going to be something on offer at our Open Day which will interest you.

From portfolio surgeries for students thinking of applying to our School of Creative Arts to virtual and augmented reality demos and challenges, theres a wide range of events throughout the day  as well as regular tours around our campuses so you can see where youll be studying.

Admissions Manager at Wrexham Glyndwr University, Andy Phillips, added: We still have availability across a wide range of subject areas for September so its not too late for anyone who is waiting on exam results or who is unsure if university is for them, to come and find out.

The admissions team will be on hand throughout the day to answer any questions about the admissions process and advise on entry requirements.

Theres something for everyone at Wrexham Glyndwr so make sure you come along on August 18 and find your future.

Students who are planning to study at Wrexham Glyndwr in September 2018 on a full-time undergraduate Engineering degree may be eligible to receive a bursary which offers free Student Village accommodation for one academic year.

This week the university will also be on hand to guide prospective students through the clearing process  with thousands of students set to get their A Level results on Thursday.

You can book to attend the open day and find out more information about whats on offer on the universitys website.
As recently as 2014, the UK government was warned of the risks of using combustible aluminum composite material (ACM) cladding on buildings and did nothing to stop its use or warn the population.

The details emerged just as the Grenfell fire inquiry broke for its summer recess. It was because Grenfell Tower was surrounded by highly flammable cladding that a small fire on the fourth floor rapidly became an inferno that consumed the entire block on June 14 last year, claiming 72 lives.

Inside Housing, the weekly trade publication, revealed minutes of a meeting of the fire group of the Center for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) on July 2, 2014. Inside Housing was able to access the minutes through a Freedom of Information request.

The meeting, held two years before Grenfell tower was covered in flammable ACM, was called after the CWCT received inquiries about the fire safety and performance of facades (cladding) due to the fact that there had been a number of issues recently. It was attended by officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

On the combustibility of insulation, the minutes state, Limited combustibility insulation should be used above 18 metres when following the prescriptive requirements of Approved Document B (ADB) Cl[ause] 12.7 but other materials, principally foil faced phenolic foam are often used in rainscreen walls.

This was not the case at Grenfell, with its cladding being compared to solid petrol by some experts.

The minutes show the building regulations to be deliberately ambiguous, providing grey areas where building control officers have allowed the use of combustible material that does not comply to the standards in ADB clause 12.7.

Regarding the use of ACM, the CWCT findings showed that, This material generally achieves a reaction to fire classification of class 0 or class B s1 d0. In the minutes, CWCT recommends that there are safer and less combustible options available. There are versions available with a mineral core which can achieve A2 s1 d0. There are also similar materials available with other metals such as copper used for the facing.

The minutes give a stark warning of the dangers associated with the use of ACM: There have been major fires in buildings in various parts of the world including the Middle East and France where ACM materials have been used for the cladding with the ACM responsible for external fire spread.

It is stated that clause 12.7 of ADB is intended to prohibit the use of polyethylene cored ACM in buildings over 18m as they are not classed as limited combustibility. 

In a building with a storey 18m or more above ground level any insulation product, filler material (not including gaskets, sealants and similar) etc. used in the external wall construction should be of limited combustibility.

While it was made clear to the Department for Communities and Local Government that cladding was directly responsible for the spread of external fires in tower blocks, the government was doing nothing with this information.

These official guidelines were ignored by the government, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council (RBKC) and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO)that carried out Grenfells refurbishment on behalf of the council.

The minutes also point to the dangers in the use of cladding that has not been properly fitted and buildings that have not been designed to take the new forms of cladding:

Cavities/openings may be formed in a fire due to melting or deformation of materials. The cavities/openings may lead to unexpected routes for fire spread. In ADB [Approved Document B] the requirement for insulation of limited combustibility applies to all insulation so includes insulation within a rainscreen cavity or within a curtain wall spandrel panel.

This adds to the evidence pointing to the vast criminality committed at Grenfell by the political and corporate elite, who are doing everything possible to conceal their crimes.

In the Grenfell Inquirys last session, Michael Mansfield QC, representing some Grenfell families, interrupted inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, to insist there was a sense of urgency to act and help families still living in tower blocks with similar cladding. He said, There is no need to wait another nine months to make recommendations that couldand possibly shouldbe made now.

The same call was made in June by Pete Weatherby, QC, who demanded a moratorium on the use of any insulation or rainscreen products that are below A1 (non-combustible) standard, at least until [the inquiry chairs] final report.

In response, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) claimed, We are acting quickly and are consulting on banning the use of combustible materials on high-rise residential buildings. We are also restructuring building regulations fire safety guidance to ensure it is clear.

The truth is that the government is consulting on the banning of ACM only in order to ensure that any such measure, if legislated at all, will result in the least impact on the profits of big business. A full ban is opposed by Sir Ken Knight, the chair of the governments independent fire safety panel, who wrote to the MHCLG on July 2 calling only for a limited ban on combustible materials used on buildings.

Virtually nothing has been done to make thousands of people safe in their homes 14 months after the Grenfell fire.

In total, 470 public and private buildings in the UK are known to have Grenfell-type cladding. A year after the Grenfell fire, the governments own building safety programme had identified 297 private high-rise blocks with ACM cladding. However, only 21 had begun the process to remove cladding and only four buildings have had their cladding completely removed. It is estimated by other sources that there are many more buildings clad in ACM, which are not being listed by their owners, who fear a collapse in the value of their property.

Recently residents at the New Capital Quay block in Greenwich, London had to prepare a class action suit against developers and insurers over building safety to force the company to agree to remove the cladding from their homes.

Those guilty of social murder at Grenfell Tower must be arrested and charged, including former London Mayor Boris Johnson, Prime Minister Theresa May and her predecessors, David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.

Those instrumental in the decision to add the cladding to Grenfell must also be arrested and charged, including former RBKC council leader Nicholas Paget-Brown; his then-deputy, Rock Feilding-Mellen; former housing director Laura Johnson; former head of the KCTMO, Robert Black; the CEO of Rydon, Robert Bond; the managing director of Harley Facades, Ray Bailey; the CEO of Arconic, which manufactured the cladding panels used; and the chief executive officers of Celotex, which manufactured the flammable insulation.

Justice for Grenfell means no cover-up and no inquiry whitewash!





Arrest the political and corporate criminals responsible!





Stop the scapegoating of firefighters!





Quality public housing is a social right!

For an emergency multibillion-pound programme of public works to build schools, hospitals, public housing and all the infrastructure required in the 21st century!

The Grenfell Fire Forum, initiated by the Socialist Equality Party, will be discussing these issues at its next meeting on Saturday, September 1, at the Maxilla Social Club in North Kensington, London. All are welcome to attend.

Grenfell Fire Forum meeting

Saturday, September 1, 4 p.m.

Maxilla Social Club, 2 Maxilla Walk

London, W10 6SW (nearest tube: Latimer Road)

For further details visit facebook.com/Grenfellforum
A Gallup poll released yesterday found that, for the first time since it began tracking the figure, fewer than half of young people aged 18-29 have a positive view of capitalism, while more than half have a positive view of socialism. The poll also found that, again for the first time, significantly more Democratic-leaning voters have a positive view of socialism than of capitalism.

The percentage of young people viewing capitalism positively is continuing its precipitous fall, from 68 percent in 2010, to 57 percent in 2016, to 45 percent in 2018 (a stunning 23-percentage point drop in just eight years). The percentage of young people viewing socialism favorably has remained relatively flat during this period and stood at 51 percent in 2018producing a 6-percentage point gap in favor of socialism.

A similar trend is seen among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents of all age groups, with a positive view of capitalism falling from 53 percent in 2010 to 47 percent in 2018, while those with a positive view of socialism increased from 53 percent to 57 percenta 10-percentage point gap in favor of socialism.

According to Gallup, overall most Americans still have a positive view of capitalism, but this years 56 percent positive rating is, by four points, the lowest recorded. Gallup included a list of economic terms, asking respondents to say whether they had a positive or negative image of each. Of these terms, only socialism increased its positive image, while entrepreneurs, free enterprise, capitalism, small business, federal government, and big business all fell.

The period covered by Gallups figures (2010-2018) is significant. It largely corresponds to the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and the tenure of the Democratic administration of Barack Obama, which came to power promising hope and change, while presiding over the largest transfer of wealth from the working class to the rich in US history. Obama left office proclaiming that the economy had never been better, but workers and young people clearly feel otherwise.

The growth in support for socialism, and the decline in support for capitalism, confirms the evaluation made in a resolution adopted at the Socialist Equality Party Congress last month. There is a growing sense among substantial sections of the working class and youth, the resolution states, that capitalism is inherently unjust and that fundamental changes in the economic system are needed. While this broad-based sentiment has not yet developed into a mass political movement directed toward the ending of the capitalist system, interest in and support for socialism is growing rapidly.

The growing interest in socialism terrifies the ruling class. It coincides with initial expressions of the resurgence of class struggle, from the teachers strikes that spread throughout the country earlier this year and threaten to emerge again as the schools reopen over the next several weeks, to the mass opposition among UPS workers to the concessions contracts supported by the Teamsters union, to growing anger among auto workers, Amazon workers and other sections of the working class.

In response, the ruling classin the United States and internationallyis moving to impose ever more directly authoritarian forms of rule, whether through the promotion of far-right nationalist movements (including forces cultivated by the Trump administration) or in the moves by the traditional parties of the ruling class to abrogate basic democratic rights. In the United States, it is the Democratic Party that has taken the lead in demanding, in the guise of combating fake news and Russian meddling, greater censorship of the Internet, which is ever more explicitly directed at left-wing, socialist and anti-war publications.

The ruling class has another means of combating and diverting mass opposition to capitalism: the promotion of various pseudo-socialist political movements and individuals that use the term socialism to confuse and disorient. In the United States, this role was played in the 2016 election by Bernie Sanders, who spoke of a political revolution against the billionaire class, only to channel the significant (and, for Sanders, unexpected and unwelcome) support he received behind Hillary Clinton, the candidate of Wall Street and the military and intelligence apparatus.

The same role is now being played by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). From its origins, the DSA has been nothing more than a faction of the Democratic Party. Michael Harrington, who founded the DSA in 1982, defined its politics as the left wing of the possible, by which was meant the left wing of what was acceptable to capitalist, bourgeois politics. The DSA did not then and does not now represent a break with the Democrats, but rather has functioned as an auxiliary organization of the Democratic Party.

Over the past year, DSA membership has grown rapidly, from 7,000 in 2016, to 47,000. The organization will likely have two members in the next congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated incumbent Congressman Joseph Crowley in a Democratic Party New York congressional primary in June, and Rashida Tlaib, who won last weeks Democratic Party primary in Detroits 13th Congressional District (home of longtime Democratic Party/DSA member John Conyers, who resigned last year).

The growth of the DSA reflects two contradictory processes. On the one hand, the leftward movement of a layer of young people looking for a socialist opposition, and, on the other hand, the active promotion of the organization by a faction of the Democratic Party and the corporate media. The DSA-affiliated Jacobin magazine has been exempted from Googles censorship algorithms targeting the left, while the New York Times has opened its pages to its editor, Bhaskar Sunkara.

The DSA is part of a broader group of organizations, including the International Socialist Organization and Socialist Alternative, that speak for privileged sections of the upper-middle class, not the working class. Their proposals for limited social reforms are connected to support for the Democratic Party and the defense of the organizational domination of the corporatist trade unions over the working class.

The Gallup poll is only the latest indication that there is a massive reservoir of support in the working class and youth for socialism. As workers enter into conflict with the policies of the corporate and financial elite, this reservoir will grow. There is, however, only a limited understanding of what socialism really means and how it can be obtained. As such, it is susceptible to being misguided and suppressed, as the capitalist ruling elites advance their plans for war and dictatorship.

Genuine socialism must be advanced clearly and with great determination. The Socialist Equality Party insists that genuine socialism is based on the principle of social equality, that the vast sums of wealth monopolized by the rich through the exploitation and immiseration of the working class must be seized and directed toward the satisfaction of social needs.

Genuine socialism is international, based on the principle that workers in every country have the same social interests and the same class enemies. A socialist movement must take up the defense of immigrant workers on the basis of the fight for open bordersthat workers everywhere should be able to live and work where they choose.

Genuine socialism is inseparable from the fight against imperialist war, the product of the inherent contradictions of the capitalist nation-state system, which threaten to engulf the globe in a nuclear catastrophe.

Genuine socialism is based on the interests of the working class, the vast majority of the worlds population. It is opposed to all forms of nationalism, as well as the politics of racial and gender identity, which seeks to divide workers against each other and subordinate them to the capitalist system.

And genuine socialism is revolutionary. It proposes not mild reforms, which the ruling class will not tolerate, but revolutionthe overthrow of capitalist property relations through the establishment of democratic control over the giant banks and corporations. It fights for the political mobilization of the working class, in opposition to the Democratic and Republican Parties, to take power and establish a workers government to reorganize economic life, in the United States and internationally, on the basis of social need, not private profit.

Since its founding 80 years ago by Leon Trotsky, the co-leader with Lenin of the Russian Revolution, the Fourth International has fought for revolutionary socialist internationalism against Stalinism, Social Democracy and all perversions of Marxism. Trotskyism is the socialism of today, embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International, comprised of Socialist Equality Parties throughout the world.

The Socialist Equality Party is spearheading the fight to arm the developing objective movement of workers and youth with an uncompromising revolutionary program and perspective. In the 2018 elections, it is running Niles Niemuth in Michigans 12th Congressional District to bring a socialist program to workers throughout the region and beyond.

The fight for genuine socialism means joining and building the SEP, its sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International, and its youth movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality.

To join the SEP, click here. To join the IYSSE, click here.
Anger is mounting among teachers in Puerto Rico against privatization plans by the government, dwindling enrollment and firings. Teachers are demanding the delivery of promised raises, smaller class sizes and knowledge about where they will be assigned in the new school year.

In an effort to defuse this anger, the Puerto Rico Teachers Federation (FMPR) has announced plans for a one-day strike on August 15. The FMPR cites members indignation and outrage with the government and the Department of Education in the face of attacks on teachers and students. Teachers will convene Wednesday in San Juan at the Plaza Colon and will march from there to La Forteleza, the governors office.

In a press release, the FMPR stated, The public education system, together with its fundamental components, the students and their teachers, have suffered the most brutal attack in history. Secretary of Education Julia Keleher has decreed the closure of some 450 schools in two years and has reduced the number of educators from 31,000 in 2016 to around 22,500 today.

While the Department of Education has justified school closures on the island by pointing to a steep drop in enrollment (from 346,000 enrolled students in May 2017 to an estimated 311,000 this August), the government is poised to push the creation of dozens of private charter schools, subsidized with public funds, the FMPR release says.

The teachers grievances are manifold. There have been no pay raises in the past 10 years. Classes are overcrowded. In addition, the teachers association says, hundreds of teachers are starting the school year with no knowledge of where they will be placed. In the past, teachers have been moved from one school to another with little notice.

Among the teachers demands are the delivery of raises that were promised by the governor, but which never materialized. Additionally, they demand class sizes no greater than 20, an end to school closures and to moving teachers from one school to another during the school year. One of their most significant demands, however, is that all efforts to privatize Puerto Ricos schools be halted.

The hurricane gave the privatization movement extra impetus in a manner similar to the way that charter school advocates descended upon a post-Katrina New Orleans. Governor Ricardo Rossello, who has used Hurricane Maria to advocate for the privatization of Puerto Ricos utilities, has come out strongly in favor of charter schools, private school vouchers and other right-wing, anti-public-school initiatives. At the same time, he has mercilessly shut down hundreds of public schools.

Privatization efforts, however, began well before Hurricane Maria. In July 2015, a group of creditors called the Ad Hoc Group met with Puerto Ricos governor to negotiate the islands $73 billion debt. As the WSWS reported then, the Ad Hoc Groups demands included the sale of $4 billion worth of public assets, bringing in an additional $1 billion in taxes and slashing social programs, including public education. The Ad Hoc Group took their advice from the Centennial Group, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that claimed that Puerto Ricos $8,400 per student allocationwell below the inadequate US average of $10,667was too high.

Rossellos gutting of public education is part of his overarching priorities to bend to the demands of the Trump administration and US hedge-fund managers. He has laid out plans to privatize Puerto Ricos utilities. Last summer, months before Marias landfall, he announced plans to sell the islands seaports, among other assets, to private companies.

Hurricane Maria has given Rossello and his administration ample pretext to pursue these attacks on the working class with renewed vigor. He plans to cut the education departments budget by $466 million per year by 2023, which he will achieve by reducing the size of the system. He and Julia Keleher, whom he appointed as secretary of education in 2016, have repeatedly referred to Hurricane Mariawhich killed an estimated 5,000 Puerto Ricansas an opportunity to reform education.

What they meant by reformand just who would benefit from this opportunitywas made manifestly clear on November 8, 2017, when the two greeted US Department of Education (USDE) Secretary Betsy DeVos to discuss their plans. DeVos, who has openly supported removing protections for disabled students and legalizing child labor, awarded the pair for their loyalty to US financial interests with a $2 million grant from the USDE.

Keleher represents a particularly malignant phenomenon in education in her own right. When Rossello appointed her to her post in 2016, she had no background in education but as a business consultant. Upon her appointment, she signed a contract with the Puerto Rican government for $20,000 a month. By contrast, the average monthly teachers salary sits at a mere $2,325.

As the calls for further attacks upon education have gained traction, so too has the anger of Puerto Ricos teachers. In November 2017, 21 teachers were arrested for protesting in San Juan. In March, some 16,000 teachers walked out in protest of the privatization schemes. Kelehers extravagant salary was a prominent complaint, as were Rossellos privatization schemes. Gathered in front of the capitol, they chanted, Julia, go home! and, Ricky isnt here, hes selling whats left of the country.

On August 10, the Puerto Rican Supreme Court deemed Keleher and Rossellos reforms constitutional. This ruling overturns a previous ruling by a Superior Court Judge who declared the privatization plans unconstitutional.

Puerto Ricos privatization plans plainly demonstrate the contempt for Puerto Ricos workers by the US and Puerto Rican ruling class. DeVos announced in July that the Puerto Rico Department of Education would be the first in the US to pilot new flexibility under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to create a student-centered funding system. The federal departments press release added that the model is designed to equitably allocate local, state and federal resources based on student needs.

Hedge fund managers such as those with the Ad Hoc Group, business consultants such as Julia Keleher, and shameless vulture Betsy DeVos all hover around the wreckage left by Hurricane Maria. That disaster, along with Puerto Ricos $73 billion debt and its 10-year recession, have claimed the lives of thousands of Puerto Ricans. Yet to DeVos, Keleher, Rossello, et al., those losses are nothing more than an opportunity.

That students needs are being put first by Devos and Rossello is a sham designed to justify privatization and attacks on teachers conditions and rights. Teachers should have no illusions that a one-day strike will do anything to fight this assault. Teachers should unite with public-sector and other workers and fight for the establishment of rank-and-file committees that take control of their struggle out of the hands of the trade unionswhich accept in principle the budget cuts in the wake of Mariaand fight for a policy based on social need, not profit.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese hybrid power system supplier Hunan Corun New Energy Co., Ltd (Corun) announced on July 13 that the company plans to acquire a 36.97% stake in ChinaHybrid System Co., Ltd (CHS Company), which is jointly held by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) and Shanghai Maple Automobile (Shanghai Maple). Before the transaction, Corun has acquired a 51.02% stake in CHS Company. After the stake acquisition, Corun will hold an 87.99% stake in CHS Company. CHS Company is specializing in R&D, manufacturing and marketing of hybrid powertrain platform and systematic solutions.

On July 2, Corun announced that the company planned to acquire a 9.9% stake in CHS Company held by Geely Holding and a 27.07% stake in CHS Company owned by Shanghai Maple.

It is revealed that Corun and Geely Holding signed an agreement on October 23, 2014 to establish a joint venture, namely, CHS Company. Under the then agreement, the joint venture would focus on the R&D, manufacturing and marketing of hybrid power system, transmission as well as battery pack (including power battery and battery power systems) and involve a total investment of around RMB 10 billion. Currently, Corun possesses 51.02% stake in the joint venture.

In February 2016, Corun disclosed that the company signed a framework agreement with Geely Holding, Changan Automobile, Kunming Yunnei Power Co., Ltd (Yunnei Power) to increase investment in CHS Company. Under the agreement, Corun and Yunnei Power will invest the cash of RMB 200 million and RMB 60 million respectively in CHS Company. Changan Automobile will inject RMB 200 million worth of investment in form of cash and technology. In addition, Geely Holding, along with Shanghai Maple, shall reserve the right to increase investment, while the value should be no more than RMB 200 million.

By the end of 2017, CHS Company owned 6 shareholders in total, namely, Yunnei Power, Chongqing Changan New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd, Corun, Changan Automobile, Geely Holding and Shanghai Maple, with paid-in capital contribution amount of RMB 55.9755 million, RMB 9.2956 million, RMB 1.031 billion, RMB 177 million, RMB 200 million and RMB 547 million respectively.

According to the paid-in capital contribution Geely Holding and Shanghai Maple offered, their shareholdings in CHS company account for 9.9% and 27.07%, which were just the equity proportion Corun plans to acquire. Additionally, Shanghai Maple is also one of Geely Holding's subsidiaries, thus, their stake transfer to Corun could be regarded as an entire withdrawal of Geely Holding's capital from CHS Company.
In May 1947 the Socialist Workers Party received information that Sylvia Callen, the personal secretary of long-time party leader James P. Cannon, was an agent of the Soviet secret police, the GPU. It quickly became clear that Callen had concealed critical personal information about her Stalinist background when she joined the SWP in 1938. For nearly nine years Callen had high-level and unrestricted access to the partys most sensitive information. However, rather than exposing Callens murderous role as a spy within the Trotskyist movement, the Socialist Workers Party launched a cover-up that lasted for nearly 40 years. What follows is a historical account of the cover-up and its exposure by the International Committee of the Fourth International.

On Saturday, March 8, 1947, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) ran a banner headline in its publication, the Militant, which read:

Stalins guilt in Trotsky murder bared by ex-Daily Worker editor: Budenz discloses details of how 1940 assassination was prepared, implicates leaders of Communist Party in GPU conspiracy. [1]

The Militant said Budenzs book now supplies conclusive evidence that top operators of Stalins secret police worked for years on American soil to prepare the murder of Trotsky

The article detailed revelations from former American Stalinist leader Louis Budenzs forthcoming book This Is My Story. The SWP had acquired an advanced copy and made its contents known for the first time.

This Is My Story vindicated the Fourth Internationals insistence that the assassination of Trotsky had been ordered by Stalin and carried out by the GPU, the secret police of the Stalinist regime in the USSR.

John G. Wright

The lead article on March 8 in the Militant, written by John G. Wright, explained, As an eyewitness and direct participant, Budenz, who served the Kremlin loyally for ten years, now supplies conclusive evidence that top operators of Stalins secret police worked for years on American soil to prepare for the murder of Trotsky. [2]

Less than seven years had passed since a Stalinist agent, using the false name Frank Jacson, murdered Leon Trotsky in Coyoacan, Mexico City, and it was only a decade since the peak of the mass exterminations during the Great Terror of 193639 within the Soviet Union.

Aside from Trotskys assassin, who eventually was identified as Ramon Mercader del Rio, while serving a 20-year murder sentence in a Mexican prison, nobody had been punished or jailed for the crimes of the GPU. Budenzs book exposed the conspiracy behind Trotskys murder. It not only confirmed that the assassination was ordered in Moscow. Budenz also named leaders and members of the American Communist Party as accomplices.

The cover of Budenzs book, This is My Story

Budenz revealed that in December 1936, a GPU agent asked to meet with him secretly in a nondescript restaurant on East 14th Street.

It was rather early in my Party career that I was summoned to meet members of the Soviet secret police working on American soil, he wrote. [3] The agent, who spoke with a heavy Russian accent, described himself as Richards. The two sat in a corner, the clatter of dishes from the dinner crowd in the background. As we ate together, Richards quietly told me his purpose in seeing me. His commission was to investigate the condition of the Social Democrats, and to determine who among them and what Trotskyites and fascists were making organized efforts to enter the Soviet Union. [4]

Just four months earlier, in August 1936, the first Moscow Show Trial had concluded, resulting in the execution of 16 defendants, including Old Bolsheviks Grigory Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev, for engaging in a Trotskyite conspiracy. During the ensuing campaign of mass murder to terrorize and destroy opposition to the Stalinist regime, hundreds of thousands were executed or thrown into labor camps. The mere accusation of sympathy for Trotskyism meant a death sentence.

When the topic of discussion turned to the August trial, Budenz expressed his support. The GPU was now preparing purges on an international scale.

As the meeting between Budenz and Richards took place, Trotsky was aboard a tanker headed from Norway to Mexico, fleeing from a continent comprised of governments who had rejected his appeals for asylum. With Trotsky taking up residence in Mexico, the GPU was preparing its North American counterparts to carry out his assassination.

After this meeting, Budenz began his assignment:

Where did I fit into an enterprise for the protection of the Soviet Union from plotters? I was readily told. I was to collect all the data I had on enemies of the Soviet Union within the Left or labor ranks, and specifically the Trotskyites. Their names were to be given and everything else about them that might be pertinent to this inquiry.

The GPU knew it was the SWPthe leading section of the Fourth Internationalthat was responsible for ensuring Trotskys security in Mexico. As a result, Budenz wrote, particular attention was to be paid those who did much traveling, especially abroad. [5]

Louis Budenz in 1947

Budenz exposed CP leaders Earl Browder and Jack Stachel as personally supervising the infiltration campaign. With their collaboration, Budenz was able to move back and forth across Manhattan meeting GPU agents and delivering information on the SWP. [6]

In 1937, Budenz began working with an agent named Roberts, a.k.a Dr. Gregory Rabinowitz, a leader of the American Stalinist spy ring. Rabinowitz had been tasked with weaving a net of agents to entrap Trotsky, and Budenz was to help plot the most intimate details. Rabinowitz asked Budenz, Can you tell me where the Trotskyites here get their mail from Trotsky in Mexico City? [7] Budenz obliged, mining his sources for information and helping the GPU get to those close to Trotsky, always looking for information regarding the SWPs international correspondence.

Photographs, too, came into [Roberts-Rabinowitzs] field of inquiry, Budenz wrote.

He began to bring me a number, one after another, and ask, Do you know this man? Or that? For the most part they seemed to be men and women seeking Soviet visas. Then he inquired about certain names on lists, which he said were Trotskyite couriers. One of these was an inconspicuous newspaperman working in and out of China, who later, I believe, became associated with Reuters. Another was Sylvia Ageloff, whose name became widely known as the woman who brought Leon Trotskys assassin, Frank Jacson, into Mexico. [8]

Budenz and the GPU built a network of agents to acquire information about the Trotskyist movement and the SWPs communications with Trotsky. Rabinowitz would propose candidates and Budenz would supply information on them, providing the GPU with his appraisal of their political trustworthiness and abilities for espionage.

Generally, he [Rabinowitz] asked me first about their Party records and then how they would fit into further underground work among the Trotskyites or other groups, Budenz wrote. After getting the individuals record, my job was to size him or her up according to their attitudes and associations (if I knew them in the past). [9]

The central purpose of the infiltration was to kill Trotsky. To this end, Budenz exposed how he helped put the GPU in touch with Ruby Weil, who orchestrated the meeting between her friend Sylvia Ageloff, a member of the SWP, and Mercader, Trotskys future killer.

Mexican police hold the pickaxe that Mercader used to murder Trotsky in 1940

Rabinowitz asked Budenz that I bring Miss Y [later identified as Ruby Weil], a young woman who he had learned was a friend of Sylvia Ageloff, to a meeting at a Chicago hotel. [10] Weil was later to work with Paris-based GPU agent Mark Zborowski, party name Etienne, to give Mercader access to Trotskys household in Mexico City through Ageloff. Zborowski was, at the time, a member of the Fourth International.

The rendezvous between Mercader and Ageloff took place in Paris in 1938. Beginning in 1939, the two traveled to Mexico City together, where Ageloff introduced Mercader, the man she knew as Frank Jacson, into Trotskys household. [11] The Stalinist ring around Trotsky was growing tighter, and the stage for his death was being set.

SWP demands grand jury indict Stalinist spies and CP leaders

In response to the Budenz revelations, the SWP immediately began to publish the new information as widely as possible, demanding an investigation into the Stalinists role in infiltrating the Trotskyist movement and assassinating its founder and leader.

All this was reported in the pages of the Militant. [12] The front page article of March 8, 1947 explained: Sinister and secret details connected with the assassination of Leon Trotsky by Stalins hired killer in Mexico City in August 1940 have been disclosed by Louis F. Budenz. [13]

The Militant proclaimed that the revelations of Budenz fill in the missing threads in the fabric of evidence that places the responsibility for the murder of Leon Trotsky on the shoulders of Joseph Stalin.

The Militant said Budenzs book now supplies conclusive evidence that top operators of Stalins secret police worked for years on American soil to prepare the murder of Trotsky and that American Stalinists, including Budenz himself, helped pave the way for the assassin Frank Jacson to worm his way into Trotskys home. [14]

The Militant detailed how the book described Budenz meeting with the GPU chieftain in charge of Anti-Trotskyist activities, an agent known as Richards. Budenz was consulted on the selection of spies to penetrate the Trotskyist ranks and contacted GPU chieftains at least once a week. No piece of information was deemed too unimportant. [15]

The article continued: Stalins murder machine was particularly eager to collect every scrap of information concerning Trotskyists who travelled abroad. They were in search of some individual whom they could enmesh in Europe in their murder plot. Budenzs book showed how the Stalinists had laid all the preliminary groundwork in the United States in 1937 for the assassination of Leon Trotsky in Mexico in 1940. [16]

The Militant proclaimed, the revelations of Budenz fill in the missing threads in the fabric of evidence that places the responsibility for the murder of Leon Trotsky on the shoulders of Joseph Stalin. [17]

Based on Budenzs account of GPU infiltration and the plot to kill Trotsky, the SWP launched a public campaign to expose the GPU and the role of the American Communist Party. The SWP immediately put forward the demand that a grand jury subpoena key Stalinists so those responsible for orchestrating the infiltration of the Trotskyist movement would be forced to testify about the penetration of the Trotskyist movement, and called for the exposure of those agents remaining in the movement.

The revelations and demands for an investigation had an immense political impact among broader circles of the political left, which the SWP fought to mobilize in a commission to demand a grand jury to investigate the role of the GPU and the Communist Party USA in Trotskys death.

On March 17, 1947, an SWP-led coalition that included Socialist Party leader Norman Thomas, presented a petition to the district attorney in Manhattan demanding the convocation of a grand jury. The SWP mobilized a number of leading political and intellectual figures, including the author James T. Farrell and academics John Dewey and Sidney Hook, who reflected popular anger over the news of the Stalinist plot and gave the demand for a grand jury a broad popular appeal that the state could not ignore.

On March 22, The Militants lead headline read, Ask grand jury to investigate Trotskys murderdelegation demands probe of Stalins agent who plotted assassination in New York City. [18]

The Militant reported the delegation held a 45 minute meeting with Jacob Grumet, assistant District Attorney, to demand action on the sensational revelations made by Louis F. Budenz in his recently published book, This is My Story. In his autobiography, the former Daily Worker editor and Communist Party national committee member, testifies from personal knowledge that GPU agents, aided by American Communist Party leaders, plotted their moves here which ended in the murder of Trotsky in Mexico City in 1940. The delegation handed the District Attorney a statement signed by scores of prominent citizens. [19]

The statement delivered to the assistant District Attorney on March 17, 1947 read, in part:

Earl Browder, Jack Stachel, Budenz himself, and all other Communist Party leaders, past or present, who are known to have been involved in the activities of the Soviet secret police in our community, or who are declared to have had knowledge of such activities should be subjected to official examination and such judicial action as the facts may warrant. Budenz adds new and hitherto missing links to the chain of evidence presented during Jacsons trial in Mexico, which showed him to be a Soviet police agent. [20]

The Militant reported that Norman Thomas also asked the district attorney for an investigation into other murders believed to have been carried out in New York City by the Stalinists, including the 1937 disappearance of Juliet Stuart Poyntz, a prominent member of the Communist Party suspected of opposing the Stalinist terror, and anarchist leader Carlo Tresca, gunned down in 1943.

Thomas said:

There are many others. The so-called suicide of [Soviet defector Walter] Krivitsky in Washingtona phony if there ever was one! There is the murder of [defector] Ignace Reiss in Switzerland; the series of murders of Trotskys secretaries and members of his family. We think the situation is so grave that immediate action is imperative to halt these political murders. [21]

The significance of Budenzs revelations and the weight of his word as an accomplice compelled the District Attorneys office to acknowledge that the Budenz book could provide many leads, the Militant wrote. [22]

The May 3, 1947 issue of the Militant featured an article by Trotskys widow Natalia Sedova titled, Stalins guiltBudenz book supplies link to GPU murder of Trotsky.

The SWP expanded its campaign with the publication on May 3, 1947 of an article by Trotskys widow Natalia Sedova titled, Stalins guiltBudenz book supplies link to GPU murder of Trotsky. [23]

Sedova wrote:

Everything we said in connection with the violent death of L.D. Trotsky is today being wholly confirmed by the confessions of Louis Budenz, a former leader of the American Communist Stalinist Party, in his book This Is My Story published in March of this year. She added, The confessions of Louis Budenz throw into the limelight the entire activity of the secret Stalinist Apparatus which has usurped power and which acts with bloody arbitrariness.

Sedova continued:

The participation of the leaders of the Communist party of the US in the plot against Trotsky, attested to by Louis Budenz, provides sufficient grounds to bring before the court, Budenz himself, together with Browder and Stachel, and to place them in the hands of the Mexican judicial authorities. [24]

Within weeks of publishing Budenzs revelations, the SWP campaign for a grand jury compelled the DA to call Budenz to testify. For the first time since Trotskys assassination, the SWP had caused a person with intimate knowledge of how the GPU murdered Trotsky to appear under oath in an American courtroom. The opportunity to expose the Stalinists crimes and shed light on their infiltration of the Trotskyist movement had never been closer.

But just as a real investigation appeared likely, an event occurred that led the SWP to abort its campaign, denounce Budenz as a liar and abandon further efforts to expose Stalinist agents inside the Trotskyist movement.

A visit from Max Shachtman and Albert Glotzer

James P. Cannon, Martin Abern and Max Shachtman in New York, 1938

It had been seven years since Max Shachtman and Albert Glotzer split from the SWP to found the Workers Party when the two walked in to National Secretary James P. Cannons office at 116 University Place, New York, in May 1947. Despite their political differences with the SWP, both men had long histories in the Trotskyist movement, and they held a principled position toward sharing information related to questions of political security.

Shachtman and Glotzer brought shattering news. They told Cannon that they had received reliable information that implicated his personal secretary, Sylvia Callen, whose party name was Caldwell, as a GPU agent.

Shachtman and Glotzer affirmed that the source was reliable and had provided them with correct information in the past. The source informed Shachtman and Glotzer that the Stalinists had moved Callen from Chicago to New York in 1939 for the purposes of infiltrating Cannons office. Their source said Sylvia had been in a relationship with a young Stalinist from a Stalinist family whose father was a doctor.

The 1947 Control Commission

Sylvia Callen/Franklin/Caldwell

Callen was, in the language of the day, Cannons Girl Friday. She handled all of his political and personal affairs. She organized Cannons schedule, had access to all party records, finances and international correspondence, and took dictation of his letters, memoranda and political reports. If Callen were an agent, it meant the security of the SWP and the Fourth International had been severely compromised by the GPU. All important information that crossed Cannons desk had been read by the GPU and transmitted to the Kremlin, including details of Trotskys security in Coyoacan.

Alongside the evidence of Callens role, Shachtman and Glotzer also informed Cannon that their source stated there was an FBI agent in the party leadership.

On May 26, 1947, Cannon convened a meeting of the Control Commission, the party organization responsible for internal investigations. The ICFI has accessed the minutes of the May 26, 1947 and subsequent commission meetings in the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and publishes them here for the first time:

Meeting of Control Commission, May 26, 1947. Report by Martin [Cannon]: For several years the WP has been sending us reports that they have information which would indicate that the FBI had an agent in our party, high in the leadership. They claimed that their source of information had proven correct in several instances and that they believed this source was reliable. Recently Shachtman and Gould [Glotzer] talked with Cannon and told him that the same source has informed them as follows: The Stalinists have a woman in the SWP and that her name is S. She came from Chicago in 1939 and that she worked there in a doctors office. She has or had a boy friend whose name is Irving. Gould insisted that she came from the YCL. This information pointed to Comrade S. MOTION: That the case be thoroughly investigated by the Control Commission. That we have a session with S. to get her biographical story and then call in Shachtman and Gould. Carried. First meeting with S. set for Thurs. evening May 29, 1947.

Three days later, on May 29, Callen appeared before the Commission. The facts relating to her background largely substantiated the information provided by Shachtman and Glotzer. It was quickly established that Callen had concealed critical aspects of her personal and political background and associations, including the fact that she was married and that her husband, Zalmond Franklin, was a leading Stalinist from a prominent Communist Party family in Wisconsin.

The May 29 meeting minutes read as follows:

Case of Comrade S. May 29, 1947. In response to questions put to her by members of the Secretariat and Control Commission in combined session, the following biographical sketch was given: My fathers name is John Callen. He has been a salesman for many years. Neither he nor any other member of my family entertain or ever entertained any political views other than the average citizen. I myself did not know that there was such a thing as a radical movement until I was about 19, at college. I lived in Milwaukee until about 1932. I went to Madison, Wisc. to attend the University of Wisconsin. I met Zalmond Franklin and we got married in February 1935. We were together on and off for about a year. I graduated June 1935 and left school. Franklin remained at school. After graduating I looked for work and finally found a job in a Milwaukee drug store and worked there for a while as sales clerk. In the Fall of 1935 or Spring of 1936 I went to Chicago to live with my folks. There I entered the Chicago University to study social service. I went to school there for four quarters, working one summer for the Jewish Social Service outfit there, and then went to work for the Chicago Relief Administration where I worked until I came to New York. In the summer of 1937 I joined a YPSL [Young Peoples Socialist Leaguethe youth movement of the Socialist Party, within which the SWP conducted its activity at the time] circle in Chicago. I came to New York in May 1938 to go to work for the Hebrew Association for the Deaf. I worked part time there and helped out in the National Office of the SWP in spare time. In December 1939 [here there is a strike out over the 9 and a line to a margin correction which reads 1938] I was asked to take a full-time job in the SWP National Office as the office secretary was leaving to take a job in industry. On direct questioning of Cannon, the following answers were given: My first contact with radicalism was at Wisconsin University where there was a group of the National Students League. My husband joined the League, 1935 semester, and I joined too just because he did. But I really didnt know what it was all about. I dont know whether the YCL [Young Communist Leaguethe youth movement of the Stalinist Communist Party] had a fraction there at the time, but there was a radical group, bohemian types, of which my husband was one, and which was considered the Communists on the campus. I never knew whether my husband had any communist affiliations, but knew he was radical in his views and he may have been a member. I do know that his parents were either communists in ideology or just on the fringe of the Communist Party. They once gave a house party for the Friends of the Soviet Union. Some years ago I heard that my former husband had been in Spain during the revolutionary days there. So I imagine he must have become a YCLer after our separation. Or he may very likely have been one before. I did not know enough then to be able to detect that and he never trusted me with any information about his activities. Did you ever belong to the YCL? No, never. I knew of the existence of such an organization but reacted against it emotionally because of the Bohemian character of the people around my husband who were considered communists. But I did not really understand what communism was. How did you come to join the YPSL? Any member of your family interested in socialism? No, none of my family ever had or have now any radical views. I came to join the YPSL chiefly, I guess, because I was so lonely. I did not fit in with the friends of my family and I had no circle of my own. At the University in Madison, I got my first contact with radicalism and in a vague way I got to feel that socialism is a good thing. I heard Norman Thomas speak at the Socialist Club of the University of Chicago and he made a deep impression on me. I wanted to know more about socialism, so in my loneliness, I consulted the Chicago telephone directory for the address of some socialist organization, and founf [sic] the Socialist Bookstore. At the time I was working as a social worker in Chicago. The work I was doing, by the way, did not help me any. The patronizing attitude toward the poor was very distasteful to me. Well, so I went to the Socialist Party bookstore for some of their literature. There I met Lydia Beidel. She told me about the Young Peoples Socialist League in my neighborhood and invited me to attend. I went. They met at Belles house. There I met a number of people. They seemed so different from the people I had known and made me feel so at home that I returned to a number of meetings and then joined the Circle. They were different from the other type of radicals I had known at college and I liked them as people. In the summer of 1937 I joined the YPSL circle on the North Side, Chicago. Paul Picquet was the organizer of this circle. Most of the members of this circle were already Trotskyists. I came under their influence. Several months after the Founding Convention of the Socialist Workers Party. [sic] I joined the party. The branch I joined had in it Goldman, Belle, Helen Judd, Shirley S, Irving Bern and all the other Landaus. When I left for New York I was transferred. Here I was attached to the Village branch which met at Luttingers. In this branch was Rose Karsner, Frieda Moore, Billie Ramloff. Did you ever work for a doctor in Chicago or Milwaukee? No, never. The only doctor I knew in those days was my husbands father. But I never worked for any doctor. Did you ever have a boy friend by the name of Irving? I may have casually known some student by that name, though I dont recall any. But I never had any close friend by that name.

Callen admitted that she had been a member of the Stalinist-aligned National Student League and that her husband, Zalmond Franklin, fought as a Stalinist in the Spanish Civil War and came from a Stalinist family. Until then, after eight years working in the national office, the SWP leaders had not known that Callen was married, let alone to a Stalinist. This was also the first time the party learned of her involvement with the Stalinist National Student League. But the SWP was grasping at straws when it claimed that Shachtman and Glotzer's reference to Callen's boyfriend "Irving" undercut the source's assertions. Every other detail substantiated the source as well as Budenz's revelations.

The facts which Callen now revealed left no doubt that she had lied about her close connections with the Communist Party. But Zalmond Franklin was not merely a rank-and-file CP member or an innocent YCLer. Information that was readily available when the Control Commission convened showed Callens husband was a prominent public representative of the Communist Party and a member of a leading Stalinist family.

Zalmond David Franklin (19091958), and his father, Samuel Nathan Franklin (18821958), both served in the Spanish Civil War. Samuel Franklin was a doctor who was elected County Coroner in Milwaukee in 1918 as a member of the Socialist Party. Long active in politics, Samuel Franklin led the Milwaukee Medical Bureau of the Stalinist-led North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy during the civil war. [25]

Samuel Franklin with his son Zalmondthe fact that Sylvia Franklins husband was a Stalinist was covered up by the SWP control commission

According to ship travel log records, the elder Franklin was in Spain with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade as a medical adviser from July 1937 to February 1938. [26] Callen herself admitted on May 29 that her husbands father was a doctor.

The Wisconsin State Journal article reporting Zalmond Franklins travels Somewhere in Spain

Zalmond Franklin was the second oldest of Samuel Franklins three children. A University of Wisconsin bacteriology student, he served as an agent of the GPU in Spain from July 1937 to March 1938. His passport lists a Chicago address. [27] An article titled Zalmond Franklin, Somewhere in Spain in the October 11, 1937 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal makes reference to the young Stalinist:

Zalmond Franklin, former University of Wisconsin student, is with his father, Dr. Samuel N. Franklin, Milwaukee, in an American base hospital somewhere in Spain. Zalmond quit his bacteriology studies here early this year to go to Spain, and was followed by his father, head of the Milwaukee medical bureau of the North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy. [28]

An article from the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle announcing the talks of Zalmond FranklinSylvia Callens husbandon his unusual experiences in Spain

In an article published in the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle on May 6, 1938, Zalmond Franklin was referred to as a well-known public speaker on behalf of the Stalinists and their crimes in Spain. The Chronicle article reads:

Zalmond Franklin, graduate student of bacteriology, left the U. of Wis. Last June to serve the cause of democracy in republican Spain. He was in charge of all laboratory work in the four American hospitals in Spain. He left Spain this February, arriving in New York a month ago. At present he is touring the [middle] west telling of the terrific struggle in Spain and of his own unusual experiences. He will speak at the Jewish Center, 1025 N. Milwaukee street, this Saturday, May 7, at 8 p.m. [29]

When Callen admitted to hiding her marriage to this Stalinist, the SWP had enough information to know she was a spy. All the SWP had to do was investigate the Franklin family by picking up the telephone and calling the Milwaukee branch or by inquiring with Harry Milton, an SWP member who fought in Spain with the Workers Party of Marxist Unity (POUM) while the Franklins were also present. Readily available reports in the local newspapers would also have shown the Franklins roles as high-profile Communist Party figures. Callen provided the SWP with information that left no doubt about who she really was.

But when the party control commission met for the last time a week later on June 5, 1947, it covered up the evidence of Callens marriage to Zalmond Franklin. A stenographic report of the meeting, titled Case of Comrade S., is published in full:

Case of Comrade S. June 5, 1947. Joint meeting of Control Comm. and Secretariat. PURPOSE of meeting: To hear a report from WP members about rumors concerning comrade S which came to their attention. Report by Shachtman: About one, two or three weeks after Budenzs book, THIS IS MY STORY came out, a reliable friend of ours came and told me that an FBI agent called on him to get some information. In the course of the conversation the FBI man told our friend Jones that the Stalinists have an agent in the SWP. He then asked if Jones knew a certain S in the SWP who came from Chicago in 1939, got a job in the office of the SWP and then became private secretary to Cannon. In Chicago she worked for a doctor. She had a Stalinist boy friend by the name of Irving. The WP comrades were then told of Ss biographical sketch as it was given to us by her. Comrade G of the WP then told of the first time he met S at a membership meeting in Chicago in the NW side, about 1937. The WP members assured us they had not talked to anyone about the matter and would not do so. They agreed there was nothing in the information they had except the statement of an FBI man, but felt duty-bound to report the matter to us. Cannon pointed out that the only facts upon which the FBI man based the conclusion that she is a Stalinist agent in the SWP were: 1 - That comrade S came to New York from Chicago in 1939. 2 - That she had worked for a doctor in Chicago 3 - That she got a job as stenographer in the office of the SWP and later became Cannons private secretary. 4 - That she had or has a boy friend named Irving. Discussion followed and the general consensus of opinion was that the above points did not constitute any facts upon which to base any credence in the rumor or further action. After the WP members left the discussion was continued and the following motion was made and carried: MOTION: That there is no basis for suspicion of comrade S in the statements of the FBI man and that we so notify comrade S. That we make no mention of the case to anyone and ask the WP comrades not to speak of it either. That we watch for evidence of any gossip about this matter and in the event that such gossip develops we act promptly according to the circumstances dictated by the new developments. Rose Karsner

Control Commission

The obituary of Samuel FranklinCallens father-in-law

The SWP response was a dishonest cover-up. Shachtman and Glotzer had provided the Control Commission with clear and actionable facts. The publicly available information about the Franklin familys role as public advocates for Stalinism proved definitively that Sylvia Callen had lied about her ties to the Communist Party.

The SWP would have been entirely within their rights to demand a grand jury investigation into Callens role just as they had demanded with Louis Budenz. On June 5, 1947, the same day of the second SWP Control Commission meeting, Budenz finally appeared before a grand jury in New York. The SWP had been in regular contact with the Manhattan District Attorney whom they had met to deliver petitions demanding a grand jury indictment. Now, the SWP had proof that the GPU had infiltrated the party leadership with an agent who had access to high-level internal material. This was a major breakthrough in the case to expose GPU infiltration of the Trotskyist movement.

But the SWP did nothing to investigate Callens role. They should have expelled Callen for lying and concealing her background. They should have made this information public, adding to the Budenz revelations and the hemorrhaging of information relating to the GPUs infiltration of the SWP and its role in orchestrating the assassination of Leon Trotsky. Instead, they let her go and passed a motion that we make no mention of the case to anyone and ask the WP comrades [Shachtman and Glotzer] not to speak of it either. The control commission resolved, in the event that such gossip develops we act promptly according to the circumstances dictated by the new developments. Cannons wife and Callens good friend, Rose Karsner, was the sole signatory on the June 5 stenographic report.

By withholding this crucial information, the SWP was obstructing the very investigation they had demanded in the first place.

Zalmond Franklin's obituary

Budenzs exposure of Callen was, without question, a devastating political and personal blow to Cannon. He would have immediately recognized the political implications of Callens treachery. The security of the SWP had been fatally compromised. Callen had access to the partys documents, records, and international correspondence. Cannon was confronted with a nightmare that was all too real. Nevertheless, Cannon and the Control Commission had an inescapable political obligation to get to the truth of the matter. Instead, acting in a manner for which there could be no justification, they decided to organize a cover-up of Callens role as a Stalinist spy.

Callen left the movement immediately after the SWP control commission and moved out of New York. Her sudden disappearance was neither reported nor explained to the membership. Moreover, Budenzs appearance before the grand jury was barely noted in the Militant; the SWP soon dropped its coverage of the Budenz revelations altogether.

Budenzs Men Without Faces and the House Un-American Activities Committee

Budenzs book, Men Without Faces

In 1950, Louis Budenz published a second book, Men Without Faces, which provided an even more detailed description of the agent who had infiltrated the national headquarters of the SWP.

Budenz wrote: Just before I went out to Chicago in 1937 to become editor of Midwest Daily Record I had been instructed by Roberts [Dr. Gregory Rabinowitz, the GPU spy leader] to find a comrade who was engaged in penetrating the Trotskyite organization there. [30]

Though employing the pseudonym Helen in place of the spys real first name, Sylvia, Budenzs biographical sketch left no doubt that he was telling the story of the GPUs recruitment of Sylvia Callen and her successful infiltration into the SWPs national headquarters.

From out of the ranks of the Chicago YCL there came a young couple whom we shall call Helen and Irving. The two were assigned to dangerous secret work. Helen, being quiet and inconspicuous, was assigned to penetrate the Trotskyite groups. Irving, who went to Spain as a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, was used as a special agent, under Steve Nelson and the forbidding George Mink, to detect and eliminate enemies of the party. Helen had been instructed to move to New York, in order to penetrate the Trotskyites on a national scale, Budenz continued. I was then in Chicago, and it was I who had arranged this transfer, on the orders of the Soviet secret police representative with whom I was working and who was known to me only as Roberts. [31]

Budenz described his first meeting with Callen.

Our first conference was at [YCL Chicago leader Jack] Klings house out on the West Side of Chicago. With curtains drawn so that no one could see who was there, we arranged the ways and means by which I could get in touch with her. She expressed an eagerness to work on a wider scale for the party among the Trotskyites and, before she knew what the mission involved, gladly volunteered her services. [32]

Budenz was impressed by Helen-Sylvias soft voice and conservative dress, which suited her position as a social worker, enhanced her skill as an underground agent. Budenz arranged to meet her privately at different places in South Chicago, where much of her social work was done. He convinced her to move to New York when I had satisfied myself about her loyalty and capability. [33]

The SWP's offices in New York at 116 University Place, taken in 1975

Budenz explained that Rabinowitz provided Callen with $300 in cash to cover her first-class fare to New York and her initial expenses there. He then told her how she was to proceed. She would have an apartment in mid-Manhattan; and arrangements had been made for her apparent employment by a woman doctor who was a trusted party member. This would explain her regular income and also her regular hours. She could then volunteer to do stenographic and other clerical work at the Trotskyite national headquarters on University Place and 13th street. [34]

Certain conditions were set. It was to be an unspeakable rule that Irving was never, for any reason, to go to her apartment; nor were they ever to be seen together in public. [35]. The Stalinists were aware of Zalmond Franklins public profile and his familys widely-known role as leaders of the Communist Party in Milwaukee. They knew that if the SWP discovered Callens husbands identity, her role as a GPU spy would be exposed. Callen observed this rule, and concealed her marriage from the SWP.

The arrangements went through at top speed: Helen departed for New York and Irving soon was located in the Bronx. And Helen so ingratiated herself with the leading Trotskyites that she became a close friend of James Cannon, American Trotskyite chief, and his wife Karsner. She had the full run of the Trotskyite offices, became Cannons secretary and made available to the Soviet secret police all the correspondence with Trotsky in Mexico City and with other Trotskyites throughout the world. [36]

Callen dictates the SWPs response to Men Without Faces

Farrell Dobbs

Budenzs account of Callens activity in Men Without Faces was detailed and irrefutable. Nevertheless, the SWP leaders sought to maintain the public pretense that Callen had been a devoted and hardworking comrade.

But the pressure to come up with a response to Budenz was overwhelming. In August 1950, the Party leaders dispatched Farrell Dobbs to meet Callen at her home in Chicago to ask her how the party should reply.

In an August 21 letter to Cannon, Dobbs reported on his meeting with Callen. He wrote:

Chicago, Ill. August 21, 1950 Dear Jim, I have seen S. When I showed her the passage in the Budenz book and told her of the Shachtmanite prattle she reacted with mingled anger against her detractors and anxiety for her family. She told me the FBI has been hounding her and her family. As a result her father almost lost his job and was told that if there is any more investigating he will be fired. The FBI tried to question her about the party but she refused to give them any information. Her family now knows the whole score and they have put heavy pressure on her to keep her away from the movement. She does not want to be involved either directly or indirectly in the matter of a reply to Budenz. I asked if she would be willing to sit down with Mike and me to help us gather some of the facts needed to refute Budenz which would be used without openly or directly involving her. She said she did not want to be drawn into the thing in any manner whatever. I told her that we considered it absolutely necessary to reply to Budenz charges. She asked if we couldnt just issue a statement announcing that a full investigation of his allegations was made three years ago which proved his story false and denounce him as a character assassin. She asked if the statement couldnt be general, i.e., not refer to any specific person in refuting him, but state that no such person as he describes has ever been in the party office. She appeared to be in good health, seemed pleased to see me, and asked about everyone. She had not heard about Oscar [Coover, a longtime leader of the SWP who died earlier that year.] So far as I can see there is no point in attempting to press her any further on this matter. It seems best to go ahead along the lines we agreed on when we discussed the question in the secretariat right after the last plenum. (signed) Farrell

The SWP sent Dobbs to meet Callen because they wanted to know whether she had spoken to the FBI about the party and its leadership. The bizarre, Dostoevskyan quality of the letter is a product of the fact that the SWP was going along with a story they had created which they knew to be a lie. By preventing any investigation into Callens ties to the Communist Party and by calling Budenzs revelations and Shachtman and Glotzers warnings rumors and gossip, they created a false narrative that they felt they had to maintain.

Dobbs 1950 letter to James Cannon concerning his discussion with Sylvia Callen

Callen brazenly told the SWP how they should respond to Budenzs revelations. She instructed Dobbs to simply deny the existence of anyone who fit Helens description, and to cite the 1947 Control Commission as proof that the allegations against her were baseless. The SWP leaders, in a decision that was as cowardly as it was duplicitous, acceded to Callens instructions.

One week after Dobbs letter, on August 28, 1950, Cannon published an article in the Militant acknowledging that the party had received a report of a possible GPU agent in the national headquarters. Calling Budenz a well-known professional perjurer, Cannon wrote that the references to Helen in Men Without Faces were false.

This story, published by Budenz for the first time in the middle of the year 1950, has been known to us for more than three years. In 1947, we received a tip purportedly emanating in the first instance from circles close to the FBI, that one of the secretarial workers in the National Office, who was identified by name and specifically by previous occupation and biographical details, was an agent of the Stalinists. [37]

Mischaracterizing Callens role as a mere secretarial worker and not as his personal secretary, Cannon claimed that this report was promptly handed over to the party Control Commission for investigation according to the established principles of the revolutionary workers movement and that the investigation established that the information given to identify the accused comrade as to her biography, her previous occupation, and her personal life, was false. It was evident to us then that the accusation was based either on mistaken identity, or was a deliberately planted story designed to create a spy-scare in the organization. [38]

This account was a lie from beginning to end. The Control Commission covered up the fact that the testimony corroborated the report from Shachtman and Glotzers source and that she lied about being married to a leading Stalinist. It concluded by swearing those present to secrecy and was signed by the accuseds close personal friend, Rose Karsner. Far from proving the sources information was false, the Control Commission hearings confirmed she had moved to Chicago in 1939 and uncovered that she had not told the party she had been married to a Stalinist and had been in the Stalinist youth movement. She left the SWP as soon as her cover was blown. Under the circumstances there was no innocent explanation.

Following Callens instructions, Cannon added that Budenzs allegations do not apply to this particular person or to anyone else who ever worked in the National Office of the Socialist Workers Party. He said, falsely, that the Control Commission rejected the accusation and exonerated the accused comrade, who had fully cooperated with the investigation, answered all questions put to her and supplied the Control Commission with all the data relating to her biography and previous occupations, which were subjected to verification. [39]

In fact, none of Callens claims had been verified nor had there been any real investigation. From the initial visit of Shachtman and Glotzer to the issuing of the Control Commissions findings, little more than two weeks had elapsed. Callen had not cooperated with the SWP.

Budenz was not through with his exposure of Callen. On November 11, 1950, Budenz submitted an affidavit to the House Un-American Activities Committee that included new details of Sylvia Callen-Caldwells role. This time, Budenz dispensed with the use of the fictional name Helen.

Another person whom I introduced to Roberts, Budenz testified, referencing the alias for Dr. Gregory Rabinowitz was Sylvia Caulwell [sic] and whose maiden name was something like Sylvia Kallen [sic]. Her husband, Irving Franklin, had been in Spain working in secret work and had been sent to Canada to aid in espionage activities thereSylvia under the direction of Roberts-Rabinowitz, gradually made herself indispensable to James Cannon, then head of the American Trotskyites. She became his secretary and served in that capacity for some time. Roberts-Rabinowitz advised me that she had proved to be invaluable. [40]

The SWP did not respond to this testimony.

Joseph Hansen and the SWP cover-up

The cover of Isaac Don Levines book on Trotskys killer, Ramon Mercader

Over the next years, the evidence against Franklin mounted and the SWP continued to defend her along the lines Franklin laid out in her meeting with Dobbs, repeated in Cannons article of August 28, 1950.

In 1954 and again in 1958, Franklin testified before federal grand juries investigating Soviet espionage in the US. In her first appearance, Franklin relied on her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. In 1958, however, she admitted that she was, in fact, a GPU agent. This testimony would not be known for another 25 years.

In 1959, however, the journalist Isaac Don Levine published an account of Ramon Mercader and the GPUs assassination of Trotsky, The Mind of An Assassin, that substantiated Budenzs testimony.

Levine wrote:

He [Budenz] made it possible for the NKVD [the GPU] to steam open and pilfer Trotskys mail to his New York followers. He got a Communist Party girl, a Chicago social worker, to move to New York and volunteer her services to James Cannon, the American Trotskyist leader: She had the full run of the mill of the Trotskyite offices, became Cannons Secretary, and made available to the Soviet secret police all the correspondence with Trotsky in Mexico City and with other Trotskyites throughout the world, he testified. [41]

SWP leader Joseph Hansen tried to convince Levine to drop the matter. Hansen had joined the SWP in the mid 1930s and served in Coyoacan, where he provided secretarial assistance and security for Trotsky. In fact, he was the second man to reach Trotskycaptain of the guard Harold Robins was the firstafter Mercader struck the fatal blow. Hansen wrote to Cannon on October 24, 1958 about a discussion he had with Levine about the latters book:

What he wanted from me was information on any spies or evidence of spies in Soviet pay working in or around our movement. Not having any such information, I could not help him; in fact, when he came to Sylvia Caldwell I hope I was able to give him some further considerations to help squelch that rumor. [42]

Joseph Hansen

On March 19, 1960, Hansen responded to an urgent note from Gerry Healy, then National Secretary of the Socialist Labour League, the British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Healy inquired from Hansen what the latter knew about a report in Levines book regarding another GPU agent, named Etienne, the party name of Mark Zborowski, the Paris-based GPU agent who played a central role in providing the Stalinist secret police with information that led to the murders of Trotskys son Lev Sedov, Trotskys political secretaries Erwin Wolf and Rudolf Klement, and GPU defector Ignatz Reiss, who left the Soviet Union to join the Fourth International.

Referencing his own review of Levines book, Hansen attempted to deflect Healys interest in Etienne, claiming the SWP could not spare anyone to attend Etienne-Zborowskis 1958 perjury trial, where the agent was sentenced to prison for lying under oath about his ties to Jack Soble, a GPU controller responsible for a network of agents in the United States. In reality, Hansen and the SWP had no interest in covering a trial that could expose details of GPU infiltration of the Fourth International.

Trotsky's secretaries Rudolf Klement and Irwin Wolf, defector from the GPU Ignatz Reiss and Trotsky's son and closest collaborator Leon Sedovall murdered by the GPU

Hansen said he decided not to give much space to the Etienne case in his review of The Mind of An Assassin because, in his words, Levine was an anti-communist. Hansen said he considered referencing the report about Cannons personal secretary being a GPU agent as an example of Levines false material, adding, But this would necessitate an article on our investigation years ago of the slander and the review would have been thrown out of balance.

Hansen continued, One of our primary concerns was not to give the slightest encouragement to the view Levine seeks to implantthat our organizations are loaded with spies. Such a view is deadly poisonous and can do incomparably greater harm than the occasional stool pigeon that turns up in any organization. [43]

Cannon's letter to his wife, Rose Karsner

Weeks later, in April 1960, Cannon wrote a letter from Los Angeles to his wife, Rose Karsner, which is published here for the first time. In a discouraged tone, Cannon wrote:

I havent felt like writing but I am sending this note so that you wont worry about something possibly being wrong. Spiritually I am tired and have no present ambition to do anything. I spend the time reading stuff that is easy to read, thinking a little, but mostly musing and remembering and reflecting. Most of my musing and remembering these days is sad, and that paralyzes the will to work or even to plan to work later on. The memories of work I have already done in the pastnot speaking and writing, which was the easiest part and probably all that others really noticed, but carrying people on my backgive me a delayed reaction of spiritual weariness. I feel that I have done all of that heavy work I can do or even want to do again for anybody I dont want to do anything for anybodyin fact, I cantand I dont want anybody to try to do anything for me except for routine technical things. The most I want from people now is to let me alone, not pull at me or try to push me, and above all not expect me [to] pick them up and inspire them and try to solve their problems. [44]

That same year Sylvia Callen was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment of GPU spy Robert Soblen, Jack Sobles brother. At Soblens trial, further information proving Callens role emerged. Soble testified, I went further into the Trotsky field and worked with the secretary of Cannon, Sylviaalso introduced to me by the same Russians who worked for them already beforeShe gathered material at the secretariat of Cannon and gave it to mepure Trotsky material. [45]

GPU agents Jack Soble and Robert Soblen

The SWP again failed to cover the trial and report on this testimony. The absence of any coverage by the Militant of the Soblen trialwhich was front page news in The New York Times is all the more incriminating given the fact that another prominent ex-member of the SWP, Floyd Cleveland Miller, was also listed as a GPU co-conspirator.

The cover-up of Callens role as a GPU agent became the official policy of the SWP leadership. In a manner that defies innocent explanation, the SWP went out of its way to uphold her bona fides, perpetuating the myth of Cannons selfless secretary and denouncing Budenz as a perjurer.

On November 12, 1966, Cannon wrote to Reba Hansen, Joseph Hansens wife, regarding a proposal by a party member to change the functioning of the SWPs Control Commission. He addressed the matter in a thoroughly dishonest way.

Cannon explained that the partys Control Commission was responsible for the double purpose of maintaining party security and to provide the maximum assurance that any individual party member, accused or rumored to be unworthy of party membership, could be assured of the fullest investigation. [46]

To defend his position, Cannon cited the case of Callen-Caldwell without identifying her by name. He said that at the time, a rumor circulated by the Shachtmanites and others outside the party against the integrity of a National Office secretarial worker was thoroughly investigated by the Control Commission which, after taking stenographic testimony from all available sources, declared the rumors unfounded and cleared the accused party member to continue her work. [47]

This letter to Reba Hansen had clearly been written for public consumption, with the purpose of suppressing questions about the official story, particularly among older members of the SWP who must have wondered why Sylvia Callen had suddenly left the party.

Cannons letter neglected to explain that Callen-Caldwell was not simply a National Office secretarial worker, but his personal secretary, assistant and his wifes close friend. He hid the fact that she quit the party shortly after supposedly being cleared to continue her work. The 1947 control commission did not investigate the matter thoroughly and it did not take testimony from all available sources, as he claimed. Her lies were exposed by Budenz, Levine and Soble, and the SWP control commission covered up her real role.

The SWP defends Hansen and Franklin

In 1975, the International Committee initiated its own investigation into Security and the Fourth International. The initial findings included evidence of Hansens meetings with the FBI and State Department as well as information of Callens role as a GPU agent.

Hansen denounced the revelations as A Geyser of Mud. He wrote that the Healyites in no place indicate the basis of their charge that the agent with whom he had met, Robert McGregor, was in association with an agent of the FBI. [48]

Hansen rejected the ICFIs call for a commission of inquiry into Trotskys assassination, adding:

Sylvia Caldwell, (that was her party name) worked very hard in her rather difficult assignment of managing the office of the Socialist Workers Party, which included helping Cannon in a secretarial capacity. In fact all the comrades who shared these often irksome chores with her regarded her as exemplary. They burned as much as she did over the foul slanders spread by Budenz. [49]

In the December 8, 1975 edition of the SWP magazine Intercontinental Press, leading SWP member George Novack attacked Healys reckless and indiscriminate allegations against Sylvia Caldwell, Cannons secretary, writing that anything goes in his frantic endeavors to cast a net of suspicion around Joseph Hansen and his colleagues. [50]

A two-page spread from the ICFI's "Case for a Commission of Inquiry" on the Budenz revelations

In early 1976, the SWP published a collection of essays memorializing the life of James P. Cannon, who had died in August 1974. Titled James P. Cannon As We Knew Him, the volume consisted of essays written by SWP members, including one by Joseph Hansens wife, Reba Hansen, which contained the following extraordinary tribute:

During those years Sylvia Caldwell served as secretary in the national office, a job that included working with Jim, who held the post of national secretary. She was the second full-time secretary the party had. The first was Lillian Roberts. Jim often told us about how it was in the old days, when it was difficult to get things done because of having no secretarial help. He said he was grateful for any help he could get and he never failed to show his deep appreciation for the aid that Sylvia gave. Jim was fond of telling the story about how Sylvia went to a business school to learn shorthand when it was proposed she work in the national office. This was before the days of the tape recorder, and shorthand was essential to taking adequate minutes at meetings and dictation for letters and articles. Sylvia learned fast and well. Her Gregg characters were like copper-plate engravings, her typing without strike-overs, and no messy erasures. When the load in the national office was heavy and Sylvia needed help, I gave her a hand, working very closely with her. Her efficiency impressed me. She knew how to do everything that was necessary to keep a one-person office running smoothly. Her devotion to the movement and her readiness to put in long hours of hard work inspired us all. Sylvia and I became close collaborators and good personal friends. She was a warm human being. When Sylvia left New York in 1947 because of family obligations, Jim asked me to take her place in the national office. Since this included working closely with Jim, I felt a little nervous, but Sylvia helped me through the transition from business manager of the Militant to my new assignment. At that time Rose and Jim lived at 126 West Eleventh Street, seventh floor. The apartment building was modernit had an elevatorand the rooms were large by New York standards. The front room, facing on Eleventh Street, was big enough for two desks, several filing cabinets, and a worktable. Sylvia took me there to work with her and learn the ropes. But Jim didnt shift easily from one secretary to another. And it was only after Sylvia had been gone some time that Jim felt enough at home with me through working together in the national office to ask me to come over to West Eleventh Street. [51]

There is no innocent explanation for the inclusion of this lying tribute to Sylvia Callen in a book that was supposedly intended to eulogize Cannon. Reba Hansen knew full well that Callen had suddenly disappeared from the SWP national office in 1947 not because of family obligations, but because she had been exposed as a GPU agent. Her gratuitous tribute to Cannons secretary, who had for nearly a decade managed the national office, did not make any mention whatever of the allegations made by Budenz, the 1947 control commission, Budenzs more detailed account in 1950 of Callens activities, or of her being named by the US government as a co-conspirator in the 1960 trial of Soviet agent Robert Soblen.

The ICFI Locates Sylvia Callen

The SWPs defense of Callen made it critical to locate the former agent. In 1976, the Workers League (predecessor of the Socialist Equality Party), initiated a search to find Callen. Without the benefit of modern-day search engines, it was necessary to reconstruct the biography of this dedicated and ruthless American GPU agent who was able to spy on and betray without remorse people with whom she worked on a daily basis for almost a decade. She was absolutely indifferent to the human impact, which included murder, of her actions.

In order to locate Callen it was necessary to discover the name under which she was living. The November 1960 federal indictment that named her as a co-conspirator in the GPU spy ring led by Robert Soblen and Jack Soble identified her only by her maiden name, Callen. However, through an examination of court documents, David North, the national secretary of the Workers League, was able to ascertain that Callen had been living in Wheaton, Illinois, at the time of her indictment.

Callen left Wheaton shortly after the conclusion of the Soblen trial. But there was a paper trail that could be followed. In the early 1950s Callen had divorced her husband and co-GPU agent, Zalmond Franklin, who died in 1958. Callen married her second husband, James Doxsee, a member or fellow-traveler of the Communist Party who worked for ABC. Together they had three children, whom they raised in Wheaton. Her pleasant middle-class life was disturbed only by visits from the FBI and two extensive federal grand jury interrogations, the first in 1954 and the second in 1958.

GPU agent Sylvia Callen, pictured in Wheaton, Illinois in 1977

After selling their home in Wheaton, James and Sylvia Doxsee relocated to a nearby West Chicago suburb. The domesticated Mrs. Doxsee was careful to conceal her past, refusing to allow her family and few friends to take pictures of her. In the mid-1970s, the Doxsees sold their home and purchased an RV, which became their mobile residence. Much of their time was spent driving through Central America.

However, in May 1977 the Doxsees returned to Wheaton to visit James aging mother. North had been able to establish Callens new married name. He learned in advance of the Doxsees planned visit to Wheaton, where they had reserved a space for their RV in a local trailer park. He and Alex Mitchell, who was then the editor of the News Line, the publication of the Workers Revolutionary Party (British section of the International Committee), located Sylvia Callen-Franklin-Caldwell-Doxsee at this trailer park in Wheaton.

On May 9, 1977, North and Mitchell went to the Doxsees trailer and confronted the ex-GPU spy.

When asked about her political past, Doxsee (aka Callen, Caldwell, Franklin) acknowledged working as Cannons secretary, but sought to brush aside her years in the SWP as a minor episode in her life. As the Bulletin, newspaper of the Workers League, reported on May 31, 1977, Doxsee said: I dont see why its even important. I was never really in politics. I never read. I never understood it. I was just an immature child, thats about all I can say Its like I blacked it out. All that period of my life. [52]

Regarding James P. Cannon, with whom she had closely worked on a day-by-day basis for almost a decade, Doxsee said with unconcealed contempt, He wasnt an important man, in my opinion. Is he? What part did he play in the world?

Pressed by North and Mitchell to explain why she was indicted as a co-conspirator in a GPU spy ring, Doxsee feigned amnesia. The following exchange was reported in the Bulletin:

Question: This is an official document. Grand Jury, 1960, in which your name is mentioned right here, Sylvia Callen. Franklin: Grand Jury charges! Question: Yes. All I would like to ask you is why were you named on this indictment? Thats all Id like to ask you. Franklin: I cant believe it! Another document was shown to her. Question: Here as well is your name on the list of witnesses the Government was going to call. Franklin: My God! Question: You have no explanation for your name. Franklin: No, but the FBI came to see me here. Question: Why did they come to see you? Franklin: I dont know. I had a mental breakdown afterwards so it must have been pretty terrible. Question: So why Franklin: I dont know. I dont know. I dont want to think about it. Question: Do you have a memory block which begins after all these events supposedly took place? Franklin: I dont know. I wish you wouldnt try to make me remember because Ill have a breakdown. I cant remember. Its been many years, and Ive put it out of my mind. Question: Is it possible that you were in the Communist Party and simply have forgotten all about it? Franklin: I dont know. I dont know. It could be one way. It could be the other. I cant believe that person was me. I cant believe that I worked in that office. That I was his secretary. I cant believe anything. [53]

Reba and Joseph Hansen hiding from the camera

After the publication of the interview with Sylvia Doxsee-Franklin-Caldwell-Callen on May 31, 1977, Hansen responded in an Intercontinental Press article on June 20, 1977 titled Healyites Escalate Frame-up of Trotskyist Leaders. In the article, Hansen attempted to cast doubt on what he called the purported interview, stating that the ICFI had escalated their slanders on the leadership of the Socialist Workers Party. [54]

Hansen attacked the Security and the Fourth International investigation by referencing the 1947 Control Commission:

The members of this select body of witch-hunters [i.e. the ICFI] commit themselves to a slander they had previously only hinted at; namely, that the control commission set up by the Socialist Workers Party in 1947 to examine the rumours circulating about Caldwell was rigged.

He continued:

If there was a cover-up, if the control commission was rigged, if no control commission was held at allas the Healyites now allegethen the main guilt clearly falls on James P. Cannon, one of the founders of the Fourth International. In accordance with the logic of the Big Lie as practiced by the Healyites, Cannon must be listed as an accomplice of the GPU, if not worse. This is only the beginning. If Cannon was an accomplice or agent of the GPU, then the entire top leadership of the SWP associated with him must be similarly listed, for they obviously participated in staging the alleged control commission fraud, whether by helping to rig it or, if it was not held at all, by making outalong with Cannonthat it had been held. How far back did such fraudulent practices go? Was Cannon an accomplice or agent of the GPU when he founded American Trotskyism? When he collaborated with Trotsky in founding the Fourth International? Was his long battle against Stalinism a sham? Were his close relations with Trotsky a cover up for a secret connection with Stalin? Just whom did Cannon use as willing tools in working for the GPUfor instance, in the alleged fake control commission? [55]

On June 25, 1977, North, in an article published in the News Line responded to Hansens claims in an article titled Hansens Big Lie Grows Bigger. After quoting the above paragraphs, North wrote:

All this comes straight from the pen of Joseph Hansen! He is charged with covering up the activities of GPU agents, and so he replies by trying to frighten SWP members with the suggestion that his guilt makes Cannon a Stalinist agent! He is trying to intimidate the SWP membership and bully them into silence by telling them how terrible the consequences will be if the International Committees charges against him are proven correct. Hansen deals with his members like an airplane hijacker with a bomb in his hand who waves it above his head and shouts at the passengers Anyone tries to stop me and well all be blown to kingdom come! What is clear is that Hansen will stop at nothing to save his own political neck. Hansen is not protecting Cannon; hes using Cannon; hes using Cannon to save himself. [56]

The fact that Hansen resorted to this desperate method precisely on the question of the 1947 Control Commission shows just how central it was to Hansens narrative. As North wrote:

This is Hansen at his tricks again. He doesnt give a straightforward answer: was the SWP control commission rigged or wasnt it? Instead, he drags in James P. Cannon in order to hide behind his grave. Why doesnt he leave Cannon out of it? The International Committee has made no accusations against Cannon. Weve accused Hansen! Its Hansens favourite trick to immediately conjure up Cannons Ghost the moment he himself is challenged. [57]

The publication of the ICFIs interview with Sylvia Callen-Doxsee and the calling into question of the 1947 Control Commission produced anxiety among the SWP leadership and the Stalinist bureaucracy. Those involved in penetrating the Trotskyist movement had good reason to believe the Security and the Fourth International investigation would publish further revelations exposing the GPU infiltration of the Trotskyist movement.

Tom Henehan, 26-year-old member of the Workers League Political Committee, murdered in 1977 after Hansen warned of "deadly consequences" to Security and the Fourth International investigation

Hansen responded by adopting the methods of Stalinist intimidation, attempting to create a threatening atmosphere of provocation against the ICFI. Unable to challenge the damning implications of the Callen interview, Hansen wrote, The Healyites are quite capable of initiating physical violence against other sectors of the labor movement. In the same article, he threatened the International Committee, warning it that Security and the Fourth International would bring deadly consequences. [58]

Less than four months later, on October 16, 1977, Tom Henehan, a 26-year-old member of the Workers League Political Committee, was assassinated in New York City by two professional gunmen while supervising a public party event. Though the killers were quickly identified, the New York police refused to make any arrests. Finally, after a three-year campaign waged by the Workers League, the gunmen were arrested, placed on trial, and convicted in July 1981 of second-degree murder. Following the trial, the private detective who had investigated the case for the defense attorney informed North that the word on the street was that the killing was a hit.

The Gelfand case and the Franklin grand jury transcripts

In August 1977, Alan Gelfand, an SWP member and a public defender in Los Angeles, obtained copies of the Security and the Fourth International documents circulated by Workers League members outside the SWPs National Convention in Oberlin, Ohio. [59]

Gelfand asked other SWP members about the documents and particularly the 1940 State Department and FBI memos that referenced Hansens meeting with the GPU and with the US government.

In response, Gelfand was given different explanations. Some SWP members told him the documents were forgeries, either by the Workers League or the FBI. Others, including SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes, told Gelfand the documents were legitimate but that the SWP had instructed Hansen to contact US government agencies to obtain information about Trotskys assassination. SWP leaders also claimed that all the allegations made by the International Committee had been fully answered in a party internal bulletin that was provocatively titled, Healys Big Lie.

"Healy's Big Lie." The SWP mobilized the international Pabloite movement to slander Security and the Fourth International

After the convention, Gelfand carefully studied this internal bulletin and concluded that the answers were contradicted by documents uncovered by the Security and the Fourth International investigation after its publication.

Gelfand continued to ask for discussion regarding Hansens connections to the GPU and United States agencies, and of Callens connections to the GPU. The SWP leadership repeatedly barred him from speaking to other members about his concerns. Gelfand realized that the cover-up must be tied to the activity of high level state agents still operating within the party.

In December 1978, Gelfand filed an amicus curiae brief in support of a lawsuit by the SWP related to the FBIs surveillance of the movement through COINTELPRO. This lawsuit, which had been initiated by the SWP primarily as a fundraising activity, was not being conducted with the intention of exposing past or still active agents inside the party. In fact, the US government eventually settled the case by paying the SWP hundreds of thousands of dollars but without identifying a single agent that it had infiltrated into the party. In the course of the trial, the FBI admitted that between 1960 and 1976 there were 300 informants serving as members of the SWP.

Gelfands brief, however, referenced the history of FBI and GPU penetration of the movement, and the recent revelations concerning Callen and Hansen to further demonstrate the need for the court to compel the government to identify the agents that had been sent into the SWP.

This demand outraged the SWP leadership, which accused Gelfand of violating party discipline. On January 5, 1979, SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes charged Gelfand with undisciplined and disloyal behavior. Six days later, on January 11, the SWP Political Committee expelled him. This was the last meeting of the SWP Political Committee attended by Joseph Hansen. He died in New York City exactly one week later, on January 18, 1979. Hansen was 68 years old.

In a letter to the SWP Political Committee, dated January 29, 1979, Gelfand stated that he had been purged from the SWP to block the exposure of agents inside the party. This purge, he wrote, is the result of my persistent and principled fight over the last 18 months to obtain satisfactory answers and explanations to the various questions raised by Joseph Hansens and Sylvia Franklins relationship with the FBI and GPU.

The Gelfand Case, the record of Gelfand v. Attorney General, published by the International Committee of the Fourth International in 1985

On July 18, 1979 Gelfand filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles, alleging that the government violated his First Amendment rights by infiltrating the SWP with agents who expelled him from the political party of his choosing. Gelfand named as defendants high US government officialsincluding the attorney general and the directors of the FBI and CIAas well as leading members of the Socialist Workers Party.

The SWP immediately filed a motion to dismiss Gelfands lawsuit. Oral arguments were made before United States District Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer on November 19, 1979.

In June 1980 Pfaelzer denied the SWPs motion, finding that Gelfands complaint raised fundamental constitutional issues. She wrote that the government manipulation and takeover of plaintiffs political party that is alleged  is a drastic interference with the associational rights of its adherents and cannot pass constitutional muster. [60]

Gelfand and his lawyers took depositions of many current and former SWP members. The first to be deposed was Sylvia Doxsee, who had relocated to an exclusive neighborhood along Chicagos Gold Coast. In the course of her deposition, she invoked memory loss 231 times. She admitted, however, during the course of the deposition that she had previously appeared before at least two federal grand juries. Referencing her grand jury testimony, Doxsee-Callen said:

Q: Did you take the Fifth Amendment on any questions? A: On some I did. Q: How did you know to take the Fifth Amendment? A: From reading the papers from the McCarthys thing. I copied it down, even what to say. Q: Did you talk to anybody about when to use the Fifth Amendment? A: No. I probably should have, but Im just so dumb. Q: What types of areas did you take the Fifth Amendment in? A: Oh, I dont remember. Q: Well, would it be fair to say that certain questions you were willing to answer? A: I dont remember. Q: Well, did you answer any questions? A: That I dont remember either. Maybe I didnt answer any questions, I dont know. [61]

Although grand jury proceedings are generally sealed, Gelfands attorneys petitioned a federal court in New York to release the transcripts of Sylvia Callens testimony of 1954 and 1958. This request was bitterly opposed by the SWP, which argued for continued secrecy on the basis that the grand jury testimony is wholly irrelevant to any material issue in this litigation and should not be disclosed.

The judge in New York released the transcripts to Judge Pfaelzer in Los Angeles. Pfaelzer, a liberal Democratic judge, was managing the case with extreme caution.

Her ruling in June 1980 had accepted that Gelfands expulsion from the SWP would be unconstitutional if engineered by government agents to prevent their own expulsion. However, as the case proceeded, Pfaelzer, the SWP, and the government sought to block Gelfand from accessing the evidence he would need to prove that his First Amendment right was denied by the government agents who expelled him from the SWP.

As Gelfand and his attorneys wrote in their closing brief on summary judgment:

Legally, this case presents a double paradox. For the court, there is the tension between the enforcement of First Amendment rights on the one hand and the duty to protect claims of national security on the other. In denying the motions to dismiss, the court in ringing terms affirmed the right to political association free from governmental interference. By upholding the governments claim of informer privilege on plaintiffs motion to compel, however, the court demonstrated its sensitivity to the countervailing concerns. Rarely does a case require the reconciliation of two such fundamentally opposing legal principles. The plaintiff faces the other side of the coin. On the one hand he is told that, if he can prove that the leaders of the Party are agents of the United States government, he will establish the violation of his constitutional rights. Yet the most straightforward method of proofexamination of relevant government documents and direct responses to questions aimed at government agencieshas been denied to him. [62]

Mark Zborowski, alias "Etienne," was located in San Francisco in August 1975 by the International Committee of the Fourth International. (Photo by David North)

Pfaelzer appeared concerned that Gelfands evidence-gathering efforts would lead to the publication of state secrets regarding the penetration of the SWP. When denying Gelfands request that Zborowski be compelled to testify, she said:

Now, my feeling is that Mr. Zborowski, given the very nature of this case, when postured up against, since the case was filed, an enactment known as the Protection of Certain National Security Information, which has just become law this year, does or would run a possible risk of violating section 601(a) of that act, were he asked to identify either by name or description or anything else which might lead to the identity of possible intelligence agents who might be superficially participating in this Socialist Workers Party. And that act specifically provides that if any person has such information and knowingly discloses it, regardless of whatever the motivation, can be prosecuted, fined $50,000, and imprisoned up to ten years. And, therefore, I feel that his invoking the Fifth Amendment in that area, which is the pivotal point of this lawsuit, perhaps, nonetheless is a legitimate concern of the witness and his counsel that must be honored by this court. And, therefore, insofar as any invocation of the Fifth Amendment that has, up to now, been asserted in this deposition, Im not going to order him to further answer. [63]

The highest levels of the US government and military-intelligence apparatus were closely monitoring the case. A June 11, 1982 memorandum from Central Intelligence Agency General Counsel Stanley Sporkin to CIA Director William J. Casey cites the Gelfand case as an item of major interest for the CIA.

Referencing a request by Gelfand and his attorneys that the CIA and other state agencies reveal the identities of agents in the party, the recently-declassified CIA memo reads:

In Gelfand v. Attorney General, DCI, et al., Gelfand claims that alleged CIA and FBI agents in the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) expelled him from the party. In pretrial discovery, Gelfand submitted interrogatories asking the DCI [Director of Central Intelligence] whether 19 named SWP members are or have been CIA agents and whether CIA believes that one named individual is a Soviet intelligence agent. The DCI refused to answer the interrogatories on the ground that answering them would tend to reveal intelligence activities, sources, and methods. The U.S. District Court hearing the case upheld the DCIs refusal to answer, holding that the DCIs statutory responsibility to protect intelligence sources and methods and the CIAs statutory exemption from any requirement to disclose the names or functions of CIA personnel justify the refusal to answer. [64]

Under pressure from the government, Pfaelzer sought to restrict the focus of the trial to the narrow procedural issue of whether Gelfand technically violated party rules by continuing to press for answers on the Hansen and Callen exposures after the SWP leadership told him to stop.

When the proceedings began, Gelfands attorney, John Burton, asked Judge Pfaelzer to release the transcripts of the Callen grand jury transcripts that had been forwarded from New York. The judge replied that she would rule later on that request. Several further requests for the release of the transcripts were brushed aside. Her brusque demeanor and seemingly hostile attitude to Gelfand gave the impression that she would deny the request.

Jack Barnes, National Secretary of the Socialist Workers Party

On the last day of the trial, March 9, 1983, SWP National Secretary Barnes was called to testify. Apparently confident that Pfaelzer would not release the grand jury transcripts, Barnes not only defended Franklin. He concluded his testimony with an extraordinary tribute to this GPU agent:

Q: Now, was it your opinion at the time you received [Gelfands letter] that there was no evidence whatsoever to indicate that Sylvia Franklin was an agent of the GPU? A: All the evidence is just the opposite. Her whole comportment not only when she was in the movement but everything thats happened since she left indicates that she is exactly what she was: a loyal, hard-working, and model member of our movement. Q: That is still your opinion today? A: Well, my opinion today is she is one of my heroes after the harassment and what shes been through the last couple of years. I would even feel more strongly about her, her character, than I did then. Q: Now, was Sylvia Franklin the subject of an SWP Control Commission investigation? A: No. Sylvia Franklin was not the subject of an SWP Control Commission. Sylvia Caldwell was invited to an SWP Control Commission hearing to discuss the fact of the Shachtmanites were spreading this rumor. The control commission had their hearing and then they passed a motion saying, one, that there is zero evidence that there is anything connected with this rumor that could be true and, number two, which of course is the key of why they met, to request of the Shachtmanites to cease spreading this rumor because of that. [65]

These lies may have proved too much for Pfaelzer. Following Barnes testimony, Pfaelzer suddenly released the transcripts of both the 1954 and 1958 grand jury hearings. While Pfaelzer shielded Barnes from exposure on the witness stand, these transcripts nevertheless decisively answered, with Callens own words, the question of her role as a GPU agent inside the SWP.

In her 1954 testimony, Callen employed the tactic that she would later use when confronted by North and Mitchell in 1977 and during her 1980 deposition, i.e., memory loss. In 1954, Callen did confirm that she had been married to Franklin, and that they had attended meetings of the Stalinist Young Communist League. But in response to crucial questions, such as whether she had met with Louis Budenz, Callen stated: I cant answer that because of possible self-incrimination, invoking her Fifth Amendment privilege. [66]

In her second grand jury appearance, on June 18, 1958, Callen was more forthcoming. She realized that the grand jury was preparing indictments for an espionage case against her former GPU handler, Robert Soblen, and that she was facing the danger of a lengthy prison term, if not the death penalty, on charges of treason.

The US government attorney began his interrogation by reminding Callen (now addressed as Mrs. Doxsee) of problems that arose during her 1954 appearance:

Q. You do recall testifying before a grand jury? A. Oh, yes. Q. And you do recall, Mrs. Doxsee, that at that time your memory was not as good as it might be? A. Yes. Q. And have you since that time tried to improve your memory as best as you could? A. Yes, I have. Q. And have you talked over the matters with your husband? A. Yes. Q. And do you feel that you are beginning to remember some things that you had difficulty with before. A. Yes. [67]

Callen told the story of her role as an agent inside the SWP. She recalled how she was paid to hand over confidential information from the desk of James Cannon to two leading GPU spies, Dr. Gregory Rabinowitzthe Roberts Budenz worked withand Jack Soble, the brother of Robert Soblen. Under examination by a government attorney, the transcript of her testimony read, in part:

Q: If I can make a little resume here, Miss Doxsee, you say then that you joined the Young Communist League in the middle thirties, but after you joined the Young Communist League and at the suggestion from someone from the Communist Party you joined an organization that was part of the Social Workers [sic] organization. Is that right? A: I think thats it. Q: Then ultimately you entered the office of James Cannon and became his secretary? A: Yes. Q: Now, during the time that you were working in Mr. Cannons office, did you ever discuss anything that you learned there with anybody else? A: Yes. Q: Do you recall who it was that you discussed that with? A: Well, I used to go to my former husbands apartment, Zalmonds apartment. Q: Did you meet anyone there? A: I metnot every time I went up therebut I had met a man I called Jack [Jack was the alias used by Gregory Rabinowitzaka Robertsduring his meetings with Sylvia Franklin]. I dont know his name. Q: This man, Jack, you say, was introduced to you by Louis Budenz? A: Yes. Q: And that was in Chicago? A: Yes, thats the way I recall it. Q: Do you ever recall meeting a woman to whom you gave information? A: Yes; a womans apartment. Q: And was that a different apartment from the apartment you have previously described? A: Yes. [68]

Callen was referring to the apartment of Stalinist agent Lucy Booker. She then testified, I used to go up there and type reports also, the way I used to at my husbands apartment, and sometimes, as I recall, she was there and sometimes she wasnt just as I recall.

There, she would sometimes meet Jack Soble, who she knew as Sam. He would pay her for her services.

Q: Do you recall how you knewcommenced going to this apartment that youre now describing, the womans apartment? A: No, I dont. Q: Did someone tell you to go there? A: No, I hadnt given that any thought. I dont know whether someone brought meI cant remember whether I was given an address, I really cant remember that, the sequence there. Q: Now, you described the mimeographed material which you gave, can you recall the contents of the material that you typed? A: Well, I remember I used to just type upit was mostly during faction fights in the party and political committee meetings, who was fighting with who, and then if there was correspondence from Leon Trotsky that I saw, I would try to remember what was in the letters and write that all out, whos going with who and that kind of thing, personal things like that, I remember, how much money they hadI knew, you know, bank balances and stuff like that. [69]

Callen and the GPU had access to everything: international correspondence, internal discussion papers from Trotskyist movements worldwide, all of Cannons correspondence, and personal information about the membership.

The Sylvia Franklin Dossier, published by the International Committee of the Fourth International in 1977

The release of the grand jury transcripts exploded the cover-up of the GPUs penetration of the SWP, and completely vindicated the investigation conducted by the International Committee.

But Judge Pfaelzer, guided by a desire to prevent Gelfand from exposing the depth of the FBIs involvement in the SWP, denied his requests that she release information about specific agents operating in the party.

Pfaelzer ruled against Gelfand by conjuring up a clearly unattainable level of proof.

Pfaelzer asserted that Gelfand could not prove his case by a preponderance of evidence if there were other explanationsno matter how implausiblefor the SWP defendants actions. The judge acknowledged that Gelfands conclusion that the SWP leaders were agents might be a permissible inference to be drawn, but you cant prevail by a preponderance of the evidence on that because its equally likely that they just sat there without investigating because they had blind faith. You cant win on a preponderance of the evidence based solely on the fact that the charges were true. (Emphasis added). [70]

In a further exchange with Gelfands attorney, Pfaelzer said:

Let us assume that you prove that every single thing that Mr. Gelfand said is true and that there is no doubt but that Hansen was working with the FBI and may indeed have been an agent of the FBI at some point, and that Sylvia Caldwell was an agent of the GPU, and that indeed his suspicions were well founded and they made a mistake, the Party made a mistake in believing the contents of Healys Big Lie. Now, lets say that is all proved, what permissible inference may be drawn from that if that is all you have?

Burton said, Your Honor, it cant be examined out of context.

To which Pfaelzer responded, Oh, no. It can be examined out of context. [71]

This reasoning does not stand up to basic legal analysis. As all first year law students know, the preponderance of evidence standard only requires a civil plaintiff show there is a greater than 50 percent chance that the evidence presented proves the claim, not that all other potential inferences have been disproven. Furthermore, circumstantial evidence is always evaluated in context and frequently incriminating evidence can lose its meaning when viewed in isolation.

As the Workers League correctly noted, The central pillar of the SWPs defensethat Gelfand had been propagating a slander campaign manufactured by the International Committeewas utterly shattered. The transcripts release completed the destruction of the defendants credibility. [72]

Joseph Hansen and the control commission

Joseph Hansen could not be deposed or questioned during the Gelfand Case. To the end, Hansen actively defended Callen, however, having organized an international campaign to slander those who raised questions about what was ultimately proven to be the truth: she was an agent of the GPU.

Why did Hansen, and the SWP after his death, go to such lengths to defend Callen? Why did not they simply admit, even before the release of the grand jury transcripts, that James P. Cannons secretary had been an agent of the GPU from 1939 to 1947? By the mid-1970s, when the International Committee initiated its investigation into Security and the Fourth International, nearly 30 years had passed since Callen left the SWP.

Dossier of a Double Agent: The Lies of Joseph Hansen, part of the Security and the Fourth International investigation

The obvious question is: Why did Hansen and Barnes cling so desperately to the transparent lie that Callen had been an exemplary comrade? Would it not have been easier for Hansen to admit that the SWP had been duped by Callens claims of innocence, and that the 1947 control commissions investigation had been inadequate?

The only answer is that the activities of Callen and Hansen were too closely intertwined. Hansen was compelled to lie about Sylvia Callen becauseas a document obtained by Gelfands attorneys near the conclusion of the litigation provedhe was shielding his own role as an agent inside the SWP.

Late in the litigation, Judge Pfaelzer compelled the SWP to turn over a letter sent to Hansen by his close friend, Vaughn T. Irish OBrien.

In this letter, dated June 8, 1976, OBrien recalled an encounter in the late 1940s or early 1950sthe general time frame of the control commission and the publication of Budenzs bookswith Pearl Kluger, a former member of A.J. Mustes American Workers Party who knew Budenz personally. OBrien wrote, I had not seen Pearl for a considerable period of time, but she immediately said, Budenz says your friend Joe Hansen worked with the GPU. [73]

This extraordinary revelationthat the same man who had originally exposed Sylvia Callen had also identified Joseph Hansen as a GPU agentwas substantiated by the Socialist Workers Party. Just one month after the conclusion of the Gelfand trial, in the April 15, 1983 edition of the Militant, SWP leader Larry Seigle wrote that Budenz had fingered not just CP members, but also several SWP members, as Soviet agents. Among these were Joseph Hansen, a central leader of the SWP until his death in 1979, and Sylvia Caldwell, who had been a secretary in the SWP national office. [74]

It is evident that there were, in the immediate aftermath of the Gelfand trial, disagreements within the SWP leadership as to how to handle the evidence that incriminated Hansen as a GPU operative. Seigles public acknowledgment of Budenzs exposure of both Caldwell and Hansenthus confirming the allegations made by Gelfandwas evidently seen as a major political blunder.

Just one day after Seigles article appeared in the Militant, the SWP leadership formulated a plan to reverse the damaging admission. The minutes from the SWP Political Committee meeting of April 16, 1983 show that the Barnes leadership conspired to denounce the grand jury transcripts as forgeries and double down on its defense of Callen-Caldwell:

We should write an article presenting the partys position on the accusations against Sylvia Caldwell. The article should present for the party and the international movement our political position on the responsibility of the party to defend itself against COINTELPRO-type snitch-jacket operations of the kind that is now being carried out against Sylvia Caldwell and the SWP. It is especially necessary to explain again, for those who have never learned or have forgotten, the responsibility of the leadership of a revolutionary workers party to defend loyally each and every member against such slander campaigns. The article will examine the new evidence presented by the FBI in Pfaelzers courtroom and circulated by the WL/WRP, consisting of what is presented as transcripts of testimony given by Sylvia Caldwell before two grand juries investigating Soviet espionage in the 1950s. We have no way of knowing how much the transcripts are doctored. Moreover, testimony given under these conditionsbefore a secret grand jury, without a lawyer, under threat of indictment as a Soviet spy in the shadow of the judicial murder of Ethel and Julius Rosenbergcannot be taken as true by any serious workers leader. [75]

SWP Political Committee Meeting Minutes, April 16, 1983, page 1 (Wisconsin Historical Society)

The minutes also reveal that the publication of the grand jury transcripts, exposing the cover-up of Sylvia Franklin, had produced widespread anxiety within the SWP membership and among its international allies.

Because of inexperience and some confusion on these points, in the party and in the international movement, an article along these lines would be helpful. [76]

SWP Political Committee Meeting Minutes, April 16, 1983, page 2 (Wisconsin Historical Society)

On August 5, 1983, the Militant published a report that had been given by Jack Barnes in May, weeks after the PC meeting, to the SWPs national committee. Barnes resumed the defense of Callen-Caldwell:

Another thing that happened at the trial needs to be emphasized. And that is what the government and the WL-WRP did concerning our comrade Sylvia Caldwell, whom they accuse of having been an agent of the Soviet secret police during the years when she was a member of our party, from the mid-1930s to the late-1940s. As we know, Sylvia was vilified by the FBI disrupter and stool pigeon, Louis Budenz. She was hounded by the FBI throughout the years of the witchhunt. She was hauled before the federal grand juries investigating Soviet espionage during the 1950s, like the one that indicted the Rosenbergs. And she has now had the WL-WRP continuing the effort as a means of furthering their disruption operation against our movement, here and internationally. [77]

This tirade was a lie from beginning to end. If our comrade Sylvia Caldwell had been, as Barnes claimed, the subject of vicious persecution throughout the 1950s, why had the SWP failed to mount a public campaign in her defense? Why was there not a word written in the Militant about comrade Sylvia being hauled before federal grand juries investigating Soviet espionage during the 1950s, like the one that indicted the Rosenbergs? Why had the SWP and the Militant not denounced publicly the listing of Sylvia Callen as a GPU co-conspirator in the 1960 federal indictment of Robert Soblen?

Barnes went on to imply that the 1958 transcript was a forgery, referring to it as what the FBI claims is a transcript of her testimony before a grand jury in 1958. He continued:

This is supposed to be the perfect framean official transcript, in which the woman under oath herself says that she did the things she was accused of doing. (I leave aside the fact that nowhere in the transcript is there any mention of the Soviet secret police, or any activity by Sylvia on their behalf. All it quotes her as saying is that she was gathering information for the Communist Party (CP). It is revealing that, for the WL-WRP as for the FBI, being a member of the CP and being a Soviet espionage agent are the same thing.) [78]

The intense involvement of the Communist Party in the operations of the GPUand especially in the penetration of the Fourth International and the SWP and in the organization of Trotskys assassinationis an indisputable and massively documented historical fact. Budenzs own writings and testimony had made very clear that he, and those whom he recruited for anti-Trotskyist espionage activity, had been working for the GPU. Barnes claim that Sylvias admission that she was gathering information for the Communist Party does not prove that she was acting on behalf of the GPU testifies as much to his desperation as to his unscrupulous dishonesty. The reasons for Barnes desperation are to be found in the evidence uncovered in the course of the Gelfand case and the Security and the Fourth International investigation.

The significance of the OBrien letter, and Seigles and Barnes statements about the release of the 1958 transcript wa
Days of protests and public outrage against services giant Sercos plans to evict 328 asylum seekers in Glasgow have forced a retreat by the company.

Serco have agreed to delay the first six eviction notices by 21 days and to pause all further lock-change notices  whilst the law is being tested and clarified.

Under a multi-million-pound contract with the Home Office, Serco operates the UK governments COMPASS asylum seeker dispersal across the North West of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The company is responsible for housing 17,000 asylum seekers, including 5,000 in Glasgow, while their claims are processed.

On July 27, Serco wrote to Glasgow City Council and local charities stating its intention to evict former Asylum Seekers who do not wish to engage in voluntary return, and who the Home Office have determined have no legal right to remain in the UK. The letter caused alarm among asylum seekers and refugees, whether or not they were immediately targeted.

The company issued eviction notices, warning, You must now make urgent arrangements to vacate the property no later than August 6, 2018. if you fail to leave the property by the above date, action will be taken to repossess the property without further notice to you. That may involve immediate removal of yourself and your property.

Opposition to Sercos actions has been wide ranging.

The first protest, attended at short notice by hundreds of people in Glasgow city centre, was followed by protests outside the British governments Home Office buildings in Brand Street. The Home Office buildings gates were briefly chained shut while two Afghan men, Rahman Shah, 32, and Mirwais Ahmadzai, 27, took part in a hunger strike. Other asylum seekers burnt their eviction notices.

Housing and rights organisations mounted a series of legal challenges. Housing charity Shelter Scotland and the Glasgow-based Legal Services Agency presented papers last Monday to Glasgows Sheriff Court, requesting interim orders barring the threatened lock changes in three cases.

Shelter Scotlands director Graeme Brown told Scottish Housing News, This opportunity to potentially secure a delay to the lock changes has arisen following a welcome and encouraging community effort.

The cases will be held August 24 at Glasgows Sherriff Court.

Govan Law Centres (GLC) solicitor advocate, Mike Dailly, confirmed to Scottish Housing News that one of their clients and her partner had been informed by Serco that they would now not face any immediate eviction proceedings, as they had made a new application for asylum.

But Dailly also noted that the 21-day grace period conceded to the six asylum seekers was inadequate. He said, GLCs point is that there is no possibility that this complex legal dispute can be settled authoritatively within 21 days.

A campaign has also been organised by housing rights group Positive Action in Housing (PAIH), which arranges practical support and accommodation for destitute asylum seekers. A recently formed Living Rent tenants union organised protests outside the houses of some of those threatened with eviction and says it has a database of people willing to participate in protests at short notice.

Sercos vindictive action could only be carried out with approval from the Home Office.

Home Office support for living and accommodation ceases 21 days after an asylum application is concluded. But once an asylum claim is rejected, claimants still have the right to appeal and, in some circumstances, can lodge a fresh claim for asylum. Some 47 percent of rejected claims are won on appeal.

What Serco attempted was illegal, as is demonstrated by it now facing court cases. By seeking to evict asylum claimants during their appeal and at the point of their greatest vulnerability, where a stable postal address is essential, Serco and the government are disrupting the appeals processanother example of the hostile environment for migrants sought by the British government.

Serco, which also runs the notorious Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre, has been hounding asylum seekers for months. The Herald reported that Lana Rashid and her husband, Rabar Razaie, who fled Iraq 18 months ago, were threatened with eviction by Serco in April after their asylum claim was rejected. Under the stress of eviction and potential deportation, Lana had a miscarriage in May. The Home Office subsequently agreed to consider a new application for asylum.

Other reports suggested that, despite an agreement last year not to do so, Serco housing officers have been entering asylum seekers property and putting alarming hand written eviction notes through their doors.

Serco is a global operation, with fingers in a large number of piesmany of them rich in human misery. The company employs 50,000 staff worldwide and won 30 contracts worth 3.4 billion in the year to December 31, 2017. As well as asylum services in Britain, the company runs six prisons and young offender institutes, including operations in Kilmarnock and Doncaster, and currently incarcerates around 5,400 people.

Three Australian prisons are Serco controlled. One of the 2017 contract wins was for 1.5 billion to run Australias biggest prison, the Grafton Correctional Centre in New South Wales. Serco also runs the notorious and remote Christmas Island detention centre in the Indian Ocean and Kohuora Auckland prison in New Zealand.

Company revenues are falling, however. Although Serco picked up 70 million worth of National Health Service facilities management contracts from collapsed rival Carillion earlier this year, and in 2016 won a 600 million NHS contract at St. Barts hospital in London, new contracts are expected to be impacted by geopolitical instability and Brexit. Serco lost out to rival Capita on a contract for the British militarys fire and rescue services. Group profit was down last year to 22 million on a turnover of 2.9 billion.

Shelter Scotland and the Legal Services Agency have written to social housing landlords, whose flats have been sublet to Serco, calling for them to bar Serco from changing the locks on their property. A number have responded, including the Wheatley Group, which owns or runs 80,000 properties, of which 74 are leased to Serco. The groups chief executive, Martin Armstrong, advised Serco CEO Rupert Soames of the groups intention to alter the leases of refugees living in our homes, who have a legal right to be in Scotland and the UK, into secure Scottish tenancies. This means that tenants cannot be evicted without a court order.

Housing associations also criticised the speed of Sercos sudden decision and reminded them that locks cannot be changed without housing association approval.

Scottish National Party (SNP)-controlled Glasgow City Council restricted their remarks largely to complaints over the protocols of the asylum process, with which they have collaborated for years. This is in line with the governing SNPs pitch for more powers, including over migration, to be devolved to Edinburgh from London. The SNP favours a policy of increased migration to offset Scotlands labour shortages. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told a recent conference, Westminsters hostile environment to migration is not just a slogan. It is has a real impact on our public services and our economy.

However, the SNPs priorities were summed up in the contrast between the derisory 100,000 it handed over to the Destitute Asylum Service the day after Sturgeon and Prime Minister Theresa May signed off on a 1.2 billion city investment deal for Edinburgh and South East Scotland.

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Hundreds of asylum seekers face imminent eviction in Glasgow

[4 August 2018]
A hotly anticipated speech by a pro-Hong Kong independence activist went ahead Tuesday at the city's Foreign Correspondents' Club, amid government pressure and protests by pro-China groups.

Andy Chan, founder of the Hong Kong National Party addressed a packed house and tens of thousands on a live Facebook feed, equating Hong Kong's position under China to its former colonial past.

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"We were once colonized by the Brits, and now we are colonized by the Chinese, where is our right to determine our own future?" said Chan, who also warned that Hong Kong could follow the path of Tibet and Xinjiang, where China has recently been accused of imprisoning hundreds of thousands of Uyghur Muslims.

The FCC said it received "representations" from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Hong Kong, though it did not elaborate on what was communicated. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she "regretted" the FCC's decision to host Chan, while her predecessor, CY Leung, repeatedly called for the event to be called off.

In a statement Tuesday, MOFA called Chan's speech an "abuse of freedoms of press and speech," and accused the FCC of endorsing his views.

A perceived attempt by the government to censor Chan's talk made front page news in Hong Kong, and the event attracted a huge media presence, as well as protests by groups calling for it to be canceled, and for the implementation of an anti-sedition law.

"By virtue of its historical, geographical and cultural difference, Hong Kong is a truly separate entity from the so-called Chinese nation," Chan said, describing China as an empire.

Protesters outside the club waved the Chinese flag and displayed banners warning of a "conspiracy to split Hong Kong from China" and calling for the implementation of an anti-sedition law.

At one point, a fire engine arrived and a large crew of emergency services staff rushed into the building to respond to what turned out to be a false alarm.

Speaking to CNN before the talk, Chan said he was surprised by the amount of pressure which had been brought to bear on the FCC, an elite institution which has had a presence in Hong Kong since the 1940s and frequently hosts politicians and dignitaries.

"We are not armed, we have never advocated for violence, we have never acted violently," he said.

Divisive figure

Chan has largely operated on the periphery of Hong Kong politics since becoming an activist during the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement.

In 2016, he founded the Hong Kong National Party, which advocates for the city's independence from China and has a few dozen members.

Both he and his party were thrust into the spotlight last month, however, when Hong Kong police announced they were seeking to use a colonial era ordinance to ban HKNP on national security grounds.

Under the Societies Ordinance, if HKNP is banned it will be illegal to be a member of the party, act on its behalf, or raise funds for it. Offenders could face up to three years in prison and fines of up to $12,000. The ordinance has never before been used to ban a political party.

Chan has been given until September 4 to rebut a 700-page police dossier which concludes that a ban on the party is necessary "in the interests of national security, public safety, public order and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."

In a letter to the Hong Kong government recommending a ban, Assistant Police Commissioner Rebecca Lam said the possibility HKNP would use violence to achieve its pro-independence goals "cannot be ruled out."

An extensive log of Chan's activities and those of other party members -- including traveling to a forum in Taiwan, setting up street booths, and posting on Facebook -- shows the intense surveillance HKNP had been placed under.

Pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong denounced the move to ban HKNP, with youth activist Joshua Wong equating it to the "white terror" pursued by Taiwan's authoritarian anti-communist regime in the twentieth century.

In a statement, the UK Foreign Office expressed "concern" over the ban and said while it "does not support Hong Kong independence," the city's "high degree of autonomy, and its rights and freedoms, are central to its way of life, and it is important they are fully respected."

FCC controversy

Shortly after the proposal to ban Chan's party was announced, the FCC invited him to give a talk titled "Hong Kong Nationalism: A Politically Incorrect Guide to Hong Kong under Chinese Rule."

"Hosting such events does not mean that we either endorse or oppose the views of our speakers, who have included senior officials of the Chinese, Hong Kong and other governments as well as their opponents," the FCC's board said in a statement. "We believe that in free societies such as Hong Kong it is vitally important to allow people to speak and debate freely, even if one does not agree with their particular views."

The move to host Chan -- whose party has not yet been officially banned or deemed a threat to national security and continues to operate -- attracted widespread condemnation from government and pro-Beijing figures.

Victor Mallet, the club's acting president, said China's Foreign Ministry had "made representations to the club" about the event, though he did not reveal what was communicated to him.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the FCC's decision to host Chan was "regrettable and inappropriate," adding that she hoped "our friends in the FCC would ... respect Hong Kong as an inalienable part of China."

Her predecessor, CY Leung, has weighed in repeatedly on Facebook, calling for the government to reconsider leasing the FCC's swanky headquarters in the city's Central district, which it has occupied since 1982.

"Would the Club invite speakers who promote racism, anti-semitism or Nazism? Ditto speakers who claim that the Holocaust and Nanjing massacre are figments of imagination?" Leung said Saturday. "I advise not."

Pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao said pro-independence talk was "hate speech," and compared Chan to anti-Tutsi media in Rwanda which helped fan the 1994 genocide.

Press freedom groups have expressed concern over the pressure against the FCC, and about a move by public broadcaster RTHK to ban staff from covering the event live.

"HKJA has earlier expressed worries about the criticism made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' office in Hong Kong and the Government against the FCC talk would result in media self censorship," the group said in a statement. "We are concerned that the RTHK ban might be an immediate case of its kind."

Speaking at Tuesday's event, Mallet said hosting speakers like Chan "is what press clubs do, this is really a completely normal activity for a press club."

Independence activism

Support for Hong Kong independence and greater autonomy from China grew in the wake of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, after protesters failed to win any concrete reforms and government progress on political reform stalled.

The shift towards separatism has alarmed Beijing, with Chinese President Xi Jinping saying during a visit to the city last year that advocating independence was a "red line" for the central government.

Chan was one of several pro-independence candidates barred from standing in legislative elections in 2016.

Last year, that restriction was expanded to some candidates who support self-determination -- the right for the city to choose its own future when current constitutional arrangements expire in 2047.

Chan said he expected the same pattern to play out with regard to using the Societies Ordinance to ban political parties.

The colonial-era ordinance has been widely criticized for being overly restrictive. In 1992 the last colonial government of Hong Kong amended it to bring it in line with international human rights law, but this move was reversed once China assumed control of the territory, one of several liberalizing reforms thrown out by the provisional legislative council, an appointed body stacked with pro-Beijing figures.

Hanging over all talk of banning HKNP for the purposes of national security is Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's de facto constitution. It calls on the local government to "enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government."

Attempts to bring Article 23 into force in 2003 sparked mass street protests, and the matter has been on the back burner for multiple administrations ever since.

For Chan, this is a moot point. "Article 23 is already in effect right now," he told CNN. "They can ban any political party due to threats to national security, they can disqualify legislators."

"In the past 20 years, Hong Kong has only progressed in one direction: backwards," he said.
LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - A Hamilton man is accused of sending sexually explicit messages and pictures to four women.

Hunter Dahlem, 27, was charged in Lowndes County with four counts of cyberstalking.

Investigator Tony Cook says the victims told Dahlem to stop.

Dahlem was on parole for the same crime out of Monroe County, and hes being held in jail on a hold from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Editor's Note: This article has been modified.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Federal officials allege a former Mississippi Delta sheriff protected an illegal drug dealer for 15 years in exchange for bribes.

The accusations were unsealed Monday as Tallahatchie County Sheriff William Brewer resigned before an appearance in federal court in Oxford. He was arrested Friday on conspiracy and extortion charges.

A sworn statement says the FBI converted the drug dealer into an informant in June and recorded the informant telling Brewer of fake plans to rob a methamphetamine dealer. The FBI says the informant paid Brewer $10,000 in FBI-tracked bribes.

Brewer's lawyer declined to comment on the charges. The lawyer says Brewer resigned because remaining sheriff would have been "messy."

A judge is releasing Brewer to home detention on $25,000 bail.

If convicted, Brewer faces up to 40 years in prison.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WTXL) - Authorities providing update on shooting that killed 7-year-old Florida girl.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says that they have identified two suspects in the shooting:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Leaders and residents say they're frustrated by the kind of violence that killed a 7-year-old Florida girl, as officials offer an $11,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams told news outlets Sunday that a stray bullet struck Heydi Rivas Villanueva during crossfire of a gun battle between two groups in a parking lot. She was sitting in a car with her father and a sibling waiting for her mother to get off work at a nearby restaurant.

Police say two groups of men began shooting nearby and a bullet struck the child. The gunmen fled. A good Samaritan drove the child and her father to a nearby hospital. She died a short time later.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry tweeted, "This is heartbreaking."

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
TALLAHASSEE, FL- Step up for Students Director of External Affairs Sara Clements joins Malcolm Hornsby on Second Cup's Back to School Week.

She talked about a $500 scholarship available for Florida kids.

Step up for Students is a non-profit organization contracted by the state, offering a $500 scholarship to help your 3rd through 5th grader with reading and literacy.

Scholarships worth $500 are available for students in grades 3rd through 5th, who scored a 1 or a 2 on the 3rd or 4th grade reading portion of the FSA exam.

English Language Learners will be given first priority.

Scholarships are deposited into an account held by Step Up For Students and can be used to pay for summer or after-school programs focused on reading, part-time tutoring, curriculum, or instructional materials.

Parents are encouraged to reach out to their local district and community organizations to see what eligible programs and services are available.

There are enough funds for just under 20,000 students statewide. Scholarships will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are gone.

Applications can be found at www.stepupforstudents.org

It's free to apply.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Leon County school district is addressing workplace relationships.

At a workshop Monday night, the Leon County School Board looked over the draft of proposed new Fraternization and Nepotism policies.

"It's very challenging but because of that, we need to collaborate and communicate, make [the policies] more transparent," said Maggie Lewis-Butler, LCS School Board Vice Chair.

The Fraternization and Nepotism policies would require employees who are working with or supervising a family member, spouse or romantic partner to disclose the relationship.

Rocky Hanna, Leon County Schools Superintendent gave some examples at Monday night's meeting: "A principal at a school where their mother-in-law is a teacher. A principal who's spouse is a teacher at the school."

This discussion comes about a month after David Solz, the principal of Gilchrist Elementary, disclosed he was in a relationship with a teacher he supervised. He was placed on administrative leave.

The school district is still investigating the nature of Solz's relationship with the teacher at Gilchrist. A district spokesman says they hope to wrap up the investigation soon. If Solz is cleared of wrongdoing, he could be reinstated at another school.

Eventually, employees could be transferred to comply with the policies, but that's not coming any time soon.

Leon County's new school year officially started Monday, so school board members want to give the district's approximately 4,500 employees plenty of time to understand and comply with the potential new policies.

"No one is going to lose their job over this and no one is going to be transferred right now," said Alva Striplin, LCS School Board Chair. "If there is a relationship within a same workplace environment, it has to be disclosed 30 days after the effectiveness of this policy. Then the superintendent will decide by next school year [where to] find a new home for one of those teachers or administrators."

Striplin says there are plenty of places to transfer to, since LCS has more than 50 school sites. She says the goal is to make sure Leon County Schools are a level playing field for all employees.

"We don't want favoritism, whether it be a realized, unintentional or perceived," said Striplin. "That just creates poison within a school site environment and we want to avoid that at all costs."

The proposed Fraternization and Nepotism policies will be brought up at the School Board meeting on August 28th.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 03:20:14|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that most of the country's economic problems result from officials' mismanagement.

"While foreign sanctions hurt Iran's economy, most of the country's economic problems are the result of internal mismanagement," Khamenei said at his meeting with a group of Iranians in the capital Tehran.

"Economic experts and many officials believe the cause of the issue is not foreign, but internal. Not that sanctions do not have an impact, but the major impact is related to performances," he was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Meanwhile, he blamed the current turmoil in Iran's foreign exchange and gold market on "imprudence and neglect" by certain officials, who caused government's U.S. dollars to end up in the hands of manipulators.

"If the government officials manage the situation and economy in an appropriate way, namely more prudent, timely and stronger, the sanctions will not have much effect," Khamenei noted.

Iran's national currency rial has lost almost half of its value since March 21, beginning of the current Iranian year, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal with Iran and announced new sanctions on the Islamic republic.

On Monday, one U.S. dollar was traded for 109,000 rials in Tehran's market, after hitting a record low of more than 120,000 rials in the past week.

A day earlier, the Iranian Judiciary said the authorities had arrested 67 people in a drive against financial crime, Press TV reported.

Khamenei has agreed to a request by the judiciary chief to "swiftly and fairly" handle financial criminals.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 05:25:43|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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BRASILIA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday began a visit to Brazil, where he spoke with government representatives about continued military cooperation.

His visit is part of a four-nation swing through South America that will include stops in Chile, Argentina and Colombia.

On Monday morning, Mattis first met with Brazil's Foreign Relations Minister Aloysio Nunes, and then Defense Minister Joaquim Silva.

On the agenda were alternatives for advancing cooperation in technical, scientific, political-military and defense industry areas.

Mattis is also set to meet with individuals from the defense industry and political-military areas to increase bilateral cooperation.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Mattis will give a talk at the Superior School of War and pay a visit to the national monument honoring Brazilian military members who were killed in World War II.

Although Brazil and the United States don't have a military alliance, when it comes to defense and weapons, the United States is one of the largest importers of products from Brazil.

The U.S. government is currently negotiating the purchase of 300 Embraer EMB-314 planes known as Super Tucano, a type of turboprop light attack aircraft.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 06:56:04|Editor: zh

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People take part in the Festival of Chinese Immigration at Parque Aclimacao in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 12, 2018. Brazil's biggest city, Sao Paulo celebrated the Festival of Chinese Immigration over the weekend, at one of the country's leading parks, Parque Aclimacao. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

SAO PAULO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's biggest city, Sao Paulo celebrated the Festival of Chinese Immigration over the weekend, at one of the country's leading parks, Parque Aclimacao.

This year's festival precedes Chinese Immigration Day, which will be commemorated for the first time this Aug. 15 thanks to an initiative spearheaded by Brazil's President Michel Temer.

Cultural and culinary events are planned for Wednesday in Brazil's major cities, including the capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, which kicked off its celebrations early with Sunday's festival.

Chinese and Brazilian officials inaugurated the festivities, which featured Chinese cuisine, music, dance and traditional arts, like papercutting and calligraphy.

Lucia Franca, the wife of Sao Paulo Gov. Marcio Franca, thanked the local Chinese community for choosing Brazil and bolstering the spirit of hard work the country's leading industrial state is known for.

Franca praised these types of events for helping to promote cultural ties.

"There is nothing that brings countries closer together than culture, which has to be in a way shared," said Franca.

She also thanked China's representatives for donating a thousand baskets of basic goods among other items.

The first Chinese immigrants arrived in Brazil more than 200 years ago, and found a warm and welcoming country, Chen Peijie, China's consul general in Sao Paulo, said.

Chen stressed that Chinese Immigration Day will mark the first time the melding of the two cultures is commemorated nationwide.

Fausto Pinato, a federal deputy and head of the Brazil-China Parliamentary Front, noted the day will help Brazilians of Chinese ancestry "to remember their parents and grandparents."

Festival-goers enjoyed demonstrations of papercutting, calligraphy, traditional medicine, and the classic dragon dance, as well as Mandarin language lessons by the local Confucius Institute.

Maria de Jesus, a retired resident who lives close to the park, told Xinhua that while she knows little about Chinese culture, she is fond of Chinese food, which is what drew her to the festival.

"Last week, when walking through Aclimacao Park, where I come to exercise every day, I saw there was going to be a festival of Chinese immigration in Brazil, and I decided to come and take part," said De Jesus.

"I took the opportunity to ask them to write my name in Chinese and also good wishes of peace for my family," she said.

De Jesus often eats out at Chinese restaurants in the city's Liberdade neighborhood, home to Sao Paulo's largest Chinese immigrant community.

Caio Souza and his wife Adriana Souza brought their daughters Vitoria and Isabela to the park to learn more about China.

"I made friend with a little Chinese girl who hasn't learnt Portuguese well yet," said Isabela, 11.

"We go to school together and are always learning from each other, exchanging ideas and words in Chinese and Portuguese," she added.

On her last birthday, her friend gave her a box with "Happy Birthday" written in Chinese.

As they all waited to have their family name written in Chinese, Mrs. Souza said the festival helped put her daughters in closer touch with Chinese culture.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 07:06:05|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the deadlock over a detained U.S. pastor remained unsolved, the White House said Monday that U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton met with Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kilic.

According to a statement issued by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Bolton met with Kilic in the White House "at the Turkish Ambassador's request."

"They discussed Turkey's continued detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson and the state of the U.S.-Turkey relationship," the statement read, without giving further details.

The statement came as the two nations continued to wrangle over U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who was charged with involvement in a failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in 2016.

Transferred from detainment to house arrest last month, he could face up to 25 years in jail if found guilty.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he had authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 percent and 20 percent respectively. The White House confirmed the tweet.

The United States also slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers over the case earlier in August.

In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry vowed to "retaliate" against U.S. "aggression" over the case of Brunson "without any delay," and called on Washington to reverse its decision.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 07:21:08|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Washington, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the diplomatic confrontation between Canada and Saudi Arabia continues, the U.S. State Department said here on Monday that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier on the same day.

According to a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo thanked Mohammed bin Salman for his nation's support for northeast Syria's stabilization needs, its engagement with the Iraqi government, and its offer to help Iraq address its water and electricity shortages.

The two also discussed their support for a ceasefire in Afghanistan over the coming Eid, and peace in Afghanistan more broadly.

They also reviewed the efforts to resolve the conflict in Yemen and other topics of mutual interest.

Earlier on Saturday, Pompeo spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, when they discussed the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Canada over Canada's call for releasing civil rights activists.

As the dispute over the issue with Saudi Arabia escalated, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that Canada will always stand up for human rights.

The diplomatic row erupted following a tweet by the Canadian foreign ministry urging the kingdom to "immediately release" detained women's rights activists.

In response, Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir ruled out the possibility for mediation and warned of more punishment against Canada.

Over the past few days, Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador, froze new trade and investment in Canada, withdrew thousands of Riyadh-funded students from Canada, and announced a suspension of Saudi Arabian Airlines flights to and from Toronto.

Saudi Arabia is Canada's 19th largest trading partner and the source of some 10 percent of Canadian crude oil imports. Bilateral trade between the two countries amounts to nearly 4 billion Canadian dollars (about 3 billion U.S. dollars) annually.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 07:32:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Boys carry a coffin of a child, who died in Saudi-led airstrikes that killed dozens of children, at a funeral of the victims in Dhahyan, northern province of Saada, Yemen, on Aug. 13, 2018. Thousands of Yemeni people attended the funeral on Monday. Saudi-led airstrikes hit passenger buses in the Dhahyan popular market in Saada on Aug. 9, killing at least 43 people, mostly pupils under 10, and injuring 64 others. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 07:31:09|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. top electric automaker Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Monday that he has held talks with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund about his plan to take his company private.

Musk broke silence in a blog post Monday after several days of speculations on how he is going to privatize Tesla following his announcement on Twitter on Aug. 7 that he was considering taking Tesla private at a price of 420 U.S. dollars per share.

"Going back almost two years, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund has approached me multiple times about taking Tesla private. They first met with me at the beginning of 2017 to express this interest," Musk said.

"Obviously, the Saudi sovereign fund has more than enough capital needed to execute on such a transaction," he wrote.

He said the Saudi sovereign fund has recently purchased almost 5 percent of the Silicon Valley-based electric car maker's stocks on the public markets, and that the fund's managing director "strongly expressed his support for funding a going private transaction for Tesla at this time."

No other decision makers were needed and they were eager to proceed, Musk said.

"I left the July 31st meeting with no question that a deal with the Saudi sovereign fund could be closed, and that it was just a matter of getting the process moving. This is why I referred to 'funding secured' in the August 7th announcement," said the Tesla billionaire.

Apart from the Saudi sovereign fund, Musk said he is having talks with other potential investors about his privatization plan.

"I also am having discussions with a number of other investors, which is something that I always planned to do since I would like for Tesla to continue to have a broad investor base," he noted.

He dismissed as "dramatically" overstating media reports that more than 70 billion dollars would be needed to make Tesla private.

He said the 420-dollar buyout price would only be used to pay shareholders who chose to leave the company if it goes private.

"My best estimate right now is that approximately two-thirds of shares owned by all current investors would roll over into a private Tesla," he said. Analysts estimated that the buyout could cost about 20 billion to 30 billion dollars in cash.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating the announcement Musk disclosed on Twitter, in a bid to see whether his statements were misleading. The reports said Musk could be subject to lawsuits brought against him by investors.
Syrian children ride a truck carrying their personal belongings at a Lebanese army checkpoint in Wadi Hmeid in the Bekaa valley, after leaving the village of Arsal to return to their homes inSyria's Qalamoun region on July 23, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP PHOTO)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- In an upsurge of violence in the Syrian civil war, more than 130 people were killed, including "many children" in three governorates over the weekend, the United Nations said on Monday.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), based at the UN Headquarters, said ongoing hostilities in northwestern Syria have killed at least 134 people, including many children, over the weekend in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo governorates.

"At least 59 civilians were reportedly killed, 17 of them children, when a weapons and ammunition depot exploded in a residential building near Sarmada town in northern rural Idlib Governorate," UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at a regular briefing.

The UN Children's Agency (UNICEF) counted "28 children were reported killed in Idlib and western Aleppo in northern Syria" in the last 36 hours, he said.

"Three UNICEF-supported health facilities were attacked," Haq said. "Two of them - providing aid to women and children - are now out of service."

Education authorities reportedly suspended all school activities in Khan Shaykun, Maarrat An Numan and Kafr Nobol in Idlib for three days due to hostilities," he said.

"We remind all parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect all civilians and civilian objects, including schools and health facilities; and to allow safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to all in need in compliance with international humanitarian law," the deputy spokesman said.
Afghan security force members check a vehicle at a security checkpoint on Kabul-Ghaznihighway in Wardak province, Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

by Abdul Haleem, Jawed Omid

MAIDAN SHAR, Afghanistan, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- "The situation in Ghazni city is extremely horrific, everywhere you see destruction, killing, burning, smoke and bombing," a fleeing Ghazni resident Abdul Ahmad, 26, murmured.

Escaping the war along with his family, the scared Ahmad whispered that the ongoing war in Ghazni city had devoured everything over the past four days and turned the city into a ghost one.

Featuring the living conditions in the beleaguered Ghazni city, the frustrated man lamented that the situation is getting worse from bad and the attacking Taliban fighters have turned many buildings and entities into ashes.

"I have seen many bodies including security personnel and civilians laying in Ghazni hospital," said the nervous Ahmad, whispering even "the Ghazni hospital has no more capacity to admit and provide medical treatment to injured persons."

Driving towards Kabul Ahmad muttered that "lucky people" can escape Ghazni city.

Taliban militants launched massive offensive on the strategically important Ghazni city, capital of Ghazni province, 125 km south of Kabul on Friday morning.

An Afghan security force member is seen in Ghazni city, the capital of Ghazni province, Afghanistan, Aug. 12, 2018. (Xinhua/Anwar Danish Yar)

The largest attack by Taliban since overrunning northern Kunduz city in September 2015, infiltrating into Ghazni city have taken many into surprise and Ghazni's residents into dilemma.

Government forces, in spite of hectic efforts and launching counter-offensives have yet to expel militants from the embattled city and bring back the situation into normalcy.

Taliban insurgents, according to the outfit's spokesman Zabihullah Majahid, are in full control of the war-ravaged city, urging the residents to support Islamic Emirate, the Taliban hardliner regime ousted in late 2001.

The ongoing war in Ghazni city, according to locals, officials and the videos released by Taliban militants on social media, have claimed numerous lives including civilians, besides destroying countless government and private properties over the past four days.

According to locals, fighting has been continuing in major parts of the city, forcing many to remain indoors or flee the city for safer places.

An Afghan security force member checks a passenger at the entrance gate of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

The ongoing fighting in Ghazni city has paralyzed daily lives, as all the markets, shops and bazaar remained closed.

Promising to defeat militants in Ghazni city, Afghan Defense Minister General Tariq Shah Bahrami said Monday that 194 insurgents had been killed and the security forces would defeat the rebels to change the situation within the next 24 hours.

"Since Taliban attack on Ghazni city on Friday all the roads leading to the city have been closed and no one can escape the beleaguered city," another escaping man Azizullah, 45, told Xinhua.

Reaching in Maidan Shar, capital of Ghazni's neighboring Wardak province, the exhausted Azizullah said he now can take the "sigh of relief" since he is out of the battle ground.

"Nothing commendable over the past four days except killing and destruction and no bold action has been seen to evict Taliban from the city," Azizullah said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 11:26:52|Editor: ZD

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GENEVA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- There is no arbitrary detention in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the view that Xinjiang is a "no rights zone" is completely against the fact, a Chinese official on Monday told the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

The CERD reviewed the situation in China at its 96th session on Aug. 10 and 13. During a dialogue between the Chinese delegation and CERD members, Hu Lianhe, a member of the Chinese delegation, said the freedom and dignity, economic and social rights, civil and political rights and other rights of all the ethnic groups in Xinjiang are fully guaranteed by law and in practice.

"There are no such things as 're-education centers' or 'counter-extremism training centers' in Xinjiang," the official said.

Xinjiang, a victim of terrorism which is making an effort to protect the life and property of all ethnic groups in the autonomous region, has undertaken special campaigns to crack down on violent terrorist activities, put on trial and imprisoned a number of criminals according to the law, he said.

"With respect to persons involved only in minor offenses, the authority provides them with assistance and education by assigning them to vocational education and employment training centers to acquire employment skills and legal knowledge, with a view to assisting their rehabilitation and reintegration," Hu said.

He added that the legal rights of persons assigned to vocational training centers are duly protected and they are not subject to any arbitrary detention, let alone ill-treatment there.

"The saying that 'a million Uygurs are detained in re-education centers' is completely untrue," the Chinese official said.

Xinjiang is firmly committed to combating terrorism, extremism and separatism according to the law, and opposes linking anti-terrorism, anti-extremism and anti-secession to specific ethnic groups or religions, Hu added.

The official told CERD members that masked robes are not ethnic costumes in Xinjiang, and that wearing masked robes is prohibited according to local laws and regulations, as such robes are not ethnic garments of the Uygurs there.

"Wearing masked robes is also prohibited in many countries in the world. The prohibition of wearing masked robes is not only the need to respect and protect ethnic customs in Xinjiang, but also the need for anti-terrorism and anti-extremism," he said.

Since the 1990s, the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism at home and abroad have planned and organized a series of violent terrorist incidents such as explosions, assassinations, poisonings, arsons, assaults, turmoil and riots, causing heavy losses of life and property among all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, said Hu.

In response, the autonomous region has adopted measures to strengthen social and security management, including collecting relevant information, curbing the spread of terrorist and extremist audios and videos, and cracking down on the illegal and criminal activities of the "three forces", Hu said.

The measures have safeguarded stability and security in Xinjiang, and received great support from all ethnic groups, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 11:31:54|Editor: Yamei

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SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha had a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Tuesday over situations on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Kang exchanged opinions on the phone earlier in the day with Pompeo over the peninsula situations, including the recent inter-Korean relations, the ministry said in a press release.

The top South Korean diplomat explained to Pompeo about the result of high-level inter-Korean talks, which were held Monday at the border village of Panmunjom.

After the talks, the two Koreas agreed to hold the third summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang before the end of next month.

Moon and Kim met for the first time on April 27, agreeing to meet in Pyongyang this fall. The second Moon-Kim summit was held on May 26.

The two Moon-Kim summits led to the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

During the phone conversation, Kang and Pompeo agreed to maintain close cooperation denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and building a permanent peace.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 11:41:58|Editor: Yamei

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NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Airbus announced the successful landing of its solar-powered aircraft Zephyr S after it flew for over 25 days, setting a new world record of flight endurance without refuelling.

Zephyr S took off on July 11 in Arizona, the United States, and stayed aloft at over 70,000 feet (about 21.33 kilometers) for 25 days, 23 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the old record of 14 days, 22 minutes and eight seconds set by an earlier Zephyr program variant.

"We will in the coming days check all engineering data and outputs and start the preparation of additional flights planned for the second half of this year from our new operating site at the Wyndham airfield in Western Australia," said Jana Rosenmann, head of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Airbus.

Zephyr is a High Altitude Psuedo-Satellite (HAPS) which runs exclusively on solar power. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) harnesses the sun's rays, filling a capability gap complimentary to satellites, UAVs and manned aircraft to provide persistent local satellite-like services. It endures like a satellite, focuses like an aircraft and is cheaper than either of them.

According to Airbus, the aircraft is manufactured from carbon fiber and weighs only 75 kilograms. It has a wingspan of 25 metres, and the wings are covered in solar panels which charge the craft's lithium-sulphur batteries and enable prolonged stratospheric flight.

The Zephyr program seeks to bring new see, sense and connect capabilities to both commercial and military customers, offering potential solutions for disaster management, surveillance and communications.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 12:17:05|Editor: mmm

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SAO PAULO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Workers' Party insisted Monday that it plans to register ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as its presidential candidate despite his imprisonment.

The registration "gives a political and judicial signal" to those who said the prison sentence would end Lula's political career, Gleisi Hoffman, the party's president, told foreign correspondents at a press conference.

The two-time president started to serve a 12-year prison sentence for alleged corruption in April, which derailed his plan to run in October elections.

Lula has denied charges that he received a luxury beachfront apartment from Brazil's construction giant Odebrecht in exchange for lucrative contracts.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 12:52:12|Editor: ZD

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SYDNEY, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) has urged the Western Australian State (WA) government to support the manufacturing of lithium batteries or risk missing out on what they say will be a 1.5 trillion U.S. dollar industry by 2025.

In a submission to parliament on Tuesday, the AMEC said the state has extensive lithium and other mineral deposits putting it ahead in the global market for battery manufacturing, and if they take too long then others will fill the gap.

"Australia risks ceding its substantial comparative advantages to other countries which are already focused on facilitating the growth of this industry in their countries," AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce said.

"There is roughly a two-year window before the value chain is solidified."

AMEC said 60 percent of the world's lithium supply was mined in WA and that "all of the other minerals necessary to domestically manufacture batteries" can be found there as well.

While WA is not yet in a position to manufacture batteries because it would have to import many of the components, the AMEC said that foreign players could be attracted to the state to carry out the final, higher stages of the manufacturing process.

WA is already experiencing an increased amount of activity surrounding lithium, with Chinese company Tianqi currently in the process of building the world's largest lithium processing plants in Kwinana, south of state capital Perth.

Without government and industry collaboration, Australia is estimated to capture 7 billion U.S. dollars of the total value in the next eight years, Pearce said.

However, if one more step was taken down the value chain into electro-chemical processing, by 2025, Australia would have a share of a further 216 billion U.S dollars, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 12:57:14|Editor: Yamei

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ULAN BATOR, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The railway service on a major line in Mongolia has resumed after a derailment incident two days ago, rail authorities said Tuesday.

The rail service linking the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator and Sainshand, the capital city of the southeastern province of Dornogovi resumed on Monday evening after an almost two-day suspension, the Ulan Bator Railway company said in a statement.

A team of 486 engineers and workers were mobilized to deal with the problem, it said.

A train with 328 passengers aboard derailed early Sunday morning near Airag soum, about 120 km northwest of Sainshand, which injured nine passengers including three children, and damaged railroad embankments. It was raining heavily in the area when the accident occurred.

The injured passengers are still receiving treatment in hospital, according to the Mongolian Health Ministry.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 12:57:15|Editor: ZD

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BAKU, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The signing of the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea will expand prospects for the development of transit cargo transportation, Azerbaijani expert told local media on Monday.

Akif Mustafayev, national secretary of the Inter-governmental Commission TRACECA in Azerbaijan, said that the agreement will open new prospects for the development of logistics and expansion of cooperation in this area between the Caspian states.

"The interaction between the Caspian states has always been at a high level," Mustafayev said

The convention will allow the implementation of a number of promising projects that could not be implemented previously. It will also enhance security in the region, and improve the ecological status of the Caspian Sea, he said.

The heads of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan inked the landmark convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea at the Fifth Caspian Summit in the Kazakh city of Aktau on Sunday after over two decades of negotiations.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 13:07:16|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The president of Brazil's Supreme Court Carmen Lucia defended the country's electoral laws on Monday to refute the support for imprisoned ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's presidential candidacy.

Lucia specifically mentioned the country's Clean Record Law, which prohibits a person convicted of a crime from running for public office, during a talk at a Brazilian university.

All eyes are on the law because under its terms, Lula, who is currently serving a 12-year prison term for corruption and money laundering, would not be eligible to run for president in October.

Lucia also defended the incumbent government's legitimacy, saying it was elected through direct elections.

Brazilian President Michel Temer took office in 2016 by way of the vice presidency, after former President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers' Party was impeached halfway through her second term.

A series of protests were staged over the past months to pressure the authorities to release Lula so the two-time president can run for re-election by registering as the candidate of the Workers' Party before the deadline of Aug. 15.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 13:52:27|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's transport ministry issued an order Tuesday to suspend the driving of BMW vehicles that had yet to receive safety inspections amid the incessantly rising number of BMW models catching fire.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mee said in an address to the nation that local governments are required by the central government to issue an order halting the driving of BMW vehicles, which are subject to voluntary recall but has yet to receive emergency safety checks.

By domestic law, the right to issue such an order is given to local governments.

Kim said the order letter, which is slated to be delivered from Wednesday, will immediately come into force as soon as the vehicle owners receive it.

The suspension order came amid the growing number of engine-related fire accidents in BMW models, mostly from the best-selling 520d sedans.

A total of 39 BMW vehicles caught fire this year alone, but no casualties have been reported yet.

The German carmaker started recalling 106,317 vehicles last month, but about 27,000 cars had yet to receive safety inspections as of Monday, according to local media reports.

If the suspension order is issued, the owners would be only allowed to drive vehicles to take safety checkups.

The minister vowed to draw up measures to strengthen penalty on automakers hiding faulty vehicles or deliberately delaying recall, while increasing the effectiveness of punitive damages.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 15:07:36|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Pakistani students wave national flags during a ceremony at the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah to mark the country's Independence Day in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Aug. 14, 2018. Pakistan got independence from the British colonial rule on Aug. 14, 1947 after a heroic struggle under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. (Xinhua/Masroor)

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday paid homage to security personnel who have scarified lives in the war against terrorism, saying that their sacrifices have eliminated the scourge of terrorism in the country.

The president was addressing the national flag hoisting ceremony in the capital Islamabad as part of the Independence Day celebrations of Pakistan.

Pakistan got independence from the British colonial rule on Aug. 14, 1947 after a heroic struggle under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

The day dawned with a 31 gun salute in the Federal Capital and 21 gun salute in the provincial headquarters.

The main feature of the celebrations was the national flag hoisting ceremony in Islamabad. Mamnoon Hussain and caretaker Prime Minister Nasir ul Mulk joined hands to hoist the flag at a ceremony attended by diplomats, lawmakers, military and civil officials and important personalities.

President Hussain mentioned the parliamentary elections held on July 25 and said that despite terrorist attacks, the elections were held with the full participation of the people.

Deadly terrorist attacks in southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces killed nearly 200 people, including three candidates in July. The Taliban and Islamic State group had claimed the attacks.

The president noted that this year the general elections coincided with the Independence Day.

"This also envisages a message that the decisions in the country which was achieved through a democratic struggle will also be taken through the power of vote," he said.

"I want to remember and pay homage to all those who sacrificed lives for the country and the system. Terrorists could not break the will of the people," the president said.

He also called for peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute with India in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 15:57:53|Editor: zh

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Photo taken on Aug. 13, 2018 shows Bob Cadry introducing his store in Sydney, Australia. Although Sydney is about as far away from the Silk Road as you can get, one harbourside family's connection to the ancient trading routes has continued for almost 70 years. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

by Levi J Parsons

SYDNEY, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Although Sydney is about as far away from the Silk Road as you can get, one harbourside family's connection to the ancient trading routes has continued for almost 70 years.

Sourcing hand-stitched, centuries old Persian rugs from places like Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan, the Cadry family, like their carpets, rely on an intricately woven network of cooperation stretching from Beijing to the edge of Europe and beyond.

But while these trade routes have largely endured across the ages, the upcoming five year anniversary of China's Belt and Road Initiative highlights the potential to reimagine the ancient Silk Road by radically modernizing its infrastructure links.

Opening his first store in Sydney in 1952 after arriving from Iran, the late Jacques Cadry began selling a product that most Australians didn't fully understand.

With much of the country experiencing a tough economic downturn after the World War II, spending money on strange foreign rugs was far from a priority.

But by focusing on the history and stories behind the carpets, Sydney's oldest Persian rug trader was able to explain to locals what the complex designs represented and why they were so significant.

"Silk was the the most important commodity in the ancient world -- the luxury of silk, the feel of silk, the importance of silk," Jacques' son Bob Cadry, who now runs the business, told Xinhua.

"It was a currency by which powerful rulers could pay their armies and important ministers and it was a way that trade could flourish."

"Chinese silk is of the highest quality, and it's the history and the knowledge of how to produce, dye and harvest the silk yarn that makes China the best in the world, so many of the finest weavers in the world only insist on using the finest pure Chinese silk."

As the most important link between east and west, the pathway through Central Asia was predominantly facilitated through silk, spice and porcelain.

But while these items were extremely valuable, according to Cadry, it was the ongoing exchange of ideas and cultures that truly enriched the vast network of traders.

"Interestingly one of the most important symbols in Persian design came from the influence of the Chinese porcelain design of the cloud band motif," he explained.

"When the weavers in Iran saw them on the beautiful porcelains in the 16th century, they adopted them and copied them into their rugs."

"We see the combination of Central Asian motifs and Chinese motifs merged together in a very beautiful way."

Adopting this love of cooperation and trade, the Cadry brand looked to expand its business in Sydney and abroad.

In the 1970's, Australia had become more affluent and culturally diverse so the demand for exotic items like Persian rugs dramatically began to increase.

Starting with a department store deal, Cadry's then moved to design and create their own customized modern carpets.

"My father started his business in China in early 1980's," Cadry said.

"In fact, I remember I was with him on one of the earliest plane trips that Qantas did from Sydney to Beijing."

"It was a 747 and there were only 10 people in the plane... back in those days, there were few companies dealing with China, but we had very good dealings with China."

Since then, the business has grown even further with commercial manufacturing operations set up in Indian, Nepal as well as China.

But having to ship much of his freight by air, the Sydneysider said there's a great opportunity for countries along the Silk Road to develop more integrated transport links.

"In terms of the transfer of raw materials across the Silk Road, then obviously the roads, the highways, and the trucks need to be developed to facilitate," he said.

"With high volume goods, obviously we need shipping, containers and major ports to work with."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:02:55|Editor: zh

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 Afghan soldiers were killed late Monday after Taliban militants overran an army base in the northern part of the country following a three-day intense fighting, a local source said Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:07:57|Editor: zh

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SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed a strong support Tuesday for independence fighters and their bereaved families, one day before the Liberation Day to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule.

Moon made the pledge at a lunch meeting with about 240 people, including 13 living patriots and independence fighters as well as their descendants living at home and abroad, according to the presidential Blue House.

The South Korean president said the country's proud history, which recovered its sovereignty through independence movement against the Japanese colonization, was made by the invitees and their ancestors.

He noted that treating those who sacrificed themselves for the country with honor was not only a responsibility of the country but also the best investment for the future as how the families of independence fighters live currently is an impetus for patriotism of the next generation.

Moon said treating national heroes and their families well is the root to build a strong nation, adding that treating them well would start with an expanded financial support.

As promised, Moon said, the government increased its special allowances to independence fighters and patriots as well as their bereaved families by 50 percent, while providing financial support to some 17,000 people to allow the three generations of independence fighters to live stably.

He also vowed to continue to find the forgotten national heroes, including student and female patriots.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:12:59|Editor: zh

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CANBERRA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Australia's governing party on Tuesday approved Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's signature energy policy.

After the first party room meeting since parliament returned from its Winter break on Monday, the Liberal National Party (LNP) on Tuesday morning voted to endorse the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) after 2.5 hours of debate.

The endorsement is a significant win for Turnbull, who can now take the policy to parliament for an open vote, after conservative government Members of Parliament (MPs) threatened to derail the NEG in its infancy.

"This is a policy which has been the subject of extensive consultation," Turnbull told reporters on Tuesday.

"We have received overwhelming support for it. It will deliver not only more reliable power, but cheaper power."

Under the policy, Australia would be committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 26 percent on 2005 levels by 2030.

Turnbull claims that it will lower household electricity prices by 550 Australian dollars (400 U.S. dollars) per year from year 2020 onwards.

However, Turnbull faces an uphill battle to get the policy through parliament with the Opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) ruling out support, saying it set the emissions target too low.

The LNP holds a narrow majority in the House of Representatives but four MPs, led by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, have reserved the right to join forces with Labor to defeat the policy.

Even if a majority of MPs in the House of Representatives voted in favor, the bill would move on to the Senate where the government's 31 members is short of the 38 votes required to pass a bill.

"The Labor party has to decide whether they want to support cheaper and more reliability electricity," Turnbull said on Tuesday, calling on ALP leader Bill Shorten to support the NEG.

However, Labor energy spokesman Mark Butler ruled out supporting a policy with an emissions target lower than 45 percent.

"Today is a substantial victory for the right wing attack on renewal energy and Australians will pay the price for Malcolm Turnbull's weakness on lost jobs and higher power bills," Butler said.

"Our view is that an emissions reduction target of 45 percent should be put in place."

In a statement released following the conclusion of the party room meeting, Abbott, who lost the Prime-ministership when he was defeated by Turnbull in a leadership ballot in 2015, said that a dozen government MPs expressed doubts over the NEG.

"Unfortunately, most explanations of how the NEG (as it stands without price targets) might theoretically get prices down sound like merchant bankers' gobbledegook," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:13:01|Editor: zh

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ISLAMABAD, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and three others injured in a firing incident inside a tribal court in Pakistan's northwest Battagram district on Tuesday, local reports said.

Local police said the incident happened in a court in the district located in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, when verbal fight between two groups turned ugly and members of one group opened fire at the others.

The attackers fled the scene after the firing.

Police have cordoned off the area and kicked off a search operation to arrest the on-the-run culprits.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:28:03|Editor: zh

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LUSAKA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian Government on Monday approved a bill to regulate social media and enhance cyber security.

The chief government spokesperson, Dora Siliya, said the cabinet approved the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill, which will replace some clauses in the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act of 2009.

"The bill will promote an increased cyber security posture, facilitate intelligence gathering, investigation, prosecution and judicial processes in respect of preventing and addressing cyber crimes, cyber terrorism and cyber warfare against the Republic of Zambia," she said in a statement released after the cabinet meeting.

The bill will also facilitate the establishment of a cyber security regulator, which will help protect Zambia's critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.

"The act will adequately deal with various crimes committed using (the) social media platform targeting ... consumer groups in the country," she said.

Also on Monday, the government introduced a tariff charge on internet calls to protect jobs in the telecommunication sector.

Siliya said the decision was made due to an increase in internet phone calls at the expense of traditional calls.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:28:03|Editor: zh

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LONDON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A man was arrested after a vehicle crashed into security barriers outside Britain's Houses of Parliament Tuesday morning, injuring "a number of pedestrians," local police said.

At 7:37 a.m. local time (0637 GMT), a car collided with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament, and the driver of the vehicle was detained by officers at the scene, according to Britain's Metropolitan Police.

Officers remain at the scene, police said. "We will issue further info when we have it."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:38:06|Editor: zh

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 Afghan soldiers were killed late Monday after Taliban militants overran an army base in the northern part of the country following a three-day intense fighting, a local source said Tuesday.

The clashes started last Saturday after hundreds of Taliban militants stormed and besieged the base, known as Camp-e-Chenayeeha in remote Ghormach district of Faryab province in which about 106 army soldiers were stationed.

"The besieged soldiers showed stiff resistance and fought back the attackers for the past three days but the base was captured by militants as the soldiers received no help or supplies despite repeated requests," Sebghatullah Selaab, an official from the provincial council, told Xinhua.

He said 15 soldiers were injured and five others were captured by the militants while several soldiers fled to nearby villages or mountains.

The Taliban seized 14 armored military vehicles, heavy guns, weapons and ammunition after the seizure of the base in the province, 425 km northwest of Kabul.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when the Afghan security forces assumed full responsibilities of security from the U.S. and NATO troops.

The militants also intensified attacks against security forces and staged several coordinated large-scale attacks against Afghan cities and districts after they launched a yearly rebel offensive on April 25.

In eastern Ghazni city, capital of Ghazni province, heavy clashes and airstrikes were reported Tuesday as fighting in the city entered the fifth day.

The Taliban has captured vast majority of the city after they launched a massive attack on it early Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 16:43:11|Editor: zh

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KATHMANDU, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A fleet of 17 new low-emission and high-tech buses started operation in Nepal's Kathmandu on Tuesday to help reduce congestion and pollution in the capital.

The initiative is part of the Kathmandu Sustainable Urban Transport Project of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is promoting the use of low-emission vehicles and helping improve mass transport in the Kathmandu valley.

Issuing a statement on Tuesday, ADB said that the 25-seater buses have been used on a pilot route from Tuesday, replacing the aging 26 micro-buses and 35 three-wheelers that ply the route.

"ADB is pleased to work on this project to provide the city with a more efficient urban transport system. The effort to improve the urban transport system is being led by a public-private partnership, which will be the key to the system's sustainability in the long run," ADB Country Director for Nepal Mukhtor Khamudkhanov was quoted in the statement.

Population growth, rapid urbanization, and the increasing number of vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley have led to traffic congestion, road accidents and environmental degradation among others in the recent years.

Air quality in the Himalayan country is often regarded as the worst, while Nepal is ranked at the bottom among the 180 countries surveyed in terms of air-quality globally.

Kathmandu has been facing severe air pollution in the past few years due to smoke emission from vehicles, industries, brick kilns and increasing haphazard road expansion projects.

"The new buses use Euro-4 emission standard engines that reduce the levels of harmful exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide. They also use a Global Positioning System (GPS) enabling passengers to track the buses in real time," reads the statement.

The total cost of this urban transport project is 22.37 million U.S. dollars, with the government of Nepal contributing 7.9 million U.S. dollars.

According to ADB, the total cost of the implementation of the bus service operation in the pilot route, including the facilities of e-ticketing, GPS tracking, and other communication equipment is 900,000 U.S. dollars.

The project is helping to improve traffic management in the city center by supporting Nepal's Department of Transport Management to build up knowledge and skills in urban transport management.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 17:23:26|Editor: Li Xia

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SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday the issue of World War II sex slavery cannot be resolved diplomatically, in what appeared to reiterate his denial of the 2015 deal between Japan and the former South Korean government under impeached President Park Geun-hye.

Moon made the remarks during a ceremony to mark the inauguration of a new national day, which was held at the national cemetery in Cheonan, South Chungcheong province. The country designated Aug. 14 as the new national day for former South Korean sex slaves who were forced or duped by the Imperial Japan into sex enslavement for Japan's military brothels before and during the Pacific War.

The issue of comfort women victims, Moon said, cannot be resolved between Seoul and Tokyo through diplomatic solutions, but can be resolved when South Korea and the international community, including Japan, deeply repent over and firmly commit to not repeating the sexual violence against women.

Moon expressed his hope that the issue would not lead to diplomatic row between South Korea and Japan as it is a universal issue of women's rights beyond a historical issue between the two countries.

The comfort women issue has long been a source of diplomatic dispute as the Japanese government under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refused to sincerely apologize and compensate for the wartime atrocity.

The impeached South Korean president Park, Moon's predecessor, signed the deal in 2015 with the Abe government to finally and irreversibly wrap up the comfort women issue, without consent from the victims, in exchange for receiving 1 billion Japanese yen (9 million U.S. dollars).

Moon denied the deal as it failed to reflect demands from the victims, including a sincere apology from the Japanese government and the official acknowledgement of the forced sexual slavery.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 17:28:27|Editor: Li Xia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Federal First Instance Court based in Addis Ababa on Tuesday granted bail to 11 police officers accused of negligence in a June 23 bomb attack.

The bomb attack at a mass rally held in support of reformist Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed left two people dead and more than 50 injured.

The 11 police officers which include Girma Kassa, Deputy Head of Addis Ababa Police Commission, are accused of security lapses which allowed the bomb attack to happen.

The police officers were granted bail with amounts ranging from 220 U.S. dollars to 550 U.S. dollars.

The Ethiopian government has so far refrained from mentioning specific organizations it suspects of being behind the June 23 bomb attack, although five civilians are currently on trial charged with direct involvement in the bomb attack

The June 23 mass rally, which was held in Addis Ababa and other major cities across the Ethiopia, was organized to give credit to the various activities taken by the Ahmed administration.

Ahmed, who took the prime minister position in April, has made various decisions that mainly aimed to bring about peace and unity among ethnic groups in the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 17:53:37|Editor: Li Xia

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TIRINKOT, Afghanistan, Aug.14 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 Taliban militants were killed and 18 others wounded following an Afghan army's military operation in the country's southern province of Uruzgan, an official said Tuesday.

The operation was launched on the outskirts of provincial capital Trinkot, and neighboring Khas Uruzgan district on Monday, leaving 10 militants loyal to the Taliban dead and 18 others injured, Maj. Yahya Alavi, spokesman of army Corps 205 Attal based in the region told Xinhua.

The operation aimed in disrupting insurgents' activities in the province and the military raids will continue until insurgents renounce violence and join government-initiated peace and reconciliation process, the official added.

The violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by anti-government fighters since the drawdown of foreign forces within the past three years.

The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than 17 years, has yet to make comments.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 17:53:37|Editor: Liangyu

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Russian and Syrian medics are seen at the Nasib border crossing between Syria and Jordan in the southern province of Daraa, Syria, on Aug. 14, 2018. The recently captured Nasib border crossing between Syria and Jordan is ready to receive Syrian refugees' return from Jordan, state news agency SANA reported Tuesday. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

DAMASCUS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The recently captured Nasib border crossing between Syria and Jordan is ready to receive Syrian refugees' return from Jordan, state news agency SANA reported Tuesday.

The report said the Nasib crossing, which was captured by the Syrian army from the rebels in July in the southern province of Daraa, is ready to receive hundreds of Syrian refugees from Jordan, which hosts 1.4 million Syrian refugees.

The report did not reveal further details about the possible opening of the crossing for trade between the two countries.

The pro-government al-Watan newspaper said Thursday that the first meeting between a delegation of Jordanian economists and a Syrian delegation headed by Minister of Internal Trade Abdullah Al-Gharbi took place in Damascus last week aimed at re-establishing economic relations between both countries and the quick opening of Nasib crossing.

The paper added the meeting was a part of the countdown for the re-opening of the crossing.

The crossing is the only official border point with Jordan and it was closed off since the rebels captured it in 2015.

Ahead of the crisis, the crossing was the busiest border crossing in Syria as it is situated on the Damascus-Amman international highway.

It is also considered as one of the most important land crossings in the Middle East as it was the main crossing for Syrian exports to Jordan and the Gulf countries.

The point is especially important to Jordan as the country is now suffering from economic difficulties, which led to the eruption of protests in June and government sackings.

When the crossing was close in 2015, Jordan has suffered from big losses as 70 percent of the country's exports and imports were through Syria, according to Nabil Ruman, head of the Investors Board of the Jordanian Free Zone.

Reports also said that losses of the Jordanian transportation sector resulting from the border closure is estimated at around half a billion U.S. dollars.

But for now, the Syrian side has declared the opening of the crossing for the return of refugees, which could be a prelude of opening for other purposes.

The declaration came as the Syrian government is encouraging the return of Syrian refugees after the situation has become better.

A day earlier, tens of refugees returned from Lebanon to Syria, while the governor of Rif Damascus Governorate told Xinhua that over 25,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria within the past four months.

A day earlier, Head of the Coordination Agency for the Return of Displaced Syrians Hussein Makhlouf said that the return of displaced Syrians to the country is a priority for the government, noting that the doors are open for all Syrians to return safely, according to SANA.

Makhlouf said the government is working to facilitate the return of refugees and provide them with accommodation through programs to improve their living conditions.

The minister said the government is working to rehabilitate areas that have been recaptured by the army, adding that these efforts have already resulted in the return of more than 3 million internally-displaced citizens to their homes in the northern provinces of Aleppo, Raqqa countryside, the eastern Deir Al-Zour, the capital Damascus countryside, Homs, and Latakia.

Makhlouf asserted that Syrians abroad can return safely, and what applies to Syrians inside the country applies to those abroad, noting that Syrians are currently returning via border crossings as individuals or groups.

For his part, Faisal Mekdad, the deputy foreign minister in charge of the files of the refugees, said Monday that the Syrian government will facilitate the return of displaced Syrians in coordination with the UN.

He said that both the government and the UN agree that this return must be voluntary and preserve the dignity of the returnees.

It is also worth mentioning that the Russian side, Syrian government's key ally, is backing and supervising the return of Syrian refugees.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 17:58:39|Editor: Li Xia

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and 15 others injured Tuesday in a roadside bomb explosion at a popular marketplace in eastern Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source said.

The incident took place in the morning when a roadside bomb ripped through Mreidy outdoors market in the Shiite bastion of Sadr City neighborhood, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

A videotape circulated on local media showed the wreckage of stalls, and many angry people collecting vegetables in the market.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for such attacks, targeting crowded areas including markets, cafes and mosques across Iraq.

Many of Iraqi cities, including the capital Baghdad, have been witnessing tangible improvement in security situation since the Iraqi security forces managed to regain control of IS strongholds across the country late in 2017.

However, small groups and individuals of IS militants melted in urban areas or regrouped in deserts and rugged areas in Iraq looking for safe havens. They are still capable of carrying out attacks from time to time against the security forces and civilians despite operations to hunt them down.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 18:23:42|Editor: Li Xia

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CHENGDU, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in southwest China's Sichuan Province have hatched five Chinese monal chicks, a rare species of pheasant, increasing the number of artificially-bred Chinese monals to a global total of 16.

With highly iridescent plumage, the Chinese monal is one of the largest pheasants in the world. The species is listed as 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is under China's highest national-level protection.

There are less than 3,000 wild Chinese monals in the world, which mainly live in mountainous areas, at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level in the northwest parts of Sichuan, and Qinghai and Gansu provinces and Tibet Autonomous Region.

"The Chinese monal is one of the most difficult species to breed in captivity," said Zhou Caiquan, deputy director of the Sichuan (Baoxing) Protection and Research Center of Chinese Monal.

"Wild Chinese monals are hard to tame. Some birds still avoid people even after decades in captivity. Furthermore, mating and hatching eggs in cages also prove challenging," Zhou added.

Five artificially-bred female Chinese monals in the center laid 16 eggs during the breeding season between April and June, and five of them have been successfully hatched.

The sexes of the newborns have not yet been identified as they are still fluffy chicks. Their sexes can be discerned after one year.

The center, located in a national nature reserve, is now working with Chinese universities and international institutions, expecting to increase the number of artificially-bred Chinese monals to 50 and release them into the wild in five years.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 18:38:47|Editor: zh

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LUSAKA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's official human rights body on Monday expressed concern over the inordinately long detention of illegal immigrants and foreigners convicted of crime, calling it a human rights violation.

"The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs should make resources available to the Immigration Department for removing or deportation of prohibited immigrants or foreign nationals who have served their sentences in Zambia, as the case maybe," Mudford Mwandenga, chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, said during the release of the results of an investigation the panel conducted on detention and correctional facilities from August 2017 to early August 2018.

The commission visited select correctional facilities to assess levels of compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules, which are the United Nations minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners.

The investigations focused on difficulties in accessing bail, maladministration of justice for detainees, deportation and removal orders for foreign nationals in dentition facilities, delayed consent by prosecution and delayed judgments.

The commission found 27 cases of delayed deportation and removal of foreigners from detention.

Mwandenga said over 1,000 cases of human rights violations were identified, out of which nearly half were successfully resolved after the commission's intervention.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 18:53:51|Editor: zh

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BANGKOK, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A leading insurgent in Thailand's turbulent southernmost region, for whom several arrest warrants have been issued since the last decade, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday.

The male insurgent, identified as Nasori Saeseng and known as the deputy leader of the Pattani Islamic Mujahideen Movement, turned himself in at the base of an army rangers unit in Kapor district of Pattani province, about 1,055 k south of Bangkok.

The defector was received by Fourth Army Region commander Lt. Gen. Piyawat Nakwanich under the so-called Bring People Home project, according to an army officer attached to the army region.

Several arrest warrants have been issued for him by court between 2001 and 2004 on varied criminal charges including extortion, robberies, attempted murders and illegal weapon possessions, the army officer said.

The Fourth Army Region's Bring People Home project is primarily designed to encourage all suspected insurgents clandestinely operating in Thailand's Deep South region, covering the provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani, to put down their weapons and surrender to authorities.

However, Nasori is yet to be investigated and brought to justice by the authorities while many other insurgents in the turbulent region are expected to follow suit in the near future, the army officer said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 18:58:53|Editor: zh

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London Metropolitan Police cordon off the area near Britain's Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, Aug. 14. A man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a car crashed into barriers outside Britain's Houses of Parliament, local Police said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Heming)

LONDON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a car crashed into barriers outside Britain's Houses of Parliament, local Police said on Tuesday.

At 7:37 a.m. local time (0637 GMT), a car was in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament, and the male driver, in his late 20s, of the vehicle was detained by officers at the scene, according to Britain's Metropolitan Police.

There was nobody else in the vehicle, which remained at the scene and was searched. No weapons have been recovered so far, police said.

At this stage, we are treating this as a terrorist incident and the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command is now leading the investigation, according to a statement from the police.

A number of people were injured as a result of the collision and have been taken to hospital. By far none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.

London Ambulance Service said it had treated three people at the scene for injuries.

The Government will hold a meeting of its emergency COBRA committee later today to discuss the crash outside parliament, Sky news reported.

The response of Londoners today "shows that we will never be cowed, intimidated or divided by any terrorist attack", London Mayor Sadiq Khan says in a statement.

In March last year, a terrorist attack took place outside the Palace of Westminster in London, seat of the British Parliament.

A man drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement along the south side of Westminster Bridge and Bridge Street. He then crashed the car into the perimeter fence of the Palace grounds and ran into New Palace Yard, where he fatally stabbed an unarmed police officer. Six people died, including the attacker, and at least 50 people were injured in the attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 19:03:56|Editor: zh

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GAZA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian observers believe that the repeated field tension and Israel's mounting threats of a large-scale military operation keep the situation in the Gaza Strip at stake without comprehensive solutions looming on the horizon.

Over the past few weeks, Israel carried out multiple airstrikes and artillery attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring dozens of Palestinians, while Palestinian factions fired barrages of rockets into southern Israel.

A Palestinian security source told Xinhua that the Palestinian militant factions in Gaza are carrying out a full evacuation of their headquarters and military installations, fearing a possible sudden large Israeli offensive.

On Thursday, Egypt and the United Nations Special Envoy Nicolai Mladenov brokered a calm agreement between Israel and Gaza Hamas-led militant groups that ended a violent round of armed confrontation, which killed three Palestinians, including a pregnant woman and her female toddler.

During Friday's weekly protests, known as the "Great March of Return," two Palestinians were killed and more than 300 were wounded by Israeli army gunfire, leaving the prospects for escalation open.

In recent weeks, Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have succeeded to stop repeated violent confrontations between Hamas and Israel. However, their mediation did not come out with a full truce agreement.

Gaza-based political analyst Adnan Abu Amer said the developments in Gaza show that the territory is facing a state of intermittent rounds of tension without reaching solutions for calm.

Abu Amer told Xinhua that Israel wants to impose the equation of attacking Gaza without a response from the Palestinian factions, "which in turn find themselves obliged to respond to the killing of militants and Palestinian civilians."

Abu Amer believes that both Israel and the Palestinian factions do not want an open confrontation because it will be too costly for both sides. However, weak and short-term solutions cannot stop the possibility of a larger confrontation.

Tension in Gaza has been high since the Palestinians launched the ongoing "Great March of Return" since March 30, which demands the lift of the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza since 2007.

About 161 Palestinians have been killed and 17,000 others were injured by Israeli gunfire during the rallies which peak every Friday.

To avoid collapse of an already shaky truce in Gaza, there has been widespread talk of international and regional efforts to mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas to reach a strong cease-fire deal.

According to media reports, the agreement is supposed to include humanitarian facilities from Israel to improve the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, especially in the economic field, in return for the establishment of the cease-fire agreement for several years.

However, the recent developments in Gaza have ensured that Israel has tightened its blockade on the coastal enclave after imposing additional restrictions on the entry of goods, particularly raw and construction materials, which threatens an unprecedented escalation of the humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli decision came in response to the Palestinian incendiary balloons and kites flying from Gaza into Israel, which caused large fire and losses in the Israeli territory.

Gaza has been placed under a tight Israeli blockade since Islamic Hamas movement seized the territory after routing forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007.

The blockade has pushed Gaza's 2 million people deeper into poverty with unprecedented unemployment rates.

In the recent nine years, Israel and Hamas movement have been engaged in three major wars that claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis.

The seaside territory has also been suffering from a political division that has resulted by Hamas violent takeover of Gaza.

Abdul-Nasser al-Najjar, another political observer from the West Bank city of Ramallah, told Xinhua that calm in the Israeli sense has a high price, adding that Hamas realizes this fact.

"This makes the Islamic group thoughtful to rush for a comprehensive solution ... they prefer to wait for some changes in the regional conditions so they could give less concessions," he added.

The observer believes that Hamas has a difficult choice with regard to accepting Israel's conditions for calm and another difficult option to achieve internal reconciliation with President Abbas.

"Hamas is trying to maneuver on both issues at the same time, which is very difficult and unlikely to succeed," al-Najjar explained.

He added that Hamas wants to achieve the national reconciliation according its conditions in order to maintain its military and political strength as well as getting rid of its financial crisis and easing the Israeli blockade.

"On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority wants a reconciliation based on the full empowerment of the Ramallah-based pro-Abbas government and unconditional control over the Gaza Strip," al-Najjar noted.

The Palestinian expert believes that Hamas has two choices: either to accept a calm deal with Israel for political price, or to reconcile with the Palestinian Authority for a political price as well.

"Hamas is well aware that a new war option will be devastating for both the Gaza Strip and the movement," he pointed out.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 19:34:02|Editor: zh

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ULAN BATOR, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is willing to work with South Korea to bring bilateral relations and cooperation to a new level in all sectors, Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh said Tuesday.

The Mongolian prime minister made the remarks when meeting with South Korean Ambassador to Mongolia Jong Jae Nam.

"We are ready to take necessary measures to bring bilateral relations and cooperation between Mongolia and South Korea to a new level for the benefit of both peoples," Khurelsukh said.

The two countries should make progress on mutual visa-free travel for ordinary citizens, the prime minister said.

Khurelsukh paid his first overseas trip to South Korea in January since he took office last October.

During his visit, the South Korean government expressed its willingness to support Mongolia on combating air pollution in its capital city, with a soft loan worth 500 million U.S. dollars within the framework of the Extended Fund Facility arrangement with the International Monetary Fund.

The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 19:39:04|Editor: zh

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JAKARTA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo has issued orders to swiftly carry out mitigation and aid distributions for people affected by the earthquake on the island of Lombok.

The president made the order on Monday night when meeting with officials in North Lombok, the regency most affected by the earthquake.

Apart from offering fund assistance for families with damaged houses, the president also ordered the rebuilding of traditional markets to secure economic activities in the affected areas, as well as the swift rebuilding of schools and medical facilities.

After the meeting, the president stayed overnight in a tent among refugees sheltered in Tanjung, North Lombok regency before continuing his visit to other places devastated by the earthquake on Tuesday.

As works to fix public infrastructure and facilities are underway in Lombok, Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the reopening of tourism in Lombok was yet to be arranged. But he was optimistic that the recovery may go faster than estimated.

Assistant Deputy Tourism Minister for Region II International Marketing Vicentius Jemadu previously told Xinhua that the tourism recovery in the award-winning destination island may take three to six months due to infrastructure damages.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said earlier that the 7-magnitude earthquake and aftershocks in Lombok since Aug. 5 has claimed 436 lives, with North Lombok has the most deaths at 374 ones.

The quake injured 1,353 and displaced over 352,000 people.

BNPB estimated the losses from the disaster reached about 5.04 trillion rupiah (about 345.7 million U.S. dollars) from damaged houses, state facilities and infrastructures.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 19:44:07|Editor: Yurou

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ALGIERS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- He Houhua, a businessman from China's southeastern province of Fujian, came to Algeria in 2016 to set up a pipe manufacturing factory, with an aim to tap into the local pipe industry after careful market research.

Time has proven that He made a smart decision. Two years later, He's building the second factory to meet the rising demand for high quality pipes as Algeria bans pipes imports from Europe in order to save its foreign reserve.

"Algeria is a market with huge potential. I see great prospect of investment here," He said.

"Many new houses are built in Algeria every year and they need new pipelines," He recalled when he made the decision to invest in Algeria. "But the domestic supply of pipes cannot meet the growing demand, so the market has to rely on imports."

He Houhua is just one of many Chinese investors who have seized on the business opportunities offered by Algeria, the largest African country in size with rich natural resource reserves, which has been struggling to lessen its dependence on energy exports and diversify its economy by developing domestic industries.

In recent years, Algeria has found an ideal partner -- China, which has enough capital, expertise and will to invest in African countries, especially under the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013.

The initiative, formally known as the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Africa and Europe along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.

Chinese investors now play an important role in helping the Algerian government achieve its ambition, by bringing in large amounts of capital and advanced technologies to help develop the industries in the North African nation.

To cut down foreign exchange spending and develop its domestic industries, Algerian government has been attracting foreign investors to set up local factories, which He considered as a precious business opportunity.

He established his pipe factory in the Boufarik Industrial Zone, 40 km east of the capital Algiers, which occupies an area of 3,000 square meters.

The factory, including two production lines operating for 24 hours a day, produces 6 tons of pipes every day.

Its products, targeting the high-end pipes market, are sold at a higher price than other local products, but have been favored by the customers for the higher quality.

"I will never reduce the price at the cost of the quality, even it may boost sales," He said, arguing that only the products of good quality would be accepted by consumers in the long run.

To slash foreign reserves expenditure, Algeria has banned the imports of pipes, making it difficult for construction companies to find alternatives to high quality products which were traditionally imported from Europe.

After trying out the pipes produced by He's factory, local construction companies were convinced that they can perfectly replace the European products.

Chinese investment has also helped Algeria develop its auto manufacturing industry, through cooperation with local businesses.

Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group, a state-owned heavy-duty truck manufacturer in China, started selling its products in 2007 in Algeria, where the trucks market was dominated by European brands such as Volvo, Renault and MAN.

But now the sale of the company's SHACMAN heavy duty trucks accounts for 70 percent of the local market. The company has created much-needed job opportunities by employing over 600 workers in its assembly factory co-built with Algerian partners.

The factory was built after the Algerian government called on foreign auto companies to establish factories here in 2015.

Algeria is eager to learn the auto manufacturing expertise and technologies as the government pledges to develop its home-grown car industry, said Yuan Hongming, chairman of the Shaanxi Automobile.

"This provides a chance for Chinese enterprises to expand their businesses in Algeria with their experience and technologies, which will eventually benefit both sides," Yuan said.

After years of marketing in Algeria, SHACMAN as a Chinese auto brand has gained substantial acceptance among local customers for its competitive prices, excellent services and flexible market strategies despite decades-long European dominance in the sector.

On May 8, the company rolled out its first truck assembled in Algeria. It has an estimated annual production capacity of 3,000 trucks.

Apart from meeting local demands, the trucks will be exported to neighboring countries including Tunisia, Morocco and Mali in the future.

Ahmed Mazouz, the Algerian partner of Shaanxi Automobile, lauded the high quality of Chinese trucks and the company's core value of integrity.

More and more Algerians choose to buy the SHACMAN truck, with some of them having driven it for more than 10 years, Mazouz told Xinhua in an interview.

This not only demonstrates the good quality of the Chinese trucks, but also creates a bond between the Chinese brand and Algerian customers, Mazouz said.

China has demonstrated its will to help Africa speed up its industrialization, said a report published by TSA, a major news website in Algeria.

The closer cooperation between China and Africa will benefit both, as it will boost the economy of African countries on one hand, and fulfill the aspiration of Chinese investors on the other, the report said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 19:54:11|Editor: Yurou

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BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- China and Africa will step up cooperation to reduce poverty, a Chinese poverty relief official said Tuesday.

"Reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development are shared targets and historical tasks of China and Africa," said Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

The two sides will strengthen communication to share their experience of poverty alleviation and work together to conduct research in the field.

China will continue to train poverty relief workers from Africa according to the needs of African countries, Liu told a conference on poverty reduction and development under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

The two sides will launch some pilot projects that serve as examples or provide technical support for poverty relief work, according to Liu.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 20:09:13|Editor: Yurou

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MACAO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) canceled all marine transport and most of the flights before the passing of tropical cyclone "Bebinca," the SAR's meteorological department said here on Tuesday evening.

Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau had hoisted Signal No. 8 at 7:30 p.m. local time and issued blue storm surge warning. It said that "Bebinca" (1816) was estimated to be about 120 km south of Macao and was forecasted to move north.

Macao Marine and Water Bureau said all marine transport have been canceled and all ships inside Macao's ports should remain alert for severe weather condition.

All buses also have stopped operation until further notice of meteorological service.

Macao International Airport said among the airlines taking off from or heading to Macao, 18 have been canceled and 10 delayed.

Macao's all major bridges, including three cross-sea and one linking with Hengqin island of Zhuhai city, are all closed for safety consideration.

Macao Civil Emergency Response Center suggested all residents and tourists remain indoor and those living in low land pay attention to possible flood caused by sea water encroachment.
The 53-year-old employee of PowerChina International Group Wang Yan Tao (middle), serves as a tour guide for Chinese tourists at Karen Blixen House. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

NAIROBI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Hu Dongdong knows the history of Karen Blixen House, one of the historical sites in the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi, more than most locals.

The 26-year-old employee of the PowerChina International Group is a volunteer guide and translator for the growing number of Chinese tourists who visit the museum located 10 kilometers from the city center.

Hu told Xinhua that he chose to work as a guide at the site due to the inspiration drawn from the life of Karen Blixen, the Danish author who lived in the facility between 1917 to 1931 during the colonial times in Kenya.

"She is a role model because of the way she treated and interacted with the local community," Hu said.

Hu normally volunteers at the museum during the weekends when he is not at work. "I like my duties because the Chinese guests appreciate my work," he added.

Hu is among the eight volunteers who spend their weekends guiding fellow Chinese nationals who visit the historical site.

The National Museum of Kenya (NMK) has partnered with the PowerChina International to reduce the language barrier and hence improve its service to Chinese tourists.

Damaris Rotich, the Senior Curator at the Nairobi Museum, said the Karen Blixen Museum has seen an upsurge in the number of Chinese tourists.

Rotich said that given that most Chinese visitors are not fluent in English, this has created a communication gap between the Chinese and local guides.

"The Chinese volunteers therefore are a vital resource that will help to increase our service provision towards Chinese visitors," she said.

According to the NMK, the Karen Blixen Museum receives between 50,000 and 60,000 visitors annually with Chinese nationals making up approximately ten percent of the guests.

"We hope that the Chinese tour guides will significantly increase the share of Chinese visitors," he added.

Rotich said tourists from the Asian country could help Kenya diversify its tourist revenues that has traditionally relied on international visitors from the west.

When Blixen lived in the farm house, it consisted of 4,500 acres of farm land as well as a coffee processing facility.

The historical site currently consists of all her household belongings that depict her life and cordial relationship with the locals.

Karen Blixen house which sits on 12.5 acres of land, was converted into a heritage site in 1985 after it gained international fame following the release of Hollywood movie "Out of Africa" which is based on a book with a similar title authored by Blixen.

Rotich said the movie helped to raise the profile of the Karen Blixen Museum which served as a setting of the film that won several Oscar Academy Awards.

She added that one of the most prized possessions of Blixen that are on display at the museum are the Chinese artifacts including a rich collection of Chinese porcelain.

Liu Heng, a-28 year-old employee of PowerChina also serves as a tour guide at Karen Blixen Museum.

Liu said the time spent as a volunteer is very rewarding as it helps to cement Sino-Kenya ties.

"My translation work for the museums helps the Chinese understand Kenya's rich cultural and dynamic heritage especially during the colonial era," Liu added.

He revealed that he was also inspired to volunteer by the life of Blixen who had a deep appreciation of the African people.

He added that there is growing interest among Chinese nationals to learn the history of the African continent.

According to the Chinese tour guide, the peak season for Chinese tourists in Kenya is between June to September during the Chinese summer vacation when Chinese tend to take their children to overseas trips.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 20:34:18|Editor: Yurou

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BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official Tuesday urged the United States not to implement the Taiwan-related clauses of its National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019.

"The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2019 into law. The act includes clauses such as directing a whole-of-government strategy on China and submitting the assessment and plan on strengthening Taiwan's force readiness.

"We resolutely oppose any form of official or military contact between the United States and Taiwan, including U.S. arms sales to Taiwan," Ma said.

The spokesperson urged the United States not to implement the Taiwan-related clauses so as to avoid damaging China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

"We also sternly warn the Democratic Progressive Party administration that relying on foreigners to build yourself up will damage the interests of Taiwan residents," Ma said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 20:39:19|Editor: zh

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QUITO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A bus crashed into another vehicle outside Ecuador's capital Quito, killing at least 22, local media reported on Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 20:44:22|Editor: zh

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BEIRUT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian senior official voiced here on Tuesday that his country is ready to support Lebanese army with training sessions and information exchange.

Hussein Kalout, special secretary for strategic affairs of the Brazilian government, said at a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun that Brazil "is ready to provide Lebanese officers and military personnel with training sessions in addition to exchang expertise and information in the field."

Kalout added that his country would continue to support Lebanon by a possible increase in the number of Brazilian troops in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) if needed.

The visit of Brazilian delegation, led by Kalout, aims at discussing the potential of strengthening bilateral ties in defense, economy and technology.

The visit also aims at preparing for the visit of Brazilian President Michel Temer to Lebanon in November, said Kalout during his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Designate Saad Hariri.

Meanwhile, Aoun praised the Lebanese-Brazilian historical relations, hailing the success achieved by the Lebanese expatriates in Brazil.

The population of either full or partial Lebanese ancestry in Brazil is officially estimated at around 7 million people.
Photo taken on on Aug. 8, 2018 shows a view of Integrated Polytechnic Regional College Musanze situated in Musanze district, northern Rwanda. The college, constructed by Chinese enterprise China Geo-Engineering Corporation using funds from the Chinese government, is the largest polytechnic in northern Rwanda. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

by Xinhua writer Lyu Tianran

MUSANZE, Rwanda, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Located at the foot of the Virunga volcanic mountains, Integrated Polytechnic Regional College Musanze (IPRC Musanze) is playing an important role in training technical persons in Rwanda.

The college, constructed by Chinese enterprise China Geo-Engineering Corporation using funds from the Chinese government, is the largest polytechnic in northern Rwanda, said Emile Abayisenga, principal of IPRC Musanze and chairman of Musanze district council.

Covering an area of three hectares, IPRC Musanze situated in Musanze district has 1,200 students, the number of which increases from 170 at the beginning of its operation in 2015. Its first batch of around 170 graduates graduated in June this year with diploma. Besides, more than 700 students have completed short courses in the college.

The huge increase of the students within three years shows the school is really needed in Rwanda, said Abayisenga, who studied in China.

IPRC Musanze has the second highest number of applicants for admission among eight IPRCs across the country, after IPRC Kigali in Rwanda's capital, which has established for 10 years, according to him.

The college offers five advanced diploma and diploma programs including Agriculture and Food Processing, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Hospitality Management as well as Irrigation and Water Engineering, and provides 10 short courses such as carpentry, culinary arts and electrical domestic installation.

The programs provided in IPRC Musanze fall into the country's priorities, said the principal, noting that the college is contributing to developing skilled people and bridging the gap of shortages of technical people in Rwanda as the central African country is investing in technical schools.

"The support from the Chinese government is very significant, not only because of the students we train, but also surrounding community who benefit from this school," Abayisenga told Xinhua.

Residents from surrounding community get jobs in the college that has more than 100 staff and receive training of different skills like agriculture from the college, he said. They also get shelters constructed by students who learn construction, and cows from the college which are also used to teach students agriculture, he added.

Level three student Marcel Nyirimihigo majoring in irrigation and water engineering has completed his final project of designing a concrete gravity dam in Rwanda's Eastern Province to deal with water shortage during the dry season.

"Agriculture in Rwanda is like a foundation in our daily life. I want to modernize Rwanda's agriculture through irrigation and that's why we conclude to design that dam," said Nyirimihigo, who was helping his schoolmates do a final project at a workshop within the college.

Agriculture accounts for 33 percent of Rwanda's gross domestic product and engages 70 percent of the population, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

"This institution funded by China is important for us students. China put infrastructure that has helped and will help our study," he said.

INJECTING NEW ENERGY

The governments of China and Rwanda have signed an implementation agreement on the expansion project of the college. China will fund the expansion project and provide necessary equipment to IPRC Musanze.

The cooperation between China's Jinhua Polytechnic and IPRC Musanze also injects new energy into skill training in the landlocked country.

Jinhua Polytechnic in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, and IPRC Musanze jointly launched Jinhua Polytechnic's oversea campus in IPRC Musanze in July 2017, which includes a technical skills development center and a Chinese language learning center.

Two management staff from Jinhua Polytechnic has been working in IPRC Musanze since April 2018. They have completed research of labor marketing conditions in the region in order to making a cooperation plan in line with conditions of Rwanda and the college.

The Chinese polytechnic together with a Chinese enterprise have provided equipment to its Rwandan counterpart to support practical education of the college, and invited staff of IPRC Musanze to receive training in China, whose expenses will be fully covered by Jinhua Polytechnic.

It is not the only effort that Jinhua Polytechnic has made to help Rwanda cultivate technical persons. It has been providing scholarships to Rwandan students to study at Jinhua Polytechnic since 2014. As of April 2018, 78 Rwandan diploma students were studying at the polytechnic.

Denys Makuza came back Rwanda from China this July after completing study at Jinhua Polytechnic, where he studied vehicle inspection and repair for three years and Chinese language for one year.

"Studying in China indeed helps me a lot. I learned high level skills, Chinese language and Chinese culture, as well as working methods and efficiency of Chinese people," Makuza told Xinhua in fluent Chinese.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 20:49:24|Editor: Lu Hui

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BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Defense Ministry on Tuesday expressed opposition to the China-related contents in a new act adopted by the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 into law. The act includes clauses such as directing a whole-of-government strategy on China and submitting the assessment and plan on strengthening Taiwan's force readiness.

"The China-related contents in that act are filled with a cold-war mentality, advocating confrontations between the two countries and interfering with China's internal affairs," said Wu Qian, spokesperson with the Ministry of National Defense.

Wu identified the related contents as violations to the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three joint communiques between China and the United States. He highlighted their damage to the bilateral relations, military ties, mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.

"Chinese armed forces firmly oppose the contents and have lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side," said Wu.

Taiwan is a part of China and the Taiwan issue, concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, is the most important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations, according to Wu.

Wu reiterated the resolute opposition to any form of official or military contact between any country and Taiwan, and stressed that "We will never allow anyone, at any time or in any form, to separate Taiwan from China."

Wu called on the United States to adhere to the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three joint communiques between China and the United States, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, so as to avoid damaging China-U.S. relations, the military ties or the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Related:

China protests against signing of U.S. defense act
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 20:59:27|Editor: zh

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DUBAI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday confiscated more than 60,000 fake products "with well-known brand names" in the Al-Jaraf Industrial Zone in Ajman, UAE's state news agency WAM reported.

The fake products, estimated at a value of 6.2 million dirham (1.68 million U.S. dollars), included shoes, perfumes, clothes, bags and leather, said WAM.

According to the report, the raid came amid the country's efforts to regulate the market and combat commercial fraud.

"All necessary legal actions were taken, and penalties have been imposed on the violators, following the confiscation of counterfeit," said the report.

"The seizure of the counterfeit came in response to a complaint citing the circulation of fake copies of international brands in the Al-Jaraf Industrial Zone," said Majed Al Suwaidi, a senior official at the UAE's Department of Economic Development.

The emirate of Ajman, one of the smallest of the seven sheikhdoms of the UAE, is an hour's drive from Dubai.

The Gulf state, home to one of the biggest commercial port in the region located in Jebel Ali of Dubai, is a major hub for goods, linking Asia with Africa and Europe.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov smile during a joint press conference following their meeting in Ankara on August 14, 2018. (AFP photo)

ANKARA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Russia will take steps to "enhance strategic partnership," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said here on Tuesday.

"We are at a turning point in the world. We are at a time of transition from bipolar order to multi-polarization," he said at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara.

Russia hopes that a reasonable approach will prevail in international relations and countries will return to a depoliticized dialogue, Lavrov said.

He also noted that Moscow appreciates Turkey's rejection to join the anti-Russia sanctions by the West, saying the U.S. "unlawful and illegitimate" sanctions policy cannot last for long.

U.S. sanctions, including the latest round targeting Turkey, undermine all principles of global trade and in time this move will undermine the role of U.S. dollar as a settlement currency, he said.

Lavrov said Russia and Turkey would continue talks for the full implementation of Astana deal which envisages de-escalation zones in Syria, including in Idlib.

The Turkish minister, for his part, stressed that "it will be a massacre to bomb all Idlib civilians, on the reason of there are terrorists."

Cavusoglu recalled Turkey's long-standing demand for lifting visa requirements for Turkish citizens travelling to Russia.
File photo: A photo of the U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson. (Dogan News Agency)

ISTANBUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The lawyer of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson on Tuesday filed an appeal for the second time to a Turkish court to lift his client's house arrest and travel ban, local media reported.

According to CNNTurk, Brunson's lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt submitted the petition to the Second High Penal Court in Turkey's western province of Izmir.

The same court, which moved Brunson from prison to house arrest under judicial control due to his health problems, refused Halavurt's first appeal in July.

The 50-year-old pastor, who has been living in Turkey for more than two decades, was detained two years ago and faces up to 35 years in prison if found guilty.

The pastor was accused of espionage and having links to a network led by the U.S.-based outlawed cleric Fethullah Gulen and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Gulen was deemed by Ankara as being behind a failed coup that took place in July 2016.

Washington imposed sanctions on Turkey, doubling steel and aluminum tariffs over the issue of Brunson, which caused the Turkish currency lira to tumble down against the U.S. dollar.

The next hearing of Brunson's trial is slated for Oct. 12.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 21:39:34|Editor: zh

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ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The governor of Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz survived a roadside bomb that struck his convoy in Aden city on Tuesday, a security official said.

The motorcade of Taiz governor, Ameen Mahmoud, was targeted in a roadside bomb blast in Aden, where he met high-ranking government officials, the local security source said on condition of anonymity.

The governor escaped the explosion with minor wounds but a number of his companions were killed during the incident, the official said.

The explosion occurred just hours after the governor attended a meeting with senior officials of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government regarding the situation in Taiz, according to the source.

Witnesses told Xinhua that ambulances rushed to the bombing site in Aden's neighborhood of Enma while security forces were deployed around the area.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack but local Yemeni sources blamed militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch for being behind such explosions.

Drive-by shooting attacks and roadside bomb blasts were escalated in Yemen's government-controlled province of Aden, triggering fears that terror groups might maintain presence in the southern city.

Government officials including high-ranking security commanders and intelligence officers have been the prime targets of armed attacks launched by unknown gunmen in recent days.

The southern port city of Aden is considered as Yemen's temporary capital and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government based itself there since 2015.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 22:04:39|Editor: zh

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Photo taken on Aug. 14, 2018 shows a partially collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy. At least 22 people died in the collapse of a major motorway bridge in the northwest Italian city of Genoa on Tuesday. (Xinhua)

by Stefania Fumo, Alessandra Cardone

ROME, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people died in the collapse of a major motorway bridge in the northwest Italian city of Genoa on Tuesday, civil protection officials said.

But some local media cited the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, reporting that 22 were killed in the collapse.

The incident concerned a viaduct called "Morandi Bridge", connecting the highway A10 to the western part of the city, near a populous neighborhood called Sampierdarena.

"We are all hoping the victims will be fewer than these devastating images seem to envisage," Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Danilo Toninelli told RAI TG1 public broadcaster.

He went on to promise that "this ministry and this government will invest in ordinary infrastructure maintenance, including the placement of sensors on our nation's bridges, many of which were built in the 1950s and 60s."

On Twitter, Toninelli called the collapse "an immense tragedy", as did the president of the Liguria region where Genoa is located, Giovanni Toti.

Televised images showed rescuers including firefighters, police, civil protection, army personnel and canine units trying to rescue people out of the rubble of the heavily trafficked bridge, which reportedly crushed a number of buildings and cars below it.

"We are following the situation of the Genoa bridge collapse situation minute by minute," tweeted Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who thanked the "200 firefighters (and all the other heroes) who are working to save lives."

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will travel to the stricken northern city later Tuesday, ANSA news agency reported, citing sources within the prime minister's office.

At least 12 people were injured overall, and none of them immediately appeared in life-threatening conditions, according to 118 Emergency Service local chief Francesco Bermano.

The collapse occurred shortly before 12 a.m. local time. Some two hours after the incident, at least three people were rescued alive from the debris of the cars involved, a firefighter coordinator told RAI News.

Built in the 1960s, the Morandi Bridge is a major connection for the port city of Genoa. The collapse affected a bridge portion of about 100 meters, and might be due to a structural failure, Ansa news agency reported citing civil protection and firefighter sources.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 22:19:42|Editor: Yurou

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HOHHOT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese scientist says the country's solar radio heliograph is likely to cooperate with NASA's recently launched Parker Solar Probe to study the Sun.

The Chinese Spectral Radioheliograph (CSRH), built at Ming'antu, a radio quiet region in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, consists of 100 antennas with different frequency spectra covering an area of 10 square km. It can monitor solar activities on a wide imaging resolution spectrum.

According to Yan Yihua, president of Division E Sun and Heliosphere, International Astronomical Union, the observation range of the CSRH and the Parker Solar Probe will overlap and it's possible that the two will cooperate in the future for specific scientific tasks.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe, the fastest spacecraft in history, launched on Sunday, is on a mission to study the Sun at closer range than any other spacecraft.

During its mission lifetime of seven years, the probe will complete 24 orbits of the Sun and fly within 6.1 million km of the Sun's surface at closest approach.

"Data from both sides could corroborate and supplement each other," said Yan.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 22:19:42|Editor: zh

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BUDAPEST, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Low water levels on the Danube river have reduced freight capacity by two-thirds on the stretch of the river that runs through Hungary, Attila Bencsik, director of the Association of Domestic Water Freight Carriers (MBFSZ), said here on Tuesday.

"Shipping companies are either waiting with their freight for higher water levels, racking up losses each day, or loading it onto smaller vessels or lorries," Benscik said, quoted by Hungarian news agency MTI.

Gabor Spanyik, managing director of passenger ship company Mahart PassNave, told MTI that the low water levels have made navigation impossible in some stretches of the Danube in the Hungarian capital Budapest.

Some ports north of Budapest, like the ones in Tahitofalu or Leanyfalu, had to be closed accoring to Spanyik.

Even small boats with only one or two people have encountered problems. "I was fishing happily with my little boat, when suddenly the boat stopped, on a sandy bank, scratching the hull, I had some difficulties getting it back onto the water," Balazs, a fisherman in his 40s told Xinhua.

Spanyik estimated the level of his company's losses at close to 100 million forints (350,000 U.S. dollars).

Otto Cseh, the CEO of the Budapest Freeport Logistics company, said that the capacity of the port was affected by the low water level of the Danube, and that the shipping company generated a smaller amount of traffic there, and the ship were traveling lighter.

He also estimated that shipping companies used 20-50 percent less port services than under normal waterways.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 22:34:59|Editor: Yurou

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Farmers pack freshly-picked grapes for sale in Bingjiao Village, Yongqing County of north China's Hebei Province, Aug. 14, 2018. Bingjiao, a well-known village for grape planting in Yongqing County, has introduced new species and technologies for the growing of grapes in recent years. There are now over 5,000 Mu (about 333 hectares) of grape fields in the village which can yield a total value of 30 million yuan (about 4.37 million U.S.dollars) every year. (Xinhua/Li Xiaoguo)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 22:29:45|Editor: zh

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BRUSSELS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- In the latest sign of acrimony between Poland and the European Union (EU) over Poland's judicial reform, the European Commission decided Tuesday to follow up with a legal step against Warsaw.

The Commission announced in a press release that it had decided to send a "reasoned opinion" to Poland regarding the reformed law on its Supreme Court.

It's a follow-up to the Commission's "letter of notice" on July 2 when the Commission launched a so-called infringement procedure against the country.

Explaining the move, the Commission underlined that "the response of the Polish authorities does not alleviate the Commission's legal concerns."

The Commission insisted "the Polish law on the Supreme Court is incompatible with EU law as it undermines the principle of judicial independence."

Poland has been given one month to "take the necessary measures" to comply with the reasoned opinion.

If it fails to do so, the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU.

The contentious law allows the Polish president to prolong the mandate of current judges for three years and renew it once. It also lowers the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 70 to 65.

A dialogue on rule of law between the bloc and the Eastern European country has been underway since last December when the Commission triggered Article 7 of the EU treaty against Poland over the dispute.

Dubbed the "nuclear option", Article 7 has never been triggered against any EU member state before. The procedure could eventually lead to Poland losing its voting rights in the 28-member bloc.

Nevertheless, the Commission reiterated that the ongoing rule of law dialogue with Poland remains the Commission's preferred channel for "resolving the systemic threat to the rule of law in Poland."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 22:54:52|Editor: yan

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MADRID, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish government has agreed to accept 60 of the 141 migrants who are currently on the rescue ship "Aquarius" after being picked up in the Mediterranean Sea, government sources confirmed on Tuesday.

Portugal has also agreed to take in 30 of the immigrants as part of a deal with another four European Union (EU) countries.

The decision comes a day after the Spanish government, which accepted over 600 migrants rescued by the Aquarius in June, had refused the boat permission to dock a second time, saying, "Spain is not the safest port, because it is not the closest according to what is set out under international law."

The Aquarius is currently located 30 nautical miles off the coasts of Italy and Malta, both of which have refused it permission to make landfall.

The 141 people rescued by the Aquarius were traveling from Libya to Italy in two wooden boats which overturned and 67 of them are reported to be unaccompanied minors with around two thirds coming from Eritrea and Somalia.

Spain was criticized in June by the Italian government for encouraging "out of control immigration," although the government of Pedro Sanchez insisted it was only attempting to send a message to European governments for the need for joint action to help resolve the immigration crisis.

The Spanish media reported that Tuesday's agreement was reached after a series of high-level discussions, just two days after Sanchez and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had met in southern Spain with the immigration problem high on their agenda.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 22:54:53|Editor: yan

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KHARTOUM, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- An early political battle seems to have begun among Sudan's political forces over the nomination of President Omar al-Bashir by his ruling National Congress Party (NCP) for the upcoming presidential elections in 2020.

NCP Deputy Chairman, Faisal Hassan Ibrahim, was reported by some Sudanese local media on Tuesday to have said that his party has received positive signs on selecting the party's Chairman Omar al-Bashir as candidate for the 2020 elections.

He said by renewing the trust in its chairman and overcoming his candidacy for the 2020 elections, the NCP has enhanced the political will for the political parties and religious groups.

To this end, Sudan's Ansar al-Sunna Group was the first to support the re-election of Bashir for a third presidential term.

Head of the group Ismail Mohamed al-Mahi commended "the NCP agreement and consensus on Bashir as the party candidate for the 2020 elections."

In a sermon at one of the group's mosques in central Khartoum, Mahi regarded the NCP move as "a positive step" in unity of the ruling party.

However, a large number of Sudanese political parties started to publicly express their rejection to giving Bashir a third chance in the 2020 elections, declaring determination to resist the move.

Even voices from within the NCP itself emerged rejecting the re-election of Bashir, which threatens to split the party if it continues such move, as the official nomination of Bashir for the election is to be decided in the meeting of the party's Leadership Office, slated for April 2019.

Amin Hassan Omer, a leading NCP member, renewed his criticism for the ongoing efforts to nominate Bashir for a new presidential term, stressing that the amendments made by the NCP consultation council to the party's statute contradicts with the country's constitution.

"No party is allowed to make its statute contradictory to the constitution. If they want to change the statute, the amendment should not take place before amending the constitution," Omer said in a social media channel which brings together a number of the ruling party leaders.

Meanwhile, in a statement published by Sudanese media, the Reform Now Movement, led by Ghazi Salahuddin, declared its rejecting stance to Bashir's nomination.

It described the move as "serious" and is likely to lead to collapse of the political process in the country.

The movement said it is planing to work with other political forces to abort and counter the NCP move by all instruments of political work.

Chairman of the opposition National Umma Party, Sadiq al-Mahdi, who currently resides abroad, in a letter titled "National Salvation" Monday, vowed to mobilize national and international condemnations against the NCP decision to nominate Bashir for 2020 elections.

The rebel Justice and Equality Movement, which is fighting the Sudanese government in Darfur, described in a statement Monday that the decision of the NCP consultation council as the beginning of "a constitutional massacre" that aims to amend the country's 2015 constitution to avail Bashir legitimacy to remain in power.

The NCP's consultation council, known as Shura, on Aug. 10 approved amendments to its statute, as the limit on presidential candidacy to two terms was cancelled.

The council is the second highest authority of the party after the General Congress. Among its tasks is the election of the members of the party's leadership bureau.

Bashir assumed power after a military coup in 1989. He won presidential elections in April 2010, and extended presidency in April 2015 after a sweeping victory.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 23:30:00|Editor: Yamei

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Aerial photo taken on July 11, 2018 shows the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

GUANGZHOU, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- For Li Zhiping, a bus driver commuting between Guangdong and Hong Kong, the Humen Bridge is his most frequent route.

But not for long.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, about to open soon, will cut the travel time between the two areas from three hours to 30 minutes.

"I will definitely take this way once it opens. It will be faster and no traffic jams, making things convenient for everyone," Li said.

Meng Wei, spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said earlier this year that the major tunnel project for the bridge was completed in February and preparation was underway for the official opening.

CONNECTIVITY OF INFRASTRUCTURE

The 55-km bridge, situated in the Lingdingyang, or Lingding Channel of the Pearl River Estuary, is an example of the connectivity of infrastructure in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

On July 1, 2017, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the signing ceremony of the framework agreement on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which covers Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, as well as nine cities in Guangdong including the first-tier cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

With the support of the central government, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao will improve collaboration mechanisms and facilitate win-win cooperation to build a world-class bay area and city cluster.

The Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, which links Hong Kong with the mega high-speed rail network of the Chinese mainland, is also expected to begin operation in the third quarter of this year.

Policies for improved transport facilities, as well as expedited employment, education and medical services for people from Hong Kong and Macao in the mainland are also in the works.

"With promising career prospects, good income and a more friendly working and living environment, I feel like staying here even longer," said Hong Kong resident Kevin Lee who started working in Shenzhen, in 2015.

INNOVATIVE COOPERATION BOOSTS DEVELOPMENT

The NDRC is working on a plan to make the bay area an international science and technology innovation center, which will lay out a top-level design for innovation and cooperation in science and technology in the region.

In May, the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Finance encouraged colleges and research institutes in Hong Kong and Macao to join in science and technology initiatives financed by the central government.

The decision to establish the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park was published in 2017, and a business hub for start-ups was unveiled in the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong in July.

So far, six Hong Kong colleges have set up 72 research institutes in Shenzhen to turn discoveries into practical use.

"With an inclusive atmosphere, supportive policies, complete supporting facilities, and the massive mainland market, the Greater Bay Area has an excellent and innovative business environment," said Felix Lio, vice secretary general of Hong Kong United Youth Association and also a Hong Kong entrepreneur doing business in Shenzhen.

PLANS TURNED INTO ACTIONS

Over the past year, the NDRC and authorities of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have joined hands to carry out the framework agreement on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

The economic and trade cooperation and investment among the three areas experienced a strong year in 2017.

Last year, 82.8 percent of investment from outside the mainland in Guangdong came from Hong Kong and Macao; and 57.5 percent of Guangdong's investment went to Hong Kong and Macao.

Over 12,000 companies from Hong Kong and Macao entered the pilot free trade zones in Guangdong.

"Based on the framework agreement, all parties -- from the government, business sector, education and research circles, to the public -- are joining forces to put the words into actions to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," said Wang Fuqiang, an official with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a government think tank.

(Video editor: Cao Ying)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 23:40:05|Editor: yan

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SANAA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) said Tuesday that 40 children were among 51 people killed in a recent airstrike on a school bus in Yemen's northern province of Saada.

There are also 56 children among the 79 people injured in the strike, Johannes Bruwer, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen, said in an emailed statement.

"Final information issued by Saada authorities: out of a total number of 130 victims, 51 are dead, including 40 children, and out of the 79 injured, 56 are children. The numbers speak for themselves," the statement said.

On Thursday, two airstrikes hit a school bus in the Dhahyan market in Saada, the key stronghold of the Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels.

The Houthi rebels blamed the Saudi Arabia-led coalition for the attack, which has triggered popular anger across Yemen and condemnation from international humanitarian agencies.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the airstrike on the school bus, calling for an "independent and prompt investigation."

The ICRC also condemned the airstrikes, saying "civilians must be protected during conflict under international humanitarian law."

On Friday, the Saudi-led coalition said it would investigate the airstrike. But on Saturday, the Saudi mission to the UN submitted a letter to Guterres affirming that the airstrike was "legitimate and it targeted Houthi leaders responsible for recruiting and training young children."

On Monday, thousands of Yemeni mourners from several northern provinces attended the funeral in Saada, where the killed children were buried.

Local residents said the students were traveling on a field trip when their bus was hit in the Dhahyan market.

The chief of Houthi revolutionary committee, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, attended the funeral and accused the United States of backing the coalition airstrikes.

The U.S. State Department has reportedly urged the Saudi-led coalition to "conduct a thorough and transparent investigation".

Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces in late 2014, including the capital Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in the Yemeni war in 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

More than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war, with about 3 million others displaced.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 23:45:07|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian police arrested 13 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group over attempts to revive the group's activities and incite anti-state chaos and instability, the Interior Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

"The group's leaders abroad assigned their affiliates inside the country to revive the group's activities to carry out a plot based on spreading rumors to incite the citizens and urge them to protest, cause a state of chaos and undermine internal stability," the ministry said in the statement.

Six of the group members from the provinces of Sohag and Beheira were arrested during their meeting in Giza to set mechanisms for carrying out and financing the anti-state plots. The other seven were arrested during a similar gathering in Beheira, according to the statement.

The arrested 13 men formed two Brotherhood cells to carry out the said activities on Aug. 14 to mark the fifth anniversary of the security crackdown on two Islamist sit-ins held in Cairo and Giza in support of overthrown Brotherhood-oriented President Mohamed Morsi.

The 2013 security dispersal of the pro-Morsi sit-ins left hundreds dead and thousands arrested.

Morsi was removed by the military in early July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year controversial rule and his currently-blacklisted Brotherhood group.

A few months after Morsi's removal, Egypt labelled the Brotherhood as "a terrorist organization."

Since Morsi's ouster, Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terrorism that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers, as well as civilians, with a Sinai-based militant group loyal to the Islamic State regional extremist group claiming responsibilities for most of the attacks.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian forces killed hundreds of terrorists and arrested thousands of suspects during the country's anti-terror war declared by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's removal.
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan never made it to a press conference scheduled for today at noon in Yerevan.

The Erebouni Plaza Business Center hall was mobbed by those protesting yesterdays release of Kocharyan by Armenias Court of Appeals.

Kocharyan, the countrys second president, had been charged with usurping state power during the March 1, 2008 post-election protests in Yerevan during which ten people died.

P.S. After the incident, Kocharyan's office released a statement accusing Pashinyan's government of fomenting the protest and not tolerating any diversity of opinion.

"This is nothing more than crude pressure against dissent, or as a prominent political analyst recently said, terror of thought. Todays incident proves the growing concern of many in society that the new regime does not tolerate dissent and are capable of politically persecuting the opposition, especially those whose political gravitas and prospects raise serious concerns for the current government," the statement reads.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 23:50:09|Editor: yan

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BEIRUT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said Tuesday that more time is needed to form a new government in Lebanon.

"There is no progress yet in the government formation, but at least there is no more tension among the different political parties," Hariri was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper.

Hariri said that some political parties are insisting on their cabinet share, but each party is making compromise in order to reach a consensus.

Hariri is facing various hurdles in his attempt to form a 30-member national unity government, due to the rifts among rival politicians over the representation of the main Christian parties, as well as the Druze sect.

A senior Hezbollah official accused "embassies of regional countries" of delaying the formation of Lebanese government, the National News Agency reported earlier.

The official said that some foreign embassies were "pressing political parties to raise the ceiling of their demands," thus hindering the government formation.

However, Hariri denied these allegations, saying that the problems that have delayed the government formation are strictly internal.

"The regional situation has nothing to do with the government formation in Lebanon," he said, while emphasizing that Lebanon's relationship with Saudi Arabia is very good and the kingdom is keen on accelerating the cabinet formation.

Lebanon held the first general election in nine years on May 6. Despite the big loss of its seats in the parliament by his party, the Future Movement, Hariri is backed by most of the new parliament members to continue to serve as the prime minister.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 23:50:10|Editor: yan

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RIGA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Latvia backs the Finnish proposal to end the current practice of resetting clocks twice a year to save daylight during summer months in Europe, according to a national position adopted by the government on Tuesday.

Representatives of the Latvian economics ministry said that Latvia supported a coordinated abolition of daylight saving time in the European Union (EU) and instead make summer time the permanent time in all member states of the bloc.

"This would be the optimal decision, considering Latvia's geographic location and the positive effect of summer time on economic activity and human health," the economics ministry said in a statement, citing opinions provided by nongovernmental organizations, state institutions, and entrepreneurs.

However, the country would be against leaving the decision on daylight saving time to national EU governments as this would create the risk of each member state setting its own dates for switching to daylight saving time and back, which in turn would have adverse effects on logistics, communications, transport and other areas.

Furthermore, such an arrangement could leave Latvia and other Baltic countries -- which are in different time zones -- with a wider time difference with their closest EU neighbors and key partner states.

Latvia also believes that before taking the final decision, the European Commission should carry out an impact assessment to estimate the costs and other possible implications of the proposed abolition of daylight saving time.

The European Commission has launched a public poll, which ends on Aug. 16, to find out whether the bloc's citizens and member states want daylight saving time to be abolished. The idea was proposed by Finland where a public initiative gathered over 70,000 signatures in support of scrapping the biannual time switch.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 23:55:12|Editor: yan

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NEW YORK, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation between U.S. and Chinese scientists, although currently strong, and could benefit from more exchanges, environmental experts said at a recent meeting held here.

"There has always been good cooperation in sciences between researchers in the United States and researchers at Chinese universities, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other science administrations," said Arthur Lerner-Lam, academic director of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

"This has become more frequent, and more comprehensive in addition to teaching visits. It's a very healthy exchange of ideas, and exchange of students and professors," he said at the meeting discussing how to better protect the environment.

Lerner-Lam said scientists should meet more often to discuss things such as the sustainability of the earth.

The ability of people around the globe to negotiate a sustainable future really depends on how the United States and China think about sustainability, he said.

Scientists from both countries should exchange more knowledge on pollution control in their countries and together work to monitor the pollution of the atmosphere, the oceans and the land, Lerner-Lam said. Bringing the countries closer together would help improve the prediction of extreme weather phenomena, such as storms, droughts and floods.

Yan Weimin, President of the Greater New York chapter with Chinese Association for Science and Technology, said an increasing number of Chinese and U.S. scientists are seeking more opportunities to meet and exchange views and ideas in different fields in a bid to advance their research.

Yan said he is confident that bilateral exchanges in the sciences will continue and move at a faster pace. "The world will definitely become much better if scientists of the two biggest economies are working more closely," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-14 23:55:13|Editor: yan

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KIGALI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Military forces from the East African region, the United States and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday kicked off a two-week joint military training exercise in Rwanda.

The Shared Accord 2018 exercise from Aug. 14 to 29 in Rwanda Military Academy-Gako in southern Rwanda consists of a command post exercise and a medical readiness exercise.

The exercise is reportedly aimed to improve the capability of Eastern African countries to respond to regional security threats.

"The training exercise is very important because it will contribute to the strengthening of participants' capacities by sharing their knowledge and experience," said Patrick Nyamvumba, Chief of Defence Staff of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), at the launch of the exercise at the academy.

Rwanda remains committed to giving its contribution towards achieving global peace, he said.

The exercise will include scenarios related to conducting peacekeeping operations under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.

The military drill will enhance East African troops' preparedness and readiness to respond to threats in security across the region, said Lapthe Flora, assistant adjutant for strategic initiatives for the U.S. Virginia Army National Guard,

The exercise has attracted military personnel from Botswana, Gabon, Germany, Malawi, Morocco, the Netherlands, the Republic of Congo, Senegal, the United States, Zambia and Rwanda as well as the United Nations (UN) and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

Shared Accord is a military exercise focusing on Africa's capability and interoperability in support of peace keeping operations of the UN and the African Union.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 00:05:14|Editor: yan

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BRUSSELS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The presidents of the European Commission and the European Council Tuesday expressed their condolences to Italy in the wake of a bridge collapse which claimed at least 20 lives.

In a statement, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was "deeply saddened."

"On behalf of the European Commission, I express my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died, and to the Italian people," he said. "My best wishes of strength and courage go to all those involved in the rescue operations."

European Council President Donald Tusk also tweeted: "My heart and thoughts are in #Genoa with all the victims, their families and loved ones."

At least 20 people died in the collapse of a major motorway bridge in the northwest Italian city of Genoa on Tuesday, according to civil protection officials.

But some local media reports, citing the deputy minister for infrastructure and transport, put the death toll in the collapse at 22.

The incident concerned a viaduct called "Morandi Bridge" connecting the highway A10 to the western part of the city, near a populous neighborhood called Sampierdarena.

Built in the 1960s, the Morandi Bridge is a major connection for the port city of Genoa. The collapse affected a bridge portion of about 100 meters, and might be due to a structural failure, Ansa news agency reported citing civil protection and firefighter sources.
The 14-day International Workshop on Ultrasound Therapy of Tumors has been held in Cairo in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, China's Chongqing Medical University and the Egyptian Society of Interventional Radiology. (Xinhua/Meng Tao)

by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- "It's no longer a dream to end the sufferings of tumor patients without surgery," said Mohamed Hamed, associate professor of Cairo University, at the closing ceremony of a workshop on a China's ultrasound therapy for treating tumors Tuesday.

The 14-day International Workshop on Ultrasound Therapy of Tumors has been held in Cairo in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, China's Chongqing Medical University and the Egyptian Society of Interventional Radiology.

It is the first ever training workshop held overseas on the China's High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).

"We have been training physicians from different Egyptian provinces and different Arab and African countries," Hamed, who was supervising the HIFU training program, told Xinhua.

Some 23 doctors from Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Kuwait and Nepal were trained for the therapy under the auspices of the Chinese government, he added.

The HIFU technology, which was put into use in Egypt 18 months ago, has treated over 100 malignant tumor cases, mostly breast, liver and uterus cancers, said Hamed, who is also chairman of the HIFU Egypt Center.

The HIFU is a non-invasive therapeutic technique that uses non-ionizing ultrasonic waves to heat tissues. It can be used to increase perfusion in a certain area or destroy the diseased tissue such as tumors through a number of mechanisms.

From 2012 to 2016, the Chongqing Medical University has organized five similar workshops and trained 104 doctors from major hospitals in 30 countries including Egypt, India and Ghana.

"The joint workshops have been a significant step for advancing scientific and technological exchanges between developing countries in the field of ultrasonic medicine, and for promoting the clinical application of Chinese ultrasonic equipment worldwide," said Chinese physician Anne Fu.

"Nearly 40 percent of women in the world suffer fibroid and many are forced to remove their uterus, which is a horrible surgery," Fu told Xinhua.

With the HIFU technology, "we give hope to women to keep their organ and give birth," she added.

Even in cases that require surgery, the HIFU gives patients hope to survive longer, improve life quality and help the patient live without pain, Fu said.

Shady Hanafy from the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria was among the three Egyptian trainees who went to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality for the international workshop in 2016.

"It was a great opportunity to know about the invention of that sophisticated technology and, moreover, get engaged with Chinese culture which matches ours," Hanafy said.

This year, Hanafy has been focusing on the application of HIFU on a variety of cases. He said he was surprised about its different usages, which are still new and expensive in Egypt.

Another trainee from Sudan, Ihab Aly, said "no one would imagine one day that a patient with tumor could be treated without opening a hole in the body."

"I wish the cooperation would continue to offer the HIFU technology in Africa," he added, saying life of patients would dramatically change with the HIFU.

The HIFU was known in diagnosing diseases, but after development of the magnetic resonance waves, it was used for non-invasive ablation. Researches on the therapeutic side of HIFU started in China in 1988 and the first clinic for treatment was opened in 1997.

Another international workshop on the HIFU will be organized in China next year with participation of trainees from more countries, added Fu.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 01:10:28|Editor: yan

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JUBA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Tuesday that at least 12 people were injured on Monday during fighting between rival groups of displaced people at one of its camps located in the capital, Juba.

The UN mission said in a statement that they received reports of a fight between two groups inside and outside the Protection of Civilians (PoC) site 3, but the clashes were controlled after intervention by UN peacekeepers.

UNMISS condemned the latest violence, warning that it would not tolerate anyone spearheading violence in the camp, which is home to some 39,000 internally displaced people.

"So far at least 12 civilians are reported to have been injured and transported to the clinic inside the PoC site 1," the UN mission said. "It is currently calm around the PoC sites but UNMISS is monitoring the situation."

"UNMISS reiterates the sanctity of the PoC sites as safe havens for vulnerable civilians and will not accept anyone that opts for violence in the vicinity," it added.

The UN mission is protecting nearly 200,000 displaced people in six camps across the war-torn east African nation.

UNMISS said security has been beefed up at the POC with the reinforcement of blue helmets, adding that a meeting will be held between community leaders and camp leaders to establish the causes of the incident and negotiate an amicable solution.

Since South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, more than 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally, according to UN estimates.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 01:30:31|Editor: yan

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Photo taken on Aug. 14, 2018 shows a partially collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy. At least 22 people died in the collapse of a major motorway bridge in the northwest Italian city of Genoa on Tuesday. (Xinhua)

ROME, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people died and 16 were injured in the collapse of a motorway bridge in the northwest Italian city of Genoa on Tuesday, the country's civil protection said.

A portion of about 100 meters of the bridge crashed down from some 45 meters over a small river and some industrial buildings and railway structures below.

"About 30 cars and some trucks were passing through that portion (at the moment of the incident)," Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli told a press conference in Rome in early afternoon.

The provisional death toll rose to 35, according to Ansa news agency, citing firefighter sources. Yet, the civil protection agency coordinating all efforts kept the official account to 20 victims.

Borrelli acknowledged the figure was most likely to rise further as several people were believed trapped in their vehicles crashed under the rubble, and rescue operations were still under way.

Among the people wounded, five were "red code" cases, meaning they were in very critical conditions, Borrelli told a broadcast press conference.

According to local reports, at least four people were rescued from under rubble. The fourth survivor was a man pulled out by firefighters several hours after the incident, which occurred shortly before 12 p.m., Ansa news agency reported citing sources on the scene.

Another woman and her child were also among survivors so far, Fire Corp spokesman Luca Cari told state-run RAI News TV channel.

The collapse concerned a portion of about 100 meters of the "Morandi Bridge", a major viaduct connecting the highway A10 and Genoa west to the east part of the city.

The bridge was 1,182 meters long and 18 meters wide, with three major pillars up to 90 meters high supporting it.

"It was Genoa's main bridge, I took it every day," a local resident who drove across just seconds before the collapse told RAI News 24 public broadcaster.

"I turned around and saw the bridge falling behind me -- there were at least two cars and two trucks on it."

"It was an incredible shock," added the man, who did not give his name and who said he was on his way home from work along with a colleague.

Rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident, involving 200 firefighters, further 100 emergency officers from police and civil protection, as well as dog units, and helicopters.

The city of Genoa was lashed by heavy rain since early morning, and the bad weather hampered the rescue operations.

"The situation is quite critical, and we are working in conditions similar to that in a post-quake area: our first focus now is on the people trapped under rubble, and in their vehicles," Fire Corp spokesperson Luca Cari told state-run RAI News TV channel.

Rescuers would keep working on the scene through the night, prefect Bruno Frattasi from the Civil Protection said.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte was expected to visit the city late on Tuesday, the PM's office said in a statement, while Interior Minister Matteo Salvini would join on Wednesday.

Also in a televised interview, the governor of the Liguria region where Genoa is located, Giovanni Toti, said the collapse of the Morandi Bridge is a huge blow to the city, not only because of the fatalities but also because it was used by trucks moving "a majority of goods in our country" as well as "hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers" on their way to the region's scenic coasts.

Meanwhile, messages of solidarity with the people of Genoa and the rescuers continued to pour in via Twitter, including from Doctors Without Borders (MSF), all of Italy's labor unions, government and opposition politicians.

Built in the 1960s, the Morandi Bridge is a major connection for the port city of Genoa. The collapse might be due to a structural failure, Ansa news agency reported citing civil protection and firefighter sources.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) watches an air assault exercise with Army Major General Walter Piatt at Fort Drum, New York, on August 13, 2018. (AFP Photo)

MOSCOW, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States has no reasons to depict Russia as a threat, the Kremlin said Tuesday after the latest U.S. defense bill stipulated measures to contain Russia's military development.

The U.S. defense budget was many times greater than that of Russia's and therefore it is groundless for Washington to portray Russia as a threat to anyone, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily briefing.

He also said that Russia's new strategic weapon systems unveiled by President Vladimir Putin in March do not violate related international agreements, including the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) signed between Russia and the United States in 2010.

Russia has never failed to meet its obligations under international law and remains committed to them, Peskov said.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the 716-billion-U.S. dollar National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law for the fiscal year 2019 beginning on Oct. 1.

According to the bill, Washington will move to ensure Russia's new strategic weapon systems comply with the New START, and it will continue military assistance to Ukraine.

The United States will suspend cooperation with Russia under the multilateral Treaty on Open Skies, which was signed in 1992 and went into force in 2002.

The treaty is one of the major confidence-building and arms-control measures after the Cold War. It allows unarmed observation flights over its member states to gather information about each other's military forces and activities.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 01:55:37|Editor: yan

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KAMPALA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan police on Tuesday called for continued cooperation with China in the fight against transboundary crime.

Muzeyi Sabiiti, Uganda's deputy police chief, said cooperation should be in fighting crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, environmental crimes and cyber crimes.

"The criminals are well networked and it's only logical that countries and law enforcement agencies get networked to effectively deal with cross-border crime including in the cyber sphere," said Sabiiti.

"We will be grateful for support towards capacity building in these areas. We highly commend the spirit of cooperation between the Uganda police force and China," he said.

Sabiiti made the remarks while receiving a donation of a 22-seater minibus by the Chinese embassy to the directorate of Interpol and internationals relations in the capital Kampala.

Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, while handing over the donation said a more secure environment will increase the country's appeal to Chinese investors and enterprises.

"The Uganda police force has taken many measures to improve the security in Uganda. I appreciate your efforts and hope the force will continue to safeguard the security of the local Chinese communities," said Zhuqiang.

"My embassy will keep close cooperation with the Uganda police force for the development of China-Uganda relations," he said.

Fred Yiga, director of Interpol and international relations, hailed the China's generous contribution for policing in the East African country.

"We are here today to receive the minibus and this facility will greatly ease on transportation needs of the directorate," said Yiga.

China has previously donated a 110-KV generator set, television screens, video cameras and training of Interpol officers to help build their capacity.
Four individuals charged with illegally cutting down 21 healthy trees in Dilijan National Park on August 13 told police that what they did was their way of voicing opposition to the governments crackdown on using trees in the park for firewood.

All four are residents of Haghartzin, a village bordering the park. Two of the four are park wardens.

On July 24, residents of Haghartzin and surrounding villages blocked the M4 highway linking Armenia and Georgia and demanded that the government allow them to enter Dilijan National Park to cut down trees to be used for fuel.

The illegal felling comes two days after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the area and, at a meeting with residents, called for a halt to the slow destruction of the park.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 02:15:40|Editor: Liangyu

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CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cairo's renowned Saladin Citadel was packed with Egyptian audience on Monday for a folk music concert held by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra of the Chinese Conservatory of Music.

The 60-minute concert was part of the 27th edition of Cairo Opera House's annual Citadel Music Festival, which is gathering local and international performances covering all genres.

The two-week festival, running until Aug. 17, includes 37 concerts from six Arab and foreign countries, including China, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Mexico and Panama.

The thrilled audience eagerly stood to watch the Chinese artists performing numerous musical pieces.

Amid joyful atmosphere of a moonlit breezy night, the cheerful Chinese music show has captivated the minds and hearts of the audience as the orchestra played festive and famed Chinese folk melodies.

Reacting to the music, Ola Hussein, a physician, said it is her first time to watch a live Chinese musical show.

"I really love the music, and I feel it is very close to the Egyptian music," said Hussein, who came to the concert with her friends.

The young lady said she is addicted to the music, adding that she will start following Chinese music as it "charmed her."

Hussein's friend, Aya Mohammed, said the pieces played by the orchestra sounded amazing and were flamboyantly ear-catching with the melodies.

"The music was kind of a collection of the finest nature sounds. I can listen to such melodies for relaxation," Mohammed told Xinhua.

Also a physician, said such performances can help people in Egypt get some knowledge about the Chinese culture.

After upgrading the relations between China and Egypt to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, cultural exchange has been at its peak as artists, cultural and musical delegations have paid frequent visits.

Through such cultural moves, both countries want to boost friendly ties and enhance mutual understandings and future development.

"We have participated in a series of cultural exchange performances in Egypt, including a Chinese music class and an indoor concert held at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo," said Shen Cheng, professor of the China Conservatory of Music, who is in charge of the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra.

Shen said Egypt is a country along the routes involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and has a splendid ancient civilization, adding "it is an honor" to be part of the cultural exchanges to promote the traditional friendship between China and Egypt.

"The warm response from audience is the best proof of the charm of Chinese folk music and the friendship between the two peoples. We hope more Egyptians will get to know and love China and Chinese culture through this cultural exchange," he explained.

Zhang Zunlian, another professor of the China Conservatory of Music, said China and Egypt bear ancient civilizations in the world, both with splendid, long-standing history and culture.

"Music is borderless and this in-depth exchange and cooperation with Egyptian musicians has strengthened the contact and mutual learning of the traditional music between the two countries," the professor said.

Zhang said the elegance of Chinese music and the passion of Egyptian music have their unique charm, adding that the better connectivity will promote the blending and complementarities of music among different countries and nations.

"As Chinese music goes out more often with better promotion, I believe it will become an important part of world's music culture and will facilitate better understanding of Egyptian and Chinese culture," he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 02:30:44|Editor: yan

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ISTANBUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish court on Tuesday released two Greek soldiers from prison who were arrested in Turkey's northwestern province of Edirne in March over a border crossing incident, local media reported.

The Hurriyet daily said the soldiers, who have been accused of "attempting military espionage" and "entering into a military forbidden zone," were released from the jail in Edirne, pending trial.

The soldiers, who were identified as Aggelos Mitretodis and Dimitros Kouklatzis, stated in their accounts that they lost their way due to bad weather and crossed the border inadvertently.

Previously a local court in Edirne refused the duo's subsequent appeals for release, escalating the tension between the two neighboring NATO allies.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 02:35:46|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the German city of Jena for the first European Union (EU) citizens' dialogue after her summer vacation.

Subjects discussed ranged from EU foreign policy to migration and environmental law.

EU migration policy was a key topic of the discussion. Merkel emphasized that Germany has a good system for the integration of refugees and foreigners in place. "However, we cannot accept that 20 to 30 percent do not participate in the integration process," explained Merkel.

The "Integration Master Plan" defined for this purpose sought to address this problem. "There are very few similarities between European countries, for example with regard to integration through education," says Merkel, "everyone does his own thing in that respect."

Turning to environmental policy, Merkel asserted that "the European Union is in a position to hold its own." EU standards and the unified environmental policy were very strict and had already achieved a lot, according to the German chancellor.

"However, we still have a lot to do in Germany," admitted Merkel. Germany was last condemned by the European Court of Justice on July 21, 2018 for high nitrate levels in its groundwater due to excessive use of liquid manure/slurry in agriculture.

Merkel acknowledged that the EU was laborious, especially when it comes to finding compromises between the currently 28 member states. "Politicians have the bad habit of blaming the EU for things that do not work, even though they participate in the European process themselves," the chancellor explained. In addition, negative reporting would overshadow the EU's success.

According to Merkel, the EU stood for common values, such as the preservation of human dignity and the protection of minorities. "In the future we will have to talk more about what democracy means in the EU," the German chancellor concluded.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 02:35:47|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the signing of a landmark convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea by the littoral states after two decades of negotiation.

In a statement Monday, Guterres said "this historic document demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation, which is vital for maintaining international peace and security."

The secretary-general said he believes the convention should prove invaluable in regulating a wide range of longstanding issues among the Caspian Sea littoral states and is a significant step in the easing of regional tensions.

He congratulated the five signatory countries, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, on this achievement of regional cooperation and multilateralism.

The heads of all five countries bordering the Caspian Sea on Sunday signed in Aktau, Kazakhstan the convention on the legal status of the world's largest inland body of water after two decades of negotiations.

The convention banned non-littoral states from deploying military force on the sea, which essentially prevents external countries from intervening in regional issues with military power, and finally laid a legal foundation for the cooperative development of the offshore gas and oil reserves.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 02:40:49|Editor: yan

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BEIRUT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry announced Tuesday that it refuses a UN official's statement about the impossibility of Syrian refugees' return to their homeland in the current security situation.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi declared on Monday that he is against the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland in the midst of the current dangerous situation.

"A gradual return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon to their homeland is possible," said the ministry in a statement published by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper.

The statement added that the ministry has previously asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to adopt a program that would guarantee a safe return for refugees.

"We call upon Grandi to assess the security situation in Syria in an objective manner by relying on reports of international security systems which state that the situation has become stable in many Syrian cities," it said.

Few weeks ago, Syrian refugees started returning to Syria from Shabaa and Aarsal in Lebanon.

More than one million Syrian refugees are registered with the UNHCR in Lebanon. The government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country to be 1.5 million.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 02:45:49|Editor: yan

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DARAA, Syria, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of 50 Syrian families did not show up as planned at the border crossing between Jordan and Syria on Tuesday, the governor of Syria's southern province of Daraa said.

Mohammad al-Hanous, Daraa's governor, told reporters that he had received orders from the government to prepare for receiving 50 refugee families who wanted to return to Syria from Jordan, but no one came.

"We were told that 50 families are returning today from Jordan through Nasib crossing and we have been waiting, but no one showed up," he said.

At the Nasib border crossing, a temporary passage has been set up for the return of Syrian refugees from Jordan, a Xinhua reporter saw at the scene.

Syrian flags flanked tents erected near the crossing as medics were waiting for the Syrian refugees to provide medical care for those in need.

Russian military police officers were also deployed at the site as Russia has been supervising the return of the refugees to Syria.

When asked about the reason why no refugees came on Tuesday, the governor said that this issue concerned the Jordanian side.

"We have made all preparations to receive the returnees but about the reason why they didn't come, this is a matter that concerns the other side (Jordan)," the governor said.

He noted that the current crossing is a temporary one set up for the refugees to come through as the main crossing has sustained damages.

About 1.4 million Syrian refugees are living in Jordan and the Syrian government is making efforts to secure their return as the security situation in Syria has started stabilizing due to the progress achieved by the government troops in fighting the rebels and the militant group Islamic State.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 02:50:50|Editor: yan

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STOCKHOLM, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The number of E. coli infections has increased since July to a national outbreak, the Swedish Television SVT reported on Tuesday citing Swedish Public Health Agency.

"We have identified around 50 cases and there will be more. This is the biggest outbreak that we have had for a long time," epidemiologists Anders Tegnell from the Public Health Agency told the Swedish news agency TT.

E. coli bacteria can cause bloody diarrhea and in some severe cases even complications that can lead to kidney failure.

According to Tegnell, it is difficult to say why the outbreak has been so big right now. The outbreak is biggest in the county of Uppsala (70 km north of Stockholm) and Vastra Gotaland (615 km west of Stockholm).

"The bacteria is mainly found in animals. It then spreads to humans via food such as minced meat and vegetables that have been in contact with cow excrement," Tegnell said.

In addition, the infection can also be transmitted from person to person via bathing water.

Municipalities and food industry officials are now investigating the outbreak and trying to prevent it from spreading.

"We interview the infected, test their food and visit the manufacturers to track down a possible origin of it," Tegnell told SVT.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 03:05:54|Editor: yan

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KIEV, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Canadian weapons manufacturer PGW Defence Technologies plans to deliver long-range sniper rifles to Ukraine, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the owner of the Winnipeg-based firm, Ross Spagrud.

In a video interview with the Ukrainian media outlet "UATV", Spagrud said his company will provide the Ukrainian Defense Ministry with LRT-3 rifles with an effective range of 1,800 meters, which are equipped with a sound suppressor.

The rifles, worth about 770,000 U.S. dollars, could be delivered to Ukraine in autumn, Spagrud said.

In December 2017, Canada added Ukraine to its Automatic Firearms Country Control List (AFCCL), allowing its exporters to sell weapons to the East European country.
A man holds a stack of Iranian rials and U.S. dollars in the Iranian capital Tehran on August 8, 2018. (AFP photo)

TEHRAN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The private sector should play an important role in countering the "economic war" launched against Iran by the U.S. administration, a top security official said here on Tuesday.

Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said that current economic war is "more complicated than the military war," emphasizing that the private sector can be of great help in economic policy-making.

"New mechanisms have been adopted to involve the private sector in the country's policy-making process," Shamkhani was quoted as saying by Tehran Times daily. He did not elaborate.

Shamkhani made the remarks during a meeting with representatives from the chamber of commerce and entrepreneurs.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Washington's exit from the nuclear deal on May 8 and ordered restoration of sanctions against Iran.

The first batch of sanctions was snapped back on August 6. The second batch will be restored on November 4 on Iran's energy sector.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 03:21:02|Editor: yan

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KIEV, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The special monitoring mission (SMM) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) plans to expand its presence in the conflict-stricken area in eastern Ukraine, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency said that the SMM has identified several new locations for its work in Donetsk and Lugansk regions and has been waiting for security guarantees to establish the offices.

The OSCE sent its special observer mission to Ukraine in March 2014, following a request by the Ukrainian government.

Currently, more than 700 unarmed OSCE observers from 44 countries are deployed in the East European country, with around 600 of them monitoring the ceasefire between government troops and pro-independence insurgents in Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Caocao Zhuanche, a ride-hailing platform backed by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, plans to raise up to RMB3 billion in a new round of financing, at a valuation of around $3 billion, according to people with direct knowledge of the plan.

The Geely-backed ride-hailing platform completed a RMB1 billion Series A funding round in January, with its valuation reaching over RMB10 billion. Liu Jinliang, chairman of Caocao Zhuanche, said that the company's Series B round is expected to be finished in October, while did not reveal the financing value then.

Caocao Zhuanche employs its own drivers and works on offering business rides and same-city goods delivery services using new energy vehicles (NEV). According to relevant data, the Geely's ride-hailing platform has currently deployed a total of 27,000 vehicles across 25 cities in China (with 23,000 vehicles put into practical use) and owned over 200 million registered users.

Since it was established in 2015, Caocao Zhuanche has gained a foothold in China's ride-hailing market. According to a Chinese data analysis platform, the active users registered on Caocao Zhuanche's platform have outnumbered such competitors as Yidao Yongche and Shouqi Limousine & Chauffeur around certain cities in China, only following Didi Chuxing.

Apart from ride-hailing services, Caocao Zhuanche aims to expand its businesses to chauffeur service, independent travel, hitching, car rental and goods delivery in the future.
The water flowing from the faucets of homes in the Vachagan district of Kapan, a town in Armenias southern Syunik Province, is so murky that residents describe it as cocoa.

Tigran Mangasaryan, who spends his summers in Vachagan, says that when he opens the faucet the water has the color of chocolate.

At first, residents thought the problem was rust. Mangasaryan, however, says the water flows from an aquifer underneath the nearby Mt. Khoustup, and should be crystal clear. He says the problem is the holding basin that hasnt been properly cleaned in years. Its full of muck, he claims.

Residents have raised the water quality issue to local and national officials for the past year. Mangasaryan says he personally went to Yerevan and handed a batch of complaint letters to the office of Veolia Jur, a subsidiary of the French Veolia Group, which manages all water and wastewater systems in the country.

The water problem gets worse in the summer, when vacationers flock to Vachagan. Pressure in the delivery system decreases, and the fact that many illegally tap into the system merely exacerbates the problem.

Residents have to boil their faucet water before drinking it. The problem, as noted above, is the one meter of muck thats accumulated on the floor of the holding basin.

Svetlana Ohanjanyan, who represents Vachagan, tells Hetq that the letters and telephone calls of residents forced the company to partially clean the basin. She says water quality improved a bit, but the flow was next to nothing. Ohanjanyan compared it to the drips seen when homemade moonshine is distilled.

She says that a number of residents have received fines for nonpayment of their water bills, adding that this is an impossibility since they never received water in such amounts in the first place.

Mangasaryan hints that the water utility is fining those residents who have relatives working in Russia and can pay. He says the company should be going after those who have illegally tapped into the system and are consuming water for free.

Hetq wanted to get Veolia Jurs side of the story and spoke with Hovhannes Gevorgyan, who heads the companys Kapan branch. He told us to get in touch with company press spokesperson Murat Sargsyan. We did. Sargsyan advised us to send our questions in writing.

Ohanjanyan claims that she and other Vachagan residents have informed Veolia Jur in writing about the water quality issue on several occasions, to no avail.

According to the Veolia Jur website:

In the system of Veolia Jur CJSC, water is mostly taken from mountain springs, fully complies with the Sanitary Norms and Rules of Drinking Water applicable in the Republic of Armenia and is provided to consumers mainly without additional purification.

Water treatment Stations operate only in Vanadzor, Dilijan, Berd, Kapan and Meghri, where part of the water used is taken from open basins, river intakes, is pre-cleaned and only then supplied to the distribution network. However, to ensure water safety and for preventive purposes, the water at the sources is chlorinated.

Mangasaryan sees the issue from a moral perspective.

Villagers have no water, but a few summer resorts do. They fill their swimming pools and irrigate their fields. Five resorts consume as much water as 110 households.

Photos courtesy of Tigran Mangasaryan
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 03:21:02|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier spoke with South Korea's foreign minister by phone to discuss the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, and they vowed to keep close coordination on the issue.

In a statement released by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo and Kang Kyung-hwa "discussed DPRK denuclearization efforts and the need to maintain pressure" until "the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK" was achieved.

The two officials also "vowed to maintain close coordination and communication and they affirmed the enduring strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance," read the statement.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) held senior-level talks on Monday at a border village of Panmunjom, and agreed to hold a summit in Pyongyang between the two nations' top leaders before the end of September.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un signed the Panmunjom Declaration after their first summit meeting on April 27. Under the declaration, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation and exchanges.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 04:06:11|Editor: yan

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CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Tuesday hailed the position of the Cairo-based Arab League (AL) that supports the legitimate government in Yemen, AL spokesperson Mahmoud Afifi said in a statement.

The Yemeni president's remarks came during his meeting with AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in the Egyptian capital Cairo where they discussed the recent developments in war-torn Yemen.

"The meeting addressed all dimensions of the Yemeni crisis and the ruinous role played by Iran in undermining the stability of such a key Arab state through supporting coup militias and smuggling arms to Houthis in violation of UN Security Council resolutions," said the statement.

Aboul-Gheit assured Hadi that the pan-Arab body will continue defending the legitimate government in Yemen, it said.

During his visit to Cairo, the Yemeni president met on Monday with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting the Yemeni legitimate government and continuing efforts to realize stability in the conflict-stricken country.

Sisi also stressed that the security of Yemen is important to Egypt's national security as well as the stability of the entire region.

"Egypt rejects using Yemen to threaten navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait," said the Egyptian president after meeting with Hadi, who is currently in exile with his internationally-recognized government.

Yemen has been engaged in a civil war since the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels, who helped overthrow Hadi, seized most of the Yemeni northern provinces in late 2014 including the capital Sanaa.

Meanwhile, the pro-Hadi forces control the rest of Yemen, including the southern major city of Aden.

Since March 2015, a Saudi-led Arab military alliance has launched airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen in support of Hadi's legitimacy.

More than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war and more than three million others displaced, according to UN reports.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 04:11:11|Editor: zh

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Supporters hold flags during Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivering a televised speech in Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 14, 2018. Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday called on political parties to maintain their negotiation efforts until they reach consensus on cabinet formation in Lebanon. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

BEIRUT, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday called on political parties to maintain their negotiations efforts until they reach consensus on cabinet formation in Lebanon.

"We hope that discussions among political parties lead to a positive result," he said in a televised speech.

Nasrallah said his party wants to avoid taking it to the street to pressure for the formation of a new government.

"Our country is secure today and we want to preserve this status quo," he said.

Nasrallah said that Lebanon should not count on foreign powers to help in forming a government.

Prime Minister Designate Saad Hariri is facing various hurdles in his attempt to form a 30-member national unity government, due to the rifts among rival politicians over the representation of the main Christian parties, as well as the Druze sect.

Hariri said Tuesday that more time is needed to form a new government in Lebanon.

"There is no progress yet in the government formation, but at least there is no more tension among the different political parties," Hariri was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper.
In this file photo taken on September 27, 2015, a man prays at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as he waits for Pope Francis to lead an open-air mass in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Xinhua/AFP)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 300 "predator priests" from six Catholic dioceses across eastern U.S. state of Pennsylvania have been accused of sexually abusing over 1,000 children, according to a new grand jury report released Tuesday.

The report, issued by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, detailed a "systematic coverup by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at the Vatican" over more than six decades, State Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a news conference on Tuesday.

PREDATOR PRIESTS

Shapiro said that over 1,000 children victims were identifiable from the church's own records, and the grand jury believes there are more after about two years of investigation.

"We believe that the real number - of children whose records were lost, or who were afraid ever to come forward - is in the thousands," read the grand jury report introduction.

According to the report, some predator priests even manufactured child pornography. In a diocese, one victim was forced to stand on a bed in a parish rectory in front of the reverends.

Todd Frey, 50, who said he was abused when he was 13 by a priest in Lancaster County, northern Pennsylvania, spoke to the grand jury on Monday. He said he had told church and law enforcement officials over the years, but nothing was done.

"Who else did he pick?" Frey was quoted as speaking before the grand jury, adding that the report will be his first opportunity to see if the priest is accused of abusing others, and who in the church knew.

SYSTEMATIC COVERUP

Church leaders in these Catholic dioceses were more interested in safeguarding the church and the "predator priests" than helping their victims, the redacted report said.

"The main thing was not to help children, but to avoid scandal," the report said. "Priests were raping little boys and girls and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing: They hid it all."

"Several diocesan administrators, including the bishops, often dissuaded victims from reporting abuse to police, pressured law enforcement to terminate or avoid an investigation or conducted their own deficient, biased investigation without reporting crimes against children to the proper authorities," the report said.

"As a consequence of the coverup, almost every instance of abuse we found is too old to be prosecuted," it read.

THOROUGH PROBE

One of these predator priests pleaded guilty last month to charges that he sexually abused a 10-year-old boy more than 20 years ago. Another has been charged with felony child sex crimes, according to local media reports.

However, some of the accused have died, and statute of limitations laws prevent many others from facing criminal charges, said the media reports.

The Harrisburg Diocese earlier this month identified 71 priests and other members of the church who had been accused of child sex abuse.

"That conduct has left a legacy of pain and sorrow that is still being felt," Harrisburg Bishop Ronald Gainer wrote in a letter to the diocese. "I apologize for these actions."

Gainer also announced sweeping changes to confidentiality policies and stripped from any place of honor in the diocese the names of bishops and others associated with the abuses.

The grand jury said they subpoenaed and reviewed half a million pages of internal diocesan documents which contained credible allegations against the more than 300 predator priests.

The whole investigation covers all eight dioceses in Pennsylvania. Previous grand jury reports already revealed abuse and coverups in two of them, Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown. Local media said the probe is the most comprehensive yet on Catholic Church sex abuse in the United States.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 05:06:23|Editor: yan

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Tuesday repelled an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, while an IS militant was killed in an airstrike on IS hideout in the province, a provincial security source said.

The extremist IS militants attacked in the morning a base of paramilitary tribal fighters in Mansouriyah area, some 110 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, after a mortar barrage, Major Alaa al-Saadi, from the provincial Operations Command, told Xinhua.

The paramilitary fighters repelled the attack after a heavy clash with the attackers, who withdrew from the scene, Saadi said without giving further details about casualties.

In a separate incident, an Iraqi army helicopter gunship pounded an IS hideout near Albu Jum'a village in the western edge of Diyala, leaving an IS militant killed and two others wounded, Saadi said.

Despite repeated military operations in Diyala province, remnants of IS militants were still hiding in rugged areas near the border with Iran, as well as the sprawling areas extending from western part of Diyala to Himreen mountainous area in the northern part of the province.

On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from the IS. However, small groups of IS militants have since regrouped in rugged areas, carrying out attacks against security forces and civilians from time to time.
Terry Branstad, the U.S. Ambassador to China, speaks to audience during the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit in Des Moines of Iowa State, the United States, on Aug. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

DES MOINES, the United States, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Despite some disagreements, the United States and China can work together to resolve problems and build a "bright future," the U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, said here on Monday amid ongoing U.S.-China trade frictions.

"Obviously the United States and China have some disagreements on a number of things, but there's great opportunity for us to work together," Branstad said at the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit in his hometown Iowa.

"Trade friction is a complicated situation, but I think if we work together in good faith, we can see challenges are overcome and we can build a bright future," he said.

As a keynote speaker, the envoy told the audience that the Chinese respect longtime friendship and he is very proud to be considered an old friend of China, with the relationship dating back to the 1980s.

If the two biggest economies in the world can work things out, it would add a lot to the economic growth, peace and prosperity throughout the world, he added.

With nearly 350,000 Chinese students studying in the United States, Branstad said the relationships and friendships built in the process can be tremendously helpful for international understanding, especially in trade.

In June, the Trump administration announced plans to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods, a unilateral move that can provoke a trade war between the world's top two economies and damage the global economy and trading system.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 06:01:38|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three men in their late 20s were shot on Tuesday in Mattapan, Boston. One of them was killed and two others were wounded, Boston police said.

The shooting occurred around 9:48 a.m. local time, police said.

The two wounded were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a report of The Boston Globe.

Boston Police Commissioner William Gross told the media that the three victims were in a motor vehicle when being shot.

"At this time, it doesn't appear to be random," Gross said, asking the public to cooperate with police investigations.

The cold hard fact is that there are too many guns on the street, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 06:11:39|Editor: yan

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DUBLIN, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The number of overseas visitors to Ireland set a record high in the first half of this year, Tourism Ireland revealed on Tuesday.

During the first six months of this year, a total of 4.87 million overseas tourists visited Ireland, up 6.7 percent or over 300,000 more people when compared with the first half of last year, it said.

Britain was the largest contributor to the Irish tourism sector in terms of its overseas visitor number, said Tourism Ireland, adding that nearly 1.79 million tourists from Britain visited Ireland in the January-June period of this year, up 2.34 percent over a year ago.

Britain also contributed about one-fourth of all the overseas tourism revenue in the country, said Tourism Ireland, a state agency responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a leading tourist destination.

Both record growths were posted in the numbers of visitors from mainland Europe and North America in the first half of this year, it said.

The numbers of visitors to Ireland from mainland Europe and North America stood at 1.78 million people and 1.02 million people respectively in the first half of this year, up 10.2 percent and 10.7 percent respectively over a year ago.

The number of visitors to the country from other areas of the world stood at slightly over 280,000 people in the first half of this year, up by less than one percent over a year ago, it added.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-15 06:51:46|Editor: yan

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ABUJA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday ordered the immediate overhauling of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) widely described by citizens as a "brutal" unit of the Nigerian police force.

A presidential statement confirmed the directive given to the Inspector General of Police, saying it followed persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the SARS that bordered on allegations of human rights violations.

Osinbajo directed the national police chief to reform the police special unit and ensure the constitution of an intelligence-driven unit, restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offenses.

"The acting president has also directed the IG-P (inspector general of police) to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects," the statement said.

The acting president also directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a special panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford citizens the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.

Since last year, there had been a public outcry over alleged unlawful activities of the SARS in Nigeria, as citizens called on the government to cut the powers of the police unit whose operatives had no proper means of identification.

Local lawyers and security experts have hailed the development as a major step toward decency and the protection of human rights.

"This is a victory for the people," said local human rights advocate Ladun Adegbite.

In compliance with the presidential directive, the police headquarters said a quick reorganization of its special unit has been done, with new commanders appointed to ensure a high level of professionalism.
The conservative opposition Jobbik party has called on the government to take immediate action over rising rents in Budapest and university cities across the country.

Gergely Farkas, the partys deputy group leader, told a news conference that high rents were becoming an insoluble problem for many young people. Budapest and university cities have seen drastic rent increases over the past several years, Farkas said.

He pointed out that money which five years ago would have been enough to rent a studio apartment would not even cover the rent of a single room today.

But the high rents are not only problematic for university students; they also pose hurdles for young employees and young couples looking to start a family, the deputy group leader added.

Jobbik recommends that the government should speed up the construction and renovation of dormitories, develop the existing local council rental housing system and implement a social housing rental scheme, he said. In response to a question, Farkas said some 20,000 new dormitory places would be needed in Budapest and the larger university cities, arguing that dormitories are forced to reject around 30-40% of applicants.

While a dormitory bed for a single person costs 20,000-30,000 forints (EUR 62-93), the rent of an average flat in the capital is around 122,000 forints, he said, adding that a single room can be rented for 50,000-70,000 forints.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on Jobbiks Hajduboszormeny chapter dissolving itself and some of its members joining Laszlo Toroczkais new radical party, Mi Hazank (Our Homeland), Farkas said his party still had 700 other local chapters, adding that the one in Hajduboszormeny would soon be reorganised.

Asked if Jobbik would stay the course of its transition to a peoples party, Farkas said that in part, it would, and in part, it was planning to make announcements in the matter in the autumn.
VHS said: How did Mao Zedong succeed in bringing an unified republic? Click to expand...

The civil war between Chiang and Mao, dating from the 1920s, helped reduce the divisions in China to just two parts. With the invasion of China by Japan the two Chinese leaders joined forces against a common enemy. At the end of WWII, the civil war resumed leading to victory for Mao on the mainland in 1949. Mao was then in a position to control the entire mainland except Tibet. The promise of a workers and peasants' paradise had initial appeal and opposition was dealt with ruthlessly. In an earlier a time a strong monarch could have done the same thing if it were necessary. Indeed Mao's position was no different than that of a strong monarch. He didn't have the advantage of an accepted hereditary right to rule so he had to kill some people to make it stick; about 45-60 million according to some estimates.
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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Coun Perez reiterates warning to barangay leaders involved in drugs

07 Aug 2017 Hits:37 Comments(0)

Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jerry Perez yesterday reiterated his warning to all barangay officials from using or selling drugs. Perez said he is closely monitoring the activities of all the barangay officials and vowed sanctions against erring leaders. Aqui gane na mio barangay ya quita ya iyo na puesto cunel dos barangay leaders quien mas temprano ya sale positivo na...
Being a medical marijuana patient may be hazardous to your job status, despite state antidiscrimination laws designed to offer some protections.

A New Jersey forklift operator, Daniel Cotto Jr., learned that the hard way.

On Monday, a federal court judge ruled that Cotto's employer did not discriminate when it refused to waive its drug test requirement before Cotto returned to work. Because Cotto, a medical marijuana patient, would have been fired if he took the test, he asked to have it waived. His employer placed him on "indefinite suspension."

Cotto began driving a forklift in 2011 for Ardagh Glass Packing Inc. of Bridgeton, Cumberland County. To treat his neck and back pain, Cotto has long had a prescription for the narcotic Percocet and a doctor's recommendation for medical cannabis, according to court documents.

In 2016, Cotto banged his head on a piece of work machinery and a supervisor sent him to see a doctor. The doctor placed Cotto on "light duty." But to return to his job, Cotto had to pass a drug and urine test.

Ardagh Glass Packing had no problem with Cotto's use of the opioid Percocet. But if the tests detected marijuana, Cotto would fail the test and be fired.

Cotto appealed and sought "reasonable accommodation." He said he could perform all the essential functions of his job, and asked the company for an exemption. Cotto said he could wean himself off the Percocet, but needed the medical marijuana to function. The company refused. New Jersey is an at-will employment state: a company may fire an employee for good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all. But state law also forbids firing an employee due a disability.

Marijuana is legal in some form in 30 states and the District of Columbia. But it remains "an illegal narcotic" in the eyes of the federal government, which considers the drug to have no accepted medical use, despite its recent approval by the FDA for use to treat some forms of epilepsy.

Ardagh Glass Packing argued that the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act (CUMMA) does not require employer acceptance of an employee's use of a substance that is illegal under federal law, or, more specifically, the waiving of a drug test.

Cotto, who claimed he could still do the job, said his pain was a disability and filed a discrimination suit. A panel of judges in U.S. District Court in Camden was not convinced and ruled for Ardagh Glass Packing.

In his Aug. 10 opinion, U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler wrote that the company did not discriminate against Cotto based on his disability. But the company was within its rights in taking issue with the treatment of the disability, namely, Cotto's use of medical marijuana.

"Ardagh Glass is within its rights to refuse to waive a drug test for federally prohibited narcotics," Kugler wrote.
The Justice Grown dispensary in Edwardsville, Pa., offered medical marijuana for sale at $1 gram on Aug. 8, 2018. It's unlikely to do it again. Read more

Weed hadn't been that cheap since 1979.

And for putting it on sale at the rock-bottom price of $1 gram, a medical marijuana dispensary in Pennsylvania earned a sharp rebuke from the state Department of Health.

Justice Grown Pennsylvania operates dispensaries in the northeastern part of the state.

Last week, at its Edwardsville shop, right over the bridge from Wilkes-Barre, the chain celebrated its first sales of marijuana "flower" by offering two strains at $1 a gram. They were the only store in the state to offer it at that price point.

Patients, who learned about the almost-too-good-to-be-true deal through Facebook, lined up early at a coal-country strip mall last Wednesday for their shot at super-cheap samples of Lemon Sweet Skunk and Cherry Diesel. Each patient was limited to two grams. Usually those strains, produced by the grower Terrapin Pennsylvania, sell for $10 to $15 a gram.

One problem: The state forbids promotions or discounts on cannabis. The state does allow dispensaries to offer "special rates" for veterans and seniors at the discretion of the shop owners. But coupons and other marketing stunts are verboten.

"It's in the law," said Department of Health spokeswoman April Hutcheson. "The law prohibits discounts. You can't run a promotional sale on medical marijuana. We let them know that they were in violation."

Hutcheson said the department contacted Justice Grown the day before the sale, warning that it was "not an acceptable activity."

Yet 134 patients were able to scoop up bargain-basement priced "dry leaf"  the state's term for plant material  before Justice Grown exhausted the inventory.

Was it legal?

"It was completely compliant," said Justice Grown Pennsylvania's CEO, Abbe Kruger. "It didn't even fit the definition of a discount because it had never been priced before. We just priced it that low."

That's one way to work around the law.

The store sold 268 grams of "popcorn bud," the smaller but no-less potent flowers of the cannabis strains, for a buck each.

"It was the first day we had flower," Kruger said. "Some dispensaries had parties, but this was our way of celebrating. I think it was our way of giving a gift to our patients."

Hutcheson said the Department of Health just wanted "to make sure they don't knowingly violate any parts of the regulations."

In other words, don't expect any more fire sales to happen again soon.

"We want to make sure they continue to provide medicines to patients but also comply with the law," Hutcheson said. "We realize this is a new business structure. There isn't a formula [for discipline]. We're working through it."
Separated for adoption soon after birth, three New York triplets were reunited at age 19, as retold in the movie Three Identical Strangers. Read more

When Robert Shafran started community college in Upstate New York in 1980, he was puzzled that some of his fellow students seemed unusually friendly, acting as though they already knew him.

That mystery is retold in the opening moments of the new movie Three Identical Strangers, and it gets more bizarre from there.

Spoiler alert: Shafran learned he was one of a set of triplets who were separated soon after birth and placed with adoptive families  part of a study in which researchers explored the age-old question of how human beings are shaped by nature and nurture.

"I wouldn't believe the story if someone else were telling it," he says in the documentary, now playing at area theaters.

The three were near-identical in appearance and seemed, at a glance, to share a number of behavioral traits. They had the same genes, after all. Yet in certain respects, their personalities were noticeably different. Should that be chalked up to the families who raised them, the filmmakers ask?

The film suggests that question remains somewhat unresolved, at least for these triplets and other participants in the study (which drew fire from ethicists  more on that later). But on a population level, scientists know a great deal about the relative roles of genetics and the environment in shaping all sorts of characteristics  both physical traits such as height and weight, and behavioral attributes such as personality and mental health.

For starters: Identical twins (and triplets) are not 100 percent identical, even though they originate from the same egg and sperm. Each time our cells divide and the DNA is copied, there is a chance for small, usually inconsequential, mistakes.

"It's not a perfect copy machine," said Gene Fisch, a behavioral genetics researcher and adjunct professor of statistics at Baruch College in New York.

Second point: instead of saying nature vs. nurture, call it genetics and the environment  the sum total of a person's experiences and exposures. And forget the word versus, as the two life-shaping forces interact with each other. For example, the environment can affect how a person's genes are expressed  a phenomenon known as epigenetics.

Imagine a person born with a combination of traits needed to be a good reader, said Rebecca Waller, an assistant professor in clinical psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Those tendencies can be enhanced by environmental factors.

"You're going to read more, and that's going to make you even better," she said. "And maybe because your parents see that, they buy you more books. Or maybe they drop you at the library on a Saturday."

Likewise, researchers have identified numerous genes that increase a person's risk for depression, but the outcome is far from certain, said Patrick Sullivan, a professor of genetics and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"It depends what happens to you, what you're taught, whether you learn skills about resilience, and the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune," Sullivan said.

For decades before the advent of modern gene-sequencing techniques, studying twins was a powerful tool for answering such questions. By comparing identical twins with fraternal twins  those who share just half of their DNA, on average  scientists could tease out how much of the variation in a given trait was due to genetics.

Sullivan was part of a team that analyzed the results from 50 years of such studies. Generally speaking, genetics have been found to play a strong role in shaping easy-to-measure physical characteristics such as height, but they have less influence on behavioral attributes.

No surprise there, said Baruch College's Fisch.

"The brain is orders of magnitude more complicated than, pick an organ, whether it's bladder or heart or kidney," he said.

In most of these twin studies, adoptive and birth parents were told the goal of the research and agreed to take part. Not so for the children in the movie who were placed for adoption.

Renewed spoiler alert: Not only were the adoptive parents and children unaware of the study's aims, but the researchers had a hand in deciding where they were placed. In the case of the triplets, one was placed with a blue-collar family, another with a middle-class household, and the third in a wealthy home.

Other researchers have blasted this arrangement as a grotesque breach of ethics. It was all the more surprising because one of the study leaders, Peter Neubauer, was Jewish and had left his native Austria in the late 1930s under the growing shadow of Nazi Germany  a regime notorious for its experiments on concentration camp prisoners.

It remains unclear what he learned from the study, as the results were never published and Neubauer died in 2008. But when Shafran and his newfound brothers became celebrities in the 1980s, family, friends, and even talk-show hosts rushed to draw their own conclusions. As the film relates, much was made of superficial similarities such as the fact that all three liked Marlboro cigarettes, older women, and wrestling.

Likely a coincidence, said James Tabery, a University of Utah associate professor of philosophy and the author of Beyond Versus: The Struggle to Understand the Interaction of Nature and Nurture.

"People look for similarities because it sort of feeds this narrative of, 'Oh, look, isn't that amazing? It's your genes that are driving this," Tabery said. "They don't focus on the fact that one drinks Pepsi, or another drinks Sprite, and maybe another does not drink soda at all."

On a tragic note, one of the triplets, Eddy Galland, killed himself in 1995, and the filmmakers imply that his adoptive father's strict, unyielding demeanor played a role.

Fisch is skeptical.

"If that were the case, there would be a whole lot more suicides," the researcher said.

Shafran and the other surviving triplet, David Kellman, have been granted access to some of the findings in the study in which they unwittingly took part. But the public will have to wait. At Neubauer's direction, they were sealed in an archive at Yale University until 2066.
Phyllis Lieberman, 73, of Elkins Park, the Whitpain Township manager for three decades, died Saturday, Aug. 11, at Einstein Medical Center in Elkins Park of complications from an earlier fall.

In 1981, Mrs. Lieberman became assistant township manager in Whitpain, and a short while later was appointed township manager. She held the position until 2010, when she stepped down to work for a year on township planning projects before retiring in 2011.

"Whitpain Township has been very fortunate to have Phyllis as its manager for almost 30 years," Joseph Palmer, chairman of the board of supervisors, told the Ambler Gazette in 2010.

When Mrs. Lieberman took over, Whitpain was not on the public radar. Many thought of it as a stoplight and seven street lamps along Route 202 surrounded by woods and fields, said her son, Neil Lieberman. She oversaw its growth into a thriving community.

Mrs. Lieberman presided over improvements in public works, code enforcement, the police department, ambulance service, and recreation facilities.

"Over the years, for a little community, we've been recognized nationally as one of the best places to live," Mrs. Lieberman told the Gazette. She said publications such as Money and Philadelphia Magazine had singled out Whitpain as desirable. "For the longest time," she said, "people didn't really know who we were, and we have brought ourselves into the main scheme of the Philadelphia area."

Before 1994, Whitpain had no parks and recreation department. Wentz Run Park did not exist when she became manager. She was able to help get the land set aside for public use.

"That park really gets used a lot by people of all ages," she told the Gazette. "It's really been the greatest pleasure. Because we're a township and we don't have a downtown, that's the place where people come together. It gives us a real sense of community. The park system is something we're pretty proud of."

Born in Philadelphia to Edward B. and Blanche H. Crane, Mrs. Lieberman grew up in West Oak Lane. At age 16, she moved with her family to Memphis so her father could take a job with the Sam Fortas Housefurnishing Co.

In 1963, Mrs. Lieberman returned to Philadelphia to enroll in Temple University. That December, she met Max Lieberman, and they married in 1964. The Liebermans then moved to Lincoln, Neb., where her husband was a missile launch officer at Lincoln Air Force Base.

In August 1965, her husband was transferred to Shreveport, La. Mrs. Lieberman completed her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Centenary College of Louisiana in 1968. She was a second-grade practice teacher in Bossier Parish.

After graduating, Mrs. Lieberman taught in an early Head Start program, enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson to help meet the needs of preschool-age children from low-income families.

In August 1968, the Liebermans moved to Greenbelt, Md., Mrs. Lieberman taught fourth grade at Highbridge Elementary School in Bowie.

In 1971, the family returned to the Philadelphia area. Mrs. Lieberman earned a master's degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University in 1980.

While serving as Whitpain Township manager, she was active at the county level. She was chairman of the Montgomery County Consortium of Communities, president of the Southeast Pennsylvania Managers' Association, and vice president of the Association of Pennsylvania Professional Managers.

Mrs. Lieberman was a member of a blue-ribbon panel assigned to investigate whether Montgomery County needed a health department. As a result of the panel's work, the question was put to a voter referendum in 1989, and the county office of public health began operating in 1991.

She was a long-time board member of the Montgomery County Solid Waste Authority and organized one of the first county-wide hazardous waste disposal events.

When liability insurance rates for municipalities began to soar in 1989, Mrs. Lieberman served on a committee of the Consortium of Communities to see if there was an alternative to commercial insurance. The consortium founded the Delaware Valley Insurance Trust, a risk management pool, and she served as a trustee until 2012.

Mrs. Lieberman was also a vice president of the Germantown Jewish Center and president of the Rotary Club of Blue Bell.

Besides her husband and son, she is survived by another son, Matthew; two grandchildren; and a sister.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks, 6410 N. Broad St. Burial is private.

Donations may be made to Philabundance via https://www.philabundance.org/donate/ or the United States Holocaust Museum via https://donate.ushmm.org/.
Chris Smolenak is tapping into the "do-it-yourself" trend  and creating a small business herself.

She's opened a storefront in Holland, Pa., where customers stain and stencil their own handcrafted wooden signs and other decorative items. After 25 years working for a large corporation, she wanted more flexibility in her schedule and time for her children, but still needed enough income to support her family.

"The security of the paycheck and benefits was very important to us," she said. "I'm feeling that I can create that feeling of security on my own based on what I'm seeing in the economy."

Under President Trump, the booming economy is giving entrepreneurs like Smolenak the confidence they need to start or expand small businesses.

In surveys done by the United States Chamber of Commerce, NFIB, and the National Association of Manufacturers, members report record or near-record levels of optimism. Having been laid off during the recession in 2008, Smolenak wasn't willing to take a risk until she was sure the market could sustain it.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act President Trump signed into law in December helped motivate her to start her business. Many small businesses will now be able to deduct 20 percent off their business income in addition to having their taxable income taxed at lower rates. And for the first five years, they'll be able to write off investments in new equipment the year the investment is made.

As I meet with small business owners all over the country as head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, I constantly hear about the real investments they've been making in their companies and their employees since the tax cuts took effect  raising wages, providing bonuses and benefits, and creating more jobs.

The owner of a landscaping company in Florida told me he's using his tax savings to buy a new truck and forklift to expand his services and get more customers  he's already hired another employee to help with the bigger workload. The owners of a rock climbing gym in North Carolina told me their tax savings are accelerating plans to add another location. I am confident I will hear more on Thursday in Philadelphia, where I'm hosting a roundtable with local entrepreneurs.

America's 30 million small businesses are the engines of our economy, one that's been turbocharged under President Trump. The jobs report released last Friday showed the unemployment rate at a healthy 3.9 percent, with more Americans entering the job market to fill the jobs employers are now creating. The number of job openings is at a record high, and for the first time on record, there are more job openings than unemployed people looking for work. The unemployment rate for Hispanics is now at the lowest level ever recorded, the unemployment rate for African Americans has set record lows, and the unemployment rate for women was recently at the lowest level since 1953. A Gallup poll found two-thirds of Americans believe now is a good time to find a quality job.

Under President Trump's leadership, more people are working  the employment-population ratio, an important measure of the share of Americans who are working, increased to 60.5 percent in July  the highest it's been since January 2009.

Workers' pay is improving, too. Average weekly earnings rose 3 percent over the past year. As a result of the tax cuts, at least 6 million workers have seen bigger paychecks and more benefits.

With more money in their pockets, Americans are spending again  and that's good news for small businesses like Smolenak's.

As her customers DIY their projects, she's focused on one of her own  crafting a business that's helping build the economy.

Linda McMahon is administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Eleven people have died in traffic accidents on Philadelphia's Roosevelt Boulevard so far this year. But a plan that might have saved some of those lives is hung up in the state legislature over its usual inability to solve problems.

Rep. John Taylor (R., Philadelphia) sponsored a bill that lets the city install speed cameras on the boulevard. If drivers go 11 miles over the 45 mph speed limit, a camera would snap a picture of their license plates and the State Police would send them $150 tickets. The point is to stop drivers from speeding and endangering each other, as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

But in the final days before the legislature's summer recess, House leaders were paralyzed. They didn't address gerrymandering or stop violent domestic abusers from having easy access to their guns. In all the controversy, this smart bill to help Philadelphia just fell off the table, even though it easily won preliminary votes in both houses.

While the legislature is on vacation, danger on the boulevard isn't. Motorists routinely drive well above the speed limit; worse, the boulevard serves as Philadelphia's drag strip. In 2013, a drag racer killed Samara Banks and three of her children as they crossed the boulevard. The children ranged in age from 7 months to 4 years old.

The city is trying to slow down traffic in other areas, aiming to reduce the average 100 fatalities a year on all of its streets, to zero, according to its Vision Zero plan. And, with good reason.

Staff writer Jason Laughlin recently reported that people are three times more likely to be killed by cars in North Philadelphia than in Center City. In fact, the rate of deaths per 100,000 vehicle miles traveled is twice as high in North Philadelphia (which includes the Lower Northeast) than it is in Center City. One big difference is that people drive at slower speeds in Center City, in part, because they have to navigate around other drivers as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

In lower income neighborhoods, where streets can be wider and less traveled, cars can move more quickly and residents, without cars, are walking and riding bikes. Pedestrians and cyclists often must navigate around hazards like cars parked on sidewalks or shoulders, so they use the street, thereby putting themselves in harm's way.

The city is embarking on a major planning and safety project, holding neighborhood meetings and asking people around the city how they want to make streets safe for everyone. Installing speed bumps, fixing potholes, putting in protected bike lanes, and tougher traffic and parking enforcement can help slow the accident rate. But so far, the majority of the street safety projects so far through the city's Complete Streets program have been in Center City. The city should make sure all neighborhoods get equal representation.

Cooperation in Harrisburg would also help.

Taylor says he believes his speed camera bill will pass when legislators return in September from their summer recess. Let's hope he's right.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On Aug. 13, Great Wall Motor (GWM) signed an investment agreement on complete vehicle joint venture project with Zhangjiagang Municipal Government, signifying that Spotlight Automotive project jointly developed by GWM and BMW was officially sited in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province.

It is known that the project is located in new energy industry base, Zhangjiagang Economic & Technological Development Zone, Jiangsu Province.

Spotlight Automotive, representing a bright future, signifies greatly for both GWM and BMW. This project is not only BMW's first worldwide pure electric vehicle JV project, but also is a significant step for GWM to introduce its NEVs into global market.

On Apr. 18, GWM and BMW signed a confidential agreement of cooperation. Since then, both parties started to discuss about the joint venture. On Feb. 23, GWM announced that it has signed a letter of intent with BMW Group to set up a possible joint venture for NEV business and technologies.

In the presence of China's Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, BMW signed a contract on joint venture (JV) operation with China's automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) on July 10. As the contract regulates, GWM and BMW will set up a new 50-50 JV, which will be named Spotlight Automotive Ltd., with a registered capital of RMB 1.7 billion.

To be sited in Zhang Jiagang, Jiangsu Province, the new JV will enjoy a total investment of RMB 5.1 billion. The JV plans to build up a world-leading vehicle-manufacturing plant which will have an annual production capacity of 160,000 units. It is said that the board of directors of the JV will consist of six members. Among them, chairman will be assigned by GWM, while the vice chairman will be appointed by BMW.

According to their agreement, Spotlight Automotive Limited will focus on the R&D of MINI NEVs (including pure electric passenger vehicles) and internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), as well as relevant parts manufacturing.

As planned, Spotlight Automotive plans to be built into "one base and three centers". One base means BMW's global NEV manufacturing base. Three centers means that Spotlight Automotive will be BMW's global NEV R&D center, BMW's key parts manufacturing center and carbon-fiber lightweight industry center.

Apart from establishing JV, GWM and BMW will also deepen their cooperation in brand building, management system, manufacturing and technology R&D, helping boost both parties' development in NEVs as well as expand their overseas footprint.
PATNA: Planning commission under secretary Rajiv Kumar was on Tuesday shot at by unidentified miscreants in Patna. Rajiv succumbed to his injuries during the treatment.

The incident took place when some men barged into his house and opened fire on him. Rajiv was hit by the bullet in his stomach. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.



Rajiv was posted as the Under Secretary in the Planning Commission at the Patna Secretariat.

Police have launched an investigation into the case.
Browsing through Twitter recently, I found postings of esteemed financial expert S Gurumurthy being inducted into the Board of the Reserve Bank of India. Lot of accolades had been written about him, out of which one states that he is the author of the demonetisation of November 2016.

In this context, I had always held the view as a student of security that demonetisation was more a security measure than an economic move. Let me explain in detail.

It is acknowledged in replies to many Parliament questions answered in both houses that fake Indian currency are a vital source for funding terror. During the period when the country suffered from a string of terrorist attacks, 2008 in particular, the pumping of fake currency from across the border was at its peak. NCRB figures validate this.

As regards cross-border infiltration of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs), it is known that while trafficking takes place from several points on our land borders, including the India-Nepal and India-Bangladesh borders, couriers crossing the border in the Rajasthan area have also been caught by the BSF. Instances of fake currency being trafficked through Sri Lanka had also been reported.

Irrespective of which route was being used, the source of such notes were always traced to Karachi and Peshawar in Pakistan. Inputs had also stated that the capacity of these presses was more than the installed capacity of the RBI's Mudran Press in Mysore or the Bank Note Press of Nashik.

A very important fact is that in 2008, which dawned with an attack on CRPF camp and culminated with the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the biggest leak of fake notes from the State Bank of India's branch in Domariya Ganj in Uttar Pradesh also occurred. This happened a few days before the bloodiest attacks of 26/11. There was other overwhelming information to suggest that the trafficking of FICNs is directly linked to terror attacks.

How these notes were further ploughed into the market is a different dimension, but the moot point here is that it had direct relationship to terror attacks in the country.

Now I navigate the readers to 2016. The unfortunate incident at Pathankot occurred. The Pakistanis reneged on their promise to let the Indian investigators visit their soil, after having availed of Indian hospitality. My question to supporters of talks is that this is not the first time but even during their friendly government at the centre they had reneged. The Committee on Judges Visit from both countries is a standing example.

Having said this in the light of above instances, the government had to go for surgical strikes in September 2016. This was necessary to reinforce the sagging morale of the security forces and let them avenge the killing of their fellow security forces men by deceit by the Pakistanis. They had to be reassured that the nation is behind them. I have narrated that the required safeguards indeed had been taken by the then security establishment as per codified practice.

But the reaction from a humiliated Pakistani establishment was imminent. They would dare not resort to anything conventional. Hence, they must have planned something big and keeping the state actors away, through their sleeper cells. My common refrain having been associated with the security establishment is that forces are blamed for the mishaps that occur but never for those attacks which are pre-empted or prevented by the intelligence and security forces. This might fall under that category.

Having said that something big had been planned, it needs to be emphasised that finance is the lifeline of terrorism. Hence, in order to fund the unholy endeavour, huge amounts of money through this FICN route must have been planned to be pumped into India. Our intelligence must have received the input. Hence, demonetisation was announced as an overnight move, taking the bull by its horns.

Why do I draw this conclusion? The answer lies in the fact that one Mr Javed Khanani, reportedly committed suicide just four weeks after this demonetisation announcement, in Karachi. Who was this Javed Khanani? He was the owner of the largest printing press that used to print Fake Indian Currency Notes.

Are the conclusions not clear? This Khanani, would not have been printing Fake Indian Currency notes just out of passion. He must be doing so to execute his orders. Who gave the orders? The reply is obvious. But because of demonetisation, his entire finished stock became trash overnight. His patron, which might have been the state actor, would not pay for the trash. He would not keep quiet. So best course left was to eliminate him.

In the end, well done, Prime Minister. You caught them, pants down.

But why are some political groups making a political issue out of this? Have they also suffered losses like Khanani?

Best left for the people to ask them.

(RVS Mani is a former Central government officer who shot to prominence as a whistleblower in 2009, when he alleged he had been forced to sign documents that fabricated a narrative of 'Saffron Terror'. His book, 'Hindu Terror: Insider account of Ministry of Home Affairs', was released recently.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)
Mumbai: The trailer of Nawazuddin Siddiqui's 'Manto', which is helmed by acclaimed actress-filmmaker Nandita Das, will release on digital platforms on Independence Day.

'Manto', co-produced by HP Studios, Filmstoc and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, traces the life of writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Nawazuddin will be seen bringing the character to life.

"Viacom18, one of our main producers and the ones leading the marketing and distribution for the film along with HP studios, decided to launch the trailer digitally. This was completely their idea," Nandita told IANS.

The film follows the most tumultuous years in the life of iconoclastic writer Manto and those of the countries -- India and Pakistan -- which Manto inhabited and chronicled. The film stars Rasika Dugal as Manto's wife and Tahir Raj Bhasin, Rishi Kapoor and Divya Dutta in key roles.

Talking about Manto, she said: "Manto stood for freedom of expression, both through his writings and the struggles he went through in his life. He challenged all forms of orthodoxy and despite six cases slapped on him, he believed in the power of the written word. That kind of conviction and the courage to follow it through is inspirational."

How do you think the status of freedom of expression in India?

"I am an optimist. So, I believe that writers and artists will continue to express their truth through their work. We, as readers and audiences, need to support such people for our own sake, for a robust and mature society," she said.
New Delhi: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Tuesday reserved its order over a plea of Cyrus Mistry camp seeking a status quo over conversion of Tata Sons into a private company from a public limited firm.

A two-member bench headed by its Chairperson Justice S J Mukhopadhaya said it would pass an interim order over the conversion and decide the case on merits at later stage.

Senior advocate C A Sundaram, representing Mistry, questioned the urgency over conversion of status of Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata group of companies.

"What is the urgency to convert it into a private limited company. Status quo should be maintained,? said Sundaram.

"As late as March 31, 2009 Tata Sons was functioning as a public entity. They continued taking deposits," he said during the proceedings.

He further said that they did not bring any article to say that the company should not take public deposits

NCLAT was hearing the plea filed by Mistry challenging the orders of NCLT which had dismissed his plea challenging his removal as chairman of the company.

In September last year, Tata Sons had received shareholders' nod to convert itself into a private limited company from being a public limited company, limiting in effect Cyrus Mistry family's ability to sell their stake to outsiders.

A public limited company allows shareholders to legally sell their stake to anyone but a shareholder of a private limited firm cannot sell the shares to external investors.

The Mistry camp had challenged the July 9 order of the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) which dismissed their pleas against his removal as Tata Sons chairman, as also the allegations of rampant misconduct on part of Ratan Tata and the company's Board.

A special bench of the tribunal had held that the Board of Directors at Tata Sons was "competent" to remove the executive chairperson of the company.

NCLT bench members B S V Prakash Kumar and V Nallasenapathy had also said that Mistry was ousted as chairman because the Tata Sons' Board and its majority shareholders had "lost confidence in him".

Under the Companies Act 2013, an order of NCLT can be challenged before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). Mistry, who was the sixth chairman of Tata Sons, was ousted from the position in October 2016.

He had taken over as the chairman in 2012 after Ratan Tata announced his retirement.

Two months after his removal, Mistry's family-run firms Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Corp approached the NCLT as minority shareholders, against Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, and some other board members.

Mistry in his pleas primarily argued that his removal was not in accordance with the Companies Act and that there was rampant mismanagement of affairs across Tata Sons.

He also alleged that Tata Trust chairperson Ratan Tata and trustee N Soonawala interfered with the day-to-day operations of the group companies, they acted as shadow directors, and all of the above caused massive revenue loss for the group.

The Tata Group had denied all charges and said Mistry was removed because the Board had lost confidence in him.
New Delhi: In a new twist to the case of alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, two top officials linked to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have now turned government approver, according to the Delhi Police.

Zee Media quoted Additional DCP (North) Harindra Singh as saying on Tuesday that Vibhav Kumar and Vivek Yadav - two top officials in the Delhi government - have turned approver in the case.

Vibhav Kumar is the personal secretary to CM Kejriwal and Vivek Yadav is his political secretary.

This comes a day after the Delhi Police named Chief Minister Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs as accused in its chargesheet in connection with the case.

The chargesheet, which was filed in the Patiala House Court before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal on Monday, also mentioned Amanatullah Khan, Prakash Jarwal, Nitin Tyagi, Rituraj Govind, Sanjeev Jha, Ajay Dutt, Rajesh Rishi, Rajesh Gupta, Madan Lal, Parveen Kumar and Dinesh Mohania.

"On February 20, a case was registered on a complaint of Anshu Prakash. After completion of the investigation and upon collection of evidence on record, a chargesheet has been filed in the court," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harinder Singh said.

The court will take cognizance of the chargesheet, filed on the basis of investigation conducted on the complaint of Anshu Prakash, on August 25.

The accused, charged under 13 sections, may get a maximum of a seven-year jail term if found guilty.

The accused have been charged under IPC sections -- 186 (obstructing a public servant), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant for doing his duty), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant to discharge his duties).

In the chargesheet, the police have charged the accused of insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, the punishment of abetment and unlawful assembly among others.

While the Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta demanded Kejriwal`s and Sisodia`s resignation, saying "They have lost right to continue in their high offices and govern Delhi,'', the AAP leaders rejected the chargesheet as ''bogus'' and ''politically motivated.''

However, in a joint statement, Delhi cabinet ministers Gopal Rai, Satyendra Jain, Kailash Gahlot, Rajendra Pal Gautam and Imran Hussain called the chargesheet "bogus" and "politically motivated".

Stating that the chargesheet was based on "imaginary and false allegations", the ministers termed it a "witch-hunt against the Delhi government".

The ministers claimed the chargesheet would be torn to shreds when put to legal scrutiny.

The Delhi Chief Secretary had in February alleged that he was beaten up by AAP MLAs in the presence of Kejriwal at the Chief Minister`s residence on the night of February 19 where he had been called for a late-night meeting.

The case was filed the next morning and Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal were arrested and sent to judicial custody. Later, they were released on bail.

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: The government has denied reports of an international Chinese media that claimed that China is printing massive amount of foreign currency notes including India.

Reports about any Chinese currency printing corporation getting any orders for printing Indian currency notes are totally baseless. Indian currency notes are being and will be printed only in Indian Govt and RBI currency presses, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) secretary Subhash Chandra Garg told ANI.

The South China Morning Post had reported that there has been a recent surge in printing of notes in money production plants across the country.

Quoting multiple sources in the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, the report said that these plants were running at near full capacity to meet an unusually high quota set by the government this year.

Most of the demand comes from participants in the Belt and Road Initiative, the report further added.

Referring to president of the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation Liu Guisheng's article the report said that, two years after the launch of the belt and road plan (2013), the company successfully won contracts for currency production projects in a host of countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Brazil and Poland.

Congres leader Shashi Tharoor has expressed his concerns that the news, if true, could have national security implications.

If true, this has disturbing national security implications. Not to mention making it easier for Pak to counterfeit. @PiyushGoyal @arunjaitley please clarify! https://t.co/POD2CcNNuL  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 12, 2018

It may be recalled that India's banks received an all-time high amount of fake currency and also detected an over 480 percent jump in suspicious transactions post demonetisation, a first-ever report on dubious deposits made in the wake of the 2016 notes ban revealed in April this year.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), that analyses suspicious financial transactions pertaining to money laundering and terror financing as part of the Union Finance Ministry establishment, reported that counterfeit currency transactions in the banking and other economic channels witnessed an increase by over 3.22 lakh instances during 2016-17 as compared to the last year.

With PTI Inputs
Chennai: Days after party patriarch M Karunanidhi's death, the DMK will hold an Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday to condole his death. The party meet will start at 10 am at the party headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam,' based in Chennai.

A release issued by party general secretary K Anbazhagan said that the agenda of the meeting is to condole the death of party chief Karunanidhi who died at 94 on August 7 after battling for life at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai.

Admitted to the hospital on July 18, the Tamil Nadu strongman, popularly known as Kalaignar, breathed his last at 6.10 pm on August 7, according to a press release by Kauvery Hospital

Asked if no other issue would be taken up at the meet, he said, "A condolence resolution will be adopted and other than that, there is nothing on the agenda now... a date for holding the general council meet may be considered and announced."

DMK sources said that the party is also expected to elevate its working president M K Stalin, son of Karunanidhi, as DMK party chief and a general council meeting is likely to move a resolution facilitating it.

Stalin was elevated as DMK working president last January.

Since then he has been at the helm of the party affairs as Karunanidhi was ill since October 2016. Stalin was party treasurer at the time of his elevation.

The key meeting comes just a day after Stalin's elder brother MK Alagiri visited Karunanidhi's grave at Marina beach and declared that the "real DMK cadres" were with him and not with Stalin. Hitting out at Stalin, the Madurai strongman said that though his brother was the working president of the DMK, but he was not working for the party.

(With inputs from agencies)
NEW DELHI: The Antigua government has denied extraditing fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi to India, sources in the Enforcement Directorate have said. As per sources, the Antigua government has also said that it would not arrest Choksi as their Constitution prevents him from arrest.

The Antigua government has said they will protect Choksi as he has been given citizenship as per the rules, and his passport also cannot be revoked.

India has been trying to bring back the bank fraud accused from Antigua under the provision of a law of the island nation which provides for extradition of a fugitive to a designated Commonwealth country. However, sources say that the Antigua government has denied having any treaty with India as per which they will have to send Choksi back. India and Antigua do not have a bilateral extradition pact.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had on August 3 issued a gazette notification to make the Antiguan law enforceable and bring back Choksi. "As per the provisions of the Extradition Act, 1993 of Antigua and Barbuda, a fugitive may be extradited to a designated Commonwealth Country or a State with which there are general or special arrangement or a bilateral treaty," a PTI report had said.

The notification specified that the provisions of India's Extradition Act, 1962 shall apply to Antigua and Barbuda with retrospective effect from 2001 when the Caribbean nation notified India as designated Commonwealth Country under its extradition law law.

India had handed over a request to Antigua for extradition of Mehul Choksi who is charged in connection with India's biggest banking fraud and is living in the Caribbean nation after taking its citizenship.

A team of officials from the MEA and other agencies had been sent to Antigua a few days ago to request the authorities there to extradite Choksi. The team had presented details of the case against Choksi to the Antiguan government.

Antigua had cleared Choksi's citizenship in November 2017 after India did not give any adverse report to stall his application for it.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi could launch Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme (AB-NHPS) on the occasion of India's 72nd Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday.

While the world's largest government-funded public health insurance scheme may first be launched only on a pilot basis in some states, the full-scale launch is expected towards the end of September. The announcement though could come from the ramparts of Red Fort during PM Modi's Independence Day speech. "Providing health care insurance cover to 50 crore Indians cannot be a simple on and off switch process. We have been working on it for the last four months and I think that tomorrow (Wednesday), the PM could speak on the matter," Indu Bhushan, the CEO of Ayushman Bharat scheme, told Zee News.

The extremely-ambitious scheme is expected to cover approximately 50 crore people across the country and would primarily target deprived families in rural India. A cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per annum would be provided. The objective is to cover 10 crore families by 2020 and a budget of Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated by the Centre for it although it has not yet been released to the states.

And not all states are on board.

News agency PTI quoted a government official as saying that while Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are yet to come on board, Odisha has refused to be a part of the scheme. It is also reported that 22 states have preferred to run the scheme on 'trust basis.'

Meanwhile, the health ministry has reportedly included 1,354 packages in the scheme and would cover treatment for coronary bypass, knee replacements and stenting, along with many others.
A picture of the suspect behind shooting incident targeting Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid has surfaced on social media. The picture, captured from a CCTV camera, was also shared on Twitter by news agency ANI.

The picture was extracted from the footage of CCTV installed at the Vittalbhai Patel Road in New Delhi.

Firing on JNU student #UmarKhalid: A CCTV grab of the suspect, caught yesterday on the CCTV camera installed at Vitthalbhai Patel Road. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/q2fvIqIEvw  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2018

The man had reportedly fired the shot in air at the Constitution Club. In his statement to the police, Umar Khalid had on Monday said that the accused first pounced on him, and then pushed him as he fired in the air.

There was commotion at the spot after the shooting incident, following which the police took control of the situation. After discussing the sequence of events with Khalid, DCP Madhur Verma had said, Umar Khalid said that he was attacked. Somebody pounced on him and pushed, thereafter he tried to fire at Khalid but couldn't. According to Khalid, the attacker fired in the air and was chased by people.

The police had recovered the weapon used by the suspect. He had reportedly dropped the weapon while trying to flee the spot where the incident took place. The police has launched an investigation into the incident.

The JNU student was at the Constitution Club to attend an event Khauff se Azaadi, organised by an organisation named United Against Hate.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a fresh salvo at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue on Tuesday.

Speaking at the state secretariat - Nabanna - after meeting a delegation from United Bengali Forum who had come from Assam to highlight their plight, Mamata asked Shah whether his parents had birth certificates. "I want to ask Amit Shah does his mother and father have birth certificates? If you ask me, I do not have my parent's birth certificates. Would Swami Vivekananda have the certificates?Atal ji is ill now, so I cannot ask him, but I wish I could ask him whether he has all the certificates? One family can keep the record, not all. I belonged to a backward family, certificates were not maintained," Mamata said. "Would Gandhiji's family have certificates?"

Banerjee went on to call NRC politically motivated. "This is a political move ahead of the elections. Sometimes they will play India-Pakistan, sometimes they will play India-China. I am also hearing that they are getting the currency notes printed outside the country," she alleged.

This is not the first time that the West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo has launched a blistering attack at the BJP and party president Amit Shah. This time too, she alleged that Bengali-speaking population was being targeted. She claimed a majority of the 40 lakh people who did not make it to the list were a Bengali-speaking chunk.

"Of the total 40 lakh, 25 lakh are Bengali Hindus, 13 lakh Bengali Muslims and 2 lakh Nepalis, Biharis and others. I have shown you so many documents. People in Punjab and Pakistan speak the same language. People in Bengal and Bangladesh speak the same language. Isn't Hindi and Urdu widely spoken in the country? If you do not like a particular community, you cannot spread hatred like this. Hasina ji (Bangla PM) is welcome, others not? Didn't Bengal participate in the freedom struggle? What's wrong in speaking the Bangla language?" she said.

Mamata further said that even cows should now be given certificates to identify whether a cow is a refugee or an infiltrator. "My question is to all the Gau-rakshaks, is cow a refugee or an infiltrator. Make certificates for cows so that we know whether they are refugees or infiltrators. Amit Shah may not eat Hilsa fish. But people in Bangladesh, Bengal, UP and Bihar eat Hilsa fish. Is Hilsa a refugee or an infiltrator? This is super emergency," she claimed.

This apart, she expressed dissent over not being consulted over the 'one nation, one poll' theory. "BJP feels that they are super human beings. They have crossed all historical, geographical, political boundaries. They changed the name of Mughalsarai also. They did not discuss it with political parties or in the parliament. I will not be surprised if they go for presidential kind of elections. Commoners are the biggest sufferers. BJP govt harasses the people. We are anti-nationals? They are an militant organisation. RSS should be declared a militant organisation. Isn't mob violence, lynching, hatred politics a new low?"
New Delhi: In order to ensure women safety at workplaces in private sectors, the Ministry of Women and Child had requested the Minister for Corporate Affairs to mandate the disclosure regarding the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act in the Directors Report of every company.

Vide its notification dated 31.07.2018, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has amended the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, issued under Section-134 of the Companies Act, by inserting clause (X) as follows:

"A statement that the Company has complied with provisions relating to the constitution of the Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013".

While thanking the Minister for Corporate Affairs, Maneka Sanjay Gandhi stated, "This is a major step towards making the workplace safe for the women in the private sector."

Maneka Gandhi also said that she will be requesting SEBI to suitably incorporate this disclosure in the Corporate Governance reports of the listed Companies. This will cast as the ever higher responsibility on the Directors of these Companies for implementation of the Act.

It may be noted that Section-134 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides the disclosure framework which the Directors of every company are required to comply within the Annual Reports. This section also includes the penal provisions for non-disclosure. The inclusion of the compliance under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act in the non-financial disclosures will ensure that the issue gets into the focus of the Board of Directors of the companies.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been making continuous efforts to mainstream the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. Detailed Rules under the Act were issued. It was ensured that all the ministries/ departments under the central government as well as the organisations working directly under them constitute the Internal Complaints Committee as mandated under the Act.

A number of instructions have been issued by the DoPT on the request of the ministry to provide immediate relief to the women working in central government against sexual harassment at workplace.

The ministry has also empanelled a number of entities who can provide training to any organisation on effective implementation of the provisions of the Act. The ministry has provided a facility to all working women to file complaints under this Act directly with the ministry through the SHE-Box.
HYDERABAD: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday remarked that he is married to his party when he asked about his plans to get married.

The Gandhi scion made these remarks during an interaction with editors here.

The Congress chief, who has come to Hyderabad on a two-day visit, also predicted that Narendra Modi will not become Prime Minister in 2019.

He is scheduled to meet local residents and interact with party workers and leaders later today.

I will be in Bidar, Karnataka to address a public meeting at the Nehru Stadium today, at noon. Later this afternoon and all of tomorrow, I will be in Hyderabad to meet citizens, Congress party workers and leaders.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 13, 2018

Going a step further, the Congress president said that the BJP - the ruling party at the Centre - would not even get 230 Lok Sabha seats and that's why there was no question of Modi becoming Prime Minister again.

He claimed that BJP's poor showing in UP and Bihar would be attributed to the alliance among the non-BJP parties in these states.

The Congress chief, however, evaded a direct reply when asked as to who will become the Prime Minister in the event of Congress and other non-BJP parties getting a clear majority in 2019 polls.

We will work it out, he said.

While expressing hope that his party would come to power in Telangana, he said that the state units of Congress were free to stitch alliances with like-minded parties where ever they deemed fit.

When asked about party's prospects in Andhra Pradesh, where Congress drew a blank in the 2014 polls, Rahul Gandhi said that his party was improving gradually.

In view of growing incidents of mob lynching, Rahul termed them as an attack on minorities and voiced concern over growing intolerance in the country.

Minorities were feeling insecure due to these incidents, he said.

He also called for addressing the problems of farmers and providing employment to the unemployed, while alleging that the Modi government had failed to fulfill its promise of providing two crore jobs annually.

Rahul Gandhi's party, which is at the forefront of stitching a grand non-BJP alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has been very critical of the Modi government's functioning and made scathing attack over a host of issues including demonetisation, GST, bank loan scam among others.

(With IANS inputs)
The Indian Railways has changed the arrival and departure timings of several trains, and the same is slated to come into effect from August 15, Wednesday. According to a statement released by the Northern Railway, timings of 301 trains have been altered.

The statement says that while departure timing of 57 trains have been advanced, that of 58 trains have been deferred. Similarly, the arrival timing of 102 trains have been advanced and that of 84 trains have been deferred.

It is notified for the information of general public that Northern Railways' new time table will be effective from August 15. Passengers are requested to please check their train timings from railway enquiry before commencing their journey, read the statement released by the Northern Railway.

Some trains which are affected are Amritsar and Shatabdi Express, Lucknow Mail, Tejas Express, Humsafar Express and Antyodaya Express whose departure timings have been preponed by five minutes.

Some trains whose arrivals have been postponed are Neelachal Express, Dehradun-Amritsar Express, Humsafar Express, Jan Shatabdi Express among others.

The revised timings will effect a difference of five minutes to two-and-a-half hours.

(With PTI Inputs)
DARWIN: Marshal C Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command Air, dropped in for a visit at the ongoing Exercise Pitch Black 2018 being held at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base in Australia's Darwin.

#ExPitchBlack18: Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, visited the IAF Det at RAAF Base Darwin, Australia,13 Aug 18. He interacted with the contingent & congratulated all the Airwarriors for their professionalism & good work, tweeted the Indian Air Force (IAF).

#ExPitchBlack18 : Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, visited the IAF Det at RAAF Base Darwin, Australia,13 Aug 18. He interacted with the contingent & congratulated all the Airwarriors for their professionalism & good work. pic.twitter.com/szbnMmw9KE  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 14, 2018

Pitch Black, a multinational air exercise, is one of the biggest of its kinds in the world. More than 140 aircraft and 4000 personnel from several countries are participating in it.

An IAF contingent is currently at the Darwin Air Force Base in Australia to participate in the Pitch Black which will continue till August 17.

The Indian contingent in Australia is being led by Group Captain CUV Rao and includes a Garud Team, four SU-30 MKI, one X C-130 and a X C-17 aircraft.

Over the last few days, the IAF has shared several high moments from the Pitch Black.

On Monday, the IAF shared a video of Super Hercules displaying its might in the Aussie skies.

#ExPitchBlack18 : C-130J Super Hercules- four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft, capable of using unprepared runways to take-off & land. The versatile machine undertakes a variety of roles, including airborne assault. Glimpses of ACTION in Southern Hemisphere!!! wrote IAF on the micro-blogging platform.

Later, the IAF also shared images of its joint exchange sorties with French Air Force.
NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation on the eve of Independence Day 2018.

In his address, President Kovind reflected on the sacrifices of those who fought for independence, and stressed the need to maintain efforts to retain the spirit of the freedom fighters.

Here is the full text of President Kovind's Independence Day eve speech:

Dear Fellow Citizens,

My greetings to you as we complete 71 years as an independent nation. Tomorrow we will commemorate our 72nd Independence Day. For every Indian, whether living at home or anywhere else in the world, August 15 is sacred. It is marked on our calendars as a celebration of our sovereignty. We unfurl our national flag with great joy and enthusiasm in workplaces, municipalities, panchayats, colleges, schools, homes and neighbourhoods. Our Tricolour is a symbol of our national pride. It is a constant reminder of our striving and our self-belief. It is a day to look back with satisfaction and gratitude for what we have been able to achieve due to the efforts of successive generations of our elders. And it is a day to renew our resolve to fill the gaps that still remain in our nation building project - gaps that our talented young people will no doubt fill.

Freedom came to our country on the Midnight of August 14-15, 1947. It was the result of years and decades and centuries of sacrifice and valour on the part of our ancestors and our revered freedom fighters. These were men and women of rare courage and foresight. They came from all regions of the country, all sections of society, all communities and all social and economic groups. They could easily have compromised and settled for some personal benefit, but they did not. Their commitment to India - to a free, sovereign, plural and egalitarian India - was absolute. It was my privilege to honour these freedom fighters on the anniversary of 'Quit India Day' on 9th August in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

We are fortunate that we have inherited the legacy of such remarkable patriots. They left us with a free India, but they also left us with unfinished tasks for the development of our society, for the empowerment of the proverbial last person, for their liberation from poverty, and social and economic inequality. Every breath in our collective life as a nation is a tribute to our freedom fighters - and a commitment to accomplish whatever is still unaccomplished.

If we define freedom in narrow, political terms, then August 15, 1947, marks a closure. It was the day the political struggle against an imperial power culminated in success and in our Independence Day. But freedom is a broader concept. It is not fixed and finite. Freedom is a constant and relentless endeavour. Even decades after 1947, each one of us can contribute in the manner of a freedom fighter. We can do so if we expand the frontiers of freedom and of opportunity for our fellow Indians and our beloved India.

Our farmers grow food for tens of thousands of fellow citizens whom they have not individually met and will never meet. They are upholding our freedom by ensuring food security and nutrition for our children. As we assist our farmers by providing access to technology and other facilities for enhanced productivity and enhanced incomes, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our Armed Forces stand guard valiantly on our borders, up in the cruel climate of the mountains or under the blazing sun, or in the skies or at sea. They are upholding our freedom by ensuring security from external threats. As we give them better weapons and equipment, build supply chains for such equipment in India itself, or ensure welfare benefits for our soldiers, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our police and paramilitary forces take on a variety of challenges. In battling terrorism, in fighting crime and law and order disturbances, or even in helping ordinary citizens by holding their hands while they cross a flooded street. In doing this, they are upholding our civic freedom. As we improve their professional and personal conditions, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Women have a special role in our society. The expansion of freedom in our country in many senses amounts to the expansion of freedom for women in our country. This is true whether we see them as mothers, sisters, daughters or simply as women who are entitled to a life of their choosing - and deserving of the opportunity and the security to fulfil their potential. They could do this as sheet-anchors of our families or as absolutely critical entrants to our institutions of higher learning and our workforce. The choice is theirs; as a nation and as a society we must ensure that they have the right and the ability to exercise that choice.

As we take this process further, by facilitating credit for women-run enterprises and start-ups or by easier availability of LPG in millions of kitchens and millions of homes, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our young people, both boys and girls, represent the hope and optimism of India. Our freedom struggle saw the active participation of the young and the old, but its energy was provided by the young. They chose different modes or activism in their quest for liberty - but their resolve and their idealism, their passion for a free India, for a better India, for a more equal India, was non-negotiable.

Today, as we ignite the fire within our youth, by building capacities for skilling and scholarship; for technology, engineering and entrepreneurship; for creativity and crafts; for playing music and producing mobile apps, for excelling in sports, we are harnessing the unlimited human capital of our youth. In doing so, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

I have given only a few examples; there could be many more. The reality is that every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment, who contributes to society by being true to a professional ethic, be it the doctor's ethic, the nurse's ethic, the teacher's ethic, the public servant's ethic, the factory worker's ethic, the business-person's ethic, the ethic of those who have to care for ageing parents who brought them up with love and sacrifice - each of these and many others are in their own way upholding the values of freedom. They are providing the fruits and goods and services of freedom to fellow citizens. Every citizen of India who does his or her duty sincerely, fulfils a personal and professional obligation and keeps to a given word is, at a fundamental level, upholding the principles of our freedom struggle. I would argue that every Indian who does not jump the queue and respects the civic space and rights of those ahead in the line also lives up to the principles of our freedom struggle. It's a very small gesture. Let us try and abide by it.

Dear Fellow Citizens

You may wonder if what I have said so far would not have held true in the years gone by, maybe 10 or 20 years ago or even earlier. To some extent, it certainly would. Even so, we are at a juncture in our history that is very different from any period we have so far experienced. We are at the cusp of achieving many of our long-awaited goals. Universal access to electricity, the elimination of open defecation, the elimination of homelessness, the very elimination of extreme poverty is achievable and attainable. We are at a pivotal moment. Let contentious issues and extraneous debates not distract us.

After four years, we will be marking the 75th anniversary of Independence. In less than 30 years, our people will celebrate the 100th anniversary of India as a free nation. The decisions we take today, the foundations we lay today, the projects we undertake today, the social and economic investments we make today - whether for the immediate future or for the medium term - will determine where we stand. The pace of change and development in our country is rapid and appreciable. And as per our civilisational traditions, it is driven by our people, by civil society and by a partnership between citizen and government. Its focus, again in keeping with the essence of Indian thought, is on a better life for the less fortunate.

I will give you just one example. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is taking seven flagship programmes to the very doorstep of the poorest and the most deprived among our fellow citizens. These services include access to electricity, access to the formal banking system, access to welfare and insurance programmes, and access to immunisation in hitherto hard-to-reach areas. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has been extended to 117 Aspirational Districts where, seven decades after Independence, we still have stark gaps in the development narrative.

Not surprisingly there is a significant overlap between the populations of these districts and historically weaker communities, such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As such, we have an opportunity to raise the quality of life for those of our fellow citizens who have unfortunately remained at the bottom of the pyramid. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is not being carried out by government alone. It is a collaboration of public agencies and community groups, with selfless citizens who are keen to share, to empathise and to give back.

Dear Fellow Citizens,

Independence Day is always special, but this year there is an unusual significance attached to it. In a few weeks, on 2nd October, we will begin the commemoration of the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji did not just lead our freedom struggle. He was and still is our moral compass. In my capacity as the President of India, I have been fortunate to have travelled around the world, particularly to a few countries of Africa. Everywhere, across continents, Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India.

It is not always simple to understand Gandhiji. He refused to be restricted in his definition of politics and political activism, or even of freedom. When Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba, travelled to Champaran in Bihar for the indigo farmers' agitation, they devoted a considerable part of their time to educating local people, particularly women and children, as well as teaching them about hygiene and health. Here, and on other occasions, Gandhiji personally led the drive for swachhta or cleanliness. He linked the removal of dirt to an act of self-discipline and of promoting physical and mental health.

Many were puzzled at that time. What does all this have to do with freedom? For Gandhiji, they were the centre-piece of the quest for freedom. This was a struggle, according to him, not just for political power but for empowering the poorest of the poor, educating the uneducated, ensuring the right to a dignified life and a feasible livelihood for every village, for every neighbourhood, for every family - and for every individual.

Gandhiji spoke of swadeshi with an uncommon zeal. To him this was a pride in promoting Indian creativity and an Indian sensibility. Nevertheless, he was alive to intellectual currents from the rest of the world. He invited these to enrich our learning. To him, Indian civilisation was defined by open windows and not closed doors. This was his concept of swadeshi and it is still relevant to us as we engage with the world - whether for our economy, our health, education and social aspirations, or our policy choices.

Perhaps Gandhiji's most noble mantra was to point out that the power of ahinsa is far greater than the power of hinsa. The power to stay your hand is far greater than the power to strike with your hand and hinsa has no place in the society. The weapon of ahinsa was the most effective weapon Gandhiji gave us. Like his other teachings, it was rooted in the ancient wisdom of India and yet has a resonance in the 21st century and in our daily lives.

This Independence Day, so close to the 150th anniversary commemoration of Gandhiji, let each of us adapt his ideas and maxims, in whatever manner we can in our everyday work and conduct. I can think of no better way to celebrate our freedom. I can think of no better way to celebrate Indianness.

And this Indianness is not for us alone. It is part of what our country and our civilisation bring to the global stage. In the spirit of Gandhiji and the spirit of India, we believe in the age-old ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or the "World is one Family". This is why we demonstrate our concern for entire humanity by providing assistance to many African countries, taking initiatives on the issue of climate change, contributing to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in different parts of the world, helping neighbouring countries affected by natural disasters, rescuing people from other countries along with our own people, trapped in a conflict zone. In the spirit of Gandhiji and the spirit of India, we share the practice of yoga for health and well-being, and using technology for development. We are Gandhiji's children. We dream for all humanity, even when we walk alone.

Dear Fellow Citizens,

In my engagements with students and university authorities all over India, I have urged students to spend a few days - maybe four or five days in a year - in a village. Undertaken as part of what may be termed "University Social Responsibility", this will help students understand our country. It will allow them to observe and participate in social welfare programmes and see how they are making an impact. It will be of benefit to the individual student and to the village, as well as to the country. It will also invoke the fervour of our freedom struggle, and the identification of every citizen with the national mission.

I am gratified by the idealism and the passion of our young people. There is a spirit to achieve something for oneself, for one's family, for wider society and for our country. This is the most moral education we can wish for. The outcome of education is not merely a degree or a diploma, but the commitment to help improve the life of another in a way that is sustainable. This is empathy and fraternity in action. This is the Indian spirit. This is India, because India belongs to the people of India - not just to the Government.

Together we can help every citizen in our country. Together we can conserve our forests and natural heritage, we can safeguard our monuments for future generations, we can renew our rural and urban habitats. Together, we can eliminate poverty, illiteracy and inequality. We can and we must do this together. The government has a leading role but not the sole role. Let us use the government's programmes and projects to further our own efforts. Let us make that sense of ownership our motivation.

With those words, I once again wish you and your families all the best for Independence Day and best wishes for a bright future.

Thank you

Jai Hind!
PATNA: Conducting simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state Legislative Assemblies is not possible, said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar while commenting on 'One nation one election' on Tuesday.

Is election mein yeh possible nahi hai ki Lok Sabha aur sabhi Vidhan Sabha ka chunav ek sath kiya jaaye. Yeh sambhav nahi hai. Vyacharik roop se yeh sahi hai (It is not possible to conduct simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha in this elections. It is not possible. This holds true ideologically), said Kumar at an event.

The BJP-led Centre is currently trying to build a consensus on simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

However, political parties are divided on the issue. Besides NDA constituent Shiromani Akali Dal, the AIADMK, the Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti have supported it. The Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, Telugu Desam Party, Left parties and the JD(S) have opposed the proposal, reported news agency PTI.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said, Simultaneous polls aren't possible without amendments in law. But if polls are to be held in installments, like in 11 states at once, possibilities are there if all respective houses agree to dissolve and conduct polls together.

The Centre is currently mulling convening an all-party meeting on the issue after the Law Commission recommends a legal framework on the matter.

Sources in the government said an all-party meeting could be convened in the coming days to widen the ambit of discussion among politicians on the issue of simultaneous polls. But no final decision has been taken as yet on convening the meet.

On Monday, the BJP presented a strong pitch for simultaneous polls to "curb expenditure", amid indications in some quarters that efforts can be made to hold the Lok Sabha election with that for 10-11 assemblies early next year by delaying elections in three BJP-ruled states and advancing the same for others scheduled for later in 2019.

With agency inputs
NEW DELHI: Further raising the heat on the Narendra Modi government over its alleged complicity in the Rafael deal, the Congress party on Tuesday posted a small video in which it promised to shed more light on the controversial fighter jet deal between India and France.

Posting the teaser on the Rafale deal on its Twitter handle, the Congress party asked its followers to ''stay tuned as more will come on the issue later.''

What 'really' is the Rafale deal? NOT for dummies. Here's the teaser, stay tuned for more later today... pic.twitter.com/5p2lj9xOhY  Congress (@INCIndia) August 14, 2018

This is the latest in the series of attack from the Congress party on the Narendra Modi government over the Rafale deal between India and France, which is now mired in controversy over the alleged escalation of price and the secrecy clause.

Continuing its attack on the Modi government on the Rafale deal, the Congress party had on Monday accused it of promoting crony capitalism and its own self-interests and ignoring national interests.

Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's continued silence on the issue, the Rahul Gandhi-led party has asked why the Centre is not answering why Rs 41,205 crore more from the public money was paid for the Rafale fighters.

It also accused the Prime Minister of violating the defence procurement procedure.

The main opposition party alleged that Reliance Defence was chosen as the local partner for offset contracts worth crores, as per the 2016 annual report of Dassault Aviation and a press statement of Reliance Defence.

Reliance Defence and Aerospace, in a statement, said that it or any other Reliance group company has not received any contract from the Defence Ministry till date, relating to the 36 Rafale aircraft.

This is absolutely unfounded and incorrect, the company said.

It also claimed that there is no violation of any rule or preferential treatment to Dassault Reliance Aviation Ltd (DRAL), the joint venture company formed to fulfil the offset contracts in the Rafale deal.

During the press conference, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi accused the Prime Minister of making the announcement of off-the-shelf purchase of 36 fighter jets in Paris at a much higher rate than that negotiated by the UPA government.

Rafale is a scam and the government is in the scam. Indians feel deprived while the BJP ensured that crony capitalism thrived. Instead of protecting Indias interest we have the Modi government protecting its self-interests, Chaturvedi said in a statement. The Prime Minister announced the off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft in Paris on April 10, 2015, for euro 7.5 billion (Rs. 1670.70 crore per aircraft which is Rs. 60,145 crore for 36 aircraft, Chaturvedi said.

India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in 2015 for 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly-away condition. The president of the ruling BJP, Amit Shah, had on Friday rejected allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal, saying credence should be given to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharamans statement instead of others.

Shah said Sitharaman has said the base price of Rafale fighters negotiated by the government is less than what was finalised by the previous UPA dispensation.

Responding to Shah's claim, the Congress leader said when the international bid opened on December 12, 2012 ,for Rafale jets, the price negotiated by the UPA government was Rs. 526.10 crore per aircraft for 126 aircraft.

As per the UPA deal, the price of 36 aircraft would have been Rs. 18,940 crore. Chaturvedi demanded an explanation on why an extra amount of Rs. 41,205 crore of the public money is being paid for the jets.

She asked why the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister were averse to placing the details of the commercial purchase price before Parliament. The government has said that a secrecy clause in the 2008 pact between India and France prohibits it from disclosing the pricing details in the purchase of the Rafale fighter jets. Experts describe the Rafale as a twin-engine air-dominance aircraft. In French, Rafale means a gust of wind.

The party also attacked Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, saying he is "a habitual offender in weaving lies" and is "brazenly misleading people sewing together a web of lies" to save Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Rafale deal.

The party demanded that Modi government immediately set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale scam and must answer to the questions raised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday hit out at Rahul Gandhi, saying he is spreading a "blatant lie" against Prime Minister Modi and his government over alleged corruption in the Rafale deal to escape the Income Tax Department inquiry against him related to the National Herald case.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Modi government`s Law Minister is a habitual offender in weaving lies based on figments of his imagination. Today again he brazenly misled the people by sewing together a web of lies to save his master, Narendra Modi."

(With Agency inputs)
NEW DELHI: United States President Donald Trump, who is known for his mood swings and making outlandish statements, had once jokingly said that he could play matchmaker for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to the 'Politico' magazine, the US President made these remarks after coming to know from his staffers that the Indian Prime Minister was long separated from his wife.

When the Trump's staffers told him that PM Modi would not be bringing his wife along to the meeting at the White House, Trump reportedly joked, "Ah, I think I can set him up with somebody."

The report cited "two people who briefed Trump on the meeting."

Defending Trump, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during an interaction with the press that the US President has developed "strong relationships" with "America's closest allies," which allow for "candid conversations."

The 67-year-old Prime Minister is married to Jashodaben, a retired teacher. Though the couple never divorced, the two have been living separately for long.

PM Modi was married to Jashodaben when they were very young as part of the caste tradition in those days. The PM later became a full-time RSS ideologue and left his wife and village.

Interestingly, the PM never officially acknowledged Jashodaben's existence until he declared his candidacy in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Jashodaben, 66, reportedly lives with her family in a village in PM Modi's home state of Gujarat.

The article also focussed on the "diplomatic faux-pas" committed by Trump during his discussions with foreign leaders over a wide range of issues.

The US President often allegedly displayed lack of telephone etiquette, "mispronounced" and had "awkward meetings," it said.

Trump also displayed a lack of familiarity with South Asia, the article added.

Citing one such incident, the article said Trump, while referring to a map of South Asia, mispronounced Nepal as "nipple" and addressed Bhutan as ''button."

This was just ahead of his meeting with PM Modi at the White House last year.

The report, quoting two unnamed sources, said that Trump also looked confused that the two countries - which border India - even existed.

"He didn't know what those were. He thought it was all part of India," the article quoted a source as saying.

"He was like, 'What is this stuff in between and these other countries?'"

A Washington Post report earlier claimed that the US President often affects an Indian accent and imitates the Indian leader.

Reports about Trump claiming to play a matchmaker to the Indian leader comes at a time when the Modi government is awaiting a response from the White House over its invitation to the US President to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade on January 26 next year.
Patna: An Under Secretary posted at the Patna Secretariat died after unidentified persons opened fire at him on Tuesday morning.

#UPDATE: The Under Secretary, who was shot at in his house by unidentified people this morning, passes away in the hospital. He was posted at Patna Secretariat. #Bihar https://t.co/FOfiPQHhOK  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2018

According to news agency ANI, the assailants barged into his house this morning. He was later admitted to the hospital in a critical condition.

Details of the victim have not yet been released.

According to reports, at least six other persons were injured in the attack. This is yet to be confirmed by authorities.

With agency inputs
New Delhi: Tennis player Sania Mirza on Tuesday lashed out at a troll, who wished her on Pakistan's Independence Day.

Pakistan celebrates it's Independence Day on August 14 while India celebrates it on August 15. Sania, who is married to famous Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, was questioned on the celebrations by one of her followers. The Twitter user wrote, Happy Independence Day Sania Mirza. Aapka Independence Day aaj hai na? (Your countrys Independence Day is today, right?)

In her reply to the tweet that has now been deleted, Sania wrote, Jee nahi. Mera aur meri country ka Independence Day kal hai. Mere husband aur unnki country ka aaj. Hope your confusion is cleared. Wese aapka kab hai? You seem very confused. (No. My country and I will celebrate Independence Day tomorrow. However, my husband and his country celebrate it today. But when is yours?

Jee nahi.. mera aur mere country ka Independence Day kal hai, aur mere husband aur unnki country ka aaj!! Hope your confusion is cleared !!Waise aapka kab hai?? Since you seem very confused .. https://t.co/JAmyorH0dV  Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) August 14, 2018

However, this is not the first time Sania has received distasteful comments from Twitterati. But she has managed to give it back to them in the most dignified way possible.

Sania and Shoaib are expecting their first child together.

Recently during an interview, the latter gave an unexpected answer when she was asked to pick a sport for her child. She neither chose Tennis nor cricket. She said she would want her child to become a doctor.

The Tennis star also said that she may choose a third country as she hasn't thought about the nationality of her child.

And when she was asked if she wanted a boy or a girl, Sania replied saying it doesn't really matter. However, she mentioned that her husband has always wanted to have a girl child.

Here's the latest on Sania and her biopic:

Biopics on sportspersons have drawn the audiences to the theatres, and hence the trend will continue.

According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, Ronnie Screwvala has bought the film rights to Mirza's story. And it may soon get translated into a film.

The Tennis ace is a former world No. 1 in doubles, and she has six Grand Slam titles to her credit. She began playing the sport from the age of six and became a professional player in 2003. She is one of the most popular female sports personalities in the country.
Jalandhar: Several journalists were allegedly assaulted by a group of private security guards at the rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkals home in Jalandhar.

The incident took place on August 13.

According to reports, some journalists from Delhi and Kerala were in Jalandhar to report on the police investigation and questioning of the Roman Catholic Bishop, who has been accused of rape by a nun from Kerala.

The entire incident was caught on camera.

#WATCH: Media persons were allegedly assaulted by a group of private security guards at Bishop Franco Mulakkal's residence in Jalandhar yesterday. A nun from Kerala has leveled rape allegations against him. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/6VO6eA5IWd  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2018

The video footage of the incident shows a group of journalists being allegedly manhandled by the private security guards employed by the Catholic priest.

Their cameras and other equipment were also damaged while they were trying to capturing visuals of Bishop Mulakkal, soon after he returned to his headquarters from Chandigarh.

A special team of Kerala Police had earlier reached the Bishops residence to question him in connection with the charges made against him by the nun.

However, he was was not available.

However, he later returned to Jalandhar after which the incident occurred.

Bishop Mulakkal was interrogated by the Punjab Police late on Monday.

''I questioned him and collected his statement. After verifying his part of the story, further steps will be taken. This is an old case so we are collecting more evidence,'' DSP from Kerala said after questioning Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Punjab.

I questioned him&collected his statement. After verifying his part of the story further steps will be taken. This is an old case so we are collecting more evidence: DSP Kerala after questioning Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Punjab against whom a Kerala nun levelled rape allegations. pic.twitter.com/f50eB1CLzo  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2018

The state government had earlier informed the Kerala High Court that a decision on arresting Mulakkal will be taken after he is interrogated and the evidence examined.

The priest has rejected all charges levelled against him and claimed innocence,

A nun from Kerala had accused Bishop Mulakkal of misusing his position and repeatedly raping her against her will.

The case is being probed by a special team constituted by the Kerala Police.
New Delhi: A cordon of tight security, including NSG snipers, elite SWAT commandos, kite catchers, over 500 CCTV cameras and thousands of security personnel, have been thrown around the Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday.

Police are on high alert in the wake of an attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid in the Lutyens' Delhi area on Monday and a terror attack in the UK on Tuesday, where a man drove a car at high speed and ploughed into several pedestrians, injuring three people, a senior police officer said.

On Monday, police were informed by a person that a man, wearing a uniform of an Indian Air Force officer, was suspiciously roaming near the Rajiv Chowk Metro station, and when he tried to call him, the man in uniform just fled from there.

"This year, intelligence agencies have not issued any specific alerts about any specific terror organisation planning to target the national capital. However, the threat is there from all terror outfits and we have to be alert, especially during this time," a senior police officer said.

While nearly 70,000 Delhi Police personnel are guarding the national capital, close to 10,000 cops have been deployed in the Mughal-era fort, which will see the presence of senior ministers, top bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people during the PM's address on Wednesday.

(Taking Delhi Metro or DTC on August 15? You need to read this first)

Delhi Police personnel have been specifically asked to keep an eye on the sky to ensure that no stray kites are seen in the areas around the Red Fort.

Last year, when the Prime Minister was addressing the nation on Independence Day, a black kite had landed below the podium. The kite landed quietly without causing any disturbance and the prime minister had continued his address unfazed.

Kite-catchers have been deployed even though kite-flying has been restricted in the area till 11 am.

Over 500 CCTV cameras have been installed on the routes leading to the Red Fort with over 200 cameras in the fort itself. The footage is being monitored round the clock, police said.

This time, 36 women personnel of the Delhi Police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit will also be guarding the venue with their male counterparts.

Police have already carried out anti-sabotage checks in the area and visited hotels in the vicinity in search of suspicious elements, officials said, adding that a security audit of the residents, including tenants, has been completed.

At the Red Fort, a special team of NSG snipers and commandos will form the inner layer of the security cordon, while anti-aircraft guns have been deployed to thwart any aerial intrusion by objects like drones and projectiles, senior police officials said.

Delhi Police has already prohibited aerial activities, including para-gliding, flying UAVs and hot air balloons, across the city.

The buildings facing the Red Fort will be secured by police and paramilitary personnel.

Security along the route to be taken by the Prime Minister's cavalcade, from his official residence to the Red Fort, will be monitored with the help of hundreds of CCTV cameras.

Special "spotters" of Delhi Police and the paramilitary will keep an eye on parking areas. Sniffer dogs will also be part of the extensive security deployment.

According to a statement by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, train services will run as usual. However, stations like Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate and ITO will have restrictions on entry and exit during the ceremony owing to security considerations.

Parking will not be available at the stations till 2 pm tomorrow in view of the security measures, the DMRC said.
CHENNAI: DMK working president MK Stalin on Tuesday moved to tears during the crucial meeting of the party to condole the death of his father and late party chief M Karunanidhi. Addressing the gathering, Stalin emphasised on the unity of the cadre and claimed that he has been working relentlessly for the DMK since the day he was made the party's working president.

He also asserted that he has the support of the entire cadre, just a day after his elder brother MK Alagiri claimed otherwise. Alagiri had on Monday said that the real party cadre stands by him and not with Stalin.

Striking an emotional chord, Stalin said that while the party had lost their leader, he had lost his father. "Party has lost our leader but I have lost the leader as well as my father," Stalin said at the emergency executive meeting in Chennai.

He also recalled the denial of land at Marina beach by the AIADMK government on the night of Karunanidhi's death. He said that he approached the Chief Minister but was his request was turned down. "When Kalaignar was in his last stage I held CM's hands and pleaded to fulfill his (Karunanidhi) last wish to be buried at Marina Beach. But the government did not agree," Stalin recalled.

Stalin's speech asserting the support of the party can be seen as his pitch for his elevation for the party top post. The decision to make him the party chief is likely to be taken at the general council meeting of the DMK to be held later this month.

Alagiri's open revolt to Stalin's claim for the top post comes within a week of Karunanidhi's death. Karunanidhi had expelled Alagiri and his supporters from the party in 2014 for indulging in anti-party activities and making derogatory remarks. Karunanidhi had then named Stalin as his political heir. The transition of power was formalised when Stalin was made the working president of the party in January 2017 after Karunanidhi's health did not permit him to preside over the affairs of the party.
CHENNAI: Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth on Monday lashed out at the Tamil Nadu government for not attending late DMK President M Karunanidhi's funeral last week. Questioning the absence of the Chief Minister and Cabinet ministers at the burial, Rajinikanth asked why did they stay away from the Marina beach.

"For his burial, the whole of India came. State honors were given by members of the three armed forces. He was given a 21 gun salute. The Governor, many Chief Ministers, and Congress president Rahul Gandhi had come. Tamil Nadu's first citizen, the Chief Minister, shouldn't he have come? Should not the entire cabinet have come? What will people think," Rajinikanth asked.

He also said he would have launched a protest if the government had appealed against a Madras High Court verdict, directing it to provide burial space to the Dravidian stalwart on Marina beach.

He also attacked the state government on the controversy over denial of land for Karunanidhi's memorial at the Marina beach, a decision that was struck down by the Madras High Court. Rajinikanth said he himself would have launched a protest if the government had appealed against the order.

Heaping praise on his 'friend' Karunanidhi, Rajinikanth said while many thousands had entered politics due to him, "many hundreds became leaders" because of him.
LUCKNOW: Amid reports that Aero Show may be moved out of Bengaluru to be organised in Lucknow, an Uttar Pradesh minister has claimed that holding the air show is no big deal. "UP is the birthplace of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. We will soon be organising the Kumbh mela. If we can organise Kumbh mela, holding an event like Aero Show is no big deal, (UP mein Bhagwan Ram aur Sri Krishna ki janambhoomi hai. To yahan par sab kuch hai. Itna bada Kumbh Mela hone jaa rha hai. Hum vo tayari kar sakte hain to Aero Show ki tayari mein aisa kuch ni hai)," UP Aviation Minister Gand Nopal Nandi said.

UP mein Bhagwan Ram aur Sri Krishna ki janambhoomi hai. To yahan par sab kuch hai. Itna bada Kumbh Mela hone jaa rha hai.Hum vo tayari kar sakte hain to Aero Show ki tayari mein aisa kuch ni hai: UP Aviation Minister on speculation that Aero Show shifted from Bengaluru to Lucknow pic.twitter.com/d30yVVSNkl  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 14, 2018

There have been reports that the event which is considered to be the largest aerospace exhibition in Asia, may be organised at the Bakshi Ka Talab air force base in Lucknow in October. The show has traditionally been organised at Indian Air Force's Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The Defence Ministry has said that it has received requests from a number of states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to host the Aero India this year. The Defence Ministry has said that no decision has been made yet and that it is examining requests from various states.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on Saturday urged Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to hold the Aero India to Lucknow as it would benefit the defence production in the state. "I request the defence minister to hold the Aero India show in Uttar Pradesh. We will provide every type of facility. In this context, I request her to announce this at the earliest so that we can proceed with the preparations," Adityanath had said.

However, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, insisting that Bengaluru would be the "best choice" for the event. "Bengaluru being the hub for defence and aviation majors of the country, is certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show," he said in the letter.

He also questioned the Centre's decision to move the show out of Bengaluru. "Our BJP friends in Karnataka must answer. We also requested the defence minister and told her that Bengaluru is the proper place for the Aero show event and we have all infrastructure in place as well. I dont know why the Centre took such a decision," he said.

Since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been hosting the air show.
United Nations: Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), the terror group's newest affiliate, is "ideologically inclined" to carry out attacks inside India but its capability is believed to be low and is relatively isolated owing to increased security measures in the region, according to a UN report.

The 22nd report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team was submitted to the UN Security Council Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

The report said that AQIS is "relatively isolated owing to increased security measures within the wider region, but the group continues to seek security gaps for opportunistic attacks".

The group is "ideologically inclined to carry out attacks inside India but its capability is believed to be low," it said, adding that according to Member States, the strength of AQIS in Afghanistan is estimated at several hundred people, located in Laghman, Paktika, Kandahar, Ghazni and Zabul provinces.

Noting that Al-Qaeda still maintains a presence in South Asia, the report said the terror group adapts to the local environment, trying to embed itself into local struggles and communities and is closely allied with the Taliban.

According to one Member State, although the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, poses an immediate threat, Al-Qaeda is the 'intellectually stronger group' and remains a longer-term threat.

The report added that some members of the Al-Qaeda core, including Aiman al-Zawahiri and son of slain Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Hamza bin Laden are reported to be in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas.

Other members of the Al-Qaeda core may leave for more secure areas, it said.

The report said that between 20,000 and 30,000 Islamic State fighters remain in Iraq and Syria and among these there is still a significant component of the many thousands of active foreign terrorist fighters.

One Member State reports that some recent plots detected and prevented in Europe had originated from ISIL in Afghanistan. In addition to establishing a presence across Afghanistan, ISIL also attempts to have an impact on other countries in the region.

"According to one Member State, ISIL in Afghanistan is responsible for at least one attack in the Kashmir region,? the report said. However, no details about the attack in Kashmir were given in the report.

The sanctions monitoring team submits independent reports every six months to the Security Council on the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities.

The report added that in Afghanistan, ISIL persistently tried to expand its presence, despite pressure from the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, the international coalition and the Taliban.

ISIL currently has its main presence in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Nuristan, and is also active in Jowzjan, Faryab, Sari Pul and Badakhshan provinces in the north. The group has the intention to expand into Ghazni, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar and Uruzgan provinces.

"In Kabul, Herat and Jalalabad, ISIL already has sleeper cells and has committed disruptive, high-profile attacks, including against both Government and Taliban targets during the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire," it added.

The report noted that that ISIL has between 3,500 and 4,000 members in Afghanistan, including between 600 and 1,000 in northern Afghanistan (with both numbers on the increase). It is led by Abu Sayed Bajauri who is not listed and the majority of its members and leaders were formerly members of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and it may represent an emerging threat to Central Asian States.
The German chancellor's return to work has come with a number of foreign policy challenges. Migration has dominated her agenda of late, while disagreements over Ukraine and Syria continue to fuel tension with Russia

Hardly is Angela Merkel's vacation over, and fresh headaches are approaching. She began the late summer with an urgent trip to Spain on Saturday, when she attempted to start picking at the tightest and most complicated of Gordian knots  how to regulate migration in Europe. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had already become the one of the first European leaders to reach a new bilateral migration deal with Germany, which means Berlin will be able to send a few refugees back to Spain if they have already registered there.

The most profound byproduct of that agreement, and the deals that Merkel's administration will be trying to strike in the coming weeks, is that Germany has been forced to admit the Dublin system is no longer functioning.

The Dublin agreement, first put together in the 1990s, is meant to determine which European Union state is responsible for asylum applications, but in practice it often means that applications are not properly heard, potentially violating migrants' rights. The Dublin procedure almost descended into chaos in 2015 and 2016, when it had to be partially suspended as a result of the bureaucratic crisis triggered by an influx of refugees into Europe from Syria.

Whatever solution Merkel finds, it will likely be incremental  though with European Parliament elections approaching next year, she and other EU leaders will be hoping for tangible results sooner rather than later.

Spain, along with France, is one of the few major non-populist governments left in Europe, making it a vital ally for Germany. That dwindling group faces a showdown with the more right-wing governments on September 20, when Austria is hosting an informal EU summit.

Austria, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, is one of the countries pursuing an increasingly draconian migration policy, and for Merkel and Sanchez, the summit could become a dragon's den scenario: They will have to defend a new cooperative deal with so-called countries of origin and transit, such as Morocco and Libya, who are demanding more help from the EU to prevent migrants coming to Europe.

Given the confrontational mood in Europe, it seems unlikely that the suffering of the migrants in North Africa will be high on the agenda. The Moroccan human rights organization AMDH has reported that the government there had recently destroyed camps near the Spanish enclave of Melilla and bused several hundred migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, back to the country's interior.

Read the original text at DW
Information has appeared that the US is going to introduce new sanctions against Russia after August 22 in response to a chemical attack in Salisbury, UK. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has signed a decree that the Russian Federation violated international law by attempting to poison Salisbury's former Russia's military intelligence (GRU) officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in March of this year. Sanctions will be introduced in accordance with the current US law: the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons Abatement Act. The document provides for the possibility of imposing restrictive measures against states that use chemical and biological weapons against their citizens, as well as firms involved in their distribution.

According to the act of sanctions are introduced in two stages, after written notification to the US Congress within 15 days. At the first stage of the sanctions, there are restrictions in the sphere of export and financing. American companies will not be able to obtain licenses to export products to Russia, which is important for the US national security, including gas turbines, integrated circuits, various electronics, including test equipment used in aviation electronic equipment. At the second stage, sanctions will affect the decline in the level of diplomatic relations. It is planned to prohibit Aeroflot Russian airline from flying to the United States. Russia can be cut off from export-import operations with the American counterparts. The second package of sanctions will be introduced if Russia does not prove the absence of chemical weapons on its territory within three months.

Act on the Elimination of Chemical and Biological Weapons of 1991 is one of two dozen legislative acts of the US Congress that deal with the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and is an aid to restrictive measures against individual states. Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the successive priorities of the US foreign policy. Washington has repeatedly used the act as a basis for imposing sanctions against other states. The States introduced a new package of sanctions against North Korea in March 2018 in response to poisoning with VX nerve agent Kim Jong-Nama (cousin of North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un) at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The United States imposed sanctions against Syria in response to the use by the troops of President Bashar Assad of the nerve agent sarin against the Syrian opposition in Guta (in August 2013). Then, from 281 to 1429 people died. After this incident, a special UN group worked in Syria, which investigated the circumstances of the chemical attack and confirmed the use of chemical weapons.

Through its actions, Russia has created the basis for introducing new sanctions on the Syrian-Korean scenario. Citizens of the Russian Federation: Sergei Skripal, who has dual citizenship, and his daughter Julia became victims of the Novichok agent. Russia has also violated the 1993 Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by using a poisonous substance as a tool to kill its former spy in the UK. Russia has violated the sovereignty of the country, which is a NATO member. Russian officials made false claims of non-involvement in the chemical attack in Salisbury, which only increased the suspicions of the Americans and Europeans.

In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that the Skripals were poisoned with BZ nerve agent, which was in service of the US and UK. However, according to the director of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ahmet Uzumju, no traces of BZ were found in the samples taken by the experts at the site of the poisoning. Director of the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova claimed that Novichok was developed by Great Britain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden or the USA. Czech President Milos Zeman said his country had actually developed a small amount of A-230 substance (one of the Novichok species) for the exercises of the anti-chemical defense unit last year and quickly destroyed the samples.

Instead of providing strong evidence of the lack of chemical weapons, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the US intention to tighten sanctions is equivalent to declaring an economic war, which will have to be reacted with political, economic, and other methods. The Russian embassy in the United States said that the State Department had announced new "draconian sanctions" under a far-fetched pretext. Russia's rhetoric is convenient for America since the Salisbury incident will now be used as an excuse for further tightening of anti-Russian sanctions. In early August, a group of Republican Senators and Democrats introduced a bill on tightening anti-Russian sanctions. New restrictive measures are envisaged for Russian entrepreneurs and state enterprises, persons who operate in cyberspace, and a ban on granting licenses to US residents to participate in projects of the oil industry in Russia.

This arrangement is beneficial for Ukraine. The US is not going to curtail the policy of anti-Russian sanctions and are looking for new arguments for their toughening and prolongation. Russia's violation of the regime of non-proliferation of chemical weapons is a reinforced argument in favor of maintaining existing sanctions, which will be reinforced with new restrictive measures. Against the background of reports of new sanctions, the ruble collapsed. According to The Guardian, new sanctions will affect 70% of the Russian economy. Despite the fact that the US share in the total volume of Russian imports is only 5.6%, about half of the American-supplied products contain high-tech components, which will be subject to new restrictions. Last year, the share of machinery, equipment, and vehicles in Russia's imports from the United States amounted to over 43%.

Even in the face of tension in US-Russian relations, Russians continue to rely on certain types of American equipment. The Russian airline Aeroflot operates 41 American Boeing 737-800s (there are 243 aircraft in the fleet). In 2013-18 years. Aeroflot purchased 17 Boeing 777-300ER airliners. More than 100 Russian firms work with the American company General Electrics and buy equipment for the oil and gas industry, aviation, transport and healthcare systems. Within the framework of a joint venture with the company "RAO UES", General Electrics produces gas turbines for the Russian market. The division of GE Aviation works with 25 Russian airlines and serves 115 aircraft, and GE Transportation participates in the modernization of the railway in Yakutia. General Electrics cooperates with MTL company, the Russian manufacturer of medical equipment. In 2017, Russian enterprises purchased agricultural machinery in the US for $ 1.39 million. According to the EkoNiva dealer, 5 thousand John Deer equipment is serviced in Russia. Last year, sales in Russia of cars from the American Ford plant grew by 29%. Naturally, all this equipment periodically requires repair, replacement of components and renovation, and some Russian companies simply cannot survive without trade with the United States.

The US and France are the largest suppliers of classified products to Russia. Last year, about 30% ($ 2.7 billion) of all imported products from the US went through the SS secret code. In Russia, classified products are weapons, military equipment, dual-use products (used for military and civil purposes), if disclosure of their supply could damage the security of the state. Most likely, we are talking about technologies that can be used in the aircraft building, aerospace, nuclear industry. The reverse side of the new sanctions will be losses for US equipment manufacturers who work in Russia and will lose their licenses to export their products to this country.

Four months have passed since the Russian special services poisoned Skrypal, and the Republicans started talking about new sanctions only now, on the eve of the midterm elections to the US Congress. Most likely, Trump's administration proceeds purely out of political interests, not security considerations and the protection of the regime of non-proliferation of chemical weapons. Oppositional Democrats are trying to earn ratings on the criticism of the foreign policy of the current administration. According to the Rasmussen Reports, 52% of respondents do not support Trump's policy. According to a Reuters / Ipsos poll, 41% of Americans support the Democratic Party, while the Republican Party is supported by 39%.

Republicans expect to iron some of the arguments of the Democrats with the help of new sanctions against Russia in response to the use of chemical weapons in Salisbury. Democratic Party leader Hillary Clinton called President Donald Trump the puppet of Putin, claimed that he was seeking the NATO split. The former head of the CIA under the Democrats John Brennan called Trumps rhetoric at a recent meeting with Putin in Helsinki a treason. The US president denied Russia's intervention in the presidential elections in the US in 2016. Trump's opponents criticize him for tightening the migration regime, withdrawing from the Paris agreement on climate protection, a nuclear deal with Iran and an agreement on a trans-Pacific partnership, and for imposing high duties on Europe.

The Republicans specifically announced new sanctions against Russia before the elections to make it clear to American society and the world that they are sensitive to the security of NATO allies, for example, the UK, whose subjects became victims of Russian provocation. The Trump administration has confirmed its intention to adhere to a tough policy toward Russia, regardless of what the president says. The Republicans talked in advance about sanctions against the Russian Federation in order to make it clear to the Russian authorities that the interference in the midterm congressional elections was hopeless since the slightest trace of the provocation by the Kremlin would be the reason for new restrictive measures.

Read the original text at 112.ua.
By the end of August, Kyiv will purchase 18 million cubic meters of gas at price of 377 USD per cubic meter from Ukrnaftoburinnya private company

Open source

By the end of August, Kyiv will purchase 18 million cubic meters of gas at 377 USD per cubic meter from Ukrnaftoburinnya private company, the deputy chairman of the Kyiv city state administration Petro Panteleev stated.

Panteleev noted that an agreement with a private supplier is a temporary alternative. The authorities agreed on this until the issue with Naftogaz was resolved. The Cabinet instructed the city to buy gas from Ukrnaftoburinnya until the end of August. The increase in tariffs for the population (due to the temporary alternative, - Ed.) is out of the consideration, Panteleyev declared.

NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" delivers gas for the needs of the population for 207 USD for 1 thousand cubic meters (without VAT).

The gas purchased at commercial prices will be used in the optimal economy mode, Panteleev said. Gas will not be supplied for 200 boiler houses that remain without gas supplies since May. Three thousand houses in Kyiv stay without hot water.

Only CHPP-5 receives natural gas, it serves Darnytsky, Solomiansky, Pechersky, Golosiyivsky districts, part of Shevchenkivskiy, as well as residential areas of Kharkivsky, Poznyaki, Osokorky, Rusanivka, Bereznyaky, and Teremki.

Until the end of August, "Energia" incineration plant stops for planned prevention, Panteleev specified.

In 2017, the capital authorities decided to cease cooperation with PJSC "Kyivenergo", and on May 1 this year its entire complex was transferred to a new enterprise, "Kyivteploenergo." This utility body has organized the supply of heat for two Kyivs districts - Darnytsky and Dniprovsky. Back in April, Kyivenergo has announced that all of their employees will be transferred to work in Kyivteploenergo.

It was expected that the utility will inherit the company's receivables and payables. However, on July 19, the Kyiv Economic Court refused to replace Kyivenergo with Kyivteploenergo as a defendant in respect of Kyivenergo's debt obligations.

For its part, Naftogaz cut off gas supplies to Kyiv because of the Kyivenergos debts, which make up almost 0,185 billion USD. Because of these debts, Naftogaz refuses to sign a contract for the supply of gas from Kyivteploenergo.

As reported, due to lack of gas since August 1, work of CHP-5 and CHP-6 might be disabled, which were transferred to the balance of Kyivteploenergo together with the Energia plant.

Read the original text at 112.ua.
In February 2016, PGW was in the news when it emerged that its LRT-3 .50-calibre rifles, sold to Saudi Arabia, had ended up in the hands of Houthi rebels

Open source

PGW Defence Technologies of Winnipeg is the Canadian firm that will be selling sniper rifles to Ukraines military.

PGW owner Ross Spagrud told Ukrainian media outlet UATV that the firm is providing Ukraine with the LRT-3, .50-calibre BMG bolt action rifle, equipped with suppressors to reduce sound and muzzle flash. He said the deal is worth around $1 million.

Global Affairs Canada has declined to provide any details, stating it must protect the commercial interests of the firm. But the office of Conservative defence critic James Bezan noted that Global Affairs Canada approved the sale last week. Bezan said last week that would mean the weapons would be delivered in time for any new outbreak of fighting with Russian-backed forces this fall.

Ukrainians have been fighting each other since 2014, with government troops battling separatist rebels in the Donbass region. Russia also annexed Crimea from Ukraine and has provided support to the separatist forces in the small region.

In February 2016, PGW was in the news when it emerged that its LRT-3 .50-calibre rifles, sold to Saudi Arabia, had ended up in the hands of Houthi rebels. The guns were taken by rebels after a battle with Saudi forces.

In his interview with Ukrainian TV, Spagrud said there was little a company could do to prevent its weapons from falling into the wrong hands during a situation like an ongoing conflict. But he claimed that such rifles were almost worthless unless those using them had a years worth of training on the weapon.

In December 2017, the House of Commons defence committee recommended the government provide weapons to Ukraine, provided it demonstrates it is working to eliminate corruption at all levels of government. Senior officials from Ukraines ministry of defence told the defence committee last year they would welcome arms from Canada, including anti-tank weapons. They told the committee that the Ukrainian militarys sniper equipment was obsolete.

Peggy Mason, a former disarmament ambassador to the United Nations and a security adviser to the Mulroney government, told the committee that providing lethal weaponry to Ukraine could prompt escalatory actions by pro-Russian separatist groups because each side feels it must respond to a show of force by the other. Sending arms into the ongoing conflict is the wrong direction for Canada to take, she argued.

Canadas decisions to ship arms into conflict zones have met with mixed results. The government approved the export of Canadian-made rifles to Kurdish forces fighting ISIL, but those weapons have since been turning up on the black market. Earlier this year, Turkish commandos battled terrorists in that country, recovering one of the Canadian rifles.

Read the original text at National Post.
The militants opened fire 14 times in Donbas during the day on Monday, August 13. Heavy weapons were used five times. One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded as a result of the hostilities. The press office of JFO reports on their page on Facebook.

In particular, the usage of mortars, heavy machine guns and small arms was recorded in the areas of Krymske, Novotraitske, Bohdanivka, Troitske, Novozvanivka, Novoluhanske, Lebedynske and Hnutove.

Along with this, the enemy shelled the defenders of Novotoshkivske from 122mm artillery systems, defenders of Troitske and Novozvanivka from 82mm mortars, and the positions near Bohdanivka from 120mm mortars. Also, the enemy used ICV weapons and anti-tank missile systems in different directions, reads the message.

As a result of the hostilities, one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded.

Ukraine news on 112.international
It took place when the OSCE patrol drove to the logistics complex at the suburb of Smile village

An armed militant targeted the OSCE patrol from the AK-47 at the western suburb of Smile village uncontrolled by Ukraine as it is stated in the report of the OSCE SMM.

It is reported that five members of the mission came to the logistics complex in the suburb of Smile where they saw two trucks (Kamaz) and 15 men, seven of them had weapons, AK-47. Two representatives of the mission left the cars to meet the representatives of the armed formation.

" When the two SMM patrol members were passing the other stationary truck, on their way to the gate, one of the men (in his forties) positioned himself next to that truck, about four metres from the SMM vehicles, and disengaged the safety of the rifle (AK-variant) he was holding close to his body at a waist level," the message said.

According to the report, a man observed the vehicles of the SMM representatives as long as they were near the logistics complex.

"At 11:03, when the SMM was leaving the area, it saw the man dropping on his knee and pointing the rifle towards the departing SMM vehicles. At that time the vehicles were approximately five metres from him," the SMM added.

The mission's patrol safely returned to the base in Luhansk.

As we reported the explosion took place from a distance less than 300 meters from the OSCE SMM observers not far from Petrovske, Luhansk region.

Also, the OSCE SMM in Donbas reported an attack on their observers in Donetsk region. No casualties were reported. According to the OSCE, the fire was opened from the residential quarters in Horlivka, Donetsk region.
As a result of the attack, residential and livelihood structures were destroyed

The militants attacked residential areas in Pivdenne, Donetsk region, as the message of the Joint Center on Control and Coordination of ceasefire and stabilization of the demarcation line says.

The militants used Minsk-banned weapons. According to the representatives of the centre, the attack on Pivdenne was carried out from 8:45 pm till 10:00 pm on August 12, using 120-mm mortars and SPG-9 rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

As a result of the attack, residential and livelihood structures were destroyed. The well-timed actions of Ukraines Armed Forces military prevented casualties among the civilians, who were evacuated, the message says.

Military Prosecution and OSCE SMM representatives were immediately informed about the attack.

Earlier, over the past 24 hours, on August 12, the militants performed 57 attacks at the positions of the Joint Forces Operation, as a result  two soldiers were wounded.
AFP

The European Union decided to increase assistance to Ukraine on the basis of the results achieved in the reform of public administration in 2017. This was reported by the press office of the EU representation in Ukraine.



Based on the results achieved by Ukraine in reforming public administration in 2017, the EU decided to increase assistance to Ukraine in this important area of public policy.



"15.5 million euros out of the total amount of 90 million that constitute the EU commitment to support this reform was agreed for transfer to the state budget of Ukraine for 2018. This is the second payment after the first tranche of 10 million euros that was granted in May 2017, "- stated in the message.



We recall that Ukraine has committed to implement a comprehensive reform of public administration. In 2016, the new law "On Public Service" came into force and the Strategy for Reforming the Public Administration of Ukraine for 2016-2020 was adopted.



In order to implement this key reform, the EU approved a special assistance program amounting to 104 million euros, which provides 90 million euros for budget support and 14 million euros for technical assistance, which is used to provide advisory services to government bodies involved in implementing the reform.



According to the results of the analysis of the Report on Ukraine's reform implementation in 2017, the EU decided to allocate 15.5 million euros of budgetary support.

Related: Russia "annulled" Ukrainian licenses for use of subsoil in Crimea
From now on, a family farm corporation may be created without the need to set up a business

Open source

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed the law on stimulating the creation and operation of family farm corporations. The press service of the President has informed about this, 112.ua reports.

The law will grant an official status to farmers working on their own land, which would allow them to sell their products to get protection from the state and to get retirement payments.

The changes entail the application of the fourth group of self-employed taxpayer deduction to those entrepreneurs who have set up a farm, given that all other criteria are in accordance and the peculiarities of their state registration are set up, - the message reads. The document enables the creation of a family farm corporation without a business status on the basis of an agreement/declaration of intent to create such a corporation.

The document also includes a provision on the setting of a state assistance in payment of the unified social tax (from 10% to 90% of the minimum social contribution) for each of the members of the family farm corporation for 10 years. The payments will occur against the funds from the state budget of Ukraine through the mechanism of an extra payment of the unified social tax to the benefit of the insured employees of the family farm corporation.

The signed document amends the Tax Code of Ukraine and the laws "On farming corporations, On the state support for agricultural corporations of Ukraine, On the collection and registration of the unified social tax for mandatory social insurance, On the state registration of businesses, self-employed entrepreneurs and civil organizations.

In June of this year, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted law #6490 on the stimulation of the creation and operation of family farm corporations. The law was backed by 229 lawmakers.
The mission will discuss the following steps including the financial support

Open source

International Monetary Fund (IMF) is visiting Kyiv from September 6 through 19, 2018, to discuss the latest economic developments and economic policy and the following steps, including financial aid. Goesta Ljungman, Permanent Representative of IMF in Ukraine claimed this, according to the press office of the Fund.

At the request of the Ukrainian authorities, the IMF mission will visit Kyiv from September 6 through 19, 2018, to discuss the latest economic developments and economic policy. The mission will also discuss the following steps including financial aid of IMF for policy support, aimed at the maintaining of macroeconomic stability and economic development towards sustainable and inclusive growth, Ljungman claimed.

Ukraine cooperates with the IMF since 1992. Kyiv got nine tranches during this time.

Ukraine partially repaid the IMF under the stand-by program of 2014. Kyiv repaid two tranches - $37 billion and $87 billion.

The loan program for Ukraine in the amount of $17,01 billion was approved by the IMF at the end of April 2014. The first tranche of the stand-by loan in the amount of $3,19 billion was sent to Ukraine at the beginning of May.

The IMF Board of Directors approved the allocation of $17,5 billion for Ukraine in March 2015 by the EFF (Extended Fund Facility) four-year program instead of the stand-by program.

The stand-by program was replaced by the scheme of extended funding due to the long-term need of Ukraines pay balance.

Ukraine received the first $5 billion tranche under this program in March of 2015, the second one  $1,7 billion in August of 2015, the third one - $1 billion in September of 2016, and the fourth one - $1 billion in April of 2017.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Germany for negotiations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on August 18, Interfax reports with a reference to Dmitriy Peskov, Spokesperson of the Russian President.

Earlier, on Monday, Dmitriy Peskov, Spokesperson of the Russian President stated on the international travel of Putin at the end of the week. Although he didnt specify the country, the President is going to visit.

In his turn, Steffen Seibert, Official Representative of the Cabinet of Minister of Germany claimed the reporters that Merkel will have Putin at Meseberg Government Residency on August 18.

According to Seibert, the sides will discuss the relevant issues of foreign policy, including the resolution of Syrian problems, the situation in the east of Ukraine and issues in the energy realm.

Reportedly, leaders of the USA and Russia met at the presidential palace in Helsinki today on July 16. Putin claimed that he had regularly had conversations with Trump over the last months via a telephone and at the international events; however, it is time to clearly talk about the bilateral relations and the main problems in the world.

Trump claimed that together with the Russian leader they were going to discuss trade, commerce and military issues related to nuclear capabilities. Our countries have a chance to significantly better the relations, he said.
According to a new Russian law, all Ukrainian licenses issued before the occupation of Crimea are invalid

The law, according to which, the Ukrainian license for the use of the subsoil in occupied Crimea are annulled and a new order of their registration is implemented, has come into force in Russia. The proper law was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 3 as TASS reported.

The right for the use of the areas of the subsoil in the Black and Azov Seas will be provided according to the decision of Russia made in the result of the auction.

According to a new law, all Ukrainian licenses issued before the occupation of Crimea are invalid.

"Now the Russian government will make a decision on the holding of the auctions on every area of the subsoil at the shelf of the Azov and Black Seas, on the establishment of the order and conditions of their holding, their composition and order of the work of the auction commissions," the message said.

Before this law came into force, the law for the use of the subsoil was provided without the holding of the auction on the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on the base of the request of the user.

Ukrainian Minister of Ecology Ostap Semerak claimed to 112 Ukraine that the state license 131 for the use of the subsoil acts in Crimea.

"When we talk about the special permission or as people usually call them "licenses" for the use of the subsoil, I would like to tell that state license 131 acts in Crimea, there are seven licenses in the Azov Sea and 16 in the Black Sea. Today, it is hard to understand how much these licenses in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas are under the Russian authority, but anyway, it is the illegal seizure of Ukraine's property," Semerak noted.

He also said about the plans of the Ukrainian authority toward this situation.

"The strategy that we stick to and that we implement  it will be implemented. You know, that there are the lawsuits of Ukraine to the international tribunals and there are the lawsuits of the Ukrainian companies, such as "Naftogaz" to Russia for the recovery of the losses," he added.

In September 2016, Ukraine initiated the arbitrary criminal proceeding against Russia to defend its rights for the zones in the Black and Azov Seas, the Kerch Strait near annexed Crimea.
The act authorizes $500 million for the co-development and co-production of missile defense systems in Israel

The US President Donald Trump signed the act which provides expenses on national defence in the amount of $716 billion, as the press office of the White House reports.

The NDAA helps develop a more lethal and resilient force, and grows the size of our forces by authorizing an increase of 15,600 troops across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the message says.

Moreover, the act provides allocation for Ukraine in the amount of $250 million for the defence sector.

Earlier, the US State Department decided to sell Javelin anti-tank weapon launchers to Ukraine.

As it was reported earlier, the Presidents of the US and France Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron discussed trade and security issues on phone.

Reportedly, the ministers of foreign affairs of the USA and Russia Mike Pompeo and Sergey Lavrov talked on the phone. They discussed new sanctions against Russia, the situation in Syria and the number of other issues.

Earlier, American President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Helsinki and had been talking one-on-one for more than one hour.

The meeting was criticized by mass media and politics. They called Trump Putins poodle and traitor, and the meeting as a whole was a "shame."

Yet in May, Trump stated on the exit from Iranian deal and resume of the sanctions against Tehran.

JCPOA or Iranian Nuclear Agreement was signed between the USA, the UK, France, China, Russia, Germany, and Iran in 2015. The agreement provided the cancel of sanctions against Tehran in exchange for Iran's denial from the nuclear weapon programs.
A new lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Russia due to the violations of the Ukrainian political prisoners has reduced the chances of the Russian delegation to return to PACE, as Pavlo Petrenko, the Justice Minister, said on air 112 Ukraine.

I think that the Russian delegation can return to PACE only when the demands set by the Ukrainian delegation are fulfilled. It means, they have to meet the requirements on the release of the political prisoners, on termination of aggression, fulfilment of Minsk Agreements on Donbas, on returning Crimea. From the viewpoint of the international law, the Russian delegation does not have chances to return for now. Moreover, our last statement on the political prisoners, Ukraines lawsuit, a set list of the political prisoners which might be extended, Petrenko stated.

As we reported Ukraine has filed six lawsuits against Russia to the European Court of Human Rights. The previous appeals concern the events connected with Crimeas annexation, mass violations of Ukrainians rights (kidnapping, murder, imprisonment, property rights violation, violations of rights to a fair trial). Moreover, the lawsuits are also about the events in Donbas during the battle actions and mass violation of human rights by the Russian Federation.
Open source

The US President Donald Trump froze cooperation with Russia within the Treaty on Open Skies which allowed Russian and American combat aircraft to conduct observation flights on the territory of both states, as the 1242 article of the US defence budget says, adopted by the Congress and signed by the American leader.

The US does not intend to fund this program until the President provides the Congress with the evidence that Russia started fulfilling the conditions of the agreement. Washington assigned responsibility for the freezing of the program on Moscow.

At the same time, the US officials think that Russia should stop using the data received during the observation flights for surveillance purposes and report on the aim of the coming flights.

The Russian Federation is allowing observation flights by covered state parties over all of Moscow, Chechnya, Kaliningrad, and within 10 kilometers of its border with Georgias occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia without restriction and without inconsistency to requirements under the Treaty, the Act says.

The representatives of 23 OSCE member states signed the Treaty on Open Skies on March 24, 1992 in Helsinki. Moscow ratified the document in May 2001. According to the agreement, the states-signatories can conduct flights on the territories of one another to make sure that another state is not preparing to war and does not violate international agreements.

In August 2017, Russian combat aircraft conducted an observation flight over the White House, US Congress buildings, CIA headquarters and Pentagon, which caused a broad resonance.
112 Agency

The first trailer of the film 'Donbas' by Serhiy Loznitsa was introduced. It tells a story about people living in the zone of armed conflict in the east of Ukraine. The video appeared on the Facebook page of ATOMS & VOID, who were involved in creating it.



The film consists of 13 intertwining plots, which demonstrate different spheres of life in the occupied territories. The tape shows how militants take away a car from a local businessman, immigrants huddle in the basement, an official steals property in a hospital and journalist shoot fake news for television. Loznitsa wrote a screenplay of the film based on the documentary clips laid out by eyewitnesses on the Internet.



Explaining the idea of his tape, the director emphasized: "Donbas is not a region, but a concept, and this became possible because criminal relations there are the basis of life, and many people living there have no ground under their feet."



The tape was awarded the director's prize of the "Special View" program of the Cannes Film Festival. Also, the film was shown in the framework of the Munich and Odesa film forums. The Ukrainian film will be released on October 18.



As previously reported, the new documentary of Loznica "The Process" will be shown at the Venice Film Festival, which starts on August 29.

Related: Day in Donbas: 15 attacks of pro-Russian militants during the day, Ukrainian soldier injured
112 Agency

In Boryspil, Kyiv region, two employees of Kyivoblenergo company suffered from the collapse of the ground surface during the repair work. This was reported by the State Emergency Service in the region.



So, on August 13, the operative service of the Borispol district received a message that during the execution of repair works by employees of Kyivoblenergo in the city of Boryspil there was a shift of the soil shaft. Two workers were under the ground.

Rescuers of the 23rd brigade of Boryspil were urgently sent to the site. Employees of the State Emergency Service immediately began to dig out the victims with a trench tool.



One man born in 1991 was rescued and raised to the surface. e got injuries and was handed over to medicine of catastrophes workers. The second worker, born in 1974, unfortunately died.

Earlier we reported that PAO DTEK Dniprooblenergo experienced a 13.5-fold (or by $16.5 million) compared to the 2016 results  to $1.32 million, according to the information from the agenda of the meeting of the shareholders, assigned for 19 April, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

According to the document, the shareholders are going to leave the net profit for the previous year undistributed and to not pay out dividends.

In 2016, DTEK Dniprooblenergo acquired a net profit amounting to $17.8 million against the net loss of $21.8 million sustained over 2015. The energy companys net revenue grew by 25.6% (or by $215.8 million)  to $1.1 billion, whereas the companys gross revenue climbed by 21.2% (or by $3.85 million), to $21.8 million.

76.66% of the enterprises shares are controlled by System Capital Management, a company that belongs to the Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov, while 15.89% are owned by the Cyprus-based Larva Investments Limited.

DTEK Dniprooblenergo is Ukraines largest utility company in terms of the power transported and delivered. DTEK Dniprooblenergo operates 49.7 thousand kilometers of distributing circuits across Dnipro region.

Related: Ukrainian hanged himself in Polish hospital, - media
Russians Alexander Sattarov and Farukh Kamalov who were arrested in Ukraine, asked the Russian authorities to exchange them for Ukrainian political prisoners.

"During today's monitoring visit to Lukyanovska prison I met with Alexander Sattarov and Farukh Kamalov who wrote a statement addressed to the president of the Russian Federation with a request to return them to the territory of Russia by exchanging for one of the Ukrainian political prisoners

, "she wrote.





According to Denisova, these letters will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, so that the employees of the department will deliver them to the Administration of the President of Russia.




Open source

A 59-year-old Ukrainian hanged himself in the city hospital in Olsztyn, in the Warmian-Mazury Voivodeship in Poland. This is written by the Polish Gazeta Olsztynska.



According to media reports, a citizen of Ukraine replaced his brother at work in the field. On this day, an accident occurred, and he was seriously injured. Ukrainian was hospitalized, spent several days in the hospital room, and then hanged himself.



"At the medical institution, he realized that he does not have medical insurance, which means that the treatment will be expensive, and he can be deported to Ukraine (due to lack of insurance, - Ed.)," the newspaper writes.



It is noted that the local prosecutor's office is studying the circumstances of the case. The police interrogated the hospital staff, none of the medical personnel knows what could have caused the suicide.

Earlier the adviser to Kherson city mayor Kateryna Handzyuk was attacked in the city on July 31. This was reported by the journalist of Most agency Serhiy Nikitenko on Facebook page.

"Kateryna Handzyuk was attacked this morning in Kherson. The man was waiting at the entrance and splashed acid at Kateryna. She has serious burns. She is in the hospital now, no details are available yet," Nikitenko wrote.

Meanwhile, Kherson police asked citizens to help identify the attacker and guarantee confidentiality.

"The police appeal to all citizens who could see a man in Kherson city Tavriysky neighbourhood on 49 Guards Division Street in the morning at about 8:30. The man splashed an unknown substance at womans face. The attacker was wearing a dark T-shirt, a dark cap, brown shorts and dark shoes, "the message said.

As it was reported earlier, a journalist Serhiy Nikitenko was beaten up next to a parking lot in Kherson region. Reportedly, the journalist was beaten up on May 26. The incident took place at the Svobody square downtown after the meeting organized to demand the release of Nadiya Savchenko.

'The perpetrators are two bearded men who were waiting for me at the parking lot. After the incident, they drove away on the car with a transit license plate. Police has the whole information. They were beating me up silently. I connect the incident solely with my job. I am always ready for this kind of situations. I saved myself by drawing knees up to my chest,' Nikitenko wrote in Facebook.

Related: Red Cross plans humanitarian projects in Donetsk regions Bakhmut hospital, checkpoint
These missiles are actively used at the frontline and are popular abroad

Ukraines Defense Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov believes that Ukrainian missiles produced at the State Kyiv Design Bureau Luch are better than the analogue weapon of Russian Federation. Turchynov stated this during his visit to the enterprise, as Ukraines Security and Defense Council press service reports.

For us, it is crucial that Luch missiles do not only equal the same weapon of Russian production, but also surpass it in combat capability, he said.

According to him, Kyiv Design Bureau Luch has become a leading developer of a wide range of modern missile systems in Ukraine.

"In Ukraine and far beyond its borders the powerful and reliable anti-tank missile complexes like Skif, Stugna, Corsar, Sarmat, Barer and others are well known," Turchynov noted.

The Secretary said that these missiles are effectively used at the frontline, striking precisely the armored enemy equipment, and "can break through meter-thick armor, overcoming modern security."

In addition, he stressed that the missiles of Luch enterprise have respect and demand on foreign armament markets. According to Turchynov, many missile systems were developed as soon as the Russian military aggression started in 2014, in particular on Luch enterprise.

Then, the Ukroboronoprom had the task to restore the missile shield of our country, which was executed as soon as possible, first of all by the efforts of Luch, Turchynov said.

The Secretary also held a meeting with the leadership of Ukroboronoprom and Luch, where, among other things, they discussed the issue of new developments of missile propulsion systems, anti-aircraft missile systems and other priority tasks necessary for solid protection of the country.

As it was reported earlier, state defense enterprise Ukroboronprom tested a renewed Ukrainian tank -72 . It is a modernized -72 series. The tank is testing all the shelling modes with different rounds, including the anti-tank guided missile Kombat. According to the developers, due to the high-accuracy weapon, it is possible to destroy the enemy armored vehicles at the distance of up to 5 km.

The shooting range of a modernized tank is twice as much as that of the previous model. The Kombat missile could pierce 750 (seven hundred fifty) millimeters of armor. The tank is also equipped with two digital radiosets with protected communication lines and modern satellite navigation means.
The National Bank called this a step for the reduction of the ambiguity toward the further development of the situation in the economy

Yakiv Smoliy, Acting Head of National Bank of Ukraine rian.com

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) commented the visit of the mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Kyiv in September and called this step an evidence of the improvement of prospects of the allocation of financial aid as the NBU press service reported.

"The National Bank of Ukraine welcomes the visit of the International Monetary Fund mission to Kyiv planned for the beginning of September as the evidence of the unchangeable policy of Ukraine for the holding of the reforms and improving of the prospects of the financial aid allocation for the support of the macro-economy stability and opening of the access to the tied official funding from other international partners," the message said.

NBU Chairman Yakiv Smoly called the arrival of the IMF mission in Kyiv a step for the reduction of the ambiguity toward the further development of the situation in the economy.

As we reported the mission of the IMF will visit Kyiv on September 6-19.

Earlier Fitch Rating reported that the program of the IMF on the support of Ukraine is a key factor of the creditworthiness as it mitigates law outside liquidity and reduces the risks of the refinancing.
Open source

A man was detained in Luhansk region as he ripped the Ukrainian flag from the prosecutor's office right after the earnings in the Russian Federation as the press service of Luhansk region prosecutor's office reported.

It is established that drunken local citizen ripped the state flag from the building of the Markiv department of Starobilsk prosecutor's office by damaging the flagpole.

At the moment, the procedural guide in the criminal proceeding due to the desecration of the flag takes place. The perpetrator is detained; he served charges in the mentioned crime.

The law enforcers established that a man recently returned from the earnings in Russia and under the influence of the Russian propaganda he decided to commit the desecration of the state flag of Ukraine.

At the moment, a man is put under the house arrest. The investigation continues.

The sanctions for him provide the fine in the sum of 50 untaxed minimum incomes of the citizens or arrest up to six months or imprisonment up to three years.

As we reported Ukraine's SBU, the state security service, managed to return another citizen from the captivity of pro-Russian militants in Donbas. This time, they brought home a student who hoisted the national flag of Ukraine over a school.
A hybrid form of yoga that combines traditional yoga postures with modern yoga moves and a silk hammock. Pre-registration required.

Please note: Aerial Yoga at the Yoga Art Space studio requires pre-registration through our website at www.YogaArtSpace.com/calendar. If no one registers for a class, the class may be cancelled between 6-12 hours prior to the class start time. Though this event is shown as a regular, weekly class each week on the Alabi calendar, there are occasionally times when the class will be cancelled in advance such as for certain holidays. All updates and cancellations are on the studio calendar at www.YogaArtSpace.com/calendar.

What is Aerial yoga?

Aerial Yoga is a hybrid form of yoga that combines traditional yoga postures infused with modern yoga moves and an silk fabric hammock.

Do I need Previous Yoga Experience?

No previous yoga experience is not necessary to enjoy an Aerial yoga class. In fact it can be easier than normal yoga! The silk hammock acts like a support whenever you require it, almost like having your own personal yoga teacher giving you assistance throughout the entire yoga class! Another advantage of having the support of the hammock is that 90% of students are able to complete more challenging poses, such as handstands!

Can Everybody do Aerial Yoga?

Yes and no. Students who have had a previous injury can find Aerial yoga much easier to participate in then normal yoga. This is due to the the weight being evenly distributed between your body, the hammock and the earth.

People who suffer any of following contraindications are advised NOT to participate in an Aerial yoga class: if you have had recent surgery of any sort, if you suffer glaucoma, if you are pregnant, if you suffer a heart condition (including very high or low blow pressure), if you get vertigo, if you have had a recent stroke or a hernia, if you have osteoporosis or any bone weakness, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome, or if you have had botox in the last six hours.

What Should I Wear?

All jewellery items must be removed before participating, a t-shirt must be worn to cover the armpit area and leggings are advised to avoid the silk rubbing on the skin and creating irritation. Please have clean feet or, alternatively, bring a pair of socks with you.
Bringing together more than 65 knowledgeable experts in American Indian art and thousands of select historic art objects from indigenous cultures throughout the US and Canada.

The Antique American Indian Art Show Santa Fe, the most anticipated show and sale of historic Indian art of the summer season, returns August 14-17, 2018. It brings together more than 65 of the worlds most knowledgeable experts in American Indian art, and thousands of select historic art objects from indigenous cultures throughout the United States and Canada. Now in its fifth year, it is the largest show of its kind in the world. Set in Santa Fe, the Southwest heartland of American Indian art and culture, the Antique American Indian Art Show follows the citys centuries-old tradition of trade in Native art, offering authentic, original, high-quality examples by Southwestern pueblos and tribes. At the same time, the show reaches far beyond the Southwest to represent the cultural and geographical diversity of indigenous peoples throughout the U.S. and Canada. From the Navajo Nation to the Great Plains to the Eastern Woodlands and Northwest Coast, the shows selection of indigenous artworks is unparalleled. The four-day event will take place Tuesday through Friday at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe in the Santa Fe Railyard. The festivities kick off on Tuesday evening, August 14, with an opening party from 6 to 9 PM to benefit KNME New Mexico PBS. The show continues from 11 a.m. to 5 PM. Wednesday through Friday, August 15-17. Admission includes a special viewing of Germantown Weaving: First Modern Art -1870-1900. A stunning group of Navajo Germantown weavings, this extraordinary collection is one of the largest and rarest in the world. The exhibition will include a variety of brilliantly colored, meticulously designed weavings made from 1870 to 1900. Puchase tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/objects-of-art-shows-1268462515
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Tragic news of a bridge collapse arrived this morning from Genoa, Italy: at least 20 were killed when an 80-metre section of the Polcevera Bridge on the A10 motorway came down during a storm. While the exact causes have still to be ascertained, the collapse is probably to be attributed to a system patented by engineer Riccardo Morandi.

Born in Rome in 1902, Morandi founded his own office when he was in his late twenties and started working closely with construction companies. Fascinated by the technology of concreting, he focused his career on concrete cable-stayed bridges.

The concrete stays of cable strayed bridges consist of pre-stressing tendons cast into a beam as thick concrete cover for corrosion protection. The stays are then post-tensioned so that they remain in compression.

The tie sections of Morandi's bridges were his trademark: though complicated, the ties behaved like a system made of tendons that worked in tension, and of a prestressed concrete case that worked instead in decompression under the traffic load.

Morandi taught bridge construction in Florence and in Rome between the late '50s and the early '70s. His name is linked with famous bridges in Maracaibo, Magliana, Polcevera, Wadi Kuf, Rio Magdalena and Carpineto, structures filed under the "brutalism" category that won him comparisons with works by Pier Luigi Nervi or Sergio Musmeci.

Built between 1960-64 and put in service in September 1967, the Polcevera bridge connected the A7 Genoa-Serravalle highway to the A10 Genoa-Ventimiglia highway, running over shopping centres, factories and homes.

It was a difficult construction that required long studies on proportions: three A-shaped frames characterised the main part of the bridge that featured supporting decks connected by suspended girders. The long decks were suspended to prestressed concrete ties at a distance of 10 metres from the ends of the girders. The Polcevera bridge was similar in its structure to the Maracaibo, Wadi Kuf and Rio Magdalena bridges. When it was finished the 90 metre high and 1km long Polcevera bridge was considered as a new and experimental design, but time wasn't kind on the system behind it.

Indeed, twenty-five years after it was opened (a relatively short span of time for a bridge) the system had to be serviced as the ties showed corrosion traces and there were minor damages around the tendons. Morandi's aide at the time of building Polcevera, Francesco Pisani, carried out the recovery program in the '90s and planned the repairing intervention phases. Each tie was flanked with a set of 12 modern cables so that the suspension action was transferred from the ties to the stays. The original design behaviour of the bridge was maintained avoiding changes in the deflection and flexural behaviour of the deck.

Prestressed concrete ties are not considered safe solutions in our modern days as the tie suspension action is entrusted to a limited number of elements, the structure is not so robust and the maintenance actions difficult. Nowadays bridges are therefore built with a great number of stays so that when one stays fauls the other suspension elements guarantee the maintenance operations to the cables and make the substitution operation easier.

In the case of the Polcevera bridge there was something else to consider: the structure went through a series of restructuring stages in recent years, but Italian engineer Antonio Brencich, Associate Professor in Concrete Structures at the Genoa University, already stated two years ago in an article on an engineering magazine that the precompression system patented by Morandi was a failure (also the Maracaibo bridge fell, but, in that case, it was hit by an oil tanker in 1964) and that the Polcevera bridge was in a critical condition due to corrosion. It was disappointing to discover that design-wise the system was not as reliable as it was supposed to be, but it was extremely sad to realise that a tragedy may have been avoided if the authorities had taken into consideration the opinion of an expert and if a few political parties (some of them leading the Italian government at the moment) hadn't considered the possibility of the bridge collapsing as an alarming but improbable silly story.

To ponder a bit more about the main theme of this post - brutalism that turns brutal - we're closing this piece with a special playlist inspired by brutalist architecture. Hopefully, it will make some of us stop and think about our cities and the way we interact with the urban environments surrounding us.
Islamabad, August 14: Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday said that the Pakistani people remember the people of Kashmir and their historic sacrifices as they celebrate their 72nd Independence Day.

In his address at the Convention Centre in Islamabad, President Mamnoon congratulated the nation on what he said was the day of true celebration.

Pakistan will continue to provide its political and moral support to resolve the Kashmir issue under United Nations resolutions, Mamnoon Hussain said.

He called upon the international community to raise its voice to get the Kashmiri people their due rights.
Srinagar, Aug 14: Three non-local youth were thrashed Tuesday by people at Lal Chowk after they tried to hoist Indian flag (tricolor) on historic Ghanta Ghar.

Eyewitness said that three non-local youth attempted to unfurl Indian flag on Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) in city center.

Trio were severely thrashed by the people. However, CRPF came to their rescue, witnesses said.

Reports said after the incident, people raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.

A police official at Kothibagh Police Station confirmed reporters that they have rescued three non-local youth from Lal Chowk.

A witness said that some political parties are using Kashmir for political gains. Non-locals dont know anything about Kashmir. The right wing political parties befool people of India and are spreading hatred against Kashmir. Kashmir is a disputed region that needs to be addressed, he said and alleged that fanatic political parties are hell-bent to disturb peace in Valley.

Meanwhile, Indian police issued a statement on Tuesday evening that read: Today afternoon few persons came to Ghanta Ghar in connection with some political activity.

Some miscreants assembled at the scene and created disturbances by criminally intimidating them.

Police Station Maisuma has taken cognizance by registering FIR No 27/2018 under section 341,506 and 323 RPC and investigation has been initiated in the instant matter.

-With inputs from CNS
26 banda enforces held from across the country

At least 26 cadres of NetraBikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) were arrested for enforcing banda from various parts of the country on Tuesday.
Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Las autoridades y la poblacion sabiendo que habia corrupcion la han tolerado. Pero ahora estamos reaccionando. Es el momento para actuar con fuerza y firmeza contra la corrupcion y desterrarla. #AniversarioArequipa pic.twitter.com/hfYL2XWMDZ
When shocking footage across five separate live sheep export shipments was released to the media back in April, it rocked the nation. Yet the live export industry has regularly attempted to both play down the concerns of rural Australians  and dismiss the response of those living in cities.

Positioning the live export issue as a "city/country divide" is insulting to the vast majority of concerned Australians and shows that live export advocates are still in denial about the very real problems in their industry. Dr. Bidda Jones, RSPCA Australia Chief Scientist

Independent polling commissioned by the RSPCA has shown that, in reality, Australians in all areas are incredibly concerned about sheep export cruelty and wish to see it end.

The poll even found that at almost 95%, more people in rural and country towns than anywhere else are concerned over the inadequacy of current standards in the live sheep trade.

In addition, almost 7 out of 10 Australians in rural areas said they want to end live exports  in line with national figures showing that around 3/4 of Australians want to see the trade phased out.

In Western Australia (where most sheep are sourced and shipped into the live export trade), there was no change in support  with again almost 7 in 10 people opposing live sheep export. And in South Australia  home to another live export port  opposition to the trade was stronger than anywhere else in the country. Four in five South Australians noted their opposition to the cruel industry.

Since footage of shocking sheep export cruelty first aired, farmers and other people living in rural Australia have spoken out online in condemnation. Many concerned farmers have stated that they no longer wish to support the live trade and are exploring alternatives.

Farmers will suffer if industry leaders fail to see the writing on the wall and continue to pour resources into defending this already-dying trade instead of preparing for its inevitable end. Dr. Bidda Jones, RSPCA Australia Chief Scientist

A Bill to phase out live sheep exports is due to be debated by politicians shortly, and every single email, phone call and meeting with MPs is now critical in deciding the future of the trade.

Click here to send an important message to your MP, asking that they support an end to live sheep export cruelty.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. White House national security advisor John Bolton met with Turkish ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Kilic on August 13, Reuters reported.

The meeting was held by Ankaras initiative, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said, adding that the officials discussed Turkeys continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson and the state of the U.S.-Turkey relationship.

Relations between NATO allies Turkey and the United States are at a low point, hurt by Brunsons detention, as well as diverging interests in Syria. Trump doubled tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports last week, contributing to a precipitous fall in the lira.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian side has told the Azerbaijani side through public and other channels that the repositioning attempts in the direction of Nakhijevan are unacceptable and will be prevented by all possible means, Armenian foreign ministrys acting spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan told reporters at a briefing on August 14, in response to the question concerning the current situation in the direction of Nakhijevan, Armenpress reports.

The Armenian defense ministry issued a respective statement over the situation in the direction of Nakhijevan: the Armenian Armed Forces fully control the situation here. But as for the repositioning cases, we have told the Azerbaijani side through public and other channels that such repositioning attempts are unacceptable for the Armenian side and will be prevented by all means, she said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
APF officer Thaman BK murder: Jaleshwor Mayor, RJPN Gen Secy released on general date

Two absconding men accused in the murder of Armed Police Force (APF) Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Thaman BK turned themselves in before the District Court Mahottari on Tuesday before they were freed on general date
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Anna Naghdalyan, Armenian foreign ministrys acting spokesperson, commented on the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea and its impact on Armenia, reports Armenpress.

During todays press briefing, Anna Naghdalyan said this Convention refers to the five Caspian states.

We do not have much to comment here. But we are following all the processes that can directly or indirectly impact Armenia, she said.

Asked what influence the signing of the Convention can have on Armenia, the MFA acting spokeswoman said Armenia follows the developments and will draw respective conclusions based on them.

The presidents of the five Caspian states (Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan) singed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea at the Fifth Caspian summit held in Kazakhstans city of Aktau.



Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenias State Service for Food Safety denies the media reports according to which watermelons of Azerbaijani origin have been imported to Armenia, reports Armenpress.

Media outlets reported that during these days large quantity of watermelons have appeared in Armenias agricultural market, which maybe are of Azerbaijani origin.

We would like to inform that watermelons have been imported to Armenia in July-August exclusively from Georgia and Russia, a total of 1327 tons, 781 tons of which has been imported only during the past week.

The documents for the watermelons imported from the two countries prove that they have Russian and Georgian origins, the State Service for Food Safety said in a statement, calling on not to spread information that has nothing to do with the reality.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. A group of citizens are protesting against the courts decision to release 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, reports Armenpress.

On August 14 the protesters entered the hall in Yerevans Erebuni Plaza hotel where the 2nd President is expected to hold a press conference.

Robert Kocharyan has been charged on July 26 over the 2008 March 1 case, under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. He has been remanded into custody. His attorneys appealed the court ruling. On August 13 the Court of Appeals approved the attorneys appeal, and Robert Kocharyan has been released.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. The press conference of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, scheduled today, was cancelled, reports Armenpress.

Before the launch of the press conference, a group of citizens were protesting against the courts decision to release Robert Kocharyan from custody.

The protesters entered the hall in Yerevans Erebuni Plaza hotel where the 2nd President was expected to hold a press conference.

After several minutes staying at the hall, the protest participants said they wanted to cancel the press conference and they succeeded. They left the hall and made a decision to walk to the prosecutor generals office.

Robert Kocharyan has been charged on July 26 over the 2008 March 1 case, under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. He has been remanded into custody. His attorneys appealed the court ruling. On August 13 the Court of Appeals approved the attorneys appeal, and Robert Kocharyan has been released.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. After receiving the ruling of the Court of Appeals to eliminate the detention of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, the Prosecutor Generals Office will submit an appeal in accordance with it, Vahagn Muradyan, an official of the Prosecutor Generals Office, told the citizens protesting outside the Office, reports Armenpress.

We have already issued a statement that we have not received the decision of the Court of Appeals yet. We will receive that decision in one-two days, will discuss it and will submit an appeal in accordance with the issues mentioned in the decision, Muradyan said.

He added that the Prosecutor Generals Office has expressed its position in the Court of Appeals, and after receiving the decision they will submit an appeal in accordance with it.

Asked whether the Prosecutor Generals Office plans to submit an appeal to the Court of Cassation, Muradyan said yes, but added that they need to get acquainted with it so that to make the appeal in line with it.

He refused to comment on the statement of the Special Investigation Service according to which the Court of Appeals decision to release 2nd President Robert Kocharyan is illegal.

Robert Kocharyan has been charged on July 26 over the 2008 March 1 case, under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. He has been remanded into custody. His attorneys appealed the court ruling. On August 13 the Court of Appeals approved the attorneys appeal, and Robert Kocharyan has been released.

Kocharyan was scheduled to hold a press conference on August 14, but a group of citizens were protesting again the courts decision, they entered the press conference hall, as a result of which the press conference was cancelled.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will present his views on the most relevant political issues through a new press conference or an interview, reports Armenpress.

His Office issued a statement over the incident happened today as a result of which the 2nd Presidents press conference was cancelled.

The statement says during the press conference scheduled on August 14 it was expected that key important statements would be made and answers to many questions would be provided. The 2nd Presidents Office assessed todays incident as a minor hooliganism, adding that there is no need to pay much attention to that.

Robert Kocharyan was expected to hold a press conference on August 14, but before the launch of the press conference, a group of citizens were protesting against the courts decision to release him from custody. The protesters entered the hall where the 2nd President was expected to hold a press conference. After several minutes staying at the hall, the protest participants said they wanted to cancel the press conference and they succeeded.

Robert Kocharyan has been charged on July 26 over the 2008 March 1 case, under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. He has been remanded into custody. His attorneys appealed the court ruling. On August 13 the Court of Appeals approved the attorneys appeal, and Robert Kocharyan has been released.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Deputy prime minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan introduced new head of the Real Estate Cadastre Committee Sarhat Petrosyan to the Committee staff, the Committee told Armenpress.

In his remarks the deputy PM said the reforms conducted in the system in previous years were really significant, and expressed confidence that the professional skills and efforts of the new head will definitely double the achievements recorded in the field. Tigran Avinyan said works need to be carried out for the creation of single cadastre system in this era of digitization, the vision of which has been discussed with the new head.

In his turn Sarhat Petrosyan welcomed and thanked the meeting participants, stating that its a great honor for him to head this structure, as well as be a part of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans government. He expressed hope that his team will be able to solve its tasks with dignity.

At the end of the meeting deputy PM Avinyan thanked acting head of the Real Estate Cadastre Committee Ashot Musayan and wished productive work to the staff.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
STEPANAKER, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan on August 14 convened a session of the Security Council to discuss issues related to the current situation along the Artsakh-Azerbaijani border, measures undertaken and to be done by the Artsakh side and the financial and economic indicators of the Artsakh Republic in the first half of the current year, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

Defense minister Levon Mnatsakanyan and minister of state Grigori Martirosyan delivered corresponding reports.

After discussing the agenda issues and giving relevant instructions, President Sahakyan also delivered a speech on a number of issues related to domestic and foreign policy.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a letter of condolences to the family of Nikolai Nikoghosyan on the latters death, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

The letter runs as follows: With a deep sorrow I have learnt about the death of the renowned master of the Soviet and Armenian sculpture, USSR peoples painter Nikolai Nikoghosyan.

One of the renowned representatives of the Armenian and Russian cultures has passed away, who has not stopped serving his people and homeland during his entire life. Armenia has always admired and highly valued his art and personal contribution to the strengthening and development of the Armenian-Russian cultural ties.

I extend my sincere condolences to the renowned masters family, relatives and his art fans.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia Artsvik Minasyan met with Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) under the U.S. Government.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, representatives of some ministries of Armenia and Business Armenia were present at the meeting.

The relations between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America are at an extremely high pace. I am confident that our joint work will raise these relations to a new level, Minasyan said. He presented the reforms carried out in the economic sphere.

David Bohigian thanked for the meeting and said, Im honored to visit Armenia on behalf of the Government of the USA to meet the new leadership, strengthen our relations and to discover the opportunities of increasing U.S. investments.

Currently, OPIC implements 6 projects in Armenia. We try to be useful for Armenia through investments that will be aimed at the establishment of infrastructures and the key spheres that have the perspective of ensuring economic growth, jobs and lasting benefits for people, OPIC Executive Vice President said.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a self-sustaining U.S. Government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets. Established in 1971, OPIC provides businesses with the tools to manage the risks associated with foreign direct investment, fosters economic development in emerging market countries, and advances U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities. OPIC helps American businesses gain footholds in new markets, catalyzes new revenues and contributes to jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC fulfills its mission by providing businesses with financing, political risk insurance, advocacy and by partnering with private equity investment fund managers.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Chand-party cadre arrested for issuing threats to shut schools

A party cadre of Netra Bikarm Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), which has called for a general strike on Tuesday, has been arrested for issuing threats to shutdown schools in Dolakha.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. The U.S. Government is attentively following the developments in Armenia connected with the March 1 case, ARMENPRESS reports U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills told the reporters.

For a long time the U.S. Government wanted to see a complete and impartial investigation into the March 1 tragic incidents, Mills said.

The Ambassador highlighted the necessity of carrying out the process in line with the law. Its of key importance that any action taken against the persons who have committed crime or are suspected in it should be guided by rule of law and in line with Armenias laws and regulations, Richard Mills said.

The March 1 case is an ongoing investigation into the deadly 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan. Kocharyan was the outgoing president at the time, as Serzh Sargsyan was named winner of the presidential election. Mass protests erupted in Yerevan, which led to fatal clashes between security forces and demonstrators. Kocharyan is charged with paragraph 1 of Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code (breaching Constitutional order). The Court of First Instance made a decision to remand Kocharyan in custody on July 28. On August 13 the Court of Appeal set him free.

CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov who was Deputy Defense Minister in 2008 and the former Defense Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan are also charged with the same accusation. Harutyunyan is wanted by the Police of Armenia while Khachaturov has been released on bail of 5 million drams.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. LGBT community representatives and their supporters invaded a police station on August 14.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Police of Armenia, the Central Police Department of Yerevan received several alarm calls starting from 04:30, August 14. A citizen said that he has been attacked and that the attacker was armed with knife. Another person told that his girlfriend has been attacked nearby Astoria hotel.

The policemen found out that those who made the calls were homosexuals and they have been attacked by a citizen, who was detained by the police officers.

The homosexuals and their supporters, finding out that the detained person was taken to the Central Department, gathered in front of the police station, where a brawl started.

The citizens who were dressed like a woman but where male in reality, together with their supporters invaded the police station to find the detained person and to revenge, during which 2 policemen were injured and one of them was hospitalized.

The policemen were finally able to calm down the situation. The attackers have been identified.

Investigation is underway.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, the Red Cross said Tuesday, after thousands protested at a mass funeral. Fifty-six children were also among the 79 people wounded in the Thursday strike on Saada province, a rebel stronghold that borders Saudi Arabia, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a new toll. The child deaths have been an embarrassment for Western governments which supply the coalition with warplanes and other weapons and have sought to prevent the conduct of the war being scrutinised too closely. The coalition has promised an internal inquiry but analysts and aid groups have voiced doubt it is ready to provide the transparency and accountability demanded by the wider international community. The new casualty toll came after a mass funeral was held for many of the dead children on Monday at which thousands vented anger against Riyadh and Washington. Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 as Huthi rebel fighters closed in on the last bastion of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government. The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since then -- the vast majority of them civilians -- and caused what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The UN Security Council called on Friday for a "credible" investigation into the deadly strike. But it stopped short of demanding an independent inquiry as urged by UN chief Antonio Guterres after past probes failed to lead to any significant reduction in the high civilian death toll from the coalition's more than three-year bombing campaign. - Western powers back ally - The coalition has been repeatedly blamed for bombing civilians, including a strike on a wedding hall in the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha in September 2015, in which 131 people died. It denied any responsibility for those deaths. In October 2016, a coalition air strike killed 140 people at a funeral in the rebel-held capital Sanaa. Coalition commanders have admitted a small number of mistakes, but there has been no public disciplinary action or changes to the rules of engagement. Commander have accused the rebels of using civilians as human shields. The coalition initially called the strike on the bus a "legitimate military action" in response to a rebel missile attack on the Saudi city of Jizan on Wednesday. But as photographs of dazed and bloodied children flooding into hospitals were beamed around the world, it was forced to concede to an investigation. Western government have condemned the civilian deaths, but they remain political and military backers of Saudi Arabia, which is a regional ally and spends billions of dollars on arms from the United States, Britain and France. During US-led air campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria since 2001, Western forces occasionally admitted "collateral damage" when civilians were killed unintentionally. But they too resisted independent investigations into the circumstances of major errors. Key Saudi coalition ally, the United Arab Emirates, said Monday that the child deaths were a manifestation of the "ugly" side of war for which both sides were to blame. "Unfortunately, this is really part of any confrontation," the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said, adding that those calling for independent investigations should instead urge tighter rules of engagement. Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross says in a new toll Thousands of Yemenis vent anger against Riyadh and Washington as they take part in a mass funeral in the rebel stronghold of Saada on August 13, 2018 for the children killed in the Saudi-led coalition air strike Saudi Arabia has deployed US-manufactured F-15 fighter jets in large numbers for its sometimes controversial bombing campaign in neighbouring Yemen
Touting military cooperation and "instructors," arms deals and investment, Russia is making a comeback in Africa after years of inactivity and now aims to rival European countries and even China, analysts say. Moscow has worked hard over the last three years to strengthen its position in Africa, a pace that seems to have accelerated in recent months, they say. Its effort is most prominent in the Central African Republic (CAR), a grindingly poor and unstable country that traditionally has turned to the former colonial power France for help. Since the start of the year, Russia has supplied weapons to the CAR army after gaining UN authorisation to do so and provides security for President Faustin-Archange Touadera, whose security advisor is Russian. It has also sent five military officers and 170 civilians as "instructors" for CAR's armed forces, even though its troops are already being trained by the European Union. Experts believe the "instructors" could be from a shadowy mercenary group named Wagner whose forces are reportedly fighting in Syria -- three Russian journalists were killed in the CAR last month while investigating their activities. Elsewhere, Russia is shipping arms to Cameroon for its fight with Boko Haram jihadists and forged military partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Uganda and Angola and cooperation on nuclear power with Sudan. It is also working with Zimbabwe's and Guinea's mining industries -- sectors where China is an emerging force in Africa. Africa remains "at the bottom" of Russia's foreign policy priorities, but is "starting to gain more importance," said Dmitry Bondarenko of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "Since 2014 and the annexation of Crimea, Russia is in confrontation with the West and openly demonstrates its desire to become a global power once again. Therefore it can't ignore this part of the globe." But the interest, he argued, is less for economic gain and more for "political advancement". - Strategic shift - The Soviet Union maintained a very strong presence in Africa as part of its ideological war against the West, backing African liberation movements and sending tens of thousands of advisors to countries that had ended colonial rule. But the collapse of the Soviet Union, economic problems and internal conflicts in Russia during the 1990s caused Moscow to abandon its African projects. Lack of funds meant many embassies and consulates closed, aid programmes were cut short and ties drastically reduced. A decade or so ago, the Kremlin started to rebuild its old networks and gradually return to the continent, seeking new partners as ideological concerns gave way to contracts and arms deals. President Vladimir Putin began the process with visits to Algeria, South Africa and Morocco -- the countries that, with Egypt, it had traditionally had close ties. His successor for one term, Dmitry Medvedev, visited Angola, Namibia and Nigeria, pitching for business with a delegation of 400 people. This year, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov toured five African countries, Putin flew to Johannesburg for a BRICS summit that was also attended by Angola, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda, and Russia showcased African business at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. - 'Tangible alternative' - For some African countries, improved ties with Russia are attractive, enabling them to play the competition card with Europe and China, say commentators. It means "having another partner, that is, another channel for investment and development and the support of a country that's powerful on the international scene," said politics expert Yevgeny Korendyasov, a former Soviet and Russian ambassador to several African countries. In addition, Russia has none of Europe's colonial burden in Africa -- something that may appeal to African countries, where many top officials received university education in the Soviet Union. The CAR seems to be the first example of the benefits of Putin's shift. During the Cold War, the country was never close to the Kremlin, but it now eyes Russia to help its troops roll back the militias who control most of the country's territory. "Before, the countries that the West did not want to cooperate with, such as Sudan or Zimbabwe, could only turn to China," said Bondarenko. "Now Russia is presenting itself as a tangible alternative." This new situation "could perceptibly change the geopolitical order on the continent." burs-or-pop-am/oc/ri/jta A private Russian firm, Sewa Security, provides close protection for Central African Republic President Touadera, whose security advisor is also Russian Russia is also trying to shoulder its way into mining, a sector in Africa where China has a growing presence Map of the Central African Republic (CAR)
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Tuesday called for a government report on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre to be annulled, in a provocative move that could raise ethnic tensions ahead of October elections. Compiled by a previous government, the 2004 report marked Bosnian Serbs' first official acknowledgement of the scale of the massacre, in which some 8,000 Muslims were killed in the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II. On Tuesday, Dodik, the ultra-nationalist president of Bosnia's Serb-run entity Republika Srpska (RS), urged MPs there to overturn the report, calling it "biased and untrue." He has refused to describe the mass killing by Bosnian Serb forces as a genocide, despite two international courts ruling it as such. Dodik said the report, which contained the names of 7,806 victims, "is not relevant, is very selective, untrue, unproved, biased, distorts facts, creating a fake picture about the events in and around Srebrenica," according to Bosnia's Fena news agency. Dodik, who is running to be a member of Bosnia's central tripartite presidency in the October 7 elections, also called for "an international commission" to make "the final report on Srebrenica". Bosnian Serbs have long downplayed the scale of the Srebrenica massacre, which saw Bosnian Serb forces summarily execute thousands of Muslim men and boys over several days. Dodik previously called for the report to be revised when he was prime minister of RS in 2010, claiming it was made "under pressure" from the international community. Bosnia's Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic condemned Dodik's latest request on Tuesday as a "pre-election move" aimed at diverting public attention away from other issues. "No one, not a single institution in Bosnia could detract from the rulings of international courts," Zvizdic was quoted as saying by Fena. In response to the RS parliament's debate on the report, the European Union's delegation in Bosnia released a statement saying it "rejects any attempts to deny the genocide in Srebrenica." "We also condemn the use of inflammatory ethno-political rhetoric and actions," it said. The Srebrenica massacre is the only episode of Bosnia's 1992-1995 war to have been ruled as genocide by both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN war crimes tribunal. The war claimed some 100,000 lives and left the Balkan country split into two semi-autonomous entities: the Serbs' Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation. Each has its own government, president and parliament. Dodik, known for incendiary rhetoric, was sanctioned by the United States in 2017 for threatening the peace accord that ended the war by pushing to celebrate a controversial Serb-focused holiday. Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has long refused to describe the 1995 Srebrenica massacre as a genocide
What was supposed to be a year-long trip of a lifetime for a young New Zealand couple has ended in tragedy just three weeks in.

Danni Hogan, described as a vibrant and adventurous soul, set off from her home in Taranaki on the North Island, alongside partner Louis Aiello ready to take on the world together.

One week ago, the 23-year-old shared a photo of her and Mr Aiello in Canada, with the caption I love exploring the world with you.

But on Wednesday, he found himself starting a crowdfunding page to bring her body home after a jump from a 20-metre bridge into a river went horribly wrong.

Danni Hogan died on Wednesday after a 20-metre jump from a bridge in British Colombia went horribly wrong. Source: Givealittle

The bridge jump is a popular tourist attraction in Sicamous. Source: Google Maps

Ms Hogan and four other women all made the daunting leap from Bruhn Bridge  a popular tourist activity in Sicamous, British Columbia, the New Zealand Herald reported.

When she failed to resurface, bystanders helped pull her from the water before rushing her to a hospital, where she was transferred to another facility.

It was there she was pronounced dead.

In an emotional tribute on the crowdfunding page, which has already surpassed its goal of $20,000, Mr Aiello said he would have done anything to stop the fatal jump from happening.

Days earlier she shared an image of her smiling alongside her boyfriend. Source: Instagram/Danni Hogan

Danni took on a new lease of life in this country and her spirit was in such a beautiful place here. She was glowing with life and excitement and was ready to take on the world. Life couldnt get much better, Mr Aiellos tribute read.

In a blink of an eye this world we knew changed. Dannis gentle and loving heart stopped beating after a freak accident I would do anything to take back.

Danni was the love of my life and always will be.

She will forever hold the biggest part of my heart and I feel unbelievably lucky to have shared my life and my heart with Danni  my own Sweet Angel Girl.

Ms Hogans mother took to Facebook on Monday, saying their hearts are broken.
The Chinese economy is displaying further signs of weakness, with data Tuesday showing the pace of investment slumping to a record low in the first seven months of the year while retail sales growth slowed. Beijing faces a delicate balancing act, aiming to shift its growth driver away from investment and exports towards personal consumption, while at the same time battling a mountain of debt. A trade brawl with Washington has added to the difficulties -- the yuan and stock markets have tumbled in recent weeks -- providing relief to exporters but hurting Chinese consumers. US tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, and retaliatory levies from Beijing, came into force in early July, with more tit-for-tat measures due next week. But the extent of the conflict's impact on China remains unclear, said National Bureau of Statistics spokeswoman Liu Aihua. Trade data last week showed exports holding up in July. "The negative impact will be gradual, with the impact on the international economy and the global economy already emerging," Liu said. Output at factories and workshops expanded 6.0 percent on-year in July, in line with June's reading, according to the NBS, but short of the 6.3 percent forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. Steel production -- a sore spot with the Trump administration -- was especially strong in July with crude output climbing 7.2 percent on-year to a record 81.24 million tonnes as producers ramped up production to take advantage of high prices. The commodity's price is at a six-year high as expectations for demand pick up and the government's fight against pollution sees a number of plants shuttered. Retail sales, a key gauge of domestic consumption, rose 8.8 percent on-year in July, down from nine percent in June, and also missing estimates of 9.1 percent growth. "Domestic demand looks to have weakened further," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics. Fixed-asset investment, the lifeblood of China's economy, expanded just 5.5 percent in January-July, the slowest pace on record. Last month China's cabinet indicated it would step up its support for the economy and officials have said approval for infrastructure projects will quicken in the second half of the year. But the International Monetary Fund has suggested Beijing should resist another round of aggressive stimulus to boost growth, citing concerns the measures would exacerbate already excessive debt levels. "We see further downside risks to economic activity in the coming months given that credit growth is still slowing," said Evans-Pritchard, forecasting Beijing's easing moves could take months to kick in. China's economic growth slowed in the second quarter to 6.7 percent, from 6.8 percent in the first quarter. "The Chinese economy will get worse before getting better, and it takes several months to turn around," said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura investment bank. "Beijing will step up credit easing and fiscal measures to deliver a recovery and prevent financial troubles such as a rise of bond defaults," Lu wrote in a research note. China's economy is showing signs of sluggishness just as the government embarks on a trade row with the US while fighting a huge debt mountain
A baby boy has died from the cold sore virus less than two weeks after birth leaving his parents devastated and warning how dangerous the infection can be.

James de Malplaquet and Sarah Higsons 13-day-old boy Kit died after being diagnosed with herpes simplex virus (HSV1), the same infection which causes cold sores, last year, The Sun reports.

Kit was born in a hospital in the English seaside town of Brighton in September, 2017 via an emergency caesarean at 39 weeks.

Doctors performed tests on him and gave the baby antibiotics. However, they didnt test him for viral infections.

Baby boy Kit died at 13 days old after he contracted herpes simplex virus  the same infection, which gives people cold sores. Source: Kit Tarka Foundation

According to the Kit Tarka Foundation, started by his parents, the baby left hospital eight days after his birth but returned the following day because he wasnt waking up at all and really struggling to feed.

He was diagnosed with the cold sore virus and a blood test showed infection markers.

Kit fought and got a bit better, but on day 12 he had to rushed to intensive care.

There they did everything they could to save him but it was too late and he died early the next morning, his parents wrote.

Standing by helpless as a doctor performed CPR on our babys tiny swollen and bleeding body is a memory which will haunt us forever.

Sarah Higson with baby Kit. Source: Kit Tarka Foundation

Parents had no sign of cold sore virus

Paediatrician Dr Patrick Davies described the cold sore virus as a very dangerous infection and added if it isnt spotted babies suffer multi-organ collapse.

Ms Higson underwent a blood test, which showed no signs of the virus. Kits father also had no signs of cold sores either.

Its not known how he got the virus, which killed him.

According to a study published in the BMJ medical journal in 2013, its estimated one baby dies in the UK from neonatal herpes every week.

Kits parents now hope to raise awareness for not only neonatal herpes but to also fund projects, which support research into all causes of preventable neonatal death.
Five European countries on Tuesday offered to take in the 141 migrants marooned on board the Aquarius rescue vessel after it was given permission to dock in Malta, resolving a new standoff over the charity ship. Spain offered to take 60 people and Germany said it would take "up to 50". France said it would accept 60 from the Aquarius as well as a second rescue boat that arrived earlier in Malta, and Portugal offered to welcome 30 people. Luxembourg was also part of the deal. The agreement is the fifth of its kind between Western European governments since June when Italy began turning away migrant rescue ships. EU sources said the five host countries would send immigration officials to Malta to vet their asylum claims and identify possible economic migrants, who would be returned to their countries of origin. The boat was initially refused entry by Italy and Malta after rescuing the migrants in two separate missions off the Libyan coast on Friday. The Aquarius first hit the headlines in June after being stranded with 630 migrants on board, causing a major diplomatic row. Spain's new Socialist government helped resolve the first standoff by allowing the boat to dock in Valencia and said it was again at the forefront of the solution to the latest one on Tuesday. "Spain has coordinated a pioneering agreement with six countries to share the hosting of the people on the Aquarius... Spain will take 60 people," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter. But Malta and France said the deal to allow the ship disembark its passengers, many of them unaccompanied teens from violence-wracked Somalia and repressive Eritrea, was their initiative. "Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so," said a Maltese government statement posted on Twitter. Thanking Malta for its gesture, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter: "There is no alternative to cooperation." But EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned that Europe could not rely on "ad-hoc arrangements". Calling in a statement for "sustainable solutions", he said: "It is not the responsibility of one or a few member states only, but of the European Union as a whole." - European attitudes hardening - After elections in March that brought a populist, anti-immigrant government to power in Italy, far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini began turning away rescue ships operated by foreign NGOs. For years, Italy had pleaded with its EU partners for help with a massive influx of arrivals that has seen 700,000 people land in the country since 2013, most of whom had made the short but treacherous sea crossing from Libya. On Saturday, Salvini said the Aquarius would "never see an Italian port" again, accusing it of encouraging smugglers and migrants to take to the water in the knowledge that they will be rescued. The Italian coast guard continues to rescue migrants, however. Malta's government initially defended its decision to turn the Aquarius away, saying it was "neither the coordinating nor the competent authority for such a rescue" and had "no legal obligation" to provide a place of safety. The government of the British territory of Gibraltar also announced late Monday that the ship would no longer be allowed to operate under its maritime flag. The increasingly hostile stance reflects hardening public opinion in Europe towards migrants -- despite arrivals dipping sharply since 2015, when over a million people fleeing war or poverty crossed the Mediterranean. The Aquarius has become a symbol of the unwillingness of many European countries to accept more newcomers, with Italy siding with conservative governments in eastern Europe intent on keeping out migrants. At a summit in late June EU leaders agreed to consider setting up migrant processing centres outside the bloc, most likely in North Africa, in a bid to discourage them from boarding smuggler boats. They also agreed to look at setting up "controlled centres" on European soil to sort refugees in need of protection from economic migrants -- but no country has offered to host any such centres. The proposals are due for discussion at an EU migration summit in Austria in September. The Aquarius is a 77-metre (250 foot) rescue boat which has the capacity for carrying between 200 and 500 people SOS Mediterranee says the Aquarius rescued the latest group of migrants in international waters off the Libyan coast on August 10 The Aquarius rescue ship is operated by French charity SOS-Mediterranee along with Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Regmi is a former deputy executive director of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre.
With huge new scandals rocking the political elite in Argentina and Peru, and several former Central American presidents in court, Latin America is once again being buffeted by a wave of corruption. But experts say that despite the sense the region is suffering a recurring nightmare, there is reason to believe the judicial system is finally gaining the upper hand in the fight against graft. - Latin America's 'dirty dozen?' - In Central America, jailed former Salvadoran president Elias Antonio Saca recently admitted to diverting more than $300 million during his 2004-2009 term in office. His successor Mauricio Funes is accused of similar crimes and has taken refuge in Nicaragua. Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli was not so lucky -- he was extradited in June from the United States to face charges in a raft of corruption cases. From Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva down through the list of the last four Peruvian presidents, "there are a dozen ex-presidents in prison, on the run, involved, or dismissed" in similar corruption cases, says Peruvian lawyer Jose Ugaz, former head of the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International. The scandals in Peru have not only ensnared presidents, but the judiciary too, after the broadcast of audio recordings in July. On tape, judges can be heard negotiating over the sentencing of defendants. Justice Minister Salvador Heresi, Supreme Court chief justice Duberli Rodriguez and Orlando Velasquez -- the president of the judicial council which appoints judges and prosecutors -- have been forced to resign. In response to the scandal, Peru's President Martin Vizcarra announced a major reform of the judicial system and the holding of a referendum to ensure public backing for it. - Money and politics - Some of the most notorious cases embroiling current and former governments involve the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which operated a slush fund amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars across Latin America to grease the palms of politicians, and in the process, the wheels of its lucrative public works empire. "The relationship between money and politics is at the heart of the matter," says Gaspard Estrada, head of the Observatory on Latin America at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris. From Brazil to Argentina, "we find the same mechanisms, with crooked entrepreneurs and politicians seeking to finance their campaigns," he said. In Argentina, the so-called notebooks scandal has rocked the world of big business and politics. Oscar Centeno, a chauffeur, used school notebooks to detail the delivery of tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks he was responsible for ferrying to various politicians, including to the homes of Cristina Kirchner when she was president. The alleged kickbacks were paid by business executives to secure public works contracts for their companies. Several former officials and corporate executives are under arrest and Kirchner herself, who was president from 2007-2015, was summoned to a court hearing on Monday by the judge leading the massive anti-corruption case. The defiant 65-year-old refused to answer questions but took to the defense of leftist former leaders like herself who have been swept away by a right-wing surge across Latin America. "This is a new regional strategy to outlaw leaders, movements and political forces that expanded rights and allowed millions of people out of poverty during the first decade and a half of the 21st Century," Kirchner wrote Monday on Twitter. The big question on legal minds is how to "move away from this dependence and break this vicious circle," says Estrada. Stricter legal frameworks governing political donations are vital, he says. "There should be limits to the donations of private persons and this should go hand in hand with a strict public funding." "The big institutional problem in Latin America is the lack of mechanisms of checks and balances," laments Raul Ferro of the Center for Openness and Development in Latin America (CADAL). That is something that Argentina's notebooks scandal has highlighted, according to Nicolas Solari of the Poliarquia consultancy. "There is no doubt that the copybooks describe in detail the way in which the Kirchners raised money illegally for seven years without any alarm going off at any oversight agency," says Solari. - 'More difficult' to cheat - "In Latin America, there is a history of corruption, there will always be business, it is the nature of the human being," says Ferro. Nevertheless, he is "optimistic, without being naive," about the future. "What's important is that it's getting harder and harder to do it, and easier to see where it's going on. Every breaking scandal is a small step forward," he says. "The 'Car Wash' case in Brazil has launched a dynamic in the region, to which the public has added its voice, which is new and interesting. Thousands of people have marched in the streets to denounce corruption -- this is a reason for hope," insists Jose Ugaz. But he says anti-corruption watchdogs must not now drop their guard, just when the tide of Latin American corruption might just be turning. "It's just that it must not amount to a straw fire, like the Arab Spring, that's why the public must remain alert." Cristina Kirchner has been ensared by the notebooks scandal, in which a chauffeur used school notebooks to detail the delivery of tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks to various politicians, including Kirchner's home when she was president Former Salvadoran head of state Elias Antonio Saca -- seen during a hearing at the Isidro Menendez detention center in San Salvador in November 2016 -- recently admitted to diverting more than $300 million during his 2004-2009 term in office
The collapse of the Turkish lira has caused trauma as Turks see their purchasing power slashed, but bargain-hunting foreign tourists visiting the country at the peak of the summer season are cashing in on a currency windfall. Visitors, mainly from Saudi Arabia and Asia, formed long queues in Istanbul outside luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada after the lira took a severe hit against dollar, losing over 16 percent of its value on Friday. "Everything is getting cheaper and cheaper," said Saudi Arabian tourist Nasir El-Nabir, outside a chic store in an upscale Istanbul neighbourhood. "It's like a 30 percent sale, so I am really affected in a positive way." Laden with shopping bags, tourists have enjoyed a shopping bonanza before retailers hike prices to take account of the lira's devaluation, under the slightly bewildered gaze of Turks who have borne the brunt of the crisis. The queues suggest that the plunge in the lira, driven by Turkey's bitter dispute with the United States, is set to give a boost to the key tourism industry, which struggled greatly after a failed coup and terror attacks in 2016. - Tourism revival - The lira's plunge -- which had been ongoing for weeks -- was turned into a rout on Friday when US President Donald Trump tweeted that Washington was doubling aluminium and steel tariffs for Turkey. The Turkish currency has since clawed back some ground. Xenos Lemis, a tourist from Cyprus, said he had been following the currency drama in real time. "We check the price of the lira every two hours and there is a significant change. So for shopping for a tourist, this is a blessing," he added. But some visitors lamented that they also lost money when they converted a large sum of foreign money to the Turkish currency just before the crisis broke. "I'm quite surprised because I took a lot of cash from the bank in lira and when I woke up in the morning I found out that I almost lost (the equivalent of) one hundred or two hundred during one night," Kobe Wu Kejia, a Chinese tourist, told AFP. "This is pretty scary." Turkey's tourism sector, which came under severe pressure due to the attacks and failed coup of 2016, had already appeared to have sprung to its feet this year despite the country's economic woes. The industry has managed to diversify its appeal, with sharp rises in the numbers of visitors arriving from countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, while traditional tourism from Europe also revived. Meanwhile, Russian tourism -- critical for the economy on Turkey's Mediterranean coast -- has also sprung back to life after being devastated by a political crisis between Ankara and Moscow in 2015. Firuz Baglikaya, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), said there was a 30 percent increase in tourism in Turkey compared to last year. "We expect a $32 billion foreign currency inflow," he told the state-run Anadolu news agency. "We have a target of having 40 million tourists since 2017, and if there's nothing negative, this objective will be achieved." Package holiday giant Thomas Cook said this month, before the lira crisis struck in earnest, that it has seen a 63 percent increase in bookings for Turkey from last year, with Antalya now its most popular airport for British holidaymakers. - 'Extra stay'- In Istanbul's historic Eminonu neighbourhood, tourists expressed mixed feelings about their cheaper vacation in Turkey. "In the first place of course it's an advantage for us," German tourist Barbara said on the Golden Horn, walking with her husband. "But in second place we also feel kind of sorry because the men in the shop do not earn so much anymore for what it's worth. So there are these two sides." Martin Bifrare, from Switzerland, said he might extend his family vacation with his wife and children over the currency difference. "With this economic situation, we could decide, for example, to stay an extra week or to allow ourselves a few excursions that we wouldn't necessarily have done otherwise," he said. Visitors, mainly from Saudi Arabia and Asia, formed long queues in Istanbul outside luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada after the lira took a severe hit against dollar, losing over 16 percent of its value on Friday The queues suggest that the plunge in the lira, driven by Turkey's bitter dispute with the United States, is set to give a boost to the key tourism industry, which struggled greatly after a failed coup and terror attacks in 2016 The industry has managed to diversify its appeal, with sharp rises in the numbers of visitors arriving from countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, while traditional tourism from Europe also revived
A Sydney father has suffered severe injuries after trying to save his son from falling from a four-metre balcony.

Brad Lewis, 42, was playing with his little boy, Oscar, and his Nerf gun at a friends home in Sydney earlier this month, according to a GoFundMe page.

Oscar fired a few plastic bullets at his father but they missed and went over the first-floor balcony, friend of the family Annie Kendall wrote.

Sydney father Brad Lewis has suffered serious injuries after he plunged from a four-metre balcony trying to stop his son Oscar from falling. Source: GoFundMe/ Hero Dad Hurt Saving Son

The little boy chased after the bullets but lost his balance over the railing and began to tumble.

Brad was close enough to see what was happening, lunged at Oscar and managed to grab him, but with Brads speed and weight headed in Oscars direction in the hope of saving him, they both ended up going over the balcony, Ms Kendall wrote.

During the fall, Brad recalls that he made sure he pinned Oscar to his chest and curled around him so that he could take the brunt of the impact  not Oscar.

The father and his son plummeted from the balcony and hit the concrete driveway.

Mr Lewis turned to his mate Beau Worthington, who was the first to come to his aide, and asked, Are the kids OK?, News Corp reported.

Dont let them see me like this, he said.Dont let me die, mate.

Mr Lewis curled his body up to save his son and cushion the fall. Source: GoFundMe/ Hero Dad Hurt Saving Son

Oscar suffered concussion, a skull fracture and bruising on the brain but hes been released from hospital.

However, his hero dad is much worse off, taking the full impact on his head.

He sustained major head and neck injuries, cracking open his skull, bruising the brain, fracturing the C6 vertebrae, among a number of other head and body injuries, Ms Kendall wrote.

Doctors have expressed their astonishment that Brad is in fact still alive having sustained the injuries that he did.

The fathers recovery is expected to take six to 12 months. Source: GoFundMe/ Hero Dad Hurt Saving Son

Mr Lewis, a former army officer, is facing six to 12 months of recovery.

His wife, Suz, has also taken time off work to care for the family but there are concerns about mounting costs once the 42-year-old returns home.

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The father has since been removed from ICU and the family are hoping he will get 45 staples removed from his head next week.

Oscar is recovering slowly with a fractured skull. He will not leave his mothers side and now sleeps with 6 pillows around him from fear of falling out of bed, Ms Kendall wrote.

While the family are still trying to come to terms with what happened, they are so incredibly grateful for the out pouring of support from their family, friends and the wider community  many of you they dont even know.
Rescue workers toiled through a second night Thursday in a desperate bid to find survivors in the rubble of a Genoa bridge which caved in during a heavy rainstorm, killing at least 39 people and injuring 16 more. A vast span of the Morandi bridge collapsed in the northern port city on Tuesday, sending about 35 cars and several trucks plunging 45 metres (150 feet) onto railway tracks below. Italy's government has blamed the firm that operated the collapsed bridge for the disaster and announced a state of emergency in the region. Children aged eight, 12 and 13 were among the dead, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said, adding that more people were still missing. Sixteen people were injured. The driver of a green lorry left precariously close to the edge told Italian media how he had escaped the "hell" of the bridge collapse. "It was raining very hard and it wasn't possible to go very fast," he told the Corriere della Sera daily. "When a car overtook me I slowed down... (then) at a certain moment everything shook. The car in front of me disappeared and seemed to be swallowed up by the clouds. I looked up and saw the bridge pylon fall," he said. "Instinctively, finding myself in front of the void, I put the van into reverse, to escape this hell," he added. Three Chileans, who live in Italy, and four French nationals were also killed. The tragedy has focused anger on the structural problems that have dogged the decades old Morandi bridge and the private sector firm Autostrade per l'Italia, which is currently in charge of operating and maintaining swathes of the country's motorways. Deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio said the tragedy "could have been avoided". "Autostrade should have done maintenance and didn't do it," he alleged. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also confirmed that his government would push to revoke the company's contract for the A10 motorway, which includes the bridge, while Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the company should be fined up to 150 million euros ($170 million). The firm, which said the bridge had been undergoing maintenance work, however, released a statement refuting accusations of underfunding of motorway infrastructure. "In the last five years (2012-2017) the company's investment in the security, maintenance and strengthening of the network has been over one billion euros a year," it said. - 'I went down with the car' - Survivors recounted the heart-stopping moment when the bridge buckled, tossing vehicles and hunks of concrete into the abyss. Davide Capello, a former goalkeeper for Italian Serie A club Cagliari, plunged with his car but was unscathed. "I was driving along the bridge, and at a certain point I saw the road in front of me collapse, and I went down with the car," he told TV news channel Sky TG24. As cars and trucks tumbled off the bridge, Afifi Idriss, 39, a Moroccan truck driver, just managed to stop in time. "I saw the green lorry in front of me stop and then reverse so I stopped too, locked the truck and ran," he told AFP. While around a dozen apartment blocks that stand in the shadow of the viaduct were largely spared the impact of the falling concrete, the Liguria regional government said some 634 people had been evacuated. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the homes would have to be pulled down. - 'A tragedy waiting to happen' - The incident is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of a faltering economy. The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, spans dozens of railway lines. The bridge has been riddled with structural problems since its construction, which has led to expensive maintenance and severe criticism from engineering experts. On Tuesday engineering website "Ingegneri.info" called it "a tragedy waiting to happen". Conte also announced after a cabinet meeting Wednesday that a national day of mourning was being planned. Media reports said it would be held on Saturday to coincide with some of the funerals. There would also be a 12-month state of emergency in and around Genoa, Conte added, with five million euros of funds going into recovery work. A vast span of the Morandi bridge collapsed in the northern port city on Tuesday, sending about 35 cars and several trucks plunging 45 metres (150 feet) onto railway tracks below The tragedy has focussed anger on the structural problems that have dogged the decades old Morandi bridge and the private sector firm Autostrade per l'Italia, which is currently in charge of operating and maintaining swathes of the country's motorways The disaster left one driver's green lorry perched precariously close to the precipice. The 37-year-old driver told Italian media how he had escaped the "hell" of the bridge collapse The bridge has been riddled with structural problems since its construction, which has led to expensive maintenance and severe criticism from engineering experts
Israel will reopen its only goods crossing with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday if calm is maintained, after having prevented most deliveries since July 9 over border tensions, the defence ministry said Tuesday. "Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman this afternoon held a situation assessment" with security chiefs, his office said in a statement on Tuesday. "In the meeting it was decided that if the quiet which has been maintained on the Gaza border continues until tomorrow morning, Kerem Shalom crossing will open tomorrow at 9:00 am (0600 GMT) and the fishing zone will be expanded back to nine miles from the beach." Kerem Shalom has been closed to most goods since July 9. Fuel has intermittently been banned during that time, including since August 2, though food and medicine has been allowed. Last month, Israel also reduced the limits of the fishing zone it allows fishermen off the blockaded Gaza Strip to three nautical miles offshore. Gaza border protests and clashes broke out on March 30 and have led to months of tension that have also seen several military flare-ups. Israel has also been seeking to stop kites and balloons carrying firebombs over the border fence to burn Israeli farmland. At least 169 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli fire since March 30, mostly during clashes and protests. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. Israel says its blockade is necessary to keep Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used for military purposes. There have been efforts by United Nations officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, though Israeli officials have not commented on them. A fragile truce came into effect Thursday night, mediated by Egypt and the UN, according to a source close to the negotiations. Thursday saw extensive Israeli air strikes in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies beginning on Wednesday night. Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, including a mother and her 18-month-old daughter, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire as hundreds took refuge in bomb shelters. It was one of the most serious escalations since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of rising tensions. Gaza's only other goods crossing is at Rafah on the Egyptian border. That checkpoint had largely been kept closed in recent years, but Egypt opened it in mid-May and it is has mostly remained so since. The Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza has been closed to most goods since July 9, with fuel intermittently banned during that time
About 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled their crisis-hit country mainly because of a lack of food as severe shortages of medicine has left thousands at risk, the UN spokesman said Tuesday. The Venezuelans have fled to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. "People cite the lack of food as their main reason for leaving," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. About 1.3 million Venezuelans are suffering from malnourishment. Severe shortages of medicine and medical supplies have led to a "sharp deterioration of the quality of hospitals," he said, citing UN humanitarian officials. More than 100,000 Venezuelans living with HIV/AIDS are "at risk due to lack of access to necessary medication," he said. Diseases that had been eradicated such as measles, malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria have reappeared and are on the rise. Oil-rich Venezuela has been in an economic freefall since a drop in oil prices in 2014 left a gaping hole in the country's finances. President Nicolas Maduro has faced criticism for his handling of the economy and accusations that he is sliding towards authoritarianism. Venezuelan citizens wait in line to cross into Ecuador on August 11, 2018, as millions of Venezuelans flee their country due to lack of resources such as food and medical supplies
A man has died after he was hit in the throat by a tent peg.

The 61-year-old Danish man Erik Larsen Fjordvald was taking part in a motorcycle event at a camping ground in Thy, northwestern Denmark.

On Friday Mr Larsen Fjordvald was packing up his tent during inclement weather.

Amidst the storms, he was hit in the throat by a metal tent peg propelled by high winds and knocked unconscious, according to Danish Police.

A Danish man has been killed after a metal tent peg hit him in the throat. Source: Getty

The metal tent peg was propelled by high winds during a storm and hit the Danish man in the throat. Source: Getty

He was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he died on Sunday, Spokesman Joergen Jensen told local media on Monday.

 With AP
A man has flown a plane into his own house just hours after he had been arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife.

Duane Youd and his wife had been drinking when they made their way up to American Fork Canyon in Payson, Utah to talk through their problems.

Witnesses called police about 7.30pm Sunday to report he was assaulting his wife. He was booked on suspicion of domestic violence and posted bail.

The 47-year-old requested an officer escort him to his home so he could get his truck and some belongings around midnight.

This frame from a video shows the scene of a small plane that crashed into a house in Payson, Utah, on Monday. Source: AP

Duane Youd died in the crash. Source: AP

Within hours, the qualified pilot was taking off in the plane from the Spanish Fork-Springville Airport about 25 kilometres north of his house.

He flew directly to his neighbourhood and smashed the twin-engine Cessna 525 directly into his two-storey house, authorities said.

Youd died in the crash, however his wife and child survived.

Photos of the wreckage showed the white plane charred and in pieces in the front yard near an overturned and crushed car. Most of the house was still intact, but heavily burned in the front.

The scene of the plane crash is blocked off as Federal Aviation Administration officials investigate the area. Source: AP

The wreckage of the the twin-engine Cessna 525 lies in the front yard of the property. Source: AP

A car parked out the front of the house was also destroyed. Source: AP

Youd and his wife bought the house, valued at nearly US$400,000, in 2016. Source: AP

Payson police Sergeant Noemi Sandoval said the plane barely missed power lines and other homes.

Online court records show that Youd agreed last month to attend marriage and family counselling sessions for six months as part of a plea agreement following an April 8 domestic violence incident in which he was charged with disorderly conduct.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Major review after Seattle plane theft

It is the second bizarre airplane incident in recent days. On Friday an employee stole a turboprop plane from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle and flew it for more than an hour before dying in a crash on an island southwest of Tacoma.

Investigators are continuing to piece together how 3-year Horizon Air employee Richard Russell stole the empty Bombardier Q400 turboprop on Friday evening and took off on a roughly 75-minute flight, executing steep banks and even a barrel roll while being tailed by fighter jets. He finally crashed into a forested island south of Seattle.

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Richard Russell stole the empty Bombardier Q400 turboprop from Seattle Airport on Friday. Source: AAP

This is too big a deal. Its not going to go away, said Glen Winn, a former Secret Service agent who teaches in the University of Southern Californias aviation security program.

Theres going to be a lot of discussion, a lot of meetings, a lot of finger-pointing, and its going to come down to: How do we stop it?

Russell was killed. No one else was hurt. In a conversation with an air-traffic controller, he described himself as just a broken guy, said he wasnt really planning on landing the aircraft, and claimed he didnt want to hurt anyone else.
Up to 80 cars were set on fire overnight across western Sweden by masked vandals, police said Tuesday, in what they suspect was a coordinated attack weeks before a general election. Most of the cars were burned at around 20 locations in Sweden's second largest city of Gothenburg late Monday. Authorities said two suspects aged between 16 and 21 have been arrested so far in Gothenburg and would be questioned on Tuesday. Police said they believe the attacks were organised on social media. No one was injured in the car blazes. "We've never seen this many cars set on fire before," Hans Lippens, police spokesman in western Sweden, told AFP. The incident triggered outrage among Swedish politicians who are busy campaigning for the September 9 general election. "I'm furious. My question to (the perpetrators) is: what the hell are you doing?" Social Democratic Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told public broadcaster Swedish Radio on Tuesday. "You're ruining things for yourselves, your parents and your neighbourhoods," Lofven said, adding the incident "looked very coordinated, almost like a military operation". Cars set ablaze is common in Sweden. In Stockholm's suburbs alone, such crimes happen almost on a daily basis, usually attributed to disadvantaged youths. Last year, 1,457 cars were "deliberately" set on fire across Sweden, compared to 1,641 in 2016, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's figures. "Sweden has tolerated this for too long. This must end now," Ulf Kristersson, leader of the conservative opposition party, the Moderates, wrote on his Facebook account. Last year in February, two days after US President Donald Trump's baffling comments linking crime to immigration in Sweden, riots broke out in the immigrant-heavy northern Stockholm suburb of Rinkeby. Dozens of youths clashed with police after they arrested a suspected drug dealer in Rinkeby. The rioters threw stones at police, burned cars and looted shops. Most of the cars were burned at around 20 locations in Sweden's second largest city of Gothenburg 
A two-week jungle trek followed by a sheer climb up avalanche-prone slopes to a jagged ridge of icy pinnacles awaits three Myanmar mountaineers planning to take on Hkakabo Razi, a peak so treacherous it has been conquered only once. Believed to be the highest in Southeast Asia, the mountain stands at an estimated 5,881 metres (19,294 feet) in the northern tip of Myanmar near the border with China and India, a Himalayan cap of the largely tropical nation. The formidable route to the top starts with a gruelling 240-kilometre (150-mile) slog by foot through Kachin state's dense jungle, filled with venomous snakes and bloodsucking leeches. But it is the challenging climb itself that has thwarted nearly all of the handful of attempts to reach the summit, one of which resulted in a deadly rescue attempt. "The difficulty level of the mountain is extreme," Zaw Zin Khine, 32, told AFP during a break from a training session on a limestone karst cliff in eastern Karen state. The team will have to negotiate precipitous faces of loose scree, frequent avalanches and a choice between ridges spiked with towers of rock and shrouded in snow and ice. "There is a risk we won?t come back alive," the climber added. He and his two partners Pyae Phyo Aung, 36, and Aung Khaing Myint, 32, aspire to make history as the first all-Myanmar team to summit the mountain. They also hope to settle a decades-long dispute over whether Hkakabo Razi or the nearby Gamlang Razi -- also in Myanmar -- claims the honour as the region?s highest. - 'Makes Everest look easy' - The three climbers, now waiting for the right window in the weather to start their expedition, have been in intensive training for months, including a trip to Nepal and sessions in a Yangon gym, wearing masks to simulate low-oxygen levels at altitude. Team member Pyae Phyo Aung is one of only two people from Myanmar to have summited Mount Everest but he says Hkakabo Razi's isolation and lack of infrastructure makes it far more perilous. "Even if you're 70 years old, you can get to the top of Everest if you have the money to pay people to pull you up," he says. "They maintain the routes from the base camp to the summit, have lots of porters and it's easy to find people by air if they're missing. That's not the case on Hkakabo Razi." The first known attempt to scale the mountain was by British explorer and botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward in 1936. In his book "Burma?s Icy Mountains", he describes how the peak "utterly defeated" him, forcing him to turn back a vertical kilometre below the top. It took another 60 years before Japanese mountaineer Takashi Ozaki and his Myanmar climbing partner Nyima Gyaltsen prevailed on their third attempt. Ozaki, the first-ever climber to successfully tackle Mount Everest's north face, reportedly described the peak as "one of the most difficult and dangerous mountains in the world". Two separate expeditions in 2014 both met with costly failure. One local Myanmar team never returned, a tragedy magnified when a rescue helicopter crashed, killing one pilot. The other ill-fated ascent is the subject of a National Geographic documentary. The expedition ground to an icy halt on what team member Emily Harrington remembers as a "nightmare ridge" that dropped off for hundreds of feet on either side, leaving them "depleted on all fronts". "We kinda assumed it would be like Nepal and Pakistan where the culture is centred around the mountains," the 31-year-old told AFP from California. "But it's not. They?re not used to people coming here to trek so we had to take more on ourselves." - 'Listen to the mountain' - This year?s expedition organisers are preparing for anything. Tycoon Tay Za, who was behind both the 2014 Myanmar team?s failed attempt and the successful ascent of Everest, is also bankrolling this venture, which is expected to take around two months. The three climbers will have a five-member support team and some 70 porters to help -? compared to 25 last time -- as well as several rescue helicopters on stand-by. "If we complete this, we can be proud Myanmar citizens," Zaw Zin Khine said. "We plan to plant the nation's flag with our own hands at the summit." He also hopes they will inspire more climbers in a country that only boasts a few dozen enthusiasts. But Harrington warns that reaching the summit is not everything and advises the team to "listen to the mountain". "If it?s telling you not to go for it then don?t go for it. In my head the only thing that matters is that you come back alive." Pyae Phyo Aung training in Myanmar's Karen state in preparation for an attempt on Hkakabo Razi in the north of the country -- a peak so treacherous it has only been conquered once Aung Khaing Myint coils a rope as fellow mountaineer Zaw Zin Khine prepares gear ahead of training at a gym in Yangon ahead of their attempt on Hkakabo Razi The three climbers, now waiting for the right window in the weather to start their expedition, have been in intensive training for months Map showing Hkakabo Razi, a 5,881m peak in the northern tip of Myanmar.
CPN Banda: Rupandehi folks hit hard, IEDs recovered, one injured in acid attack

General life in Rupandehi has been hit hard by the general strike called by Netra Bikaram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) on Tuesday.
North Korea has stopped processing tourist visas for foreigners ahead of a high profile anniversary next month, according to a China-based tour operator. The measure follows reports that Pyongyang had suspended visits by Chinese tour groups as it prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the country is officially known. Koryo Tours, a popular agency among Western tourists seeking to visit the North, said on its website it had been "informed on 13 August by our partners in Pyongyang that they had been instructed from above that all tourist visa applications currently underway are to be frozen". It was not given a reason for the freeze, the company said, but was told it would apply until the anniversary on September 9. "This suggests to us that... a higher power in the country is simply pressing pause on tourism until it is clear to them who is coming in such delegations and how many people," it added. Pyongyang has previously lavishly celebrated the date with military parades or mass games involving thousands of people performing acrobatic choreography in unison, and is expected this time to hold its first mass games for five years. Speculation has also mounted that the nuclear-armed North could be preparing to mount a parade -- at which it normally shows off some of the weapons that have earned it multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions. Chinese President Xi Jinping is speculated to be on the guest list, as officials in the North told South Korean journalists that he was invited to the event. In his New Year speech in January, leader Kim Jong Un said North Korean people would "greet the 70th founding anniversary of their Republic as a great, auspicious event". The occasion comes during a rare diplomatic detente on the Korean peninsula which has seen the South's president Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un meet twice, with a third summit planned for September. The rapprochement also led to a landmark summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, where the two leaders signed a vague agreement on denuclearisation. Although Trump touted his summit with Kim as a historic breakthrough, the North has since criticised Washington for its "gangster-like" demands of complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament. The US has urged the international community to maintain tough sanctions on the isolated regime. A leading tour operator said Pyongyang has suspended processing tourist visas ahead of a high profile anniversary next month
On August 17 last year a van rammed into crowds on Las Ramblas boulevard in the heart of Barcelona, igniting four days of terror which investigators are still trying to explain and the survivors to overcome. The van driver, Younes Abouyaaqoub, a 22-year-old Moroccan, abandoned the vehicle and disappeared into a busy market. He then stole a car, killed the driver and ran over a police officer at a roadblock. When he was finally shot dead by police after four days on the run, he had killed 15 people of nine different nationalities -- including an Australian boy aged seven and a three-year-old Spanish boy. Over 100 people were wounded. Meanwhile five of his accomplices imitated him in the early hours of August 18, mowing down pedestrians on the promenade of the seaside resort of Cambrils south of Barcelona before stabbing a woman to death. The attackers, aged 17 to 24, were killed by police. Investigators have reconstructed the broad outline of how the attacks were prepared but they are still seeking to establish if this terrorist cell, including three surviving members who are in prison awaiting trial, had real links to the Islamic State group which claimed responsibility for the attacks, and if they received orders from outside Spain. They have established that Abdelbaki Es Satty, a 44-year-old Moroccan who had been jailed for drug trafficking, became an imam at one of the two mosques in Ripoll, a town of some 10,000 residents at the foot of the Pyrenees, where he indoctrinated a dozen young people, mostly second-generation Moroccan immigrants. - No foreign links - The imam died on August 16, a day before the Barcelona attack, along with another member of the cell, in an accidental explosion while preparing the easy-to-make but deadly explosive TATP, which police believe they intended to use for a more deadly attack. Known as the "mother of Satan", TATP has become the explosive of choice for the Islamic State group. Barcelona landmarks such as the Sagrada Familia basilica and its Camp Nou stadium, along with a gay disco, were mentioned by the cell as possible targets. But the destruction of the explosives prompted the cell to improvise and carry out a vehicle attack, modelled after the one in Nice, France, in 2016 that killed 85 people. Despite the similarities -- and even though the imam left behind a text in the name of the "soldiers of the Islamic State" -- investigators across Europe have searched in vain for evidence that the attackers had contacts abroad that may have given them instructions. During the 18 months that preceded the attacks, some of the members of the Ripoll cell travelled to Switzerland, France, Belgium and Morocco. "We have not found to date in any of our lines of investigation evidence of a reliable external catalyst for the attacks," Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Vazquez of Spain's Guardia Civil police told AFP. - Shadow of secession - Most family members of the victims and survivors of the attacks decline to talk about the painful events. Javier Garcia, the father of a three-year-old boy named Xavi who was killed on Las Ramblas, complained during an interview with Catalan TV that reporters "don't let us mourn". The attacks were quickly eclipsed in the news by Catalonia's attempt to secede from Spain last October following a banned independence referendum in the wealthy northeastern region, which was marred by police violence. The need to respect the victims appears to have brought a temporary truce in the conflict between Spain's central government and the separatists that govern Catalonia. Catalan independence organisations have asked their supporters not to protest against the presence of King Felipe VI at a Barcelona ceremony on Friday to mark the anniversary of the attacks. The head of the Catalan government, Quim Torra, has said the king is not welcome. These tensions hindered the investigation into the attacks as national police forces and regional Catalan police all have jurisdiction over terrorism cases. "Rivalry, mistrust and the exchange of accusations... are probably the most negative side of these days, aside from the victims of the attacks," said the International Observatory for Terrorism Studies, a private research centre based in Spain. People run after a van rammed into crowds on Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona last summer. Before being shot dead by police, the driver had killed 15 people. Forensic policemen arrive in the cordoned off area after the deadly jihadist attack using a van to plough down pedestrians on Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona last August 17. People help injured persons after a van ploughed into the crowd on the popular Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona on August 17, 2017.
Tech magnate Elon Musk's SpaceX vowed Monday to send its first astronauts into orbit on schedule next year -- part of a drive to restore America's dominance of the space race. Gwynne Shotwell, the aerospace manufacturer's president, told journalists in Los Angeles an unmanned flight to the International Space Station in November would pave the way for a manned mission in April 2019. "Predicting launch dates could make a liar out of the best of us. I hope I am not proven to be a liar on this one," she said. NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing in 2014 as part of its commercial crew program, aimed at helping private industry build spaceships to reach low-Earth orbit. On August 3 the agency named the first nine astronauts who will fly to space on Boeing and SpaceX vehicles in 2019 -- a mix of novices and veterans. Those named for the SpaceX test crew include shuttle veterans Bob Behnken, Michael Hopkins and Douglas Hurley, alongside naval aviator Victor Glover, a novice to spaceflight. The flights to the ISS will be the first leaving US soil to put people into orbit since the iconic space shuttle program ended in 2011. For seven years, NASA astronauts have hitched rides to the orbiting outpost on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft -- at a cost of some $80 million a seat. A US government report released in July said it was unlikely that SpaceX would be able to send astronauts to the ISS next year. Shotwell said however the mission would go ahead as soon as SpaceX was "ready to fly these folks safely." "Next in line we want to make sure not only that we get these folks up and back safely but that that's reliable and a mission that we conclude," she added. "We want to hit all the boxes do everything we need to do, to demonstrate that this vehicle is capable of taking astronauts up from US soil as often as NASA will allow us." SpaceX unveiled its astronauts, all clad in blue overalls and smiling proudly in front of the module that will transport them to the ISS, to answer questions from the media. "Being able to fly as a first flight a vehicle as a test pilot is a 'once in a generation' type of opportunity, so obviously I'm very thankful for it," said Hurley. "But I would also say that we've got a lot of work left to do." A mock up of the Crew Dragon spacecraft is displayed during a media tour of SpaceX headquarters and rocket factory in Hawthorne, California (L-R) Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover, the NASA astronauts chosen for the Commercial Crew Program to fly on the SpaceX Crew Dragon The SpaceX spacesuit to be worn by NASA astronauts when they travel to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule
Taiwan's president has given a speech in the United States -- the first time in 15 years that a leader of the island has spoken publicly on American soil -- prompting an official protest from Beijing. During a stopover en route to Paraguay, Tsai Ing-wen, whose government refuses to endorse Beijing's view that Taiwan is part of China, vowed to defend democratic values. "We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy," she said on Monday. China views Taiwan as part of its own territory -- to be reunified by force if necessary -- even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. Beijing is always swift to condemn any move that could be interpreted as de facto diplomatic recognition of the government in Taipei and has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), came to power in 2016. Tsai made her speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, whose namesake she praised for his contribution to Taiwan-US relations, including a commitment not to pressure Taipei to negotiate with Beijing. "Everything was negotiable except two things: our freedom and our future," she quoted from Reagan's remarks in her talk, adding that this is also the sentiment of Taiwanese people at the moment. Her transit in Los Angeles was the most high-profile since former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian's 2003 stopover in New York, where he accepted a human rights award and delivered several public speeches. Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979, but it remains the island's biggest arms supplier and most important unofficial ally. Ties have warmed further since Donald Trump came to power, and were further bolstered by the passage this week of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a commitment to support Taiwan militarily. Last month, the US sent two warships into the Taiwan Strait. That followed a string of military drills staged by Beijing around the island. China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Tuesday reiterated its opposition to any attempt to promote Taiwan's independence when asked to comment on Tsai's US transit. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. We firmly oppose any attempt to create 'two Chinas', 'one China, one Taiwan' and 'Taiwan independence' in the international arena," it said in a statement responding to a question from AFP. The Chinese foreign ministry said it had lodged an official protest with the United States as it recalled that it has always "firmly opposed" the US or other countries with diplomatic relations with China arranging such transits. The ministry urged Washington to "scrupulously abide by the one China principle" and "not send any wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' forces". Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times accused the US and Taiwan of "shady dealings", warning that the mainland was capable of giving the Taiwanese authorities "a drastic punishment". Tsai's trip to Paraguay comes as Taiwan seeks to firm up ties with its dwindling band of diplomatic allies, whose number fell to 18 after Burkina Faso and the Dominican Republic switched recognition to Beijing in May. Under pressure from Beijing, a growing number of international airlines and companies have also edited their websites to refer to the territory as "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei". Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen gave a speech in Los Angeles, California, prompting a rapid response from Beijing
Taliban fighters overran an army base in northern Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday, killing at least 17 soldiers with dozens feared captured in a stinging blow to security forces already struggling to push insurgents from eastern Ghazni. The fall of the base in Ghormach district of volatile Faryab province came with security forces -- who have struggled to hold back the Taliban since NATO combat troops pulled out in 2014 -- already stretched by the days of fighting in Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital two hours from Kabul. Militants gained control of the base after days of heavy fighting, according to army spokesman for northern Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Rezaee. He said around 100 soldiers were on the base when it was first attacked Sunday. "It is a tragedy that the base fell to the enemy. Some soldiers were killed, some captured and some fled to nearby hills," Rezaee told AFP. At least 17 were killed in the attack, according to defence ministry spokesman Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed, while a local MP said Taliban fighters captured another 40 in the base, known as Chenaya. "Preparations are underway to launch an operation to recapture the base," said the ministry's spokesman. Tahir Rehmani -- head of Faryab's provincial council -- said the base fell after the soldiers begged for reinforcements and air support from Kabul but were ultimately ignored. "They were too busy with Ghazni," said Rehmani. Ghazni, further east and which the Taliban first assaulted late Thursday, remains in government hands, officials have said. But fears of civilian casualties in the city were growing as Afghan security forces backed by US air power struggled to push the Taliban out five days after the assault began. A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, said there had been "no reported enemy activity" so far Tuesday, though he added that "some Taliban forces remain in the city". With reports of fighters hiding among the civilian population, O'Donnell said residents had been "terrorized and harassed". "The Taliban, who falsely and repeatedly claim that they do not target civilians, have executed innocents, destroyed homes, burned a market and created the conditions for a potential humanitarian crisis with this attack," he said. The United Nations said unverified reports put civilian casualties at more than 100, with residents also at risk from several days of US air strikes. O'Donnell said no air strikes had been carried out yet Tuesday. Bombs placed along the road leading north and south from the city also "prevented civilians from safely fleeing the violence", said a UN report. Communication networks remained largely down in Ghazni, making any information difficult to verify. But residents said the violence continued. "Ghazni is a ghost city now. The Taliban are going from house to house to find government officials or their relatives to kill," said one resident, Sayed Zia. "Those who can are fleeing." Another resident also said the Taliban were killing civilians who refused to help them. "I saw two trucks full of coffins going toward a cemetery in the city. They all seemed to be civilians," said Abdullah, who asked to only use one name. "The city is full of smoke. Everywhere they go they set the places on fire," he said, adding that shops were being looted, with water and food scarce. - 'Let us go home' - On Monday, the Afghan defence minister said at least 100 security forces had been killed in the fighting in Ghazni so far. Afghan security forces, beset by desertions and low morale, have suffered staggering casualties in recent years. Analysts have said the insurgents may be seeking to demonstrate strength as they come under increasing pressure since an unprecedented ceasefire in June to join peace talks. "Clearly the Taliban have paid no heed to the calls of the Afghan people for them to reconcile and join the peace process," the US spokesman O'Donnell said Tuesday. The assault on Ghazni and the fall of the Chenaya base also illustrate how stretched Afghan forces are across the country, said analyst Abdul Hamid Sofof. "The Taliban know this and they make Afghan forces fight on several fronts, making them run thin," said Sofof. The insurgents have overrun provincial capitals before, including western Farah in May and northern Kunduz in 2015. Each time, they failed to hold the city, pushed out by security forces within days. Ghazni lies along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively serving as a gateway between the capital and the militant strongholds in the south. Hundreds of people trying to reach Kabul from Iran and other provinces were stranded at a bus station in southern Kandahar Tuesday, unable to travel further due to the fighting, an AFP reporter there said. Some said they had been stuck for days, and were running out of money and food. "For God's sake," one man told AFP. "Stop fighting and let us go home." Map of Afghanistan locating Ghormach district, where the Taliban captured an army base Tuesday. The attack on Ghazni is the largest tactical onslaught by the Taliban since an unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a brief halt
The teenager who pushed her friend from an 18-metre bridge and left her with serious injuries has reportedly been pictured days after the incident enjoying herself at a local fair.

The family of Jordan Holgerson have said Taylor Smith isnt sorry for her actions after shoving her 16-year-old friend from Moulton Falls bridge in Yacolt, Washington. Ms Holgerson had hesitated when approaching the bridge to take the leap.

Ms Smith was pictured with a friend at the Clark County Fair in a post on Instagram on Saturday, The Sun reported.

Taylor Smith is the teen responsible for pushing Jordan Holgerson from the bridge in Washington. Source: Facebook/ Taylor Smith

The 18-year-old was pictured days after the incident enjoying herself at a county fair. Source: Instagram via The Sun

Taylor has been going out as if nothing happened, a family member of Ms Holgerson told the publication.

Shes been at a pool party and there were pictures of her at the county fair with a friend on Instagram.

She clearly doesnt care.

While Ms Smith messaged Ms Holgerson an apology, her family doesnt believe it was sincere.

Terrifying footage of the incident shows friends counting Jordan in for a jump, to which she replies, No, I wont go in.

Ms Smith shoved Jordan from the bridge, leaving her with five broken ribs. Source: YouTube

Just seconds later Ms Smith, 18, can be seen shoving Jordan in the back sending her smashing into the waters surface at a horrible angle.

Oh, thats so f*****, one man can be heard saying among a series of screams.

She suffered five broken ribs, a punctured lung and air bubbles in her chest, while her uterus lining also suffered damage and her legs are covered in significant bruising.

Jordan returns home from hospital

Ms Holgerson left hospital over the weekend but her family says she can barely move and is in constant pain.

Her aunt has since started a GoFundMe page to help cover her spiralling medical bills as the teens single mother of four struggles to cover the cost while taking time off work to be by her daughters side.

While Jordan has returned from hospital, she remains in constant pain, her family revealed. Source: GoFundMe

Her mother, Genelle Holgerson, said her daughter could have been killed from the push.

My daughters gonna have a long road to recovery This is not okay. She could have killed my daughter, Ms Hogerson told US news outlet KATU 2.

Ashley Mahree, the girl who recorded and shared the video online, said the girls actions were almost criminal.

This could have easily taken a life, and I think this girl needs to be held accountable in some way, she wrote online.
A Turkish court on Tuesday ordered the release of two Greek soldiers detained since March on espionage charges for illegally crossing the border in a case that has stoked tensions between Athens and Ankara. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras immediately welcomed the move as an "act of justice". Their release will "contribute to a reinforcement of friendship, good neighbourliness and stability in the region," Tsipras said in a statement. The statement added that Greek officials would travel overnight to the Turkish city of Edirne and then return with the two men to Thessaloniki airport in northern Greece in the early hours of Wednesday. Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported earlier that a court in the Edirne region had ruled that the two soldiers would now be tried without being held in detention but did not make clear if that meant they could return to Greece in the meantime. The court had previously refused several requests for them to be released from detention. The case added to a long list of troubles between Turkey and Greece which, though both NATO members since 1952, have tense relations. The European Union had also backed member state Greece in the dispute, condemning the detention of the soldiers and calling for their release. The release order for the two men -- which was wholly unexpected -- comes as Turkey is engulfed in a bitter dispute with its NATO ally the United States which has seen the Turkish lira plunge to record lows. The soldiers, Lieutenant Aggelos Mitretodis and Sergeant Dimitros Kouklatzis, told prosecutors shortly after their arrest that they mistakenly crossed the border after getting lost in the fog. But they were charged with "attempted military espionage" by prosecutors as well as entering a forbidden military zone. The prosecution said the pair testified they entered the Turkish side by tracking footsteps in the snow and filmed images on their mobile phones to send to higher ranking officials. Courts had until now repeatedly turned down requests from their lawyers for the release of the pair. Athens and Ankara have also clashed over Turkish demands that Greece extradite eight Turkish troops wanted over the July 2016 attempted coup aimed at unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Lieutenant Aggelos Mitretodis, one of two Greek soldiers who were detained after crossing the border into Turkey, is escorted by Turkish gendarmes as he leaves from a courthouse in Edrine, northern Turkey
The crisis in US-Turkish relations, which already has put Turkey's economy under massive strain, also risks souring military ties between the two NATO allies, unleashing unknown geopolitical consequences. US President Donald Trump last week announced new tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, causing the country's currency to plummet, over his frustration with Ankara's continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson. Then on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote in The New York Times that unless Washington can "reverse this trend of unilateralism and disrespect," Turkey will "start looking for new friends and allies." The warning came after Erdogan held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss economic and trade issues, as well as the Syria crisis. Military ties between Turkey and the US are already fraught over Washington's support to Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG, which Ankara sees as little more than an offshoot of the "terrorist" Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). And tensions were heightened further after Turkey, despite being a NATO ally, entered into an understanding to buy Russia's advanced S-400 air defense system. Such a move would defy US sanctions on Moscow, and Turkey's increasingly cozy relationship with Putin has alarmed both the US and the European Union. Trump on Monday signed a defense authorization act that notably prohibits the delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey if it goes ahead with the S-400 purchase. Retired Admiral James Stavridis, an ex-NATO supreme allied commander, urged Washington and Ankara to do all they can to improve relations. "To lose Turkey would be a geopolitical mistake of epic proportions," he told MSNBC on Monday. "Hopefully we can pull them back, but Turkey has to make the first step at this point." Trump's national security advisor John Bolton met with Ambassador Serdar Kilic of Turkey on Monday to discuss "Turkey's continued detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson and the state of the US-Turkey relationship," the White House said. Turkey's dialogue with Russia has led some to question its reliability as a NATO partner, and even whether it should remain in the alliance. But Joshua Landis, director of Center for Middle East Studies, told AFP that Turkey's ejection from NATO would be disastrous. "There's no upside to kicking Turkey out, it'll just force Turkey into Russia's hands," he said. - Key air base - Experts are looking to Incirlik, a Turkish air base in southern Turkey, just 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the border with war-torn Syria. The base has been a frequent pawn during decades of ups and downs in US-Turkey relations. Incirlik's location relative to the Middle East makes it a key strategic asset for the US military and for NATO, and the United States until recently flew bombing runs from there as it fought the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Separately, the facility is thought to hold a stockpile of about 50 American nuclear bombs. The arrangement works for Turkey too, as the US military provides Turks with intelligence and drone surveillance over the border region, and helps Ankara monitor the outlawed PKK. Last year, Muharrem Ince, the main opposition candidate in Turkey's presidential election, threatened to shut Incirlik unless the US extradited Fethullah Gulen, the exiled Muslim preacher Ankara blames for an attempted coup in 2016. Ince went on to lose the election to Erdogan by a large margin, but Incirlik remains a key issue. Following the coup attempt, the Turkish base commander at Incirlik was arrested on suspicion of complicity in the plot. And according to Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, pro-Erdogan lawyers have filed a lawsuit calling for the arrest of US troops at Incirlik on similar suspicions. Both sides stand to lose if US-Turkey military relations go south, but experts say it would hurt Turkey more. For instance, the diplomatic crisis with Turkey could jeopardize a $1.5 billion deal that Ankara has made with Pakistan to sell 30 Turkish-made helicopter gunships. Because the choppers use US parts that require an export license, the sale could ultimately be at risk. "Turkey is going to be hurt the most because it's weaker and America is just a big elephant," Landis said. In situations like this, it "ultimately hurts the smaller countries a lot more." A file photo shows US air tankers lining up to take off from the Incirlik Airbase in southern Turkey
The woman once labelled the most despised in Australia has broken her silence after 15 years behind bars.

In 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was convicted of killing her four infant children.

Patrick, Laura, Sarah and Caleb Folbigg all died before they turned two  the youngest, Caleb, was just 19 days old.

Patrick, Laura, Sarah and Caleb Folbigg all died before they turned two. Source: 7 News

Folbigg has broken her silence in a push for a judicial appeal that has been stalled for the past three years. Source: 7 News

It was a crime that shocked the nation, but when Folbigg walked into court to be sentenced for killing her children, she gave no reaction.

In May 2003, a NSW Supreme Court jury found her guilty of the murder of three of her children and the manslaughter of another, while Folbigg claimed each child died of natural causes.

She was sentenced to 40 years in jail, which was later reduced to 30 years.

Now halfway through her sentence, Folbigg has broken her silence in a push for a judicial appeal that has been stalled for the past three years.

I do feel incredibly frustrated, she says in an audio recording aired by Australian Story on Monday.

For three years now weve been clinging on to that little bit of hope.

Barrister Isabel Reed said the amount of time it had taken was extraordinary.

Now, for the first time, Folbigg is revealing her thoughts in her own words.

Absolutely shattered. I might have had every wall up trying to protect me but theres nothing that can protect you from that, Folbigg said of the death of her children.

It was a crime that shocked the nation, but when Folbigg walked into court to be sentenced for killing her children, she gave no reaction. Source: 7 News

In the recordings, she tries to explain away the diaries that helped convict her.

On baby Sarah, she had written: I knew I was short-tempered and cruel sometimes to her, and she left. With a bit of help.

But in her audio interview, Folbigg says the help she was referring to was God, or to some higher being, higher power.

Folbigg, whose father stabbed her mother to death, also wrote in her diary: I am my fathers daughter.

Folbigg being interviewed by police. Source: 7 News

Those diaries are written from a point of me always blaming myself, Folbigg said.

Story continues

I blame myself for everything. Its just I took so much of the responsibility, because thats, as mothers, what you do.

The centrepiece of Folbiggs judicial review is a 120-page forensic report that finds there was no medical basis for a conviction.

In the report, forensic pathologist Professor Stephen Cordner concludes that there was no forensic evidence to prove Folbiggs children were murdered.

Professor Cordner concluded in the report that Caleb and Sarah died from SIDS , while Patrick most likely died from complications brought on by epilepsy.

But a spokesman for her former husband says they are still convinced she is guilty.

The family of Folbiggs ex-husband still believe she is guilty. Source: 7 News

Shes never challenged the conviction, only the length of the sentence, former brother-in-law John Folbigg said.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the petition raises complex questions to which I am giving appropriate consideration and have taken extensive advice.

I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future, he said in a statement.
Doctors threaten to stop services from August 17

The Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has taken a serious exception to the Criminal Code-2074, saying the law is against the agreement reached between the government and the umbrella body of Nepali doctors.
Yemen's ambassador to the UN said Tuesday that his government had not yet been invited to peace talks planned for next month, but that it was open to attending despite low prospects for success. "We are waiting for the invitation," Yemen's envoy to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Majawar, told reporters. The UN's peace envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, told the Security Council earlier this month that he wants to host warring parties in the Swiss city on September 6. A Yemeni government source, who requested anonymity, told AFP on August 3 that it would attend. Majawar underscored that in the two weeks since Griffiths announced the talks, the UN has not shared any details, including on the crucial issue of whether the government and rebels would be asked to meet face-to-face. The government is waiting for clarity from Griffiths "on the mechanism and contents of the consultations," Majawar said. "In my personal opinion, they will be very difficult consultations... We don't think the Huthis will make any compromises to help the talks to go forward," he added. The war in Yemen has triggered what the UN has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster. Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since March 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition intervened to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government against the Huthis. While all sides have been accused of major violations, global outrage in recent days has focused on the coalition after it carried out an air strike on a bus that killed 40 children in the rebel-held north. The last attempt at UN-brokered talks broke down in 2016 amid demands for a rebel withdrawal from key cities and power-sharing with the Saudi-backed government. The war in Yemen has triggered what the UN has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster
When President Donald Trump signed a $716 billion defense policy bill named in honor of U.S. Sen. John McCain, he didn't mention the Arizona senator.

But at a Utica fundraiser Monday, the president referred to McCain while discussing the Republicans' failed attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

In a last-minute change, Trump delivered remarks and shared what he believes are his administration's major achievements. He highlighted the passage of a tax overhaul which included a provision to eliminate the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate penalty.

"I would've gotten rid of everything," Trump said, "but as you know one of our wonderful senators said thumbs down at 2 o'clock in the morning."

The comment refers to a July 2017 vote in the Senate on a bill that would've repealed the individual mandate and portions of the Affordable Care Act. The bill failed 49-51. McCain joined U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski as the only Republicans who opposed the measure.

After that vote, Trump criticized McCain and has made repeated references to that failed effort.

The Republicans haven't shied away from criticizing one another since Trump became a presidential candidate in 2015. That year, he said McCain wasn't a war hero "because he was captured." Members of both parties rebuked Trump's comments.

Earlier Monday, Trump signed the defense policy bill that was named in honor of McCain. At the bill signing, which was held at Fort Drum in northern New York, he referred to the legislation as the National Defense Authorization Act, not the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act  the bill's official title.

McCain, a Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war, chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In a statement Monday, McCain applauded Trump for signing the bill and said he's "humbled" that it was named in his honor.

"Serving as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and working on behalf of America's brave service members has been one of the greatest honors of my life," McCain said. "I'm proud that throughout my tenure, the committee has led with a spirit of comity and cooperation to provide for America's Armed Forces. There is no higher calling than to serve a cause greater than self-interest. Through the committee's work, I've been privileged to support our men and women in uniform who have dedicated their lives to that noble cause."

McCain wasn't present when the Senate passed the defense policy bill. He has an aggressive form of brain cancer, which has prevented him from casting votes in Washington.

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John Mannion collected another union endorsement in the 50th Senate District race.

United Auto Workers Region 9, which represents members in central and western New York, New Jersey and most of Pennsylvania, backed Mannion, D-Westvale, for state Senate.

Mannion is running to succeed retiring state Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Republican. The GOP candidate in the race is Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci.

John O'Hara, chair of UAW Local 624 in Syracuse, called Mannion "a proven fighter."

"We are proud to stand with John Mannion and endorse his state Senate campaign," O'Hara said.

Mannion has other labor support in the 50th district race. He won the New York State United Teachers' endorsement in April shortly after he launched his campaign. On Monday, unions representing Auburn firefighters and police officers endorsed his candidacy.

Labor groups are familiar with Mannion. As an Advanced Placement biology teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus, he is president of the West Genesee Teachers Association and is a member of the Onondaga County Teachers Association.

Last year, he helped NYSUT's efforts in central New York to oppose the constitutional convention ballot question.

In a statement reacting to the UAW's support, Mannion highlighted the need for organized labor.

"I will stand up for the hardworking men and women who make central New York great, and with their support I know we will win in November," he said.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday issued a state of emergency for several upstate counties as heavy rainfall continues across much of New York.

The state of emergency will be in effect through Aug. 21. It covers Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Wayne and Yates counties.

The state Emergency Operations Center in Albany is monitoring heavy rainfall and flooding in the affected counties. Roger Parrino, commissioner of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, has been deployed to Seneca County.

Twenty-five soldiers and five vehicles from the New York Army National Guard's 204th Engineer Battalion in Binghamton will support the flood response in Broome County. Twenty-five airmen and five vehicles from the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse have been deployed to Seneca County.

The New York National Guard will provide 150 soldiers and 30 vehicles on Wednesday, including 50 soldiers and 10 vehicles from the Auburn armory.

Several state agencies are providing equipment and supplies to assist with the response.

Cuomo issued the state of emergency after surveying flood damage in Broome and Seneca counties. In Seneca County, nearly 50 people and a group of firefighters were rescued after being trapped in a flood area in the town of Lodi.

Boats were sent in to transport the residents to safety. Cuomo said heavy equipment will be used to clear trees and other debris from roads.

No serious injuries were reported, but Cuomo described it as a "dangerous situation."

"I want to make this point as serious as a heart attack: floods are nothing to play with," he said.

The Seneca County Sheriff's Office and the county's emergency management agency announced a state of emergency for the towns of Covert, Lodi, Ovid and Romulus. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the Lodi Point area, which is where several residents were trapped.

Some roads are closed due to the flooding.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning Tuesday morning. As of 8 a.m., more than three inches of rain was reported in the town of Romulus. Other parts of Seneca County reported more than an inch of rain.

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The first presidential visit to Utica in 70 years had one goal: To show support for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, who is facing a tough re-election bid in the 22nd Congressional District.

President Donald Trump headlined a fundraiser for Tenney, R-New Hartford, Monday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica. There were an estimated 300 people at the event, according to Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey, who was among the attendees.

With hundreds of protesters and counter-protesters outside, Tenney and Trump highlighted what many inside the hotel already knew  that they are partners in Washington.

"The people of this region have had a tough time for a long time, but we're still standing," Tenney said as she introduced Trump at the fundraiser, which cost guests up to $15,000 to attend. " And we're thrilled after decades of failed policies  sometimes from both parties  to have an ally standing with us and fighting for our region."

Moments later, Trump took the stage  his second appearance of the day in upstate New York. Earlier in the afternoon, he signed the annual National Defense Authorization Act, a major defense policy bill, at Fort Drum in Jefferson County.

Trump blasted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both of whom are running for re-election this year. He outlined what he believes are his administration's major achievements. His most notable accomplishment is the passage of a tax overhaul that reduced income tax rates for millions of Americans and slashed corporate tax rates from 35 to 21 percent.

Tenney was one of four New York Republicans who supported the tax proposal in the House of Representatives. It's one example of how close the Mohawk Valley Republican has been to the Trump administration.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Tenney votes with Trump's position 96.7 percent of the time. While some Republicans have distanced themselves from Trump, she has embraced the president.

That has provided fodder for Tenney's critics, but it should help her with Trump's base in the central New York district.

"I'm here for Claudia. She has been incredible in Congress. She has helped us so much," Trump said. He added, "Hopefully we put Claudia right over the top where she belongs. I don't think she's going to have any problem."

Political forecasters rate the race a toss-up, meaning it's expected to be a close contest. Tenney's opponent, Democratic state Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, has raised more money. A poll released in May found Brindisi leading by seven points over Tenney.

Trump didn't mention Brindisi by name, but claimed Democrats want to raise taxes and have open borders.

"I think Claudia is going to do great," Trump said. "You gotta help her because she is running against somebody that's a total puppet of Nancy Pelosi."

Pelosi, the top House Democrat, has supported Brindisi's campaign. Through her campaign and political action committee, she has donated $14,000. But Brindisi has said he won't support her to lead House Democrats if he's elected to Congress.

Brindisi's public statements haven't stopped Tenney's campaign from linking him to Pelosi.

"My campaign is focused on working people," Brindisi said Monday. "I don't take corporate PAC money and I've spent my time holding town halls in every county and meeting with thousands of voters. They won't fall for Claudia Tenney's smear campaign. They want an independent voice who can get things done."

Trump's visit is an indication of how high a priority the race is for Republicans. The president is taking an active role in the midterm elections to prevent a Democratic takeover of the House.

Last month, nearly 100 House Republicans each received $2,700  the maximum amount allowed  from Trump's campaign.

Trump may return to New York before the election. In addition to Tenney's race, there are competitive contests in the 24th Congressional District (represented by U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican) and the 19th district, where GOP U.S. Rep. John Faso is seeking another term.

If Trump returns for a second appearance with Tenney, she would welcome him back to the Mohawk Valley.

"President Trump is truly a voice for the forgotten men and women of our region and our country," she said.

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U.S. Rep. John Katko is once again pushing for improvements to summer meal programs and hopes legislation he has cosponsored will advance in Congress.

Katko, R-Camillus, visited the Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse Tuesday to highlight his support of the Summer Meals Act. The bill's main provision would lower the threshold needed for a community to qualify for the federal Summer Food Service Program.

Under current law, 50 percent of children in a given area must be eligible for free or reduced school meals for a community to be eligible for the summer program. The Summer Meals Act would lower the eligibility standard to 40 percent.

By lowering the threshold, the Summer Food Service Program would be expanded because more agencies could participate and offer meals.

The bill would cut paperwork requirements for agencies that are now required to operate the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. Grants would be offered for mobile meal trucks and other initiatives to provide meals to children in rural and under-served areas. And sites would be allowed to serve a third meal.

"For far too many children in our community, the only nutritious meal that they receive is at school," Katko said in a statement. "This means that during the summer months, these children may go without healthy meals. Childhood hunger and malnourishment have lasting impacts on a child's health, education outcomes, and future competitiveness in the workforce."

The Summer Meals Act has bipartisan support. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand first introduced her version of the bill in 2014. A similar measure was introduced in the House of Representatives.

The legislation hasn't progressed in either chamber. Katko cosponsored a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican. There are 50 cosponsors, including 48 Democrats.

Katko is one of two Republicans who support the bill. The other is U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania.

Two years ago, Katko launched a similar push to advance the proposal. He visited the Food Bank of Central New York and the Huntington Family Center in Syracuse.

"In Congress, I've stood up for programs like (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program), which help to eliminate childhood hunger, and I've been a steadfast supporter of the Summer Meals Act to strengthen, protect and ensure access to the summer nutrition programs," he said.

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At a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, President Donald Trump slammed two New York Democrats who have been among his harshest critics.

In a speech at Hotel Utica, where the $1,000-a-person fundraiser was held, Trump blasted U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both of whom have been mentioned as possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.

Trump expressed disappointment that the Cuomo administration opted to ban hydraulic fracturing in New York. The 2014 decision prohibits the drilling technique to extract natural gas.

Proponents of hydraulic fracturing contend that it would create thousands of jobs and provide a major boost to economically depressed upstate New York. But opponents believe the environmental impact would outweigh any economic benefits.

"We had the potential to do it better than anybody," Trump said. "It's dissipated."

Trump later criticized Cuomo's position on guns. The governor has called on the president and Congress to pass federal gun safety legislation in the aftermath of mass shootings.

One of Cuomo's signature legislative achievements is the passage of the SAFE Act, a 2013 gun control law that he advocated for following the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

"Cuomo wants to take away your Second Amendment," Trump said.

Trump reminded the crowd that he nearly ran for governor in 2014. Republicans urged him to enter the race and challenge Cuomo, who was then seeking a second term as the state's top executive.

After traveling the state and speaking at GOP fundraisers, Trump declined to run for governor. One year later, he launched his presidential campaign.

Now it's Cuomo who has been mentioned as a possible Trump opponent in 2020. The president claimed the governor called him and said he would never run against him.

"Oh, please do it," Trump said Monday.

Cuomo's campaign didn't respond to questions about the phone call between the governor and Trump. Earlier Monday, Cuomo's office released a statement ahead of the president's visit to upstate New York.

"You say you want to make this country great again, but you have clearly forgotten what made this country great in the first place," Cuomo said. "Perhaps you can use this trip to New York to help you remember what truly makes this state and this nation great."

Trump also weighed in on the U.S. Senate race in New York. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Trump administration in Congress, is seeking a second six-year term. Her opponent is Chele Farley, a Republican.

Farley, who attended the fundraiser in Utica, was recognized by Trump. He wished her luck and believes she should defeat Gillibrand, a Democrat, in November.

"I know your opponent very well," Trump said. "She's been up to my office looking for campaign contributions. And she's very aggressive on contributions, but she's not very aggressive on getting things done."

Gillibrand tweeted after Trump's speech, "The President refuses to acknowledge the work I've gotten done. Sound familiar, ladies?"

Trump visited upstate New York for the first time as president Monday. Before traveling to Utica for the Tenney fundraiser, he signed the National Defense Authorization Act at Fort Drum in Jefferson County.

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SKANEATELES  As a young teen, Claudia Lambdin turned an entire wall of her bedroom into a collage. When her mother told her she couldn't paste things to her walls any more, she continued expanding her collage onto the ceiling with the help of a stapler.

"I've finally come back to my first love, which is art," Lambdin said last week, explaining that she's held many other professional jobs in her lifetime, including being a social worker for many years.

Lambdin just returned to making collages last fall, and since then has made about 130, she said. She has the time now that her two daughters, Mary and Allison, are grown.

"This is something really fun and new," Lambdin said of her collage show Rooted in Dreams, which will be featured at Gallery 54 in Skaneateles for the month of August. Although her various forms of artwork have been in other shows before, this is the first time she's exhibited her work in a gallery.

Lambdin explained that her business, Ahj-nae Collage by Claudia, is named after Ajna, the third-eye chakra. She prefers, however, to spell Ajna the way it sounds.

Ajna, according to the Hindu religion, "connects people to their intuition," Lambdin said. "It's very spiritual to me."

True to her exhibit's title, Lambdin described her work as whimsical folk art reminiscent of dreams. She explained that when you look at her collages as a whole, they make sense  similar to how, when in a dreamlike state, everything makes sense to your intuition. But when you start pulling the collages apart and analyzing each unique piece that makes up the whole, Lambdin continued, there are many objects and symbols that don't quite make sense. She said it's like waking up and beginning to tell your dream to a friend, only to realize that not all the pieces fit together as seamlessly as you originally thought.

Her work, filled with symbols, spiritual animals, bold colors and patterns, emerges from allowing her intuition to take over, Lambdin explained. She added that she can only collage when distracted.

"I don't force anything," Lambdin said, "then it's not coming from a place of creativity."

To help herself create authentic art with "no intention," Lambdin distracts herself by listening to music, cutting pieces out of catalogs while visiting with a friend over coffee, or watching movies. Everywhere she goes, her bag of collage fodder follows.

"You can't plan it, that's the excitement and the fun of it," Lambdin said. "What you do is have 'ah-ha moments' ... look at what comes out," she marveled while admiring one of her own pieces. "How they blend is the spiritual and the mystery of it."

She said her work ends up being rich in archetypes, not by intention, and her hope is that people are able to derive personal meanings and interpretations from the symbolism in the collages  finding their own "ah-ha moments." It isn't even until Lambdin finishes a collage that she realizes any personal meaning or relevance it has with respect to her own life. And sometimes, the meaning of a piece changes over time.

Determining when a collage is complete is just as intuitive as the creative process for Lambdin. She explained that she never decides when something is done, she "just knows."

"If it brings (people) joy, that's the ticket," she said, explaining that bringing others happiness and personal meaning is the ultimate goal of her work. "I started to realize, like dreams, symbols mean different things to different people."

Lambdin explained that in the past she's attended dream retreats to learn how to process dreams without allowing anybody else to weave their own inferences into it, and she hopes others are able to do the same with her artwork. For this reason, she is always asking others what her collages mean to them, rather than asserting any meaning.

One of the only semi-intentional aspects of Lambdin's creation process is similar to the classic "Where's Waldo?" books. She said that recently, she's been adding her own hidden signature  a floating fish  to each of her collages. The type of fish and where or how it appears, however, is always unique.

"It's colorful, it's fun, it's ever-changing," Lambdin said of her collages, which boast titles like "Born to Soar," "Life is a Circus" and "Welcome to Neverland."

Repurposing materials is the lifeblood of Lambdin's art, she said.

"I'm always looking to upcycle, recycle things once discarded," she said. "That's what art is, making something out of nothing."

Lambdin utilizes things like magazines, coffee table books, old French wallpaper books and maps to fuel her creativity. She also frames all of her pieces herself, allowing the frame to become part of the art as well.

She added that she purchases frames from places like Rescue Mission's Thrifty Shopper stores, so any money she spends creating her art "goes to mission."

Beyond August, Lambdin's framed collage prints will continue to be displayed and sold both in varying sizes and as greeting cards at Gallery 54.

Staff writer Megan Ehrhart can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or megan.ehrhart@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @MeganEhrhart.

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Do you know a real hero? The American Red Cross of Central New York wants to hear from you.

Nominate your hero for the 2018 Real Heroes Breakfast. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Aug. 31.

Now in its 20th year, the annual event will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Oncenter in Syracuse. Since its humble inception two decades ago, the breakfast has evolved into a highly anticipated tradition. Several hundred central New Yorkers gather on the first Wednesday of December to honor ordinary people who make extraordinary contributions by putting their needs aside to help others in our community.

Proceeds support Red Cross programs and services in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties.

Your hero might be a lifeguard who saved a drowning child, a person who performed CPR when a stranger collapsed at a shopping mall, or someone who saved a neighbors pet from a fire.

John Exner, of Auburn, was included on last years impressive roster of heroes. As we had learned, John was having lunch with a friend at the Hunter Dinerant when he was alerted to a commotion at a nearby table. He noticed that a woman was choking. John approached the scene, spoke with her briefly and then performed the Heimlich maneuver. He had been trained in the life-saving technique at Camp Y-Owasco and at Cayuga Community College.

For his actions, John was honored as Youth Good Samaritan, which is presented to an ordinary citizen, age 20 or younger, who used life-saving skills to save the life of another.

You may know a similar story, or witnessed one yourself. In the past, we have even heard from some of the men and women whose lives were saved.

While many of the honorees are ordinary people who were propelled into emergency situations, we also salute members of the military, first responders and medical practitioners who have adopted heroism as their calling.

Please visit redcross.org/cnyrealheroes for a complete description of the award categories and a nomination form.

Dan Hartman is regional communications program manager for the American Red Cross of Western and Central New York. For more information, call (315) 234-2200 or info.cny@redcross.org.

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Flooded Mahakali erodes Bayalbanda embankment

The flooded Mahakali river has started to erode the embankment at Bayalbanda area in Mahakali Municipality-1, Kanchanpur. Bayalbanda residents said the river started eroding the embankment from Sunday.
LOS ANGELESNakedSword is going all out to celebrate the Nob Hill Theatre before it closes its doors for good this Sunday, August 19th. In honor of the event, NakedSword is filming a movie centered around the theatre and it's place in San Francisco history. The movie will be directed by mr. Pam and feature Falcon exclusive's Alam Wernik and Woody Fox with Adam Killian, Jessie Colter, Carlos Lindo, Max Duro, Brandon Wilde, Max Adonis and Timarrie Baker.

The entire movie will be filmed on location in the theatre but this Friday, August 17th, mr. Pam will direct Adam Killian, Jessie Colter, Carlos Lindo, and Max Duro live in front of a sold out audience at the Nob Hill Theatre.

mr. Pam says of the new project, "This movie is a love letter to this historic theatre that was built in 1911 and has served as the backdrop for so many gay sexual escapades. The Nob Hill Theatre represents a big part of San Francisco gay culture. When it closes it will be an end of an era. She goes on to say, Filming a live sex scene in front of a sold out audience is never easy but always exhilarating for me and the models. In fact, we filmed one of the first scenes at the theatre's video arcade last week while it was open and a crowd of guys stumbled upon the shoot and while watching us film they began engaging in their own fun, it was so hot and a great way to add to the naughty nature of the theatres historic past."

Tim Valenti, president of Falcon Studio Group and The NakedSword Network, says, "We are thrilled to be apart of an event 50 years in the making and are honored to be able to pay tribute to a San Francisco gay institution." He goes on the say, "The owners have been amazing to let us film so many fantastic projects there over the years at no cost. Im honored they are trusting us with their finale and I'm sure the movie will be spectacular!"

Stay tuned for the more information on the release of the NakedSword movie paying tribute to the iconic Nob Hill Theatre playing exclusively on "The NetFlix of Gay Porn" this November.
CHATSWORTH, Calif.Pipedream Products has capitalized on the popularity of the King Cock range by adding a slew of new styles, sizes, and shades to this best-selling brand. Released during last months ANME show, all 44 new King Cock items are now in stock and shipping.

King cock is one of our best-selling toys, said Staci Kurbis of Deva Ju in Vista, Calif. Theyre very successful due to their realistic appeal and price point.

After receiving countless consumer inquiries for larger King Cock items, Pipedream has responded to the demand with a new gaping 10-inch (25.4 cm) Chubby, plus four graduated sizes up to 14-inch (35.5 cm). Each new style is available in four colors.

In an effort to satisfy a wider range of users, the manufacturer has also capped off the line with 24 tan additions to their vibrating, squirting, and strap-on styles.

We sell lots of the King Cock nine and ten-inch vibes, but the squirting one is the surprise hit of the summer, said Joe Robles of Dreamers in Texas. People are definitely using them, as we sell lots of Jizzle Juice too.

Pipedream has long set the standard for adult manufacturing and prides itself on holding this high standard for customer service as well. With the combined efforts of the Pipedream sales, marketing, and design teams, the company makes merchandising a breeze by offering custom promotional materials including banners, signage, window clings, online collateral, and more. Customers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and to place their orders by contacting their sales representative now.

For more, visit PipedreamProducts.com.
Archived Results for Tuesday, August 14th, 2018

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Republican and Democratic Senators questioned Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on Wednesday regarding President Trump's foreign policy. On its face, it appears that our legislators are concerned as to what exactly is Trump's policy - particularly with Russia. But the more likely explanation is that they just want to embarrass and frustrate him in his role as president of the United States, and to plant the seed in the minds of the American people and maybe even the world audience that he doesn't know what he is doing.Secretary Pompeo testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where lawmakers eager and hungry to learn more about what Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about in their two-hour private meeting last week in Helsinki, grilled him. It's killing them that they don't know exactly how Donald Trump's brain works and how he continues to find success after success in his agenda and diplomacy.As the Hill reported a day earlier:Some Senators commented that the hearing would not only focus on the Helsinki summit, but also on North Korea (what is the status of diplomatic talks?), Trump's decision in May to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal (and what will his next moves be), Trump's trade deals (the scope of those trade deals; will American farming be harmed?; will there likely be a trade war?), and his boldness in criticizing our European allies (which they fear will erode trust within NATO).But most believe the true target of the hearing was Trump's private meeting with Putin. They are still angry: (1) first, that Trump chose to go ahead and meet with Putin even though Congress warned him not to go, and (2) second, that he was unable to profess complete confidence and trust, while the country and the world watched, in the American Intelligence Community as it relates to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.Let us go back and look at the reason President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was not to scold him for meddling in our election, it was not to capitalize on an opportunity to threaten Russia about future attempts at meddling, and it was not to establish a relationship between the two administrations based on mistrust, disrespect, or skepticism. It was not a pissing contest, a chance to beat their chests, or a game of showmanship. The meeting was about establishing a relationship between the two world leaders and opening a respectable and productive dialogue between the two administrations for the sake of world peace and stability. It was about re-establishing a relationship that had chilled and drifted for many years. Some believe the relationship between the US and Russia was at an all-time low. President Trump was not about to accept that. In his mind and in his judgement, the meeting would concentrate on the positive and on achieving mutual benefits.These were the words he used in Helsinki.He also made very clear his diplomatic mission when he told reporters, with Putin at his side:And so, at the press conference in Helsinki, President Trump chose not to make Russian meddling in our election (which, by every single account was minor - misleading political ads on Facebook and other social media - and which had absolutely no impact on the outcome of the election) a source of major contention or even a sore spot in what he hoped would be a new start for bilateral relations between the two great superpowers - the two countries that together, control over 90% of all the world's nuclear weapons.As Liz Peeks of FOX News commented: "Did anyone really expect him [Trump] to declare the Russian leader a liar on global TV? What would have been the point of traveling to Helsinki and arranging a summit between the world's two biggest nuclear powers, only to scuttle the chance at a new and improved relationship? It wasn't going to happen, and in fact Trump hinted at that beforehand, when he told reporters not to expect "a Perry Mason" moment.He was also not going to give the duplicitous and scheming Democrats the "bone" that they wanted - a statement of confidence in the handling of the Russian interference investigation by the US Intelligence agencies. He knows how Democrats weasel around the truth; he knows that they would someone bring it up, purportedly as fact, that "Trump admitted that he has confidence in the findings of the FBI and DOJ that there was collusion between the Russians and his campaign during the 2016 election." The truth is that he has absolutely no reason to be confident in that investigation or in the affairs nefariously initiated within the intelligence agencies against him and his campaign.That is why, at that moment in Helsinki, when asked by a reporter whether he holds Putin liable for any complicity in the 2016 US presidential election, President Trump was unable to make the statement that those at home hoped he would. He chose not to be confrontational. He chose not to be adversarial.Jeff Mason, of Reuters asked President Trump: "Mr. President, you tweeted this morning that it's US Foolishness, stupidity and the Mueller probe that is responsible for the decline in US Relations with Russia. Do you hold Russia at all accountable for anything in particular? If so, what would you consider them that they are responsible for?"The line "I think we're all to blame" is the statement that immediately stood out to everyone during the press conference. According to CNN, of course, Trump's statements amounted to an unprecedented refusal by a US president to believe his own intelligence agencies over the word of a foreign adversary and drew swift condemnation from across the partisan divide. Disgraced former FBI head, John Brennan, moronically characterized Trump's comments as "high crimes and misdemeanors" and accused Trump of treason. And Congressional Democrats, as well as some Congressional Republicans, and advisers and commentators from both sides, have accused Trump of making a colossal diplomatic blunder by not using the opportunity at Helsinki to scold Putin.Jonathan Lemire, a reporter with AP, asked Trump: "Just now President Putin denied having anything to do with the election interference in 2016. Every US intelligence agency has concluded that Russia did. My first question for you, sir, is who do you believe? My second question is would you now with the whole world watching tell President Putin - Would you denounce what happened in 2016 and would you warn him to never do it again?'Let's discuss the specific issues and not use the Russia and US Relationship as a loose change for this internal political struggle.Given what Trump has been subjected to since he has been a candidate for president, and especially being told that the FBI has a file on him colluding with Russia in the days leading up to his inaugural, the never-ending witch-hunt by Special Counsel Mueller, the raiding of offices and prosecutorial coercion of anyone related to him, and his own experience of being set up, framed, and relentlessly persecuted by the fatally-flawed entirely politically-biased American "intelligence community," is it any wonder that given the choice, at the press conference, of which side to have greater trust and confidence in - a choice between ex-KGB agent Vladimir Putin and the rogue American intelligence agencies - that he preferred a more diplomatic answer? As Sidney Powell of The Daily Caller wrote:Anyway, on board Air Force One, returning to Washington, President Trump sought to clarify his position at the summit, which he understood was not well-presented. He tweeted: "As I said today and many times before, "I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people." However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past -- as the world's two largest nuclear powers, we must get along!"In assessing the success or lack of success of the summit, from a diplomatic point of view, taking into consideration the overall goal Trump sought to achieve, we would have to conclude that it indeed was a success. Paraphrasing what Ms. Connie Hanna wrote in her July 24 article, "Trump Report Card," ..... What we saw from President Trump at the Helsinki summit was a successful example of American diplomacy, by a skilled and gracious national leader. The thawing of relations, as we were fortunate to witness, is certainly preferable to tension and conflict any day of the week!!Nevertheless, with yesterday's hearing, the Senate was clearly letting the American know that it has little confidence in Trump's ability to conduct foreign policy, while at the same time throwing a collective hissy fit that he isn't sharing details with them.So, what ended up happening at Wednesday's hearing?Basically, Secretary clashed with Senators, from both sides, who really wanted to accuse President Trump of not knowing what he is doing and in particular, as they believe the Helsinki summit proved, of being soft on Putin. Luckily, the man who actually knows and who is privy to Trump's policy agenda, firmly and strongly stood up for the president.
More than 2,000 North Carolina elementary teachers have failed the math portion of their licensing exam since the state started using a new test in 2013. The test itself may be the problem.Before the 2013-14 school year, North Carolina required all elementary teachers to pass Praxis 5015 to earn a license to teach in the state. The state has since adopted the Pearson Publishing Co.'s test, which includes subsets of mathematics and reading.After the switch, pass rates plummeted for the math section of the test. With Praxis, the N.C. average pass rate from the 2011-12 school year to 2013-14 was 85 percent. For the 2014-15 school year, the pass rate dropped to 65 percent. The most recent pass rate is 54.5 percent.In July, the State Board of Education allowed school districts to retain teachers who failed the test for another year, giving them time to retake it.The problem isn't limited to North Carolina. Florida and Indiana also saw more teachers flunk the test. ABC Action News reported in Florida that at least 1,040 teachers lost their jobs because they failed to pass the math section of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam. Indiana saw high failure rates for math, science, and reading. WTHR reported 18 percent of potential elementary science teachers passed the science section for the 2015-16 school year.Scott Overland, director of media relations at Pearson, said in an emailed statement.Thomas Tomberlin, director of district human resources at the Department of Public Instruction, gave a presentation on the issue to the State Board of Education on Wednesday, Aug. 1.Tomberlin said.DPI doesn't know how many teachers failed one year but passed the next. Tomberlin said he can't tell - by using existing data - how many teachers who haven't passed the test would lose their licenses. New reporting requirements should make that information easier to get.Tomberlin said the solution isn't as simple as switching the test. DPI needs to collect more data to determine the relationship between teacher effectiveness and the licensure exam.Tomberlin said.A subcommittee of the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Committee is looking into an alternative to the Pearson exam. The subcommittee is composed of math experts and educators working toward new recommendations. Even if PEPSC comes back with a new test, Tomberlin said, there will always be teachers who fail. That doesn't mean they are ineffective teachers.Tomberlin asked the board.
I'd have structured it a bit differently and combined it with budget cuts. But even as is, the federal tax reform enacted by Congress and signed by President Trump will enhance economic growth for the nation as a whole, and for North Carolina in particular.Slashing America's relatively high taxes on corporate income will encourage more domestic investment, business starts, business expansions, and employment. Reforming and reducing the personal income tax will also boost job creation and take-home pay.Naturally, Democratic and progressive opponents of tax reform disagree about the net effects. They believe federal expenditures are, on balance, more helpful to the economy than private expenditures, and would rather keep taxes higher to finance the former at the expense of the latter.They're mistaken. While public investment is a real thing, most of the federal budget is devoted to subsidizing consumption - either as cash-transfer payments from one set of taxpayers to another or as vendor payments to medical providers for Medicare and Medicaid. Federal spending on physical capital (infrastructure) and human capital (education and training) is a small fraction of the total.Neither redistributing income nor subsidizing medical consumption for non-workers increases the productive capacity of the economy. Both may well be worth doing for other reasons, but they don't expand the economic pie. They change the way it's sliced.Investment is about baking larger pies. Most productive investment occurs in the private sector. To the extent high taxes (and heavy regulations) discourage new companies from starting or existing companies from adding plants, equipment, locations, and employees, they inhibit growth. Reducing such impediments enhances growth.How much direct and indirect benefit can North Carolinians expect from federal tax reform? Two Washington-based think tanks, the Tax Foundation and the Heritage Foundation, recently crunched some numbers.On employment, the Tax Foundation projects America will create about 1.4 million more full-time-equivalent jobs over the next decade than would have occurred under the old federal tax rates. About 37,000 of those net new jobs will be in North Carolina, according to this estimation model.The Heritage Foundation's model examines a different issue: how tax reform will affect take-home pay. It estimates that the average North Carolinian saved about $1,054 this year, representing a 12 percent decrease in federal tax liability, with larger average savings for married North Carolinians with two children ($1,913 per couple, a tax cut of 14 percent).If the tax savings are added up over the coming decade, the Heritage model projects an average increase in North Carolinians' take-home pay of $18,287 across all tax-filing households and $31,608 for married couples with two kids.If both sets of numbers seem welcome but not exactly earth-shattering, I commend you for paying attention and exercising good judgment. Conservatives who properly view private action as the primary driver of growth and progress should recognize but not exaggerate the extent to which government affects private action. Even shackled to an overly large public sector, private enterprise delivers the goods (and services). Removing those shackles is wise. Expecting miraculous consequences is not.Still, tens of thousands of new jobs and major gains in take-home pay for North Carolinians deserve commendation. They represent gains in both economic well-being and personal freedom. To sustain them, however, Congress and the Trump administration must turn their attention to the other side of the ledger, to spending. Federal deficits are soaring . And even if the current budget were balanced, the long-term cost of the federal welfare state vastly exceeds the revenues produced by either the previous tax rates or the current ones. In my view, we will need to control spending in virtually every department and agency of the federal government - eliminating some programs and applying strict income tests to others, including Social Security and Medicare, so that they become more explicit safety nets rather than notionally universal entitlements.North Carolinians are unwilling to pay for all the federal, state, and local government that progressives want to "give" them. Time to reconcile the balances.
Forever hungry

Producing and distributing nutritious food should be a political priority
Should Beaufort County's commissioners be resolved to ask the federal government to defend our Southern Border by ending the Biden /Harris Open Border policy in regards to that one border that is intentionally made OPEN?

Yes, Illegal Migrants are a huge expense to local governments.

No, the cost of Undocumented Immigrants is insignificant in our providing a pathway for the "Browning of America".
At a July 31 press conference, Dr. Gajendra Singh, a Forsyth County surgeon, discusses the lawsuit he has filed challenging certificate of need laws. At left is Raleigh attorney H. Denton Worrell and at right is Institute for Justice Attorney Renee Flaherty. (CJ photo by Don Carrington)

Dr. Gajendra Singh wants to help patients get an MRI scan for a fraction of the price hospitals and big health care networks charge. But state regulators and powerful lobbying allies restrain him.On Monday, July 30, Singh joined with the Institute for Justice to file a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court seeking to block certificate of need laws that prevent him from buying an MRI scanner for the Forsyth Imaging Center he founded in Winston-Salem in 2017.The lawsuit claims CON laws are unconstitutional, and have been struck down once by the state Supreme Court. It contends CON laws suppress economic liberty, violate Singh's constitutional due process and equal protection rights, and violate the constitutional exclusive emoluments clause. That clause bars granting special privileges or profits to some while prohibiting them to others."It's the basic right to earn an honest living, and it's a right that's under assault in America every day," Renee Flaherty, an IJ attorney, said at a Tuesday press conference. She called North Carolina's 25 CON regulations among the worst of 34 states that still impose them."The North Carolina Constitution expressly prohibits monopolies and special privileges, demands that laws be applied even-handedly, and protects Dr. Singh's right to participate in the health care market free from arbitrary, irrational, and protectionist legislation," the lawsuit states.Named in the suit are the state Department of Health and Human Services, DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, Gov. Roy Cooper, Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland."DHHS has not been served, and we do not comment on matters of litigation," said DHHS spokesman Cobey Culton."Our office needs more time to review the lawsuit complaint, and does not have any comment at this time," said Moore spokesman Joseph Kyzer.Berger and Cooper didn't respond."North Carolina's certificate of need law has been an effective tool to ensure access to care, and prevent underutilization and duplication of services that can lead to higher health-care costs," said Julie Henry, vice president of the N.C. Healthcare Association representing hospitals and health systems."The law is actively managed by a regulatory panel of health-care industry experts that make policy and need recommendations to the governor every year. In other states, repealing CON laws has been proven to reduce access to care for rural and underserved populations," Henry said."NCHA and our members have been and continue to be supportive of efforts to modernize the application and appeals process, while maintaining the law and protecting access to critical services in our communities," she said.Many doctors support repeal of CON laws, and have given testimony contrary to hospital lobbyists' remarks at state legislative meetings on CON repeal in recent years. But officials at the N.C. Medical Society said they weren't aware of the lawsuit.At the press conference, Singh and IJ attorneys rebutted hospitals' claims, saying 16 states including Texas and California repealed their CON regulations, and their health-care economies did not suffer.Even if the the original justification for CON laws was to control health-care costs and provide greater access, "that hasn't been the reality since these laws have been in effect," said IJ attorney Josh Windham. He said the federal government repealed its CON, acknowledging the regulations were anti-competitive and drove up costs.Singh, an award-winning general, abdominal, and cancer surgeon certified by the American Board of Surgery and a fellow with the American College of Surgeons, has a CT scanner, X-ray and ultrasound machines. But the MRI scanner would allow him to get a clearer view of organs and tissues and diagnose problems more precisely when preparing patients for surgery.Before getting the machine, he must obtain permission from a centralized planning agency in Raleigh. It decides whether new equipment, facilities, and services are needed.Flaherty said the State Medical Facilities Plan determines whether a county service area needs additional services, but it's based on "a kind of obscure formula."The 2018 plan said Forsyth County doesn't need another MRI scanner. Novant and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, both multibillion-dollar private hospitals, hold certificates of need for all 17 MRI scanners in Forsyth County.The preliminary 2019 state plan says another MRI scanner might be needed, but the final document hasn't been written.Singh said the county-based needs formula hurts patients. Some of his patients must drive two to three hours from Virginia, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Boone to access his services.Flaherty said that shows the State Health Care Coordinating Council that develops the State Medical Facilities Plan does a poor job of assessing patient demand.Dr. Richard Bruch, an orthopedic surgeon who served on the State Health Care Coordinating Council, has similar complaints about SHCCC's anti-competitive nature. He contends taxpayers and patients pay hundreds of millions of dollars extra a year, including $250 million annually to the State Health Plan.Windham said the state Supreme Court struck down North Carolina's 1971 CON law in 1973 on the same grounds as Singh's challenge.The General Assembly reinstated the CON system in 1978. The new law cited findings of fact stating, "CON laws are needed to keep prices low for patients, and keep access to care broad. That has not been the reality of CON laws across the country, or in North Carolina," Windham said."When those findings of fact were made, MRI scanners weren't really popularized or commercial," and weren't regulated in North Carolina until 1993, 15 years after the findings of fact, Windham said. "They don't apply to MRIs."Windham said Singh's involvement in the hospital world led him to believe patients weren't being treated fairly when obtaining MRI scans."The prices weren't transparent. Patients couldn't figure out their out-of-pocket costs up front, and they were often hit by multiple bills in the mail months later they weren't told they were going to have to pay for," Windham said.Singh said he received a $1,200 bill for a personal ultrasound last year. He said it was an excessive charge, and that "kind of pushed me over the edge" to file his lawsuit. "My goal in life is to provide the community affordable care" regardless of race, income level, or other factors.He said he offers MRI scans for an all-inclusive $500 price on a machine he rents two days a week. He said if he were able to buy an MRI scanner, he could reduce his charges and continue providing the low-price procedures to more people in need.An MRI scan at a hospital could cost more than twice as much, and CON hospitals set similar, noncompetitive prices, Singh said.Getting rid of CON laws would give patients more options at lower prices, forcing hospitals to follow, Singh said.
Shakya is the founder CEO of beed, an international management consulting and advisory firm. He is the author of Unleashing Nepal and Unleashing The Vajra.
ABA Checklist Committee adds Four More Species to ABA Checklist

In recent weeks, members of the ABA Checklist Committee (CLC) have added four additional species to the ABA Checklist. Three are vagrants from the Old WorldPied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka), Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), and Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). The fourth is a vagrant species from Middle America, Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga),

Full accounts for these and other decisions made by the CLC since December 2017 will be featured in our next annual report, to be published later in 2018, but summaries for these four new species are included here.

Pied Wheatear: One bird seen at Cape Nome, Nome, Alaska, 5-31 July 2017 was accepted 7-1. The lone dissenting vote came from a committee member concerned with potential confusion of this bird with other, similar, Old World wheatears, notably Variable Wheatear. Because other committee members accepted the identification as Pied Wheatear, and were supported by comments from Old World authorities, that committee member did not request a second round of voting and the bird was accepted.

Mistle Thrush: One amazingly long-staying individual in and around a private residence in Miramichi, New Brunswick, from 9 December 2017 through 24 March 2018, was unanimously accepted. Photos of the bird incontrovertibly show relevant field marks and the arrival of this individual neatly fits into the established pattern of vagrant thrushes arriving in Iceland and northeastern North America. Special thanks is noted by the New Brunswick Bird Records Committee to the homeowners, Peter and Deana Gadd, for their exceptional cordiality in allowing so many birders to see this bird.

Red-backed Shrike: One juvenile individual from Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, from 3-22 October 2017, was unanimously accepted. The committee notes, to an individual, that Old World Lanius shrikes offer a particularly tough identification challengea puzzle that is further complicated by the fact that an apparent Red-backed x Turkestan Shrike in northern California confounded birders for months in 2015 (and whose memory will likely haunt discussions of any subsequent Old World shrike in North America!). Solicited testimony from Old World birders helped to untangle this riddle and, in the end, the committee found the evidence that a hybrid could be safely eliminated convincing.

Great Black Hawk: One subadult individual from South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas, initially found on 24 April 2018 and subsequently recorded a few days later, was unanimously accepted. Black hawk identification can be tough, but the committee notes that the excellent photos make this one pretty easy and the species is found regularly not far across the border. The recent discovery of a Great Black Hawk in Maine, and the subsequent revelation that the bird appears to be the same individual as this Texas record, will be explored in the ABA CLCs annual report to be published later this year.

The ABA CLC traditionally awaits the decision of state/provincial records committees before tackling potential new additions to the ABA Checklist. The ABA CLC looks forward to completing their review of Black-backed Oriole in Pennsylvania and considering the Red Warbler in Arizona pending the decision by that states committee.

The updated ABA Checklist can be downloaded here >>
GMR, Bangladesh to sign power purchase pact

GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower, the Indian company building the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydropower Project located in western Nepal, is close to signing a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Bangladeshi government to export electricity generated by the plant.
After a long day of driving for Uber and Lyft, this fella decided to work out exactly how much money he'd be taking home after paying taxes and expenses on his income as an independent contractor. While there's certainly a number of tax loopholes and write-offs that he could be taking advantage of, it looks like, for most people, driving for Uber or Lyft isn't worth the time.
After hitting the mute button (YouTube should have a terrible music reporting option), check out this delightful Malaysian selfie museum with lots of trompe-l'il paintings and optical illusions.

As selfies become the driving force for many tourists, museums like these are popping up around the world. Beats the old painted plywood with holes cut out of yesteryear!

 Amazing 3D Art Museum Langkawi (YouTube / askfranklin)
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor necessarily reflects their views. Whether it's your sunglasses, your phone, or your keys, it's way too easy to leave little things lying around at home, restaurants, or in the back of an Uber. But with the advanced READ THE REST
Inside the Fake Science Factory (German/English subtitles) documents Svea Eckert and team's years of investigation into predatory journals and the criminals behind them.

Predatory journals are fake scientific/scholarly journals that pretend to be "open access" journals and solicit fees from the people who submit to them to pay for editing and peer review. But they're just publishing mills that print anything (as pranksters routinely demonstrate) and hire anyone to sit on their "prestigious" editorial boards (ditto).

There are two prevailing stories about who publishes in these journals: naive scholars early in their careers who get suckered in, and desperate or crooked academics looking to burnish their credentials in order to progress in their fields (Eckert's team documents scholars at top universities like Stanford and Yale who have done this).





But Inside the Fake Science Factory reveals a much uglier and more evil side to these journals: they are widely used by criminals and corporate lobbyists to give a veneer of scientific credibility to dangerous nonsense.

The documentary profiles First Immune, a corporation with an expensive, untried alleged quack cancer remedy whose CEO David Noakes is going on trial in the UK for "conspiracy to manufacture a medical product without a license." Noakes and First Immune were heavy users of fake journals, publishing dozens of papers in them, then using these publications to lure people with potentially fatal illnesses into paying them for "therapies."

(The documentarians demonstrate how easy this is by successfully submitting a paper arguing that beeswax is better than chemotherapy for treating cancer to the Journal of Integrative Oncology, published by WASET)

But petty quacks are small potatoes for fake science companies: their big customers are corporations like Astrazeneca, Philip Morris, and the nuclear safety company Framatone, who cite their articles in scam journals as evidence of the scientific rigor of their products and services, fooling both customers and regulators.

The documentary identifies some of the perpetrators behind the scam journals (and their accompanying scam "conferences" which consist of a handful of people standing around hotel ballrooms for a couple hours, but later padding their CVs with the papers they've delivered at learned conferences). The documentary claims the WASET scam empire is run by a Turkish family, Cemal Ardil and his children Bora and Ebru, whose 5,000 "journals" and conferences brought in $4.1 million in 2017, according to the documentarians.

They also finger OMICS (sued by the FTC in 2016).

The team behind the doc presented their findings (and the ways they punked the scammers) at Defcon this year. I'm not sure if their presentation will be online, but I'm definitely watching their doc.



The ease with which people can be duped into taking false medical advice was driven home by Eckert and co, who submitted a research paper to the WASET Journal of Integrative Oncology that claimed that bees wax was a more effective cancer treatment than chemotherapy. The paper was accepted and published in the journal with minimal revisions. As detailed by Eckert and her colleagues, similar tactics are used to publish studies and host conferences funded by major corporations as well, including the tobacco company Philip Morris, the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, and the nuclear safety company Framatone. When the predatory journals publish these companies' research, they can claim it is "peer reviewed" and thereby grant it an air of legitimacy. Taken together, the predatory publishers investigated by Eckert and her colleagues only represent about 5 percent of the total research published every year. While this doesn't pose an existential threat to science as a truth-seeking process, it does work to erode public trust in legitimate research. Eckert, Krause, and Sumner argue that that the rise of predatory journals makes it imperative that the general public, researchers, and academics stay on their guard to combat the proliferation of bogus research. Science, like democratic politics, has been responsible for some of the greatest advances in the wellbeing of humanity, but that doesn't mean it's immune to being undermined by a small group of persistent bad faith actors.

Hundreds of Researchers From Harvard, Yale and Stanford Were Published in Fake Academic Journals [Daniel Oberhaus/Motherboard]
NYPD officer Michael Reynolds is under investigation after allegedly breaking into a Nashville home and drunkenly terrorizing its occupants, threatening youngsters and shouting racial slurs. He thought it was his AirBnB, supposedly.

Surveillance video, obtained by Eyewitness News from ABC affiliate WGRB, captures a man's voice shouting, "Try to shoot me, I'll break every bone in your F****** neck. You F****** N******."

A Nashville police report described the suspect as a white male, with buzzed blond hair and blue eyes.

Witness statements logged in the report further described the suspect as "heavily intoxicated and disoriented."
The year is 2031, and I'm going to see Avengers 7 in 8K-vision. I hop in my Goober self-driving car and notice something strange  my location is displayed on the Goober Dashboard, even though I opted out of Google AlwaysTrack! There's a complete disconnect between what the user interface is telling me and what actually happens without my knowledge or consent.

Yesterday's Associated Press expose by Ryan Nakashima is the 2018 version of this scenario. When people turn off Google "Location History" they, predictably, expect their location history to be turned off. Google, with its insatiable hunger for data, has designed location tracking to be much more invasive than that.

As it turns out, even digging through menu settings is not enough to keep your location private from Google. This prompted K. Shankari, a graduate researcher at UC Berkeley, to start asking tough questions about what exactly is tracked and when. The answer is anything but straightforward, as Princeton researcher Gunes Acar verified for AP when he mapped out Google's record of his travels.

The fact that there are a variety of ways for Google to track a user's location after they toggle "Location History" off is no surprise to privacy advocates and hackers. The problem is especially tangible on Android devices, where Google tracking software is fundamentally baked into the operating system, a layer of surveillance running on top of Free Software.

Android handsets were designed to gobble up information from the outset. With its purchase of Android, the Google ad behemoth hoped to fill its coffers with sensor data from millions of smart devices. Those devices now number in the billions. Android is the world's most pervasive operating system, by an order of magnitude from its nearest competitor, Apple iOS.

During Yale Privacy Lab workshops, we consider stock versions of Android and iOS a lost cause. Most consumer smartphones are untenable as privacy-respecting devices, with modifications requiring a steeper learning curve than we can cover in a reasonable time.

It's still far too impractical to flash a phone or tablet with alternative versions of Android. The most secure version I know is only available for a few handsets. "Jailbreaking" iPhones can be problematic from a privacy and security perspective, and many Android phones require risky hacking that can take hours and might "brick" the device if not done correctly.

Replacements for the spies in our pockets, like the GNU/Linux-powered Librem phone, are on the horizon. Carriers will continue to tie cellphone purchases to service contracts, however, and the grip of Android and Apple phones in the U.S. certainly seems ironclad.

So, what can be done as a stop-gap measure, besides throwing out your phone? Avoiding apps that require location permissions is a start. People can also try the steps outlined by AP to limit location tracking.

Since Google Play is incredibly polluted, Android users should replace it with the Free Software "app store" F-Droid. If people do want apps from Google Play, they can download them via the Yalp Store app, which now has Exodus Privacy's excellent scanner built in.

It's easy to dismiss the "Location History" issue as something that people should have already known and understood. I'm already bracing for the articles that say, "No one should have expected a magic button to actually stop location tracking." Perhaps even privacy experts will agree with proponents of the ad-based information economy on that point. A few days working with people stuck in the depths of the Digital Divide would flip that perspective.

Google's responses about this issue have not been encouraging, and the company dismisses any concerns about "Location History" as confusion on the part of users and reporters. Fears of location tracking may contribute to the fallout in the European Union, where Google is already facing $5 billion in fines for Android anti-trust violations.

Whether or not Google's location tracking runs afoul of the EU's new GDPR regulation remains to be seen. To me, it's clear that Google does not require the same "affirmative consent" it seeks from Android developers who ship apps via Google Play. Worse, Google seems to have learned nothing from last year's location scandal.

The furor over the "Location History" toggle is an encouraging sign for advocates of digital privacy and software freedom. Every time a news story exposes a little more of the seedy underbelly of surveillance capitalism, more fuel is added to the fire of dissent. As journalists get more savvy and informed about surveillance, they're reaching bigger and bigger crowds of privacy-conscious people.

Appearing at Yale Law School last year, Eben Moglen reminded us, "This isn't over yet." Who knows? Maybe 2031 will be a better year than 2018, and Google won't try to sell us a toggle button as privacy panacea.

Sean O'Brien is a lecturer at Yale Law School and leads Yale Privacy Lab, an initiative of the Information Society Project.
Little Pyongyang made the festival rounds and his been picked up by The Guardian. It tells the story of how one soldier made his way to Europe's largest community of North Korean nationals after escaping the brutal regime.

Joong-wha Choi, a former soldier in North Korea, lives today with his wife and children in a sleepy London suburb, home to Europe's biggest North Korean population. Despite enjoying the new found comforts of his British life, and being emancipated from the pressures of the North Korean state, he has a desire to return to the land that betrayed him, and feels like his true home. Joong-wha reflects on both why he left North Korea and the state of his day to day life over the course of several months, in a portrait of loss, longing, and the complexities of healing from trauma.
Dinner parties used to be where you avoided politics. Now talking about politics at dinner parties is the norm.

Years ago, we avoided politics because we assumed the people at our table had diverse political identities, and we didn't want to introduce a topic that might lead to an argument. Today, we assume our guests share a single identity, after all, why else would we have invited them?

Something has changed in the United States, and for many of us, it's only at Thanksgiving dinner, a gathering where we don't get to sort ourselves by political tribe, that we must face people who see the world differently than ourselves.

In this episode, we spend time with political scientist Lilliana Mason who discusses this in her new book, Uncivil Agreement, in which she says we actually agree about most things, and strangely, "our conflicts are over who we think we are, rather than reasoned differences of opinion."

As Mason explains, "Our opinions can be very fluid, so fluid that if we wanted to come to a compromise we could, if there were not these pesky identities in the way. We can't come to a compromise because our identities are making us want to take positions as far away from the other side as possible. What that means is that we are trying to look like we disagree in order to defend our identity and our sense of difference from other people."

As an example, Mason says that six months ago 99 percent of Americans would have said that, of course, children should not be separated from their parents. Now that the issue is politicized, people claim to feel differently, but in reality, it's only tribal signaling at play. If their party were to ask them to express their true feelings, they would. They've become trapped by tribe.

"Our actual opinions, our levels of agreement, are different than what we are willing to accept our government to do because we don't want to feel like our party is losing," explains Mason in the show.

Lilliana Mason is professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland where she researches partisan identity, partisan bias, social sorting, and American social polarization. She is the author of Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity , and her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, and National Public Radio.

Her book outlines how we've moved away from issue-based polarization and entered a new realm of identity-based polarization. As long as the identity divide is maintained, we will behave more like warring tribes than a unified nation of people who have different values and ideas about what policies should be enacted.

According to Mason, "Right now, we're telling ourselves a story about a war that's going on in our country, and it's only making the war worse."

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High-tech, low-emission buses replace micros

A fleet of 17 high-tech, low-emission buses have been put on the streets of Kathmandu in a bid to reduce congestion and pollution as part of a project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Venice banned cruise ships, Mount Everest has traffic jams, and now even tourists are saying places like Amsterdam have too many tourists. It's all part of a problem dubbed overtourism.

Via NPR:

Fewer than 1 million people live in Amsterdam, but city officials expect almost 20 million visitors this year. Most end up squeezing into the historic center of museums and canals and, of course, De Wallen, the oldest Red Light District in Amsterdam.

As a result, the center caters largely to tourists. Think cannabis cafes instead of grocery stores; trinket shops selling condom key rings instead of places where you can actually get keys made. And the smell of a popular stoner treat  waffles slathered with Nutella  replaces the fresh bread in bakeries.

"People come here and think that's our national food," Nap says, grimacing.

The problem is especially acute at night, when young, male tourists, usually drunk or stoned, treat Amsterdam's historic center like a naughty Disneyland.
Dan Gillmor (previously) writes that journalism is at a crisis point, as authoritarian politicians (including, but not limited to, Trump) step up their attacks on the free press, even assassinating their sharpest critics.



In this world, it's not enough to simply condemn the autocrat. The free press has to be partisan for its own existence, to set aside competition and collaborate to investigate and unpack the complex circumstances that are demonizing the truth and demolishing the institutions that seek and spread it.

Gillmor uses large, collaborative consortia like the ones that brought us The Paradise Papers and The Panama Papers as examples of what he has in mind, but even bigger and longer-lasting, more ambitious.

It won't be easy, Gillmor writes, but it's the best shot the free press has of surviving the new era of corruption and autocracy.



Yes, each of these broader topics has been covered. But there's been little or no effort by journalism to put them front and center on the public agenda where they belong, and to put them in full context  showing the forest and the trees. The traditions of "competitive" journalism, combined with the shrinking resources news organizations are able to deploy, have turned so much of our news into a blizzard of quick hits and near-identical clickbait. (Slightly rewritten versions of other people's stories is a bane of the new world of journalism. So is needless duplication of effort, such as having hundreds of reporters show up for made-for-TV events. News organizations should routinely collaborate on pool coverage  much more than they already do  to free up reporters to do real reporting.) The kinds of collaborations I'm talking about would be difficult to set up and manage, to put it mildly. Certainly the international consortium proves it can be done brilliantly on certain kinds of stories. Can it be done right on the bigger and broader ones? Why not at least try? This kind of effort would do best with some outside funding  for startup costs, management, researchers, accountants, lawyers, etc.  in addition to the journalism provided by the news organizations. Hello, foundations and philanthropists (Ford, MacArthur, Knight, Omidyar, et al): This is in your wheelhouse.

Dear Journalists, The War on What You Do Is Escalating [Dan Gillmor]

(Image: Olivia Chow, CC-BY)
Pew's latest very detailed survey of voting patterns in 2016 goes the extra mile, by validating whether recipients actually cast a ballot, thus forming a picture of who voted, who didn't, and what policies nonvoters favored.

More people stayed home from the polls than voted for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump and nonvoters were more likely to be nonwhite (half), under 50 (two thirds) and low-earning ($30,000/year or less).

A year ago, I wrote a long piece on how Trump won the election. He exploited the two parties' own longstanding, dirty tactics, which work like this:

1. Convincing your party's base that they should hold their nose and vote for you, despite your manifest defects;

2. Convincing your party's base that they should hold their nose and vote against the other candidate, because of their manifest defects; and

3. Convincing the other party's base that their own candidate is so defective that they shouldn't hold their nose and vote, but rather stay home and send a message to the party establishment that you're sick of being asked to vote for damaged goods.

This allows the candidates from both parties to reach a state of equilibrium where they sell out all of us to the super-rich, and walk away from office with cushy jobs and millionaire pals who take care of them.

Both parties, in other words, are the "vote against the other guy" party, and neither has felt the need to convince voters to vote for anything.

That's why progressive Democrats are so fucking exciting. Policies like free state post-secondary education, abolishing ICE, student debt forgiveness, Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and accountability for the looter class are things that people vote for.

The trick of getting us to continue voting in ruling-class sellouts by convincing us to stay home or vote against some worse monster on the other side has reached its sell-by date.



Demographic groups that preferred Trump were three times as likely to be a bigger part of the voter pool than nonvoters. Among groups that preferred Clinton, they were about 50 percent more likely to be a bigger part of the nonvoting community. Clinton nonetheless won the popular vote. But an increased turnout of under-30 voters in, say, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan could easily have changed the results of the history.

For Most Trump Voters, 'Very Warm' Feelings for Him Endured [Pew Research Center]

New data makes it clear: Nonvoters handed Trump the presidency [Philip Bump/Washington Post]
Good God. We should have listened to Dave Foley. He knew the score for YEARS before election tampering and a compromised government were even glints in Vladimir Putin's eye. Aside from the fact that the Russians are no longer Communists? Dead. On.

I guess that means we should start preparing for a killer bee attack.
Cocos Island, in the eastern Pacific, was rumored to hold buried treasure worth millions of dollars, but centuries of treasure seekers had failed to find it. That didn't deter August Gissler, who arrived in 1889 with a borrowed map and an iron determination. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll follow Gissler's obsessive hunt for the Treasure of Lima.

We'll also marvel at the complexity of names and puzzle over an undead corpse.

Show notes

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One million ethnic Uigurs are being held in a "massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy" by the Chinese government, says a United Nations Human Rights panel that has received multiple credible reports to back up their claim (this story has been percolating all summer long). According to Gay McDougall of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, you can tack an additional million people on to that initial figure: it's estimated that another one million Muslims living in China's western Xinjiang autonomous region have also been sent to similar camps for political indoctrination. The reasoning for this, according to Reuters, is that China's sovereignty in the western Xinjiang autonomous region is being threatened by separatists and Islamic militants. The Uigurs mostly identify as Muslim, so there you go.

At the meeting in Geneva, McDougall was quoted as saying:

"We are deeply concerned at the many numerous and credible reports that we have received that in the name of combating religious extremism and maintaining social stability (China) has changed the Uighur autonomous region into something that resembles a massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy, a sort of 'no rights zone."

The Chinese, for their part, have responded, "nuh-uh."

From The Globe & Mail:

The Chinese government has flatly denied rounding up large numbers of Muslims into internment centres for political indoctrination, telling a United Nations committee that such places do not exist. The idea that "Xinjiang is a 'no-rights zone' is completely against the facts," Hu Lianhe, deputy director-general of the Communist Party's United Front Work Department, told members of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva Monday. He acknowledged that some criminals were given what he called "vocational education and employment training." But, he said, "there are no such things as re-education centres." He added: "the argument that one million Uyghurs are detained in re-education centres is completely untrue."

Well, that'd be great, were it not for the fact that as the Globe & Mail points out, an instructor who formerly worked at one of these imaginary re-education centers, along with a number of former detainees have stated that, yep, the camps are totally a thing. Satellite imagery of the camps? There's some of that out there, too.

Those sent for re-education are said to be forced to take classes on Chinese communist ideology and Mandarin language classes.

Whether anything will become of the allegations put forth at the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, or if additional evidence of re-education camps will be uncovered, remains to be seen.

Image by Daderot  Own work, Public Domain, Link
- Discontent has emerged from traditional leaders over the way King Goodwill Zwelithini has administered the Ingonyama Trust

- The trust generates in excess of R90 million in revenue and its believed the beneficiary is the King who is the sole trustee

- Inkosi are approaching the courts to seek clarity on the King's power and land ownership pattern which is under their jurisdiction.

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Traditional leadership in KZN is seriously discontented over the activities of the Ingonyama Trust whose sole custodian is King Goodwill Zwelithini. The trust administers some 2,8 million hectares of land which translates to about 30% of the land in the province. Briefly.co.za learnt that the chiefs resolved to seek legal recourse after meeting at a special Imbizo to get clarity on how the land under their jurisdiction is not benefiting them or their people but only benefiting the King and the Ingonyama Trust.

READ ALSO: ANC Land Expropriation without compensation consultative process ends in shambles

Problems affecting the trust are set to mount with criticism coming from all quarters. According to the Times Live the South African Communist Party has broken ranks with ANC over the issue calling for the dissolution of the trust. This follows recommendations also made by a a high panel committee led by former President Kgalema Motlanthe which recommended the dissolution of the Ingonyama Act upon which the trust is based.

President Ramaphosa's government has moved into allay fears that the lands of the trust will not be sequestrated. Allegations of rampant corruption and controversial dealings in the Trust continue to surface. Theparliamentary committee on Rural Development and Land Reform is set to challenge the trust on its action to convert their Permission To Occupy (PTO) rights and customary land rights to leasehold.

Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story.

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Source: Briefly.co.za
One man could no longer stand his wife using him as an ATM, so he took the drastic measures needed to put a stop to it.

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Danny Gonzalez, who originally hails from Honduras but resides in America now, faked his own death to stop his wife from asking more cash.

The desperate hubby send his wife, who lives in Honduras, a photo of himself with cotton in his nose and a white sheet over his body.

According to My Joy Online, the 27-year-old let his wife and family believe he passed away due to a combination of asthma and cancer.

The photo Gonzalez send to his wife as proof of his death. Photo credit: myjoyonline.com

READ ALSO: Meet Tammy Hembrow, the sexy fitness model who is worth millions

However, after the photo started circulating in his hometown and social media, people started to question his story.

It was not long before law enforcement authorities were brought in and in no time at all they found Gonzalez alive and well.

Man, 27, fakes his own death to stop his wife from asking more money. Photo credit: myjoyonline.com

The husband quickly admitted to his scheme but added his wife was to blame for him faking his own death.

Briefly.co.za learned Gonzalez claimed his wife would only talk to him if she wanted money or new phones after hers got stolen six times.

He added after he send her the money, he would not hear from her again until she needed more cash.

What are your thoughts on the story? Go to our Facebook page and leave us a comment or inbox us your story and we could feature it.

To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today.

Briefly South Africa has gone through the list of current and immediate past African leaders and is ready to present Top-5 tips on how to be an average African president.

Source: Briefly.co.za
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

MDC Alliance official Chalton Hwende has warned Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana to stop threatening g citizens by claiming that the Zanu PF system is lethal and no one can fight against it through bare hands and legal mind.This was after a video of Mangagwa driving and saying that the system is lethal and only those armed like it can fight it. He said the fight through legal mind and bare hands against the system becomes useless."Mangwana must stop threatening Zimbabweans about how lethal the system is . With our bare hands we will fight for our President Nelson Chamisa," Hwende said.
News / National

by BBC

#Zimbabwe President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa blames the opposition MDC Alliance for post election violence and says he will set up a commission of inquiry to investigate

Video credit @cyrusnhara_4787 pic.twitter.com/L6q0isezbx  harumutasa/aljazeera (@harumutasa) August 13, 2018

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has blamed the opposition MDC Alliance for the violence that hit the capital, Harare, days after the 30 July election, resulting in the death of six people after soldiers fired at them.Most of the victims were supporters of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa who were protesting against alleged vote theft by the ruling Zanu-PF.Mr Mnangagwa told a massive rally at the celebration of Heroes Day in the capital that the violence was "inspired" by the opposition party.He defended the election, saying it was free and fair. The opposition has however gone to court to challenge his win.He said a commission of inquiry would be set up to investigate the killings.Watch his comments below:
House panel directs govt to resolve issue of double taxation

The Finance Committee under the Legislature-Parliament on Tuesday directed the government to resolve the issue of double and unnatural taxation imposed by federal, provincial and local governments.
News / Regional

by Stephen Jakes

MDC Alliance official Discent Collins Bajila has mourned the death of former Matabeleland North governor Thokozile Mathuthu who passed on Monday morning."Umama u Thokozile Mathuthu is no more. She breathed her last early yesterday morning. Sithi dudu kwabosapho lwakhe, i Province yangakibo e Mat North kunye lebandla lakhe i G40. We are told that umama u Thokozile Mathuthu was born in 1968. We are also told that between 1975 and 1980 she played a huge roll in the war of liberation of Zimbabwe. Those who tell us these things do so voluntarily," Bajila said."It turns out that if she was born in 1968, she was 7 years old in 1975 when she joined the liberation war. At the age of 12, she and others came back home singing "Yithi laba abantwabenu, Yithi laba esasingekho okwakuthiwa ngama gandanga".He said coincidentally, the same cabal telling us these fairy tales about the late Mathuthu fighting war at the age of 7, remains adamant that 40 year olds are too young to be President of Zimbabwe."Those whom the gods want to destroy, they first make mad. Anyway, my little interaction with the late Mathuthu outside church (she was an Adventist like me) was within the Constitution making process. She had two things to defend and she defended them steadfastly. She defended ZANU PF as a party and isiNdebele as a language. I remember at our first Rapporteur Training at ZESA National Training Centre she was part of the dignitaries seated in front. She made sure she is near the microphone stand. When it was time to sing the National Anthem she quickly grabbed the mic and led the singing in isiNdebele. We quickly joined her. By the time others realized that indeed we we're singing the National Anthem, we we're on line 3," he said."Those who worked with her after we were deployed to provinces tell a different story about her because she was defending her party more than anything else."
man beach surfboard costa rica zachary-shea-577599-unsplash

As we checked our backpacks at the airline counter, the agent asked us, How long will you be in Costa Rica?

Three months, I responded.

Oh, youre trust-fund kids, huh?

Um, what? Where did that come from?

I responded, Nope. My wife is starting graduate school this fall and we realized that it would be cheaper for us to spend the summer in Costa Rica than to continue renting our apartment. Because my work is remote, we can go to where the cost of living is lower. Yes, its an adventure  but one thats saving us money.

Read More: The Best and Worst US Vacation Cities for Your Wallet

As with many Americans that Ive met stateside, this guy assumed that traveling and living abroad was a luxury for the wealthy. But thats not the case. There are thousands of Americans living abroad because its actually more affordable.

Yes, a short-term luxury vacation is expensive. However, a well-planned extended trip can save you money.

Why We Chose to Spend Our Summer in Costa Rica

After considering several locations around the world, we settled on Costa Rica for a few reasons. First, my wife wanted to improve her Spanish, and that would be hard to do in, say, Thailand or Croatia. Second, remaining in a U.S. timezone made it easier for me to connect with clients. Finally, because its easy to find cheap flights to Costa Rica (we used credit card points), multiple friends and family members would be able to visit us throughout the summer.

Costa Rica isnt the cheapest place to live, but its a great place for Americans. Everyone is friendly, many people speak English and their healthcare system is on par with the United States.

Check Out: 10 Financial Risks and Rewards of Retiring Abroad

Our Cost of Living in Costa Rica

As with many parts of the world, if you want to live like an American, life can get expensive. However, if youre willing to live like a local, your money goes pretty far. We chose a middle-of-the-road approach.

Story continues

We spent most of the summer in a very unique two-room house with a private pool, overlooking the ocean, for $800/month. This included utilities and internet. It was pretty awesome but we also had limited air conditioning, a lot of insects and our water was hit-or-miss. We could have lived in a cheaper place for about $400/month or found a more Americanized house for $1,500-2,000 a month.

Because we were on the Nicoya Peninsula, food prices were only slightly less than at home. We enjoyed fresh mango, papaya and pineapple daily, and were able to eat meals out for $5-15 per person.

Lastly, public transportation is incredibly affordable in Costa Rica. A bus ride into town, 15 minutes away, was $0.50 each way.

In total, for the three months we were in Costa Rica, our expenses averaged $1,200/month, including a $50/month storage container for our belongings back in the U.S. If you ask me, thats pretty frugal for two trust-fund kids.

More on Living Abroad: 50 Cheapest Countries to Live In

Are You Ready to Live Abroad?

Today, many careers can be pursued remotely, so living abroad has never been easier. Costa Rica was actually my fourth extended trip outside of the U.S. For me, living and working in other countries is an amazing adventure and a great way to save money. My experiences abroad are the foundation for some of my most enjoyable memories and richest relationships. Spending time abroad has given me the freedom to launch new businesses and transition careers without the level of financial stress I would have had if I made these moves in the U.S.

If youre thinking about living abroad yourself, here are a few questions to ask yourself first.

How much will my required standard of living cost? Just because you can live somewhere on $10 a day, it doesnt mean it will be enjoyable.

Will I be able to establish a strong social network? Moving somewhere new can be very lonely. Have a strategy for your social life before taking the leap.

Can I separate work from pleasure? Living abroad means its not a vacation. You still have to work. You just get to enjoy somewhere new on your evenings and weekends.

What is my backup plan? When will I return to the U.S.? Regardless of how long you plan to live abroad, its a good idea to know how to return when youre ready.

What do I hope to gain from this experience? You cant run away from your problems by leaving the country, but you can grow as a person and save money to start a new business. Know your whys before taking the leap.

Are you thinking about starting a business, going back to school or writing a novel? If the financial burden seems overwhelming, do a little research  living abroad may give you the monetary flexibility you need to take the leap.

Read More: Investors Should Consider Properties in These Countries, Study Says

More From Our Smart Money Squad:

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How We Saved Money Living the Good Life in Costa Rica
A group of Japanese-Canadian men were brought over to Chatham-Kent during WWII as farm labour, and now the municipality hopes to commemorate that part of local history with markers at five of those internment camps.

A report from manager of parks and open spaces Jeff Bray, who worked with the National Association of Japanese-Canadians on the project, will be going to council Monday night.

Bray said farm labour was insufficient during the war and, to meet the demand, a group of roughly 154 men were rounded up in British Columbia and brought over to Chatham-Kent against their will.

"I don't think it's very well-known," he said. "I never learned it in school and I know my kids didn't either."

Plaques and Japanese cherry trees will be planted at five farm sites  or approximate locations  across the municipality at the following locations:

- Lambton-Kent Memorial Agricultural Centre in Dresden

- The English Farm at 8907 Doyle Line in Chatham

- The Eatonville Roadhouse

- 4405 Middle Line in Valetta

- Mitchell's Bay Park in Dover

Japanese-Canadian heritage groups have raised $18,000 to pay for these markers and trees, in addition to $5,000 for in-kind services.

There will be an official opening ceremony on Sept. 7 in Mitchell's Bay Park once the project finishes by end of August.

Bray said all the people he's spoken to in Chatham-Kent have been surprised of the presence of internment work camps. He himself only learned about it when he read David Suzuki's biography.

A whole culture was displaced from the west coast because of race, he said.

"It's just part of our history. I don't think things like this should be forgotten; we don't want history to repeat itself."
Climate change may create both challenges and opportunities for farmers, experts say

As our temperatures continue to rise due to global climate change, Manitoba farmers will face new challenges and new gains in the decades to come, a report says.

The report Agricultural Solutions to Climate Change: Findings from the Manitoba Agricultural Climate Initiative examines how the heat is changing and will continue to change the way farmers work.

The report, released in March, covers everything from what farmers will be able to grow to when they'll be able to grow it.

The report says the Prairie Climate Centre predicts that on the present path, by 2080s, Manitoba's climate could resemble that of current-day Kansas and northern Texas.

This would add a month of frost-free growing to the farm calendar, but also bring more extreme weather patterns, the report says.

An increase in overall average temperatures in the province would mean opportunities for farmers to grow more heat-loving crops, such as corn and soy beans.

The province already has seen a huge increase in the amount of soy grown  from about 30,000 acres 15 years ago to 1.6 million last year, said James Battershill, general manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers, a farm organization that created the Manitoba Agricultural Climate Initiative.

While the heat doesn't present a huge challenge for farmers, given technological innovations that allow for things like air conditioned equipment, the extreme weather patterns could make things more difficult for them, Battershill said.

"That's what's challenging for farmers to adapt to on a year-to-year basis," he said.

The changes are expected to happen gradually over generations, not within the next few years, Battershill said.

The changes could have major economic implications as well, said Jeff Rubin, an economist and author whose research is focused on the economic effects of climate change.

Not only would a hotter climate potentially increase yields for crops already grown in Manitoba, but longer growing seasons also open the door to much higher-value-added crops, he said.

"If you would compare what an acre of farmland costs in Brandon, Man., to an acre of farmland in Iowa and Illinois, where soy bean and corn is king, you'll see what I'm talking about, because an acre of land in the U.S. corn belt trades at a huge premium to what Prairie farmland would trade at," he said.

"That's why some institutional investors have made significant investments in Prairie farmland."
Supply management is not on the table in free trade talks with the United States and Mexico, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated in advance of a visit to P.E.I. Monday.

Trudeau's visit includes time at Old Home Week, the provincial agricultural fair.

In an interview with Laura Chapin on CBC's Island Morning, Trudeau renewed his pledge not to give up on existing supply management systems in agriculture, in particular citing the dairy industry.

"Absolutely not. I have said and I will continue to say, both to Canadians and Americans, including directly to President Trump that we are not going to get rid of supply management," he said.

"It is a system that works. It is a system that works for Canadians, it's a system that works for our agricultural producers, our dairy farmers. This is something we will continue to protect."

Continuing carbon negotiations

Trudeau has said he will impose a federal carbon tax on provinces that do not have a carbon price plan in place by January.

P.E.I. released a climate change plan in May, and a carbon tax was not part of it.

Trudeau said he believes P.E.I. and Ottawa will come to an agreement on a carbon price.

"I'm very confident we're going to get to the right place," he said.

"We have a great relationship with the P.E.I. government, with Wade MacLauchlan specifically. We look forward to having discussions with him about how we're going to move forward on climate change this fall."

Cannabis industry and the Canadian border

There have been concerns recently that Canadians are increasingly facing questions regarding cannabis use at the U.S. border.

In particular, people working in the industry are considering not travelling to America, for fear of facing a lifetime ban from the country.

Trudeau acknowledged this could be an issue for people working in that sector even after legalization in October.

"Every single country has the right to decide who enters their borders or not," he said.

Story continues

"Canadians just have to be aware that is something the American border guards can ask about and refuse entry for, and people need to reflect on it."

He added he believes successful legalization in Canada will lead to the American approach to marijuana becoming more like Canada's.

Ice cream, is anything more delectable?

Trudeau is travelling with his youngest son, four-year-old Hadrian.

"He's looking forward to the rides [at Old Home Week], but he's also looking forward to the strawberry social and the ice cream that Sean Casey's going to be putting out for us later," said Trudeau.

More P.E.I. news
English Bay, Jericho, and Sunset beaches remain closed until further testing due to high levels of E. coli bacteria.

The health authority released an advisory Saturday announcing unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria in the beach waters.

Trout Lake and Bowen Island's Snug Cove have had warnings in effect since July 19 and June 20, respectively.

Dr. James Lu with Vancouver Coastal Health says his team works with Metro Vancouver which samples water quality for municipalities at regional district beaches every week.

The three beaches had certain samples with extremely elevated bacterial content.

"We asked Metro Vancouver to sample on Friday again. It remained quite high, and that was why we decided to close," Lu said.

He said Metro Vancouver will be sampling again on Monday and new results should come in on Tuesday.

Increasingly common trend

"We are seeing these sudden increases in E.coli counts," Lu said. "The reason is not really clear."

Lu says it could be due to increased boating and traffic around English Bay, the confined shape of the bay which doesn't allow water to circulate as well, an increase in people using beaches with their pets or extended hot weather which helps bacteria to grow.

He also said it could be more likely in the future to see an increase in such advisories.

"With population increase and with warmer summers and longer summers, we will run into more bacteriological quality issues."

Read more from CBC British Columbia
Anup Ojha is a reporter for The Kathmandu Post primarily covering social issues and human interest stories. Before moving to the social beat, Ojha covered arts and culture for the Post for four years.
There is always something exciting to see at the General Cigar booth. I draw an analogy that its like going to Macys Department Store at Christmas time. The presentation is excellent and the cigars are always intriguing.

In past years, we have seen General Cigar go heavier with one brand as opposed to another. The past couple of years have seen General spread the wealth across all of its brands, with no more than 1 or 2 new releases maximum across the brands.

While the days of 20+ new blends (a.k.a. the Foundry days) are gone, there still were plenty of offerings to keep folks interested.

CAO

This year, CAO was the featured brand at the IPCPR Opening Gala. For this years event, the brand introduced the latest version of its World Collection, the CAO Nicaragua.

CAO Nicaragua was also showcased prominently at the General Cigar booth.

While the CAO Nicaragua is produced at the STG Esteli factory in Nicaragua, its a blend that features Honduran tobacco from the Jamastran Valley for the wrapper and binder. The filler is a combination of Nicaragua tobaccos from Condega, Esteli, and Jalapa. The cigars are available in three sizes: Tipitapa (4 7/8 x 50), Matagalpa (5 5/8 x 46), and Granada (6 x 50). Each size is presented in 20-count boxes. Pricing is set between $6.59 and $6.99 MSRP.

Cohiba

In 2017, Cohiba introduced Cohiba Blue, a more affordable Cohiba offering. This year, Cohiba went in the opposite direction releasing the limited edition Cohiba Spectre. Spectre is the most premium offering to date in the Cohiba line  priced at $90.00 per cigar. It was also Generals most premium offering for 2018.

Cohiba Spectre incorporates eight varietals of tobacco from five different countries. At the forefront is a rare Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. During the curing process of this wrapper, a small percentage of upper priming leaves developed a reddish hue and were set aside for further aging. The tobacco underwent an additional six months of aging. In the end, General had eight barrels of wrapper tobacco that it felt was pristine and could be used for a special release. In addition, the blend also incorporates Dominican Piloto Cubano tobacco that has been aging in tercios since being harvested in 1995. These leaves are placed at the center of the bunch where it is surrounded by Nicaraguan Esteli leaves from harvests in 2011 and 2014. These Nicaraguan leaves were aged in Spanish Sherry barrels. The blend is rounded off by three Honduran leaves (Olancho San Agustin/2002 crop, Jamastran/2011 crop, and La Entrade/2011 crop).

The Spectre is available in one size  a 7 1/4 x 54 Double Corona. It is packaged in a circular red and silver box containing ten cigars housed in tubes.

Diesel

Diesel is a brand that for many years was a catalog brand that was also distributed by Meier & Dutch, which is also owned by General Cigars parent company, Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Last year, the brand was shifted into the General Cigar portfolio with the release of Diesel Grind. This year, Diesel took another step forward to ground the brand in brick and mortars with the release of the Diesel Whiskey Row. This project is being done in collaboration with AJ Fernandez and Rabbit Hole Distillery. Rabbit Hole is a new small distillery based out of Louisville, Kentucky that produces bourbon, rye, and gin products.

Diesel is brand where AJ Fernandez has worked on in the past. The Diesel Whiskey Row features Mexican San Andres binder leaves that are aged in barrels originally used for Rabbit Hole Bourbon, utilizing a proprietary process that has been developed by Fernandez. The bourbon barrels originally arrived at Fernandezs factory back in 2016. After placing the San Andres tobacco in the barrels using a special configuration, the tobacco was left to age inside the barrels. The air inside was controlled at regular intervals to ensure the flavors were imported evenly.

In addition to the specially aged San Andres binder, the cigar also incorporates a three-region blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos from Ometepe, Condega, and Jalapa aged five to eight years. The cigar is finished with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The cigars will be available in four sizes, each presented in 25-count boxes. Pricing ranges from $7.49 to $8.99.

Hoyo de Monterrey

A third installment to the Hoyo La Amistad series was added with the Hoyo La Amistad Black. Hoyo La Amistad is a line done in collaboration with AJ Fernandez. The Hoyo La Amistad Black features a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper over a Mexican San Andres binder, and Nicaraguan filler. It is available in three sizes: Rothschild (4 1/2 x 50), Toro (6 1/2 x 52), and Gigante (6 x 60)

The previous two installments of Hoyo La Amistad have received new box designs. Along with this change, the original Hoyo La Amistad is now officially being branded as Hoyo La Amistad Gold. Prior to this change, the box design for Hoyo La Amistad Gold and Hoyo La Amistad Silver were similar to each other, causing some confusion at retailer establishments.





La Gloria Cubana

La Gloria Cubana returns to the STG Esteli factory in Nicaragua to produce a line. This time its the new La Gloria Cubana Esteli. Since Michael Giannini left General in 2016, the brand has returned to its more classic style packaging and blends.

The cigar features a dark wrapper from the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua, a binder from the Jamastran region of Honduras, and fillers from both La Estrada and Jamastra. The cigar is available in three sizes: Robusto: (4 1/2 x 52), Toro (5 1/2 x 54), and Gigante (6 1/4 x 60 ).

Macanudo

This year marked the 50th anniversary of Macanudo. This year Macanudo didnt have a formal 50th-anniversary release, but had a release that showed thinking ahead to the next 50 years  the M by Macanudo.

The M by Macanudo is the brands first flavored cigar. It is infused with notes of coffee and cocoa. Its also a rather interesting blend featuring an Indonesian Besuki wrapper, a binder from the Philippines, and fillers including Nicaraguan and other fine tobaccos. The binder from the Philippines is something not often seen. M by Macanudo is available in three sizes: Corona (6 x 44), Toro (6 x 50), and Belicoso (6 x 52). Each is presented in 10-count boxes. The cigar arrived at retailers immediately after IPCPR.

Two blends in the Macanudo Inspired line, Macanudos more contemporary style line, received tubo offerings. This included the Inspirado White and Inspirado Black. The Macanudo Inspirado White Tubo Robusto is a classic 5 x 50 size. Meanwhile, the Macanudo Black Tubo Robusto is slightly smaller, measuring 4 7/8 x 48.

Odyssey

Odyssey is a value-priced bundle brand launched in 2016. It was originally released in Habano and Connecticut wrappers. This year a Maduro offering was added.

The Odyssey Maduro consists of a dark Nicaraguan Habano wrapper over a Honduran binder and Nicaraguan filler. The cigars are available in five sizes (Corona, Robusto, Toro, Churchill, Gigante)  pricing ranges from $1.69 to $2.59 per cigar. The cigars are sold in 20-count bundles.

Partagas

This year Partagas introduced its first Connecticut Broadleaf offering with the Partagas Legend. The line also pays homage to some of the legendary industry people who were contributors to the brand.

In addition to the Broadleaf wrapper, the Partagas Legend utilizes a Honduran Olancho San Agustin binder over a blend that includes Dominican Piloto Cubano Leaves. The cigars are available in three sizes, each packaged in three contemporary-looking white lacquer boxes. Each of the boxes pays homage to one the forefathers of the Partagas brand including Don Jaime Partagas, Ramon Cifuentes, Sr. and Ramon Cifuentes, Jr.

The brand also introduced new packaging to some of its legacy brands, including Partagas (Yellow) and Partagas Black. Unlike Partagas 1845, which underwent packaging changes last year, the blends for Partagas (Yellow) and Partagas Black remain the same.





Punch

This year, AJ Fernandez got the opportunity to reimagine a cigar for the Punch brand. The result is the Punch Diablo. This cigar arrived at retailers immediately after the show.

The blend consists of a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper over a Connecticut binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. The cigar is available in three sizes: Scamp ( 6 1/8 x 50), Diabolus (5 1/4 x 54), and Brute (6 1/4 x 60).

Punch also introduced packaging changes.

Torano

This year Torano brought back three legacy brands. These are three brands sold by Torano Family Cigars prior to the acquisition of the brand by General Cigar in 2015. Casa Torano, Torano Exodus 1959 Gold Label, and the Torano Exodus 1959 50 Years.

2018 Product Reports

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted.
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- E-cigarettes have been touted as a safer alternative to smoking, but the vapor they create might harm lung tissue much like regular cigarettes do, British researchers report.

With or without nicotine, e-cigarette vapor increases inflammation and disables cells that protect lung tissue, human tissue tests reveal. Harming these cells makes them vulnerable to dust, bacteria and allergens that might lead to incurable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the researchers say.

"There has been a lot of support for people to use e-cigarettes rather than traditional cigarettes because of the perceived safety of the e-cigarette process," lead researcher Dr. David Thickett said in a podcast. He's a professor in respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham, in England.

"There is an agenda to portray e-cigarettes as safe," Thickett said. But since e-cigarettes have been around for only a decade, the effects of long-term vaping aren't known, he noted.

Although e-cigarettes probably pose less of a cancer risk than regular cigarettes, whether they are as safe as manufacturers claim is unclear. But it appears that the vaping process itself can damage immune system cells -- at least in the lab, Thickett said.

"We should have a cautious skepticism that [e-cigarettes] are as safe as we are being led to believe," Thickett said.

"If you vape for 20 or 30 years and develop COPD, that's something we need to know about," he added.

Using a device that mimics vaping, Thickett's team exposed lung tissue from eight non-smokers to various types of e-cigarette fluid. None of the participants had ever suffered from asthma or COPD.

One-third of the cells were exposed to plain e-cigarette fluid; one-third to different strengths of artificial vapor with and without nicotine; and one-third were exposed to nothing for 24 hours.

The results showed the vapor was much more harmful to cells than the e-cigarette fluid itself -- and the more the lung cells were exposed to it, the more they were damaged. Vapor containing nicotine made the effect more pronounced, the investigators found.

Exposure to the fluid itself increased cell death and the production of oxygen free radicals 50 times, the researchers added. Free radicals are reactive chemicals with the potential to damage cells.

Moreover, cells exposed to vaped fluid were unable to fight off bacteria. Treatment with an antioxidant, however, restored that ability and helped reduce other damage caused by e-cigarette fluid, Thickett's team found.

Dr. David Hill is a member of the American Lung Association's board of directors who reviewed the findings.

Hill said that while e-cigarettes might be safer than traditional ones, "less harmful doesn't mean safe."

He added that little is known about the long-term effects of vaping on the lungs. This study, however, suggests that long-term vaping can lead to lung damage.

"We have to be careful when we promote these as safe," said Hill, who is also director of clinical research at Waterbury Pulmonary Associates, in Connecticut. "Would I encourage my patients to use these or should they be marketed as a safe alternative to smoking? Definitely not."

The report was published online Aug. 13 in the journal Thorax.

More information

To learn more about e-cigarettes, visit the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
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Voice of America Mandarin Service correspondent Yibing Feng and his Chinese assistant, Allen Ai, were detained for about six hours on August 13, 2018, by security personnel after they tried to conduct an interview in Jinan, Shandong Province.

Feng had been attempting to interview retired professor Sun Wenguang through an opening in the door of his apartment, while security personnel in the hallway repeatedly interrupted in an attempt to halt the interview, according to a video of the incident posted on VOAs Twitter account. A second video posted to VOAs Twitter accountwhich is mostly darkcaptures audio as the two VOA employees were forced into a car, with Feng repeatedly saying: Dont pull me, and Dont grab me. VOA, which is funded by the U.S. government, said in an August 13 statement that the men were released after security officials scanned their electronic devices and rendered them inoperable.

Feng is a U.S. citizen and an accredited foreign correspondent in China, while Ai is a Chinese citizen and contractor of VOA.

It is outrageous that two journalists have been detained for nothing more than doing their jobs, VOA Director Amanda Bennettwho is also a member of CPJs board of directorssaid in an August 13, 2018, statement. Its the job of journalist to find out whats going on, to talk to people in the news, and that is all that they were doing.

CPJs call on August 14, 2018, to the Jinan City Public Security Bureau went unanswered. CPJ also called Shandong Provinces Public Security Department to request comment on August 14 but the officer who answered the phone immediately hung up at the mention of CPJs name.

Sun, a critic of the Chinese government, was detained on August 2, 2018, after being interrupted during a live interview with VOA, during which he criticized Chinas signature policy of investing in infrastructure projects in Africa, according to news reports.

During the August 13 interview, Sun can be heard saying that he was kept away from home for 10 days, staying in four different hotels, and that he was now confined to his home, with security posted there. He remarked that Chinese reporters were allowed to go to the United States to report, but that it was very difficult for American journalists to report from China.

In an August 14, 2018, statement, the Foreign Correspondents Club of China condemned the detention. The FCCC calls on China to adhere to its own rules and regulations in the treatment of journalists, the statement said. Detaining an accredited journalist who is lawfully reporting is a grave infringement of their rights under Chinese law.

Conditions for foreign correspondents working in China have become gradually more difficult over the years, according to the most recent report of the Beijing-based FCCC.
Iran has unveiled Fateh Mobin (Bright Conqueror) next generation short-range ballistic missile capable of striking targets on land and sea. The missile has successfully passed its tests. It was unveiled as part of Irans thrust to further boost its defence capabilities at time of rising tensions with United States.

Fateh Mobin Missile

Fateh-110 missile is 100% domestically made in Iran. It is agile and has stealth, tactical and precision-guided capabilities. Its range was not specified, but experts believe that it will be between 300-500 kilometers, more than previous versions Fateh Mobin missiles (having range of around 200 to 300 kilometres). This missile was test-fired by Iran during naval exercises in the strategically important Strait of Hormoz in August 2018. This makes it first test-fire of Iranian ballistic missile in over year and the first test of Fateh missile series since March 2017.

Background

Irans missile programme is major bone of contention with world powers, particularly United States. But Iran see it as vital for its defensive posture in troubled West Asian region. US President Donald Trump had pulled out of the 2015 Iran- P5+1 nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) between Iran and five world powers in May 2018 and had called for new agreement that restricts Irans missile capabilities and regional interventions.
NA defuses two IEDs in Bhaktapur

Nepal Army bomb disposal team has defused two improvised explosive devices (IED) in Bhaktapur district on Tuesday.
Iran Human Rights (Aug 13, 2018): A prisoner was executed at Tabriz Central Prison on drug-related charges last Wednesday.





According to a close source, on the morning of Wednesday, August 8, one prisoner was executed at Tabriz Central Prison.





The prisoner, sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was identified as Eyvaz Bidast, son of Mohammad Taqi.





The prisoner was transferred to the solitary confinement from ward 9 of Tabriz Central Prison. He was arrested on drug-related charges 12 years ago.





There is no information regarding the exact amount and type of the drug the defendant was charged with and it is not clear why his case was not subject to the new drug law.





This is the third drug-related execution that has been reported by Iran Human Rights (IHR) since November 14, 2017, when the new drug law was enforced.





The new drug law includes a mechanism that leads to a decrease in the number of death sentences and reduces the sentence of the death-row prisoners and those sentenced to life imprisonment.





Another prisoner named Rasoul Mohtashami, who was sentenced to death on murder charges, was transferred to the solitary confinement along with Eyvaz Bidast. He returned to his cell by asking the plaintiffs for time.





The execution of Eyvaz Bidast has not been announced by the state-run media so far.





Abolfazl Chazanis Execution Confirmed by the State-Run Media in Iran





Iran Human Rights (Aug 13 2018): One of the Iranian state-run media published a report about Abolfazl Chazani Sharahi, a juvenile offender who was arrested at the age of 15 and executed at Qom Central Prison, and confirmed his execution after 43 days.





Ghanoon newspaper published a report about Abolfazl Chazani Sharahi and confirmed his execution. IHR had previously reported the execution. Abolfazl, son of Asghar, was born on January 16, 1999, and was arrested and sentenced to death on the charge of murder on December 26, 2013.





Abolfazl was examined by a forensic physician at the request of his public defender on July 20, 2014. According to the report, The defendant, 15 years and five months old, committed murder in the winter last year and he is mentally mature and understands the nature of his action (murder).





According to the report, Abolfazl was nearly executed four times during the time he was in prison while he was only 15 the first time he went to the gallows.





Mohammad, Abolfazls brother, said, He didnt know that after being transferred to the solitary confinement, he would be executed. He would fearlessly wear a smile like a child and say, Everythings going to be fine; I wont be executed.





Mohammad continued, We see the victims father (the plaintiff) every day. He feels terrible because he pulled the stool away in order to do the execution. Pulling the stool away and hanging someone is not something you can easily forget... My brother was only 14. (sic)





Iran is one of the few countries that execute juvenile offenders, although, based on Article 91 of the new Islamic Penal Code, approved in 2013, judges can potentially deny issuing a death sentence for juveniles who do not understand the nature of their crime.





The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran has signed, clearly bans execution and life imprisonment of juveniles.

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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
The flags of China and the U.S. fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. Photo by Reuters/Hyungwon Kang

Vietnam will be the most vulnerable country in Southeast Asia should the U.S.-China trade war persist, according to recent research.

This is because Vietnam is the most export-dependent of the ASEAN big five, which also includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, Nikkei Asian Review quoted a report by Financial Times Confidential Research as saying.

Vietnams exports were worth $214 billion last year, 21 percent up from 2016, according to Vietnam's Customs. The U.S. was the largest importer of Vietnamese goods last year, buying goods worth over $41.6 billion.

Vietnam's exports to the U.S. rank first among the ASEAN five, making the country sensitive to softening U.S. consumer demand, the report said.

Another reason that Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries would be impacted by the escalating trade tension is the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, it said.

The dong has been devalued by 1.5 percent this year, and the government could take more aggressive action if exports slow significantly, it said.

But Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia might still benefit from the currency weakness if foreign direct investment shifts away from China as more companies hedge against the risk of trade action, it added.

Trade tension between the U.S. and China continues to escalate. A Reuters report cited Beijing as saying last week that it would slap additional tariffs of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of U.S. imports.

The announcement came after Washington said it would impose 25 percent tariffs on another $16 billion in Chinese goods after imposing tariffs on $34 billion last month.

So far, China has now either imposed or proposed tariffs on $110 billion of U.S. goods, representing the vast majority of its annual imports of American products.

Vietnamese experts too have cautioned that the country would suffer collateral damage because of this trade war.

A report released last week by the Ministry of Planning and Investments National Centre for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast said Vietnams GDP growth would take a hit from the trade tension.

The report predicts a drop of 0.03 percent this year, 0.09 percent next year and 0.12 percent in 2020 and 2021.

In money terms, it translates into VND8 trillion ($344 million) in 2021.
#MeToo, the hashtag movement that galvanized women all over the world into coming out with their sexual harassment experiences, has had its impact on Vietnam. Photo by AFP

While the global anti-sexual harassment movement has inspired Vietnamese women, they are still denied justice and safety.

To say that Loan was disappointed would be a gross understatement.

She was aghast.

After she had put herself through the agony of detailing the sexual harassment that shed suffered at her colleagues hands, the punishment that the man received was a paltry fine of VND200,000 ($8.59).

I was really shocked, said the 30-year-old accountant in Quang Tri Province, her voice carrying pain and bitterness.

I traded my honor to reveal a crime and seek justice, and cannot imagine that this was the result.

For Loan, the punishment meted out to her harasser was salt rubbed into her wounds.

Police investigations found that one day in late June, a male colleague took a file to Loan's office where he asked her for a "kiss" and molested her. The police identified bruises on Loan's lips caused by the male colleague, but there were no signs of disarranged desks and chairs or torn clothes.

They concluded that his behavior "was not aimed at sex, but only teasing and touching" and fined him VND200,000.

Loan said this penalty would not be a deterrent, and worse still, would discourage female victims of sexual harassment from reporting the crime.

"... victims will hesitate to report such incidents since they themselves have to endure a lot of pain and prejudice, while the offender faces no significant punishment, she said.

I think this sentence is a joke. It is like mocking the victim, Khuat Thu Hong, Director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), told VnExpress International. It is absolutely useless in terms of defending the victims honor, and in terms of protecting her and women in general against such harassment.

In terms of deterring the offender and encouraging victims and potential victims to reveal the truth, and fighting for safe, healthy living conditions for women and girls, this is absolutely futile, Hong emphasized.

Lawyer Nguyen Anh Thom of the Hanoi Bar Association said that a fine of VND200,000 was too lenient and revealed a legal loophole, because there are no specific provisions on sexual harassment in current legal documents.

At present, harassment is usually equated to the act of offending someones honor, which entails a fine of VND100,000 to 300,000 ($4.29-12.89).

Thom said sexual harassment was on the increase in Vietnam, and pervasive in the workplace, public places and public transportation.

Research has shed light on sexual harassment in the daily life of Vietnamese women. In their 2014 report, NGO Action Aid found 87 percent of interviewed women and girls faced sexual harassment in public places.

#MeToo in Vietnam

#MeToo, the hashtag movement that galvanized women all over the world into coming out with their sexual harassment experiences in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal in the U.S., has had its impact on Vietnam, too.

In a country where public discussion of mundane sex-related topics remains taboo, many women came out to expose sexual abuse and assaults.

One of the prominent ones was dancer Pham Lich reporting the harassment she suffered at the hands of rock star Pham Anh Khoa. Two other women then came out, revealing Khoa had harassed them, too.

In May this year, nude model Kim Phuong accused painter Ngo Luc of raping her. After a two-month investigation, Kim Phuong and Ngo Luc were asked to confront each other directly in front of police officers. Kim Phuong told the Thanh Nien newspaper that Luc denied all accusations, saying that shed taken advantage of the #MeToo movement to attack him. He said he was the victim of false accusations.

Despite such setbacks, many women throughout Vietnam have shared their stories of harassment and abuse.

They shared hashtags like #ngungimlang (stop silence) and #MeToo on the social media together with their stories.

"Vietnamese women are increasingly aware of their rights; they know they should be equal to men, be able to live in a safe environment, go to school or work safely without constant fear of being harassed by their colleagues or bosses," Hong said.

Cultural prejudice

A bride waits for her wedding ceremony in Hanoi. Activists believe that women in Vietnam are not properly protected in cases of sexual harassment. Photo by AFP

Despite improving public awareness of sexual harassment, victims rarely get justice in Vietnam, and many women are worried that #MeToo will eventually fail because of the culture of blaming the victim that persists to this day in Vietnamese society.

Loan, the accountant, said that in the wake of her coming out, some rumors began circulating that I had an affair with him, and he could not satisfy my demands, so I made the whole thing up.

Some women even said, its okay if she is a virgin, but she is divorced, why did she make such a fuss?

Loan said that when the harassment was brought to authorities notice, she knew she would face public criticism, but she never imagined such malicious comments from women.

After the incident, Loan took two weeks off work and spent many days crying and could not step outside.

"My parents are teachers, they live a disciplined life. Now they have to endure criticism because of me, though I didnt do anything wrong. Fortunately my parents showered me with love and encouragement to help me through the dark days," she said.

Hong said it is true that a victim blaming culture exists in Vietnam. Vietnamese society usually suspects sexual harassment victims of doing something provocative to attract the offenders, she said.

Because of this, many victims do not dare to speak up for fear of being blamed by families, friends, colleagues and the whole community.

They are always asked: Why arent others harassed, but you are? In such a situation, victims are frightened to come forward, because instead of protection, they get blame.

I think this is the biggest barrier to preventing sexual harassment in Vietnam, said Hong.

Another barrier is the legal process, according to a 2017 report by United Nations. It attributed victims attrition to the lack of evidence of force that police officers usually look for, like tied arms and torn clothes to conclude that harassment or assault had taken place.

Police officers also admitted that if the victim seemed unhurt, they would suggest that the family protects her honor by remaining silent.

In Loans case, as not earlier, police found no sign of torn clothes and disarrangement of chairs and desks, and concluded that the behavior was aimed at just teasing and touching.

Loan has now returned to work, and moved to another position to avoid contact with the molester.

"Honestly, Ive lost confidence, and Im still scared and in panic. Every time someone passes by, I get tense, but thats life, I have to go to work. It is good that my female colleagues stand by me, she said.

Despite these challenges, Hong is optimistic about #MeToo.

I believe that #MeToo will continue to develop, though the road we have to walk is long. It may go in a zigzag pattern, and it can face downturns, but it will rise strongly, I believe. I think Vietnamese society has been awakened, she said.

But whether the road is long or short will depend on the commitment and efforts of all stakeholders, particularly women.

*Name of the victim has been changed.
Trong said that the diplomatic sector must dare to think outside the box and take actions at regional and global levels. Photo by Giang Huy

Vietnam should be vigilant about power politics and attendant challenges, the nations top leader says.

The rise of unilateralism and disrespect for international law in the world are among the challenges confronting the nations diplomatic sector, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said Monday.

Vietnam should not be caught napping by the rapidly changing world situation and should be ready to respond appropriately, he said, adding that the diplomatic sector must dare to think outside the box and take actions at regional and global levels.

Addressing a diplomacy conference in Hanoi on Monday, Trong said Vietnam needs to carefully assess the impacts of the rapidly changing world situation and not remain passive in response.

The country's diplomatic sector must consider important issues including the complicated, unpredictable foreign affairs environment and unstable political, security and economic environment in the region and the world.

"Strategic competition between major powers will be fierce, and power politics is returning in a strong manner, especially in the region. Our overarching mission of maintaining a peaceful, stable environment will therefore face many challenges," Trong said.

Vietnam's national interests at sea will confront complex fluctuations including calculations of involved countries, the rise of unilateralism and disrespect for international laws, he said.

He noted that existing mechanisms to control disputes and crises in the region have been ineffective.

Multilateral institutions were struggling to reach a sufficiently strong common ground, and the risks of conflict and confrontation still loomed large, he added.

Vietnam was also facing new challenges on the economic front, with protectionism on the rise in the country's major export markets and a trade war breaking out between major powers, the Party leader said.

He said the roles of large multilateral institutions such as WTO and APEC are being threatened by the rise of power politics which favors bilateral trade, while some new multilateral mechanisms focus on competition between major powers.

Meanwhile, ASEAN is still struggling to reinforce its central role in the region.

All this requires that Vietnam needs to build a new mindset and approach to relations with other countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, Trong stressed.

For issues at the core of Vietnams interests, the country must develop a stronger voice and a more active stance in foreign relations, firstly in the region, he said.

In following the nations current foreign policy principle of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development as well as a policy of openness, diversification and multilateralization, Vietnam needs to continue creating common strategic interests with other countries to prevent conflict, avoid confrontation, isolation and dependence, Trong said.

Vietnam must play its role in building the ASEAN community and reinforcing ASEAN's central role in regional security structures. The country also needs to prepare necessary conditions to accomplish well its role as ASEAN's chair for 2020 and to effectively implement its international commitments, especially commitments to ASEAN, CPTPP and WTO, the Party leader said.

Precarious situation

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also stressed at the conference that competition between major powers and the rise of populism were making the security situation more precarious.

The situation in the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, is also becoming increasingly complex, threatening security and stability in the region, as well as the legitimate rights and interests of many countries, including Vietnam, he said.

"This context requires the diplomatic sector to constantly adapt, be creative in its thinking, modern in its implementation and focus on effectiveness in implementing the policies and resolutions of the 12th Party National Congress," Minh said.

About 700 delegates are attending the 30th Conference on Diplomacy, including former and current foreign ministry officials as well as heads of Vietnam's diplomatic missions in foreign countries.

The conferences main agenda includes the situation in the region and the world since the 29th conference in 2016, important foreign affairs issues that could heavily impact Vietnam's security and development, as well as the direction of the country's foreign policies for the next 3 years.

Delegates will also prepare for Vietnam to assume important international responsibilities including the ASEAN Chairmanship for 2020 and candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021 term.

The conference is scheduled to close on Friday.
NA team defuses suspicious object in Bharatpur

A team of Nepal Army has neutralised a suspicious object placed at Rijal Chowk in Bharatpur along the east-west highway on Tuesday.
Bamboo sections strung together make for a precarious crossing of a deep river in Lang Son Province.

Villagers in northern Vietnam use bamboo to walk on water Lives string on a bamboo bridge in northern Vietnam

Residents of Xuan Lung Village in the northern highlands province of Lang Son cross the Ky Cung River on a bamboo bridge every day. This perilious crossing is the only way that the 320 residents of Xuan Lung can connect with the outside world. Before this "bridge" was built, people used rafts to get to the other side.

The bridge" here is 17 bamboo rafts put together. Each family in the village had to contribute a bamboo pole and money to complete the bridge. They got cable wire from throwaways of a mobile phone company to tie the rafts together. Such a bridge can only last about six months.

Previously, to build houses, people had to wait until the dry season to carry bricks and sand across the river, or if there was a pregnant woman, we had to put her on a hammock and carry her on a raft to cross the river, said Van Thuong, head of Xuan Lung Village.

The safety of the village people depends on rusty iron wires and pipes used to tie the bamboo rafts and two sides of the bridge.

I go on this bridge at least twice a day, sometimes four times. I have fallen into the river many times and almost drowned. The life jacket is my best friend when crossing the river. The water is terrifying and I dont know how to swim, said Vy Thi Ket, a primary school student.

Van Thuong takes his son to school. Thuong said 67 families live in the village now. The distance to the other side of the river is 140 meters, and water is six to 20 meters deep.

Children cross the river on the raft bridge to get to school. There used to be a school in Xuan Lung but it closed due to a lack of students. So children from the village use this bridge to get to another district.

But the bridge wont work during the rainy season. Parents then take their kids to school on rafts. Each family has two rafts (worth $30 each), one for the kids and one for the adults.

An anxious student crosses the river. Official statistics show seven cases of drowning and six instances of people being saved just in time over the past 10 years on this river. People falling off this bridge is a common, daily occurrence.

The narrow bridge makes it difficult for two people going in opposite directions, and they have to engage in a delicate balancing act. The bridge becomes overloaded during weddings and funerals and it takes hours to cross the river, said Khiem, a villager.

Xuan Lung village lies in a valley that is mostly isolated from other areas. Most of its population are of the Nung ethnic minority.
SenseTime surveillance software identifying details about people and vehicles runs as a demonstration at the company's office in Beijing, China, October 11, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Thomas Peter

Government procurement documents collected by Reuters and rare insights from officials show the surveillance technology is encroaching into cities like Shanghai and Beijing.

Filip Liu, a 31-year-old software developer from Beijing, was traveling in the far western Chinese region of Xinjiang when he was pulled to one side by police as he got off a bus.

The officers took Lius iPhone, hooked it up to a handheld device that looked like a laptop and told him they were checking his phone for illegal information.

Lius experience in Urumqi, the Xinjiang capital, is not uncommon in a region that has been wracked by separatist violence and a crackdown by security forces.

But such surveillance technologies, tested out in the laboratory of Xinjiang, are now quietly spreading across China.

Government procurement documents collected by Reuters and rare insights from officials show the technology Liu encountered in Xinjiang is encroaching into cities like Shanghai and Beijing.

Police stations in almost every province have sought to buy the data-extraction devices for smartphones since the beginning of 2016, coinciding with a sharp rise in spending on internal security and a crackdown on dissent, the data show.

The documents provide a rare glimpse into the numbers behind Chinas push to arm security forces with high-tech monitoring tools as the government clamps down on dissent.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Public Security Bureau, which oversee Chinas high-tech security projects, did not respond to requests for comment.

The scanners are hand-held or desktop devices that can break into smartphones and extract and analyze contact lists, photos, videos, social media posts and email.

Hand-held devices allow police to quickly check the content of phones on the street. Liu, the Beijing software developer, said the police were able to review his data on the spot. They apparently didnt find anything objectionable as he was not detained.

The data Reuters analyzed includes requests from 171 police stations across 32 out of 33 official mainland provinces, regions and municipalities, and appears to show only a portion of total spending.

The data shows over 129 million yuan ($19 million) in budgeting or spending on the equipment since the beginning of 2016, with amounts accelerating in 2017 and 2018.

In Shanghai, Chinas gleaming international port city, two districts budgeted around 600,000 yuan each to purchase phone scanners and data-ripping tools. Beijings railway police budgeted a similar amount, the documents show.

Right now, as I understand it, only two provinces in the whole country dont use these, said a sales representative at Zhongke Ronghui Security Technology Co Ltd, a Shaanxi-based firm that produces the XDH-5200A, one of the scanners detailed in several police procurement documents.

The representative said police stations across the whole country could consult a centralized repository of extracted data. Almost every police station will have the equipment.

Chinese-made devices cost as little as about 10,000 yuan for smaller ones, to hundreds of thousands of yuan for more sophisticated ones, according to prices seen at a police equipment fair in Beijing earlier this year.

The scanners have not been immediately apparent in cities like Shanghai and Beijing.

At recent checks at Beijing bus and train stations, and the heavily guarded Tiananmen square area, there were no signs of the devices. But a police officer at Beijing Railway Station confirmed they have access when needed to smartphone forensic technology.

A Cellebrite forensic device extracts data from a Samsung mobile phone during a demonstration at a training centre in Beijing, China June 19, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Cate Cadell

Scanner data

These sorts of scanners are used in countries like the United States but they remain contentious and security forces need to go through a lengthy legal process to be able to forcibly break into a suspects phone.

In China, while a number of firms say they have the ability to crack many phones, police are generally able to get users to hand over their passwords, experts say.

The procurement documents show some police stations asked for tools that can pull data from a phone users accounts on Twitter, Facebook and its WhatsApp chat service, Alphabet Incs Google Chrome browser and Japans Line messaging platform.

A May 25 filing from a customs bureau in Beijing budgeted 5.7 million yuan for smartphone forensic tools from two providers, Meiya Pico and Resonant Ltd. It listed messaging platforms and overseas apps the devices could read.

Basic content collection functions must include mobile phone passwords, address books, call history, SMS records, MMS, pictures, audio and video data, calendars, memos and mobile app data, the document said.

Others listed tools that can breach well-known smartphone brands such as Samsung Electronics, Blackberry, Chinas own Xiaomi and Huawei, as well as Apple Incs tough-to-crack iPhone. Samsung, Blackberry, Xiaomi and Huawei did not respond to requests for comment. Apple declined to comment.

Wu Wangwei, an engineer at the Beijing-based Dasi Kerui Technology, which trains police personnel to use the scanners said the equipment had become very common.

The smartphone has become the most important source of evidence, he said. Police will always use it if the case needs it.

Chinese court cases often cite electronic investigations, including the collection and accessing of smartphones and tapping into social media accounts, but it is unclear what forensic equipment is involved.

Expanding outward

China spent roughly 1.24 trillion yuan on domestic security in 2017, accounting for 6.1 percent of total government spending and more than was spent on the military. Budgets for internal security, of which surveillance technology is a part, have doubled in regions including Xinjiang and Beijing.

A good bunch of that went to some very obscure, miscellaneous security spending categories ... including technology, said Adrian Zenz, an academic who specializes in Chinese security spending.

According to two officials at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, including one who worked on police projects in Xinjiang, surveillance techniques are tested in the region before being rolled out in other provinces.

The projects get both public and private financing. Those that have been tested in Xinjiang and later adopted in other provinces include surveillance camera systems, database software and smartphone forensics hardware, one of the officials said, requesting anonymity because the plans are not public.

Even if it is not the original plan, if the technology can be tested then it will be cheaper so it can easily be deployed some other place, the person said.

Cracks in the machine

Chinas high tech surveillance gadgets, sometimes referred to as black tech, often make the headlines. They include police glasses with built-in facial recognition, cameras that analyze how people walk, drones and artificially-intelligent robots.

A fast-growing industry has developed supplying the governments surveillance needs, propelling firms like the camera maker Hangzhou Hikvision and SenseTime, a fast-growing facial recognition firm.

The scanners though are key to harvesting data from individuals, whether on the militarized streets of Xinjiang or behind closed doors in Shanghai or Beijing.

In a cramped training center at Jundacheng Technology in Beijings tech district, engineers showed Reuters one such machine: a gray, shoebox-sized computer that was hooked up to and ostensibly extracting data from a Samsung smartphone.

The training firm is one of many that has cropped up to meet a demand for surveillance tools from military, police and private firms.

The scanner was made by Cellebrite, an Israeli company, but firms including Xiamen Meiya Pico, Hisign Technology and Pwnzen Infotech also make versions widely used in China. Marketing materials promise the ability to crack into most smartphones, including iPhones.

The hype though can run beyond the reality, experts say.

Chinese scanner makers often tout the ability to crack smart phone security systems, including Apples iPhone, but industry insiders admit this usually doesnt mean the latest models.

I can only recover older iPhone versions, the most recent ones I cant, Zhang Baizheng, who heads digital forensics training school Beijing Judacheng, told Reuters during a recent visit to the center.

Apple is also taking steps to stop devices like those used by Chinese police from cracking its phones. New versions of its iOS operating platform disable the USB port after an hour without password access, blocking a key cracking route.

According to one of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officials, such security precautions may not matter.

Most people in China would comply with police requests to unlock their devices, he said.

In China, its not wise to refuse.
'Number of pedestrians' injured by car outside UK parliament: police

Screen grab taken from a video posted by Twitter user @EwelinaUO via AFP shows armed police surrounding a silver car after it crashed into barriers outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on August 14, 2018.

A "number of pedestrians" were injured when a car crashed into barriers outside Britain's Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

Armed police swooped in to arrest the driver, Scotland Yard said.

"The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene," the police statement said. "A number of pedestrians have been injured."

None of the injuries are believed to be "life-threatening", said police, who were yet to say if they suspected terrorism.

London Ambulance said they had treated two people at the scene for non-serious injuries and taken them to hospital.

Armed police immediately surrounded the silver car after it crashed at 7:37 a.m. (06:37 GMT), pointing guns at the driver as he was removed from the vehicle, according to footage posted on Twitter.

Later images showed police holding the man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, in handcuffs as roads and Underground stations around parliament were sealed off.

Witness Ewalina Ochab told the Press Association that the incident "looked intentional".

"I was walking on the other side. I heard some noise and someone screamed," she said.

"I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement.

"I think it looked intentional -- the car drove at speed and towards the barriers."

Westminster was the scene of a terror attack last year, when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam, drove a car at pedestrians on a bridge over the River Thames, before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside parliament.

The attack left five people dead and around 50 injured, and only ended when police shot Masood dead.

Britain endured a tumultuous period following the March 22 rampage, with four further terror attacks, including three in the capital at London Bridge, Finsbury Park and Parsons Green tube station.
Slovakia's NAFTA getting ready to drill at Ukraine's Yuzivska gas field

The Slovak company has been working in Ukraine's west since 2016.

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Ukraine may get another IMF tranche this fall  central bank official

Among the obligations to fulfill for the next program review is the revision of gas tariffs and budget issues.

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Petrol bomb hurled at truck being escorted by police

An unidentified group hurled a Molotov cocktail at a truck being escorted by the police at Banbasa forest area in Shiba Raj Municipality-1 of Kapilvastu district along the east-west highway on Tuesday.
UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH

Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees

Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia

Google Ad

UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13

Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition

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

Google Ad

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

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
UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH

Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees

Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia

UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13

Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition

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

Google Ad

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

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
The European Union has decided to issue EUR 15.5 million of budget assistance to Ukraine for the reform of the public administration sector, the press service of the EU Delegation to Ukraine has reported.

Based on the results achieved by Ukraine in reforming the public administration sector in 2017, the EU decided to increase assistance to Ukraine in this important area of public policy. Some EUR 15.5 million of the total amount of EUR 90 million that constitute the EU's commitments to supporting this reform are to be transferred to the national budget of Ukraine for 2018, the agency said.

The EU noted this is the second payment after the first tranche of EUR10 million, which was provided in May 2017.

In addition, the diplomatic mission noted that in 2016 the EU approved a special program of assistance to reform the public administration sector in the amount of EUR 104 million, which provides EUR 90 million for budgetary support and EUR14 million for technical assistance, which is used to provide advisory services to state bodies involved in implementation of the reform.

The decision to send EUR 15.5 million from the EU funds to the national budget of Ukraine for 2018 is our recognition of the tangible progress that Ukraine made in the implementation of the public administration reform, Thomas Frellesen, Charge d'Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, stated.
Russia's Proxima Capital Group has withdrawn from the shareholders of the oil and gas company JKX Oil & Gas Plc, according to the website of the London Stock Exchange.

Previously, Proxima owned 19.97% of the company's shares, this package was sold to Vitaliy Khomutynnik's Cascade Investment Fund (the Cayman Islands).

As reported, the largest shareholders of JKX are also Eclairs Group of Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov with 27.47%, Keyhall Holding with 11.42%, Neptune Invest & Finance Corp with 12.95%, and Interneft Ltd with 6.6%.

In Ukraine, the JKX group owns JV Poltava Petroleum Company.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, authorizing $717 billion for national defense.

The signing ceremony was held at the military base at Fort Drum (New York) on Monday.

Earlier, the NDAA was supported by the U.S. Senate.

According to the newspaper Washington Examiner, the NDAA foresees the allocation of funds to counteract Russia's influence. It also suspends sales of F-35 joint strike fighters to Turkey until the Pentagon delivers a report on bilateral military relations and Turkey's potential purchase of the S-400 air and missile defense system from Russia.

A raft of Russia measures in the NDAA clears the way for the military to pursue a new low-yield nuclear warhead, hikes authorized funding for the U.S. military presence in eastern Europe, and provides new waivers the Pentagon says could wean allies from dependence on Moscow.

The NDAA also prohibits the government and any contractors from doing business with Chinese telecom ZTE or Huawei Technologies, which many lawmakers see as a national security threat.

"This NDAA builds on the progress we made earlier this year in the bipartisan budget agreement, which provided for the largest year-on-year increase in funding for American armed forces in 15 years," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.

The NDAA for 2019 authorizes the allocation to the U.S. Department of Defense of $250 million for the provision of security assistance to Ukraine, including $50 million for lethal weapons.

The document includes the major clauses of the Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act, which, inter alia, provides assistance to Ukraine in securing government computer networks from malicious cyber intrusions, particularly such networks that defend the critical infrastructure of Ukraine. It is also aimed to provide Ukraine support in reducing reliance on Russian information and communications technology, as well as assist Ukraine in building its capacity, expanding cybersecurity information sharing, and cooperating in international cyberspace efforts.

The document also reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the U.S.Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership and the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, as well as U.S. support to cooperation between NATO and Ukraine.
Present Bishwokarma within 48 hours, apex court orders

A day before the party has called for a nationwide strike demanding his release, Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the government to present Netra Bikram Chand Biplav led Nepal Communist Partys spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma Prakanda at the apex court within 48 hours.
State-run Concern Ukroboronprom has started fire tests of the T-72 AMT main battle tank (MBT) with new high-precision weapons upgraded at Kyiv Armored Plant, taking into account the experience of combat practice, Ukroboronprom's press service said on Monday.

A set of tests, which are conducted at the Defense Ministry's testing grounds, includes the testing of firing modes of the T-72 AMT, which is equipped with modern ammunition, including high-precision anti-tank Combat guided missiles, developed by Ukroboronprom's Luch design bureau, it said.

The use of the new high-precision anti-tank missiles is a major feature of the T-72 AMT MBT, which is a modernized version of the T-72A. The modernized tank is able to destroy enemy armored vehicles at a range of up to five km, and the range of its fire is twice the one of the T-72A. The armor penetrative capability of the Combat is 750mm, and thanks to the tandem warhead it ignores the enemy's reactive armor. Its performance is high enough to destroy even the most protected tanks, it said.

In addition, the T-72 AMT received the next generation degree of protection, provided by the elements of next generation dynamic protection and anti-cumulative gratings. This combination is recognized as one of the most effective in the fighting in the east of Ukraine, the state concern said.

At the same time, special attention was paid to the aiming complex and surveillance equipment during the development of the T-72 AMT: the modernized tank is equipped with night vision devices with modern third generation electronic-optical converters, as well as a night sight for conducting fire with high-precision missiles. The T-72 AMT also has a set of two digital radio stations with a secure communication channel, which allows direct communication with infantry units and is of great importance for interaction on the battlefield. In addition, the T-72 AMT is equipped with modern satellite navigation aids, the report says.

According to the report, the tank modernization program also included upgrading its chassis: the replacement of tracks allowed to increase the smoothness of the tank's movement, a rear-view camera was installed for convenient operation.

"In addition, the tank received an energy unit, which allows to monitor and fire from the site without turning on the main engine, significantly saving its resource," the press service said.

Ukroboronprom said the modernization of the T-72 AMT is provided by Kyiv Armored Plant, taking into account the analysis of experience of the combat use of more than 100 T-72 units, supplied by the state concern to the army in wartime conditions.
Russia-led fighters have fired at residential areas of Pivdenne (Donetsk region), members of Ukraine's contingent in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) have said.

"Disregarding international law on the prohibition of strikes against civilian objects defined in the Hague Convention of 1907 and the 1945 Geneva Convention, Russia-led armed formations from 20.45 to 22.00 on August 12, 2018 fired at the settlement of Pivdenne, using 120mm mortars and SPG-9 anti-tank weapons," a statement on JCCC's Facebook said on Monday evening.

"Shelling has destroyed residential and farm buildings and only the timely actions of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine prevented losses among civilians, which managed to withdraw," the statement said.

The Military Prosecutor's Office and representatives of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine were immediately notified about the shelling.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has demanded proposals on a government reshuffle this week due to government members' failure to meet his instructions.

"I am expecting proposals on the replacement of the government's entire leadership, everyone, from the reserves that I have made, this week. It is time we stopped staring at them while they tell us how hard their life is," Lukashenko said at the Tuesday meeting, which analyzed the fulfillment of instructions on the comprehensive development of the Orsha district.

The president's remark was quoted by the state-run news agency BelTA.
First deputy chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the TCG, Iryna Gerashchenko, confirms Kyiv's readiness to exchange 36 Russian citizens convicted in Ukraine for crimes against territorial integrity on Ukrainian political prisoners on the territory of the Russian Federation.

"We are waiting for Russia's reply to our proposal: take away 36 of yours and give ours! Give the command to your puppets in ORDLO to take away several dozen criminals and give our heroes," Gerashchenko wrote on her Facebook page on Tuesday.

She also noted that Ukraine is ready to pardon several dozen criminals involved in the war in Donbas in the ranks of pro-Russian bandit groups, "to take out our guys from ORDLO."

According to her, the representatives of ORDLO in Minsk are trying to play the Kremlin scenario about "exchanging all the confirmed ones on all confirmed ones" and claim "that there are only 20 Ukrainian citizens in their dungeons and demanding that we release 300."

"We insist on another formula: Ukrainians illegally kept in the Russian Federation are on the list of identified individuals, thus the whole world knows where Sentsov, Sushchenko, Balukh, Karpiuk, Panov, Kuku, Kolchenko, and others are kept," Geraschenko said.

As reported, Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, illegally sentenced in Russia, continues his hunger strike for the 93rd day with a demand to release all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia.
New public defender of Viktor Yanukovych, Yuriy Riabovol, who was appointed on August 2 instead of public defender Viktor Ovsiannikov, who refused to participate in meetings in protest, is familiarizing with the case materials about the former president's state treason without restrictions.

"On August 2, the Center for the provision of free secondary legal aid canceled the assignment to defense counsel Viktor Ovsiannikov and appointed new defender Yuriy Riabovol. The lawyer is familiarizing with the case materials daily, without any restrictions," press secretary of Kyiv's Obolonsky district court Inna Svynarenko told Interfax-Ukraine.

She stressed that the court had granted all the volumes of the criminal case to Viktor Yanukovych's new public defender. "The defender is getting acquainted with them. He has not sent any requests or claims to the court yet," Svynarenko said.

The next meeting of the Obolonsky Court on the state treason of Viktor Yanukovych is to be held on August 16.
Poroshenko calls on Israel to take measures to improve situation with admission of Ukrainian citizens to the country, taking into account visa-free regime

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, during a meeting with Minister for Environment, Minister for Jerusalem and Heritage of the State of Israel Zeev Elkin, has discussed the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, and called for resolving the existing difficulties with admission of Ukrainian citizens to Israeli territory.

"The president of Ukraine noted the concern over the existing facts of the inadmissibility of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of Israel, despite the existence of a visa-free travel regime for citizens of both states. He called on the Israeli side to take all possible measures to improve the situation in this area," the press service of the Ukrainian president said on Tuesday evening.

Poroshenko also noted the intensification of the political dialogue with Israel and expressed hope for its further continuation.

"The two discussed intensive trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and noted significant prospects for further development. In this connection they agreed on the need to sign the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Israel as soon as possible," the message says.

The president of Ukraine also discussed with the minister, who is the co-chair of the Israeli part of the Joint Ukrainian-Israeli Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the results of its recent meeting, which took place in June.
On Wednesday, August 15, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference titled "Crimes of prison staff in occupied Crimea: eyewitness accounts" with the participation of political prisoner of Kerch penal colony No. 2 Murad Aliyev. Representatives of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and NGO CrimeaSOS are expected to attend (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Registration of journalists requires press accreditation. Additional information can be obtained by phone: (093) 004 2851 (Dzhemil).
17:25 14.08.2018 Interfax-Ukraine announces press conference titled 'Crimes of Prison Staff in Occupied Crimea: Eyewitness Accounts'

1 min read

(Participant Tasheva has been added) On Wednesday, August 15, at 11.00, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency's press center will host a press conference titled "Crimes of Prison Staff in Occupied Crimea: Eyewitness Accounts" with the participation of the political prisoner of the Kerch penitentiary No. 2 Murad Aliyev head of the board of NGO CrimeaSOS Tamila Tasheva. Representatives of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the NGO KrymSOS are expected to participate (8/5a Reitarska Street). Admission requires press accreditation. More information by phone: (093) 004 28 51 (Jemil).
KYIV. Aug 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Volunteers of battalion Donbas accuse the Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights of bias in preparing a report on human rights violations during the fighting for Ilovaisk in August 2014.

"The events listed in the report concern August 24-28. According to the authors of the report, these days there were tortures, detentions in inhuman conditions, executions. It tells about some Donbas fighters who did it all, for example, some fighter with the call sign Executioner," founder and honorary commander of the battalion Donbas, Ukrainian MP Semen Semenchenko said at a press conference in the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

In turn, the second battalion commander Anatoliy Vinohrodsky noted that the report does not accurately indicate the chronology of events and the participants in the battles.

"The first battles for Ilovaysk began on August 4. There the battalion Kryvbas and the Armed Forces of Ukraine took part, but the report indicates that this happened only on August 10 and the battalion Kryvbas is not mentioned there. The first unsuccessful assault on Ilovaisk - battalions Donbas and Shakhtarsk, but for some reason they forgot about the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the regiment Azov. School No. 14 was not occupied on August 18-19, but on the early hours of August 17," he said.

Also, according to Vinohrodsky, the report contains information about alleged torture and inhuman treatment of Ukrainian volunteers to local residents, but in fact, there were no such facts.

According to him, the authors of the report did not apply for information to the fighters of the battalion Donbas.

In this regard, Semenchenko noted that on Tuesday he is scheduled to meet with head of the UN Monitoring Mission for Human Rights Fiona Frazer. "I plan to draw her attention to the need to act in accordance with the treaty, which clearly states that monitoring should follow the principles of the UN - impartiality, objectivity and transparency. If you take data from the occupied territories, then take the data from the people you accuse," he said.

The deputy was also outraged by the fact that the report uses the terms "armed groups" instead of "invaders" and "Russian military."

Semenchenko also stressed that the battalion Donbas consisted mainly of the inhabitants of the occupied Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions," therefore, there is no talk of any hatred attributed to us - I have never come across with a situation where our fighter behaved hostile to local residents."
An official at the state-run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has told state-run news agency, IRNA, that the company was reducing its prices for September sales to Asia to their lowest level in 14 years, compared with Saudi crude.

The discount has been offered at a time that the second batch of renewed US sanctions, targeting Irans oil exports, is scheduled to be implemented on November 4.

As a part of President Donald Trumps withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran nuclear deal with world powers, Washington has threatened to block Irans international oil sales.

Oilprice.com reported that Saudi Arabia is also cutting prices for the Asian market and Iran is trying to protect its market share by doing the same. Iran is also offering incentives to India, such as cargo insurance, as some Indian insurers are reluctant to provide coverage for cargo from Iran.

Meanwhile, several key buyers, including China and India, who account for roughly half of Irans crude sales, have already said they are not willing to make significant cuts to their energy purchases from Iran.

Earlier, the head of the international office of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), Andrey Yu, told IRNA news agency that "China doesnt pay attention to the US sanctions on Iran" and would continue to buy oil and gas from Tehran.

"It is a routine between Iran and China and has nothing to do with the US. Oil, gas and trade shouldn't be influenced by the US anymore," he said, as quoted by Iranian media.

The European Union has also pledged to resist US sanctions on Tehran by implementing legislation allowing European businesses not to comply with US measures against Iran, for example, by trading in non-dollar denominated currencies, so they do not risk being penalized by Washington.

Nevertheless, after the first batch of US sanctions against Iran came into effect last week, giant European companies, including Frances oil major Total and its carmaker Renault suspended plans to invest in Iran.

Moreover, analysts believe Iran could still see its oil sales drop by around 700,000 barrels per day from current level of around 2.3 million.

Based on the new decision, Iran has cut another eighty cents from the price of its light grade oil offered to be sold to the Asian buyers next September. Tehran has also decided to offer sixty cents discount for each barrel of its heavy crude oil sought by many Asian countries.

Furthermore, Iran is offering 75 cents and eighty cents discount for its Forouzan and Soroush oils, respectively. That means, Iran has cut prices for all grades of the crude it exports.

The discounts offered are quite significant in oil deals, analysts say. Bloomberg reported that, during past six months, Iran exported 1,7 million barrels of oil per day to Asia and the amount shows the significance of discounts Tehran is offering.

According to the latest OPEC figures and Bloomberg, already Irans oil exports have decreased in July, although Iranian figures still show the same level of exports.

Iran has denied any connection between the offered discounts and looming US sanctions.

The new discounts are a part of the nature of the global markets being offered by all oil exporters," NIOC source told IRNA, adding, Thus, selling oil and gas at reduced prices complies with the rules of the market.

Nevertheless, its the first time that Iran is offering discounted prices to the Asian countries for single consignments of crude.
Province 2 state minister surrenders to court

Province 2 State Minister Aviram Sharma, an accused in the murder of Armed Police Force officer Thaman BK, surrendered to the Mahottari District Court on Monday. He was released on general date later.
The leaders of Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Azerbaijans signed a regional convention regarding the legal regime of the Caspian Sea during their summit in Aktau, Kazakhstan on Sunday August 12.

While Irans President Hassan Rouhani has described the summit as one of great importance, some Iranians are worried that Irans rights in the Caspian Sea could be compromised by the new agreement.

Rouhani has vaguely said before leaving Tehran for Kazakhstan Sunday morning that the five leaders were going to discuss the major principle related to the legal regime of Caspian Sea.

The principle of consensus distinguishes the new convention from the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, Rouhani said.

While the UN convention of the Law of the Sea clearly delineates maritime borders based on distance from the shores and other geographic criteria, what Rouhani said about a consensus refers to the fact that the five countries agreed to observe an arbitrary delineation that ultimately limits Irans share of the Caspian Sea to a minimum.

Rouhani also declared that an important point of the convention will be the agreement that no foreign military traffic in the Sea will be permitted. 'The point is of great importance to the national security of the littoral countries,' IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying. Rouhani added the convention would be implemented the day after it is signed.

However, regardless of what the five countries agreed upon on Sunday, based on a 2003 tripartite accord between Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, they have divided 68% of the sea among themselves long before sitting down at the summit to determine the fate of the Caspian.

Some Iranians, particularly those on social media have expressed concern that what the five leaders decide will ultimately harm Irans interests.

They fear that while Iran and the Soviet Union each owned 50 percent of the sea before the collapse of the USSR, now Russia is going to take advantage of Irans weakness in the international arena and its partial dependency on Russia, to reduce Irans share to a maximum of 20 percent.

Rouhani could have been aware of Iranians dissatisfaction about the deal on the Caspian Sea, when he said in Aktau that Iran has to have the deal approved by its parliament in Tehran. However, it is not clear what happens if the parliament (Majles) rejects the Aktau convention.

Based on the proceedings of four previous summits, some Iranians even fear that Irans share of the Caspian Sea might even be limited to 11 percent.

Reformist MP Mahmoud Sadeqi has asked in a tweet, Is this right that Irans 50% share of the Caspian Sea has been reduced to 11%?

A member of the Iranian delegation assured reporters in Aktau on Saturday alongside a meeting of the five countries foreign ministers that no documents concerning various countries share of the sea will be signed at the summit.

Rouhani had said before leaving Tehran that Baselines with regard to the coastal morphology and in accordance with the UN Convention, as well as the issues related to seabed will be discussed and settled in the future meetings.

Iran, Russia and the other three countries failed to reach an agreement about these issues since 1991.

Shahram Rafizadeh. A well-known Iranian commentator,tweeted, Russia has devoured Syria, and now it is going to have the Caspian Sea.

Farhad Mortaz tweeted that If they consider the Caspian to be a sea, Irans share of it would be 20%, but if they consider it a lake, Irans share would be only 13 percent.

Referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis second track diplomacy with Russia which was marked by his top advisers recent meeting with Putin, Mina Varshochi wrote in a tweet, Rouhani is in Kazakhstan to taste a broth made by two chefs, alluding to the proverb too many chefs spoil the broth.

Estimates put the Caspian Seas oil reserves at 50 billion barrels and nine trillion cubic metres of natural gas. The Caspian Sea is also the richest source of caviar in the world.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 88 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said August 14.

Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Trend:

Deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian countries are planning to hold in Azerbaijan this autumn the consultations on the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov told reporters Aug. 14, TASS reported.

"This meeting should take place no later than six months according to the instruction given by the heads of state, and according to the agreements stipulated in the adopted documents. Moreover, there is already an agreement that the group will gather and start working directly this autumn. According to the preliminary data, this refers to the meeting to be held in Azerbaijan," Abdrakhmanov said.

He noted that these consultations will concern the implementation of the agreements reached in the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea.

"According to the Convention and in pursuance of it, the ministers of foreign affairs of the Caspian states, who held their meeting the day before the summit, decided to establish a special mechanism, a group under the auspices of the ministries of foreign affairs, which will engage in implementation of the provisions of the convention, in particular, in the work over such a fundamental and important document as an agreement on the method of establishing the so-called straight baselines," the foreign minister said.

Following the meeting of the fifth Caspian summit in Aktau on August 12, the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea. The work on the document has been underway since 1996, and the draft convention was finally agreed upon at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Caspian states on December 4-5, 2017 in Moscow. Several sectoral documents on cooperation in the region were also signed.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

The signing of the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea at the 5th summit of the heads of state of the Caspian states in Aktau on August 12 promotes the interests of Azerbaijan. Member of Parliament of Azerbaijan Aydin Huseynov told Trend Aug. 14.

The Azerbaijani MP noted that the signing of the Convention will serve for deepening cooperation between the Caspian states and ensuring security in general.

"The legal status of the Caspian sea, cooperation in the spheres of economy, transport, ecology and biological resources in the Caspian basin highlights such issue as security in the region and at global scale. This agreement is a historic document, as the work in this direction has lasted for 25 years, and as a result the Caspian states reached an agreement on the status of the Caspian sea," Huseynov said.

He added that Azerbaijan has always made intensive efforts for achieving this agreement, and has protected national interests based on international law and mutual trust during the entire period of negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian sea.

The ceremony of signing of the document was held on August 12, at the 5th summit of the heads of state of the Caspian countries in the Kazakh city of Aktau.

Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva expressed condolences to Italian President Sergio Mattarella in connection with the collapse of a bridge in the Italian city of Genoa.

"We are deeply saddened as people were killed and went missing after a motorway bridge collapsed near the city of Genoa," the president and the first lady said. "On the occasion of this tragedy, on our own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, we extend our deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who were killed, and all the people of Italy."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Trend:

Currently, work is underway to solve problems related to the management of the bio-resources of the Caspian Sea within the framework of the Commission for Protection, Efficient and Joint Use of Aquatic Biological Resources of the Caspian Sea, Director of the Scientific-Research Fish Hatchery Institute of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mehman Akhundov told Trend on Aug. 14.

"The discussions held Aug. 12 in Aktau at the 5th summit of the heads of the Caspian states will allow solve these problems much quicker, improve the ecological system of the Caspian Sea, and contribute to its ecological development," he said.

He mentioned that among the main issues discussed at the summit were not only the legal status of the Caspian Sea and cooperation in economy and transportation, but also cooperation to protect the ecology and bio-resources.

"All the Caspian countries conduct scientific research in their economic sectors to increase sturgeon stocks. From the results of the research it is clear that over the last 10-15 years their reserves have been decreasing. This is mainly due to negative processes in the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea, decrease in the food reserves in the sea, and poaching," Akhundov said.

"Azerbaijan supports all the efforts to increase the sturgeon population and aquaculture is developing in the country," he added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Trend:

There are no Azerbaijanis among the victims of the bridge collapse in the Italian city of Genoa, Spokesman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend Aug. 14.

There are no Azerbaijani citizens among the dead and injured, he added. We are in constant contact with the Azerbaijani embassy in Italy in connection with this issue.

As a result of the collapse of a bridge in Genoa, 22 people died, 13 people were injured.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

Together with the whole port community, Romanias Constanta Port administration is willing to develop an efficient and prolific cooperation with the Baku International Sea Trade Port, a representative of the Romanian port told Trend on Aug. 10.

The Constanta Port representative noted that the sea port is open to initiate joint projects with the Baku Port, in order to enable a better approach, knowledge and experience exchange, with the possibility of identifying opportunities for the development of cargo traffic.

"We will make all the necessary efforts to promote a pro-active approach to the current situation regarding this cooperation with the Baku Port authorities. We are strongly confident that new ways and means of cooperation will be found in the future," the source said.

He reminded that on Oct. 5, 2017 the Memorandum of Understanding between the Baku International Sea Trade Port and Maritime Ports Administration Constanta was signed. The document was signed on the occasion of an important event  the Silk Road Summit that was held in the Constanta Port.

"This event was the starting point for a number of other actions and events having as main objective the cooperation between the Constanta Port and ports located on the Silk Road, especially Baku Port. In this respect, we continued to promote the advantage of using the strategic position of our ports, emphasizing their important roles on the international corridors," the source noted.

He also mentioned participation of the Constanta Port in the International Association of Ports and Harbors Conference, held this year in Baku, an important platform for developing cooperation among ports.

"At the same time, the event 'The Constanta Port on the Silk Road', hosted by the Constanta Port administration in May this year, gathered representatives of the Silk Road states and on this occasion, we were much honored to have the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Romania as one of our distinguished guests," the Romanian port's representative said.

He underlined that during the events organized by the Constanta Port both in Romania and other countries, companies from different spheres had the opportunity to meet the Baku Port and what it can offer as an important logistics hub in the Caspian Sea area.

"The Constanta Port presented to its partners the potential of the Baku Port, as one of the largest and most developed sea ports in the Caspian Sea area, which is playing a very important role in the Black Sea-Caspian Sea Corridor," the representative of the Constanta Port concluded.

Constanta Port is one of the largest Black Sea ports, covering 3,926 hectares and having an annual total handling capacity of 100 million tons.

Having a very favorable position on the Rhine Main-Danube Corridor that connects the North Sea with the Black Sea, the Port of Constanta has a major role in the trans-European transport network.

One of the priorities of the Constanta Port is to assure a sustainable connectivity between Asia and Europe, by developing its main assets: good connections with all transport modes (railway, road, river, airway and pipelines), good transportation infrastructure, quality and competitive services, safety and environmental port conditions, etc.

The Constanta Port has specialized terminals that can provide efficient operation of all kind of cargoes, including Ro-Ro and Ferry-Boat terminals. It is the largest hub for bulk grain for Europe and a distribution center for containers in the Black Sea area.

The Constanta Port has proved its competitive advantages due to its connection with the Danube river, assuring a shorter, cleaner and cheaper transportation alternative, as well as a reduced transit time for goods coming from Central Asia, Caucasus and Far East, to the states of Central and Eastern Europe.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend:

China supports the possibility of creating joint ventures (JV) with Azerbaijan in third countries, Ambassador of the PRC to Azerbaijan Wei Jinghua, said in an interview with Trend.

In 2015, Chinese government initiated a new model of "international cooperation in the market of third countries" that effectively connects China's manufacturing capacity, advanced technologies of developed countries and the needs of developing countries. This cooperation model has received positive responses in the international arena over the past 2 years," Jinghua said.

Business cooperation between China and Azerbaijan is mutually beneficial and has great potential. Despite the slowdown in the global economy, the volume of trade between Azerbaijan and China reached a record level in 2017.

"In the first half of the year, China became one of the 7 major trade partners of Azerbaijan. Cooperation between the countries particularly in areas, such as transport, communications, agriculture, construction materials production, engineering and light industry is expanding," the ambassador said.

At present more than 20 Chinese enterprises are performing entrepreneurial activities in oil and gas, construction, aviation, logistics and other fields in Azerbaijan.

According to the data of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, commodity turnover with China for 1H18 amounted to $616,402 million.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 14

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Turkmenistan plans to start building railway ferries, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Manmathan Chakaev said.

Chakayev made the remarks in his report to the country's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, local TV channel "Altyn Asyr" broadcasted.

This type of carriage of wagons by sea without intermediate cargo handling in the port is one of the most highly productive methods, its use allows for significantly saving the time for loading operations.

Berdimuhamedov noted that this is a very popular mode of transport for long-distance destinations. It also opens up great opportunities for transit, for example, of trains from Uzbekistan, which gains access to the sea through the port in Turkmenbashi.

The railway ferries are vessels intended for the carriage of railway vehicles.
Roadies make Lake City splash

Following auditions in Butwal and Chitwan, the Himalaya Roadies rumbled into Pokhara for its third of five nationwide auditions.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 12

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran increased by 70 percent in January-June 2018, Iranian ambassador to Kazakhstan Mojtaba Damirchilu said.

Damirchilu made the remarks during a meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, the official website of the Kazakh prime minister said.

During the meeting, the issues of further cooperation in trade, economic, investment, industrial and transit-transport spheres were discussed.

The prospects for development of cooperation in the subsoil use and agriculture were considered.

Damirchilu stressed that the Iranian leadership pays great attention to the cooperation with Kazakhstan, which today is the leading country in the Eurasian region.

"Great work has been recently done, favorable conditions have been created for cooperation in the economic sphere," the ambassador said. "Over the past six months, we have seen rapid progress in the trade turnover of our countries, which increased by 70 percent."

The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran in January-May 2018 amounted to $251.4 million, which is 41.7 percent more than in the same period of 2017 ($177.4 million). Exports from Kazakhstan to Iran increased by 36.1 percent to $207.2 million in January-May.

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, August 14

Trend:

Georgian Ambassador to Tehran Ioseb Chakhvashvili said Tbilisi is willing to increase its economic cooperation with Iran and looks forward to win-win trade with the Islamic Republic.

"Given the existing potential between the two countries, we are seeking win-win cooperation with Iran," Chakhvashvili said during a meeting in Tehran on August 11.

He added that Iranian investors could set up workshops and industrial plants in Georgia and use the country as a gateway to the European market.

Highlighting the importance of enhanced ties between the two nations, he said, "Iran and Georgia should think of major investment if they want to further boost their economic ties."

Elsewhere in his remarks, Chakhvashvili referred to the number of Iranian tourists arriving from Iran and Georgia and said, "Last year 350,000 tourists visited Georgia and the figures are expected to rise to 400,000."

Trade between Iran and Georgia last year stood at around $181 million, which indicates a 28 percent rise year-on-year.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Trend:

Tashkent region of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia) are implementing a number of projects in Uzbekistan and will ensure mutual supply of products, acocrding to the negotiations between the delegation of the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan headed by the Head of the Regional Administration Gulomjon Ibrahimov and the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Uzbek media reported.

Minnikhanov noted that Tashkent region is one of the leading regions of Uzbekistan. Tatarstan is interested in the development of comprehensive contacts.

"We are preparing an action plan for the implementation of the cooperation agreement signed in May this year. The document covers all areas: trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural spheres," Minnikhanov said.

One of the projects stipulated in the "road map" is the creation of a branch of the Tatarstans Technopolis "Khimgrad" Industrial Park in the region.

"We want to create this institution together with the Tashkent region. There are entrepreneurs who are ready to develop their business on this site. We will send managers, technologies. For its part, the Tashkent region will support us in the issues of provision of the necessary infrastructure," the president of Tatarstan said.

The next promising area of cooperation is the project of the "Eidos-Medicine" LLC company, involving the establishment in the Tashkent region of the assembly production of medical robots-simulators for the needs of Uzbekistan.

In addition, it is planned to establish traditional trade relations: to organize wholesale deliveries of products of the Tashkent region to Tatarstan and promote Tatarstan goods to the market of Uzbekistan. A special agency will be established to ensure this process, Minnikhanov said.

In turn, Ibrahimov stressed that the Republic of Tatarstan and Tashkent region has managed to build a meaningful dialogue between them in the last year and a half, and today they are working on the implementation of joint projects.

The head of the Tashkent region also said that during his visit to Kazan, he took part in the 9th international specialized exhibition of equipment, materials and technologies for aviation, aircraft construction and space entitled as "Aerospace technologies, modern materials and equipment".

"It was the first time I visited an exhibition of this format. I really enjoyed it. The most important thing is that we saw young guys from Tatarstan developing new technologies that are not inferior to foreign analogues at all," Ibrahimov added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Financial Monitoring Service of Azerbaijans Financial Market Supervisory Authority has added Adnan Abou Walid al-Sahraoui, a.k.a. Lehbib Ould Ali Ould Said Ould Joumani to the list of persons subject to international sanctions for their support of terrorism, said a report of the Financial Monitoring Service posted on its website.

He is former spokesperson of the Mouvement pour lUnification et le Jihad en Afrique de lOuest (MUJAO), or the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, according to the report.

The list is updated in accordance with the UN Security Councils decisions and the information received from regional organizations.

According to an order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, the international list is approved and updated by the Financial Monitoring Service based on the information received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Financial Monitoring Service of Azerbaijan was established Feb. 23, 2009.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend:

The work on the establishment of an Association of hotels is being conducted in Azerbaijan, the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan told Trend Aug. 14.

Thus, Azerbaijan will be able to become a member of the European Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes (HOTREC).

Vice-President of HOTREC Akos Niklai arrived in Azerbaijan to discuss these and other issues. He has already met with the Chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Nagiyev.

The opportunities for further development of tourism, existing infrastructure and other issues were discussed during the meeting. It was decided to start at the initial stage the necessary procedures to obtain for Azerbaijan the observer status in the European Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes.

Today HOTREC unites 43 European associations, hotels, restaurants and companies operating in the field of tourism.

The main activities of the Association are the development of the tourism industry, the introduction of innovations and ICT, environmental protection through "green technologies", more efficient use of resources in gastronomic tourism, enhancement of competition in the industry and other issues.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

Strong torrential rains in northwest Azerbaijan have not caused any serious damage to tobacco plantations, chairman of the Tobacco Producers and Exporters Association Telman Hasratov told Trend on Aug. 14.

Most of the plantations were not flooded excessively, which, on the contrary, is useful for tobacco.

"Most of the plantations, which we have already inspected, are not damaged too much. But we have not yet visited the plantations located at higher altitude, closer to the mountains where the precipitation was stronger. The main thing is that the plantations were not completely submerged - it would be harmful for tobacco," Hasratov said.

Meanwhile, he said that in general, tobacco production in the country should significantly increase in 2018.

"Crop yield is high in 2018. Farmers are even dissatisfied with the insufficient number of reception points. So the production of dry tobacco and tobacco products should increase in 2018," Hasratov said.

Earlier he told Trend that, tobacco production in Azerbaijan may increase by 30 percent by late 2018.

"Tobacco picking started relatively recently, but we already expect significant growth in production by the end of 2018," Hasratov said. "Presently, the biggest volumes of tobacco production are concentrated in Balakan, Shaki, Ismayilli, Gabala, Lerik and Masalli districts."

As a result of torrential rains at night and morning of August 10-11 in the northwestern regions of Azerbaijan, water level of the Tala River in the territory of Khoytala and Vokhtala villages of Zagatala district and the river Katekh in Ititala village of Balakan district rose. Rain water flooded open territories, roads connecting the villages and some farmlands.

According to the State Statistics Committee, in 1H2018, over 975 tons of tobacco were harvested from 3.4 thousand hectares of land in Azerbaijan, which is 8.2 times more than in the same period of the 2017.

During the reporting period, the country produced tobacco products worth 20.48 million manats, which is 3.4 times more than in 1H17.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

Administration of the city of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, published a video calling on foreign investors to invest their money in development of the city.

The video demonstrates how the capital, trying to become a modern business metropolis, at the same time managed to preserve its eastern face and cultural heritage.

Tashkent is an international and multicultural city, where new high-rise buildings coexist with historical monuments and bazaars, which does not prevent it from developing.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) will strengthen Turkeys energy security and contribute to the diversification of energy sources, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey Alparslan Bayraktar said, Turkish media reported.

At the same time, TANAP will make it possible to strengthen the strategic role of Turkey in the region, the minister said.

TANAP will account for 10 percent of all gas imports to Turkey, which is important in terms of diversifying supplies, he added.

He said that three countries - Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia - showed to the whole world that they can implement such a big project, which contributes to the prosperity and growth of the well-being of the population of the region.

Bayraktar stressed that the TANAP project was implemented in record time and its implementation will allow gas from Azerbaijan to enter the European markets for the first time.

A ceremony to launch Phase 0 of TANAP took place June 12 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir.

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.

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 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.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanli
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.14

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Following the decision of the European Commission on the Exemption of Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB) from the requirements regarding third party access, tariff regulation and ownership unbundling, on August 8 the National Regulators of Greece and Bulgaria adopted an official Joint Exemption decision for IGB, said a message on the European Commissions website.

The Exemption decision defines the framework under which the IGB pipeline will operate from Commercial operation start. The decision grants an exemption from third party access rules on the capacity booked as a result of the completed Market Test for capacity reservation for 25 years period. In addition, the EC and the National Regulatory Authorities have approved also exemptions from regulated tariff for the total capacity of the pipeline as well as exemption from ownership unbundling, both for a total period of 25 years.

The Executive Officers of ICGB - Teodora Georgieva and Konstantinos Karayannakos, welcomed the publishing of the Exemption decision and expressed gratitude to the EC and the National Regulators.

Ms. Georgieva said:  The award of the Exemption decision is a key step to establishing the commercial status of the pipeline. We are very grateful and highly appreciate the cooperation of both the EC and NRAs during the process. ICGB will study in depth the Exemption decision and will proceed with the implementation of the necessary actions in order to fulfil the conditions set in the decision in the provided timeframe, including the preparation and the conclusion of the Gas Transportation Agreements.

Karayannakos also commented: We are very thankful for the constructive and efficient approach of the EC and the Regulators in handling of the Exemption decision. The issuance of the Exemption decision is the only outstanding step in the process of obtaining an Installation Permit for the Greek section of the pipeline, which is an equivalent to the Construction Permit obtained for the Bulgarian section on4 th of October 2017. After the finalization of the process the Project Company will have all the necessary permissions to start construction.

IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets.

The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 14

Trend:

United States Assistant Trade Representative for Trade Policy and Economics Edward Gresser and Deputy Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Zeba Reyazuddin will make a presentation on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for entrepreneurs and civil servants of Kyrgyzstan, Kabar news agency reported.

GSP provides a preferential duty-free regime for more than 3,500 products from a wide range of countries, including the Kyrgyz Republic, to promote the economic growth of certain US trade partners.

The Office of Trade Policy and Economics is responsible for the implementation of the GSP program worldwide. It is the largest and oldest program on trade preferences in the United States.

The GSP presentation will be held on August 17 at the Ministry of Economy in Bishkek.
Ruling party lawmakers object tweaks to law

As Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa tabled in Parliament the bill to amend the Citizenship Act-2006 for ensuring citizenship in the mothers name, lawmakers from the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) were working on a draft amendment proposal on Monday claiming that the new measures would make citizenship from mother more difficult.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 14

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Russian-Turkmen high-level talks may be held in Sochi on August 15, Russian Izvestia newspaper reported Aug. 14.

The negotiations between presidents of Russia and Turkmenistan Vladimir Putin and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov have been scheduled, the message says.

About 190 companies with Russian capital operate in Turkmenistan. The ARETI International Croup holding (formerly ITERA) has been operating since 2009 in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian sea on the basis of the production sharing agreement.

Turkmenistan also previously confirmed its readiness to increase the supply of Turkmen agricultural products and textiles to Russia and the supply of products of oil and gas and chemical industries and consumer goods. The banking and financial sector, support for export and import operations and joint foreign economic projects have been specified as the priority areas of cooperation.
Iran will not rein in its influence in the Middle East despite mounting U.S. pressure on Tehran to curb its regional activities, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told al Jazeera TV.

Iran will not change its policies in the region because of U.S. sanctions and threats, al Jazeera on Monday quoted Zarif as saying.

In May, President Donald Trump exited Irans 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, saying it failed to address Irans ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 or its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.
China on Tuesday condemned measures targeting it in a new U.S. defense act, saying it would comprehensively assess aspects that beef up the role of a key panel tasked with reviewing foreign investment proposals, Reuters reports.

Chinas complaints about the act come as the worlds two biggest economies engage in an increasingly bitter fight over trade, levying tariffs on each others products.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a $716-billion defense policy act on Monday that authorizes military spending and waters down controls on U.S. government contracts with Chinas ZTE Corp and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.

The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, strengthens the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews proposals to determine if they threaten national security. That measure was seen as targeting China.

Chinas Commerce Ministry said it had noted the inclusion of CFIUS in the act and would comprehensively assess the contents, paying close attention to the impact on Chinese firms.

The U.S. side should objectively and fairly treat Chinese investors, and avoid CFIUS becoming an obstacle to investment cooperation between Chinese and U.S. firms, it said in a short statement.

Chinese and U.S. companies seek greater cooperation on investment, it added, urging the two countries governments to heed the voices of their companies, and provide a good environment and stable expectations.

Mondays legislation also calls long-term strategic competition with China a top priority for the United States, which should improve the defense capabilities of self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by China as a wayward province.

In a separate statement, the Foreign Ministry said the United States passed the act despite Chinas strong objections and it was dissatisfied with the negative content related to China.

China urges the United States to abandon Cold War thinking and correctly and objectively view relations, and not implement the acts negative clauses about China, so as to avoid harming cooperation, the ministry added.
China and Africa will step up cooperation to reduce poverty, a Chinese poverty relief official said Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

"Reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development are shared targets and historical tasks of China and Africa," said Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

The two sides will strengthen communication to share their experience of poverty alleviation and work together to conduct research in the field.

China will continue to train poverty relief workers from Africa according to the needs of African countries, Liu told a conference on poverty reduction and development under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

The two sides will launch some pilot projects that serve as examples or provide technical support for poverty relief work, according to Liu.
Malta said on Tuesday it would allow the Mediterranean rescue ship Aquarius, which has been barred for four days from several coastal states, to dock after five European Union countries agreed to take in the 141 migrants on board, Reuters reported.

The boat, run by the Franco-German charity SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF), had been at the center of the latest continent-wide tug-of-war over how to cope with the arrival of seaborne migrants.

The migrants rescued off the coast of Libya together with some others who arrived in Malta separately will be distributed among France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain, according to Spanish deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo, who said the final number of people involved came to 255.

She also said Italy would take some of the migrants in, but Italys far right interior minister and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said on Twitter that Rome would not take any of them.

The NGO ship Aquarius will go to Malta and the migrants on board will be distributed between Spain, France, Luxembourg, Portugal and Germany. As promised, not in Italy. Weve already done enough, Salvini said on Twitter.

The row over the Aquarius illustrates again how politically fraught the issue remains despite the deal on migration that EU leaders agreed on at a summit in June.

The charities gave a cautious welcome to the deal, saying EU states now needed to agree on a more permanent mechanism that would avoid seeing rescue ships stranded at sea for days.

Maybe European states have finally understood that this concerns our common border at the south of Europe, that this is a problem for the 28 member states, and that we cant avoid responsibility and should work together, Frederic Penard, director of operations at SOS Mediterranee, told a news conference.

The migrants on the Aquarius were rescued from boats off Libya. Malta had initially argued they should be taken to Libya, Tunisia or the Italian island of Lampedusa, all closer to the rescue points.

The decision was made in a context of humanitarian emergency and highlights the importance of having a lasting and sustainable mechanism to avoid the repetition of crises, French President Emmanuel Macrons office said in a statement.

According to the Spains Calvo, Spain will take 60 migrants, France another 60, Germany 50, Portugal 30, Luxembourg five, and 50 will remain in Malta.

Protracted feuds between EU states over how to handle the influx of migrants have thrown the issue back onto the European agenda, despite the fact that overall Mediterranean arrivals have dropped sharply since peaking at around 1 million in 2015.

EU border agency Frontex said on Monday it had counted 73,500 irregular border crossings into the bloc so far this year via the sea and the Western Balkans route, more than 40 percent fewer than in the first seven months of 2017.

Spain took in 629 mainly sub-Saharan Africans from the same rescue boat in June, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this had helped pave the way to Tuesdays deal, which Malta called a concrete example of European leadership and solidarity.
Chilean president Sebastian Pineras pick for culture minister was forced to resign on Monday, just days into his new job, after criticism mounted over comments he made in 2015 about a human rights museum in capital Santiago, Reuters reported.

Mauricio Rojas, a Chilean-Swedish political economist and member of Pineras center-right coalition, questioned the validity of the Museum of History and Human Rights, which opened in 2010 and documents abuses during the 1973-1990 military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

More than a museum, it is an installation whose purpose ... is to shock the spectator, leaving them astonished and preventing them from reasoning, he was quoted as saying in a book published in 2015. It is a manipulation of history ... a shameless and inaccurate use of a national tragedy that touched so many of us directly.

The comments were picked up on by Chilean media at the weekend, sparking a wave of criticism from politicians on the left and right, and calls by Chilean actors, writers and musicians for Rojas to resign.

Rojas, who made the comments in a book he co-authored that discussed his move from the left side of the political spectrum to the right, said on Twitter on Saturday that those comments did not reflect his current view, and that he had never diminished nor justified unacceptable, systematic and grave human rights violations that happened in Chile.

The scandal represents a fresh headache for Pinera, who has seen his approval ratings fall amid a series of gaffes by his ministers, coupled with continuing high unemployment figures. Last week, just five months into his term, he removed three ministers in a reshuffle.

Pinera rejected Rojas comments about the museum.

In the best interests of our country, for the wellbeing of all our compatriots and the good functioning of our government, I have decided to accept his resignation, he said.

He said that Rojas replacement will be Consuelo Valdes, an archeologist.

An estimated 3,000 people disappeared or lost their lives during the Pinochet dictatorship, and 28,000 were tortured.
Since the beginning of August, Russian air defenses at the Hmeimim airbase in Syria have downed a total of 16 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by militants operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone, Maj. Gen. Alexei Tsygankov, head of the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation, said Tuesday, Sputnik reported.

"A total of 16 unmanned aerial vehicles, launched from the territory controlled by illegal armed groups in the Idlib de-escalation zone, have been destroyed since the beginning of August," Tsygankov said at a daily briefing.

The Russian Defense Ministry's Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees said last week that more than 1.7 million Syrians, who were forced to flee their country during the civil war, would like to return home.

"It is estimated, that 1,712,234 Syrians in nine countries expressed their desire to return back to their homeland (Lebanon  889,031, Turkey  297,342, Germany  174,897, Jordan  149,268, Iraq  101,233, Egypt  99,834, Denmark  412, Brazil  149, Austria  68)," the center's bulletin read.

A total number of Syrians currently living in these countries is 6,638,413, according to the bulletin.

Since September 30, 2015, over 235,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homes from abroad, including more than 120,000 children, the bulletin noted.
US President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart in Geneva, White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a press briefing on Tuesday, Sputnik reported.

"Looking ahead to next week, Ambassador Bolton will meet with officials in Israel and Ukraine, as well as with his Russian counterpart in Geneva as a follow up to the Helsinki summit to discuss a range of important national security issues," Sanders said.

White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said earlier that John Bolton will meet with his Russian counterpart to follow up on the recent summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump and Putin met for their first official summit in Helsinki, Finland on July 16. The two presidents had a one-on-one private conversation followed by an expanded bilateral meeting.

Trump and Putin said they discussed the Syrian refugee crisis, the situation in Ukraine, nuclear proliferation and Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

Trump faced overwhelming criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for remarks at a post-summit press conference in which the US president appeared to accept Russian denials that Moscow had meddled in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump later claimed he misspoke, said he believed the US intelligence community assessment that Russia had attempted to influence the elections outcome and followed up by inviting Putin to a second summit in Washington, DC.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 14, 2018 - 09:22 | All, World

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang plans to attend a bilateral student exchange event with Japan later this month, in a sign of improvement in relations between Tokyo and Beijing, sources close to diplomatic ties said Monday.

From the Japanese side, Yoshimasa Hayashi, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, is likely to take part in the Aug. 29 event at Peking University in Beijing.

Tokyo hopes that the rare attendance by the Chinese premier at a bilateral student exchange event will help realize Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping eyed in October, the sources said.

Xi is also expected to participate in the Group of 20 major economies' summit to be held in Japan next June.

The relationship between the two Asian neighbors, which is often been strained by differences in views on history and territory, has recently been improving as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral peace and friendship treaty, the sources said.

In May this year, Li became the highest-ranking Chinese official to pay a visit to Japan in seven years. At the time, Li and Abe agreed to promote bilateral youth exchanges.

The event at Peking University will bring together about 1,000 Japanese and Chinese students. In the previous session of a similar exchange event in August last year, no minister was dispatched from the Japanese side, while then Vice Premier Liu Yandong took part from China.

Following the student exchange event on Aug. 29, Hayashi plans to take part in a ministerial cultural meeting involving Japan, China and South Korea in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, the sources said. Hayashi is also scheduled to hold talks with Luo Shugang, Chinese minister of culture and tourism, during his stay in China, they said.
The ministers and CPM State secretariat members are scared of Pinarayi. They are not telling him the truth, says Cherian Philip
Valley cafes go digital-first with Made in Nepal technology

If you walk into the aptly-named Naulo Restaurant in Kathmandus Durbarmarg, you are in for a novel dining experience. Instead of a traditional hostess, five robot servers will welcome you in and instead of thumbing through a menu, you order food through a monitor placed at every table.Naulo might hold the distinction of being Kathmandus first automated restaurant but its futuristic vibe isnt the only thing thats drawing in dinersunlike a few other restaurants that also employ robots, Naulos five servers have all been built in Nepal.The brainchild of alums of the Pulchowk-based Institute of Engineering, the robots, Ginger and Ferry, were built by Paaila Technology, a Nepali company that specialises in robotics and AI technology.
The human stress hormone cortisol has been identified by scientists at the University of Kent as a key factor when the immune system fails to prevent leukemia taking hold.

A team led by Dr Vadim Sumbayev, of the University's Medway School of Pharmacy, found for the first time that blood/bone marrow cancer - acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - cells evade the anti-cancer activity of the human immune system by employing the human hormone cortisol.

The study of the causes of AML - the most severe blood/bone marrow cancer - demonstrated that AML cells employ a unique pathway to progress the disease, using functional systems of the human body to both support their survival and also reduce the anticancer activities of immune cells.

They do this by using cortisol to force the release of a protein, latrophilin 1. This in turn causes the secretion of another protein, galectin-9, which suppresses the body's natural anti-cancer immune mechanism.

Dr Sumbayev's team, working with researchers from two German universities and the UK's Diamond Light Source facility, found that although healthy human white blood cells are not affected by cortisol they become capable of releasing latrophilin 1 when malignant transformation takes place.

Malignant AML cells then use cortisol to increase the release of latrophilin 1 so that they can use it to avoid the immune system.

The study concluded that galectin-9, as well as a natural binding partner of latrophilin 1 - known as FLRT3 - which are both present in human blood plasma, are the most promising targets for future anti-AML immune therapy.

Dr Sumbayev said: 'For the first time, we can identify a possible future pathway to develop an effective new therapy using the body's natural immune mechanisms. We have discovered a new fundamental biochemical mechanism within the human body that allows AML cells to employ physiological systems to survive and escape immune attack.'

###

The study, entitled Cortisol facilitates the immune escape of human acute myeloid leukemia cells by inducing latrophilin 1 expression (Svetlana Sakhnevych, Inna Yasinska, Alison Bratt, Ouafa Benlaouer, Isabel Goncalves Silva, Yuri Ushkaryov, Vadim Sumbayev, all Medway School of Pharmacy, universities of Kent and Greenwich; Rohannah Hussain, Giuliano Siligardi, Diamond Light Source; Walter Fiedler, Jasmin Wellbrock, Hubertus Wald University; Bernhard Gibbs, University of Oldenburg) is published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Immunology. See: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-018-0053-8

For more information or interview requests contact Martin Herrema at the University of Kent Press Office.

Tel: 01227 816768

Email: M.J.Herrema@kent.ac.uk

News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news

University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent

Notes to editor

Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.

It has been ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and in June 2017 was awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, it is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016.

Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality.

In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities.

Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium (http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/partnerships/eastern-arc.html).

The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals.

Kent has received two Queen's Anniversary prizes for Higher and Further Education.
Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE: DB) stock is down nearly 40 percent year-to-date, but one analyst says things are going to get much worse for Deutsche Bank investors before they get better.

The Analyst

Bank of America analysts led by Andrew Stimpson downgraded Deutsche Bank from Neutral to Underperform and lowered his price target from 11 EUR ($12.54) to 9 EUR ($10.42).

The Thesis

There are simply too many headwinds for Deutsche Bank to overcome at the moment, Stimpson said in the note.

First, Stimpson said Deutsche Banks deleveraging process will hinder its revenue growth. He also said the bank will need more aggressive cuts than it's currently projecting to achieve its target of 4.5 percent medium-term leverage target.

In addition, Bank of America dialed back its 2018/2019/2020 EPS projections from EUR 0.71/0.98/1.40 to EUR 0.39/0.71/1.07. The new estimates are roughly 10 percent below consensus forecasts, suggesting additional earnings misses and downward estimate revisions in the future.

Finally, with Deutsche Banks profitability much lower than its peer group, Stimpson says investors cant count on valuation providing support for the stock.

After the significant rally from the lows, DBKs 12m fwd P/E is near to post crisis highs, Stimpson said.

Stimson said there are plenty of better and lower-risk bank stocks out there at the moment, and Deutsche Banks struggles will likely continue to weigh on the stock price.

Price Action

Deutsche Bank stock traded lower by 2.4 percent to $11.54 following the downgrade.

Related Links:

The Turkish Crisis: What You Need To Know About Erdogan, The Lira, Turkey

A Concerning Weakness In Bank Stocks

Photo credit: Markus Bernet, from Wikimedia Commons

Latest Ratings for DB

Aug 2018 Bank of America Downgrades Neutral Underperform Nov 2017 HSBC Upgrades Hold Buy Sep 2017 HSBC Upgrades Reduce Hold

View More Analyst Ratings for DB

View the Latest Analyst Ratings

See more from Benzinga

 2018 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Important news for shareholders and potential investors in Aqua America Inc (NYSE:WTR): The dividend payment of US$0.22 per share will be distributed into shareholder on 01 September 2018, and the stock will begin trading ex-dividend at an earlier date, 16 August 2018. Is this future income a persuasive enough catalyst for investors to think about Aqua America as an investment today? Below, Im going to look at the latest data and analyze the stock and its dividend property in further detail.

See our latest analysis for Aqua America

5 checks you should do on a dividend stock

When assessing a stock as a potential addition to my dividend Portfolio, I look at these five areas:

Is their annual yield among the top 25% of dividend payers?

Has it paid dividend every year without dramatically reducing payout in the past?

Has dividend per share risen in the past couple of years?

Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings?

Based on future earnings growth, will it be able to continue to payout dividend at the current rate?

NYSE:WTR Historical Dividend Yield August 13th 18

How does Aqua America fare?

The current trailing twelve-month payout ratio for the stock is 58.90%, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. Going forward, analysts expect WTRs payout to remain around the same level at 62.18% of its earnings, which leads to a dividend yield of 2.54%. Moreover, EPS should increase to $1.44.

If there is one thing that you want to be reliable in your life, its dividend stocks and their constant income stream. In the case of WTR it has increased its DPS from $0.43 to $0.88 in the past 10 years. It has also been paying out dividend consistently during this time, as youd expect for a company increasing its dividend levels. This is an impressive feat, which makes WTR a true dividend rockstar.

Relative to peers, Aqua America produces a yield of 2.35%, which is on the low-side for Water Utilities stocks.

Next Steps:

Keeping in mind the dividend characteristics above, Aqua America is definitely worth considering for investors looking to build a dedicated income portfolio. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I urge potential investors to try and get a good understanding of the underlying business and its fundamentals before deciding on an investment. There are three pertinent aspects you should further research:

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for WTRs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for WTRs outlook. Historical Performance: What has WTRs returns been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity. Other Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here.

To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements.



The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Asian markets were mixed in morning trade on Tuesday

Investing.com - Asian markets were mixed in morning trade on Tuesday as investors continued to digest the impact of the economic uncertainty in Turkey.

Japans Nikkei 225 outperformed its regional peers and traded 1.4% higher by 9:41PM ET (01:41 GMT), as the yen gave up some of its recent gains amid safe haven demand on uncertainty in Turkey.

Chinas Shanghai Composite and the SZSE Component both slipped 0.4%, while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index also fell 0.6%.

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn Technology Co Ltd (TW:2354) received some focus after reporting worse-than-expected second-quarter earnings. Net profit came in at 14.49 billion Taiwan dollars, according to a statement, compared to an average estimate of T$21.94 billion.

Elsewhere, South Koreas KOSPI edged 0.1% higher as LG Electronics Inc (KS:066570) retreated 3.4%. Down under, Australias S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.7%.

Turkeys lira took center stage again on Tuesday after the currency pared some of its recent losses after the Turkish central bank moved to calm market nerves. The currency slumped over 20% in four trading days.

"The efforts announced by the Turkish central bank to stabilize the TRY (Turkish lira) appear to have assisted. The TRY has not endured further depreciation in overnight trade, but it has not substantially declined either," Richard Grace, chief currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a morning note.

Some analysts believed while the uncertainty in Turkey may continue, its correlation to the rest of the asset class may decline soon.

Its a large local difficulty, but so far the contagion has been relatively limited, Ray Attrill, head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank Ltd, told Bloomberg in an interview on Tuesday. Were seeing a little bit of signs of contagion within the euro zone, within the spreads of those government bonds in countries where the banking sector appears to have the biggest exposure as far as Turkey is concerned. Youd have to say that Turkey is relatively contained.

Story continues

Looking ahead, China is due to release industrial production, fixed-asset investment and retail sales data later in the morning.

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china communist party blockchain

Peoples Daily Publishing House, led by the Chinese Community party, has published a book on blockchain technology titled Blockchain  A Guide for Officials, which will cover all aspects of the new technology and serve as a guide for bureaucrats. The news was first reported by local media outlet Peoples Network.

The book provides details of distributed ledger technologys origin and discusses its present and future applications. Furthermore, it addresses the issues present in business, technology, legal and, other sectors.

An excerpt from the book, written by the president of Peoples Network Ye Hao under a chapter titled From Internet Thinking to Blockchain Thinking, reads:

We call on the industry peers to continue to look at the blockchain technology with a development perspective. Looking at the blockchain label from a scientific perspective, look at the blockchain industry with a strategic eye, look at the blockchain business opportunities with a calm eye, promote the sustainable and healthy development of the blockchain industry.

Hao adds that distributed ledger technology combines various technologies and presents a solution which helps in distributing resources equally. Some other notable figures who contributed to the book include Shoucheng Zhang, founding chairman of Dana Capital, Duan Yongchao, chief strategy officer at Caixin Media Group, Xue Jingzhong, Hangzhou Investment Management partner, and Zhang Xuguang, Zhejiang Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Promotion Association president.

The recent book will be the third addition to the tech series created by Peoples Daily Publishing House. The previous books focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and Digital China.

DLT: The Leading Technology in China

Chinese locals have become more interested in DLT ever since President Xi Jinping, along with the central bank of China, praised the technology. Last month, South China Morning Post reported that from Jan. to July 2018, 3,078 Chinese companies had registered with blockchain in their names. The number was only 555 in 2017  a 454% increase when compared to last years filings.

Story continues

On Aug. 10, CCN reported that Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital invested $374.55 million in American retail company Overstock. GSR Capital spent $270 million to buy an 18% stake in Overstock DLT subsidiary tZero. As a result of the investment, tZero is now worth more than Overstock. Additionally, this move is recorded as the largest investment made on a single blockchain platform.

Featured Image from Shutterstock



The post Blockchain for Bureaucrats: Chinas Communist Party Publishes DLT Primer appeared first on CCN.


Gold prices picked up to above $1,200 on Tuesday

Investing.com  Gold prices picked up to above $1,200 on Tuesday after hitting a 17-month low in the previous session, as Turkey vowed to save the lira crisis on late Monday.

The Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange showed that Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.29% to $1,202.4 each troy ounce at 1:15AM ET (05:15 GMT).

Turkeys central bank announced on Monday a series of measures to offer liquidity and cut reserve requirement for banks, in a bid to saving lira from its crisis driven by the U.S. sanctions and doubled tariffs on silver and aluminum for 50% and 20% respectively.

Equity markets slumped while investors seek refuge in safe haven currencies including the U.S. dollar and gold despite attempts by Turkeys central bank to halt the crisis.

Turkey is faced with an economic siege. We are taking the necessary steps against these attacks and will continue to do so, President Erdogan said on Monday.

Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Erdogans son-in-law, said Sunday said that Turkey would implement an economic action plan, but did not give details on what the steps would be.

Simon Derrick, chief currency strategist at BNY Mellon, remained pessimistic and said It is hard to look at these announcements as being anything more than temporary calming measures, rather than solutions to the problems at hand.

Elsewhere, Indias gold imports increased for the first time in seven months, reports on Tuesday revealed. The worlds second largest gold consumer purchased 75 tonnes last month, up by 44.2% year-on-year, according to reports.

The recent rise in imports was due to stock building due to lower prices ahead of the jewellery show and in anticipation that the rupee may continue to weaken till 71 rupee, said Cameron Alexander, Precious medals research company GFMSs analyst.

The World Gold Council said earlier in August that the gold demand in India would improve in the second half of the year as the government is bolstering farmers incomes.

Story continues

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Recent reports suggest that Google-parent Alphabet, Inc. GOOGL is planning to expand in China. Although Googles core services, Google Search, Gmail and YouTube, remain blocked in China, the company is involved in providing digital tools and support to large a number of Chinese app developers and manufacturers, mobile companies and advertisers, who want to reach out to their global customers.

Google had pulled out of China eight years ago over censorship issues. However, if reports are to be believed, Google now plans to re-enter the China market. For this, Google is reportedly planning to launch a censorship-friendly mobile search engine, wherein its Chinese partners might play a key role in its efforts to expand in that country. However, there are challenges aplenty for Google in China, which the company needs to overcome.

Google Takes Alternate Approach

Although Googles core services, Google Search, Gmail and YouTube remain blocked in China, the company has played a key role in supporting local tech companies. Google provides digital tools and support to a large number of Chinese app manufacturers, developers and advertisers, who want to reach out to global customers.

Google decided to pull out of China in 2010 over censorship issues. However, it has been providing its digital services and tools to many local companies. Reportedly, the company now plans to re-enter the China market and launch a censorship-friendly mobile search engine codenamed Dragonfly.

Local Partnerships Hold the Key

Understandably, for Google, partnerships with these local companies will play a key role in convincing the Chinese government to let it expand in China. Google can cite that such partnerships have been helping the Chinese economy to grow.

Moreover, such local partnerships could result in Google providing customers its other services such as cloud computing and other business apps, thus helping its business to grow in China. Google recently invested $550 million in Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, Inc. JD for a 1% stake.

Story continues

Also, in July, Google launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) game on WeChat. In January, the company signed a patent cross-licensing agreement with Tencent Holdings Limited TCEHY to expand its presence in China. Alphabet carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Challenges Galore for Google

Understandably, this move comes at a time when growing customer and subscriber base has become a priority for big tech companies, especially after slowing user growth has started hurting these companies. Shares of tech giants such as Facebook, Inc. FB and Netflix, Inc. NFLX recently took a hit after the companies reported slowing user growth in their quarterly results.

Re-entering the China market wont be that easy given the strict regulations the Chinese government imposes on Internet companies. China has more than 770 million Internet users but most access it with the help of a device running Googles open source Android operating system.

However, China has been actively encouraging local tech companies that have seen the rise of search engine giant Baidu, Inc. BIDU and e-commerce behemoth JD.com. Also, Baidus popularity has grown on the vernacular quotient. This certainly will raise competition for the company. Google has been focusing on this area and launched a Google Translate App in China in 2017. Recently, it also added a file management app to its local Chinese app store.

That said, before Google launches any such app, it would require approval from the Cybersecurity Administration from China along with a clearance from the Chinese government. And the laws have become are a lot stricter than they was eight years ago.

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Lockheed Martin secured a $480 million U.S. Air Force contract to design a hypersonic weapon prototype, the Pentagon said Monday.

The Pentagon's second hypersonic contract comes as Russia and China sprint to add these emerging weapons to their arsenals.

A hypersonic weapon is a missile that travels at Mach 5 or higher, which is at least five times faster than the speed of sound. That means a hypersonic weapon can travel about one mile per second.

Lockheed Martin LMT has won a second multimillion-dollar Air Force contract to design a hypersonic weapon prototype, as the U.S. tries to match Russia and China in hypersonic development.

The award, which is "not-to-exceed" $480 million, comes four months after the Bethesda, Maryland-based defense giant won its first hypersonic weapons contract. Development will take place in Orlando, Florida, under Lockheed's missiles and fire control unit and is expected to be completed by November 2021.

The Pentagon unveiled the deal Monday.

A hypersonic weapon is a missile that travels at Mach 5 or higher, which is at least five times faster than the speed of sound. That means a hypersonic weapon can travel about one mile per second.

The Pentagon's second hypersonic contract comes as Russia and China sprint to add these emerging weapons to their arsenals.

Read more: Russia and China are 'aggressively developing' hypersonic weapons  here's what they are and why the US can't defend against them

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted about nuclear and hypersonic weapons , which he described as "invincible" during a state of the nation address. Of the six weapons Vladimir Putin debuted in March, CNBC has learned that two of them will be ready for war by 2020 , according to sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports.

Currently, the Pentagon has nearly a dozen programs tasked with developing and defending against the new breed of weapons.

Story continues

In April, Lockheed Martin secured a $928 million contract to build an undefined number of hypersonic conventional strike weapons. According to the contract, the defense giant will be responsible for designing, engineering, weapon integration and logistical support. The development will take place in Huntsville, Alabama, which is known as "Rocket City" as it was the birthplace of America's rocket program.

Lockheed Martin is also in the process of developing the SR-72, a hypersonic unmanned plane dubbed the "son of the Blackbird." In 2014, the defense giant was awarded $892 million by NASA to study the development of the hypersonic spy plane.

In 1976, the Air Force flew Lockheed Martin's SR-71 Blackbird from New York to London in less than two hours  at speeds exceeding Mach 3, or three times the speed of sound.

The SR-72 is envisioned to operate at speeds up to Mach 6. And while the hypersonic SR-72 isn't expected to be operational until 2030, the company sees developing a platform of that magnitude as a game-changer.

"This could forever change our ability to deter and respond to conflict, allowing warfighters to quickly address threats before an adversary may have time to react," Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson said of the hypersonic plane in March.

Hewson also said the development of the aircraft, which is estimated to cost $1 billion, will change the "definition of air power by giving the U.S. significant tactical and strategic advantages."





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Methanex Corporation MEOH has signed natural gas supply agreements with Total Austral SA, Wintershall Energia SA, Pan American Sur SA and Compania General de Combustibles SA for its Chile operations through Jun 1, 2020. These agreements are subject to gas availability in Argentina as well as export permits for gas suppliers from the Argentine Government.

Methanex is optimistic about the export permits. These agreements, which when combined with existing contracts from other gas suppliers, will allow the company for up to a maximum 75% of a two-plant operation annually in Chile and a two-plant operation in the country during summer months in the Southern Hemisphere.

Shares of Methanex have gained 63.1% over a year, outperforming the industrys rise of 5.8%.

Strong demand and pricing fundamentals for methanol have contributed to the run up in Methanexs shares. Demand has been driven by both traditional derivatives and energy-related applications in Asia, particularly China. Per the company, global demand for methanol increased 4% year over year in the second quarter and is expected to remain healthy in 2018.

Meanwhile, Methanexs Chile IV plant is proceeding with its restart process, which is expected to be complete by the end of third-quarter 2018. With a committed revolving credit facility, strong balance sheet and healthy cash generation capability, the company believes that it is well positioned to meet its financial commitments, execute opportunities and return excess cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Methanex Corporation Price and Consensus

Methanex Corporation Price and Consensus | Methanex Corporation Quote

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Methanex currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Huntsman Corporation HUN, Celanese Corporation CE and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. APD.

Huntsman has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 8.5% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The companys shares have risen 24.1% in the past year. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Story continues

Celanese has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 10% and carries a Zacks Rank #1. The stock has rallied 18.3% in a year.

Air Products has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 16.1% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Its shares have gained 10.6% in a years time.

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It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.

And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.

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After public outcry, Beijing says it will ban new online lending platforms

Chinese authorities laid out 10 measures to increase restrictions on the online peer-to-peer lending sector, state-run news agency Xinhua reports.

Planned steps include banning new online lending platforms and increasing legal punishment on operators of fraudulent schemes, the report says.

The recent fallout in the peer-to-peer lending sector has prompted protests, but the social attention has likely outpaced widespread financial consequences for now.

The China government is stepping up scrutiny of and instituting new measures for a once-burgeoning online lending sector, where fund closures have prompted protests and even caused a convenience store chain in Beijing to shut down.

The targeted sector is peer-to-peer lending platforms, which claim to connect investors with borrowers over the internet, giving money lenders an opportunity to generate some income, while offering credit to many Chinese people who cannot get bank loans.

The companies, also known as P2P, tapped into a unique opportunity in the Chinese market since banks historically do not lend to most consumers and small businesses due to the lack of an established credit score system. A lack of regulation in the sector resulted in a surge of platforms, which peaked at about 3,500 in number in 2015, but roughly half have closed since.

Now, authorities covering internet financial and loan risks have laid out 10 policy measures, such as bans on new online lending platforms, state-run news agency Xinhua reported Sunday . Other steps include removing obstructions for customer complaints, increasing legal punishment on operators of fraudulent schemes and establishing payout plans for shareholders in bankrupt firms, the report said.

Seventy-three percent of P2P platform failures since June were due to liquidity issues, Citi analysts Daphne Poon and Judy Zhang said in a July 18 report. They predicted that fewer than 200 would survive in the end.

The analysts said the the latest slew of failures was likely driven by three factors: a tightening macro credit environment triggering defaults, rising compliance costs leading some platforms to voluntarily fold, and a rash of panicked withdrawals from retail investors crushing the platforms that weren't well prepared.

Story continues

The closures have had some effects in the real economy. In one case, convenience store chain Linjia had to close earlier this month after police began investigating its sole investor for organizing a Ponzi scheme disguised as a P2P lending platform, Chinese financial news site Yicai Global reported.

Last week, investors who lost money on the lending platforms also attempted to protest in Beijing's financial district , but were forced onto buses by police.

However, the social attention on the fallout has likely outpaced widespread financial consequences for now.

Despite the dramatic rise of P2P lenders in the last few years to a massive 1.3 trillion yuan ($188.7 billion), their loan balances only account for about 1 percent of total loans in the banking system, according to Citi.

P2P loan balance vs system loans outstanding

Source: WDZJ, Citi Research





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1. Yes. It makes me wonder why Killeen is having the problem and other cities arent.

2. Yes. The city also had water issues after the winter storm, so this is rather troubling.

3. No. Its good that the city is dealing with the problem and playing it safe with consumers.

4. No. Its more of an annoyance than a concern. The city will take the necessary steps.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say until more information about the issue becomes available.

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Textron's (NYSE: TXT) hope to broaden its aviation business's military chops got a boost when the company's AT-6 Wolverine was named a finalist in the Air Force's light attack aircraft competition. But the Wolverine, as well as the very concept of today's Pentagon buying a propeller-based attack plane, remains a far-from-certain proposition.

The Air Force on Aug. 3 posted notice of plans to acquire a fleet of light attack planes beginning in late 2019, with a formal request for proposal expected in December. The notice said that only the AT-6 and the A-29, a rival made by Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) and Sierra Nevada, will be considered.

AT-6 Wolverine aircraft

Textron's AT-6 Wolverine light attack aircraft. Image source: Textron.

The notice does not say how many planes would be acquired, though some lawmakers have envisioned a fleet of about 300. With an expected unit price of about $20 million, a full order could be worth $6 billion.

The potential deal would be a shot in the arm for Textron, which via its ownership of both Cessna and Beechcraft is a major force in commercial and recreational aviation but has ambitions to expand its military might. Should the Wolverine prevail, the win would almost certainly make the plane an easier sell overseas and could boost the fortunes of Textron's Scorpion low-cost jet fighter program as well.

Do we need props in the jet age?

Even as it spends billions on high-tech jets like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor, the Air Force has remained intrigued by propeller aircraft, which, thanks to their slower speed, better fuel economy, and maneuverability, can hover over battlefields and provide close-in support. During the Vietnam War, the A-1E Skyraider was a mainstay, though the aircraft's high loss rate highlights the obvious downside of those slower speeds and low-altitude flying.

The modern version would have similar vulnerabilities, but its boosters envision it facing off not against modern anti-aircraft guns but instead as useful against terrorists and insurgents who are primarily relying on AK-47 rifles and other small arms. The light attack aircraft would also cost just a fraction of what a modern fighter does, both to acquire and to operate, and is seen as an affordable way for the United States and its allies to rapidly expand their aerial presence.

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That idea still has a lot of skeptics, and Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Defense News that despite the notice, the military has not yet made a final decision on whether to move ahead with the program. While the plane could be effective and relatively safe against counterinsurgents, critics argue that this is a very narrow use case that can also be addressed via Apache attack helicopters and existing planes such as the A-10 Warthog.

And with military technology quickly advancing and more sophisticated systems finding their way to an ever-larger number of combatants, it seems likely that even if insurgent groups today cannot easily best a light attack aircraft, the future risk to pilots would be substantial.

Head to head

Assuming the Air Force does commit to buying the plane, the Wolverine is in for a fight. Though the A-29 suffered a crash with loss of life during a planned three-month Air Force flight-testing period earlier this year, it has been in service for more than a decade and is currently operated by nearly a dozen countries. The plane has fought drug smugglers for Brazil and FARC for Colombia and has done airstrike sorties for Afghanistan.

Not only is the A-29 far more battle tested, its multiple deployments mean there is a ready-made ecosystem built up around it and some precision U.S.-made weaponry, including laser-guided bombs, that is integrated to work with it. And while Embraer is already partnered with Sierra Nevada to sell the plane in the United States, the Brazilian company's recently announced commercial tie-up with Boeing also contemplates the two companies working together on defense, which means the A-29 might soon have a powerful new ally.

The Wolverine might not have combat experience, but the Beechcraft T-6 on which it is based is the primary trainer for the U.S. Navy and has more than 800 frames in use by the Pentagon as well as by NATO allies and elsewhere. It's a plane that the Air Force is very familiar with; it has hundreds of thousands of hours of flight time to prove its reliability and a reputation for durability.

Textron has added advanced armor to that design and an automated missile detection and countermeasure system to try to increase survivability, though the A-29 has similar measures.

Textron is a winner either way

As of now, I'd assume the A-29 is a slight favorite should the Air Force proceed to buy a propeller-powered attack aircraft, thanks to its international success. The Embraer offering came out on top the only previous time the two designs have battled, a 2012 deal with the Afghan Air Force, though that was before Beechcraft and the Wolverine were owned by the deep pockets of Textron.

Fortunately for Textron, the company has a lot going for it beyond its fledgling military platform business. The company's second quarter included strong results from its industrial operations and reason for optimism that the extended slump in business jets might finally be easing.

With new commercial bizjet models coming online over the next two years and the potential for increased demand at its Bell helicopter unit thanks to a rebound in energy prices, I think Textron is well positioned to outperform competitors even without a Wolverine win.

Think of Textron as a strong industrial conglomerate with a side bet on military aircraft. Buy it for those businesses, and celebrate the added upside should the Air Force decision go its way.

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Lou Whiteman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Embraer Brazilian Aviation Co and Textron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Thailand Bitcoin Scam

Thailands Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has sought arrest warrants of six more people in an ongoing $24 million Bitcoin scam case.

The law enforcement agency has confirmed that among the six wanted individuals, two are siblings of the famous Thai actor Jiratpisit Jaravijit. One of them is the elder brother of Jaravijit, Prinya Jaravijit, while another is a renowned stock exchange investor, Prasit Srisuwan. Police had already arrested Jiratpisit for his alleged involvement in the scam. However, the Criminal Court granted him a bail set at nearly $60,000, believing he is not a flight risk. The court also noted there is no evidence that Jiratpisit joined other suspects to lure the victim.

The 27-year old soap actor, however, would be facing money laundering charges solely because of the money trail that led authorities to his account.

Jaravijit has denied allegations against him, but evidence shows a different picture. BangkokPost reports that CSD investigation has unearthed evidence that links $630,000 worth of Baht from the scam to Jaravijits bank account. However, the actor has pointed fingers at his brother, saying the accused at large was using his bank account all this time.

Six Accused Received $22.3 million in Total

The CSD suspects Prinya of leading the Bitcoin scam. The reports find that he had invested in real estate in Thailand using the tainted money, and his bank accounts  now frozen  received $3.3 million in total. Suphitcha, on the other hand, received over $4.2 million from the scam.

Including Jaravijoit siblings, the Bitcoin scam gang received around $22.3 million in total via Bitcoin. The money was a part of investments made by Aarni Otav Saarimaa, a Finnish national and Thai businesswoman Chonnikan Kaeosali, into three dubious companies, a casino and a cryptocurrency project called Dragon Coins. The investors believed Dragon Coins would be used at a major casino in Macao. Prasit Srisuwan, with his high-profile trading career at the Stock Exchange of Thailand, is believed to be instrumental towards luring victims into the gangs HYIP scheme.

Story continues

After receiving the digital currency units from investors, the gang sold them for fiat currencies and transferred 747 million baht in total into various bank accounts. However, the victims claim they lost 797 million baht. There are possibilities that some of the Bitcoins have not been converted to fiat yet. It makes money trailing difficult for CSD, which has already termed this case as one of the most challenging cases they have investigated  ever.

The authorities have already seized 14 plots of land worth $5.27 million, and have frozen over 50 bank accounts connected to the scheme.

Thai police cap image from Shutterstock.



The post Thailand Police Seek More Arrests in $24 Million Bitcoin Fraud appeared first on CCN.


Trump gives $717 billion defense bill a green light. Here's what the Pentagon is poised to get

President Donald Trump signed the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act which authorizes a top-line budget of $717 billion.

"The National Defense Authorization Act is the most significant investment in our military and our war fighters in modern history," Trump said Monday. "We are going to strengthen our military like never ever before and that's what we did,"

Here's a roundup of some big ticket items the Pentagon is approved to buy.

President Donald Trump approved a colossal defense policy bill Monday that authorizes a top-line budget of $717 billion to cover a litany of defense spending.

Trump traveled to Fort Drum, home of the Army's 10th Mountain Division in upstate New York to sign the bill, which was named in honor of former Vietnam prisoner of war Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who is battling brain cancer.

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, includes $616.9 billion for the Pentagon's base budget, another $69 billion for the overseas contingency operations, or OCO, funding and $21.9 billion for nuclear weapons programs under the Energy Department. The NDAA is only half of the process since Congress must still pass a spending bill to fund specific priorities with the Defense Department.

"The National Defense Authorization Act is the most significant investment in our military and our war fighters in modern history," Trump said Monday in front of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. "We are going to strengthen our military like never ever before and that's what we did."

Trump lauded the bill,saying it will give service members the "finest planes, and ships and tanks and missiles."

The measure authorizes a 2.6 percent pay raise for troops  the largest in nearly a decade. It also delays the delivery of stealth fighter aircraft to Turkey and blunts Chinese investments by strengthening the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

Here's a breakdown of some of the big ticket items the Pentagon is authorized to buy.

Story continues

The NDAA allows $7.6 billion for 77 of Lockheed Martin LMT 's F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The fifth-generation stealth jet is made at a Lockheed facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and remains the Pentagon's most expensive weapons system.

The defense policy bill also bars the delivery of F-35 jets to fellow NATO member Turkey amid concerns over Ankara's desire to buy a Russian missile defense system.

Turkey, an F-35 program partner, is currently slated to receive two of the jets , the first of what Ankara hopes will be the start of a 100-strong fleet.

The legislation authorizes $85 million for UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters. The choppers are made by Sikorsky, a unit of Lockheed Martin, at a facility in Stratford, Conn.

In March, Trump described Sikorsky's Black Hawk helicopters as "fighting machines" and the "most advanced helicopters in the world."

Congress also agreed to fully fund the U.S. Air Force's new long-range stealth B-21 bomber. America's next heavy bomber is named "Raider" and made by Northrop Grumman NOC .

Congress approved $1.56 billion for three littoral combat ships even though the Navy only requested one. The bill also authorizes the fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier, six icebreakers, and a Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.

In all, a total of 13 new Navy warships were approved for the coming fiscal year.

The NDAA authorizes $225.3 million for Stryker A1 combat vehicles and supports efforts to modernize the Army's armored combat vehicles, which includes: 135 M1 Abrams tanks, 60 Bradley fighting vehicles, 197 armored multi-purpose vehicles, 38 improved recovery vehicles, and 3,390 joint light tactical vehicles.

The legislation also adds $140 million to the Missile Defense Agency for development of critical directed energy and space sensing projects as well as hypersonic defense capabilities.

The Army's efforts to integrate its Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile defense systems also gets $284 million.

WATCH: Next-gen fighters push limits on price and tech





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On Aug 13, President Trump gave the final nod for the colossal fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), thus sanctioning a spending allowance of $717 billion for United States national security. Notably, the budget proposed in February got approval from the U.S. Senate last month.

This sanction is considered to be the most significant investment in the U.S. military force. No doubt, Trumps approval for the defense policy bill would give a significant boost to the growth prospects of the major defense primes in the country and consequently drive their share price.

Highlights of the Bill

The NDAA outlines $616.9 billion as Pentagon's base budget, $69 billion for overseas contingency operations funding and $21.9 billion for nuclear weapons programs under the Energy Department.

Impressively, the act authorizes a 2.6% pay raise for military along with an increase in the active duty forces by 15,600 service members. With this new act, Pentagon aims to expand the size and strength of U.S. military by adding thousands of new recruits to active duty, Reserve and National Guard units, including 4,000 new active duty soldiers.

The legislation also authorizes notable investment for military construction, including family housing.

While majority of the analysts applauded the signing of the bill in terms of U.S. defense spending, Trumps weaker stance with respect to U.S. government contracts with Chinas ZTE Corp and Huawei Technologies received serious criticism from lawmakers, both Republic and Democratic. In particular, in the final version of NDAA, Trump lifted an earlier ban on U.S. companies selling to ZTE, allowing Chinas second-largest telecommunications equipment maker to resume business.

Leaders of U.S. intelligence agencies have expressed their concern as they worry that such leniency might raise the risk of espionage.

Stocks in the Limelight

Notably, since Trumps ascension to presidency, companies in the Aerospace and Defense space have gained the maximum in comparison to other sectors. The recent signing of the fiscal 2019 defense policy bill has perked up prospects of these stocks.

Story continues

In view of this, it seems prudent to divert investors focus to defense stocks that have gained following the authorization of the bill and hold a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Lockheed Martin Corp.LMT

The Pentagons prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, is the manufacturer of the defense departments most vital program, the F-35 fighter jet. The legislation allows procurement of 77 F-35 joint strike fighters for $7.6 billion. It also funds spending for F-35 spares, modifications and depot repair capability. Also, the legislation authorizes $85 million for UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters. Moreover, the budget includes an investment plan for THAAD missiles.

Lockheed Martins share price has gained 0.2% since Trump signed the bill.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.HII

One of the prime beneficiaries of this new spending proposal will be Huntington Ingalls. For more than 100 years, this company has been building ships, aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy at their shipyards in Virginia and Mississippi. The recently signed bill authorizes $24.1 billion for shipbuilding to fully fund 13 new battle force ships and accelerate funding for several future ships.

Huntington Ingalls share price has gained 1.1% since Trump signed the bill.

Engility Holdings, Inc.EGL

This company provides intelligence solutions along with sophisticated aerospace and systems engineering expertise and tools to the U.S. Government. With the recently signed bill aiming at replacing aging tanks, planes and ships with the most advanced and lethal technology ever developed and concerned systems, we may expect defense primes like Engility to gain substantially.

Engilitys share price has gained 1.9% since Trump signed the bill.

Curtiss-Wright Corp.CW

It offers highly engineered products and services for high-performance platforms and critical applications in key areas such as commercial aerospace and defense electronics. The NDAA includes spending provisions for a handful of military jets and vehicles that incorporate electronics enhancements.

Curtiss-Wrights share price has gained 1.1% since Trump signed the bill.

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The U.S. Treasury is due to auction $26 billion in 52-week bills and $70 billion in four-week bills.

In economic data, the NFIB's small business optimism index is due out at 6 a.m. ET, followed by import and export prices at 8:30 a.m. ET.

U.S. government debt prices slipped into the red on Tuesday.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was higher at around 2.896 percent at 5:35 a.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was in the black at 3.057 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices.

Aside from concerns over a tit-for-tat trade dispute between the U.S. and major economies including China, market focus has been mainly fixated by the economic crisis in Turkey.

Ankara's financial troubles have sparked fear of contagion with the country's currency having taken a deep slide. The lira has lost more than 45 percent of its value over the course of this year, according to Reuters.

Pressure has been ramped up in recent days, as market-watchers became jittery over Turkish President Recep Erdogan's control of the economy and Donald Trump saying last week that he supported doubling metal tariffs on the Middle Eastern country. Concerns appeared to have alleviated somewhat Tuesday, as the lira showed signs of rebounding.

In economic data, the NFIB's small business optimism index is due out at 6 a.m. ET, followed by import and export price index data at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Meantime, the U.S. Treasury is due to auction $26 billion in 52-week bills and $70 billion in four-week bills. No size announcements are due, however.

No speeches by the U.S. Federal Reserve are scheduled for Tuesday's session.





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How Worried Should Investors Be About Facebook (FB) Stock? Facebook (FB) has seen its stock price sink over 13% since it reported second-quarter financial results that highlighted some potentially scary trends.

Facebook FB has seen its stock price sink over 13% since it reported second-quarter financial results that highlighted some potentially scary trends.

Recent News

Reports surfaced last week that Facebook is in talks with JPMorgan Chase JPM, Wells Fargo WFC, Citigroup C, and U.S. Bancorp USB to see if the banking giants would be open to partnerships. Facebook hopes that banks will share financial information about their customers on everything from card transactions to checking-account balances. The push comes amid Apples AAPL successful jump into financial services with Apple Pay, while Square SQ, PayPal PYPL, others expand in the mobile payment age.

Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerbergs firm and other social media companies, including Snap SNAP and Twitter TWTR, are coming under fire from the growing chorus of governments and citizens concerned about everything from fake news to cellphone addiction.

The French government recently went as far as to vote in favor of an official ban of cellphones at school. Lawmakers decided that students under the age of 15 must leave their cellphones at home, or at least have them turned off at school. Jean-Michel Blanquer, Frances education minister, said that the ban aims to remove distractions and encourage children to read or play outside of the classroom. Furthermore, he hopes the law can act as a symbolic message for the whole country to curb their smartphone use.

Investors should note that earlier this month Facebook and Instagram rolled out a series of initiatives aimed to let users feel like they have more control over how much time they spend on the platforms. Users can now set reminders to stop using Facebook or Instagram after a set amount of time, while also temporarily blocking notifications and logging their total time spent.

Zuckerberg has started to make an outward time well spent push because Facebook simply cannot afford for people to start leaving the platform, which is why the company has tried to combat its fake news problem, among other things. The company needs its users to feel that Facebook and Instagram provide real value to their lives in order for FB to continue its run of outsized success.

Story continues

User Growth

Facebook did see its quarterly revenues climb by 42% to hit $13.23 billion. But the companys user growth numbers slowed, which was the main reason for FBs historic selloff. FB saw its DAU totals in Europe fall from 282 million in Q1 to 279 million. Facebook also experienced a sequential decline in terms of MAUs in this key region.

Facebook closed the second quarter with 185 million DAUs in the U.S. and Canada, which marked roughly 1% growth and no sequential expansion. At 241 million, MAUs were also flat from Q1 and up only 2% from the year-ago quarter. The company did grow in both its Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World regions. But the U.S., Canada, and Europe generated roughly 72% of FBs total Q2 revenues, while only accounting for approximately 28% of its total Monthly Active User base.

Therefore, Facebook can ill afford to see these regions plateau, much less experience more sequential declines, especially since advertising accounted for nearly 99% of its Q2 revenuesas it has for years. Advertisers arent likely to leave Facebook and Instagram anytime soon, with its standing among large advertisers elevated even more as the rise of Netflix NFLX makes consumers harder to reach through television.

But, Facebooks DAUs grew just 1.5%, which marked its slowest pace on record. If the companys user growth continues to slow, Facebooks advertising revenues will follow because there are only so many ads FB can post without harming its user experience.

Bottom Line

Facebooks CFO David Wehner said on the companys conference call that its operating margin is expected to fall to the "mid-30s on a percentage basis" over a more than two-year period. The company reported a second-quarter operating margin of 44%, which already marked its lowest point during the last five quarters.

Looking ahead, Facebooks Facebooks revenues are projected to climb roughly 34% to reach $13.83 billion, based on our current Zacks Consensus Estimate. Meanwhile, Facebooks adjusted third-quarter earnings are expected to sink nearly 7%.

Plus, the companys earnings estimate revisions have trended downward for Q3 and for fiscal 2018 and 2019, over the last 30 days to help give Facebook its Zack Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Therefore, investors might want to stay away from Facebook stock at the moment.

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DUSHANBE -- Five people have died in a helicopter accident in eastern Tajikistan, including three Russian mountaineers and two Tajik members of the helicopter crew, officials say.

Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for Tajikistan's State Emergency Committee, said on August 13 that a Tajik pilot and 12 mountaineers, mainly from Russia, survived what she described as a crash-landing in the Pamir Mountains.

Bad weather conditions might have been the cause of the accident, according to Yusufi.

The Russian Embassy in Tajikistan has not confirmed the nationality of the mountaineers.

Tajik state media reported earlier that the Mi-8 helicopter was carrying 13 Russians, one Belarusian, and one Spanish mountaineer after they reached the Ismoili Somoni Peak, the highest in the former Soviet Union.
If youre an omnivore, you might be among the many consumers increasingly concerned about their meat, Colorado beef retailers say.

Many consumers are turning their trust over to local suppliers, said Brad Buchanan, owner of the Flying B Bar Ranch, which produces grass-fed beef in Strasburg.

Weve seen a real increase the last few years in terms of the information that families want about the food they put on their table, Buchanan said. Our business has been increasing year over year for the last 12 years.

Flying B Bar Ranch serves 500 to 600 direct customers a year and sells to restaurants and stores in Denver. He said customers are attracted to the meat freshness, no added hormones or antibiotics, supporting local business, making a smaller environmental footprint and ensured animal welfare.

Dave Anderson, general manager at Ranch Foods Direct, said he was hooked on local meat as a customer before he joined the business.

The most important thing, from my point of view, is that if you buy something from someone who produces something in southeastern Colorado, the money stays here, Anderson said.

Ranch Foods Direct raises and slaughters cattle 200 miles from Colorado Springs in St. Francis, Kan., and imports the meat directly to its store on Fillmore Street in Colorado Springs. It also supplies to local restaurants such as Cafe Red Point and Drifters Hamburgers.

Ranch Foods Direct also boasts no antibiotics, no hormones and humane handling of cattle for its grain-finished beef.

The most significant difference between Anderson and Buchanans products is what the cattle are fed.

All cattle start life feeding on grass, but some ranchers switch to feeding them grain toward the end of their lives. Buchanans cattle continue to be fed grass  a difference he says has consumer health benefits.

There are significant health benefits, Buchanan said. Significantly higher omega-3 and omega-6 in the beef, higher vitamin levels and actually cancer-fighting agents in the beef.

Buchanan warned that some grass-fed beef sold in grocery stores is imported from Argentina and Australia, and local grass-fed beef is best.

Andersons cows are grain-finished. They feed primarily on non-GMO barley, with regular harvests that keep his customers supplied.

If youve ever seen a grass-fed steer, it doesnt have any marbling or intermuscular fat because it doesnt get very much nutrition, Anderson said. Right now, I can tell you, because of the lack of rain, the grass-feeding cattle ranchers will be doing a lot of slaughtering very soon because theyre running out of grass. There isnt any grass anywhere these days.

The prices depend on where you shop.

If you buy beef from Flying B Bar Ranch, some cuts are cheaper than they would be at King Soopers or Safeway, but you have to order in bulk, Buchanan said.

Theyre buying half a beef at a time, and for some folks, its harder to do that, he said.

If you dont have the freezer space for half a cow, you might find better luck at a store such as Ranch Foods Direct, where you can buy in smaller quantities at prices competitive with specialty retailers such as Whole Foods.

It might be more convenient for shoppers to pick up beef with the rest of their groceries, but Anderson said hes confident his product is worthwhile.

If you go to Whole Foods and you buy a steak, and you want to do a comparison  I would urge people to do that  you will find a difference. Theyre different visually, and theres certainly a difference in the taste, he said.

But as consumer priorities have started to shift, mainstream stores are trying to keep up.

In 2008, Whole Foods wanted to provide customers with a label that certified animal welfare, and the Global Animal Partnership was born.

More producers are getting on board with welfare standards and wanting to have a certification label on their products, said Libba Letton, a spokeswoman for Global Animal Partnership.

The organization is building partnerships with farmers, ranchers, producers, manufacturers, food service companies and restaurants to improve the quality of life for livestock and farm animals.

The cost of more ethically produced meat is still the biggest obstacle for consumers though, Anderson said.

Theres been consistent erosion in earning power for a generation, he said. So people end up defaulting, not necessarily just to cheaper meat, but to cheaper everything to fill the belly and to keep going.

Despite economic deterrents, local suppliers such as Ranch Foods Direct and Flying B Bar Ranch continue to serve dedicated customers young and old.

The unifying customer demographic is care, Anderson said.

I think if you asked 10 people you would get at least seven different answers, Anderson said. The demographic is just people who care about where their food comes from.
Colorado Springs northernmost open space, with a notoriously difficult mountain climb, might grow by more than a third.

The City Council is considering a $778,500 purchase of about 64 acres that would expand Blodgett Open Space to the south and east. The open space is northwest of West Woodmen Road, and its trailheads access Blodgett Peak, elevation 9,426 feet.

Money to expand the 167-acre Blodgett would come from the citys Trails, Open Space and Parks program, which collects sales tax revenue. The council will vote Aug. 28 and Sept. 11 whether to appropriate the money from TOPS coffers, said TOPS Manager Britt Haley.

The purchase also would be made possible through the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit that negotiated with T. Slattery, an Englewood-based organization that owns the three parcels up for sale, said Justin Spring, the trusts Colorado director of land protection.

The parcels are adjacent to Blodgetts southeast portion and back up to Pike National Forest on the west.

If you look out toward the east, there is a panoramic view across the city, and it is just stunning, Haley said. The view is really the thing that will just take your breath away. And if you look down to the south, you can see all the way to Cheyenne Canon.

Council President Richard Skorman, one of TOPS founders, praised the deal and its pricetag. At one point, (the property) was slated for development, and that was a whole different story, Skorman said.

Expanding Blodgett makes sense because it affords northern residents more opportunities to head into the mountains, as so many on the citys southwest side enjoy, he said.

Councilman Dave Geislinger said he supports the purchase but asked Haley other parts of town might see similar purchases.

Haley said many such projects are being eyed, but when theyll be brought before the council is difficult to predict.

Its just a matter of having a willing landowner and a timeline and circumstances aligning so we can bring a transaction forward, she said.

Haley said an adjacent homeowners association maintains the trails and other aspects of the open space.

Blodgett Open Space isnt the only open space being eyed for expansion. The council unanimously agreed in July to buy 85 acres at Corral Bluffs Open Space for $580,000.

Another purchase at that site  more than 200 acres for about $1 million  also is in the works.

conrad.swanson@gazette.com @conrad_swanson
Colorado Springs police will be selective about sharing updates on wounded Officer Cem Duzels condition, waiting for substantive changes, but they also dont want the community to forget about his fight.

Tuesday, police invited the public to mail cards to Duzels family or bring them to the Police Operations Center, 705 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO, 80903, addressed to the attention of Lt. Howard Black.

Your cards will be brought to Cems family at the hospital, the department said in a Facebook post.

Duzel remained in critical but stable condition over the weekend, the Facebook page said. A week earlier, he had shown signs of movement and was taking some breaths on his own.

Duzel suffered traumatic head injuries in a shooting Aug. 2 east of the Olympic Training Center. He was responding to calls of a man with a gun when he reportedly encountered Karrar Al Khammasi, and shots were exchanged.

Khammasi, an Iraqi refugee, is being held in the El Paso County jail on a $1 million bond on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, weapon possession by a previous offender and menacing, all felonies.

Contact the writer at 719-636-0362 .
DENVER  A former El Paso County sheriffs sergeant who couldnt fire a gun because of a shoulder injury was reassigned in 2015 to a midnight security shift at the jail, where he was expected to patrol violent inmates and break up fights, his attorney said Monday in U.S. District Court in Denver.

John Huntz is suing Sheriff Bill Elder, alleging that the transfer was retaliation from high-ranking sheriffs officials because his then-wife, a dispatch supervisor for the agency, had reported sexual harassment by a commander.

He knew he couldnt do the job, Colorado Springs employment lawyer Ian Kalmanowitz said during opening arguments.

You cant put a one-armed man in the jail and keep your deputies safe, keep your sergeants safe, keep your inmates safe.

But Elder testified that Huntz was ordered off his job as training sergeant because his agency had a candidate who would be a better fit for the job.

The trial, set to last five days, is a reminder that turmoil during ex-Sheriff Terry Maketas final term did not end with his back-to-back mistrials in 2017 and early 2018.

El Paso County attorney Kenny Hodges said John and Tiffany Huntz had received special treatment from Maketa, who appointed John Huntz to the high-profile, high-stakes, coveted position of training sergeant, though he had no experience supervising deputies or overseeing training.

Maketa testified that John Huntz was a good friend, and they had often spent time together outside work, vacationing in Alaska and Puerto Vallarta.

He said Huntz did not ask him for the training position and wasnt too thrilled when he got the assignment. But Huntzs diligence made him a good pick, the former sheriff said.

Thats what caught my attention  this interest in being a student of the profession he was in, Maketa said. From what I recall and my observations, he did a fine job in there.

In February, a judge formally dismissed corruption charges against Maketa, who left office in late 2014 amid allegations that he had abused his power and had sexual relationships with female employees. Prosecutors petitioned to dismiss the charges after two mistrials failed to obtain convictions against Maketa, who had been indicted on nine counts in May 2016.

About seven months before Huntz was reassigned to the jail, his then-wife complained that her former supervisor, Commander Rob King, made sexual comments to her. In an incident two years earlier, she complained, she brought campaign signs to the garage at Kings home, where she saw more than a dozen pictures of nude or half-naked women on the walls.

She asked if one of them was his wife, according to the lawsuit, and he allegedly asked her to send him a nude picture of herself so he could stare at it, too.

The lawsuit also alleges that King had commented on her breasts and outfits, saying at times that a dress made her look curvy or busty.

But Elder said he did not believe the allegations and questioned the timing of her complaint, a few days after King and two other commanders had filed another employment discrimination complaint against Maketa. Their complaint alleged that, among other things, Maketa had had an affair with Tiffany Huntz.

Elder testified that King had been accused of sexual harassment in two or three other complaints by Sheriffs Office employees. When he took office, he said, he told King that further complaints would result in serious disciplinary action, possibly termination. Elder said he hasnt heard any allegations since.

Last September, Senior Circuit Judge David M. Ebel dismissed Tiffany Huntzs discrimination claim after the Sheriffs Office filed a motion for summary judgment. She and John Huntz are now divorced, Hodges said. Ebel now is hearing John Huntzs claims.

After Elder took office, John Huntz was on medical leave for his shoulder surgery in April 2015. His attorney said he requested an additional month off in August, after the leave expired, because he couldnt return to work. But the Sheriffs Office fired him  a devastating blow for a man who had always wanted a career in law enforcement and has several family members who are police officers, his attorney said.

Losing his job destroyed him, Kalmanowitz said.

Hodges said the Sheriffs Office had tried to work with Huntz, holding his jail position open more than eight months while he was on leave. He said Huntz did not respond to multiple requests for fitness-for-duty examinations or ask for light duty, which sometimes is granted to lighten the load for an employee who cant perform all functions of a job.

The Sheriffs Office didnt do anything wrong to John Huntz, Hodges said. He is looking for a paycheck.

Testimony continues Tuesday morning at the Byron Rogers U.S. Courthouse, 1961 Stout St., in downtown Denver.
The Gazette and the Colorado Springs Independent are arguing in court that the autopsy reports for El Paso County Deputy Micah Flick and suspected car thief Manuel Zetina should be open to the public under the Colorado Open Records Act. Flick and Zetina were killed in a shootout Feb. 5 at the Murray Hills Apartments in Colorado Springs. El Paso County Coroner Robert Bux has resisted releasing the autopsy records in the Flick case and other deaths, including cyclist Tim Watkins.
Someone stuck a No Vacancy sticker to the Colorado welcome sign (Photo via 9NEWS)
State Treasurer Walker Stapleton did not choose a weak, distant and questionable link to the Ku Klux Klan. One cannot say the same of his opponent, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis.

Like Stapleton, Polis has a weak, distant and questionable link to the Klan. Unlike Stapleton, he chooses it.

This topic arises because The Denver Posts news department stretches and exploits Klan legacy in a quest to defeat Stapleton and elect Polis in the November gubernatorial race. Post reporters unwisely followed a feckless report by The New York Times, which underestimates Colorados smart electorate.

A Post headline Sunday shouts Family history in spotlight. A picture of Stapleton abuts the subhead Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton is the great-grandson of a Denver mayor notorious for his role in the Klan.

One expects this messaging from a sophomoric political action committee, not The Denver Posts news department.

Benjamin Stapleton was the Democratic mayor of Denver for five terms beginning nearly 100 years ago. His political career began when Democratic President and Klan apologist Woodrow Wilson appointed him Postmaster. For Democrats, election often meant appeasing the Klan.

As explained by The History Channel, the Klan became a movement of resistance to the Republican Partys Reconstruction-era policies aimed at establishing political and economic equality for blacks.

And this: Though Congress passed legislation designed to curb Klan terrorism, the organization saw its primary goal  the re-establishment of white supremacy  fulfilled through Democratic victories...

Benjamin Stapleton belonged to the Klan for two years in office. Two years after his inauguration, he turned on the Klan and ordered the Good Friday vice raids on city government. The operations exposed a dozen Klansmen in the Police Department, whom Stapleton fired. The Klan ejected Stapleton.

The Times and the Post ignore Stapleton turning on the Klan, as these details do not help them taint his great-grandson as a monster.

The Republican nominee did not choose his great-grandfather. Walker Stapleton chose this, instead: the pro-minority political party his great-grandfather, and the Klan, tried to destroy.

Walker Stapleton chooses the party that frowns upon Wilson. As president of Princeton, from which Polis graduated, Wilson discouraged blacks from seeking admission. Wilson forgave the Klans routine lynching of blacks as a lawless reaction to a lawless period. Democrat Wilson opposed voting rights for blacks as a menace to society.

Stapleton opposes that history by declining to join his great-grandfathers party. Meanwhile, Princeton chooses to keep the name Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The Media do not ask Polis to explain or renounce the university he chose.

The Times and Post tarnish Stapleton for a genetic link he did not ask for. Given this illogical obsession, they should demand Polis answer to his more willful linkage to the Klan.

The Klans well-documented, historical alliance with Polis party cannot be denied or marginalized. Polis chooses the party, registers with it, and proudly represents it.

If Stapleton must answer for century-old behavior of a relative he never knew, Polis should answer for the legacy of a party he embraces and promotes.

Although Stapleton never met his great-grandfather, Polis chose to side with a man who led the Klan and never renounced it. Polis voted with former Senate Democratic Majority leader Robert Byrd on the Affordable Care Act and other legislation.

Byrd founded a large chapter of the Klan. He recruited 150 members who elected him their Exalted Cyclops. Unlike Stapletons distant dead relative, Byrd never double-crossed or renounced the Klan. The Klan never ejected him. Byrd filibustered the Civil Rights Act. He used the N-word on national TV three times this century.

The Gazette is not The Denver Post or The New York Times and wont imply Polis approves of the Klan. In fact, we assert neither candidate remotely supports the Klans evil ideology. We assume few modern Democrats approve of the Klan, despite the partys close and longstanding ties to the hate group.

Nonetheless, objectivity in news coverage matters. Journalists who smear Stapleton, using a distant relative he never knew, cannot simultaneously ignore his opponents alliance with Byrd and the Klans party of choice.

The news media should stop acting like a branch of the Democratic Party and the Polis campaign. End this moronic, embarrassing narrative. Colorado voters are not that stupid. This idiocy stands to backfire on Polis  the candidate our established, left-wing media hope to elect.
FILE  In this Feb. 1, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump, center, is flanked by White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman, left, and then-Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Ben Carson as he speaks during a meeting on African American History Month in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Manigault Newman, who was fired in December, released a new book Unhinged, about her time in the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
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Industry leaders highlight top priorities at Energy and Mines Ministers Conference (EMMC)

IQALUIT, Nunavut, Aug. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A national alliance of mineral exploration and mining associations are urging Energy and Mines Ministershaving convened for their 75th annual conference in Iqaluitto adopt recommendations and take action to ensure Canada can compete with other jurisdictions as an attractive destination for mineral investment, an area that has been stagnant in recent years.

A brief submitted by the Canadian Mineral Industry Federation (CMIF) details seven policy areas where collaboration and action by federal, provincial and territorial governments can boost Canadas ability to attract new mineral investment. It is critical there be support for the industry in its efforts to produce the minerals and metals increasingly in demand for societal needs including for the transition to a low carbon economy, and to continue responsibly generating economic opportunities for all Canadians.

Regulatory Challenges

Regulatory and policy factors play a significant role in determining investment decisions governments must ensure that Canadas regulatory regimes are effective, efficient, predictable and balanced in order to reduce uncertainty, delays and increased costs that undermine Canadas investment climate.

Enhancing Indigenous Participation and Reconciliation

The mineral industry is the largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada on a proportional basis, is a leading supporter of Indigenous businesses, and makes significant investments in skills training and community initiatives. Government investments to improve the socio-economic conditions in Indigenous communities can further enhance the meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples in the industry.

Accessing Prospective Lands

Canadas ability to attract investment, accelerate its rate of discoveries, and advance projects to mine development is contingent upon responsible access to prospective land, with which Canada is so well endowed. Canadian governments should undertake comprehensive mineral resource assessments, based on geoscientific studies, in order to understand and incorporate the value of mineral potential into regional assessments and land management decisions.

Adopt Effective Climate Change Policies

An effective climate change policy leads to meaningful emissions reductions while enabling the Canadian economy to grow. Climate change policies must be revenue neutral, ensure the competitiveness of emissions-intensive and trade-exposed (EITE) sectors, and be sensitive to changing economic and geographical realities such as those in Canadas northern and remote regions.

Investments in Innovation and Geoscience

Government investments in geoscience and innovation will spur mineral exploration and mining activity, and are critical to enhancing the industrys efficiency, productivity and environmental performance.

Remote and Northern Exploration and Mining

The future of Canada's mineral industry lies increasingly in remote and northern regions. Various challenges related to the high costs of operating in these regions must be addressed to support mineral investment and project advancement, and enhance economic development opportunities for northern and Indigenous communities.

Stimulating Investment Through Strong Fiscal Policy

Sound fiscal policy is needed to ensure a jurisdictions competitiveness in the global mineral industry. Various incentives, competitive taxation levels, and efficient and reliable securities regulations are critical for positively influencing investment in Canadas mineral sector.

Striving to restore Canadas position as the worlds top mineral exploration and mining jurisdiction is imperative to the long-term health of the industry. CMIF looks forward to working with government, industry, communities and Indigenous partners to support a sustainable and competitive Canadian mineral industry.

QUOTES:

There is a critical need to address Canadas waning mineral investment and the various challenges impacting Canadas position as the top jurisdiction in the world to invest and explorea reputation that until recently was undoubtedly ours. We want to ensure the Canadian mineral industry thrives and is globally competitive in order to responsibly discover and produce the minerals and metals needed for modern society and continue to generate significant economic benefits. Canadas mineral industry looks forward to working with governments, Indigenous communities and stakeholders towards proactive solutions to enhance Canadas mineral industry competitiveness, says PDAC President Glenn Mullan.

Canadas mining industry sets the global standard for socially, economically and environmentally responsible mining, and commitments made today by Energy and Mines Ministers, if implemented properly, have the potential to boost these efforts by providing needed support for one of Canadas most important economic sectors. Further advancement of the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan is an encouraging step forward in addressing some of the challenges our industry is currently facing and for positioning our sector for future success, both within Canada and internationally, says Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of The Mining Association of Canada.

About the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community. With 8,000 members around the world, PDACs mission is to promote a globally-responsible, vibrant and sustainable mineral sector that encourages best practices in technical, operational, environmental, safety and social performance. PDAC is known worldwide for the annual PDAC Conventionthe premier international event for the industry. It has attracted over 25,000 people from 135 countries in recent years and will next be held March 3-6, 2019 in Toronto. Please visit www.pdac.ca .

About the Mining Association of Canada (MAC)

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canadas production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, and mined oil sands, and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca .

About the Canadian Mineral Industry Federation (CMIF)

The Canadian Mineral Industry Federation (CMIF) comprises more than 20 national, provincial and territorial associations that represent various components of the Canadian mineral and mining industry.

For more information, please contact:

Kristy Kenny, Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, (416) 362-1969 x233 or kkenny@pdac.ca
English Finnish

Fingrid Oyj

Stock exchange release 14 August at 11:00 AM EET







Fingrids consolidated financial statements have been drawn up in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This half-year report has been drawn up in accordance with the IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting standard and complies with the same accounting principles as those presented in the Groups 2017 financial statements. In accordance with the accounting principles, the IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 standards are applied in Fingrids financial reporting as of 1 January 2018. This half-year report is unaudited. Unless otherwise indicated, the figures in parentheses refer to the same period of the previous year.

The graphs and clarifying texts of the half-year report are available in the attached PDF file.

Fingrids operating profit between JanuaryJune excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives improved somewhat over the corresponding period last year.

Fingrids turnover increased due to growth in grid transmission income and cross-border transmission income from the link between Finland and Russia. Another cause behind the significantly increased turnover was the growth in imbalance power sales. Imbalance settlement, now reported entirely as external turnover, is handled by eSett Oy. A corresponding change can also be seen in the imbalance power costs.

Finlands electricity consumption during the period amounted to 45.1 (43.6) terawatt hours.

A total of 34.7 (32.8) terawatt hours of electricity was transmitted in Fingrids grid, representing 74.5 (73.7) per cent of the total transmission volume in Finland (consumption and inter-TSO).

KEY FIGURES 1-6/18 1-6/17 change % 1-12/17 Turnover MEUR 436.9 326.1 34.0 672.0 Capital expenditure, gross MEUR 42.5 58.3 -27.1 111.1 - of turnover % 9.7 17.9 16.5 Personnel costs MEUR 16.6 14.7 12.7 29.4 Operating profit excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives MEUR 120.8 107.2 12.7 175.9 - of turnover % 27.7 32.9 26.2 Operating profit MEUR 150.4 103.7 45.0 184.8 - of turnover % 34.4 31.8 27.5 Profit before taxes MEUR 143.7 92.5 55.4 163.7 - of turnover % 32.9 28.4 24.4 Profit for the period MEUR 114.5 73.9 55.0 130.8 Comprehensive income for the period MEUR 114.7 74.1 54.8 130.3 Net cash flow from operations, after capital expenditure MEUR 143.4 85.8 67.1 125.8 Equity ratio % 36.1 35.7 37.8 Interest-bearing net borrowings MEUR 974.2 1,039.7 -6.3 998.9 Net gearing 1.3 1.4 1.3 Earnings per share  34,449.46 22,229.41 55.0 39,350.79 Dividend, Series A shares  68,470.00 Dividend, Series B shares  25,050.00 Equity per share  226,833.57 223,112.96 1.7 240,017.18 Dividend payout ratio, A shares % 174.0 Dividend payout ratio, B shares % 63.7 Number of shares  Series A shares qty 2,078 2,078 2,078  Series B shares qty 1,247 1,247 1,247 Total qty 3,325 3,325 3,325







Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO: Fingrids finances are in balance  the grid and electricity markets to be developed to meet the needs of a clean power system



Fingrids financial result for the first six months of the year was good. Cold weather early in the year increased the consumption of electricity and grid income compared with last year. Cross-border transmission income also increased. Our grid transmission prices are at the previous years level and among the most inexpensive in Europe. At the same time, the reliability of electricity transmission is world class.

Finlands main grid operated reliably during the first six months of the year. The consumption peaked at around 14,000 megawatts on 28 February, without jeopardizing sufficient supply of electricity. Flexible production capacity was scarce during the spring flooding period, which made itself felt in high balancing power prices.

After the review period, a 400-kilovolt current transformer at Fingrids Olkiluoto substation was damaged in a fire on 18 July 2018. The fire and the resulting repairs at the substation prevented the nuclear power plant units at Olkiluoto from supplying the grid with electricity. Due to this, Fingrid warned of a possible nation-wide electricity shortage. The producers and consumers of electricity participated actively in balancing the situation, and electricity imports from the neighbouring countries were increased. This prevented the impending electricity shortage.

The focus of our investment programme is on replacing Finlands oldest transmission line, the Iron Lady, and a new connection on this line, between Lieto and Forssa, was commissioned in March. The upgraded transmission line will be completed next year, just in time to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Finlands grid system. The new AC link to be completed between Finland and Sweden in 2025 has proceeded to environmental impact assessment and engineering design. The general planning for the Forest Line from Oulu to Petajavesi, to be completed in 2022, has proceeded as planned.

The Climate Bonds Initiative, an operator on the international financing markets, awarded Fingrid a certificate to recognise the fact that we were the first Finnish company to issue Green Bonds. We will use the assets procured by the Green Bonds to finance investments which are expected to yield positive long-term environmental impacts.

We are constantly seeking new cost-effective operational procedures, as testified by our success in the international ITOMS benchmark study on the efficiency of TSO operations. In 2017, we were the only company to achieve a Top Performer nomination both in the substation and transmission line maintenance categories. By digitalising our substations, we will decrease our capex and operational costs and gain more information on the actual status of the substation components.

In March, we concluded a co-operation agreement with the other Nordic transmission system operators (TSOs) on developing a new Nordic balancing concept and on the principles of joint Nordic markets for reserve and regulating power. The implementation of the network codes is proceeding as scheduled, in close co-operation with our stakeholders. The network codes concern three different groups: connections, network operations and markets. It is the duty of the member states to adopt the network codes and to ensure convergence between them and the national legislation.

On the electricity markets, our goal is to transition from the current one-hour imbalance settlement period to a period of fifteen minutes. A system supplier was selected for the Datahub project, aimed at improving the efficiency of the consumer markets, in June.

Fingrid is evolving into an even better and more productive place to work. This year, for the second time, we came in 10th in the mid-sized companies category of the Great Place to Work Finland survey. We also achieved recognition in Finlands Most Inspiring Workplaces survey.

Financial result

The Groups turnover in JanuaryJune was EUR 436.9 (326.1) million. Grid service income increased to EUR 229.3 (220.2) million over the first half of the year due to increased consumption of electricity. Between January and June, electricity consumption totalled 45.1 (43.6) terawatt hours. Imbalance power sales amounted to EUR 164.9 (85.0) million. The increase in imbalance power sales resulted from the transfer of imbalance settlement to eSett Oy, following which the imbalance power sold to cross-border imbalance responsible parties is reported as external turnover. The cross-border transmission income for the connection between Finland and Russia increased from last years level due to a higher realised dynamic transmission tariff and increased cross-border transmission, amounting to EUR 20.2 (10.8) million. Other operating income totalled EUR 1.0 (1.1) million.

Costs during JanuaryJune amounted to EUR 317.1 (219.9) million. Imbalance power costs grew from the previous years level, to EUR 149.4 (69.7) million due to the above-mentioned transfer of imbalance settlement to eSett Oy. Loss power costs amounted to EUR 25.4 (21.2) million. The higher loss power costs were mainly caused by an increased volume of loss power. At the end of June, approximately 95 (105) per cent of Fingrids projected loss power procurement for the remainder of 2018, in terms of the system price, was hedged at an average price of EUR 27.3 (31.1) per megawatt hour. In terms of the Finnish area price difference, roughly 100 per cent of loss power procurement was hedged at an average price of EUR 6.8 per megawatt hour.

The cost of reserves to safeguard the grids system security increased to EUR 29.6 (24.9) million. The increase in reserve costs was affected by the planned increases in the procurement of automatic frequency control reserves and the addition of the Kyroskoski power plant to the rapid disturbance reserve. Depreciation amounted to EUR 49.2 (48.4) million. Grid maintenance management costs decreased to EUR 8.0 (9.6) million due to the postponed implementation of some planned projects to the latter half of the year. Personnel costs amounted to EUR 16.6 (14.7) million.

The Groups operating profit in the first half of the year was EUR 150.4 (103.7) million. Profit before taxes was EUR 143.7 (92.5) million. The differences from the corresponding period of the previous year are mainly explained by changes in the market value of electricity derivatives (EUR +32.9 million), and the growth in grid service income and cross-border transmission income (EUR +20.3 million). Profit for the period was EUR 114.5 (73.9) million and comprehensive income was EUR 114.7 (74.1) million. The Groups net cash flow from operating activities, with net capital expenditure deducted, was EUR 143.4 (85.8) million during the review period. The equity to total assets ratio was 36.1 (35.7) per cent at the end of the review period.

Financing

Fingrid Oyjs credit rating remained high, reflecting the Groups strong overall financial situation and debt service capacity. Between January and June the Groups net financial costs amounted to EUR 7.9 (12.1) million, including the change in the fair value of derivatives of EUR 3.9 million negative (EUR 5.6 million negative).

Interest-bearing borrowings totalled EUR 1,075.9 (1,123.4) million, of which non-current borrowings accounted for EUR 808.3 (834.0) million and current borrowings for EUR 267.6 (289.3) million. The Group did not issue new long-term debt during the reporting period.

The Groups liquidity remained good. Cash and cash equivalents, and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss on 30 June 2018 were EUR 101.6 (83.7) million. The Group additionally has an undrawn revolving credit facility of EUR 300 million to secure liquidity and a total of EUR 50 million in uncommitted overdraft facilities.

Ensuring transmission capacity

The focus of the companys investment programme has been on rebuilding the first transmission line in Finland, originally built in the 1920s and dubbed the Iron Lady. The 400-kilovolt section between Lieto and Forssa was commissioned in March. The new transmission line replaces a part of the line built in the 1920s and reinforces the grid in Southwest Finland. The old 110-kilovolt transmission line was replaced with a 400+110-kilovolt dual-voltage power line with a higher transmission capacity, while also expanding and upgrading the Lieto substation. The total costs for the project amounted to approximately EUR 26 million.



The 110-kilovolt VihtavuoriKoivisto transmission line was commissioned in January. The line extends roughly 26 kilometres and was built parallel to the existing KoivistoVihtavuori transmission line to serve Metsa Groups new Aanekoski bioproduct mill. The project also included the necessary changes in the substations. The total cost of the investment is roughly EUR 7 million.



Fingrid started the engineering design process for the first digital substation pilot in its history. The project aims at new innovative solutions for the Pernoonkoski substation close to Kotka. The aim is to create a digitalised substation that is safe, environmentally sustainable, remote controlled and provides excellent cost effectiveness both in terms of capex and operational costs.



The Nurmijarvi substation, built in the 1970s to secure the supply electricity in the central Uusimaa region, will be rebuilt by the end of 2019. The modernisation of this substation will ensure reliable transmission of electricity to the consumers in central Uusimaa. The project cost is at around EUR 7 million. The construction will be completed by the end of 2019.



The new AC link to be completed between Finland and Sweden in 2025, from Pyhanselka at Muhos via Keminmaa to Messaure in Sweden, has proceeded to environmental impact assessment and engineering design. The project is due for completion in 2025. The general planning of the 400-kilovolt Forest Line from Oulu to Petajavesi, to be completed in 2022, has proceeded as planned.

Fingrid again scored excellent results in the International Transmission Operations & Maintenance Study (ITOMS), being the only TSO to achieve a Top Performer nomination both in the substation and transmission line maintenance categories. ITOMS looks into the effectiveness of maintenance based on criteria such as maintenance costs and disturbance statistics. A total of 28 TSOs from all around the world participate in the benchmarking study. Fingrid achieved especially good results in the inspections and maintenance of transmission lines and in the maintenance of switchgear and substation areas.



Fingrid has outlined a grid vision for the long-term planning of the power system. The vision studies various scenarios and looks for ways to reinforce the grid in order to meet future challenges. The geographical focus of electricity production is shifting northwards as the production of wind power increases, while at the same time the adjustable thermal power plant capacity in the south of Finland is decreasing. Thus, energy produced in northern Finland will increasingly be transferred to consumption in southern Finland. During the next decade, Fingrid will invest significantly in the transmission capacity between the north and south, as well as reinforce the cross-border connections between Finland and Sweden.

Management of system security



In JanuaryJune, electricity consumption in Finland amounted to 45.1 (43.6) terawatt hours. Inter-TSO transmission in the same period amounted to 1.5 (0.8) terawatt hours. The total electricity transmission in Finland was 46.5 (44.5) terawatt hours. Fingrid transmitted a total of 34.7 (32.8) terawatt hours in its grid, representing 74.5 (73.7) per cent of the total electricity transmission in Finland. During this period, the electricity Fingrid transmitted to its customers amounted to 33.1 (31.9) terawatt hours, which represents 73.5 (73.1) per cent of Finlands total consumption.

Between January and June, 7.5 (7.5) terawatt hours of electricity were imported from Sweden to Finland, and 0.4 (0.2) terawatt hours were exported from Finland to Sweden. Transmission capacity between the countries was partly limited for brief periods during the review period, due to grid maintenance work.

In JanuaryJune, 1.0 (0.6) terawatt hours of electricity were exported to Estonia. Transmission capacity between the countries was partly limited between 23 and 27 April, during the EstLink2 connections annual maintenance, and between 4 and 8 June, during EstLink1s annual maintenance.

Between January and June, 3.4 (3.0) terawatt hours of electricity were imported from Russia to Finland. Transmission capacity from Russia to Finland was fully available during the reporting period. Electricity imports from Russia were slightly higher compared with the same period last year. Major intraday variations in import volumes still persist. No electricity transmission from Finland to Russia took place during the period.

The high electricity production rates due to spring flooding and strong winds resulted in a rare situation of excessive production on 9 May, during a time of low consumption. This overproduction situation necessitated down-regulation, and the price of balancing power bottomed in Finland at EUR 1000/MWh. As the situation continued, Fingrid asked balancing power market parties to provide more down-regulation bids on 10 May. The balancing power market parties reacted actively to Fingrids request and the volume of down-regulation bids doubled compared with a normal night. The prices remained close to the spot-prices and overproduction in the power system was effectively avoided.



Two major disturbances occurred in the grid during the period. The Kaltimo voltage transformer was damaged on 26 March. The disturbance resulted in a 15-minute blackout for roughly 2,000 people in the Eno area. A voltage disturbance occurred in the grid during the commissioning of the Fenno-Skan 2 DC link on 8 May. The Olkiluoto 2 nuclear power station was not able to supply the grid with electricity during the disturbance.

In terms of transmission operations, the DC links between the Nordic countries and Estonia had a highly successful first six months of the year. However, in terms of disturbances and maintenance downtime, the period was clearly more challenging than the very successful 2017. The disturbances did not however cause any extensive harm to the electricity markets or management of transmission operations.

Developing the electricity market

In JanuaryJune the average day-ahead market price for the Nordics was EUR 38.82 (29.28) per megawatt hour and Finlands area price was EUR 41.97 (31.92) per megawatt hour.

Congestion income increased compared with the corresponding period last year. Between January and June, congestion income between Finland and Sweden totalled EUR 37.8 (20.9) million. The increase was due to the differences in the area prices between Finland and Sweden. The disparity was influenced by exceptional weather: cold spells during the winter weeks raised the prices in Finland, while the short but fierce spring floods dropped the prices in Sweden for a few weeks. The lower than normal amounts of congestion income in the reference year, 2017, was influenced by the low area price disparity between Finland and Sweden and the hydrological conditions throughout the Nordics.

An agreement between the transmission system operators on the future balance management model in the Nordic countries was reached in March. The TSOs have concluded a co-operation agreement on developing the new Nordic balancing concept. The co-operation agreement defined the roles and responsibilities of the TSOs needed to achieve the joint balance management concept and balancing markets.

Fingrid has participated in the introduction of the market rules included in the European network codes. The goal of the market rules is to promote the convergence of European electricity markets and to create common operational procedures for the cross-border trade of electricity products and reserves and for the principles of imbalance settlement.

The European intraday markets started up in June. The intraday markets create more extensive European electricity markets for continuous trading. The Cross-Border Intraday (XBID) project created a European intraday marketplace for continuous trading.

Fingrid is currently carrying out several projects to increase flexibility of the electricity markets and to enable the participation of consumers and the producers of intermittently available renewables. One of the projects aims at a shorter, 15-minute period for imbalance settlement instead of the current one-hour settlement period. Finland plans to transfer to the 15-minute settlement period in 2020, at the same time as the rest of the Nordic countries.

Fingrid Datahub Oy selected the supplier for the Datahub system in June. According to the contract concluded in July, the Datahub system will be launched in April 2021. The Datahub is a centralised information exchange system for retail markets that stores data from all of Finlands 3.5 million places of electricity consumption.

Personnel

The total number of personnel employed by the Group averaged 367 (347), of which 316 (296) were in a permanent employment relationship. Personnel costs amounted to EUR 16.6 (14.7) million. Wages and salaries amounted to EUR 13.3 (12.1) million i.e. 3.1 (3.7) per cent of the turnover.

For the second time, Fingrid came in 10th in the mid-sized companies category of the Great Place to Work Finland survey. The Great Place to Work Finland award recognises organisations with excellent workplace cultures based on both an employee survey and an HR assessment. A total of 156 organisations participated in the Great Place to Work Finland survey 2018.

Fingrid was included in the list of Finlands Most Inspiring Workplaces in February 2018. This recognition is awarded to organisations that have achieved excellent results in the PeoplePower employee survey. The award indicates a highly committed workforce. Finlands Most Inspiring Workplaces also typically have a strong long-term focus on developing their operations jointly with the personnel.

Other matters

Fingrid Oyjs Annual General Meeting was held in Helsinki on 28 March 2018. The Annual General Meeting approved the financial statements for 2017 and discharged the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability.

The Annual General Meeting elected Fingrid Oyjs Board of Directors for the term that ends at the close of the next Annual General Meeting. Juhani Jarvi continues as Chair of the Board of Directors. The other Board members are Anu Hamalainen, Sanna Syri, and Esko Torsti; Paivi Nerg was elected as a new member of the Board.

The Annual General Meeting decided to pay dividends in accordance with the Boards proposal and established a shareholders nomination board.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy, which appointed Heikki Lassila as the principal auditor, was elected as the auditor of the company.

Legal proceedings and proceedings by authorities

Fingrid has cancelled its appeal to the decision issued by the Energy Authority on 2 January 2017 where the Energy Authority required, on the basis of Act on the Control of the Electricity and Natural Gas Market, Fingrid to submit the terms and conditions concerning the balancing power agreements and the grounds for the determination of fees for approval by the Energy Authority. Fingrid cancelled its appeal after receiving a notification from the Energy Authority stating that the Energy Authority will not require specific implementation of the obligations; instead, the matter will be processed as part of the approval process on the terms and conditions related to balancing in compliance with the Electricity Balancing Guideline (EB GL), Article 18.

Events after the review period and outlook for the rest of the year

Fingrid Datahub Oy and CGI Suomi Oy signed a contract on the procurement of the Datahub system on 12 July 2018. According to the contract, the Datahub system will be launched in April 2021. The procurement is valued at EUR 41.9 million.

A 400-kilovolt current transformer at Fingrids Olkiluoto substation was damaged in a fire on 18 July 2018. During the fire and the repairs at the substation, both nuclear power plant units no. 1 and 2 at Olkiluoto were unable to feed electricity into the grid. Fingrid issued a warning on 19 July 2018 that the domestic production and imports of electricity will possibly be insufficient to meet consumption, resulting in a risk of electricity shortage. The electricity shortage was avoided however.

Fingrids Annual General Meeting held on 28 March 2018 decided that a dividend of max. EUR 68,470.00 for each Series A share and max. EUR 25,050.00 for each Series B share, totalling EUR 173,518,010.00, be distributed based on the approved balance sheet for the financial period ending 31 December 2017. The AGM decided that the dividends shall be paid in two instalments. The first instalment of dividends, totalling EUR 123,420,140.00, was paid on 4 Apr 2018 as per the AGMs decision. On 14 August 2018, the Board of Directors decided, in compliance with its authorisation from the AGM, that the second instalment be paid after the half-year report has been confirmed and it has assessed the companys solvency, financial position and financial performance. According to the Board of Directors authorisation, the second instalment of EUR 19,770.00 for each Series A share and EUR 7,230.00 for each Series B share, totalling EUR 50,097,870.00 in dividends, be paid on 17 Aug 2018.

Fingrid Groups profit for the financial period 2018, excluding changes in the fair value of derivatives and before taxes, is expected to improve somewhat on the previous year. Grid service pricing for 2018 is set in such a way as to achieve a regulatory-allowed financial result in 2018. According to the current estimate, it seems likely that the financial year will produce somewhat of a surplus, which will be taken into account in the grid pricing negotiations for upcoming years. Results forecasts for the full year are complicated especially by the uncertainty related to grid income, ITC income and cross-border transmission income, and to reserve and loss power costs. In the Nordic countries, these are dependent on temperature variations as well as changes in precipitation and the hydrological situation, which affect electricity consumption and electricity prices in Finland and its nearby areas, and thereby also the volume of electricity transmission in the grid. The companys debt service capacity is expected to remain stable.





Further information:

Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO, tel. +358 30 395 5140 or +358 40 593 8428

Jan Montell, Chief Financial Officer, tel. +358 30 395 5213 or +358 40 592 4419

Attachments
Markham, Ontario, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., a cultivator of premium cannabis in Canada, announced today that it has received its sales license from Health Canada. The license enables Flowr to sell to the Canadian medical and adult-use recreational markets.

Flowr will begin selling to the medical market in the coming weeks and the recreational market when it opens in October. Flowr recently was selected by the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch to supply premium cannabis to province-owned dispensaries and the company is in discussions with other provinces where it believes it can obtain prices commensurate with the quality of the Flowr products. The company has agreements in place with several major medical cannabis distributors as well.

Flowrs premium cannabis will offer consumers and patients one of the highest quality sensory experiences available in the Canadian market. The companys Kelowna, BC cultivation facilities meet pharmaceutical quality production standards which, along with exacting protocols designed by the Flowr team, enable the company to grow cannabis that exceeds Health Canadas stringent quality standards without using taste-diminishing and smell-altering irradiation. Without the proper experience and protocols, most producers have to use irradiation to kill yeast, mold and bacteria on their flower to meet quality standards. The presence of these pathogens and use of irradiation both negatively affect the pleasurable scents and flavors of cannabis while introducing or enhancing negative scents and flavors.

Were pleased to have successfully completed the rigorous Health Canada sales licensing process and are excited to begin offering consumers and patients the high quality experience that Flowr cannabis provides, said Steve Klein, Flowrs Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Strategist. This is another important step forward for Flowr in our journey to becoming the leading supplier of premium, non-irradiated cannabis to the Canadian medical and recreational markets.

Initially, Flowr will offer two brands:

FlowrRx , featuring premium quality medicinal cannabis that enables patients to live better, fuller lives. A dedicated Client Services team will provide patients with personalized support while an R&D team develops innovative flower strains and premium products targeted to specific conditions. Patient well-being is considered at every stage of the process  from genetic selection to harvest, trimming and curing techniques. FlowrRx and its team of passionate scientists and leading cultivation specialists are dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of cannabis.

, featuring premium quality medicinal cannabis that enables patients to live better, fuller lives. A dedicated Client Services team will provide patients with personalized support while an R&D team develops innovative flower strains and premium products targeted to specific conditions. Patient well-being is considered at every stage of the process  from genetic selection to harvest, trimming and curing techniques. FlowrRx and its team of passionate scientists and leading cultivation specialists are dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of cannabis. Flowr is the companys premium recreational adult-use brand featuring an active, West Coast-inspired lifestyle for the cannabis connoisseur and enthusiast market. Through the continuous innovation of procedures and practices, Flowrs talented team of experts is crafting premium products that deliver unparalleled experiences.

About Flowr

The Flowr Group (Okanagan) Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a vertically-integrated Canadian cannabis company focused on the natural science of cannabis. With head offices in Markham, ON and production in Kelowna, BC, Flowr builds and operates large-scale, GMP compliant cultivation facilities utilizing its own patented growing systems. Flowrs investment in research and development ensures that its master growers are able to supply patients with consistent, high-quality medicinal cannabis. With a sense of craftsmanship and a spirit of innovation, Flowr is also well positioned with a line of premium quality cannabis products for the upcoming adult-use market.

Flowr recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to supply premium cannabis to the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Board which will be the sole retailer of non-medicinal cannabis in the province following the October 17 legalization of adult recreational consumption. The company announced earlier in the year that it had been selected by the Hawthorne Canada subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company for an exclusive strategic R&D alliance. Flowr also has announced its intention to list shares on the TSX Ventures Exchange.

For more information, visit www.flowr.ca




English Lithuanian

Convocation of Extraordinary General Meeting of LITGRID AB Shareholders

As decided by the Board of LITGRID AB (company code 302564383, registered at A. Juozapaviciaus g. 13, Vilnius), at the initiative of the parent company UAB EPSO-G, the Extraordinary General meeting of LITGRID AB shareholders is summoned on 7 September 2018, 10:00. The meeting will be held in the room 226, at A. Juozapaviciaus g. 13, Vilnius. The beginning of the shareholders' registration: 7 September 2018, 9:30. The end of the shareholders' registration: 7 September 2018, 9:55.

The record date of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders has been set for August 31, 2018. The right of participation and voting in the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders can be exercised only by the persons who remain shareholders of LITGRID AB by the end of the record date of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders.

Agenda and proposed draft resolutions of the general meeting of shareholders:

1. Revocation of LITGRID AB board member.

Draft resolution:

1.1. To revoke Vidmantas Grusas from LITGRID AB board.

2. Election of two board members of LITGRID AB.

Draft resolution:

2.1. To the position of LITGRID AB board member as nominated by the parent company, EPSO-G, for the term until the end of the term in office of the current board of LITGRID AB to appoint a candidate who will secure the largest number of shareholders votes.

Before the day the Meeting, EPSO-G will nominate a candidate in view of the recommendations by the Remuneration and Appointment Committee and accordance with the Republic of Lithuania Law on Public Companies Article 25 (4).

2.1. To the position of the independent LITGRID AB board for the term until the end of the term in office of the current board of LITGRID AB to appoint a candidate who will secure the largest number of shreholders votes.

Before the day the Meeting, EPSO-G will nominate a candidate in view of the recommendations by the Remuneration and Appointment Committee in accordance with the Republic of Lithuania Law on Public Companies Article 25 (4).

3. Remuneration of the newly elected board members of LITGRID AB.

Draft resolution:

3.1. In respect of the newly elected independent board member, to set an hourly rate of remuneration for the activities on LITGRID AB board at EUR 50 (fifty) (pre-tax) up to the maximum amount of EUR 1,000 (one thousand) (before taxes), and should the board member be appointed board chairman to set in his/her respect the maximum monthly salary of EUR 1,300 (one thousand three hundred) euros per month.

3.2. Not to award a remuneration to the newly elected member of the board nominated by the parent company, UAB EPSO-G.

3.3. To authorise Daivis Virbickas, Director General of LITGRID AB, not later than within 5 (five) days from the date of adoption of this decision to sign for and on behalf of LITGRID AB agreements with the newly elected board members on their activities on LITGRID AB board in accordance with LITGRID AB general terms of agreements with board members and independent board members on their activities on LITGRID AB board as approved by the general meeting of shareholders.

Documents related to the agenda of the meeting, draft resolutions, general voting ballot are available for the shareholders for familiarisation at the premises of LITGRID AB, at A. Juozapaviciaus g. 13, Vilnius, Room 141, during the working hours of the company (7:3011:30 and 12:1516:30, Fridays: 7:3011:30 and 12:1515:15). These documents and other public information by the laws, related with the shareholders' right to propose supplements to the agenda of the meeting, to propose draft resolutions on the matters of the meeting agenda and the shareholders' right to submit questions to the company in advance regarding the matters on the meeting agenda, are also published on the company's website http://www.litgrid.eu.

Upon a written request of a shareholder with the voting right or his/her duly authorised proxy, the company will draw and send the general voting ballot by registered letter or deliver it in person upon signing at least 10 days before the general meeting of shareholders. General voting ballot is also available on the company's website http://www.litgrid.eu. Completed and signed general voting ballot and the document certifying the voting right can be sent to the company by registered letter or delivered to the company at the address: A. Juozapaviciaus g. 13, Vilnius by the end of the working day of 6 September 2018 (16:30) the latest.

The Company reserves the right to disregard the advance voting of the shareholders or his/her authorised proxy, if the submitted general voting ballot does not meet the requirements established in Paragraphs 3 and 4, Article 30 of the Law on Joint Stock Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, was received after the deadline, or completed in the manner that prevents determining the real will of the shareholder on an individual manner.

A person attending the general meeting of shareholders and holding the voting right must produce a personal identity document before the end of registration of the shareholders of the general meeting of shareholders. A person, other than a shareholder, in addition to a personal identity document, must also produce a document certifying his/her right to vote at the meeting.

Persons have the right to vote at the general meeting of shareholders by proxy. At the general meeting of shareholders, a proxy has the same rights as his/her represented shareholder would have, unless otherwise stated in the proxy. Proxy issued in a foreign country must be translated into Lithuanian and legalised following the procedure established by the laws. The company does not establish any special form of proxy.

Shareholders having the right to attend the general meeting of shareholders are entitled to authorise a natural or legal person via electronic means of communication to attend the general meeting of shareholders and vote on their behalf. Such authorisation is not the subject to notarisation. The company recognises an authorisation issued by electronic means of communication only if electronic signature of the shareholder is affixed developed by using safe signature creation software and certified by the qualified certificate valid in the Republic of Lithuania, i.e. if security of the transmitted information is ensured and shareholder's identity can be established. Shareholders must inform the company in writing about the authorisations issued via electronic means of communication by sending such authorisation to electronic mail info@litgrid.eu by the end of the working day of 6 September 2018 (16:30) the latest.

No participation and voting by electronic means of communication at the general meeting of shareholders.

Enclosed:

1. Voting ballot.

Attachment
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scottleey wrote:

I think the point is:



The comparison of contact. Whether contact is continuous or at regularly spaced points. The meaning of the sentence is trying to point out contact done continuously is better than done regularly spaced.



For choices A, B, which sounds pretty reasonable at first glance, you reject them for not having at



Only D makes the meaning complete.



The sentence goes:

contact , blah blah blah, is effected continuously over a broad surface instead of a series

of regularly spaced points with no bonding



Compares contact effected continuously to a series of regularly spaced points. <--- This doesnt make any sense whether it is A, B or C.



Not sure if I am putting my point across correctly.

continuously over a broad surface

at a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between

continuously over a broad surface

at a series of regularly spaced points with no bonding in between

Yes, I agree with your view. I would just like to try to put it across a bit more clearly, if I can.The comparison markers here areX instead of YX rather than YThe comparison is between the two processes by which "the contact is effected":Process 1 (X): The contact is effectedProcess 2 (Y): The contact is effectedHence the compared elements areandMoreover, the usage of "instead of" is restricted to nouns only, whereas "rather than" is more versatile and can be used for comparing not just nouns, nut also other elements such as participles, phrases etc. Hence "rather than" is the correct choice here.The correct answer is D, which takes care of both the above issues.
Official solution

Show Spoiler C

Show Spoiler D

Show Spoiler B

Show Spoiler B

1. The passage suggests which of the following about medical professionals who wanted to practice emergency medicine after 1990?(A) They could not fill the demand as utilization of emergency services increased.(B) They, unlike their counterparts in other medical specialties, had to go through certification to be properly qualified to perform their duties.(C) They could only become board-certified through an accredited residency program.(D) They may have worked in emergency rooms, but they were not necessarily educated in an approved residency program.(E) They face some of the most challenging and life-threatening situations, which is why they need to be highly prepared and qualified.Correct answer: (C)This specific type question can be answered directly from information given in the passage but requires critically reading the second and third sentences of the second paragraph. ABEM initially had two tracks for physicians to become certified. One way was to graduate from an approved residency program. The second way was an interim track for those experienced in emergency medicine but not formally trained. This second track expired in June 1988. Thus, after June 1988, one had to graduate from an IRC-approved residency program, making (C) the correct answer. (A) is incorrect because it is outside the passages scope. While the article states that the demand for emergency medicine increased, nowhere does it suggest that the increase in demand could not be met. (B) is incorrect because the reader does not know anything about the certification process of other specialties, thereby eliminating this answer. (D) contradicts what the passage claims. (E) is incorrect because it is outside the passages scope. While it may be true that emergency physicians face some of the most challenging medical situations, the passage never discusses this point.2. According to information contained within the passage, all of the following were efforts that helped sway opinion about the specialty status of emergency medicine EXCEPT(A) A coalition of doctors united to voice their concerns.(B) A specialty journal was published.(C) Guidelines and criteria were outlined for emergency practitioners.(D) Medical schools nationwide introduced EM residency programs.(E) A review committee was established.Correct answer: (D)Solution: This is a Specific question in which four of the answers will be found within the passage. The one that cannot be found from information in the passage is the answer to this EXCEPT question. (A) is mentioned. ...as patient demand for quality emergency care grew, a group of concerned physicians joined forces to found the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). (B) is mentioned. ...Annals of Emergency Medicine was launched; (C) is mentioned. Soon a core framework of knowledge and skills for EM was created; (E) is mentioned. ...and an Interim Review Committee (IRC) was formed. (D) is not mentioned in the passage. The passage claims that the University of Cincinnati started a residency program in emergency medicine, but nothing about other schools following this path, making (D) the EXCEPTION and the correct answer.3. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with(A) outlining an unconventional approach to resolve a concern(B) discussing the steps taken to accomplish an objective(C) advocating the importance of challenging convention(D) evaluating methods used to legitimize a specialty service(E) explaining why a new specialty is needed for effective patient careCorrect answer: (B)Solution: The passage lays out the steps that were taken to make emergency medicine a recognized specialty. Answer (B) reflects this main purpose. (A) is incorrect because while an approach is delineated to address a concern, there is no indication that the approach was unconventional. (C) is incorrect because the author of the passage is not advocating anything. (D) is incorrect because no evaluation is occurring. Evaluate means to determine or judge the worth of something. (E) is incorrect because while the opening sentence states that ACS published recommendations about the need for emergency medicine, it never explains why such a need existed.[/box_in][/box_out][/align][/quote]
Four Months in Cuba: A Titus Ray Thriller

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He thought it would be a simple rescue mission.

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Days after preventing a sarin gas attack on the nations capital, CIA operative, Titus Ray, arrives in Santiago de Cuba on a mission to rescue fellow operative, Ben Mitchell, from the hands of the Los Zetas drug cartel.

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It wasnt a rescue. . .

When he arrives back in the States, not only does he learn his mission has changed, he also learns he has a rival for Nikki Saxons affections. Now, he must make a decision about their relationship. Do they have a future together, or would she be better off without him?

It wasnt a mission . . .

With Bens life in imminent danger, Titus decides to risk everythinghis career at the Agency, his future with Nikki Saxon, even his own lifein order to bring Ben Mitchell home.

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More about his survival. More about his faith. More about himself.

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BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- The Village Project received a $50,000 grant from the Black River Education and Wellness Foundation.

Barb Harrell, Village Project executive director, accepted the funds on July 31 from foundation representatives Francis Gardner, Joan Mason and Chris Mead.

The Black River Education and Wellness Foundation was organized in 1985 and originally chartered to support the operations of Elyria Memorial Hospital. Since 2014, after Elyria Memorial Hospital was acquired by University Hospitals of Cleveland, the foundation has broadened its mission and purpose beyond the support of just the UH Elyria Medical Center in order to maintain a commitment to the communities served by EMH and to have a meaningful impact upon health issues in those communities.

Harrell said the Village Project plans to use the grant to purchase commercial kitchen equipment for Project Pillar, its facility expansion that is under way this summer. The additional equipment and space will allow Village Project to double the number of clients served, offer cooking classes to the community and more.

Visit https://ourvillageproject.com for more information on the Village Project and Project Pillar.

Feting 40: The Women in Transition program at Cuyahoga Community College is marking its 40th anniversary this fall with a new session of classes in Westlake.

Classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Aug. 27 to Oct. 17 at Corporate College West, 25425 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. The eight-week course is designed to assist women in transitional periods of their lives, such as a career change or return to the workforce.

Classes on personal development, career exploration, and financial and computer literacy are designed to help students build confidence and skills. The non-credit program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

The program began in 1978 and has contributed to thousands of personal success stories. It typically serves about 300 women a year.

To learn more or to enroll, call 216-987-5764. For more information on Tri-C or Women in Transition, visit .tri-c.edu/women-in-transition.

Helping children: Members of the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River joined fellow Rotarians across the country on Aug. 1 to participate in an international service project to aid "Children of the Dump" in Chinandega, Nicaragua.

Rotarians filled shoeboxes with toiletries, clothing, school supplies and age-appropriate games or toys. Each year, Rotary members travel to Nicaragua to help deliver the supplies to the children in Chinandega and to witness and participate in the work being done there.

Club members purchased items for the shoeboxes, filled the boxes and delivered them to an area collection facility, where they will be picked up and taken with other clubs' boxes to Nicaragua.

Project organizers said the shoeboxes are an incentive to encourage the children to remain in school. In order to receive a shoebox, a child must attend school regularly and earn satisfactory grades. The project's goal is to break the cycle of poverty by providing food, education and programs to encourage good health, with the ultimate goal of relocating the children from the dump to a life of dignity.

The story of the Chinandega dump began in 1998 when Hurricane Mitch pounded Nicaragua for days, dropping more than 60 inches of rain. A 30-foot wall of water flowed down the volcano, causing a massive mudslide that devastated the town of 4,500. An estimated 2,800 people are believed buried in the rubble.

Skindell addresses Dems: State Sen. Mike Skindell, D-23, will be the guest speaker at the 7 p.m. Aug. 21 Westlake Democratic Club meeting at Western Cuyahoga Lodge FOP Hall 25, 26145 Center Ridge Road, Westlake. Parking and entrance are at the rear of the building.

Attendees are invited to bring a snack to share. Beverages will be provided.

Westlake Porter Public Library has a variety of programs planned during the next week.

Porter programs: It looks like there could be some rain in the forecast this weekend. If the kids are bored, Westlake Porter Public Library has some programs that might be of interest.

Suma the Puma will celebrate his first birthday with crafts and activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17, while supplies last. No registration is needed.

The Youth Services Department will offer a Carry Out Crafts program from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 18. All supplies are provided and registration is not necessary.

Those in grades 7 to adult are invited to participate in the library's Anime Club from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 18. Just drop in -- no registration is needed.

The American Girl Doll Club will focus on Maryellen Larkin, a doll who was a fourth-grader in 1954. Attendees will learn about life in the 1950s, listen to period music and complete a craft. The program is for ages 6-11 and registration is requested.

Porter Public Library is at 27333 Center Ridge Road. Visit westlakelibrary.org for information on other library programs.

Class reunion: Sacred Heart Academy Class of 1958 is seeking classmates for the 60th reunion, which will be at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Alfredo's in the Mayfield Holiday inn.

Cost is $45. Call 440-338-5250 for more information.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
On Monday, Khamenei broke several weeks of silence to address the anti-regime uprising and the sharp decline in value of the Iranian currency, but his speech showed that the Regime is at a deadlock, so all the mullahs can do is sling insults at the protesters and the US (the Great Satan) in a misguided effort to calm the people down and persuade them not to overthrow the Regime.

Khamenei said: Those who say that the government should be dismissed are playing a role in the enemys plot. The government must be in power and should accomplish its duties with full force to resolve the problems.

The problem with that is the people of Iran know that the problems are caused by the Regime, which is why they are protesting and chanting Death to Khamenei and Death to the Dictator, across many Iranian cities.

Khamenei also tried to convince the people that corruption in some elements of the Iranian Regime should not be evidence of systematic corruption, but the problem with the logic is that all evidence shows that corruption in Iran goes right to the very top and Khamenei is the most corrupt of all.

Khamenei said: Some people talk about corruption in a way as if the whole system is corrupt and they claim it is a systematic and comprehensive corruption  some others are careless in their talks and writings. Corruption in some agencies or among some individuals should not be generalized to the whole country.

He tried to blame the economic failings on President Hassan Rouhani, Irans enemies, and various individuals in Iran, but the truth is that Irans wealth has been squandered for years by the mullahs as a whole, with billions of dollars going to prop up the Bashar Assad dictatorship in Syria and to fund terrorist groups across the Middle East. Khamenei knows this; he ordered it.

He even tries to call the 2015 nuclear deal that he helped to orchestrate, which was incredibly favourable to Iran, a mistake on the parts of Rouhani and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, complaining that they had crossed his red lines and gotten a bad deal. Khamenei is refusing to negotiate with the US, but this behaviour will only lead to regime change. The mullahs will not abide by the peoples wishes for change and so the Regime will fall.
These protests, encouraged in March by the president-elect of the Iranian Resistance Maryam Rajavi, have reached an impasse with the Regime. The people are calling for regime change and shouting Death to the dictator, despite a brutal and bloody crackdown by the mullahs, and the protests are only getting stronger as the Resistance organises them more effectively.

The reality is that the Regime always knew that the Resistance, particularly the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), was strong and organised, but hoped to hide it from the world to keep their grip on power. They also tried to hide the fact that the MEK is beloved by the Iranian people. However, these protests have destroyed any notion that the MEK is weak and so the Regime must try another tactic.

Now, various Regime members, from parliamentarians to the Foreign Ministry representative to President Hassan Rouhani must take to the media to express concern over the MEKs role in Iran and even try to smear them as foreign enemies of Iran. To be clear, the MEK is not an enemy of Iran, but an enemy of the Regime, as are most Iranians.

Recently, the Iranian regimes judiciary spokesman, said: The people are angry they might throw an insult at the state However, we must draw our lines in the sand. The most important issue is that a PMOI/MEK is not involved if they are not involved, we must tolerate people insulting us.

The Regime is now so scared of the influence of the MEK that the Ministry of Intelligence has produced a report on the role of the MEK resistance units inside Iran. These concerns are understandable. After all, the MEK is the only group in Iran capable of organising and sustaining this level of anti-regime protest, something that will only become evident in the months to come. The MEK is the biggest threat to the Iranian Regimes continued rule.

Indeed, that is why the Regime has tried so hard to wipe the MEK out inside Iran and even through continued attacks on MEK members in Iraq and around the world. This day was always coming and now the Regime must face the consequences.
Many of these third party nations are still trying to maintain a relatively neutral position in the escalating diplomatic conflict, but it is not clear how tenable this will be in the coming days and weeks. The nations of Europe, especially the three who signed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal along with the US, the Islamic Republic, China, and Russia, have insisted upon keeping the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in effect despite US President Donald Trumps withdrawal from it in May. But Trump and his foreign policy officials have stated that they expect coordinated action to contribute to maximum pressure on the Iranian regime by the time the second round of sanctions goes into effect in November, targeting Irans oil economy and banking industry.

This message was reiterated on Sunday when the UKs Sunday Telegraph newspaper published an editorial by US ambassador Woody Johnson criticizing Tehran for proxy wars and malign activities and emphasizing that the current American strategy involves exerting high levels of pressure on the regime to compel it toward extensive change. The article went on to urge the UK to stand alongside its traditional ally and use its considerable diplomatic power and influence and join us as we lead a concerted global effort toward a genuinely comprehensive agreement.

Reuters notes that British officials have so far continued to reject the request. But the editorial was presumably only a preview of the lobbying that is still to come and the US works toward Western consensus. Meanwhile, that project may be helped along by ongoing developments in Irans domestic situation and its behavior on the world stage.

In the first place, protests inside the Islamic Republic continue to underscore the tensions that exist between the Iranian government and its people. Reuters says of those protests, they have often begun with slogans against the high cost of living and alleged financial corruption, but quickly turned into anti-government rallies. New protests broke out in approximately a dozen cities around the time the new sanctions went into effect, suggesting that the continuation of this US strategy may fuel still more unrest and thus raise the prospects for the regime either making serious concessions or collapsing altogether.

In the second place, and somewhat in contrast to the apparent vulnerability that has been exposed by the protests, Tehran is seemingly responding to the new situation by turning toward its Asian partners and allies, in the interest of counterbalancing some sanctions and aligning those parties against Western interests. There have been various signs of Iran trending toward greater trade and security cooperation, particularly with China and Russia, in the recent past. As the BBC reported, Iranian-Russia relations may have been reinforced on Sunday when the two countries joined with the three other nations that border the Caspian Sea to tentatively resolve a longstanding territorial dispute.

In a much more general sign of Irans pivot toward Asia, the Islamic Republic announced that it would soon be selling oil and gas to some buyers at a discounted rate. As the Washington Times pointed out in reporting on that story, the announcement is simultaneously a sign of Irans defiance of Western pressure and a sign of the potentially devastating effects of that pressure, since Iran will ostensibly still be selling its oil, but will be forced to accept much lesser revenue from it.

But question remain as to which Asian nations will openly defy US sanctions in order to maintain their trade relations with Iran. A number of governments are noticeably struggling with the question of how to maintain favorable relations with the two adversaries, or whether this is even possibly. Iraq, being increasingly subject to the influence of its immediate neighbor but also somewhat reliant on its relationship with its former occupier, is a notable example.

Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi evidently attempted to remain neutral by saying that his government did not support the US sanctions but had no choice other than to comply with them. But on Monday, the Washington Post reported that Iran had responded by cancelling a planned meeting between Abadi and Iranian officials. And Al Jazeera added that Abadi had in turn responded by walking back his comments and insisting that he had only meant that Iran and Iraq would not be able to trade in US dollars, but would maintain trade relations nonetheless.

Tehrans tentatively effective pressure on the Iraqi government may have emboldened the Iranian regime to maintain its defiant posture as the effects of sanctions begin to take hold. This posture was certainly on display in a speech delivered to thousands of Iranians by Supreme Leader Khamenei on Monday. Although Reuters reports that it provided assurances that there would be no war between the two countries, it also reiterated the regimes position that it would not undertake any negotiations with the US now that the US has exited the JCPOA.

And despite Khameneis denial of bellicose intentions, the Iranian military and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have seemingly resumed certain aggressive measures in recent days. Although the IRGC tested a number of ballistic missiles in the first year and a half after the conclusion of nuclear negotiations, the last known incident was in March 2017. But these transparent violations of the UN resolution governing the JCPOA evidently resumed last week, when a short-range ballistic missile was fired as part of Iranian naval exercises whose schedule had been moved up after the resumption of sanctions enforcement.

ABC News reported that the exercise involved the IRGCs small vessel swarm tactics, which the hardline paramilitary has presented as a means of confronting a larger and more powerful navy and closing off the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian government officials including President Hassan Rouhani have repeatedly floated the idea of just such a closure in the event they deem it necessary to retaliate against Western pressures.

The naval exercises and ballistic missile test were arguably made more significant on Monday when the Iranian Defense Ministry announced the unveiling of a new ballistic missile with the provocative name of Bright Conquerer, which allegedly has a maximum range exceeding 800 miles and was described by Defense Minister Amir Hatami as being agile, capable of evading radar, and having pinpoint accuracy, according to Business Insider.

Hatami also sought to specifically associate the introduction of that missile with Irans other efforts at defying the increasingly intense, US-led pressure. The more intense are sanctions, pressures, smear campaigns, and psychological warfare against the great nation of Iran, he said, the greater will become our will to enhance our defensive power in all areas.
This first batch of sanctions include restrictions on Irans manufacturing, aviation and automobile industries. The next round comes on November 4th, and will specifically prohibit international companies from doing business with the Irans oil and gas sector.

Recently, it was reported that Irans Revolutionary Guards staged a large-scale military exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly a third of the worlds oil supplies pass. IRGC leadership has said that it is eager to carry out President Hassan Rouhanis threat to close the oil chokepoint.

Jacob Shapiro, Texas-based think tank Geopolitical Futuress Director of Analysis, told Newsweek it was exceedingly doubtful that Iran would ever actually risk shutting down the critical lifeline for global oil trade, however, he said that the consequences of taking this step would be dire.

Shapiro said, If Iran decided it had nothing left to lose because U.S. sanctions are effectively killing Iranian oil exports and prioritized looking strong at home over all else, there would be a large, short-term spike in the price of oil. After all, about 30 percent of all seaborne-traded crude oil goes through the Strait of Hormuz. He added, But the important thing to keep in mind here is it would be a temporary spike. Sooner or later (and probably sooner), the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened. U.S. shale producers would send production into overdrive. Russia would also look to increase production and replenish its much-depleted coffers. The most significant consequence of a Strait of Hormuz closure might ironically be a cash infusion for Russias struggling economy.

According to Shapiro, such a move by Iran would be unsustainable, as it would result in a foreign intervention. Most likely, the U.S. military would get involved on behalf of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. He says that the Iranian military simply does not compare in terms of strength.

Regarding the recent Revolutionary Guards recent exercise, U.S. Central Command chief General Joseph Votel told reporters at the Pentagon Wednesday that Iran was trying to use that exercise to send a message to us that, as we approach this, the period of the sanctions here, that they had some capabilities. Votel said that the exercisewhich involved some 100 Iranian vesselsdid not coincide with any harassment of foreign personnel. Still, incidents between U.S. and Iranian vessels have previously occurred in the regions tense waters.

Iran has a layer of capabilities here, you know, including mines, that include explosive boats, that include, you know, coastal defense missiles and radars, and other things. So, you know, they certainly have some capabilities there. But I would just suggest we have capabilities as well. Votel added, And, you know, we routinely focus on de-mining exercises in the region and we maintain the forces and readiness, as do some of our partners in the region that are well-trained, well-prepared to deal with these types of situations.

Iran would jeopardize its own reputation, as well. Countries like China, Iraq and India, who are still willing to do business with Tehran, may turn against Iran because they are dependent on the Strait of Hormuz being open.

The U.S. has found itself largely isolated internationally in regards to Trumps recent decertification of the Iran nuclear deal. Fellow nuclear accord signatories China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.K. have roundly rejected Trumps argument for abandoning the deal. The EU has even threatened to impose counter-sanctions on any companies that adhere to the unilateral U.S. measures.

Iran is capitalizing on the situation. In fact, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran News Network on Wednesday that no one trusts America anymore. He added that Rouhanis warning was a warning to the Americans, who deal in psychological warfare.
Noting the Note9 is a "technical powerhouse", the research firm Globaldata suggests the Note9 is "too similar" to the Note8 and is "too expensive to grow market share".

Following all the news from Samsungs Unpacked event, which launched the Galaxy Note9, Watch, Home and Spotify partnership, Globaldata's research director for Consumer Platforms and Devices, Avi Greengart, offered his views

Galaxy Note9

The new Galaxy Note9 has top-of-the-line specs along with extras like plentiful storage, a stylus that acts as a remote shutter button, and the ability to dock like a computer with just a single cable. Samsung is also getting more aggressive with battery capacity now that the Note7 recall debacle is well behind it.

The Note9s 4,000 mAh battery directly addresses a key consumer pain point  consumers buying a premium phone want to be able to use it all day long. However, the Note9s improvements are iterative, and as consumers hold onto their phones longer, Samsung is having a hard time selling expensive phones that are not well differentiated from their predecessors. While some carriers are offering generous promotions at launch, the Note9 is certainly expensive, starting at US$999 (A$1499) for the 128GB version."

Samsungs Tizen-based watches already offered the best user interface on a smartwatch  the rotating bezel is intuitive to use. On the new Galaxy Watch, Samsung is adding to the utility with a daily briefing feature. The Galaxy Watch comes in two sizes, with or without cellular connectivity, but all variants are fairly thick to provide multi-day battery life. Samsung is betting that consumers prefer battery life over form factor; Apple has made the opposite design decision."

Galaxy Home

Samsung is understandably concerned that it is missing out on a product category that combines consumer electronics, AI, and home automation  all areas where Samsung is making major investments. Amazon and Google are the leaders in smart speakers, with products starting as low as US$40 during frequent sales. Apple was late to the smart speaker category, and has focused primarily on audio  it integrates seamlessly with Apple Music, and it sounds incredibly good for its price and size.

We do not know too much about the Galaxy Home  no pricing, availability, or detailed feature list was provided. At its Unpacked event, Samsung talked about improvements in Bixby, a new relationship with Spotify, and the fact that a SmartThings hub is built into the speaker. However, Samsung will have a tough time competing with Amazon or Google on AI capabilities, consumers do not fully understand the value proposition of SmartThings, and Apple and Sonos are already jockeying for position as the premium audio choice."

Samsung and Spotify

Corporate partnerships like these often fail to bring the benefits they promise, so execution will be key. But at least on paper this looks good for everyone: Samsung gets access to compelling content it needs to make its devices more attractive. Spotify gets a hardware partner to hedge against Apple's vertical integration. Consumers get new features that tie various Samsung devices together while maximising the utility of Spotify.

My thoughts...

Time will tell how true Greengart's predictions end up being, although given Samsung didn't sell as many Galaxy S9 and S9+ models as it wanted to, Greengart is justified in his concerns, but now it is up to the marketplace as people vote with their hearts, minds and dollars.

Certainly, Samsung growing its ecosystem and adding the Spotify partnership helps it to fight back against Apple's superbly integrated ecosystem, as well as fighting back against Google, so the results over the next few months as the new products roll out will be fascinating to watch.
These are the musings, ramblings, rantings and observations of Houston DWI Attorney Paul B. Kennedy on DWI defense, general criminal defense, philosophy and whatever else tickles his fancy.
By Ruth Anderah.

Bodaboda rider has been sentenced to serve 21 years and 11 months at Luzira prison for defiling a nursery child and infected her with HIV/ AIDS.

David Kayondo has been sentenced bythe High Court Judge Jane Francis Abodo after pleading guilty to the offence of aggravated defilement and prayed for lenience.

However, the Judge ruled that the convict does not deserve any mercy because the offence he committed is grave in nature and that he breach the trust that was put in him by the victims parents.

Its alleged that Koyondo was sent to pick the convict from school but instead drove her straight to his rented house and performed sexual act with the miner well knowing that he is HIV positive.

He committed the offence in the month of May 2015 at Suzana zone Nakulabye in Kampala district.
Black Public Media Announces Jacquie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund Deadline

Black Public Media (BPM) announced a call for applications for the Jacquie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund (JJMSF) on Monday. Established with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the $300,000 scholarship fund is inspired by the life and work of Jacquie Jones, the Peabody Award-winning director and former executive director of BPM (then known as National Black Programming Consortium) who was steadfast in her commitment to helping foster the development and growth of diverse content creators prior to her death in January. The fund will support emerging and diverse content producers of non-fiction shorts, feature length programs, web series, 360-VR (Virtual Reality) or podcasts.

I am so pleased with the launch of the Jacquie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund, said CPB President and CEO Pat Harrison. Through these scholarships, Jacquie Jones will continue to inspire and encourage new storytellers as she did throughout her life.

BPM, the nations only nonprofit dedicated solely to media content about the global black experience, will serve as the administrator of the fund. Awards will range from $20,000 to $100,000, depending on the type of project and the scope and phase of development/production.

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Jacquie Jones was a force in public media. Not only did she work on behalf of Black Public Media to bring stories to audiences, she advocated for the inclusivity of diverse voices at all levels of the public media system, said BPM Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz. The creation of the Jacquie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund, a fund specifically designed to support stories and content creators that reflect the true diversity of the American experience, will continue her legacy.

For the JJMSF, BPM is seeking applicants from diverse backgrounds with a minimum of three years of professional producing or directing experience. Among other requirements, applicants must also hold the artistic, budgetary and editorial control of the project as well as own the copyright to the proposed project. All proposed projects must be in the research and development, production or post-production phase and able to be completed no later than May 31, 2021. The application deadline is September 30, 2018, and scholarship recipients will be announced by January 2019.

To apply, those interested must visit https://submissions.blackpublicmedia.org/submit/120050/jacquie-jones-memorial-scholarship-fund and create a Producers Portal login. For full details on the Jacquie Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund application guidelines and process (or more information on BPM), please visit www.blackpublicmedia.org. Follow BPM on Twitter at @BLKpublicmedia or Facebook at @BlackPublicMedia.
Breaking News: Tammi Mac Plans to Discuss Her Future at KJLH at 4:20pm Today

We hear from credible sources that Tammi Mac plans to discuss her future plans at KJLH at 4:20pm today! Mac recently took to Facebook to post a message about her relationship with Don Amiche.

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The Sentinel will feature an upcoming exclusive with Tammi Mac, stay tuned for details.
NASA Appoints Vanessa Wyche, First African-American Woman Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center

Black women continue to lead as Vanessa Wyche takes on the role of Deputy Director of the NASA Johnson Space Center.

I am incredibly humbled to take on this role at JSC, and also excited to assist Mark with leading the home of human spaceflight, Wyche said in a statement Wednesday of her appointment as center deputy director.

I look forward to working with the talented employees at JSC as we work toward our mission of taking humans farther into the solar system.

Congratulations to our new deputy director, Vanessa Wyche! Vanessa will assist @DirectorMarkG in leading our center, which has nearly 10,000 civil service and contractor employees and a broad range of human spaceflight activities. Details: https://t.co/J7hXu2I5AP pic.twitter.com/njdTaF0G3b  Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) August 8, 2018

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To learn more about Vanessa Wyche visit NASA here.
Samled Inthavong of Attepeu Province, Laos, was trying to get his family into a boat when a building hit his house.

A dam had collapsed several kilometers away and water was speeding toward Attepeu, pulling down buildings along its path.

Floating in the water in the middle of the night, Inthavong watched as his house collapsed with his grandparents trapped inside.

My grandparents couldnt move. They died in the house, he said. He spoke at a rescue center to which he arrived with his family and few possessions. Among those possessions was a photograph of his grandmother.

As his house collapsed, Inthavongs boat hit his sisters house, which sat next to his. There he, his wife and three children climbed onto the roof. But, the floodwaters kept rising, to more than 10 meters, and then his sisters home was gone too.

He said, At 2 oclock in the morning, I was looking around the neighborhood. People were crying and the water was over the whole village. All the houses were gone. Some people were holding on to trees, some people were holding on to power poles.

Inthavong and his family moved to the steel structure and held on firmly. Violent waves crashed beneath them. It was hours before a rescue boat arrived.

Thousands rescued

Thirteen villages were flooded and destroyed in Attapeu province. The dam that broke July 23 was part of the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy (PNPC) hydropower complex.

The water moved with such force that it caused the evacuation of a town more than 100 kilometers away in Cambodia.

Lieutenant Colonel Khamsouk Khamleuangthep led the rescue team that saved Inthavongs family and more than 1,500 other people.

The officer said, I am really upset about this and Ive been working from the beginning until now without stopping and Im very happy to be helping the people.

There are more than 6,500 survivors in shelters at five rescue bases, the local government says. In total, officials say 7,095 people have been displaced in Laos. State media report 35 dead and 99 missing.

Trauma, exhaustion, fury

The survivors are experiencing a mix of feelings: anger, severe shock, and extreme tiredness.

Sommay Keosuvanh is a 60-year-old man from Ban Mai village. He said SK E&C which operates the dam had told the village a large amount of water would be released. But, Keosuvanh said, the South Korean company did not warn of a possible collapse.

When the water came, it came quick like a tsunami and people were scared, he said, describing the first wave as at least one meter high.

He said the floodwaters destroyed 95 percent of the homes in the village.

SK E&C, which is building the dam jointly with PNPC, refused several requests for an explanation or statement.

But the Laos government this week said SK E&Cs careless construction was likely the reason for the collapse.

The government also announced inspections of about 50 hydropower projects before any more are approved.

Conservation groups have long criticized the Laotian governments plan to use hydropower to turn Laos into the battery of Asia.

Ruined villages

Ban Mai and the village of Kokkong are destroyed. Along the road that connects them, the fields are filled with water. This years harvest disappeared with the flood.

Those who still have houses returned to look through the wreckage for objects to save. Sovampheng, a 38-year-old shopkeeper, was among the lucky few.

She said, After spending the second night on the roof I moved to Ban Bok village and somebody came to steal from my shop in the eveningby entering from the roof."

Sovampheng said she and her husband felt they had to protect the little they had left. So they returned to their house in Kokkong and slept on its roof.

Im feeling very sad as I just bought new supplies for my shop and I lost everything, she said.

Back at the rescue center, Inthavong and other survivors wait to find out what the government will do for them.

Im Jonathan Evans.

And I'm Caty Weaver.

VOAs David Boyle reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

roof  n. the top of a building

pole  n. a long, straight piece of wood, metal, etc., that is often placed in the ground so that it stands straight up

hydropower  n. electricity produced from machines that are run by moving water

evacuation  n. to remove people from a dangerous place

tsunami  n. a very high, large wave in the ocean that is usually caused by an earthquake under the sea and that can cause great destruction when it reaches land

construction  n. the act of building something

evening  n. early nighttime

battery  n. a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a clock, toy, or car) to supply it with electricity
United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis spoke in Brazil Tuesday calling for closer ties with the country in defense issues and in space.

Mattis urged military students in Rio de Janeiro to remember Brazils long tradition of working with the U.S. military since World War II.

The defense secretarys visit comes at a time when unrest continues to increase in Venezuela and several of the areas economies are struggling. The U.S. also is concerned about the growing influence of China and Russia in South America.

Mattis discussed U.S. interest in partnering with Brazil in space research. China has increased its influence in South Americas space research efforts; it operates a space center in Argentinas Patagonia area.

Mattis said, We choose Brazil not because it lies along the equator in a happy accident of geography, but because we want to work with Brazilians.

Brazil has developed the Alcantara space center in the state of Maranhao. The center is in a good place because it is close to the equator. Experts say rockets launched close to the equator gain extra velocity from the Earths rotation.

Mattis also said he wants the United States to be the partner of choice in South America.

After his speech, Mattis was asked about the proposal by the administration of President Donald Trump to create a U.S. Space Force. A civilian asked the defense secretary whether such a force would risk opening the door to the militarization of space.

Mattis answered, We dont intend to militarize space. However, we will defend ourselves in space, if necessary.

The defense secretary will continue his South American trip with visits to Argentina, Chile and Colombia.

Mattiss trip follows a visit to the area by the chief of U.S. Navy Operations, Admiral John Richardson.

The U.S. Navy has worked with Latin American allies to fight illegal drug trafficking. Allies are also concerned about other threats that affect countries in the area, such as piracy.

Officials say there are many other chances for cooperation in the Americas  from humanitarian missions to cybersecurity.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Mario Ritter adapted this AP story for VOA Learning English with additional material from VOA News. Ashley Thompson 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

hemisphere n. half of the Earth

orientation n. a main interest, quality, or goal

velocity n. quickness of motion

missions n. a task that is considered to be a very important duty
The United States Militarys Air Mobility Command says that refueling and resupplying the U.S. military may soon be done from space.

Air Force General Carlton Everhart is the head of Air Mobility Command. He told VOA, If I can resupply from space, I can go across the globe in about 30 minutes. He added, I do truly believe that is the next step.

Everhart said the time gained by using hypersonic spacecraft could keep the U.S. ahead in the speed of war. That is an area where countries such as China and Russia are trying to make gains.

The idea of using space to deliver supplies is more possible than ever before, say supporters. Many companies that Everhart hopes to partner with are already working on this kind of technology.

Eric Stallmer is president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. The group, based in Washington D.C., supports the development of the space flight industry. Stallmer said that companies like SpaceX and Sierra Nevada, and even foreign companies, could be good partners for the U.S. government.

Cost, however, remains an important issue for space flight.

Experts say the need to transport supplies through space must be greater than the financial costs. For example, it might only be used during very important operations.

Todd Harrison is a space and defense expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012 is an example of a situation where speed was more important than cost. The attack resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

Imagine if we had been able to launch a SEAL team and put them right down in that compound within 45 minutes of knowing that it was under attack. It could have made the difference, he said.

Everhart is not only interested in launching supplies from one point on Earth to another. He also wants to use satellites to position supplies in space.

Stallmer said a lot of spaceflight companies are studying the idea of space refueling stations. There also are plans to change refueling vehicles into habitats in space once they have been used.

However, it is still unclear when these technologies will be fully developed: Experts have estimated from two to more than 10 years.

But this does not stop Everhart from dreaming.

The train is leaving the station and were going to be on it. And Im not going to be on the cabooseIm going to be in the front, he said.

Everhart said his team is already writing proposals for the government to make space resupply a possibility for the military in the future.

Im Phil Dierking.

This story was originally written by Carla Babb for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted the story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

Do you think space travel for resupplying the military is possible? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

caboose - n. a part of a train that is attached at the back end and is used by people who work on the train

globe - n. the earth

habitat - n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows

hypersonic - adj. relating to speeds of more than five times the speed of sound 
The memory of a beloved pet inspires one couple's fight against injustice.
A Hong Kong pro-independence activist decried Beijings rule over the city as modern-day colonialism in a speech today (Tuesday) to a foreign journalists association that defied the Chinese governments demand that the event be canceled.

The Chinese government swiftly criticized the talk, saying that freedom of speech in Hong Kong does not extend to discussions of independence for the Chinese city, which it said was a threat to national security. We express our indignation and condemn it, the Chinese foreign ministry office in Hong Kong said in a statement.

The governments demand raised questions about Beijings growing influence in the former British colony, which was promised semi-autonomy and freedom of speech as part of the 1997 handover. President Xi Jinping and other officials have warned separatist activity would not be tolerated.

Small groups of pro-Beijing and pro-democracy protesters gathered outside the Foreign Correspondents Clubs building in Hong Kong ahead of and during the speech by Andy Chan of the Hong Kong National Party. Some pro-Beijing protesters carried banners saying Hong Kong independence is poisonous.

Current and former Hong Kong leaders have criticized the FCC for hosting Chan, whose party is facing a possible ban on national security grounds.

Sadly, we are a nation that is quickly being annexed and destroyed by China, Chan told the FCC audience. The cry for Hong Kong independence is therefore a cry against colonial invasion.

The Chinese government criticized the FCC for hosting Chan, comparing Hong Kongs pro-independence advocates with Nazis in Germany and terrorists in the United States. It said governments have the right to restrict expressions of ideas that, it said, threaten social order.

No country will allow foreign institutions to invite separatist forces on their own land to advocate splitting the country and inciting violent resistance, the statement said. During his talk, Chan said he condemned violence in political action.

The 75-year-old FCC has previously hosted politicians and newsmakers, including pro-Beijing speakers, at its clubhouse in central Hong Kong. It says it believes its members and the public have the right to hear the views of different sides in any debate.

The perception that Beijing is reneging on its promise of semi-autonomy and eroding Hong Kongs free elections and freedom of speech is helping fuel a rising generation of young activists calling for greater autonomy, if not outright independence.

Huge pro-democracy protests erupted in 2014 in response to the decision by Chinas ruling Communist Party to retain the right to effectively pre-screen candidates for Hong Kongs leadership.

Hong Kong officials have dismissed the FCCs argument that Chans appearance amounts to a free speech matter, with the territorys former chief executive, C.Y. Leung, equating the FCC event with giving a platform to criminals and terrorists.

Current Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam told reporters on Sunday that it was inappropriate for the FCC to host Chan and asked the organization to respect that Hong Kong is an unalienable part of China. AP
The regions national anthem law was passed by the Legislative Assembly (AL), with Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan claiming that the law will not pose a threat to the freedom of the press.

The anthem law proposes that the SAR government can require Macaus media to publish directed reports in relation to the law itself.

[The accusation] whereby we force the media to conduct propaganda of the anthem law is incorrect, said Chan, further explaining that the bill means the government has the obligation [to work with the media to produce specific information]. It does not conflict with the freedom of the press.

According to Chan, the anthem law is not a censorship on media, it is just a promotion of a law. She said there will be no punishment against the media if the media does not cooperate with the government. No punishment is written in the law concerning that.

The law also proposes locations where the national anthem should or not be used and states that insulting the national anthem will be considered a crime.

Moreover, primary and secondary education levels should include education on the national anthem in their curriculums.

According to the law, individuals who show disrespect towards the national anthem will be fined between MOP2,000 and MOP10,000.

However, lawmaker Ip Sio Ka remains displeased with the punishment, deeming it to be too light.

There should be heavier punishments. If there are only fines, I dont think they show too much respect [for China], said Ip.

Mak Soi Kun, who also supports the law, remarked it [the anthem law] is necessary; it protects the countrys dignity. The handover is about to be 20 years old, but have Macau peoples hearts been handed over? Until now, Macau peoples hearts have not realized the importance of the anthem.

According to Chan, education and propaganda are the main purposes behind the law, and only those who behave erroneously will be punished.

Chan said that the government will not consider imposing heavier penalties.
As Chinas leaders gather for their annual Yellow Sea retreat, the countrys political waters are looking choppy.

Chinese President and ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is beset by economic, foreign policy and domestic political challenges just months after clearing his way to rule for as long as he wants as Chinas most dominant leader since Mao Zedong.

Mounting criticism of the Xi administrations policies has exposed the risks he faces from amassing so much power: Hes made himself a natural target for blame.

Having concentrated power, Xi is responsible for all policy setbacks and policy failures, said Joseph Cheng, a retired City University of Hong Kong professor and long-time observer of Chinese politics.

Notably, Xi used to dominate state-run newspapers front pages and the state broadcaster CCTVs news bulletins on a daily basis but has in recent weeks made fewer public appearances. He cant shift the blame, so hes responding by taking a lower profile, Cheng said.

The challenges so far arent seen as a threat to Xis grip on power, but for many Chinese, the governments credibility is on the line.

Of greatest concern to many is the trade war with the U.S. that threatens higher tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese exports. Critics say theyve yet to see a coherent strategy from Beijing that could guide negotiations with Washington and avoid a major blow to the economy. Beijing instead seems to be opting for defiance and retaliatory measures of its own.

Both the stock market and the currency have weakened in response and the Communist Party itself conceded at a meeting last month that external factors were weighing heavily on economic growth.

At the same time, a scandal over vaccines has reignited long-

held fears over the integrity of the health care industry and the governments ability to police the sprawling firms that dominate the economy.

Trust is the most important thing and a loss of public confidence in the government could be devastating, said Zhang Ming, a retired professor of political science in Beijing.

And last week, the authorities mobilized a massive security effort to squelch a planned protest in Beijing over the sudden collapse of hundreds of peer-to-peer borrowing schemes that underscore the governments inability to reform the finance system to cater to small investors.

Meanwhile, Xis signature project, the trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative to build investment and infrastructure links with 65 nations, is running into headwinds over sticker shock among the countries involved. Some Chinese have also questioned the wisdom of sending vast sums abroad at a time when millions of Chinese remain mired in poverty.

That in part plays into concerns over Xis abandonment of the highly pragmatic, low-key cautious approach to foreign relations advocated by Deng Xiaoping, the architect of Chinas economic reforms that laid the groundwork for todays relative prosperity.

Leaders are likely to discuss at least some of these challenges during informal discussions at the Beidaihe resort in Hebei province as part of a tradition begun under Mao. Xi and others generally drop out of sight for two weeks or more during the summer session.

Xis mildly bombastic brand of Chinese triumphalism has not been popular with many in the party, leading critics to speak out, said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at Londons School of Oriental and African Studies.

Some have even called for the sacking of one prominent proponent of the rising China theme, Tsinghua University economist Hu Angang, with 27 graduates of the elite institution signing a letter to that effect.

Resentment lingers also over Xis moves to consolidate power, including pushing through the removal of presidential term limits in March and establishing a burgeoning cult of personality.

That resentment was given voice in a lengthy jeremiad titled Imminent Fears, Imminent Hopes penned by Tsinghua University law professor Xu Zhangrun, who warned that, Yet again people throughout China [] are feeling a sense of uncertainty, a mounting anxiety in relation both to the direction the country is taking as well as in regard to their personal security.

These anxieties have generated something of a nationwide panic, Xu continued before listing eight areas of concern including stricter controls over ideology, repression of the intelligentsia, excessive foreign aid and The End of Reform and the Return of Totalitarianism.

Even more boldly, Xu called for a restoration of presidential term limits and a re-evaluation of the 1989 pro-democracy movement centered on Beijings Tiananmen Square. The peaceful protests were crushed by the military and remain a taboo topic to this day.

Although Xu is reportedly out of the country and has not been officially sanctioned, another longtime critic, retired professor Sun Wenguang, found himself carted off by police in the middle of a radio interview with the Voice of America in which he railed against Chinas lavish spending abroad.

A sign of the Xi administrations anxieties is a new campaign to promote patriotism among intellectuals  a recurring tactic when public debate is seen as needing a course correction.

The notice of the new campaign, issued July 31, cites the broad masses of intellectuals and the patriotic spirit of struggle, while giving little in the way of specifics.

Much of the discontent with Xi can be traced to his administrations perceived ineffectiveness, said Zhang, the retired academic.

If you want to be emperor, you must have great achievements, Zhang said. He hasnt had any, so its hard to convince the people.Christopher Bodeen, Beijing, AP
The Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, will visit Beijing for the first plenary meeting of the leading group for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Chui will attend the meeting, to be held on August 15, as a member of the leading group formed by the Central Government. The visit will run until August 17.

88 schools to start academic year beginning September

According to information provided by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), 88 schools are ready to kick-off the new academic year in the first four days of September. The DSEJ informed that 29 of these 88 schools will start the academic year on September 1 (Saturday), followed by the majority of 50 schools, which will start the academic year on September 3 (Monday). Nine other schools told the DSEJ they will be ready to start the year only on Tuesday (September 4). The bureau also noted that, according to the guidelines of DSEJ, most of the schools will organize opening ceremonies for the school year at different times for different year levels in order to facilitate the traffic flow on those days. Eleven other schools informed that they will start the classes for different year levels across two different days to reduce traffic congestion. More information on each school timetable and commencement dates can be accessed through DSEJs website.

Zhuhai signs RMB100 billion loan deal

The Zhuhai municipal government has signed a loan agreement with China Construction Bank (CCB) Guangdong Branch, China Construction Bank (Asia), China Construction International, and China Construction Bank Macao Branch. According to the agreement, CCB and its subsidiaries will provide no less than RMB100 billion yuan (USD14.7 billion) to fund the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area in the following five years. The Mayor of Zhuhai pointed out that during the transformation period, Zhuhai will need to fulfill the strategic role of the Belt & Road Initiative and establish the core urban area along the west bank of the Pearl River, according to a statement issued by the Zhuhai Hengqin New Area. Specifically, Zhuhai plans to upgrade its infrastructure to enhance connectivity for the core urban area along the west bank of the Pearl River. A supply chain platform for tech companies will be initiated. The neighboring citys government also plans to build a manufacturing base for high-end equipment at the west bank of the Pearl River.
China insisted yesterday there is no arbitrary detention and there are no re-education centers in its western Xinjiang region, rejecting concerns raised by a U.N. human rights committee that more than 1 million ethnic Uighurs may be being held in camps.

Beijing was responding to questions raised by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Geneva. A committee member last week cited estimates that over 1 million people in China from the countrys Uighur and other Muslim minorities are being held in counter-extremism centers and another 2 million have been forced into re-education camps.

Chinas delegation told the panel that there is no arbitrary detention [] there are no such things as re-education centers. It said authorities in Xinjiang have cracked down on violent terrorist activities, while convicted criminals are provided with skills to reintegrate themselves into society at vocational education and employment training centers.

The argument that 1 million Uighurs are detained in re-education centers is completely untrue, Chinese delegate Hu Lianhe said through an interpreter.

He added there is no suppression of ethnic minorities or violations of their freedom of religious belief in the name of counter-terrorism. But he also said those who are deceived by religious extremism [] shall be assisted through resettlement and education.

Xinjiang has been enveloped in a suffocating blanket of security for years, especially since a deadly anti-government riot broke out in the regional capital of Urumqi in 2009. Over recent months, monitoring groups and witnesses say Uighurs have been sent into detention and indoctrination centers.

Gay McDougall, the committee vice-chairwoman who raised the detentions last week, said she wasnt convinced by Chinas flat denial of the detention figures. She said China didnt quite deny that re-education programs are taking place.

You said that was false, the 1 million. Well, how many were there? Please tell me, she said. And what were the laws on which they were detained, the specific provisions?

There was no direct response to that in yesterdays session, which addressed a broad range of issues that went well beyond the Uighurs.

But delegation leader Yu Jianhua said some panel members had treated some of the unsubstantiated materials as credible information. He contended that some of that information came from groups which seek to split China and have links to terrorist organizations.

Global Times editorial

Chinas campaign of pressure against the countrys Uighur Muslim minority has prevented the far-northwestern region of Xinjiang from becoming Chinas Syria or Chinas Libya, an official Communist Party newspaper said yesterday

Following attacks by radical Muslim separatists, hundreds of thousands of members of the Uighur and Kazakh Muslim minorities in Xinjiang have been arbitrarily detained in indoctrination camps where they are forced to denounce Islam and profess loyalty to the party.

Global Times said the intense regulations in the region were merely a phase that Xinjiang has to go through in rebuilding peace and prosperity.

The editorial did not directly mention the existence of the internment camps.

Denouncing what it called destructive Western public opinions, the paper said, peace and stability must come above all else.

Through the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the national strength of the country and the contribution of local officials, Xinjiang has been salvaged from the verge of massive turmoil, the paper said. It has avoided the fate of becoming Chinas Syria or Chinas Libya.

Xinjiang has been enveloped in a suffocating blanket of security for years, especially since a deadly anti-government riot broke out in the regional capital of Urumqi in 2009. Over recent months, monitoring groups and eyewitnesses say Uighurs have been summoned from abroad and across China and sent into detention and indoctrination centers.

The roughly 10 million Uighurs make up a tiny proportion of Chinas almost 1.4 billion people and there has never been an insurgency that could challenge the central governments overwhelming might.

When the U.N.s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination started reviewing Chinas report in Geneva on Friday, Chinese delegation leader Yu Jianhua highlighted economic progress and rising living standards among other things.

Committee vice-chairwoman Gay McDougall said members are deeply concerned by numerous and credible reports that we have received that, in the name of combating religious extremism and maintaining social stability, [China] has turned the Uighur autonomous region into something that resembles a massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy.

McDougall said there were estimates that more than a million people are being held in so-called counter-extremism centers and another 2 million have been forced into so-called re-education camps for political and cultural indoctrination.

She did not specify a source for that information in her remarks at the hearing.

The Geneva-based committee continues its hearing, with conclusions expected later. Yu, Chinas ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, said China will respond to the main questions raised in Fridays session yesterday. MDT/AP

Two, including Chinese tourist, killed in Kenya hippo attacks

A Chinese tourist was attacked and killed by a hippo while taking pictures on the edge of Lake Naivasha in Kenyas Rift Valley, just hours after a local fisherman was mauled to death in the same area, authorities said yesterday [Macau time].

A second Chinese tourist was injured in the incident Saturday night and received treatment in the local hospital in Naivasha, 91 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, the Kenya Wildlife Service said in a statement.

In the same area, a Kenyan fisherman was attacked by another hippo a few kilometers from where the incident with the Chinese occurred, a police official said.

The man was bitten on the chest and his injuries were serious and he died minutes after he was retrieved from the lake, said Rift Valley Head of Criminal investigations Gideon Kibunja.

The deaths brought to six the number people who have been killed by hippos around Lake Naivasha so far this year.

Wildlife service spokesman Paul Udoto said the circumstances are not clear in which the two Chinese were attacked. He said attacks on tourists are rare because they are usually protected by guides.

He said hippos and lone buffalos pose the greatest danger to humans and there have been many attacks in which civilians and even rangers have lost their lives. AP
A group of approximately 40 members of the Lok In Elderly Service Centre of the Womens General Association of Macau watched the La Parisienne variety show earlier this month at The Parisian Macao, as guests of Sands China Ltd.

Sands Cares Ambassadors accompanied the group around a tour of The Parisian Macao prior to the show, which included the observation decks at the Eiffel Tower, according to a statement issued by the gaming operator.

Before the performance of La Parisienne, the group enjoyed a meet and greet with members of the shows cast.

The elderly members of our association were so enthusiastic about this opportunity given by Sands China. The transportation arrangement made it so easy for them to attend, said Ho I Lam, acting director of the Womens General Association of Macaus Lok In Elderly Service Centre.

Macao water supports Oxfam campaign

Macao Water was recently invited to become a sponsor at the 2018 Oxfam Rice Campaign, thus setting up a charity sales stand in its office building to raise funds for the campaign.

According to a statement, the company acquired hundreds of batches of rice from Oxfam, supporting the campaign in a variety of ways to assist vulnerable small farmers in their fight against poverty.

Last month, together with Oxfam (Macau Branch), the water company donated 350 packages of Oxfam rice to the Pou Lei Centre of the Fuhong Society of Macau, as a contribution to the daily operations of the association.

Macao Water said that it hopes to have new opportunities to co-operate with other institutions and promote the link between the company and the underprivileged.

Macao Water also extended such initiatives to the company itself, hosting an event entitled Green Monday with Oxfam Rice, organising a vegetarian lunch for all employees, using the Oxfam rice.
For years he dutifully carried out Roger Ailes orders, earning himself the nickname the Butler at Fox News.

Now, Bill Shine is serving the same role under President Donald Trump.

The former news executive, who was formally brought into the White House last month as deputy chief of staff for communications, has yet to move into a permanent office or bring on his own staff. But he is already putting his mark on the West Wing, clashing with reporters, improving the production quality of White House events and trying to shape the message of an administration whose communication strategy has always seemed haphazardly dictated by tweet.

Shine is most often described by people close to the White House as an adult and well-respected professional with the age and experience to be trusted by a president who is uniquely obsessed with his image and coverage.

I think that Bill commands the respect that is needed on such a priority based on his management experience and knowledge of the media, said Sean Spicer, the former White House press secretary and communications director. Shine, he said, entered the White House with the respect, maturity and experience that is more of a peer than a staffer.

After years working with and managing cable news stars with outsized egos, Shine understands how to work with someone like the president, including the most effective ways to offer guidance or pushback.

And unlike many failed hires who have entered the West Wing with guns blazing, threatening mass firings, Shine appears to have, at least so far, succeeded in not ruffling his colleagues feathers  though he is widely expected to add his own staff and has been conducting interviews.

Hes about making sure were moving in the right direction, said Mercedes Schlapp, the White House director of strategic communications, who said Shine is universally well-liked by senior staff and has eased, not increased, tensions.

But Shines arrival also has coincided with a perceived escalation in friction with the press, including an incident last month when a CNN reporter was barred from covering an open-press event because Trump didnt like the questions shed shouted earlier in the day, when she was serving as a representative of the television networks. AP
The rival Koreas announced yesterday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet in Pyongyang sometime in September, while their envoys also discussed Pyongyangs nuclear disarmament efforts and international sanctions.

The push for what would be the leaders third summit since April comes amid renewed worries surrounding a nuclear standoff between Washington and Pyongyang.

The announcement released after nearly two hours of talks led by the rivals chiefs for inter-Korean affairs was remarkably thin on details. In a three-sentence joint statement, the two sides did not mention an exact date for the summit and provided no details on how to implement past agreements.

Ri Son Gwon, the head of the North Korean delegation, told pool reporters at the end of the talks that officials agreed on a specific date for the summit in Pyongyang sometime within September, but he refused to share the date, saying he wanted to keep reporters wondering.

The South Korean unification minister, Cho Myoung-gyon, told reporters after the meeting that officials still had some work to do before agreeing on when exactly the summit would happen. He said the two sides will again discuss when the leaders would meet but didnt say when.

It wasnt clear why Ri and Cho differed on the issue of the date, and Cho wouldnt answer a specific question about the discrepancy.

The meeting at a North Korea-controlled building in the border village of Panmunjom comes as the international community waits to see if North Korea will begin abandoning its nuclear weapons program, something officials suggested would happen after Kims summit with President Donald Trump in June in Singapore.

North Korea is thought to have a growing arsenal of nuclear bombs and long-

range missiles and to be closing in on the ability to reliably target anywhere on the U.S. mainland. A string of North Korean weapons tests last year, during which Pyongyang claimed to have completed its nuclear arsenal, had many in Asia worried that Washington and Pyongyang were on the brink of war.

Cho, the chief of the South Korean delegation, said the two sides also talked a lot about international sanctions meant to punish the North for its development of nuclear weapons, but he didnt elaborate.

Seoul has been preparing for possible economic collaboration with Pyongyang that could go ahead when sanctions are lifted. Pyongyang has urged Washington to ease the economic punishments, but the United States says that cant happen until the North completely denuclearizes.

The South Korean envoy said he urged Pyongyang to accelerate its current nuclear negotiations with the United States. The North said it was making efforts to disarm, but Cho said there were no new details on those efforts. AP
Morgan Stanley is promoting a pair of dealmakers in Southeast Asia, with one banker rising from intern to a senior position in just seven years.

The U.S. firm has appointed Jannie Tsuei, who started as an intern in New York in 2011, as chief operating officer for Southeast Asia investment banking, according to an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg. It named Jonathan Pflug, who joined Morgan Stanley as an associate that year, to head Southeast Asia M&A and Singapore coverage.

Tsuei began her finance career on Morgan Stanleys real estate investment banking team in the U.S. before moving to Singapore in 2015, the memo shows. Earlier this year, she transitioned to Singapore coverage and has been helping build out the firms work on health-care deals in the region. A representative for Morgan Stanley confirmed the contents of the memo.

Gone are those days where you have to spend fifteen to twenty years before you get a shot at the top, Tsewang Bhotia, a Hong Kong-based director at recruitment firm Executive Access Ltd., said by phone yesterday. These days, the turnover is a lot faster and in the last five years, they are getting younger.

The promotions follow the departure of Gordon Parker, who was head of Southeast Asia M&A at Morgan Stanley before moving to San Francisco-based boutique DBO Partners. Citigroup Inc. poached Kelvin Goh, who was Morgan Stanleys head of Singapore coverage and chief operating officer for Southeast Asia investment banking.

Morgan Stanley ranked fourth on mergers and acquisitions involving companies in Southeast Asia this year, down from first place for all of 2017, according to data compiled. Bloomberg.
Sebastiao Pedro struck it lucky in 2014 when, as a 21-year-old small- scale miner, he found a large red ruby in northern Mozambique. He sold it to a buyer from Vietnam for USD43,000, returned to his family 900 miles away and built a house with the proceeds. Then the money ran out.

This year he went back to Montepuez, home to the worlds biggest known ruby deposit, hoping to find another small fortune. He was disappointed. A crackdown by the authorities has seen thousands of local diggers and traders arrested. Hundreds of others from as far away as Thailand have been deported.

The situation is difficult because the police have been sending people away and the concession areas are full of company security and we can no longer work, Pedro said as he and five fellow diggers in dust-stained clothes scratched around in the gravel beside a small dam.

A few hundred yards away is Gemfields Group Ltd.s ruby operation. After a woodcutter discovered a shiny red stone there in 2009, as many as 10,000 people from all over the world descended on the dense woodland, digging and trading rubies, or offering goods and services to those doing the mining.

It looked like a gold rush in the Wild West, said Gemfields Chief Executive Officer Sean Gilbertson, son of Brian, the one-time CEO of the world biggest miner BHP Billiton Plc. There was a lot of violence, a lot of criminality.

Traffic Light

Four years ago, Pedro would sneak into mining concessions and dig up gravel containing the precious stones. Now its too dangerous, so he and his colleagues wait for other informal miners who are able to get into the mining areas to bring back sacks of dirt  waste thats already been scoured it for the gems.

Though its difficult to know the value of the global rough- ruby trade because its so fragmented, the New York-based Natural Resource Governance Institute estimates the ruby, emerald and sapphire business is worth as much as $2.5 billion annually.

From nothing 10 years ago, Mozambique now accounts for as much as 80 percent of global ruby output, according to Richard Hughes, an expert on the stones at Lotus Gemology Co. Ltd. in Bangkok. Many of Montepuezs rubies are the colors consumers covet  like a red traffic light, he said.

The promise of riches is perhaps best illustrated by the $72 million that Gemfields, which controls the only major mine in the area, raised at a June auction in Singapore. While the quality of stones differs at each sale, making comparisons difficult, prices doubled from a year earlier to $122 per carat.

Chinese Demand

Growing demand and rising prices, thanks mainly to Asian buying, have spurred plans by Gemfields to increase production at the site over the next two years, build a new processing plant and a sort-house for grading the stones. Theyve also attracted more robust competition.

Fura Gems Inc., a Toronto-based miner, last month announced two deals to buy ruby concessions that will be the largest in the country. Thats a sizable land package: Gemfields itself has an area almost half the size of New York City.

The startup is run by Dev Shetty, ex-chief operating officer at Gemfields, and hes rapidly put together a team, many of whom he poached from his former employer.

Shetty shares Gilbertsons counter-intuitive reasoning that demand will follow production increases. As companies like Fura and Gemfields provide a more consistent supply of quality stones, buyers will have confidence to purchase more.

Growth Plans

Small producers make up 90 percent of the colored gemstone industry, said Shetty, who helped to build Gemfields Montepuez operation. Fura plans to account for 10 percent of the trade in five years, and 15 percent in a decade.

We need more organized players in this sector, Shetty said. There is no doubt in my mind that prices will continue to increase.

Mozambiques shift to a more organized trade has caused strife. Because the deposits are shallow  starting at 2 meters below the surface in places  access is easy. That makes it attractive to informal miners, or garimpeiros, as theyre known locally.

In one of Gemfields pits, thousands of pinkish red stones glisten on the floor, and can easily be plucked  were it not for the tight security. (Workers and visitors are patted down and made to remove their boots even when moving from section to section of the operation.)

Researchers have said an insurgency in Cabo Delgado might be getting funding from the illicit ruby trade, but Gilbertson says this is unlikely as Montepuez is more than 120 miles away from from where most of the attacks have taken place.

Rights Abuses

In April, law company Leigh Day brought a case against Gemfields in London, claiming more than 100 community members it represents suffered serious human-rights abuses at Gemfields operation. Four claimants allege their sons were shot dead by security forces there.

Gemfields, owner of luxury jeweler Faberge, said it takes the allegations seriously and denounced any form of violence or abuse. Many of the acts in the claim involved the Mozambican police, and Leigh Day wants to hold the company responsible, according to Gemfields, adding that it will defend itself vigorously.

Fabiao Namiva, an official in the Montepuez local government, said that while there have been some problems  the authorities want Gemfields to move more quickly in resettling a village away from its mining concession  rubies have benefited the country.

The exploitation of rubies is contributing greatly to the revenue of the state. We are satisfied with that, he said by phone. There are problems managing peoples expectations.

Gemfields has built three schools and provides mobile clinics in the area. It has also created 1,000 jobs, according to Gilbertson.

But for people like Visado Mariano, who a year ago arrived from neighboring Nampula province to hunt for the gems, opportunities are few. He toils on the banks of the small dam across the road from the mine, hoping to turn up something shiny and red.

We know how to search for rubies. If the company got us to work with them in the mines, it would be better, he said. I live badly and sometimes spend days without eating, but I will continue here. Even if I go home I have no job. Its the same thing. Matthew Hill, Borges Nhamire, Bloomberg
Frederico dos Santos Rosario, who claims to be among the 70 local residents who fell victim to a controversial cryptocurrency investment scheme, has denied that he was involved in defrauding Macau citizens, laying the blame squarely on Hong Kong-based Dennis Lau. He says that he is commencing criminal proceedings against Lau for defamation.

Lau, who is currently under investigation in Hong Kong, had claimed that business partner Rosario and his mother Rita Santos had misled Macau investors by altering investment contracts and promising a higher rate of return from the scheme than that originally agreed on by the partners.

But Rosario denies any wrongdoing. He says that he has enough evidence to clear his name and is in the process of commencing criminal proceedings against Lau for defamation.

Over the past few days, I have been subject [to] multiple accusations and defamatory statements made by a certain Mr. Dennis Lau to various local and international newspaper and media sources, accusing me of being responsible for defrauding Macau citizens, he wrote in a press statement released yesterday.

I am hereby exercising my right to defense against these baseless and calumnious allegations, and to clarify the misinformation that Mr. Dennis Lau has attempted to spread against me, in an obvious attempt to shift attention from the serious accusations which have been brought against him and which are currently under investigation by the proper authorities.

I am in possession of the necessary evidence that will fully prove that these allegations against me are false, wrote Rosario. In the meantime, considering the damage already done to my name and reputation by Mr. Dennis Laus widespread misinformation campaign, I will be submitting a complaint to Macau criminal authorities in order to open criminal proceedings against Mr. Dennis Lau for the crime of defamation, and have engaged legal counsel to pursue my rights to the maximum extent permitted under law.

Earlier this week, lawmaker Jose Pereira Coutinho was reported to have been involved in the scheme as a participant. Coutinho, who was said to have invested a total of HKD700,000 in the cryptocurrency mining business, is the head of the Macau Civil Servants Association, where a number of investment seminars were held by the business with the aim of attracting more local participants.

The lawmaker has refused to comment on the matter to the press.

Meanwhile, the Judiciary Police (PJ) says it has already initiated an investigation into virtual currency scams involving Macau residents. So far, the PJ has contacted more than 20 of those who claim to have fallen victim to these scams. They reported losses ranging from tens of thousands to millions of patacas.

Choi Ian Fai, duty supervisor of the PJ, said that the existence of such cases cannot be confirmed solely based on the reports of such self-proclaimed victims. DB
Food enthusiasts gathered at the 19th Southeast Asia Food Carnival for the annual showcase of sweet treats from several countries, which were offered at some 14 booths.

Stalls representing Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmmar and Thailand were presented at the carnival, offering the most famous cuisine in their respective countries.

The event was held over the weekend in the area adjacent to the Three Lamps roundabout, and had stalls offering an array of different delicacies, with those manning the stalls hoping to better integrate their culture into the region.

A Burmese association in the city brought some traditional dishes to the festival, including their own version of fried onion and red bean with garlic, amongst others  including jade jewelry made in the country.

The more we have festivals like these, the more it promotes our food. Local residents will further distinguish the different food that the regions offer, said May Thetnwe, who oversaw the stall.

Another stall serving Indonesian cuisine was proud to represent its roots, noting that local residents love for Indonesian dishes is increasing.

This year at the stall of the Indonesia Returned Overseas Chinese Association, Indonesian restaurant Rasa Sayang offered an array of its most- loved delicacies, including their own version of skewers and cendol  a typical Indonesian drink that is made from rice flour and served with ice, brown sugar and coconut milk.

Its actually our first time [] participating in this festival, said the owner of Rasa Sayang, Mbak Fia.

So far, it has been good. This festival helps to promote our food, and many residents like the dishes that we prepare, including those from Nepal and India, she added.

President of the Indonesia Returned Overseas Chinese Association, Winnie Lo, hoped that similar carnivals would continually be held in the city to also celebrate the 2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy.

According to Lo, the association has been participating for several years and has witnessed the increase in the number of residents who are also keen on Southeast Asian cuisine.

Weve been joining every year and more people are coming to the festival. I hope many more can join, she said.

Another stall, which offered Filipino delicacies, showcased over 10 of its traditional food, including sticky rice balls in coconut milk and a series of sweet rice cakes.

It has been raining, but our sales are doing well, said a representative, Marietta Baluyot.

Every year we try to add different dishes for the locals to try. I believe these kinds of festival help [to] promote our culture and the cuisines we are good at, she added.
Norways fishery minister has stepped down after harsh criticism for not informing the government of his private trips abroad to Iran and China.

Per Sandberg, 58, gave no reasons why he failed to tell his bosses about the trips in advance  a summer holiday in July to Iran with his Iranian-born girlfriend and a trip to China in May. In Norway, government members are required to report before going to another country on private trips.

After returning from Iran, his work phone was given to Norways domestic intelligence service to make sure it was not hacked. The PST agency considers Iran a high risk country when it comes to electronic surveillance.

He was replaced in the fisheries post yesterday by Harald Tom Nesvik.
Shipyard workers in Gdansk, Poland, have staged a successful strike in protest over the dismissal of militant crane driver Anna Walentinowicz.

The strike at the Lenin shipyard is seen as part of a growing campaign to gain political freedoms and to improve economic conditions for Polands labour force.

Numbering some 16,000, the workers secured Miss Walentinowiczs swift reinstatement and then elected her to the workers committee, which negotiates with the Polish authorities and shipyard management.

Today the committee won a number of political and economic concessions, including the promise of more accurate media coverage of the industrial unrest that has beset the country over the summer.

Workers are also demanding the right to form their own genuine representative bodies instead of subscribing to official trade unions.

The Gdansk region has a history of strike action to secure greater freedoms. In 1970, rioting shipyard workers forced the incumbent Communist Party leader, Wladyslaw Gomulka, out of office.

Today the shipyard workers have persuaded the authorities to erect a monument in memory of those who died during the 1970 police brutality.

The workers key economic demands include a pay rise of 40% and family allowances equal to those enjoyed by members of Polands security forces.

There have been reports that the current party leader, Edward Gierek, was recently blamed for the unrest by a Warsaw party committee. Mr Gierek has yet to return from a holiday in the Soviet Union.

Tonight Polish television appealed for calm and level-headedness in its first mention of work stoppages since the strikes began in June.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Edward Gierek, like his predecessor, had his political reputation ruined by the Gdansk-led labour unrest, and subsequently resigned.

Polands bid for political and social freedom grew out of strong co-operation between workers, intellectuals and its Roman Catholic Church, who worked together to spread information and resist the communist regime.

The reinstatement of Anna Walentinowicz brought only a temporary halt to the unrest. Stoppages continued until the government finally caved in and agreed to recognise the right of independent trade unions with a deal signed on 31 August.

In September 1980 Solidarity (Solidarnosc) was formed, the workers first independent trade union, led by shipyard electrician Lech Walesa.
ST. MARTIN, Mississippi -- Three people were arrested on various charges after report of a gunshot led to a drug bust at a St. Martin home Monday night.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said deputies responded to a call of a shot fired shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday. The woman who reported the gunshot told deputies the shot struck the back of her home on El Dorado Avenue and that she believed the shot came from a home directly behind hers on Durango Avenue.

Deputies went to that location and found a trailer being powered by a generator -- a stolen one, they discovered.

At that point, investigators and drug officers were able to obtain a search warrant to enter the trailer where the search uncovered three handguns and a slew of illegal drugs.

Two of the suspects were 53-year-old William Chambliss of Biloxi, arrested on a warrant through the Gautier Police Department; and 39-year-old Anne Marie Walker of Biloxi, charged with possession of methamphetamine.

The third suspect, 41-year-old Deveon Cunningham, is a convicted felon and has a hold on him from the Mississippi Department of Corrections for parole violation. He is charged in this case with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and eight counts of illegal drug possession:

Methamphetamine

Heroin

Cocaine

Marijuana (felony possession)

Methadone

Adderall

Hydrocodone

Oxycodone

All three suspects remained in the Jackson County Adult Detention Center as of Tuesday afternoon awaiting initial court appearances.
Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan has considerable resources to supply its domestic market with quality fuel and lubricants and sustainable electricity supply. The President instructed the minister to take all measures necessary to address the tasks set.
The visit Iraqi Prime Minister was to pay to Tehran later this week will not take place as planned after Iranian authorities cancelled the trip over the Iraqi leaders comments that he will abide by U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic though he is opposed to such sanctions.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was initially expected this week in Turkey and Iran for state visits.

An Iraqi official, who asked not to be named because not allowed to speak on the matter, told the Associated Press (AP) that the Iran leg of the trip will no longer go ahead after Iran cancelled the trip.

Iran was irked by Abadis comments that U.S. sanctions on Iran were unfair but that he will however stick to them.

Can I, the Prime Minister of Iraq, endanger the interests of Iraqis just to take a stand? he said.

We dont sympathize with the sanctions, we dont think they are appropriate and we dont interact with them, but we are committed to protect our people.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week signed the executive order for renewed sanctions against Iran as result of Washingtons withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Trump also warned that companies doing business with Iran cannot do business with the U.S.

Abadi, in power since 2014 has played equilibrium between the U.S. and Iran, which has deepened its influence in the country since the U.S. intervention in 2003.

Abadis forces backed a U.S.-led coalition that overcame the Islamic State group (ISIS) in December. Iran-backed Iraqi paramilitary forces also endorsed the Iraqi forces.

The Iraqi leader who is currently leading a caretaker government finished third in May elections with his bloc. He is seeking to retain his position as Prime Minister after entering into alliance with Shia cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr whose joint list came out as larger seats (54) winner. An Iran-backed joint group, which also finished first runner-up with 46 seats, is part of the joint alliance.

The Turkey leg of the trip, which will kicks off Tuesday, will go ahead, the anonymous official said.
A blood clot forming in the carotid artery. Credit: copyright American Heart Association

People who suffer a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain could be helped by four simple checks of their brain scans, research suggests.

The checks could help spot people at risk of further bleeding so they can be monitored more closely.

Experts say this could help improve outcomes for the millions of people around the world who experience a brain bleed each year.

Bleeding in the brainknown as an intracerebral haemorrhage or ICHis the most deadly form of stroke.

Only one in five patients survives without permanent damage. Of the remainder, half are likely to die within a month and half will be left with a long-term disability.

Cases of ICH are diagnosed by brain scans, but until now it has been difficult to predict which patients will continue bleeding. Those who do are expected to have worse outcomes.

Research led by the University of Edinburgh analysed data from studies around the world involving more than 5,000 patients.

The team identified four factors that helped doctors predict whether patients were likely to experience further bleeding.

These include the size of the bleed and whether or not the patient was taking medication, such as aspirin or warfarin, to thin their blood or prevent clotting.

Experts say the checks can be applied during routine care to help medical staff decide the best way to continue monitoring each patient.

Researchers also looked at the benefit of an advanced brain scanning techniquecalled CT angiographyfor predicting a person's risk of ongoing bleeding.

The scan involves injecting a coloured dye into the patient's bloodstream and checking if it can be seen leaking into the brain.

For patients who showed leakage of the dye, the test was of little value in addition to the four simple checks for predicting their risk of ongoing bleeding, researchers found.

Incorporating the four checks into patient care could help to improve survival, especially in low or middle-income countries, where patients may not have access to CT angiography.

Experts from dozens of research centres worldwide contributed to the study, which is the largest of its kind to date.

The research, published in The Lancet Neurology, was funded by the UK's Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation.

Professor Rustam Al-Shahi Salman, of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, said: "We have found that four simple measures help doctors to make accurate predictions about the risk of a brain haemorrhage growing. These can be used anywhere in the world. Better prediction can help us identify which patients might benefit from close monitoring and treatment. We hope that an app could help doctors to do this. The next step is to find an effective treatment to stop the bleeding."

Explore further Two simple tests could help to pinpoint cause of stroke
Patients with a greater than 10 pack/year history of smoking tend to develop an especially dangerous form of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) for which prognosis remains poor and treatments have changed little during the past two decades. However, recent phase 1 clinical trial results by the Head and Neck Cancer Group at University of Colorado Cancer Center suggest a possible new direction for these patients. The first-in-human trial of the oral PARP inhibitor olaparib, with the anti-EGFR drug cetuximab and radiation, led to 72 percent 2-year survival in 16 patients on trial, compared with an expected 2-year survival rate of about 55 percent for standard-of-care treatment.

"Colorado promotes innovation, and this trial was certainly innovative when it was designed by our group," says David Raben, MD, CU Cancer Center investigator and professor in the CU School of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology. "Much credit goes to Antonio Jimeno, MD, Ph.D. who was very supportive of this idea and helped move this forward along with Dr. Sana Karam and Dr. Daniel Bowles."

The drug cetuximab targets EGF receptor signaling (EGFR) and while it earned FDA approval in 2006 for use against head and neck cancers over-expressing EGFR, Raben stated there is significant room for improvement.

"That's where olaparib and radiation come in," he says. "Ten years ago, I was on a sabbatical from CU, working for AstraZeneca in England. And I remember taking the train from Manchester to Cambridge to learn about this new drug from a small biotech company called Kudos Pharmaceuticals. It was a PARP-inhibitor, meant to keep cells from repairing damaged DNA. That's the drug we now call olaparib."

Early in development, the drug had shown remarkable activity in woman with BRCA mutations, "but we wanted to know if it worked in other diseases where BRCA wasn't the story," Raben says.

Olaparib inhibits the action of an enzyme known as PARP, which is important for DNA repair. HNSCC in heavy smokers already tends to carry a heavy load of DNA damage. And radiation creates additional DNA damage. When olaparib nixes the ability of these cancers' to repair DNA, it can push cancer cells past the tipping point of damage and into cell death. In this way, PARP inhibition and radiation may be synthetically lethal, meaning that together they exploit deficiencies in gene defects that leads to enhanced cell death.

In fact, lab work by Raben and CU Cancer Center colleagues including Xiao-Jing Wang MD, Ph.D., Barb Frederick, Ph.D., and Ariel Hernandez, among others, shows that PARP inhibitors like olaparib may also amplify the effects of anti-EGFR drugs like cetuximab.

"The traditional approach against this kind of cancer uses cisplatin chemotherapy along with radiation. I had seen data suggesting that the combination of cisplatin and olaparib might be too toxic on patients' blood counts. So our team explored this alternative approach that we hoped would offer a more targeted treatment in this poor prognosis group," Raben says.

In addition to promising survival results, the trial reinforces earlier work showing that cancer patients who continue to smoke while receiving treatment tend to fare worse than those who quit.

"We didn't cherry pick our patients for this trial. All were heavy smokers, many were heavy drinkers, advanced T-stages, and some continued to smoke during the treatment. People who continued smoking were the ones who did the worst," Raben says.

However, the trial's survival benefit came with additional side effects, some of which appeared relatively late in the course of the trial (demonstrating the importance of long-term follow-up for patients in radiation Phase I studies).

"We did see an increase in skin toxicity, which wasn't unexpected, and we learned that when you combine olaparib with radiation, you need perhaps one tenth the dose that you would when using olaparib alone," Raben says. Most common side effects included dermatitis (39 percent) and mucositis (69 percent). Several patients experienced increased long-term fibrosis and one showed carotid stenosis, though Raben points out that some side effects could be due to the continued influence of smoking, as well.

"The question now is whether we should move this combination into a randomized phase II trial or use what we've learned to design new combinations," Raben says. For example, "There is tremendous enthusiasm in the oncology community to combine DNA damage repair inhibitors like olaparib with immune enabling drugs, and this may reduce overall toxicity further when combined with or used after radiation," he says.

Or, Raben suggests that targeted therapies and immunotherapies could be used earlier in the course of treatment, pointing to a forthcoming clinical trial by collaborator Sana Karam, MD, Ph.D., that will test the ability of radiation and immunotherapy to shrink head and neck cancer tumors before surgery.

"We see this first trial like nurturing a small plant. Now that it's started to grow, its new branches are like new ideas," Raben says. "This trial lays the foundation for testing combinations of targeted treatments against head and neck cancer in heavy smokers. Hopefully, this trial can also serve as a template for Phase I drug development platforms across disease sites at CU. With our colleagues in the Developmental Therapeutics program, we see this trial laying the groundwork for the development of a novel, self-sustaining Phase I Radiation-Developmental Therapeutics program. Eventually, we hope one of these 'branches' of research will lead to a new paradigm for this population that desperately needs it."

More information: Sana D. Karam et al, Final Report of a Phase I Trial of Olaparib with Cetuximab and Radiation for Heavy Smoker Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer., Clinical Cancer Research (2018). Journal information: Clinical Cancer Research Sana D. Karam et al, Final Report of a Phase I Trial of Olaparib with Cetuximab and Radiation for Heavy Smoker Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.,(2018). DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-18-0467
Eilon Caspi, PhD from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. Credit: University of Minnesota

Analyzing the incidents between residents in dementia in long-term care homes may hold the key to reducing future fatalities among this vulnerable population, according to new research from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. Gathered from media accounts and death review records, the exploratory study by Eilon Caspi, Ph.D., is the first to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of elders as a result of resident-to-resident incidents in dementia in the United States and Canada.

Despite growing concerns about the projected growth in the number of people with dementia and the expected rise in resident-to-resident incidents, the phenomenon is not currently being tracked by the two largest federally mandated clinical and oversight systems in nursing homes in the U.S.

"The fact that we are not capturing and tracking this phenomenon represents a major missed opportunity for learning and prevention of these incidents," says Caspi, the study's author and a research associate at the School of Nursing. "We need to develop a data-driven national action plan to reduce these incidents and ensure that frail and vulnerable residents will remain safe in the last years of their lives. Delivery of evidence-based staff training programs to improve understanding, prevention, and de-escalation of these episodes is urgently needed."

Among Caspi's findings:

Nearly half (44 percent) of all fatalities were the results of physical contact classified as push-fall. "Many of the injuries consisted of hip fractures or head or brain injuries and on average it was slightly more than two weeks from the incident to their passing, which speaks volumes to the frailty and vulnerability of this population."

While men and women equally died as a result of these incidents, three-quarters of exhibitors were men. "The most common exhibitor-target dyad was man to man (approximately 50 percent) followed by man to woman (24 percent) and woman to woman (21 percent). Woman to man accounted for only 4 percent of the dyads. While more research is needed to examine the role of gender in injurious and fatal episodes, the preliminary findings may have implications for more targeted interventions."

More than half (59 percent) of all incidents took place inside bedrooms and 43 percent involved roommates. "The bedroom is the last frontier of privacy for people in dementia. Policies, procedures, and practices related to roommate assignment and monitoring need to be thoughtful and revisited regularly and we need to explore all avenues for reducing to the minimum possible the use of shared bedrooms or at a minimum increasing roommates' sense of privacy and security. In addition, stronger measures to prevent residents' unwanted entries into other residents' bedrooms (including the use of assistive technology) could reduce these incidents."

Evenings (44 percent) were the most common time for incidents to occur, with 38 percent of all incidents occurring on weekends. 62 percent were reportedly not witnessed by staff. "While incidents occur at virtually all times, evenings and weekends appear to be especially vulnerable time periods. Taking proactive, anticipatory, preventative measures and increasing staffing levels, the active presence of managers, and meaningful engagement during the evenings and weekends could reduce the incidence."

Caspi points out that his findings are not meant to suggest that residents with dementia are inherently "aggressive," "abusive," "violent," or "dangerous." He cautions that adopting this view could run the risk of stigmatizing an already stigmatized population.

Labeling a person with dementia using these terms assumes that these behavioral expressions are intentionally initiated to harm another person when the majority of individuals in mid-to-late stages of dementia do not initiate these expressions without a distressing situational trigger. Caspi says they often engage in these episodes when their human needs and situational frustrations are not met in a timely manner by dedicated but understaffed, undertrained, and undersupervised direct care staff members.

Explore further Just 10 minutes of social interaction a day improves wellbeing in dementia care

More information: Eilon Caspi, The circumstances surrounding the death of 105 elders as a result of resident-to-resident incidents in dementia in long-term care homes, Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect (2018). Eilon Caspi, The circumstances surrounding the death of 105 elders as a result of resident-to-resident incidents in dementia in long-term care homes,(2018). DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2018.1474515
A valuable cache of brain cancer biomedical data has been made freely available to researchers worldwide, say researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. The dataset, REMBRANDT (REpository for Molecular BRAin Neoplasia DaTa) hosted and supported by Georgetown, is one of only two such large collections in the country.

Information about the brain cancer data collection, which contains information on 671 adult patients collected from 14 contributing institutions, is detailed in Scientific Data, an open-access journal (Nature). Already, thousands of researchers in the U.S. and internationally log on to the data site on a daily basis, and word about the resource is expected to increase its use, says Subha Madhavan, Ph.D., chief data scientist at Georgetown University Medical Center and director of the Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics (ICBI) at Georgetown Lombardi.

The Georgetown data resource is unique in several ways. One is that it contains genomic information, collected from volunteer patients who allowed their tumors to be sampled, as well as diagnostic (including brain scans), treatment and outcomes data. Most collections contain either one or the other.

Additionally, the data collection interface is extraordinarily easy to use, Madhavan says.

"It sits on Amazon Web Services, and has a simple web interface access to data and analysis tools. All a researcher needs is a computer and an internet connection to log onto this interface to select, filter, analyze and visualize the brain tumor datasets.

"We want this data to be widely used by the broadest audiencethe entire biomedical research communityso that imagination and discovery is maximized," says first author on the paper Yuriy Gusev, Ph.D., associate professor and a faculty member of the ICBI. "Our common goal is to tease apart the clues hidden within this biomedical and clinical information in order to find ways that advance diagnostic and clinical outcomes for these patients."

"We are just beginning to understand the science of how these cancers evolve and how best to treat them, and datasets like this will likely be very helpful," Madhavan says.

The REMBRANDT dataset was originally created at the National Cancer Institute and funded by Glioma Molecular Diagnostic Initiative led by co-authors Howard Fine, MD, from New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Jean-Claude Zenklusen, Ph.D., from the National Cancer Institute. They collected the data from 2004-2006.

The NCI transferred the data to Georgetown in 2015, and it is now physically located on the Georgetown Database of Cancer (G-DOC), a cancer data integration and sharing platform for hosting alongside other cancer studies. G-DOC investigators, led by Madhavan, developed novel analytical tools to process the information anew.

The genomic data includes the specific genes within individual tumors that are either over-expressed or under-expressed as well as the number of times that gene is repeated within a chromosome.

"We inherit two copies of a geneone from Mom and one from Dadbut in cancer cells, DNA segments containing important tumor suppressor or onco- genes can be entirely deleted or amplified. It isn't unusual to see a chromosome within a tumor that has 11 copies of a gene, each of which may be producing a toxic protein that helps the cancer grow uncontrollably," she says.

The data collection also includes information on RNA, which is produced by genes (DNA) and can be measured to assess genes that are dysregulated.

Researchers can search their gene of interest, check their expression and amplification status and link that to clinical outcomes, Madhavan says. They can save their findings to their workspace on the G-DOC site and share with their collaborators. Given the approximately 20,000 protein coding genes in the human genome, and the variety of brain cancer tumor types, "it will take a big villagereally a vast metro areaof investigators to understand the bases of these tumors and to effectively develop treatments that target them."

REMBRANDT includes genomic data from 261 samples of glioblastoma, 170 of astrocytoma, 86 tissues of oligodendroglioma, and a number that are mixed or of an unknown subclass. Outcomes data include more than 13,000 data points.

Explore further Gene family turns cancer cells into aggressive stem cells that keep growing
Screw under electron microscope. Credit: ESCI

Marilys Blanchy is a Research & Development project manager at Rescoll. The French technology center is specialized in polymer science, adhesive and coating and has a subsidiary where medical devices as orthopedics and dental implants are produced. Mrs Blanchy talks to ESCI about the challenges of producing the next generation of implants and Rescoll's role within the EU funded research project Laser4Surf.

ESCI: What do you want to achieve in the Laser4surf project?

Marilys Blanchy: Actually, the medical device area is now innovating a lot. The challenge is to work with so-called inert materials that have a low cell affinity but need more interaction between materials and organisms. Materials need to induce a good osteointegration; this means a good structural bonding between the medical device and human cells. With Laser4Surf we are looking for a new surface treatment which is cleaner, with no chemicals in it, with no harsh treatments; thus allowing a better osteointegration of the device into the body.

ESCI: Why do you want to treat surfaces in the first place?

Marilys Blanchy: The materials we are using for medical devices are biocompatible but inert. Titanium or stainless steel is perfectly adequate and suitable for the applications, but the human cells don't bond that well with the medical device. To get the bone in contact with the medical device and to ensure a good anchorage of the device into the body, we need to improve the roughness. That is why we are using surface treatments. These already exist, such as acid etching or sand blasting, which give quite good results. But sometimes we need a faster osteointegration, and the contamination of the surface is another important issue today. With Laser4Surf we seek to improve such surface treatments.

ESCI: How do you know what you need?

Marilys Blanchy: First of all, there is a lot of scientific research to evaluate: the body functions, body organisms, just to see the morphology, the topography and things like that. We try to mimic the native environments, more or less. And we are looking at existing surface treatments, so we know it works, we have already some osteointegration; this is a good baseline.

ESCI: Treating a flat surface is not that complicated. But how would you deal with a 3-D object such as a screw?

Marilys Blanchy: That is a huge challenge! Not only to get the surface treatments, but to get an inexpensive, complex shape surface treatment. And, if we reach these objectives, we will have a good and attractive technology for medical device applications, I believe. This is the core of the project!

ESCI: Is the screw the key element of the project?

Marilys Blanchy: No. Actually, we are thinking of different shapes. A screw, for example, is very common for dental implants; but we also use screws for orthopedic treatments, for spinal cord repair. We can use plates, which have a more basic geometry, a basic shape. We can think of using this technology for several applications, with different shapes and sizes of implants it could be a good way to get into the market, actually.

ESCI: Are lasers becoming the new key technology for the surface treatment of implants?

Marilys Blanchy: I think that lasers are a good and very promising technology, because they are clean and highly precise. It might be a costly technology; but the scientific community is taking a keen interest in laser technology. Laser4Surf is a compelling and ambitious project.

Provided by European Science Communication Institute
58 Kazakhstanis have traveled overseas for medical care at the expenses of the state, the Healthcare Ministry's release reads.





Last year 45 patients were sent overseas, 24 people underwent medical treatment within master classes held involving international experts on public finance. As of August 6, 2018, 58 patients have already left abroad, 27 of them are still obtaining medically necessary treatment, 9 are waiting for referral to treatment overseas, the release reads.





18 children qualified for medical care abroad were provided medical assistance within the master- classes conducted at the country's clinics involving foreign specialists. Four kids went abroad to receive medical care at the expense of the Miloserdiye (Charity) voluntary society.





It is noteworthy, Kazakhstan's doctors perform complicated surgeries such as organs and stem cells transplantations, cardiac surgery, orthopedic and neurosurgical treatment thanks to the brand new technologies. Besides, Kazakhstan's doctors became recently the first around the world to remove the men's artificial heart transplanted before to replace it with the donor's heart.








Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma, with extension of the tumour beyond the lymph node. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia

Medically underserved women in the Southeast diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer missed out on genetic testing that could have helped them and their relatives make important decisions about their health, according to new research from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Only 8 percent of disabled or older women who qualified for Medicare and met the criteria for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing received it between 2000 and 2014, researchers determined after analyzing data from the Southern Community Cohort Study. The findings were published Aug. 14 in JAMA.

Women with breast cancer who have pathogenic BRCA mutations are more likely to develop cancer in a second breast and are also at higher risk for ovarian cancer. Women with ovarian cancer are more likely to develop breast cancer if they test positive for the mutations. Their relatives, if they also carry the mutations, are at higher risk for developing cancer as well.

"Women who carry one of these mutations but don't know their mutation status are not able to take advantage of preventive or early detection interventions that we have available, so they miss out on the opportunity to reduce their risk for these cancers and potentially reduce their overall mortality," said Amy Gross, Ph.D., an epidemiologist with the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. "They are also not able to inform family members who might be affected."

The Southern Community Cohort Study consists of 84,513 participants recruited at community health centers in 12 Southeastern states from 2002-2009. The majority of participants, 66 percent, are black. Examining medical records and state cancer registry data from 49,642 female participants, Gross determined that 2,002 were diagnosed with breast cancer, ovarian cancer or both cancers, and 718 were covered by Medicare when diagnosed. She then filtered that number to see how many met the eligibility of Medicare coverage for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing, which is largely based on a combination of personal and family history of cancer.

The number who met Medicare criteria was 92, but only eight of those women underwent the genetic testing within five years after their cancer diagnosis.

"We were surprised at how low the test rate was although we didn't expect it to be very high," Gross said.

The medical records reviewed indicated that in five statesArkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginiazero tests occurred. Gross cautioned about drawing conclusions from these records because of the small sample size of 92 patients among the 12 states. However, this cohort did represent a diverse age range.

"Even though this group had Medicare, they are not all over 65," Gross said, noting that some of the women qualified for Medicare due to disabilities. "In fact, more than half of them were under 65."

Medicare significantly broadened the criteria for BRCA1 and BRCA2 test coverage in December 2006, but no large uptick in testing occurred. However, testing did increase over the timeline studied. None of the 14 women who qualified between 2000-2004 received testing, 5 percent of the 40 women who qualified between 2005-2009 received testing and 15.8 percent of the 38 women who qualified between 2010 and 2014 received testing.

"This testing rate is lower than what I have seen reported in terms of any other study with the same time and eligibility constraints," Gross said.

The reasons for the low testing rate could be due to several factors, including lack of patient interest and physician recommendations. The review of medical records indicated none of the physicians recorded referral to genetic counseling.

Women identified with a BRCA mutation should receive high-risk screeningsannual mammograms and breast MRIsand some women with the mutations consider bilateral mastectomy to reduce their risk. For ovarian cancer management, depending upon her age, if a woman with a BRCA mutation is finished having children, it's recommended that the ovaries and fallopian tubes be removed.

Men with BRCA mutations also have an increased lifetime risk for breast cancer, prostate cancer and other cancers.
Trusting our instincts is vital for better mental health. Credit: Shutterstock

While we take physical workouts very seriously, there is much less said about the "workouts" that help us remain mentally agile and healthy. But just as with physical health, there are simple and practical ways that can help everyone to enjoy good mental health.

Our research has led us to a method for promoting mental health and wellbeing within communities, which follows a simple model that can be adopted by anyone.

An earlier study showed that people intuitively know what enhances their mental health, but they don't think about it on a daily basis. Unlike their physical health, people rarely consider what they could or should be doing for their mental health.

At present, the focus in mental health campaigns is on treatment for mental disorders, the removal of stigma from talking about mental health problems, early intervention and the reduction of risk factors which lead to illness.

But the burden of mental illness continues to rise  it is thought that an estimated 50% of people in OECD countries will experience mental illness in their lifetime, so there is a need to raise awareness in communities and to promote simple and practical steps to achieving and maintaining good mental health.

By building on research into what people can do to improve their mental health, we have developed an "ABC" model that can be easily adopted in everyday life. Known as "Act-Belong-Commit", the approach promotes keeping active, building stronger relationships with friends, family and community groups, and committing to hobbies, challenges and meaningful causes. Together they constitute a simple "do-it-yourself" approach to enhancing mental health.

By encouraging people to follow these principles, as well as collaborating with community groups that offer activities and opportunities for social participation, the method  currently implemented in Australia and Denmark  seeks to bring about long-term benefits to mental health in populations.

Act

Keep alert and engaged by keeping mentally, socially, spiritually and physically active.

Research has credited a lifestyle with plenty of activities outside work as fostering positive emotions and protecting our brains from decline. An active mind and body, particularly in the company of others, can be naturally rewarding and a healthy alternative to worrying, overthinking or engaging in substance use.

Belong

Develop a strong sense of belonging by keeping up friendships, joining groups, and participating in community activities.

Research has shown that our relationships with one another are fundamental to mental health in terms of providing a sense of identity, acting as a source of support, and being an important coping resource for dealing with pain, stress and difficult life events.

Commit

Do things that provide meaning and purpose in life like taking up challenges, supporting a good cause and helping others.

A sense of meaning and purpose is vital to our well-being and has been shown to help extend our lives and maintain a healthy brain. Committing to a hobby, a challenge, a good cause or helping others can all boost feelings of self-worth and protect against feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.

Participating socially and contributing to the community can preserve brain function, promote thoughts of "making a difference" and reduce feelings which aren't helpful for well-being, such as self-centredness.

To show that these principles promote and protect mental health, we recently completed a series of observational studies on a nationally representative sample of adults in Ireland. People were interviewed at the start of the survey and then re-interviewed two years later.

We categorised the activities of participants into indicators of acting, belonging and committing. Engaging in various social and recreational activities, such as sport, going to films, eating out or travelling for pleasure were indicators of Act. Staying in touch with friends, family and community groups served as an indicator of Belong and the frequency of engaging in social and recreational activities was an indicator of Commit.

The results of these studies together demonstrate that higher levels of all three measures enhance quality of life, life satisfaction, and self-rated mental health, protect people against developing depression, anxiety and brain function decline, and lower the risk of people becoming dependent on alcohol.

Our research has also shown that the approach is helping patients with mental illnesses and is now being used as a tool for recovery by mental health professionals.

The campaign

The Act-Belong-Commit campaign aims to harness resources already present in communities  because the behaviours that promote mental health and well-being are everyday activities that most people are already doing or are readily available. Hence the campaign's focus is on raising awareness of this fact and validating the belief that these behaviours are good for mental health.

In both Australia and Denmark the campaign connects academics who can advise on the ABC method with a diverse range of community groups, including theatres, women's health groups and sport teams.

These partners are provided with training and resources such as self-help guides while advertising and event sponsorship help spread the campaign's message. Particular targets include schools, workplaces and people recovering from mental illness.

In Australia, an annual survey asks people if they have heard of the campaign and, if so, how their beliefs and actions around mental health have changed.Twice a year, surveys ask partners how the campaign has affected their activities. Similar approaches are being used in Denmark. In this way, the campaign stays in touch with communities to constantly improve its methods.

By encouraging people to follow and prioritise this ABC approach, the campaign's simple messages could resonate in communities worldwide and sustain the mental health and well-being of people well into the future.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
The study evaluated the effectiveness of music as a tool in improving the experience of patients who were receiving palliative and hospice care. Credit: Nick Dentamaro / Brown University

Hospice and palliative care patients who listen to live music in their rooms as part of their treatment feel better both emotionally and physically, and request fewer opioid-based medications, a new study found.

At Kent Hospital and Women and Infants Hospital in Rhode Island, doctors working with seriously ill patients offered them the option to have a flutist play music in their rooms as part of their palliative care, which focuses on improving quality of life and relieving symptoms for patients with serious illnesses.

The idea was that music might help hospice and palliative care patients contend with symptoms like pain and stress and improve their moods, according to the researchers. Studies have shown that patients who engage with visual arts, creative writing and other expressive activities report improved emotional and psychological and well-being, the authors wrote in the study.

"The field of palliative care is very mindful of the patient as a whole person, looking out for their spiritual and emotional well-being in addition to their physical health," said Cynthia Peng, a third-year medical student at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School and lead author of the study.

For the study, which was performed in 2017 with a cohort of 46 patients, music as supplementary treatment was integrated into routine visits by the palliative care physician. Often, according to the authors, the musician was introduced to patients during the physician's consultation. Typically, the musician played for the patient and any family or friends present shortly after that interaction.

The music was played by Peng, who is trained as a flutist and before coming to Brown was a musician with the Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program. That program uses music, writing, dance and visual arts as part of therapeutic patient care at the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

Patients could request particular songs or styles of music, or leave the choice up to Peng. She had a wide variety of music on hand for the patients' various needs and preferences, including classical music, folk songs, oldies, hymnals and jazz. Having that choice ensured that the intervention was patient-centered, Peng said. Even the option to decline or accept the intervention was a way of putting the patients, who relinquish so much control when they're in the hospital, in charge, she added.

"A lot of these patients are inpatient for long periods of time," Peng said. "Peoplefamily, friendsmay visit, but for the majority of the time they're kind of either passing time or watching TV. Having an intimate, enjoyable experience for the patients is really valuable, especially when they're facing a lot of difficult decisions, symptom-management issues, maybe facing the end of life."

Peng designed the study, which was published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, with co-authors Kate Lally, chief of palliative care and hospice medical director for Care New England, and Kelly Baxter, Care New England's lead palliative care nurse practitioner.

The team tracked both patients' opioid use and their self-reported states before and after they were treated to a mini concert in their rooms. Patients who opted for the music intervention filled out a six-question version of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, which is designed to get a patient's perspective on their symptoms. They answered questions about pain, anxiety, depression, nausea, shortness of breath and overall feelings of well-being before and after the music intervention.

Patients or their surrogates also answered four open-ended questions about their experience with the music after hearing it. After reading those surveys, the researchers found the responses could be grouped into five general categories: spirituality, comfort, connection, escape and reflections.

"The music made me think of God, granting me peace, strength and hope," one patient wrote, while another said of the music, "It put me in a quiet pasture." Other patients said the music reminded them of playing music for their children years ago or choosing music to accompany their painting practice. One wrote, "I want to go home in a happy mood. I want to spend as much time as possible with my kids and grandkids as possible. I am now getting discharged in a good mood."

Of the 46 patients in the study, 33 used opioids, and the researchers tracked their levels of use before and after the music intervention. Unlike the broader population of patients, the use of opioids is not generally considered problematic for palliative care patients, who must cope with many symptoms from their illnesses, and hospice patients, who are typically in the end stages of their lives, Peng said. These patients often require high doses, and although one might expect opiate use to increase after the physician visit, the authors wrote, the study gathered evidence that suggested a trend toward a decrease in opioid use.

While the study was performed with a limited timeframe and patient census, Peng said, "To demonstrate that in this high-symptom burden population that something non-pharmacological could influence their own usage is pretty remarkable."

Peng said she hopes that hospital and clinic administrators will consider incorporating music and other interventions in patient care.

"Classical music shouldn't just be for concert halls," Peng said. "It should be something that everyday people can participate in, take part in. I hope more hospitals and healthcare settings can make music accessible as a source of comfort for patients and their families."

More information: Cynthia S. Peng et al. Music Intervention as a Tool in Improving Patient Experience in Palliative Care, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2018). Cynthia S. Peng et al. Music Intervention as a Tool in Improving Patient Experience in Palliative Care,(2018). DOI: 10.1177/1049909118788643
Clinical psychologist, Flinders University Professor Michael Kyrios, is vice-president and executive dean of the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. Credit: Flinders University

Almost 1 in 30 Australians experience Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) at some stage in their life.

OCD, previously recognised by the World Health Organisation as a top 10 (#9) cause of disability in the world, has been studied closely by Flinders University Professor Mike Kyrios, Vice-President of the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.

After leading research showing that online treatment is equally effective as mainstream face-to-face consultation to curb OCD behaviours, Professor Kyrios has helped to develop an efficient new online means of delivering effective OCD treatment.

The OCD online treatment is now available for free and can be accessed from www.mentalhealthonline.org.au.

The program includes treatment strategies, expert commentaries, videos of people describing their OCD experiences, and downloadable resources.

The results are contained in a new paper, "Therapist-assisted Internet-based Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy versus Progressive Relaxation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomised Control Trial," published by Journal of Medical Internet Research.

This is the first research that evaluates internet-based delivery of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy in an "apples-for-apples comparison," and Professor Kyrios says it shows the outcomes to be favourable, across all ages, genders and condition intensities.

Better still, outcomes from the online treatment proved to remain effective when participants were re-assessed at follow-up.

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is recognised as the most effective form of treatment for OCD  being three times more effective than medication  although access for face-to-face sessions with a clinical psychologist is often not possible.

"There's also the added problem of OCD patients feeling such high degrees of shame that they don't seek out treatment. As they have concerns about being judged, their condition deteriorates while it affects every aspect of their life," Professor Kyrios says.

"Hence, the online treatment offers a unique treatment option  even allowing people to get a diagnosis of their condition without showing up to a clinic."

The online treatment is an adaptation of an OCD treatment manual that Professor Kyrios commenced work on during the 1990s in Melbourne, and the recent addition of an interactive option to online treatment with a therapist via email has helped register strong participant engagement and enjoyment in the process.

Publication of results from this trial is the culmination of 10 years' work on online OCD treatment, with Professor Kyrios saying the analysis and data places Australia as a world leader at the forefront of research with online treatments.

He says that while current research funding doesn't recognise the burden of this disease, such advances as online treatment represent a giant breakthrough for broader public accessibility to OCD treatment.

Professor Kyrios highlighted that even those with moderate and severe OCD could benefit from online treatment.

Interactive online treatment is more time efficient for those affected by OCD and therapists. Face-to face appointments are limited to one person an hour, while online treatments can be accessed by patients at their convenience, even if they live in remote and regional areas where specialists are not available.

"A lot of people with low level OCD are not being assessed or treated, as much due to access problems as reluctance to being examined," says Professor Kyrios. "The online option makes assessment and treatment more feasible."

Reduced costs for patients using online treatments is another a major bonus. "Because OCD most frequently presents as a serious mental health problem, most people would require 20 to 26 sessions in a year to overcome their disorder. Medicare rebates for psychologists provides for 10 individual sessions," says Professor Kyrios.

"Online treatment therefore becomes a very attractive option for many people."

The next step is to make this technology truly interactive through the choice of video conferencing or portable with a mobile app being developed so that people can engage with the treatment  or plug into support mechanisms wherever and whenever they chose. This will be a significant step, as Professor Kyrios says there is not yet an evaluated, evidence-based OCD program that is available as an online app.

Professor Kyrios has also recently contributed to research entitled, "Attachment anxiety and self-ambivalence as vulnerabilities toward Obsessive Compulsive Disorder," published in the Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.

"We have tried to understand why people with OCD think in the way that they do," says Professor Kyrios. "A person's thinking is a map to their behaviours, and for OCD sufferers, their behaviours are ways of undoing unwanted thoughts they are grappling with."

"Only with this understanding have we been able to develop ways of helping them evolve new, more reasonable thinking styles to break behavioural patterns in ways that they trust as being safe and manageable. With online treatment, we see they have the confidence to stick with the program and embrace change."

Explore further The cognitive-behavioural model of hoarding disorder

More information: Michael Kyrios et al. Therapist-assisted Internet-based Cognitive-behavioral Therapy versus Progressive Relaxation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint), Journal of Medical Internet Research (2018). Michael Kyrios et al. Therapist-assisted Internet-based Cognitive-behavioral Therapy versus Progressive Relaxation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint),(2018). DOI: 10.2196/jmir.9566 Rebecca Seah et al. Attachment anxiety and self-ambivalence as vulnerabilities toward Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.jocrd.2018.06.002 Journal information: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Patterns of genetic mutation in ovarian cancer are helping make sense of the disease, and could be used to personalise treatment in future.

The findings, from scientists at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London have found distinct patterns of DNA rearrangement that are linked to patient outcomes.

High grade serous ovarian cancer, the most common type of ovarian cancer, is referred to as a 'silent killer' because early symptoms can be difficult to pick up. By the time the cancer is diagnosed, it is often at an advanced stage, and survival rates have not changed much over the last 20 years.

But late diagnosis isn't the only problem. Ovarian cancer genomes are particularly chaotic  they contain a scrambled mess of genetic code that has been chopped up, flipped over, incorrectly copied or deleted, or repeatedly copied over and over again. This makes it extremely difficult to understand what has caused a patient's cancer and how that patient will respond to treatment.

Making sense of chaos

In this study, which involved ovarian cancer samples from over 500 women, the research team harnessed big data processing techniques to look for broad patterns in the genetic readouts from ovarian cancer cells.

Rather than focusing on the detail of each individual mistake in the DNA, they designed powerful computer algorithms to scan the genetic data, finding seven distinct patterns.

They showed that each pattern, or "signature", represented a different mechanism of DNA mutation. Taken together, these signatures were able to make sense of the chaos seen in ovarian cancer genomes.

Predicting survival

Surprisingly, all patients studied showed more than one signature, suggesting that multiple mechanisms change ovarian cancer cells during the life of these cancers. This might explain why the disease is so hard to beat with therapies target just a single mechanism.

The signatures were also linked to how well the patients responded to different treatments and whether they were likely to become resistant to chemotherapy. Two of the signatures predicted particularly poor survival outcomes, and two signatures identified patients with good outcomes.

Dr. James Brenton, co-lead researcher, based at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, said: "Choosing personalised therapies for women with high grade serous ovarian cancer is difficult because of the very complex genetic changes in their cancer cells. Our study is a turning point for our understanding of the disease as for the first time we can see each patient's unique combination of mutation patterns and start to identify the genetic causes of a patient's cancer using cheap DNA testing in the clinic. The next step will be to develop methods to work out how to target these genetic causes with new therapies in trials."

Helping more women survive

The researchers are now planning a clinical trial on ovarian cancer patients to see whether the seven signatures help doctors choose the best treatment for patients.

Professor Iain McNeish, co-lead researcher and Director of the Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre at Imperial College London, said: "Ovarian cancer lags behind many other cancers because we haven't been able to understand how its complex molecular changes relate to targeted therapies. Our new approach helps to decode the complexity and will improve outcomes and treatment choices for our patients."

Cary Wakefield, Chief Executive of research charity Ovarian Cancer Action, said: "BriTROC was a unique project to co-fund as it brought together over 280 patients from 15 hospitals across the UK. This is a very exciting breakthrough in understanding this complex disease which in turn will facilitate better treatment options. Together we are all working towards a shared goal  where no woman dies of ovarian cancer."

Explore further Targeting gene mutations to treat ovarian cancers

More information: Geoff Macintyre et al. Copy number signatures and mutational processes in ovarian carcinoma, Nature Genetics (2018). Journal information: Nature Genetics Geoff Macintyre et al. Copy number signatures and mutational processes in ovarian carcinoma,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-018-0179-8
Half as many women in labour who were given a drug called remifentanil to help manage their pain needed a subsequent epidural, compared to the women given pethidinethe current standard of care, according to an open-label randomised controlled trial of 400 women from 14 maternity units in the UK published in The Lancet.

Epiduralsinjections of pain relief drugs around the spinal cordprovide effective pain relief but increase the risk of needing instrumental delivery (forceps or vacuum) during birth, which in turn can increase the risk of trauma and long-lasting problems for the mother, such as incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

Pethidine is given to more than a quarter of a million women in labour each year in the UK, and many more worldwide. In the UK and Europe, remifentanil is rarely offered routinely in labour and its use restricted to women who cannot receive an epidural for medical reasons (such as blood clotting disorders). The authors suggest that using remifentanil instead of pethidine could reduce the need for epidurals, instrumental deliveries, and consequent morbidity for large numbers of women worldwide, but recommend more research to understand the effects of low maternal oxygen levels it can cause.

"Previous studies have shown that at least one in three women given pethidine to manage pain during labour require a subsequent epidural as the drug is not always effective. It also has unwanted side effects such as sedation and nausea for the mother, and it may pass into the baby's bloodstream through the placenta," says lead author Dr. Matthew Wilson, University of Sheffield, UK. "Our findings challenge the routine use of pethidine for pain relief during labour. Remifentanil reduced the need for an epidural by half and there were no lasting problems for the mothers and babies in our trial, although the effect of remifentanil on maternal oxygen levels needs to be clarified in further studies."

The study included 400 women aged over 16 years old who were giving birth after 37 weeks and had requested opioid pain relief. The participants were told about the trial in antenatal visits or when admitted to hospital to have labour induced, and could sign up to take part when they were in active labour.

Half of the women were allocated to receive remifentanil and half were allocated to pethidine. Remifentanil was given as a patient-controlled drip and women could receive 40g of the drug every two minutes by pressing a hand held device, whereas pethidine was given as an injection of 100mg of the drug into a muscle up to every four hours with a maximum of 400mg in 24 hours. Because of the difference in how the drugs were given, participants and healthcare professionals knew which drug was being used.

All women in the trial received one-to-one care from a midwife, with checks on the mother's breathing rate, sedation, pain ratings and oxygen levels every 30 minutes. The women could request an epidural at any time, and other pain relief was stopped if an epidural was given.

In the remifentanil group 93% (186/201) of women received the drug, and in the pethidine group 77% (154/200) of women received the drug. The main reasons for not receiving the allocated drug were women giving birth before it could be administered (12 women in the remifentanil group and 17 women in the pethidine group) or the mother deciding to immediately request an epidural after randomisation, without receiving the allocated opioid, which only occurred in the pethidine group (in 22 women).

Half as many women in the remifentanil group went on to have an epidural (19% [39/201]) than in the pethidine group (41% [81/199]) and this remained the same even when the women who did not receive the drug they were meant to were excluded.

On average, women in the remifentanil group rated their pain as less severe than women in the pethidine group.

Women given remifentanil were also less likely to need forceps and vacuum during labour than women given pethidine (15% [31/201] vs 26% [52/199]).

However, remifentanil was associated with twice as many mothers having low oxygen levels than pethidine (14% [26/189] vs 5% [8/154]), and more women in the remifentanil group were given supplementary oxygen. Despite this increase it did not cause any negative effects for the mother or baby, but more research in larger groups will be needed to confirm this.

Breathing problems and sedation in the mother were rare in both groups.

The authors note some limitations, including that the higher number of women in the pethidine group opting for an epidural immediately could be because they had preconceptions about pethidine's effectiveness. Once a women requested an epidural, it would have been unethical to withhold it. However, excluding these episodes from analysis made little difference to the findings so they had no effect on the result.

Women whose labour was induced were more common in the study than in the general population as this provides extra time before labour and meant they were more easily recruited into the study. However, being induced is very common so the authors believe their findings are still relevant.

Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Peter Kranke, University Hospitals of Wuerzburg, Germany, says: "In returning to the initial question of whether remifentanil is better than pethidine, we can carefully say yes in view of the efficacy data by reducing the epidural progression rate by 50%, with the proviso that the reported effect for this conversion to epidural might have been overestimated by an unknown magnitude, and providing that safety issues are thoroughly addressed. For all those who would want a more precise answer, this finding gives impetus to further studies, particularly with regards to the selection of women with contraindications or those who express the explicit desire not to have an epidural analgesia. In this scenario, at least the prospect of the gold standard cannot bias the treatment effect."

Explore further Patient-controlled analgesia not as effective as epidural for labor pain
The International Tournament Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 2021 is taking place in Nur-Sultan city

The tournament runs on October 28-31 at Barys Arena in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan. It brough together over 100 athletes from 20 countries.

Kazakhstan is represented by Rakhat Bralin, Mikhail Shaidorov, and Diyas Zhirenbayev in the mens singles, whereas Anastasiya Lobanova, Yasmina Tekik in womens singles.

Figure skaters Gaukhar Nauryzova and Boyansangur Datiyev, Maksin Uezerbi and Temirlan Yerzhanov represent Kazakhstan in pair skating.

Russian figure skater Petr Gumennik takes the lead after the short program of the International Tournament Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 2021. Russian Mark Kondratiuk is second and Mihhail Selevko of Estonia is third.

Belarusian Viktoriia Safonova skated to the lead in the womens short program. Ukrainian Anastasiia Shabotova is second, followed by Azerbaijani Ekaterina Ryabova.




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(3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (3) Nov 22 (3) Nov 21 (3) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (3) Nov 17 (3) Nov 16 (2) Nov 15 (3) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (3) Nov 05 (5) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (3) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (4) Oct 30 (3) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (4) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (4) Oct 16 (3) Oct 15 (3) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (3) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (4) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (3) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (3) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (4) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (4) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (5) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (3) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (5) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (5) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (3) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (5) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (5) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (3) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (3) Jul 01 (6) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (5) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (4) Jun 18 (5) Jun 17 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(3) Mar 17 (3) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (3) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (3) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (3) Mar 07 (3) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (3) Mar 01 (3) Feb 28 (3) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (3) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (3) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (4) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (3) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (4) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (4) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (5) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (3) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (3) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (4) Dec 10 (3) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (3) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (3) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (3) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (3) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (5) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (2) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (5) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (2) Nov 05 (2) Nov 04 (3) Nov 03 (2) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (2) Oct 30 (6) Oct 29 (5) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (5) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (5) Oct 20 (4) Oct 19 (4) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (2) Oct 15 (3) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (2) Oct 11 (2) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (2) Oct 07 (2) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (3) Oct 04 (2) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (4) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (2) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (2) Sep 24 (1) Sep 23 (1) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (1) Sep 19 (1) Sep 18 (1) Sep 17 (2) Sep 16 (1) Sep 15 (2) Sep 14 (2) Sep 13 (1) Sep 12 (1) Sep 11 (2) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (1) Sep 08 (1) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (1) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (2) Sep 03 (1) Sep 02 (1) Sep 01 (1) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (1) Aug 29 (1) Aug 28 (1) Aug 27 (1) Aug 26 (1) Aug 25 (1) Aug 24 (1) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 20 (2) Aug 19 (1) Aug 18 (1) Aug 17 (2) Aug 16 (2) Aug 15 (1) Aug 14 (1) Aug 12 (1) Aug 09 (1) Aug 08 (1) Aug 07 (1) Aug 05 (1) Aug 04 (1) Jul 31 (1) Jul 30 (3) Jul 29 (5) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (3) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (6) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (3) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (4) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (4) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (4) Jun 29 (6) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (4) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (6) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (3) Jun 19 (6) Jun 18 (5) Jun 17 (5) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (4) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (5) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (4) May 30 (4) May 29 (4) May 28 (5) May 27 (5) May 26 (5) May 25 (4) May 24 (5) May 23 (4) May 22 (4) May 21 (3) May 20 (6) May 19 (4) May 18 (4) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (3) May 14 (3) May 13 (4) May 12 (3) May 11 (3) May 10 (3) May 09 (3) May 08 (3) May 07 (3) May 06 (3) May 05 (3) May 04 (3) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (3) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (3) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (3) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (6) Apr 12 (4) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (5) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (4) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (4) Apr 04 (6) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (4) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (4) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (5) Mar 28 (6) Mar 27 (5) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (4) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (5) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (5) Mar 16 (5) Mar 15 (3) Mar 14 (6) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (7) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (6) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (4) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (6) Mar 01 (4) Feb 28 (4) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (5) Feb 25 (4) Feb 24 (5) Feb 23 (5) Feb 22 (6) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (3) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (7) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (7) Feb 14 (5) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (6) Feb 11 (8) Feb 10 (4) Feb 09 (6) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (3) Feb 06 (6) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (6) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (6) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (6) Jan 26 (6) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (5) Jan 22 (5) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (5) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (6) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (5) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (4) Jan 11 (5) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (5) Jan 05 (6) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (7) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (5) Dec 14 (5) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (6) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (5) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (6) Nov 30 (5) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (4) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (3) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (5) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (4) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (4) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (4) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (5) Nov 06 (4) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (4) Oct 28 (5) Oct 27 (5) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (5) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (4) Oct 20 (2) Oct 19 (4) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (4) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (4) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (5) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (6) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (6) Sep 27 (4) Sep 26 (4) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (4) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (2) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (4) Sep 17 (4) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (5) Sep 13 (4) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (3) Sep 09 (3) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (6) Sep 04 (5) Sep 03 (4) Sep 02 (4) Sep 01 (4) Aug 31 (4) Aug 30 (4) Aug 29 (2) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (2) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (4) Aug 22 (2) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (3) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (4) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (2) Aug 15 (3) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (4) Aug 12 (3) Aug 11 (4) Aug 10 (3) Aug 09 (3) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (6) Aug 06 (3) Aug 05 (4) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (4) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (3) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (4) Jul 27 (4) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (4) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (3) Jul 21 (2) Jul 20 (3) Jul 19 (4) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (3) Jul 15 (5) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (5) Jul 11 (4) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (8) Jul 08 (6) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (3) Jul 05 (3) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (5) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (3) Jun 26 (4) Jun 25 (3) Jun 24 (3) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (2) Jun 21 (1) Jun 20 (2) Jun 19 (2) Jun 18 (4) Jun 17 (4) Jun 16 (3) Jun 15 (7) Jun 14 (3) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (5) Jun 11 (4) Jun 10 (3) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (5) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (4) Jun 03 (4) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (3) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (3) May 25 (4) May 24 (2) May 23 (4) May 22 (3) May 21 (2) May 20 (3) May 19 (2) May 18 (4) May 17 (4) May 16 (3) May 15 (2) May 14 (6) May 13 (4) May 12 (2) May 11 (3) May 10 (2) May 09 (3) May 08 (4) May 07 (4) May 06 (3) May 05 (3) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (4) May 01 (3) Apr 30 (2) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (2) Apr 26 (3) Apr 25 (3) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (3) Apr 20 (2) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (5) Apr 17 (4) Apr 16 (3) Apr 15 (2) Apr 14 (4) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (5) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (4) Apr 04 (4) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (6) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (4) Mar 28 (4) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (4) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (4) Mar 21 (3) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (3) Mar 17 (5) Mar 16 (2) Mar 15 (4) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (2) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (4) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (5) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (4) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (4) Feb 27 (5) Feb 26 (6) Feb 25 (4) Feb 24 (5) Feb 23 (5) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (6) Feb 19 (4) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (4) Feb 15 (3) Feb 14 (4) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (4) Feb 11 (3) Feb 10 (4) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (2) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (3) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (5) Jan 27 (3) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (3) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (2) Jan 22 (3) Jan 21 (4) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (4) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (3) Jan 16 (2) Jan 15 (2) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (2) Jan 12 (3) Jan 11 (3) Jan 10 (2) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (2) Jan 07 (2) Jan 06 (2) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (3) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (1) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (2) Dec 29 (2) Dec 28 (2) Dec 27 (2) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (1) Dec 24 (2) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (2) Dec 20 (1) Dec 19 (2) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (2) Dec 16 (2) Dec 15 (4) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (1) Dec 12 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ARCHIVED - Spain unwilling to accept more central Mediterranean migrants



141 Africans on board the Aquarius fail to find favour with the Spanish government

It seems that the Spanish government is rapidly revising its attitudes towards migrants rescued in the central and eastern Mediterranean, a change in policy which is illustrated by the attitude adopted towards the latest plea for help from the NGO rescue vessel Aquarius.

In June, it may be remembered, the Aquarius was offered the chance to dock at the port of Valencia with 630 rescued migrants on board, having been turned away by both Italy and Malta after picking up the Africans from the water off the coast of Libya. The gesture made by Pedro Sanchezs government was widely applauded on humanitarian grounds, but at the same time the EU warned that the open arms policy would not be sustainable in the long run, and this would appear to be being borne out by recent developments.

The Aquarius now finds itself in a similar position to that of two months ago, although this time with only 141 migrants on board, around half of them reported to be unaccompanied adolescents from Eritrea and Somalia. Again, permission to reach port has been denied by the authorities in Italy and Malta  the ship is currently approximately half way between the two countries  and again a request for help from an EU country has been issued.

But this time the Spanish governments response is that the situation is very different, and no offer has been extended to the Captain of the vessel. Spain is not the safest port because it is not the closest, is the explanation offered by the government, and as a result the Aquarius remains at sea without a destination.

At the same time, Pedro Sanchez also finds himself caught between two diametrically opposed policies, on the one hand no doubt tempted by the possibility of appearing in a positive light by coming to the aid of the African migrants, and on the other hand wary of accepting too many migrants and sparking the wrath of extremist groups, as happened in Italy.

Meanwhile, other nations also continue to pass the buck regarding the Aquarius. On top of the refusals of Malta and Italy to contemplate allowing the ship into port, Gibraltar has announced that it is to cancel the registration of the vessel which has allowed the Aquarius to sail under the Gibraltarian flag since 2009.

Image: Guglielmo Mangiapane, SOS Mediterranee

Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and information in the Region of Murcia and the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/

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Monday, August 13, 2018

The Indiana Supreme Court reprimanded a judge

Judge Johanningsmeier has been judge of Knox Superior Court 2 since January 2015. He is close friends with B.K., who received a speeding ticket in April 2015.

On June 18, 2015shortly after vacationing with Judge Johanningsmeier B.K. failed to appear in Bicknell City Court on the ticket, so default judgment was entered and his license was suspended for failure to appear. On June 30, 2015, B.K. filed a petition for a trial de novo in Judge Johanningsmeiers court. Judge Johanningsmeier granted the motion the same day and reinstated B.K.s license, without giving the prosecutor opportunity to respond (thus violating Trial De Novo Rule 2(E)) or disclosing the conflict.

The situation came to the Commissions attention and resulted in a March 9, 2016 private caution letter advising Judge Johanningsmeier that his close friendship with B.K. would cause a reasonable person to question his impartiality under Indiana Judicial Conduct Rule 2.11(A). Despite the caution, Judge Johanningsmeier did not recuse and did not set the matter for hearing. The case remained in limbo until early 2017.

Meanwhile, shortly before Christmas 2016 and while the case was still pending, Judge Johanningsmeier posted on Facebook a photo of himself, his sister, and B.K. at a party in the Judges home. The photo, which B.K. liked, was visible to the public and showed that Judge Johanningsmeier and B.K. were close friends.

On March 6, 2017almost a year after Judge Johanningsmeiers private caution letterthe prosecutor moved for bench trial in B.K.s case. Instead of recusing, Judge Johanningsmeier set the motion for hearing on March 20, 2017. At the hearing, he stated on the record that the case involved a friend of mine and I was hoping we could just get the State to dismiss it. The prosecutor immediately orally moved to dismiss the case, and Judge Johanningsmeier granted the motion.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/08/the-indiana-supreme-court-judge-johanningsmeier-has-been-judge-of-knox-superior-court-2-since-january-2015-he-is-close-frie.html
Netflix has revealed its ISP Speed Index for July 2018, with Cool Ideas retaining the top spot.

South Africas ISPs achieved an average speed of 2.48Mbps, a slight decrease compared to last month, although the country held onto its overall rank of 50 out of 59 countries.

The index is a measure of prime-time Netflix performance on particular ISPs, and not a measure of overall performance of the networks.

Netflix said it calculates the average bitrate of Netflix content, in Mbps, streamed by its members per ISP.

We measure the speed via all available end-user devices. For a small number of devices, we cannot calculate the exact bit rates, and streaming via cellular networks is exempted from our measurements, said Netflix.

Netflix recommends a 5Mbps connection for full HD streaming, which may explain why the average speeds are all below the 5Mbps mark.

Fastest ISPs for Netflix

The fastest 10 ISPs for prime-time Netflix streaming in South Africa are listed below.
MTN has told MyBroadband that Smart Village is being rebranded as Supersonic.

MTN stated that later this month, it will launch Supersonic  the rebrand of Smart Village which is under new management with renewed focus and direction.

The operators statement follows an event invite which was sent to media detailing the launch of the new fibre-to-the-home brand.

Supersonic will target homes and small businesses, added MTN.

The event invite stated that Supersonic will offer fibre thats super simple to understand and customisable enough to create a connection to the Internet that makes sense for your needs.

Its Internet as it should be. No nonsense  we dont deal in confusing jargon and complicated tech-talk. We dont deal in extended contracts and we dont deal in time lags, added the invite.

MTN said its Supersonic packages will come with full installation, device setup, on-site technical support, and a dedicated relationship manager for telephonic support.

Smart Village

MTN acquired Smart Village for a cash consideration of R220 million and a deferred consideration of R12 million in November 2016.

The deal expanded MTNs fibre-to-the-home footprint across the country, and at the time, Smart Village had a fibre network which past 22,000 homes  connecting 7,000 homes in Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

MTN said the deal would also bolster MTNs presence in the enterprise space by giving MTN Business the ability to provide wholesale access to enterprises.

Now read: WhatsApp group calling tested
Government agencies in the United States will be banned from using components and services from a number of Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE.

President Donald Trump signed the ban into law as part of the Defense Authorization Act, covering any technology that constitutes a substantial or essential part of any government system.

The ban also covers telecommunications technology used to route or view user data.

Under the Act, United States agencies affected by the ban are directed to allocate funding to companies to replace any technology which is no longer allowed to be included in their systems.

The US government also recently cracked down on ZTE, banning its ability to purchase US technology until it met a number of conditions.

The Chinese technology company has resumed business with US suppliers following the payment of a large fine and various organisational changes.

Now read: ZTE share price soars after US signs deal to lift ban
The failure of officials from the Department of Energy to attend an Energy Portfolio Committee meeting on the petrol price shows its lack of plan to deal with rising fuel prices, said DA MP Gavin Davis.

This no-show by a government delegation was disrespectful to Parliament and disrespectful to the millions of South Africans who are struggling with the high cost of living, said Davis.

Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Energy was prepared to receive a briefing on South Africas fuel price today, but officials from the Department of Energy did not attend the meeting.

The briefing was called by the committee to address concerns around increasing fuel prices.

We wanted the Department of Energy to give the public a clear idea of what influences the fuel price, said committee Chairperson Fikile Majola.

Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe was set to address the meeting, but was reportedly away in Windhoek on business.

However, the meeting was not cancelled due to the unavailability of the minister, as the deputy minister or the director-general and officials could brief the committee in the meantime, said Majola.

Majola said this behaviour would not be tolerated by the committee, and they would write to the minister.

We will not allow the executive to disrespect us. I will also report this matter to the speaker, said Majola.

Davis added that the no-show is an indication government simply has no plan to deal with the fuel price.

The minister has an opportunity to prove us wrong by appearing before the committee next Tuesday and presenting a credible plan to bring down the price of petrol.

Price increases

The price of petrol in South Africa has risen drastically since the beginning of 2018, rising from R14.42 in January to R16.02 in July.

This increase is in addition to an increase in VAT to 15% and has put added pressure on South African consumers.

A graph outlining the petrol price in South Africa over the past 10 years is shown below.
If you sold or leased real estate with an agent or broker, you probably signed a listing agreement, or what is formally called an exclusive authorization and right to sell, or exclusive right to represent owner for sale or lease of real property, depending on the form used.

Just as the title implies, the property owner is giving the real estate broker the exclusive right to represent them and their property in marketing and eventual transaction.

There are also less exclusive representations called an agency authorization and an open listing.

A broker representing a seller has a fiduciary duty of care, integrity, honesty and loyalty to their client.

Did you know the seller has specific responsibilities as well in their representation to the broker?

What is so exclusive? As a real estate broker, when I take a new engagement with an owner to sell their property, a significant level of research and preparation is executed before any marketing collateral is created.

Hours are spent researching all facets of the property, speaking with the property owner, contacting different jurisdictions and determining the target market.

Once the background legwork is complete and I have all the information available, I can execute my marketing plan.

This is where I start to focus a lot of my time and start spending money for marketing collateral such as a website, brochures, offering memorandum, online services, photos, aerials, drone footage, signage and more.

I like to know that I have a commitment from a seller for a specified period of time while I represent them and their property before I start expending my time and money.

Therefore, the exclusive authorization agreement ensures that I am fully engaged, pouring all my efforts into marketing and selling my clients property and when it does sell, get paid a commission.

The other listing agreements. Real estate sales and leasing is a tough business. For one reason or another, a property may not sell.

My job is to mitigate all possible roadblocks preventing a potential sale, but often there are reasons outside of my control.

When the property does sell, I hope it is partly because of my efforts and my advisement to the seller.

Ultimately, I want a happy client and second, to be paid.

An agency authorization listing agreement does not protect me as well as the exclusive authorization because the agency agreement allows a seller to also sell the property on their own.

This can be a tricky proposition because with all the marketing I am executing, if a buyer went directly to a seller I could be bypassed and so could my commission.

An open listing even further degrades my ability to be secure in my commitment from the seller because by being open this allows for the seller to concurrently list with another broker as well as also sell the property on their own.

Is a commission guaranteed? In an exclusive authorization agreement, a broker has the certainty that if a sale is consummated during their listing period, they will receive the agreed commission.

So what if a potential buyer and seller talk and agree that when the brokers contract expires they can consummate a transaction thereafter and avoid paying a commission?

In part 2, we will answer that question as well as discuss the responsibilities of the seller in a listing agreement.

Burt M. Polson, CCIM, is an active commercial real estate broker. Reach him at 707-254-8000, or burt@acresinfo.com. Sign up for his email newsletter at BurtPolson.com.
19262018

Mrs. Dorothy Shepard Peters passed away on August 9, 2018 in Napa, California. She was 91 years old. Dorothy was born in San Francisco October 7, 1926. She was one of four children born to Al and Cleo Payne. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in San Francisco.

It was in San Francisco that she met Tom Shepard who was serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, in 1944. Dorothy and Tom married and raised 4 children. They lived in San Francisco, Rocklin, Loomis and Sacramento before moving to Fairfield and then settled in Napa. They were married for 55 years before Tom passed away.

Dorothy worked at the Shelter for Adults with Disabilities on Brown St. in Napa. She had a real talent for relating to the handicapped, and she enjoyed being their teacher. She eventually became the Director of this facility. She also worked for the Pacific Bell Telephone company as a long distance operator for several years after leaving the Shelter.

After Tom passed away, Dorothy met Jack Peters at the Singles Group at St. Apollinaris church in Napa. Later they surprised their children by announcing that they were going to get married. Even after their marriage, they remained honorary members of the Singles Group. They enjoyed being active in the church choir, and they took many trips and several cruises. Before Jack passed away they enjoyed thirteen years together.

Dorothy loved to travel. She traveled throughout the United States and Canada with Tom then Jack. They had a regular group of friends, the Terrible Ten, who took trips together over the years. She also enjoyed playing the piano, and she gave lessons to several of her grandchildren. She also composed poetry, and several of her poems were published in local newspapers throughout the years.

Dorothy was always interested in learning. She was usually taking a class or two, and she was always well read. She said her mom always told her: Dorothy get your nose out of that book. As a mom she loved to read to her children daily. They had a whole collection of Little Golden Books. And this was before it was popular to spend time reading with your children.

Dorothy was a devout Catholic. Throughout her life she was very active in her church community. She volunteered in her womens group and she participated in several others. She was a member of the St. Apollinaris Bell Choir playing the bells and singing. Dorothy was a Third Order Carmelite, Oakville, CA.

Belonging to the Elks was an important part of her life. There were many worthwhile philanthropic activities, and lots of fellowship. Dorothy was a member of the Emblem Club, the ladies of the Elk, and she even became their president. We proudly watched her installation which included some very fancy floor work. She was also a member of the TOPS club and she was named Queen after having reached her goal.

Dorothy was a very social person. She gathered a large circle of friends in her life, and unless she had just recently met them, they were all dear friends. She had a great talent for staying in touch. She kept many friends she met during her childhood, as well as friends she met as co-workers from jobs 70 years ago. At Christmas time she covered the dining room wall with cards received.

Dorothy lived a very fulfilled life. She thoroughly enjoyed being a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents Al & Cleo Payne, her Brother Robert Payne, her son Larry Shepard and her two husbands, Tom Shepard and Jack Peters. Dorothy is survived by two sisters, Beverly Ward who resides in Rancho Cordova, CA and Joyce White, Auburn, CA, son Jerry Shepard (Pam) Cameron Park, daughters Chris Brown (Larry) Napa, CA, Janette Shepard-Sprengelmeyer (Steve) Napa, CA five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She has many nieces and nephews from California to Illinois.

The family wants to especially thank the staff at Berkshire Assisted Living Home and Kaiser Hospice . Both of these agencies provided outstanding care and support to our mother and family. A Rosary service will be held Thursday, August 16 at 6:30pm at Claffey & Rota Funeral Home, 1975 Main Street in Napa. Funeral Service Mass will be held at St. Apollinaris Catholic Church on Friday August 17 at 11am. A reception celebrating Dorothys life will be held in the church hall after the funeral. In lieu of flowers donations in Dorothys name can be made to St. Apollinaris Church, Napa, CA, Kaiser Hospice, or a favorite charity of your choice. Memories and notes of sympathy may be shared at claffeyandrota.com.
A 25-year-old man was arrested for investigation of robbery Sunday night after reportedly stealing $25 in merchandise from a Napa supermarket, then slugging an employee who confronted him outside, Napa Police said.

Police arrested Victor Marcus Graham, described as a transient, at Lucky supermarket, 2355 California Blvd.

Graham was followed out of the store by two employees. He struck one of them in the face, knocking the person to the ground, and was verbally aggressive with the other, police said.

Graham was booked into the Napa County jail where he was being held Tuesday on $100,000 bail.

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MIDDLETOWN  Clarence Sibsey sat alone at a table in the Twin Pine Casino evacuation center, tired and dejected.

Once again, a fire was threatening his community and he had to leave home. Two years ago, he fled the massive Valley fire. Now he had been driven away by the Mendocino Complex fire, which at more than 340,000 acres is the biggest in California history.

Weve never had fires like this before, Sibsey said. Why now?

The battle to control the massive blaze continued Monday, as officials announced the death of a firefighter on the front lines. The news came amid progress in containing the fire, which enabled more residents to return home.

But the blaze has been a grim reminder for Lake County residents of how their area is now an epicenter for fires.

A Los Angeles Times analysis found that more than 50% of the countys land has been burned since 2012. And it has sparked debate for some residents about whether living in this rural enclave about 120 miles north of San Francisco is worth it.

The Pawnee fire recently threatened nearby Spring Valley, whose residents had to evacuate for a second time in just a few months.

Two years ago, the Clayton fire tore through almost 4,000 acres and 300 structures, many of them mobile homes and rentals. The blaze hit the town of Lower Lake particularly hard, destroying a 150-year-old church and a Habitat for Humanity office.

In 2015, three wildfires ripped through Lake County, including the Valley fire, which destroyed more than 1,300 homes and killed at least four people.

Resident Bo Stover said he wont be around for the next big blaze. Hes tired of the displacement and dangers, and plans to move to Arkansas.

Im sick of all this. Im too old. Im looking for peace in my life, the 61-year-old said as he sat in the evacuation center.

In the last five to 10 years, the Lake County region has become one of the most active in the state in terms of fires, said Lynne Tolmachoff, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Twenty years ago, it was Southern California  in areas such as Orange and Riverside counties  that experienced the most fires, officials said. Now Lake County competes for the top spot, along with Mariposa County.

Lake Countys topography, specifically its canyons, mean winds travel quickly there, Tolmachoff said. But what has made the area more prone to fire recently is the growing popularity of Napa and Sonoma valleys wine country spilling into Lake County, she said. More people means more opportunities for fires to start.

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said the Mendocino Complex fire  actually two blazes, the Ranch fire and the River fire  became so bad because of explosively flammable vegetation, warm overnight temperatures and the lingering effect of years of drought. The blaze has burned mostly into the Mendocino National Forest. So far, no one has been killed.

Full coverage of the California wildfires 

Its sort of this middle elevation, where youre above the marine layer, but youre not high enough in the mountains to really cool down either, he said.

Lake County has about 64,000 residents, most of whom live in communities along the shore of Clear Lake. While considered part of wine country, it does not share the same upscale vibe as Napa and Sonoma counties to the south.

Rick Bennett, who lives in the community of Nice, said Lake County has seen some big fires over the years, but nothing compared to the Mendocino Complex. He wondered what the landscape will look like when the fire is finally contained.

Were losing so many of our natural resources, he said. People are afraid to come. Id be a liar if I said there wasnt a part of me that wants to leave.

Longtime residents said it has proved difficult to deal with this new constant threat of fire.

You think, Oh, itll never happen to me, Bennett said, adding that he tends to forget about the fires until temperatures start to climb. Thats when he gets anxious.

Its getting to where I dread the summer. I dont want to see summer come, he said.

When the Mendocino Complex fire forced him to evacuate, Bennett took a small bag full of essentials. Hes had to use resources from the Red Cross, such as clothing and toiletries.

Rose Mary Santana, an Upper Lake resident who lost her mobile home to the Mendocino Complex fire, said she was shocked by how it had spread.

I wasnt expecting it. Weve had so many threats, and they never made it to Upper Lake, she said.

This time was different.

When it came time to evacuate, Santana was in the home of one of the senior citizens she cares for, packing up her clients valuables. She had nothing on her, not even her purse.

But, she said, she was hesitant to give up living in Lake County, where she moved to escape the rat race.

God would never put too much on my shoulders, Santana said. I have the will to keep going.

But Shelly Clayton, who lives in Nice, said she is thinking of moving back to Torrance, her hometown, to avoid the danger.

She said the Lake County climate is beginning to feel like one long fire.

Its emotional watching your community lose their livelihood, she said. Its just horrible. Im sick and tired of it. Its a beautiful area, but Im done.

Reyes-Velarde reported from Lake County and Krishnakumar from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II in San Francisco contributed to this report.
Whatever his other talents may be  if he has any  Donald Trump excels at pulling the chains of Californias politicians.

He and others in his presidential administration delight in doing and saying things that elicit Pavlovian expressions of outrage on the left coast of the continent.

Many are just throwaway remarks, but some are serious challenges to Californias insistence on going its own way.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has filed dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration, and hes ready to file another, this time in conjunction with 19 other states, over the Trumpies plans to cancel an Obama administration decree on raising average auto mileage from 35 miles per gallon to 54 mpg by 2025.

Not only does the Environmental Protection Agency propose to freeze the 35 mpg standard, but end Californias decades-long waiver that allows it to set its own rules to fight smog and climate change.

While federal law generally gives Washington sole authority to set auto pollution standards, it also allows California to impose tighter rules if there are compelling and extraordinary conditions. The impending legal battle will focus on that phrase and whether waivers, once granted, can be withdrawn.

The Obama-era 54 mpg mark was part of a 2013 grand bargain between the feds, California and the auto industry, which wanted one national standard rather than having to comply with rules set by California and followed by 13 other states.

However, the industry later complained that 54 mpg was unworkable because, with gas prices relatively low, American motorists wanted to buy larger, less fuel-efficient cars and were shunning the electric and hybrid cars that would bring down overall fuel consumption.

The industry sought a new three-way deal but California resisted and threatened to exercise its waiver to force automakers to comply with the Obama standard even if it was relaxed for states that were not part of its 14-state coalition.

Without a compromise, Trumps Environmental Protection Agency moved this month to freeze the 35-mile-per-gallon by 2025 goal and declared that Californias waiver would be withdrawn  going beyond what automakers had sought.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who has made climate change his legacy cause, led the chorus of outrage.

For Trump to now destroy a law first enacted at the request of Ronald Reagan five decades ago is a betrayal and an assault on the health of Americans everywhere, Brown declared. Under his reckless scheme, motorists will pay more at the pump, get worse gas mileage and breathe dirtier air. California will fight this stupidity in every conceivable way possible.

The outcome could have a major impact on Californias very ambitious plans to curb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It has already achieved its 2020 goal of cutting emissions to 1990 levels, but wants even larger reductions by 2030 and beyond.

California currently emits about 10 tons of carbon per capita, and while thats relatively low, it would have to drop to 3 tons, weve been told, to avoid further atmospheric damage.

The lowest-hanging fruit  such as requiring utilities to use more solar and wind power  is already being picked, and California cant meet its goals without aggressively attacking its largest single carbon emission source, 30-plus million gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles.

The California Air Resources Board has pressured automakers to sell more zero-emission vehicles. But ZEVs still represent a tiny fraction of Californias cars and consumers arent clamoring to buy the huge numbers the state seeks, even with hefty subsidies.

If the freeze on the 35 mpg standard is upheld, it reduces pressure on automakers even more.

CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.
From Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lake County and Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area on the Sacramento River in Tehama County. From the vast Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego County to Point Lobos State Reserve in Monterey County and Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County.

View Californias far-flung 280-unit State Park system either alphabetically or geographically, and you see a resource unparalleled in any other state and hard to match in any nation around the world. There are dune buggy tracks in the deserts and pristine redwood groves near the North Coast. Historic resources from the oldest active Chinese temple in the West to the Pio Pico House in downtown Los Angeles.

What they have in common is a commitment for preservation by the state and a responsibility for the safety of the more than 60 million persons who use them yearly.

Even before the late June shooting death of a father of two from Irvine while fast asleep in a campground at Malibu Creek State Park near Calabasas, there was reason to question the safety and upkeep of the State Park system.

A reader from Davis wrote this column just after that unsolved murder complaining of the terror tales about broken bathrooms, broken picnic tables, impassable trails due to fallen trees, but griped most harshly about the total lack of security due to the paucity of rangers, particularly overnight.

It turns out the reader was correct. For this year, the Parks Department reports, it has 484 peace officer rangers on duty. Thats 72 fewer than in 2012. Its an average of fewer than two rangers per park unit, charged with protecting the parks and their visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thats almost an impossible task.

Months before the murder at Malibu Creek, the rangers organization, the Resource Protection Peace Officers Association, complained online about not having enough people to contend with stabbings, domestic violence, jogger assaults, the occasional high-speed chase and, rarely, shootings.

Stopping short of actually admitting it has a safety problem, the Parks Department now says a budget increase it just received will allow expansion of its force to more than 600 peace officer rangers by the end of the fiscal year next summer.

Reported Gloria Sandoval, the departments deputy director for communications, California State Parks is actively taking steps to fill 88 vacant peace officer positions, pointing to a recruiting campaign launched in April aiming to hire those 88 and another 54 authorized in the new budget. That would be 626 peace officer positions authorized and expected to be filled by the end of the current budget year.

This would still be fewer than three rangers per park unit. When some parks expand to populations of 8,000 or more on holiday weekends, the parks cant provide anything like comprehensive patrols and protection.

But thats probably inevitable for this stepchild of a state agency, one with enormous responsibilities but very few funds to carry them out. That status is one reason the department depends heavily on volunteer campground hosts in full-fledged state parks and volunteer park hosts in many other locations.

Says the Parks Department website, Volunteer host positions are available in over 100 parks. Host duties vary according to each park but generally include providing visitor information, staffing visitor centers and museums, maintenance projects and general housekeeping. Most hosts work approximately 20 hours a week and, in exchange for those services, the hosts are provided with a campsite during their stay.

Thats a lot of benefits to the state and its park users for no money at all.

The volunteers are not equipped to maintain park facilities from picnic tables to rest rooms. So as budgets shrank during the recession and afterward, some parks became decrepit, almost derelict. Not the best way to present California to its millions of visitors.

The Parks Department insists it has now begun fighting its way back, with a budget almost $200 million higher than six years ago at recessions end. That and the increased user fees called for in the same budget should see fresh paint and smoother plumbing in many places.

But the number of peace officer rangers remains woefully inadequate, even if all open positions are filled this year.

Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. He is author of the book, The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The Ohio Supreme Court issued a discipline decision summarized by Dan Trevas

The Ohio Supreme Court suspended a Hinckley attorney today for engaging in a pattern of dishonesty to conceal his siphoning of nearly $51,000 entrusted to him pending the resolution of an ownership dispute between his client and his clients bankruptcy trustee.

In a unanimous per curiam opinion, the Court suspended John W. Gold for two years, with one year stayedwith conditions, for committing multiple violations of the rules governing the conduct of Ohio attorneys. Gold admitted to some of the misconduct and argued for a fully stayed suspension. The Court responded by noting the presumed sanction for misappropriating clients funds is disbarment, and that his behavior was sufficiently egregious to support a finding that he engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law.

The decision had the support of six justices and Tenth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Sadler, sitting for former Justice William M. ONeill, who had resigned.

Attorney Depleted Settlement Funds

In May 2012, George Daher hired Gold to assist him in recovering about $51,000 in unclaimed funds from the state. Daher had filed for bankruptcy, and his debts in bankruptcy were discharged in 2010. The unclaimed funds were proceeds from an insurance claim that preceded his bankruptcy.

Gold filed a lawsuit in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court seeking a declaratory judgment that Daher was entitled to the unclaimed funds. Dahers bankruptcy trustee asked the trial court to be added as a party to the case to dispute Dahers entitlement to the funds. The trustee also returned to federal bankruptcy court to make further claims to the $51,000.

Gold and the trustee reached an agreement that Gold would collect the money from the state and hold it in his client trust account until the bankruptcy court determined how to divide the funds.

Almost immediately after depositing the money, Gold began disbursing it without obtaining the bankruptcy courts approval. Gold and the bankruptcy trustee continued to litigate the matter, with Gold filing several motions in state and federal court to claim that Daher was entitled to the money. Gold also claimed he was entitled to receive legal fees from the funds based on an hourly rate even though he had signed a contingent fee contract with Daher.

In April 2014, the bankruptcy court determined that all the funds were to go to the trustee, and ordered Gold to turn over the money. He appealed the ruling, and by the end of May 2014, he had misappropriated more than $32,000 from the fund. By the time the federal appeals court affirmed the bankruptcys court decision in December 2014, Gold had taken $49,000 from the fund.

In January 2015, Daher and the trustee reached a settlement that permitted Daher to receive $18,300 with the remainder of the funds going to his bankruptcy debts. Gold refused to sign the settlement because it did not address his attorney fees. The bankruptcy court approved the settlement.

Attorney Argues Funds Should Pay His Fee

Gold then deposited $8,000 into his trust account and gave Daher a check for $6,000, and another $6,000 in cash. Gold kept $6,300, arguing it was a discounted fee. He did not comply with the courts order to turn over the remaining $32,000 to the bankruptcy trustee.

The bankruptcy court sought to hold Gold in contempt, and he argued that he was entitled to $49,000 from the fund because he performed more than 240 hours of work at a rate of $200 per hour. Gold took several actions to delay and dismiss the contempt charges, and in the meantime, filed for bankruptcy himself. Gold was found to be in contempt. More than a year later, he reached a settlement in which he agreed to pay $32,000 to the trustee.

The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against Gold with the Board of Professional Conduct in December 2016, charging him with violating several professional conduct rules. At the time of his disciplinary hearing, Gold had only paid the trustee $20,000.

Board Finds Rule Violations

Gold and the disciplinary counsel stipulated that the lawyer committed several rule violations, including failing to properly hold client funds in a trust account separate from his own personal account; failing to maintain adequate client trust account records; engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; and engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law. The board ruled that Gold committed the violations.

When considering a proposed sanction, the board examines aggravating circumstances that could increase the punishment it recommends for a lawyer and mitigating factors, which could lead the board to recommend a reduced penalty.

The board found Gold acted with a dishonest and selfish motive and engaged in multiple offenses. It also found he had no prior discipline, made a good-faith effort to pay restitution to his client, and cooperated during the disciplinary proceedings. The board also accepted as a mitigating factor the parties stipulation that Gold suffered from several mental disorders and a substance-use disorder for which he entered a contract with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program (OLAP).

The board recommended the Court impose a two-year suspension with the second year stayed on the conditions that he comply with his OLAP contract, make full restitution to the bankruptcy trustee, pay all other sanctions against him in bankruptcy court, and commit no further misconduct. If Gold is reinstated, he must serve one year of monitored probation.

Attorney Seeks Reduced Sanction

Gold noted that the recommended sanction is based on a similar penalty imposed on a lawyer by the Supreme Court in 2014. The lawyer in Disciplinary Counsel v. Marshall also misappropriated client trust funds and engaged in a lengthy contempt of court dispute.

Gold argued his behavior was less egregious than that of the attorney in Marshall. The Court examined Golds mitigating factors and noted that while he was credited for making restitution to Daher, it was tempered by the fact that he made false statements and submitted numerous frivolous filings in multiple courts in an effort to conceal his misconduct and delay making restitution to the bankruptcy trustee. Although the court acknowledged that Gold had mental and substance-use disorders that qualified as a mitigating factor, it noted that he also testified that he was not fully in compliance with his OLAP contract that managed his treatment.

Moreover, his failure to comply with that contract raises significant concerns about his ability to abide by the terms of other agreements and court orders, and consequently, his ability to practice law in a competent, ethical, and professional manner going forward, the Court stated.

The Court agreed with the boards recommended sanction and suspended Gold for two years with the second year stayed on the recommended conditions.

2017-1411. Disciplinary Counsel v. Gold, Slip Opinion No. 2018-Ohio-3238.

(Mike Frisch)

View oral argument video of this case.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/08/the-ohio-supreme-court-the-ohio-supreme-court-suspended-a-hinckley-attorney-today-for-engaging-in-a-pattern-of-dishonesty-to.html
Over the past few years I have enjoyed the columns written by Lynne Champlin under the title Coffee, Tea or Me? I have often wondered if some day someone might see a path to sexual exploitation in the third choice above.

Far from it. It was totally unexpected that the word exotic suffered a politically correct karate chop ("Term 'exotic' is extremely troubling," Aug. 10). The use of that adjective was described as extremely troubling. Actually, I can think of many other threats that are so troubling that they keep me up at night.

As a naturalized citizen of Northern European origin, I have no real voice to address the racial snubs that have been dished out to people of various degrees of pigmentation, physical conformation, or ethnic affiliation. What I can tell you, however, is this: Despite the distress the word has caused Ms. Singh and others, I vote against purging the adjective exotic from the English language.

Having arrived in this country as an imperfect English speaker and having worked as a waitress, graduating to a statistical typist job (no electric typewriters yet), attending night school, etc., I can assure you that people of any creed who live below the mainstream have their share of obstacles and snubs to overcome.

In the 1960s, I was addressed as a Fraulein (little woman), the post-World War II connotation being that a Fraulein would dish out sexual favors for a chocolate bar. What should anyone do in that type of situation? There is a great communications tool: the barrier of formality. The clear message that a low level of suggestive comments is unacceptable works every time. This type of assertiveness works for everyone, regardless of race or national origin.

Lynne Champlin wrote her article to amuse and entertain. She succeeded admirably in that endeavor. I am sure she had no malice in her heart when she described the bi-racial mans creatively enhanced appearance as exotic. The article was written in a cheerful, humorous tone.

To me, it looks like assertiveness gone off in the wrong direction when someone nitpicks an entertaining writers choice of words.

We live in a country that has a rich history, and as a veteran in Yountville expressed it, that history has its fair share of scars and pimples. A Japanese friend of mine, a proud American who was interned with his family, explained it this way: there are strategic measures taken during times of war that have a devastating effect on the affected groups of people.

The U.S. is still the country that rewards those who seize the opportunity to contribute to their own and their countrys success.

Please, let us not purge that beautiful world exotic from the English language. It is a fine descriptor of a vibrant component in the tossed salad fabric of our society.

Maren Daglia

Napa
19342018

Jackie, maiden name Bender, was born and raised in San Francisco, Ca. She graduated Abraham Lincoln High School in 1952 and attended some college courses. She marked a 38 year career at the St. Francis Hotel (SF) working her way up to Executive Secretary. She and husband Frank retired to Vineyard Valley in St. Helena, Ca. in 2001. Jackie loved to read, and also volunteered at the Cameo Theater, Wee Care, and maintaining the library at VV.

She is survived by her sister Joyce Towner of Walnut Creek, 2 nieces: Tracy and husband Martin Morrissey of Bristol England; and Roxanne and husband Jeff Reed of Aptos, Ca, and 4 grandnieces/nephews: Una & Patrick, and Jack & Madison.

Jackie was always well loved and highly respected by others. She is especially fond of her West Highland Terrier, Sophie.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimers Foundation of America or an animal rescue of your choice.

Please join us for interment at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in St. Helena, Friday August 24th at 11am, Reception to immediately follow at the Vineyard Valley Clubhouse, 290 Pope Street, St Helena, Ca
School district officials gathered outside the St. Helena Performing Arts Center on Tuesday to celebrate PG&E's planting of 21 trees at St. Helena High School and St. Helena Elementary School. The trees were planted as part of PG&E's Community Pipeline Safety Initiative. To protect underground utilities, several trees had to be removed from the St. Helena Co-op property, which the St. Helena Unified School District owns. Since there weren't any suitable places to plant replacement trees at the Co-op, PG&E planted them at the high school and elementary school instead. The new trees are Chinese pistaches, crepe myrtles and Japanese maples.
Blue Wave Napa Valley will host Democratic congressional candidates Harley Rouda (California District 48) and Mike Levin (California District 49) at Lyman Park in downtown St. Helena on Sunday, Aug. 19 from 3-5 p.m. The event is free and refreshments will be provided.

Rouda is running against Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a 14-term Republican, and Levin is running for the seat of the retiring Republican Rep. Darrell Issa. Both are considered highly competitive in this falls election.

These candidates have a great opportunity to turn their districts blue and Napa Valley can help them do it, said Blue Wave Napa Valley founder Julie Jenanyan. Harley and Mike have expressed appreciation for our support and are looking forward to meeting residents of Napa Valley on Sunday, Aug. 19.

In addition to Harley Rouda and Mike Levin, Blue Wave Napa Valley is supporting Katie Hill (California District 25) who has an even chance of upsetting two-term Republican Steven Knight. Former President Barack Obama and Congressman Mike Thompson have endorsed all three candidates.

Blue Wave Napa Valley is a group of concerned citizens, community volunteers, and student activists with a goal of taking back Congress in the upcoming elections by raising $100,000 to support Democratic Congressional candidates in three flippable California districts. For more information or to donate go to bluewavenapavalley.com or contact info@bluewavenapavalley.com.
On the eve of 72nd Independence Day, Indian authorities have asked security forces to step up vigil along the international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, officials said on Monday. Border Security Force (BSF) troopers are guarding Indias border with Bangladesh while the Assam Rifles are deployed along the countrys frontier with Myanmar.

A report appearing in the The Economic Times quoted KV Sreejesh, Tripuras Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) as saying, We have asked the BSF to further intensify vigil along the India-Bangladesh border to check any trespassing and clandestine trans-border movements. Additional securities in all entry and exit points of Tripura were deployed and CCTV cameras were installed to closely monitor the movement of vehicles and people, he said.

The report further quoted Sreejesh as saying, Security has also been stepped up at the airports, railway stations, bus terminus, shopping malls, market and crowded places. Close vigils are being kept at all places that are sensitive and important. Night patrolling has been increased. Bomb and dog squads are doing constant rounds.

Besides the border forces, Tripura Police, Tripura State Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are also keeping vigil within the State. In Aizawl, an Assam Rifles official said that their troopers were on high alert along the unfenced India-Myanmar borders to curb infiltration. Smuggling of drugs and arms has also come down to a large extent, the official said. While Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,640 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

An official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said entry of people, except for passengers, into the terminal buildings across the North East has been barred. The restrictions will continue till August 18 next.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed a 60-day suspension as reported on the court's web page

The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the 60-day suspension of Brentwood attorney Michael Gibbs Sheppard from the practice of law.

Mr. Sheppards suspension was based on his failure, over a four-year period, to maintain and monitor client funds in his law firms trust account. This resulted in the comingling of client and law firm funds and the use of client funds to pay the firms operating expenses. Mr. Sheppard did not dispute that trust account funds had been mismanaged, but submitted that his actions were due to negligence and inexperience in trust account management and were not intentional.

A Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel found that Mr. Sheppards actions constituted knowing violations of his ethical duties under Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 (safekeeping property and funds) and 8.4 (misconduct). The hearing panel recommended that Mr. Sheppard be suspended for 60 days, followed by two years of probation under the supervision of a practice monitor, and that he complete 15 hours of continuing legal education on law office management and trust accounting procedures. On appeal, the Williamson County Chancery Court modified the hearing panels decision by increasing the periods of suspension and probation and by imposing additional conditions of probation. The Board of Professional Responsibility appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in reviewing the hearing panels decision, examined the American Bar Associations Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, aggravating and mitigating factors, and sanctions imposed in similar cases. The Court held that the hearing panels decision to suspend Mr. Sheppard was supported by substantial and material evidence and within the range of appropriate sanctions for his misconduct. The Court reversed the chancery courts judgment modifying the sanction and affirmed the 60-day suspension of Mr. Sheppard from the practice of law, as well as the 2-year probation period and 15 hours of continuing legal education requirement recommended by the hearing panel.

To read the unanimous opinion of the Court in Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee v. Michael Gibbs Sheppard, authored by Justice Sharon G. Lee, please visit the Opinions section of tncourts.gov.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/08/the-tennessee-supreme-court-affirmed-a-60-day-suspension-as-reported-on-the-courts-web-page-the-tennessee-supreme-court-has.html
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Page: 1 2 3 Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED RIP

lop guest

User ID: 441281

08-14-2018 12:08 AM











Post: #1 Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

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https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/bi...1366084035



Rest in Peace



Very well trained soldier. A loss to the Special Forces and America as a wholeRest in Peace *%

Registered User

User ID: 443293

08-14-2018 12:12 AM



Posts: 30









Post: #2 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

And a shekel is passed in the masters world LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456521

08-14-2018 12:15 AM











Post: #3 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

died for nothing. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456559

08-14-2018 12:28 AM











Post: #4 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

You train and fight for the machine in full knowledge that you will be put in harms way and could end up dead, like this guy. He knew well what he was getting into



He died a hero in my eyes. He stood and fought for something



Unlike the majority of pussys out there



RIP brother LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456560

08-14-2018 12:30 AM











Post: #5 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:15 AM) died for nothing.

Well he died "fighting for our freedom" like we are always told, right??



Nope, he died for the international bankers who use our service men and women as PAWNS IN CHESS.



So you are very correct -- he died for nothing! Well he died "fighting for our freedom" like we are always told, right??Nope, he died for the international bankers who use our service men and women as PAWNS IN CHESS.So you are very correct -- he died for nothing! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456560

08-14-2018 12:32 AM











Post: #6 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

*% Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:12 AM) And a shekel is passed in the masters world

EILON TLP

Registered User

User ID: 456550

08-14-2018 12:33 AM



Posts: 17









Post: #7 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:28 AM) You train and fight for the machine in full knowledge that you will be put in harms way and could end up dead, like this guy. He knew well what he was getting into



He died a hero in my eyes. He stood and fought for something



Unlike the majority of pussys out there



RIP brother





LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 451695

08-14-2018 12:42 AM











Post: #8 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:15 AM) died for nothing.

Died for nothing? He died fighting for the civilized world. He died protecting the Afghani government and people from being taken back by Taliban extremists and keeping those people under the bondage, squalor and oppression of sharia law and their souls in perpetual slavery to a spirit virus that robs you of free will. We are breaking the chains there in our efforts to bring them out of the brainwashing of radical Islam and into a more secular democracy and the enlightenment of western civilization where their minds can be expanded and their souls freed from these trappings. All of that is lost if Afghanistan falls to the Taliban. It will revert to being a black hole of dark age barbarism and ignorance. Died for nothing? He died fighting for the civilized world. He died protecting the Afghani government and people from being taken back by Taliban extremists and keeping those people under the bondage, squalor and oppression of sharia law and their souls in perpetual slavery to a spirit virus that robs you of free will. We are breaking the chains there in our efforts to bring them out of the brainwashing of radical Islam and into a more secular democracy and the enlightenment of western civilization where their minds can be expanded and their souls freed from these trappings. All of that is lost if Afghanistan falls to the Taliban. It will revert to being a black hole of dark age barbarism and ignorance. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456521

08-14-2018 01:27 AM











Post: #9 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:42 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:15 AM) died for nothing.

Died for nothing? He died fighting for the civilized world. He died protecting the Afghani government and people from being taken back by Taliban extremists and keeping those people under the bondage, squalor and oppression of sharia law and their souls in perpetual slavery to a spirit virus that robs you of free will. We are breaking the chains there in our efforts to bring them out of the brainwashing of radical Islam and into a more secular democracy and the enlightenment of western civilization where their minds can be expanded and their souls freed from these trappings. All of that is lost if Afghanistan falls to the Taliban. It will revert to being a black hole of dark age barbarism and ignorance.





:okfucktard: :okfucktard: LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456560

08-14-2018 01:36 AM











Post: #10 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:27 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:42 AM) Died for nothing? He died fighting for the civilized world. He died protecting the Afghani government and people from being taken back by Taliban extremists and keeping those people under the bondage, squalor and oppression of sharia law and their souls in perpetual slavery to a spirit virus that robs you of free will. We are breaking the chains there in our efforts to bring them out of the brainwashing of radical Islam and into a more secular democracy and the enlightenment of western civilization where their minds can be expanded and their souls freed from these trappings. All of that is lost if Afghanistan falls to the Taliban. It will revert to being a black hole of dark age barbarism and ignorance.





:okfucktard:

LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456560

08-14-2018 01:36 AM











Post: #11 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:42 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 12:15 AM) died for nothing.

Died for nothing? He died fighting for the civilized world. He died protecting the Afghani government and people from being taken back by Taliban extremists and keeping those people under the bondage, squalor and oppression of sharia law and their souls in perpetual slavery to a spirit virus that robs you of free will. We are breaking the chains there in our efforts to bring them out of the brainwashing of radical Islam and into a more secular democracy and the enlightenment of western civilization where their minds can be expanded and their souls freed from these trappings. All of that is lost if Afghanistan falls to the Taliban. It will revert to being a black hole of dark age barbarism and ignorance.

LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456521

08-14-2018 01:38 AM











Post: #12 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:36 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:27 AM) :okfucktard:



EILON TLP

Registered User

User ID: 456550

08-14-2018 01:52 AM



Posts: 17









Post: #13 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:38 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:36 AM)



Seems to me mohamed and his little friend are a little buthurt . Seems to me mohamed and his little friend are a little buthurt . LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456521

08-14-2018 01:54 AM











Post: #14 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

EILON TLP Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:52 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:38 AM)

Seems to me mohamed and his little friend are a little buthurt .



how original Moshe.

did you think it up all by yourself or did mummy help you? how original Moshe.did you think it up all by yourself or did mummy help you? EILON TLP

Registered User

User ID: 456550

08-14-2018 01:57 AM



Posts: 17









Post: #15 RE: Special Forces Soldier Killed In Afghanistan By IED

EILON TLP Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:52 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 01:38 AM)

Seems to me mohamed and his little friend are a little buthurt .





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Page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 11 Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire? VinnyBob

Registered User

User ID: 455355

08-14-2018 05:11 AM



Posts: 469









Post: #16 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

Advertisement "Liberalism is a mental disorder" This is what liberalism begets."Liberalism is a mental disorder" LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:15 AM











Post: #17 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

VinnyBob Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:11 AM) This is what liberalism begets.

Marks right about it being a mental disorder..lol Marks right about it being a mental disorder..lol LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:18 AM











Post: #18 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

OP



Corosive

Resident Time Wizard

User ID: 437414

08-14-2018 05:19 AM



Posts: 3,785









Post: #19 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?





#FakeNews Sweden is fine. \_(  )_/



If it can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be destroyed by the truth LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:20 AM











Post: #20 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

OP



for the people who watch cnn Corosive

Resident Time Wizard

User ID: 437414

08-14-2018 05:20 AM



Posts: 3,785









Post: #21 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:20 AM) OP



for the people who watch cnn

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 04:56 AM) Nothing a transgender governor can't solve.







LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:18 AM) OP





Why are they even doing that? What's their message? What are their demands? Why are they even doing that? What's their message? What are their demands? \_(  )_/



If it can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be destroyed by the truth (This post was last modified: 08-14-2018 05:22 AM by Corosive .) LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 456384

08-14-2018 05:20 AM











Post: #22 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

VinnyBob Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:11 AM) This is what liberalism begets.

No, this is what Roman Catholicism/Jesuits/Zionist's and British Monarchists begets.



Sweden is a Christian nation, so the enemies of Christ(Pharisees, Roman's, and the ambitious), want to snuff it out.



The goal is to force Christians to flee to Roman Catholic nations, to force them to convert to Roman Catholicism. Once Christianity is stamped out, a "crusade" will begin to reconquer Europe. No, this is whatbegets.Sweden is a Christian nation, so the enemies of Christ(Pharisees, Roman's, and the ambitious), want to snuff it out. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:22 AM











Post: #23 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

More real news....



LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:23 AM











Post: #24 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

Corosive Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:20 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:20 AM) OP



for the people who watch cnn

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 04:56 AM) Nothing a transgender governor can't solve.







LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:18 AM) OP





Why are they even doing that? What's their message? What are their demands?

I dunno man I dunno man Corosive

Resident Time Wizard

User ID: 437414

08-14-2018 05:24 AM



Posts: 3,785









Post: #25 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:23 AM) Corosive Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:20 AM) Why are they even doing that? What's their message? What are their demands?

I dunno man

Dumb asses can't even rob stuff for loot they just break sh*t and get nothing out of it. Dumb asses can't even rob stuff for lootthey just break sh*t and get nothing out of it. \_(  )_/



If it can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be destroyed by the truth LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:27 AM











Post: #26 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

Ungrateful piece of shits is what they are..they let these people in and they break the law and try to destroy everything...this is the type of sh*t Hillary would of brought into the USA LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:28 AM











Post: #27 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

Ill find more videos for ya op..since some douchebags in here thinks your Twitter link is fake! Lol LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:31 AM











Post: #28 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:07 AM) let's see how biased your source link for that info is

Here ya go buddy...



Stfu! Here ya go buddy...Stfu! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450011

08-14-2018 05:34 AM











Post: #29 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:31 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 05:07 AM) let's see how biased your source link for that info is

Here ya go buddy...



Stfu!

Actual footage real enough for ya? Actual footage real enough for ya? LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 450243

08-14-2018 05:36 AM











Post: #30 RE: Does Nobody Care That Sweden is On Fire?

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 04:45 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-14-2018 04:43 AM) Most of us have no idea this is happening..is the media talking about...or is it trump is racist the only thing the media talks about

Link? I haven't seen nothing about it

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...weden.html Advertisement


















Fans arrive bundled against the cold weather in the parking lot of Gillette Stadium before a regular-season game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets in December. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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Get this lady a good stage name

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aww I like greek last names

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sure let's pick another boring ass name just bc English speaking people cannot pronounce anything that isn't Lawrence or Smith.

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see, were on the same page

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I've seen people on ontd butcher Wasikowska and Fassbender like they're hard...



EDIT: lol, and then I misspell her name smh. The point is they're easy to pronounce



Edited at 2018-08-14 08:28 pm (UTC)

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who are you, ellis island?

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...wtf is this comment??

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I know you're probably a troll but this pisses me off SO MUCH. Greek names are phonetic so you just fucking sound them out. Would you tell Saoirse Ronan to change her name? It's way harder to pronounce than Av-ge-ro-pou-los.



Fuck you. I've heard this shit my entire life and I bet I'm not the only one.

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really surprised by this one, she always seemed so chill and private. i get that the medication might have caused her to act ooc, i guess?? but yikes

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don't mix your pills with alcohol ya'll, it can get messy

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This this this. No ONE takes this seriously. It's really fucked up.

Not to mention it could kill you.



I know a 50-ish year old lady that mixed wine with sedatives and went into a hot tub. She died quickly.



If your meds say don't mix with alcohol-- don't. :(

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This type of combo can also damage your liver real bad. It's just not worth it.

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When I was still on a cocktail of meds and trying to get my shit together, people would always get SOOO fucking condescending about me not being able to drink lmao. I'd be perfectly polite about it "Oh, thanks, but I'm not supposed to drink with my meds, unfortunately." and people would still always respond with the most dramatic eye rolling and "God, I drink with my meds all the time, I'm doing it right now, live a little!" like thanks, living a little longer is exactly what I'm trying to do, actually lmao

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I worked as a Pharmacy Technician for 10 years. One of my most memorable calls came from a woman who had just started Anti-Anxiety and Depression medications. She read the warnings, and called to see how 'real' they were. And then she attempted to get me to barter with her on how many drinks she could have before it would hurt her. No. Just no.



Never drink with meds that say not to drink with them. ESPECIALLY if they are new.

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Octavia gurl

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The combination of the new meds and alcohol apparently resulted in the argument.



Is it too bad that when I read this I immediately felt empathetic while knowing fully well I wouldn't feel the same if the roles were reversed?

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I'm in the same boat, bc I know I wouldn't be as forgiving in the same situation with roles reversed.



Granted I don't know her enough to be defending her anyway.

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Yes. That is bad. 

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What did he think the police would do then?

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When you have no interactions with the police you can genuinely start to believe they work for you, especially if you're drinking too.

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Depends where they were, in California it's automatic charges until it gets to court, so he might assume it's different based on where he is from

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It was most likely a panicked response feeling like they would be able to diffuse the situation. It could also be him backtracking

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Holy shit, do ppl think doctors are joking when they tell them not to mix meds with alcohol? It's not a challenge, that shit can fuck you up or kill you quick.

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ppl routinely underestimate stuff like that. Prescription meds aren't tylenol, y'all

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Honestly people really think doctors are understating it. I take meds that I am NOT supposed to drink alcohol with, but people are always trying to get me to drink anyway even when I tell them that.

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when i tried to commit suicide years ago, i took a bunch of those OTC sleep aids and a bottle of like 100+ ibuprofen. then i found benzos in my parent's medicine cabinet and i had never taken them before and on the side it said, "do not mix with alcohol" and i was trying to kill myself obviously so i downed like 10 of those with few chugs of whisky.



i had a REALLY hard time explaining i was not a pillhead alcoholic when i got out of the icu and into psych care because of that particular combination usually leading to accidental overdosing or low blood pressure etc.

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Yikes, glad he is ok. And they are about to start filming the next season soon wonder what the cw will do

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Its supposed to be a decently big season for Octavia, too. They already pushed back filming (probably because of Bobs knee surgery) a few weeks so I doubt theyll do anything.

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Damn Octavia

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I mean, cops aren't your mom, they're not gonna give your SO a timeout if they hit you... they're gonna make an arrest. I hope he gets out of this relationship ASAP.

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That's incredibly sad for both of them. I'm glad he's okay, and I hope she's learned her lesson when it comes to meds combined with alcohol.

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Yikes at all of this

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this whole thing just feels really horrible

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Normally I'd say "_____ character would never" but Octavia absolutely would.

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When I read that, I automatically thought of at least 3 instances where O used physical violence in the show.

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And at least for two occurence Marie said during panels that those were 'necessary' (with Linc) or 'normal between siblings' (with Bell).

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Somehow, after watching some of her interviews I can't really say I'm surprised

I wouldn't expect it but I'm not surprised either

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I feel the same.

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What did you gleam from interviews, Octavia is my least favorite character so i rarely watch Marie interviews, but the ones I did (and from following her insta), she never came across as potentially abusive?

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With U.S. sanctions set to snap back into place, Iran is bracing itself for another period of economic hardship and uncertainty. Critical to the success of the U.S. sanctions program is limiting Iranian oil exports. Earlier this year, the U.S. announced its intention to reduce Irans oil exports to zero, through unilateral action and pressure on the major consumers of Iranian oil. Now its time to see if that strategy will work.

A major question mark is India, a fast-growing energy market and a major consumer of Iranian oil and natural gas.

When new sanctions were announced, India began cutting imports from Iran, its third-largest energy supplier and the source for 10 percent of its total energy needs. India depends on imports to meet about 80 percent of its energy requirements. But total Indian compliance with U.S. sanctions was never set in stone.

India announced back in July that it would halt purchases of Iranian oil and gas in November. However, on Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that India was preparing to cut its imports of Iranian oil by half, in order to earn a waiver from U.S. sanctions. India plans to argue that it cant obtain energy products from any other producer at competitive rates.

The announcement comes as U.S. policy-makers begin to reconsider the scope of its Iran embargo. Theyve now backtracked, projecting a 50 percent reduction in Iranian exports when sanctions are fully imposed in November. Under this outlook, Irans oil exports would fall to about 1 million bpd, the level reached by the previous sanctions regime in 2012-2014.

India has been negotiating with both sides as it looks to secure its energy future. Rising U.S. production has allowed India to take advantage of American exports: in July, the U.S. exported 15 million barrels, twice what it exported last year. But that still pales in comparison to what India has been importing from Iran, where it has been able to secure attractive trade arrangements.

Related: Who Profits From Irans Oil Major Exodus?

India and Iran have grown closer, with the massive joint Chabahar port project raising the prospects for increased bilateral trade between two countries that straddle the Arabian Sea. But Chabahar has been delayed numerous times, and with U.S. sanctions likely to cut deeply into Iranian oil exports its likely to be postponed yet again.

Iran, which is suffering from a cratering currency and growing internal dissent, is tightening its belt in anticipation of sanctions. But its also waging an all-out price war with its chief geopolitical competitor, Saudi Arabia, which supports the re-imposition of sanctions. Iran is slashing prices on all its grades for September, in an effort to entice Asian buyers to maintain imports ahead of November.

Right now, theres uncertainty over how effective U.S. sanctions will be, or whether Irans customers will keep buying its crude or seek waivers. South Korea ceased purchases altogether when the new sanctions were announced in July, while Japan is likely to follow the U.S. line, as is the United Arab Emirates. Together the three countries consume about 20 percent of Irans energy exports.

China, along with India and Turkey, is a major customer for Irans energy: the three countries together amount to more than half of all Irans exports. China has argued that it needs Irans energy goods, and it wont stop buying Iranian crude once sanctions kick in. Yet while China has the international clout and force of will to defy the U.S., India is in a weaker position: it has to continue playing to U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

India is prepared to diversify its energy imports: the country has a Plan D for turning to alternatives should it fail to acquire a U.S. waiver. But for the moment, it appears to be maneuvering to maintain access to Iranian crude, taking advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. policy (and its chance of success) before the November deadline.

Related: Saudi Arabia And Iran Reignite The Oil Price War

One factor that gives everyone pause is how much oil prices may rise when Iranian crude starts disappearing from the market. Iranian exports have already begun to decline, and with little spare capacity left, U.S. production hitting infrastructure bottlenecks and geopolitical risk at an all-time high in several areas of production, the impact of U.S. sanctions could be greater than many realize. The IEA expects major challenges to preserving a balance in supply.

Higher oil prices will hurt Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis chances of re-election, and his government will likely do all it can to keep prices low. If that means maintaining access to cheap Iranian energy exports, India may defy the U.S. sanctions and continue its purchases.

By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
As the U.S. and Iran continue to trade barbs over the restart of economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic, China is also entering the verbal fray.

On Monday, the head of the international office of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) Andrey Yu, said that Chinese companies need the Iranian oil in any circumstances and will continue to buy it.

China doesnt pay attention to the US sanctions on Iran; it is a routine between Iran and China and has nothing to do with the US. Oil, gas and trade shouldn't be influenced by the US anymore.

He told the Islamic Republic News Agency that Chinese and Russian companies can fill up the vacuum of Total and other European companies, so it is highly improbable that Iran has a problem in excavating and investing in oil.

Iran has been able to keep progressing in the past decades despite the sanctions, he said, adding that Iran and China can have closer ties. Whatever the US does cannot impede the cooperation between Iran and China.

Yus comments come as the war of words between the U.S. and Iran escalate, with a geopolitically dangerous intersection - Saudi Arabia, OPECs de facto leader, and Irans bitter rival in the region.

Irans OPEC governor said late last month that Trump was mistaken to expect Saudi Arabia and other oil producers to compensate for supply losses caused by U.S. sanctions on Iran. Related: Oil Prices Jump As Saudis Cap Oil Supply

Since Trump took officer one-and-a half years ago, Washington and Riyadh have formed closer ties than during the Obama Administration, while the kingdom has indicated it would bow to pressure from President Trump to increase oil production in an effort to keep a lid on global oil prices ahead of crucial mid-term House and Senate elections in November.

However, in a possible step to reclaim its independence over Trumps apparent intrusion, the kingdom cut oil production by 41,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July to 32.3 million bpd. The kingdoms production dipped just a month after it reached a deal with OPEC and non-OPEC producers, including Russia, to hike output.

Geopolitical triangle

Many claim that Riyadhs willingness to comply with Trumps pressure via Twitter comes since the kingdom was instrumental in persuading the U.S. to jump start crippling economic sanctions against Tehran. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia are jockeying for geopolitical hegemony in the middle east in a dangerous game of cat and mouse in Syrian and Yemen, while Iran backed fighters in Yemen have recently fired missiles at Riyadh as well as Saudi oil tankers.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia intercepted two missiles fired by Yemens Houthi group on its southern Jizan province, al-Arabiya TV reported. Related: The Real Reason Behind The Next Oil Squeeze

The day before, the rebels claimed that an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Shiite rebels hit a bus driving in a busy market in northern Yemen, killing least 50 people. The Saudi-led coalition said it targeted Houthis fighters who had fired a missile at the kingdom's south on Wednesday, killing one person who was a Yemeni resident in the area.

Trump's decision to reimpose sanctions against Iran over its nuclear development program set a ticking clock and renewed pressure over the Islamic Republic. Full sanctions on the countrys energy sector will kick in on November 1 and could remove as much as 1 million bpd at a time when the market has little room for artificial shocks.

U.S. energy secretary Rick Perry said in late June he believed that Saudi Arabia and Russia would be able to increase oil production to stabilize the oil market and compensate for the loss of Iranian barrels, a claim that some market observers disagree with.

I am comfortable that Saudi Arabia is going to be able to increase their production to... 11 million barrels per day going forward, and that Russia will be able to increase their production, so the worldwide crude market does have some stability, Perry said at a press conference at the World Gas Conference in Washington, D.C.

We look at this as an opportunity for the OPEC members to fill this gap, if you will, he added.

By Tim Daiss for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Iran will lower the price of its crude for Asian clients, who are its biggest buyers, Iran reported, citing a source from the countrys oil ministry who wished to remain unnamed. The source said, "The discount is part of the nature of the global markets being offered by all oil exporters." Yet for Iran right now, the discount is also an attempt to hold onto its biggest market as U.S. sanctions kick in.

The source confirms a Friday report by Reuters, which said the National Iranian Oil Company had reduced oil prices for Asian clients by between US$0.75 and US$0.90 a barrel, with prices for Western clients down by US$0.50 a barrel.

Irans Deputy Petroleum Minister for International Affairs had said earlier Saudi Arabia used the discount tactic to curb Irans international market share, but even so, the average amount of crude oil that Iran shipped abroad between late March and late July was 2.3 million barrels, IRNA notes. Now, the country is employing the discount tactic targeting mostly its top oil buyers: China and India.

China is particularly important for Tehran. If China . . . buys Irans oil, we can resist the U.S., one Iranian analyst told the Financial Times last month. China is the only country which can tell the US off. Related: Is This The Most Important Geopolitical Deal Of 2018?

For now, there seems to be no danger of China suspending Iranian oil imports. Beijing has repeatedly asserted it will continue buying Iranian crude. The latest assurance came from the head of international operations at the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. Beijing did make one concession to Washington, however, when it agreed to keep its Iranian oil imports at current levels. Yet this may change as the trade war between the two heats up, analysts believe.

Meanwhile, the market is preparing for a supply squeeze of up to 1 million bpd as a result of the U.S. sanctions that could push crude prices a lot closer to US$100 than they are now.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Oil prices jumped early on Tuesday, after Saudi Arabia reported that it had cut its crude oil production in July compared to June, in a move seen as an attempt to avoid another glut that could put downward pressure on the price of oil.

At 10:07 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, WTI Crude was up 1.28 percent at $68.06 and Brent Crude was trading up 1.43 percent at $73.65, ahead of APIs U.S. inventory report later today.

Despite its earlier pledge to boost crude oil supply to offset supply disruptions, Saudi Arabias oil production in July slipped by 52,800 bpd from June to average 10.387 million bpd last month, according to the secondary sources in OPECs closely watched Monthly Oil Market Report published on Monday. Saudi Arabias self-reported figure pegs the drop at 200,000 barrels per day for the month.

Analysts believe that one reason for the lower production in July was that Saudi Arabia didnt see demand for its crude oil as high as it had expected earlier.

In the middle of July, Saudi Arabias OPEC governor Adeeb Al-Aama said that the Kingdom would see its July exports drop by around 100,000 bpd as it was unwilling to push the market into oversupply beyond the customers needs.

In its latest report, OPEC revised down demand for the cartels crude oil for next year, and revised slightly down its estimates for global oil demand growth compared to the previous months report.

Discussing oil prices in July, OPEC said in the Monday report:

Brent flipped into contango with activity running low amid a perceived rise in oil supply and increasing floating storage levels in Europe.

Contangothe market structure in which front-month prices are lower than prices out in the future monthspoints to an oversupply and makes storing oil for future sales profitable. Related: The Real Reason Behind The Next Oil Squeeze

There are a lot of unsold crude oil cargoes around the Atlantic Basin and traders find it hard to place crude from floating storage, traders told Reuters this week. Some two-thirds of the Nigerian crude for loading this month and next is still unsold, and the premiums for Nigerian crude grades to dated Brent have been slipping in recent days.

So Saudi Arabias production cut for July could be a sign that the Kingdom wants to avoid another glut.

We do not think that Saudi Arabia is interested in seeing Brent crude below $70 a barrel, SEB commodities analyst Bjarne Schieldrop told Reuters on Tuesday.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilpice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The United States is sending via pipelines record volumes of natural gas to Mexico, and although U.S. pipeline capacity to Mexico and production and exports have jumped in recent years, delays at some pipelines on Mexican territory have been slowing down the rise in U.S. piped natural gas exports.

According to Thomson Reuters data, U.S. exports to Mexico have been at 4.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) so far in August as demand for the power sector in Mexico rises. One billion cubic feet of gas is enough to fuel about five million U.S. homes.

The volume of the U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico has tripled over the past ten years.

U.S. natural gas pipeline capacity into Mexico has also increased over the past few years, the EIA said earlier this year. The increase was driven by growth in demand for natural gas from Mexicos power sector and cheaper prices compared to liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments. As of March 2018, U.S.-Mexico natural gas pipeline capacity was 11.2 Bcf/d, with another 3.2 Bcf/d of capacity expected to be added this year alone. Pipeline exports to Mexico have grown along with pipeline capacity, more than doubling since 2014 and averaging 4.2 Bcf/d last year.

Yet, delays with pipelines in Mexico have been capping some of the rising U.S. natural gas exports. According to energy data provider Genscape, quoted by Reuters, natural gas pipelines on the Mexican side of the border are facing at least a year of delays.



Related: Who Profits From Irans Oil Major Exodus?

At present, there are nine major gas pipelines being built in Mexico, but they face an average delay of more than 400 days, mostly due to legal injunctions filed during construction, S&P Global Platts reported in June.

The Nueva Era gas pipeline, for example, was originally scheduled for in-service date in the second half of 2017, but the date has been pushed out to the third quarter of 2018.

More pipelines in Mexico will not only help the country to import cheaper gas than LNG, much of which it also buys from the United States, but will also help ease takeaway pipeline capacity constraints out of the Permian where natural gas production is surging together with crude oil output.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Goldman Sachs and Silver Lake are the financial advisors to Tesla on chief executive Elon Musks plan to take the company private, he said in a tweet. The tweet followed the publication of an update from Musk on the plan that took markets by surprise last week.

In the update, Musk revealed he has been in talks with the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund about taking Tesla private for a few years now, in response to questions about comments he made last week on Twitter that the funding for taking Tesla private had been secured. These comments sparked suspicion that Musk could be manipulating the stock price of Tesla, unless he was stating facts, and this suspicion in turn prompted the revelation.

Recently, after the Saudi fund bought almost 5% of Tesla stock through the public markets, they reached out to ask for another meeting, Musk wrote in the update. That meeting took place on July 31st. During the meeting, the Managing Director of the fund expressed regret that I had not moved forward previously on a going private transaction with them, and he strongly expressed his support for funding a going private transaction for Tesla at this time. I understood from him that no other decision makers were needed and that they were eager to proceed.



Related: PDVSA To Start Using El Petro Next Week

Negotiations are still ongoing with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund and with several other investors. Reports that it would cost US$70 billion to take Tesla private, Musk said, were a stretch, adding that it would actually cost less than that. The $420 buyout price would only be used for Tesla shareholders who do not remain with our company if it is private. My best estimate right now is that approximately two-thirds of shares owned by all current investors would roll over into a private Tesla, Musk said.

The funding needed for the buyout would be raised from equity and not debt, because Tesla has enough debt as it is, the companys CEO also said, adding that the board will review all the information accumulated in the run-up to a formal proposal and will then make a decision. He did not specify a timeframe for this decision.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
In its latest resource nationalization push, Indonesias government is drafting a new regulation that will require all oil contractors to sell their crude oil production to state-held energy firm Pertamina.

Indonesia will publish the change in regulation as soon as possible, Reuters quoted energy ministry spokesman Agung Pribadi as saying on Tuesday. The move will be aimed at supporting the weakening local currency, the rupiah, and at cutting crude oil import requirements for the state oil company Pertamina, according to the ministrys spokesman.

Chevron, ExxonMobil, and other oil contractors currently working in Indonesia, at present have production sharing deals under which they split the production with the government and are allowed to export their shares.

Indonesia is pushing for an economic nationalization to have greater shares of oil and gas fields and to get more revenues from its natural resources, often by not renewing contracts with foreign oil firms after their expiry date.

Earlier this year, the Indonesian government moved to reclaim its prolific Rokan oil block from Chevron in 2021 when its contract is set to expire. The government plans to turn the oil asset over to state-run Pertamina, according to a government official.

The latest block that Pertamina has reclaimed includes two of Indonesias largest oilfields, and adds to the worry that the state-run company has bitten off more than it can chew, with production already missing targets, and foreign majors refusing to accept the new fiscal terms being offered.

Chevron Pacific Indonesia is just the latest oil major casualty in Indonesias determination to nationalize its natural resources, including oil. Chevron is now joining the likes of Total, which was edged out of its Mahakam block earlier in 2018. Total jointly operated the block with Japans INPEXa fifty-year collaboration that ended when its license expired in December 2017. Pertamina, who then took control of the block, offered Total and INPEX a production sharing contract, but Total declined the offer.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Germany on Saturday, August 18, and will discuss, among other things, the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline and other energy issues, Merkels spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday.

The German chancellor will host the Russian president in her residence north of Berlin next Saturday for a meeting, at which the two leaders will discuss ongoing foreign policy issues, says the statement from the German government.

According to Seibert, the natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 will be on the agenda of talks, as well as the gas transit via Ukraine, the situation in eastern Ukraine, and the conflict in Syria, the Associated Press reports.

The Gazprom-led highly controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which is planned to twin the existing Nord Stream natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea, is opposed by European Union (EU) institutions and some EU members, not to mention U.S. lawmakers, as it would allow Russia to further boost its natural gas supplies to Europe.

In the middle of July, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to give North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members an escape from Russias political coercion and manipulation.



Related: Why Is Big Oil So Excited About Alaskan Crude?

The bill for the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe Act, or the ESCAPE Act, authorizes mandatory U.S. sanctions on the development of Russian energy pipeline projects, such as Nord Stream 2.

The Merkel-Putin talks come just a week after the U.S. Congress enacted a set of mandatory sanctions against Russia, after the State Department announced it had determined that Russia had used chemical or biological weapons in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter that inflamed Russian-EU relations this spring. A new round of sanctions that could come into force in three months could put an end to Russian crude oil and oil product exports to the United States.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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OPEC revised slightly down on Monday its estimates for global oil demand growth in 2018 and 2019, while it revised upfor yet another monthits forecast for non-OPEC supply growth.

In its Monthly Oil Market Report published on Monday, OPEC revised down its oil demand growth forecast for 2018 by 20,000 bpd from the previous months projection and now sees the world demand for oil increasing by 1.64 million bpd, due to weaker-than-anticipated demand in Latin America and the Middle East in the second quarter. Total global oil demand is expected to reach 98.83 million bpd this year, OPECs latest estimates show. For 2019, global oil demand growth is expected to slow down from 2018, with growth forecast at 1.43 million bpd, some 20,000 bpd lower than OPECs prediction last month. Next year, total world oil consumption is anticipated to cross the 100-million-bpd mark and reach 100.26 million bpd.

In 2019, the Americas will be the key OECD demand growth driver, while China and India will see the highest oil demand growth levels among non-OECD countries, according to OPEC.

Referring to non-OPEC oil supply, OPEC revised up its forecast for 2018 by 73,000 bpd from the previous MOMR to 59.62 million bpd this year, an increase of 2.08 million bpd year-on-year, mostly due to higher-than-forecast Chinese supply. For 2019, the United States, Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Malaysia will be the main growth drivers, while Mexico and Norway are expected to see the largest declines, OPEC said, but noted that the 2019 forecast is subject to many uncertainties.

However, if any unexpected supply outages should occur due to natural disasters/technical shortcomings and these coincide with any geopolitical supply disruption, it could bring the market into an imbalanced situation, the cartel warned. Furthermore, investment has not yet returned to the levels seen prior to the price crash of 2014, OPEC said.



Related: Can China Afford To Slap Tariffs On U.S. Oil?

Apart from warning about insufficient investments and a much tighter oil market in case of several supply disruptions at a time, OPEC cautioned that its current projections for the global economy are based on no significant rise in trade tariffs and the assumption that current disputes will be resolved soon.

Rising trade tensions, leading to mounting uncertainties, translating into falling business and consumer sentiment, may provide a significant downside risk to the current relatively positive outlook. Negative impacts on global investments, capital flows and consumer spending may also have a detrimental effect on the global oil market.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Prices at the pump in Venezuela will soon catch up with world market ones as the government seeks ways to tackle rampant fuel smuggling that, according to president Nicolas Maduro, is costing the Venezuelan economy billions, the Associated Press reports.

Venezuelan drivers have enjoyed heavily subsidized gas up until now, but now that Maduro has decided to tackle the smuggling problem by making the fuel much costlier, even this little joy will be taken away from them or at least those who dont have a government-issued ID card. A lot of government opponents refuse to have the ID, the AP notes. Those who show the document at a filling station would still be able to get gas at a price of less than one U.S. cent for a full tank.

What will prevent smugglers from flashing their IDs at the station and get the cheap fuel to sell on in neighboring Colombia or Ecuador remains a mystery.

The gas price news is part of a wider economic overhaul that will also see the new cryptocurrency that Caracas launched in February be used alongside the Bolivar and state oil company PDVSA will use it for all its transactions.

Meanwhile, Venezuelas crude oil production continues to tank. In July, data from an internal PDVSA report provided to Argus Media suggested that PDVSA had missed its production target, pumping an average of 1.527 million bpd, versus a target of 1.652 million bpd. External sources had estimated the average daily production at 1.34 million barrels.



Related: Global Oil Supply Could Become Very Challenging

However, it may be that both these figuresfrom the internal report and the analyst forecastsare actually higher than what PDVSA produced last month. Officials from the Venezuelan company told Argus Media that monthly production figures are regularly inflated.

"They play with the storage tanks and what they report is not reality," one of these officials said while another said the actual daily production in July was just 1.25 million barrels.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Weak demand in China and weakening structure of the Dubai oil futures market have sent the premium for Russias Far East ESPO Blend crude grade to the Middle Eastern Dubai benchmark to one-year-low, according to S&P Global Platts data.

ESPO Blend, as well as the other two Russian grades exported from the Pacific region to AsiaSokol and Sakhalin Blendare priced off the Dubai benchmark in Asia, like the Middle Eastern crude grades sold to the worlds fastest growing oil market.

In the middle of last month, the Brent Crude premium to Dubai prices dropped to below $2 a barrel, the narrowest spread since last October, which prompted Asian buyers to book more crude oil supplies from Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Russias Uralsall priced off Brent.

On Monday, the premium of the ESPO Blend loadings for September to front-month Dubai dropped to $1.95 a barrelthe lowest premium since August 4, 2017, when ESPO was priced at the same $1.95 a barrel premium.

According to traders and market sources who spoke to Platts, the two key reasons for the narrowing premium of the ESPO Blend to Dubai are the weakening Chinese demand since May this year, and the weakened trading sentiment for the Dubai market amid ample crude cargo supply in the region.

Since May, we have been seeing Chinese demand slowing down, a Singapore-based crude oil trader told Platts, adding that the premiums for ESPO have been dropping as a result.

ESPO Blends exports from the Pacific port of Kozmino in Russia are set to be 2.4 million tons in September, down by 11 percent from the 2.8 million tons in August, according to a preliminary schedule, with loadings lowered due to expected works on pipelines, industry sources told Reuters last month.

There is still some unsold ESPO volume for September, expected to be sold at premiums of between $1.80 and $2 a barrel to Dubai, a trade source in Singapore told Platts.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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An Australian professor left the Philippines on Tuesday, nearly a week after being barred entry and placed in limbo at an airport in what rights groups say was part of a crackdown on critics of President Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippine government said Gill Boehringer, 84, was put on a blacklist for allegedly violating laws barring foreigners from engaging in political activities after he attended a protest in 2015. The former law school dean denies the charges. "I am not a terrorist. I am a human rights defender," Boehringer said in a video message recorded on Monday in an airport exclusion room where he had been staying since his arrival last week. He was the latest foreigner ordered out of the Philippines following Australian Catholic nun Patricia Fox, who has been fighting deportation since April after drawing Duterte's ire. After winning the presidential election in 2016, the Philippine leader launched an unprecedented campaign against illegal drugs that has left thousands dead and sparked allegations of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. The defiant Duterte has lashed out at foreign critics of his drug war -- including the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor and United Nations rights experts -- and personally ordered the arrest of Fox in April. Like Fox, Boehringer had joined a fact-finding mission looking into alleged rights violations in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao where Duterte had declared martial law, said Maria Sol Taule, the professor's lawyer. "This is the concerted handiwork of a defensive and paranoid government," Philippine rights group Karapatan said in a statement, and opposition congressman Carlos Zarate described Boehringer's expulsion as "alarming". Manila denied Boehringer's expulsion was part of a crackdown on critics, saying the policy against foreigners' participation in politics was "nothing new". "If they (foreigners) have issues or concerns about how the government is being handled, there are other ways of expressing their opinions, other more peaceful ways," Dana Sandoval, a Bureau of Immigration spokeswoman, told AFP.
The citys leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has called on Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte to urge immigration authorities to hasten their search for records that may support a Hong Kong mans appeal against his 40-year jail sentence.

Tang Lung-wai, 47, has been languishing behind bars in the Philippines for 18 years. He entered the country as a tourist in June 2000 to meet a friend, but was arrested the next month for a drug offence.

It took 11 years for his case to make it through the legal system. He was convicted and sentenced but has maintained his innocence throughout.

Legislator Paul Tse Wai-chun, who is helping Tang and his family, said Hong Kong immigration records showed Tang was not in the Philippines when the offence he was convicted of took place.

Local police told the court they had been tailing Tang since early June 2000 in an anti-drug trafficking operation. But records suggested Tang only entered the country in mid-June that year.

Hong Kong immigration officials in 2006 gave the family Tangs departure records from the city and these documents were given to his lawyer in the Philippines.

But the lawyer lost the document, Tse said. The law firm later shut down, and its staff could not be reached.

On July 16, the Philippines Supreme Court issued a notice asking Tang to submit documents to support his appeal within 30 days, or by this Wednesday.

But Lisa Tam Sin-man, a core member of the Tang Lung Wai Incident Concern Group formed by his friends and supporters, quoted Tangs lawyer in the Philippines as saying the deadline should be early September, because Tang received the letter on August 5.

In her letter to Duterte on Monday, Lam wrote: As the deadline is approaching, I wish to have the honour of drawing this matter to your personal attention for compassionate consideration in expediting the Philippine Bureau of Immigrations processing of the  request.

Story continues

[Tang] had been detained for some 11 years since July 2000 before being convicted in October 2011 and sentenced to reclusion perpetua. His appeal lodged in 2013 was not heard for years until Tang learned of the rejection of his appeal on July 26, 2017, the chief executive continued, referring to the mans long jail sentence.

I have no doubt, under your esteemed leadership, Tang would receive a fair and just trial in the upcoming supreme court proceedings.

I have no doubt, under your esteemed leadership, Tang would receive a fair and just trial

Chief Executive Carrie Lam, in letter to President Rodrigo Duterte

On Monday night, Lams office issued a statement saying the government attaches great importance to assisting Hong Kong residents in distress outside the city.

The office of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry in Hong Kong was aware Lam had written to Duterte, the statement continued, and both it and the Chinese embassy in the Philippines were providing practicable assistance to Tang and his family.

The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong confirmed that it had received the letter from Lam, which it said had been passed to the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, as had a letter from Hong Kong security minister John Lee Ka-chiu, who wrote to the Philippine immigration bureau chief last Friday, asking the official to help find and disclose Tangs travel record to help his appeal.

The same immediate attention was also given by the consulate vis-a-vis the letters of the Hong Kong Secretary for Security John Lee, and members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration on Mr Tangs case, the Philippine consulate said in a statement.

Relevant Philippine government officials, particularly those of the Foreign Affairs Department, have been informed of the intercessions of high-level Hong Kong government officials, and of the urgency of Mr Tangs case appeal with the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

The consulate added that it was ready to provide further assistance, while a spokesman for Dutertes office could not be reached for comment.

A person with knowledge of Tangs latest situation said the jailed man was surprised and touched by Lams gesture.

Tang had written to all three previous chief executives, Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and Leung Chun-ying, but none of them had written to Philippine leaders. The person said Tang remained hopeful the court would still accept the documents, even if the Philippine government could not submit them before the deadline.

The Hong Kong Security Bureau said last week the immigration records were no longer available as they had been destroyed after the standard 10-year retention period.

Tangs family said they had tried to contact the Philippine immigration authorities for help but received no response.

Duterte is known for his hardline approach to drug offenders. Since he took office two years ago, more than 12,000 drug suspects have reportedly been killed, according to Human Rights Watch, a New York-based organisation which monitors human rights globally. Philippine police put the number closer to 4,000.

Tang, a bartender, went to the Philippines in June 2000 to meet a friend, Cheung Tai-on. Police arrested Tang in mid-July the day before he was meant to return to Hong Kong. He claimed he was told to admit to drug offences, but refused.

According to Tang, he, Cheung and a third Hong Kong man, Goh Sek-hung, were then taken to a flat in a residential block.

Narcotics officers later searched the flat and found a plastic bag containing some 8kg of the drug Ice, a methamphetamine.

The trio were detained. It was not until 2011 that Tang and Cheung were sentenced, with each receiving a life sentence of 40 years. Goh was acquitted after police said they did not have enough evidence.

Cheung was said to have suffered a heart attack and he died in prison in 2016.

This article Carrie Lam appeals for Philippine president Dutertes personal attention in case of Hong Kong man serving 40-year jail sentence 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, 8 August 2018  Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach has appointed Worakant Singha as its new Executive Sous Chef.

Chef Bon, as he is better known, is a culinary leader with more than 12 years of experience in the food & beverage industry in Thailand. He is also familiar with high standards of Marriott International, having most recently served as Head chef at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, where he assisted with the management of 11 F&B outlets.

It is an honor to become a part of the highly regarded F&B family at Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, commented Chef Bon. I look forward to bringing my passion and ideas to the team here, and to creating great gastronomic experiences for our guests, in line with the Thai and family traditions for which our resort is known.

A Thai national originally from Ubon ratchathani province, Chef Bon is an innovative and creative chef who likes to push culinary boundaries. In the role of Executive Sous Chef, he will work closely with the resorts Executive Chef, Bastian Ballweg, to oversee the four F&B outlets at Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach: The Andaman Kitchen, Big Fish Restaurant, Big Fish Bar and The Lounge.

He will also have the significant task of overseeing the catering for all meeting and banqueting functions, including weddings, plus kitchen staff recruitment and training.
Credit: "Glacial isostatic adjustment deflects the path of the ancestral Hudson River," T. Pico, J.X. Mitrovica, J. Braun, K.L. Ferrier

In a kind of geological mystery, scientists have known for decades that a massive ice sheet stretched to cover most of Canada and much of the northeastern U.S. 25,000 years ago. What's been trickier to pin down is howand especially how quicklyit reached its ultimate size.

One clue to answering that, Tamara Pico said, may involve changes to the Hudson River.

A graduate student working in the group led by Jerry Mitrovica, the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science, Pico is the lead author of a study that estimates how glaciers moved by examining how the weight of the ice sheet altered topography and led to changes in the river's course. The study is described in a July paper published in Geology.

"The Hudson River has changed course multiple times over the last million years," Pico said. "The last time was about 30,000 years ago, just before the last glacial maximum, when it moved to the east.

"That ancestral channel has been dated and mapped  and the way the ice sheet connects to this is: As it is growing, it's loading the crust it's sitting on. The Earth is like bread dough on these time scales, so as it gets depressed under the ice sheet, the region around it bulges upward. In fact, we call it the peripheral bulge. The Hudson is sitting on this bulge, and as it's lifted up and tilted, the river can be forced to change directions."

To develop a system that could connect the growth of the ice sheet with changes in the Hudson's direction, Pico began with a model for how the Earth deforms in response to various loads.

"So we can say, if there's an ice sheet over Canada, I can predict the land in New York City to be uplifted by X many meters," she said. "What we did was create a number of different ice histories that show how the ice sheet might have grown, each of which predicts a certain pattern of uplift, and then we can model how the river might have evolved in response to that upwelling."

The result, Pico said, is a model that may for the first time be able to use the changes in natural features in the landscape to measure the growth of ice sheets.

"This is the first time a study has used the change in a river's direction to understand which ice history is most likely," she said. "There's very little data about how the ice sheet grew because as it grows it acts like a bulldozer and scrapes everything away to the edges. We have plenty of information about how the ice retreats, because it deposits debris as it melts back, but we don't get that type of record as the ice is advancing."

What little data scientists do have about how the ice sheet grew, Pico said, comes from data about sea level during the period, and suggests that the ice sheet over Canada, particularly in the eastern part of the country, remained relatively small for a long period, and then suddenly began to grow quickly.

"In a way, this study is motivated by that, because it's asking: Can we use evidence for a change in river direction  to test whether the ice sheet grew quickly or slowly?" she said. "We can only ask that question because these areas were never covered by ice, so this record is preserved. We can use evidence in the landscape and the rivers to say something about the ice sheet, even though this area was never covered by ice."

While the study offers strong suggestive evidence that the technique works, Pico said there is still a great deal of work to be done to confirm that the findings are solid.

"This is the first time this has been done, so we need to do more work to explore how the river responds to this type of uplift and understand what we should be looking for in the landscape," she said. "But I think it's extremely exciting because we are so limited in what we know about ice sheets before the last glacial maximum. We don't know how fast they grew. If we don't know that, we don't know how stable they are."

Going forward, Pico said she is working to apply the technique to several other rivers along the Eastern Seaboard, including the Delaware, Potomac, and Susquehanna, all of which show signs of rapid change during the same period.

"There is some evidence that rivers experienced very unusual changes that are no doubt related to this process," she said. "The Delaware may have actually reversed slope, and the Potomac and Susquehanna both show a large increase in erosion in some areas, suggesting the water was moving much faster."

In the long run, Pico said, the study may help researchers rewrite their understanding of how quickly the landscape can change and how rivers and other natural features respond.

"For me, this work is about trying to connect the evidence on land to the history of glaciation to show the community that this processwhat we call glacial isostatic adjustmentcan really impact rivers," Pico said. "People most often think of rivers as stable features of the landscape that remain fixed over very long, million-year time scales, but we can show that these Ice Age effects can alter the landscape on millennial time scales. The ice sheet grows, the Earth deforms, and rivers respond."

Explore further Study uses changes in Hudson River may offer insight into how glaciers grew

More information: T. Pico et al. Glacial isostatic adjustment deflects the path of the ancestral Hudson River, Geology (2018). Journal information: Geology T. Pico et al. Glacial isostatic adjustment deflects the path of the ancestral Hudson River,(2018). DOI: 10.1130/G40221.1

This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu.
A scanning electron microscope image of uranium ore from the Oklo natural nuclear reactor. Insets show fissionogenic Cs and Ba hotspots. Credit: PNAS

A team of researchers from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Washington University has learned more about possible ways to store modern nuclear waste by studying an ancient natural fission reactor. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of cores taken from the natural Oklo nuclear reactor and what they found.

As scientists continue to search for new more environmentally friendly ways to produce power, the old ways continue to generate waste. One such source is waste from nuclear power plants. Various options regarding how to store it long term have been discussed, but few have panned out, leaving waste to be temporarily stored onsite. In this new effort, the researchers sought to learn more about what actually happens as nuclear waste decays over its active lifetime. To learn more, they traveled to Gabon, located in West Africa. At a location known as Oklo, there exists the remains of a natural nuclear reactor. Due to a variety of events, the site was the scene of naturally occurring fission approximately 2 billion years ago. The uranium-235 that drove the reactions has long since decayed, but the history of how that occurred remains.

To learn more about what happened as the fissionable material decayed, the researchers took core samples and brought them back to their lab, which houses the Naval Ultra Trace Isotope Laboratory's Universal Spectrometer. There, they were able to piece together the history of the radioactive material as it moved through its elemental states, some of which included isotopes. Of utmost concern was what became of the cesium that was produced as a byproduct of uranium fission. Cesium has been found to be particularly hazardous due to its high degree of radioactivityit was released into the environment after both the Fukushima and Chernobyl accidents. The researchers found that it was absorbed by an element called ruthenium, approximately five years after the reactor ceased. It was held there in place for almost 2 billion years.

The researchers suggest that discovering that cesium had been contained by ruthenium offers some ideas on possible ways to deal with waste produced in modern reactors. They further note that ruthenium is too rare to use, but something like it might do the trick. They plan to investigate further.

Explore further Trace amounts of isotope from Fukushima disaster found in California wine

More information: Evan E. Groopman et al. Discovery of fissionogenic Cs and Ba capture five years after Oklo reactor shutdown, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Evan E. Groopman et al. Discovery of fissionogenic Cs and Ba capture five years after Oklo reactor shutdown,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1807267115 Abstract

Understanding the release and sequestration of specific radioactive signatures into the environment is of extreme importance for long-term nuclear waste storage and reactor accident mitigation. Recent accidents at the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear reactors released radioactive 137Cs and 134Cs into the environment, the former of which is still live today. We have studied the migration of fission products in the Oklo natural nuclear reactor using an isotope imaging capability, the NAval Ultra-Trace Isotope Laboratory's Universal Spectrometer (NAUTILUS) at the US Naval Research Laboratory. In Oklo reactor zone (RZ) 13, we have identified the most depleted natural U of any known material with a 235U/238U ratio of 0.3655  0.0007% (2). This sample contains the most extreme natural burnup in 149Sm, 151Eu, 155Gd, and 157Gd, which demonstrates that it was sourced from the most active Oklo reactor region. We have discovered that fissionogenic Cs and Ba were captured by Ru metal/sulfide aggregates shortly following reactor shutdown. Isochrons from the Ru aggregates place their closure time at 4.98  0.56 y after the end of criticality. Most fissionogenic 135Ba and 137Ba in the Ru migrated and was incorporated as Cs over this period. Excesses in 134Ba in the Ru point to the burnup of 133Cs. Cesium and Ba were retained in the Ru despite local volcanic activity since the reactor shutdown and the high level of activity during reactor operation. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 2018 Phys.org
A new study has found that nearly half of fishers from seven countries had witnessed someone poaching in marine protected areas in the past year and most of them did nothing about it. Credit: ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Georgina Gurney

A new study has found that nearly half of fishers from seven countries had witnessed someone poaching in marine protected areas in the past year and most of them did nothing about it.

Dr. Brock Bergseth from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University led the study. He said poaching is widespread in the world's marine protected areas, and that fishers have the potential to make or break a marine protected area.

"Enforcement capacities are often limited, so managers are trying to encourage fishers to help out when they see someone breaking the law. But until now, we were uncertain about how fishers respond when they witness poaching."

The research team surveyed fishers in Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, and Australia.

Fishers told researchers that they typically did one of four things after witnessing poaching: "do nothing," "confront the poachers," "report them to authorities," or, in rare instances, "join the poachers."

"Unfortunately, the most common response was to 'do nothing,'" said Dr. Bergseth.

Inaction was especially common on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR).

"Nearly 80 percent of fishers on the GBR did nothing in response to the observed poaching," said Dr. Bergseth. "This means there is a substantial portion of fishers who managers might hope to engage in surveillance and reporting, given the growing concern over the health of the GBR."

Co-author Dr. Georgina Gurney said fishers offered a variety of the reasons for inactivity after witnessing poaching on the GBR.

Nearly 80 percent of fishers on the Great Barrier Reef did nothing in response to observed poaching. Credit: ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Brock Bergseth

"GBR fishers said that they did nothing when they saw others poaching mostly because they thought it wasn't their concern or their responsibility, they were uncertain as to whether it was illegal fishing, or because of obstacles to reporting."

In all of the other countries in the study, a desire to avoid conflict was the most common reason offered by fishers for inaction after witnessing poaching, said Dr. Bergseth.

"This highlights the fact that dealing with poachers is potentially dangerous in some countriesdefending environmental rights can be risky, but there are tools to greatly reduce or eliminate the risk."

"The bad news is that apathy towards poaching in marine protected areas is widespread," said co-author Dr. Michele Barnes, "but the good news is that there are already many tools and programs to encourage citizens to report poaching and other types of crimes. These can be adapted and tailored to encourage fishers to take action against poaching in a responsible way that minimises risk to themselves."

The research team found that people who agreed with marine protected area rules and who were included in the decision-making processes were more likely to report or confront poachers.

"We know that when fishers are engaged in the management process of marine protected areas they tend to follow the rules more often. Here, we show that empowering fishers can also encourage voluntary enforcement," said Dr. Barnes.

"Encouragingly, many of the fishers who took action did so because they held stewardship beliefs, or saw that poaching personally affected them. These ideas can be further reinforced and leveraged by managers to improve conservation outcomes," said Dr. Gurney.

"The reality is that fish stocks are almost certainly going to be increasingly depleted in the future, to the point where poaching will affect all of us," said Dr. Bergseth.

"Equipping fishers with this knowledge, and the resources to responsibly do something about it, may well be the deciding factor as to whether our kids enjoy the same resources we do," he said.

The paper "Addressing poaching in marine protected areas through voluntary surveillance and enforcement" is published today in the journal Nature Sustainability.

Explore further Study exposes misperception of poaching on the GBR and its remedy

More information: Brock J. Bergseth et al. Addressing poaching in marine protected areas through voluntary surveillance and enforcement, Nature Sustainability (2018). Journal information: Nature Sustainability Brock J. Bergseth et al. Addressing poaching in marine protected areas through voluntary surveillance and enforcement,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0117-x
Credit: University College London

An artificial intelligence (AI) system, which can recommend the correct referral decision for more than 50 eye diseases, as accurately as experts has been developed by Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, DeepMind Health and UCL.

The breakthrough research, published online by Nature Medicine, describes how machine-learning technology has been successfully trained on thousands of historic de-personalised eye scans to identify features of eye disease and recommend how patients should be referred for care.

Researchers hope the technology could one day transform the way professionals carry out eye tests, allowing them to spot conditions earlier and prioritise patients with the most serious eye diseases before irreversible damage sets in.

More than 285 million people worldwide live with some form of sight loss, including more than two million people in the UK. Eye diseases remain one of the biggest causes of sight loss, and many can be prevented with early detection and treatment.

Dr. Pearse Keane, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and NIHR Clinician Scientist at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology said: "The number of eye scans we're performing is growing at a pace much faster than human experts are able to interpret them. There is a risk that this may cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment of sight-threatening diseases, which can be devastating for patients."

"The AI technology we're developing is designed to prioritise patients who need to be seen and treated urgently by a doctor or eye care professional. If we can diagnose and treat eye conditions early, it gives us the best chance of saving people's sight. With further research it could lead to greater consistency and quality of care for patients with eye problems in the future."

The study, launched in 2016, brought together leading NHS eye health professionals and scientists from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UCL with some of the UK's top technologists at DeepMind to investigate whether AI technology could help improve the care of patients with sight-threatening diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease.

Using two types of neural network  mathematical systems for identifying patterns in images or data  the AI system quickly learnt to identify ten features of eye disease from highly complex optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. The system was then able to recommend a referral decision based on the most urgent conditions detected.

To establish whether the AI system was making correct referrals, clinicians also viewed the same OCT scans and made their own referral decisions. The study concluded that AI was able to make the right referral recommendation more than 94% of the time, matching the performance of expert clinicians.

Credit: University College London

The AI has been developed with two unique features which maximise its potential use in eye care. Firstly, the system can provide information that helps explain to eye care professionals how it arrives at its recommendations. This information includes visuals of the features of eye disease it has identified on the OCT scan and the level of confidence the system has in its recommendations, in the form of a percentage. This functionality is crucial in helping clinicians scrutinise the technology's recommendations and check its accuracy before deciding the type of care and treatment a patient receives.

Secondly, the AI system can be easily applied to different types of eye scanner, not just the specific model on which it was trained. This could significantly increase the number of people who benefit from this technology and future-proof it, so it can still be used even as OCT scanners are upgraded or replaced over time.

The next step is for the research to go through clinical trials to explore how this technology might improve patient care in practice, and regulatory approval before it can be used in hospitals and other clinical settings.

If clinical trials are successful in demonstrating that the technology can be used safely and effectively, Moorfields will be able to use an eventual, regulatory-approved product for free, across all 30 of their UK hospitals and community clinics, for an initial period of five years.

The work that has gone into this project will also help accelerate wider NHS research for many years to come. For example, DeepMind has invested significant resources to clean, curate and label Moorfields' de-identified research dataset to create one of the most advanced eye research databases in the world.

Moorfields owns this database as a non-commercial public asset, which is already forming the basis of nine separate medical research studies. In addition, Moorfields can also use DeepMind's trained AI model for future non-commercial research efforts, which could help advance medical research even further.

Mustafa Suleyman, Co-founder and Head of Applied AI at DeepMind Health, said: "We set up DeepMind Health because we believe artificial intelligence can help solve some of society's biggest health challenges, like avoidable sight loss, which affects millions of people across the globe. These incredibly exciting results take us one step closer to that goal and could, in time, transform the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with sight threatening eye conditions, not just at Moorfields, but around the world.

Professor Sir Peng Tee Khaw, director of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology said: "The results of this pioneering research with DeepMind are very exciting and demonstrate the potential sight-saving impact AI could have for patients. I am in no doubt that AI has a vital role to play in the future of healthcare, particularly when it comes to training and helping medical professionals so that patients benefit from vital treatment earlier than might previously have been possible. This shows the transformative research than can be carried out in the UK combining world leading industry and NIHR/NHS hospital/university partnerships."

Matt Hancock, Health and Social Care Secretary, said: "This is hugely exciting and exactly the type of technology which will benefit the NHS in the long term and improve patient carethat's why we fund over a billion pounds a year in health research as part of our long term plan for the NHS."

Explore further Using DeepMind's neural network learning system to diagnose eye diseases

More information: Jeffrey De Fauw et al. Clinically applicable deep learning for diagnosis and referral in retinal disease, Nature Medicine (2018). Journal information: Nature Medicine Jeffrey De Fauw et al. Clinically applicable deep learning for diagnosis and referral in retinal disease,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-018-0107-6
An optical image of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 1399 and its satellite UCD3. Left panel: the image of UCD3 in F606W filter obtained by Hubble telescope. Right panel: an infrared image of UCD3 obtained using the SINFONI spectrograph. Credit: NASA/STScI/ESO/Afanasiev et al.

A team of scientists from the Faculty of Physics and Sternberg State Astronomical Institute, MSU, leading an international collaboration with members from Europe, Chile, the U.S. and Australia discovered a supermassive black hole in the center of the Fornax galaxy. The results of the research were published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society journal.

Fornax UCD3 is a part of a Fornax galaxy cluster and belongs to a very rare and unusual class of galaxies, ultracompact dwarfs. The mass of such dwarf galaxies reaches several dozen millions of solar masses, and the radius does not typically exceed 300 light years. This ratio between mass and size makes UCDs the densest stellar systems in the universe.

"We have discovered a supermassive black hole in the center of Fornax UCD3. The black hole mass is 3.5 million that of the sun, similar to the central black hole in our own Milky Way," explained Anton Afanasiev, the first author of the article, a student of the department of the Faculty of Physics, MSU.

In the course of the study, the scientists used the data collected with SINFONI, an infrared integral field spectrograph installed at one of the 8.2 meter VLT telescopes in Chile operated by the European Southern Observatory. Having analyzed the observed spectra, the authors derived the dependence between stellar velocity dispersion and radius in Fornax UCD3. Velocity dispersion quantifies the average variation between the individual stellar line-of-sight velocity and the mean velocity of the entire stellar population. In the presence of a massive body such as a black hole, the stars are influenced by its gravity and accelerate in different directions. Due to that, their average speed does not grow, but the dispersion increases considerably. This is the very effect that was observed in this galaxythe velocity dispersion in its center is so high that it can only be explained by the presence of a massive central black hole.

After that, the scientists compared the dependence of velocity and dispersion with dynamic models based on different assumptions of black hole mass. They found that the model suggesting the mass of the black hole being equal to 3.5 million solar masses agreed with the observations best. They also considered the possibility that no black hole was present there at all, but that hypothesis was excluded with the statistical significance of (99.7 percent).

The black hole discovered by the authors is the fourth ever to be found in UCDs and corresponds to 4 percent of the total galaxy mass. In average galaxies, this ratio is considerably lower (about 0.3 percent). Though there are few known examples, the existence of massive black holes in UCDs is a strong argument for the tidal origin of such galaxies. According to this hypothesis, an average-sized galaxy passed a bigger and more massive one at a certain stage of its evolution, and as a result of the influence of tidal forces, lost the majority of its stars. The remaining compact nucleus has become what we know as an ultracompact dwarf.

"To be able to say with complete assurance that this hypothesis is correct, we need to discover more supermassive black holes in UCDs. This is one of the prospects of this work.

Moreover, a similar methodology may be applied to more massive and less dense compact elliptical galaxies. In one of our next works, we will study the population of central black holes in objects of this kind," concluded the scientist.

More information: Anton V Afanasiev et al, A 3.5 million Solar masses black hole in the centre of the ultracompact dwarf galaxy fornax UCD3, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2018). Journal information: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Anton V Afanasiev et al, A 3.5 million Solar masses black hole in the centre of the ultracompact dwarf galaxy fornax UCD3,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/sty913
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A blog about Old Macau !






Researchers want to make climate forecasts more accessible to help the energy and other industries better predict spikes in usage. Credit: Pxhere, licensed under CC0

The impact of heavy droughts, heatwaves and cold spells on energy demand and supplies would be lessened with seasonal climate forecasts that allow energy companies to better predict spikes in usage ahead of time, researchers say.

Researchers already have the ability to predict what changes in climate can be expected in two to three weeks' time, or even in several months' time. Unlike weather forecasts, which look at rainfall and temperatures over the following hours and days, these climate forecasts aim to predict how conditions may change compared to what is normal for that time of year. Getting access to this information, however, is difficult as it is mostly available in a highly technical format that is unreadable to non-scientists.

The energy industry in particular would benefit from having access to a simplified version of this information as it can help it to predict the likelihood of extreme weather events on a seasonal basis. For example, heatwaves tend to result in surges in energy usage as people crank their air conditioning up to full blast, and cold spells lead to excessive use of heating.

Heatwaves can be particularly problematic for the energy industry because they often knock out nuclear power stations too  large quantities of cold water are needed to cool down reactors, and during heatwaves and droughts, the water supply is likely too warm to use. This means that at the same time that energy demand is higher, the supply is compromised.

"Both the energy supply and demand are dependent on climactic factors which may be predictable," said Professor Alberto Troccoli of the University of East Anglia, managing director of the World Energy & Meteorology Council.

"When you have events like heatwaves, the demand for energy goes up very quickly because there is more air-conditioning being used. The fact that you didn't predict that, and you have all this demand, means you have to source extra electricity. Because it's not ordered in advance, they'll charge you more and the prices go up."

Prof. Troccoli coordinates a project called SECLI-FIRM, which is using models of how the climate behaves to understand what is likely to happen in the coming months.

Up until now, the energy industry has mainly looked at past climate variations, a practice known as climatology, to predict climate patterns in the coming months. However, this method is proving to be less and less reliable as climate change results in an increase in unexpected extreme weather events, which can affect demand. By contrast, climate models are becoming increasingly popular as they are displaying some positive results for predicting extreme temperature events, for example, this year's heatwave.

Accessible

In addition to providing a reliable seasonal forecast, the modelling tool being developed by SECLI-FIRM aims to make seasonal climate forecast data more accessible for non-scientists  such as those working in the energy industry, but also in water supply, agriculture, wine production and olive oil, and even the insurance sector.

It's an example of a new type of business known as climate services, which aims to turn climate science and data into usable tools and intelligence for organisations.

Dr. Albert Soret, from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, said that in order to provide climate intelligence to businesses, it is vital to produce a seamless forecast that can be used for decision-making at different timescales.

"At the end, we want to be able to explain a story to the (energy industry), so that they will be able to make a decision for the coming weeks and months," he said.

Soret coordinates a project called S2S4E, which is building an online map of Europe containing forecasts that range from one week to four months ahead.

The S2S4E map will highlight total installed power  the potential maximum power capacity  from wind and solar farms across Europe. The user will be able to point at a particular spot on the map and insert the timeframe that they want predictions for. The tool will then produce probability forecasts for rain, temperature, wind and other energy-specific variables.

The project is based in a supercomputer centre because climate models are systems that emulate the whole Earth system, incorporating figures for sea surface temperature, snow cover and winds at any given time, and have to be run several times to get a good prediction.

Dr. Isadora Jimenez, who works on the S2S4E project, said: "It's not something that you can calculate on your personal laptop."

The S2S4E tool will be available by June 2019, while the SECLI-FIRM tool will come online in July 2020, though a prototype will be developed sooner.

Probabilities

One of the main problems faced by both S2S4E and SECLI-FIRM is that the energy industry sometimes expects the data to be presented in the same way as weather forecasts. However, this isn't the case, as climate seasonal forecasts are based on probabilities.

"If you're used to the weather forecast, you expect that someone will tell you the temperature's going to be 24 degrees with an error of plus or less one degree," said Dr. Jimenez.

"In climate science we run a model a number of times, look at all the possible outcomes and results of that simulation and that gives you a probability. Climate predictions cannot tell you the weather in August is going to be 27 plus or less two degrees. They are going to tell you that you have a 70% probability of having temperatures above 24 degrees."

With advanced information about energy shortages or surges in demand, however, companies can better organise themselves to avoid expensive fines and high energy prices. This is important because although the industry will shoulder any initial price hikes, it will ultimately be the customer who pays, according to Prof. Troccoli.

"It's the users in the end that suffer," he said. "If (the extreme event) has a large enough effect when energy companies revise the energy price in six months or a year, you (the consumer) will likely see that increase."

Explore further Bridging the gap between weather and climate
Pictured, the platinumcopper single-atom alloy. Copper (orange) is unable to break bonds between carbon (black) and hydrogen (clear) in methane derivatives except at higher temperatures, but a single atom of platinum (icy blue) in the surface layer of the alloy can break off hydrogen atoms at relatively low temperatures without forming coke. Credit: Michail Stamatakis, UCL

Technological advances in oil and gas well stimulation over the past decade now allow for the production of natural gas from shale gas trapped in rock formations underground. With the sudden increase in the availability of shale gas, scientists have regained interest in carbonhydrogen (CH) activation, the process of breaking CH bonds from gases such as methane to form chains of hydrocarbons that can be used as fuel.

But scientists are a long way from gleaning these fuels from shale gasmost catalysts for CH activation break off too many hydrogen atoms, leaving behind an unwanted carbon solid called coke.

Desiring a metal alloy that would function as a catalyst for CH activation while remaining coke-resistant, a team led by Charles Sykes at Tufts University conceived of an alloy made from the reactive metal platinum and the inert metal copper. In a series of laboratory experiments, Sykes' team looked at pure copper, pure platinum, and a platinumcopper single-atom alloy (SAA) to determine each material's interactions with methane-derived hydrocarbons, molecules that are found naturally in shale gas. The team discovered that the platinumcopper SAA was resistant to coking.

Following this discovery, the Multiscale Computational Catalysis & Materials Science group led by Michail Stamatakis at the University College London used the high-performance computing (HPC) resources at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) to unmask details of the experiments via simulations. Matthew Darby, a postdoctorate at the time and now recipient of the UK's Engineering and Physical Science Research Council doctoral prize working in the Stamatakis group, performed the calculations for the project.

Darby found that at low temperatures, platinum rapidly strips hydrogens from methane, leading to the formation of carbon deposits; copper is unable to break CH bonds except at high temperatures. The team's platinumcopper alloy, however, was found to efficiently break CH bonds at intermediate temperatures without forming coke. Like pure copper, the alloy was also able to form two- and three-molecule chains of methaneand could achieve this at a temperature more than 100 degrees Celsius cooler than what copper required.

"These calculations are very computationally expensive. For some, if you ran them on your laptop, it might take several months to run one calculation," Darby said. "At the OLCF, it can take maybe a day or two because you have hundreds of cores to work with."

Powerful supercomputers at the OLCF, a US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, solve complex scientific problems in energy, materials, chemistry, and many other scientific domains. The results of the team's simulations explain platinum and copper reactions with methane and offer a new coke-resistant catalyst.

Armed with this new knowledge, the experimentalists at Tufts created a microlevel replica of a real chemical plant's performance to gain even more insights into the process. The project demonstrates that theory can be used to refine experiments by providing fundamental understanding, setting the stage for larger-scale experimental work.

A coking problem

Common fuels that exist as chains of hydrocarbon molecules include propane, often used in furnaces for heat, and butane, the liquid found in most lighters. Using CH activation, scientists can jumpstart reactions within the simplest hydrocarbonmethaneand thereby encourage these molecules to link together to form useful fuels. Because shale formations are abundant and sources of longer hydrocarbons (e.g., crude oil) are running low, scientists are searching for ways to catalytically convert methane into these fuels.

Transition metals such as platinum and nickel are effective catalysts, but they also cause large amounts of obstructive coke deposits to form. This layer of carbon coats the top of the metal, rendering the remaining methane molecules unable to react with the rest of the metal material.

"Coke is a big problem in industrial chemistry," Darby said. "Once it's deposited, you have to take your metal out of the reactor, clean it off, and put it back in. That involves either shutting the giant chemical plant down or heating the metal to dangerously high temperatures."

Counterintuitive to their ability to rapidly break hydrogens away from methane, platinum and nickel are limited at making longer-chain hydrocarbons because of coking. Recently scientists have sought alloys made of an active metal such as platinum or nickel and an inert metal such as copper or silver. But even with these kinds of alloys, coking has continued to pose a problem.

Sykes' team developed a novel SAA, or single-atom alloy, with only 1 atom of platinum for every 100 atoms of copper, to combat the coking. The platinum atoms were isolated in the surface layer of the metal to ensure they wouldn't overly react. The experiments showed that single platinum atoms in copper still react to break CH bonds but not to the extent that coke is formed.

Darby then simulated pure platinum, pure copper, and the SAA to determine which of the three surfaces a carbon atom binds to most strongly. He repeated this process with carbon bonded to one, two, three, and four hydrogens as well as hydrogen atoms on their own. He found that these molecules bind to copper with a higher affinity than to platinum, and much more energy is required for copper to break CH bonds. The results are key to explaining why copper is an ineffective catalyst.

"Platinum can break CH bonds millions of times faster than copper, and the alloy is somewhere in between," Darby said. "Before this SAA, people couldn't get two or three methane molecules linked together at low temperatures without deactivating the metal. We've shown we can get as many as three."

The finding is important because there has never before been an alloy that could effectively break CH bonds and also remain coke-resistant.

"Our SAA demonstrates that a solution to this problem could be possible," Darby said. "I hope this will help spur the chemistry community to try more SAA combinations and see if we can actually find the alloy that's going to be perfect for this."

Atom-sized particles

The simulations were performed on OLCF resources using the Vienna ab initio Simulation Package (VASP), a code designed for modeling materials at the atomic scale. VASP is the most popular of its kind and is perfectly tailored for use on high-performance parallel computers such as the ones at the OLCF.

"We model things on an atom level," Darby said. "We modeled 100 atom-sized particles: the catalyst and the methane molecules. We then calculated how much energy it takes to convert methane into something else."

By comparing these calculations to one another, Darby was able to explain the experimental findings. By reproducing everything in the experiment, the team could see down to the atom level and simulate the number of times specific bonds would breaksomething that is impossible to count in an experiment.

The team's hope is that one day an alloy will be able to link up to eight methanes (the compound octane), which can then be used to fuel cars. The project results and the Stamatakis group's ongoing work will allow experimentalists to focus on the most important systems of alloys rather than testing random systems.

"With experiment, it's mostly trial and error," Darby said. "Simulations give us a roadmap."

Explore further New catalyst for making fuels from shale gas

More information: Matthew T. Darby et al. Elucidating the Stability and Reactivity of Surface Intermediates on Single-Atom Alloy Catalysts, ACS Catalysis (2018). Matthew T. Darby et al. Elucidating the Stability and Reactivity of Surface Intermediates on Single-Atom Alloy Catalysts,(2018). DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b00881 Matthew D. Marcinkowski et al. Pt/Cu single-atom alloys as coke-resistant catalysts for efficient CH activation, Nature Chemistry (2018). DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2915 Journal information: Nature Chemistry , ACS Catalysis
In this Aug. 9, 2018, file photo a wildfire burns near homes in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif. California homeowners may find themselves facing insurance issues even if they were not directly hit by this year's blazes. The California Department of Insurance warned in January that the increasing number and severity of wildfires in the state were making it more difficult for homeowners to find and hold on to insurance. And now they say that recent massive fires may make the problem more acute. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)

A wildfire destroyed structures and forced evacuations Monday from the busiest area of Montana's Glacier National Park, as officials in California prepared to reopen Yosemite National Park following a two-week closure at the height of the summer season.

Meanwhile, a Utah firefighter died Monday battling a massive blaze in Northern Californiathe sixth fatality in a matter of weeks.

The fighter was injured and died at a hospital, state fire officials said, but provided no further details.

Firefighters from many states are on the lines in California, which has seen a series of deadly and devastating wildfires since late July.

The death occurred north of San Francisco where the largest fire in recorded state history has been burning since July 27.

Two other wildfires in Northern California have claimed five other firefighters and six other lives.

In Montana, Glacier's Sprague Creek campground was closed and evacuated, a day after a fast-moving fire triggered the evacuation of dozens of guests from the historic Lake McDonald Lodge late Sunday night.

Park officials said in a statement that structures on the north end of Lake McDonald were lost, but they did not provide details on the number and type. The fire grew to between 2 and 4 square miles (between 5 and 10 square kilometers) by Monday afternoon.

From left, Yaqmur Abay from Turkey and Anne Ruiz from Spain, two summer employees in Glacier National Park, sit on the edge of the Apgar dock with the feet in the water of Lake McDonald on Monday morning, Aug. 13, 2018. The iconic view into the park has been completely obscured and air quality has been significantly affected by multiple wildfires which are currently burning. (AP/Daily Inter Lake, Brenda Ahearn)

"It just completely exploded. Yesterday we were watching it grow all day, and now it's so smoky you can't see anything," said Kyersten Siebenaler with Glacier Outfitters, which rents boats in Apgar, a small community at the south end of the lake.

The outfitting company was trying to help tourists who evacuated find places to stay on the east side of the park, where it was not as smoky, Siebenaler said.

A second campground, a motel and private residences inside the park's boundary also were evacuated. A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic. The road, with breathtaking views of the park's mountainous interior, is a major draw for tourists.

Triple-digit temperatures across parts of the statepaired with lightning from passing thunderstormsset the stage for several new large fires to take hold in Montana in recent days.

Among them was a 3-square-mile (8-square-kilometer) fire that triggered an evacuation order for residents of 15 houses southwest of the town of Ennis, Montana. The fire was burning in challenging mountain terrain with a mix of pine, fir and spruce trees, said fire information spokesman Dave Sabo.

Montana had a slow start to this year's fire season following a record-setting 2017 in which more than 2,400 square miles (6,215 square kilometers) burned. This year's fires so far have charred a combined 30 square miles (78 square kilometers) of the state.

In Colorado, a wildfire in the southwestern portion of the state ignited by lightning July 29 had burned across 34 square miles (88 square kilometers) by Monday.

In this photo taken Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, an air tanker drops water over a wildfire burning in Glacier National Park, Mont. The fire was started by lightning on Saturday night and forced the evacuation of the Lake McDonald Lodge and closed part of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road in the park. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News via AP)

Wildfires flare up regularly at many of the large national parks that dot the U.S. West, often burning in densely-forested, backcountry areas where their effects are limited. This year's blazes threaten to have a magnified impact coming at the height of the summer tourist season.

More than 400,000 visitors last month passed through the west entrance of Glacier, near McDonald Lake. That was almost half the park's total. August is typically just as busy, and a protracted shutdown of part of the park could hurt the tourist-driven local economy.

"We're hoping this is short-lived," said Danny McIntosh, marketing manager for Glacier Park Collection by Pursuit, which operates Motel Lake McDonald. McIntosh said all of the guests in the motel's 28 rooms were relocated to other accommodations run by the company.

Yosemite was scheduled to reopen Tuesday after being largely closed since July 25 because of smoke from fires in remote areas that choked the scenic Yosemite Valley.

The closure caused upheaval for thousands of tourists whose summer trips were cancelled. Visitors were warned to expect limited hours and services as the park returns to normal.

The fire burning in Glacier was one of several started in the park by lightning on Saturday evening. Windy, dry conditions on Sunday caused the blaze to spread rapidly, in full view of tourists and people who live and work around Lake McDonald, a 9-mile (14-kilometer) body of water ringed by steep-sided mountains.

Two planes from Canada were brought in to help battle the blaze, but officials said high winds prevented their pilots from flying close enough to the fire to be effective.

In this photo taken Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, a fire burns next to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in northwest Montana. The fire, which was started by lightning on Saturday night, has forced the evacuation of the Lake McDonald Lodge and a nearby campground. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News via AP)

The lake was partially closed to boaters while the planes were scooping up water to drop on the fire, Siebenaler said.

Crews were expected to stay on scene through the night to protect houses and other structures from the flames.

It's the second year in a row that wildfires prompted evacuations around Lake McDonald. A blaze in the area last year destroyed the Sperry Chalet, an iconic backcountry lodge built in 1914. Work recently started on rebuilding the chalet. It was not immediately known if construction had to be halted due to the fires.

Taylor Creasey of Whitefish said she and a friend drove up to the lodge Sunday afternoon after they heard about the fire, the Missoulian newspaper reported. She posted a video on Facebook of huge plumes of smoke hanging over burning ridges around the lake.

"We didn't expect to see anything that crazy," Creasey said Monday. "It was so cold there, but at the same time really hotyou could feel the heat radiating across the lake. It was windy and cold and hot all at the same time."

Explore further Glacier wildfire forces evacuations, Yosemite to reopen

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

University of Otago research examining the role of psychological ownership in shoplifting prevention is to be extended into a New Zealand-wide survey of supermarket staff after notable results in a pilot trial.

"The role of psychological ownership in shoplifting prevention: An exploratory study," published in the latest issue of the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services examined how the principles of psychological ownership (traditionally applied to building stronger relationships between retailers and customers) could be applied to reducing losses from shoplifting and other forms of retail crime.

The study was led by University of Otago Ph.D. student Balkrushna Potdar alongside his supervisors Dr. John Guthrie, Dr. Tony Garry and Professor Juergen Gnoth of Otago's Department of Marketing.

"We wanted to see if there was evidence to show that a good relationship between a retailer and their staff would mean employees are more proactive and alert to preventing and informing of theft. The results support our hypothesis, so it is exciting to be able to extend this out and gather wider data from supermarkets around New Zealand," Mr Potdar says.

Dr. Guthrie, who has supervised the research, says if results continue to support the hypothesis it will be a valuable tool for retailers, especially as retail crime is growing (according to findings in the New Zealand Retail Crime Survey conducted by Dr. John Guthrie in conjunction with Retail NZ in December 2017).

"From a business standpoint the learning will be whether or not there are other ways of reducing or even preventing retail crime. From a practical standpoint I believe that a valuable outcome will be information that will allow retailers to better understand their employees, and thereby help them deliver more productive training programmes  in more areas than just loss prevention," Dr. Guthrie says.

Dr. Guthrie adds that from an academic perspective a possible outcome is the creation of new safeguard theory, or perhaps more accurately, extending the existing theory of psychological ownership into the darker (and expensive) side of retailing  retail crime.

Mr Potdar adds that given financial losses due to shoplifting are estimated to be an average loss of 6.6 per cent of sales to retailers (Perlman and Ozinci, 2014) extending the initial pilot trial of 26 staff of supermarkets to 1000+ staff members from New Zealand supermarkets has the potential to provide tangible benefits to employees as well as to employers.

"If we can conclusively prove a better employer-employee relationship results in a reduction of retail crime then we could potentially improve business' bottom-line along with staff morale and workplace satisfaction, which would be a fantastic outcome," says Mr Potdar.

The online questionnaire survey to gather the next wave of data will go out to participating supermarkets in early September, with results and findings expected in October 2018.

Explore further New research shows retail crime increasing and more violent

More information: Balkrushna Potdar et al. The role of psychological ownership in shoplifting prevention: An exploratory study, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services (2018). Balkrushna Potdar et al. The role of psychological ownership in shoplifting prevention: An exploratory study,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.07.015
In this June 14, 2018, file photo Tesla CEO and founder of the Boring Company Elon Musk speaks at a news conference in Chicago. Musk says he's in talks with the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund about taking the electric car and solar panel maker private, but no deal has been finalized. Musk says in a blog posted Monday, Aug. 13, that most of the funding would be in stock rather than debt. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's elaboration on his plan to engineer a buyout of the electric car maker could get the Silicon Valley maverick into legal trouble by revealing that the deal is far more uncertain than how he initially described it in his brash tweet last week.

If everything falls into place, Musk plans to buy Tesla from any existing shareholders willing to sell using money raised through Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

Until his Monday blog post , Musk hadn't identified the source for financing a deal that analysts estimate could cost anywhere from $25 billion to $50 billion.

But when he initially dropped his bombshell in an August 7 tweet , Musk stated he had "funding secured" to buy Tesla stock at $420 per share23 percent above its August 6 closing price.

That assurance caused Tesla's stock to surge 11 percent in one day, boosting the company's market value by more than $6 billion to the dismay investors who had been betting Tesla's shares would decline.

It now appears as if financing for the deal is far from locked up, although Musk wrote on Monday that he was encouraged to pursue the buyout in a July 31 meeting with the managing director of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Discussions have continued this month, Musk wrote, while adding the caveat that the deal remained "subject to financial and other due diligence and their internal review process for obtaining approvals."

That contingency contradicts the financing guarantee that Musk issued in a tweet that already has opened an inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to published reports. At least two lawsuits seeking to become a class action also have been filed against Tesla, alleging Musk broke securities laws by making it sound like all the financing for the buyout had been lined up.

"'Funding secured' wasn't exactly funding secured," said Peter Henning, a law professor at Wayne State University in Detroit and former SEC lawyer. "There are some issues here."

After reading Musk's Monday post, former SEC commissioner Joseph Grundfest concluded the chances of regulators taking action against Musk are now "quite high." He believes Musk, who runs cutting-edge aerospace company SpaceX in addition to Tesla, opened a "self-inflicted wound" by announcing the buyout in last week's nine-word tweet instead of spelling out the situation like he did in Monday's post.

"What Elon Musk is trying to do with electric cars and rockets is hard enough without creating more problems for yourself with bad Twitter hygiene," Grundfest said.

Tesla wouldn't comment on a possible SEC investigation or why it took a week for details to be released in the blog. The SEC also declined comment Monday. Six of Tesla's nine board members said last week they there are evaluating Musk's proposal, which would end Tesla's eight-year history as a public company and relieve some of the mounting pressure to reverse its long history of losses.

Besides making assurances about the deal's financing, Musk also sent out another tweet that asserted the only uncertainty was whether the majority of shareholders would approve it.

That statement also helped drive up Tesla's stock, irritating investors such as Mark Spiegel, whose Stanphyl Capital investment firm has been a long-time "short seller" of the shares. Short sellers borrow shares in a company's stock and sell them immediately on the premise they can be replaced at a lower price in the future.

"My guess is he was fooling around," Spiegel said of Musk's early tweets about the buyout. "He probably was getting a good laugh out of it."

Although Musk only recently broached the possibility of buying out Tesla with its board, he wrote Monday that the Saudi Arabian fund had approached him about taking the company private multiple times during the past two years.

Founded in 1971, the Public Investment Fund ranks among the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, giving it the means to buy out Tesla. It already holds about $250 billion investments around the world, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, including a $3.5 billion stake in the biggest ride-hailing service, Uber.

Buying all of Tesla's stock would currently cost $72 billion, but a buyout of the Palo Alto, California, company probably wouldn't require as much money. That's because Musk owns roughly 20 percent of Tesla's stock and he envisions two-third of the company's current shareholders retaining their stakes in a newly created special fund.

If only one-third of Tesla's stock is sold in a buyout offer, it would cost nearly $24 billion. Other analysts have estimated financing a Tesla buyout would cost closer to $50 billion.

Investors are much more skeptical about Musk being able to pull off a buyout than they were after his first tweet about the deal. Tesla's stock crept up 92 cents Monday to close at $356.41, well below Musk's proposed bid.

Even if the financing is in place, the deal might not come together because it would involve foreign interests buying at least one-third of a U.S. company that is trying to revolutionize the auto industry with its electric vehicles.

The government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States would likely would review this deal because of Tesla's technology and the likelihood that a foreign country would get at least one board seat to gain some control over a U.S. company, said Jeremy Zucker, co-head of the international trade practice at Dechert LLP in Washington, D.C.

Whether it's technology pertaining to longer-life batteries or technology pertaining to what's behind the dashboard in a Tesla car, "I can see CFIUS viewing these technologies as of potential national security interest," he said.

Explore further Tesla CEO Musk taunts short sellers amid legal scrutiny

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Computer simulation of the distribution of matter in the universe. Orange regions host galaxies; blue structures are gas and dark matter. A University of California study demonstrated that opaque regions of the universe are like the large voids in the galaxy distribution in this image because too little light from the galaxies is able to reach such regions and render them transparent. Credit: TNG Collaboration

University of California astronomers, including three from UCLA, have resolved a mystery about the early universe and its first galaxies.

Astronomers have known that more than 12 billion years ago, about 1 billion years after the Big Bang, the gas in deep space was, on average, much more opaque than it is now in some regions, although the opacity varied widely from place to place. But they weren't sure about what caused those variations.

To learn why the differences occurred, the astronomers used one of the world's largest telescopes, the Subaru telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, to search for galaxies of young stars in an exceptionally large region of space500 million light-years acrosswhere they knew the intergalactic gas was extremely opaque.

If the region had an unusually small number of galaxies, the scientists would be able to conclude that starlight could not penetrate as far as expected through the intergalactic gas; if it had an unusually large number of galaxies, the implication would be that the region had cooled significantly over the previous several hundred million years. (Having few galaxies in a region would mean not only that there was less light created by those galaxies, but also that even more opaque gas was being formed, so the light could not travel as far as astronomers had expected.)

"It was a rare case in astronomy where two competing models, both of which were compelling in their own way, offered precisely opposite predictions, and we were lucky that those predictions were testable," said Steven Furlanetto, a UCLA professor of astronomy and a co-author of the research.

The researchers found that region contains far fewer galaxies than expectedclear evidence that starlight could not get through. The paucity of galaxies could be the reason this region is so opaque.

"It is not that the opacity is a cause of the lack of galaxies," Furlanetto said. "Instead, it's the other way around."

They concluded that because the gas in deep space is kept transparent by ultraviolet light from galaxies, fewer nearby galaxies might make it murkier.

The research is published in the Astrophysical Journal.

In the first billion years after the Big Bang, ultraviolet light from the first galaxies filled the universe with gas in deep space. This would have occurred earlier in regions with more galaxies, the astronomers concluded. The astronomers plan to further study whether the void and others like it will reveal clues about how the first generations of galaxies illuminated the universe during that early period. Furlanetto said the astronomers hope that studying the interplay of galaxies and gas in deep space will reveal more about how the intergalactic ecosystem took shape during that period of the early universe.

More information: George D. Becker et al, Evidence for Large-scale Fluctuations in the Metagalactic Ionizing Background Near Redshift Six, The Astrophysical Journal (2018). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal George D. Becker et al, Evidence for Large-scale Fluctuations in the Metagalactic Ionizing Background Near Redshift Six,(2018). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aacc73
Technologists integrate a Goddard-developed instrument into Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's (LLNL) CubeSat bus. Those pictured include LLNL's Lance Simms (front) and from left to right: Vincent Riot (LLNL), A.J. DiGregorio (Goddard), Jennifer Young (Goddard), and Guru Ramu (Goddard). Credit: Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, LLNL-PHOTO-753023

A novel instrument that has already proven its mettle on field campaigns will attempt to measure atmospheric greenhouse gases from an occultation-viewing, low-Earth-orbiting CubeSat mission called Mini-Carb early next yearmarking the first time this type of instrument has flown in space.

Emily Wilson, a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is teaming with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, or LLNL, to fly a smaller, more ruggedized version of her patented mini-Laser Heterodyne Radiometer, or mini-LHR, on an LLNL-built CubeSat platform early next year.

Wilson has demonstrated the ground-based mini-LHR during several field campaigns in Alaska, the Amazon River Basin, and the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland, among other locations. Highly portable, the mini-LHR is comprised of commercially available components and literally can go anywhere to gather measurements.

Although NASA is currently measuring carbon dioxide from space, the agency has never flown a laser heterodyne radiometer to do the job.

Laser heterodyne radiometers were adapted from radio receiver technology. In this variation, the concentrations of greenhouse gases are found by measuring their absorption of infrared sunlight. Each absorption signal is mixed with laser light in a fast photoreceiver within the instrument and the resulting signal is detected at an easier-to-process radio frequency. While this is similar to other absorption techniques, such as those used in the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, laser heterodyne radiometry offers higher spectral resolution as well as improved signal-to-noise levels due to the internal mixing of sunlight with laser light, Wilson explained.

Other advantages are that the mini-LHR is more compact and includes no moving parts, Wilson added. Furthermore, the instrument can measure three greenhouse gases: in addition to carbon dioxide, her instrument can simultaneously measure water vapor and methane in Earth's atmospheric limb. "And comparatively speaking, the instrument cost a small fraction to build compared with more traditional, non-CubeSat instruments," Wilson said. "This is the epitome of science on a shoestring."

Flight Aboard New CubeSat Bus

About the size of a toaster, the flight version of her instrument will fly as the only payload on LLNL's new, 11-pound 6U CubeSat bus known as the CNGBshort for CubeSat Next Generation Bus. The CubeSat Office at the National Reconnaissance Office originated the CNGB concept, funding researchers at LLNL, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Space Dynamics Laboratory to develop a government-owned nano-satellite architecture that could support a broad range of missions. Mini-Carb is the first mission to do so.

Jennifer Young (front), Guru Ramu (left), A.J. DiGregorio (back), Emily Wilson (middle), and Paul Cleveland (right) are flying their laser heterodyne radiometer on a CubeSat mission called Mini-Carb to measure three types of greenhouse gases. NASA has never flown this type of instrument in space, although it has been demonstrated in field campaigns. Credit: NASA/W. Hrybyk

"Emily had a payload without a satellite and we had a spacecraft without a payload," said Vincent Riot, an LLNL engineer who helped develop the CNGB bus, which offers users a plug-and-play capability that allows for rapid configuration and integration. "That's where this partnership formed. This is a proof-of-concept mission to show that we can do excellent science with our platform," Riot said.

The debut flight of both Wilson's instrument and LLNL's CubeSat is slated for January 2019 through the Air Force Space Test Program. Wilson and her team recently delivered the instrument to LLNL where they helped integrate the instrument into the spacecraft in preparation for flight.

Upper Troposphere, Lower Stratosphere Targeted

Once in orbit, Mini-Carb will observe the region between the upper troposphere to the lower stratosphere between six and 18 miles above Earth's surface. Measurements in this atmospheric region provide important information about stratospheric circulation and how it responds to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. "Measuring stratospheric circulation and its variability are essential for projecting how climate change will affect the stratospheric ozone," Wilson said.

Scientists believe that the projected increases in methane and carbon dioxide this century will affect several physical processes that drive climate change, she said. Methane, which is especially long-lived, results in the increased production of stratospheric water vapor and hydroxide, which directly affects ozone, the layer that protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. "Because of methane's role in the changing chemistry of the ozone layer and because of its long lifetime, methane measurements are especially valuable," Wilson said.

Like its ground-based sibling, the Mini-Carb instrument is made of commercial parts and operates passivelythat is, it collects sunlight that has absorbed the targeted greenhouse gases. That light is combined with laser light tuned to the infrared wavelengths and then amplified. Through a series of other steps, the instrument can reveal the concentrations of the greenhouse gases contained in the atmosphere.

While Wilson originally developed both the ground- and space-based instruments for studying climate change on Earth, the instrument also could be employed on a probe or lander to study the atmospheric conditions on other planets, she said.

The immediate goal, however, is demonstrating Mini-Carb in space. "If we get one measurement, I'll consider it a success. There is potential for an extension if the mission works," Riot said. "If this works, our success could lead to bigger projects down the road," Wilson added. "This is a very big deal for us."
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

An international team of researchers has found that there are few areas where palm oil cultivation could be undertaken in Africa that would not cause harm to native primates. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of data pertaining to the suitability of palm oil cultivation and primate vulnerability in Africa, and what they found.

In recent years, palm oil has become more valuable. In addition to being used as a food additive (it is also in such products as cosmetics and soaps) it has now become an important ingredient it many biofuels. Palm oil comes, quite naturally, from the oil palm tree, which is native to West Africa. But it was migrated to Malaysia and Indonesia many years ago, and those two countries are now the main exporters of the oil. But that is likely to change, because land for growing the trees has become scarce in those countries. For that reason, producers have begun to take a serious look at establishing plantations in Africa. In this new effort, the researchers suggest that doing so will cause even more problems for at-risk native primate populations. The problem is that many of the primates living in Africa, inhabit areas that are most suitable for palm oil cultivation.

To learn more about the possible impact of palm oil cultivation in Africa, the researchers pulled statistics from databases containing information on palm oil production and primate vulnerability in Africacomparing the two showed that there are very few places in Africa where palm oil could be cultivated without harming primates (it amounted to just 0.13 million hectares). One of the few exceptions was one part of Madagascar. They further note that there are almost 200 primate species living in Africa, and many of them are living in areas of overlapland suitable for both primates and oil palm cultivation. They suggest that destroying habitat for the sake of palm oil cultivation would further endanger the primates living there. They further suggest that changes be made to palm oil cultivation practices to reduce the impact on the local environment. They also note that consumers can help by refusing to buy products that contain palm oil produced in ways that harm primates.

Explore further Tropical birds benefit from more forest by rivers in oil palm areas

More information: Giovanni Strona et al. Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Giovanni Strona et al. Small room for compromise between oil palm cultivation and primate conservation in Africa,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804775115 Abstract

Despite growing awareness about its detrimental effects on tropical biodiversity, land conversion to oil palm continues to increase rapidly as a consequence of global demand, profitability, and the income opportunity it offers to producing countries. Although most industrial oil palm plantations are located in Southeast Asia, it is argued that much of their future expansion will occur in Africa. We assessed how this could affect the continent's primates by combining information on oil palm suitability and current land use with primate distribution, diversity, and vulnerability. We also quantified the potential impact of large-scale oil palm cultivation on primates in terms of range loss under different expansion scenarios taking into account future demand, oil palm suitability, human accessibility, carbon stock, and primate vulnerability. We found a high overlap between areas of high oil palm suitability and areas of high conservation priority for primates. Overall, we found only a few small areas where oil palm could be cultivated in Africa with a low impact on primates (3.3 Mha, including all areas suitable for oil palm). These results warn that, consistent with the dramatic effects of palm oil cultivation on biodiversity in Southeast Asia, reconciling a large-scale development of oil palm in Africa with primate conservation will be a great challenge. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 2018 Phys.org
A complex set-up of lenses and cameras are required for direct, laser-based NOx measurements in a flame. Credit:  2018 Miles Bohon

Switching to renewable fuels could significantly lower exhaust emissions of toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) as well as curbing global greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers at KAUST have combined computer analysis with laser-based NOx concentration measurements to understand NOx production pathways in different fuel types. The results may inspire new ways to mitigate NOx emissions, the researchers say.

Long before climate change focused global attention on vehicle carbon emissions, regulators were clamping down on NOx because of its detrimental effect on air quality. "Controlling nitrogen-oxide emissions continues to be a real challenge, with ever tightening restrictions on automobiles, trucks, and aviation," says William Roberts, who directs the KAUST Clean Combustion Research Center. "We are continually looking at emerging fuels and trying to develop chemical kinetic mechanisms to predict NOx formation."

In the latest study, Roberts and his colleagues examined NOx emissions from alcohol fuels, such as ethanol. These renewable fuels have gained attention because they are potentially carbon-neutral, but they also produce lower NOx emissions than conventional fossil fuels. Nitrogen oxides can be produced by various pathways, each of which dominates a different stage of combustion, says Myles Bohon, who contributed to the study during his Ph.D. before joining Technische Universitat Berlin. "By understanding these pathways and their relative importance, it becomes easier to develop NOx mitigation techniques," Bohon says.

The set up used to calibrate the laser beam. Credit:  Myles Bohon

The researchers used planar-laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) to measure NOx production throughout the flame, comparing alcohol fuels with an alkane fossil fuel surrogate. The technique helped the team differentiate nonthermal NOx production pathways, which dominate early in the flame, from thermal NOx production pathways, which mainly occur in the high-temperature post-flame region.

"These types of direct measurements are pretty difficult to pull off," says Bohon. "But they are important because they directly show the differences in the nonthermal NO formation between the two fuel classes." As much as 50 percent less nonthermal NO was produced in the alcohol flames, the researchers observed. They also developed an algorithm to further pinpoint the specific NOx pathway contribution differences between alcohol and alkane fuels.

"Alcohol fuels definitely have applications in internal combustion engines, where alcoholsethanol in particularare added to gasoline," says Bohon. "There is a lot of potential to use fuel blends to mitigate NOx," he adds.

KAUST researchers are continuing to refine their mechanistic understanding of NOx production, validating their models using laser-based diagnostics, to "predict, understand and eventually mitigate NOx emissions," Roberts says.

More information: Myles D. Bohon et al, PLIF measurements of non-thermal NO concentrations in alcohol and alkane premixed flames, Combustion and Flame (2018). Myles D. Bohon et al, PLIF measurements of non-thermal NO concentrations in alcohol and alkane premixed flames,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2018.05.024
Emily Karwacki, who recently earned her biology degree from the University of Central Florida, has developed a method to screen frogs for an infectious disease that has been linked to mass die-offs of frogs around the world. Thanks to her method, scientists will be able to track the disease and try to figure out why it is triggering the deaths. Credit: University of Central Florida

An undergraduate researcher has developed a method to screen frogs for an infectious disease that has been linked to mass die-offs of frogs around the world. Thanks to her method, scientists will be able to track the disease and try to figure out why it is triggering the deaths.

Emily Karwacki, who recently earned her biology degree from the University of Central Florida, didn't set out to track the deadly pathogen Perkinsea, but after landing a research spot in Assistant Professor Anna Savage's lab, she was set with the task of trying to test for the disease. Frogs, which are indicators of environmental changes, have been dying off in mass quantities. They are also an important part of the food chain. Without frogs, many other species would die, Savage said.

Scientists have narrowed down what's most affecting frogs to three pathogens, including Perkinsea.

"Not a lot of people have studied Perkinsea because it has only recently been identified," Karwacki said. "It's different from other diseases because of the way it attacks the host."

The pathogen enters the frog through the skin or may be ingested through its mouth. Scientists know it goes straight to the liver, embedding itself, before moving onto the rest of the tissue. It spreads and then the frog dies.

Karwacki, along with Savage and doctoral student Matt Atkinson, suspected that Perkinsea was killing frogs in Central Florida, but the researchers needed a way to test for it first. Karwacki was tasked with creating the molecular test. The method is called qPCR, but because Perkinsea was newly discovered, there wasn't enough genetic data to make a specific test. Karwacki had to create what's called a primer pair, and match it with a DNA sequence of Perkinsea, to get the qPCR test to work.

Emily Karwacki encounters a salamander during field work. Credit: University of Central Florida

"The test amplifies the DNA so you know if your pathogen is there or not," Emily said. "I had to align a bunch of DNA sequences from our samples with others from around the word to create my primer set. It was four or five months before we had both the primers and the probe to create a successful test."

Karwacki was the first to do this for Perkinsea and her work was recently published in the journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms.

Using Karwacki's qPCR assay, the team of researchers found that 25 percent of the frogs they sampled tested positive for the pathogen. They sampled three sites in Florida: Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights, the UCF Arboretum in Orlando, and the Archbold Biological Station in Venus. The area they found with the most prevalent infection was Gold Head Branch, which is the farthest north. Archbold, the farthest south, had no infection at all. "There are only three papers on this disease that identify it specifically," Karwacki said. "It has greatly been affecting amphibians in the southeastern United States and should be studied more. It's most likely at least a co-factor in these extinction events we are seeing."

Karwacki's method will now allow researchers all over the world to test for the disease. After graduating this summer, she is working on a new study, swabbing frog tissue samples at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. She's swabbed more than 900 samples, and has found that Perkinsea dates back to 1922. This proves the disease has been in frog populations before, and scientists are trying to figure out why it's only now killing off large numbers of frogs. "Now with my qPCR, people can test areas where they are trying to release frogs to rebound populations," Karwacki said. "Scientists can test water and soil to see if Perkinsea is there so we don't send frogs out to die."

Karwacki is entering the nonprofit business management master's program at UCF before pursuing graduate school. She will continue her work as a research associate in Savage's lab.

Explore further Emerging disease further jeopardizes North American frogs
Conglomerate Ayala Corp. said Monday net income climbed 7 percent in the first half to P16.1 billion from a year ago on the solid performance of the real estate, telecommunications, and power businesses. Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange equity earnings reached P19.5 billion in January to June, up 12 percent from a year ago, with strong contributions from Ayala Land Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc., which climbed 18 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Power generation arm AC Energys equity earnings contribution more than doubled in the first semester from the same period last year. These results validate our long-term strategy to achieve a more resilient portfolio by allocating capital to new businesses from which we can derive fresh sources of growth while continuing to expand our core businesses, Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala said. With the steady-state operations of its platforms and consistent value realization initiatives, we are happy to see AC Energy starting to provide the necessary balance to some of our more cyclical and longer gestation businesses, Zobel de Ayala said. The conglomerate said that in the second quarter, it recorded a net income of P8.4 billion, up 3 percent year-on-year, driven by Ayala Land and AC Energy, which posted transaction gains from value realization initiatives. The lower fee-based income and higher operating expenses recorded by the Bank of the Philippine Islands tempered the groups net earnings during the period. Ayala Lands net income grew 18 percent year-on-year to P13.5 billion, driven by its residential segment and supported by the commercial leasing business.Bank of the Philippine Islands booked a net income of P11.03 billion in the six-month period, down 5.7 percent from a year earlier, as lower non-interest income and higher operating expenses offset growth in the banks core business. Globe Telecom posted a net income of P10.1 billion in the first semester, on the back of continued strong performance of data-related products combined with stable costs and expenses. AC Energys net earnings expanded more than twofold to P2.1 billion in the first semester, bolstered by the solid performance across its wind, geothermal and thermal platforms. Minus the services income, AC Energys net profit jumped 59 percent in the first half. AC Energy announced in May its participation in the Australian renewables market through a joint venture with international renewable energy developer UPC Renewables. AC Energy plans to invest $30 million for a 50-percent ownership in UPCs Australian business. It is also providing a $200-million facility to fund the project equity. UPC Renewables Australia is developing the 1,000-MW Robbins Island and Jims Plain projects in North West Tasmania and the 600-MW New England Solar Farm located near Uralla in New South Wales.
Mountain Hare on Cullardoch, Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland. Credit: Mick Mckie

New study in the Journal of Applied Ecology shows mammals at less than one per cent of original levels.

Mountain hare numbers on moorlands in the eastern Highlands have declined to less than one per cent of their initial levels, according to a newly published long-term scientific study.

Counts of mountain hares from six decades of consistent spring counts on moorland managed for red grouse shooting and on neighbouring mountain land were analysed in the research by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the RSPB.

From 1954 to 1999 the mountain hare population on moorland sites decreased by nearly 5% every year. This long-term moorland decline is likely to be due to land use changes such as the loss of grouse moors to conifer forests, and is reflective of wider population declines that mountain hares are facing across their range.

However, from 1999 to 2017 the scale of the moorland declines increased dramatically to over 30% every year, leading to counts in 2017 of less than one per cent of original levels in 1954.

The dominant land use in these sites was intensive grouse moor management. Here, the unregulated practice of hare culling as a form of disease control, ostensibly to benefit red grouse, has become part of the management of many estates since the 1990s, despite the absence of evidence that it has any beneficial impact on total numbers of grouse shot.

On higher, alpine sites numbers of mountain hares fluctuated greatly, but increased overall until 2007, and then declined, although not to the unprecedented lows seen on moorland sites.

The Mountain hare is the UK's only native hare and was listed as Near Threatened in a recent review by the Mammal Society indicating that the species is of conservation concern in the UK.

Dr. Adam Watson, of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, who was lead author of the work, comments: "Having reached the age of 88 I am both delighted and relieved to see this paper published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. Having counted mountain hares across the moors and high tops of the eastern Highlands since 1943, I find the decline in numbers of these beautiful animals both compelling and of great concern. We need the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage to take action to help these iconic mammals of the hillI hope they will listen to the voice of scientific research"

Professor Jeremy Wilson, RSPB's Head of Conservation Science in Scotland who assisted in analysis of the data, said: "It has been an honour to support Dr. Watson in the analysis of his extraordinary long-term data set. These data reveal severe recent declines on grouse moors that are strongly correlated with the start of mountain hare culls for which there is no clear scientific justification. Urgent action is needed if the future conservation status of mountain hares is to be secure."

Duncan Orr Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland said: "The mountain hare is a keystone native species of the Scottish uplands. This authoritative research suggests that we should be very concerned about its population status in its former strongholds. We consider that large-scale population reduction culls are both illegal under EU law and unwarranted as a method for controlling grouse disease.

"Management of this species should now be more tightly controlled by Scottish Natural Heritage to safeguard mountain hare populations. We expect this subject to be given thorough consideration by the current independent grouse moor enquiry, which is looking at how grouse moors can be managed sustainably and within the law."

Explore further Climate change is shrinking mountain hares' habitat in the Alps

More information: Adam Watson et al, Seven decades of mountain hare counts show severe declines where high-yield recreational game bird hunting is practised, Journal of Applied Ecology (2018). Journal information: Journal of Applied Ecology Adam Watson et al, Seven decades of mountain hare counts show severe declines where high-yield recreational game bird hunting is practised,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13235
The recently discovered orchid species "Andinia tingomariana," found by a group of Peruvian botanists in the central Amazonian forest of Peru at the Tingo Maria National Park

Botanists have discovered a new species of orchid in Peru's central Amazonian rainforest, the country's national parks service announced Tuesday.

"The new species of orchid was recently discovered in the Tingo Maria National Park" in the Huanuco region, the parks service SERNANP announced.

The orchid is classified as belonging to the Andinia genus and was discovered in area of the Bella Durmiente (Spanish for Sleeping Beauty) mountain, which is a prominent feature of the Tingo Maria National Park, it said in a statement.

Set in the middle of Peru, the area is marked by mild weather with an annual average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

Fragrant and delicately beautiful, there are around 30,000 different species of orchid around the world, around 10 percent of them in Peru.

Around 240 can be found in the Tingo Maria National Park, which was created in 1965.

"This kind of discovery highlights the natural heritage of the country and demonstrates the good standard of conservation of the park," said Lorenzo Flores, director of the Tingo Maria National Park.

The orchid was given the name "Andinia tingomariana" by the US Department of Biologicial and Ecological Organisms in honor of the protected natural area where it was discovered

The orchid was given the name "Andinia tingomariana" by the US Department of Biologicial and Ecological Organisms in honor of the protected natural area where it was discovered.

The Tingo Maria National Park in the central Amazonian forest of Peru

 2018 AFP
Integrating technology into the classroom can have huge benefits. But its not always straight forward. Credit: from www.shutterstock.com

Somewhere in a school near you, a teacher is struggling to handle a query from a student whose laptop has a flat battery or another who's watching a funny cat video on a phone. Perhaps the wireless internet connection is dropping in and out, or the electronic whiteboard is playing up.

While teachers are expected to integrate technology into the classroom, the reality can be very different.

Some of the issues teachers can face relate to the technology itself. Others relate to student or parent expectations, or whether there's enough of the right professional development to help teachers become proficient in digital technology.

Without addressing these concerns, we risk creating a generation of students ill-prepared for a digital future.

The pressure to become digital experts

No doubt digital technologies can enhance learning through accessing information and improving communication, as well as providing self-directed and collaborative learning opportunities. ICT skills can also help develop capable, future-ready citizens.

So over the past decade, teachers have been expected to integrate digital technologies.

Students might be "digital natives", comfortable with and immersed in technology, but they depend on teachers to learn through digital means.

The curriculum requires teachers to develop students' general information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities across all fields of study, alongside the "technologies" curriculum.

Governments have prioritised getting digital technology into schools with large-scale programs such as Connected Classrooms in NSW and the national Digital Education Revolution. Pre-service teacher training programs have been advised to "enhance" initial teacher education by using innovative technology practices.

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) also expects all teaching levels to effectively implement, use, model, lead and support ICT technologies.

In practice, many teachers struggle

Despite significant resources allocated to integrating technology in the classroom, many teachers have struggled with disruptions that devices can bring, had their work negatively impacted or have not used technologies effectively. And many pre-service teachers perceive introducing new technologies as a future teaching barrier.

Here are ten reasons teachers can struggle to use new technologies in the classroom.

1. Introduced technology is not always preferred

Technology isn't always the answer. Pre-service teachers have reflected on having preferences for manual writing (compared to typing) and incidences of doubling up on time writing notes. Students can also prefer reading print and teachers can disengage from introducing new technology when they don't feel it adds anything extra.

2. Differing device capabilities and instructions

When students are required to bring their own device to school, there can be large differences in device capability, for example between what a cheap android phone can do compared with an iPad. Students may have difficulty writing on small devices over long periods. Teachers may need to give multiple instructions for many different devices.

3. It's easy for students to be distracted

Students regularly use devices for social media, playing games, instant messaging, text messaging and emailing rather than for class work.

Students have been described as "digital rebels" (accessing social media and texting), "cyber wanderers" (succumbing to virtual games) and "eLearning pioneers" (undertaking online studies during classtime).

4. Technology can affect lesson time and flow

Lessons are interrupted by regular negotiations that reduce lesson time. This is related to students not putting screens down (during instructions), concealing screens from teachers' view, pretending devices don't work and devices being insufficiently charged.

Heres how teachers can integrate technology into the classroom.

Digital technology training and preparing lessons to include new technologies can also be time consuming.

5. Teachers need more professional development

There are nearly 300,000 teachers across Australia. They need access to ICT improvements for classroom implementation and to keep up with continuous technological advances. This needs to be regular, scaffolded and sustainable.

Yet, allocation of professional learning resources has been reported as sporadic in scope and quality.

6. Not everyone has technology at home

Not all students or teachers use a computer at home, are frequent users, have sufficient data or internet access. There is a digital divide of reduced computer literacy in students from Indigenous, lower socioeconomic or regional/rural backgrounds.

This creates challenges for teachers if they have to set different tasks for different students, or if they avoid setting homework with a digital component.

7. Teachers need to protect students

Immersion of students in digital technologies has created additional demands for teachers to protect students' behaviours online (safety, legal risks and privacy) and in the classroom (theft and locking of devices).

8. Not all teachers 'believe' in using technology

A wide range of research has established that if teachers don't believe in using digital technologies they will fail to transform classes, align with learning goals and integrate technology into curricular content.

9. Lack of adequate ICT support, infrastructure, or time

Appropriate access to technical support (classroom, informally), availability of infrastructure (computer labs, software), policies (whether to administer digital homework) and time allocated to incorporate new technologies are major challenges for teachers.

10. Tensions between students and teachers

There have been tensions from teachers confiscating "personally owned" devices, difficulties accessing power sockets and when students find information online that conflicts with what the teacher is teaching.

What can we do to overcome these struggles?

There is no single technological solution that applies for every teacher, every course, or every view of teaching. Integrating technology in the classroom is a complex and varied process for many teachers.

Meaningful technology integration depends on more than device use. There are important steps to make sure integrating technology aligns with how you teach and what you are teaching.

Professional development has tried to address teachers' technology struggles. But much of it has been limited to one-shot or "one solution for all" strategies.

We need an approach to ICT professional development with different layers to handle the many various situations teachers find themselves in and to handle varied levels of teaching experience and confidence.

Developing a common vision about the role of ICT in education with stakeholders and creating a shared community of practice is important.

Without holistic improvements to teacher support and training that address the many issues teachers face, there's the risk of creating a generation of ill-prepared students for a digital future.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Healthy African elephant, Tanzania. Credit: Eleanor Yarisse

An estimated 17 percent of humans worldwide die from cancer, but less than five percent of captive elephantswho also live for about 70 years, and have about 100 times as many potentially cancerous cells as humansdie from the disease.

Three years ago, research teams from the University of Chicago and the University of Utah, working separately, began to unravel why. They knew that humans, like all other animals, have one copy of the master tumor suppressor gene p53. This gene enables humans and elephants to recognize unrepaired DNA damage, a precursor of cancer. Then it causes those damaged cells to die.

Unexpectedly, however, the researchers found that elephants have 20 copies of p53. This makes their cells significantly more sensitive to damaged DNA and quicker to engage in cellular suicide.

In the August 14, 2018 issue of the journal Cell Reports, the University of Chicago team describes a second element of this process: an anti-cancer gene that returned from the dead.

"Genes duplicate all the time," said Vincent Lynch, Ph.D., assistant professor of human genetics at the University of Chicago and the study's senior author. "Sometimes they make mistakes, producing non-functional versions known as pseudogenes. We often refer to these dismissively as dead genes."

While studying p53 in elephants, however, Lynch and colleagues found a former pseudogene called leukemia inhibitory factor 6 (LIF6) that had somehow evolved a new on-switch. LIF6, back from the dead, had become a valuable working gene. Its function, when activated by p53, is to respond to damaged DNA by killing the cell. The LIF6 gene makes a protein that goes, quite rapidly, to the mitochondria, the cell's main energy source. That protein pokes holes in the mitochondria, causing the cell to die.

"Hence, zombie," said Lynch. "This dead gene came back to life. When it gets turned on by damaged DNA, it kills that cell, quickly. This is beneficial, because it acts in response to genetic mistakes, errors made when the DNA is being repaired. Getting rid of that cell can prevent a subsequent cancer."

Elephants have eight LIF genes, but only LIF6 is known to be functional. Although it was only recently described, it appears to have been helping elephants and their relatives for a long time.

"We can use the tricks of evolution to try to figure out when this defunct gene became functional again," Lynch said. It seems to have emerged around the time when the fossil record indicates that the small groundhog-sized precursors of today's elephants began to grow bigger. This started about 25 to 30 million years ago. This supplementary method of suppressing cancer may have been a key element enabling enormous growth, which eventually led to modern elephants.

There are significant and lasting benefits to being huge. Small animals, for examplemice, squirrels, groundhogsget eaten all the time, mostly by larger animals. But "if you are enormous, such as an elephant or a whale, nothing is going to mess with you," Lynch said.

There are tradeoffs, however. Bigger animals have vastly more cells, and they tend to live longer, which means more time and opportunities to accumulate cancer-causing mutations. When those cells divide, their DNA makes copies of itself. But those copies don't match the original. Errors get introduced and the repair process can't catch up.

"Large, long-lived animals must have evolved robust mechanisms to either suppress or eliminate cancerous cells in order to live as long as they do, and reach their adult sizes," said study co-author Juan Manuel Vazquez, a doctoral candidate in the Lynch laboratory.

These huge animals thus have higher odds of developing cancerous cells. This can also happen on a smaller scale. Taller humans, for example, have a slightly higher incidence of several cancer types than average sized people, and shorter people tend to be at a reduced risk for those cancers.

LIF6, the study authors suggest, was "reanimated sometime before the demands of maintaining a larger body existed." It helped enable the growth of animals that were the size of a 10-pound groundhog into majestic creatures that can weigh more than 15,000 pounds. It was "permissive for the origin of large bodies," the authors note, "but not sufficient."

Exactly how LIF6 induces apoptosis, however, remains unclear. This will be "the focus of continued studies," the authors wrote.

Explore further What elephants teach us about cancer prevention

More information: Vazquez et al.: "A zombie LIF gene in elephants is up-regulated by TP53 to induce apoptosis in response to DNA damage" Cell Reports (2018). https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(18)31145-8 Journal information: Cell Reports Vazquez et al.: "A zombie LIF gene in elephants is up-regulated by TP53 to induce apoptosis in response to DNA damage"(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.042
EastWests income fell 11% in first half

posted August 14, 2018 at 07:10 pm by Julito G. Rada August 14, 2018 at 07:10 pm

East West Banking Corp., the 12th largest lender in terms of assets, said net income in the first half declined 11 percent to P2.2 billion from a year ago, pulled down mainly by the adverse development on wholly-owned subsidiary EastWest Rural Bank. EastWest Bank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net income in the second quarter rose 35 percent and registered a return on assets of 1.4 percent and return on equity of 11.1 percent. It said the numbers kept the bank among the most profitable lenders in the country. It said excluding the rural bank business, East Wests net income increased 12 percent year-on-year. While the rural bank had some issues in the first half of the year, it remains committed to DepEd teachers. EWRB is proud of its contribution to push lending rates to teachers significantly lower andgive them access to credit, EastWest vice chairman Antonio Moncupa Jr. said. The bank will continue to strongly advocate not only access and lower rates but equally important, inclusive lending programs and equality among lenders. Our teachers deserve nothing less, Moncupa said.

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Fritz is wearing a contraption. Two black, rubber wheels attached to a harness that allows him to bark and roll and bark and roll his way across the grass. Hes been wearing it for four years. Ever since he jumped and missed and fell off one of the concrete steps in the back yard.

Well, the vet said. Hes got three twisted discs.

I can still remember his face as they carried him away, Bob says. He turned back and looked at me like, Dont leave me here. That was tough.

The discs got fused but a nerve got cut and Fritz was left a paraplegic. So, they took some measurements, sent them off to Eddies Wheels for Pets in Massachusetts, who makes wheelchairs for dogs, and Eddie shipped one back for Fritz, a long-haired dachshund who just turned eleven. Today, actually.

You had steak for dinner, didnt ya? Bob asks him.

When Bob first picked up his new puppy from the breeder, he stopped at his sisters house to show him off.

What are you going to name him? she asked.

Fritz, he told her. Fritz because, well, it was just the name that came to me.

Fritz has a brother named Benedict. As in Pope XVI. He lives over in New Stanton. Occasionally, he and Fritz still get together. They were supposed to get together today to celebrate their birthdays, but something came up and Bob had to postpone it until next week.

Bobs got his wheels, too. The 68 Cougar, the Porsche, the Continental, the Thunderbird

Im a car nut, he says.

His dream was to retire from US Steel, buy a new car every year, and travel. He did retire; twenty years ago after working in personnel, pensions, and 401(k)s for thirty five. And not having to go into the office every morning was great for like, ten minutes. I had to have something to do, he says. So, right after he retired from US Steel he got a job at Benson Lincoln, working three days a week. Bensons a smaller dealer. So, when a customer comes in and wants a blue car, and we dont have one, we go and get them one. Otherwise, theyll go somewhere else, he says. Hes been all over the place. West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, South Carolina, Indiana

Thirty-four thousand miles a year, he says. I keep track.

He keeps a license plate holder from every dealer hes visited nailed to walls of his detached garage, which sits behind his house in Lincoln Place. The one he grew up in. His parents built it in 1932. One of those Sears & Roebuck houses. The Lakecrest, model; one thousand, five hundred bucks for five rooms and one bathroom. Built in Iowa and shipped to Hays on a train for his parents and their contractor to pick up at the station and put together on a corner lot.

Eventually, a small addition to the house was made and Bob moved his aunt in so he could care for her. She raised me and my sister, he says. I had to take care of her. She was like my mom. His aunt died when she was 97. Alzheimers.

That was tough, he says.

So, these days, its just Bob and Fritz and all their wheels. And someday, maybe, Bob will think about retiring for good.

When I cant move anymore, he says.
When Dave Lozier campaigned to be the district attorney of Beaver County, one topic dominated conversation at every meet-and-greet and campaign stop.

I was up in rural Darlington Township and down in Monaca and the [more populated] river towns and everyone kept asking, What can we do about these overdoses?  recalled Lozier, a former private-practice attorney elected in 2015. There was no one demographic or region affected; everyone knew someone who had ODd.

As with many suburban areas, overdoses were once rare in Beaver County but have snowballed in a few years. In 2012, 20 OD deaths were reported by the county coroner. By 2016, that number swelled to 102. Over the same time period, OD fatalities rose by more than 50 percent nationally, reaching 63,632 in 2016 and propelled by increased opioid use in places with demographics like those of Beaver County: suburban or rural, middle-class and people first hooked through prescription painkillers. Small-town police, hospitals, prosecutors, correctional officers and human services agencies faced a pervasive, multifaceted problem new to them.

The numbers of deaths, Lozier knew, reflected a small percentage of overdoses and addictions.

After he took office, Lozier turned to a new resource, the PA Heroin Overdose Prevention Technical Assistance Center of the University of Pittsburghs School of Pharmacy. A program of the schools research unit, the TAC provides public-health experts to help local officials navigate their own battlefront in the opioid crisis. Its mission is to solve the mounting addition epidemic with data analysisand with it the possibility of better strategy.

After Lozier and Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer gave their facts and figures for analysis by the TAC, they saw some patterns. Most 911 calls about overdoses happened Thursday through Saturday and during the evening shift for ambulance companies, 4 to 12 midnight. The county increased staffing at the time. Lozier also has emergency medical technicians make incident reports of drug activity to refine and update their data, and hes prioritized getting all 34 police departments in the county to carry and use the anti-overdose medication naloxone, as the data showed ODs were spread across the county.

The data is also useful in Luziers pushes for reform. The DA started a pilot program for drug offenders in Beaver Falls, diverting them to rehabilitation services instead of jail. Its kept 60 to 70 of enrollees clean (according to urinalysis tests), he said, and Luzier hopes to extend it across Beaver County. New approaches are not always easy sells among the plethora of offices and departments that make up a countys web of agencies and responders, but Lozier says having rich data available helps him bend ears. We can show people the problem is in their community and exactly how bad it is.

The situation is bad all over Western Pennsylvania. The mosaic painted by the data collected and made available on the TACs website, www.overdosefreepa.pitt.edu, is a grim picture.

Allegheny County had 717 overdose deaths in 2017 and 650 in 2016. Deaths have more than doubled since 2014when 306 people died and the words crisis and epidemic were already employed by headline writers.

Neighboring counties show the same trend on smaller scales: a handful of overdose fatalities in the early 10s and then a sharp slope upwards. Westmoreland County reached 192 deaths in 2017 (up from 78 in 2012). Butler County rocketed to 92 (from 5 in 2012). Armstrong County climbed to 38 (from 11 in 2012). And Indiana County also budged to 38 (from 21 in 2012). Washington County officials have leaned on the TAC for help coordinating services, but Coroner S. Timothy Warco doesnt submit overdose data for their publication because of concerns about privacy laws, he said.

The TAC doesnt just collect the data but applies it, with an approach refined when the scourge of opioid death was emerging.

The TAC grew out of Dr. Janice Pringles collaboration with Allegheny County medical examiners in the mid 00s. The purpose was to set up an entity with a name and mission and private funding that could respond to this problem, said Pringle, founder and director of the School of Pharmacys Program Evaluation and Research Unit. Allegheny County has since moved its resources mostly in-house. But the partnership created a model: rich data and coordination between first responders, like EMTs and police, and addiction treatment services that offer a softer, more effective approach than criminal prosecution. In 2013, the school received a grant from the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency to begin the TAC and apply it to any Pennsylvania county interested.

The project occupies an office space on Baum Boulevard in Shadyside and employs several young researchers with public health backgrounds. Some are new to the fields of drugs and addiction.

Dr. Lynn Mirigian, Ph.D., the program director, previously researched bone and teeth diseases, studying cell stress and protein synthesis. She once spent several hours every week with mice and no human contact, she recalled. She took this job to make an impact and improve health and safety.

Project coordinator Megan Neuf says that addiction is not that different from other public health problems in its complexity. They are all complex problems. With heart disease, you cant say it isnt impacted by community resources and demographics and other impacts on health.

The TAC receives data from local partners through a digital back end and standardizes and analyzes it. They keep the information updated to respond to an ever-evolving problem. Some county medical examiners send in OD reports as death certificates are written.

Neuf said that only 10 percent of their time is spent on data crunching; much of the job is meeting with county officials to formulate a plan tailored to their resources and network of agencies and responders. Primarily what we do is provide concierge-style service to counties, said Neuf. Forty-seven of Pennsylvanias 67 counties participate in some way.

The countys data supply allows the TAC to show breakdowns of fatalities by age, gender, race and drug(s) present. The last gives a key as to why overdoses have ramped up in the last two years: a high-octane drug has infiltrated the opioid black market.

Fentanyl is an artificial opioid that the National Institute on Drug Abuse warns is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. First synthesized in 1960, it has been used as pain reliever in hospitals and war zones and now is a favorite product of the manufacturers whose products reach Pennsylvania streets, according to Patrick J. Trainor, public information officer for the Drug Enforcement Agencys Philadelphia Division.

Its a lot cheaper for them to make than heroin and its not subject to a growing season like the opium poppy from which heroin is derived, said Trainor. Dealers can dole out smaller amounts of fentanyl, or a chemical analog of it, and cut it with filler like starch or talcum powder for higher profits. Also, the stuff is often packaged and sold as heroin, said Trainor, meaning the user might not know whats in their syringe.

Fentanyl has quickly become the most deadly drug in Western Pennsylvania, according to TAC data. In 2017, it was the one most present in overdose deaths in Allegheny County, showing up in nearly 75 percent of them, a jump from 26 percent in 2014, the first year it made the top 10. In 2017, it was also the most common drug present at overdoses in all the surrounding counties that provided data.

The drug may have stagnated progress in lowering overdose trends. Fentanyl came in 2015 and hit a large number of individuals, said Laken Ethun, lead research specialist for the TAC. It correlates nicely to that increase.

The problem of fentanyl also shows the value of a data-driven approach. One particularly strong batch can arrive in a locale and officials have to react quickly, monitoring their emergency rooms and 911 calls.

In October of 2017, a supply of carfentanil, a variation of fentanyl 100 times more powerful than the usual, came to Indiana County. It killed at least five people, said Coroner Jerry Overman Jr.

The first three [deaths] came within three days, said Overman. That heightened everyones awareness.

The countys response had already been beefed up through its collaboration with the TAC, said Carrie Bence, deputy director of the Armstrong Clarion Indiana Drug and Alcohol Commission. We had saturated our counties with [naloxone] and we noticed some trends regarding ambulance shifts, she said. Overman increased stock of naloxone and warned first responders that the antidote may not work as usual against such an overpowering drug.

Overman said county officials also used some small-town scuttlebutt. Social service workers warned people who were thought to be drug buddies of the recently deceased.

Indiana County actually saw a dip in its overdose rates from 2016 to 2017: from 53 to 38, which Bence attributes to better coordination and the implementation of a warm hands program that connects users hesitant to go to the ER after a 911 call with social services.

Overman has a grimmer theory: Indiana County reached its peak death toll. So many hard drug users have already died from overdose that there are fewer around to inject the fatal stuff that is now circulating. I think a lot of the customer base has already died out.

The office of the TAC is a web of cubicles connected to a conference room and a reception area. It looks like it could be a real estate firm or software developer, not an agency that considers life-and-death scenarios and the anguish of addicts every day.

Program director Mirigian said its important to remember that and not get lost in a spreadsheet. If we are compiling numbers, it helps [local officials] to devise strategies, she said. Its not the numbers that are important; its the lives.

When asked the programs overall goal, she keeps it straightforward and almost grandiosely idealistic: Eliminating overdoses is my ideal vision, Mirigian said. Thats my goal, for there to be zero overdoses in Pennsylvania.
The Supreme Court has justified its decision to deny the appeal of detained Senator Leila de Lima for a furlough to be able to argue for the petition she filed along with opposition senators questioning the constitutionality of President Rodrigo Dutertes decision to withdraw the countrys membership from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In a 16-page resolution, the SC said that they could not find circumstances and competencies that would make De Lima the only person capable to defend the petition of the minority senators against the Duterte administrations decision to withdraw the countrys membership from the Rome Statute. It is true that not all of her co-petitioners are lawyers who are equipped with technical competence to argue before courts. Still, it does not appear clearly to this Court why Senator De Limaand no one else must argue for their petition, stated the SC resolution released Tuesday. De Lima, together with Senators Francis Kiko Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Antonio Trillanes IV, Leila de Lima and Riza Hontiveros, have petitioned the high court to nullify the President's unilateral act of withdrawing from the ICC. In their petition, the opposition lawmakers argued that the countrys withdrawal from the Rome Statute cannot be justified under the so-called residual powers of the President. The petitioners also insisted that the Constitution mandated the Senate to ratify a treaty or an international agreement, and as such, the Executive branch cannot just unilaterally repeal a law or withdraw from the treaty of an international agreement. De Lima, who is presently detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, earlier asked the SC to allow her to argue on behalf of her colleagues. However, the tribunal ruled that De Lima failed to mention an exclusive competence that will make her the only one from her co-petitioners to argue on the oral argument set on Aug. 28. Absent a specific allegation on Senator De Limas exclusive competence on the subject of their Petition, it is reasonable to assume that the other senator-lawyers joining her as petitioners are equally capable of skillfully and zealously arguing before this court, the SC said. The tribunal specifically mentioned Drilon, a former Justice secretary, four-time senate president, minority, majority leader and a Bar examiner as well as Pangilinan, a third term Senator, the majority leader, former representative to the Judicial and Bar Council and an author of laws related to the legal practice.Certainly, this court cannot overlook the legal competence, nay brilliance of Senators Drilon and Pangilinan, the SC said. While litigants are free to choose their preferred counsel, any such choice must content with contingencies that may impair the capacity of their selected counsel, the high court added. Thus, a litigant cannot insist on representation by a lawyer who has been suspended from the practice of law, has been disbarred or, as in Senator De Limas case, is incarcerated, it said. The SC clarified that they have no intention to belittle Senator De Limas demonstrated expertise. Her record speaks for itself. However, the high court held that the detained Senators capacity to appear for herself must yield to the fundamental restrictions on her liberty borne by her current detention. The SC pointed out that while it is true that individuals under preventive detention enjoy the presumption of innocencenevertheless, the fact of their detention makes their rights more limited than those of the public. Oral argument on the case has been rescheduled on Aug. 28. Duterte announced the countrys withdrawal from the Statute last March citing the baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks against him and his administration over its anti-drug war that is being blamed for thousands of deaths.
6 hours ago

US to look at climate emissions from oil and gas lease sales

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  The Biden administration announced Friday that industry regulators for the first time have begun analyzing greenhouse gas emissions from federal oil and gas leases on a national

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The Metro Manila Development Authority will begin today (Aug. 15) the week-long dry run activity for the High Occupancy Vehicle traffic scheme aimed at reducing the volume of vehicles, especially private cars, along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue during rush hours. Let us see for one week how the HOV scheme will work. We are calling on the participation of the public, said MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. Under the policy, private vehicles occupied by a single rider or a driver without companions will be totally banned from using Edsa from 7 am to 10 am in the morning and from 6 pm to 9 pm in the evening, from Monday to Friday. In the Senate, Senator Grace Poe warned a replicate of the horrors of Edsa traffic everywhere if the Metro Manila Council followed the ban on single-passenger cars on traffic-laden Edsa during rush hour. To avoid this worst scenario, Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said the MMC should ensure they could handle the affected motorists who would pass the inner city and barangay roads. She also told the MMC to inform the public about the facts and data that led them to conclude that a ban on single-passenger vehicles in Edsa could reduce traffic all throughout Metro Manila. What makes them so absolutely sure that their proposal will work? What was the result of the trial conducted in December last year? Was it effective? Did it considerably reduce traffic? asked Poe. She also questioned where would the 70 percent of those who traverse Edsa on a daily basis be re-routed. The new measure, which also aimed to encourage private motorists to share ride with others, was proposed last year by the MMDA to members of the Metro Manila Council, the agencys governing board, and policy-making body after the Council rejected the suggestion of lawmakers to implement an odd-even number traffic scheme along Edsa. The MMDA blamed the increasing number of private vehicles as the major cause of monstrous traffic along Edsa. It also reported that about 6,000 private cars were being sold every month. Garcia said the HOV policy would result in a remarkable decrease in travel time and increase in travel speed along the 23.8-kilometer highway. With the proposed policy, Edsa will have 40 percent less vehicles, he said. Based on Edsas average daily traffic in 2017, there are 367,738 vehicles traversing along the major artery daily. From this figure, 67 percent or a total of 247,527 are private motor vehicles. The survey also cited that 60 to 70 percent of the private motor vehicles along Edsa are single occupancy vehicles or an average of 148,516 to 185,645 in actual units per day. Garcia admitted the ban would congest other major thoroughfares and inner roads when the ban on single occupancy vehicles take effect. The agency had been relentless in clearing secondary roads and alternate routes every day but we can only do so much, said Garcia. He said the agency would make use of the no contact apprehension policy in counting the vehicles that would comply or violate during the dry run. The NCAP utilizes closed-circuit television cameras installed along Edsa in monitoring and catching traffic violators. As part of the information drive, we will just inform and warn motorists about the HOV scheme, said Garcia. The scheme is the agencys short-term solution to Metro Manilas traffic problems amid the ongoing infrastructure projects along Edsa and elsewhere. We will not push through if the measure would be chaotic, said Garcia. Should the HOV measure be fully implemented, violators would be slapped with citation ticket and corresponding penalty. The scheme would cover the whole stretch of Edsa from Balintawak, Quezon City to Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City which has five lanes: two are designated for public utility vehicles or yellow lanes, while three are designated for HOV lanes and motorcycle riders. The MMDA suspended the implementation of the HOV scheme last year following confusion and negative reactions from motorists. Traffic enforcers of the agency also encountered problems as heavily-tinted vehicles used the special lane, which prevented them from apprehending possible violators. Last time, the MMDA designated one lane only for HOV scheme, which is the innermost lane of Edsa, closest to the Metro Railway Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) wall.In 2017, lawmakers urged the MMDA and local chief executives to consider reimplementing the odd-even traffic scheme, which they claimed, would reduce the volume of cars on on Edsa by at least 60 percent. Quezon City (1st district) Rep. Vincent Crisologo, during a House committee hearing last year, proposed to MMDA to enforce an added odd-even policy along the highway, on top of the present Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, or the number coding scheme. Under the present UVVRP policy, two ending plates are banned to use main roads in Metro Manila daily. Other lawmakers are also proposing increasing the number of banned ending plates per day to three. Study showed that for a mega-city like Metro Manila, 25 percent of the total land area should be allotted for roads. Based on the MMDAs records, only 5,000 kilometers of road network are in place instead of the ideal target of 8,000 kilometers. The MMC, Poe said, should have also considered the composition of the 70 percent of Edsa motorists to be affectedthey are probably the working solo parents, parents who have to drop their kids along their way to work, spouses who live in the same city but work in different cities, young professionals or workers who cannot afford to hire their own drivers and yet are required to be on time in their offices. The senator earlier cautioned the Metro Manila Development Authority against hastily implementing the scheme. She said the MMDA, in coordination with local governments in the metropolis, should conduct a dry run and study and publish a clear set of guidelines before implementing the plan. This should not be done in haste. There can perhaps be a one day to know what will happen and then conduct a hearing the following day, said Poe as she insisted that it should not be a unilateral decision. Let us first have a trial period and let us see the effects, Poe told reporters. The MMDA said the MMC composed of metro mayors had approved the so-called high occupancy vehicle scheme to be implemented on Edsa during rush hours, wherein single-rider cars or those without passengers will not be allowed along the major thoroughfare. Poe stressed that inner roads should also be first cleared of illegally parked vehicles and structures to ensure smoother traffic flow. She said this was likely being done in other countries and was successful because they had other alternate routes. But in the Philippinbes, she said, Edsa was a main thoroughfare. The other roads, she added, were not passable. Unless you can guarantee that you will remove all illegally parked vehicles in the Mabuhay Lanes and remove them in coordination with local governments, let us not hastily say that we cant pass Edsa, said Poe. She also questioned if the side routes were already clean. Poe noted that at least 60 percent of drivers traversing Edsa would be affected once the scheme was implemented. While the rationale behind the plan may be good, Poe said it should not be done hastily as more than half of car owners would be affected. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia earlier said they were looking to implement the ban to ease traffic congestion before the end of August. He said the policy was approved by the Metro Manila Council, composed of the metropolis mayors, during a meeting on Tuesday. Automobile Association Philippines president Gus Lagman objected to the ban: private vehicles with only one person aboard. The problem of traffic is serious, we really have to think of drastic solutions to solve the problem. While I agree we clear some lanes, I dont quite agree that those with only one person in the vehicle should be banned completely on Edsa, Lagman said. He also appealed to the MMDA to hear the public first before it would implement the said policy. I think the public should also be heard before that is implemented because it will affect motorists, he said. Aside from having a carpool lane, if I had a good solution in mind, I would let the govt know. Long-term solution is an efficient public transportation system. Immediate solution could be a bus rapid transit system, he said.
Military authorities said Tuesday civilian suppliers were involved in the allegedly anomalous purchase of military medical supplies which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately fire 20 top officials of the AFP Medical Center. Those relieved were accused of involvement in 17 cases of ghost transactions involving supplies, drugs, and equipment at inflated prices. AFP Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez Jr. told radio dzMM in an interview one of the findings of their investigation was that there were civilian suppliers and they dictated the price of the deals. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, We expect that the morale of troops will be affected positively by this. He added the relief showed the government was working hard to eliminate corruption in its ranks. As this developed, President Duterte fired the Comptroller of the Philippine Military Academy for allegedly misusing cadets allowance amounting to at least P15 million. Send the guy to hell. Thats an order, Duterte said, adding that Hector Marana faces six to 12 years imprisonment if found guilty for malversation. Lawmakers on Tuesday hailed Dutertes move of firing of top officials of the AFP Medical Center over the P1.4 billion in alleged ghost transactions, saying the action of the Chief Executive jibed with the governments fearless anti-corruption campaign. Reps. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela and Winston Castelo of Quezon City said the move of Duterte to order the relief of Brig. Gen. Edwin Leo Torrelavega, commander of the AFP Health Service Command, and Col. Antonio Punzalan, commander at the V. Luna Medical Center showed his political will to get rid of corruption in government. It just shows that President Duterte has the political will to get rid of corruption in our government, Pimentel, chairman of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said. If we want to become a developed nation we must first eradicate corruption. Therefore, the President is in the right direction to fight corruption and I fully support him in this drive, he added. Albano said what the President did was a great move. [The President] doesnt joke about corruption, he added.Castelo, for his part, said, We commend the President on his fearless campaign against corruption. This will send a strong signal to scalawags out there. Meanwhile, AKO-Bicol Party-List Rep. Alfredo Garbin said the President anti-corruption drive must be intensified. It goes to show that he is serious in his corruption drive. But the said advocacy should not stop from there, Garbin, a deputy minority leader, said. Someone should get charged and jailed to set a precedent and discourage others from emulating them, he added. According to Lorenzana, The corruption was discovered by internal audit and investigation. The Philippine Anti-Corruption Commission also conducted a parallel inquiry. It was determined that there were ghost deliveries. The defense chief also said the incident was unfortunate considering that the DND and the AFP were currently enjoying the trust of the Filipino people. Despite these developments, Lorenzana assured the public that the DND and AFP were sensitive to irregularities such as these and vow to continue safeguarding our institution against similar incidents in the future. Galvez said the personnel would be charged with violation of Article of War 95 (Fraud Against the Government). But this is without prejudice to other infractions of the Articles of War that may have also been violated; and the accused military personnels right to due process. In line with this and based on the findings in the investigation, the AFP chief said he would order that reforms be instituted in the AFPHSC, along with a major revamp in the unit to address the systemic corruption. I will cause the installation only of officers and staff with the necessary qualifications, competencies, integrity, and unquestionable reputation, to run this institution which is vital to the health and well-being of our personnel and their dependents, Galvez added.
So excited to be back and share three more of the biz and tech expert types of people and businesses that typically participate in ITEXPO conference and expo! Expect representatives from companies and people like Vonage, Htek and of course, the TMCnet CEO Rich Tehrani Meet people like Norman Brandinger, R & D Architectural Development, Call Processing of Vonage. Endorsed for telecommunications, VoIP and SIP on Linkedin, he has received stellar recommendations such as:"Working with Norman was an excellent and productive experience. His knowledge and skills when comes to OpenSIPS SIP server were at great value and contributed to a good turn out for the projects we worked together," says Bogdan Iancu, OpenSIPs founder.Another review:"Norm is a pleasure to work with, and is adept at analyzing problems and providing meaningful help and solutions. His OpenSER knowledge is fantastic, and is strengthened by his understanding of the telecom industry," says Daryl Jurbala, Twilio engineering manager.The Voice over Internet industry has held Vonage as the standard to start up by since it began in 2001, saying, "You could be the next Vonage. In an article on No Jitter, TMCNet blogger Dave Michels wrote on how Vonage acquired Tokbox recently placing themselves in the webRTC and programmable video business. The Father of VoIP and Vonage founder Jeff Pulver has been a thought-provoking keynote for ITEXPO and its IDEA Showcase Representatives from HTEK phones were at ITEXPO 2018, and ourDIDX team found them delightful and very successful in the voice industry. Their devices were recently certified by Portaone, who were ITEXPO 2018 exhibitors once again! Also this year, it was announced, the hosted VoIP plaftform from Xelion has been adapted to meet the needs of Tiptel in Belgium and Luxembourg, and support is provided for Htek VoIP telephones that are distributed by Tiptel in European countries. Pictured are two representatives, Tina Tan and her colleague, of Htek who participated in ITEXPO 2018. They were some of the most popular exhibitors at booth 518.Pictured here is the third of three wonderful examples of the kinds ofexperts you will meet at ITEXPO 2019, the CEO of TMCNet Rich Tehrani. He and his TMCnet team have given away 100s of 1000s of dollars in cash and cars at ITEXPO conferences, and I still think I may win one!December 15, 2015, he predicted to occur by 2020, "Roughly everything you purchase will be connected, smart and potentially able to shift behavior. IoT will usher in the third Industrial Revolution and has the ability to change many marketsall at once."Not a far-fetched statement! As I research and write this blog post, I've asked Amazon Echo Alexa to execute mathematical equations, to tell me what days of the week ITEXPO 2019 is on, synonyms for words that I am thinking of using and to get me info on different people and companies. Has it changed the way I behave? I work faster and more effectively because of "her."Next, I'll share with you people and companies like Anthony Minessale, Brian West, Sharon White and Michael Mavroudis of FreeSWITCH and Cluecon; Rev.io and Tigerpaw Software, who are yearly exhibitors and sponsors and presenters of ITEXPO. So come back and enjoy.
DhakaAward-winning Bangladesh photographer Shahidul Alam was in jail on Monday, 10 days after being arrested following an interview with Al Jazeera about massive student demonstrations, police said. Alam, 63, who accused police of assaulting him in custody and was earlier sent to a hospital for a check-up following an order from the high court, was taken to a magistrates court late on Sunday. The court then sent him to jail, police official Moshiur Rahman told AFP. Another police officer told the local Daily Star newspaper that Alam would be kept in prison until the completion of the probe into his charges. Alam was accused of making false and provocative statements on Al Jazeera and on Facebook Live as tens of thousands of students protested in Dhaka in late July and early August. He also published photos of the demonstrations. He is being investigated for allegedly violating Bangladeshs internet laws, enacted in 2006 and sharpened in 2013, that critics say are used to snuff out dissent and harass journalists. Alam, whose work has appeared widely in Western media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, faces together with others a maximum 14 years in jail. New York-based Human Rights Watch and Londons Amnesty International have demanded his release.The renowned photographer told reporters outside court last Monday that he had been beaten so badly in police custody that his tunic needed washing to get the blood out. Alams arrest capped a turbulent week in Bangladesh as students poured onto the streets in Dhaka and elsewhere for nine straight days after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus. Last weekend the demonstrations turned violent as some protesters vandalized and torched vehicles and police used tear gas and rubber bullets. Mobs allegedly aligned with the government and wielding metal rods attacked demonstrators, journalists and even the US ambassadors car. Some 150 people were injured. Although the protests fizzled out last week, Bangladesh authorities launched a crackdown on online activists for spreading rumours to fuel the unrest. Police are looking for people behind some 1,000 Facebook accounts and have arrested at least a dozen social media activists. These include a television actress and the head of an online media outlet.
A trade war between the worlds two biggest economies could spell disaster. Beneath the tariff battle, however, Washington and Beijing have a fundamental conflict of interests.

Where there is war, there are casualties. And when it comes to the two largest economies butting heads over trade superiority, every country in the world can only hope to dodge the stray bullets zipping across no mans land.

The tit-for-tat tariffs between the United States and China has continued to ratchet up toward a full-out trade war through the summer. It began with U.S. President Donald Trumps first step toward his goal of reducing the trade gap with China by imposing a 30 percent tax on solar panelsChina produces two-thirds of the worlds solar panels. Soon after, Washington slapped tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum.

China retaliated by placing taxes on $2.4 billion in American exports, specifically those that would affect farmers.

Back and forth, the tax-slapping continued: Washington added taxes to everything from Chinese parachutes to sardines; Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang warned that Beijing will defend its lawful rights and interests with a return strike on a wider range of U.S. goods.

Public fears were stoked throughout the months-long ordeal, as both China and Europeand the news media day after daywarned that an all-out trade war would trigger another global recession like the 2008 Financial Crisis. Further, Chinese authorities warned that if the dispute escalated, they would adopt unspecified comprehensive measures. That prompted concern among American companies that retaliation might expand to disrupting their operations in China.

Indeed, the world economy is at the mercy of these two nations, whose markets make up almost 40 percent of the global GDP.

Yet the outcome of the battle is largely uncertain. On one side, some economists proclaimed U.S. economic growth as proof it was winning. New York-based managing director of global markets research for FTSE Russell stated to USA Today: Theres a lot of ways to judge this, and I expect a lot of twists and turns, but if we just look through the lens of the market, weve seen a much stronger U.S. stock performance.

On the other side, some pointed out that the trade war will hurt Washington and politically bolster Beijing, even though the U.S. is likely to win.

Forbes reported that the tariffs hurt U.S. consumers and reduce the competitiveness of domestic markets. It also suggested that the tariffs are a side-showa camouflage for Chinas government to continue running the market communist style, which tends to incur losses.

Indeed, beyond the media brouhaha, the U.S.-China trade war is merely one result of much deeper, longstanding differences.

Quiet Cold War

One top CIA expert on Asia said he believes China is waging a quiet kind of cold war against the U.S., using all its resources to try to replace America as the leading power in the world.

Beijing does not want to go to war, he said, but the current communist government, under President Xi Jinping, is subtly working on multiple fronts to undermine the U.S. in ways that are different from the more well-publicized activities being employed by Russia.

I would arguethat what theyre waging against us is fundamentally a cold wara cold war not like we saw during THE Cold War [between the U.S. and the Soviet Union] but a cold war by definition, Michael Collins, deputy assistant director of the CIAs East Asia mission center, said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.

There is concern over Chinas pervasive efforts to steal business secrets and details about high-tech research being conducted in the U.S. The Chinese military is expanding and being modernized and the U.S., as well as other nations, have complained about Chinas construction of military outposts on islands in the South China Sea.

I would argue that its the Crimea of the East, Mr. Collins said, referring to Russias brash annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, which was condemned throughout the West.

Mr. Collins comments track warnings about Chinas rising influence issued by others.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said China, from a counterintelligence perspective, represents the broadest and most significant threat America faces. He said the FBI has economic espionage investigations in all 50 states that can be traced back to China.

The volume of it. The pervasiveness of it. The significance of it is something that I think this country cannot underestimate, Mr. Wray said.

National Intelligence Director Dan Coats also warned of rising Chinese aggression. In particular, he said, the U.S. must stand strong against Chinas effort to steal business secrets and academic research.

Susan Thornton, acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said increasing the publics awareness about the activities of the hundreds of thousands of Chinese students or groups at U.S. universities could be one way to help mitigate potential damage.

China is not just a footnote to what were dealing with with Russia, Ms. Thornton said.

Marcel Lettre, former undersecretary of defense for intelligence, said China has the second-largest defense budget in the world, the largest standing army of ground forces, the third-largest air force and a navy of 300 ships and more than 60 submarines.

All of this is in the process of being modernized and upgraded, said Mr. Lettre.

He said China also is pursuing advances in cyber, artificial intelligence, engineering and technology, counter-space, anti-satellite capabilities and hypersonic glide weapons. Army Lieutenant General Robert Ashley, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told a congressional committee earlier this year that China is developing long-range cruise missilessome capable of reaching supersonic speeds.

The Pentagon has noted that the Chinese have already pursued a test program that has had 20 times more tests than the U.S. has, Mr. Lettre said.

Century of Humiliation

To understand why Beijing is pushing toward expansion and fighting back against the U.S., it is vital to know the history of Sino-American relations.

The New York Times explained through the lens of a resident of the French Concession, a leafy part of Shanghai whose name itself carries the humiliation of Chinas biggest trade war. The concession itself was one of many slices of territory, including Hong Kong and parts of other port cities, that China was forced to hand over to foreign powers after its defeat in the mid-19th-century Opium Wars. China was so weak and backward then, [Ye Fangsu, a retired schoolteacher,] said

The article added that for many Chinese, theres a sense of history repeating itself. The Opium Wars, as every Chinese schoolchild is reminded, began as a British attempt to pry open the Chinese market. Much as it does today, China in the 17th and 18th centuries ran a huge trade surplus with the West, exporting large quantities of tea, porcelain and silk but importing little in returnBy hooking China on opium, British and American merchants redressed the trade imbalance even as they weakened the countrys social fabric. The Chinese revolted, but they were no match for Western gunboatsleading to the unequal treaties that have fueled Chinas sense of historical grievance and patriotic ambitions ever since.

This sense of grievance gave rise to Communist China in 1949, when Mao Zedong ousted the government and vowed a revolution that would bring an end to the century of humiliation.

In the following decades, China painted the U.S. as its arch-enemy. Diplomatic relations were cut off. During the Korean War, Chinese soldiers flooded into North Korea and fought when UN, U.S. and South Korean troops advanced toward the border. China also amassed its army along its border with Vietnam during Americas involvement in the conflict there. The U.S. threatened to drop a nuclear bomb on China in 1955; Mao in effect retaliated by initiating the development of atomic weapons to assert the national will and stand up to the U.S.

It was not until a split in China-Soviet relations in 1969 that put Moscow in front of Washington as Chinas biggest threat. This led to reconciliation with the U.S. in the early 1970s, beginning with allowing journalists to enter the Asian nation for the first time in more than two decades.

President Richard Nixons visit in 1972 officially restarted diplomacy. During the trip, Nixon acknowledged differences, but suggested the two could move together on parallel highways toward the same goal of peace.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter granted China full diplomatic recognition and the turn of the century brought deeper trade relations. Beijing was granted permanent normal trade relations with the U.S., joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, and in 2006 surpassed Mexico as Americas second-biggest trade partner, exceeded only by Canada.

Between 1980 and 2006, U.S.-China trade expanded from $5 billion to $231 billion, and Chinas economic growth exploded during this period.

However, animosity never truly disappeared as Beijing has used this prosperity to work toward its longstanding dream of becoming a superpower.

Butting Heads

The determination to rise above Western dominance lives on today through the efforts of President Xi. He adopted the motto China dream in 2012 when coming into power, an ethos that Beijing aims to result in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

This rejuvenation included constitutional reforms that allow President Xi to rule for life, as well as a crackdown on political rivals and separatists.

Mr. Xi has also put Chinas military through its biggest overhaul since the 1950s, including the launching of a second aircraft carrier to bolster its dominance in the highly contested South China Sea.

Financial Times reported: As well as turning China into a prosperous, technologically advanced nation, the dream requires Taiwan, which Beijing insists is its territory, to be reunified. It also requires Hong Kong, which was guaranteed a high degree of autonomy for 50 years after the 1997 handover from the UK, to be integrated into the mainland.

According to Bloomberg reporter Ting Shi, President Xi has this great belief China totally deserves to restore its place in the world.

For many Chinese people, aware of the nations beleaguered past, the reforms and developments have been a long time coming.

But none of this is sunshine and roses for Washington. President Xis removal of term limits and purges are eerie callbacks to communist-era strongmen like Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin. Of course, Beijings increasingly aggressive activity in the South China Sea and its stated desire to repossess Taiwan are clear threats to American interests in the regionfrom trade security to the protection of democratic governments.

Long-term Planning

At some point, Chinese leaders may want to get nationalistic and stir up anger against U.S. companies, but thats a dangerous road, James McGregor, chairman of the greater China region for the consulting firm APCO Worldwide, told The New York Times in its article When It Comes to a Trade War, China Takes the Long View.

He continued: Right now, Chinese leaders are just studying the battlefield. They are not running around with shock and awe.

In addition to the trade war, Chinese take the long-term view in all other aspects of their relationship with the U.S. An Economist article described how the 19th century Opium Wars continue to shape Chinas view of the West today, though those conflicts are largely forgotten in Britain and America.

From the British point of view, [the battles] were minor compared with those of the 20th century, the publication stated. And they are on the other side of the peak and decline of Britains imperial power, which has tended to obscure them from view. But China has not forgotten the Opium Wars. The conflicts were a humiliation, exposing the hollowness of its claims to be the worlds most powerful empire. They set it on a quest, which continues to this day, to rediscover its strength.

Chinese schoolchildren are taught this history: It is practically obligatory for them to make pilgrimages to sites that showcase examples of Western aggression. For example, the ruins of the Summer Palace in Shanghaiwhich was destroyed by British and French troops during the second Opium Warwas memorialized by the Communist Party as a national base for patriotic education, along with 428 other such sites across the country.

Contrast this with how Americans view history. Less than 25 percent of Americans age 18 or older visited a historical park or monument in 2012.

Most schoolchildren or college students never visit Pearl Harbor, the World Trade Center in New York City, or significant monuments in the capital memorializing events that have shaped our history.

As a result, the events do not make an emotional and psychological impact, or are at worst completely forgotten. One university student explained in Perspectives on History the impact of visiting the Civil War battlefield in Gettysburg: As we toured the battlefield, I realized that visiting historical sites can not only enrich our understanding of a particular historical event, but it can also allow us to engage with history in a way that provides greater local contextualization and a visceral connection to the people who lived through it. He also said it helped him develop a deeper appreciation of the significance of the battle and the Civil War to American history and identity.

In the same way, Chinese people who are more deeply in touch with their history still carry the intentions, motivations and emotions of generations past. The Diplomat explained: Part of what is happening now derives naturally enough from the trajectory of any rising poweror a power that after years of investment and work is feeling like its time has come.

Millennia of investment and work.

Despite China hosting the worlds largest population, as well as a history of accomplishments in navigation and technology that came centuries before Europes Industrial Revolution, it was America and Britain that helped bring about the Asian giants dynastical demise. Think about the U.S. specifically, a nation born merely in the 18th century that catapulted almost immediately to global acclaim and power.

It would seem only natural that China would hold on to a we were here first and we bore the heat of the day mentality.

But what few understand is Americans themselves have an ancient history, one that has been memorialized. Yet part of the reason we have forgotten this crucial aspect of our past is very few actually take the time to look at this memorialeven though it is easily accessible.

That memorial, the Bible, contains our ancient history. Read America and Britain in Prophecy to learn more about the incredible historical roots of todays preeminent superpower. It details the reason for the United States unprecedented rise to power, as well as the success all nationsincluding Chinawill enjoy in the future.
A few days after Elon Musk shocked Wall Street and investors by tweeting that he would take Tesla private at $420 a share, speculation is still high on who could invest in what could be the biggest-ever buyout deal. One of the potential financiers of the US$82-billion taking-Tesla-private deal could be Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF), which was said to have acquired just below 5 percent in Tesla before Musk tweeted about his idea to make the EV maker private.

PIF is in talks to take part in any pool of investors that would fund the buyout, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the Saudi funds plans. PIF explores ways on how it could be involved in the possible going-private deal, for which Musk prefers to have a larger group of investors instead of just one or two large stakeholders, Bloombergs sources say.

According to those sources, PIFs talks started before Musk tweeted last Tuesday about considering taking Tesla private. The Saudi fund sees its stake in Tesla as a strategic way to hedge against oil, according to Bloombergs sources who noted that PIF hasnt made any decision yet on if it would increase its interest in Tesla.

However, according to sources familiar with the plans who spoke to Reuters, PIF has not yet expressed interest in investing in a buyout, despite the fact that it has now become a minority shareholder in Tesla.

Musks email to Tesla employees posted on Teslas website on the day of the tweet explained the rationale for the going-private plan, but Musk has yet to prove that the funding secured part of his tweet was true.

On the day following the tweet, Teslas Board of Directors members Brad Buss, Robyn Denholm, Ira Ehrenpreis, Antonio Gracias, Linda Johnson Rice, and James Murdoch said that Elon Musk had opened a discussion with the board in the previous week about taking the company private. Related: Markets Open Higher Despite Ongoing Turkish Crisis

This included discussion as to how being private could better serve Teslas long-term interests, and also addressed the funding for this to occur. The board has met several times over the last week and is taking the appropriate next steps to evaluate this, the directors said.

The SEC has asked Tesla if Musk had facts to back up his claim on Twitter that funding is secured, people familiar with the regulators inquiry told the Wall Street Journal last week.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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As European companies get caught in the crossfire between Brussels and Washington over Iran, the EUs attempt to punish companies who give in to Trump and abandon Tehran appears to be failing.

If EU companies abide by U.S. secondary sanctions they will, in turn, be sanctioned by the EU," Nathalie Tuccid, an aide to E.U. foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, told Britains BBC Radio 4 last week.

Among the companies in Europe who do the most business with Iranand far more than American companies doso far, the EUs threats arent sinking in.

German car and truck maker Daimler, a major player in the automotive market, announced that a joint venture set up in Iran last year would cease its activities.

Likewise, Swiss Stadler Rail is freezing plansagreed to in February--for an underground rail system in Tehran, according to Reuters.

Renault has agreed to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iran, and oil giant Total SA of France earlier abandoned its multi-billion-dollar South Pars gas project in Iran and has not released any statements suggesting it may rethink that yet.

While the others had until August 6 to wind down Iran operations for the first phase of sanctions, oil and gas companies have until November 6 to wind down.

Effective August 6, Washington has reimposed sanctions targeting the purchase or acquisition of U.S. banknotes by Iran's government, Iran's trade in gold and other precious metals, graphite, aluminum, steel, coal and software used in industrial processes, transactions related to the Iranian rial currency, activities relating to Iran's issuance of sovereign debt and Iran's automotive sector. Related: Stock Buybacks Poised To Eclipse $1 Trillion

A second batch of sanctions are expected to go into effect on 5 November, which target Iran's energy and shipping sectors as well as petroleum trading and transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran.

The EUs chief of foreign affairs, Federica Mogherini, last week said the agreement signees were doing their best to keep the Iran nuclear deal intact as much as possible.

Much is at stake for Europe over this debacle. The bloc exported over $9.7 billion in goods to Iran in 2016 and imported nearly $6.5 billion worth of goods. But at the same time, the EU and U.S. did a massive $1.1 trillion in trade that same year.

Last Monday, the EU tried to fire back, threatening European companies with legal action and prohibiting them from complying with sanctions, but few think Europe will win this battle.

The EU sanctions are part of a new package of measures that went into effect last Tuesday and are ostensibly designed to protect EU companies from the effect of sanctions against Iran. The package of measures revives a 1990s-era blocking statute that allows companies to ignore U.S. sanctions without fear of punishment in Europe. However, Brussels is now taking this a step further by moving to punish companies that actually comply with Washington.

A week later, the Trump administration is threatening the UK with serious consequenecs is they fail to comply with sanctions, and Europe seems to be standing down.

The language of punishing sanctions has been tone down. While EU companies who choose to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iran were obliged to apply for permission from the European Commission to do so, now Commission officials are saying those companies are free to choose.

Related: Google Accepts Chinese Censorship For Big Payout

On August 13, Commissions spokesperson said companies are free to choose whether to start working, continue working or cease business operations in Iran  on the basis of their assessment of the economic situation.

The Commission also conceded that it hadnt received any requests for permission to comply from any companies, despite the ranks that are pulling out of Iran.

The bottom line? European companies didnt take the threat of punishing sanctions seriously, and the Commission has now backed down.

European leaders, including French president Emmanuel Macron, have hinted they dont want a full-fledge trade war with the U.S. over Iran, and at the end of the day, U.S.-EU trade dwarfs EU-Iran trade, and dollars always win out.

By Linas Jegelevicius for Safehaven.com

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Google isnt just dropping all qualms about Chinese censorship to bring its search engine to China, but its also reporting looking for a local partner to launch its cloud business there, despite the intensifying trade war.

Google is already in talks with Chinese tech giants Tencent and Inspur, among others, according to Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources.

Without a partner, Googles cloud cant happen because Beijing wont allow it to store data outside the country.

The search for a local partner reportedly launched earlier this year, and had been narrowed down to three potentials by March. No one knows whats happened since, and one source cited by Bloomberg said the cloud plan may not move forward at all in the middle of a tariff battle that threatens to expand into a full-fledged trade war.

Google recently announced it would bring its search engine back into China, and was now willing to comply with the countrys strict censorship regime. To that end, reports say its already developing a censored search engine codenamed Dragonfly for the massive Chinese market. The numbers are just too good to let the moral high ground get in the way.

But the search engine is one thing: Bringing in the cloud is quite another and would represent a full-on foray into China for Google since it pulled out in 2010.

Indeed, in late July, Google Cloud chief Diane Greene said she wanted this to be a global could, though she didnt mention China, according to Bloomberg, while at the same time Google is advertising for a Shanghai-based business development manager for its cloudand one with Chinese market experience. Related: Gold Demand In Iran Hits Record Levels

None of this is as sudden as it might seem. While Google claim the moral high ground before for not caving in to Chinas censorship rules, its been working quietly to corner this market for some time.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Googles been laying the China groundwork for years already, eyeing a full return, and its already landed a number of local partnerships and has hundreds of employees on the ground.

Googles Android operating system was part of laying that groundwork, and it easily dominates Chinas smartphone market, according to Fortuneeven though right now theres no Google search, and ad revenue from this is limited. The trick, though, is that the Chinese manufacturers using Android operating systems also sell those phones outside China without restrictions, with Fortune citing one estimate that Google is making $10 billion in annual revenue on those. Imagine what happens once these phones let loose on ads and have Google search inside China.

As Google more openly pursues its Chinese dream, though, some speculate that it might end up not being worth all the cash. True, this market has changed a lot since Google pulled out in 2010, and its truly mouthwatering for tech giants across the board, with some 770 million internet users.

But China has kept them all out for a good reason: Its been trying to prop up its domestic tech giants. And its succeeded, so Googles next big entry wont be one without major competition, and deals with local partners wont be made on the same uneven ground. And while Beijing may welcome them with newly opened arms full of censorship, it will also make sure that they dont overpower companies like Tencent.

By Michael Scott for Safehaven.com

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Los AngelesTaiwans president has given a speech in the United Statesthe first time in 15 years that a leader of the island has spoken publicly on American soilin a move likely to anger Beijing. During a stopover en route to Paraguay, Tsai Ing-wen, whose government refuses to endorse Beijings view that Taiwan is part of China, vowed to defend democratic values. We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy, she said on Monday. China views Taiwan as part of its own territoryto be reunified by force if necessaryeven though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. Beijing is always swift to condemn any move that could be interpreted as de facto diplomatic recognition of the government in Taipei and has stepped up the pressure on Taiwan since Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), came to power in 2016. Tsai made her speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, whose namesake she praised for his contribution to Taiwan-US relations, including a commitment not to pressure Taipei to negotiate with Beijing. Her transit in Los Angeles was the most high-profile since former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bians 2003 stopover in New York, where he accepted a human rights award and delivered several public speeches.Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979, but it remains the islands biggest arms supplier and most important unofficial ally. Ties have warmed further since Donald Trump came to power, and were further bolstered by the passage this week of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a commitment to military support of Taiwan. Last month, the US sent two warships into the Taiwan Strait. That followed a string of military drills staged by Beijing around the island.Chinese state newspaper Global Times accused the US and Taiwan of shady dealings, warning that the mainland was capable of giving the Taiwanese authorities a drastic punishment. Tsais trip to Paraguay comes as Taiwan seeks to firm up ties with its dwindling band of diplomatic allies, whose number fell to 18 after Burkina Faso and the Dominican Republic switched recognition to Beijing in May. Under pressure from Beijing, a growing number of international airlines and companies have also edited their websites to refer to the territory as Taiwan, China or Chinese Taipei.
Education Reporter

Mathew Burciaga is a Santa Maria Times reporter who covers education, agriculture and public safety. Prior to joining the Times, Mathew ran a 114-year-old community newspaper in Wyoming. He owns more than 40 pairs of crazy socks from across the globe.
" " The Parkes telescope, in Australia, has observed the majority of FRBs to date. Shaun Amy/NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Since they were first detected in 2007, the phenomena known as fast radio bursts, or FRBs, have puzzled astronomers. They're powerful but extraordinarily brief flashes of radio waves that come from somewhere beyond our humble galaxy. One of these bursts can release more energy in a fraction of a millisecond than our sun can in a day, explains the Washington Post.

FRBs don't happen very often. In fact, scientists have found evidence of just roughly two dozen of them, and nobody knows exactly what is causing them. But in a paper released at the 2018 annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society, researchers revealed that they had traced the only known repeater, FRB 121102, to a star-forming region in a distant dwarf galaxy, where their data suggested that it possibly was being emitted by a neutron star. (You can read more about that in our article Has the 'Twisted Mystery of Fast Radio Bursts Been Solved?)

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A neutron star, says NASA, is a collapsed star that stuffs its mass into a space the size of a small city, where it's packed so tightly that a piece the size of a sugar cube would weigh as much as Mount Everest, with an intense magnetic field.

But exactly how or why a neutron star might emit FRBs isn't yet clear, so scientists have considered other possible explanations too, such as supernovas and supermassive black holes. In 2017, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics floated an even more mind-bending possibility  that FRBs could be leaks from planet-sized radio transmitters powering alien interstellar probes in distant galaxies.

On July 25, 2018, scientists using the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment, a cutting-edge radio telescope in British Columbia, discovered yet another FRB. They named it FRB 180725A (see how it's named after the date it was discovered?) and noted that it was observed to be transmitting in radio frequencies of 580 megahertz, according to EarthSky.org. That's about 120 MHz lower than any FRB found up to this point, notes a short report posted in The Astronomer's Telegram. And that's interesting because the low frequency could mean that the burst originated from a seriously powerful but undetermined source, says EarthSky. Since FRB 180725A, the Canadians have come across additional bursts at even lower frequencies.

If you're interested in keeping up with these mysterious blips, check out the FRB catalogue of all the known bursts maintained by the FRBCAT team.

Now That's Interesting West Virginia University astronomer Duncan Lorimer and his students discovered the first FRB in 2007 by chance, as they were going through old observations from the Australian Parkes telescope.
Although China produces, and in fact exports rice, it actually also buys rice from neighboring Vietnam. The two countries share a common land border. Altogether, the boundaries of Yunnan and Guangxi provinces in China and those of Lao Cai and Ha Gang in Vietnam constitute some 1,200 kilometers. The boundaries were mutually agreed upon by the two countries as far back as when Vietnam was still under French colonial rule. Rice, which is Vietnams primary export commodity, passes through these borders, at estimated volumes of 1.5 to 2 million metric tons each year. Similarly, sugar which is Guangxis main crop, crosses the borders from Nanning to Quang Ninh. Cheap manufactures from China are also exported to Vietnam via the land borders. Actual cross-border trade figures are difficult to verify. The same cross-border trade happens between China and Myanmar, China and Laos. Nobody is complaining about what would be considered smuggling in other countries. Its a way of life. In Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and parts of Southern Palawan, the proximity by water of the southernmost Philippine islands to Sabah also makes cross-border trade possible. They call it barter, but really, there is little the Philippines barters with Sabah. It really is importation of goods from textiles to canned goods, to rice. I recall how one Southern Mindanao congressman chided us during budget hearings that his constituents eat much better-quality rice than the NFA provides. And just as cheap, he would add. What does the Bureau of Customs do, I asked. His answer, with a wink of an eye,One of Asias largest manufacturers of snack foods, Oishi, which is a Filipino company made big and international by the pioneering Carlos Chan, established a factory in the outskirts of Urumqi, the commercial capital of Xinjiang, Chinas westernmost province. Looking at the desolation of the Xinjiang desert and its sparse population, you would wonder why Oishi would locate there, besides being given generous tax breaks by the autonomous regions government. Xinjiang is also far removed from central China with its bigger market. But it borders Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, not to mention Mongolia. Think of all the cross-border activity and the numerous market potentials. Swiss families would travel by car on weekends from Schaffhausen in their eastern border to Neuhausen am Rheinfall in Germany where the Rhine River begins to flow through all of Germany until it empties into the North Sea. They dont go there just to watch the awesome waterfalls, but take advantage of the lower cost of groceries, because of the VAT difference between the two countries. Imagine the customs activity among the countries of Europe when they were still disparate countries not bound together by the European Union. Back in 1978, on my first trip to Europe, we stopped at every country border and immigration officers asked to see our passports. With Schengen visas nowadays, that has become a thing of the past. As far as goods are concerned, produce from Spain and Italy are trucked each day to Paris, and from there to the Benelux countries without border inspections. Back to Southeast Asia, the countries of which altogether constitute one of the worlds biggest rice granaries, the common denominator is the Mekong River, which flows from the plateaus of Tibet to southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and ending up in southern Vietnam before it empties into the South China Sea.In similar fashion, water flows from the Himalayan regions to Kashmir in India, to irrigate rice fields in both India and Pakistan, the other big rice producers of the world. The common denominator for rice production is always water, whether it is the Mississippi in the US, or the Amazon in Brazil, the Yellow and Yangtze in China, or the Mekong in Southeast Asia. It takes 5,000 liters of water to produce 1 kilo of rice. Think of that and wonder why it is so difficult, nay close to impossible for archipelagic Philippines to produce enough rice to feed the 12th largest country population in the world. Our longest river is the Cagayan River, but that cannot provide enough water to irrigate all of Eastern Luzon, which produces most of our rice and corn. The Agusan River which flows from Davao and Cotabato into the Agusan provinces has not been sufficiently tapped to provide enough irrigation to produce our main staple, aside from the not-too-suitable soil quality in the Agusan and Cotabato provinces for rice production. Because of porous land borders, loading port capacities and milling capabilities, Cambodian rice is actually bought and marketed by Thai and Vietnamese traders who have mastered the intricacies of rice trading. Who knows how much of the rice we import from Thailand and Vietnam was actually grown and harvested in Cambodia? Aside from comparative production advantage, logistics is an increasingly big factor in the dilution of country borders when it comes to international trade. Five years ago, rice from Cambodia could not compete with rice from Thailand or Vietnam because of antiquated milling facilities and bad port logistics. I am told that due to massive Chinese aid to the Hun Sen government though, the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville now has better cargo-loading facilities and the harbor has been deepened. Logistics is also one reason why it is cheaper for Cagayan de Oro to import rice from Vietnam than it is for Isabela-harvested rice to be transported all the way to Northern Mindanao. And of course, rice is a lot cheaper in Vietnam or Thailand than our locally-farmed rice. Good quality long-grain rice retails in these countries at the equivalent of P26 per kilo. That would cost P38 to P40 in Manila markets. Will the abolition of the quantitative restrictions on rice importation and the corollary tariffication of the commodity bring down the selling price of rice in our country? Most definitely, yes. But how can our own palay farmers compete? That is the balance that our legislators and economic policy-makers must seek. Lifting restrictions and imposing import duties on rice is not a panacea. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution. And with our very long coastline defining 7,100 islands, expect cross-border trading to flourish. What more if we become federal? But thats another complication.
Property giant CapitaLand has won the bid for two prime residential sites in Guangzhou, China, for $409.3 million. The sites measure 1.6 million sq ft in total and the new developments will comprise 1,300 units for first-time homebuyers and upgraders. They are expected to be completed by 2021.



The two residential sites in Guangzhou were bought for about S$409.3 million. Part of a mature residential zone, they are near amenities including an upcoming school (orange box) (Pictures: CapitaLand)

The sites are located in the Zengcheng District, where the citys future second international airport will be located. The land is part of a mature residential zone and is surrounded by malls, schools, a hospital, a library, and other residential developments. Well-known corporations like Foxconn and Honda, and the upcoming Guangzhou Education City, are located in the district. The districts population is set to grow from 1.15 million today, to about 2.1 million by 2020.



The newly awarded sites will achieve synergies with the ongoing Datansha Urban Redevelopment project in the city's Liwan District, which is being developed into residential and commercial projects over phases.

The award comes shortly after CapitaLands recent acquisition of a mixed-use site in Chongqing in June, which will yield more than 2,100 residential units. These 3,400 units in Guangzhou and Chongqing are a timely addition to our China residential pipeline, as we ready ourselves to release another 4,000 units for sale by the end of 2018, says group CEO of CapitaLand Group, Lim Ming Yan.

CapitaLand also owns two shopping malls in Guangzhou. In addition, through its wholly owned serviced residence arm The Ascott Limited, it manages five serviced residences in the city, and will manage a sixth which will open in 2019.



Strong housing sales in China have continually contributed to CapitaLands earnings. In 1H 2018, CapitaLand handed over more than 2,800 residential units in China, including units at Citta di Mare in Guangzhou.

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Peer-to-peer lending activities in Singapore continue to gain traction, as the leading P2P lending platform in Southeast Asia  Funding Societies  exceeded S$200 million in crowdfunded SME loans as of Aug 14. This figure had doubled from the S$100 million in SME loans achieved by Funding Societies earlier in January.

It took 30 months to achieve our first S$100 million and 6 months for our second S$100 million. But the industry is still nascent. Wed continue to focus on serving SMEs and investors needs, said Kelvin Teo, Co-founder and CEO of Funding Societies.

Funding Societies investor base had also increased 87.5% to 75,000, a testament to the growing demand from local investors for P2P crowdfunding loans to diversify their investment portfolio.

Who is Funding Societies?

Funding Societies provides business financing to SMEs through its digital marketplace platform, which matches retail and institutional investors to SMEs. Businesses benefit from the service as they are able secure loans from S$5,000 to S$2 million within a short period of time. On the other hand, investors get to enjoy returns of up to 14% per annum with a starting investment amount of just S$20 per loan.

Part of Funding Societies success lies in its low default rate of 1.5%, one of the lowest in the region.

Funding Societies has raised US$25 million in its recent Series B funding round, the largest for a peer-to-peer lending platform in Southeast Asia, led by SoftBank Ventures Korea. The group has been recognised as one of the Best 50 Companies to Work for Globally by Silicon Review, and won the FinTech Award by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Its Indonesian unit Modalku was also the first and only Asian startup to receive the Global SME Excellence Award from the United Nations ITU Telecom in 2017.

Singapore SMEs finance woes

At present, cash flow management issues remains an ongoing problem for many local SMEs. DP Information Groups SME Development Survey has found that over 35% of SMEs in Singapore face finance-related issues in 2017, an increase from the 14% of SMEs who faced the same problem. At the same time 81% of Singapore SMEs also face delayed payments from their customers, a whopping 67 percentage point increase from the year before.

Story continues

To address those problems, Funding Societies has created a number of innovative flexible business loan solutions including FS Bolt, a mobile app-based loan for micro and young businesses, property-backed secured loans, and an enhanced version of invoice financing where the tenor is extended up to 120 days for debtors with a good track record.

The P2P lending platform was also the first FinTech firm in Singapore to adopt MyInfo under GovTechs initiative, which simplifies the SMEs loan application process.

(By Gwyneth Yeo)

Related Articles

- 4 Keys to Success When Investing in P2P Lending

- Funding Societies Surpasses SGD 100 Million in SME Crowdfunding

- A Comparison of Singapores Peer to Peer (P2P) Lending Platforms: Capital Match, Funding Societies and MoolahSense
Partnering with the largest digital innovation hub in Thailand, Google Learning Center in Asia will fully support the digital life of Thai people

Last Friday, Google announced a partnership with True Digital Park that will make the search giant the technology partner for the digital innovation hub in Thailand.

True Digital Park will become the door and medium for Google to showcase its support for a fully digital lifestyle.

A core part of the project is Academy Bangkok  A Google Space which will be Asias first  and the worlds second  center for startup education, training and mentorship.

The startup community can expect collaborative training, workshops and networking activities.

Thai people can access digital related knowledge in a 200 people-capacity training center, said Ben King, Googles Country Director of Thailand.

Also Read: What are the limitations of smart contracts, and how can service-based organizations address these?

Dr. Kittinut Tikawan, President (Co) of True Corporation Plc mentioned the mutual vision and commitment between the two parties will factor into the total support of Thai governments digital economy policy.

With the collaboration, Thanasorn Jaidee, President of True Digital Park, noted that it marked the first ever digital incubation center in Asia.

It offers Thais a tremendous opportunity to learn and improve their digital literacy and competencies, said Jaidee, emphasizing how True Digital Park is ready to be a global destination for the digital savvy.

Also Read: Enterprise SaaS platform Base.vn raises funding from 500 Startups, VIISA; eyeing Southeast Asia

True Digital Park prides itself is the most complete and open startup ecosystem in Thailand. It covers aboud 77,000 square metres and comprised of four fully integrated spaces of co-working, enterprise, innovation, event and business facilities.



Image Credit: True Digital Park

The post Asias first Google Learning Center launches in Thailand appeared first on e27.
Singaporean authorities confirmed formally today that a certain aircraft, linked to a certain multi-billion dollar misappropriation scandal, from a certain Malaysian wealth fund, was in fact in the citys Seletar Airport.

Theyve also added that contrary to much media hoopla-ha, no formal request for its return has been received.

And you KNOW Singapore is going to need that formal request, correctly filled out paperwork, and whatever the allocated number of days they need to make this happen.

Great.

Authorities had previously been coy as to whether the private jet that they had confiscated in February of last year was in fact the same RM 145 million (US$35 million) private jet that is believed to be owned by Malaysias most wanted financier, Jho Low.

In recent days, Prime Minister Mahathir has indicated that he seeks to repossess the jet, and bring it from Singapore to Malaysia, as soon as it is ready to fly.

Just remember to get that request paperwork from Singapore first, Sir!

The post Back, back, forth and forth: Singapore says no request received for Jhos jet appeared first on Coconuts.
AFPTV

US director Bandar Albuliwi has started a petition to ban firearms on film sets after the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins was fatally shot last week by Alec Baldwin in an accident during filming of a low-budget Western, 'Rust'. More than 75,000 people have now signed Albuliwi's petition, which also calls for better working conditions in the industry as a surge in demand for new content stretches productions thinner than ever.
Cameroonian international Stephane Mbia announced on Tuesday that he will sign a deal to join French Ligue 1 club Toulouse. The 32-year-old midfielder had spent the last two years in the Chinese Super League playing for Hebei China Fortune, but returns to France having started his career at Rennes before a two-year spell at Marseille, where he won the 2010 French title. "Very happy and proud to announce that I will sign for Toulouse in the coming days," Mbia wrote on Twitter. "I am very happy to be returning to Ligue 1." Mbia played for a year in the Premier League with Queens Park Rangers before leaving for Sevilla in 2013, and spent the 2015-16 campaign at Turkish side Trabzonspor. He has made 67 international appearances, scoring five goals.
The Forrest Gump of All Future Democrat Election Losses

Julian Assange has received an letter from the US Senate asking him to testify in front of them. What to make of that is not entirely clear. Far as I know, Assange offered such testimony multiple times, under the right standards. The Senate ostensibly wants this to take place behind closed doors, and its hard to see how that would fit Assanges standards. But who knows?

What struck me was that the letter was signed by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Mark Warner (D-VA). and especially the latter runs like a red thread through everything that has to do with Assange and the US. It reminded me of what John Solomon said in his June 25 piece How Comey Intervened To Kill Wikileaks Immunity Deal about Assange lawyer Adam Waldman, who according to Solomon has a Forrest Gump-like penchant for showing up in major cases of intrigue.

Mark Warner has that, too. What made me return to this is that in his piece yesterday on the Senate request, Tyler Durden, referring to Solomons article, wrote: After Assanges request was run up the flag pole, Senator Warner was issued a stand-down order by Comey.. And I thought: Im not sure thats entirely correct, and not only because Comey cannot order a US Senator to do anything.

The stand down order was not for Warner, he just passed it on to Waldman and his counterpart acting for the DOJ, David Laufman, head of Justices counterintelligence and export controls section. NOTE: we dont even know if the stand down didnt really come from Warner, or Comey AND Warner, or someone else altogether.

What we do know is that it was a very peculiar order at a very peculiar moment in time, because the intelligence community could have gotten something tangible and valuable out of the negotiations. Solomon: ..officials understood any visibility into his thinking, any opportunity to negotiate any redactions, was in the national security interest and worth taking, says a senior official involved at the time.

They were well on their way to -at least potentially- save the lives of CIA operatives and assets. Negotiations had been going on for at least 2 months, and probably more like three. But then Assange offered to provide evidence that he didnt get the DNC files from Russia. And that seems to have changed the atmosphere. Tyler has some more about this, outside of the Solomon piece:

Last August, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher travelled to London with journalist Charles Johnson for a meeting with Assange, after which Rohrabacher said the WikiLeaks founder offered firsthand information proving that the Trump campaign did not collude with Russia, and which would refute the Russian hacking theory. After Trump denied knowledge of the potential deal, Rohrabacher raged at Trumps Chief of Staff, John Kelly, for constructing a wall around President Trump by people who do not want to expose this fraud.

NOTE: that meeting took place 4-5 months AFTER the Comey (et al?) stand down order. So Assange was still reaching out and offering to spare individual CIA assets. He has released a lot of the CIA Vault 7 files, but not all. To my knowledge he has held back on that to this day.

I dont know how much you still follow from the pro-Russiagate press, which is about the entire US MSM, but Rohrabacher is habitually called a traitor, a Putin puppet and worse for talking to Russians, just like he is for going to see Assange. Once you start trying to find a way out of the ever tighter woven Russia Russia web, youre fair game. Even if thats simply your job as a Congressman, or at least your interpretation of what the job entails.

Back to Solomon for a bit. What he describes is not some amnesty deal, but a Queen for a Day proffer. Which in this case was essentially a safe passage guarantee for Assange to leave the Ecuador embassy only to go talk to US government people. We dont know all the prospective topics of the talks, and they dont seem to have agreed on a location (London, Washington?!) before the Comey order. Solomon:

Not included in the written proffer was an additional offer from Assange: He was willing to discuss technical evidence ruling out certain parties in the controversial leak of Democratic Party emails to WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. The U.S. government believes those emails were hacked by Russia; Assange insists they did not come from Moscow. Mr. Assange offered to provide technical evidence and discussion regarding who did not engage in the DNC releases, Waldman told me. Finally, he offered his technical expertise to the U.S. government to help address what he perceived as clear flaws in security systems that led to the loss of the U.S. cyber weapons program.

That is just funny: Assange offered to help the CIA on its security systems. That must have pissed them off mightily, because it can only mean they really needed to strengthen security (or he wouldnt have brought it up). But then Waldman reaches out to Warner, in what may well have been a fatal mistake. The talks with the DOJ were going well, and might have been enough. Getting politics involved in it was one took over the line:

[..] Just a few days after the negotiations opened in mid-February, Waldman reached out to Sen. Warner; the lawyer wanted to see if Senate Intelligence Committee staff wanted any contact with Assange, to ask about Russia or other issues. Warner engaged with Waldman over encrypted text messages, then reached out to Comey. A few days later, Warner contacted Waldman with an unexpected plea. He told me he had just talked with Comey and that, while the government was appreciative of my efforts, my instructions were to stand down, to end the discussions with Assange, Waldman told me. Waldman offered contemporaneous documents to show he memorialized Warners exact words. Waldman couldnt believe a U.S. senator and the FBI chief were sending a different signal, so he went back to Laufman, who assured him the negotiations were still on. What Laufman said to me after he heard I was told to stand down by Warner and Comey was, Thats bullshit. You are not standing down and neither am I, Waldman recalled. A source familiar with Warners interactions says the senators contact on the Assange matter was limited and was shared with Senate Intelligence chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). But the source acknowledges that Warner consulted Comey and passed along the stand down instructions to Waldman: That did happen.

Okay, so we have Warner very much in the thick of the DOJ negotiations with Assange. Fast forward to late June 2018, when his name pops up again in a list of 10 Democratic Senators who asked Vice President Mike Pence to, on a visit to Ecuador, ask new president Lenin Moreno, to revoke Assanges asylum on the London embassy.

Warner is there, along with such fine human beings as Dianne Feinstein, and the two Dicks Durbin and Blumenthal. Wikileaks, which posted the list, suggested: Remember them. Looks like an idea. Why would the Democratic party want Assange delivered to the lions? Oh, right, Russia Russia, the entirely unproven allegations which they are so desperate to tie Assange into.

They cant prove any of the many allegations of Russian meddling, let alone their role in Hillarys election loss, and they cant prove any allegation against Julian Assange, at least none that he could be charged for/with, but tie Russia and WikiLeaks together and they feel they no longer have to prove anything at all, that mere allegations are strong enough.

If there is no crime Assange can be accused of, you just label him a terrorist, and all your legal problems disappear. Because terrorism can be anything, and because of national security reasons, any evidence, whether it exists or not, must be treated in secret. What reason, what grounds, do these Senators have to ask Ecuador to revoke Assanges asylum? What legal grounds could possibly exist? We have no way of knowing, and because they label Julian a terrorist, we have no right to, either. Or so they claim.

This is called abomination of justice. In the same way that America and Britains treatment of him is called torture. And no, that is not too strong a term. A man who has never been charged with a crime by anyone, in any country, is being tortured. Julian has severe, painful, dental problems, he has developed a condition that makes his legs swell, and his bone density is dropping fast due to extended lack of sunlight.

These people have simply decided to wait it out, so they dont have to go through elaborate legal procedures that they may well lose, to wait until Assange has no choice but to walk out of the embassy, or be carried out on a stretcher or in a coffin. Its not even possible to list all the British, American, Ecuadorian and international laws his treatment violates.

Someone should give it a try, though. Just like someone should investigate Mark Warners role in all of this. Warner was pivotal in killing off the Assange legal teams talks with the DOJ, he asked Ecuador to stop Assanges asylum (which is so illegal you dont even want to go there), and now he requests for Assange to appear before the US Senate.

Someone investigate that guy. If I can say one last thing, it would be that Warner exemplifies all that is wrong with the US Democratic Party. Hes the Forrest Gump of all their future election losses. The Democrats should be standing up to protect people like Assange, but instead they follow the example of Hillary, who said about Assange cant we drone this guy?.

Yeah, the very guy whos never been charged with a single crime. She undoubtedly said it in the same tone of voice as her insane cackle of We came, we saw, he died about Gaddafi. Looked at Libya lately?

The essence of this is that we will be better people, and better societies, with Julian Assange around to help us be better. Without him, things look a whole lot darker. We need to be able to hold politicians, corporations and secret services to account. And the more they resist this, often in illegal ways, the more we must insist.

The idea was never that we must answer to them. They must answer to us, and we must be able to throw them out when they cross legal and moral lines. Its beyond the pale that that has to be explained once again. And trying to explain that, with examples, is all that Julian Assange has ever done.

By Raul Ilargi Meijer

Website: http://theautomaticearth.com (provides unique analysis of economics, finance, politics and social dynamics in the context of Complexity Theory)

 2018 Copyright Raul I Meijer - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

Raul Ilargi Meijer Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The only French woman chef with three Michelin stars is embarking on her first-ever Asian venture with the opening of a new La Dame de Pic' restaurant at the Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Alain Ducasse is also opening a second venue in the luxury hotel.

Confirming a rumor circulating in the Asian press, David Sinapian, Pic's husband and president of the Pic Group, announced on Facebook that he was looking forward to opening a new venture with chef Anne-Sophie Pic. This will be the third La Dame de Pic restaurant, joining two others in Paris (opened in 2012) and London (opened in early 2017), each of which have been awarded one Michelin star.

The success of the La Dame de Pic restaurants is based on the concept of ultra-refined Valence-style cooking presented in a relaxed atmosphere. Visitors to the new venue will be able to sample such signature dishes as chef Pic's famous 'berlingots', a pasta dish with creamy Banon goat's cheese and ginger-and-bergamot-infused cress sauce, and her legendary white millefeuilles.

Along with a wine list, La Dame de Pic will also offer different sakes to accompany various dishes.

The new restaurant will be located in the Raffles Hotel, a 130-year old institution which has recently been renovated for the first time in almost 30 years. The welcome extended to Pic is a nod to the hotel's history. Following its opening in 1887, Raffles was much celebrated for its authentic French restaurant -- overseen by a French chef. The hotel is also a special place for Pic herself, as she stayed there on her honeymoon.

The French chef is more than familiar with the constraints of working in exclusive hotels. She has a two-star restaurant in the Hotel Beau Rivage in Lausanne, Switzerland, and her London venture is housed in the Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square.

The renovated Raffles Singapore will also welcome another famous French chef, Alain Ducasse, who will open a Mediterranean sharing and grill concept in the hotel's Bar & Billiard Room. Ducasse promises a culinary journey along the Mediterranean coast, with French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese influences, and a lively atmosphere.
China flexes its military might with series of naval exercises in local waters

China is ramping up its maritime combat readiness, analysts said in response to official reports that the Peoples Liberation Army had conducted at least three naval drills in different sea areas over the past week.

The latest show of force by the PLAs growing fleet was in line with Beijings drive to put its troops through ever more complex and realistic training situations, they said.

On Monday, the Southern Theatre Command said on social media that a frigate fleet had recently performed various drills, including live-fire exercises and simulated anti-submarine attacks.

The command, which is one of five such units established by President Xi Jinping to represent Chinas five strategic locations, did not disclose the locations of the exercises, but its area of responsibility encompasses the disputed South China Sea.

The images published online appeared to show at least five frigates and two helicopters taking part in the drills.

On Saturday, Xinhua reported that more than 10 warships from three theatre commands took part in a large-scale air and missile defence exercise in the East China Sea.

Two corvettes  the Meizhou and the Tongren  fired anti-air attack missiles to intercept simulated enemy targets, while the guided missile frigate Jingzhou served as the command ship from which military researchers and officials gathered data.

The East China Sea laps the northern shores of Taiwan, but the report did not give the exact location of the exercise.

The third of the drills took place in the Yellow Sea from Friday to Monday, according to Chinas Maritime Safety Administration.

Apart from stating its general location, the agency released no details about the drill, but described it as important.

Observers speculated that the exercise might have involved Chinas first domestically developed aircraft carrier  the Type 001A  because of the drills proximity to its home port of Qingdao in eastern Chinas Shandong province.

Story continues

All the exercises came as Beijing remains locked in a trade war with Washington and a turbulent relationship with Taiwan, whose president, Tsai Ing-wen, on Sunday embarked on a nine-day trip to Paraguay and Belize, two of just 18 nations that still maintain diplomatic ties with the self-ruled island.

Military experts said that the PLA drills were intended as a show of strength to both the United States and pro-independence forces in Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province.

The anti-air and anti-missile exercises in the East China Sea are intended to ensure a safe environment for Chinas aircraft carriers, which means an aircraft combat group is preparing to go further out to sea, military observer Song Zhongping said.

It sends a very clear signal to Taiwans independence forces and deters any intervention into Taiwan affairs by the US or Japan, he said.

The Chinese tabloid newspaper Global Times, which is owned by the Communist Party mouthpiece Peoples Daily, said in an article last month that in the event of armed conflict between Beijing and Taipei, the East China Sea would be one of the main battlegrounds.

Military commentator Li Jie concurred, saying that Beijing would not sit idly if it felt it was being provoked in the western Pacific.

Although Sino-Japanese relations have warmed recently, China is still very suspicious of Japans military development and needs to prepare, he said.

Japans defence ministry is reported to have requested US$160 million to pay for new long-range missiles in response to the growing military threat in East Asia.

Zhou Chenming, a military expert based in Beijing, said the three drills were meant to test the capabilities of Chinas navy after a sweeping programme of military restructuring and modernisation.

Through the drills that replicate war scenarios, military authorities can better understand whether the navy needs more equipment, and also test the compatibility of its old and new weapons, he said.

Most importantly, it can see whether the [navys] combat capability has been strengthened or not.

This article China flexes its military might with series of naval exercises in local waters first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.

More from South China Morning Post:
Beijing strongly dissatisfied as Donald Trump signs defence act upping US support for Taiwan and scrutiny of foreign companies

Beijing has condemned US President Donald Trump for signing an act committing to stronger military support for Taiwan and placing Chinese companies under closer scrutiny, saying the move will damage the countries ties.

In a statement released on its website, the foreign ministry said Beijing was strongly dissatisfied with Trump signing the defence act.

It said the US should abandon its cold war mindset and zero-sum philosophy and view China and Sino-US relations in an objective perspective.

It urged the US not to implement the negative contents related to China so as not to cause damages in Sino-US relations and bilateral cooperation in key areas.

In a separate statement, Chinas defence ministry condemned the act for its cold war mentality.

The act has jeopardised the development atmosphere in the relations between the Chinese and American militaries and hampered the mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US, said Wu Qian, the defence ministry spokesperson.

The Chinese military is firmly opposed [to the act] and has lodged a serious protect with the US side.

Reiterating Beijings opposition to any official and military ties with Taiwan, Wu urged the US to deal with Taiwan-related issues with prudence to avoid harm to the military relations of the two countries as well as cross-strait stability.

But Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen said the self-ruled island would boost defence spending and said Taiwan was grateful for US support.

The statements were in response to the latest US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), detailing US$716 billion in defence spending and stating that the long-term strategic competition with China is a principal priority for the US.

That requires a whole of government strategy, incorporating diplomatic, economic, intelligence, law enforcement and military elements, to protect and strengthen national security, the defence act states.

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And in a move that could anger Beijing, the legislation provides that the US should enhance support for the military capacity of Taiwan, the self-ruled island which Beijing considers a breakaway province to be taken back by force if necessary.

The United States should strengthen defence and security cooperation with Taiwan to support the development of capable, ready and modern defence forces necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defence capability, the act states.

Taiwans defence ministry said in a report last year that the islands military needs to focus on developing precision strike weapons to increase overall combat efficiency, acquiring information, communications and electronic countermeasure equipment, and reviewing the use of innovative tactics to gain battlefield superiority in information operations and electronic warfare.

Beijing has long opposed any official exchanges between Washington and Taipei.

Without mentioning specifics, the Chinese foreign ministry urged the US to respect its one China principle, which argues that Taiwan is part of China.

The act, signed into law on Monday, comes at a time when Beijing and Washington are locked in an intensifying trade war that shows no signs of abating.

The John S. McCain National Defence Authorisation Act  named after the Arizona senator, who is battling brain cancer  broadens the scope of the committee that reviews foreign investments in the US for national security concerns.

In a separate statement earlier on Tuesday, Chinas commerce ministry said it would conduct a comprehensive assessment of the bill, which includes watered-down controls on US government contracts with Chinas ZTE and Huawei Technologies.

Lu Xiang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that using stronger rhetoric about China could be a means for the Pentagon to seek an increase to a budget that was under strict control during the Barack Obama era.

Now the Pentagon planners believe it is good timing to ask for a bigger budget and they have to find some excuse, and it was China, he said.

Any miscalculations over Taiwan, a core issue in Sino-US relations, would be disastrous for the countries ties, Lu said.

China would definitely react if official ties [between Washington and Taipei] took a step forward, he said. Any concrete actions could cause uncontrollable damage.

Additional reporting by Lawrence Chung

This article Beijing strongly dissatisfied as Donald Trump signs defence act upping US support for Taiwan and scrutiny of foreign companies first appeared on South China Morning Post

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A total of 45 buses will be arriving in Davao City this month as part of the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) legacy project of Mayor Sara Duterte. The 45 buses, the first batch of the initial 90 buses that will kick off the HPBS, are part of the comprehensive public transport modernization plan initiated by the citys mayor and financed by a PHP3.6 billion loan package from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The buses feature 50 passenger seats, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, cashless payment devices, and Euro 4-compliant engines. Because of the added conveniences, fares for a ride in the HPBS buses will be significantly higher than the citys public utility jeepneys (PUJs).

City politicians say the buses will be subject to pilot testing when they arrive. The testing is not expected to affect PUJ operations as jeepneys will still continue to operate alongside the buses. The local government plans to have the HPBS buses service the main routes and limit the PUJs to feeder routes.

Aside from the purchase of the buses, the ADB loan will also be used to finance the construction of stops, depots, and terminals for the buses, as well as the retrofitting of intersections and the acquisition of road-right-of-way.

Davao City has requested the Philippine government that it be exempted from the PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) as it wants to develop modern buses instead.

The post High Priority Bus System Kicks Off in Davao appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.
Air, sea and land forces from the Peoples Liberation Armys Hong Kong garrison have mounted their biggest anti-terror drill in the city since the base was established in 1997, according to state media.

At least five warships, four helicopters, one assault boat and dozens of soldiers took part in the exercise on Thursday, which simulated the hijacking of a gas tanker, Xinhua reported.

The exercise came as Chinese naval forces conducted at least three other drills in various maritime areas to test combat readiness.

The Hong Kong operation was coordinated by a joint forces command centre and carried out in the East Lamma Channel.

Han Lifeng, a training officer at the garrison, said that having the joint command centre improved the effectiveness of deploying different forces and enhanced the garrisons combat capabilities.

Military analysts said the drill was aimed both at improving security in the city and sending a message to pro-independence forces.

Hong Kong-based military expert Song Zhongping said Hong Kong was an open financial and economic hub and as such was vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

The Hong Kong garrison can help protect Hong Kongs key assets during an emergency, he said.

But Adam Ni, a researcher in Chinese foreign and security policy at the Australian National University, said the drill was aimed more at potential mass protest movements.

The risk of terrorism in Hong Kong was low, he said, so the drill was more a signal of Chinese military power in Hong Kong, including suppression of dissent.

Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of The Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, a semi-official think tank, said people should not read too much into the drill as it was in line with Beijings wider efforts to improve its combat readiness.

China has conducted many large scale naval exercises to show its commitment to protecting its sovereignty, he said. Thursdays drill in Hong Kong reflects the garrisons ability and determination to keep the city stable.

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The drill was not the garrisons first of the year. In March, troops from the base took part in a joint exercise with the French navy, their first with a foreign force.

In 2014, Victoria Harbour hosted a PLA air and sea drill, while a year earlier two warships took part in a similar exercise in Hong Kong waters, and troops from the garrison joined two live-fire drills.

China has been steadily ramping up its maritime combat readiness.

Over the past week the PLA has conducted three naval drills in different sea areas, two of which were confirmed as being in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea.

The third involved the Southern Theatre Command, which said on Monday that a frigate fleet had recently performed various drills, including live-fire exercises and simulated anti-submarine attacks. Although it did not say where the drills had been staged, its area of responsibility encompasses the disputed South China Sea.

This article Hong Kong military garrison mounts its biggest anti-terror drill first appeared on South China Morning Post

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FILE PHOTO: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban talks to the media after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany, July 5, 2018. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File Photo

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's government will stop financing gender studies university courses, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Tuesday, marking one of the first concrete steps in a cultural shift signalled last month.

Re-elected in April to a third consecutive term, right-wing nationalist Orban said in July that major cultural and intellectual changes were in the works, adding that his landslide victory was "nothing short of a mandate to build a new era".

Chief of staff Gergely Gulyas cited low enrolment numbers, which he said would be reason enough alone to shut down the courses, but also spelled out the government's ideological opposition at a news conference.

"The Hungarian government is of the clear view that people are born either men or women. They lead their lives the way they think best, but beyond this, the Hungarian state does not wish to spend public funds on education in this area," he said.

Orban's supporters want a shift towards conservative values to end what they call a dominance of leftists and liberals in the arts, science and education.

The move against the gender studies courses is one of the first specific such government policies. Others included a move to reduce the independence of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in the allocation of public research funding.

Gender studies courses are taught at the state-run university ELTE and Central European University, which are among the top universities in Hungary.

Gulyas said those already enrolled could finish their studies but Budapest would stop financing the courses from the next academic year.

The proposal first surfaced in Hungarian media last week, triggering opposition from the social sciences faculty of ELTE.

"We consider it worrying that the proposal aims to shut down a course dealing with social relations between men and women, gender inequalities as well as issues of family and demographics," Dean Gabor Juhasz said in a statement.

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ELTE did not immediately comment on the decision on Tuesday. It could not immediately give a total number of enrollees. Last year it planned to enroll 18 students in its master's programme but only 10 applied, state news agency MTI said.

CEU also declined immediate comment on Tuesday. It issued a statement after the proposal was first aired, saying the school "reaffirms its commitment to academic freedom and rejects any attempt at censoring academic curricula".

CEU said it has 44 students enrolled in a two-year master's programme that offers two degrees, one Hungarian and one American. The Hungarian degrees are now at risk for future enrollees. CEU's other gender studies students and PhD candidates only get U.S. degrees, which are unaffected.

CEU is founded by Hungarian-born U.S. financier George Soros. The government has made the demonisation of Soros, who promotes liberal causes though his charities, a central plank of its ideology.

Pro-government daily Magyar Idok ran an opinion piece hailing the plan.

"Gender-faithful liberals have already caused irreparable harm in the souls of generations growing up in the past decades. We need to fight them without compromise and achieve a complete victory, otherwise they will end up destroying us," sociologist Balint Botond wrote.

(Reporting by Budapest bureau)
South China Morning Post

Huawei Technologies Co, the Chinese telecommunications and smartphone giant, reported a 32 per cent slump in sales for the first nine months of 2021, deepening a 29.4 per cent decline in the first half, as the companys handset business was crippled by US sanctions. Huawei, which is private but releases some financial data periodically, said it generated revenue of 455.8 billion yuan (US$71.2 billion) in the first nine months of 2021, almost a third less than the 671.3 billion yuan it posted in
By Tiemoko Diallo

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Voters stayed away in droves from Mali's run-off presidential election due to fears over security and simple apathy, but the voting process was generally fair despite a number of incidents, election monitors said on Monday.

The vote pitted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita against opposition leader Soumaila Cisse after an inconclusive first round last month, when Keita won about 41 percent of the vote.

Official second-round results are not expected for a few days but Keita - known as IBK - is predicted to seal a second term in office.

Cisse, who had accused the government camp of cheating in the first round, on Monday again alleged fraud and said he had won.

"We have a large lead. We do not accept that our voice is stolen," he told a news conference in the capital Bamako.

Threats by jihadist militants forced nearly 500 polling stations - about two percent of the total - to stay closed during Sunday's run-off, the government said. One election official was killed in northern Niafunke, in Timbuktu region.

Security fears severely dampened the turnout, which a civil society group, the Mali Citizen Observation Pool (POCIM) estimated at just over 27 percent of the eight million registerd voters. Turnout is usually about 40 percent in Malian elections.

Mali is high on the list of Western powers' security concerns due to the presence of militant groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State. A successful election is seen as vital in the effort to restore stability as the government tackles the resurgent Islamist threat and outbreaks of ethnic strife.

The vast nation is also a main transit route for illegal migrants trying to reach Europe, a concern in European Union capitals.

As votes were being counted on Monday, Cisse, who heads the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) party, called on his supporters to challenge Keita's expected victory.

"We will not accept that a president wins through fraud. And we will show that there is fraud," he said. "This fight is in your hands, dear supporters... Let's get engaged to save Mali"

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But Mohamed Dileita, head of an observation mission from the Paris-based OIF, a federation of French-speaking nations, said: "Everyone has more or less accepted the verdict... the vote took place."

"At the time I speak, at least, it is a calm election, credible. At the moment we do not see any reason why it changes," Dileita told Radio France Internationale.

Mali's constitutional court rejected Cisse's claims of fraud in the first round, held on July 29.

LACK OF ENTHUSIASM

Most of the shuttered polling stations were in the Timbuktu region and the conflict-hit central region of Mopti, Security Minister Salif Traore told reporters.

In 2013 French troops pushed Islamist militants out of areas they had seized in the desert north, but they have since regrouped and routinely attack civilians, Malian soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers.

Thousands of troops had been deployed across Mali to protect voters on Sunday after widespread violence in the first round.

POCIM said in its report: "Voters did not mobilize much to fulfill their civic duty."

"The reasons given relate to the security problem and the lack of enthusiasm following the publication of the results of the first round."

POCIM estimated turnout in the capital Bamako at just 26 percent, while in northern Timbuktu, which was in the hands of jihadists just five years ago, it was 40 percent. Turnout in Mopti was 24 percent.

It reported isolated incidents of ballot stealing and attacks on polling stations, including two which were torched.

A report by an EU observer mission will be important for the credibility of the election, though it was not clear on Monday when it would be published.

On Sunday the EU mission said the voting had passed peacefully for the most part, although it had no monitors in Mopti, Kidal and Timbuktu regions due to the security threat.

(Additional reporting by Aaron Ross, Writing by Angus MacSwan in Dakar, Editing by Gareth Jones)
Up to 80 cars were set on fire overnight across western Sweden by masked vandals, police said Tuesday, in what they suspect was a coordinated attack weeks before a general election. Most of the cars were burned at around 20 locations in Sweden's second largest city of Gothenburg late Monday. Authorities said two suspects aged between 16 and 21 have been arrested so far in Gothenburg and would be questioned on Tuesday. Police said they believe the attacks were organised on social media. No one was injured in the car blazes. "We've never seen this many cars set on fire before," Hans Lippens, police spokesman in western Sweden, told AFP. The incident triggered outrage among Swedish politicians who are busy campaigning for the September 9 general election. "I'm furious. My question to (the perpetrators) is: what the hell are you doing?" Social Democratic Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told public broadcaster Swedish Radio on Tuesday. "You're ruining things for yourselves, your parents and your neighbourhoods," Lofven said, adding the incident "looked very coordinated, almost like a military operation". Cars set ablaze is common in Sweden. In Stockholm's suburbs alone, such crimes happen almost on a daily basis, usually attributed to disadvantaged youths. Last year, 1,457 cars were "deliberately" set on fire across Sweden, compared to 1,641 in 2016, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's figures. "Sweden has tolerated this for too long. This must end now," Ulf Kristersson, leader of the conservative opposition party, the Moderates, wrote on his Facebook account. Last year in February, two days after US President Donald Trump's baffling comments linking crime to immigration in Sweden, riots broke out in the immigrant-heavy northern Stockholm suburb of Rinkeby. Dozens of youths clashed with police after they arrested a suspected drug dealer in Rinkeby. The rioters threw stones at police, burned cars and looted shops.
By Andrew Hay

TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - A 3-year-old boy found buried at a New Mexico desert compound died in a ritual to "cast out demonic spirits," but his extended family believed he would "return as Jesus" to identify "corrupt" targets for them to attack, prosecutors said in court on Monday.

Prosecutors' account of an exorcism-like ritual, allegations of weapons training for children and references to martyrdom and conspiracy were aimed at persuading a judge to deny bond for the five adults charged with child abuse in the case.

However, state District Judge Sarah Backus said at the end of the four-hour detention hearing she remained unconvinced that the defendants posed a danger to the community and set bail at $20,000 for each of them.

"The state alleges that there was a big plan afoot," Backus said in rendering her decision. "But the state hasn't shown to my satisfaction, in clear and convincing evidence, what that plan was."

Defense attorneys said prosecutors sought to criminalize their clients for being African-Americans of Muslim faith.

"If these people were white and Christian, nobody would bat an eye over the idea of faith healing, or praying over a body or touching a body and quoting scripture," defense lawyer Thomas Clark told reporters after the hearing. "But when black Muslims do it, there seems to be something nefarious, something evil."

Under terms of the judge's order, four defendants were expected to be placed under house arrest with electronic ankle bracelets to ensure they remain within Taos County for the duration of the case.

The five suspects, who had established a communal living arrangement with their children in the high-desert compound, have been in custody since authorities raided their ramshackle homestead north of Taos 10 days ago.

The two men and three women are all related as siblings or by marriage. Three are the adult children of a prominent New York City Muslim cleric who is himself the biological grandfather of nine of the children involved.

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The principal suspect, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, has also been charged with abducting his severely ill 3-year-old son, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, from the Atlanta home of the boy's mother in December.

Clark said Ibn Wahhaj would remain in custody due to a fugitive warrant against him in Georgia stemming from the cross-country manhunt that led investigators to the New Mexico compound.

The body of a young boy believed to be his son was found in a tunnel at the site three days after the raid. No charges have been filed in connection with the death.

For now, the thrust of the government's case remains 11 counts of felony child abuse filed against each of the defendants - Ibn Wahhaj and his wife, Jany Leveille, along with his brother-in-law and sister - Lucas Morton and Subhannah Wahhaj - and a second sister, Hujrah Wahhaj.

The 11 children, ranging from one to 15 years old and described by authorities as starving and ragged when they were found, were placed in protective custody after the Aug. 3 raid.

WEAPONS AND RITUALS

According to prosecutors' presentation on Monday, some of the children were given weapons training to defend the compound against a possible raid by law enforcement. However, the government said there was more to it than that.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Travis Taylor testified that the 15-year-old son of Ibn Wahhaj recounted one of the adults telling him the spirit of the dead 3-year-old would return "as Jesus" to direct the group in carrying out violent attacks. Taylor said prospective targets would include "the financial system, law enforcement, the education system."

Prosecutor John Lovelace said the 3-year-old boy died during "a religious ritual" intended to "cast out demonic spirits."

Abdul-Ghani stopped breathing, lost consciousness and died during a ceremony in which his father put his hand on the boy's head and recited verses from the Koran, Taylor testified, citing interviews with Ibn Wahhaj's 15-year-old and 13-year-old sons.

Prosecutors said in court documents last week that all five defendants were giving firearms instruction to the children "in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit school shootings."

Authorities acknowledged in court on Monday that police had previously encountered Ibn Wahhaj, Leveille and seven of the children in December when they were involved in a traffic accident in Alabama.

Lovelace said police at the time found weapons and ammunition in the vehicle. Authorities let the group go after Ibn Wahhaj explained he was licensed to carry the guns as a private security agent and that he and the others were en route to New Mexico for a camping trip.

(Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos; Writing by Steve Gorman, Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Tom Brown, Michael Perry and Paul Tait)
NASAs Opportunity rover has had an incredible career already, spending years upon years studying the Martian surface and proving to be an incredibly reliable and hardy piece of hardware. Unfortunately, a NASA dust storm that began kicking up in May may have abruptly ended its historic run.

In mid-June, the solar-powered Opportunity ran out of juice and was forced to go into its dormant standby mode. The dust storm which swallowed the entirety of Mars had blocked out the Sun, cutting the rover off of its only available source of power. NASA engineers had remained optimistic that the rover would wake back up when the skies began to clear, but things arent looking good thus far.

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Morale has been a little shaky, Michael Staab of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory told Space.com. This is the first time she has stopped talking to us and not resumed communication when we expected.

Thatsnot great news. NASA knew that the rover would be forced to sit dormant for a while because of the intensity of the storm, but that was several weeks ago. The dust has since began to settle, and enough light should be pushing its way down to the surface to begin recharging Opportunitys batteries once again.

The rover is designed to lay quiet when power is low, only waking up every so often to check its batteries and gauge how much power it has to work with. If that reading comes up short of what the rover wants, it goes back to sleep and checks again later. If things are working correctly, the batteries should now be gathering power once more, but its unclear how long its going to take for power levels to reach acceptable levels.

Meanwhile, engineers at JPL have been playing inspirational playlists in hopes of waking the rover back up. Songs like Here Comes The Sun and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go are favorites among the scientists, but for now it doesnt seem as though Opportunity is listening.

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Hong Kong independence activist Andy Chan attacked China as an empire trying to "annex" and "destroy" the city in a no-holds barred speech Tuesday at the city's press club which Beijing wanted cancelled. In comments that will incense Chinese authorities, Chan, who leads the tiny Hong Kong National Party, said Beijing was semi-autonomous Hong Kong's "colonial master". "We are a nation that is quickly being annexed and destroyed by China," Chan told a packed Foreign Correspondents' Club. He said he had been under increased "surveillance" by groups of people he did not know, who had been following him and knocking on his family's door to take pictures of them in the lead-up to the speech. Hong Kong enjoys freedom of speech and assembly unseen on the mainland under a handover agreement between Britain and China. But Beijing has become increasingly intolerant of any mention of independence for Hong Kong as President Xi Jinping emphasises territorial integrity as key to China's resurgence. Rival protesters gathered outside the FCC, with pro-independence activists clashing with police, saying they had been given no space for their rally, while dozens of pro-Beijing supporters chanted slogans including "Gas the spies!" The lunch address -- entitled "Hong Kong Nationalism: A Politically Incorrect Guide to Hong Kong under Chinese Rule" -- drew objections from China's foreign ministry and Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam, as fears grow that freedom of speech in the semi-autonomous city is increasingly under attack. The club stood by its decision to go ahead with the event, saying the views of different sides in any debate must be heard. Chan called on Britain and the United States to help Hong Kong and said Taiwan was an inspiration for his party as it had gone from a dictatorship to a democracy. China still sees self-ruling Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, using force if necessary. Ahead of Chan's talk China's foreign ministry had said: "We resolutely oppose any external forces providing a platform for 'Hong Kong independence' elements to spread fallacies." - Party ban - The Hong Kong government said Tuesday that while it backs freedom of the speech and the press, it "deeply regrets" the event since advocating independence contravened the city's Basic Law, or mini-constitution. "It is totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any person to openly promote and advocate the independence of Hong Kong," a spokesman said. "As such, it is also totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any organisation to provide a public platform to espouse such views." Chants from protesters outside could be heard throughout Chan's address. A small group called the Students Independence Union turned out in support of Chan, waving independence banners outside the club in Hong Kong's Central district. Other pro-democracy protesters said they did not support independence but were supporting Hong Kong's right to freedom of the press and freedom of speech. The pro-Beijing groups gathered outside waved China's national flag, chanting "Get out of Hong Kong! We Chinese people don't welcome you!", describing the FCC as "thieves" and demanding the government "take back" the colonial-era FCC building it leases to the club. Chan's Hong Kong National Party is facing a ban from city authorities who say it is a threat to public security despite having only a dozen core members. It is the first time such a ban has been sought since Britain handed over Hong Kong in 1997. Asked about whether Chan agrees with calls from some in the independence movement for radical action, Chan said he "condemned violence". Calls for the city's independence have infuriated Beijing even though they attract little support. Chan was banned from standing for office in 2016. His talk was part of the FCC's "club lunch" tradition which has seen an array of speakers, including Chinese officials, speak to members and the media. yz-ey-lm-jl/fa
Global rights groups have slammed Egyptian authorities for failing to prosecute members of the security forces over a bloody 2013 crackdown on protesters that left hundreds dead. Five years ago on August 14, 2013, security forces moved in to disperse a sprawling Islamist protest camp in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya square, where demonstrators had rallied against the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi a month earlier. Amnesty International says at least 900 protesters were killed by security forces, marking "a horrific turning point for human rights in Egypt". Since then hundreds of Islamists, including leaders of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, have been convicted at mass trials. But not one member of the security forces has been prosecuted for the deaths of protesters. The lack of prosecutions has "contributed to an environment in which the security forces feel empowered to violate human rights with absolute impunity," said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty's North Africa campaigns director. Egyptian officials have blamed protest leaders for the 2013 bloodshed, pointing to the presence of armed gunmen at the sit-in and the deaths of several police officers. - 'Mass show trial' - President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last month approved a law giving senior military officers immunity from prosecution tied to the unrest that followed Morsi's ouster. On the eve of the anniversary, Human Rights Watch slammed Egyptian authorities for trying to "insulate those responsible for these crimes from justice". "The response from Egypt's allies to the crimes at Rabaa and to the lack of justice for the victims has been complete silence," Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW Middle East director, said in a statement. The US-based rights group said the protest crackdown was "the largest mass killings in Egypt's modern history", leaving at least 817 demonstrators dead. "Without justice, Rabaa remains an open wound. Those responsible for the mass killings of protesters shouldn't count on being able to shield themselves from accountability forever," Whitson said on Monday. In late July an Egyptian court sentenced to death 75 Islamists over the 2013 unrest, as part of proceedings involving 700 defendants which Amnesty described as a "mass show trial". Among those still awaiting a verdict are prominent photojournalist Mahmud Abu Zeid, widely known as Shawkan, who in May received UNESCO's Press Freedom Prize. The dispersal of the protest camp was followed by several months of deadly clashes with police in which hundreds more people were killed. The Muslim Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation in Egypt in December 2013 and banned. Former armed forces chief Sisi won the presidency in 2014 after leading the ouster of Morsi following mass protests against the Islamist's rule. Sisi won reelection with 97 percent at a vote in March against a single opponent widely seen as a token challenger, with critics saying the president had carried out a widespread crackdown on dissent.
Taiwan's president has given a speech in the United States -- the first time in 15 years that a leader of the island has spoken publicly on American soil -- prompting an official protest from Beijing. During a stopover en route to Paraguay, Tsai Ing-wen, whose government refuses to endorse Beijing's view that Taiwan is part of China, vowed to defend democratic values. "We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy," she said on Monday. China views Taiwan as part of its own territory -- to be reunified by force if necessary -- even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. Beijing is always swift to condemn any move that could be interpreted as de facto diplomatic recognition of the government in Taipei and has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), came to power in 2016. Tsai made her speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, whose namesake she praised for his contribution to Taiwan-US relations, including a commitment not to pressure Taipei to negotiate with Beijing. "Everything was negotiable except two things: our freedom and our future," she quoted from Reagan's remarks in her talk, adding that this is also the sentiment of Taiwanese people at the moment. Her transit in Los Angeles was the most high-profile since former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian's 2003 stopover in New York, where he accepted a human rights award and delivered several public speeches. Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979, but it remains the island's biggest arms supplier and most important unofficial ally. Ties have warmed further since Donald Trump came to power, and were further bolstered by the passage this week of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a commitment to support Taiwan militarily. Last month, the US sent two warships into the Taiwan Strait. That followed a string of military drills staged by Beijing around the island. China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Tuesday reiterated its opposition to any attempt to promote Taiwan's independence when asked to comment on Tsai's US transit. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. We firmly oppose any attempt to create 'two Chinas', 'one China, one Taiwan' and 'Taiwan independence' in the international arena," it said in a statement responding to a question from AFP. The Chinese foreign ministry said it had lodged an official protest with the United States as it recalled that it has always "firmly opposed" the US or other countries with diplomatic relations with China arranging such transits. The ministry urged Washington to "scrupulously abide by the one China principle" and "not send any wrong signals to the 'Taiwan independence' forces". Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times accused the US and Taiwan of "shady dealings", warning that the mainland was capable of giving the Taiwanese authorities "a drastic punishment". Tsai's trip to Paraguay comes as Taiwan seeks to firm up ties with its dwindling band of diplomatic allies, whose number fell to 18 after Burkina Faso and the Dominican Republic switched recognition to Beijing in May. Under pressure from Beijing, a growing number of international airlines and companies have also edited their websites to refer to the territory as "Taiwan, China" or "Chinese Taipei".
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis urged closer strategic ties with Brazil on Tuesday in what appeared to be part of a concerted pushback against growing Chinese influence in Latin America. Mattis, who is starting a tour of the region, told military officers at Rio de Janeiro's war college that Brazil and the United States had interests built on shared geography, democracy and battlefield history dating to World War II. Mattis said the United States wants a "stronger relationship," with a focus on using the Brazil's Alcantara space center, whose location near the equator makes launches more effective. China is developing its space infrastructure in Latin America, with a base in southern Argentina's Patagonia region. It has also pushed deep into the continent's economies as an investor and major client for agricultural, mineral and other commodities. Mattis said that US interest in Alcantara was "not because it lies along the equator, a happy accident of geography, but because we want to work with Brazilians - our hemispheric neighbors whose values we share politically, as well as your technological orientation." "Others cannot credibly say the same," he said in what appeared to be a pointed reference to China. China's regional rise comes after long decades of deep, sometimes controversial US influence in Latin America. Mattis, due to visit Argentina, Chile and Colombia next, made clear that Washington is in no mood to give way. "We see Latin America as our neighbor. Some people say we don't pay much attention to it. That is certainly not the case in the military," Mattis said in separate comments issued by the Pentagon's press office. Adam Isacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research organization, told AFP that Mattis is trying to make up for lost time. "He's going to South America now simply to raise the United States' defense profile in a region that hasn't had a visit from a defense secretary since 2014," Isacson said. "The Pentagon probably feels a need to raise the US profile amid concerns about increasing Russian and Chinese influence on the continent." - Brazil lead on Venezuela - Mattis told officers in Rio that following an April discussion with Brazil's defense minister, Joaquim Silva e Luna, he ordered staff "to transform our defense relationship with Brazil, to reenergize it." Mattis singled out Brazil as a regional leader, praising the country's record of multiple peacekeeping missions and its stand against the deeply anti-US government in chaotic Venezuela. Mattis described the Venezuelan leadership as a "power-hungry, oppressive regime that forces refugees into Brazil and into Colombia, and elsewhere." The Brazilian defense minister said Monday after talks with Mattis that his US counterpart believed "the solution (in Venezuela) should be led by Brazil." In an interview with Brazil's O Globo newspaper earlier this week, Mattis again emphasized what he said were the shared democratic values in the US-Latin American partnerships, specifically comparing this to the nature of the new regional rivals China and Russia. Admiral Kurt Tidd, commander of the US Southern Command, explicitly underlined Washington's fears in a speech in June, warning that Latin America tends to get forgotten in strategic considerations. Russia has made "a noticeable increase" in its military and intelligence presence in Latin America during the last six years, as well as leveraging the effect of its international state-controlled media to "discredit, distort or outright fabricate stories about the United States," Tidd said. China, he said, could be using its massive investment activities as cover "for China's strategic interests at the expense of others."
A small white supremacist rally took place outside the White House on Sunday when only some 20 far-right supporters showed up, but they were massively outnumbered by counter-protesters. Washington police closed streets and threw a ring of steel across a park where the rally was held to keep the demonstrators and counter-protesters apart. The day appeared to end without major incident, though officers used pepper spray on rowdy anti-fascists a few blocks from the White House. The tiny group of demonstrators trickled in from nearby Vienna, Virginia under heavy police escort at Washington's Foggy Bottom Metro station -- and were met by hundreds of counter-protesters screaming "Shame!" and "Get out of my city!" Most of the demonstrators wore masks, prompting counter-protesters to taunt them as cowards for hiding their identity. Heavy rain helped bring the so-called "Unite the Right 2" demo to an early end, hours before the scheduled finish of what had been billed as a "white civil rights rally" protesting, among other things, the social media shut down of some voices on the extreme right. After marching to Lafayette Square in front of the White House, the group was driven in police vans back to a different Metro station outside of Washington. "Behold the master race," one counter-protester mockingly yelled. By the end of the day, only six individuals remained, protected from angry counter-protesters by a ring of police officers. "The US is for all of us, NOT just some of us," one counter-protester sign read, while another said, "Fighting Nazis: An American Tradition." One year ago torch-bearing white supremacists in the first "United the Right" event marched through Charlottesville, Virginia in two days of chaos, chanting slogans such as "Blood and Soil" - the English version of a Nazi chant - and "White Lives Matter." That event culminated with a man driving a car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing a woman and injuring 19 people. Some of the white demonstrators in Charlottesville carried guns, including assault rifles, but all firearms were barred from Sunday's rally. On Sunday the demonstrator chants, if any, were drowned out by the counter-protesters. "Pro-white" march organizer Jason Kessler, who wore a grey suit and no mask, told reporters that he was not a white supremacist but a "civil rights advocate for white people" and wanted to "tell the truth about Charlottesville," which he claimed was "sabotaged" by city officials. In a video posted on the Politico website, Kessler said that many sympathizers failed to show up because they were "terrified that they are going to be attacked" by counter-demonstrators. - 'Like Nazi Germany' - "It would be a major mistake if we allowed fascists to just walk into the nation's capital and go in unopposed," said Kei Pritsker, 22, a volunteer with the Answer Coalition that organized the counter-protest. The white supremacist movement is enjoying a sense of empowerment under President Donald Trump, Pritsker said. Trump drew broad criticism immediately after last year's Charlottesville clashes when he appeared reluctant to condemn the extreme right-wingers -- many of whom have rallied behind him since his election. On Saturday, the president issued a generic condemnation of "all types of racism and acts of violence" via Twitter. An African-American counter protester who only gave his name as Jim said that Trump has "emboldened" white racists. "It was subtle, now it's not subtle, it's in your face. It's like Nazi Germany," he told AFP.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in June 2018. (File photo: Reuters/Lai Seng Sin)

The price of water is of perennial concern to Singapores residents.

Soon after Pakatan Harapan won the Malaysian general election in May 2018, hints began dropping that Malaysia would renegotiate the price of water it sells to Singapore, the deal to which dates back to 1962.

Singapore responded to the price hike rumours, saying that Malaysia consciously did not hike the price of water it sells to the Republic when it had the chance to in 1987.

Somewhat reassuringly, Malaysias foreign minister said in late July that his country would continue to honour the 1962 deal, saying: Water is like our nerve system. We honour our nearest neighbour.

Indeed, even Johor royalty wanted the federal government not to interfere in the deal.

However, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has again revived debate over the price of water, indicating that he wanted to hike the price by more than 10 times. Malaysia currently sells water to Singapore at 3 sen (about S$0.01) per thousand gallons and buys treated water at 50 sen (S$0.17) per thousand gallons.

Mahathirs reasoning is that Johor sells water at a much higher rate to a fellow Malaysian state (Melaka) at 30 sen per thousand gallons, and Malaysia should be getting much more than that in selling to a foreign country.

Given this imbalance, would it be justified for Malaysia to increase the price of water it sells to Singapore, or should it remain bound by the original agreement? Take our poll, and have your say in the comments.

Related stories:

Malaysia eyes more than 10-fold hike in Singapore water deal

Mahathir Revives Singapore Water Dispute

Report: Malaysia will honour water deal with Singapore

TMJ wants Putrajaya to back off from Johor water deal with Singapore

Malaysia lost its right to revise water agreement in 1987: Vivian Balakrishnan

Water price hike sparks rare public protest in Singapore
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saturday said if Washington continued threats to double tariffs on Turkeys imports of iron and steel as a tool to secure the release of American Pastor, Ankara will look for new markets, Daily Sabah reports.

The Turkish leader made the comments at a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) meeting in Trabzon, northern Turkey.

We were together with you [U.S.] in Afghanistan, Somalia and Bosnia. How can you push aside such a strategic ally? We might as well say goodbye to those who sacrifice their strategic partnership with a country of 81 million and an ally of over 50 years for some terrorist groups, Erdogan said.

Turkey has been infuriated by the U.S. support for the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria; an affiliate group of outlawed PKK group opposed to Ankara and blacklisted by the U.S. and by Europe.

Ties between the two NATO allies have further deteriorated over the fate of U.S. Pastor Andrew Brunson who has been detained in Turkey since September 2016 over terror-related charges.

The Trump administration claims the evangelist has been unfairly detained and requests his immediate release.

Trump had vowed to slap sanctions on Turkey if the Pastor is not released. Washington has put Turkeys Interior and Justice Ministers on its black list, arguing that the two officials have been thwarting Brunsons release.

Erdogan vowed retaliation saying that Ankara would target U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.

Erdogan also said the Trump administration set last Wednesday as deadline to Brunsons release.

A delegation of Turkish diplomats was in Washington for talks last week but the two sides failed to reach a deal.

Erdogan blasted Trumps Friday threats to double the tariffs saying they are unacceptable. He said that Turkey is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and there was no such thing in WTO rules, Daily Sabah reports.
Three workers, two Palestinians and a Chinese, died Monday at different constructions sites in Israeli, bringing the death toll to 27 so far this year.

Two Palestinians from the occupied West bank fell on Monday morning from scaffolding on the 15th floor of a site in the town of Rosh Haayin.

The police, according to Haaretz daily, opened an investigation that led to the arrest of four people including the contractor, the foreman and the safety director on the site.

Another worker, a Chinese national, also fell while plastering on a construction site in city of Lod.

The three deaths bring the total number of fatalities recorded so far this year to 27. The toll is higher if passers-by are included in the count. The figure accounts for 43 per cent rise compared with the same period last year, Haaretz daily notes.

Activists have denounced failure by authorities to implement safety regulations to curb deaths on construction sites. They also argue that deaths are taking toll on the economy.

The bloody price of the construction industry attests to the ongoing lawlessness and helplessness of the enforcement authorities and the Israeli government, which does not lift a finger in the face of the carnage of construction workers, said Reuven Ben Shimon, founder of the accident prevention forum, according to Haaretz.

This is a national failure that exacts victims and the heavy economic price of more than NIS 4.5 billion paid out every year by taxpayers to the victims and their families, he added.

Ben-Shimon said 70 per cent of the deaths recorded are caused by falls.

Another activist, Hadas Tagari founder of the coalition against construction site accidents took aim at the whole state apparatus as he talked about a multi-system failure.

The police, whose responsibility is to investigate, say that the safety manager does not give the appropriate professional evaluation. The State Attorneys Office, for its part, says that the investigations are conducted negligently and therefore there is difficulty in submitting indictments, Tagari told Hadashot news.

And the courts, when there is an indictment and a conviction years after the accident, asks why the indictment wasnt filed after a year.
On Tuesday, voters in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Vermont will pick nominees in a total of five Senate contests between them, as well as three of the most competitive gubernatorial races on the midterm calendar. Theyll also decide the nominees in a handful of congressional battlegrounds, including two of the three House seats Republicans have a realistic chance of flipping this fall.

Several of these states are still sorting out their politics in the Trump era. In Wisconsin, conservative Gov. Scott Walker and liberal Sen. Tammy Baldwin are both odds-on favorites to win re-election, two years after Trump won a surprise victory in the state. In Minnesota, where Trump also performed better than expected in 2016, Republicans are hopeful they might flip Al Frankens Senate seat, and perhaps even recapture the governors mansion. In Connecticut, the deep unpopularity of incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy could put the heavily Democratic state in play, even in a possible wave year.

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Heres what to watch for in each state.

Wisconsin

Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin are expected to coast to their respective nominationsthe question, though, is whom each incumbent will face this November.

Democrats will select from a crowded field of eight to take on Walker, who has been a white whale for the left since he began decimating organized labor shortly after taking up residence in the governors mansion back in 2011. When pollsters at Marquette Law School surveyed the Democratic field last month, all eight challengers were looking up at perennial candidate Undecided. Tony Evers, a teacher-turned-state superintendent, is the closet thing to a favorite in the race. But the field also includes Kelda Roys, an EMILYs Listendorsed lawyer who garnered some national attention when she featured herself breastfeeding her child in a campaign ad, and Mahlon Mitchell, the president of a firefighters union and the only black candidate on the ballot.

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Republicans, meanwhile, will pick between two Senate hopefuls: Leah Vukmir, an establishment-backed state lawmaker, and Kevin Nicholson, a former Democrat who has rebranded himself as a tough-talking outsider. Both candidates have embraced Trump, awkwardly at times. Nicholson and his allies complain Vukmir is a RINO who was slow to endorse Trump in 2016; Vukmir and her team point out that Nicholson wasnt even a Republican until some time around 2000. Both candidates have the backing of their own GOP megadonor; neither has the support of Nicholsons parents, who have already donated the max to Baldwin. Whoever wins will enter the race as an underdog to Baldwin.

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Further down the ballot, union steelworker Randy Bryce and his famous mustache face off against school board member Cathy Myers in the Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District, home to retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan. Bryce was an early favorite of national Democrats this cycle, and he has the backing of both Bernie Sanders and the DCCC. He once appeared a lock to win the nomination, but Myers has refused to go away. If Bryce loses, hed be the latest in a string of Sanders endorsees to come up short on primary day. On the GOP side, local businessman Bryan Steil has Ryans backing and is the favorite in his primary, though the general election could be a close contest.

Minnesota

The Gopher State is home to not one but two Senate races this year, but the race for attorney general is overshadowing them both. U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, the vice chairman of the DNC and a bold-faced name on the left who came home to run for AG, was accused over the weekend of physically abusing an ex-girlfriend. He has denied those allegations, but it remains an open question just what impact theyll have on the primary, and whether Ellison would be a drag on Democrats if he advanced to the general election.

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In the Senate contests, incumbent Amy Klobuchar is expected to coast to her nomination and then another six-year term, while interim Sen. Tina Smith will have a little more work to serve out the final two years left in former Sen. Al Frankens term. Smith drew a surprise primary challenge earlier this year from former White House ethics czar and current Trump critic Richard Painter, but his #Resistance cred doesnt appear to be enough to make Democrats forget about his past as a George W. Bush appointee. Running on the GOP side are Karin Housley, a moderate state lawmaker backed by the state GOP, and Bob Anderson, a dental technician whos praised Trump but who is also in favor of a public option.* Former Gov.

Tim Pawlenty is the favorite to win the GOP nomination to replace retiring Gov. Mark Dayton, while state Attorney General Lori Swanson and moderate U.S. Rep Tim Walz are the front-runners in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, with a progressive state lawmaker, Erin Murphy, in the mix as well.

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Four of the states congressional districts are considered toss-ups heading into the fall: two open Democratic seats and two GOP seats where incumbents could be in trouble. There wont be much suspense on primary night, though. The only competitive primary of the bunch is in the 8th District, where Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan isnt running for re-election. St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber is the favorite for the GOP nomination there, while the Democratic race is anyones guess.

Connecticut

The only major race of note in the Nutmeg State is the one to succeed Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy, who isnt seeking another term. The Democratic primary is between Ned Lamont, best known nationally for beating Sen. Joe Lieberman in a primary back in 2006 only to lose to him and his write-in campaign in the general election, and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. On the Republican side, the contenders are a pair of business execs, Bob Stefanowski and David Stemerman, and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who has the backing of the state Republican Party.

Vermont

Unlike the other three states, the gubernatorial race in this one is expected to be a snoozer this fall, with GOP Gov. Phil Scott looking like a lock for another term. But what the Green Mountain State lacks in suspense it just might make up for with history. The leading contender for the Democratic nomination is Christine Hallquist, who is hoping to become the nations first transgender governor. Rounding out the field is: environmental activist James Ehlers, dance festival organizer Brenda Siegel, and Ethan Sonneborn, a 14-year-old who is taking advantage of the states lack of an age requirement to run for state office.
On Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump praised his chief of staff John Kelly for letting go of Omarosa Manigault Newmanor, in Trumps words, for quickly firing that dog! That insult came after Manigault Newman embarked on book tour in which shes been selling the claim that shes heard a tape of Trump saying the N-word. Trump, meanwhile, has been using his Twitter page to depict the former Apprentice contestant as wacky, crazed, and a lowlife.

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Dog marks a new low in this war of words. Some people are calling it sexist. Some are saying its racist. Some people think its neither, and it could always be both! So, what is it?

On Twitter, a user with the handle @conservogirl wrote that according to the dictionary, [dog] is neither racist or sexist, and while unpleasant, in this instance the term fits. a person regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wicked (used as a term of abuse).  Unfortunately for our friend @conservogirl, words can have multiple definitions, and so we must press on.

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In the right-wing Daily Wire, conservative gadfly Ben Shapiro noted that Trump routinely suggests that people he doesnt like are dogs. Shapiros analysis: That may make him a ridiculous practitioner of the English language, but it doesnt make him a racist.

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Hes right that Trump compares people to dogs all the time, especially when theyre getting firedHuffPost has assembled a compendium of tweets that show just that. But with just a couple of exceptions, Trump almost uses the formulation like a dog, comparing people like Glenn Beck, Chuck Todd, and Erick Erickson to dogs rather than claiming they are dogs.

In addition to Tuesdays Omarosa tweet, Ive been able to find three instances in which Trump called someone a dog, rather than just comparing them to one, on Twitter. The first came in 2013, when, as part of a feud with Mac Miller about the rappers song Donald Trump, the future president wrote, Im now going to teach you a big boy lesson about lawsuits and finance. You ungrateful dog! In 2015, Trump called David Axelrod a dog for criticizing him on Fox News even after I made a big contribution to his charity.

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While Trump doesnt always use dog as a sexist insult, he does use it to insult womens looks.

Consider this attack on Arianna Huffington in 2015:

"@laurasgoldman: .@realDonaldTrump why is it necessary to comment on .@ariannahuff looks? Because she is a dog who wrongfully comments on me  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2015

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Also, in 2011, New York Times columnist Gail Collins wrote about Trump sending her a copy of a column in which shed called him a financially embattled thousandaire; hed circled her picture and written The Face of a Dog!

And as long as were talking dictionary definitions, we should note for @conservogirls sake that Oxford, the same dictionary that defines dog as someone unpleasant, contemptible, or wicked, offers this alternative definition: an unattractive woman. Its no coincidence that the word bitch refers to both female dogs and cold, difficult women.

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Calling Manigault Newman a dog also aligns with the way Trump expresses his racism. He has famously called immigrants animals in an attempt to deprive them of their humanity. And hes not the only one: Associating people of color, especially black people, with animals is a tried-and-true strategy among those who believe whites belong at the top of a racial hierarchy. The word dog in particular is a common addendum to pejorative racial and ethnic descriptors.

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With evidence to support both racism and sexism in the use of the word dog, and taking into account Trumps historical contempt for women and black people, its safe to say that the answer to the sexist or racist? quandary is both. The theory of intersectional oppression holds that both racism and sexism are multidimensional. A black woman like Manigault Newman doesnt experience the same kind of sexism a white or Asian-American woman does, and neither does she experience the same kind of racism a black man does. By labeling her a dog, Trump called upon a very specific kind of anti-black sexism that comprises both the American history of enslaved black women being treated as livestock-like breeders and contemporary pop culture depictions of black women as angry, emasculating bitches. Thank Twitters character limit for forcing our bombastic president to smoosh such a broad and complex history of discrimination into one three-letter word.
President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a new decree bringing prison sentences up to 25 years in prison for the promotion of terrorism via websites and up to five year in jail for inciting hate online.

The amendments brought to the countrys cybercrime law toughen authorities stance on terrorism and promotion of hate.

Under the new decree, article 26 addressing terrorism, stipulates an imprisonment period of 10 to 25 years, and a fine of AED2-4 million on anyone running a website or publishing online information in the interest of a terrorist group, state-run news agency WAM reports.

Anyone found guilty of promoting hate online is subject to 5 years in prison and a fine of AED500,000 to AED1 million.

The decree also establishes complete ban on the use of information technology means for first-time offenders, for a period established by the law. The offender could be placed under electronic probation and monitoring, the agency further notes.

As part of the amendment, article 28 stipulates a punishment of temporary imprisonment and a fine of up to AED1 million for anyone establishing a website with intent to incite acts which may endanger the national security or attacks on any member of the judicial courts system, the agency says.

Foreigners who are convicted under these legal provisions could face deportation after serving their prison terms. The deportation is subject to court order.
Slates expanded voting rights coverage is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you.

A federal court blocked New Hampshires signature mismatch law on Tuesday, prohibiting the state from rejecting ballots on the basis of inconsistent handwriting. The court found that election officials had violated voters constitutional rights by tossing out their ballots due to perceived discrepancies between signatures. In 2016 alone, officials disenfranchised 275 voters for alleged signature mismatches, a disproportionate number of whom were disabled.

New Hampshires bizarre mismatch rule applied to all residents who vote by absentee ballot. Voters must sign their ballots before mailing them in; a local election official known as a moderator would then compare the ballot signature to the signature on file. If the moderator decided the signatures didnt match, she had unilateral authority to reject the ballot. These moderators did not have expertise in handwriting analysis and operated under no clear guidelines. Predictably, this freewheeling system produced wildly inconsistent results: In 2016, all rejected ballots came from just 26 percent of New Hampshires 318 polling places. It seems a handful of overeager moderators disenfranchised hundreds of voters.

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In response, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire filed suit, alleging that the states mismatch law violated voters due process rights under the 14th Amendment.

(Its client, Mary Saucedo, is 95 years old and legally blind; in 2016, her ballot was thrown out for signature mismatch.) On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty ruled in the ACLUs favor, describing the rule as fundamentally flawed. She continued:

Not only is the disenfranchised voter given no right to participate in this process, but the voter is not even given notice that her ballot has been rejected due to a signature mismatch. Moreover, moderators receive no training in handwriting analysis or signature comparison; no statute, regulation, or guidance from the State provides functional standards to distinguish the natural variations of one writer from other variations that suggest two different writers; and the moderators assessment is final, without any review or appeal.

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These facts, McCafferty explained, are particularly troubling because the right to vote is of the most fundamental significance under our constitutional structure. Under basic due process principles, the government must afford voters some recourse before stripping them of this fundamental right. Yet New Hampshire does no such thing. To the contrary, the state gives voters no opportunity to cure a ballot that has been tossed out for signature mismatch. And its utterly arbitrary rules do not further any legitimate interest in preventing voter fraud.

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Thus, McCafferty forbade the state from rejecting a ballot because of signature mismatch. Instead, a moderator who questions a voters signatures must contact her and allow her to cure her ballot. (Voters already provide their contact information when submitting their absentee ballot.) This easy fix, McCafferty concluded, will reduce the risk that qualified voters are wrongly disenfranchised and bolster the States interests in preventing voter fraud and safeguarding voter confidence in elections.

Tuesdays decision is a major victory for the ACLU, which spent months investigating the mismatch issue and tracking down disenfranchised residents. (The names of voters rejected for mismatch were added to an obscure website, then scrubbed from the internet 90 days after the election.) Unfortunately, McCafferty cannot restore the many votes that were unconstitutionally discarded in years past. But her opinion precludes New Hampshirecurrently ground zero in the war on voting rightsfrom suppressing another vote on the basis of sloppy signatures.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a card-carrying member of climate change skeptic Trump administration, told a local TV station Sunday that climate change has nothing to do with the dozens of wildfires currently ravaging the west, and particularly the state of California, where blazes have churned through 1,000 square miles so far in what has already been the most destructive fire season on record. Instead, Zinke placed blame on extreme environmentalists for the conditions that led to the states historic fires this year. America is better than letting these radical groups control the dialogue about climate change, Zinke said in an interview with KCRA. This has nothing to do with climate change. This has to do with active forest management.

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Zinkes latest statements were a continuation of his criticism of environmental groups efforts for limiting logging in a recent op-ed in USA Today. Every year we watch our forests burn, and every year there is a call for action, Zinke wrote. Yet, when action comes, and we try to thin forests of dead and dying timber, or we try to sustainably harvest timber from dense and fire-prone areas, we are attacked with frivolous litigation from radical environmentalists who would rather see forests and communities burn than see a logger in the woods.

Researchers do attribute the recent fires in part to forest management strategies, and moves to inhibit naturally occurring wildfires that previously helped maintain an ecological balance in forests, the Guardian reports. Fire suppression has left forests dense, dry and primed to burn [but] [s]uch policies [-] were put in place to protect the timber industry.
Naturally: Kris Kobach was the Kansas secretary of state for almost eight years, and it was his job to make sure the states election procedures were shipshape, Mark Joseph Stern writes. So of course, because Kris Kobach is a disaster, the aftermath of the Aug. 7 primary contest between him and the states incumbent governor has become a comedy of errors.

Fruitless: Does Omarosa have a tape of Donald Trump using the N-word? It doesnt matter, Christina Cauterucci writes. Shes got no credibility, for one thing. (But the presidents use of the word dog to insult her was most definitely racist and sexist, Cauterucci adds.)

Could be good: Sex robots might help us be more flexible in conceptualizing what a good marriage looks like, Marina Adshade writes.

For fun: small adjustments to hair and clothes.

Utterly mesmerizing,

Rebecca
A man was arrested on suspicion of terrorism in London on Tuesday morning after he struck and injured pedestrians and cyclists with his car before crashing into barriers outside Parliament, British authorities said.

That man, who has not yet been identified, is reported to be in his late 20s and was alone in the silver Ford Fiesta, apparently without any weapons, police said in a statement. Authorities reported that three people were injured, but only one sustained seriousbut not life-threateninginjuries.

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The police are treating it as suspected terrorism because they believe it was intentional and directed toward Parliament. They said they believe that the incident is over and there is no remaining risk to the public.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said in a statement that police had not yet formally identified the suspect and that he was not cooperating with investigators. He added in speaking to reporters that the suspect appeared not to have been known by British domestic intelligence or counterterrorism police.

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Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the car swerved onto the wrong side of the road and into cyclists waiting at the lights. Then it swerved back across the road and accelerated as fast as possible, and hit the barrier at full pelt, a witness told the BBC. Other eyewitnesses agreed that it looked intentional.

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According to the New York Times, by calling the incident terrorism, police are able to detain the suspect for up to 28 days without filing charges, rather than three days.

President Trump responded Tuesday morning with a tweet complaining that these animals are crazy:

Another terrorist attack in London...These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2018

In March 2017, a driver in an SUV mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, wounding at least 40 and killing three, including a police officer the driver then stabbed outside Parliament. The attacker was shot and killed by police.

Almost three months later, three men killed six civilians after slamming into pedestrians on London Bridge and then running to the nearby Borough Market, where they stabbed people in nearby restaurants and pubs. Dozens were injured.
At the end of the 10th day of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manaforts trial for bank and tax fraud, the prosecution rested and the defense asked to get the case thrown out. The motion, long expected, asked Judge T.S. Ellis III to acquit Manafort, arguing that the prosecution hadnt shown that Manaforts false filings were used by banks to decide to give him loans, BuzzFeed News reported.

A Federal Savings Bank employee named Jim Brennan, meanwhile, told jurors that Manafort hadnt included some debts on his loan application to the bank. According to testimony, the banks credit committee had challenged Manaforts application, but the banks CEO, Steve Calk, made sure Manafort would get the loan. Calks role in the loan approval raised some hackles with Judge Ellis, who suggested that anything untrue Manafort told the bank in order to get a loan wasnt legally meaningful if the banks CEO was aware of it. FSB ended up losing $12 million, Brennan said, according to Politico.

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The trouble Im having is that one of the conspirators is an owner of the bank that you contend was defrauded, he said. The prosecutors argued that since Calk was a manager and only part-owner, as opposed to the sole funder or sole owner, the bank itself could still be defrauded with his help.

[Brennan] testified Calk helped Manafort secure loans with the bank because Calk had wanted a Cabinet-level position in the Trump administration, the Washington Post reported. The bank ended up lending Manafort $16 million, which combined represent[ed] the largest loans the bank had ever issued up to that point in time, Brennan told the court, according to the Washington Post.
A North Carolina court issued a preliminary injunction on Monday blocking the General Assemblys attempt to throw a state Supreme Court race to the Republican incumbent. The court found that the GOP-dominated legislature likely violated the state constitution by stripping a Republican candidate of his party affiliation. Its ruling, if upheld on appeal, will thwart legislators efforts to protect the GOP incumbent from Republican challengers in the November election.

The mayhem in North Carolina began in 2017 when the legislature abolished judicial primaries over the veto of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Republicans hoped to shield Republican Justice Barbara Jackson from competitors and hoped that several Democrats would run against each other in the general election. That didnt happen. Instead, civil rights lawyer Anita Earls filed as the sole Democratic candidate, while Chris Anglin, a Raleigh attorney, filed as a Republican. Anglin was a registered Democrat until just before he joined the race. But he insisted he was running as a constitutional Republican to stand up for the independence of the judiciarynot as a Democratic plant. (There is no evidence that he colluded with the Democratic Party to spoil Jacksons candidacy.)

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In response, the General Assembly passed a new law that bars Supreme Court candidates from running with a party affiliation unless they were registered with that party at least 90 days before filing. The measure, pushed through during a special session in July, is clearly aimed at Anglin, who filed a lawsuit to preserve his GOP affiliation on the ballot, alleging the law infringed on his rights under the state constitution.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Holt agreed in a forceful ruling handed down Monday afternoon. Holt explained that Anglin has a vested right to have his party affiliation listed on the ballota right the legislature infringed upon by changing the rules and applying them retroactively. This switcheroo violates fundamental principles of fairness, Holt found, thereby violating [Anglins] right to due process under the North Carolina constitution. She also held that the new law severely burdens Anglins associational rights under the state constitution by preventing him from affiliating with his chosen party. And because the law is justified by no compelling or legitimate state interest, she concluded, it must be set aside.

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Holts decision may not be the last word in this battle. Republicans could appeal the ruling, though time is running out, as ballots must be finalized this week. If they do appeal, the case will probably wind up at the state Supreme Court, where the Democratic majority has not hesitated to rein in legislative power grabs. Jackson will presumably recuse herself from the dispute given its direct bearing on her re-election. So it is quite likely that the high court would affirm Holts preliminary injunction, ensuring that Anglin will remain listed as a Republican in November. If that happens, Earls, the Democrat, has an excellent shot at winning the election, since Anglin will probably split the GOP vote. Her victory would give Democrats a 52 majority on the court, further emboldening progressive justices to strike down legislative overreach.

Ironically, Anglins fight to retain his party affiliation lends credence to his justification for entering the race. Although Republicans continue to allege, without proof, that Anglin is a mere spoiler, he has consistently asserted that he wants to combat the constant assault on the independent judiciary. He told me on Monday that Republicans last-minute attack on his candidacy has shown exactly why Im running. They want to make the judiciary an extension of the legislature. Luckily for Anglin, they have not yet succeeded.
Continuing her book tour, Omarosa Manigault Newman released an audio recording on Tuesday of former Trump campaign aides discussing the possible existence of a Trump N-word tape and how the campaign would respond if it were released. The recording itself did not shed any light on whether the long-rumored tape of Apprentice outtakes in which Trump can purportedly be heard saying the N-word is real, but it did prove that a former Trump 2016 official and a current Trump Housing and Urban Development official lied on Monday about their conversations with Manigault Newman regarding the alleged tape.

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On Monday, Manigault Newman told Chris Matthews that she had a meeting during the 2016 campaign with former spokeswoman Katrina Pierson, former campaign communications director Jason Miller, and Lynne Patton, a current Trump HUD appointee who previously worked as Eric Trumps wedding planner.

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Jason Miller, Lynne Patton, and Katrina [Pierson], we had a conference call, and we talked about what we would do, Manigault Newman said on MSNBCs Hardball. In fact, Katrina Pierson said that she thought he actually said it.

On Monday evening, Pierson told Fox News that no such conversation ever occurred.

That did not happen, she said. It sounds like shes writing a script for a movie.

For her part, Patton did not actually deny that the conversation took place but conflated another claim from Manigault Newmans book to make it sound like the conversation hadnt occurred.

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To be clear, at no time did I participate in a conference call with Katrina Pierson advising me, Jason Miller, and Omarosa Manigault-Newman that Frank Luntz had heard President Donald J. Trump use a derogatory racial term, Patton said in a statement.

On Tuesday, CBS released the audio of Patton, Pierson, and Manigault Newman (CBS also reported that Miller was on the conversation).

POTUS says former White House staffer @Omarosa lied when she called him a racist who has said the N-word on tape. But a new recording, obtained by @CBSNews overnight, seems to back up Omarosa's story that several Trump advisers discussed an alleged tape during the 2016 campaign. https://t.co/tV3R6P2TvE  CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) August 14, 2018

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I am trying to find at least what context it was used in to help us maybe try to figure out a way to spin it, Pierson says in the recording.

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Patton can also be heard on the tape apparently saying that Trump denied to her ever using the term.

Pierson interrupted Patton at that point and insisted that she believed Trump used the word. He said it, no he said it, Pierson said. He is embarrassed.

Pierson admitted to the Daily Beast on Tuesday that the conversation did take place, contrary to what she told Fox News on Monday. She brushed it off, however, as concern trolling from Omarosa.

Omarosa had been concern trolling [about] this tape daily, Pierson told the Daily Beast. Finally, I got to the point where, when it was just us, I would roll with it because there were other things that I needed to deal with.

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The thing here is there was never a conference call confirming anything Pierson added. It was all speculation, all rumor, all strategy, it was never confirming anything.

Again, this directly contradicts what she told Fox News just the night before.

On Hardball, Manigault Newman claimed that after she put the book to bed, she was actually played audio of Trump using the word by a former member of the production staff of the Apprentice.

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Manigault Newman also said that the former staff member specifically instructed her to put headphones on and then played an audio recording. She claimed that Trump used the N-word multiple times in the purported recording.

Whats upsetting about it is it was about someone that was on the cast with me, about Kwame Jackson, who was the African American contestant, male contestant, on the first season of the Apprentice, Manigault Newman said. And thats why it was so disturbing.

She also claimed that after listening to the audio, she called Eric Trumps wife, Lara, to discuss it and recorded that conversation.*

I called her to tell her what I heard and what was happening and she wasnt surprised, she was just sort of in damage control mode, Manigault Newman said.

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On Monday, Trump said I dont have that word in my vocabulary and that he spoke with Apprentice creator Mark Burnett, who denied the existence of any tapes in which the president said the N-word.

.@MarkBurnettTV called to say that there are NO TAPES of the Apprentice where I used such a terrible and disgusting word as attributed by Wacky and Deranged Omarosa. I dont have that word in my vocabulary, and never have. She made it up. Look at her MANY recent quotes saying....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2018

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Burnett is the CEO of MGM Worldwide Television Group, which has refused to release outtakes to the public, citing vague legal concerns. MGM has been issued a subpoena seeking any outtakes of derogatory comments Trump may have made about women as part of a lawsuit by a former Apprentice contestant.

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On Tuesday, the president tweeted that Manigault Newman was a dog.

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2018

Multiple news outlets also reported on Tuesday that the Trump campaign had filed confidential arbitration proceedings against Manigault Newman, alleging that she had violated the terms of a campaign nondisclosure agreement.
On Monday night, President Donald Trump tweeted that Apprentice producer Mark Burnett had called to assure him that there are no Apprentice tapes of him using the N-word. On Tuesday, former White House official and Apprentice villain Omarosa Manigault Newman released a tape she had made of Trump campaign officials discussing the possibility of such a tape. And then, in Tuesdays press briefing, NBC News correspondent Kristen Welker asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders if she had asked the president if he ever used the N-word.

Sanders answered that she had never heard him use that term or anything similar but wouldnt say if she had asked him about it directly. When Welker followed up to ask if Sanders could promise the American people that no tape of Trump uttering the N-word exists, well  heres how that went:

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.@kwelkernbc: "Can you stand at the podium and guarantee the American people they'll never hear Donald Trump utter 'the n word' on a recording, in any context?"



Sarah Sanders: "I can't guarantee anything... I can tell you I've never heard it." pic.twitter.com/rSDj4ctA5a  MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 14, 2018

After not guaranteeing anything, Sanders continued: If at any point we felt the president was who some of critics claimed him to be, we certainly wouldnt be here. She then went on to cite black American employment statistics.
This is a transcript of Episode 1 of Season 2 of Slow Burn, which was released Wednesday. Listen in the player below, or subscribe here.

Monica Lewinsky didnt know it, but her lunch meeting with Linda Tripp was never going to happen. Lewinsky was waiting for Tripp at the food court inside a shopping mall in Pentagon City, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. It was a typical suburban mallbrightly lit, with a movie theater, a Macys, and white tiles on the floor. Lewinsky had come from the gym. She was still in her exercise clothes. And she was reading a magazine while she waited for her friend.

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It was Friday, Jan. 16, 1998. Lewinsky was 24 years old. About two years earlier, she had become involved in a precarious relationship with the president of the United States. As Lewinsky later told her biographer, her relationship with Bill Clinton had come to overwhelm her life. She found it hard to think about anything else.

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Standing there at the Pentagon City Mall, Lewinsky looked up from her magazine, and she saw Linda Tripp heading towards her on an escalator.

RENATA ADLER: Suddenly she gestures, I mean, Linda Tripp is coming down on the escalator. And gestures towards some men behind her.

Thats journalist Renata Adler. She wrote about Monica Lewinsky, and what happened to her on this day in 1998, for Vanity Fair and the L.A. Times.

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RENATA ADLER: And suddenly these guys apprehend her, and they keep saying that shes already in steep trouble with the law, and it can only get more steep unless she does as they ask.

The two men who approached Lewinsky were wearing dark suits and carrying badges. They said they were with the FBI, and that the Attorney General of the United States had authorized a criminal investigation into her actions. The FBI agents invited Lewinsky to follow them to a room in a nearby Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Though they told Lewinsky that she was not under arrest and was free to leave at any time, she agreed to go with them. Later, she said she went because she wanted to protect the presidentthat she was thinking, I have to fix this.

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As the scene in the food court unfolded, Linda Tripp tried to give Lewinsky a hug. Monica, this is for your own good, she said. Just listen to them. They did the same thing to me. But like so much of what Tripp had said to Lewinsky, that was a lie.

While I was working on this show, I discovered that not everyone knows who Linda Tripp is. Twenty years ago, Tripp was a world-famous supervillainher name was synonymous with treachery and manipulation. Tripp worked in the same office as Monica Lewinsky for much of 1996 and 1997, and during that time, Lewinsky spilled her guts to her colleague about the affair she was having with Clinton. Eventually, Tripp started recording her conversations with Lewinsky. And then, after making fake lunch plans with her at the Pentagon City Mall, Tripp delivered her friend to the FBI.

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The agents led Lewinsky to the tenth floor of the Ritz-Carlton and into room 1012. It was a standard unit furnished with a dresser, a television set, a bed, and a chair. There, Lewinsky met two men from the Office of the Independent Counsel. One of them was a prosecutor named Bruce Udolf.

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BRUCE UDOLF: The only thing we knew about Monica was from the tapes. We had heard her voice, but we didnt know what to expecthow she was going to behave or act or anything. We assumed that she was not going to be a very submissive person. But we were not prepared for her personality. And what happened at all when she got there.

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Udolf and his colleague were working for Ken Starr, the independent counsel who had been investigating Clinton for more than three years. They were there to put Monica Lewinsky in a brace. Thats what prosecutors call it when they confront a potential witness in a criminal probe.

At issue was something Lewinsky had written: a sworn affidavit in which she claimed that she had never had a sexual relationship with Bill Clinton. The point of putting Lewinsky in the brace was to scare her into telling the truthand to convince her to help Ken Starr go after the person he was really interested in: the president.

RENATA ADLER: So they take her into this room, and they say, Youve committed this crime, you signed a false affidavit, and it puts you in such trouble you may go to jail for 27 years.

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Udolfs colleague suggested to Lewinsky that she could make some of that prison time go away if she agreed to work with Starrs office. All she had to do was take part in an undercover operation designed to catch the president committing a crime.

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Monica Lewinsky had a choice to make: Should she cooperate with the Starr investigation or remain loyal to the president and risk a decades-long prison sentence?

On Jan. 16, 1998, Lewinsky weighed that choice for eleven mind-bending hours. It was a choice that would set the course for the rest of her life. It also put the fate of the Clinton presidency on her shoulders.

This is Slow Burn.

Im your host, Leon Neyfakh.

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REPORTER 1: In the long history of the American presidency, theres never been anything like this. REPORTER 2: Sex, lies, and constitutional duty. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON 1: These kind of issues are not private matters. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON 2: Congress is rushing to overthrow the commander-in-chief. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON 3: What has happened in this town? Where is the decency?

Over the next two months, Ill be your guide to everything you never knew about the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

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How did a turbulent series of sexual encounters between the president and a White House intern go from being a secret to an all-consuming national obsession? How did the ensuing scandal change our politics and shape the world we live in now? What did Americans think about and talk about as they were forced to pick sides? And what did they miss in the process?

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Episode 1: Deal or No Deal.

When Bruce Udolf joined the independent counsels office in mid-1997, Ken Starrs investigation was focused almost entirely on money. Starr was interested in the Clintons financial historyspecifically, something called

NBC: Whitewater! The Arkansas real estate deal that has dogged President and Mrs. Clinton since they arrived in Washington. The special prosecutor has been looking into this case 

Udolf was 46 years old when he was recruited to join the Starr team. He was an accomplished investigator. He had built up an impressive record going after public corruption in Florida.

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REPORTER: Many of the lawyers working for Starr are some of the toughest prosecutors in the nation. Bruce Udolf nailed more than a dozen judges, mayors, and cops for corruption while U.S. attorney in Miami.

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Most of the politicians Udolf went after in Florida were Democrats. But Udolf didnt join up with Starr for partisan reasons or because he wanted to get Bill Clinton. Udolf was a Democrat himself. He had voted for the president. What attracted him to the Starr probe were the stakes.

BRUCE UDOLF: I mean, to work on a case involving allegations of corruption on the part of the president of the United States, I mean. If youre looking to have an impact, it doesnt get more impactful than that.

But within six months of Udolfs arrival in Washington, Starrs team had received an astonishing tip from Linda Tripp. It caused the investigation to swerve into questions of presidential adultery and deception.

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Udolf was skeptical about this new direction.

BRUCE UDOLF: I mean, I went up there fully expecting to investigate the presidents involvement, or alleged involvement, in a real estate deal that had failedbasically a white-collar investigation. This was not necessarily something I signed up for. And its not something that I feel terribly good about.

Udolf wasnt crazy about the idea of putting Lewinsky in a brace, although he mostly kept his doubts to himself. Some of the more hard-charging prosecutors on the team already thought he was a softielater, they would put up a jokey chart on the wall of their office where he was labeled commie wimp. When Udolf suggested that it wasnt a good idea to confront Lewinsky with a group of men and no women, he was told that none of the women in the office were available.

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Udolf is in his mid-60s now. He lives outside Fort Lauderdale and works as a white-collar defense attorney. And he has a hard time talking about the Monica Lewinsky investigation. When I spoke to him in his office earlier this year, his face would toggle between friendly, cautious, and agonized, and he fidgeted with any small object he could get his hands on. As he answered my questions, there were times when Udolf would stop and think for a full 10 seconds, searching for the right words.

UDOLF: This case  involving Monica Lewinsky  shouldve been dead on arrival.  And it served no useful purpose.

Udolf really hates that the Clinton-Lewinsky investigation happened. He hates what it put the country through. And he hates thinking back on that long, tumultuous day in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel that kickstarted the whole thing. Looking at Monica Lewinsky that afternoon, Udolf saw a young woman, dressed in spandex and a t-shirt, fighting back tears and biting her fingernails.

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Prosecutors in the Office of the Independent Counsel referred to the Jan. 16 Lewinsky operation as Prom Night. Bruce Udolf, despite his reputation as a dove, was one of the two attorneys in charge of persuading Lewinsky to flip. The other was a prosecutor from Los Angeles named Michael Emmick.

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Emmick, who died in 2015, was known in the office as something of a charmer. Heres reporter Susan Schmidt, who co-wrote a book about the Starr investigation called Truth at Any Cost:

SUSAN SCHMIDT: He was, you know, the nice guy in the officevery good-looking guy, very personable.

Schmidt covered the White House for the Washington Post. In fact, she helped write the first major newspaper story about Lewinsky a few days after all this happened.

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SUSAN SCHMIDT: Other people were in the next room listening and down the hall. You know, so it was a very carefully thought through interaction with her. But it all went haywire very quickly.

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The first mistake came when the FBI agents who brought Lewinsky into the hotel room for some reason allowed Linda Tripp to join everyone inside. Lewinsky, who understood immediately that Tripp had betrayed her, stared at her former friend with rage in her eyes. Before someone finally thought to get Tripp out of the room, Lewinsky remembers saying, Make her stay and watch. I want that treacherous bitch to see what shes done to me.

Speaking in a soft, even voice, Emmick explained to Lewinsky why the independent counsels office had summoned her. It had to do with a lawsuit, he saida sexual harassment lawsuit that had been filed in 1994 by a woman named Paula Jones. Lewinsky knew all about it.

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REPORTER 1: There has been a legal cloud over the Clinton administration ever since Arkansas native Paula Jones made sexual harassment allegations against the president. REPORTER 2: Paula Jones, a former Arkansas clerical worker who claims that she was sexually harassed by the president.

Youll hear more about Paula Jones story in future episodes. The short version is that she worked for the state of Arkansas while Bill Clinton was governor.

REPORTER: Jones alleges that in 1991, then-Gov. Clinton lured her to a private room at this Little Rock hotel during a state conference and made unwanted sexual advances.

Heres what you need to understand about how all this fits together. Basically, three separate storylines converged to put Bill Clintons presidency in peril. The first was Ken Starrs investigation into the Clintons financial history and Whitewater.

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REPORTER: The presidents biggest headache, special prosecutor Kenneth Starrs Whitewater investigation.

The second was Paula Jones sexual harassment suit.

REPORTER: Paula Jones sexual misconduct allegations against President Clinton continue to wreak havoc among members of the White House staff.

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The third was Clintons relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

Well trace the origins of these three threads later in the series. For now, Ill just say that they started coming together in the fall of 1997, when Paula Jones lawyers found out that Clinton was carrying on a secret relationship with a former White House intern. For Jones legal team, that made Lewinsky a very useful witness. If she testified that she had begun an affair with Clinton while working in the White House, it would help establish that he had a habit of pursuing his female subordinatesa pattern of behavior that would make Jones harassment claim more credible.

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And so, on Dec. 19, 1997, Jones lawyers served Lewinsky with a subpoena. She responded by signing a sworn affidavit in which she denied having a sexual relationship with Clinton, and stated that he had always behaved appropriately in her presence.

Not long after, Ken Starrs office learned about Monica Lewinsky and the false affidavit she had signed. That affidavit gave them leverage over her. And thats how she found herself being marched into a Pentagon City hotel room by the FBI.

MONICA LEWINSKY: Imagine: One minute, I was waiting to meet a friend in the food court and the next, I realized she had set me up as two FBI agents flashed their badges at me.

Thats Monica Lewinsky, speaking on stage at a Forbes event in 2014. Lewinsky declined to be interviewed for this podcast. She has only spoken publicly about her ordeal on a handful of occasions. Pretty much every time she has talked about it, she has made a point of describing the fear she felt on Jan. 16, 1998.

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MONICA LEWINSKY: I was threatened with up to 27 years in jail for denying the affair in an affidavit and other alleged crimes. Twenty-seven years. When youre only 24 yourself, thats a long time.

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Mike Emmickthe nice guy on Starrs teamtold Lewinsky there was evidence that she had committed perjury, witness tampering, and obstruction of justicethat she had not only lied on her affidavit, but that she had encouraged other people, including Linda Tripp, to lie on her behalf.

Did Lewinsky commit these crimes? Technically, she might have.

STEVE BINHAK: Look, I can have empathy for someone as a human beinganybody can. But what she did was wrong, and she got caught.

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This is attorney Steve Binhak. He served on the Starr team as a prosecutor alongside Bruce Udolf and Mike Emmick. He passed through Room 1012 several times on Jan. 16.

STEVE BINHAK: So, she was confronted with her conduct by federal prosecutors, FBI agents. And in no uncertain terms, Mike and Bruce told her that she had violated the law and that there was a criminal case that could be made against herreadily.

Again, all that may be technically true. But in reality, no jury was ever going to convict a 24-year-old woman for lying about an adulterous affair. Even the hardliners on Ken Starrs team had to know this. Plus, they knew they didnt have much evidence on Lewinsky. Heres Udolf:

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BRUCE UDOLF: At that particular point, it was not necessarily known to us that this relationship was not a figment of a young impressionable girls mind.

The lack of evidence didnt stop the prosecutors from telling Lewinsky that she faced grave consequences unless she agreed to cooperate with them. They told her that if she wanted to make a deal, she would have to move fast, because her value as a witness would only go down.

Lewinsky had a guess as to why the prosecutors were in such a hurry.

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REPORTER: Good evening. Theres never been anything quite like it before, a president of the United States in the same room with a woman who has accused him of sexual harassment.

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As Lewinsky and just about everyone else in America knew, Bill Clinton was set to give a deposition in the Paula Jones lawsuit the following day. Jones lawyers were going to ask Clinton all kinds of intimate questions about his personal life it was a very big deal.

REPORTER 1: This is a historic first. Never before has a sitting president had to give sworn testimony in a court case where he is the defendant. REPORTER 2: And it happens tomorrow morning in Washington.

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Lewinsky was right that the Starr prosecutors were aware of Clintons deposition when they decided to schedule Prom Night for the day before. Given that Lewinskys name was on the Paula Jones witness list, Starr could be pretty sure that Clinton would be asked about the affair, and it seemed likely that he would lie about it. Here, again, is reporter Sue Schmidt:

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SUSAN SCHMIDT: The Starr people were thinking: Just let em go into the deposition, and hes free to tell the truth or not. If hes going to lie, you know, so be it.

Clintons deposition was one thing hanging over the proceedings in Room 1012. But the prosecutors had another reason to try to hurry things along.

A reporter from Newsweek was getting ready to publish an article saying that Starr was looking into her affair with the president. The reporter had reached out to the Starr team, and he had told them that his piece would be going to press that weekend. The prosecutors wanted to secure Lewinskys cooperation before that happened, because once her name was out in the world, she would be significantly less useful to them as a witness.

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What would cooperation look like? First, Lewinsky would have to tell the prosecutors everything about her relationship with Clinton, and she would have to agree to testify about it under oath.

That was the easy part. The prosecutors also wanted her to wear a wire. As Lewinsky understood it, her mission would be to carry out controlled calls to two of Clintons associateshis friend Vernon Jordan and his personal secretary, Betty Currieand possibly to the president himself. The goal was for Lewinsky to get confirmation, on tape, that Clinton and his cronies had encouraged her to lie under oath in response to questions from Paula Jones lawyers.

When she heard Emmicks pitch, Lewinsky panicked. She began shaking, and sobbing so loudly that a member of Starrs team could hear her from the hallway.

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BRUCE UDOLF: I thought she was petrified, I thought she was intimidated, I thought she was angry, I thought she was confused, and at times she seemed hysterical.

Lewinsky cried out that her life was ruined, and she wondered aloud about what would happen if she threw herself out the window. Heres Renata Adler again:

RENATA ADLER: There are these guys, they are official guys, theyre saying to her, We have enough to send you to jail. I mean, you say that to anybody, theyre going to be terrified. I mean, who would not be scared by that?

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It was about two hours into Prom Night when Lewinsky said she needed to call her mom. By this point, it was starting to look like Mike Emmicks good cop approach wasnt going to work. To ratchet up the pressure, one of the Starr teams most combative prosecutors came into the room and told Lewinsky to knock it off with the indecisiveness. Lewinsky remembers him telling her, Monica, we know youre smart, youre twenty-four years old. You dont need to call your mommy. But Lewinsky insisted. If Starrs guys wanted her to make a deal, they had to let her make up her mind on her terms.

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Lewinskys mother, Marcia Lewis, lived in New York. As it happened, she was something of an aspiring gossip columnistshe had even published a juicy book about the world of opera called The Private Lives of the Three Tenors.

For months, Lewis had been hearing about her daughters relationship with the president. It worried her. When she picked up the phone and heard Lewinsky say, through tears, that she was in trouble with the FBI, Lewis said shed be on the next train to Washington.

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The train ride would take at least three and a half hours. In the meantime, all the occupants of Room 1012 could do was wait. Soon the tension in the room gave way to boredom and restlessness. Someone turned on the TV.

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SUSAN SCHMIDT: They were watching some Ethel Merman movie because every channel had cop shows, and Emmick didnt want her to see these cop shows because they all involved snitches. He was thinking that thats gonna, you know, queer their efforts at cooperation.

As evening fell, Lewinsky told the prosecutors she was feeling claustrophobic, and that she wanted to stretch her legs. Emmick and one of the FBI agents agreed to accompany her back to the Pentagon City Mall, where they could wander around a bit and get some semblance of fresh air. And so, the three of them went shopping.

The first stop on the excursion was Crate and Barrel, where Lewinsky looked at household goods and tried to lighten the mood by cracking jokes.

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SUSAN SCHMIDT: It was a very strange juxtaposition of this sort of bristling law enforcement operation going on, you know, upstairs, and then this sort of carefree browsing at Crate and Barrel because they were waiting for her mother, and it was taking hours.

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After Crate and Barrel, Lewinsky said she needed to use the bathroom, and she headed towards the ladies room at Macys while Emmick and the FBI agent waited for her.

When Lewinsky was confident she was out of their sightlines, she did something bold: She went to a payphone and dialed the number for Clintons secretary, Betty Currie. Currie was one of the two people Starrs prosecutors wanted Lewinsky to set up. But Lewinsky thought of Currie as an ally. If she could get her on the phone, Currie could then get a message to Clinton and warn him about Starr, so he wouldnt risk perjuring himself in his deposition the next day. As Lewinsky put it later, Betty was the only one that I knew I could call for two seconds and say something cryptically that I knew would get to [the president].

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But as fate would have it, Betty Currie didnt answer the phone that day. Looking back on that moment, its hard not to wonder how everything might have turned out if she had. If Currie had told Clinton that Ken Starr knew about the affair, would he have told the truth in his deposition the next day and avoided the accusation of perjury?

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But Currie did not pick up, and so Lewinsky, deflated, met back up with Emmick and the FBI agent. By this point, it was almost 7 oclockand since there was still more time to kill, and everyone was getting hungry, the trio got dinner at a restaurant at the mall called Mozzarellas American Grill.

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While they ate, Lewinsky asked Emmick to explain one more time why she was facing 27 years in prison. He ticked off the crimes she could be charged with on his fingers: perjury, obstruction of justice, witness-tampering. What he didnt tell her was how profoundly unusual it would be for the federal government to prosecute someone for covering up an affair in a civil lawsuit.

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At the end of the meal, Lewinsky made a point of paying for her own food, as if to signal that she didnt want to be in the prosecutors debt. Then the group headed back to the hotel room and watched some more TV. Finally, a little after 10 p.m., a woman in a fur coat rang the doorbell. Lewinskys mother had arrived.

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The first thing Marcia Lewis did after she got to the Ritz-Carlton was hug her daughter. The two of them went into the hallway, where they spoke alone for a few short minutes. I cant do this, Lewinsky remembers saying. I cant wear a wire; I cant tape record phone calls. Steve Binhak, one of Starrs prosecutors, caught a snippet of the conversation:

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STEVE BINHAK: And it just so happened, I walked out in the hallway while Monica and her mother were talking, and I overheard Monicas mom say to Monica, Youre going to tell these people everything they need to know, and were going to be done with this. And Monica said, I am not going to be the person who brings down the president of the United States.

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The prosecutors told Lewis that if her daughter cooperated, they were prepared to grant her immunity, meaning no charges would be filed against her, and she wouldnt face any prison time. Lewis listened but didnt feel sure that she could trust the prosecutors. If they wanted to talk about a deal, she said, they would have to speak to her ex-husband: Monicas father.

From Udolf and Emmicks perspective, this was yet another obstacle to getting the deal done quickly and cleanly. As Lewis called her ex-husband in California and briefed him on the situation, the prosecutors began to accept that Lewinsky was not going to flip before the end of the night.

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BRUCE UDOLF: You didnt have to be a seer to know where this was headed. This was going to be one huge mess.

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Lewinskys father put his daughter in touch with a family lawyer who specialized in medical malpractice law. When the lawyer got on the phone with Mike Emmick, he told him that his client would not be making an immunity deal with anybody, at least not yet. Then, he told Lewinsky and her mother to go home.

So, thats what they did. More than 11 hours after Lewinsky was first approached in the food court, she and Lewis got into Lewinskys SUV and drove to her apartment. As it happened, Lewinsky lived at the Watergate complex, in an apartment owned by her mother, not far from where Richard Nixons team of burglars broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972.

Lewinsky later recalled worrying that her apartment might be bugged. For a second, she and Lewis talked about maybe fleeing the country, but they ruled it out because they figured theyd be stopped at the airport. Lewinsky said she wanted to try to call Betty Currie again, so that she could warn Clinton about what was happening. But Lewis made her daughter promise that she wouldnt.

When they got home, Lewis was so worried that her daughter would try to hurt herself that she made her leave the bathroom door open while she took a shower.

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Meanwhile, Ken Starrs prosecutors wallowed in defeat.

SUSAN SCHMIDT: They were extremely depressed at the end of the night. They felt like their whole plan had failed. I mean, shed gotten away. They didnt have a deal. The deposition was the next morning. And they came so close. Emmick was cursing himself and so upset that he had not closed the deal. I just dont think they expected it to go the way it did.

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In the end, Jan. 16 could have turned out a lot worse for the prosecutors. For one thing, they managed to keep their investigation under wraps until after Clintons deposition. And when Paula Jones lawyers asked Clinton about Lewinsky, he lied, just like the hardliners on Starrs team had suspected he would.

But Lewinskys refusal to cooperate and to wear a wire meant that the Office of the Independent Counsel would have to spend months trying to prove that the intern and the president actually did have an affair. They would interview scores of witnesses, dig through phone records, and pore over White House visitation logs. It was obvious right away that this process would irreparably transform Lewinskys life.

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Not long after that day at the Ritz-Carlton, Bruce Udolf ended up leaving the Office of the Independent Counsel, in part because the disagreements between him and the rest of the team ran so deep. Twenty years later, he still feels queasy when he thinks about his former colleagues actually building a criminal case against Monica Lewinsky.

BRUCE UDOLF: One would have to ask themselves, what good does it serve to indict a 24-year-old girl for lying on an affidavit in a civil case, which probably would represent the first time in the history of that jurisdiction where someone was indicted for such an offense. What good would it do to try someone like that? What interests does the United States government have that are vindicated by that kind of prosecution? Because to me, if you were to prosecute that case, you wouldnt need to have Monica Lewinsky flip. Your goal wouldve been served by having a very public humiliation of the president of the United States.

Udolf told me hed heard that one of his former colleagues from the Starr team had recently said in an interview that he was proud of the work the office had done on the Lewinsky case. The guy apparently said he felt vindicated by the #MeToo movementthat the world had caught up to the idea that powerful men shouldnt take advantage of young women, and that Bill Clinton deserved to be taken down. Udolf finds that line of reasoning appalling.

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BRUCE UDOLF: The humiliation and hurt to Monica Lewinsky, the hell with that. Shes expendable. Is that something to be proud of? Does that vindicate one? For advocating that kind of position? I dont think so.

You dont have to agree with Bruce Udolf. But its worth dwelling on his anger for a minute.

Because hes not the only one whos angry. A lot of people who played a role in the Clinton-Lewinsky saga get angry when they think about it, for all kinds of different reasons. Some are angry that Clintons presidency survived. Others are angry that the political forces that aligned against him were so effective at crippling his administration. And there are also a lot of people who are angry on behalf of Monica Lewinsky.

I was in middle school when the scandal broke. I remember it, sort of. I remember being confused about why Clinton got to stay president even though hed been impeached. And I remember that, as a child of Democrats, I took Clintons side and believed, sort of vaguely and ambiently, that Ken Starr was in the wrong. Id like to think that I felt sympathy for Monica Lewinsky, but I honestly dont know if I dida lot of people didnt.

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Thats part of what I want to examine on this season of Slow Burn. I want to get into the minds of people who followed the scandal, and talked about it, and argued about it, and I want to try to figure out why they reacted to it the way they did. I want to think about how I would have reacted to it, if I had been able to process it then as the person I am now. I want to excavate the ideas that swirled around the Clinton sagaideas about sex and power and privacy and characterand I want to consider how those ideas have changed since the 1990s. Are we more enlightened now? Or is there something were not appreciating about what it was like to live through this story in real time?

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The 90s were a transformative period in American politicsa time when the culture of no-holds-barred partisan warfare that were all used to now first took hold in Washington.

Jan. 16, 1998, represented a turning point in that era. You could argue that it determined everything that happened next. If Monica Lewinsky had agreed to cooperate that day, its likely Ken Starr would have been able to seize the moment, and he would have sent an impeachment referral to Congress very quickly.

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Instead it took him the better part of a year, and by that point the shock of the scandal had worn off. Its possible that if the impeachment process had started sooner, while public outrage at Clintons conduct was at its peak, the president would have been forced out of office.

For Renata Adler, this is the part of the story that gets forgottenthat Monica Lewinskys refusal to succumb to Ken Starr saved Bill Clintons presidency. As scared as she was on that Friday afternoon, Lewinsky was unwilling to get wired up and sent off to spy on the president.

RENATA ADLER: That is where she comes through, I mean, as I cant imagine anybody else would. She just said no. I think theres an honesty, perhaps, under everything else that there is in the way Monica Lewinsky presents herself. She doesnt disguise herself. I just think thats admirable. I just persist in thinking thats admirableshe didnt do it.

Not that it helped Lewinsky very much. Though the Newsweek story that was supposed to come out that weekend got held up by the magazines editors, the affair soon became public knowledge anyway, thanks to a story on a previously obscure website called the Drudge Report. From there, Lewinsky rapidly became famous around the world.

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REPORTER 1: The president, the intern, the accusations, and the denials. REPORTER 2: Tuesday overnight, explosive news about the president. The center of the controversy: Monica Lewinsky. REPORTER 3: Lewinsky has been described by a number of sources as flirtatious and mildly obsessed with the president. REPORTER 4: One law enforcement source put it this way, quote, Were going to dangle an indictment in front of her and see where that gets us. REPORTER 5: Tonight, the fate of this administrationhow it will go down in historyis in her hands.

Reporters started staking out Lewinskys apartment at the Watergate. One day, her neighbor Bob Dole, the Republican senator from Kansas who had run against Clinton in 96, brought the reporters a box of donuts.

Later, when Lewinsky moved out of the building, she sent letters to all the other residents, written on blue stationary, in which she apologized for any inconvenience she might have caused.

Slow Burn is a production of Slate Plus, Slates membership program. You can sign up for Slate Plus to hear a bonus episode of the show this week and every week for the next two months. Our first bonus episode features a behind-the-scenes discussion about the making of our new season, and why it was so much harder than making the first one. The bonus episode also includes a fabulous interview I did with Doron Hagay and Lily Marotta, the creators of a fictionalized miniseries about Monica Lewinsky that imagines her life after the scandal.

LEON: She had started a handbag design company, right? DORON HAGAY: Yes, yes, which are incredible objects if you think about it. Because they really are a product of trauma.

This episode of Slow Burn was co-produced by me and Andrew Parsons, with editorial direction by Josh Levin and Gabriel Roth. Our researcher is Madeline Kaplan. Our theme song is by Spatial Relations, and this episode featured music by Wet, whose album Still Run is out now. Our artwork is by Teddy Blanks at Chips NY. Steve Lickteig is the executive producer of Slate Podcasts.

Special thanks to the NBC News archive, CBS News, and C-SPAN for the archival audio you heard in this episode.

For script notes and all kinds of other help, we want to thank Ava Lubell, T.J. Raphael, Faith Smith, Chau Tu, June Thomas, Ben Frisch, Mary Wilson, Allison Benedikt, Mike Pesca, Jeff Friedrich, Willa Paskin, Carrie Baker, Alice Gregory, Camilla Hammer, Jonny Dach, Ben Kawaller, Jon Liu, Mark Feeney, Tod Lippy, Ellen Horne, Avi Zenilman, and Julia Turner. See you next week.
The West Virginia state House took the remarkable step of voting to impeach three of the state Supreme Courts four sitting justices Monday for a series of scandals, including missing antique desks, million-dollar office renovations, and general misappropriation of state funds, that has the entirety of the states highest court under threat of impeachment. After hours of debate Monday, the states House of Delegates approved articles of impeachment for Justices Allen Loughry and Robin Davis, as well as Chief Justice Margaret Workman, clearing the 50-vote hurdle required to send each case to the state Senate for trial and possible removal from office, subject to two-thirds of the upper house voting to convict.

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The alleged rap sheet on the justices isnt pretty and the impeachment vote came a week after the Judiciary Committee adopted 14 articles of impeachment against all four of the justices currently sitting on the Supreme Court of Appeals for maladministration, corruption, incompetency, neglect of duty. The fifth justice on the bench, Justice Menis Ketchum, resigned abruptly in July days before he was accused of federal wire fraud. The courts spending habits shot into public view in 2017 when it was found that the justices had spent an astonishing $3.7 million to renovate and decorate their government offices.

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Some of the most serious allegations were leveled at Justice Loughry, who was impeached by a 6433 vote for misusing state funds, including a whopping $363,000 in office renovations. Loughry is named in eight articles of impeachmentand is currently under federal indictment for fraud, witness tampering, and lying to federal investigatorsfor allegations that he took home a $42,000 antique desk from a capitol building, as well as a $32,000 suede leather couch, and later lied about it. As the Washington Post explained last week, this wasnt just any desk:

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These were state heirlooms named for Cass Gilbert, the prominent American architect who designed the state capitol in Charleston, W.Va., selecting the walnut workstations for the chambers of the state Supreme Court almost a century ago. He would later design the United States Supreme Court. There were supposed to be 10 of them, five for the courts five justices, elected to 12-year terms, and five for their assistants. But local media, poking around last fall, could only account for seven desks, including the one that had recently gone from the home of the then-chief justice, Allen H. Loughry II, to a nearby court warehouse.

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The other three justices are Margaret Workman, the current chief, as well as Robin Davis and Beth Walker. Each is accused of unnecessary and lavish spending on renovation of their offices, travel budgets and regular lunches from restaurants, among other expenses, as well as failure to carry out administrative duties and properly develop guidelines for the use of public resources, the Washington Post reports. Davis and Workman are also charged with approving the payment of senior judges in excess of the states legal limit.

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In 2015, West Virginia voted to make its Supreme Court elections nonpartisan. But all of the current justices have been affiliated with the two main parties, and at the start of the year, the benchs unofficial makeup was 3-2 in favor of the Democrats, according to NPR. Loughry won office as a Republican; Walker ran as a Republican in 2008 before being elected in a nonpartisan vote in 2016. Both Workman and Davis were elected as Democrats, as was Ketchum. Both houses of the state Legislature are Republican-controlled. The deadline for a special election to be called to replace the justices is Aug. 14 and some Democrats in the state legislature complained that the GOP-held chamber dragged its feet on impeachment so that Republican Gov. Jim Justice, who switched parties in August 2017, could appoint handpicked justices that would serve until the next election in 2020.
Kevin Malott, MD, a clinical associate professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine, died July 26 in San Mateo, California, after a brief illness. He was 49.

Malott is remembered at Stanford as a beloved teacher, expert physician and compassionate colleague. He excelled at helping trainee anesthesiologists learn new skills, was sought out for second opinions on difficult cases, and was known for using his humility, kindness and empathy to defuse stressful situations in the operating room.

He was a very gentle person who always saw the good in people and was extremely committed to his patients, said Ronald Pearl, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine.

Malott first came to Stanford as an anesthesiology resident in 1996. He joined the faculty at Stanford in 2001, and since 2015 specialized in treating pediatric patients at Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital Stanford.

He was one of the most calm and generous souls we had in our department, always willing to step up and help other people, said Anita Honkanen, MD, clinical professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and the service chief of anesthesia at Packard Childrens. I was so happy when he came to pediatric anesthesia full-time. He really liked being able to care for our pediatric patients.

Malott was born Dec. 26, 1968, and grew up in the Tehachapi and Santa Barbara areas of California. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California-Irvine in 1991, receiving bachelor degrees in biology and in psychology. He earned his medical degree from the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine in 1995.

Malott liked the challenge of his complex cases at Stanford, according to his wife, Jocelyn Malott, a nurse practitioner in orthopedic oncology at Stanford Health Care. He was very good with children and with parents who were nervous, keeping them at ease, Jocelyn Malott said. Since her husbands death, she has received many emails from anesthesiologists he trained, sharing how he was able to help them learn during challenging surgeries. On hard cases, he could step in without putting people down, she said. Even in the most urgent situations, he could still provide a teaching moment without judgment.

In 2014, the graduating anesthesiology residents voted to give Malott the H. Barrie Fairley Excellence in Teaching Award, an annual award honoring the residents favorite instructor.

Global medical missions

In his free time, Malott enjoyed hiking, travel, reading, playing the piano and attending San Francisco Giants games. Between 1999 and 2016, he participated in medical missions to several developing countries to assist organizations that provide plastic surgery services for children, such as repairing cleft lips and palates, and assisting burn victims.

Malott also had a well-known love of skateboarding and got some of his anesthesiologist colleagues to join him in his favorite ritual for settling his mind before shifts in the operating rooms: Arriving at Stanford early in the morning, he liked to park at the top of one of the parking structures and skateboard down through the expanses of empty ramps on his way to work.

Malott was predeceased by his father, Steven Malott. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother and stepfather, Sandy and Larry Short, of Tehachapi; daughter Elissa Malott of San Jose; son Justin Malott of San Jose; stepsons Paul Barrera and Jason Barrera, both of San Francisco; brother and sister-in-law Mark and Linda Malott, of Lancaster, California; stepbrother and stepsister-in-law Darren and Tammy Short, of Tehachapi; and five nieces.

A memorial service will be held at Stanford Memorial Church on Aug. 23 at 4 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kevin Malott Memorial Fund, which has been founded by his wife in the School of Medicines Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine to establish an award for graduating anesthesia residents. Contributions can be made via the Make a Gift link. The family would also appreciate memorial donations to Medical Missions for Children, or to Malotts church, St. James the Apostle Catholic Church, 34700 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA, 94555.
Officials with the Department of Human Assistance, or DHA, in Sacramento, California, have been using license plate readers since 2016 to investigate welfare fraud, the Sacramento Bee reported last week. Police use of the readers, which match pictures of license plates taken from street poles and cop cars to a searchable database, have been on the rise over the past decade. According to the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, however, it is highly unusual for welfare departments to employ the technology. Moreover, the foundation alleges that the DHA violated California state laws dictating that any entity using a license plate database must institute a privacy-and-usage policy that includes regular audits and record keeping. The department reportedly did not have such a policy until the foundation inquired as to whether one existed.

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Its really used to help us locate folks that are being investigated for welfare fraud. Sometimes theyre not at their stated address, DHA Director Ann Edwards told the Sacramento Bee. I think we use it very judiciously and only when needed to investigate fraud. The DHA says it has uncovered about 13,000 incidents of welfare fraud in the 35,412 cases it investigateda 37 percent detection ratesince it began using the license plate data in 2016. Officials accessed the license plate reader database 1,110 times in that period.* The DHA was using a feature of the license plate reader that collects data about every single vehicle in a particular location, regardless of whether the vehicle belonged to a welfare recipient.

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Mike Herald, the director of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, argues that these fraud cases are not serious enough to merit the use of such a powerful technology. The use of these really invasive tools  really bothers me, because were really talking about small amounts of money and people who in the main are not actually committing fraud, he said in an interview with the Sacramento Bee.

Indeed, as the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out, investigators can glean an extensive amount of information about a person using the database, which contains complete and partial license plate numbers, the date and time the plate was captured in a photo, the year and model of the car, the GPS coordinates, and what other vehicles were in the area. The foundation has identified 19 agencies that have been sharing such data with the DHA, including police departments in Texas and Iowa. By stringing together the information in the database, officials can determine a persons travel patterns. Officials can also extrapolate extraordinarily intimate details using location data; for example, a persons car may be parked outside an STI clinic or an immigration office.

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Though the DHAs use of license plate readers is notable for its unusual application to welfare recipients, privacy advocates have been raising concerns about the technology long before this story broke. Critics have accused law enforcement agencies around the world of abusing the readers and affiliated databases to keep tabs on Muslim communities, political protestors, and journalists sources. And, more recently, a chain of California shopping centers came under scrutiny last month for sharing license plate data with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement contractor.
For the past year, scientists have been trying to understand what caused the mysterious acoustic attacks against U.S. diplomats in Cuba. Since late 2016, at least 26 people have experienced a litany of mysterious symptoms, including hearing problems, headaches, ear pain, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and having trouble focusing, intense enough to land them in the hospital but with no recognized cause. In February, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study by University of Pennsylvania researchers that attempted to understand what could have caused these symptoms. It didnt deliver a conclusive answer, and now the same journal has published four letters by 10 scientists raising concerns about the first medical studys accuracy. Its just the latest chapter in what has already been a bizarre saga.

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The February study in question found that the diplomatic personnels illnesses were not due to a covert sonic device, as the U.S. State Department had originally claimed. The researchers also ruled out poisoning and neurological illness caused by a tropical virus. Instead, the researchers concluded that the diplomats range of symptoms were consistent with concussionsexcept there hadnt been any head trauma. Still, if you didnt know their history, they would look to you like other concussion patients, Randel Swanson, the studys lead author, told BuzzFeed News when the study was first published.

In the letters published on Tuesday, scientists noted that the original study improperly interpreted some cognitive test results and failed to conduct important tests on hearing and balance. Experts from the Ear and Balance Institute and Rutgers Universitys Robert Wood Johnson Medical School took issue with this omission, since a presumed sonic weapon attack would affect the inner ear more preferentially than any other part of the body, including the brain. Presumably, this means an actual sonic attack might still be to blame.

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Robert Bartholomew, a medical sociologist at Botany Downs Secondary College in New Zealand, also criticized the University of Pennsylvania team for discounting mass hysteria as a possible explanation for the ailments. Bartholomew, who is the co-author of several books on this subject, is one of the top figures that believes the diplomats mysterious symptoms were caused by a mass psychogenic illness. In his JAMA letter, Bartholomew wrote that researchers were too quick to dismiss a mass psychological outbreak as a viable possibility. Moreover, he points out that the February study did not have a social network analysis, which would have determined whether the affected diplomats knew each other or, at the very least, knew that other diplomats were illa key consideration in determining whether the sickness was a product of mass hysteria.

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Several other researchers echoed Bartholomews concerns, writing that mass psychogenic illness should not be dismissed as made-up or malingering: Although diagnostic caution is warranted, functional neurological disorders are common genuine disorders that can affect anyone, including hardworking diplomatic staff.

Back in February, Frank Bures unpacked the science behind mass hysteria for Slate, arguing that humans have historically been susceptible to the phenomenon, even if we often fail to recognize it. In that article, Bartholomew noted that the conditions in Cuba were ripe for a case of mass hysteria: This is a small, close-knit community in a foreign country that has a history of being hostile to the United States. That is a classic setup for an outbreak of mass psychogenic illness.

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But most people still dont take this phenomenon that seriously. More from Slate:

Mass psychogenic illnesses are not as intuitive to grasp as cold or a flu, but they are just as serious, and should be treated as such. In Cuba, they have not been. Instead, a fixation on secret weapons has obscured a real illness with real consequences, one which can not only be medically verified, but which regularly afflicts people across the world, and to which anyone with a functioning brain is vulnerable.

In a response accompanying the letters published by JAMA, the University of Pennsylvania team defended its research, calling the symptoms they observed entirely different from those seen in mass psychogenic illnesses. The FBI has agents in Cuba investigating the diplomats illness, and in July the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also got involved. So far neither agency has come to conclusions on the matter.
An overview of the events that unfolded between late 1967 and 1969.

Alexander Dubcek has just jumped of the diving board in Santovka, July 1968. (Source: TASR)

By the mid-1960s the people of Czechoslovakia faced a moral and economic crisis.

Voices criticising the politics of the ruling party and calling for the plurality of opinions first resounded at the session of the Association of Czechoslovak Writers in June 1967. Dissatisfaction also increased within the party.

It soon grew into an attempt at the economic, political and social reforms of the socialist regime, towards socialism with a human face. It is now known as the Prague Spring.

Censorship was abolished and the rehabilitation of political prisoners from the 1950s was launched. People received opportunities to travel and study in the west, and the status of churches and believers improved.

The movement met with resistance among Czechoslovak conservatives as well as in Moscow and in other socialist countries. As a result, the troops of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968. The 20 years that followed are known as the period of normalization in the country. About 350,000 people were fired from their jobs. Many young people were prevented from studying. Thousands of people left the republic, deliberately or forcefully.

Read also:

Read also: August 1968: After a temporary thaw, the Czechoslovak borders were sealed Read more

1967

June 27-29 The session of the Association of Czechoslovak Writers in Prague pointed to the deep divide in the opinions of Communist leaders and the cultural figures who had the sympathies of most citizens.

December 11-13 The board of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia criticised its leader and the countrys President Antonin Novotny.

Novotny invited USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev to Prague, in the hope that he would support him. Brezhnev, however, listened to both sides of the conflict and said the memorable words: Its your own affair. He left even before the festive dinner.

1968

14. Aug 2018 at 17:21 | Boris Vanya
Measles epidemic emergency status downgraded in Michalovce district

Monitoring of the situation and other measures remain in place

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The state of emergency called in response to a measles outbreak in the Michalovce district (Kosice Region) which has been in place for around one month has been cancelled due to a significant drop in new cases, said Michalovce District Office superintendent Jana Cibereova after a session of the emergency committee on Monday, August 13.

While 30 new cases of measles were recorded in the district over a single weekend a month ago, there were only eight new cases over the past weekend, while there were also days last week on which there were no new occurrences.

Nobody is claiming that further cases in the outbreak will not emerge, but there is no explosive epidemic such as the one that appeared earlier on Mlynska Street in Michalovce, said regional hygienist Janka Staskova, as cited by the TASR newswire, adding that mass vaccinations in the district have obviously had an effect.

Read also:

Read also: Measles spread to other districts Read more

In an effort to locate the epicentre of the disease, the authorities have identified 25 locations. Local people aged between six months and 50 years are currently being inoculated. A total of 5,303 people have been vaccinated.

The first patients who contracted measles were identified as having the genotype B3 virus, which has recently appeared elsewhere in Europe, including in the United Kingdom from where the individuals concerned had come.

14. Aug 2018 at 6:24 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Is Slovakia's hyperloop dream over?

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies is working on projects in the Czech Republic and China.

Plans to build Hyperloop, a tube-based travelling system between Bratislava and Vienna, shortening the journey time from an hour to eight minutes, revealed back in 2016, raised a wave of excitement in Slovakia. Now, two years later, it seems that the plans are over as the Slovak side failed to find suitable land for the project, the Hospodarske Noviny daily reported.

Representatives of the Slovak Economy Ministry and US company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) signed a memorandum of cooperation in early March of 2016. At that time, the CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Dirk Ahlborn was speaking about the year 2020 and the Slovak cabinet did not hide its optimism either. The Economy Ministry counted on a feasibility study as well as construction of a testing route. It should have been 5-50 km long with levitating capsules on electromagnets propelled by solar energy while driving at the speed of 1,200 km per hour.

Read also:

Read also: Hyperloop investors eye Slovakia Read more

However, the memorandum with the US company expired after eight months and the project has been halted, the Dennik N daily reported. The Office of the Deputy PM for Investment and Informatisation of Richard Rasi has confirmed this.

The Office of the Deputy PM failed to find a suitable plot for the project, Rasis team explained for Dennik N. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies changed its investment plans several times and subsequently, its requirements on cooperation with the Slovak side. As of now, the cooperation is not continuing.

The US company confirmed in the past that a logical step in the place of construction would be locating a development centre and testing centre here. But the Slovak Cabinets Office only has visualisations and the Slovak side has been doubting the feasibility of the project itself.

Revolutionary system in Slovakia

The original agreement was that the Hyperloop Transportation Technologies would scrutinise possibilities to build the revolutionary system in Slovakia. It put among planned routes a connection between Bratislava and Vienna and later Budapest. It is 160 km away from the Slovak capital.

Ahlborn considered Slovakia to be a technological leader and this is why he chose Slovakia for his project, according to the theverge.com website.

Now he claims that Slovakia is still on the Hyperloops map recalling that HTT has already agreed with the Czech Republic.

During the time being we are working on the feasibility study with the Czech side, which also includes Slovakia, said Ahlbron, as cited by Dennik N. The plan is to connect Bratislava, Brno and Prague.

HTT is just building a research centre in Toulouse, France, while the first capsules should be ready allegedly in September while it has signed the first commercial agreement with Abu Dhabi as well as China. HTT is also working on a plan to build a commercial Hyperloop line in Ukraine.

Out of the big plans, only an office has remained in Bratislava. Reporters of Dennik N visited it and found five to six engineers working on the capsule there.

The chinadaily.com website confirmed on August 13 that Hyperloop Transportation Technologies signed a deal with the state-owned Chinese Tongren Transport, Tourism and Investment Group one month ago, to build a superfast track in Tongren, Guizhou province.

The route will cover an initial distance of 10 kilometres from the city to Tongren Fenghuang Airport, with an estimated investment of 2 billion yuan (255 million). During the second phase, the project will extend 50 km from the city to Mount Fanjing in Tongren. The investment in time will add up to more than 10 billion yuan. Each company should share one half of the costs, wrote the daily.

14. Aug 2018 at 13:49 | Compiled by Spectator staff
NAKA detained Russian businessman Vinogradov

The Russian businessman was wanted by an international warrant for real estate fraud.

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In early July, Slovakias National Criminal Agency (NAKA) arrested, based on an international arrest warrant issued by the competent Russian authorities, Russian businessman Valentin Vinogradov at the horse races in the town of Samorin (Trnava Region), the Dennik N daily reported on its website on August 13.

Moscow accuses the entrepreneur of committing real estate fraud between 2007 and 2009, according to the daily. Vinogradov is currently in pre-trial custody and the case will be examined by the Slovak prosecutors office immediately after Russia delivers the original dossier concerning the case.

Business dispute behind the warrant

The criminal complaint against Vinogradov was filed by two oligarchs and representatives of a company called Midland Resourced Holding Limited, the TASR newswire quotes the information reported by Dennik N. Its main shareholders were Russian-Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider and Ukrainian businessman Eduard Shifrin.

The company, along with the Russian state bank VEB, was part of the Trump Tower project worth some half a billion euros. This raises concerns about a possible link between Russias Kremlin and US President Donald Trump, the Financial Times wrote.

Vinogradov was supposed to have business disputes with the two oligarchs. The daily pointed out, however, that Vinogradov supposedly said that the act for which he is being prosecuted is not considered a crime in Slovakia.

14. Aug 2018 at 13:48 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Did(or didnt) Trump say about the spy thing during the dinner with the CEOs

by JessAB

Recently a headline about Trump calling almost every Chinese spy in the Chinese community caught my eyes. To my curiosity, I went on to search this topic. I could only find that many websites writing this topic mainly quoted from the two sources , one from Politico by Annie Karni, and the other one from CNN by Jeremy Diamond. It seems like Karnis version is predominate in the Chinese community. To my understanding after reading the two articles, both journalists did not hear directly what Trump said, and they only quoted one unnamed attendee. Interestingly what Karni and Jeremy wrote about the quote were quite different. That said, whom do you want to believe or even believe at all.

Sometimes I am wondering if the leftists try to find every opportunity to ignite the war between Trump and the People.
The Chief Executive Officer of Algerian state oil firm Sonatrach has set up a new leadership team, aiming to reverse a flow of talent.

The U.S.-trained Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour, appointed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika last year, has chosen eight vice presidents from within the firm, according to Reuters.

The team included experienced managers such as Salah Mekmouche for exploration and Arbi bey Slimane for pipe transportation, and rising stars Farid Ghazali for strategy, and Ahmed Mazighi on commercial affairs. The names are yet to be released officially according to Reuters.

Sonatrach holds the third-biggest shale reserves in the world, but such exploration requires specialist skills. About 10,000 engineers, drillers, reservoir specialists and others have left since 2010, said a manager at Sonatrach. The conglomerate has around 40,000 workers in its oil and gas division.

Last weekend, the state energy firm said it has been negotiating with fourteen international companies for a joint venture to trade oil and gas products following an agreement for the purchase of its first refinery abroad.

Potential partners, which have held talks with Sonatrach in recent weeks include BP, Total, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Repsol and Vitol, the worlds biggest independent oil trader.

Boston Consulting Group was advising Sonatrach on its long-term strategy and since his appointment in March 2017, the CEO has sought to resolve disputes with foreign oil firms.
Zimbabwes ruling Zanu PF party is expected to file a response in court today to the opposition MDC Alliance petition against the election of Emmerson Mnangagwa as president.

Zimbabwes MDC opposition party last week vowed to overturn in court President Emmerson Mnangagwas narrow victory, alleging that he won the historic vote via mammoth theft and fraud.

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said he has evidence that he was cheated out of July 30 presidential votes.

Incumbent President Mnangagwa won 50.8% of the vote compared with Chamisas 44.3%.

Zimbabwes constitution allows a presidential candidate to legally challenge electoral results within seven days of the results proclamation. The judges of the constitutional court have 14 days to rule on the case.

The Southern African nations first election since Robert Mugabes ousting has been marred by rigging allegations, the army opening fire on opposition demonstrators killing six people, and accusations of a security crackdown on opposition supporters.

The MDC headquarters were raided by authorities in what MDC lawyer Thabani Mpofu described as an attempt to destroy our evidence, but he said their data was secure.

The party must prove that any irregularities were grave enough to change the outcome of the vote. If it does this successfully, the court could order a recount of ballots or nullify the result altogether.
Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise, Africas biggest airline, is the frontrunner to set up and manage a new national carrier for Nigeria, Reuters reported.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise, Tewolde GebreMariam, the Addis Ababa-based carrier is among a small group with an interest in establishing the national carrier of Nigeria.

We do not know the results (of the tender), though we are frontrunners, Gebremariam told a news conference.

Ethiopian Airlines already has contracts for maintenance work with two Nigeria-based carriers, Arik Air and Medview Airline, he said.

Ethiopian Airlines has outpaced regional competitors, Kenya Airways and South African Airways, to become Africas largest airline by revenue, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Ethiopian Airlines already owns stakes in Malawi Airlines and Togo-based Sky Airlines and aims to secure equity holdings in new carriers in Zambia, Chad, Mozambique and Guinea while helping to manage existing operators in Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo.

As a reminder, Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, has struggled to support a viable home-grown airline for decades, with a succession of carriers collapsing or slashing routes.

In July, Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, unveiled the new national carrier at the Farnborough International Airshow in London. The new airline will be run as a public-private partnership and should become profitable in three years, he had then said.


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Malians on Sunday cast their ballots in a runoff presidential election overshadowed by security concerns, allegations of fraud and the threat of Islamist extremist violence.

Incumbent president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, is the favorite, having won 41% of the vote in the first round two weeks ago while the challenger and former finance minister Soumaila Cisse, took only 18% of votes.

Despite growing public discontent with his failure to stem corruption, almost two thirds of Malians still approve of Keitas performance as president, according to a recent poll.

Security had been drastically boosted ahead of the elections second round. But AFP news agency reported the head of a polling station was shot dead on Sunday afternoon by armed group fighters in the restive northern Timbuktu region of the country.

Over 100 stations had to be closed in the restive central and northern regions, according to local election monitors.

Counting was underway in some of the 23,000 polling stations across the country after voting ended at 18:00 GMT. About 36,000 Malian troops have been be deployed, 6,000 more than two weeks earlier, with a particular focus on Mopti where voting stations had been closed.

Opposition supporters protested in the capital Bamako a day before the runoff urging voters to keep their eyes open to any attempt to steal the election. Last week, the opposition leader reportedly lodged a legal challenge in Malis constitutional court alleging, ballot box-stuffing.
Ugandan Police and Special Forces Command (SFC) have started investigations after President Yoweri Kaguta Musevenis car came under attack by opposition supporters in the town of Arua, where a by-election is to be held on Wednesday.

According to the presidential press secretary Don Wanyama, President Museveni was in the convoy when it was attacked by opposition supporters.

Pictures released by Wanyama show one of his armored cars damaged. He did not comment whether the president was hurt or not.

A closer scrutiny of other pictures published by local media show another thick pane of glass inside the car was not damaged and remained intact.

Mondays attack is the biggest direct threat against the presidents life in his three decades as head-of-state of the East African nation.

The attack came barely an hour after a popular lawmaker, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, posted on Twitter that police had attempted to kill him.

Ssentamus driver, identified as Kawooya Yasin, was reportedly shot dead in Arua town. At least 34 people have been arrested by Police following the chaos.

Bobi Wine, who claims to be King of the Ghetto, was reportedly supporting independent candidate Kassiano Wadri. President Museveni was also in Arua campaigning for the ruling National Resistance Movements Nusura Tiperu.
An Eritrean government delegation, headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Osman Saleh and presidential advisor Yemane Gebreab, is currently holding high-level meetings in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

The delegation members met with Prime Minister Hassan Khayre and President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed who briefed them on progress made to take up Somalias domestic and external challenges.

The president reaffirmed Somalias commitment to the Joint Declaration signed by the two countries and outlined priorities for its implementation.

Last month, the presidents of Eritrea and Somalia signed an agreement to restore their countries relations after years of animosity.

Under the Declaration, signed during President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohameds historic official visit to Asmara, Eritrea and Somalia will establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, promote bilateral trade and investment, and upgrade educational and cultural exchanges.

The two countries relations were strained because of Eritreas alleged support for Al-Shabab and other opposition groups in Somalia. Asmara has repeatedly denied such support, saying the accusations were concocted by its then enemy Ethiopia.

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea are improving after the two states signed a peace deal last month, declaring their state of war over, and ending a decades-long frozen conflict over border disputes that hurt both countries.
FILE PHOTO: A view of the BHP Billiton's Escondida, the world's biggest copper mine, in northern Chile, in Antofagasta FILE PHOTO: A view of the BHP Billiton's Escondida, the world's biggest copper mine, in northern Chile, in Antofagasta, Chile March 31, 2008. . REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado//File Photo

By Antonio De la Jara

(Reuters) - The union at the world's largest copper mine, Escondida in Chile, has called off a strike planned to start on Tuesday after agreeing to extend talks with operator BHP for another day.

The announcement early on Tuesday comes amid fears of a repeat of last year's strike at Escondida, which jolted markets and dampened economic growth in Chile as it dragged on for 44 days.

The extension follows five days of closely-watched talks over pay at the mine that have been mediated by the government of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

"We've managed to clear up the points that had stalled the negotiation. But there are still some important points to be resolved," the union said in a short statement, without giving further detail.

Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP <BLT.L> <BHP.AX> also said in a statement that it had agreed to extend talks with the union through Tuesday.

In its last known offer more than two weeks ago, BHP offered a signing bonus of about $18,000, plus separate bonuses intended to buy out clauses in a previous contract that allowed for housing benefits and a loan programme.

The total package was valued at $27,700, including a salary increase of 1.5 percent.

But the union had asked for a signing bonus almost double that offered by the company, and had requested a salary increase of 5 percent, leaving a wide gap between the two sides.

The union said it would have to take any potential deal on Tuesday back to its members for approval.

Escondida produced 925,400 tonnes of copper last year.

On Monday, the union at Chile's Caserones copper mine said it was also postponing a strike over a new labour contract in order to continue government-mediated talks with management through Thursday.

(Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Writing By Mitra Taj; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Joseph Radford)
French and European flags are tied with black cloth as a sign mourning at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 24, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - France deems unacceptable a European Commission proposal to exclude French ports from a re-routing of a strategic trade corridor between Ireland and mainland Europe after Brexit, the government said.

At the moment much of Ireland's trade with the continent goes via Britain in trucks. However, with less than eight months to go until Britain leaves the European Union there is still little clarity on its future trade relations with the bloc, nor the nature of the Irish Republic's border with the British province of Northern Ireland.

The new route put forward by the Commission would connect Ireland by sea with Dutch and Belgian ports including Zeebrugge and Rotterdam. French ports such as Calais and Dunkirk would be bypassed.

"France and Ireland maintain important trade channels, both overland via Britain and via direct maritime routes. The geographical proximity between Ireland and France creates an obvious connection to the single market," French Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne wrote to the EU's transport commissioner in a letter dated Aug. 10.

"Surprisingly, the Commission proposal in no way takes this into account. This proposal therefore is not acceptable to France."

At stake are jobs, millions of dollars' worth of port revenues and possibly EU infrastructure funding.

Borne said that French ports had the necessary resources to ensure they could handle the likely increase in trade flows, hinting at concerns of congestion in ports such as Calais, France's busiest passenger port.

(Reporting by Richard Lough; editing by David Stamp)
Local Cement Producers on Market Problems

By Levan Khutsishvili

On August 8, Local producers of Cement requested Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze and Ministers of Economy and Finances to improve the situation of the local market.According to the statement of 15 local producers, the current situation of the local market creates a chain of problems to them, as the amount of imported cement from the neighboring countries is up, which according to the producers, will stop the cement production in Georgia and thousands of people will lose their jobs.Producers also emphasize the possible negative role of the company "Heidelbergcement," which owns more than 80% of the market. According to them, Heidelbergcemnet is the monopolist and can create problems for healthy competition on the local market, adding it is the only company on the local market that owns main raw material for the manufacture of cement."The practical monopolist of the market should not have the tools to influence prices and that way to get rid of small producers from the market, the statement says.Local producers of cement believe that "Heidelbergcement" wants the government to prohibit the import of raw materials, and that way stay on the market as an only local producer. The solution that local producers of cement see is to increase taxes on imported cement."This way we will protect the market and maintain local production. This will create a need for at least 600-700 thousand tons of local production that will have a possibility to satisfy the whole demand of the country. That is the solution we see, the producers stated.On August 9, Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze made a statement in response to the local cement producers, saying if there is an artificial barrier, the government will intervene and ensure that the principles of fair trade regime are protected."Our approach is very simple. If there are certain barriers in international trade, for example, if this is not a mirror trading, which means that someone has the right to import, but at the same time, the importing manufacturing country has a certain barrier to export the same products, of course, it needs to be adjusted. We will definitely interfere, and we will regulate if such a problem really stands. As for the international trade, naturally, we are loyal and free. If we have an artificial barrier and we have already had such cases, we will intervene and ensure that the principles of fair trade regime are protected, said Bakhtadze.According to the statement of the prime minister, it seems that the government is not going to create any regulations for imported cement or local monopolist company; if they do, it will not likely be done to favor small companies.
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP)  Burkina Faso State TV reports that five gendarmes and one civilian have been killed between the rural communes of Boungou and Ougarou in the nation's far east.

It reports the vehicle hit an explosive device late Saturday while gendarmes were escorting mining workers to their extraction site.

This comes as Islamic extremists are moving to the region, where they can hide in the thick forested areas, and are launching more attacks on security forces.

Governor Ousmane Traore said his eastern territory was under threat by young men who had received extremist training in Mali and have now returned to launch a katiba,or brigade.

Earlier this month, suspected jihadis destroyed a vehicle while trying to free detained extremists.

In February they attacked and killed a policeman, wounding two others.

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A three-year-old boy found buried at a makeshift home in New Mexico died in a ritual to "cast out demonic spirits", prosecutors have said.

The child's body was found in a tunnel at a compound north of Taos after police raided it on 3 August.

It is claimed his extended family believed he would "return as Jesus" to identify "corrupt" targets for them to attack.

Eleven other children, ranging in age from one to 15, were found starving and dressed in rags and were taken into protective custody, authorities said.

The children had been given weapons training "in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit school shootings", prosecutors have said.

Two men and three women, all related as siblings or by marriage, have each been charged with 11 counts of felony child abuse.

They are the three-year-old's father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, and his wife, Jany Leveille, his brother-in-law and sister, Lucas Morton and Subhannah Wahhaj, and a second sister, Hujrah Wahhaj.

Their home was held together using old tires and wooden pallets.

There are no charges as yet in relation to the toddler's death.

Prosecutor John Lovelace said the three-year-old, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, died during "a religious ritual" intended to "cast out demonic spirits".

FBI special agent Travis Taylor said that according to Ibn Wahhaj's 15-year-old son, one of the adults told him the spirit of the dead three-year-old would return "as Jesus" to direct the group in carrying out violent attacks.

Prospective targets included "the financial system, law enforcement, the education system", Mr Taylor said.

Abdul-Ghani died after his father put his hand on the boy's head and recited verses from the Koran, Mr Taylor added.

Prosecutors said the five adults should be kept in jail, but following a four-hour detention hearing, District Judge Sarah Backus said she was unconvinced they posed a danger to the community.

Story continues

She set bail at $20,000 (15,600) for each of them and said they must wear ankle monitors and have weekly contact with their lawyers.

Defence lawyers claimed prosecutors were trying to criminalise their clients for being African-Americans and Muslim.

"If these people were white and Christian, nobody would bat an eye over the idea of faith healing, or praying over a body or touching a body and quoting scripture," lawyer Thomas Clark told reporters.

Ibn Wahhaj, 39, has also been charged with abducting Abdul-Ghani from his mother's home in Atlanta in December.

Mr Clark said he would remain in custody.
FILE PHOTO: A man holds an anti-Brexit banner on Westminster Bridge, in central London, Britain, July 13, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

Thomson Reuters

By Guy Faulconbridge

LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on March 29, yet little is clear: There is, so far, no divorce deal, rivals to Prime Minister Theresa May are circling and some lawmakers are pushing for a rerun of the 2016 referendum.

How will the Brexit finale play out?

Following are scenarios:

1) DISORDERLY BREXIT

If May is toppled, fails to reach a deal with the EU or finds her deal is rejected by parliament, the United Kingdom would be plunged into crisis.

Many opponents of Brexit predict this outcome, as do some supporters of a deeper break with the EU than that advocated by the prime minister.

- MAY FALLS

May's botched snap election in 2017 lost her party its majority in parliament. Her minority government is now propped up by nine Democratic Unionist Party lawmakers from Northern Ireland.

Her own Conservative Party, which has grappled with schism over Europe for 30 years, is in open conflict and some lawmakers want a change of leader to be tougher in Brexit negotiations.

If May fell, the Conservative Party would have to select a new leader, a step that would delay already tight negotiations. A national election is possible, though not legally necessary.

Opinion polls, though, show the United Kingdom is divided in its support for Brexit and political parties: no party has a clear enough lead to confidently predict victory in an election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a socialist who voted 'out' in the 1975 referendum on membership of the European Community, has seen his poll ratings fall.

Possible successors to May include Boris Johnson, her former foreign secretary, interior minister Sajid Javid, environment minister Michael Gove or Dominic Raab, her new Brexit minister.

Other possible contenders include Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, or lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg.

While the majority of Conservative lawmakers voted against Brexit, many have since switched to supporting Brexit and up to 80 of the 316 Conservative lawmakers now support a sharper split with the EU than May is proposing.

Story continues

- NO DEAL

Both London and Brussels say they want to get a divorce deal at the October 18 EU Council but diplomats think that target date is too optimistic.

Two documents need to be agreed: the Withdrawal Agreement Treaty (currently 129 pages long) and a political declaration on the framework for a future relationship. The political declaration could set out aims in general terms.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier rejected key elements of May's new trade proposals last month.

Agreeing a feasible arrangement for the Northern Irish border with the Republic of Ireland is one of several major hurdles and EU crises such as the 2015 Greek bailout shows how protracted negotiations can be.

If May cannot get a deal by October, an agreement could be reached at the December 13/14 EU Council.

- DEAL REJECTED

Any deal with the EU must be approved by the British parliament, which is due to go on Christmas holiday from Dec. 20 to Jan. 7. If British lawmakers reject a deal in late December or early January, Britain would face the prospect of leaving the EU three months later without an agreement.

The country would move from seamless trade with the rest of the European Union to customs arrangements set by the World Trade Organisation for external states with no preferential deals.

Some business leaders have warned that adding just two minutes onto every lorrys customs procedure passing through the southern English port of Dover would produce a 14-mile tailback on either side of the Channel after one day.

Supporters of Brexit say those fears are overblown and that the UK economy would thrive in the long term outside the EU.

If the deal was rejected, May would be likely to resign and neither her party, nor Labour, could be certain of winning an election.

The prime minister is betting that the fear of a so called "no-deal" scenario will push many Conservative and Labour lawmakers to support a deal. But the numbers are tight.

Parliament will have two votes: One on the Brexit deal and one on the Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill (WAIB).

Recent votes, such as the July vote knocking down an amendment to the Trade Bill, have shown May can command a majority of around six votes on major Brexit issues.

If the UK faced a no-deal scenario, other options include asking for an extension of the Brexit negotiation (by possibly withdrawing the Article 50 notification - something lawyers say is feasible) or parliament calling for a rerun of the referendum.

2) LAST MINUTE DEAL

British politicians are trying to convince German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to ensure that the EU does a deal that May can sell to her parliament.

In that case, little would be likely to change immediately when the United Kingdom leaves the EU on March 29, 2019, because a transition period lasts until 31 Dec. 2020.

May has said she will fight the next UK election, due in 2022, although she would likely face a challenge from her lawmakers before that.

A transition period would not necessarily guarantee a smooth exit; business leaders say they fear politicians have given little thought to the question of how the UK should operate in practice after it leaves the European Union.

3) BREXIT REVERSED

If the UK is thrust into chaos later this year, there is a chance Brexit could be stopped through a popular vote, according to an influential group of British politicians and journalists.

Opinion polls show that the United Kingdom remains deeply divided over Brexit, though some recent surveys have shown a swing towards support for staying in the EU.

A YouGov poll, conducted July 31-Aug. 7 and commissioned by the pro-referendum "People's Vote" campaign, found 45 percent of voters supported holding a new referendum whatever the outcome of talks with the EU, while 34 percent opposed it.

Calling a rerun of a referendum that was a Conservative brainchild would sink the premiership of any Conservative leader while Labour's Corbyn has so far indicated he does not support another referendum.

Supporters of another referendum think parliament could call such a vote if the government was in turmoil.

Brexit supporters have warned that a second referendum on membership of the EU would trigger a major constitutional crisis in Britain with uncertain consequences.

Dominic Cummings, the campaign director of Vote Leave, warned opponents of Brexit to be careful what they wish for, saying a second referendum would result in another vote to leave and could wreck both the main parties.

"The Tories will be destroyed and maybe Labour too," he wrote.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

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This is the dramatic moment a flash flood swamped a restaurant sending tourists running for their lives. Dozens of people had been gathered in the cafe at the Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, yesterday (August 13). But a sudden monsoon downpour caused a deluge and a stream burst its banks - sending tonnes of water gushing into a nearby seating area. The resort in the popular wildlife area was packed with locals who had the day off for a national holiday celebrating the country's annual Mother's Day. Hundreds of visitors were stranded after the downpour at different parts of the national park. Onlooker Wanruadee Wongpheung said: ''The water had come down from the river at the Nang Rong waterfalls. It was scary and I was worried about all the people who were there.'' Hundreds of visitors were stranded in a resort inside the sprawling park with water levels too high for them to leave. They had to wait until evening when the water had subsided. Park official Wichai Pornleesaengsuwan said the flash flood was caused by heavy rainfall coming down from the mountains. He said: ''This is the worst flooding I have seen here for ten years. We are trying to ensure that everybody is safe and there are no injuries.''
A statue representing women who were forced to work in brothels for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II was unveiled in Tainan on August 14, the first instance of such a statue installed in Taiwan.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou, who led Taiwans opposition Kuomintang party and served from 2008 to 2016, was present at the unveiling ceremony which was organized by the Tainan City Womens Human Rights Equality Promotion Association, according to reports from Taiwans United Daily News and Liberty Times. The association said that they hoped that current President Tsai Ing-wen, the islands first female ruler, would pay attention to the statue and see that the Taiwanese families of so-called comfort women would receive proper compensation and an apology from the Japanese government.

This footage shows the unveiling and Ma Ying-jeous speech at the event. The statue can be seen at about 13:48 in the video.

The statues installation coincided with South Koreas first Memorial Day for Japanese Forces Comfort Women Victims, and elsewhere in Taiwan, over 50 protesters wearing white masks sat outside the Japanese embassy in Taipei.

Taiwan maintains close diplomatic and cultural ties with Japan, and Japanese National Daily The Mainichi, quoting a government source, reported that the government in Taipei was not involved in the statues installation.

Fifty-eight Taiwanese women are recognized to have worked as comfort women during World War II, and two are still alive today, The Mainichi reported. Credit: Ma Ying-jeou via Storyful
A firefighter gets personal with a parrot (Picture: London Fire Brigade)

Firefighters were given a rough ride by a foul-mouthed parrot during an attempted roof rescue.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to rescue the animal after it spent three days sitting on its owners neighbours roof.

But when a firefighter attempted to lure it down, the animal told him to f*** off, witnesses said.

Firefighters were called by the RSPCA to a pet parrot stuck on a roof in #Edmonton for three days. Read the story of the potty-mouthed parrot in Cuckoo Hall Lane as told by Watch Manager Swallow here: https://t.co/Th2nlVCq7I  @PaulWood1961 pic.twitter.com/83ykYNpLvh  London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 13, 2018

Luckily, the fire brigade saw the funny side of the incident, which happened in Edmonton, London.

Jessie the Macaw parrot had escaped its home in Cuckoo Hall Lane, Edmonton and spent three days sitting on a neighbours roof, said the LFB.

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With Jessies owner and the RSPCA unsuccessful in their attempts to lure the parrot down, the Brigade was called.

Watch manager Chris Swallow, who attended the scene, said: Jessie had been on the same roof for three days and there were concerns that she may be injured which is why she hadnt come down.

Parrot owner: To bond with her say 'I love you'

Firefighter: 'I love you'

Jessie the Parrot: 'I love you'

Jessie then turned the air blue & flipped the firefighter the bird. Read the story of the potty-mouthed parrot in Cuckoo Hall Lane https://t.co/Th2nlVCq7I  @PaulWood1961 pic.twitter.com/j5bM22fvLX  London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 13, 2018

Our crew manager was the willing volunteer who went up the ladder to try and bring Jessie down. We were told that to bond with the parrot, you have to tell her I love you, which is exactly what the crew manager did.

Story continues

While Jessie responded I love you back, we then discovered that she had a bit of a foul mouth and kept swearing, much to our amusement.

The parrot had some choice words for the firefighter (Picture: London Fire Brigade)

Jessie also speaks Turkish and Greek, so we tried telling her to come in both those languages too.

Thankfully, it soon became apparent that Jessie was fine and uninjured as she flew off to another roof and then to a tree.

The LFB said people should contact the RSPCA in the first instance if they see an animal stuck or in distress. The RSPCA will then contact the fire brigade if they need assistance.
FILE PHOTO: A man covers his mouth as he walks past a 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) billboard at the funds flagship Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, February 27, 2015. REUTERS/Olivia Harris/File Photo

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia is seeking to repossess a $35 million (27.3 million) private jet owned by financier Low Taek Jho as part of investigations into a multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said.

The financier, also known as Jho Low, bought the Bombardier Global 5000 jet for $35.4 million in 2010 using funds allegedly taken from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has said.

Authorities in Malaysia and the United States are investigating how billions of dollars went missing from 1MDB. The DOJ says over $4.5 billion was misappropriated from the fund, with some of the money used to buy the private jet, a superyacht, Picasso paintings, jewellery and real estate.

Last week, the $250 million superyacht Equanimity, which the DOJ says was also bought by Jho Low, was handed over to Malaysia by Indonesia, which had seized the asset earlier this year.

When asked if Malaysia would also seek to take possession of the Bombardier jet, Mahathir said: "Yes, I think so. We have to bring it back," state news agency Bernama reported on Sunday.

The jet was grounded last year in Singapore, according to some media reports.

Aviation services firm Jet Aviation said a Bombardier Global 5000 with the same registration number as the one identified by DOJ was at its facility at Seletar Airport in Singapore.

A spokeswoman for Jet Aviation said the firm was "working closely with the local authorities". She declined to say how the firm came to be in possession of the aircraft.

Singapore's foreign ministry did not immediately comment.

Singapore, one of at least six countries investigating 1MDB, said in 2016 it had frozen about S$120 million (68.3 million) of funds and properties in the city-state belonging to Low and his immediate family.

Malaysian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Low, whose whereabouts are unknown. Low, whose Malaysian passport has been revoked, has previously denied any wrongdoing.

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A representative for Low has said the handing over of the Equanimity yacht to Malaysia was illegal and in violation of Indonesian and U.S. court orders.

A spokesman for Low, through his attorneys, on Monday said if Mahathir's intention to seize the private jet was "anything like his illegal seizure of the Equanimity," Mahathir will ignore ongoing legal processes and conduct a trial by media.

Mahathir's office was not immediately available for comment.

In civil lawsuits filed in the United States, the DOJ is seeking to seize assets that were allegedly bought with 1MDB money.

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi in KUALA LUMPUR and John Geddie in SINGAPORE; Editing by Michael Perry and Darren Schuettler)
This Mars formation looks uncannily like a Muppets character. (Photo: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/Getty Images)

Its a bird! Its a plane! Its Beaker the Muppet on Mars?

A formation on the south pole region of the Red Planet captured by NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter looks eerily familiar to The Muppets character. The University of Arizonas High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment team enlisted by NASA caught the resemblance and couldnt help but share the photo from its official Twitter account.

And todays HiPOD offers up a nice dose of pareidolia as well!#CannotUnsee pic.twitter.com/ZWtdfCCH3d  HiRISE (NASA) (@HiRISE) August 13, 2018

Beaker is the meep-muttering hapless assistant to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew.

The HiRISE team mentions pareidolia, which is the tendency to perceive a specific, meaningful image in a random visual pattern. So seeing Beaker through a Marss dust storm definitely counts. This isnt the first time pareidolia has struck Mars. Remember when we all saw Jabba the Hutt?

Heres hoping Beaker stays out of trouble up there. Meep meep!

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Protesters hold pictures of "comfort women" and of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe outside Japans de facto embassy in Taipei Protesters hold pictures of "comfort women" and of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe outside Japans de facto embassy in Taipei, Taiwan August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

By Joyce Lee and Yimou Lee

SEOUL/TAIPEI (Reuters) - South Korea marked its first "memorial day" on Tuesday for girls and women forced to work in Japan's wartime brothels, with both of the U.S. allies expressing concern that the emotionally charged issue could undermine their relations.

Under a 2015 deal, Japan apologised to the "comfort women", its euphemism for women - many of them Korean - forced to work in its wartime brothels, and provided a 1 billion yen (now 7 million) fund to help them.

But South Korea has recently sought to revisit the issue.

"I hope that this issue will not lead to a diplomatic dispute between Korea and Japan. Nor do I see this is an issue that can be solved through diplomatic solutions between the two countries," South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in comments marking the first "Memorial Day for Japanese Forces' Comfort Women Victims".

"It is an issue that can be solved only when the world, including ourselves and Japan, deeply reflects on sexual violence against all women and human rights problems and comes to a strong awareness and learns a lesson in a way that prevents this from ever repeating again."

Japan insists the issue was resolved by the 2015 deal, struck with a previous, conservative South Korean administration.

A senior Japanese official said differences with South Korea on the matter could undermine efforts to "develop a future-oriented relationship".

"We are concerned that this may spoil such endeavours," said the Japanese official, who declined to be identified.

"We have reached out through diplomatic channels to stress the importance of steadily implementing the Japan-South Korea agreement," the official said, referring to the 2015 deal.

The bitterness over Japan's wartime actions comes as concern about North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and missiles has posed a threat to both South Korea and Japan, both of which play host to U.S. military bases.

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Moon's administration has spotlighted the issue and has called for Japan to do more, despite backing down in January from a demand to formally renegotiate the 2015 deal.

In March, Moon described Japan's wartime use of the women as a crime against humanity. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga called the remarks "extremely regrettable".

TAIWAN PROTEST

A monument was unveiled as part of the events to mark the day, chosen as it was on Aug. 14, 1991, that South Korean comfort woman victim Kim Hak-sun became the first to give public testimony about her experience.

A think-tank funded by the South Korean government devoted to researching the issue also opened this month.

Japan has protested over monuments in South Korea dedicated to the women, including one in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, as well as the decision to designate a day to remember the women.

The issue has been a regular source of animosity between Japan and neighbours including China, North and South Korea and Taiwan, where earlier on Tuesday, more than 50 activists protested in front of Japan's representative office.

"Japanese government should apologise," chanted the protesters, many wearing black shirts with their faces covered by white masks. They also demanded compensation for Taiwan women forced to work in the brothels.

A bronze statue symbolising comfort women was also unveiled in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan, the United Daily News reported.

The unveiling was attended by former President Ma Ying-jeou.

Japan colonised the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945 and occupied parts of China before and during the war.

"It is quite regrettable to witness statutes of comfort woman being established or displayed in various parts of the world, which is incompatible with the position and measures taken by our government," the Japanese official said.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul and Yimou Lee in Taipei; Additional reporting by Jeongmin Kim in Seoul, Judy Peng in Taipei and Linda Seig in Tokyo; Editing by Michael Perry, Robert Birsel)
Some of the 141 people aboard the Aquarius (Getty)

An international stand-off involving the UK over who should help 141 people stranded at sea on the Aquarius charity rescue ship has been resolved by a deal involving six countries.

Malta is to allow the Aquarius safe harbour to disembark the people on board before they are distributed to five other countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.

The people pulled from two wooden boats in the Mediterranean on Friday include 73 children  the majority of them unaccompanied  and two pregnant women.

Most of them are suffering from chronic malnutrition, according to the Doctors Without Borders group which helps run the humanitarian rescue ship.

Frederic Penard of SOS Mediterranee, the NGO behind the Aquarius, welcomed the compromise at a press conference in Paris.

He said: Maybe European states have finally understood that this concerns our common border at the south of Europe, that this is a problem for the 28 member states, and that we cant avoid responsibility and should work together.

The ship has been waiting in international waters while European countries argued over who should take responsibility.

Charity rescue ship, the Aquarius, which carries the Gibraltar flag (Getty)

Italy and Malta, the two closest countries, had both refused to let the ship dock. Italys government instead called on the UK to take responsibility because the Aquarius carries a Gibraltar flag.

In response, the UK government said it was deeply concerned for the welfare of those on board but insisted that they should be disembarked at a nearby safe port.

Todays responsibility sharing exercise was brokered by the governments of Malta and France with the support of the European Commission.

In a statement, the Maltese government said it was making a concession by offering the Aquarius safe harbour because it has no legal obligation to do so.

The Maltese government considers this to be a concrete example of European leadership and solidarity, it said.

European commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, commended the countries who had offered to help.

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But he added: We cannot rely on ad-hoc arrangements, we need sustainable solutions. It is not the responsibility of one or a few Member States only, but of the European Union as a whole.

MORE: Italy tells UK to help 141 people stranded at sea on Aquarius rescue ship




Picture Google Maps

Conspiracy theorists and UFO fans have got seriously excited about a Stonehenge-like ring of objects spotted on Google Maps in Chinas Gobi desert.

Conspiracy theorists love to pore over Google Maps looking for unusual objects  which are then hailed as crashed spacecraft, alien bases and so on.

This time, UFO channel Thirdphaseofmoon claims that the structure seen in the Gobi desert could be a runway for extraterrestrials.

Commenters on the popular UFO channel suggested that it might be Chinas Area 51 (ie a place where the government supposedly investigates alien technology).

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Other excited commenters suggested that it might be the landing pad for some vast spaceship.

But, like most of these sightings, the reality is almost certainly much more prosaic.

Many supposed alien bases spotted on Google Maps turn out to be military ranges, and some commenters believe this is the case here.

One said, Stop with the hype, its a test rang for reconnaissance aircraft, their cameras and targeting equipment. Every country that puts satellites up, has ballistic missiles or a fleet of ISR aircraft has a range like this.
Major airlines have hit out at Heathrow Airport after passport control queues reached as long as two and a half hours in July.

Virgin Atlantic has joined British Airways in criticising lengthy waiting times that are "becoming the norm".

The longest queues were seen on 6 July when non-European Economic Area (EEA) visitors spent up to two hours and 36 minutes waiting in immigration queues.

Figures released by Virgin Atlantic show that the Border Force hit its target for processing passengers from outside the EEA on just one day last month.

The Home Office agency aims to process 95% of passengers within 45 minutes.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye has called on the government to allow visitors from low-risk countries such as the US and Canada to use the same electronic border gates that European Union citizens can access.

The Home Office says delays were caused by a computer failure and the arrival of large numbers of vulnerable adults and children.

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger said: "This summer significant queues at Border Control mean that thousands of visitors have regularly faced the longest queues in London to get their passports checked, often over two hours, leaving them frustrated before they've even started their trip.

"At Virgin Atlantic we're doing our bit to try and help our international customers - providing extra staff as well as drinks and snacks for the queue - but only the Border Force can resolve these unacceptable queue times and they must take action.

"We all agree that security and safety at our airports is vital and remains our top priority, but other countries are managing their borders more effectively.

"At a time when the UK needs to show the world it is open for business, the government and Border Force need to provide a great first impression for every visitor every time."

British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz warned last week that Heathrow's queues were "significantly worse" than elsewhere in the continent.

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Writing in The Times, Mr Cruz said: "Two-hour queues are fast becoming the norm."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The vast majority of people who arrive at Heathrow get through the border within our service standards.

"But we understand the frustration for those who have experienced longer waits and remain fully committed to working with our partners to reduce waiting times as far as is possible.

"At the same time, we will not compromise the essential checks we carry out at the border which keep our country safe.

"We are making sure Border Force has the resources it needs and are deploying 200 additional staff at Heathrow over the summer."
A man has been arrested after a car hit cyclists and pedestrians and crashed into security barriers outside parliament.

This is what we know so far:

:: The driver of the car, a man in his late 20s, was arrested at the scene by armed officers on suspicion of terrorist offences. He was wearing a black puffer jacket and was led away in handcuffs. He is being held at a south London police station.

:: Police said the suspect was "not currently co-operating", and they had not formally identified him. He does not appear to be known to either MI5 or counter-terrorism policing. According to Sky sources, he is believed to be from the Midlands.

:: Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, who leads counter-terrorism policing in the UK, said the incident "appears to be a deliberate act".

:: The Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command is leading the investigation. It is being treated as a "terrorist incident".

:: Witnesses said the crash looked deliberate. The car is said to have been driven at speed, and to have lifted off the ground when it hit the barriers.

:: No other suspects at the scene have been identified or reported to police.

:: There is "no intelligence at this time of further danger to Londoners, or the rest of the UK, connected to this incident", Mr Basu said.

:: Two people were taken to hospital, one of whom, a man, has since been discharged. A woman is being treated for serious but non life-threatening injuries at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. Another man, who was treated at the scene, did not need to go to hospital.

:: Scotland Yard said the car was "in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament" at 7.37am.

:: The Ford Fiesta "collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians".

:: There was no one else in the vehicle, and officers have not found any weapons so far.

:: At lunchtime, cordons along Victoria Embankment were lifted and Parliament Square and Whitehall reopened. But the immediate area around the incident was still taped off.

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:: Witness Ewalina Ochab said: "I think it looked intentional - the car drove at speed and towards the barriers.

"I was walking on the other side [of the road]. I heard some noise and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement."

:: Another witness, Jason Williams, said: "I saw a car going at high speed towards Parliament.

"It hit a bollard. It looked deliberate. It didn't look like an accident. How do you do that by accident? It was a loud bang."
AIM-listed exploration and development company Condor Gold narrowed losses in the first half of its trading year following the pre-revenue firm's successful secondary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Condor narrowed losses 61% to 1.28m over the six months leading to 30 June as part of what chief executive Mark Child referred to as a "very encouraging first half".

After being granted a key environmental permit by the Nicaraguan Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources for the development, construction and operation of a processing plant at its La India site with the capacity to process up to 2,800 tonnes per day, Condor now expects its gold production to be approximately 80,000 ounces of gold every twelve months from a single open pit.

Throughout the half, Condor issued 2.9m warrants to shareholders as part of a placement to raise gross proceeds of 2.5m, all of which came with an exercise price of 65p per share and also saw its ordinary shares commence trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol COG.

As of 1120 BST, Condor shares had dipped 1.69% to 43.75p.
Telit Communications on Tuesday made several board alterations after appointing Paolo Dal Pino as independent non-executive chairman, with effect from 1 September.

Simon Duffy, who was appointed interim chairman on 25 June, will revert to his position as the senior independent non-executive director, while Miriam Greenwood, who was reappointed to the board on an interim basis on 25 June, will step down from Telits board on 1 September - as originally intended.

Telit is a global provider of wireless machine to machine technology and value-added services including connectivity cloud and platform as a service application enablement services.

"We have taken aboard the views of our shareholders following our AGM and regarding the appointment of a permanent chairman. We are delighted to announce that, at the conclusion of that process, Paolo will be joining as chairman. He has considerable expertise gained in a number of leading multinational corporations," said Duffy.

Dal Pino will join the AIM traded firm following a 25-year career in the technology, media, and telecoms industry, having served in roles including chief executive of Italian mobile and broadband operator Wind, president of Latin American operations for Telecom Italia Group and chief executive of the Seat Group.

Most recently, he was chief executive of Prometeon Tyre Group, the industrial tyre business divested from the Pirelli Group.

"I am delighted to be joining the board at this important juncture in Telit's development and I look forward to working with the management and board on the next stage of Telit's journey," said Dal Pino.

Telits shares were down 1.70% at 162.20p at 1220 BST.
Hardline Tory Brexiteers are to challenge Prime Minister Theresa May by publishing a positive blueprint for a no-deal Brexit and abandoning all support for Mays Chequers proposal, introduced last month.

The faction of Tory dissidents lead by the chairman of the European Research Group focused on Brexit, Jacob Rees-Mogg, is working on a paper that is due to be published next month where it will offer an alternative view to the governments white paper. In the new document, they will outline the advantages of a hard Brexit.

It is expected that the group will support the UK leaving on World Trade Organisation terms and allow for a possible Canadian-style free trade agreement with the EU.

Under a Canadian-style agreement, there would be no tariffs on trade between the UK and the EU, but Britain would not be part of the single market or customs union.

According to The Times, 60 to 80 Conservative MPs are expected to support the new plan, ratcheting-up the pressure on the PM ahead of the party conference in October.

The International Monetary Fund believes Rees-Mogg's plan could back the UK into a 'cliff edge' situation, inflicting grave damage on the economies of both the UK and the trading block.

Mays aides believe that a show of strength from the hardliners could discourage Brussels from engaging seriously with the Chequers proposal, by boosting those who argue that May lacks the majority needed to push her plan through Parliament.
Ambassador of Belarus I.Nazaruk meets Minister of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia

13-08-2018

On August 10, 2018 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Armenia, Igor Nazaruk, met with the Minister of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia, Artsvik Minasyan.

During the conversation the parties considered the state and prospects of development of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Armenia, including the use of mechanisms to increase mutual trade turnover, the implementation of joint projects, and the intensification of interaction in industrial, agricultural, transport, mining, forestry spheres.

The sides also discussed the preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Intergovernmental Belarusian-Armenian Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to further coordinate cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

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Large section of road plunges into river bed during storm

Shares in maintenance operator Autostrade suspended

A large section of motorway bridge collapsed onto houses in the northern port city of Genoa on Tuesday killing at least 22 people, officials said.

The death toll fluctuated throughout the day, but Sky news cited Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte as saying the number of dead was verified at 22.

Luigi DAngelo, head of the emergency unit at the civil protection service told a news conference in Genoa that at least 16 people were injured, five seriously, with at least 20 fatalities.

These are the confirmed figures we have right now, but unfortunately the number is likely to rise, he told reporters. He added that the cause of the collapse should be known within the next few hours.

Rescue workers said at least 30 vehicles were involved when a large section of the Morandi Bridge collapsed at about 11.30am during a sudden and violent storm.

Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli said that 30 - 35 cars and three lorries were travelling on the A10 Genoa highway viaduct when it collapse. Four people had been rescued with another 10 believed to be missing. Pictures at the scene showed crushed cars on the bed of the Polcevera River.

Shares in Atlantia, the parent company of the motorway operator and maintenance firm Autostrade, fell sharply on the Milan stock exchange.

Autostrade, which operates the Genoa bypass, said in a statement that it was working to strengthen the 1960s viaduct and constantly monitored the state of the bridge. The company suspended its shares after falling 8.7%.

Shares in Societa Iniziative Autostradali e Servi (SIAS), which operates other sections not affected by the collapse of the A10 motorway, fell almost 5%.

"In relation to the collapse of part of the Polcevera viaduct on the A10, Autostrade per l'Italia reports that on the structure - dating back to the 1960s - works were underway to consolidate the viaduct slab and that, as planned, a bridge crane to allow maintenance activities to be carried out," Autostrade said on its website.

"The work and the status of the viaduct were subject to constant observation and supervision by the Tronco Management of Genoa. The causes of the collapse will be the object of in-depth analysis as soon as it will be possible to safely access the site."

State police posted a video of the span collapsing during a storm. Other images showed a truck stopped just before the edge of what remained, while footage from a helicopter showed the scale of the damage.

Some witnesses who were in the car near the Morandi bridge before the collapse saw "lightning strike the bridge", the ANSA news agency reported.

"It was just after 11:30 when we saw the lightning strike the bridge," said Pietro M. all'Asa - "and we saw the bridge going down".

The Autostrada 10 runs along the northwestern Italian coast, connecting Genoa with the city of Ventimiglia. It is a component part of the wider European route E80 which stretches from Portugal to eastern Turkey.

Around 200 firefighters are responding to the accident and have told the Associated Press they are concerned about gas lines.

A witness told Sky Italia television he saw "eight or nine" vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed in what he called an "apocalyptic scene".
Twitter s shares were given a boost on Monday after online investment newsletter Citron Research predicted that the social media giants shares will hit $52 within a year.

Citron, an activist investment firm run by Andrew Left, said the social media company is more relevant now than it has ever been and in media  dollars follow relevancy, pointing to President Donald Trump's announcing policy via the platform and Tesla using it to disseminate a take-private proposal last week.

While many view Twitter solely as the preferred form of communication for the POTUS, it has become all things media and an irreplaceable part of the global dialogue. This past week, Elon Musk announced the potential for the largest LBO ever on Twitter, and while people were debating the quality of the financing, no one was debating the medium of the news  Twitter, Citron said in a newsletter to subscribers.

Twitters potential is easier to view through the lense of the success of Beijing-based AI-assisted news and information platform Toutiao, argued Citron.

The success of Toutiao, which is a subsidiary of the second largest private company in the world, Bytedance, has largely been attributed to the platforms ability to deliver personalized content via a simple user interface.

As such, Citron said the social media operators renewed focus on news headlines and breaking fresh news will make it completely irreplaceable.

Phillippe Laffont, fund manager of Twitters largest hedge fund shareholder Coatue, said: We believe Twitter can transform its product experience by adopting the Toutiao playbook, attracting new users with a simpler product and increasing engagement of its existing base.

Twitters shares finished up 2.5% at $32.8 overnight.
Bitcoins value dipped below $6,000 on Tuesday while other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum continued to sink amid a continued sell-off in digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency analysts have linked the latest market movements to the liquidation of funds raised through initial coin offerings (ICOs), with companies potentially selling off the Ethereum raised through the popular fundraising mechanism.

Samson Mow, chief strategy officer at blockchain developer Blockstream Corp, said: "Most cryptocurrencies have been overvalued for a very long time. Its hard to pin this move on any particular factor, but it feels like the opposite of last year when money piled in as people felt FOMO. Now its piling out as they sense panic."

92 out of the top 100 cryptocurrencies on Tuesday had suffered double-digit losses over the last 24 hours with Bitcoin, the undoubted champion of the crypto phenomenon, down over two thirds from its December high of $20,000.

Cryptocurrencies had rallied over July amid hopes of a Bitcoin-backed exchange traded fund but US regulators have not yet signed off on any of the various iterations of the idea.

James Quinn, head of markets at blockchain firm Kenetic, told Bloomberg that Turkeys currency crisis could be having an effect on the digital currencies despite the perception of currencies such as bitcoin being a haven from such market fluctuations.

"Correlations historically have been extremely low between cryptocurrencies and other asset classes. Which is one of the reasons why there is interest in this space and why people want to make an allocation in this space," he said in a phone interview from Hong Kong.
Molecular diagnostic solutions developer Curetis announced on Tuesday that Christopher Bernard has informed the company of his resignation as president and chief executive officer of Curetis USA , and as a member of the Curetis management board, effective 31 August.

The German company said it accepted Bernard's resignation, and appointed Chris Emery as president and CEO of Curetis USA, effective 1 September.

Bernard had joined Curetis USA as president and CEO on 1 July 2016, and had served on the management board of Curetis since his appointment at the annual general meeting in June 2018.

Chris Bernard has been a highly valued member of the senior management team, said supervisory board chairman William Rhodes.

On behalf of the supervisory board, I would like to thank Chris for building the US subsidiary from the ground up, making excellent use of his broad and deep network in the US diagnostics industry.

We understand also his resignation from the management board of Curetis to pursue another opportunity, and we wish him luck in the future.

Curetis said the newly-appointed president and CEO of Curetis USA, Chris Emery, was bringing more than 20 years of relevant commercial experience in the diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries.

His primary focus had been leading the commercial launch and execution for numerous next-generation molecular diagnostic tests in the precision medicine market.

Most recently, he was the chief commercial officer of North America for Menarini Silicon Biosystems, where he directed the US sales and business development activities for the DEPArray NxT molecular device, as well as the integration of the FDA-cleared CellSearch circulating tumour cell test.

Prior to that , he was the general manager for Abbott's PersonalizeDx cancer diagnostics laboratory division, and he also held senior level management roles as chief operating officer at CombiMatrix, vice-president of sales and marketing at Response Genetics, and national sales and marketing manager at US LABS, prior to its acquisition by LabCorp.

He began his career in healthcare with Johnson & Johnson, promoting the antibiotic Levaquin (levofloxacin) into hospital systems for a variety of bacterial infections, including hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Emery obtained his MBA from Pepperdine University, and his BA in Communications from the University of California, San Diego.

We are very pleased that in Chris Emery we have found a great successor for the strategically important role of president and CEO of Curetis USA, said Curetis CEO Oliver Schacht.

With his extensive experience in the diagnostics market, Chris is very well positioned to seamlessly continue driving the commercial roll-out of Unyvero LRT in the US where he finds a strong team in place and a very solid funnel of qualified accounts with some exciting near-term opportunities for commercial conversions.
A TV advertising campaign to warn the public about pension scams is being launched by UK regulators as new figures show that victims are losing an average of 91,000 each. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Pensions Regulator have joined forces on the campaign to raise awareness of the most common tactics used by fraudsters.  Guardian

The amount polluters pay for emitting carbon in the EU has hit a 10-year high, in a blow for coal power station owners and a boost for renewable energy. The price of carbon in the blocs emissions trading scheme reached 18 (16) per tonne on Monday, triple the level a year ago. About 12,000 factories and power stations have to pay for every tonne of carbon they emit under the scheme, but for years an oversupply of permits has meant the cost has languished at about 5 per tonne. That is too low to spur companies to lower emissions.  Guardian

The UK will have 9million more pensioners within the next 50 years, official figures have shown. The number of people aged over 65 will nearly double to more than 20million by 2066, according to the Office for National Statistics. The biggest increase will be in the over-85s age group, which will more than treble.  Telegraph

President Erdogans reaction to Turkeys financial crisis was likened to King Canute trying to hold back the tide amid criticism of the countrys inadequate response to the threat of a full-blown economic debacle. Turkey is the latest in a growing list of emerging market economies to be sent into a tailspin, spooking overseas markets and leading to pressure on policymakers to step in with a more robust response to halt contagion.  The Times

The Easyjet billionaire Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is pursuing two Latin American airlines, accusing them of brand theft for using the word easy. Easygroup secured an order in the High Court last month calling on the Honduran airline Easy Sky and its Mexican parent company Global Air to desist from using the Easy Sky brand on the side of its aircraft or from using the brand as a domain name on the internet or social media.- The Times

Liam Foxs trade department has attempted to bury the hatchet with Britains ports and shipping industries with talks over new government funding. Ministers have started work on a five-year plan for the maritime sector, just weeks after its leaders attacked a chronic lack of direct industry experience at the heart of government.  The Times
Defensives were clearly in the lead on Tuesday, even as the top-flight index bounced back from its intra-day lows.

Sectors with exposure to Emerging Markets - such as Beverages and Personal Goods - were taking turns with Tobacco and Non-life insurance at the top of the leaderboard, aided by a bounce in the Turkish Lira, which was helping to steady investors' frayed nerves.

Perhaps as one might expect, several London-listed firms were among the European corporates with the most exposure to Turkey.

According to Deutsche Bank, they included: Diageo (3-4% of sales), British American Tobacco (2% sales), Unilever (2-3% sales) and Vodafone (4% of group EBITDA).

As of 1552 BST, the US dollar was retreating by 5.52% to 6.5036 against the Turkish lira, but chiefly because Turkish authorities were micro-managing liquidity conditions in Turkish debt markets.

Time was not on the side of Turkish officials, analysts at Oxford Economics said.

"The authorities need to act decisively, but, history suggests that they will instead procrastinate, meaning pressure on the TRY will persist. Turkey is on the verge of getting caught in a self-inflicted vicious circle that leads to a full-blown balance of payments crisis," they told clients in a research note.

"Markets are also concerns what seems to be the increasing use of sanctions as an extension of US foreign policy," Oxford analyst Nafez Zouk added.

On the other side of the ledger, and likely reflecting not only the simmering tensions around Turkey but also the slowdown in Chinese growth, in part due to the ongoing trade spat between China and the US, life insurers were mostly lower.

Thus, data released overnight on Chinese industrial production, fixed asset investment and retail sales all printed below economists' forecasts.

Readings on that data prompted Julian Evans-Pritchard at Capital Economics to tell clients: "Admittedly, infrastructure spending may soon bottom out given the recent shift toward a looser fiscal stance and monetary easing should eventually drive a turnaround in credit growth.

"However, these are unlikely to put a floor beneath economic growth until the middle of next year."

US tariffs and cooling growth around the world also meant exports were unlikely to act as an offset.

Top performing sectors so far today

Beverages 22,476.91 +0.54%

Gas, Water & Multiutilities 4,950.12 +0.53%

Personal Goods 38,981.76 +0.44%

Tobacco 46,507.72 +0.43%

Health Care Equipment & Services 7,759.39 +0.40%

Bottom performing sectors so far today

Life Insurance 8,329.93 -1.52%

Mobile Telecommunications 4,004.02 -1.12%

Industrial Metals & Mining 4,628.36 -1.06%

Forestry & Paper 23,910.93 -0.89%

General Industrials 6,880.69 -0.89%
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The University of North Georgia will soon begin offering bachelor's degrees in East Asian studies and healthcare services and informatics administration.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the new degrees at its Aug. 14 meeting.

More than a decade of strategic planning and hiring led to the degree program in East Asian studies, which will begin in spring 2019.

Students in this major will have a concentration in either Chinese, Japanese or Korean studies. Dr. Sung Shin Kim, director of East Asian studies at UNG, said the degree program will be the only one of its kind in Georgia and one of just a few in the Southeast.

Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University have Asian studies, without the coherent focus on East Asia as a region UNG will provide. The University of Georgia and Augusta University only offer a certificate in Asian studies.

While China and Japan are considered larger players economically and politically, Kim said giving the Korean concentration equal weight will help UNG's East Asian studies degree stand out.

The healthcare services and informatics administration degree seeks to bridge the gap between medical and information technology (IT) professionals, said Dr. Pamela Charney, a UNG associate professor who will be the department head for the new degree.

"Right now both sides speak entirely different languages, and that's why we have so many problems with health care information," Charney said.

The degree will be offered through a mix of in-person and online classes and will be based on UNG's Cumming Campus potentially by spring 2019.

It will meet a major workforce need, as O*Net previously indicated there would be 100,000 openings for such workers between 2014 and 2024. O*Net is an online occupation database powered by the national Department of Labor.

UNG already offers a major in Chinese language and minors in Korean and Japanese. Dr. Christopher Jespersen, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, noted the faculty for the new East Asian studies degree and most of the courses are already in place.

The major in East Asian studies will require students to study abroad during at least one summer, while being encouraged to go for a semester or year if possible.

"The experience in East Asia itself is really important," Kim said. "It's not only about the language training, but also the cultural learning they can do.

ROTC Chinese Language Flagship, Project Global Officer (Project GO), and the Japan Foundation have all awarded grants that have bolstered UNG's language and study abroad efforts in East Asia. The Chinese Language Flagship allows students to study the language for four years at UNG, then have a capstone year abroad. Project GO is a "collaborative initiative to improve language skills, regional expertise and intercultural communication skills of future military officers."

Students are also able to apply for Benjamin A. Gilman and Freeman-ASIA scholarships to fund study abroad opportunities.

More than 100 students are signed up for UNG's Japanese classes, Kim said. A $400,000 grant in 2016 from the Japan Foundation got a Japanese studies concentration off the ground. Jespersen said that was the final piece needed to offer the bachelor's degree in East Asian studies.

Kim and her fellow colleagues in East Asian studies have been putting the word out about a bachelor's degree she said was spurred in part by student demand, as have been all of the language programs at UNG.

"East Asia is interesting and important," Kim said. "And it's a wise investment if students want to do something international in their future."

With UNG already featuring a strong international flavor, this program "is just another step in that direction," Jespersen said.

Three classes that will be central to what students take from the healthcare services and informatics administration degree will be electronic health records essentials, usability and healthcare data analytics.

"The students will see the programs doctors, nurses and other health professionals are using and work with IT professionals to address roadblocks the medical providers are experiencing when it comes to medical records," said Dr. Teresa Conner-Kerr, dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professions.

Another vital component of the program will teach students how to protect patients' health information in an era where health information has become more valuable than financial information, Charney said. She said stolen health information can be used for Medicare fraud or to access the person's health insurance.

UNG currently has certificate programs in health informatics and health care administration, which will become part of the bachelor's degree. This will allow the students pursuing the certificates to further their education.

The Regional Education and Economic Development (REED) Summit, set for Sept. 6 at the Convocation Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus, seeks to connect prospective and current college students who want to work in the healthcare industry with the wide array of career opportunities in that field and exposing them to educational pathways and industry professionals.
James and Emily Stark have always been optimistic, hopeful, and contented parents, and from the moment Emily Stark conceived in 2000, she described her gut feeling that she and her husband would have twins. The heart of the eager young couple was completely open to more than one baby, but it was on their next visit, for the ultrasound, that news came that no parent can prepare for. Emily Stark recalls hearing that her daughters were conjoined somewhere in the lower region as the doctor described, and then, James took over because she just couldn't absorb it all.

James Stark recalls the 1000-page medical book that the physician flipped through, only to reveal two paragraphs on conjoined twins.

The somber mood was justified by the statistics. Conjoined twins occur in every 50,000-60,000 births, and of those, 50-60 percent are stillborn. 35 percent of conjoined-twin births survive only one day, but something about this momentous birthday left this brand new family with bright spirits and belief in the future. Dad even cracked a memorable joke about the situation that no one could forget. In March of 2001, daughters Lexi and Sydney Stark became the first successfully separated conjoined twins in Colorado, and they will soon face a separation by choice, as each girl heads to college in a different place.

The family related their innate, close-knit journey on Megyn Kelly TODAY on August 13, and the future for the Stark family is still filled with adventure and bright horizons.

Always time for fun

Nothing lifts the mood like a good joke, and James Stark told one to his happy, healthy daughter Lexi. He playfully inquired: Are you having a nightmare, Lexi, one where your sister is stuck to your butt?

Levity aside, Emily met the challenge of feeding and playing with her girls, and grandma sewed practical onesies together to fit her lovely granddaughters.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

On October 9, 2001, James and Emily Stark said a goodbye to their daughters, bound for the operating room, not knowing if it would mean forever or for just a few hours. The news, relayed by a devoted and intrepid nurse, kept getting better hour by hour as she briefed the waiting parents.

Doubt turned to delight

Emily Stark admitted to the host that for a time just prior to the surgery, during the preparation procedures, she was overcome by doubt, pondering whether she and James were playing God with perfection that they already had.

James reiterated that one thing he hopes parents gain from their story is confidence to make the best decisions in their children's future and to be responsible for those choices. We got the fairytale, said Emily, and we know the endingso far.

Lexi and Sydney Stark came out to tell their separate sides of that story, clasping hands. Sydney called their parents precious, to which her dad concurred. No one would guess seeing them now that paralysis was a definite possibility when they were separated. Lexi related being very blessed following their ordeal. Both sisters have colostomies because they initially shared one bowel, and Sydney teased that telling close friends that they have one butt cheek can be quite a revelation.

When the sisters are napping or highly stressed, they revert back to their positions prior to their sisterectomy as a friend of James dubbed it, and snuggle in a favorite position. Lexi demonstrated just the way that Sydney prefers to rest her head in the curve of her twin sisters neck, easing both siblings into a calm and peaceful state. Each sister has her own story of sensing the others pain or knowing when a rough day has transpired.

Sydney is set to attend the University of Missouri in St. Louis, and Lexi is bound for the University of Calgary in Canada. Talking on the phone may settle some minor nerves around final exams, but the Stark sisters are going to need cuddle time for those college heartbreaks -- hopefully there won't be many of those ahead.
Mumford and Sons made a name for themselves more than a decade ago. Even as their sound was summoning fans and followers early on, the foursome of Marcus Mumford, Winston Marshall, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane possessed a passion for playing together onstage that remains unequaled, and they were committed to spreading that passion globally.

Over the past year, Mumford and Sons have kept mum about new music as they focused on creating their fourth album, but now, the band is emerging publicly with new songs. Late last month, Mumford and Sons showed up as surprise headliners at the 2018 Newport Folk Festival.

To add to that, eager concertgoers at the Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary were recently treated to three brand new songs -- according to reports from Radio.com and JamBase. Considering the reception, the new songs seem to be keepers.

Ready to see

Unlike many established bands, Mumford and Sons have remained fearless in their willingness to share brand new material, from their first stints at Bonnaroo to this latest offering. The musicians hold to the belief that if a song does not go over well with their crowd, it is tossed. The band related that their tough process was still in place for their latest effort in an NME interview last July, insisting that quality is what makes a band more than a long catalog.

They essentially write 30 songs and select the 10 best for an album.

The band led off with See a Sign for the Sziget set. Set against blue-lit fog, Marcus Mumford stood on one of the stage monitors to allow him the intimacy to sing to the fans. With a thumping bass backbeat and minimal instrumentation in the intro, the opening chorus led Mumford to walk out on a catwalk to question: What if I need you in my darkest hour? After taking an electric guitar for a few strums, the raspy baritone whose voice seems to only get better with wear took to a standalone drum set, pounding out the march-type beat as the Ahhhs rose.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

See a Sign is certain to become a future favorite and a standard fixture in the Mumford and Sons set.

Two gems to finish

The energetic selections included the must-haves of Awake My Soul, The Cave, Little Lion Man and Tompkins Square Park from 2015s Wilder Mind, showcasing how seamlessly the more recent songs fuse with those of years back.

Dust Bowl Dance was another treasure from the past to be played as well.

Near the close of the set, Marcus Mumford announced to Hungary fans: This is the first time we've ever played em, before leading into Woman. The instrumental gifts of each member shine on this tender tribute to the woman I adore." Mumford later confesses: I don't know the loneliness you know, said against a gentle, almost R&B vibe.

The acoustic-rich Guiding Light was included in the encore, and Marcus Mumford thanked everyone for a f****** great festival before launching into the hopeful ballad that affirms that even when there is no star in sight, youll always be my guiding light. Years have passed, and changes in life and music have come for Mumford and Sons, but themes of hope, humanity, and love hold fast, as does the talent and artistry of this still-connected quartet.
CORRECTED

Heres a little-known fact: in many states, school districts have the power to open and close charter schools. Despite often being cast as foes, for years school districts have approved the most new charter school openings compared to all other types of authorizersthe groups granted authority under state law to green light and oversee charter schools.

But that appears to have shifted in the past few years, according to a new report .

For the first time, school districts are no longer granting the most new charters, says the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, which analyzed charter school opening data from all states with charter schools and the District of Columbia from 2013 to 2016. And nobody is quite sure why.

In 2013, school districts approved the opening of 56 percent of all new charter schools, or 357 new campuses. By 2016, that percentage dropped to 41 percent, or 135 new campuses.

The largest drops were seen among school districts that authorize relatively fewer charter schools to begin with. School districts that oversee fewer than five charter schools had green-lighted a comparatively large number of charter schools in 2013.

EdWeek Explains: What Are Charter Schools and How do They Work?

In the past four years, state education agencies and independent charter boardsspecial agencies whose sole task is to oversee charter schools statewidehave taken the lead for approving the most new charter schools.

NACSA sorts authorizers into six types: independent chartering boards, state education agencies, higher education institutions, non-educational government entities such as a mayors office, nonprofit organizations, and, of course, local education agencies or school districts.

While all types of authorizers have been approving fewer charter schools, by far the most significant slow-down was among school districts.

Why charter school approvals are down, particularly among districts, is something NACSA is trying to figure out, said its CEO, Greg Richmond. Are fewer people applying to open charter schools, or are authorizers turning more charter school applications down?

We see a number of things going on across the country, said Richmond. Facilities are harder to come by for charters. Some charter networks are deciding to slow down their growth and focus more on the quality of their existing schools rather than opening the next campus.

And then theres the politics surrounding charter schools, which Richmond described as becoming increasingly toxic. Some high-profile ballot measures and school board elections have become multi-million-dollar standoffs between teachers unions and deep-pocketed charter school backers .

The toll of politics has a greater effect on school districts than these other types of authorizing bodies, he said.

Related stories:

Correction: This story has been corrected to show that all states with charter schools were included in the analysis.
Louise Steinman at the LARB:

IN 1970, when artist Robert Smithson first set his gaze on the Great Salt Lakes Rozel Point Peninsula, he knew that hed found the right site. Smithson was among a vanguard of artists in the late 60s moving their work out into the landscape, freeing it from the containment of the gallery. Now he was determined to build an earthwork on a massive scale. Smithson had specific requirements: he wanted the color red  like the salt lakes hed read about in Bolivia, their surface tinged in carnelian tones by micro-bacteria in the water. He wanted remote and he wanted vast  few to no markers of human artifice  to fuck with the viewers sense of scale. He wanted a site that would itself inform what he wanted to build.

Smithson and his wife, artist Nancy Holt, scouted Great Salt Lakes southern shore; but, as he later wrote in his 1972 essay The Spiral Jetty, the water wasnt red enough. At another site near Syracuse, Utah, on the eastern side of the lake, they were shooed off by angry ranchers.

more here.
Amitava Kumar at CNN:

On October 10, 1953, V.S. Naipaul sent a telegram home to his family in Trinidad. At that time, Naipaul was an indigent student at University College, Oxford; he had arrived in England on a scholarship and had begun writing brief pieces for the BBCs Caribbean Voices program. Naipaul, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001, died Saturday in London at the age of 85.

On that day in October 1953, Naipaul was only 21 years old and he had just received the news of his fathers death. His telegram read:

= HE WAS THE BEST MAN I KNEW STOP EVERYTHING I OWE TO HIM BE BRAVE MY LOVES TRUST ME = VIDO

Naipaul didnt go home; he wouldnt, in fact, return until several more years had passed. But he paid homage to his father by making him the central character of his fourth novel, A House for Mr Biswas, which is regarded by many as one of the greatest novels written in English. Like Mr Biswas in the novel, Naipauls father had been born poor. He struggled to discover a vocation and, for a while, succeeded as a journalist.

More here.
For Subscribers Nepotism probe, marijuana put spotlight on South Dakota Capitol

Legislative investigations, votes on cannabis policy and wins and losses for government transparency make for a hectic week in South Dakota politics.
For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page
So far this summer, members of Trump administration have been cursed at while picking up takeout, heckled by protesters while eating dinner, confronted in cafes by strangers demanding they resign, and, in the case of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, even asked to leave a restaurant in the middle of a meal. Inevitably, these confrontations lead to endless discussions about civility and whether public officials have the right to eat in peace.

This weekend, however, the reverse happened in Houston. A popular Tex-Mex restaurant served dinner to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling it an honor on Facebook. In response, left-leaning Houstonians called for a boycott, and the restaurant received so much criticism on social media that it deleted all of its accounts.

Sessions had traveled to Houston on Friday to discuss his plans to cut down on violent crime, according to the Houston Chronicle. During his speech, he called for a crackdown on illegal immigration and a ban on sanctuary cities.

This should be obvious: if we want to reduce violent crime we should reduce illegal immigrant crime, he said.

That same night, El Tiempo Cantina posted a picture of Sessions with co-owner Dominic Laurenzo on the restaurants Facebook page.

We had the honor to server [sic] Mr. Jeff Sessions, Attorney General of the United States, the caption said. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.

The post got an immediate response on social media, and quickly spawned the hashtag #BoycottElTiempo.

Antonio tweeted Jeff Sessions continues to target immigrants and enable Trumps discriminatory policies yet @ElTiempoCantina is Honored to serve him'.

tamara villanueva When youre job is to serve, keeping it professional at all times is perfectly fine @ElTiempoCantina. But boasting & saying it was an honor to serve someone who has a hand in the horror that is hurting ppl & our nation is just plain irresponsible & disheartening. #eltiempocantina

Others jumped in to defend the restaurant, with some conservatives pledging to eat there in the future.

Steve Mudflap McGrew tweeted El Tiempo will get the same giant economic boost Chick-fil-A got when loony libs went after them. Congrats El Tiempo. Ill eat there next time Im in Houston

John Hazle tweeted Congratulations to the El Tiempo Cantina owners and staff. You displayed great culture and Texas hospitality. It looks like you provided GREAT service while having a civil discussion on immigration with some differing views. If only others had the class you showed

On Saturday, Roland Laurenzo, Dominics father and the restaurants co-owner, disavowed the administrations immigration policies in a Facebook post.

Neither of the Laurenzos could be reached for comment late Sunday night. But in an interview with KHOU11 on Saturday, Roland Laurenzo said that the companys social media manager  who he didnt name, and who couldnt be identified through an online search  had written the post that thanked Sessions.

In retrospect, it was a mistake because it angered so many people, he told the station. We have gotten so many complaints and comments. And threats, death threats. This has been extremely shocking to our family.

The company doesnt agree with Sessions views on gay rights or family separation, Laurenzo said, adding that his son, Dominic, had discussed fajitas with the attorney general.

But the controversy didnt die down after that. On Saturday afternoon, the restaurant shut down all of its Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages, the Houston Chronicle reported. Early Monday morning, those accounts were still offline.

People are insulting us in such a dramatic fashion, and we feel like we dont deserve it, Roland Laurenzo explained to ABC13 on Sunday. At least temporarily I had it taken down because I dont want to be insulted, my children to be insulted, my family to be insulted.

He also expressed regret over the post thanking Sessions, calling it inaccurate in terms of the totality of what we would be thinking.

That prompted even more ire  this time from Trump supporters.

According to the restaurants website, Roland and Dominic Laurenzo opened El Tiempo Cantina in 1998. Rolands mother, Ninfa Laurenzo, had previously owned a popular Tex-Mex restaurant where she blended traditional Mexican family recipes with Italian traditions from her husbands side, but it went bankrupt in the late 1990s. The chain currently has eight locations in the Houston area. In 2017, the Houston Press named it the best Tex-Mex restaurant in the city.

El Tiempos owners have taken political stances before: In October 2016, the Houston Chronicle reported that the restaurant was allowing Trump supporters to hold a rally outside the East End location and film a music video for a pro-Trump anthem written by one of the leaders of the Houston Latino Trump Coalition. Counterprotesters also received permission to gather outside the restaurant, but Dominic Laurenzo told the paper that he was personally supporting Trump.

Its unclear how Sessions decided to dine at El Tiempo, but it was his second Mexican meal of the day. That morning, he had huevos rancheros and bacon with Houston police chief Art Acevedo at La Mexicana, a long-standing Mexican restaurant in the city, the Chronicle reported.

While the irony was duly noted by commentators on Twitter, La Mexicana didnt tout Sessions visit on social media, and the restaurant hasnt faced the same level of backlash.

Manager Zulema Gonzales told the Chronicle that they, too, had received an inquiry about security at the restaurant but didnt know that Sessions would be eating there until he arrived on Friday morning.

I dont know why they picked this place, she said, adding, We treat everybody the same.

Sessions has yet to publicly comment on the controversy over his dinner.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Rio Rancho police have identified a girl who was killed in the home she and her mother were staying in over the weekend as 6-year-old Ariana Romeo.

No arrests have been made in the case, but Capt. Ron Vigil, a spokesman for the Rio Rancho Police Department, said detectives have executed search warrants and interviewed multiple people who were in the home. They dont believe anyone else is in danger.

We felt it was important to give a name to the victim, this little 6-year-old girl, Ariana Romeo, who Im sure had childhood friends in classes, Vigil said, pointing out that she would have started school today. We tried to afford the family the privacy and notification that is appropriate, however we also understand that we want to include the community in this information because they are grieving as well.

The investigation began Saturday morning when police and paramedics were called to the ranch-style brick house in a quiet neighborhood in the 200 block of Moonstone, near N.M. 528 and Northern. There, they found the girl was dead.

Vigil said the condition in which Ariana was found made it clear her death was a homicide, but he would not say how she died. He said they are waiting for the results of an autopsy, which was performed Sunday.

Any time theres the loss of a life, especially a child, its hard to understand and were in the process of a very thorough investigation, Vigil said. I want to assure the community weve allocated additional resources.

Vigil said that although detectives believe they have interviewed everyone who was there when the girl was killed, they want to make sure they have enough probable cause and enough evidence to prosecute the case before they make any arrests. He said some people have been cooperating more than others. He said Arianas mother  whom he would not identify  has not been ruled out as a suspect.

The FBI assisted with executing the search warrant and processing the home due to the large amount of evidence that needed to be collected. However, Vigil said officials dont expect the case to be prosecuted federally.

He said they know Ariana and her mother had been living at the home, but they dont know for how long.

Other, older children had also been living there, but Vigil would not say how many there were, how old they are or how they are related to Ariana.

Were working with (New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department) to ensure their well-being, Vigil said. Because of the living conditions, we havent worked through the relationship of every individual in the home.

He said detectives are considering the homes previous history with police and perhaps from CYFD.

Henry Varela, a CYFD spokesman, said the department does not have any history with the girl and her mother specifically, but is also now looking into the history of the home.

Varela said none of the children is in CYFD custody, but the department does have its own separate investigation into the case.

A couple who answered the door at the home on Monday said they could not comment due to the ongoing investigation.

Vigil said Arianas mother has been interviewed, and her father, who lives out of state, has been notified of her death.

He said police have also been working with the Rio Rancho Public Schools.

District officials did not return calls asking which school Ariana attended.

We know this little girl had friends in school and in class, and as recently as Friday had attended a school event, Vigil said.
When Jamarria Hall strode into Osborn High in Detroit his freshman year, the signs of decay were everywhere: buckets in the hallways to catch leaking water, rotting ceiling tiles, vermin that crisscrossed classrooms.

In the neglected school, students never got textbooks to take home, and Hall and his classmates went long stretches  sometimes months  with substitute teachers who did little more than supervise students.

It doesnt seem like a high school, said Hall, who graduated in 2017. It seems like a state prison.

Hall was part of a class of Detroit Public Schools students who sued state officials in federal court, arguing that the state had violated their constitutional right to learn to read by providing inadequate resources.

A federal judge agreed this summer that the circumstances at Halls school shocked the conscience. But what is shocking, he concluded, is not necessarily illegal  even if some graduates of Detroits schools struggle to complete a job application.

The conditions and outcomes of Plaintiffs schools, as alleged, are nothing short of devastating. When a child who could be taught to read goes untaught, the child suffers a lasting injury  and so does society, Judge Stephen Murphy III wrote.

But the Court is faced with a discrete question: does the Due Process Clause demand that a State affirmatively provide each child with a defined, minimum level of education by which the child can attain literacy? he wrote. The answer to the question is no.

The case illustrated a conundrum that has vexed education advocates for decades: Neither the words school nor education appear in the Constitution, and federal courts have largely shied from establishing a special right for children to receive an adequate education. That has posed formidable hurdles for those who turn to the courts for help when their school buildings are falling down, or their children are enduring long stretches in classrooms without real teachers, or even when they see evidence of discrimination.

Now, attorneys are trying a new tactic.

They argue that the ability to read and write is key to unlocking other rights  voting, applying for jobs, writing letters to lawmakers  that federal courts have held sacred. An illiterate adult is unable to participate as a full citizen in a democratic republic, they argue.

These children are being disenfranchised, said Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel, a pro bono law firm that focuses on social justice issues and is representing the Detroit students. Children are not receiving the basic skills to participate in a democracy.

Hall can read, but despite graduating with the highest SAT score among his classmates and being among Osborn Highs best students, he was rejected from his dream school  Florida A&M University  and had to take a remedial writing class at a community college.

The conditions Hall and his classmates faced were not confined to Osborn: In a Detroit elementary school, a lawsuit alleges, grade-schoolers had no English textbooks and no way to access a library.

Attorneys for the state of Michigan rejected the notion that literacy is a fundamental right and argued that the court had no authority to make it one.

Although there are many important aspects of living in the United States, the mere fact that something is important does not mean that there is a constitutional right to it, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette wrote in November 2016, when he asked the judge to dismiss the case. Schuette recently won the states Republican Partys nomination for governor.

For example, although it is certainly important for a person to have shelter, the Constitution does not create a right to governmental provision of adequate shelter, Schuette said.

State officials also argued that the suit failed to trace the ills of the schools to their actions. Attorneys for the children allege unfortunate conditions in the childrens schools, but they do not provide any relationship between the conditions of the schools and any race discrimination, the attorney general wrote in a court filing in 2016.

The right to learn to read, attorneys for the students argued, is analogous to the right to marry. In court documents, they referenced Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide and declared marriage to be a fundamental right.

Rosenbaum also filed suit in California, accusing the state of failing to implement recommendations that came out of a report on literacy.

The suit, which includes young plaintiffs from three schools in Inglewood, Los Angeles and Stockton, alleges that resource-deprived schools did little or nothing when children fell short of state standards. One charter school  Children of Promise Preparatory Academy in Inglewood  had entire grade levels in which no students were rated proficient on state exams. A judge rejected the states efforts to dismiss the lawsuit last month.

One woman, who sent her two daughters to the academy, said both brought home good grades and seemed to be doing well. But both nearly failed state reading exams. No intervention was provided to either girl.

My daughter was passing her little spelling tests most of the time, but I didnt know it was that bad, I just didnt know, said the mother, who is identified in the lawsuit by a pseudonym. Attorneys used pseudonyms for the children and their parents to protect the privacy of academic records.

The children suing in the Michigan and California cases attended schools that were overwhelmingly poor, black and Latino. For Rosenbaum, poor test scores are evidence that the state is attempting to further subordinate communities that already have the odds stacked against them.

The link attorneys makes between literacy and participation in democracy is hardly new. In many slaveholding Southern states, it was once illegal to teach enslaved people to read, and many states administered literacy tests to bar illiterate men  black or white  from the polls.

This idea that we needed a literate, educated electorate dates back to before the Constitution, said Derek Black, a University of South Carolina law professor. Black recently wrote a law journal article tracing the historical roots of the association between public education and the right to vote.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress required Southern states seeking readmission to the Union to write new state constitutions that guaranteed suffrage for black men and the provision of public education for all. Black argues that Congress believed the two  the right to vote and the right to a public education  were inextricably bound. After all, how could a man  free or not  make informed decisions about his government if he could not read the ballot?

Opening doors for everyone is not enough, he said. You have to prepare them with the government knowledge and the critical literacy that would allow them to effectively vote.

While no court has recognized access to literacy as a right, many state courts have recognized that their state constitutions enshrine a childs right to some level of education and some have tackled unequal funding. But even when judges have ruled that schools are failing to meet their obligations under state constitutions, they have not always been able to deliver relief for students. State legislatures have sometimes ignored court edicts to equalize or increase education funding, or complied halfheartedly.

Washington states Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that lawmakers were violating the state constitution by failing to provide enough money to schools. Lawmakers repeatedly crafted plans that the court found insufficient. In 2015, the court began fining the state $100,000 a day  money that was largely directed to education  for being in contempt.

The lawsuit ended in June  after billions had been invested in schools.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

TAOS  A state District Court judge ruled Monday that prosecutors in the case against five adults found living on a makeshift compound with 11 malnourished children failed to make the case for keeping the defendants in custody while they await trial.

Judge Sarah Backus said the state, despite assertions by prosecutors that one of the defendants was training the children to attack various institutions with guns, didnt prove the group was a danger to the community.

After hearing nearly four hours of testimony Monday afternoon, Backus set bond for each of the five defendants at $20,000. Its a signature bond, meaning no money is required up front and would be due only if the defendants violate conditions of release.

The defendants are required to be under GPS monitoring, cooperate with the state Children, Youth and Families Department concerning the care of their children  who are all in state custody  and obtain suitable housing instead of returning to their remote, ramshackle compound where they lived in what officials described as filthy conditions.

The defendants will be allowed only supervised contact with the children.

Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, Lucas Morton, 40, Jany Leveille, 35, Hujrah Wahhaj, 38, and Subhanah Wahhaj, 35, are charged with multiple counts of child abuse.

Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is facing the additional charge of being a fugitive from justice in a kidnapping case out of Georgia. Morton had been charged with harboring or aiding a fugitive.

In the Georgia case, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, the son of a well-known Muslim imam at a mosque in Brooklyn, N.Y., allegedly never returned from a trip to the park with his 3-year-old son in December.

The state argued that the 11 children at the compound were being trained to use guns as they prepared to attack teachers, law enforcement and others in institutions that the group considered corrupt.

There was testimony that one of the children at the compound was armed when law enforcement arrived on Aug. 3, but Leveille, one of the women defendants, told the child to stand down.

But Judge Backus, while saying she was concerned by troubling facts, particularly the discovery of a boys body at the compound, said the state had not shown by clear and convincing evidence what the Muslim groups plan was.

Defense attorney Tom Clark of Santa Fe said, The judge didnt hear a single fact about child abuse, the primary charge against the defendants at this point.

The body, believed to be Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, a missing boy whose fourth birthday was last week, was found Aug. 6 at a tunnel in the compound near the community of Amalia, close to the Colorado border.

FBI agent Travis Taylor testified that one of the children now in state custody told him that before the boy died, prayers were said over him to remove bad spirits. Abdul-Ghanis mother had reported to police in Georgia that he took medicine for seizures and had other medical issues.

Prosecutor John Lovelace said the boy died in February during one of the rituals.

Taylor said he was told that the dead child was supposed to be resurrected as Jesus and identify for the group the institutions that were to be attacked.

During such attacks, Taylor said, When they approached the individual, they would tell them their message. If they didnt believe the message, they would be killed or detained until they believed the message.

Defense attorneys stressed that the guns found at the compound are readily available at retail stores and that the group made no aggressive moves when law enforcement officers raided the site on Aug. 3.

If these were white people of the Christian faith who owned guns, this wouldnt be as big of a deal, said attorney Clark. All the defendants are black.

In May, law enforcement began investigating reports that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and others were living at the compound in Amalia.

A distress call, originating from someone inside the compound  identified at Mondays hearing as Subhanah Wahhaj  that was obtained recently by law enforcement officials in Georgia and relayed to authorities in New Mexico, said that the group was starving and in need of food and water.

While the compound had been under surveillance by the FBI, Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe has said it was this message that prompted him to initiate the Aug. 3 raid of the compound.

Along with the children and adults, officers found a cache of weapons and ammunition, but not the missing Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj.

The body of a child found in a tunnel at the compound on Aug. 6 has not yet been confirmed as the missing boy by the state Office of the Medical Investigator. But the boys grandfather says that family members have told him the body is that of Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, an assertion supported by testimony on Monday.

More details

Taos County Sheriff Hogrefe testified that the defendants didnt cooperate or obey commands when officers arrived Aug. 3, but acknowledged the two men taken into custody that day were arrested without incident. He said that when he first made eye contact with Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, he was putting down an AK-15 semiautomatic rifle. The three women were arrested later.

Hogrefe said that a makeshift shooting range discovered at the compound was designed for short-range handgun tactics, like shooting from cover. Taylor said the children reported undergoing tactical training. Officers found books about combat and weapons.

Hogrefe also said that officers saw children holding ammunition boxes and that one child had on a holster.

When the childs body was found Aug. 6, it was in a side tunnel off a bigger tunnel at the compound, wrapped in plastic and cloth, the sheriff said.

There was testimony that all three of the women defendants are the mothers of children, ages 1-15, found at the compound. Leveille is the mother of six of the children. Subhanah Wahhaj, who had four children at the site, is seven months pregnant.

Timothy Hasson, a prosecutor for the Taos District Attorneys Office, said Siraj Ibn Wahhaj took several firearms classes in Atlanta in 2015. He also went to Saudi Arabia and when he returned, took his young son, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, who was disabled, off medication, Hasson said.
WASHINGTON  Antifascists, according their own doctrine, fight fascism. Sounds simple enough.

Granted, members of the loosely organized Antifa movement define fascism vaguely  to include not just Nazis and neo-Nazis, but also white supremacists, white nationalists and the broader population of racists.

As for the fighting, Antifa takes that part of the doctrine literally. Claiming that even a small public gathering of fascists is a threat to freedom, the movement condones physical violence against them. Its anonymous, black-clad members routinely crash far-right demonstrations to brawl.

So you might expect that when Antifa cant find any fascists, it has nothing to fight. That seemed to be the situation last weekend, when a long-planned rally for far-right extremists fizzled into a paltry gathering of a few dozen white supremacists, unapproachable and nearly invisible behind a police blockade as they met without incident in Washington, D.C., park.

And yet Antifa still managed to fight  not fascists this time, but reporters.

Sundays event had been advertised as a sequel to the massive, deadly Unite the Right rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year. Organizers had hoped to draw hundreds of racists from across the country, but instead managed to bring fewer than 40 people to Lafayette Square.

By contrast, thousands of protesters surrounded the park to shout the racists down and drown out their speeches.

A few blocks away, several dozen masked Antifa members marched up 13th Street in the early afternoon. They carried the movements red-and-black flag, and some wore makeshift body armor even though no fascists where anywhere in sight.

When a Washington Post reporter tried to interview the antifascists, they refused to speak. When he followed them up the street with his cellphone camera, one of them shoved a black umbrella into his lens and several shouted, No photos!

This can harm us, one of the protesters said, just before someone swatted the reporters iPhone out of his hand and threw it into the middle of the street.

The reporter and camera were fine, but the incident was hardly isolated. Throughout the day, journalists covering the rally shared stories of cameras being yanked and reporters accosted by members of the same movement that claims it is protecting free society.

At the same event, NPR reporter Tim Mak watched Antifa protesters lob fireworks and bottles at the police separating them from the white supremacists.

Then he ducked as someone whipped an egg at his head.

Mak noted that Antifas showing was dwarfed by thousands of other people who peacefully protested the white supremacists. I was not marked as press, he wrote, and have no reason to believe it was thrown at me because I am a reporter.

But other videos show Antifa members accosting reporters specifically because theyre reporters, in scenes reminiscent of Donald Trump campaign rallies where the press was often treated as enemy.

Are you going to report how many people they teargassed? a self-described Antifa member screams at two reporters, as seen in video published by the right-wing website Breitbart.

Of course I will, a photographer replies. Thats what Im doing.

A man in a bandanna lunges into the camera frame, screaming expletives at the journalists.

Ask questions! the woman scolds them. Dont just keep taking pictures.

We do both! says a woman who identified herself as a USA Today reporter. Im just trying to do my job, man.

It was a similar scene in Charlottesville, which spent the weekend marking the first anniversary since a woman was killed while protesting a massive gathering of white nationalists.

Few if any white nationalists were on display there last weekend. But Antifa came nonetheless.

By sundown on Saturday, NBC reporter Cal Perry wrote, the University of Virginia students who had organized Saturdays protests against white supremacy had already left the day by then.

Almost exclusively #Antifa at that point, he wrote, and posted video of a man with a kerchief around his neck, screaming Snitch ass news b! and slapping his TV crews phone away.

On Sunday, a reporter for the local ABC Station WTVD shared video of Antifa members shoving objects into his crews camera lens  then cutting their microphone cord.

The anti-media hostility was even on display in Canada, where a group Intersectional Anti-Fascists marched against Islamophobia and yelled at a Toronto Sun journalist. Then a man took a swipe at the newspapers videographer.

Antifas anti-fascist aggression has morphed into attacks on the press before. Members of the movement were documented threatening reporters and smashing cameras during protests in Berkeley, California, last year, for example.

But normally, brawls between antifascists and racists get most of the attention. In the aftermath of this weekends rallies, Antifas attacks on the press stood out.

Antifa was condemned not only by right-wing commentators (several of whom found ways to criticize the mainstream media for not sufficiently covering the attacks), but by prominent national reporters such as CNNs Jake Tapper and Brian Stelter.

The press being the press, reactions varied, of course. Daily Beast reporter Kelly Weill argued that the vast majority of antifascists in Washington last weekend were pretty uniformly chill.

 The Posts Peter Jamison contributed to this report.
New Mexico lost one of its visionaries last week with the passing of Charlie Crowder, a developer and land trader who fought to bring a new border crossing here.

As Journal reporter Angela Kocherga pointed out in an Upfront column last Friday, without Crowder, there would be no Santa Teresa border crossing or the $22 billion in goods that move through the port of entry or the booming industrial parks. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, that region now accounts for more than half of all of New Mexicos global exports.

Securing the Santa Teresa border crossing was a monumental undertaking.

Jerry Pacheco, president and CEO of the Santa Teresa-based Border Industrial Association, called Crowder a super-visionary and intelligent man who had the wherewithal to put all the pieces together at the local, state and federal levels on both sides of the border.

Crowder got federal land along the border after negotiating a deal for land in Arizona for a Native American tribe.

Crowder died at a hospital in El Paso last Tuesday after a fall. He was 86.

Born in Nebraska and raised on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks, Crowder was tenacious from the beginning, setting off on his own at age 13. He ended up in the Southwest in the 1940s, helping facilitate land deals between ranchers and the federal government. And he also did huge land trades throughout the West. Our state is fortunate he decided to make Santa Teresa his home.

Crowder refused to give up on his vision for a border crossing in Santa Teresa, even when people told him it was impossible or joked he was crazy. Instead, he dug in with dogged determination and got to work on making it a reality. And New Mexico is better off because of it.

May he rest in peace.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

When Bernalillo County sheriffs detectives shot and injured a wanted man in Southeast Albuquerque last week, their bullets also struck a nearby day care, piercing the wall and door frame.

No bystanders were injured. The suspect, 36-year-old Carlos Ochoa, was struck in the buttocks and arm and he is in stable condition at the University of New Mexico Hospital, said Sheriff Manuel Gonzales at a Monday afternoon news conference.

The news conference was the first update BCSO had given since the day of the shooting one week ago.

Sheriff Gonzales said around 12:40 p.m. on Aug. 6, undercover detectives with the Fugitive Apprehension and Surveillance Team unit were looking for Ochoa, who was wanted on felony warrants for trafficking a controlled substance, aggravated assault and resisting or eluding officers. They found him at the Bow & Arrow Lodge on Central and Utah SE.

They witnessed him walk into room 27, which is on the northwest corner of the property, and they started formulating a plan to apprehend him, Gonzales said. When they were formulating that plan Ochoa walked out of room 27 and identified our detectives.

He said Ochoa fled from the motel and as the detectives were chasing him he reached for a gun in his waistband and pointed it in the direction of the detectives. He did not fire his gun, but detectives say it was loaded. A 9 mm pistol was found near Ochoa after he was shot.

Detectives fired four rounds, two of those rounds struck Ochoa, two other rounds were found and struck a nursery that was just west of that location, Gonzales said. No civilians were hurt, nobody was hit in that facility.

The nursery, Kingdom Builders Pre School & Day Care, was evacuated after the shooting and children whose parents could not pick them up were secured while deputies investigated, Gonzales said.

He said they are not naming the two detectives who shot Ochoa because they work undercover and we dont want to compromise their safety or cases they were working on. He said he believed neither of them had been involved in a shooting before. The detectives are back at work and the multi-jurisdictional team that investigates shootings by law enforcement is handling the rest of the investigation.

Ochoa was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

He will be charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer and will face federal charges for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, Gonzales said. He also pointed out that Ochoa has at least 45 prior arrests, many of which were for misdemeanor or felony warrants.

Court records show he has faced charges for drug possession, kidnapping and receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle. A case charging him with trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia in 2017 was dismissed last November because he was found incompetent to stand trial. Less than two weeks after the case was dismissed, he was charged again with trafficking a controlled substance. That case is pending.

This is the fourth shooting involving deputies this year. In February, a sergeant shot and injured Adrian Chacon after a pursuit through the South Valley. In June, a deputy shot a woman who was holed up in her East Mountain home and reportedly shooting at deputies. And last month, deputies on a U.S. Marshals Service task force shot and killed Wes Allen in the parking lot of a Motel 6.

Last year, BCSO saw a dramatic spike in shootings  five people were killed, three were wounded and two others were not hit.
The driver of musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has been shot dead.

The deceased, identified as Yasin Kawuma, was killed on Monday evening in Arua town, Uganda. According to Bobi Wine, who is the Kyadondo East MP, his driver was shot by police who were attempting to take him out instead.

Bobi Wine said this in a Tweet as he shared a graphic image of his slain driver in a car.

Police has shot my driver dead thinking theyve shot at me. My hotel is now cordoned off by police and SFC.

According to various Ugandan media outlets, security forces fired live rounds at opposition protesters in Arua, a town in the nations northwest not far from the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They were coming from different rallies ahead of a by-election to choose the Arua Municipality MP when clashes between marching groups ensued. The incident escalated into stone throwing and gunfire, with Wines driver reportedly hit.

WestNile Police Spokesperson Josephine Angucia said Wines driver could have been hit by a stray bullet as police tried to clear the way for President Yoweri Musevenis convoy.

There are additional reports that President Yoweri Musevenis vehicle also was damaged in Arua, where he campaigned Monday on behalf of Nusura Tiperu, the National Resistance Movement candidate.

Bobi Wine and a number of opposition leaders were there to rally support for Independent candidate Kassiano Wadri.

For us to defeat President Museveni, it will take more than one political party, more than one tribe, more than one religion and yes, more than one generation, Wine said, throwing his weight behind Wadri.

The youthful legislator was an outspoken leader against Museveni during last years Presidential age-limit debate in parliament.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

The SunZia Southwest Transmission Projects long, winding road to commercial operation is facing a new round of controversy, this time from an array of community groups that fear the huge transmission line will inflict irreparable environmental damage, fundamentally disrupting wildlife and the livelihood of residents along the central Rio Grande.

The $2 billion project aims to build two 1,500-megawatt high-voltage lines running 520 miles from central New Mexico to Arizona to carry wind-generated electricity to Western markets, but its been riddled with controversy since developers first proposed it in 2008.

Opponents question how much renewable energy it would actually transport, whether wind developers using the line can realistically find markets for up to 3,000 megawatts of wind-generated electricity, and whether the benefits for New Mexicans are worth the environmental costs.

The project did successfully navigate a huge hurdle in 2015, when the U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved rights of way to cross federal property in New Mexico and Arizona.

But that process was bogged down for years because the U.S. Department of Defense opposed line crossings through sections north of White Sands Missile Range. To resolve the impasse, SunZia agreed to bury five miles of lines to avoid any interference with military tests.

The project has also received licenses and permits in Arizona. But it still needs approvals from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, the State Land Office, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the Army Corps of Engineers.

In addition, the BLM must approve SunZias plan of development for construction, including detailed avian protection and migratory bird conservation measures along the Rio Grande, before allowing the project to proceed.

SunZia had made little local news since receiving the BLM rights of way. But the company filed for PRC permits this spring, thrusting it back into the public spotlight.

High on the list of community concerns is the projects proposed river crossing at Escondida, near Socorro. Opponents fear it would be a death trap for migratory birds that forage and roost in the area, because it would cross a narrow passage between two wildlife refuges  Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge to the north and Bosque del Apache to the south  said Cecilia Rosacker, executive director of the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust.

Thats some of the last wetlands left in New Mexico, and its critical to continental bird migration, Rosacker said. Weve been working 20 years on the local level to protect birds, including endangered species.

About 350 species use the Middle Rio Grande, with tens of thousands of birds flying back and forth at dusk and dawn between foraging areas and their roosts on the river during migratory periods. Many will inevitably fly into with SunZia lines, potentially converting the river crossing into a snare that could regularly kill and maim birds, Rosacker said.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that between 8 million and 57 million birds are killed nationwide every year when they hit electric utility lines.

Opponents contend the BLM never specifically studied impacts from the Escondida river crossing in its environmental impact statement on SunZia.

But the BLM and Fish and Wildlife did review about a half-dozen proposed crossings south and north of Escondida, including a detailed study at San Antonio,near Bosque del Apache. It concluded that crossing at the narrowest point, near Escondida, would have the least impact.

A biological assessment at Escondida, plus the BLMs mandate for avian protection and conservation plans, are part of the BLMs impact statement, said SunZia Project Manager Tom Wray. And the BLM is reviewing SunZia mitigation measures, such as placing day and night reflective diverters on the lines to scare birds away and creating new foraging zones away from transmission infrastructure.

BLM is now also reviewing the precise location of the river crossing, said Melanie Barnes, BLM state director for resources.

When the environmental impact statement was done, there were still various pieces of SunZia that needed to be pinned down, Barnes said. Now that they have been pinned down, well look at the environmental impacts.  If the impacts differ from whats in the EIS, well take a closer look.

That process will include some public input, Barnes added.

Wildlife groups want SunZia to bury its lines at the river, something SunZia says could be more environmentally damaging than overhead transmission.

Youd have to tunnel under the entire wetland area, not just the river itself, Wray said. That would lengthen the crossing significantly and could affect the operation of the entire waterway.

But opponents say mitigation alone cant fully protect migrating birds as they fly, feed and nest in the area.

I dont see how you can mitigate it, given the primal nature of these birds, and theres not another river they can use, Rosacker said. Wherever it crosses, the line should go under the river to minimize impact in the corridor.

For Socorro County officials and landowners, the impact of the transmission lines and towers on wildlife, land, vegetation, cultural and archaeological resources could undermine the areas quality of life and income.

The Middle Rio Grande is heavily dependent on tourism, and obstructing open ranges with electric infrastructure could gut the regions livelihood, said Tommy Lee, whose family ranch northeast of Socorro would be crossed by SunZia.

The line would go right through our ranch and create an eyesore, Lee said. We have 70 miles of unobstructed view shed in every direction, and this area is a breeding ground for elk and deer. Its open country, with trees and valleys.

Of the 320 miles of land SunZia would cross in New Mexico, 90 miles is on private lands, with 86 owners.

Developers have reached easement agreements for 74 miles, representing about 80 percent of landowners, Wray said. Negotiations continue with the remaining ones.

Some ranchers fear that SunZia could resort to eminent domain if agreements arent reached.

To do that, SunZia needs backing from the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority, a quasi-governmental agency established by the Legislature in 2007. SunZia has a memorandum of understanding in place with RETA, but before the agency would consider any eminent domain request, it would assess whether all possible alternatives have been exhausted, RETA Chairman Robert Busch said.

If SunZia were to apply for use of eminent domain, the RETA board would consider it, but only after developers have tried everything else under the sun, Busch said. RETA has never used its power of eminent domain, and its goal is to never use it.

SunZia wants to cooperate with all landholders, Wray said. Its already asked the BLM to modify six routes after negotiations.

I think well reach agreements, Wray said. Its our desire, and its the best outcome for everybody. Were expending all efforts to bring that about.

Project supporters say SunZia would provide needed transmission to harness wind generation on New Mexicos gusty central and eastern plains for export to Western markets.

Opponents, however, question whether theres enough demand in California and other states to absorb up to 3,000 megawatts of new wind generation. They suspect SunZia could end up transporting far more electricity from natural gas plants and possibly other fossil fuels than renewable energy.

But global wind developer Pattern Energy has already signed on as the anchor tenant to use 100 percent of capacity on SunZias first 1,500-megawatt line from wind farms its building in central New Mexico to supply California markets. It currently sells 324 megawatts of wind generation to California Southern Edison from a wind farm in eastern New Mexico. And in mid-July, the company announced two new power purchase agreements with other California utilities for 200 megawatts from future wind farms connected to the SunZia project.

Still, developers need to address community issues, said Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a strong SunZia supporter who also serves on the Migratory Bird Conservation Committee.

I care deeply about mitigating the impacts of development on wildlife with any project, Heinrich told the Journal in an email. SunZia is required to take those mitigation steps and I will work with all stakeholders to ensure those efforts are well thought out and effective.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Former Gov. Jerry Apodaca  a Democrat whose son sought the Democratic nomination for governor this year  crossed party lines this week to endorse Republican Steve Pearces gubernatorial campaign.

In an opinion column published in the Journal, Apodaca, who served from 1975 to 1979, described Pearce as someone who would work with Democrats, Republicans and independents to move New Mexico forward.

And he aimed a few barbed criticisms at the state Democratic Party, accusing its leaders of having forgotten about the JFK Democrats and Hispanic communities around the state.

The endorsement means Apodaca is withholding his support from the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, who defeated his son in June.

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham won a three-way race for the nomination in the primary, claiming 66 percent of the vote. Her closest competitor  Jeff Apodaca, a former media executive  won 22 percent. State Sen. Joseph Cervantes finished with 11 percent.

Pearce, a member of Congress, was unopposed on the Republican side.

Brian Sanderoff, a political analyst and president of Research & Polling Inc., said the bitter political feud between Lujan Grisham and Jeff Apodaca created an opening for Pearce to secure the endorsement of a Democratic former governor.

The Pearce campaign recognizes that they need significant Democratic Hispanic support in order to win the general election, Sanderoff said. From that perspective, this endorsement is a coup. However, it must be tempered by the fact that Jerry Apodaca was governor 40 years ago, thus many New Mexicans are not familiar with him.

Pearce immediately highlighted Jerry Apodacas endorsement.

I will work with anyone to put our state on the right path, regardless of party, Pearce said in a written statement Sunday.

In his column, Jerry Apodaca said friends suggested he sit down with Pearce and Lujan Grisham, but he heard only from Pearce.

I was surprised how open he was and how we agreed on about 80 percent of the issues that plague New Mexico, Apodaca wrote. I found him to be straightforward and an honest man. In fact, he reminded me of the moderate Democrats and Republicans of the past I worked with for the betterment of New Mexico.

He didnt mention that his son had lost to Lujan Grisham this year.

A spokesman for the Democratic Party, Joel Kasnetz, said Jerry Apodaca didnt reach out to Lujan Grisham.

Marg Elliston, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, said Pearces issue positions are a disservice to JFKs legacy. Pearce, she said, is a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House.

This is sour grapes on the part of a candidate who didnt win his primary, Elliston said. Nobody buys Pearces lip service to bipartisanship.

In a brief interview, Jerry Apodaca disputed Ellistons assessment.

What does she know about it? She never talked to me, Jerry Apodaca said.

The younger Apodaca ran an aggressive campaign, accusing Democratic Party leaders of colluding with Lujan Grisham to make it easier for her to win the nomination. Jeff Apodaca pitched himself as someone who would disrupt the status quo and turn around New Mexico, one of the poorest states in the nation.

Apodaca also appeared at a campaign event with Pearce this summer, though he said he wasnt endorsing him.

Apodaca has started a weekly radio program on behalf of a group called New Mexico Democrats for Democracy focused on reaching across the aisle to discuss political issues.
In an attempt to fight back at President Donald Trumps unprecedented attack on public lands, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., joined with tribal, conservation and community leaders at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center on Monday to throw their collective support behind the Antiquities Act of 2018.

The legislation, introduced earlier this year by New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall and 18 other Democratic senators, is intended to enhance protections for national monuments against potential future attacks by the Trump Administration, Lujan Grisham said in a news release. The act will also preserve opportunities for hunting, tourism, scientific research, conservation and cultural uses, she said.

In a statement released previously by Udall, the senator said: President Trumps unprecedented attack on public lands is not just an affront to the overwhelming majority of Americans who cherish these precious places  its also illegal. This legislation makes it crystal clear that monuments designated through the Antiquities Act of 1906 may not be altered by future presidents because only Congress has the authority to change a national monument designation.

Those meeting Monday included Todd Leahy, acting executive director of New Mexico Wildlife Federation; Carleton Bowekaty, Zuni Pueblo councilman and co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition; and Gov. Kurt Riley of Acoma Pueblo, representing the All Pueblo Council of Governors. They all declared their support for:

 Upholding Congress support of 51 national monuments established by presidents in both parties between January 1996 and April 2017.

 Reiterating existing law that makes clear that presidential proclamations designating national monuments are valid and can be reduced or diminished only by an act of Congress.

 Requiring monuments be surveyed and mapped, and that management plans be completed in two years.

 Expanding protection for the Bears Ears National Monument to over 1.9 million acres, based on the lands identified in the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalitions proposal that would protect the full array of over 100,000 cultural and archaeological sites.

 Designating over 249,000 acres of land as wilderness within Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains national monuments.

 Designating over 111,000 acres of land as wilderness in Gold Butte National Monument.
SANTA FE  A burgeoning alliance between New Mexico and Taiwan harvested a new agreement Monday  one that could lead to lower tuition costs for college students studying abroad.

Gov. Susana Martinez, who traveled to Los Angeles on Sunday to meet with top Taiwanese officials, signed a memorandum of understanding with President Tsai Ing-wen that includes the mutual promotion of financial aid opportunities and possible future collaboration on research projects.

That deal follows a similar reciprocal agreement on drivers licenses that New Mexico and Taiwanese officials struck in June, while Martinez was on a nine-day visit to Taiwan.

Other agreements  including trade deals  could also be in the works, as Martinez and Taiwanese officials previously held discussions on energy-related issues, according to Taiwanese news outlets.

The Taiwanese government appears to have interest in cultivating a relationship with New Mexico, as it covered the travel costs for Martinezs latest trip to California. The two-term Republican governor, who will leave office at the end of this year, was scheduled to return to the state Monday.

China has long claimed Taiwan as its own, but the island off mainland China has been ruled separately for more than 60 years. The U.S. Congress passed legislation this year seeking an increase in diplomatic visits with Taiwan.

Martinezs office has provided few details about the nature of the governors meetings with Taiwanese officials but did release basic information about the memorandum of understanding Monday.

In addition to financial aid and research collaboration, the agreement calls for the promotion of bilingualism and private sector partnerships that could foster economic growth, according to a Higher Education Department spokeswoman.

By working with Taiwan, we will be strengthening our contribution to education, technology, culture and economic development and encouraging future support and cooperation between the two governments, Martinez said in a statement.

Taiwan has historically been a market for New Mexico exports but has not been among the states top 10 export destinations in recent years, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data.
Giving birth is a powerful personal experience for the mother and the child but, in the hospital setting, there might be as many as a dozen medical professionals in the room during the event.

Navajo midwife and nurse Nicolle Gonzales wants to change this sterile and impersonal birthing experience for indigenous women, and bring the focus back on traditional ways.

One of just 15 Native American midwives in the United States, Gonzales founded the Changing Woman Initiative, a nonprofit that aims to revolutionize how people  particularly Native women  think about reproductive health.

A major goal of the initiative is to open a reproductive wellness and birth center in Pojoaque. The center will be open to all, but will focus on providing equitable, thoughtful and culturally relevant reproductive health care that will strengthen indigenous womens bonds to family and community.

The wellness center Gonzales envisions offers women choices about where to give birth, such as in a bed, in a water bath, outside in a private courtyard, or even in a tipi. Birthing mothers will be encouraged to think about things such as which direction their beds face (each direction has a significance) and whether the first sound a baby hears is her native language or ceremonial songs.

By creating a physical space for education and healing for Native American women, we will reclaim cultural identities through birth and motherhood that has been shaped through our cultures, Gonzales explains.

When Gonzales was in school at UNM, she met students in her midwifery program who had more knowledge of traditional birthing practices than she did. My population had no idea of our own rich history, Gonzales explained. Although I was raised with ceremony as part of my daily life, even my mother had a disassociation with the birth experience.

The women Gonzales assists at Los Alamos Medical Center have clear ideas about their birthing experience options, but at Indian Health Services (IHS)  where she also worked  Gonzales noticed Native women were passive and uninvolved in their own health care.

In the 1950s, Native women were strongly influenced to use IHS hospitals when giving birth and today 96 percent of Native births occur in hospitals. Currently, there are no IHS policies that support working with certified professional midwives, those who perform home births, who are reimbursed by Medicaid only $1,700 for the birth. Private insurance provides up to $5,000 per birth, making home births for Medicaid clients a less viable option for the midwives, as well.

Theres a long history of Native women not accessing health care before the birth, often because of lack of transportation or an understanding of the importance of first-trimester care. Despite statistics proving the safety of home births, theres also still fear around it, along with the misconception that its more modern to birth in a hospital with an epidural, Gonzales adds.

Education that helps empower women to be proactive with their health care is an important component of the Changing Woman Initiative.

Many Native ladies dont ask questions about the birthing process, and theres no self advocacy. Were still forcing Native women and families into this structure that doesnt reflect their values and culture, she said. Our outcomes havent improved all that much over the years, which begs the question, Why? .

After graduating with a masters in nurse midwifery in 2011, Gonzales traveled to a National Aboriginal Council of Midwives gathering in Ontario, Canada. She visited the Six Nations Birth Center, which has served aboriginal families for 20 years. After visiting their facility in Ontario, she came away with ideas on which to model her own center in New Mexico.

In the aboriginal medical center, the mothers develop relationships with their providers before the birth occurs, and the providers smudge, or cleanse, the rooms with burning herbs between patient visits. Families are present during the birth, even bringing photographs of ancestors to bear witness.

The positive impact from this unique care is reflected in the statistics of reduced antenatal hospitalizations, reduced risks of babies not surviving the first 24 weeks, reduced use of epidural anesthesia, fewer instrumental deliveries and overall improved maternal health.

I began to think of my responsibilities to my people, so I learned more about our culture and history by talking to elders about our ceremonies around birth, Gonzales said. Our traditional knowledge is still there. Using midwives was once common practice, but was lost with colonization and modernization of Native communities.

She hopes to offer a holistic health model to patients, including nutrition education and plant medicines specific to pregnant and lactating mothers. Gonzales is working with tribal farmers to provide fresh, local food and cooking classes as part of the care plan.

By looking at what our ancestors ate to support the health of the baby, such as blue corn mixed with ash to treat anemia, we are experts around our own bodies and within our own communities, she said. Its one side of science and research, and one side of tradition.

Gonzales is negotiating with Pojoaque Pueblo about the land for the new center, and is raising $7.5 million for the construction while still working as a nurse and midwife, and raising three of her own children. Shes also traveling to Guatemala to train with indigenous midwives and visiting government representatives in D.C. to advance a bill to improve access to maternity care.

There is historic trauma around our bodies as Native women, but I didnt get into this work because of the politics. I did it for my community and to give the control of the birthing experience to Native women.

More information and to donate

An online fundraiser to pay for supplies, equipment, computers, and to underwrite care can be found at birthing-a-dream-77454.causevox.com/.

The Changing Woman Initiative website is at changingwomaninitiative.com.
Amid ongoing upheaval in the media business, a group of local and regional news organizations including the Star Tribune are seeking pension fund relief from Congress.

A bill known as the Save Community Newspaper Act of 2018 was introduced last month by Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., who said it would help independent newspapers find their financial footing. The proposal comes as newspaper companies contend with shrinking print advertising revenue and intense online competition, as well as newsprint tariffs that have increased costs.

Frank Blethen, publisher of the Seattle Times, said the Girl Scouts of the USA and other nonprofit groups received similar relief in 2014. He said the new legislation would allow newspapers to postpone millions of dollars in pension contributions over the next few years.

I think this will literally save dozens of family owned newspapers around the country, said Blethen, who is leading the effort. It is very serious for us. With this pension relief, we would have a pretty clear runway to long-term survival.

Newspaper companies face a challenge in generating enough money from current operations to keep up with pension obligations that accumulated when the industry employed more people. Total employment in the industry dropped from about 400,000 in 2008 to just under 175,000 in 2018, according to the News Media Alliance, which represents 2,000 U.S. news organizations.

The Star Tribune, which employs about 900 people, provides pension benefits to 3,253 current and former employees and has never failed to meet its pension obligations.

Paul Boyle, senior vice president of public policy at the Alliance, said the pension proposal would save jobs by freeing publishers from rules that hinder their ability to transition for the future. The bill has bipartisan support from six co-sponsors from Washington, New Mexico and California.

The proposed legislation would reduce the amount of money a company would have to come up with if a pension plan fell short of various funding targets. It would extend the period for covering any funding shortfalls to 30 years, rather than the current limit of seven years.

This bill is aimed at helping community newspapers around the country  including many small, family-owned newspapers  live up to their obligations to retirees, said Steve Yaeger, chief marketing officer of Star Tribune Media Co.

Star Tribune business executives have been in touch with most members of Minnesotas Congressional delegation to express support for the bill, Yaeger said. Neither the Star Tribune newsroom nor the editorial board have any part in that, and will continue to independently report and comment on the legislation as they see fit.

Star Tribune owner Glen Taylor contributed $2,000 to Paulsens re-election campaign in 2017, according to campaign finance records. Paulsen is a Republican and represents a district in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities.

Blethen said the pension bill would likely provide relief to about 30 newspaper companies. The bill would change the funding requirements for private pension plans operated by independent daily newspapers that serve communities with populations in excess of 100,000, according to a House report on the bill.

The legislation does not provide help for large media companies that operate newspapers in multiple states or newspaper companies whose stock trades publicly.

By changing the pension funding mechanism, these newspapers will have the certainty they need to make payments to fund their plan, Paulsen said. The bill does not authorize any public funds to subsidize these pensions. These pension plans are frozen, meaning there are no new entrants into the old defined benefit plans, so that the hole will not be dug deeper.



2018 Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo will deliver the keynote address to business leaders from both sides of the border at the 2018 U.S.-Mexico Summit Wednesday.

As the border continues to be a focal point for policy discussion in Washington, our summit brings together prominent thinkers on the critical issues on NAFTA, border infrastructure, border security and our special bilateral relationship with Mexico, said Jon Barela, Borderplex CEO.

The Borderplex Alliance is a non-profit organization that advocates for economic development in the the Las Cruces region, El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.

Zedillo, now a scholar at Yale, is credited with furthering democracy in Mexico and presiding over the implementation of NAFTA during his term from 1994-2000. He will offer his perspective on the impact of current trade policies on businesses on both sides of the border.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Jim Jones who served from 1993-1997 will kick off the daylong summit in El Paso with a breakfast discussion on the evolution of U.S.-Mexico relations.

Having such important thought leaders headline our symposium symbolizes the importance of our conversation and the border relationship said

Luisa Del Rosal, executive director of the SMU Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center.

The summit comes as the Trump administration is renegotiating NAFTA with Mexico and Canada and a month after left of center candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won the July presidential election in a landslide. Lopez Obrador also wants NAFTA renegotiated.

In addition to threatening to scrap the trade pact, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on steel from Mexico and other countries in May and Mexico retaliated with tariffs on U.S. agricultural products.

This years summit was organized by Borderplex Alliance in collaboration with the SMU Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center.

Panel discussion will focus on trade, economics, politics, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Ivan Jaime, director of public affairs for Union Pacific, is on a panel about border infrastructure.

The borderplex region is home to hundreds of Union Pacific employees and contractors, and dozens of our customers said Jaime.

Union Pacific has invested more than $450 million in an intermodal facility in Santa Teresa near the border crossing.

We ship thousands of rail cars in & out and through the area on a weekly basis, helping form the backbone of the regional commercial economy, said Jaime.

The summit will also include a roundtable with the mayors of Las Cruces, Sunland Park, El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.
SANTA FE  Gary Johnson is embarking on a new adventure  a late entrance into a U.S. Senate race that features two other candidates who have been campaigning for months.

The former New Mexico governor, a Republican-turned-Libertarian, is expected to formally announce his campaign later this week. But the necessary paperwork was filed late Monday with the Secretary of States Office for Johnson to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Gov. Johnson is obviously taking the necessary steps to be a candidate for U.S. Senate, and todays filing is one of those steps, his longtime communications director, Joe Hunter, told the Journal.

Johnson, a Taos resident, was a Republican when he served as governor from 1995 through 2002. He later switched his party affiliation to Libertarian and ran for president in 2012 and 2016.

His return to New Mexico politics could not only shake up the Senate race  the other candidates are incumbent Democrat Martin Heinrich and Republican Mick Rich  but might also help other Libertarian candidates on the ballot.

Libertarians have major-party status for this years state election cycle, largely because Johnson received 9.3 percent of the New Mexico votes in the 2016 general election. However, no Libertarian has ever won election to the U.S. Senate, and Johnson will likely face an uphill battle despite his name recognition.

Heinrichs re-election campaign circulated a memo Tuesday that highlighted some of Johnsons past policy positions  including repealing the federal Affordable Care Act and raising the age for Social Security retirement eligibility to at least 70 and possibly higher.

New Mexicans want someone who has fought for them each and every day, and thats why Im running on my record and my vision for our state, Heinrich said in a statement.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Marg Elliston also released a statement in which she described Johnsons policy positions as extreme.

Meanwhile, a campaign spokesman for Rich, an Albuquerque contractor who faced no opposition in the Republican primary, blasted both Johnson and Heinrich as career politicians. Richs campaign also said Johnson would siphon votes from Heinrich.

Johnson vowed after his 2016 presidential bid that he was done with political races, but he reconsidered his stance in recent months at the urging of New Mexico Libertarians. Party insiders nominated him earlier this month to replace state Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn on the general election ballot.

As Johnson considered a potential run, an independent political committee called Elect Liberty PAC was formed to help raise money for his possible campaign.

The PAC released a 90-second online campaign ad Tuesday that touted Johnsons athletic exploits  including climbing Mount Everest with frostbitten toes  and tenure as governor.

Hes fiscally conservative and socially cool, said the ad, which Johnson tweeted.

A businessman before he got into politics, Johnson created waves  and opposition from some other Republicans  as governor in 1999 when he publicly advocated for the legalization of drugs, including marijuana. In addition, his propensity for vetoing bills passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature earned him the nickname Governor No.

An avid skier and triathlete, Johnson recently completed a 2,800-mile Continental Divide bike race  from the town of Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies, to the Mexican border at Antelope Wells.
SANTA FE  The Taos County Courthouse was closed about 3 p.m. Tuesday after the judge who is allowing the release of five adults arrested at a remote northern New Mexico compound  who were accused by prosecutors of training children to carry out armed attacks  was barraged via telephone, email and social media.

There have been threats of physical violence against District Judge Sarah Backus, said Barry Massey, spokesman for the Administrative Office of the Courts.

One caller said she wished someone would come and smash the judges head, he said. At least one caller threatened violence against all staffers in the courthouse.

No one was allowed to enter the courthouse after 3 p.m., but Massey said staffers remained at work inside and a civil trial not overseen by Judge Backus continued. News reporters were told to leave.

Backus  who on Monday denied a state motion to keep the Muslim compound defendants in jail with no bail  pulled down her own Twitter account Tuesday amid the social media furor.

You let jihadist (sic) out after what they have done? You better believe we arent going to let you rest until you are disbarred you horrible sick sorry excuse of a human, said one tweet to the judge that matched the sentiment of many others.

Hundreds of posts, some of which used the hashtags #sarahbackus and #judgesarahbackus, called for her to be removed from the bench or be disbarred. Others posted her picture, address and contact information.

Twitter critics linked her Monday court decision with her being a Democrat and said she would be held responsible if the defendants commit dangerous crimes while released.

Backus was appointed to her judgeship by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez in 2011.

Amid the controversy over Backus decision to let the defendants out of jail, Artie Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, released a statement saying, A judges responsibility is to follow the law  not popular sentiment that may develop from incomplete or misleading information.

Pepin said the New Mexico Constitution provides that defendants can be held in jail before trial only if prosecutors show by clear and convincing evidence that they are so dangerous that no release conditions will reasonably protect public safety. In this case, Pepin said, the judge ruled that prosecutors failed to meet that burden.

Five adults from the ramshackle compound  Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, Lucas Morton, 40, Jany Leveille, 35, Hujrah Wahhaj, 38, and Subhanah Wahhaj, 35  are charged with multiple counts of child abuse.

Eleven children were taken into state custody after the Taos County Sheriffs Office raided the site near the Colorado border on Aug. 3. The body of a boy, believed to be the missing son of Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, was found there three days later.

The raid took place after authorities were provided with a web posting from one of the women inside the compound that went to a friend, saying the group was broke and starving.

After a long hearing Monday, Judge Backus ruled that, despite the assertions by prosecutors that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj was training the children to commit violence and the discovery of the body, the state didnt prove the group was a danger to the community.

She set a light bond  a $20,000, unsecured signature bond  with house arrest in new accommodations and other restrictions for each defendant.

None of five was released Tuesday.

Siraj Ibn Wahhaj wont be let go in any case, because he is wanted on warrants out of Georgia for allegedly kidnapping his son, his lawyer said at Mondays hearing.

In another development, Jany Leveille  described in testimony Monday as a leader in the compound group who translated messages from God  was transferred to the custody of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Leveille is a native of Haiti, according to the Taos County Sheriffs Office.

Hearing arguments

At the Monday hearing, prosecutors argued that some of children at the compound were being trained to use guns in preparation for attacks on educational, law enforcement and other institutions. That information came from two teenagers, ages 13 and 15, who were interviewed by an FBI agent.

The agent testified that he was told that the children were undergoing firearms and tactical training to attack corrupt institutions that would be identified by the dead boy, who was to be resurrected as Jesus in the coming months.

Prosecutors also cited a letter inviting another person to come to the compound and follow Allah until he makes you die as a martyr; the guns at the compound and books about combat found there; weapons training and a trip to Saudi Arabia undertaken by Siraj Ibn Wahhaj; and the magical thinking shown by accounts from children who lived at the compound.

Defense lawyers said the group wasnt aggressive when officers raided the compound and had guns that could be purchased readily at retail stores.

This might be a custody case, for all we know, said defense lawyer Tom Clark of Santa Fe.

Judge Backus, while saying she was concerned by troubling facts, particularly the discovery of the boys body at the compound, said the state had not shown by clear and convincing evidence what the Muslim groups plan was.

She also noted that while the defendants are charged primarily with child abuse at this point, she had heard little about how the 11 children at the compound had been treated.

The state alleges that there was a big plan afoot, but the state hasnt shown, to my satisfaction, by clear and convincing evidence, what that plan was, she said from the bench.

She said the people in the compound were living in an unconventional way, but that many in northern New Mexico do. She also noted that no one in the group has a criminal record except Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, who is accused of kidnapping his child from the boys mother in Georgia.

Gov. Martinez is among those criticizing Backus ruling.

I strongly disagree with this decision, she said. Unfortunately, it highlights for the entire nation how extreme the New Mexico Supreme Court has been in dictating pretrial release for all kinds of dangerous criminals.

The state Republican Party also weighed in.

Judge Backus has put New Mexicans at risk by releasing suspected terrorists back into the community, said state GOP Chairman Ryan Cangiolosi.

Rituals cited

There was extensive testimony Monday about why the defendants came to New Mexico from Georgia and rituals performed on the dead boy, believed to be Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, the son of Siraj Ibn Wahhaj.

The boy would have been 4 years old last week.

FBI agent Travis Taylor testified Monday that the children he interviewed told him that Reveille had received a message from God through the angel Gabriel that the group should move from Georgia to New Mexico and perform a ritual on Abdul, who was disabled and suffered from seizures, to remove demons.

Jany (Reveille) thought Abdul was already dead and could only walk and move because of the demons inside him, Taylor said, describing what he heard from the compound children. Once the demons were gone, he would become Jesus.

The boys mother has told police in Georgia that she was afraid that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj would stop giving the boy his medications after the father and son disappeared in December.

Taylor said he was told Siraj performed the ritual by reading two passages from the Quran and placing his hand on the boys head. The boy would start to choke, and foam or slime would come from his mouth  what a prosecutor would later describe as a seizure.

The last time the ritual was performed, in February, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj could not feel a heartbeat and told that to the rest of the family, and Jany believed this was a sign from God, Taylor recounted.

Clark, Siraj Ibn Wahhajs attorney, attacked the idea that the ritual was being presented as something nefarious and that it amounted to merely praying over someone who was sick.

If we were talking about Christians, they would be faith healers, he said.

Prosecutors said Siraj Ibn Wahhaj proclaimed that he didnt want his sick son on medication after he returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia.

Journal North reporters Megan Bennett and Edmundo Carrillo contributed to this report.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Rio Rancho police called to a one-story brick house in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood last weekend found 6-year-old Ariana Romeo not breathing and lying near a bloody towel in a cluttered, makeshift bedroom of a home that was in total disarray, according to recently released court documents.

A search warrant affidavit filed in Sandoval County District Court Monday  and released Tuesday  did not say the little girl had been sexually assaulted, but it did quote the Office of the Medical Investigator as saying there was damage to her genitals. It also said she was found without underwear or pants.

The affidavit does not provide her cause of death, and a spokesman for the Rio Rancho Police Department said it was waiting for OMI to complete the autopsy report. The case is being investigated as a homicide.

No arrests have been made.

Investigators filed the search warrant to look for child pornography as well as evidence of sexual assault, drug use or trafficking and information about how Ariana was killed and who did it. The affidavit states that multiple external hard drives, USB drives and tablets were found throughout the home and an external hard drive in a black case was found in the master bedroom.

Although everything else in the bedroom was layered with dust, the case was clean.

Investigators were also looking for weapons that could cause blunt force trauma, sharp force trauma or strangulation as well as items that could be used to restrain a person.

According to the affidavit, around 10:20 a.m. Saturday paramedics were called to the home on the 200 block of Moonstone, near NM 528 and Northern NE, because Ariana was unconscious, unresponsive, not breathing and stiff and cold. The girl and her mother had not been staying in the home for very long and a neighbor told the Journal the mother was planning on moving them into their own apartment this week.

Preliminary interviews, referenced in the affidavit, gave some insight into what had happened.

Arianas mother, Stephanie Romeo, found the girl dead on a bed that was actually a thick piece of foam on the floor of a garage that had been converted into a bedroom. She yelled for help and the homeowner, Winston Ron Scates, ran inside to help.

The decedent was removed from the bed by Ron, and placed on the ground, a detective wrote in the affidavit. The bed was leaned against a wall of items so Ron could have enough space to perform CPR on the decedent.

When officers arrived they quickly determined Ariana was dead. There was a blood-stained towel nearby, blood on the bed, on the sheets and on the childs body.

A glass marijuana pipe with residue in it and prescription medications were found in the room with Ariana.

Although no one has been arrested in the case, captain Ron Vigil, an RRPD spokesman, said Monday that investigators believe they have interviewed everyone who was in the home when Ariana was killed. He said they are continuing to investigate before filing charges.

We understand the community is looking for an arrest, he said during a news conference. We, like everyone else, want to make that arrest and make sure we do it with all due diligence and ensure a successful prosecution.

Painful parallels

The death of Ariana has tragic similarities to the death in 2016 of 10-year-old Victoria Martens, who was raped and killed in her Albuquerque apartment. But Albuquerque police quickly released details and built that criminal case in large part on an early interview with the girls mother, which later turned out be mostly false. Much of the case has since crumbled.

It appeared Rio Rancho authorities were taking a very different approach in this case, releasing very little information early on.

Vigil said the FBI has helped police process the scene and it was taking time to catalog everything they found in the home. The inventory of what they found was not made available Tuesday.

Vigil said the police and the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department had a history with the home where Ariana was killed, but a CYFD spokesman said Monday that the department did not have any prior investigations involving Ariana or her mother. CYFD is working with police to ensure the safety of other, older children, who were at the home when Ariana was killed.

However, CYFD Secretary Monique Jacobson did say the department had investigated one person associated with the address in 2012. She declined to confirm whether that person was in the home when Ariana was killed or provide any other details about the investigation per state law.

But according to a police incident report filed in 2011, a woman told police the man who lived at the home on Moonstone  and who still lives there  had inappropriately touched her 4-year-old daughter.

When the girl was interviewed, she told police he had touched her genitals when she was in the bath and another time in a bedroom when nobody else was around, according to the report obtained by KOAT-TV.

However, the man denied the allegations and told investigators that he had never been alone with the 4-year-old.

When asked if he had ever been accused of something like this before, he hesitantly replied yes,' a detective wrote in the incident report. When I asked what the circumstances were he replied that he did not want to talk about it.

Police say they searched databases for other sex crimes or criminal history involving the man but found nothing.

The case was submitted to the 13th Judicial District Attorneys office for review and prosecution, according to the report. It is unclear where the investigation went from there, but no charges were filed.

Neither Rio Rancho Police nor the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office, which covers Sandoval, Cibola and Valencia counties, could immediately comment on that case.

Help for transport

As the community is searching for answers, family members across the country are also grieving.

A relative, Angelea Strider, set up a Go Fund Me page asking for help raising money to transport Arianas remains to Florida so she can be buried near where her father and three older brothers live.

Ariana Jade was a beautiful child, the page reads. She loved to play and gallop around bringing up the energy in any room. She was very smart, and loved people very much.

The page says Ariana was very excited about school, learning, and making friends.

Ariana Jade was living with her mother in New Mexico, and her father was fighting to have her come live with him and near the rest of her family, the page reads. As you can imagine, laying this Angel to rest was not what he had in mind when he was fighting to bring her home.

On the first day of school at Ernest Stapleton Elementary School Tuesday, news of Arianas death hung in the air.

Many of the parents gathering outside the school Tuesday afternoon had heard of her death  the expressions on their faces turned somber at the very mention of it.

A father said Ariana was supposed to be in his daughters first-grade class. He said he was a firefighter who was on call the day of her death but was not one of those who responded to the home.

The school sent a letter to parents Monday, saying they are extremely saddened by the loss of one of their students. Ariana, who was known to staff and students as Jade, had attended the elementary school since January.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Jades family and friends, and are aware some Stapleton Elementary students and staff may be especially affected by this news, the statement said . We encourage you to be especially sensitive and prepared to offer support to your child during this time.

A couple of miles away, the home on Moonstone was quiet.

Trash littered the area around the front entrance, from empty pill and soda bottles to an air compressor and vehicle parts, extending into the driveway and side yard.

Nobody answered the door and the home seemed empty except the large amount of furniture, trash and other items that could be seen from the window piled in the front room.

An older couple who answered the door Monday told the Journal they could not comment due to the ongoing investigation.
Just days after Kenya Wildlife Service wardens killed a giant crocodile and cut it open in search of a girls remains in Embu, the officers have now taken down a hippo that is believed to have mauled a Taiwanese tourist at Lake Naivasha.

Also Read: Only in Kenya: KWS Officers Kill, Cut Open Crocodile in Search of Girls Body  PHOTO

The tourist, identified as 66-year-old Chang Ming Chuang, was taking photos with a colleague on Saturday evening when they were attacked by a hippo.

According to the Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS), Mr. Chuang was pronounced dead on arrival at the Naivasha District Hospital while his colleague, 62-year-old Wu Peng Te, sustained minor injuries.

The Wildlife Service on Sunday added that they were tracking the animal, sparking heated reactions on social media from Kenyans who were against the animals killing.

But despite the furore, KWS on Monday went ahead and gunned down a hippo. KWS Hells Gate National Park warden Nelson Cheruiyot said it was tracked and shot hours after the incident.

Our officers tracked and shot the animal after the incident, said Mr Cheruiyot as quoted by Daily Nation.

As expected, the killing has drawn further condemnation from stakeholders and Kenyans alike who have accused KWS of acting irresponsibly.

David Kilo, the chairman Lake Naivasha Boat Owners Association, said that hours before the Saturday incident, another hippo killed a local fisherman but government officers did nothing about it.

We are saddened by the reaction of KWS officers who acted swiftly when a Taiwanese was killed but were silent when a local was involved, he said.

Kenyans have also raised questions about how KWS wardens were able to track the particular hippo that killed the tourist.

But a junior KWS officer, who is not authorised to speak to the press, however, defended the killing saying, We have ways of picking out aggressive animals. We are looking for the other hippo that killed a local fisherman.

With more questions than answers coming their way, Kenyans have taken to Twitter to express outrage.

There are, however, those who will argue that aggressive animals that violently attack humans are usually taken down to avoid further attacks.

We have sampled some reactions below.

That a hippo gets killed 4 attacking someone who clearly was in the wrong is disgusting. Perhaps we need to forget about educating visitors & start schools for hippos on tourism etiquette Class 1 Just smile for the camera, DONT bite the visitors @kwsyou can do better surely https://t.co/9whZwVWt7N  Dr. Paula Kahumbu (@paulakahumbu) August 13, 2018

So the KWS have decided to kill the hippo that killed a tourist at Lake Naivasha,my question is how did they know it was the same hippo??Was it walking around with a toothpick in his mouth??  George Odina (@george_odina) August 13, 2018

How do you identify the hippo after digestion of victim? Was this the right hippo? But is it a crime for a hippo to be a hippo and protect its territory? Was it a must for the tourist to visit? Did the ticket cover the operations? Can the lesson be passed to other hippos? https://t.co/ZFG79S7CMx  Sacrinos.?? (@dnahinga) August 13, 2018

News that KWS officers have shot dead the lone hippo that attacked and killed a Chinese tourist and injured another at Lake Naivasha had angered me. Dont get into animals space! If KWS Officers would trail and shoot dead the rhino ? killers pic.twitter.com/jmTJeQpfK2  Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) August 13, 2018

Why, for Gods sake? The Hippo was just being a Hippo! https://t.co/sSjzS7PdgH  Darth Vader (@roomthinker) August 13, 2018

They are literally cobducting a massacre of our wild life under the poster boy balala quite incompetent

Its like a circus from 11 rhinos dying to KWS shooting a hippo to the CS himself flagging off the wildebeest migration ????

Issa scandal  #BeHumble (@ranchoYuleMdark) August 13, 2018

Tourist stupidly gets too close to hippo. Hippo kills tourist. Trackers pursue hippo and kill it. Why?  Steve Payne  AIFC (@PayneAIFC) August 13, 2018

Killing the hippo  was this done as a lesson to the other hippos or what purpose did it serve? The tourist was on the wrong and killing the hippo was pointless. Just because you have always done that doesnt mean you cant improve your policies ?? @tunajibu  Agnes O (@Agnes_O17) August 13, 2018

KWS OFFICERS have killed hippo that attacked and killed a Chinese tourist from Taiwan at Lake Naivasha, Hells Gate Park warden Nelson Cheruiyot says. Ask yourself, when was the last time KWS killed an animal for attacking a Kenyan?..

Kenyans are seen as voting robots  Kenyan Parrot?? (@TheParrotKE) August 13, 2018

Why did KWS have to kill the Lake Naivasha hippo? Was it a man eater hippo? How many Kenyans get killed by hippos and how many other hippos have been killed by KWS after these incidences?  Ndiba wa Wanjiku (@Ndiba11) August 13, 2018

KWS officers killed the hippo that attacked and killed the 66year old Chinese tourist who was taking photo of the hippo at Lake Naivasha, Hells Gate Park.

Yesterday, KWS Promised to be hunting the hippo and Kenyans thought, the search was to confine the Hippo being lethal.  J.B Kenya (@JohnBosco_Juma) August 13, 2018

So, you cant track illegal poachers posing an imminent danger to our wildlife but you have the guts to track an hippo acting naturally in its environment. Surely, the man didnt expect a hug from the hippo! Or did he?  Ryan (@_RyanBN) August 12, 2018

The Chinese have been killing our animals all over the placeincluding poaching Rhinos in Nairobi parkhave you ever tracked them down and murdered them?  steveBIKO (@kenjapala) August 12, 2018
SANTA TERESA  A new study examines the region that is home to New Mexicos busiest border crossing and an economic engine for trade with Mexico.

In addition to pointing out opportunities for development, it highlights challenges and constraints on growth, including the need to create value- added jobs, raise educational attainment levels and manage sustainability issues like the shared aquifer that straddles the border in the desert region.

The primary benefit of this study is it clarifies a lot of the development and trade significance at the state level as well as the regional level, said the studys author Patrick Schaefer, executive director of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The report relied on data from the state of New Mexico, the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal agencies to chart key regional trends shaping the transcontinental trade corridor that cuts through southern New Mexico.

For the first time ever, theres a systematic mapping of one of these border communities and the border region on the New Mexico-Chihuahua border, said Schaefer. The Journal got an exclusive preview of the study that is to be released Wednesday.

It includes data on land ownership, population, educational attainment, employment, wages, business activity, manufacturing output, water and energy resources as well as border trade.

The Hunt Institutes Santa Teresa report, for the first time, provides a clear, accessible framework for our communities and our state to understand what is happening, said Randy Trask, president of the New Mexico International Trade Alliance. It is a vital tool in helping our state develop a cohesive, statewide economic development strategy, that brings together the assets of northern and southern New Mexico.

Since the Santa Teresa Port of Entry opened 26 years ago, southern New Mexico has experienced unprecedented growth and trade. The massive Foxconn plant that manufactures computer components for Dell opened its doors in San Jeronimo, Mexico, in 2009. In 2012, Union Pacific chose Santa Teresa for a new intermodal facility near the port of entry, investing more than $450 million in the operation.

More than half of all imports and exports into Mexico come through the Santa Teresa border crossing, according to the Department of Commerce.

And although Albuquerque and San Antonio, Texas, are about the same distance from the border, their perceptions are vastly different, Trask said. The Texas city touts itself as the gateway to Mexico, but If you go around and ask people (in Albuquerque) if we were close to the border nobody would recognize that, said Trask.

Schaefer hopes the study will help all New Mexicans understand the economic significance of being a border state.

Its going to help Northern New Mexico connect more strongly with the southern part of New Mexico, said Schaefer.
FOSSIL stands strong as a brand that uses design and innovation to create distinctive world-class watches like no one else. Ever since the brand established its foothold in the Indian market in 2007, the focus has been to develop and foster exceptional customer experiences. Kick-starting a new campaign, Fossil ropes in the energetic Bollywood beauty Fatima Sana Shaikh as its newest celebrity brand ambassador in India.

Fossil is known for its eclectic assortment of lifestyle and accessory items including watches, jewelry, handbags, and clothing. Fatimas young, modern and vibrant persona resonates with the brands ideology- an optimistic attitude, dedication to authenticity and creative spirit. Fossil announced Varun Dhawan and Shruti Haasan as their brand ambassadors last year; Fatimas collaboration with the brand will aim to amplify Fossils proficiency in creating timeless classics through inspired designs. She will be endorsing the watch and leather categories for the brand.

When deciding who to cast for our upcoming campaign we kept coming back to the attributes that make up our very DNA: an optimistic attitude, dedication to authenticity and, of course, creative spirit, said Steve Evans, EVP of Fossil brand. At Fossil we believe that what you make time for defines who you areour cast and campaign embody that brand ethos, and exemplify how intentional time helps achieve both professional and personal happiness. There is an optimistic spirit reflected in this campaign and we are thrilled to have found a group of creatives that celebrate these values throughout their endeavors.

He further added, We are launching what might be our most exciting campaign yet for Fossil brand, one that is all about celebrating authentic individuals. Our focus on authenticity is not only rooted in our people, but also our productswe want to continue to create watches, leather goods, wearables and more that represent our growing Fossil family and their unique individual style and spirit.

Commenting on this association Fatima said, FOSSIL as a brand is rooted in a distinctive modern-vintage design aesthetic. It is all about celebrating individuality and uniqueness. Im excited to be on board with Fossil and I really look forward to working with its youthful appeal and spirit to re-energize todays youth.

The Dangal star will be seen alongside actor Varun Dhawan in an upcoming brand campaign by Fossil, which celebrates creativity, authenticity, and most importantly optimism. The campaign will feature the much awaited watches and bags from this years fall collection. In tandem with the festive season, this campaign will add to the celebratory spirit.
Madhya Pradesh Incumbent Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan is set to face a humiliating defeat against Congress in upcoming elections according to the survey conducted by ABP News and C Voter. BJP who had bagged 165 seats out of total 230 in 2013 Assembly Elections is not expected to lose 59 seats to reach a tally of 106 according to the survey. BJPs major loss is coming from Baghelkhand, Chambal and Mahakaushal regions. BJP is being swept clean in Chambal region where Congress is expected to win 31 seats. BJP is looking strong in Bhopal, Malwa and Nimar but these regions are not able to fulfil BJPs overall loss. BJPs loss is Congresss gain. Congress is expected to rise above majority mark with 117 seats gaining 59 seats from last elections performance of 58 seats. Congress is getting maximum seats from Baghelkhand and Chambal, total 71 from these two regions. MP : State & Region Seat Share Projections Region BJP INC OTHERS TOTAL BAGHELKHAND 10 40 2 52 BHOPAL 18 3 1 22 CHAMBAL 0 31 3 34 MAHAKAUSHAL 21 28 1 50 MALWA 36 5 0 41 NIMAR 21 10 0 31 TOTAL STATE 106 117 7 230 2013 RESULTS 165 58 7 230 CHANGE -59 59 0 0 If you look at the vote share BJP is losing around 5 percent votes in Madhya Pradesh while Congress is gaining five percent votes. According to the survey BJP is expected to get 40.1 percent votes in the state while Congress may get an edge over BJP with 41.7 percent votes. The difference in votes is not very high but still enough to give Congress a push to reach majority mark of 116. MP : State & Region Vote Share Projections Region BJP INC OTHERS TOTAL BAGHELKHAND 36.8 42.3 20.9 100 BHOPAL 48.9 38.7 12.4 100 CHAMBAL 33.0 46.1 20.9 100 MAHAKAUSHAL 41.9 41.5 16.5 100 MALWA 45.3 40.6 14.2 100 NIMAR 44.8 41.9 13.3 100 TOTAL STATE 40.1 41.7 18.2 100 Shivraj Singh Chauhan seems to have lost his golden touch but this is not true about Central Government lead by PM Narendra Modi. Despite ruling out Shivraj in the state people of Madhya Pradesh still intend to elect Narendra Modi again as Prime Minister in 2019. 46.4 percent respondents expressed intention to vote for BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Only 38.8 percent people want to give Congress a chance to lead the country. MP : Split Vote Projection Region Vidhan Sabha 2018 Lok Sabha 2018 Split Vote BJP 40.1 46.4 6.3 INC 41.7 38.8 -2.9 OTHERS 18.2 14.8 -3.4 TOTAL 100 100 0.0 Though BJP is likely to face defeat in elections Shivraj Singh Chauhan popularity is still working for him. Around 42 percent people of Madhya Pradesh still think he is the best man to be the CM of the state, followed by Jyotiraditya Scindia. Best Candidate to be Chief Minister Options Rajasthan Don't know/can't say 8.2 Shivraj Singh Chauhan (BJP) 41.7 Uma Bharati (BJP) 2.0 Sushma Swaraj (BJP) 1.1 Digvijay Singh (INC) 2.1 Jyotiraditya Scindiya (INC) 30.3 Kamalnath (INC) 7.5 Kailash Vijayvargiya (BJP) 2 Others 4.3 Respondents clearly voted in favour of Narendra Modi when asked about their choice as Prime Minister of India. 53.8 percent people think there is no other leader better than him to lead the country. Rahul Gandhi who himself has presented himself as PM candidate has support of only around 25.5 percent people belonging to Madhya Pradesh. Best Candidate to be Prime Minister of India Options Madhya Pradesh Narendra Modi 53.8 Rahul Gandhi 25.5 C Voter conducted this opinion poll for ABP News for Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections among 10071 Respondents spread across 29 Loksabha Seats and 230 Vidhan Sabha Seats from 28 June to 10th August Rajasthan People of Rajasthan are once again expected to turn the tables of power in Rajasthan. Vasundhara Raje may not repeat the landslide victory BJP had in 2013 Assemble Elections. On the contrary BJP may have to face a defeat almost as similar as it forced on Congress in 2013 Vidhan Sabha Elections. According to the survey BJP who had won 163 seats out of total 200 in Rajasthan Assembly Elections in 2013 may not get ousted from power with only 57 seats in their kitty. Congress which was clearly swept out of the power by BJP in 2013 is set to make a thumping comeback with 130 seats out of total 200. Interestingly Congress is throwing out BJP from almost all four regions of the state. According to the survey Mewar and Harouti are two regions which are laying foundation for landslide victory of Congress in the state. Rajasthan : State & Region Seat Share Projections Region BJP INC OTHERS TOTAL HAROUTI 14 46 4 64 MARWAD 23 27 6 56 MEWAR 12 49 3 64 SHEKHAWATI 8 8 0 16 TOTAL STATE 57 130 13 200 2013 RESULTS 163 21 16 200 CHANGE -106 109 -3 0 Even in the vote share BJP is nowhere near Congress in Rajasthan. Congress is far ahead of BJP in all four regions of the state. In vote share tally Congess is getting huge support from Mewar region with around 57 percent votes. Rajasthan : State & Region Vote Share Projections Region BJP INC OTHERS TOTAL HAROUTI 37.3 47.0 15.7 100 MARWAD 39.2 48.2 12.6 100 MEWAR 33.6 56.9 9.5 100 SHEKHAWATI 42.9 45.6 11.5 100 TOTAL STATE 36.8 50.8 12.4 100 Like in Madhya Pradesh people of Rajasthan also opting for a change in the state. But here also people still intend to vote for BJP in Centre in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Congress which is expected to get a lead of 14 percent votes according to the survey in Assembly Elections is not able to gather support of people for 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. 47.4 percent people of Rajasthan want to elect a BJP Government at Centre in next years General Elections. Rajasthan : Split Vote Projection Region Vidhan Sabha 2018 Lok Sabha 2018 Split Vote BJP 36.8 47.4 10.6 INC 50.8 42.7 -8.1 OTHERS 12.4 9.9 -2.5 TOTAL 100 100 0.0 Vasundhara Raje who is expected to be ousted from power is also lagging behind Ashok Gehlot in popularity. 40.6 percent people want Ashok Gehlot to be their Chief Minister while only 24.1 percent people vote for Vasundhara. Best Candidate to be Chief Minister Options Rajasthan Can't say 4.5 Ashok Gehlot (INC) 40.6 Sachin Pilot (INC) 17.7 Vasundhara Raje Sindhiya (BJP) 24.1 Om Mathur (BJP) 2.2 Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (BJP) 2.9 Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP) 1.8 Others 2.3 Rajasthans people want a change in the state but not at the Centre. They clearly think that Narendra Modi is their choice as Prime Minister of India. Best Candidate to be Prime Minister of India Options Rajasthan Narendra Modi 54.7 Rahul Ga
Milton, a trusted name in the houseware industry known for its innovative and functional range of products, has released a new TVC for its stylish & trendy Milton Thermosteel Bottle. The TVC released under the campaign KahaanKaPiya? positions the product as a travel essential for every explorer. This TVC aims to connect with the youth of India by means of a solo travellers journey, appealing to their sense of adventure and self-discovery.

Conceptualized by Ogilvy India, the film portrays a solo vacationers journey across the country, capturing the beauty of travel and a world of opportunities. The thrill of solo travelling has witnessed an increasing interest by women over the last few years and Miltons new TVC is an ode to this trend. Treating self to a one-of-kind experience, the young travellers escapades feature the bottle as her sole companion as she explores different parts of India in diverse weather conditions, from the hot and dry climate in a beautiful sandy deser, to the cold and minus degree temperatures of magnificent snow covered terrains. The background music with its apt chorus, Tune KahaankaPiya questions the viewers and encourages them to tread onto unfamiliar terrains and explore the unexplored with Milton Thermosteel Bottles by their side.

Ajay Vaghani  Managing Director, Hamilton Housewares Pvt. Ltd., says, Milton as a brand has always believed in product innovation that focuses on enhancing experiences of every small yet integral event in the consumers fast paced lives and makes it effortless. KahaanKaPiya? campaign is all about inspiring people to travel and we believe Miltons Thermosteel Bottleis the next must-have accessory for every young explorer. Milton Thermosteel Bottle, with its aesthetics and functionality, was created keeping in mindthe changing requirements of the youth in India who are constantly on the move seeking knowledge and looking for new experiences.

Anurag Agnihotri Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy India, KahaanKaPiya? How many rivers, lakes, streams and seas have you crossed? How much of the world have you seen? Thats the question this commercial poses to all the young people sitting at their desks, in offices or colleges, to go out there and explore the world. Its a perfect communication fit especially when it comes from a brand that offers top quality and innovations in its products.

Staying healthy and hydrated while travelling is essential and Miltons Thermosteel Bottle is a perfect solution and a must-have accessory in your travel bag. Its unique temperature retention mechanism helps keep your beverages hot or cold for 24 hours and its sipper comes with a one touch lid locking mechanism. The bottle is available in trendy and attractive colours.

The campaign will run from 12-08-2018 onwards on major Hindi, English, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu TV channels. In addition, the TVC will also be promoted on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

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R K Swamy BBDO has announced the elevation of Vivek Shenoy as Principal Consultant, Chennai. The move signals an invigoration of the agencys home-ground office under the aegis of a younger leadership.

Vivek, having cut his teeth on several leading brands in his 13 years across JWT, Ogilvy and McCann in Bangalore, joined RKSBBDO as Sr. Brand Strategy Director in 2017 to head the Mars Petcare (Pedigree, Whiskas and Sheba) business. Says Vivek, Though it was a different category, my experience with a diverse range of brands (Madura Garments, USL Diageo, TVS Motors, Tata Tea) helped me deliver great results!



Vijay Gopal (President, RKSBBDO South and East) explained, Chennai is our home pitch. Wed been looking for the right person to lead this branch for the longest timeAnd though Vivek joined us only recently, the way he rapidly added value by strengthening our client relationships made us take this step. Im sure he will live up to his track record of driving strategic growth and creative excellence and will prove a very strong support for RKSBBDO.

Vivek Shenoy adds, I am absolutely thrilled. I plan to steer this office into a dream run, both in terms of business growth as well as creative standards. We want to write new marketing success stories for our clients with great ideas. And with Navneet Virk, our Sr. Vice President and Creative Director as my partner, I already have a head start in this journey. Im looking forward to my new role.

He will now oversee RK Swamy BBDOs portfolio of legacy brands such as ITC, VBJ, TAFE, KVB, Orient Cements, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, ETA General and Amrutanjan.

Click here for more related news.
South Carolina Electric & Gas electrical lines between Charleston Street S.E. and Chesterfield Street will be put underground in the near future.

On Monday night, the Aiken City Council unanimously approved the latter phase of a two-part undergrounding venture along the city's landmark South Boundary Avenue. City Council member Andrea Gregory was absent.

City Council approved the first phase  putting SCE&G lines below grade between Williamsburg Street S.E. and Charleston Street S.E.  on July 9.

Aiken City Council Aug. 13 packet The Aiken City Council's full meeting agenda and related documents.

The city's total share to underground the lines along the avenue is estimated shy of $500,000. SCE&G is contributing an equal amount, as required by the respective contracts.

"Again, we pay 50 percent of the cost ... " SCE&G liaison Scott Neely told City Council during the Monday night work session. "We dont want to spend more money on this than we have to."

The first phase of the project, the extent of work approved July 9, is noticeably less expensive than the second. Neely said the second phase is more complicated and more technically involved.

The first phase has already been "budgeted and covered," according to City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh. The money is directly sourced from SCE&G franchise fees.

Project costs, with relevant detail, will be billed quarterly.

The undergrounding project is ultimately meant to "severely minimize" the amount of required tree trimming along South Boundary Avenue, effectively preserving the lolling oaks the city is so known for, Bedenbaugh said. Mayor Rick Osbon vocalized his support of the project early on for this reason.

Pruning is done on a five-year basis and is meant to be preemptive. A recent Aiken-area power outage was the result of fallen tree limbs, Neely noted.

In July, it was agreed to that underground work  work that could potentially damage the trees  would happen during the dormant season.

On Monday, Neely said the work window, previously described as around January and February, could be widened. Neely cited an expert's assessment and said digging and boring could be done safely in the fall and winter. It's just a matter of avoiding heat and drought stress, he added.

Neely has, though, expressed reservations about working around the oaks: "They're iconic," he said last month, "and when you put lines underground, obviously, you know, you have to do work underground."

SCE&G is not the only company using the South Boundary Avenue utility poles, which will eventually come down.

According to Bedenbaugh, both AT&T and Atlantic Broadband utilize the poles. The city manager said he is talking with both companies about the ramifications.

"We want to remove those poles," Neely said.

SCE&G has done somewhat similar undergrounding work in The Alley and along Mead Avenue.
Worshippers at the Israel Assemblies of God Church in Kihunguro, Ruiru, Kiambu County are still reeling from the shock of an extrajudicial killing at the churchs premises on Sunday.

This after police gunned down a robbery suspect who was part of a four-man gang that had robbed an Uber taxi driver of his vehicle in Athi River.

Ruiru police boss James Ngetich said one robber died on the spot while the other succumbed to gunshot wounds while he was being taken to the hospital.

One suspect, who had reportedly been shot three times, fled to the nearby Israel Assemblies of God Church and sought refuge.

Pastor Peter Maina said the service was halted when the suspect, who was bleeding profusely, entered the church.

We heard gunshots while worshipping. A bleeding man came into the church. But in less than two minutes, police officers entered the church and asked the man to surrender, Maina recalled as quoted by the Star.

I pleaded with the cops not to shoot him since he had sought refuge in a church. But the police dragged him out and shot him.

Terrified worshippers watched in shock and horror as the events unfolded.

Another man of the cloth, Pastor Bedan Nganga, said they cleaned the blood stains and prayed to cleanse the sanctuary.

According to the police boss, the taxi driver had been hired in Langata on Saturday night to pick up a sick person in Athi River.

When they reached their destination, they were accosted by three armed men.

They bundled the taxi driver in the back seat and drove around with him before dumping him at a quarry unhurt. We traced the vehicle in Kihunguro because it has a car track, Ngetich said.

He said officers laid an ambush, and when the thugs spotted them they drew a pistol and fired at the cops, leading to an exchange of fire.

Kihunguro residents praised the police for fighting the rampant crime in the area. They said the thugs had turned the area into their hideout.
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President Donald Trump, on stage at a ceremony in New York on Monday, signed the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which in part defines funding for Savannah River Site operations.

The FY19 NDAA, this year named after U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., authorizes $220 million for continued Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility construction and, just a section later, casts doubt on the U.S. Department of Energy's ability to both jumpstart the plutonium pit production program and bring it to SRS.

The $220 million is to be used for continued MOX work: construction, design, long-lead procurement and site preparation, according to NDAA language.

DOE recommends pit production at SRS and Los Alamos; plan kills, repurposes MOX facility The National Nuclear Security Administration has officially proposed producing plutonium pits  nuclear weapon triggers  at both the Savannah

In February, DOE budget briefing documents described the multi-million-dollar sum as enough to "continue the orderly and safe closure" of the facility.

MOX is currently being built at SRS. Once complete, a controversy in and of itself, MOX is expected to transform at least 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for commercial reactors.

The project has come under repeated federal fire, and the DOE has tried time and time again to kill it.

In early May, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry moved to end MOX and its funding. Perry's authority to do so  the topic of ongoing litigation  was sourced from the FY18 NDAA. That same ability, halting MOX given a certified better option, is provided to Perry again this year.

On the same day the energy secretary moved to shutdown MOX, the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semiautonomous DOE agency, recommended recapitalizing the project's bones for pit production.

Plutonium pits are nuclear weapon cores often referred to as triggers.

The NNSA and the U.S. Department of Defense believe MOX, roughly 70 percent complete, can be reworked and refitted to produce 50 pits per year while Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico produces 30 pits per year, save for surges. In a perfect world, the tandem effort would meet a federally demanded 80 pits per year target by 2030.

"Funding to modernize our nuclear arsenal, so important..." Trump said. "We're spending a tremendous amount of money on our nuclear arsenal."

The NDAA, though, paints the prospective production and its SRS crux as a touch too hopeful.

House speaker taps Rep. Wilson for nuclear, defense negotiations The House passed its version of the NDAA in March. The Senate passed its version mid-June.

The NDAA calls for a third-party review of almost everything related to the recent pit production recommendations: Data, risks, reports, alternatives and timelines are all to be scrutinized by a contracted group neither the DOE nor the NNSA primarily sponsor.

A latter portion of the pit subsection requires the NNSA administrator, Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, to submit a report that evaluates producing all 80 pits at Los Alamos in case "the MOX facility is not operational and producing pits by 2030."

The NDAA is not the final say, though. The NDAA is only a set of laws that props up the nation's defense-related spending.

Appropriators, at some point, must actually cut the check.

The House passed its version of the NDAA in March; the Senate passed its version in June. The two versions were then successfully conferenced by the end of July, it received needed approval, and the uniform version was then pushed to the president.
US President Donald Trump signed the annual US defense authorization into law on Monday, a step toward shifting the Pentagons focus away from the decadeslong Middle East war on terrorism to great power conflicts against China and Russia.

As Trump put his signature on the $716 billion legislation, named after intraparty rival John McCain, that puts the United States on a long course to build a 355-ship Navy and significantly cuts the post-9/11 warfighting fund, the new law faces a bureaucratic fight within the Defense Department as the massive agency tries to determine how to rebalance its forces.

US troops, ships and air assets have begun rotating out of the Middle East in the past few months. In February, the Associated Press reported that contractors in Iraq had begun shifting out of the country, and most elements of the 10th Mountain Division left US staging areas for Afghanistan and other deployments in May. Less than 100 of those troops remain. Al-Monitor reported in July that the Pentagon will also shift explosive ordnance disposal units out of the country.

US Special Operations chief Gen. Tony Thomas told a West Point crowd in March, soon after the release of the bill, that the Tampa-based command started indexing the living laboratory of consistent combat in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya for post-9/11 lessons of the counterterrorism fight that can be applied against China and Russia.

More disturbing to me is everything weve learned in the last 17 years, none of it is applicable to a major peer competitor fight, Thomas said. That as well is absolutely flawed. Thomas, who commanded US and NATO special forces in Afghanistan in 2012 and 2013, also worried that the United States is about to fumble the counter-Islamic State (IS) campaign.

This fight is difficult as hell, hard to manage, and not done yet, and were going to rue the day if we step away from it without completing our business, the Army Ranger veteran said.

Yet larger, hard power assets, appear to be on the move out of the region as the Pentagon mulls its next moves in the Middle East. The last American aircraft carrier, the USS Harry Truman, left the Persian Gulf earlier this summer, even as Iran began annual naval exercises last week aimed at showing off its ability to close off the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil thoroughfare. Experts say its the sign of a cultural shift inside the Pentagon.

If youre not talking great power conflict, nobody wants to hear it, said Jonathan Schroden, director of CNAs special operations program, who frequently deploys to Iraq and Afghanistan with American troops. The National Defense Strategy has become a bumper sticker, and the bumper sticker is great power conflict.

While the Overseas Contingency Operations fund thats surged more than $1.6 trillion into the Middle East counterterror fight will get a slight bump in the 2019 budget authorization signed by Trump on Monday, as the US military seeks to replenish precision-guided munitions used against the IS' urban strongholds in Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon aims to take $190 billion out of the fund over the next four budgets.

A former senior defense official recently told Al-Monitor that a panel of outside experts had pushed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to prevent more drastic cuts to Americas military presence in the region, including the Overseas Contingency Operations warfighting fund. The New York Times has reported that Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, the US militarys top-ranking officer, are seeking to move US special forces units out of Africa.

But US military presence in the region faces tricky law-based questions. The Pentagons Middle East operations, such as the IS campaign and the refueling of Saudi and Emirati jets, also hang on post-9/11 legal authorities focused on al-Qaeda that have faced increased scrutiny from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

A proposal from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker to concoct an expanded Authorization for Use of Military Force appeared to stall in committee after its introduction in April.

Every time we try to adjust something, what are the two words youre exposed to: mission creep, said David Maxwell, a retired US special forces colonel. Theyre trying to thread the needle.

Though the Army unveiled new Security Force Assistance Brigades earlier this year, in an effort to extend train-and-equip efforts that have been a mainstay of the counter-IS campaign beyond special forces into regular Army units, its not clear how much support the trial effort  set to eventually include six full units  has beyond Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley.

For something thats a threat to our national security, you cant outsource it, said Maxwell, the retired special forces colonel now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. It cant take the place of national security operations.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Egypt started exporting gas Aug. 5 to the Gaza Strip after Israel stopped supplying the area, which continues to suffer from a huge shortage.

Khalil Shakafa, director of the General Directorate of Petroleum in Gaza, announced that Egypt had exported a shipment of 250 tons of propane (liquefied petroleum gas) via the Rafah crossing. He added that trucks carrying Egyptian gas will continue to enter the Gaza Strip while technical arrangements for regular deliveries are finalized.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman announced Aug. 1 that Israel was cutting off its fuel and natural gas supplies to the Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing in response to the continued attacks by flaming kites from Gaza.

The Kerem Shalom crossing is the only commercial crossing for residents of the Strip, and Israel is tightening its grip on the entry and exit of goods, including fuel and natural gas.

Gazas monthly propane needs are about 8,000 tons a month. Israel allows the entry of between 5,000 to 6,000 tons, creating a monthly deficit of about 2,000 to 3,000 tons, according to the General Directorate of Petroleum.

Well-informed Palestinian sources in Gaza told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Egypt has taken other measures to alleviate the people's difficult living conditions, such as allowing Palestinians to travel to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage, which has been forbidden since 2014.

The sources said Cairo agreed Aug. 5 to export Egyptian gas to Gaza and keep the Rafah crossing open to facilitate travel for Palestinians.

Osama Nofal, director general of the Planning and Policy Department at the Ministry of Economy in Gaza, confirmed that Gaza needs regular and sustainable imports of Egyptian gas to cover its deficit.

Nofal said the Palestinian Authority is the ultimate loser in the equation. Gazas Finance Ministry is expected to collect the taxes on Egyptian gas, costing the PA the $26 million per month it collected from fuel introduced to Gaza.

The ministry said in an Aug. 6 press statement that Egyptian gas is purchased at international prices, adding the costs of transportation and insurance once it reaches Gaza. The ministry added that the Gaza government takes in about three shekels (81 cents) on each gas cylinder, including the technical and administrative costs, as well as the costs of monitoring and distribution to gas stations."

The Finance Ministry's tax on fuel derivatives such as propane sold in the Palestinian market, known as the blue tax, is one of the world's highest. The tax comes as part of the Paris Protocol that regulates economic relations between Israel and Palestine.

Samir Hamadeh, head of the gas committee of the Gas Company Owners Association in Gaza, told Al-Monitor that the price of one kilogram (0.26 gallon) of Egyptian propane will be similar to the Israeli price of five shekels, about $1.50.

Hamadeh said the gas is being supplied in coordination with Egyptian authorities and the Finance Ministry in Gaza, and technical arrangements are being made to provide more Egyptian gas tankers.

The Palestinian sources said the Gaza Strip's imports of Egyptian gas started under an agreement reached during a June 26 visit to Cairo by a Gaza Strip government delegation. The group met with Egyptian officials to discuss implementing economic projects for Gaza, including a free trade zone on the border.

Yusuf al-Kayali, Gaza's deputy finance minister and a member of the government delegation, said in a July 11 press statement that the visit was fruitful and successful, as the Egyptian side agreed to provide basic supplies for Gaza residents including gasoline, diesel and propane.

Shakafa said Egyptian gas won't serve as a substitute for Israeli fuel and that Gaza still needs 2,000 to 3,000 tons more propane per month.

Gazans hope the Egyptian gas will lead to greater economic cooperation with Egypt.

Meanwhile, they dream of extracting their own gas from the Gaza Marine field, which lies 37 kilometers (23 miles) off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The field, discovered in the 1990s, contains an estimated trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The development of such a field would generate $2 billion in annual revenues to Palestine and end the need to import gas. Work on it is expected to start in 2021, provided Israel voices no objections.
Union leaders who are frustrated with pressure from abroad and at home say some 450,000 workers employed by Irans auto parts industry are facing layoffs within a month. In the past few months, the countrys auto industry has witnessed a drop in production. In addition, a large portion of cars remain grounded in production lines while pending completion and then distribution in the market due to a scarcity of vital parts, according to economic daily Jahan-e-Sanat.

This has not only created price turbulence in the auto market but has left the parts manufacturers in the red as well. Quoting union officials, Irans Labor News Agency said that with giant domestic carmakers failing to pay their debts to local auto parts companies, the latter are now being pushed toward bankruptcy.

The deputy head of the auto suppliers union blamed the central bank and the Finance Ministry for the situation. The auto parts industry deserves condolences, said Shapour Samei at a news briefing in Tehran Aug. 13. The manufacturers are in hard times. In addition to laying off their staff, they have also reduced the working shifts. According to Samei, currency fluctuations have further prevented stable production, reducing output by 40-50%. In a sarcastic tone, he added that the central bank and the Finance Ministry had already begun their sanctions on the domestic manufacturers even before the United States started doing so.

Another member of the union, Maziar Beyglou, warned that production could come to a halt in September. In that case, Beyglou said he would hold government institutions accountable for the looming job losses. Under a scheme to protect domestic production, the government of President Hassan Rouhani has backed several industries by granting them access to hard currency at the official rate of 42,000 rials per dollar. The auto parts makers say they have imported products at that rate, bypassing the much higher open market rate of 10,700 rials per dollar.

But now, suppliers say the products they have ordered at the lower, official rate are blocked at the customs office, where officials say importers must pay the margin between the official and open market currency rates. Beyglou lamented this strategy as a measure that is unintentionally in line with US sanctions to pressure [domestic] producers.

Iranian car prices have been rising nonstop over the past few months. Automakers have been accused of destroying competition in the market via their monopoly and excessive state support. Prices that are also widely seen as unreasonable could now see further jumps, and thus be met with further public fury.

Sanctions on Irans auto industry by the United States were imposed Aug. 6. This is not the first time the sector has been targeted by external penalties. In 2013, with his ninth executive order against Iran, US President Barack Obama targeted the industry by signing off on sanctions against anyone who does business with the countrys auto producers.

The US prioritizes the auto industry over the energy sector in its sanctions regime," the head of the union Morteza Mortazavi said. "That means they are conscious about the significant number of jobs the industry has created for us. The livelihoods of some 7 million Iranians are pinned on the countrys auto parts industry.
The plan was for 8:30 p.m. at the hotel where Irans president was staying. Thats where President Donald Trump wanted to meet Hassan Rouhani for the first time last year in New York. The idea was for the encounter to take place a number of hours after Trump's Sept. 19 speech at the United Nations General Assembly, which was characterized by harsh criticism of the country whose president Trump now wanted to sit down with. The US president had said, The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy.  It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Irans government end its pursuit of death and destruction.

The request for a meeting was initially made by US State Department officials who got in touch with their French counterparts to ask President Emmanuel Macron to convey Trumps message to Rouhani, who addressed the UN a day after Trump. French interlocutors initially had a hard time connecting the French president to his Iranian counterpart, according to a US diplomat who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. There was a lot of back and forth in a short period of time, the envoy said. Getting hold of Rouhani proved difficult, as he appeared to be in a long meeting. Finally, after numerous attempts, the Iranian and French presidents got on the phone. What precisely was said remains a question mark. One French official told Al-Monitor, The Elysee does not comment on the presidents private meetings or calls. But the Iranians have recently divulged some details. Last month, Rouhanis chief of staff told reporters that Iran rejected not one but eight requests from the United States for a meeting of their presidents.

However, it should equally be noted that just days before the United States reached out, as Rouhani arrived in New York for the gathering of world leaders, some of his senior advisers were not only open but in fact eager to engage with the new US administration  without preconditions.

Wed like them [the Trump administration] to hear what we have to say [about the nuclear deal], one presidential adviser said at the time, hours after arriving in New York with the Iranian delegation. As long as theyre not disrespectful, of course, the adviser added. During the course of the same conversation, one of the reporters covering the General Assembly last year suggested that the Iranian president go on Fox News if Iran really wants Trumps ear. The idea wasnt rejected right away. But when the conversation came up again a few days later, the appetite for such a maneuver had dissipated.

Then Trumps Sept. 19 speech happened. As the US president was leaving the General Assembly podium, an Iranian official shook his head, simply said, He ruined it, and walked away.

From that point on, it wasnt so much that the Iranians didnt think Trump was serious  but rather that they had a hard time taking him seriously.

This is not some sort of reality show, where well just come in front of the cameras to show off and shake hands, then recklessly gamble on the future, a high-ranking Iranian official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity this week.

Indeed, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Aug. 13, This issue for them is a game, a cliche and politically worthless. One person says no preconditions, another person sets preconditions.  There will be no war, nor will we negotiate with the US.

After almost 40 years, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had opened an unprecedented channel where the United States and Iran could sit and talk face-to-face, but the Trump administration slammed the door on it, US and Iranian experts as well as officials agree.

After all, two high-ranking officials talked directly for many years, said one adviser to the Iranian president, referring to the often-long discussions between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and then-US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Iran has always maintained that those talks were within the framework of the nuclear deal. However, Irans [supreme] leader even said that if the nuclear talks go well, Tehran would be open to discussing other matters with the West, Iran's ambassador to the UN, Gholamali Khoshroo, told Al-Monitor. But an Iranian official traveling with Rouhani in September said, They [the US administration] had their chance and blew it.

On the day that Trump asked to meet with Rouhani, there had already been two encounters between Iranian and US officials on the sidelines of the General Assembly  both opportunities for the two sides to at least lay the groundwork for dialogue.

The first encounter was a JCPOA Joint Commission meeting at the deputy foreign minister level, and the second was a high-level ministerial meeting in the same setting, where then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met his Iranian counterpart for the first time. With the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in May, this platform for dialogue with Iran no longer exists.

Fast forwarding to the present, it has become clear that Trumps style of winging it has never gone over well with the Iranians, who have always taken a more cautious and measured approach when dealing with the United States. Some of the caution and insistence on protocol may be because of domestic politics, which is increasingly putting Rouhani under pressure.

Indeed, lawmakers in Tehran have summoned the Iranian president to parliament to answer questions about his governments economic policies. Members of parliament are also expected to ask about the mechanisms in place following the US violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the JCPOA. Rouhani is likely to appear before parliament prior to embarking on his annual trip to New York next month to take part in the UN General Assembly. How or whether his appearance in parliament will affect his administrations approach and policies toward the United States is yet to be seen.

In the meantime, the Rouhani administration appears confident that it will weather the storm and will be able to work with the international community under the rules and regulations of the United Nations. As such, the current sentiment among Iranian officials is one of resistance to the Trump administrations policies.

Iran is already going through a very difficult period internally because of sanctions, the currency collapse, and loss of hope that the nuclear deal would change the countrys trajectory, said Barbara Slavin, director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council and an Al-Monitor contributor. New talks with the US could at least provide the potential of a better situation, even if its hard to trust the Trump administrations motives, she added.

People in Iran are very opinionated about the prospect of reopening talks with the United States.

Kareem, a veteran of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War who spoke with Al-Monitor on condition his last name be withheld, said, Hearing Trump say hes willing to talk to Iranians without preconditions, after abandoning the nuclear deal and imposing sanctions on us, reminds me of when Saddam Hussein had confiscated seven of Irans provinces and then wanted to sit down and negotiate  without preconditions.

Golnaz Azari, a single mother to two young boys ages 8 and 14, said, We voted for Rouhani and his team because they are known to favor diplomacy and dialogue. I worry about the future of my kids, but I dont believe Trump. My sense is that Trumps advisers want to wait until the oil sanctions kick in Nov. 4, before any steps that might alleviate the pressure on Iran.

For Iran, the long-term alternative to talks with the United States would be to wait out Trumps term in office while continuing to engage with the rest of the world. The Iranians may also be adopting a wait-and-see approach, keeping a close eye on the upcoming congressional midterm elections, which could lead to Democratic control of the House and Senate and provide Trump opponents with the means to put pressure on the White House. Indeed, the Rouhani administration has not shut the door on diplomacy, hinting that it may be open to direct talks if the United States returns to the JCPOA and shows respect.

Next month, Trump and Rouhani will address the UN General Assembly on the same day. There are so far no reports of planned meetings on any level.

It is possible, however, that Kim Jong-un might make his first appearance at [the UN General Assembly], which would suck all the diplomatic oxygen out of the room, Slavin said.

But if Kim does indeed show up, it may actually raise the chances of some sort of US-Iran engagement, especially as all eyes will be focused elsewhere. When it comes to the fraught relationship between the United States and Iran, at least one side prefers to stay out of the spotlight  particularly under the current circumstances.
Nairobi based record label MusikBank presents the highly anticipated music video for Rajs new track titled Suka.

The certified is assisted by two of the most sought-after female artistes in Kenya in Fena Gitu and Wangechi, who previously combined to great effect in 2015 with the track They Dont Know.

Suka is the first video from Rajs upcoming BAE2 (Beautiful And Exquisite 2) EP. Suka is a Kisii word that means move and the track is sure to get people on their feet.

The audio for Suka was produced by So fresh for MusicBank while the video was directed by Mhando Brian of Onfon productions and shot on location at the Royal Orchid Azure Hotel, in Westlands, Nairobi.

Watch the video below.
Iraq and Jordan signed a security and military cooperation agreement on Aug. 5 during a meeting in Amman, Jordan, between Iraqi Minister of Defense Arfan al-Hayali and Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mahmoud Abdul Halim Freihat.

According to a statement on the official website of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, the agreement aims to exchange intelligence and expertise in the field of border protection and enhance intelligence capabilities and joint military exercises, as well as technology development, combat terrorism in its different forms, hold joint training sessions and enhance capabilities in the field.

As per the agreement, trade between the two sides resumed Aug. 8, as the Iraqi Ministry of Transport revealed that the agreement would also restore truck movement between Iraq and Jordan.

According to a ministry press release, All points of disagreement over operating Trebil border crossing have been resolved, especially after security has been stabilized in the west region [Anbar] and the route has been deemed safe.

After trade resumed, 563 Jordanian trucks promptly entered Iraq, signaling that things are back in order at the Trebil border crossing, which was a source of concern for Jordan when the Islamic State (IS) controlled Anbar province.

With trucks inbound from Jordan to Iraq, the latter is working on managing security and military patrols to accompany those trucks through risky areas or the areas categorized by Iraqi security as vulnerable to attack.

While military cooperation between Iraq and Jordan is certainly not a new frontier, this new long-term agreement demonstrates how both countries hope to secure their borders against terrorist groups and to return to normalcy in terms of trade and travel between the two countries.

Maj. Gen. Tahsin al-Khafaji, a spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, told Al-Monitor that Iraq focused in this agreement on military training and military cooperation, security and counter-terrorism, as well as  the importance of continuing to hold joint military training exercises between the two countries.

Khafaji believes this agreement will help secure both countries borders, particularly the commercial road. The agreement focused on securing borders and cooperating in matters of intelligence and information, he added.

The agreement did not include any provisions on either countrys forces entering the other country for military operations or in pursuit of terrorist groups.

The agreement comes after the two sides held meetings between a number of leading security and military figures. The agreement establishes the grounds for the two countries to form committees on securing borders.

According to a statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement aims to enhance the capabilities of the Iraqi security apparatus with respect to intelligence and information exchange.

Hisham al-Hashimi, a researcher at al-Nahrain Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor, This agreement is of great importance to both countries. Jordan plays an integral role in maintaining both countries borders, but the mood of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) might be an issue.

By the "mood" of the PMU, Hashimi was referring to the presence of affiliates from Hezbollah Brigades, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and al-Nujaba groups just 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the tri-border area between Iraq, Jordan and Syria. Hashimi raised concerns that those forces might clash with any Jordanian forces that may be present near the Iraqi borders or kilometers into it.

The economic aspect of this security and military cooperation agreement is not to be ignored, as both countries hope to breathe new life into the Trebil border crossing and rejuvenate trade to 2014 levels by securing routes.

Iraq and Jordan are also working to establish an industrial zone along the countries borders, according to Safia al-Suhail, Iraqs ambassador to Jordan. Safia revealed on Aug. 7 that an Iraqi delegation would soon arrive in Jordan to meet with the Jordanian Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply to discuss practical steps toward launching a joint industrial zone.

Hasan al-Momani, a former professor of international relations at the University of Jordan, told Al-Monitor that this security agreement between Jordan and Iraq ushers in a new stage of cooperation between the two countries." This time, the agreement has a "legal framework" that "will help both sides make their cooperation more fruitful."

Iraqs trade has relied heavily on the Jordanian border, as Jordanian ports serve as entry points for goods destined for Iraq. When the Jordanian border is closed, trucks hauling goods must pass through Saudi Arabia and Kuwait into Basra province in Iraq. Jordanian imports also can be transferred from the Persian Gulf to Iraq, and then onward to Jordan. Iraqi investors are also an indispensable pillar for the Jordanian economy.

Jordanian industries are notably present in the Iraqi market. Still, the sporadic shutdowns of the Iraqi-Jordanian border between 2014 and 2017, when IS controlled Anbar province, negatively impacted trade. In 2015, the shutdowns reduced Jordanian exports to Iraq from $1 billion to $600 million.

In sum, this security agreement between Jordan and Iraq might have to do with economic matters first and foremost. For years, both countries have sought to reopen Trebil border crossing as trade suffered.
On July 24, the bloc of developing countries at the United Nations chose Palestine as its next leader. This decision by the bloc  known as the Group of 77  to designate Palestine as the group's 2019 chair (starting in January) lends the Palestinian leadership great prestige, just six years after the international body recognized Palestine as a non-state member.

I admit I was not among the greatest fans of the diplomatic offensive launched at the turn of the decade by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and I underestimated its importance. I saw it as an act of desperation by a man who had given up on prospects of reaching bilateral agreement with Israel and was leading a hopeless maneuver for the world to impose an agreement on the two sides. It seemed clear at the time that the attempt to push through UN Security Council recognition of Palestine as a non-state member was doomed to fail, and I thought it was pointless. I also thought Israel should be supporting the Palestinian diplomatic efforts, to the point of being the first to recognize Palestine, as being an important goodwill gesture.

The government of Benjamin Netanyahu was largely responsible for making the Palestinian move more significant than expected through the campaign Israel waged against the development. When government ministers (such as then-Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman) called the Palestinian request for UN recognition diplomatic terrorism, they upgraded the Palestinian move, which had initially been scorned by the Palestinian public, too.

On the face of it, the prospects at the UN were clear: There was always a majority in the UN General Assembly for every Palestinian proposal due to the strong support for the Palestinians among developing nations (the largest UN bloc), whereas the United States could be counted on to veto any UN Security Council resolution perceived as anti-Israeli.

In fact, the Palestinians did not have to wait until 2012 to obtain recognition as a nonmember state  they could have achieved this status in 1988 when they declared themselves a state. The first Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, told me at the time that he had no interest in winning official UN recognition of Palestinian independence nor membership in that body. Arafat felt that such recognition would create an illusion that the Palestinian problem had been resolved, that there was already a Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel, and the international community need not exert itself further in helping the sides make peace.

When Abbas launched his intense diplomatic campaign, he clearly understood that he did not have an Israeli partner. He had concluded that as long as Netanyahu was at the helm, there was no real chance of an agreement that he, as the Palestinian leader, could accept. Since he could not sit by idly, he was faced with three main options: armed struggle, nonviolent struggle or a diplomatic struggle.

An armed struggle was out of the question. Abbas had been the main opponent of the second Palestinian intifada, the violent uprising that erupted in the year 2000, and made no bones about his objection to Arafats choice of violence. Abbas did not rule out a campaign of nonviolence, and he still talks about it often in his speeches, but he knows well that the line between nonviolent and violent demonstrations is blurred (and easily crossed). When that happens, people are killed and it is hard to contain the counter-reaction. The third option was the one Arafat was wary of  seeking recognition as a virtual Palestinian state and playing the diplomatic game with intensity. Saeb Erekat, currently the secretary-general of the PLO, was the one who led this move. Salam Fayyad, then the Palestinian prime minister, was far less enthusiastic.

The Palestinian public was not wild about the diplomatic activity, either. Even the upgrading of the Palestinian Authoritys status at the UN from a non-state observer entity to a nonmember observer state in November 2012 did not generate much excitement. The giant screens placed on the streets of Palestinian towns to broadcast the event in the West Bank failed to draw significant crowds. The reason was clear: Everyone understood that this was a goodwill gesture toward a state that would never exist until agreement was reached with Israel.

It transpires, however, that the Palestinian move was more significant than being a mere surrogate for the real thing. The Palestinian Authoritys acceptance by important international organizations affiliated with the UN, such as the International Criminal Court (with the Palestinians gaining observer status in 2014), UNESCO (with the Palestinians gaining membership in 2011) and many others, enabled the Palestinian leadership to make its voice heard and forced Israel to explain and defend itself. Since Palestine's acceptance by the UN, on a level equal to that of the Vatican, Palestine has been playing a significant role and making itself heard.

Its upcoming leadership of the Group of 77 is an achievement that cannot be ignored, and it greatly strengthens the diplomatic status of the Palestinian entity as an international player, which has a say not only in the Palestinian struggle for independence, but also as regards the interests of the worlds developing nations.

The Group of 77 was founded 54 years ago at the end of the first session of the UN Committee on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, when some of the participating states issued a document titled Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries. Although the group has almost doubled and now numbers 134 members, the original name stuck. As the largest grouping of UN members, its aim is to advance the interests of developing states within the UN institutions and organizations and to forge south-south cooperation.

As far as the Netanyahu government goes, this is a minor inconvenience. However, anyone who sees the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians as a zero-sum game would regard this development as a blow for Israel. The Palestinians regard it as an important contribution to their national struggle. Palestines Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour told The New York Times that while Israel and the United States are still denying we are a state, we walk like a state. We quack like a state. Therefore we are a state.
The recently adopted nationality law, anchoring Israels Jewish character, has been challenged by numerous petitions against it. On Aug. 5, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked delivered a chilling threat to the countrys Supreme Court, warning that a ruling overturning the law would be tantamount to an earthquake, a war between the authorities. Her words prompted a public and media storm, and rightfully so. Such a direct hit on the judiciary breaches a red line that even the radical right is wary of crossing. The law, which defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, threatens to cross other red lines, as well.

As Ron Skolnik wrote for Al-Monitor Aug. 9, the language of the legislation echoes a series of laws, regulations and declarations that pave the way in principle for Israels annexation of the West Bank. To be precise, the idea is to annex the land, not its non-Jewish inhabitants. Such action would truly be tantamount to a declaration of war on the Palestinians and the Arab world with a gross violation of international law and international agreements to which Israel is a signatory.

Critics of the nationality law have focused on the absence of a key word, equality. However, another no less important word is also missing: boundaries. The law states, The land of Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people, in which the State of Israel was established. Where does the State of Israel lie? Between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River (including the West Bank), the area under Israeli control for the past 51 years, only 78% of which is under its sovereignty? The law goes on to say, The right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people. Do the Jewish people have the right to exercise self-determination in their historic homeland that lies, according to Jewish tradition, between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers  in other words, in modern-day Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Kuwait? Alternatively, perhaps the Jewish people should make do with the boundaries of British Mandatory Palestine, as secular right-wing Israelis demand? Does all this mean that the Green Line, which served as Israels de facto border until 1967, will be wiped out forever?

Still, the Supreme Court justices evaluating the petitions need not risk war with the executive and legislative branches of government. Instead of entering into the heart of this question, they should simply demand that the attorneys representing the government outline the borders of the state mentioned in the law. If they argue that the nationality law applies the laws of the State of Israel to all the territories under its control but not to their Palestinian residents, as is currently the case, it would sound the death knell of the 1993 Oslo Accord, and at the same time constitute victory for Hamas.

The agreement, which will mark its 25th anniversary on Sept. 13, says the goal of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is a permanent arrangement between them based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338. The agreement, signed on the White House lawn in the presence of President Bill Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, mentions implementation of these resolutions once again as the intended outcome of negotiations on a permanent arrangement.

In signing the agreement with the Palestinian side, the Israeli government confirmed that the territories from which the UN resolutions oblige it to withdraw include the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which it captured in 1967. Those claiming that the government of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was wrong in agreeing to terms of the deal should peruse the George W. Bush administrations Roadmap for Peace approved by the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2004. Then-Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among those who voted in favor of the document, which includes several mentions of Resolution 242. According to the government decision at the time, The future settlement will be reached through agreement and direct negotiations between the two parties, in accordance with the vision outlined by President Bush in his 24 June address.

The problem is that contrary to the language of the nationality law, Bush, his predecessors, successors and institutions of the UN never recognized the State of Israels right to determine its borders based on historic affinity with the lands it conquered in 1967. On the contrary, the roadmap outlined by Bush states that Resolutions 242 and 338 constitute the basis for negotiations that would end the occupation that began in 1967. Israel therefore agreed that the territories beyond the Green Line are occupied lands, or at most part of the Jewish peoples homeland. Therefore, they are not part of the State of Israel and its laws do not apply there.

Even President Donald Trump, who has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, did not agree that Jerusalem, complete and united, as the nationality law says, is Israels capital. He underscored that the city's boundaries would be drawn with the consent of both sides, as will the boundaries of other territories under dispute. Nonetheless, Resolution 242 stresses that all sides deserve to live within recognized, secure borders. The safest way to agree on recognized borders was and still is diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians based on the 1967 borders. A border, however, is not synonymous with a wall or a fence.

The founder of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, once told me in an interview that he did not rule out an Israeli-Palestinian confederacy. He could form one, the Palestinian leader added, one hour after the Palestinian people are allowed to implement their right to self-determination by establishing a state of their own between the Jordan River and the Green Line (the approximate borders of the West Bank). The nationality law states, The right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people. As previously explained, the law does not draw the boundaries of the state, but the Jewish majority in the Knesset advocates that Israels eastern border run along the Jordan River in any agreement with the Palestinians. That definition would strip millions of Palestinians of the right to self-determination and in any case render the confederacy idea moot.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian workers and business people cross the Green Line daily, and tens of thousands of Israelis, most of them Arab citizens, go in the opposite direction for business and pleasure in the West Bank. The Israeli shekel has served for decades as legal tender in the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli security officials hail the productive coordination with the security agencies of the Palestinian Authority. The nationality law, the rotten fruit of an arrogant and shortsighted worldview based on the rules of a zero-sum game, undermines Israels prospects of being a state like any other, with recognized boundaries, living in peace and security with its neighbors. To accomplish this, the Israelis must return to the path of the Oslo spirit, on which all sides are guaranteed winners and which zealots from both sides have destroyed. Every day, the children of Gaza and those of the Israeli town of Sderot across the fence are paying the price of the war these zealots are mongering.
More than eight months after the Palestinian leadership decided to break all ties and contacts with the United States, the majority of Palestinians appear to have sided with their leadership, whose popularity has increased slightly.

According to the latest public opinion poll of Palestinians, published Aug. 6 by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center (JMCC) in cooperation with the Berlin-based Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 61% oppose US peace efforts, while 80% of respondents dont believe [the forthcoming US peace plan] will produce anything acceptable to Palestinians.

The survey also shows a slight increase in trust of President Mahmoud Abbas since January, rising from 10.6% to 11.1%, and a small increase in support for the Fatah movement, which dominates the Palestinian government, from 22.3% to 25%, likely due to widespread Palestinian opposition to the US decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Had it not been for that policy shift, support for Fatah would have been much worse.

Ghassan Khatib, founder of JMCC, spoke to Al-Monitor about the results, stating, In my opinion, the slight improvement in the popularity of the Palestinian leadership is temporary and connected to the current tension with the US and Israel.

Khatib, a member of the Palestinian Peoples Party and a former Cabinet minister, asserts that the more important statistic is the large number of Palestinians who do not favor any party or personality. This apathy is the result of the continuation of the division, [Israeli] settlements and the weakening performance of the government, he said.

While 35.3% said they would vote for Abbas, compared to 19.3% who said they would vote for the Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh, the JMCC poll, conducted June 26-July 7 in the West Bank and Gaza, revealed that 45.4% of respondents said they did not know whom they would vote for or provided no answer when asked.

Mamoun Matar, a lecturer at the Media Development Center in Birzeit University, told Al-Monitor that the improvement in Abbas popularity stems from his having stood up to the Americans, in short, the presidents position in adhering to the minimum acceptable Palestinian demands set out in comparison to others, despite the fact that the majority still generally do not trust any political leader.

Khaled Abu Arafeh, former Jerusalem minister in Haniyeh's short-lived Palestinian government in 2006, told Al-Monitor that several reasons explain the current Palestinian attitudes. The apathy is the result of pessimism and the absence of any realistic movement on the [Fatah-Hamas] reconciliation issue, he said, claiming that the Ramallah leadership is not interested in reconciliation. This, he contends, is driving the lack of optimism among Palestinians about the future.

The JMCC survey  which polled 1,200 people over the age of 18 in face-to-face interviews, showed that Palestinian society is divided over the idea of returning to peace talks, with 49.1% in support of such a move and 45.6% opposed. The interviews were carried out in randomly selected homes, and the respondents were also selected randomly within the household according to Kish tables.

One of the most interesting set of results concerned the question on news sources. A total of 39.3% of respondents said that they get their news from social media, while 28% depend on television, 17.3% on news websites, 7.4% on radio and only 1.4% on newspapers.

Mohammed Daraghmeh, a senior reporter for the Associated Press in Palestine, told Al-Monitor that these results stem from the wide-ranging and engaging content available on social media.

People go to social media because it is entertaining, it is full of tantalizing rumors while lacking any serious or well-researched news, Daraghmeh said. The role of the media is to present facts that are credible, but in the Palestinian media landscape this is missing.

Hossam Ezzedine, a West Bank reporter with Agence France-Presse, remarked that Palestinian media outlets have let most of their reporters go, and the editors are now rewriting and repackaging their news content from social media stories.

Matar, who is also a digital media expert, believes that the high degree of dependence on social media stems from demographics and technological change.

On the one hand, 84% of youths [ages] 18-34 are on social media, and when 3G technology was allowed by Israel, use of mobile phones resulted in this high percentage of dependency on social media, Matar told Al-Monitor.

Anees Sweidan, head of the PLOs International Affairs Department, noted that the poll, especially some of the results involving social media, point to Palestinian behavior becoming more radical. The poll showed that 76.8% said they do not shake hands with members of the opposite sex, with the majority attributing this to religious beliefs.

Palestinian political and social attitudes appear to be reflective of the absence of any sign of hope in a political process currently or in one eventually ending the occupation and internal conflicts. Palestinians have been turning to social media rumors, rather than traditional media outlets, as an escape from the bitter reality that they face every day.

It is in the absence of hope that explosions take place.
IDLIB, Syria  Al-Haj Abu Youssef keeps up with the news at the top of the hour in his small shop in al-Dabit, a neighborhood in the suburbs of Idlib, eager to hear reassuring news about the fate of his city.

Abu Youssef and others share concerns about statements made by political and military officials in Damascus about a possible military attack to retake Idlib province from the opposition factions that could force hundreds of thousands into displacement.

These concerns have sparked heated debates all over Idlib, where residents cannot help but worry about where they would go.

Abu Youssef sits in his shop on a bamboo chair with his eye fixed on the television, switching channels. I think it is possible. No  I am sure that the regime will attack Idlibs countryside, supported by Russian air cover. But when and how deep into Idlib will it reach? That is what keeps me up at night, he told Al-Monitor.

With Russian support, the regime has regained control over Daraa in the south and the Homs countryside. It is now Idlibs turn, he added.

On July 26, President Bashar al-Assad announced that retaking Idlib was his next priority, saying, Now our goal is Idlib, but not just Idlib alone  various territories in eastern Syria as well.

Abu Youssef believes that Moscow, whose warplanes entered Syria in September 2015 to support Assads regime, is the real decision-maker.

The regime cannot do it alone. Actually, it does not dare do it alone, he said.

However, Abu Youssef still doubts Russia's statements about its unwillingness to participate in the attack, although several meetings were held between Russia and Turkey to discuss ways to avoid an offensive in Idlib.

[The Russians] are excellent manipulators and know exactly how to maneuver in politics. Whenever they wish to attack, they have a pre-existing cover, be it al-Qaeda or other terrorist factions, as they call them, he explained.

The Russian president's envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, made it clear on the sidelines of the Astana 10 conference July 31, Any large-scale operation in Idlib is out of the question.

But in reality, all indications suggest that the battle is coming, and soon.

This is particularly possible since opposition factions are heading toward the lines of contact with the regime and deploying military reinforcements, matched by similar reinforcements on the regimes part.

Meanwhile, on Aug. 9, the regime started bombing rebel positions in Jisr al-Shughour in western Idlib.

The opposition factions have tightened their security grip in the region. On Aug. 8, they led an arrest campaign in the southern part of Idlib province, accusing dozens of arrestees of promoting reconciliation with the regime and facilitating its entry into the province.

On Aug. 9, regime helicopters dropped leaflets over the towns of Bensh and Tifnaz, in the center of Idlib province, calling on the people to reconcile and cooperate with the regime's army to end the war and eliminate the terrorist control.

Ahmed al-Hussein, an information engineering student at the University of Idlib, mocked the leaflets, saying, Is there really anyone who still thinks it is a matter of reconciliation between the opposition and the regime? The issue is much more complex than that; there are regional and international interests governing the decision.

Hussein told Al-Monitor, I am certain that the Turks who have entered Idlib will not let go of it so easily. Not for our sake, of course, but for their own interests.

Turkey, which has 12 military observation posts in Idlib province, still sends semi-weekly supplies such as concrete slabs to reinforce and protect these points. Such reinforcements convince me even more, Hussein noted.

On several occasions, Turkey has warned of the consequences of an attack on Idlib, and Ankara is concerned that such an incident could lead to another massive influx of refugees into its territory.

For the past three years, Idlib has been a haven for displaced people fleeing the regime and the militias supporting it in Aleppo, Homs, Damascus and elsewhere. Idlib, which had a population of 1.4 million in 2010, currently has 2.5 million people, most of whom are internally displaced persons, according to the United Nations. However, local relief organizations estimate a much higher number of 3.6 million.

The question arises as to where all those people would go if the regime takes over Idlib.

There is no way that I could ever bear living under the regimes control. I am wanted by security agencies because of my political views. There is no way that I would surrender to my oppressor, Hussein said.

I never carried a weapon. I do not like it. But one way or another I will defend myself when I need to and cannot escape elsewhere, he added.

Idlib is controlled by a large group of armed opposition factions. Until recently, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the new iteration of Jabhat al-Nusra, was the largest and most powerful force in the province. A coalition of opposition factions called the National Front for Liberation recently surfaced, becoming the largest force in Idlib, particularly after new armed factions joined on Aug. 1.

Clashes sporadically erupt among the armed factions over gaining control over towns and cities, mostly ending with fragile peace agreements, the last of which was signed on April 24.

Activists and other observers believe that the move to expand the National Front for Liberation came under pressure from Turkey on the moderate opposition factions to unite under a single entity, in order to undermine the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and eventually force it out.

A political activist from western Idlibs Jisr al-Shughour, where regime shelling can be heard in the outskirts of the city, told Al-Monitor, I do not rule out the possibility of the regime controlling this city.

He explained, The regime aims to restore the international Aleppo-Latakia and Aleppo-Damascus roads. This means cutting 65% of the area of Idlib. Turkey is trying to prevent this from happening, but it remains in a weak position so long as it does not completely eliminate Jabhat al-Nusra, one way or another.
ALEPPO, Syria  Syrian government forces and pro-regime militias seized the desert of Suwayda in southern Syria on Aug. 12 following battles that lasted for eight days against the Islamic State (IS) organization.

Only two days into the start of the military campaign against IS on Aug. 5, the Syrian regime forces started achieving military gains against the militant organization in the Suwayda desert.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Aug. 7 that the Syrian regime forces have achieved military gains against IS as they progressed and seized the Safa hills in the northeast of the Suwayda desert.

The observatory also reported that 16 IS members were killed during the confrontations with the regime forces and pro-regime militias in the area, while four people from the Syrian Social Nationalist Party were killed following a suicide attack carried out by one of the IS members at a party headquarters in the eastern desert of Suwayda.

Of note, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party is fighting IS alongside the regime through the party's military wing, Nosoor al-Zawbaa (Storm Eagles), and has taken part in the battles that raged in southern Syria against IS and Syrian armed opposition factions.

Some of the military opposition factions that used to control Daraa and its countryside, namely the Revolution Army, the military council in Quneitra and the Youth of Sunna Forces, have also taken part in the regime's military operations against IS. Their participation in the battles came as part of a Russia-sponsored reconciliation agreement concluded in July between the Syrian regime forces and these factions. The pro-reconciliation opposition factions joined the battles as they handed over their heavy weapons to the Syrian regime forces in order to support them in their fight against IS. Factions that did not approve of the reconciliation withdrew with their families to the north of Syria.

Omar al-Halabi, a media activist, told Al-Monitor, Now that the regime has eliminated IS from southern Syria, it has eliminated all of the groups battling it in the area. The Syrian regime has actively sought to extend its full control across southern Syria. This is especially true considering that the regime seized Daraa city in July as well as eastern Ghouta in the countryside of Damascus in April. Also, factions that were affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) [signed] a reconciliation agreement with the regime forces. While this gave the regime a major push to launch a military campaign aimed at controlling the rest of the areas that are out of its control in southern Syria, this also helped it portray itself as a terrorism fighter. This took place at a time when IS-controlled areas were witnessing civilian bloodletting as a result of the regimes shelling of areas inhabited by civilians under the pretext of fighting terrorism. However, it is impossible for us, as activists, to document such acts because [they are committed in areas] controlled by an organization that deems all nonmembers as enemies.

Following the attack on the city of Suwayda and its eastern countryside July 25, IS held 36 people hostage, mostly women and children, from the province of Suwayda. And when the negotiations between the Syrian regime forces and IS faltered Aug. 5, IS executed one of the hostages, a 19-year-old man. IS had asked for the evacuation of its combatants from the Yarmouk Basin in the south of Daraa to the Syrian desert and for hostilities against IS to stop in the area. IS threatened to kill more hostages in the event its demands were not met. The fate of the remaining hostages is yet to be revealed.

On Aug. 13, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that following lengthy negotiations between the two sides for the liberation of hostages, the regime forces started facilitating the passage of IS members from the outskirts of the countryside of Damascus to the Syrian desert near Homs province.

Yamen al-Khateeb, another media activist, told Al-Monitor, Since the emergence of IS in Syria, this organization has been a card in the hands of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, one that it uses to achieve political gains. Suwayda was independent from Damascus and has always adopted a neutral stance in the fight between the regime and the opposition, so using the IS card at this particular time started out as a convenient way to tame the province and have it obey the regime.

Khateeb added, After taking control of southern Damascus in April, the Assad regime concluded an evacuation deal with IS in the areas that were under its control in southern Damascus. At the time, the regime decided to transfer IS fighters to the desert of Suwayda. In this context, the question arises as to why the regime did not transfer these fighters to the vicinity of Deir ez-Zor instead, knowing that Deir ez-Zor is deemed an IS stronghold. By moving those IS members to the Suwayda desert, the regime managed to hit two birds with one stone. On the one hand, it opened a new battlefront with the FSA factions in Daraa under the pretext of the IS members presence in the area. On the other, it worked on achieving its desire of regaining control of Suwayda by frightening its residents and leading them to believe that the regime is there to protect them and confront IS. This was the case when IS launched late last month a first-of-its-kind attack on Suwayda that ended with the killing of more than 200 people.

Now that the Syrian regime forces have expelled IS from the Suwayda desert, Suwayda has become the sixth Syrian province to fall under the full control of the regime. The IS presence is now confined to some areas in the countryside of Deir Ez-Zor province in northeastern Syria and other areas in the Syrian desert, where IS is fighting battles against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the one hand and the Russia-backed regime forces on the other. This raises the question as to whether IS defeat across Syria is drawing near, similar to the organizations defeat in Iraq.
Tunisia's Startup Act, enacted this spring to encourage the young entrepreneurs in the country, has got the ball rolling for projects that range from agriculture biotechnology to software development.

One of those entrepreneurs, Suniya Elabyadi, left her job in the public sector last year to set up an agriculture technology company, which now exports edible flowers to France. Previously it was impossible for us to deal with customers abroad, because small companies were banned from opening foreign currency accounts, Elabyadi told Al-Monitor. The Startup Act has given us the right to do so, and I signed a contract with a French exporter last May. I believe this is a good law overall.

The act, which the parliament passed April 4, aims to make Tunisia into a hub for startup companies in Africa, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Anwar Maarouf said.

The act allows the founders of a startup company to benefit from a startup grant for a period of one year. Under Article 10, a maximum of three founding shareholders can benefit from the grant provided that they work on a full-time basis for the startup company. The law also provides exemptions from corporate tax up to eight years.

Muhannad Elzayri, owner of an app, web and software development company, told Al-Monitor, I applied for a startup grant from the government. It is a one-year grant to whoever is willing to set up a startup company. This funding will help me expand my venture and employ more people. We have also qualified for an eight-year tax exemption, which will help us grow further.

Rabab Dabbousi, an entrepreneur and owner of a company that grows and sells rare mushrooms used for pharmaceuticals, told Al-Monitor, Besides the major material incentives the law gives opportunities to young people to engage in individual initiatives and build their own career [rather than expecting to get] a job in a government institution.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, economic journalist at Al-Mayadeen TV Channel Abdessalam Hershi said, Under the past commercial codes entrepreneurs used to wait for months and even for years to obtain the legal corporate identity required for their companies, and they went back and forth to the court and municipality to have the signatures authenticated. Plus they had to deal with many bureaucratic barriers. The new law has numerous strengths: For the first time the Tunisian state is genuinely encouraging investments and is not banking on government jobs to bring down unemployment rates.

Elabyadi noted the difficulties entrepreneurs face, even with the law in place. Presently entrepreneurs in Tunisia have other problems that go beyond the law, she said. These include government departments heavy bureaucracy, particularly in terms of ventures in remote areas far away from the capital and major cities, and the local markets weakness due to the countrys economic crisis. The conditions in general are unfavorable for entrepreneurs to take risks and start companies.

In the same vein, Hershi said that the law alone cannot produce a blooming economic atmosphere. "The state of despair among the Tunisian youth requires government action. Also society should be aware of the development of the private sector and count on being employed in government departments," he said. "Nevertheless, the Startup Act itself includes conditions deemed unfair in my eyes, such as the eight-year term before the company is no longer considered a startup. Given that the Tunisian market is small [in size], the eight-year term would not be enough for the company to turn from a startup to a well-established business. In addition the bill sets very ambitious goals, including to introduce Tunisia as Africas first business hub, which is a very high expectation.

Yet the Tunisian governments ambition is coupled with several parallel steps. "[There are] at least 17 tech centers in addition to the many funding and mentoring programs, Katrin Sold, a research associate at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies at Philipps University of Marburg, wrote in an article published by Carnegie Middle East Center June 26. Tunisia is one of the more dynamic locations for startups on the African continent, she wrote. Moreover, it will be the headquarter of the digital African Excellence Center of the African Union, according to a decision taken by the second session of the African Unions Specialized Technical Committee.
New in the 'Ham

The Birmingham restaurant and bar scene is buzzing once again. The summer's slowly been heating up with new places opening seemingly every week. See what to try and what to get excited about below.

Recently Opened

Blueprint on Third Piper & Leaf Iron Pie Pizza Marty's GM Back Forty Beer Company The Essential Birmingham Candy Company We Have Doughnuts Kale Me Crazy Whistling Table 'lette Macaron Ash Pilcrow

Coming Soon

Cookie Dough Magic The Woolworth The Refinery El ZunZun Libertines Pizza Company The Lumbar

You Say Ceviche

Any stove-free August meal is a victory. Keep cool and revive beach-vacation memories with a batch of ceviche. Ceviche's fish isn't cooked in the traditional sense, nor is it raw. Citrus juice, usually lime, rearranges the fish proteins, firming the flesh like heat does. But it doesn't kill bacteria, so super-fresh fish is a must. To ensure freshness, find a good seafood market and say you're making ceviche. Mild ocean fish (bass, grouper, flounder) work best. Avoid fresh-water and oily fish. To prepare: dice fish, onion, jalapeno, garlic, and cilantro. Cover in lime juice. Soak until fish firms; drain the juice and serve. -Eric Velasco

The Key to a Good Cocktail

Little touches can elevate cocktails to greatness--even Tiki cocktails, those boozy, fruity parties in funky ceramic vessels. A recent switch at The Collins Bar to fresh-squeezed Key lime juice provides such a touch in the Tiki drink, Rum Barrel. While researching pre-Prohibition cocktails, Collins manager Josh Schaff discovered Key limes were the lime of choice for bartenders (until a hurricane wiped out Florida's orchards in the 1920s). Key limes are more floral and tart than the now-ubiquitous Persian variety, but juicing them is extremely labor-intensive. The Rum Barrel blends Key lime with pineapple and grapefruit juices, as well as allspice-infused rum liqueur. Another added touch is Eastaboga Bee Co. honey. -EV

Try This: Jackfruit

Jackfruit, a tropical fruit popular in Southeast Asia, is the new eggplant for vegetarians and vegans. With a meaty consistency that has been compared to pulled pork, this versatile fruit is packed with both protein and potassium. (Be warned though, it does have a high sugar content.) If you're curious to try it, but don't want the hassle of cutting and prepping the fruit yourself (found commonly at Asian groceries), pick up Upton's Naturals pre-cut and seasoned jackfruit at Whole Foods. With varieties like Bar-B-Que, Sweet & Smoky, Chili Lime Carnitas, Thai Curry, and Sriracha, the flavors will keep your palate interested all week. For a quick meal, try using the "meat" in tacos or on sliders.

Wine Down Summer

Late-summer wines should be light for sipping, yet sturdy for pairing with food cooked outdoors. Andrew Brim, the Homewood Piggly Wiggly's wine manager, suggests the following:

Rose:

Gerard Bertrand Cotes des Roses ($17.99): "good acidity, great balance." Its "beautiful presentation" includes a rose embossed beneath the elegant bottle, as well as a glass cork.

Underwood Rose Bubbles ($5.99, half-bottle equivalent): canned sparkler "perfect for pool and tailgates"

White:

Basque wine, Xarmont Txakloina ($17.99; Basques pronounce x as ch): "Powerful flavor, massive acidity, super crisp, mineral-driven;" great with Mediterranean food.

Red:

2016 Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais ($15.99): "Drinks like cru Braujolais. Incredible complexity ... stick your nose in and geek out."

Farm to Glass

An exciting partnership is happening between Cahaba Brewery and REV's Urban Food Project (UFP). Starting this summer, the two entities have teamed up to create specialty, small-batch brews using produce from local UFP farmers. The first beer released was Strawberry Hefeweizen using 400 pounds of strawberries from Witt Farms. Other summer brews will feature blackberries, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, kiwi, and satsumas. The beer will be available at participating UFP restaurants.

Zimmern loves the 'Ham

Andrew Zimmern has been all around the world, sampling everything from the bizarre to the delicious. But he believes Birmingham is, as he put it, solidly the hottest small food city in America right now. Zimmern, a favorite on cable television's Travel Channel, made his third trip to Birmingham in May, filming for two shows. Of course, he features well-known chefs Frank Stitt and Chris Hastings. But Zimmern's favorite restaurants and markets should be on everyone's bucket list. Zimmern's list: Eagle's soul food restaurant, Niki's West, Miss Myra's barbecue, Fish Market Southside, and Red Pearl Restaurant. -EV

This story appears in Birmingham magazine's August 2018 issue. Subscribe today!
The founders of Birmingham-based Nourish, a meal subscription service, use a word familiar to the digital age to describe their business association.

"Something just clicked with us," said Mary Drennen, who along with Tiffany Vickers Davis heads the company.

Nourish began back in 2014 featuring Southern-inspired meals with a premium on presentation and nutrition. It offers individual, couple and family plans with weekly changes to the menu. Subscribers can choose a week's worth of meals with add-ons, such as snacks, soups and beverages, available.

Meals are shipped free (within the two-day shipping zone) in custom cooler boxes and can be heated throughout the week. Individual plans start at $63.75 a week. They have a meal rotation of about six weeks.

Mary Drennan and Tiffany Vickers Davis founded Nourish after an association that began as classically-trained chefs in a test kitchen.

Drennen and Vickers met back in 2004 when both were chefs in the test kitchen at "Cooking Light" magazine. They had adjoining cubes and shared backgrounds as classically-trained chefs. Drennen attended the French Culinary Institute, now known as the International Culinary Institute, in New York City, while Davis attended Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, S.C.

Together, they were charged with making healthy comfort food that could be prepared in the home. Those conversations and dishes were the beginning of what became their business, they said.

"People getting food delivered to their homes really wasn't on the radar then," Drennen said. "But it laid the foundation for what we're doing now."

They formed their first part-time catering company in 2007, and by 2012, they began developing a meal plan for Iron Tribe. Pretty soon, people who didn't go to the gym were asking for dishes.

Nourish began slowly and picked up speed around 2016 when the company began to use social media. What started out as five people became a crew of 23 involved in production, logistics, business, customer service and marketing. Most of their customers, they say, are women - both working moms and busy professionals.

So far, they've shipped to 40 states. They've also spent time over the last six months improving the company's ordering and purchasing infrastructure. Their next step is finding a new home. Nourish has outgrown the 5,000-square-foot space the company occupies and is looking for a distribution center three times as large.

"We like to focus ourselves in the Southeast," Davis said. "We still see a lot of untapped market."

Drennen and Davis say they have an advantage over other subscription services because none of their larger competitors are paying attention to the market in the South.

They enjoy food. Mary's favorite dish is their gluten-free fried chicken which uses almond meal instead of traditional breadcrumbs. Tiffany loves the bangers and mash with Andouille sausage over mashed cauliflower with a caramelized onion topping.

And they also enjoy the Birmingham business community, Davis said.

"It's been so supportive," she said. "I've really been surprised and delighted at how intelligent this business community is, and how much support and promotion you can get in this area.

"You don't have to live in New York City to be successful. We like the lifestyle we live in Birmingham. We can be mothers and entrepreneurs and still pick up our kids at carpool."
The first Alabama location of a South Carolina barbecue restaurant founded by James Beard Award-winning chef Rodney Scott will be in Birmingham's Avondale area, Scott's business partner, Nick Pihakis, told AL.com this morning.

Rodney Scott's BBQ, which opened its original location in Charleston, S.C., in 2017, will open a second restaurant in the current location of Saigon Noodle House, which will close at the end of this week, Pihakis said.

"Winning the James Beard Award, I think (Scott) fits in that neighborhood really well," Pihakis said today. "(We) love the neighborhood."

Both Saigon Noodle House and Rodney Scott's BBQ are part of the Pihakis Restaurant Group, whose portfolio also includes Big Bad Breakfast, Little Donkey, Hero Doughnuts and Mile End Delicatessen.

The Saigon Noodle House space, at 3719 Third Avenue South, will undergo a few cosmetic changes, but the major project will be the construction of a cinder-block smokehouse, Pihakis said.

"We've already got an architect," he said. "We've already got all of the design stuff done. . . . We don't have to do a whole lot on the inside."

After permits are approved, Pihakis added, Rodney Scott's BBQ could be ready to open by late October.

Scott and Pihakis first announced plans to open a restaurant in Birmingham in May.

All current employees of the Third Avenue South location of Saigon Noodle House will be offered positions at other Pihakis Restaurant Group restaurants, Pihakis said.

"We don't want them to be unemployed," Pihakis said. "We want to keep them."

The original Saigon Noodle House on U.S. 280 will remain open.

One of the South's most respected barbecue pitmasters, Rodney Scott grew up in his parents Roosevelt and Ella Scott's barbecue joint, Scott's Bar-B-Que, in Hemingway, S.C., and he started working there full-time nearly 30 years ago, when he was 17. He cut and split his own firewood, and then came back and worked the barbecue pit from late at night until well into the morning.

In February 2017, with encouragement and backing from Pihakis, Scott opened his own Rodney Scott's BBQ in Charleston, S.C.

This May, Scott won the James Beard Award for best chef Southeast, the first African-American to win the Southeast chef award and only the second barbecue cook to win a chef award from the James Beard Foundation.

Also, earlier this month, Food & Wine magazine included Rodney Scott's BBQ on its list of The 40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years, a list that also includes Birmingham's Highlands Bar and Grill.

Scott and Pihakis first became friends after they were introduced by John T. Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, and Pihakis recruited Scott to cook for a dinner during the Charleston Wine + Food Festival about eight years ago.

"He helped me on occasion, and I helped him," Scott said in an earlier interview with AL.com. "It grew into this relationship that was more than just two businessmen. We're like brothers. Nick was the best man at my wedding."

The menu at Rodney Scott's BBQ features slow-smoked whole hog barbecue, ribs and chicken served with Scott's vinegar-based sauce, along with such sides as collard greens, hush puppies, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, and banana pudding for dessert.

The Birmingham location will employ about 40 people, Pihakis said.

Pihakis, the CEO and president of the Pihakis Restaurant Group, co-founded Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q with his father, Jim Pihakis in 1985. Jim 'N Nick's, which has grown to include nearly 40 restaurants in seven states, was acquired by an Atlanta-based private equity group in 2017.

Pihakis remains an investor in Jim 'N Nick's and serves on the board of directors.
Grammy award-winning Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman is like a lot of parents whose child is headed off to college: he's happy and sad at the same time.

He's also getting used to something else - saying "Roll Tide."

The Nashville resident recently shared a photo of his daughter Shaohannah Hope as the family left for her first day at the University of Alabama. He added a hashtag "think I'm supposed to say Roll Tide at this point...so Roll Tide!"

The comments were met online with a ton of "Roll Tides!" in response.
A 33-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to multiple charges involving sex with children.

Wesley Newman, of Arab, pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12, and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. His plea came as jury selection was to begin in his trial, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey.

Newman was arrested in 2015 after one of his victims disclosed the abuse to her school guidance counselor. The school counselor then notified law enforcement officers who identified three additional victims, with a pattern of abuse that started as early as 1998 and continued up until the time of Newman's arrest, Casey said.

According to court records, Newman was charged with engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with all four of his victims while they were under 12 years of age.

Upon his guilty plea, Newman was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison on each of the count of sodomy and the sex abuse of a child under the age of 12 charge. He was sentenced to 10 years each on the two counts of first-degree sex abuse.

Due to the nature of the offenses and the age of his victims, Newman will not be eligible for parole or receive credit for good time, Casey said. The case was investigated by Blount County sheriff's Sgt. Sue Ashworth, with additional services provided by the Blount County Children's Center.

Casey said settling the case prevented the young victims from having to testify in front of strangers about the horrific acts.

"I am pleased to see this matter concluded. Wesley Newman perpetrated a series of horrific attacks upon these young ladies for far too long,'' Casey said. "But, justice has been served."

The district attorney said she is grateful for the work of investigators and child advocates. "These young ladies will have the opportunity to continue to grow and experience all of the good things life has to offer while Wesley Newman is locked behind bars," Casey said.

Casey urged everyone who has experienced sexual abuse to seek help. "Talk to your teachers, physicians, or law enforcement officers,'' she said. "Together, we can stop sexual exploitation of children."
A 22-year-old man has been indicted after police say they found thousands of child porn images during a raid at his Tarrant home.

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Dalton Lee Cato on four counts possession of child pornography, according to recently-released court records. Cato was booked into the Jefferson County Jail Aug. 9 and released the following day after posting $15,000 bond.

Tarrant police initially arrested Cato in April. The investigation began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That tip came from Texas and alerted police to a possible child porn predator in Tarrant.

Authorities were able to develop enough evidence to obtain and serve a search warrant for Cato's home on Princeton Avenue in Tarrant. It was a joint search with Tarrant police and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Special Victims Unit. Police at the time said they found thousands of pornographic images in Cato's possession.

"We feel like this guy is a child porn dealer,'' former Tarrant police Lt. Larry Rice said at the time of Cato's April arrest. "These folks use all types of social media outlets and every time one of these images is shared, that child is victimized again."

Cato is charged with four counts of possession of obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under age 17. According to Alabama law, a person commits that crime by knowingly possessing any obscene matter that contains a visual depiction of a person under the age of 17 years engaged in any act of sado-masochistic abuse, sexual intercourse, sexual excitement, masturbation, genital nudity, or other sexual conduct. It is a Class C felony.

"This will be one less person victimizing children,'' Rice said. "We're here to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
A 17-year-old girl was carjacked at knifepoint at an eastern Jefferson County store, and now authorities are asking for public's help in identifying the assailant.

The crime happened on Monday, July 23, at the Guerrero Supermarket at 5114 Pinson Valley Parkway. Jefferson County sheriff's Det. E. Scheirer provided this account of what happened:

It was about 5:30 p.m. that Monday when the teen victim pulled up to the store in her light green 2005 Lexus ES 300. Surveillance video shows that as the girl entered the store, a white male appeared from the parking lot of the nearby Citgo station and proceeded toward the victim's car, as if he had been watching her.

He followed her into the store and exited a short time later with the teen still inside. Other customers came and went during that time, but the suspect patiently waited for the teen, who was alone unlike other customers that had small children with them.

The teen victim looked out the window of the store. "She had an uneasy feeling about him already,'' Scheirer said. "She had seen him walking over from the Citgo."

Still, she exited and walked to her vehicle. He started talking to her and asked for a ride. When she declined and got into her vehicle, he moved to where he was between the victim and the door, and then brandished a knife. "I'll kill you with my knife,'' he told her.

The victim jumped out of her car and the suspect took off, recklessly backing up on Alabama 79. The teen was shaken but uninjured.

"It could have been a lot worse,'' Scheirer said. "Like I tell my own children, she did the best thing by letting him have it."

The detective believes the suspect was looking for a female victim and that the carjacking was a crime of opportunity. "I'm hoping his motive was just theft,'' she said, "because like I said, it could have gone a lot worse."

Three weeks later, neither the victim's car nor the suspect has been found. The stolen Lexus has Alabama license plate 2593AV7. The vehicle has been spotted in New Castle, could still be in the Pinson area.

The suspect is described as a white male wearing all black clothing, a red hat and white shoes. He has a teardrop under his left eye and tattoos on both arms. He was about 5-feet, 7-inches tall and weighed between 150 to 160 pounds. He was clean-shaven and believed to be in his late teens or early-to-mid 20s.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect.
This is an opinion column.

Nancy Worley is bad at her job.

She has no vision, no competence, and most importantly, no common sense.

As the Alabama Democratic Party chairwoman, she has been a failure.

But, on Saturday, the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee renewed its four-year lease on that failure, re-electing Worley as its party chair.

If you heard a strange noise around noon that day, that was thousands of Alabama Republicans cackling all at once while Democrats gagged on their lunches.

Before we get to how this happened, it's important to understand just how bad Worley has been, and sadly, the best place to start is the commode.

Four years ago, Worley mailed a holiday letter. It was the sort of Christmas letter your aunt might send to family, recounting that year's harrowing vacation to the Grand Canyon or your uncle's gallbladder surgery.

But Worley's letter didn't just go to family and immediate friends. She mailed it to party members and donors throughout the state.

In it, she described in detail how she had gotten stuck on the toilet in her home for hours and couldn't get up.

When I asked Worley then why she needed to share that with the rest of the Alabama Democratic Party, she seemed confused why anybody cared.

"Quite frankly, if someone cares about one minute detail in a letter, then they must not have anything interesting going on," she said then.

But this was not an isolated instance of bad judgment. Other dumb mistakes have nearly landed Worley in prison.

While serving as Alabama Secretary of State in 2006, Worley solicited campaign help from her office staff -- for which she was indicted on felony ethics charges. In a deal with prosecutors, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and agreed to pay a $100 fine and $1,245 in court costs.

Then she never paid, at least not until called out for it in the press last year.

Worley insisted the whole thing was a political prosecution and said nobody had sent her a bill to pay.

More recently, Worley has failed to file ethics disclosures as required by state law.

And all these failures are before you get to the Alabama Democratic Party itself.

The party has struggled with debt. For reasons you probably can imagine, a lot of donors don't want to flush their money down Worley's toilet.

Under Worley's leadership, the party has failed at free things, too -- like Twitter. While Donald Trump tweets about 12 times a day, the Alabama Democratic Party's Twitter account hasn't posted anything in six months.

Alabama GOP Chairwoman Terry Lathan tweeted 13 times just on Saturday.

Did I mention it's an election year?

Despite Worley's record of failure, the party's executive committee reelected her in a 101-to-89 vote.

"Our candidates are going to have to go it alone, just like I did," said Sen. Doug Jones, who backed Worley's challenger, Montgomery lawyer Peck Fox. "We need to have a party. We don't have a party. There is no social media. There's no outreach. There's no get out the vote effort. There's no organization. There's no field. And the vote today was simply to keep that."

So why did the executive committee pick Worley again?

Alabama Democratic Party boss Joe Reed

Simple: Because party boss Joe Reed backed her.

The structural problem of the Alabama Democratic Party is a 1991 federal consent decree to give proportionate racial representation on the executive committee. The party's minority caucus gets to appoint at-large seats until the party's executive committee has the same racial balance as the Democratic electorate in the last presidential election.

At least, that's how it's supposed to work.

What really happens is that the head of that caucus, Reed, gives these appointments to people who are loyal to him. The result is a politically impervious, self-appointing majority that follows Reed's orders.

And lest any outsiders try to cast this as a white-black divide in the party, there are many black Democrats in Alabama who loathe Reed. But folks like state Sen. Vivian Davis Figures and state Rep. Chris England, who don't follow Reed's orders, get shut out, too.

For whatever reason, Reed has never wanted the chairmanship himself. He's content to let a puppet have it. And his puppet for the last four years has been Worley.

On Saturday, Reed backed Worley again, spitting in the face of Jones, and England, and even women's rights rockstar Lilly Ledbetter, who ran unsuccessfully for party secretary.

And so the Alabama Democratic Party is doomed to spend another four years with Worley stuck on its throne.

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

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Athens City Schools officials say the new Athens High School building will not be open until November, AL.com news partner WHNT News 19 reported.

Students will have classes in the former Athens Middle School building on Clinton Street until the new high school is open, officials said. School officials said changes were made to the building to create adequate classroom space, allowing the school to run a full schedule.

"Put in walls, made sure that we had electrical outlets wiring that's in there, some type of projector, drops for computers and technology, and so we turned nontraditional instructional spaces into instructional spaces," said Principal Travis Schrimscher.

Athens City Schools Superintendent Trey Holladay said the unusually wet summer kept workers from completing the courtyard area.

"The goal was to complete the classroom areas of the building by the end of August so that students could begin the year in the new school. However, all the pieces just did not come together as hoped," Holladay said.

He said 90 percent of classrooms are finished. The auditorium, media center and interior courtyard are also incomplete.

Parking may be complicated at the former Athens Middle School on Clinton Street. Holladay said students will be able to park at the Clinton Street location and the new middle school location, which is the old high school. Students who park at the current middle school will be shuttled to class.

Students and parents can find a list of frequently asked questions and answers here. Officials said students and parents will be able to walk through the new school before it opens for class Nov. 19.
Warning: This story contains explicit language

Sen. Doug Jones was heckled at a town hall meeting Monday night in Birmingham when a woman threw a pair of stuffed lips in the senator's direction while venting her anger that Alabama's junior senator is keeping an open mind on U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

After Jones expressed disappointment that the National Archives rejected Democrats' request for documents on Kavanaugh relating to the nominee's tenure as President George W. Bush's staff secretary, the woman stood in the center aisle of A.H. Parker High School's auditorium and shouted at the senator.

"You have enough information. We love you. But you will vote no. And you have enough information to vote no," the woman said before throwing the stuffed lips toward Jones. "You can kiss my ass if you vote yes. You can kiss my ass if you vote yes. You can kiss my ass."

The woman was immediately escorted out of the Birmingham high school by police officers.

Jones said he appreciated the woman's "passion" but said she misunderstood the issue.

"There are people that don't fully understand the fact that I don't have all those documents. The Judiciary Committee does, and there are people that don't understand the role of the Constitution is being an independent voice."

The senator said politics would not play a role in his vote, adding that conservatives in the state are trying to apply the same pressure on him as the woman at the Birmingham event.

"I know she's passionate about [Kavanaugh]and I appreciate it," Jones said. "There's just as many people passionate on the other side, so that doesn't make it real easy."
Two Alabamians who say they lost their jobs with large companies not because of a failure to perform but because of the cost of treating their multiple sclerosis joined Montgomery attorney Julian McPhillips for a press conference today.

McPhillips said their cases are part of a larger concern about the plight of people with MS who can do their jobs but need costly medications.

Andrew Bell, president of the Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said the cost of drugs to treat MS has "skyrocketed" to an average of about $90,000 a year.

Bell said more than a million Americans and about 6,000 people in Alabama have MS, which he said usually strikes between ages 20 and 50.

"Most people with MS are of working age," Bell said. "They want to continue working."

Jennifer Akridge of Montgomery, 48, was fired from Alfa Insurance in December 2016 after 27 years with the company. She filed a disability discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case is pending in federal court in Montgomery.

Akridge began working for Alfa in 1989 and was diagnosed with MS in 1993, her lawsuit says. Alfa named her its employee of the year in 1995, according to the lawsuit. Her illness was well known at the company and it required her to take paid leave intermittently but she was still able to do her job in underwriting, partly by working at home, the lawsuit says.

Akridge was receiving shots for MS that cost as much as $11,000 a month. Alfa is self-insured and was paying for that treatment, the lawsuit says.

Jeff Helms, director of public relations and communications for Alfa, said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

"In fulfilling our obligation to our members and policyholders and as a true equal opportunity employer, we will not practice, tolerate, or condone discrimination because of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, physical or mental disability or national origin," Helms said in a statement.

Robert Doll, 50, of Conecuh County, said he believes he was fired from his job as manager of a Weyerhaeuser plant because of his MS.

Doll said he has worked in manufacturing for 28 years, including a total of about nine years at Weyerhaeuser, from 2005 to 2010 and from 2013 to 2017.

Doll said he was diagnosed with MS in 2011. In 2013, Weyerhaeuser hired him to restart a mill in Castleberry. Doll said the mill increased its production over the next few years and was recognized for having a banner year in 2016.

Doll said he disclosed his MS diagnosis to the company in 2015 after a fall during a tour of a plant in McComb, Miss.

Doll said the company was initially willing to accommodate him but that willingness diminished until he was fired in November 2017.

"While I do not expect to get a straightforward, honest explanation, I do believe my termination was directly related to my limited mobility, the unwillingness of my supervisor to adjust his approach for me and very likely the cost of my treatment," Doll said, reading a prepared statement at the press conference.

Doll said it's difficult for people who lose their jobs because of a disability to fight back because legal actions are costly and have uncertain outcomes. He said he wanted to be a voice for others with similar situations.

"If this battle or battles like this do not occur, the plight of disabled people will not change," Doll said.

Nancy Thompson, director of government affairs for Weyerhaeuser, said the company does not make public comments about personnel decisions or potential legal matters.

McPhillips said even with federal laws intended to protect workers with disabilities, it's hard to obtain any relief through the court system in a reasonable time, partly because the companies that are defendants in the cases are able to slow down the process.

"It's very frustrating," McPhillips said. "It's a very uneven playing field."

McPhillips said he plans to talk to members of Congress and state legislators about possible changes to the law.
A Madison man today pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic drugs through the dark web, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The man, 25-year-old Joseph William Davis, known as OlympusXans, or OX, on the dark web, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic drugs and possessing firearms in the furtherance of drug trafficking before U.S. District Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala Tuesday, officials said. A federal grand jury indicted Davis on the drug-trafficking and firearms charges in May.

According to the indictment from May, Davis conspired in 2016 and 2017 to traffic methamphetamine, alprazolam and fentanyl in Madison and Cullman counties.

Davis' sentencing is schedule for Dec. 19.

"Fentanyl overdose deaths continue to soar in the United States while drug traffickers hide behind their computers, ordering up potent synthetic opioids and other drugs from the darkest corners of the internet," said U.S. Attorney Jay Town. "The Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Attorney's Office know how to unmask these criminals and send them to federal prison without the refuge of parole."

In his guilty plea, Davis said he used encrypted internet chats to arrange smuggled shipments of illegal drugs, which he arranged to be delivered to addresses in Madison County through the U.S. Mail.

One of the packages seized during the investigation in 2017 contained 10,580 alprazolam pills. Alplrazolam is an anti-anxiety medication. Another package contained 602 alprazolam pills and 611 fentanyl pills. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that's 50 times more potent that heroin.

Davis was deemed responsible for distributing, possessing with intent to distribute and conspiring to distribute or to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, 2.81 grams of cocaine and more than 80,000 units of alprazolam, according to his plea.

"Dangerous life-threatening drugs have no place in the U.S. Mail," said U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez. "This case should serve as a deterrent by reminding criminals that postal inspectors and their law enforcement partners continuously strive to keep the U.S. Mail safe."

The conspiracy charge carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. The penalty for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes is five years to life in prison, served consecutively to any other prison term imposed, per federal law.

U.S. Postal Inspectors, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Huntsville-Madison County STAC, and the Cullman County Sheriff's Department investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Keim is prosecuting.
A project plan of a new Leader-class destroyer will be ready by 2022. A keel-laying ceremony will take place after that, Viktor Bursuk, the Russian Navy deputy commander-in-chief, said.

A project plan of a new Leader-class destroyer will be ready by 2022. A keel-laying ceremony will take place after that, Viktor Bursuk, the Russian Navy deputy commander-in-chief, said.

Scale model showing the Project 23560E "Shkval-class" Destroyer (export variant of Leader-class) at Army 2016 exhibition. Twelve ships of the 10,000t "Leader class" are planned to enter service from 2023-25, split between the Northern and Pacific Fleets. They will all be nuclear powered. They will be fitted with the ABM-capable S-500 SAM and Kalibr (SS-N-27) cruise missile.

"As for the Leader destroyer, we are going to launch a project plan in 2019-2020. It will be finished approximately in 2022. The ship will be lain down after that," Bursuk said.

He noted that funds had been allocated for the ships construction. "A shipbuilding program provides for this ships construction. So all the budgets will be implemented," the deputy commander-in-chief said.

Viktor Chirkov, an adviser to the United Shipbuilding Corporations head, said that the Leader-class destroyer would be equipped with a nuclear power unit. "Everything that we have done here will form the foundation for building a Leader-class nuclear-powered destroyer," Chirkov said.

A project plan for the Leader-class destroyer is being prepared by the Severnoye design bureau in St. Petersburg. Igor Ponomarev, the vice-president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation for naval construction, said that the Russian Defense Ministry had already approved the destroyers engineering plan.

The future destroyers displacement varies from 10,000 to 15,000 tons. According to Bursuk, the Leader-class destroyer will be equipped with a nuclear power plant. Earlier, Bursuk said that the destroyers construction could begin after 2020.

Scale model showing the Project 23560E "Shkval-class" Destroyer (export variant of Leader-class) at Army 2016 exhibition. Twelve ships of the 10,000t "Leader class" are planned to enter service from 2023-25, split between the Northern and Pacific Fleets. They will all be nuclear powered. They will be fitted with the ABM-capable S-500 SAM and Kalibr (SS-N-27) cruise missile.

 Copyright 2018 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This is an opinion cartoon with a side of commentary.

Being a Democratic candidate in Alabama is a hobbling experience.

With no help from the walking dead Alabama Democratic Party, Doug Jones cobbled together his own grass roots campaign from scratch to eke out an upset win in his race for U.S. Senate.

Democrat Walt Maddox is having to do the same in his battle for governor.

Yet, the state Democrats still voted to wallow in irrelevance under the control of party chairwoman Nancy Worley and vice chairman of minority affairs, Joe Reed.

Why?

My Reckon by Al.com colleague Kyle Whitmire (@warondumb) explains all in this Twitter thread: This is all you really need to know about the Alabama Democratic Party right here

Want access to the best analysis and in-depth reporting about Alabama each week? Sign up for the weekly Reckon Report newsletter and follow Reckon on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out a history of Alabama political corruption toons by JD Crowe
Rep. Bradley Byrne said his office has learned no immigrants will be housed at Navy airfields in South Baldwin County.

BREAKING: My office has learned that there are no plans to house illegal immigrants at Navy airfields in south Baldwin County! This was a bad idea from the start, and I am pleased it will not come to fruition.  Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) August 14, 2018

Federal authorities had considered the possibility of housing up to 25,000 immigrants in "temporary and austere" tent cities in Alabama, with others in California and Arizona. The Alabama locations included the Navy Outlying Field Wolf in Orange Beach and the nearby Navy Outlying Field Silverhill.

Byrne said he's received confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement that other facilities will be used to house individual immigrants and families.

"At this time, ICE does not have plans to acquire additional bed space in Alabama," ICE deputy director Ronald Vitiello wrote in a letter to Byrne, adding the Pentagon has offered 4,000 beds at Fort Bliss, Texas and an additional 8,000 bids at two unnamed sites.

Byrne had previously called the proposal a "major mistake."

"Housing anyone in tents on the Gulf Coast during the heat of summer and the heart of hurricane season would be inhumane and a major mistake," Byrne said. The whole issue just underscores why it is so important we secure our borders and crack down on illegal immigration."

The Department of Defense were asked to help provide housing for undocumented immigrants in government custody. Those numbers have surged in the wake of President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy on immigration.
Prattville police are searching for a woman who has not been seen since she left her home in Prattville Sunday afternoon.

Fannie Mae Robinson left her home at 4 p.m. Sunday and has not returned. Officials said someone was able to reach her by phone at 9 a.m. Monday, but no other contact has been made.

Robinson was driving a blue 1995 Buick Century, Alabama tag number 4AB9449. Officials said Robinson has a medical condition and that her family is concerned about her.

A description of her clothing was not available.

Anyone with information about Robinson's location should contact Prattville police or Crime Stoppers by calling 205-215-7867.
Labor strife in Alabama during the early 20th Century is full of wild tales of shootouts, bloody strikes and the National Guard trying to control the mayhem.

Depression-era coal miners were heavily unionized, at a whopping 90 percent. Their strikes gave way to the 1934 textile mill walkouts nationwide that began with a labor unrest in Huntsville.

Wayne Flynt, a political historian and professor emeritus from Auburn University, notes that Birmingham, as recently as the 1940s, had the highest percentage of union manufacturing employees of any city in the South.

But it's been a long fall for organized labor ever since. Today, fewer than 10 percent of Alabama workers are represented by a union.

"You see people across the country who have seen their rights lost because unions are being taken away," said Bren Riley, president of the Alabama AFL-CIO, which includes 65,000 members. "We lost a lot because of the economic collapse of the Great Recession."

'Coke Lives Matter'

But a recent string of actions has some people taking notice.

In coastal Alabama and Mississippi, for the fifth day on Monday, the 250-member Teamsters Local 991 union protested what it claims are unfair labor practices by Birmingham-based Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc.

The scene can seem like a throwback to another era: Picketers holding signs, walking along busy roads, and receiving encouraging honks from passing motorists.

Union walkouts are a rarity not just in Alabama, but almost anywhere in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were only seven major work stoppages consisting of 1,000 workers or more in 2017, the second-lowest number since 1947.

The strike at four Coca-Cola distribution plants - Robertsdale, LeRoy, Mobile and Ocean Springs, Mississippi - isn't considered a "major" work stoppage. But, according to union officials, it's having an impact inside the company.

"They've brought in a number of (replacement workers) and what they are doing, we are having trouble figuring it out," said Jim Gookins, principle officer with Local 991, and a 38-year member of Local 991.

On Monday, picketers lined up along U.S. 90 at Coca-Cola Road in Tillman's Corner. One sign read, "Coke Lives Matter." Another sign objected to the so-called "scabs" or replacement workers that the union says were brought in from other areas of the state to fill in while the strike was under way.

Linda Sewell, a spokeswoman with Coca-Cola Bottling United, said the company is continuing to negotiate with the union through a mediator.

Gookins said the union presented a counter-proposal to the company's most recent offer on Friday. "They acknowledged a receipt of it on Saturday, but it doesn't seem like (progress has been made)."

The union says that the main problem stems from starting pay. Gookins said that in some cases, new hires could see a pay cut of $5 to $7 an hour.

Said Gookins: "There are some jobs in the $12 to $14 an hour range, and it's just not acceptable to us. They make $19 an hour and the company wants other people starting at $12 an hour. From where I sit, all that will do is create a hostile work environment. The $19 guy is also worried because (Coca-Cola United) will want more $12-an-hour guys here and force them out."

The last time this same Teamsters union went on strike, the walkout lasted three weeks before the group voted 139-65 to accept a contract with Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated. That hang-up, which occurred almost exactly 10 years ago, revolved around a dispute about retirement savings and pension plans.

Coca-Cola United acquired the Mobile production facility and the distribution territories from Coca-Cola Consolidated and The Coca-Cola Company in October 2017. Coca-Cola United announced at the time that it was planned to add employees and make $2 million in facility and infrastructure improvements.

Elizabeth Shermer, an assistant professor of history at Loyola University Chicago, and an author on books about labor relations and politics, said she's hoping that Local 991 is taking a broader approach during the talks with the mediator.

"It's better for the South, it's better for Alabama, if people are making enough money to buy what they are distributing," said Shermer. "That's what unions are there for."

She added, "Wages have stagnated. We used to say that working middle-class wages have stagnated, but they have been declining in the South since the mid-70s. Why not be out on strike for five days? What more do you have to lose?"

'Right to work'

The strike is also occurring during a peculiar time nationally for unions.

In March, a massive teachers' strike in West Virginia,

Unions were delivered a heavy blow in June after the U.S. Supreme Court, in

A little more than a month later, in Missouri,

Alabama is one of the 27 states with a right-to-work law, which allows employees in private-sector unionized workplaces to opt out of a union membership. As a result, they can cease paying union fees.

Critics contend that right-to-work is akin to union busting and a political ploy by Republicans to whittle away at strong Democratic voting base. Proponents say that right-to-work laws help bolster economic development. They also claim that right-to-work doesn't prevent anyone from forming a union.

Alabama became a "right-to-work" state in August 1953, and voters overwhelmingly backed a constitutional amendment solidifying the status in 2016.

The 2016 vote was heavily backed by the Business Council of Alabama, which declined to comment for this story. "This issue at hand is about contract negotiations currently being mediated under the National Labor Relations Act and given this status, we don't have anything to add," said interim president and CEO Mark Colson.

Alabama is the most recent of the nine states to include right-to-work within its state constitution. Since 2012, seven states have approved right-to-work laws.

Andras Danis, an assistant professor at the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech University, said the recent labor victory in Missouri provides a momentum boost for labor activists and unions to push other red states to become more worker friendly. West Virginia and Missouri are both considered Republican-leaning states.

Recent polling data also suggests improved public opinion about unions. A Gallup poll taken last August shows that labor union approval at 61 percent, its strongest showing since 2003.

A Pew Research Center analysis, conducted in June, showed that 55 percent of Americans held a favorable view about unions. The same poll, citing BLS data, showed that just 10.7 percent of wage and salaries workers in the U.S. were members of labor unions, down from 20.1 percent in 1983.

Danis said it's unlikely Alabama will overturn right-to-work anytime soon. He said he's aware of only two such instances - Missouri this year, and Indiana in 1965 - in which voters overturned the law.

The Pew polling shows a 30-percentage-point gap between Democratic and Republican views of labor unions: 70 percent of Democrats hold a favorable view, compared to 40 percent of Republicans.

In Alabama, a deep red state in which almost all statewide elected offices are occupied by a Republican, 8.1 percent of workers are represented by a union, according to federal data. But while Alabama is below the national average, the state is more unionized than most in the South, including Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

"What I think is more likely to happen is that employers will react to the extremely low unemployment rate around the country by raising wages a little bit in order to accommodate workers," said Danis. "Historically, it's very hard to overturn right-to-work."

Shermer, at Loyola Chicago, said she would not be surprised to see more efforts by labor unions to exploit the issue of economic inequality that has become a rallying cry for labor organizations since the Great Recession.

She added, "This goes so much beyond who is in the White House. There is a real impulse in this country that too many people are struggling to get by in one of the world's richest nations and that's not who we are."
Terrie Jones Savage, the sister of U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Alabama) is withdrawing from her bid for a state House seat as a Democrat.

Savage had qualified for state House District 9, but said Tuesday she was withdrawing because she has two "very sick parents right now."

The Alabama Secretary of State's Office said Tuesday that it hasn't been notified officially, but Savage said she has written the state Democratic Party about her withdrawal.

Savage said her parents are in a care facility, but "it keeps me pretty busy." She said Jones is also helping care for their parents, but she is closer and can do more.

"I hate to do it," Savage said of her decision, adding, "I am going to be back."

Savage was the only candidate certified to be on the ballot by the Alabama Democratic Party. The only certified Republican candidate is Scott Stadhagen.

The Alabama Democratic Party had a qualifying period to seek a replacement, a party spokesman said Tuesday, but no one came forward.

Things get a little complicated from there. If the party notifies the Secretary of State's Office of Savage's withdrawal before Aug. 22, she will be removed from the ballot. The party can also certify a replacement candidate until then.

If the party notifies the office of Savage's withdrawal after Aug. 22, she remains on the ballot but her votes won't count. If the party doesn't notify the office of her withdrawal at all, Savage remains on the ballot and technically could still win.

A write-in candidate could also win under any circumstance.

(Updated Aug. 14, 2018 at 6:22 p.m. CDT to correct the spelling of Savage's name in the headline)
It's starting to feel real. Both Boeing and Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. have contracts with NASA to fly astronauts to the International Space Station as part of what's known as the Commercial Crew Program. Seven years after the end of the Space Shuttle program, NASA introduced the astronauts who will fly with both companies.

Now comes the hard part.

On Monday, at SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif., the media-and more importantly, SpaceX employees-got a chance to meet the four astronauts who will fly on "Crew Dragon," the spacecraft SpaceX designed to ferry astronauts safely to and from the orbiting lab. Here are the next big steps for SpaceX and the Dragon team:

- Demo-1: SpaceX will conduct an uncrewed demonstration mission without humans aboard known as Demo-1. The Crew Dragon spacecraft assigned to Demo-1 underwent thermal vacuum and acoustic testing at NASA's Plum Brook Station in Ohio and arrived in Florida last month. Demo-1 is currently targeted for November.

- In Flight Abort Test: SpaceX will demonstrate its ability to swiftly carry the Dragon capsule to safety in the event of an in-flight mishap with the Falcon 9 rocket. There won't be astronauts on board for this test, which will be conducted from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Neither NASA or SpaceX has named a target month; early next year seems likely.

- Demo-2: Following Demo-1 and the abort test, Air Force Col. Bob Behnken and former Marine Corps test pilot Doug Hurley will be the first two astronauts to fly in Dragon, which will launch from Kennedy Space Center. Hurley, who has been with NASA for 18 years, said he's thrilled with the white space suits SpaceX designed-if you watched the Falcon Heavy launch in February, the dummy "Starman" was wearing one behind the wheel of Musk's cherry red Tesla Roadster. "The old space suits are really heavy," said Hurley. "SpaceX started from scratch and built this in house. It's pretty neat looking. I've worn the suit over 20 times already, and it's lighter and a lot more comfortable to wear."

Demo-2 is currently targeted for April 2019.Though SpaceX and Boeing are in a race to see who will get astronauts to the ISS first, both companies, as well as NASA, said they are focusing on safety over schedule.

"We are not going to fly until we are ready to fly safely," said SpaceX Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell at the event Monday. "We need to hit all the boxes and do everything we need to do to take astronauts from U.S. soil as often as NASA will let us."After SpaceX successfully completes Demo-2, NASA will certify the spacecraft and systems for regular crewed launches to the ISS, with astronauts Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover flying the first operational mission.

Even with all the safety precautions and testing, however, the astronauts remain aware that space flight is extremely hazardous."The only thing I'm afraid of," said Glover, who is married and has four daughters, "is not coming home to my family."
Buc-ee's, a chain of 33 convenience stores in Texas, is opening its first travel station outside the Lone Star State in Baldwin County.

The new 50,000-square-foot facility, which will open early next year at Interstate 10 and the Baldwin Beach Express, will employ 200-250 people.

The Alabama Department of Labor, on Tuesday, issued a media advisory that the Foley Career Center has received job orders for 195 openings. They include: cashiers, warehouse workers, stockers, cleaning and maintenance attendants, merchandising associates, and food service associates.

Interested job seekers are being asked to visit the Foley Career Center to complete the application process. The Center is located at 200 W. Michigan Avenue in Foley.

The Lake Jackson, Texas-based business has recently posted their starting pay ranges on a billboard along Interstate 10 near downtown Mobile. The range is from $13 to $17 an hour, which is posted on a billboard that also includes the company's logo that features a cartoon beaver.

Mike Davis, a professor at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said the company isn't shy about publicizing its pay ranges. He said it's a strategic advertising effort aimed at sending signals to customers and potential employees.

"What they are doing is sending a signal that the people you find working at Buc-ee's are happy to be there and are eager to serve," said Davis. "That is part of their model."

The company was founded in 1982, and features a chain of retail centers that are considered some of the largest convenience stores in the country. The Baldwin County retail center will feature 120 pumps, which makes is among the largest Buc-ee's the company offers.

The company also does not allow 18-wheelers, meaning that the venues are popular among automobile travelers. Inside the convenience stores, Buc-ee's offers a variety of beef jerkies, barbecue, homemade fudge, sandwiches, tacos, etc.

"What they are trying to do is appeal to the slightly more upscale traveler," said Davis. "These are people with families and discretionary income. They want clean and they want novel and that is what they will find at Buc-ee's."
Mobile's top safety executive said Tuesday that a recent Circuit Court ruling compelling the Mobile Police Department to release body cam footage of officers pepper spraying high school students in 2016 struck the right "balance" in the clash between public scrutiny and the police's need protect investigations.

James Barber, the city's executive director of public safety, who was the chief of police when one of his officers pepper sprayed McGill-Toolen students in September of that year, said that the decision to release the body cam footage would ultimately not set a precedent.

"I don't know where it's going to hinder the integrity of future investigations," said Barber of the decision to release the pepper spray incident. "It throws it back to the discretion of the police chief" to make decisions in future cases.

The case adds another layer to the statewide discussion on what the public should be entitled to see in cases where officers are accused of policy brutality or murder. The Huntsville City Attorney's Office, for example, recently denied a public records request for body cam footage from and personnel information about an officer that is accused of unlawfully killing another man April 3.



Barber had argued in court earlier this year that if the police were required to provide video on request it would strain police resources to comply and that officers would simply stop wearing the cameras.

He said the ruling avoids that problem.

Mobile Circuit Court Judge Rick Stout made the ruling Monday, ordering Mobile Police Department to release the body cam footage to the Meredith Corporation, known locally as WALA-TV/FOX 10 News. The city has 14 days to comply with the order, ensuring that the faces of students pepper sprayed in the footage are blurred out to preserve their privacy.



Meredith is expected to pay all reasonable costs.

But more significantly, Judge Stout said that the court's ruling should "not be construed so as to have any precedential value for courts in the Circuit or anywhere else." That means that members of the public are not able to demand body cam footage for every incident involving police. Future requests will be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

Barber said that the city would likely release a full statement on the issue in the coming days but did not expect an appeal against the court ruling.

The case dates back to September 2016, when in the aftermath of McGill-Toolen's 43-0 win over Murphy, students congregated to paint the cannon orange to celebrate their team's win. The painting of the cannon has become a tradition in recent years. According to then chief of police Barber, 80-100 students turned up earlier than expected and the three on-duty officers struggled to contain the crowd. That's when the pepper spray was used.

Barber said that the officer involved did not follow correct procedure and had been later disciplined.
In 2009, a trip to Asia would change my life forever. Thats when I first met The Grandmothers. Prior to that trip, I knew very little about the atrocities that occurred during the second world war in Asia  specifically, the institutionalised sexual slavery system that held captive about 200,000 girls and young women.

When I asked the elders in my family to tell me stories about the past and what it was like during the war, they would shake their heads slowly and somberly say, , , which means: Theres nothing good to say, nothing good to hear. And that was the end of my history lesson.

As a CBC (Canadian Born Chinese), I often felt conflicted culturally. The North American approach is to speak out against injustice, while the Chinese way of dealing with hardship is to , which literally translates to swallow the bitterness. And of course, one must always save face to preserve pride and honour. I was first confronted with this dilemma as an eight-year-old, after being sexually assaulted at home by a so-called family friend. I was paralysed by the choices I could make but, either way, I felt that my world had already been shattered.

The Apology writer and director Tiffany Hsiung was drawn to tell the stories of Japans surviving comfort women [Tiffany Hsiung]

I chose the temporary comfort and safety of keeping silent and, like the women of generations before me, I just learned to swallow the bitterness. Fast forward 17 years later, and I would meet these remarkable women in my film, The Apology. History refers to them as Comfort Women  a term used by the Japanese Imperial Army to describe the girls and women they forced into sexual slavery. But to me, they are the Grandmothers.

What started off as a journey to uncover this dark history of human atrocities soon turned into an exploration of perseverance. When Korean survivor Kim Hak-Sun first spoke out publicly six decades after World War II, in 1991, she set off a chain reaction. Other women in their respective countries started to speak out too, and the world would hear testimony after testimony from hundreds of women describing unimaginable crimes against them  all with the hope that justice would soon follow. Twenty-eight years later, their fight continues.

After the first few years of spending time with Grandma Cao in China, Grandma Gil in Korea, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines, it was clear there was more to this chapter in history, more than just the sexual slavery, more to these women that people werent seeing. I came to learn about their lives after the war, and how they had survived. They had incredible resilience, made tremendous sacrifices, and ultimately displayed the true power of the human spirit.

Over the course of six years, each of the communities we filmed demonstrated the importance of camaraderie. Knowing that you arent alone and that you will be supported after disclosing your past can make the difference between speaking out and living the rest of your life in silence, or carrying the burden and pain of what you experienced as a victim. Society has perpetuated a culture of shame that has resulted in decades, or even a lifetime of silence for survivors of sexual violence.

Over the course of six years, each of the communities we filmed demonstrated the importance of camaraderie. Knowing that you aren't alone and that you will be supported after disclosing your past can make the difference between speaking out and living the rest of your life in silence. Tiffany Hsiung, writer and director, The Apology

These days the Me Too and Times Up movements are sparking a global dialogue that de-stigmatises and reframes what it means to be a victim of sexual violence. The Grandmothers have taught me that although my past does not define me, the journey to come to terms with my past makes me who I am today. Discovering why I wanted to make this film was extremely difficult because I thought it was a story I wanted to tell when, in fact, it became a story I always needed to tell. Its a story for the eight-year-old girl within me that struggled to tell her own family about the abuse. Its a story for all the courageous Grandmothers who survived months and years of sexual slavery. Its a story for every survivor that never had the space to be known outside the ugly crimes committed against them. Its a story that brings to light the millions of untold stories of sexual violence that continue to go unheard.
Britons speak out about the anti-Semitism storm that has engulfed the UKs main opposition Labour Party.

Labour, under the leadership Jeremy Corbyn, a leftist, has spent more than two years at the centre of a dispute concerning the extent to which anti-Semitism exists in the party.

Many Corbyn supporters see the attacks from within and outside the party as little more than attempts to smear the pro-Palestinian politician.

Just this week, Corbyn was pilloried after pictures emerged of him at a ceremony in 2014 reportedly honouring those allegedly behind the 1972 Munich attack, in which 11 Israeli Olympic team members were killed by Palestinian fighters.

This furore came as critics continued to target a new code of conduct the party adopted on anti-Semitism, asserting that it does not satisfy the guidelines issued by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

The IHRA definition includes 11 anti-Semitism examples, including denying the Holocaust.

But while this was largely endorsed, Labours ruling body voted not to adopt some of the examples in their entirety.

One excluded example cautions against claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.

In an August 3 article for The Guardian, Corbyn wrote that anti-Semitism had no place in the party, but added: It is unfortunately the case that this particular example, dealing with Israel and racism, has sometimes been used by those wanting to restrict criticism of Israel that is not anti-Semitic.

Al Jazeera gauged the views of five individuals in Britain on Labours ongoing anti-Semitism storm.

We have seen numerous, well-evidenced cases of anti-Semitism

Gideon Falter is chairman of the London-based Campaign Against Anti-Semitism group.

We have seen numerous, well-evidenced cases of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party. Many Labour MPs have put their careers on the line to expose institutionalised anti-Semitism in their party.

There is an overwhelming consensus about the [IHRA] definition with the Jewish community and it is not the Labour Partys place to rewrite it.

Rejection of the definition by the Labour Party puts it at odds with every other mainstream political party, with the British government, with over 30 other governments, and with the Crown Prosecution Service and the College of Policing.

We have seen numerous, well-evidenced cases of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party [Courtesy: Campaign Against Antisemitism/Al Jazeera]

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Labour Party had no intention of accepting the definition, as to do so would have been to admit that many of its members were in breach of much of it.

For this to really be a smear campaign, it would require that every Jewish major institution in the Jewish community as well as the vast majority of Labour MPs to have conspired to attack the Labour Party, which is a party that the Jewish community played a huge role in building and which most Jews used to vote for.

Some of Corbyns opponents dont want him to succeed

Prolific social media user Tom London tweets under a pseudonym. He is Jewish and has been a member of the Labour Party for 26 years

There is a problem of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, but I believe that Jeremy Corbyn is, in good faith, trying to deal with it. But, I think, some of his opponents dont want him to succeed  so they go on attacking him.

The IHRA definition is not the Bible. It is accepted by some people internationally, but a lot of people  academics, lawyers and human rights people  have criticised it. And the basic criticism is this: they think it is worded in such a way that people who want to criticise the behaviour of Israel against the Palestinians will be classed as an anti-Semite.

Ever since Corbyn [won the leadership of Labour in 2015] he has faced a string of lurid and bizarre allegations: that he was a Czech spy, that he is a Russian stooge and a terrorist sympathiser. Throughout history  and whenever you have anybody who threatens the ruling establishment  you get these kind of attacks.

Do I think its the most important issue facing the country at this point in time? No

Paul Sweeney is a Labour MP representing a Glasgow constituency in Scotland. He is also Shadow Scotland Office Minister.

From a personal point of view, Ive never encountered any experience of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. However, I do accept that there are cases of anti-Semitism which should be robustly taken in hand by the partys disciplinary procedures.

I think the party could have been quicker to responding to the concerns raised by the Jewish community, but yes, I do believe that there are people, who, for political reasons, have been using it as a political weapon against Jeremy Corbyn.

I think the party could have been quicker to responding to the concerns raised by the Jewish community. [Courtesy: Paul Sweeney/Al Jazeera]

There have been people who have been trying to emphasise this issue and make it a primary news story, when you have issues such as the former foreign secretary of the Conservative Party [Boris Johnson] meeting an actual fascist in the form of [former Donald Trump advisor] Steve Bannon.

I think we should focus on addressing the concerns of the Jewish community  but do I think its the most important issue facing the country at this point in time? No. Its a distraction from the mission of the Labour Party right now, which is to deliver social justice for people.

The party has had issues with racism in the 1960s and immigration, and obviously still does to an extent

Steven Fielding is an academic professor at the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham. He is writing a book on the history of the Labour Party.

The Labour Party is basically a party that is formally committed to equality and to challenging prejudice in all its different forms  and to be honest I assumed that the issue of anti-Semitism was something that was exclusively associated with the far-right.

What has surprised me is the alacrity with which supporters of Jeremy Corbyn  and sometimes very close and prominent supporters of Jeremy Corbyn  have been guilty of, at best, indulging in unconsciously anti-Semitic tropes. But, at worst, being guilty of conspiracism. Ive been more than slightly disturbed and discombobulated that this could happen from people who consider themselves to be on the left.

I know the wider context for all of this, however, both within the Labour Party and without, who have used some of these examples to undermine Corbyn himself and his wider political strategy.

I assumed that the issue of anti-Semitism was something that was exclusively associated with the far-right [Courtesy: Steven Fielding/Al Jazeera]

And I do know that various far-right forces in Israeli politics  and that currently includes the government of Israel  have not been shy of using any criticism of Israel as evidence of anti-Semitism in an outrageous way.

The party has been divided over many, many issues in the past: basic economic policy, the [2003] Iraq War more recently.

The party has had issues with racism in the 1960s and immigration, and obviously still does to an extent. It is a relatively small number of people [in the party] who may be guilty of [anti-Semitism]  but its a relatively small thing which Jeremy Corbyn is unable to properly deal with.

Purely an attempt to oust Corbyn from power

Sarah Wilkinson is a pro-Palestinian activist and Labour Party member.

In my opinion the allegations made against Jeremy Corbyn are purely an attempt to oust him from power and nothing more than that.

The Israel lobby, friends of Israel, however you want to refer to them, are terrified of anyone who could shatter the shield behind which Israel has been allowed to continue its war crimes against the Palestinian people  hes not attached to Israels strings is he?

He hasnt been installed and he cant be controlled  hes a puppet masters worst nightmare.

The allegations made against Jeremy Corbyn are purely an attempt to oust him from power. [Courtesy: Sarah Wilkinson/Al Jazeera]

Anyone who is a friend of Israel is a friend of some of the gravest crimes against humanity: forcible expulsion, apartheid, extrajudicial executions, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and I could go on, the list is long

Israels PR campaign is based on lies  it has to be, to make the slaughter of children look pretty, to falsely smear innocent victims into being deserving of their deaths  its not just dirty tactics, its a total disregard for humanity, and for truth.

Follow Alasdair Soussi on Twitter: @AlasdairSoussi
On July 18 Naval Group delivered the FREMM multi-mission frigate Bretagne to the French Navy (Marine Nationale). This frigate is the fifth of the series ordered by OCCAR on behalf of the DGA (French defense procurement agency).

On July 18 Naval Group delivered the FREMM multi-mission frigate Bretagne to the French Navy (Marine Nationale). This frigate is the fifth of the series ordered by OCCAR on behalf of the DGA (French defense procurement agency).

FREMM multi-mission frigate Bretagne. Picture: Naval Group

FREMM Bretagne is the fifth multi-mission frigate delivered to the French Navy and the seventh unit built by Naval Group. It has been officially accepted by OCCAR, (the prime contractor for the FREMMs for France and Italy) on July 18, 2018.

"With the delivery of FREMM Bretagne, Naval Group once again demonstrates its capacity to manage complex programs. The FREMM program is now focused on the delivery, within tight deadlines to meet our commitments, of Normandy, the last multi - mission frigate specializing in anti - submarine warfare, before the end of 2019, " underlines Nicolas Gaspard, director of the FREMM program.

The FREMM program will ultimately represent the construction of ten ships at the Lorient shipyard, including eight for the French Navy. Six FREMMs are set to be delivered to the French Navy by the end of 2019, in accordance with the 2019-2025 military planning law.

Naval Group is currently completing the FREMM Normandie, which was launched on 1 February 2018. The group is also continuing the assembly of FREMM DA Alsace, the first FREMM frigate with enhanced anti-aircraft defense capabilities. Work started on the second FREMM DA and tenth FREMM of the series, the Lorraine frigate

Overview of the FREMM series by Naval Group

Aquitaine, first in the series, delivered in 2012

Mohammed VI, delivered to the Royal Moroccan Navy in 2014

Provence delivered in June 2015

Tahya Misr, delivered to the Egyptian Navy in June 2015

Languedoc delivered on 16 March 2016

Auvergne, delivered on 11 April 2017

Bretagne, delivered on 18 July 2018

Normandie, to be delivered in 2019

Alsace and Lorraine with strengthened anti-aircraft capacities to be delivered in 2021 and 2022

According to the French Navy, FREMM Frigates missions include:

- The control of a zone of air-sea operations;

- ASuW, ASW and AAW;

- Deep strike with the naval cruise missile;

- The support of power projection operations (amphibious, special forces...)

The FREMMs are the first vessels in Europe to deploy the naval cruise missile (MdCN) for which the first firing took place on 19 May 2015 from the FREMM Aquitaine.
After last years disaster, risk management and environmental awareness become the new normal in Sierra Leone.

Regent, Sierra Leone  A deafening sound from outside made Kalilu Daboh, an imam on the outskirts of Sierra Leones capital, Freetown, rush out of the mosque.

As soon as he was out, he saw the hill in front of him collapsing. He instantly turned his head towards the direction of his house.

It had disappeared.

I was told everyone had been buried by the mud. Four of my children died, together with my wife, says Daboh.

It was the first time I experienced this kind of disaster.

Exactly one year ago, an estimated 1,000 people were killed and 6,000 others affected in a mudslide and flood disaster that devastated Regent, a mountain town located just outside Freetown.

For the next three months, Kalilu Daboh, who has lived in Motorbeh in Regent for 11 years, and his three remaining children found shelter in a camp hosting affected members of the hillside community.

He received food and rent assistance from the United Nations and The National Commission for Social Action, and was able to get out of harms way.

When I received my package, I relocated in the same vicinity but to a safer place, says Daboh.

I have now moved away from the disaster site. Even if that kind of thing happens again, I will not be affected.

Last years mudslide occurred in Regent, a mountain town located outside Freetown [Lilah Gaafar/Al Jazeera]

Sierra Leone hosts an annual rainfall of 3,600 millimetres and ranks in the top 15 most vulnerable countries to disaster risk worldwide.

Freetown, where the ocean meets the mountains, is particularly defenceless.

Originally thought to be the result of heavy rain brought on by climate change, this was not solely a natural disaster, but one of environmental degradation and poor planning, according to experts.

The interference of human beings in nature was clearly visible in the affected areas, as well as the high-risk areas around the disaster zone, says Muhibuddin Usamah, the UN Development Programme disaster management specialist who was deployed to Sierra Leone after last years flash floods and mudslide.

In the last four decades, there has been a loss of 60 percent of forest in western Freetown. Unfortunately, the trend is increasing and without perception of risk, floods, landslides, and other hydro-meteorological disasters are on the rise, he adds.

The ease of being close to the city centre is a factor that means local populations settle in areas that are not supposed to be habitable. The unplanned housing development has caused the forest boundary to be pushed five kilometres.

Future risk

Kalilu Daboh, another member of the community, used to go to Freetown to sell gari, cassava and charcoal. But since the disaster, he says he has not been able to continue his business.

Now I volunteer and teach Arabic at the Islamic school. I receive stipends, he says, adding that if he has the opportunity he would like to relocate to a different area.

Unlike Daboh, not everyone affected are as mindful of future risk.

Seventy-five percent of affected community members still reside in the same disaster-prone areas, considering it unlikely that they would be affected by a landslide or flooding in the future.

The Recovery Needs Assessment Report conducted by the World Food Programme in July 2018 concluded that low-income households were the majority of those affected, and they remain highly vulnerable to seasonal flooding and a vicious cycle of asset loss.





Even though the threat of future floods and mudslides is real, last years disaster was nonetheless a catalyst for change.

Sunil Saigal, the UNs resident coordinator in Sierra Leone, commended the then-national security coordinator and the Office of National Security (ONS) for leading the mobilisation of a massive response from the early hours of August 14, 2017.

There is a need to invest in disaster prevention and long-term environmental management, and the UN has continued to work with ONS and other institutions on these issues, says Saigal.

Looking forward, John Vandy Rogers, the director of disaster risk management for ONS who led response and recovery efforts on behalf of the government, said that there are lessons to be learned one year later.

Community engagement is key, early warning is paramount, mitigation is critical, and the ONS has a central role in terms of human and environmental security.

Looking over the landslip, Daboh cannot believe a year has passed.

Where his house once was now lays sapling trees. The UN and the World Bank support the government in reforesting this area.

This is very good. The trees will keep the soil in place and prevent future disasters, says Daboh.

He considers disaster-risk preparedness as the new normal.

People are more aware of environmental dangers now, of building under the hill and living by the river banks, he says.

When it rains, everyone anticipates that something worse can happen.

Every day, I am thinking about my family and the children I lost.
The recent events in Eastern Ethiopia proved once again that the countrys ethnic federalism is not working.

After just four months in office, Ethiopias reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed already managed to make the nation hope for a better, more peaceful and prosperous future. His domestic and foreign policy achievements already exceeded all expectations.

Ahmed also managed to make some progress in resolving Ethiopias ever present ethnic tensions that helped catapult him into power. He acted as a unifier and managed to restore peace and stability in some of the countrys most problematic regional states.

However, Ahmeds efforts to unite Ethiopia has not been completely successful. Ethnic tensions continue to simmer between some ethnic communities, such as Ethnic Somalis and Oromos in Eastern Ethiopia and Oromos and the Gedeo in South Central Ethiopia.

What happened in the Somali region?

Unrest between ethnic Somalis and Oromos first broke out along the border between the Somali and Oromia provinces in September 2017, killing dozens and displacing nearly a million people.

The spectacular upsurge of violence appeared to be caused by grazing rights, even though the tensions between these two communities had many other complex causes  local, regional, political and economic.

Back then, Ahmed was not the countrys leader yet; however, as deputy president of the Oromia regional state, he oversaw efforts to contain the situation. Unfortunately, he achieved minimal success.

Nonetheless, the violence gradually subsided and when Ahmed came to power in April, security was improving in the area  even the return of those displaced during the conflict was about to commence. As soon as he took office, Ahmed started working to speed up the normalisation process, even choosing Somali regional capital, Jigjiga, as the destination of his first domestic trip.

However, it soon became apparent that the Somali regions president, Abdi Mohammed Omar, did not support Ahmeds reform agenda. Omar remained loyal to the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominated the countrys ethnic coalition before Ahmeds ascend to power. With TPLF support behind him, Omar repeatedly refused to meet officials from Ahmeds federal administration and made it clear that he is not willing to collaborate with them to bring the region back to normalcy.

Moreover, Omar continued to use regional para-military forces known as Liyu Police to attack ethnic Oromos across the borders between the two regional states. And in early July, Human Rights Watch published a report on torture in a notorious prison in the Somali region and called Abiy Ahmed to order investigations and hold regional authorities accountable. Ethiopias own Human Rights Council also put forward reports detailing human rights abuses committed by local authorities in the region. These reports were soon corroborated by widespread popular protests against Omars oppressive rule  protests that the regional leader tried to suppress using threats and violence.

Thus, PM Ahmed felt obligated to intervene, and sent the Ethiopian Defense Force to the area on August 3. Unfortunately, the arrival of the federal army caused a violent escalation. Federal forces exchanged fire with Omars Liyu forces and mobs loyal to the local leader attacked businesses that belong to non-Somali residents. Few Ethiopian Orthodox churches were also burned in the regions capital, Jigjiga.

Meanwhile Omar threatened to secede from the federation by using Article 39 of the Ethiopian constitution, which entitles regional states the right to self-determination, including secession.

The situation appeared to calm down following a violent couple of days, with Ethiopias federal army taking control of the capital and some other towns within the region that the violence had spread to. Abdi Mohammed Omar was forced to resign and eventually arrested, with the regions 32-year old finance and economic development head, Ahmed Abdi Ilkacase, taking his place as interim leader.

However, on Monday August 13, region witnessed a new escalation, with Liyu forces loyal to Omar carrying out cross-border attacks in Oromias East Hararghe district. At least 40 ethnic Oromos were killed during the attacks.

Now, containing the Liyu forces that are loyal to the overthrown regional leader and ensuring the security of all the regions residents should be the federal governments priority.

However, to prevent further violence in the long term, PM Ahmed must start looking for a solution that would resolve ethnic tensions not only in this region, but across Ethiopia.

The need for a new federal arrangement

PM Ahmed should consider the recent events in the Somali and Oromia provinces as a wake-up call and start working towards implementing structural reforms to the federal system that could help improve ethnic relations.

The ethnic-federalist system that has been in place in Ethiopia since 1995 has clearly failed to nurture tolerance among the countrys various ethnic groups. The current form of federalism is accentuating conflicts of interest between ethnic groups and heightening polarisation instead of promoting values of coexistence, unity and solidarity.

The regional constitutions also play an important part in this.

Although Ethiopias federal constitution guarantees freedom of movement within the country to every Ethiopian citizen, regional constitutions contain articles that assign ownership of the regions to the ethnic groups that are in majority there, with the exception being the Amharas inclusive regional constitution.

As a result of these articles, although Ethiopians of diverse backgrounds had long been living almost everywhere in the country, when ethnic tensions arise, citizens who reside in regions that are dominated by other ethnic groups risk being perceived as settlers occupying another groups land.

For example, when the Somalis evicted the Oromos from the Somali region, it was because they felt the Oromos living there were settlers who are not entitled same rights they do. Similar situations had also occurred in Benishangul Gumuz and Oromia regions, where thousands of Amharas have been evicted from their lands, for same underlying reasons.

Moreover, ethnic federalism is allowing rival groups within the countrys ruling EPRDF coalition to use ethnic tensions to further their political agendas.

Today many in Ethiopia believe the countrys old establishment, TPLF elites chief among them, are either directly provoking or prolonging ethnic conflicts in order to hinder the new governments reform efforts. This is not a baseless assumption, especially in light of the TPLFs apparent support of Omars actions.

Ahmed needs to take drastic action to prevent his adversaries from using the faults of ethnic federalism to fuel other ethnic conflicts. This is why, on top of offering local solutions specific to each community and regions problems and needs, Ahmed should also consider introducing new structural mechanisms and drastic federal reforms to improve ethnic relations in the country at large. This appears to be the only way to stop time-bomb situations like the one in the Somali region from disrupting a reform agenda that has excited Ethiopians the most.

Lastly, Ahmed should also be concerned about mob violence fueled by some segments of the youth. Unfortunately, the vigilante justice by such mobs in central Ethiopia shows that Ahmed and his partners are not fully in control of the state. Thus, besides the need to introduce structural solutions to ethnic tensions, Ahmeds administration should also responsibly utilise the coercive instruments of the state and ensure peace and stability.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Philip Wilson was sentenced to 12 months for covering up sexual abuse of children by priest from the Catholic Church.

A former Australian archbishop found guilty of concealing the sexual abuse of children in the 1970s will not have to serve his sentence in prison and was allowed to do it at home instead.

Philip Wilson, 67, was sentenced to one year in jail for helping cover up crimes by priest Jim Fletcher in the Hunter region of New South Wales state.

Magistrate Robert Stone ruled on Tuesday that Wilson will not need to spend time behind bars, with his age and prior good record taken into account.

Wilson will be detained at his sisters house for at least six months before he is eligible for parole. He will have to wear a tracking device during that time.

Wilson, who was found guilty in May, became one of the highest-ranking Catholic Church officials to be convicted of covering up child abuse.

It is a landmark case, he is the most senior person in the world to be convicted, but I have to say our laws in Australia are inadequate for these shocking crime, lawyer Judy Courtin told Al Jazeera.

The maximum sentence would be two years in prison, but we got to understand that when these laws were made they were not made with concealing child sex crimes in mind, she added.

Courtin explained that for someone to be convicted of concealing a crime, three requirements need to be met.

In Victoria, we have to prove that a person not only concealed and covered up serious crimes, the conceailed information must have lead to a prosecution, Courtin said.

The third element that must be satisfied is that that person must have received some sort of benefit, the lawyer added.

Sure, this is great but we have a long way to go.

Demanding apologies

Fletchers victims blamed Wilson not only for covering up his crimes, but also for showing no remorse and failing to apologise.

Any words for me, Philip? Philip will you say sorry for what you have done to me and other child sex abuse survivors? yelled victim Peter Gogarty outside the court. Philip, please, something  one word of contrition.

Another victim, Daniel Feenan, also criticised Wilson for failing to say sorry. Id like to see him show some type of remorse and Id like to see him apologise, he told local media.

Wilson, however, failed to address his critics.

He quit his job as an archbishop after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on the Vatican to sack him. He remains an ordained bishop, but has no official role. Pope Francis accepted Wilsons resignation last month after mounting pressure.

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Wilson helped conceal sexual abuse of at least one altar boy by Fletcher, who is now dead. More victims have come forward since.

Bishop Greg OKelly, the Adelaide archdiocese until a new archbishop is appointed, said Wilson was in his prayers as he formally commences this stage in his life, while also remembering the victims and survivors of abuse in the church.
Pennsylvania grand jury details decades of abuse of more than 1,000 children by hundreds of accused priests in the state

More than 1,000 children  and possibly many more  were molested by hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in six dioceses in the US state of Pennsylvania, while senior church officials took steps to cover it up, according to a landmark grand jury report released on Tuesday.

The grand jury said it believes the real number of abused children might be in the thousands since some records were lost and victims were afraid to come forward. The report said more than 300 clergy committed the abuse over a period decades, beginning in the mid-1950s.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the two-year probe found a systematic cover-up by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at the Vatican.

The cover-up was sophisticated. And all the while, shockingly, church leadership kept records of the abuse and the cover-up. These documents, from the dioceses own Secret Archives, formed the backbone of this investigation, he said at a news conference in the city of Harrisburg.

The report faulted Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the former longtime bishop of Pittsburgh who now leads the Washington archdiocese, for what it said was his part in the concealment of clergy sexual abuse. Wuerl, one of the most prominent cardinals in the United States, released a statement Tuesday that said he had acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse.

The grand jury scrutinised abuse allegations in dioceses that minister to more than half the states 3.2 million Catholics. Its report echoed the findings of many earlier church investigations around the country in its description of widespread sexual abuse by clergy and church officials concealment of it.

Shocking

Al Jazeeras Kristen Saloomey, reporting from Harrisburg, said the allegations made in the report were really shocking.

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Most of the abuse survivors were boys, but girls were abused too, the report said. The abuse ranged from groping and masturbation to anal, oral and vaginal rape.

Church officials routinely and purposefully described the abuse as horseplay and wrestling  It was none of those things. It was child sexual abuse, including rape, Shapiro said.

He also said that one priest had molested five sisters in one family. The diocese settled with the family after requiring a confidentiality agreement, according to Shapiro.

Church officials routinely and purposefully described the abuse as horseplay and wrestling ... It was none of those things. It was child sexual abuse, including rape. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Attorney General

The attorney general said that Catholic bishops covered up child sexual abuse by priests and reassigned them repeatedly to different parishes. They allowed priests to remain active for as long as 40 years, he said.

Children were taught that this abuse was not only normal but that it was holy.

Crimes too old to prosecute

The panel concluded that a succession of Catholic bishops and other diocesan leaders tried to shield the church from bad publicity and financial liability by covering up abuse, failing to report accused clergy to police and discouraging victims from going to law enforcement.

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Yet the grand jurys work will not result in justice for the vast majority of those who say they were molested by priests as children. While the probe yielded charges against two clergymen  including a priest who has since pleaded guilty, and another who allegedly forced his accuser to say confession after each sex assault  the other priests identified as perpetrators are either dead or will avoid arrest because their alleged crimes are too old to prosecute under state law.

The issue here is that many of these cases occurred so long ago that they cannot be charged criminally here in the state, Saloomey said.

The Pennsylvania grand jury, convened by the Office of the Attorney General in 2016, heard from dozens of witnesses and reviewed more than a half-million pages of internal documents from the Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton dioceses.

Some current and former clergy named in the report went to court to prevent its release, arguing it violated their constitutional rights to reputation and due process of law. The state Supreme Court said the public had a right to see it, but ruled the names of priests and others who objected to the findings would be blacked out pending a September hearing on their claims.

The identities of those clergy members remain under court seal.

A couple of dioceses decided to strip the accused of their anonymity in advance of the report and released the names of clergy members who were accused of sexual misconduct. On Friday, the bishop of Pittsburghs diocese said a few priests named in the report are still in ministry because the diocese determined allegations against them were unsubstantiated.

Cases surface from Chile to Australia

The document comes at a time of renewed scrutiny and fresh scandals in the US, Chile and Australia.

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Separately on Tuesday, the Chilean government asked the Vatican for documents related to sex abuse accusations against clergy in Chile, as local prosecutors raided another office of the Roman Catholic Church in Santiago. In June, Chiles 34 bishops were summoned to Rome by the pope after Vatican investigators produced a 2,300-page report alleging that senior Church officials in Chile had failed to act on abuse claims and in some cases hid them. Pope Francis has accepted resignations by five of those bishops.

In Australia, a former archbishop was recently convicted of failing to disclose abuse by a priest to police after being told about it by two of the survivors in the 1970s. On Tuesday, he was spared jail time when he was ordered to serve his one-year sentence at home due to a range of health issues.

Last month, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of 88-year-old US Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, ordering him to a lifetime of prayer and penance amid allegations that McCarrick had for years sexually abused boys and had sexual misconduct with adult seminarians.
New draft constitution stirring public debate on modernising Cold War-era constitution.

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Alleged Muslim Brotherhood members arrested including some who had been sentenced in absentia to 10 to 15 years in jail.

Egyptian police have arrested 13 alleged Muslim Brotherhood members, accusing them of inciting protests marking the fifth anniversary of the so-called Rabaa massacre.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that six people were arrested in a Cairo suburb, including three who had been sentenced in absentia to 10 to 15 years on terror charges.

They will now face a re-trial.

The other seven were held northwest of the capital.





We received information that they had been planning to hold meetings  with the aim of provoking citizens to mark the fifth anniversary by staging demonstrations and sowing chaos, the ministry statement read.

On August 14, 2013, police dispersed two mass sit-ins by supporters of President Mohammed Morsi, who had been overthrown by the military earlier that summer.

Security forces killed more than 600 people in what is known as the Rabaa massacre in a matter of hours.

Egypt has since arrested thousands, accusing them of terrorism. Rights groups say those jailed are critics of the government.

Previous rallies marking the Rabaa killings have met fierce resistance by Egyptian authorities.

In a widely criticised mass trial, Egypt sentenced hundreds of alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death  the biggest mass sentence given in modern Egyptian history, according to Amnesty International.

The movement, which is Egypts oldest, most influential Islamist group, was also banned and had its assets seized before being declared a terrorist organisation by the government.

The final ruling for the trial, involving 739 people facing a death penalty, was recently postponed due to security concerns.

Egypts security forces maintain some of the demonstrators were armed and there were terrorists among the crowds.

Despite evidence implicating the Egyptian army and police in killing protesters, no one has been brought to trial and the Egyptian government has yet to transparently investigate the killings.

The government-appointed National Council of Human Rights produced a report on the events, but its findings are at odds with witness accounts and human rights activists.

Sahar Aziz, a law professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told Al Jazeera that the events from five years ago are seldom discussed in the Egyptian media and that anyone who addresses them risks being arrested.

The state has become much more of a police and surveillance state. Most Egyptians have completely given up on trying to defend the rights of the Rabaa victims, much less the rights of civil society, human rights activists and others who are languishing in jail, Aziz said.

In fact, the state is very successfully creating a chilling environment for anyone who questions its legitimacy, [they] could be disappeared, arrested and indefinitely detained under the law where their detention can be renewed 15 days at a time after two years even without charge.

In July, an Egyptian court sentenced 75 people to death for participating in the 2013 protests.

Since his removal, Morsi has been tried in several different cases. In April 2015, he was sentenced to 20 years on charges of ordering the arrest and torture of protesters who had rallied outside the presidential palace in 2012.
Egypt marks five years since Rabaa massacre

Human Rights Watch said attack on a sit-in protest of Mohamed Morsi supporters in Cairo in 2013, was the largest mass killing in Egypts modern history.
Half a decade after deadly crackdown of supporters of ex-president Morsi, human rights activists still call for probe.

Five years ago, Egypt witnessed one of the deadliest days for demonstrations in its modern history when security forces killed hundreds of supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

The dramatic dispersal of the sit-in at Cairos Rabaa al-Adawiya Square on August 14, 2013, saw soldiers and police shoot dead more than 800 protesters in a matter of hours.

The bloody crackdown came weeks after Morsi was overthrown by the military following mass demonstrations against his one-year rule.

Egypts security forces maintain some of the demonstrators were armed and there were terrorists among their numbers.

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Despite a wealth of evidence implicating the Egyptian army and police in killing the protesters, no one has ever been brought to trial and the Egyptian government has yet to transparently investigate the massacre.

The government-appointed National Council of Human Rights produced a report on the events, but its findings are at odds with witness accounts and human rights activists.

Since 2013, hundreds of protesters, including leaders of Morsis outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, have been convicted at mass trials. An Egyptian court in July sentenced 75 people to death for participating in the protest.

Rallies marking the Rabaa killings have met fierce resistance by Egyptian authorities.

Since his removal, Morsi has been tried in several different cases.

In April 2015, he was sentenced to 20 years on charges of ordering the arrest and torture of protesters in clashes outside the presidential palace in 2012.

What happened?

After massive protests calling for Morsi to step down, the military announced the removal of Egypts first democratically elected president on July 3, 2013.

The protests  staged in Tahrir Square one year after Morsi was sworn into office  called for early presidential elections, with demonstrators accusing the president of failing to fulfil his electoral promises.

The now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, Egypts most popular political group at the time, called for counter-protests at Rabaa al-Adawiya and al-Nahda squares.

Reporters run for cover during clashes between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and police in Cairo on August 14, 2013 [File: Mosaab el-Shamy/AFP]

The protests developed into the large-scale sit-in against the military coup.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), about 85,000 protesters joined the sit-in, which extended for over 45 days and grew larger and more organised with time.

Protesters slept, ate, prayed, and lived at the square. Many hoped the sit-in would succeed in pressuring the military to restore Morsi to the presidency.

As time passed, supporters of the military across the city grew frustrated with the defiant sit-ins and calls to disperse them came from both largely pro-military private and state-owned media outlets.

The military-backed government, officially ordered the dispersal of Rabaa and al-Nahda on August 14, with armoured vehicles, bulldozers and hundreds of security forces moving in the early hours.

Calls for justice

After a year-long investigation, New York-based HRW documented the events that led to the mass killings, interviewing witnesses and reviewing video footage.

Based on the findings of its 2014 report, HRW concluded the killings likely amounted to crimes against humanity and were part of a policy.

In a statement on Monday, the rights group called for an international inquiry into the deadly crackdown.

Five years on from the Rabaa massacre, the only response from authorities has been to try to insulate those responsible for these crimes from justice, said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRWs director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Without justice, Rabaa remains an open wound. Those responsible for the mass killings of protesters shouldnt count on being able to shield themselves from accountability forever.
Chemotherapy drug shortages put the lives of more than 8,200 cancer patients at risk, Gaza health officials say.

Asmaa al-Bahnasawi is a 45-year-old cancer patient who has been unable to receive chemotherapy sessions in the besieged Gaza Strip.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer months ago, and like more than 8,200 cancer patients, has been denied treatment until further notice because of a scarcity of chemotherapy drugs.

How could this happen? Bahnasawi told Al Jazeera from the Gaza Strips sole hospital that treats cancer patients.

We are not patients who suffer from normal diseases, she said. Its not like I can just walk into a pharmacy and purchase the medication I need.

Earlier this week, health officials in Gaza announced the al-Rantisi hospital was no longer able to provide patients with chemotherapy sessions, citing medication shortages.

The 80 percent deficit places thousands of patients at risk of deteriorating conditions, the health ministry warned on Monday.

According to its spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qudra, there are about 6,100 elderly tumor patients, and 460 children who receive medical care at the al-Rantisi hospital in Gaza.

Another 1,700 patients with advanced tumors are being treated at the European Gaza Hospital in the southern district of Khan Younis.

Doctors say the situation has been exacerbated since Israel cut off the supply of essential commodities last month by partially sealing off the Karem Abu Salem commercial border crossing with the Gaza Strip.

Chemotherapy drugs have been prohibited from entering Gaza, along with other medical equipment needed to perform radiotherapy, molecular therapy, PET scans and isotope scans.

I only have two chemotherapy sessions left. With the new situation, my condition may deteriorate again, Bahnasawi said.

Asmaa al-Bahnasawi: My kids and my family need me [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

I cant even leave to get treatment abroad It is very unfair what Palestinians in Gaza endure, she said with a broken voice.

My kids and my family need me.

Nightmare

Many who attempt to leave the Strip in search of treatment are often denied medical permits by Israel and neighbouring Egypt.

Gaza has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since 2007. The Erez checkpoint is the main exit for two million residents of Gaza, connecting them to medical care in Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Over the years, Israel has placed obstacles in the way of those seeking medical permits, which facilitate the movement of the ill.

For instance, child patients must have a guardian who is over 50 years old in order to travel.

This has been the hardest part of four-year-old Aseel Mousas journey.

When your child is diagnosed with cancer, its a painful psychological and physical battle for the entire family, Aseels mother, 26-year-old Sajida, told Al Jazeera.

The two rushed to the hospital on Monday morning hoping to be among those to benefit from the last of the available medication,

No words can describe my feelings at the moment, Sajida said from the al-Rantisi hospital.

How am I supposed to feel when I struggle to provide my child with medication  when I fail to get her medical referrals? It is a nightmare, she said.

Aseel was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2016, and underwent surgery but is required to continue treatment. Because of the shortages, Aseel has to go to the West Bank city of Nablus to receive chemotherapy and to Jerusalem for radiotherapy sessions.

Four-year-old Aseel was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2016 [Hosam Salem/Al Jazeera]

This is the hardest part of the story, Sajida said. With great difficulty, we get the necessary permits from the Israelis to pass through the Erez crossing.

Aseel has to be accompanied by her grandmother, who is over 50 years old, since Sajidas application is still being processed.

My name is still under the security check category Its been two years, Sajida said.

Although Israel approves between 10-15 percent of permit requests, the bulk of the applications remain under review for months, forcing many to reschedule appointments several times.

8,000 lives under threat

According to Palestinian news agency WAFA, health officials in the Palestinian Authority-run West Bank city of Ramallah rushed to provide the Strip with three-months worth of medical supplies.

But doctors in Gaza insist this was not enough.

Khaled Thabet, head of the oncology department in al-Rantisi hospital, said the lack of Neubogen in particular, a drug used to raise immunity in cancer patients, has highly threatened the lives of more than 8,000 people.

Forty-five out of 60 chemotherapy drugs were out of stock as of Monday morning, Thabet said.

Maisoon al-Musader, an UNRWA teacher in Gaza, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. The 47-year-old has been unable to walk as the cancer spread to her bones.

Surrounded by her husband and daughter, Musader waited to be transferred back home. We in Gaza are fed up of hearing such news, she said.

Musader has to travel to Jerusalem every four months to receive an injection that is not available in Gaza, but shes not always granted a permit.

It is like we were living in heaven and now it turned into hell, Maisons husband, Suliman, told Al Jazeera of the latest development.

She is our familys backbone, the 50-year-old said. All I want for her is to receive proper treatment without the usual delays and cancelations.

Since 2008, Gazas population has doubled while medical facilities remain poorly equipped and understaffed.

With severe restrictions on access to basic services, Gaza has been dubbed the worlds largest open-air prison.
Andy Chan called on the UK and US to help semi-autonomous region from being annexed and destroyed by mainland China.

Hong Kong independence activist Andy Chan attacked China as an empire trying to annex and destroy the city in a no-holds-barred speech on Tuesday.

Chan, who leads the tiny Hong Kong National Party, said at the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) that Beijing was semi-autonomous Hong Kongs colonial master.

We are a nation that is quickly being annexed and destroyed by China, Chan told a packed room.

If Hong Kong were to become truly democratic, Hong Kongs sovereignty must rest with the people of Hong Kong. China is, by its nature, an empire  a threat to all free peoples in the world.

Chan called on Britain and the United States to help Hong Kong. He added he was under increased surveillance by groups of people he did not know, who had been following him and knocking on his familys door to take pictures of them in the lead up to his speech.

Totally inappropriate

The lunch address  titled Hong Kong Nationalism: A Politically Incorrect Guide to Hong Kong under Chinese Rule  was condemned by Chinas foreign ministry and Hong Kongs leader Carrie Lam.

Despite pressure from authorities, the club stood by its decision to go ahead with the event, saying the views of different sides in any debate must be heard.





The Hong Kong government said while it backs freedom of the speech and the press, it deeply regrets the event since advocating independence contravened the citys Basic Law, or mini-constitution.

It is totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any person to openly promote and advocate the independence of Hong Kong, a spokesman said. As such, it is also totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any organisation to provide a public platform to espouse such views.

Chinas foreign ministry in a statement condemned the correspondents club for hosting Chan and said there is a bottom line for freedom of speech. It said any words or actions that attempted to split Hong Kong from China would be punished in accordance with the law and that the FCC was not outside the law.

We urge the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club to take a good look at itself, correct mistakes, follow the laws of China and the Special Administrative Region with practical actions, and respect the feelings of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, the foreign ministry said.

Treasonous talk

Al Jazeeras Rob McBride, reporting from Hong Kong, said Chan wasnt talking about a violent overthrow of Chinese rule, but instead achieving independence through peaceful means.

Any talk of independence, as far as pro-Beijing protesters are concerned, is really treasonous kind of talk, treasonous behaviour, and a lot of their anger has been directed not only at Andy Chan but also at the journalists here for giving this man a platform, he said.

Chans Hong Kong National Party is facing a ban from city authorities who say it is a threat to public security despite having only a dozen members.

It is the first time such a ban has been sought since Britain handed over control of Hong Kong to Beijing in 1997.

Hong Kong enjoys freedom of speech and assembly unseen on the mainland under the handover agreement between Britain and China.
The Baltic fleet will be reinforced with the Alrosa submarine, the only SSK (diesel-electric submarine) in the world equipped with a pumpjet. It is the most silent Russian sub of project 877. The Alrosa will be transferred from the Black Sea fleet. Experts believe it will reinforce the Baltic fleet which has currently remained practically without submarines, the Izvestia daily writes.

The Baltic fleet will be reinforced with the Alrosa submarine, the only SSK (diesel-electric submarine) in the world equipped with a pumpjet. It is the most silent Russian sub of project 877. The Alrosa will be transferred from the Black Sea fleet. Experts believe it will reinforce the Baltic fleet which has currently remained practically without submarines, the Izvestia daily writes.

The Project 877V Alrosa is the only Kilo-class submarine fitted with a pump-jet system



The Navy command told the newspaper the Alrosa of project 877V is transferred to the Baltic after the Black Sea fleet received new submarines. In the near future the sub will be included into the Leningrad Red Banner naval base of the Baltic fleet. It will be later upgraded. The diesel submarine has already been in the Baltic Sea. In 2011-2012 it sailed from Sevastopol to Kronshtadt for a scheduled overhaul and returned back.

In the 2010s the Baltic fleet had only two submarines of project 877 - the Vyborg and the Dmitrov. They operate in a submarine flotilla deployed in Kronshtadt. Both SSKs are Soviet-made. The Vyborg was built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in 1983. It has not been upgraded or overhauled of late. The Dmitrov is 32 years old. It was overhauled in 2014-2018 by Kronshtadt shipyard. One of the submarines will soon be decommissioned by the Baltic fleet. The Vyborg is likely to be transferred to the Patriot Park in Kronshtadt. The Bespokoiny destroyer and R-47 missile boat will follow suit. The Alrosa arrival to the Baltic fleet is therefore very timely.

Until 2013 the Alrosa was the only Russian combat-capable submarine in the Black Sea. In 2014-2016 the Black Sea fleet received six modern submarines of project 636.3. Some of them supported the ground operation in Syria. They fired 3M-14 Kalibr cruise missiles at stationary targets of ISIL militants (outlawed in Russia).

The multirole diesel Alrosa was laid by Krasnoe Sormovo shipyard in Nizhny Novgorod in May 1988. It was initially built by project 877V, but was constructively distinguished as it had a pumpjet instead of a propeller screw. It thus became the most silent Russian submarine.

The Baltic fleet needs submarines as it will soon have only one, expert Dmitry Boltenkov said. "They are mostly necessary for a number of special missions, e.g. to ensure trials of new submarines built by Admiralty shipyard and to train crews of domestic and foreign submarines under construction. The submarines are also necessary for combat training of Baltic fleet warships, in particular, for antisubmarine warfare," he said.

The construction of diesel-electric submarines of project 877 began in early 1980s and is still ongoing. They are operational in the navies of Russia, China, Vietnam and Algeria, the Izvestia said.

 Copyright 2018 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
At least three people were injured after a vehicle drove at cyclists and pedestrians near the UKs Houses of Parliament.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after he crashed his car into security barriers outside the UKs Houses of Parliament.

Londons Ambulance Service said in a statement it had taken two people to hospital on Tuesday after a silver Ford Fiesta hit a group of cyclists and pedestrians, metres from where five pedestrians were killed in an attack last year. One more injured person was treated at the scene.

According to CCTV footage obtained by the BBC, the car mounted the pavement, drove against traffic, and crashed into a barrier outside parliament building.

Images circulating on social media showed police arresting the man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, after officers swarmed on his vehicle and removed him at gunpoint.

The car mounted the pavement and crashed into a barrier outside the parliament [AFP]

At this stage, we are treating this as a terrorist incident, Neil Basu, the Metropolitan polices deputy assistant commissioner said, adding none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

The man is in his late 20s, has been taken to a south London police station and remains in custody. There is no intelligence at this time of further danger to Londoners or the rest of the UK connected to this incident.

Our priority now is to formally establish the identity of the suspect and establish his motivation if we can. He is not currently cooperating, said Basu.

The BBC, citing unnamed sources, said the man was from the Birmingham area of central England and, while not known to the MI5 domestic spy agency or Britains counterterrorism network, was known to police.

Immediate lockdown

Parliament was immediately placed on lockdown and surrounding streets in the central London district were cordoned off to the public.

Eyewitness Ewalina Ochab told the Press Association news agency the incident looked intentional.

I was walking on the other side. I heard some noise and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement. I think it looked intentional, the car drove at speed and towards the barriers, said Ochab.

Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted her thoughts are with those injured in the incident.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged tough action against the animals behind the apparent attack.

Another terrorist attack in London These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength! Trump tweeted.

Euronews/NBC UK correspondent Vincent McAviney tweeted a video of police officers rushing to the scene.

Breaking: Big armed police response to car which has cashed into Parliament barriers we are now being moved back pic.twitter.com/rYAqExq6rn  Vincent McAviney (@VinnyMcAv) August 14, 2018

Al Jazeeras Laurence Lee, reporting from Millbank, a few hundred metres from the crash, said while it appeared the car was deliberately driven into the barriers, it wasnt a successful attack.

While the incident has blindsided everybody, its very quiet here. Parliament is currently on summer recess, so if it was a deliberate attack, it hasnt been particularly successful one for the attacker, he said.

The crash came 17 months after Khalid Masood, born as Adrian Russell Elms, drove his vehicle at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside parliament.

The attack left five people dead and about 50 injured, and only ended when police shot Masood dead.
Three of the four substances used in Carey Dean Moores execution had never been used in lethal injections in the state.

Nebraska has carried out its first execution in more than two decades with a drug combination never tried before, including the first use of the powerful opioid fentanyl, which has become the focal point in the United States opioid crisis.

Carey Dean Moore was pronounced dead at 10:47am local time (15:47 GMT) on Tuesday. The 60-year-old had been sentenced to death for killing two cab drivers in Omaha in 1979. He was the first inmate to be lethally injected in Nebraska, which last carried out an execution in 1997, using the electric chair.

Witnesses said that there appeared to be no complications in the execution process, which also was the first time a state used four drugs in combination.

At one point while on the gurney, Moore turned his head and mouthed several words to his family, including I love you.

In his final written statement, Moore admitted: I am guilty. But he said there are others on Nebraskas death row who he believes are innocent and he said they should be released.

How might you feel if your loved one was innocent and on death row? Moore asked.

Tuesdays execution comes a little more than three years after Nebraska politicians abolished the death penalty, only to have it reinstated the following year through a citizen ballot drive partially financed by Republican Governor Pete Ricketts. The governor, a wealthy former businessman, has said he was fulfilling the wishes of voters in the conservative state.

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Were sick of hearing about Carey Dean Moore, Steve Helgeland, the son of one of Moores victims, said in advance of the execution.

Danielle Conrad, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union  Nebraska, said in a statement on Twitter that Moores execution is the most recent dark chapter in the states troubled history with the death penalty.

Use of fentanyl

Three of the four substances used in Tuesdays execution had never been used for lethal injections  underscoring the difficulty states across the US have had in obtaining previously employed execution drugs.

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The Nebraska drug protocol called for an initial IV dose of diazepam, commonly known as Valium, to render the inmate unconscious, followed by the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, then cisatracurium besylate to induce paralysis and stop the inmate from breathing and potassium chloride to stop the heart.

Fentanyl has been one of the main drivers of the opioid epidemic, which has gripped the country in recent years. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 115 people die each day in the US after overdosing on opioids, including heroin, prescription painkillers and fentanyl.

After each injection in Moores execution, prison officials sent saline through the IV to flush out any residue and ensure all the drugs had entered his system.

Diazepam and cisatracurium also had never been used in executions before.

Legal challenges

Moore had faced execution dates set by the Nebraska Supreme Court seven times since he was convicted, but each was delayed because of legal challenges and questions over whether previous lethal injection drugs were purchased legally.

The most recent challenge came last week after a German-based drugmaker tried to halt the execution by filing a lawsuit that alleged the state had illegally procured at least one of the companys drugs.

The company, Fresenius Kabi, argued that allowing the execution to go forward would harm its reputation and business relationships.

But a federal judge sided with state attorneys, who argued that the publics interest in carrying out a lawful execution outweighed the companys concerns. The judge also noted that Moore had stopped fighting the states efforts to execute him.

A federal appeals court upheld that ruling Monday, and Fresenius Kabi decided not to take the issue to the US Supreme Court.

Harder to get drugs

In recent years, states have had to find alternative means to carry out executions due to a number of lawsuits by pharmaceutical companies that blocked their drugs from being used.

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Oklahoma announced earlier this year it would begin using nitrogen gas to carry out its executions.

We can no longer sit on the sidelines and wait to find drugs, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said at the time.

Mississippi and Alabama have also passed legislation that would allow for asphyxiation with nitrogen gas if lethal injection drugs are not available.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 31 states, the federal government and US military allow for capital punishment. The centre has documented at least 1,481 executions in the country since 1976. The majority of those  at least 1,305  were carried out by lethal injection, the centre said.
Flash flooding in the Northern Philippines forces 50,000 people from their homes.

By
Radio for refugees: Show provides information on asylum

In Paris, a community radio station called Stalingrad Connection aims to help refugees living in France, offering them a mix of news and information for asylum-seekers in several languages including Arabic and English.
Medical sources say the attack on Tuesday hit a heavily populated area of the Houthi-held city of Duraihami.

Saudi-UAE coalition air strikes on Yemens Hodeidah province have killed and wounded several people, medical sources said.

A spokesperson from the Houthi-affiliated health ministry said Tuesdays attacks on the city of Duraihami killed at least 13 civilians and injured 24 others.

Doctor Youssef al-Hadri said that latest attacks hit a heavily populated area, damaging civilian infrastructure including medical facilities and mosques.

Hadri added that medics from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were being prevented from entering the city.

The ICRC for its part expressed concern with recent developments in the city and said it was still assessing the extent of the damage.

@ICRC_ye is concerned by the events in Duraihami City in Hodeida governorate. The ICRC is still assessing the situation and will reach out to all the parties to the conflict. #Yemen  ICRC Yemen (@ICRC_ye) August 14, 2018

Fighting between Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces, backed by the Saudi-UAE coalition, along the eastern outskirts of rebel-held Duraihami city has intensified in recent weeks as the two Gulf nations look to seize control of the strategic province.

Hodeidah has been under the control of the Houthis since 2014, along with other west coast ports and much of northern Yemen.

The citys seaport was responsible for delivering 70 percent of Yemens imports  mostly humanitarian aid, food and fuel  before 2015.

Yet, Saudi Arabia says that the Houthis, who reportedly generate $30m to $40m a month in revenue from the port, are using it to smuggle in weapons from Iran.

The war in Yemen, the regions poorest country, started in 2014 after the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and began pushing south towards the countrys third-biggest city Aden.

Concerned by the rise of the Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab states launched a military offensive in 2015 in the form of a massive air campaign aimed at reinstalling the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

According to the UN, at least 10,000 people have been killed in the three-year war  a death toll that has not been updated in years and is certain to be far higher.

In retaliation, the Houthis have launched dozens of missiles at the kingdom. Saudi authorities say over the past three years 90 ballistic missiles were fired by the rebels.

Multiple rounds of United Nations-brokered peace talks have failed to achieve any breakthrough.
France, Germany and Luxembourg also to take in some on board rescue ship, after it was refused by Italy and Malta.

Spain and Portugal have offered to take in most of the 141 refugees and migrants on board the Aquarius, resolving a new standoff over the rescue ship.

On Tuesday, Madrid said it would accept 60 people, while Portugal offered to welcome 30, with the remainder distributed between France, Germany and Luxembourg, government sources in Malta and Spain said.

The boat was initially refused entry by Italy and Malta after it had rescued the refugees and migrants in two separate missions off the Libyan coast on Friday.

There are 67 unaccompanied minors, two children under the age of five and two pregnant women on board, its crew reported.

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The Aquarius, which hit the headlines in June after being stranded with 630 migrants on board, causing a major diplomatic dispute, resumed its rescue operations off Libya last week.

Spains new socialist government helped resolve the first standoff by allowing the boat to dock in Valencia and was again at the forefront on Tuesday.

Spain has coordinated a pioneering agreement with six countries to share the hosting of the people on the Aquarius  Spain will take 60 people, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

Translation: Spain has coordinated a pioneering agreement with 6 countries to distribute the reception of #Aquarius people. It has been possible thanks to the path that we undertook in June, promoting a common and supportive response to the migratory flows. Spain will welcome 60 people.

Espana ha coordinado un acuerdo pionero con 6 paises para distribuir la acogida de las personas del #Aquarius. Ha sido posible gracias al camino que emprendimos en junio, impulsando una salida comun y solidaria a los flujos migratorios. Espana acogera a 60 personas.  Pedro Sanchez (@sanchezcastejon) August 14, 2018

Malta later said it would allow the ships passengers, including unaccompanied children from Somalia and repressive Eritrea, to disembark.

Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so, said a government statement posted on Twitter.

Malta in a statement called the arrangement a concrete example of European leadership and solidarity.

We will continue working with @sanchezcastejon on #migration and so many other issues, and thank him for his valuable collaboration on #Aquarius. #Malta and #Spain have common aims for #Europe and the #Mediterranean -JM  Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) August 14, 2018

Its government also noted that it had rescued 114 migrants at sea on Monday  60 of whom will also be distributed among other EU nations.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European commissioner for migration and home affairs, also commended the joint resolution.

Welcome the decision of Malta to authorise the disembarkation of the #Aquarius. I commend France Spain Germany Portugal and Luxembourg for their solidarity to take a share of the migrants on board. We need sustainable solutions. This is the responsibility of the EU as a whole.  Avramopoulos Dimitris (@Avramopoulos) August 14, 2018

Though departures from Libya have fallen dramatically this year, people smugglers are still pushing some boats out to sea.

An estimated 720 people died in June and July when charity ships were mainly absent, Amnesty International estimates. The UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has documented the deaths of 1,524 people while trying to enter Europe by sea in 2018.

EU border agency Frontex said on Monday it counted 73,500 irregular border crossings into the bloc so far this year via the sea and the Western Balkans route, more than 40 percent fewer than in the first seven months of 2017.
Witnesses say no deaths have been recorded so far but a few people were injured as a result of the blast.

An attack in Yemens southern city of Aden has apparently targeted the convoy of a Saudi-backed Yemeni official.

Witnesses told the Reuters news agency a roadside bomb hit the convoy of the governor of Taiz province on Tuesday.

Amin Ahmed Mahmoud, who is a member of the internationally recognised government in exile of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, survived the blast.

The governor was not injured, but some of the escorts were injured and taken to hospital, an official at the governors office told Reuters.

With logistical support from the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been waging a war in Yemen since March 2015.

Coalition forces quickly retook the southern city of Aden and smaller coastal towns, but since then neither side has made much progress in the war.

The war effort is ostensibly an attempt to reinstate the internationally recognised government of President Hadi.

In 2014, Hadi and his forces were overrun by Houthi rebels who took over much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.

Earlier this month, dozens of people  including women and children  were killed in Yemens Red Sea port city of Hodeidah in air raids carried out by the Saudi-UAE alliance.

According to the UN, at least 10,000 people have been killed in the three-year war  a death toll that has not been updated in years and is certain to be far higher.

In June, Saudi and UAE forces carried out 258 air raids on Yemen, nearly one-third of which targeted non-military sites.

The Yemen Data Project listed 24 air raids on residential areas, three on water and electricity sites, three hitting healthcare facilities, and one targeting an IDP camp.

Impoverished Yemen, on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is now in the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 22.2 million people in need of assistance.

The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has been pushing the warring parties to restart peace talks. He recently announced plans to invite Yemens combatants to Geneva on September 6 to hold the first round of negotiations.
Fighting enters a fifth day as desperate civilians flee to safety from the besieged eastern city.

As Afghan security forces backed by US airpower continue to battle Taliban fighters in the eastern city of Ghazni, hundreds of civilians have been displaced with little means to survive.

Fighting raged for a fifth-straight day on Tuesday following the brazen attack by the armed group that threatens the control of the strategic city, about 150km south of the capital, Kabul.

While information has been scarce, an estimated 400 people have been killed so far, including about 150 civilians, according the UN and the Afghan ministry of defence.

When the fighting intensified, we knew we would die if we didnt leave our home to travel to Kabul, Ghazni resident Yassan Yassan, 21, told Al Jazeera, adding the Taliban had cut electricity and water supplies across the city.

Recalling the violence, Yassan said: I witnessed a rocket landing on a group of people attempting to escape. All of them died.

She also said the Taliban set government buildings on fire and blocked several areas including the Kabul-Kandahar highway.

We had to pass through dangerous areas to get to Kabul, we witnessed the worst clashes between the Taliban and security forces, said Yassan.

The UNs Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said between 130 and 150 civilians have reportedly been killed, but those figures remained unconfirmed.

Sanela Bajrambasic, a representative of International Committee of the Red Cross, told Al Jazeera from Geneva that the situation deteriorated very fast.

It is a sad reality and it is leaving deep wounds on [Ghaznis residents], she said. We have been focused on helping the local hospital. As of today, we are also trying to help collect bodies and to transport them back to their families.





We cannot save you

Mohammad Rahim, a resident of Ghazni, fled the city along with his wife and three children when the Taliban managed to get on the roof of their house to position themselves for the battle.

When we begged them to not harm us. They said we cannot save you, it is up to you whether you want to leave or stay. We had no option but to leave, he said

Now we are living at my relatives house in Kabul who are very poor, they cannot even feed us. I dont know what to do.

Conflicting statements about the fighting emerged on Tuesday with a Taliban spokesman saying the battle was ongoing, and government officials claiming otherwise.

Afghan security forces have pushed back the Taliban from Ghazni city and the search operation is ongoing, Nasir Ahmad Faqiri, a provincial council member, told Al Jazeera.

Security forces are now fighting the Taliban in the outskirts of the city.

The fall of Ghazni, a key route linking Kabul to the southern provinces, demonstrated the Talibans strength after an unprecedented truce in June during Eid alFitr, which brought fighting to a brief stop.

Our houses are destroyed and burned down, we cannot go back to Ghazni, we wont survive there, Rahim said.

The Taliban have not taken a major provincial city since they overran the northern city of Kunduz in 2015.

More attacks

Meanwhile, the Taliban overran a military base known as Camp Chinaya in northern Faryab province on Monday, killing 17 soldiers and wounding 19 others.

{articleGUID}

The base housed 140 Afghan troops who resisted the Taliban attack but failed when they didnt receive any reinforcements.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 57 Afghan soldiers surrendered and eight military Humvees were also seized.

The increased violence comes amid the hope of talks to end the 17-year-old war in the country, and speculation of a possible ceasefire during the Eid al-Adha holiday a few weeks away.

Afghan security forces have struggled against the Taliban since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.
Sierra Leoneans are dealing with untreated collective trauma. What can be done to help them heal?
It's scandalous that our election systems are still vulnerable. It should be well nigh impossible to interfere with America's elections. It's disappointing that America's tech gurus haven't come up with systems that secure our elections from tampering and fraud. You'd think they'd be competing with each other to be the first to come up with the most elegant solution. Sad!

The uproar over President Trump's putative "capitulation" to Putin in Helsinki and the "hack" of the 2016 election by the Russians has a message for anyone willing to hear it, and it is this: sixteen years after the debacle of the 2000 Florida recount, America's elections were still open to attack. That a great democracy's election systems would still be vulnerable to foul play four election cycles after a meltdown is proof that a fraud-free, error-free, tamper-proof election system is something America's political class just doesn't want us to have.

By pushing for laws that require proof of citizenship to register to vote, Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach has long been the whipping boy of the political left. One of the candidates who ran on August 7 to replace Kobach is Dennis Taylor. Mr. Taylor had an interesting guest column on July 23 in the Kansas City Star headlined "Three easy steps to securing our election results in Kansas."

Taylor's three easy steps don't deserve much comment. His first step is, "Audit, post-election, the eligibility of voters." Shouldn't eligibility be vetted beforehand, when one registers or when one votes? The second step is, "Back up all votes cast in Kansas with verified paper ballots." Why, so we can have recounts? And his last step: "Constantly verify system security, comprehensively and proactively, to ensure protection of online voter registration data." Right, but how do we "verify"?

The Kansas secretary of state oversees elections and voter registration in the state, so it's good that Taylor's article gets more substantive in the second half, where he makes some salient observations. One of them is that citizenship has never been validated in the state of Kansas, not even under Kobach's requirement for proof. Regarding the proof of citizenship law, Taylor writes:

The requirement to provide documentation fell only on those who were registering for the first time in Kansas, as a result of turning 18 or moving from another state. The law did not require those already registered to disclose whether they were citizens or non-citizens. To effectively address the belief and concern that non-citizens were registering and voting, wouldn't it have made more sense to require that all Kansans currently registered, as well as new registrants, provide such proof of citizenship? That way, any non-citizens already registered and voting  if any  would have been discovered, since they presumably would not have been able to supply valid documentation. Applying the law only to prospective voters [i.e., new registrants] could never address the belief that non-citizens have registered and voted.

So Kansas's proof of citizenship law was never adequate. But it's doubtful that Kansans who are already registered would appreciate having to register yet again just so registrars can see their documents. One simple solution would be for voters to show their Social Security cards at the polls. (Maybe that's too simple.)

Just how should the states verify citizenship? The way to determine whether a registrant is a citizen is to go online and access federal databases to see if he is on file. Employers access federal files when they use E-Verify.

But besides verifying citizenship, the states have another problem. You see, there's no federal law that prohibits foreigners voting in state and local elections, and some local governments want to allow aliens to vote in their elections.

The snag arises when the states mix elections  that is, have federal and state-local officials on the same ballot. Because there is a federal law that one must be a citizen to vote in federal elections, one solution to this problem might be for the states to conduct separate elections for federal officials.

Having separate elections for the federal offices has attractions, because the quadrennial presidential election is the election that brings out the voters and creates those long lines at the polls. If there were only one to three items on the ballot (that is, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and U.S. president), that would expedite voting. What takes the most time in mixed elections is the state and local items. To support that, take a look at this 2016 Kansa City ballot and see what all we had to vote on  everything from president to state amendments. By having separate elections, there'll be greater "throughput" in the federal election, and voting will go faster.

In August of 2016 at America Thinker, I outlined an idea for how America might have hack-proof election systems. I then exchanged a few emails with the expert whom I cited, MIT's Ron Rivest. He wasn't buying my idea. What I had urged was using the internet to vote, which means remote voting  i.e., voting from anywhere. One thing that concerned Rivest is that with remote voting, it becomes easy to sell one's vote. Selling one's vote may be more of a problem than I had appreciated, even though selling one's sacred vote is a federal crime. However, it's still legal to sell your soul (as long as you pay the sales tax). Remote voting also enables another crime: coerced voting. If a voter is not at an official voting station and is using a smartphone or computer to vote, an abusive spouse or an imperious boss could force a voter to vote the "right" way. But with absentee and mail-in ballots, isn't coercive voting possible right now?

Mr. Rivest is an expert on cyber-security. I don't know how much experience he has in applications programming, such as for payroll, accounts receivable, budget, time management, etc. But one thing I learned as an applications programmer is that there's usually a "workaround" to most snags. I believe there are workarounds for the problems associated with internet voting, but I'm not going into that here because I've concluded that professional politicians don't want such serious change in our election systems.

In a recent article, I presented an idea that is a workaround for the election systems currently in use. My goal was to come up with a minimalist "fix" that would allow the states to continue conducting presidential elections but would also make possible the identification of alien voters and other fraudsters and thereby give Americans an accurate count of the legitimate vote.

The article urged that all presidential "ballots" in all the states be sent to the feds to go into a single file, which could then be used to identify alien voters, multiple voters, etc. Even if a state has perfect voter registries, that doesn't prevent election crime; elections can be stolen in backrooms during recounts. The states are doing such a lousy job of vetting registrants that the only solution is to vet the voters in federal elections by accessing their records on federal databases, like the database at the Social Security Administration, as is done with E-Verify.

The Russian hacking narrative is a "shiny object" Democrats use to distract us from looking at the real foreign interference in our elections. This other "hacking" is done not remotely from Minsk or Romania, but right here at home under the noses of our election officials. And unlike Russian hacking, this other hacking actually does affect vote counts. But the Dems are okay with this other hacking by foreigners because it helps them "win" elections.

Democrats' idea of democracy is so warped that they really need to rename themselves. How about the "Aliens First Party"?

Jon N. Hall of ULTRACON OPINION is a programmer from Kansas City.
Florida is the only state that hasnt had its Every Student Succeeds Act plan approved by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. As the fate of the states plan remains in limbo, two civil rights organizations have some new advice for the states education department: take the proposal back to the drawing board.

UnidosUS and the Florida chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens want state Education Commissioner Pamela Stewart to take more time, and gather more public feedback, on the state plan. Theyre also calling on DeVos to hold firm and reject any revised proposal that doesnt comply with the letter of the law.

In a pair of Aug. 10 letters, the organizations argue that the current ESSA plan excludes critical protections for English-language learners, students with disabilities, nonwhite students, and students from low-income families. Its an argument the groups and a host of like-minded organizations have made over the past year as theyve called for an overhaul of the states proposal .

The letters to DeVos and Stewart also argue that the Florida Department of Education has all but ignored public input and intentionally defied compliance with ESSA at every step of the plan-writing process.

Thus far, the states approach has clashed with requirements under the federal K-12 law. For example, the state has declined to hold schools accountable for how well students perform on English-language-proficiency exams or provide some students subject exams in students native language, as the law requires.

As my colleague Daarel Burnette explained earlier this summer, DeVos warned Florida that it could face sanctions including the potential loss of federal fundingif its ESSA plan doesnt meet federal guidelines. The state education department receives more than $1.1 billion per year from the federal government

DeVos gave the state until June 15 to respond. Its not clear how the state countered.

Please ... reject any revised plan that fails to fully comply with ESSA, the groups wrote to DeVos in the Aug. 10 letter. Parents and communities deserve to know that their schools will be held accountable for ensuring the educational success of their children so that all students will be college- and career-ready.

Officials with the U.S. and Florida departments of education did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Heres a look at the letters to DeVos and Stewart:

DeVos Letter August 2018 ESSA by corey_c_mitchell on Scribd

Stewart August 2018 Letter ESSA by corey_c_mitchell on Scribd

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 811CGTN

Higher education in Malawi remains desirable for Malawian youngsters, and the biggest difficulty lies in its lack of funding. China helped Malawi build its first science university in 2012. It opened two years later and its first class will graduate in 2019. But the future of these graduates is less certain due to the countrys sluggish economy.

Malawi has more than 10 higher education institutions, of which four are publicly funded. All higher education in Malawi is ultimately controlled by the University of Malawi, which was founded in 1964. Students have to pass the Malawi Certificate of Education (MCE) to get access to higher education.

Chief among them, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), under the sponsorship of China, is the first university with a focus on science and technology. It has about 3,000 students and a faculty of 300.

MUST is quite unique because we are more into innovation, whod like to have creative minds, and thats what technology is, that's what sciences are all about. So for a long time and many years, Malawi had no such facility, so thanks to the Peoples Republic of China for this facility. And as I speak now, its filling up with students with these high, sharp brains in science and technology, said Henry Mussa, government chief whip of the Malawian Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Malawi has more than 10 higher education institutions, of which four are publicly funded. /CGTN Photo

Some of the faculty and students from MUST go to China regularly, as it is partnering with China Agricultural University.

The two universities have got a cooperation and we have a team that visited us from China a few months ago. In our cooperation were looking for staff development, so our staff can come to China for studies, but also we can staff from China come here to teach, said Address Malata, vice-chancellor of MUST, and were also looking for student exchange, so that students can go to China, and students from China can come to MUST.

Malawis sluggish economy

The gross domestic Pproduct (GDP) in Malawi stood at 6.30 billion US dollars in 2017, which represents 0.01 percent of the world economy. GDP in Malawi averaged 2.20 billion US dollars from 1960 to 2017, reaching an all-time high of 8 billion US dollars in 2011 and a record low of 0.16 billion US dollars in 1960, according to Trading Economics.

Malawi is considered one of the worlds underdeveloped countries  84 percent of Malawians live in rural areas, and agriculture accounts for over one-third of its GDP and 90 percent of its total exports, according to New Agriculturist.

However, Mussa said it was high time for Malawi to boost its development of science and technology.

CGTN broadcast on augst 11th, 2018



 
Context: Though primarily remembered for sacking Constantinople in 1453, because Ottoman sultan Mehmed II was only twenty-one years old then, he still had many good decades of jihading before him. He continued expanding into the Balkans, and, in his bid to feed his horses on the altar of Saint Peter's basilica  Muslim prophecies held that "we will conquer Constantinople before we conquer Rome"  he invaded Italy and captured Otranto in 1480. More than half of its twenty-two thousand inhabitants were massacred, five thousand led away in chains.

A little remembered event that occurred 538 years ago today  the ritual decapitation of 800 Christians who refused Islam  sheds much light on modern questions concerning the ongoing conflict between Islam and the West.

To demonstrate his magnanimity, Mehmed offered freedom and security to 800 chained Christian captives. All they had to do was embrace Islam. Instead, they unanimously chose to act on the words of one of their numbers: "My brothers, we have fought to save our city; now it is time to battle for our souls!"

Outraged that his invitation was spurned, on August 14, on a hilltop (subsequently named "Martyr's Hill"), Mehmed ordered the ritual decapitation of these 800 unfortunates. Their archbishop was slowly sawed in half to jeers and triumphant cries of "Allah akbar!" (The skulls and bones of some of these defiant Christians were preserved and can still be seen in the Cathedral of Otranto.)

Now consider what this event says about current realities.

First, whenever Islamic individuals or organizations engage in violence against non-Muslims  and cite Islam as the reason for their behavior  we are instantly told the exact opposite: that they are mere criminals and psychopaths, that their actions have "nothing to do with the reality of Islam," to quote John McCain.

Yet it was not just run-of-the-mill "Muslims" who committed atrocities atop Martyr's Hill, but the official leader of Sunni Islam  the sultan himself, who always had a pack of Muslim ulema  clerics, scholars, and muftis  to guide and confirm his decisions vis-a-vis infidels (including massacring those who reject Islam).

Nor was Otranto an aberration. As documented in my new book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, Islam's official leaders and spokesmen  from sultans and caliphs to ulema and sheikhs  have always spoken and acted just like the Islamic State (or rather vice versa).

Also interesting to reflect on is how even then, over half a millennium ago, Western nations preferred to engage in denial and wishful thinking over coming to grips with reality or aiding their beleaguered coreligionists. Soon after the Otranto massacre, Pope Sixtus IV chided an indifferent West accordingly:

Let them not think that they are protected against invasion, those who are at a distance from the theatre of war! They, too, will bow the neck beneath the yoke, and be mowed down by the sword, unless they come forward to meet the invader. The Turks have sworn the extinction of Christianity. A truce to sophistries! It is the moment not to talk, but to act and fight!

Such laments were not uncommon; nearly a century later, in 1565, as a massive Islamic armament was sailing over to besiege the tiny island of Malta, Pope Pius IV complained that the king of Spain "has withdrawn into the woods and France, England and Scotland [are] ruled by women and boys."

Finally, and not unlike today, whereas the mass of Western people were ignorant of Islam's doings, a minority were always keenly aware, including from a historical perspective. Consider Sebastian Brant (b. 1457)'s "Ship of Fools," a satirical poem on the gradual nature of Islam's advances against a "sleeping" Christendom:

Our faith was strong in the Orient

It ruled in all of Asia in Moorish lands and Africa

But now [and since the seventh century] for us these lands are gone...

We perish sleeping one and all

The wolf has come into the stall

And steals the Holy Church's sheep

The while the shepherd lies asleep

Four sisters of our Church you find

They're of the patriarchic kind

Constantinople, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch

But they've been forfeited and sacked

And soon the head [Rome] will be attacked.

As the poem's continuity suggests, learned Europeans saw the Ottoman scourge as the latest in a continuum of Islamic terror, for whereas the Arabs were "the first troops of locusts" that appeared "about the year 630," to quote a contemporary English clergyman, "the Turks, a brood of vipers, [are] worse than their parent ... the Saracens, their mother."

The same observations of continuity can be made about the Islamic State and every other jihadi organization.

Editor's note: A portion of this article is excerpted from the author's new book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West. All quotes are sourced there.
Boston Globe editor proving Trump's point

Marjorie Pritchard, deputy managing editor of the Boston Globe, is at this moment patting herself on the back. She is, in her own mind, a heroine. She alone conceived the idea to encourage newspapers all over the country to publish anti-Trump editorials on Thursday, August 16. Her big idea is her response to President Trump's relentless attack on those among the media who relentlessly publish fake news. Trump has never said all of the media are disingenuous, or that all of the media publish and promote fake news. He clearly goes after the news outlets who do: CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NPR, CBS, NBC, NYT, WaPo, L.A. Times, and too many others.

The president is targeting what has become known as the mainstream media, the MSM, or the "drive-bys," as Rush Limbaugh rightfully calls them. They are clones of one another. There is not an original thought or idea among their "reporters." Their reporters are not journalists in any sense of the word. They all take their marching orders from the leftists who head up each of these organizations. Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, not one of them deviated from the Clinton campaign party line. Ms. Pritchard, then, is working hard to prove Trump's point. He rages against the leftist machine that is the MSM, and she is bound and determined to prove him right for all to see. She, and all those editors who are jumping onto her bandwagon, is playing right into his hands. How clueless can these anti-Trumpers be? They are mind-numbed idiots, so easily trolled by the master. They see themselves as defenders of the free press! The only free press today is vast, available to all of us, and thoroughly outside their realm of conformity. They think they matter; they have yet to grasp the fact that they are largely irrelevant. Jim Acosta thinks he is a reporter; he is a rude clown, subservient to tyrants, disrespectful to Trump and Sarah Sanders. He actually thinks people care what he says, does, or thinks. They do not. He is a joke. Since interest has dimmed in Stormy Daniels and her "creepy porn lawyer," as Tucker Carlson has dubbed him, the new star the MSM are celebrating is the pathetic Omarosa Manigault Newman, with her book of lies and accusations that everyone knows are fabricated. The anchors on all the MSM outlets know exactly who and what she is but are wooing her in the hope that she will be the one to take Trump down. They never give up. They never learn. From the Access Hollywood tape to Omarosa, they are confident that each new lowlife with a story to tell will be the one to overturn the election. They are like Energizer bunnies; they have motors but no brains. They never give up, no matter how ridiculous the attacks on Trump become. In short, they are utter fools. Ms. Pritchard says newspapers use "differing words." Uh, no, they don't. They use the same words. Just as that JournoList functioned under Obama, talking points went out, and they all repeated them verbatim. These people do not think for themselves. Throw a differing, conservative opinion at them, and they cry racism. That is their only defense, no matter how specious. Conservatives are looking forward to Thursday's coordinated anti-Trump editorials. We will have a definitive list of news outlets to never trust again because they will have revealed themselves to be unthinking soldiers in a nasty war against a man for whom over sixty million Americans voted to be their president. So far, he has been a truly terrific president. He has accomplished more good for the nation than either Bush or Obama did in sixteen years. Economy great thanks to tax cuts and de-regulation.

Unemployment at lowest point ever, for blacks and Hispanics, too.

Food stamp use down by a few million. The man who has accomplished all this in nineteen months is whom they want to destroy. What does that tell us about who the left is today? Leftists do not have the country's best interest at heart. Their hatred of this man motivates them in a most destructive way. Let those hundred or so newspapers follow Pritchard's orders and publish their anti-Trump op-eds on Thursday. They will be demonstrating for all to see just how right Trump is when he calls out the perpetrators of fake news.
The red Chinese blasted the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club (a place I've spent time at during my Asia years) for allowing a Hong Kong independence activist simply to speak for them.

As the press whines that President Trump is a threat to freedom of the press, and then pulls stunts like coordinated editorials, over in China, the real thing is being demonstrated.

According to Reuters, China's foreign ministry issued an ugly warning to the group, stating that "the reporters' group was not outside the law."

The club should be very clear that freedom of the press cannot be abused, the office said in a statement on its website.

They consider just the act of allowing someone (who doesn't have a snowball's chance in Yunnan of getting his ideas put into practice) to speak, as they put it, "abuse" of "freedom" the press? As if communists would know what freedom of the press is in the first place? As if the communists would know what just plain freedom is? File under "unclear on the concept." This one goes right up there with the passage in P.J. O'Rourke's Holidays in Hell, quoting a Sandinista commissar complaining about La Prensa, which had reported that the Sandinistas censored the press: "This was a lie and we could not let them publish it."

It's thuggery.

It gets worse. Look at this:

Voice of America's Mandarin Service correspondent and a multimedia journalist working for VOA were detained Monday evening by Chinese police while attempting to interview a retired Chinese professor who was taken away by authorities during a live television interview with VOA nearly two weeks ago. Correspondent Yibing Feng and VOA contractor Allen Ai were taken into custody in Jinan, Shandong province after talking to professor Sun Wenguang, 84, through a closed door of his apartment.

The Chicoms came at them like goons and hauled the reporters, who had been working fearlessly, and in difficult conditions, doing the sort of stories even the larger, better funded mainstream press won't take on as too risky, because from Google on down, nobody wants to cross the Chinese government and get out of its good graces.

Read the passage of how the arrest went down, and consider how chilling that is:

When the VOA journalists first arrived at Sun's apartment, they encountered a few security people outside the door. After they identified themselves as journalists, correspondent Feng told security: "Please don't interrupt our work." A security officer asked them to go downstairs where they were later detained. The two VOA journalists were then taken away separately in police cars. "Where are you taking me?" Feng asked police in a conversation that was overhead on a cell phone call to VOA editors in Washington. "You will know," an officer responded. "I need to talk to your leader," Yibing told the officer. The police then apparently asked Yibing to turn over his equipment. "This is (US) government property, you cannot take it," Yibing told them, referring to VOA's status as a U.S. government broadcasting entity. Before the cell phone line went dead, the sound of footsteps could be heard.

I know people who've worked in the VOA's China office, and one of the great unpublished stories those sources have noted is that the VOA Mandarin service is loaded with Chicom spies whom the Obama administration refused to do anything about. It's likely those spies targeted these real VOA journalists from the inside before the Chicom thugs made their move to haul them off.

There's more: a recent item in Medium described how New York Times columnist Sarah Jeong failed to protect her Chinese source during her days of writing for the Vice news site, here, the point being that it's dangerous to talk to the press in China. It should not surprise anyone a bit that Jeong had no respect for her source's safety in a communist hellhole. Meanwhile, renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei just had his studio trashed in what he said was an anti-freedom of the press attack (again, a real one).

Now we come back to the Washington swamp press with all its whinings about Trump being the real threat to freedom of the press. Look at some of these headlines:

Trump is attacking the First Amendment again Washington Post

Federal judge says Trump violates First Amendment by blocking critics on Twitter Associated Press

Trump's Assault on the First Amendment Bloomberg

President Trump's cultural assault on the First Amendment Washington Post

Will freedom of the press endure regular Trump attacks? Salon

This isn't even scratching the surface of the kind of blather out there. Thomas Lifson wrote a terrific piece on the shenanigans of the press as it boils in its own juices of Trump-hate. What's obvious is that whatever Trump's complaints about the press coverage he is getting and whatever the press response to it as a result, none of it holds a candle to the kind of hideous threats and real attacks against the press going on in China.

That's the same China Trump is challenging on the foreign policy front, upending the Chinese view of themselves as born to rule all Asia and free to persecute the press. Trump right now is the only thing standing between China's repression of the press and its surge for regional dominance. Google is glad to kowtow to China, despite China's press activities, and we all know that Google is as progressive as the press. But Trump doesn't. Against this China juggernaut, the swamp press's constant carping about Trump and the press is starting to sound pretty candy-assed.
And somehow, none of that's quite good enough to hold the creep behind that utterly disturbing picture in jail for trial. Solitary for Paul Manafort for a decades-old crime, sure, but this guy, Sirraj Wahhaj, and all his buddies get let out to go about their business.

Here's what the Daily Caller found:

A New Mexico state judge ruled Monday that five alleged Muslim extremists accused of training children to conduct school shootings do not have to remain in jail while they await trial for child abuse. Judge Sarah Backus released the five defendants, Siraj Wahhaj, Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhannah Wahhaj, Jany Leveille, and Lucas Morten, on a $20,000 "signature bond," according to the Albuquerque Journal. That means that the defendants will not have to pay money unless they violate the conditions of their release.

Let's go over this again. We have a murder case. We have an extreme multiple child neglect case. We have a likely kidnapping. We have a terror-connected imam. We have a creepy survivalist compound. We have terrorism. We have an insane diabolical plot to train children to do school shootings, and none of that, not even one little element of that, is good enough to keep this accused criminal in jail?

The article says the judge thought the prosecutors did not quite make their case, and never mind about those emaciated kids. Apparently, the terrorism accusation just went in one ear and out the other, with the judge convinced that anti-Islam sentiment is a greater threat to the U.S. than the deeds and intentions of actual bona fide terrorists. Apparently, she thinks the war on terror ended long ago. Or more likely, she really, really, really wanted to Get Trump. Couple it with the press's reluctance to so much as report on the case, and the possibility that some kind of corruption may be at work here (Wahhaj seems to be connected to Linda Sarsour, who certainly has political clout), and we get a strange brand of justice that certainly isn't what an ordinary American would get if accused of similar charges.

This is actually the first I've ever heard of such charges, even individually, not leading to a denial of bail. Bail is only going to free this thug to do more harm. If he does that harm, the blood will be on this irresponsible left-wing judge's hands.
This could be Ward's race to win, if she can get out in front of a third-rail problem, which the local and potentially national mainstream media might use as a weapon to sink her campaign.

I applaud patriot Lloyd Marcus for his support of GOP primary candidate Kelli Ward as she runs to fill outgoing Jeff Flake's Arizona Senate seat. There's a huge concern, however, on what remains as a largely unsolved problem with the August 28 primary contenders.

"ChemTrail Kelli Ward."

Kelli Ward. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Senator Mitch McConnell's PAC didn't invent this last year in a pre-emptive cheap-shot support effort of Jeff Flake before Flake's aborted re-election campaign. It's real. Ward held an embarrassing public constituency meeting in 2014 where she did nothing to dispel the anti-science, anti-intellectual conspiracy theory about "chemtrails." A year later, when pressed on the event, she said (near the bottom of an article about her run against John McCain), "I don't really have any opinions about 'chemtrails' one way or the other. I think that environmental quality, though, is very important."

Perhaps the local Arizona Republic newspaper is restraining itself on the use of the "ChemTrail Kelli" label in hopes that she will win the primary, whereupon it can hand this weapon to Representative Kyrsten Sinema, whom they essentially endorsed over the weekend for the Democrat primary.

Rep. Sinema has maintained a low profile as a centrist ever since the Democrat hierarchy apparently toned her down from her previous far-left appearance. Back in 2010, when she first began her run for Congress, another local Arizona news outlet speculated that her self-imposed "Prada socialist" label might doom her election chances.

With that kind of Ocasio-Cortez/Bernie Sanders-like skeleton in Sinema's closet, you'd think filling Jeff Flake's Senate seat with a genuine conservative would be easy.

Instead, it's a troubling situation. Of the other two GOP primary contenders, there is internationally famous "World's Toughest Sheriff" Joe Arpaio, who has basically had zero public presence since filing his candidacy.

Rep. Martha McSally claims to be a principled conservative who supports President Trump, but the centrist stance that allowed her to win the House seat formerly held by Democrat Gabrielle Giffords and Ron Barber raises the question of whether she's changing now in order to win the Senate seat or was very conservative from the start but buried it in order to win her House seat. If McSally wins the primary, it might lead to a mutual-annihilation general election mud fest on whether she or Sinema is the more insincere poser who will say anything to get elected.

Then there's Ward. If she wins the primary, it doesn't matter what her position is, principled conservative or otherwise. If she is portrayed as a chemtrail conspiracy-believer, her general election is doomed, and Sinema will simply stand aside in a cakewalk into the Senate, while Ward twists in the wind.

How might this problem be solved? Ward could go on immediate full offense, smashing the "ChemTrail Kelli" label via an in-your-face taunt of the national mainstream media with a policy statement such as this:

The latest round of frivolous anti-science global warming lawsuits is based on accusations about "industry-paid skeptic climate scientist shills" that is as bad as wacko conspiracy theories put out by 9-11 Truthers and believers in chemtrail conspiracy.

Standing up to the media is one of the main points that swept President Trump into power. Such a statement from Ward would focus the spotlight squarely onto the MSM's 20-year-plus failure to do their jobs on checking the veracity of Al Gore's "crooked skeptics" accusation. If she shows this kind of leadership, she wins the votes of all of us who've long been demanding that politicians stop caving in to mainstream media narratives and finally hold them accountable for being the existential threat to the well-being of the country they are increasingly becoming.

Russell Cook's blog GelbspanFiles.com is a forensic examination of faults in the corruption accusation against skeptic climate scientists, an outgrowth of his original articles here at American Thinker. He can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
The rival Koreas have announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet in Pyongyang sometime in September.

Kim Jong-un is sending a new signal to his citizens and to the rest of the world, with a brand new fashion look, informal, accessible, and friendly, in a series of photographs released by the official North Korean News Agency, timed to coincide with the news of a third summit between the leaders of North Korea and South Korea.

The push for what would be the leaders' third summit since April comes amid renewed worries surrounding a nuclear standoff between Washington and Pyongyang. The announcement released after nearly two hours of talks led by the rivals' chiefs for inter-Korean affairs was remarkably thin on details. In a three-sentence joint statement, the two sides did not mention an exact date for the summit and provided no details on how to implement past agreements.

There is a slightly Trumpian flavor to the way this is being teased, and the way the relationship between the two men is described:

Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the North Korean agency that deals with inter-Korean affairs, told pool reporters at the end of the talks that officials agreed on a specific date for the summit in Pyongyang sometime within September, but he refused to share the date, saying he wanted to "keep reporters wondering." He earlier told the South Korean delegation in opening remarks that the Koreas were like very close friends with an unbreakable bond.

The NKNA pictures are more revealing, I think. Three examples:

Smiles all around.

Hitching up his pants! Twice! Looks as though he's lost weight.

Speculation had been that he purposely gained weight so as to resemble his grandfather, the founder of the North Korean regime. There had been reports that his weight gain led to health problems. Perhaps he was also bothered by President Trump's mockery of him back then as "short and fat."

The new look is definitely appealing to North Koreans and South Koreans as an accessible, friendly leader, not an authoritarian who speaks with the inherited status of a direct descendent of the regime's godlike founder. It is only my speculation, but I think this might indicate that he has received backing from the key power figures in his regime.

To be sure, any such move can be suddenly reversed, and it also may be a feint intended to deceive. Nonetheless, something is going on.

Hat tip: John McMahon
Learning the Oriental Way of Conflict

The rich and varied Oriental Way of Conflict is not understood by most Americans. While in war there is much in common between the Western Way of War and the Oriental Way of Conflict, there are stinking differences in warfare (the gray zone between peace and war). During World War Two, the U.S. developed a Western army in China, only to see it defeated by communists using traditional Chinese ways. The Western Way of War fights for vital interests when the object is clear and there is domestic support. It depends on technology, logistics, firepower, direct confrontation, overwhelming force, and decisive battles to achieve victory  followed by peace. Those who live in what was called the Orient (Turkey to Japan) during the 12th to 19th centuries have always stressed deception, misdirection, ruse, ambush, surprises, and patience. They want to know how their opponents think and how to cause misconceptions. They are concerned with psychology and strategic communication as they follow erosion strategies. They understand protracted conflict and cooperation (both interacting within a whole). They prefer for the enemy to give up as the result of warfare rather than having to destroy his armed forces with overwhelming firepower.

The term "Oriental" became unacceptable because of the arguments of postmodernists, like Edward Said, who wanted to move to a new world post-colonial order without Western nation-states being the primary actors. But in so doing the distinctions between the Western Way of War and the Oriental Way of Conflict, that could have been learned in the Korean War, were forgotten. For this the USA has paid dearly since 1953. Achieving stability at the lowest possible cost requires a re-examination of how Orientals weaken, erode, and destroy their enemies during warfare. It requires recognition that fear is the key factor in winning hearts and minds  not any specific economic or political doctrine. It requires recognition that network-building starts at the bottom, with local security 24-7, and then builds common identity from the bottom up as it eliminates factions. Such building can be done in the long term only through what the people themselves think is right. Granted, it can also be done in the short term through coercion and soft power  even those from the central government or from some foreign country. If the USA is to be effective and efficient in warfare, it is going to have to learn many things from the Oriental Way of Conflict.
He's actually surrendering on a socialist principle, or thinks he can sufficiently corrupt it to keep it socialist without saying so.

Maduro has announced the end of subsidized gas at Venezuelan filling stations.

Venezuela's president has said its subsidised fuel prices should rise, to stop smugglers cheating the country out of billions of dollars. "Gasoline must be sold at an international price to stop smuggling to Colombia and the Caribbean," Nicolas Maduro said in a televised address. Like many oil producing nations, Venezuela offers its citizens heavily subsidised petrol.

Gas there has been subsidized within an inch of the country's life; it's sold at a price so low that one gringo dollar will buy you 925,000 gallons of premium at the pump. Take a look at how bad it is from this chart.

This is why there is no gas, of course, and the whole country is breaking down and falling apart  all in the name of socialism, providing gas for "the people" instead of those dreaded corporate profits.

It's been a problem for a while. Venezuelan blogger Miguel Octavio, writing in 2011, noted the perverse incentives in these subsidies, which, in the end, serve only the rich. He's been writing about that for years. You can scroll back on his site and find doozies about it such as this:

Of course, in Venezuela, much like what has happened in Iran, this subsidy has a compounding effect, as people use gasoline more and more, because it is so cheap and oil production is going down simultaneusly [sic], so that you get hit twice, as more of the lower production has to be used internally.

Of course the place is falling apart. And Venezuelan oil production has just fallen to 1949 levels, which was reported the other day in Russ Dallen's excellent Latin American Herald Tribune. You can see from his chart what a disaster that has been for Venezuelan oil production, which is pretty much the only source of Venezuelan government income now that the private sector has been crushed as another byproduct of socialism.

Maduro's move to end subsidies appears to be a genuine free-market concession, and quite a large and dramatic one, given that the Venezuelan government has had these subsidies since the pre-Chavez era, although they really got bad when Chavez and Maduro took the helm. Maduro says it's due to fuel-smuggling, but in reality, it's due to empty government coffers.

If Maduro were really serious about ending Venezuela's pain, he'd end all price controls and currency controls, which were enacted for the same bad reasons price controls on gas were, and have had the same deleterious effect on the food supply and the medical supply and pretty much everything else. Obviously, Maduro is thinking of only himself and wants his government financed, the better to repress the people who still suffer under those other price and currency controls in the name of socialism. Maduro served himself first with this concession.

One hopes it won't be enough, given that, as the BBC notes, fuel hikes lead to big riots in Venezuela. I suspect that Maduro knows this and his back is against the wall, so he is willing to take a chance. He is likely hoping his "car census" will keep the subsidies he does release under control, but knowing how efficient his government is, that is a big stretch.

What will likely happen is even more chaos as his free-market surrender leads to more pushes for more surrenders of socialism or else to a revolt. Maduro has been absolutely steadfast up until now about holding to socialism even as the country collapses around him. That he is moving to end his first subsidy suggests a desperate recognition of economic reality and a greedy move to save himself first.

Image credit: Bob J. Galindo via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
By embracing provincial-appealing "forgotten man" rhetoric, Trump loosed "mere anarchy" upon the world, widening our already large gulf between America's two geographically disparate groups: city-dwellers and rural residents.

During President Trump's presidential campaign and its aftermath, it became commonplace to cite Yeats's " Second Coming " when describing the ongoing splintering of the country. The poem's most famous lines were recalled so often that they became a perfunctory cliche. I think, at times, I was also guilty of the aesthetic crime. "The falcon cannot hear the falconer; / Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold"  you know the verses by heart by now.

Social observers are mistaken when they say America is divided by race, religion, or even politics. Those are all secondary; they don't constitute the wellspring. The real dividing line starts at geography. All other differences flow from our ZIP codes.

This rural-urban divide was starkly present in the recent special election in Ohio's 12th Congressional District. The race has yet to be officially called, but it appears that Republican Troy Balderson will eke out a win. Even so, the district has been held by Republican hands for decades. The Democrat, a fresh-faced upstart named Danny O'Connor, came within a whisker of occupying it.

O'Connor's support didn't come from disillusioned Trump-voters in the rural parts of the district. Rather, it came predominantly from the more populated counties  Delaware and Franklin  that are also some of the wealthiest areas in the state. While O'Connor ran up the vote in more urban areas, Balderson struggled to mimic the support rural residents gave President Trump two years earlier. The result was a nail-biter.

Ohio 12 is just a microcosm of what's increasingly becoming a larger national trend . A PRRI-The Atlantic poll taken in October 2016 found that 40% of Trump-supporters still reside in their hometown compared to 29% of Hillary voters. Of the portion of Clinton-backers who left their place of birth, 60% now live more than two hours away.

You don't need data to illustrate this point. A twofold red-blue map of counties won by Trump versus counties won by Clinton suffices. Vast swaths of the country are cloaked in red, while major metropolises appear as small blue oases.

This changes how we describe the two-sided political war this country wages periodically throughout the year, with the biggest skirmish happening on every quadrennial first Tuesday after November 1. It's no longer a Republican vs. Democrat, conservative vs. liberal fight. It's rural vs. urban, country vs. city, town vs. gown.

It's all reminiscent of Walker Percy's brilliant and prophetic novel Love in the Ruins. Set in 1983, Percy's apocalyptic tale satirizes American political strife by depicting an impending domestic conflict between the right-wing Knotheads, a parody of the short-lived xenophobic Know-Nothing party, and the LEFT, a shortened acronym from LEFTPAPASANE, which stands for "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, The Pill, Atheism, Pot, Anti-Pollution, Sex, Abortion Now, Euthanasia." Both sides are extreme versions of our simple partisan binary, living in their own enclaves, shielded from each other. "There are Left states and Knothead states, Left towns and Knothead towns but no center towns," Percy writes.

The novel, holding to Percy's particular style of believable irony, doesn't end in a kumbaya coming together of America's two warring factions. Mass violence is avoided by a conscious separation of sides. The geographical distancing is not very different from our own time, with liberals increasingly dominating urban centers and surrounding conurbations.

The separation has been happening for some time. It was first highlighted in Charles Murray's Coming Apart. It has since been examined and pontificated upon by other thinkers, including Wendell Berry , J.D. Vance , and R.R. Reno . Dispatches in left-wing periodicals like the The New Yorker frequently cover this widening chasm.

And what does anyone in power do about this silent battle happening in our own country? How are our political leaders addressing the growing divide? By ignoring it, mostly. Democrats malign non-urbanites as bitter clingers and deplorables. Republicans have all but thrown in the towel on courting inner-city voters. "The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity," to quote Yeats once more.

At one time, Donald Trump could have been a unifying figure. A New York City businessman with a heart for the Rust Belt, Trump had the possibility of bridging the divide between the decadence of the city and the hard but languid lifestyle of the rural resident.

That hope is gone thanks to the media's nonstop depiction of Trump as a knuckle-dragging racist. With Democrats lining up to take on the president in 2020, each vying to be the wokest kimchi-and-kombucha aficionado along the Acela Corridor, is there still an American figure who can get the farmer and investment banker talking to each other again?
Munition workers in a shell warehouse at National Shell Filling Factory No.6, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire in 1917. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

The role women played in the two World Wars is well known and well appreciated. As men went off to fight the war, positions previously held by men in factories and other services were quickly filled by women. Women worked the assembly line, drove trucks, served as air raid wardens and as nurses, worked in communications, intelligence, and performed hundreds of other duties critical for the war effort. One vital role women played was ensuring that the soldiers in the front line had adequate ammunition.

From the very beginning of the First World War, the British were having trouble producing the amount of weapons and ammunition needed by the country's armed forces. After several scathing attacks from the opposition and the media on the shell crises of 1915, the British government passed the Munitions of War Act 1915 to increase government oversight and regulation of the industry. To maximize munitions output, private companies supplying the armed forces were brought under the tight control of the newly created Ministry of Munitions. Wages, hours and employment conditions were regulated, strikes were prohibited, and workers were forbidden to leave their jobs without the employers consent. The Act also forced factories to employ women because of the shortage of able-bodied men, most of which were fighting the war. By the end of the war, the British government had more than four thousand munitions factories under its control, employing nearly a million female workers.

While women who worked the assembly lines were spared the horrors of the trenches, their jobs were no less dangerous. Munitions factories were often the enemys prime target with sites routinely flattened by bombing. There was also the risk of explosions.

In these factories, they would take the casing, fill it with powder, then put a detonator in the top and that had to be tapped down, said researcher Amy Dale to BBC. If they tapped too hard, it would detonate."

"It happened to one lady, who was pregnant at the time, and it blinded her and she lost both her hands. Amy added.

Two women munitions workers stand beside examples of the shells produced at National Shell Filling Factory No.6, Chillwell, Nottinghamshire during the First World War. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Nylon and silk clothing were banned as these materials build up static electricity which can create sparks, and sparks might lead to explosions. Women were strip searched everyday they went to work. They had to remove all objects containing metals including brassieres that contain metal clips and hair pins.

Freak accidents with explosives were common and they took the lives of many workers or left them injured. At least three major explosions occurred during this period killing more than three hundred workers and injuring hundreds more. Another occupational hazard of working in a munitions factory was the constant exposure to toxic chemicals.

Many women worked with trinitrotoluene (TNT), which is used in the manufacture of explosives, and cordite, which is used as a propellant in cartridges. When cordite is fired, the expanding gases propel bullets and shells out of the cartridge and out of the barrel. The manufacture of both TNT and cordite involves such corrosive substances such as sulfuric and nitric acid. Fumes from these acids turned many womens skin and hair to a yellow color, earning them the nickname canary girls.

Female workers in the Finishing Room, No. 14 National Filling Factory, Hereford. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

At the HM Factory in Gretna, in southern Scotland, which was the largest cordite factory in the world employing 12,000 women, female munitionettesanother nickname female munitions workers earned mixed cordite paste in large vats with their bare hands. This particularly nasty brew was dubbed the Devil's Porridge by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the famous Sherlock Holmes series, when he visited the munitions factory in December 1916. Sir Doyle was particularly impressed by those smiling khaki-clad girls who are swirling the stuff round in their hands, unmindful of the fact that they would be blown to atoms in an instant if certain small changes occurred.

Indeed, there were more serious health hazards of working in a TNT factory than a little bit of harmless coloring, the effect of which wore out in a couple of weeks anyway.

TNT is toxic to the liver, and prolonged exposure causes anaemia and jaundice, which gave the body a different yellow coloration. Some 400 cases of toxic jaundice were recorded among ammunition workers in the First World War, of which 100 proved fatal. Some workers reported bone disintegration in later life, while others developed throat problems and dermatitis from TNT staining. Some women even gave birth to bright yellow babies. These babies were called Canary Babies.

There is a new museum near the Gretna today exploring the history of HM Factory, and highlighting the role women played in the war effort. Its called The Devils Porridge Museum.

Stirring the Devils Porridge at HM Factory Gretna. Photo credit: the Devils Porridge Museum, Gretna.

Women workers preparing nitre to be taken to the Gretna munitions factory. Photo credit: Science & Society Picture Librar/SSPL

Female munitions workers manufacturing heavy artillery shells at one of the Vickers Limited factories, May 1917. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munition workers weighing 4.5 shells in a factory in the Birmingham area, March 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munitions worker drilling the bodies of Mills hand grenades in a workshop of a British factory. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munitions worker inspecting Mills hand grenades in a British factory. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munition worker at work in a factory at an undisclosed location. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munition worker painting shells in a factory at an undisclosed location. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munitions workers pushing a truckload of shells to be verified by the government inspector, June 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female workers painting aerial bombs in a factory, June 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munition workers sorting through products in a factory in an undisclosed location in Britain, probably March 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munitions workers guide 6 inch howitzer shells being lowered to the floor at the Chilwell ammunition factory in Nottinghamshire, UK. July 1917. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female workers assembled in the Recreation Room at the Cubitts munitions factory, March 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum
President Trump on Monday signed the latest annual edition of the U.S. defense bill, with the legislation securing $716 billion for security policy funding and loosely banning the federal use of technologies from Chinese hardware manufacturers Huawei and ZTE. Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 prohibits the use and procurement of covered telecommunications equipment or services in certain scenarios, with the bill later clearly stating any equipment created by Huawei and ZTE falls under that technology category.

While the ban isnt absolute, it prevents heads of federal agencies from entering into contracts or renewing old agreements to utilize Huawei and ZTEs solutions in a way that would position them as essential component of any government system. Likewise, the executive branch of the federal government is prohibited from awarding critical contracts to any private company that relies on ZTE- and Huawei-made tech in a significant manner, as per the same law. The bill doesnt go into more details on the matter, leaving the intricacies of its enforcement up for interpretation across the federal government. Industry watchers previously suggested that even a soft ban like this one is likely to discourage federal agencies from ordering Huawei and ZTEs technologies for any purpose moving forward.

While the development was largely anticipated, ZTE still managed to avoid the worst-case scenario as a previous draft of the defense budget act included a provision that would have reinstated its denial order issued by the Commerce Department over trade embargo violations in April. The seven-year ban on the purchase of American technologies threatened to bankrupt Chinas telecom juggernaut in a matter of months but ended up being lifted earlier this summer, whereas the more aggressive anti-ZTE provision was removed from the defense act last month. Huawei itself has a long history of issues with the U.S. government and was repeatedly accused of posing a national security risk due to its close ties to Beijing, which is a notion that the company described as baseless on numerous occasions.
The number of unique users visiting Facebook over the past twelve months has remained relatively flat but preference for its mobile app does appear to be growing, according to SimilarWeb. More directly, overall traffic to the companys website and its mobile webpage have fallen during that period but the use of its applications has increased. Thats true for each of those but for the main Facebook app, in particular, penetration of the market has gone up by 6-percent year-over-year. That app is installed on an estimated 70-percent of all Android devices, as of the last count. Although that doesnt necessarily account for the installation of the app by some OEMs out of the box, the average time spent in the app has increased by 20-percent. That means users now spend an average of an hour using the app. Traffic losses, meanwhile, meanwhile, primarily stems from users either no longer accessing the mobile variant of the website or accessing it less.

The implication of that is that users are shifting away from the browser versions of Facebooks services  including Messenger, Instagram, and Whatsapp  in favor or more convenient mobile apps. A portion of that shift is undoubtedly caused by the website recommending that mobile users switch to the app. However, SimilarWeb suggests thats led by Facebooks efforts to meet consumer demands for a multi-channel social experience. The company has increasingly made efforts to not only create consistency in some features found across each of the above-mentioned services. It has also placed an emphasis on what sets those platforms apart in order to serve the needs of users with a preference for any of the given applications. By comparison, the website effectively brings several of those under a single site. While that can be convenient in its own right, users appear to be showing less interest in that.

On the other hand, Facebook has also done a relatively good job of routing web traffic through its applications. According to data pooled by the research firm Mixpanel, the companys app now holds at or above 10-percent of the market share in terms of browsing in some U.S. states. So the shift in user preference and numbers isnt entirely unexpected.
Google announced that its smart speakers  the Google Home, Home Max and Home Mini  all now support two new streaming music services. Those are Pandora Premium and Deezer. These are in addition to the many music streaming services that are already available on Google Home, which includes Google Play Music, Spotify, and many more. This means that if you are a Pandora Premium or Deezer subscriber, you can now listen to your favorite music on your Google Home smart speaker, simply by asking the Google Assistant to play your music. Just tell Google Assistant which playlist, or song you want to play and then make sure to specify the service  in this case, Pandora or Deezer.

Those that own a Google Home, but dont have the paid version of Pandora  which includes playlists, no ads, etc  you can sign up for a free 90-day trial of the service. Additionally, Deezer is available for HiFi and Premium users in the US, Canada, Italy, Australia, UK, France and Germany. Unfortunately, other countries are not supported at this time. Some regions do get a free 90-day trial of Deezer Premium, which youll want to head to the Google Store or the Google Home app on Android to find out.

With Pandora and Deezer now available on Google Home, you can now stream more music over WiFi with your Google Home speaker. This will also work on other Google Assistant speakers as well, like those that Sony and JBL offer right now. If you dont have a Google Home speaker right now, you can pick one up, at a discounted price since it is back-to-school season right now. These speakers are great for playing music, audiobooks, asking Google Assistant questions and so much more. The Google Home is a great looking speaker that you can put in your living room, kitchen or even your bedroom.
Huawei deems the federal ban on its products put in place by the United States government on Monday an exercise in futility on Washingtons part. Huawei supports the US governments goals for better security, but this random addition to the NDAA is ineffective, misguided, and unconstitutional, a company spokesperson said in a statement to AndroidHeadlines. The Shenzhen-based original equipment manufacturer argues that the defense bill amendment doesnt help the U.S. government identify the real security risks or otherwise strengthen its cyber defenses. Instead, the provision will do nothing but be detrimental to Huaweis ambitions to innovate across a wide variety of technology segments, consequently hurting American consumers and businesses who would be willing to use the companys products, according to the firm.

Besides preventing federal agency heads from allowing any kind of technology from Huawei to be used in critical systems or as a component of any other state-run solution, the Section 899 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 also prohibits government institutions from doing business with companies that rely on Huawei-made infrastructure or software in any significant manner. The bill was signed by President Trump on Monday, though its anti-Huawei provision leaves a lot of room for interpretation and it remains to be seen how it will affect the Chinese OEM in the immediate future. Huawei hasnt been doing business with the U.S. government on any significant scale ever since entering the country close to two decades back as the company often ended up clashing with American companies such as T-Mobile, in addition to repeatedly facing allegations of being a national security risk due to its literal and figurative proximity to Chinas Communist government. The company argued its a privately owned entity on many occasions but refuses to clarify its ownership structure to date, which has been one of the main points of stateside criticism it has been facing over the last fifteen years.

We believe that the American people deserve equal access to the best possible connections and smart device options, and will keep working to make this happen, Huawei said, without elaborating on the matter. This years defense budget bill also targets Chinas telecom giant ZTE, hitting it with the same restrictions that were imposed on any potential federal use of Huaweis products and services.
The luxury brand Michael Kors recently announced that its Runway watch design returns as one of the companys newest smartwatch offerings. Among the key features of the Michael Kors Access Runway smartwatch include heart rate tracking, the ability to make purchases, and support for the Google Assistant. The wearable can track the heart rate of a person during workouts with the help of the Google Fit app, although consumers may also choose to use third-party fitness applications which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. People can monitor their heart rate with the help of new digital dial designs which shows the heart rate recorded by the smartwatch. In addition, the device features NFC and it supports payment technologies like Google Pay and AliPay. The Runway smartwatch also comes with the Google Assistant built-in, allowing users to ask questions and manage their tasks directly on their wearables. However, in China, the device instead ships with the Mobvoi Assistant pre-installed.

Michael Kors has also updated its My Social app, a software that permits people to use their personal photographs as a custom face for their wearables. The application now allows users to modify their custom smartwatch faces with Michael Kors-themed stickers.

The Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC from Qualcomm powers the Runway smartwatch and the device runs Wear OS from Google. The luxury brand also stated that its latest wearable comes with 3 ATM water resistance rating and untethered GPS. The latter hardware feature allows people to leave their handsets behind since their smartwatches are capable of recording the distance they have traveled using the built-in GPS module. The device also features support for Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy, and it contains a 300mAh battery, which Michael Kors claims could last for more than a day. The wearable is compatible with Android handsets that run Android 4.4 KitKat or newer, except for smartphones that run Android Go. Users can choose from three classic stainless steel platings, or they may also opt for the new silicone straps. The Runway smartwatch is expected to become available in both the brick-and-mortar and online stores of Michael Kors as well as from selected retailers within the month.
Motorolas rumored upcoming smartphone dubbed the Motorola P30 will reportedly include a notch at the top of the display, as suggested by a set of press renders that just leaked online. The Motorola P30 will supposedly be the companys first mobile device to come with a notch on the display, a trend that has increasingly been seeing wide adoption among smartphone makers including Samsung, LG, and Huawei.

Additionally, the leaked renders apparently show slim bezels on the sides and narrow bezels at the bottom of the device. In terms of design, the handset has a glass back design and an aluminum frame. The Motorola P30 is supposed to sport a 6.2-inch Fullscreen 2.5D display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. Flipping to the rear panel of the handset reveals a dual camera setup that sits at the top left corner in a vertical orientation, boasting a 16-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor with an aperture of an f/1.8. On the front is a 12-megapixel selfie snapper with an aperture of an f/1.8 and a native support for artificial intelligence and augmented reality. In addition, the camera module includes an LED flash located between the two camera sensors. And like the other Motorola devices carrying a fingerprint sensor, the fingerprint scanner of the Motorola P30 is found at its usual location at the back of the device on the same spot where the Motorola logo sits. Under the hood, the Motorola P30 is rumored to ship with an octa-core processor coupled with 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. The smartphone will also reportedly pack a 3,000mAh battery with support for fast charging and it will likely run Android 8.0 or 8.1 Oreo. The smartphone will also likely include a Dolby 360 surround sound support and U-touch split-screen.

The Lenovo-owned company has yet to confirm the renders and the specs of the rumored Motorola P30, but it wont be long before the official device sees the light of day supposedly on August 15 in China. The device will reportedly come in three color options: black, white, and a colorful gradient version. In terms of the pricing, the base variant with 64GB of internal memory will reportedly cost CNY 1,999, approximately $290. The Motorola P30 wont likely be alone, however. Just a few days ago, the Moto P30 surfaced on Motorolas official website with other Moto-branded handsets such as the Moto P30 Note and the Moto P30 Play, though these have been taken down in the meantime.
Googles update to Android 9.0 Pie for Pixel phones brought a wealth of new features, but the decision to hide the new Digital Wellbeing app in the phone settings inspired the creator of Action Launcher to make an app that allows users to bring those hidden apps front and center. The app can create shortcuts in the app drawer, which can be dragged onto the home screen, or it can create widgets on the home screen that lead to those hidden apps. The latter option will continue to work even if you uninstall Pixel Shortcuts, but when you get rid of the app, non-widget shortcuts go with it.

The app is designed to bring hidden apps front and center to make them easier to access. Its not that these apps are not supposed to be accessed by users, but in many cases, they only come up in certain system calls, such as some system launchers like Samsungs TouchWiz launcher only coming up when the phone asks to display the launcher switcher, or they may be hidden in the phone settings or other areas, as is the case with Digital Wellbeing. In either case, Pixel Shortcuts will make these apps appear in the drawer. It also allows you to make widgets for them, which can work anywhere widgets are supported, including certain lockscreens.

This incredibly simple app doesnt bring any new functionality to the table, per se, but simply makes it easier to access features and apps that are already present in your phone. It was created because of Digital Wellbeing, but will work with any hidden apps, as stated above, possibly including certain testing apps found on devices from the likes of Samsung and Xiaomi. Certain apps like Action Launcher can create custom shortcuts that can actually call up activities within these apps as an alternate way to get into them, but Pixel Shortcuts is one of the easiest ways to get into apps that arent normally accessible via normal means. Its worth noting that this app does not require root privileges, and despite what its front page says, does not actually require Pixel Launcher or Digital Wellbeing in order to perform its core functionality. Its also worth noting that Digital Wellbeing is still not working for non-Pixel devices on Pie just yet, and this app will not fix that; youll be able to access Digital Wellbeing, but it wont do anything until Google rolls it out to all devices.
Sony has upgraded its GitHub repository and guides for select Android device configurations with the addition of Android 9 Pie builds. For clarity, the companys AOSP project has been running since Android 4.4 KitKat and provides developers with a source for downloading the OS in configurations specifically designed to work with their respective devices. Moreover, changes uploaded to the repository by developers are reviewed and verified with the possibility that theyll be added to the AOSP code. Aside from the experience-based prerequisites, users will need a compatible Android device. As of this writing, there are a total of 19 supported Sony-branded devices listed on the companys website, each falling within the Xperia family. That includes the Xperia X, Xperia XA2, Xperia XZ, Xperia XZ1, and Xperia XZs series handsets. The list also includes Sonys Xperia Touch model G1109 Android-powered projector.

Getting started with Android 9 Pie on any of the above-listed devices should be relatively straightforward for technology buffs and those who have flashed firmware or ROMs before. Users will need to know how to install a specific version of Java  Java 8, in this case  as well as how to a terminal window so that the build, compile, and flash tools can be downloaded. Googles Repo tool will also be required to download the source code from Sonys GitHub. From there, the proper branch of the AOSP will need to be grabbed. For the time being, the build number is PPR1.180610.009 and android-9.0.0_r1 is the appropriate branch designation. That will also bump the Android Security Patch level up to August 2018. However, the branch will change over time so anybody interested in taking part in the manufacturers program will want to check the guide first. Finally, a flashable image will need to be built and flashed, followed by the appropriate vendor image provided by the OEM.

Although the guide itself should be relatively easy to follow, users who dont have experience with the processes involved should probably wait for an official update or a device that ships with Android 9 Pie. As of this writing, the company has not confirmed which handsets that will be. With that said, the most recent speculation includes the Xperia XZ2, XZ2 Compact, XZ2 Premium, XZ1, XZ1 Compact, and the XZ Premium. That rollout should be taken with a grain of salt but will reportedly be completed by the end of September.
Tinders co-founders, Sean Rad, Jonathan Badeen, Justin Mateen, Joe Munoz, Alexa Mateen, Dinesh Moorjani, and Whitney Wolfe are now suing the companys former parent company, IAC for $2 billion. The argument here is that IAC undervalued Tinder when it merged the property with Match Group  also owned by IAC, to avoid paying the founders. This was done so that IAC wouldnt be on the hook to pay the co-founders, who owned about 20-percent of the company, combined. The contracts that IAC signed with Tinders early employees, agreed that it would value the company at four separate times, once in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021. Afterwards, Tinder employees could sell their stock options in Tinder based on the valuations.

The suite that Rad and a few others filed on Tuesday, claimed that IAC used misleading and incomplete financial information to value Tinder at around $3 billion in 2017. Thats below what Rad and others at Tinder believe the company is worth. For example, in 2018, Tinder is expected to bring in about $800 million in revenue. That is significantly higher, almost double, what the projected number was that was used in the 2017 valuation.

Since IAC merged Tinder in with Match Group, it has become the biggest part of that group, among the many dating and hookup apps that Match Group has under its umbrella. Each and every quarter, Tinder has been the one bringing in the most revenue and more users each quarter. So the undervaluation of Tinder by IAC does seem pretty legitimate, though that is going to be up to the judge to decide, in a few months. Itll be interesting to see what the judge does decide to do in this case, as it does seem that IAC used incorrect projected numbers. Or it could be a case of Tinder doing much better in 2018 than many thought it would do  especially with its paid service doing so well now.
Facebooks Campbell Brown, head of Facebooks news media relations team, made some comments in a recent chat with The Australian that essentially amount to telling traditional news media providers that their business models are unsustainable in the ever-changing news landscape, but Facebook is offering them a chance to thrive. We will help you revitalize journalism, she was quoted as saying. She also said that Facebook no longer cares about how many viewers its referring to outside news sources, making no secret of the fact that Facebook wants to up its news clout by bringing publishers on board with its own model and having them put their content on Facebook to be used in such a manner.

Some of the comments in the story from The Australian were later denied by Brown, but it should be noted that there were reportedly five staff members from The Australian in the room during the talk who all said that she said the things the story says she did. The authenticity of that assertion is ultimately dependent upon the trustworthiness of The Australian, but assuming the comments are true, the gist here is that Facebook is done playing nice with traditional news media in order to gain access to their content. Brown allegedly said outright that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg doesnt care about publishers, and the numbers on that speak for themselves, according to data gathered by Nieman Journalism Lab. Referrals to news outlet Slate, for example, reportedly fell from around 20 million down to less than 4 million within less than two years time thanks to new policies that Facebook is putting in place regarding outbound content referrals and promotions.

Facebook has become a dominant force in online media, and is one of the primary ways most people get their news. Compared to traditional outlets, it holds the advantages of having a wider purview of content, having multiple sources to fact-check and corroborate stories, and of course, being a social platform; people will share the news they want to share. These exact perks are part of what contributed to the companys mounting problem with fake news, which arguably came to a head during the 2016 United States presidential election. While not stated outright, its at least somewhat likely that those struggles and all the problems caused by them played no small part in the formation of Facebooks new attitude and policies regarding more traditional outside news sources.
Twenty-two people were killed and 18 injured when an inter-country bus crashed outside Ecuador's capital Quito, emergency services said on Tuesday. Venezuelans and Colombians were among the dead, officials said.



The bus crashed into another vehicle some 30 kilometers (20 miles) east of Quito, the ECU911 office said.



The embassies of the foreign victims have been notified, the emergency service said.



On Sunday, 12 people were killed and 30 injured when a bus carrying fans of Barcelona S.C., Ecuador's most popular football club, ran off the highway and flipped.



Traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death in Ecuador. According to the watchdog group Justicia Vial, on average seven people are killed and some 80 people injured each day in traffic accidents.



And 96 percent of those accidents are due to human error, usually the driver's fault, according to the group's figures.







AFP
Alphabets autonomous car subsidiary Waymo has developed a 91-acre testing ground called Castle which allows the tech firm to examine the safety, durability, and roadworthiness of its vehicles. Waymo initially used the Shoreline Amphitheater and Googles own parking lot, although it would later discover that it requires a larger space to evaluate its self-driving cars. The company later found a 50-acre lot located 130 miles east of Googles headquarters in Mountain View. This area previously served as an Air Force base during the Cold War. After Waymo took control of the location, the company built small neighborhoods and roads with the help of Structured Testing Lead Stephanie Villegas and her fellow employees. These structures mimic the real-world environment that will be encountered by the tech firms vehicles once it starts traversing public roads. However, Waymo did not repave some of the areas roads to test the durability of its self-driving cars. As time passed by, the area of the testing ground expanded to 91 acres and it would later include offices for the employees stationed in Castle. Aside from testing passenger cars, Castle also allows Waymo to test other types of autonomous vehicles. For example, the company uses the areas old taxiway to test semi trucks.

Aside from examining its vehicles in its testing grounds, Waymos autonomous cars have been traveling on public roads for the past few years. Just last month, the companys chief executive officer John Krafcik revealed that its vehicles have traveled eight million miles on public roads. This number is expected to rise sharply in the near future as Waymo continues its Early Rider Program in Phoenix, Arizona. This program, which picks up commuters that cannot drive on their own, increased the number of miles traveled by the companys autonomous cars to roughly 24,000 per day. The company is also expected to start its self-driving vehicle testing program in the state of California soon.

Waymo is also using a virtual testing ground that tests the companys autonomous driving software before it is deployed to public roads. This simulated environment, called Carcraft, permits Waymo to observe how its vehicles react in risky situations without dealing with damage to property or loss of life.
At least 40 people were killed by paramilitary forces in eastern Ethiopia over the weekend, a senior regional official said on Monday, in the latest spate of violence driven by ethnic divisions.



Unrest first broke out along the border of the country's Somali and Oromiya provinces in September, displacing nearly a million people, though the violence had subsided by April.



On Monday, the Oromiya regional administration's spokesman Negeri Lencho said heavily armed members of a paramilitary force from the Somali region had carried out cross-border attacks in Oromiya's East Hararghe district.



"We still do not know why Liyu forces raided the areas on Saturday and Sunday," he said, referring to the paramilitary soldiers.



"But we know that all the victims were ethnic Oromos. At least 40 were killed in the attacks."



A week earlier, mobs looted properties owned by ethnic minorities in the Somali region's capital Jijiga.



The central government said the unrest had been stoked by regional officials, who had fallen out with central authorities trying to address rights abuses in the region.



The spokesman said the officials had said the government was illegally forcing them to resign, and that Liyu forces had taken part in the attacks under their orders.



The forces are seen as loyal to the region's leader Abdi Omer, who has since resigned.



Authorities in the Somali region were not immediately available for comment.



Ethnic violence has spread in the diverse country of 100 million people, where anti-government protests broke out in the Oromiya region over land rights in 2015.



Hundreds were killed by security forces over a two-year period.



The violence is the biggest domestic challenge facing reformist Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, who took office in April.



In a separate incident, a stampede among thousands, who attended a visit by a prominent political activist in the town of Shashemene killed three people on Sunday, officials from the Oromiya regional government said.



The event was held to mark the return to Ethiopia of Jawar Mohammed, an activist, who had been in exile in the U.S. but played a key role in mobilising Oromo youths through social media.



Amid the chaos, another person was beaten to death by a mob after rumours circulated he had carried a bomb, residents said.



"Police did not take action while all that took place," the witness told Reuters. "It is an example of the lawlessness that is taking root in the country."







REUTERS/NAN


Turkish Aerospace is now looking to cooperate with Indonesian defence and aviation industry companies with unique and exclusive qualifications, in order to bring the already proven capabilities of the ANKA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System to new heights, through the Indonesian UAV System Tender. As indicated and underlined repeatedly, Turkish Aerospace is ready to fine tune its persistent multi-role ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) system ANKA to satisfy the specific requirements of the Indonesian end-user, through integrating distinguished Indonesian suppliers into its supply chain.

Turkish Aerospace said: The widespread product and activity range of Turkish Aerospace is an indication that this newly blossoming cooperation between Turkish Aerospace and Indonesian industry will not be limited to the UAV Systems. It will be a sustainable, long-term win-win relationship, in which all parties will find opportunities to advance their business goals in local and global markets in the medium run. ANKA, advanced Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) class Unmanned Aerial System, performs day and night, all-weather reconnaissance, target detection/identification and intelligence missions with its EO/IR and SAR payloads, featuring autonomous flight capability including Automatic Take-off and Landing.
COP26 may be a cop-out in the making COP26 is just about a month away. Delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference has built up even more expectations and momentum during the intervening months
Best Amazon Deals For August 13: Anker, Ancestry DNA, Reebok And More

Presenting All Of Today's Best Amazon Gold Box Deals

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AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use.
Posted by Mark Williams | August 14, 2018

The all-new Ford Ranger, set to debut later this year as a 2019 model, is now available for pre-order through Ford's official build-your-own pickup website, with pricing starting at $25,395, including destination, for an XL 4x2 SuperCab.

For those who have been keeping score, it was just last week that we noted reports that the U.S. Ranger configurator site went live with misinformation about the mid-size pickup truck's cab configurations and pricing, forcing Ford to shut down the site. We're told this time the numbers and configurations are real.

The Ranger will be offered only in SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations with a choice of 4x4 or 4x2 drivetrains, and a 6-foot or 5-foot bed. For those more fleet-minded, there will be a bed-delete option that will save buyers $300. For more information, visit Ford's Ranger site.

Here's how the 2019 Ford Ranger's pricing breaks down (all prices include destination):

4x2 SuperCab, 6-Foot Bed

XL: $25,395

$25,395 XLT: $29,035

$29,035 Lariat: $33,305

4x2 SuperCrew, 5-Foot Bed

XL: $27,615

$27,615 XLT: $31,210

$31,210 Lariat: $35,480

4x4 SuperCab, 6-Foot Bed

XL: $29,555

$29,555 XLT: $33,035

$33,035 Lariat: $37,305

4x4 SuperCrew, 5-Foot Bed

XL: $31,775

$31,775 XLT: $35,210

$35,210 Lariat: $39,480

Manufacturer images




A global law firm is urging Australian lawyers to be goodwill champions as it launches a project with UNICEF that targets legal professionals.

DLA Piper has helped launch the GoodWILL project in Australia, where only 7.5% of people who make wills leave a gift for charity. The firm said that a significant portion of people would consider leaving a charitable gift if asked by their solicitor when preparing a will, according to research.

Lawyers who participate in the project will prepare simple wills at no cost for will writers who leave a charitable bequest, no matter how small, to the UNICEF. Lawyers who partner for the project will be provided with resources  including logos, signage and social media collateral  to promote their support of the GoodWILL project ahead of the public launch in September.
Abboud has extensive experience in all areas of corporate and commercial practice, particularly in franchising. She is a committee member of the Franchise Council of Australia and was chairperson of its Women in Franchising association.

The franchise sector is one of Australias biggest business sectors, Abboud said. It has many unique challenges and opportunities and helping clients to navigate them successfully is very satisfying.

Khodeir, an intellectual property lawyer and registered trademarks attorney, has a particular focus on developing practical and cost-effective strategies for IP protection. She is an expert in all areas of IP, with a strong background in IP litigation. She also has experience managing the trademarks portfolios of large and small companies.

Intellectual property can often be a clients greatest asset. Ensuring they achieve the greatest value from their IP and that it is protected are keys to achieving their business goals, she said.

Hallas-Gleeson, who has more than 25 years experience, practises in all areas of family law. She has significant expertise in financial agreements, property settlements, divorce, and parenting matters.
The corporate and M&A team at Norton Rose Fulbright is to get two new partners in Perth including a senior leader from a rival global firm.

Paul Lingard, who was managing partner at Clifford Chance in Perth and global co-head of the firms mining team, will join Norton Rose Fulbright later this year.

He has extensive experience of acting on complex M&A transactions, advising on operational issues and acting on large-scale development projects; and has an enviable reputation in the Australian market.
We are hosting student tours of the Hawthorne tunnel site for schools in LA County! Each tour can accommodate up to 30 students. Interested faculty (or students with a faculty sponsor!) can reach out to studenttours@boringcompany.com  The Boring Company (@boringcompany) 14 august 2018

On Tuesday, the company that digs in the ground and sells flamethrowers announced it will be offering free tours of the 2.7 miles tunnel to school students from all over the Los Angeles County.We are hosting student tours of the Hawthorne tunnel site for schools in LA County! Each tour can accommodate up to 30 students. Interested faculty (or students with a faculty sponsor!) can reach out to studenttours@boringcompany.com, the company said the tweet announcing the decision.The section of the L.A. tunnel linking SpaceXs parking lot in Hawthorne and the Los Angeles International Airport was completed in May, following less than a year of digging. The stretch of tunnel is a small part of the envisioned network of subterranean routes that would ultimately be used for the creation of the Hyperloop system.After all the tours are over and actual pods are inserted into the Los Angeles tunnel, up to 16 people would whoosh by at speeds high enough to allow a ride between downtown Los Angeles and the airport in as little as 8 minutes.According to Musk, travelers will have to pay even as low as 1 dollar per trip. In the first months of operation, however, The Boring Company plans to offer the trips for free. People will also be able to use the tunnel on bikes or on foot.The Boring Company was selected in June to build the tunnel that will link downtown Chicago to OHare International Airport. The system is to provide 20 minutes or fewer rides, 50 percent faster than current transit time.
The National Park Service has ended its efforts to reach the crash site of a de Havilland Beaver, operated by K2 Aviation, thathit the side of a mountain during a sightseeing flight in Denali National Park last week. In a news release issued on Friday, the NPS said after the weather cleared, a ranger inspected the site for nearly an hour while suspended below a helicopter. He confirmed that the pilot and four passengers were still in the airplane, and all were dead. The NPS said no attempt will be made to recover the bodies or the wreckage. Hazards at the crash site include, but are not limited to, avalanche danger, steep snow/ice, crevasses, unstable seracs (blocks of ice loosely attached to the mountain) and aircraft-related concerns such as protruding pieces of jagged metal, the NPS wrote.

The aircraft is broken in half behind the wing, and the tail section of the fuselage is actively pulling down the aircraft towards a glacier 3,500 feet below, according to the NPS. Additionally, more than two and a half feet of new snow has fallen at the crash site and loaded the nearly 45-degree slope just above the aircraft.  The crevasse where the wreckage sits is a dangerous and potentially fatal terrain trap should even a small avalanche occur. Clint Johnson, chief of the Alaska region NTSB, agreed with the Park Services decision. Its a tough decision, but I support the decision 110 percent, Johnson told theAnchorage Daily News. Were used to working in tough spots, but this is out of our league.
While its homicide rate is not the highest in the U.S., Chicago has consistently had more total killings than any other U.S. city  with 27 people killed since the beginning of the month.

Why it matters: Racial segregation, wealth inequality, gangs and the inability of law enforcement to solve crimes have fueled the gun violence epidemic  and a handful of minority, impoverished neighborhoods have received the brunt of the impact.

Expand chart Data: Chicago Police Department via Chicago Data Portal, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2016, 5-year estimates. Notes: Homicide data is from Jan. 1, 2001 through July 31, 2018; income data from 2016 was not available for Census Tract 804, so 2015 data was used. Graphic: Harry Stevens/Axios

Gun-related homicides this year have actually dropped since the spikes in 2016 and 2017. But 2018 still has the third highest number of homicides of the past 15 years for the city.

The big picture: Inequality

Chicago is flourishing economically, with a record-low unemployment rate of 3.8% and a third of its city workers making at least $100,000. But the wealth is not equally distributed over the starkly segregated neighborhoods  and neither is the violence.

Lack of resources and opportunities often lead young people in poor communities to turn to violence, community leaders and gun regulation advocates tell Axios.

often lead young people in poor communities to turn to violence, community leaders and gun regulation advocates tell Axios. This is evident in the 12 poor, minority neighborhoods which account for 50% of Chicago's shootings  often attributed to gang activity  according to a study by Northwestern University.

Between the lines: Where it hits hardest

There were 215 shootings in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago in the first 7 months of the year  almost 12% of the total number of shootings in the city during the same time period, according to data from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and others.

in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago in the first 7 months of the year  almost 12% of the total number of shootings in the city during the same time period, according to data from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and others. Adam Alonso , the executive director of BUILD Chicago, told Axios that children in neighborhoods like Austin walk out of the house with the belief "they might not make it back home."

, the executive director of BUILD Chicago, told Axios that children in neighborhoods like Austin walk out of the house with the belief "they might not make it back home." The median income in the majority-African-American neighborhood is $20,000 less than the median income for Chicago, and almost a third of the neighborhood's residents live below the poverty line, according to City-Data.com.

The gun violence problem will get solved once the economic and racial equality problems are solved, said Colleen Daley, executive director of the Illinois Council against Handgun Violence.

"Nothing stops a bullet like an opportunity."

 Colleen Daley

By the numbers: The median wage for whites was $44,758 in 2016. African-Americans made less than half of that, at $20,727.

34% of African-Americans in Chicago live in poverty, compared to 21% for Chicago overall, per the Census Bureau.

Unsolved crime

Not only has violent crime skyrocketed over the past couple of years, but Chicago police are increasingly unable to locate and arrest the offenders.

Just 17% of murders in Chicago were solved in 2017  an all-time low, down from 41% in 2000, according to data analysis by the Chicago Sun-Times.

 an all-time low, down from 41% in 2000, according to data analysis by the Chicago Sun-Times. Compare that to the nationwide low of 59.4% in 2016.

Guns

The Chicago Police Department recovered 7,000 guns per year that had been illegally owned or associated with a crime between 2013 and 2016, according to a report published by the mayor's office.

That's six times as many recovered guns per resident as New York and almost twice as many as Los Angeles, according to the report.

and almost twice as many as Los Angeles, according to the report. However, it's illegal to sell or distribute guns in Chicago. And only 40% of the guns recovered came from areas of Illinois where gun regulations are more lax, according to the report.

And only 40% of the guns recovered came from areas of Illinois where gun regulations are more lax, according to the report. Another 21% of guns came from Indiana, where gun regulations are among the weakest in the nation.

What they're doing

BUILD and other community groups are working to combat the violence, as they tell Axios. Many have organized gatherings, including block parties and picnics, to bring community members back into the neighborhood to rebuild their hope.

"People outside of the city don't see the things groups like ours do. There are more positive stories here than what you see."

 Alonso

Go deeper: There are organizations with members who are dedicating their lives to making life in Chicago better for those in poverty.

Correction: This story has been updated to note that a third of city employees earn at least $100,000, not a third of all residents.
Turkeys currency plunged to new depths today amid a standoff that has Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing the U.S. of sabotaging an ally.

Why it matters: Turkey was already bracing for economic turbulence, but President Trumps decision to apply sanctions over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson has accelerated the crisis, and provided Erdogan with a scapegoat. The dispute could also exacerbate another trend: Turkeys drift away from the West.

Catch up quick

Erdogan  beginning a fresh term after 15 years in power  has been pulling Turkey in an increasingly authoritarian direction, particularly after surviving a coup attempt in 2016. Thousands were arrested in the wake of the failed coup, including Brunson, who was charged with links to terrorism, an accusation the U.S. says is baseless.

Trump sanctioned Turkeys justice and interior ministers on August 1 over Brunsons detention and followed up last Friday by announcing the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey.

Turkeys already sliding currency has lost more than 40% of its value against the dollar this year, and 22% as tensions have ratcheted up over the past week. Erdogan is blaming an economic war against Turkey. Investors cite economic mismanagement from his government.

The bigger picture...

A Turkey-U.S. split is not the intention of either side, says Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, director of the German Marshall Funds Ankara office, but events could lead Turkey there, particularly because Trump and Erdogan both seem to care more about their own political power than their alliances.

Unluhisarcikli says public and elite opinion in Turkey has been turning against the U.S. under the Trump administration, and the situation surrounding Brunsons detention could escalate further because Trump has denied Erdogan any honorable way out of this."

What to watch...
More than 300 Catholic clergy members have been accused of sexual abuse  victimizing more than 1,000 children  detailed in a report released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court following a 18-month probe led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Washington Post reports.

The big picture: The report reveals a "systematic coverup by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at the Vatican" over 70 years, Shapiro told the Post. The revelations come on the heels of the far-reaching #MeToo movement, recent reports of sexual abuse by priests in Chile and Australia, as well as the resignation last month of the former archbishop of Washington following accusations of decades of sexual abuse. While details of allegations are included in the report, some of the priests' names have been redacted.
Former Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner testified in court yesterday in relation to the biggest corruption scandal uncovered in years in her country, which could land her in prison.

Why it matters: Kirchner is accused of leading a criminal enterprise to steal hundreds of millions from public infrastructure contracts. She's the latest big name in Latin American politics to be implicated in a kickback scandal.

The scandal was exposed when Hilda Horowitz, the former lover of a driver tasked with transporting bags of cash from bribes paid by construction companies, told a judge about the operation after a sour break up.

The driver, Oscar Centeno, filled notebooks for years with details of every trip to pick up the money, which would eventually end up in the hands of people close to former president Nestor Kirchner, Kirchners deceased husband and predecessor.

The notebooks arrived secretly to the newsroom of La Nacion, one of Argentinas biggest newspapers, which confirmed the whole operation. Since then, most of the construction moguls involved have agreed to cooperate, hoping for lighter sentences.

Their information has exposed a massive operation where companies would fix public biddings with the government, charge far above market value, and illegally pay back a portion to public officials as bribes and for campaign funding.
Kroger is teaming up with Alibaba to sell groceries on the Chinese e-commerce giant's platform, the company announced Tuesday.

The big picture: The battle between American retailers is heating up overseas, with iconic U.S. brands all vying for massive  and rapidly growing  foreign markets. The Chinese market is the biggest of them all, and while few American companies have been able to crack it, many are partnering with China's domestic titans to try.

What's happening: Kroger's partnership with Alibaba marks the company's first step into foreign sales and is a sign that the grocer is looking to boost its online presence. Through the deal, Kroger will sell products on Tmall Global  Alibaba's marketplace for foreign brands. Kroger's stock was up about 2% on news of the Alibaba deal.

Last week, Walmart announced a joint $500 million investment in grocery delivery with China's other e-commerce giant, JD.com.

Walmart announced a joint $500 million investment in grocery delivery with China's other e-commerce giant, JD.com. Earlier this month, Starbucks announced a massive deal with Alibaba to bring coffee delivery to Chinese consumers.

What to watch: China isn't the only market where American retailers are dueling over new customers. Two Kroger competitors, Walmart and Amazon, are going head-to-head in India and elsewhere, too.
A group of protesters burst into a hotel in Yerevan on Tuesday, preventing former President Robert Kocharian from holding a news conference there.

Kocharian was due to meet the press at a conference hall of the Erebuni Plaza hotel one day after Armenias Court of Appeals released him from custody and ruled that he cannot be prosecuted for a 2008 post-election crackdown on opposition protesters.

The news conference was disrupted by several dozen mostly young protesters chanting Robert murderer! They blamed him for the deaths of eight protesters and two police servicemen during the breakup on March 1-2, 2008 of opposition demonstrations held in the wake of a disputed presidential election.

We wanted to both disrupt the news conference and show the peoples attitude towards yesterdays [Court of Appeals] verdict, said one of the protesters, Karen Tovmasian. Its an obviously illegal verdict.

If [Kocharian] has something to say, let him say that in court, he said.

Kocharian, who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, was seen leaving the hotel located in downtown Yerevan from a back entrance shortly after the incident. His office was quick to accuse Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of organizing the intrusion to stop Kocharian from speaking up. The intruders mainly included individuals close to Pashinian, it said in a statement.

The statement said that Kocharian planned to make important political statements" and "answer many questions at the press conference.

Todays incident seems to bear out growing concerns  that the new authorities do not tolerate dissent and can persecute political opponents, especially those whose political clout and prospects are a cause for serious concern to them, it charged.

Pashinian appealed to supporters in a Facebook video address aired following the disruption of Kocharians press conference. All individuals who committed crimes against the state and the people will be held accountable, he declared.

Rest assured that in Armenia there is no force capable of taking on the peoples power and stopping the victory of the popular revolution, said Pashinian. Whoever tries to stand in our way will end up in the garbage dump of history.

Kocharian was arrested on July 27 on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order after the February 2008 election marred by opposition allegations of fraud. The charges stem from what Armenias Special Investigative Service (SIS) calls illegal use of the armed forces against supporters of the main opposition presidential candidate, Levon Ter-Petrosian. Kocharian rejects them as politically motivated.

The 63-year-old ex-president was set free on Monday immediately after the Court of Appeals ruled that the Armenian constitution gives him immunity from prosecution. The SIS condemned the decision as illegal and urged state prosecutors to ask the higher Court of Cassation to overturn it.

Pashinian played a key role in the 2008 protests. He subsequently spent nearly two years in prison for organizing mass disturbances. Pashinian appointed a new head of the SIS and ordered a fresh probe of the 2008 bloodshed shortly after coming to power in May this year.
Official Yerevan on Tuesday declined to shed light on its efforts to replace the current secretary general of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Yuri Khachaturov, with another representative of Armenia.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry only reported continuing discussions among the CSTO members on Khachaturovs possible successors. The process is still ongoing, said a ministry spokeswoman, Anna Naghdalian.

As you know, we have initiated a replacement process, Naghdalian told a news conference. All other issues are in the domain of internal discussions only the results of which will be made public later on.

Armenia moved to replace Khachaturov late last month after he was charged in connection with the 2008 post-election violence in Yerevan. The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced the retired Armenian generals prosecution as politically motivated and said Yerevan must formally recall him before trying to name his replacement.

It remains to be seen whether Russia and others CSTO member states, notably Kazakhstan, will agree to appoint another Armenian as secretary general of the CSTO. A Kremlin official told Russian media earlier this month that the Armenian authorities decision to prosecute Khachaturov dealt a colossal blow to the image of the whole organization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed the issue at a meeting held in Kazakhstan on Sunday. Both men referred to it as a problem.

The choice of the next secretary general is therefore expected to be high on the agenda of the next CSTO summit due in October or November.

In advance of the CSTO summit many processes are taking place at different levels within the CSTO, said Naghdalian. Decisions to be made as a result of those discussions will be submitted to the Collective Security Council for approval  There is quite a bit of work that needs to be done before October.
By Rashid Shirinov

Another protest action of traders occurred in Armenia on August 13. This time they took to the streets of the town of Artashat to express dissatisfaction with the work of representatives of the tax authority.

They terrorize the whole town. About 13-14 people carry out checks. They fine shops with goods worth 300,000 drams ($622) in the amount of 500,000-600,000 ($1,036-1,243), said one of the traders.

Another shopkeeper complained about deliberate checks with a view to find violations and to fine. He said that first, the tax inspectors check cash registers, and if they are all right, the inspectors check the registration of employees. If everything is again all right, they cling to excise duties.

Tax inspectors have been robbing us for many years. They come to check us, try to find any minor shortcoming, force to pay huge fines for every small fault. We can no longer work normally, said one of the traders.

After a while, the head of Armenia State Revenue Committee David Ananyan came to meet with the protesters and promised to conduct an official investigation.

It is noteworthy that many Armenian traders face obstacles in doing their business in the country; therefore, many protests took place there in recent years. For many months traders of Armenian fairs, in particular of the shopping center Arinj Mall, demanded the government to amend the Tax Code and to release them from too much paperwork, which they considered as additional tax burden.

In November last year, shopkeepers held a protest in front of the National Assembly, where they noted that the tax service employees demand from them to provide a document on the movement of each imported good. The traders claimed that this is unnecessary red tape that requires involvement of additional workforce.

The shopkeepers also held such protests in April 2017 in front of the Government and Parliament buildings. Then they claimed that the Armenian tax authorities terrorized them by carrying out inspections at their shops and demanding their documents or bribes.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Rashid Shirinov

Armenians protesting against their former President Robert Kocharyans recent release from detention broke into the hall where his press conference was supposed to begin, Armenian media reported on August 14.

Although the door was locked by the police, several dozen people managed to break into the hall and began to chant Robert is a murderer.

Thus, the press conference of Kocharyan was cancelled. The date of the new press conference is still unknown, head of Kocharyans office Viktor Soghomonyan told Armenian journalists.

However, the protesting Armenians did not stop there  they later held a protest outside the Prosecutor Generals Office and demanded to appeal Kocharyans release.

We demand from the Prosecutor Generals Office to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal as soon as possible, said one of the participants.

Then the protesters went to the Republic Square in the center of Yerevan.

Kocharyan was previously charged with overthrowing the constitutional system in preliminary collusion with other persons. He was summoned as a witness to the Special Investigation Service of Armenia for questioning in the case concerning the bloody events in Yerevan streets on March 1, 2008, when 10 people were killed in mass protests after the presidential election of that year. Later, Armenias judicial power issued a decision to arrest Kocharyan for two months.

However, his lawyers appealed the arrest to the Court of Appeal, which overturned the decision of the court of first instance on the basis of the immunity of the former president.

The Special Investigation Service of Armenia is convinced that the decision on the release of Kocharyan is illegal. We hope that the Prosecutor Generals Office will appeal this decision to the Court of Cassation, the state agency told media.

Within the same case, charges were also brought against former Defense Minister of Armenia Mikael Harutyunyan and CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov, who was the head of Yerevan garrison in 2008. Khachaturov was later released on bail, while Harutyunyan is still wanted.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Rashid Shirinov

Nowadays, many in Armenia wonder when the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will end his revolutionary show and begin the real implementation of the promises he made during the velvet revolution this April.

The exhausted population of Armenia already does its utmost in order to show the prime minister that people can wait no longer. On August 9, a man who has been unemployed over the past two years and is unable to feed his family, resorted to self-harm in the center of Yerevan. In the hope of attracting the attention of the new authorities, he nailed his feet to a bench in a park.

A month ago, on July 10, another Armenian citizen doused himself with gasoline near the residence of Pashinyan and tried to commit self-immolation.

It is obvious that these people and almost 3 million of Armenias population are not interested in the corruption exposures and other similar activities that Pashinyan has set as his main goal at the moment. It is much more important for Armenian citizens to know when their own problems will be solved and whether they will have the opportunity to feed their families tomorrow.

However, Pashinyans government still fails to work in this direction. The prime minister spends all his energy on vendetta with the former authorities of Armenia. The new government has not yet proposed any effective economic programs, neither has it developed a strategy for pulling the country out of the impasse.

Meanwhile, Pashinyans team is well aware of the negative mood of the public. Armenian media have found out that the prime minister is concerned about his popularity among Armenia residents and believes that the meeting with Armenia's population that he scheduled for August 17 may not be as large-scale as he would like it to be.

On the one hand, Pashinyan wants to check how loyal the crowds remained to him, and on the other hand, he fears shame. Therefore, the prime minister's team has decided to ensure a crowded rally at all costs. Armenian media note that all offices of Pashinyans Civil Contract party began to actively engage in preparatory work in order to attract as many people as possible.

Thus, Pashinyans team now has an important task  to ensure that its chief does not fail at the meeting on August 17. If the prime minister continues to waste all energy on fighting the former authorities and continues to ignore the problems of the ordinary population, the day when Armenians will start to hate their new leader will not be far off.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Rashid Shirinov

China supports the possibility of creating joint ventures with Azerbaijan in third countries, Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Wei Jinghua told Trend on August 13.

He noted that in 2015, Chinese government initiated a new model of international cooperation in the market of third countries that effectively connects Chinas manufacturing capacity, advanced technologies of developed countries and the needs of developing countries.

This cooperation model has received positive responses in the international arena over the past 2 years, the ambassador said.

Jinghua further mentioned that business cooperation between China and Azerbaijan is mutually beneficial and has great potential, and that despite the slowdown in the global economy, the volume of trade between the two countries reached a record level last year.

In the first half of the year, China became one of the seven major trade partners of Azerbaijan. Cooperation between the countries particularly in areas, such as transport, communications, agriculture, construction materials production, engineering and light industry is expanding, he said.

China recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on December 27, 1991 and a year late the diplomatic relations were established. Data of Azerbaijan State Customs Committee says that the trade turnover between the two countries totalled $616,402 million in the first half of 2018.

More than 50 agreements have been signed between Azerbaijan and China so far, while over 20 Chinese enterprises operate in Azerbaijan in oil and gas, construction, aviation, logistics and other fields. Moreover, the two countries have great potential in energy, transport, high technology, military and tourism spheres.

China is a huge opportunity and a priority market for Azerbaijan. In May 2016, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) opened a representative office in China to support and encourage relations between the two countries businessmen, as well as to promote the export of Azerbaijani goods to the Chinese market and attract Chinas leading investment funds to the Azerbaijani economy.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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By Kamila Aliyeva

The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) is ready to make changes related to Turkish and Russian assets in its investment portfolio.

As of the end of the second quarter this year, about 0.9 percent in the SOFAZ investment portfolio accounts for investments in Turkish government bonds and about 0.9 percent accounts for investments in Russian assets (shares of VTB Bank, as well as the office and shopping center in Moscow), which coincides with the current market situation, the current investment strategy of SOFAZ and the corresponding medium- and long-term realistic income expectations, SOFAZ said in a message on August 14.

Considering the geopolitical risks that have recently been observed in these countries, the current state of the investment portfolio, market conditions and expectations are being seriously analyzed, so that, if necessary, quick tactical steps can be taken to change the investment portfolio, according to SOFAZ.

The assets of SOFAZ as of July 1, 2018 have increased by 6.22 percent compared to the beginning of 2018 ($35,806.5 million) and stood at $38,036.1 million, which was the highest attained level during its activity since its inception. The increase was mainly due to SOFAZ budget revenues and asset management activity.

SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million. Based on SOFAZ's regulations, its funds may be used for construction and reconstruction of strategically important infrastructure facilities, as well as solving important national problems.

The main purpose of the establishment of the Fund was to preserve and multiply the income derived from oil, create an excellent economic base, taking into account social needs, the requirements of economic progress and development of the country. Besides, the challenge ahead is to protect the country's economy from possible negative influences caused by the growth of foreign exchange earnings and avoidance of damage to financial discipline.

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By Laman Ismayilova

Russian theater "Shut up and dance" and artist Yelena Vedernikova will delight their fans in Baku.

A novel "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson will be staged at Heydar Aliyev Palace on November 17.

A magnificent synthesis of modern dance and animation, full of love dance movements and created by the artists will help viewers experience this story along with the characters.

With the participation of one of the best Russian dancers - Yevgeny Yasmakov, spectators will enjoy spectacular break dance, hip-hop, acrobatics, funk and other modern dances.

Tickets for the performance, which starts at 16:00, cost 5-49 manats ($8-83).

Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. He wrote Treasure Island in 1881. It is set in the days of sailing ships and pirates and tells of the adventures of Jim Hawkins and his search for the buried treasure of an evil pirate, Captain Flint.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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By Laman Ismayilova

An exhibition of two young national artists - Ramil Ahmadov and Behbud Jafarguliyev was held in Cappadocia, Turkey.

The event timed to the 100th Anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was attened by the mayors of Turkey, heads of NGOs and mass media, chairpersons of the organization, intellectuals and local residents.

Addressing the event, Azerbaijani MP Ganira Pashayeva stressed the talent of young artists. She noted that these two talented young people once again prove that people with physical disabilities are not left behind in the society, but rather striving to realize their dream and desires.

Artists and family members expressed their gratitude to the exhibition organizers and participants for their support.

On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan declared its independence establishing the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which became the first secular parliamentary democracy in the Muslim World and recognized by other democratic nations, including the United States of America.

During the short period of independence Azerbaijan granted all people the rights to vote regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, and religion, becoming the first Muslim nation to give women equal political rights with men, an accomplishment preceding the United States. Azerbaijans independence was interrupted in 1920, when it was invaded by Bolshevists, and forcefully incorporated into the USSR in 1922 to restore its independence only in 1991.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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By Naila Huseynli

The Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Russia discussed common approaches to the peaceful resolution of several conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this at a press conference on the results of the meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara.

We have reviewed the situation on the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region, the Balkan Peninsula, Ukraine, and Nagorno-Karabakh, said Lavrov.

It is noteworthy that Turkey has always supported the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on Azerbaijans territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of the country's internationally recognized borders. Turkey and Armenia severed diplomatic relations in 1993 due to occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenian Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, Russia, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is making much efforts aimed at the early settlement of the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry has many times noted that assistance in the settlement of the conflict is one of the country's priorities.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan by laying territorial claims on the country. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh 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.

To this day, Armenia has not implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.
By Trend

The role of Azerbaijani diplomacy in reaching an agreement on the status of the Caspian sea is undeniable, political scientist Arzu Nagiyev told Trend Aug. 13.

In his opinion, only the strong political will of the heads of state of the "Caspian five", in particular the Azerbaijani side, the commitment to the policy of good neighborliness and good intentions allowed to overcome all obstacles to the signing of this Convention.

"Azerbaijan has worked constructively at all stages of the preparation of this document, and, like other Caspian countries, has contributed to the signing of this document. With the signing of the Convention, all projects related to both natural resources and the bottom of the Caspian sea will be carried out with the direct participation of Azerbaijan," Nagiyev said.

Nagiyev stressed that the signing of the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea will open up new opportunities for joint cooperation, the definition of standards for national sectors and the protection of the Caspian environment.

The ceremony of signing of the document took place Aug. 12 at the V summit of the heads of state of the Caspian countries in the Kazakh city of Aktau.

Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

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By Trend

Signing of the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, which was expected for over 20 years, has become a very significant event for all five Caspian littoral states (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan), the Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia (TRACECA) international transport cooperation program national secretary on Azerbaijan Akif Mustafayev told Trend Aug. 13.

He said that this agreement will open new prospects for the development of logistics and expansion of cooperation in this sphere among the Caspian littoral states.

The Caspian Sea is of great importance for Azerbaijan, because it connects the country with Central Asia, he said. A lot of transit cargo traffic passes through the Caspian Sea between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as well as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Besides, cargoes heading from China to Europe pass through the Caspian Sea. In this regard, the interaction among the Caspian littoral states has always been at a high level, and the signing of the convention will open even greater opportunities and prospects for the development of transit cargo transportation.

On the other hand, the signing of the convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea will make it possible to implement a number of promising projects that couldnt previously be implemented, he added.

This document will make it possible to transport great volumes of gas in the future from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan via the pipeline through the Caspian Sea, and these volumes will be further transported to Turkey and European countries via the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), he noted.

Earlier, construction of such a pipeline was impossible, but after signing the agreement, there were almost no obstacles left. Thus, the signing of the convention creates great economic prospects not only for Azerbaijan, but also for Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. In a word, the signing of the convention will lead to significant increase in all types of cargo transportation, enhance security in the region, as well as improve the ecological state of the Caspian Sea.

On August 12, Kazakh city of Aktau hosted the ceremony of signing documents on the legal status of the Caspian Sea at the 5th summit of heads of the Caspian littoral states.

The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

In addition, heads of the respective structures of the Caspian littoral states signed other important documents stemming from this Convention - the Protocol on Cooperation in the Fight against Organized Crime in the Caspian Sea, the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation among the Governments of the Caspian Littoral States, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Transport Sphere among the Governments of the Caspian Littoral States, the Agreement on the Prevention of Incidents in the Caspian Sea and the Protocol on Cooperation and Interaction of Border Agencies.

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By Trend

The Convention on the Status of the Caspian Sea will significantly strengthen Irans relations with Azerbaijan, which is important in conditions when new projects are being started and major mutual investments are being discussed, Farhad Ibrahimov, Russian political scientist, expert of the Center for Post-Soviet Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Trend Aug. 13.

He said that Iran was the only country that didnt agree to make concessions.

Iran was in favor of dividing the Caspian Sea as a lake, and in this case Iran had a right for 20 percent of the Caspian Sea, he noted. Kazakhstan disagreed because in this case it would lose about 9 percent of its sea territory. Russia and Azerbaijan supported Kazakhstan. The fact that Iran has made certain concessions, agreeing with Moscows position, can have different reasons - from geopolitical ones to the countrys internal problems. Iran isnt in the best economic condition now, relations with Washington worsened again, and Iran understands well that it is necessary to make compromises with its neighbors in order to somehow alleviate the situation.

He added that the meeting of leaders of the Caspian states influenced the decision of Iran to make concessions.

He said this decision will allow resolve all issues with the division of the Caspian Sea into sectors and the summit of the heads of the Caspian states in Aktau can be considered a breakthrough.

He noted that the decision on the absence of third parties in the Caspian Sea was also an important moment for Iran and Russia.

Ibrahimov added that leaders of the countries came to a compromise in order to settle all unresolved issues that were impeding the development of relations among the countries for more than 20 years.

On August 12, the Kazakh city of Aktau hosted a ceremony of signing documents on the legal status of the Caspian Sea at the 5th summit of heads of the Caspian states.

The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

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By Kamila Aliyeva

Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Caspian countries plan to hold consultations on the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan this fall.

This was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov on August 14, TASS reported.

According to the instructions given by the heads of state, and according to the agreements sealed in the adopted documents, this meeting should take place no later than six months. Moreover, there is already an agreement that in the autumn of this year the group will already meet and start working directly. Preliminary, we are talking about a meeting in Azerbaijan, he said.

These consultations will concern the implementation of the agreements reached in the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, according to the minister.

According to the convention itself and its implementation, the foreign ministers of the Caspian states, who held their meeting on the eve of the summit, decided to establish a special mechanism, a group under the auspices of ministries of foreign affairs that would implement the provisions of the convention, work in particular on such a fundamental and important document as an agreement on the methodology for establishing the so-called direct baselines, he clarified.

On August 12, the Kazakh city of Aktau hosted a ceremony of signing documents on the legal status of the Caspian Sea at the 5th summit of heads of the Caspian states.

The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Work on the document has been going on since 1996, and the draft convention was finally agreed upon within the framework of the meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian states in Moscow on December 4-5, 2017.

The legal status of the Caspian Sea has remained unsolved during more than two decades, preventing development and exploitation of its disputable oil and gas fields and creating obstacles to the realization of major projects.

The issue of determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea became relevant after the collapse of the USSR, when the emergence of new subjects of international law - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan - raised the issue of delimitation of the sea between the five littoral countries.

For a long time, the principle of delimitation of the seas water area was the apple of discord among the littoral states.

The Caspian states were mulling two possible options to determine the legal status of the Caspian Sea: delimitation using a mid-line modified method or division into 5 equal parts given each nation a 20 percent share. If the Caspian is legally declared a sea, all five littoral countries would map out their territorial waters and exploit the resources as they see fit.

The status of the sea has long been a key topic of discussions at the Caspian states summits. The leaders of the five countries met for the first time in 2002 in Ashgabat. The second Caspian summit was held in Tehran in 2007, the third one in Baku in 2010, and the fourth summit  in Astrakhan in 2014.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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By Laman Ismayilova

The first decade of August was the coolest in the last 10 years.

Head of the Bureau of Hydrometeorological Forecasts of the National Hydrometeorology Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Gulshad Mammadova told Trend on August 13.

In the first decade of August, the air temperature in Baku and Absheron peninsula was within the climatic norm, some days higher by 2-3C. The air temperature in Baku and Absheron peninsula was 28-30 C on August 12.

The director of the bureau stressed that, the coolest August in Baku and the Absheron peninsula was observed in 1950.

Mammadova added that the amount of precipitation in the past period of August in most areas was within the norm. However, it was above the norm mainly in mountainous and foothill areas.

The director of the bureau also said that on August 13 and 14, north-west wind prevails in Baku and Absheron peninsula.

The countrys capital city experienced its hottest weather in over 120 years. Temperature in Baku reached +43-44 C on July 1, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

The whole country also experienced abnormally hot weather which began on June 23. The air temperature in Baku and Absheron Peninsula was 3 degrees above the climatic norm.

In the previous years, hot weather in Baku and Absheron peninsula was also observed in July. The temperature in Baku reached 40 C on July 12, 2010 and July 22, 2011.

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By Trend

The exclusion of the Southern Gas Corridor from the new anti-Iran sanctions once again demonstrates the importance of the project, Vugar Rahimzade, member of the Political Council of the New Azerbaijan Party, editor-in-chief of Iki Sahil newspaper told Trend.

For many years Azerbaijan has been attracting the world's attention with its global projects, he said.

"Today, the world powers express gratification with the cooperation with our country and stress the importance of further expansion of these relations," Rahimzade said. Of course, the Southern Gas Corridor project, being implemented at the initiative of our country and having already changed the world energy map, is an important contribution to international cooperation, peace and security."

He added that the Southern Gas Corridor project, one of its main segments Shah Deniz 2, the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP and TAP are priority projects for the EU.

"As is known, through this project, the gas to be extracted from Shah Deniz 2 will be supplied to Turkey and from there to Europe, he said. Thanks to the Southern Gas Corridor, six billion cubic meters of gas will be transported to Turkey and 10 billion cubic meters will go to Europe.

The exclusion of the Southern Gas Corridor from the new US sanctions on Iran once again demonstrates the importance of the project, he said.

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By Trend

A meeting of the fuel and energy industry was held in Ashgabat under the chairmanship of Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Myratgeldi Meredov, the State Concern Turkmengas said in a message Aug. 6.

The meeting reported about the measures taken to implement the initiatives to diversify routes for the export of energy carriers to world markets, in particular, the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which is being carried out in accordance with the plan.

Construction of the Turkmen section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline was launched in December 2015, while the Afghan section - in February 2018. Turkmen gas is expected to be supplied through TAPI during 2019.

The possible project costs on TAPI vary from $7 billion to $10 billion. Being the leader of the international consortium TAPI Pipeline Company Limited, Turkmengas performs the function of the main financier and manager of the project.

The consortium also includes the Afghan Gas Corporation, Pakistans Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited Company and Indias GAIL. The consortium, with the participation of Asian Development Bank, continues active negotiations with all interested parties. Various options for participation in the project are being studied, such as share participation, project financing, financing through international development banks and with the help of export credit agencies from around the world.

The total length of the pipeline, with a capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year, will be 1,840 kilometers reaching the settlement of Fazilka on the border with India. TAPI will export fuel from the Galkynysh gas field in Turkmenistan, which is the second largest in the world.

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By Trend

The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran increased by 70 percent in January-June 2018, Iranian ambassador to Kazakhstan Mojtaba Damirchilu said.

Damirchilu made the remarks during a meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev, the official website of the Kazakh prime minister said.

During the meeting, the issues of further cooperation in trade, economic, investment, industrial and transit-transport spheres were discussed.

The prospects for development of cooperation in the subsoil use and agriculture were considered.

Damirchilu stressed that the Iranian leadership pays great attention to the cooperation with Kazakhstan, which today is the leading country in the Eurasian region.

"Great work has been recently done, favorable conditions have been created for cooperation in the economic sphere," the ambassador said. "Over the past six months, we have seen rapid progress in the trade turnover of our countries, which increased by 70 percent."

The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran in January-May 2018 amounted to $251.4 million, which is 41.7 percent more than in the same period of 2017 ($177.4 million). Exports from Kazakhstan to Iran increased by 36.1 percent to $207.2 million in January-May.

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By Trend

Turkmenistan plans to start building railway ferries, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Manmathan Chakaev said.

Chakayev made the remarks in his report to the country's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, local TV channel "Altyn Asyr" broadcasted.

This type of carriage of wagons by sea without intermediate cargo handling in the port is one of the most highly productive methods, its use allows for significantly saving the time for loading operations.

Berdimuhamedov noted that this is a very popular mode of transport for long-distance destinations. It also opens up great opportunities for transit, for example, of trains from Uzbekistan, which gains access to the sea through the port in Turkmenbashi.

The railway ferries are vessels intended for the carriage of railway vehicles.

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By Trend

Iran's Defense Ministry on Monday unveiled a new homemade ballistic missile, which can "evade radars and hit targets with pinpoint accuracy," Tasnim news agency reported.

Defense Minister Amir Hatami unveiled the new generation of Fateh (Conqurer) missiles in a ceremony on Monday.

The new generation of Fateh, "an agile, radar-evading and tactical missile with pinpoint accuracy, has been fully designed by the local experts and successfully test-fired," he said.

Mass-production of the new missile will help Iran make major strides in boosting its defense capabilities and deterrent power, the general added.

The Iranian Armed Forces will never back off from plans to promote the missile industry and enhance the capabilities of homemade missiles, he said, adding that the foreign interference in Iran's defense capabilities and the attempts to cap Iran's missile power are unacceptable.

"Iran will never allow the outsiders to interfere in its domestic issues," he was quoted as saying.

The Islamic republic has rejected the U.S. calls for negotiations on Iran's defense power.

On Monday, the Iranian army's ground force exhibited the latest products developed in cooperation with the local knowledge-based companies.

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By Kamila Aliyeva

Three large agreements totaling $ 18.8 million were signed with Tajikistan following the results of the Kazakh trade and economic mission in Dushanbe, according to the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan, Kazinform reported.

The mission was organized by the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan and the Kazakh Embassy.

The Kazakh delegation included 20 large commodity producers in the field of machine building, construction and food industry.

The Tajik side was represented by the ministries of transport, economic development, finance, industry, energy and health.

Representatives of business included leasing and private transport companies, a number of trade networks and other Tajik firms.

Agreements have been signed for the delivery of 50 JAC cars to SaryarkaAvtoProm LLP, as well as for the provision of dealerships to CJSC Holding Asia Group Tajikistan for the entire range of JAC vehicles in Tajikistan.

Hyundai Com Trans Kazakhstan sold Hyundai brand equipment for a total of $ 18 million. LLP Mega SMART signed a $ 300,000 contract to supply furniture products to Tajikistan.

Successfully negotiations were held between JSC Aktobe rail-track plant and SUE Tajik Railways. The parties agreed to supply 6 tons of rails during this year.

The trade and economic mission lasted until August 12. During this time, the international universal exhibition Tajikistan-2018, where the cars of Kazakhstan production JAC were presented, including the first electric vehicle of mass production on the territory of the Customs Union - JACiEV7S, as well as commercial vehicles Iveco, was held.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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By Kamila Aliyeva

The first KFC restaurant in Uzbekistan will open in test mode in September 2018, the KFC press office in Russia said, podrobno.uz reported.

In an interview with the agency, the representative of the company also noted that Uzbekistan has a serious potential for business development and is one of the important regions for the expansion of KFC.

Central Asia is one of the priority regions for the development of the KFC brand with a serious potential for expanding its business. Until the end of 2018, together with our partner, Food Chain, we plan to open several KFC restaurants in Tashkent, where all the main dishes, including biscuits, snacks, sandwiches, etc., will be presented, the company said.

At the same time, according to the representative of the company, the price policy of KFC in Uzbekistan will be formed taking into account the dynamics and market conditions and various other factors in order to preserve the mass availability of food for consumers.

The company also stressed that KFC carefully approaches the selection of suppliers, focusing on the highest quality products, operational reliability, compliance with international standards of work.

We are committed to the supply of chicken and locally produced vegetables and are now actively working with the local producer to build this process. As a safety net, we have the opportunity to import from Russia to ensure uninterrupted supply in full, which is necessary for the restaurant in Tashkent, the company concluded.

KFC, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is an American fast food restaurant chain that specializes in fried chicken. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world's second-largest restaurant chain (as measured by sales) after McDonald's, with almost 20,000 locations globally in 123 countries and territories as of December 2015. The chain is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, a restaurant company that also owns the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and WingStreet chains.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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Afghan government forces are battling the Taliban in Ghazni for a fourth straight day after the militant group launched an assault on the eastern city, officials say.

TV and radio stations were set on fire and heavy fighting was reported around key government installations in the city centre.

United States forces launched airstrikes on August 10 to counter a major Taliban assault on an Afghan provincial capital, where terrified residents cowered in their homes amid explosions and gunfire as security forces fought to beat the insurgents back.

His words were echoed by Gen Yafti, who told reporters: "Strategic locations and centres in the city are under the control of Afghan forces and the Taliban are hiding inside people's homes and shops and resisting".

The Taliban assault on the city of Ghazni has resulted in intense gun battles and hundreds of casualties. O'Donnell said Afghan forces were in control of the highway on Monday and manning checkpoints at key locations along it.

The insurgents seized control of the districts of Khawaja Omari, north of Ghazni city and Ajrestan, in the west.

The number of civilian casualties was unknown but people fleeing the city have described bodies lying in the streets and aid groups said hospitals were struggling to cope with the wounded.

Officials said Taliban fighters were installed in residential areas, knocking down walls to make movement easier and making it hard for security forces to hit them for fear of harming civilians. He added that the city's electricity and water supply have had problems, and that food supplies were reportedly running low.

"The Taliban's attempts to hide themselves amongst the Afghan populace does pose a threat to the civilian population, who were terrorized and harassed by this ineffective attack and the subsequent execution of innocents, destruction of homes and burning of a market", O'Donnell said.

About 1,000 additional troops have been sent to Ghazni and helped prevent the city from falling into Taliban hands.

Bahrami did not give a breakdown of the casualties but Wais Ahmad Barmak, the interior minister, said that about 70 of the dead security forces were police officers.

Afghan officials said U.S. special forces units were on the ground helping to coordinate air strikes and ground operations and the USA military said American aircraft had launched two dozen air strikes since Friday.

He also said that 194 insurgents had been killed and 147 wounded.

"[Ghazni's residents] have seen their city turn into a battlefield since Friday morning. parties across the conflict need to ensure that access to medical services is not denied and respect for medical facilities and staff is upheld", he said in a statement.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is said to be considering a cease-fire offer to the Taliban for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which starts August 21.

The U.N. expressed concern for the civilians caught up in the fighting.

"Medication at the main hospital is reportedly becoming very scarce and people are unable to safely bring casualties for treatment", Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, acting humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, said in a statement.

Instead, the Taliban appear intent on seeking a position of strength ahead of expected talks with the United States, which has been at war in Afghanistan for almost 17 years.

NBC News has also reported that State Department officials have begun preliminary talks with the Taliban ahead of formal peace negotiations, but neither the US government nor the Taliban would confirm that to Task & Purpose.

United States and Afghan officials have said the prospects for peace talks are encouraging.
By Kamila Aliyeva

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to allocate more than $300 million to Tajikistan for the period of 2019-2021. This was announced by ADB Vice-President Wencai Zhang at a meeting with journalists in Dushanbe, Avesta reported.

A new operational plan is being prepared for the next three years (2019-2021), according to which the bank intends to provide the country with over $300 million in financial assistance, according to the vice-president

These funds will be used to implement projects to rehabilitate key transport corridors, support energy sector reforms and improve energy infrastructure, as well as develop the financial sector.

Supported industries also include projects to improve labor skills, the investment climate, food security, develop health services and a climate resilience project.

Wencai Zhang also noted that since 1998, ADB has allocated over $ 1.6 million to Tajikistan, more than $ 1.1 billion of which are grant funds, while the rest - soft loans.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998. In 2018, ADB is celebrating 20 years of cooperation with Tajikistan. ADB's partnership with Tajikistan, which began in 1998, allowed for rehabilitating or building a new transport and energy infrastructure in the country, helped social development, expanded agricultural production and supported regional cooperation and trade.

The Asian Development Bank was founded in 1966. The mission of the bank is to reduce poverty in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) through inclusive economic and environmentally sustainable growth, as well as regional integration. The head office of ADB is located in the capital of the Philippines - the city of Manila. The bank's shareholders are 67 countries, 48 of which are located in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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Have you been keeping up on our local news coverage? Test your news knowledge by taking the TBC Quiz appearing on Fridays in The Bakersfield C
Upon receiving a report of an active shooter, staff at Mercy Hospital Southwest followed their training and sheltered in place behind locked d
Shannon Smith, a former co-owner of FourWinds Logistics, the San Antonio oil field services company that defrauded investors and cratered Carlos Urestis political and legal career, was sentenced to five years of probation Tuesday.

Smith, 42, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in 2016 and testified for federal prosecutors in the criminal trial of Uresti and FourWinds consultant Gary Cain. Smith could have received a sentence of 46 to 57 months.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra cited Smiths minor role at FourWinds and his cooperation in laying out the whole scheme for investigators for earning the sentence.

It wasnt a gift, Ezra said. It was a reward for doing the right thing.

Lead prosecutor Joseph Blackwell and Smiths lawyer, Alex Scharff, asked Ezra to sentence Smith to probation.

As part of his sentence, Smith must pay the victims of the fraud $6.3 million in restitution, just like other defendants in the case. He also must perform 500 hours of community service during his probation.

FourWinds bought and sold sand used in fracking for oil production. Prosecutors claimed the company was a Ponzi scheme, with some investor money going to support the lavish lifestyle of CEO Stan Bates.

Smith is the fifth defendant to be sentenced in the FourWinds saga. The only defendant who has not been sentenced is Bates, who pleaded guilty to eight felonies rather than stand trial with Uresti and Cain. Bates is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 11. The judge said last week Bates will spend several years in prison.

Uresti, the longtime San Antonio Democrat who resigned from the state Senate in June, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Cain was sentenced to five years and eight months. Laura Jacobs, FourWinds comptroller, received a years sentence in a womens prison camp. Eric Nelson, the companys marketing director, was sentenced to four years of probation.

Smith expressed his remorse to Ezra during the sentencing hearing.

I should have seen the red flags sooner, he said. I wish in retrospect that I had never been a part of FourWinds.

Smith has been free on bond since entering his plea. During Uresti and Cains trial, Smith testified that despite considering Bates untrustworthy based on a previous experience, he accepted an invitation to go work for FourWinds in 2014. Smith was given the title of chief operating officer and a 48 percent ownership in the company. Bates owned 51 percent and Uresti owned 1 percent of FourWinds.

Ezra called Smiths 48 percent stake in FourWinds illusory, noting Smith didnt pay anything for it.

When FourWinds was getting off the ground, Bates told investors it had multiple purchase orders and sand lined up to ship. But Smith testified little of the spiel was true.

We didnt have any sand, Smith said, adding how he spent a lot of his time just trying to find places where FourWinds could buy sand.

Smith detailed how Bates was raiding the corporate till, including spending $7,000 in one weekend on food, hotels and the rental of a Ferrari.

Smith also testified he started noticing red flags with Bates over the way he was acting. I started seeing he was sniffling real bad, or just looking hung over, Smith said, adding he heard that Bates was doing cocaine. Bates, though, denied it.

He told me he was fake snorting cocaine in front of people, Smith said. I never heard of fake snorting, drawing laughs from some jurors.

In an Aug. 1 sentencing memorandum, Bates admitted that he started using cocaine at the time he was running FourWinds.

Lead prosecutor Joseph Blackwell told jurors during the first day of Uresti and Cains trial that the people who made the most from the FourWinds scheme were Bates, Smith, Uresti and Cain. Smith received $196,000, Blackwell said.

As FourWinds careened toward collapse in 2015, Smith testified at a 2016 bankruptcy court hearing that Bates pulled him aside for a private conversation.

He says, Its inevitable this things going to fold, Smith said on the witness stand. He says, Theres roughly $300,000 or $400,000 thats going to be in the operating account. Im going to send that money to Blair, my son, and well say its a consulting fee, and Ill send you a $100,000 check.

Asked how he responded to Bates plan, Smith said, Not no, but hell no. Im not that kind of guy. There was no more conversation.

Patrick Danner is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
The children discovered at an "extremist Muslim" compound in New Mexico earlier this month were both trained to use firearms and taught multiple tactical techniques in order to kill teachers, law enforcement and other institutions they found corrupt, state prosecutors revealed on Monday.

Five adults have been arrested on charges of abusing the children - charges they have denied.

The five suspects, who had established a communal living arrangement with their children in the high-desert compound, have been in custody since authorities raided their ramshackle homestead north of Taos 10 days ago.

Clark said his client had permits to carry his weapons and no criminal record - accusing prosecutors of holding adults at the compound to an unusual standard due to their race and Muslim faith. Three are the adult children of a prominent New York City Muslim cleric who is himself the biological grandfather of nine of the children involved.

Despite the release terms, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is likely to remain in jail pending a warrant for his arrest in Georgia on accusations that he abducted his own son, Abdul-ghani, from the boy's mother in December and fled to New Mexico.

They also said that the remains found at the site belonged to Abdul-Ghani and that the other children said the boy had died during a "religious ritual. meant to cast out demonic spirits", where Siraj Wahhaj had put his hand to his son's forehead, and recited verses from the Koran.

They are the three-year-old's father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, and his wife, Jany Leveille, his brother-in-law and sister, Lucas Morton and Subhannah Wahhaj, and a second sister, Hujrah Wahhaj.

In court documents, New Mexico prosecutors said the adults were training the children to commit school shootings.

Authorities recovered the buried remains of a young boy during a subsequent search of the compound on August 9.

The body of a young boy believed to be Abdul-Ghani was found in a tunnel at the site three days after the raid.

FBI Agent Travis Taylor testified Monday during a court hearing in Taos that one of the 11 children found at the makeshift compound and taken into custody said during an interview that the boy, Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, had died in February.

Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Travis Taylor said that according to Ibn Wahhaj's 15-year-old son, one of the adults told him the spirit of the dead three-year-old would return "as Jesus" to direct the group in carrying out violent attacks.

A lawyer for Subhannah Wahhaj also told CNN that she has not seen evidence that anyone on the compound was training for school shootings.

They have all pleaded not guilty.

Lovelace said police at the time found weapons and ammunition in the vehicle.

Prosecutors are asking that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and the other defendants be held pending trial.

The decision came Monday evening after a lengthy hearing in Taos during which prosecutors said the five defendants were preparing for a risky anti-government mission. "But when black Muslims do it, there seems to be something nefarious, something evil".
Fairfax, Va.-based Gastroenterology Associates of Northern Virginia and Gastroenterology Associates of Fredericksburg (Va.) left the Advanced Digestive Care network, the Washington Business Journal reported.

Here are four key details to know:

1. The departures come after the network filed two notices with Virginia's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act saying it would lay off 90 people in Northern Virginia and 40 in Fredericksburg.

2. Gastroenterology Associates of Northern Virginia said it will retain all 90 employees.

3. Gastroenterology Associates of Northern Virginia also said leaving the network will allow the practice to expand its services.

4. Advanced Digestive Care has nearly 40 doctors across 14 locations in Northern Virginia in its network.
Miami-based Gastro Health made a series of leadership appointments as the practice continues to expand.

Here's what you should know:

1. Gastro Health named Simon Frisch senior vice president of strategic options.

2. Mr. Frisch will oversee and execute system-wide operational strategy. He joined Gastro Health as vice president of operations in 2017 and holds a 20-plus year career in healthcare. He previously worked at Mednax and McKinsey & Co.

3. Gastro Health then added Chris Weinstein to its staff. Ms. Weinstein will serve as vice president of the Florida division

4. Ms. Weinstein will help the group as it prepares to branch out into other states.

5. Gastro Health CEO Joseph Garcia said, "[Mr. Frisch] and [Ms. Weinstein] are exceptional professionals who are mission-driven on our commitment to providing outstanding medical care and patient experiences. Their expertise is critical as we continue to scale the business."
Two key laws govern patient privacy in the U.S.  HIPAA and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act.

Signed into law in 1996, HIPAA establishes a set of safeguards that covered entities and business associates must abide by to protect patient data. Failure to adequately secure this information could result in criminal prosecution or a civil fine issued by either HHS' Office for Civil Rights or state attorneys general.

In 2009, the HITECH Act  designed in the age of electronic patient data  expanded HIPAA's rules, increasing the potential legal liability for non-compliance and providing more enforcement actions.

Civil monetary penalties issued by OCR for HIPAA violations can reach up to $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million. The U.S. Justice Department may impose fines up to $250,000 and imprisonment up to 10 years for HIPAA violations, depending on the circumstances of the breach.

Here are five of the largest HIPAA fines issued since 2008, according to publicly available data:

1. Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Fla., paid $5.5 million in 2017 to settle allegations that employees inappropriately disclosed 115,143 individuals' data to affiliated physician office staff.

2. Advocate Health Care Network agreed to pay $5.5 million in 2016 after an investigation showed it had failed to protect patient data, which led to the loss of 4 million patients' information in 2013.

3. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University, both based in New York City, paid a total of $4.8 million in 2014 to settle a 2010 data breach related to their shared data network.

4. In June, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston was ordered to pay $4.3 million in civil penalties for HIPAA violations related to the organization's encryption policies.

5. Temple Hills, Md.-based Cignet Health paid $4.3 million in 2011 to settle claims it violated 41 patients' rights by denying them access to their medical records.
Eighty of Central Maine Healthcare's 300 physicians have left the Lewistown-based organization this past fiscal year, which ended in June, one month after its three hospitals issued votes of no confidence in system CEO Jeff Brickman. But, Mr. Brickman thinks the staffing issues stem from something other than leadership: the health system's new EHR, the Portland Press Herald reports.

Physicians have been growing increasingly discontent with CMH and its leadership structure during at least the past year. However, while CMH's 27.1 physician percent turnover rate is higher than the national average of 18.6 percent for all hospital staffers, the health system's turnover rate is still lower than it has been the past two years.

Some of the CMH staffers who spoke with the Portland Herald Press on condition of anonymity said increased patient loads resulting from staffing shortages have made it difficult for physicians to spend quality time with their patients or transcribe their notes during their workdays  and a new EHR has only added to the burden.

CMH uses the new Cerner EHR across its three hospitals, though it is not clear when the hospital made the transition. However, according to its website, "CMH has worked to individualize the electronic patient record system to help our healthcare professionals document the care of our patients according to our particular workflow processes."

Coupled with the staffing changes and some physicians still adjusting to the new Cerner system, frustration mounted among the clinical staff.

"For some of the physicians it was just one more thing that they just didn't want to go through, the pain of learning a new electronic medical record," David Tupponce, executive vice president for the system and president of CMH, told the Portland Press Herald. "And so they said, 'You know what, I'd rather retire,' or, 'I'm going to go find somewhere else.' Honestly, that did drive some of the turmoil."
Laura Eskridge(SPRINGBORO, Ohio) -- Some parents despair at the thought of their kids leaving home. But not Vicky and Jeff Piper.



The Springboro, Ohio, couple was so looking forward to their youngest child leaving for college, they celebrated with a photo shoot.



It was her husband's idea, Vicky Piper told "Good Morning America."



"We had just dropped our son at school and I was receiving all these texts asking if we were ok, have I stopped crying, your house is going to be so quiet and what are you guys going to do now?" she said. "We just had a different perspective of empty nest."



The couple's daughter goes to college in Australia and their son in Michigan.



"The kids are cracking up [at the photos]," Piper said. "They are like, 'You are having too much fun,' but they are super happy for us."



Piper said the empty nest "feels amazing."



The photos have been shared widely on Facebook. Piper said she believes the positive reaction is because of the "positive perspective that there is life, hope and love after kids. It's refreshing to see, after all the work you put into raising strong, independent kids, it's time to enjoy your marriage."



She also said that her generation "missed out" on the all the photo opportunities couples do now, like baby announcements.



"Why not join them," she said.



As for the children, of course the Pipers miss them, "but we are looking so forward to spending time together."



"My husband stated for the last three months before our son left how much he just wants to date me all over again," Piper said.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
This spring, Oklahoma teachers walked out of their classrooms for nine days, protesting low salaries , crumbling classrooms, and cuts to school spending. They walked out despite the state legislature passing an average $6,100 pay raise the largest in state history, although it fell short of teachers demands.

Now, four months later, teacher morale across the state has improved, but there have been no immediate effects on Oklahomas teacher shortage, according to a new survey from the Oklahoma State School Boards Association .

The survey found that Oklahoma schools are starting the new academic year with nearly 500 teaching vacancies. More than half of the superintendents who responded to the survey found that teacher hiring is worse this year compared to last year.

Increasingly over the years, Oklahoma schools have been relying on emergency-certified teachers, who typically dont have any classroom experience or training. Just this summer, the Oklahoma state board of education has approved 1,237 emergency certificationson track to surpass last years record of nearly 2,000. These certifications allow people without a teaching certificate to teach for one year, or allow a certified teacher to teach a new subject before getting recertified.

While many district leaders said that the pay raise helped them convince some teachers who were contemplating retirement to stay in the classroom, it didnt have a major impact on either recruitment or retention. That might be because of teachers worries about an attempt to ask voters to repeal the tax hikes that funded the teacher pay raise. An anti-tax group was seeking to put the question of tax increases on the November ballot, but it abandoned its effort in July after an unfavorable Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling.



The veto referendum effort left teachers with too much doubt about whether the raise was real, said Shawn Hime, the OSSBA executive director, in a statement. That missed opportunity meant many teachers made choices to leave the state or pursue other professions.

Districts report that special education teaching positionswhich are not eligible for emergency certificationare the most difficult to fill, followed by high school science and math, elementary, and middle school math and science teaching positions. In addition to relying on emergency-certified teachers, 43 percent of districts anticipate bringing retired teachers back into the classroom this school year, and 35 percent plan to hire adjunct instructors, who teach on a part-time basis.

However, there are some bright spots for school districts: Far fewer school systems plan to increase class sizes this school year, and more than 100 school districts reported adding at least one teaching position since last school year. The Oklahoma state legislature also boosted funding for public schools in response to the walkout.

The Oklahoma work stoppage ended with mixed emotions this spring: Many teachers were frustrated with the resolution of the walkout , which was called off by the state teachers union after days of legislative inaction. Teachers had initially asked for a $10,000 pay raise over three years. But before this year, Oklahoma teachers hadnt received a pay raise in 10 years. They are among the lowest paid in the nation .

The pay raise has been both positive and a step in the right direction, said Janet Dunlop, the superintendent of Broken Arrow schools, located outside of Tulsa, according to the survey. Its boosting morale, but it is definitely not a fix to a very deep problem.

Image: Educator Benita Boone, right, rallies with other teachers during a protest on April 18 in Oklahoma City. Sue Ogrocki/AP-File
The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson of Pakistan issued a statement showing solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the diplomatic spat with Canada. In the long-term, Saudi Arabia may find it more hard to attract foreign investors in their effort to meet the Vision 2030 goals.

Tensions have been high between Canada and Saudi Arabia since Monday when Riyadh expelled Canada's ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new trade and investments.

Saudi Arabia has since taken steps to cancel the scholarships of almost 15,000 Saudi students studying at Canadian colleges and universities, stop the Saudi state airline's direct flights to and from Canada, block new trade deals with Canadian businesses and ban the import of Canadian wheat. Saudi response is justified in that some countries are in the habit of interfering in internal affairs of other countries on the pretext of human rights.

The Trudeau government has provided plenty of fodder for opposition members to take issue with lately, but calling out the Saudis for imprisoning and torturing someone for advocating for human rights should be one of those issues where Canadians stand together.

The dispute erupted when Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland tweeted last week that she was "very concerned" about whom she called civil society activists that were arrested in the Kingdom. "Diplomatic talks continue", he said.

The row, however, will not affect crude oil exports from the Kingdom, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih has said, adding that Riyadh's policy has always been to keep politics and energy exports separate.

I'd like to think that standing up against human rights violations would gain similar support, but such is not the case.

Freeland had a phone call Tuesday with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, and officials have been in touch since, said Freeland's spokesman.
A $90 million billing fraud scheme highlighted in a state audit of a 15-bed Missouri hospital spread to as many as 10 other hospitals, according to The Kansas City Star, which cited a federal complaint.

Here are five things to know:

1. James and Phyllis Shaffer, who are part owners of a 10-hospital group called HMC Hospitals, filed the lawsuit against several individuals they claim carried out a billing fraud scheme.

2. They allege Jorge Perez and others orchestrated a fraud scheme involving HMC Hospitals using the same questionable billing practices Mr. Perez allegedly rolled out at Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, Mo.

3. A 2017 report by Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway highlighted the alleged billing fraud scheme at Putnam County Memorial. Mr. Perez and others allegedly used pass-through billing for laboratory services to generate $92 million in revenue for the critical access hospital in six months. The auditor claimed Putnam County Memorial Hospital acted as a shell company by submitting claims for other labs and funneling the insurance payments through the hospital.

4. The Shaffer's lawsuit alleges Mr. Perez was the CEO of a company hired to manage HMC Hospitals' facilities. After taking control, Mr. Perez's company allegedly implemented an illegal billing scheme at some of the hospitals that was "substantially similar to the scheme" being operated at Putnam County Memorial, the lawsuit alleges.

5. Mr. Perez and all other defendants named in the lawsuit are represented by counsel and claim the allegations are meritless, according to The Kansas City Star.

Access the full Kansas City Star article here.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Proposed payment changes likely to ding hospital margins

IU Health sees operating income jump 48% in first half of 2018

OIG tags North Carolina hospital for erroneous billing
New laws and regulations continuously shape the healthcare industry and impact the way medical providers conduct business. Physicians and healthcare executives can help drive these changes by getting involved in the legislative process, but many fail to do so because they lack the time needed to research the issues and contact local, state, and federal lawmakers.

This article is sponsored by Zotec Partners

Physicians and healthcare executives are key decision-makers in a more than $3 trillion industry that touches the lives of nearly everyone at some point and influences life-or-death decisions. Yet all too often, legislators and policymakers devise solutions to some of the biggest issues in healthcare without input from these key stakeholders.

It isn't a novel idea for healthcare providers to have a say on issues affecting how care is provided or reimbursed. Not only are they uniquely qualified to educate lawmakers about healthcare issues, but they are also best suited to advocate for patients and the medical field. In fact, Americans identify physicians as the professionals most likely to make the right decisions for the nation's healthcare system.

Since many legislators and policymakers don't seek the input of physicians and healthcare executives, it is vital for healthcare industry leaders and professionals to take steps to ensure their voices are heard.

Without input from healthcare professionals and physician stakeholders, state and federal mandates have the potential to negatively affect many aspects of healthcare business, including provider reimbursement and the quality of patient care, according to Mark Isenberg, executive vice president of healthcare advocacy at Zotec Partners, the countrys largest privately held provider of revenue cycle management services.

"It is very important for anyone who relies on the business of healthcare to track both state and federal laws and regulations because they have a tremendous ability to impact how you conduct business," he said.

The importance of healthcare leader and physician involvement in the legislative and regulatory process in the U.S. cannot be overstated. By sharing their expertise and invaluable insight with legislators and policymakers, physicians and healthcare executives can influence legislation and regulations in a way that benefits both patients and healthcare providers.

How physicians and healthcare executives can put advocacy into practice

Most physicians and healthcare leaders interested in helping shape healthcare legislation and regulations do so through membership in medical societies or professional associations. These groups work hard to represent physicians and healthcare executives, but they do not have the bandwidth to provide input on every law, regulation, or rule implemented or altered at the state and federal level that influence the medical field.

Physicians and healthcare administrators rely on professional groups and associations to represent their legislative interests, but their demanding schedules leave little time to research the latest proposals and share their input directly with state and federal lawmakers.

"Physicians and healthcare executives are very busy, and they often dont have the time or ability to email, call, or research social media handles for their local congressman or state senator," said Mr. Isenberg. "We wanted to figure out a way to streamline those communication outlets and arm them with the right information and tools to mobilize them better than before."

To help physician and healthcare stakeholders more effectively influence laws and policies in healthcare, the Zotec Political Action Committee (ZPAC) recently launched an intuitive website aimed at educating physicians and healthcare executives about state and federal legislative and regulatory issues currently affecting the business of healthcare.

ZPAC works closely with Zotecs staff, physician clients, industry partners, and industry associations to notify physicians and healthcare administrators when there is a need to take action on a specific piece of legislation. Although there are major issues that need to be tracked at the federal level, such as continued efforts to alter the ACA, Mr. Isenberg said changes are more abundant at the state level.

"There are a lot of federal laws that need to be watched and monitored, but it's gridlocked there," Mr. Isenberg said. "A lot of these issues are being addressed at the state level. States have the ability to make changes much more swiftly."

To ensure physicians and healthcare executives are never bogged down, ZPAC only notifies them of legislative and policy changes that could potentially affect their business. For example, a physician in Boston would receive updates on legislative changes occurring in Massachusetts and at the federal level.

To help ensure physicians and healthcare administrators do not miss the opportunity to share their input on legislation, ZPACs platform provides several easy ways for them to share their expertise and insight with lawmakers. One option is to send a pre-written email message directly to state and federal legislators. This allows physicians and healthcare executives to engage in public policy without spending hours drafting letters.

The ZPAC platform also provides physicians and healthcare executives with an easy way to make phone calls to lawmakers about bills under consideration and gives them the ability to address social media messages, posts, or Tweets directly to state and federal representatives. The unfettered access to lawmakers provided by social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, can yield powerful and sometimes viral results, especially when leveraged in combination with phone calls, emails, and letters on each issue.

"We're trying to mobilize our clients in coordination and in conjunction with many societies that we interact with to really bring to bear the physician and healthcare executive voice at both the state house and the federal level," Mr. Isenberg said. Essentially, were giving people all the information and tools they need to take political action on legislation that impacts their business, in two or three clicks of a button.

He emphasized that physicians and healthcare executives need to ramp up their advocacy efforts to ensure their voices are not drowned out by input from groups and individuals with conflicting agendas.

"Physician and healthcare administrators' voices have been muted to some extent over the years primarily because of who they're fighting against," Mr. Isenberg said. "If you look at insurance carriers, they carry a big stick. They spend a lot of time, money, and effort lobbying in state houses and Washington, D.C."

Without insight from physicians and healthcare leaders, state and federal lawmakers may be unaware of how their proposed legislation might negatively affect the healthcare community. Physicians and healthcare executives have a powerful voice, and the ZPAC platform provides them with intuitive, time-saving tools they can use to be heard.

Healthcare organizations must swiftly adjust to new laws and regulations

When new laws or regulations are implemented at the state or national level, it is vital for healthcare organizations to quickly make the changes necessary to comply.

In addition to making physicians and healthcare administrators aware of legislative proposals that could affect their businesses while giving them simple ways to take action, ZPACs other main objective is to provide alerts when new laws and regulations are passed.

"Once these laws are signed, it's incumbent upon everyone to follow them," Mr. Isenberg said, "and we at Zotec Partners need to make sure our RCM clients are aware of them since some regulations could impact their business, for better or worse."

It can be difficult for healthcare providers to keep up with every new law and regulation enacted, especially if they operate in more than one state. Rolling out new policies and procedures at their facilities to comply with new mandates can also be complicated.

By providing timely notifications to physicians and healthcare administrators, ZPAC helps ensure these stakeholders are aware of changes their organizations need to make in order to comply with new legislative and regulatory requirements.

Conclusion

Due to the sheer volume of legislative and regulatory proposals, it is extremely difficult for physicians and healthcare administrators to track all of the potential changes in their industry and nearly impossible for them to provide input on each one.

The ZPAC platform addresses this challenge by alerting stakeholders of new legislation that could affect their businesses, providing them with legislative notifications and multiple ways to take political action in the click of a button.

Physicians and healthcare administrators have not fully leveraged their influence in terms of political advocacy, but it is critical for them to get more involved because it can greatly impact their business, according to Mr. Isenberg.

"They need to get off the bench, and they need to start participating because their business could be changed by the stroke of a pen," he said.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.zotecpac.com.
















A morning routine helps many executives feel focused and centered. Here is how five top CEOs start their days:

1. Mary Barra, chairman and CEO of GM, arrives at the office by 6 a.m., a habit she started before becoming CEO in 2014, according to The New York Times.

2. Marc Benioff, co-CEO of Salesforce, starts multitasking right away. He starts his day with an hour of exercise on the elliptical, paired with answering emails, according to Forbes.

3. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, begins with a 90-second meditative exercise that involves deep breathing, gratitude, intention setting and consciously feeling his feet touch the ground, according to Quartz.

4. Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, wakes up by 4 a.m. and kicks off her day by reading the newspaper as well as any mail or documents before heading into the office around 7 a.m., she told CNBC.

5. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, told CNBC he is not a morning person and prefers to wake up later, around 6:30 or 7 a.m. He starts his mornings reading a physical newspaper and eating an omelet with toast and tea.

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In this special Speaker Series, Becker's Healthcare caught up with Viraj Patwardhan, vice president of digital design and consumer experience at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Mr. Patwardhan will speak on a panel during the Becker's Hospital Review 4th Annual Health IT + Revenue Cycle Conference titled "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Personalized Care," at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21. Learn more about the event and register to attend in Chicago.

Question: Can you share your best advice for motivating your teams?

Viraj Patwardhan: One of our team principles is, "obstacle is the way." We at Jefferson Health are trying to "reimagine healthcare," which is not an easy task. We face obstacles every day. For teams to be successful and motivated, we need to find solutions in the most difficult situations.

Q: What's the best thing you've read lately?

VP: Timely question. I just finished reading Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs by John Doerr. The book was recommended to me by our chief digital officer, Neil Gomes, PhD. It was amazing to read how Google became a billion-dollar company by using OKR's  objectives and key results  as their foundation. We in the healthcare industry will benefit immensely from this approach.

Q: What is your No. 1 dealbreaker when it comes to evaluating vendor partnerships?

VP: If a client-vendor relationship is purely transactional, that's a dealbreaker for us. In the everchanging world on technology and innovation, healthcare needs more partners than vendors  companies that are willing to work together with healthcare systems to create win-win solutions. We at Jefferson Health are always looking to work with partners who are willing to collaborate and cocreate with us.
A team of physician experts is calling for hospitals to change the "run, hide, fight" strategy during active shooter situations to "secure, preserve, fight," according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine editorial covered by the Houston Chronicle.

"For professionals providing essential medical care to patients who cannot run, hide, or fight owing to their medical condition or ongoing life-sustaining therapy, a different set of responses should be considered  secure the location immediately, preserve the life of the patient and oneself and fight only if necessary," the editorial says.

The authors developed the strategy after looking at data on hospital shootings between 2000 and 2011.

Although physicians, staff, patients and visitors should follow the "run, hide, fight" strategy if they can, the authors argue, the strategy does not work for incapacitated patients who may die if abandoned by caregivers who have an ethical duty not to abandon their patients.

Among challenges hospitals face when addressing active shooter threats, the facility's design can also present a problem, with reliance on elevators and narrow stairwells, "target-rich chokepoints for a shooter" and large common areas with little furniture, intersecting walls or equipment to hide behind, the authors said.

The "secure, preserve, fight" strategy focuses on preparation, with designated areas having devices that can lock and secure doors and entry points. Lifesaving kits to treat excessive bleeding should also be placed throughout the facility.

The paper's senior author, Kenneth Mattox, MD, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Houston-based Baylor College of Medicine and chief of staff at Houston-based Ben Taub Hospital, said he hopes the modified strategy will become a national campaign, led by the American College of Surgeons and the Department of Homeland Security.

Two of the paper's authors are physicians turned-SWAT police who have already shown the paper to law enforcement agencies, Dr. Mattox said.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is urging the University of Vermont Medical Center Board of Trustees to be more involved in contract negotiations between management and the union representing about 1,800 registered nurses, nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses.

Mr. Sanders wrote a letter to board chair Allie Stickney, calling on the board "to take a more active role" in the talks.

"The primary responsibility and obligation of any nonprofit board is not to management, but to the organization, and that includes providing oversight and guidance on issues related to the organization's workforce," the senator wrote.

"For most people, the nurses are the hospital," he said. "They are also our neighbors, friends and family. Vermonters want to see them paid fairly and treated with the respect and dignity they deserve."

The Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5221, part of AFT Vermont, has been negotiating with the hospital since March. Workers' contract expired July 9, and they ended a 48-hour strike July 14. The latest contract talks were Aug. 13 with a federal mediator. Talks continue Aug. 14, and wages remain a key sticking point.

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Jay Joshi, MD, an Illinois physician specializing in pain treatment, sued another physician with the same name in federal court, claiming the other physician's criminal case has destroyed his career.

Here are six things to know:

1. In his lawsuit, Dr. Joshi alleges a physician with his same name used his name, reputation and credibility to turn a small medical practice into a moneymaking opioid "pill mill."

2. The other physician, whom the complaint calls "imitator" Dr. Joshi, was indicted and arrested by federal authorities for illegal distribution of a controlled substance. He pleaded guilty to the charges in July.

3. Dr. Joshi alleges the pill mill case received national media attention because people are confused about who was involved in the illegal activity.

"Because of the market confusion resulting from the imposter Joshi's unfair, deceptive, and criminal actions, people everywhere, from patients, to medical colleagues, to journalists, are confused into incorrectly believing that the real Dr. Joshi is the person in all the news stories about the doctor that was arrested for giving out pain pills like candy," the complaint states.

4. After the imitator Dr. Joshi learned he shared the same name as a well-regarded pain specialist, he allegedly began holding himself out to the public as a pain specialist, despite having no experience or expertise in pain medicine.

"The imitator Joshi began marketing himself as a pain specialist using the real Dr. Joshi's credentials and reviews," the complaint states. "The imitator Joshi gave interviews to journalists who were trying to get in touch with, and then thought they were speaking with the real Dr. Joshi. The imitator Joshi would intentionally conceal, suppress, and omit the material fact that he was in fact not the real Dr. Joshi and not a pain medicine specialist."

5. Due to the imitator allegedly posing as the real Dr. Joshi, there was a mix-up about who was charged in the criminal case.

"A large part of the reason news of the imitator Joshi's indictment spread so fast, and the public was so fixated upon it, is because people found the idea of such a high-profile doctor  being taken down for the very acts fought against irresistibly scandalous," the complaint states.

6. The confusion about the criminal case, which the complaint alleges was due to the imitator's intentional acts, has ruined the real Dr. Joshi's career.

"The most cruel, ironic, and devastating aspect of the imitator Joshi's actions is that the real Dr. Joshi, who up until recently enjoyed a hard earned reputation not only of impeccable credibility in pain medicine, but also of being on the vanguard of speaking out publicly against counterfeit pain physicians such as the imitator Joshi, is now erroneously being disgraced and defamed as the lowest possible order of physician, the one who puts revenue before the wellbeing of his patients, and breaks drug laws while doing so."

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Every 12.4 minutes, someone dies from an opioid overdose. It's a problem that doesn't discriminate. Men and women, young and old, black and white  we're all in its crosshairs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42,249 people in this country died from opioid overdoses in 2016. To give you some perspective, that's equivalent to a jumbo jet filled with passengers falling from the sky about twice a week, every week, for an entire year. We wouldn't  and couldn't  ignore something like that. Just like planes falling from the sky, the scourge of opioids requires us all to stand up and take notice.

I live and work in Ohio, which has been described as "ground zero" for the opioid epidemic  and rightly so. In fact, according to the Ohio Department of Health, drug-related deaths eclipsed auto accidents as the state's top cause of injury deaths in 2007 and that trend has continued ever since. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Ohio's 2016 rate of 32.9 opioid-related overdose deaths per 100,000 people ranked third behind only West Virginia and New Hampshire. Per NIDA, that's more than triple the state's 2010 rate of 10 overdose deaths per 100,000.

We can spend a lot of time debating the root cause of the epidemic  pill mills, drug cartels, misinformation  but I think our energy is best served focusing on solutions.

To be clear, I'm not advocating eliminating opioids altogether. They still remain a valid option for many patients. Prescribers and patients alike simply need to be smarter, more responsible and better informed about their use.

Let me share a bit of what we're doing in my corner of Ohio. We've brought together five competing hospital systems to collaborate on the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium. I'm privileged to serve as the physician chair of the consortium and help guide our mission to significantly reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic in our region by sharing and implementing evidenced-based practices, promoting policy changes and increasing prevention efforts.

These five hospitals are working together to both treat the disease of opioid addiction and work to reduce its spread. We're doing this by educating and aligning our clinicians on consistent prescribing practices. We're expanding the availability of patient and public education resources. We're improving access to treatment resources for those who need help. And we're being transparent with each other, sharing data across our systems so we can accurately measure outcomes.

Where I work at University Hospitals in Cleveland, we're enhancing the safety of opioid prescribing through education, awareness and accountability. Our goal is to lead not only the region, but the nation, in appropriate opioid usage, evidence-based pain management strategies and education and advocacy for patients struggling with pain.

And our education program is producing results. On average, UH has reduced the number of opioid units it prescribes by over 130,000 for family and internal medicine, the first two areas we targeted for our usage-reduction campaign. On an annualized basis, that's over 1.5 million units.

We're starting to bend the trend downward, but we can't do it alone. We need to elevate the conversation and increase the action. Will you join us and partner in the fight against opioid overuse?

Clinicians: Share best practices  within your health systems, organizations and with your peers (even your competitors).

Policymakers: Advance and support legislation that addresses the problem on both the state and national level.

Everyone else: Turn up the dialogue on this issue in your house, at work, at church and wherever you see an opportunity.

It's going to take us all  working together  to overcome this horrible epidemic. I'm confident we can do it.

Dr. Randy Jernejcic is the vice president of clinical integration for University Hospitals and the physician chair of the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium.
Activist investor Carl Icahn will stop soliciting votes from Cigna shareholders against the insurer's $54 billion takeover of Express Scripts, the billionaire investor said in an Aug. 13 statement.

The decision to end his fight against the deal came after a second proxy-advisory firm, Glass Lewis & Co., recommended shareholders back the transaction. The first proxy-advisory firm, Institutional Shareholder Services, announced support of the deal on Aug. 10.

In addition, the decision also stemmed from significant shareholder overlap between Cigna and Express Scripts, according to Mr. Icahn.

"We have informed the [Securities and Exchange Commission] that we no longer intend to solicit proxies to vote against the transaction," the statement reads.

Even before two proxy advisors recommended that shareholders support the deal, Mr. Icahn faced a difficult fight because he waited so long to publicly criticize the deal. Cigna last week called Mr. Icahn's opposition to the takeover "misguided and shortsighted."

Shareholders of both companies are slated to vote on the takeover Aug. 24.
Novartis recruited a new chief ethics officer after being wrapped in controversy when its payments to President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen were exposed earlier this year, Reuters reports.

The Swiss drugmaker hired Klaus Moosmayer to serve as chief ethics, risk and compliance officer. Mr. Moosmayer comes from Siemens, where he spent more than 10 years helping the engineering firm recover from bribery scandals.

Novartis gained public attention earlier this year when news broke that its then-CEO Joe Jimenez and former legal head Felix Ehrat signed off on $1.2 million in payments to Mr. Cohen for healthcare policy lobbying services. Mr. Jimenez left the company before the scandal surfaced. Mr. Ehrat claimed responsibility for the scandal and resigned.

Mr. Moosmayer will replace Shannon Thyme Klinger, who was appointed general counsel when Mr. Ehrat resigned.

Vas Narasimhan, Novartis's current CEO, was appointed Feb. 1 and vowed to boost the drugmaker's reputation after settling corruption cases in China, South Korea and the U.S. He still faces criticism from U.S. lawmakers over the contract with Mr. Cohen. Novartis stands by its claim, however, that Mr. Narasimhan knew nothing about the payments.

"We must hold ourselves to [the] highest ethical standards and always aim to win and maintain the trust of society and our many stakeholders," Mr. Narasimhan told Reuters, while also pointing out Mr. Moosmayer's extensive experience in compliance.
The Aquarius, run by Franco-German charity SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF), picked up the people in two separate operations and is in worldwide waters between Italy and Malta.

The ship is now in global waters waiting to be given the go-ahead to land in the nearest European country.

On Saturday, he said the Gibraltar-flagged Aquarius would "never see an Italian port" again.

The ship, he said, had a foreign crew and was now in Maltese waters, flying a Gibraltar flag.

"At this point, the United Kingdom should assume its responsibility to safeguard the castaways", Mr Toninelli said.

Malta has also rejected letting the ship dock.

The Spanish government has refused to repeat the act on this occasion, insisting it is "not the safest port".

The spokesperson added that while Britain could theoretically be considered as a destination port, it was not practically feasible to bring the ship there.

The French presidency said Monday that it was in touch with the other European Union nations on the Mediterranean to "rapidly" find a port where the Aquarius can dock, while stressing that global maritime law states that the boat should be able to dock in the port that is closest.

"It is well-established that responsibility for arranging disembarkation, at a nearby safe port, is assumed by the relevant regional Maritime Rescue and Co-ordination, and in accordance with the wishes of the ship's Master".

The people on board were rescued in the Mediterranean in two search and rescue operations by Aquarius on Friday.

Of the rescued people, 25 are thought to have spent 35 hours adrift at sea.

According to the NGOs, 70 per cent of the migrants hail from Somalia and Eritrea and "many" are "extremely weak and malnourished" and "report that they were held in inhumane conditions in Libya".

Official sources in Spain say they are reluctant to accept more migrants because worldwide law calls for the country nearest the rescue, in this case Italy or Malta, to be responsible for the refugees.

"Malta was neither the coordinating nor the competent authority. and therefore has no legal obligation to make the arrangements to provide for a place of safety", the government said in a statement.

Though departures from Libya have fallen dramatically this year, people smugglers are still pushing some boats out to sea.
Partners in Health, a Boston-based foundation that broadens access to healthcare for marginalized populations, received the largest gift in its 13-year history  a $15 million donation from the Wagner Foundation, according to The Boston Globe.

Here are four things to know:

1. The donation will support new programs, including an effort to collect and store health data in remote Liberia, where health records are often difficult to come by.

2. Partners in Health, founded in 1987, has 18,000 employees who are often area residents serving their home communities. The clinicians at the foundation care for patients in their home town, offer humanitarian aid in foreign countries or opt to stay in affected areas long-term.

3. The Wagner Foundation prioritizes health equity in its mission. It was founded by CEO Charlotte Wagner.

4. "This visionary gift from the Wagner Foundation will have a remarkable and sustained effect on the patients we serve and the care that we provide," Gary Gottlieb, CEO of Partners in Health, told The Globe.
A Colorado jury sided with Lisa French, a patient at Westminster, Colo.-based St. Anthony North Health Campus, ruling the hospital overcharged her for a spinal fusion, The Denver Post reports.

Here are five things to know:

1. St. Anthony North Health Campus sued Ms. French over her unpaid bill that totaled $229,112.13 for the spinal fusion performed in 2014.

2. Before Ms. French's health insurance took effect, the bill reached $303,709.49. She was delivered the bill three years after the procedure.

3. Ms. French claimed she was told the procedure would cost $1,336. She said she paid the hospital $1,000 prior to surgery. The jury ordered her to pay $766.74, which comprised a portion of her remaining co-pay.

4. The defense shed light on the charges the hospital faced for the procedure compared to what Ms. French was charged. For example, the hospital was charged about $31,000 for the 13 implants used in the procedure but charged Ms. French nearly $200,000 for them.

5. St. Anthony North Health Campus' parent, Centura Health in Centennial, Colo., denies any wrongdoing. In a statement to The Denver Post, the system said the price for Ms. French's spinal fusion was in the bottom 25 percent. The health system plans to appeal the ruling.
Despite similarities, there are still vital differences between employment laws of NI and the Republic

As the employment law division of DWF, we regularly advise NI and GB-based employers on their operations in the Republic of Ireland. As the UK approaches its departure from the European Union, we anticipate demand for specialist advice from local businesses to increase, with many NI-based companies having already taken the decision to establish or expand their footprint in the Republic of Ireland post-Brexit.

In general terms, GB, NI and Irish employment laws have primarily emanated from EU Directives. Whilst there are similarities between both jurisdictions, to the surprise of many Northern Irish employers, there are in fact substantial differences, which can have a significant impact on their business models.

Working with our colleagues in DWF Dublin, we regularly advise HR departments on the key differences between the two jurisdictions, to allow them to harmonise terms, while ensuring compliance with local law. This is particularly in relation to employer obligations.

The minimum wage is an obvious place to start. Since January 1, 2018, the rate in the Republic of Ireland is 9.55 per hour. This contrasts with Northern Ireland where, from 1 April 2018, the rate is set at 7.83 per hour (for over 25s) - a significant difference, even taking currency fluctuations into consideration.

In addition, Republic of Ireland employers have no obligation to contribute to an employee's pension, just to allow access to a pension scheme. This is in direct contrast to the automatic enrolment obligations of employers in Northern Ireland.

Sick pay is another area of note. Republic of Ireland employers are under no obligation to pay sick pay but is open to them to provide a sick pay scheme on a contractual basis. In Northern Ireland, employers can choose to provide a sick pay scheme on a contractual basis and if no contractual sick pay scheme exists, employers will be obliged to pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to all employees.

Public holidays also differ on either side of the border with employees in the Republic of Ireland enjoying nine public holidays as opposed to their Northern counterparts who benefit from 10 bank and public holidays, with the days differing in some instances.

There are also differences in the employers' notice obligations, rising from one week to eight weeks' after 15 years' service in the Republic of Ireland; whereas in Northern Ireland, employer's notice is between one week and 12 weeks' after 12 years' service.

Redundancy packages in the Republic of Ireland, which are based on length of service and salary, are substantially more lucrative than in the Northern Ireland, where length of service, salary and age are taken into account. Statutory redundancy payments in the Republic of Ireland are based on two weeks per year of service plus a bonus week's pay. The weekly wage is capped to 600. Most importantly and unlike in Northern Ireland, the total redundancy payment is not capped. Ex-gratia payments are also common in the Republic of Ireland.

The law also differs when it comes to cases of unfair dismissal. Whilst employees in both jurisdictions require 12 months' service to bring an unfair dismissal claim, awards, which can be up to a maximum of two years' net remuneration in the Republic of Ireland can be applied, unlike in Northern Ireland where awards are capped. Claims must generally be presented or brought within six months in the Republic of Ireland as opposed to a stricter three-month time limit in Northern Ireland.

Senior executives in the Republic of Ireland often seek interlocutory injunctions to restrain disciplinary processes or dismissals.

The risk of injunction applications is far higher in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland's Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) operates as the court of first instance with appeals going to the Labour Court. The WRC is typically less procedural than the Industrial Tribunal system in Northern Ireland, with very little pressure on claimants to set out their case in detail prior to the hearing date.

Unlike the position in Northern Ireland, there is no statutory underpinning or recognition of Compromise Agreements in the Republic of Ireland, although they can be binding on employees.

TUPE is another area of distinction. In Northern Ireland TUPE will almost inevitably apply to service provision changes i.e. where there is a change of contractor or an outsourcing or insourcing of work. However, this is not the case in the Republic of Ireland, where the application of TUPE is much more fact sensitive and dependent upon the circumstances of any change.

These points offer an insight into the main employment areas which require consideration when operating a business on either side of the Irish border. We would always recommend employers take local, bespoke advice relating and tailored to the needs and requirements of their business when expanding into a new territory, harmonising terms or dealing with a dispute in a new jurisdiction.
Here's the top 10 human resources jobs in Northern Ireland right now

HR Administrator  Capita, Belfast

Capita is seeking to hire an HR Administrator due to their continued business growth, the successful applicant will join their Belfast departments who work within both the public and private sectors. As a Recruitment and HR administrator, you will be providing support for the HR and Recruitment function and ensuring work is carried out to the highest quality in a timely and accurate manner.

Apply for this role here.

Recruitment Administrator  Homecare Independent Living, Armagh

Homecare Independent Living is currently seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals for the role of Recruitment Administrator to join its Recruitment Team. As a Recruitment Administrator, you would work as part of the Recruitment Team and help provide support on recruitment administration on the selection of new staff. To apply for this job, you will be required to have GCSE English and Maths at a C grade and have a minimum of 1 years experience in a fast-paced administration role.

Apply for this role here.

Support Assistant  Employability and Careers  Ulster University, Jordanstown

Ulster University is currently seeking applications for a Support Assistant who will focus on providing employability and careers advice to students. The post holder will assist in the management of the Directors office and provide administrative and clerical support for a wide range of employability and careers activities across all campuses. To apply for this role, youll need to have experience within an office environment and excellent ICT skills.

Apply for this role here.

Study Abroad Recruitment Officer  Queens University, Belfast

Queens University is seeking to recruit a Study Abroad Recruitment Officer to help contribute to the success of the Faculty Student Recruitment Hub by helping achieve recruitment targets, by developing and delivering recruitment initiatives and activities. Responsible for leading the business development and working to grow the Faculty Study Abroad offering. The successful candidate will support with delivering increased recruitment of international students on short-term study programmes.

Apply for this role here.

HR Business Partner  Vanrath, Derry/LDerry

Vanrath is currently working with an esteemed client to recruit an HR Business Partner for their commercial business in the North West region. The Successful candidate will provide a full service of HR business support and work closely with the HR team to advise and influence on talent management and employee engagement. To apply for this role, youll be required to be educated to degree level and have 5 years experience within a business partnering role. You will be a results-driven and solutions-orientated candidate who is comfortable working within a fast-pasted commercial environment.

Apply for this role here.

Recruiter EMEA  Proofpoint, Belfast

Proofpoint is seeking applications for an enthusiastic and focused recruiter for their EMEA region. The successful applicant will be responsible for recruiting outstanding applicants to work across technical, sales and support functions. Proofpoint operates in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK. To apply for this role, you will need to be a proactive person with excellent communication skills and a fluency in French or Germany would be highly desirable within this role.

Apply for this role here.

Recruitment Coordinator  Baker MacKenzie, Belfast

Baker MacKenzie is currently seeking to recruit for a Recruitment Coordinator to join its Belfast team. The purpose of the role will be to provide expert support to the hire recruitment team in the London office. Day-to-day, the applicant will be required to work as part of an international team based in Manila, liaising directly with candidates to schedule interviews and reporting. To apply for this role, you will need to hold a bachelors degree and experience within a professional services role.

Apply for this role here.

HR Business Partner  Hays Recruitment, Antrim

Hays Recruitment is working with an NI Top 100 company to recruit an HR Business Partner for their manufacturing plant in Ballymena. The successful candidate will report directly to the senior management team and will manage an onsite HR team for over 1,200 employees. To succeed in this role, youll need at least 5 years experience within a similar role and the applicant will be required to have experience within the FMCG industry. This role offers an attractive salary and benefits package and is a role to simply not be missed.

Apply for this role here.

Part-time HR Consultant  Hunter Savage, Belfast

Hunter Savage is currently recruiting for a part-time HR Consultant to join their ever-expanding team. The successful applicant will need to be a seasoned HR professional with expertise in employment law to advise and guide a portfolio of clients. To apply for this role, you will need to be CIPD qualified and have 3 years experience in an employment law role. As part of your role, you will be drafting bespoke policies and contracts for clients. Experience in managing employment tribunal claims and disclosure would be highly beneficial.

Apply for this role here.

HR and Payroll Officer  Mount Charles, Belfast

Mount Charles is recruiting for a temporary maternity cover for up to 12 months. The successful candidate will be responsible for the administration of its attendance and time system. The day-to-day tasks will include both administration and payroll tasks. The successful candidate will be required to hold 5 passes at GCSE level, excellent IT skills and have two years experience within a payroll processing role. Preference will fall to candidates who are working towards a CIPD qualification and who have experience using SAGE or PAMS.

Apply for this role here.

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An artists impression of phase one of the Belfast Waterside project

The man who owns 40% of the new Belfast Waterside development has said ground will be broken on the half-a-billion pound project by the end of 2018, if phase one of the scheme gets the go ahead from Belfast City Council's planning committee tonight.

Planning officials have already recommended approving phase one of the development on the former Sirocco site, which includes a 13-storey office building capable of housing 2,500 people.

Speaking exclusively to the Belfast Telegraph, Jim Osborne (55) of Vanguard Real Estate, said while Belfast Waterside is his first investment in Northern Ireland, it won't be his last, with potential projects in the pipeline including a retirement village and an industrial facility.

He confirmed almost 20m has already been spent on the Belfast Waterside project to date by the Vanguard partnership, which includes the Birmingham-based Kelly family, and real estate company Graftongate.

The scheme could eventually see a series of apartments, a hotel and a bridge built over the next five years.

A native of Dundalk, Mr Osborne has a reputation as a prolific developer, with business partnerships around the globe.

Last Monday Mr Osborne completed the $235m sale of a building in Dubai to HSBC, which was built by his Middle Eastern business partnership Gulf Resources Development and Investment (GRDI).

"In the past seven years, I've developed and delivered somewhere in the region of 7.5 million sq ft of projects," he said.

The list includes a one million sq ft building for Citi Bank in Manilla, Ikea's biggest warehouse in the world - at the new airport in Dubai - and the headquarters of Standard Chartered in Accra, Ghana, which was completed last month.

Specialising in offices that are completed fully kitted out, he claimed that the space created by phase one of Belfast Waterside will be occupied within 21 months of work starting, with the entire project finished in five years, subject to planning. He said the project does not a pre-let to proceed, nor is it reliant on bank loans.

"We have no debt to date and we believe most of this project will get built on a pure equity basis," he said.

Mr Osborne said Belfast is now attracting interest from investors across the world, and is competing directly with cities like Warsaw, Prague and Austin in the United States.

"My core business is to globally develop office and industrial buildings, literally all around the world, usually in places with high growth economies, shifting demographics," he said.

"With a number of our large occupiers, which we deal with around the world, Belfast would come up in conversation, as somewhere they were looking at growing jobs and starting business.

"This is a city which could be a real beneficiary of job growth and upskilling."

Commenting on his other potential investments here, the developer said he was close to securing a deal on an industrial facility in Northern Ireland.

"We think that upskilled, clean manufacturing is going to be a growth area here," he said. "We're also in the process of acquiring -with some Indian partners - a site for a retirement village."

He suggested the investments would be in the tens of millions. While he has only turned to Northern Ireland as a development prospect now, Mr Osborne revealed that he lived in Lisburn during the 1960s as a child, while his father worked on the M1 motorway.

"Coming from Dundalk, Belfast has always been large in our psyche. Half the people I grew up with were transplants from Belfast - from the Markets or the Short Strand," he said.

"There's more to this than the pure investment. We really want to create something here. We're going to remake that site into somewhere where employers visiting from Silicon Valley, or from India or wherever, are going to see this as a world-class place, that we can attract and grow talent."

He recalled how last summer he brought a group of Indian investors to three cities - Belfast, Glasgow and Dublin.

"Belfast was the clear winner. The Belfast story isn't being told," he added.

"It's not being told how safe it is here, how welcoming it is, how positive it is, how energetic and how entrepreneurial people are."
Northern Ireland's high street has the highest vacancy rate in the UK according to new figures.

Last month it sat at 14.4%, well below the UK average of 9.2.% according to the latest footfall and vacancy monitor from the British Retail Consortium and Springboard. Fresh on the back of Mike Ashley's rescue of House of Fraser, it's another blow to hit the bricks and mortar retail sector here.

Retail has been left languishing by the loss of Poundworld, Maplin, Toys R Us and other big high street brands, that succumbed to soaring business rates, the rise of online shopping and lowered consumer confidence.

Senior economist at Ulster University, Esmond Birnie attributes a slower recession recovery here for creating the difference.

He said: "Retail conditions Northern Ireland are likely to be less favourable than in Great Britain. Real wages and incomes fell more during the 2008-9 recession and our subsequent recovery has been slower and weaker.

"In the past, expanding retail in Northern Ireland was sometimes used as a tool of economic development policy.

"This coincided with a period (after the mid-Nineties ceasefires and the greater political stability) when the big GB multiples or grocery chains were coming into the NI market for the first time.

"NI was probably 'under shopped' in - say 1995 - an overall sense that isn't true anymore. According to Ulster University Economic Policy employment data and forecasts - there was a small growth in the total level of NI retail employment during 2012-17, by 1,300 jobs - but over the next decade (UUEPC forecast for 2017-2017) total retail employment will at best remain only flat (a gain of only 100 jobs over those ten years)."

BRC's figures were released just after the swift rescue of House of Fraser as the chain went into administration last week, also due to the same consumer and cost pressures. The company saw its business rates bills rise 3.99m to 30.24m this year following a Government revaluation, according to research group Altus. And prior to the latest crisis, it had agreed a so-called Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) with landlords to close half of its stores, with 6,000 jobs in the firing line.

Sports Direct boss, Mike Ashley bought the retailer for 90m and is currently in discussions with landlords to reach new agreements on rents and leases before making any closure decisions. Talks are expected to centre around rental costs and the length of leases, though local councils will also be part of negotiations. But doubt still remains over the long-term future of jobs and whether Mr Ashley will shut under-performing stores as part of a restructuring programme. The chain's Victoria Square store was not one of those stores earmarked for closure.

Meanwhile other statistics from BRC's survey revealed that footfall here in July 2018 was 0.03% lower than the same period last year. This compares favourably to the UK averages of 0.8%.

July's footfall has been put down to the summer heatwave that kept UK shoppers in outdoor spaces said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of BRC: "That provided a small lift for high streets as shoppers popped out to grab food, drink and fans to keep cool. However, the heat sapped shoppers' stamina for longer trips with both retail parks and shopping centres seeing footfall sink."

Ms Dickinson said there was still no escaping the concerns on the high street and called for Government action: "With fewer people visiting physical stores and fewer purchases being made there, at the same time as costs are going up year on year, it's no surprise that we're seeing many retailers reduce their store portfolios. As shops close we need new businesses to emerge to reinvent the nation's high streets. But that cannot happen if the burden of business rates they face continues to rise year on year, which is why we're calling for a freeze in business rates in the Chancellor's next Budget."
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Turks to boycott US electronic goods (Andrew Parsons/PA)

The FTSE 100 spent another session in the red as jitters over Turkeys financial crisis continued to dampen appetite for European stocks.

Londons blue chip index ended the day down 0.4% or 30.81 points at 7611.64.

The French CAC 40 was also in the red, down 0.16%, while the German DAX was flat.

Investors have been slow to re-embrace European stocks amid concerns of a contagion effect from Turkeys currency crisis, triggered by worries over President Recep Tayyip Erdogans economic policies and a trade and diplomatic dispute with the United States.

The two countries are at loggerheads over Turkeys detention of American evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson, with Donald Trump exacerbating the feud by doubling steel and aluminium tariffs on the country.

Mr Erdogan has responded by telling Turks to boycott US electronic goods.

David Madden, a market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: The uncertainty surrounding Turkey is still hanging over equity markets.

Tensions between Turkey and the US have risen in light of President Erdogans declaration that the country will boycott US electrical goods.

Expand Close Turkeys currency woes have been exacerbated by trade threats from Washington (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Turkeys currency woes have been exacerbated by trade threats from Washington (Niall Carson/PA)

Firms like Apple wont be too worried about this announcement, but it sends out the message that sour relations are here to stay.

Given the potential exposure that eurozone banks have to the country, investors will remain cautious.

Sterling was mixed, trading lower by around 0.3% against the US dollar at 1.272 but rising 0.2% versus the euro to trade at 1.121.

Investors were digesting UK data which showed unemployment reached a 40-year low.

The Office for National Statistics said unemployment fell by 65,000 in the latest quarter to 1.36 million, the lowest figure since 1976, while the jobless rate came in at 4%.

Brent crude prices were up 0.4% at 73.08 US dollars per barrel as markets reacted to reports that Saudi Arabia had cut its oil production.

It added to concerns about restricted supply, with US sanctions on Iran also threatening to hit crude exports.

In UK stocks, Antofagasta was the worst performing stock after reporting a 16% drop in half-year earnings, having been stung by higher costs and lower production output.

Costs were up due to a stronger Chilean peso, while copper production fell 8.5% and gold production dropped 36%.

Shares in the miners were down 66.4p at 886.4p.

Royal Mail shares fell 7.4p to 454.9p after communications regulator Ofcom fined the postal service 50 million for a serious breach of competition law.

Ofcom said the company abused its dominant position by discriminating against its only major competitor for delivering letters, Whistl.

Esure jumped 10.4p to 277.6p, having agreed to a 1.2 billion takeover by private equity outfit Bain Capital.

Esure will recommend Bains formal 280p a share offer to investors, which represents a 37% premium to last weeks share price.

Debenhams shares jumped 0.5p to 13.26p amid rumours that retail boss Mike Ashley might swoop on Debenhams and combine it with House of Fraser, which he recently bought out of administration for 90 million.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were United Utilities up 11.8p at 751.4p, Severn Trent up 24.5p at 1,994.5p, Ferguson up 68p at 6,241p, and Pearson up 10p at 926.6p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Antofagasta down 66.4p at 886.4p, TUI down 45p at 1,481.5p, Anglo American down 36.2p at 1,644.2p, and St James Place down 22.5p at 1,134p.
Bounce Culture DJ Kwame Daniels will run a kids music workshop in the Green Room of the Black Box

Parents who are stuck for a babysitter can still relax and enjoy live music this weekend thanks to the Black Box's new Gig-sitter.

On Saturday, August 18 at Black Box in Cathedral Quarter, adults can attend a 90-minute live session in the main space by local band, The Skallions, while their kids get involved in an interactive music workshop led by top Bounce Culture DJ, Kwame Daniels.

Bounce Culture is a team of creatives passionate about empowering people to connect with their inner rhythm, which they define as activities that encourage happiness daily, increasing productivity.

Black Box Director Rachel Campbell Palmer explains that Gig-sitter is the first of its kind to be hosted in the Black Box: "Gig-sitter is an opportunity for parents to go and enjoy a gig guilt-free, while their kids enjoy a music workshop just next door."

The event comes as part of the Belfast Music Summer Season programme, which aims to showcase the citys musical offering.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Deirdre Hargey is encouraging families to take part.

She said: "Its not often that parents get a chance to chill out and enjoy themselves while someone else looks after the kids, so come on down and make the most of it.

"Our Belfast Music Summer Seasons programme is all about celebrating our musical diversity and bringing our city to life. This unique, affordable event in the Black Box will bring families together to share in the joy of a live music gig."

The session will run on Saturday from 1pm-3pm. Children must be between the ages of seven and 12 to take part in the workshop run by Kwame Daniels.
Attendees at the first aid course for dogs, held in the American Bar in Belfast

Hello there humans. My name is Bert Lawless and I'm a black Lhasa Apso who will be four next month. Now, I'm a dog who loves getting out and about with my humans, who really are fun. However, it struck me the other day that if I was in a medical emergency, they'd be as much use as a chocolate teapot. And while I was updating my Instagram account (@bert_belfastblacklhasa), I came across the Furbabies First Aid course.

I instantly knew that I needed to send my female human on it and that I would attend with her to make sure she was paying attention.

We got up bright and early on Saturday and headed down to the Docks area, which isn't a part of Belfast that I'd ever explored before. After saying hello Sailortown (geddit?), we went to the lovely American Bar, which was where the class was held.

Getting into dog-friendly pubs is always exciting for me and I had a feeling I was going to have a great day.

Upstairs, I met five other dogs of all shapes and sizes. We had a good sniff of each other - as you do - before we settled down to our studies.

Our teacher was a lovely lady called Aoife Morrow, from a place which has two names, Derry and Londonderry (I don't geddit?).

Aoife is a vet who was very good at explaining things and she also gave fantastic cuddles, so I was in my element. She told the 10 human students about the importance of assessing situations and recognising an emergency.

Aoife said it was vital that our humans knew how to stabilise us pets until they could get us to the professionals like her.

The first part of the course was all theory. To get her message across, Aoife used a snazzy-looking power point presentation, which the humans seemed to understand, proving that you CAN teach old dog owners new tricks.

Myself and my new-found canine chums went on a wander instead around the room and our teacher didn't appear to mind, as long as we played nice.

Happily, there was no fur flying and I could hear Aoife sharing all sorts of crucial tips with our two-legged friends, like how to improvise a stretcher; how to bandage us; how to clear our airways and how to work out our heart/respiratory rates.

She also told the humans what they should have in their pet first aid box, a comment which made my ears prick up.

I'm embarrassed to say my humans hadn't even thought of getting one, so they will have to sort that out pronto.

We watched a few videos, including one of a dog receiving potentially life-saving CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (I found that out on Doogle, sorry Google).

Two of my classmates were confused and started barking at the screen, as they thought what they were seeing was a real dog. They were sent out to stand in the corridor for a while, as we couldn't hear the video commentary. It was quite amusing really, but the misbehaving pair (whose identities I'm protecting) were allowed back into class for the course's second half - called the 'practical' session apparently.

And this section required a lot more interaction with us. It was very much hands-on, though some of my fellow doggie guinea pigs gave looks that were saying 'hands off'.

Hugo, a huge chocolate Labrador, looked particularly browned off at one point. For ages, he'd been a happy bunny, as his owner, Kathryn Dickson, from Lisburn, put a bandage on his paw.

But the patience of the patient wore thin and he chewed his way to freedom. I wasn't that keen on the bandaging either. I felt a bit stupid getting things wrapped round my head, but I let the female do it once as a gesture of goodwill.

One of my pals on the course was a lesson in dogged determination, according to a gentleman from the Belfast Telegraph, who likes his puns.

Little Iggy, a toy Jack Russell, quickly became a hero of mine after I heard how he has coped courageously with two deformed back legs and other limbs that aren't exactly perfect either.

Iggy's owner is Gemma Walters, from Holywood, whose Hiker Hounds organisation offer a dog walking service and also make colourful leads and collars.

She said that she wanted to learn how to deal with Iggy or any of the dogs she walks if they require urgent assistance.

Aoife didn't just use me and the other real-life dogs to demonstrate the proper way to aid our first aid. She had a toy dog with her and she called her silent partner Rowdy, who was enlisted to show the owners how to give mouth to mouth - or mouth to snout - resuscitation.

Again, a few of my classmates barked and growled as they thought Rowdy was real. Even wee Iggy seemed scared. But Gemma calmed her down.

My other companions included Lily, a miniature Yorkshire terrier, and Katie, a tricolour border collie, that's also owned by Kathryn Dickson, who said she signed up for the course because she wanted to know how to react if her dogs were injured, on the beach for example.

She added that if something bad happened - heaven forbid - she would have a few basic skills to help Katie or Hugo, who had an accident recently with his tail, the poor thing.

Kathryn said that in the summer heatwave, a lot of dogs had problems, so it was better to be prepared. You're telling me.

And can you believe it - I wasn't the only Bert on the course. The other Bert was a border terrier, not a border terrorist, as the gentleman from the Belfast Telegraph said he thought he heard someone say - us dogs just ignored his pun!

Interestingly, all of the 10 humans at the course were women. And I heard Aoife say that wasn't unusual, but it was a shame that more men didn't go along, too.

I also listened as Aoife explained why she became a vet. Her mummy is a writer and former BBC journalist named Felicity McCall, and her daddy, Gary Morrow, is a UTV cameraman in that city which can't make up its mind what it's called.

But Aoife said the media world didn't interest her. And boy am I glad.

I heard her saying that she'd made her mind up to become a vet at the age of five, even though she'd didn't have a pet until a couple of years later, when she got cats.

She said she was animal mad and as soon as she heard what a vet was, she told everyone that she was going to be one.

At school, she was interested in drama and English and was in one of my mum's plays about a woman called Agnes Jones - a nursing pioneer from Donegal.

Aoife said she was accepted into Trinity College Dublin on a theatre and drama studies course, but didn't take the place and decided to stick with her original plan of becoming a vet. The theatre world's loss was our gain.

Aoife graduated in Liverpool and worked in Lurgan and Ballymena before settling in the Braemar veterinary clinic on the Lisburn Road in Belfast.

She started her first aid courses for us dogs earlier this year and she said that the response from our owners has been encouraging. She spreads the word on internet sites like Instagram, which is popular with me and with humans like my owners.

Aoife said that there's a massive network of canine lovers who keep in touch with each other on social media, with regular updates about our needs and about fun things to do.

Which is decidedly good news for me and my pals, who get treated to super activities like dog-friendly tours - and even food tours - in fab places like Portrush and Belfast.

I've heard it said that some people spend an absolute fortune on their dogs. And I say, 'Well done. We're worth every penny'.

Aoife said that she tries to run one or two first aid courses every month, but she denied that she was doing herself out of a job by organising them.

She insisted that she would never say to people to 'stick a bandage on a wound and leave it for a few days'.

Her advice is that owners should cover the wound and get us pets to a vet. It's about how to save a life, said Aoife, it's not a replacement for vets.

A very sensible and sensitive lady was our Aoife. At the end of the day, I reckoned that all in all, her course was a useful way to spend three hours and I think I have more confidence in my female's medical skills than ever before.

Now I will just have to persuade my male human, to put his name down, too...

For more details go to www.furbabies firstaid.co.uk
Ian Paisley with John Finlay who organised the meeting in Gracehill

The MP and his supporters leave the meeting

Clockwise from top: North Antrim MP Ian Paisley with some of this young supporters (including his daughter Emily, second from left) last night

A DUP councillor has said he is certain his party will back suspended MP Ian Paisley if he is forced to fight a by-election.

John Finlay organised a meeting in support of an apologetic Mr Paisley last night near Gracehill which was attended by around 70 people, including all the DUP councillors for Ballymoney and Ballymena, as well as his daughter Emily.

He said he was confident Mr Paisley would be endorsed as a DUP candidate if he faces a by-election, and that there would be no disciplinary action for party members who attended last night's meeting.

"It was a very well attended meeting. We were blessed that Ian was very conciliatory in the meeting - he apologised for his mistake," Mr Finlay said.

The North Antrim DUP has been suspended from his Westminster seat and the DUP after he failed to declare two luxury family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

A recall petition is currently open to constituents and Mr Paisley may soon be forced to defend his seat at the polls.

In contrast to the sombre tone he struck during his last speech to the House of Commons, a smiling Mr Paisley last night posed for pictures outside the meeting venue.

Taking a leaf out of the former foreign secretary Boris Johnson's book, reporters were offered cups of tea by some of the North Antrim MPs younger supporters wearing DUP Paisley hoodies. Mr Finlay said he had no concerns over whether he and his fellow councillors would be penalised for organising the meeting. "No, there was no talk about that whatsoever. No matter what happens you can be certain Ian Paisley will remain the MP for North Antrim," he claimed.

Asked if he knew if Mr Paisley would be endorsed as a DUP candidate in the event of a by-election, he said: "That's a matter for the party officers, but I'm confident that will be the case."

Yesterday, the Alliance Party raised concerns that many people felt afraid to sign the petition for fear of being identified.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close DUP MP Ian Paisley's supporters meet to show their support. The North Antrim politician is currently suspended by the House of Commonsafter he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.. Alderman John Finlay welcomes Ian Paisley to the special meeting. PACEMAKER BELFAST 13/08/2018 DUP MP Ian Paisley's supporters will meet on Monday to show their support. The North Antrim politician is currently suspended by the House of Commonsafter he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. The DUP MP apologised in the Commons, but will face a by-election if 10% of his constituents sign the petition. He is also suspended by the DUP "pending further investigation into his conduct". Young demrocrates of the DUP offerAlan Lewis of the press tea or coffee. Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including John Finlay (centre) meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, left, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, centre, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, left, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, centre, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, left, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, centre, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, left, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com Press Eye - 13th August 2018 - Suspended MP Ian Paisley's supporters including Mr Paisley's daughter Emily, left, serve tea to journalists as supporters meet in Ballymena to show their support to the North Antrim politician who is currently suspended by the House of Commons after he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Picture by Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Matt Mackey / PressEye.com / Facebook

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Whatsapp DUP MP Ian Paisley's supporters meet to show their support. The North Antrim politician is currently suspended by the House of Commonsafter he failed to declare family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government..

"I haven't come across anything like that at all. That's a matter for the electoral office. Ian Paisley hasn't been involved in that at all," Mr Finlay said.

"The people were very supportive of Ian at the meeting. I knew that would be the case as I've been out and about and I can tell you the overwhelming majority of DUP supporters in North Antrim still support him."

He added: "Knowing Catholics and Protestants across the constituency, people are very thankful for the work Ian does."

Mr Paisley declined to comment last night.

The DUP were also contacted to ask if they approved of the meeting but have yet to respond.

Local SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan accused the DUP of double standards over "elements of the party" organising last night's event. "The SDLP have been clear that though encouraging constituents to sign the recall petition we are not playing party politics, but rather we want to see integrity reinstated to political office," he said.

"It is only right and proper that the DUP should not lend support to Paisley until his suspension has ended.

"Our party will be taking a message of integrity to the doors of North Antrim and by doing so, ensuring the electorate that it doesn't have to be this way."

Sinn Fein MLA for North Antrim Philip McGuigan said the DUP had questions to answer. "They refuse to say how long he is suspended for, or to give any details of the investigation they have announced into his conduct," he said.

He also called on the party to declare if they would endorse Mr Paisley as a DUP candidate in a by-election. Mr McGuigan added: "Do any DUP members, including Ian Paisley as a suspended member, have the party's endorsement to attend this event? Every day that this saga continues, the questions mount for the DUP leadership and they show huge disrespect for the electorate in North Antrim by refusing to answer them."

The recall ballot is under way at three centres in Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle.

The Recall of MPs Act 2015 requires a petition to be signed by 10% of the 75,478 eligible registered voters.
A west Belfast man chased and caught after stealing 1,500 from a car was previously shot in the legs, a court heard.

As Padraig Stilges was given a three-month suspended jail sentence, a judge was told he remains under paramilitary threat.

The 20-year-old, of Norglen Parade in the city, was among four men who carried out the raid on June 12.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard the victim gave chase after seeing them around his car parked in the Little Patrick Street area.

He pursued the group towards the city centre, going through Hill Street and Donegall Street.

Other suspects fled, but Stilges was caught and held on the ground after bumping into a car.

Nearly 1,500 in cash and a mobile phone belonging to the victim were recovered.

Defence solicitor John Finucane described it as an "opportunistic enterprise".

He said: "There was cash sitting openly in the car, the car was unlocked and no damage was caused."

Mr Finucane revealed his client was training to be a mechanic before being subjected to a gun attack prior to the theft.

Stilges was shot in the knee and ankle and still has a bullet lodged in his leg, the court heard.

According to his lawyer he has to sit down after being on his feet for 15 minutes.

"It was doomed that he was going to get away at all," Mr Finucane added.

Imposing a three-month prison term for the theft from a vehicle. District Judge Fiona Bagnall suspended the term for 18 months.

She also ordered Stilges to pay 65 compensation for a crack to the screen of the victim's phone.
A Victorian-era postbox that has stood in Lurgan for nearly 140 years could receive listed status to ensure it is preserved.

The postbox is located on Market Street in the Co Armagh town.

It is regarded as one of the oldest free-standing postboxes in Northern Ireland.

Listed status is more commonly associated with historical buildings, but according to the Department for Communities it can be bestowed on any man-made structure.

The bright red box is nestled at the front of the Mechanics Institute and is believed to originate from the late 1800s.

The VR symbols above the slit represent the name 'Victoria' and 'Regina', which is Latin for queen.

If the listed status is approved, it will mean that the postbox cannot be altered in any way.

In May, 20 postboxes were given listed status with locations spanning across the country.

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said: "It (the postbox) is unusual as it is a design that was meant to be recessed within a wall, but for some reason was left fully exposed.

"We think there are only around 14 of these types in the whole of these islands.

"It was picked up by the Department for Communities as part of a systematic survey of historic buildings in Northern Ireland (Second Survey of Historic Buildings)."

A guidance document on the listing process for historic buildings and information on the survey is available on the department's website.

The spokesperson added: "These explain the history of the second survey, what listing means and the criteria for listing and the Principles of Conservation."

The first postboxes in Ireland were installed in 1855 in towns and cities including Belfast, Dublin and Ballymena.

Postboxes in the Republic were changed from red to green when it became an independent country.

St George's Market and the art deco style Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue are among buildings in Belfast that have been listed.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is expected to support the recommendation at its meeting later this month.

The department's final decision on whether the postbox will be listed isn't expected until the consultation process is finalised in September.
Fergal Deeney was found dead on Sunday in a house at Stanhope Street

The devastated mother of a Belfast man who died from a suspected heroin overdose has urged those facing addiction to get help.

Fergal Deeney from the Carrick Hill area had just turned 26. He had a history of drug use.

He was found dead on Sunday in a house in Stanhope Street. And three other people in the immediate area were found in a serious condition.

It's understood he is the third person to die from heroin in Northern Ireland inside a week.

The death also means that at least 15 people here have died from addiction in the past two months.

His mother Kathy Deeney told UTV of the moment she learned her son had died.

"I got a phone call from my 14-year-old daughter that she had heard he was found dead in a house," she said.

"Not even three minutes later, the police came to the door, I said: 'Is it true'?

"They said they thought it was a heroin overdose, but he had been taking other stuff as well.

"I'm just numb, it comes on me in fits and starts.

"I had to go and see his wee brother today and break the news to him.

"He was absolutely devastated; it's even worse for him because he's in Hydebank."

Ms Deeney said her son had a history of drug use, starting with cannabis.

"He went from that to tablets, to blue Xanax. Because they (no longer) gave him a hit, he was on the heroin."

She said watching her son's decline into drug use was "horrible".

"I had him on the straight and narrow and he was fine," she said. "As soon as he moved out, it was a proper downward spiral."

Ms Deeney said her son's body was due to return home today.

"I don't know how the girls (his sisters) are going to cope with that," she added.

"I would just say for mothers and fathers, anybody who knows about it, try and get help straight away. I know it's rife, but get help straight away.

"You never think it's going to come to your own door."

Green Party MLA Clare Bailey said lives are being lost as Department of Health commitments on waiting lists fail to improve access to addiction support services. She added: "Despite warnings of a growing problem, we are facing an epidemic without a strategy to deal with it.

"It's clear that the Belfast Trust doesn't have the appropriate resources needed to meet demand for addiction support services.

"Within Northern Ireland, the Belfast Trust ranks lowest for addiction support services funding. While other trusts are meeting waiting list targets, the Belfast Trust continues to struggle."
The Northern Trust is asking patients to consider other options as the Antrim Area hospital emergency department is "extremely busy".

Patients are asked to only attend the hospital if they are seriously ill or injured and need immediate treatment.

A Northern Trust spokesperson said: "If your complaint isn't urgent or life threatening, consider using other services."

Anyone who needs non-emergency medical treatment can contact their GP or local pharmacy for assistance.

It is often very obvious if someone is seriously ill and needs immediate emergency care.

To help you decide, an emergency, critical or life-threatening situation may involve:
A Northern Ireland mother-of-two and self-styled 'cancer warrior' has announced a miraculous recovery from the disease doctors said would kill her.

In 2014, Melanie Kennedy was diagnosed with breast cancer and told she had five years to live.

After her earlier treatment stopped working she became aware of a potentially-effective drug called Kadcyla, which was available on the NHS in Scotland, but could only be accessed privately in Northern Ireland at a cost of 20,000.

Her battle to have access to the drug extended to women in Northern Ireland brought her to prominence as a campaigner, and in July last year her efforts resulted in access to the drug being made available in the province.

The Bangor woman hoped Kadcyla - which is generally only considered lift-lengthening - would allow her to spend more time with her two sons, 17-year-old Josh and six-year-old AJ.

In a Facebook page on Tuesday, Melanie announced liver tests had shown her to be free of the disease.

"OK folks my latest scan results are in and after 15 months on Kadcyla, five and a half years, 70 chemos in total and countless herceptins for the first time ever there is - no perceptible disease in my liver!" she said.

"The day I never dreamed would happen is here! Trevor the tumour has left the building! Having metastatic cancer this does not mean I am in the clear (there is a little nodule on my lung) and after a short treatment holiday I will still have kadcyla (since its working so well) and it is possible trev could come back or pop up elsewhere but today is an AMAZING day!"

Melanie runs the Northern Ireland Cancer Advocacy movement, which provides support for other cancer sufferers.

She began to battle for access to Kadcyla after after her previous treatment stopped working, and in July last year her campaigning secured a change of policy which means hundreds of women in Northern Ireland can now access the drug.

Ahead of the rule change, money was raised for Melanie through a fundraiser set up by her friend and creator of stage and book sensation Fifty Shades of Red, White and Blue Leesa Harker - pulling in more than 11,000 in its first 24 hours.

In her post about her treatment, Melanie added it was "the best news Ive ever had since this all started" and she was thankful "everyone who needs it can now have it but thats still not true for 26 other drugs and a few other therapies ! Every patient deserves the chance to write this status - NO PRICE ON LIFE".
Help is being sought to unravel the secrets of the first military aviation facility in Ireland at Whitehead, Co Antrim.

Bentra Airfield - an airship mooring-out station - is one of only three known First World War RAF sites in Northern Ireland.

During the war, Royal Naval Air Service airships based at Bentra patrolled the waters between Ireland and Scotland to combat German U-boats.

They were tasked with protecting the cross-channel ferry, Princess Maud, and guard incoming convoys in the North Channel.

Affectionately named 'battlebags' by their crews and 'blimps' by civilians, the airships were a familiar sight around Britain's shores during the war years of 1914-1918.

At least four airships operated from the station.

Now the airfield, established in October 1915, and later known as Whitehead Aerodrome, is being explored in new partnership between Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Queen's University.

The Battlebags team will be conducting field research on August 17, from 11am-3pm. This will include field walking, GPS and ground-penetrating radar.

It aims to find the 150ft long hanger for the airship and possibly the huts where the pilots used to stay.

The workshop will be delivered in partnership with Living Legacies, based at Queen's University, and all information gathered by the participants will be added to the online defence heritage project.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project aims to look back at Ireland's first military aviation facility and log memorabilia from past generations that can be used in the future.

The information collected will then help shape an exhibition that is due to be launched in October at the Carrickfergus Museum.

The project also ties in with the Fields in Trust Centenary Fields programme, marking the protection of our green spaces and First World War locations.

If you would like any further information or want to take part please contact the project coordinator, Laura Patrick, on (028) 9335 8247 or laura.patrick@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.
Damage inside one of the homes on New Lodge Road. Credit: Caral Ni Chuilin

Damage inside one of the homes on New Lodge Road. Credit: Caral Ni Chuilin

Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye

Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye

Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye

Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage. Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye

Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage. Stephen Hamilton Presseye

Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage Mandatory Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye

The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye

Residents at two homes targeted in a suspected arson attack are "lucky to be alive," a Sinn Fein MLA has said.

MLA Caral Ni Chuilin said the fires occurred on the New Lodge road on Tuesday morning.

The North Belfast MLA said: The fires occurred at maisonettes on the lower New Lodge road this morning, causing extensive damage to homes.

People are lucky to be alive, but thankfully due to working smoke alarms in the homes, no one has been seriously hurt.

Expand Close Damage inside one of the homes on New Lodge Road. Credit: Caral Ni Chuilin / Facebook

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Whatsapp Damage inside one of the homes on New Lodge Road. Credit: Caral Ni Chuilin

She said: Police and forensic teams on the scene have informed local residents that the fires are being treated as sinister.

"Whilst it is unclear how this has happened, it is clear is that someone could have died as a result.

I am working with the Housing Executive and local residents to ensure that the people affected are rehoused in adequate accommodation as soon as possible.

Expand Close Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage Mandatory Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye Stephen Hamilton/Presseye / Facebook

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Whatsapp Flats have been damaged in a double arson attack. The properties, on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast, appear to have suffered extensive damage Mandatory Credit: Stephen Hamilton Presseye

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesperson said crews attended two incidents.

They added: The first call was received at 6.03am to a fire in a ground floor flat. The fire was already out of arrival of the fire crews. A search of the building was completed and all people were accounted for. The cause of the fire was deliberate and PSNI attended the incident.

"NIFRS left the scene at 6.39am.

A second call, to a different flat within the same building, was received at 7.14am. The call was received as a carbon monoxide alarm sounding in a flat on the first floor."

Police said both flats were unoccupied at the time of the incident but a woman in an adjoining flat was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

Detective Inspector Denis McGaffin stated: We are lucky not to be dealing with serious injuries or death as a result of this reckless action.

"A robust investigation has now commenced and I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the incidents or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact Detectives in Musgrave on 101 quoting reference 159 14/08/18.

"Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime."
Ivan Little's photo of Mark at his belated birthday barbecue

A minute's silence was held at Coleraine Magistrates Court yesterday in memory of well-known photographer Mark Jamieson, who died at the weekend.

Mr Jamieson (60), whose images featured regularly in this newspaper, covered the court.

Barrister Francis Rafferty, speaking on behalf of the legal profession, paid tribute to Mr Jamieson.

He said the photographer could often been seen at courts in Coleraine, Ballymena and Antrim.

Mr Rafferty added: "Mr Jamieson was a very important part of that local news machine.

"He fulfilled his duties on a daily and weekly basis and he will be sorely missed".

Deputy district judge Laura Ievers said they were "sentiments shared by the court" and she said it was appropriate to hold a minute's silence.

Mr Jamieson's funeral takes place tomorrow at 3pm at Church of Christ Hall, Artillery Road, Coleraine.
Two men have been charged with causing the death of young Northern Ireland man killed in a hit-and-run in Liverpool.

Matthew Bradley (24), originally from Co Antrim, was living in Guildford but had been visiting Liverpool with friends when he was struck by a vehicle on November 3.

Paramedics attended the scene on Liverpool's Strand but Matthew died later in hospital.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust helped bring his body home to Glenavy where he was laid to rest.

Thomas Joseph Bimson (22) has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while driving unlicensed and causing death while driving uninsured, while Ibrar Saddique (34) was charged with a aiding and betting a driver who cased death by dangerous driving.

In a previous statement issued on behalf of them and his three sisters and his girlfriend, Matthew's parents Donal and Margaret Bradley described their son as "hugely talented" like his father.

They added: "He was a funny, kind-hearted and generous young man who will be sorely missed by all that knew him."
The incident happened at a property on the Drum Road, Cookstown.

A woman aged in her 60s has died after a carbon monoxide incident in a home in Co Tyrone.

Police attended the scene of the sudden death at a house in the Drum Road area of Cookstown on Tuesday morning.

A man, aged in his 70s, who was also in the house at the time was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious and a post mortem is due to be carried out to determine the cause but firefighters found "significant levels" of carbon monoxide at the property.

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Spokesperson said: The thoughts and sympathy of NIFRS are with the family of the lady who died following a carbon monoxide incident at a house in the Drum Road, Cookstown on Tuesday."

NIFRS received a call at 6.59am from the NI Ambulance Service to attend a carbon monoxide incident. Ambulance personnel were already at the scene and were treating two casualties, a man and woman, who were then transferred to Craigavon Area Hospital.

Firefighters using gas monitors took gas readings from inside the property which found significant levels of carbon monoxide and ventilated the property. Gas readings were also taken from adjacent houses and two properties were evacuated for a short time as a precaution.

For safety advice with regard carbon monoxide visit www.hseni.gov.uk/watchout or call 0800 0320 121.
A 17-year-old youth was remanded in custody today accused of having an imitation gun in Belfast city centre.

He appeared before the city's Magistrates Court in connection with alleged incidents in the Donegall Place and Library Street areas on Sunday morning.

The teenager, who cannot be identified because of his age, faces a charge of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

A police officer said he could connect the accused to the alleged offence, but no further details were disclosed.

No bail application was made due to the lack of a suitable address at this stage.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded the youth in custody to appear again by video-link in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy charged with a number of offences linked to the same incidents is due in court next month.
Mick McAdam uses bolt-cutters to take down a poster about a public meeting hosted by Fine Gael's Noel Rock. Credit: Irish Independent.

A key supporter of Sinn Fein TD Dessie Ellis has been photographed using a bolt-cutter to remove a poster advertising a Fine Gael-organised event in relation to new bus routes.

Sinn Fein supporter Mick McAdam attended the event, hosted by Fine Gael TD Noel Rock in Finglas, Dublin - before leaving to cut down the poster outside the venue.

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After producing a set of bolt-cutters, Mr McAdam removed the poster in full view of those attending the meeting at the Shamrock Lodge bar last Wednesday.

Onlookers photographed the Sinn Fein supporter as he used the heavy-duty handheld tool to cut the cable ties holding up the Fine Gael poster.

Once the poster had been taken down from the lamp post, Mr McAdam put it under his arm and walked off.

Mr McAdam has previously been pictured online while canvassing alongside Mr Ellis in Finglas and is a regular attendee at Sinn Fein events in the area.

Earlier this year Sinn Fein MLA and policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly was criticised for using bolt cutters to remove a clamp from his car.

Mr Rock said he was "disappointed but not surprised" because Sinn Fein had a "history of making things disappear".

He continued: "It shows the anti-democratic streak that runs through Sinn Fein, from its membership to its unelected leadership.

"I'd know Michael McAdam to see. He is one of Sinn Fein's key people in Finglas. It is clear as day what happened here - they have been caught red-handed trying to suppress my work in Finglas."

Sinn Fein turned down repeated requests for comment.

The party was sent photographs of the incident and was asked whether Mr McAdam had been told by the party to remove the Fine Gael poster.

Sinn Fein was also asked where Mr McAdam got the bolt-cutters.

However, the party's press office ignored emails, phone calls and text messages seeking comment.

Mr Ellis confirmed he had been contacted by Sinn Fein about the incident but insisted he didn't know anything about it because he was on holiday at the time.

"I don't want a prolonged conversation because I really don't want to comment on anything that I don't know anything about," he said.

When it was put to him that Mr McAdam works with him, Mr Ellis hung up the phone.

Mr Rock said: "Since 2016, some 168 posters of mine have gone missing at a cost of 10 per poster. We now have clear proof of one of them being taken by a key member of Sinn Fein in Finglas and we have reported it to the relevant authorities."
Jeremy Corbyn hit out after being criticised by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (John Linton/PA)

Jeremy Corbyn has clashed with the Israeli prime minister as a row escalated over the Labour leaders presence at an event which included the honouring of a Palestinian suspected of involvement in the Munich Olympics massacre.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Corbyn deserved unequivocal condemnation, accusing him of laying a wreath on the grave of one of those behind the 1972 atrocity in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed, at a Tunisian cemetery in 2014.

The right-wing Likud leader also criticised the UK Labour leader for drawing parallels between Israeli actions against Palestinians and Nazi atrocities.

The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 13, 2018

Mr Corbyn hit back in the Twitter spat, saying the accusations were false and blasting Mr Netanyahus policies in Gaza.

Mr Corbyn had earlier said he had been present when a wreath was laid to those that were killed in Paris in 1992, but he did not think he was involved in laying it during a controversial visit to the Palestinian Martyrs Cemetery.

Labour said he attended the event only to remember victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike on Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) offices in Tunis.

Israeli secret service Mossad was accused of killing terrorists behind the Olympics attack, including Atef Bseiso, a PLO intelligence chief, who was killed in the French capital in 1992.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Netanyahu said: The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between.

Israeli PM @Netanyahu's claims about my actions and words are false.



What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children.https://t.co/H5nXqi3pnU  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 13, 2018

Mr Corbyn was quick to deny the claims, saying: What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children.

The Labour leader faced calls to quit on Monday over his controversial visit to the cemetery four years ago.

The row erupted after the Daily Mail published pictures of the Labour leader holding a wreath in the cemetery, which it said were taken in front of a plaque honouring the founder of Black September.

The Palestinian terrorist group killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Asked about the incident during a visit to Walsall on Monday, Mr Corbyn said: A wreath was indeed laid by some of those who attended conference to those that were killed in Paris in 1992.

I was present when it was laid. I dont think I was actually involved in it (laying it).

I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere because we have to end it.

You cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence. The only way you pursue peace is a cycle of dialogue.

Criticism came from the Conservatives and from within Mr Corbyns own party.

Being present is the same as being involved. When I attend a memorial, my presence alone, whether I lay a wreath or not, demonstrates my association & support. There can also never be a fitting memorial for terrorists. Where is the apology? https://t.co/TNQpCs6mN2  Luciana Berger (@lucianaberger) August 13, 2018

Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger said: Being present is the same as being involved.

When I attend a memorial, my presence alone, whether I lay a wreath or not, demonstrates my association & support.

There can also never be a fitting memorial for terrorists. Where is the apology?

The widows of the Israeli athletes said they were extremely disturbed by claims about the visit.

Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis said the row showed Mr Corbyn was unfit for senior public office, never mind his position as the official Leader of Her Majestys Opposition.

Writing in Tuesdays Daily Mail, Mr Lewis said that decent Labour members should be questioning whether Mr Corbyn should continue to lead a party that has long fought to promote anti-racism and social justice.

Mr Lewis added: At such a crucial time for Britains future, this cannot continue. I feel only foreboding.

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: Jeremy did not lay any wreath at the graves of those alleged to have been linked to the Black September organisation or the 1972 Munich killings.

He of course condemns that terrible attack, as he does the 1985 bombing.

Mr Corbyn said last year he had spoken at the conference and I laid a wreath to all those that had died in the air attack that took place on Tunis, on the headquarters of the Palestinian organisations there.

Writing in the Morning Star at the time of the visit, Mr Corbyn said wreaths had been laid not only at the memorial, but also on the graves of others killed by Mossad agents in Paris in 1991.

The pictures emerged amid continuing controversy over Labours refusal to adopt in full an international definition of anti-Semitism, including a list of examples of anti-Semitic behaviour.

Labour launched a consultation with Jewish groups over the code, after protests that the version agreed by the partys ruling National Executive Committee omits four examples relating to criticism of the state of Israel.

Mr Corbyn said on Monday that Labours version of code was the most sophisticated of any political party.
Jeremy Corbyn said he will not apologise for attending a controversial event at a Palestinian Martyrs Cemetery because he was trying to promote peace in the Middle East.

The Labour leader had been widely criticised after he said he was present when wreaths were laid at the Tunis site in 2014 to the victims of an attack in Paris in 1992 but did not think he was actually involved in it.

Mr Corbyns comments on Monday prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accuse him of honouring one of the founders of the Black September terror group which carried out the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, who died in the incident in the French capital.

Expand Close Jeremy Corbyn has refused to apologise (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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The Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger said being present at the event was the same as actually being involved while Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he lacked moral authority when it came to condemning terrorist atrocities.

Speaking during a visit on Tuesday to the Harper Adams University in Newport, Shropshire, Mr Corbyn insisted the wreath he laid at the cemetery in Tunis had been to commemorate all those killed during an Israeli air strike on the Palestinian Liberation Organisations offices in the city in 1985.

I, along with other colleagues laid a wreath in memory of those who died in the hope that we have a peace process and peace in the future so those raids are never repeated, he said.

Im not apologising for being there at all. I went to a conference to try and promote peace in the Middle East.

If @jeremycorbyn thinks terrorism is justified for the causes he believes in, how would he as Prime Minister have the moral authority to condemn terrorist murders of British citizens? Unbelievable and shocking  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) August 14, 2018

The Labour leader appeared to become increasingly exasperated as he was questioned about what happened during a pooled television clip, at one point rolling his eyes as he was repeatedly pressed on the wreath laying.

He said the Tunis attack, in which women and children had also died, had been condemned at the time by the then UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher and former US president Ronald Reagan, as well as the UN Security Council.

Of the ceremony in Tunis, he said: I was there when the wreaths were laid, thats pretty obvious. There were many others there who were witness to that. I witnessed many other people laying many wreaths.

I laid one wreath along with many other people in memory, as Ive said, of all those who died in the awful attack in 1985 which as I keep repeating was condemned by the whole world.

The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) August 13, 2018

The row originally erupted after the Daily Mail published pictures of Mr Corbyn holding a wreath at the cemetery which it said were taken in front of a plaque honouring the founder of Black September.

During a visit to Walsall on Monday, Mr Corbyn suggested that a wreath had been laid to those that were killed in Paris in 1992  an apparent reference to assassinated PLO intelligence chief Atef Bseiso, who was accused by the Israelis of being involved in the Munich outrage in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed.

The nation state law sponsored by @Netanyahu's government discriminates against Israel's Palestinian minority.



I stand with the tens of thousands of Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel demonstrating for equal rights at the weekend in Tel Aviv.  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 13, 2018

However the Labour press office said on Tuesday that those who carried out the Munich attack were not buried in the cemetery in Tunis and there had been no ceremony for them.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Hunt said: If Jeremy Corbyn thinks terrorism is justified for the causes he believes in, how would he as prime minister have the moral authority to condemn terrorist murders of British citizens? Unbelievable and shocking.

Meanwhile, a Tory peer confirmed he was also at the peace conference in Tunis, which Mr Corbyn attended, and that members of Hamas may also have been present.

Lord Sheikh, the founder of the Conservative Muslim Foundation (CMF), said he did not meet any figures from the banned terrorist organisation and did not attend the wreath laying ceremony at the Palestinian cemetery.

I did not meet any Hamas people, I am very careful, obviously, he told the Press Association.
Armed police officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament (PA/Stefan Rousseau)

Witnesses have described how a deadpan driver ploughed through cyclists outside the Houses of Parliament in a deliberate attack, as police arrested a terror suspect.

Counter-terror police were leading the investigation after a Ford Fiesta crashed into a number of cyclists and pedestrians at around 7.40am on Tuesday before smashing into a security barrier, officers said.

Scotland Yard said the driver, a man in his 20s, was arrested at the scene by armed officers on suspicion of terrorist offences.

Kirsty Moseley, of Brixton, south London, was a passenger in the first car behind the wall of up to 12 cyclists hit at what she estimated was 25mph.

I heard a few shouts, looked up and this silver car was driving at high speed the wrong way into the cyclists, the 31-year-old told the Press Association.

Rather than continuing, which wouldve meant driving into us, the driver veered off to my right over the central reservation.

Its absolutely amazing there was only one cyclist seriously injured, he went straight through them. People were thrown everywhere.

Ms Moseley, who works in marketing and spoke to police as a witness, continued: (He had) two hands on the steering wheel and he did not look back over his shoulder to look at the damage hed created  he was just looking deadpan straight in front of him, she said.

He wasnt shouting anything, he wasnt screaming, he didnt look crazed or out of control  he was just deadpan.

Geoffrey Woodman, a strategy consultant from Battersea, south-west London, had stopped at the traffic lights by Parliament Square on his cycle to work when the car swerved into cyclists and towards the security barriers.

I was getting off the bike and put my foot down, then there was a sound like tyres screeching, he said.

This car turned round to the left and swerved into the wrong lane of traffic and into the bank where all the cyclists wait.

Expand Close Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He said most people managed to jump off their bikes to safety but one woman who seemed in some distress was clipped by the bonnet of the car as it passed.

It went through everyone and turned round, continuing down the next 50 metres before turning into the lay-by where taxis pick up politicians, smashing into the barrier, he said.

Mr Woodman added that paramedics from a passing ambulance, captured on camera passing behind the car, stopped to help the cyclists and armed police arrived on the scene within 10 seconds.

Ewalina Ochab, who asked to be identified only by her name, told PA: I think it looked intentional  the car drove at speed and towards the barriers.

Jason Williams, 45, from Kennington, south London, was walking to work when he saw the crash and heard a loud bang.

I saw a car going at high speed towards Parliament. It hit a bollard, he told PA.

It looked deliberate. It didnt look like an accident. How do you do that by accident?

Cyclist James Maker, 30, of Chelmsford, Essex, passed within minutes of the crash to see a cyclist injured on the floor and the car crashed into the barrier.

It was a woman, they were clearly quite injured, they werent moving and they were in the recovery position, the head of policy at the County Councils Network told PA.

Expand Close Cyclists in the aftermath of the crash (Geoffrey Woodman) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Fellow cyclists were helping her, he said, adding: There were a couple of cyclists who had clearly been involved who were sitting on the floor and perhaps had minor injuries.

I must be honest, Ive got a young son and a wife and my initial reaction was as long as paramedics were seeing to the woman I wanted to get away from the incident.

Mr Maker then saw the silver Ford Fiesta crashed into the barrier outside Westminster Palace.

Youve got to have an intent to go for that barrier, theres so many security barriers and the way the car ended up in that part it would appear deliberate to me. Its gone up the driveway and hit the actual barrier thinking perhaps it would open, he said.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard during a visit to the Parkhead Housing Association site in Glasgow as he says that a Scottish Labour government would aim to build at least 12,000 homes for social rent each year. (Ian Rutherford/PA)

A Scottish Labour government would aim to build at least 12,000 homes for social rent each year, leader Richard Leonard has said.

The party says the move would support almost 50,000 jobs in Scotland and boost the proportion of homes available to poorer families.

The Scottish Government has set out plans to build at least 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.

Ministers say the target represents a 67% increase in affordable housing supply, with 35,000 of the 50,000 to be available for social rent.

Figures show 4,629 new build social rent homes were completed in 2017/18.

However Labour says the rate of completion should be increased to reduce social housing waiting lists.

Expand Close Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard made the announcement at a Parkhead Housing Association site in Glasgow where he met CEO Jim Strang (Ian Rutherford/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard made the announcement at a Parkhead Housing Association site in Glasgow where he met CEO Jim Strang (Ian Rutherford/PA)

The party said its goal to build 12,000 homes each year is a long term target which would be reviewed on the basis of need.

It estimates the annual cost at 1.7 billion in the first year, shared by government, councils, registered social landlords and other partners.

Mr Leonard said: A home should be a basic and fundamental human right.

Thats why a Scottish Labour government would ensure access to a safe, secure, habitable, home by aiming to build at least 12,000 homes for social rent every year.

Our society is deeply divided, with the richest 1% in Scotland owning more personal wealth than the whole of the poorest 50%.

This is no time to tinker around the edges, not when so many people in Scotland are currently waiting for public housing.

Scotlands housing crisis is a key reason for deepening poverty in Scotland. People cant access social homes so find themselves in the under regulated private rented sector. We have to address it urgently.

When Labour was last in power we built 61,000 homes for social rent in Scotland  we desperately need that kind of ambition again.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard during a visit to the Parkhead Housing Association site in Glasgow (Ian Rutherford/PA)

The Scottish Labour leader has pledged to fix the housing crisis by building 120,000 social rent homes a year, if elected to government.

Richard Leonard accused the SNP of exacerbating the housing shortage and said his partys plans would increase homes available to poorer families and support almost 50,000 jobs across Scotland.

He announced the policy on a visit to a Parkhead Housing Association site in Glasgow.

Expand Close Richard Leonard made the announcement at a Parkhead Housing Association site in Glasgow where he met CEO Jim Strang (Ian Rutherford/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Mr Leonard said: We need to invest in more social housing as a key way to tackle poverty and grow our economy, thats why the next Scottish Labour government would aim to build 12,000 homes for social rent every year.

With 170,000 households stuck on waiting list, we urgently need to start building more homes.

This is a key part of Labours proposals to fix the housing crisis, alongside reform of the private rented sector.

The SNP government took a housing shortage and turned it into a housing crisis  ending that crisis will be a key step towards building a society that works for the many, not the few.

 We need to invest in more social housing to tackle poverty and grow our economy, that's why the next Scottish Labour government would aim to build 12,000 homes for social rent every year.



Watch @LabourRichard outline why  pic.twitter.com/5QKHwtxN6L  Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) August 14, 2018

The party said the figure is a long term target which will be reviewed on a needs basis.

Costs are estimated at 1.7 billion in the first year, shared among government, councils, registered social landlords and other partners.

Figures show 4,629 new build social rent homes were completed in 2017/18.

The Scottish Government plans to build at least 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.

Ministers say the target represents a 67% increase in affordable housing supply, with 35,000 of the 50,000 to be available for social rent.
Detectives investigating the suspected murder of a Russian businessman in London have released CCTV footage of a black van they wish to trace.

Scotland Yard said the Volkswagen van was spotted near the home of Nikolay Glushkov the day before he was found dead earlier this year.

The 68-year-old, who was a close friend of Vladimir Putin critic Boris Berezovsky, was discovered at his house on Clarence Avenue, New Malden, on March 12.

An inquest opening heard his cause of death was compression to the neck.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: The Volkswagen van was seen in and around Clarence Avenue between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on Sunday March 11.

Detectives are keen to identify the van and driver, who they believe could have information that may help with their inquiries.

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Mr Glushkov fled Russia after being accused of fraud during his time as deputy director of the Russian airline Aeroflot, and had lived in London for two years.

Last year, during a trial in absentia he was sentenced to eight years in a Russian prison, convicted of stealing 87 million from the airline.

He was due to attend the commercial court in London to defend himself on March 12  the day his body was discovered.

Police, who launched a murder investigation four days after his death, say they have obtained a total of 286 witness statements and have seized 1,086 exhibits to date.

There is currently nothing to suggest any link to the attempted murders in Salisbury, or any evidence that he was poisoned, the force added.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call police on 0800 789 321.
The communications regulator has fined Royal Mail 50 million for a serious breach of competition law.

Ofcom said the company abused its dominant position by discriminating against its only major competitor for delivering letters, Whistl.

The penalty follows an investigation into a complaint by Whistl, one of Royal Mails wholesale customers.

Royal Mail fined 50m for breaking competition law: https://t.co/ZaiSFCWolO  Ofcom (@Ofcom) August 14, 2018

The complaint was linked to changes Royal Mail made to its wholesale customers contracts in 2014, including price increases.

The price rises meant that any of Royal Mails wholesale customers seeking to compete with it by delivering letters in some parts of the country, as Whistl was, would have to pay higher prices in the remaining areas  where it used Royal Mail for delivery.

Following notification of these new prices, Whistl suspended plans to extend delivery services to new parts of the UK.

Royal Mails behaviour was unacceptable, and it denied postal users the potential benefits that come from effective competitionOfcom

Ofcoms investigation found Royal Mails actions amounted to anti-competitive discrimination against customers, such as Whistl, who sought to deliver bulk mail.

Jonathan Oxley, Ofcoms competition director, said: Royal Mail broke the law by abusing its dominant position in bulk mail delivery.

All companies must play by the rules. Royal Mails behaviour was unacceptable, and it denied postal users the potential benefits that come from effective competition.

The regulator added that Royal Mails conduct was reasonably likely to put other companies at a competitive disadvantage and restrict competition.

It found Royal Mail in breach of Section 18 of the Competition Act and Article 102 of the Treaty for the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits a firm from abusing its dominant position.

Royal Mail strongly refutes any suggestion that it has acted in breach of the Competition Act, and considers that the decision is without merit and fundamentally flawedRoyal Mail

Royal Mail said it will appeal against Ofcoms decision, claiming its price changes were never implemented or paid.

The firm said in a statement: Royal Mail is very disappointed by Ofcoms decision to impose a fine of 50 million. Royal Mail strongly refutes any suggestion that it has acted in breach of the Competition Act, and considers that the decision is without merit and fundamentally flawed.

The company will now lodge an appeal with the Competition Appeal Tribunal within the next two months. No fine is payable until the appeals process is exhausted.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said people must keep an open mind about the suspected terror attack in Westminster.

A car collided with cyclists and pedestrians outside Parliament at about 7.30am on Tuesday, and a man was arrested over what police are treating as a terrorist attack.

Speaking at the Home Office, Mr Javid said he was limited in what he could say as the investigation was live.

Huge thanks to our emergency services for their rapid reaction to incident in Westminster this morning. My thoughts are with those injured.  Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) August 14, 2018

He said: There are understandably a lot of questions about the incident and what has happened. I think people will appreciate its only just happened in the early hours of this morning.

The briefing I have received from counter-terrorism police and the security services is that work is ongoing and they are doing everything they can to find out more about the incident.

We must keep an open mind about what has happened and Im sure when they do have more information they will say more.

We must give the time the police need to do their work. 

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Londoners would not allow anybody seeking to exploit terrorism to divide communities, Mr Javid added, as he praised their resilience.

I would also like to thank the people of London, he said. This is not the first time we have seen an incident of this type on the streets of London.

I would like to thank them for their resolve and resilience, and their determination to make sure those who seek to exploit these types of incidents will not be allowed to divide us.

The Home Secretary also paid tribute to those inured, as well as to the emergency services who helped those affected by the attack.

My thoughts are with the members of the public injured in this attack, he said. Thankfully none of them received life-threatening injuries and I would like to take this opportunity to wish them a speedy recovery.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the emergency services for the speed at which they responded and apprehended immediately the suspect.

This is a reminder to us all of the work they do  day in, day out  to keep us safe.
More than 900,000 premises in Scotland can now access superfast broadband, project bosses have announced.

The programme to roll-out fibre broadband across the country reached the milestone on Tuesday.

Places such as Cortachy in Angus, Dunscore in Dumfries and Galloway and the rural village of Forgue in Aberdeenshire are among those now able to receive fibre broadband for the first time.

Just returning from a visit to Scarletts Scotland, a thriving small business in Perthshire, and one of the 900,000 premises which have benefitted from improved broadband as a direct result of the 400m Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.  Michael Matheson MSP (@MathesonMichael) August 14, 2018

Infrastructure Secretary Michael Matheson visited a business in rural Perthshire, Scarletts Honey, which is said to have benefited from the programme.

He said: Fast and reliable internet is absolutely vital to communities across Scotland. It helps businesses stay connected with customers and colleagues, and helps families learn, work, play and shop.

Our Reaching 100% programme, backed by an initial 600 million investment, plans to deliver superfast broadband access to every home and business in Scotland by the end of 2021  the only part of the UK to do so.

Under the project, around 4,500 new fibre street cabinets are now live and more than 11,800km of cable have been laid by Openreach engineers, bosses said.

Robert Thorburn, fibre partnership director for Openreach in Scotland, said: Hundreds of the latest properties passed by the new network can now connect to the most reliable and fastest residential broadband available as were using more Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) to help these harder-to-reach homes join the digital revolution.

Good connectivity is essential to a strong local economy and lets people live, learn, work and build businesses locally.

Led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government, funding partners on the programme include the UK Government, BT Group, local authorities and the European Regional Development Fund.
A Hong Kong pro-independence activist has labelled Beijings rule as modern-day colonialism in a speech to foreign journalists that defied the Chinese governments demand to cancel the event.

The governments demand raised questions about Beijings growing influence in the former British colony, which was promised semi-autonomy and freedom of speech as part of the 1997 handover.

The Chinese government swiftly criticised the talk, saying that freedom of speech in Hong Kong does not extend to discussions of independence for the Chinese city, which it said was a threat to national security.

We express our indignation and condemn it, the Chinese foreign ministry office said.

President Xi Jinping and other officials have warned that separatist activity would not be tolerated.

Small groups of pro-Beijing and pro-democracy protesters gathered outside the Foreign Correspondents Clubs building in Hong Kong ahead of and during the speech by Andy Chan of the Hong Kong National Party.

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Some pro-Beijing protesters carried banners saying Hong Kong independence is poisonous.

Current and former Hong Kong leaders have criticised the FCC for hosting Mr Chan, whose party is facing a possible ban on national security grounds.

Sadly, we are a nation that is quickly being annexed and destroyed by China, Mr Chan told the audience at the FCC event.

The cry for Hong Kong independence is therefore a cry against colonial invasion.

The 75-year-old FCC has previously hosted politicians and newsmakers, including pro-Beijing speakers, at its iconic clubhouse in central Hong Kong.

It says it believes its members and the public have the right to hear the views of different sides in any debate.

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The perception that Beijing is reneging on its promise and eroding Hong Kongs free elections and freedom of speech is helping fuel a rising generation of young activists calling for greater autonomy, if not outright independence.

Huge pro-democracy protests erupted in 2014 in response to the decision by Chinas ruling Communist Party to retain the right to effectively pre-screen candidates for Hong Kongs leadership.

Hong Kong officials have dismissed the FCCs argument that Mr Chans appearance amounts to a free speech matter, with the territorys former chief executive CY Leung equating the FCC event with giving a platform to criminals and terrorists.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam told reporters on Sunday that it was inappropriate for the FCC to host Chan and asked the organisation to respect that Hong Kong is an unalienable part of China.
A fire burns next to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in Montana (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News via AP)

A firefighter has been killed battling the largest recorded blaze in California history  the sixth fatality in a matter of weeks.

State fire officials did not immediately provide details of the death, which occurred north of San Francisco where the fire has been burning since July 27.

Two other wildfires in Northern California have claimed five other firefighters and six other lives.

In Montana, Glaciers Sprague Creek campground was closed and evacuated, a day after a fast-moving fire triggered the evacuation of dozens of guests from the historic Lake McDonald Lodge late on Sunday night.

The fire grew to between two and four square miles by Monday afternoon.

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It just completely exploded. Yesterday we were watching it grow all day, and now its so smoky you cant see anything, said Kyersten Siebenaler with Glacier Outfitters, which rents boats in Apgar, a small community at the south end of the lake.

A second campground, a motel and private residences inside the parks boundary also were evacuated. A 30-mile stretch of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic.

Triple-digit temperatures across parts of the state  paired with lightning from passing thunderstorms  set the stage for several new large fires to take hold in Montana in recent days.

Among them was one that triggered an evacuation order for residents of 15 houses south-west of the town of Ennis. The fire was burning in challenging mountain terrain with a mix of pine, fir and spruce trees, said fire information spokesman Dave Sabo.

In Colorado, a wildfire in the south-western portion of the state ignited by lightning on July 29 had burned across 34 square miles by Monday.

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Yosemite was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday after being largely closed since July 25 because of smoke from fires in remote areas that choked the scenic Yosemite Valley.

The closure caused upheaval for thousands of tourists whose summer trips were cancelled. Visitors were warned to expect limited hours and services as the park returns to normal.

The fire burning in Glacier was one of several started in the park by lightning on Saturday evening. Windy, dry conditions on Sunday caused the blaze to spread rapidly, in full view of tourists and people who live and work around Lake McDonald.

Two planes from Canada were brought in to help battle the blaze, but officials said high winds prevented their pilots from flying close enough to the fire to be effective.

It is the second year in a row that wildfires have prompted evacuations around Lake McDonald.
Since the spiralling civil conflict of the Troubles in the early 1970s, unionism in Northern Ireland has always been more preoccupied with asserting its opposition to Irish unification as opposed to articulating a vision of what it is and aspires to be, and how it fits into an increasingly multicultural United Kingdom

Adhering staunchly to an identity bound up in the past has long outlived its best-before date, argues Professor William Neill.

Since the spiralling civil conflict of the Troubles in the early 1970s, unionism in Northern Ireland has always been more preoccupied with asserting its opposition to Irish unification as opposed to articulating a vision of what it is and aspires to be, and how it fits into an increasingly multicultural United Kingdom.

People in Northern Ireland stoically resisted a campaign of republican violence throughout the 30 years of the Troubles. But the reasons for this understandable hunkering down are long gone. The battlefield is now cultural and unionism is losing.

I was born 65 years ago in the predominantly Protestant environs of south Belfast; for me, Northern Ireland represents the corner of the Union that is both Irish and British.

My cultural identity is bound up in this place and its symbolically endowed landscape that incorporates both these dimensions alongside a strong cultural and historical Scottish link.

This space of the imagination and real cultural interaction remains potentially fluid. While unionism in the past has been associated with narrow triumphalism and religious dogma, such influences are on the wane even if the pace appears frustratingly slow.

To be out of step with wider liberalising currents in the UK is to invite embarrassment  that peculiar relative in the attic of the Union.

But any attempt to distil the essence of unionism in more neutral, dry, constitutional relationships, obligations, or even economic interests, does not address the more fundamental cultural factors that define each group.

My unionist culture is part of a broader British culture which I unapologetically embrace. It has no truck with discriminatory sectarian practices, which some have uncharitably labelled the very lifeblood of unionism.

But the idea that unionist culture is shallow, based on economic supremacy and a hangover from a colonial presence, still prevails.

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended the Troubles recognises the importance of culture in acknowledging differences between the two major traditions in Northern Ireland. But, after 20 years, the hoped-for generation of an emergent civic culture bridging the ethnic divide has failed to appear.

While unionism pragmatically saw the deal on the whole as the best available, republicanism sees the agreement as a transitional step towards full Irish political unification. The result has been difficulty in moving beyond a war of cultural attrition; the potential fluidity of identities has been frozen.

What is needed is a notion of two identities embedded within a culture of openness and dialogue that is not closed to the potentially new, novel and unexpected.

In reimagining itself, unionism must think beyond a Sinn Fein projection of cultural superiority and its cool reception to the idea of British-Irish identity.

To engage effectively in cultural debate, unionism needs to have a more considered and long-term strategy.

Sinn Feins call to join in building a new Ireland (as opposed to a united Ireland) with a rainbow of identities is a soft approach which gives unionism cause to be sceptical.

And the way republicans have denigrated unionist tradition, portraying it as a stereotypical sectarian monolith, is frequently criticised by seasoned political commentators and academics.

But this is not to deny that certain unionist voices can also be insulting towards nationalist culture.

Unionists need to set out their own stall. First, they must assert their own brand of Irishness, which is infused with Britishness as well. This involves more than recognising that the Irishness of Catholics requires legitimate expression in Northern Ireland  it must include the belated appropriation of Irishness as a constituent part of the Protestant unionist identity, too.

Engaging with current debates about identity and belonging in Brexit Britain is a substantial, but vital, challenge for unionism, whose past record has been poor.

Northern Ireland is often dismissed as a place apart, ignoring the historical bonds and close cultural relationship with Britain. But identities can become static if theyre not open to change as circumstances alter. Here unionism has not adapted well; it has to engage in the debate over what defines Britishness in an increasingly diverse society. A positive and less defensive case must be made for the Union.

Difference can be celebrated and respected, but it must be accompanied by shared values.

The argument that British and Irish are not mutually exclusive categories needs strong voices as the Republic of Ireland calls on unionism in uncertain Brexit times to throw in its lot with an evolving nation on a different European trajectory.

Any response must go beyond saving the Union for unionists and make a case to the middle ground of Northern Irish Catholic opinion, which lack of vision has almost squandered.

The prospect of a prosperous, secular, multicultural and eurocentric Republic of Ireland is a strong one. The watchwords of any counter-offer must be courtesy, due recognition of cultural difference, reasonableness and compromise. And not sweating the small stuff. For unionism, circling the wagons is not an option.

It will more likely survive through kind words than belligerence.

Returning recently to Ireland from a foreign trip I presented my British passport to a border official at Dublin Airport. Glancing at it, he said: Welcome home, sir. Those three kind words did more to waken my Irish roots than three decades of armed IRA struggle.

Disputes over flags, marching and place names are of course emotive, but the high ground does not promote parades that are not welcomed by locals

It does not seek to insult. It contemplates compromise on Irish language rights and sees advantages in the rich and varied cultures of the UK.

As Brexit sees the middle ground of those open to such ideas recede further, the leader of political unionism, Arlene Foster, has begun to change tack with outreaching gestures that reclaim the civic dimension of unionism with a more inclusive citizenship and rights agenda. But whether such belated and slow-moving attempts will be enough to lead on to a necessary reframing of unionism has yet to play out.

A unionist response has been too long in the making. Moderate unionism must reassert itself because adhering staunchly to an identity bound up in the past has outlived its sell-by date.
Government security officers stand guard outside an Ahmadiyya mosque compound in Depok, Indonesia, shut by authorities after Muslim groups called for protests against the minority group, Feb. 24, 2017.

In a cynically calculated move, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has selected a conservative 75-year-old cleric, Maruf Amin, as his running mate for the April 2019 polls.

The political logic of Widodo's choice makes a lot of sense. It takes away the Nationalist-Islamist opposition's attack that he is too secular. Amin's selection burnishes Widodo's religious credentials to broaden his voter base and poach supporters of Prabowo Subianto, his opponent in both 2014 and 2019.

But it is an enormous setback for civil liberties and minority rights, and calls into question Widodo's reformist credentials.

As head of the influential Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI), Amin signed a fatwah calling a statement of the Christian Chinese governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, "blasphemous." This fueled a massive public campaign against the governor, who was one of Jokowi's most important political allies. Basuki lost the election to an Islamist figure, and is now serving a two-year prison sentence.

Amin has condemned and issued fatwahs against Shias and the Ahmadiyya sect, and been a driving force behind increased use of the Blasphemy Law (Article 156a of the criminal code), as well as the Draft Law on Inter-Religious Harmony. More recently, Amin has condemned the LGBTQ community's rights and protections.

Under Amin's leadership, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), once seen as the antidote to the spread of Salafism, has become more conservative. A growing number of NU members believe that the country should make fewer accommodations or have fewer protections for religious minorities. Even the moderate NU is less tolerant than it was.

Impact on security?

The question here is: what does Amin's selection portend for security in Indonesia?

On the one hand, the president has given the police broad latitude to continue their counterterrorist operations. Since the May suicide bombings in the port city of Surabaya, police have arrested nearly 300 people.

Parliament passed a new Counterterrorism Law that gives the police expansive powers to preemptively detain people. The law criminalizes traveling overseas to join or support terrorist organizations. The law also gives the military a formal role in counterterrorist operations.

A Jakarta court has just criminalized the pro-Islamic State grouping, Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). Now, mere membership in the organization is grounds for arrest.

So security forces have new and substantial powers to combat terrorist groups. It seems unlikely that Amin would thwart those efforts.

But what about incidents that don't cross the terrorism threshold?

Amin's actions and fatwahs in the past two years have led to spikes in attacks against religious minorities, growing intolerance, and a surge in the number of anti-vice organizations. Many of these anti-vice organizations engage in extra-legal activities, including the threat and use of force.

And more importantly, these anti-vice groups are conveyors for terrorist organizations. While authorities will not designate them as being terrorist organizations, their members are highly indoctrinated and ripe for recruitment into terrorist organizations.

Likewise, security forces have tended to give Jemaah Islamiyah significant space to operate madrassas and mosques, and engage in da'wah activities as long as they are not engaged in violence. Indeed, some in the security forces see JI as an important antidote or off-ramp for pro-Islamic State militants. And yet, there is significant evidence that JI has not renounced violence, but is simply biding its time, letting its Islamic State rivals take the brunt of the state's counter-terrorism focus while it regroups.

But Amin's presence on the ticket, and potential role as vice president, could have some positive outcomes for security, as it could influence Islamist parties in the opposition. For example, parties such as PKS have thwarted prison reform, which has been one of the weak links in Indonesia's otherwise successful counter-terrorist operations.

Likewise, Amin could be helpful in getting more funding for countering violent extremism in prisons or in developing some sort of post-release engagements through NU organizations. This is critical, as Indonesia has fairly lenient sentencing for its terrorist convicts. As the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict's latest report notes, The group of 144 released and soon-to-be-released prisoners include the first significant cluster of individuals with Syria links to have completed prison sentences.

Although Indonesian authorities claim that they are currently building a new maximum security facility for terror suspects, following two takeovers of a prison by terror suspects in the past year, it will be beyond capacity upon completion.

But overall, Amin's selection is a setback for Indonesian security. One does not have to look back very far to remember Vice President Hamzah Haz (2001-04) meeting Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of the al-Qaeda affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah, who was then imprisoned in conjunction with the October 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people. It sends a deleterious message to the security forces trying to do their job when the vice president embraces a jailed terrorist suspect.

Indonesia's long vaunted tolerance and pluralism, as enshrined in its founding ideology, Pancasila, is looking more and more under siege. And that in itself could portend more political violence in the coming nine months of the presidential campaign.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and the author of Forging Peace in Southeast Asia: Insurgencies, Peace Processes, and Reconciliation. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College or BenarNews.
Rohingya refugees stand behind a fence in the 'no-man's land' between the Myanmar and Bangladesh border, as seen from Maungdaw district in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, June 29, 2018.

A draft of a confidential memorandum of understanding between the Myanmar government and two United Nations agencies says Rohingya Muslim refugees who voluntarily return to the country from neighboring Bangladesh will be safely returned to their original places of residence or to a secure place of their choice nearest to those locations.

They will also have the same freedom of movement as other Myanmar nationals in Rakhine state, the document says.

Myanmars Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population signed the MoU with the United Nations development (UNDP) and refugee (UNHCR) agencies on June 6, but the document and its terms have not been issued publicly.

A copy of the draft MoU obtained by Radio Free Asia outlines the general principles and the scope of the parties cooperation in returning and reintegrating some of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled northern Rakhine state after two brutal crackdowns by security forces in October 2016 and August 2017, which included killings, rape and arson.

The first campaign drove about 90,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh, while the second forced more than 700,000 to flee. The refugees have been living in sprawling makeshift camps in southeastern Bangladesh with others who escaped from previous bouts of violence in Rakhine.

[T]hose who have left Myanmar are to return voluntarily and safely to their own households and original places of residence or to a safe and secure place nearest to it of their choice based on their well-informed decision, the MoU says.

It also says: The returnees will enjoy the same freedom of movement as all other Myanmar nationals in Rakhine state, in conformity with existing laws and regulations, and in conformity with the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission.

After the residency of returning refugees has been verified, Myanmar's labor ministry will issue identification documents to the returnees and ensure a clear and voluntary pathway to citizenship to those eligible, the MoU says.

Because Myanmar views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, it systematically discriminates against them, denying them citizenship  though some have lived in the country for generations  freedom of movement, and access to educations, jobs and health care.

The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, headed by former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, proposed ways to solve sectarian tensions between Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in multiethnic Rakhine state, although it did not evaluate possible human rights violations by security forces.

Its final report issued in August 2017 called for the closure of internally displaced persons camps in Rakhine that house Rohingya displaced by communal violence in 2012, reviews of Myanmars 1982 Citizenship Law, which prevents the minority group from becoming citizens, and an end to restrictions on them to preclude further violence in the region.

A durable solution

The MoU, which does not refer to the Rohingya by name, also says that the government will work for a durable and comprehensive solution to the displacement of persons in and from Rakhine state, and that the parties to the agreement will conduct assessments, planning, coordination, fundraising, and implementation activities with regard to relevant humanitarian and development actions.

The parties agree to the principle that assistance must be designed and implemented in a way that is conflict sensitive, inclusive, and non-discriminatory, taking into account international humanitarian and development principles, the MoU says.

Under the agreement, the UNHCR will provide assistance with the voluntary repatriation and resettlement program through protection activities, community consultations and site visits, and support programs that benefit all communities in potential return areas.

The UNDP is tasked with coordinating and providing support to assessments related to building resiliency in communities in Rakhine, including sustainable livelihoods, conflict sensitivity and local institutional capacity building at selected project sites, and with undertaking the planning process for the recovery and development that will benefit returnees.

Activities on repatriation, reintegration assistance, and resilience-based recovery and development under this MoU will be aimed at helping returnees to resume their normal life in the shortest possible time, the document says.

Rights groups have criticized the parties to the MoU for not publicly releasing the terms of the agreement.

But the document says, The parties shall ensure that information under this MoU is not transferred or supplied to any third party without prior written consent from all parties.

The parties must submit written notice to terminate their agreement or temporarily suspend its execution three months in advance of the end date.

The MoU is in effect for 12 months from the date of its signing. The parties must decide whether to agree to an extension of the MoU at least 90 days before its expiration date on July 5, 2019.

The UNHCR also signed a separate and similar MoU with Bangladesh in April regarding the return of the Rohingya refugees.

The U.N., rights groups and other members of the international community have said that the crackdown amounted to ethnic cleansing, if not genocide, and the repatriation plan has failed to overcome the Rohingyas' fears of returning to places where many were killed and their villages burned last year.

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Abdul Hassan Mahmood Ali (front row, 2nd from R) sits in an office during a visit to western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Aug. 11, 2018. [Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Visit by Bangladeshi FM

Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abdul Hassan Mahmood Ali is meanwhile on a four-day visit to Rakhine state to discuss issues related to the repatriation of the Rohingya.

Myanmar signed an agreement with Bangladesh on Nov. 23, 2017, to take back the refugees who wished to voluntarily return to Myanmar and whose prior residency in the country can be verified.

During a ministerial meeting, the two sides agreed on the need to speed up the implementation of the repatriation program, and the Bangladeshi foreign minister cited the need to accelerate the creating of an environment conducive to their return in northern Rakhine state, according to a statement issued by the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 11.

Myanmar, which has built two refugee reception centers and one transit camp with a capacity of handling 30,000 people, has identified 42 sites for resettlements and is erecting prefabricated housing for the returnees in selected locations, the statement said.

Though Myanmar previously said it was prepared to begin taking back refugees in January, the program has been beset by delays, with each side blaming the other.

[The] two governments will keep working on the repatriation process according to [their] agreement, said Aung Tun Thet, member of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine State (UEHRD), a Myanmar government initiative to rebuild infrastructure and the economy in tattered Rakhine state and to return and resettle the refugees.

Members of the UEHRD, which is chaired by the countrys de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, met with Ali on Aug. 10 in Naypyidaw to discuss repatriation readiness in accordance with the agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The Myanmar government also asked the Bangladeshi foreign minister to stop providing humanitarian aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNDP, and international NGOs to the 6,000 Rohingya refugees living in a no-mans land on the border line between the two countries, according to the statement issued by Bangladeshs foreign affairs ministry.

Instead, Myanmar proposed delivering aid from the Myanmar side, it said.

The refugees living in the no-mans land have previously demanded that the Myanmar government grant them citizenship, ensure their safety, and rebuild their destroyed houses.

The border line area is the place where nobody is in [one country or the other], Aung Tun Thet said. As long as people live in this area, we have difficulties and challenges. Thats why we have been asking the people who live in this area to move out.

Bangladesh said it responded positively to Myanmars proposal to conduct a new joint survey of the no mans land area, the statement said.

Reported by Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews.
Bangladesh has agreed to a request from Myanmar officials to replace the words Myanmar nationals with displaced persons from Rakhine state on identity cards issued to Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazar, a Bangladeshi official told BenarNews.

Dhaka agreed to the change during meetings this weekend in Myanmar between Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Kyaw Tint Swe, the minister of Myanmars State Counselors Office.



A high-profile delegation led by Ali on Saturday toured Maungdaw township in Myanmars Rakhine State, the site of last years military crackdown that prompted one of the worlds worst refugee crises in decades.



While discussing the repatriation issues at the ministerial meeting, Myanmar raised objection about the words used in the identity card we issued for the Rohingya now living in Coxs Bazar, a member of the Bangladeshi delegation told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.

Myanmar emphasized during the meeting that in line with an agreement signed in Naypyidaw on Nov. 23 2017, the people who fled to Bangladesh from Rakhine are not Myanmar citizens, but they used to live in Rakhine, the source said.

We listened to them, and agreed to change the identity of those living in Coxs Bazar as displaced persons from Rakhine state, he said. He did not make it clear when Dhaka would issue the new cards reflecting the agreed changes.

Nor was it clear how the decision would affect a joint effort announced in June by U.N. and Bangladeshi officials to issue new ID cards to all Rohingya refugees older than 12 after verifying their identities.

A Rohingya man holds identity cards Bangladesh issued to the Rohingya refugees upon their arrival in Coxs Bazar from Myanmars Rakhine state, Jan. 21, 2018. [Kamran Reza Chowdhury/BenarNews]





Refugees refuse to return without safety guarantees

Rohingya leaders expressed concerns that Myanmars latest move could obliterate their historical rights.

We are Rohingya. We are Myanmar nationals. We do not belong to Bangladesh, Mohammad Afzal, a leader of Balukhali refugee camp, told BenarNews in a phone interview. Bangladesh has refrained from calling us Rohingya because of Myanmars objection. Now, they wont call us Myanmar nationals?

Buddhist-majority Myanmar considers the Rohingya illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

Humayun Kabir, a former ambassador and vice president of private think-tank Bangladesh Enterprise Institute told BenarNews that Naypyitaws demand for Dhaka to drop the word Myanmar national from the Rohingya ID cards seeks to bring uniformity in the nomenclature officially used by Bangladesh and Myanmar.

This is not a big issue, he said. The most important issue is safe and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya.

Ali and his delegation visited the villages to verify Myanmars preparation for the planned repatriation of the Rohingya refugees, about 700,000 of whom fled to southeastern Bangladesh starting a year ago as a result of a military campaign that the United States and the United Nations have condemned as ethnic cleansing.

The crackdown followed attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police outposts in August 2017.

The refugees live in rudimentary shelters on tree-stripped hills in southeastern Coxs Bazar district, joining about 400,000 others who had fled earlier waves of violence in Myanmar.

Although Bangladesh and Myanmar formally agreed almost nine months ago to work together to start repatriation, no Rohingya has officially returned. Rohingya leaders have told BenarNews in previous interviews that they do not intend to go back until their safety is guaranteed.
Malaysias permanent residents who are 60 and older, including 3,407 stateless Indians living in the country, will become citizens after they have fulfilled all conditions under the governments new relaxed citizenship requirements, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Tuesday.

Mahathir said the governments move would be in accordance with an electoral pledge made by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition to the Indian community before it took power as a result of its electoral triumph in the May 9 general election.

This is to solve the stateless issue among the Indian community in the country, the 93-year-old leader told a news conference as he explained that the decision was made Monday after his meeting with representatives of the Indian community, PH lawmakers and senators.

Those age 60 [and older] can get the blue identity card, Mahathir said, referring to the card that proves Malaysian citizenship.

The governments relaxed requirement also would open the path to citizenship for children of mixed parentage.

The governments decision encompasses all ethnic groups in Malaysia, Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said during the news conference.

Kulasegaran was given a red identity card by the government when he was 12 even though he was born and reared in Malaysia. He said he had to resolve several issues before he received a blue card.

More than 269,000 permanent residents live in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation with at least 32 million people, according to the latest figures from the Home Ministry. There are 303,274 foreigners with legal documents staying in the country as of June, officials said.

Those with permanent resident status in Malaysia carry red identity cards that do not permit them to get government jobs or join the military. Muslims with that status cannot attend the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, under the Malaysian quota.



Raj Kuma, one of the 3,407 Indians affected by the governments decision, said he was relieved to learn his paperwork difficulties would finally come to an end.



I was born here, I went to school here when Kuala Lumpur was still surrounded by tin mines, yet all this while I am not considered a citizen, the 65-year-old resident of Petaling Jaya outside Kuala Lumpur told BenarNews.

Despite his age, he said, he has not been inside any election booth.



I am looking forward to vote this team back come next election, he said.

For those younger than 60, Mahathir said the issuance of their citizenship would be subject to several conditions, including being a child of a Malaysian parent and having been born in Malaysia.



Aside from senior citizens, the prime minister announced that children born in Malaysia to at least one parent who is a Malaysian citizen will be eligible for citizenship, a departure from the old system that awarded citizenship only to Malaysia-born children with Malaysian fathers.

Questioning governments will

Sharmila Sekaran, chairwoman of Voice of Children, a child advocacy group, welcomed Mahathirs announcement.



But she questioned the governments will in solving the stateless issue of other children, such as children born out of wedlock to Malaysian fathers, children born outside Malaysia to Malaysian mothers, as well as stateless children legally adopted by Malaysians.

Malaysia is one of about two dozen countries that deny women their right to confer citizenship on their children on an equal basis as men, according to rights groups.

Under current laws, a child who is born abroad to a Malaysian mother is not automatically considered a Malaysian citizen. The mother will have to submit an application to the Malaysian embassy where she is based and wait for approval, which often takes years. Many applications have been turned down.



Among the Indian community, customary marriages still take place, so the child born out of that arrangement is not considered as a legitimate child of the father in Malaysia because the parents are not legally married, Sharmila told BenarNews.



She said a child without a known parent and stateless children who are under the custody of the welfare board also are deprived of citizenship despite being wards of the state.



Why are these children being discriminated against? she said.



Mahathir said that such scenarios will require additional discussion.



Nowadays, you come up with LGBT, men marrying men, women marrying women, and they are also having children, he said. All these biological changes are taking place.



Aside from the parentage and birth requirements, the government will put the applicant through a simple Bahasa Malaysia competency test, he said.



The Bahasa Malaysia competency test will only touch on simple use of the language. If they pass, then we will accept them [as citizens], he said.

A requirement for citizenship will call for applicants to be based in Malaysia for at least 12 years, with at least 10 of those years spent as actual residents, Mahathir said.
Australian professor Gill Boehringer poses for a photo inside a day room at the Manila international airport, where he was allowed to live for almost one week after he was denied entry into the Philippines, Aug. 10, 2018.

Philippine authorities deported an 84-year-old Australian human rights activist Tuesday, almost a week after he was barred from entering the country for his alleged links to communist rebels, human rights groups said.

Gill Boehringer was forced to board a China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou, China, where he was expected to take a connecting flight to Sydney, said Peter Murphy, head of the International Coalition for Human Rights.

He is expected to land at the Kingsford Smith International Airport on Wednesday morning.

Professor Boehringer was forced to board the plane without proper medical clearance and assessed fit to travel, Murphy told reporters.

Rights groups said Boehringers deportation provides an indication that President Rodrigo Dutertes government would continue its crackdown on legitimate groups questioning his deadly drug war.

Immigration officials prevented Boehringers entry into Manila last Wednesday and allowed him to live in Manilas international airport after accusing him of violating visa rules for allegedly joining protests against Dutertes bloody anti-drug campaign. He denied the allegations.

Boehringer, who is married to a Filipina, said that he had visited a school run by a tribal program on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao in February, but emphasized that he made the trip as an academician while studying the circumstances for indigenous groups.

Boehringer, who holds an American passport and served as dean at Macquarie University Law School in Sydney, has also denied allegations of links to communist insurgents or any terror groups active in the country.

Lina Cabaero, of the rights group Migrante Australia, said Boehringer was returning to Sydney by virtue of the exclusion order issued by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration.

Boehringer was the latest foreigner ordered out of the Philippines, which had earlier deported three missionaries from the United States and Africa after accusing them of visiting Mindanao, where they had joined an international fact-finding mission looking into allegations of human rights violations.

An Australian nun had also been ordered deported by Duterte after accusing her of joining anti-government street protests.

Duterte had been angered by protests led by the Catholic Church questioning his governments anti-drug war. More than 4,000 suspected pushers and addicts have died in police encounters, according to official records, although rights groups say the estimate could go as high as 12,000.

Boehringer told reporters before leaving the country that his own doctor has not cleared him for a long flight.

What the bureau fails to understand is that you cannot predict that a person is fit to travel and not in danger from a deep-vein thrombosis, which I have previously suffered and nearly died from with a blood clot in my lung, Boehringer said. It seems to me that the bureau is putting my life at risk.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato City contributed to this report.
For him, the refugee crisis is a never-ending challenge.

Italian-born Filippo Grandi is the 11th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (elected in 2016). He is currently preparing for a new trip to Syria, where eleven million people have been forced to leave their homes because of the war (five million have already left the country).

In an exclusive interview with BILD, he warns that the battle in Idlib could end in a humanitarian disaster with thousands of victims. He also attacks politicians of radical right-wing parties for their use of hate-generating language.

Good news are rare

BILD: By the end of 2017, 68.5 million people across the world had been driven from their homes  three million more than a year previously. This is more than the population of France. You must be very concerned about a number of issues at the moment. What does a good working day look like for you  and when was your last?

Filippo Grandi: A good working day is when you have news of some solution of one of the many refugee problems. Let me give you a concrete example: I think it was a great day when we heard that the Ethiopian prime minister was going to Eritrea and that there are peace talks between these two countries in order to find a solution for their problems. That could also solve the refugee problem there. But it's very rare to receive such good news.

When we look at western Europe, the number of newly arriving migrants and refugees has fallen sharply since 2015. Has Europe overcome the refugee crisis?

Grandi: Of course, there was a crisis here when this big flow came in 2015, especially to Germany. But the real refugee crises were and are in Africa, the Middle East, Asia. Unfortunately, we do not have enough good news to say: the global crisis is over.

What must we be prepare for in Germany and Europe  how many refugees do you expect in the near future?

Grandi: I don't think we can say how many people are coming. But if the wars don't finish, people will continue to flee, the majority of them to countries next door. Some of them will come to Europe. But there is another aspect: Only a part of the people that are crossing the Mediterranean are refugees. Many others move for other reasons: They try to find jobs, a better quality of life. They move because there is inequality, because there is a rich part of the world and a poor part. The complication is that the two movements are combined. The public opinion gets very nervous, very hostile, because this difference is not made clear.

One element of the debate in Germany, Austria, and Sweden is the question whether a country can be too attractive for migrants, as in: there is immediate financial support, procedures for checking their right to asylum are slow, the system for sending people back that do not need protection is weak.

Auch Interessant



Grandi: I think the management of movements needs to be improved. The procedures are too long. We say: Be precise and careful, because it can be a question of life and death, but be as quick as you can. Europe was very good in these checks on many levels. But I realize that this system created problems, because if you are not a real refugee you know that for two years you will be supported. You have to strike a balance to achieve better effectiveness. It is possible  we have made so many suggestions how to do it, but you have to invest some resources into it.

Otherwise, migrants might feel encouraged to come because our procedures are that slow?

Another important thing to avoid is the abuse of the system: It must become possible to send back home those who are not recognized as refugees  in a humane way, of course. It means that states of arrival like Germany need agreements with the states of origin. That is a big challenge and something that the UNHCR cannot do for them.

Following your latest meeting with her in April, Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of turning illegal into legal migration. What does that mean?

Grandi: It means that the rich countries have to establish as many regular and safe channels as possible for the most vulnerable refugees. These resettlement programmes, for example from Turkey or Lebanon, offer safe ways of movement. This must be accompanied by programmes for migrants. This is not UNHCR's mandate but it is in Europe's own interest, because Europe needs migrants. And regarding the migrants who stay, it's better to invest very quickly in their integration. Italy, my own country, is debating a reduction of integration funds, which is a big mistake. Some of the irregular channels will always exist, some will also be necessary for genuine refugees, because there is no other way.

Germany and Austria have been discussing the idea of asylum centres in crisis regions  for example in Jordan or the southern Sahara  for years. Migrants should be able to apply for asylum only there, instead of putting their lives at risk in the hands of traffickers in the Sahara or the Mediterranean. What's wrong with that idea?

Grandi: I would be completely against eliminating the possibility for people to come to Europe and to apply for asylum. This has to be preserved. Otherwise, countries, for example in Africa, would ask: Why should we keep them if Europe doesn't take any of them? They would close their borders and these people from Somalia or other countries would die. Believe me, everybody is watching what Europe is doing now.

More about UNHCR

UNHCR-Chef bei Merkel Endlich sagt mal einer Danke! UNHCR-Hochkommissar Filippo Grandi ist heute im Kanzleramt. Mit vielen Sorgen  aber zuerst will er den Deutschen fur ihre Hilfe danken

Despite the declining number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe in 2018, leaders of populist radical right-wing parties like Matteo Salvini in Italy continue to speak of an invasion that their countries are facing. He once even spoke of human meat on board an NGO ship that had rescued migrants, refusing to open Italy's ports for them.

Grandi: Salvini has a point: the UNHCR has been saying well before him that it is not fair that Italy had been left alone for years. And I agree that population movement towards Europe across the sea must be managed in a more efficient manner, in a manner that is shared between the countries of Europe. But to say that there is an invasion of Europe, that we are a continent besieged by people that want to come and take advantage of us, is profoundly wrong. And it is also extremely dangerous, because it is this type of language that stigmatizes refugees, migrants and other people on the move, that gives legitimacy to a discourse of racism, hatred, and xenophobia  which is, by the way, profoundly contrary to the European values in which we all believe. In the past, it was considered a taboo to talk in this way. There is no invasion, talking about it is only aimed at gaining votes.

Salvini and others always talk about an emegency

Grandi: There is not even an emergency in Europe. I just came back from a trip to Bangladesh, where you have one million refugees under the worst conditions. That is an emergency.

Migrants rescued by the NGOs rescue ship Aquarius in the Mediterranean on August 10th. The rescue vessel of SOS Mediterranee was denied entry to Italy and is now heading for Malta Foto: Guglielmo Mangiapane/SOS MEDITERRANEE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The question remains: Why should all refugees rescued in the Mediterranean be taken to European ports  and not directly back to North African ports?

Grandi: Because the law for the area is very clear: Those rescued in territorial waters are already taken back to Libya. Those rescued in international waters have to be brought to a safe port. Libya does not have a safe port.

A couple of months ago, there seemed to be some hope for an end to the horrific war in Syria and even for the return of a significant number of refugees. But now, Assad and his allies have again bombed an area which was originally called a de-escalation zone. Is there any hope for the 2.5 million people trapped in this area?

Grandi: I am extremely concerned about the situation in Idlib in Northern Syria. It is one of the last pockets of opposition to the government, and it is an area full of displaced people, of women and children. If we look back at the evolution of the Syrian war over the past couple of years, if we look at what happened in Aleppo, in Ghouta in the south of Syria, we have seen that, unfortunately, in all these battles the military solution prevailed over political dialogue. If this were to happen in Idlib it would be catastrophic, because Idlib has a lot of weapons and a lot of exposed civilians. Any war would inevitably last for an extended period of time and would result in thousands and thousands of victims. For this reason, I really hope that the parties to the conflict and the states in the international community that have a stake in this war will see the light and, at least for once, will think of the Syrian people first and embark on meaningful political dialogue to find a political solution for the crisis.

Who is responsible for finding the solution? Those who failed to find solutions over the past seven years?

Grandi: I agree with you: politics has failed all along for seven years. My hope is that the absence of a way out for the fighters in this region might be the reason for a political solution. Otherwise, Idlib could face the bloodiest battle in Syrias war. The UN is working on it, in order to avoid this massacre, but it cannot be done alone. I can't say I'm optimistic. When I look back, I'm pessimistic. But we must not give up hope."

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Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the loss of religion in America.

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For Immediate Release, August 14, 2018 Contacts: Blake Kopcho, Center for Biological Diversity, (805) 708-3435, bkopcho@biologicaldiversity.org

Linda Krop, Environmental Defense Center, (805) 963-1622, LKrop@EnvironmentalDefenseCenter.org

Ashley Blacow, Oceana, (831) 643-9220, ablacow@oceana.org 65 California Cities, Counties Oppose Trump's Offshore Drilling Plan Officials Representing 21.3 Million Californians Act Against Opening Pacific to New Oil Leasing SACRAMENTO, Calif. At least 65 California cities and counties have taken action opposing new fossil fuel leasing in the Pacific Ocean since President Trump proposed a massive expansion of drilling in federal waters last year. That ongoing campaign now represents communities with 21.3 million Californians  more than half the states population. These actions, combined with recent public opinion polling showing that 69 percent of Californians oppose new offshore drilling, come as the California Legislature considers Assembly Bill 1775 and Senate Bill 834, which would prohibit new infrastructure to serve expanded federal offshore oil leasing. Members of the Coalition to Protect the Pacific have supported a campaign, which will continue through the fall as the Trump administration works on the next draft of its offshore leasing plan. We need to protect our beautiful South Bay as well as the health of the residents who live and work near the coast and the marine environment. A.B. 1775 will do just that by prohibiting the State Lands Commission from approving any new leases for pipelines, piers, wharves or other infrastructure needed to support new federal oil and gas development in the three-mile area off the coast that is controlled by the state, said Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), sponsor of A.B. 1775. The movement to protect the Pacific gained momentum following the Jan. 4 release of the administrations draft leasing plan, which proposes lease sales in almost all federal waters. That would include the first fossil fuel leases in the Pacific in more than 30 years. The California League of Cities has also officially endorsed the states efforts to protect its coast. California communities reject offshore drilling and are building a wall of opposition to Trumps reckless agenda. Its inspiring to watch community leaders rise up to protect the Pacific from dangerous drilling, said Blake Kopcho, an organizer at the Center for Biological Diversity. We wont let Trump and his corrupt cronies pollute our coastline with oil spills and toxic fracking chemicals. At least 54 cities or counties have passed resolutions opposing the offshore drilling expansion and 11 have sent formal letters of opposition, while another two community advisory bodies have also recommended against issuing new leases or fracking permits. Californians are adamantly opposed to new oil drilling off our coast, said Linda Krop, chief counsel at the Environmental Defense Center. As we were reminded in 2015, if new oil development is allowed off our coast it is not a question of if, but when, another disastrous oil spill will damage our environment and economy. Most of the California resolutions and letters call for: A ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling, fracking and other well stimulation in federal and state waters off the California coast;

A ban on new federal oil and gas leases in all U.S. waters, including the Pacific Ocean. It would be a travesty if the federal administration succeeds in re-opening West Coast waters to expanded offshore drilling, at the risk of coastal communities, economies, and ocean wildlife, said Ashley Blacow, Pacific policy and communications manager with Oceana. Cities and counties across the West Coast are forming a united front sending a clear message to Washington, DC that our coast is not for sale. The Coalition to Protect the Pacific, a collection of environmental groups, indigenous tribes and local businesses, has worked with local activists in cities and counties along the West Coast to pass resolutions and letters opposing Trumps proposed expansion of offshore drilling. In response to President Trumps April 2017 executive order to expand offshore energy development, Californians organized community-based opposition to the proposal. Resolutions have been passed in: Alameda County, Arcata, Berkeley, Capitola, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Chula Vista, Contra Costa County, Culver City, Dana Point, Encinitas, Fort Bragg, Goleta, Grover Beach, Half Moon Bay, Humboldt County, Imperial Beach, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Marin County, Marina, Mendocino County, Monterey County, Morro Bay, Norwalk, Oceanside, Oakland, Ojai, Pacifica, Petaluma, Point Arena, Redondo Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clarita, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, Santa Monica, Scotts Valley, Solana Beach, Sonoma County, Ukiah, Ventura County, Watsonville, West Hollywood and Windsor. Appointed community bodies in Venice and Cayucos also passed similar resolutions. Jurisdictions sending letters include Carpinteria, Del Mar, Hermosa Beach, Los Osos, Monterey, Oxnard, Pismo Beach, San Diego County, San Leandro, San Luis Obispo County, and Ventura. The last offshore lease in federal waters off California was in 1984, but Trumps order seeks to renew the leasing program. There are more than 30 offshore drilling platforms and islands and hundreds of miles of underwater oil and gas pipelines off Californias coast. Oil companies conduct fracking from some of the offshore wells using chemicals toxic to wildlife and the public. Separate lawsuits filed by the state of California, Environmental Defense Center and the Center for Biological Diversity challenging the federal governments approval of offshore fracking are pending in federal district court.
For Immediate Release, August 14, 2018 Contact: David Whiteside, Tennessee Riverkeeper, (423) 451-6807, DWhiteside@TennesseeRiver.org

Elise Bennett, Center for Biological Diversity, (727) 755-6950, ebennett@biologicaldiversity.org Tennessee Riverkeeper Joins Lawsuit to Protect Critically Endangered Alabama Fish From Auto Plant Massive Development Threatens Survival of Rare Spring Pygmy Sunfish HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Tennessee Riverkeeper today joined the Center for Biological Diversity in filing a formal notice of intent to sue Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A. Inc. and the city of Huntsville over the construction and operation of an automobile factory in the heart of the most important habitat for one of Alabamas rarest fishes. "We need to take every step we can to ensure that we protect the abundance of aquatic biodiversity God blessed us with, including the spring pygmy sunfish, said David Whiteside, executive director of the Tennessee Riverkeeper. We dont have to choose between jobs or clean water. We can have both by ensuring existing laws are enforced. These are values shared by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. The $1.6 billion automobile assembly plant, being built on a 2,400-acre area west of Huntsville, threatens to pollute and degrade springs, streams and wetlands that support one of only two remaining populations of the critically endangered spring pygmy sunfish. The massive industrial development will include a large factory and parking lots covering hundreds of thousands of square feet. Construction activities started in June and, after a brief pause, resumed in late July. The threat of this type of development led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the sunfish under the Endangered Species Act in 2013. Agency experts explained that changing land use from rural to urban/industrial within the Beaverdam Spring/Creek area will be detrimental to the spring pygmy sunfish because it will degrade water quality, disrupt stream flow and fragment remaining habitat. Both Toyota and Mazda are responsible for making sure they dont wipe one of Alabamas rarest fishes off the face of the earth, said Elise Bennett, a Center attorney representing the two nonprofit groups. If these companies want to be good neighbors, theyll put comprehensive protections in place before its too late for the sunfish. Background

The spring pygmy sunfish is a small, striped fish that rarely grows larger than an inch and is known for its complex courtship dance, which involves fin undulations, vertical bobbing, weaving and dashing. Since its discovery in 1937, the spring pygmy sunfish has hovered on the brink of extinction. Habitat loss and degradation caused the small fish to completely disappear from two of three springs it was known to inhabit, leaving the Beaverdam Spring and Creek complex, and the surrounding area, as the one of the last known areas of occupied habitat.


Pharma exports fetched $17.27 billion in the previous fiscal and this year it was expected to be between $19 billion and $20 billion, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), Director General Uday Bhaskar said.

Pharmaceutical exports from the country are expected to cross $19 billion in worth during the current fiscal despite muted growth in the North American markets, according to Pharmexcil, a body under Union Commerce Ministry.

Pharma exports fetched $17.27 billion in the previous fiscal and this year it was expected to be between $19 billion and $20 billion, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), Director General Uday Bhaskar said.

During the first quarter of the current fiscal, pharma exports clocked an increase of 17.76 percent to $4.6 billion against $3.9 billion during the corresponding quarter a year ago, he said.

"Last year we had 2.92 percent growth in Pharma exports. We are expecting that we may reach $19 billion to $20 billion in the year 2018-19. Old markets are getting revived and we are also entering into new markets," said Mr. Bhasker.

He said most of the issues with regards to the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), which had impacted exports from India in the first five months of last fiscal, were getting resolved. "Chinese market is also opening up. We are working on that. China has removed tariff on certain cancer drugs. All these create conducive atmosphere for Indian drug exporters," he said.

Bhaskar said Pharmexcil had been advising drug manufacturers in the country to look for emerging markets to offset the US impact. North America, the largest market for Indian Pharma exporters, witnessed a negative growth of 7.35 percent to $5.35 billion in FY 18 against $ 5.77 billion in the previous year.

It constitutes over 30 percent of Indian pharma exports followed by Africa and the European Union with 19.37 percent and 15.92 percent respectively. However, during the first quarter ending June 30, exports to North America registered 17.67 percent growth to $ 1.40 billion, Bhaskar added.

Bhaskar said that Pharmexcil was also taking a business delegation to China later this month to tap the potential of the Asia's largest economy following some regulatory changes in the neighbouring country. "China made zero duty on anti-cancer drugs. They also simplified product registration procedures... there are some proactive steps by the Chinese Government," he said.

Pharma exports to China during the last fiscal registered a growth of over 37 percent to $ 200 million against $145.5 million in 2016-17, according to Pharmexcil statistics.
MIT Media Lab has devised a headset which can read one's thoughts, and process answers for questions and reply to its wearer without the need for speaking out loud.

MIT Media Labs has recently launched the first ever compact headset that reads signals sent from the brain to the mouth and the jaw

MIT Media Lab has devised a headset which can read one's thoughts, and process answers for questions and replies to its wearer without the need for speaking out loud.

As per a report by CNET, when we think about something, our brain sends a signal to our mouth and jaw, and AlterEgo captures these signals.

MIT Media Labs states that the communication between AlterEgo and the person wearing it, happens through bone-conduction headphones.

The technology transmits sound vibrations through the face bones without travelling through the ear canal. Thus, AlterEgo could easily communicate with the individual while he is actually talking to someone else.

In its trials that involved 15 people, AlterEgo had an accurate transcription rate of 92 percent. Arnav Kapur, the graduate student who led AlterEgo's development, describes it as an "intelligence-augmentation device."
Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi Monday told his Yemeni counterpart that Cairo is concerned about insecurity in the Red Sea after Houthi rebels attacked two Saudi oil tankers last month in the Strait of Bab al-Mandab.

We categorically reject that Yemen becomes a foothold for the influence of non-Arab forces, or a platform for security and stability threats against brotherly Arab countries or freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, Sisi told reporters after a meeting with visiting Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Saudi Arabia last month temporarily suspended shipping of its oil through the Strait of Bab al-Mandab in the Red Sea after Houthis launched missiles against two tankers belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco. The attack damaged one vessel.

The Strait is an important waterway for international shipping activities through the Red Sea, connecting Asia with Europe through Egypts Suez Canal.

The rebels who have been fighting the authority of President Hadi since 2014 have control over Yemens Hodeidah port on the shores of the Red Sea.

Egypt is part of the Saudi-led international coalition backing up Hadi who was thrown out of capital Sanaa by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Egyptian forces were basically tasked with securing the Strait.

Al-Sisi also stressed Egypts backing to Hadis authority and commitment to helping it restore stability to the country, Reuters reports.

We discussed the dangers that the Red Sea had been exposed to because of the terrorism of the Houthi militias and its supporter, Iran, which aims not only to impact Red Sea security but Arab national security as a whole, Hadi said.
This Disney-obsessed Family Visits Disneyland Every Week Pulse oi-Syeda Farah

How lucky are those who get to visit Disneyland over and over again? While it remains a dream for many, there are those individuals who seem to be breaking a record by visiting it over 300 times!

Well, here we are revealing to you the details about the family that loves to visit Disneyland every weekend! It doesn't end there as the family of 4 has already visited Disneyland over 300 times and it wishes to continue the tradition!

Here are more details about this family that is crazy about visiting Disneyland every weekend!

Video Of Heroic Cows Make A Thief Run Around!



The family of Ruvalcabas lives right next door to Disneyland in a town called Norwalk in California. This means that they can visit the park in Anaheim at least once a week!

Every time the family visits Disneyland, the family members are dressed up as different characters! It is said that the mum, Jennifer loves to create all the outfits herself from scratch.

It all started after Jennifer taught herself to sew. Since she is a stay-at-home mum she has made over 60 outfits for her daughter Riley who is just a six-year-old and her two-year-old son Liam has over 20 costumes of his favourite cartoon characters.

To manage the expenses, Jennifer revealed that she buys her fabrics from a local bargain shop since this helps her to save on money.

Since the time Jennifer started posting the pictures of the dresses that she made, she got a good response, and since then she is now making money out of her own Disney costume business!

Even though the family uses the earning from the business, the family members plan to continue funding their trips to Disneyland each week.

He Is The Best Dressed Rickshaw Taxi Driver In Nigeria

What do you think of this crazy family? Let us know in the comment section below.
Nag Panchami 2019: Interesting Facts About Nag Panchami From Bhavishya Purana Faith Mysticism oi-Renu

Nag Panchami is observed on the Shukla Paksha Panchami in the Shravan month according to the Hindi calendar. This year, it will be celebrated on 25 July (Saturday). The muhurta (timing) for the puja will be between 05:39 AM to 08:22 AM

Most of the life forms on earth are considered to represent Gods in Hinduism. Many birds and animals are depicted as mounts of the gods. There is a tradition of worshipping the associated animals along with the primary deities on a festival. A rat is offered prayers for being the mount of Lord Ganesha. An ox, named as Nandi Bael, is worshipped for being dear to Lord Shiva. Snake is another such creature as Lord Shiva wears him around his neck. However, a whole day as a festival is dedicated to the worship of snakes. The lord of snakes, known as Nag Devta, is worshipped on this day.

While it is a tradition to worship and perform puja before an image of a snake on this day, we are here with a number of facts related to Nag Panchami and snakes, most of them taken from Bhavishya Puran.

1. Bhavishya Puran, one of the scriptures of Hinduism, says that Nag Panchami is very dear to snakes and it was celebrated in the Nag Loka, the abode of snakes in the Satyuga as well. It is believed that whoever offers a milk bath to the snakes on this day, stays protected from snakes and snake bites on this day. Not just this, the whole clan stays protected.

2. There are twelve types of snakes mentioned in the scriptures. Among those twelve the Vasuki, Takshak, Kaliya, Manibhadra, Aeravat, Dhritarashtra, Karkotak and Dhananjay are believed to protect the person who performs a puja on this day.

3. According to one story, once the whole Nag Loka had started burning, and cow's milk was offered to the snakes to soothe their bodies. Since it was a Panchami tithi on that day, Nag Panchami until today is observed for worshipping them, by offering a milk bath.

4. It is said that a snake lays up to 240 eggs after the end of the Chaturmasa period. Chaturmasa is the period of four months starting from Shravana. Snakes come out of their burrows during this period.

5. The death of a snake takes place in various ways: they might be killed by peacocks, human beings, cats, Chakor bird (Chukar partridge), or a horse. If a snake escapes all these forms of death, it lives for around 120 years.

Nag Panchami 2018:            2018  Boldsky

6. There are eight reasons why a snake might bite you. Sometimes it is told to do so by the lord of death.

7. It is said that an inauspicious occurrence known as Kalsarpa Dosha or Kalsarpa Yoga can exist in the birth chart of a person. This occurrence might cause hardships in the life of an individual, though not always. Such a dosha or occurrence is removed from his life if a person worships Nag Devta on Nag Panchami. Various other remedial pujas are also performed on Nag Panchami.

Easy Puja Vidhi For Nag Panchami At Home
Nag Panchami 2019: Puja Vidhi At Home, Date, Time Faith Mysticism oi-Renu

Nag Panchami Puja Vidhi:        | Boldsky

Nag Panchami, falling on the fifth day of the brighter fortnight of the Shravana month, will be observed on August 15 this year, when India is celebrating its 73rd Independence day as well. Nag Panchami is dedicated to the worship of snakes.

Nag Devta Is Worshipped On Nag Panchami

Nag Devta, the lord of snakes, is offered flowers, fruits and sandalwood paste. It is said, that doing this pleases Lord Shiva also. Moreover, Nag Devta helps Shiva in bringing back the balance between Dharma and Karma on the Earth. Both the deities protect us from all forms of evil. This day is also known as Garuda Panchami and the Garuda, a divine eagle considered the mount of Lord Vishnu, is also offered prayers. The description of Garuda is found in Vishnu Purana as well as Ramayana, where he is shown as a half eagle-half man creature.

Sarwarth Siddhi Yoga On Nag Panchami 2019

There is a Sarwarth Siddhi Yoga on Nag Panchami. Astrologers say it is a highly auspicious occurrence as all the pujas performed on this day become successful. Nag Panchami is considered for performing Rudrabhishek also. Moreover, Lord Shiva is worshipped on every festival coming during the Shravana, as the whole month is dedicated to him.

The auspicious timings for puja on Nag Panchami 2019 would be from 5:54 am to 8:30 am. Here we have brought you the puja vidhi for Nag Panchami.

Nag Panchami Puja Vidhi At Home

1. The procedure of Puja begins with offering water to Shiva linga, as described in the video. Keep a copper snake around the Shiva linga. Then offer water to Shiva linga as well as to Nag Devta.

2. Now offer milk to both Shiva linga and Nag Devta.

3. Take some milk in a bowl and offer it before the Nag Devta.

4. Now mark a sandalwood tilak on Shiva linga and offer sandalwood paste to Nag Devta as well, as explained in the video.

5. Then offer Pushpamala before Nag Devta and Lord Shiva. Offer some flowers also.

6. Thereafter offer fruits to the deities. After that offer a Kumkum (vermilion) tilak to Nag Devta. Put some rice as well, on the tilak.

7. Now perform the aarti.

For the aarti, you have to light a lamp in ghee, preferably the ghee extracted from cow's milk. Then light the incense and keep them in the aarti tray. Now offer the aarti before the deities together.

There still exists a tradition of offering milk to snakes after removing their poisonous teeth, in the villages of India. However, doctors do not consider it right for the health of the snakes these days. Therefore, people offer milk to the idol of a snake, in the form of Nag Devta.

Nag Panchami Vrat, Puja Date and Auspicious Time

Nag Panchami Also Observed By Those Having Kalsarpa Yoga

Kalsarpa Yoga is an occurrence in the birth chart, generally considered to be inauspicious, though this is not so always. Depending on the placement of other planets, this occurrence can be both favourable as well as unfavourable for a person's life. There are twelve types of snakes described in our scriptures. Thus, Kalsarpa Yoga is also believed to be of twelve types. It is said that a person can get rid of the negative effects of Kalsarpa Yoga by performing puja on Nag Panchami.
Kuwait Monday dismissed reports that it has planned to inject $1.6 billion into the Turkish plummeting Lira which lost 40 per cent of its value against the US dollar amid the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Ankara and Washington.

Kuwaiti Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf discussed with his Turkish counterpart Berat Albayrak Turkeys economic situation on Sunday night but no agreement that the Gulf country will inject $1.6 billion, was tabled or reached, according to state-ran Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Turkeys current Lira (TL) has gone down record low, trading TL 6.57 to $1, after losing 40 per cent of its value as the diplomatic crisis between Ankara and Washington heightened. U.S. President Donald Trump Friday threatened to double tariffs on Turkeys imports of iron and steel.

The two countries have fallen apart over several issues but more importantly on the situation of a U.S. Pastor held in Turkey over terror-related charges. The U.S. Treasury also last month targeted Turkish Interior and Justice Ministers with sanctions on grounds that both cabinet members have hindered the release of the Pastor.

As Turkeys economic stability becomes shaky, the Central Bank CBRT, according Turkish Daily Sabah, has moved to introduce measures to sustain the effective functioning of markets.

The central bank also said it would provide TL 10 billion ($1.5 billion), $6 billion and $3 billion equivalent of gold liquidity to the financial system, the daily reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Monday reassured diplomats in the country that the economy, despite speculative reports promoting negative perceptions, remains intact, solid and strong.
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who favors subsidies without accountability for both K-12 private schools and for-profit colleges Photo: Olivier Douliery/Getty Images

It is unsurprising that an administration headed by the one-time proprietor of Trump University is leading a drive to let for-profit colleges receive federal subsidies without having to demonstrate they are doing more good than harm to their students. It is even less surprising that the specific advocate for this and similar policies is Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who has devoted much of her life and her considerable fortune to promoting publicly financed private education.

DeVoss department is taking steps towards rescinding rules promulgated by the Obama administration that require for-profit schools to show what percentage of their graduates are engaged in gainful employment  i.e., how many people in the booming economy the administration loves to brag about are actually earning incomes commensurate with the student debt theyve accumulated  or lose access to federal aid programs. The rules were adopted in response to growing signs of poor performance in the for-profit higher education sector, and followed the fiscally conservative principle that Washington shouldnt be subsidizing fraud and failure.

There are multiple arguments to make against the proposed DeVos measure, but at the moment Senate Democrats are focused on exposing their cost, as Roll Call reports:

The Trump administrations proposal to repeal Obama-era requirements for recipients of federal student aid comes with a price tag of about $5.3 billion over a decade, a figure that is already giving critics ammunition as the Senate prepares to turn to Education Department appropriations this week 

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., slammed the move as a giveaway to for-profit colleges that would cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Murray is the top Senate Democrat both on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Shell be leading debate for her side of the aisle next week when the $179.3 billion Labor-HHS-Education measure comes to the floor, as part of a package with the $675 billion Defense spending bill.

The $5 billionplus cost represents loan and Pell Grant money poured down the rathole of for-profit schools that cant show theyve offered value for the often-high tuitions they charge. The answer DeVos and her allies generally offer, of course, is that only markets establish fair value, not some gobbledygook federal standards that compare tuition or aid to later earnings. But as New Yorks Jonathan Chait recently pointed out, this is a misappropriation of what markets are supposed to do:

One might explain DeVoss stance as free-market ideology run wild. But theres no free market to speak of here. The question isnt whether for-profit colleges can operate, its whether they can operate with federal subsidies. The liberal position is that, if the government is going to finance higher education, it should impose some measures to make sure its actually getting some higher education. The Trump position is that business is entitled to federal subsidies, and the grifting business is especially welcome.

In the past DeVos has been frank about why she thinks private educational institutions demand public funding, as in this 2001 statement:

There are not enough philanthropic dollars in America to fund what is currently the need in education  Our desire is to confront the culture in ways that will continue to advance Gods kingdom.

This last, jarring note is not the sort of thing you will hear Betsy DeVos say publicly these days, but it casts light on her (and on Dick DeVos, her husbands) determination to commandeer public treasuries for private educational purposes in the K-12 as well as higher education arenas, as I noted during her confirmation hearings:

DeVos and her husband have devoted themselves and much of their vast wealth to severing any link between public-education funding and public accountability, championing the idea that parents, with zero accountability to anyone, should be the sole distributors of taxpayer dollars. Thats why they have supported attaching funds to the individual child, to follow them wherever their parents choose. And thats why in addition to supporting the use of public funds at private or religious schools  or for religiously motivated home-schooling  the DeVoses have fought to make charter public schools in their own state of Michigan as unaccountable as possible  contradicting the very idea of the charter.

In the case of for-profit colleges as well as private K-12 schools, DeVos will argue she is acting as an advocate of parents and students, not the school proprietors preying on them. But thats why the fiscal arguments against her proposals are important: Theyre a reminder that taxpayers and the general public on whose behalf the federal government is supposed to work ought to have a say in this, beyond representing the deep pockets accessed to pay for the alleged market decision in favor of private schools. As for DeVoss ultimate motivation, one might observe that Gods kingdom can and should get along without government subsidies.
After swearing off any future candidacy, the 2016 Libertarian presidential candidate has suddenly leapt into the U.S. Senate race in New Mexico. Photo: Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Press Herald via Getty Images

A cranky spoiler to some, a lovable goofball with serious ideas to others, 2016 Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson has jumped back into electoral politics with a late decision to run for the Senate in his home state of New Mexico this year, per this upbeat ad depicting him as something of a cross between Jim Thorpe and Pericles:

Last October, after an extended disappearance from public life, Johnson told the Washington Posts David Weigel: Im never going to be a candidate again. But then the New Mexico Libertarian Party came knocking after its U.S. Senate candidate dropped out, and the former two-term governor from back in the day (he left office in 2003) changed his mind.

Johnson set a Libertarian Party record in 2016 by winning 3 percent of the national popular vote, and more to the point, just under 10 percent in New Mexico. His leap into the Senate race is more than anything else a wake-up call for incumbent Democratic senator Martin Heinrich, who had been coasting to an easy reelection win over underfunded Republican political novice Mick Rich. But it seems Team Heinrich got ready in a hurry: They are already out with a poll showing their guy leading a three-candidate field at 47 percent, with Rich taking 29 percent and Johnson 22 percent. The poll also gives Johnson an underwater 25/38 approval ratio.

Its unclear what sort of resources Johnson can bring to the race, and what he will choose to say about the current president of the United States, which will help determine which pool of major-party voters he is likely to dip into most effectively. At the time of his interview with Weigel, he was saying Trumps presidency could be the end of the republic as we know it. Its also worth knowing that most analyses of the 2016 vote concluded that Johnson drew more voters from Clinton than from Trump (though many Johnson voters would have just stayed home had the Libertarian option not been available to them).

If he does begin to pose a real threat to Heinrich, you can be sure the senators campaign will make sure to accentuate the issue positions that have made Libertarians the fringe party they have always been. And if it comes down to a candidate debate, Id guess Heinrich will ask Johnson what he thinks about Aleppo.

Odds are Johnson will head back into retirement, but this time without his last race making him wonder if he had played a part in a terrible thing happening to his country.
Police secure the roads around the Houses of Parliament as forensic teams investigate the crash. Photo: Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A man crashed his car into barriers outside Britains Houses of Parliament on Tuesday morning, injuring a number of pedestrians according to London police. The AP reports that two people were hurt, and their injuries arent life-threatening.

The driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of terrorism offenses. Witnesses said the car was driving at high speed before smashing into security barriers at 7:37 a.m.

The car drove at speed into the barriers outside the House of Lords. There was a loud bang from the collision and a bit of smoke, Ewelina Ochab told the Associated Press. The driver did not get out. The guards started screaming to people to move away.

Another witness, Jason Williams, said the crash appeared intentional.

It looked deliberate. It didnt look like an accident, he said. How do you do that by accident? It was a loud bang.

Photos from the scene show a man in a puffy black jacket being surrounded by police, then led away from a silver Ford Fiesta. Police said hes in his late 20s, but have yet to release his name.

At this stage, we are treating this as a terrorist incident and the Mets Counter Terrorism Command is now leading the investigation, the Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

Police quickly flooded the area, and cordoned off the streets surrounding the Houses of Parliament. The Westminster tube station was closed, and people were urged to stay away from the area.

There has been an incident in Westminster - stay safe London. @BBCBreaking @SkyUK pic.twitter.com/UG16XvJJD1  Ewelina U. Ochab (@EwelinaUO) August 14, 2018

London #Westminster incident update:



- Man arrested after car crashes into barriers outside Parliament

- Number of pedestrians injured, none life-threatening

- Westminster in lockdownhttps://t.co/CprbiGZgrg pic.twitter.com/cI77btb8T6  BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 14, 2018

Im in close contact with @MetPoliceUK Commissioner about the incident at Parliament Square.



Thank you to the first responders who were on the scene so quickly.



Enquiries are continuing. Westminster station is closed. Follow @metpoliceuk for updates.https://t.co/CR9rlwHCn8  Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) August 14, 2018

A man has been arrested after a car was driven into barriers outside the Houses of Parliament. Police have confirmed that the incident is being treated as a terrorist act. All Londoners, like me, utterly condemn all acts of terrorism on our city. https://t.co/9gFu3HYtae  Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) August 14, 2018

There was a terror attack at the same site in March 2017, when Khalid Masood ran his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people. He then fled his vehicle and stabbed and killed a police officer before being fatally shot outside Parliament. That was one of four vehicle-based terror attacks in London in the past 18 months.
A crew of approximately 40 searchers came up empty-handed on Monday in the search for Brandon man Jeffrey David Freiheit, an experienced hiker who went missing in Germany.

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This article was published 14/8/2018 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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A crew of approximately 40 searchers came up empty-handed on Monday in the search for Brandon man Jeffrey David Freiheit, an experienced hiker who went missing in Germany.

Freiheit was last seen on Aug. 2, in Bad Tolz, Germany, en route along a hiking rail called Der Traumpfad (The Dream Way), which spans from Munich to Venice.

FACEBOOK Brandon man Jeff Freiheit is pictured in Bad Tolz, Germany, shortly before going off the radar on Aug. 2.

Following a night spent in the German community, he was believed to have headed out to to hike the Brauneck Mountain, but has not been heard from since.

It was a solo hike, and law enforcement in Germany note that Freiheit booked accommodations along the trail, which he failed to show up for.

Wife Selena and mother Kathy flew to Germany on Saturday to assist in the search however they can.

Selena pointed to ongoing coverage by German news source merkur.de as carrying the latest information on her husbands disappearance, directing concerned friends and loved ones to the website for updates.

Mondays search consisted of 40 mountain rescue force members, four search dogs and a police dog.

"The forces were also able to search an extremely large area on the second day. Unfortunately not with the hoped-for success," mountain rescue team Lenggrieser Bergwacht spokesperson Sylvia Frei told merkur.de.

Although unsuccessful in finding Freiheit, they located two pieces of clothing, including a T-shirt and a jacket, which they are investigating to determine whether it is that of the Brandon educator.

"We will not be idle while were at it," Frei said, adding that searchers are using GPS trackers in order to map out their search area and fill in whatever gaps might arise.

Over the weekend, a police helicopter fly over the area Freiheit was suspected to have been hiking, which it passed over several times and at different altitudes.

Selena launched a gofundme.com fundraiser on Saturday in order to help cover the costs associated with their trip to Germany.

As of press time, the fundraiser, called "Help Support the Freiheits," had raised more than $20,000 of its $25,000 goal.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
When Peyton Gale learned that the school psychology graduate program she planned to take at Minot State had been unexpectedly cancelled, the Brandon University graduate was left with a difficult choice to make: look for work or find another school that would take her.

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This article was published 14/8/2018 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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When Peyton Gale learned that the school psychology graduate program she planned to take at Minot State had been unexpectedly cancelled, the Brandon University graduate was left with a difficult choice to make: look for work or find another school that would take her.

That was in June, and just this month Gale learned that she had been accepted into the masters and specialist school psychology program at Minnesota State University-Moorhead near Fargo.

"Its been a roller-coaster," Gale said about her experience these past few months. "Im nervous, but also very excited to actually get to pursue this career."

Gale is one of six BU alumni who enrolled in Minot States school psychology program before it was cut following the resignation of its program director in April. Unable to find a replacement, the school announced on June 6 that it had suspended admissions into the program.

"When I was told they terminated the program, I was obviously really distraught," said Gale, who learned about the cancellation only a few days after graduating from BU in June.

"But then I had to turn that around into motivation and tried to contact other schools."

Some of her former classmates have also been successful in finding schools that would take them.

Emma Donnelly, who had planned to live with Gale in Minot, found out early on that she could attend the University of Calgary.

Others plan to purse online masters degrees from Yorkville University in New Brunswick and the University of Liverpool. At least two others are still deciding on what to do next.

Prof. Shannon Gadbois, chair of the psychology department at BU, was one of a number of educators who have tried to help the six alumni find schools, including writing reference letters  which they dont normally do in the summer.

For graduates without honours degrees, its more difficult for them to apply for masters programs at other Canadian universities, she said.

"From our perspective, its not ideal," Gadbois said. "Well be very cautious about any kind of support for programs that were not familiar with. We have to be aware of these kinds of things."

However, Gadbois was impressed by how proactive the students were, describing it as an "impressive show of resilience" given the circumstances.

"They were distressed, but they didnt sit on it. All of them took action and they made plans and we supported them wherever we could and tried to give them options at BU."

Although she didnt know the exact reason for why the former program director at Minot State left, Gadbois said the staff at the university were probably just as disappointed as the students.

She said that for smaller institutions, it can be harder to attract professors, especially if a spouse cant find work or the rest of their family lives farther away.

Gadbois said if faculty members find a position that is closer to home for them, they may end up moving.

"It does affect our retention of faculty members," she said. "We dont need to hire both partners if theyre both academics, but we do need to be aware of what resources are available."

Gale said the faculty at BU were very excited about her acceptance at Moorhead. "This whole situation has been, I think, a big shock to everybody, so theyre really happy for me."

With plans to move down south, Gale hopes to find a place to live in the coming days before classes start later this month.

"Im just excited to see what happens now, but Ive learned anything can happen and you just have to not give up."

 mlee@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @mtaylorlee
Brandon City Council is calling on the province to provide Manitoba municipalities at least one-third of total annual excise tax revenues collected on cannabis sales.

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This article was published 14/8/2018 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Brandon City Council is calling on the province to provide Manitoba municipalities at least one-third of total annual excise tax revenues collected on cannabis sales.

A resolution was passed last night, which will be submitted to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities for consideration at the 2018 annual convention in November. The deadline for AMM resolutions is Aug. 23.

Mayor Rick Chrest said the looming cannabis legalization is a "rapidly burgeoning issue" that will impact municipalities in a big way.

"Its cascading down from the federal government," he said, adding details and regulations are now rolling out to the provinces. "The provinces are scrambling to have all their pieces in place, which then kind of rolls on down to municipalities."

Chrest said municipalities are the "last rung on the ladder," and are still waiting for concrete information on how cannabis legalization will come into effect by Oct. 17.

The federal government is responsible for regulating cannabis production in Canada, while provincial and territorial governments will oversee the wholesale distribution and retail sale of marijuana after legalization.

One of the biggest questions is on the policing side, particularly roadside testing. There has been talk about various devices being tested for cannabis screening, but Chrest said its unclear if it will be approved and ready to go for police services by October.

"Those of us that have municipal police forces, were expected to police for (cannabis), and we dont have the capabilities to do that," he said.

The citys resolution calls on AMM to lobby the province to establish additional funding mechanisms in the event costs incurred by municipalities exceeds their share of excise revenues.

"Its just us playing our part in the AMM and gives us an opportunity to more properly deal with this through AMM instead of Brandon just one-off going to province," Chrest said. "This is  going through the correct channels."

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodalespoke about cannabis revenue sharing at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Police Governance in Winnipeg last week.

Goodale explained that Ottawa initially proposed splitting revenue from its cannabis excise tax between the federal and provincial governments 50-50. But the final deal, announced in December, resulted in the federal share shrinking to 25 per cent, while the provinces will reap 75 per cent.

"And the expectation is that at least 25 per cent of the total would flow through to municipalities and local police authorities to do what they need to do," Goodale said. "We will keep making that point to provincial governments, because the federal decision to pull back from 50 to 25 (per cent) was on the assumption that the 25 (per cent) that we were freeing up would be going to municipalities and local authorities to do what they need to do."

Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Rosser) said the funds collected through cannabis revenue could help the city with a local solution for addiction problems currently being experienced in Brandon.

"Were being asked to do something at the municipal level," he said, adding these funds could be a great resource to help combat addictions in the local context.

 jaustin@brandonsun.com, with files from Winnipeg Free Press

 Twitter: @jillianaustin
A man who had his rifle stolen out of the back seat of his unlocked vehicle has been given the opportunity to earn a clean record after pleading guilty to weapon-related offences.

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This article was published 14/8/2018 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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A man who had his rifle stolen out of the back seat of his unlocked vehicle has been given the opportunity to earn a clean record after pleading guilty to weapon-related offences.

"There is now a gun on the streets," Crown attorney Kaley Tschetter said on Monday. "It is entirely inappropriate to be leaving firearms in your vehicle, particularly one that has been left unlocked."

Justin Cole Plett, 19, pleaded guilty in Brandon provincial court to careless storage of a firearm and careless storage of ammunition.

On June 13, Plett went to the Brandon police station to report that his vehicle had been rifled through at some point overnight while parked outside his residence on Seventh Street, Tschetter said.

A number of items were stolen, including a black Tikka .204 rifle complete with a vortex glass scope and a box of ammunition, Tschetter said, adding that Plett had removed the bolt from the rifle and left it in the front console.

Plett told police he had been using the gun earlier at his familys farm and had left it in the back seat, Tschetter said.

There were a few people who knew Plett had the gun with him in the vehicle, Tschetter said, but he told police he did not suspect any of them would have taken it.

Plett also did not have the serial numbers recorded for the rifle or the scope, Tschetter said, and the gun has not been recovered.

"It is extremely concerning that Mr. Plett stored his firearm in such a manner  We now have a firearm that is out on the street that can be used for who knows what kind of illegal activity," Tschetter said. "If Mr. Plett had stored his firearm properly, it would not be in the position that its in at this point in time."

Plett recognizes the consequences of his actions, defence lawyer Ryan Fawcett said, adding the experience has been a "wake-up call" for Plett, who grew up in a farming community where having a firearm in a vehicle was just habit.

"This may trigger a more mindful way of storing firearms, and thats a good thing," Fawcett said.

This experience has been a "major learning lesson" to Plett, Fawcett said, suggesting a conditional discharge would be appropriate.

"I guess I find it shocking that anyone in this country would own a firearm and not know how to store it or how a weapon needs to be stored," Judge John Combs said. "People shouldnt own firearms in this country unless they know the responsibilities that go along with it."

Combs said the primary culprit in the offence was the suspect who took the gun in the first place, but added that Pletts bad decisions played a part in the firearm now being on the street.

Conditional discharges have been granted to people with similar charges before, Combs said, adding that there was no reason Pletts sentence should be any different.

Plett was sentenced to a six-month conditional discharge along with 30 hours of community service. He is also banned from being in possession of a firearm for two years.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
Incumbent governor Scott Walker and Senator Tammy Baldwin are loathed by members of the opposite party, and the August 14 primary will shape challenges to them. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

In one respect, Wisconsin is one of the upper midwestern states with a progressive tradition that Donald Trump improbably swept into the GOP column in 2016 (by just over 21,000 votes out of nearly 3 million cast). It was the first time the state went Republican in a presidential contest since 1984, the 49-state Reagan landslide over Walter Mondale.

But from another perspective, well before Trump, Wisconsin was ground zero for bitter partisan polarization fed by a newly militant and uncompromising conservative movement. Goveror Scott Walker, who is seeking his third term this year, is the sort of hammer-headed screw-you ideological politician that is becoming so common in Trumps GOP. But Walker has an evil touch of Karl Rove in his makeup as well, craftily using his power to strike at the Democrats union funding base while becoming one of the Koch donor networks favorite pols. Every election contest in which he is engaged is holy war for Democrats, who are frustrated by losses to him in 2010, 2014, and also in a failed recall election in 2012.

Senator Tammy Baldwin isnt the kind of national devil-figure to the opposition that Walker has become. But her election in 2012 as a solidly liberal and openly lesbian senator from Madison, the Berkeley of Wisconsin, was an affront to Wisconsin Republicans, and she became an instant target for them this year, particularly after they improbably succeeded in reelecting Stone Age conservative Ron Johnson in 2016 over the legendary progressive Russ Feingold.

Without any question the gubernatorial and Senate races in Wisconsin this fall will be partisan slugfests, along with a battle over control of the state senate (currently held by Republicans, but only by a 1815 margin). The stakes in state government were made even higher by the failure of the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this to intervene in a partisan gerrymandering suit aimed at reversing a heavy-handed GOP state legislative map. It means control of the governorship and the legislature between now and 2022 (when the next round of redistricting occurs) could shape Wisconsin politics for many years.

Walkers name on the ballot will guarantee a vigorous Democratic challenge regardless of the identify of the nominee. Hardly anyone is neutral about the man. According to the authoritative Marquette Law School poll, the state is entirely and stubbornly divided over him:

Combining five Wisconsin polls by the Marquette Law School in 2017 and 2018, exactly 48% of registered voters view Walker favorably and 48% view him unfavorably, according to data provided by Marquette pollster Charles Franklin.

The Democratic field against Walker is large and not terribly well known. But most accounts the front-runner is State School Superintendent Tony Evers, enjoys statewide name recognition and offers a message very focused on Walkers unpopular public education cuts (which continue to be a key issue, along with his gutting of collective bargaining rights and his penchant for corporate welfare). There are several potentially viable rivals (as described by the New York Times), but its unclear whether any of them can break out of the pack:

Kelda Roys, a lawyer and former lawmaker, whose campaign ad showing her breast-feeding her daughter drew national notice; Mahlon Mitchell, the leader of a state firefighter union who is African-American; Matt Flynn, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party who has taken criticism for his work as a lawyer for the Milwaukee Archdiocese during the abuse scandal; Paul Soglin, the longest serving mayor of Madison; Kathleen Vinehout, a state lawmaker and farmer; Mike McCabe, known for his work with a watchdog group tracking political financing and corruption; and Josh Pade, a lawyer who once interned with Russ Feingold, the former United States Senator.

General election polls are a bit premature at this point, and very much dependent on assessments of Walker. Marquette had him with small leads over the various under-publicized Democratic candidates in June. A late June NBC News/Marist poll that was loaded with all sorts of bad news for Republicans showed Walker trailing Evers 41/54. The odds are high that by November the race will be close, expensive, and loud. And while hes rallied to win decisively in the past, his big failure of a presidential campaign in 2016 should not been forgotten.

Republicans are holding a much better defined primary to choose an opponent for Tammy Baldwin. The state party Establishment favorite and early front-runner is state senator Leah Vukmir, a stolid conservative who is the presumed choice of Scott Walker (though he has remained officially neutral), and has been endorsed by House Speaker Paul Ryan and three other Wisconsin U.S. House members, plus former RNC chair and White House chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Her opponent is another of the outsider-businessman types who have popped up in such large quantities this year: Kevin Nicholson, a former Marine Corps officer in Afghanistan and a high-powered management consultant. Last fall Tim Alberta described him memorably:

Nicholson could have been built in a GOP laboratory. He is hungry and confident and committed, having oriented much of his adult life around an eventual run for public office. His published writings on pension reform read like a product of the Heritage Foundation; his voluntary second tour overseas is the stuff ad-makers fantasize about. He is, for comparisons sake, a wealthier, better-looking and more charming version of Senator Tom Cotton.

Nicholson does have one jarring biographical detail: before joining the military he was national president of the College Democrats of America, and said and did the things Democrats said and did. But he seems to have sweated off the liberal aroma, with backing from Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and the Club for Growth. More importantly, hes being backed financially to the hilt by megadonors Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein (residents of Illinois whose Uline corporate headquarters are in Wisconsin), generous contributors to all kinds of right-wing candidates around the country (e.g., Roy Moore, Chris McDaniel, Scott Walker, and Donald Trump). The Uihleins have given an estimated $10.7 million to groups backing Nicholson and opposing Vukmir and Baldwin.

The race is very close according to all the public polls, and its getting a bit nasty, with Team Nicholson predictably seizing on evidence that Vukmir hasnt always adored Donald Trump:

Breitbart News has seized on this video, made during the 2016 presidential nomination process, claiming that horrified MAGA people are abandoning her in droves. Shes struck back angrily, noting that after she supported three other candidates (Walker, Rubio, and Cruz) in the primaries she was loyal to Trump when he needed it, taping an ad for him after the Access Hollywood video came out.

Democrats are popping popcorn as Vukmir and Nicholson go after each other, and Tammy Baldwin is quietly raising money. As of the end of June she had over $7 million in cash-on-hand and a solid fundraising operation. Shes leading both Republicans by double digits in the polling averages.

But Wisconsin Democrats arent going to take anything for granted after Russ Feingold lost a big lead in 2016 and was upset by Johnson on the power of a wave of last-minute money. And from a national perspective, beating Baldwin could help Republicans offset losses elsewhere in states (e.g., Montana, West Virginia, Missouri, and perhaps Tennessee or Texas) that went for Trump much more heavily than Wisconsin. And despite a likely national Democratic wave, dont bet on a lot of ticket-splitting or even disproportionate partisan enthusiasm in Wisconsin. Both parties are ready to rumble and are armed to the teeth.
West Virginia Supreme Court justice Robin Davis resigns following her impeachment. Photo: Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP

Back in January, West Virginia Supreme Court justice Allen Loughry was in hot water. Reports suggested that hed spent $32,000 of taxpayer money for a couch in his government office and relocated state-owned furniture to his home. In light of these allegations, a Democratic member of the House of Delegates called on that bodys Judiciary Committee to investigate Loughrys potential corruption and consider removing him from office.

This shocked and appalled Mitch Carmichael, the Republican president of the West Virginia Senate, who called the proposal the single dumbest, most ridiculous political stunt that Ive seen in my time in the Legislature.

But then, the investigation went forward and turned up evidence that  in addition to spending lavish sums on his courthouse accommodations Loughry had instructed state employees to transport furniture from the Supreme Court building to his home, and had driven a state-owned car to signings for his 2006 book, Dont Buy Another Vote, I Wont Pay for a Landslide: The Sordid and Continuing History of Political Corruption in West Virginia.

And it also became apparent that Loughry wasnt the only justice whod displayed extremely poor judgement on the propriety of dipping into the public purse. The West Virginia constitution gives the state Supreme Court the power to set its own budget. And while some justices took more egregious advantage of these liberties than others, all spent enough on their offices to cause an ordinary citizen of the cash-strapped state indignation. Suddenly, it became apparent that adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward Supreme Court justices indulging in lavish spending would redound to the GOPs benefit: If the state legislature impeached and convicted the entire court  which had previously had a one-vote Democratic majority  then Republican governor Jim Justice could handpick each and every one of his judicial overseers. The only hitch was that the party would need to ensure that the impeachment process ran past August 14  otherwise, special elections would be held to replace the impeached justices this fall (and thus, Governor Justice would not get to compile a full court of Justices justices). If the justices were removed from office after that date, then Justice could have his own personal Supreme Court reign until 2020.

So, the GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee took its time, even conducting a tour of the state Supreme Court offices earlier this month, according to the Associated Press. And late Monday, Republicans in the House of Delegates voted to impeach all of the states remaining Supreme Court justices  ensuring that the Senate would be unable to convict them before the August 14 deadline.

Alas, the GOP didnt wait quite long enough  Justice Robin Davis, a Democrat, had enough time after her impeachment to retire Monday, thereby triggering an election for her seat this fall. Preconceived, adult-driven mania among the majority party members in the Legislature cannot result in a just and fair outcome, Davis said at a press conference. I have always placed my faith in the people of West Virginia. I return that faith to the people of West Virginia today.

But, assuming Republican Senate president Mitch Carmichael no longer believes that impeaching justices for lavish spending is a ridiculous political stunt, Justice will still get to pick his own majority on the states high court.

Meanwhile, just a little farther south and east, the North Carolina GOPs attempts to rig a state Supreme Court election hit a major snag. In 2017, Republicans in the Tarheel States legislature abolished judicial primaries, over Democratic governor Roy Coopers veto. Their goal was to protect Republican justice Barbara Jackson from both intraparty competition and a viable Democratic challenger  their assumption being that Democrats would have more trouble uniting around a candidate, and would thus end up splitting their votes between multiple contenders.

But this plan backfired. Democrats settled on the civil-rights attorney Anita Earls as their standard-bearer in the race, while Raleigh lawyer Chris Anglin  who had long been registered as a Democrat  changed his party affiliation and filed to run for the Supreme Court as a Republican.

Republicans in the states General Assembly tried to rectify their error in July, by passing a law that would prohibit any Supreme Court candidate from running as a member of the Democratic or Republican Party, if he or she had not been registered with said party at least 90 days before entering the race. Anglin considered this a violation of his rights  and on Monday, Wake County Superior Court judge Rebecca Holt concurred. As Slates Mark Joseph Stern reports:

Holt explained that Anglin has a vested right to have his party affiliation listed on the ballota right the legislature infringed upon by changing the rules and applying them retroactively. This switcheroo violates fundamental principles of fairness, Holt found, thereby violating [Anglins] right to due process under the North Carolina constitution. She also held that the new law severely burdens Anglins associational rights under the state constitution by preventing him from affiliating with his chosen party. And because the law is justified by no compelling or legitimate state interest, she concluded, it must be set aside.

Republicans could appeal the ruling. But time is not on their side, and the states Supreme Court probably isnt either; ballots must be finalized this week, and the current courts Democratic majority has shown little reluctance about swatting down GOP power grabs.

The West Virginia GOP, on the other hand, may not have to worry about Democrats on their states Supreme Court for the rest of this decade.
By Aine Quinn

Bankers, athletes, and celebrities are suing Ingenious Media Holdings, saying they were misled about investments in the film industry that were later branded tax-avoidance by the UK government.

Dozens of traders and managers from Goldman Sachs, Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC Holdings, Credit Suisse, and other banks are among approximately 500 investors taking part in the London lawsuit, according to court documents released earlier this month. Celebrities, including British composer, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, are also among the claimants.

The UK government has cracked down on the misuse of movie tax breaks in recent years. The UK Treasury expanded tax relief for films in 1997, to boost the British film industry, but loopholes in the system were widely abused. At least seven men were sent to jail, including three former Jefferies Group bankers. Ingenious Media, whose movies include the Life of Pi and Avatar, ran investment plans focused on films that were designed to be tax-efficient, according to court documents.

Investors say, however, that Ingenious Media made representations of fact, which were false and which they had no reasonable grounds for believing were true, while promoting the plans. This induced the claimants into joining the plans and losing money, they said. Ingenious denies that the plans were set up as a tax dodge and is in its own legal battle with the UK tax authorities over the issue.

A specialist tax court ruled in August, 2016, that some parts of the investments were eligible for tax relief and others werent, with both sides claiming victory. A spokesperson for Ingenious said that they were confident of validating the rest of the investment vehicles, at a hearing next March.

Patrick McKenna, the Ingenious chairman, who is also a defendant in the lawsuit, said, through his spokesperson, that the claims are entirely without merit and will be vigorously defended.

The number of claimants is rising, though it is still only a quarter of the people who invested in the plans, said David Pickstone, a lawyer at Stewarts Law, who represents the claimants. They expect to recover 200m (224m). The UK tax office has said that one of the Ingenious plans tried to use artificial losses in a range of movies and that, in some variations, users claimed more in tax relief than they had invested.

- Bloomberg
SMEs have been encouraged to apply for millions of euro of funding from the Horizon 2020 SME fund.

Companies can receive 50,000 in funding under phase 1 and from 500,000 to 2.5 million under phase 2 of the Horizon 2020 SME funding.

"Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent over 99% of businesses in the EU so it is crucial to support their growth and innovation," said Deirdre Clune, MEP.

"However, one of the most important issues facing SMEs is their difficulty accessing finance. Ireland has been particularly successful at accessing funding from Europe for our small and medium-sized business sector.

We have the highest success rate in Europe for the Horizon 2020 SME fund with a 16% success rate compared to a European average of 6%.

In total, 50 Irish SME companies have been awarded Horizon 2020 SME Phase 1 funding since its launch in 2014.

"Thats an incredible achievement and is driving innovation and jobs growth in regional parts of Ireland. Horizon 2020 funding from Europe is specifically for research and innovation and encourages our SME companies to innovate and develop new ideas and technologies," said Clune.

The funding is running until 2020 with a total budget of 75 billion, Ireland has set a national target of securing 1.25 billion in EU Horizon 2020 funding.

To date, Ireland has secured funding of 424 million, representing 1.66% of the total EU budget committed.

Digital Desk
Gordon Deegan

New Government fast-track planning rules have delivered planning permission for more than 4,300 residential units over the past year.

In addition to the 4,380 housing units, made up of 2,272 houses and 2,108 apartments, a further 4,085 student bed spaces have secured planning permission under the Governments Strategic Housing Development legislation.

During the same period, a total of 1,575 residential units have been refused by An Bord Pleanala under the new regime.

That is according to An Bord Pleanala which has published an official update one year after the introduction of the Government's Strategic Housing Development rules.

The board has confirmed that all applications to date have been decided within the mandatory timeline of 16 weeks.

The new planning rules were introduced in July 2017 by Government in a bid to address the crisis in the housing and in the student accommodation sectors.

Instead of applications having to go through Council level and then onto An Bord Pleanala (where there is an appeal) in a process that can sometimes take over one year and more, developers can by now bypass local authorities if their plans are for more than 100 homes and 200 student bed spaces.

The planning rules dictate that the applications be made direct to An Bord Pleanala and the appeals board must decide on such planning applications within a mandatory 16 week period.

In its update, An Bord Pleanala has revealed that of the 23 applications decided upon, planning permission has been granted in 18 cases and refused in five comprising of a total of 1,575 residential units.

A further 11 planning applications are currently under consideration by the appeals board.

The 11 applications are made up of 2,193 residential units in Dublin, Galway, Kildare and Cork and 394 student bed spaces in Galway.

The new planning regime suffered a blow when An Bord Pleanala admitted in the High Court in June that it made an error in granting planning permission to Crekav Trading to build 104 houses and 432 apartments on former playing fields east of St Pauls College, beside St Annes Park in Raheny.

The appeals board admitted its error after residents from Clontarf and two environmentalists took a High Court judicial review of the An Bord Pleanala decision.

The application has been sent back to the appeals board to evaluate once more.

Of the 34 applications received by the appeals board over the past year, Dublin accounted for 17 applications with seven in Kildare, four in Galway and six in Cork.

The largest housing development given the go-ahead was for 608 housing units, made up of 496 houses and 112 apartments, and this development is located at Ballinglanna, Glanmire.

The largest student accommodation development was for 2,178 bed spaces at UCD.

Earlier this year, the appeals board fired a warning shot across the bows of developers availing of the new fast-track planning laws aimed when it refused planning permission to a Galway developer for 113 new homes at Bearna outside Galway city because the density of the development was not high enough.

The application was being opposed by a number of locals in Bearna who had expressed concerned at what they believed was the excessive scale and density of the development.

Now the developers, Burkeway Ltd have lodged fresh plans, this time for 197 dwellings made up of 107 homes and 90 apartments, in a bid to comply with Ministerial guidelines on density.

Those wishing to make submissions on the plan have until September 3 to do so.
There have been calls for the Government to impose regulations on Airbnb as new figures show that the hospitality company has had its busiest ever summer in Ireland.

According to figures released today by Airbnb, 640,000 people are predicted to have availed of Airbnb accommodation in Ireland over the summer-holiday period. The company does not release data on the number of properties using its service.

Airbnb says it will contribute 57m to the economy, with a typical host home earning 2,000 over the summer, but critics say it is putting extra pressure on a housing market that is already in crisis.

Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has called on the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy to regulate the sector and to "act now to curb the worst excesses of Airbnb".

There are an incredible number of properties across Ireland, especially in major cities like Dublin, which are being used exclusively for short-term Airbnb rentals, while the sacristy of medium to long term lets for working people has led to the worsening of the housing crisis," he said.

The Minister for Housing has had a report on his desk for six months with recommendations on how we can regulate Airbnb and bring more dwellings back into the standard rental market. Such regulations have been seen in many European cities such as Berlin.

There are innumerable families, and single persons, looking for medium term rentals, with a high concentration in Dublin.

"While the government plans for house building are lagging behind its own targets, regulating Airbnb is one thing Minister Murphy could be doing to help renters.

Neighbourhoods only develop with long-term residents. Short-term lets/Airbnb aids in the erosion of neighbour building."

Regulating Airbnb won't solve the homelessness crisis overnight but it would help bring more medium term rentals back into the market when they are desperately needed, he said.

Digital Desk
By Sarah Slater

The wife of Mark Duffy, who lost his life when Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 crashed off the Co Mayo coast last year, has donated funds raised to support her family to a childrens charity.

Hermione Duffy, a mother of two who lost her 51-year-old husband, who was the co-pilot of the ill-fated helicopter in a crash which also claimed the lives of his three colleagues on board, 19 months ago on March 14, 2017.

They were Captain Dara Fitzpatrick and the winch team on the Sikorsky S-92, Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith. The bodies of Captains Duffy and Fitzpatrick were recovered from the sea soon after the fatal crash.

Despite extensive searches of the seabed, sea surface and shoreline Mr Ormsby and Mr Smith are still missing.

The crew of Rescue 116 which crashed on March 14, 2017.

Members of Dublin Airport's Police and Fire Service completed a memorial cycle in remembrance of the crew of Rescue 116 last year.

Airport Police and Fire Service staff, together with members of An Garda Siochana and the Irish Aviation Authority were joined by some family members of the crew Rescue 116 to cycle Dublin Airport's perimeter road seven times, clocking up a total distance of 116km.

Mrs Duffy took to her official Facebook page posting: Last year the Rescue 116 cycle rode 116km around Dublin airport organised by the Airport Police and Fire Service. The funds raised were divided in four and given to each family.

.after we decided to give our share to charity, 2,260 was given to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). A charity I have fund raised for before. Mark will know its my charity of choice.

Capt Duffy, from Blackrock, Co Louth was a rescue pilot since 2001 and described it as a Dream Job. He was quoted as saying, when you make a difference, there is no better feeling like that....... its priceless.

Rescue 116 hit rocks on the western end of the island as it returned from supporting a rescue mission of an injured trawler man to refuel on the Mullet peninsula.

The wreckage of the Coast Guard helicopter was brought ashore after it crashed into the Atlantic at 12.46am on March 14 last year close to Blackrock island. The black box was also located.

Blackbox data revealed that the last recorded words of the ill-fated crew of an Irish Coast Guard helicopter were "we're gone.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) established that the Sikorksy S-92's internal warning system did not include the rocky Atlantic outcrop and its working lighthouse in its database.

Investigators have revealed that one of the winch men alerted the pilots to an island as they returned to shore to refuel.
Five people have been rescued after their yacht ran aground in Skerries harbour in Dublin this morning.

The group - a family from France - sent out a mayday alert just before 5am.
A Dublin City councillor has said that one of the citys new student housing schemes is breaching its planning permission by letting out rooms for the Papal visit.

Workers Party councillor Eilis Ryan said that rooms in Dorset Point on Dorset Street are being let for up to 170 a night during the Popes visit.

She said the owners, Aparto, have been renting rooms there to tourists for the summer.

Cllr Ryan, who has campaigned extensively against student housing in the inner city, said: Dorset Point, a block of 447 bedrooms on Dorset Street owned by Aparto, is being rented to tourists throughout the summer.

"This is in breach of its planning permission, which states that it cannot be used for any purpose other than as student accommodation. Aparto have not applied for permission to change the use of the structure.

After repeated lectures about the urgent need for student housing in Dublin, now these private, unaffordable blocks are not even being used for that purpose.

Cllr Ryan said the company have more than doubled the rental prices during the Papal visit.

She said: The rooms are being rented for about 80 / night, but the weekend of the Popes visit this rises to an astounding 170 / night.

"The majority of Dorset Points rooms are available to students for only 41 weeks during the year.

This means Aparto - and their multi-billion euro backers Hines - are making over 2 million in just 11 weeks. - Cllr Eilis Ryan.

It proves what the Workers Party have been saying for some time. Private student housing does not benefit students - just mega-rich developers.

Cllr Ryan accused the Government of allowing developers to eject students from their accommodation during the summer.

She said: Even worse, the government have bowed to pressure from the developers, by granting any new student residences permission to evict students come summer-time, to make way for tourists.

What logic is there in enabling these evictions? What about students with jobs to hold down during summer break? What about PhD students whose courses run year-round?

Purpose-built student accommodation in Dublin is an excuse for developers and investors to make money off building with no obligations whatsoever to those in need of affordable, secure housing.

"Dublin City Council must clamp down on its misuse.

A spokesperson for Aparto said: Aparto aims to provide the best experience for its residents and operates within the remit of all statutory obligations. All current uses of its facilities throughout the calendar year are permitted under existing legislation.

"Its practice is no different to that of similarly sized operators within this sector in the Dublin area. Aparto is currently preparing for the commencement of a new academic year with new students for the 2018/19 period commencing their tenancies from mid-August onward.
A number of guns have been found at a building site in Dublin.

It is understood construction workers at O'Devaney Gardens in the Bridewell area of the city discovered them this afternoon.
The Master of the Rotunda is warning babies face serious health risks from overcrowding unless urgent action is taken to relieve the Dublin hospital's cramped conditions.

According to the Irish Times, Dr Fergal Malone is proposing a 40m extension for the oldest maternity hospital in the world.
Increased taxes for the tourism sector may only apply to large hotels, according to Minister Shane Ross.

He says a multi-tiered VAT system is being considered for the hospitality sector in the upcoming budget.

The special 9% VAT rate for the tourism sector was introduced by then Finance Minister Michael Noonan in 2011 to help the industry recover post-crash.

However, with the economy on the way back up there have been calls for it to be scrapped, particularly given the high price of hotel rooms in Dublin.

Prices are getting so high that Tourism Ireland CEO, Niall Gibbons, said it is starting to put tourists off coming here.

Mr Gibbons said: "The likes of Barcelona, Copenhagen and Amsterdam, where Dublin would be competing against, we are now starting to move into the more expensive zone, and that's a dangerous place to be."

Minister Shane Ross says some of them are milking the system.

He wants to look at how larger hotels could be charged more VAT than B&Bs or the rest of the tourism sector.

Mr Ross said: "It could be a several-tiered system, depending on how it works, but what I am suggesting is that those hotels that are milking the system should not necessarily be allowed a preferential VAT rate."

The Minister was asked how they would separate different types of hotels, who would move on to a higher rate, and how they would make sure the cost was not passed on to the consumer. However, he did not have answers.

"I've already said several times this is being examined. The detail will come out later on."

Shane Ross will have further discussions with the Department of Finance about the plan ahead of the budget
Dont shoot. Photo: Steve Nesius/AP Photo

On April 23, a 25-year-old man named Alek Minassian killed ten people with a van in downtown Toronto. Although his tactics resembled those used in recent, high-profile jihadist attacks, Minassian dedicated his terrorism not to the black flag of ISIS but to the message board 4chan and the Incel Rebellion, an imaginary uprising of involuntary celibates, or incels members of an online subculture based around a shared inability to find willing sexual partners. The incels see this as a form of persecution: They are denied access to something, sex, that most people take for granted. Since most of them are straight men, their abstract rage at society for this persecution tends to boil down to rage at women, who are doing the alleged persecuting.

Its hard to find a less sympathetic villain than the incel. He is, in the public imagination at least, a sexless Morlock combining the most frightening aspects of toxic masculinity with the sort of whiny impotence that would drive a saint to contempt. So when Robin Hanson, an economist at George Mason University and noted eccentric, offered the incels a little sympathy, it didnt go over well. In a blog post written three days after the Toronto attack, Hanson asked why so many people who professed their commitment to economic equality seemed so dismissive of the incels demand for sexual equality. After all, an inability to get laid might sting just as much as a low income. Labor unions had, in the past, at least implicitly threatened violence in order to bargain for more money, and sex, like wealth, could be directly redistributed. Hanson, a libertarian, was of course opposed to such redistribution, but he couldnt help but wonder: Are incels really so different from unions?

The question was a provocation, and the internet responded accordingly, accusing Hanson of promoting a host of garish schemes for government-sponsored rape. Even those who acknowledged that sex redistribution was merely a hypothetical found something creepy, almost Strangelovean, about it, conjuring as it did images of a Handmaids Talestyle arrangement in which women were passed out against their will to unappealing men. Hanson later tried to clarify that by redistribution he meant non-coercive measures, such as encouraging monogamy or giving men money to purchase sex, but this did little to quell the anger. Beyond gut-level revulsion, however, it was hard to explain exactly why Hansons economic analogy was so inapt. Some said that while poverty struck people for all sorts of reasons outside of their control, an inability to get laid was a personal failure on the part of the incels. But theres no reason why the factors that make a person unfuckable should be any less arbitrary than those that make a person poor  even a deeply unpleasant personality may be a product of an inherited mental disorder, and the preferences of others are shaped by social forces no less vast than those that structure the economy. More convincingly, some claimed that something as deeply personal and intimate as sex should not be thought of as a resource at all, rendering discussions of its distribution or redistribution inappropriate. But here, too, we often accept ideas similar to Hansons provided they are presented in a less threatening context. Sex is at least sometimes treated as a resource otherwise, no one would ever buy or sell it  and anthropologists do occasionally look at the distribution of wives within a society as one among many indices of status inequality.

Of course, humans dont usually consider things in perfectly formal terms. As Michael Scott famously lamented, superficially equivalent statements take on radically different meanings based on social context. Who is the speaker and how do they relate to me? What tribe do they belong to? Who are they speaking to, and about, and how do those people relate to me? Are they joking? Threatening? Blowing off steam? A great deal of this calculation will be unconscious, initially leaving us, in the case of a hostile reaction, with little more than an acute sense that the stupid person did a bad thing. Reasons come later. And my guess is that something similar explains the response to Hanson: Everyone looked at the incels and saw these creepy white nerds out there killing people over some weird sex thing and thought, Thats terrible, and then here comes Hanson also white, definitely a nerd, at least marginally creepy  and instead of saying like a normal person, Hey, we gotta do something about this nerd menace, this aggression will not stand, he starts in with a whole routine about how, Well, people use violence all the time and, you know, maybe their weird sex thing isnt all that weird, and, uh, I know you people like unions, so just think of the nerds like a union, but instead of dental they want to fuck you or your daughter, and really, is that so wrong? Of course people saw that and thought, My God! Hes one of them!

Ironically, the suite of unconscious social calculations that led many to peg Hanson as an incel sympathizer is one of the major themes of Hansons most recent book, The Elephant in the Brain: Hidden Motives in Everyday Life, co-authored with his former student Kevin Simler. Published last December, The Elephant in the Brain is, narrowly, a study of how humans are evolved to deceive themselves in order to pursue their self-interest with a clean conscience; more broadly, its an argument that the purpose of most of our behavior is to broadcast social signals to others while interpreting the signals they broadcast to us, and that this purpose is usually hidden from our conscious minds. At a time when accusations of bad faith and virtue signaling have become rampant on the internet, indicating a belief that our antagonists are not merely wrong but cynical and dishonest as well, the book offers a welcome reminder that much if not most of the time, were just honestly deluded.

The Elephant in the Brain is built on a hodgepodge of different disciplines, but its main argument rests on two key concepts from biology: signaling and self-deception. A signal, in evolutionary biology, is anything used to communicate or convey information between organisms, and can be anything from a physical trait to a behavior to literal communication. A male peacocks tail signals genetic quality to the female, and a dog putting its head down, raising its rear end, and extending its front legs signals that it wants to play. Hansons own blog, Overcoming Bias, has done a lot to popularize the concept as it applies to humans, and he and Simler believe that signaling can account for a great deal of our behavior. Wearing a certain item of clothing may signal your wealth, taste, or subcultural affiliation, while repeatedly mentioning that youre a big fan of Tarkovsky might signal your intelligence or, inadvertently, your pretension and lack of social grace. Conspicuously affiliating yourself with some noble cause can be a way of signaling moral virtue, hence the derogatory term virtue signaling. Hanson and Simlers notion of signaling in humans draws heavily on evolutionary psychology, which some may be inclined to dismiss thanks to the disciplines reputation for wild speculation and at-times sloppy research practices. But signaling is well established among animals, including primates, so its almost definitely something people do as well, even if the details are up for debate.

Hanson and Simler believe that we are usually unconscious of our signaling motives, which we cover up with plausible-sounding rationalizations that put a more admirable gloss on our behavior  I laugh at the bosss jokes because theyre funny, not because its in my interest for her to like me. Borrowing from the biologist Robert Trivers, they argue that this is because we have actually evolved to deceive ourselves in order to deceive others. Since we are social creatures whose ability to survive and reproduce depends heavily on others willingness to cooperate with us, we need to signal that we possess prosocial traits like honesty while concealing antisocial ones like selfishness. And because our brains are built to be constantly evaluating other peoples motives, lying tends to be hard: its mentally taxing and carries with it the threat of detection and punishment. If I believe my own motivations are altruistic, however, Im more likely to convincingly signal my altruism to others, making it easier for me to form alliances, climb the social ladder, and pass on copies of my genes. A less deluded competitor will have to consciously dissemble in order to cover up his own selfish motives, and is therefore more likely to be reviled as a liar and shunted into genetic oblivion. As Hanson and Simler write, Our brains are built to act in our self-interest while at the same time trying hard not to appear selfish in front of other people. And in order to keep them off the trail, our brains often throw us, our conscious minds, in the dark. This works because, according to the psychologist Timothy Wilson, our brains are split into an adaptive unconscious, which processes information more or less honestly and makes decisions in our own self-interest, and a conscious mind, which invents reasons for the behavior that we can then offer to others.

The first half of The Elephant in the Brain is spent establishing and elaborating this evolutionary logic, which explains why humans construct elaborate rationalizations for our signaling behavior and why we are so apt to believe them. In the second half, Hanson and Simler apply their signaling/self-deception lens to the real world, attempting to uncover our hidden motives in domains such as art, education, politics, and religion, as well as microsocial interactions like conversation, laughter, and body language. The basic point is that in each of these areas, theres a big and demonstrable gap between what we think were doing and what were actually doing. Donors to charity, for instance, may believe that they are helping other people, yet most of them show little interest in whether their donations actually benefit anyone, leading the authors to speculate that charity is mostly about signaling the donors generosity and compassion. In politics, people may believe they care about specific policies or making the world a better place, but are generally bored by policy detail and ignore accurate information that challenges their worldview. This is because politics, according to the authors, is mostly an exercise in signaling loyalty to our side  allies with whom we have an established cooperative relationship, which can differ based on context, but in the political realm tends to be our party or cultural tribe. And art, in their view, is a sort of elaborate status ritual: from an evolutionary point of view, the fundamental challenge facing artists is to demonstrate their fitness by making something that lower-fitness competitors could not make, thus proving themselves more socially and sexually attractive.

This second part of the book is interesting, occasionally enlightening, and sometimes a little slapdash  while the evidence for signaling and self-deception offered in Part I is convincing enough, the empirical applications in Part II are a little shakier, at times relying heavily on social psychology priming studies (which have been hit hard by the replication crisis) and in particular the research of Vladas Griskevicius, whose work has been singled out as bogus by the statistician Andrew Gelman, thanks to wildly implausible findings like that ovulation led to a 17 percent jump in support for Mitt Romney among women in relationships (this study, thankfully, is not cited in the book). Hanson and Simler arent overly concerned with getting every detail right  they admit that they expect most readers to buy only 70 percent of what were selling and hope only to convince people that hidden motives are common and important. Although they clear that rather low bar, their admission isnt a particularly reassuring signal to readers suspicious that evo-psych is prone to sweeping yet poorly supported statements about human nature, or that its a stalking-horse for political reaction (among other things, they dismiss most medical spending as useless, implying that it could be cut drastically). And in some places, Hanson and Simlers explanations do resemble the just-so stories for which evo-psych is often criticized  plausible-sounding theories that make sense and fit the data but lack hard evidence. They suggest, for example, that voting functions as a display of loyalty to the nation for which we earn patriotism points, but their only evidence is that U.S. polling stations hand out I Voted stickers.

Hanson and Simler argue that much of the signaling they describe is a waste of time and effort: Under the feel-good veneer of win-win cooperation, they write, our institutions harbor giant, silent furnaces of intra-group competitive signaling, where trillions of dollars of wealth, resources, and human effort are being shoveled in and burned to ash every year, largely for the purpose of showing off. Their proposals to cut such waste, however, tend to be depressingly utilitarian: If art is mostly about letting a few guys in turtlenecks sleep with gallery assistants, and education is mostly about ostentatious displays of intelligence, we might as well cut funding for the arts and humanities and herd all the precocious children into useful fields, like engineering and poultry science. A more cynical reviewer might suggest that its in the self-interest of slightly nerdy economists to demonstrate that artists, musicians, and writers  who possess a cultural cachet economists tend to lack  are engaged in a status game only marginally more dignified than chimpanzees bludgeoning one another to death over a mate, but I look for the best in people.

Outside of the policy prescriptions, most of the information contained in The Elephant in the Brain can be read more or less apolitically. Signaling and self-deception seem real and widespread, although anyone acknowledging that should be careful to remember that they are just as present in ones own behavior as in that of others. Moreover, there may in fact be something humanizing in the recognition that when you see a rival spouting some ludicrous idea that conveniently benefits them, they probably believe it themselves, or that when you or your tribe are angry at somebody, that anger has less to do with what that person said and more to do with what they seemed to signal by saying it. This wont always be reassuring an evil person who sincerely believes theyre good is the most dangerous kind, and sometimes the motive a person is signaling is more nefarious than what theyd explicitly admit to. But it may at least be a step toward clarity, and away from deceiving ourselves.
Update - 10.16am: Shane Ross has warned that people are in danger of being "screwed out of their money and ejected from their homes" by vulture funds.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has spoken out against the latest sale of 5,000 home loans by Ulster Bank to the Cerberus fund.

It follows the offloading of more than 10,000 mortgages by Permanent TSB.

Minister Ross said banks who sell loans to vulture funds are shirking their responsibilities.

He said: "Vulture funds behave in a very different way once they get hold of these loans in a way that is utterly and totally unacceptable which regards people in their homes as numbers, basically, who have to be screwed out of their money and ejected from their homes, if necessary."

6.53am: Peter McVerry Trust warns mortgage sales to vulture funds will increase homeless numbers

The Peter McVerry Trust is warning that hundreds of people are likely to become homeless because of mortgage sales to vulture funds.

In the latest sale, Ulster Bank has offloaded more than 5,000 non-performing mortgages to the Cerberus fund.

That is on top of the more than 10,000 being sold off by Permanent TSB.

The charity says the Finance Minister needs to tell the banks to delay the sales until more homes are built.

It is also suggesting the State could buy some of the houses being sold off, so people can stay in their homes.

CEO of the Peter McVerry Trust, Pat Doyle, says Paschal Donohoe needs to intervene

Mr Doyle said: "In the meantime, the Minister for Finance could meet with the banks and just look for a stay on that.

"They do need to be dealt with, a lot of these are beyond rescuing, but it's the timing now. If this happens now and some of them go to the wall as a result, which they will, where are we effectively sending them?

"We're sending them out into homelessness."
Talks resume this morning between Ryanair management and the Irish Airline Pilots Association.

The two sides are trying to resolve a dispute that has led to five days of strike action, and the cancellation of around 100 flights.
Aodhan O Faolain and Ray Managh

A teacher who ordered five primary schoolgirls to sellotape their own mouths for chatting and giggling in class was properly removed for professional misconduct from the Teaching Council of Irelands Register of Teachers, the High Court has ruled.

Ms Justice Mary Faherty directed in a reserved judgment that the teacher and the school where she had been employed could not be named in order to protect the identity of the girls concerned who were now in their teens and engaged in the Leaving Certificate cycle.

Judge Faherty said the teacher had been properly dealt with by the Council following an investigation into her classroom directions and the upset she had caused to the five students concerned.

The teacher, who at the time of the incident was in the very early stages of her career, had denied the allegations but had not appealed the Councils decision to remove her.

The judge said that after finding that the allegations of professional misconduct had been proven as fact the Council had held her actions to be wholly unacceptable and had described her conduct as disgraceful and dishonourable.

The Teaching Council had told the teacher she could apply to be restored to the Register after a year from the date of her removal and had then referred its decision to the High Court seeking its confirmation.

Noting that the teacher had not opted to invoke her right to appeal the Councils decision, Judge Faherty affirmed the sanction imposed stating that while it was most severe it was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.

Judge Faherty said the sanction had fulfilled the Council's requirement to protect the public, which in this case were children of school going age. There had been no procedural unfairness in the manner in which the investigation had been conducted.

The Judge said the Council had found that the teacher had not engaged in a meaningful way in the inquiry process and posed a significant risk of repeating the behaviour.

The council had taken all mitigating factors, including the teacher's claim that she was just newly qualified and suffered from medical conditions, into consideration.

Judge Faherty said aggravating factors taken into account included that the misconduct was of a serious nature that had caused harm to the children. There had been an abuse of a position of trust and the teacher had continued to deny incidents of proven fact.

The Judge said the Teaching Council had been correct in disregarding information conveyed to it in November 2017 by an unknown female telephone caller who had alleged she had been in a cafe with her son and had overheard five teenage girls talk about how they had lied and co-ordinated their stories.

The caller had stated she had heard the girls use the word sellotape several times.

Judge Faherty said the woman caller, who had made the telephone call to the Teaching Councils offices, had stated she was aware of reports of an inquiry into a teacher who had been accused of putting sellotape on students mouths but when asked about the location of the cafe had hung up.

The judge said the Council had concerns about the call because the caller had not provided her name, the call had been received from a withheld telephone number and had been ended abruptly.

The Council had also been aware that the schoolgirls had travelled separately to and from the inquiry to give evidence and it had not appeared possible for them to have been together in a cafe after they had given their evidence.
Discussions will take place before any decision is made over the future of Flat racing at Ballinrobe after the track's meeting on Monday was abandoned midway through the card.

The fixture was halted after only three races due to horses losing their footing, leading clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer to question whether the course has a future on the level.

As that was the final Flat meeting scheduled for 2018, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board chief executive Denis Egan underlined that there is no hurry to make a decision on future plans.

He said: "We will discuss everything with all the relevant parties.

"There is no need for any immediate decision and we will endeavour to cover everything."

Andrew Coonan, president of the Irish Jockeys Association, believes it would be the wrong move to take Flat racing away from Ballinrobe and feels the recent warm weather contributed to the problem.

"There were a number of riders who felt horses slipping in the first couple of races," Coonan told At The Races.

"They had a look after race one and tried to alleviate it, but after race three and discussions with several people, they decided the best course of action was to call the meeting off.

"Our concern would be the suggestion from Lorcan that it might be it for Flat racing at Ballinrobe. It's an excellent team led by John Flannelly and it's one of the good tracks in the west of Ireland, it would be a shame to not have Flat racing there.

"The jockeys who were consulted and gave their view certainly weren't suggesting Flat racing should finish. They thought it was a one-off situation that occurred on the night, but one that can be resolved.

"We're privileged in Ireland that the riders have great working relationships with clerks of the courses and we all know Lorcan is a perfectionist who presents an excellent track, and he did so on the night. The riders commented the track was really well laid out.

"He'd always be concerned with any issues, which I can understand, but the reality is this was an unfortunate, one-off scenario.

"We did have some problems at the last meeting with two horses slipping, but one of the unique features of our summer is the drought and I think that is one of the problems in there somewhere."

PA
Suncorp claimed its superannuation funds had low fees, but additional fees were charged and commissions grandfathered, the financial services royal commission has heard.

Counsel assisting the commission, Michael Hodge QC, on Tuesday asked Maurizio Pinto, the head of the office of the trustee within Suncorp Portfolio Services, whether he would agree that the administration fees charged by Suncorp were high compared with its competitors.

Senior Counsel Assisting Michael Hodge Credit:David Geraghty

I am not responsible for the disclosure of our fees so I am not able to comment on that, Mr Pinto said.

Suncorp is now removing the claim that the fees are low from its website? Mr Hodge asked.
Photo: Konstantin Sergeyev.

At a meeting with media executives discussing a series of changes to the platform in Sydney, Australia, last week, Facebooks head of news partnerships Campbell Brown finally said what everybody already knew. Mark [Zuckerberg] doesnt care about publishers, she told the meeting participants. Nevertheless, she said, her boss is giving me a lot of leeway and concessions to make these changes. Without Facebooks help, she said, the reverse looks like Ill be holding your hands with your dying business like in a hospice. (The quotes were originally reported in the Australian.)

Grim  but also accurate. For several years beginning around 2011, Facebooks News Feed served as a firehose of traffic, where one widely shared link could result in astronomical attention. Many websites tried to turn Facebook optimization into a science and chased those clicks for longer than they maybe should have, drastically pivoting (to things like video) in the hopes of appeasing the Facebook gods. The ebbing of News Feed traffic has widespread consequences for the news business. As Nieman Lab highlights, Brown also reportedly said this:

We are not interested in talking to you about your traffic and referrals any more. That is the old world and there is no going back.

Great! That old world absolutely sucked and made the internet ecosystem a discernibly worse place.

Sometime around 2012, the ecology of digital publishing underwent an epochal shift: Facebook overtook Google as the top traffic source on the web. Prior to Facebook, the best way to reliably obtain traffic was through search-engine optimization, formatting web content so that it would rank highly within search engines. SEO is a sort of guessing game, a digital Jeopardy! in which the person creating web content tries to think of the query that will get users to their web content. Its why an article might be headlined What Time Is the Super Bowl? instead of The Super Bowl Is Coming Up Soon.

Facebooks rising dominance as a referrer led to a different type of work, content that was optimized for social media. The key to a good piece of Facebook-optimized content was that it was emotionally intelligent, often in an exaggerated manner. It wasnt just 21 pictures that will make you feel good; its 21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity. A celebrity didnt just wear a ritzy dress, they wore a ritzy dress and I Cant Even.

Socially optimized content was about getting a rise out of people, tapping into some part of their lizard brain that made them react to information after consuming it. It was often relatable or me irl or aspirational or anger-inducing. The content needed to be reflective of the reader, so that they would share it with their friends and followers. And oftentimes, when one outlet hit on an ingenious, duplicable formula (cooking videos shot from overhead, for instance), it often meant that similarly formatted content would soon appear from other publishers.

The problem with social-optimized content is that its overt, eerie familiarity drapes a kind of lowest-common-denominator cynicism across the internet. Social media tends to favor positive sentiment over negative, and exaggeration over subtlety. When a writer claims to be scrEAMING at the newest Marvel trailer in the headline, are they saying that because they really are, or because they want the reader to think that they are so that the reader will share on Facebook? Its not a crime to write an enthusiastic headline, but when every headline you see is yelling at you in one way or another  and making outsized claims about the emotional state of its author or readers  it becomes difficult to trust the claimed sentiments of writers. At the very least, its extremely annoying.

SEO content, on the other hand, dispenses with the emotional in favor of the mechanical. It can be stilted and awkward  but its more honest and transparent. When a writer pads their article for the trailer of the newest Marvel movie with search keywords  data like the cast and crew and opening date  theyre optimizing for the Google robots. But theyre also providing genuinely useful information. Social content was about manipulating people into clicking, sharing, and posting. SEO is about manipulating robots into treating your content as the best example of sought-after information.

SEO is far from a perfect assignment editor for the web. Scammers and charlatans have been trying to abuse it for years, and it can create spectacles as ghoulish and cynical as social-optimized posts when news happens. A particularly gross instance happened in the hours after news of Anthony Bourdains suicide broke, when Newsweek pumped out individual Google-optimized posts about each of his family members and former partners. Tasteless? Absolutely. But it is also fulfilling a direct reader request with dispassionate information instead of hyperbole. The mechanics of SEO are clear, far more than the mechanics of human emotions.

For better or worse, SEO forced publishers to focus on providing their readers with relevant information. Social optimization for platforms like Facebook forced publishers to make their content evocative, incendiary, and interactive. Social content wasnt about transmitting information as much as it was about helping people perform their identities online. It put a premium on heavy-handedness and polarization. It didnt just need to say something, it needed to help the sharer say something too.

And it was difficult for any publisher  major publication or one-man blog  to resist, given how much traffic the Facebook system brought to others. Now, by Facebooks own account, the valve to the firehose has been closed. Great. Use it to build brand awareness or whatever, but otherwise, its time to recalibrate and leave the reliance on Facebook as a traffic source behind.
The NSW government's expansion of the Central Station zone as a new tech and innovation precinct has moved a step closer after it gave developers Dexus Property and Frasers Property the green light to proceed with a proposal.

It is an Unsolicited Proposal (USP) that will see  if approved  the redevelopment of the Henry Deane Plaza at Lee Street, Central.

A USP is an approach from the private sector seeking an exclusive commercial arrangement with government to deliver a service or infrastructure to meet a community need.

Artist's impression of Sydney's Central Station redevelopment.

Internet giant Google has shown interest in the area as it looks for additional space outside of its Pyrmont enclave.
The Kimberly Clark office tower at 52 Alfred Street, Milsons Point is being offered for sale for about $190 million, after a Chinese investor bought it from Bridgehill in 2016.

The significant parcel of land spans about 2711 square metres and occupies a prime position with dual street frontage to Alfred and Glen streets.

Agents to the deal Knight Franks Andy Hu, Dominic Ong and Tim Holtsbaum in conjunction with Apexs Denis Wan said the property has a mixed tenancy, with a significant proportion currently let to Kimberly Clarke until 2020, with options to extend.

The site at 52 Alfred Street, one of the last remaining freehold office buildings with development upside in Milsons Point, has been listed for sale Credit:Mark Merton Photography

It comes as the North Sydney CBD is undergoing a renaissance boosted by a resurgence in office development and the planned metro stations. In the latest Property Council of Australia office market report, North Sydney's vacancy rate dropped 1.6 points to 6.3 per cent.
In the heartland of Melbournes blue chip suburb of Brighton, a stark contrast in suburban retail fortunes has unfolded.

While other suburban shopping streets battle high vacancy and tenant turnover, Church Street has hit the fabled retail sweet spot: low vacancies, a vibrant tenant mix and rocketing property prices.

Being in one of the citys wealthiest demographics also, no doubt, helps.

Bookended by a Woolworths supermarket at one end and Palace Cinema complex at the other, Church Streets limited number of shops and diverse tenant mix has kept landlords and tenants smiling during uncertain retail times.
Hundreds of aggreived investors have signed up to a second class-action suit against Australian logistics giant Brambles, alleging the $15 billion company repeatedly withheld information about its true financial position.

Brambles, which is listed on the ASX and operates in more than 60 countries, is facing serious claims of failing to comply with its legal obligations as a public company to keep its shareholders informed about the poor performance of its US-based pallets business in 2015.

ASX-listed Brambles is facing two class action lawsuits from angry investors. Credit:Reuters

The disclosure violations, it is alleged, prompted Brambles to suddenly slash its sales and profit forecasts, triggering two major share price plunges at the beginning of 2017 and sigificantly harming its shareholders.

The company is named in a new Maurice Blackburn-led lawsuit filed in Australia's Federal Court on Tuesday morning, which is being backed by British litigation funder Harbour.
West Australian workers have voiced their outrage after missing out on 20,000 tonnes of fabrication and manufacturing work, with mining giant BHP Billiton awarding a tender for its South Flank project to a Chinese company.

BHP has approved development of the South Flank iron ore mine. Credit:Michele Mossop

The work will be undertaken by Tianjin BOMESC Offshore Engineering Company, in Chinas north-east.

A BHP spokesperson said the contract ran through a competitive tender process and was awarded based on schedule to avoid significant delays to the project.

"All Western Australian companies were invited to provide an expression of interest for all assembly and fabrication packages," the spokesperson said.
Angela Vithoulkas is in the middle of a process she "never expected".

Vithoulkas and her brother Con are in the last two weeks of trade for their Sydney cafe Vivo, which will shutter on August 24.

Angela Vithoulkas will shut her Vivo cafe on August 24. Credit:Jessica Hromas

It's a situation she blames on the CBD light rail construction project in Sydney, claiming the cafe had suffered from a lack of trade over the past three years due to its proximity to the route.

"It's like a death in the family - it's a process we never expected," Vithoulkas tells Fairfax Media. "I know exactly what every single other business owner affected is going through."
There has been marked progress in the political relationship between the governments of the two nations, accompanied by greater recognition of common strategic interests, especially in the Indian Ocean region. People-to-people links are also much deeper - Australias Indian diaspora has trebled in size during the the past 10 years and continues to grow. But those advances have not been matched on the business front. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Delhi Metro last year. Credit:Andrew Meares Too many Australian firms are indifferent to India or have simply put it in the too hard basket.

An expert report report on India's potential for Australia, released by the federal government last month, says that while India is already in the first tier of Australias diplomatic relationships the economic relationship is stuck in the second tier. And yet, India's fast-growing economy will need all sorts of things that Australia is good at producing. Stronger business ties with India would also reduce economic risk. At the moment about 40 per cent of our exports go to just two markets with rapidly ageing populations  China and Japan. Peter Varghese, the former high commissioner to India. Credit:AAP A deeper economic relationship with India  which has a large and youthful population  would reduce Australias economic exposure and bolster resilience.

The report's author, Peter Varghese, the former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, says one key problem is old-fashioned attitudes. The Australian business community needs to get a much more up-to-date view of whats happening in India, he told me. Loading Varghese suspects many Australians consider India to be a much more closed economy than is actually the case  a legacy of the stifling Licence Raj that once dominated India. The transformation of the Indian economy is underway, the report says. Its progress will be uneven but the direction is clear and irreversible.

Varghese has another pointed message: India is not the next China. Those two Asian giants are often linked simply because of their vast populations and rapid economic growth. Loading While the pair have the same vast scale, comparisons with China only get in the way of understanding India. Because of its democratic political system no Indian government will be able to direct the economy in the way China does. Nor will it ever have the control over the allocation of resources which has been intrinsic to Chinas economic success.

There isnt a template you can take from elsewhere and just apply to India, says Varghese, who was Australias high commissioner to India while I was posted in Delhi. He recommends that Australia set itself the goal by 2035 to lift India into its top three export markets and to make it the third largest destination in Asia for Australian outward investment. Varghese has also singled out 10 Indian industry sectors where Australia has competitive advantages along with 10 Indian states that could be a focus for future trade. The good news is that Australia has a valuable asset to help  our growing Indian diaspora. The report estimates about one in 50 people now living in Australia is Indian-born.
The rules around sick leave for more than a million shift workers have been upended in a controversial industrial umpire's decision that has employers worried they may face a massive bill for backpay and sparked an urgent legal intervention from the federal government.

The Fair Work Commission recently pulled the rug on the standard practise employers used of providing an average of 76 hours of paid leave based on the average 7.6-hour work day and the national minimum standard of 10 days of sick leave a year.

Peter Kelly is one of the workers affected by the landmark sick leave ruling. Credit:Peter Braig

The Commission's ruling, which centred on a pay deal for employees at pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, found a worker's typical shift should be used to calculate the total number of hours meaning a shift-worker who does usually a 12 hour shift should receive 120 hours of paid leave per year.

The ruling, in favour of the Australian Workers Union, has alarmed business groups and employers who have now turned their attention to a fresh test case to be brought in the Federal Court. That case will use conditions at manufacturer Mondelez in Tasmania to argue the commission's rationale should be overturned.
NAVA executive director Esther Anatolitis. Credit:Daniel Gardeazabal

Some 200 artists and arts professionals from across Australia are gathering at Canberras Parliament House on Wednesday, hoping to persuade politicians of the urgent need to formulate a national cultural agenda.

Future/Forward - an inaugural two-day symposium, which began on Tuesday at the National Gallery of Australia - is organised by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) which, despite its name, represents a broad spectrum of contemporary genres including performance, installation and multi-media artists.

Thats below the poverty line - and its actually declined. NAVA's Esther Anatolitis on artist wages

On average, each of those working artists will earn around $18,800 in 2018 from their actual sales, performances or concerts, says Esther Anatolitis, NAVAs executive director. Thats below the poverty line - and its actually declined.
Another day another casting controversy, and another entirely predictable round of righteous indignation on social media.

The spur to the latest bout is the news that English actor-comedian Jack Whitehall has been cast to play what is billed as Disneys first openly gay character in the comedy Jungle Cruise. But Whitehall is straight, and the character isnt just gay, hes effete and camp. How very dare they! (Never mind that the Disney canon is full of thinly veiled gay characters already, played by actors both straight and gay.)

Jack Whitehall in the ABC's Bad Education. Credit:ABC

It comes just weeks after Scarlett Johansson was cast (and then uncast) as a transgender brothel owner in Rub & Tug. Given the response to her playing a nominally Asian AI cop in Ghost in the Shell last year, ScarJo should have known better, but she only added insult to injury by suggesting any criticism can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffmans reps for comment (these actors played transgender characters, in Transparent, Dallas Buyers Club and Transamerica respectively). A few days after releasing that tone-deaf statement she withdrew from the project.
1. This Trusty $13 French Mascara Might As Well Be Chanel (Last installment: new entry)

We discovered a lot of new-to-us French products during Made in France week, but this lash-lengthening mascara (supposedly made in the same factory as the much pricier version from Chanel), was a runaway hit  and this weeks top seller. Writer Susannah Edelbaum discovered it in Paris as a teenager: Volume Glamour made it so easy, even for a novice like me, to make one aspect of myself look exactly like I wanted it to  for a truly unsanitary length of time.
This was followed by Roberts' being coaxed into a shouting match (to ward off terrorists) and into throwing a baby doll into a trash can to thwart a suicide bomb hidden in a diaper. In the segment's highlight, or lowlight, Cohen gets Roberts to bite on a, um, toy used for sexual gratification by telling him that it is a proven tactic for stopping a terrorist. Loading Cohen has been mostly targeting conservatives with his pranks. A Georgia state representative, Jason Spencer, left his seat five months early after Cohen humiliated him with an act not unlike the one Roberts fell for. Cohen's other marks have included several influential sitting and former lawmakers, including former vice president Dick Cheney.

But he's also taken aim at lesser-known people, if they are known at all, including Roberts, who was one of the few who didn't realise he was duped until the episode aired (on Showtime in the US and Stan locally). On Monday, Roberts spoke about the experience. These are edited excerpts from the conversation. Q: Did you watch the show last night? Did you know this was going to happen?

A: I don't get Showtime. I had absolutely no idea. Sacha Baron Cohen  it's like, "Who?" I guess he was kind of big in the early 2000s for some stuff? He never was on my radar as anyone I knew about or followed. Q: Did you know after the taping that something was off or that you had been pranked?

A: No, absolutely not. There's going to be a limit to some things I can say because I am actively exploring what legal remedies may be available. (Showtime declined to comment.) Q: How are you coping today? Have you received a lot of calls?

A: Not yet. What can I do? It's up there. I can't deny it.

Q: When was the taping?

A: Last July. I was contacted by a production company. The way it was explained to me is that there was a group of Israeli special forces soldiers that were going around the United States shooting a show for Israeli television about terrorism and how Americans defend themselves. I've always had a great amount of respect for the Israeli military. For me, it sounded like a perfectly legitimate opportunity to take advantage of a situation to be taught by people that I would regard as some of the best in the world with counterterrorism. Q: What was your initial reaction to finding out about the prank?

A: I was absolutely baffled. To be honest about it, probably a couple months ago, I had the random thought, "Hey, I guess that show never aired," still under the impression that this was going to be something for Israeli television. I never thought anything more about it. Q: When the shoot was happening, were you uncomfortable with any of it?

A: There were definitely several moments of being extraordinarily uncomfortable. But at the same time, if you believe yourself to be in the presence of what anyone would rightly describe as experts in their field, and they are telling you that these are techniques or tactics that they themselves have used, and you're just a rank amateur, would you question it? Q: I think some people might say, "Well, there were cameras rolling." Did you worry about how you were being portrayed on camera?

A: I don't know that it ever crossed my mind. The use of the  what's the polite way to describe this?  the use of the sexual device as a prop, in my mind, it made sense. Think about what they're claiming: a last resort.

You have one chance to do something, or you're certain you're going to die. That's the scenario they've laid out. I don't know many people, if they were completely honest, that they would say they wouldn't take that opportunity to maybe, hopefully, grab one thing to maybe save their lives. So using that item as a prop, sure, you could argue it makes sense because it's a pretty dangerous thing to do. You could hurt somebody doing it for real, which obviously is the point. It was definitely very uncomfortable. At the very same time, I go back to being completely convinced that these were legitimate IDF special forces soldiers that had trained with these techniques or had actually used them. Q: Have your children seen this?

A: No. If it ever comes up, I will give them the same exact explanation that I just gave to you. This was a malicious, willful and deliberate act on the part of Sacha Baron Cohen, the production company and Showtime, who blatantly lied to me about the purpose of the entire thing, in a deliberate effort to humiliate me.
By the time Anika Floris was eight years old, she had already developed a clear image in her mind of what the ideal body looked like.

She was a size 6 woman with a golden tan, blonde hair and prominent cheekbones.

Anika Floris, 14-years.-old, took part in a study on body image. Credit:Justin McManus

That woman would arrive in the mail, plastered over advertising catalogues. Later she would find her in glamorous social media photographs, this time boasting artificially full lips and a big bust.

Seeing that growing up made me find different parts of myself that I felt I should be insecure about  things that made me look not like this women, said Anika, now 14.
Sometimes when you discover something you werent aware of before, its impossible to unknow it. Kind of like when you found out where babies came from and then had the horrid realisation that your parents had sex.

You can't unknow that. When it comes to money I believe it's important to discover the consequences of your money choices. Which is something that once youre aware of, its hard to push back in the box.

It might be money you're investing, it might be money you're spending or it might be money thats wrapped up in superannuation. It's important to understand who you're spending your money with, what their values are, what their supply chain is like and what you are unwittingly contributing to.

Is your money doing more good than harm? Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

For example, do you donate to charities that rescue women from slavery such as Hagar Australia and yet you're contributing to modern day slavery with your consumer choices?
A psychiatrist advised police investigating the murder of Colin Winchester to act like an immoveable rock when dealing with the suspect David Eastman, a jury heard Tuesday.

The psychiatrist said the officer's should maintain visible presence and for the lead investigator Richard Ninness to maintain a strong position as head of the investigation.

More details of the extensive police investigation following the police chief's murder emerged on Tuesday as Mr Ninness took the stand for a second day.

David Eastman, left, arrives at the ACT Supreme Court with his lawyers for his trial earlier this year. Credit:Karleen Minney

The ACT Supreme Court heard how an undercover female police officer had befriended Mr Eastman at a local swimming pool to gain his trust, before they went on a date to the War Memorial.
Two passengers of the other vehicle suffered serious injuries, while a third received a broken collarbone. The Mitsubishi Magna, driven by Mr Smith-Brown, reached speeds up to 175 km/h, drove through a number of red lights, jumped a median strip, and drove in a bike line during the three-minute chase. Post-mortem blood tests detected the presence of amphetamine, methylamphetamine, and tetrahydrocannabinol. However, an expert found the drugs had been used days earlier and did not contribute to Mr Smith-Browns death. Loading

ACT Policing's pursuit policy has been changed since Mr Smith-Brown's death. Under the new "limited pursuit" regime, police are to initiate pursuits only when there is a serious risk to public safety that outweighs the risk of pursuit. In his decision, Mr Morrison found police had not complied with the old pursuit policy and should have terminated the chase at two points before the eventual decision had been made. The coroner found that information regarding the pursuit speeds should have been reported to police command earlier, as required by the pursuit policy of the time. Loading

"I am satisfied, ... that, had the required communication been made earlier, and in particular at the point in time after the Athllon Drive intersection at which the Mitsubishi Magna reached the high speeds indicated previously, then [pursuit controller] Detective Sergeant Dean would have ordered that the pursuit be terminated," Mr Morrison wrote. "I find that a matter of public safety arises because the continuation of the pursuit beyond that point

unjustifiably placed other users of Drakeford Drive and the intersecting carriageways in danger." Mr Morrison also found that the conduct of Mr Smith-Brown had been "a strong indicator to the officers in pursuit of the dangerous lengths to which the deceased was prepared to go to avoid apprehension". "Proper consideration of the danger to others demonstrated by that conduct, when weighed against the minor nature and comparative seriousness of the offence/matter as known to [the driver of the police vehicle] Senior Constable [Ben] Stone, ought to have resulted in him terminating the pursuit immediately after the Athllon Drive intersection. Loading

"Proper application of the Old Pursuit Policy required him to do so. "I find that a matter of public safety arises because the continuation of the pursuit beyond that point by Senior Constable Stone unjustifiably placed other users of Drakeford Drive and the intersecting carriageways in danger." However, Mr Morrison said even if the chase had been terminated earlier, he could not find that it would have prevented the fatal crash. "Any assessment of what the deceased would have done after that point is speculative. "I have found that the direct cause of Timothys death was his own actions."

Joanne Smith, the other mother of Tim Smith-Brown, who died after a police chase, believes her son would be alive today if officers had terminated the pursuit earlier. Credit:Michael Inman Outside court, Joanne Smith, Mr Smith-Brown's mother, agreed with Mr Morrisons findings, which she said confirmed the accident had been avoidable. Ms Smith said that her son might still be alive today if police had called off the pursuit earlier. Loading "I know he did the wrong thing, initially, but he did not deserve to die for being an unlicensed and unregistered driver," she said.
Michel Cattoen as a judge tasting Christmas mince pies, 2011. Credit:Steven Siewert

The chefs hat and moustache symbolises Michels Patisserie, an Australian chain of bakery-style food outlets, that also operates internationally. But who started it all?

Michel Cattoen and his wife Elisabeth started Michels Patisserie in 1980. This was closely followed by another patisserie in St Ives. By 1984 there were four shops, 36 outlets and they were supplying cakes and pastries to three airlines and two distributors. However, Michel Cattoens influence on the Australian palate extended further than cakes and pastries.

Michel was born in 1937 in Metz, in Frances La Lorraine region. His father Louis was shot down while flying in a squadron of planes in 1940. Following Louis death, Michels mother joined the army and the French Resistance. Michel moved from place to place living with different people until the end of the war. He then started his formal schooling.

At the age of 14, Michel began a three-year apprenticeship in bakery and patisserie as well as training to be a chef. A three-year period in the military followed. Michel then worked as a chef in Toul for NATO.
Doctors could be coerced into obeying laws that flout medical ethics and muzzled against publicly criticising their profession under proposed changes to the Medical Board of Australia's Code of Conduct, the Australian Medical Association warns.

AMA president Dr Tony Bartone has slammed several proposed changes to the board's code, which governs medicos' ethical and professional behaviour.

AMA President Dr Tony Bartone has slammed the draft Code of Conduct as "vague" and "distressing". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

He took issue with a section of the code that stated doctors must "comply with relevant laws.

The board should not coerce doctors into complying with relevant laws that are inconsistent with professionally accepted standards of medical ethics in Australia," Dr Bartone wrote in the AMA's submission to the board's public consultation process.
A not-for-profit founded by a former prison inmate has opened its financial books to police after more than $200,000 was allegedly embezzled from its accounts.

The Women in Prison Advocacy Network, now the Womens Justice Network (WJN), was the brainchild of reformed inmate Kat Armstrong, after a heroin addiction and a string of robbery, fraud and break-and-enter offences saw her in and out of jail between 1988 and 2003.

The 50-year-old then started a law degree from a prison library and began making a name for herself in the fight against female recidivism, held up by the states politicians and the media as the face of reformed prison inmates.

Women's Justice Network founder Kat Armstrong. Credit:Anthony Johnson

Shes a beacon of hope for everybody who has been in a dark and difficult place and done things that arent right - you can always come back, former NSW attorney-general Brad Hazzard said this time last year.
Brisbane City Council has approved the demolition of almost 140 pre-1946 homes in the past five years.

Between July 2013 and June 2018, there was 139 successful application to demolish a pre-1946 dwelling, with 29 approved in the past financial year.

Brisbane City Council has approved the demolition of 139 pre-1946 dwellings in the past five financial years. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Opposition planning spokesman Jared Cassidy said the sheer amount of Brisbanes heritage bulldozed every year should sound alarm bells for residents across the city.

139 historic homes over the past five years alone have been razed and despite the rhetoric from the LNP administration about protecting Brisbanes character, all we have seen is the green light to developers at the expense of local communities, he said.
A man accused of shooting a tourist couple's campervan in Rockhampton in central Queensland has been charged.

The New Zealand couple told police they saw a vehicle shine its headlights at them before a blast rang out.

The New Zealand couple's campervan following the alleged shooting in Rockhampton on Monday. Credit:7 News Central Queensland - Twitter

They dived for cover as the shots shattered their windshield and damaged the body of their van about 5am on Monday.

A bullet was found in the couple's vehicle.
These look more like crumbs, but the scraper can lift all kinds of caked-on grime. Photo: Courtesy of the retailer

The very first thing I did when moving into my 100-year-old house a decade ago was install a dishwasher; I couldnt wait one minute to have a machine do all the dishwashing. But there are some things you cant just stuff in the dishwasher and be done with, such as a frying pan coated with dried scrambled-egg residue.

Cleaning such items with a sponge just makes the sponge gross and gak-covered, so I bought this little set of three hard plastic pot scrapers instead. I initially found the doodads when an insurance salesman mailed one to my mother as a promotional item in the 1980s, and while I thought it was clever as kid, Im even more impressed by it now, considering that shes still using the exact same one in her kitchen some 30 years later.

They have silicone grips for comfortable scraping. Photo: Courtesy of the retailer

I use them to scrape stuck-on food residue directly into the trash, saving my pipes and keeping my pans pristine. The hard plastic edge of the scraper cleans any sort of stuck-on gunk without scratching your pots, pans, or dishes: baked-on eggs, burned cheese, hard-as-a-rock brownie pan residue, crusty lasagna, crusty oatmeal. It gets into every nook and cranny with minimal elbow grease, and once youre done scraping, just rinse the scraper off or toss it in the dishwasher  its hard plastic, so no filthy food debris is able to stick to it.

All Scrub Daddy addicts, take note: That smiley-faced thing might be cute, but it still gets coated with whatever youre scrubbing, rendering it filthy and disgusting after one or two uses. (Plus, it only lasts about eight days max before it totally disintegrates, leaving you with a wrinkled, dejected face that I like to call the Scrub Granddaddy.) Not to mention the fact that throwing away a sponge every week or so results in a ton of waste. Ask my mom: Youll lose these little scrapers long before they wear out.

More Strat-approved pot scrubbers

Japanese Tawashi Brush $7 Writer Foster Kamer tipped us off to the wonders of this Japanese scrubber, which he learned about from artist Jenny Holzer: Its got a rich, century-long history, and its since become one of the most common household objects in Japan. After ten minutes cleaning with it, youll know why. On first glance, its angry little brown fibers look like theyll do more damage to your hands than your pots. But fear not: Those fibers, made of hemp palm, soften under water, enough for you to get a cozy, ticklish hold on. And then they will proceed to absolutely obliterate any grime youll come across, on any surface. They clean easily. $7 at Amazon Buy $7 at Amazon Buy

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Not heading to the Ekka for People's Day? There are plenty of ways to enjoy this mid-week public holiday in Brisbane. Here is a list of 10 great things to do:

Five Flavours Beer Festival

Credit:

Spend the public holiday basking in winter sunshine down on the Brisbane river at Riverlife's historic naval stores, drinking craft beer, tucking into delicious food and listening to live acoustic acts...more

Espresso Martini Festival
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after his mother was rushed to hospital with multiple stab wounds in Rockhampton on Tuesday night.

Queensland Police were called to a Thackeray Street address in the suburb of Park Avenue about 10pm, to reports of a disturbance.

Officers found a 36-year-old woman with serious head and chest injuries, and began first aid until paramedics arrived.

Ambulance staff took the woman to Rockhampton Base Hospital.

The boy was charged on Wednesday morning.
Wild fairy-wrens have been taught to associate random sounds played to them by scientists with predators and danger, in research that could help save some of Australias most endangered species.

Its hoped the research will help train captive-bred endangered birds escape predators when released into the wild, by teaching them to listen to the alarm calls of other birds for warning cues.

Wild fairy wrens have been taught to respond to certain calls by University of Sunshine Coast researchers. Credit:Jessica McLachlan

The research team, involving both Australian National University and University of the Sunshine Coast scientists, played the wild wrens a completely unfamiliar sound mixed in with predator alarm calls from other birds.

After the birds began responding with alarm, they then took away the other chorus sounds and played the single random sound, to the same effect.
A man arrested over the South Yarra fatal hit-run arrives at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Credit:Joe Armao

A man arrested after the hit-run killing of a Dutch national in South Yarra on Sunday is set to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Michael Panayides, 26, was taken into custody about 5.30pm on Monday after a member of the public recognised him from images released by police.

He was interviewed on Tuesday morning and was taken by police to court about 11.45am.

He's facing charges including culpable driving, failing to stop after a collision, failing to render assistance and negligently dealing with proceeds of crime.
A man has appeared in court charged over the death of a Dutch woman who was knocked from her bicycle and died in a hit-run crash in South Yarra.

Michael Panayides, 26, was on Tuesday charged with offences over the death of a 27-year-old woman on Sunday and appeared briefly before Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Michael Panayides arrives at the Melbourne Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Credit:Joe Armao

Police allege Mr Panayides was driving a stolen Mercedes-Benz in Chapel Street about 10am on Sunday and hit several parked cars, another moving car and the cyclist.

The woman, understood to be in Australia on a working visa, died at the scene. Her name is yet to be released. Her family has arrived in Melbourne from the Netherlands.
Buses on most of Melbourne's busiest routes are expected not to run on Thursday, leaving entire suburbs without any public transport in what is likely to be the largest bus strike in Victoria's history.

About 120 routes will be bus-free for 24 hours, as more than 1000 drivers at Transdev and CDC Victoria walk off the job amid a pay dispute.

Transdevs 46 services, which include many of Melbournes busiest Smart Bus routes, make up 30 per cent of the metropolitan bus network. It operates more than 120 school bus routes.

The government appears to have no plan to run any replacement services, leaving tens of thousands of commuters without any public transport to get to work and school.
A woman accused of murdering her mother, whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase floating in the Swan River, cried in the dock as images of the woman's head injuries were shown in court.

Tiffany Wan, 25, and her father Ah Ping Ban, 65, are both on trial in the Supreme Court of WA, accused of murdering Mosman Park resident Annabelle Chen in 2016.

Annabelle Chen's only daughter and her ex-husband have been charged with her murder.

Mr Ban is Ms Chen's former husband, while Ms Wan is her daughter. Both deny the murder charges brought against them.

Ms Chen, 58, was found dumped in a suitcase in the Swan River by two fishermen on July 2, 2016.
A man who sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl he'd just met on a train has been jailed for three and a half years, but could walk free on parole in a matter of months.

Liam Jon Dreja, 33, pleaded guilty in the WA District Court on Tuesday to three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13.

Dreja was jailed for three and a half years but could walk free on parole shortly. Credit:File Image

The court heard the offences happened in February 2016 and that Dreja and the girl, who is currently in state care, were not known to one another at the time.

Dreja, himself a father to a young girl, was on a Joondalup line train when he saw the girl also on the train looking distressed and crying.
Currently, a half-hourly bus on weekdays and an hourly bus on weekends connects elderly residents to the centre.

Robert Mair and Sue Brudenall said their fellow Goodwin Retirement Village Crace residents are furious there will be no direct bus from their suburb to the Belconnen town centre under the proposed network.

Changes to Canberra's bus network that could disadvantage people with limited mobility have been referred an ACT Legislative Committee, as Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris hits back at claims the consultation was not genuine.

They want a bus route to be extended to take in their suburb and connect them to Belconnen.

"The options they've given us would first make us have to travel to Gungahlin, or to go down to Gundaroo Drive which is a long long walk and it's a construction site at the moment which is very dangerous. It's just not suitable to older people many of whom have got mobility problems and also they fatigue a lot after long journeys," Mr Mair said.

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ACT Opposition leader Alistair Coe tabled their 529-signature petition on Tuesday, which has now been referred to the Environment, Transport and City Services Committee.

Mr Coe said he was not looking to pursue a fully-fledged inquiry into the changes, but wanted the committee to consider the concerns raised by the petitioners.
Domestic Animal Services has been forced to expand its cat holding facilities as the government extends the ban on roaming cats in certain suburbs.

The Gungahlin town centre is poised to be declared a cat containment area, under an expansion of the scheme.

Thomas Graham, who helps install cat containment spaces around Canberra. Credit:Karleen Minney

A large area near the Gungahlin Marketplace shopping centre will be made cat free, with cat containment zones also applied to the newly created suburbs of Macnamara and Strathnairn in west Belconnen.

The new cat containment areas will join 12 other Canberra suburbs, mostly in Weston Creek and Gungahlin, where owners must to keep their cats locked up.
Saudi Arabia and Canada are now locked in a diplomatic spat over so-called human rights leading to breakdown in future trade deals, suspended passenger flights and a flurry of other sanctions.

"We fully agree with the statement of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation secretary general that Saudi Arabia enjoys enormous respect especially among countries that have a similar standoff with human rights - which has a growing western lobby", Faisal said.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that 15,000 Canadians were living in a "safe society" in Saudi Arabia.

The Trudeau government has provided plenty of fodder for opposition members to take issue with lately, but calling out the Saudis for imprisoning and torturing someone for advocating for human rights should be one of those issues where Canadians stand together.

While the clash with human rights has existed for over 14 centuries, it recently resurfaced after women rights in the kingdom were brought into the spotlight.

The tweets that triggered the feud were posted 10 days ago by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and her department, and urged the Saudi Arabian government to immediately release several social activists arrested in the kingdom.

Will we continue to wring our hands about the refugee crisis and say nothing of the oppressive regimes that force people to flee their native lands?

According to Trudeau, the goal of Canada is to achieve bad relations with Saudi Arabia, and that Canada respects an important place in the world.

The row, however, will not affect crude oil exports from the Kingdom, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih has said, adding that Riyadh's policy has always been to keep politics and energy exports separate. The chief economist of RS Energy Group referred to this amount as "a drop in the bucket" at less than a tenth of Canadian crude imports compared with imports from the United States, which amount to about 66 percent of the total.

"As the Minister said, and we repeat, Canada will be loud and clear, privately and publicly, to speak out on human rights issues", reminded Trudeau during the event, held on Wednesday, August 8, in Montreal. If Saudi Arabia proceeded against its own citizens for violations of local laws, then others have no business to intervene in its internal affairs.

United States airline worker steals plane, takes it for flight before crashing it

According to a statement from Alaska, the sole man onboard, the one operating the plane, was an employee for Horizon Air. He flew it for an hour, followed by two armed F-15 jets from OR that the military scrambled, before he crashed.
Professor Sharon Goldfeld, co-chair of the working group, said the type of approach that had transformed Australia's complex school funding system after a review conducted by David Gonski could help make healthcare more fair, equitable and efficient.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians says higher levels of obesity, mental health and behavioural problems among children from low socio-economic groups meant that finding "innovative" solutions was essential to break the cycle of intergenerational health disadvantage.

"Unfortunately, for almost any [negative health] outcome you can think of there are what we call the social gradient, with higher proportions of children living in poorer areas, and we see that in obesity now but we also see it in child development," she said.

Research showed that by the time children began school, she said, children living in disadvantaged areas had a significantly higher incidences of health problems and learning difficulties.

"And the differences between the richest and poorest areas have slowly been increasing over the last three cycles [of triennial survey data]," she said.

"We're seeing this increase in inequality. These are some really important red flags ... If we're going to make a difference to children now and the adults they become, we need to start thinking about how we use this fabulous piece of infrastructure called healthcare delivery to make a difference."

Taking a "Gonski-style" approach would mean ensuring that any policy changes would be tailored to the local context, she said, taking account of the localised needs of children living both within and outside of major centres.
Queensland senator Fraser Anning has praised the White Australia Policy and called for a plebiscite as "the final solution to the immigration problem" in the most inflammatory maiden speech to an Australian Parliament since One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's in 1996.

The Katter's Australian Party senator, formerly of One Nation, used his first speech to the Senate on Tuesday to lament the demise of "our predominantly European identity" of the 1950s and '60s.

"A key part of this great pre-Whitlam consensus was bipartisan support from both Liberal and Labor for a European-based immigration program," Senator Anning said.

"Great Labor statesmen - Ben Chifley, John Curtin and Arthur Calwell - all strongly supported an immigration program that actively discriminated in favour of Europeans."
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley has apologised to a prominent Jewish leader who was asked to leave a Labor multicultural event by Muslim MP Shaoquett Moselmane.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive, Vic Alhadeff, was invited to the launch of the Labor Union Multicultural Action Committee but was turned away at the door by Mr Moselmane.

Ms Moselmane, Labor's whip in the upper house, was one of the hosts at the event at Trades Hall on Monday night and Mr Alhadeff was invited by the Labor's general secretary, Kaila Murnain.

Vic Alhadeff is chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. Credit:Fairfax Media

But Mr Moselmane, who was the first Muslim MP in NSW Parliament, told Mr Alhadeff that he could not enter because it was restricted to members of the Labor party.
An "unhealthy culture" has seeped into Ipswich City Council, leading to corruption, and the use of councillors' private email accounts for official business should be banned, according to a Crime and Corruption Commission report.

Queensland's crime and corruption watchdog tabled its report in Parliament on Tuesday after wrapping up the investigation into Ipswich City Council and made four recommendations.

Crime and Corruption Commission chairman Alan MacSporran presented the report to Speaker Curtis Pitt. Credit:Darren England - AAP

"Significant governance failures and cultural issues that appear to have been occurring over many years and which would not have occurred in an environment in which the values of transparency, accountability and good governance were paramount," the report said.

"Council policies and procedures were either not followed, or were ignored or circumvented, including by councillors and senior executive employees, resulting in the misuse of council funds and assets."
Melbourne has fallen to second place on the rankings. Credit:Darrian Traynor

After seven years at the top of The Economist's rankings as the world's most liveable city, Melbourne has been displaced by Vienna.

Key to Vienna's win is less of what the Economist Intelligence Unit called "petty crime". Melbourne ranked 12th internationally among cities for petty crime, while Vienna had the best ranking.

Although both cities registered improvements in their "liveability"  a ranking of 140 cities worldwide, across five broad categories of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure  increases in Viennas ratings were enough for the city to overtake Melbourne.
These developments count as progress, animal rights lawyers say, in persuading lawmakers and courts to expand the traditional legal view of animals - as property - to reflect their role in a society in which dog-sitting is big business and divorces can involve cat custody battles. "Our legislature acknowledged that people care a lot about animals, and that's something that's evolving and increasing," said Jessica Rubin, a University of Connecticut law professor who serves as an advocate in that state's cruelty cases. "The law, hopefully, is catching up to where our morals are." Justice stands in a barn at what may be a temporary home in Estacada, Oregon. Credit:Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post But expanding the protections for animals is quite different from granting them legal standing, which courts have not been willing to do. In 2004, a federal appeals court shot down a suit in the name of the world's cetaceans, in which President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were sued over the US Navy's use of sonar. In 2012, a US District Court dismissed a suit filed on behalf of five SeaWorld orcas, which argued that their captivity was a violation of the 13th Amendment's prohibition on slavery. This year, a federal appeals court ruled that a crested macaque that took its own photo could not sue for copyright protection, saying "this monkey - and all animals, since they are not human - lacks statutory standing under the Copyright Act".

In New York courts, a group called the Nonhuman Rights Project has for several years sought writs of habeas corpus for captive chimpanzees, arguing that they are "legal persons" - a term that can apply to corporations and ships - and have a right to freedom. While judges have occasionally praised the effort, they have ultimately rejected it, saying chimpanzees cannot bear the duties and responsibilities required of legal persons. Against that backdrop, Liebman says Justice's case is "more reasonable" than the others. It does not involve the Constitution or historically weighted concepts such as slavery or a writ of habeas corpus. It's not so, well, silly-sounding as copyright for a monkey. Justice and fellow rescued horses sheltered in Oregon. Credit:Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post Instead, he and colleagues say, it is a logical next step. Their argument goes like this: While some state cruelty laws were written to protect animal owners or public morals, Oregon's anti-cruelty law makes plain it is intended to protect animals, which it calls "sentient beings".

What's more, state courts have ruled that animals can be considered individual victims. And because victims have the right to sue their abusers, the lawsuit says, Justice should be able to sue his former owner. 'Children have interests that laws protect' Justice, of course, has no idea he is suing. Sarah Hanneken, an Animal Legal Defense Fund lawyer in Portland, says that Justice's ignorance of the lawsuit is irrelevant. "I'm trying to find someone who wants to adopt him," Kim Mosiman said of Justice. "But if they find out they're going to have to be financially responsible for him, he's never going anywhere." MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Carolyn Van Houten . Credit:ca "This whole idea of somebody who has been injured by the acts of another and not being able to speak for themselves in court, so having an adult human do it for them, this is not new," Hanneken said.

"Children are allowed to bring lawsuits, because we recognise that children have interests that laws protect." According to court filings, Justice's former owner, Gwendolyn Vercher, surrendered the horse to a rescue organisation in March 2017 at the urging of a neighbour in Cornelius, west of Portland. In a letter to law enforcement, an equine veterinarian who examined the horse at the time said he was "severely emaciated," lethargic and weak. 'He was a lot worse than I anticipated' That poor condition probably contributed to a lasting problem - the animal's penis had prolapsed, and his inability to retract it led to frostbite, trauma and infection. "When I got him, he was a lot worse than I anticipated," said Kim Mosiman, executive director of Sound Equine Options, which takes in and finds homes for about 100 horses each year.

Justice, whom Mosiman fondly describes as "like a grumpy old man," has gained weight and become more social. On a sun-soaked afternoon at the dusty farm in Estacada, he nibbled grass alongside a retired racehorse named Flick and used his nose to nudge the notebook of a visiting reporter. But the lawsuit says his penis may require partial amputation and that his medical conditions will demand long-term care. "I'm trying to find someone who wants to adopt him," Mosiman said. "But if they find out they're going to have to be financially responsible for him, he's never going anywhere." Some animal law experts warn that Justice's lawsuit is extreme, even dangerous. Richard Cupp, a Pepperdine University law professor who has been critical of the chimpanzee personhood cases, said he thinks the horse case has even more radical implications. I'm trying to find someone who wants to adopt him. But if they find out they're going to have to be financially responsible for him, he's never going anywhere. Sound Equine Options executive director Kim Mosiman Allowing Justice to sue could mean any animal protected under Oregon's anti-cruelty statute - a class that includes thousands of pets, zoo animals and even wildlife - could do the same, he said.

(Livestock, lab animals, hunting targets, rodeo animals and invertebrates are exempted.) If this approach were adopted elsewhere, Cupp said, a stampede of animal litigation could overrun courts. "Any case that could lead to billions of animals having the potential to file lawsuits is a shocker in the biggest way," Cupp said. "Once you say a horse or dog or cat can personally sue over being abused, it's not too big a jump to say, 'Well, we're kind of establishing that they're legal persons with that. And legal persons can't be eaten.' " Cupp emphasised that he supports Oregon's progressive animal cruelty laws and rulings. But legislation is a more reasonable way of expanding animal protections, he said. Justice's case, for example, could be addressed through a law requiring an abuser to cover an animal's future care. Any case that could lead to billions of animals having the potential to file lawsuits is a shocker in the biggest way. Pepperdine University law professor Richard Cupp "This would not be bad for society," Cupp said. "We do need to evolve. We're not doing enough to protect animals."

Cupp points to a Connecticut law as one that maintains an important distinction between animals and people. It focuses on "the interests of justice," not the animals' interests. Geordie Duckler, a Portland animal law lawyer who represents Vercher, said he views the horse lawsuit as a publicity stunt, one he does not expect Oregon courts to take very seriously. "There's a massive chasm between saying a thing is a victim and saying now it must have rights, and the rights are apparently the full panoply of rights, and must include a right to sue," Duckler said. "There's no such thing as a right in a vacuum. As soon as you have animal rights, then you'd better have animal jails and prosecutions against animals." The slippery-slope arguments are familiar to Mosiman, who calls her group an animal welfare, not animal rights, organisation. When she considered Justice's long-term needs, though, she had no qualms about signing him up as a plaintiff, she said.
Latest News Inside the 'tech arms race' to bring down turnaround times How lenders are competing against each other to balance risk, compliance and speed for brokers

Reaction as inflation spike causes RBA interest rate rethink The RBA is again under pressure as inflation jumps 0.8% in a quarter, putting ultra-low rate era in firing line

The World Bank has commissioned an Australian bank exclusively arrange the first global bond that will be created, assigned, transferred, and managed using blockchain technology.

Once launched, the $AUD Kangaroo bond, more popularly called bondi-i (Blockchain Offered New Debt Instrument), will be distributed on a blockchain platform operated by the World Bank and CBA in Washington and Sydney, respectively.

The bond has been developed with the help of the investor community including Northern Trust, QBE, and Treasury Corporation of Victoria, while the blockchain platform was developed by the CBA Innovation Labs Blockmail Centre of Excellence.

CBA general manager of institutional banking and markets international James Wall believes the collaborative work with World Bank will be a revolutionary demonstration of how blockchain technology can serve as a facilitating platform for different participants.

Wall said in statement that they fully support World Banks vision of making innovative use of technology such as blockchain to increase the efficiency of financing solutions to better achieve their goal to end extreme poverty.

The World Bank releases between US$50bn to $60bn of bonds annually as part of its directive to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. Its focus has increased on helping countries shift to technology-led sustainable economies, while exploring the benefits of blockchain and other disruptive technologies. The commitment is at the heart of the World Banks Innovation Lab, according to World Bank Group CIO, Denis Robitaille.

We know blockchain has the potential to revolutionise financial services and markets, and this transaction is a significant step towards that future state. By working collaboratively with the World Bank, we were able to find solutions to technical and legal considerations to make this ground breaking transaction a reality, CBA head of Blockchain, Innovative Labs, Sophie Gilder said.

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Family-owned brokerage Loan Market, recognised its 27 leading performers of the last year during an international awards ceremony, held as part of its annual conference.

Taking place on 13 August, the awards specifically highlighted businesses that excel in customer service, process efficiency, diversification and volume.

Now in its 19th year, the black-tie gala event welcomed 350 attendees to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Major winners on the night included:

Simon McGuirk  Wealth Market Financial Adviser of the Year

Daniel Green who aggregates Green Finance with Loan Market  Top Commercial Broker and Number One in Asset Finance

Michelle Heywood (Australia) and Teresa Payne (New Zealand)  Customer Service Managers of the Year

Gopal Sreenivasan  International Top Franchise Business.

Jason Basseal (Australia) and Karen Tatterson (New Zealand)  Corby-Mills Brokers Choice Award, as voted by brokers

Sarah Thomson  Chairmans Choice for Outstanding Contribution to the Group

In addition, six Best New Brokers were recognised by state including Heath Williams (NSW/ACT), Bernard Desmond (VIC/TAS), Mark West (SA/NT), Belinda Albert (WA), Terri Johnson (QLD) and Paulette Trotter (New Zealand).

However, the biggest winner of the night was Josh Bartlett of Loan Market Bayside who was named the top international individual broker after beating his own target to write more than $2bn in loans in 12 months.

Accepting the award he said, 12 months ago I set my goal for the coming year, from that moment everything my team and I worked towards was focused on that target.

My team are the backbone of the business, constantly striving to be better. We focus on the customer and upskill daily with training and learning sessions. We are extremely proud to be recognised by this award and is a testament to all the hard work, he added.

Congratulating the winners, Loan Market executive chairman, Sam White said, In the face of a challenging market, it is so impressive to see so many of our brokers and advisers have had such an outstanding year. As a business we continue to go from strength-to-strength experiencing an 11% growth in the number of customers weve helped, and they continue to be delighted with our brokers service.

Supporting this, the brokerage scored 4.8 out of five on Product Review, which White called a testament to the high quality of service offered by Loan Market Group.

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Bendigo and Adelaide Bank saw its statutory profit after tax rise 1.1% to $434.5m during fiscal year 2017-2018, according to the firms latest financial results.

The rise comes amid a 6.4% rise in underlying cash earnings to $445.1m, and solid earnings growth across the Local (6.4%) and Partner (21.8%) segments in what managing director Marnie Baker described as a highly competitive lending market.

Margin performance was strong, up 14 basis points for the financial year, with a margin of 2.36 percent, driven in part by a disciplined approach to asset and liability pricing, Baker added. The senior executive said about 80.2% of the banks funding comes from Retail customers, which indicates the strength of its business in an environment where volatility and disruption will continue.

Our current capital position continues to be a highlight, with Common Equity Tier 1 Capital growing 35 basis points since June 2017. This means we continue to be extremely well-placed to meet APRAs unquestionably strong capital benchmarks. Our organic capital growth reflects strong profitability, stable balance sheet and a move to lower risk exposures, Baker added.

With regard to the Royal Commission, Baker sees it as an opportunity, despite her belief that no bank is immune from the heightened scrutiny. She stressed Bendingo and Adelaide Banks recognition as Australias most trusted bank  and third most trusted brand  in the Roy Morgan Net Trust Score.

The time for our bank is now. Our strategy is to focus on the success of our customers, people, partners and communities to be Australias bank of choice. Our history of delivering and innovating, and the uniquely nimble composition of our business, will ensure shared success through our strategic partnering mindset, she added.

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Firefighters battling more than a dozen fires in California made major progress over the weekend, quadrupling the containment of one blaze threatening homes in the southern part of the state.

A PG&E employee was killed in a vehicle incident while working to restore services to areas affected by the Carr Fire on August 4.

"But we have these radical environmentalists that close off roads, refuse to have firebreaks, refuse to have any timber harvested, no grazing, and the result is these catastrophic fires", Zinke said. "It's tough. Anytime we lose a brother, it's hard".

He also said that letting timber go to waste increases the need - and cost - of importing lumber, resulting in added expense for Americans who need it to build homes and other structures.

"Good luck", the second note said, as if Grant and his owner hadn't already enjoyed a great deal of fortune. "He had a very dry wit, and he was very professional".

"I have no words that describe the loss and devastation experienced by the community". Words can not explain how it feels to lose a true hero. He was fighting California wildfires and protecting life and property.

Trump campaign says Omarosa job offer wasn't 'hush money'

The problem? Many senior advisors were not aware of the photoshoot, and they ultimately banned her from sharing any of the images. Manigault Newman has now written a book called " Unhinged " - to be released Tuesday - about her White House experiences.

This is the first reported death linked to the Ranch and River fires. "We are here for you", he said.

A few days ago the 295,970-acre Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex of Fires east of Ukiah, California, became the largest wildfire in the recorded history of the state.

There are now nine large fires burning across California, including one north of San Francisco in Mendocino and Lake counties that's the largest in state history.

"They've been pulled off the line".

"They provided her with water and helped her get back on her feet", the Cleveland National Forest said in a tweet. He's had someone with him the entire time.

Information about funeral plans and a donation fund is pending.
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A Coney Island man faces up to four years in prison for bilking at least $30,000 from refugees while posing as an immigrant-assistance service provider, according to a 21-count indictment Brooklyns top prosecutor filed in Supreme Court on Aug. 8.

District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called scammer Vadim Alekseevs alleged deceit particularly egregious because it exploited heightened levels of fear among immigrants worried about the federal governments draconian policies.

As the federal government puts in place unprecedented hurdles on immigrants and asylum seekers, it is more important than ever to make sure that con men dont take advantage of the desperation and fear, Gonzalez said. This defendant allegedly did just that: he presented bogus credentials and charged vulnerable newcomers thousands of dollars for immigration services he never delivered.

Prosecutors alleged that Alekseev filed 35 asylum applications with the Department of Homeland Security  which flagged them as fraudulent  while posing as an immigrant-assistance service provider between August 2014 and December 2017.

Alekseev charged locals between $1,000 and $3,000 in advance to prepare their applications, then refused to answer his customers phone calls and text messages after allegedly filing the applications, the indictment said. And the defendant even advertised his services in Russian newspapers and websites, targeting immigrants of Eastern European descent, prosecutors said.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services found that all of the applications were strikingly similar and determined they were fraudulent, according to Gonzalezs office, which said none of the victims received asylum status or any other benefits from Alekseevs services.

The indictment is a warning to copycats that any imitator seeking to replicate the defendants behavior will pay a price, the director of the federal agencys New York asylum office said.

It is particularly despicable when scammers prey on those in their own community, taking advantage of the trust placed in them to prepare immigration applications and petitions, said Patricia Menges. This is a reminder to those seeking to defraud the government that they will be brought to justice by the local and federal agencies tasked with preserving the integrity of our immigration system.

Gonzalez charged Alekseev with first-degree scheme to defraud, first-degree immigrant assistance services fraud, fourth-degree grand larceny, tampering with physical evidence, and impersonating an attorney, and ordered he be held on $15,000 bail, according to information from his office.

Alekseevs next court date is Oct. 3, the district attorneys office said.
Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC

A North Brooklyn state lawmaker with eight terms under his belt joins Brooklyn Paper Radio today to explain why voters should send him back to Albany for another two years instead of the democratic socialist running a grass-roots campaign to defeat him in this Septembers Democratic primary.

Voters elected State Sen. Martin Malave Dilan  a one-time ally of his partys deceased, and disgraced, former boss Vito Lopez  to represent Brooklyns 18th District, which includes parts of Bushwick, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Cypress Hills, East New York, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Brownsville, in 2002, following his near decade as a Councilman representing locals from many of those neighborhoods.

The long-serving blue legislator recently took his even-bluer primary challenger, Julia Salazar, to court, contending she has not lived in New York State long enough to legally run for office, but a Supreme Court judge ruled against him last week  a verdict he reportedly intends to appeal.

Were moving forward and we expect at the next level well be successful, Dilan told the New York Daily News following the judges Aug. 10 decision.

And Salazar isnt the incumbents first challenger from his partys so-called progressive wing  in 2014 and 2016, Williamsburg activist Debbie Medina ran primary campaigns against Dilan, but failed to unseat him in both attempts.

Dilan, a self-proclaimed tenants rights advocate who has pushed for lower speed limits on city streets and improved G-train service during his Senate career, joins co-hosts Vince DiMiceli and Anthony Rotunno live at 2:30 pm, so tune in  and dont forget to call in at (718) 260TEAZ (or 8329) with your own questions for the pol.
The draft agreement, briefly made public on a Russian government portal in June, refers to the Caspian as a sea but the provisions give it "a special legal status", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Kommersant daily.

He added, "This convention completely bans the presence of foreign warships in this sea and this is a key issue for the national security of its littoral states".

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was quick to hail the clause that prevents non-Caspian countries from deploying military forces.

In line with the document, the main area of the Caspian water surface remains in the common use of the parties, and the bottom and the shelf are divided by neighboring states into plots by agreement between them on the basis of worldwide law.

Its seabed is estimated to hold 50 billion barrels of oil and nearly 8.4 trillion cubic metres of natural gas.

The agreement apparently permits something that Russian Federation had been opposing - allowing Turkmenistan to build a "Trans-Caspian Pipeline" (TCP) to permit delivery of its gas to Azerbaijan, where it would be pumped into pipelines leading west to Turkey and Europe.

"This is a major event that we have been striving to reach for two decades; we held frank discussions and sought out a solution, and this solution has been found at last".

The Caspian Sea in Central Asia is the largest inland body of water in the world.

Ivanka Trump, administration mark anniversary of Charlottesville riot

The violence culminated with a man driving a vehicle into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heyer and injuring 19 people. Far-right groups are holding another rally Sunday, dubbed "Unite the Right 2", this time in the nation's capital.

Talks in the port city of Aktau should help ease tensions in a militarised region where the legal limbo has scuppered lucrative projects and strained relations among nations along the Caspian's 7,000-kilometre shoreline.

The deal goes some way to settling a long-lasting dispute on whether the Caspian is a sea or a lake - which means it falls under different worldwide laws.

But if it is defined as a lake, then it would have to be divided between all five countries - and a formula about who gets what is not the easiest of equations to solve.

According to Russia's president Vladimir Putin, the agreement "creates conditions for bringing cooperation between the countries to a qualitatively new level of partnership, for the development of close cooperation on different trajectories".

The Caspian Sea is highly-prized for its vast oil and gas reserves.

The Caspian Sea has several species of sturgeon, the fish that yields roe - or eggs - that are processed into caviar.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the document allowed pipelines to be laid as long as certain environmental standards were met.
Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital Editor
US-based online retailer Amazon has made a fresh investment of Rs 2,700 crore in India unit. The fresh capital infusion will beef up Amazon's war-chest against Indian e-commerce market leader Flipkart, which has joined hands with Walmart. Amazon has so far invested nearly USD 4 billion in its India operations.

Earlier in May, Jeff Bezos-led retail giant had pumped in fresh capital of Rs 2,600 crore into its India business unit - Amazon Seller Services. Before this, the company had invested Rs 1950 in Amazon Seller Services in January this year.

Explaining the fresh investment, Amazon India spokesperson had then said: "As India's fastest growing e-commerce player with a long-term commitment to make e-commerce a habit for Indian customers, we continue to invest in the necessary technology and infrastructure to grow the entire ecosystem".

The fresh funds will provide more arsenal to Amazon which has been aggressively investing in expanding infrastructure and adding solutions to enhance consumer and seller experience.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has committed to invest USD 5 billion in the Indian market.

During an investor call, Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky had said the company would continue to invest in India as it sees great progress with both sellers and customers here, despite the US e-tailing giant registering a loss of USD 622 million from international operations in the first quarter of 2018.

The American company has also been pumping funds into its other entities in India, including Amazon Pay and wholesale business. These investments have been directed towards building warehouses, strengthening logistics and increasing product assortment.

Amazon is also investing significant money in marketing and promotions as the company looks to bring more consumers to its online shopping platform.
Beleaguered carrier Jet Airways Ltd has not yet approached State Bank of India (SBI) for any funds, the chairman of the country's top bank said on Tuesday, according to television channel CNBC-TV18. Jet, India's biggest full-service carrier, told staff earlier this month it was running out of money, a source had told Reuters, but it has denied this and said it is confident of cutting costs and keeping its planes flying. ALSO READ: Jet Airways, Icra under Sebi lens for lapses in loan status disclosure Shares of Jet, India's biggest full-service carrier, hit a ...
Under fire from regulators and employees for the financial woes engulfing the airline, chairman Naresh Goyal met aviation secretary RN Choubey on Monday in the capital and apprised him of the ongoing crisis.

Goyal, the London-based NRI, had last week told his shareholders that he's embarrassed and guilty of their losses, later left for London amidst the airlines' plans to raise funds to come out of the financial air pocket, sources said.

Following its abrupt move to indefinitely defer June quarter earnings announcement on August 9, the aviation ministry had said it was keeping a watch on the developments at the beleaguered

"We will be watching the developments at Jet Airways," Choubey had said.

He was soon to say that the did not approach the ministry as it was not bound to do so. "But when are in difficulty, they come to us," he had said.

When contacted the confirmed the meeting and also that he left on an overseas business trip.

"The chairman has met the aviation secretary on Monday to discuss the issues concerning the sector and the airline," an airline spokesperson said.

On his foreign trip in the middle of a deepening financial and regulatory crisis, the spokesperson said, "he continues with his routine engagements including travels as part of his scheduled itinerary and business requirements."



The airline which has debt of over Rs 110 billion from banks, had said last evening that it was looking at all options to raise funds. "We have been evaluating various funding options to meet the liquidity requirements on priority," the airline had said in a statement after stock exchanges sought clarification. Beginning early this month, the 25-year-old airline has been facing cash crunch leading it to force senior management to take a 25 per cent pay cut and proposing an up to 25 per cent reduction in the wages of other employees, including engineers and pilots.

However, after protests by these categories of employees the airline was forced to put the move on hold.

Responding to shareholders' queries on pay cuts at the AGM, chief executive Vinay Dube had said that the carrier was working very diligently and implementing for some time a mission plan that looked at every element of structuring from the cost perspective, including the payrolls.

"We are looking at all multiple elements of restructuring and payroll is one of them," Dube had said indicating that the pay cut proposal was not shelved.

It can be noted that the financial crisis has come to haunt the airline once again after a gap of five years which saw Goyal offloading 24 per cent of his holding to Etihad for over Rs 20.69 billion in April 2013.
in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), the terror group's newest affiliate, is "ideologically inclined" to carry out attacks inside India but its capability is believed to be low and is relatively isolated owing to increased security measures in the region, according to a UN report.

The 22nd report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team was submitted to the UN Security Council Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

The report said that AQIS is "relatively isolated owing to increased security measures within the wider region, but the group continues to seek security gaps for opportunistic attacks.

The group is "ideologically inclined to carry out attacks inside India but its capability is believed to be low, it said, adding that according to Member States, the strength of AQIS in is estimated at several hundred people, located in Laghman, Paktika, Kandahar, Ghazni and Zabul provinces.

Noting that still maintains a presence in South Asia, the report said the terror group adapts to the local environment, trying to embed itself into local struggles and communities and is closely allied with the Taliban.

According to one Member State, although the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, poses an immediate threat, is the intellectually stronger group and remains a longer-term threat.

The report added that some members of the Al-Qaeda core, including Aiman al-Zawahiri and son of slain Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Hamza bin Laden are reported to be in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas.

Other members of the Al-Qaeda core may leave for more secure areas, it said.

The report said that between 20,000 and 30,000 Islamic State fighters remain in Iraq and Syria and among these there is still a significant component of the many thousands of active foreign terrorist fighters.

One Member State reports that some recent plots detected and prevented in Europe had originated from ISIL in In addition to establishing a presence across Afghanistan, ISIL also attempts to have an impact on other countries in the region.

"According to one Member State, ISIL in is responsible for at least one attack in the Kashmir region, the report said. However, no details about the attack in Kashmir were given in the report.

The sanctions monitoring team submits independent reports every six months to the Security Council on the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities.

The report added that in Afghanistan, ISIL persistently tried to expand its presence, despite pressure from the Afghan Defence and Security Forces, the international coalition and the Taliban.

ISIL currently has its main presence in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Nuristan, and is also active in Jowzjan, Faryab, Sari Pul and Badakhshan provinces in the north. The group has the intention to expand into Ghazni, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar and Uruzgan provinces.

In Kabul, Herat and Jalalabad, ISIL already has sleeper cells and has committed disruptive, high-profile attacks, including against both Government and Taliban targets during the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire, it added.

The report noted that that ISIL has between 3,500 and 4,000 members in Afghanistan, including between 600 and 1,000 in northern Afghanistan (with both numbers on the increase). It is led by Abu Sayed Bajauri who is not listed and the majority of its members and leaders were formerly members of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and it may represent an emerging threat to Central Asian States.
The Delhi Police on Monday claimed it was not intimated about the event at the Constitution Club which student had gone to attend when he was attacked by an unidentified gunmen.

Questions were raised about security in Lutyens's Delhi after the attack on Khalid, who escaped unhurt.

"We were not aware about the programme since we were not intimated about it. As soon as we were informed about the incident, our team reached the spot since a police station is also nearby," said Ajay Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi range.

The event, 'Khauff Se Azaadi' (Freedom from Fear), was organised by United Against Hate and featured speakers such as lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Delhi University professor Apoorvanand and the late Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika Vemula, among others.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Anwar Ali, who was one of the speakers at the event, raised concerns over the security in Lutyens' Delhi.

"Even Lutyens' Delhi is not safe anymore. Today, was attacked right here in the Constitution Club. This could have happened with anyone of us anywhere," he added.

Activist Shabnam Hashmi also expressed similar concerns.

"The politics of violence is responsible for it along with certain media houses maligning him. When violence is encouraged in the society by those in power this is bound to happen irrespective of security zone or not," she added.
Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Das Tandon passed away after suffering a heart attack early on Tuesday morning. He was 91. The founder-member of the Jan Sangh was rushed to the Dr B R Ambedkar Hospital at around 8 am.

He breathed his last around 2 pm. The state has declared a seven-day mourning as a mark of respect to the fifth governor of Chhattisgarh. The body was kept in the Raj Bhawan before it was flown to Chandigarh, where the last rites will take place. He was six-time MLA from Chandigarh and was the deputy chief minister in the Akali Dal-Jan Sangh ministry in ...
The Chinese Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers have not only transgressed inside the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but have also pitched tents.

The sources aware of the development informed ANI that,"the transgression took place in the first week of July this year when a group of shepherds understood to be PLA troops entered more than 300 Metres in Demchok, Eastern Ladakh with their cattle and pitched five tents."

It is told that the issue was raised at the appropriate level responding to which the PLA troops dismantled three tents.

India shares a long border of 4,057 kilometres which is termed as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) divided into three sectors viz the Northern, Middle and Eastern sectors starting from the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The issue of the borders remains disputed as the Chinese perception differs from the position of the borders as claimed by India.

When contacted, Army declined to comment on the matter. The sources told ANI that there are two tents still in the area with few men.

Last year, and the PLA were locked in a 73-day long stand-off starting from June 16 to August 28 in the disputed trijunction of the shared between India, China and Bhutan.

Indian side, in Demchok, is told to have followed the standard protocols of banner drill and escalating the matter at the appropriate level. In a banner drill, a banner in Chinese and Hindi is shown to the Chinese with the message to them that they have entered the Indian territory and they should return back to their side.

In April this year, and Chinese President had met in Wuhan Province for an informal meeting. The two leaders had underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in all areas of the India-China border region in the larger interest of the overall development of bilateral relations.
A bandh was recently observed in different parts of Maharashtra, as part of the series of protests in the ongoing agitation of the Maratha community which is demanding reservation in education and employment sectors. Over the last two years, almost 60 silent marches have been held, all of them peaceful, except for the last few when violence broke out in parts.

It looks like the Marathas, unconvinced about the assurances given by Devendra Fadnavis government, are upping the ante. The demand itself goes back 34 years. A leader of Mathadis (headloaders) Annasaheb Patil had ...
As many as 1,662 uniform resource locators (URLs) or posts on social media were blocked over 18 months ending June 2018, Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister for electronics and information technology, told the Rajya Sabha (Parliaments upper house) on August 3, 2018, as part of an explanation on combating fake news. Recently, it has come to the attention of the government of India that a number of disturbing instances causing loss of innocent lives have taken place in various parts of the country, RS Prasad said in his reply on the issue of misuse of social media and ...

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital Editor
"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth," legendary physicist Albert Einstein once said of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. In a remarkable life, Mahatma Gandhi played many roles: that of a social reformer, a journalist and a freedom fighter, among others.

His story of embracing peace and non-violence is taught in Indian schools. But how much do you know about the Father of the Nation? Do you know who cooked food for Bapu, as Gandhi was lovingly called, in Pune's Yerawada Jail? Or, what was the ...
Services offered by the office of a company to its branches in other states will attract GST, the Karnataka bench of the Authority of Advance Rulings (AAR) has said, in what is seen as an adverse ruling for the industry.

This means that any service provided by a companys human resource or finance department to branches in other cities will be treated as supply, and the company will have to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) on that. Although the tax could be claimed as an input credit by the location receiving the service, it might increase the compliance burden for ...
The rupee has already plunged under 70 to a dollar. How much more? The question is very relevant, now that the rupee has breached that psychological mark. Just a week ago, one thought the rupee would settle in the range of 68-69 a dollar; but the currency suddenly gravitated towards and then under 70.

Curiously, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had mentioned in its last credit policy that trade wars were a major concern. But the concept of trade wars has assumed another dimension now, going beyond the US and China. The present problem has been caused ostensibly due to the imbroglio ...

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
India, the second biggest crude customer for Iran, may cut its imports from the Islamic republic by half to secure a waiver from the US to continue with shipments, people familiar with the matter said. Officials from the US had discussed the issue of a conditional waiver on sanctions in talks last month in New Delhi, the people said, requesting not to be identified as the discussion was private.

India has expressed its inability to scrap oil imports from Iran completely as its supplies are being offered at competitive rates, the people said. New Delhi expects a response as early as ...
As a nation,we have to protect our core values: Bilawal Bhutto

As a nation,we have to protect our core values: Bilawal BhuttoISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Monday that his party would continue to work for strengthening of democratic practices in the country



He was speaking to the media after taking oath as a member of the National Assembly.



The sacrifices given by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and thousands of party workers teach us to defend democracy and to stand by it, he said, adding that he would struggle for the rights of the people and democracy.



In his greetings to the nation on the occasion of the Independence Day, Bilawal said that there was a need to strive for the country dreamt by the founder, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.



The PPP chairman said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto pursued the vision of Quaid-e-Azam in their struggle for an egalitarian and democratic country, and eventually laid down their lives to uphold those principles. Extremism and terrorism are two major diseases ailing our society. Both have to be completely routed out to put Pakistan on the path of peace, progress and prosperity, he said, adding, as a nation, we have to protect and promote our core values, which have been eroded by those seeking chaos and darkness.



Bilawal further said that only a democratic order and constitutionalism could strengthen the nation and parliamentary supremacy needed to be respected as the institution represented the will of the people.



Former president Asif Ali Zardari also addressed the media after the inaugural NA session. He said that the workers of PPP were heirs to a great legacy. He said that he was proud of the party workers who were without a match in Pakistani politics. No other party can claim to have as devoted, dedicated and fearless workers as the PPP, he said, adding that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto held deep compassion for the downtrodden masses. The former president pledged to make Pakistan a democratic, progressive, liberal and welfare oriented country.
State-owned Allahabad Bank on Tuesday said Usha Ananthasubramanian no longer heads the bank following the Ministry directive on Monday to remove her from the post.

"We have to inform you that the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services vide notification dated August 13, 2018, has notified that...in exercise of powers under Section 9 of the Banking Companies Act, 1970, the central government hereby removes Usha Ananthasubramanian, from the office of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Allahabad Bank, with immediate effect," the bank said in a regulatory filing.

Accordingly, Usha Ananthasubramanian has ceased to be the MD&CEO of the bank with effect from the date of aforesaid government notification, it said.



She was divested of her powers as the head of the bank three months ago as a fallout of the Rs 140 billion (Rs 14,000 crore) fraud at (PNB) after being named in the probe agency CBI's chargesheet.

Ananthasubramanian was heading PNB before taking charge of Allahabad Bank.

She had enjoyed leadership roles in PNB in two stints. She headed the bank between August 2015 and May 2017.

She was PNB executive director at the bank from July 2011 to November 2013.



ALSO READ: Allahabad Bank divests its CEO Usha Ananthasubramanian of all powers

It is alleged that Ananthasubramanian failed to exercise proper control over the functioning of PNB while serving as MD of the bank. It enabled the fraud in the bank through misuse of SWIFT at PNB's Brady House branch.

Jeweller and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated PNB of about Rs 140 billion (Rs 14,000 crore) through the issuance of fraudulent letters of undertaking. A Mumbai branch of PNB had fraudulently issued LoUs for the group of companies belonging to Modi since March 2011.



Allahabad Bank also reported a net loss of over Rs 19.44 billion (Rs 1,944 crore) in the first quarter ended June due to higher provisioning for bad loans. There was a net profit of Rs 290 million (Rs 29 crore) in bank's balance sheet in the first quarter of 2017-18.



The stock of the bank tumbled over 6 per cent to close at Rs 40 on BSE.
Attributing the fall in value against the US dollar to "external factors", Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said today that there is nothing to worry about as long as the depreciation is in line with other currencies.

The crashed to a record low of 70.09 during the day on global concerns over Turkey's economic woes which have impacted various emerging amid the US dollar gaining strength against other currencies.

" is depreciating due to external factors...nothing at this stage to worry," Garg said adding external factors may ease going forward.

He said that even if the rupee falls to 80 per dollar, "it will not be a concern provided all other currencies depreciate in the same range". The Indian currency, he said, is still better as compared to certain other currencies. In the current financial year, which began on April 1, the rupee has depreciated around 6.7% against the US dollar.





ALSO READ: Rupee hits record low of 70.08 a dollar, Turkey rout complicates RBI's job

Garg also said that while the Reserve Bank of India had sufficient foreign exchange reserves, its intervention in the currency market may not be of much help as of now, as the weakness in the rupee was a result of global factors. RBI's foreign exchange reserves were at USD 402.70 billion in the week ended August 3, down USD 1.49 billion over the preceding week, latest data released by the central bank showed.

RBI's stated position is that it does not seek to target a particular level for the rupee's exchange rate against the dollar, and uses its reserves to ease volatility in the currency market. Meanwhile, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said all currencies have weakened against the dollar, but the Indian currency has not weakened very much in comparison to other currencies.

"I feel that it (rupee) should stabilise between 69 and 70 because if you look at the numbers for investment which is coming into the country -- investment in bonds, investment in equities -- this level has become attractive for foreign investment," Kumar said.

B Prasanna of ICICI Bank said the rupee is the victim of a contagion effect impacting all Emerging (EMs) triggered by the Turkish crisis. "The gradual pace of depreciation witnessed till the 69 figure levels are a result of the Yuan depreciation and the current account deficit worsening sharply from 0.6 per cent of GDP in FY'17 to an expected deficit close to 2.5 per cent of GDP this year, stemming from surging oil prices and worsening of the already negative basic Balance of Payment (BoP)," he said.

He opined that on a medium-term basis, the rupee will need to depreciate further to keep up with the inflation differentials with other trading partners.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday will hear appeals by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and victims against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's acquittal in connection with 1984 Anti-Sikh killings case.

The court will also hear the appeals by five accused convicted by the trial court.

According to media reports, victims of the anti-Sikh riots had last week expected relief from the court, hoping for a decision on the plea filed in 2013 in the Delhi High Court. The bench, hearing the matter, asked for appeals and revision petitions.

In March, the Delhi High Court had received a letter petition containing a CD, which is stated to be Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's confession about accepting his role in instigating the connecting case. The court issued a notice to the Kumar, asking him to file a reply to the same.

According to official records, about 2,800 Sikhs were killed across India, including 2,100 in Delhi, during the pogrom that broke out after the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.

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The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests held on May 22. 13 people lost their lives during the firing.

Madras High Court judges CT Selvam and Basheer Ahamed quashed the detention of six members of Makkal Adhikaram. These members were detained under the Security Act (NSA).

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has transferred all the cases pertaining to violence and police firing to CBI.

Speaking on the High Court's order, Tamil Nadu minister D. Jayakumar said, "The Court has given its order for the CBI probe. The Tamil Nadu government will definitely meet to decide upon this."

On May 22, people of the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu protested against the construction of a copper plant, claiming that it was polluting groundwater, and was hazardous for the environment.

The protests took a violent turn when 13 people were killed and more than 60 were injured in the police firing during the protest. The police fired at a crowd of 20,000 protesters.

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American television star Bethenny Frankel paid tribute to her off-and-on boyfriend, Dennis Shields, who died last week aged 51.

Following the ceremony at a Long Island cemetery, the 47-year-old reality star took to her Instagram account and shared a snap of Shields lying on a bed with her old dog.

'Rest in peace my sweet babies who gave me endless unconditional love,' she wrote. '#nowandforever.'

Shields was found dead in his apartment after he allegedly asked his assistant to provide him with Narcan-- a medication used to block the effects of opioids-- in order to save his life.

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Another girl was sent to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) from Aasra shelter home, hours after two girls from the same place were admitted there.

This comes days after two girls were brought dead to the PMCH from the same shelter home.

The Bihar Police had detained the shelter home's secretary and treasurer in connection with the two deaths and sent them to three-day police custody.

The police had earlier detained five others in connection with the same case.

This comes in continuation of the recent cases of atrocities at shelter homes across the country, with cases of alleged sexual abuse and ill-treatment coming out of Muzzafarpur in Bihar, Deoria in Uttar Pradesh and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday announced financial aid for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Dalits and Other Backward Class (OBCs) community students who crack Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) preliminary Exams.

The money will be transferred directly into accounts of the eligible candidates and the entire amount will be paid in a single instalment.

While addressing a public function here on Tuesday the chief minister said, "Students from SC/ST, Dalit and OBC communities will be given Rs 50,000 if they clear Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Preliminary Exams and Rs 1 lakh if they clear Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Preliminary Exams."

The aforementioned assistance will be a part of the Mukhyamantri Anusuchit Jati Evam Janjati Chhatravas Yojana. The scheme was approved by the state cabinet during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Kumar.

On a related note, in another bid to uplift SC/ST sections in the state, on July 22nd, the Bihar government decided to grant facility of reservation in promotions to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes personnel in its services.

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By-elections on NA seats to be held in Oct

ISLAMABAD: By-elections on 11 general seats of the National Assembly will be held within the next two months, a senior official of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told reporters on Monday.



He said that while nine vacancies had been created by resignations of those who had won more than one seat, elections in NA-60 (Rawalpindi) had been put off due to disqualification of Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Hanif Abbasi days before polling and election in NA-103 (Faisalabad) had been postponed due to the death of a candidate.



Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, who had won five NA seats, has retained NA-95 (Mianwali) and vacated NA-35 (Bannu), NA-53 (Islamabad), NA-131 (Lahore) and NA-243 (Karachi).



PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif has retained NA-132 (Lahore) and quit PP-164 and PP-165 seats of the Punjab Assembly, while his son Hamza vacated NA-124 (Lahore) and retained PP-146 (Lahore).



Shahbaz Sharif will be the oppositions joint candidate for the slot of prime minister against Imran Khan.



Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has quit NA-65 and NA-69 and retained PP-30. He will be the PTI-PML-Q joint candidate for the office of Punjab Assembly speaker.



Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the PTI, who defeated former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan from NA-59 (Rawalpindi) and NA-63 (Rawalpindi), has retained NA-59 and vacated NA-63.



Retired Major Tahir Sadiq, who won NA-55 and NA-56 (Attock), quit NA-56.



Ali Amin Khan Gandapur of the PTI, who defeated JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, retained NA-38 and vacated PK-97.



Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jilani of the Pakistan Peoples Party retained NA-209 and quit PS-30.



Asad Qaiser, who is the joint candidate of the PTI and its allies for the slot of NA speaker, has retained NA-18 and quit PK-44.



Amir Haider Hoti of the Awami National Party retained NA-21 and vacated PK-53.



Meanwhile, an official of the ECP told media men that the schedule for presidential election would be announced soon after the electoral college was completed this week. The five-year term of President Mamnoon Hussain will end on Sept 9.



Under the Constitution, the election for the presidents office is to be conducted not earlier than two months and not later than one month before the expiry of the term.



In case the assemblies are dissolved, the election should take place within a month after the general elections. But sources in the ECP said it would not be possible to meet the demand of this constitutional provision.
A government officer of Under Secretary level, who was shot at in his house by unidentified people this morning, died in the hospital. Rajiv, 58, posted at the Patna Secretariat, was about to retire.

The incident took place after unidentified people barged into his house this morning and shot at him. The officer was rushed to the hospital under critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries. Further details are awaited.

A day before, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) leader Manish Sahani was shot dead inside his office premises in the Jandaha area in Vaishali district, triggering violent protests by his supporters outside the Jandaha police station.

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Turns out, a rare cancer known as myeloma could be caught early using simple blood tests.

According to a new study, myeloma could lead to GPs using simple blood tests to improve early diagnosis. The study investigated the best combination of blood tests that could be used to diagnose myeloma in GP practices.

The research was a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the University of Exeter and Chiddenbrook Surgery, Crediton, funded by the National Institute for Research (NIHR).

Researchers investigated how useful a number of different measures were for indicating the presence of the disease, and suggested what combinations of these tests were sufficient to rule out the disease, and to diagnose it, saving the patient from the worry of specialist referral.

Blood tests of 2703 cases taken up to five years prior to diagnosis were analysed and compared with those of 12,157 patients without cancer, matching cases with control patients of similar age amongst other relevant parameters.

They demonstrated that a simple combination of two blood parameters could be enough to diagnose patients. Such blood tests are routinely conducted in GP surgeries.

Lead author of the study, Constantinos Koshiaris, said, "The combination of levels of haemoglobin, the oxygen carrier in the blood, and one of two inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate or plasma viscosity) are a sufficient test rule out myeloma. If abnormalities are detected in this test, it should lead to urgent urine protein tests which can help speed up diagnosis."

Myeloma has the longest diagnosis process of all common cancers, and a large number of patients are diagnosed after emergency care, over a third of which have had at least three primary care consultations.

Principal investigator on the study, Professor Willie Hamilton said, "We report a simple way a GP can check patients presenting symptoms such as back, rib and chest pain, or recurrent chest infections, and determine whether they have myeloma or not."

The authors also suggest the possibility of integrating a system in the electronic record to alert clinicians to relevant symptoms or changes in blood parameters related to myeloma.

The full findings are present in the British Journal of General Practice.

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Civil society members from Maldives have called for restoring democracy in the wake of ongoing political turmoil in the island nation. They have sought help from the international community to have free and fare presidential elections scheduled to be held on 23 September this year.

A panel of senior journalists, lawyers and representative from NGOs attended a round table discussion on the current situation on the Maldives in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The objective was to identify avenues for greater collaboration among national and international civil society members to address restrictions in civic space, media, freedom of speech and peaceful assembly in Maldives.

Maldives has been facing instability as President Abdulla Yameen and his government has cracked down on opposition political parties, curtailed fundamental freedoms, and repeatedly violated the Maldives' international human rights obligations.

In February 2018, Yameen declared a state of emergency, restricted constitutional rights, suspended forces, and curtailed the authority of the judiciary. In the ensuing crisis, the government arrested two Supreme Court judges along with several others.

Speaking to ANI, Afnan Ibrahim, Project coordinator of Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), a NGO, said elections must be held on scheduled date despite having crackdown on opposition and judiciary. "It doesn't seem like the political prisoners are going to be released regardless of the Supreme Court's order to release them. Therefore, I feel, if we wait, we are just going to keep waiting and the authoritarian government that we have right now, is going to increase its power and possibly figure out more ways to rig the elections. That's going to be dangerous. It is important that we carry out as planned," she said.

Director of Maldivian Democracy Network Shahindha Ismail said: "The situation is very tense and chaotic. We have been seeing different components of the state and the government going backward on democratic norms, which has opened up the space to question the freedom of holding the elections. The situation is critical."

"We do join in the call for due process and fare trials and in that sense those in the custody right now have been in custody arbitrarily and, therefore, must be released. If there is an allegation against the political leaders or anybody else, they have the absolute right to fare trial," she added.

The Maldivian government has repeatedly disregarded the opinions and the urgings of the UN Human Rights Committee.

Earlier, a UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention condemned the trial of former President Nasheed and his conviction for 13 years on terrorism charges.

More recently, the UN Human Rights Committee urged the Maldivian government to allow opposition candidates, including former President Nasheed, to run for office in the upcoming primaries. The government rejected the Committee's directive, pointing Article 109 of the Constitution, which prohibits any individual who has been convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to more than twelve months from running the office.

In the wake of upcoming elections, Shahindha Ismail demand foreign observations of the process. "We are asking that the international community and international organizations observe and be engaged with the process in the Maldives in order to ensure a democratic process, I think the international community needs to be aware of what is going on and speak out when there is a necessity to speak out," she said.

While praising India's support and concern over restoration of democracy in the island nation, Shahindha thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We feel very encouraged by the refusal by Prime Minister Modi not to visit the Maldives and I think it is very clean indication that he is not happy with how things are going on in the Maldives. The recent interview that the Prime Minister gave with the statement about the need for Maldives to restore democracy and ensure free and fare elections, I think it is very encouraging and it is something that India can build up on. I believe there are several avenues in which the message can be specified into action. And I hope India will do that", said Shahindha.

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat on Tuesday stated that holding assembly polls in 11 states along with Lok Sabha elections was possible if those states dissolve their houses voluntarily.

"It is possible to hold elections with that kind of permutation and combination if the assemblies of those states were to be voluntarily dissolved," Rawat told ANI in an exclusive interview when asked for his comments on recent media reports that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is mulling over holding polls in 11 states along with general elections.

Recent media reports suggest that the BJP is exploring the idea of deferring some state assembly elections and advancing few others like Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, to club them for simultaneous voting along with Lok Sabha polls.

While the term of Mizoram state assembly will expire in December, the terms of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assemblies are scheduled to end in January.

However, about the possibility of holding general elections with assembly polls in all 29 states, Rawat clarified that it may not be possible without amending the Constitution. "It is feasible, although it is mostly hypothetical. If there is no provision under the Constitution, the commission cannot do anything about it," explained the CEC.

He added, "The commission is required to conduct pending elections in every house (assembly) in the last six months, as directed by the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. There has to be an amendment in the Constitution for it to be possible.Extra polling personnel, security and VVPATs will also be needed."

One Nation, One Election system has been supported by various political parties including the Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

BJP president Amit Shah on Monday wrote a letter to the Law Commission of India stating that his party was willing to suggest a comprehensive structure for the successful implementation of 'One Nation, One Election'. He further said that criticism against the idea was "politically motivated and inappropriate.

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Disney just unveiled the first look of its upcoming movie, 'Mulan', which stars American-Chinese actress Liu Yifei in the titular role.

In the picture, Liu Yifei could be seen posing with a sword in a red and white gown like the live-action version of the iconic Disney character.

The actress will be seen portraying the role of a girl who disguises herself as a man in order to refrain his old father from joining the military to fight the invading Huns. However, she later went on to join the army herself, confirmed The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie also stars Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Cheng Pei-Pei, Nelson Lee, Gong Li and Jet Li.

Directed by 'The Zookeeper's Wife' filmmaker, Niki Caro, the movie will be filmed in New Zealand and China.

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Pakistan Prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan on Tuesday extended support to Turkey, which is caught-up in a dispute with the United States of America (USA).

Khan took to Twitter and wrote, "On behalf of the people of Pakistan and myself, I want to let President Erdogan and the people of Turkey know we are praying for their success in dealing with the severe economic challenges confronting them, as they have always succeeded against adversities in their glorious history."

According to the Dawn, the Pakistan Foreign Office had announced its support to Turkey while insisting on a conversation with the US to maintain peace and stability between the two nations.

The economic crisis in Turkey triggered as it got into a tiff with the United States for detaining a US pastor Andrew Brunson with the charges of espionage and connection with terror groups.

The US in return put sanctions on Turkey as US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on Aluminum and Steel with respect to Turkey in a tweet last week.

The economy of the country was in turmoil as Turkish currency lira witnessed a 20 percent decline in the last month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Wazirzada, the first elected member to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from the Kalash minority community, has pledged to fight for the rights of all religious minorities in the province.

"I am representative of all religious minorities in the assembly and will fight for their rights. My mission is to protect rights of all religious minorities and work for harmony between Muslims and minorities in the province," the Dawn quoted Wazirzada as saying.

Wazirzada is a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). His nomination to the reserved seat in the province had sent the entire community in raptures. Kalash is the smallest ethno-religious community in the country.

A resident of Rumbur valley, Wazirzada had joined the PTI in 2009 after he graduated from the University of Peshawar in 2006 and continued to work in the social welfare sector.

"I have worked with my organisation as a volunteer for several years to serve my community," said Wazirzada who has also been associated with an NGO in the past.

With an estimated population of 4000, the Kalash community, who claim to be the descendants of the Greek invader Alexander the Great, has dwindled drastically over the years, with conversion to Islam being highlighted as one of the primary reasons.

The establishment of many religious seminaries in the Kalash-native regions, along with poverty, has been cited as the primary reasons for the community to convert to Islam.

While hailing the previous PTI government for the work they have done in the area to establish high schools, primary schools for girls and other welfare projects, Wazirzada said that several NGOs had spent more than Rs 300 million on health and education projects in Kalash dominated areas.

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If you like comsuming alchohol with energy drinks, beware! A key ingredient found in the energy drinks can worsen the negative effects of binge drinking, a new study reveals.

Many people mix energy drinks with alcohol to neutralize the sedative nature of alcohol, tricking people into feeling more awake and less drunk than they really are.

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and the Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil examined the effects of taurine, which is a key ingredient in many energy drinks, and alcohol on social and fear responses in zebrafish. They found out that taurine seemed to increase the fear-reducing properties of alcohol, but it also affected social communication.

"The effects of mixing alcohol and energy drinks is yet to be established. This study is the first to show that the two together may be exacerbating some of the negative effects of binge drinking; that is reduction of fear and problems in social communication while intoxicated, which collectively increase the risk of fighting, violence, and participation in risky behaviors," said the author, Dr Matt Parker.

The researchers tested how taurine and alcohol (at volumes reflecting levels that would induce moderate human intoxication) affected the behavior of 192 zebrafish. The fish were divided into shoals (four fish per shoal) and were exposed to just water, taurine and alcohol separately or taurine and alcohol for one hour. Their shoaling behaviors were analyzed at different time intervals at 0-5 minutes, 30-35 minutes and 55-60 minutes. They were also tested for their fear-like responses to a predator by dividing the tank into four areas, with the furthest area used to mimic a predator fish.

The fish that were exposed to both alcohol and taurine had fewer interactions with other fish in the shoal compared to those exposed to water alone or just alcohol. These fish also showed more risky behavior than other groups.

Dr Parker explained that binge drinking and general alcohol misuse is a key problem in the UK and across the world, with the numbers of hospital admissions resulting from illness or injury following intoxication costing the NHS millions per year. " Zebrafish have similar biological and behavioral responses to alcohol, and are a highly social species, making them ideal for studying the effects of alcohol on behavior," he added.

He advised that people should be aware that drinking energy drinks in combination with alcohol may impair their judgment, and that they should do so with caution.

The findings were published in the journal 'Psychiatric Research'.

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An arrest warrant has been issued against suspended Child Protection Officer (CPO) Ravi Roshan's wife Shibha Kumari Singh in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home case.

The warrant came after Shibha had reportedly revealed the name and pictures of one of the minor victims on social media.

Yesterday, three police officials posted at the Shaheed Khudiram Bose Central Jail were suspended after documents were recovered from the case's prime accused Brajesh Thakur that contained over 40 phone numbers, including that of a Bihar Minister.

After police conducted a surprise check at the prison in which Thakur is lodged, they recovered the documents.

Brajesh Thakur is the main accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case, where more than 30 minor girls were sexually assaulted over a period of time. Eleven employees of the shelter home were arrested for harassing a number of girls residing at the facility.

Meanwhile, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on August 11, detained Thakur's son after questioning him in connection with the matter. Not only this, the investigative agency had also frozen Brajesh's bank accounts and also investigated his properties and bank balance. However, he has rubbished all charges levelled against him by claiming that he was being falsely implicated.

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Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood, on Tuesday termed phone call by Indian Prime Minister Narendra to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, a positive development in India-Pakistan relationship. is expected to take oath as Pakistan's new Prime Minister on August 18.

Speaking at an event to mark 72nd Independence Day of Pakistan at the High Commission, Mahmood hoped that the conversation between the two leaders would create space for betterment of India Pakistan ties. Mahmood added that peaceful relations with all of Pakistan's neighbours, including India, were accorded high priority in the foreign policy vision outlined by the incoming leadership in Pakistan.

The High Commissioner pointed out that the peculiar trajectory of India-Pakistan relations over the past 71 years had often led to political and military tensions and prevented the two countries from realising their optimal potential in socio-economic development.



"Our next generations deserve a better future - one marked by peace and opportunities for progress and prosperity," Mahmood said. He hoped that South Asia would turn a corner and would be known in the world, not for confrontation, but for cooperation.

Prime Minister had on July 30 telephoned and congratulated him for the victory in recently concluded general elections. "Prime Minister spoke to Mr Imran Khan, chairperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party and congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the Assembly of Pakistan in the recently conducted general elections," the had said.



Later, in an exclusive interview to ANI, Prime Minister said: "I have always said that we wish to have good neighbourly relations. We have also taken various initiatives in this regard. I recently congratulated Mr. on his victory in the elections. We hope that Pakistan would work for a safe, secure, stable and prosperous region, free from terror and violence.
Chinese Armed Police Commander General visited GHQ

Chinese Peoples Armed Police Commander General Wang Ning met with Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters on Monday, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.



During the meeting, the two leaders discussed matters related to regional security and professional interest. General Wang acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Armys contributions to peace and stability in the region, the ISPR said. The visiting dignitary discussed proposals to increase bilateral cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, security training and sharing of experiences, said the statement.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain said Pakistan will not remain intact as a nation if the results of the recently concluded polls are not revoked.

Dubbing the recently concluded Pakistan polls as most 'flawed' the MQM leader while addressing the youth of the nation through social media said that the elections which were conducted on July 25 were heavily engineered by the Pakistan Army.

"It is imperative to revoke the results of the elections which was engineered by the Pakistan's military establishment or else the country would face the harshness of that political-cum-electoral engineering and would be torn into pieces," the MQM founder said.

Hussain further criticised the sentencing of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and called it a ploy of the Pakistan military establishment.

The MQM founder also urged the people of Pakistan to reject the 'imposed elections results' and protest until 'free and fair elections' are held in the country.

He also underscored that Mohajirs who have not been accepted as an integral part of Pakistan will soon join the freedom movement of the Mohajir nation.

"Mohajirs have not yet been accepted as sons of the soil and hence they would soon join the freedom movement of the Mohajir Nation. Few trusted people, who assigned to lead the freedom struggle preferred to become puppets to the military establishment. However, true and devoted workers continued to give their due share to the movement," he claimed.

"The injustices have to end one day because those (Mohajirs) who created Pakistan are victim of the injustices while those (Corrupt feud) who opposed the have become masters," he added.

He further accused the Pakistan military of crushing Mohajirs on pretext combating extremist gangs and black jet terrorists.

"The military establishment has declared him (Nawaz Sharif) a traitor while terrorist Taliban's spokesperson Mulla Ehsan Ullah Ehsan has been provided with safe shelter at military's garrison," the MQM leader said.

Hussain also slammed the Pakistan military for imposing aristocracy in the country in the disguise of democracy.

"The Pakistan military had opened fire on the Holy Kaaba in Mecca. General Zia Ul Haque had massacred the Palestinians. General Raheel Sharif is butchering the people of Yemen from the Saudi-led military alliance. The corrupt military junta and feuds have imposed "Khakistocracy" in Pakistan," he said.

He also took the occasion to hit out at Pakistan's Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan.

"The 'New Pakistan' is being created under aegis of the corrupt military establishment," he averred.

He also claimed to have evidences that could prove that the 2018 Pakistan elections were doctored by the military establishment, Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

He also called on the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to come together to free the country from the clutches of the military establishments.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that people who were earlier left out of the Register for Citizens (NRC) draft for Assam are now being harassed.

The Chief Minister underlined that out of 40 lakh people who could not make it to this final draft were majorly Hindus.

"The issue isn't about Hindu or Muslim. It's about citizenship. People have been left out because of their language. BJP leaders are thumping their chest to justify this NRC. However, fake cases are being registered against people who have been left out from the NRC list in Assam. They are being harassed. 1200 people are already in a detention camp. Why are 400 companies of security forces being stationed in Assam?" Mamata Banerjee said at a press conference here.

Soon after the final draft was released, the Opposition cried foul and called the list "politically motivated", despite appeals against politicisation of the issue.

On August 1, the West Bengal Chief Minister had said that the NRC Draft would divide the people and create a civil war-like situation in the country.

Meanwhile, talking about One Nation One Election, Mamata Banerjee said: "It may be applicable for local elections. But, if tomorrow there is no stability and central government falls, how will the state government and central government go for elections again every time? Please be practical.

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The Chinese Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers have not only transgressed inside the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but have also pitched tents.

The sources aware of the development informed ANI that,"the transgression took place in the first week of July this year when a group of shepherds understood to be PLA troops entered more than 300 Metres in Demchok, Eastern Ladakh with their cattles and pitched five tents."

It is told that the issue was raised at the appropriate level responding to which the PLA troops dismantled three tents.

India shares a long border of 4,057 kilometres which is termed as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) divided into three sectors viz the Northern, Middle and Eastern sectors starting from the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The issue of the borders remains disputed as the Chinese perception differs from the position of the borders as claimed by India.

When contacted, Army declined to comment on the matter. The sources told ANI that there are two tents still in the area with few men.

There was 73-day long stand-off last year which started on June 16 and ended August 28 when the Chinese stopped building road in the disputed trijunction of the Doklam shared between India, China and Bhutan.

Indian side, in Demchok, is told to have followed the standard protocols of banner drill and escalating the matter at the appropriate level. In batter drill, a banner in Chinese and Hindi is shown to the Chinese with the message to them that they have entered the Indian territory and they should return back to their side.

In April this year, the two leaders of India and China had got together in Wuhan Province for an informal meeting where both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had expressed their support for the work of the Special Representatives on the India-China Boundary Question and had urged them to intensify their efforts to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement. The two leaders had underscored the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in all areas of the India-China border region in the larger interest of the overall development of bilateral relations.

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Tamil Nadu Minister for Fisheries, D Jayakumar on Tuesday accused actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth of politicising Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi's death.

Jayakumar called Rajinikanth immature and said, "Rajinikanth's remark shows his political immaturity. He used Kalaignar's death for political purposes, does not know the history of Tamil Nadu politics."

Jayakumar's reaction came a day after Rajinikanth criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palanisamy and his cabinet for not attending late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's funeral last week.

"Many leaders, ranging from state Governor Banwarilal Purohit to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, were present during the burial of Karunanidhi at the Marina. For his burial, the whole of India came. State honours were given by members of the three armed forces. He was given a 21-gun salute. But one thing remains. Tamil Nadu's first citizen, the Chief Minister, shouldn't he have come? Should not the entire cabinet have come?," said Rajinikanth while addressing a memorial event organised by the South Indian Artistes Association for Karunanidhi

"Karunanidhi had passed the DMK through various victories, defeats, and betrayals. If leaders from across the world used to visit Tamil Nadu, they would definitely meet Karunanidhi. I do not know who they will meet hereafter," he added.

Karunanidhi was buried on August 8 beside former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai, in the presence of several high-profile politicians.

He breathed his last on August 7 in Chennai's Kauvery Hospital after a prolonged illness.

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh expressed his condolence on the passing away of the Governor Balram Das Tandon on Tuesday.

He said, "It's a big loss for Chhattisgarh and a personal loss for me. He was a father figure to all of us. People of Chhattisgarh will always remember him".

Chhattisgarh Governor Balram Tandon passed away in Raipur on Tuesday after being admitted to a hospital in the state capital. He was 90 years of age.

He was appointed as the sixth Governor of Chhattisgarh in 2014. He was instrumental in establishing the foothold of Bhartiya Janta Party in Punjab. He also served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab between 1969-70.

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In yet another scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over several issues including Rafale deal, Goods and Services Tax (GST), farmer loans, fuel price hike and women safety, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday challenged him for a debate 'anytime, anywhere' to discuss the issues.

"I am ready for a debate with Prime Minister Modi anytime, anywhere. Let us talk about Rafale, Anil Ambani and aircrafts worth Rs 1600 crore. He won't accept this challenge. He has a 56 inch chest, but cannot say a word on the Rafale deal," Rahul said at a rally in Hyderabad's Saroornagar area.

"Prime Minister says that he is not a Prime Minister, but a 'chowkidaar' of the country. He took away the contract of Rafale aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and gave it to his friend. The aircraft that the UPA government discussed for Rs 536 crore, the same aircraft was bought by the Prime Minister for Rs 1600 crore. The company that was given the contract came into existence 10 days ago. Narendra Modi gave a free gift worth lakhs and crore of money to Anil Ambani by redesigning the Rafale deal. By doing so, he took away lakhs of jobs in the engineering sector from the youth," Rahul added.

Rahul later went on to criticise the Prime Minister over several rape cases reported from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

"Prime Minister gave the slogan 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,' but he forgot to tell whom to save the daughters from? In Bihar, a BJP MLA commits rape, young girls are raped. Save the daughters from BJP MLAs. In our country, there are atrocities on dalits and women, but the Prime Minister does not utter a word," Rahul said.

The Congress president also slammed the Prime Minister over fuel price hike.

He said: "In 2014, the price of oil in the international market was USD 140/barrel. Today, it is half of that at USD 70/barrel. When the price of petrol and diesel is falling all over the world, why is it going up in India?"

Talking about GST, Rahul said: "As soon as the Congress party will come into power, we will replace the 'Gabbar Singh Tax' with GST. There will be just one tax and we will remove the things that the poor people use from GST."

While speaking in run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul even accused the Prime Minister of "forgiving lakhs and crores of rupees of the rich people, but not helping the farmers."

Besides Prime Minister Modi, the Congress president also took a dig at Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

"The (Telangana) Chief Minister earlier said that one lakh government jobs are vacant. He had promised jobs to the youth of the state. Today, every youth of Telangana knows that Chief Minister had not given jobs to even 10,000 youths in the last four years. There hasn't been any notification or recruitment for these jobs. He even made promises to the farmers in the state. I feel sad to inform that 4,000 farmers have committed suicide in Telangana," Rahul said.

"Earlier this was called 'corruption,' but now they call it 'redesign.' In Telangana also, your Chief Minister is an expert in redesign. He snatches land from the farmers and poor people. There was one project made in the remembrance of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. That too was later redesigned and renamed. Later, using a magic wand he pushed the price of the project to Rs 1,00,000 crore. No tendering, no transparency, the whole money went into the pocket of one family," he added.

Rahul concluded his speech by inviting the youths of Telangana to join the Congress party.

"I invite the youth of Telangana to join the Congress party. Together we can fulfill your dreams. If Congress party comes to power, the voices of the people of Telangana will be heard," Rahul said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To mark his father Vilasrao Deshmukh's sixth death anniversary, Riteish Deshmukh has penned a heartfelt note for his father.

The 'Housefull 3' star, in an emotional social media post, said that everything has changed since his father, a former chief minister of Maharashtra, passed away six years ago.

"I look up at the sky and I talk to you....What I wouldn't give to hear you talk back. It's been 6 years.... There is one thing that changed when you left.. Everything!!! Miss you PAPPA!!!!" wrote the 39-year-old.

Vilasrao Deshmukh passed away on August 14, 2012 due to multiple organ failure.

On the work front, Riteish has begun shooting for the fourth installment in the 'Housefull' franchise. It also stars Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol and Kriti Sanon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After opening at a marginal high of 69.85 against the US Dollar, the Indian rupee on Tuesday touched an all-time low of 70 per US dollar.

The currency touched an all-time low of 70.08 against the US dollar, while marking depreciation of around 10 percent in 2018 so far.

The fall in rupee was mainly impacted by drop in Turkish Lira, which helped the US dollar to gained strength on the back of fears that economic crisis in Turkey could spread to other global economies, reported the moneycontrol.

However, on Monday the currency ended 110 paise lower at 69.93 against Friday's close of 68.83.

After a weak start on Monday, the Sensex rose over 150 points, while the Nifty reclaimed 11,400-mark.

Stocks like Axis Bank, UltraTech Cement and GAIL gained on the charts, while L&T, TCS and UPL traded in red.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea, filed by a group of over 350 armymen, challenging the dilution of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

The plea claims that the prosecution of security forces for encounters against insurgents will endanger " security".

The apex court will hear the matter on August 20.

"Essentially the issues that we have raised are in regard with the protection of AFSPA in areas where soldiers are operating in anti-insurgency, militancy and proxy war situations. We have raised the issue that this protection actually felicitates those military operations that they are carrying out to secure the frontiers in and outside," lawyer Aishwarya Bhati, who is representing the petitioners in the court, told ANI.

"Any dilution of that protection will amount to jeopardising the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation. The protection under AFSPA is not a blanket protection. That protection is only to the extent that no case can be filed or proceedings can be instituted without the sanction of the central government. Grant and refusal of the sanction is subject to judicial scrutiny as held by the constitutional bench of this court. Once that safe guard is there, the dilution of AFSPA should not be done because that will jeopardise the military operation," Bhati added.

The AFSPA grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in 'disturbed areas'.

According to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976 once declared 'disturbed', the area has to maintain status quo for a minimum of three months.

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In a move to counter China's increasing influence on Sri Lanka, the United States has announced that it would grant the Indian ocean island a $39 million to boost its maritime security.

"We look forward to discussing with the government of Sri Lanka how this contribution can support our Bay of Bengal initiative and Sri Lanka's humanitarian assistance and disaster response priorities," the South China Morning Post quoted the US embassy in Colombo as saying.

China, which is the world's second-largest economy, has raised its investments in major ports in Sri Lanka, which is also a key in its ambitious infrastructure initiative-- 'Belt and Road'.

Interestingly, the Hambantota port, which is considered the world's busiest east-west shipping route, also gave China a strong foothold in a region which was long dominated by India.

However, United States' military funding to Sri Lanka is subjected to an approval from the Congress.

"We look forward to discussing with the government of Sri Lanka how this contribution can support our Bay of Bengal initiative and Sri Lanka's humanitarian assistance and disaster response priorities," the US embassy in Colombo said.

It should be noted that the United States stopped selling arms to Sri Lanka when the country was ravaged by the civil war, which came to an end in 2009. The US was also severely critical of former Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajapakse on grounds of human rights.

China, on the other hand, promised Sri Lanka to provide financial help, including loans, notwithstanding the country facing mounting debt.

It was in June 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailed Sri Lanka out with a $1.5 billion loan. It also issued warning to Colombo over its massive debt.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Happy birthday Pakistan

Pakistanis are celebrating the 72nd Independence Day with traditional zeal and fervour, with commemorative ceremonies held in cities across the country.



The day-long festivities began with thanksgiving prayers and the hoisting of the national flag at all important public buildings in the country, which had been decorated with bunting and lights ahead of August 14.



The day began with a 31-gun salute in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals. Change-of-guard ceremony at Mazar-i-Quaid in Karachi.



The main ceremony was hosted at Islamabad's Jinnah Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain hoisted the national flag. The ceremony was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities and foreign dignitaries.



Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in the provincial capitals as well as district headquarters. President Mamnoon and PM Mulk attend the August 14 ceremony.



Change-of-guard ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively.



Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel.
Addressing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) executive meet at Chennai on Tuesday, party working president MK Stalin remembered his father and DMK Chief M.Karunanidhi and said that the party has lost a leader but he has also lost a father.

Speaking on the controversy around the burial of the DMK chief, despite pleading with Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami for a burial spot at Marina beach as wished by Karunanidhi himself, Stalin accused the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra (AIADMK) of denying place at Marina Beach for the burial. He said, "When Kalaignar was in his last stage I held Chief Minister's hands and pleaded to fulfill his (Karunanidhi) last wish to be buried in Marina Beach but govt didn't agree."

Thanking the lawyers, he added, "I give the entire credit of the victory (burial of Karunanidhi at Marina Beach) to lawyers. If this wouldn't have happened then surely I would have been the person to be buried along with our leader."

He appealed to all party workers to work towards Karunanidhi's will.

A massive controversy had erupted over the final resting place of Karunanidhi after the Tamil Nadu government, citing legal hurdles, dismissed DMK's request and offered a two-acre site at the Gandhi Mandapam.

Karunanidhi fondly referred as 'Kalaignar' and also a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, breathed his last in Chennai's Kauvery hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 94.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On the occasion of Pakistan's 71st Independence Day, India and Pakistan border guards exchanged sweets at Attari-Wagah border.

As Pakistan celebrates its freedom from the British colonial rule in 1947, President Mamnoon Hussain and Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk addressed the people and asked them to take the country forward.

"The dream of taking the country to the zenith would not come true unless we singularly concentrate on our national goals and objectives," Geo News President Mamnoon as saying.

He added, "Pakistan is a haven and a blessing for the Muslims of the subcontinent and was liberated after numerous sacrifices by our forefathers. Now it is our responsibility to take our country forward on the path of progress and prosperity according to the aspirations of its founders. This requires all segments of the society to live together with harmony and brotherhood."

The President expressed his elation over the country's new generation, which he said, was brimming with patriotism and passion for progress and development. He also said that the teachings of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal in order to reduce the problems being faced by the country.

Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk, in his address, said that August 14 reminded him of the struggle for a separate homeland for Muslims, Geo News reported.

"An an unswerving commitment to Quaid's ideals and his principle of 'Unity, Faith and Discipline' would help us overcome our present-day challenges and make Pakistan a self-reliant, economically vibrant and a prosperous country," he said as per the Geo News report.

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United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his support for Minnesota congressional candidate Pete Stauber.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Trump emphasized that Stauber has a strong knowledge regarding crime and borders and that he would surely make a great Congressman.

"Pete Stauber is running for Congress in Minnesota. He will make for a great Congressman. Pete is strong on crime and borders, loves our Military, Vets and Second Amendment. Vote for Pete tomorrow," the US president tweeted while also urging voters to vote for him in the Grand Old Party (GOP) primary elections in the country.

Both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, from time to time, have extended their support to Stauber. While Trump had campaigned for Stauber in June, the Vice President appeared at a fundraiser organised by Stauber.

Stauber, who serves as a St. Louis County Minnesota commissioner besides being a retired Duluth police officer, will run for the northeastern Minnesota seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan during the upcoming GOP primary elections.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called for boycotting the electronic goods made in the United States of America.

Sputnik International quoted Erdogan as saying, "We can do two things, economically and politically. From an economic position, we take actions, our Finance Ministry and Treasury are working day and night. In addition, we will boycott electronic goods from the United States. They have iPhone but on the other hand, there is Samsung. We have the local brand Venus Vestel, we will use them."

This comes days after US president Donald Trump announced the doubling of tariff on Aluminum and Steel with respect to Turkey, amid the collapse of the Turkish currency lira by 20% in the last month due to the growing economic crisis in the country.

The relations between Washington and Ankara have worsened since the US pastor Andrew Brunson was detained in Turkey a year ago on the charges of having links with terror groups.

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After Union Minister Ananth Kumar said that Uttar Pradesh lacks the infrastructure to conduct the Aero Show, Aviation Minister of the State, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, on Tuesday averred that his state is capable of hosting the show.

He said, "Uttar Pradesh is the birth land of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. We have everything here. We are conducting something as massive as Kumbh Mela, we are also capable of making arrangements for Aero Show."

According to media reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to hold the event in his state stating that the endeavour will benefit the defence production there.

Amid speculations of the Aero Show being shifted to Uttar Pradesh from Bengaluru, Union Minister Ananth Kumar on Tuesday said that no decision has been taken by the Defence Minister on the venue for the conduction of Aero Show for 2019 and added that Uttar Pradesh lacks the infrastructure needed to conduct the show.

Ever since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been playing host to Asia's biggest air show.

Reports about shifting the venue have triggered a public spat between the Congress and BJP.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, seeking his approval to conduct the show in Bengaluru.

"Bengaluru being the hub for defence and aviation majors of the country, is certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show," he said in the letter.

Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. It is organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation under the Ministry of Defence.

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Shree Cement announced that the company has participated in the e-auction for coal linkage from Coal India and won the following coal linkage in the State of Chhattisgarh. The details are as follows: Location of Source: Amadand OC, Madhya Pradesh Allocated Quantity (Ton Per Annum): 13100 Grade G6 Notified Price (Rs.

Per Ton) : 2524 Wining Premium (Rs. Per Ton): 310 (12.28% of Notified Price) The above coal linkage is for Company's Cement Plant(s) at Raipur, Chhattisgarh .

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I will give maximum time to parliament: Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday sought all-out support of allied parties in the election of prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly.



Imran Khan was speaking at a reception he hosted in honour of the parliamentarians of the PTI and allied parties. He reiterated his promise to open to audit results of all constituencies where the PML-N believes elections were rigged.



Mr Khan thanked all allied parties for their support to the PTI.



I will give maximum time to parliament and will reply questions of the members, he said.



Earlier, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said Mr Khan had decided to take minimum security as prime minister.



Following his commitment regarding austerity, Imran Khan has decided to cut down prime ministers security protocol, said PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry. He said the protocol of federal ministers would also be reduced.



At present, the Prime Minister Secretariat has 80 vehicles, including 23 bullet-proof cars, and choppers. Controlling the governments expenditures is one of the main goals of Imran Khan, he added.
A section of a highway bridge collapsed in the Italian city of Genoa during heavy rain on Tuesday, plummeting vehicles up to 90 metres to the ground and killing at least 22 people, officials said.

The vice minister for infrastructure, Edoardo Rixi, said the death toll was expected to rise, while Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said it was likely to be "an immense tragedy", the BBC reported.

The 100-metre (328-feet), two-lane section of the Morandi bridge collapsed in the afternoon. Firefighting crews were searching alongside urban search and rescue teams for people trapped in their vehicles under the rubble.

The police linked the disaster to what they called "a violent cloudburst". According to reports, the collapsed section had mostly fallen on to rail tracks below. The bridge stands on the A10 toll motorway, which serves the Italian Riviera and southern coast of France.

It was built in the 1960s and the missing section was dozens of metres in length. It ran across the span of the Polcevera stream. Video footage appeared to show one of the towers holding up the suspension bridge collapsing in stormy weather.

"It was just after 11.30 when we saw lightning strike the bridge," eyewitness Pietro M all'Asa was quoted as saying by Italy's Ansa news agency. "And we saw the bridge going down."

Traffic was queuing on the bridge at the time, another eyewitness told Italian public television.

One image posted by the regional emergency services showed a truck perched at the end of the surviving bridge section immediately before the drop.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted a message of sympathy to the people of Italy and said he was ready to offer any necessary aid.

Local media estimated that around 10 vehicles could be trapped in the rubble.

--IANS

soni/bg

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At least five people were killed and three others injured on Tuesday in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district in firing at a Jirga - a tribal court - convened over a motorbike accident.

The police said the incident in Battagram district happened when a verbal clash between two groups turned ugly and members of one group opened fire at the other, Xinhua news agency reported. The attackers fled the scene.

Jirga or tribal court is a council which is responsible for settling disputes in tribal areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The council makes decisions by consensus and according to the teachings of Pashtunwali.

--IANS

ahm/mr

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The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act will be enforced from September 30 after framing of rules and consultations with the stakeholders, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Tuesday.

The bill on the matter was opposed by adivasi rights activists and environmentalists on the ground that it would lead to diversion of forest land in the name of development.

"After coming to power at the Centre in 2014, the NDA government took the initiative and introduced the CAF Bill in Parliament in 2015. After a lot of debate, the bill was passed in 2016 and the CAF Act came into being on August 3, 2016, the Minister said in a statement here.

The law establishes national and state compensatory afforestation funds under Public Account of India, to be spent on afforestation to compensate for loss of forest cover, regeneration of forest ecosystem, wildlife protection and infrastructure development.

The Minister said that expenditure under the law would be done as per the Annual Plan of Operation (APO), prepared in consultation with gram sabhas to ensure the rights of tribals are protected.

He said that the state governments will receive 90 per cent of their share in funds -- about Rs 52,000 crore -- for compensatory afforestation.

The Minister assured that the funds would be used only for compensatory afforestation under the watch of statutory bodies at the national and state levels.

In 2008, the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha for the first time, but it lapsed in the Rajya Sabha.

--IANS

sm/tsb/bg

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The Australian government has decided to recommence the Adoption Programme with India, as per the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption, said the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry on Tuesday.

According to the Ministry, adoptions from India had been put on hold by Australia eight years ago, on reported charges of trafficking of children for Inter-country adoption even by some recognised Indian placement agencies.

"The regulation of Inter-country adoptions have been made strict by the government of India with the enactment of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and notification of Adoption Regulations, 2017," it said in a statement.

The WCD Ministry, along with the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), have been constantly engaging with the Australian government for recommencement of the adoption programme.

The Ministry said the recommencement of the adoption programmes will now enable a large number of prospective adoptive parents, including those of Indian origin settled in Australia, in fulfilling their desire of adopting a child from India.

According to Special Broadcasting Service in Australia, Assistant Minister for Children and Families David Gillespie confirmed that he wrote to his state counterparts on Monday morning, as a group of politicians launched a new pro-adoption advocacy group.

"India has 'improved its processes' to comply with the Hague Convention on adoption and could rejoin the 13 countries still on Australia's approved adoption list," he was quoted by SBS News.

--IANS

som/nir

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Ajman, Aug 14 (IANS/WAM) Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the UAE's Supreme Council Member and Ruler of the Emirate of Ajman, has ordered the release of 90 prisoners days ahead of Eid ul-Adha.

The prisoners were selected on factors making them eligible for release and good conduct, the agency reported on Tuesday.

Commenting on the announcement, Major General Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of Ajman Police, said the move reflected the ruler's keenness to give second chances to individuals, reuniting them with their families.

He also called on the freed inmates to commit themselves to be engaged members of society and strive for a better future.

--IANS/WAM

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Vicky Kaushal, who is on a roll with his diverse roles in films like "Raazi" and "Sanju", says working with a good director reduces an actor's effort by half to play a character convincingly.

Whether it was as a loving husband in "Raazi", a Gujarati friend in "Sanju", a light-hearted character in "Love Per Square Foot", a corrupt police officer in "Raman Raghav 2.0" or as a low caste boy in "Masaan" -- Vicky has been impressing the audience and critics with his his performances, screen time notwithstanding.

He is humble in acknowledging the variety that he has been able to showcase in such a short span -- almost to the point of becoming Bollywood's latest posterboy of versatility.

"When you get to work with a good director, an actor's job gets reduced to half. From your end, you try to give your best to the characters. I am learning. Let's see where the journey goes," Vicky told IANS here on the sidelines of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).

He won the Best Supporting Actor honour at the IFFM Awards for his role as Kamli in "Sanju". The movie has given a boost to Vicky's fan following, as was visible during his Melbourne stint when people gave him the loudest cheer wherever he went.

"I am happy that I am getting such chances, such films and that people are giving love. With every film, my confidence gets boosted, I feel motivated. It has been a good journey... My family is happy, I am happy," said Vicky, who has worked with filmmakers like Neeraj Ghaywan, Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar and Rajkumar Hirani.

He has an interesting forthcoming slate as well -- "Uri" which is based on the surgical strike conducted by the Indian Army in 2016, he has been announced as one of the cast members of Karan Johar's upcoming multi-starrer period drama "Takht", and the upcoming "Manmarziyaan" which is winning people's heart with its trailer.

Karan's "Takht" looks exciting with its cast comprising Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Bhumi Pednekar, Janhvi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Vicky.

"I cannot talk too much about 'Takht' apart from the fact that I am getting an opportunity to be directed by Karan sir, and work with a fabulous set of actors. It's any actor's dream come true, so I am very grateful," Vicky said.

He is also buoyed by the response to the trailer of "Manmarziyaan", a love story set in Punjab and helmed by Kashyap.

"The trailer's response has been fabulous. I loved doing this film, so I am very excited about the response," Vicky said of the movie in which he stars with Taapsee Pannu and Abhishek Bachchan.

And then there's "Uri", which is giving him a chance to show his action avatar.

"We did an out-and-out action shoot in Serbia, and it was very tough. Around 15 days of more shoot is to take place in Mumbai," said the son of popular Bollywood action director Sham Kaushal.

Overall, the actor says he is "taking one step at a time".

"I will give my best to the job always."

(Radhika Bhirani was in Melbourne on an invitation by IFFM organisers. She can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)

--IANS

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IHC directed to conclude Avenfield properties by Friday 14 August, 2018



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Woke Bingo ISLAMABAD: While expressing its intention of not dragging the matter pertaining to the suspension of Avenfield properties reference verdict, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday directed the defence and prosecution sides to conclude their arguments on the petitions by Friday.



For the hearing of two other references pertaining to Al-Azizia Steel and Flagship Investment, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was brought to an accountability court in an armoured personnel carrier, which was criticised by his younger brother and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shahbaz Sharif who termed the treatment with the thrice-elected prime minister unfair and asked party workers to reach the court at the next hearing.



At the high court, a division bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb asked the defence and prosecution if any of them had the slightest doubt over the independence and integrity of the court or had apprehension about fair trial. In such a case, the judges said they were ready to recuse themselves from hearing the matter. When both sides expressed confidence in the bench, the court formally began the proceedings on the petitions filed by the Sharifs seeking suspension of the judgement in the Avenfield properties reference.



In its July 6 verdict, the accountability court had awarded 10 years imprisonment to Nawaz Sharif, seven years imprisonment to his daughter Maryam Nawaz and one year imprisonment to his son-in-law retired Captain Mohammad Safdar in the Avenfield properties reference.



Additional deputy prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi raised five objections on the petitions filed by the Sharif family seeking suspension of the judgement in the Avenfield properties reference. According to him, the appeals against the conviction were already fixed and the convict may seek release at least six months after detention, besides the petitioners did not cite relevant authorities as respondents in the petitions.



The court overruled the objections and permitted the counsel for the ex-prime minister to advance his arguments on the petitions.



The defence counsel argued that NAB did not ascertain the price of Avenfield apartments or the known sources of income of the Sharifs at the time of their purchase.



According to him, the properties belong to the son of the ex-PM. He said even if it was assumed that the Avenfield apartments were owned by his client for the sake of argument, the case against Mr Sharif could be proved only when the prosecution established the discrepancies between the known sources of his clients income and the price of the said property.



He recalled that the joint investigation team head Wajid Zia admitted during the cross-examination that no direct evidence of Mr Sharifs ownership of London properties was available. During the hearing, Mr Abbasi conceded that there was insufficient evidence with NAB to prove the charge of acquiring London apartments through corrupt practice.



The IHC then asked the prosecution if Maryam being dependent or benamidar of her father could be convicted under Section 9(a)(5) of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) that was related to assets beyond means.



The court said him that since NAB did not file an appeal against the July 6 decision, it gave a clean chit to the Sharif family that they were not involved in corrupt practice or dishonesty and they were convicted only because they had failed to justify the Avenfield apartments.



While reading out the accountability courts verdict, the IHC also asked about Maryams conviction on a charge of abetting her father for accumulating the assets beyond means when the only evidence against her was a forged trust deed.



The court raised similar questions regarding the conviction of her husband who was accused of signing the trust deed that according to NAB was meant to conceal the ownership of London properties.



The NAB prosecutor said it would be appropriate if the court would listen to the arguments of defence counsel Khawaja Haris and Amjad Pervaiz and that the prosecution would conclude its arguments later. Subsequently, the bench asked Mr Pervaiz to conclude his arguments by Aug 15 and directed the NAB prosecution to rebut them by the following day.



Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif was brought to the accountability court in an armoured personnel carrier for the hearing of the Al-Azizia and Flagship references against him on Monday.



Amid tight security, the authorities did not allow media persons to enter the federal judicial complex where both the references were heard simultaneously.



The star prosecution witness in the case and the JIT head, Wajid Zia, was cross-examined in the Al-Azizia reference.



The defence counsel, Khawaja Haris, did not appear before the accountability court as he had to pursue the petition seeking suspension of judgement against the Sharifs in Avenfield properties reference. Another defence counsel, Zaafir Khan, submitted an application in the court to get Mr Zias statement recorded in the Flagship reference. Opposing the plea, the prosecution insisted that his cross-examination be completed in the Al-Azizia reference first before recording his statement in the second reference.



The judge rejected the defence plea and deferred the hearing of the two references to Wednesday.



He also directed the authorities to ensure the presence of Nawaz Sharif, Wajid Zia and Mehboob Alam, the investigation officer in the Al-Azizia reference, at the next hearing.
On the eve of Independence Day, Indian Army's Tiger Division held an oral hygiene camp at the Tiger Asha School, Satwari Cantt, here, roping in nine doctors, who checked up 62 students in all.

The "Special Smiles Programme" was organised by the Family Welfare Organisation, Tiger Division.

The programme was also used to celebrate "Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day" and "50 years of Special Olympics".

It was assisted by doctors from India Dental Association-Jammu Chapter and from Colgate-Palmolive.

--IANS

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Major Aditya Kumar, at the centre of a controversy following the death of three Kashmiri civilians in Army firing in January, and Rifleman Aurangzeb, gunned down by militants while he was on his way to celebrate Eid with his family, were on Tuesday named for the third highest peacetime gallantry award.

Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh, who was killed in November last year in a shootout with militants, has been given Kirti Chakra - the second highest peacetime gallantry.

Major Aditya Kumar and Rifleman Aurangzeb (posthumous) were both honoured with the Shaurya Chakra -- an Indian military decoration awarded for valour and self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards after Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra.

The Major hogged the headlines when his unit allegedly opened fire at a stone-pelting mob in Shopian district on January 27. Three people were killed.

The officer was first reportedly named in an FIR by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for the civilian deaths in a controversial move that was challenged in the Supreme Court.

In March, the central government filed a petition in the court seeking quashing of the FIR.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, however, told the court that the Major was not named as an accused in the FIR after the apex court restrained the state police from taking any coercive steps against the officers of the Army unit.

Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry's Rifleman Aurangzeb, a known anti-terror face in the state, was kidnapped and killed by militants on June 14 when he was on his way to his home to celebrate Eid with his family in Poonch in Jammu division.

Aurangzeb was posted in a militant hotbed of south Kashmir district of Shopian with 44 Rashtriya Rifles. The 24-year-old had joined the Indian Army in 2012. He is survived by his wife, parents and three brothers.

The soldier was believed to have been instrumental in many anti-terror operations including the one that led to the killing of dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sameer Tiger.

He was on a Hizb hit list along with his company commander Major Rohit Shukla, who sustained a nonfatal bullet injury in the April 29 operation in Drubgam village of Pulwama in south Kashmir.

The Kirti Chakra awardee Vrahma Pal Singh of the Rajput Regiment was posted with 44 Rashtriya Rifles. On November 6, 2017, the Army launched an anti-militancy operation in Pulwama. Three militants, including a top Jaish-e-Mohammad commander and nephew of its Pakistan-based chief Moulana Masood Azhar, were killed.

The soldier received a bullet and succumbed to his injuries in a Srinagar hospital.

The three soldiers are among the 131 bravehearts approved for 131 gallantry awards by President Ram Nath Kovind, in his capacity as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

These include 20 Shaurya Chakras, three Bar to Sena Medals, 93 Sena Medals, 11 Nao Sena Medals and three Vayu Sena Medals.

The President has also awarded 26 Mention-in-Despatches to Army Personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations which include 25 (three posthumous) for 'Operation Rakshak', one (posthumous) for 'Operation Rhino' and one additional name approved by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

--IANS

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China on Tuesday called on the US to treat Chinese investors fairly and not use national security censorship to curb investment cooperation between companies of the two countries.

China's Ministry of Commerce released a statement after US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a review of his national security law to reinforce the regulatory power of the Committee on Foreign Investment in Washington, reports Efe news.

The Ministry said that China would thoroughly assess the content of the proposed law and closely monitor its impact on Chinese companies.

It said companies in China and the US have the will and great potential to deepen their investment cooperation and that both governments must respond to this demand by providing a conducive and stable environment for growth.

Trump green lighted the reform of the national security law as part of the framework of signing a record budget for defence at $716 billion for fiscal year 2019.

He signed the budget law on Monday that the Congress had passed in early summer during a military event in Fort Drum in New York.

--IANS

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The West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department on Tuesday produced a chargesheet against 12 accused persons in the carcass meat racket case, close to four months after their arrest, a senior CID officer said.

The chargesheet has been produced in a case registered at South 24 Parganas district's Budge Budge police station on April 19, where the accused persons have been slapped with charges of selling noxious and adulterated food (IPC 272, 273) and criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B), the officer said.

The CID has also identified six of the 12 people as the main accused in the case while praying for discharging two arrested security guards of a cold storage where the carcass meat was allegedly stored as there was no evidence against them.

"A chargesheet has been produced against 12 persons on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in storing and selling of carcass meat. Two security guards of the concerned cold storage named Pradip Roy and Samsul Abedin have been left out from the chargesheet as there was no evidence of their involvement in the case," Deputy Inspector General of state CID Nishad Parvez said.

"Six of the main accused including Binsen Saimon, Sunny Mullick, Bishwanath Gharui, Sarafat Hossain, Manik Mukherjee and Golam Mohammed are still in jail custody in another case of carcass meat selling, registered at the Bongaon police station in South 24 Parganas district," he said.

Five of the 12 accused mentioned in the chargesheet, were granted bail on July 25 as the CID failed to file the charge sheet due to the non-availability of certain reports.

The officer said decisions about those on bail would be taken by the court during further legal procedures.

Police had earlier this year busted a racket involved in processing the flesh of carcasses collected from dumping grounds in Kolkata and adjoining suburbs and selling it to local restaurants and departmental stores. A huge quantity of rotten meat was seized from a city cold storage as part of the investigation.

A dozen people were arrested including the kingpin Biswanath Gharui, 52, who also owned the cold storage in north Kolkata's Narkeldanga.

The CID took over the probe into the meat racket in May.

--IANS

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Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario de Lima was released on Tuesday from a hospital located in the Spanish island of Ibiza, four days after being admitted and diagnosed with pneumonia.

The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Milan player was taken to a public hospital on Friday and was transferred to a private one upon his request, reports Efe.

"Hello everyone! I'm already home after a few days at the clinic. Thank u for your love and comments, and many thanks to the team of doctors and nurses. Thanks my love Celina Locks for being by my side. It's going to be an amazing season with tons of great football and surprises," Ronaldo tweeted.

According to Nuestra Senora del Rosario hospital, where he stayed in the intensive care unit, Ronaldo was discharged at 10.30 a.m. from a rear door to avoid the media.

--IANS

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Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon died here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Raman Singh said. He was 91.

The Governor was put on life support earlier in the day after his health condition turned critical, hospital sources said.

Tandon was admitted to the Raipur Medical College late on Monday after he complained he was not feeling well. On Tuesday, he was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

--IANS

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On the occasion of 72nd Independence Day, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday greeted the defence forces personnel and remembered the martyrs.

"My best wishes to the officers and jawans of Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and other defence establishments, posted in both, peace and conflict areas on the borders and in the remotest corners of the country," the Defence Minister said in the customary radio address.

"As we celebrate this festival of freedom, my heart goes out to those brave martyrs of the soil and their families who gave the supreme sacrifice to protect our motherland. We remember them with gratitude and the nation will always remain indebted to them," she added.

She said to recognize and honour the gallantry of our soldiers, the National War Memorial under construction near India Gate will soon be inaugurated.

She said that the government would be endeavouring to provide all dues and facilities to the soldiers, and added that all 'one rank one pension' (OROP) arrears have been cleared with over Rs 10,788 crore spent. More than 65.81 lakh defence pensioners have benefited from this, she said.

"In line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, we have taken the decision to pay the uniform allowance and clarity has been brought in with respect to what is covered within the ambit of the allowance and what clothing items will be provided by the Government...," she said.

Sitharaman said that greater financial and decision making powers have been delegated to the services headquarters and other lower functionaries.

She said the reformation of Indian Army has started in and the first phase of the reforms involves redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers, JCOs, ORs and civilians.

She also mentioned various welfare measures for the personnel and their families including the liberalised family pension, enhancement of monetary allowances for Gallantry Award winners, recruitment of disabled ex-servicemen and dependents in Group C and D posts in public sector enterprises, housing scheme for Army personnel and their widows on "No Profit, No Loss" basis and Army Battle Casualties Welfare Fund among others.

"The country looks at you with great pride and you must keep on guarding the border-lines with all the might and be always prepared to reply to any aggression by the forces inimical to the nation. Let us give our very best in the service of Mother India," Sitharaman said.

--IANS

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The Delhi government on Tuesday announced over 7,000 jobs of field surveyors for graduates for collecting household data in Delhi with a remuneration of up to Rs 1,500 per day.

"The Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) is inviting online applications from graduates, retired teachers, retired government officials, civil defence volunteers who are willing to work as field surveyors on a short-term basis for the collection of household data," a DES notification said.

Field work for data collection will be carried out during October and November. Interested people can apply through the official website of DES by August 31, it said.

"The rate of remuneration to the field surveyors will be Rs 25 for filling all the entries pertaining to each individual member of the household. A field surveyor, on an average, can collect the data for 50-60 individuals per day and will be able to earn a total remuneration of Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500 per day depending on their performance," the DES said.

--IANS

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Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday greeted the people on the country's 72nd Independence Day that would be celebrated on August 15.

"As we commemorate our nation's Independence, let us remember and pay homage to the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives to deliver freedom to us," he said in his message.

"The Independence Day is an occasion for us to renew our pledge to serve our nation with greater sincerity, commitment and truth," he added.

He also exhorted the people to set an example of good citizenry and emphasized the need to treat all with respect and dignity, irrespective of caste, class, gender, religion or region.

--IANS

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Amarnath Sehgal is best known for his sculpted marvels, S.H. Raza for his work with the brush. Little or nothing is known about their penmanship -- particularly about the trauma of Partition.

As India enters the 72nd year of its independence, IANS, with special permission from curator Shruti Isaac, delves into the archives of Sehgal, who left behind an unpublished memoir. Raza's memoir has been published but very little of it is known in India.

Born in Campbellpur, in what is not Pakistani Punjab, Sehgal (1922-2007) was witness to the tragedy of the Partition, an event he described as a "holocaust".

"My nerves were shattered, having witnessed the holocaust, with millions killed and many more millions uprooted from their ancestral hearths and homes, on both sides of the border, to seek refuge, solace, security and peace, keeping their bodies and souls together," he writes in "American Education: An Experience" sometime in the 1960s that dealt extensively with his three-year sojourn in the US from 1949.

Shifting to the Kullu Valley in the wake of Partition, Sehgal applied to study sculpture in the US coupled with the motive to "get out of India", he writes in the memoir, explaining why the tragedy led to his search for a foreign land.

"I was sad, I had lost my sleep then. I wanted to be away from the environments, where there were cries which were unheard," he writes.

"Such were days when I wanted to jump across to unknown frontiers to live in peace and express myself," pens the sculptor, who developed a deep sensitivity towards human suffering, reflective in many of his works.

His 1958 bronze sculpture "Cries Unheard" stems from his tragic experiences and is housed in the permanent collection of Delhi's National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA).

The 2008 Padma Bhushan awardee, who returned to India in 1951, also writes about a "strange pull" that spurred him to come back to India for the second time and work for the revival of folk arts in the country's rural space.

"Having lived in America for three years, I had a chance to get the resident status. But the lure of my own country, my home, my mother, provided a strange pull, and motivated me to pack up and leave," he writes.

The memoir now resides in Amarnath Sehgal Private Collection in Delhi, a space which was formerly the sculptor's studio.

On his part, Raza describes Partition as "an extremely difficult time" for his family, then based in Mandla (in the modern day Madhya Pradesh) in "Itinerary" (2003), originally written in French during his more than five-decade-long sojourn in the European nation.

Raza (1922-2016) writes that his family was absolutely against the division of the country, and all was peaceful till tensions mounted following Partition.

"After the Partition, there were killings in the (adjacent) region of Damoh, and it became very difficult for my sister and her family. My older brother, Yusuf Raza, who worked as Editor of the Hindi journal 'Vishwamitra', was well informed on what was happening."

He goes to write about his family members having to vacate their homes and migrate to Pakistan.

"As the tensions increased... they decided to leave their homes one night. The house was burnt; they found shelter elsewhere and finally arrived in Lahore in Pakistan," he writes.

Interestingly, the painter's family had to move to Mandla from Delhi after the First War of Independence in 1857 since "they knew (we) opposed British rule".

The painter, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013, is known for harboring a deep connect with Mandla's soil, and also recollected his staying back in India.

"Even though the Partition was a tragedy in my eyes, I decided to stay and I never regretted staying back. I am happy to have kept my name, my religion, my passport and to remain an Indian citizen even after 52 years in France," Raza writes.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)

--IANS

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PM, President messages on independence day

In their separate messages, President Mamnoon and Prime Minister Mulk extended felicitations to the nation on occasion of the 72nd independence day, Radio Pakistan reported. The day of Aug 14 reinforces the people's resolve to work for the progress of their country, they said.

A Google doodle celebrating Pakistan's independence day.



Terming Pakistan a blessing of Allah, Mamnoon said Pakistan can overcome the economic problems and other issues it is facing by only following the teachings of the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal in their true spirit.



In his message, the prime minister said the occasion "reminds us of the epic democratic struggle of our forefathers for securing a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent where they could fashion their lives according to their religious, cultural and social values," according to Radio Pakistan.



An unwavering commitment to the ideals of the Quaid and implementing the principle of 'Unity, Faith and Discipline' will help the country overcome its challenges and make it a self-reliant, economically vibrant and prosperous state.
The Congress on Tuesday said the Lok Sabha should be dissolved and Assembly elections advanced in some other states if simultaneous polls are to be held.

"Simultaneous elections are not possible without amendment in the Constitution. There is only one way to have the elections together and that is Modiji should dissolve Lok Sabha to advance general elections. We would welcome it," senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said.

His comments come against the backdrop of reports that the government was considering holding Lok Sabha polls early next year along with Assembly elections in 11 states by advancing polls in some states and deferring in some.

"If they bring it in advance by dissolving the Lok Sabha, we are prepared to fight both Lok Sabha and assembly elections at a time," Gehlot said.

He said that the government was not "serious and honest about doing it" and only wanted to score political mileage out of it.

"They are just projecting that they are so concerned about the nation and that the expenses incurred on elections are so high. They only play out of it," he said.

Vivek Tankha, a Rajya Sabha member who was part of the delegation heded by Ghelot to the Election Commission to complain about anomalies in the electoral rolls in Rajasthan, said for extending the term of state assemblies, Constitutional amendments would be required.

He also said if the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to postpone elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, it would move the court.

A Supreme Court lawyer, Tankha said that his party suspected that the government was trying to defer elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the surveys are projecting the ruling BJP to be losing.

"It is not about the Congress. Three states where BJP is in power are going to polls. May be the surveys that are coming suggest that BJP is not winning there. So it is in their interest to postpone elections in these states," Tankha said.

"In the three states, the schedule for election has to come before the term comes to an end. We are confident that we are going to win these three states. So, if there is any attempt to postpone elections in these states, of course we will go to court," he added.

Tankha said that in the Indian parliamentary democracy, although the tenures of legislatures are specified, governments can fall at any point of time.

"So, there will never be one date for all governments to have a common election," he said.

--IANS

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Asserting that India was at the cusp of achieving many of its long-awaited goals, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said "contentious issues and extraneous debates" should not distract the people.

In his address to the nation on the eve of 72nd Independence Day, he referred to various issues and said these may have held true 10 or 20 years ago or even earlier to some extent but "even so we are at a juncture in our history that is different from any period that we have so far experienced".

"We are at the cusp of achieving many of our long-awaited goals. Universal access to electricity, the elimination of open defecation, the elimination of homelessness, the very elimination of extreme poverty is achievable and attainable. We are at a pivotal moment. Let contentious issues and extraneous debates not distract us," he said.

Kovind said if freedom was defined in narrow political terms, then August 15, 1947 marks a closure.

"But freedom is a broader concept. It is not fixed and finite. Freedom is a constant and relentless endeavour. Even decades after 1947, each one of us can contribute in the manner of a freedom fighter. We can do so if we expand the frontiers of freedom and of opportunity for our fellow Indians and our beloved India."

Referring to the resolve of various sections in nation building, the President said that the reality was that every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment, who contributes to society by being true to a professional ethic, be it the doctor's ethic, the nurse's ethic, the teacher's ethic, the public servant's ethic, the factory worker's ethic, the business person's ethic, the ethic of those who have to care for ageing parents - each of these and many others are in their own way upholding the values of freedom.

"They are providing the fruits and goods and services of freedom to fellow citizens. Every citizen of India who does his or her duty sincerely, fulfils a personal and professional obligation and keeps to a given word is, at a fundamental level, upholding the principles of our freedom struggle," he said.

"I would argue that every Indian who does not jump the queue and respects the civic space and rights of those ahead in the line also lives up to the principles of our freedom struggle. It's a very small gesture. Let us try and abide by it."

Kovind said the freedom that came at midnight on August 14-15, 1947 was the result of years and decades and centuries of sacrifice and valour on the part of India's ancestors and freedom fighters.

"They could easily have compromised and settled for some personal benefit, but they did not. Their commitment to India - to a free, sovereign, plural and egalitarian India - was absolute. It was my privilege to honour these freedom fighters on the anniversary of 'Quit India Day' on August 9 in Rashtrapati Bhavan."

The President said after four years India would be marking the 75th anniversary of Independence and in less than 30 years the people would celebrate the 100th anniversary of India as a free nation.

"The decisions we take today, the foundations we lay today, the projects we undertake today, the social and economic investments we make today - whether for the immediate future or for the medium term - will determine where we stand. The pace of change and development in our country is rapid and appreciable. And as per our civilisational traditions, it is driven by our people, by civil society and by a partnership between citizen and government. Its focus, again in keeping with the essence of Indian thought, is on a better life for the less fortunate," he said.

He also referred to the beginning of commemoration of the 150th birthday on Mahatma Gandhi on October 2 and said Gandhi did not just lead India's freedom struggle.

"He was and still is our moral compass. In my capacity as the President of India, I have been fortunate to have travelled around the world, particularly to a few countries of Africa. Everywhere, across continents, Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India," he said.

Recalling Gandhi's cleaniness campaign along with his wife Kasturba in Bihar's Champaran even in the middle of struggle for freedom, the President quoted him as saying: "Struggle was not just for political power but for empowering the poorest of the poor, educating the uneducated and ensuring the right to a dignified life."

He also referred to Gandhi's principle of non-violence and said each Indian should adopt his ideas and maxims in everyday work and conduct.

"Together we can eliminate, illiteracy and inequality. We can and we must do this together. The government has a leading role but not the sole role. Let us use the government's programmes and projects to further our own efforts. Let us make that sense of ownership our motivation," the President said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Private life insurer Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance on Tuesday announced the inking of bancassurance partnership with Fincare Small Finance Bank.

In a statement, the company said Edelweiss Tokio Life -- a joint venture between the Edelweiss Group and Tokio Marine Holdings -- would strengthen its bancassurance channel.

"We have been focused on strengthening our bancassurance channel and have found an ideal partner in Fincare Small Finance Bank. As new age entities, it is an exciting opportunity for us to grow together," Sumit Rai, MD & CEO, of Edelweiss Tokio Life was quoted as saying in a statement.

According to the life insurer, the focus will be on using technology for creating a superior customer experience from day one.

"As we move forward in our crucial phase of expansion, like-minded partners like Edelweiss Tokio Life will help us bring a compelling financial offering to our customers," Rajeev Yadav, MD & CEO, Fincare Small Finance Bank was quoted as saying in the statement.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Newly appointed Supreme Court Judge K.M. Joseph on Tuesday said that he "feels like a baby again" since he is the junior-most Judge of the apex court.

"At the age of 60 plus, I feel like a baby again," Justice Joseph said at a felicitation function organised for new apex court Judges by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), which was his first public appearance after taking oath as the 25th Judge of the Supreme Court.

He said: "I am far too conscious of my own limitations to be elevated to the highest court. It is indeed a great honour. It will be presumptuous on my part to even venture to make any promise. All that I can do is -- I hope and pray -- I will be true to the oath which I have taken and which will go a long way in dispensing justice."

The SCBA felicitated four new Judges -- Justices Indu Malhotra, Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran and Justice Joseph.

The elevation of Justice Joseph -- who was Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court -- to the apex court was mired in controversy. The Supreme Court collegium had recommended his name for elevation on January 10 but the Centre sent it back for reconsideration.

The collegium recommendation was reiterated on July 17.

When President Kovind cleared the name of Justice Banerjee, Justice Saran and Justice Joseph for elevation, Justice Joseph's name was third in seniority.

Senior Judges met Chief Justice Dipak Misra to convey their dissatisfaction over the government's decision to place Justice Joseph in the third place for the swearing-in.

They maintained that he should be senior among the three as his name was first to be recommended and was re-recommended after the government raised objections.

Government sources, however, had maintained that the seniority of Judges is on an all-India basis and not based on the Supreme Court collegium's recommendation.

In 2016, Justice Joseph had quashed President's rule in Uttarakhand when he was the High Court Chief Justice.

--IANS

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A week after a car was vandalized allegedly by a group of kanwariyas, Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested nine kanwariyas, including four teenagers.

"The four teenagers along with the main accused Aman were arrested from their residences in west Delhi's Najafgarh and Dwarka early on Tuesday. They all work as labourers," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijay Kumar.

"The police have so far arrested 10 persons, including a youngster Rahul who was arrested earlier from Uttam Nagar. There were a dozen kanwariyas who were found vandalizing a car on August 7 in Moti Nagar," said the DCP.

"The accused were identified with the help of CCTV footages that went viral on social media soon after the incident," the officer said.

"On the day of crime, a Kanwariya got pushed by the vehicle, which resulted in heated arguments. An occupant in the car slapped him, infuriating the group of kanwariyas. They later went on a rampage and started damaging the car with sticks," the DCP said.

The occupants of the car, he said, immediately left the spot and later refused to make a written complaint.

"On the basis of inquiries conducted by the police and the CCTV footage, a case was registered," said the DCP.

--IANS

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Forward Kevin Gameiro said during his presentation as a Valencia CF player that he expects to score at least 20 goals this season and to help his new team finish higher than former club Atletico Madrid.

"For six years I have won a title at the end of each season and I hope to do that at Valencia CF," the French international said here on Monday, reports EFE news agency.

Gameiro won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and three successive Europa League titles with Sevilla before joining Atletico, where he was part of a squad that finished second in the Champions League in 2016-2017 and hoisted the 2017-2018 Europa League trophy in May.

Atleti sent the Frenchman to Valencia for a transfer fee of 16 million euros ($18 million).

Gameiro said he was looking forward to facing his old team in the Aug. 20 La Liga opener between Valencia and Atletico.

Atletico finished second to Barcelona last season, while Valencia were fourth.

Acknowledging that he was no longer young, the 31-year-old Gameiro stressed his fitness and his experience in both domestic and European competitions.

"I hope to contribute my experience, my pace, and that all of that is good for the group," he said with his wife and children at his side.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his silence over the rape case against Union Minister Rajen Gohain.

"The Prime Minister talks about 'Beti bachao'. However, we need to save our daughters from BJP leaders. How can the railway passengers feel safe when the Minister of State for Railways (Gohain) is involved in rape," Gogoi told the media.

"A case stands registered against the Minister but Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party are silent over the issue," Gogoi said, adding that crime against women had increased across the state during the two-year BJP rule in Assam.

"There should be a thorough inquiry into the rape charge but unfortunately the Assam Police is also silent. Why does the Minister not deny that the voice on an audio clipping of a phone call is not his," Gogoi tweeted on Tuesday.

A woman from Nagaon district had on August 2 lodged an FIR against Gohain for allegedly raping her and her sister on the pretext of providing them jobs.

The woman had later submitted a letter to police that she wanted to withdraw her complaint. The case against Gohain was however registered.

An audio recording had later gone viral on Whatsapp, wherein the Minister reportedly threatened her husband with dire consequences.

Lok Sabha MP from Silchar and All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Deb also slammed the Minister.

"How can he continue as the Union Minister? He (Gohain) must resign till the inquiry is over. The audio clipping also makes it clear that he has misused his powers to silence the complainant and her family," Deb said while appealing to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to take action as the state Home Minister in the matter.

Deb also warned of a statewide agitation against Gohain if the victims were not given justice.

"For now, we are not undertaking any major protest since work related to the National Register of Citizens is on and Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed. However, if no action is taken against Gohain, we will launch a mass agitation," the Congress leader added.

--IANS

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Unidentified assailants on Tuesday forced their way into a senior government officer's residence here and shot him dead, police said.

Rajiv Kumar, Under Secretary in the Planning Department, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital, the police said.

The officer's wife told the police that a group of five armed youths forcibly entered their official house in the high security zone in the state capital. Kumar was shot when he resisted them, she said.

--IANS

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Suspected hackers siphoned off Rs 94.42 crore from the Cosmos Cooperative Bank Ltd -- the second oldest and second biggest cooperative bank in India -- to various foreign and domestic bank accounts, police said on Tuesday.

The bank was cyber-attacked twice, on Saturday and on Monday, according to an FIR lodged by an official of Cosmos Bank with Chaturshringi Police Station.

The complaint said the first attack took place on August 11 between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. and on August 13 around 11.30 a.m., affecting its headquarters on Ganeshkhind Road.

A police officer said that during those hours, some unknown persons hacked into the ATM Switch (servers) at the headquarters and acquired the sensitive data of its Visa and RuPay debit card customers.

As per tentative estimates, the hackers siphoned off Rs 78 crore by 12,000 Visa card transactions and transferred it out of the country, including bank accounts in Hong Kong.

Another amount of Rs 2.50 crore from 2,849 transactions was transferred within India, details of which were being investigated, said the police.

Before the bank could react, in a fresh attack on Monday (August 13), the hackers initiated SWIFT transactions and transferred Rs 13.92 crore to the accounts of a company, ALM Trading Ltd, with Hang Seng Bank, Hong Kong. The amounts were soon withdrawn from that bank.

Established in 1906, the Pune-headquartered Cosmos Bank is the second oldest and second biggest cooperative bank in the country, enjoying the status of a multi-state scheduled bank.

--IANS

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Indian American Hasan Minhaj had fun working with director Susanna Fogel on "The Spy Who Dumped Me". He says she understands the nuances of comedy and that adds more value to the project.

"Susanna is such a great writer, director and filmmaker. She is also really funny. So, one of the things which was so fun for me as a comedian to step on the set was that Susanna totally understands the timing and cadence of delivering comedy and what it takes to make a scene really funny," Minhaj told IANS.

"And then when you add guns, explosions, firing and car chases -- it just adds a whole another element where the movie moves in a bunch of different spaces, which I think is really fun," he added.

The Lionsgate Films' movie is an action thriller, starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon in comical roles. The film released in India earlier this month.

It centres around two best friends, Audrey and Morgan, who have been trapped in a spy adventure and the only way out is the way through it. Apart from being an action-packed venture, it also focuses on the true friendship between the two main female characters.

In the film, Minhaj is seen as Topher Duffer, a CIA Harvard alum.

On the film, he said: "It was amazing working on the project. Shooting the entire movie in Budapest was really fun. I have never lived in Europe so getting to be there for almost a month was awesome and I never got to be a spy so that was really fun."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) boss, Justice Emile Francis Short has urged African leaders to co-operate with the International Criminal Court to end impunity.



To him, their reluctance in collaborating with the court shows a sign of inefficiency.



Speaking at the 20th anniversary of ICC, organised by Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) and Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), he said African leaders are unwilling to be responsible for crimes they commit.



He emphasised on the need for African countries to support ICC, stressing that supporting it would end the culture of impunity in most African states.



Citing Gambia as an example, he said, Gambia recently changed its decision to withdraw from ICC after a new regime.



Where people who are implicated are in power, it becomes difficult to deal with them, he said.



He intimated that the atrocious nature of some African leaders explains why most cases before ICC concerns African countries.



Speaking on the essence of ICC, he noted that it only comes into the equation when the state lacks capacity or is unwilling to try persons who have committed crimes.



The ICC is an inter-governmental organisation and international tribunal that sits in The Hague in the Netherlands.



It has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.



The ICC is intended to complement existing national judicial systems, and it may, therefore, only exercise its jurisdiction when certain conditions are met, such as when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute criminals or when the United Nations Security Council or individual states refer situations to the court.



The ICC began functioning on July 1, 2002, the date that the Rome Statute entered into force. The Rome Statute is a multilateral treaty which serves as the ICC's foundational and governing document.



States which become party to the Rome Statute, for example, by ratifying it, become member states of the ICC. Currently, there are 123 states which are party to the Rome Statute, and therefore members of the ICC.





Source: The Finder









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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Delhi Police and the state government on a plea seeking action against the illegal sex rackets in the national capital in the garb of massage parlours.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and V. Kameswar Rao asked the city police and the Delhi Government to file a response on the plea and listed the matter for further hearing on November 27.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Ateet Bansal through his counsel Abhishek Yadav and Mishika Singh against the illegal sex rackets that are rampant in Delhi in the garb of massage parlours.

"Every year, hundreds of illegal immigrants stay back beyond the visa permit and engage in illegal flesh trade to earn quick money, owing to the 'massage' business being highly lucrative. However, the police, even after repeated tips, has been unable to take any action against the offenders," the petitioner said.

--IANS

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At a time when the world is battling one of its biggest refugee crises, India has its own share of the problem -- thousands of Hindu migrants from Pakistan remain stranded at this Rajasthan transit hub. They have been awaiting their citizenship papers for years, despite submitting their passports, documents and hard-earned money too.

Although the world observed International Refugee Day in June, these migrants continue to run from pillar to post to check their status as a callous Indian bureaucracy works at its own inefficient pace unmoved by their plight.

Wandering like a nomad, one of these migrants, Anumaal, told IANS: "Our lives have become deplorable since the time we came to India. The longing to be a part of this country forced me to come here. But since then, from the year 2000 in April, we have been making untiring efforts to get citizenship, but to no avail."

"My son has completed his 12th, but he couldn't get admission in any college as the authorities demand domicile certificates and other identity proof. Eventually, he started working as a labourer to ensure we don't die of hunger. His future has become dark and the same will be the case with my other son who is pursuing his 12th. Eighteen years of running from here to there has failed to bring any result for us," he lamented.

"In a camp organised in the year 2005, we missed submitting our certificate by a day. The officials asked us to come with a certificate but it being a Saturday, we reached on Monday and since then, our grievances remain unheard," Anumaal added.

"We surrendered our passports, our forms were duly filled, and they asked us to come along with a certificate. However, when we reached on Monday, we were informed that we can't be given citizenship as they had received fresh instructions from the government. Since then, we have been meeting district collectors... the home secretary too, but to no avail. We have exhausted all our savings to pay these officials. We have even borrowed money, which has now exhausted. Now we are asked to fill in fresh forms and deposit fresh fees. When asked about the money we had already deposited, the officials said its gone, so forget about it and make a fresh start.

"There are many people like me who are running around in distress. We were doing agriculture in Pakistan but here we are forced to work as labourers. Initially, during partition, we lost our ancestral land which was seized by residents of Pakistan. Most of the Hindus lost their lands at that time. Now this is the second time we are losing a lot. We were initially in Jaisalmer. However, we left the place a long time back because of the water crisis. It is an irony that people consider us as Pakistanis now, which is quite sad to hear," he added.

Then there is Dr Rajkumar Sharma, who practises medicine and was whose citizenship was confirmed on June 17. He said, "We came to Jodhpur in 2004. Since then, we have been working hard to make a decent living. There are thousands like me who have come here, their passports have been submitted, but they are yet to get their citizenship. The major challenge for them is getting a long-term visa (LTV) which gets stuck in red tapism," he added.

Sharma said that he, being educated, managed to earn his bread and butter. "But when I think of other people like me who have migrated, I have tears in my eyes. They are really suffering. People refuse to give them a house on rent or a job to earn considering them as Pakistanis. More than 1,000 people are awaiting their long-term visas," he informed.

"I belonged to Sindh and came here as Muslims were not so kind to Hindus in Pakistan. Radicalism was growing and so was their influence. Although we had land there, we preferred coming here leaving everything as we knew that things might become challenging in the coming days for Hindus," he said, adding: "Now, when I have got citizenship, I will try to clear the Medical Council of India examination so that I can start my practice here."

Dr Hindu Singh Soda, an activist for Pakistani minorities living in India, said that the number of Total Registered Migrants (TRMs) at various FROs in Rajasthan is 13,623. Of them, 12,253 are at FRO Jodhpur alone. Of them, 3,408 were granted LTVs in 2017 while rest of the applications are still under process.

On paper, an LTV is supposed to be granted within 120 days of applying; but in almost all cases, these are not granted for many years, he said, adding that 965 migrants were permanently sent back to Pakistan in 2016 and 2017.

Soda said red-tapism is to be blamed for this situation. Also, the processing of LTVs needs to be hastened to ensure the migrants get justice in India -- a land for which they have left everything in Pakistan, he added.

(Archana Sharma can be contacted at archana.s@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.)
Congress President on Tuesday remarked that he is married to the party.

He made the comment during an interaction with editors when he was asked about his marriage plans.

Gandhi, on a two-day visit to Hyderabad, said Narendra Modi will not become Prime Minister in 2019.

He predicted that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not even get 230 Lok Sabha seats and hence there was no question of Modi becoming Prime Minister again. The BJP tally would be cut primarily due to the alliance among non-BJP parties in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The Congress President evaded a direct reply to a question on who would be the Prime Minister in the event of Congress and other non-BJP parties getting a majority. He merely said they would work it out.

Gandhi said the party's state units were free to have alliances with like-minded parties. He was confident that the Congress would come to power in Telangana.

Asked about Andhra Pradesh, where Congress drew a blank in the 2014 polls, he said the party was improving its position.

He voiced concern over growing intolerance in the country. He said that minorities were feeling insecure.

He called for addressing the problems of farmers and providing employment to the unemployed. He said Modi had failed to fulfill his promise of providing two crore jobs annually.

"China provides employment to 50,000 people in 24 hours while in India only 458 people get employment during this duration," he said.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi made it clear on Tuesday that he was not wedded to Hindutva - "soft or hardcore".

In an interaction with editors, Gandhi did not agree that he was embracing soft Hindutva to appease the majority community.

"I don't believe in any kind of Hindutva, soft or hard core," he said.

Gandhi said there was nothing wrong in his meeting religious leaders and visiting religious places.

His differences with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he insisted, were ideological and not personal.

Gandhi, on a two-day visit to Hyderabad, predicted that Narendra Modi would not become Prime Minister in 2019.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not even get 230 Lok Sabha seats and hence there was no question of Modi continuing in office again. The BJP tally would be cut primarily due to the alliance among non-BJP parties in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

He also pointed out that several allies of the BJP, including Shiv Sena, were against Modi becoming the Prime Minister for a second term.

The Congress President said the party was working with like-minded parties to form a grand alliance to defeat the BJP.

He was confident that a Congress-led alliance would form the next government at the Centre.

He evaded a direct reply to a question on who would be the Prime Minister in the event of Congress and other non-BJP parties getting a majority. He merely said they would work it out.

He was also non-committal on whether the Congress would repeat the Karnataka formula, where it accepted the leader of a party with fewer seats as the Chief Minister to prevent the BJP from taking power.

Asked about his hug to Modi in Parliament, Gandhi said it was intended to show that he doesn't hate people.

He, however, said the Prime Minister was cold in his response. He alleged that Modi doesn't give due respect to political rivals.

He voiced concern over growing intolerance in the country. He said that minorities were feeling insecure.

Gandhi said the party's state units were free to have alliances with like-minded parties. He was confident that the Congress would come to power in Telangana.

Asked about Andhra Pradesh, where Congress drew a blank in the 2014 polls, he said the party was improving its position.

He said Modi had failed to implement his promise of providing two crore jobs annually.

"China provides employment to 50,000 people in 24 hours while in India only 458 people get employment during this duration," he said.

In a lighter vein, Gandhi remarked that he was wedded to the Congress.

"I am wedded to Congress," he said when he was asked about his marriage plans.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Rithvik Dhanjani, who will soon host the show "India's Got Talent", says he loves talent shows.

"I am a part of the upcoming season of 'India's Got Talent'. I love talent shows as they are eye opening to the wealth of creativity our country has," Rithvik said in a statement.

"For me, they are enriching and a fabulous learning experience on how much a person can really do despite some of the challenges they may face," he added.

Rithvik has hosted shows like "India's Best Dramebaaz", "Rasoi Ki Jung Mummyon Ke Sung" and "India's Next Superstars". He has even participated in non-fiction shows like "I Can Do That", "Dare 2 Dance" and "Nach Baliye".

--IANS

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She made her Bollywood debut with Anurag Kashyap's "Dev.D" and went on to do some unconventional roles in films like "That Girl in Yellow Boots", "Margarita with a Straw" and "Waiting". National Award winning actress Kalki Koechlin says she never tries to be "shocking and different" and always expresses what she feels like -- just how instinctively she got her hair chopped recently.

"I don't try to be different. When I cut my hair short recently, people were very shocked and I was like, 'I didnt think about it'. I wanted to change it, so I did that. I remember going on Google while in the parlour with my hairdresser to find out what should we do and how we should cut.

"Now it's like people going 'Oh my God, what has she done? Is she sick?' Everybody has a different opinion. I am just saying that I don't think I consciously try to be shocking or different. I express what I feel like expressing," Kalki told IANS on the sidelines of the live edition of her podcast series "Kalki Presents: My Indian Life".

The actress visited St Stephen's College to talk to students about her new podcast with the BBC World Service. It was released on August 4.

"Kalki Presents: My Indian Life" is about being young and Indian in the 21st century. Over 10 episodes, the podcast series explores extraordinary real-life stories from around the country. One episode is about a woman who talks to Kalki about her part in India's Mars mission, while another is the story of a man with a speech impediment trying to succeed as a musician.

The series will also feature stories on family conflicts, sexual abuse, harassment, caste discrimination, victim shaming, body insecurities and sex education. It is BBC's first English language podcast aimed at young adult Indians.

"Podcast is a complete new world. It is an interesting platform to understand young population in the world as we have lot of young adults who are extremely smart and talented and have lot of opinions," she said.

There were some of the shocking stories that made her cry.

"We cried while shooting. You realise these stories once in a while, but you don't know how often that happens. That is really shocking. It just makes you face reality. You don't understand what all they go through to reach where they are," she said.

Kalki, who received a Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards for her performance as a young woman afflicted with cerebral palsy in "Margarita, With A Straw", feels that to change society, everyone -- not just Bollywood celebrities -- need to speak up.

"I don't know if it's just Bollywood that has to bring about the change. I think every medium, in terms of whatever work we are in need to talk about issues more. When you talk about that, you can make stories about them and eventually film about them. Opening debate and discussion (is the solution) rather than immediate firing on each other on social media because that's the problem.

"We always end up sticking to our opinion rather than listening to another person," she said.

What else is keeping her busy nowadays expect her podcast?

"I just finished shooting for 'Gully Boy'. I am also doing a web series, and this will be the first one that will come of mine titled 'Made In Heaven'. It is set in Delhi. It has a great bunch of writers, and has some really strong writers and directors," she said.

(Nivedita can be contacted at nivedita.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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Opening up on the subject publicly for the first time, DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Tuesday said he had pleaded with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami to allot space at the Marina beach to bury party President and his father M. Karunanidhi.

Addressing an emergency meeting of the party's Executive Committee, Stalin recalled: "We (party leaders and family members) met the Chief Minister and made our request. He said the norms do not allow a former Chief Minister to be buried at Marina beach.

"I held the hands of the Chief Minister and pleaded for space. They did not agree," Stalin said.

He said the decision to meet Palaniswami in person was taken after doctors declared that Karunanidhi was in critical condition.

According to Stalin, the Chief Minister said the matter would be looked into -- but this was stated in order to send out the delegation.

After the announcement of Karunanidhi's death at 6.10 p.m. on August 7, the government issued a statement formally refusing a burial space at Marina.

Praising the DMK's legal team led T. Wilson, Stalin said they approached the Madras High Court late at night and won the case the next day.

Stalin said had the case been lost, a situation would have arisen leading to his own burial next to Karunanidhi.

--IANS

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Torrential rains up to 30 cm lashed Karnataka's coastal and south interior districts, causing landslides and disrupting normal life, officials said on Tuesday.

"Very heavy rainfall was received in the coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, along with heavy downpours in Malnad (south interior) districts of Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Shivamogga," an official from the Bengaluru division of India Meteorological Department (IMD) told IANS.

Parts of Udupi received rainfall measuring as high as 30.1 cm, Dakshina Kannada 16.1 cm, Uttara Kannada 18.5 cm, Shivamogga 16 cm, Kodagu 19.4 cm and Chikkamagaluru 13.2 cm.

Few regions of Hassan district in the south interior region of the state received rainfall up to 24.5cm, according to the IMD.

Due to the unabated rains, landslides were reported across several parts, obstructing vehicular traffic.

A landslide at Sakleshpur sub-district in the Western Ghats mountains has obstructed the vehicular movement on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route.

The traffic along the highway between Madikeri in the Western Ghats range in Kodagu district to Mangaluru was also blocked, officials said.

Several schools and colleges in low-lying areas remained shut on Tuesday.

The rain water from the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin, which have been filled to their maximum capacity, is being released to avoid collapsing of the dams.

"Over 60,000 cusecs of rain water is being released from Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir across Cauvery river in Mandya district, and 40,000 cusecs from Kabini reservoir across Kabini in Mysuru district," Director of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) G.S. Srinivasa Reddy told IANS.

The released reservoir water, along with incessant rains, have been flooding farmlands in low-lying towns and villages in the Cauvery basin.

Last week, another 80,000 cusecs of water was released from Kabini reservoir and 59,000 cusecs from KRS reservoir, forcing the district administration to shift people living in low-lying areas to safety.

With the Arabian Sea being rough with winds along the coast, the IMD has asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea.

"Due to strong winds along the Karnataka coast, sea condition is likely to be rough in the southwest and central Arabian sea. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the waters," an advisory from the IMD said.

Heavy rains are likely to continue for the next three days, Reddy added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the East European nation of Moldova deciding to open an embassy in India next year, the two countries reviewed bilateral cooperation across various sectors during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Tudor Ullanovschi here on Tuesday.

In a tweet following the meeting, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the two sides "reviewed the present state of our bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade and investment, infrastructure, health and pharma, IT, agriculture and food processing, education, culture, films and tourism".

Ullanovschi is the first Moldovan Foreign Minister to visit India after his country gained independence in 1991, in the wake of the dissolution of the USSR.

India established diplomatic ties with Moldova in 1992. As of now, the Indian Embassy in Romania has concurrent responsibility for Moldova.

In an interview with IANS ahead of his meeting with Sushma Swaraj, Ullanovschi said that his country wants to invite Indian investors in sectors like textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and information technology.

India-Moldova bilateral trade stands at around 30 million euros (approximately $34 million) as of now.

He also said that India and Moldova support each other in various international fora.

According to Ullanovschi, Moldova supports India's bid for permanent membership a reformed UN Security Council (UNSC) as the world organisation needed change from the time it was formed in the 20th century.

India is a part of the Group of Four, that also includes Japan, Germany and Brazil, seeking permanent membership in the UNSC.

--IANS

ab/ahm/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cyber security experts on Tuesday questioned the preparedness of the Indian banks in case of a massive security breach involving funds, stressing that state-of-the-art security systems are the need of the hour.

Hackers siphoned off a whopping Rs 94.42 crore from the Pune-headquartered Cosmos Cooperative Bank Ltd -- the second oldest and second biggest cooperative bank in India -- to foreign and domestic bank accounts.

According to Nikhil Bedi, Partner, Deloitte India, robust security systems and incidence response capabilities are imperative for all companies and financial institutions that are custodians of customer data and customer assets, including funds.

"While there is growing awareness to regularly update an organisation's cyber preparedness and defence mechanisms, a large number of institutions wake up to this reality only post an incident which often leads to a loss of reputation and/or financial misappropriation," Bedi said in a statement.

In 2016, a malware-related security breach was reportedly detected in the non-SBI ATM network, following which the public sector lender blocked around six lakh debit cards.

An estimated 30 lakh-plus debit cards issued by various public or private banks were exposed to a potential risk of data breach.

Cyber attacks today are multi-pronged and can start with a malware being downloaded into a system or via a web application being hacked.

"This is a big challenge specially for banks, where it is no longer sufficient to protect just your data centres and your headquarters, you have to protect ATMs and branch offices in addition to securing incoming data even from affiliated organisations," cautioned Anshuman Singh, Senior Director, Product Management at Barracuda Networks Inc.

US-based Barracuda Networks is a leading provider of cloud-enabled security and data protection solutions.

In the case of Cosmos Bank, a proxy switch was created and all the fraudulent payment approvals were passed through the proxy switching system. Normally, the Core Banking System (CBS) receives debit card payment requests via its "Switching System".

According to bank officials, the malware attack was on the Switch System which is operative for the payment gateway of Visa/Rupay debit cards and not on the Cosmos Bank's CBS so the customers' accounts and their balances were not affected.

The banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) domain remains most vulnerable to cyber threats.

"Regulators need to develop a risk management framework, including adequate threat response strategies and define the chain of command in case of a security breach," said Sanjay Katkar, Joint Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer at Pune-based Quick Heal Technologies Limited.

"Hiring chief information security officers must be made mandatory for players in the BFSI domain. The sector should also run regular security protocols and simulations to test their incident response capabilities," Katkar told IANS.

--IANS

na/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares?



























Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano...



Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos:



Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias.



Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera.



No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje.



En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio.



Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida.



Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella.



Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal.



Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista.



Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen.



Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che?



Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio.



Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora.



Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo.



Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo.



Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania.



No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar.



Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga.





Alguna duda?



Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino



Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia.



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Autoretrato



Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola?

La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.

Mi profesion?

Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.

Sal en la Coca Cola?

A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.

De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:

Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto

Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)

azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)

Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas

Mucha Cafeina

Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio

Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe

Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion

El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.

Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.

Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.

En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).

Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.

La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.

Bebidas Light?

Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el

Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.



Publicado por loretahur



En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur

MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina:

1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias.

2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina.

3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard.

4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos.

5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla.

6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos.

Ahora... sobre la margarina:

1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) .

2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias.

3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno).

4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer.

5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna.

6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo.

7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina.

Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas:

* No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo).

* No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!!



No a la guerra, Si a la Paz



Misterios de la ciencia...



Los costos de la guerra



medicos y capitalismo...



Capitalismo...



medicos (2)



Quien educa a nuestros hijos?



Los Medios...



Sin Palabras...



Chistes feministas

- Cual es el problema, Eva?

- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz...

- Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.

- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...

- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.

- Que es un hombre?

- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.

- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.

- Cual es el truco?.

- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.

- Cual?

- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.





Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Ellas...



Ellas (2)...



Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1

Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije:

-Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro.

Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria.

Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre?

-Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa!



VENGANZA NUMERO 2

Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris.

A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita:

- Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!!

Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta.

La mujer paso quince dias en Francia.

El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla.

Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es:

- Y amor me trajiste mi francesita??

- Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina.



VENGANZA NUMERO 3

El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion.

- No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo.

- Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz.

Te quiero confesar algo.

- Esta bien, esta bien. Habla!

- He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga.

- Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!!



machismo y cibernetica



Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston.

-Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide.

-Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!.



.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.

Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos.

Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco.

Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas



Gol !!!!



Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso!



Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy!


An Indian national, on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, died in Nepal's Humla district on Tuesday after he was hit by an aircraft's rotor wing during an attempt to take a selfie.

Mumbai-based Nagendra Kumar Kartik, 42, was hit by a wing of Manang Air aircraft while trying to click his picture on tarmac immediately after landing.

Kartik died on the spot, said Assistant Chief District officer Mahesh Kumar Pokhrel. He was taking a flight from Simikot to Hilsa to reach Mansarovar. Hilsa is close to the Nepal-Tibet border and Simikot is the district headquarters of Humla.

District police chief Rabin Shrestha said Kartik's body will be handed over to his family after postmortem.

Thousands of Indian pilgrims visit Mansarovar via Humla every year. In July, over 1,500 Indian pilgrims were stranded in Humla due to bad weather and were later evacuated by the Indian government.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A three-year-old baby Hadia Nesari from Afghanistan has been given a new lease of life by a team of Indian and Pakistani doctors here. The baby suffered from chronic liver disease.

Hadia had been unwell in Afghanistan and was referred to Huma Cheema, a Pakistan-based Paediatric Hepatologist at Children's Hospital in Lahore.

"She had contracted chronic liver disease of unknown cause and despite our best efforts, her disease became severe and the organ became cirrhotic. Essentially, her liver was failing," Cheema, said in a statement.

"In the end, the only option was a liver transplant. I immediately referred her to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi," Cheema added.

In about 20 per cent of children needing a liver transplant, the cause cannot be identified as was the case with Hadia, the doctors said.

"As the blood vessels in a young child are very small, we needed to take extra care to plan the transplant. Her father Ahmed Fawad became her liver donor," said Neerav Goyal, Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary at Apollo Hospitals.

The doctors performed a successful 12-hour liver transplant surgery on the patient last month.

"Baby Hadia is doing well now, and all her tests are normal" the doctors said.

--IANS

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The Iranian Ministry of Industry banned the export of five types of commercial items, media reports said on Tuesday.

The exports of packing paper, tissue paper, powdered milk, bulk and packed tea, and over 500g packets of butter will be prohibited from August 23 in a move to regulate domestic market, Xinhua quoted the Ministry as saying.

Due to the reinstatement of US sanctions, the Iranian administration is considering amendments to the country's exports and imports regulations.

In the meantime, to support the domestic products and services, main companies and their subcontractors have been prohibited from purchasing foreign products and equipment.

Iranian Oil Ministry has also passed an order to ban the import of 84 items and equipment which could be produced inside the country.

--IANS

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A soap factory dating back to the 19th century has been unearthed, along with large underground chambers, in the old city of Jaffa, said a report published on Tuesday by Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA).

The discoveries were revealed at the Uri Geller Museum, now under construction and expected to be opened to the public in a few months, Xinhua news agency reported.

The site included troughs for mixing raw materials for the soap, a large cauldron, a hearth, water cisterns and underground vaults that were used for storage.

This discovery allows archeologists to reconstruct the manufacturing process, and to compare with similar factories where the traditional manufacturing process has remained.

The factory, whose original ownership remains unclear, is the second of its kind discovered in Jaffa, a part of the coastal city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, located in the centre of Israel.

The production of soap from olive oil is an industry that was recorded as far back as the 10th-century. Soap became an important and lucrative product in the area, booming in the middle ages and continuing till the start of the 20th-century.

--IANS

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo in May over the issue of the Gaza Strip, a media report said on Monday.

The Hebrew-language Channel 10 TV news reported Monday that the Israeli Prime Minister's Office was not immediately available for comments, but quoted anonymous US officials as saying that Netanyahu and a few of his advisors took a flight to Cairo on May 22 to meet with Sisi.

The meeting focused on Egypt's efforts to advance a diplomatic solution to the situation in Gaza, which includes the reinstatement of the Palestinian National Authority's rule in Hamas-run Gaza and a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Xinhua quoted the report as saying.

In return, Israel and Egypt would significantly ease their 11-year crippling blockade imposed on the Palestinian enclave to enable its rehabilitation.

The two leaders also discussed the new US peace plan that the White House has been working to advance for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The latest severe escalation of fighting between Israel and Gaza came last week, as Israel struck hundreds of sites in Gaza, killing three, while Gaza militants launched about 200 rockets toward southern Israel without causing casualties.

Egypt and the US have been key players in the efforts to achieve a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Sisi and Netanyahu held their first official meeting in New York in September 2017, when they discussed possible ways to restart the long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

--IANS

qd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jharkhand government will cancel the licence of seven children's homes run by Missionaries of Charity in Ranchi, said an official on Tuesday.

"The Social Welfare Department has accepted a proposal of the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner recommending cancellation of the licence of seven children's homes run by Missionaries of Charity," an official of the Social Welfare Department told IANS.

"A notification is likely to be issued after Independence Day," said the official.

The Ranchi DC had ordered a probe into the children's homes run by Missionaries of Charity. The district officials inspected the homes and recommended action as these homes did not follow the norms, the official said.

Two other institutions, Asha Sansthan and Kishori Niketan, have been given three months to improve their functioning.

"Of the seven children's homes, one had no building, another was not following the guidelines prescribed under the Juvenile Justice Act. The third home kept 43 children in two rooms and the address of another was found wrong. The fifth home's licence expired, while some discrepancies were detected in other two homes," said the official.

The Missionaries of Charity came under the scanner after a controversy erupted in June over "selling" of four babies. A sister and an employee of the Missionaries of Charity were arrested on charges of selling the newborns to a childless couple.

Ranchi Arch Bishop Felisk Toppo in a statement two days ago had alleged that the state had adopted repressive measures against the Missionaries in the name of investigating the NGOs. The state CID is investigating the funding of 88 NGOs.

The state BJP has rejected the Arch Bishop's charges. "The investigation is going on at the directive of the the Union Home Ministry. The Missionaries should cooperate in the probe," said Pratul Sahdero, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson.

--ians

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The Hyderabad Police on Tuesday arrested a judge on the charge of raping a tribal woman advocate.

P. Satyanarayana, a Junior Field Judge working in Suryapet town of Telangana, was arrested on a complaint by the victim, who alleged that he sexually exploited her with the promise to marry her, the police said.

The accused was produced before a magistrate, who sent him to judicial custody for two weeks.

A case against the judge was registered at Chikkadpally police station in Hyderabad on August 5. He was booked under various sections of the SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code.

The woman complained that the accused promised to marry her and allegedly raped and assaulted her on several occasions. However, when he recently got engaged to another woman, she approached the police and lodged a complaint.

A police official said the arrest was made after preliminary investigation and permission from the High Court.

--IANS

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Karnataka would study the final award of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, which on Tuesday recommended 13.42 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of the river water to the state before deciding on its next move, said an official statement here.

"We will respond to the final award of the Tribunal after detailed study of its recommendations to the Union government. An appropriate decision will be taken after studying the award in 12 volumes and consulting with the concerned," Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said in a statement here.

The three-member Tribunal awarded 13.42 TMC of the river water to Karnataka as against its demand for 36.66 TMC, said an earlier statement.

"I have discussed the ruling with the state water resources department and legal experts," added the Chief Minister.

One of the counsels who represented Karnataka before the Tribunal, Mohan Kataraki, said the immediate water needs of the state's drought-prone districts Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, have been addressed by the award.

"While the immediate water requirement has been met by the Tribunal's award, we will take steps for any additional water requirement after going through the verdict," Kataraki told reporters in New Delhi.

Congress state unit President Dinesh Gundu Rao said the party is partially satisfied with the award.

"We are partially satisfied with the Tribunal's verdict as the award for Karnataka is less than the water we had demanded," Rao told reporters here.

While the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president B.S. Yeddyurappa hailed the award as "historic".

"We are happy with what has been awarded to the state and welcome the Tribunal's decision," Yeddyurappa said.

--IANS

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Disney has released the first look at Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei in costume as the title character in its much-anticipated live-action film "Mulan".

Disney also revealed that production on the highly anticipated live-action remake of Disney's hit 1998 animated blockbuster "Mulan" has begun, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The Niki Caro-directed film is being shot on location in China and New Zealand. It is slated to release on March 27, 2020.

In the publicity shot, the star, also known as Crystal Liu, wears a red robe as she wields a large sword with an intense stare on her face.

The cast features Chinese actor Jet Li, actor and martial artist Donnie Yen, both 55, Jason Scott Lee, 51, and Chinese-Singaporean actress Gong Li, 52.

Choosing Yifei for the role of Mulan was part of a worldwide casting process that took over a year.

Yifei is no stranger to martial arts movies having been in 2008's "The Forbidden Kingdom" with Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

Disney's hit animated version was released in 1998 and starred Ming-Na Wen as the voice of the brave Mulan with Eddie Murphy as the voice of her dragon Mushu.

--IANS

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The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the police firing in Tuticorin in which 13 people were killed on May 22. The victims were taking part in a protest against the Sterlite copper smelter plant.

The court also quashed the charges slapped against six protesters under the National Security Act for their role in the violence.

The copper smelter plant owned by Vedanta Ltd is located in Tuticorin around 650 km from here.

About 60 persons were injured in the police firing.

Earlier Chief Minister K. Palaniswami told the media that people in Tuticorin had been protesting peacefully for long against the company, alleging that it was causing health hazards and depleting the water table, but this time, the opposition and "anti-social elements" had turned the movement violent.

"It is because of this instigation that so many people have died. And we are really saddened by the deaths," he said.

According to an FIR lodged by Tuticorin police, a Deputy Tehsildar has claimed that he had ordered police firing on May 22 against the anti-Sterlite Copper protesters.

The FIR filed by the police on May 22 says that Sekar, Deputy Tehsildar in Tuticorin, admitted that it was he who had ordered the police firing at the protesters after all the other steps to restore law and order failed.

As per the FIR, Sekar said he had at first warned the protesters that force would be used and when this did not work, he ordered a baton charge. When this proved inadequate and the crowd kept surging forward menacingly and attacked the police personnel, he had ordered the firing of tear gas shells after due warning.

The official said when tear gas shells failed to disperse the violent mob, which was destroying public property and attacking the police personnel near the Collectorate, he ordered firing as the last resort. Twelve persons were killed in police firing on May 22 and later one more person died in a fresh firing.

--IANS

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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
Actor Mark Wahlberg enjoyed shooting with Indonesian actor Iko Uwais, and calls him a "sweetheart".

Wahlberg worked with Uwais on Peter Berg's "Mile 22", which will release in India on August 24.

"He is spectacular and a sweetheart. Iko is very funny, very sweet but a bada** too. We had a lot of laughs and I loved hanging out with his crew," Wahlberg said in a statement to IANS.

"He was teaching me Indonesian and I was teaching him a lot of English slang," he added.

Wahlberg was impressed with Uwais' ability to feel comfortable in an environment that was infused with a lot of improvisation.

He said: "I like to throw some curveballs and obviously we're improvising within the context of the scene, and he just did an outstanding job."

Talking about his Hollywood debut, Uwais said: "This is really the beginning for me. It's a perfect collaboration between martial arts and Hollywood action."

Written by Graham Roland and Lea Carpenter, "Mile 22" is a story of an elite American intelligence officer who, with the help of the top-secret tactical command unit, tries to smuggle a mysterious police officer with sensitive information out of a foreign country. It will be released by PVR Pictures in India.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special interest led to a record investment in basic rail infrastructure in the country in the last four years, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha claimed on Tuesday.

"Due to the Prime Minister's special interest, investment in railways tripled and sufficient funds were given for infrastructure development. The funds are being used properly now," Sinha said at a function after flagging off Mau-Lucknow Inter City Express here and launching Wi-Fi facility at 60 railway stations.

"In the last financial year, Rs 1.30 lakh crore was invested in rail infrastructure development while it increased to Rs 1.48 lakh crore in the current fiscal," he said, adding that under the earlier UPA rule only Rs 47-48,000 crore was invested in such developmental works.

The BJP leader, an MP from Gazipur, said that the country suffered a lot due to lack of investment in railways during the earlier regime.

"After independence, expansion of railway infrastructure should have got the utmost priority but its pace was very slow. After the NDA came to power in 2014, its pace has increased. In the coming days, it is going to further improve and people will get more facilities," he said.

He said that electrification and doubling of railway tracks are being given top priority and rail-cum-road project in Gazipur on the Ganga river is its best example.

"The work that used to be completed in 10 years earlier is now completed in only three years," the Minister claimed.

He said that under the Congress rule, the focus of development remained limited to Amethi and Rai Bareli but the Modi government is non-discriminating.

--IANS

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North Korean state media on Tuesday called for the signing of a peace treaty, saying that mutual trust was necessary to advance with the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korean weekly Tongil Sinbo, one of the media used by the Pyongyang regime as a mouthpiece, said in its last edition, that one cannot expect further progress in denuclearization if the US does not take simultaneous measures, such as declaring the end of the war, reports Efe news.

"There has been a breakthrough in the North's relations with the South and the US, but the termination of the war on the Korean Peninsula still remains an unresolved task," the weekly said.

"The US, as a responsible party in the declaration of the end of the war to establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, should take practical measures to implement the agreement of the June 12 North-US summit in Singapore," it added.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump reaffirmed in their historic meeting the commitment towards complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and to reaching a definitive peace agreement, already signed by Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, at their earlier summit in late April.

The weekly further warned that "a smooth development of the inter-Korean relations cannot be expected if the South blindly follows foreign forces' policy of hostility towards the North".

Echoing a similar argument, the Meari portal, another website that the Kim Jong-un regime uses as an unofficial mouthpiece, said that building mutual trust is fundamental to revitalising dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, whose slow progress has been attributed to the unilateral demands and hostility of the US.

--IANS

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is set to send a submarine to the seafloor near Hawaii on August 20 in an effort to find an environment analogous to water worlds like Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, the media reported on Tuesday.

Taking a closer look at the Earth's seafloor might help the space agency to send a submarine to the outer solar system to explore the waters of other worlds for life, the popularmechanics.com reported.

On August 20, will send the submarine SUBSEA, short for Systematic Underwater Biogeochemical Science and Exploration Analog, to a volcanic vent Loihi -- a seamount off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.

At Loihi, the submarine it will take observations at subcentimeter resolution of the topography, environment, and inorganic chemistry.

Vents on the seafloor can reach hundreds of degrees as upwelling volcanic material meets the ocean water. Although this dark, oxygen-poor environment might seem like a harsh place for life, organisms from bacterial colonies to thermophilic worms to heat-tolerant crustaceans can thrive by these volcanic vents, something scientists once thought was impossible.

In space, it's possible to find little volcanic vents on the ocean floor of Europa, which is larger than Pluto, or Enceladus, which is a small moon believed to have a porous core of hot rock.

The rocky cores of these worlds heat up due to gravitational interactions with their much larger home planets, possibly producing volcanic activity on the ocean floor similar to Earth. Both moons are prime targets for future missions and eventual ocean exploration.

"Everything that we do has bearing on how we think and how we design these future missions," Darlene Lim, principal investigator of SUBSEA and scientist at NASA, was quoted as saying.

"We're interested in developing models to determine what we might expect in Enceladus," Lim added.

The actual biological work will take place mostly through sample retrieval. The mission will be divided between an on-site team monitoring from the ocean above and a collaboration of laboratories across the US.

Currently, the submarine is not testing out new instruments but giving a dry rehearsal for future missions that will use primarily off-the-shelf technology, the report said.
Kerala Police on Tuesday questioned Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Roman Catholic Diocese here in Punjab following allegations of sexually abusing a nun, an official said. No arrest has been made so far.

The Bishop's quizzing began late on Monday and ended on Tuesday morning.

There was high drama before questioning as the Bishop avoided meeting the Kerala team which reached Jalandhar, around 155 km from Chandigarh, on Friday.

The Kerala Police team also questioned Father Antony and Jalandhar Diocese Chief Public Relations Officer Father Peter.

Three journalists from Kerala also alleged manhandling by the Bishop's private security when they tried to speak to Mulakkal.

The Kerala Police team, which was given protection by their Punjab counterpart, arrived at the congregation of Missionaries of Jesus, the headquarters of Christian centres in the region, for investigation.

Earlier, the team met former nuns of the Jalandhar diocese on Friday and Saturday.

The Punjab Police, fearing law and order trouble, provided protection to the Kerala team.

Several followers of the diocese had gathered at its campus in Jalandhar on Friday after hearing about the arrival of the six-member Kerala police team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.T. Subhash.

A nun had alleged in June that Mulakkal sexually abused her several times at a convent in Kuruvalangadu near Kottayam in Kerala between 2014 to 2016.

An FIR was registered against the bishop and a 114-page detailed statement was taken from the nun and other inmates of the convent.

Mulakkal has denied any wrongdoing.

A spokesman for the diocese told the media that no wrong had been done by the bishop and that the allegations were being made by the nun at the instigation of people with vested interests.

Earlier, statements were taken from the Head of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and also a few other former nuns who were residents at the convent.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The last 12 breeding pairs of the beach stone-curlew bird indigenous to the Australasia region are under threat from feral foxes in New South Wales (NSW).

The aboriginal community in the coastal bushland has now taken up action to protect the rare birds by laying fox traps, Xinhua news agency reported.

Conserving the ground-nesting birds is important as there are only 12 breeding pairs left, said Banahm Slabb from the Tweed Byron Aboriginal Land Council.

The foxes were first introduced Down Under from Europe in the mid-1800s for sport hunting. Later they proliferated on minimal competition and have now started affecting native species.

--IANS

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The Pakistan Army has simultaneously planted 2 million trees in a campaign aimed at increasing greenery across the country, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Tuesday.

Director General (DG) of ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and his wife initiated the National Tree Plantation Campaign, and appealed to all Pakistanis to participate in the drive, reports Geo News.

"Trees are life. Plant trees to save lives," General Bajwa said in his message on the occasion on Monday.

The DG ISPR tweeted on Monday: "COAS (Chief of Army Staff) will initiate simultaneous plantation of two million trees today across the country under army arrangements with planned target of 10 million trees during this monsoon."

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is expected to form the government at the centre with Imran Khan as Prime Minister, will also plant billions of trees to tackle the effects of climate change.

The PTI had previously launched a tree-planting project in Khyber Pakhtunkwa.

--IANS

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Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has come under fire over a promotional video made by the national flag carrier in collaboration with a Polish tourist who is seen doing the 'Kiki challenge' inside an empty aircraft.

On Monday, a video went viral of Polish tourist Eva Bianka Zubeck performed the popular 'Kiki challenge' with the national flag wrapped on her body, Dawn news reported.

"Eva Zubeck from Poland/England is a Global Citizen travelling around the world, but now her heart is set on Pakistan! She has been exploring Pakistan flying #PIA. She will be celebrating Independence Day in a style never before attempted in the world! Stay tuned for updates," the airlines said in a tweet along with the video.

However, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) later in the day said the woman not only disgraced the flag but also violated the security codes of the national airlines.

"We want to know that who allowed the woman to go into an empty aircraft and dance at the airport," an NAB spokesman told Dawn news.

He said the NAB will officially send a letter to the PIA on Wednesday to seek its management's point of view on the issue.

"We want to ascertain that who had permitted the women to freely move into a highly-secured runway of the airport."

Due to the immediate escalation of the issue, Zubeck had to issue a clarification.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his condolences over the death of Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon, saying "the widely respected figure will always be remembered".

Tandon breathed his last in the Raipur Medical College in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. He was 91. The Governor was admitted to the hospital late on Monday because of sudden illness. He was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) early on Tuesday and was put on life support as his health condition turned critical.

"Saddened by the demise of Balramji Dass Tandon. We have lost a widely respected public figure whose service to society will always be remembered. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this hour of grief," tweeted Modi.

The Prime Minister said that Tandon spent decades working for peace and progress in Punjab.

"Passionate about sectors like industry and labour welfare, his administrative experience added great value to the state. He will be remembered for his courage while opposing the Emergency," wrote Modi.

--IANS

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The BJP on Tuesday hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his remark that he does not believe in any variety of Hindutva, saying it was "humiliation" of the majority community and disrespectful" to Hindu philosophy.

The party dared the Congress leader to use such words against any other religion, asking him to clear his stand as to why he does not have faith in Hindutva.

"In a closed-door interaction with editors, Rahul Gandhi said he does not believe in Hindutva --'soft' or 'hard'. One can understand if you say you don't believe in fanaticism but to say that you don't believe in Hindutva is shocking," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra at a press conference.

"A few days back he had said that Congress was a 'Muslim party' and today he said he has no faith in Hindutva. It is humiliating to a majority community," said Patra.

"Whenever he senses a benefit, he becomes a janeu-dhaari, and when he sees an adverse reaction, he leaves his 'janeu' and forgets Lord Shiva," he said.

"By making such remarks, you (Rahul Gandhi) are playing with the faith of thousands of Hindus," he said.

On his remark that the Congress wants to defeat the BJP and the RSS in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Patra said: "Now, we doubt that you want to defeat the Hindus."

In an interaction with editors, Gandhi did not agree that he was embracing soft Hindutva to appease the majority community.

"I don't believe in any kind of Hindutva, soft or hardcore," he said.

Gandhi said there was nothing wrong in his meeting religious leaders and visiting religious places.

--IANS

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A delegation of Rajasthan Congress on Tuesday complained to the the Election Commission against what they called 40-45 lakh bogus votes on the electoral lists in the desert state.

The delegation that met Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat in Delhi included state unit President Sachin Pilot, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, C.P. Joshi, Rameshwar Dudi and Rajasthan party affairs incharge Avinash Pandey.

Pilot told IANS that 40-45 lakh of the total 4.75 crore voters in Rajasthan were fake and that the matter needed to be investigated thoroughly.

"The electoral list data from the Election Commission website was downloaded and we were stunned to see that names of more than 100 persons with similar age and address particulars was duplicated many times over."

The Congress leader also expressed surprise over the fact that 70 lakh new voters had been added to the state in the last four-and-a-half years. "The rate of population growth seems to be less vis-a-vis the increase in voters numbers," he quipped.

Pilot said that Rawat had assured the delegation of a fair probe.

Elections to the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held by year-end.

--IANS

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Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar on Tuesday said actor Rajinikanth did not know the state's political history and was politically immature after he converted a condolence meeting for DMK President M. Karunanidhi to launch himself as a full-time politician.

Jayakumar also said that in his speech, the actor-turned-politician tried to woo Karunanidhi's followers to his side.

The AIADMK leader was reacting to Rajinikanth's statement made at the condolence meeting organised by the South Indian Artistes Association here on Monday in memory of the late Karunanidhi.

He said it was not a healthy practice to talk at a condolence meeting and Rajinikanth's speech showed his political immaturity. "Movie shooting and meetings are not the same."

Rajinikanth had said he would have protested if the government had gone on appeal against the High Court order in favour of burying Karunanidhi's body at the Marina beach.

The Minister wondered if Rajinikanth would have walked freely had he said such things during the lifetime of MGR or J. Jayalalithaa.

Jayakumar said Rajinikanth's political opportunism would not pay.

Rajinikanth also questioned the absence of Chief Minister K. Palaniswami at the Marina beach for Karunanidhi's burial when several other leaders were present there.

"Are you Jayalalithaa or MGR (M.G.Ramachandran, founder of AIADMK)?" he asked of the present AIADMK leaders.

Jayakumar said space was allotted for burying Karunanidhi's body near Gandhi Mandapam here without showing any political vendetta.

The DMK and family members of the Karunanidhi had sought space on the Marina to bury the former Chief Minister's body who died here on August 7.

The Tamil Nadu government turned down the request citing legal hurdles and offered alternative site.

Later the DMK moved the Madras High Court, which ordered the Tamil Nadu government to permit burial of Karunanidhi's body at Marina.

--IANS

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Continuing his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that they were resorting to corruption in the name of 'redesigning'.

He said that redesigning was the new name for corruption. "Modiji is an expert in redesigning at the Centre and your Chief Minister is an expert in redesigning here," Gandhi told a huge public meeting at Saroornagar here.

He said Modi redesigned the Rafael deal to benefit his friend to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore while Rao had redesigned irrigation projects so that his family reaped all the benefits.

"The redesigner here is also clapping for the redesigner in Delhi," he said, while referring to Rao's support to Modi on demonetization and GST.

He accused both the leaders of suppressing people's voice and snatching money and land from the poor to fill the pockets of a few rich industrialists.

Gandhi again challenged Modi for a debate on Rafale deal, saying the Prime Minister revised the price of fighter jet from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,600 crore to help his friend.

The Congress President said that while he could understand Modi's silence on Rafale as corruption was involved, he was not speaking a word even on atrocities on Dalits and tribals, killings of minorities and rapes of women and girls across the country.

Gandhi promised that if voted to power, the Congress would implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with one slab and not five slabs as being done now. He also declared that the items used by poor would be exempt from GST.

He slammed the Modi government for increasing prices of petrol and diesel despite the fall in crude prices in the international market from $140 to $70 per barrel.

"Prices of petrol and diesel are coming down in all other countries but they are going up in India. The money you pay is going to the pockets of a few rich industrialists," he told the gathering.

Gandhi said the dream which the people of Telangana had during the movement for a separate state had not been fulfilled during the last four years.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fears over a rise in global protectionist measures, along with a strong US economy, dragged the Indian rupee to a fresh intra-day low of over 70 against a US dollar during the pre-afternoon hours on Tuesday.

Around 11.00 a.m., the rupee plunged to 70.08 to a US dollar. However, soon afterward the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is said to have intervened in the open market to curb the rupee's free fall.

The intervention aided the rupee stabilise just a tad below 70 to a USD at 69.98 around 11.05 a.m.

--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.)
Samsung has reportedly cut its smartphone production in China to cope up with declining sales in the country and will now shift its focus to its facilities in India and Vietnam, the media reported.

"Samsung Electronics is cutting its smartphone production in China to cope with falling sales in the country, showing how the South Korean tech giant is struggling to rebound in the world's largest smartphone market," Nikkei Asian Review reported late on Monday.

The company is also strengthening its production lines in Vietnam and India, targeting rising demand in these fast-growing markets as well as making them production bases for exports to the global market.

The South Korean tech giant, however, has not revealed whether it would shut down its production line at the affiliate, Tianjin Samsung Telecommunication Co (TSTC).

Analysts believe the company should do more in China to woo consumers.

"I do think that Samsung needs to pay more attention to China. China is a big market, and I think that a more focused approach to China will help manage its expectations," Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies, a US-based market research firm, was quoted as saying by Nikkei Asian Review.

The South Korean tech giant in July inaugurated a new 35-acre facility in India which is touted as the world's biggest mobile manufacturing plant.

The company is currently making 67 million smartphones in India. And with the new plant being functional, it is expected to manufacture nearly 120 million mobile phones.

Samsung also runs a smartphone production line in Vietnam, exporting most of those smartphones to Europe and other key markets.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Putting rumours to rest, Samsung Electronics has confirmed its upcoming Galaxy S10 smartphone will not be the company's first 5G device.

According to D.J. Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Samsung Electronics, the smartphone maker was "focussing on developing innovations that will be genuinely accepted and liked by users" for the foldable phone but also that the company "didn't want to lose the world's-first title".

"Samsung has reaffirmed its desire to be the world's first vendor to launch a foldable smartphone, while adding that the Galaxy S10 won't be the firm's first 5G phone and that a separate model will," ZDNet reported late on Monday.

Koh, however, did not clarify whether this separate smartphone would be the long-awaited foldable smartphone or some other device altogether.

"We wouldn't have started (project) if it was a going to be a one-time thing," Koh was quoted as saying.

The smartphone maker also rubbished rumours that it was contemplating to club the Galaxy S series and Galaxy Note series.

"For the immediate future, there won't be a change in launching the S series in the first half and Note series in the second half of the year," Koh added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The six Indian Navy women officers who circumnavigated the globe earlier this year were on Tuesday awarded Nao Sena medals - a gallantry award for courage and devotion to duty in the naval force.

Lieutenant Commanders Vartika Joshi, who led the team, and Prathibha Jamwal, and Lieutenants Swathi Patarpalli, Aishwarya Boddapati, Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta spent over eight months at sea, sailing around the world in six legs on the Indian Naval Sailing Vehicle (INSV) Tarini.

Lt Commander Joshi volunteered for the expedition, Navika Sagar Parikrama, during which the crew spent 194 days at sea and nearly 8 months away from home port.

It was the maiden attempt by an all women naval officers crew to sail around the globe in a yacht, covering a distance of nearly 22,300 nautical miles (41,255 kmm).

During the Sep 10, 2017-May 18, 2018 expedition that began at Goa, the officers crossed the equator twice, sailed across four continents and three oceans, and passed south of the three Great Capes -- Leeuwin, Horn and Good Hope in their eight-month journey.

The crew made stops in Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), Cape Town (South Africa) and Mauritius.

The entire voyage was completed using sails, regularly negotiating 10-meter waves and over 100 kmph winds with the temperatures varying between four and 40 degrees Celsius as the vessel traversed through different parts of the world, Joshi's award citation reads.

"Successful completion of circumnavigation voyage over 194 days at sea is a testimony of the raw courage, endurance and professionalism displayed by the officer and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Navy."

Captain P. Rajkumar of the Navy was given the Shaurya Chakra who rescued four survivors from the rough seas when a very severe cyclonic storm Ockhi struck the southern coast of India last year.

On December 1, the officer was captaining naval helicopter Sea King flying sorties all day on search and rescue operations braving the fury of nature and undertaking rescue missions.

A fisherman, adrift at sea, was reported to have been spotted as the crew thought the day's work was over.

"The aircraft had flown continuously with two hot re-fuelling and there was considerable risk involved in undertaking a fresh mission. However, with no regard to his safety, Rajkumar took a tough call and decided to fly the life threatening mission on the stormy night of cyclone to save the solitary survivor in the raging sea," reads his citation.

There were no night vision devices available immediately.

Flying on a pitch dark night, the Captain descended his helicopter to as low as 200 feet to search for the survivor. About 25 minutes into the search, the survivor was sighted clutching onto a capsized boat.

The officer brought the enormous aircraft into a hover at 25 feet over the raging sea and dispatched the diver, maintaining an extremely difficult manual hover for almost 30 minutes.

"Anything could have gone wrong at this stage, as both the men and machinery were operating at their extreme limits."

But the daring act of the officer enabled saving a human life in extreme conditions.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Shreyas Talpade will play a quirky Bengali writer in the forthcoming action comedy film titled "Bhaiaji Superhit".

Shreyas has been learning the dialect. He has been taking lessons in the language from close friend and actress Celina Jaitley.

The duo, who have worked together in the past and were last seen in the 2009 film "Paying Guests", share a great bond as friends and co-actors.

"While working on 'Golmaal Returns' and 'Paying Guests', we became really good friends. While shooting for 'Paying Guests', my wife Dipti and Celina became really great friends and would often go out for shopping together," Shreyas said in a statement.

"We would often go to each other's place. That's when I got to know that she speaks very fluent Bengali and was surprised on learning about this.

"When I bagged the role, Celina was the first person I thought of. I wanted to understand the dialect, nuances, pronunciation and the quirkiness in the Bengali language."

She guided and helped him a lot with the language and gave him a lot of suggestions which eventually helped him in preparing for his character.

Produced by Metro Movies and presented by Zee Studios, "Bhaiaji Superhit" is currently under production stage and is expected to release by October 2018.

--IANS

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As a new web series titled "Lal Bahadur Shastri's Death - An Unfinished Story" is set to release on Independence Day on Wednesday, the former Prime Minister's son Sunil Shastri says that even 52 years after his father's death, the family lives in a hope that they will know the truth someday.

The story of the web series revolves around the mysterious death. The narrative is in the form of a docu-drama based on conversations with Shastri's family members who have raised some important questions about his death.

Sunil said in a statement: "There is still a big question mark on how Shastri died. When my father called from Tashkent, my family informed him that people here were very upset with his decision of signing the treaty. However, he had full faith that when he comes back and explains, everybody will be very happy. But as fate had it, they never let him reach or speak to anyone.

"Cook Jan Mohammed was the prime suspect in my father's death. He is believed to be the one who poisoned him. Strangely, he was hired just after the Tashkent declaration and was also the cook to Ambassador TN Kaul, further fuelling our suspicions."

Sunil says his grandmother had wondered, "It's surprising that a country's Prime Minister is dead and nobody raised a question on it?", after she saw Shastri's body.

Shastri died in 1966.

Sidharth Nath Singh, Shastri's grandson, said: "The fateful day when we got a call, my mother told me that the telephone operator started crying saying that Shastriji is no more. When his body came to India, it had cut marks all over and his face had blue marks. It was a clear indication of poison - till date we do not have a death certificate, nor there was any post-mortem done."

"Is it a coincidence that Shastriji who was a heart patient - wasn't staying at the pre-decided place? The room he is put up in, has no buzzer - oddly his house help and his doctor's room was very far?"

Sunil added: "52 years after his death, the family lives in a hope that we will someday know the truth."

Veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayyar also features in the docu drama, which will stream on ZEE5.

--IANS

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The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) will ink an agreement with Alibaba's travel arm Fliggy to bring 1,000 travellers weekly to the country in order to expand its growing tourism sector, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said on Tuesday.

Amaratunga said after obtaining the necessary approval, his ministry will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Alibaba next week, Xinhua news agency reported.

Supreme Global Holdings Limited, the local company that has tied up with Alibaba, will work closely with SLTPB on the project implementation, which is expected to result in a positive large-scale impact on Sri Lanka's tourism.

Further, Supreme Global also intends to promote Alipay actively in Sri Lanka upon receiving the necessary clearances thus taking Sri Lanka Tourism to new heights, especially among Chinese tourists, Amaratunga said.

The minister expressed confidence that Sri Lanka would comfortably achieve the 2.5 million target set for this year, while noting that the country could achieve 3.5 million arrivals in 2019 provided the global tourism outlook remains favourable.

Over 1.3 million tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in the first seven months of 2018, recording a 13.7 per cent growth compared with the same period of last year.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 17 Afghan soldiers were killed after Taliban militants overran an Army base in the northern part of the country following a three-day intense fighting, officials said on Tuesday.

The clashes started last Saturday after hundreds of Taliban militants stormed and besieged Camp-e-Chenayeeha base in remote Ghormach district of Faryab province in which about 106 Army soldiers were stationed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Taliban attack in the north coincided with clashes in southeastern province of Ghazni, which lies on the main highway linking Kabul with the south. Hundreds of people have been killed or injured during clashes there since last week. Heavy clashes and airstrikes were reported on Tuesday as fighting in the city entered the fifth day.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that residents of Ghazni were struggling to access basic services and medical care.

"The besieged soldiers showed stiff resistance and fought back the attackers for the past three days but the base was captured by militants as the soldiers received no help or supplies despite repeated requests," said Sebghatullah Selaab, an official from the provincial council.

He said 15 soldiers were injured and five others were captured by the militants while several soldiers fled to nearby villages or mountains.

The Taliban seized 14 armoured military vehicles, heavy guns, weapons and ammunition after the seizure of the base in the province, 425 km northwest of Kabul.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when the Afghan security forces assumed full responsibilities of security from the US and NATO troops.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 466 people, including 40 civilians, have been killed in ongoing clashes between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in Ghazni city, officials said on Tuesday.

The militant Islamist group launched an offensive to seize control of the eastern Afghan city five days ago.

"Taliban deaths increased to 326 while we have 100 security forces martyred, among them 70 policemen. Up to 40 civilians have also been killed," Defence Ministry spokesperson Ghafoor Ahmad Javid told Efe news.

Javid said the casualties had increased from 325 on Monday to 466 as the Afghan security forces, with support from the US Air Force, have been clearing the city and forcing the insurgents to the outskirts.

The data on civilian casualties was still preliminary and the exact number would be released after operations to clear the city of remaining insurgents was complete, he said.

"All areas inside the city are cleared of the Taliban fighters and currently the operation is focused on the western and northern outskirts of the city."

Javid said the priority for authorities was to provide food and water to the approximately 270,000 residents of Ghazni.

They were also working to restore telecommunication services, electricity and water distribution services, which have been severely disrupted.

This has been the heaviest Taliban offensive on a provincial capital since the brief occupation of the western city of Farah in May.

In 2015, the Taliban seized the northern city of Kunduz and held out for several days.

In 2016, the Taliban surrounded and managed to enter Trinkot, the capital of Uruzgan province, and Lashkargah -- the capital of Helmand -- but in both cases they were able to maintain control for only a few days.

According to information released in 2017 by the US, the Afghan government controls about 56 per cent of the country and the Taliban 11 per cent, while the rest of the territory is under dispute.

--IANS

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's daughter-in-law N. Brahmani was among the industrialists who attended a meeting of CEOs addressed by Congress President Rahul Gandhi here on Tuesday.

The presence of Brahmani and Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Minister N. Lokesh, T. G. Bharath, son of TDP MP T. G. Venkatesh and some industrialists considered close to the TDP was significant in view of the recent political developments.

Bharath told reporters that Rahul Gandhi promised that if voted to power at the Centre, the Congress would accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh as committed by the Congress-led UPA government in 2014 at the time of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana.

In March, the TDP pulled of the BJP-led NDA over its refusal to accord the special status. Subsequently, Naidu had shared the dais with Rahul Gandhi during the swearing-in ceremony of H. D. Kumaraswamy as the Karnataka Chief Minister.

Last month, the Congress party also backed the no-confidence motion moved by the TDP against the Narendra Modi government.

During the interaction with the industrialists, Rahul Gandhi shared his vision and what he plans to do for industry, especially the small and medium enterprises.

He noted that demonetization and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had dealt a blow to the industry. According to Bharath, the Congress President promised to improve the implementation of the GST and address the concerns of the industry.

Rahul Gandhi also promised to bring transparency for greater ease of doing business.

Leading Telugu film producer D. Suresh Babu, who was also present, said it was a positive interaction. He said that Rahul Gandhi has a good vision and thoughts.

--IANS

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The East European nation of Moldova is wooing Indian investors in the areas of textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and IT among others as it is set to open an embassy in this country in 2019, 28 years after attaining independence following the dissolution of the USSR.

"This year I took the decision of opening three new embassies from the beginning of next year - in Argentina, in Ghana and, of course, number one in India," Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Tudor Ullanovschi told IANS in an exclusive interview here.

Ullanovschi, who assumed office in January this year, is the first Moldovan Foreign Minister to visit India after the country came into being in 1991.

"We have a strong interest in increasing our trade balance," he said. "At this point we have 30-plus million euros (around $34 million/over Rs 2 billion) of bilateral trade."

Stating that Moldova imports much more from India than it exports, he said both countries have agreed to synchronise the certification of food and agricultural products.

"Moldova has organic fruits and vegetables. We have very good quality apples, plums, walnuts, and other types of fruits as also sunflower oil, grains, cereals," he said.

"So the export of Moldovan agricultural products is a priority that we have."

Ullanovschi also said that Indian producers can use the "extremely high quality" agricultural land in his country.

He said that Moldova invites Indian companies to explore its market because of the advantageous position it is in.

Moldova has free trade agreements with the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Turkey.

"Now we are discussing a free trade agreement with EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries - Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland," the Foreign Minister said.

"The Moldovan government provides extraordinary fiscal incentives for investments. If a company invests more than $1 million in a free economic zone in Moldova, it does not have to pay taxes for three years."

Ullanovschi said that he would like to send a message Indian companies, be it in textiles or pharmaceuticals, involved in production activities to come to Moldova.

"In September, we are going to send a delegation of 10-12 textile business people of Moldova to India to see what are the benefits of cooperation to either buy yarn or fabric from India," he said.

He also said that of the around 300 Indians living in Moldova, over 280 are students of the Moldova State University of Medicine and Pharmacy in the country's capital Chisinau.

He said that another area of interest for both Moldova and India is the IT and ICT sector.

"Moldova is among the top 10 countries with the fastest internet speed in the world," Ullanovschi said.

Stating that his country has a unique tax system for the IT sector, he said: "If a foreign company invests in the IT sector in Moldova, there is only one tax of 7 per cent. You invest and you will have a successful business in the IT sector."

Ullanovschi said that both Moldova and India have nearly finalised a memorandum of understanding on setting up ICT knowledge centres in both countries.

He also said that his country is interested in an economic and trade agreement as also a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement with India.

He stressed on a visa agreement between Moldova and India as Indians need an invitation from Moldova to visit that country now.

"We have to remove the barriers between our countries, so people can travel freely for tourism to flourish," Ullanovschi said.

In this connection, he said that his country is also interested in signing an air services agreement with India.

"The Republic of Moldova is a member of the European Common Aviation Area and there is no limit in the number of flights from Moldova to the EU," he said.

"One idea could be to sign an inter-airline or code-share agreement between the Moldovan airlines and Indian air operators."

Stating that there was 35 per cent increase in the number of Indian tourists to Spain after Indian films were shot in that country, the Moldovan Minister invited Bollywood to explore his country.

With Moldova being one of the top wine exporters in the world, another point of interest for Indian tourists, Ullaovschi said, will be the 200-km-long underground wine cellar in his country, which figures in Guinness World Records for being the world's largest.

For Moldovans, an area of interest in India is medical tourism.

"We are thinking of vacation packages that will include consulting doctors in India and then going on vacation to places like Goa," Ullanovschi said.

(Aroonim Bhuyan can be contacted at aroonim.b@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.)
West Bengal's Criminal Investigation Department arrested three contract killers from the state's Durgapur town, who had gathered to kidnap and murder a local businessman, and seized arms and ammunition from them, said police on Tuesday.

According to CID, the three criminals were given the contract to murder the businessman by a criminal from Jharkhand's Jamshedpur.

"Three contract killers -- Rabi Chowrasia (47), Ajit Singh (38) and Jiten Kumar (26) -- were arrested from Durgapur's Uttarpara on Monday. The criminals hail from Jharkhand and Bihar," Deputy Inspector General of West Bengal CID Nishad Parvez said.

"Two country-made pipe guns, one pistol, seven rounds of 8mm cartridge, two rounds of 7.65mm cartridge and 280 gm of heroin were seized from them," he said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the prime accused Rabi Chowrasia was given the murder contract by a person from Jharkhand's Jamshedpur and had assembled the other two accused in the area.

"They planned flee to Odisha's Balasore after committing the crime," the officer added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on Tuesday awarded 13.42 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of the river water to Karnataka as against its demand for 36.66 tmcft, said an official statement.

"The tribunal has allocated Karnataka 13.42 tmcft, Goa 24 tmcft and Maharashtra 1.3 tmcft in its final decision," said the statement from the Chief Minister's Office in Bengaluru.

The Tribunal has assessed that 188.06 tmcft water is available at 75 per cent dependability.

Of the 13.42 tmcft water for Karnataka, 5.5 tmcft is meant for use within the river basin (1.5 tmcft) and for diversion to Malaprabha reservoir (4 tmcft).

"The state has also been allowed to generate power at Mahadayi hydro-electric project using 8.02 tmcft," said an official.

The three-member Tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice J.M. Panchal, Justice Viney Mittal and Justice P.S. Narayana, submitted its final recommendation to Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Union government had set up the inter-state Tribunal on November 16, 2010 for the adjudication of the Mahadayi basin water allocation among Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.

"Karnataka claimed 36.558 tmcft, including 7.56 tmcft for the Kalasa-Banduri canal project to supply drinking water to the four drought-prone districts in the state's northwest region," noted the statement.

The four districts are Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, about 400-550km from Bengaluru.

The neighbouring states of Goa and Maharashtra claimed 122.6 tmcft and 6.35 tmcft of the river water, respectively.

The Tribunal, which commenced sittings on September 6, 2012, held 1,209 sittings over the last 6 years.

Supreme Court senior counsel F.S.Nariman represented the state before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal's Chairman and two members inspected the river basin area across the three coastal states from December 12 to 24, 2013.

The 77km Mahadayi or Mandovi river originates at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in Belagavi district and flows into the neighbouring Goa and joins the Arabian Sea off the West Coast.

Though the river flows 29km in Karnataka and 52km in Goa, its catchment area is spread over 2,032km in the southern state as against 1,580km in the western state (Goa).

Karnataka has been asking Goa since 2001 to release 7.6 tmcft of the river water to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of its people in the drought-prone districts.

Karnataka plans to build two canals across Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of the river in the state, to divert and supply the water to the four districts.

The Tribunal, headed by J.N. Panchal, on July 28, 2016 rejected the state's petition for releasing the water, citing various grounds, including ecological damage the twin canal projects may cause.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Huge plantation drives ordered by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his predecessor Akhilesh Yadav have prompted green activists to remark that these are "paper trees to be found only in government files."

Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav set a Guinness World Record for planting 50 million saplings in a day in 2016. And now Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has set a target of nine crore saplings by Aug 15.

"Trees rich in medicinal properties and of religious significance will be planted across the state," an official has said.

Saplings are being procured from private nurseries too, he added.

The green cover in Uttar Pradesh remains a dismal 9 per cent, against the national target of 33 per cent.

Green activists in Agra doubt the government claims. "These are paper trees to be found only in government files. The ground reality is different," said Sandeep Agarwal, an activist.

"For 90 million saplings, we need 2,25000 hectares of land, if the distance between two saplings is kept 5 metres. The Akhilesh Yadav government planted 50 million. So now where's the space? Even if the saplings are planted, who will take care of them?" questions Agarwal.

Vineeta Mittal, a passionate tree planter, says plantation can be carried out along the Yamuna.

"By creating green belts along rivers, any number of saplings can be planted. The survival rate of such saplings too can be high as the plants will get the required moisture from the nearby river-bed," says Mittal.

The eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone, spread over 10,400 sq km, has seen continuous denudation of forest cover due to massive construction activity.

"The Yamuna and Agra-Lucknow expressways, dozens of flyovers, the inner city ring road and widening of the National Highway to Delhi have gobbled up acres of green cover, exposing the Taj Mahal to dust-laden winds from Rajasthan desert," says green activist Shravan Kumar Singh.

The Supreme Court had directed that a green buffer be created to insulate the historical monuments from air pollution. "But there has been no significant improvement in the conditions around the Taj Trapezium Zone," says Ravi Singh, a progressive farmer-activist of Barauli Ahir block of Agra.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Austrian capital of Vienna is ranked first in the Economist Intelligence Units' (EIU) latest Global Liveability Survey released on Tuesday which found 68 cities to have improved their rankings over the last year with declines in just nine cities.

Four of these nine cities which have declined in rank are in Asia - Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu, Colombo and Dhaka - the Britain-based Economist magazine said.

"Their fall largely reflects an impact on culture and environment indicators. Increasing pollution is another factor affecting liveability in the region, especially in South Asia," the statement said.

While Kathmandu fell two positions to 129th place due to deteriorating air quality, Dhaka, which has been the lowest ranked city in Asia for over a decade, also saw a further decline in liveability rating for increasing air pollution, originating primarily from the brick kilns on the outskirts of the city, it added.

New Delhi at 112 rank topped among six South Asian cities with Mumbai following at position 117.

Besides Dhaka at 139, Karachi at No. 137 is the other South Asian city among the bottom ten scoring cities in the ranking.

"Stability remains the key factor in defining the lowest-scoring locations in the (Asian) region. After seven years at the top, Melbourne displaced by Vienna as the most liveable city," the statement said.

According to the EIU survey global liveability has improved for the second year in a row, from 74.8 per cent last year to 75.7 per cent at present, led by a 2.9 per cent improvement in stability.

The annual list assesses stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education and infrastructure in 140 different cities.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Javed Ahmad Tak, a Kashmiri who received the award of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) on the eve of Independence Day in New Delhi on Tuesday, has proved how determination can convert adversity into an advantage.

The award is given to those individuals and organizations who have contributed to actively promoting accessibility for persons with disability.

A victim of the armed conflict in Kashmir, a single bullet in the 1990s changed Tak's life forever: the bullet hit his spine and rendered him wheelchair bound for the rest of his life.

Yet, he chose to give free tuitions to disabled children.

Today, he provides free education to orphans, the physically challenged and other students from a poor economic background.

He formed an NGO, Humanity Welfare Organisation in 1999 and has since been advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities.

Today, his organization was awarded the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Award at a function at the India International Centre in Delhi.

Speaking at the function, Tak said, "Accessibility creation is a collective effort which can be achieved only if each individual contributes towards making accessibility possible for the disabled".

His words are an inspiration for scores of those Kashmiris whose lives have been devastated by the over 30-year-long conflict.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India may soon see the formal announcement of the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission, perhaps in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day speech. At least six states are prepared to roll out a pilot of the new health care scheme.

Little, however, is known as yet about the details. While it was earlier assumed that it would be an insurance-based mechanism, it seems there will be greater state involvement in the administration of Ayushman Bharat, perhaps through a trust-based system or some hybrid private-public approach. Individual states are likely to take ...
Tomorrow, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives his annual speech from Red Fort, millions will be wondering if he will be doing it next year also. Six months ago, it seemed a certainty. But now a very faint question mark is becoming visible in the electoral sky.

This leads me to something I have been wondering about for 22 years now. What triggered the question then was that I rang a well-known Member of Parliament to ask him to write a column for this newspaper. He had just lost his seat and broke into a tirade about ungrateful voters. I did so much for them, yet the wretches let me ...
This article, originally published in Business Standard on October 16, 2001, is being republished as a tribute to Sir V S Naipaul, who passed away on August 12, 2018



The contest was between a sitting MP who was blind and his nephew. The blind uncle, Mukutbihari Lal Bhargava, belonged to the old order, the Congress-O (Organisation). His nephew had thrown in his lot with Indira Gandhis Congress-R (Reformist) which was riding high on the victory in Bangladesh.



V S Naipaul (Photo: Reuters)

Privy purses had been abolished and banks nationalised. As it is the royalty in Rajasthan was up in arms. Then suddenly Maharaja Kishangarh was murdered by one Bhima Jat, the brother of his paramour. The atmosphere in the Ajmer parliamentary constituency, of which Kishangarh was a part, was electric. The correspondent from the Sunday Times Magazine had quite wisely chosen to report the mid-term elections of 1971 from Ajmer and had found accommodation in the picturesque Circuit House.In nearby Mayo College, the students were oblivious of the momentous changes taking place in the Indian polity. Maharaja Kishangarhs murder, of course, had everyone excited as the Maharajas two sons were associated with the school  one had just graduated and the other, Prithviraj Singh, was still a student.The correspondent from London somehow found himself sitting next to the headmaster of Mayo, Shomie Ranjan Das, watching As You Like It, a co-production with the local girls school. When he asked for help in hiring a professional interpreter, Das suggested that he take one of his boys who would do the job. That was how I first met V SI did not know who was nor could I guess from his appearance where he was from. His face with its ropey lines looked like an unfinished model in clay. He wore a floppy hat, enunciated each word clearly and spoke in an accent that I had not heard before. All that I knew was that I would get a few days off from school.The prime campaigner for the blind candidate was the Maharana of Udaipur. We followed his car-cade. Although he attracted fairly large crowds, it was difficult defending a candidate so badly handicapped. That Bhargava could see better with his inner eye than those with normal eyesight did not convince even me and I was only 15 years old. showed no reaction to the election speeches. He just jotted everything down in his notebook.Once at a railway crossing, he took out a flask and poured himself some black coffee. One of the onlookers remarked that angrez sahibs drank rum whenever they felt like it. Naipaul understood that and told me to tell that irritating fellow that he was drinking black coffee, not rum.At another time we found ourselves at a tea-shop in Nasirabad, outside Ajmer, late at night. Naipaul insisted that the shopkeeper wash his cup and saucer with soap. The shopkeeper asked his young son  about seven or eight years old  to wash the cup. Naipaul wanted to know why the child was not in bed. Did he not have to go to school the next day? How did he expect him to pay attention in class if he was forced to work till eleven at night? The shopkeeper heard out Naipaul with a resigned smile.One night our car ran out of fuel. We found a petrol pump but as there was no electricity, the petrol had to be pumped out by hand. Naipaul pushed the attendant aside and started working the crank himself explaining, I need some exercise. The attendant told him he looked very young. Naipaul replied, That is perhaps because I dont have any children. I have not understood that answer till today.Some of my teachers in school were upset that I was helping Naipaul who they said had written nasty things about India. I had not read India, A Wounded Civilisation but the next day I told Naipaul what my teachers had been saying. Have you read my book? I shook my head. Have your teachers read it? I had no idea. This is what happens in India. People make up their minds before reading anything.Naipaul then said that as an outsider he saw things which we did not. What would you see in the corner of even a new government building? he asked. Dirt? I ventured a guess. No. Thats where people think they can spit out betel-nut juice, he said.Naipaul went back to England and life returned to normal. The blind candidate lost. Indira Gandhi gained a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. After the Naipaul visit, I was left with the strange revelation that people could earn a living writing about things around them. That one did not have to write novels and stories but describe things as they unfolded was an idea I found strangely exciting. I began corresponding with Naipaul, care of his publisher Andre Deutsch.When Naipauls election reports from India were published in two parts, I was sent copies of the Sunday Times Magazine. I frantically looked for my name somewhere, hoping that the famous man (by now I knew who he was) might have mentioned me, that this way some of his greatness might rub off on me. I was sorely disappointed.Maharaja Kishangarhs son Prithviraj, who was in my class, was visibly upset on reading the reports. Naipaul had printed a leaflet against his fathers sexual escapades, distributed during the election campaign, in full. He blamed me for translating it. I was upset enough to write to Naipaul about putting such hurtful stuff in print. He wrote back that sometimes truth had this effect on people but it had to be told.The year was 1982 and I was a student at Imperial College, London. I bumped into Naipaul at a bookshop on Gloucester Road in South Kensington. By now I had read his books. I went up and introduced myself. Oh yes, you used to write to me as a school boy. You wanted to study English literature, he said. Yes. And you wrote back saying that literature has been spoilt by people like professors, I said.

I told him that I was studying the impact of technology on the industrial labour process instead. I suppose now you will now become a personnel manager, he said. I might teach instead, I ventured. That brought on a tirade about rejecters like me. I have seen your kind. You are the type who would kill people if they disagreed with you. Are these the values your father stood for? What would he say to what you have become today?



Patsy, he shouted out to his wife Patricia. Meet Bharat. I had met him when he was in school. He has become a Rejecter now.



That is his description, I mumbled. His wife herded us out of the bookshop. Naipaul cooled down a bit and asked me to write to him about I how felt about life now. Write to me care of my publisher as you used to, he said while walking away. Ill be damned if I do, I said to myself.



A fortnight later while walking down Gloucester road I saw Naipaul again. His wife was a few steps behind him. Hello Mr Naipaul, I said. Oh, hello, hello, he replied in an off-hand way and walked past me. His wife stopped me and apologised for his behaviour at the bookshop. We must have you over for tea. Our apartment has been burgled this weekend so call us next Saturday. Vidia, give him our telephone number, she told Naipaul.



An irritated Naipaul turned back to walk towards us. He looked at me in a manner which was at once condescending and arrogant. I will give you my telephone number only on the condition that you do not pass it on to any researcher, literary critic, journalist or other such pests, he said.



Something snapped in me and I told him, On second thoughts Mr. Naipaul, forget about it. I dont think you have anything to say to me and I certainly dont have anything to say to you. He threw the pen and paper angrily back at me and walked away.

I still read Naipaul admiringly. I am halfway through Half A Life and my wife is re-reading A House for Mr Biswas. When I recounted my encounter with Naipaul to her after he won the Nobel Prize for literature and expressed a desire to write about it, she said, Write it but there will be any number of people crawling out of the woodwork now to say When I was a boy, I knew Naipaul.
A member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for some four decades, Chatterjee was expelled from the party in 2008 after refusing to step down as Lok Sabha speaker following his partys decision to pull out support from the then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. A ten-time member of the Lok Sabha, Chatterjee occupied the post of the speaker from 2004-2009. The sole exception to his electoral winning spree was when he lost ...

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Altogether 10 persons were arrested from North Andaman island on suspicion of being Bangladeshis illegally residing in India using fake documents, police said today.

The 10 persons, all men, were arrested from Diglipur area yesterday evening, Diglipur police station SHO Mahesh Yadav said.

Diglipur is a tourist spot around 325 km from here.

"The arrested persons claimed that they were from West Bengal. They had shown documents such as ration cards and voter cards but they are fake," Yadav said.

They would be brought to Port Blair from North Andaman, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two kanwariyas were killed and eight injured when a tractor trolley they were travelling in came in contact with a live wire near Turki Khera village, here today, police said.

Bablu (30) and Ankul (24), residents of a Shahjahanpur village, were killed on the spot when the tractor came in contact with the live wire, Superintendent of Police, Ramlal Verma said.

He added that eight others, who received injuries, were rushed to a hospital.

The accident took place when the kanwariyas were on their way to Shahjahanpur this morning.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two senior medical officials were caught today for accepting Rs 80,000 as bribe, sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau said.

Medical superintendent Dr R Murahari and senior assistant N Narender Goud of the District Headquarters Hospital in Sangareddy district accepted the money for doing an official favour, a press release from the bureau said.

Goud received the money from the complainant under the direction of Murahari, the release said, adding that the two have been arrested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two men are standing trial in the 2013 shooting death of a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities.

Separate juries have been selected to hear the cases against Micheail Ward and Kenneth Williams in the death of Hadiya Pendleton. Opening statements begin today.

Pendleton was with friends at a park 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from Obama's Chicago home when she was shot in what prosecutors say was a botched attempt at gang retaliation.

Prosecutors say the then 18-year-old Ward was the gunman and that Williams, who was 20, was the getaway driver.

Lawyers for the suspects have called the state's evidence deeply flawed and note that no physical evidence ties either defendant to the shooting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two Pakistani troopers were killed by the Indian Army in response to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said here today.

Indian troops carried out operations last night after the ceasefire violations.

"In retaliatory action to unprovoked ceasefire violations and repeated attempts to facilitate infiltration by Pakistan Army in Tangdhar sector, own troops carried out calibrated operations last night in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 22 people were killed today when a giant motorway bridge collapsed in Genoa, with several more feared dead in what Italy's transport minister described as an "immense tragedy".

The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, and the country's deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further.

"Unfortunately I can confirm that 22 are dead, and it's a number that's likely to rise," Edoardo Rixi told Italian television.

Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were "tens of victims", while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged to the ground.

Cars and trucks were trapped in the rubble and nearby buildings damaged by vast chunks of concrete, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

Italian media reported that 200 metres of the "Morandi" bridge had fallen away.

The Italian fire service said that the viaduct, located in an industrial area in the west of the city, collapsed at around noon (1000 GMT).

"I'm following with the utmost apprehension what is happening in Genoa and what looks like it could be an immense tragedy," transport and infrastructure minister Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter.

Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said he was following events in Genoa "up to the minute" and thanked the emergency services for their swift response.

A fire service spokesperson told AFP that the bridge had mostly fallen on rail tracks 100 metres below and that "cars and trucks" had fallen with the rubble.

"Firefighters are working together and teams of rescuers and police sniffer dogs have been mobilised," emergency services said on Twitter.

Shares in Italian company Atlantia, which runs much of Italy's motorway network including the collapsed stretch of the A10, plunged on the Milan stock exchange after the

They were down 9.7 per cent at 22.48 euros in mid-afternoon, having earlier been temporarily suspended when their drop exceeded 10 per cent.

Genoa is located between the sea and the mountains of northwestern Italy. Its rugged terrain means that motorways that run through the city and the surrounding area are characterised by long viaducts and tunnels.

The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, overspans dozens of railway lines as well as an industrial zone housing several factories.

One factory, immediately next to one of the viaduct's support columns, was virtually empty today due to a national holiday, and seems to have sustained minimal damage.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that France was "by Italy's side in this tragedy and is ready to offer all necessary support".

Today's incident is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of economic stagnation.

In March last year, a couple were killed when a motorway overpass collapsed on their car near Ancona on the country's Adriatic coast.

A pensioner died in October 2016 when his car was crushed by a collapsing bridge over the SS36 dual carriageway between Milan and Lecco.

That incident was blamed on bureaucratic bungling which led to a fatal delay in the bridge being closed after it was reported to be showing significant cracks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The body of a 23-year-old man, who had drowned in the Tangri river near Ambala Cantt, was recovered today, police said.

The incident took place last evening. According to the police, Shivam was a migrant labourer and had come to Ambala from Faizabad in search of a job.

The divers, who were pressed into service to trace him, found his body in the bushes, near the bank of the river.

Shivam had fallen into the river, which was in spate. Two of his friends, who were accompanying him, had managed to reach the river bank safely, but Shivam was swept away by the swirling waters.

The Tangri river has been flowing in spate since yesterday and the water had also entered some of the adjoining colonies along the banks.

It generally remains dry throughout the year, but during the rainy season, especially after heavy rainfall in catchment areas in the hills of Himachal Pardesh, the water level of the river rises.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three college girl students travelling on a two-wheeler were killed when their vehicle hit a crane engaged in metro rail work here in Maharashtra this morning, police said.

The mishap occurred at around 8.30 am in the Ambhazari area when the girls, all aged 18, were on way to their college, Inspector P R Patil of the Bajajnagar police station said.

A crane engaged in metro rail work was moving ahead of their vehicle. Two auto-rickshaws and a few two-wheelers were behind the crane, he said.

Patil, quoting eyewitnesses, said the girls tried to overtake other vehicles from left side. In the process, their two-wheeler skidded and crashed into the crane.

All three were seriously injured in the mishap. A passerby immediately took the girls in his car to a nearby private hospital, where they succumbed to injuries, the police officer said.

The deceased were identified as Vishruti Banwari, Sneha Ambadkar and Ruchika Borikar, all residents of Ambhazari, he said, adding the bodies will be handed over to their families after a post-mortem.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
About 30 people were killed today when a giant motorway bridge collapsed in heavy rain in the Italian city of Genoa in what the government called an "immense tragedy".

The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, came as the bridge was undergoing maintenance work and as the Liguria region, where Genoa is situated, experienced torrential rainfall.

"Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious condition," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini told reporters.

Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were "dozens" of victims, as rescue helicopters winched survivors on stretchers from the ruined bridge.

Cars and trucks were tangled in the rubble and nearby buildings damaged by vast chunks of concrete, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

The incident -- the deadliest of its kind in Europe since 2001 -- is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of economic stagnation.

Patrick Villardry, a French firefighter who came from Nice to help the rescue effort, said the task was huge.

"The first victims have been evacuated and now we have to search under the wreckage of buildings, but there are thousands of tonnes of concrete," he told AFP.

President Giuseppe Conte was due to visit the scene later today.

Aerial footage showed more than 200 metres of the viaduct, known locally as the Morandi bridge, completely destroyed.

"I'm following with the utmost apprehension what is happening in Genoa and what looks like it could be an immense tragedy," Transport and Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter.

Salvini, who is also leader of the nationalist League party in a power-sharing government, vowed to hold those responsible for the disaster accountable.

"I have gone over this bridge hundreds of times, and I commit to digging and finding out who is responsible for an unacceptable tragedy, because it's not possible that in 2018 you can work and die in these conditions," he said.

The cause of the disaster was not immediately clear, although weather services in the Liguria region where Genoa is situated had issued a storm warning Tuesday morning.

The national motorways body said on its website that "maintenance works were being carried out on the base of the viaduct", adding that a crane had been moved on site to assist the work.

Shares in Italian company Atlantia, which runs much of Italy's motorway network including the collapsed stretch of the A10, plunged on the Milan stock exchange after the

The shares were temporarily suspended when their slide exceeded 10 percent and closed the day down more than five percent at 23.54 euros.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker in a statement expressed "my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died, and to the Italian people".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sent her condolences Genoa, home to half a million people, is located between the sea and the mountains of northwestern Italy.

Its rugged terrain means that motorways that run through the city and the surrounding area are characterised by long viaducts and tunnels.

The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, overspans dozens of railway lines as well as an industrial zone housing several factories.

One factory, immediately next to one of the viaduct's support columns, was virtually empty today due to a national holiday, and seems to have sustained minimal damage.

In March last year, a couple were killed when a motorway overpass collapsed on their car near Ancona on the country's Adriatic coast.

A pensioner died in October 2016 when his car was crushed by a collapsing bridge over a dual carriageway between Milan and Lecco.

That incident was blamed on bureaucratic bungling which led to a fatal delay in the bridge being closed after it was reported to be showing significant cracks.

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A special POCSO court in Kota has convicted a 35-year-old man to life in imprisonment and imposed penalty of Rs 50,000 for raping a nine-year old girl, officials said today.

Special judge of POCSO court Girish Aggrawal on Monday convicted Vijay Mehara (35), a resident of Rojdi village under R K Puram police station, to life in jail till natural death after the court found him guilty of raping a nine-year-old girl, special public prosecutor (SPP), POCSO court, Kota,Kamal Kant Sharma said. The mother of the minor victim, on July 6, 2015 lodged a complaint with R K Puram police station, alleging Mehara, a resident of nearby Rojdi village who was also familiar to the victim's kin, took her daughter to the room of one of his acquaintances and raped the girl.

Based on the report, R K Puram station police lodged a case under section 376 of IPC and sections under POCSO Act and began investigation, the SPP said.

A total of 13 witnesses were produced before the court for the statements during trial, he added.

This is the first conviction by the recently set up POCSO courts in Kota, he said.

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Four people have died in two separate bike accidents in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi and Ballia districts, police said today.

In Kaushambi, around 180 km south of Lucknow, two youths were crushed to death under the wheels of a truck, after their motorcycle collided with a cycle and fell to the ground on National Highway 2 late last night, a police officer said.

Nanka (23) and Kamlesh (21) died on the spot, the officer said, adding that the truck driver had been arrested.

In eastern UP's Ballia district, two persons were killed when a motorcycle collided with a truck last evening, police said.

The accident happened near Daya Chhapra village in Bairia area. The deceased have been identified as Awadhesh Paswan (45) and Manish Paswan (25), an officer said, adding that the truck driver was absconding.

The bodies have been sent post-mortem examination, police said.

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Four people, including three women, were killed and four others injured in two separate road accidents in Rajasthan's Churu district, police said today.

A car coming from Ratangarh to Bikaner overturned when the driver lost control over the vehicle, killing Durgadevi (65) and her daughter Tulsi Devi (25) and injuring three others, said Malkiyat Singh, the SHO of Rajaldesar police station.

The bodies were handed over to family members after postmortem.

In another incident, two people were killed and one person was injured when an unidentified vehicle hit their motorcycle in Churu district.

The deceased were identified as Poonam Nath (29) and Kesraram (28), said Ishwaranand, the SHO of Bidasar police station.

The injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital.

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on Tuesday said its three-day mega recruitment drive in Lucknow saw a huge turnout of 5,600 young job aspirants from the city and its neighbourhood.

During the recruitment drive from August 10-12, 5,600 candidates appeared in walk-in interviews wherein 120 fresh engineers and over 600 fresh non-engineering graduates were selected, company's Executive Vice President Sanjay Gupta told PTI.

Over 300 experienced professionals were also selected, he said.

Around 20 students, who have completed their 10 plus 2 from science background with mathematics as one of their subjects, too were selected.

The freshers will be given training by the company and during the training period they would get a stipend, he said.

Gupta, who is also Program Director (New Vistas), said in a similar recruitment drive in Noida earlier in August,



700 people were recruited of which 520 were freshers.

He said HCL has tied up with banks to provide loans for the training, which would be repayable in easy instalments from the employees' salary once they get confirmed.

While the training cost for engineers is Rs 2,00,000, for non-engineers it is Rs 1,00,000, he said.

HCL started its operation in Lucknow in October 2016 and in less than two years it has created over 2,500 jobs for local people, he said.

The company has invested over Rs 6 billion in the last three years in its project in the state capital, he said.

Gupta said a number of people migrate from tier-2 locations to work in metros and such opportunities by HCL would help them "stay rooted" in their native place and also help stem attrition and bring more stability to HCL's operations.

He said HCL has ensured the homecoming of hundreds of techies through its IT City project in Lucknow, which is offering jobs both to home-grown professionals as well as freshers.

"UP is a very important centre for us and we are committed to building a world class IT city in Lucknow. The recruitment drive was conceptualised to reiterate our commitment to the city of Lucknow with a focus on local hiring and making accessible opportunities for young and dynamic talent in tier-2 cities," Gupta said.

"We believe that the city has tremendous untapped potential. With programmes like these, the educated youth of the region will not feel the need to migrate for in future," he added.
Six people got a new lease of life today after the organs of a brain dead 27-year-old man were harvested and transplanted on them.

S Poovarasan, an assistant professor,met with an accident near Namakkal on August 12 and was declared brain-dead at the Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital the next day, a press release said.

His parents then decided to donate his heart, liver, kidneys and eyes.

One kidney was transplanted at the Kovai Medical Centre, the other at a private hospital here and the liver at a private hospital in Madurai, it said.

The heart was transplanted at a private hospital in Chennai and both eyes at a private hospital here, the release added.

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The police today conducted raids at the office and residence of Manisha Dayal, a former model whose NGO runs a shelter home for mentally challenged women, where two of the inmates died recently.

According to police sources, raids were conducted at the office of the NGO 'Anumaya Human Resources Foundation' in the posh Boring Road locality and Dayal's residence in the vicinity.

Dayal, along with her associate Chirantan Kumar, was arrested on Sunday after the death of two inmates of 'Aasra' shelter home came to light. The duo was sent to three days in police custody by a court yesterday.

The other two accused -- a doctor and an auxiliary nurse midwife attached to the shelter home -- are absconding since the deaths were reported.

The incident at the Patna-based home, coming close on the heels of Muzaffarpur sex scandal case in a government-funded shelter home, has laid bare the sorry state of affairs in such institutions managed by the social welfare department.

Police sources said a number of documents related to the shelter home have been seized from both the places, while people close to Dayal, including some members of her family, have been questioned.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, Atul Prasad told PTI "we have deputed officials from our own department, as an ad hoc measure, to ensure that the inmates of the shelter home do not remain unattended".

"We had sent a team of doctors to the shelter home where at least three inmates were found to be severely anaemic. They have been admitted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital," he added.

Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) founder Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who raised the issue of Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal in the Lok Sabha, held a press conference here and demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the "Aasra" shelter home episode as well.

"Manisha and Chirantan appear to be involved in a high-profile racket.....the matter be handed over to the CBI. The Nitish Kumar government in the state should also explain what criterion it had adopted while entrusting the NGO with the upkeep of a shelter home for mentally challenged women, " he said.

"We have heard that a huge amount was paid as bribe to officials concerned for bagging the contract in favour of the NGO. This needs to be investigated. Call details of Manisha and Chirantan must also be examined to expose their close links with senior bureaucrats and political figures," the Madhepura MP alleged.

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A Hong Kong pro-independence activist decried Beijing's rule as modern-day colonialism in a speech today to a foreign journalists' association that defied the Chinese government's demand to cancel the event.

The government's demand raised questions about Beijing's growing influence in the former British colony, which was promised semi-autonomy and freedom of speech as part of the 1997 handover.

President Xi Jinping and other officials have warned separatist activity would not be tolerated.

Small groups of pro-Beijing and pro-democracy protesters gathered outside the Foreign Correspondents Club's building in Hong Kong ahead of and during the speech by Andy Chan of the Hong Kong National Party.

Some pro-Beijing protesters carried banners saying "Hong Kong independence is poisonous."



Current and former Hong Kong leaders have criticized the FCC for hosting Chan, whose party is facing a possible ban on national security grounds.

"Sadly, we are a nation that is quickly being annexed and destroyed by China," Chan told the audience at the FCC event.

"The cry for Hong Kong independence is therefore a cry against colonial invasion."



The 75-year-old FCC has previously hosted politicians and newsmakers, including pro-Beijing speakers, at its iconic clubhouse in central Hong Kong.

It says it believes its members and the public have the right "to hear the views of different sides in any debate."



The perception that Beijing is reneging on its promise and eroding Hong Kong's free elections and freedom of speech is helping fuel a rising generation of young activists calling for greater autonomy, if not outright independence.

Huge pro-democracy protests erupted in 2014 in response to the decision by China's ruling Communist Party to retain the right to effectively pre-screen candidates for Hong Kong's leadership.

Hong Kong officials have dismissed the FCC's argument that Chan's appearance amounts to a free speech matter, with the territory's former chief executive C.Y. Leung equating the FCC event with giving a platform to "criminals and terrorists."



Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam told reporters on Sunday that it was "inappropriate" for the FCC to host Chan and asked the organization to respect that Hong Kong is an unalienable part of China.

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The Kerala High Court today dismissed a petition filed by Malayalam actor Dileep seeking a copy of the digital evidence of the alleged assault of a noted south Indian actress, in which he was a key accused.

When the matter came up before Justice Sunil Thomas, the Kerala government stoutly opposed it saying providing a copy of the alleged visuals to the accused would affect the privacy of the victim, who was abducted and sexually assaulted by a gang of men in a moving car here in February last year.

Rejecting the plea, the judge appreciated the contention made by the government.

In his petition filed in the high court in March, Dileep said he was denied the rights of a defendant by a trial court in Angamaly.

He moved the high court when the lower court was set to commence trial proceedings.

In February, the Angamaly Judicial Magistrate Court had dismissed a plea by Dileep seeking copies of visuals of the alleged assault committed on the actress by the gang.

The magistrate court had accepted the argument of the prosecution that the clippings could be misused by Dileep, affecting the privacy of the actress.

Dileep is eighth among the 12 accused in the case. He secured bail nearly three months after his arrest on July 10 last year.

The high court had granted him bail with stringent conditions.

The key accused in the case, Pulsar Suni, has been in jail since his arrest early last year.

The actress, who has worked in Tamil and Telugu films, was abducted and allegedly molested inside her car for two hours by Suni and his accomplices, who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17 last year and later escaped.

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Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Raj Babbar today accused Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of engaging in communal polarisation and alleged that his saffron robe reflected his politics.

"The attire he is wearing is his politics. You (people) see his attire and vote for him (BJP). He has nothing to do with the society. His only work is to divide poor as Hindus and Muslims and take their votes. The people are losing faith in the attire he is wearing," Raj Babbar told reporters here.

Adityanath always dons saffron attire.

Raj Babbar was here to inspect a bridge which collapsed last week.

He alleged that poor quality material was being used in the construction of the bridge.

"The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister used to say that in their regimes there are no scams. When you don't probe discrepancies, how will scam come to the fore. In Varanasi bridge collapse also, the probe report is not made public," he said.

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After 36 years in a Pakistan jail, Gajanand Sharma was finally reunited with his family here today.

The family members had come to local MP Ramcharan Bohra's house where several other people too had gathered to welcome Sharma, now 68, to his home city.

Sharma's wife Makhni Devi garlanded him. Family members including his grandson and granddaughters greeted him with sweets.

Later, the family left for their own home in the city's Brahmpuri area.

Yesterday, watching the on a mobile phone, Makhni Devi's eyes had welled up when she saw Gajanand Sharma walk into India through the Wagah-Attari border.

"Yes, he is my husband, but he has become very weak and lean," she had said at her home, surrounded by her family, neighbours and reporters.

He is said to have crossed into Pakistan inadvertently.

"I will definitely ask him how he reached Pakistan and how he spent all these years, but I will not complain, Makhni Devi said yesterday.

Sharma is among the 30 Indian prisoners released by Pakistan yesterday on the eve of its Independence Day.

Sharma's family came to know in May that he was lodged in a prison in Lahore after Jaipur (Rural) police received a request for verification of his nationality.

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Agitating students today lifted their two-day long demonstration outside the office of the acting Vice-Chancellor Sabujkali Sen at Visva Bharati University here, officials said.

The students who could not pass examinations at various departments were agitating outside the office of the VC demanding that supplementary examination be held for those who failed in the examinations.

The students withdrew their stir after Sen made it clear that as per the Act and Statute of the university an unsuccessful candidate cannot sit for any Supplementary Test just to secure pass marks.

"Moreover as the officiating VC I cannot introduce any new system of evaluation," she told reporters during an interaction at her office.

The agitating students tried to disrupt normal working at the office of the VC by locking in the main entrance since Monday afternoon, she said.

One of the agitators, however, claimed that the demonstration was withdrawn after getting verbal assurance from the authorities to sympathetically consider their demand.

"There have been enough instances of taking supplementary examination and our demand is not illogical," the agitator said.

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European country Moldova should consider importing agriculture items, including fruits and vegetables, from India, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today.

Singh said this in a meeting with Tudor Ulianovschi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova here.

The minister called for strengthening traditional ties between the two countries by promoting closer cooperation in the agriculture sector, an official statement said.

During his meeting, Singh highlighted the country's tremendous progress in the agriculture sector.

He also spoke about the government's goal to double farmers' income by 2022 through a series of reforms, namely Soil Health Card, organic farming, crop insurance, irrigation, e-NAM etc.

"We have achieved food security and have become a net exporter of agriculture commodities," Singh said.

The minister said that the agriculture sector has immense opportunities and huge potential for both the countries and there is a need to promote interaction among government agricultural institutions, experts, scientists and agro business.

Singh called for businesses from both sides to explore possibilities for enhancing agricultural trade.

He said it was imperative to enhance agricultural trade between the two countries.

India has already initiated the enabling processes for export of apples from Moldova, Singh said, and urged them to consider import of agriculture commodities including fruits and vegetable from India.

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Shares of Allahabad Bank today plunged 6.5 per cent after the company reported a net loss of Rs 1,944.37 crore in the first quarter ended June 30.

The stock slumped 6.32 per cent to end at Rs 40 on BSE. During the day, it tumbled 8 per cent to Rs 39.25.

At NSE, shares of the company dropped 6.54 per cent to close at Rs 39.95.

The company's market valuation dipped Rs 283.89 crore to Rs 4,219.11 crore on BSE.

In terms of equity volume, 16.76 lakh shares of the company were traded on BSE and over two crore shares changed hands at NSE during the day.

State-owned Allahabad Bank today reported a net loss of Rs 1,944.37 crore for the June quarter due to higher provisioning for bad loans.

The bank had registered a net profit of Rs 28.84 crore in the corresponding April-June period of 2017-18.

Total income of the bank also fell to Rs 4,794.04 crore as against Rs 4,968.57 crore mainly due to fall in income from other sources.

The bank's gross bad loans worsened by the end of June quarter with gross non-performing assets (NPAs) hitting a high of 15.97 per cent of the gross advances as against 13.85 per cent as on June 30, 2017.

In value terms, the gross NPAs stood at Rs 25,067.55 crore by end-June 2018, up from Rs 21,032.42 crore in the year-ago period.

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Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain's New York City condo is now available for rent.

According to TMZ, one can live at the high-floor condo at swanky Time Warner Center associated with the globetrotting TV personality by paying USD 14,200 per month.

Property records, however, indicate the house was never owned by Bourdain, 61, who committed suicide in his hotel room while shooting his hit travel show "Parts Unknown" in France in early June.

He is likely to have leased the property at some point after his 2016 split from his second wife, Ottavia Busia.

Situated on the 64th-floor of the twin-towered complex across from always bustling Columbus Circle at the southwest corner of Central Park, the 1,283-square-foot aerie has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and picturesque city and Hudson River views through floor-to-ceiling picture windows.

The condominium also houses an extensive health club and spa with swimming pool, a resident's lounge and private screening room, a landscaped terrace, and an on-site parking garage.

Bourdain and Busia paid USD 3.35 million for a two-unit combination apartment on a low floor of a full-service high-rise on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in late 2013.

As per records, Busia retains ownership of the three-bedroom and three-bathroom unit.

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The Army today paid tributes to a jawan killed while foiling an infiltration bid that was taking place under the cover of Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Sepoy Pushpendra Singh sustained a bullet injury during the gun battle yesterday. He was immediately administered first aid and admitted to the 92 Base Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries, a defence spokesperson said.

"Army paid befitting tribute to Late Sepoy Pushpendra Singh who made the supreme sacrifice during counter infiltration operations on 13 August, 2018, in Tangdhar Sector of Kupwara district," he said.

At a solemn ceremony at the Badamibagh Cantonment, Corps Commander Lt Gen A K Bhatt led all ranks in paying homage to the soldier, the official said.

"In a show of solidarity, representatives from other security agencies also joined in to pay their last respects to the martyr," he added.

Pushpendra Singh (28), who had joined the Army in 2011, belonged to Khutiya village in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. He is survived by his wife and a son.

"The mortal remains of the martyr were flown for last rites to his native place, where he would be laid to rest with full military honours," the spokesman said, adding that the Army stood in solidarity with the bereaved family and remained committed to their dignity and well being.

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The National Anti Doping Agency's appeals panel today exonerated 400m hurdler Jithin Paul of doping charges, overturning a four-year suspension sentence handed by NADA's disciplinary panel.

NADA's Anti Doping Appeals Panel (ADAP), headed by Justice R V Easwar, set aside the Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel's (ADDP) verdict of four-year suspension after the athlete approached the appeals panel.

Paul, an India international, is free to compete from tomorrow.

Paul was accused of possessing banned substance meldonium in his room at NIS Patiala during a search and seizure operation carried out by Dope Control Officer (DCO) of NADA.

Paul's legal team argued that search and seizure can only be conducted by law enforcement agencies such as police, customs etc.

"NADA cannot assume powers of law enforcement agencies. Our stand has been vindicated," Paul's advocate Parth Goswami told PTI.

A per law, powers of search and seizure cannot be exercised by NADA, which is not a law enforcement agency.

The lawyers presenting their case before the panel claimed that even WADA had responded to their query by stating that the National Anti Doping Organisations (NADOs) do not have powers to search and seize.

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Australia has resumed adoption of children from India after five years, a senior official with the Women and Child Development Ministry said today.

It was enforced after a woman reportedly adopted an Indian child and abandoned her in Australia, prompting the Australian government to suspend adoptions from India, the official said.

"The ministry was in constant touch with the Australian government to relent and allow adoptions from India and they have finally agreed," the official said.

The suspension was reportedly lifted after five years, he said.

A total of 651 inter-country adoptions from India were recorded in 2017-18.

According to the Special Broadcasting Service in Australia, Assistant Minister for Children and Families David Gillespie confirmed the and said the recommendation was to start with small numbers.

"We don't want to see child trafficking, we don't want to see children that aren't getting what they deserve. That is a permanent, safe, caring home," Gillespie was quoted by the SBS as saying.

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A South African author of a new book exposing an alleged paedophile ring involving top-ranking apartheid-era cabinet members has been found dead in an apparent suicide case, police said today.

Mark Minnie, 58, was found last night at a friend's farm in Eastern Cape province with a gun shot wound to his head just weeks after the book, The Lost Boys of Bird Island, was published.

"We did find a suicide note," police spokeswoman Priscilla Naidu, told AFP on the phone from the southern city of Port Elizabeth. "A firearm was found lying next to him."



Police said no foul play was suspected but that an investigation had been launched.

Minnie, a former police officer who was working as a teacher in China, had been in South Africa for the launch of the book he co-authored with investigative journalist Chris Steyn.

The book, published early this month, chronicles allegations that former defence minister Magnus Malan was part of a paedophile network that operated during white-minority rule in the 1980s.

In the book, Malan, three other ministers and a businessman, allegedly abducted or picked up teenage boys and airlifted them in military helicopters to Bird Island, a nature reserve off the coast of Port Elizabeth, to be sexually abused.

As defence minister, Malan -- who died in 2011 -- was the second most powerful figure of the the apartheid regime after president P.W. Botha.

NB Publishers tweeted that it was "shocked and saddened" to hear of Minnie's death, which was confirmed by his family.

"He was passionate about his work, as a policeman, teacher and writer," said the publishers.

Local media reported that Minnie and Steyn had received death threats following the publication of the book.

One of the former cabinet ministers, who the writers did not name, is still alive.

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A 32-year-old bank cashier was allegedly shot dead by three unidentified men in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district, police said today.

Rajnish Karwariya -- a cashier in a co-operative bank in Banda, around 180 km south of Lucknow -- was returning home after having dinner at a roadside eatery late last night. The three unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants, who apparently wanted to loot Karwariya, shot him and fled from the spot, a police officer said.

Karwariya was admitted to a hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, the officer said.

A case has been registered against unknown assailants and an investigation is on, he added.

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China blamed "anti-China forces" today for the growing criticism of Beijing's policies in a far western region where large groups of ethnic Uighurs are being detained in internment camps.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said anti-China forces had made "false accusations against China for political purposes" after a UN human rights committee raised concern over reported mass detentions of ethnic Uighurs.

He also said a few foreign media outlets misrepresented the committee's discussions and were smearing China's anti-terror and crime-fighting measures in Xinjiang.

In Xinjiang, authorities responding to sporadic violent attacks by Muslim separatists have imposed a heavy security crackdown and detained an estimated hundreds of thousands of members of the Uighur and Kazakh Muslim minorities in indoctrination camps.

Former detainees have provided The Associated Press among the first accounts of life inside these camps in which they were forced to denounce Islam and profess loyalty to the party.

In recent weeks, China has come under pressure from some Western governments and rights groups to release people held in such centers or account for the whereabouts of people whose overseas relatives say have gone missing.

A UN committee member last week cited estimates that over 1 million people in China from the country's Uighur and other Muslim minorities are being held in "counter-extremism centers" and another 2 million have been forced into "re-education camps."



China's delegation told the U.N. panel on Monday that "there is no arbitrary detention ... there are no such things as re-education centers."



It said authorities in Xinjiang have cracked down on "violent terrorist activities," while convicted criminals are provided with skills to reintegrate themselves into society at "vocational education and employment training centers.""The argument that 1 million Uighurs are detained in re-education centers is completely untrue," Chinese delegate Hu Lianhe said through an interpreter. It was a rare public comment by a Chinese official about the camps.

He added "there is no suppression of ethnic minorities or violations of their freedom of religious belief in the name of counter-terrorism."



But he also said "those who are deceived by religious extremism ... shall be assisted through resettlement and education." Xinjiang has been enveloped in a suffocating blanket of security for years, especially since a deadly anti-government riot broke out in the regional capital of Urumqi in 2009.

Gay McDougall, the committee vice-chairwoman who raised the detentions last week, said she wasn't convinced by China's "flat denial" of the detention figures. She said China "didn't quite deny" that re-education programs are taking place.

"You said that was false, the 1 million. Well, how many were there? Please tell me," she said. "And what were the laws on which they were detained, the specific provisions?" There was no direct response to that in Monday's session, which addressed a broad range of issues that went well beyond the Uighurs.

But delegation leader Yu Jianhua said some panel members had treated "some of the unsubstantiated materials as credible information." He contended that some of that information came from groups which "seek to split China" and have links to terrorist organisations.

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The interim resolution professional (IRP) of Bhushan Power and Steel (BPSL), Mahender Kumar Khandelwal, today alleged that the confidentiality of Committee of Creditors meeting was breached as information on deliberations was "leaked".

He further alleged that a deliberate attempt was being made to sabotage the resolution process of the debt-laden firm.

"Today CoC meeting of Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd (BPSL) was held .... Surprisingly, sanctity and confidentiality of meeting was breached ... of deliberations was also leaked," Khandelwal told PTI.

"The office of Resolution Professional strongly condemns such breach of confidentiality and demands an investigation ...of such persons who may have leaked the proceedings of CoC meeting," he said.

There appears to be a deliberate attempt to sabotage the process of Resolution of insolvency of BPSL and defame the RP, he further alleged.

In today's meeting, he said, the representatives of operational creditors were invited as per directives of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

"While meeting was going on some discussions took place alleging irregular payments to some operational creditors and audit of such payments was proposed by an independent agency. This was one amongst many issues discussed during proceedings," he said.

Tata Steel, Liberty House and JSW have submitted bids for the second time to acquire debt-laden Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd, sources in the know of the matter said.

The bids were submitted to Committee of Creditors (CoC) late last night by the three parties, a source said.

On August 6, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had extended the deadline for submission of revised bids for BPSL by one week on the plea of Tata Steel.

BPSL owes about Rs 45,000 crore to its lenders. It was among the 12 non-performing accounts referred by the Reserve Bank of India for NCLT proceedings.

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The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) today informed the Supreme Court that some states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, have allowed it to conduct social audits of child care institutions (CCIs).

The Commission told a bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta that besides Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the state of Tripura has also given its permission to conduct social audit of CCIs.

The NCPCR had earlier told the bench that permission to conduct social audit was not granted by some states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura.

Advocate Aparna Bhat, assisting the apex court as an amicus curiae in the matter relating to abuse of children at orphanages, told the bench that these states were asked to explain as to why they had not granted permission to NCPCR to conduct social audit.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Bihar government, said that the state had earlier "deferred" this issue since the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) was conducting social audit of shelter homes in the state.

"At that point of time, Bihar had not given permission as TISS was doing it. Now, we have given permission to NCPCR. We have also taken action on TISS report. We had not said no at that time. We had only deferred it," Kumar told the bench.

Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that social audit by NCPCR was going on and it was likely to be completed by October end this year.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 21 after the amicus said that other issues related to the case would be taken up for hearing on that date.

The apex court had earlier expressed serious concern over recent cases of rape and sexual abuse of women at shelter homes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and had asked when these horrific incidents would stop.

Incidents of rape and sexual abuse of women and girls at shelter homes run by NGOs have surfaced recently in Muzaffarpur in Bihar and Deoria and Pratapgarh districts in Uttar Pradesh.

On May 5 last year, the apex court had passed a slew of directions including setting up of a data base of children living in orphanages and CCIs to ensure their safety and welfare.

It had directed the Centre, state governments and Union Territories to complete the registration of all child care institutions by the year-end.

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Taking potshots at the BJP on the ' one nation, one poll' proposal, the Shiv Sena today said it "may even propose to hold the elections simultaneously with those in the US and Russia."



Sena's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also wondered how holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously will benefit the country.

"They (the BJP) may conduct the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Or, they will hold the elections together with those in the US and Russia. You never know what will emerge out of the heads of top BJP leaders. What is the interest of the country in that (holding simultaneous polls)," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah has supported the idea of holding Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously, saying this will curb expenditure and also ensure that the nation is not in the "election mode" throughout the year.

Shah had also dubbed the opposition to the proposal as "politically motivated".

In a letter to the Law Commission, Shah had said his party explicitly believes that in a progressive democracy like India elections should be held at a fixed time and for a fixed tenure. This, he added, will help people's representatives carry out their duties effectively.

Though Sena is part of the BJP-led NDA, the two parties have had strained ties since they contested the last Assembly elections in Maharashtra separately in 2014.

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The body of a 40-year-old woman, who went missing two days back, was found in Yamuna canal near Kandhla town in Shamli district, police said today.

The woman, Shahida, a resident of Khajuri Khas in New Delhi, went missing from his daughter's house in Gangoh in Saharanpur district on August 11, they said.

The body was found floating in the canal last evening after which it was sent for post-mortem, the police said,



An investigation has been launched in the matter, the police said.

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A bridge over an industrial area in the Italian city of Genova partially collapsed during a sudden and violent storm today, leaving vehicles crushed in the rubble below.

Italian media reported that there were deaths, but Maria Luisa Catalano, a police official in Genoa, said that authorities were still involved in rescue efforts and did not yet know the number of victims or injured.

The disaster occurred on a highway that connects Italy to France and other vacation resorts on the eve of a major Italian holiday tomorrow, Ferragosto, and traffic would have been heavier than usual as many Italians traveled to beaches or mountains.

The transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, called the collapse "an enormous tragedy."



The private broadcaster Sky TG24 said that a 200-metre section of the Morandi Bridge collapsed over an industrial zone.

Firefighters told The Associated Press that there are concerns about gas lines.

Photos published by the ANSA agency on its website showed a huge gulf between two sections of the bridge.

Video captured the sound of a man screaming: "Oh god, oh, god." Other images showed a green truck that had stopped just metres short of the gaping hole in the bridge.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said some 200 firefighters were responding to the accident.

"We are following minute by minute the situation for the bridge collapse in Genoa," Salvini said on Twitter.

The Morandi Bridge was inaugurated in 1967. It is 90 metres high, just over a kilometre long, with the longest section between supports measuring 200 metres (yards).

The bridge is a main thoroughfare connecting the A10 highway that goes toward France and the A7 highway that continues north toward Milan.

ANSA said that authorities suspected that a structural weakness caused the collapse today.

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School children and the income tax department of the Ludhiana region have sent over 25,000 thank you letters to the Border Security Force troopers (BSF) stationed at the Indo-Pak border in Punjab.

The cards and letters were sent to all units and establishments of BSF under Punjab frontier and they would be distributed among jawans deployed at border put posts, said a BSF official.

The BSF officers and jawans expressed their gratitude towards the 'loving and caring' children and IT officials.

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Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today asked the people to rededicate themselves to building an inclusive, prosperous and just India.

Greeting people on the eve of the 72nd Independence Day, she dwelt on the diverse Indian culture and the country's economic growth, but said still more could be done.

She said while India has grown into a self-sufficient and exporting nation which has progressed considerably in building infrastructure, there is still scope for improved education, better health, rural development, infrastructure and economic policies.

"For the nation to attain its glory every Indian has to contribute and be the change he or she wants to see. True to the call of the prime minister, if every Indian takes a step forward, the nation will take 1.2 million steps forward," she said.

Puducherry also celebrates its De Jure Transfer Day on August 16, the day the small French colony was liberated in 1962 and officially merged with the Indian Union.

In his message, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said it was the duty of every citizen to remember the sacrifices of the freedom fighters.

He said his government had overcome several obstacles and successfully implemented welfare measures, in an apparent reference to his running feud with Bedi.

Narayanasamy said the union territory's revenue and per capita income had grown substantially under the Congress- DMK coalition government. It happened owing to sustained cooperation of the people, he said.

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A Burundian activist has been jailed for five years accused of preparing reports on human rights abuses for a banned organisation, militant and legal sources said today.

Nestor Nibitanga, who was convicted and sentenced yesterday, "long ran our office in Gitega" in central Burundi, said Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa, the exiled president of the Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons (APRODEH).

This association was the main rights movement in the country until the regime shut it down after a political crisis erupted in 2015.

"He was sentenced on Monday morning by the Mukaza high court (in the capital Bujumbura) to five years of penal servitude for having continued to submit reports on human rights once APRODEH had been struck off by the government," Mbonimpa told AFP.

Nibitanga's lawyer, Fabien Segatwa, confirmed the sentence to AFP, but stressed that his client had for three years been working with the Burundian National Network of human rights organsations, which is still authorised to function.

In this capacity, he should not have been convicted, Segatwa said.

Nibitanga was arrested in Gitega on November 21, 2017, by the National Intelligence Service (SNR) and transferred to Rumonge prison in the southwest, where he has been held since.

"Those in power pursue the repression of independent civil society, but in any case, we didn't expect anything else from a judiciary that takes orders from the executive," Mbonimpa told AFP.

"At least he wasn't tortured and killed like other activists or (political) opponents arrested by this regime, even if he copped a free jail term," added the APRODEH chief, who was seriously wounded in an attempt on his life in August 2015.

Burundi plunged into political crisis after the ruling party nominated President Pierre Nkurunziza for a third term in office, which his foes said was banned by the constitution.

The mandate was criticised by opposition politicians, civil society, the Roman Catholic Church, but Nkurunziza's followers foiled a coup bid and he was duly re-elected.

Several human rights activists have been jailed in recent years, including Germain Ruvakuki, who was last April sentenced to 32 years for "insurrection", because he was a member of one of the civic bodies that led street protests against Nkurunziza's third term in 2015.

At the beginning of June, the 54-year-old Nkurunziza announced that he would not stand for another term in office in 2020.

His announcement came just after the adoption of a new constitution under which the head of state could remain in office until 2034.

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Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon was admitted to a hospital here today after he complained of uneasiness, an official said.

Tandon, 90, felt uneasy this morning following which he was rushed to the state-run Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital here, the governor's secretary, Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, told PTI.

He has been kept in the hospital's critical care unit and is under observation, Jaiswal said, but did not divulge any further details.

Tandon, one of the founder members of the Jansangh which later became the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), became the governor of Chhattisgarh in July 2014.

During his long political career, he has served on various posts, including as deputy chief minister of Punjab.

The six-time MLA was also jailed from 1975 to 1977 during Emergency.

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The censor board today justified its decision of censoring a movie's subtitles, saying it was to curb the "mischief" done by some filmmakers of inserting additional words after a film is certified.

The Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) filed its affidavit in the Bombay High Court in response to a petition by the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), challenging the censor board's direction to submit subtitles of a movie for censorship.

The IMPAA approached the high court in July claiming that the new rule introduced by the CBFC was arbitrary.

On April 27, the petitioner received a notice from the CBFC, saying producers of a movie are required to obtain a separate censorship certificate for the film's subtitles.

The censor board in its affidavit said it was duty-bound and obligated to ensure that filmmakers do not insert any words or visuals after a film is duly certified.

"The rationale behind the impugned notice is to curb the mischief noticed in a number of films where subtitles were introduced or added after the film's certification by the CBFC. This amounts to an alteration in the film. This mischief needs to be plugged or curbed," the affidavit said.

It cited examples where makers mute the cuss words when they present their films before the CBFC, but after certification, they add those words in the subtitles.

"Dubbing and subtitles constitute an integral part of a film. In this context, translation errors can sometimes result in grave prejudice," the CBFC said.

A division bench headed by Justice R M Borde posted the petition for further hearing on August 20.

According to the CBFC notice, producers have to first obtain a certificate for the film and thereafter when the sub-titling is done in a different language, they are required to go for fresh censorship.

The petition said that earlier the CBFC certification was needed only for the film and there was no requirement or practice of certification for subtitles.

The petition claimed that programmes which are freely available on the Internet and other electronic media, do not require such a certification or censorship from any authority.

The IMPAA alleged that the CBFC's move was only to harass producers and extort money from them.

Such a rule was also resulting in the films' release getting delayed, it said.

The petitioner requested the high court to quash this procedure.

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Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon died at a hospital here today, an official said.

He was 90.

Tandon was rushed to the state-run Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital here this morning after he complained of uneasiness, the governor's secretary, Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, said.

He later died at the hospital, he said.

Tandon, one of the founder members of the Jansangh which later became the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), became the governor of Chhattisgarh in July 2014.

During his long political career, he has served on various posts, including as deputy chief minister of Punjab.

The six-time MLA was also jailed from 1975 to 1977 during Emergency.

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The AAP today hit out at Delhi Police alleging that it leaked details of its chargesheet in the chief secretary assault case even as an application was filed in a city court for restraining it from making its content public.

Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi unit spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj accused Additional DCP (North Delhi) Harender Kumar of behaving as a "spokesperson of BJP" and violating the law.

"DCP Harender is openly violating the law. How can contents of chargesheet be leaked to Media without Court taking cognizance. Copy(chargesheet) has not been shared with any of the MLAs," he tweeted.

The officer reportedly said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's close aides Bibhav Kumar and Vivek Yadav were prosecution witness in the chief secretary assault case.

However, later he said in a statement, "They(AAP) have been filing a number of petitions in the court against police and me in particular, asking for the copy of the statements, copy of video CDs, monitoring of investigation by the court, harassment of their counsels by the police and so on. We will file the reply and clear our stand."



Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia today moved an application in Patiala House court here urging it to restrain the city police from "leaking contents of the charge sheet" against them in connection with the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash to the media.

The court sought a response from Delhi Police on the application by August 25.

The application stated "the investigating agency is selectively leaking the excerpts of the charge sheet to the media malafidely, to assassinate the character of the persons allegedly mentioned in the charge sheet, especially Kejriwal and Sisodia."



Kumar alleged that Delhi Police on the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is trying to "frame" Arvind Kejriwal in a "false" case.

"I have said this to the police. I will say it in the court also. I will openly say, wherever needed, that it's a big conspiracy against the Chief Minister," Kumar tweeted.

Prakash was allegedly assaulted during a meeting at Kejriwal's official residence on the night of February 19. The police said the chief minister was present when the alleged assault took place.

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Three people were killed today in an explosion at a market in Baghdad, including a woman and child according to a security source.

The blast struck in the Shiite bastion of Sadr City, a sprawling district where authorities regularly carry out raids close to the busy market to seize illegal weapons.

"Three people were killed and four others injured in an explosion in a covered market near the Mreydi souk in Sadr City," Baghdad's military operations command said in a statement.

A source from the security services told AFP that a woman and a child were among those killed.

Authorities did not detail the cause of the blast and said an investigation would be launched.

The Mreydi souk is an important hub for illegal weapons sales and the area has seen years of violence since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In June, at least 16 people were killed and some 30 injured in an explosion at a house in the area where weapons were stored.

Sadr City is the former bastion of the Mahdi Army, which before being dissolved was blamed by Washington for killing US soldiers and thousands of Sunni Muslims.

The militia was led by Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose political alliance triumphed in this year's parliamentary elections.

Violence has fallen in Iraq and particularly Baghdad, which suffered numerous jihadist attacks, since the government declared victory over the Islamic State group in December.

But despite government forces retaking all of Iraq's towns and cities from IS, clandestine jihadist cells remain present, analysts say.

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The Chinese economy is displaying further signs of weakness, with data today showing investment slumped to a record low in the first seven months of the year and retail sales slowed.

Beijing faces a delicate balancing act, aiming to shift its growth driver away from investment and exports and towards personal consumption, while at the same time battling a mountain of debt.

A trade brawl with Washington has added to the difficulties -- the yuan and stock markets have tumbled in recent weeks -- providing relief to exporters but hurting Chinese consumers.

US tariffs on USD 34 billion worth of Chinese goods, and retaliatory levies from Beijing, came into force in early July, with more tit-for-tat measures due next week.

But the extent of the conflict's impact on China remains unclear, said National Bureau of Statistics spokeswoman Liu Aihua. Trade data last week showed exports holding up in July.

"The negative impact will be gradual, with the impact on the international economy and the global economy already emerging," Liu said.

Output at factories and workshops expanded 6.0 per cent year-on-year in July, in line with June's reading, according to the NBS but short of the 6.3 per cent forecast in a Bloomberg survey.

Retail sales, a key gauge of domestic consumption, rose 8.8 per cent in July, down from nine percent in June, and also missing estimates of 9.1 per cent.

Fixed-asset investment, the lifeblood of China's economy, expanded just 5.5 per cent in January-July, the slowest pace on record.

"We see further downside risks to economic activity in the coming months given that credit growth is still slowing," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics.

Last month China's cabinet indicated it would step up its support for the economy and officials have said approval of infrastructure projects will quicken in the second half of the year.

But the International Monetary Fund has suggested Beijing should resist another round of aggressive stimulus to boost growth, citing concerns the measures would exacerbate already excessive debt levels.

Evans-Pritchard forecast Beijing's moves could take months to kick in. China's economic growth slowed in the second quarter to 6.7 per cent, from 6.8 per cent in the first quarter.

"The Chinese economy will get worse before getting better, and it takes several months to turn around," said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura investment bank.

"Beijing will step up credit easing and fiscal measures to deliver a recovery and prevent financial troubles such as a rise of bond defaults," Lu wrote in the research note.

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The Chinese military has set up oxygen stations and introduced high-pressure oxygen therapy and specially designed portable barracks to its troops stationed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to boost combat capability in the high-altitude ranges where oxygen levels are low, official media here reported today.

Chinese official media had been periodically highlighting the training preparations and the combat readiness of the PLA troops in Tibet in the recent months.

According to the official People's Liberation Army (PLA) website 81.cn, all frontline training troops and border outposts have been equipped with oxygen generators and oxygen cylinders.

Also, the Army Medical University's Xinqiao Hospital in Xigaze, which is close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, is developing a high-pressure oxygen therapy that could effectively solve altitude stress for troops stationed on the plateau, the PLA Daily said.

It said that oxygen therapy, used to cure brain damage and carbon monoxide poisoning, can be calibrated for high altitude.

The improved therapy has proved effective against altitude stress. Oxygen stations have been built along border roads for soldiers to recover stamina, the state-run Global Times reported today.

"Altitude stress makes troops have breathing difficulties, results in headaches and insomnia," the daily quoted a former military officer who served in Tibet as saying.

Thin air damages combat capability, lowers troops' strength and durability, Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the newspaper.

Applying oxygen therapy helped soldiers to recover in the harsh conditions and enhanced their combat capabilities, he said.

Last month, the PLA Daily reported that the special forces of the Chinese military had conducted drills in Tibet, including ground training for helicopter pilots, to test their skills.

In June, Chinese military units stationed in Tibet carried out a drill, the first post-Dokalam, to test their logistics, armament support capabilities as well as military-civil integration in Tibet.

Earlier, official media had reported about China setting up an unmanned automatic weather observation station in Tibet, close to its border with Arunachal Pradesh, to provide meteorological support for its fighter jets and missile launches.

According to a latest 81.cn report, the PLA is also improving troops' quality of life.

Beginning last year, it has been replacing the old pre-fabricated houses at Tibetan military bases with portable barracks, specifically designed for plateau areas.

The barracks' design and material make them sturdy, moisture-proof and cold-resistant, even keep the room temperature at 15 degrees Celsius even in the worst of snow storms, the report said.

Equipped with cutting-edge camouflage nets, the barracks are difficult to detect and suitable for field operations, the website reported.

Many soldiers and officers suffer frostbite in Tibet, the former military officer said, noting the new facilities provide strong logistical support and ensured the troops' combat capability.

New barracks and other improvements can let troops have enough rest and guarantee their quality of life so that they can work together with better morale, according to Song.

"Logistical support is essential to plateau combat," he said.

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China's unmanned submersible Qianlong 2 has found polymetallic sulphide deposits in the sea bed of western Indian Ocean after operating for 257 hours in nine separate underwater missions and covering 654 km of the water body, a state-run media reported here today.

Chinese research vessel Xiangyanghong 10 reached Zhoushan in East China's Zhejiang province on Sunday after 250 days in the Indian Ocean, where Chinese scientists surveyed the distribution of polymetallic sulphide for the first time, covering southwest and northwest region of the water body.

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) operated for 257 hours in nine separate underwater missions and covered 654 km, the Global Times quoted from the statement of China's Ministry of Natural Resources.

The AUV discovered polymetallic sulphide, a mineral resource produced from seafloor hydrothermal activities, the report said.

Deep seabed polymetallic sulphide contains iron, copper, zinc, silver, gold and platinum in variable constitutions and have attracted worldwide attention for their long term commercial as well as strategic values.

Qianlong 2 discovered three mineralisation zones of polymetallic sulphide, the report said.

In 2011, China had entered into a deal with the International Seabed Authority for a polymetallic sulphide exploration area of 10,000 sq km in the Indian Ocean for 15 years.

Since then it has been sending periodic expedition to locate polymetallic sulphide in the sea bed.

China also plans to put three satellites to improve maritime research, the report said.

In the past five years, China has expanded its international seabed mining scope to 86,000 square km.

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The Chinese government said any problems Malaysia has with multibillion-dollar Chinese-backed infrastructure projects should be handled through "friendly negotiation."



The foreign ministry in Beijing defended China's projects in Malaysia, saying in a statement faxed to The Associated Press today that such deals have brought tangible benefits to the two countries.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told the AP in an interview yesterday that Malaysia was looking to cancel Chinese projects signed by the previous scandal-tainted government as it digs itself out of debt.

Mahathir said he wanted to maintain good relations with China and welcomed its investment, so long as the projects benefit Malaysia.

But he took his toughest stance yet on Chinese-backed energy pipelines and a rail project along peninsular Malaysia's eastern coast.

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Fears were growing of civilian casualties as Afghan security forces backed by US airpower struggled to push the Taliban out of embattled Ghazni city, with reports of scores dead five days after fighting erupted.

Officials have said Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital two hours from Kabul, remains in government hands and that security forces are conducting a clearing operation.

But residents told AFP the insurgents remained in the streets, burning buildings and targeting civilians.

The United Nations said unverified reports put civilian casualties at more than 100 since the Taliban entered the city late Thursday, with residents also at risk from several days of US airstrikes.

An MP from Ghazni, Shah Gul Rezaye, said today that some parts of the city had been cleared.

But in others "the Taliban have positioned their fighters in high buildings shooting at security forces from there," he added.

Communication networks remained largely down, making any information difficult to verify.

"Ghazni is a ghost city now. The Taliban are going from house to house to find government officials or their relatives to kill," said one resident, Sayed Zia.

"Those who can are fleeing."



Another resident also said the Taliban were killing civilians who refused to help them.

"I saw two trucks full of coffins going toward a cemetery in the city. They all seemed to be civilians," said Abdullah, who asked to only use one name.

"The city is full of smoke. Everywhere they go they set the places on fire," he said, adding that shops were being looted, with water and food scarce.

Other residents have told AFP of bodies littering the streets of the city in recent days.

"So far the fighting has reportedly resulted in 110 to 150 civilian casualties. The numbers still need to be verified," said a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Clearing operations in urban centres are inherently dangerous and slow. Reports the Taliban are hiding in residents' homes and marketplaces "heightened the risk of civilian casualties arising from any military aerial response," the UN warned.

Bombs placed along the road leading north and south from the city also "prevented civilians from safely fleeing the violence", it said.

Yesterday, the Afghan defence minister said at least 100 security forces had been killed in the fighting so far, and "20-30" civilians.

Ghazni lies along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively serving as a gateway between Kabul and the militant strongholds in the south.

The assault on the city has been the largest tactical onslaught by the Taliban since an unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary halt, providing war-weary Afghans some welcome relief.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakhs for the family of Army jawan Pushpendra Singh, who was killed in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday.

Singh, who hailed from Mathura, was killed yesterday as Army foiled an infiltration bid by militants in Tangdhar sector.

"The country will always remember the supreme sacrifice of this brave soldier in the service to the nation," an official release quoting the Chief Minister said.

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Industrialist and Congress leader Naveen Jindal along with 14 others was today summoned as accused by a Delhi court for alleged money laundering in a case pertaining to irregularities in allocation of a Jharkhand coal block.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar directed them to appear in the court on October 15, saying that prima facie there were enough evidence to summon them as accused.

"In view of the averments made in the complaint (ED's charge sheet), I take cognisance of the offence under section 3 (money laundering) punishable under section 4 (punishment for money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against all the fifteen accused persons," the judge said.

Besides Jindal, those summoned as accused include Jindal Steel and Power Ltd's then adviser Anand Goel, Mumbai's Essar Power Ltd's Executive Vice-Chairman Sushil Kumar Maroo, Nihar Stocks Ltd's Director BSN Suryanarayan, Mumbai-based KE International's Chief Financial Officer Rajeev Aggarwal and Gurgaon-based Green Infra's Vice-President Siddharth Madra.

Those arrayed as accused also include K Ramakrishna Prasad, Rajiv Jain and Gyan Swaroop Garg as well as six companies -- JSPL, Gagan Sponge Iron Ltd, Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd, Sowbhagya Media Ltd and Nihar Stocks Ltd.

The case, filed under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) pertains to the allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand.

In its charge sheet filed through special public prosecutor N K Matta and advocate Tarannum Cheema, the ED alleged that Jindal's firm JSPL along with others had influenced the screening committee to allot the coal block by investing more than Rs two crore in illegal gratification.

In another case filed by the CBI in relation to the present matter, the court had in April 2016 ordered framing of charges against Jindal, former MoS for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao (since deceased), former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, then Coal Secretary H C Gupta and 11 others for the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust under the IPC and sections of Prevention of Corruption Act in the case.

The court later also framed an additional charge of abetment of bribery against Jindal.

In the same case, the court also ordered invoking section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) against Jindal Steel's then adviser Anand Goel, Nihar Stocks Ltd Director BSN Suryanarayan and Mumbai's Essar Power Ltd Executive Vice-Chairman Sushil Kumar Maroo.

All the accused have denied the allegations levelled against them and said there was no evidence to show that there was any conspiracy during the coal block allocation process.

The ED had registered a case based on the FIR filed by the CBI.

The CBI has filed another charge sheet against Jindal and others, including Goel and Maroo, for allegedly cheating the government by misrepresenting facts to get the Madhya Pradesh based Urtan North coal block.

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Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) today reported a 17 per cent increase in net profit to Rs 106.31 crore for the quarter ended on June 30, 2018.

The public sector undertaking had clocked a net profit of Rs 91.16 crore for the corresponding period a year-ago.

"The company reported a healthy increase of 17 per cent in its PAT to Rs 106.31 crore for Q1FY19, as compared to Rs 91.16 crore in the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. The company's Q1FY19 PAT margin stood at 16.14 per cent, as compared to 16.39 per cent in Q1FY18," the company said in a statement.

It said its revenue from operations for the quarter stood at Rs 658.73 crore against Rs 556.25 crore in the same period last year.

Cochin shipyard is one of the leading shipbuilding & repair yard in India, which claims to have an infrastructure that combines economy, scale, and flexibility, and has ISO 9001 accreditation.

CSL has been rated excellent by the Government of India, in the past several years for achieving the targets set for the yard under the MOU system, the statement said.

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Amid talks of simultaneous polls, the on Tuesday dared Prime Minister to dissolve the Lok Sabha early and announce general elections along with polls in four states where the terms of the Assemblies end this year.

General Secretary Ashok Gehlot said postponing the upcoming state Assembly elections and conducting these with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 is "not possible" under the Constitution or the law.

He said elections in Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will have to be conducted before the terms of these Assemblies end.

"There is only one way of holding simultaneous elections. The prime minister should dissolve the Lok Sabha and hold polls along with the four state Assembly elections," Gehlot told a press conference.

"The will welcome it. We are prepared," he said.

Gehlot's comments come a day after president Amit Shah made a pitch for holding elections to 12 state Assemblies, including the present four, along with the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The former Rajasthan chief minister said it will be in the "best interest of the country to dissolve the Lok Sabha early, given the all-pervasive atmosphere of fear, intolerance and intimidation".

"The Congress will not only welcome an early Lok Sabha election, we are all geared to fight the and eliminate it," he said.

The Congress alleged that the BJP's intentions behind the 'one nation, one election' debate were not clean.

"Their approach from day one has been wrong. If they were serious, they would have called all political parties for a meeting, discussed ways and means of implementing a proposal and debated solutions for cases where the Lok Sabha or state Assemblies are dissolved before their term. But the government did not do any such thing," he said.

Gehlot said the 'one nation, one election' slogan is just a gimmick to deflect the attention of people from government's failures.

He also said the was floating this idea because it fears to lose the upcoming state elections, in which case it will be in a very weak state to face the electorate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress legal cell head Vivek Takha said the party will move court if the government attempts to postpone upcoming state Assembly elections.

"This cannot be done without a constitutional amendment," he said.
A delegation of Congress leaders, including the party's Rajasthan unit chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, today met Election Commission officials and raised issues related to irregularities in the voters' list in the state.

C P Joshi and Vivek Tankha were among the other leaders who were part of the delegation that met Election Commission officials here.

Issues such as duplication of voters, number of voters increasing dramatically in the last one year and other irregularities have come to light, a party leader said.

In June, the Congress accused the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of electoral misconduct by including the names of 60 lakh "fake voters" in the voters' list. It requested the Election Commission to remove all such entries from the electoral rolls of the 230 Assembly constituencies in the state.

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The Congress will launch its door-to-door voter outreach programme in Mumbai from August 19, a day ahead of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in order to prepare for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The party had drawn a blank in the six LS seats in the metropolis in the 2014 general polls after having cornered a lion's share of five seats in the 2009 elections.

The Congress' general secretary and Maharashtra in charge, Mallikarjun Kharge, during a visit to the city recently, had asked partymen to work towards winning all six LS seats here.

"In line with his appeal, the party has decided to launch the drive a day ahead of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ji's birth anniversary. The drive is akin to efforts the party took to strengthen its presence in Gujarat ahead of the Assembly polls there," a party source said.

Although the BJP managed to retain power in Gujarat in the Assembly polls held in December last year, the Congress had put up an impressive show winning 77 seats.

The Congress had won 61 seats in the 2012 Assembly election there.

"The party had ensured proper booth level management. Similar efforts are being made in Rajasthan which goes to polls later this year. Mumbai will also see such efforts," the source added.

According to Ravi Raja, the Leader of Opposition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Congress' Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam will be spearheading the drive.

It would be undertaken in all 227 civic wards of the city, he informed.

"In each ward, 25 party men would reach out to the people at the booth level. The target is to cover 2,000 residences every day. The campaign will go on till the Lok Sabha polls," Raja said.

He said that, during the drive, party workers will highlight the failures of the BJP-led governments in the state and Centre and also apprise people of the Congress' solutions as well as initiatives previous Congress governments took.

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Hackers managed to transfer over Rs 94 crore through a malware attack on the server of Pune-based Cosmos Bank and cloning thousands of the bank's debit cards over a period of two days, a senior bank official said.

The fraudulent transactions were carried out on August 11 and August 13 through 25 ATMs located in Canada, Hong Kong and a few in India.

The cards of the cooperative bank customers that were cloned were of Visa and Rupay.

"A complaint has been filed with Pune police about the malware attack and the bank is doing internal audits to investigate the breach," the official said.

The bank maintained that the core banking system (CBS) was not attacked and the malware attack was on the switch, which is operative for payment gateways of Visa and Rupay debit cards.

"None of the customers' accounts were touched and it is the bank which has incurred the loss of this money," the official said.

While cloning the Visa and Rupay debit cards of bank account holders and using a "parallel" system to the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), the hackers self-approved the transactions and withdrew over Rs 94 crore on two to three occasions, the official added.

"It was Visa and Rupay who appraised about these fraudulent transactions to Reserve Bank," said the official.

Realising the cyber attack, the bank then registered an FIR with the Chatushringi police station.

As a precautionary measure, the bank has closed all its servers and net banking facilities, according to the official.

According to the FIR, the hackers used an unidentified malware to hack the system and clone card details of the bank customers.

"On August 11, the hackers cloned the card details and did over 12,000 transactions and transferred Rs 78 crore out of India. On the second instance, total 2,849 transactions were done in which Rs 2.5 crore was transferred within India," the FIR said.

It also said that on August 13, hackers again transferred Rs 13.92 crore in a Hong Kong-based bank by using fraudulent swift transactions.

A case has been registered under section 43, 65, 66(C) and 66 (D) of the Information Technology Act and relevant sections of Indian Penal Code.

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A city court today directed a Delhi businessman, accused in a Rs 5,000-crore bank loan fraud case, to appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning.

The direction came after the agency told the court that he was required to be confronted with a man arrested on charges of sending Rs 25 lakh cash to the official residence of a senior Congress leader here.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora directed businessman Gagan Dhawan, who was earlier arrested by the ED and is currently out on bail, to appear before the ED tomorrow and on August 16.

The court passed the direction after special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana, appearing for ED, said that Dhawan had refused to appear before it despite repeated summons.

Rana has also urged the court to cancel Dhawan's bail, alleging that he had violated the conditions imposed on him by the court at the time of granting him relief.

In an application moved through advocate A R Aditya, ED told the court that Dhawan was required to be confronted with one Ranjit Malik, who had allegedly sent Rs 25 lakh cash through one Rakesh Chandra to the official address of the political leader.

The period of delivery of the cash was not disclosed by the agency.

Malik was arrested earlier this month by the ED and is currently in its custody.

Dhawan was arrested on November 1 last year after the ED had alleged that he had facilitated the directors of Gujarat-based pharma firm Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) in the purchase of several properties and helped in misuse and diversion of the credit facilities of several bank totalling Rs 5,000 crore.

He was granted bail by a court here on January 4 this year on several conditions, including that he will appear before the agency as and when called for.

The CBI had booked Sterling Biotech, its directors Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi, chartered accountant Hemant Hathi, former director Andhra Bank Anup Garg and some unidentified persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

It had alleged that the company had taken loans of over Rs 5,000 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank which had turned into non-performing assets.

The FIR had also alleged that the total pending dues of the group companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on December 31, 2016. The ED had taken a cognisance of this FIR to file a money laundering case against them.

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Chief Minister and his deputy today moved a court here urging it to restrain the city police from "leaking contents of the charge sheet" against them in connection with the alleged assault on to the media.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal took the application, moved by Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister and 11 MLAs, on record and sought a response form the police on it by August 25.

The Police on Monday filed a charge sheet against Kejriwal, Sisodia and 11 legislators of the -- Amanatullah Khan, Prakash Jarwal, Nitin Tyagi, Rituraj Govind, Sanjeev Jha, Ajay Dutt, Rajesh Rishi, Rajesh Gupta, Madan Lal, Parveen Kumar and Dinesh Mohania.

In an application, field by advocate Mohd Irshad, the politicians said that "the investigating agency is selectively leaking the excerpts of the charge sheet to the media malafidely, to assassinate the character of the persons allegedly mentioned in the charge sheet, especially Kejriwal and Sisodia."



It said that the matter was sub-judice and the probe agency had no power to pass on the contents of the charge sheet to the media before cognisance is taken by the court.

"The act and conduct of the probe agency is an interference in the administration of justice as their only intention is to create hype in the media and to influence the proceedings so that the image of the chief minister and deputy chief minister are adversely affected," the application said.

It claimed that if the agency is not restrained from making such "uncalled for, unwarranted and biased comments against the two constitutional authorities (CM and Dy CM), same would cause irreparable loss to their image and the proceeding in the case would also be affected."



In its around 1,300-page charge sheet, the police has alleged that the accused had criminally conspired to threaten the of death or grievous hurt, obstructed him in discharging his public function and caused hurt.

It has also accused the leaders of other offences punishable under sections of IPC, including wrongfully confining any person, assaulting or using criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty, insulting him to provoke breach of peace and abetment of the offence.

They were also charge sheeted for offence committed under IPC section 149, which says if an offence is committed by any member of an unlawful assembly, every other member of such assembly shall be held guilty of the offence.

The court has put up the charge sheet for consideration on August 25. If convicted, the accused may get a maximum of seven years jail.

The had on May 18 questioned Kejriwal for over three hours in connection with the alleged assault on Prakash.

Prakash was allegedly assaulted during a meeting at Kejriwal's official residence on the night of February 19. The police said the chief minister was present when the alleged assault took place.

Police have already questioned 11 AAP MLAs present at the chief minister's residence for the meeting. Two of the party MLAs -- Amantullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal --were arrested in the case.

The alleged assault on the had triggered a bitter tussle between the and its bureaucrats.
Senior diplomat D Bala Venkatesh Varma was today appointed as India's next ambassador to Russia, considered a high-profile posting due to expanse of strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Varma, a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as Indian envoy in Spain.

He will succeed Pankaj Saran who has been appointed deputy National Security Advisor.

"Varma is expected to take up the assignment shortly," an External Affairs Ministry statement said.

Saran has been India's envoy to Russia since January 2016.

The government also appointed Partha Satpathy as next Ambassador of India to Ukraine.

A 1990 batch IFS officer, Satpathy is currently serving as joint secretary at the MEA headquarters here.

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Disciplinary action was initiated against three police constables today in Gautam Buddh Nagar over a report of alleged corruption, police said.

Taking note of a sting operation by a television channel, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal Singh transferred the constables to Police Lines, they said.

The district police chief has also initiated a departmental inquiry into the case, they said.

The constables transferred are Amit Kumar of Sector 20 police station, Rahul Kumar of Sector 39 police station and Dharmavir Singh of Ecotech I police station, according to a statement.

They were purportedly seen demanding bribe for police verification, the statement said.

When contacted, a police spokesperson said there were no previous complaints of bribe against them.

"The action has been taken solely on the basis of this report," the official said.

In light of the graft report, SSP Sharma also pulled up the incharges of the police stations concerned.

"The SSP has warned them of strict action and asked them to put a check on such practices," the police said.

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DMK has welcomed the Madras High Court order transferring to CBI the probe into police firing during the anti-Sterlite stir that claimed 13 lives, saying those who "gunned down" countrymen should be brought to book.

The High Court directive today transferring the probe to the central agency was "welcome," DMK working president M K Stalin said in a tweet.

"Those who gunned down own countrymen in broad daylight, besides maiming over 50 persons, should be brought before the law and punished," he added.

On May 22, large-scale violence erupted after the Tuticorin district collectorate was picketed to seek closure of the copper smelter plant of Sterlite, a unit of the Vedanata group, over pollution concerns.

Thirteen people were killed in police firing on May 22 and 23.

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Amid indications of a possible succession war within the party, the DMK today rallied behind its working president M K Stalin, the son of late party chief M Karunanidhi, saying he would take over its leadership soon.

Duraimurugan, the party's principal secretary and long time aide of Karunanidhi, said Stalin had all the skills to lead the party.

He was speaking at an "urgent" meeting of the party's executive committee here to mourn the death of Karunanidhi, Duraimurugan.

"Dear Thalapathi (commander), who is soon going to become (DMK) president, we are prepared to follow your orders... lead us," the senior leader said addressing Stalin as the DMK workers cheered.

Stalin is fondly addressed as "Thalapathi" in the party and is expected to take over the DMK's reins after his father Karunanidhi's death on August 7.

"You have all the skills..you have the skills of Anna (DMK founder CN Annadurai), Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) and yourself. There is nobody in Tamil Nadu who can defeat you," he said.

Party workers raised slogans hailing Stalin soon after Duraimurugan said the working president would graduate to the party's leadership role.

Duraimurugan's statement comes amid indications of a possible succession war in the Dravidian party, with expelled DMK leader and Karunanidhi's son M K Alagiri claiming that the true supporters of his father were with him.

Signalling resumption of the family feud over Karunanidhi's legacy days after his death, Alagiri, estranged from the family, had yesterday claimed all loyal party workers were with him and that the DMK would "dig its own grave" if it does not take him back.

The Karunanidhi family had presented a united face when the leader was fighting for his life at a city hospital. Alagiri was present at the hospital and was also seen at his father's funeral.

Praising Stalin, Duraimurugan said he had traits like "concern, skills and hardwork."



"Crores of party workers are with the working president in his efforts to steer it," he said.

Though Stalin sits firmly in the saddle and his ascension as DMK president seems to be only a matter of time, Alagiri's tough posturing may prod his supporters in Madurai and adjoining districts to come out openly against the new chief.

If that happens, the DMK, which has lost two successive assembly polls and failed to open its account in the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, may encounter fresh electoral reverses in the elections next year.

Meanwhile, DMK deputy general secretary Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan accused the BJP of trying to "divide the party" and stressed on unity in the party for its well-being.

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The Delhi Police today claimed to have arrested a dreaded criminal wanted in several cases.

The Crime Branch, which arrested gangster Sandeep Kana, has recovered an automatic pistol from his possession, police said.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) A K Singla said that the accused was also wanted in the case of killing an elderly man in Delhi's Ranhola area last year.

In a statement, Singla said that a secret information was received that Kana would come near CNG pump in a car to meet his aides on August 11.

"The Crime Branch team laid a trap near the expected place of his arrival and the accused was successfully apprehended in his car," they said.

"On search, one loaded illegal sophisticated pistol was recovered from his possession. Accordingly, a case under the Arms Act was registered and the accused was arrested in the case," they said.

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A Dubai-bound man has been apprehended by the Central Industrial Security Force at the airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle out over 44,000 USD worth Rs 31.42 lakh concealed in biscuit jars, a senior official said today.

He said Md Kashif was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport yesterday based on suspicion.

A total of 44,900 USD, kept in envelopes hidden in plastic jars containing biscuits, was recovered from the hand baggage of the man.

The passenger, scheduled to take a flight to Dubai, could not produce valid documents for carrying the huge amount of foreign currency valued at Rs 31.42 lakh, he said.

The man has been handed over to the Customs authorities for further probe, he said.

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The Philippine president said China's claim to airspace above newly built islands and surrounding waters in the disputed South China Sea "is wrong" and Beijing should not tell others to leave those areas to avoid clashes.

President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks in a speech today were a rare public criticism of China, which he has refused to antagonize to nurture closer relations.

Duterte said "I hope that China would temper its ... behavior" in a speech in which he also praised Beijing for its readiness to provide help.

The Associated Press reported two weeks ago that the Philippines has expressed concern to China over an increasing number of Chinese radio messages warning Philippine aircraft and ships to stay away from Beijing-held artificial islands in the disputed waters.

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today said Turkey would boycott US electronic goods, in retaliation for punitive sanctions Washington placed against Ankara over the detention of an American pastor.

"We will boycott US electronic goods," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "If (the United States) have the iPhone, there's Samsung on the other side," he said, referring to US giant Apple's iconic phone and the top South Korean brand. "We (also) have our Venus and Vestel," he said, referring to homegrown Turkish electronics brands.

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Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
A former Australian archbishop convicted of concealing abuse by a notorious paedophile priest in the 1970s was confronted by enraged victims outside a courthouse today after a judge spared him jail and ordered he serve his sentence at home.

Philip Wilson became one of the highest-ranked church officials convicted of covering up child sex abuse when he was found guilty in May of concealing crimes by priest Jim Fletcher in the Hunter region of New South Wales state.

The Newcastle Local Court sentenced the 67-year-old to 12 months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of six months, but also ordered that he be assessed to serve it in home detention.

Wilson had since been on bail and today magistrate Robert Stone decided he will not need to spend time behind bars, with his age and prior good record taken into account.

But he will have to wear a tracking device while serving his sentence.

Wilson said nothing as he left the court, where he was mobbed by abuse survivors and members of the media.

Peter Gogarty, one of Fletcher's victims, asked Wilson to apologise, but the cleric stayed silent.

"Any words for me, Philip? Philip will you say sorry for what you have done to me and other child sex abuse survivors?," he yelled. "Philip, please, something ... one word of contrition." One of Wilson's supporters asked Gogarty why he did not come forward 40 years ago.

A fuming Gogarty called him "a pig, a typical Catholic", to which the Wilson aide replied: "I don't have time for rubbish like you, mate." Another Fletcher victim Daniel Feenan also criticised Wilson for failing to say sorry.

"I'd like to see him show some type of remorse and I'd like to see him apologise," he told the Newcastle Herald.

Wilson resigned as Archbishop of Adelaide last month soon after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on the Vatican to sack him.

He remains an ordained bishop but has no official role.

He has long denied the charges and initially resisted calls to quit pending an appeal against his conviction.

Stone found him guilty of concealing a serious indictable offence of another person, concluding his primary motive was to protect the church.

During sentencing Stone added that "there is no remorse or contrition showed by the offender".

Wilson's conviction comes amid a host of accusations that the Catholic Church ignored and covered up child abuse in Australia, charges that have also plagued other countries.

There was no dispute during the trial that Fletcher, who is now dead, sexually abused an altar boy, with the hearing focused on whether Wilson, then a junior priest, was told about it.

In a brief statement, Bishop Greg O'Kelly, who is running the Adelaide archdiocese until a new archbishop is appointed, said Wilson was "in his prayers as he formally commences this stage in his life, while also remembering the victims and survivors of abuse in the Church".

Wilson served as a priest in New South Wales before Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Wollongong in 1996. Five years later he became the Archbishop of Adelaide.

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Former BJP MLA Shamji Chauhan and ex-mayor of Rajkot Ashok Dangar joined the Congress today, claiming "injustice" is being meted out to OBC communities under the BJP rule in Gujarat.

They were inducted into the Congress by state unit chief Amit Chavda and AICC in-charge of the Gujarat Congress Rajiv Satav at a function at party headquarters here.

Both hail from OBC communities. Chauhan belongs to the politically influential Koli community, while Dangar, who was the Rajkot mayor from 2000 and 2003 - when the Congress was ruling the civic body - hails from the Ahir community. Dangar later joined the BJP, from where he resigned today.

Chauhan was elected from the Chotila assembly seat in Surendrangar district in 2012 on a BJP ticket. He resigned from the BJP in November last year after being denied ticket from the same seat for the assembly polls held in December.

In 2016, he was appointed parliamentary secretary by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

On the other hand, it was a homecoming for Dangar, who had joined the BJP in 2012 after quitting the Congress. He resigned from the BJP today



According to Chavda, both the OBC leaders have joined the Congress without any pre-condition.

"Both these OBC leaders have realised that promises made by the BJP governments, in Gujarat as well at the Centre, have not been fulfilled.

"The poor has become more poor under the BJP rule. Both these leaders are joining the Congress to fight injustice against OBCs and the poor," said Chavda.

Echoing similar views, Satav said the Narendra Modi government has not paid any attention to the problems being faced by the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) across the country.

According to Chauhan, the Koli community has been "ignored" by the BJP government in Gujarat.

"The Kolis are the second largest community in Gujarat after the Patidars. Yet, very few Koli MLAs have been given key posts in the government.

"Koli MLAs are not allowed to become even district or taluka presidents of the party. I am joining the Congress because of the BJP's failure to do justice to the community," said Chauhan.

The former MLA maintained he has not joined the Congress out of any expectation of getting a ticket for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

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Energy solutions provider Exicom on Tuesday said it has won an tender for development of charging infrastructure for (EV) at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.

"The charging infrastructure shall comprise of 120 kW and 50 kW EV Off-Board DC Chargers of CCS Standard for Electric Buses," a company statement said.

The company has been developing EV technology to establish sustainable mobility which is technologically advanced, emission-free, self-driven and sustained by a green charging infrastructure, it said.

Anant Nahata, Managing Director of Exicom said in the statement, "Winning this tender further strengthens our position as a market leader with largest base of deployed EV chargers in India.
A famous kite-maker from Amritsar has created special kites with images of freedom fighters and top leaders to mark the country's 72nd Independence Day tomorrow.

Jagmohan Kanojia (52), who is known for his vast collection, said today that he has designed special kites with images of freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose, Chandra Sekhar Azad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajguru and Udham Singh.

Some kites also bear pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Besides, some kites also have pictures of all the presidents and prime ministers of the country till date.

He said while some of his kites are as small as 2-4 inches long and are showpieces, others are as big as 4-6 feet wide.

Some of his kites for Independence Day also resemble the Tricolour, he said.

For Kanojia, it all began as a hobby in the early 1990s after watching a kite-flying competition on TV.

He claims that he has made a record 10,000 kites of different designs.

Kanojia said that some kites from his collection will dot the skyline this Independence Day with inspiring messages written on them.

"For past several years, I have been making special kites just for the Independence Day. I feel that our youths need to be made more aware about the sacrifices which our freedom fighters made to see a free India," he said.

"Most of my kites carry pictures of freedom fighters and national leaders. They also carry small messages that we should always remember the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and value the freedom we attained after a long struggle," Kanojia told PTI over phone today.

"This time I have made 72 different kinds of kites to celebrate the 72nd Independence Day. I have been making kites for about a month for the occasion," he said.

Kanojia said a few kites in his collection are dedicated to his late father, who was born on August 15, 1938 in Lahore and passed away in 1989.

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The on Tuesday said it needs to take into account all aspects, including the fundamental right of livelihood of firecracker manufacturers and the right to health of over 1.3 billion people in the country, while considering a plea for their ban.

The top court said the Article 21 (right to life) of Constitution applies to both segments of people and it needs to maintain a balance while considering a countrywide ban on firecrackers.

A bench of justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan asked the Centre to file an affidavit giving details of measures to be taken for curbing pollution and what is the effect of firecrackers on the public at large.

"There are economic aspects attached to it. The government affidavit says there are 1,750 firecrackers industries in Tamil Nadu, which employs 5,000 families directly or indirectly. It says firecrackers industries are worth Rs 60 billion. We have to see what is the relevance of economic aspect on the fundamental rights," the bench said.

It added, "There is fundamental right to livelihood of manufacturers and at the same time there is fundamental right to health for 1.3 billion people of this country. We have to keep in mind the cost of and the cost of health. Although it is difficult to collect exact data of people suffering from respiratory problems and other health issues from different hospitals."



Senior advocate Dhruv Mehta, appearing for firecrackers manufacturers said regulatory provisions exist and as far as pollution or the impact from bursting of firecrackers is concerned, there is no comprehensive study on the subject.

To this, the bench said the provisions which exists are made from the point of view of safety from firecrackers but these provisions are not related to their environmental impact.

Mehta said not enough material is available on record to suggest that the firecrackers should be banned due to their impact on and health.

The bench, replied that petitioners who are seeking a ban on firecrackers have contended that damage to health is such that it is remediless.

Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for said the apex court had earlier directed for conducting a study and constitution of a committee, which has not been complied with.

The bench, then asked Centre what is stand and solution to the problem of pollution caused due to bursting of firecrackers.

It asked the counsel for Centre to file an affidavit detailing the short-term steps and its suggestions as how it plans to curb the pollution due to firecrackers.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 21.

The apex court had on August 8 said a spike in PM 2.5 levels in the air is a severe problem as the particulate matter remains in people's lungs, leading to serious health implications.

Firecrackers manufacturers earlier told the court that use of firecrackers should not be completely banned and it should instead be strictly regulated.

They have contended that the crackers are not the reason for increase in air pollution and there are other factors, like wind and temperature, which contribute to it.

They have said the firecracker manufacturers can be deprived of their right to do business based on statements which were not supported by facts.

On October 9 last year, the top court temporarily banned the sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali.

Later, the court refused to relax its order while dismissing a plea by traders who had sought permission to sell crackers for at least a day or two before Diwali on October 19, 2017.

The apex court said its ban order during Diwali that year was an experiment to examine its effect on the pollution levels in the region.

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Former Brazil finance minister Guido Mantega was indicted on money laundering and other charges as part of the corruption scandal that has rocked the country's business and political elites.

Mantega, 69, is accused of taking money from construction giant Odebrecht in exchange for helping to advance legislation that favoured the company, Judge Sergio Moro wrote yesterday.

It is the first time Mantega has been charged in the so-called "Operation Car Wash", a vast probe of a pay-to-play relationship between Brazilian companies and politicians centred around the state oil company Petrobras.

Mantega was finance minister during the second term of now jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and continued to hold the post under Lula's successor Dilma Rousseff.

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Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his Cabinet colleagues paid floral tribute to a statue of former Chief Minister Edouard Goubert on his 39th death anniversary here today.

Delegates of the Puducherry Freedom Movement, headed by D Sivaraj, were among those who paid homage to Goubert who was Chief Minister in the 1960s.

Goubert, a veteran freedom fighter, was also the Mayor of the Puducherry Municipality which was functioning under the French system of municipal administration.

His close rapport with the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru enabled the Union Territory establish the medical institution JIPMER.

Goubert was popularly known as 'pappa' (father) Goubert.

Several developmental projects in the education sector were taken up during his tenure as Chief Minister in the post-merger era.

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Healthcare on Tuesday said its shareholders have given nod to the acquisition of the domestic healthcare chain by Malaysia's

The shareholders of Healthcare have by an overwhelming majority of 99.69 per cent voted in favour of the issuance of equity shares on a preferential allotment basis.

They have also approved by 99.99 per cent votes to reclassify members of promoter/promoter group to public shareholder category and classification of Northern TK Venture Pvt Ltd as a promoter.

Earlier, in a notice for the EGM in July, Healthcare had said that the consent of shareholders is being sought for issuance of 23,52,94,117 equity shares on preferential basis at a price of Rs 170 per share aggregating up to Rs 40 billion to Northern TK Venture Pte Ltd.

The company had also sought nod from shareholders to reclassify Malvinder Mohan Singh; Malvinder Mohan Singh - Trust; Shivinder Mohan Singh; Harpal Singh, Abhishek Singh; Fortis Healthcare Holdings Pvt Ltd; Malav Holdings Pvt Ltd and RHC Holding Pvt Ltd from the 'Promoter and Promoter Group' shareholder category to 'Public' shareholder category.

It had asked shareholders to approve classification of Northern TK Venture Pte Ltd as 'Promoter' subsequent to the completion of the preferential allotment of equity shares.

On July 13, the Fortis Healthcare board had approved a Rs 40 billion offer from for 31.1 per cent stake in it, valuing the cash-strapped firm at Rs 88.8 billion.

The transaction, to be carried out via IHH Healthcare's arm Northern TK Venture Pte Ltd, was to be followed up by an open offer for an additional 26 per cent stake in Fortis.

is expected to shell out a total of Rs 73 billion to acquire 57.1 per cent stake, provided its open offer for 26 per cent stake is fully subscribed.

The Fortis stock closed 0.86 per cent up at Rs 146.05 on BSE.
Four illegal telephone exchanges being operated from different apartments have been busted here in Maharashtra and four people arrested in this connection, a police official said today.

The accused were illegally routing international calls through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), she said.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided four apartments at a building in Mumbra area yesterday and seized electrical equipment worth Rs 14 lakh from there, Thane police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar said.

The police also seized several SIM cards of different companies, routers and laptops from the flats, she said.

International calls were being illegally routed via VOIP through local mobile numbers at these exchanges, she said.

Such a set up of interconnecting Internet/VOIP and mobile connections is not permitted as per Indian telecom laws, the police said, adding that the preliminary loss to the national exchequer was being ascertained.

The arrested persons were identified as Sehzad Nissar Shaikh (38), Shakil Iqlaq Ahmed Shaikh (40), Mohammad Halim Mukhtar Ahmed Khan (36) and Wasimullah Iqlakh Ahmed Shaikh (30), Narkar said.

They have been booked under IPC section 420 (cheating), and relevant provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, she added.

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Four Rohingyas including a woman were today arrested for allegedly illegally procuring Aadhaar and Voter ID cards by making false representation of being Indian nationals, police said.

The four Myanmar nationals had migrated to Hyderabad as refugees around five years back and enrolled with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), they said.

Two locals helped them procure Aadhaar cards, Voter ID cards by providing false declaration of their residential proof, Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat said.

A city resident Mohammed Bin Omer was also arrested.

A police team seized UNHCR cards besides Voter ID and Aadhaar cards (which the accused procured by suppressing their identities as Rohingya refugees of Myanmar) from the possession of the accused and they are being produced before a local court, the Commissioner said.

Hyderabad is home to an estimated 3,500-4,000 Rohingyas, who reside in camps in different parts of the city.

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A fresh plea was today filed in the Supreme Court challenging Article 35A, which provides special rights and privileges to the natives of Jammu and Kashmir, on the ground that it allegedly violates rights of women marrying people from other states.

The apex court is already hearing a batch of pleas seeking quashing of the article which confers special status to permanent residents of the state.

An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had earlier adjourned the hearing on the five pending pleas "to the week commencing from August 27".

The state government had sought adjournment of the hearing on the pleas citing upcoming local body elections in the state and it was supported by the Centre.

In the today's petition filed by BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, it is stated that Article 35A was arbitrary and contrary to fundamental rights as it allegedly violates the rights of a woman who marry a man of her choice and belonging to other states by not giving the heirs any right to property.

It alleged that the provision considers the woman's children unfit for inheritance and does not give right of property to her children even if she is a permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Article 35A gives a free hand to the state government and politicians to discriminate between citizens of India on an unfair basis and give preferential treatment to some by trampling over others, since the non-residents of the state are debarred from buying properties, getting a government job or voting in the local elections," the plea claimed.

It sought court's direction to the Centre and state government to declare that fundamental rights, including right to equality, right to marry and right to privacy, are equally available to all Indian citizens throughout the territory of India, including Jammu and Kashmir.

Article 35A, which was incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property in the state.

The petitioners opposing the Article 35A include NGO 'We the Citizens'.

Political parties, including the National Conference and the CPI-M, have moved the Supreme Court in support of Article 35A that empowers the state assembly to define "permanent residents" for bestowing special rights and privileges to them.

The state government, while defending the article, had cited two verdicts by the Constitution benches of the Supreme Court in 1961 and 1969, which had upheld the powers of the president under Article 370(1)(d) of the Constitution to pass constitutional orders.

The Article was incorporated in the Constitution in 1954 by an order of president Rajendra Prasad on the advice of the then Jawaharlal Nehru Cabinet.

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Kishore Biyani-led Future Consumer Ltd has tied up with distribution firm MaxWholesale to make available its in-house staple brands at the neighbourhood grocery stores of Delhi NCR, a move to increase its offline footprint.

Future Consumer is sourcing-to-supermarket food vertical under the Future Group umbrella. So far, Future Group staples and Golden Harvest products were available to consumers exclusively through multi-brand retail stores such as Big Bazaar.

"As a part of the agreement, MaxWholesale will make its technology platform available to Future Consumer Ltd and enable distribution of the staples assortment of Future Consumer's products to the neighbourhood grocery stores. The product assortment includes daily-use commodity items like pulses, spices, rice, beans and some of the Golden Harvest branded products, among others," MaxWholesale said in a statement.

"This partnership between MaxWholesale and Future Group will enable the availability of Future Group's products to the consumers of Delhi at their nearest kirana stores, thereby expanding the brand's reach," the company added.

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German federal prosecutors say they've filed charges against a 29-year-old Islamic State suspect accused of planning a vehicular attack in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe.

Dasbar W., a German citizen whose last name wasn't released in line with privacy laws, faces charges of membership in a terrorist organisation and planning an act of violence.

Prosecutors said today that the man was accused of distributing IS propaganda online starting in 2015 and joining and training with the group in Iraq in 2016.

They alleged, upon his return to Germany in July 2017, he embarked on planning his attack, scouting locations and trying to find a job as a delivery driver.

They said he was planning an attack on crowds around an outdoor skating rink when arrested shortly before Christmas last year.

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A teenaged girl was allegedly gangraped in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, a senior police officer said today.

Two sisters along with two friends were walking towards Chaibasa-Hatgamariah main road when four miscreants intercepted them near Talaburu railway crossing yesterday evening, the officer said



The miscreants assaulted the two friends of the girls and dragged one of them towards the jungle and allegedly gangraped her.

A police team spotted the girl in Talaburu jungle, Superintendent of Police, G Kranthi Kumar said.

The police with the help of the Talaburu Munda (village chief) and villagers, arrested all the four accused including a minor last night, SP said.

A case has been registered under relevant sections in this regard, the SP said adding the girl has been sent to Sadar Hospital for medical test.

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The Bombay High Court held today that the Gowari community in Maharashtra should get benefits under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

Adim Gowari Samaj Vikas Mandal and some others had moved the Nagpur bench of high court, seeking the status of Scheduled Tribe.

The community had been seeking inclusion in the ST category for long, and a stampede during the community's protest over the issue near the Maharashtra legislature complex here on November 23, 1994 had claimed over 100 lives.

The state government had classified the community under the heading "Gond-Gowari" earlier and put it in the Special Backward Class (SBC) category.

The community had objected to this, saying they were merely Gowari and not "Gond-Gowari", a sub-group of the Gond tribe.

Petitioners' lawyers Narayan Phadnis and Ram Parsodkar argued that classification made by the government was wrong.

The high court, after scrutinising old records, upheld the contention.

"The people belonging to the Gowari community in Maharashtra cannot be denied the benefits of Scheduled Tribes, merely because the Gowari community is shown in the list of Special Backward Class in relation to the state of Maharashtra in the GR (government resolution) dated 13-06-1995 and as OBC category in the Gazette notification dated 16-06-2011," held a division bench of Justices R K Deshpande and Arun Upadhye.

Post-independence, there was no such sub-tribe as "Gond-Gowari", the court noted.

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The Gujarat government today said that it had apprised the Centre about the alleged laxity on the part of the latter's cooperative marketer Nafed in procuring and storing groundnuts in the state.

The issue has turned into a political slugfest between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress with the latter calling it a Rs 4,000 crore scam.

The Congress had alleged that groundnut procured by various co-operative societies in Gujarat, especially in the Saurashtra region, were adulterated with sand and pebbles.

Gujarat Agriculture Minister R C Faldu today said that his ministry had written to its Central counterpart with suggestions on improving the working of National Agriculture Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).

"In my letter to the Agriculture Ministry, I have suggested that NAFED should act more seriously during the entire procurement process. Since there was some laxity on the part of NAFED (in procuring groundnut in Gujarat), I have apprised the ministry about it" Faldu told reporters.

"I suggested that NAFED should deploy qualified and expert manpower at all the procurement centres to keep a check on the process. Enhanced security measures are also necessary at godowns. NAFED should pay attention to securing the stock procured by it," Faldu added.

The development came days after NAFED chairman Vaghji Boda had questioned the BJP government's role in the discrepancies in groundnut procurement.

Boda, who had resigned from the Congress few days back, had said that although Gujarat State Co-Operative Cotton Federation Ltd (GUJCOT) was a bankrupt entity, it was chosen by the state to procure groundnuts from farmers on behalf of NAFED.

As many as 27 persons, including officials of NAFED and GUJCOT, have been arrested by the Rajkot police in connection with groundnut stocks found adulterated with soil and pebbles in a godown at Pedhla village in Jetpur taluka two weeks ago.

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Two Congress leaders from Gujarat's Banaskantha district today joined the ruling BJP accusing leaders of the opposition party of engaging in "infighting" instead of addressing people's problems.

Banaskantha district panchayat member Balkrishna Jirala and district Congress general secretary Hareshbhai Vyas were inducted into the BJP, along with 80-odd supporters, in the presence of the ruling party's state general secretary K C Patel and Rajya Sabha MP Shambhunath Tundiya.

The induction function took place at Sri Kamalam, the BJP's headquarters in Gandhinagar.

Expressing confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah, Jirala said, "The country is changing rapidly under the leadership of Narendrabhai Modi and Amitbhai Shah and is achieving new heights of development."



"Instead of addressing the problems faced by the people, Congress leaders are engaged in infighting," he added.

The development comes on a day when former BJP MLA Shamji Chauhan and ex-mayor of Rajkot Ashok Dangar joined the Congress.

Both hail from OBC communities. Chauhan belongs to the politically influential Koli community, while Dangar, who was the Rajkot mayor from 2000 and 2003 - when the Congress was ruling the civic body - hails from the Ahir community.

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Another four days and it will be two months since a man was lynched and another seriously injured by a mob over allegations of slaughtering a cow here.

While 45-year-old Qasim, from Pilkhuwa, succumbed to injuries, 65-year-old Samiuddin of Madapur village, is battling for his life at a hospital in Ghaziabad.

The Supreme Court yesterday took note of a petition by Samiuddin that he and his kin were living in a state of fear as the police forced them to lodge of compliant of road rage instead of lynching over alleged cow slaughter.

The apex court directed a senior Uttar Pradesh police officer to probe the Hapur lynching, terming the allegations of the survivor as "serious".

During a conversation with PTI, locals of Madapur said Samiuddin had to attend a funeral on June 18. Samiuddin's son had gone to another village for work (as a construction labourer). Who else would fetch fodder for his cattle? Unsure of when he would return from the funeral, Samiuddin decided to cut the jowar before going out, a man from the village said.

Samiuddin was cutting fodder in his field, which is equidistant from the Muslim-majority Madapur and Hindu-majority Bajheda Khurd villages, when the mob surrounded him, said a man, who did not wish to be identified.

"He was hit by clods, bricks, locally-made sickle, absolutely anything that the mob could lay hands on," said another local.

Before the Hapur lynching made it to mainstream media, a purported video of the assault had gone viral on the internet.

Another local claimed there was no cow or knife at the scene of the crime, other than a sickle to cut fodder. The uproar was over a cow, but there was no cow at the spot. There was no cow or knife or axe. Samiuddin had a sickle to cut fodder on his one-and-a-half bigha land, he said.

The police showed that a motorcycle hit a boy after which the public started thrashing them (Qasim and Samiuddin), one of Samiuddin's neighbours said.

An elderly man from the village said he was in Ghaziabad when somebody told him over the phone about the incident.

The man said a mob from Bajheda had taken two of our villagers. I asked him to call the village head. The village head was not there. So the villagers called on the police emergency number, he said, adding, "The policemen arrived there but the mob did not stop and killed Qasim.

The elderly man recalled that there has hardly ever been any incident of violence in his village, and certainly none of this magnitude. There have been minor scuffles over time. Once, 15 years ago, a stick fight broke out due to stream water dispute. Three-four people were injured in the incident, he said.

Samiuddin in his plea to SC has sought setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure "an impartial, competent and fair investigation" into "the barbaric incident of mob lynching on June 18 in Hapur district, wherein Samiuddin and Qasim, both belonging to the minority community, were targeted and mercilessly assaulted by a mob of the majority community from the neighbouring village, in the name of cow vigilantism.

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The Madras High Court made strong observations today over 'rampant' corruption in the city corporation and said people were unable to get any document without bribing officials.

Making the observations in an interim order on a petition seeking removal of an encroachment, Justice S M Subramaniam also slammed officials for their inaction to stop violations and sought a report on action taken so far in such cases.

"In every transaction in the corporation, people are absolutely frustrated and the corrupt activities of the officials are rampant. People are unable to get necessary approvals, certificates and documents from the corporation without paying bribe," the judge said.

He made the remarks during the hearing when Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan was present in the court, complying with an earlier order.

The judge refused to accept the submission of Additional Advocate General Manishankar, who appeared on behalf of the commissioner, that the civic body was initiating all steps to eradicate irregularities and illegalities in respect of the constructions and other related offences.

He noted that the action initiated so far was not found satisfactory and people residing in the corporation limits were totally frustrated with the "inaction of the corporation officials to control and minimise illegal building constructions and large scale violations in constructions."



The judge said stern action was highly warranted to curb such irregularities and gave a series of directions to the commissioner, seeking details on building plan approvals, violations if any and follow-up action taken, among others.

Dispensing with further appearance of the commissioner, he said the report should explain the nexus, collusion and corrupt activities largely found between the officials of the corporation, police, local politicians, electricity board authorities and others.

The commissioner was also directed to provide details of the cases booked by the Vigilance Cell of the corporation and subsequent action taken.

The judge then posted the matter to August 27, ordering the official to file the report by then.

Petitioner H Lakshmi has sought a direction to the officials to remove a generator placed in front of her house by allegedly encroaching corporation land.

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Guwahati, August 14 : Ahead of the 2018 Independence Day celebrations, security measures have been beefed up in Assam.





Heavy alert has been sounded in many districts of the state following several militant groups including banned outfit ULFA-I called for boycott the Independence Day celebration.





In Guwahati, over 50 check posts have been set up at all entry and exit points and checking of all vehicles on the city roads.





Security of the Guwahati Railway station has been beefed up considerably by NF Railway in view of the coming Independence Day celebration.





A quick reaction team comprising 13 fully armed RPSF jawans along with 26 RPF personnel under one officer has been on shift duty at the station.





30 GRP personnel along with 10 CRPF jawans are also helping in maintaining security of the station in each shift.





Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service on tracks.





The River Police is also conducting searches on the Brahmaputra river.




The Hyderabad High Court today issued notice to the Telangana Assembly Speaker on a contempt plea filed by two Congress MLAs over non-restoration of their membership despite the court's order.

Justice B Siva Sankara Rao, while dealing with a contempt petition filed by expelled Congress lawmakers Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and S A Sampath Kumar against the Telangana Legislative Assembly Secretary and Law Secretary, also issued notices to the two officials.

On March 13, the two MLAs were expelled from the assembly, a day after "unruly" incidents during the Governor's address to the joint sitting of legislature.

Subsequently, the two had jointly filed a petition in the High Court, challenging their expulsion from the Assembly.

On April 17, the High Court quashed the notification issued by the Legislature Secretary expelling the two MLAs.

Again in June this year the two MLAs had filed a contempt petition against Legislature Secretary and Law Secretary for not restoring their membership.

Justice Sankara Rao issued notice under Form 1 of the Contempt of Courts Act to the Legislature Secretary and Law Secretary, directing them to respond as to why they should not be punished for contempt of court.

The judge also impleaded the Telangana Director General of Police and Superintendents of Police of Nalgonda and Jogulamba Gadwal districts, asking them why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for their 'failure' to provide police security to them (Reddy and Kumar).

The judge also called for information from the Pay and Accounts Department why the salary bills were not prepared and passed in respect of the two MLAs.

The two Secretaries have failed to take any step towards implementation of the judgement of the court, despite the fact that both of them are aware of the judgement and also the consequences of violating the judgement, Justice Rao observed.

The judge also issued a show cause notice to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, directing him to explain as to why action cannot be initiated against him for contempt of court.

The Judge directed the case to be listed on August 28.

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The Madras High Court today transferred to the CBI the probe into the police firing in Tuticorin district during the anti-Sterlite protests that claimed 13 lives and directed the central agency to conclude the investigation within four months.

It also quashed an order detaining six members of the 'Makkal Adhikaram,' a Left outfit accused of inciting violence in the district. Six of them were arrested under the National Security Act.

Transferring the case from Tamil Nadu CB-CID police, the court ordered the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to set up a special team for investigation which shall be concluded within four months.

Among the series of questions raised were how self-loading riffles found their way out of the armoury and came to be used in the firing, how snipers were perched atop vehicles and how persons came to be shot in the face and chest.

"These are the questions that cry for an answer," the court said in its order.

A division bench of Justices CT Selvam and Basheer Ahmed passed the order on a batch of petitions related to the police firing on May 22 when the protest demanding closure of the copper plant of Sterlite, a unit of Vedanta group, over pollution concern, turned violent.

In the police firing, 13 people were killed on May 22 and 23. The deaths drew widespread condemnation by opposition political parties, led by the DMK, in the state.

The petitions which sought different reliefs, including registration of murder case against the police officials for allegedly deploying snipers, probe by a high court judge and the CBI, were heard at the Madurai Bench of the court and the order was delivered at the principal seat here today.

"It can hardly be expected that any investigation either into the wrong doings of the protesters or of the police or administration would inspire confidence if entrusted to agencies of this state," the bench said.

"Caesar's wife must be above suspicion and not only must justice be done it must also be seen to be done," it said.

The bench said the state government was liable to answer certain questions over the firing.

It noted that the absence of the district collector was rather unusual in the face of definite input of anti-social elements infiltrating the 100th day protest against Sterlite on May 22, which prompted promulgation of ban orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the area.

Also, the bench said police firing was ordered by an official who was not a jurisdictional executive magistrate and admittedly on his assuming powers which he did not possess.

The FIR stated that all actions required of the executive magistrate prior to passing the firing order were done, not by the magistrate, but by police officials, the bench said.

Noting that it was no secret that the first bench (of the court headed by the Chief Justice) had earlier questioned why the investigation should not be handed over to the CBI, the judges said: We on independent consideration and for reasons aforesaid would affirm such opinion."



It will be duty of the CBI to get to the bottom of things and file such charge sheet or charge sheets as investigation reveals and necessitates.

The court also said even if the police firing was not premeditated, the officials had not followed the Police Standing Order (which lays down an elaborate step-by-step procedure to disperse unlawful assemblies).

The standing order by itself affords no assurance against subsequent occurrences of similar nature, the bench said.

"We direct the Director General of Police to form a committee towards recasting and modifying the Police Standing Order 703 so as to meet future contingencies," it said.

International standards for the use of force and fire arms as per the United Nations Guidelines as also other material or contemporary literature may usefully be referred to in modifying the standing order.

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The historic Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 72nd Independence Day tomorrow, has been put under a heavy security cover, along with other critical areas in the national capital.

Police are on high alert in the wake of an attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid in the Lutyens' Delhi area yesterday and the incident in the UK, in which a car crashed into the security barriers outside the Parliament building today, a senior police officer said.

He said even though the attack in the UK has not yet been declared as an act of terror, police were not taking any chances.

While nearly 70,000 Delhi Police personnel are guarding the national capital, close to 10,000 cops have been deployed at the Mughal-era fort, which will see the presence of senior ministers, top bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people during the PM's address tomorrow.

Delhi Police personnel have been specifically asked to keep an eye on the sky to ensure that no stray kites are seen in the areas around the Red Fort.

Last year, when the prime minister was addressing the nation on Independence Day, a black kite had landed below the podium.

The kite landed quietly without causing any disturbance and the prime minister had continued his address unfazed.

Kite-catchers have been deployed even though kite-flying has been restricted in the area till 11 am.

Over 500 CCTV cameras have been installed on the routes leading to the Red Fort with over 200 cameras in the fort itself. The footage is being monitored round the clock, police said.

This time, 36 women personnel of the Delhi Police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit will also be guarding the venue with their male counterparts.

Police have already carried out anti-sabotage checks in the area and visited hotels in the vicinity in search of suspicious elements, officials said, adding that a security audit of the residents, including tenants, has been completed.

At the Red Fort, a special team of NSG snipers and commandos will form the inner layer of the security cordon, while anti-aircraft guns have been deployed to thwart any aerial intrusion by objects like drones and projectiles, senior police officials said.

Delhi Police has already prohibited aerial activities, including para-gliding, flying UAVs and hot air balloons, across the city.

The buildings facing the Red Fort will be secured by police and paramilitary personnel.

Security along the route to be taken by the Prime Minister's cavalcade, from his official residence to the Red Fort, will be monitored with the help of hundreds of CCTV cameras.

Special "spotters" of Delhi Police and the paramilitary will keep an eye on parking areas. Sniffer dogs will also be part of the extensive security deployment.

According to a statement by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, train services will run as usual. However, stations like Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate and ITO will have restricted entry and exit during the ceremony owing to security considerations.

Parking will not be available at the stations till 2 pm tomorrow in view of the security measures, the DMRC said.

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The authorities in Kasganj are on high alert and have denied permission to take out any tiranga yatra' tomorrow to ensure there is no repeat of communal violence over a similar procession on Republic Day, officials said.

In Agra as well, police have braced themselves for any trouble over a Rashtriya Bajrang Dal plan to hold a tricolour yatra without seeking the administration's permission.

Prohibitory orders are in force in both places, officials said.

A large police force has been deployed in Kasganj to maintain law and order, and over 100 people have been asked to execute a bond to maintain peace, an official said.

The Uttar Pradesh Home department has put the district authorities on high alert and stern action will be taken against anyone taking the law into their own hands, the official said.

Superintendent of Police Shivhari Meena had sent a letter to the Director General of Police in Lucknow, seeking the additional force.

"Two organisations have sought permission from the administration to take out a 'tiranga yatra' on Independence Day, and the police have recommended that it should not be allowed to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," the SP said.

"No permission has been given by the administration to any yatra on Independence Day. If school students want to take out a tableau, they are allowed. No other yatra will be allowed by the administration, if it is not taken out traditionally," Kasganj Additional Superintendent of Police Pavitra Mohan Tripathi said.

A young man was shot dead on Republic Day during a 'tiranga yatra', after which a series of violent incidents took place in Kasganj.

In Agra, the district administration has not given permission for any rally on Independence Day, and said that nobody had sought it.

But Rashtriya Bajrang Dal (RBD) divisional chief Govind Parashar told PTI that volunteers from the outfit will march from three different locations in the city to mark Independence Day.

Parashar claimed no permission was required. "It is our right and we shall do it come what may," he said.

An official said, "No one had so far approached us for any permission. If necessary, a decision would be taken at the appropriate time."



Parashar had earlier threatened to stall the screening of the movie 'Loveratri' for allegedly portraying the Navratri festival in a bad light.

The Rashtriya Bajrang Dal is part of the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), a new Hindu outfit launched by Pravin Togadia after he quit the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

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Security has been tightened across Punjab and Haryana ahead of Independence Day celebrations, officials said today.

Security has been strengthened at the venues, where dignitaries will unfurl the tricolour, they said.

A strict vigil is being maintained at important railway stations, including Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Panipat, Ambala, besides key inter-state bus terminals and other vital installations, the officials said today.

Special security arrangements have been made in border districts of Punjab, they said.

Police and other security personnel have intensified checking of vehicles in the two states and Chandigarh.

CCTV cameras have been installed near vital installations and vulnerable points to ensure a peaceful Independence Day.

Meanwhile, police officials across Punjab have asked owners of guest houses, cyber cafes, telephone booths and taxi services to keep a watch on their customers and report on movement of any suspicious person.

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The row over allotment of burial space for DMK chief M Karunanidhi shows no signs of abating, with party leader M K Stalin today saying he



literally 'pleaded' with Chief Minister K Palaniswami for space on the Marina beach front.

The government, on its part, maintained that its decision to allot burial space for the Dravidian stalwart elsewhere was taken considering legal issues, but asserted it gave "unprecedented respect" to the leader by ensuring state honours.

Stalin, DMK working president, said he decided not to pay heed to his senior colleagues' suggestion that he need not meet Palaniswami to make a plea on the issue and that they would do the job.

"I was prepared to lose my dignity and honour for the sake of Thalaivar (leader--Karunanidhi) and met the chief minister where we made our case (for space at Marina).

"He cited rules to say it was not possible and that even legal opinion was in this regard," he said at an urgent meeting of the DMK executive committee to mourn Karunanidhi's demise.

"I told (the CM) that legal advisers will only reflect the government...I literally pleaded with the chief minister, holding his hands, and asked his support for us in fulfilling our Thalaivar's desire (of being buried near the Anna memorial)," he said.

DMK founder CN Annadurai, fondly addressed as Anna, is the mentor of Karunanidhi from whom the latter took over the reins of the party and the government after his death in 1969.

A grim-faced Stalin, who broke down occasionally while reminiscing about his father, said Palaniswami "did not oblige and just said the matter will be considered to see us off."



Later, the state government announced allocating space near the memorials of former chief ministers C Rajagopalachari and K Kamaraj at Guindy, following which DMK knocked at the court door, he said.

Stalin credited the DMK's legal wing for securing a favourable verdict in the case.

The DMK working president said his father had endured so many struggles with success, adding "even after his death he won".

Reacting to the criticism, the ruling AIADMK said the government could not initially allot space at the Marina beach for burying the DMK leader due to pending cases against construction of memorials on the famous sands.

Senior party leader and state Fisheries minister D Jayakumar said an AIADMK delegation led by deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam had earlier visited Karunanidhi's residence at Gopalapuram to enquire about his health when he was ill and that it was a matter of "political decency."



"We later paid respects (to his mortal remains) led by the chief Minister at Rajaji Hall. On behalf of the government, I had participated in his burial on the direction of the chief minister," he told reporters.

The government had offered land elsewhere as possible legal issues could crop up with his body lying in state, but "we accepted the court order," directing the government to allot space at the Marina, he added.

Adequate police protection was provided even during Karunanidhi's hospitalisation and his susbequent death, Jayakumar said.

"The Amma (Jayalalithaa) government provided him unprecedented respect by ensuring state honours," he said.

Jayakumar said criticism against the government would have been fair only if it had not allotted burial space at the Marina for Karunanidhi even if there were no cases.

The government showed "no political vendetta," in this matter, he said.

Taking on DMK's ally Congress on the matter, he said even former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao was not buried in Delhi after his death.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
State-owned on Tuesday reported widening of loss to Rs 24.09 billion for the first quarter ended June 30, hurt by higher provisioning for bad loans.

The bank had posted a loss of Rs 8.53 billion in the April-June quarter of last fiscal, 2017-18.

Its total provisioning for non performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans more than doubled to Rs 52.36 billion during the first quarter of 2018-19, from Rs 20.35 billion in the year-ago period.

The provision for bad loan alone was Rs 46.02 billion, as against Rs 18.73 billion.

State-owned insurance behemoth has expressed interest in taking up to 51 per cent stake in the debt ridden The Union Cabinet has already given its approval to the proposal on August 1.

The total income of the bank for the quarter under review also declined to Rs 64.02 billion, as against Rs 67.03 billion a year ago, IDBI said in a regulatory filing.

The bank's gross non-performing assets (NPAs) soared to Rs 578.06 billion, or 30.78 per cent of total advances, in the April-June quarter of 2018-19, from Rs 501.73 billion or 24.11 per cent in the year-ago period.

Net too increased to 18.76 per cent, up from 15.8 per cent in the year-ago quarter.

The bank has made a preferential allotment of equity shares for Rs 78.81 billion to the Government of India against the fund infusion made on March 27, 2018.

Finance Minister had said the government has already made a capital infusion of about Rs 160 billion in and will be getting a "strong organisation which has the capacity not only to service its debts but also strengthen and grow from here onwards".

After the transaction, IDBI Bank would become a subsidiary of and the insurer would have 51 per cent stake.

Currently, LIC holds 7.98 per cent stake in the debt-ridden public sector bank.
UTI Mutual Fund today said it has appointed its senior-most official Imtaiyazur Rahman as the acting chief executive officer after Leo Puri stepped down as MD and CEO.

Puri yesterday quit as managing director and CEO of UTI Mutual Fund after the end of his five-year tenure as board room battle between Indian and foreign shareholders cast shadow over his extension.

"The board of UTI AMC (Asset Management Company) has appointed its senior-most official - Group President and Chief Finance Officer Imtaiyazur Rahman -- as the Acting CEO with effect from August 14, " the fund house said in a statement.

Rahman will look after the day to day operations of the company, working closely with the rest of the senior leadership team.

Commenting on the appointment, UTI AMC Director D K Mehrotra said that Rahman has been with UTI for a long time and has performed a good job in various functional areas.

Earlier on Sunday, Puri had said that he did not want an extension as long as the board was sparring.

However, T Rowe Price International, the biggest shareholder of UTI MF, wanted Puri to stay on until at least the initial public offer (IPO) of the fund house and even approached Bombay High Court on this issue.

Yesterday, the Bombay High Court adjourned the hearing of the petition filed by T Rowe Price to August 28 after the US-based shareholder sought more time.

The row has escalated with domestic shareholders asking regulator Sebi for more time to meet a regulatory order to reduce their stakes and also want the foreign investors to be asked to do the same.

Officials, however, said the regulator does not see merit in this demand as this particular foreign shareholder, T Rowe Price of the US, does not have cross holding in another fund house in India.

The diktat applies to some Indian shareholders only in case of UTI MF as they have their own fund houses as well.

Puri is also said to have defended the performance of the fund house during his five-year tenure, amid allegations from some quarters that the growth has been muted during his leadership.

T Rowe Price, which owns 26 per cent stake in UTI AMC, had last week approached the court seeking a direction to the finance ministry and markets regulator Sebi to prevent certain PSUs from stalling the company's bid to come up with an IPO.

In its petition, T Rowe Price had claimed that four public sector undertakings -- State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda -- were trying to stall the company's proposed IPO.

The petition had also sought implementation of Sebi's rules and regulations and to extend the term of Puri for another year to see the IPO through.

The petition had also sought a direction to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to ask the four domestic shareholders to bring down their stake in the fund house to 10 per cent each from the present 18.50 per cent.

Earlier in March, Sebi issued a directive that no shareholder of one asset management company can own more than 10 per cent in another, and those who own such stakes need to bring them down.

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The body of former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who passed away yesterday morning, will be used for educational purposes by medical students, a senior doctor at the SSKM hospital said today.

Chatterjee's body was last evening donated to the anatomy department of the SSKM hospital here by his family members.

The veteran leader passed away at the age of 89 following multiple organ failure.

"The body has been embalmed to protect it from decomposition. Before that, a surgeon from the plastic surgery department retrieved Chatterjee's skin, which could benefit not just medical students, but also patients with burn injuries," Dr Asis Ghoshal, head of the anatomy department at the hospital, said.

Much like his mentor and former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, Chatterjee had pledged to donate his body in early 2000 at the age of 73.

Basu passed away in 2010 at the age of 95.

Ghoshal said the former speaker's corneas were donated to the Priyamvada Birla Aravind Hospital.

"Every part of Chatterjee's body will be used for education and research programmes. We are preserving his bones and organs as per norms," he added.

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Fourteen officials of the border guarding force Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been decorated with the President's Police Medals for meritorious and distinguished service on the eve of Independence Day.

Those decorated include Deputy Commandant and Senior Administrative Officer Devinder Pal (distinguished service) and Commandant of the 51st battalion M S Guleria (meritorious service), among others.

The nearly 90,000-strong force is primarily tasked with guarding the 3,488 km Sino-India border apart from other internal security duties, including conducting anti-Naxal operations.

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Eighteen officials of the Railways' police force have been awarded the President's Police Medals for meritorious and distinguished service on the eve of Independence Day.

Those decorated include Dr S N Pandey, Inspector General, Railway Board, for distinguished service. Seventeen others were awarded for meritorious services.

The winners of the President's Police Medal for meritorious services include Sanjay Kumar Mishra, DIG/RPSF (Railway Protection Special Force), Nagsen Shetiba Menger, Sub-Inspector/Central Railway, Mal Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector/North Western Railway, among others.

The Railway Protection Force is a 65,000-strong security force entrusted with protecting passengers, passenger area and Railway property.

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The traffic light near the Janpath Metro Station goes red and 10-year-old Rohini scurries between vehicles, knocking at windows and meekly asking, "Jhanda le lo, sirf 10 rupaye ka hai".

It's the day before India celebrates its 72nd Independence Day and the young girl selling many things tricolour, including wristbands and pen stands, is on the fringes of the freedom festival.

But there are enough takers for her wares, an essential add-on for those who want to flag saffron-white-green on their cars and bikes, and maybe their homes too.

Rohini herself is oblivious to the import of the day. All she knows is that this is a time of the year that she manages to make the most money.

Dressed in an olive green kurta, faded and torn at places, with her array of items carefully tucked under the arm, she has been selling the paraphernalia for the last two days.

"I usually sell fans, but for the last two days I have been selling flags for August 15," she told PTI.

Her family of five stays in a slum cluster not far from Janpath, the busy shopping area in central Delhi. Rohini commutes to Janpath every day, finding time in the day to go to the Janpath Metro Station, where an NGO teaches children to read and write.

The pen stand goes for Rs 100, which she brings down to Rs 40, and the wristband for Rs 20.

"I make Rs 500-1,000 a day at this time of the year," she said.

A sudden burst of rain brings an unexpected stop to the business and the kids run to find shelter.

When the sky clears, the competition gets more fierce with others -- Shiva and Shyam among others -- joining in, all of them rushing to probable customers in a bid to outsell each other.

Age is not a factor. Shyam is 35 years old and Shiva just eight, but their stories of struggle are the same.

"It's tough everywhere, we buy all these things from Sadar Bazaar. There, too, it is difficult because of the crowd," said Shyam.

Shyam also sells garlands at the crossroads on a regular day.

"We get more business around August 15 than other days." he said.

Shiva, who dreams of a better future for himself and his family, said he is responsible for his grandmother and 15-year-old sister.

"I am the only one earning in the family, but I am saving it up for my sister's wedding," said the young boy.

He doesn't have a father and his mother ran away with another man, Shiva said in a matter of fact tone.

"Some NGO people come to teach us at the metro station, but work is more important," he said before running off to knock at windows of cars that have stopped at the red light.

After all, it is Independence Day eve and there is no time to be wasted. At least not for these traffic light sellers, an important but often overlooked part of any celebration in the city, be it Christmas and Valentine's Day or Republic Day and Independence Day.

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A 42-year-old Indian Kailash Mansarovar pilgrim was beheaded by the rear blade of a helicopter at a remote helipad in Nepal's Hilsa region today, according to a media report.

The deceased, identified as Nagendra Kumar Kartik Mehta, a resident of Mumbai, was en route to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, My Republica reported.

According to assistant chief district officer, Mahesh Kumar Pokharel, the helicopter was on the ground at the time.

The pilgrim was supposed to move away from the chopper after getting off but accidentally he moved towards the rear part and was hit by the spinning tail rotor, according to the police.

The body will be taken to Simikot for a post-mortem and to hand over to the next to kin.

The rear part of the helicopter was damaged.

Nepal's Simikot and Hilsa are connected to the rest of the world only by small aircraft or helicopters and there is no other way to travel in and out of these places.

The pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibetan region of China is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Every year, hundreds of Indians undertake the 'yatra' which involves trekking under inhospitable conditions.

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In a freak accident, an Indian Kailash Mansarovar pilgrim died today after being hit by the rear blade of a helicopter at a remote helipad in Nepal's Hilsa region, an Indian embassy official said.

The deceased, identified as 42-year-old Kartik Nagendra Kumar Mehta, a resident of Mumbai, died when he rushed to board the helicopter and accidently hit its tail rotor, the official told PTI.

He died on the spot.

It was a very sad incident and the Indian mission is coordinating with tour operators and ensuring all possible support, the official added.

According to My Republica, the deceased was beheaded with the tail rotor of the Manang Air helicopter.

Assistant chief district officer Mahesh Kumar Pokharel said that the helicopter helicopter was on the ground at the time of the incident. The rear part of the helicopter was damaged.

The body will be taken to Simikot for a post-mortem and to hand over to the next to kin.

Nepal's Simikot and Hilsa are connected to the rest of the world only by small aircraft or helicopters and there is no other way to travel in and out of these places.

The pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibetan region of China is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Every year, hundreds of Indians undertake the 'yatra' which involves trekking under inhospitable conditions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indonesian prosecutors have sought an 18-month prison term for a woman who was charged with blasphemy after she complained about the volume of a mosque's loudspeakers.

The ethnic Chinese defendant, Meiliana, 44, was arrested on May 18 about two years after her case triggered a riot in Tanjung Balai, a port town in North Sumatra province.

A spokesman at the local prosecutor's office, Sumanggar Siagian, said today the sentencing demand for Meiliana was made at the District Court in Medan, the province's capital, yesterday.

Mobs burned and ransacked at least 14 Buddhist temples throughout Tanjung Balai in a July 2016 riot after reports of Meiliana's complaints emerged.

Prosecutors said the defendant had violated Indonesia's criminal code by committing blasphemy against Islam, the dominant faith in Indonesia.

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Israel will reopen its only goods crossing with the Gaza Strip tomorrow if calm is maintained, after having prevented most deliveries since July 9 over border tensions, the defence ministry said today.

"Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman this afternoon held a situation assessment" with security chiefs, his office said in a statement.

"In the meeting it was decided that if the quiet which has been maintained on the Gaza border continues until tomorrow morning, Kerem Shalom crossing will open tomorrow at 9:00 am (0600 GMT) and the fishing zone will be expanded back to nine miles from the beach."



Kerem Shalom has been closed to most goods since July 9.

Fuel has intermittently been banned during that time, including since August 2, though food and medicine has been allowed.

Last month, Israel also reduced the limits of the fishing zone it allows fishermen off the blockaded Gaza Strip to three nautical miles offshore.

Gaza border protests and clashes broke out on March 30 and have led to months of tension that have also seen several military flare-ups.

Israel has also been seeking to stop kites and balloons carrying firebombs over the border fence to burn Israeli farmland.

At least 169 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli fire since March 30, mostly during clashes and protests.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July.

Israel said its blockade was necessary to keep Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used for military purposes.

There have been efforts by United Nations officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, though Israeli officials have not commented on them.

A fragile truce came into effect Thursday night, mediated by Egypt and the UN, according to a source close to the negotiations.

Thursday saw extensive Israeli air strikes in retaliation for the launching of more than 180 rockets and mortar rounds by Hamas and its allies beginning on Wednesday night.

Three Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes, including a mother and her 18-month-old daughter, while seven Israelis were wounded by Palestinian rocket fire as hundreds took refuge in bomb shelters.

It was one of the most serious escalations since the 2014 Gaza war and followed months of rising tensions.

Gaza's only other goods crossing is at Rafah on the Egyptian border.

That checkpoint had largely been kept closed in recent years, but Egypt opened it in mid-May and it is has mostly remained so since.

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Railway Minister has directed that the issues raised by with regard to fast-tracking clearance at the railways' research and development wing RDSO, third-party certification and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would be examined by the Railway Board, according to a statement from the national transporter on Tuesday.

Goyal said this during round-table talks on August 13 with a high-level delegation of leading working in the area of railway construction, maintenance and Information Technology, along with Chairman Ashwani Lohani and other senior officials, the statement said.

Presentations made by the 13 American companies covered a large range of products and services such as energy efficiency, anti-corrosion coating, fire protection, use of high-speed internet/cloud computing for railway passenger reservation and passenger experience, composite sleepers for bridges, modern method of construction of bridges, among other things, the statement said.

Goyal directed his officials that a detailed examination of how these companies could meet Indian Railways' requirements at competitive costs be carried out.

The minister, according to the statement, also told the US representatives that his focus was on the Make-in-India initiative that would make many of the products competitive in the country.

He also directed that all the issues raised by "in respect of fast-track clearance at RDSO, third party certification and clarity on GST, would be examined by and would be resolved or clarified".
Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said today that "around 30" have been killed after a motorway bridge collapsed in the northwestern port city of Genoa.

"Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious condition," Salvini told reporters in the Sicilian city of Catania.

The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, and the country's deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further.

Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were "tens of victims", while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged to the ground.

Cars and trucks were trapped in the rubble and nearby buildings damaged by vast chunks of concrete, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

Italian media reported that 200 metres of the "Morandi" bridge had fallen away.

The Italian fire service said that the viaduct, located in an industrial area in the west of the city, collapsed at around noon (1000 GMT).

"I'm following with the utmost apprehension what is happening in Genoa and what looks like it could be an immense tragedy," transport and infrastructure minister Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter.

Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said he was following events in Genoa "up to the minute" and thanked the emergency services for their swift response.

A fire service spokesperson told AFP that the bridge had mostly fallen on rail tracks 100 metres below and that "cars and trucks" had fallen with the rubble.

"Firefighters are working together and teams of rescuers and police sniffer dogs have been mobilised," emergency services said on Twitter.

Shares in Italian company Atlantia, which runs much of Italy's motorway network including the collapsed stretch of the A10, plunged on the Milan stock exchange after the

They were down 9.7 per cent at 22.48 euros in mid-afternoon, having earlier been temporarily suspended when their drop exceeded 10 per cent.

Genoa is located between the sea and the mountains of northwestern Italy. Its rugged terrain means that motorways that run through the city and the surrounding area are characterised by long viaducts and tunnels.

The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, overspans dozens of railway lines as well as an industrial zone housing several factories.

One factory, immediately next to one of the viaduct's support columns, was virtually empty today due to a national holiday, and seems to have sustained minimal damage.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that France was "by Italy's side in this tragedy and is ready to offer all necessary support".

Today's incident is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of economic stagnation.

In March last year, a couple were killed when a motorway overpass collapsed on their car near Ancona on the country's Adriatic coast.

A pensioner died in October 2016 when his car was crushed by a collapsing bridge over the SS36 dual carriageway between Milan and Lecco.

That incident was blamed on bureaucratic bungling which led to a fatal delay in the bridge being closed after it was reported to be showing significant cracks.

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BJP in Tamil Nadu today said it was wrong to draw any link between the party and former chief minister M Karunanidhi's son M K Alagiri, whose remarks have indicated a possible succession war in the DMK.

State unit General Secretary Vanathi Srinivasan dismissed talk that BJP was behind Alagiri, expelled from DMK in 2014, taking on his younger brother and party working president M K Stalin.

"It has become a routine to blame BJP for each and everything happening in Tamil Nadu and it is wrong to link BJP and Alagiri," she told reporters here on the sidelines of an event where the party launched a drive to mobilise relief material for flood-hit people of Kerala.

Srinivasan comments come on a day when DMK deputy general secretary Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan accused the BJP of trying to "divide the party".

Jagadeesan made the remark at the DMK Executive Meeting in Chennai, where party leaders paid rich tributes to Karunanidhi, who passed away on August 7, and rallied behind Stalin.

She also stressed on unity in the party for its well-being.

A day ahead of the meeting, Alagiri had claimed that all loyal party workers were with him and accused Stalin of blocking his return to the DMK and selling party posts.

Srinivasan said even when Kamala Hassan launched his new political party, people said BJP was behind it.

The BJP leader also rejected charges that the BJP was behind the decision of the Tamil Nadu government not to provide a place on the Marina Beanch in Chennai for the burial of Karunanidhi.

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Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra expressed grief TODAY over the demise of Somnath Chatterjee, former speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Communist veteran Chatterjee passed away at a private hospital in Kolkata last morning following multiple organ failure. He was 89.

In a condolence message, Vohra prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in their hour of grief, an official spokesman said.

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Telugu film actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena party today released a 12-point 'Vision Document' promising, among other things, political reservation to the backward classes in the legislative bodies.

Kalyan released the document here, saying ensuring a livelihood with better standards to all would be the guiding motto of his party agenda.

While the main opposition YSR Congress has already released its 2019 election manifesto, the Jana Sena is the second political party to come out with its promises to people.

"Clean water to drink, clean air to breathe and healthy surroundings should be accessible to everyone.

Jana Sena will strive to ensure this. Building a civil society with complete protection to women is Jana Senas strong resolve. Our manifesto will reflect this," Kalyan said.

In the vision document, the Jana Sena promised 33 per cent political reservation for women, supply of LPG free of cost to all women, increasing reservation to the backward classes by 5 per cent, if feasible;



reservations for Kapu community by incorporating the provision in the Ninth Schedule of Constitution and transfer of Rs 2500 to Rs 3500 a month directly into womens bank accounts instead of monthly ration supplies.

It also promised setting up of old-age homes by the government, scrapping of contributory pension scheme for government employees, a separate body for welfare of economically-backward families among the upper castes and residential hostels for EBC students.

Formed just a couple of months ahead of the 2014 elections, the Jana Sena did not enter the electoral fray but supported the TDP-BJP combine then.

Last year, however, Kalyan fell out with the TDP and the BJP and announced that his party would contest all the 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh in 2019.

Kalyan said the Jana Sena would ally with the Left parties and work to capture power in the state.

The actor has been extensively touring the state, beginning from Srikakulam in north coastal Andhra, for over four months and looks set to become a major challenger to the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

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Union Minister Prakash Javadekar ruled out today the BJP going soft on the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha for the 2019 Assembly polls after its support to the NDA candidate in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman election.

The senior BJP leader accused the Naveen Patnaik government of having destroyed democracy in the state by introducing "officer raj" and asserted that his party would fight the BJD in the state Assembly and Lok Sabha polls due next year.

"Several parties supported the NDA candidate in the election for Rajya Sabha deputy chairman post like the BJD. It does not mean, the BJP is going to soften its stand towards BJD," the Union HRD minister told reporters here, while winding up his three-day visit to this south Odisha city.

Hitting out at the BJD government, Javedakar said the regional party has destroyed democracy and introduced "officer raj" where bureaucrats are taking the decisions.

"Bureaucrats are utilised as a tool to work in favour of the BJD. There is no democracy in the state. The government is working only for the BJD," he said.

The Union minister also accused officers of showing favouritism in selection of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY), social security schemes and even construction of toilets.

Dubbing the BJD regime as "pc" (percentage) government, Javadekar said, "The contractors are BJD workers and corruption is rampant everywhere as commission is given for different works."



"As per information given by party functionaries from all seven segments in the Berhampur parliamentary constituency in the last two days, there was a cut of Rs 2,000 for each toilet in the rural areas," he claimed



Claiming that the people of Odisha are "disillusioned" and "fed up" with the BJD regime for its "misrule" and "backwardness" in the state, he said people are "impressed" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his development model.

Javadekar also slammed the BJD government for failing to return money to poor investors who were duped by chit-fund firms in the state.

"I have asked the partymen to collect applications from victims of chit-fund scam and to dispatch it to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for refund," he said.

Voicing confidence about the BJP forming government in Odisha, Javadekar claimed the party would also win many Lok Sabha seats and party workers have been given tasks on a daily basis in order to achieve this goal.

BJP workers would work as per specified tasks entrusted to them in order to achieve the target of winning 120 of the 147 assembly seats in the state, he said.

During his visit, Javadekar held discussions with partymen from Berhampur, Chhatrapur, Chikiti, Gopalpur, Mohana, Digapahandi and Paralakhemundi assembly segments.

Reacting to Javadekar's claims, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said the BJP leaders are "worried" after witnessing the pace of development in Odisha under the leadership of Patnaik.

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Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture department and National Seed Corporation (NSC) today signed an MoU for setting up a seed processing and storage centre in Kathua district of the state.

The centre would come as a big relief for farmers of the state as the state agriculture department procured processed seeds from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, an official spokesman said.

It will augment quality seed supply to farmers which would be readily available to them in adequate quantity and at the right time, he said.

The state is entering in MoU with NSC with the indent for foundation and certified seed production during Kharif and Rabi season of 2019-20 to 2021-22. The MoU will be effective for a lease period of 40 years, the spokesman said.

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A junior civil judge of a court in Suryapet district was arrested here today on charge of raping a 29-year-old advocate, police said.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that Satyanarayana Rao (28) had sexually exploited her after promising to marry her and got engaged to another woman, they said.

Based on the complaint, a case of rape under relevant IPC sections and under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was registered against him on August 3, they added.

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IAS officer K S Srinivas has taken over as the Chairman of the city-based Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), an agency under the Union Commerce Ministry.

Prior to his new assignment, he had served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare in the Ministry of Agriculture, an MPEDA release said here today.

He assumed charge of MPEDA yesterday, it said.

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A key partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition today condemned moves for a long term truce agreement with Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, hawkish head of the religious nationalist Jewish Home party, said his party would oppose such an agreement if it were put to a government vote.

"In light of the agreement being forged between Israel and Hamas, (Bennett) announced tonight that the Jewish Home Party would oppose an agreement based on a temporary calm," his office said in a statement. Such a deal "would allow Hamas to rearm and regroup for the next round of terror," it said.

Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008. A wave of protests and clashes erupted along the strip's border with Israel on March 30, since when at least 169 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. Since July there have also been three major military flare-ups between Israel and Hamas, with Palestinian rocket and mortar fire into Israel answered with Israeli air strikes and tank fire.

A fragile ceasefire came into effect Thursday night, mediated by Egypt and the United Nations, according to a source close to the negotiations.

The defence ministry said that Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman had ordered some easing of Israel's blockade of the coastal Palestinian territory if the current calm was maintained.

It said that Israel would reopen its only goods crossing with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning if there were no incidents, and restore Gaza's offshore fishing zone to nine miles, which had been reduced last month to three.

There have been efforts by United Nations officials and Egypt to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, though there has not so far been any official comment from the Israeli government.

Bennet slammed his political rival Lieberman's decision to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

"Lieberman's gestures to Hamas are a mistake -- Jewish Home ministers will vote against the Israel-Hamas agreement," he wrote in the English-language statement.

Israeli media said that the security cabinet was expected to convene on Wednesday to debate the Gaza situation.

"After 130 days under attack and rocket fire, we must not reward terrorists," Bennet added. "The terrorists will learn that terror pays, and Israel's power of deterrence will be harmed.

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Once the fabric that spun the freedom yarn and now the stuff of contemporary fashion, the humble khadi has come a long way since it became a symbol of revolt against the British in 1918.

Khadi earned itself a place in history when Mahatma Gandhi announced the decision to boycott foreign cloth and urged Indians to spin their own yarn during the Swadeshi movement.

Exactly a century later, khadi is making yet another statement -- that of contemporary, comfortable and chic fashion.

The hand spun coarse cloth, which was largely worn as straight fit garments, has evolved into a versatile fabric that lends itself beautifully to an array of silhouettes -- from shirts and dresses to jackets and palazzo pants, and even wedding wear.

"Khadi is now trendy and sets the cash registers ringing," said Sachin Kharbanda, MD of Lakshita Fashions, a fashion brand that creates ethnic, western and Indo-Western designs for contemporary women.

According to him, the fabric has gained a strong foothold in the organic fashion movement garnering a certain class appeal, and is now emerging as a popular alternative to georgette, chiffon and net.

To get a softer version of the erstwhile coarse yarn, the fabric is often blended with silk, lycra, cotton and other man-made eco-fibres.

Rupal Dalal of JD Institute of Fashion Technology explains the blending is necessary to improve the properties of the original fabric, and also to make it softer.

"Cow dung and silicone are used as softening materials. Value addition is given by hand painting, printing, and surface ornamentation techniques," she said.

Dalal's favourite silhouette in khadi these days is jackets.

"Jackets with asymmetrical cuts, long line cuts, and lapel jackets make for an eclectic fusion of traditional and modern look," she said.

But it is khadi's agreement with Indian climates that has led to its resurgence as a comfort fabric.

"The fabric is light and airy. It has a unique property of keeping the wearer cool in summers and warm during the winters," said Ayushi Gudwani, founder and CEO of FableStreet.

The online portal that makes tailored-fit office wear for women offers designs with minimal details and structured outlines in the form of khadi dresses, trousers and jackets.

Giving a luxuriously stylish edge to the fabric is noted Indian fashion designer Sandeep Khosla, best known for infusing Indian craftsmanship with European tailored silhouettes.

Khadi finds a place in both his pret and couture labels -- GULABO and Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla respectively.

"For us it isn't merely comfort wear, it is a heavenly and cherished canvas for our couture too," Khosla said.

While the former features easy-breezy oversized dresses and tops as fusion wear, the other has intricately embroidered and embellished ensembles as bridal wear.

"Every garment we create with khadi is an innovation because it is original design. But working with it as occasion and wedding wear is the most satisfying. It is seeing the old through new eyes," the designer said.

With khadi being used for western wear and ethnic, it is becoming fabric of choice for several women.

Like Delhi-based Bhavya Durgesh Nandini, who said wearing it has become "kind of unique".

"Not many people our age wear it because they don't know about it. But I like khadi because of how it looks and feels," the 23-year-old said.

For Patrali Ghosh, a professor at Calcutta University, choosing khadi is beyond just fashion.

"I love wearing khadi kurtas and sarees. The fabric is immensely comfortable, and there is of course the history attached to it," said the 50-year-old.

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Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has expressed grief over the demise of Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon today.

Tandon, who was one of the founder members of the BJP's parent organisation Jan Sangh, died after suffering a heart attack at a government hospital in Raipur today. He was 90.

In a condolence message, the chief minister said that Tandon was a senior leader who devoted his whole life to inculcate value-based politics and stood by the poor and needy people.

He became the governor of Chhattisgarh in July 2014.

Khattar conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed the Almighty to rest the soul in eternal peace.

Meanwhile, the deceased's son Sanjay Tandon, who is the Chandigarh BJP president, rushed to Raipur.

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On the eve of Independence Day, President Ram Nath Kovind, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has approved 131 Gallantry Awards to armed forces personnel and members of paramilitary forces, which include one Kirti Chakra and 20 Shaurya Chakras, the Defence Ministry said today.

He also approved three Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 93 Sena Medals (Gallantry).

Below is the list of the awardees.

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The Madras High Court issued contempt notices to two senior officials of the Tamil Nadu government today for not conducting local body polls as per its orders.

The notices, returnable by September 11, were issued to Principal Secretary to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Hans Raj Verma and Principal Secretary to Municipal Administration and Water Supply Harmandar Singh.

A division bench, comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice M Sundar, ordered issue of notices while passing interim orders on a contempt petition by DMK leader R S Bharathi.

He had sought initiation of contempt proceedings against officials for not complying with the September 4, 2017 order of the court that the local body polls be completed by November 17 last year.

The local body polls were originally slated to be held in October 2016, but cancelled by a single judge bench of the high court on a petition by the DMK, seeking among others appropriate reservation as per the latest census and rotation of seats according to the norms.

During the hearing of the contempt plea yesterday, the State Election Commission (SEC) had informed the court that its hands are tied against conducting the local body elections immediately in view of amendments to various acts related to the local bodies.

The amendment had deleted a provision which allowed elections without completing the delimitation process based on the latest census.

Hence, the elections cannot be held without completing the delimitation process, the SEC had said.

In its order today, the bench said an ordinance to amend the acts was issued a day before the high court gave the September 4 order on petitions seeking conduct of the polls.

"It appears that the proposal for promulgation of the ordinance has been moved at the instance of the (two) officials. Prima facie contempt has been made out. Statutory notice is issued to the officials for wilful disobedience (of the court order) in passing the ordinance," it said.

The petitioner contended that the action of the officials showed sheer abuse of power and to overreach the court proceedings.

The court had earlier directed the SEC to submit the poll schedule on August 6.

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The Madras High Court today transferred to the CBI the probe into the police firing in Tuticorin district during the anti-Sterlite protests that claimed 13 lives and directed the central agency to conclude the investigation in four months.

It also quashed an order detaining six members of the 'Makkal Adhikaram,' a Left outfit accused of inciting violence in the district.

Six of them were arrested under the National Security Act.

A division bench of Justices CT Selvam and Basheer Ahmed passed the orders on a batch of petitions related to the Tuticorin police firing.

On May 22, after the Tuticorin district collectorate was picketed to seek closure of the copper plant of Sterlite, a unit of the Vedanata group, over pollution concerns. Large-scale violence had followed.

In the consequent police firing, 13 people were killed on May 22 and 23.

The High Court had on July 9 directed the state government to furnish a video in its possession allegedly showing some anti-Sterlite protesters with petrol bombs during the stir in May as it observed a CBI probe into the violent incidents will instill confidence in the minds of the people.

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Eighteen people were injured after a moderate earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale jolted southwest China's Yunnan Province, local authorities have said.

The quake damaged over 6,000 homes and affected more than 48,000 residents in Tonghai and Huaning counties and in the district of Jiangchuan, all administered by the city of Yuxi, the provincial civil affairs department said in a statement.

The injured are being treated in a hospital and are said to be in a stable condition.

The epicentre of the quake which struck yesterday was at a depth of seven kilometres, Earthquake Networks Centre said.

"Stuff in my office started shaking. I heard a bang, and then the drinking fountain fell," Chang Li, a nurse with the county's orthopedic hospital in Tonghai, was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.



Chang rushed to her home and found her mother's legs buried in the debris of their home damaged by the quake.

"Police and medical staff helped send her to the hospital," Chang said.

At the epicentre in the township of Sijie in Tonghai, hundreds of residents spent the night at a 16,000-square-meter shelter near the county government.

In Zhewan village, one of the worst-hit villages in Sijie, 80 per cent of homes were damaged, according to Gao Guangjin, a Party official with the village.

Gao said that around 600 of the 830 residents in the village spent the night in 130 tents.

The provincial civil affairs department has allocated 200 tents, 600 beds and 1,000 quilts to quake-affected regions.

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A proposal to allot government land for housing projects for police personnel in major cities of Maharashtra is under consideration, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said.

The government was considering a proposal to provide houses to police personnel in cities such as Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune by providing land to state housing agencies CIDCO and MHADA, the chief minister said.

Also, 43 projects including 21 residential ones for police personnel worth Rs 1,690 crore are in progress in the state, Fadnavis said at a review meeting, officials informed.

Tenders are being issued for 5,611 projects worth Rs 1,280 crore. These projects are located in suburban Goregaon, Mulund and Marol in Mumbai, and at Akola, Satara, Jalgaon, Thane, Beed, Nanded, Raigad, Malegaon and Osmanabad.

The chief minister asked the police commissioners and superintendents of police to personally monitor and speed up the process to provide house to every police personnel, officials added.

Minister of State for Home Ranjeet Patil, Director General of Police Datta Padsalgikar, Mumbai police commissioner Subodh Jaiswal and other senior officials were present at the meeting.

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The Karnataka government today said it would take an appropriate decision on the final award of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal only after studying the report in detail and consulting relevant authorities.

The Congress, the ruling coalition partner of Kumaraswamy's JDS, said Karnataka had not been given "full justice", while the opposition BJP welcomed the tribunal recommendations, saying it was a victory for farmers.

While Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was guarded in his response, his brother and PWD Minister H D Revanna, described the verdict as "shocking" and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to meet Karnataka's demand of additional 7.54 tmcft water.

"The final award recommendation of the Tribunal is about 12 volumes and (government) will take appropriate decision only after studying it in detail and consulting with all concerned," Kumaraswamy said in a statement here.

Kumaraswamy said he has already discussed the issue with officers of the Water Resources Department and legal experts.

In its award, the Mahadayi River Water Tribunal today ruled that Karnataka will get 13.4 tmcft, while Goa and Maharashtra will be allowed to use 24 tmcft and 1.33 tmcft of water respectively.

In a 12-volume award, the tribunal said the equitable distribution of Mahadayi waters among three states is "neither necessary nor feasible" at this stage.

Karnataka and Goa have for long locked horns on sharing of the Mahadayi river water. Karnataka had placed before the Tribunal a demand for 36.558 TMC of water from Mahadayi.

For the past several years, Karnataka has been demanding an additional 7.56 TMC of water, including 4 TMC for Kalasa and 3.56 TMC for Bhanduri.

The Tribunal in July 2016 had rejected Karnatakas demand, which had triggered protests across North Karnataka and become an important issue in the state assembly polls.

The Kalasa-Banduri Nala project is being undertaken to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag.

It involves building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, tributaries of Mahadayi River, to divert 7.56 tmc ft to Malaprabha, which meets drinking water needs of the region.

Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa welcomed the verdict. saying "it is a victory for farmers."



However, former Water Resources Minister and state BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai said the tribunal has not given full justice to Karnataka because the state has got less than what it has been demanding.

Therefore, there is a need for Karnataka to resort to protests against the verdict, he added.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundurao also said Karnataka has not been given full justice and the state would like to study the entire verdict before making further statements on the issue.

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While the Goa government welcomed the verdict by the Mahadayi River Water Dispute Tribunal today, Mahadayi Bachao Abhiyaan (MBA) said it was not in the state's favour.

Ending a protracted dispute, the tribunal today ordered that Karnataka will get 13.4 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the river, while Goa and Maharashtra will be allowed to use 24 TMC and 1.33 TMC, respectively.

Nirmala Sawant, president of MBA, an outfit which has opposed diversion of the river water by neighbouring states from the beginnning, said the verdict was "unfortunate".

"The government of Karnataka should not have been allowed to divert water from the basin to Malaprabha," she said.

Sawant added that the 1.5 TMC of water which has been allotted for consumption within the basin is not sufficient for farmers living along the river, while a major share will be diverted to the Malaprabha river.

Goa's share of 24 TMC water will not suffice for navigational purposes, she said, adding that the diversion of water is likely to change the environmental aspect of the river.

The Goa government should challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court opposing the diversion of water to another basin and seeking increase in the state's share, Sawant said.

Senior MBA leader and environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said it was not a victory for Goa as Karnataka has been allowed to divert the waters of Kalsa and Bhandura tributaries to the Malaprabha.

"After diversion of 5.5 TMC of water, the condition of Mahadayi river would worsen," said Kerkar.

Earlier, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar welcomed the tribunal's decision, saying it did justice to the state.

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Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia today asked the Punjab government to probe the funding of organisers of 'Referendum 2020', a campaign seeking a separate Khalistan state.

He lashed out at the organisers of 'Referendum 2020', saying it was a conspiracy hatched "in league with Pakistan's ISI" to "break the country" and separate Punjab from India.

In a statement issued today here, Majithia said, "Such a nefarious demand of secession from India was not in consonance with the tenets of Sikhism where we pray for 'Sarbat Da Bhala' and to work for communal amity and harmony."



"We owe allegiance to the Indian Constitution and outrightly reject the demand of the referendum" he said.

The Akali leader urged the Punjab government to probe the funding of the 'Referendum 2020'.

He demanded that action be initiated against the masterminds of the campaign.

Reacting to the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report on sacrilege incidents, Majithia alleged that the report was prepared at the directions of the ruling party.

He also accused the Congress of politicising the sensitive issue.

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Major Aditya Kumar, who was embroiled in a controversy after his unit fired on a stone-pelting mob in South Kashmir's Shopian in January leading to death of three persons, is among 20 armed forces personnel who will be honoured with Shaurya Chakra.

Rifleman Aurangzeb, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir and was brutally killed by terrorists in Pulwama in June when he was on his way home for Eid, will also be conferred the gallantry award.

The official list of gallantry award winners was released by the defence ministry on the eve of the Independence Day.

The unit led by Major Aditya had opened fire on a group of stone-pelters in Shopian on January 27 following which the Jammu and Kashmir police filed an FIR against the army personnel involved in the incident.

In February, the father of Major Aditya had moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the FIR. During hearing of the case, the Centre said the state government cannot lodge an FIR against serving army personnel when the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was in force in the state.

Rifleman Aurangzeb, who belonged to the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, was on way back home on June 14 to celebrate Eid when terrorists abducted him.

Hours later, his bullet-riddled body was found at Gussu village, about 10 km from Kalampora, in Pulwama district. His killing triggered widespread outrage in Kashmir.

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Malian opposition candidate Soumaila Cisse has said he would reject the results of a presidential runoff marred by accusations of fraud, violence and low turnout, calling on the population "to rise up."



Ballot counting continued today across the vast West African country after Sunday's vote saw one poll worker killed and hundreds of stations closed due to insecurity.

"The fraud is proven, this is why there are results we will not accept," Cisse said at his party's headquarters in Bamako said yesterday.

"I call on all Malians to rise up... We will not accept the dictatorship of fraud," he added.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 73, is the clear frontrunner in a reprise of his 2013 faceoff against former finance minister Cisse, 68.

But Cisse's team and other opposition contenders have repeatedly accused the government of fraud, including ballot-box stuffing and vote buying.

However, the African Union (AU) election observers said the voting was carried out "in acceptable conditions," in a preliminary report published yesterday.

At this stage there is "no tangible element" pointing towards voting irregularities, the observers said, congratulating the Mali government for its efforts to improve the voting process and noting a drop in the number of untoward incidents in the second round of voting.

The European Union also said that in the 300 polling stations its observers visited, no "major incident" occurred. Their observers are expected to present their preliminary findings at 1100 GMT.

Nearly 500 polling stations were unable to open on Sunday, the government said, mostly in regions plagued by jihadist violence and ethnic tensions.

"We had a little over 3.7 per cent of stations which had not functioned properly" during the first round on July 29, Salif Traore, Mali's security minister, said yesterday.

The figure fell to 2.1 per cent of the 23,000 polling booths in Sunday's runoff vote, which Traore said was due to the deployment of more military.

In a reminder of the jihadist threat that was a major campaign issue, the overseer of a polling station in Arkodia, in the northern region of Timbuktu, was shot dead on Sunday by armed Islamist militants, local officials said.

Aside from this "dramatic case," the government said the poll occurred without incident.

National turnout however was just 22.38 per cent, local monitors of the POCIM (the Mali Citizen Observation Pool) said.

In the first-round vote on July 29, Keita was clearly ahead, with 42 per cent against 18 per cent for Cisse.

Despite fierce criticism of Keita for his handling of the security crisis, Cisse failed to rally the support of other parties behind him for the runoff, leaving the incumbent seemingly on track for a second consecutive landslide.

Results are expected by mid-week at the earliest.

The three main opposition candidates had mounted a last-ditch legal challenge to the first-round result, alleging ballot-box stuffing and other irregularities.

But their petition was rejected by the Constitutional Court.

Cisse's party told AFP in the early hours of Sunday that ballot papers were already circulating, several hours before polls opened.

In at least six stations in the capital of Bamako, voting reports -- which give the number of voters and votes cast for each candidate -- were signed before the numbers were filled in, an AFP journalist witnessed.

The opposition leader, in a meeting where hundreds of supporters had gathered yesterday afternoon, also said the programme his party uses to count votes -- which had put him in the lead until then -- was hacked overnight.

Six members of his campaign team, including four French, were arrested on Sunday, the team and Traore, the minister of security, said.

Five of the six were released without charge after being held for two hours in a Bamako police station, a source close to the team said. Their phones and laptops were seized.

Mali, a landlocked nation home to at least 20 ethnic groups where the majority of people live on less than USD 2 a day, has battled jihadist attacks and intercommunal violence for years.

Beyond its borders, the international community hope that the winner will consolidate a 2015 accord that the fragile Sahel state sees as its foundation for peace.

The deal brought together the government, government-allied groups and former Tuareg rebels.

But jihadist violence has spread from the north to the centre and south of the vast country and spilled into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, often inflaming communal conflicts.

A state of emergency heads into its fourth year in November.

France still has 4,500 troops deployed alongside the UN's 15,000 peacekeepers and a regional G5 Sahel force, aimed at rooting out jihadists and restoring the authority of the state.

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A Medininagar court sentenced a man today to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in Jharkhand's Palamau district last year.

The Palamau District and Sessions Judge, Devendra Kumar Pathak convicted Ramesh Bhuiyan for raping a minor girl at Bakikhurd village in January 2017 and sentenced him to 15 years of imprisonment.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on Bhuiyan.

According to an FIR lodged in this regard, Bhuiyan, a neighbour of the girl, had entered into her house and raped her when she was alone.

The girl was alone at home as her parents had gone to the market. When her parents returned, the girl narrated her ordeal before them. Following this, they lodged an FIR against Bhuiyan.

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A Thane court has sentenced a 27-year-old man to seven years' rigorous imprisonment for molesting a minor girl here in Maharashtra.

District Judge P P Jadhav pronounced the accused, Sameer Javed Naik, guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act, and also imposed a fine of Rs 12,000 on him.

The victim, then aged 16 years, lived with her parents at Lokmanya Nagar in Thane, the prosecution told the court.

Her family and their neighbour used to have frequent quarrels over petty issues.

The neighbour once called the accused, who molested the victim and beat up her mother on June 16, 2014. The accused dragged the victim out of her house, but some neighbours rescued her, the prosecution said.

Based on a complaint filed by the victim, the accused was arrested the same day.

The judge said the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had a scuffle with the victim and her mother.

Though the medical officer was not examined, the victim deposed in the court saying she received chest injuries when she tried to prevent the accused from assaulting her, he observed.

"In the case of voluntarily causing hurt, even the slightest criminal force causing some pain to the victim is enough (proof)," he said.

The judge noted that around seven criminal cases were already registered against the accused in the Vartak Nagar Police Station prior to this incident.

"It shows the criminal background of the accused," he observed in an order passed last week.

Considering the conduct of the accused and the nature of assault, the judge pronounced the accused guilty under IPC sections 354 (molestation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and provisions of the POCSO Act.

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A court in Madhya Pradesh has awarded death sentence to a 20-year-old man for sodomising and killing a 13-year-old boy.

Datia's Special Judge Hitendra Dwivedi awarded the punishment to Nand Kishore yesterday while the case of a 15-year-old co-accused was transferred to a juvenile court, public prosecutor Pushpendra Kumar Garg said.

The prosecutor told the court that Kishore along with the minor co-accused lured the victim, a resident of Bijasen Muhalla area in Datia, on March 2 this year on the pretext of buying him colours for the Holi festival.

They took the victim to a deserted place and then sodomised him. Later, the accused killed the victim and disposed of the body in a canal near Deluva area on the city outskirts, the prosecution said.

After killing the boy, the accused called his family members and sought a ransom of Rs 1 lakh.

They told the boy's family that they would kill him, if the money was not paid.

Acting on the complaint lodged by the victim's family members, the police arrested both the accused two days after the incident and based on their information, recovered the body, the prosecution said.

The judge, in his order, held Kishore guilty under IPC sections 364 (A) (kidnapping for ransom), 302 (murder) and 377 (unnatural offence), and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

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A court in this district of Madhya Pradesh today sentenced a man to death for raping a minor girl.

Additional District Judge Sudhanshu Saxena awarded the capital punishment to Naresh Parihar (40), said assistant prosecutor P L Rawat.

The prosecution examined 24 witnesses, he said.

The judge, while pronouncing the verdict, said the Indian society considers girls as "goddesses", and if they are not provided security and rapists remain at large, their future would be imperilled.

While the crime took place on July 18, the trial started on August 7, and within six working days it ended with the court announcing the death penalty to the accused.

According to the prosecution, Parihar had, on July 18, sent a minor boy to the girl's house, which was nearby, with a message that his wife was asking for her.

When the girl went to his house, Parihar took her to a room and penetrated her private parts with fingers, which amounts to rape under IPC section 376(AB), an amended provision, Rawat said.

Before he could force himself on the girl, her mother barged into the room.

When the woman slapped Parihar, he picked up an axe to hit her. The woman and her daughter, however, escaped unhurt.

Police arrested him and filed a charge sheet on July 21.

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A 55-year-old man was shot dead this morning by motorcycle-borne assailants in Chaukhara village here, police said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Poornendu Singh said the assailants fired at Harishchandra Singh.

"He was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead," Singh said.

Police have sent the body for post-mortem and have launched an investigation in the matter.

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Prosecutors rested their tax evasion and bank fraud case in the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, closing two weeks of testimony that depicted him as using millions of dollars hidden in offshore accounts to fund a luxurious lifestyle and later obtaining millions more in bank loans under false pretenses.

The trial of the longtime Washington operator turns today to Manafort's defense team, which has so far blamed any wrongdoing on Rick Gates, the former Manafort protege who testified he and his former boss committed crimes together for years.

Defense attorneys have called Gates a liar, philanderer and embezzler as they've sought to undermine his testimony.

Manafort's lawyers have not yet said whether they will call any witnesses or present other evidence in the case. They will have to disclose that information today as the case reaches its final stages.

The trial is the first to emerge from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, but it does not relate to any allegations of Russian election interference or possible coordination with the Trump campaign.

Neither Manafort nor Gates have been charged in connection with their Trump campaign work.

Still, the proceedings have drawn President Donald Trump's attention and tweets as he works to undermine the standing of the Mueller investigation in the public square.

Trump has distanced himself from Manafort, who led the campaign from May to August 2016 with Gates at his side. Gates struck a plea deal with prosecutors and provided much of the drama of the trial so far.

The government says Manafort hid at least USD 16 million in income from the IRS between 2010 and 2014 by disguising money he earned advising politicians in Ukraine as loans and hiding it in foreign banks.

Then, after his money in Ukraine dried up, they allege he defrauded banks by lying about his income on loan applications and concealing other financial information, such as mortgages.

Gates said he helped Manafort commit crimes in an effort to lower his tax bill and fund his lavish lifestyle. During testimony, Gates was forced to admit embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manafort and conducting an extramarital affair.

The prosecution has introduced a trove of documentary evidence as they've sought to prove Manafort committed 18 separate criminal counts.

Along the way, they've not only faced an aggressive defense team but tongue-lashings from US District Judge TS Ellis III, who presides over the case. The admittedly impatient judge has pushed the government to speed up its case.

Before the government rested its case Monday afternoon, the court heard testimony from a bank executive who said he found several red flags with Manafort's finances while he was being considered for more than USD 16 million in bank loans.

James Brennan, a vice president at Federal Savings Bank, says Manafort failed to disclose mortgages on his loan application. He said he also found several "inconsistencies" in the amount of income Manafort reported for his business.

That information led senior executives to reject one of the loans. But Brennan said Federal Savings Bank chairman Stephen Calk overruled that decision.

"It closed because Mr Calk wanted it to close," Brennan said.

Other witnesses have said Calk pushed the loans through because he wanted a post in the Trump administration.

Emails admitted into evidence in the trial show that in the weeks after the 2016 election, Manafort lobbied Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to consider Calk for secretary of the Army, a position Calk had put at the top of his list in an earlier email to Manafort.

Calk also listed seven other senior domestic appointments and 18 ambassadorships ranked in order of preference that he would accept.

In the November 30, 2016, email to Kushner, Manafort passed along Calk's resume along with two other names of people he said "should be a part of the Trump administration."



"The 3 individuals are people who I believe advance DT agenda. They will be totally reliable and responsive to the Trump White House," Manafort wrote, providing brief biographies for Calk and the other two candidates.

Manafort noted Calk's background was "strong in defense issues, management and finance." He also listed three "alternative positions" in the Treasury and Commerce departments.

Kushner responded, "On it!"



Calk ultimately did not get an administration post, though he did approve the loans for Manafort.

Brennan said the Chicago-based bank lost at least USD 11.8 million because it had to write off the two loans, which he said were the two largest loans the bank had made at that time.

The prosecution also recalled a Treasury Department agent over the objections of Manafort's defense team to testify that two of his companies hadn't filed any reports disclosing the foreign bank accounts as required by federal law.

Senior special agent Paula Liss said the Treasury Department had no record of DMP International or Davis Manafort Partners filing such reports between 2011 and 2014.

Late yesterday, Manafort's team also made a motion to dismiss all the charges, saying the government hadn't met its burden of proof.

Ellis also closed the courtroom from the public while he heard arguments on a sealed motion filed by Manafort's team. Ellis said the proceedings and the motion will be kept secret until after the case concludes.

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The Madhya Pradesh government today announced that 40 per cent of the Rs 1 crore compensation given to the kin of martyred soldiers will be handed over to parents while the rest would be for the legal heir.

The announcement in this connection was made by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today while addressing a programme in the state's Bhind district in honour of families of martyrs.

Chouhan had announced the Rs 1 crore compensation, called "samman nidhi" by the state government, in July last year.

He said today that 40 per cent allocation of the compensation to the parents of martyred soldiers was to ensure that they lead their lives comfortably.

He also said that the state government would provide a monthly pension of Rs 5,000 to the parents while the legal heir would be given a job as well as a flat or plot of land.

Roads and squares would be named after martyrs and statues would also be erected in schools and public places, the MP CM said.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister honoured 119 families of martyrs of Bhind district and told the gathering that of the 30,000 jawans who had laid down their lives in the service of the nation after Independence, 602 belonged to MP.

He added that maximum martyrs from the state hailed from Bhind, Morena and Gwalior districts.

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A US Space Force is necessary to protect American satellites from being targeted by attack weapons in the hands of China and Russia, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said.

Mattis' comments came days after Vice President Mike Pence announced ambitious plans to create a sixth, separate US military warfighting service by 2020 to ensure American dominance in space.

Speaking during a trip to Brazil yesterday, Mattis said repeatedly that the US has no plans to put weapons in space, but he emphasised the vital and growing role that satellites play not just in military operations but in the world economy.

He recalled China's use of a ground-based missile to destroy one of its own nonfunctional weather satellites in January 2007, which he suggested was a calculated demonstration to the United States of Chinese capabilities.

"We understand the message that China was sending that they could take out a satellite in space," Mattis said in remarks to about 270 military officers and civilians at Brazil's premier war college. "Since then our intelligence services have watched other nations, including Russia, develop a space attack capability." He was responding to a question from an audience member who expressed concern that the planned Space Force could lead to an international arms race in space.

Mattis said the US cannot ignore potential threats to satellites that are crucial to communication, navigation, weather information and other underpinnings of modern life.

"So this is a reality," he said. "We are not initiating this. We are saying we will be able to defend our satellites in space. At the same time, if someone is going to try to engage in space with military means, we will not stand idly by. We don't intend to militarise space.

However, we will defend ourselves in space if necessary." He did not say this meant the U.S. would respond to a satellite attack by attacking the aggressor's satellites or with any other use of force. But that scenario is one that worries many who have warned that space could become the next global battlefield. The U.S. military has worked on anti-satellite weaponry in the past but has no deployed weapon dedicated to that mission today.

Asked later to elaborate on how the US would respond to an attack on a satellite, Mattis said he preferred to maintain ambiguity.

"I don't tell adversaries in advance what we will do or what we will not do," he said. "We will not stand idly by if someone tried to deny us the use of space." He added: "I wouldn't read anything more into" his comments.

Mattis' point about countering the space capabilities of other nations was reinforced yesterday by the State Department's top arms control official, Yleem Poblete, speaking in Geneva at the UN Conference on Disarmament.

She said that despite Russian claims it wants to prevent an arms race in outer space, Moscow is developing new anti-satellite missiles and has given its forces a mobile laser system. She also voiced suspicion about Russia's deployment last October of a satellite whose behaviour she said was inconsistent with its supposed purpose of conducting in-orbit space inspections.

"Russian intentions with respect to this satellite are unclear and are obviously a very troubling development," Poblete said. Russia denies any hostile intent.

The timing of Mattis's visit to Brazil, so soon after Pence announced the Space Force plan last Thursday, was coincidental. Mattis's trip, which includes follow-on stops in Argentina, Chile and Colombia, had been in planning for many months.

In a speech prior to fielding questions from the war college students, Mattis made a detailed pitch for closer US-Brazilian security relations. He noted that Brazil was an ally during World War II; later he visited a monument in Rio to Brazil's role in the conflict.

He emphasized US interest in partnering with Brazil in space research, an area in which China has shown growing influence in South America. The Chinese operate a space center in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

Brazil's Alcantara space center is located near the equator, making it advantageous for space launches. The closer a launch is to the equator, the more velocity the rocket gets from the Earth's rotation.

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Terming the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines on disability as "arbitrary" and "blatantly discriminatory" in nature, a rights group has written to Health Minister J P Nadda today to ask the statutory body to revise it.

The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled has said that in the MCI's process of framing guidelines for the sector, the involvement of doctors with disabilities and organisations representing disabled persons, was missing.

"These guidelines are arbitrary and blatantly discriminatory in nature. Certain pre-conceived notions and prejudices are patently visible. They have been drafted without proper application of mind, oblivious of the best practices worldwide and divorced from the reality that advances in science and technology have become great enablers," the letter from the organisation said.

The NPRD also alleged that a psychiatrist from the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) framed the guidelines for dyslexia and pediatricians, psychologists and neurologists, who normally see dyslexic candidates, were not involved.

"It would be in the fitness of things to recall that in a training conducted last year for doctors on the new scales to assess autism, it was doctors from the pediatrics department of the AIIMS who were involved and not psychiatrists.

"These unapproved MCI guidelines also declare ineligible, candidates with locomotor disabilities, whose percentage is 80 per cent or higher. Suffice it to cite the example of Dr Suresh Advani, a hemato-oncologist, a wheelchair user with 80 per cent disability. Dr Advani, as per the MCI guidelines is not fit to become a doctor," the letter said.

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Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will deliver his maiden Independence speech tomorrow, abiding by guidelines of the Election Commission to not list out achievements of his government, in view of the upcoming bye-poll in which he is contesting, an official said today.

The state government has been apprised of the situation, which arises due to the bye-poll and the Independence Day celebration taking place simultaneously, Chief Election Officer F K Kharkongor said.

The CM is contesting in the bye-poll from South Tura constituency, the seat his sister Agatha K Sangma vacated to make way for him.

Simultaneously, the bye-poll for the Ranikor seat will also be held on August 23 after former Congress leader Martin M Danggo resigned from the Assembly, and is contesting on a ticket from the ruling National People's Party.

According to Election Commission (EC) guidelines, Sangma cannot make any political speech enumerating the achievements of the government he is heading in the state since March 6.

Quoting the EC's guidelines, Kharkongor said, "The speech should be confined to extolling the achievement of the martyrs in securing the freedom of the country, glorification of the Indian state, and no political speech enumerating the achievements of the government or party in power or announcement of any schemes or projects should be made."



The CM will hoist the tricolour and take the salute at the Independence day celebration in the state capital tomorrow.

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FC Goa today announced the signing of Spanish left-winger Miguel Palanca for the fifth Indian Super League.

The 30-year old will help solidify FC Goa's attacking play. Palanca adds plenty of experience to the Gaurs, having made over 250 appearances in La Liga (Spain), A-League (Australia), Ekstraklasa (Poland) and Cypriot First Division.

Palanca was a product of RCD Espanyol's youth ranks, playing for the first team and B-side in the 200607 season. He made his La Liga debut in 2007 against Sevilla FC.

He then spent one season at Real Madrid where he made his debut for Real Madrid in the El Classico against FC Barcelona, before moving on to CD Castellon for the 2009-10 season in the second division.

Palanca then signed a two-year contract with Elche CF and subsequently moved on to CD Numancia where he had a successful stint for one-and-a-half seasons in the second tier. He has also gone on to represent Australian club Adelaide United FC in the A-league, Gimnstic de Tarragona in Spain and spells in Poland and Cyprus, before being roped in by the Gaurs.

Palanca expressed his delight after putting pen to paper on a new contract.

"I am extremely delighted to be signing for FC Goa. The club's past record in the league and the players who are already there along with the overall project are what attracted me the most and I can't wait to get started in the ISL."



Sergio Lobera was equally delighted with his new foreign acquisition.

"Palanca can play in many positions, and not only has great dribbling skills but also knows how to finish. I think that he will greatly augment the team's efforts, since only 5 foreigners are allowed on the pitch, it's good to have a player with these characteristics.

"He has played alongside Coro in the past, and I think he'll be a key player in order to achieve our goals.

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PDP youth president Waheed Para today claimed he was attacked by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district.

"Some shots were fired at my vehicle when I was on way home from a condolence meeting in Budgam yesterday," Para said. He said the incident happened at Handjan in central Kashmir district.

Para said bullets hit a window pane of his bullet-proof vehicle.

A police official said they have taken cognisance of the matter and are investigating it.

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An Odisha minister, a ruling BJD MP, MLA and different organisations have opposed the Centre's proposal to set up a water aerodrome in the Chilika lake to promote tourism.

The opposition followed an in-principle approval by the Union government to a proposal for setting up of five water aerodromes, including one at the Chilika lake, in the country.

Odisha Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty, BJD MP Tathagat Satpahty, party MLA Sanjay Dasburma, INTACH and Lok Shakti Abhijan opposed the setting up of a water aerodrome in the Chilika lake.

The ruling BJD also declined to welcome the proposal even though the state government in March this year had urged to Centre to set up a water aerodrome in Chilika lake.

"Let the detailed project report (DPR) on the proposal come to the fore. We cannot welcome the project unless the party knows its impact on the and ecology," said BJD spokesman Sasmit Patra.

Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty said: "We are opposed to such a proposal. We'll draw the chief minister's attention towards such destructive idea."



Mohanty hails from Puri district. The Lake spread over Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of the state.

Senior BJD MP Tathagat Satpathy in his twitter post wrote: "Quelle horreur! Proposed amphibian airport inside Chilika lake, one of the lergest brackish water lakes which gets thousands of winged visitors from around the globe, will surely make birds and marine life to vanish for ever. I strongly oppose such dumb ideas."



The proposed water aerodrome will affect the bio-diversity of the Chilika lake, the largest salt water lake of Asia, said local MLA and senior BJD leader Sanjay Dasburma.

Dasburma urged the Centre to reconsider its decision to save the eco-system in the brackish water lagoon. He said setting up of a water aerodrome would affect livelihood of two lakh fishermen, migratory birds and dolphins.

BJP MLA Dilip Ray also cautioned the state government to ensure proper protection of ecology before allowing a water aerodrome in Chilika lake.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Odisha, has written to the state government and the Centre requesting to reconsider the proposal of operating seaplanes in the Chilka Lake.

A B Tripathy, state Convener of INTACH said that the delicate ecosystem of this Ramsar site like Chilika lake, will be severely affected by water aerodrome.

The bird sanctuaries at Nalabana and the neighbouring lakeside villages have seen a resurgence of migratory birds since the last few years, operating a seaplane will spell the doom for them, he said.

Lok Shakti Abhijan leader Prafulla Samantra also opposed the move.

However, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised the state minister and BJD MLA for opposing the developmental project mooted by the Centre.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a book on Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on completion of his one year in office.

The book will be unveiled at a function on August 20, where former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Devegowda will be present, besides some ruling and opposition party leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The book carries Naidu's experience as Vice President of India and his views on being in office.

"The vice president has talked about his "khatte-meethe" (sweet and sour) experiences so far. He is a people's man who loves meeting and interacting with them but feels restricted by protocol," a source said.

He has also raised the issue of smooth functioning of Rajya Sabha, of which he is the Chairman, and has expressed his concerns, sources said.

The book also features experiences of people who are closely associated with Naidu on how they see him in the post.

Naidu, 69, has said that in his first year in the constitutional office he had carried out "effective engagement" with different stakeholders through his visits to 28 of the 29 states across the country.

He said his engagements were focused on students, youths and farmers, and science and research and culture as 60 per cent of his total 313 major outdoor events were related to them.

Setting a record for any vice president, Naidu visited 28 of the 29 states in the country. Sikkim was the only state he could not visit as a scheduled event had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. He visited all the seven northeastern states.

According his office, he visited 56 universities and addressed 29 convocations urging students and youths to look forward to the future with a sense of confidence, seizing the emerging opportunities within and outside the country as complete individuals rooted in Indian cultural ethos while at the same time imbibing modern vision.

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The Madhya Pradesh police's horse squad will not participate in tomorrow's Independence Day Parade here due to an outbreak of glanders, a senior official said today.

Glanders is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium burkholderia mallei and primarily affects horses, donkeys and mules.

The police's horse contingent traditionally has been a big draw with children who throng in large numbers along with their parents to watch the parade on August 15, officials said.

Deputy Inspector General Deepak Verma of the Special Armed Force told PTI today that, following a notification by the state government, the horses would not be taking part in the parade.

He informed that the animals had been sent to other districts on account of the outbreak of glanders.

The first case of glanders was detected in Gwalior this year and in May three horses were culled to stop its spread, officials said.

The Independence Day parade, to be held at the Motilal Nehru Stadium here, will be addressed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

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The Congress' Mumbai unit today claimed that names of 20 lakh people residing in the suburbs had been deleted from the voters list.

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam today met Suburban Collector Sachin Kurve and asked the latter to act against collectorate officials who he claimed had "deprived" these people of their voting rights.

"Names of 20 lakh people have been deleted from the voters' list in many suburbs of the city. Our first demand to the collector is to release the list of names that had been deleted so that these people know whether they can exercise their right to vote or not," Nirupam said today.

He also demanded that the draft electoral roll, usually prepared after such deletions are carried out, be released without any further delay.

He accused booth level officials making these lists of not being aware of the protocol to be followed while undertaking this exercise.

He said that people who got homes under the state-run Slum Rehabilitation Authority scheme in localities other than their current area of residence were the worst hit due to these deletions.

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Police have been put on high alert for Independence Day across the metropolis with maximum number of personnel deployed for patrolling and vehicles coming into the city being frisked at all entry points, a senior official said today.

He said that the security at sensitive locations as well as vital installations had been tightened in view of the red letter day.

"Police are on high alert and have tightened security across Mumbai. We are taking all security measures to maintain law and order in the city," the official said.

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North Korea has stopped processing tourist visas for foreigners ahead of a high profile anniversary next month, according to a China-based tour operator.

The measure follows reports that Pyongyang had suspended visits by Chinese tour groups as it prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the country is officially known.

Koryo Tours, a popular agency among Western tourists seeking to visit the North, said on its website it had been "informed on 13 August by our partners in Pyongyang that they had been instructed from above that all tourist visa applications currently underway are to be frozen".

It was not given a reason for the freeze, the company said, but was told it would apply until the anniversary on September 9.

"This suggests to us that... a higher power in the country is simply pressing pause on tourism until it is clear to them who is coming in such delegations and how many people," it added.

Pyongyang has previously lavishly celebrated the date with military parades or mass games involving thousands of people performing acrobatic choreography in unison, and is expected this time to hold its first mass games for five years.

Speculation has also mounted that the nuclear-armed North could be preparing to mount a parade -- at which it normally shows off some of the weapons that have earned it multiple sets of UN Security Council sanctions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is speculated to be on the guest list, as officials in the North told South Korean journalists that he was invited to the event.

In his New Year speech in January, leader Kim Jong Un said North Korean people would "greet the 70th founding anniversary of their Republic as a great, auspicious event".

The occasion comes during a rare diplomatic detente on the Korean peninsula which has seen the South's president Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un meet twice, with a third summit planned for September.

The rapprochement also led to a landmark summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, where the two leaders signed a vague agreement on denuclearisation.

Although Trump touted his summit with Kim as a historic breakthrough, the North has since criticised Washington for its "gangster-like" demands of complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament.

The US has urged the international community to maintain tough sanctions on the isolated regime.

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A Kuwait Airways flight carrying 161 passengers landed off the centre from the runway at the international airport here as sudden downpour caused visibility problems early today, airport sources said.

All passengers alighted safely, they said.

The aircraft landed at 4.20 am, but a little off the centre of the runway, making contact with the lights at its edge before taxiing to the parking bay.

Flight operations were disrupted for a brief time and resumed minutes after after "cleaning and correcting" the runway lights, an airport spokesperson said.

The KU357 flight later left for Kuwait, he said.

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NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has expressed full support for President Donald Trump's proposed military "Space Force" but added that it will have a role separate from NASA.

Bridenstine said in New Orleans yesterday that NASA's responsibilities involve science, space exploration and technology development.

As for defense and national security, he told reporters in New Orleans: "We want to be an agency that maintains its independence from those capabilities."



Bridenstine was touring the Michoud Assembly Center, where workers are putting together major parts of systems that are planned to return Americans to the moon and, eventually, take them to Mars.

In a towering building, Boeing workers are building parts of the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket known as the Space Launch System.

Lockheed Martin workers are building the spacecraft called Orion.

Bridenstine, a former Republican congressman, was nominated by Trump to head NASA last year and confirmed by the Senate in April.

He touched on the work at Michoud and other NASA concerns while standing next to a massive liquid hydrogen tank a test version of one that eventually will be part of the SLS rocket.

Bridenstine was among the officials with Trump in June when he called for creation of a new military branch known as the Space Force.

He said it's needed because the nation's space assets including satellite technology and global positioning systems are vital to numerous interests and industries, including communications, navigation, food and energy production, banking and climate.

"If we lose GPS, we lose banking in the United States of America. There's no milk in the grocery store in a matter of three days," he said.

The space force plan requires congressional approval. Military leaders and experts have questioned the wisdom of launching an expensive, bureaucratic new service branch.

Bridenstine spoke enthusiastically about the much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope, what is now a nearly USD 10 billion project. That next-generation technology is envisioned as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, despite an announcement in June for the third time in less than a year of a lengthy postponement.

Among the latest problems: In a vibration test of the telescope earlier this year in California by prime contractor Northrop Grumman, dozens of loose fasteners some 70 pieces in all came off. In another mishap, the wrong solvent was used to clean spacecraft propulsion valves, leading to a need for repair or replacement.

Webb, which officials now hope to launch in 2021, is meant to peer farther into space and deeper into time than ever before. It will operate from a point 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) from Earth.

Bridenstine gave a lengthy explanation of the infrared telescope's design and mission and added: "We are, in fact, going to see back to the very beginning of the universe, what we call cosmic dawn."



He stopped short of saying there would be financial penalties for Northrup Gumman to cover NASA's burgeoning costs on the project but said the contractor is being held accountable.

Bridenstine praised workers at Michoud for their work on the Orion spacecraft and the SLS rocket that will launch it into space, saying their efforts are helping the US get ahead and stay ahead of other nations in space.

"This is a brand new, very large project that is unmatched in the world," he said. "And it will remain unmatched for a very long time." The SLS rocket is expected to launch an unmanned Orion mission beyond the moon and back, a 40,000-mile (64,370-kilometer) trip, in late 2019.

Bridenstine got a close up look at the Orion capsule with astronauts Stan Love and Nicole Mann, expected to be part of the crew for Orion's first crewed mission.

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The son-in-law of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to prison today after undergoing treatment at the country's top hospital here, according to a media report.

Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, the son-in-law of Sharif, was shifted back to the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the Express Tribune reported.

Safdar, 54, was shifted to the prison after his health improved, the report said.

Safdar is married to Sharif's daughter and heir-apparent Maryam, who is also in the Adiala Jail along with Sharif.

The trio were sentenced by a Pakistani accountability court on corruption charges over the ownership of four luxury flats in London owned by the Sharif family.

While Sharif, 68, is serving a 10-year jail term, Safdar was sentenced to one year. Maryam, 44, is serving a jail term of seven years.

On August 9, Safdar was taken to the PIMS after his health deteriorated following a liver surgery.

Last week, a medical board of PIMS said Safdar had to remain in hospital due to health concerns. They performed an ECG to determine the condition of his cardiac stent and also conducted a liver test. Safdar is said to be suffering from diabetes and a liver ailment, the report said.

Sharif was also briefly shifted to PIMS after ill-health.

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The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Tuesday reserved its order over a plea of Cyrus Mistry camp seeking a status quo over conversion of Tata Sons into a private company from a public limited firm.

A two-member bench headed by its Chairperson Justice S J Mukhopadhaya said it would pass an interim order over the conversion and decide the case on merits at later stage.

Senior advocate C A Sundaram, representing Mistry, questioned the urgency over conversion of status of Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata group of

"What is the urgency to convert it into a private limited company. Status quo should be maintained, said Sundaram.

"As late as March 31, 2009 Tata Sons was functioning as a public entity. They continued taking deposits," he said during the proceedings.

He further said that they did not bring any article to say that the company should not take public deposits



NCLAT was hearing the plea filed by Mistry challenging the orders of NCLT which had dismissed his plea challenging his removal as chairman of the company.

In September last year, Tata Sons had received shareholders' nod to convert itself into a private limited company from being a public limited company, limiting in effect Cyrus Mistry family's ability to sell their stake to outsiders.



A public limited company allows shareholders to legally sell their stake to anyone but a shareholder of a private limited firm cannot sell the shares to external investors.

The Mistry camp had challenged the July 9 order of the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) which dismissed their pleas against his removal as Tata Sons chairman, as also the allegations of rampant misconduct on part of Ratan Tata and the company's Board.

A special bench of the tribunal had held that the Board of Directors at Tata Sons was "competent" to remove the executive chairperson of the company.

NCLT bench members B S V Prakash Kumar and V Nallasenapathy had also said that Mistry was ousted as chairman because the Tata Sons' Board and its majority shareholders had "lost confidence in him".



Under the Act 2013, an order of NCLT can be challenged before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). Mistry, who was the sixth chairman of Tata Sons, was ousted from the position in October 2016.

He had taken over as the chairman in 2012 after Ratan Tata announced his retirement.

Two months after his removal, Mistry's family-run firms Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and Sterling Investments Corp approached the NCLT as minority shareholders, against Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, and some other board members.

Mistry in his pleas primarily argued that his removal was not in accordance with the Act and that there was rampant mismanagement of affairs across Tata Sons.



He also alleged that Tata Trust chairperson Ratan Tata and trustee N Soonawala interfered with the day-to-day operations of the group companies, they acted as shadow directors, and all of the above caused massive revenue loss for the group.

The Tata Group had denied all charges and said Mistry was removed because the Board had lost confidence in him.
There is a need for a dedicated constitutional body, on the lines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), for quick disposal of corruption cases, senior Supreme Court advocate G Venkatesh Rao said today.

He was speaking at a roundtable forum on 'Ending Impunity for Kleptocrats and Accomplices: Do We Need an International Anti-Corruption Court?', held at the India International Centre here.

Organised by India International Centre, Integrity Initiatives International and Carnegie Mellon University in Australia, the forum brought together prominent legal thinkers, civil society activities, and journalists.

Rao spoke about the need for setting up a Corruption Commission, in India, which must be a public body approachable by the citizens at large and must have a constitutional status like that of National Human Rights Commission, and Election Commission of India, a statement issued by the organisers said.

He said freedom of press and protection to activists and media are vital to combating corruption.

"The approach to be adopted is that governments and businesses must do more to encourage free speech, independent media, political dissent and an open and engaged civil society. There should be minimisation of regulations on media, including traditional and new media, and ensure that journalists can work without fear of repression or violence," Rao said.

He said efforts should be to promote laws that focus on access to information, to ensure transparency and accountability.

Governments must not only invest in an appropriate legal framework for such laws, but also seriously commit to their implementation, Rao said.

"The real independence of India will come when it becomes a corruption-less society," former attorney general Soli Sorabjee said at the beginning of the roundtable discussion.

Narinder Singh, former Chairman of the International Law Commission and former legal adviser to the Ministry of External Affairs, said that corruption is "an insidious plague, whose effects are most destructive in the developing world, and undermine governments' ability to deliver public services."



According to the World Bank, "20-40 billion USD are estimated to be the proceeds of corruption and yet in the 15 years since the UN Convention against Corruption has been enacted, only USD 5 billion has been returned to the countries concerned," he said.

For his part, Professor Emil Bolongaita, distinguished service professor of public policy and management at Carnegie Mellon University, said that "problem of corruption is not the absence of laws against corruption, but the inability of legal institutions to apply the law against corrupt officials and accomplices".

He said that it is increasingly difficult for countries to tackle grand corruption because of the complex nature of the crime involving high ranking officials, multinational corporations, and banks in secrecy jurisdiction moving illicit assets across jurisdictions.

Bolongaita explained that "the idea of the international anti-corruption court would be to serve as court of last resort for grand corruption".

The court, he said, "would investigate and prosecute officials and accomplices when their home countries' institutions are unable or unwilling to prosecute them".

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Amidst a row over reports that the venue of the prestigious Aero India show would be shifted from Bengaluru to Lucknow, Union Minister Ananth Kumar has said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had confirmed that there was no decision on the matter.

Kumar's statement comes after Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, insisting that Bengaluru would be the "best choice" for the biennial aerospace exhibition.

"There is no decision on shifting #AeroIndia 2019 venue out of #Bengaluru to #Lucknow, as clarified by Defence Min officials. I have spoken to @nsitharamanji, who has confirmed the same. There were similar rumours last time too, which were proved to be unfounded," Kumar, the Lok Sabha MP from Bangalore South constituency, tweeted yesterday.

Aero India has traditionally been organised at the Indian Air Force's Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru since its inception in 1996. Reports about shifting the venue has kicked up a political storm between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress.

The state Congress has written to Sitharaman, asking her to protect the interests of the state by retaining the exhibition in Bengaluru as she was a Rajya Sabha member from the state.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara had alleged that Karnataka was losing key defence projects to other states under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule.

Opposition leader in the state Assembly B S Yeddyurappa had said yesterday the party, its MPs and central ministers from the state would make all efforts to retain the show in Bengaluru by putting pressure on the Centre.

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The debt of Rs 90 crore of the Young Indian company, when converted into equity, would not result in any income for levying tax, top Congress leader Sonia Gandhi told the Delhi High Court today.

Young Indian (YI), which was incorporated in November 2010 with a capital of Rs 50 lakh, had acquired almost all shareholdings of the AJL, which owns the National Herald newspaper. In this process, YI had also acquired AJL's debt of Rs 90 crore.

The submission on behalf of Sonia Gandhi by senior advocate P Chidambaram was made before a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and A K Chawla appearing for Gandhi.

Chidambaram said that even if this was taxable income, it would not go into the hands of YI's shareholders like the former Congress President.

After hearing part arguments, when the court said it will issue a formal notice, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta said there was no need for it as he was present in the court.

The court, thereafter, listed the matter for further hearing on August 16, when the ASG will argue in defence of the action taken by the tax department.

The court said that once it reserved its judgement on conclusion of the arguments, it will ask the tax department not to take any coercive steps till the verdict was pronounced.

The bench also did not issue any order restraining the reporting of contents of the petitions filed on behalf of Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party leader Oscar Fernandes.

The Gandhis and Fernandes have challenged the reopening of their tax assessment for the year 2011-12 in March this year.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, said that arguments during the hearing may be reported and urged the court to order that confidentiality be maintained regarding the contents of the petitions.

However, the bench declined to issue any such direction saying "we cannot go into all this" as it would be akin to going on a "wild-goose chase" as it was known who reports contents of the matter and who is the source of the information.

During the over an hour-long hearing, Chidambaram contended, "when debt is converted to equity, it does not result in any income and, even if it does, it would not result in income for the shareholder".

He said that even if it was accepted that income was generated, "it cannot be the income of YI and its shareholders in the same assessment year of 2011-12."



He also argued that the tax department has "incorrectly invoked and applied" the formula for calculating the tax liability of Sonia Gandhi when her assessment for 2011-12 was reopened.

He also questioned how a debt of Rs 90 crore which was converted into equity acquired a value of Rs 407 crore as claimed by the tax department.

Chidambaram said that when his client became a shareholder of YI, she received nothing else, not even property, except 1,900 shares in the company.

He said that YI being a section 25 company, a non-profit entity, it cannot give anything to its shareholders. "To say that I got something from YI is an oxymoron," he said.

He also termed as "incorrect" the tax department's claim that Rs 90 crore loaned to AJL, leading to the debt, was bogus or paper loan, saying this is not correct as the amount was loaned through 137 cheques issued over a 9-10 year period.

Among other objections raised by him against the reopening of the assessment was that the communication sent to his client informing about the development was not digitally signed. The assessment was reopened in March 2018 on the orders of a senior officer who was monitoring the case from 2014, he said.

Rahul Gandhi's plea was taken up by the court on August 8 when it had rejected the oral plea of his lawyers to prohibit the media from reporting or publishing the court proceedings.

According to the tax department, Rahul's assessment for the years 2011-12 was decided to be reopened as he had not disclose that he was a director in the YI company since 2010.

As per the department, the shares Rahul has in YI would lead him to have an income of Rs 154 crore and not about Rs 68 lakh, as was assessed by it earlier.

The department has in the instant case applied section 147 of the Income Tax Act, which provides for bringing under the tax net any income that has escaped assessment in the original assessment.

Rahul's lawyers had said the query put to their client during the scrutiny of his assessment was whether he had any interest in any company or a sister concern and not if he was a director in any entity.

He had replied in the negative as YI was a Section 25 company, a non-profit entity, and hence no director would have any interest in it, the lawyers had said.

The tax department has already issued a demand notice for Rs 249.15 crore to YI for the assessment year 2011-12.

The IT department's move followed its probe on a complaint alleging that the Gandhis had misappropriated AJL's assets while transferring their shares to the newly formed Young Indian.

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, in a private criminal complaint filed before a trial court, had accused Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by paying just Rs 50 lakh, through which the YI had obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which the AJL owed to the Congress party.

All the accused, also including Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, have denied the allegations levelled against them.

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Tamil Nadu Higher Secretary Sunil Paliwal and Anna University Vice Chancellor M K Surappa today rejected allegations of a scam in admission of engineering students to the varsity's constituent colleges.

Addressing a joint press conference, they referred to reports in a section of media about admission of more than 60 students, whose names were not mentioned in the final admission list, in 2017-18 academic year.

Paliwal said there was no such discrepancies as alleged in the reports.

"...It is not a right allegation. Once you put together Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions - that is from our single-window counselling, NRI, industrial quota and people taken from other states. Then the figures will tally,"he said.

Surappa said the media reports only mention the TNEA figures and did not consider admissions made under the NRI, industrial and other quotas.

The alleged scam in the admissions has surfaced close on the heels of 'cash-for-marks' racket in the premier technical university.

Police had on August 2 booked 10 professors, including former controller of examinations G V Uma, for allegedly "receiving money" from some engineering students and giving them extra marks during re-evaluation.

Uma had been suspended subsequently and a committee formed by the university to look into the issue.

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The Uttar Pradesh government's move to withdraw the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riot cases has hit a roadblock with the local district administration opposing it on administrative grounds.

The government, which had elicited the views of the administration on the riot cases, has been told by Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate Rajiv Sharma that it was not right on administrative grounds.

"We have probed all aspects of the cases and have sent a report to the government... We have also given our views on the basis of the police and prosecution reports that withdrawal of cases would not be right from administrative point of view," the DM told reporters in Muzaffarnagar.

Some senior BJP lawmakers, among others, have been named in several cases related to the 2013 riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli.

The move to withdraw the cases was set in motion in February last year after a BJP delegation met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath.

BJP MLA Sangeet Som, who is also named in the case, however, said that justice would be done.

"The fake cases framed during the then Samajwadi Party government will be withdrawan," he said.

The Adityanath government had written to the district officials, asking them for a detailed report on the status of cases against BJP leaders accused of making provocative speeches and inciting riots in Muzaffarnagar in 2013.

The lawmakers have been accused of violating prohibitory orders and stopping public servants from doing their duties.

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Rain-hit Idduki district in Kerala is bracing for surplussing of Mullaperiyar Dam as officials issued an alert for people living on the Periyar River banks with the water level in the reservoir crossing the 137 feet mark against its maximum of 142 feet today.

The Tamil Nadu government, which owns and operates the dam located upstream of Idukki Dam, has informed that it may release water into the Periyar river on the Kerala side from Mullaperiyar reservoir due to high inflows, an official release said.

The water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam stood at 137.4 feet.

In view of the advice by Tamil Nadu authorities, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has also decided to release more water from Cheruthoni dam, which is part of the Idukki reservoir, it said.

People living close to Periyar river banks in Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur have been asked to comply with the directions issued by the Collectors of these districts and move to relief camps, the release said.

Idukki District Collector Jeevan Babu said people living on the banks of the Periyar river have to be extremely alert and should shift to safer places before 9 PM.

The district administration and district disaster management authority have taken all precautions, he said.

The Idukki dam itself was opened after a gap of 26 years last week following copious inflows triggered by the heavy rains lashing the state for the past several days. Almost all 40-odd rivers in the state are in spate.

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Close on the heels of the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape scandal rocking the state, another case of alleged sexual harassment of women at a short stay home here has come to light with the police today saying it has arrested the main accused, a Vaishali district administration official.

District project manager Manmohan Kumar Singh, who was entrusted with the supervision of the short stay home, was arrested late last night, town police station inspector Om Prakash said.

The police is searching for four co-accused in the case, which include two women -- Priyanka and Karuna Kumar, in-charge and assistant, respectively, of a women's help line -- who have been accused of abetting the crime, the inspector said.

Singh was arrested after an FIR was lodged as per directions of district magistrate Rajiv Raushan.

The district magistrate said a complaint was received from inmates of the short stay home on July 19 in which they had accused Singh of harassment and the others of abetment.

The district magistrate had set up an inquiry committee, which submitted its report two days ago and the FIR was lodged subsequently.

A major scandal broke out recently in the state after it came to light that 34 girls were raped over a period of time at a government-funded shelter home run by an NGO in Muzaffarpur.

While the case is now being probed by the CBI, the opposition parties have slammed the Nitish Kumar government on the issue and his social welfare minister Manju Verma had to resign following allegations that her husband was in regular contact with the main accused Brajesh Thakur.

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Chief Minister on Tuesday said that 'one nation, one poll' was a good idea but not implementable in the forthcoming general elections.

Kumar, who has been advocating simultaneous polls for state assemblies and Lok Sabha for quite some time, was responding to a query from journalists here on the letter written on the issue to the Law Commission by president Amit Shah.

Holding simultaneous polls for all state assemblies and the Lok Sabha would not be possible in the next general elections. It is a good idea but the time is not yet ripe for its implementation, he said.

The JD(U) president has spoken in favour of simultaneous polls a number of times in recent times, claiming that it would reduce the expenditure involved in holding elections and enable elected governments to focus better on development and governance.

The Janata Dal (United) is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Kumar is heading a coalition government with the in since July last year after the disintegration of Grand Alliance ministry comprising Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), JD(U) and Congress.

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The Bombay High Court sought a reply today from the Mumbai municipal commissioner over a petition challenging the system of online issuance of permission for animal slaughter for Bakri Eid.

The festival falls on August 22 this year.

A bench of Justices A S Oka and R I Chagla asked the commissioner to file a reply to the plea filed by Jiv Maitri trust, an NGO, by August 16.

The petition, filed through advocates Ashish Mehta and Sujoy Kantawalla, stated that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is giving permission for animal slaughter online for the first time this year.

People only have to fill in details and after clicking "submit", a temporary licence for slaughter is issued immediately in digital format, without any verification of details, the petition said.

Advocate Kantawalla told the court that two lawyers recently secured permission for slaughtering five goats each at Esplanade Mansion, a heritage building housing shops and lawyers' offices near the high court.

Esplanade Mansion is clearly not the right place for animal slaughter, he said.

Also, one of these two applicants was a Jain and life-long vegetarian, but the permission was given without any "application of mind", he said.

At least 2 lakh goats are slaughtered in the city each year on Bakri Eid and the BMC is supposed to collect the remains of animals. If temporary license is issued for various spots, how would the corporation supervise the slaughter in each place, Kantawalla asked.

The abattoir at Deonar in east Mumbai is the only place which has a license and necessary facilities for slaughter, the lawyer argued, demanding that the online system be scrapped.

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A bid by a group of six "outsiders" to unfurl the Tricolour at the Lal Chowk city centre here on the eve of Independence Day turned ugly with some local residents objecting to the flag hoisting and trying to rough up three of them, the police said today.

The trio caught in a spat with the local residents over their flag hoisting bid had to be rescued by the police.

As the group, apparently from outside Srinagar, sought to hoist the flag at the historic Ghantaghar (Clock Tower) at Lal Chowk, the local people assembled there and began raising slogans objecting to the flag-hoisting, the police said.

Sensing the aggressiveness of the crowd, three persons of the group fled the spot while the three others were caught in an argument with the local residents.

The police, however, intervened in time and before the three could be roughed up, the police whisked them away, said an official.

The three were later let off, the official said.

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Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain in his Independence Day speech echoed the issue of alleged rigging in the recently held elections, saying the election commission should address the complaints of major political parties to make the poll process "fully transparent".

Addressing an official function held at Jinnah Convention centre here to commemorate the country's 72nd Independence Day, Hussain said it is crucial for the country to make state institutions powerful and independent.

Various political parties alleged that elections won by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf of Imran Khan were not fair and demanded probe.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif yesterday alleged that "historical rigging" took place during the July 25 elections.

The PML-N came second in Pakistan's National Assembly with 82 seats compared to Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which emerged as the single largest party with 158 seats in the 342-member lower house.

President Hussain said the elections and celebration of Pakistan's Independence Day were held in close proximity which is a reminder that the way this country had come into being with the people's will, in the same manner, the decisions regarding its fate will be made through the vote."



He said the polls were organised under new laws enacted by the previous government to make the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) powerful and independent.

He said there is a complete unity in the nation to make process of elections fully transparent and the previous elected representative made laws to empower the ECP.

But if some groups express disquiet over the issue of elections despite the efforts to make them transparent, then it is the responsibility of the ECP to pacify them and took such steps that voters should be confident that decisions about matters of state would be accepted and implemented, he said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Khan, nominated by the largest party in the National Assembly to be the country's next prime minister, is expected to take oath on August 18.

Raising the Kashmir issue, the president said, Pakistan will continue to provide its political and moral support to resolve the Kashmir issue under United Nations resolutions.

He called upon the international community to raise its voice to get the Kashmiri people their "due rights".

Pakistan celebrates August 14 as the Independence Day which marks the transfer of power by last British viceroy to the new government of Pakistan in Karachi. Though, the first day of independence was August 15.

The day-long festivities began with special prayers in mosques and the hoisting of the national flag at all important public buildings in the country, which have been decorated with bunting and lights.

To mark the day, a 31-gun salute was held in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals, the Dawn reported.

Earlier, sirens were sounded and the moving traffic came to a halt as mark of national solidarity.

The main ceremony was held at Jinnah Convention Centre, where President Hussain hoisted the national flag.

The ceremony was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities and foreign dignitaries.

Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in the provincial capitals as well as district headquarters.

Change-of-guard ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively.

Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel.

In his message, the prime minister said the occasion "reminds us of the epic democratic struggle of our forefathers for securing a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent where they could fashion their lives according to their religious, cultural and social values.

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Pakistani Rangers here offered sweets to the Border Security Force (BSF) today on the occasion of their Independence Day at Attari-Wagah border.

Security personnel of both the sides hugged and shook hands with each other, officials said.

Tomorrow, the BSF will offer traditional Indian sweets to their Pakistani counterparts.

On January 26 this year, the BSF had refused to exchange sweets and greetings with their Pakistani counterparts in the wake of heightened tension between the two nations.

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All 23 parliamentary secretaries in Arunachal Pradesh have lost their positions with Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra yesterday issuing an order in this direction, a senior official said today.

The governor, in its order, said "23 members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly shall cease to be parliamentary secretaries", in line with the directions of the Itanagar Permanent Bench of Gauhati High Court, Chief Secretary Satya Gopal said.

"The order will be effective forthwith retrospectively from the date of pronouncement of the judgement by the court," Gopal stated.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Monojit Bhuyan and Justice Rumi Kumari Phukon, while closing a PIL filed by one Kyoda Ram, pronounced the Arunachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007 as 'unconstitutional' on July 25, citing a Supreme Court judgment of 2017.

"Parties are agreed that in view of the decision of the Supreme Court, the PIL does not survive for further consideration," the judges stated while giving their verdict.

The apex court, while disposing of a writ petition filed in 2006 by Bimalangshu Roy against the passage of Assam Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act by the then Congress government in the state, had stated that Article 194 "does not expressly authorize the state legislature to create such an office, and that the Assam legislature lacks the competence to make the act".

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Some regional political parties today hit out at the Tamil Nadu government and police for allegedly slapping sedition charges against human rights activist Thirumurugan Gandhi.

Speaking to reporters, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan said, "Sedition charges have been slapped against Gandhi and a look out notice was issued across the country... all that he did was to raise the Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) firing incident at the United Nations Human Rights Council."



On August 9, pro-Tamil activist Thirumurugan Gandhi was arrested at the international airport in Bengaluru based on a lookout circular issued against him by Tamil Nadu police.

He was arrested on his arrival from Geneva, where he attended a United Nations Human Rights Council meeting recently and raised the issue of Anti-Sterlite protests in Tuticorin district and subsequent police firing that left 13 dead, a release from May 17 movement said.

Leaders from Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, among others, took part in the media interaction.

The parties also expressed similar views.

According to May 17 Movement, of which Gandhi is a coordinator, the activist is lodged in Vellore jail.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singhannounced today Rs 32 crore for the complete facelift of the Ludhiana Focal Points and said a new airport at Halwara would be a "game-changer" for the region's industrial development.

Addressing a gathering of captains of the industry here, the chief minister said all requisite approvals for the Halwara domestic airport was received from the Centre and the Ministry of Defence.

On the occasion, the chief minister also handed over sanction letter of the Development of Oil Expeller Parts and Manufacturing Cluster at Ludhiana to Special Purpose Vehicle, to be set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

The chief minister urged the industry to partner with the state government in its endeavour to put Punjab back on the path of industrial growth, assuring them of the state's full support to facilitate the industry.

He promised the industry that his government would continue incorporating changes, as necessary, in the industrial policy to address their evolving needs in the new industrial environment.

If the Constitution can be amended 122 times then the industrial policy could also be changed to facilitate the industry, Singh remarked.

He exhorted the industry to generate more and more jobs to end the unemployment problem in the state and to wean drug-affected youth away from the menace.

Food Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu lambasted the previous government for blatantly ignoring the interests of the industry during its 10-year "misrule", and lauded Singh for his initiatives to revive the industry.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh awarded the four best Sub Divisional Mission Teams (SDMTs) today for their contribution to the government's mission in eradicating drugs from the state.

Singh, while handing over the appreciation certificates to the SDMs and the DSPs here at the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), exhorted them to redouble their efforts to ensure 100 per cent public participation in the anti-drug campaign of the government.

Public participation was critical to the fight against drugs, he said, while assuring the officers of his government's full support in their efforts against drug abuse.

Interacting with the SDMs and DSPs of Abohar, Barnala, Payal, and Tarn Taran, who were selected on the basis of their performance which was reviewed at the STF zonal level, the chief minister lauded their dedication to duty.

The award would encourage healthy competition in the force to perform, he added.

Those awarded included SDMs Payal Swati, Sandeep Kumar, Poonam Singh and Surinder Singh, and DSPs Payal Rashpal Singh, Jasvir Singh, Rahul Bhardawaj, Gurwinder Sangha, Bhikhiwind Sulkhan Singh Mann and Patti Sohan Singh.

Earlier, Nodal Officer DAPO Rahul Tewari apprised the chief minister that a total of 91 Sub Divisional Mission Teams (SDMTs) were constituted to create awareness among the people about drug abuse, and to motivate the affected youth to come forward for treatment.

The SDMTs were given a deadline of July end to cover the state, which was successfully done, he added.

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The Punjab government will give jobs to 10 poorest of poor youths in each village of the state as part of its goal to provide employment to five lakh persons under 'ghar ghar rozgar' scheme.

"We will be selecting 10 youths who are from the poorest of poor category from each village and offer them jobs," a senior government functionary said here today.

Punjab has around 13,000 villages and the state government has chalked out a plan to offer jobs to 1,30,000 youths under its employment scheme.

"We have already compiled data of 1.22 lakh youths," the official said, adding that necessary skill would be provided to the selected youths to make them employable.

The Congress-led government has claimed to have provided jobs to 2.10 lakh youths in the state. It includes around 44,000 government jobs.

"Last year, we gave 1.66 lakh jobs. In the current fiscal, 44,103 jobs have been given," the official said.

"We have plans to offer five lakh jobs by the end of this financial year," said the official.

Under the 'Ghar Ghar Rozgar' scheme, unemployed youths are given jobs both in private and government sectors through 'job melas'.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will hand over jobs to some youths on the occasion of Independence Day tomorrow in Ludhiana.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar have expressed grief over the demise of Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon today.

Tandon, who was one of the founder members of the BJP's parent organisation Jan Sangh, died after suffering a heart attack in Raipur today. He was 90.

He became the governor of Chhattisgarh in July 2014.

Condoling the demise, Amarinder Singh said that in Tandon's death, Punjab as well as the country has lost a seasoned administrator and grassroots leader.

Sharing his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family, Singh said his prayers were with them in their hour of grief.

As a mark of respect, the Punjab government declared a half-day holiday this afternoon.

The government has also declared one day state mourning on August 16, an official spokesperson said.

In his condolence message, Haryana Chief Minister Khattar said that Tandon was a senior leader who devoted his whole life to inculcate value-based and stood by the poor and needy people.

Khattar conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed the Almighty to rest the soul in eternal peace.

Meanwhile, BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh said with the demise of Tandon, the party has not only lost a founder member of Jan Sangh, but a nationalist statesman and a "vocal leader of Punjab".

Tandon, with his commitment and sincerity, had created a special place for himself in the organization and earned the respect of each and everyone even across party lines, Chugh said.

"He was a leader who had always been a guiding light, an inspiration and was messiah for the workers of the party," he said, adding that it was a personal loss for him.

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Launching a fresh tirade against the Centre on the issue of NRC in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister on Tuesday claimed that those who did not make it to the final draft of the citizens' register are being sent to detention camps.

She also said those who have been staying in the country for years were "branded as infiltrators" and accused the BJP of carrying out the exercise with an eye on Lok Sabha elections.

"Around 1,200 people, including children and women, have been sent to detention camps," she told reporters at the state secretariat.

Of the 4.0 million people who did not find a place in the complete draft that was released on July 30, 2.5 million were Bengali Hindus and 1.3 million are Bengali Muslims, she claimed.

The remaining 200,000 are Biharis, Marwaris and Nepalis, Banerjee said.

Brandishing few voter cards, she claimed the identity proofs belonged to people born between 1962 and 1965.

"Are these people genuine citizens or infiltrators," she asked.

Banerjee said she was fortunate enough to have been born in West Bengal, else "I, too, would have been dubbed as an infiltrator."



"They (BJP) are carrying out the NRC process with an eye on the elections. Sometimes they also raise the bogey of Indo-Pak or Indo-China conflict," she said.

Asked about BJP chief Amit Shah's recent statement about starting a similar process in West Bengal, Banerjee said, "They (BJP) are anti-Bengali."



The BJP is looking at a presidential form of government but "they will lose everywhere", she claimed.

"If everything is fine in Assam, as claimed by the government there, why were 400 companies of central forces deployed in the state? Are media persons allowed to move freely in Assam," she asked.

Shah had stated at a public rally on Saturday that Banerjee was opposing NRC in Assam because she wanted to indulge in "vote-bank politics" by wooing the infiltrators.

He had called upon the people of the state to uproot the TMC government as it "patronised infiltration from Bangladesh".
Launching a fresh tirade against the Centre on the issue of NRC in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed today that those who did not make it to the final draft of the citizens' register are being sent to detention camps.

She also said those who have been staying in the country for years were "branded as infiltrators" and accused the BJP of carrying out the exercise with an eye on the Lok Sabha election.

"Around 1,200 people, including children and women, have been sent to detention camps," she told reporters at the state secretariat.

Of the 40.07 lakh people who did not find a place in the complete draft that was released on July 30, 25 lakh were Bengali Hindus and 13 lakh Bengali Muslims, she claimed.

The remaining 2 lakh are Biharis, Marwaris and Nepalis, Banerjee said.

The chief minister also met a team of 22 representatives of the United Bengali Forum from Assam at the secretariat here.

Brandishing few voter cards, she claimed the identity proofs belonged to people born between 1962 and 1965.

"Are these people genuine citizens or infiltrators," she asked.

Banerjee said she was fortunate enough to have been born in West Bengal, else "I, too, would have been dubbed as an infiltrator."



"They (BJP) are carrying out the NRC process with an eye on the elections. Sometimes, they also raise the bogey of Indo-Pak or Indo-China conflict," she said.

Banerjee also wondered whether the popular 'hilsa' fish and the sweet 'sandesh' from Bangladesh will also be branded as "refugees or infiltrators".

Asked about BJP chief Amit Shah's recent statement about starting a similar process in West Bengal, Banerjee said, "They (BJP) are anti-Bengali."



The BJP is looking at a presidential form of government but "they will lose everywhere", she claimed.

"If everything is fine in Assam, as claimed by the government there, why were 400 companies of central forces deployed in the state? Are media persons allowed to move freely in Assam," she asked.

Shah had stated at a public rally on Saturday that Banerjee was opposing National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam because she wanted to indulge in "vote-bank politics" by wooing the infiltrators.

He had called upon the people of the state to uproot the TMC government as it "patronised infiltration from Bangladesh".

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on Independence Day tomorrow, his fifth speech after the BJP-led NDA came to power in 2014.

He had recently sought ideas from people for his Independence Day speech, a practice he has followed for the past three years.

For the past three years, Modi has invited ideas and suggestions directly from people.

According to MyGov.in, PM Modi will pick up some of the ideas in his speech.

Some of the suggestions already received on the website include the ones on cases of rape, open defecation, reservation system and education.

For the 72nd Independence Day celebrations, the Navy is the coordinating service.

The Guard of Honour will be commanded by Commander PR Jagan Mohan of the Indian Navy.

The Army Contingent will be commanded by Major Suraj Pal, the Navy contingent by Lt Cdr MYV Tejas, while Squadron Leader Praveen Narayan will lead the Air Force contingent. The Delhi Police contingent will be led by ACP Jagdev Singh Yadav, a Defence Ministry statement said.

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Three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered and two Maoist cadre were arrested from various parts of Nepal during the nation-wide general strike called by the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) today, police said.

The Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), led by Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav', had given the strike call for today in protest against the arrest of a senior leader and party spokesperson Khagda Bahadur Bishwokarma 'Prakanda' by the police on the charges of extortion last week.

The IEDs were found at Naikap Balkhu bridge of Chandragiri Municipality, Nayapati of Gokarneshwor Municipality and Jamal of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the police said.

The Nepal Army's special bomb disposal unit has defused IEDs planted at Naikap Balkhu bridge and Nayapati.

Police arrested two cadres of the Maoist party, Usha Kiran and Tara Sanjel, from Jamal area of Kathmandu and recovered a bomb from them, they added.

Early in the morning, security forces defused two bombs which were found from different places in Bhaktapur district, situated in the east of Kathmandu.

Security was intensified in and around Kathmandu in view of the shut down. However, there was no visible effect of the strike in Kathmandu valley, as markets remained open and public transport service was functional, the officials said, adding though schools and colleges were closed.

The police had yesterday arrested another party member for allegedly issuing threats to keep the schools in Dolakha district closed during the strike, according to a media report today.

According to the police, Shyam Pakrin was arrested for threatening various schools in district headquarters Charikot over telephone, the Kathmandu Post reported.

Meanwhile, a group of unidentified persons set on fire two trucks parked near a petrol pump along the East West Highway at Gaidakot in Nawalparasi early this morning, it said.

Another unknown gang also vandalised a Kathmandu-bound bus at Tustung Deurali in Hetauda, the report said.

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A 29-year-old woman activist of a political party was allegedly molested and beaten by three men while she was travelling in an auto- rickshaw here in Maharashtra, police said today.

Her woman colleague and the auto-rickshaw driver were also beaten up by the accused when they tried to save her, Thane Police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar said.

The victim was returning home from work along with the colleague in Kalyan town in the wee hours yesterday when the three men intercepted the vehicle and tried to board it.

When the woman told them that it was not a shared auto-rickshaw, they stood in front of the vehicle and obstructed its movement, Narkar said



The men then allegedly molested the woman, pulled her out of the three-wheeler and slapped her, she said.

They also beat up her colleague and the auto-rickshaw driver when they tried to rescue her, Narkar said.

The victim, who is an activist of a political party, filed a complaint at the Kolsewadi police station in Kalyan last evening.

Narkar said the three men have been identified and a search is on to nab them.

Offences have been registered against the accused under IPC sections 354 (molestation), 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and other relevant provisions, she added.

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A group of 36 teachers of the Presidency University has jointly urged the agitating students of the institute to withdraw their 12-day-old stir promising them to monitor renovation work of the Hindu Hostel building.

Altogether 50 students have been on an indefinite sit-in at the university campus demanding that they be allowed to stay at the Hindu Hostel which has been on renovation for the past three years.

Ayan Chakraborty, an activist of students' body Independent Consolidation (IC), today said 36 teachers handed over yesterday a joint letter to the agitating students who comprises members of the IC, SFI and a few others who are not affiliated to any union.

"In the letter, the faculty members urged us to withdraw the movement stating that it is affecting the normal functioning of the institute and promised to monitor the renovation work of the Hindu Hostel," Ayan said.

They requested the students to withdraw the agitation and go back to the rented premises at Newtown, about 18 km away from the university, for the time being.

"But we turned down their request to withdraw the sit-in as don't agree with the teachers' views that the agitation has been affecting the functioning of the university in any way," Ayan added.

He said, "We are attending classes regularly. We are not disrupting the academic or administrative work. We are just staying at a particular place in the campus."



The students, who have brought pillows and mattress and were taking bath in the campus turning it into a hostel, demand that they be alloted rooms in the Hindu Hostel, which is under renovation.

The Hindu Hostel, adjoining the College Street institution, had been shut down for repairs on July 29, 2015 and 150 boarders were shifted to a rented accommodation at New Town, which is around 18 km from the university.

The Presidency authorities had last year assured the students that all the six blocks of the hostel would be opened for the boarders after completion of renovation work by the first week of August.

Upal Chakrabarti, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and one of those having signed the letter, said the teachers will continue the dialogue process with the students and university authorities.

A university spokesman said Vice-Chancellor Anuradha Lohia already explained to the students that the renovation work will take five months to complete and urged them to reconsider their decision.

The university hoped the students will understand the situation and cooperate with the authorities, he said.

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President Ram Nath Kovind approved Nao Sena (Gallantary) medal for the six women crew members of Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, who circumnavigated the globe, braving treacherous seas and displaying "raw courage".

Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi skippered the 194-day mission, which commenced on September 10 last year, traversing through the Indian, the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, along with Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, and Lts P Swathi, Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.

The mission witnessed several gut-wrenching moments like when INSV Tarini negotiated the choppy waters off the Cape Horn, often dubbed 'the graveyard of ships' owing to the dangerous seas conditions in the Pacific Ocean in January, she was overtaken by a cold front with winds gusting up to 130 kilometers per hour.

The turbulent weather caused 10 meter high waves to come crashing down onto the boat, the Navy said in a statement.

"At this juncture the skipper deftly steered the boat keeping it safe by applying the best navigation and seamanship practices suited to the prevailing circumstances and sea conditions," the statement said.

The storm lasted for one whole day and the boat was maneuvered with exceptional daring and courage to remain afloat.

Joshi worked undauntedly to save the boat, thus avoiding a situation that could have required the launch of an international rescue effort.

"Successful completion of circumnavigation voyage over 194 days at sea is a testimony of the raw courage, endurance and professionalism displayed by the officer and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Navy Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi (43077-A) is therefore strongly recommended for the award of Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry)," the Navy said.

Nao Sena Gallantary medals were also announced for marine Lt Cdr Anil Raina and Kunal Saini for anti-insurgency operations.

The president also approved Shaurya Chakra for Capt P Rajkumar for his work during Cyclone Ockhi.

Vayu Sena (Gallantary) medals were announced for Wing Commander (now Group Captain) and Abhishek Sharma Squadron Leader VD Keane.

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Prolonged negotiations without any solution to the seven-decade-old Naga issue have made the community members "restless" and they are gradually "losing faith" in the central government, some Naga civil society members said today.

At a conference, convened by the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, leaders of several Naga organisations said the dialogue between the NSCN-IM and the central government was going nowhere.

Leaders of Naga Hoho, United Naga Council, Naga Women Council, Naga Students Federation, All Naga Students Association of Manipur and Naga Mothers Association said the Naga people were getting restless as there had been no solution to the Naga issue even though the talk started in 1997 and a framework agreement was signed three years ago.

People are gradually losing faith in the central government, they said.

A framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 by NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and the government's interlocutor R N Ravi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, with the first breakthrough made in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland which started soon after India's Independence in 1947.

The NSCN-IM's key demand is to integrate Naga-inhabited areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur. But the BJP governments in the three states have strongly opposed it.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced on December 8, 2017 that the territorial integrity of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur would not be compromised while inking the final Naga peace accord.

However, the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) had in a statement on July 1 said the integration of all the Naga inhabited areas in the northeast was an integral part of the ongoing peace talks with the central government.

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Rival protesters gathered outside Hong Kong's Foreign Correspondents' Club today as it was set to host a talk by an independence activist, despite a request by Beijing to cancel.

Pro-independence activists clashed with police, saying they had been given no space to protest, while dozens of pro-Beijing supporters chanted slogans including "Gas the spies!"



The lunch address from Andy Chan entitled "Hong Kong Nationalism: A Politically Incorrect Guide to Hong Kong under Chinese Rule" drew objections from China's foreign ministry and Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam, as fears grow that freedom of speech in the semi-autonomous city is increasingly under attack.

The club stood by its decision to go ahead with the event, saying the views of different sides in any debate must be heard.

Hong Kong enjoys speech and assembly freedoms unseen on the mainland under a handover agreement signed by Britain and China.

But Beijing has become increasingly intolerant of any mention of independence for Hong Kong as President Xi Jinping emphasises territorial integrity as key to China's resurgence.

China's foreign ministry had asked for the event with Chan to be cancelled, a source told AFP.

The ministry said: "We resolutely oppose any external forces providing a platform for 'Hong Kong independence' elements to spread fallacies."



A small group called the Students Independence Union turned out in support of Chan, waving independence banners outside the club in Hong Kong's Central district.

Other pro-democracy protesters said they did not support independence but were supporting Hong Kong's right to freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

The pro-Beijing groups gathered outside waved China's national flag, chanting. "Get out of Hong Kong! We Chinese people don't welcome you!", describing the FCC as "thieves" and demanding the government "take back" the colonial-era FCC building it leases to the club.

Chan's tiny Hong Kong National Party is facing a ban from city authorities who say it is a threat to public security despite having only a dozen core members.

It is the first time such a ban has been sought since Britain handed over Hong Kong in 1997.

Calls for the city's independence have infuriated Beijing even though they attract little support.

Chan was banned from standing for office in 2016.

Chan's talk was part of the FCC's "club lunch" tradition which has seen an array of speakers, including Chinese officials, speak to members and the media.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh inaugurated today a government senior secondary smart school in the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) campus here to boost standards in the state.

To be equipped with laptops, multimedia projectors and high-speed internet, the



smart schools will make the teaching-learning process easier and more effective, said the chief minister, adding that a total of 261 government-run schools in the state would be transformed into smart schools.

Besides smart classroom, the government is also installing rooftop solar power plants in such schools, said Singh, who also inaugurated a 10KW Solar Net Metering project, developed at a cost of Rs 5.60 lakh, at the PAU smart school.

The solar rooftop plant in this school would help save Rs 1,20,450 annually, he added.

The PAU smart school, developed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh, has eight new classrooms, each having projector facility, along with other modern teaching aids.

These classrooms would be used to impart to students from class 6 to 10.

Four new toilets have also been constructed, while the existing ones have been repaired.

For creating a positive educational environment in the school, landscaping has been done in some parts and colour coding is being done in the entire school.

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The department of Legal Metrology has penalised two wall putty manufacturing companies in Jammu allegedly for not passing on the benefit of GST rate cut to consumers.

The two companies did not mark revised rates on their products after the central government slashed GST slab on such items from 28 per cent to 18 per cent.

The cases of both the companies were compounded and penalty of Rs 75,000 was imposed and recovered, an official spokesman said.

He said a team of the Legal Metrology department conducted a surprise inspection of the clearing and forwarding (C&F) establishments of two leading companies at Kunjwani and Trikuta Nagar.

It was found that after the reduction of tax slab from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, both the C&F conducted the sale of wall putty with tax slab of 18 per cent and issued the sale bill to dealers but reduced MRP for the benefits of consumers was not marked on the wall putty bags, the spokesman said.

The Centre has issued directions that all such pre-packed commodities with reduced GST slab must bear revised MRP so that consumers can avail the benefit of tax reduction.

The team seized all the documents related to sale of such bags and stopped any further selling of the products till the necessary rectification was done by the management of the two companies, the spokesman said.

The management assured to comply with all the provisions.

The reduced MRP was marked on the wall putty bags, the spokesman said.

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The private cab operators in Goa will hold a 'mega rally' on August 17 against the app-based taxi service launched by a state-run agency.

The cab operators have claimed that the 'GoaMiles' taxi service, launched last week by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), will destabilise their business.

They have called for a mega rally on August 17 at Pernem town in North Goa district to pressurise the state government to withdraw the permission granted to the app- based taxi service.

"No one demanded the app-based taxis when our traditional cab services are operating without any complaints. The state government has forced this service on us to destabilise the business of private taxi operators," Morjim Taxi Union president Sanjay Kole told PTI.

Operators of the yellow-and-black private taxi cabs, that run in the beach belt of Keri, Morjim, Ashwem, Arambol, Baga and Calangute in North Goa, met yesterday in Pernem, about 50 km from here, to chalk out their future course of action.

A similar meeting of taxi operators was also held at Saligao, a village near Candolim beach in North Goa, around 20 km from here.

Last week, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had launched the GTDC's app-based taxi service, which has a fleet of 300-odd taxi operators.

The service was launched amidst protests by the yellow-and-black taxi operators plying from the state's airport at Dabolim, near Vasco town, about 40 km from here.

When contacted, state tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said the app-based taxi service has been working smoothly.

"If anyone has a problem, the state government will look into it," he added.

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 "Algorithmic Risk Assessments and the Double-Edged Sword of Youth" | Main | High-profile drug arrest of billionaire addict spotlights issues of what is "trafficking" and who is a "victim" and "recidivist" 

August 14, 2018

Highlighting how many states have the death penalty in the books without an active execution chamber

John Gramlich at Pew Research Center has this new FactTank piece headlined "11 states that have the death penalty havent used it in more than a decade." Here are excerpts (with a few facts highlighted):

Tennessee carried out its first execution since 2009 this month and Nebraska soon may carry out its first since 1997. The two states underscore the fact that while a majority of jurisdictions in the United States have capital punishment on the books, a considerably smaller number of them use it regularly. Overall, 31 states, the federal government and the U.S. military authorize the death penalty, while 19 states and the District of Columbia do not, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, an information clearinghouse that has been critical of capital punishment. But 11 of the states that allow executions  along with the federal government and the U.S. military  havent had one in at least a decade. Nebraska, in fact, is among seven states that have the death penalty but havent carried out an execution in at least 15 years. New Hampshire hasnt executed an inmate since 1939; the other states in this category are Kansas (last execution in 1965), Wyoming (1992), Colorado and Oregon (both 1997), and Pennsylvania (1999). Executions have occurred somewhat more recently  though still more than a decade ago  in California, Montana, Nevada and North Carolina (all in 2006). The last federal execution also took place more than 15 years ago, in March 2003. While the U.S. military retains its own authority to carry out executions, it hasnt done so since 1961. All 11 states that have the death penalty but havent used it in at least a decade have inmates on death row, as do the federal government and U.S. military. The size of these death row populations ranges from just one inmate each in New Hampshire and Wyoming to 744 in California, which has by far the largest death row in the nation. Californias death row has grown by nearly 100 inmates, or 15%, since January 2006, when it carried out its last execution, and by nearly 30% since 2000, according to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which tracks death row populations for all states. The increase reflects the fact that California juries have continued to sentence convicted defendants to death even as executions themselves have been on hold in recent years amid legal and political disputes.... The federal governments death row has also grown substantially since the last federal execution. There are currently 63 federal inmates sentenced to death, up from 26 in January 2003 (just before the federal governments most recent execution).

I have highlighted the federal piece of this notable story of execution desuetude because I had thought that Prez Donald Trump and AG Jeff Sessions might seriously try to make America execute again. But I have not seen any effort or even any discussion by federal officials to have any federal death sentences actually carried out. As I have noted before, this Death Penalty Information Center list of federal death row prisoners reveals that some sentenced to death have been languishing on death row for a full quarter-century and a number of others have been that for at least two decades. Because I doubt that Prez Trump and AG Sessions are secret abolitionists, I suspect that there is something going on behind the scenes that is keeping federal justice delayed. But I still find it notable and a bit curious that the federal death penalty still now does not really exist, practically speaking.

August 14, 2018 at 12:13 AM | Permalink

Comments

Instead of simply finding it "notable and a bit curious" it would be more helpful if you joined with the majority of your peer professors in condemning the use of death row for warehousing inmates and the death penalty for both its inappropriateness in the 21st Century and the damage it does to the penalty structure of the justice system (ie. giving excuse (or opportunity) for the use of LWP and LWOP (actual or effectively) in cases other than murder. I know, you are ambivalent on the subject!

Posted by: peter | Aug 14, 2018 6:44:52 AM

This data indicates that there is a problem with the death penalty in those states (some of which are small, so it might not be a big problem), but it does not tell us what the problem is. To know what the problem is, I would want to know the following information: 1) is the state currently litigating its execution protocol; 2) does the state have an execution protocol; 3) are potential executions still litigating their first federal habeas (or even earlier in the process); 4) is the state just not scheduling executions on people who could be executed within the next month or two; 5) when is the last time a prosecutor sought the death penalty; and 6) when is the last time that a jury imposed the death penalty?

The second and fourth possibility would reflect a lack of desire (at least on the part on the relevant people in the executive branch) to follow through on the death penalty which does raise some question about whether those jurisdictions actually have a "real" death penalty or whether those officials are failing to faithfully execute the laws of their state. The first and third represent a judicial issue -- either of courts not efficiently processing serious cases or of courts actively circumventing the relevant laws (e.g., Ninth Circuit, Supreme Court of Kansas). The last two issues again go to the "realness" of the death penalty -- is it something reserved for theoretical cases or is it something that is being imposed in actual cases.

Posted by: tmm | Aug 14, 2018 2:28:18 PM

Death penalty is a dirty lottery

TENNESSEE DEATH PENALTY LOTTERY

Bradley A. MacLean H. E. Miller, Jr.

TENNESSEE JOURNAL OF LAW AND POLICY VOLUME 13 SUMMER 2018 ISSUE 1

https://tennesseelawandpolicy.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/maclean-and-miller-tennessees-death-penalty-lottery1.pdf



Posted by: Claudio Giusti | Aug 14, 2018 2:53:08 PM

The DP is not likely to have much of a deterrent effect without actual executions. At best, the prospect of death row might persuade some defendants to take a plea.

Posted by: William Jockusch | Aug 16, 2018 7:49:04 AM

Post a comment
BJP in Karnataka today claimed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi was considering contesting from Bidar or any other part of the state as a 'safe bet' as he has realised he cannot win from Amethi.

However he would not be able to win any election in Karnataka "as he lacks the ability to deliver," state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

Gandhi should instead, contest from Amethi,a constituency from where his ancestors won elections for the past several decades and know what his contributions were, he said.

"Let him (Gandhi) contest from there (Amethi). People will decide his fate based on his contribution to Amethi, which is actually nil," he added.

He was replying to a question on local media reports that Rahul Gandhi may contest from Bidar or any part of Karnataka in the 2019 polls.

Recalling former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's comments that Congress was a 'dead party', he said it was now in a pitiable condition as their leaders were not confident of winning elections from their strongholds.

Reacting to Yeddyurappa's comments, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said there was no possibility of Gandhi contesting from Bidar or anywhere else in the state.

"Just because Rahul Gandhi addressed a public rally in Bidar does not mean he is going to contest from there," he clarified.

Yeddyurappa also alleged that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had neglected North Karnataka even as drought prevailed in the region.

"He has completely forgotten North Karnataka. There is drought in 13 districts of the region. The district in-charge ministers are visiting there just to celebrate Independence Day... nothing more than that," he said.

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Congress president Rahul Gandhi today met some corporate leaders here and he was believed to spoken on a range of issues, ranging from GST to job creation.

Suresh Daggubati, a film producer and businessman, who attended the closed-door meeting, said Gandhi participated in an interactive session, expressed his views and clarified his stand on certain issues.

"Rahul spoke about GST, demonetisation... He shared his opinion. He spoke about job creation and wealth distribution. It was a positive interaction," he told PTI.

"It is basically an event by the Young President's Organisation. Normally somebody (leader) comes and talks to us. We always call prospective leaders for an interaction," he added.

The party, on its official Twitter account, said, "The Congress party president met CEOs here to discuss solutions to issues faced by small and medium businesses.

The Congress president, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit, addressed party cadres through video-conference and reviewed poll preparedness, a senior Congress leader said.

Gandhi had addressed a public meeting yesterday at Serilingampally and also participated in an interactive session with women Self-Help Groups at Shamshabad.

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Gearing up the party organisation in Telangana ahead of elections next year, Congress President Rahul Gandhi today held separate interactions with senior leaders and booth committee presidents here.

Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to Hyderabad, his first after becoming the party President, addressed a tele-conference with the party's booth-committee presidents in the state, Congress sources said.

He was given a 15-minute presentation on the Leader Development Mission in Reserved Constituencies (LDMRC) undertaken by the party in Telangana.

LDMRC aims at promoting leadership from backward communities.

The Congress President had one-to-one meetings with a number of senior leaders, including MPs, MLAs, MLCs and ex-MPs focusing on ways to strengthen the party, P Sudhakar Reddy, Deputy Leader of Congress in state Legislative Council told reporters here.

Reddy said he stressed on better coordination and unity among party leaders and workers to take on rivals.

Gandhi held an interactive session with Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) yesterday.

He promised to support the women SHGs if the Congress came to power after next year's Legislative Assembly polls in Telangana.

He addressed a public meeting at Serilingampalli last evening where he said the party, if elected to power, would honour the commitments made to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act.

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Heavy rains lashed north India leading to flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir, where four people were killed, even as the death toll in Himachal Pradesh reached 19.

Landslides were reported in several areas in Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

A five-year-old boy drowned in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district this morning, taking the death toll to 19 in the last two days, an official said.

The highest casualty was in Solan district (eight), followed by Mandi district (four), three in Kangra district, two in Hamirpur district and one each in Bilaspur and Una districts.

Four people were killed in flash floods and three others suffered injuries following unabated rains in Jammu region. Over two dozen houses and scores of vehicles were damaged by the gushing waters.

While two persons died in Udhampur district two others were injured -- one person each died in Jammu and Poonch districts -- since yesterday, they said.

As per reports two dozens houses and structures suffered damaged due to rains, flash floods and landslides in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Reasi districts and scores of vehicles were damaged in Jammu city.

The region had been witnessing heavy rainfall for the past three days. Many important roads in Jammu city were flooded.

Trees and electric poles have been uprooted in several areas and numerous vehicles washed away in New Plot area.

Chenab, Tawi and Basantar rivers were overflowing.

Power and water supply to most parts of Jammu city and other rural areas had been badly affected since last evening.

In Uttarakahnd's Champawat district, a woman was killed in after a tree fell on her amid heavy rains.

The state emergency management centre said due to increased water level of the Ganges after heavy rains, a 450-meter-long stretch of its embankment near Kalasia village in Haridwar district was damaged, posing danger to the nearby areas.

The district administration also issued an alert, warning people of the nearby areas of the possible danger.

At Gopeshwar in Chamoli district, a colony of government employees near the district hospital was reporting intermittent landslides and efforts were on to evacuate the members of the eight families living there, an official said.

Various places in the state was experiencing light to medium rains intermittently, which itself was a relief from the incessant heavy rains, lashing the state for the last few days.

With the rainfall triggering widespread landslides in the state, many of the key arteries roads in the state, including the national highways like Rishikesh-Badrinath, Rishikesh-Yamunotri and Takanpur-Pithoragarh highways have got blocked, said the official, adding that the efforts are on to reopen them.

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Heavy rains pounded various parts of Kerala, especially the northern regions this morning, compounding the miseries of the people of the state where thousands are lodged in relief camps.

In view of the situation, educational institutions in most places have declared a holiday today.

Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Kasaragod and Palakkad are being lashed by heavy rains, disaster control room sources said.

In most of these places landslides had been reported yesterday.

Over 20,000 houses have been damaged completely, 10,000 km of roads destroyed and 30,000 people are in relief camps across the state in the heavy rains which have been lashing the state since August 8, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here.

The government also decided to do away with annual 'Onam' celebrations being organised by the state and to utilise the amount for relief measures, he said.

Weather men have forecast thunderstorm and gusty winds in the region today.

Several areas of the worst-hit Wayanad are completely waterlogged and the water level in the Banasura Sagar dam in the district has touched the full reservoir level of 775.60 m at 5 am this morning.

If more water is released, it is likely to further worsen the situation.

In Wayanad, 13,461 people have been lodged in 124 camps.

With heavy to very heavy rainfall predicted for Kerala in the next 24 hours, there seems to be no let up in the woes of the people in the state.

In the idukki reservoir, two of the five sluice gates, which had been opened after a gap of 26 years, have been closed as the water level has decreased.

However, a matter of concern was the rising water level at the Mullaperiyar Dam level in Idukki district, which has touched 136.10 feet against its maximum level of 142 feet.

An alert has been sounded asking people to be cautious, state authorities said.

Ayyappa devotees have been asked not to visit the hill shrine at Sabarimala as the rain-fed Pampa rose menacingly.

The articles for the conduct of the annual 'Niraputhiri' ritual would be brought to the shrine by this evening.

"The pooja will be held as scheduled tomorrow," TDB President, A Padmakumar, told PTI.

People coming to shrine unaware of the restrictions would be provided accommodation at Nilackal, on the foothills of Sabarimala, he said.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which manages the shrine, the district authorities and police have issued alerts to devotees and decided to stop them at various points till the water receded.

A large number of pilgrims are expected to visit the famed Lord Ayyappa temple as it will be opened for the 'niraputhari' ritual and festivities of 'Chingam' this week.

The Pampa river flowing on the foothills of Sabarimala breached its banks at several places, damaging buildings and shops, flooding pathways and uprooting electric poles.

The unprecedented rain fury since August 8 has so far claimed 39 lives in the state.

Fishermen have been warned against putting out to sea.

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Reeling under the unprecedented havoc caused by heavy rains, the Kerala government today decided do away with the 'Onam' celebrations this year and instead utilise the amount for relief operations.

Thirtynine persons have so far lost their lives in landslides and floods caused due to the heavy rains, which has destroyed 20,000 houses and damaged 10,000 km of roads in the state since August 8.

The government has resolved not to organise programmes held every year as part of the onam festivities, Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, told reporters here.

The amount set apart for the celebrations would be used for relief work in the state, he added.

The government organises events across district headquarters and in the state capital during the week-long 'Onam' celebrations.

'Onam' (harvest festival) falls on August 25 this year.

City streets are illuminated, handicrafts fairs, folk arts and various programmes are organised during the celebrations which concludes with a grand procession of floats in the state capital.

Earlier, the state government had also postponed the annual Nehru trophy boat race.

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Nearly 500,000 people joined hands to form a 700-km-long human chain along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan to honour martyrs and boost the morale of the soldiers on the eve of The event, Shahdat ko Salam, was organised to instill a sense of patriotism. Participants holding the tricolour and balloons formed the chain passing through four frontier districts of Rajasthan  Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Barmer. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje took aerial survey of the event and paid tributes to the martyrs.

Jaisalmer District Collector Om Prakash Kasera said that Chief Minister Raje planted a sapling at the War Musuem and paid tributes to the martyred soldiers.

People, including women, schoolchildren, BSF and Army jawans and administrative officials, participated in large numbers to form the human chain.

Kasera said that the chief minister honoured 21 people including soldiers and their family members.

Barmer District Collector Shivprasad Madan Nakate said the schoolchildren waved a 200 meters-long and 1.5 meter-wide tricolour during the event.

On the eve, the chief minister congratulated people of the state, saying that India is shining at the global platform because of "blood and sweat of martyred soldiers", freedom fighters and their devotion towards the country.

She said that it would be a real tribute to the martyrs if we all contribute to the progress of our country by developing an atmosphere of social harmony and brotherhood.

Raje said the true meaning of freedom is when the last person in queue lives a "good life with due respect".

.
The Ranchi district administration has asked Jharkhand Social Welfare department to shut down seven children's homes here, including one run by Missionaries of Charity which was recently in the for illegal sale of babies.

The list of Ranchi-based children's homes for registration cancellations was prepared after a host of infractions were take into account, like violation of juvenile justice norms, poor infrastructure and no proper building, said Ranchi District Social Welfare officer Kanchan Singh.

Other than Nirmal Hriday of Missionaries of Charity, the other six children's homes are -- Lok Vikas, Maharshi Valmiki Viklang Anath Seva Ashram, Anchal Shishu Ashram, Diya Seva Sansthan, Adim Jati Seva Mandal and EDIASS, the officer said.

The alleged selling of babies at Missionaries of Charity, Ranchi, came to limelight in June this year. Deputy Commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray ordered on June 22 a probe into the matter, she said.

The Ranchi district administration sent recommendations to the social welfare department after the probe was launched into the children's homes case, she said.

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A day after he was allegedly attacked in Lutyens's Delhi, JNU student leader Umar Khalid today said the real culprits behind the attack are those who "have been breeding an atmosphere of hatred, bloodlust and fear".

In a Facebook post, he blamed the BJP spokespersons and the media who, he said, have called him a part of "tukde tukde" gang. He shared a picture in which he is seen with journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead last September.

"With the repeated death threats against my life, and having seen the assassinations of one activist after the other in the last few years, I somehow knew that someday a gun may be turned against me too," he wrote.

"Dhabolkar, Kalburgi, Pansare, Gauri Lankeshthe list of assassinations has been ever-growing. But can I say that I was ready for this? Can anyone ever say that they are ready for such an eventuality for real? No," he said.

Khalid said the fact that he was attacked by an armed assailant in one of the most "high security" zones of the national capital two days before Independence Day proved how some people felt they enjoyed impunity under the current regime.

He said he did not know his attackers but added they were not the real culprits.

"The real culprits are those who from their seats of power have been breeding an atmosphere of hatred, of bloodlust and fear. The real culprits are those who have provided an atmosphere of complete impunity for assassins and mob lynchers," he said in a post on Facebook.

"The real culprits are those spokespersons of the ruling party and the prime time anchors and TV channels who have spread canards about me, branded me anti-national based on lies and virtually incited a lynch-mob against me," Khalid continued.

He said he had been made a victim of a media trial for the last two years without any evidence or charge sheet.

"Why is it that hashtags like "Tukde Tukde" has literally become a prefix to my name, whereas BJP leaders openly support those who say they will do "tukde tukde" of the country if a certain movie is released?" he asked.

Khalid sought security from the Delhi Police and claimed that in the last two years, whenever he had asked for police protection, he was given a "callous response".

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Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi today said, "We, Indians, must rededicate themselves to an inclusive, a developed and just India."



In her message on the eve of the 71st independence, the former IPS officer said she deemed it 'a great joy and privilege to convey her best wishes to every citizen of the country'.

She said, "No other country matches India's extraordinary mix of ethnic groups, profusion of mutually varying languages, varieties of topography and climate, diversity of faiths and cultural practices and disparate levels of economic development".

"India has grown into a self-sufficient and exporting nation which has progressed considerably in building infrastructure while there still is scope for improved education, better health, rural development, infrastructure and economic policies", she said in the message.

"For the nation to attain its glory every Indian has to contribute and be the change he or she wants to see. True to the call of the Prime Minister if every Indian takes a step forward, the nation will take 1.2 million steps forward", she said.

Puducherry also celebrates its 57th De Jure Transfer Day on August 16.

She conveyed her best wishes to the people of the Union Territory for peace, prosperity and well-being.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, in his message on the eve of Independence Day, said it was the duty of every citizen to recall the sacrifices of the freedom fighters who had made the country independent.

He said the Congress-DMK coalition ministry headed by him has overcome 'several obstacles and successfully implemented welfare measures.'



The revenue generated by the administration, overall development in various sectors and per capita income have increased substantially, the Chief Minister said.

The successful implementation of welfare schemes was basically owing to sustained cooperation the people have extended to the government, he added.

Assembly Speaker V Vaithilingam, PWD Minister A Namassivayam, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) R Radhakrishnan and leaders of various political parties also extended their greetings to the people.

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 High-profile drug arrest of billionaire addict spotlights issues of what is "trafficking" and who is a "victim" and "recidivist" | Main | "Nowhere to Go: Homelessness among formerly incarcerated people" 

The lengthy local article, headlined "'A monumental day'; Nebraska executes Carey Dean Moore in state's first lethal injection," reports on a milestone capital punishment even in the heartland today. Here are a few details:

Nebraska carried out its first execution in 21 years on Tuesday, using four drugs to end the life of double murderer Carey Dean Moore.

Moore, 60, became the first condemned inmate in the state put to death by lethal injection. He had served 38 years on death row for the 1979 killings of Omaha cabdrivers Reuel Van Ness and Maynard Helgeland. Helgeland and Van Ness were shot five days apart as Moore targeted cabdrivers because he knew they carried cash. Both men were 47 years old, fathers and military veterans.

Corrections Director Scott Frakes said the first of four execution drugs was administered at 10:24 a.m. The Lancaster County coroner declared Moore dead at 10:47 a.m. Frakes said the execution was carried it out with "professionalism, respect for the process and dignity for all involved."

The scene outside the Nebraska State Penitentiary, where the execution occurred, was subdued on Tuesday morning amid on-and-off rain showers. Only about a dozen death penalty opponents prayed outside the prison; only three capital punishment proponents attended. Many more state troopers and media members stood nearby.

Gov. Pete Ricketts, who helped lead an effort to overturn a 2015 repeal of the death penalty by the Nebraska Legislature, spent the morning in a meeting with state agency officials. Today, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services carried out the sentence the court ordered in accordance with the will of the people of Nebraska," Ricketts said in a prepared statement. "The death penalty remains a critical tool to protect law enforcement, corrections officers and public safety.

Outside the governor's mansion in Lincoln just after the execution, a handful of protesters stood in the rain, one carrying a sign reading "Ricketts has blood on his hands.

Among the death penalty supporters who came to the prison were Vivian Tuttle, whose daughter was slain inside a Norfolk bank in 2002. "I'm here to support the victims," Tuttle said. "That's the ones I have to stand for." Standing with her was Pierce County Sheriff Rick Eberhardt, who, along with Tuttle, collected hundreds of signatures to allow voters to restore the death penalty in 2016.

Tuttle's daughter, Evonne Tuttle, was one of five people killed in a bank robbery in Norfolk on Sept. 26, 2002. Evonne Tuttle, a single mother, went to the bank in Norfolk to cash a $64 check. Three gunmen from the robbery, Jose Sandoval, Jorge Galindo and Erick Vela, all are on death row. "I think it's important that we have voices that still say it's important that we stand for the death penalty. And for the families of victims," Tuttle said.

Moore  who had served the longest time on Nebraska's death row  was led to the execution chamber at 10 a.m. After he was strapped to the execution table, he mouthed the words "I love you" multiple times toward his official witnesses, which included a brother and a niece.

His final words were delivered in a handwritten statement: He hoped that lawyers could get his younger brother, Donald, released from parole, and urged death penalty opponents to pursue claims of innocence by four others on Nebraska's death row....

The four official media witnesses to the execution said that Moore's face gradually turned slightly red, then purple, as the four drugs were administered. The execution was the first using the four drugs obtained by Nebraska, over legal objections by death penalty opponents and some drug manufacturers. The curtain to the execution chamber was lowered at 10:39 a.m. after the fourth drug was administered. The curtains reopened eight minutes later after he was pronounced dead....

Duggan called the execution "a monumental day" after the many debates in the state over capital punishment. The death penalty was restored by voters in 2016 by a 61-39 percent margin after a petition drive, in large part funded by Ricketts, placed the issue on the ballot. "There's no question it's a significant day in the state's history," the reporter said.

In a statement, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said, "Our sympathy is extended to the families of Reuel Van Ness and Maynard Helgeland for the loss of their loved ones nearly thirty-nine years ago. Today's somber event serves to provide a measure of closure for what has been a lengthy enactment of justice."

Nebraska has now carried out 38 state-sanctioned executions. Moore was put to death using a previously untried four-drug combination of diazepam, fentanyl, cisatracurium and potassium chloride.

He is the first inmate executed using the drug fentanyl, a powerful narcotic painkiller that has contributed to the nation's epidemic of drug overdoses. He was put to death despite two federal lawsuits filed last week by drug companies seeking to keep their products from being used. The state's last execution before Tuesday took place in 1997, when the electric chair was the method. Lethal injection was adopted in 2009 after the state Supreme Court outlawed electrocution as cruel and unusual punishment.
Reliance Brands has purchased an additional 12.56 per cent stake in Genesis Colors Limited (GCL) for about Rs 52.77 crore, taking its total holding in the company to 46.39 per cent.

The move would help Reliance Brands, a Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) subsidiary, add to the existing portfolio of branded fashion retail outlets.

"This is to inform that Reliance Brands, a subsidiary of the Company, has purchased an additional 12.56 per cent equity shareholding in GCL for about Rs 52.77 crore, taking its total stake in GCL to 46.39 per cent," RIL said in a regulatory filing.

Incorporated in November, 1998 GCL is in the business of retailing and wholesale of branded readymade garments, bags, footwear and accessories directly and through its subsidiary/Joint ventures.

GCL belongs to a similar industry as Reliance Brands, it added.

"This acquisition will add to the existing portfolio of branded fashion retail outlets," it said.

In 2017-18 GCL's turnover was Rs 86.02 crore (provisional).

It had reported a turnover of Rs 80.04 crore and Rs 114.16 crore in FY 2016-17 and FY 2015-16, respectively.

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Union minister Kiren Rijiju today praised the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for rescuing hundreds of Kinner Kailash pilgrims who were recently stranded in flash floods in Himachal Pradesh's tribal Kinnaur district.

During his visit to the 17th Battalion ITBP Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district today, Rijiju, the Union Minister of State for Home, also appreciated ITBP soldiers for their rescue operations during various calamities in mountainous terrain of the state from time to time.

He also distributed dustbins and other sanitary products among the locals under the Swachhta programme organised by the ITBP.

On the sidelines of the programme, Rjiju told reporters that his Kinnaur visit was meant to take stock of the situation in the district after recent calamities.

"My major concern was to get the first hand information about the activities in this border district," Rijiju said.

The programme was also attended by the ITBP DGP, 17th battalion Commandant Arjun Negi, Officiating Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Avninder Kumar, and Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma.

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Reliance Jio will launch flash sale of 'JioPhone 2' on Thursday on its website as the Reliance Industries group company looks to increase the number of JioPhone users to 100 million.

"The new high-end model of the JioPhone, the 'JioPhone 2', will be available for online purchase on Jio.com on 16th August, 12pm, in a flash sale," a company note said.

The 4G phone priced at Rs 2,999 will come with QWERTY keypad and provide access to apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Google Maps in addition to existing Jio Apps like JioCinema, JioChat, JioMusic etc.

"Starting 15th August, JioPhone customers will be able to enjoy Facebook, YouTube and Google Maps," the note said.

Reliance Jio offers the first version of JioPhone against a refundable deposit of Rs 1,500 a unit but customers looking to buy JioPhone 2 will have to pay the full amount.

Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh D Ambani at the annual general meeting had said that there were more than 25 million Jiophone users in India.

"With the added functionalities (apps and new JioPhone), our wider network reach across India and strong retail presence across India, the goal that I have now set for our Jio team is to enable 100 million users on this Jiophone platform in the shortest possible time," Ambani had said.

According to CyberMedia Research, umbrella brand of Reliance Jio phones LYF emerged as the market leader with 27 per cent market share due to sale of JioPhones in the last quarter of 2017. Samsung followed LYF with 14 per cent market share in the segment.

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Miscreants today looted Rs 14.50 lakh from the staff of a finance company in Bihar's East Champaran district, police said.

Three staff of a Bharat Finance Company Pvt Ltd were going to deposit money in a bank when the bike borne miscreants looted Rs 14.50 lakh at gunpoint from them near Chandmari chowk, Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Murli Manohar Manjhi said.

The SDPO said that the staff of the finance company has claimed that Rs 14.50 lakh was looted from them at gunpoint.

The police have started investigation, he added.

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Rerversing all its early gains, the rupee today collapsed to a life-time low of 70.09 against the US dollar, falling 16 paise amid fears that Turkish economic crisis could lead to a global financial meltdown.

The ongoing currency turmoil in Turkey has dampened investors' sentiments globally. Investors are turning to dollar as safe haven with Turkeys currency lira crisis continuing since the last week.

Yesterday, the rupee had plunged by Rs 1.08, or 1.57 per cent, to a record low of 69.93 against the US currency.

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The Russian military said today that its forces in Syria will help U.N. peacekeepers fully restore patrols along the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, reflecting Moscow's deepening role in mediating between the decades-old foes.

The Russian deployment in the area has also highlighted Moscow's growing clout in the region, where it seeks to balance the sharply conflicting interests of Israel and Iran.

"The Russian flag is the guarantor of peace and security on that land," said Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, speaking to international reporters on a trip to the area organised by the Russian Defense Ministry.

He noted that Russian and Israeli officials have maintained regular communications, adding that "operations by Russian military police help ensure the security of Israel."



Russia has been President Bashar Assad's number one backer against rebels seeking to oust him.

Moscow's military intervention in Syria has turned the tide of the war in his favor, helping his forces recapture key areas from the opposition.

Russian military police have been deploying in all areas recaptured from rebels, including on the edge of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, after Syrian government forces regained control of the area last month.

Kuralenko said that the Russian military police have set up four checkpoints on the edge of the demilitarized zone and plan to add another four.

"The Russian military police work in close interaction with the U.N.," he said, adding that they have set up a hotline with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and held regular meetings to coordinate their actions.

He noted that a top priority for the Russian military police is to help clear mines left by militants.

He said Russian forces have inspected the demilitarized zone and adjacent areas to help UNDOF map safe routes.

"We are offering all possible assistance to the U.N. mission to allow it to resume its operations in the demilitarized zone in full," Kuralenko said, adding that the Russian military police will be ready to leave once the U.N. mission fully takes charge.

The U.N. peacekeepers first deployed in the area in 1974 under a deal to separate Syrian and Israeli forces after Israel occupied the Golan Heights in the 1967 war, but they were driven away by al-Qaida-linked militants in 2014.

Kuralenko said most U.N. facilities in the area were heavily damaged during fierce fighting between al-Qaida and Syrian government forces.

"The main problem is a large number of explosive objects left," he said.

"We see our mission not only in clearing mines, but also in training local personnel. We are helping train Syrian military engineers so that they can do the job themselves."



By deploying its forces along the Syrian-Israeli frontier, Moscow has sought to assuage Israeli concerns about the Iranian presence in Syria.

Israel has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran, or its proxy Hezbollah militia, to establish a permanent presence in postwar Syria. Moscow, which has played a delicate diplomatic game of maintaining friendly ties with both Israel and Iran, warned that it would be unrealistic to expect Iran to fully withdraw from Syria.

But in a bid to accommodate Israel's security interests, Moscow announced two weeks ago that it struck a deal with Tehran to keep its fighters 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the Golan.

While Russia and Iran have teamed up in Syria to shore up Assad's government, their interests don't always converge.

Iran is loath to surrender any of its hard-won gains in Syria, but it can't afford a falling out with Moscow amid the continuing tensions with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

Washington's withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal has made ties with Russia even more important for Tehran.

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A security watchdog today said for the first time it had spotted Russian-made weapons in rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine, despite the Kremlin insisting it has not provided arms in the conflict.

The statement from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a rare independent confirmation that sophisticated Russian-produced arms are involved in the fight between the Ukrainian army and separatists.

In a statement to AFP, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine said that on July 28, it had "spotted four distinct electronic warfare systems ... in areas not controlled by the government."



The mission said one of its drones had seen the Leer-3, Krasukha-2, Bylina, and Repellent-1 systems some 64 kilometres (40 miles) south-west of the rebels' stronghold Lugansk.

The systems -- designed to jam mobile communication and disable radar guided missiles -- started being produced only a few years ago and are made in Russia.

The OSCE report did not explicitly name the country of origin.

Repellent-1 was designed to disable and destroy drones at distances of up to roughly 30 kilometres, according to Russian media.

The mission confirmed to AFP that its drones, which are used to monitor the four-year-old conflict, have been jammed dozens of times, but refused to speculate on the source of the interference.

More than 10,000 people have been killed since the conflict with Moscow-backed rebels broke out in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of funnelling troops and arms across the border.

Moscow has denied the allegations despite overwhelming evidence that it has been involved in the fighting.

The OSCE team's 600 members are the only independent monitoring mission in the war-torn area.

They provide daily reports on the fighting and have drawn the insurgents' ire for accusing them of being responsible for most violations of a truce deal.

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Travancore Devaswom Board today said steps have been taken for the smooth conduct of the annual 'niraputhari' pooja at the Lord Ayyappa temple here, where restriction has been imposed for pilgrims following heavy rains.

Ayyappa devotees had been advised by authorities yesterday not to visit the hill shrine in the coming days as the Pampa river at the foothills is overflowing due to heavy rains.

TDB President, A Padmakumar said 'melshanthi' (chief priest) is already at the 'sannidhanam' (temple complex) of the hill shrine and the 'katta' (harvested paddy) for the auspicious ritual would be brought this evening.

Considering the flood situation at the foothills, the paddy bundles would be taken to the shrine, located atop Sabarimala hills, by two groups of people.

One team would trek the forest path through Vandiperiyar to reach the shrine, while the other group would take the usual Pampa route, which is presently waterlogged.

"The shrine will be opened as scheduled this evening. There will be no hurdles for the niraputhari poojas tomorrow morning," he told PTI.

"The water level of the Pampa river is yet to dip. As per the present circumstance, we have no option other than continuing the restrictions imposed on pilgrims from visiting the temple," he said.

All the concerned people including temple tantri (head priest) would reach the shrine on time, the official added.

The TDB, which manages the shrine, district authorities and police had issued alerts to devotees and decided to stop them at various points till the water level recedes.

The river, flowing on the foothills of Sabarimala, breached its banks at several places, submerging many shops, damaging buildings, flooding pathways and uprooting electric posts.

Two bridges across the river at Triveni, which devotees use to reach the shrine, were inundated.

"The paddy bundles for the ritual have already been brought from Achankovil," he said.

Steps have also been taken to accommodate pilgrims, who come unaware of the restrictions, at Nilakkal at the valley, the offical added.

A large number of pilgrims are flocking to the famed Lord Ayyappa temple in the wake of 'niraputhari' ritual and festivities of 'Chingam' later this week.

"We came here unaware about the restrictions and the flood situation. Every year, we come to the shrine to attend the niraputhari ritual and offer the harvested paddy.

I do not know whether we can make it this time," a devotee told a TV channel at Pampa.

He is one of the many devotees who have been stranded at the foothills.

Heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Sabarigiri hydroelectric project and opening of the shutters of the Pampa and Anathode dams had caused river Pampa to overflow.

The shutters of Moozhiyar and Kakki, the other dams in Pathanamthitta districts, were also opened yesterday.

Barricades have been set up and ropes tied at Pampa to prevent people from travelling to the shrine, police said, adding that those who arrive there ignoring the alerts would be stopped and sent back.

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Union Minister Vijay Sampla said today that the Centre will release the next installment of the post matric scholarship scheme for SC students in Punjab after the state government submits its audit report on the implementation of the scheme.

"We have decided to clear the arrears of the scheme of all states by March 31, 2019. Punjab has also been told that whatever their arrears are will be cleared. But after that the next installment of the post matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste students will be disbursed once the audit report is submitted to us," Sampla said here today.

Notably, the Punjab government had been conducting an audit of the post matric scholarship scheme. It had claimed to have detected an embezzlement of Rs 400 crore in its implementation in the state and also assured to take strict action against those found guilty.

Sampla said the Centre is ready to release the balance amount after deducting the state liability of Rs 310 crore and Rs 400 crore of "fraud" detected by the state government in its audit.

"Fraud to the tune of Rs 400 crore detected in an audit conducted by the Punjab government, technically is saving for us," he further said.

According to Sampla, the pending amount of the scheme is pegged at Rs 835 crore as far as Punjab is concerned.

"Punjab has been asked to submit its audit report to us," said Sampla.

The Centre had released a sum of Rs 327 crore to Punjab in the month of June under post matric scholarship scheme.

Sampla said that a plan had also been mooted to link accounts of SC students with Aadhaar so as to weed out the chances of any embezzlement of funds.

The minister said his minister had received several complaints pertaining to embezzlement of funds under this scheme from all states.

However, he said it was the state government's responsibility to take action against any unscrupulous educational institution.

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The Supreme Court today said it was concerned over sexual and physical abuse of children at shelter homes across India and asked the Centre what action has it taken in the cases related to such abuse of 1,575 minors.

The apex court, while asking the government to consider framing a child protection policy, observed that according to social audit conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development from 2015 to March last year, 1,575 children were abused and now were living in the shelter homes.

"We are concerned about whether the children are looked after properly or whether they are abused in shelter homes," a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur said.

The bench, also comprising justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Pinky Anand, who was appearing for the Centre as to what action has been taken in these cases.

"1,575 boys and girls are victims of sexual and physical abuse. What have you done about it? Which are the shelter homes where they are kept? What action the states have taken on this," the bench asked the ASG.

The ASG told the apex court that social audit report was shared with states last year itself.

"Tell us which states have not taken any action," the bench asked.

The ASG said she would get instructions on this and get back to the court.

The government told the court that social audit of child care institutions was conducted by the ministry in 678 districts across the country and as per the report, children were residing in 9,589 such homes.

It said out of these institutions, 32 per cent child care institutions were registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act while 33 per cent were unregistered.

Referring to the audit report, the Centre said that 8,744 homes were managed by NGOs and private individuals while there were 845 government-supported homes.

"Did they talk to the children (during the audit)," the bench asked, adding, "Did they find out any incidents of sexual or physical abuse?"



"We are concerned with that and not with this kind of audit. Are the children living there are happy or are they unhappy," the bench asked.

When the ASG said that agency conducting social audit had talked to the children during the process, the bench observed that according to the report, 1,575 children, including 286 boys, were either sexually or physically abused.

The bench said that the affidavit filed by the ministry was "totally unrelated" with the issue which was being dealt with by the apex court.

The ASG said that social audit was being carried out by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the process was likely to be completed by October end.

She said that social audit of over 3,000 homes have already been done by NCPCR and most of the states have given consent for it.

At the outset, the Bihar government placed before the bench the social audit report of shelter homes in the state prepared by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

"What is so secret in this?," the bench asked, adding, "what is the objection in releasing it?".

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Bihar, said that the state do not any have objection if TISS report was made public.

He said that the report was not made public earlier as it contained information which could have been used "for cover up" by those persons against whom action was to be taken in Muzaffarpur shelter home case where girls were allegedly raped and sexually abused.

The bench asked the Bihar government to make the report public.

Kumar told the court that three organisations, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, were already looking into the psycho-social aspect of girls, allegedly sexually abused at the Muzaffarpur shelter home.

Advocate Aparna Bhat, assisting the court as an amicus curiae, referred to the communication she had received from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore in the matter.

The amicus, who had earlier said that NIMHANS should look into the mental and psychiatric health of these victims, said that there appeared to be some confusion as to what NIMHANS has said in view of the involvement of other agencies in the matter.

The bench suggested that these agencies and Bihar government should talk on this issue since the intention was to ensure that these children should not be harassed.

The court said Bihar should take a decision on whether to involve NIMHANS and AIIMS Patna in this.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for TISS, placed before the bench the proposed rehabilitation and reintegration measures which could be taken for welfare of these children.

She also said that TISS has also given a report on the process of how soial audit should be conducted.

The bench asked the NCPCR to take note of the report of TISS on how to conduct social audit.

The apex court, which has taken cognisance of the Bihar incident following a letter by a Patna-based man, had earlier termed as "horrific" the case of alleged sexual abuse of girls in an NGO-run shelter home at Muzaffarpur.

On August 2, the bench had said that investigation in the Muzaffarpur case should be conducted with assistance of professional counsellors or qualified child psychologists appointed in consultation with the NIMHANS, TISS and AIIMS, Delhi.

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The department said firms and individuals imported more than 3,664 cryptocurrency mining rigs in the first six months of the year, most of which were Antminer branded models from China.Four enterprises imported more than 3,000 machines this year, while the rest was imported by individuals and organisations, which do not have import tax codes.Last year, the HCM City Customs Department completed customs clearance for more than 7,000 bitcoin and litecoin miners. Meanwhile, the Hanoi Customs Department approved import of 190 bitcoin miners and 350 litecoin miners.The Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Justice and relevant agencies are considering suspending the import of cryptocurrency mining machines in a move to improve the management of currency transactions in the country.

Vietnamplus
The Supreme Court today expressed concern over sexual abuse of children living in shelter homes across the country and asked the Centre what action was being taken in the cases of 1,575 minor victims.

A bench headed by Madan B Lokur referred to the data placed before it by the Centre and observed that 1,575 children, including 286 boys, have been sexually or physically abused in the shelter homes in different parts of the country.

Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that also comprised Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, that the government has informed the states about the abuse of 1,575 children last year itself.

"1,575 boys and girls are victims of sexual and physical abuse. What have you done about it? Which are the shelter homes where they are kept? What action the states have taken on this," the bench asked the ASG.

The ASG told the bench that she would get instruction on this issue and get back to the court.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Bihar government, told the bench that they have no objection if the social audit report of shelter homes in the state prepared by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) was made public.

The bench directed the Bihar government to make the report public.

The Bihar government also told the court that three organisations, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, were already looking into the psycho-social aspect of the girls who were allegedly raped and sexually abused at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur.

An anguished Supreme Court had on August 7 said that women and girls were getting raped "left, right and centre" across the country, as it cited the National Crime Records Bureau data on four such incidents being reported per day on an average and had stressed that action has to be taken stop such crimes.

It had termed as "horrific" the case of alleged sexual abuse of girls in an NGO-run shelter home at Muzaffarpur and pulled up the state government for funding such an institution without verifying its credentials.

On August 2, the bench had said that investigation in the Muzaffarpur case be conducted with the assistance of professional counsellors or qualified child psychologists appointed in consultation with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Bangalore, TISS and AIIMS, Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The has sought responses from the Centre and government on a accusing the armed forces and state police of allegedly indulging in fake encounters in the state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also issued notices to the CRPF, the Human Rights Commission and others.

The bench on Monday also sought responses from General Officer Commanding of 4 Corps and chairperson of Operational Group, Unified Command -- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) -- CRPF commandant posted in Chirang district of

Some of the senior officials of the central forces are named in the petition filed by former bureaucrat E A S Sarma.

The is based on a report filed by CRPF IG Rajnish Rai in April 2017 alleging "cold blooded fake encounter killing of two suspected members of the Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) faction" on March 30 last year in Assam's Simalguri village.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for Sarma and cited newspaper reports claiming that Rai had met some of the witnesses to the alleged fake encounter.

The former bureaucrat has sought a thorough probe into the March 30, 2017 joint operation by Army, Police, CRPF and SSB at Simalguri village in Chirang district, resulting in killing of suspected NDFB(S) members Lucas Narzary aka N Langfa and David Islary alias Dayud.
The Supreme Court today took a giant step towards digitisation of courts across the country by launching three applications to facilitate e-filing of cases, making digital payments and service of judicial notices through smartphones to the litigants.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the e-committee of the apex court has launched the applications - e-courts services, E-pay and NSTEP (National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes) - and these would pave the way of quality and speedy justice to litigants.

"This introduction of many applications paves the path of quality, quantity, affordability and cost effectiveness. And those qualities of the system matters," the CJI said.

Justice M B Lokur, who heads the e-committee, said that by using the e-courts services, the litigants and the lawyers would be able to file petitions in almost 17,000 district and 'taluka' courts in the country by using their computers and mobile phones.

He said that e-pay would enable the litigants to pay court fees, costs imposed by courts, maintenance in matrimonial cases through digital means.

He further said the court staffers, who are entrusted with the task of serving court summons and notices on litigants, would be provided smart phones and they can digitally serve them on litigants by using the NSTEP.

The NSTEP would be connected to GPRS and the judges would be able to ascertain the fact whether the court staff has visited the place to serve the summons or not.

"Out of total 2.5 crore pending cases in trials courts, 20 to 30 per cent cases are pending because summons and court notices are not served on litigants," Justice Lokur said, adding that the NSTEP application would be able to deal with this aspect effectively.

He said that these software have been developed on "open source technology" and by doing this, the e-committee has been able to save Rs 1,670 crore.

The CJI said that these applications would help the litigants.

"A friendly atmosphere for the litigants. We must have a friendly atmosphere so that when a litigant comes to court either technologically or through presence, he or she knows I am in a favourable and acceptable atmosphere and that matters the most," the CJI said.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was also present at the function, referred the Digital India scheme and said the government has made a quantum progress in achieving the goal of digital inclusion by computerising courts.

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The Supreme Court today agreed to hear next week a PIL alleging siphoning of Rs 18,000 crore funds meant for granting scholarship to students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar considered the submissions of lawyer M L Sharma seeking urgent hearing of the PIL.

Sharma, in his plea, has referred to a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and said the money to the tune of Rs 18,000 crore, meant for scholarship for SC/ST community have been siphoned off by public servants and other functionaries.

The plea said the CAG performed the audit for 2013-2017 and found irregularities in account of states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharastra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

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Vogo, an automated scooter sharing platform, today said it has raised funding led by cab aggregator Ola and Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal.

The Series A round also saw participation from Stellaris Venture Partners, Matrix Partners India, Aprameya Radhakrishna (TaxiForSure founder), Rajesh Yabaji (Blackbuck founder) and Mayank Bidawatka (Goodbox founder), Vogo said in a statement.

While the company declined to comment on the transaction size, industry watchers said the funding is to the tune of USD 5-7 million.

Vogo is a dockless scooter rental company that lets customers rent scooters for short one-way trips. The company's app allows users to locate, unlock and pick up scooters and bikes at one point, and drop it off at a different point.

Vogo scooters come with an OTP-based IoT sensor which allows customers to access the key without the need for any human intervention, and start their ride.

The company is present in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. It plans to add over 1,000 pick-up points across these two cities in the coming year.

"Our goal is to make a Vogo scooter available in every nook and corner of the country that is plagued with issues like traffic congestion, pollution and growing population," Vogo founder and CEO Anand Ayyadurai said.

Using the Vogo mobile app, more than 27,000 users have commuted for over six million kms, the statement said.

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The sealing of memorial dedicated to the 1971 war hero Lt Gen (retd) Hanut Singh by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) has triggered protests here.

During an anti-encroachment drive last Friday, the DMC had sealed the memorial which was part of an ashram situated on Rajpur Road.

Today, Randhir Singh Bhinder, the MLA from Vallabh Nagar in Rajasthan's Udaipur district, visited Dehradun and registered his protest against the action by the DMC.

During a press conference here, Bhinder said he has asked the state government to ensure that the memorial be opened immediately, calling the DMC action "illegal".

Bhinder said he met with chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on the issue who assured to look into the matter soon.

Hanut Singh, a recipient of the nation's second highest gallantry award, Maha Vir Chakra in the 1971 war, passed away in 2015. Following his demise, a memorial was dedicated to him in the ashram where he lived.

The DMC officials have said the action was taken in accordance with the law.

But, the sealing of the memorial has evoked angry reactions from many, including some civil society groups which termed the action as "unfair".

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A high-level Sebi panel has prosed a confidentiality clause in the settlement mechanism, wherein identity of the applicant will not be disclosed, in order to garner information of defaults as well as possible violations from defaulters in the securities.

Currently, the settlement regulation does not have a provision for settlement with confidentiality and all settlement orders contain details of the applicant and are published on Sebi website.

"There is no explicit provisions for an applicant to voluntarily provide information to the (Sebi) board relating to the fraudulent and unfair trade practices and other serious defaults that would assist the board in dealing with any inquiry, investigation, inspection, and audit," the panel said in its report submitted to the regulator.

The panel headed by retired judge A R Dave has suggested for a provision for settlement with confidentiality under the settlement norm.

It has recommended that even the settlement order in cases of settlement with confidentiality will need to be published. However, the identity of the applicant may not be disclosed.

The settlement mechanism enables entities to settle charges against them without admission or denial of guilt on payment of fee.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought comments from public till September 1 on the committee's suggestions and final regulation will be put in place after taking into views of the stakeholders.

It also suggested not settling the case with wilful defaulters and fugitive economic offenders under settlement norms.

Besides, it has recommended that



proceedings relating to insider trading, front-running and misstatements in the IPO documents may be settled "depending on the facts and circumstances of each case".

An applicant seeking the benefit of confidentiality in settlement with Sebi will have to cease to participate in the violation of securities laws from the time of the disclosure of information.

Moreover, the applicant would need to provide complete and true disclosure of information; cooperate full throughout the investigation; and will not conceal and manipulate documents in any manner that may contribute to the establishment of the alleged violation, the panel suggested.

Noting confidentiality is multi-faceted and depends on the nature of assistance provided to Sebi, the panel suggested that there will not be any public disclosure unless such disclosure is made by the applicant himself or are agreed to by the applicant in writing.

Such applications and information pertaining to applicants and the assistance provided by them to Sebi are already protected from disclosure.

"Further, the confidentiality also depends upon the nature of the assistance provided to the Board.

"If the assistance is in nature of a clue or information, such as indicating the relevant bank account details, phone numbers or any other information which can be independently proven, the information pertaining to the applicant will not be revealed either to the public or during the relevant proceedings to the accomplices who are charged by the Board," the panel noted.

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Security has been beefed up in Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya to ensure peaceful and violence free Independence day celebrations tomorrow.

Assam Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia today said a multi-layer security arrangement has been put in place across parade grounds after receiving inputs of militant movements on the eve of Independence Day.

"We have got inputs of militant movements in few districts, mostly the border ones with other states. The district SPs have been asked to give organised multi-layered security system in and around the parade grounds in the state," Saikia told PTI here.

The police has identified the vulnerable areas and extra emphasis have been given on those locations, he added.

"Night dominations have been ensured by joint teams of security forces across these places. Apart from these, the regular patrolling have also been intensified," Saikia said.

Stating that proper security arrangements have been put in place across the state, the top cop informed that he is hopeful of a peaceful Independence Day celebrations this year.

"I have also spoken to my counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur on possible militant movements along the inter-state borders.

We have decided to carry out joint patrolling by forces of the states in the border districts on both sides," Saikia said.

The Independence Day will be centrally celebrated in Assam at the Veterinary College Playground, Khanapara in the state capital.

In Nagaland security has been beefed in the state for the peaceful celebration of the Independence Day tomorrow.

We have made adequate security arrangement throughout the state for the peaceful celebration, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Nagaland, R P Kikon told PTI today.

He said security along inter-state and Indo-Myanmar border, especially in Mon district sector have also been enhanced in coordination with the security forces to restrain the movement of armed underground cadres.

"We are not taking any risk, but sensitised all the Superintendent of Police of the districts and sounded high alert along the inter-state and international border to prevent any move to sabotage the celebrations," the ADGP said.

Meghalaya's officiating Director General of Police Raghavendra Awasthi said, "We have made necessary security arrangements for the peaceful celebration of Independence Day throughout the state."



In the Meghalaya capital, elaborate arrangement has been made to make the Independence Day celebration a grand success, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner P S Dkhar said.

District SP Davis Marak said security has been beefed up in the entire state capital and additional forces have been deployed as per requirements.

Special check points have also been set up across the 10-km city diameter with police erecting check points 'nakas' at various entries and exits from the city centre, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The police has beefed up security in West Bengal ahead of the 72nd Independence Day tomorrow, a senior police officer said today.

Security measures have been made foolproof throughout the state especially in the bordering areas to avoid any untoward incident, a senior official at the state Home department said.

According to a Kolkata Police officer, every entry and exit points of the city have been kept under extensive surveillance as part of the enhanced security measures across the state.

"Around 24 points across city borders have been kept under surveillance. Hotels, lodging centres in and around the city are being constantly monitored," the officer told PTI.

Checking of vehicles entering and exiting the city and the districts including those arriving at the airport have been started, he said adding that several sand bag bunkers were set up at key junctures.

In Kolkata, city police's Special Task Force would keep a close watch on the movements of things besides, checking CCTV footages at different crossings.

Security arrangements in the city have been divided into two parts. One for the Independence Day parade venue at Red Road and another for the entire city



Kolkata Police would deploy a drone in and around the Independence Day celebration venue on the Red Road tomorrow morning, he said.

"It would monitor movements of people within the area on the Red Road the venue of the Independence Day celebrations. There will be extra policemen deployed at most public places, pilgrim spots as well as shopping malls and movie halls tomorrow and that will continue till this weekend," he said.

According to the officer the Red Road has been divided into 14 zones where top officers of Kolkata Police would keep a close watch, as part of the special security arrangements for the Independence Day parade.

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A special court here sentenced today a 35-year-old man, a serial offender, to rigorous imprisonment for life for raping a minor girl in 2014.

Ayyas Ansari was awarded the sentence by Additional Sessions Judge M A Baraliya of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act court.

While ordinarily life imprisonment can end after 14 years, Ansari has been sentenced to imprisonment for whole life, said special prosecutor Geeta Sharma.

The court had convicted Ansari under the Indian Penal Code Sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural offences) and 323 (assault), and relevant sections of the POCSO. Arguments over the sentence went on for about a month after that.

The prosecution had sought death penalty for Ansari, saying he was a serial offender who was convicted thrice in cases of rape/sexual assault earlier, and had a total of 11 cases registered against him.

Under the amended criminal law, a repeat offence of rape can attract capital punishment.

Ansari, according to police, accosted the girl in Sion area here when she was returning from school, and said he was her father's friend and her father had asked him for a phone number, and she would need to come to his office as the phone book was in the office.

He then took her to a secluded spot and raped her.

Though the girl did not know Ansari's real name, he was arrested on the basis of a sketch made as per the description provided by her.

Prosecution examined 11 witnesses during the trial.

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The festival will present to music lovers three special concerts featuring classical music masterpieces which will be performed by domestic and international artists at the municipal Opera House, including American violinist Stephanie Chase , Chinese-born violinist Zhan Shu, Canadian violinist Christina Bouey, the Paris-based Arod Quartet , Vietnamese-American violinist Vu Viet Chuong, and local violinists Bui Cong Duy and Hoang Linh Chi along with musicians from the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO).



Vietnam Connection music Festival (VNCMF) was founded in 2015 by Vietnamese-American violinist Vu Viet Chuong (Chuong Vu) and violinist Bui Cong Duy. The festival with the main purpose of performing and teaching classical music is a venue of Vietnamese and international artists. It has become an expected event every year.

Internationally acclaimed Vietnamese violinist Chuong Vu received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas, where he held a doctoral fellowship and a teaching fellowship. He is currently Artistic Director of Vietnam Connection Music Festival and the Dallas-based International Chamber Players.

Chuong has appeared as a soloist with Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra, University of North Texass Baroque Orchestra and Concert Orchestra, Clear Lake Symphony Orchestra, Symphony North of Houston, Odysseus Chamber Orchestra, Northeast Orchestra, Richardson Symphony Orchestra, San Angelo Symphony Orchestra, Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra, and Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra (HBSO).

Bui Cong Duy is one of the leading violinists in Vietnam. At nine years of age he won first prize in the Autumn National Music Competition. He then went on to study in Russias Novosibirk State Glinka Conservatory. After graduating, he entered the Tchaikovsky Music Institute in Moscow from 1998 - 2003. Duy won first prize in international violin contests organized in Novosibirsk and St. Petersburg in 1993 and 1995. He also won the Tchaikovsky International Music Competition for violinists under 18 in 1997. He was later admitted to the Viruous Moskva Chamber Orchestra, becoming the first foreign member of the world-famous orchestra in its 24 year history. He is now living in Hanoi and teaching at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.





By THUY BINH  Translated by Kim Khanh
Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu today urged export promotion councils (EPCs) to set GI stalls at major airports and also organise international fairs to promote such products, an official release said.

Prabhu, who also hold the portfolio of civil aviation, said this during his meeting with representatives of various EPCs, plantation boards, Fragrance and Flavour Centre and Airport Authority of India here.

As per the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

The Minister elaborated on the action plan for branding and marketing of the GI (products and asked the EPCs to align with the Ministry of Commerce for promotion GI products.

He also called for creating awareness among consumers about the GI products, and emphasised on the need for branding of domestic tea and coffee at international and domestic airports within the country as they serve a large consumer base.

Prabhu said that the promotion of GI products will connect the local artisans with the global markets, which in turn will give them opportunity at the international level and help entire value chain grow.

A separate policy will be put in place for the governance of greenfield airports, branding and promotion of GI products and redressal of related grievances, the minister added.

Though the date for setting up first GI stall is yet to be finalised, Prabhu suggested that the October 2, the birth day of Mahatma Gandhi, could be chosen for it.

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A day after BJP president Amit Shah made a fresh push for simultaneous polls, the Congress today dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha so that its elections could be held with those due in four states later this year, while Shiv Sena mocked its NDA ally, saying it may hold Indian polls together with the US and Russia.

On its part, the BJP asserted that it was in favour of holding simultaneous polls as per the law and with consensus, but rejected reports that it had plans to hold assembly polls in 11 states together with those of the Lok Sabha.

Amid mixed political reactions, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat virtually ruled out holding simultaneous elections anytime soon saying it was not possible without a legal framework as any extension or curtailment of the term of assemblies will require a constitutional amendment.

Bihar Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Nitish Kumar also spoke on similar lines, saying the 'one nation, one poll' proposal was not implementable in the forthcoming general elections though it was a good idea.

Amid talks of simultaneous polls, the Congress dared Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha early and announce general elections along with polls in four states where the terms of the assemblies end this year.

Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot asserted that postponing the upcoming state assembly elections and conducting these with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 is "not possible" under the Constitution or the law.

He said elections in Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will have to be conducted before the terms of these assemblies end.

"There is only one way of holding simultaneous elections. The prime minister should dissolve the Lok Sabha and hold polls along with the four state assembly elections," Gehlot told a press conference.

"The Congress will welcome it. We are prepared," he said.

The BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena used the debate to take potshots at its bigger partner, saying it "may even propose to hold the elections simultaneously with those in the US and Russia."



Sena's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also wondered how holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously will benefit the country.

"They (the BJP) may conduct the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Or, they will hold the elections together with those in the US and Russia. You never know what will emerge out of the heads of top BJP leaders. What is the interest of the country in that (holding simultaneous polls)," he said.

The Chief Election Commissioner said a legal framework was required to implement the idea of holding simultaneous polls.

"If the term of some state assemblies needs to be curtailed or extended, then a constitutional amendment will be required... Logistics arrangements with regard to 100 per cent availability of VVPATs (paper trail machines) will be a constraint," he told reporters to a question on whether simultaneous elections can be held anytime soon.

"On the issue of 'one nation one poll', the Election Commission had given inputs and suggestions in 2015 itself.... Other requirements of additional police force, polling personnel would also be needed," he said.

The CEC said the poll panel would continue to deliver its responsibility of conducting elections whenever the term of any state assembly come to an end.

Nitish Kumar, who has been advocating simultaneous polls for state assemblies and Lok Sabha for quite some time, said it would not be possible in the next general elections. It is a good idea but the time is not yet ripe for its implementation, the Janata Dal (United) president said.

Supporting simultaneous polls, Shah in a letter to the Law Commission yesterday had dubbed the opposition to it as politically motivated, and asserted that the exercise will curb expenditure and ensure the nation is not in "election mode" throughout the year as it hampers development work.

He said his party was committed to this idea and explicitly believed that in a progressive democracy like India, elections should be held at a fixed time and for a fixed tenure so that people's representatives can carry out their duties effectively.

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Punjab Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu warned today that he would blacklist companies which did not complete sewerage-related work



allotted to them in the give time-frame.

Besides, criminal case would also be registered against them for their alleged failure, he said.

Sidhu expressed unhappiness over the performance of companies during a review meeting here in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues Vijay Inder Singla and Sunder Sham Arora, according to an official spokesperson.

"If within one month, the works (related to sewerage work) are not done according to the expectations of the people then he will go in for blacklisting the companies apart from going in for registration of the criminal case against those wasting hard earned public money," Sidhu said.

He instructed departmental officials to take due action keeping in view the performance of the audit companies.

During the course of today's meeting, the MLAs of the concerned constituencies expressed unhappiness over the sewerage works being done by the various companies in their respective cities.

Giving an example of his city, PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla who is MLA from Sangrur, said that people in his area were complaining regarding non-completion of work-related to sewerage.

He also listed the problems of Budhlada city. He said that the company has not done any planning regarding the works.

Kuljit Singh Nagra said the sub-pipes of the sewerage were laid at Fatehgarh Sahib, whereas the main line was not laid at all.

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A simple blood test could improve early diagnosis of myeloma, a rare cancer, a study has found.

The study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, investigated the best combination of blood tests that could be used to diagnose myeloma.

Researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Exeter in the UK suggested a number of combinations of these tests sufficient to rule out the disease, and to diagnose it, saving the patient from the worry of specialist referral.

Blood tests of 2,703 cases taken up to five years prior to diagnosis were analysed and compared with those of 12,157 patients without the cancer, matching cases with control patients of similar age among other relevant parameters.

The researchers demonstrated that a simple combination of two blood parameters could be enough to diagnose patients. Such blood tests are routinely conducted in surgeries.

"The combination of levels of haemoglobin, the oxygen carrier in the blood, and one of two inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate or plasma viscosity) are a sufficient test rule out myeloma," said Constantinos Koshiaris from Oxford University.

"If abnormalities are detected in this test, it should lead to urgent urine protein tests which can help speed up diagnosis," Koshiaris said.

Myeloma can lead to symptoms such as bone pain, fatigue and kidney failure.

It has the longest diagnosis process of all common cancers, and a large number of patients are diagnosed after emergency care, over a third of which having had at least three primary care consultations.

"Ordinarily a GP will see a patient with myeloma every five years - and early diagnosis matters," said Willie Hamilton, a professor at the University of Exeter Medical School.

"More timely treatment could significantly improve survival rates for this disease.

"We report a simple way a GP can check patients presenting symptoms such as back, rib and chest pain, or recurrent chest infections, and determine whether they have myeloma or not," said Hamilton.

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The Congress today asked if the BJP will agree to early dissolution of the Gujarat Assembly, as the ruling party's national president, Amit Shah, has endorsed the idea of simultaneous elections.

Shah yesterday wrote to the Law Commission, saying that simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will curb expenditure and ensure that the country is not always in "election mode".

Asked for a comment, Congress's Gujarat in-charge Rajiv Satav sought to know if the Assembly in BJP-ruled Gujarat, where elections were held last December, too will be dissolved for this purpose.

"They (BJP) should declare whether they also plan to dissolve the Gujarat Assembly under one nation-one election (plan). If you plan to undertake this, you will have to carry it out across the country," Satav told reporters here.

"So, is the BJP also planning to dissolve the Gujarat Assembly? The party should clarify its stand," he said.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani hit back at the Congress over Satav's comment, asking if the party was serious about discussing the concept.

"(Terms of) Vidhan Sabha (Assembly), Lok Sabha, Panchayats, etc., will have to be gradually synchronised for one nation-one poll. I would like to ask Congress if its intention is right and if it wants to do so," Rupani said.

"Congress does not want to talk about national interest. It is doing of vote-bank and caste. (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi has come up with the concept (of simultaneous polls) because it is in the country's interest," Rupani said, when asked for his reaction.

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Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said that having simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies would not reduce expenditure as was being touted by votaries of the "one nation one poll" initiative.

BJP president Amit Shah had yesterday written a letter to the Law Commission stating that holding simultaneous polls is not only a concept, but a principle which can be implemented.

In his eight-page letter, Shah said that holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls together would check expenditure and ensure that the nation is not in "election mode" throughout the year.

Chavan told PTI that the process to have simultaneous state and general polls would increase the requirement of electronic voting machines as well as expenditure on their storage and maintenance.

"During the code of conduct (in place before the polls), only new policy decisions cannot be taken. If a government hasn't performed during five years of its tenure, it is not expected to deliver in the last 45 days," Chavan said.

Chavan said that a Constitutional amendment as well as a law would be required to have Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together.

Moreover, he said that elections in a parliamentary democracy could take place any time.

"There were general elections in 1996, 1998 and 1999. If a no confidence motion succeeds, the government has to be step down," Chavan said.

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Acting on Supreme Court directives, the Maharashtra government has appointed nodal officers in districts and cities to take measures to prevent incidents of lynching and mob violence.

District superintendents of police (DSPs) and deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) (in commissionerates) will act as nodal officers across the state to prevent such incidents, a government order issued yesterday said.

The move comes against the backdrop of lynching of five men, belonging to the nomadic Nath Gosavi community, on suspicion of child lifting in Dhule district of north Maharashtra on July 1.

A nodal officer will have to set up a Special Task Force to get confidential updates on elements spreading hatred and fake news, resorting to violence and making provocative comments, the order said.

The Home Department, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has asked the director general of police and the Mumbai police commissioner to issue orders regarding the appointments.

As per the Supreme Court directive of July 17, 2018, superintendents of police (SPs) will be the nodal officers of their respective districts, the order said.

An officer of the rank of a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) will be appointed to assist the nodal officer in taking measures to prevent incidents of mob violence, it said.

In police commissionerates (city areas), the DCP of the zone concerned will be the nodal officer, while an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) will assist him, the order said.

The nodal officer will issue directives to the police stations in his zone to be alert and keep a close watch on elements who can possibly create mischief.

The officer will hold at least one meeting a month with the local intelligence department and issue directives to identify and stop mischief makers and curb circulation of provocative literature.

The officer is empowered to take action against groups aiming to create disturbances in the society. He will also tackle provocative and baseless messages on social media which endanger peace in the society, the order said.

Elements who use social media to spread violence with false messages will be booked under section 153(A) of the IPC (which deals with promoting enmity between different groups).

In such cases, a first information report (FIR) should be filed under relevant sections, it said.

The local police station will inform the nodal officer immediately about filing of the FIR and he will monitor the investigation, the order said.

Police officers not implementing the directives effectively will face action, it added.

The July mob attack in Rainpada village, about 100km from the Dhule district headquarters, was believed to have been triggered by rumours about a child-lifting gang being active in the area.

Incidents of lynching were also reported from some other districts in the state.

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The students were inspired today to choose Army as their career by Brig M C Pant, Deputy GoC and Station Commander of Hq 41 Sub-Area in Jorhat Military station.

Inaugurating a Know Our Forces Mela today on the eve of the 72nd Independence day tomorrow at Army Public School (APS), Jorhat, Brig Pant called upon the students to take the opportunity to join the Army which is best to choose as an career.

Brig Pant inspected the various displays including the latest specialist weapons of Para Commandos, Indian made 105/37 light field gun E2 which has maximum range of 17200 meters, 825 ASC Battalion Air Maintenance, Dog show by Army Dog Unit And Artillery Guns.

An APS Official said the event was instrumental in igniting the spirit of patriotism and nationalistic pride in the heart and minds of the students of Army Public School, Jorhat.

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BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today strongly opposed a petition filed by journalist Upendra Rai, arrested in a graft case, seeking to restrain an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer from conducting probe against him.

The top court said it would hear the petition filed by Rai on August 16 as the special public prosecutor, Tushar Mehta, was not available.

A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said it would hear all aspects, including the maintainability of Rai's petition which has been questioned by Swamy and others.

At the outset, Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandaran, appearing for Rai, said this is altogether a different petition and no particular allegations have been made against anyone.

Swamy opposed Rai's petition and questioned its maintainability, saying that the jurisdiction of the court is used for some other purposes.

He said that the Aircel-Maxis case was brought before the court through his petition and Rai in his plea had made some "scurrilous remarks" against ED officer Rajeshwar Singh, who is probing the case.

"This is nothing but an attempt to delay the completion of probe in Aircel-Maxis deal case by targeting the officer," he said.

Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, appearing for the Centre informed the court that Tushar Mehta has been appointed as special public prosecutor in the case and he will be arguing in the matter.

The bench asked Bannerjee that what is the stand of the government on Rai's petition.

"Only special public prosecutor can inform the government stand on the matter but he is not available today. Kindly adjourn the matter by a day and he (Mehta) will be available for next hearing," Bannerjee said.

The bench then said it would take up the matter for hearing on all aspects including maintainability of plea of Rai on August 16.

On June 27, the apex court had said that no officer should be under a "cloud" and a blanket clean chit cannot be given to anybody.

It had told the government that it was free to look into the "serious" allegations against Rajeshwar Singh, who is probing the "highly sensitive" 2G spectrum case and the Aircel-Maxis deal.

The court had observed that the sensitive matter involved national security and the allegations against Singh were required to be looked into and the government should take a call whether he would have any role to play in the further probe.

It had modified its interim order granting Singh protection against an inquiry and said it was "troubled" with the Centre's response as documents placed before it in a sealed cover contained "startling" facts.

"We direct that the government is free to look into the materials against respondent number 3 (Rajeshwar Singh) and the same can be looked into," the bench had ordered.

The apex court had on March 12 set a deadline of six months for the CBI and the ED to complete the investigation into the alleged irregularities in FIPB approval given in the Aircel-Maxis deal case, in which former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram have been questioned by probe agencies.

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Sultry conditions prevailed across Punjab and Haryana today.

Chandigarh, joint capital of both states, recorded a maximum temperature of 34 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal limits, according to a MeT Department report here.

In Haryana, Ambala, recorded a high of 34.2 degrees Celsius while Bhiwani's maximum temperature settled at 36.2 degrees Celsius.

Hisar, Karnal and Narnaul recorded maximum temperatures of 37.5 degrees Celsius, 34 degrees Celsius and 36 degrees Celsius, respectively.

In Punjab, Patiala registered a maximum temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius, up three notches against normal limits, while Amritsar and Ludhiana recorded maximum temperatures at 32.4 degrees Celsius and 32.7 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The MeT Department has predicted rain or thundershowers at isolated in Haryana and Punjab over the next two days.

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A Chinese national is being charged in connection with the record haul. The suspect, identified as Yao Zeye, was arrested on August 7 after coming to the Phnom Penh central post office to pick up the boxes, said the National Anti-Drug Authority (NADA).



Yao Zeye was charged last week with drug trafficking and faces up to life imprisonment if convicted. Police are looking for possible accomplices.

A total 98kg of MDMA pills - better known as ecstasy  was discovered in the shipment. It is the biggest bust of ecstasy in Cambodia.

Cambodia has taken a hard line on drugs in recent years in response to smugglers turning to the country as a transit point, particularly for heroin and methamphetamine.

Heavy sentences are passed down for drug trafficking, with hundreds arrested including senior officials and foreigners.

In last June, a court jailed a Belgian man for life after he was found guilty of smuggling a kilogramme of cocaine into the country.

The same month, authorities in a separate case seized 120kg of crystal methamphetamine smuggled from Laos.-VNA
Syrian state media say five drones have been shot down in the coastal Latakia province as they approached a Russian air base in the area.

The air base, known as Hemeimeem, is the headquarters for Russia's military operations in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces.

Russia has been a major Assad ally and has turned the tide of the civil war in his favour.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says the drones were downed late yesterday. It says this is the fifth time in as many days that drones have been shot down as they tried to reach the air base.

The Observatory and Syrian state media say the drones were launched by rebels holding territory in neighbouring Idlib province in northwestern Syria.

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Taliban fighters overran a northern Afghan army base, officials said today, killing at least 14 soldiers with dozens feared captured and others said to have fled in the latest blow to the country's security forces.

Militants gained control of the base in Ghormach district of volatile Faryab province after days of heavy fighting, according to army spokesman for northern Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Rezaee, adding that 100 soldiers were on the base when it was first attacked Sunday.

"It is a tragedy that the base fell to the enemy. Some soldiers were killed, some captured and some fled to nearby hills," Rezaee told AFP.

Faryab MP Hashim Otaq said that 14 soldiers were killed and about 40 others were captured by Taliban fighters in the base, known as Chenaya.

The Taliban victory in Faryab comes days after militants launched a brazen attack on the southeastern Afghan city of Ghazni late Thursday, some two hours drive from the capital Kabul.

Tahir Rehmani -- head of Faryab's provincial council -- said the base fell after the soldiers begged for reinforcements and air support from Kabul but were ultimately ignored.

"They were too busy with Ghazni," said Rehmani.

Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and under intense pressure, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATO troops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

The attack on Ghazni is the largest tactical onslaught by the Taliban since an unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a brief stop, providing battle-worn Afghans some welcome relief.

The city remains in government hands, officials have said, but the insurgents appeared entrenched there today, according to residents who said they were burning buildings, killing civilians and firing on security forces conducting a clearing operation.

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Talking with children from an early age can help them develop brain regions critical for language and promote their ability to quickly learn new words, a study has found.

The study, published in the journal JNeurosci, showed that young children who are regularly engaged in conversation by adults had improved language skills regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Researchers including those from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US conducted a study on 40 four- to six-year-old children and their parents of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

They measured conversational turn-taking over a weekend using in-home audio recording devices.

The study found that greater conversational turn-taking was related to stronger connections between Wernicke's area and Broca's area - brain regions critical for the comprehension and production of speech.

Although decades of research have established a relationship between socioeconomic status and children's brain development, the specifics of this connection are not known.

The so-called "word gap" - the influential finding from the early 1990s that school-age children who grew up in lower-SES households have heard 30 million fewer words than their more affluent classmates - and other evidence demonstrating an influence of early language exposure on later language ability suggests a potential influence of language experience on brain structure.

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BJP president Amit Shah today condoled the demise of Chhattisgarh Governor Balram Dass Tandon and said he devoted his entire life to social work and was a leader with influential personality.

Tandon, a former BJP leader with roots in Punjab, died at a hospital in Raipur at the age of 90.

He was one of the founding members of Jan Sangh, and dedicated his entire life for the welfare of the society, Shah said.

"Tandonji actively participated in social and public activities and was very popular among people in Punjab. He selflessly worked for the nation and the organisation, his demise is an irreparable loss for the party," the BJP chief said.

Tandon, who had been with the RSS, was a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.

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Tata Steel, and JSW have submitted bids for the second time to acquire debt-laden Ltd, sources in the know of the matter said.

The bids were submitted to Committee of Creditors (CoC) late last night by the three parties, a source said.

On August 6, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had extended the deadline for submission of revised bids for BPSL by one week on the plea of Tata Steel, a resolution applicant in this.

"The CoC is at present evaluating the three bids and will inform its decision to the NCLAT on August 17," said the source.

" has addressed certain issues raised by the CoC," a official said but refused to comment on submission of bids.

According to reports, JSW is the only one who has submitted a revised bid of Rs 197 billion.

While did not comment, an email query sent to JSW Steel remained unanswered.

Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel, Tata Group firm and UK-based Liberty House are competing with each other to acquire BPSL through an insolvency process.

BPSL owes about Rs 450 billion to its lenders. It was among the 12 non-performing accounts referred by the Reserve Bank of India for proceedings.

BPSL is a fully integrated 3.5 million tonne per annum (MTPA) steel making company. It is a leading manufacturer of flat and long products.
A teen couple allegedly committed suicide after the girl's family refused to accept their relationship, police said today.

Their bodies were found today in an agricultural field in Girdharpura village of Jhalawar district, said Jagdish Meena, the SHO at Jhalrapatan police station.

The two had eloped from their homes yesterday and allegedly committed suicide after consuming some poisonous substance, he said.

However, no suicide note was recovered from the spot.

A case under Section 174 of the CrPC has been lodged and further investigation into the matter is underway, the SHO added.

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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today assured the armed forces that there will be no shortcoming in efforts to provide them all dues and facilities.

In a first-ever exercise after independence, the Ministry of Defence, in consultation with the Army, has decided to reform the Indian Army in a planned manner, she said.

The first phase of the reforms involves redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), ORs (Other Ranks) and civilians, the defence minister said.

Sitharaman said a contract for procurement of nearly 2 lakh bullet-proof jackets with best of the class specifications is underway, while in order to ensure faster decision-making, be it for the day to day requirements of the troops or the ammunitions, greater powers have been delegated to the force headquarters and other lower functionaries.

All available funds are being put to optimum utilisation so that there is no shortage of essential items, she said.

In line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, she said, the Defence Ministry has taken the decision to pay the uniform allowance and clarity has been brought in with respect to what is covered within the ambit of the allowance and what clothing items will be provided by the government.

"From the Ministry of Defence, our endeavour would be to provide all dues and facilities to our brave soldiers who guard the nation and ensure peace and thus, prosperity to the countrymen. Let me assure you that there shall be no shortcoming in this effort," the Defence minister said in a customary broadcast to the armed forces on the eve of 72nd Independence Day.

Major reforms include optimisation of signals establishments, restructuring of repair echelons, redeployment of ordnance echelons, better utilisation of supply and transport echelons and animal transport units, besides closure of military farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations, the defence minister said.

Steps are also being taken towards enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army and improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps. This, she said, restructuring is aimed at enhancing the combat capability of the Army in a manner that the officers, JCOs and ORs will be used for improving the operational preparedness.

She said, the government had taken a "historic decision" to implement One Rank, One Pension (OROP) for defence personnel in November 2015 and had promised to pay arrears in four instalments.

OROP was one of the long-pending demands of the defence forces.

"I can say that all OROP arrears have been cleared now with over 10,788 crore rupees spent. More than 65.81 lakh defence pensioners have benefited from this," she said.

The Liberalised Family Pension, which was available to army personnel working on the Line of Control (LoC) or International Border (IB) along Pakistan border, has now been extended to the personnel working along the Line of Actual Control with China as well, she said.

The government has enhanced the monetary allowances for the gallantry award winners, she said, adding that to recognise and honour the bravery of soldiers, the National War Memorial is under construction near the India Gate in New Delhi, which will be inaugurated soon.

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The police have nabbed a 22-year-old man and his two associates, including a juvenile, for allegedly going on repeated shooting spree and injuring some persons in Dadri area Gautam Buddh Nagar.

The police arrested Abhisheek, 22, Manish 24 and detained their juvenile associate after four instances of random shootings between July 10 and August 9 by a gang of motorcycle-borne miscreants in Dadri police station area.

The police said the trio had resorted to the random shootings to avenge the humiliation of Abhishek, who had visited a chicken shop in Dadri area in the last week of June and had a spat with some locals and was beaten up by them.

"He felt humiliated and wanted to avenge the humiliation of being beaten up in public," a police official said.

A resident of Chitehra village, Abhishek had identified those people and after a few days started targeting them and firing at them without actually intending to kill them, the official said.

"He wanted to create a fear among them but did not want to kill them," said the official.

The police apprehended the trio early today from the Eastern Peripheral Highway, working on a tip off, he said.

Two firearms and some bullets have been seized from his possession, the police said, adding Abhishek and Manish have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act.

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The BJP in West Bengal today accused the Trinamool Congress of acting "against national interest" and asked it to come clean on whether it is in favour of infiltrators or against them.

"(Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee should clearly say whether her party is in favour of infiltrators or not. The TMC should come clean on whose vote they have won elections, whether they have received votes of Indians or infiltrators. They should clarify it," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

He was reacting to Banerjee's comments, accusing the BJP of carrying out the NRC exercise with an eye on Lok Sabha elections.

She also said those who have been staying in the country for years were "branded as infiltrators" after the release of the citizenship draft, and alleged that people who did not feature in the list were being sent to detention camps.

"If they have won the elections on the basis of votes of Indians, then why is the TMC acting against the national interest. Why are they so concerned about the well-being of infiltrators. They should stop this vote bank politics," Ghosh said.

He also said that TMC's allegations that the BJP is "anti-Bengali" is totally baseless and aimed at polarising voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

"But we will never allow the TMC to polarise voters," Ghosh asserted.

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Sit at the back of the movie theatre, and it's possible to see the appeal of ScreenX, the latest attempt to drag film lovers off the sofa and away from Netflix.

Instead of one screen, there are three, creating a 270-degree view meant to add to the immersive experience you can't get from home TV.

First adopted in South Korea in 2012, the system is being launched in the U.K. and theatre chain Cineworld plans to add over 100 screens to its worldwide count of 151.

It's the latest attempt by movie theatres to attract viewers amid the popularity of online subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

They've ranged from 3D screens to ultra-high resolution IMAX projectors and 4DX, which features moving chairs and real-life special effects like snow.

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Opening the conference, the head of the diplomatic sector noted that the diplomatic sector has contributed to mobilising external resources for national growth, protecting national independence, sovereignty, territory and maintaining peaceful and stable environment for development, as assigned by the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the previous Diplomatic Conference.



Addressing the conference, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also shared the praise for the diplomatic sector, noting that in the past three years, especially in 2017, the sector recorded various important achievements and became a bright spot in the countrys success.



Particularly, the sector has made important contribution to boosting the countrys economic growth, he said, underlining the fact that since 2016, the country has seen a higher economic growth than the average in the 2011-2015 period, while all macro-economic indications have been positive, especially foreign investment and import-export revenue.



Total foreign direct investment in 2017 reached 35.88 billion USD, up 44.4 percent year on year, setting a record high in 10 years, of which 17.5 billion USD was disbursed, a rise of 10.8 percent over 2016.



At the same time, donors also committed over 3 billion USD in official development assistance for Vietnam to 2020.



The number of foreign tourists to Vietnam hit a record 13 million.



Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong addresses the conference (Photo: VNA)

So far, 71 countries have recognised Vietnams market economy. Vietnam has signed 12 free trade agreements with partners, with 10 already taking effect, said the Party chief.



He stressed that diplomatic activities have played an important role in enhancing the position of Vietnam in the world arena, and deepening and consolidating the relations between Vietnam and other countries, especially prioritised and important partners.



To date, Vietnam has set up strategic partnership with 16 countries, comprehensive partnership with 11 countries and special strategic partnership with Laos and Cambodia, while accelerating international integration in all fields, and promoting its active role at regional and global institutions.



The attainments have proved that the foreign policy set by the 12th Party National Congress and the Partys relevant policies related to foreign affairs are correct, he said.



Vietnam always pursues the consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralising and diversifying relationship, and actively and proactively integrating into the world for national benefits, he stated.



The Party chief highlighted that issues of core interest require Vietnam to raise a stronger voice and take a more active stance, first of all in the region.



He asked the sector to continue implementing the Partys guidelines on foreign policy for the overall goal of maintaining a peaceful and stable environment favourable for the cause of national construction and defence, while resolutely and persistently safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests in line with international law.



It is crucial to stay persistent and judicious in the settlement of complicated external maters, including those related to sovereignty and territory, he underscored.



The Party General Secretary also requested the sector to enhance the efficiency of external activities, especially in economic and security-defence cooperation with other countries.



The diplomatic conference, which was initiated in 1957, convenes every two years to provide a venue for the diplomatic sector to reach consensus on awareness, resolve and action to effectively implement the Party and States foreign policy.



The 30th edition is expected to discuss measures to maintain the effective implementation of the 12th National Party Congresss resolution, which emphasised the tasks of protecting national independence, sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, maintaining peace and stability to serve national development, expanding diplomatic relations, effectively implementing international integration and continuing to raise the countrys position and prestige in the international arena.

Vietnamplus
Torrential rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides ravaged Kerala, where 39 lives had been lost so far.

Unabating rains forced the government to do away with the official 'Onam' celebrations and the amount set apart for the purpose would be utilised for relief operations, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here today.

State Governor P Sathasivam also decided to cancel the reception to be hosted by him tomorrow as part of Independence Day celebrations due to floods in the state.

Since this morning, various parts of Kerala, especially the two hilly districts of Wayanad and Idukki, which were tourist destinations, were lashed by heavy rains.

The picturesque Munnar town in Idukki district was almost totally cut off and traffic was disrupted after two shutters of the Mattupetti dam were opened as the water level rose.

While the water level at the Idukki reservoir came down, the rising level at the Mullaperiyar dam, which touched 136.10 feet against its maximum level of 142 feet, was still a matter of concern, official sources said.

An alert was sounded, asking people to remain cautious, they said.

A series of landslides were reported in Kurichya and Makki hills and the Thamarassery ghat road in Wayanad.

Heavy rains were also lashing the northern Kerala districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur and Palakkad.

Ottapalam in Palakkad received the highest rainfall of 13 cm today, followed by Munnar (Idukki) 12 cm and various places in Malappuram, Kozhikode and Waynad received 10 cm each, the weather office said.

According to authorities, over 215 landslides were reported in the rain battered state, where 444 villages were declared flood hit by the state government.

At least 20,000 houses were fully destroyed in the deluge and about 30,000 persons had taken shelter in relief camps.

The rains and landslides had destroyed 10,000 km of roads in the state, Vijayan said.

The chief minister also requested government and PSU employees to donate two days' salary for the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.

Huge trees were seen washed away in a river at Kottiyoor in Kannur, where a landslide was reported in Chappamala hills.

Low-lying areas of Nilambur in Malappuram were inundated and roads were flooded in many places, causing severe traffic snarls.

Rainwater also gushed on to national highways in many parts of the district.

Ayyappa devotees were asked not to visit the hill shrine at Sabarimala as the rain-fed Pampa river rose menacingly.

As per the preliminary estimate, Kerala suffered a loss of Rs 8,316 crore in the heavy rains, which were lashing the state since August 8.

Weatherman warned of heavy rains in some places in the state till August 18. Fishermen were warned against putting out to sea.

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US President Donald Trump called the individual who rammed his car into pedestrians and cyclists in an apparent terror attack in London as "crazy animals", saying perpetrators of such attacks must be dealt with through "toughness and strength".

"Another terrorist attack in London...These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!," Trump tweeted.

The speeding car crashed into security barriers outside the UK's Parliament in London during rush hour, injuring two persons. Scotland Yard's Counter-Terrorism Command is treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

The driver of the car, a man in his late 20s, was arrested at the scene by armed officers. He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in police custody.

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The crisis in US-Turkish relations, which already has put Turkey's economy under massive strain, also risks souring military ties between the two NATO allies, unleashing unknown geopolitical consequences.

US President Donald Trump last week announced new tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, causing the country's currency to plummet, over his frustration with Ankara's continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

Then on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote in The New York Times that unless Washington can "reverse this trend of unilateralism and disrespect," Turkey will "start looking for new friends and allies." The warning came after Erdogan held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss economic and trade issues, as well as the Syria crisis.

Military ties between Turkey and the US are already fraught over Washington's support to Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG, which Ankara sees as little more than an offshoot of the "terrorist" Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

And tensions were heightened further after Turkey, despite being a NATO ally, entered into an understanding to buy Russia's advanced S-400 air defense system.

Such a move would defy US sanctions on Moscow, and Turkey's increasingly cozy relationship with Putin has alarmed both the US and the European Union.

Trump yesterday signed a defense authorization act that notably prohibits the delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey if it goes ahead with the S-400 purchase.

Retired Admiral James Stavridis, an ex-NATO supreme allied commander, urged Washington and Ankara to do all they can to improve relations.

"To lose Turkey would be a geopolitical mistake of epic proportions," he told MSNBC yesterday.

"Hopefully we can pull them back, but Turkey has to make the first step at this point." Trump's national security advisor John Bolton met with Ambassador Serdar Kilic of Turkey on Monday to discuss "Turkey's continued detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson and the state of the US-Turkey relationship," the White House said.

Turkey's dialogue with Russia has led some to question its reliability as a NATO partner, and even whether it should remain in the alliance.

But Joshua Landis, director of Center for Middle East Studies, told AFP that Turkey's ejection from NATO would be disastrous. "There's no upside to kicking Turkey out, it'll just force Turkey into Russia's hands," he said.

Experts are looking to Incirlik, a Turkish air base in southern Turkey, just 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the border with war-torn Syria. The base has been a frequent pawn during decades of ups and downs in US-Turkey relations.

Incirlik's location relative to the Middle East makes it a key strategic asset for the US military and for NATO, and the United States until recently flew bombing runs from there as it fought the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Separately, the facility is thought to hold a stockpile of about 50 American nuclear bombs.

The arrangement works for Turkey too, as the US military provides Turks with intelligence and drone surveillance over the border region, and helps Ankara monitor the outlawed PKK.

Last year, Muharrem Ince, the main opposition candidate in Turkey's presidential election, threatened to shut Incirlik unless the US extradited Fethullah Gulen, the exiled Muslim preacher Ankara blames for an attempted coup in 2016.

Ince went on to lose the election to Erdogan by a large margin, but Incirlik remains a key issue.

Following the coup attempt, the Turkish base commander at Incirlik was arrested on suspicion of complicity in the plot. And according to Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, pro-Erdogan lawyers have filed a lawsuit calling for the arrest of US troops at Incirlik on similar suspicions.

Both sides stand to lose if US-Turkey military relations go south, but experts say it would hurt Turkey more. For instance, the diplomatic crisis with Turkey could jeopardize a $1.5 billion deal that Ankara has made with Pakistan to sell 30 Turkish-made helicopter gunships.

Because the choppers use US parts that require an export license, the sale could ultimately be at risk.

"Turkey is going to be hurt the most because it's weaker and America is just a big elephant," Landis said.

In situations like this, it "ultimately hurts the smaller countries a lot more.

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Two US military Osprey aircraft made separate emergency landings at airports on Japanese islands today, with no injuries or damage reported, local media said.

One of the two MV-22 Ospreys landed at Amami Airport in southwestern Kagoshima prefecture in the afternoon, according to the Kyodo and Jiji agencies.

The tilt-rotor aircraft left the Japanese airport two hours later, interrupting some commercial flights, public broadcaster NHK said.

The other Osprey made an emergency landing further south at the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Friday afternoon, Kyodo said, quoting government sources.

There were no reports of injuries or damage following the two incidents.

Immediate confirmation of the reports was not available.

The Osprey, a hybrid helicopter-turboprop with a chequered safety record, has two engines positioned on fixed wingtips that allow it to land and take off vertically. It can travel much faster than a helicopter.

Several accidents involving US military aircraft in Japan have stoked tensions between Washington and Tokyo and led to protests against the deployment of Ospreys by residents living near US bases.

The incidents have included emergency landings by US military helicopters, a piece of a helicopter falling on the grounds of a Japanese school, and the deadly crash last year of an MV-22 Osprey which forced a massive rescue operation.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis apologised to his Japanese counterpart over the mishaps in January.

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A two-year old girl was today seriously injured after a man allegedly poured hot water on her at Ultadanga area here, police said.

An officer of Ultadanga police station said two persons were arrested in connection with the incident after the child's family lodged a complaint.

According to the complaint, the two persons - both tenants in the girl's house in Daspara locality - hurled hot water on her after a heated argument, the officer said.

The child was taken to SSKM Hospital with 50 per cent burn injuries, police said.

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British group Quercus, an investor in renewable energy, said today it will halt work on a major solar plant in Iran after the country was hit by US economic sanctions.

"Following the US sanctions on Iran, we have decided to cease all activities in the country, including our 600 MW (megawatt) project," Quercus chief executive Diego Biasi said in comments later confirmed by a company spokesman.

The US last week reimposed sanctions on Iran after President Donald Trump's withdrawal from a nuclear accord in May.

Trump insisted that the 2015 deal with Iran -- designed to prevent the Islamic republic from developing a nuclear weapon and that was signed also by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- did not go far enough.

Several major foreign companies have either already exited Iran or are planning to cease activities in the country as a result of the US sanctions impacting their business activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An immigration research think tank here today accused Indian of exploiting a "gaping loophole" in the intra-company transfer (ICT) visa route to bring in thousands of workers from India, denying resident British workers jobs in the IT industry.

Migration Watch UK, which lobbies for lower migration levels, said international IT companies, "typically based in India", obtain a contract to deliver a project or support services to a UK entity and then staff it with workers from the company's home country, a system referred to as third-party contracting.

"This practice is almost entirely confined to the IT industry. In fact, even within that sector, it is only a handful of large, mainly Indian, that are responsible for sponsoring the vast majority of ICTs in this way," Migration Watch UK said in a report titled 'Distortion of the ICT visa system'.

However, industry experts challenged Migrant Watch UK claims, pointing to more "unfilled vacancies" in the IT sector than any other last year and stressing the importance of intra-company transfers.

"Intra-company transfers hugely benefit the UK, boosting investment by international and creating jobs in the UK," said Matthew Percival, Head of Employment at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Under the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer route, foreign companies that have a presence in the UK can move employees from abroad to Britain without having to obtain a visa under the wider Tier 2 provisions for skilled workers, which is capped at 20,700 a year.



Migration Watch claims the use of the ICT route, which has no restriction on numbers, has grown eight-fold since 1992 to 58,000 last year.

As part of a breakdown of these visa figures, it pointed to (TCS) as the "single-most prolific company", which used 6,285 ICTs overall in 2017, of which 6,205 (98.7 per cent) were for third-party contracting.

Others from a total of 16 Indian companies on the list include Infosys (2,030), Wipro Technologies (1,795) and Tech Mahindra (1,020). Other users of the route were US companies like Cognizant (2,780) and IBM (1,135), besides smaller numbers from Ireland, France and Japan.

"Many people are asking why non-EU migration has not been reduced. Here is part of the answer Those who have lost out are British workers whose opportunities have been diminished," said Lord Green, Chairman of Migration Watch UK.

The group claims the system is being misused to "undercut" British competitors and is going "very much against the spirit" in which it was originally devised for posting senior executives to and from the UK. It recommended significant changes to the ICT route to ensure that it is no longer seen as a mechanism by which to bring "unlimited migrant labour" into the country.

TechUK, the IT industry representative body which had struck the UK-India Tech Alliance with NASSCOM earlier this year, said it was wrong to suggest that international talent undercuts UK domestic skills and called on a more open approach as Britain is set to leave the European Union (EU).

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO TechUK, said, "The UK is a world leader in tech because it is open and attractive to the best international talent. While it is right that the industry continues to build our domestic skills pipeline, maintaining routes that allow businesses to get the workers they need, where and when they need them, is critical to the tech sector and to our economy.

"At a time when many tech firms are already concerned with changes to EU migration, the government should be looking to make it easier to secure international talent to support the needs of a growing digital economy, including by removing the arbitrary cap on Tier 2 visas. That is a far better way to help drive the competitiveness of the UK post-Brexit and create jobs".

The UK Home Office pointed to a series of reforms to Tier 2 visas, effective from April 2017, following a review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to ensure the ICT route served its purpose.

As part of the changes, the salary threshold for all workers coming in to the UK through the ICT route was raised to 41,500 pounds. These workers, who do not have access to settlement rights in the UK, are also required to spend a minimum of one year working for the company overseas before they can re-enter to work in the UK after their initial ICT visa expires, unless they are paid at least 120,000 pounds.

Additionally, the government imposed an Immigration Health Surcharge on these workers as well as an Immigration Skills Charge of 1,000 pounds per migrant worker on the companies.

A Home Office spokesperson said, "The Tier 2 intra-company transfers (ICT) is a temporary visa route which supports inward investment to the UK. It enables multinational companies to transfer senior, highly skilled individuals between their international branches and the UK for a limited period".
The Uttarkhand High Court has issued a slew of directions to the state government for the welfare of cattle, including strict enforcement of the ban on cow slaughter and sale of beef.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajeev Sharma and Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari issued the directions invoking the doctrine of 'parens patriae.' The doctrine allows courts to be the legal guardian of cows and other cattle.

Issuing 30-odd directions, the court ruled that "no one in Uttarakhand" would "slaughter or cause to be slaughtered or offer or cause to be offered for slaughter, any cow, bull, bullock, heifer or calf forthwith."



The court also ordered that "no person shall sell beef or beef products in any form throughout the state".

It also ordered prosecution under the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960 and the Uttarakhand Protection of Cow Progeny Act, 2007 against the owners of any cattle which are found on the streets and other public places.

The court went on to direct chief engineers and the municipal authorities to ensure that "no stray cattle, including cows and oxen come onto the roads".

All the district magistrates in the state were ordered to build a cow shed for every cluster of 25 villages within a year.

The court gave the ruling after a detailed examination of the plight of animals in the state, besides dwelling upon various constitutional and statutory provisions for their welfare and issued strict directions for enforcement of those provisions.

The ruling was given on a plea by Alim, a resident of Sohalpur Gada village near Roorkee.

In his plea, Alim had told the court that the cows were being slaughtered in a brutal manner in his village.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The U.N. refugee agency said it's concerned over a Libyan militia forcing 1,900 displaced people out of their refugee camp in the capital, Tripoli.

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said today that the militia ran 370 families, originally from the western city of Tawergha, out of their homes in the Triq al-Matar camp last week.

He said the militia also "arrested" around 100 of the Tawerghas, 12 of whom are being held in dismal conditions.

The displaced in other Tripoli camps were also at risk of "forced evictions", he added.

Libya plunged into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moammar Gadhafi and is now split between rival governments, each relying on several militias.

The Misrata militia, which is dominant in Tripoli, blames the Tawergha for siding with Gadhafi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A senior government official was today shot dead by unidentified persons inside his official residence here, police said.

Fourteen police officials, including the inspector in-charge of the police station concerned, were suspended following the incident that took place barely a few 100 metres from the state Assembly building, even as 12 people were rounded up on the basis of suspicion.

The assailants reached the house of Rajeev Kumar (50), an under secretary in the State Department for Planning around 4 am. They had an altercation with the official and then shot him, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sachivalay) Rajesh Singh Prabhakar told PTI.

Kumar's government quarter is located in the R-block area under the Sachivalaya police station here.

Inspector General of Police, Patna Zone, Naiyer Hasnain Khan told PTI-Bhasha "The inspector in-charge Rajesh Kumar Bhaskar and a sub-inspector Anant Kumar, besides 10 constables and two Home Guard jawans, who were in the police party that patrolled the area, have been suspended."



"A Special Operation Group, headed by Dy SP (Sachivalay) has been set up to probe the matter," he added.

Earlier, Rajni, the wife of the deceased, had told some local channels that the gunmen had come with an intention to loot and opened fire when her husband tried to resist. She also alleged that they decamped with valuables worth Rs 30,000-40,000.

Prabhakar had, however, said, "We are investigating the matter from all angles. We suspect some old enmity may also be behind the killing which the family is trying to hide."



He also said that "about a dozen people have been rounded up for interrogation. There are no vital clues linking them to the killing so far. But they are known to have criminal antecedents and we may zero in on something important by grilling them".

Meanwhile, the Bihar Secretariat Service Association issued a statement demanding immediate arrest of the culprits, their speedy trial besides payment of ex-gratia to the next of the kin of the deceased and financial assistance to his dependants.

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I truly wish someone could explain to me exactly what the hoopla from the left is all about regarding voter ID. I just plain "don't get it".

As far as I know you have to have a picture ID to do anything from renting a motel room to renting a car or opening a bank account, cash a check, a new patient seeing a doctor, in the emergency room...and the beat goes on.

When my 85-year-old mother was scammed and her bank account was hit the bank suggested she close that account and immediately open a new one. Sounded great so that's what we did, only problem was her ID was expired. Even though 30 seconds had passed since she closed her account the bank couldn't accept her ID so we had the great fun and experience of going to the DMV. She was old, she was poor but this had to be done in order for her to have full use of her checking/savings account. What the heck is the problem?

I have to "assume" that the hundreds of thousands of people protesting the fact that a picture ID is required to vote on the fact that they're old and poor also don't have any income, never cash a check, never visit the doctor or a health clinic, do not drive, do not have any type of insurance other than perhaps burial, and do not receive ETB assistance. How do they live? If someone could explain that to me I'd be forever grateful.

Oh, by the way, if you tell me that you drive them around for their errands and pay for it out of your pocket then my question for you is this: Why not drive them to the DMV and pay for an ID for them? Far as I know right now a Tennessee ID card is free. Don't even go to the local DMV, try Polk County who never have lines or a gazillion people waiting.

There's an excuse for everything but it seems to me the right to vote is a very important right and one we should all do. If I knew of someone without an ID I'd volunteer my time to assist that person because as I said at the beginning you've got to have an ID to do anything in any state.

Sue White

* * *

Dear Ms. White,

I agree with your writing. I am 61 and am required to provide ID everywhere I go or call. I have to provide identifying information on the phone each and every time I communicate with people I have doing business with for over 23 years. We speak to each other on a first name basis but I have to provide ID. Like you I wonder how these individuals with no ID exist.

According to the media there are millions of people who do not have a valid ID. But when do we hear about it? When it comes to voting. Suspicious much?

Ted Ladd






Speaking at a question and answer session during the 26th meeting of the 14th National Assembly Standing Committee on August 13, Deputy Nguyen Tien Sinh from Hoa Binh province said policies to compensate and support resettlement after reclaiming land and building irrigational and hydropower works have been carried out for years.



However, people living in resettlement areas still face many difficulties, especially a lack of land for housing and production and alternative means of livelihood, and dilapidated infrastructure.

Sinh asked the ministry to detail solutions after resettlement-related policies are implemented and investors responsibility for this problem.

In addition, he requested the ministry carry out measures to stabilise the lives of locals in the mountainous areas after downpours and floods.

In reply, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that Vietnam has 193 irrigational and hydropower projects which have forced or will force about 84,000 households with more than 353,000 people to resettle. To date, more than 76,000 households have received help to move and live in other places.

The ministry advised the government to approve a decision on stabilising production for 28,800 resettled households and more than 24,500 affected households in the three northern provinces of Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau which will be implemented from 2018-2025, with total investment of more than VND6.94 trillion ($306 million ).

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had already approved a directive on ensuring safety for dams and reservoirs and allocating money for localities to upgrade dams and reservoirs, Nam stated.

Under the decree, the Government leader also assigned the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade to assess dam and reservoir safety, he added.

In terms of flash floods in northern provinces, the deputy minister said his ministry had sent delegations to areas prone to flash floods and carried out solutions.

For nearly 6,000 households who have no homes and are living in tents, the Government will allocate VND883 billion ($39 million) to affected provinces later this month, he added.

Vietnamnews
A senior government official has been shot dead by unidentified persons inside his official residence here this morning, police said.

The assailants reached the house of Rajeev Kumar (50), an Under Secretary in the state Department of Planning, around 4 am. They had an altercation with the official and then shot him, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sachivalay) Rajesh Singh Prabhakar told PTI.

Kumar's government quarter is located in the R-block area under the Sachivalaya police station here.

Rajni, the wife of the deceased, told some local channels that the gunmen had come with an intention to loot and opened fire when her husband tried to resist. She also alleged that they decamped with valuables worth Rs 30,000-40,000.

Prabhakar, however, said, "We are investigating the matter from all angles. We suspect that some old enmity may also be behind the killing which the family is trying to hide."



Meanwhile, an association of secretariat employees expressed outrage over the killing and demanded stern action against the culprits.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after a local leader of his party was gunned down in Bihar's Vaishali district, Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha today slammed the Nitish Kumar government asking how many murders would it take to wake the state administration out of its slumber.

Kushwaha, chief of the BJP's ally Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), visited the deceased leader Manish Sahni's home at Belari village today and consoled the bereaved family.

Sahni, Vaishali district president of RLSP's extremely backward castes cell and head of Jandahan block panchayat samiti, was gunned down by unidentified assailants yesterday when he was coming out of his chamber at Jandaha block office, according to officials.

"Mukhyamantri Sri @NitishKumar ji, kitni lashon ke baad hosh me aayega Shashan? (Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ji, after how many murders, the government would come out of its slumber)," Kushwaha said in a tweet.

The minister also said the incident was like cocking a snook at the police administration.

"The incident is a challenge as the personnel at the police station must have heard gunshots fired by the criminals who dared to open fire right in front of the SHO," Kushwaha told channels after meeting Sahni's family members.

"I don't know what is the administration doing. It seems they (administration) would take note of it when criminals would fire right in front of the DIG, IG and DGP (Lagta hai ki ab DIG, IG aur DGP ke seene pe chadh ke apradhi goli chalayenge to sunenge)," said Kushwaha, who is union minister of state for HRD.

The The hard hitting comment of Kushwaha on his own NDA ministry in the state is significant.

In another tweet targeting the chief minister, the RLSP chief asked, "Did thousands of youths like us sacrificed our 12 years of life under your (Nitish's) leadership during Samata Party days to witness such a situation?"



Kushwaha, an old-time associate of Kumar since Samata party days, separated from him just before the 2014 general elections and launched his own party RLSP and became a constituent of the NDA. It won three Lok Sabha seats, including Karakat by Kushwaha himself, in the last parliamentary poll.

RLSP's youth wing has decided to hold a candle march in the state capital to protest against the incident, Yuva Lok Samata's state chief Abhishek Jha said.

Reports from Jandaha, where the incident took place, suggested that tension prevailed in the area, though situation was under control, and additional police force has been deployed to maintain peace.

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US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis urged closer strategic ties with Brazil today in what appeared to be part of a concerted pushback against growing Chinese influence in Latin America.

Mattis, who is starting a tour of the region, told military officers at Rio de Janeiro's war college that Brazil and the United States had interests built on shared geography, democracy and battlefield history dating to World War II.

Mattis said the United States wants a "stronger relationship," with a focus on using the Brazil's Alcantara space center, whose location near the equator makes launches more effective.

China is developing its space infrastructure in Latin America, with a base in southern Argentina's Patagonia region. It has also pushed deep into the continent's economies as an investor and major client for agricultural, mineral and other commodities.

Mattis said that US interest in Alcantara was "not because it lies along the equator, a happy accident of geography, but because we want to work with Brazilians -- our hemispheric neighbours whose values we share politically, as well as your technological orientation." "Others cannot credibly say the same," he said in what appeared to be a pointed reference to China.

China's regional rise comes after long decades of deep, sometimes controversial US influence in Latin America. Mattis, due to visit Argentina, Chile and Colombia next, made clear that Washington is in no mood to give way.

"We see Latin America as our neighbour. Some people say we don't pay much attention to it. That is certainly not the case in the military," Mattis said in separate comments issued by the Pentagon's press office.

Adam Isacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research organization, told AFP that Mattis is trying to make up for lost time.

"He's going to South America now simply to raise the United States' defense profile in a region that hasn't had a visit from a defense secretary since 2014," Isacson said.

"The Pentagon probably feels a need to raise the US profile amid concerns about increasing Russian and Chinese influence on the continent."



Mattis told officers in Rio that following an April discussion with Brazil's defence minister, Joaquim Silva e Luna, he ordered staff "to transform our defense relationship with Brazil, to reenergize it."



Mattis singled out Brazil as a regional leader, praising the country's record of multiple peacekeeping missions and its stand against the deeply anti-US government in chaotic Venezuela.

Mattis described the Venezuelan leadership as a "power-hungry, oppressive regime that forces refugees into Brazil and into Colombia, and elsewhere." The Brazilian defense minister said Monday after talks with Mattis that his US counterpart believed "the solution (in Venezuela) should be led by Brazil."



In an interview with Brazil's O Globo newspaper earlier this week, Mattis again emphasized what he said were the shared democratic values in the US-Latin American partnerships, specifically comparing this to the nature of the new regional rivals China and Russia.

Admiral Kurt Tidd, commander of the US Southern Command, explicitly underlined Washington's fears in a speech in June, warning that Latin America tends to get forgotten in strategic considerations.

Russia has made "a noticeable increase" in its military and intelligence presence in Latin America during the last six years, as well as leveraging the effect of its international state-controlled media to "discredit, distort or outright fabricate stories about the United States," Tidd said.

China, he said, could be using its massive investment activities as cover "for China's strategic interests at the expense of others.

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The US hopes to further strengthen ties with Pakistan in the years ahead and work with its people and government to advance shared goals of security, stability and prosperity in South Asia, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said.

Wishing the people of Pakistan on the country's 72nd independence day today, Pompeo, in a statement, said for more than seven decades, the relationship between the US and Pakistan has "rested on the strong foundation of close ties between our two peoples."



"In the years ahead, we hope to further strengthen these bonds, as we continue to look for opportunities to work with the people and Government of Pakistan to advance our shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia, he said in the statement.

Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan last week said that Pakistan and the US should strengthen their relations based on trust, amidst tensions in bilateral ties over Islamabad's support for terror groups.

The relations between Pakistan and the United States nosedived this January after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists.

The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year.

The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year.

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Berlin police say threatening letters containing a white powder have been sent to both the American and Israeli embassies in the German capital.

Police spokeswoman Kerstin Ismer told The Associated Press today that the Israeli Embassy received a letter July 24 and the US Embassy on July 26. Ismer says police have opened two investigations on suspicion of disturbing the peace by threatening a crime.

She says both contained a powder but would not comment on whether it had been determined to be dangerous or other details due to the ongoing investigation.

She would also not say whether the two letters were thought to be connected or whether there were any suspects yet.

Neither embassy had any immediate comment, saying in general they do not comment on security issues.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Asian countries including India have fared poorly in a ranking of the world's most liveable cities topped by Austrian capital Vienna, with New Delhi figuring at 112th and Mumbai 117th position in a list of 140 cities.

Pakistan's financial capital Karachi and Bangladesh's capital Dhaka are among the world's least liveable cities in the annual Global Liveability Index released by The Economist.

War-ravaged Syria's capital Damascus is on the bottom of the list which comprises 140 cities globally.

The top 10 cities are Vienna, Melbourne, Osaka, Calgary, Sydney, Vancouver, Tokyo, Toronto, Copenhagen and Adelaide respectively, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report.

It is the first time that a European city has topped the rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) annual survey.

Survey editor Roxana Slavcheva said that security has improved in "several western European cities" and Vienna's top place reflects "a relative return to stability across much of Europe".

"South Asian cities rank low in @TheEIU #Liveability index. Of the 6 we cover New Delhi top (112th) then Mumbai next at 117th," Chief Economist and Asia Managing Director at EUI Simon Baptist said.

The list ranks 140 cities on a range of factors, including political and social stability, crime, education and access to healthcare.

The 10 least liveable cities are Senegal's Dakar on 131, Algeria's Algiers 132, Cameroon's Douala 133, Libya's Tripoli 134, Zimbabwe's Harare 135, Papua New Guinea's Port Moresby 136, Karachi, 137, Nigeria's Lagos 138, Dhaka 139 and Damascus is on 140, the report said.

The EIU said that crime, civil unrest, terrorism or war played a "strong role" in the ten-lowest scoring cities.

The liveability index quantifies the challenges that might be presented to an individual's lifestyle in 140 cities worldwide, and assesses which locations provide the best living conditions, the EIU said.

The survey rates cities worldwide based on 30 qualitative and quantitative criteria, which fall into five general categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

The EIU, the research and analysis division of The Economist Group, describes itself as the world leader in global business intelligence.

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Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani Mukerjea's son Mikhail Bora told the trial court here today that he was not aware of Sheena's alleged engagement.

Defence lawyers are currently cross-examining Mikhail before special CBI judge J C Jagdale.

To a question by defence lawyer Sudeep Pasbola, Mikhail said he was not aware of Sheena's engagement to Rahul, the son of Indrani's husband and co-accused Peter Mukerjea from earlier marriage, in Dehradun.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has claimed that Sheena -- Indrani's daughter from earlier relationship -- was engaged to Rahul, and both Indrani and Peter disapproved of it, which could be one of the motives behind Sheena's killing.

The defence lawyers also pointed out today that Indrani's parents (Mikhail and Sheena's grandparents) had made a new will in April 2012.

It mentioned that due to "recent development in the nature of Sheena's marriage to Rahul Mukerjea" without their consent, and because Sheena "leaving them alone", the new will was being made, the defence said.

Under this will, Mikhail was bequeathed 90 per cent of grandparents' property, while only 10 per cent was left to Sheena, the defence said.

Mikhail admitted that he had accompanied his grandparents to a sub-registrar's office in Guwahati on April 30, 2012. He learnt later that it was for the registration of new will, he claimed.

He did not know why Sheena got a smaller share in the will, as she was not in touch with him, Mikhail said.

Sheena (24) was allegedly killed on April 24, 2012.

The crime came to light in August 2015 after Indrani's driver Shyamvar Rai, arrested in another case, spilled the beans about the killing.

Police arrested Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai himself. Later, Indrani's husband and media baron Peter Mukerjea was also arrested for allegedly being part of the conspiracy.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tonight paid rich tributes to the nation on the eve of the 72nd Independence day.

"Salute to our great nation and all my brothers and sisters. Like every year, we will be celebrating 'Freedom at midnight... Jai Hind. Bande Mataram #IndependenceDayIndia," Banerjee wrote on Twitter.

She also tweeted about her government's official Independence day programme at Red Road tomorrow morning.

The metropolis witnesses grand Independence Day celebrations every year on Red Road with police officers, members of the civil society, social organisations and school children taking part in a parade, and Banerjee hoisting the national flag.

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A 65-year-old woman died apparently due to cardiac arrest after paying obeisance at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said today.

Matia, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, collapsed near Panchi view point while returning from the cave shrine last evening, a police official said.

He said the body was handed over to the pilgrim's legal heirs after completion of legal and medical formalities.

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The water level of the Yamuna river today crossed the danger mark and is expected to rise further, prompting authorities to issue directions to take appropriate measures to avoid flood-like situation in Delhi.

Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash today held an emergency meeting with top officers of departments concerned and directed them to be "pro-active" in taking measures for evacuation and providing relief to the people living in the low-lying areas, an official said.

According to the east Delhi district administration, the water level of the Yamuna river reached 205.08 metres today while its danger mark is 204.83 metres.

Prakash directed that all the staff in the field should be on duty despite being August 15 a national holiday.

The official said as Haryana has released nearly 1.74 lakh cusecs water from Hathinikund barrage, Yamuna's water level is expected to rise further in the next one or two days.

Last month, the water level of the Yamuna river had crossed the danger mark, prompting authorities to evacuate people living in the low-lying areas.

"The chief secretary has directed officials to repeat the same exercise and necessary precautionary which they had taken during the period of July 28 to July 31," the official said.

Prakash also issued directions to ensure that tentage and food are available at all the locations for the displaced persons from tomorrow.

He directed all stakeholders to depute their staffers at the central control room round-the-clock.

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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.
By Marcelo TeixeiraITAI, Brazil (Reuters) - Last year, Brazilian farmer Gustavo Lopes sized up his sugarcane plantation against his soybean fields.He looked at global trends, including rising U.S.-China trade tensions and a stubborn sugar-market glut. Then he tore up the last of his cane fields and ditched a decades-old supply contract with a local sugar mill.Lopes planted soybeans across his 1,600-hectare (4,000-acre) farm in Sao Paulo state - a bet that paid off earlier this month when Chinese buyers loaded up on South American soy after Beijing imposed tariffs on U.S. beans. The farmer got ...
By Emma RumneyLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's biggest banks are planning to send personalised spending alerts and in some cases money management advice to their mobile banking customers as they strive to shore up brand loyalty in the face of growing competition. Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC will launch a range of new alerts from this year, for instance informing clients whenever they spend on their card or when a bill is higher than usual.The move is one example of how traditional lenders are expected to start harnessing a wealth of customer data in ways they haven't before, as competition and ...
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's state planner has approved the second major urban railway project within days as it looks to shore up slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy.The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved a 95 billion yuan ($14 billion) plan by the eastern city of Suzhou to expand its urban rail network, Suzhou Rail Transit said in a statement on its website on Tuesday. The project includes four urban transit lines, with a total estimated length of 137 km (85 miles). The announcement followed reports on Sunday that authorities had given the ...
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's infrastructure investment is expected to pick up in the second half of the year due to policy support, the country's statistics bureau said on Tuesday, after official data showed infrastructure spending slowed in the first seven months.China's economic growth is still within a reasonable range, the bureau's spokeswoman Liu Aihua told reporters.Growth in infrastructure spending, a powerful economic driver last year, slowed to 5.7 percent in January-to-July, from an increase of 7.3 percent in the first six months. (Reporting by Kevin Yao; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing ...
As Turkey's financial markets spiral down, threatening the country's economy, investors are gauging whether emerging markets as an asset class are in danger of falling out of grace. The following selection of data points indicate there is relative weakness in Argentina and South Africa, while Asia and Mexico show strength. A plunge in the Turkish lira has set off a wave of selling across emerging market assets, reviving fears of contagion that has been the sector's Achilles heel for decades. ALSO READ: Rupee hits record low of 70.08 a dollar, Turkey rout ...
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone growth was better than expected in the second quarter, flash estimates from the European statistics office Eurostat showed on Tuesday, in a sign that the negative effect of global trade tensions might be seen only later in the year.While the economy expanded by 0.4 percent in the second quarter, above expectations of 0.3 percent growth, industrial output in the in 19-country currency bloc fell sharply in June driven by a collapse in machinery and equipment investment, Eurostat said in a separate release on Tuesday.Eurostat's flash estimate of a 0.4 percent ...
By Lefteris KaragiannopoulosOSLO (Reuters) - British renewable energy investor Quercus said it will stop building a 500 million euro ($570 million) solar power project in Iran due to recently imposed U.S. sanctions on Tehran.The solar plant in Iran would have been the first renewable energy investment outside Europe by Quercus and the world's sixth largest, with a 600 megawatt (MW) capacity.Sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States earlier this month have already led banks and many companies around the world to scale back dealings with Tehran."Following the U.S. sanctions on Iran, we ...
By Arno SchuetzeFRANKFURT (Reuters) - Buyout group Carlyle is starting preparations for a stock market listing of German speciality chemicals group Atotech, a former part of oil group Total which could be valued at around $5 billion, people close to the matter said. The private equity investor has asked investment banks to pitch for roles in an initial public offering which is expected to take place in New York next year, two of the people said, while another person said a German IPO was also a possibility. Carlyle declined to comment. Atotech, a Berlin-based maker of speciality chemicals and ...
By Marc JonesLONDON (Reuters) - One of Turkey's biggest multilateral investors, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has passed internal stress tests for a 40 percent drop by the lira, sources told Reuters, but the currency has weakened more than that this year. The exercise, which was done in response to the lira's accelerating decline and relayed privately to the development bank's 67 government shareholders at a board meeting last month, concluded it could withstand such a slump, although it would suffer losses."It is rather serious, but it would not threaten the bank's ...
By Julie ZhuHONG KONG (Reuters) - Sequoia Capital China is teaming up with a state-owned venture capital (VC) fund and e-commerce powerhouse JD.com to raise up to 40 billion yuan ($5.81 billion) for a new investment firm to focus on late-stage tech investments, sources said.The yuan-denominated fund of Starquest Capital, or Xingjie Capital, underlines growing efforts by Chinese venture capitalists to fatten their wallets as valuations and financing needs rise with firms spending more time remaining private.Startups in China are up to 40 percent more expensive than their U.S. counterparts ...
By Sam NusseyTOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote Holdings Co Ltd was once the industry's enfant terrible, overturning standard retail practices with its cluttered and chaotic stores that sell everything from faux leopard-skin rugs to designer watches.These days, however, Donki - as it popularly known - is more of a role model, defying Japan's weak retail environment to last week report its 29th year of unbroken sales and profit growth.With sales projected to hit 1 trillion yen ($9 billion) this year, Donki is joining the top ranks of Japan's heavyweight retail market, ...
(Reuters) - Indian hospital operator Fortis Healthcare Ltd, which recently agreed to be bought by Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Bhd, reported a quarterly loss on Tuesday.The cash-strapped firm booked a net loss of 707.4 million rupees ($10.11 million) for the three months ended June 30, compared with a profit of 52.9 million rupees in the same period a year earlier, Fortis said.Income from operations fell 9.9 percent to 10.42 billion rupees. The results come after a prolonged takeover battle, which ended with IHH set to take control of Fortis after its bid of up to $1.1 billion was chosen over a ...
BERLIN (Reuters) - The German economy picked up more steam than expected in the second quarter, driven by higher household and state spending, preliminary data showed on Tuesday.Gross domestic product in Europe's biggest economy expanded by 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter, the Federal Statistics Office said. That compared with a Reuters forecast of 0.4 percent.The office also revised up the quarterly growth rate for the first three months of the year to 0.4 percent from 0.3 percent reported previously.Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the economy grew by 2.0 percent from ...
(Reuters) - BT has approached Informa chief executive Stephen Carter as a possible replacement for Gavin Patterson and is keen to announce a new CEO by the end of October, Sky News reported.However, Carter was not part of any recruitment process, Sky cited a friend of the former head of British telecoms regulator Ofcom as saying on Tuesday.Carter might be persuaded to take the job in the coming months, Sky said, also citing the unnamed friend.Patterson stepped down as BT CEO in June after almost five years when its chairman said a new leader was needed to overhaul Britain's biggest broadband ...
By Nandita BoseNEW YORK (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc's second-quarter sales at established stores beat Wall Street forecasts, boosted by a rebound in demand for seasonal merchandise.Shares of the No. 1 U.S. home improvement chain rose 2.4 percent to $198.8 in premarket trading on Tuesday.This performance comes at a time when sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell to an eight-month low in June and data for the prior month was revised sharply lower, the latest indications that the housing market was slowing down.Sales rebounded from the first quarter when cooler-than-usual weather in some ...
(Reuters) - Indian state-run lender IDBI Bank Ltd posted a seventh straight quarterly loss on Tuesday, sending its shares lower, as the bank continues to be plagued by the highest bad loan ratio in the sector.Indian banks have seen a surge in non-performing loans that hit a record $150 billion at the end of March, with 21 lenders, including IDBI, accounting for 86 percent of the pile.IDBI's gross bad loans as a percentage of total loans were 30.78 percent at the end of June, compared with 27.95 percent in the preceding quarter, and 24.11 percent a year earlier. Provision for bad loans jumped ...
By Yuka ObayashiTOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese utilities and global mining giant Glencore have settled an Australian thermal coal import contract for April 2018-March 2019 at $110 a tonne, according to several people with knowledge of the matter.The deals were struck between Glencore and Japanese utilities such as Shikoku Electric, Chugoku Electric and Kansai Electric after bilateral talks, a source at a Japanese coal buyer said, requesting anonymity as he was not allowed to speak in public about commercial deals.Glencore didn't respond to a request for comment. A Chugoku Electric spokesman ...
(Reuters) - Most Asian stock markets are on the verge of entering bear territory as investors grapple with the escalating Sino-U.S trade dispute, a stronger dollar and most recently Turkey's economic woes.Nine of Asia's 12 major stock indexes are trading below their 200-day moving average, a technical analysis showed, suggesting further downside risks to these markets.Analysts consider the percentage of stocks trading above or below 200-day moving average as an indicator of strength or weakness of the underlying market.China has the worst ratio, with 88 percent of its companies trading below ...
By Anshuman DagaSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore-listed Noble Group Ltd, which is pursuing a $3.5 billion debt restructuring to stay afloat, warned of liquidity constraints as it reported a second-quarter net loss that was also caused in part by restructuring expenses.Once Asia's largest commodity trader, Noble has shrunk its business after selling billions of dollars of assets, taking hefty writedowns and cutting hundreds of jobs. Its restructuring plan gained ground last month when it won over a key shareholder with a sweetened equity offer.The company, which has already won support from 86 ...
By Christopher JohnsonLONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia said it cut production in July, adding to concerns over global supply as U.S. sanctions against Iran curb its exports, though concerns over a slowdown in global economic growth kept a lid on markets.Benchmark Brent crude oil was up 70 cents at $73.31 a barrel by 1105 GMT. U.S. light crude was 60 cents higher at $67.75."Oil prices are on the rebound as bulls take heart from an unexpected dip in Saudi oil output and the lingering Iranian wildcard," said Stephen Brennock, analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil ...
If your idea of the food court at the mall is Panda Express and Sbarros, youll be pleasantly surprised by the new Treats Food Hall at Aventura. In 2017, the 2.8-million-square-foot mall underwent a $214 million renovation that included transforming its humble food court, where pigeons often flew from rafter to rafter, into a chic food hall.

The former food court, on the ground level, near the bus depot never quite lived up to the upscale stores. Big spenders rarely visited the dreary space home to affordable options such as Chicken Kitchen and Asian Chao. It served mostly as a cafeteria for the mall stores employees.

The new Treats Food Hall, gleaming at the top of a bank of escalators, is a place to see and be seen. The restaurants (more about them later) flank the sides of the sun-filled dining hall. Wood furnishings and marble countertops, adorned with Moroccan tiles, offer a mix of communal tables, individual banquettes, and high-top tables. Its all very high-end, more like a buzzy restaurant than a food court.

"We canvassed the country looking for concepts," says Jackie Soffer, CEO of Turnberry Associates, which owns and manages Aventura Mall. "Part of it was partnering with award-winning chefs like Michael Mina and Todd English. But we also wanted restaurants with an established buzz in South Florida."

When all tenants open, the complex will feature a dozen fast-casual eateries in Treats Food Hall and nine sit-down restaurants along the ground level outdoor terrace. Those are in addition to the other dining establishments scattered throughout the mall, ranging from Cheesecake Factory and Five Guys to chic trattorias and caviar bars.

While the fare at Treats is a bit higher priced than traditional food court fare, it is not beyond the budget for the average shopper. Most places offer meals in the $10-$20 range, and theres a wide variety of offerings. Among those places already in operation are:

Zuuk Mediterranean Kitchen pairs healthy Mediterranean cooking with a modern fast-casual format following the individualized menu plan first introduced by Chipotle. Diners decide whether they want their meal as a bowl over grains or greens or wrapped in an over-sized pita. They then choose from a variety of proteins paired with veggies and sauces to customize their roll, bowl, or salad.

Figs + Mozzarella from celebrity chef Todd English, brings a similar format to free-form pizzas and paninis with gourmet ingredients ranging from fig and balsamic jam to whipped ricotta and torn basil. In addition to the hand-held options, theres also an abundant antipasto bar.

Poke 305 continues the build your own theme, with one of the latest food trends, poke. Guests can design their own bowls or choose from a menu of suggested combinations. For those not into raw fish, Poke 305 offers bowls featuring cooked chicken or tofu.

Lukes Lobster is one of the pricier options in the dining hall, but thats understandable since it showcases luxury ingredients. Still, for less than $20, the Maine-based seafood restaurant offers a seafood-centric menu of oversized buttery lobster rolls, clam chowder, and lobster mac 'n' cheese.

The BOL takes the standard Asian mall food court offering and gives it a twist by including Vietnamese options. This place also wins extra points for offering vegetarian versions of traditional dishes such as General Tsos Tofu.

My Ceviche takes the classic Latin American costal dish and makes it accessible for the health-conscious shopper.

GoGo Fresh is a place to enjoy a salad with homemade dressing, whether one of the restaurants curated selections or one of your own design. If youre looking for a little indulgence to go with that salad, check out the vast selection of empanadas, either savory or sweet.

In addition to these regional and original favorites, you can also find a few major franchise outlets (Haagen Dazs, and Shake Shack, with Chipotle opening soon). By year's end, Little Brittany Creperie, Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry's International Smoke, Miami Beach's Rosetta Bakery and Danish juice-bar franchise Joe & the Juice will open.

However, Treats has already seen its first casualty. Hank & Harry's Deli, a branch of the New York-style delicatessen in Miami Beach, opened by local restaurateurs Buzzy Sklar and Richard Booth, has already vacated its space.
By Henning GloysteinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices inched up on Tuesday after a report from OPEC confirmed that top exporter Saudi Arabia had cut production to avert looming oversupply, although concerns over a slowdown in economic growth kept a lid on markets.Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $72.85 per barrel at 0658 GMT, up 25 cents, or 0.3 percent, from their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 25 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $67.45 per barrel.In July, Saudi Arabia told the producer group of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ...
Oil prices rose on Tuesday after a report from OPEC confirmed that top exporter Saudi Arabia had cut production to avert looming oversupply. Front-month Brent crude oil futures were at $72.87 per barrel at 0111 GMT, up 26 cents, or 0.4 per cent, from their last close. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 32 cents, or 0.5 per cent, at $67.52 per barrel. In July, Saudi Arabia told the producer group of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that it had cut production by 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 10.288 million bpd. OPEC's ...
By Christopher JohnsonLONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia said it cut production, adding to concerns over global supply as U.S. sanctions against Iran curb its exports, though the prospect of a slowdown in global economic growth kept a lid on markets.Global benchmark Brent crude had risen $1.32, or 1.8 percent, to a high of $73.93 a barrel by 1330 GMT. U.S. light crude was up $1.10 a barrel at $68.30."Oil prices are on the rebound as bulls take heart from an unexpected dip in Saudi oil output and the lingering Iranian wildcard," said Stephen Brennock, analyst at ...
By Pete SchroederWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland will pay $4.9 billion to settle U.S. claims that it misled investors on residential mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2008, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.The Justice Department said the penalty is the largest-ever imposed on a bank for misconduct leading up to the financial crisis. The bank announced in May that it had reached the settlement in principle. The government alleges RBS misled investors in underwriting and issuing residential mortgage-backed securities, understating the risks behind many of the ...
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The fall in the rupee was due to external factors and there was no need to worry at this stage, a senior finance ministry official told television channels on Tuesday.The external factors were expected to ease, Subhash Chander Garg, economic affairs secretary at the ministry of finance, told reporters.The rupee hit an all-time low of 70.1 per dollar earlier on Tuesday, as concerns about Turkey's economic woes persisted. (Reporting by Manoj Kumar; Editing by Sunil Nair)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - RWE on Tuesday said a deal to break up its networks and renewables unit Innogy with rival E.ON was on track after posting first-half core profit that was in line with expectations.RWE and E.ON in March announced the landmark deal, which will see them divide Innogy's assets between them and turn RWE into Europe's third-largest renewable energy provider behind Spain's Iberdrola and Italy's Enel.Overall, assets worth nearly 40 billion euros ($45.6 billion) will change hands as part of the deal, which is expected to close next year, RWE said."The transaction with E.ON is ...
By Nidhi VermaNEW DELHI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia replaced Iraq as top oil supplier to India in July after a gap of more than a year, according to data from industry and shipping sources, as a higher intake of Iranian oil ahead of U.S. sanctions altered trade routes.Many European refiners are winding down purchases of Iranian oil after the United States imposed sanctions on Tehran, leading to higher supplies to Asia, mainly India and China.The United States in May quit the 2015 nuclear deal and announced reimposition of sanctions on Tehran. While some sanctions were implemented from Aug. 6, ...
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore police said on Tuesday an aircraft linked to an investigation into a multi-billion scandal at Malaysian state fund 1MDB is parked at the city-state's Seletar Airport.Singapore authorities had not previously confirmed that the $35-million private jet, which Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said he is seeking to repossess, was in the city.The aircraft is believed to be owned by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho.Singapore police said they had not received any formal request from Malaysian authorities for the return of the aircraft. (Reporting by John ...
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore police said on Tuesday an aircraft linked to an investigation into a multi-billion scandal at Malaysian state fund 1MDB was in the city-state but Malaysia had not made a formal request for its return.Singapore authorities had not previously confirmed that the $35-million private jet, which Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said he is seeking to repossess, was in the city.Aviation services firm Jet Aviation said on Monday a jet, which the U.S. Department of Justice alleges was bought by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho using funds taken from 1MDB, was ...
By Camilla KnudsenOSLO (Reuters) - Sweden's economic prospects have dimmed in recent months and the country will likely be surpassed by Norway as the fastest-growing Scandinavian economy in 2019, a Reuters poll found on Tuesday.It would be the first time in more than half a decade Sweden failed to top the region's growth league, although it was still set to expand at a slightly faster pace than Denmark, the final member of the northern European trio."Norway and Sweden are in many ways in different stages of the cycle," Nordea Markets economist Erik Bruce said."Norway is on its way up after a ...
Police in Chesterfield County, Va., on Aug. 6 arrested a 56-year-old Virginia man for the April 2017 murder of longtime Virginia gay activist Bruce Garnett, 67, who was found stabbed to death in his apartment in a section of Chesterfield near Richmond.

Police charged James M. Wheeler, a resident of the town of Stuarts Draft near Staunton, Va., with second-degree murder in connection with Garnetts death after he confessed to the murder, according to Maj. Edward Carpenter of the Chesterfield Police Investigations Bureau.

I can tell you that we received information that the suspect pretty much confessed to an independent party about his involvement in the case, Carpenter told the Washington Blade.

And based on that we were able to do some corroboration and coordination, and a search warrant was executed on a residence in Augusta County, Va., which was where Wheeler lived in Stuarts Draft, Carpenter said. According to Carpenter, Wheeler agreed to voluntarily go with Chesterfield detectives to the Augusta County police station for an interview.

After several hours of interviewing he confessed to stabbing Mr. Garnett to death, said Carpenter, who added that Wheeler confirmed he and Garnett had been friends and were in some type of relationship. They had a friendship that lasted for an extended period of time, said Carpenter, noting that Wheeler didnt describe him and Garnett as a couple.

That wasnt said in the confession, he said. But the bottom line is they did have a relationship.

Carpenter said Wheeler was being held without bond at the Middle River Regional Jail in Staunton while extradition arrangements were being made to transfer him to Chesterfield, where he will be prosecuted in Chesterfield County Circuit Court.

Garnetts brother, Bill Garnett, told the Richmond Times Dispatch that his brother was an early pioneer for gay rights in Virginia and helped form the Gay Rights Association in Richmond in the 1970s. In 1978 Bruce Garnett became the first known registered lobbyist for LGBT related issues before the Virginia General Assembly, his brother told the Times Dispatch.
By Brendan PiersonNEW YORK (Reuters) - A group of founders, executives and early employees of popular dating app Tinder on Tuesday sued IAC/InterActiveCorp, claiming the parent company deliberately undervalued Tinder to avoid paying them billions of dollars.The lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan stated that IAC and its subsidiary Match Group Inc deliberately prevented the plaintiffs from cashing in stock options they could exercise and sell to IAC. They are seeking damages of not less than $2 billion.IAC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The plaintiffs in the ...
KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's Cipla Quality Chemical Industries has priced its initial public offering at 256.5 shillings ($0.0688) per share, the company said on Tuesday.The drugmaker is selling 657,179,319 shares - representing an 18 percent stake in the company - to raise an expected 168.6 billion shillings. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Writing by Clement Uwiringiyimana; Editing by David Goodman)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Britain's unemployment rate fell unexpectedly to its lowest since 1975 during the second quarter and productivity picked up, but wage growth slowed, official data showed on Tuesday.The number of European Union nationals working in Britain also fell by the largest annual amount since records began in 1997, the Office for National Statistics said, continuing a trend seen since the 2016 Brexit vote.The unemployment rate fell to 4.0 percent in the April through June period, the lowest since the three months to February 1975 and beating economists' forecasts for it to ...
Ride-sharing firms such as Uber are expanding their base by entering new markets. However, this trend has not gone down well with the local taxi operators who see their revenue coming down as they can't compete with low fare offered by the app-based ride hailing giants.

Something similar has just happened in Quebec, a province of Canada. After Uber launched its services in the province, some taxi drivers from Montreal staged protest against the entry and demanded the city to ban the operations. Taxi drivers also approached the court but the requests were turned down.

Now, the Quebec government has come forward to their rescue and decided to compensate those taxi drivers whose business has suffered because of Uber.

According to Montreal-based MTL Blog, a whopping total of USD 250 million in public funds is expected to go to taxi drivers who have seen the value of their permits plummet from hundreds of thousands of dollars to just a few tens of thousands.

The move has kick-started debate whether the government should compensate or let the market decide the pricing on its own. People are arguing that new technologies, industries, and markets replace obsolete services. Workers in older industries have to adapt to changing times.

But instead of investing heavily in a transition to the new industry, the government is handing them cash to make up for the declining value of permits. Only USD 44 million will go toward improving taxi companies to help them compete in changing times, the report observed.

Protest against Uber is not new. Earlier in July, the company had to stop its operations in Barcelona after taxi drivers protested against the ride-hailing firms. They were demanding a cap on private hire vehicle numbers.

In 2016, the app-based firm had faced stiff protest from taxi union in Buenos Aires after Uber said that it was considering bringing its service to the city.
Pune-based Cosmos Bank was hit by a cyber attack in which miscreants allegedly hacked the server of a cooperative bank and transferred over Rs 94 crore to accounts in a foreign country.

In a complaint, which was filed at the Chatushrungi police station in Pune, the bank officials stated that they suspect a malware attack on the ATM switch server located at the bank's headquarters.

According to the bank, the accused hacked into the ATM switch server and stole the details of multiple Visa and Rupay debit card owners. These details were used to carry out around 12,000 transactions out of India in which around Rs 78 crore were stolen.

Similarly 2,800 transactions were carried out within the country and Rs 80 lakhs were stolen.

In another transaction, money was sent to Hanseng Bank in Hong Kong in name of a company named ALM Trading Limited. This beneficiary received around Rs 12 crore so the total amount lost is around Rs 94 crore.

The top officials of the bank are expected to hold a press conference to explain the developments. Established in 1906, the Cosmos Bank is one of the oldest cooperative banks in India.
ATMs around the world are under a major risk of fraudulent cash withdrawals. This type of attack is called "ATM cashout" and this particular plan has been detected by US' premier investigating agency, FBI. The attack is aimed at ATMs from different banks. The massive heist is expected to take place with the help of cloned cards. The payment processors of various banks might also be hacked to gain easy access to the cash.

According to a report by Independent, a confidential alert has been sent to banks warning them of a potential attack. The coordinated attack will take place within a window of a few hours and possibly, on a weekend when the banks will be shut.

"Virtually all ATM cashout operations are launched on weekends, often just after financial institutions begin closing for business on Saturday," the cybersecurity expert who obtained the FBI note explained in a blog post.

The report suggests that the robbers are expected to shut down the precautionary or safety features of the ATM, for instance, cash limits. This will allow them to empty the machines at a much faster rate.

Banks have been asked to take note of the threat and update their security systems for any possibility of a coordinated attack.

"The FBI has obtained unspecified reporting indicating cybercriminals are planning to conduct a global Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cash-out scheme in the coming days, likely associated with an unknown card issuer breach and commonly referred to as an 'unlimited operation'," states the FBI alert to banks.

Last month, a similar premeditated took place across ATMs in the United States. The National Bank of Blacksburg incurred a loss of $2.4 million over the course of several months. In 2016, a Thailand state-owned bank suffered a similar plight where the bank lost $360,000 from ATMs.

In India, earlier this month, residents of Kolkata experienced similar ATM thefts in a short span. According to a report by The Economic Times, 76 victims came forward in a span of just five days. The thieves used skimmers (card copying machines) on ATMs to clone cards. These cards were then used from different locations across the country, a few even from Delhi's Hauz Khas area.

Edited by Danny D'Cruze
The ISME has released its latest Quarterly Business Trends Survey for the second quarter of 2018. This survey was conducted in the second last week of July, with a 10% membership response rate with 51% of whom employ less than 10, 40% employ between 11 and 49 and the remaining 9% employ between 50 and 250.

Geographically, 38% are from Dublin; 51% are spread across the rest of the country and 11% have multiple sites.

The report shows a slight improvement on the first quarter of 2018. Seven out of 12 confidence indicators showed declines, an improvement on 10 out of 12 in the previous quarter.

Business Confidence continues to decline dropping by a further 5% this quarter. Brexit remains the biggest concern for SMEs followed by Economic Uncertainty.

According to the report, 58% of businesses expect to increase wage rates.

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Specialist contractors, Contracting PLUS, are calling for an anomaly in Irish taxation to be dealt with in the forthcoming Budget which they say currently makes it more advantageous for Irelands top engineering, project management and technology professionals to work abroad.



According to Jimmy Sheehan, Commercial Director at Contracting PLUS, travel and subsistence expenses for independent professionals (iPros) are not allowed for tax purposes, while an employee doing the same job is able to reclaim these costs tax free.



iPros are often engaged by Irelands major multinationals. These iPros are often based beyond what would be deemed a normal commutable distance. When travel costs incurred on a major contract over the course of a 6 or 12 month project are added up, Contracting PLUS say not being allowed mileage and subsistence adds-up to a major disincentive to provide these services.



Contracting PLUS believe longer term consequences of the Revenue anomaly could mean an increase in the cost of investing in Ireland, increased cost in completing capital projects here, and damage to Ireland's associated international reputation, meaning Ireland becomes less competitive in attracting FDI in an ever more competitive global marketplace.

An employee is not allowed to claim travel expenses to and from work, and it is this basis that currently prohibits an iPro from claiming any mileage to his or her place of work. The average commute to and from work in Ireland is 15km, a 30km round trip.

However, if an employee travels to a client premises, say 50km away, they can claim mileage of 35km; 50km less the distance to their normal work place. iPros cannot claim any mileage or subsistence, regardless of where they travel across the country and how long they stay away from home.



Speaking last week, Commercial Director atContracting PLUS, Jimmy Sheehan said, "They are being disadvantaged in relation to all other categories of worker. An employee receives these expenses tax-free, public servants and public representatives receive these expenses tax-free. But bono fide expenses incurred by iPros in relation to travel and subsistence which are wholly and necessary for business purposes, are being disallowed."



He added, "A lot of Irelands foreign direct investment is attracted on the basis of our skilled, educated, English-speaking workforce, available to support the set-up of incoming multi-nationals with specialist skills. Therefore, professional contractors unwilling to take on roles in projects where they incur travel expenses will have larger consequences for Ireland Inc."



The iPro solution the sector wants Minister Donohoe to put forward on October 9th next is based on the successful model used in the USA, Canada, Germany and the U.K., where there is the concept of the Tax Home.

This notion of a location where normal living expenses are incurred and, often, where your family is located allows specific well defined expenses to then be allowed on an actual cost basis, once the individual is required to be absent from this Tax Home for work purposes.

The professional contractors say they are hopeful of a fair hearing this Budget Day, as, with Irelands economic recovery, emphasis in recent years has been on giving more workers, especially the self-employed who support economic expansion - a fairer deal.



Source: www.businessworld.ie
(CNN) -- Sharice Davids, the attorney and former professional mixed martial arts fighter who won the Democratic nomination for a House seat in Kansas on Tuesday, is the latest potentially history-making candidate in 2018's midterm elections.

If she defeats Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder in November, Davids would join New Mexico's Deb Haaland as part of a class that's expected to include the first Native American women ever elected to Congress.

Davids would also become the second-ever openly lesbian member of Congress, after Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin. And she would be the first openly LGBT person to represent deep-red Kansas, where pro-gay rights activists have spent years fighting bills they see as discriminatory on issues like adoption and participation in college campus groups, at the state or federal level.

"What we see are Kansans getting tired of a lot of politics of division and bigotry," said Tom Witt, the executive director of the LGBT advocacy group Equality Kansas, which endorsed Davids. "The Democrats of northeast Kansas want to send a message that Kansans are not all

what you

think we are."

Davids won the Democratic nomination in Kansas' 3rd District by fending off five other candidates -- including progressive labor lawyer Brent Welder, who was backed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who recently ousted New York Rep. Joe Crowley in a primary.

She was backed by EMILY's List, which backs Democratic women for political office. The group pumped $400,000 into television ads in the district, which consists largely of the Kansas City suburbs.

In a statement congratulating Davids, EMILY's List president Stephanie Schriock said she is "on track to make history as one of the first Native American women in Congress, the first openly gay member of the Kansas congressional delegation, and the first Democratic woman to represent this district."

Republicans, meanwhile, immediately sought to latch Davids to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

"In Congress, liberal Sharice Davids would support Nancy Pelosi and her extreme, out-of-touch agenda of higher taxes for hardworking Kansans. Sharice cannot be trusted in Congress," said Michael Byerly, a spokesman for the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC that supports Republican House candidates.

Davids, a former Obama White House fellow, won with 37% of the vote -- continuing the strongest trend in Democratic politics this year of female candidates winning competitive primaries.

"I am honored and deeply motivated by the support I received from across this district," Davids said in a statement. "Thank you to my fellow Democrats in this race for their passion and for engaging in a spirited and important debate about the future of this district and this country. To my supporters: you knocked on doors, made phone calls, donated what you could, and got your friends, neighbors, and family members to the polls. I am eternally grateful for your confidence in me and will work to earn your trust day in and day out in Congress."

Yoder, meanwhile, won the GOP primary on Tuesday with 68% of the vote. The district went for Hillary Clinton narrowly by a single point in 2016 and is expected to be a major battleground in November's midterms.

In other potential firsts from Tuesday night, Rashida Tlaib will likely be the first Muslim woman elected to Congress after CNN has projected her to win the Democratic nomination in the overwhelmingly Democratic 13th District in Michigan.

This story has been updated with additional context about Davids throughout.

The-CNN-Wire

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From the NY Fed: Total Household Debt Rises for 16th Straight Quarter



he Federal Reserve Bank of New Yorks Center for Microeconomic Data today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, which shows that total household debt increased by $82 billion (0.6%) to $13.29 trillion in the second quarter of 2018. It was the 16th consecutive quarter with an increase, and the total is now $618 billion higher than the previous peak of $12.68 trillion, from the third quarter of 2008. Further, overall household debt is now 19.2% above the post-financial-crisis trough reached during the second quarter of 2013. The Report is based on data from the New York Feds Consumer Credit Panel, a nationally representative sample of individual- and household-level debt and credit records drawn from anonymized Equifax credit data.



Mortgage balancesthe largest component of household debtrose by $60 billion during the second quarter, to $9.00 trillion. Balances on home equity lines of credit (HELOC) continued their downward trend, declining by $4 billion, to $432 billion. The median credit score of newly originating mortgage borrowers was roughly unchanged, at 760.



"Aggregate household debt grew for the 16th consecutive quarter in the second quarter of 2018," said Wilbert van der Klaauw, senior vice president at the New York Fed, "While overall delinquency rates have remained stable at relatively low levels, transition rates into delinquency have fallen noticeably for student debt over the past year, reflecting an improved labor market and increased participation in various income-driven repayment plans."

emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

Aggregate household debt balances increased in the second quarter of 2018 for the 16th consecutive quarter, and are now $618 billion higher than the previous (2008Q3) peak of $12.68 trillion. As of June 30, 2018, total household indebtedness was $13.29 trillion, an $82 billion (0.6%) increase from the first quarter of 2018. Overall household debt is now 19.2% above the 2013 Q2 trough.



Mortgage balances, the largest component of household debt, increased slightly during the second quarter. Mortgage balances shown on consumer credit reports on June 30 stood at $9.0 trillion, an increase of $60 billion from the first quarter of 2018. Balances on home equity lines of credit (HELOC), on a declining trend since 2009, saw a $4 billion drop in the second quarter and are now at $432 billion. Non-housing balances saw a $26 billion increase in the second quarter, with auto loans and credit cards increasing by $9 billion and $14 billion respectively.

Aggregate delinquency rates improved in the second quarter of 2018. As of June 30, 4.5% of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency, a very small improvement from the last quarter. Of the $598 billion of debt that is delinquent, $403 billion is seriously delinquent (at least 90 days late or severely derogatory). The flow into 90+ day delinquency for credit card balances has been rising for the last year and remained elevated during the second quarter, while the flow into 90+ day delinquency for auto loan balances has been slowly trending upward since 2012.



About 225,000 consumers had a bankruptcy notation added to their credit reports in 2018Q2, about the same number observed in the same quarter of last year. New bankruptcy notations have been at historically low levels since 2016.

Here are two graphs from the report:The first graph shows aggregate consumer debt increased in Q2. Household debt previously peaked in 2008, and bottomed in Q2 2013.From the NY Fed: The second graph shows the percent of debt in delinquency. There is still a larger than normal percent of debt 90+ days delinquent (Yellow, orange and red).The overall delinquency rate decreased in Q2. From the NY Fed:There is much more in the report
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news, latest-news

Hello Canberra. There'll be a sunny morning today but there's a 50 per cent chance of rain this afternoon, on an otherwise mild-for-the-ACT-winter day with a 3 degree low and a maximum of 16 degrees. Next week it's meant to drop to minus 4, so there are some doses of chill left before spring. What's making news this morning? The ACT's new Labor senator David Smith vowed to run for Senate preselection after he replaced Katy Gallagher as she was booted over her dual citizenship. When Canberra Labor MP Gai Brodtmann announced on Monday she wouldn't run in the next election, the whole landscape changed yet again in what is shaping up a topsy-turvy kind of political musical chairs. Senator Smith, who was preparing for battle with Ms Gallagher, will now run for Labor preselection in the seat of Bean following Ms Brodtmann's decision to quit politics for personal reasons. Sally Whyte takes you through all the twists and turns in this story. They have opposite views on voluntary euthanasia but will unite to try overturning restrictions on the ACT and Northern Territory that prevent the territories legalising assisted suicide. Andrew Leigh represents the ACT seat of Fenner, and Luke Gosling holds the Northern Territory seat of Solomon. Mr Gosling is against euthanasia, while Mr Leigh supports it. However they'll co-sponsor a private members bill to repeal the ban on the territories making laws on euthanasia. Katie Burgess looks at the joint bid for the reform. More than 30 years ago, she appeared in a video about women in science after joining the CSIRO in her late 20s. Cathy Foley, who has advocated for more to join the sector since, has become the federal scientific agency's latest chief scientist. Chief among her priorities in the job will be to coordinate Australia's fragmented scientific institutions more. She also wants the nation's scientists to compete globally, and collaborate locally. Read more about her goals in my story here. An ACT Legislative Committee will put the microscope to changes overhauling Canberra's bus network that could disadvantage people with limited mobility. But Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris has hit back at claims the consultation was not genuine. Robert Mair and Sue Brudenall said their fellow Goodwin Retirement Village Crace residents are furious there will be no direct bus from their suburb to the Belconnen town centre under the proposed network. At the moment, a half-hourly bus on weekdays and an hourly bus on weekends connects elderly residents to the centre. Katie Burgess with this story about the latest in this evolving furore. Domestic Animal Services has expanded its cat holding facilities as the government extends the ban on roaming felines in certain suburbs. The Gungahlin town centre is poised to be declared a cat containment area, covering a large area near its central shopping centre. The newly created suburbs of Macnamara and Strathnairn in west Belconnen will also be containment zones, joining 12 other Canberra suburbs, mostly in Weston Creek and Gungahlin, where owners must keep their cats locked up. Andrew Brown brings you this curious tale.

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Cathy Foley has had a career full of "firsts" as a woman in the male-dominated world of science. She appeared in her late 20s in a video about women in the sector after joining the CSIRO 33 years ago, and has pushed for greater female participation since. Following her latest appointment as chief scientist at Australia's federal scientific agency, she'll advocate more diversity in the industry, a necessary ingredient to solving the mysteries it unpicks. "If we limit that, we're just not going to get to where we need to go," she said. Dr Foley, a world-renowned physicist and science leader, is most noted for her work developing superconducting devices and systems that have helped unearth more than $6 billion in minerals around the world. However she has watched with frustration as Australia's science sector has remained fragmented and locked in interstate, and inter-university, competition. The chief scientist's job, when it came up, offered a chance to change things. "Just like anyone, I want to get in there and see what I can do to make a difference," she said. Among Dr Foley's goals in her new job, which she starts later in 2018, is coordinating the different players in Australia's science sector so they better understand each other's work. She also wants Australia's scientists to direct their energy towards competing globally, and collaborating locally. "Australia's future prosperity will be fuelled by science," Dr Foley said. "Science which creates new industries, new jobs and shapes the minds and aspirations of our future leaders. "We can't keep thinking about science as something which is locked away in a lab. It connects and drives everything we touch and do. "I'm looking forward to not just spreading the word, but helping shape the science agenda and raising the profile of the role of women in STEM." Science, and particularly physical sciences, is traditionally male-dominated and some physics conferences are composed only 9-15 per cent by women. Dr Foley's own research team, looking at superconducting electronics, has a 50:50 ratio of males to females, a result that could be down to the settings she has created. "If you have the culture right, women will come and join, and stay." Recent years have seen a particular shift as more women work in science. Dr Foley isn't the CSIRO's first female chief scientist, but she has been a trailblazer more than she would have liked. "Science is set up in a certain way that doesn't make it easy," Dr Foley said. She joined the CSIRO division of applied physics in 1985 as a national research fellow, and was promoted to senior research scientist in 1991, principal research scientist in 1996, senior principal research scientist in 2000 and chief research scientist in 2008. Dr Foley, who is based in Sydney, helped create LANDTEM, a technology which uses superconductors to detect minerals deep underground. CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall said Dr Foley was an incredible leader and scientist. "Cathy is a great contributor, with a passion for turning excellent science into powerful solutions for Australia," he said.

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Two Labor MPs who have opposite views on voluntary euthanasia will move to overturn restrictions on the ACT and Northern Territory that prevent the territories legalising assisted suicide. Andrew Leigh, who represents the ACT seat of Fenner, and Luke Gosling, who holds the Northern Territory seat of Solomon, will co-sponsor a private members bill to repeal the ban on the territories making laws on euthanasia. Mr Gosling is against euthanasia, while Mr Leigh supports it. However Mr Leigh said he, Mr Gosling and the rest of the Labor party believed the territories should have the right to choose whether they legalised voluntary assisted dying. "I don't think it's any logical contradiction having one position on the substantive issue but believing the powers of the parliaments should be expanded," Mr Leigh said. "The ACT Legislative Assembly is just as mature as any state parliament. Queensland's parliament was unicameral the last time I checked and no one is taking away their rights." Mr Leigh is hopeful the bill will be debated next week. It's likely to appear on the notice paper on Monday, although if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull doesn't grant leave for debate, the majority of the house would have to vote to suspend standing orders for debate to occur. That could be problematic, because even if Labor got the crossbench on board, two Coalition MPs would have to cross the floor to allow the house to debate the bill. Mr Turnbull is under pressure to stop another private members bill on euthanasia reaching the lower house. The Senate is currently debating Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm's bill to dismantle the restrictions on the territories. Senator Leyonhjelm struck a deal with Mr Turnbull in 2016 that cleared the way for the Senate vote to take place, however Mr Turnbull has said in recent days that arrangement did not extend to the House of Representatives. A vote on the Leyonhjlem bill is expected on Tuesday, with a long list of speakers on Monday night. A growing number of Coalition senators have indicated support for restoring territory rights, including education minister Simon Birmingham, Ian McDonald, Steve Martin and Nigel Scullion, who is the Liberal senator for the Northern Territory. ACT Labor Senator David Smith will help pass the Leyonhjelm bill even though he told The Guardian he has "grave reservations" about voluntary euthanasia. ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja will vote against it as he believes the issue of euthanasia and territory rights cannot be separated. "Make no mistake, this is not about territory rights, its about human rights. I fear the passage of Senator Leyonhjelms Bill will lead to assisted suicide becoming legal in the ACT under a regime that will have minimal safeguards," Mr Seselja wrote in an opinion piece for The Canberra Times. However Canberra Labor MP Gai Brodtmann struck out at Senator Seselja's decision on ABC Radio on Tuesday morning. "I don't know what will play out after this week but I do want to remind Senator Zed Seselja that he is a territorian and he represents the people of the ACT," Ms Brodtmann said. "This is a question of territory rights, this is question of equality and of the right of the people of the ACT and the Northern Territory to enjoy the same rights as those in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia and Tasmania. In 2018, in a democracy that's only fair." Meanwhile ACT politicians attended a rally at Parliament House on Tuesday morning ahead of the Senate debate. ACT Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur said the people of Canberra were sick of being treated as second class citizens. "The ACT was granted self-government almost 30 years ago. Its absurd that Canberrans should still be prevented from determining our own laws, and be subjected to these undemocratic and discriminatory restrictions," Ms Le Couteur said. ACT Labor backbencher Tara Cheyne said removing the restrictions would not mean the territory government would move immediately to legalise euthanasia. "What it would do is simply give our citizens and our parliament the same right to decide for ourselves as those Australians living in the states," Ms Cheyne said.

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Published On Aug 14, 2018 01:01 PM By Raunak for Fiat Punto EVO

The 13-year-old Punto has been pulled out of Europe due to flagging sales

Pictured: Euro-spec Fiat Punto EVO

The third-generation Fiat Punto is certainly among the longest-running new-age cars we have today. Introduced in 2005 as the Grande Punto, a bigger alternative to the second-gen Punto (which never came to India) and sold alongside it for a few initial years internationally, the car was in production at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Melfi plant in Italy for 13 straight years.

Pictured: Fiat Grande Punto

Fiat launched the Grande Punto in India in 2009. When the Puntos facelift came in 2014, the Indian & global versions were not exactly styled the same. However, both the versions were christened Punto EVO. The India-spec 2014 Punto EVO had significant changes up front while the global version had milder cosmetic updates.

While the Puntos sales are nothing to write home about, its timeless Giorgetto Giugiaro design can still turn heads. And theres also the crazy 147PS Abarth version that made it one of the most powerful hatchbacks in India.

The Puntos dismal performance cant be blamed to a lack of equipment. It was, in fact, one of the most loaded premium hatchbacks in the country at one time, with features such as fire prevention system, climate control unit, Blue&me Bluetooth phone integration powered by Microsoft in its kitty. However, it has now been bettered by newer rivals and is hardly rolling out of showrooms.

The Punto also had an AMT option (called Dualogic) in some other markets long before Maruti made it popular in India. The AMT version was not introduced in India and so Fiat lost an opportunity to make the Punto a more appealing package.

There wont be a global successor of the Punto. FCA announced in its new five-year business plan (2018-2022) in June that the Fiat brand will be focusing on its number churner nameplate, the Fiat 500, and will also introduce the next generation of the Fiat Panda sub-4m crossover.

Pictured: Fiat Argo

The Puntos legacy will, however, be alive in Latin America, where Fiat launched its spiritual successor in the Argo. Sadly, its not expected to be a global nameplate.

Fiat Argo Revealed Completely (not confirmed for the Indian market)

Since the start of this year, the Fiat Punto EVO has not crossed three-digit sales even once in a month in India. It is unlikely to last long and Fiat might eventually pull the plug on the Punto in India as well. While FCA has not announced Fiats future plans for India, it hasnt even indicated about its wrap up. At the moment, the Italian-American conglomerate is focusing on expanding the Jeep brand and well get to see more Jeep SUVs such as the Renegade and a made-for-India sub-4m SUV in the near future. It remains to be seen if FCA could turn the brand Fiat around again & make it thrive in India the way it used to during the Padmini era.

Read More on : Fiat Punto EVO diesel
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) 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 level 10 pay matrix. The last date to apply for the government job is Aug 30, 2018.

UPSC CDS II Application Process 2018 Open: Apply Before Sept 3!

UPSC Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Junior Technical Officer, Junior Scientific Officer, Scientist B, Deputy Legislative Counsel, Chemist and Metallurgist, Principal Officer, Lecturer and Vice Principal Organisation Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Educational Qualification Graduate or masters degree in relevant field from a recognised university Experience 1 to 3 years Job Responsibilities Depends according to the post Skills Required Technical skills Job Location India Salary Scale Level 7 to level 10 pay matrix Industry Civil services Application Start Date August 11, 2018 Application End Date August 30, 2018

Maximum Age Limit: 50 years

Also Read: Looking For Permanent Government Jobs? UPSC Is Hiring!

How To Apply For The UPSC Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for the UPSC Recruitment 2018, follow the steps given here:

Step 1: Log on to the UPSC official website.

Step 2: Click on the link that reads, ONLINE RECRUITMENT APPLICATION (ORA) FOR VARIOUS RECRUITMENT POSTS.

Step 3: On the recruitment page, click on the link for new registration.

Step 4: The registration form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 5: Enter the captcha code.

Step 6: Click Save & Continue and follow the subsequent pages to complete the registration process.

Step 7: Go back to the recruitment page and click Apply Now against the post you want to apply for.

Step 8: The application form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your credentials in the fields provided.

Step 9: Enter the captcha code. Submit your details and complete the application process.

Click here to read the detailed official notification.
The entire economy of a nation is greatly dependent on the buying and selling of things. In such a scenario, the chain that follows is once products are manufactured, they make their way to warehouses and godowns. It is from these places that wholesalers sell their products to the retailers. The retailers or the retail sellers are the ones who actually sell the product to the customers in question. Since the actual selling happens through the retail seller, there is ample scope of making money here.

Indeed, if you are able to woo your target audience, there is nothing that can hinder your way to helping your company or from making money. It is obvious that as your firm grows in magnitude and annual turnover, so will you within the organisation.

Now, many people shy away from this highly challenging field because they feel that this is a field where an individual has to meet daily targets and that is a taxing thing to do. However, the fact is that if you are ready to invest your time and efforts in this profession in your youth, the returns that this will pay during your old age are plentiful. Read on to know more about this field of work.

 Job Responsibilities

The main duty of retail sales workers is to sell the products that are available in the outlet. For this, they need to build a good rapport with the customers. You'll have to be polite while greeting customers and offer them assistance. To do this, you first need to understand what is it that the customers want and then recommend appropriate products to them.

The benefits and working of the merchandise must also be explained to the user. In case the customer has certain questions and queries, it is the duty of the retail sales worker to answer all of them. Such a person must be aware of current sales promotions and policies about exchange and payment options (including that of EMI) and educate the customer about the same.

The entire process of adding up the customers' total purchases, preparing bills and accepting payments is also the duty of retail sales workers.

 Educational Qualification

Although there is no official minimum qualification requirement here, for shops selling electronic items, cars or high-end products, candidates with a high school degree are preferred.

Most established retail outlets conduct training for its staff wherein newly hired workers are given training on matters pertaining to customer service, security, how to operate the cash register and the store's policies and procedures.

Depending on the products that they are expected to sell, they are often given specialised training about the technical functionalities of the same. This type of training usually lasts for weeks. In smaller retail outlets, the training that is given is lesser detailed and usually shorter in nature.

 Skill Set

In the world of sales, it may so happen that a large number of attempted sales will yield no results. If you get disappointed by such things, you cannot survive in this highly competitive world. Persistence is the first quality that you must inculcate in yourself if you wish to pursue a career in sales.

By being responsive to the customers' needs, you will be able to make appropriate recommendations which will, in turn, increase your chances of selling a product. Knowledge of the local language is an added advantage for a person who wants to pursue a career in this field.

 Type Of Jobs

The best thing about retail sales jobs is the fact that these types of jobs are available in every nook and corner of the country. Thus, if you are someone who does not want to travel to distant lands in search of a job, then this is the profession for you.

From the world of groceries and supermarkets to that of clothing, musical instruments, electronics, automobiles and departmental and bookstores, retail sales workers are needed in order to keep business establishments up and running.

 Salary

The salary of a retail sales worker in India will depend on the brand or company that they are working for and its geographical location. Needless to say, it is in the metros that the wage is higher than that in other places.

Among the various sectors, that of automobile, electronics and jewellery are the ones that pay the most. In cities like Bangalore and Delhi, sales workers in the electronics sector are paid as much as INR 26,000 per month (at the fresher level) in some companies.

 Work Environment

This job usually requires a person to work in the evenings and on the weekends because that is when most customers visit the shop. The work pressure of such people is particularly high during the festive seasons and retail workers may find it difficult to take an off during such times.

While most retail workers work full-time, a marginal section chooses to work part-time as well. Most of the part-time retail workers are college students who take up this job in order to support their education. Needless to say, all the jobs in this sector are private in nature.

 Career Advancement

For those who are serious about their profession, this career path provides the opportunity to move on to supervisory positions. For candidates who have completed their graduation and have joined as a retail sales worker, there will be ample opportunities to switch to managerial roles.

Typically, with experience, retail sales workers are given the opportunity to choose the department that they would want to work for and are vested with higher responsibilities in the same. This naturally equates to a higher potential earning and commissions.

Thus, having realised the tons of opportunities in this field, we are sure by now you are ready to take baby steps into the profession. Here's wishing you all the very best for the same.
Photo: Contributed

Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is coming back to British Columbia.

The PMO's office announced Tuesday that Trudeau will hold a Cabinet retreat in Nanaimo, British Columbia, from August 21 to the 23rd.

The retreat will act as the first meeting of the new Cabinet before Parliament resumes in September. It's expected the retreat will focus on ways to deliver economic growth and create jobs for Canadians.

The Cabinet retreat will be held in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Among topics on the agenda, diversifying international trade, eliminating trade barriers between provinces and territories, and maintaining the integrity and security of Canadas borders.

I look forward to meeting with our new Cabinet in beautiful Nanaimo, British Columbia. Nanaimo is a gateway to Canadas markets and a tourist destination known around the world. It is a perfect setting to discuss how we can promote Canadian exports, expand tourism, and diversify our trading partnerships, to continue making life better for people from Nanaimo to Corner Brook.The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
Eagle Materials Inc name new COO

14 August 2018

Michael Haack has been appointed as President and Chief Operating Officer of Eagle Materials Inc. Prior to joining Eagle, Mr Haack spent 17 years at Halliburton Energy Services, holding successively important operating positions, culminating with the management of Global Operations for Sperry Drilling, a multi-billion dollar company in the drilling and evaluation division of Halliburton.



The announcement was made by Dave Powers, CEO, who commented that "Michael has been serving as our COO since 2014 and has distinguished himself across all of our lines of business. This expansion of Michael's role reflects the company's significant growth in recent years and the opportunity to build our leadership capacity, as we extend Eagle's track-record as the benchmark operating performer in the industry." Michael Haack added, "I am excited to take on this expanded responsibility, as we continue to pursue our well-established strategy of value creation and capitalize on the many opportunities we see ahead."



Mr Haack holds a Master of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, both in Industrial Engineering, and an MBA from Rice University.

Published under
There was a time, not so long ago, when school-aged children would learn lessons from a prescribed text, such as a textbook. Today texting is far, far different and, as any of our teachers will tell us, cell phones have become the scourge of education. In almost every classroom, kids will silently text in the shadow of the desk in front of them rather than focus on the lesson. Yet the most noted educators still cant figure out why more and more kids are stupid. Time to smell the coffee!

Go to any restaurant and study a family of four out for an enjoyable meal. Every person at the table is texting and the art of conversation, story-telling, and showing interest in one another is being kicked to the curb. Admittedly, I hate cell phones that constantly try to interrupt my day. If I am meeting someone who actually interrupts our visit to talk on the cell phone, Ill walk away. Its absolutely rude. Some of my pals dont like that but I say, Take your pick  we can sing together but we cant talk at the same time.

So when the Decatur City Schools begin classes tomorrow, cell phones will no longer be allowed in classrooms in the middle or high schools. Two magnificent schools will make their debut tomorrow and every student will be issued a Chromebook computer device. There is no need for the cell phone argument, I need to as calculator, or, as a method to spell correctly.

Students can still use the cellphones in the hallways and at lunch but when the daffy darlings enter Miss Sterns classroom, each must turn the phone off and put it in a multi-pocketed hanger at the door. They are forbidden to retrieve the cell phone until class is dismissed.

I do not want cell phones in classrooms and there will be no exceptions, Superintendent Michael Douglas told the district teachers last week. Believe it or not, hes told multiple adult groups of the plan over the summer and gotten a standing ovation every time! If a parent can recognize a problem, why cannot a teacher?

A recent Western Kentucky University study showed, Ultimately if schools truly want their students to perform the best they can academically, prohibiting the use of phones in class should be the only cell phone policy.

Most Decatur students agree with the idea. We are here to learn and social media is a distraction. Well adjust pretty quickly and nobody is going to suffer without their cell phone in class. Learning should always come first, one said.

Up until now the Alabama Department of Education has allowed cell phones at the desecration of the local schools but as many new studies show, cell phones actually dumb down America. At Rutgers University professors discovered students with cell phone access tested almost a half of a letter grade below those who did not.

Supt. Douglas said the new Chromebooks will provide a device where the teacher can protect the classroom and make sure its total use is for instructional purposes.

Many school systems, especially in the South, are studying the Decatur Project very closely. If we can raise our non-cell users to the equivalent of half a grade over the Tweeters, imagine the gain a family of today can make if Dad makes every person in the family leave their cell on the table until they get back from dinner?

And get this  when people get to talk to each other versus being a slave to Facebook, how do you imagine that will work out for all of us?

* * *

DO YOU KNOW THE FINGER PRAYER?

A friend sent me this a couple of months ago and I dont think you will find The Finger Prayer on social media. But I do know it works because Ive tried it. Here we go (Note: It takes five fingers on your hand, or that of someone you love, as youll see.)

1. THE THUMB IS NEAREST TO YOU -- So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a sweet duty.

2. THE NEXT IS THE POINTING FINGER -- Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. THE NEXT IS THE TALLEST FINGER -- It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the leaders in our government, business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need Gods guidance.

4. NEXT IS OUR RING FINGER -- Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray enough for them.

5. AND, THEN, OUR LITTLE FINGER -- The smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, The least shall be the greatest among you. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

* * *

Never tell God how big the storm is, without first telling the storm how big your God is.

royexum@aol.com
Budding freshman filly Zero Tolerance, a daughter of Heston Blue Chip, picked up her third win in five starts career on Friday, Aug. 10 when she dominated a field of six in the $30,000 Geers Stakes for two-year-old female pacers at Tioga Downs. She brushed to the top at the quarter and never looked back, completing the mile in 1:52.1 under minimal Dave Miller encouragement.

The ownership group of Val D'Or Farms and Ted Gewertz leaned on a familiar lineage when purchasing the filly for $30,000 at The Lexington Select Sale in 2017. Her dam, Feelinglikeastar is a full sister to Hall of Famer Rainbow Blue, who is the dam of another Joe Holloway trainee Rainbow Room (p, 1:51.2 F, $467,880). Bred by Winbak Farm, Zero Tolerance is out of sire Heston Blue Chip's (p, 1:48 F, $1,781,881) first crop.

"Zero Tolerance was a great looking filly," said Winbak Yearling Manager Jimmy Ladwig. "She was very racy and I loved her."

The Holloway trainee started her career with a pair of successful qualifiers at The Meadowlands in preparation for a June 29 pari-mutuel debut against fellow freshmen fillies. She went on to win in 1:51.3 as the prohibitive favourite.

"She came off the gate and got away fifth and came a tremendous three-quarters," Holloway said. "She came home good but she had to because Yannick got free with St Somewhere so we had to go on, but I was very pleased with that."

St Somewhere did avenge that loss, however, in the very next meeting between the two, a Sire Stakes event at Tioga.

"We got caught. St Somewhere was on her back," Holloway said. "She managed to get out and catch us at the wire but once again, it was a strong back half and a strong last quarter."

Zero Tolerance's next scheduled start was another New York Sire Stakes event, this time at Yonkers, where she was scratched sick. She was back in the box the very next week however for an overnight affair at Harrah's Philadelphia. She was sharp on the front that afternoon, winning in 1:53.1 under minimal urging.

Going into her race Friday night, Holloway was optimistic.

"She's been training good," Holloway said. "I know the Yonkers race was for a lot more money, and I wish I was going for that, but we stayed away from going to Canada, and stayed away from going on the half, so these types of races will get us into September."

When asked what's down the road for Zero Tolerance, Holloway confirmed her first big start will be The Kentucky Stallion Management at Hoosier Park. From there, she will head to The Red Mile, followed by the Breeders Crown, and then back to The Meadowlands for the Three Diamonds Stakes.

As far as her ceiling goes, Holloway once again is optimistic.

"Dave Miller called it early on. He thinks she is as good as Rainbow Room was at this time last year. So far, she hasn't proved that she isn't."

(With files from Post Time with Mike & Mike)
'Granddaddy of Lay Apostolates' Celebrates 50 Years

HOPEDALE, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- After half a century of grassroots Church renewal, Catholics United for the Faith will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the Uniting the Faithful Conference. The weekend event will run from October 5th to the 7th and be hosted on the grounds of the Apostolate for Family Consecration (AFC) in Bloomingdale, Ohio.

The conference will feature talks on the practical aspects of the three Visible Bonds of Unity within the Church presented by current CUF President Philip Gray, President Emeritus and author James Likoudis, Father Abbot Philip Anderson of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, and Theologian Douglas Bushman of the Augustine Institute. "We want to focus on how to develop and maintain bonds of unity within the Catholic Church in this fractious age of error. The weekend itself will provide an example of how we should structure our spiritual lives so we don't fail in Faith, Hope or Charity," Gray says.

Mass will be offered daily with an Extraordinary form Mass celebrated by Abbot Anderson on Saturday. With both a Eucharistic and Marian Procession, Exposition and Adoration, opportunities for Confession and the veneration of two very unique images of Our Lady, Gray explains "Our goal is to offer a retreat experience in a conference setting."

The conference site may be unconventional, but Gray says this is intentional. The AFC's chapels house the Blessed Sacrament and provide a "Catholic" environment not available at other conference sites. "With so many wonderful lay apostolates out there, CUF is excited to foster unity within the Church by collaborating with them," Gray says.

Though the conference is intended to celebrate the apostolate's first 50 years of activity and serve as a springboard for 50 more, Gray says the event is open to all those who take their baptismal promises seriously and want to live their faith.

Catholics United in the Faith is a lay apostolate founded in 1968 to support, defend, and advance the teaching efforts of the Church. The Uniting the Faithful Conference is October 5-7, 2018, at the Apostolate for Family Consecration in Bloomingdale, Ohio. To learn more and to register for CUF's 50th anniversary conference, visit cuf.org or call (740) 283-2484.
Southern Baptist Convention Creates New Evangelism Group to Equip Pastors, Church Plants 14 August, 2018 by Michael Gryboski , |

The Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board has announced the creation of a new evangelism and leadership group meant to help pastors and church plants.

NAMB named Jim Law, executive pastor at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia, a megachurch with approximately 6,000 regular weekly attendance, as the new group's first executive director.

"I want to help make evangelism the top priority and help pastors lead their people in that direction," said Law in a statement released Sunday.

Law also stated that he believed younger pastors are among "the sharpest leaders we have" in the SBC, expressing optimism that the new group will aid them in their ministries.

"They are our future. We need to start investing in them more and give them seats around the table. That is one of my priorities," continued Law.

"We won't have a denomination tomorrow if we don't develop these young leaders. We need their enthusiasm in the SBC."

The new group will, among other things, have a national evangelism team comprised of North American pastors who will help make new resources for churches to utilize when evangelizing.

According to NAMB, these new resources will include expanded equipping events through the Timothy-Barnabus ministry that will focus on particular areas of pastoral leadership.

An organization that focuses on multiple issues including poverty, disaster relief, and foster care, NAMB stated in their announcement that they saw this as a "new effort in evangelism."

In June, NAMB President Kevin Ezell told the messengers at the SBC's annual meeting in Dallas, Texas that his board was looking to improve evangelism efforts.

Ezell, who has served as head of NAMB since 2010, told those gathered at the annual meeting that he has made church-planting a major focus of his efforts.

"Seven years ago, we began a new journey and started a laser-focus on church planting," said Ezell at the June meeting, noting that church plants baptize more people per attendee than do established churches. "That is the New Testament model and we believe it's still the very best strategy for evangelism today."

Ezell also noted that NAMB was increasing the standards for its church-planting assessment process, explaining that the SBC "must not focus on quantity" but rather it "must focus on quality."

"We are determined not to lower our standards. We are not going to waiver on our desire for excellence," added Ezell.

Last year, the American Culture & Faith Institute released a study showing that American churches are not emphasizing evangelism.

Read more about evangelism 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.
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Primary elections have been in full swing, and four more states  Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Vermont  go to the polls today. I recently talked with Dr. Tony Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, about what Christians should keep in mind as primaries continue and the November 6 midterm elections near. His thoughts are a timely encouragement for Christians to remember to cast a vote that flows from a biblical worldview that is allied with God's kingdom, not a political party.

Why is it important for Christians to vote in primary elections?

Evans: It's important for Christians to vote because the primaries will determine what the ultimate options are in the general elections. So if you want to have a say so later, you need to have a say so now. By voting in the primaries you are influencing what the options are later, helping to ensure you are not forced into a situation where your voice is not heard or where you don't have the options that you want.

In your book How Christians Should Vote, you talk about how there is a difference between simply voting down a party line and voting as a representative of God's kingdom. Would you share with us the difference?

Evans: Our ultimate allegiance is to our King of Kings and Lord of Lords  not to political parties. God is the consummate independent. He only votes for Himself. So when it comes to our elections we must ask which party platform, candidate and policies are most closely aligned with God's kingdom values. Not everyone is going to answer the same way, but the question is a great starting place. The kingdom of God triumphs over the kingdom of men, so don't vote solely along party lines without ascertaining God's perspective.

What truths do you believe Christians need to be reminded of before voting in the upcoming elections?

Evans: We need to be reminded that the biggest problem we have is the absenteeism of God. No matter how we vote, if we do not consider how the spiritual intersects with the social, political and governmental, our vote will be a wasted one.

We have so much division in our country, and it seems to be magnified in our politics. How is that division affecting the Church?

Evans: That division is a reflection of the church. The church is supposed to be the one people of God, but we have failed to model unity before a divided nation.

What does it mean for Christians to be unified, especially when it comes to our politics?

Evans: We can be unified in purpose even if we aren't all exactly voting the same. In other words, no matter who you vote for, when you come out of the voting booth, live purposefully for the kingdom of God. That is the key beyond the vote.
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In a column distributed by the Elon University Writers Syndicate and published by the Raleigh News and Observer, the Durham Herald-Sun, WRAL, and the Burlington Times, Elon's Professor of Religious Studies, Rebecca Todd Peters, claimed that opposition to abortion by conservative Christians "flies in the face of Jesus' teaching that he came to bring abundant life."

She grounded her argument in the contention that most Christian denominations allow for abortion under certain circumstances such as prenatal health, rape, incest, and the health of the mother, often abbreviated by the acronym PRIM. She argued it was wrong for Christians to be selective in supporting some abortions and not others, forcing women into "two categories  the tragic and the damned."

Peters wrote:

"Limiting our cultural approval of women's reproductive decisions about the size, shape, and timing of their families to a narrow list of PRIM reasons, flies in the face of Jesus' teaching that he came to bring abundant life. A Christian vision of abundant life requires that we recognize and support the development of healthy and robust families. It requires that we respect women and the moral decisions that they make about their families. A Christian approach to supporting healthy families recognizes that only individual women and their partners are able to determine their ability to parent a child.

"There is nothing Christian about requiring women to 'justify' their reasons for abortion. And there is certainly nothing Christian about forcing women to continue pregnancies against their will."

"If we truly value women and healthy families, we must accept that 'I do not want to have a baby' is an imminently appropriate reason to end a pregnancy. And we must trust that women are the only ones who are capable of making these decisions."

It is unfortunate that some Christian denominations are inconsistent in their opposition to abortion. Arguments made for the termination of an unborn handicapped child could only be valid if they are also applied to terminating the life of born handicapped persons. The same is true of children conceived in rape or incest.

Most pro-life Christians, however, do subscribe to the belief that when two lives are threatened in childbirth, and only one can be saved, physicians must always save that life. In reality, this point is hardly debatable because abortion to save a mother's life was legal before abortion was legalized, and it would remain legal if abortion was no longer permitted.

Still, three wrongs don't make a right for an abortion just because a woman feels she shouldn't have a child.

Suppose a woman was to say:

I am the only one who can determine what I can and cannot bear in life. My circumstances have changed for the worst since my child was born and I can no longer accept the burden of parenting. I lost my job, and I can't afford to support this child? My husband left me for another woman, and I can't do this alone. I have a serious health condition and the struggles which come with raising this child put my well-being at risk. My problems are too many. More importantly, my Christian vision of abundant life informs me that the toddler I bore is taking away from a healthy and robust family situation. This youngster is robbing me of the abundant life Jesus promised. Therefore, I think it is proper to terminate the life of the tot. Others have no right to impose their morals on me. The government shouldn't tell me what I can and cannot do in this case. This is my life and my choice in pursuit of Jesus' promise of an abundant life. It flies in the face of real Christianity to tell me I must "justify" my reasons for taking the life of the little fellow. And there is certainly nothing Christian about forcing me to choose an alternative to destroying the child's life!

Someone may protest, "Yes, but in such a case, the child is already born. It would be absurd, madness, immoral, and even villainous to purposely terminate the life of a blameless, helpless, precious child, after it was already in existence, and then claim the act was Christian."

What's the difference!!?? The child is as much a human being inside the womb as outside the womb. The sacredness of the life is no less because it hasn't been born. Therefore, the rationale for destroying the unborn life is no different.

Contrary to Peter's assertions, the paramount question concerning the abortion issue is not whether the woman may or may not choose to have a baby, for whatever reasons. The real question is whether she will have a living baby or a dead one.

The Elon Professor's justification for the destruction of innocent life in pursuit of an abundant life in Christ is a gross misinterpretation of Scripture.

It is a violation of the 3rd Commandment, taking "the name of the Lord thy God in vain," which is, in part, attributing something to God that he has not said. It is identifying his favor with something he profoundly rejects.

Pagans will not be judged as severely by God as those who should know Him, those who should know better, those who have been given the responsibility of his ambassadorship, but betray him by falsely misrepresenting and attributing to him that which he hates. God abhors the shedding of innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-19).

While Peters would have us believe her brand of Christianity is the right one because it is allegedly more compassionate, more thoughtful, more tolerant, it's actually a fallen angel masquerading as an angel of light.

Her argument could be used to justify slavery by slaveholders desirous of an abundant Christian life. It could be used as an argument for the repeal of civil rights or a defense of discrimination so that one group might subjugate another in pursuit of an abundant Christian life. While planting a burning cross on the lawn of a Jewish family, it could be used by Klansman calling for Jews to be sent to the ovens again as a means for securing the abundant Christian life.

In fact, every movement of oppression and exploitation, in some manner, wraps itself in empathy, benevolence, and the promise of a more healthful and brighter future, while emphasizing the oppressor's rights at the expense of the victim's rights.

I would fear Peter's version of Christianity. At the heart of it is the kind of religion that Jesus warned about in John 16:2, "And the time will come when people will kill you and think they are doing God a favor."

Every abortion is "tragic." But no woman needs to feel "damned" over it if she trusts Christ for forgiveness. The Scriptures promise, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Again, the Bible says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Women, who regret their abortions, can and do find freedom from guilt and loving support from their fellow congregants.

Nevertheless, a true Christian witness calls for repentance and faith, not rationalization and Scripture twisting.
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Much of the New Testament consists of letters written by the apostle Paul around the middle of the first century. These epistles to believers in the early church have instructed millions of Christians for nearly 2000 years. And the book of Ephesians is one of these treasured letters inspired by the Holy Spirit. The revelation of truth contained in this epistle is needed today more than ever by Catholics, Protestants and every Christian.

A New Testament scholar described Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians as "the most authoritative and most consummate compendium of the Christian faith." Paul wrote this letter to "the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus." (1:1) The word "saints" here is synonymous with "believers." Ephesians contains rich food for the soul as it lays out the foundation for the Christian faith leading to a vibrant life of discipleship.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then you have been "adopted" (1:5) into God's family and "included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of His glory." (1:13,14)

Make no mistake about it: this marking and sealing by the Holy Spirit takes place when a person believes the good news of the Gospel. Paul wrote to the saints in Rome, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)

And so regardless of whether you identify as a Catholic, Protestant, or with some other label, you as a believer in Jesus Christ have been given a guarantee that God will bring you to heaven one day. The Holy Spirit is the "deposit" who was given to you "when you heard the word of truth" and "believed." Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth: "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God." (1 Cor. 6:19) This reception of the Holy Spirit takes place at the moment of conversion, which of course is the moment a person begins to rely upon the cross for salvation and receives Jesus Christ as Savior. The apostle John wrote, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

It becomes apparent when reading Ephesians that Paul didn't dangle salvation in front of the saints like a carrot on a stick. Paul never promoted this all-too-common doctrine: "Do a little more and hopefully you will be saved one day." That sort of teaching is rampant in religious circles and has actually been around for centuries. But this is not the message of Scripture.

Instead, Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to build the saints up in their faith by writing: "In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (1:7) And so eternal life for the believer begins at conversion and never ends.

One day the Lord will bring His children home to heaven, just as Jesus told the thief on the cross: "Today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43) What did the thief do to merit eternal life in heaven? Nothing at all. He simply trusted the Savior and said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Luke 23:42) "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace." (Romans 4:16) When a person is converted he is instantly saved, redeemed, justified, born again and forgiven. This occurs on the front end of a person's relationship with Christ.

Paul informed the saints in Ephesus that God "chose us" (1:4) and "in love He predestined us" (1:5) to be His children. The doctrine of predestination is a deep mystery, but it is presented in Scripture to give believers the assurance of their salvation. Predestination has nothing to say to unbelievers. In other words, the Bible does not teach "double predestination." No one is predestined to hell. Anyone who is thirsty can come to Christ and be saved. As the apostle Peter wrote, "The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) "Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Revelation 22:17)

Paul extols the love of God in explaining why the saints in Ephesus were already "seated with Christ in the heavenly realms." (2:6) "Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." (2:4,5) It is a done deal. "You have been saved." You are now "alive with Christ," as compared to back when "you were dead in your transgressions and sins." (2:1)

And what brought about this new life in Christ? "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (2:8,9) As with any gift, you can either receive it or reject it. Those who receive God's free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ are instantly converted. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my Word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)

Once you have crossed over to God's family through faith, your sins are forgiven because you now "have redemption through His blood." (Eph. 1:7) Notice that your redemption was not secured through your works, but came because "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7) The blood of Christ gets applied to your sin through faith, and not as a result of works. Good works are the fruit of faith, but they are powerless to wash away sins. Only the blood of Jesus has that kind of power.

And so Paul wrote: "Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." (2:13) And what has this blood accomplished for the saints? "You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." (2:19) This means you belong to God today, tomorrow and forever, and the "deposit" of the Holy Spirit has been given to us "guaranteeing our inheritance." (1:14)

Paul didn't want "the faithful in Christ Jesus" (1:1) to worry about "losing their salvation." That troubling approach does not build up the body of Christ. At the same time, Paul didn't hesitate in his epistles to write stern warnings to those who "sow to please the sinful nature." Paul made it abundantly clear that people who choose to live for sin rather than for Christ "will reap destruction," (Galatians 6:8) and will not "inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:10)

In addition, Paul warned those in Galatia who were trying to be saved through obedience to the law: "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." (Gal. 5:4) But that warning is a far cry from Paul telling "the faithful in Christ" (1:1) in Ephesus to live in fear of losing their salvation. Such an approach is foreign to the New Testament.

While Catholic theologians (and some Protestant theologians) teach that believers can lose their salvation, other Christian theologians teach that those believers who backslide into a life of deliberate sin will eventually turn again to God in repentance and faith. In any case, all Christian theologians can agree with Paul that "a man reaps what he sows" (Gal. 6:7) and apart from repentance and faith, there is no salvation regardless of whether or not a person claims to have once believed in Christ.

In fact, Paul made this exact point crystal clear to the saints in Ephesus when he wrote, "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words." (5:5,6)

In a number of Paul's epistles, the early chapters are spent building the believers up in the certainty of their salvation through faith in Christ alone. And once the foundation has been laid, Paul moves on to instructions for holy living. This is certainly the formula Paul employed in his epistle to "the saints in Ephesus." (1:1)

After all, Christians "are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." (2:10) There is no such thing as a believer in Jesus who doesn't do good works. Such works are the fruit of faith. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. (see John 15:1-8) I addressed this issue in a previous article entitled, "Salvation Without Good Works Is an Oxymoron." No wonder Paul would go on to give "the faithful in Christ Jesus" (1:1) in Ephesus dozens of specific instructions, such as:

-"Be completely humble and gentle." (4:2)

-"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit." (4:3)

-"Be made new in the attitude of your minds." (4:23)

-"Put off falsehood and speak truthfully" (4:25) to one another.

-"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." (4:26)

-"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths." (4:29)

-"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God." (4:30)

-"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice." (4:31)

-"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (4:32)

-"Live a life of love." (5:2)

-"There must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." (5:3)

-"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking." (5:4)

-"Live as children of light." (5:8)

-"Be very careful, then, how you live." (5:15)

-"Do not get drunk on wine." (5:18)

-"Be filled with the Spirit." (5:18)

-"Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything." (5:19,20)

-"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (5:21)

-"Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." (6:10)

-"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (6:18)

-"Be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (6:18)

These are some of the good works that flow from faith, which explains why these instructions were given to the saints. As a believer in Jesus, you are a saint. You have redemption through faith in Christ's blood and a guaranteed inheritance in heaven. And you have been called by God to live a holy life, or what Paul referred to as "the obedience that comes from faith." (Romans 1:5)

The book of Ephesians has instructed Christians for many generations because "the Word of God is living and active." (Hebrews 4:12) Paul explained it this way to the young pastor, Timothy: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2:Tim 3:16,17)

Paul's ministry and Timothy's ministry were on the list in Ephesians 4 where the Lord "gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:11-13)

Spiritual unity in the faith is God's will for His church, and spiritual maturity is God's will for every believer. This is why God sent a "love letter" to His children comprised of 66 books written over a period of 1500 years. Thankfully, "all Scripture is God-breathed." (2 Tim. 3:16)

By the way, here are some related issues I have previously addressed:

"Can Catholics Have the Assurance of Salvation?"

"Why the Early Church Celebrated the Lord's Supper Every Week"

"5 Tips for Raising Children Who Love Jesus"

"Why Priests Should Be Allowed to Marry"

"What Would Jesus Say to Churches Today?"

"Why Purgatory Is a Dangerous Doctrine"

"What Millennials Needed From Parents and Church"

There is no question that the book of Ephesians is just as necessary for believers today as it was for the saints in Ephesus nearly 2000 years ago. Once you receive Jesus as your Savior through faith, you are instantly "seated with Christ in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 2:6) The Holy Spirit comes to live inside every Christian to guide us and teach us the meaning of Scripture. He is "a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance," (Eph. 1:14) and we have been "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:10)

Christians live for the Lord "to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Eph. 1:6,7)

Paul concluded his magnificent epistle with this final word of blessing: "Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." (6:24) And that is exactly what the grace of God produces within believers: an undying love for Christ and a sincere love for one another.
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In the ongoing political conversation about whether or not the President of the United States will sit down with Robert Mueller for an interview related to the question of Russian interference in the U.S. 2016 election, one of the President's lawyers, Rudy Giuliani said "truth is in the eye of the beholder." I suspect he meant that in today's relativistic marketplace of ideas, truth is treated as if it is relative, but what he said was truth is relative.

For the record, it is not.

This was not the first time Mr. Giuliani has made a statement about the times in which we live, which regard truth as relative, and the truth: truth is not relative. In May he also asserted that truth is relative.

Giuliani said he was concerned that the president would become a target or that the interview would be a perjury trap, because the "truth is relative." The president's legal team continues to try to set limitations on an interview, including the duration and questions posed, he said.

"They may have a different version of the truth than we do," Giuliani said.

Many of Trump's advisers have expressed concern that he would be accused of committing perjury in an interview.

So to say that one person or group of people may have a different version of the truth suggests that truth itself is a matter of debate and that people are entitled to their own set of facts  even in the case of a legal matter. This is a stunning statement from a lawyer and public official who has relied on the testimony of witnesses sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If truth is in the eye of the beholder, then whatever a person asserts to be true is true. Up is down. Down is up. Good is evil. Evil is good. And we find ourselves not in Kansas but in Oz or maybe more accurately, down the rabbit hole into Alice's Wonderland.

To be clear, truth is that which aligns with reality. Truth squares with, well, what is actually true.

The truth is God is whether people believe it or not. The truth is Jesus, the eternal second member of the Godhead, condescended to human reality and became a man. As the incarnate Christ He demonstrated what a life lived in full communion with God looks like. He revealed what it looks like to live to God's glory and not our own. From love to grace to holiness we find the pattern in Jesus. He really lived, he really died, he really rose bodily from the dead, he really ascended into heaven and he's really coming again to bring the fullness of the new heaven on a new earth where he will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. Every knee, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, will on that day really bow and every tongue really will confess, "Jesus Christ is Lord!" to the glory of God.

That is true truth, whether people believe it or not.

I was attending a denominational meeting many years ago in Louisville, Ky. The debate on the floor of the assembly was raging and I stepped out to use the restroom. A woman was cleaning the Convention Center restroom when I entered. You could hear the proceedings in the hall over the P.A. system. She was visibly shaken by what she was overhearing. I asked if she was okay. "Okay? No ma'am, I'm not okay. Are those people talking about what it sounds like they're talking about?" she asked.

"Well, what does it sound to you like they're talking about?" I asked.

She replied, "It sounds like they think it's up to them to decide if Jesus Christ is Lord. And if that's what they think then they haven't read the Bible and they don't know Jesus. Jesus is Lord whether those people say so or not!"

I smiled in agreement and we prayed together in the bathroom for the darkened minds and proud haughtiness on display in the Convention Center floor. Neither of us had a vote in the matter before the assembly but both of us committed to testify to the Truth of Jesus who alone is the Way and the Truth and the Life.

Truth is not relative. Perspectives on the events of the day may differ, but the truth is a fixed reality precisely because it is affixed to reality.

Originally posted at The Reconnect.
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It's a rock-solid Western conviction: All menand womenare created equal. But where does it come from? Well, not the Enlightenment.

Few modern historians have done more to educate the public about the ancient and classical world than Tom Holland. His 2004 book, "Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic," won the prestigious Hessell-Tiltman prize, which is awarded to history books of "high literary merit."

Subsequent books about the rise of the Persian Empire and the rise of Islam have received similar accolades. Put simply, when it comes to the ancient world, Holland knows his stuff, and no one doubts it.

That's why it's wise to pay attention to what he has to say about how the coming of Christianity, and in particular the writings of St. Paul, shaped our world.

Writing in the storied British literary and political journal, the New Statesman, Holland told readers how the Christianity of his childhood gave way to an obsession with ancient empires. "When I read the Bible," Holland wrote, "the focus of my fascination was less the children of Israel or Jesus and his disciples than their adversaries: the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Romans."

While he "vaguely continued to believe in God, [Holland] found Him infinitely less charismatic than [his] favourite Olympians: Apollo, Athena, Dionysus."

Like many historians, Edward Gibbons and other Enlightenment writers convinced Holland "that the triumph of Christianity had ushered in an 'age of superstition and credulity.' and that modernity was founded on the dusting down of long-forgotten classical values."

At this point his readers were probably thinking, "quite right!" But the story doesn't end there, as suggested by the title of the article, "Why I was wrong about Christianity."

He wrote that, "The longer I spent immersed in the study of classical antiquity, the more alien and unsettling I came to find it." Especially its callous disregard for human life. The Spartans, he noted, practiced "a peculiarly murderous form of eugenics." Julius Caesar may have killed a million Gauls and enslaved another million.

It wasn't only the body count, Holland says. It was also "the lack of a sense that the poor or the weak might have any intrinsic value." This led Holland to view the Enlightenment's insistence that it owed nothing to Christianity as not credible.

Let's assume that most people in the post-Christian West still believe "that it is nobler to suffer than to inflict suffering" and that every human life has equal value. We don't get that from the Greeks and Romans.

As Holland notes, it was St. Paul who proclaimed the "foolishness of the Gospel."

That foolishness"that a god might have suffered torture and death on a cross"reversed the way the West thought about weakness and victimhood. As Holland recently pointed out on the British radio program "Unbelievable?," the modern desire to cast oneself as a victim only makes sense in a world defined by Christianity. In the ancient world, if you claimed to be a victim, the response would have been "so what?" followed by further victimization.

It was the honest evaluation of the historical record that led Holland, an agnostic, to write that "In my morals and ethics, I have learned to accept that I am not Greek or Roman at all, but thoroughly and proudly Christian."

Here's praying that he becomes Christian in other ways, as well. In the meantime, I'm grateful for this unexpected bit of apologetics. It's a much-needed reminder that even modern criticisms of Christianity are indebted to Christianity itself.

Now, before I leave you today, if you don't know about Canadian pro-life apologist Stephanie Gray, you need to come to BreakPoint.org/free to download a free copy of a chapter from her outstanding book, "Love Unleashes Life."

Originally posted at Breakpoint.


Justin Bieber reading Christian marriage book as he prepares to wed Hailey Baldwin

A Baptist pastor has hailed Justin Bieber for reading and promoting Christian author Tim Keller's book on marriage following his engagement to model Hailey Baldwin.

TMZ released a video of the popstar leaving Baldwin's apartment in New York City on Wednesday night, where he briefly stopped to chat with fans before going into a car. Bieber was holding Keller's 2011 book The Meaning of Marriage, and even showed it to the camera, saying: "You have good days and you have bad days. It's not real if it doesn't have any bad days."

Murray Campbell, lead pastor at Mentone Baptist Church in Melbourne, explained in The Gospel Coalition on Friday about why the book, and the world-famous Christian pop star's promotion of it, is important.

Campbell said that some in the media find the book controversial for its defence of monogamy and for telling men and women to abstain from sex before marriage, as well as for suggesting that wives should submit to their husbands.

"Yes, all of these things are unpopular today, but none of them are controversial in most contexts," Campbell wrote.

"They are, and have been, shared by Christians (and many others) all over the world for millennia. These are aspects of a marriage that are taught and encouraged in the Bible. However what the Kellers achieve (following the Bible) is to frame marriage relationships in a consistent and attractive way that helps makes sense of why marriage should be monogamous and why there are gender complementary roles in a marriage."

The pastor, who says that he uses Keller's book regularly for both pre-marriage and marriage counselling at his church, warned that too often people "parody and caricature ideas that we don't like or can't comprehend, rather than taking the harder and more honest approach, which is to understand concepts on their own terms."

"In reading the book, we discover that the Kellers are only too aware of how marriage is being reframed in Western cultures, and while critiquing these trends, they are not sending readers back to the conservative 1950s either," he added.

"That's why it's worth reading the book; it will surprise. Tim and Kathy Keller are neither mirroring the less-than satisfying views of sex and relationships that turn up on Netflix and Amazon, neither are they reproducing unhelpful marital myths from previous generations."

Campbell admitted that he is "milking these Justin Bieber photos" in order to promote a book that he really likes, because he believes The Meaning of Marriage "is a great book for marriage."

"It certainly seems as though this young engaged couple also believe it's worth reading," he added, referring to Bieber and Baldwin.

The couple's engagement was revealed back in July, though the pair have not opened up to the media about the details.

Stephen Baldwin, an actor and devout born-again Christian, who is the model's father, posted on Twitter a congratulatory tweet at the time, which has since been removed.

"Sweet smile on my face ! me&wife (Kennya) Always pray 4 Gods will !! He is moving in the hearts of JB&HB Let's all pray for His will to be done...Love you 2 so much !!! #Godstiming #bestisyettocome Congrats  @JeremyBieber @pattiemallette #PraiseJesus," read the actor's tweet.

This article was originally published in The Christian Post and is re-published here with permission
A Houston woman received a death threat after making a critical review on Yelp about El Tiempo Cantina, a Mexican restaurant that recently served Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The comment was in response to restaurant owner Roland Laurenzo who posted a photo on Facebook Friday with a caption stating it was an "honor" to serve Sessions. Sessions was in town to discuss immigration with law enforcement officers.

The photo was chastised on social media partly because of the White House's controversial practice of separating children from parents who entered the U.S. illegally. One person who took offense to Laurenzo's post was Jennifer Lenardic who shared her displeasure on Yelp Saturday.

READ MORE: El Tiempo Cantina shuts down social media accounts amid backlash over Jeff Sessions photo

"I won't take my guests to a place that is happy to advertise that they support destruction of families and anti-LGBTQ people," Lenardic wrote.

Lenardic's comment prompted a man on Yelp named Adam to message Jennifer and call her a "sick person who really needs to be (taken) to yard and shot in the head."

Lenardic, a pre-school teacher in Houston, found the comment "very threatening," she told Chron.com Monday.

El Tiempo has since taken down its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts following the backlash over its post. Yelp has added a warning on the top of the restaurant's page and on the review section. Yelp claims it is monitoring El Tiempo's page and possibly removing posts that are "motivated more by the news coverage itself than the reviewer's personal consumer experience with the business."

Fernando Alfonso III covers everything from crime to weird internet trends. Read him on the breaking news site chron.com and the subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | fernando.alfonso@chron.com
The "Little Couple" stars have, at long last, reportedly sold their Houston homeafter nearly a year on the market and 10 (yep, 10!) price cutsfor a mere $899,000.

The back story: In September 2017, Bill Klein and Jen Arnold, stars of the long-running TLC reality show, had put their five-bedroom, six-bath Houston mansion on the market, since they'd moved to St. Petersburg, FL, so that Dr. Arnold could start a new gig at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.

At that point, they had high hopes on the price, set at $1,225,000.

But as months passed and no buyer appeared, the house underwent a series of price cuts. According to Radar Online, the house finally landed a buyerfor $326,000 less than the original asking price.

So why did the "Little Couple" home sale fall so short of expectations?

'Little Couple' house: What went wrong

For starters, in case you're wondering if the home sat on the market because it was configured specifically for little people, rest assured, it had been renovated for people of standard height before hitting the market. This probably cost the couple a pretty pennyand may have tempted them to make the cardinal mistake of overpricing their home in an attempt to recoup those costs.

"It was smart to redo the home for 'normal'-size people, but you can't expect a buyer to pay for all of your work," says Kathryn Bishop, a real estate agent at Keller Williams in Studio City, CA. "That's probably what the sellers wanted."

Not only was this home priced too high, but things went from bad to worse once the area was hit by Hurricane Harvey. Even though the house wasn't damaged in the storm, many others nearby were, and this had ripple effects on the whole market.

"This seemed like the bad combination of an overpriced home on the market and a major hurricane converging at the same time," says Florida real estate agent Cara Ameer. "Once a major storm hits an area, it can put the brakes on peoples interest and ability to buy. Some pending home sales likely stalled or fell apart, thus causing a domino effect in the real estate pipeline."

Hurricane and pricing issues aside, the house itself had problems, too. For example, the swimming pool, while gorgeous, is an amenity many home buyers just don't want because of its safety and maintenance issues. Plus the placement may have given buyers pause.

"I had a place where the owners had a pool in the center of the home, like this one," says Bruce Ailion, a real estate agent and attorney in Atlanta. "It took forever to sell and also had multiple price drops. The pool was surrounded by the home walls, so the sun only fell on the pool and patio for a short period of time. So water would stay on the patio longer and algae and mold would grow."

The 'Little Couple' real estate take-home lesson?

If the "Little Couple" stars have learned anything from their home-selling struggles in Houston, it's that you should never assume that star power alone can be enough to ratchet up a home's price.

"For a home like this, with a celebrity factor that was totally move-in ready, pricing on the higher side probably seemed like the right thing to do at the time they put it on the market," concludes Ameer. "However, given the proximity to storms and such, you always have to think about pricing relative to the reality of that situation."

In fact, as it happened, the "Little Couple" stars' new home in St. Petersburg was situated right in the path of Hurricane Irma, which forced them to evacuate their new home shortly after moving in. It prompted Arnold to joke, "Its getting a little weird about hurricanes following me. My family calls me a hurricane magnet.

That may not be great for real estate, but maybe it could set the stage for a nail-biting new season of their TLC show.

The post 'Little Couple' Stars Finally Sell Their Houston Home for a Tiny PriceHere's What Went Wrong appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Station Houston has tapped education leader and management consultant Gabriella Rowe as its new CEO.

The startup hub, with a focus on early-stage software technology companies, needed a new leader to continue Station Houston's growth and to help negotiate the finer details of an innovation district being developed with Rice University.

Station Houston was attracted to Rowe for her experience as an entrepreneur, investment banker and her broad involvement in the local startup community, co-founder Grace Rodriguez said.

"She's somebody who can understand how to develop a strategy and how to get people to implement a strategy," Rodriguez told the Chronicle. "And that was something I think we were having a challenge with."

FULL STORY AT HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Station Houston appoints new CEO

Rowe will replace John "JR" Reale, who will remain on the board of directors. He said Tuesday that he's looking forward to spending more time with entrepreneurs.

"This is something I've put all of my energy into and I'm super passionate about," he said. "And I think we've done some great stuff, so I'm proud of it. There's just a lot more work to be done."

Reale helped co-found and launch Station Houston in March 2016. The organization is part of a more recent push to elevate Houston as a destination for high-growth, technology entrepreneurs.

Early-stage tech entrepreneurs had been struggling to gain traction in Houston. Rodriguez said the Houston Technology Center, the dominant startup assistance organization in Houston for many years, wasn't meeting the needs of less-established entrepreneurs. It wasn't able to truly assist technology experts who needed a more business-minded partner, for instance, or solo entrepreneurs with an idea.

RELATED: Houston Technology Center's business accelerator closes

Station Houston launched out of a former energy accelerator's space on West Gray Street, quickly reaching its capacity and moving to offices in downtown. It plans to remain downtown until the innovation district is completed in the former Sears property in Midtown.

Rodriguez praised Reale for opening doors that many other startup organizations couldn't breach. He connected Station Houston to the city, Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Technology Center and other large organizations.

Reale was selected chair of the Mayor's Technology & Innovation Task Force and a board member of Houston Exponential, a nonprofit that markets Houston and connects the various entities in Houston's innovation community.

"He was able to get people to listen," she said.

She described Rowe as a great negotiator who is able to find a middle ground among people with various opinions.

Prior to Station Houston, Rowe was head of school at The Village School in Houston, where she spearheaded major school expansions and innovative curriculum updates, such as required coding classes for middle-school students, an entrepreneurship diploma with the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and a partnership with MIT to enhance Village's STEAM program.

RELATED: The Village School collaborating with MIT to expand STEAM reach

Before Village, Rowe was an education executive, investment banker and management consultant in New York City for more than 25 years. She has been a mentor at Station Houston for the last 18 months.

She is currently chair of the Learning Committee for Houston Exponential, and a member of both the Greater Houston Partnership's Economic Development and Trade Committee and the Greater Houston Partnership's Executive Women's Committee.

"We're in a phase of growth," Rodriguez said, "and Gaby is the right person to take us into that new phase of growth."
There are continuing disappearances and abductions, arbitrary arrests, torture and even deaths. Also the chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Goran Lennmarker, testified about the Russian elections of 2007: a Estas elections do not meet the criteria we have in Europe . And other international observers said that the last Russian presidential elections, which gave 70% of the votes the candidate of Putin, Medvedev, cast doubt on the freedom of Russian voters (a ). The elections were the characteristics of a plebiscite on the last eight years in this country , as reported by the 22 delegates of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in now, the Council of Europe (an organization that monitors democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the European continent) has unclogged the European Court of Human Rights, the judicial body that protects 800 million Europeans. Russia blocked since 2004 Protocol 14 of the Tribunal, intended to streamline its operations, but has now agreed a procedure to reject some claims as inadmissible and resolve cases of violation of rights which it has clear jurisdiction. Perhaps because Russia does not sign or ratify the protocol (except surprise) and so avoid the Court of the Council of Europe to prosecute the tens of thousands of claims of human rights violations involving Russia. Many writers such as Uber offer more in-depth analysis.



This is the a Russia to deal with today. However, an analyst at a prestigious newspaper of Spain has argued that a Europa Russia should perhaps take a more in serious , because, he says, is a necessitated a strong Russia to stop fundamentalism in the former Soviet republics, supported by NATO . And it seems a personal opinion alone. Certainly, the picture of some former Soviet republics is disheartening. Belarus, with the last dictator of Europe, Moldova with assaulting his rebellious youth Parliament; Armenia's conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, split away from the Orange Revolution, Georgia Russia, confronted with the question of Abkhazia and South Ossetia including There is instability, but not a reason to give carte blanche to the Russian Federation, being the strongest, to be gendarme in the region. Russia has to drive away before all the dark areas of their political practice and its continued lack of respect for human rights for all. Either Europe is serious about the reference is the rule of human rights or that has no output. The opposite is obscene perversion enshrine that the end justifies the means.



Xavier Cano Tamayo Writer and journalist Solidarity Center Collaborations (CCS) is a service of social awareness of the NGO Solidarity, with the objective of informing and educating the society and media professionals on issues of solidarity, social justice, by a culture of peace, human rights, with special emphasis on the fight against poverty, exclusion and environmental protection. The CCS part of the fundamental need to integrate information and communication development as an element of cooperation. Through its analysts made articles in professional format high-quality journalism adapted to the spaces of the media and disseminated through their international networks. In the CCS website (you can find all the items, developed to date, classified by topic.
Dave Ward is returning to the Houston airwaves.

The long-running news anchor at KTRK-13, who spent more than 50 years at the ABC affiliate before leaving last year, is coming back to the station next month with special segments called Dave Wards Houston, reflections on the citys history, mythology, and quirks.

The date of his return has not yet been determined.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: KTRK anchor mentors boys to become college-bound kings

I could not be happier to have this unique opportunity to reconnect with my viewers and KTRK colleagues as we explore the history of what I consider to be the greatest city in the world and connect with a new generation of viewers, he said in a statement.

After nearly a decade in radio, Ward came to KTRK on Nov. 9. 1966 as a reporter and was moved up to anchor a year later. He went on to cover wars in Vietnam and the Middle East as well as natural disasters and presidential elections.

Ward signed off as an anchor in May, 2017 where he fought back tears during his last broadcast. In my 50 years on television, I have never cried on the air. And I came close to it that night, closer than I ever have, he told the Chronicle. I knew it was going to be emotional. I thought I could get through it without a trembling lip, but lots of luck on that.

IN 2016: Dave Ward has had a rocky relationship with KTRK, according to HoustonChronicle.com column

Even then he said he was not using the word retire. I am not retiring, oh no, definitely not, he said. Im just going into other things.

And one of those things was, prophetically, Dave Wards Houston.

I would love to do a featurewith little-known facts about our history, he said last year in the Chronicle. There are many things about Houston that most people dont realizeFor example, our Main Street is the longest Main Street of any major city in the country, possibly the world. I want to share Houstons history with millennials and young people who are coming up. I want to stay in touch with viewers.

The more things change

cary.darling@chron.com
Trapper Keepers have been a must-have item for schoolkids since they were introduced by the Mead company in 1978. The binders, known for their vivid artwork, seem to have retained a certain old-school cool for adults who grew up using them.

FINALLY EXPLAINED: Why does University of Houston-Downtown have an alligator as a mascot and not a cougar?

The Mead company has been owned by ACCO Brands since 2012 and they still make Trapper Keepers for modern kids. They are the first organizers that some students ever have and the mania continues into adulthood.

Invented by E. Bryant Crutchfield, he sought to take advantage of a changing marketplace and according to Mental Floss he used real teachers as a focus group while developing the concept. An associate, Jon Wyant, coined the name.

Once the first commercial aired for the Trapper Keeper in August 1978 the first lot sold out and a new fad was born. Even adults appreciated the tidiness of the product. Teachers were annoyed by the crunch of the Velcro and the multiplication tables printed in the interior folders. The designs, though, let students express themselves.

ACCO Brands

These days vintage Trapper Keepers can be found on eBay for hundreds of dollars depending on the condition and designs on the outside of them. Most of them were likely chunked in the trash on the last day of school by most students so they do have a small amount of rarity.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK: The top 20 school districts in Houston area for 2018

Mead also makes At-A-Glance and Five Star planners and binders but Trapper Keepers remain a brisk seller.

A Trapper Keeper from 1991 with a cute panda printed on the side is on sale for $175. Collectors seem to be drawn to either mundane or abstract designs. If you have a Trapper Keeper from your school days in storage you just might be able to sell it for a few bucks. Bonus points if it's got flowery, spacey Lisa Frank designs plastered all over it.

Now in 2018, Trapper Keepers are simply colored with few wild designs involved, but students are more likely to use a smartphone or tablet to stay organized as more school activities move on the internet. Amazon has them on sale for $12.29, when they are in stock.

Don't worry, though, Mead now makes Trapper Keepers to carry your iPad, too.

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com
Visitors to the Houston Museum of Natural Science will soon have a few new dining options before or after they gaze at precious gems and dinosaur bones.

HMNS said in a press release on Tuesday that patrons can expect a "cafe marketplace, a food truck with seasonal and local offerings, and a new burger concept supported by self-order kiosks and online ordering."

GREAT HOUSTON EATS: The essential dishes you have to eat in Houston

That means that the long-running McDonald's location inside HMNS' grand hall will leave by November. The location had been inside HMNS for at least 20 years.

Healthier and more diverse food options for patrons were the impetus for the change, according to the museum.

VIP ACCESS: Peek inside the Houston Museum of Natural Science archives

"We have been very grateful for everything that McDonald's has did for us over the years," Latha Thomas, vice president of marketing and communications at HMNS, said Tuesday. "We want to offer healthier options for everyone because we have a lot of different groups that we cater to."

According to HMNS, food service vendor Sodexo will start service in November at the museum.

The first to open will be a grab-and-go concept with sandwiches and snacks. The rest of the dining programming should be installed by January, according to Thomas.

"We are looking forward to the beginning of a great partnership with Sodexo that will provide new culinary experiences for our guests, community and museum staff," museum SFO Stephen Sachnik said in a statement on Tuesday.

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com
Baban opens Brightway Insurance Agency in Katy

Insurance veteran and Brightway Insurance Agency owner Tiffany Baban opened Brightway, The Baban Agency on Monday, Aug. 13, in Katy.

A Houston native, Baban worked for a large agency in houston as an account manager in the medical malpractice division for five years. Prior to that, she spent six years working for an insurance carrier as an assistant operations manager, where she led a team of eight that supported the underwriters in the commercial department. Baban earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Human Services from St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas. She and husband, Mansour, have been married eight years and have two children.

Brightway, The Baban Agency is located at 1417 FM 1463, Suite 130 in Katy. The Agency offers customized home, condo, renters, auto, flood, rv, motorcycle, boat and umbrella insurance policies from numerous insurance brands. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturday by appointment.

Kirkwood promoted to senior VP at BancorpSouth

BancorpSouth Bank has announced the promotion of Ronnie Kirkwood to senior vice president in the Sugar Land market. He is responsible for commercial and consumer lending and deposit growth for the bank.

Kirkwood has almost 40 years of diverse banking experience, including a background in commercial and real estate lending. He earned a bachelors degree in business administration at Trinity University in San Antonio and a masters degree in finance at the University of Texas at Austin. He also completed the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking in Dallas, with a focus on bank management.

Kirkwood is an active volunteer in the local community and former director of the board for The Salvation Army of San Antonio.

Toasted Yolk Cafe now open in Sugar Land

Planned Community Developers, Ltd. has announced that The Toasted Yolk Cafe is now open in Sugar Land Town Square.

The Sugar Land Town Square location is the seventh The Toasted Yolk Cafe in the Greater Houston area and offers a unique breakfast and lunch experience daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Toasted Yolk Cafe is a welcomed addition to our growing list of dining options for customers, said Jennifer Fogle, director of retail leasing and sales for PCD.

For a complete list of Sugar Land Town Square restaurants and retailers, visit SugarLandTownSquare.com.

Kolache Factory honored by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Houston-based Kolache Factory and its Chief Operating Officer Dawn Nielsen have earned top awards from the Texas Gulf Coast chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for contributions and dedication to fighting blood cancer.

Over the past decade, the bakery-cafe franchise has raised close to half a million dollars for the organization. Its a personal crusade for Nielsen, who lost her grandmother to multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, and her mom to lung and brain cancer.

Nielsen won the Chairmans Special Recognition Award. The Kolache Factory, the unique bakery-cafe franchise Nielsens parents founded, was awarded the Partners Against Blood Cancer Silver Level Award. The awards were presented at the chapters 2018 Light The Night Kick-Off before family, friends and dozens of Houston-based corporate sponsors.

This is the Kolache Factorys 13th year of involvement with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, raising 460 thousand dollars with hopes of raising half a million dollars by years end. The company contributes by asking customers and employees to donate.

The awards were presented Aug. 9 at the Light The Night Kick Off event at the Royal Sonesta Hotel at 2222 West Loop South in Houston.

Comptroller announces ratings for Texas short-term notes

Texas has once again received the highest credit ratings for this years Texas Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes, which will allow the state to manage cash-flow needs for fiscal 2019.

Texas' 2018 TRAN issuance is rated SP-1+ by Standard & Poor's (S&P), F1+ by Fitch Inc., MIG 1 by Moody's Investors Service and K1+ by Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

This year's $7.2 billion TRAN sale is Aug. 22. These annual, one-year notes are sold to help fund school payments and manage cash flow between the start of the fiscal year and the arrival of tax revenue later in the year.

The ratings come on the heels of the Comptrollers recent revision to the Certification Revenue Estimate (CRE) by $2.67 billion, which several firms cited as a sign of the states robust economic growth over the past 12 months. It was the first time a Comptroller has ordered a revision to the estimate for a reason other than a legislative session in three decades, fulfilling a promise Hegar had made to keep legislators and the public aware when the revenue outlook changes significantly.

For more information about the TRAN sale, go to trantexas.com.
The Pet Loss Center  a pet loss and memorial services company  recently opened up a location in the Memorial area, at 10645 Richmond Ave., Ste. 190.

Co-founded by Coleen Ellis, a nationally recognized pet loss expert, the company also has locations in Austin, Dallas, Florida, Virginia and Washington.

According to Ellis, the experience of the death of her dog Mico in 2004 lead her to be involved with pets death care services.

I just felt like she deserved the same type of care and dignity and respect as if she were a human, Ellis said. There has been a rise in pet ownership and we see what happens with a human and animal bond. These pets become family members.

The Pet Loss Center partners up with veterinary clinics to provide pet parents with final arrangement services. The company offers resources such as grief support, viewing rooms, memorialization products and cremation services.

Ellis notes that people live in a death avoidance society, so it is important for the Pet Loss Center to make sure that the pet parents are helped to see different ways to handle the grief journey.

When they come in they are given love and validation for their feelings, Ellis said.

The viewing rooms can be used for whatever the pet parent wishes, whether it be the place where the euthanasia is done (by a partnering veterinarian) or if the parents wish to spend a quiet few minutes with the pet at the end of its life.

There is also an Honoring the Journey Wall, which is a blackboard where visitors are encouraged to write their pets name and a message, or draw a picture.

There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a name in print. To think about a loved one and record their name, it is a reminder that it was real, Ellis said.

There is also a large selection of memorialization pieces to choose from, from urns to necklaces.

The Pet Loss Center is pet friendly of course, and Ellis encourages people to bring in their healthy pets as well as the ones that are nearing the end of their lives.

Ellis remembers a women who brought in her dog Sophie while she was in the process of cremating her other dog.

She told me, I bring in Sophie because I want her to be comfortable here when the day comes, Ellis said.

The Pet Loss Center also offers services free of charge for active service animals and service dogs who die or have been killed in the line of duty. A courtesy pricing package is available for pets of active duty police and firefighters, as well as members of the military.

If a owner wants to be ready ahead of time for their pets death, Ellis suggests requesting a Guide to Planning Ahead.

That helps with all of the questions you want to ask, and so you can plan for the end. We will do whatever we need to do for their end of life walk so you can say their life was perfect, Ellis said.

During the recent open house of The Pet Loss Center, the company donated $5 to every person who came that represented an animal shelter. Ellis hopes to have many more opportunities to partner up with the rescue community in the future.

The Pet Loss Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. They can be reached by calling 713-266-7297.

rebecca.hazen@chron.com
It was the day after Christmas in 2016 when a Magnolia-area father decided to run an errand with a friend.

A short while later, he received the call that his son, 20-year-old Oscar Salazar, had been shot and killed in their residence in the 29000 block of Aberdeen Drive in Inverness Crossing outside of Magnolia, Montgomery County Prosecutor Lisa Stewart said during court proceedings on Monday.

Almost two hours after the shooting, a Texas Department of Public Safety Cpl. Troy Phipps was responding to a call to find the possible murder suspect who had fled the scene and was believed to be driving along FM 1488 near Interstate 45.

GRADUATE KILLED: Crosby man gets 10 years for role in deadly accident

Phipps stopped the truck and the suspect, driving the vehicle, matched the description of the suspect the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office was looking for in regards to the fatal shooting, as he stated in his own words as a witness during the trial on Monday.

Nelson Segovia-Amaya, 30, was arrested on the charge of felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Dec. 26, 2016. He has remained in the Montgomery County Jail awaiting trial, which started on Monday.

Segovia-Amaya pleaded not guilty and elected for the jury to asses the punishment should he be found guilty.

Imagine; it was the day after Christmas, Stewart said during opening statements. This is a time the whole family comes together; they had planned a beach trip and Oscars father wanted to make a trip to AutoZone.

According to Stewart, he received a phone call from Oscars younger brother, who stated that Oscar had been shot and asked him to call for help.

Because of where Oscars father was located, he was within in Harris County, so the call was picked up at that call center and eventually transferred to Montgomery County, Stewart explained. There was confusion because of a language barrier and the dispatchers trying to understand where the shooting had occurred.

Montgomery County 911 dispatch relayed the message about a shooting to MCSO deputies who responded to the scene to find the 20-year-old shot and bleeding while his brother attempted to comfort him, MCSO Sgt. Jake Paul Gonzales said while on the witness stand. He was one of the first units to arrive on the scene.

Oscars brother stated that the defendant walked past him in the hallway toward his room, he got out of the way as fast as he could and allegedly shot Oscar, Stewart said. Before this, they were all happy. There was no fighting, no arguments or words exchanged. We encourage the jury to listen to the evidence; we believe justice demands a guilty verdict.

In response, Segovia-Amayas defense attorney Jeremy Finch stated this case is not about a whodunnit, but a case for self-defense.

We intend to show this is an issue of self-defense, Finch said. We anticipate the evidence will show that Oscar and Segovia-Amaya had a tumultuous relationship. Oscar had made threats toward Segovia-Amaya and on Dec. 26, 2017, he threatened to shoot Segovia-Amaya.

NEAR KINGWOOD: Man allegedly exposes himself at Porter gas station

During the first day of trial on Monday, jurors viewed dash cam footage from MCSO and DPS from the scene of the crime and when Segovia-Amaya was stopped and arrested.

Several witnesses were questioned by both Finch and Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Donna Berkey, who presented several brown evidence bags containing the fathers cell phone, a blanket where one of the bullets was lodged and the four additional bullets collected from the scene.

Jurors also looked at numerous crime scene photos showing where the crime occurred and other factors from the scene.

Montgomery County Crime Scene Investigator Kyle Koonce arrived at the scene at approximately 6:20 p.m. where he first took photos of the scene, placed evidence markers and then collected evidence.

I was called back to the scene on Dec. 27, 2016, after investigators informed me there was possibly more firearm evidence at the scene, Koonce said. I found several more bullets, damage from bullets and a machete-type instrument.

Koonce will return to the stand on Tuesday where he will discuss if all of the bullets were from the same gun as well as several others witnesses who are expected to take the stand.

Segovia-Amaya did a brief stint in the Harris County Jail in 2011 for two non-violent charges, court records show.

In March 2010, Segovia-Amaya gave a Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy a fake name and was charged with Class B misdemeanor failure to identify. After bonding out of jail while that charge was pending, he again gave a Tomball Police Department officer a fake name in November 2011 but was this time charged with Class A misdemeanor failure to identify as a fugitive since he had an open warrant for his arrest stemming from the March 2010 incident.

The trial resumes Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Judge Phil Grants 9th District Court.
The Bellaire city council decided not to vote on a plan to build pathways for pedestrians and cyclists at its meeting Monday, Aug. 6, after hours of residents voicing overwhelming opposition.

City hall was packed with residents waiting to share their concerns about the Community Pathways Plan, and the meeting lasted more than five hours. While residents spoke about the need for safety on Bellaire streets, most said they wanted to see the city focus on flood control and drainage projects and that building wide sidewalks across the community should not be a priority so soon after the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.

The Community Pathways Plan was a preliminary roadmap to build 17.8 miles of sidewalks, some as wide as eight feet, through the city. Last August, the council approved the design contract so that the project could begin, but Harvey hit just a couple of weeks later. A citywide survey was held last year in November and December, and the measure went before the planning and zoning commission July 12 and was met with much opposition from Bellaire residents there.

The Aug. 6 meeting was the first time the city council got to weigh in on the subject. Council Member Neil Verma is an avid cyclist and said he rides around Bellaire eight times a week. He said at first he supported a plan that would make the citys streets safer. But as the plan evolved, he said he could not support the measure when more important things were at hand.

But ultimately what came out when I saw the plan really frightened me, frankly, Verma said. I would never come out after Harvey and say I was going to vote for an eight-foot sidewalk through Southdale. I mean how ignorant would that be?

Resident Janet Seale said she agreed with promoting safety but opposed the plan because it was poorly timed and that the city should use its resources to prevent future flooding.

To have [Bellaire] change the way that its going to change when its so not necessary at this particular moment, when we just had a devastating hurricane that came through, I just think fiscally, we really need to use the money for what will take care of our citizens or our residents in Bellaire first, Seale said. Safety yes, but there is safety in taking care of us so we dont flood, safety in protecting our homes.

Many people who commented were upset about the trees they said the new widened pathways would remove. Resident Wesley Wright has an office near Bissonnet and 3rd Street and said plans to widen the five-foot sidewalks there by a just one foot are set to tear out five crepe myrtle trees and eliminate two parking spots and force the movement of two telephone poles.

He said standards sidewalks were sufficient in years past and that he did not understand the need to put in wider ones, especially in some lesser traffic areas.

You know I grew up in Houston, and we had ordinary sidewalks. I had a bicycle like probably everybody here, and normal sidewalks and the street were good enough back then. [I] raised my kids here for 20 years with normal sidewalks if you could find one, Wright said. Now all of a sudden, normal sidewalks just arent good enough anymore. I dont get it. Why do I need a six- to eight-foot sidewalk in my inner neighborhood?

Not all of the comments were against the plan. Resident Charles Platt said he frequently sees drivers going 40 miles per hour in a 30-mile zones and does not see many children on bikes because it is dangerous. He said he wanted the council to support the plan because it would make streets safer.

In my work career, safety was always the highest priority, and I consider safety still the highest priority for the city of Bellaire. The other matters are high priorities, but safety should be the number-one priority, Platt said.

He said he wished he had a trail like the one along Newcastle on his side of Loop 610 and added that lower cost measures like road striping and signage could also improve the safety situation.

Wright said although the city council had the authority to pursue adding wide sidewalks through its community, that did not mean it should.

Right of ways are great because you know that you have all the power to do it, but Im telling you just because the city has the right of way, its not always the right thing to do, Wright said.

City Manager Paul Hofmann said he appreciated how so many people turned out to share their thoughts about the plan and that the process went as it should.

I think the process worked. The consultant did what the consultant was asked to do. Citizens have been asked to comment on the plan during the entire process, and they have done so, Hofmann said. The planning and zoning commission and parks advisory board were given opportunities to hear from the public and weigh in. The plan is just a plan, and according to the consensus direction of the city council will now remain just a plan.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
Ashley and Michael Cordray have made a name for themselves on Galveston Island, remodeling historic, dilapidated homes, many of them predating the devastating 1900 hurricane. But it's their purchase of one newer and much weirder home, the 1960s Kettle House, that has helped propel the house-flipping couple to an HGTV deal.

In 2019, the owners of the remodeling company Save 1900 will star in "Saving Galveston," an eight-episode series highlighting eight home remodels that the Cordrays recently completed over a period of about five months.

The Kettle House, a familiar sight for anyone traveling to the beach on the west end of the island, is one of the eight.

"Michael likes to think it was the house that pushed us over the edge" for HGTV, Ashley said.

MORE ON THE KETTLE HOUSE: Mysterious property's origins revealed by prior owner

The general public took notice of the home's new exterior look recently, as social media posters marveled at the cleaned up property.

A look at the inside will have to wait until next year. The first episode of "Saving Galveston" is set to air April 2019. An exact air date has not been released.

Contrary to popular belief, and Google search results, the Kettle House is not a museum and not open to the public. The Cordray's have taken steps to keep people from walking inside, and plan to keep the house and use it as a vacation rental after the show.

The couple has redesigned the home to have two bedroom and one bathroom, with a master bedroom upstairs and a bunk room downstairs. The 900-square-foot home feels surprisingly spacious on the inside, the Cordrays said.

"It's the biggest shower we did," Michael said.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: Chadillac's Backyard Waterpark is for sale in Conroe

The interior design is inspired by the mid-century modern designs of the 1960s, Ashley said, with a focus on fun.

"The inside had to be just as cool as the outside," she said.

The other seven homes to be featured on the show are older and more traditional, the couple said. Many of the Save 1900 properties were in danger of being torn down before the Cordrays purchased them.

"Most of our houses haven't been livable for a decade," Ashley said.

Michael was born and raised on the island. The couple, both Texas A&M University-Galveston graduates, had only been dating for two months when they purchased their first Galveston property for $55,000.

HARVEY RECOVERY PHOTOS: Meyerland house feels like a home again

They started picking up more and more old properties, remodeling them one at a time after their day jobs ended until television producers noticed Save 1900 on social media.

HGTV was looking for a show about an island community, and Michael and Ashley's experience and personalities fit the bill.

A "Saving Galveston" pilot aired several times in 2017, to rave reviews. Now, it's only a matter of months before the Cordrays get their chance to become the next HGTV sweethearts.

Until then, follow Save 1900 on Facebook and Instagram.

Dana Burke covers community news. Read her on the breaking news site chron.com and the subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | Follow her on Twitter: @danapburke.
An Austin assistant city attorney hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) in Washington said not enough action is being done by government officials to address flooding from disasters like Hurricane Harvey.

Here we are, one year after Hurricane Harvey. This region is still years, and possibly decades, away from being prepared to prevent massive flooding, Democratic candidate Mike Siegel said during a town hall meeting in Katy with other political figures, such as congressional candidate Sylvia Garcia and Lupe Valdez, running against Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Siegel and the other candidates touted the $2.5 billion bond election in Harris County, saying it was needed in order to receive millions of dollars in federal matching funds to tackle flood-related projects.

This is a very important election. But it wont address the larger concerns, Siegel said.

Garcia is hoping to replace the retiring U.S. Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) for the 29th Congressional district. While reminding about 50 people attending the town hall to make sure they vote, Garcia was guardedly confident the flood-related bond election would be a success at the polls.

My guess it will probably pass overwhelmingly, Garcia said. The real tragedy is we wont get enough dollars to do the job that we need to to, she said.

Valdez took a strongly partisan tone at the flood control town hall, accusing Abbott of being a paid tool of the oil and gas industry. She said he took millions of campaign dollars from people in the petrochemical industry, which she said was the most responsible for causing our climate change problems.

Greg Abbott would rather help the people who created the problem than help regular Texans who are hurting, Valdez said to a round of applause from the audience. Theres something wrong with the priorities there.

Siegel, who hosted the town hall, said while many people and individual local, state and federal agencies did important work to rescue and support flood victims, one item is noticeably lacking from the agenda.

The problem is theres no national strategy. Theres no big picture, he said. Which agency is in charge of designing a flood control strategy. Which officials ensure that all of these pieces are working together? The answer is, unfortunately, no one.

Garcia said Abbott should tap into the states Rainy Day Fund to help smaller Texas communities that may not be able to hold a multi-billion bond election.

Thats why its called an emergency fund. As soon as they get their reimbursements, they can pay it back to the state, she said.

In addition to saying the Army Corp of Engineers must find a way to speed up their flood control projects, Garcia also said a coastal barrier is needed to protect the Texas coast from storm surges - although noting that was not an issue during Hurricane Harvey.

Thats the wall needed to protect us, Garcia said, clearly taking a jab at President Trumps proposed border wall between the United States and Mexico.

Valdez said Abbott should have called a special session of the Texas legislature to contend with the massive flooding from Hurricane Harvey.

He called a special session to see where people could go to the bathroom but he did not call a special session for people who were hurting and dying, she said. He did not call a special session even after the Houston mayor begging him to do something.

Siegel said his campaign has already drafted legislation to create a national flood control strategy.

Were not waiting to take the lead. It will be a first step toward making progress on this issue, he said. Its not rocket science. It sounds simple but it hasnt been done.

Also speaking at the town hall was Penny Shaw, running for Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4, and Gina Calanni, campaigning against incumbent state Rep. Mike Schofield (R-Katy) in Texas House District 132.

mike.glenn@chron.com
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The Conroe Police Department is asking for help to identify a man accused of robbing the First National Bank branch inside of the Kroger grocery store on Saturday.

Conroe PD received a robbery call in the 300 block of S. Loop 336 W. in Conroe at approximately 4:25 p.m.
An incident where a couple became separated from their boat without life jackets on Lake Conroe Friday night could have had a much different outcome, Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Office Lake Division said.

The Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Office Lake Division received a distress call near Point Aquarius Blvd. and Sagittarius Drive at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday where a resident reported she heard a female yelling and screaming for help from the water.

During our investigation, we learned that a male and a female were aboard an open bow pleasure cruiser on the water just after a storm had blown through the area so it was still quite windy, Lake Division Lt. Tim Cade said. The female jumped off the boat and a few minutes later, the male decided to jump in and join her.

At that point, the boat, which was not anchored, began to float away. The couple first began to chase after it, but soon stopped and began to swim toward shore.

According to Cade, the resident heard the females screams for help and was able to use their personal jet ski to reach the woman, provide a life jacket and ultimately pull her on to the watercraft.

It was relayed to law enforcement en route that the male was still missing and had not been seen.

It was quite the scare, Cade said. Thank goodness, the male had swum to the residence approximately 100 yards away and climb up the bulkhead into the residences yard.

Once law enforcement arrived in the scene, they set up a grid search which first starts with searching the top of the water. After a designated time, they will begin to search under the water via sonar.

This particular search only lasted during the surface water search when one of the rescue boats located the male on the shoreline and was able to reunite him with the female.

Thank goodness this ended happily for everyone involved. What some people dont realize is how fast that boat can go when it is not anchored and unmanned, Cade said. Weve had similar incidents like that that didnt end well because the person tried to swim and catch the boat which is traveling much faster than they can swim. Then, they get tired and drown. Thank goodness in this case, they didnt chase the boat, but they still didnt have life jackets.

Lake Division was able to collect the watercraft approximately one mile away from the incident demonstrating how fast a boat can move.

The take away from this is huge because we have worked drownings due to this scenario, Cade added.

A day after the incident, the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Office posted a photo on social media of a group of people, enjoying the lake wearing life jackets and using a rope tied to the boat to keep them within safe distance if the boat drifts away.

Cade provided a few safety tips to keep in mind when enjoying Lake Conroe which included:

If leaving a boat or vessel, make sure to have a smaller flotation device on or with them.

If leaving the boat, anchor it properly and make sure that anchor is the proper weight for the boat.

If swimming beside the boat, they encourage boat owners to tie a rope to the boat and keep it between everyone in the water so that if the boat begins to drift, the boats operator can pull themselves back to the boat safely.

Its the little things you can do to ensure your safety on Lake Conroe, Cade said. This is a common occurrence to become separated from your boat whether it capsizes or drifts away. Its important to make sure your personal flotation device is accessible and ready to use.

jennifer.summer@hcnonline.com
In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the Montgomery County commissioners approved Precinct 3 Constable Ryan Gable moving about $90,000 in unused salary funds from Fiscal Year 2018 to his operating budget.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador was the lone nay vote and said he didnt think the action was a good practice.

Who all do we do this for, Meador asked County Auditor Phyllis Martin.

According to Martin, it is only when department heads or officials request that action and get approval from the court. Several court members noted the action has been limited to law enforcement.

I dont recall doing it, Meador said. I dont think its good practice to use salary for operations. I just dont think it is something good to get started and it could grow.

Gable called his budget conservative and told the court his department comes in right at budget each year.

The monies that are left over the last year, two years that we have come to ask for has given us the ability to fund things that we couldnt fund and werent approved in budget in previous years, Gable said.

County Judge Craig Doyal asked if Gable had earmarked the unused funds for anything. Gable said he would use the funds to purchase forensic equipment for its Internet Crimes Against Children division and training.

Precinct 2 Commissioners Charlie Riley and Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack agreed that moving the funds needed to help law enforcement officers keeps the public safe.

I dont have a problem with it, Riley said.

Noack echoed Riley.

In the past we have kind of reserved this for the sheriff and constables offices and law enforcement related needs, Noack said. When you look at how quickly we are growing the results these agencies are having; to me it is hard not to put that money to good use.

Doyal added he also didnt disagree that law enforcement has the need to use the funds.

Budget Officer Amanda Carter suggested the court develop a policy at a later date regarding the use of unused salary funds.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
As superintendent of the seventh-largest school district in Texas, Charles Dupre bears responsibility for more than 76,000 students, 11,000 district employees and 78 campuses spread over 170 square miles. Dupre recently took a moment to share his thoughts on the challenges and issues facing Fort Bend ISD in the upcoming year in an exclusive interview with The Sun.

As is the case with many in the educational community at the moment, student safety and campus security is an issue that weighs heavy on his heart in light of recent school shootings.

The safety and security conversation is going to be a part of our life next year, Dupre said.

In recent months, district officials formed a community-based committee to study the issues related to campus security and consider possible changes to Fort Bend ISDs safety and security master plan. Dupre praised the work of the committee and said during their discussions often focused on issues related to bullying and identifying students who could be experiencing emotional distress.

The technical term often used is threat assessment, but what it really comes down to is identifying kids who feel isolated or alone, kids who may be at risk of wanting to hurt themselves or others because they feel no one cares about them, loves them or values them, he said.

Putting systems in place that identify students that perhaps fit that profile to help them with counseling, to teach them how to make friends and encourage other children to be their children will be a key focus, Dupre said.

A lol of the conversation is going to be about creating a more compassionate school environment. We have already been fighting bullying and have been making progress with that. We have addressed that very seriously. But, bullying is part of the bigger conversation around threat assessment and why any kid would choose to hurt themselves, he said. We can never promise an event of that nature will never happen in our schools. The fact is that regardless of the tightest lockdown there will always be a way for someone to breach that if they want to do harm. Of course, there are certain system we need in place. But, if we are all learning to work together and live together, to value and respect one another, that will mitigate a lot of the risks.

Profile of a Graduate

Another big thing on my mind is that last year our board put a line in the sand to hold us accountable to make sure every student in every classroom and at every school is successful. They adopted certain goals and objectives that talk about equitable access in that every student will have equitable access to our curriculum and that students will be responsible for their behavior and their academic process and so we started many new initiatives last year around these goals, Dupre said.

What is Fort Bend ISDs Profile of a Graduate?

The profile of a graduate represents seven attributes we want our students to know and do when they graduate from our schools. Often in public education, it is all about academics and making good grades. We believe it is important to educate the whole child. So, we want to teach them how to be collaborators, good problem solvers and good communicators. We want to teach them to be good team members, compassionate citizens and servant leaders. It is about the foundation of strong academics but adding in these other soft social and emotional skills that will help them be broadly prepared for college and life as an adult, Dupre said.

Dupre said the district last year started a new curriculum, a new learning management system that is a digital platform for teaching and learning.

Over time, we have been talking about how to grade and assess student performance. We have been talking about restorative discipline practices. How do we build relationships and help students learn to manage their behavior? These are questions that will help us attain these goals, he said. So, there are positive steps forward everywhere you turn in the district.

Dupre said as the year was beginning, he remained committed to helping students and district employees who suffered during Hurricane Harvey.

But, the biggest thing on my mind as we open the year are the people in our district that are still dealing with post-Harvey issues. Many students and lots of our teachers and staff are still displaced or are still re-building their homes. That is going to color a lot of what we do this year, he said.

In general, Dupre voiced optimism about the upcoming year.

Were ready to start fresh. I think people have had time to rest and it has been a good summer for most people. Theyre ready to get back to work and get going, Dupre said. We have great students and wonderful teachers and I am looking forward to working with everyone during the coming year.
On Monday the debate remained: had El Tiempo erred in serving Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then posting to Facebook about it?

The decision over the weekend had drawn ire from both sides. Some called for a boycott of the restaurant, a favorite Tex-Mex spot of many. Others said El Tiempo should not apologize but stand strong.

And then, amid the noise, a rival Tex-Mex restaurant threw itself into the fray, perhaps seizing an opportunity to poke fun at -- and perhaps drum up some business from -- the establishment down the road.

GOOD ONE: Houston restaurant gets Texas-wide attention for hilarious sign

Along busy Westheimer Road in Montrose on Monday evening, the marquee on El Real Tex Mex Cafe blazed in bright red letters: "BRUNCH SESSIONS AT EL REAL ARE ALWAYS CAGE FREE AND FULL OF RAINBOWS."

El Tiempo wasn't the only place visited by Sessions, who was in Houston Friday to speak about ways to reduce gang violence. "This should be obvious: if we want to reduce violent crime we should reduce illegal immigrant crime," Sessions said.

He spoke the words after visiting La Mexicana for breakfast..

But it was the El Tiempo debate that drew attention from near and far, as the controversy spread on the radio, in offices and on personal social media accounts. (The restaurant's social media platforms are now dark .) People also took to Yelp, which Monday had an alert saying it was in the process of clearing out posts related to the news event.

A protest was planned at another of the El Tiempo locations for Monday night.
Celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti, who gained national fame for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump, appeared in a Houston immigration court Tuesday to reunify a 9-year-old immigrant boy with his mother, who had been deported to Guatemala.

The attorney and cable TV fixture visited early-voting Iowa over the weekend after announcing a potential presidential bid. In Houston, he urged the goverment to immediately release Anthony Tobar Ortiz so that he could return to Central America with Avenatti that same day.

The boy last saw his mother three months ago when federal agents separated the two at the southern border and he celebrated his birthday alone in a federal shelter for immigrant children last week.

"There's no reason for this child to continue to be detained," Avenatti said.

NOT ENOUGH: Plan to reunite remaining separated children ruled 'unacceptable'

The Los Angeles attorney descended on the Rio Grande Valley at the height of national furor over the Trump administration's family separation policy. On Twitter he declared he was "entering this fight" to end "this outrageous conduct," even as Avenatti's law background and practice is focused on civil litigation and dozens of pro bono immigration attorneys volunteered for weeks in south Texas to find separated parents and children.

Under the now-rescinded policy, widely regarded as one of the biggest fiascos of Trump's presidency, more than 2,500 immigrant children were separated from their parents. The adults were prosecuted for the federal misdemeanor of illegal entry, then spent a few days in prison before being transferred to immigration detention centers. Their children were sent to federal shelters run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Hundreds of parents were deported without their children, including Anthony's mother, Elsa Johanna Ortiz, and the government has struggled to find them. A California federal judge ordered their quick reunification in June, but as of last week, nearly 400 children remained in federal custody with their parents outside the United States.

CHAOS AT THE BORDER: Immigrant parents struggle to find separated children

The government said in recent court filings that it has no contact information at all for the parents of more than two dozen children, and has not been able to reach many others. The judge, Dana M. Sabraw, has criticized the government for risking "permanently orphaned" children if their parents cannot be found.

On Tuesday Avenatti and Ricardo de Anda, a Laredo immigration lawyer, asked the government to terminate Anthony's immigration case and allow them to immediately take the child to the airport and fly him back to Guatemala City. The mother had signed a legal document giving them permission to do so.

Rory Potter, an attorney for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the government opposed ending the case, but agreed to allow Anthony to return home through a procedure known as voluntary departure, effectively closing the legal matter, but not allowing for his immediate release.

In a press conference outside the courthouse, Avenatti called it an "absolute outrage."

"Trump and his cronies talk about wanting to return these kids to their parents, but when it really comes down to it, like you saw upstairs, they don't want to do that," he said. "They want to continue to send this message to the world that if people come to this country and are caught that basically their child is going to be detained, stolen from them, and their families are going to be destroyed."

IN DISPUTE: Houston officials reject claim that controversial shelter for migrant kids on verge of opening

De Anda said had the government agreed to formally terminate the case, Anthony would have been released from federal custody right then, whereas voluntary departure could take longer

"They are delaying as much as possible the reunification to further dampen the desires of refugees to come to America," De Anda said.

Potter, the government attorney, did not return a call for comment. Tim Oberle, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in an email that the agency couldn't comment on the case due to privacy concerns because it involved a minor.

Charles Foster, a veteran Houston immigration attorney who has advised President George W. Bush, said the government's response was completely routine.

"Voluntary departure is normally what we would want," he said.

Formally terminating cases means immigrants are freed without any compulsion for them to leave the country, while voluntary departure imposes penalties if people don't.

Despite all the bluster, Foster said, in practical consequences the latter amounted to the same result for Anthony.

Hours after the press conference, Avenatti posted on Twitter that the government had agreed to release Anthony late Tuesday after his "negotiating." Thousands responded on social media, with one user noting, "people can criticize and critique you all they want for being power and media hungry but any motivation aside, you are actually making America better."

Avenatti's co-counsel, De Anda, said officials had expedited the boy's voluntary departure, and that he would be flying back to Guatemala Tuesday night.

Many separated children remain without their parents.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the California lawsuit forcing family reunifications, has criticized the government for not doing more to quickly reunite families. It said the government withheld contact numbers for parents for weeks and that it is taking an "unnecessarily long time" to grant children the voluntary departure orders Anthony quickly received.

The New York Times first reported on the boy's case in June. His mother, who raised Anthony alone, told the Times that she came here fleeing violent criminals in her Guatemala City neighborhood and to join her boyfriend, who is working here illegally in construction.

Instead the mother and son were separated after Border Patrol agents found them near McAllen in May. The mother said agents first told her that Anthony would be put up for adoption, then that the two would be returned to Guatemala together. Instead she was deported alone in June without any idea about what had happened to her son.

She found him only after her boyfriend contacted a lawyer who helped them locate the child in federal custody.

Avenatti, who took on Anthony's case after it was publicized, has rejected characterizations that he inserted himself into the family separation issue to remain in the national limelight, telling the Washington Post in June that argument was "a bunch of nonsense, and it's offensive  highly offensive."

He said he did not seek out family separation cases, but was contacted by families asking him for help and that he was doing so pro bono. He now represents more than 70 such children.

Not an hour after leaving Houston's immigration court Tuesday, Avenatti posted on Twitter a summary of his views on various political issues were he to wage an outsider Democratic bid for the White House. They included a "basic Medicare plan for all Americans," a path to citizenship for young immigrants here illegally known as "dreamers," and decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level.

"Many have asked me my position on various issues," he said. "More positions & details will follow."

At HoustonChronicle.com: A Houston night with Stormy Daniels, the Trump-controversy stripper

lomi.kriel@chron.com

@lomikriel
Courtesy of Lamar CISD

The Lamar CISD Board of Trustees is one of only five school boards from across Texas selected as Honor School Boards as part of the 2018 Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) School Board Awards. Each year, the program recognizes outstanding Texas school boards for commitment and service that has made a positive impact on Texas public school students.

The five Honor Boards were selected by a committee of Texas school superintendents, chaired by Coahoma ISD superintendent Amy Jacobs, whose school board was named the Outstanding School Board for 2017. The selection committees decisions were based on specific criteria, including support for educational performance, support for educational improvement projects, commitment to a code of ethics, and maintenance of harmonious and supportive relationships among board members.
Officials with Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noacks office have confirmed Tuesday a second person has contracted the West Nile Virus in Montgomery County.

Andy Dubois, a spokesman for Noacks office, said in a press release that the unidentified man who is in his 60s is currently hospitalized with a diagnosis of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease.

Our office is working diligently to minimize the risk of contracting a mosquito-borne illness, Noack said in a press release. The Mosquito Abatement Team is coordinating with the Montgomery County Public Health District on this treatment effort.

In early July, Noack announced at a press conference that there had been 38 positive tests for West Nile Virus in mosquitoes captured in Southern Montgomery County, however Dubois said as of Aug. 14, the number of positive tests in mosquitoes had risen to 78. County officials begin testing mosquitoes in early May and continue until the end of October.

Of those 78 positive tests, 51 of those have been in The Woodlands, Dubois noted. Precinct 3 and the surrounding areas have 79 total zones for screening. Forty-two zones have had at least one mosquito test positive. We continue to spray (for mosquitoes) and spraying is targeted at those positive sample (zones).

In mid-July, officials with the Montgomery County Public Health District reported the first official, confirmed case of a human contracting the virus in the county.

That person, who was described by health officials as a male in his 40s, was eventually discharged from the hospital after receiving treatments. He was described as the time as in recovery.

Dubois said due to medical privacy laws, health officials do not release the names of those who have been infected with the virus. He also said the location of the individual who has acquired the virus is not released because experts do not know where a person may have been bitten by a mosquito.

After the positive tests in mosquitoes for West Nile virus in June and early July, Montgomery County residents were urged to take extra precaution to avoid being bitten. In the July statistics, a total of 28 of the mosquitoes with the virus were found in The Woodlands.

For more Mosquito Information * Residents are encouraged to check the treatment activity map at Precinct3.org/mosquitoabatement/ or for more information on the mosquito abatement program call (281) 364-4203. See More Collapse

(This) puts us on track for one of the worst seasons weve had since 2014, Noack said during a July 5 press conference annoucing the results. In 2014, the severity of not only infections within the mosquito population (was high) but we also set a high for the number of individual patients that had West Nile.

In 2014, according to county officials, 31 people contracted the virus in Montgomery County.

Noack and other county health officials have been encouraging county residents for months to take preventative measures against both being bitten by mosquitoes as well as preventing mosquito population growth.

According to information provided by MCPHD to the Villager for previous articles, West Nile virus infection can cause serious disease and is most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80 percent of people who are infected with West Nile Virus will not show any symptoms, but there is no way to know in advance if the person will develop the illness or not.

Milder symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back, officials with the MCPHD reported in a press release. These symptoms can last up to several weeks. Serious symptoms that account for less than one percent of those infected can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures or paralysis. These symptoms can last for several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent.

Noack started a Mosquito Abatement Team earlier this year, the members of which spray property around South Montgomery County to treat for mosquitoes and also trap mosquitoes for disease testing. The workers target various spots within the county.

In prior press releases and at press conferences on the subject, officials offered the following tips to reduce the chance of mosquito bites:

* Use insect repellants that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products and follow their directions for use.

* Weather permitting, wear long sleeves, pants and socks when outdoors.

* Many mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn. It is good to consider staying indoors during these hours.

* Empty any standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, birdbaths and any other items holding water on a regular basis.

* Install or repair screen on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside and use air-conditioning if available.

 Some information in this article was derived from a press release. Staff Writers Patricia Dillon and Jennifer Summer also contributed to this report.

jeff.forward@chron.com
There is a new police chief in Oak Ridge North, but he will not begin his new role until January.

The Oak Ridge North City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to name current Oak Ridge North police Lt. Tom Libby as the citys new chief of police effective in January after current long-time Police Chief Andy Walters steps down from his job at the end of December. The approval came on the heels of recommendations from both outgoing city manager Vicky Rudy and Walters.

I wouldnt be where I am without (Walters) or the city, residents and fellow officers who are here, Libby said, his voice cracking. This is what Ive been working toward the entire 25 years Ive been here.

Libby, who is a graduate of Sam Houston State Universitys Law Enforcement Management Institute and the FBIs National Academy, was recruited by Walters into the Oak Ridge North police force soon after he left the U.S. Marine Corps almost a quarter century ago.

Walters had offered effusive praise for Libby in a recommendation letter to the city.

Toms loyalty, honesty and determination to do an outstanding job has always impressed me, Walters wrote in the Aug. 7 letter to Rudy recommending Libby to succeed him. (He) has always been a person who finds no challenge too large or too difficult to overcome.

Walters announced his retirement in July after 20 years leading the small citys police department and nearly three decades in Oak Ridge North.

Ive had the honor of serving and protecting your families, your homes and your businesses, Walters said in his July 30 statement. Ive enjoyed it. But nows its the time to part trails and ride off. I appreciate the friends Ive made. I love yall. Youve been good to me and Ill forever appreciate that.

The 40-year veteran of law enforcement is set to leave office on the last day of the year and plans to retire in Oklahoma with his wife, Cora. Under Walters, the Oak Ridge North Police Department more than tripled in size  today, 11 patrol officers serve the 1.1-square mile city of more than 3,000 residents.

I just want to thank you all for all the years youve given us, Walters said during Mondays meeting. I couldnt ask for a better place to work or better friends to be around.

Libby was welcomed into the leadership role at the meeting by Walters, members of the City Council, his wife and son and half a dozen Oak Ridge North officers who came in from their shifts to support the soon-to-be new chief.

When we discussed it, immediately I thought, I dont want to have a search committee, Oak Ridge North Mayor Jim Kuykendall said. I want to have a promotion ceremony.

In Oak Ridge North, the hiring of the new police chief falls to the city manager, Vicky Rudy. The four-and-a-half months between the announcement and the ceremony will be used to educate Libby on the finer aspects of the role and grow his responsibilities as he prepares to take over.

Im more than willing and ready to pick up the pack from Andy and continue the march, Libby said. I hope to serve yall well.

mrincon@chron.com
WASHINGTON - Michelle Nicoll Gutierrez has traveled frequently from her home in Mexico to visit her aging mother and stepfather in Maryland, never overstaying her tourist visa and always returning home to her husband and their travel agency and rental-property business.

But U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents denied her entry earlier this month at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, revoking her visa and barring her from the United States for five years.

In a statement, agents said they determined Nicoll Gutierrez, who was traveling with her U.S.-born toddler, was an "intending immigrant" -- a term used to describe visitors likely to overstay their visas and try to remain in the United States illegally. They also cited her use of legally available government health benefits in 2016, when she visited Maryland while pregnant and experienced complications, as one reason for her exclusion.

RELATED: See what the U.S-Mexico border really looks like

"I'm not the kind of person to steal or take advantage," Nicoll Gutierrez, 42, said in a phone interview from Michoacan, Mexico. "I've always been law-abiding, and it was never my intent to stay. I don't want to be labeled a violator."

It is common for foreign visitors to be turned away by if border officials believe they plan to stay. But tougher enforcement and proposals for broader and more restrictive measures for legal immigration are heightening the barriers for noncitizens, immigration lawyers say, particularly those from specific countries and including those who have followed all the rules.

Separate from the "intending immigrant" issue, Nicoll Gutierrez's case appears to reflect a Trump administration proposal to disqualify people seeking legal residency or a temporary visa if they or any member of their household, including U.S.-born children, have received Medicaid or other noncash public benefits.

Nicoll Gutierrez "was found to have used government assistance during a previous stay to pay for the expenses associated with having a child in the U.S.," Customs and Border Patrol said in a statement. "She was found to be an intended immigrant and returned to Mexico on the next available flight."

The American Immigration Lawyers Association says it has seen a spike in visa application denials citing public-charge grounds at the U.S. Consulate in Juarez, Mexico, since April, when the State Department amended its foreign affairs manual to instruct consular officers to consider a wide range of personal attributes and use of public benefits when deciding whether to issue visas.

"It's a big deal. What's being proposed basically turns things on its head regarding what constitutes being inadmissible," said Kathleen Walker, an immigration lawyer in El Paso, Texas. "Do we want to send a message discouraging families from seeking medical attention, from feeding their children or seeking immunizations because it might affect legal status? Is that how low we've gone?"

Nicoll Gutierrez obtained a 10-year tourist visa in 2010 and used it multiple times to visit her family in Derwood, about 20 miles northwest of Washington.

Her mother, Laura Atchley, became an American citizen after marrying John Atchley, a retired Foreign Service officer, in 2008.

RELATED: There's already a border wall; this is what life around it looks like

The couple thought about sponsoring Nicoll Gutierrez for legal residency a few years ago but decided against it when lawyers told them the wait time for processing applications for Mexican nationals is more than 20 years.

"We'll be dead by then," John Atchley said.

Nicoll Gutierrez was about five months pregnant when she visited in fall 2016. She planned to return home within a month.

But she became ill and was diagnosed with pre-gestational diabetes, requiring expensive treatment. Doctors said she should not travel.

Nicoll Gutierrez and her mother say they were planning to use savings to pay out-of-pocket for the medical care. But an immigrant group directed them to Maryland Health Connection, the state's health insurance marketplace, where they learned from a navigator that with her valid tourist visa, Nicoll Gutierrez was eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Her son was born in Washington that December, making him an American citizen. They returned home before the end of the six months her visa allows her to stay.

Maryland officials said they cannot discuss individual cases because of privacy laws. But they confirmed Nicoll Gutierrez's visa category would qualify her for coverage in accordance with the eligibility standards set by Medicaid regulation and the Affordable Care Act.

When Nicoll Gutierrez tried to reenter the United States with her son on Aug. 4, agents peppered her with questions about her income, husband and record.

Transcripts of the interrogation, provided to The Washington Post by John Atchley, showed agents focused heavily on the details of the 2016 visit and her use of government health insurance. Agents then revoked her visa.

RELATED: Hundreds of jobs open up on the border

"I was shocked," Nicoll Gutierrez said. "I've made multiple trips, and it was never my intention to stay. My life is in Mexico, but my family is in Maryland. I don't understand why this happened."

Her mother, who had traveled with them from Mexico, waited for hours while Nicoll Gutierrez was questioned, missing the flight that was supposed to take them all to Reagan National Airport in Washington. After receiving a text message from her daughter, she found a CBP supervisor's office inside the airport where she could learn what was happening.

The next morning, the two women embraced at the airport before boarding separate flights to their respective homes.

"They tear your life into pieces, and your freedom to visit your family, all based on a belief. An incorrect belief," Laura Atchley said. She noted that a lot can happen in five years, the amount of time Nicoll Guiterrez is prohibited from visiting. And in Mexico, it's extremely difficult to obtain a new tourist visa.
The Baltimore police officer who resigned Sunday after a video showed him repeatedly pummeling a man on the street is under criminal investigation and, if charged, could face a charge of second-degree assault, officials said Monday.

Police officials have revealed little else about the incident in East Baltimore on Saturday, when the officer was captured in a now-viral video repeatedly punching Dashawn McGrier, 26. It remains unclear why the confrontation occurred or what, if anything, provoked the officer. Interim Baltimore Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle said the incident could be proof that police training may be lacking, citing the need for more "scenario-based" training and fewer "pen-and-pencil" lectures.

"Neither of us can say why this happened," Tuggle said at a news conference Monday. "If it were born out of emotion, we're trained - we should be trained to never act in an emotional way, particularly when it comes to engaging with citizens. . . . The situation shows us another deficiency in our training that we can learn from."

Lt. Gene Ryan, president of the Baltimore police union, said that at first look, the video leaves a "very bad perception" of officers.

"A lot of people forget that we're human beings too. I don't know what was going through his mind; only he can testify to that," Ryan said. "The facts still remain that whether he was having a bad day at home or at work, you still have to maintain control of yourself at all times."

The incident occurred Saturday morning when two officers encountered McGrier, who was identified by his lawyer. The video shows one of the officers and McGrier talking at first. McGrier is heard telling the officer, "Don't touch me," before the officer begins punching him. McGrier falls onto some nearby steps as the officer continues to punch him.

Tuggle quickly denounced the officer's actions, suspended him and ordered an internal investigation Saturday. The officer, who was with the police department for a little over a year, resigned Sunday night. Tuggle declined to release his name, saying he's no longer with the agency.

But Baltimore attorney Warren Brown, who is representing McGrier, identified the officer as Arthur Williams. He said Williams arrested McGrier in June, when his client was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A video of the June 26 encounter showed McGrier being held on the ground by the same officer, Brown said.

McGrier, who was not charged in connection with the Saturday encounter, suffered a broken jaw, nose and ribs, Brown said.

The State's Attorney's Office is investigating whether the officer should be charged with a crime. Tuggle said a second-degree assault charge is "what's being looked at." Under Maryland law, the crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $2,500 fine, or both.

A spokeswoman for the State's Attorney's Office did not respond to a request for comment.

The second officer, who did not strike McGrier, has been placed on administrative duties pending the internal investigation. The video shows that officer standing near McGrier and, at one point, appearing to try to stop his colleague. Tuggle said the second officer has a responsibility to both contain the situation and avoid getting hurt.

"There were people in the immediate area approaching that situation with sticks in their hands. . . . He had an obligation to keep himself safe. That's hugely important," he said.

Both officers were wearing body cameras, and Tuggle said footage from their equipment is "relatively consistent" with what's seen in the viral video.

The incident comes at a critical time for the police department, which is supposed to be overhauling its policing practices following findings by the U.S. Justice Department under President Barack Obama that officers engaged in widespread discrimination that disproportionately affected African Americans. The city is under a federal consent decree, which imposes rules on policing and requires monitoring of the agency's activities.

The video also has raised questions about whether the agency has been dutifully following the agreement, a 200-plus-page document outlining rules on vehicle stops, searches, arrests and more. It also required the creation of an independent team of experts to monitor the department's compliance. The city and the Justice Department reached the agreement after Freddie Gray died as a result of injuries suffered in police custody in 2015. The Justice Department under Attorney General Jeff Sessions challenged the consent decree, but a federal judge approved it last year, citing the need for "urgent" oversight.

"There shouldn't be a breakdown and that's why I'm so disturbed about this," Tuggle said. "The consent decree . . . there is no room to go outside of that. I've said it before. That's going to be a benchmark by which we're guided."

Ryan, the union president, does not believe the consent decree has been violated, saying the commissioner's immediate suspension of the officer shows that the agency "can police itself."
When the first communist tank charged through the gates of the Independence Palace in Saigon, it fell to Bui Tin, a journalist in the North Vietnamese army, to break the news: The revolution had arrived. Although it had taken the tanks longer than expected (the unit had to stop and ask for directions to the palace), the Vietnam War had come to an end.

Tin was a reporter, not a soldier, but he was still a colonel, the highest-ranking officer on the scene. For reasons of authority and seniority, the commander of the tank unit insisted that he, and no one else, accept the surrender of the last president of South Vietnam.

And so it was Col. Tin who strolled into the palace's second-floor salon a few minutes after 11 a.m. on April 30, 1975, where the country's president -- a 200-pound general named Duong Van "Big" Minh -- told him he had been waiting "since morning to transfer power."

"There is no question of your transferring power," Tin said, according to journalist A.J. Langguth's book "Our Vietnam." "Your power has crumbled. You cannot give up what you do not have."

"You have nothing to fear," he added, as gunfire sounded outside. "Between Vietnamese, there are no victors and no vanquished. Only the Americans have been beaten. If you are patriots, consider this a moment of joy. The war for our country is over."

For Tin, the charismatic son of a government minister, the episode marked the culmination of three decades of wartime sacrifice and unusual good fortune. Striding onto the historical stage at pivotal moments -- the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the creation of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the 1978 invasion of Cambodia -- he eventually became a leading opponent of the state he helped build, settling in France to broadcast an anti-communist "petition" that reportedly reached 3 million Vietnamese.

He died Aug. 11, at 90, at a hospital near his home in the Paris suburbs. He had received kidney dialysis and recently fallen into a coma, said his friend Tuong An, a Vietnamese journalist.

Although his family had helped administer the country during French colonial rule, Tin and his father were early backers of the nationalist Viet Minh movement led by Ho Chi Minh, whom the son went on to protect as a member of the communist leader's personal guard.

Born in the northern city of Nam Dinh on Dec. 29, 1927, he joined the Communist Party at 19. In a memoir, "Following Ho Chi Minh" (1995), he recalled that he "swore an oath under the light of an oil lamp always to be loyal to the idea of liberating the people and the whole of mankind. . . . I equated joining the Party with patriotism and gaining independence. A life full of activity, yet simple, beckoned; it would be bright and glorious without a ripple of concern discernible in the future."

Less than a decade later, Tin was wounded during a French airstrike at Dien Bien Phu. The battle resulted in a 1954 cease-fire that gave Vietnam its independence from France and split the country in two, setting the stage for a 20-year conflict with the American-backed South Vietnamese government.

Tin said he helped plan the deployment of northern troops into South Vietnam in the early 1960s, when he ventured down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the years before it was widened into a jungle superhighway for communist troops and supplies.

But he found that he was more suited to communications than combat, and he worked as a reporter and military spokesman amid negotiations over prisoners of war and a cease-fire agreement. In March 1973, when the last U.S. combat troops boarded a plane and departed Vietnam, Tin was there on the Saigon airstrip to bid them farewell.

"This is an historic day," he told The Washington Post, after handing a goodbye package that included Ho Chi Minh postcards and a bamboo scroll to one of the last remaining U.S. soldiers. "It is the first time in 100 years that there are no foreign troops on the soil of Vietnam."

Tin went on to serve as deputy editor in chief at both Quan Doi Nhan Dan, the army newspaper, and Nhan Dan, the Vietnamese Pravda. The latter effectively made him a deputy minister, said political scientist Tuong Vu, author of "Vietnam's Communist Revolution," although Tin was unable to convince the country's political leaders of his more liberal ideas on how to rebuild a unified Vietnam.

As he had in Saigon, he accompanied Vietnamese tanks during the invasion of Phnom Penh, which followed Cambodian incursions into Vietnam. But he failed to convince the country's military and political leaders to quickly end the war, arguing that Cambodia's fate should be left to the international community.

So, too, was he unsuccessful in advising against collectivization programs in South Vietnam and against "reeducation" efforts that forced an estimated 300,000 South Vietnamese officials, soldiers and supporters into prison camps.

By 1990, he had become fed up with the country's politics. When the French communist newspaper L'Humanite invited him to Paris, he bought a plane ticket and embarked on a new life as a dissident, delivering what he called "a petition from a single, ordinary citizen" -- a multipart, pro-democracy radio broadcast on the BBC's Vietnamese- language service.

"Bureaucracy, irresponsibility, egoism, corruption and fraud are becoming entrenched under an insolent reign of privileges and prerogatives," he said in one broadcast. In a subsequent column for The Post, he wrote: "The tragic irony of this situation is that the Communists have finished what America's military machine only partly did during the war. They have crushed Vietnam, thereby squandering the achievement for which a million of our troops and countless numbers of civilians sacrificed their lives."

His broadcasts and memoirs -- which included details on the closely guarded private lives of Ho and other communist leaders -- "created a sensation in Hanoi," Vu said.

"His defection and revelations struck a heavy blow at the domestic legitimacy of the Party," he added, "and was one of the main reasons the Party decided to release a huge collection of Party documents in the following decade to prove its accomplishments and to justify its continuing rule."

Soon after arriving in Paris, Tin told the New York Times he planned to stay for only a few months. But the Vietnamese government interrogated his wife and children, he said, and expelled him from the Communist Party. He never made it home, fearing for his safety.

Survivors include his wife, Le Thi Kim Chung of Hanoi; two children, Bui Bach Lien of Hanoi and Bui Xuan Vinh of Vancouver; four siblings; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

In addition to criticizing the communist regime in Vietnam, Tin called for greater understanding and assistance from the country's former adversaries, including the United States.

When the U.S. Senate held hearings in 1991 on servicemen missing in action during the Vietnam War, he was among the star witnesses from Vietnam, testifying that no American POWs remained in the country.

"I am a soldier for 37 years," he said in his testimony. "I have experienced pain and sadness of seeing my comrades disappear without any information about their tragic end. In Vietnam, there are 200,000 missing in action, and we have never found their remains. In my own family, two out of five are still missing. Being a soldier and also a member of an MIA family, I would like to take the opportunity to share the sadness and pain of the American POW and MIA families."

He concluded his testimony with an embrace of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a retired Navy aviator who had been shot down during the war, tortured and imprisoned for nearly six years. Tin said he had met McCain, briefly, while doing research for a book about American POWs.
HARTFORD  It is a miracle the Santi Rodriguez is alive.

Now the 14-year-old, who has suffered from a rare genetic disease that is currently under control, is looking for a second miracle.

His father, Julian Rodriguez, who came here 18 years ago from Colombia seeking asylum, has been granted multiple stays to remain in the country to support his son and wife, both of whom are part of a National Institutes of Health study on the serious autoimmune disease that affected their son.

In June however, the elder Rodriguez, who lives in New London, was told by Immigration and Custom Enforcement to buy a one-way ticket to Colombia by Sept. 12.

Attorney Glenn Formica, who was joined by several elected and hospital officials at a press conference at Connecticuts Children Medical Center Tuesday, said he has filed a national interest waiver, which is a special petition that allows an immigrant to stay in this country, if it is in the national interest.

In the meantime, until the petition is acted on, Formica is asking ICE to continue granting his client a stay to remain here, something that Rodriguez has gotten for the past nine years.

Santi was born with chronic granulomatous disease, a serious autoimmune ailment that was transmitted through a defective gene carried by his mother. The rare malady only affects males.

James Shmerling, head of the hospital, said integral to the Santis care team for more than a decade is the family ... They are critically important to everything we do.

Dr. Juan Salazar, the pediatrician in chief at Connecticuts Children Medical Center, said this is a story of hope, a story of success and a story that will lead to great outcomes for this family.

He said he came up with the diagnosis of CGD  which affects only one child in 200,000  when Santi was 6 years old. While some children with CGD reach adulthood, it is universally fatal, he said.

It effects white cells that fight infection. Children with CGD will develop serious infections and Santi did over his short life, bouts that put him in the hospital eight to 10 times a year.

Lucky for the teen, who is a rising sophomore at St. Bernard School in Uncasville, there was an experimental trial being offered by the NIH that involved stem cell transplantation.

Salazar said a colleague of his, Dr. Harry Malech at the NIH, invited Santi to participate in the trial  an opportunity his parents accepted despite the risks of further suppressing their childs immune system so the new cells could take.

The therapy was successful starting six years ago and all of the teens complications have mostly subsided, while the infections have also gone away, according to Salazar.

You can imagine the stress this would have put on any parent. The good news is that Santi currently does not require immunosuppressant therapy, which is unusual, the doctor said.

He said in his opinion that is a miracle, but it is important that he continues to report to the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center every two to three months, or sooner, if needed, and to the NIH every six months.

His care needs to be done in the United States. It cannot be done elsewhere. It is something that has contributed to the overall healthcare of children, Salazar said, as the speakers put forward their arguments to keep Julian Rodriguez, the familys main breadwinner, here.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said this story is like countless others he has seen, where children are separated from their parents.

He said the new deportation policy in the U.S. is to send away people who have been here for decades, worked hard and pay their taxes as they are raising their families.

Blumemthal said it makes him ashamed and embarrassed as a citizen, as a parent and as a public official.

He praised Formica and other lawyers who defend these clients with little compensation.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-4, said Santis diagnosis could have easily been missed except for the great clinicians at the hospital.

Having Santis dad leave the country is not required by law, Courtney said, pointing to the ICE decision for the past nine years that allowed him to stay.

He said the handling of immigration cases is now subject to a radically different approach. Courtney said the governments policy should be to leave kids alone as the country looks for consensus.

We are in this moment where the contradictions just scream out. We have one arm of government providing absolute cutting edge 21st century medical care and technology. It is America at its best. And then we have another arm of government that is actually disrupting the delivery of that type of really ground-breaking research that will benefit many kids in the future, Courtney said.

Santi also stepped up to the microphone.

Please dont let my family be split apart. I dont know what I would be doing here without my dad. He has helped me so much through by life. He has always been there to support me ... and I really need him for the things that I am going to go through as I grow up, Santi said.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577.
Anthony Lanzilote

Billionaire Tom Steyer plans to spend an additional $10 million on helping Democrats take control of the House by attempting to drive up turnout among infrequent voters motivated by the idea of impeaching President Donald Trump.

That will be on top of $110 million Steyer has already pledged for the November elections through his two political organizations, Need to Impeach and NextGen America, his effort to get young voters to the polls in 11 states. That makes Steyer, a former hedge fund manager, one of the biggest players in Democratic politics.
Before he was president, Donald Trump repeatedly called climate change a "total hoax." His administration has subsequently gone about undoing policies put in place by his predecessor meant to mitigate its effects.

Except, that is, when it comes to military bases.

On Monday, Trump signed into law a defense authorization bill that will spur the U.S. military to guard its infrastructure against rising sea levels and other changes expected from global warming. While much of the rest of the federal bureaucracy, notably the Environmental Protection Agency, tries to roll back climate regulations, the Pentagon remains one of the few departments under Trump to continue work begun under former President Barack Obama to ready the military for a warmer world.

"Every day, the Army is fighting for us, and now we're fighting for you," Trump said during a signing ceremony. During the speech, Trump veered from topic to topic, talking about the newly announced "Space Force" and the "fake news media," but did not address climate change.

Still, with Republicans in control of the White House and Congress, the only legislation readying the country for climate change to become law concerns the military preparedness.

Already this year, researchers published to two Pentagon-commissioned reports detailing how in the future island populations will contend with bigger waves crashing onto the shore and contaminating drinking water and how currently coastal facilities, such as the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland, are already dealing with flooding from storm surges.

With the newly signed defense bill, Congress is urging Pentagon planners to be particularly cautious in its new construction. For example, all new military installations in the 100-year floodplain must be designed assuming an additional two feet of flooding above the base flood elevation. In general, Congress is asking the military to incorporate climate-change research from the National Academies of Sciences into the design of new buildings and the modification of old ones.

The Pentagon will also turn greater attention to the melting Arctic. The bill asks for the strategists to investigate China's activities in the Arctic and authorizes the U.S. Coast Guard to obtain over the next decade six new ships with hauls built for cracking through sea ice.

Right now, the U.S. military has only two working polar icebreakers. Russia has more than 25.

The prioritization of climate in the defense bills is a continuation from last year. Last year's bill required the Defense Department to assess the vulnerability of the 10 bases in each service most threatened by climate. That legislation stated flatly that "climate change is a direct threat to the national security of the United States."

When it comes to climate change, Congress has "a tendency to give deference to the military," said John Conger, director of the Center for Climate and Security and former acting assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations and the environment. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other military leaders have repeatedly said the armed services must prepare for climate change.

The military's climate plans also do not run afoul of oil, coal and other industrial interests, which oppose the imposition of emissions controls that burden their businesses. What happens on military bases does not affect them.

That isn't to say some Republicans have not tried to derail the military's efforts. Last year, Reps. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and Ken Buck, R-Colo., tried deleting the requirement for the climate vulnerability study from the defense bill. But their amendment was defeated 234-185, in part due to balking of Republicans on the House Climate Solutions Caucus.
Melissa Howard, a Florida state House candidate who gained notoriety after she was caught touting a fake college diploma, has dropped out of the GOP primary election scheduled in two weeks.

Howard withdrew Tuesday, a day after she admitted falsely claiming to be a college graduate but vowed to stay in the race, her campaign treasurer, Joe Gruters, confirmed to The Washington Post. Howard also told local media outlets, including the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, ABC affiliate WZVN-TV and Florida Politics, that she "made a terrible error in judgment" and that she is "deeply sorry."

"I have come to the realization that the right thing to do for my community is to withdraw from the race. . . . I am thankful for everyone who gave me so much toward my success," she told the media outlets.

Howard did not respond to calls and text messages from The Washington Post. A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State said the agency has not received a formal notice of withdrawal from Howard.

The diploma fiasco began early last week, when FLA News reported that the 46-year-old small-business owner from Lakewood Ranch, Florida, does not have the college credentials she said she has. Howard, who claimed to have a bachelor's degree in marketing from Miami University of Ohio, sought to prove that the FLA News story was false by sharing a picture of her framed college diploma. But her story began to unravel after the university revealed late last week that she never graduated - and that the diploma was not real.

Howard broke her days-long silence Monday when she said she "made a mistake" in falsely claiming she had graduated from college. She apologized to her family and supporters and said she didn't intend to "deceive or mislead anyone."

But Howard has yet to address how or where she obtained the diploma. She also did not explain why she falsely misrepresented her academic credentials - even though not having a college degree does not disqualify her from running for public office.

Howard was seeking the GOP nomination for the Florida House of Representatives' 73rd District, near Sarasota. County GOP officials said earlier that they were not calling on Howard to drop out and that they would let voters decide Aug. 28.

"We don't support that kind of stuff, but we're leaving that up to the voters to decide who they best think would represent them and legislate policy on their behalf," Kathleen King, GOP chairwoman of Manatee County, where Howard lives, told The Washington Post.

To prove the FLA News story was false, Howard flew to Ohio to get a copy of her transcript from Miami University in Oxford, and shared a partial picture of it on Facebook. She went to her mother's house, where her college diploma had been in storage, as she told local media, and shared a picture of herself - and her mother - smiling next to it. And she provided FLA News with a photo of her wearing a cap and gown during what appears to be a graduation event.

FLA News rescinded the story and issued a correction - only to rescind said correction shortly thereafter.

An email from Miami University revealed that Howard had not been truthful about what degree she supposedly obtained, what year she supposedly graduated, even what major she supposedly pursued. Robin Parker, Miami University's general counsel, said that the diploma Howard displayed showed her graduating with a bachelor's degree in marketing. But the university offers no such degree and has always awarded marketing majors a bachelor's degree in business. The diploma also stated that she graduated in December 1996, but she was not enrolled that year. Howard attended the university from 1990 to 1994 without graduating, Parker said.

There's more:

Howard's major at Miami University was not marketing; it was retailing, Parker said. If she had graduated, she would have had a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences.

And one university official's name on the diploma should not have been on there, Parker said. The diploma has signatures from James C. Garland, university president, and Robert Johnson, dean. Although Garland was president of Miami University in 1996, Johnson was dean of the graduate school and would not have been the official signing an undergraduate diploma.

Parker also said that the university allows students "to walk" during ceremonies even if they are not graduating, which might explain the picture of Howard in a cap and gown.

By Saturday, after Miami University alerted news outlets of the discrepancies, Howard was silent. Online photos of her transcript and diploma were deleted, and her campaign Facebook page was soon deactivated. Howard's campaign consultant, Anthony Pedicini, said Saturday that Howard's husband had suffered a cardiac incident, and she is focusing on her family.

Despite the revelations, her campaign accused the media of engaging in "fake news." Asked why the campaign is using the term "fake news," Pedicini said he has no further comment. On Tuesday, he said he no longer works for Howard's campaign.

Forging documents such as a diploma to misrepresent one's academic standing or association with a college or university is considered a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Miami University spokeswoman Claire Wagner said that school officials are "content with correcting the record" and have no plans to pursue claims against Howard.

"The decision to pursue criminal charges is a matter for the appropriate law enforcement authorities in Florida," Wagner said.

For criminal charges to be filed, someone must first make a complaint to the local police department, which then conducts an investigation and submits its findings to prosecutors, said Ed Brodsky, state attorney for Florida's 12th Judicial Circuit, which covers Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. He said he does not know of a complaint against Howard.

King, the county GOP chairwoman, did not answer questions about what party officials would do if Howard were charged.

"We don't comment on hypotheticals," she said. "We're going to let that play out and respond accordingly."

FLA News, which describes itself as "the conservative choice for Florida news & politics," first reported on Howard's academic background Aug. 7. Citing records from the National Student Clearinghouse, a nonprofit that verifies enrollment and graduation, FLA News reported that Howard attended Miami University from August 1990 to May 1994 but did not obtain a degree.

According to Howard's campaign website, which seemed to have crashed Tuesday, she was born to a blue-collar family in "Middle America" and is the first in her family to attend college. "Upon graduation," the website said, Howard worked for large and small companies before starting her own marketing business. A campaign profile published by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune says Howard is co-owner of IMMEXLS and International Medical Trade Show and employs five people.
Alexandria, Va.

Prosecutors on Monday rested their tax evasion and bank fraud case in the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, closing two weeks of testimony that depicted him as using millions of dollars hidden in offshore accounts to fund a luxurious lifestyle  and later obtaining millions more in bank loans under false pretenses.

The trial of the longtime Washington operator now turns to Manafort's defense team, which has so far blamed any wrongdoing on Rick Gates, the former Manafort protege who testified he and his former boss committed crimes together for years. Defense attorneys have called Gates a liar, philanderer and embezzler as they've sought to undermine his testimony.

Manafort's lawyers have not yet said whether they will call any witnesses or present other evidence in the case. They will have to disclose that information Tuesday as the case reaches its final stages.

The trial is the first to emerge from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, but it does not relate to any allegations of Russian election interference or possible coordination with the Trump campaign. Neither Manafort nor Gates have been charged in connection with their Trump campaign work.

Still, the proceedings have drawn President Donald Trump's attention  and tweets  as he works to undermine the standing of the Mueller investigation in the public square.

Trump has distanced himself from Manafort, who led the campaign from May to August 2016  with Gates at his side. Gates struck a plea deal with prosecutors and provided much of the drama of the trial so far.
Opponents of the Trump administration's changes to Medicaid who recently persuaded a federal judge to block work requirements for low-income residents of Kentucky have filed a similar lawsuit aimed at Arkansas.

In June, Arkansas became the first state to begin phasing in requirements that thousands of poor residents must work at least 80 hours a month, look for a job, or otherwise engage in their community to get onto Medicaid or keep its coverage. The suit, lodged Tuesday on behalf of three poor Arkansans with significant medical problems, seeks to halt those requirements.

It contends the administration's approval of the state's plan is unconstitutional, violates Congress' power and undermines the basic purpose of the safety-net program created in the 1960s as part of Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty.

In language that echoes the challenge to Kentucky's work requirements, the suit accuses the administration of "overturning a half century of administrative practice, and threatening irreparable harm to the health and welfare of the poorest and most vulnerable in our country."

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the National Health Law Program and the Southern Poverty Law Center, both involved in the Kentucky litigation, as well as Legal Aid of Arkansas. It names as defendants the Department of Health and Human Services, its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and their top officials.

The case heightens attention to what has emerged as a major philosophical divide over thecompact between the government and the nation's poor. Conservatives, including the administration's senior health officials, say that people receiving Medicaid should be required to fulfill certain obligations like their counterparts on welfare and food stamps, and that such activities will lift people out of poverty and government reliance. Liberals regard the health-care program as a right for anyone who is eligible, and they maintain that access to care is an underpinning for poor people to improve their lives.

Two months after administration officials said they were open to work requirements, a major departure from Obama-era policy, Arkansas in March became the third state to win federal permission.

But it was the first to start the new rules, beginning in June with residents age 30 to 49. They are among 125,000 Arkansans who joined Medicaid through an expansion under the Affordable Care Act who will eventually need to comply, unless they qualify for several kinds of exemptions. Over the next few months, the rule phases in younger adults.

About 46,000 people needed to meet the requirements during the first two months, the state reported Tuesday, but nearly 13,000 had failed to do so. Almost 5,500 were noncompliant for two consecutive months, the figures show. If someone does not follow the rules for three months, they are removed from Medicaid for the rest of that year.

The lawsuit notes that, in order to report work or document the basis for an extemption, Arkansans must submit information every month through an online system. The suit contends that is "a difficult, if not impossible task for plaintiffs on a regular basis due to lack of Internet access, trouble using computers, and problems working with the online portal."

The new suit is appearing less than two months after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled in the Kentucky case that administration officials had been "arbitrary and capricious" in approving the requirements without adequately considering their impact on beneficiaries.

In its federal application, Kentucky officials had predicted its requirements would lead 90,000 to lose their Medicaid. Arkansas' application did not include such a forecast.

In mid-July, Seema Verman, administrator of HHS's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said rather than challenging the judge's ruling, health officials would reconsider the application Kentucky submitted last year. CMS opened a fresh 30-day public comment period, which ends in less than a week.

"We are undeterred," HHS Secretary Alex Azar said a few days after Verma's announcement. "We're fully committed to work requirements and community participation in the Medicaid program. . . .We will continue to litigate, we will continue to approve plans, we will continue to work with states."

The groups filing the new suit are asking that it be given to Boasberg on the grounds that it is a related case, rather than being assigned to any judge on the court.

"This lawsuit has one goal, which is to undermine our efforts to bring Arkansans back into the workforce, increase worker training, and to offer improved economic prospects for those who desire to be less dependent on the government," Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a statement, accusing the plaintiffs of "trying to thwart any effort to transform and bring accountability to our Medicaid program."

Federal health officials said they could not comment on pending litigation.
Despite the bombardment of televised campaign ads over the past few months leading up to the primary, voter turnout started out slow Tuesday, then picked up a bit and remained steady throughout Greater New Haven.

It didnt seem to faze Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski, who was all smiles as he, his wife and daughters cast their ballots at the Madison Senior Center just after noon.

Weve had a great turnout, and very good feedback from the people walking in, Stefanowski said sandwiched between his three daughters, two of whom were able to vote. It wasnt their first time voting, they said, but it was a first to bubble in their fathers name.

Deja Cooke, 22, of New Haven, who voted in the 20th Ward at Lincoln-Bassett Community School, said regardless of political allegiances, its especially important for millennials to vote as these people are the people were going to have to see for a while, and since were getting older, I feel like we should be getting more out because we are the change we wish to see.

Kevin Arnold, the moderator for the 20th Ward in New Haven, said as of 8:15 a.m., 53 people had cast their ballots.

While fewer than 3 percent of the registered voters in the ward  there are about 2,000 register voters  had been to the polls by then, Arnold said he expected an uptick as the day continues.

This is one of the busier polling places, he said. More people will show up, especially once theyre done with work.

Derrick Clark, 33, of New Haven, said for him and his wife, taxes are a major concern.

Right now, Im working on getting my credit so I can become homeowner because, right now, taxes are outrageous to the point where its cheaper to rent an apartment than go out and get a house. If you want to live the American dream, you should be able to own your own home. Im getting older, not younger, and Im tired of renting, Clarke said.

In West Haven, voter turnout was 13 percent as of 3 p.m., said Democratic Assistant Registrar of Voters Veronica Rivas.

Ed Wise, the moderator for West Havens 2nd District, said things had been pretty steady there. As of 10 a.m., 133 people had voted, he said.

While that was on the lower side for elections comparatively, Wise said it was good for a primary. He said he believed the publicity from the candidates and having multiple primary races Tuesday helped.

Wise said a few unaffiliated voters came and tried to vote, which obviously they cant. We just tell them to come back in November.

Republican Patricia Connelli, 63, of West Haven, said she believes Connecticut needs a change, specifically when it comes to taxes.

I dont like the way Democrats run the state and tax us to death, Connelli said.

For Republican Henry Saunders, 76, of West Haven,

the issues of the state deficit and gun control were a priority. As a member of the National Rifle Association, he said he believes every American should have the rights promised to them in the Constitution by the Founding Fathers.

Democrat Bea Faulkner, 70, of West Haven, said

the economy is her No. 1 concern as senior citizens have had so much taken away from them. We need someone to straighten out the budget, the same way were hoping they straighten out West Haven.

In North Haven, Deputy Registrar of Voter Tracey Falasco said voter turnout started out looking pretty average for the town. As of 10 a.m., she said there had been a combined 183 votes cast at Ridge Road Elementary School - 90 votes for District 3-11 and 93 for District 3-34.

Democrat Kim Braun, 37, said

child care and education were big issues for her. While she is a mother of two young children, she said regardless of being a parent, if you invest in early childhood and you invest in children and education, youll reap the rewards decades later. It sets the standard for everyone to benefit.

Republican Bob Sheehy, 56, said his ballot decisions were based on party recommendations as well as looking at the candidates track records, experiences and statements.

While issues such as education, the economy and infrastructure are important to him, he said its more important to focus on how the government chooses to spend taxpayer money on those issues.

Derby Town Clerk Marc Garofalo reported a pretty low turnout for the city as of 1 p.m. Only 13.6 percent of registered Democrats and 14.9 percent of registered Republicans had voted at that point.

Joshua Foley, media liasion for the State Elections Enforcement Commission, said the call volume Tuesday was high. He said state residents

werent calling to report problems, but rather to ask a variety of questions about polling locations, regulations and rules.

Theyre not all reporting some emergency or something. Its just more people calling about random things, he said. Anything and everything they can ask.

jessica.lerner@hearstmediact.com; @jesslerner on Twitter
China warned Hong Kong's foreign journalists' club that it risked repercussions after hosting an independence activist's speech, signaling a potential escalation in the city's latest battle over political freedoms.

In a harshly worded statement Tuesday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong, of abusing the former British colony's right to free speech by giving the activist a platform. The ministry said the address by National Party founder Andy Chan, in which he denounced China as a "colonial master," touched Beijing's "red line" against challenges to its rule.

"Hong Kong is Chinese Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club is by no means a place outside the law," the ministry said. "Anyone whose words and actions try in vain to split Hong Kong from China will be punished according to the law."

The FCC, whose more than 2,000 members include journalists from some of the world's best-known news organizations, went ahead with the event despite calls by the city's former top official to reconsider the group's lease on government property. The dispute highlights how Beijing's push to silence a small but vocal independence movement could undermine the political freedoms guaranteed to Hong Kong before its 1997 return to Chinese rule.

While freedom of speech and assembly are among the rights enshrined in Hong Kong's charter, Beijing has moved to narrow the definition of legal behavior over the past few years. In 2016, the Chinese government retroactively reinterpreted local law to ban independence activists from taking office, while city authorities secured jail sentences for activists involved in aggressive protests.

In his remarks, Chan, 27, hit back at the government's unprecedented effort to ban his party, comparing it to campaigns to suppress opposition in democratically run Taiwan and China's regions of Tibet and Xinjiang. As he spoke, the chants of several dozen pro-China protesters gathered outside the club could be heard.

"If Hong Kong were to become truly democratic, sovereignty must rest with the people and there is only one way to achieve this: independence," he said.

Several groups of protesters -- some pro-China, some pro-independence and other more moderate democracy advocates -- gathered around the FCC's colonial-era clubhouse, separated by police. One Beijing supporter, Sandy Li, called for the government to kick the club out of the centrally located building.

"Hong Kong is part of China -- this is irrefutable," Li said, while standing in front of a banner that denounced the group as "mean and sinister." "Would the United Kingdom let London become independent? Is London a country? This is treason."

Chan's speech comes a year after President Xi Jinping visited the city and warned that he would tolerate no challenges to Chinese authority. The club refused a request by Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cancel the event, saying it championed free speech and welcomed speakers of all views.

Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying fanned tensions with an Aug. 4 open letter questioning whether the FCC would also host "criminals and terrorists." Leung said the club's premises had been leased for a "token rent," and subsequently called for the space to be put out for an open bid. His call was echoed by the pro-Beijing demonstrators.

Hong Kong's No. 2 official, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, told reporters Tuesday it was "totally inappropriate and unacceptable" for the FCC to provide a platform to Chan. He said that the club's lease, which expires in 2023, contains a clause requiring compliance with local laws.

"There isn't an issue now, but we don't want to see it happen again," Cheung said.

Chan argues that the "one country, two systems" model that was supposed to ensure a "high degree of autonomy" for the city hasn't worked given China's growing influence over the city. He says he's concerned that China wants to curtail the freedoms credited with maintaining Hong Kong's place as a global financial hub.

"The situation is so dire that I dare say Hong Kong has never experienced such colonialism until 1997," Chan said told the FCC. "Peking is now our colonial master."

The idea of an independent Hong Kong is widely seen as unfeasible, a position shared by the U.K. when it handed over sovereignty to China in 1997. The city doesn't have its own military and gets most of its food, water and electricity from the mainland, which also represented about half of its global trade.

The move to ban the National Party has fed fears that authorities want to set a precedent for clamping down on other opposition groups. They may be laying the groundwork to revive a shelved national security law.

Victor Mallet, a Financial Times journalist and first vice president of the FCC, thanked the government for allowing the event to go ahead. "All of this, actually, shows that Hong Kong is still a place at the moment where freedom of speech applies," Mallet said.

- - -

Bloomberg's John Follain and Peter Martin contributed.
Florida's governor this week made official what residents of southwest Florida already knew: The bloom of toxic algae that has darkened gulf waters is an emergency. The red tide has made breathing difficult for locals, scared away tourists, and strewn popular beaches with the stinking carcasses of fish, eels, porpoises, turtles, manatees and one 26-foot whale shark.

Gov. Rick Scott, R, late Monday declared a state of emergency in seven counties stretching from Tampa Bay south to the fringe of the Everglades. Scott promised $1.5 million in emergency funding.

The governor is facing Sen. Bill Nelson, D, this fall at the ballot box in a contest for the Senate seat Nelson has held for three terms. Each has accused the other of not tackling the red-tide calamity and the simultaneous bloom of a different type of algae that is clogging rivers and canals and putting a scum on top of Lake Okeechobee.

Residents in crowded retirement communities are reporting respiratory distress from the vapors of the microscopic red-tide organism called Karenia brevis. A recent study found a 50 percent spike in hospital visits resulting from respiratory problems during red-tide blooms.

The red tide has been gradually moving north, to the mouth of Tampa Bay, according to state data tracking the red tide. For many places, the daily reports continue to say "Water Color: Dark" and "Respiratory Irritation: Intense." Worst of all are the reports that state "Dead Fish: Heavy."

Rick Bartleson, a research scientist with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, said water samples offshore show lethally high concentrations of algae.

"There's no fish left. Red tide killed them all," he said. "All of our concentrations of red tide are still high and would still kill fish if they were out there."

The algae is found in marine environments for most of the year, but the past two months have produced high concentrations, said Kelly Richmond, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The duration of blooms can be affected by sunlight, nutrient and salinity content, she said.

The toxins can aerosolize in the wind that drifts ashore, triggering respiratory problems or worsening conditions such as asthma. That has incited many tourists and some locals to flee.

Scott's declaration came one day after thousands of Floridians engaged in a grass-roots action on Florida beaches. At 10:15 a.m. Sunday they lined up at the water's edge and held hands, an image captured by drones. They were trying to grab public attention.

"I can't even let my cats out on the lanai," said Amy Ernst, a Sarasota printmaker who lives near the beach. "Eyes burning, throat burning, sinus problems."

Adrienne Miceli-Trask, 52, a salon owner who helped organize the Hands Along the Water protest in Sarasota, said: "It's not just on the beach. It's in our intracoastal waterway. It's in the air. It's toxic. Somebody's backyard on the intracoastal is totally filled with dead fish. It's disgusting."

Scientists are trying to figure out why, exactly, the current red tide along the Gulf Coast has been so protracted and deadly. State officials and scientists point out that, at base, this is a natural phenomenon. Fish die-offs were noted by Spanish explorers in the 1500s and have been well documented since the 1840s.

But the incidences of red tides seem to have increased since the 1950s and 1960s. Climate change could be a factor - warmer waters, up to a certain point, are congenial to algal growth. The Gulf of Mexico's surface temperature has warmed by about two degrees Fahrenheit since 1977.

There is a more direct human handprint on the current crisis: Florida's landscape and the flow of water have been radically altered by agriculture, canals, ditches, dikes, levees and the sprawling housing developments that have sprouted as the state's population has boomed.

In the old days, Bartleson said, rainwater slowly filtered into the aquifer or seeped into estuaries. Now it rushes rapidly, unfiltered, into rivers and bays and into the gulf, typically loaded with agricultural nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, which feed the algae.

Hurricane Irma struck the state head-on last September, and the red-tide bloom began about a month later. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was forced to release massive amounts of nutrient-laden water from Lake Okeechobee to prevent the overtopping of the venerable Hoover Dike.

Those nutrients fueled green algae in the inland canals and rivers and flowed through the Caloosahatchee River into the shallow waters along the Gulf Coast. It is plausible that fueled the red-tide bloom. Some scientists hesitate to declare a direct cause and effect, although Bartleson said of the current red tide, "It's on steroids with our nutrients."

Historically, algal blooms become more prevalent in the fall and decline in late winter and spring. Less rainfall and increased wind could potentially ease this deadly red tide.

For now, there's no end in sight.

- - -

The Washington Post's Angela Fritz contributed to this report.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation hasn't yet become a top issue for most voters. But when it comes to fundraising, Democrats and Republicans battling for control of Congress in November are using the probe to cash in.

Some Democrats are pitching to donors that they'll prevent Mueller's ouster or other interference by President Donald Trump. Republicans are telling contributors that they need to keep control of Congress to block the president's impeachment or continued "witch hunts" by Democrats who want him out of office.

While polls show the broad cross-section of voters are mostly focused the economy, health care, immigration and other issues, the Mueller investigation into possible Trump campaign links to Russia's election interference and the prospect of an attempt to impeach the president energizes core voters -- and loyal donors -- from both parties.

Democrats are fighting to flip at least 23 Republican-held seats in November to win a majority in the House. The party will have a tougher time gaining control of the Senate, where they have 26 seats to defend, compared with just eight for Republicans -- one of the most politically skewed Senate-election maps in history.

With a majority in either chamber, Democrats could expand existing congressional Russia investigations or start new ones. Some Democrats want to pursue impeachment even though party leaders say that's not on their agenda. That could change depending on the outcome of the probe.

David Richardson, a self-described progressive who is one of five Democrats running for a South Florida House seat being vacated by Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, is among those trying to raise money by raising the prospect of impeaching Trump.

An email from his campaign this month said: "Unless we win here, we'll have no chance to pass Medicare for All, no chance to ban assault weapons, and no chance to finally impeach Donald Trump."

Richardson campaign consultant Eric Johnson said a separate impeachment-themed video released this month -- designed as a fundraising appeal -- "is getting tremendous response." The appeal pokes fun at how Democratic candidates aren't supposed to mention impeachment but says Richardson isn't afraid to do so in advance of an Aug. 28 primary.

A series of solicitations by the Democratic Party have been focused more on protecting Mueller and his work from threats by Trump to dismiss him.

"It's clear the only way we will EVER learn the truth about Trump's Russian ties is if Robert Mueller finishes his investigation," the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in a July email that asked supporters to sign a petition to protect the special counsel, and to send donations.

Republicans are asking for money by painting a dire picture of what might happen under Democratic control, including impeachment.

The political arm of the conservative House Freedom Caucus sought contributions to 10 candidates in a July 26 email saying many Democrats "want to impeach President Trump and continue business as usual in Washington." A Friday appeal from the group, signed by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio said Democratic control would result in years of "witch hunts and obstruction."

The re-election campaign of Sen. Dean Heller, a Nevada Republican, told prospective donors in a May 7 email that Democrats want a Senate majority "for one reason and one reason only. To Impeach President Trump."

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes of California, a fervent defender of Trump who shifted the focus of his panel's own Russia-election meddling probe to alleged misconduct by the FBI and Justice Department, has asked for money by citing "the politically motivated witch hunt from the media and the left."

Some conservative candidates have been warning that Democratic majorities in Congress could lead to Trump's impeachment over the Russia probe.

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, said on Twitter that a statement by Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke that he'd vote for articles of impeachment is "reckless" and an effort to raise money from the "far left." Congressman Chris Collins, a New York Republican who suspended his campaign Saturday amid an insider trading indictment against him, said Democrats would like nothing more than to elect an "impeach Trump" Democrat in his district.

In many key races, the candidates are mostly avoiding the subject in front of voters. The battle for control of the House and Senate will be determined in swing districts, where neither party dominates and where appeals to independent voters will tend to skip over the most polarizing issues.

Candidates may be holding off raising the Russia investigation in campaign appearances and speeches because they don't want to have to change their positions as new information is released, said Lee Miringoff, director of the Poughkeepsie, New York-based Marist Institute for Public Opinion.

But Miringoff said the fundraising pitches can avoid that problem by using "different angles without being a key part of a candidates' advertising or stump speech."

A July 25 Quinnipiac poll found that 65 percent of Democratic voters would want the House to begin impeachment proceedings against the president if they win back control of the House and 90 percent of Republican voters are against it. Among all voters 55 percent say they are against initiating impeachment of Trump, as do 53 percent of independents.

Ads mentioning the Russia investigation have been rare in broadcast television advertising. Such commercials ran about 1,200 times out of a total of more than 757,000 in the current two-year election cycle, according to data through Aug. 6 from Kantar Media's CMAG, which tracks political advertising.

The numbers don't include broadcast TV and national cable spots highlighting the probe sponsored by billionaire Tom Steyer, who announced Monday he'll spend $50 million on his Need to Impeach campaign to motivate voters to vote for Democratic candidates. Those ads have run thousands of times.

Campaigns declined to breakdown how much any particular fundraising appeal brings in. The recurring use of Russia in solicitations suggests both parties have found an effective message to collect donations from their most ardent supporters.

"A threat of the magnitude of the Mueller investigation to Trump's presidency is a natural motivator for both sides," said Marjorie Hershey, a political science professor at Indiana University. "The Mueller investigation is red meat."

--Bloomberg's John McCormick contributed.
Officials of the NAACP said they have "grave concerns" about an election snafu in Hamilton County that left the ballots of 43 voters uncounted in the Aug. 2 election.

The group said there has been little information given on the complex problem involving an earlier shift in voter lines.

They have written a letter to Mark Goins, state election coordinator, and Kerry Steelman, Hamilton County election coordinator, asking for answers to a number of questions. They asked that the questions be answered prior to the Hamilton County Election Commission meeting Wednesday morning to certify the election.

The letter says:

Dear Mr. Steelman and Mr. Goins:



The Chattanooga Branch NAACP, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

and several of our community partners based in Nashville write to express grave concerns regarding the more than 300 voters who were apparently placed within the wrong voting districts as a result of the redrawing of Hamilton Countys district lines in either 2013 or 2015.

We are further alarmed that 43 of these impacted voters who cast early ballots will not have those ballots counted and that the County Election Commissioners stated that nothing could be done about the disenfranchisement of these voters.

The Chattanooga Branch NAACP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Its mission is to ensure the political, education, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. The Chattanooga Branch NAACP encourages and facilitates nonpartisan voter registration drives to promote civic participation, and further promotes and defends voting rights.

As part of its core mission to defend voting rights, the Chattanooga Branch NAACP identified and drew attention to the redistricting issue that disenfranchised a significant number of voters in Hamilton County the day following Tennessees Primary Election. The Chattanooga Branch then involved the Lawyers Committee in its efforts to seek more transparency from the Hamilton County and Tennessee State Elections Commission regarding why the redistricting problem occurred

and how long it has continued to disenfranchise voters in the County.



The Lawyers Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to enlist the private bars leadership and resources in combating racial discrimination and the resulting inequality of opportunity. The Lawyers Committee is committed to ensuring that all voters have an equal and fair opportunity to participate in the political process. To that end, the Lawyers Committee leads the Election Protection Coalition which offers a voter hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) providing Americans from coast to coast with comprehensive voting information and a vehicle to report problems that arise on or before Election Day.

As we understand the facts, a 2013 or 2015 redistricting of Hamilton County shifted several geographic district boundaries, and the fact some voters were placed into the wrong voting

districts was not uncovered until last week by the Tennessee State Election Commission.

According to news reports, two days before the primary election on July 31, the Tennessee State Election Commission informed Hamilton County election officials that a discrepancy in lines was found when the state was doing some voter reports.

In response, the County election officials held an emergency meeting and approved ballot changes for the impacted voters that were then sent to the State Commission for approval. According to news reports, the County officials told the media that three new precincts had to be formed with a handful of voters in each. County officials also identified 325 impacted voters  43 of those voters

cast early ballots and the remaining 242 voters were issued special ballots at the polls.

The County officials stated that the 43 early ballots would not count and there was nothing that

they could do about the disenfranchisement of these voters.

The reports concerning boundary discrepancies and early ballots not counting are alarming. Little information exists on how boundary discrepancies or the number of affected voters were determined in the first place, why 43 early ballots were not counted and what steps were taken to inform these voters that their votes were not counted, and the extent of the State Commissions involvement in the Countys decision to create three new precincts and issue special ballots.

Moreover, little is known about the date that the redistricting occurred and how long voters have been casting votes in the wrong district and for the wrong officials. The fact that eligible voters ballots were potentially not counted for the past few years presents a larger problem that requires further investigation.



The State and Countys response to this problem has been less than transparent. The County has failed to provide any clarity regarding the full extent of the problem and on the ameliorative actions, if any, that were taken. In fact, neither the State nor the County issued a press release and news reports were scant. The Chattanooga Branch NAACP noted the lack of media coverage on this issue and election officials rebuffed attempts by our members to receive clarity on the full extent of events. Many questions remain unanswered and we ask that your office provide additional information.



Based on the above, we have a number of concerns regarding the primary elections held on August 2, not least of all is the lack of information provided by your office to the public regarding the problem. In order to ensure that we are able to ascertain the full extent of the problem so as to provide support for voters in of Hamilton County in the upcoming general election, we request that your offices provide detailed answers to the following questions:



1. How did your office accurately determine that only 325 voters were impacted by the redistricting? Is there a possibility that additional voters could have been impacted? What steps have you or your office taken to investigate this issue?



2. How did your office catch that district boundaries were shifted?



3. Can you provide the number of impacted voters broken down by the district in which they reside?



4. Can you provide a count of the impacted voters and a breakdown of those votes by those who voted early, absentee, by mail, and in person?



5. Can you provide numbers for total ballots that were counted? How many of each ballot type was not counted?



6. Based on the information in news reports, of the 43 early ballots that were not counted, were any of these voters informed that their vote was not going to count before voting was closed, and, if so, how? Were any of these voters informed that their ballots were not counted after voting was closed, and, if so, how?



7. What kind of special ballot was issued to the impacted voters? How many of the special ballots were counted?

8. What process did your office use to ensure that every eligible impacted individuals ballot was counted?



9. What affirmative steps are your office taking to reduce the burdens on voters learning the status of their ballot?



10. Were impacted voters informed about the actions they must take, if any, in

order to have their ballots counted?



11. Has your office determined when the redistricting error occurred; has your office launched an investigation into how many voters were affected each year since the boundary discrepancies changed either in 2013 or 2015?



12. How many district boundaries were changed geographically?



13. What was the population of each district prior to the boundaries being changed? What was the population of each district after the boundaries were changed in each subsequent year until the error was discovered last

week?



14. Can you provide the number of registered voters in each district prior to the boundaries being changed? Can you provide the number of registered voters in each district after the boundaries were changed?



15. What instructions were provided to poll workers regarding the use of special ballots on Primary Day? What instructions were provided to poll workers following disclosure of the impacted voters? Were copies of any written instructions or revised protocols disseminated to voters on Primary

Day? Were poll workers informed which voters were impacted and which voters should be issued special ballots, and, if so, how?

16. Were any news alerts issued on Primary Day? If so, where were these placed and in what languages? What other steps were taken to communicate with impacted voters on Election Day?



17. Can you provide all documents (including email, text messages, telephone conversations, letters sent via post) that your office issued to the County officials concerning this issue?



18. What steps are your offices taking to prevent the recurrence of such a problem in future elections including the November midterms?



As you know, federal and state laws create obligations for informing voters whether any provisional or special ballots were counted. It is essential that voters have confidence in the electoral process and also critical that this kind of incident never happens again. To that end, we are requesting that you provide answers to our questions by Wednesday, August 15, 2018, before the date of official certification on August 20, 2018.

We are also requesting a meeting with you to discuss this matter and to determine what happened and what steps must be taken to prevent its recurrence.We look forward to hearing from you by Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

Please send your responses to Marcia Johnson-Blanco at mblanco@lawyerscommittee.org, Ezra Rosenberg at erosenberg@lawyerscommittee.org, Anson Asaka at aasaka@naacpnet.org, and Dr. Eleanor Woods at naacpchattanooga@epbfi.com. If you would like to set up a time to speak on the

phone regarding this matter, please contact (202) 662-8319.

We thank you for your immediate attention to this important matter.



Sincerely,



Marcia Johnson-Blanco

Co-director of the Voting Rights Project

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law



Ezra Rosenberg

Co-director of the Voting Rights Project

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law



Dr. Eleanor Woods

President

The Chattanooga Branch NAACP



Dr. Sekou Franklin, Ph.D.

1921 11th Avenue North

Nashville, TN 37208



Democracy Nashville-Democratic Communities

P.O. Box 282482

Nashville, TN 37228
STAMFORD  The citys building boom and the wholesale reimagining of the South End neighborhood could have political ramifications Tuesday as voters in the two state house districts with contested primaries go to the polls in much different demographic areas than they did years ago.

The 146th, where incumbent Terry Adams faces David Michel for the Democratic ticket, is a prime example. The district - which spans Shippan, the South End and most of downtown - is now home to more people, more wealthy residents and has a larger share of white residents and renters than it had in 2009, an analysis of census figures show.

The 147th meanwhile, with two GOP candidates, Dariens Marcy Minnick and city Rep. Anzelmo Graziosi vying for the Republican slot Tuesday to go against Democrat Matt Blumenthal in November, has also changed.

The district, which picks up the eastern half of North Stamford and a sliver of Darien, has long been more of a bedroom community than the younger 146th, but figures show that it too is starting to shift, younger and wealthier, albeit at a much slower pace.

A larger share of residents in the 147th now rent  10 percentage points more  and the district has gotten younger although its median age of nearly 42 years old is still older than other parts of the city.

Meanwhile, the average household size, 2.85 people, has stayed the same.

To be fair, maps outlining the voting districts have also changed since 2009, and that plays a role in the demographic changes seen in a Stamford Advocate analysis of the oldest and newest demographic figures available  U.S. Census Bureau estimates from 2009 and 2016.

But unlike demographic shifts seen after post-census redistricting in other parts of the country, sometimes contested as partisan gerrymandering, it appears that the massive shifts here in Stamford have more to do with how the city has grown than creative cartography.

Mirroring the city as a whole, both districts have gained residents since 2009: the 147th has 1,000 more residents, the 146th nearly 2,200.

The 146ths population boom  8 percent in five years  appears to have brought people that have little in common with the district of old.

The areas median household income is up 69 percent  now at nearly $120,000, within striking distance of the 147ths $139,000, which includes a slice of affluent Darien.

In 2009, the median household income for the residents of the 146th was $71,000.

The district has long been renter-heavy, with both the South End and downtown to account for, but the share of those who rent, has also jumped considerably, figures show.

While more than half of 146ths residents were renters in 2009, that has jumped 14 percentage points.

Nearly three quarters of those residing in the 146th now rent.

A large portion of that newfound population can be pegged to the Harbor Point development, which turned vacant industrial land to rental apartments.

With Harbor Points luxury rental units, the district has also become younger and whiter, it appears.

The median age in the 146th went from 35 to 33. The share of white residents in the district went from 58 percent of residents to 63 percent, or 15,900 people.

barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton
Washington

A state review into the treatment of immigrant teens held at a Virginia detention center confirmed the facility uses restraint techniques that can include strapping children to chairs and placing mesh bags over their heads.

But investigators concluded the harsh treatment described by detainees at the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center did not meet the state's legal threshold of abuse or neglect, according to a copy of the findings issued Monday by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice and obtained by The Associated Press.

The regulators did make several recommendations to improve conditions inside the facility, including hiring more bilingual staff and better screening to provide care for detainees who suffer from mental health issues.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the review in June hours after the AP published first-person accounts by children as young as 14 who said they were handcuffed, shackled and beaten at the facility, located near Staunton, Va. They also described being stripped of their clothes and locked in solitary confinement, sometimes strapped to chairs with bags over their heads.

The state investigators said they were unable to interview the immigrant teens who made sworn statements saying they were severely abused. Those who made the initial complaints as part of a federal class-action lawsuit filed in November 2017 were subsequently transferred to other facilities or deported back to their home countries after the resolution of their immigration cases.

The Virginia governor issued a statement applauding his administration's "quick and comprehensive examination."

Said Northam, a Democrat, "The safety of every child being held there is of the utmost importance."

Hannah M. Lieberman, a lawyer at the at the Washington Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs representing the Latino teens, said the state report doesn't disprove the abuse allegations made by her clients. She said the legal case will proceed.
Rates rose all over the country on Affordable Care Act plans this year. But nowhere were individual exchange plans more expensive than in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Residents in the small university town who didn't qualify for government subsidies paid monthly premiums that were two to even three times higher than they had the year before. Insurers had pulled out of the area ahead of 2018, as was true in markets all over the country. After some cajoling from the state, Optima agreed to cover Charlottesville and its surrounding county, but with no competition priced its plans exorbitantly.

Consumers were furious and formed a 700-person-strong alliance. Since fall 2017 they've been relentless in their pursuit of more affordable care, hiring lawyers and educating themselves on the intricacies of health law.

Then Friday they received some welcome news: Anthem, which had left the market last year, was re-entering the individual market for 2019 at significantly lower rates than Optima.

Even as President Donald Trump claims the ACA is dead, it actually seems to be bouncing back after years of uncertainty -- and Charlottesville is one of the most dramatic examples of the law's resilience.

"After a thoughtful review of the stability in the marketplace in Virginia, Anthem has revised its Individual health plan offerings for 2019 to include additional cities and counties," the company's spokesman, Scott Golden, said in an email.

All over the country, insurers are lowering (or only slightly increasing rates) and re-entering markets. "I think the good news is our market is rebounding back toward a more competitive atmosphere," said Doug Gray, the executive director of Virginia Association of Health Plans.

There are several factors that likely account for the stabilization of the ACA's individual market going into next year. Many insurance companies feared the unknown with a Trump White House. They expected the law to be repealed. Shortly before 2018 open enrollment, the administration eliminated cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), which were paid to insurers to help them absorb the costs of discounted deductibles and co-payments the companies are required by the ACA to offer some consumers.

"In the last year, there was a lot of uncertainty no one knew if the ACA was going to get repealed or not," Gray said. That was a serious question."

"The other serious question was whether the Trump administration would follow through on CSRs," he added. "When the administration says to you, 'we're going to change the contract and ensure you have large losses' it's not surprising people will look and say, 'I can't trust what will happen next'."

In many cases, insurers overestimated the affect of threats of the law's demise and the loss CSR payments would have on their bottom line. And even with this year's policy changes like the repeal of the individual mandate penalty and the expansion of low-cost, less-coverage short term and health association plans, insurers are projecting the market to be profitable and thus are able to keep their rates level or a bit higher. (Though many health policy experts say if not for the changes intended to weaken the ACA, premiums across the board would be much lower this year.)

"I think at least one factor is (prices) were so dramatic for 2018 many insurers are seeing that they overshot the mark and therefore they can't justify huge premium increases for 2019," said Timothy Jost, an emeritus professor of law at Washington and Lee University School of Law. "It's a very dynamic situation. I think the insurers are on a wild ride here and they're just hanging on, but it does look like the market is stabilizing a bit."

Virginia is also a special case, Jost told me, because the state agreed to expand Medicaid beginning January 1, 2019, meaning more low-income people will be covered through the government program. In other words, the insurance companies will no longer be covering anyone earning below 138 percent of the poverty line, which should, Jost reasons, reduce costs because lower income Americans are statistically less healthy.

One reason it's a big deal for Charlottesville -- and the dozen or more markets around the country where insurers are entering or coming back to states they'd fled -- is because competition drives down prices. Although competition is not technically supposed to be a factor in setting rates, a recent study published by Health Affairs found that "in 2018, Marketplace premiums were 50 percent ($180) higher, on average, in rating areas with monopolist insurers, compared to those with more than two insurers."

Cynthia Cox, director of health reform and private insurance at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told me that she's tracked new entrants in a dozen states.

"The ACA is much more stable than people would have given it credit for," she said.

While the stabilization of the ACA is certainly the reason why Anthem felt it could be profitable in the Charlottesville market, it's important to note the efforts of the consumers there who challenged the legality of Optima's extremely expensive rates. They even got an official at the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services to weigh in by email on July 13, telling them it would not be "appropriate" for a carrier to set its rates based on "competitive pricing or desired profit margins," as they claim Optima did.

The Commissioner of Insurance in Virginia, Scott White, did not see it that way and defended its approval of Optima's rates in an April letter.

But Gray said the consumers' activism may have played a role in Anthem's decision to get back into the market. "It is always nice to have people clamoring for your product," he told me.

"I hope it made an impact," Jost said of the consumers. "They're not just people complaining or people who have come up with some human-interest stories. They seem to understand insurance regulation and what the federal regulations are, frankly, I think they understand the regulations better than Optima and possibly better than the state regulators."

Ian Dixon, one of the Charlottesville residents who faced a $3,000-a-month premium for his family of four last year, helped lead the effort to get Optima's rates reduced. Even with Anthem back in, Dixon said the group might still continue arguing that Optima's rates were set unfairly.

"It's taken a ridiculous amount of hours, it's hard work to do it," he told me. "We've shone a light on something that's happened in the dark typically. When we really started digging in . . . we've been driven by knowing that we're right and the sense of injustice about it."
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's campaign has filed an arbitration action against Omarosa Manigault Newman, alleging that the former White House aide, who just published a tell-all book, has broken a 2016 confidentiality agreement, a campaign official said Tuesday.

The action, which the campaign said was filed in New York, comes amid a publicity tour by Manigault Newman to promote her book, "Unhinged," which portrays Trump as bigoted and racist and questions his mental capacity.

During a television appearance Tuesday afternoon, Manigault Newman said she didn't believe she had violated the agreement.

"It's interesting that he's trying to silence me, so what is he trying to hide? What is he afraid of?" she said on MSNBC. "I think he should be afraid of being exposed as the misogynist, the bigot and the racist that he is."

The Washington Post has not seen a nondisclosure agreement signed by Manigault Newman during the campaign, but copies of other agreements signed by aides include broad prohibitions on behavior and appear to be drawn heavily from similar contracts used by the Trump Organization, the president's family firm.

Under one such agreement, signers promised not to "demean or disparage publicly" Trump, his company or any member of his family. Signers also agree to participate in binding arbitration at Trump's discretion if a dispute arises over the agreement. Trump also reserves the right to take signers to court.

Trump has threatened legal action against book authors and other perceived adversaries but has not followed through on many occasions.

It was not immediately clear what Trump's campaign, which was headquartered in New York in 2016, was hoping to achieve with its action filed with the American Arbitration Association.

The action comes as Trump has publicly disparaged Manigault Newman, the former reality television star who was the highest-ranking black employee in the White House.

Writing on Twitter on Tuesday morning, the president called her "that dog" and a "crying lowlife," and he praised his chief of staff, John Kelly, for firing her last year.

After requiring nondisclosure agreements of campaign aides, Trump has sought NDAs from dozens of White House aides, according to current and former administration employees.

At a regular briefing Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to say whether she or any other specific staffers had signed an NDA, although she described the practice as commonplace.

"I'm not going to get into the back and forth on who has signed an NDA here at the White House," Sanders said. "I can tell you that it's common in a lot of places for employees to sign NDAs, including in government, particularly anyone with a security clearance."

Yet NDAs have not been widely used by past administrations outside the transition time between presidents, in part because most legal experts believe such agreements are not legally enforceable for public employees.

Ari Fleischer, press secretary in the George W. Bush administration, said Bush aides weren't asked to sign NDAs unless they saw highly classified, sensitive information.

David Axelrod, President Barack Obama's former counselor, said it would be "unthinkable" for aides to sign such agreements.

In her book, Manigault Newman writes that the Trump campaign offered her a $15,000-a-month job upon leaving the White House in exchange for signing a broadly worded NDA that would have barred her from disclosing details of her tenure in the administration. That agreement was never signed, she said.

Trump said on Twitter on Monday that Manigault Newman had signed an earlier agreement.

---

The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey, Ashley Parker, Philip Rucker and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump has spent a good portion of the last 24 hours arguing he doesn't use racial slurs. And in the course of doing it, he used a sexist one.

Trump's Twitter feed, as House Speaker Paul Ryan will gladly tell you, is meant to troll - to say something highly controversial while carving out enough gray area to allow his ardent supporters to defend him and argue the media is overblowing it. But sometimes it's abundantly clear he knows exactly what he's doing. And his tweet Tuesday morning about Omarosa Manigault Newman being a "dog" was clearly in that vein. There's just know way this was innocent.

Here's the tweet: "When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didn't work out," Trump said. "Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!"

As most any devoted Trump supporter will tell you (and did tell me Tuesday morning on Twitter), Trump has likened all kinds of people to animals, including dogs. He likes to invoke the word "dog" while attacking his opponents, including upon their terminations." As NBC News catalogues:

"In June 2016, he slammed Mitt Romney for having "choked like a dog" in the 2012 presidential race. Earlier that year, he blasted former NBC News journalist David Gregory for having been "fired like a dog," and said the same about conservative commentator Erick Erickson after he left the RedState blog. He's used the word to insult Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Glenn Beck and NBC News' Chuck Todd."

Those are all, notably, men. So just as Trump supporters have fought back against the idea that Trump disproportionately labels black people "dumb" or "stupid" by pointing to all the times he did the same with white people -- nevermind that 13 of the last 22 have been black -- they can point to all the times Trump also likened men to dogs. It's just what he does! He's an equal opportunity offender!

But Trump knows better. It's basically impossible to believe he didn't know how this tweet would be interpreted. And that's not just because he's a 72-year-old man; it's also because his use of the term "dog" and other similar references to women's appearances were a big issue in the 2016 campaign.

Trump had previously called Rosie O'Donnell a "fat pig" and a "slob." He called both a lawyer doing a deposition of him and Bette Midler "disgusting." And as for the d-word, he used that on both Arianna Huffington ("a dog") and New York Times columnist Gail Collins ("face like a dog").

In fact, Trump's first big moment on a 2016 debate stage was when he was asked about these past comments, and he defended them as simply being politically incorrect. The best defense here is that Trump simply doesn't remember this whole thing, which would be an indictment of him in and of itself.

Trump wants this discussion. He wants the attention. He wants to be seen as being a bare-knuckle brawler with his opponents. He wants the media to overreact in his supporters' eyes. It's all part of his M.O. And his supporters like it.

But that's different than arguing that what he tweeted Tuesday morning wasn't meant to be a sexist slur against Manigault Newman. The evidence is too overwhelming, and the pattern is too clear -- both in Trump's comments about women and his clear tendency to troll on Twitter.
Turkey's political conflict with the U.S. and the crisis engulfing its currency offer a golden opportunity for Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to pry a key geopolitical swing state away from its western allies. It may not be that simple.

While Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have repaired relations that plunged into crisis when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet in 2015, the Kremlin leader can offer little to ease Ankara's economic pain or to persuade the owner of NATO's second-largest army to abandon the military alliance for closer ties with Moscow.

"Relations with Turkey are quite constructive today. But there's nothing permanent in politics, anything can change," said Frants Klintsevich, a member of the defense and security committee in Russia's upper house of parliament. "We're not building illusions along with these relations."

Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey was a vital bulwark of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It hosts an important U.S. airbase at Incirlik and offers a gateway to the Black Sea for American warships. Amid unprecedented confrontation with Washington that's sparked U.S sanctions, Erdogan warned on Saturday that the decades-long alliance is at risk and that Turkey "may start looking for new friends and allies."

As the lira crisis intensified, Erdogan spoke to Putin by phone on Friday, mainly about "trade and economic cooperation," according to the Kremlin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began a two-day visit to Turkey on Monday for talks with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine as well as on economic projects including the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the $20 billion Akkuyu nuclear power plant that Rosatom Corp. is building.

Putin told Erdogan that Russia and Turkey "are on the same page" at talks last month, when he highlighted their cooperation in Syria. They agreed last year to lift most trade sanctions imposed after Putin accused Turkey of a "stab in the back" when its air force downed the Russian warplane near the Syrian border. Restrictions remain on imports of Turkish tomatoes that were worth a quarter-billion dollars a year.

Turkey's economic vulnerability means U.S. President Donald Trump "will probably win this time," Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center said on Twitter. "Erdogan won't leave NATO. However, Trump's ham-fisted approach to allies will have major consequences in reshaping world order," he said.

The 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan turbo-charged efforts to rebuild relations with Moscow after the Turkish leader faced strong criticism from the U.S. and other NATO allies for a crackdown on tens of thousands of alleged political opponents. By contrast, Turkey said Russia offered "unconditional support."

Trump's decision this month to impose sanctions against Turkey, and to double steel and aluminum tariffs, over the detention of an evangelical American preacher further inflamed tensions. So, too, did a warning from Washington that relations will be "very difficult to repair" if Erdogan takes delivery of an advanced S-400 missile-defense system from Russia.

Erdogan has touted Russia as among the alternatives available to Turkey amid the crisis with the U.S. He repeatedly refers to Putin as "my friend," and expressed gratitude to Russia for accelerating the sale of the S-400.

While Russia isn't counting on Turkey leaving NATO, "of course we'll play up the differences between Erdogan and the U.S.," said Vladimir Frolov, a foreign-policy analyst in Moscow and a former Russian diplomat. "It serves our interests better to have an offended Turkey inside NATO to undermine the alliance's capabilities."

After the ruble's worst week since the 2015 oil crash amid mounting risks of crippling U.S. sanctions over alleged election meddling, Russia's hardly in a good position to help Turkey as Putin tries to jumpstart the economy that's emerging from recession. "No requests have been received" from Erdogan for economic help, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call Monday.

Even so, Turkey's almost certain to need a bailout and it would be a huge step toward moving Ankara's "financial, economic, political, and yes, military reorientation eastwards" if aid came from its "new friends" Russia or China, Michael Every, senior Asia-Pacific strategist at Rabobank said in a report. "These chances come along once every few generations," he said.

"Russia isn't going to bail out Turkey," which must solve its own economic problems, said Elena Suponina, a Middle East scholar in Moscow. "Russia's task is not to save Turkey but to maintain normal, healthy relations with it."

- With assistance from Bloomberg's Henry Meyer , Olga Tanas and Benjamin Harvey .
The Blow | The Blow

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The City of Stafford will continue to foot the bill for school resource officers in Texas' only municipal school district.

City council members and Stafford MSD trustees voted unanimously at a joint meeting Monday to use city funds to pay $186,000 in salaries for three officers to patrol the 3,600-student district, which is located just southwest of Beltway 8.

Questions over who would fund those positions roiled the city and school district for about a week in late July after city officials found a state statute they believed prohibited them from providing taxpayer funds to other government entities.

RELATED: Stafford school trustees hope to hammer out security deal

School officials had asked the city to fund a third school resource officer in the wake of a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County, in which 10 died and 13 were wounded.

That request prompted school and city officials to search for a 2007 memorandum of understanding that detailed how the city funds police services for the schools. They could not find the document, making it unclear which expenses each entity had agreed to pay for extra security.

At a July 25 council meeting, Stafford City Attorney Leah Hayes said the city could no longer pay for the resource officers due to state statutes. As a result, Councilman Wen Guerra proposed a motion that the city enter into a memorandum of understanding with the school district to provide the officers. The item, which was approved 6-1, did not specify how much the city or the district would pay for those services.

READ ALSO: New costs for SRO officers a sour pill for Stafford Municipal School District officials

Stafford MSD trustees interpreted the vote as the city abandoning its 37-year practice of funding officers in Stafford's schools. Trustees and the school district fired off a press release lambasting the decision, which was followed by harsh rebuttal penned by city officials.

The miscommunications were reconciled at a special school board meeting on Aug. 2, during which trustees voted unanimously to work with the city on how to fund the resource officers going forward.

EXPLAINER: What security changes are coming to Santa Fe schools after shooting?

In a press release issued Tuesday, Stafford MSD officials said the newly reached funding agreement was the result of "countless hours of discussion" between Stafford MSD Superintendent Robert Bostic, Stafford Police Chief Richard Ramirez, school board trustees, city council members and multiple attorneys.

"These individuals fulfilled their promise to the students of Stafford MSD to provide a safe and secure campus," the district wrote.
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A 12-year-old girl was grazed by a bullet when her home in southwest Houston was struck by gunfire in a drive-by shooting Monday night, police said.

Sometime between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, a car drove down the 11500 block of Fairmont, in the Fondren area, and shot at the upper level of a house, Det. Arthur Ferrell said.
Six years after journalist Austin Tice was kidnapped while reporting in Syria, Marc and Debra Tice swung through Washington and New York on Tuesday with one simple message: Enough. Its time to bring Austin home.

The American government and the Syrian government need to engage directly to secure Austins safe release, Debra Tice said Sunday. Its been six years.

Tice, a 37-year-old Houston native and former Marine, disappeared six years ago while reporting on the Syrian civil war for The Washington Post, the McClatchy newspaper chain and other news outlets.

The Tices reiterated calls for their sons release in an appearance on NBCs Today Show, and in a stop at the National Press Club, which hosted an exhibition of photographs that Austin shot in Syria while covering the conflict there.

The exhibition  titled Children of Syria  was first displayed at Georgetown University. Debra Tice said she hopes to display it at other universities in Washington and elsewhere, and at the U.S. Senate and House.

Focusing attention

The Tices visit to the nations capital comes as the Trump administration has prioritized the recovery of American hostages  including the May release of three Americans held prisoner in North Korea and the July freeing of a Houston native jailed in Vietnam  and amid a shift in the U.S. governments efforts to locate Tice in recent years.

In April, the FBI announced that it was offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Tices whereabouts and his return to the U.S.

Margaux Ewen, the North America director for Reporters Without Borders, the press freedom watchdog, said Tices story needs to remain a priority for American journalists.

Its certainly challenging, the way news is produced and shared these days, to keep the publics attention on Austin because hes been gone so long, she said. But when people do hear about Austin, most are supportive and want to help, and the way they can help is by spreading the word about his case.

According to Reporters Without Borders, more foreign journalists are held captive in Syria than anywhere else, with three people missing for longer than five years. Of those, Tice is the lone American being held abroad. Kevin Patrick Dawes, a photographer from California, was kidnapped in 2012 by government forces and released four years later. Jordanian journalist Bashar al-Kadumi and British reporter John Cantlie have been held captive there since 2012, a Reporters Without Borders report from last year noted.

The Tices have steadfastly pushed to keep attention focused on Austins plight and to bring him home.

Since 2012, they have visited dozens of government officials. Theyve worked with Clear Channel to show Tices story on billboards around Houston, launched a campaign in newspapers nationwide to highlight his story, traveled to the Middle East in search of information about their sons whereabouts, and appeared on major TV networks to press for his release.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Monday that Tices absence over the past six years has proved an unimaginable and devastating time for Tices family and friends.

Im in awe of their perseverance as they continue their relentless push to bring him home, he said, renewing past calls for Tices release. Im thankful the Trump administration shares my desire to see him come home as soon as possible.

Courage and fortitude

Officials from the news organizations where Tice worked have also continued to press for his return and raise awareness about his work. Washington Post Foreign editor Douglas Jehl said that Tices stories from Syria contributed important, on-the-ground reporting at a decisive phase in the conflict.

His family has endured unimaginable pain as a result of his captivity, he said. His parents, Debra and Marc Tice, have championed his cause with passion, courage and fortitude.

Officials at the McClatchy newspaper chain penned op-eds calling for Tices release. Last week, company officials raised flags emblazoned with the phrase Free Austin Tice at its 33 newsrooms across the country, another move meant to bring attention to his absence.

We owe it to Austin, to his family and to journalists everywhere to keep telling his story, said Tim Grieve, McClatchys vice president of news. And its a somber reminder for all Americans about the risks journalists take every day to do their jobs and keep us informed.

st.john.smith@chron.com

twitter.com/stjbs
The parents of Raymond Pryer Jr. alleged that staff at a Houston day care facility were "grossly negligent" when they left their 3-year-old boy in a sweltering school van following a field trip last month, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday morning in Harris County District Court.

RELATED: Police, prosecutors to review death of 3-year-old in van for possible charges

The father, Raymond Pryer and mother, Dikeisha Whitlock-Pryer, said in a news conference Tuesday morning that their child's death on July 19 left them "destroyed." They're hoping the lawsuit sends a message to all daycares to follow safety procedures, and in some cases implement additional measures that prevent children from being forgotten in hot vehicles.

The family is also asking for more than $1 million in monetary relief, but their attorney said no amount of money could make up for their anguish.

"I feel like a whole part of my insides is missing," Raymond Pryer said during the news conference.

The family has since created a website for their son to draw attention to vehicular heat tragedies.

Around the time of the toddler's death, investigators and first responders said a chaperone and the driver, both daycare employees, left the boy in the bus for more than four hours after returning from a field trip at a local park with nearly 30 children.

The boy was discovered after his father came to the daycare center to pick him up, and a search determined he had been left in the van where temperatures were recorded as high as 113 degrees.

Houston police said they are still investigating the situation, and no criminal charges have been filed. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is also continuing its investigation into the death, spokeswoman Tejal Patel said.

Discovering Me, located in the 8000 block of Antoine Drive, remained closed on Tuesday afternoon. Wilson said he didn't know whether the daycare or its owner and director, Tanisha Butler, have retained an attorney.

Discovering Me was cited in 2015 for failing to install safety alarms on the buses to prevent such tragedies, according to state records. They corrected that oversight within a month, but authorities have not elaborated on the safety measures in the bus where Raymond died, citing the ongoing investigation.

The family's attorney, Larry Wilson, said the boy's death could have been prevented if the daycare followed its own procedures.

"You take your children to a daycare in the morning, and you expect that people at the daycare will be looking out for your children," Wilson said. "That's all this family wanted."

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com
Houston police have released surveillance images to help locate suspects in the fatal shooting of a man at an Alief restaurant.

Johnny Paramo Torres, 25, was shot and killed around 7:45 p.m. on Aug. 4, when a verbal altercation at La Union restaurant lot turned violent.
Leon County police recently discovered a massive marijuana growing operation roughly 45 miles north of College Station.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office said they seized 1,800 marijuana plants, as well as an undisclosed amount of methamphetamines and illegal firearms last week.

A 53-year-old man, Noel Hernandez, and a 52-year-old woman, Irma Morenopelayo, were arrested for possession of marijuana in connection to the drug bust, according to KBTX-TV.

"... He had two different crops there in different stages," Sheriff Kevin Ellis told the news station. "[They] had a small greenhouse where they were starting some of the plants and then moving one field to planting and onto another field."

Four vehicles were also seized on the property.

The plants will be tested at a state lab in Waco and later destroyed.

Police said the case is still under investigation.

RELATED: Coast Guard finds Mexican fishermen with 59 sharks in Texas

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93




Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a final list of projects that would be funded by the $2.5 billion flood bond that goes before voters Aug. 25.

Without discussion, commissioners approved the massive list of more than 230 flood mitigation projects across the county, which would repair infrastructure, improve channels, create detention basins, buy out flooded homes and buildings, and fund engineering studies.

So far, early voter turnout in the bond election has been low. Fewer than 46,000 ballots have been cast since early voting began last Wednesday. But county officials have said they expect the voting to pick up as election day - on Saturday Aug. 25, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey - approaches.

The projects were developed by the Harris County Flood Control District, which sought input from residents at about two dozen public meetings this summer. Thirty-eight of the proposed projects came from those meetings.

"It was developed in a very public way and the public actually added projects to it," said County Judge Ed Emmett.

If the bond is approved, Harris County homeowners will see an increase in their property taxes: 2 cents to 3 cents per $100 of assessed value over the 10-15 year life of the bond.

Matthew Zeve, chief operations officer for the flood control district, said the bond projects will have an impact on nearly everyone in the county.

"I think that if people take a few minutes to look up our project map on our website, they'll find something that's near to their home or business or school and could have some positive benefits," he said.

The $2.5 billion bond would be the largest local investment in flood control after Harvey - but the flood control district believes even more money will be needed to pay for all of them.

Russ Poppe, the flood control district's executive director, explained in a letter to the court that the sum of the 237 projects on the list is $3.12 billion, which is $620 million more than the bond total.

"It is likely additional funding may be required to complete the project list, and the district will continue to pursue additional partnership funding sources to help with this effort," Poppe wrote.

These options include partnerships with the state and federal government. Poppe said the flood control district's annual $120 million budget could also be used to pay for some projects.

The flood control district has also left $500 million un-allocated in the $2.5 billion bond as a contingency fund.

"The $2.5 billion certainly takes care of the vast majority" of projects, Emmett said.

Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at zach.despart@chron.com.

Alyson Ward is a Metro writer for the Chronicle. She can be reached at alyson.ward@chron.com.
AUSTIN  The pistol issued to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez while she was Dallas County Sheriff is missing, according to a sheriffs report.

An investigation into what happened to the Beretta 9 mm pistol is ongoing, said Raul Reyna, spokesman for the sheriffs department. He said Monday the office launched an investigation on July 13 when a report was created to document the missing weapon.

Former Dallas County Sheriff Valdez has been approached about a missing firearm that was loaned to her during her administration and is working with the sheriffs department to locate it, read a statement from Reyna. The firearm is considered missing and a report has been generated. If it is recovered, the firearm will be readily identifiable. The case is currently under investigation to determine what happened to the firearm.

As first reported by the Dallas Morning News, the former sheriff was given the pistol when a gun of the same model she owned had a malfunction. A sheriffs office report filed in July stated it is likely the pistol was stolen or misplaced when Valdez resigned from her post to run for office in December 2017.

The report was created to document the missing weapon in the event it was obtained by a criminal or used in a crime.

CAMPAIGN: Lupe Valdez's latest endorsement: Elizabeth Warren

As mentioned in the report, it is possible that this weapon could have been stolen or misplaced during Sheriff Valdez's moving transition and she is working with Dallas County Sheriff Department to locate the firearm, said Juan Bautista Dominguez, a spokesman for Valdez political campaign.

Valdez was first elected Dallas County sheriff in 2004. She stepped down to run for governor as a Democrat against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

andrea.zelinski@chron.com

Twitter.com/andreazelinski
WASHINGTON  Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro travels this week to the Iowa State Fair  a rite of passage for White House seekers since the 1950s - as he gears up for a run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

Castro has been running a PAC, writing a book and building quietly at the grassroots while helping 2018 candidates around the country get elected.

But with a speech on Friday at the fair at the time-honored Des Moines Registers Political Soapbox, Castro will thrust himself into a diverse mix of lesser-known Democrats expected to vie for their partys next nomination.

Castros three-day trip to Iowa is his first this year, which will trigger more speculation about his future. Iowa opens the 2020 presidential season with a round of precinct caucuses. Building a network is essential to making the cut in Iowa, known as the Big Winnower, and Castro could make headway this weekend with a strong impression.

Castro, 43, Housing secretary in the Obama administration, has said he will decide after the November midterm elections whether to seek the presidency. Earlier this year he visited New Hampshire, which holds the nations first primary. He was scheduled to be in Iowa in June but canceled to attend a protest in Texas over the Trump administration policy of separating migrant families at the border.

He recently picked up the pace of travel, campaigning in Nevada last week on behalf of office-seekers. Earlier this month, he was among potential Democratic presidential candidates who delivered speeches in New Orleans at a Netroots Nation conference, a gathering of left-leaning politicians and activists from around the country.

Dont waste a minute of your time feeling daunted that Donald Trump has a base of die-hard supporters. So did Richard Nixon before he resigned. So did (Alabama GOP Senate candidate) Roy Moore before he lost. And so will Donald Trump before he loses as well, Castro told his New Orleans audience.

Others who spoke included Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, all mentioned as possible contenders for the Democratic nomination.

Biography drops in October

Publishing a book often is a modern-day precursor to a presidential candidacy and Castros family-heavy biography, titled An Unlikely Journey, published by Little, Brown and Co., is scheduled for release Oct. 9.

Castro has worked to build a political operation outside Texas with his Opportunity First PAC, raising $464,000 thus far. Last week, the PAC announced endorsements of congressional and legislative candidates in Texas and 18 other states, including Iowa.

In Iowa, Castro planned events in a half-dozen cities and towns, meeting with activists and helping candidates raise money, all the while making contacts needed to compete in the Iowa caucuses.

Jennifer Fiore, spokeswoman for Castros PAC, said Castro aims to energize folks ahead of the midterms.

She added that Castro is actively working to elect Democrats in Iowa to local, state and federal offices where they can make a difference by increasing opportunity for all Iowans and bringing accountability back to Washington.

Castro is scheduled to meet on Saturday in Des Moines with Iowa Latino Political Network leaders and later that day attend a barbecue in the central Iowa city of Marshalltown, where Hispanics make up a quarter of the population. The number of Hispanics in Iowa has grown six-fold since the 1990s, to nearly 200,000, or 6 percent of the population.

Candidates amass after slow start

Candidate jockeying in Iowa has been slower to begin this cycle as better-known Democrats focus on helping their party regain control of the House. They may be wary, too, of opening themselves to early scrutiny.

Nonetheless, several prospective Democratic candidates are visiting Iowa this month, among them Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan of Ohio and Eric Swalwell of California. John Delaney, a Maryland congressman and entrepreneur who declared his candidacy a year ago, is scheduled to make his 14th trip to Iowa this weekend and already is airing television ads in the state.

Other more unconventional politicians also are showing up. Last week, Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, declared at a state party fundraiser that Democrats need a fighter to take on President Donald Trump. He implied that he fits the bill.

At the Registers Soapbox forum last week, former CIA officer Evan McMullin declared that his new mission is helping both parties elect moderate candidates. McMullin is a former top aide to House Republicans.

Andrew Yang, another entrepreneur and declared Democratic candidate, touted a plan to state fair-goers for a monthly $1,000 dividend for every adult in America.

A state that demands vision

Dennis Goldford, Drake University political science chair, predicted a fight in the state over the future of the party, which he jokingly referred to as the Sandinistas versus the Clintonites - a reference to Nicaraguan socialist party and Hillary Clintons former followers.

Those battles have been playing out in primaries around the country over support for a single-payer health care system.

Goldford, who has written a book on the Iowa caucuses, contends that Democrats have stumbled in Iowa over the years due to a lack of a clear vision, instead offering vague plans or arms-length lists of policy proposals.

He recalled Ronald Reagans are you better off than you were four years ago refrain in 1980 as an example of something easily understood.

All of his issues and programs hung on that. You have to have an overarching vision to give people a way of making sense of all your policy proposals, he said.

For Castro and others, now is a time for crafting a message while laying groundwork for a campaign.

In New Hampshire and New Orleans, Castro spoke of a 21st century blueprint for progress, which would include free public college.

Brainpower is the new currency for success in the 21st century economy, he said in New Orleans, suggesting a plan to embrace education themes.
A state lawmaker is pushing back against an order by Gov. Greg Abbott requiring state agencies to submit all rule changes to his office before they are implemented.

We dont know exactly where this is going, said Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, who says the lieutenant governor and speaker of the House have the authority to make that sort of change, not the governor.

Abbotts camp disagrees.

The change is well within the governors authority, said Abbott spokeswoman Ciara Matthews.

A preliminary review of proposed rules and regulations allows for a thorough assessment of the effectiveness, cost, benefit or potential harm these ideas might have on the state as required by law, Matthews said.

Abbott in late June invoked a 1981 executive order from former President Ronald Reagan in calling for the change. But Texas has a relatively narrow legislative role for the governor, giving him the power to veto bills and spending measures passed by the Legislature. The governor also appoints some leaders of state agencies.

What Reagan did in 1981, this honestly is not analogous to that, Cook said.

Cook, chairman of the house committee that oversees the governors office, said Abbott is already informally involved in discussions about major policy changes, and his new requirement could create a bottleneck in the governors office.

There are hundreds of rules proposed a month, and when you add this layer, we dont know if thats going to slow things down, Cook said. Weve been told a person in the governors office will be doing this. Having one person that can grasp all these agencies and all these rules, that's almost an unattainable responsibility.

There are dozens of Texas state agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Transportation, the Texas Education Agency and the Health and Human Services Commission.
As privacy controversies continue to absorb public attention both here and in Europe, we are hearing more and more about manipulative dark patterns where online services nudge people toward their preferred choices. One consumer report says these websites might be in violation of Europes new General Data Protection Regulation because the consent resulting from such manipulative practices is not informed and freely given.

In the U.S., Senator Mark Warner has proposed a Congressional determination that design tricks to exploit human psychology are unfair and deceptive practices to be prohibited by the Federal Trade Commission.

These techniques are everywhere and are used for good purposes

They arent the sole province of activities such as targeted ads that many seem to think are intrinsically wrong or risky. Go online to buy tickets for the new Bob Dylan play at the Public Theater in New York as I did last month. At checkout you will find an enormous, pre-checked bright red button labeled DONATE that has automatically added $15 to the purchase price. Now I already donated to the Public Theater and didnt want to give more. So, I clicked on the less visible Pay button and avoided the $15 surcharge. I had been nudged, but I didnt feel deceived in the slightest. I knew exactly what the Public Theater was doing, and since Im a supporter, Im glad they did it and wish them great success in increasing donations through this and other effective methods.

For another example, take a look at combat-veteran MJ Hegars moving political ad. Anyone with a heart  left, right or center  will be moved by it. It uses every video and audio trick in the book to create a positive impression of the candidate. But does anyone think it is deceptive because it is a strong appeal to emotions rather than an exercise in dispassionate policy analysis?

Reporters too use these techniques all the time to frame stories. They often report what they think is the truth, then what they take to be false or misleading, and then a refutation of the falsehood and they finish with a restatement of the truth. For example, they might start an article with the fact that illegal immigration from Mexico is going down, then report a false rumor that it is going up, emphasize its falsity, and close by repeating the fact.

This truth sandwich approach is widely used. Some think it is condescending to the audience, and based on junk science. But is it manipulative in way that calls for legal prohibition?

In fact, calls for prohibition in this area might threaten activities protected by the First Amendment, and not just journalism. In Sorrell v. IMS, the Supreme Court made it crystal clear that the creation and dissemination of information are speech for First Amendment purposes. The court struck down a Vermont law regulating prescription information on free speech grounds, saying fear that speech might persuade provides no lawful basis for quieting it. Going after manipulative data collection and use might face a steep uphill climb to avoid constitutional infirmities.

The FTC already has authority to prohibit deceptive acts and practices

The agency has full authority to act when statements or omissions are false or misleading. It is careful to use this authority only when the misrepresentation or omission is material, that is, when a reasonable person might have made a different decision if he or she had known certain information. But it is not afraid to use this power to stop bad actors. For example, the Commission was entirely right to go after smart TV manufacturer Vizio for failure to inform viewers that it was tracking their viewing habits.

Design decisions would fall under the FTCs deception authority under the same standards of review. And some design choices might be deceptive. For this reason, the Electronic Privacy Information Center did the right thing in drawing the attention of the FTC to these issues.

Dark patterns shouldnt be a privacy issue

I would be cautious about addressing dark patterns as privacy violations, as many are thinking. The issues they raise turn on fact-intensive assessments of particular situations and controversial distinctions between closely-related concepts like deception, manipulation, coercion and nudging. The Europe Data Privacy Supervisor is right to note that the line between persuasion and manipulation goes well beyond data protection. Dark patterns are best addressed under existing rules for deception.

Lets remember how data protection policy got to the point of worrying about deceptive designs. Under GDPR and the new California privacy law, consumer choice is the primary means of ensuring consumer protection. If design undermines this choice, then privacy seems to be violated.

Of course, giving people information and letting them decide is often a way of affirming their dignity and autonomy as free rational agents. But it turns out to be a very poor way to protect them from abuse when consumer information is collected in such a variety of ways and used for such a variety of purposes. In these circumstances, any process of obtaining consent is going to be complex and confusing.

In a way, relying primarily on individual control is a way of responsibilizing consumers for their own data protection, turning a job that should be the function of government and responsible businesses into a task for isolated individuals trying to go about their daily business. Its as if we turned road safety over to drivers, requiring them to pay close attention to highway hazard signs and to take another route if they think the danger ahead is too great. Making sure these warning signs are accurate and complete wouldn't be a satisfactory way to provide highway safety.

A new privacy law in the U.S. should move away from this primary reliance on choice, thus putting less weight on addressing the thorny issues involved in dark patterns.
Amanda Wintersieck, Ph.D, a political science professor at UT-Chattanooga, will be the speaker at the Aug. 21 meeting of the JFK Club.



Her topic will be, What Happened in the August 2 Election and What We Can Expect in November.

Dr. Wintersiecks research focuses on political behavior and political communication, including the effects of political campaigns on voters evaluations of candidates, the role of the news media and other factors.



The club meets from noon until 1 p.m. at the Feed Co. Table & Tavern, 201 W. Main St.

The price for the meal is $15, including tax and tip.



Those planning to attend should RSVP to Larry Miller at drmillerlg@gmail.com. "The notice is important as we are obligated to pay for the meals for all who attend," officials said.
The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...

[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
There is one word which sums up what weve found as weve travelled across England over the last eighteen months. Civil Society Futures  the independent inquiry into the future of civil society, which I chair, has run community workshops from Sunderland to Penzance, Oldham to Shirebrook. Through their own stories and using their own language, huge numbers of people have talked to us about essentially the same thing: alienation.



They have told us that decisions are made about them without them. From housing to regeneration to community cohesion, often they feel they have the wisdom, collectively, to solve the problems they face. But they do not have the power to do so. Decisions are made by unaccountable people, far away, who dont listen.



Its not surprising. The UK has, by some measures, the most centralised political system in the Western world. We also have some of the biggest inequalities of wealth, both between richest and poorest, and between regions. And most people dont need to dig through data to understand that they dont have much power. One of the key things that Civil Society Futures has identified is that the future purpose of civil society needs to be about seeing more power in the hands of people and communities - connecting us better and humanising the future.

In a sense, therefore, the governments civil society strategy launched last week is welcome. It recognises - citing our research among other things - the scale of this sense of alienation, and, importantly, that the government cannot solve it - or other major problems - on its own. The understanding of the central role civil society must play if we are to renew the country feels like a shift, and is welcome. It  rightly  defends the role of civil society groups in campaigning and raising concerns, including when they receive government funds: which is key if citizens are to have a voice.

Crucially, it moots experiments with some things which will be key to solving these problems.

There will be, we are told, trials of citizens juries, and other deliberative processes. Rather than falling into tech-utopian or tech-phobic traps, its exciting to read about how the government is going to try out both online and offline civic tech tools. Many people they say feel disenfranchised and disempowered, and the government is keen to find new ways to give people back a sense of control over their communities future. This is a good thing, and were proud to have helped steer the government in that direction

'A sense of control'



However, its important to read that sentence carefully. Because the key question for the government is whether they mean what they say: is their interest only in giving people a sense of control? Or do they actually mean that they want to give people control? Because if they wish to really give the communities we have spoken with the power to improve themselves, central government will need to relinquish powers over real and meaningful decisions as well - rather than simply requiring already weakened local authorities to involve people with decisions about the limited funds and levers of government they can still direct.

There are, after all, huge inequalities within places and between people that need addressing if deliberative democracy is genuinely to shift power, and not further entrench it.

'Give up some real power'



In other words, if Whitehall wants people to feel like they have real power, Whitehall will have to give up some real power - on the big issues that shape all our lives. And it will have to invest resources in making new processes work. We hope this will be part of the scope of new Innovation in Democracy programme the strategy references.



Similarly, if these processes are going to work, then they need to be done well. When they arent facilitated properly, its too easy for the same old voices to dominate. But when the resource is put in to ensuring that the usual power dynamics are balanced out, every voice really can be heard.



At the same time, though, its not sufficient for civil society organisations to blame the government for the feelings of alienation we have come across.

Charities absent from communities

If government decisions have felt far too remote for most people, Britains leading charity and voluntary sector organisations have almost all been almost entirely absent from the communities weve spoken to. And where they are present, they have often faced the same allegations: that vital decisions are made far away by people who dont really understand.



And, so, if the formal charity and voluntary sector is to renew itself, and rebuild fraying trust, then perhaps we need to start by showing the government how its done. The evidence from experiments in deliberative and participatory democracy shows both that it leads to better decisions and that it builds the skills and empathy of those involved, and thats something which everyone, including organisations as different as RSPB to Barnardos or Cancer Research UK to the Red Cross will be challenged by and could benefit from.




The newsreel depicts Soviet tanks winding their way along the Kabul River. It at first appears to be a tranquil scene. But as the path narrows, Afghan rebels launch a surprise attack. Artillery is exchanged. Smoke billows. The camera does not waiver.

The clip featured in a broadcast on CBS in 1987, offering a rare glimpse into the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Yet what made the film famous, then infamous, was not its content but the man behind the lens. Mohammed Salam, the video journalist who captured the footage, was part of a controversial US government-funded initiative to arm members of the Afghan mujahideen not with AK47s but with pens and camcorders, in order to document the war.

In 1978, a Communist coup in Afghanistan, and a subsequent Soviet invasion, prompted one of the largest and most sustained covert operations in the CIAs history. For more than a decade, Operation Cyclone, as it was called, pumped billions of dollars in arms and economic assistance to Afghan resistance parties. A lesser-known proxy war was also being waged through the press.

This was not easy. The Soviet-Afghan War is sometimes referred to as the hidden war for its inscrutability to foreign journalists; during the height of the conflict, according to one report, fewer than a dozen foreign correspondents could be found in Afghanistan. Mobility was a problemthere were no planes that could parachute correspondents onto bases; no insulated, securitized hotels in the high passes of the Hindu Kush; and Western journalists were sought-after targets. During the Vietnam War, whichwith new visual technologies and increased media accesshad transformed the way the world saw military operations, people around the world could witness the quagmire of US troops in real time. More than 400 American and European reporters had been in Vietnam; dozens of camera crews were embedded in the field with troops. Now the Soviets were undergoing their own Vietnam and, much to the dismay of US policy makers and Cold War hawks, nobody was watching.

In 1985, to solve this problem, Congress approved a $500,000 grant for the United States Information Agency, a department devoted to public diplomacy, to establish a journalism school for Afghan rebels. According to Alvin Snyder, who worked for the agency at the time, arming guerrillas with minicams was a simple, cost-effective way to deliver press attention. Imagine the pictures they will be able to get! he wrote in a memo, excerpted in his memoir, Warriors of Disinformation: How Lies, Videotape, and the USIA Won the Cold War (2012). Imagine the publicity!

Like much of the USIAs work, the initiative straddled the delicate and often blurry line between media and propaganda. Boston Universitys College of Communication, which ended up receiving the grant, was so divided over the ethics of the project that the dean at the time, Bernard S. Redmont, resigned. (Redmont died in 2017.)

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For those who signed onincluding Nick Mills, a photographer who was recruited by BU to head the program in Peshawar, and Stephen Olsson, who supervised the video training of the rebelsthe grant presented more of an opportunity than a liability. There was a dearth of news, and I think all of us felt really a professional calling, Olsson tells CJR. Armed with a verbal guarantee from the USIA that the government would stay out of the editing room, Mills went to Peshawar in 1986 as field director of the project. In 1987, the Afghan Media Resource Center began its work training rebels in the art of reporting.

Haji Daud, who would eventually become the director of the AMRC, was one such rebel journalist. Daud, now 67, is a tall, soft-spoken man, whose life trajectory mirrors that of Afghan media. He knew that he wanted to be a journalist from his early childhood, in the Eastern province of Nangarhar. Nangarhar, today an ISIL base and the focus of retaliatory US airstrikes, was, in his boyhood memories, an idyllic and welcoming place where tourists could walk the streets unbothered. Dauds father was educated during the first years of Afghan independence and he wanted his eldest sonone of eight childrento be a teacher. Daud, however, was always writing articles. In elementary school, he reported on his teachers, and later, he served as editor of his high schools Pashto-language paper.

In 1973, when Daud went to study journalism at Kabul University, he couldnt know how much things would change over the subsequent decade. The year he graduated was the year Afghanistans Communist party came into power. There was no independent media in Afghanistan anymore because everything was taken from Pravda, he says, referring to the paper which served as the official mouthpiece of the Soviet Communist Party. He took a job producing cultural programs for Kabul TV, but it quickly became clear to him that he could not, in good conscience, work for censored media. In 1980, feeling the pull of the resistance movement, Daud moved to Peshawar and joined the mujahideen.

Peshawar, a broad valley surrounded on three sides by high mountains and connected to Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass, became a microcosm of the myriad Soviet-Afghan War-era collisions. Internationally funded aid organizations driven by anti-Communism, Saudi-backed militias, Pakistani authorities, and millions of refugees all converged there, as it served as the hub of the Afghan resistance. The resisters were organized into seven major mujahideen parties, through which aid and assistance were funneled; upon arrival in Peshawar, all refugees were required to register with one of these parties in order to get an identification card.

People were moved to join to one party or another for a variety of reasonsinfrastructure, kinship networks, the quality of the militiaand Daud chose the resistance party with the best media outfit: Burhanuddin Rabanis Jamiat-i Islami. Daud had one condition to Rabani: that he be allowed to work independently and professionally. This was not a given. At the time, most parties contained a propaganda wing that would churn out newsletters minimizing their defeats and exaggerating their victories.

It was from such propaganda offices that the AMRC gathered many of its first round of recruits, in 1987. Three to four candidates were chosen from each party. As Mills recalls, the first class of journalists had 45 students15 devoted to print, 15 to photography, and 15 to film. Training involved having recruits cover fake accidents or attacks in order to practice working under pressure. In the early days, they did not have a dark room, so photographers would have to trudge down to the bazaar in order to develop their film. The new journalists also learned how to write interview questions based on scripts given to them by Olsson. Here, the main focus was on using objective language and framing. We sort of trained them not to do what their parties had been doing, Mills recalls. In their newsletters, they were all martyrs who had gone to their reward. But in our stuff, no martyrs, just dead people.

The question of objectivity seems to dog the work of the AMRCprecisely because these reporters walked a fine line between journalist and mujahid. For Daud, however, there was no contradiction. Mujahideen comes from the Arabic word jihada word that, according to Daud, is too often understood in narrow terms of violence and explosions; for him, showing the world the plight and resistance of Afghans is a form of jihad in its most literal definition, a struggle for what is right. Jihad doesnt mean only killing people, jihad doesnt mean only fighting, he says. You can do jihad by pen. You can do jihad by camera.

Upon completing their training, AMRC journalists were sent into the field in teams of threea reporter, a photographer, and a cameramanunder the protection of a commander. After months of traveling with the militias, often on foot and out of contact with their supervisors, they would return to Peshawar. Olsson, Mills, and Daud would oversee the editing, captioning, and voice-overs for the material, which was then sent through DHL to global syndication services like Visnews (which later became Reuters) and WTN. Although the footage was legally banned from appearing in the US by the Smith-Mundt Actwhich prevents government-funded media from being broadcastsome pieces, like the Kabul River clip aired by CBS News, found their way into American homes.

In 1992, USIA ceased funding the project, and in 1999 the agency dissolved. But the AMRC has remained active under Dauds stewardship. Between 1987 and 2012, it produced some 3,000 hours of videotape, 100,000 negatives and slides, and 500 hours of audio recordings.

It is difficult to know exactly what to make of this material, some of which has recently been archived by the Library of Congress and is now being digitized by the Internet Archives. It is not always technically perfect, and critics might call into question its journalistic integrity. Yet for every combat scene there is also a revealing snapshot of everyday life: an old fighter telling a joke as he gestures with his prosthetic limb, young men fishing with dynamite, a flat round of bread being cooked over a tandoor. Objective or not, such images provide rich, eyewitness accounts of daily life in a country whose decades of conflictsand the people impactedgo largely unseen.

ICYMI: Reporting around ICE

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Marya Hannun is a doctoral candidate in Islamic Studies at Georgetown University.
David Bishop is the owner and only employee of FLA News, a conservative political news site that he launched two months ago out of his home, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. On August 1, Bishop received a tip that Melissa Howard, a candidate in a Republican primary for the state House of Representatives, did not have a college degree despite claiming on her website that she graduated from Ohios Miami University.

The following week, having searched for Howards academic record on the National Student Clearinghouse website, Bishop posted a story revealing that she didnt have the credentials she said she did. Asked about the discrepancy, Howard told him, That was a lie. To prove her point, Howard flew to Ohio and took a photo with her mother next to what appeared to be a Miami University diploma. She posted the picture to Facebook and sent it to Bishop, who quickly retracted his article and put up a mea culpa on his site. Within hours, however, Howard was rebuffed by Miami Universitythe degree in the staged photograph, it turned out, was a fake. Bishop posted a separate story with comment from the school. My moment of redemption came when I got the email from the university, Bishop tells CJR. It was a good feeling to know I did not get this wrong.

ICYMI: Student asks school for records of complaints against teachers. She ended up uncovering a big story

On Monday, Howard apologized in a Facebook post that has since been taken down, according to CNN. It was not my intent to deceive or mislead anyone, she wrote. I made a mistake in saying that I completed my degree. On Tuesday, Howard announced that she was ending her campaign. Bishop talked to CJR about his site, how he received the tip, and the decision to retract his initial story. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

*******

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Tell me about your journalism career. What is your background?

I started my career working at a radio station Marianna, Florida, a small town of about 5,000 people. I went to Troy University in Alabama to study journalism. I did not graduate because I was offered a job at a TV station while I was there, though I later graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. My first job was anchoring weekend sports, then I started doing news reporting, then I left there for a year to go work at a TV station in Panama City, Florida. Then I went back to Dothan to be a news anchor. I was there for about a year and a half. I went to Tallahassee and became a weekend news anchor and reporter for 5 years. Then I got out of the TV news business and did public relations for various agencies within the Florida government. I have also done marketing and consulting for political candidates.

Why did you decide to start your website?

I was looking around in Florida, where I was born and raised, and I didnt see a website that appealed to the conservative masses, covering state politics. So I decided to give it a shot. I knew that, for most people who do these kind of things for a living, youre not going to get rich off of it. Im self financing this. The only money Im making is from Google Ads. Its a labor of love. Its cost me more money than it has made for me but Im committed to doing it because I think its something that needs to be done in this state. I dont consider myself to be a traditional journalist. I started my career as a TV news reportersome would say thats not traditional journalism.

You said it costs you more money than make to do this. How are you managing? Is it just from savings?

Yeah, I have the means to be able to finance this myself for a bit. I wanted to see if it was going to take off. Im pretty convinced now after this past week that this website is a long-term commitment. On a good day, in the two months Ive been around, I do about 2,500 to 3,500 unique page views a day. All of the stories I have posted on her degree, all together, have received 82,000 unique pageviews.

How did you receive the tip that started this?

I got a call just like every working reporter gets calls. A person told me there was this candidate running down in Sarasota and Manatee counties, for a state house seat, who claimed to have a college degree but she didnt have one. That race was not on my radar at all. I didnt know anything about that race; Florida is a big state. The first thing I did was look at her campaign website and where she said she graduated. Then the first place I went was the National Student Clearinghouse to find out from their records if she had a college degree or not. It took me a couple of days and their records came back and she did not. You know, most tips lead nowhere. But I knew I had a story when those records came back.

Then I reached out to the candidate. She and I were supposed to talk that Friday, then she put me off to Saturday morning and I asked her point blank about it. She called it a lie and said she could produce yearbook pictures. What I asked for was the one thing that I thought would prove all thisa diploma. She promised to get it to me that Saturday. I didnt receive it Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. I began feeling like I was getting the runaround. I thought I had a good story just based on the clearinghouse information. I even went back to the clearinghouse and asked them to reverify this because of her insistence that she did have a college degree. Based on them verifying that, I ran the story Tuesday, a week ago today. I thought the story would get some play, but to my surprise my story got nothingno other media pickups. It was like a tree falling in the forest. No one heard it.

How did nobody hear it? I mean, its juicy as hell.

I later learned that her campaign was telling everyone that it was a lie. Her consultant was working behind the scenes talking to other political reporters telling them that I had gotten the story wrong.

How do you know that?

People talk. Listen, Ive worked with reporters for a long time in the state.

What happened next?

I got an email from her campaign consultants saying shes flying to Ohio to get her transcripts and her diploma. They said, Well send you a picture Friday, we expect a retraction. So then, you know what happens with anyone who breaks a big story, some self doubt starts to creep in. But Ill tell you, the biggest mistake I made in this was this point right here. When they texted me the picture, I retracted the story because I thought my information was good, but the somehow clearinghouse must have gotten this wrong, because never in my wildest dreams did I think she would double down on a lie by getting a fake diploma printed, flying to Ohio, and posing for a picture with her mother, holding the diploma.

So I retracted the story for 5 hours, but the thing I didnt do is give up on the story. I reached out to Miami University general counsels office. They had seen her posting on Facebook. On Friday, I got an email laying it out, saying, No, she didnt have a degree; no, she wasnt enrolled in 1996; and there are troubling inconsistencies on the diploma. I put the story back up immediately and began writing the next story, which I put up Saturday morning and then the whole thing blew up.

In my 25 years in and around politics in the state of Florida, Ive never seen a politician so bold. She flew to Ohio, posed with the diploma with her mother, just to prove me and my reporting wrong.

Why did you decide to retract the first story?

I was giving her the benefit of the doubt because she produced the diploma. I took her for her word, because I didnt think she would go to the lengths she did to double down on the lie. I beat myself up over that for the past couple of days. I should have verified with the university first. I didnt do that. Its a mistake that wont happen again.

ICYMI: We started hearing about this crazy thing called honey bunning

When you posted the statement from the university, did you hear from her?

No, the only thing I got was a statement saying her husband had a cardiac event last night and is in Lakewood Ranch hospital. Melissa is focused on her family  not fake news this morning. Theres a lot of irony in her talking about fake news when were talking about a fake degree. Its very rich.

I have to ask this question: Was it Tommy Gregory, who is Howards opponent, or someone associated with him who gave you the tip?

No.

You saw her apology. What did you make of it?

Well, I wrote a story, and I was the first to report thisthat using a fake degree to claim academic standing is a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida. The trigger for that being a crime is intent to deceive. So when she put out a statement saying she had no intent to deceive, I knew exactly what they were doingtrying to prevent her from being charged with a crime. You know, nobody told me about that statute, I just went out to research the statutes to see if that was a crime, and it is.

How do you feel about this whole controversy?

What she did was pretty audacious. In my 25 years in and around politics in the state of Florida, Ive never seen a politician so bold. She flew to Ohio, posed with the diploma with her mother, just to prove me and my reporting wrong. You know, I dont celebrate this. I dont know her, I didnt know of her until two weeks ago, Theres nothing personal. But what I think it comes down to is violation of the public trust. I think this should be an eye-opener to any candidate who decides to cut the corners and not tell the truthit will eventually come back to bite you.

ICYMI: New Yorker writer makes important observation about Omarosas recent Trump bombshells

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Justin Ray is an audience editor at the Los Angeles Times. Follow him on Twitter @jray05.
Sundays gathering of white nationalists in Washington, DC, presented journalists with what CJRs Amanda Darrach calls a media riddle. When only a handful of participants show up for a much-hyped event, is it still news? Based on the deluge of coverage across outlets, especially in the run-up to the planned march, the consensus answer seemed to be yes. But that presents an important question in its own right: How should we cover white nationalism?

Much of that conversation over the past several days has centered around an NPR interview with rally organizer Jason Kessler. Noel Kings Morning Edition interview with Kessler drew intense criticism for giving a platform to Kesslers noxious views, and the underwhelming turnout at his event only stoked arguments that NPR was helping promote fringe ideas with little actual support.

NPRs media correspondent David Folkenflik offered his view on the controversy Monday morning. My feeling, as somebody who tries to think hard about the media, is that almost no figure, no matter how heinous, should be off limitsnot Hitler, not Stalin, not Pol Pot, Folkenflik said. But youve got to be very, very clear about what you want to accomplish and how youll achieve it. He defended Kings line of questioning, noting that she did push back at times and that the interview was edited from nearly 70 minutes to under seven. Ultimately, Folkenflik deemed it a tough call for NPR whether it should have aired the segment, and asked, what insight do such interviews offer that a reported story could not?

ICYMI: New Yorker writer makes important observation about Omarosas recent Trump bombshells

The interview with Kessler was only one of several segments that NPR ran preceding Sundays march, many of which focused on people dealing with the aftermath of Charlottesville. Count me among those who felt the outlets audience would have been better served by another reported piece that could have included clips from its Kessler interview surrounded by reporting and pushback from other voices. At the same time, it is to NPRs credit that it is consistently willing to report on itself when controversies arise.

But if NPR erred in its approach to this story, that still leaves open the question of whats the right way to cover extremism. CJRs Darrach provided a point/counterpoint argument over whether press coverage of this movement exposes important truths or merely disseminates harmful messages. In covering these movements, of course, it is vital to keep in mind the people whose lives are affected by the views and actions of the racists. Less time for Kessler and his ilk, and more focus on those suffering under and working to combat racism is probably a good place to start.

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The organized white supremacist movement that reared its head in Charlottesville last year may be faltering, but race continues to be the defining fault line in American life. Racismin both its institutional and extreme formsis, if anything, under-covered. So while criticism of flawed execution is warranted, sustained coverage of race in America is vital.

Below, more on the aftermath of a terrible anniversary.

Other notable stories

From archives: The outrageous editorial by a Charlottesville daily that preceded violence

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Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon.
A deputy killed during training on a South Carolina lake last summer was tangled by the boat propeller after going overboard and drowned inches under the surface while pleading for his life, according to a lawsuit filed by the officers widow.

Anderson County deputy Devin Hodges, a second officer, and a U S. Army Corps of Engineers instructor driving the boat were all thrown into Lake Hartwell during a dangerous maneuver called an emergency stop.

Instructor Jess Fleming wasnt using a safety device that would have killed the boats motor when the driver was no longer at the wheel, according to the lawsuit.

The unmanned vessel turned in a circle of death and its propeller struck Hodges as he desperately tried to swim away, the lawsuit said.

As the boat beat the life out of him, Deputy Hodges life vest became entangled in the propeller, lawyers wrote in the suit. While Deputy Hodges was being held under water, within inches of the surface, he slowly drowned.

Fleming and the other officer on the boat were not hurt.

The Corps of Engineers didnt return a message seeking comment.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources charged Fleming with reckless homicide by boat, but prosecutors dropped the case two months later after determining the law doesnt allow a federal law enforcement officer to be charged with state infractions.

Fleming first did the emergency stop at half speed, and then did it closer to full speed, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday by Hodges widow, which simply names the United States of America as the defendant.

Fleming spent the day before discussing with the deputies the important of using the kill switch, which is a lanyard that stops the boat motor when the driver is no longer at the wheel. But the day of Hodges death, Fleming didnt wear the lanyard and the kill switch was shut off, the lawsuit said.

Fleming knew he was exposing his passengers to a potential circle of death, and yet he still attempted this improper, deadly maneuver. The consequence of his action were foreseeable and resulted in one of the exact outcomes kill switches are intended to prevent, according to the lawsuit.

Hodges widow filed the suit after federal officials did not act on the official form she filed claiming wrongful death for more than six months.

Hodges, 30, was a father of four and had been working for the Anderson County Sheriffs Office for less than a year. New Sheriff Chad McBride had just assigned him to the marine patrol.

McBride personally pressed the uniform Hodges was buried in, saying it was the least he could do for an officer who showed such promise and dedication.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The theft of an empty plane by an airline worker who performed dangerous loops before crashing into a remote island in Puget Sound illustrated what aviation experts have long known: One of the biggest potential perils for commercial air travel is airline or airport employees causing mayhem.

The greatest threat we have to aviation is the insider threat, said Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and transportation security expert. Here we have an employee who was vetted to the level to have access to the aircraft and had a skill set proficient enough to take off with that plane.

Video showed the Horizon Air Q400, a turboprop plane that seats 76 people, doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on Puget Sound. The flight lasted about 75 minutes, and ended when he crashed into the small island after being chased by military jets. The two F-15C aircraft scrambled from Portland didnt fire the plane, authorities said.

Southers said the man could have caused mass destruction.

If he had the skill set to do loops with a plane like this, he certainly had the capacity to fly it into a building and kill people on the ground, he said.

A U.S. official briefed on the matter told The Associated Press the man was Richard Russell. The official wasnt authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity. He is presumed to have died in the crash.

Officials said he was a 3.5-year Horizon employee and had clearance to be among aircraft, but that to their knowledge, he wasnt a licensed pilot. He took the empty plane from a maintenance area.

Its unclear how Russell attained the skills to do loops in the aircraft, authorities said. Ground service agents direct aircraft for takeoff and gate approach and de-ice planes, as well as handle baggage.

Gary Beck, CEO of Horizon Air, said it wasnt clear how the man knew to start the engine, which requires a series of switches and levers.

At a news conference, officials from Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air said that they are working with authorities.

Last nights event is going to push us to learn what we can from this tragedy so that we can ensure this does not happen again at Alaska Air Group or at any other airline, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines.

Investigators expect they will be able to recover both the cockpit voice recorder and the event data recorder from the plane.

Russell could be heard on audio recordings talking to air traffic controllers, who tried to convince him to land the airplane.

There is a runway just off to your right side in about a mile, the controller says, referring to an airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Oh man. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there, Russell responded, later adding This is probably jail time for life, huh?

Later Russell said: Ive got a lot of people that care about me. Its going to disappoint them to hear that I did this  Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess.

Russells family said in a statement that they are stunned and heartbroken. They referenced the recordings and said and that its clear Russell, who went by the nickname Beebo, didnt intend to harm anyone and he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him.

(Ridler reported from, Idaho. AP reporter Mike Balsamo in Los Angeles contributed to this report.)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
It was Californias biggest fire yet. In late July and August, wildfires devastated an area north of San Francisco far bigger than New York City, destroying more than 100 homes and injuring 2 fire fighters. Its just one in a rash of fast-spreading blazes that have killed at least 56 people this year and last in the Golden State.

Authorities dont yet know the cause of some of the fires, but the regions giant utility, PG&E Corp., see a culprit at work  climate change. The blazes in recent years, it said, are the latest example of how global warming has produced unusually hot, dry conditions that spawn more frequent and intense fires. Climate change is no longer coming, its here, Geisha Williams, chief executive officer of PG&E, said in an email. And we are living with it every day.

Scientists tend to agree with that assessment. But Californias biggest utility has an especially compelling reason to link the fires to the environment. State investigators have tied PG&E equipment, such as trees hitting power lines, to some of the blazes in October that in total destroyed nearly 9,000 structures and killed 44 people. It faces damage liabilities totaling as much as $17 billion, and possible financial ruin  its stock is down about 37 percent since the fires  unless Williams can convince California lawmakers that the companys problem is, in fact, a climate change problem.

Green Mantle

Invoking the environment is a clever strategy in a state thats taken on the green mantle in the face of a skeptical Trump administration. (Indeed, President Donald Trump offered his own reason for the fires last week, blaming a lack of water and bad environmental laws. It was roundly dismissed.) Williamss battle cry  dont blame us, blame climate change  is catching on. PG&Es neighboring utilities, Edison International and Sempra Energy, are echoing the defense, and it may well serve as a blueprint for utilities worldwide as global warming produces extreme weather events such as hurricanes that have slammed Texas and Puerto Rico.

Williams is deploying the argument in a lobbying campaign shes waging to shield PG&E from liability. California law holds that property owners can collect compensation from utilities linked to fires  even if they werent negligent. She argues that because of the increasing frequency of fires, utilities shouldnt be held responsible each time a tree branch falls on a power line during a storm if it followed all safety rules. Instead, the test should be whether the utility acted reasonably in trying to prevent fires, things like trimming trees and brush around lines, she contends. In that case, insurance or government agencies would pick up the damages.

No one is suggesting the utilities should get a free pass if they were negligent, Williams said. But the current legal policy of unlimited, strict-liability has the potential to financially cripple companies, she said.

Some California lawmakers insist PG&E hasnt even met the reasonable standard, pointing to signs that in some cases PG&E allegedly violated fire safety rules, according to reports by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. Climate change and the so-called new normal do not ignite fires, said California State Senator Jerry Hill, a frequent PG&E critic. The Cal Fire findings show that suspected negligence by PG&E did.

PG&E says it believes it has met the states high safety standards.

The utility hasnt been blamed for any of this years fires, but its got plenty of financial worries dealing with the ones from 2017. On a recent investor call, Williams raised the stakes by saying PG&E has brought up the prospect of bankruptcy with lawmakers unless the state changes the law. Its already taken a $2.5 billion charge stemming from the October fires. PG&E has shown that it wont shy away from court protection. It entered bankruptcy in 2001 after incurring $9 billion in debt by buying power for more than it could charge customers. It emerged three years later.

Suspended Dividend

The $17 billion in potential liabilities today, as estimated by JPMorgan Chase, are significant, representing about 75 percent of its market capitalization of $22 billion. PG&E suspended its dividend in December as it tries to assess damage costs. Some consumer advocates are skeptical of the bankruptcy warnings. (Creditors seem to agree. While prices have dropped since last years fires, they are nowhere near distressed levels.)

Williams is winning some adherents, including California Governor Jerry Brown. Hes proposed a bill that would lesson utilities exposure to damages from fires, citing climate change. Brown echoes Williams in contending the utility needs to be financially healthy in order to invest in renewable energy and help the state meet its climate goals.

The daughter of Cuban political refugees, the 57-year-old Williams is the nations first Latina CEO of a Fortune 500 company. After first working at Florida Power & Light, she joined PG&E in 2007 and became CEO in March last year  just seven months before the big wildfires in October.

Now, as she deals with the existential threat posed by the fires, shes bolstering PG&Es wildfire prevention activities, including stepping up aerial patrols of its power lines, setting up a new wildfire operations center that works round the clock and expanding a network of weather monitoring stations. Still, Williams understands that the Holy Grail is a change in the liability law. At a recent energy conference in Houston, she said  jokingly  that if she fails to do that, I wont be here in two years.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
BRECKSVILLE, Ohio -- Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools Superintendent Joelle Magyar will receive 1.75 percent pay increases annually over the next four years, under a new three-year contract -- and an addendum to her existing contract -- both approved by the school board last week.

The increase will lift Magyar's annual base salary by $2,800 this summer to $162,800. The new rate is taking effect during the final year of her initial three-year contract term, which started in June 2016 and ends in July 2019.

The new contract starts in August 2019 and runs through July 2022. By the end of that term, Magyar's base salary will have risen to about $171,498.

The district, as it has previously, will continue to pick up Magyar's share of her Medicare payroll tax. That amount is equal to 1.45 percent of her salary, or $2,361 a year, under the existing contract addendum.

The board voted 4-1 to approve the addendum and new contract. Board member Mark Dosen said he voted against the agreements because he "was not aligned with all of the terms." He would not elaborate.

"However, I fully support Joelle and look forward to working with her over the coming years to continue moving our district forward," Dosen told cleveland.com in an email.

Magyar's new contract and the addendum to her existing contract were last-minute additions to the board's Aug. 6 agenda. The agreements were not on the agenda when the meeting started.

The board placed the addendum and new contract on the agenda as the meeting was taking place, then approved both items on first reading, with little discussion.

Board President Kathleen Mack said she understands why the new contract and addendum seemed a surprise, but added that the board had been negotiating the terms for four months in private, executive sessions. Ohio Sunshine Laws allow public bodies to discuss personnel issues in private.

Mack said the board traditionally evaluates its superintendent annually, then decides whether to open new contract negotiations.

"Joelle is entering into year three of her current three-year contract," Mack said in an email to cleveland.com. "Legally, we cannot replace her current contract and rewrite a new four-year contract.

"(So) the board added an addendum of the new terms to her current three-year contract, along with offering her a new three-year contract with the same negotiated changes," Mack said.

Other changes in Magyar's new contract address:

Annuity cash payouts. The district contributes an amount equal to 6.5 percent of Magyar's salary into an annuity for her. With this summer's salary increase, that amount has risen from $10,400 to $10,582 a year.

Under the old terms, Magyar could choose to receive cash, in lieu of the annuity contributions, in two equal payments on Dec. 1 and April 1 each year. She might also elect to divide the annuity amount and receive the money as part of her biweekly paycheck.

Under the new contract terms, if Magyar opts for cash instead of annuity contributions, she still must accept the money in two equal payments a year, but the dates are at her discretion.

Vacation days. Magyar gets 25 vacation days a year. Under the old terms, she was able to roll five unused vacation days into the next year or receive compensation for those five days.

Under the new terms, if Magyar ends up with 10 unused vacation days, she can roll five days into the next year and receive compensation for the other five days.

Comp days. Magyar can now accrue up to five comp days a year for hours worked beyond the regular workday. Comp time was not included under the old terms.

Per diem pay rate. Magyar's per-day pay amount comes into play if she takes comp time or cashes out an unused vacation day.

Under the old terms, the formula to determine Magyar's daily rate consisted of her base salary plus her annuity amount divided by 260 days, which is the number of days she must work each year under her contract, according to schools Treasurer Jeff Hall.

Under the new terms, the formula will match those of other district administrators. That formula is the base salary plus the annuity divided by 223 days -- holidays and Magyar's 25 vacation days are subtracted from the formula, Hall said. It will mean a higher daily rate.

"(The per-diem rate) is based upon days worked, and the incorrect language actually penalized the superintendent as compared to the remainder of the administrative staff," Ziegler said.
BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- The detailed site plan for the first phase of the Brunswick City School District's $63 million middle school and stadium construction project was unanimously approved following a Brunswick Planning Commission public hearing on Aug. 8.

This move puts the project on target for a winter 2018 start date.

"The Planning Commission has been gracious enough to allow us a two-phase review process," said Ed Shearson of TDA Architects, one of the school district's three building partners. The others are Hammond Construction and Greenland Engineering.

"Phase 1 is essentially a grading package," Shearson continued. "We will start building in earnest in the spring, with completion of the building in 2020 and the stadium in 2021."

The first phase of the project, to be constructed on the site of the current Edwards and Visintainer middle school buildings at 1459-1497 Pearl Road, will take place prior to demolition of the current buildings, Shearson added.

The detailed site plan approval includes location of the new building pad, with no concrete poured in this phase; three temporary sediment basins, at 1482, 1472 and 1502 Princeton Drive; a temporary 30-foot-wide gravel construction drive off Manhattan Avenue; a temporary gravel construction staging and parking area on the east side of the site near Princeton Drive; demolition of existing residential houses at 1482, 1502 and 1512 Princeton Drive and at 4269 Oxford Drive; the demolition of an existing commercial business at 1435 Pearl Road; and the demolition of a storage shed on the southeast side of the school property.

Another residential house, at 1472 Princeton Drive, is scheduled for demolition in 2020, during a late construction phase.

Questions from commission and residents

Shearson said that when completed, the new middle school campus will have a capacity for nearly 1,700 students in grades 6-8, increased parking to 152 spaces, and a new synthetic turf stadium with an eight-lane track and bleachers.

There were, however, some concerns expressed about how the site will be managed during this first construction phase -- primarily related to construction traffic and its potential impact on surrounding residential areas.

Planning Commission Chairman Joseph Shirilla asked if construction vehicles would be parked in the gravel staging area only, both during and after work hours. He also asked about stormwater runoff-control efforts, particularly in areas of the site that are "pretty close to houses on Oxford."

Ryan Weller, project manager for Hammond Construction, said that the construction vehicles will remain in the designated area during and after work hours, adding that the entire work site will be fenced during construction.

He added that every effort has been made to keep construction traffic out of residential areas throughout the project.

John Urbanik, a civil engineer for Greenfield Engineering, said the project must adhere to all Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regulations regarding runoff. Brunswick Engineer Matt Jones added that his department will also be making regular inspections of the site, as well.

City Councilman Joe Delsanter asked how long two stockpiles of fill dirt and topsoil on the site during construction -- expected to be roughly 8 feet high and 75 feet wide each -- were expected to remain on the site during the construction period.

Weller said the stockpiles will reach maximum capacity by around November and will remain on the site throughout construction.

"We want to keep it at a minimum so that we don't have to haul it on and off the site," he said, adding that this will, again, cut down on construction-related traffic in the area.

A submitted question from a resident asked the construction team to describe what a "sediment basin" is. Urbanik described the temporary structures as "essentially a pool with a small drain," roughly three to five feet deep, used to divert sediment from areas offsite.

Jones added that the city would also be monitoring the sediment basin upkeep as well during the project.

Please take a moment and click here to help the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, a cleveland.com partner. Every dollar you give buys four meals for the hungry.
By Trend





Tashkent will host the Uzbek-Chinese business forum with participation of representatives of the textile enterprises of the Uztekstilprom Association, said a message posted on the Association's website.

The event will be held August 15 as part of the visit of a delegation of China National Textile and Apparel Council.

The Chinese delegation arrived in Tashkent on August 10. The delegation includes the heads of 33 Chinese associations and major textile companies.

The event will be attended by the heads of the ministries of economy, foreign trade, the State Tax Committee of Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of departments, companies and concerns of Uzbekistan and China.

At the forum, the Chinese guests will be provided with detailed information about the opportunities and benefits created.

It is planned to sign a number of bilateral documents following the business forum.

During the visit, the delegation of China National Textile and Apparel Council intends to familiarize itself with the investment potential of the Uzbek regions.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Parma Heights man who spent 22 years in prison before President Barack Obama granted him clemency is headed back to prison for a separate drug case.

Antwon Rogers, 47, pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug possession, a third-degree felony, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Judge Michael Shaughnessy sentenced him to nine months in prison.

Rogers could spend additional time in prison if a federal judge determines the guilty plea constitutes a violation of the terms of his probation in a prior federal drug case.

In that case, Rogers was sentenced to life in prison in January 1995 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 139.8 grams of cocaine. In March 2015, Obama commuted the remainder of Rogers' sentence, and he was released shortly thereafter.

Rogers was required to spend 10 years on probation after his release from federal prison.

The maximum sentence Rogers faces for a federal probation violation is five years. Steve Bradley, an attorney who represented Rogers in the state case, said the range recommended by the U.S. Probation Office is between 1 1/2 and two years.

U.S. District Judge John Adams has not set a hearing date in Rogers' federal case.

Bradley said Monday that his client immediately owned up when investigators approached him in November.

"It's like he won life's lottery after having served 22 years," Bradley said of when Obama commuted Rogers' sentence, "and it's really pretty tragic to think he's going back."

Obama and his White House undertook major efforts to shorten the sentences of a record number of people, part of a way to attack the consequences of decades of stiff sentences for people convicted of drug crimes. The majority of the sentences Obama commuted were for drug cases.

Jeffrey Lazarus, Rogers' federal public defender, said in a 2015 interview that Rogers was "a pretty typical street level drug dealer" when he was arrested for selling crack cocaine in 1992. U.S. District Judge John Manos imposed the life sentence on Rogers, who was found guilty at trial, because Rogers had two prior drug felonies.

Rogers got a job and had a stable residence after his release from prison, he said in a 2015 interview. Problems started emerging the following year, though, according to court records.

He failed multiple drug tests, with two urine samples in March and April 2017 showing that he had ingested cocaine. He also failed other tests in 2016 and 2017, according to an order Adams wrote in May 2017.

At the time, Adams ordered Rogers to complete a 30-day minimum in-house treatment program. The judge also ordered weekly drug testing once Rogers finished the treatment.

Rogers appeared to be back on the right track by July 2017, when court records from a hearing said he "was commended for his positive actions."

Not long after, state and federal investigators arrested Rogers. They had reason to believe he was receiving large shipments of drugs.

Court filings say members of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department and Parma Heights police orchestrated the delivery of a package with five pounds of marijuana to an apartment on Cheyenne Trail in Parma Heights on Nov. 17.

Antwon Rogers' wife Ledeis Rogers met an undercover investigator at the door and then kicked the package inside her apartment, according to an affidavit written by Sheriff's detective Michael Twombly.

Shortly thereafter, a monitoring device went off, signaling to authorities that somebody had opened the package. Investigators descended upon the apartment and searched it, finding drug paraphernalia, bags, scales and marijuana residue, Twombly wrote.

Rogers admitted to investigators that he opened the package knowing it contained marijuana. He said he had received packages of marijuana for several months, the affidavit says.

A county grand jury indicted Rogers in December, charging him with trafficking marijuana, as well as marijuana possession and possessing criminal tools. Rogers was also indicted on cocaine-related charges, as investigators found a bag with about an ounce of cocaine in a jacket in a bedroom closet, Bradley said.

County prosecutors dropped charges for cocaine trafficking and other crimes in exchange for Rogers' guilty plea on the marijuana possession charge. Bradley said his client adamently denied any knowledge of the cocaine that investigators found.

Rogers was given credit for the roughly eight months he has spent in jail, court records say. He will be on probation for three years after he's released from prison.

Bradley said he did not know Rogers when his client was a young man, but that "the guy that I know now is mature and certainly contrite and remorseful.

"He's embarrassed by this whole situation and certainly admits and accepts responsibility," Bradley continued.

If you would like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments page.
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Mayor Anthony DiCicco says that the 425-foot-tall communications tower planned for the cloverleaf at the Interstate 271 eastbound exit at Mayfield Road "seems like a done deal."

DiCicco made the comment days after an Aug. 1 community meeting held to discuss the tower at the DeJohn Community Center. About 25 people attended the meeting. It was the second such meeting held to discuss the tower and, like the first, held June 28, it featured DiCicco and State Rep. John E. Barnes Jr. (D-12) taking questions from those in attendance.

The grassy cloverleaf is Ohio Department of Transportation-owned land, but an ODOT representative was not present at the meeting.

"The tower is going to carry financial information from New York City to Chicago and, if you drew a line from New York to Chicago, it passes over Mayfield Road," DiCicco said. The mayor said that straight lines of communication provide the best means of information transfer for tower owner Pierce Broadband.

DiCicco, who said he would rather the tower be placed elsewhere, said the city has worked with ODOT to make the best of the situation. ODOT will lease the land to Pierce Broadband for $60,000 per year.

"We came up with an extensive landscaping plan for the base of the tower that includes a board-on-board fence, bushes and some trees," DiCicco said.

At its base, the tower will measure 100 feet by 100 feet. In June, an ODOT representative said tower construction should be completed later this year.

Costly salt

At a special City Council meeting held Monday, legislation was passed approving the purchase from Morton Salt Inc. of treated rock salt at a cost of $87.99 per ton, at a minimum of 20 tons.

Service Director Joseph Fornaro said the cost last year was $51.53 per ton.

"Why is it so high this year?" Councilman Donald Manno asked Fornaro. Fornaro said that it has to do with a salt shortage that will require further mining. It was reported in March that several winter snowstorms had depleted the salt supply in Cleveland mines, and that a water leak in the Cargill mine had also been a factor.

Last year, Mayfield Heights used 6,300 tons of salt. Fornaro said the city now has 1,200 tons of salt stored.

To the ballot

Council held a special meeting the morning of Aug. 8 in which it approved the final piece of legislation that the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections requires to put the city's income tax increase request onto the Nov. 6 ballot.

Mayfield Heights voters will, for the first time ever, be asked to increase the city's income tax rate. The request is to raise the rate from 1 percent to 1.5 percent.

If voters approve the tax rate increase, Finance Director Robert Tribby said, council would then take action to change the tax credit offered to residents who work outside the city.

The tax credit would go from its current 0.50 percent of the first 1 percent paid to another community, to a full 100 percent of the first 1 percent paid to another community.

The overall effect, Tribby said, is that "two-thirds of our residents would actually be getting a tax cut or see no increase at all."

If the increase passes and the change in tax credit is made, the city would take in an additional $5 million to $5.5 million annually, starting in two years.

"All the money would be used for permanent improvements," Tribby said. "For things like road repair, or on parks and recreation."

The money would also likely be used to replace the city's pool, built in 1958.

Tribby said the new tax money would not go toward salaries.

"It would go into the general fund," he said, "but then transferred to the improvement fund to ensure it doesn't get used for salaries."

Union contracts

At its Monday meeting, council did not approve a contract with the city's police supervisors.

Three council members voted in favor of the new contract, which features raises of 2.5 percent this year and 3 percent in each of the next two years. Four council members elected to abstain from voting, meaning that the four necessary votes for passage were not received.

Law Director Paul Murphy said that, as in the case of other Mayfield Heights union contracts negotiated this year, the contract with police supervisors has taken effect.

Under Ohio law, if a bargaining unit and a community's administration approve a contract, it goes into effect 30 days later, regardless of council's vote.

Voting to abstain were Manno and fellow council members Robert DeJohn, Gayle Teresi and Diane Snider. Snider abstained because her husband is an MHPD patrolman. The other three abstentions were for another reason.

"I didn't want to vote 'no' because I think they deserve raises," Manno said. "But, I abstained because I don't agree with the amount of the raises. The last time, (city unions) got raises of 3 percent (in each of three years). They're well paid. But it isn't that I think they shouldn't get raises."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two people were shot, one multiple times, and another was pistol-whipped in an attempted robbery in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, according to police.

The incident was reported on the 3300 block of West 48th Street, just north of Storer Avenue.

A 47-year-old woman was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center with multiple wounds to the stomach, police say. Her condition was unknown early Tuesday morning.

A 34-year-old man was wounded in the leg, while a 29-year-old man was struck in the head by a handgun, police say. Both were taken to MetroHealth in unknown condition.

No arrests or other details of the shooting were released by police.

To comment on this story, visit the crime and courts comments page.
PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- A Gates Mills police officer was shot by his wife before she took her own life at the couple's home, Painesville police said.

Dylan Hustosky was shot twice in his left arm by his wife, Kayleigh Hustosky, Monday about 4:15 p.m. at their home in the 100 block of Cedarbrook Drive, Painesville police Chief Daniel Waterman said during a Tuesday press conference.

The couple has been married for two years and a half years, police said.

Dylan Hustosky, 27, called police after he ran away from the home. He was found across the street near the drive way of Heritage Middle School, authorities said.

Gates Mills Chief Gregg Minichello said Dylan Hustosky is assigned to the department's patrol unit. He's been with the police force since 2014, Minichello said.

Authorities said Dylan Hustosky's service weapon was not used in the shooting.

No details were released on a possible motive or what type of gun was used.

Waterman said officers have not been called to the couple's home for any domestic violence issues.

Dylan Hustosky was taken to TriPoint Medical Center in Concord Township before being transferred to MetroHealth Medical Center. He underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Investigators said Kayleigh Hustosky, 29, refused to communicate with police or come out of the house. Painesville police called Lake County SWAT to help bring Kayleigh Hustosky out of the home she shared with Dylan, their 3-year-old son and a dog.

The child was staying with a relative in Stow at the time of the incident. The dog was not injured in the shooting, police said.

Officers used a robot and drones to go inside the home. Kayleigh Hustosky was discovered at 7:42 p.m. upstairs in the home with a single gunshot wound, Waterman said. Her body was sent to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

Authorities said the shooting remains under investigation.

The press conference can be watched in its entirety below.

Painesville police give update on SWAT incident yesterday that left one man shot. Posted by cleveland.com on Tuesday, August 14, 2018

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- One of the two brothers found dead Saturday after a South Euclid standoff called authorities more than a dozen times in recent years, mostly to report minor complaints such as people parking near his driveway, according to police records.

Michael Warn, 31, called South Euclid police at least 12 times from 2012 to 2014 -- including eight times in a single month -- to complain about cars parked too close to his driveway. He also told police officers that he had surveillance cameras set up outside his home, according to police reports.

One call came from a private crisis hotline operator, asking for a police officer to assist social workers at the home. That incident report, however, does not say why the social workers were there, or if they spoke with anyone in the home.

Michael Warn and his brother Mark Warn, 29, were found dead Saturday morning following a 10-hour standoff at their home. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office said Monday that both of the brothers committed suicide.

Their deaths came less than two days after Beachwood police officers found their father, Dr. Richard Warn, dead in a home in that city. The father owned the South Euclid home where the standoff occurred, and police officers went there Friday evening to search the home as part of the investigation, police said.

The police reports released Monday reveal details of the nearly two-dozen times police officers went to the Elmwood Road home in the years before the standoff.

"Hindsight is 20-20," South Euclid Police Chief Kevin Nietert said. "It's easy to go back and try and attach meaning to some of those calls or second-guess things, but we're still looking into everything."

South Euclid police have been called to the Elmwood Avenue home several times since Warn bought the home in 2011.

In most of the incidents involving Michael Warn's complaint about cars parked near his driveway, police officers told drivers to move or found they did nothing wrong. In one incident, Michael Warn called police and said he believed a man sitting in his car outside the home was "casing" his home, the records say.

Police officers found a man sitting in his car drinking an iced drink and enjoying the weather, according to the police reports.

In another case, Michael Warn called and complained about two women trying to get in his home. He told police he was watching a surveillance camera he set up outside the home, and that the women had left. The women later told police they went to the home to make amends, believing the brothers had made a noise complaint about them.

Other calls to the brothers' home came in for loud music, a "weird light show" in 2012, and a 2015 incident in which a private social services company responded to the home and asked for a police officer to be present.

Neighbors said the men who lived in the house were a little out of the ordinary, often throwing loud parties and calling police for small matters.

One neighbor said her grandchildren's ball went over the fence into the brothers' yard, and the two men refused to return it.

Dr. Richard Warn, 59, owned the South Euclid home since 2011, records show. Authorities went there Friday to investigate his death.

The father was found shot to death Thursday afternoon in his Brentwood Avenue home in Beachwood. He died from multiple gunshot wounds, the medical examiner's office determined.

Dr. Richard Warn's death was Beachwood's first homicide since 1994, police said.

Beachwood detectives are still investigating the father's death, and have asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to assist in collecting evidence, police Chief Gary Haba said.

Investigators went to the South Euclid home about 7:10 p.m. Friday and took gunfire about 30 minutes later, police records say.

Someone inside the home fired shots at officers as they arrived, damaging the windshield of a SWAT tank, likely with a high-powered gun with enough force to crack the bulletproof glass.

Officers tried to negotiate with the two men, but were unable to make contact. Police cut off power to the home about 9:50 p.m., shot out the street lights in the area about 10:15 p.m. and shot tear gas into the home shortly after, police records say.

The SWAT team also sent a robot into the home and found no one on the ground level, leading investigators to believe whomever was inside the home was in an upstairs room.

The SWAT team eventually rammed the tank through the front part of the home and found two men dead inside.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office said Monday that Michael Warn fatally shot himself in the mouth and Mark Warn shot himself in the head.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is now investigating the SWAT standoff at Nietert's request.

To comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments page.
BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- The sons of a Beachwood doctor killed their father and sprayed bullets from an assault rifle at a SWAT team that surrounded their home. The two then turned guns on themselves and committed suicide, police officials said.

Beachwood Police Chief Garry Haba said either Michael Warn, 31, Mark Warn, 29, or both killed their father, 59-year-old podiatrist Dr. Richard Warn, at the doctor's home on Brentwood Road in Beachwood.

Haba gave vague answers regarding the sons' involvement, wouldn't answer questions regarding specific information that led investigators to believe the sons were suspects and said "there was talk" that both Michael and Mark Warn suffered from mental illnesses.

He would not elaborate. The chief later said that his detectives likely wouldn't follow up to determine a motive in the killing, nor would they try and confirm that sons suffered from mental illnesses. Haba said investigators struggled in establishing a motive, but said his detectives gathered information that there was "friction" between Dr. Warn and his sons.

"Motive is for court cases and everyone involved is dead," Haba said after the news conference.

He said the bullets used to kill Dr. Warn were .223 bullets, meaning they came from a rifle or a handgun that was able to fire rifle rounds.

The investigation began Thursday, when Dr. Warn's wife returned home from vacation without keys, saw her husband's car in the parking lot and grew concerned because he didn't answer the door.

Haba said investigators found Dr. Warn dead from five gunshot wounds in an upstairs bedroom or hallway.

No one broke into the home and police immediately suspected that someone killed Dr. Warn, the chief said. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner later ruled Warn's death a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds, the first homicide in the normally quiet and wealthy Cleveland suburb since 1994.

"It's an unfortunate and disturbing crime," Haba said, later adding that "The entire sequence was bizarre from beginning to end."

Haba said investigators "developed leads" that pointed to the sons' responsibility for Dr. Warns death, but repeatedly refused to elaborate.

"It was a combination of many things," Haba said. "We thought there might be evidence in that home."

The SWAT team arrived at the South Euclid home about 7:10 p.m. Friday. Haba said the SWAT team repeatedly tried to contact the sons inside the home. They were unsuccessful.

As soon as the SWAT team briefly entered the home about 30 minutes later, the officers took "rifle fire" from one of the sons, Haba said.

The force of the .223 bullet hit the windshield of a SWAT tank with enough force to crack the bulletproof glass.

Officers tried to negotiate with anyone inside, but were unable to make contact. They cut off power to the home about 9:50 p.m., shot out the street lights in the area about 10:15 p.m. and shot tear gas into the home shortly after, police records say.

The SWAT team also sent a robot into the home and found no one on the ground level, leading investigators to believe whomever was inside the home was in an upstairs room.

The SWAT team eventually rammed the tank through the front part of the home and found the two sons' dead inside the home, both from suicides. Michael Warn shot himself through the mouth and his brother Mark shot himself in the head, the medical examiner said.

Haba refused to take questions about the SWAT incident and what police found inside the home because the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is overseeing that investigation. He said BCI agents are in possession of the guns recovered the home.

BCI spokeswoman Dorcas Jones said they are still investigating the incident and refused to answer questions regarding what agents found.

cleveland.com reporter Robin Goist contributed to this report.
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Middleburg Heights city officials and the Berea City School District have formed a partnership authorizing two police officers to be assigned full time Monday through Friday in Big Creek Elementary School and Berea-Midpark Middle School.

Middleburg Heights City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding on Aug. 9, and the Berea Board of Education approved it Monday night. Mayor Gary Starr and Superintendent Mike Sheppard then signed the agreement during the school board meeting.

Starr last week emphasized to City Council the need for full-time school resource officers in the two Middleburg Heights school buildings.

The total $140,000 cost will be split equally between the city and the school district. Starr indicated that grants and other funding sources will be sought to further defray the expense.

"Their duties will go beyond just simply law enforcement," Starr said of the school resource officers. "They will be in the schools all day, interacting with the students and counseling and mentoring them. Ideally, the SRO is there to help de-escalate problems before they occur."

The partnership represents the second phase of the "Operation: Protect Our Children" initiative established in 2012. Starr said the plan embodies "school-based policing."

Sheppard thanked everyone involved in developing the MOU.

"This would not have happened, I believe, without the support of the community, the mayor and the police chief to really drive this home," Sheppard said.

Police Chief Ed Tomba said Middleburg Heights Police Department patrolmen Jack Darnell and Dave McCann will be assigned as SROs.

"Both of them are ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) trained and will be going to Columbus in October to become certified as SROs," Tomba told council. "Our plan is to always have a presence in the schools."

"I'm 100 percent behind this," said Councilman John Grech. "It's a shame that it has come to this, but this is the world we live in today."
CINCINNATI -- Vice President Mike Pence used a trip to swing state Ohio on Tuesday to ask Americans for their support of Republican leaders who will bolster the Trump administration.

Pence highlighted the administration's successes and encouraged voters to "tell your friends about what we've done" at an event at a downtown Cincinnati hotel.

He was scheduled to promote President Donald Trump's tax reforms but instead emphasized the importance of keeping Republicans in control of Congress, as Democrats aim to reclaim House seats during midterm elections in November.

"Leave today with a burden in your heart," Pence said. "Determine that you're going to keep standing with the men and women who stand with this administration."

Pence criticized Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio for voting against Trump's tax proposals as well as measures that would crack down on sanctuary cities, repeal former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and defund Planned Parenthood.

If Brown doesn't vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, "Ohio needs to send us a new U.S. senator who will," Pence said.

Pence heavily praised GOP Brown's opponent, Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, and was to attend one of Renacci's campaign events later Tuesday.

In Cleveland earlier on Tuesday, Brown in an interview said he is in the process of arranging a meeting with Kavanaugh, which he has said he wants to do before deciding whether to vote to confirm him.

A confirmation hearing for Kavanaugh has been set for Sept. 4.

But Brown said Republicans have not been forthcoming with information about Kavanaugh's public record. Brown and other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which votes on Supreme Court nominees, last week filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records from Kavanaugh's time as a top aide in the George W. Bush White House. Republicans have called the request a "fishing expedition."

"He's a relatively young man, and he wants to be a Supreme Court justice for decades, and he won't tell us enough about his background," Brown said.

In Cincinnati, Pence also called on Ohio voters to reelect U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, calling him the "son of Cincinnati." Chabot has dominated the area's political landscape for three decades.

"We wouldn't have gotten these tax cuts without him, and we need him back in Washington," Pence said.

About 400 supporters - many dressed in red, white and blue - attended the event sponsored by America First Policies, an organization that supports Trump's agenda. Several wore his signature red "Make America Great Again" caps.

Cincinnati is Pence's 23rd stop as he travels around the country to promote Trump's tax package.

Trump signed the GOP-backed $1.5 trillion tax bill into law last December, lauding the policy for increasing workers' take-home pay. The legislation also slashes corporate tax rates and includes an effort to repeal former President Barack Obama's health care law.

Pence visited Columbus in June as part of the same tour. He returned to the area a few weeks ago to support Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson.

Balderson is believed to have narrowly edged out Democrat Danny O'Connor in a special election last week. The unusually close race in a district where Trump won by double digits in 2016 showed changing voter sentiment in a bellwether state before the November midterms.

Democrats in dozens of similar districts across the country are looking to take back House seats in places where their candidates would have been considered longshots only recently.

Pence also had Ohio campaign events Tuesday for Renacci and state Attorney General Mike DeWine, the Republican candidate for Ohio governor.

Cleveland.com reporter Andrew J. Tobias contributed to this story
Rotunda Rumblings



A costly mistake: The Ohio Supreme Court threw out Ohio's kidney dialysis amendment on Monday because some paid signature collectors failed to submit a disclosure form before signatures were collected. Cleveland.com's Jackie Borchardt notes the California-based petition company in charge of the effort was paid more than $3.6 million -- a lot compared to other recent measures. The Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection Amendment Committee will have to start over the signature collecting process if it decides to try again in the future.



Blame game: Republican finger-pointing over last week's 12th Congressional District special election continued Monday, with President Donald Trump accusing Gov. John Kasich of "tamping down enthusiasm" for Republican Troy Balderson. As cleveland.com's Jeremy Pelzer writes, Kasich - who in recent interviews has accused Trump of hurting Balderson - replied with a GIF of Russian President Vladimir Putin smiling in disbelief.



Which way will he go? Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Mike DeWine often finds himself in the middle of the spat between Gov. John Kasich and President Donald Trump, writes Jessie Balmert of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Balmert breaks down whether DeWine should be considered a Kasich-Republican, a Trump-Republican, or something different altogether.



D.C. power: Speaking of Trump and DeWine, Vice President Mike Pence will be in Cincinnati on Tuesday, appearing at an America First Policies summit promoting tax policies, per the Dayton Daily News. Pence will also headline a fundraiser for DeWine. Pence will also fundraise for GOP U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci for his Senate race, according to the Toledo Blade.



Tourist season: U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat from California, will speak to the Cincinnati NAACP in October, according to the Enquirer's Scott Wartman. Harris is often mentioned at the top of the pack of Democrats who might be considering a 2020 presidential run, making her Ohio visit all too convenient.



And not just here... Ohio isn't the only state getting potential presidential hopefuls touching down. Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan swung through Iowa over the weekend to campaign for a pair of candidates, according to the Ames Tribune.



DeWine's workout plan: DeWine unveiled his economic development plan to Ohioans on Monday, with a heavy emphasis on training and education, per the Columbus Dispatch's Randy Ludlow. DeWine also wants to designate "opportunity zones" for distressed communities, which give tax breaks to attract private investment.



We want Rich: A newly formed group of black business executives known as the Black Economic Alliance announced its support for Democrat Richard Cordray in the Ohio governor's race, according to Politico. The group's mission is to back candidates who champion economic causes benefiting African-Americans. The group plans on spending and to date has raised $3.5 million.



Spending woes: A Hamilton County conservative activist filed a complaint against Democrat Aftab Pureval, who is running against vulnerable GOP U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, alleging Pureval spent campaign money from his clerk of courts account on his congressional run. The Enquirer's Sharon Coolidge reports Pureval's campaign called it a "phony complaint."



Dignity: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is out with a new commercial in the Senate race, his first in a massive $6 million ad buy before Election Day. True to his brand, Brown stresses that all work should have dignity as the ad shows a montage of people working in different professions.



Senate redux: Cleveland.com's Andrew Tobias made an appearance on WBUR's Here and Now on Monday, breaking down the Senate race between Brown and Renacci.



Making the grade: Cleveland.com's Sabrina Eaton has compiled ratings that Brown and Renacci have received from various Washington special interest groups - from the gun lobby to the gay lobby.



Meeting in the middle: Rep. Emilia Sykes is hopeful that she and the state agencies that secure the Statehouse and other government buildings will address complaints of racial profiling and discrimination through mediation. Sykes, an Akron Democrat, said if they don't, she's confident the Ohio Civil Rights Commission will resolve the matter. An internal review by the Ohio State Highway Patrol found security officers did not show racial bias when they stopped Sykes at the building housing her office.



Full Disclosure



Here are five things we learned from the April 9 ethics filing of state Rep. Niraj Antani, a Miamisburg Republican:



1. In addition to his legislator's salary of $60,584, last year he earned IRA beneficiary income from $1,000 to $9,999, as well as less than $1,000 worth of investment income from Fidelity.



2. He has invested in 17 mutual funds and four brokerage accounts.



3. He's a volunteer board member of the Republican State Leadership Committee's Future Majority Project, which identifies, recruits and trains candidates from diverse communities.



4. Someone named Melissa Paule owed him at least $1,000 last year, and she a gave him a gift worth more than $75.



5. The Ohio House reimbursed him $4,421 in 2017 for mileage between his Dayton-area home and Columbus. Other travel expenses he listed last year included $827 for the Republican State Leadership Committee, $276 for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and $133 for the Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee.



Straight From The Source



"To the bad actors out there who want chaos and to erode the people's confidence in our elections, enough is enough."



- Secretary of State Jon Husted in a news release responding to erroneous and fear-inducing reports about the 12th District special election, including a false claim that 116-year-old voters cast ballots.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- Goldie's Deli and Restaurant, destroyed by fire in January, has reopened in Westwood Commons on Pearl Road, across the street from its former location in Crossroads Market Plaza.

Goldie's has moved into a spot formerly occupied by Tom + Chee, a grilled-cheese restaurant, which left Westwood Commons in May. The grand reopening date for Goldie's was July 18.

"We couldn't have found a better location," said Tony Ina, who co-owns Goldie's with his brother, Mounir Ina. "It kept us in Strongsville, which was our goal. Even better, it's right across the street from our previous location, which we were in for 28 years.

"Also, the space was in a new building and was already set up as a restaurant, which made for an ideal transition," Ina said.

Ina said the new version of Goldie's, which seats 85, is a change from the older version. It has a more modern feel.

"The community has been very welcoming to us reopening, which is appreciated," Ina said. "The best part has been seeing all of our regular customers again."

Michael Catanzarite, developer and owner of Westwood Commons, just north of Ohio 82, said he offered Ina the space after a chance meeting at Home Depot.

"I love the Ina family," Catanzarite said. "I said that we may have a tenant that's moving out, if you want to come in."

Earlier this year, the Strongsville Fire Department and the Ohio State Fire Marshal's office, after a joint investigation, declared the cause of the Jan. 7 Crossroads Market Plaza fire undetermined. The fire destroyed Goldie's interior.

At the time, Strongsville Assistant Fire Chief AJ Aljabi said the blaze started along the roof line of Black Metal Tattoo, which also was forced to shut down due to fire damage, but investigators could not find a source of ignition.

Adam Oiler, owner of Black Metal Tattoo, said his business reopened in another space in Crossroads Market Plaza at the end of July.

Two other Crossroads Market businesses -- Premier Impressions Printing and Yasna Tailoring -- were less seriously damaged by fire, smoke, water and/or odor. They started operating again after the fire.

The fire also damaged a vacant space formerly occupied by State Farm and a gallery inside the plaza.

This story was updated to include information about Black Metal Tattoo and its new location.
Dubai Properties, a leading master-developer based in the UAE, has appointed ART Marine, the regions largest and best-known 360-degree leisure marine enterprise, as the exclusive operator of its marina at Culture Village.



Culture Village is one of Dubai Properties defining mixed-use developments, located along the shoreline of Dubai Creek amid tranquil green surroundings, said a statement from the UAE developer.

It brings the sought-after waterfront living experience to the emirates property market with two distinct neighbourhoods - Dubai Wharf and Manazel Al Khor - that give residents a chance to step back from the hustle of urban life, while enjoying views of Dubai Creek and the city in its background, it stated.



The marina overlooks the Canal Promenade fringed by a verdant double grass lawn, as well as a park with a wooden playground that has been a runaway hit with its youngest visitors. Spanning over 46,000 sq m, the all-new public space features granite-paved piazzas to match the opulence of the adjacent Palazzo Versace Dubai.



Located between Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Bridge, the 60-berth marina can accommodate 50-m-long vessels and also includes larger berths for charter yachts, said the statement.



As per the deal, ART Marine, the maritime partner of Dubai Properties, will manage the entire premises, including water and onshore areas as well as complementary marina facilities and services, such as private parking, club car transfer for members and full staff assistance, it added.



Marwan Al Kindi, the executive director of sales and sales operations at Dubai Properties, said: "We aim to strengthen Dubais reputation as a city of the future and help drive its transformation into a major maritime tourism hub."



"In line with this priority, we are proud to expand our maritime portfolio as we officially launch operations at the Culture Village Marina which, in addition to Marasi Marina, is the first fully operational jetty on the Dubai Water Canal," he noted.



Bruno Meier, the chief operating officer at ART Marine, said: "We are proud to partner with Dubai Properties to manage the Culture Village Marina. This project will allow us to leverage our strategic approach and considerable experience in customer service, cruise tourism and yachting as we continue to build one of the finest collection of yachting destinations in the region."



Operational since 2017, the exclusive berthing location in the new Culture Village district offers the convenience of connecting to the sea during all tidal states, said the statement from the developer.



Boat owners can opt for a leisurely cruise along Dubai Creek or enter Business Bay via Dubai Water Canal. Moreover, the marina provides easy access to Palazzo Versace Dubai, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
US-based Dell EMC, a part of Dell Technologies, has appointed Murray Irvine as its senior director of global compute and networking for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (Meta) region.



Dell EMC enables organisations to modernise, automate and transform their data centre using industry-leading converged infrastructure, servers, storage and data protection technologies.



With over 22 years of extensive experience in the IT industry and 11 years of tenure at EMC, Irvine transitions from his previous role at Dell EMC where he led sales strategy and planning for the same region, said a statement from the company.



He leveraged his expertise to ensure Dell and EMC became one, unified, customer centric entity and retained and grew its market leadership.



Prior to the Dell EMC merger, Irvine was instrumental in driving the companys aggressive growth strategy and business roadmap across the region as the chief financial officer for EMC across Turkey, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, it said.



In his new role, Irvine aims to bolster Dell EMCs capabilities in three key strategic areas: to help organisations, irrespective of size, drive IT transformation and accelerate their digital transformation journey; to develop regional capabilities and inspire leading talent; and to ensure the Meta region is at the forefront of innovation.



Prior to joining EMC UK and Ireland in 2007, Irvine held various positions at Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) across Europe and CSC in New Zealand and Australia.



He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, it said.



Mohammed Amin, senior VP (Meta), Dell EMC, said: We are proud to announce such a seasoned and well-rounded leader as Irvine to lead our GCN business across this vast and exciting region.



His achievements speak for themselves and with his proven track record of leadership and business acumen; we remain confident that this business is helmed by a leader that others can seek inspiration from, he added.



On the new role, Irvine said: The Meta region is poised to dramatically accelerate its adoption of disruptive technologies in the coming years. This move towards digital transformation also presents a challenge to organisations, large and small, to keep pace with the dynamic expectations of customers.



In my role, I look forward to working with the team at our company to help organisations leverage the era of digitisation and innovation in their own business, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
The person holding the winning $245.6 million Powerball ticket is likely discovering that New York isn't the best place to hit the jackpot. Not only will the ticket holder face state and city lottery taxes that are among the highest in the nation, remaining anonymous might be impossible. While a trust can be created to claim the prize, the New York Lottery will likely release the winner's name, said Jason Kurland, a partner at Rivkin Radler, a law firm in Uniondale, New York. The winning ticket in Saturday night's Powerball drawing was purchased at a Stop & Shop in Staten Island. The prizewinner will have the choice of receiving the money as annual payments over 30 years or taking a lump sum of $147.8 million.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

Of course, that advertised figure isn't the take-home amount. If the winner goes with the lump sum, the federal tax withholding of 25 percent would shave off nearly $37 million from that amount right off the bat. On top of that, New York State imposes an 8.82 percent tax on lottery wins. New York City  which Staten Island is part of  slaps an extra 3.867 percent on such income. Combined, that means another 12.7 percent  nearly $18.8 million  will go immediately to taxes. In other words, the total federal and state/city taxes of about $55.8 million means about $92 million would go to the winner. And once tax time rolls around, additional taxes will likely be due.

Experts say the first step after winning big is to assemble a team of professionals who are experienced in helping lottery winners. That includes an attorney  this should be the first call  an accountant and a financial advisor. These experts should be chosen carefully. As for trying to maintain a sense of privacy, here are some tips for whoever is holding the winning ticket.

Contain yourself

Your first urge might be to share your exciting news with, well, the world. However, the fewer people who know, the better. "Obviously it may be impossible to keep it from immediate family, but news like this travels quickly," said Kurland, who specializes in helping lottery winners. Past winners have discovered the hard way that long-lost friends and relatives can come out of the woodwork looking for a piece of the prize. And it can happen even if you claim your money anonymously. "Try to keep the circle of people who know as small as possible," Kurland said. More from Personal Finance:

Why ghosting a potential employer is a huge no-no

Your debts and shopping could become an addiction. Here's what recovery looks like

Autonomous vehicles won't only kill jobs. They will create them, too

Get off the internet

If you won't be able to remain anonymous when you collect your winnings, shut down your social media accounts in advance, Kurland said. "The media will try to find as many pictures of a winner as possible, and social media is the first place to look," Kurland said. "You also want to make sure there's as little personal information out there like your phone number or address." While any determined snooper or scammer could probably track down that information, you don't want to make it easy for them.

Plan an escape
German engineering services giant Bilfinger reported a rise in second-quarter net profit on Tuesday, underpinned by an uptick in demand for oil and gas.

Net profit over the second quarter came in at 12 million euros ($13.7 million), up from a loss of 7 million euros in the same period last year. Revenues increased 6 percent to come in at 1.1 million euros.

The company also reaffirmed its full-year outlook for 2018, saying revenue development was likely to remain organically stable over the coming months.

Bilfinger Chief Executive Thomas Blades told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Tuesday that a considerable increase in the firm's orders during the second quarter should be seen as evidence the company is back on the right track.

"We have built up momentum, we think we can continue that and, of course, then translate those orders into revenue and ultimately, of course, into earnings. So, I think we're showing that our Strategy 2020 is delivering the results that we promised," Blades said.
Former Sen. Bob Kerrey on Tuesday adamantly defended the Trans-Pacific Partnership, arguing it would have been far easier for the U.S. to handle trade relations with China with the backing of a multinational group.

The Nebraska Democrat said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" the Trump administration's move to leave the Asia-Pacific free trade pact weakened the United States "when you're trying to get China to change their policies."

"[China] has its own set of problems independent of President Trump and independent of tariffs," said Kerrey. "There's no question they need the United States market."

Kerrey said the U.S. is right to put pressure on China but questioned Trump's approach.

In a lively exchange, CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera argued the U.S. would have withdrawn from TPP even with a Democrat in office.

She reminded Kerrey of images of actress-activist Susan Sarandon, one of the most outspoken supporters of Bernie Sanders, holding up a sign opposing the TPP at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Kerrey quickly responded by saying, "I'm not Susan Sarandon, so I'm not defending Susan Sarandon. I would never defend Susan Sarandon."

"Is Donald Trump saying I'm not going to do anything unless the Democrat party supports it? He made a decision to withdraw from the TPP," said Kerrey, who also served one term as governor of Nebraska and unsuccessfully sought the 1992 Democratic president nomination, which went to Bill Clinton.

Kerrey argued Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton should have supported TPP. Clinton once called TPP the "gold standard." But in 2016, she criticized the deal, saying at one point that it killed jobs and held down U.S. wages.

"You expect a Republican president to support trade," he said. "Hillary would have been in a much stronger position had she not reversed herself on TPP."

President Donald Trump is attacking what he sees as unfair trade on a number of fronts. His moves have been met with retaliatory measures from the European Union, Canada, Mexico and China.

Trump fulfilled a campaign promise to withdraw the U.S. from TPP, which had been signed by 11 other countries in 2016.

However, the president said on CNBC in January he would be open to the possibility of the U.S. re-joining if the deal were "substantially" improved.
Bitcoin may be losing its spark as it cracks below $6,000, according to CNBC's Jim Cramer.

"I think the tide has turned against it," Cramer said Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street". "I'm not saying its time has passed but there is a notion that the sun seems to be setting."

Bullish sentiment has certainly faded since the cryptocurrency hit its all-time high near $20,000 in December. Bitcoin neared its lowest level of the year and was trading near $6,036 Tuesday, according to CoinDesk.

Cramer pointed to a recent interview with Udi Mokady, chairman and CEO of CyberArk, who highlighted some nefarious uses for the cryptocurrency.

"This thing has really become like an outlaw currency," Cramer said.

Cramer warned investors not to couple stocks like Nvidia, which manufactures chips used for cryptocurrency mining, with bitcoin.

"It's not a play on crypto," Cramer said. "I think crypto's going to be very bad for [Nvidia] this quarter but they immunized against that."

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has dropped by $19 billion in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.com. Bitcoin has lost nearly half of its value this year, and other top cryptocurrencies ether and XRP have dropped by 65 percent and 89 percent respectively.
For years, companies and their executives were limited to disclosing market-moving information in news releases that were widely distributed over services like Business Wire or in interviews with media outlets. That is, until Reed Hastings , the chief executive of Netflix , broke ranks in 2012 and wrote on his Facebook page that the company's video-streaming service had "exceeded 1 billion hours for the first time."

The tweets that Elon Musk of Tesla sent last week about taking his company private pushed investors into a tizzy as they tried to parse his every word. Regulators are examining Mr. Musk's posts, but there is an another, perhaps broader question government officials should reconsider: Is Twitter the right forum for public company executives to disseminate market-moving information in the first place?

This isn't about President Trump (although it could be). It is about chief executives.

What is it about social media that makes powerful, accomplished individuals say things that they later need to recant, walk back or at least explain?

That, in turn, led to what's known as the Reed Hastings Rule, when the Securities and Exchange Commission permitted such use of social media. "Most social media are perfectly suitable methods for communicating with investors," said George S. Canellos, the agency's acting enforcement chief at the time.

But given the brevity Twitter requires  its character limit was doubled to 280 characters last year  it is perhaps inevitable that people will be misunderstood, even when they tweet with the best of intentions.

"All tweets are misleading with such a short character limit," said Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale School of Management. "Companies shouldn't be encouraging the use of Twitter for its executives. They should forbid it."

Mr. Sonnenfeld said such a prohibition should be a company guideline, not a legislative requirement, adding he did not believe the government should get involved in what constitutes a news release.

But still, regulators could at least encourage companies to remind their executives that Twitter is better used as a place to offer idle musings rather than corporate missives.

Individuals are responsible for their own behavior  or what comes out of their mouth or keystrokes. Still, all too often, boldface-name executives, politicians and celebrities have needed to "clarify" their comments on Twitter. (I've had to do it myself.)

Andrew Ross Sorkin tweet

Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul, once tweeted about "scumbag celebrities" only to return to Twitter with a clarification: "I never referred to any particular people, just some 'dodgy' self promoting celebrities. Repeat apology for language."

Rob Goldman, a Facebook vice president, defended the company on Twitter over the role that Russia-linked advertisements played in the 2016 United States presidential election. "I have seen all of the Russian ads and I can say very definitively that swaying the election was *NOT* the main goal," he wrote. The company ended up issuing a clarification.

For reasons that remain inexplicable, Twitter seems to create an impulse control problem for too many  and when billions of dollars of investors' money is on the line and the credibility of the markets are at stake, that seems like a risk not worth taking.

Mr. Musk's explanation on Monday that his comment on Twitter last week that he had "financing secured" for taking Tesla private required a 1,008-word explanation that was almost certainly run through Tesla's legal department  more than once.

Regulators may end up not having a problem with Mr. Musk's message, but the existing rule has an important caveat that involves the audience it reached.

In discussing enforcement of the Reed Hastings Rule, Mr. Canellos said social media was not an appropriate vehicle for announcements "if the access is restricted or if investors don't know that's where they need to turn to get the latest news."

That means if companies and their executives want to use Twitter to disseminate news, they should not be allowed to block people from following their accounts, including those who manage to get under their skin. Mr. Musk has repeatedly blocked such trolls on Twitter.

This issue is a variation of a theme that emerged in a court case this year in which a judge found it inappropriate for Mr. Trump to block users, given his public role.

Mr. Trump's use of Twitter has illustrated the danger of disclosing market-moving information, exemplified by his tweet before the employment report in which he seemed to hint the numbers were going to be good.

It is perhaps an irresistible temptation, but one that companies have seen fit to punish in the past. Gene Morphis, chief financial officer for the specialty women's retailer Francesca's, was fired in 2012 for his use of social media posts like, "Board meeting. Good numbers=Happy Board."

Perhaps the original executive maverick on Twitter was Alan Meckler, chief executive of WebMediaBrands. He started sending tweets in 2011 that would regularly move his company's stock.

"Good chance we will be making a few acquisitions by middle of March," he would write. Or he would send a tweet pointing out that the company's earnings report would be out in a week, with a winking reference to promising revenue numbers: "Rev. Growth big."

The Securities and Exchange Commission inquired about Mr. Meckler's use of Twitter, but eventually closed the case.

It shouldn't have, or at least it could have sent a warning. Maybe Mr. Musk would have heard it.
A tourist takes a photograph on an iPhone near a foreign currency exchange store, center, in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan has said Turkey will boycott U.S. electronic goods, including Apple's flagship iPhone device.

Erdogan maintained an assertive stance in a speech Tuesday and claimed he had been taking necessary measures to arrest the recent slide in Turkish assets.

Speaking at a Symposium in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkish businesses must continue to produce and export the country's own goods. He added that U.S. electronics would have sanctions placed on them.

"If they have iPhone, there is Samsung on the other side. And we have our own telephone brands," he said.

"We are going to produce enough for ourselves. We have to serve better quality goods than we are importing from them," Erdogan added in a translation provided to CNBC.

Pricing for the iPhone X starts at 7,499 Turkish lira, which at the current exchange rate is around $1,143.
Cyberattacks, election meddling and other online crimes are not a massive concern for Estonia, where public services are highly digitalized, President Kersti Kaljulaid told CNBC on Monday.

The Baltic country has developed an extensive web of digital services that has allowed 99 percent of its public services to be electronic.

This means that in the health sector, for instance, all billing is conducted online, 99 percent of prescriptions are digital, and 99 percent of patients' health data is also digitized.

However, Estonia doesn't think that its digital society is especially vulnerable to external attacks, including from its neighbor Russia. The latter has been linked to several cyber-crimes, including an ongoing investigation into meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.

When asked if Russian cyber mischief was a cause of concern, Kaljulaid told CNBC's Elizabeth Schulze: "We worry less than others actually, because we have a high level of digitalization and we started to protect ourselves when you know digital was still young Our people have a high level of cyber-hygiene."

"Also because there is a state guarantee safe internet mode, which is our digital identity model. This means people automatically realized that, for example, Facebook is simply not safe, because you don't know with whom you are dealing with, even if they say I am this, they might be somebody else," she added.
Qatar-based telecommunications company Ooredoo has appointed Saoud Hamad Said Al Riyami as its new business sales director.



In his new role, Al Riyami will play a key role in leading the companys entire business sales team to drive the Ooredoos business forward, said a statement from the company.



A seasoned sales professional with 14 years of experience in a number of industries, Al Riyami began his journey with the Ooredoos business team in 2009 as an account manager in the SME department. He later worked his way up to key account manager, department head and eventually to his current role.



Al Riyami has led an impressive track record with Ooredoo. Over the years he has been instrumental in supporting lead projects, developing B2B indirect channels, introducing sales customer relationship management (CRM) and developing business sales strategies, it said.



Prior to joining Ooredoo, Al Riyami worked with InterContinental Hotel Group in Oman, Doha, and Frankfurt (Germany), and as well as with Mercedes-Benz.



A graduate from Sultan Qaboos University, he also completed a service industry management programme in Australia.



On his new role, Al Riyami said: Over the past nine years, I have grown alongside Ooredoo and in my new position, I will lead my team to achieve the companys corporate goals.



By empowering and energising team members to deliver extraordinary results, I am optimistic that we will be able to reach new heights, he added.



Ooredoo benefits from the skills of many highly qualified and experienced Omanis in a variety of management and senior positions and is dedicated to the development and creation of opportunities for Omanis. Through its Omanisation programme, it recruits, trains and develops talent enabling the people of the sultanate to fulfil their career potential and contribute to the growth of the nation, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
As Democrats push to take back the House from Republicans in 2018, women have been at the forefront of the movement. That trend continued in Tuesday's primaries. Minnesota state lawmaker Ilhan Omar is now poised to be one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress. In Connecticut, Jahana Hayes won her primary and is looking to become her state's first black congresswoman. Now, while they hit milestones in their primary elections, many female Democratic candidates are stumping and fundraising for each other as they seek victory this November. This kind of collaborative approach to politics is not unprecedented. But in an election year that has seen a record number of female candidates, alliances among them have increased in profile and extent. Take Michigan state Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who won the Democratic nomination to replace longtime Rep. John Conyers, who resigned last year after sexual harassment allegations. A daughter of Palestinian immigrants, she was the first Muslim woman ever elected to Michigan's legislature and could soon become the first-ever Muslim congresswoman. Tlaib is running unopposed for the House seat and is using her newfound influence to help others achieve similar success. The 42-year-old Detroit native, who defeated several opponents in the primary, raised over $1 million, mostly from individual donors, according to FEC filings. Tlaib's next mission is to raise money for other progressives, her campaign told CNBC.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Al Goldis

"Rashida doesn't love fundraising. She'd always rather be knocking on doors. But she knows how important making those calls and securing those dollars is to winning grassroots elections," campaign manager Andy Goddeeris said. Among candidates Tlaib is helping is Minnesota's Omar, the first Somali-American legislator in the U.S., who is running for Congress in Minnesota. Omar won her primary Tuesday. Several other Muslim women are also running for Congress in districts where primaries have not yet occurred, including Deedra Abboud, who is running for Senate in Arizona, and Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, who is running for a House seat in Massachusetts. Deb Haaland of New Mexico could be another candidate to break down barriers. After winning her Democratic primary, Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe, may become the first Native American woman in Congress. She is favored to win against Republican Janice Arnold-Jones in November in a solidly Democratic district. Haaland has raised over $1 million in mostly out-of-district donations, according to public records. She is one of a record number of Native American women running for office this year. Now, she is galvanizing Native American female Democrats and raising money for female candidates across the country. Haaland worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008 before chairing the state's Democratic Party. She said that many of the progressive female candidates share similar values and should be "lifting each other up."

Debra Haaland, a Democratic candidate for Congress, speaks at her Albuquerque, N.M., headquarters on Monday, June 4, 2018, as volunteers seek last minute voters for the Democratic nomination for an open Congressional seat in central New Mexico. Russell Contreras | AP

She plans to canvass for a throng of candidates before the general election, including Xochitl Torres Small in New Mexico, Gina Ortiz Jones in Texas, Angie Craig in Minnesota and Lauren Underwood in Illinois, the campaign told CNBC. Haaland will also visit Idaho to raise money for Paulette Jordan, who would be the first Native American and the first woman to become Idaho's governor. Another woman on Haaland's list is Sharice Davids, who after a tight primary win could also become one of the first Native American women in Congress and the first lesbian congresswoman from Kansas. Davids told CNBC she is supporting four different female Democrats up for state House seats in Kansas  including Laura Smith-Everett in District 17 and Angela Justus Schweller in District 14. Davids' own path to victory could be steep in a suburban Kansas City toss-up district that Hillary Clinton carried by a slim margin in 2016. She has raised $344,704 for her campaign so far. Her opponent, GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder, has raised $2,727,430 and has over 10 times the amount of cash on hand for the November election, according to public filings.

Sharice Davids, a Democrat running for Congress in Kansas, talks to supporters at a July 4 event in Prairie Village. David Weigel | The Washington Post | Getty Images

Nonetheless, Davids said that if women "want to accomplish meaningful and lasting systemic changes, it's critical that we all work together to fight for progress."

Glitches in the narrative

There have been some glitches in the narrative this year, however. Davids, for example, didn't get support from one of the highest-profile winners of 2018, New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New Yorker instead backed David's male rival, Brent Welder, in the Kansas primary. Welder ran to the left of Davids and was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Following her stunning primary upset over 10-term incumbent Joseph Crowley in New York, Ocasio-Cortez saw an explosion of out-of-state campaign contributions, according to FEC reports. She immediately began throwing support behind other progressives, both men and women. A 28-year-old socialist activist, woman of color and political newcomer, Cortez said that her primary win, like Tlaib's, was not a "fluke," but a result of progressive female candidates organizing, connecting with activists, and "knocking on thousands of doors." "Progressive female candidates are getting energized and organized all across the country at all levels of government, because we have seen that you're not considered 'viable' until you organize your neighbors and make it happen," she said.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez AP
Despite talk of a boycott and President Donald Trump's Twitter pressure, there has been no backlash seen at two Harley-Davidson dealerships in the Pittsburgh area, owner George Gatto told CNBC on Tuesday.

"We've seen nothing at all. Zero," he said on "Power Lunch."

And that doesn't come as a surprise, noted Gatto, who owns Gatto Harley-Davidson and Three Rivers Harley-Davidson.

"Harley-Davidson is unlike any other brand. It's a family."

The iconic motorcycle brand, once praised by Trump for being made in America, has come under fire from the president after it said it planned move some of its European market production out of the United States.

Harley blamed the move on retaliatory tariffs from the European Union, which were implemented after the U.S. placed duties on steel and aluminum imports from Europe.

At the time, Trump threatened to tax Harley-Davidson "like never before." On Sunday, he renewed his war of words in a series of Twitter posts that denounced the brand's production plans and appeared to back consumers who have called for a boycott.

Trump tweet

On Tuesday, Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich addressed the issue in a memo to employees and dealers.

"There continues to be misinformation circulated in conjunction with this issue," Levatich said.

For one, motorcycles for the U.S. and most international markets "will continue to be made in the United States," he said.

Gatto said he understands where Trump is coming from.

"I get that he wants to see these tariffs reduced," he said. "I also see Harley-Davidson's point where they are going to face $9 million a month in tariffs. I can think of a lot more important things to do with $9 million than send to some foreign government."

The company's bikes were once taxed at 6 percent in Europe, but the new tariffs raised that to 31 percent. Harley-Davidson was already under pressure because of the Trump administration's tariff that levied taxes on steel and aluminum imports.

In his memo on Tuesday, Levatich reiterated the fact that the EU's tariffs would cost Harley-Davidson an estimated $90 million to $100 million on an annualized basis.

Gatto, who also sells names like Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki, said that despite the political firestorm, he doesn't see customers shifting to other brands.

"Harley-Davidson is Harley-Davidson. It is one of the most recognized brands in the world," he said. "The other brands  there's very little brand loyalty. Harley-Davidson people, they wear it on their arms, they wear it on their chest, they wear it on their clothing."

 CNBC's Angelica LaVito contributed to this report.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House, the first Guinness brewery in the U.S. in more than 60 years, held a ribbon cutting on August 2, 2018 in Halethorpe, Maryland. Opening to the public August 3, 2018 at 3pm EST.

U.S. fans of Guinness won't have to travel to Dublin to indulge in a tour and tasting experience of one of the most recognizable brands in the beer industry. Makers of the beer toasted the opening of the $90 million Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House Aug. 3 near Baltimore, its first U.S. brewery in more than 60 years.

Located in Relay, Maryland, 10 miles from downtown Baltimore, the attraction is expected to host 300,000 visitors a year to its gift shop, brew house, taproom and restaurant, which opens later this month. Guinness Open Gate sits on a 62-acre property where parent company Diageo, the world's largest drinks maker, had owned the property since 2001.

After nine months of construction involving 2,250 workers, it was exciting to see the project come to life, says Tom Day, chairman of Diageo Beer Company USA.

"It took an army of people to build. It's one of the proudest moments of my life," Day says.

The taproom's 16 beers, most of which are brewed at the site, include Guinness IPA and Crosslands Pale Ale, made with Maryland-grown malted barley and hops. Visitors can tour the site on their own for now, perusing exhibits that highlight the beer-making process and Guinness history, until guided tours become available by Labor Day.
The European Central Bank (ECB) was reported Friday to be concerned that the ongoing currency crisis in Turkey could result in problems for the continent's banks.

However, the real problem for Europe's banking industry is Italy and what happens in that country in the coming months, an analyst said Tuesday.

"The issues in Italy in the next three months are going to dictate the whole European banking narrative for the next three to five years," Tom Kinmonth, fixed income strategist at ABN Amro, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."

Italy's economy is the third largest in the European Union and the country's new coalition government is currently working on next year's budget. Its financial plan will be closely scrutinized by European authorities and, more importantly, by market players, following promises to increase public spending.
Lockheed Martin has won a second multimillion-dollar Air Force contract to design a hypersonic weapon prototype, as the U.S. tries to match Russia and China in hypersonic development.

The award, which is "not-to-exceed" $480 million, comes four months after the Bethesda, Maryland-based defense giant won its first hypersonic weapons contract. Development will take place in Orlando, Florida, under Lockheed's missiles and fire control unit and is expected to be completed by November 2021.

The Pentagon unveiled the deal Monday.

A hypersonic weapon is a missile that travels at Mach 5 or higher, which is at least five times faster than the speed of sound. That means a hypersonic weapon can travel about one mile per second.

The Pentagon's second hypersonic contract comes as Russia and China sprint to add these emerging weapons to their arsenals.

Read more: Russia and China are 'aggressively developing' hypersonic weapons  here's what they are and why the US can't defend against them

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted about nuclear and hypersonic weapons, which he described as "invincible" during a state of the nation address. Of the six weapons Putin debuted in March, CNBC has learned that two of them will be ready for war by 2020, according to sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports.

Currently, the Pentagon has nearly a dozen programs tasked with developing and defending against the new breed of weapons.

In April, Lockheed Martin secured a $928 million contract to build an undefined number of hypersonic conventional strike weapons. According to the contract, the defense giant will be responsible for designing, engineering, weapon integration and logistical support. The development will take place in Huntsville, Alabama, which is known as "Rocket City" as it was the birthplace of America's rocket program.

Lockheed Martin is also in the process of developing the SR-72, a hypersonic unmanned plane dubbed the "son of the Blackbird." In 2014, the defense giant was awarded $892,292 by NASA to study the development of the hypersonic spy plane.
CNBC reported last week that the Tesla board planned to meet with financial advisers this week to formalize a process to explore Musk's proposal. The board is also likely to ask Musk to recuse himself from the decision, people familiar with the discussions said.

The Tesla board had already met "several times" to discuss the possibility of going private, members of the board said last week, but Musk said Monday he felt it was necessary to inform all of Tesla's shareholders.

"It wouldn't be right to share information about going private with just our largest investors without sharing the same information with all investors at the same time," Musk wrote. "As a result, it was clear to me that the right thing to do was announce my intentions publicly."

Here's the full blog post from Musk:

As I announced last Tuesday, I'm considering taking Tesla private because I believe it could be good for our shareholders, enable Tesla to operate at its best, and advance our mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. As I continue to consider this, I want to answer some of the questions that have been asked since last Tuesday.

What has happened so far?

On August 2nd, I notified the Tesla board that, in my personal capacity, I wanted to take Tesla private at $420 per share. This was a 20% premium over the ~$350 then current share price (which already reflected a ~16% increase in the price since just prior to announcing Q2 earnings on August 1st). My proposal was based on using a structure where any existing shareholder who wished to remain as a shareholder in a private Tesla could do so, with the $420 per share buyout used only for shareholders that preferred that option.

After an initial meeting of the board's outside directors to discuss my proposal (I did not participate, nor did Kimbal), a full board meeting was held. During that meeting, I told the board about the funding discussions that had taken place (more on that below) and I explained why this could be in Tesla's long-term interest.

At the end of that meeting, it was agreed that as a next step, I would reach out to some of Tesla's largest shareholders. Our largest investors have been extremely supportive of Tesla over the years, and understanding whether they had the ability and desire to remain as shareholders in a private Tesla is of critical importance to me. They are the ones who believed in Tesla when no one else did and they are the ones who most believe in our future. I told the board that I would report back after I had these discussions.

Why did I make a public announcement?

The only way I could have meaningful discussions with our largest shareholders was to be completely forthcoming with them about my desire to take the company private. However, it wouldn't be right to share information about going private with just our largest investors without sharing the same information with all investors at the same time. As a result, it was clear to me that the right thing to do was announce my intentions publicly. To be clear, when I made the public announcement, just as with this blog post and all other discussions I have had on this topic, I am speaking for myself as a potential bidder for Tesla.

Why did I say "funding secured"?

Going back almost two years, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund has approached me multiple times about taking Tesla private. They first met with me at the beginning of 2017 to express this interest because of the important need to diversify away from oil. They then held several additional meetings with me over the next year to reiterate this interest and to try to move forward with a going private transaction. Obviously, the Saudi sovereign fund has more than enough capital needed to execute on such a transaction.

Recently, after the Saudi fund bought almost 5% of Tesla stock through the public markets, they reached out to ask for another meeting. That meeting took place on July 31st. During the meeting, the Managing Director of the fund expressed regret that I had not moved forward previously on a going private transaction with them, and he strongly expressed his support for funding a going private transaction for Tesla at this time. I understood from him that no other decision makers were needed and that they were eager to proceed.

I left the July 31st meeting with no question that a deal with the Saudi sovereign fund could be closed, and that it was just a matter of getting the process moving. This is why I referred to "funding secured" in the August 7th announcement.

Following the August 7th announcement, I have continued to communicate with the Managing Director of the Saudi fund. He has expressed support for proceeding subject to financial and other due diligence and their internal review process for obtaining approvals. He has also asked for additional details on how the company would be taken private, including any required percentages and any regulatory requirements.

Another critical point to emphasize is that before anyone is asked to decide on going private, full details of the plan will be provided, including the proposed nature and source of the funding to be used. However, it would be premature to do so now. I continue to have discussions with the Saudi fund, and I also am having discussions with a number of other investors, which is something that I always planned to do since I would like for Tesla to continue to have a broad investor base. It is appropriate to complete those discussions before presenting a detailed proposal to an independent board committee.

It is also worth clarifying that most of the capital required for going private would be funded by equity rather than debt, meaning that this would not be like a standard leveraged buyout structure commonly used when companies are taken private. I do not think it would be wise to burden Tesla with significantly increased debt.

Therefore, reports that more than $70B would be needed to take Tesla private dramatically overstate the actual capital raise needed. The $420 buyout price would only be used for Tesla shareholders who do not remain with our company if it is private. My best estimate right now is that approximately two-thirds of shares owned by all current investors would roll over into a private Tesla.

What are the next steps?

As mentioned earlier, I made the announcement last Tuesday because I felt it was the right and fair thing to do so that all investors had the same information at the same time. I will now continue to talk with investors, and I have engaged advisors to investigate a range of potential structures and options. Among other things, this will allow me to obtain a more precise understanding of how many of Tesla's existing public shareholders would remain shareholders if we became private.

If and when a final proposal is presented, an appropriate evaluation process will be undertaken by a special committee of Tesla's board, which I understand is already in the process of being set up, together with the legal counsel it has selected. If the board process results in an approved plan, any required regulatory approvals will need to be obtained and the plan will be presented to Tesla shareholders for a vote.
Pentagon officials reaffirmed Tuesday the military's commitment to identify the recently transferred remains believed to be those of U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War, despite the "moderate to poor" condition in which they were received.

Nearly three weeks ago, the North Korean government handed over what they claim are American remains in 55 boxes. The boxes, draped in United Nations flags, were then flown from the Korean Peninsula to a military laboratory in Hawaii for analysis and identification.

"Our laboratories, both DNA and forensic laboratories, have the technology and the capabilities by which to differentiate those remains over the course of the next several years," Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, or DPAA, said Tuesday during a White House briefing.

The repatriated remains mark the first tangible results to come from June's historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

On the ground to verify the transition of the remains was Dr. John Byrd who heads the analysis effort for the DPAA, the Pentagon unit tasked with identifying the remains.

"The North Korean officials that we spoke to were very forthcoming and candid with us and a couple of things they told us was that these were remains believed to be American and from the Korean War," Byrd told reporters at the Pentagon earlier this month.

"They also, though, were clear with us that they couldn't be sure how many individuals were represented in each box," Byrd added.
Andy Chan Ho-tin (center), the founder of the Hong Kong National Party, is surrounded by members of the media as he leaves the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong on August 14, 2018.

A pro-independence Hong Kong politician whose party is under threat of a ban lashed out at China in a closely watched Tuesday speech, drawing immediate criticism from local authorities.

Andy Chan Ho-tin, a member of the Hong Kong National Party, has been at the center of controversy over free speech and Hong Kong's autonomy. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong, which invited him, came under pressure itself from the central government in Beijing as well as local authorities to cancel the event.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the club in central Hong Kong amid heavy police presence as what appeared to be mostly anti-independence demonstrators held up signs and shouted slogans.

Hong Kong enjoys rights not allowed in mainland China, such as the freedom to criticize political leaders, but the central government and local authorities has drawn a red line at calls for independence and has pressured local leaders to back that up.

In his speech, Chan said his party has been "demonized as some sort of extremist group" by China for advocating independence and that he has come under harsh surveillance by authorities.

"In reality, what the National Party is chasing after is no different from what many Hong Kongers wish for: the dream of democracy," Chan said.

In comments likely to anger the central government, Chan said that Hong Kong, with its distinctive language, culture and history, is coming under the same pressure to assimilate with the nation as minority groups in the mainland.

He cited the far western region of Xinjiang, which he referred to as East Turkestan, as well as Tibet. East Turkestan is a political term that sometimes refers to Xinjiang and was also used in a short-lived East Turkestan Republic in the 1930s.

"China is a large empire," Chan said. "If you are different, you are wrong."

Police have requested that Chan's party be banned on national security grounds and authorities are going through the process of making a decision, which includes hearing the party's defense.
Southwest Airlines next month will restrict emotional support animals to dogs and cats and require them to travel in a carrier or be leashed, the company announced Tuesday.

The Dallas-based airline is the latest carrier to crack down on the boom in emotional support animals on board commercial flights.

Passengers have pushed the patience of what flight crews, airlines and fellow travelers will tolerate as psychological support, traveling with turkeys and pigs as well as thousands of dogs and cats. United denied boarding to a traveler's peacock she tried to bring on as an emotional support animal earlier this year. US Airways, which merged with American in 2013, once ejected an emotional support pig and its owner after the swine defecated on a flight.

American, Delta, United and JetBlue issued tighter rules for such animals earlier this year.

Passengers and crew members have complained about allergies, animal aggression, including biting, and soiled cabins. A passenger last year was mauled on a Delta flight by another traveler's emotional support dog. Airlines have reported a sharp increase in the numbers of such animals on board, as required documentation for such animals to qualify have been easily attainable online.

Emotional-support and service animals can fly free of charge and without a carrier under the 1986 Air Carrier Access Act.

The Department of Transportation is considering more specific definitions of which animals should be allowed on board. United and American this summer wrote letters to the DOT urging it permit only animals that are specially trained to assist a person with a disability, such as guide dogs, to fly for free under that definition. The DOT received close to 4,500 comments on the issue.

In its statement on Tuesday, Southwest noted that psychiatric-service animals, those trained to help people with a mental disability, will still be permitted but said it will only allow dogs, cats and miniature horses in this category while "unusual or exotic animals" such as rodents, ferrets, insects, spiders, reptiles, hedgehogs, rabbits, or sugar gliders will not be accepted.

The changes on Southwest take effect on Sept. 17, the airline said.

Airlines aren't the only ones cracking down on emotional-support animals. Royal Caribbean Cruises on Tuesday banned emotional-support animals on its ships. The measure will apply to all reservations made after July 30, it said.
Nikie Mok has been appointed as the new director of sales and marketing at W, Kuala Lumpur.



Mok has been working in the hospitality industry for over 18 years. She began her career at Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur, before rising up the ranks at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel to assume the position of assistant director of sales  corporate, meeting and convention in a short eight years. Her career is marked by milestones as the director of sales at Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur Hotel in driving hotel goals and growth, and at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur. Previously, Mok held the position of director of sales and marketing at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral during which she charted to completion commercial strategies to deliver outstanding revenue performance for the hotel.



"The role at W Kuala Lumpur speaks to everything Mok does well: empathy, multitasking, and building connections while breaking down barriers. Nikie embodies the W spirit with her tireless pursuit of Whats New/Next, which compels her to go further and to push boundaries. With a lust for a life less ordinary, Nikie is ready to create the energetic W scene in Kuala Lumpur that is magnetic to everyday trendsetters around the world," a senior official at the hotel said.
The tweet did not disclose the sum he had supposedly secured, its source, or any terms of the plan  the kind of transaction that would typically be detailed in documents of 200 pages or more.

But the episode appears to have been much more extemporaneous.

In his blog post Monday, Mr. Musk portrayed his Twitter musings last week as part of a deliberate effort to be "completely forthcoming" with shareholders about his desire to take the company private.

And even if the fund were ready to move forward with such an agreement, it would invite review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the government body that reviews the national-security implications of such transactions.

But three people familiar with the workings of the Saudi fund cast doubt on his account. They said the fund had taken none of the steps that such an ambitious transaction would entail, like preparing a term sheet or hiring a financial adviser to work on the deal.

"I understood from him that no other decision makers were needed and that they were eager to proceed," he added.

Since early 2017, the fund "has approached me multiple times about taking Tesla private," Mr. Musk wrote. Two weeks ago, he added, the fund's managing director "strongly expressed his support for funding a going-private transaction."

On Monday, Mr. Musk issued a blog post that appeared to be aimed at quelling the uproar he had created with his initial comments, which caused a dramatic jump in Tesla shares and a halt in trading. In the post, he declared that conversations with a Saudi sovereign wealth fund had left him "with no question" that such a deal could be carried out.

The tweet was a highly unusual way of announcing a key strategy change at a public company. It prompted the Securities and Exchange Commission to contact Tesla to inquire about the accuracy of Mr. Musk's tweets and the reason the disclosure had not been made in a regulatory filing, according to a person briefed on the inquiry, who was not authorized to speak publicly on behalf of the agency.

The account raised new questions about the cryptic Twitter post last week in which Mr. Musk, the mercurial co-founder and chief executive of the electric-car maker, said he had "funding secured" for a buyout of the $60 billion company.

An abrupt tweet last week by Elon Musk about the prospect of taking Tesla private was dashed off with little forethought, and had not been cleared ahead of time with the company's board, two people familiar with the chain of events said Monday.

Two people familiar with the chain of events said that in a conversation with an informal adviser about the mess he had gotten himself into, Mr. Musk said he had taken to Twitter impulsively. He said he had done so because he was not the kind of person who could hold things in, and was angry at the company's critics.

A person with direct knowledge of the Tesla board's thinking said some members of the board had been totally blindsided by Mr. Musk's decision to air his plan on Twitter.

On Monday evening, Mr. Musk took to Twitter again. Signaling that he remained serious about pursuing the potential buyout, he cited two financial firms and two law firms that he said he was "excited to work with" on the proposal. He named Silver Lake Partners and Goldman Sachs as financial advisers, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Munger, Tolles & Olson as legal advisers.

The pursuit of a buyout has come at a crucial time for the company, as it struggles to turn out its first mass-market automobile, the Model 3. Tesla has taken on a mounting debt load and has yet to turn an annual profit. And while Mr. Musk has always been synonymous with the brand, he has never been under greater scrutiny.

In the past few months, he has mocked industry analysts for asking "bonehead" questions, pursued online tirades against investors betting against the company's stock, clashed with a government agency investigating a fatal Tesla crash, and accused a disgruntled employee of sabotage.

Then he suddenly announced the idea of taking the company private.

In his blog post on Monday, Mr. Musk said he had notified the Tesla board on Aug. 2, five days before sending out the tweets, that "in my personal capacity, I wanted to take Tesla private at $420 a per share."

He said that after the board's outside directors discussed the matter  without the participation of Mr. Musk or his brother, Kimbal Musk, also a board member  the full board agreed to have Mr. Musk discuss the matter with some of the company's largest shareholders.

Since then, Mr. Musk said, he had stayed in contact with representatives of the Saudi fund, which recently bought a stake of almost 5 percent in Tesla, and had been in touch with other investors.

A Tesla spokesman declined to comment beyond the blog post.

Tesla shares declined on Monday morning, then recovered in the afternoon to end the day 0.3 percent higher at $356.41. It was a far cry from the volatility of last Tuesday, when trading was halted in the confusion that followed Mr. Musk's initial tweet, eventually closing 11 percent higher on the day.

The Nasdaq exchange, like the rest of Wall Street, seemed to have been stunned by the news. Companies that list on Nasdaq are required to inform the exchange's market surveillance group at least 10 minutes before the release of news that could have a major effect on shares.

After Mr. Musk's tweet, however, frenzied trading went on for more than an hour before it was halted pending a fuller announcement from Tesla, which came a half-hour before the market closed.

"As an officer of a public company that was a clearly a market-moving event and he knew or should have known that," said Laura Unger, a former S.E.C. commissioner, said of Mr. Musk's initial tweet. "He was at least reckless whether he meant to drive up the price or not. What it does point out is that executives and people in power should be thoughtful about what they tweet. The stakes are high."

Aside from the scrutiny of market regulators, the frantic Tesla trading after the "funding secured" tweet has also exposed Mr. Musk to shareholder lawsuits. At least two law firms initiated potential class-action lawsuits late last week, saying the Tesla chief had deliberately acted to move the company's share price without actually having funding in place. Such suits rarely go to trial; more often they are settled.

John Reed Stark, a former longtime lawyer at the S.E.C. who specialized in investigating internet fraud cases, said that commenting online about the prospects of taking the company private was inadvisable at best. But he said that a case of market manipulation would come down to Mr. Musk's intent.

"These are very difficult cases to prove," said Mr. Stark, who runs a cybersecurity consulting business.

As it scrambles to ramp up production of the Model 3, Tesla continues to burn cash. Looming in the months ahead are two key bond payments  one in November for $230 million and another early next year for $920 million that analysts believe will be harder for Tesla to make.

The recent rise in Tesla's stock could make a difference; the company can pay off the second convertible bond with stock rather than cash if its share price is above $360.

Amid all the tension, Tesla has become a target of short sellers  investors who are betting the company's stock will fall. Mr. Musk has openly feuded with short sellers on Twitter, taunting them when Tesla shares rise and accusing them of spreading negative news to hurt the company.

Shares of Tesla have one of the highest short-interest ratios in the United States stock market  that is, the most investor money betting against the stock, as a percentage of shares available for trading. So when shares rise, as they did after Mr. Musk's tweet last week, it can cost the skeptics dearly.

Among those who have been betting big against Tesla is David Einhorn, founder of the hedge fund Greenlight Capital. A letter from the fund to investors at the end of July said that Mr. Musk "appears erratic and desperate," recapitulating some of his provocative interactions with analysts, regulators and Twitter followers. It also lamented that "this bravado" was a hit in the market, sending Tesla's shares up 29 percent in the second quarter and resulting in the fund's second biggest loss.

One benefit of taking Tesla private, Mr. Musk has said, is that it would eliminate the influence of short sellers, as well as the demands of reporting quarterly earnings. Doing so, he said in the blog post, would "enable Tesla to operate at its best."

Matthew Goldstein and Matt Phillips contributed reporting.
Self-made millionaire and entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis is a big proponent of going to college, but he's less concerned about which school you cite as an alma mater.

"I think that getting a formal education is paramount for everybody, whether that's at a community college or whether that's at a four year college," says Lemonis, the host of CNBC's "The Profit," where he tries to help struggling entrepreneurs turn around their small businesses.

What's more, Lemonis tells CNBC Make It that he's "sort of agnostic about where you get educated," because he places more importance on the "regimen" of going to school and studying for a degree.

"For me, it's more of the principle the structure, the discipline or the understanding that you're accountable for something," he says of college.

Lemonis himself graduated from Marquette University in 1995 with a degree in political science. As a college student, Lemonis showed off his work ethic by mowing lawns and working as a club promoter in addition to focusing on his studies. After graduating, Lemonis worked at an auto dealership, and then the Florida-based auto retailer AutoNation, before getting into the RV business. Today, Lemonis is the Chairman and CEO of Camping World, a company with a market value of nearly $2 billion.

"I am eternally grateful for the guidance and development that Marquette University provided to me as I embarked on my journey," Lemonis said in 2017.
Omarosa Manigault (L) who was a contestant on the first season of Donald Trump's 'The Apprentice' and is now an ordained minister, appears alongside Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump during a press conference November 30, 2015 that followed Trump's meeting with African-American religious leaders in New York.

"Anything they want, I will certainly cooperate," she said during the "Hardball" interview Monday night.

The president's tweet came the morning after Manigault Newman told MSNBC's Chris Matthews she would cooperate with Robert Mueller if she is contacted again, seemingly confirming that she has been in touch with the special counsel's office. Mueller's team is investigating potential ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, as well as Russian attacks on the 2016 election.

"When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didn't work out," Trump tweeted. "Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!"

President Donald Trump resumed his Twitter onslaught against former senior White House advisor and "Apprentice" contestant Omarosa Manigault Newman, calling her a "dog" in his most vicious attack yet on his former protege.

The special counsel's office declined to comment.

Manigault Newman recorded several conversations during her nearly one-year stint at the White House. She has already played some for the media, including a recording of chief of staff John Kelly firing her and one of Trump himself expressing dismay over her dismissal.

In a recording Manigault Newman released to NBC, Trump said he didn't know she had been fired, and "I don't love you leaving at all."

Manigault Newman, who was paid as much as then-chief of staff Reince Priebus and other top White House officials during 2017, wrote a tell-all book, "Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House." It went on sale Tuesday. The frenzy over the book's contents, which have been disputed by the White House and several observers, has escalated in recent days.

The former White House aide claims in her book that she spoke to investigators earlier this year and "received a call" from the FBI. She has also said in interviews that she heard tapes of Trump saying the n-word, which were recorded during the filming of "Apprentice" episodes.

Trump denied that he used the racial slur. "I don't have that word in my vocabulary, and never have," he tweeted Monday night. He also said that "Apprentice" producer Mark Burnett called to tell him that there were "NO TAPES" of him using the word.

TRUMP TWEET 2

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
TV personality Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan(C) and his attorney Charles Harder (R) attend a press conference to discuss legal action being brought on his behalf October 15, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.

Attorney Charles Harder is representing President Donald Trump's campaign in its arbitration fight against former senior White House official Omarosa Manigault Newman, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

Harder, who is best known for representing wrestler Hulk Hogan in his sex tape lawsuit against now-defunct gossip site Gawker, was brought on as Manigault Newman published a book with numerous salacious claims against the president.

In the book, titled "Unhinged," the former "Apprentice" contestant alleges that Trump is in mental decline and says he's a racist. She also has given numerous interviews where she's leaked audio excerpts of chief of staff John Kelly firing her from the Trump administration in December and a private phone call with the president after her termination.

On Tuesday, a campaign official announced that the campaign was filing an arbitration complaint against Manigault Newman with the American Arbitration Association in New York City. The campaign accused her of breaching her 2016 confidentiality agreement with the Trump campaign.

A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not return requests for comment on Harder's hiring. Harder declined to comment.

California-based Harder has represented both the president and first lady Melania Trump. In 2017, he secured damages and an apology for the first lady after settling a defamation lawsuit against U.K. tabloid The Daily Mail. The paper had published an article that said she worked for an escort service.

Harder also currently represents the president in a California case brought by porn star Stormy Daniels, who is suing Trump and his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, filed the suit to nullify a nondisclosure deal she signed in exchange for $130,000 before the 2016 election that barred her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump.

The Trump re-election campaign also paid Harder's firm, Harder LLP, $93,000 earlier this year to fight back against Michael Wolff's hotly debated White House tell-all book, "Fire and Fury."

The firm received two payments for its efforts on Trump's behalf. One payment of $25,000 was made in January and another for just more than $68,000 was made in February, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings from the Trump campaign, released Sunday.

The payments to Harder's firm were largely in compensation for taking on former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who was a major source for the book, and Wolff, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Sessions on social media, zeroing in on the embattled attorney general's recusal from investigations related to the 2016 presidential campaign. Sessions disqualified himself in early 2017, after he came under fire for failing to disclose during congressional testimony that he had been in contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 presidential campaign.

"If we had a real Attorney General, this Witch Hunt would never have been started!" Trump wrote at one point during a Twitter rant spanning more than two hours.

President Donald Trump attacked special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia probe on Tuesday, saying it's "looking at the wrong people," and slammed his own attorney general, Jeff Sessions , for allowing the "witch hunt" to take root in the first place.

The Justice Department declined CNBC's request for comment on the president's tweet. The White House did not immediately provide comment on Trump's tweet about Sessions.

Quoting conservatives and Trump-supporting personalities from Fox News Channel, the president endorsed the view that Peter Strzok, an ex-member of Mueller's team, should be "criminally investigated." Strzok was fired from the FBI on Monday over anti-Trump texts.

Trump tweet Fitton 1

Trump tweet Fitton 2

Trump tweet Strzok fraud

"The whole thing ... should be shut down," Trump tweeted, quoting Tom Fitton, the president of conservative legal activist group Judicial Watch.

Just after 9 a.m. ET, the president suggested that the probe should be investigating his Democratic rival from 2016, Hillary Clinton. "Why aren't these angry and conflicted Democrats instead looking at Crooked Hillary?" Trump tweeted.

Trump tweet Hillary

Trump has often and inaccurately referred to Mueller's team as consisting of strictly Democrats. Mueller himself is a Republican. He was named special counsel by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Republican and a Trump appointee.

The president also focused his ire on current FBI employee Bruce Ohr, whose wife Nellie worked for Fusion GPS, the research firm that produced a dossier alleging salacious connections between Trump and Russia. Bruce Ohr is not a member of Mueller's team.

Trump tweet Bruce Ohr

Amid Trump's latest assault on the investigation of Russian election interference  and potential conspiracy between Trump's campaign and the Kremlin  the president continued his attacks against Omarosa Manigault Newman, a former senior advisor in his administration, calling her a "dog" and a "crazed, crying lowlife."

Trump tweet Omarosa

In the run-up to the release of her White House expose, Manigault Newman has claimed that tapes exist of Trump using racial epithets including the N-word, and has produced other recordings herself. In an MSNBC interview Monday night, she said she would cooperate with the special counsel and hand over the recordings she made if she were contacted again, appearing to confirm that she has been in touch with Mueller's office.

Following his latest salvo against the ex-"Apprentice" star, Trump weighed in on reports of an incident in London being treated as a terror attack.

Trump tweet animals
"If we get the deal right, then there will be mutual benefit for both sides and it will stick."

"We're confident that we can do a deal with the U.S. We are confident that the U.S. will want to do a deal with us," Antony Phillipson said on " Closing Bell ."

Such an agreement would come after the U.K. leaves the European Union next March.

Despite recent trade tensions between the United States and the rest of the world, the United Kingdom is optimistic it will ultimately strike a deal with the U.S., the U.K. trade commissioner for North America told CNBC on Tuesday.

Both President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed an interest in a trade deal when the two met in July. However, Trump's visit came shortly after his explosive interview with British tabloid The Sun in which the president said May completely ignored his advice and blasted her plans for Brexit.

"If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the U.K., so it will probably kill the deal," Trump said about a potential trade agreement between the U.S. and the U.K.

May is under pressure to deliver on the 2016 vote authorizing the U.K.'s exit from the EU. There has been recent political turmoil over her strategy, resulting in the departure of high-level government officials.

Trump later walked back his comments, saying, "Whatever you do is OK with us, just make sure we can trade together."

And in a later interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Trump said, "We would make a tremendously big deal."

When it comes to the timing of a deal between the two countries, Phillipson said they will work on it for as long as it takes.

However, he added, "We are committed to doing one fast. We've begun the preparations now so that we are ready to go as soon as we've left the EU next March."

Those preparations include a 14-week consultation period on what businesses and consumers want from a deal.

 CNBCs Silvia Amaro contributed to this report.
American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson (C), who was charged with committing crimes, including spying for the PKK terror group and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization, arrives at the address, which he was put under house arrest due to his health problems, in Izmir, Turkey on July 25, 2018. (Photo by Evren Atalay/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The United States is warning more economic pressures may be in store for Turkey if it refuses to release a jailed American pastor, a White House official said on Tuesday, in a dispute that has further strained relations between the NATO allies.

The tough message emerged a day after White House national security adviser John Bolton met privately with Turkish ambassador Serdar Kilic about the case of evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson. Bolton warned him that the United States would not give any ground, a senior U.S. official said.

The White House official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said "nothing has progressed" thus far on the Brunson case.

"The administration is going to stay extremely firm on this. The president is 100 percent committed to bringing Pastor Brunson home and if we do not see actions in the next few days or a week there could be further actions taken," the official said.

Further actions would likely take the form of economic sanctions, the official said, who added: The pressure is going to keep up if we're not seeing results.

Relations between Turkey and the United States have been soured by Brunsons detention, as well as diverging interests on Syria. Trump doubled tariffs on imports of Turkish steel and aluminum last week, contributing to a precipitous fall in the lira.

The United States is also considering a fine against Turkeys state-owned Halkbank for allegedly helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions. Earlier this month, the United States imposed sanctions on two top officials in President Recep Tayyip Erdogans cabinet in an attempt to get Turkey to turn over Brunson.

Brunson is accused of backing a coup attempt against Turkish Erdogan two years ago, charges that he has denied. He is being tried on terrorism charges.

Brunson has appealed again to a Turkish court to release him from house arrest and lift his travel ban, his lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia replaced Iraq as top oil supplier to India in July after a gap of more than a year, according to data from industry and shipping sources, as a higher intake of Iranian oil ahead of US sanctions altered trade routes.

Many European refiners are winding down purchases of Iranian oil after the United States imposed sanctions on Tehran, leading to higher supplies to Asia, mainly India and China.

The United States in May quit the 2015 nuclear deal and announced reimposition of sanctions on Tehran. While some sanctions were implemented from Aug. 6, those affecting Iran's petroleum sector will come into force from Nov. 4.

Imports of Iranian oil by India, Tehran's top oil client after China, surged to a record 768,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July due to higher intake by state refiners, tanker arrival data showed.

India's top refiner wants to continue buying Iranian oil as the OPEC member is offering discounts in freight and extended credit period, Sanjiv Singh, Chairman of Indian Oil Corp, said on Monday.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq continued to be the two biggest oil suppliers to India last month although monthly supplies from them declined by 12 percent and about 23 percent in July, the data obtained from shipping and trade sources showed.

The sources declined to be identified.

On top of incentives offered by Iran on oil sales, higher July official selling prices (OSPs) of oil from Saudi Arabia and Iraq also dented demand for their oil.

"Iranian crude OSPs for July have moved in tandem with other middle east producers but incentives offered by Iran has made its oil more attractive compared to other alternatives," Sushant Gupta, Research Director, Asia Pacific Refining, at consultancy Wood Mackenzie.

Gupta said less buying from other importers such as Japan, South Korea and Europe have also led led to more volumes towards India.

"The deadline to reduce Iranian crude is November 4th. So with this increase in July, India would show a bigger cuts in Iranian crude come Q4 2018," he added.

Saudi Aramco raised July Arab Light crude price to Asia to 4-year high while Iraq increased the official selling prices for Basra Light crude to Asia by $0.40 a barrel.

Apart from Iran, India also boosted intake of Venezuelan and Nigerian oil.

India's imports of Venezuela oil in July rose to 423,500 bpd, an increase of 37 percent from June, as some of the delayed cargoes from May arrived in July.

Narrowing of Brent's premium to Dubai prompted Indian refiners to lift more Nigerian grades, said Sri Paravaikkarasu, head of East of Suez Oil at consultancy FGE.

India's monthly oil imports from Nigeria jumped by about 50 percent to 422,000 bpd in July, the data showed.
How the analysis was done

In this analysis, "downtown Columbia" is defined as a box, with Wilkes Boulevard to the north, College Avenue to the east, Elm Street to the south and Providence Road to the west.

The analysis only included shots fired incidents that had corresponding police reports. This makes it likely that a shot was actually fired, as opposed to a firecracker going off.

For the time period starting Jan. 1, 2012, the analysis looked at all incidents defined as "shots fired" in the police department's database that were within the box we defined as downtown. (It also includes one incident from July 29, 2018, where a shot was fired on the corner of Tenth Street and Broadway that was defined as a "disturbance" in the police database. Previous Missourian reporting makes clear the incident involved a gun being shot.)
Best Western Hotels & Resorts has unveiled plans to launch a brand new hotel in the heart of Tokyos Akihabara district, the home of Japans famous otaku culture and electronics shops.



Scheduled to open its doors in October, Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara is a stylish, state-of-the-art midscale hotel that puts guests in the centre of the action. Located in the Chiyoda ward of downtown Tokyo, Akihabara is the spiritual home of Japanese youth culture, with colourful consumer electronics stores lining the lively streets, alongside shops and cafes specialising in manga and anime.



The new hotel will feature 80 contemporary rooms, all equipped with comfortable beds and cutting-edge facilities. Every morning, guests can start their day with a buffet breakfast featuring a selection of Japanese and international dishes plus high-quality coffee. Then throughout the day, a hotel vending machine will offer quick snacks and drinks.



The central location and modern facilities of Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara will make it the perfect option for business and leisure travellers seeking a convenient, well-connected and affordable place to stay.



Buzzing with life day and night, Akihabara is one of Asias most exciting and iconic urban areas. Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara is an exceptional new hotel that will provide guests with international accommodation and services in the heart of this dynamic district, commented Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts managing director of International Operations - Asia.



This launch marks our latest partnership with Fino Hotels in Japan. I am confident that this superb midscale hotel will become extremely popular with all guests, whether they are seeking to soak up the pop culture of Akihabara Electric Town or simply need a convenient base for their next Tokyo business trip, Berrivin added.



Located less than 400 meters from Suehirocho Station and Naka-Okachimachi Station on the Tokyo Metro, and just 17km from Tokyos Haneda International Airport, Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara is highly accessible for local and overseas travellers.



The new property will become the fifth Best Western hotel in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, following Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai, Best Western Tokyo Nishikasai Grande, Best Western Rembrandt Hotel Tokyo Machida and Best Western Yokohama. It also joins a growing portfolio of 17 Best Western hotels and resorts located all across Japan. - TradeArabia News Service


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PM Lee to give National Day Rally speech on August 19

Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong will deliver his National Day Rally 2018 speech on August 19 at the Institute of Technical Education College Central at Ang Mo Kio.

In a press release, Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said, PM Lee will speak in Malay and Mandarin from 6.45pm to 7.30pm, and in English from 8.15pm to 9.30pm.

Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong. Photo courtesy: pmo.gov.sg

The National Day Rally speech will be broadcast on local TV channels and radio stations of Singapore.

The National Day Rally will be broadcasted in English on Channel 5, Okto and 938NOW from 6.45pm and 8.15pm. The Mandarin broadcast will be on Channel 8, Channel U and Capital 95.8FM from 6.45pm and 8.15pm.

The Malay broadcast will be on Suria and Warna 94.2FM from 6.45pm and 8.15pm. The Tamil broadcast will be on Vasantham and Oli 96.8FM from 6.45pm and 8.15pm.

Channel NewsAsia will broadcast the National Day Rallys Malay and Chinese speeches with summary captions in English from 6.45pm, and the English speech with summary captions from 8.15pm.

In addition to this, the rally will also be live streamed on the following online channels:

PMO YouTube

PM Lees Facebook Page

REACH Facebook Page

Toggle.sg and channelnewsasia.com

People can read live updates on the rally at PM Lees Facebook Page and Twitter account as the speech is delivered.

They can also join the conversation online by including the #ndrsg hashtag in the posts and tweets.

If you miss the live broadcast of PM Lees speech, you may watch it at www.youtube.com/pmosingapore or www.pmo.gov.sg/ndr from 20 August 2018.
As the start of the Hajj season nears, leading travel metasearch engine Skyscanner has created a guide to help pilgrims chart out their journey and enjoy a seamless travel experience.



The guide includes helpful information such as dates, how much Zamzam one can take on the plane and details of this years must-have Hajj app.



Below is an excerpt from the guide:



When is Hajj 2018?

Entry and exit dates for those travelling on Hajj visa:

The last date for entry is August 15.



The first date of exit is August 26 and the last date of exit is September 25.



Where can I go on a Hajj visa?



Those travelling on a Hajj visa will only be permitted to travel to certain areas in Saudi Arabia. Responsibility for obtaining the correct visa and booking the right flight does fall on the passenger, and without the correct documentation, one will not be able to board the flight or receive a refund.



What is the baggage policy for Hajj flights?



Airlines have their own standard baggage policies. However, there may be a specific Hajj 2018 allowance imposed by Saudi Arabian authorities that travellers must follow. These differ depending on the country of departure, the airline and agent. It would be best to contact the Hajj and Umrah package agent and airline directly to check the baggage policy. If in doubt, speak to your the local Saudi Arabian Embassy.



Can I bring back Zamzam (holy water)?



Most airlines allow passengers returning from this pilgrimage to bring up to five litres of Zamzam as checked baggage at no additional cost. But again, it is strongly recommended to check with the airline as they may even organise complimentary Zamzam to carry home. Travellers must also make sure their Zamzam bottle is properly packed in the special plastic Zamzam bag to avoid leakage.



What time should I check-in at the airport when leaving after Hajj?



In general, passengers travelling on international airlines, such as Emirates, must report to the airport check-in desk six hours before the scheduled departure time. Travellers flying on a Saudi based airline, such as Saudia, need to arrive at the airport three hours before departure time. It is best to always consult with the concerned airline directly to make sure one arrives at the airport at the correct time. Word of warning: during the Hajj period airports can be extremely busy so it is advised to be prepared for a lot of waiting around. Travellers are encouraged to arrive as early as possible!



Can I take photographs?



There are certain rules regarding photography that one should follow in Saudi Arabia. It is forbidden to take photos of any government buildings, military installations or palaces, so make sure to check what is around before taking a snap. Authorities also advise against taking photos of Saudi locals. Binoculars can be confiscated if brought into Saudi, so best to leave those at home.



What is this years must-have Hajj app?



Manasikana is a handy app to provide guidance when on a Hajj journey and is definitely a must-have this year. It has been updated for Hajj 2018 and is now available in several languages, including Arabic, English, Urdu and Malay, and offers a variety of features, such as maps of Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah and Holy sites, highlighting places of interest. The map feature helps to identify the current location and provides the journey time to the next destination. There are also safety features such as important telephone numbers and allows family and friends to track one's location in real time. Travellers can even find prayer times, weather conditions, currency conversion and news.



For the full guide, please visit the Skyscanner website. - TradeArabia News Service
Probably the most fundamental tension in Russian politics is that between the concepts of gosudarstvennost and its rival obshchestvennost. The nuances of the latter are difficult to translate, but the term refers to civil society and, roughly speaking, means public opinion. Liberal commentators regard the state in Russia with suspicion. At the start of the 20th century, they longed for the state to surrender its power to public opinion. They still do. But supporters of gosudatstvennosr view supporters of obshchestvennost with equal suspicion. They see them as the self-interested representatives of the chattering classes, who, if put into positions of power, will immediately plunge Russia into a state of anarchy in which their beloved liberties will be of no use to them or anybody else. This, the Whites argued, was what the liberals of the provisional government had done in 1917, and this, many now claim, is what free-market democrats such as Yegor Gaidar did to Russia in the early 1990s.

Moreover, having described the new Russian President as a typical Soviet radish  red on the outside but white at the core, Robinson went on to put into context the complexities of his relationship towards liberal ideas:

As a result, at a time when so many who had opted for relevant subjects quite patently had no idea what was happening, Robinson could see, clearly, that what goes into the dustbin does not necessarily stay there: that Putin was, in essence, a grandchild of the Rev olution who had come to believe that some of those who had opposed it had been completely justified. (As it were, Trotsky should have been in the dustbin, not Denikin.)

Only later did I learn that, after leaving university, its author had served for five years in Army Intelligence, and, when he chose to do a doctorate, opted to excavate some forgotten figures from Trotskys dustbin of history, writing on the White Russian Army in exile.

This problem might have been avoided had our then Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, summoned his Eton and Oxford contemporary Paul Robinson back from Ottawa, where he now teaches. Ironically, it was when Johnson was editing the Spectator that, in January 2004, he published an article by Robinson, headlined Putins might is White, which had a shaping influence on my view of contemporary Russian realities.

Among the more extreme instances was provided by our Ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, in the exchanges in April as the Western powers were trying to cover up yet another false flag chemical weapons attack. She explained: In respect of Karl Marx, I think he must be turning in his grave to see what the country that was founded on many of his precepts is doing in the name of supporting Syria by condoning the use of chemical weapons on Syrian territory.

One rather material element in delusions about Russia, alike in my country as in yours, is that people still appear to have difficulty realising that Putin is not a communist, and, where they can get this far, find it utterly impossible to make sense of what he actually is.

There is something of a misconception in the West that the Russian state has traditionally been exceedingly powerful. In fact, the opposite is the case. Compared with Western countries, the rulers of pre-communist Russia had a very small administrative apparatus and comparatively limited financial resources to govern an enormous geographic area. Russian leaders have regularly found it extremely difficult to enforce their rule far from Moscow or St Petersburg. Even in the modern era both Yeltsin and Putin have found themselves frustrated by regional governors who pursue policies directly counter to those of the central government. In earlier times, it was a lack of power, not a surfeit, that induced tyrants such as Ivan the Terrible to resort to violent administrative solutions.

A weak state can lead to despotism. It is only under the shelter of a state strong enough to protect its subjects from crime or external assault, to create and enforce laws to regulate commerce and industry, and to encourage the arts, education and other social benefits, that a society can prosper, and that the conditions for individual liberty can ever hope to exist.

(http://archive.spectator.co... .)

If the division was put like that, my own strong reaction was that, for precisely the reasons why I had every sympathy with the Western intervention against Bolshevism in the Civil War, I also much preferred Putin to the contemporary Russian chattering classes  also, of course, I may be biased: I know the British chattering classes rather well.

What has since become clear, moreover, is that when the Western chattering classes do actually take notice of the figures to whom Putin harks back, they totally misunderstand them. An excellent example came after, in 2014 , he recommended regional governors works by Nikolai Berdyaev, Vladimir Solovyev, and Ivan Ilyin.

Commenting on this in a piece headlined Putin Cant Stop in that leading outlet of your chattering classes, the New York Times, David Brooks produced a spectacular example of the misuse of proof texts.

This led him to conclude that All of this adds up to a highly charged and assertive messianic ideology, and that Mashed together, these philosophers point to a Russia that is a quasi-theocratic nationalist autocracy destined to play a culminating role on the world stage.

(See https://www.nytimes.com/201... .)

It has become clear to me, however, is that the Western chattering classes are not simply ignorant. A key reason why Brooks, and many like him, travesty these writers is that they have themselves embraced a highly charged and assertive messianic ideology.

This was made vividly apparent in a column by Brooks in the NYT, in February 2017, which was entitled A Return to National Greatness. In this, he restated and developed themes he had set out in an article written twenty years before, when he was a senior editor at the Weekly Standard.

A central theme, as Brooks put it in the later article, was that the main building of the Library of Congress articulates the central animating idea that held this bursting, turbulent country together.

In that story, America is placed at the vanguard of the great human march of progress. America is the grateful inheritor of other peoples gifts. It has a spiritual connection to all people in all places, but also an exceptional role. America culminates history. It advances a way of life and a democratic model that will provide people everywhere with dignity. The things Americans do are not for themselves only, but for all mankind.

This historical story was Americas true myth

(See https://www.nytimes.com/201... .)

Ironically, it turns out that the ideas set out by Brooks are actually rather closer to those of many of the original Bolsheviks than they are to those of the chattering classes of the time who facilitated the coming to power of Lenin and his associates.

As has become clearer in recent years, a central strand in the thinking of many of the of those who made the October Revolution came out of the attempt by borderlands intellectuals to transcend the politics of ethnic division by embracing a highly charged and assertive messianic ideology.

A fascinating 2008 article entitled The Ethnic Roots of Class Universalism by Liliana Riga, an American lady now teaching at Edinburgh, summarises the research presented in much greater detail in her 2012 book The Bolsheviks and the Russian Empire.

(See https://www.research.ed.ac.... .)

Although there is a certain amount of social science jargon I find irritating, Ms. Riga has made a monumental effort to put together some very interesting modern writing on nationalism with detailed biographies of the ninety-three members of the Central Committee in the early revolutionary years, setting them in the contexts from which they came: a Herculean la bour.

Something that emerges with great force is that the forces of modernisation, in the Russian Empire as in the Hapsburg Empire, could push people towards what might be called tribal identifications. But, in part precisely because of that, they could lead to people adopting universalistic ideologies in part precisely because of the promise these held of transcending tribalism. And, not uncommonly, these univeralistic ideologies have also been messianic.

If this is so, then a question arises as to whether people like Brooks are actually hell-bent on heading the United States into precisely the dead end into which Bolshevism ended up heading much of Eurasia.

A central problem, in both cases, is that the coherence of ones polity is liable to end up depending upon myths which prove unsustainable.

The kind of myth in terms of which Brooks wants to define American identity was easy enough to hold in 1989. At that time, a central fact about the world was the extraordinary success of the post-war Pax Americana both in Western Europe and central parts of East Asia. B y 1997, he and people like should have been trying to reckon with the fact that the Russian chattering classes had turned out as wrong at the end of the Soviet experiment as they had before it.

By 2017, Brooks should have made some attempt to reckon with the fact that subsequent attempts to impose American model by force in the Middle East had turned out completely catastrophic.

The total failure of him and his like  in Britain as much as in the United States  to make any attempt to reckon with the ways in which the world has changed since 1989, I thi nk, brings out their true spiritual ancestry: a certain amount of Leon Trotsky, but a lot more of Leonid Brezhnev.
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By Ahmed Sohail Siddiqui

Who would have predicted that the date of birth of the eldest son of Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui would be the date that would give rise to the formation of a new nation Pakistan  the home of the Muslims who were forced into partition? Ahmed Mustafa Rahi was born on 14th August 1930.

Since his childhood Rahi sahib had his upbringing in the company of great personalities like Maulana Hussain Ahmed Madni [rh] Shaikh ul Hind who gave him the title RAHI. As a boy he led students of DarulUloom Deoband University in protest marches in Campus against the British from where he graduated.

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After his graduation in the turbulent years of Freedom movement 1940-50 for the Muslims of Indian Sub-continent, he joined his father in 1951 to launch Urdu Daily Newspaper Nai Dunya as its Editor, Printer and Publisher. Nai Duniya was the most fearless Urdu Daily Newspaper from New Delhi carrying the slogan Jamhooriat ka Alamdaar meaning the flag bearer of Democracy.

At the age of 21 Mustafa Rahi plunged in Indian policits in Delhi as the Editor Publisher of a Newspaper that was anti-Establishment and refused to bow before any power. With love for reading and writing and a good command of Urdu Adab, Media and history he associated with the literary circles. The special issues of his daily NaiDunya on Salahuddin Ayyubi won the hearts of passionate Urdu readers forming a loyalty for him & his publications. In a short span of time NaiDunya became a favourite of all those who believed in democracy and worked against the discriminative policies of the Government.

The Akali leadership solely relied on NaiDunya for its success in Punjabi Suba Agitation. This became a sore eye of the government which was apprehensive even before commencement of the publication and demanded a deposit surety for Rs 20,000.

This bias against the first ever Indian Urdu Newspaper to deposit such a huge surety amount raised many eye brows. From Feroze Gandhi to Justice Sacchar every one jumped in support of NaiDunya forcing the government to withdraw the surety clause. But Pandit Nehru was uncomfortable with Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiquis writings and speeches that encouraged fearlessness among the Muslims to join democracy and align with Sikhs, Lohia and Dalits to fight together for their constitutional rights.

A section of the Congress party incited Nehru against NaiDunya and as a result both father and son  founders of NaI dauniya were arrested put to third degree tortures.

The Newspaper was again asked to deposit 20,000 rupees as surety. As soon as this news became public the committed readers of the newspaper organized funds and in 24 hours collected 20,000 rupees. The government was taken aback when the deposit was made in such a short span and sent intelligence officers all over to search the source of the funds.

However the tortures Mustafa Rahi underwent in the prison strengthened both his writing and oratory skills. People who heard him were spell bound by his knowledge and his magical voice.

For over a decade Feroze Gandhi regularly visited the office of NaiDunya like all other Urdu poets of that era.He developed a close affiliation with Mustafa Rahi sahib. In 1963 the daily NaiDunya breathed its last under the political conspiracy that forced its closure. The witch hunting by the government put the family of Rahi in deep financial crises forcing them to sell their houses and jewelry.

However the spirit and strong will of Mustafa Rahi remained intact as he continued to be the editor and publisher of several Urdu Dailies such as Roznama HIMMAT Delhi and Roznama TAQAT.

He had several friends from different walks of life who were both his admirers and well wishers. Some of them are Hakeem Abdul Hameed Saheb of Hamdard; Dehlvis of Shama Group, Haji Anees saab Editor of Filmy Sitarey, M.L. Fotedar, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Feroze Gandhi, Sardar Swarn Singh, I.K.Gujaral, Sonia Gandhi, Russian Diplomat Meer Qasimof, K.N.Singh, Jitendra Prasad, Khursheed Alam Khan, Syed Zahoor Qasim the scientist, Mujtaba Hussain the Urdu Padma Shree, several union ministers, editors and diplomats.

He edited and compiled 20 books printed in Urdu on Islamic subjects.He wrote a biography of H.N.Bahuguna his friend Adhoori Kitaab which was inaugurated by the then governor of Uttar Pradesh.

After the closure of Daily NaiDunya his family regained strength and started HUMA & HUDA monthly magazines that created a revolution in the Urdu world. In 1973 NaiDunya was revived in the weekly form by the youngest son of Maulana Abdul Waheed Siddiqui which continues till date facing several challenges from different governments.

Mustafa Rahi sahab is the pioneer of Islamic Journalism through his services as Editor of HUDA Urdu Islamic Digest [1967 to 2015 till his last] a publication respected and enjoyed by its readers across the globe. He also launched the Hindi edition of Islamic Digest HUDA in 1986.This Hindi publication TAHA worked with the new generation of Indian Muslims and gained immense popularity for its mission which continues till date.

The TAHA magazine was a huge success with several editions being reprinted even today.

His interview for HUMA Urdu Digest with Mrs. Indira Gandhi remains unparalleled in Urdu Journalism. This interview helped the congress to return to power in 1980 with 49 Muslim M.P.s, highest ever in Lok Sabha.

Apart from his literary pursuits he was active in other fields. He was nominated to AICC [Minority Cell subcommittee under Aziz Imam as its Chairman]; was DPCC Convener of Publicity and Public relation cell; a member of the Delhi wakf Board and also a member of the centenary celebrations committee of DarulUloom Deoband formed for the completion of 14Th Century in Islamic Hijra calendar.

He was awarded as the as best Journalist by Urdu Academy Delhi govt. and was honoured by various Deeni-Milli organizations of the capital.

He never claimed Worldly posts or riches for himself but always gave others the opportunity. His importance was destined as both his date of birth and date of his demise are important dates marked down in History ie. 14th August 1930  6th December 2015. His life and contribution to literature, media News Journalism will be an inspiration for generations to come.

Ahmed Sohail Siddiqui is the Chief Editor, of www.bismillahnews.in; HUDA &TAHA Islamic digests, New Delhi
Odessa hopes to become a key homeport for Black Sea cruises, and a handful of cruise calls are back on the calendar for 2019 and 2020 after security concerns have sent cruise ships sailing away from Eastern Europe in recent years.

Voyages to Antiquity is expected to call in 2019, and Azamara has two calls scheduled in 2020.

Odessas passenger terminal is the largest in the Black Sea, said Mariia Luzhanska, manager of planning and development for the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.

She said the port offers 1,370 meters of berth space, and can handle five cruise ships at once, and up to 1 million cruise guests on an annual basis. An international airport also plays into future homeporting hopes.

With the support of MedCruise, the Black Sea Conference will take place in 2019 and the MedCruise General Assembly is set for Bulgaria in 2020.

Luzhanska said she hopes the Black Sea event will show cruise lines the region is now viable again, offering a safe and interesting destination mix for guests.

The key ports in the Black Sea are essentially joining forces to convince the major cruise lines to come back.

Meetings at MedCruise in May led to an action plan, bringing together ports in the Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania. Together the ports have penned a letter to cruise operators, detailing the current situation and improved security measures.

Based on meetings with the cruise lines at MedCruise, we are convinced they plan to return in one to two years, Luzhanska noted.

Odessa is also seeing a noticeable increase in river cruise traffic, which carries mainly Western European or American guests.

This is a positive signal, added Luzhanska.

For Odessa, a number of key attractions are within 10 minutes of the cruise terminal, including the City Theater, the Potemkin Stairs and the Pryvoz Market.
Cruise Industry News takes a look at the financial performance of the big three following the second quarter of 2018.

Takeaways:

Net income rocketed up at all three players, with Carnival Corporation leading the way with a 48 percent increase in net income, reported at $561 million compared to $379 million in the second quarter of 2017.

Net income per passenger day also jumped significantly at both Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises (see below table), while the numbers were also up, although less, at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Net ticket revenue per passenger day was up across the board, with the biggest increases coming from Carnival and Norwegian.

Onboard revenue was up at Carnival and Royal, but fell slightly at Norwegian, measured by net revenue per passenger day.

Overall, onboard revenue numbers rose at Norwegian, but so did the number of guests carried, bringing the average spend down.

Expenses moved north at all three companies as well, with fuel, food and payroll costs increasing.

Overall, year-over-year, more people cruises and they spent more on their tickets and onboard the ships.

Download a PDF of this information here.

Cruise Industry Financial Tracking

The Cruise Industry Financial Tracking Report provides an in-depth look into the financial metrics of the leading cruise companies. Learn more.

Included: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Star/Genting, Royal Olympic, P&O Princess, Regent, American Classical Voyages and Commodore.

Key metrics include revenue, operating expenses, operating income and net income, as well as those metrics on a per passenger day basis. We also look at EPS, fleets, berths and passenger cruise days.

Past Data:

2018 Cruise Lines Q1 By the Numbers

2017 Cruise Lines Q4 By the Numbers

2017 Cruise Lines Q3 By the Numbers

2017 Cruise Lines Q2 By the Numbers

2017 Cruise Lines Q1 By the Numbers

2016 Cruise Lines Q4 By the Numbers

2016 Cruise Lines Q3 By the Numbers

2016 Cruise Lines Q2 By the Numbers

2016 Cruise Lines Q1 By the Numbers
Progressive Insurance returns as lead sponsor of the annual Norwalk Boat Show at Norwalk Cove Marina starting Thursday Sept. 20 and running through Sunday. It is the first major Connecticut boat show since the state slashed a boat tax by more than half that dealers complained was pushing purchases over the border to New York and Rhode Island where people berthed their boats.

The Norwalk Boat Show is scheduled for the week after the larger Newport International Boat Show that runs Sept. 13-16 in Rhode Island, with in-water expositions on the East Coast concluding in October with the back-to-back U.S. Sailboat and U.S. Powerboat shows in Annapolis, Md.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association is anticipating a boost in sales at this years Norwalk Boat Show as a result of the newly lowered tax, a 2.99 percent rate on the purchase of boats, motors and trailers, down from 6.35 percent before.

More Business Connecticut boater buyers get long-sought tax cut

NMMA is predicting a 5 percent increase in U.S. boat sales this year, with consumer confidence a big driver. MarineMax, the nations largest dealer with Connecticut locations in Norwalk, Brookfield and Westbrook, saw sales surge 8 percent between April and June at its showrooms nationally.

When we talk to manufacturers out there and we talk to other dealers, the vibe is greater than what the data is showing  theres no question about it, said Michael McLamb, chief financial officer of MarineMax, in a mid-July conference call. If you look out on the water ... it is very, very busy with people out enjoying the lifestyle.

Connecticut sales increased two straight years despite the higher taxes here compared to neighboring states, with total revenues of $171 million last year and Norwalk-area dealers seeing a 10 percent increase in powerboats sold

In 2017, Connecticut had just over 92,000 boats registered in its waters.

Tax cuts and caps New York and New Jersey had a positive effect on sales in those markets, NMMA indicated, with Norwalk Boat Show dealers are participating in a super Thursday offering of extra discounts for purchases at the show.

Advance tickets cost $13 to the Norwalk Boat Show, with admission free for children age 12 or under who are accompanied by an adult. In addition to boats for sale, the Norwalk Boat Show offers a slate of family activities including Touch a Boat tours of working vessels; a Try It Cove area for paddling; as well as workshops for serious boaters, whether with regard to on-water handling or shore maintenance.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Consumer financial-services firm Synchrony announced this week a multi-year extension of its credit card servicing for home-improvement giant Lowes, a deal that brightens its outlook amid the looming loss of Walmarts credit portfolio.

The extension continues Stamford-based Synchronys management of the consumer and commercial credit card programs for Lowes customers at more than 1,740 U.S. stores, as well as on Lowes.com. The programs support sales through offers including 5 percent daily discounts for all cardholders and other promotions, Synchrony officials said.

Our continued partnership with Lowes demonstrates the power of Synchronys unique retail financial services capabilities, Tom Quindlen, Synchronys executive vice president and CEO of retail cards, said in a statement. Lowes is a great partner that combines our expertise with their strengths, to grow sales and help them succeed.

Synchrony declined to disclose the specific length of the extension. Its retail card partnerships average 20 years.

The Synchrony-Lowes alliance dates to 1979. Synchrony now supports three Lowes credit cards: an Advantage card, one for business accounts and another for accounts receivable.

Lowes ranked No. 40 on the 2018 Fortune 500 list, with fiscal-year 2017 revenues of nearly $69 billion. The company operates 2,390 stores and employs more than 310,000.

We are focused on exceeding customers expectations wherever they need us, including providing the best value in the marketplace, and our work with Synchrony is critical to that goal, Margi Vagell, Lowes vice president of merchandising operations, said in a statement.

The Lowes extension comes two and a half weeks after Walmart announced that Capital One would next year become the exclusive issuer of Walmarts private label and co-branded credit card program. The deal would end Synchronys two-decade run as store-card provider for a $10 billion Walmart portfolio.

Although we competed aggressively to renew the program, we were unable to reach terms that would have made economic sense for our company and shareholders, Synchrony CEO and President Margaret Keane said on a July 27 earnings call. Instead, we will focus on opportunities in other areas of business, where we see significant potential at more attractive, risk-adjusted returns.

With the Walmart partnership set to end in July 2019, Synchrony is considering two scenarios. It could sel the Walmart portfolio to Capital One, which could generate about $2.5 billion for a possible share-buyback program. Alternatively, the company in early 2019 could start converting qualifying Walmart accounts to general-purpose credit cards.

We feel pretty good about our ability to execute either option, Chief Financial Officer Brian Doubles said on the earnings call. In either situation, we believe we can replace the (earnings-per-share) impact. Either option looks attractive to us.

Helping to soften the blow of the Walmart exit, Synchrony announced July 3 it had closed on the acquisition of PayPals $7.6 billion consumer credit portfolio.

With that agreement, Synchrony and PayPal are extending their 14-year co-branded credit card program agreement. Synchrony will serve as the exclusive U.S issuer of PayPal Credits online consumer-financing program through 2028, supporting its goal of becoming a major digital-payments player.

Amid the recent deals, Synchrony continues to grow. Second-quarter revenues totaled about $3.7 billion, as loan-receivables growth drove a 3 percent year-over-year increase.

Profits jumped 40 percent, to $696 million. Decreased reserve build-up helped the bottom line. The companys allocation for loan losses came to about $1.28 billion in the past quarter, down 3 percent from a year ago.

Synchrony shares closed Tuesday at about $30, up 0.82 percent from their Monday finish.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott
SEYMOUR - It was the purr-fect rescue.

At around 11 p.m. Monday, the Seymour Fire Department was dispatched to Willow Street for an animal rescue.

Deputy Fire Marshal Timothy Willis said in a release, Upon arrival, crews found a tiny kitten stuck in the engine compartment of a parked vehicle.

The kitten was removed, uninjured, in about ten minutes by fire department personnel with the expertise of Assistant Chief Chris Edwards, who was able to remove the vehicles air filter box.

The cat although scared appeared to be in good health. Assistant Chief Edwards then took the kitten to VCA animal shelter for a full checkup and a bath. In all about 15 firefighters responded.
Credit: Andreas NeumannQueens of the Stone Age will play a one-off acoustic show on September 3 in the Australian island state of Tasmania. The charity performance, held at the the Museum of Old and New Art, or MONA, will raise money for the Royal Hobart Hospital Children's Ward.

"Playing Tasmania is special for me," says frontman Josh Homme, whose wife Brody Dalle is Australian. "I sit with Brody's mum & enjoy the wild, utterly Australian beauty. I think MONA is a perfect example of Tassie individuality, so playing there is an honor. As a token of our appreciation, we will donate all proceeds to the Royal Hobart Hospital Children's Ward."

If traveling to Tasmania to see a Queens of the Stone Age show is realistic for you, you can visit MONA.net.au for ticket info.

The acoustic show will be a part of Queens of the Stone Age's tour of Australia and New Zealand, which begins later this month. The band will be supporting their latest album, Villains.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Kevin Ward is a proud member of Boy Scout Troop 3 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ooltewah. He was featured in Erlangers newsletter for giving back to others.Kevin, who is 15 years old, is on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout  the highest achievement attainable in the Boy Scout program. I really want to be an Eagle Scout because its not just an award, Kevin said. We learn in Scouts that it is a state of being. My father and brothers are Eagle Scouts, and I want to be like them.The Eagle Scout rank exemplifies leadership, responsibility and applying the Scout Oath to help other people. To achieve the rank, a Scout must perform a project for the benefit of the community.I chose to serve the Childrens Hospital at Erlanger, Kevin said.I wanted the patients there to know that youth in Chattanooga like me care about them. With the help of his fellow Scouts, Kevin headed up and led a project to collect hundreds of new toys, stuffed animals, blankets and videos for patients at Erlangers Childrens Hospital.Helping out the patients at the Childrens Hospital is one of the best experiences Ive had, Kevin said. The biggest lesson Ive learned is that by small and simple things we can lift others. Through service, we can help other people at all times and impact our communities for good.I want to thank my fellow Scouts and everyone at Erlanger who supported my Eagle Service project. I also want the patients at Childrens Hospital at Erlanger to know that I am thinking of them and I hope they get well soon.Kevin is the son of Jim and Celeste Ward. His older brother, Ryan, is an Eagle Scout and so is his brother, Zachary. His younger brother, Lance, is a Life Scout. Kevins older sister is Madison Ward Teeples. Kevin attends McCallie.
The son of one of the highest-ranking Republicans in Congress, retiring Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, turned on his father's politics in a series of tweets and urged voters to flip the conservative district from red to blue.

Bobby Goodlatte, a venture capitalist who lives in San Francisco, on Sunday evening tweeted his support for the underdog Democrat running for his father's seat, announced he had donated the maximum of $2,700 to her campaign and encouraged others to do the same.

As word of the bombshell endorsement spread Monday, the younger Goodlatte wrote that he was "deeply embarrassed" that fired FBI agent Peter Strzok's career "was ruined by his father's political grandstanding."

The tweets helped Democrat Jennifer Lewis raise more than $10,000 from around the country and brought national attention to the little-known contest in a conservative western Virginia district that President Donald Trump won by double digits.

Lewis is a first-time candidate and "progressive populist" running against Ben Cline, a state lawmaker and Goodlatte's former chief of staff, who has been endorsed by the congressman. Analysts consider it a safe Republican seat.

An aide to Goodlatte did not respond to requests for comment about his son's communications. Cline declined comment.

Lewis said she awoke at 5:30 a.m. Monday to a flood of text and calls alerting her to the younger Goodlatte's activity.

"We're just completely honored to have his support," she said. "For him to put himself out there was just so honorable also. He didn't have to. He could have just quietly sent us a check. The fact that he chose to get involved shows just how important this race is."

In addition to donating to Lewis, Bobby Goodlatte gave to Hillary Clinton in 2016.

His father is the powerful chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

He is not seeking reelection after more than a quarter century in Congress representing the 6th District, which stretches from the Shenandoah Valley to the Roanoke Valley and east to Lynchburg, the home of Liberty University.

Bobby Goodlatte, 32, was raised in the Roanoke region as one of two children of the congressman and his wife, Maryellen, an attorney.

He moved to California after graduating from Duke University and was one of Facebook's early employees. Today he invests in tech start-ups.

The Goodlattes' daughter, Jennifer Goodlatte Barblan, is an attorney who works on Capitol Hill, a visible presence on the campaign trail who has worked the polls with her dad, friends and political observers say.

Bobby Goodlatte has posted liberal messages on social media in the past, but this appears to be the first time he has publicly targeted his father.

"I just gave the maximum allowed donation to Jennifer Lewis, a democrat running for my father's congressional seat. I've also gotten 5 other folks to commit to donate the max. 2018 is the year to flip districts -- let's do this!" Bobby Goodlatte tweeted Sunday evening.

He doubled down on the message asking his 32,000 followers to do more than retweet him. "Donate!!" he wrote with a link to Lewis's Act Blue page.

Hours after the FBI on Monday fired Peter Strzok, the agent who helped lead the bureau's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Bobby Goodlatte tweeted a condemnation of the way his father questioned Strzok during a hearing in July.

"I'm deeply embarrassed that Peter Strzok's [career] was ruined by my father's political grandstanding. That committee hearing was a low point for Congress. Thank you for your service sir. You are a patriot," he tweeted.

Virginia Del. Todd Gilbert, R, copied the tweet and joked: "In related news, Bobby will apparently be having Thanksgiving dinner at the Strzok's home this year."

Lewis, 36, favors Medicare for all, legalization of marijuana and hemp and a $15 minimum wage. She said she would not support Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for speaker if Democrats win control of the House.

Lewis built a reputation around the district as an early and vocal opponent of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a 600-mile project that will carry natural gas from West Virginia through central Virginia.

The pipeline, being built by Dominion Energy, would bisect the congressional district and faces opposition from environmentalists and critics of eminent domain.

Pipeline construction stopped last week, after three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit vacated a National Park Service-issued permit that allowed the pipeline to tunnel under the Blue Ridge Parkway, saying the agency had not explained how the pipeline fulfilled its mandate to conserve public lands.

Cline, a member of the House of Delegates since 2002 and an attorney, has a larger war chest than Lewis.

He has raised $390,000 for the race and had $85,000 cash on hand by the end of June. Lewis raised $72,778 and had $34,363 cash on hand.

Cline has not said whether he opposes the pipeline.
ORANGE - Several Orange businesses were targeted by scammers that resulted in losses of more than $4,200, police said Tuesday.

Recently, a handful of local businesses were targeted by scammers who called them pretending to be the local electric utility company (United Illuminating), that is based in Orange, police said.

During these scams, the callers tell the businesses that they are behind on their electric bills, and that the electricity will be shut off immediately unless a payment is made. The callers then request payment be made through 'cash cards', 'gift cards', or other non-traditional methods.

Police said, When the businesses comply and give the callers the payments, the callers demand even more payments, and that is usually when the victims turn to police for assistance.

Earlier this year, Avangrid, the parent company of UI, Southern Connecticut Gas, Connecticut Natural Gas and Berkshire Gas, warned customers about these ongoing scams. It received multiple reports of scammers threatening to disconnect gas or electric service unless the customer makes an immediate payment over the phone using a prepaid debit card.

Its an old swindle with some new twists. Caller ID may show the call is coming from the utility, it said in its warning. In some cases, the perpetrators seem to have specific knowledge about the customers theyre calling. They may even provide a callback number with a recorded greeting similar to the energy companys customer service line.

Typically, the caller informs the customer that a crew is on the way to shut off service unless an immediate payment is made. The perpetrators may tell the customer that the company had not received a recent payment or incorrectly processed a payment, so the customer must pay again. The scammers often demands the victim purchase a prepaid debit card (Green Dot is a common brand) to make the payment. This is a sure sign of a scam.

Avangrid said perpetrators often target commercial establishments such as restaurants, sandwich shops, or markets shortly before their busiest lunch or dinner periods. However, residential customers have also reported receiving calls.

It said while most customers recognize these calls as scams, a small number have been persuaded to make payments.

How to avoid these scams

Customers should verify all information before making payments over the phone, and should recognize the red flags:

It doesnt add up: UI, SCG, CNG and Berkshire Gas dont call customers for payment if the account is in good standing.

Timing and urgency: If a customer falls behind on payments, customers will receive a notice with a specific disconnection date, and will have an opportunity to pay or enter a payment arrangement before disconnection. Avangrids companies do not disconnect service on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, or any time the Customer Care Center is closed.

Demanding a specific form of payment: Avangrid companies accept a variety payment types, including credit cards, bank transfers and more. If a caller insists on payment via a prepaid debit card  especially a specific brand of prepaid card  it is a scam.

Check account status. Creating an online profile at the companys website is a quick way to check account status. Or, call the companys Customer Care Center at the number found on the bill or the companys website. (Do not use callback numbers provided by unsolicited callers.) Representatives can verify account status and work with customers to resolve any issues.

Check ID. Employees of all Avangrid companies carry company-issued IDs. Ask for ID from any in-person visitor and call the company to verify their identity and nature of their business. Use the number on the companys bill or website. Our employees are happy to comply with an identity verification request.

Protect personal information. Customers should never share personal or financial information, including outstanding balances, without first verifying whom theyre speaking with.

Collect evidence. Customers who suspect a scam are urged to get the name and number from caller ID, if available, write down any call-back number provided, and take notes on what the caller said. This will help investigators work with authorities to shut down the scam.

Report it. Customers should report the scam to the utility, local law enforcement, and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). This will help authorities shut down scams and prosecute the scammers.

Enroll in AutoPay. The amount due is automatically deducted from a bank account each month, so customers will have no concerns about an outstanding balance. More information on this payment option is available on the companys website.
There are several statewide Democratic primaries on Tuesday. Heres a list of who is on the ballot.

Governor

NED LAMONT , 64

Democratic Party-

endorsed candidate

Lives in: Greenwich

Experience: Founded Campus

Televideo, served one term on the Greenwich Board of Selectmen, defeated Joe Lieberman in 2006 U.S. Senate primary, lost to Dannel P. Malloy in 2010 primary for governor

JOE GANIM , 58

Lives in: Bridgeport

Experience: Bridgeport mayor from 1993-2003, resigned after he was convicted on federal corruption charges, spent seven years in prison, re-elected mayor of Bridgeport in 2015

Lieutenant governor

SUSAN BYSIEWICZ , 56

Democratic Party-endorsed candidate

Lives in: Middletown

Experience: Secretary of the State from 1999 to 2011, ran for attorney general in 2010 but was disqualified, lost 2011 primary for U.S. Senate to Chris Murphy, ran for governor this year before moving to the lieutenant governors race

EVA BERMUDEZ ZIMMERMAN , 31

Lives in: Newtown

Experience: Labor organizer for the Service Employees International Union, worked on campaigns, served on the Newtown Legislative Council and was secretary of the Democratic State Committee

Attorney general

WILLIAM TONG , 45

Democratic Party-

endorsed candidate

Lives in: Stamford

Experience: Six-term state representative, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee

CHRIS MATTEI , 40

Lives in: Hartford

Experience: Former federal prosecutor best known for sending ex-Gov. John G. Rowland back to prison for campaign fraud

PAUL DOYLE , 55

Lives in: Wethersfield

Experience: Six-term state senator and co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, served 12 years in the state House

Treasurer

SHAWN WOODEN , 49

Democratic Party-endorsed candidate

Lives in: Hartford

Experience: Represented the state treasurers office for the past 15 years,

attorney for Day Pitney who assists public pension funds with investments and securities law

DITA BHARGAVA , 46

Lives in: Greenwich

Experience: Former investment manager for Bear Stearns, Credit Suisse,

Citigroup and others,

explored a run for governor

5th Congressional District

MARY GLASSMAN , 60

Democratic Party-endorsed candidate

Lives in: Simsbury

Experience: First

selectman of Simsbury from 1991 to 1999 and from 2007 to 2014, ran for lieutenant governor in 2006 and 2010

JAHANA HAYES , 45

Lives in: Waterbury

Experience: 2016 National Teacher of the Year, Waterbury School District talent and professional development supervisor, educator
A federal judge again has denied a request by the CFPB and an association representing payday lenders to delay the Aug. 19, 2019 effective date of the agencys controversial payday lending rules.

In issuing the ruling, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel of the Western District of Texas sided with consumer groups that opposed the delay.

The Community Financial Services Association of America filed suit in April challenging the agencys rule, which was issued by former agency Director Richard Cordray, an Obama Administration appointee.

The agency, now run by Trump Administration Acting Director Mick Mulvaney sided with the association, saying that the CFPB is revisiting the rules. The agency is widely expected to repeal or significantly weaken the rule.
President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2019 Monday at Fort Drum, enacting the legislation without a provision that could have negatively impacted military credit unions. CUNA successfully fought for removal of a section of the bill that would have the House bill, which was removed when the conference report of the bill was released Monday.

Specifically, Section 2808 was designed to treat federal and state chartered insured depository institutions equally, but the legislative definition excluded credit unions. CUNA wrote a letter opposing the provision in June.

Removal of this provision was a win for military credit unions, who need to be able to maintain unrestrained but discretionary access to military installations to ensure they are able to continue their service to military members and families, said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle. This win is a direct result of outreach from CUNA, the Defense Credit Union Council, state leagues and military credit unions.
Update: Thomas prohibited from legal actions

Thomas is not allowed to execute any legal document on behalf of the Commonwealth or appear on behalf of the Commonwealth in a court proceeding.
On Pakistan's Independence Day, presenting an excerpt from Haroon Khalid's new book Imagining Lahore: The City That Is, The City That Was (Penguin Viking) which showcases one of the most famous cities of the subcontinent, delving into Lahore's undivided past, its traumatic Partition  and its vibrant, yet tumultuous present.

Photo: Penguin Viking

(Excerpted with permission from Penguin Random House India)

***

A huge mural adorned one of the walls of the veranda  Valmiki, with his flowing white beard and his hair in a knot atop his head and a halo in the background, flanked by his two cherubic students, Lav and Kush. A hermitage stood in the background, where Sita, after her banishment from Ayodhya, is believed to have been given refuge by the sage Valmiki. A river flowed behind it, ringed by mountains... a few local narratives suggest the site of Valmikis hermitage as the banks of River Parsuni, an ancient name for the Ravi.

The river Ravi, Lahore. (Photo: Reuters)

These folk narratives suggest that Lav, Valmikis disciple and one of the sons of Lord Ram and Sita, founded the city of Lahore. The city came to be known as Lavapuri, the city of Lav, eventually becoming Lahore.

...

At Lahore Fort, close to the Alamgiri Gate that faces Badshahi Masjid, there is a little temple dedicated to Lav, the founder of Lahore. On the opposite wall there is a cross at the centre with a picture of Christ on one side and Mother Mary on the other. Of the two rooms that are situated within the veranda, one is reserved for Valmiki, with his statue covered in a saffron shawl. The other houses several deities of the Hindu pantheon  Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh, Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati.

Facing the veranda is an open courtyard with a berry tree in one corner and a small room at another, used by the temples caretaker. Overlooking the courtyard are the tall buildings of Anarkali Bazaar. The entrance is a little gate with a saffron flag at the top, identifying it as a temple. Known as Neela Gumbad Mandir, after a blue-domed, Mughal-era mausoleum that is in its vicinity, the Valmiki temple is the only other functional temple in the city besides the Krishna Mandir at Ravi Road

...

It now serves as the community centre for the descendants of thousands of Valmiki Hindus who stayed back, braving the riots of Partition.

I first went to the temple in 2010, when I was working on a book to document religious festivals of the minorities around Punjab. In the courtyard of the temple, I was greeted by a handful of elderly men, part of the committee responsible for its daily functioning. Every evening they arranged a small puja attended by mostly just them. The temple, however, would transform during a religious festival... Holi, Diwali, Navratri, Krishna Janmashtami and several other Hindu festivals were celebrated here, but the grandest of all was Valmiki Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the sage.

...

Many of the devotees were Muslims and Christians... I met Azad Chowdry and his children, Yashwa and Teresa. While Azad played the tabla, his twelve-year-old son, Yashwa, played the harmonium and sang. Occasionally he was accompanied by Teresa. They were a Christian family but here they were, at a Valmiki Hindu temple, singing bhajans and preparing for Valmiki Jayanti. Sitting next to them and listening attentively was a professional flautist, Musharraf Ali, a Muslim. He was not a regular visitor to the temple but he would make it a point to attend on Valmiki Jayanti. Despite his religion he also identified as a Valmiki, similar to Azad and his family who were Christian Valmikis.

The religious identity of most of the devotees... reflects a certain degree of fluidity, impossible to imagine in a post-Partition environment. Most of them identified as Christian on official documents yet retained their Valmiki association. Many had Muslim names that further complicated their religious identity. Only a handful of them could be identified as Hindu by name.

...

Deep within the community of Shahdara, on the western side of the Ravi, I interviewed an old widowed woman, Mary. At the time of Partition, she was a little girl living close to the canal. She was a Hindu Valmiki, named Vidya by her parents. She told me how, when they were playing on the banks of the canal, they saw a dead body floating in the water. She immediately ran to her mother to tell her... Her mother purchased a cross, put a thread through it and hung it around her neck. In that one gesture, she had ceased to be Vidya and became Mary, an identity that she clung to ever since.

...

These dual religious identities are in evidence at the Neela Gumbad Mandir where there is a mural of Valmiki on one wall and Jesus Christ and Mary on the other. While Valmiki Jayanti and Janmashtami are celebrated by hundreds of devotees, Christmas and Easter witness an equal number of devotees. The temple of Valmiki swiftly becomes the temple of Christ whenever required.

What brought together these different threads of religious identity at the temple was one common caste identity. Valmiki Hindus are part of the Dalit community ... At the temple, I interviewed Khem Chand, an old man in his eighties, who had changed his name to Shams Gill after Partition following his conversion to Christianity... The social exclusion continued after Partition, even though Khem Chand officially became Shams Gill and all the upper-class Hindus from Punjab migrated to India.

A Lahori icon, the grand Fort of the city. (Photo: Reuters)

...

Once, when he... was having a cup of tea at a little dhaba outside Lahore, the Muslim vendor of the stall forced them to pay for the cups as well when he found out about their identities, for they had been rendered impure and would have to be thrown away. The Muslim converts did not fare much better. Low-caste Hindus who converted to Islam are known as Musali or Deendar in Punjab and are in many ways still treated as untouchable. Many households where they work keep a separate set of utensils for them.

...

In the years following Partition when, particularly in Punjab, notions of patriotism were at their peak, any association with a Hindu past was taboo... Pakistans antagonistic relationship with India... made the situation even worse. Various Hindus and Sikhs... had to hide their identity or disappear temporarily during the 1965 and 1971 wars. In 1992, as a reaction to the destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, hundreds of temples were ransacked, including this one.

...

Jab They Met: Pak President Pervez Musharraf meeting with Indian PM Vajpayee. (Photo: Reuters)

...

With the arrival of Pervez Musharraf... the state, an ally in the war on terror, was desperate to project a softer image of the country... Hindus... who had hidden their identities for decades began reclaiming their original names. Religious festivals... once again came to be celebrated.

The Valmiki temple at Neela Gumbad was also witness to this transition. Many Muslim and Christian Valmikis... were back... Sage Valmiki... held a particular significance for them... he was the deity of the Dalits, irrespective of their new religious identity. He himself was a Dalit who defied his caste when he became a sage. He became the most important sage, the adi-kavi or the first poet, who composed the Ramayana  its first ever written rendition.

Sage Valmiki, an inspiration that endures in Pakistan too. (Photo: Indiatoday.in)

...

Valmiki for them represents a rebellion against caste hierarchy which continues to haunt them despite conversion. United by their shared experience of untouchability, hundreds of Christians, Muslims and Hindus continue to revere Valmiki, making this little temple in the heart of Lahore a unique symbol of almost a forced religious syncretism... one of the last reminders of what the social fabric of the city used to be before it was ripped apart by the riots of Partition.

(Excerpted with permission from Penguin Random House India)

Also read: Not cricket at all - How Imran Khan won in politics, using hate
Americas Cold War confrontation with Russia seriously affected our relations with Washington. Ironically, after the Soviet Unions collapse and the grip the US acquired on Russias governance under the Boris Yeltsin regime, difficulties developed in India-Russia ties. Today, with anti-Russian sentiment in the US reaching uncontrolled proportions, India is once again feeling the heat.

Primary problem

The core of the problem is the extra-territorial application of US laws.

India is not responsible for the steady collapse of US-Russia ties, yet India is exposed to penalties because of Americas decision to punish Russia with increasingly stringent sanctions for its alleged misdeeds. Because America has a grip on the global financial system, even when countries complain that the extra-territorial application of US laws is contrary to international law and infringes on their sovereignty and independence, in practice they are careful about violating US sanctions.

Prior to the Iran nuclear deal, India did that in the case of US sanctions when it substantially reduced purchases of Iranian crude oil. Indian entities were also reluctant to deal with Iran for fear of losing access to the US financial market. With Trump unilaterally repudiating the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposing draconian sanctions, the earlier challenge to India has resurfaced. India would want the strategically vital Chabahar project to be excluded from the purview of US sanctions, which also require India to reduce its crude purchases from Iran to zero by November this year.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis strong appeals to the Congress for a waiver for India (File photo of Chabahar: Reuters)

Doing this would gravely damage India-Iran ties, undermine Indias energy security, and raise questions about its strategic autonomy. The root of our problem lies in Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) passed by the US Congress under which, in April 2018, apart from sanctioning Iran, Trump imposed wide-ranging sanctions on 39 entities or companies in Russia that include Rosoboron export through which all our defence procurement passes and Almaz-Antey (the supplier of S-400 air defence system).

Under CAATSA, dealings with them will make third parties liable to what are euphemistically termed secondary sanctions, but which really means that all non-Americans defying American law will also be punished.

Under this law, the US President can impose sanctions on third parties engaged in a significant transaction with the Russian defence sector. CAATSA authorises the US President to suspend export licences related to munitions, dual-use and nuclear-related items and ban American investment in equity/debt.

In theory, therefore, the progress made under the India-US nuclear deal and the liberalised export control regime for India culminating in giving it STA-1 status could be affected. If licences are suspended, American companies will be barred from participating in Indian defence contracts and will be unable to provide maintenance support for the defence equipment already acquired by India.

India is not responsible for any development in US-Russia ties (Photo: Reuters)

Contestable policy

The ban on equity/debt investment will jeopardise the joint ventures that American defence companies have formed with Indian companies, besides barring them from forming such ventures in the future under MoDs newly announced Strategic Partnership (SP) model as part of its Make-in-India policy.

All this illustrates the consequences of any ill thought-out action by America under CAATSA to pressure India to subscribe to its contestable foreign policy decisions. CAATSA has the potential to seriously interfere with our defence ties with Russia, considering that about 65 per cent of our defence equipment is of Russian origin and more acquisitions are in the offing, especially five S-400 air defence system worth about $5 billion  an obvious significant transaction.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis strong appeals to the Congress for a waiver for India and Indias active diplomacy have produced a partially successful result. The US Congress has agreed to grant the Trump Administration limited authority to waive sanctions on India (and Indonesia and Vietnam as well) with a view to providing flexibility for strategic partners and allies to move away from the use of Russian military equipment to American equipment.

Serious damage

This makes the intention behind the waiver problematic for India.

The US President would need to certify in writing that a significant transaction with any one of seven Russian defence or intelligence agencies listed in the amendment is not involved and that the foreign government in question meets one of two conditions: that it is taking or will take steps to reduce its inventory of major defence equipment and advanced conventional weapons made by Russia or it is cooperating with the US government on security matters critical to US strategic interests.

India could argue that it has already made major arms purchases from the US  $15 billion worth since 2008, that Russian weapons in Indian hands do not threaten Americas national security interests, and that India and China are cooperating in the Indo-Pacific.

The waiver, however, is for six months at a time, which means that future waivers could be used as levers to press India to acquire still more US arms in preference to Russian weaponry.

Mattis has again requested the Congress for a cleaner, less stringent, national security waiver. Its final version will be voted by the Congress in the coming weeks. As India and the US prepare for their first 2 plus 2 dialogue on September 6 in New Delhi between the foreign and defence ministers, this issue should be resolved in a way that in the process of punishing Russia the US should avoid causing serious damage to its own strategic partnership with India.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: ISIS is not finished. Why South East Asia is now under a greater threat
About five years after Madras got renamed as Chennai, Shashi Tharoor, in a newspaper column in 2002, in a dig aimed at the renaming frenzy that surges up in the hearts of Indian politicians periodically, remarked, "The weather will be just as sultry in Chennai as it used to be in Madras. But are we Indians so insecure in our independence that we still need to prove to ourselves that we are free?"

The current obsession of this government with renaming roads, villages and public institutions is not centred around any notion of freedom from colonial rule (as in an Ochterlony Monument turning into a Shahid Minar).

It is not a parochial renaming like Mumbai from Bombay, nor even an attempt at communist revamping such as Lenin Sarani from Dharmatalla Street in Calcutta (now Kolkata) but a muscular and aggressive exercise to weed out Muslim names and replace them with Hindu ones, and where possible, with the names of Hindutva ideologues.

Bombay was renamed Mumbai by Bal Thackeray (Source: India Today)

There is a fine line between a symbolic statement of freedom and revanchist marking of territory when it comes to renaming places. Perhaps the difference lies in whether one is naming something which one has built oneself or simply erasing and pasting one's own name to something someone else has built. The latter is definitely an invasive act born out of resentment and bitterness. To claim that one is "purifying" or reclaiming an invader's space is erroneous when that space was an act of creation and not destruction, and moreover, intended to benefit society at large.

Renaming has been controversial not just in India, but around the world.

In Africa, for instance, many countries changed their names at independence to create space between themselves and their former colonial overlords. So the Bechuanaland Protectorate became Botswana, or the 'land of the Tswana'. The Gold Coast became Ghana, or 'warrior king'. And Southern Rhodesia restyled itself as Zimbabwe  a nod to the Great Zimbabwe civilisation that ruled from the 11th to the 15th centuries.

In April this year, King Mswati III of Swaziland announced that he was renaming the country 'the Kingdom of eSwatini'. For him, the old name had been a kind of symbol, of an African country poisoned by Western influence.

Changing the name is "built on the idea that we are reclaiming our values," says Bheki Makhubu, editor of The Nation, an independent political magazine in eSwatini. "It's like the King is saying, Let's go back to our roots. Let's reclaim our identity from a world that wants to steal it from us."

It is not a move that has been unanimously accepted.

"It's also part of a narrow brand of nationalism that centres on the King himself," says Makhubu, a prominent government critic. Renaming the country allows Mswati to frame himself as a true patriot, Makhubu says, "even though we have an absolute monarchy that's utterly failed our people".

When Mobutu Sese Seko became the president of Congo in 1965, he launched an aggressive campaign of what he called authenticite to scrub the new country clean of its old colonial influences. Much of it centred around changing the names of people (he dropped the Western-sounding 'Joseph-Desire' from his own name) and places (the capital Leopoldville, for instance, became Kinshasa). And in 1971, Mobutu announced that he was changing the name of the country itself, to Zaire  a local name for the Congo River.

Mobutu's rule didn't last long. And when a new president, Laurent-Desire Kabila, came to power in 1997, he announced he was changing the name back to Congo.

But the decision to change a name is almost always at least as much about the present as the past.

Take the 27-year dispute between Greece and Macedonia, purportedly over the origins of Macedonia's name. Greeks say the word belongs to them and them alone, since the ancient kingdom of Macedonia ruled by Alexander the Great was largely based in modern-day Greece. Macedonians, meanwhile, say that the same kingdom contained much of their modern country, and so they have just as much claim to the name as the Greeks do.

A long-running spat over a move to rename the South African capital, Pretoria, is a reminder of the popular significance attached to city names  and the sensitivities that can be stirred by trying to change them. Pretoria was named after a settler and folk hero from the Afrikaner group, which went on to create the apartheid system. It is now expected to take the name Tshwane, after a black tribal leader who ruled long before white colonisation. The name also means 'we are the same' in the Tswana language.

Ironically, South Africa's last apartheid President FW de Klerk has argued that Pretoria remains a proud name because of its anti-colonial association  with the Dutch Boer struggle against British rule. But Pretoria's renaming is part of a national drive to make South African cities sound more African, which its proponents say fits with a continent-wide trend in the post-colonial era.

In some cases, cities are renamed to assert local pronunciations over foreign ones.

The Burmese government decreed that their capital should be known as Yangon  and not Rangoon, as spelled by the British after they annexed the city in 1852.

The name of the Chinese capital has been changed in several ways over the years. During China's 1928-49 civil war, the Kuomintang party decided to call the city Beiping, or 'Northern Peace', and not Beijing, the 'Northern Capital', which it thought legitimised the city's then warlord government. That was reversed by the victorious Communist Party in 1949, but the use of Beiping continued for years in Taiwan, seat of the ousted nationalists.

In Bombay, renamed Mumbai, by the late Bal Thackeray, it was Pramod Navalkar, who led the charge of ridding Bombay of its "colonial hangover", as he claimed. Hence, Victoria Terminus became Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (and in 2017, it became Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, perhaps because CST was deemed not reverential enough). The unctuousness reached a point where even the Prince of Wales Museum became Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. And now the Chhatrapati's name adorns both Mumbai's airports.

There is, however, a big difference if the word 'invader' is conflated to the Mughals and the Sultanate before them, those who assimilated themselves here, and enriched its economy and culture over 600 years, and that word is used as a dog whistle to alienate and demonise an entire community.

For Hindutva ideologues, the assumption of stasis and permanence of an entire Hindu population, caught like a fly in amber, their gene pool unaffected, their customs and world views intact for 4,000 years, is astounding. It is as if an enchanted people have been holding their breaths, frozen in time in a vacuum behind a force shield, while outsiders like the Shakas, Huns, Kushanas, Mongols, French, Portugese and British, have come and done their worst, and are now just picking up where they left off.

And to them, an essential part of that picking up has to do with "shudhdhikaran" or purification of anything with a Muslim name.

Where making a point is concerned, Mughalsarai being renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction was as blatant and obvious as they come, especially as it was followed by the whole station building being painted orange to leave us with no doubts as to the intentions of the Yogi Adityanath government. Deen Dayal Upadhyay had absolutely nothing to do with Mughalsarai except for a very tenuous (and macabre) link with the place. His body was found on the tracks leading to the junction under mysterious circumstances on February 11, 1968, near a traction pole 748 feet from the end of the platform.

Mughalsarai, an important corridor located along the Grand Trunk Road, also called Sadak-e-Azam by Sher Shah Suri, was one of the corridors that connected the Gangetic plains with the east during the Mughal reign. It is interesting to note that when the Indian Railways established a junction here in 1883, the British saw fit to name the township Mughalsarai and not anything that was emblematic of their own rule, to assert their presence or their domination. In fact, most of the places the British named in India followed the original names, but the phonetics were changed to suit their pronunciation, and they were not changes in the real sense.

Mughalsarai was recently renamed Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction [Photo: DailyO/Pathikrit Sanyal]

They gave fresh names (like Victoria Terminus) to places and streets that they themselves built. They kept the rest. Kanpur became Cawnpore, Nayagaon became Nowgong, etc.

Ease of pronunciation has been a cause for name changes by other colonial powers as well. Bombay was Bombaim to the Portuguese who had gotten ownership of the island. The city didn't get called Mumbai until the late 19th century, not even unofficially, not even among the natives. Throughout its history, it's been called everything from Mombayn (nothing to do with Mumba Devi) to Bon Bahia, and from Mombaim (again, nothing to do with Mumba Devi, as claimed by some) to Bombay. But never Mumbai. For ease of pronunciation by the French, Chander Nagar became 'Chandannagar'. And for the Dutch, Chuchura became 'Chinsurah'.

India's cultural hub, Calcutta, adopted its Bengali name 'Kolkata' officially in 2001. 'Kolkata' is a shorter version of Kolikata, which is the name of one of the three villages that existed in the region before the British took over India. The other two were called Sutanuti and Govindapur. 'Calcutta' again was the name given by the British because that is how they pronounced 'Kolikata' which was the largest village. They did not rename it.

Ease of pronunciation or freedom from the colonial yoke has nothing to do with Mia Bazar being changed to Maya Bazar, or Ali Nagar becoming Arya Nagar (notice the phonetic shadow in the revanchist sleight of hand however) or Urdu Bazar being renamed Hindi Bazar, in Gorakhpur, at the behest of Yogi Adityanath, who was also the prime mover behind the renaming of Mughalsarai. Or the many villages in Rajasthan with Muslim names being "purified" by the Vasundhara Raje government.

You have a right to name that which you have built. But no right to rename that which has been built by others or that which has grown by accretion and organically over the years and acquired a name from the community.

There are associations in such names, an organic connect with the very soil and people of that place that are the signature of that community. That signature is a powerful one that has been shaped by many confluences. One of them is the poetry that a collective memory writes, adding words, lines and stanzas in every generation.

Yes, 'Mughalsarai' had poetry. It evoked an entire ecology of combined experiences; the majesty of the Indian Railways, foggy mornings, piping hot tea from earthen pots, puri-sabzi pushed through window bars at the last minute, the anticipation of waiting relatives, and along with all these sights and smells and sounds, a rich and layered past.

'DDU' as it shall now be referred to is spiritless like an anonymous paver stone.

When a country loses its moorings, the least mourned is its sense of aesthetics, its words, images and monuments to the past. But if a people can be said to have a soul, it lies in all of these.

This government is aggressively changing names, completely ripping places out of their historical and cultural contexts, a political act of invasion, destructive in essence and rooted in an inferiority complex.

For those to whom the present would seem an insurmountable challenge, for whom changing names and labels count as progress, and who complain of cultural invasion, the question must be posed: How good are we at preserving the monuments and footprints of our past? Better than the British or even the Mughals? Even close?

Also read: Bye bye, Mughalsarai  new name, same old debate
Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next.
The lynch mob is not just there out on the streets. Theres a lynch mob in the studios as well If something were to happen to me tomorrow, do not just hold the person who has carried out the hit-job responsible for this; also hold the people [responsible] who are making the lives of so many people vulnerable, by doing what they do.

Student activist, popular (or notorious; depends on who youre asking) dissident and involuntary member of the fictitious coterie known as the Tukde Tukde Gang said these words on August 4, at a panel discussion on media trials, eerily foreshadowing what would happen barely 10 days later. On August 13, Khalid became the target of an alleged hit-job right outside New Delhi's Constitution Club.

What happened?

Barely a kilometre from Parliament  one of the most secure locations in New Delhi  at the Constitution Club, a couple of days before Indias Independence Day, around 2:30pm on August 13, Khalid, among others, were all set to attend an event, ironically titled Khauf Se Azaadi (Freedom from Fear). Outside the venue where Khalid and his compatriots were having tea, he was attacked by the yet-unknown assailant.

According to reports, the assailant, who was carrying a gun, allegedly held Khalid from behind and pushed him on the ground. When Khalid and his friend tried to defend themselves, the attacker managed to escape. A senior Delhi police officer was quoted saying, The CCTV footage clearly shows Umar Khalid was attacked by a miscreant, there was a bit of a scuffle between them and then he ran away from the spot. We cannot confirm whether the attacker shot at Khalid.

Photo: Indiatoday.in

The pistol recovered from the spot is an old one and is rusted and jammed. We have also recovered all the six live cartridges and sent it to Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), said a DCP told The Indian Express.

Saifi, an eyewitness  who was with Khalid at the time of the attack  however, claimed that three people approached Khalid and his friends, and, "One of them got hold of Khalid, which he resisted. There was a melee as a gunshot was heard. But Khalid was not injured. While the accused were fleeing, they fired one more shot.

According to another eyewitness, who spoke to ANI, "We were at a tea stall when a man in a white shirt came, pushed and opened fire at Umar Khalid. Khalid lost his balance, fell down and the bullet missed him."

No freedom for the damned

Shot at or not, Khalid was definitely attacked by an armed man.

This attack could easily have proved fatal and Indias 72nd Independence Day would have been a grim reminder of just how hollow such a celebration is. More than seven decades after the country gained freedom from British colonisers, freedom, as a concept, is still highly misunderstood (and elusive for a section of the population) and words like patriotism have lost their meaning.

American author Edward Abbey had once famously written that, a patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government, but in the India of 2018, the majority seems to consider those who question the government the enemies.

And who is to blame for that?

Student activist  and yet another involuntary member of the Tukde Tukde Gang  Shehla Rashid told DailyO in 2017 that certain sections of the media had made it their mission to vilify activists and dissidents. Comparing two television channels that have often been accused of spreading propaganda and acting like government mouthpieces to Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLMC), a Rwandan radio channel that aired from 1993 to 1994, whose pernicious propaganda played a significant role in the Rwandan genocide of the Tutsi by the Hutu people, Rashid voiced her concerns about her safety and Khalids, saying: God forbid, if Umar [Khalid] gets lynched tomorrow, who is to be blamed? The people who are creating this image for us.

But it is not just acrimonious television anchors with malicious intent that are to blame.

Photo: DailyO

The blame lies also with the government; one that lets its party members say things like intellectuals who raise slogans would (under their power) be gunned down by the police.

The blame lies also with supporters of such parties and leaders who, immediately after the news of the attack on Khalid broke, resorted to peddling the idea that the attack was 'staged' and nothing more than an attempt to garner left-wing and liberal sympathy. The same people who have dubbed dissenters anti-national based on hearsay and doctored evidence.

The blame lies with a prime minister who refuses to talk (at least to anyone other than sycophants) about the culture of violence that has been created in his regime, a culture that has celebrated the death of rationalists like Gauri Lankesh, defended gang-rapists of a child and garlanded murderers who lynch in the name of gau raksha.

Of course, pithy arguments like these are as likely to change the current state of affairs as anyone in India actually, genunely, listening to what Mahatma Gandhi ever said.

Free India at 71 does not know how to act its age.

If those who question or criticise the government are met with attack and subsequent antipathy, what is the point of putting up a grand show, decked in tricoloured banners, full of uniformed men and women at the Red Fort on August 15, year after year?

Also read: 71 years of Independence: How free are we?
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KG, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, OPS Nominees Pty Limited, OVT Trust 1 GmbH, OVV Beteiligungs GmbH, Opal Funds (Ireland) Public Limited Company, PADUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, PARTS Funding LLC., PB Factoring GmbH, PB Firmenkunden AG, PB International S.A., PB Spezial-Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PBC Banking Services GmbH, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, PT. Deutsche Verdhana Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Peruda Leasing Limited, Plantation Bay Inc., Plantation Bay Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Immobilien GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH & Co. Objekt Leipzig KG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank Service GmbH, Postbank Systems AG, QR Tower 2 LLC, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, REO Properties Corporation, RREEF, RREEF America L.L.C., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisors Private Limited, RREEF Management L.L.C., RTS Nominees Pty Limited, Reference Capital Investments Limited, RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables LLC, Route 28 Receivables LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SCUDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SEDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SENA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Kamenz KG, SIFA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SOLIDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SP Mortgage Trust, SPINO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SPV I Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, SPV II Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, STATOR Heizkraftwerk Frankfurt (Oder) Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim Alternative Investments GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. AG & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Komplementar AG, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Service Company Four Limited, Sharps SP I LLC, Singer Island Tower Suite LLC, Somkid Immobiliare S.r.l., Stelvio Immobiliare S.r.l., Structured Finance Americas LLC, Structured Finance Americas LLC, Swabia 1. Vermogensbesitz-GmbH, Suddeutsche Vermogensverwaltung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, TAKIR Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TELO Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, TEMATIS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TERRUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Halle I KG i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Nordhausen I KG i.L., TOSSA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRIPLA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRS Aria LLC, TRS Leda LLC, TRS Maple II LTD, TRS Oak II LTD, TRS SVCO LLC, TRS Scorpio LLC, TRS Tupelo II LTD, TRS Venor LLC, TRS Walnut II LTD, Tagus - Sociedade de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Tasfiye Halinde Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Tianjin Deutsche AM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Limited, UKE Beteiligungs-GmbH, UKE Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH, UKE s.r.o., Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksgesellschaft Kirchnerstrae GbR, Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Disternich GbR, Ullmann Ullmann Krockow Krockow Esch GbR, VCJ Lease S.a r.l., Vesta Real Estate S.r.l., VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, WEPLABeteiligungsgesellschaftmbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., Whale Holdings S.a r.l., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., World Trading(Delaware)Inc., Zumirez Drive LLC, db PBC, and norisbank GmbH.
Grupo Supervielle SA operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of banking services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Treasury, Consumer, Insurance and Asset Management and Other Services. The Retail Banking segment involves in granting of loans and other credit products such as deposits of physical persons. The Corporate Banking segment focuses in advisory services at a corporate and financial level, as well as the administration of assets and loans targeted to big clients. The Treasury segment operates with Government Securities of the Group, syndicated loans, and financial lease. The Consumer segment consists of loans and other credit products targeted to middle and lower-middle income sectors and non-financial products and services. The Insurance segment comprises insurance products, with a focus on life insurance. The Asset Management and Other Services segment offers mutual funds and other products and services. The company was founded on October 8, 1979 and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Wall Street analysts have given iShares S&P 500 ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares S&P 500 ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research.
Randgold Resources Limited is engaged in gold mining, exploration and related activities. The Company's activities are focused on West and Central Africa. The Company operates through the gold mining segment. The Company operates various mines, such as Morila, Loulo, Gounkoto, Tongon and Kibali. The Company is exploring in African countries, such as Mali, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Company also holds an interest in the Massawa project. The Company holds Morila Limited, which holds interests in the Morila mine in Mali. As of December 31, 2016, Morila mine has produced 122,370 ounces (oz) of gold. The Company holds a controlling interest in the Loulo mine, located in Mali, through Societe des Mines de Loulo SA (Loulo). The Loulo mine is mining from over two underground mines. As of December 31, 2016, Loulo mine has produced 350,604 oz of gold. It has a controlling interest in the Gounkoto mine through Societe des Mines de Gounkoto SA.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Banco Santander: 2 & 3 Triton Limited, A & L CF (Guernsey) Limited (f), A & L CF June (2) Limited, A & L CF June (3) Limited, A & L CF March (5) Limited, A & L CF September (4) Limited, AFB SAM Holdings S.L., ALIL Services Limited (b), AN (123) Limited, ANITCO Limited, Abbey Business Services (India) Private Limited, Abbey Covered Bonds (LM) Limited, Abbey National, Abbey National Beta Investments Limited, Abbey National Business Office Equipment Leasing Limited, Abbey National International Limited, Abbey National Nominees Limited, Abbey National PLP (UK) Limited, Abbey National Property Investments, Abbey National Treasury Services Investments Limited, Abbey National Treasury Services Overseas Holdings, Abbey National UK Investments, Abbey Stockbrokers (Nominees) Limited, Abbey Stockbrokers Limited, Ablasa Participaciones S.L., Administracion de Bancos Latinoamericanos Santander S.L., Aduro S.A., Aevis Europa S.L., Afisa S.A., Albert., Aljardi SGPS Lda., Alliance & Leicester, Alliance & Leicester Cash Solutions Limited, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (Derivatives) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (No.2) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments Limited, Alliance & Leicester Limited, Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited, Altamira Santander Real Estate S.A., Alternative Leasing FIL, Amazonia Trade Limited, Amherst Pierpont, Andaluza de Inversiones S.A., Aquanima Brasil Ltda., Aquanima Chile S.A., Aquanima Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aquanima S.A., Arcaz - Sociedade Imobiliaria Portuguesa Lda., Argenline S.A. (b), Asto Digital Limited, Athena Corporation Limited, Atual - Fundo de Invest Multimercado Credito Privado Investimento no Exterior, Atual Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos e Meios Digitais S.A., Autodescuento S.L., Autohaus24 GmbH, Auttar HUT Processamento de Dados Ltda., Aviacion Antares A.I.E., Aviacion Britanica A.I.E., Aviacion Centaurus A.I.E., Aviacion Comillas S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Intercontinental A.I.E., Aviacion Laredo S.L., Aviacion Oyambre S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Real A.I.E., Aviacion Santillana S.L., Aviacion Suances S.L., Aviacion Triton A.I.E., Aymore Credito Financiamento e Investimento S.A., BEN Beneficios e Servicos S.A., BRS Investments S.A., BZW Bank, Banca PSA Italia S.p.A., Banco Bandepe S.A., Banco Madesant - Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Banco PSA Finance Brasil S.A., Banco Popular, Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 100740, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 2002114, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso GFSSLPT, Banco Santander - Chile, Banco Santander Consumer Portugal S.A., Banco Santander International, Banco Santander International SA, Banco Santander Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Banco Santander Peru S.A., Banco Santander Rio S.A., Banco Santander S.A., Banco Santander Totta S.A., Banco Santander de Negocios Colombia S.A., Banco de Albacete S.A., Bansa Santander S.A., CCAP Auto Lease Ltd., Canyon Multifamily Impact Fund IV LLC, Capital Street Delaware LP, Capital Street Holdings LLC, Capital Street REIT Holdings LLC, Capital Street S.A., Carfax (Guernsey) Limited (f), Carfinco Financial Group, Carfinco Financial Group Inc., Carfinco Inc., Casa de Bolsa Santander S.A. de C.V. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Cater Allen Holdings Limited, Cater Allen International Limited, Cater Allen Limited, Cater Allen Lloyd's Holdings Limited, Cater Allen Syndicate Management Limited, Centro de Capacitacion Santander A.C., Certidesa S.L., Chrysler Capital Auto Funding I LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Funding II LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Receivables LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 2 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 4 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding LLC, Cobranza Amigable S.A.P.I. de C.V., Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund LLC (g), Compagnie Generale de Credit Aux Particuliers - Credipar S.A., Compagnie Pour la Location de Vehicules - CLV, Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Argentina S.A., Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Iberica S.L. Unipersonal en liquidacion (b), Consulteam Consultores de Gestao Lda., Consumer Lending Receivables LLC, Crawfall S.A. (b), Cantabra de Inversiones S.A., Cantabro Catalana de Inversiones S.A., Darep Designated Activity Company, Decarome S.A.P.I. de C.V., Deva Capital Advisory Company S.L., Deva Capital Holding Company S.L., Deva Capital Investment Company S.L., Deva Capital Management Company S.L., Deva Capital Servicer Company S.L., Digital Procurement Holdings N.V., Diners Club Spain S.A., Direccion Estratega S.C., Dirgenfin S.L. en liquidacion (b), Ebury, El Corte Ingles, Elavon Mexico, Electrolyser S.A. de C.V., Entidad de Desarrollo a la Pequena y Micro Empresa Santander Consumo Peru S.A., Erestone S.A.S., Esfera Fidelidade S.A., Evidence Previdencia S.A., Financeira El Corte Ingles Portugal S.F.C. S.A., Financiera El Corte Ingles E.F.C. S.A., Finsantusa S.L. Unipersonal, First National Motor Business Limited, First National Motor Contracts Limited, First National Motor Facilities Limited, First National Motor Finance Limited, First National Motor Leasing Limited, First National Motor plc, First National Tricity Finance Limited, Fondos Santander S.A. Administradora de Fondos de Inversion (en liquidacion) (b), Fortensky Trading Ltd., Fosse Funding (No.1) Limited, Fosse Master Issuer plc, Fosse Trustee (UK) Limited, GTS El Centro Equity Holdings LLC, GTS El Centro Project Holdings LLC, Gamma Sociedade Financeira de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Gesban Mexico Servicios Administrativos Globales S.A. de C.V., Gesban Santander Servicios Profesionales Contables Limitada, Gesban Servicios Administrativos Globales S.L., Gesban UK Limited, Gestion de Instalaciones Fotovoltaicas S.L. Unipersonal, Gestion de Inversiones JILT S.A., Gestora de Procesos S.A. en liquidacion (b), Getnet Adquirencia e Servicos para Meios de Pagamento S.A., Global Vosgos S.L. Unipersonal, Grupo Empresarial Santander S.L., Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, Guaranty Car S.A. Unipersonal, HQ Mobile Limited, Hispamer Renting S.A. Unipersonal, Holbah II Limited, Holbah Santander S.L. Unipersonal, Holmes Funding Limited, Holmes Master Issuer plc, Holmes Trustees Limited, Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH, Iberica de Compras Corporativas S.L., Independence Community Bank Corp., Insurance Funding Solutions Limited, Interfinance Holanda B.V., Inversiones Capital Global S.A. Unipersonal, Inversiones Maritimas del Mediterraneo S.A., Isla de los Buques S.A., Klare Corredora de Seguros S.A., Landcompany 2020 S.L., Langton Funding (No.1) Limited, Langton Mortgages Trustee (UK) Limited, Langton Securities (2008-1) plc, Langton Securities (2010-1) PLC, Langton Securities (2010-2) PLC, Laparanza S.A., Liquidity Limited, Luri 1 S.A. en liquidacion (b) (e), Luri 6 S.A. Unipersonal, Master Red Europa S.L., Mata Alta S.L., Merciver S.L., Mercury TFS, Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.L., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.p.A., Moneybit S.L., Mortgage Engine Limited, Motor 2016-1 PLC, Motor 2017-1 PLC, Mouro Capital I LP, Multiplica SpA, NW Services CO., Naviera Mirambel S.L., Naviera Trans Gas A.I.E., Naviera Trans Iron S.L., Naviera Trans Ore A.I.E., Naviera Trans Wind S.L. (b), Naviera Transcantabrica S.L., Naviera Transchem S.L. Unipersonal, NeoAuto S.A.C., Norbest AS, Novimovest  Fundo de Investimento Imobiliario, Open Bank Argentina S.A., Open Bank S.A., Open Digital Market S.L., Open Digital Services S.L., Operadora de Carteras Gamma S.A.P.I. de C.V., Optimal Investment Services SA, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland Euro Fund, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland US Dollar Fund, PBE Companies LLC, PECOH Limited, PI Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., PSA Bank Deutschland GmbH, PSA Banque France, PSA Finance UK Limited, PSA Financial Services Nederland B.V., PSA Financial Services Spain E.F.C. S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16  Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets).
Deutsche Telekom AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services. The company operates through five segments: Germany, United States, Europe, Systems Solutions, and Group Development. It offers fixed-network services, including voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware products, as well as services to resellers. The company also provides mobile voice and data services to consumers and business customers; sells mobile devices and other hardware products; and sells mobile services to resellers and to companies that purchases and markets network services to third parties, such as mobile virtual network operators. In addition, it offers internet services; internet-based TV products and services; and information and communication technology systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions with an infrastructure of data centers and networks under the T-Systems brand, as well as call center services. The company has 242 million mobile customers and 22 million broadband customers, as well as 27 million fixed-network lines. Deutsche Telekom AG has a collaboration with VMware, Inc. on cloud-based open and intelligent virtual RAN platform to bring agility to radio access networks for existing LTE and future 5G networks; and partnership with Microsoft to deliver high-performance cloud computing experiences. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Bonn, Germany.

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 American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved.

326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected]at.com | (844) 978-6257

MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security.



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 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research.
The following companies are subsidiares of Sysco: 2234829 Alberta ULC, 2234842 Alberta ULC, A. M. Briggs Inc., A.M. Briggs, Almacen Fiscal Frionet Caldera S.A., Almacen Fiscal Frionet Limon S.A., Appert's Foodservice, Arnotts (Fruit) Limited, Asian Foods, Bahamas Food Holdings Limited, Bahamas Food Services Limited, Brake Bros, Brake Bros Foodservice Ireland Limited, Brake Bros. Foodservice Limited, Brake Bros. Holding I Limited, Brake Bros. Ltd., Brakes Foodservice NI Limited, Buchy Food Service, Buckhead Beef Co., Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Houston Inc., Buckhead Meat Company, Buckhead Meat Midwest Inc., Buckhead Meat of Dallas Inc., Buckhead Meat of Denver Inc., Buckhead Meat of San Antonio LP, Buzztable Inc., CAKE Corporation, Central Seafood Co., Christys Wine & Spirits Limited, Clafra Aktiebolag, Colorado Boxed Beef Co - Specialty meat-cutting division, Corporacion Frionet Sociedad Anonima, Crossgar Foodservice, Crossgar Foodservice Limited, Crown I Enterprises Inc., Cucina Acquisitions (UK) Limited, Cucina Finance (UK) Limited, Cucina French Holdings Limited, Cucina Fresh Finance Limited, Cucina Fresh Investments Limited, Cucina Lux Investments Limited, Curleys Quality Foods Limited (Third Party), Davigel Belgilux S.A., Davigel Espana S.A., Desert Meats & Provisions, Distagro, Doerle Food Service, Doughtie's Foods Inc., Dust Bowl City LLC, Eko Fagel Fisk o mittemellan AB, Enclave Insurance Company, Enclave Parkway Association Inc., Enclave Properties LLC, European Imports, European Imports Inc., Figg Inc., Freedman Meats, Freedman Meats Inc., Freedman-KB Inc., Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Fresh Direct Group Limited, Fresh Direct Limited, Fresh Holdings Limited, FreshPoint, FreshPoint Arizona Inc., FreshPoint Atlanta Inc., FreshPoint California Inc., FreshPoint Central California Inc., FreshPoint Central Florida Inc., FreshPoint Connecticut LLC, FreshPoint Dallas Inc., FreshPoint Denver Inc., FreshPoint Hawaii LLC, FreshPoint Inc., FreshPoint Las Vegas Inc., FreshPoint North Carolina Inc., FreshPoint North Florida Inc., FreshPoint Oklahoma City LLC, FreshPoint Pompano Real Estate LLC, FreshPoint Puerto Rico LLC, FreshPoint San Francisco Inc., FreshPoint South Florida Inc., FreshPoint South Texas Inc., FreshPoint Southern California Inc., FreshPoint Tomato LLC, FreshPoint Vancouver Ltd., Freshfayre Limited, Fruktservice i Helsingborg AB, GHS Classic Drinks Limited, Gilchrist & Soames Inc., Gilchrist & Soames UK Limited, Guest Packaging LLC, Guest Supply, Guest Supply Asia Limited, Guest Supply Singapore Pte. Ltd., International Food Group, Isakssons Frukt & Gront AB, J & M Wholesale Meats, J. Kings Food Service Professionals, J. Kings Food Service Professionals Inc., Kent Frozen Foods, Les Ateliers Du Gout, Liquid Assets Limited, M&J Seafood Holdings Limited, M&J Seafood Limited, Manchester Mills LLC, Mayca Autoservicio S.A., Mayca Distribuidores S.A., Menigo Foodservice AB, Mitshim Etatu Supply LP, Newport Meat Company, Newport Meat Northern California Inc., Newport Meat Pacific Northwest Inc., Newport Meat Southern California Inc., Newport Meat of Nevada Inc., North Star Holding Corporation, North Star Seafood, North Star Seafood Acquisition Corporation, North Star Seafood LLC, PFS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Palisades Ranch Inc., Pallas Foods, Pallas Foods Farm Fresh Unlimited Company, Pallas Foods Unlimited Company, Pauleys Produce Limited, Promotora del Servicios S.A. de C.V., Restaurangakdemien AB, Restaurant of Tomorrow Inc., Rohan Viandes Elaboration SAS, SMS Bermuda Holdings, SMS GPC International Limited, SMS GPC International Resources Limited, SMS Global Holdings S.a.r.l., SMS International Resources Ireland Unlimited Company, SMS Lux Holdings LLC, SOTF LLC, SYY Netherlands C.V., SYY Panama S. de R.L., Serca Foodservice, Servicestyckarna I Johannes AB, Servicios Ameriserve S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Guest Supply Trading Co. Limited, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Bianchi Montegut, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Boiseau, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Garcelles, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) J.D. Lanjouan, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Le Dauphin, Specialty Meat Holdings LLC, Stockflag Limited, Stockholms Fiskauktion AB, Supplies on the Fly, Sysco Albany LLC, Sysco Asian Foods Inc., Sysco Atlanta LLC, Sysco Autoservicio S.A., Sysco Baltimore LLC, Sysco Baraboo LLC, Sysco Bermuda Partners L.P., Sysco Boston LLC, Sysco Canada Holdings S.a.r.l., Sysco Canada Inc., Sysco Central Alabama LLC, Sysco Central California Inc., Sysco Central Florida Inc., Sysco Central Illinois Inc., Sysco Central Pennsylvania LLC, Sysco Charlotte LLC, Sysco Chicago Inc., Sysco Cincinnati LLC, Sysco Cleveland Inc., Sysco Columbia LLC, Sysco Connecticut LLC, Sysco Corporation, Sysco Corporation Director's Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Employee's 401(k) Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Good Government Committee Inc., Sysco Corporation Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Plan Trust, Sysco Detroit LLC, Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation Inc., Sysco EI VI S. s.r.l., Sysco EU II S.a.r.l., Sysco EU III S.a.r.l., Sysco EU IV Capital Unlimited Company, Sysco EU IV S. s.r.l.., Sysco EU V S. s.r.l., Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC, Sysco Eastern Wisconsin LLC, Sysco Foundation Inc., Sysco France Holding SAS, Sysco France SAS, Sysco George Town II LLC, Sysco George Town Limited S. s.r.l.., Sysco Global Finance LLC, Sysco Global Finance LLP, Sysco Global Holdings B.V., Sysco Global Resources LLC, Sysco Global Services LLC, Sysco Grand Cayman Company, Sysco Grand Cayman II Company, Sysco Grand Cayman III Company, Sysco Grand Rapids LLC, Sysco Guernsey Limited, Sysco Guest Supply Canada Inc., Sysco Guest Supply Europe Goods Wholesalers LLC, Sysco Guest Supply Europe Limited, Sysco Guest Supply LLC, Sysco Gulf Coast LLC, Sysco Hampton Roads Inc., Sysco Hawaii Inc., Sysco Holdings II LLC, Sysco Holdings LLC, Sysco Indianapolis LLC, Sysco International Food Group Inc., Sysco International Inc., Sysco Iowa Inc., Sysco Jackson LLC, Sysco Jacksonville Inc., Sysco Kansas City Inc., Sysco Knoxville LLC, Sysco Labs Europe Limited, Sysco Labs Pvt. Ltd., Sysco Leasing LLC, Sysco Lincoln Inc., Sysco Lincoln Transportation Company Inc., Sysco Long Island LLC, Sysco Los Angeles Inc., Sysco Louisville Inc., Sysco Memphis LLC, Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Canada Inc., Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Inc., Sysco Metro New York LLC, Sysco Minnesota Inc., Sysco Montana Inc., Sysco Nashville LLC, Sysco Netherlands Partners LLC, Sysco North Central Florida Inc., Sysco North Dakota Inc., Sysco Northern New England Inc., Sysco Philadelphia LLC, Sysco Pittsburgh LLC, Sysco Portland Inc., Sysco Raleigh LLC, Sysco Resources Services LLC, Sysco Riverside Inc., Sysco Sacramento Inc., Sysco San Diego Inc., Sysco San Francisco Inc., Sysco Seattle Inc., Sysco South Florida Inc., Sysco Southeast Florida LLC, Sysco Spain Holdings SLU, Sysco Spokane Inc., Sysco St. Louis LLC, Sysco Syracuse LLC, Sysco Technologies Cayman Ltd., Sysco Technologies LLC, Sysco UK Holdings Limited, Sysco UK Limited, Sysco UK Partners LLP, Sysco USA I Inc., Sysco USA II LLC, Sysco USA III LLC, Sysco Ventura Inc., Sysco Ventures Inc., Sysco Virginia LLC, Sysco West Coast Florida Inc., Sysco Western Minnesota Inc., The SYGMA Network Inc., Upsys, Victua SAS, Walker Foods Inc., Waugh Foods, and Wild Harvest Limited.
TPI Composites, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the manufacture of composite wind blades for the wind energy market. It operates through the following segments: United States (US); Asia; Mexico; and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The US segment includes the production of wind blades in Newton, Iowa plant; and manufacturing of precision molding and assembly systems used for the manufacture of wind blades in Warren, Rhode Island facility, and composite solutions for the transportation industry. The Asia segment produces wind blades in Taicang Port, Dafeng, and Yangzhou, China facilities. The Mexico segment focuses its operation of wind blades in Juarez and Matamoros, Mexico. The EMEAI segment offers wind blades from two facilities in Izmir, Turkey; and also performs wind blade inspection and repair services. The company was founded by Everett Pearson and Neil Tillotson in 1968 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ.

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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.
Aareal Bank AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides financing, software products, digital solutions, and payment transaction applications for the property sector and related industries in Germany and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Structured Property Financing, Banking & Digital solutions, and Aareon. The Structured Property Financing segment offers property financing and refinancing solutions for office buildings, hotels, and shopping centers, as well as retail, logistics, residential properties, and student apartments. This segment also provides deposits, registered and bearer Pfandbriefe, promissory note loans, medium-term notes, debt securities, private placements, other bonds and subordinated issues, mortgage Pfandbriefe, and public sector Pfandbriefe. The Banking & Digital solutions segment offers various services and products for the housing, commercial property, and energy and waste disposal industries. Its services include specialized banking, payment systems, and optimized business processes. The Aareon segment provides IT systems consultancy and related advisory services, enterprise resource planning systems, software solutions, hosting and software as a service, and in-house services. Aareal Bank AG was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany.

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The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc..
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of oil and gas properties. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, WES Midstream, and Other Midstream. The company explores for and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). It is also involved in gathering, processing, treating, and transporting oil, natural-gas, and NGLs production, as well as the gathering and disposal of produced water. The company's oil and natural gas properties are located in the United States onshore and deepwater Gulf of Mexico; and Algeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Colombia, Peru, and other countries. As of December 31, 2018, it had approximately 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

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Two Harbors Investment pays an annual dividend of $0.68 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 10.63%. TWO has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. Two Harbors Investment 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 Two Harbors Investment is 87.18%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on EPS estimates, Two Harbors Investment will have a dividend payout ratio of 82.93% in the coming year. This indicates that Two Harbors Investment may not be able to sustain their current dividend.

View Two Harbors Investment's dividend history.
The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc..
Our portfolio of high quality UK commercial property is focused on London Offices and Retail around the UK. We own or manage a portfolio valued at A13.7bn (British Land share: A10.3bn) as at 30 September 2020 making us one of Europe's largest listed real estate investment companies. Our strategy is to provide places which meet the needs of our customers and respond to changing lifestyles - Places People Prefer. We do this by creating great environments both inside and outside our buildings and use our scale and placemaking skills to enhance and enliven them. This expands their appeal to a broader range of occupiers, creating enduring demand and driving sustainable, long term performance. Our Offices portfolio comprises three office-led campuses in central London as well as high quality standalone buildings and accounts for 65% of our portfolio. Our Retail portfolio is focused on retail parks and shopping centres, and accounts for 31% of our portfolio. Increasingly our focus is on providing a mix of uses and this is most evident at Canada Water, our 53 acre redevelopment opportunity where we have plans to create a new neighbourhood for London. Sustainability is embedded throughout our business. Our places, which are designed to meet high sustainability standards, become part of local communities, provide opportunities for skills development and employment and promote wellbeing. In April 2016 British Land received the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development, the UK's highest accolade for business success for economic, social and environmental achievements over a period of five years.

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Capital One Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.40 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 1.57%. 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.
Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following segments: Asset Management, Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Residential Development, and Corporate Activities. The Asset Management segment includes the management of its listed partnerships, private funds and public securities. The Real Estate segment is comprised of the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other properties. The Renewable Power segment encompasses the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and other power generating facilities. The Infrastructure segment consists of the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resource assets. The Private Equity segment refers to the broad range of industries, and is mostly focused on business services, infrastructure services and industrials. The Residential Development segment represents homebuilding, condominium development and land development. The Corporate Activiti

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through four strategic business units: Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers chequing, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit, and business and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, investing and wealth, specialty, and international services; correspondent banking and online foreign exchange services; and cash management services. The company serves its customers through its banking centers, as well as direct, mobile, and remote channels. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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Conifex Timber Inc. primarily manufactures and sells lumber products in the United States, China, Canada, Japan, and internationally. It is involved in the timber harvesting, reforestation, and forest management activities; manufacture of finished softwood lumber from spruce, pine, and fir logs; manufacture, sale, and distribution of dimension lumber; processing logs into lumber and wood chips, as well as by-products or residues, such as trim blocks, sawdust, shavings, and barks; and providing value added lumber finishing services. The company also develops bioenergy and bio products; and operates a 36 megawatt biomass power generation plant, which produces renewable energy for commercial sale. The company was formerly known as West Fourth Capital Inc. and changed its name to Conifex Timber Inc. in June 2010. Conifex Timber Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Danaher: AB SCIEX, AB Sciex Germany GmbH, AB Sciex LLC, AB Sciex LP, AB Sciex Pte Ltd., Accu-Sort Systems, Acme Cleveland Corporation, Advanced Vision Technology, American Precision Industries, Applied Biosystems, Applitek NV, Aquatic Infomatics ULC, Aquatic Informatics, Armstrong Tools, BC Distribution BV, Beckman Coulter, Beckman Coulter Australia Pty Ltd, Beckman Coulter Biotechnology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Beckman Coulter Biyomedikal Urunler Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited [irketi], Beckman Coulter Canada LP, Beckman Coulter Commercial Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Beckman Coulter France S.A.S., Beckman Coulter G.m.b.H., Beckman Coulter Genomics Inc., Beckman Coulter Hong Kong Limited, Beckman Coulter Inc., Beckman Coulter India Private Limited, Beckman Coulter International SA, Beckman Coulter International Shanghai Trading Co., Beckman Coulter Ireland Inc., Beckman Coulter K.K., Beckman Coulter Korea Ltd., Beckman Coulter Laboratory Systems (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Beckman Coulter Limited Liability Company, Beckman Coulter Mishima KK, Beckman Coulter Nederland B.V., Beckman Coulter Nippon GK, Beckman Coulter S.L.U., Beckman Coulter Saudi Arabia Co.Ltd., Beckman Coulter Srl, Beckman Coulter Taiwan Inc., Beckman Coulter United Kingdom Limited, Beckman Coulter de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Beckman Coulter do Brasil Ltda., Beckman Finance ApS, Beckman Holdings Ltd., BioTector Analytical Systems Ltd, Biosafe S.A., Blue Software LLC, Cepheid, Cepheid AB, Cepheid Europe SAS, Cepheid GmbH, Cepheid HBDC SAS, Cepheid UK Ltd., ChemTreat, ChemTreat Inc., ChemTreat International Inc., Cispus Hong Kong Holding Limited, Cytiva, Cytiva BioProcess R&D AB, Cytiva Biotechnology (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Cytiva Biotechnology (Hang Zhou) Co. Ltd., Cytiva Europe GmbH, Cytiva Sweden AB, Cytiva Sweden Holding AB, DH Europe Finance II Sarl, DH Europe Finance Sarl, DH Holding Italia SRL, DH Japan Finance Sarl, DH Life Sciences LLC, DH Netherlands BV, DH Technologies Development Pte Ltd., DHKAB Company AB, DTIL Ireland Holdings Ltd., Danaher (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Danaher Hong Kong Limited, Danaher Medical ApS, Delta Consolidated Industries, Devicore Medical Products Inc., Easco Hand Tools, Esko, Esko BV, Esko Finance BV, Esko Graphics BV, Esko Software BV, FHAB Company AB, Fluke, G. Lufft Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH, GE Biopharma, Gelman Sciences Inc., Gendex, Genetix Group, Gilbarco Veeder Root, Gilzoni Ltd., Global Life Sciences Solutions Austria GmbH & Co. KG, Global Life Sciences Solutions Germany GmbH, Global Life Sciences Solutions Korea Ltd., Global Life Sciences Solutions Manufacturing UK Ltd, Global Life Sciences Solutions New Zealand, Global Life Sciences Solutions Operations UK Ltd, Global Life Sciences Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd, Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC, Global Life Sciences Technologies (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Global Life Sciences Technologies Japan KK, Hach Company, Hach Lange Finance GmbH, Hach Lange GmbH, Hach Lange Sarl, Hach Sales & Services Canada LP, Hach Ultra Japan KK, Hach Water Quality Analytical Instru. (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., HemoCue AB, HyClone Laboratories LLC, Hybritech Incorporated, Hyclone Life Sciences Solutions India Private Limited, IDBS Group, IRIS International, Imaging Sciences International, Immunotech SAS, Immunotech Sro, Intabio LLC, Integrated DNA Technologies, Integrated DNA Technologies BVBA, Integrated DNA Technologies Inc., Integrated DNA Technologies Pte. Ltd., Iris International Inc., Joslyn Holding Company LLC, KVHG GmbH, KaVo, KaVo Kerr, Kaltenbach & Voigt, Keithley Instruments, Kipp & Zonen BV, Kollmorgen, Labcyte Inc., Laetus, Leica Biosystems Imaging Inc., Leica Biosystems Melbourne Pty Ltd, Leica Biosystems Newcastle Limited, Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH, Leica Biosystems Richmond Inc., Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte Limited, Leica Microsystems, Leica Microsystems (UK) Limited, Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH, Leica Microsystems Cambridge Limited, Leica Microsystems IR GmbH, Leica Microsystems Inc., Leica Microsystems Limited, Leica Microsystems Ltd. Shanghai, Leica Mikrosysteme Vertrieb GmbH, Life Sciences Holdings France SAS*, Lifschultz Industries, Linx Printing Technologies, Linx Printing Technologies Limited, MDS Analytical Technologies, Marconi Data Systems, McCrometer Inc., Microtest, Molecular Devices, Molecular Devices (Austria) GmbH, Molecular Devices LLC, Navman Wireless, Navman Wireless OEM Solutions, Nihon Pall Ltd., Nihon Pall Manufacturing Limited, Nobel Biocare, OTT Hydromet Corp, Pall, Pall (Canada) ULC, Pall (China) Co. Ltd., Pall (Schweiz) GmbH, Pall Aeropower Corporation, Pall Artelis BVBA, Pall Asia Holdings Inc., Pall Australia Pty. Ltd., Pall Austria Filter Ges.m.b.h, Pall Corporation, Pall Europe Limited, Pall Filtersystems GmbH, Pall Filtration Pte. Ltd., Pall Filtration and Separations Group Inc., Pall France SAS, Pall GmbH, Pall India Pvt. Ltd., Pall International Sarl, Pall Italia Srl, Pall Korea Ltd., Pall Life Sciences Belgium BV, Pall Life Sciences Puerto Rico LLC, Pall Manufacturing UK Limited, Pall Medistad BV, Pall Netherlands BV Irish Branch, Pall Technology UK Limited, PaloDEX, Pantone LLC, Pelton & Crane, Phenomenex, Phenomenex Inc., Precision NanoSystems, QHC Ireland Finance Limited, Radiometer, Radiometer Basel AG, Radiometer K.K., Radiometer Medical ApS, Radiometer Medical Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Radiometer Turku Oy, Raytek, Reytek Corporation, SH Switzerland Finance Sarl, Sea-Bird Electronics Inc., SenDx Medical Inc., Shanghai AB Sciex Analytical Instrument Trading Co. Ltd., Sutron, Sybron Dental Specialties, TCIL Ireland Finance Ltd., Tektronix, Thomson Industries, Tianjin Bonna-Agela Technologies Co. Ltd., Trojan Technologies, Trojan Technologies Group ULC, VSS Monitoring, Videojet Do Brasil Comercio de Equipamentos Para Codificacao Industrial Ltda., Videojet Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Videojet Technologies Europe B.V., Videojet Technologies Inc., Viridor Waste Management Limited, Vision Systems Limited, Willett International, X-Ray Optical Systems Inc., X-Rite, X-Rite Europe GmbH, X-Rite Incorporated, X-Rite Switzerland GmbH, XOS, Yukon Hong Kong Holding Limited, and Zhuhai S.E.Z. Videojet Electronics Ltd..
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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Wall Street analysts have given Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) 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 Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
HDFC Bank Ltd. engages in the provision of banking and financial services, including commercial banking and treasury operations. The firm also provides financial services to upper and middle income individuals and corporations in India. It operates through the following segments: Treasury, Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking and Other Banking Operations. The Treasury segment consists of bank's investment portfolio, money market borrowing and lending, investment operations and trading in foreign exchange and derivative contracts. The Retail Banking segment provides loans and other services to customers through a branch network and other delivery channels. The Wholesale Banking segment provides loans, non-fund facilities and transaction services to large corporates, emerging corporates, public sector units, government bodies, financial institutions, and medium scale enterprises. The Other Banking Business segment includes income from para banking activities such as credit cards, debit cards, third party product distribution, primary dealership business, and the associated costs. The company was founded by Aditya Tapishwar Puri in August 1994 and is headquartered in Mumbai, India.

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Nonprofit regional blood center, Blood Assurance, is calling on community members to make a blood donation at a local donor center or bloodmobile. The supply of O negative blood is at a critical level, and officials are asking the community to donate to help guarantee blood is readily available for hospital patients.



We are at a critical level right now,  said Dr. Elizabeth Culler, medical director at Blood Assurance. To most effectively serve local hospitals, we need to have a four to five-day supply of this blood type. The need for a steady blood supply is vital. Blood Assurance is asking donors, specifically those with O negative blood type, to give today.



"Each donation of blood contains plasma, red blood cells and platelets that can be used to save up to three lives. Patients undergoing surgery, receiving cancer treatment or organ transplants, rely on donated blood in addition to the unexpected traumas seen at hospitals on a daily basis," officials said.



Donating blood is a quick and easy way to help your community. said Jay Baumgardner, executive director of community relations for Blood Assurance. If you are able to donate, we ask that you take 30 minutes out of your day to help your local patients and hospitals by giving blood.



To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids  avoiding caffeine  and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.

To schedule an appointment at a donor center or blood drive near you, visit www.bloodassurance.org, call 800-962-0628 or text BAGIVE to 444999.
Wall Street analysts have given Domino's Pizza Enterprises 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 Domino's Pizza Enterprises wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
The following companies are subsidiares of Eaton: ADF Systems SARL, Abeiron III Limited, Aeroquip (UK) Limited, Aeroquip Financial Ltd., Aeroquip Iberica S.L., Aeroquip International Inc., Aeroquip Limited, Aeroquip do Brasil Ltda., Aeroquip-Vickers, Aeroquip-Vickers Canada Inc., Aeroquip-Vickers International S.a.r.L., Aphel Technologies, Argo-Tech, Arrow Hose & Tubing, Arrow-Hart S. de R.L. de C.V., Azonix Corporation, Babco Electric Group, Beijing Internormen-Filter Ltd. Co., Beijing Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Blinda Industria e Comercio Ltda., Bussmann International Holdings LLC, Bussmann International Inc., Bussmann S. de R.L. de C.V., Bussmann do Brasil Ltda., CBE Services Inc., CEAG Notlichtsysteme GmbH, CI ESI de Colombia, CTI-VIENNA Gesellschaft zur Prufung elektrotechnischer Industrieprodukte GmbH, Cambridge International Insurance Company Ltd., Cannon Technologies Inc., Centralion Industrial Inc., Chagrin Highlands III Limited, Cobham, Componentes de Iluminacion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper (China) Co. Ltd., Cooper (Ningbo) Electric Co. Ltd., Cooper B-Line Inc., Cooper Bermuda Investments Ltd., Cooper Bussmann (U.K.) Limited, Cooper Bussmann Hungaria Kft., Cooper Bussmann LLC, Cooper Capri S.A.S., Cooper Colombia Investments Ltd., Cooper Controls (Watford) Limited, Cooper Controls Limited, Cooper Crouse-Hinds (LLC), Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds AS, Cooper Crouse-Hinds B.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH, Cooper Crouse-Hinds LLC, Cooper Crouse-Hinds MTL Inc., Cooper Crouse-Hinds Pte. Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S.A., Cooper Csa Srl, Cooper Edison (Pingdingshan) Electronic Technologies Co. Ltd., Cooper Electric (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Cooper Electrical Australia Pty. Limited, Cooper Electrical International LLC, Cooper Electronic Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cooper Enterprises LLC, Cooper Finance (Canada) L.P., Cooper Finance Group Ltd., Cooper Finance USA Inc., Cooper Germany Holdings GmbH, Cooper India Private Limited, Cooper Industrials, Cooper Industries (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries (Electrical) Inc., Cooper Industries Colombia S.A.S., Cooper Industries FZE, Cooper Industries Finance B.V., Cooper Industries Finanzierungs-GbR, Cooper Industries Global B.V., Cooper Industries Holdings (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries Holdings GmbH, Cooper Industries International LLC, Cooper Industries Japan K.K., Cooper Industries LLC, Cooper Industries Malaysia SDN BHD, Cooper Industries Middle East LLC, Cooper Industries Poland LLC, Cooper Industries Romania SRL, Cooper Industries Russia LLC, Cooper Industries Trading Limited, Cooper Industries UK Subco Limited, Cooper Industries Unlimited Company, Cooper Industries Vietnam LLC, Cooper Interconnect, Cooper International Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Investment Group Ltd., Cooper Investment Group S a.r.l., Cooper Investments Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Cooper Korea Ltd., Cooper Lighting LLC, Cooper Lighting de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Menvier France SARL, Cooper Mexico Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Netherlands Investments Ltd., Cooper Notification Inc., Cooper Offshore Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Power Systems LLC, Cooper Power Systems do Brasil Ltda., Cooper Pretronica Lda., Cooper Safety B.V., Cooper Securite S.A.S., Cooper Security Limited, Cooper Shanghai Power Capacitor Co. Ltd., Cooper Switzerland Investments Ltd., Cooper Technologies Company, Cooper Univel S.A., Cooper Wheelock Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Wiring Devices de Mexico S.A de C.V., Cooper Xi'an Fusegear Co. Ltd., Cooper Yuhua (Changzhou) Electric Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Copperlogic, Cutler-Hammer Electrical Company, Cutler-Hammer Industries Ltd., Cutler-Hammer SRL, Cyme International T & D Inc., D.P. Eaton Electric, Digital Lighting (Dong Guan) Co. Ltd., Digital Lighting Co. Limited, Digital Lighting Holdings Limited, Dongguan Cooper Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Fu Li An Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Wiring Devices Electronics Co. Ltd., E. Begerow, E.A. Pedersen Co., EIC Holding GP I, EIC Holding GP II, EIC Holding GP III, EIC Holding GP IV, EIC Holding I LLC, EIC Holding II LLC, EIC Holding III LLC, EIC Holding IV LLC, EIC Holding V LLC, EIC Holding VI LLC, ETN Asia International Limited, ETN Holding 1 Limited, ETN Holding 2 Limited, ETN Holding 3 Limited, EX Innovations Limited, Eaton (China) Investments Co. Ltd., Eaton Aeroquip, Eaton Aerospace LLC, Eaton Ann Arbor LLC, Eaton Asia Investments Corporation, Eaton Automation G.m.b.H, Eaton Automation Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Automotive Components Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Automotive Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Automotive Systems Spolka z.o.o., Eaton B.V., Eaton C.V., Eaton CHB LLC, Eaton Capital Unlimited Co., Eaton Controls (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Controls (UK) Limited, Eaton Controls S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Corporation, Eaton ETN Offshore Company, Eaton ETN Offshore II Company, Eaton Electric, Eaton Electric & Engineering Services Limited, Eaton Electric (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Electric (South Africa) Pty Ltd., Eaton Electric (Thailand) Ltd., Eaton Electric AS, Eaton Electric ApS, Eaton Electric Company Ltd., Eaton Electric G.m.b.H., Eaton Electric Holdings LLC, Eaton Electric Limited, Eaton Electric Manufacturing Middle East LLC, Eaton Electric S.I.A., Eaton Electric S.a.r.l., Eaton Electric S.r.l., Eaton Electric SPRL, Eaton Electric Sales Ltd., Eaton Electric Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Electric d.o.o., Eaton Electric s.r.o., Eaton Electric s.r.o. (Slovak Republic), Eaton Electrical (Zhongshan) Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Electrical Ltd., Eaton Electrical Products Limited, Eaton Electrical S.A., Eaton Electrical S.A. (Venezuela), Eaton Electrical Systems Limited, Eaton Electro Productie S.r.l., Eaton Elektrik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eaton Elektrotechnika s.r.o., Eaton Energy Solutions Inc., Eaton Enterprises (Hungary) Kft., Eaton Enterprises Limited, Eaton Enterprises S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton FZE, Eaton Filtration, Eaton Filtration (Denmark) ApS, Eaton Filtration (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Filtration (Poland) Sp. z.o.o., Eaton Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Filtration BVBA, Eaton Finance (Ireland) Limited, Eaton Finance S.a.r.l., Eaton Fluid Power (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Fluid Power Limited, Eaton Fluid Power S.r.l., Eaton France Holding S.A.S., Eaton Germany G.m.b.H., Eaton GmbH & Co. KG, Eaton Holding (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Holding (UK) II Limited, Eaton Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding I B.V., Eaton Holding I Limited, Eaton Holding II LLC, Eaton Holding II Limited, Eaton Holding II S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding III B.V., Eaton Holding III Limited, Eaton Holding III S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IV S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IX S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding International LLC, Eaton Holding LLC, Eaton Holding Limited, Eaton Holding S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding SE & Co. KG, Eaton Holding SRL, Eaton Holding V B.V., Eaton Holding V S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VI B.V., Eaton Holding VI S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VII B.V., Eaton Holding VIII S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding X S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding XII B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Holec AB, Eaton Holec OY, Eaton Hydraulics (Luzhou) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Proprietary) Limited, Eaton Hydraulics LLC, Eaton Hydraulics Systems (Jining) Co. Ltd., Eaton I Spolka z.o.o., Eaton II LP, Eaton III LP, Eaton IV LP, Eaton India Innovation Center LLP, Eaton Industrial Clutches and Brakes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industrial Corporation, Eaton Industrial IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Industrial Systems Private Limited, Eaton Industries (Argentina) S.A., Eaton Industries (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries (Belgium) BVBA, Eaton Industries (Canada) Company, Eaton Industries (Chile) S.p.A., Eaton Industries (Colombia) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Egypt) LLC, Eaton Industries (England) Limited, Eaton Industries (France) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Ireland) Ltimited, Eaton Industries (Israel) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Industries (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Jining) Co. Ltd, Eaton Industries (Korea) Limited, Eaton Industries (Luxembourg) B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Industries (Morocco) LLC, Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Industries (Philippines) LLC, Eaton Industries (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industries (Spain) S.L., Eaton Industries (Thailand) Ltd., Eaton Industries (U.K.) Limited, Eaton Industries (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industries Company, Eaton Industries EOOD, Eaton Industries G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holdings Ltd., Eaton Industries II G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries KFT, Eaton Industries LP, Eaton Industries Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Panama S.A., Eaton Industries Pte. Ltd., Eaton Industries Pty. Ltd., Eaton Industries S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Industries SAC, Eaton Industries Sdn. Bhd., Eaton Industries s.r.o., Eaton International B.V., Eaton International Corporation, Eaton International Industries Nigeria Limited, Eaton Japan Co. Ltd., Eaton LLC, Eaton LP, Eaton Leasing Corporation, Eaton Ltda., Eaton MEDC Limited, Eaton Madeira SGPS Lda., Eaton Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing II G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing III G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing LP, Eaton Middle East LLC, Eaton Moeller B.V., Eaton Moeller S.a.r.l., Eaton Phoenixtec MMPL Co. Ltd., Eaton Power Quality (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Power Quality AB, Eaton Power Quality Limited, Eaton Power Quality OY (Finland), Eaton Power Quality Private Limited, Eaton Power Quality S.A.S., Eaton Power Solution Ltda., Eaton Production International G.m.b.H., Eaton Protection Systems IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton S.A.S., Eaton S.r.l., Eaton SAMC (Shanghai) Aircraft Conveyance System, Eaton SE, Eaton Safety IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Safety Limited, Eaton Senstar Automotive Fluid Connector (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Services S.a.r.l., Eaton Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Switzerland Holding I GmbH, Eaton Switzerland Holding II GmbH, Eaton Technologies (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Technologies G.m.b.H., Eaton Technologies IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Technologies Private Limited, Eaton Technologies S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Technologies S.A., Eaton Trading Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components (Proprietary) Ltd., Eaton Truck Components S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Truck and Bus Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton US Holdings Inc., Eaton Worldwide LLC, Eaton-Powerware, Electromanufacturas S de R.L. de C.V., Electrum Group Ltd., Elpro Technologies Pty. Limited, Ephesus Lighting, Ephesus Lighting Inc., FHF Bergbautechnik GmbH & Co. KG, FHF Funke+Huster Fernsig GmbH, FHF New World GmbH, Fast Eaton (Xi'an) Drivetrain Company Ltd., Fifth Light Technology Ltd., Funke+Huster (Tianjin) Electronics Co. Ltd., Funke+Huster GmbH, GeCma Components electronic GmbH, Georgetown Financial Services Ltd., Gitiesse Asia Pte. Ltd., Gitiesse S.r.l., Green Holding Company, Green Motion, Guangzhou Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Hein Moeller Stiftung G.m.b.H., Hernis Scan System do Brasil Comercio E Servicos LTDA, Hernis Scan Systems - Asia Pte. Ltd., Hernis Scan Systems A/S, IE Power, Illumination Management Solutions Inc., Iluminacion Cooper de las Californias S de R.L. de C.V., Innovative Switchgear Solutions Inc, Institute for International Product Safety G.m.b.H., Integrated Hydraulics, Integrated Partial Discharge Diagnostics, Intelligent Switchgear Organization LLC, Internormen Filters Private Limited, Internormen Technology, Jeil Hydraulics, Kaicheng Funke+Huster (Tangshan) Mining Electrical Co. Ltd., Lian Zheng Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., MP Group SAS, MTL Instruments (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, MTL Instruments B.V., MTL Instruments GmbH, MTL Instruments LLC, MTL Instruments Private Limited, MTL Instruments SARL, MTL Italia Srl, MTL Partners II Inc., MTL Partners Inc., Marina Power and Lighting, Martek Power F SAS, Martek Power GmbH, Martek Power Limited, Martek Power Limited (UK), Martek Power S.A. de C.V., Martek Power SA, McGraw-Edison Development Corporation, Measurement Technology Limited, Menvier Overseas Holdings Limited, Micro Innovation Holding, Moeller Electric (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Moeller Electric Ltda., Moeller Electrical Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Moeller Holding Gmbh & Co. KG, Moeller Industria de electro-electronicos do Amazonas Ltda., Morestana, Nittan BVI Co. Ltd., Nittan Euro Tech Spolka z o.o., Nittan Global Tech Co. Ltd., Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Norex AS, Ocean Technical Systems Limited, Oxalis Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Oxalis Group, Oxalis Group Limited, PKL LLC, PT. Eaton Industries, PT. Fluid Sciences Batam, PerkinElmer - aerospace division, Phoenixtec Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Phoenixtec International Corp., Phoenixtec Power, Pigozzi, Polaron Components Limited, Polimer Hortum Teknolojileri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi Ve Pazarlama, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi ve Pazarlama A.S., Power Distribution, Pringle Electrical Manufacturing, Productos Eaton Livia S.L., Pulizzi Engineering, RTE Far East Corporation, RTK Instruments Limited, Riseson International Limited, Rizhao Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Rolec Comercial e Industrial, SOURIAU, Santak Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Santak Electronics Company Limited, Saturn Insurance Company Ltd., Scantronic Benelux B.V., Schreder-Hazemeyer, Scoremax Limited, Sefelec GmbH, Sefelec SAS, Semelec SAS, Senyuan International Holdings Limited, Senyuan International Investments Limited, Shinhwa Precision Co. Ltd., Shinhwa Takahashi Precision Co. Ltd., Silver Light International Limited, Silver Victory Hong Kong Limited, Standard Automation & Control LP, Sure Power Inc., TGM Automotiva, TT (Ireland) Acquisition Limited, Tai Ah Electrical Ltd., Taiwan Nittan Industrial Co. Ltd., Telkom Kenya, The MTL Instruments Group Limited, The Oxalis Protection Technology India Private Limited, Tractech, Tractech (Ireland) Limited, Tractech Industries (Ireland) Limted, Tripp Lite, Turlock B.V., Tuthill Coupling Group, U.S. Engine Valve Company, UPE Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Ultronics, Ultronics Nordic Sales AB, Ulusoy, Vickers International Inc., Vickers Systems Limited, Viking Electronics Inc., WPI-Boston Division Inc., Winner Hydraulics Ltd., Wireless Power and Communications AS, Wright Line, Wright Line Holding Inc., Wright Line LLC, and Zhenjiang Daqo Eaton Electrical Systems Co. Ltd..
The following companies are subsidiares of Colgate-Palmolive: 887357 Ontario Inc., COLGALIVE S.A., CP GABA GmbH, CP International Holding C.V., CP West East Investment Limited, Cleaning Dimensions Inc., Colgate (BVI) Limited, Colgate (Guangzhou) Company Limited, Colgate (U.K.) Limited, Colgate Business Services of the Americas S.C., Colgate Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Colgate Global Business Services Private Limited, Colgate Holdings, Colgate Inc., Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Inc., Colgate Palmolive Ghana Limited, Colgate Palmolive Holding S.Com.P.A., Colgate Palmolive Nouvelle Caledonie Sarl, Colgate Palmolive Tanzania Limited, Colgate Sanxiao Company Limited, Colgate Venture Company Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Asia) Pte Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Blantyre) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Brunei) Sdn Bhn, Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc. y Compania Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive (Centro America) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (China) Co. Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Costa Rica) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominica) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominican Republic) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (East Africa) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Eastern) Pte. Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Egypt) S.A.E., Colgate-Palmolive (Far East) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Fiji) Pte Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Gabon) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Guyana) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (H.K.) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Hellas) S.A. I.C., Colgate-Palmolive (Hong Kong) Holding Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Kazakhstan) L.L.P., Colgate-Palmolive (Latvia) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Middle East Exports) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Myanmar) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (New York) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive (Proprietary) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Research & Development) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Romania) SRL, Colgate-Palmolive (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Uganda) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Vietnam) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Zambia) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Zimbabwe) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive A.B., Colgate-Palmolive A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Adria Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Treasury Services Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Belgium S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Bolivia Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Caricom Service Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Central European Management Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Chile S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cia., Colgate-Palmolive Comercial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Commercial (Hellas) SP LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Commerciale S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive Commericale S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive Compania Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive Company Distr. LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Company GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Cote dIvoire S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cyprus Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Development Corp., Colgate-Palmolive East West Africa Region (Pty) Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Enterprises Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Espana S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Europe (Holdings) Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Europe Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Finance (UK) plc, Colgate-Palmolive Global Trading Company, Colgate-Palmolive Holding Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Holding Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Hungary Kft Limited Liability Company, Colgate-Palmolive IHQ Services (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Inc. S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Industrial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Industriel S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive International Holding LLC, Colgate-Palmolive International LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Investment Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (BVI) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (PNG) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Investments Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Israel Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Italia S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive JSC, Colgate-Palmolive Lanka (Private) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Latin America Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Manufacturing (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Marketing Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive Maroc S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Mocambique Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive NJ Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Nederland B.V., Colgate-Palmolive Norge A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Participacoes e Investimentos Imobiliarios Lda., Colgate-Palmolive Peru S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Retirement Trustee Limited, Colgate-Palmolive S.A. de C.V., Colgate-Palmolive S.p.A., Colgate-Palmolive Senegal S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Services (Hellas) LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Services CEW GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Services S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Slovensko s.r.o., Colgate-Palmolive Support Services, Colgate-Palmolive Temizlik Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticart S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Transnational Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Ukraine LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Unipessoal Lda, Colgate-Palmolive de Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive de Puerto Rico Inc., Colgate-Palmolive del Ecuador S.A.I.C., Colgate-Palmolive del Peru (Delaware) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Eeska republika spol. s r.o., Colpal CBS S de R. L. de C. V., Consumer Viewpoint Center Inc., Cotelle S.A., Dimac Development Corp., Dominica Coconut Products Limited, EKIB Inc., ELM Company Limited, Elta MD Holdings Inc., Elta MD Inc., EltaMD, Filorga Americas Inc., Filorga Asia Limited, Filorga Benelux SA, Filorga Cosmetiques Polska, Filorga Middle East DMCC, Filorga Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Filorga RU Limited Liability Company, GABA Europe Holding GmbH, GABA International, GABA International Holding LLC, GABA Schweiz AG, GABA Therwil GmbH, Gamma Development Co. Ltd., Global Trading and Supply LLC, Hamol Ltd., Hello Products, Hello Products LLC, Hills Funding Company, Hills Pet Nutrition (NZ) Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Asia Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Canada Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Denmark ApS, Hills Pet Nutrition Espana S.L., Hills Pet Nutrition GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Holding B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Indiana Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Italia S.r.l., Hills Pet Nutrition Korea Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing s.r.o, Hills Pet Nutrition Norway AS, Hills Pet Nutrition OOO, Hills Pet Nutrition Pty. Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition S.p.A., Hills Pet Nutrition SNC, Hills Pet Nutrition Sales Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition South Africa Proprietary Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition Sweden AB, Hills Pet Nutrition Switzerland GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Taiwan Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition Trading (GZ) Co. Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hills Pet Nutrition de Puerto Rico Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition s.r.o., Hills Pet Products (Benelux) S.A., Hills Pet Products Inc., Hills Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Hills-Colgate (Japan) Ltd., Hopro Liquidating Corp., Hygiene Systemes et Services SA, IES Enterprises Inc., Inmobiliaria Colpal S. de R.L. de C.V., Inmobiliaria Hills S.A. de C.V., Innovacion Creativa S.A. de C.V., Kolynos Corporation, Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Espana S.L.U., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Italia S.R.L., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques S.A., Laser Brand Toothpaste, Lournay Sales Inc., Mennen Company, Mennen Interamerica Ltd., Mennen Limited, Mennen South Africa Ltd., Mennen de Chile Ltd., Mennen de Nicargua S.A., Mission Hills Property Corporation, Mission Hills S.A. de C.V., Norwood International Incorporated, Olive Music Publishing Corporation, PCA SKIN, Paramount Research Inc., Penny LLC, Pet Chemicals Inc., Physicians Care Alliance LLC, Productos Halogenados Copalven C.A., Purity Holding Company, Purity Music Publishing Corporation, Refresh Company Limited, Samuel Taylor Holdings B.V., Sanex, Sanxiao Company Limited, Services Development Co. Ltd., Societe Generale de Negoce et de Services (GENESE) S.A., The GDN - The Global Distributive Network SAS, The Lournay Company Inc., The MPDP - The Medical and Pharmaceutic Distributive Platform SAS, The Murphy-Phoenix Company, Tom's of Maine, Toms of Maine Holdings Inc., Toms of Maine Inc., Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Vipont Pharmaceutical Inc., and XEB Inc..
Wall Street analysts have given iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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Informa plc operates as a business-to-business exhibitions and events, learning, and information services company worldwide. It operates through five divisions: Informa Connect, Informa Intelligence, Informa Markets, Informa Tech, and Taylor & Francis. The Informa Connect division provides content-driven events and digital platforms that allow professionals to meet, connect, learn, and share knowledge. This division operates events in finance and investment, biotech and pharma, and other specialist markets. The Informa Intelligence division offers digital intelligence and data-based products, consultancy, and research services in the areas of pharma, financial, maritime, and asset intelligence, as well as Barbour ABI, a provider of construction market intelligence and building project leads for built environment specialists. The Informa Markets division creates platforms for international markets, which provide businesses to research trends, find and showcase products, generate leads, and complete sales through exhibitions, virtual events, specialist digital content, and data solutions to customers operating in specialist markets to meet and trade. The Informa Tech division offers research, media, training, and events that inform, educate, and connect businesses and professionals working in technology. The Taylor & Francis division publishes books for upper level university students, researchers, and academic institutions in a range of specialist subjects; and journals under imprints such as Routledge, Taylor & Francis, and Cogent OA. This segment has a portfolio of approximately 160,000 book titles and 2,700 journals. The company was formerly known as T&F Informa plc and changed its name to Informa plc in August 2005. Informa plc was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Wall Street analysts have given iShares China Large-Cap ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares China Large-Cap ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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Wall Street analysts have given iShares S&P 400 MidCap ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares S&P 400 MidCap ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. The Corporates segment provides a suite of content-enabled technology solutions for legal, tax, regulatory, compliance, and IT professionals. The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on tax offerings and automating tax workflows to tax, accounting, and audit professionals in accounting firms. The Reuters News segment provides business, financial, national, and international news to professionals through desktop terminals, media organizations, and industry events, as well as directly to consumers. The Global Print segment offers legal and tax information primarily in print format to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Thomson Reuters Corporation is a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited.

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The following companies are subsidiares of LyondellBasell Industries: A. Schulman, A. Schulman 's-Gravendeel B.V., A. Schulman AG, A. Schulman Asia Limited, A. Schulman Belgium BVBA, A. Schulman Canada Ltd., A. Schulman Castellon S.L., A. Schulman Europe GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman Europe International B.V., A. Schulman Europe Verwaltungs GmbH, A. Schulman Gainsborough Ltd, A. Schulman GmbH, A. Schulman GmbH (Austrian Branch), A. Schulman Holding Company France S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings (France) S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Inc., A. Schulman Inc. Limited, A. Schulman International Inc., A. Schulman International Services BVBA, A. Schulman Ireland Limited, A. Schulman Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, A. Schulman Nordic AB, A. Schulman Plastics (Branch), A. Schulman Plastics (Dongguan) Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., A. Schulman Plastics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics BVBA, A. Schulman Plastics India Private Limited, A. Schulman Plastics PTY. LTD., A. Schulman Plastics S.r.l., A. Schulman Plastics SAS, A. Schulman Plastics bvba Bornem Sucursala Cluj-Napoca, A. Schulman Plastics organizacni slozka, A. Schulman Plastk Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, A. Schulman Plasticos do Brasil Ltda., A. Schulman Polska Sp. z o.o., A. Schulman Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman S.A.S., A. Schulman S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Limited, A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Sdn Bhd, A. Schulman de Mexico S.A. de C.V., A. Schulman del Peru S.A.C., A.Schulman Poznan Sp. Z o.o., ARCO Chemical, AS Global Holdings Inc., AS Mex Hold S.A. de C.V., AS Worldwide LLC, AS Worldwide LLC & Cie S.C.S., ASI Akron Land Co., ASI Employment S.A. de C.V., ASI Investments Holding Co., Al Waha Petrochemical Company, BKV Beteiligungs- und Kunststoffverwertungs-gesellschaft mbH, BMC Deutschland GmbH, BMC Dongguan Limited, BMC Far East Limited, BMC TetraDURTurkey Plastik Hammadde Kompozit Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limted Sirketi, Basell (Thailand) Holdings B.V., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Thailand) Company Ltd., Basell Arabie Investissements SAS, Basell Asia Pacific Limited, Basell Bayreuth Chemie GmbH, Basell Benelux B.V., Basell Chemie Koln GmbH, Basell Europe Holdings B.V., Basell Germany Holdings GmbH, Basell Holdings Middle East GmbH, Basell Iberica Poliolefinas Holdings S.L., Basell International Holdings B.V., Basell International Trading FZE, Basell Italia S.r.l, Basell Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Moyen Orient Investissements SAS, Basell North America Inc., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sprzedaz Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Poliolefinas Comercial Espagnola S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Iberica S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Ltda., Basell Poliolefinas S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Poliolefine Italia S.r.l., Basell Polyolefin Istanbul Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Basell Polyolefine GmbH, Basell Polyolefines France S.A.S., Basell Polyolefins Company BVBA, Basell Polyolefins India Private Limited, Basell Polyolefins Korea Ltd., Basell Polyolefins UK Limited, Basell Sales & Marketing Company B.V., Basell Service Company B.V., Basell Slovakia s.r.o., Basell Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Basell UK Holdings Limited, Basell UK Ltd., Brindisi Servizi Generali S.c.a.r.l., Bulk Molding Compounds Inc., Bulk Molding Compounds Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bulk Molding Compounds do Brasil Industria de Plasticos Reforcados Ltda., Citadel Brazil Holdings LLC, Citadel Intermediate Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., Citadel Plastics Mexico Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Netherlands Holdings LLC, Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre SAS, Compagnie de Distribution des Hydrocarbures SAS, EMS Holding Ltd., EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud Geschaftsfuhrungs GmbH, EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud GmbH & Co. KG, Elian S.A.S., Equistar Bayport LLC, Equistar Chemicals LP, Equistar GP LLC, Equistar LP LLC, Equistar Mont Belvieu Corporation, GuangZhou Basell Advanced Polyolefins Co. Ltd., HGGC Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., HGGC Citadel Plastics Intermediate Holdings Inc., HMC Polymers Company Limited, HPC Holdings LLC, Hadlock Plastics LLC, Houston Refining LP, I.F.M. S.c.a.r.l., ICO Europe C.V., ICO Holdings LLC, ICO Holdings New Zealand Limited, ICO Petrochemical Cayman Islands, ICO Polymers Cayman Islands, Indelpro S.A. de C.V., Infraserv GmbH & Co. Hochst KG, Inmobiliaria Satchmo S. de R.L. de C.V., Innovacion Y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados A.C., J.R. Courtenay (N.Z.) Limited, LPI Holding Company, LYB (Barbados) SRL, LYB Advanced Polymer Solutions Ireland Limited, LYB Americas Finance Company LLC, LYB Equistar Holdings LLC, LYB Export Holdings Limited, LYB Exports Inc., LYB Finance Company B.V., LYB International Finance B.V., LYB International Finance II B.V., LYB International Finance III LLC, LYB Ireland 2 Limited, LYB Ireland Limited, LYB La Porte Hyperzone LLC, LYB Luxembourg S.a r.l., LYB Matrixx Holdings Inc., LYB Receivables LLC, LYB Trading Company B.V., LYB Treasury Services Ltd., Limited Liability Company "LyondellBasell Polyolefins", Limited Liability Company A. Schulman, Lucent Polymers Inc., Lyondell Asia Holdings Limited, Lyondell Centennial Corp., Lyondell Chemical Company, Lyondell Chemical Europe Inc., Lyondell Chemical Overseas Services Inc., Lyondell Chemical Products Europe LLC, Lyondell Chemical Properties L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology 1 Inc., Lyondell Chemical Technology L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology Management Inc., Lyondell Chemie (PO-11) B.V., Lyondell Chemie (POSM) B.V., Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., Lyondell Chimie France SAS, Lyondell China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Ltd., Lyondell Greater China Trading Limited, Lyondell Japan Inc., Lyondell PO-11 C.V., Lyondell POJVGP LLC, Lyondell POJVLP LLC, Lyondell POTechGP Inc., Lyondell POTechLP Inc., Lyondell Refining Company LLC, Lyondell Refining I LLC, Lyondell South Asia Pte Ltd, LyondellBasell Acetyls Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC, LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins Mexico S.A. de C.V., LyondellBasell Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Australia Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Brasil Ltda., LyondellBasell Canada Inc., LyondellBasell Central Europe Kft., LyondellBasell China Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Circular Economy B.V., LyondellBasell Covestro Manufacturing Maasvlakte V.O.F., LyondellBasell Egypt LLC, LyondellBasell F&F Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Finance Company, LyondellBasell Holdings France SAS, LyondellBasell Hungary Kft, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Industries N.V., LyondellBasell Investment LLC, LyondellBasell Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., LyondellBasell Polyolefin (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Services France S.A.S., LyondellBasell Subholdings B.V., LyondellBasell Taiwan Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Transportation Company LLC, Millennium Chemicals, Natpet Schulman Specialty Plastic Compounds, Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Co. Ltd., Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Marketing Co. Ltd., OE Insurance Ltd, Oil Casualty Insurance Ltd., Oil Insurance Limited, PD Glycol LP, PO JV LP, PO Offtake LP, POSM II Limited Partnership L.P., POSM II Properties Partnership LLC, PT A.Schulman Plastics, PT ASchulman Plastics Commercial, PTT Chemical PCL, Poly Pacific Polymers Sdn. Bhd., Poly Pacific Pty. Ltd., PolyMirae Co. Ltd., Premix Holding Company, Premix Inc., Prime Colorants Inc., QCP B.V., QCP Holding B.V., QCP IP B.V., Quantum Composites Inc., RIGK GmbH Gesellschaft zur Ruckfuhrung industrieller and gewerblicher Kunstoffverpackungen mbH, Rayong Olefins Co. Ltd., Rexene - LDPE and PP Businesses, SCG ICO Polymers Company Limited, SJS Plastiblends, San Jacinto Rail Limited, Saudi Ethylene & Polyethylene Company, Saudi Polyolefins Company, Sociedad Espanola De Materiales Plasticos Semap S.A., Societe des Stockages Petroliers du Rhone SA, Solvay Engineered Polymers, Surplast S.A., TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung GmbH & Co. KG, TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung Verwaltungs-GmbH, Technology JV LP, The Matrixx Group Incorporated, ULSAN PP Co. Ltd., YNCORIS GmbH & Co. KG, Zylog Plastalloys, and tetra-DUR Kunststoff-Produktion GmbH.
Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI South Korea ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI South Korea ETF 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 Mohawk Industries: A&S Energie NV, A&U Energie NV, Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Aladdin Manufacturing Of New York LLC, Aladdin Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, Alsace Logistique S.A., Avelgem Green Power CVBA, Avon Pacific Holdings Ltd, B&M NV, BGE Mexico S. de R. L. de C.V., Berghoef GmbH, Berghoef-Hout B.V., Bienes Raices y Materiales del Centro S. de R.L. de C.V., C.F. Marazzi S.A., Canterbury Spinners Ltd, Carpet Foundation Ltd, Cevotrans BV, Ceramus Bahia S/A  Produtos Ceramicos, DT Mex Holdings LLC, DTM/CM Holdings LLC, Dal Italia LLC, Dal-Elit LLC, Dal-Tile Chile Comercial Limitada, Dal-Tile Colombia S.A.S., Dal-Tile Distribution Inc., Dal-Tile Group Inc., Dal-Tile I LLC, Dal-Tile Industrias S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile International Inc., Dal-Tile Mexico Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Operaciones Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V., Dal-Tile Peru SRL, Dal-Tile Puerto Rico Inc., Dal-Tile Services Inc., Dal-Tile Shared Services Inc., Dal-Tile Tennessee LLC, Dal-Tile of Canada ULC, Daltile, Daltile, Dekaply NV, Durkan, Dynea NV, Eliane Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Eliane S/A - Revestimentos Ceramicos, Emilceramica India Pvt Ltd., Emilceramica S.r.l, Emilgermany GmbH, Emilgroup Asia Ltd, Explorer S.r.l., F.I.L.S. Investments Unlimited Company, Feltex Carpets Ltd, Feltex Carpets Pty Ltd, Feltex New Zealand Ltd, Fibremakers Australia Pty Ltd, Flooring Foundation Ltd, Flooring Industries Limited S.a r.l., Flooring XL B.V., Floorscape Limited, Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Group, Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd, Hytherm (Ireland) Limited, IVC BVBA, IVC Far-East Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., IVC France S.a r.l., IVC GROUP LIMITED, IVC Green Power NV, IVC Group, IVC Group GmbH, IVC Luxembourg S.a r.l., IVC Rus OOO, IVC US Inc., International Flooring Systems S.a r.l., International Vinyl Company - Vostok OOO, KAI Group, KAI Keramica Ltd, KAI Mining EOOD, KERAMA CENTER OOO, Kerama Baltics OOO, Kerama Export OOO, Kerama Marazzi OOO, Kerampromservis (LLC), Khan Asparuh - Transport EOOD, Khan Asparuh AD, Khan Omurtag AD, Koninklijke Peitsman B.V., Kraj Kerama OOO, MG China Trading Ltd., MI Finance SRL, MUD (Holding) Brazil Ltda., Management Co EAD, Marazzi Acquisition S.r.l., Marazzi Deutschland G.m.b.H., Marazzi France Trading S.A.S., Marazzi Group, Marazzi Group F.Z.E., Marazzi Group S.r.l., Marazzi Group Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marazzi Iberia S.L.U., Marazzi Japan Co. Ltd., Marazzi Middle East FZ LLC, Marazzi Schweiz S.A.G.L., Marazzi UK Ltd., Mohawk Assurance Services Inc., Mohawk Australia Pty Ltd, Mohawk Canada Corporation, Mohawk Capital Finance S.A., Mohawk Capital Luxembourg SA, Mohawk Carpet Distribution Inc., Mohawk Carpet Foundation Inc., Mohawk Carpet LLC, Mohawk Carpet Transportation Of Georgia LLC, Mohawk Commercial Inc., Mohawk ESV Inc., Mohawk Europe BVBA, Mohawk Factoring II Inc., Mohawk Factoring LLC, Mohawk Finance S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Acquisitions S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Funding S.a.r.l, Mohawk Foreign Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Investments Inc., Mohawk Global Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Holdings International B.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Mohawk International (Europe) S.a r.l., Mohawk International (Hong Kong) Limited, Mohawk International Capital N.V., Mohawk International Financing S.a.r.l, Mohawk International Holdings (DE) LLC, Mohawk International Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk International Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk International Netherlands B.V., Mohawk International Services BVBA, Mohawk KAI Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Mohawk KAI Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Capital S.A., Mohawk Luxembourg Financing S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Pacific S.a r.l., Mohawk Marazzi International BV, Mohawk Marazzi Russia BV, Mohawk New Zealand Limited, Mohawk Operaciones Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Mohawk Operations Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Pacific Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Resources LLC, Mohawk Servicing LLC, Mohawk Singapore Private Limited, Mohawk Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mohawk Unilin Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk United Finance B.V., Mohawk United International B.V., Mohawk Vinyl Financing S.a r.l., Molber Beheer B.V., Monarch Ceramic Tile Inc., P.F. Onroerend Goed B.V., PF Beheer B.V., Pergo, Pergo (Europe) AB, Pergo Holding BV, Pergo India Pvt Ltd, Polcolorit S.A., Premium Floors Australia Pty Limited, RR Apex LLC, Rata International Pty Ltd, Recubrimientos Interceramica S. de R.L. de C.V., Riverside Textiles Pty Ltd, S.C. KAI Ceramics SRL, Sibir Kerama OOO, SimpleSolutions USA LLC, Soft Step (Australia) Pty Ltd, Spano Group, Spano Invest BVBA, Spano NV, Stroyagromekhzapchast ChaO, Stroytrans OAO Orelstroy, Summit Wool Spinners Ltd, The Flooring Federation Ltd, Tiles Co OOD, Unilin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Unilin ApS, Unilin Arauco Pisos Ltda., Unilin BVBA, Unilin Beheer BV, Unilin Distribution Ltd., Unilin Distribution Ukraine LLC, Unilin Finland OY, Unilin Flooring India Private Limited, Unilin Flooring SAS, Unilin GmbH, Unilin Holding BVBA, Unilin Insulation BV, Unilin Insulation SAS, Unilin Insulation Sury SAS, Unilin Italia S.R.L., Unilin North America LLC, Unilin Norway AS, Unilin OOO, Unilin Panels SAS, Unilin Poland Sp.Z.o.o., Unilin SAS, Unilin Spain SL, Unilin Swiss GmbH, Unilin s.r.o., World International Inc., Xtratherm, Xtratherm Limited, Xtratherm S.A., and Xtratherm UK Limited.
Wall Street analysts have given El Paso Electric 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 El Paso Electric 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 Sealed Air: A.P.S. (Holdings) Limited, AFP Trading (China) Co. Ltd., AFPTOH LTD, APS Automated Packaging Systems GmbH & Co. KG, APS Verwaltungs-GmbH, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc. (dba AFP Inc.), Automated Packaging Systems, Automated Packaging Systems Asia Holding Company Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Comerciale Importacao do Brasil Ltda., Automated Packaging Systems Europe, Automated Packaging Systems LLC, Automated Packaging Systems Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Southeast Asia Co. Ltd., B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC*, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal  Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Diversey, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Getpacking.com GmbH, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, KRIS Automated Packaging Systems Holding Company, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Polyrol Limited, Polyrol Packaging Systems LLC, ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal- Producao de Embalagens LTDA, Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings BV, Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Real Estate Pty Ltd, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile SpA, Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Cyprus Ltd., Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air GmbH (Germany), Sealed Air GmbH (Switzerland), Sealed Air Hellas SA, Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK I Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited (Ireland), Sealed Air Limited (UK), Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air UK Limited Partnership, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de RL. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, and Trigon Industries.
Wall Street analysts have given Invesco S&P High Income Infrastructure ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Invesco S&P High Income Infrastructure ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

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Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdullaziz Kamilov and head of delegation of the Taliban's (banned in the Russian Federation) political office, Shir Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, exchanged views on the Afghan settlement. They also discussed possibility of developing a "road map", which will support negotiations between the conflict sides. Experts believe that despite the complexity of the situation in Afghanistan, Uzbek diplomacy managed to take serious step towards establishment of dialogue to resolve the most complex conflict of modern era.

The Taliban delegation flew to Uzbekistan from Qatar. In 2013, office of this radical movement opened in Doha with support of the United States and authorities of Qatar. However, according to former Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim bin Jaber Al Thani, Qatar agreed to open its office under pressure. "Americans wanted Taliban to have a place where they can negotiate with them," former Prime Minister said.

Office periodically shut down, people in charged of it were replaced. Current leadership represents only a part of the Taliban movement, which has split into several factions in recent years. Moreover, according to experts, representatives of the office have become American businessmen and just periodically play the role of "Taliban leaders". "I'm sure that Stanikzai has no influence on most of the Taliban in Afghanistan," Kazakh expert of the Polit-asia analytical portal Akbar Asanov told Vestnik Kavkaza. In his opinion, if someday the main part of the Taliban decides to reach a truce with Afghan government, Uzbekistan can act as an intermediary. But it won't happen soon. "In fact, no one needs peace in Afghanistan anymore, Afghans themselves don't know what peace is. As for Tashkent, its participation would be a serious foreign policy step," Asanov noted.

Meanwhile, Pakistani informational resource The Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported that "Taliban delegation visited Tashkent with blessing of Mullah Khabatullah - current leader of the Taliban. According to publication, talks in Tashkent are result of the US efforts. Recently, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells visited Doha, where she discussed ways to settle the Afghan conflict at a meeting with representatives of the Taliban. According to The Wall Street Journal, official talks with Kabul can begin only in a few months. The US State Department didn't confirm this information, but didn't refute it either, however, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met with Special Representative of the Qatari Foreign Ministry Mutlak bin Majid al-Qahtani, who was on a visit to Kabul. Ghani expressed gratitude for Qatar's support of dialogue between sides of the Afghan conflict, as well as its mediating efforts in organizing peaceful negotiations.

Tashkent also helps to promote negotiation process. At the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbek capital held major conference on problems of Afghanistan and ways to resolve them. It was attended by foreign ministers of several countries, including Russia, as well as representatives of the EU and the UN. Afghanistan was represented by its President and Foreign Minister. However, key participant in this conflict - the Taliban movement - hasn't participated in this conference. Nevertheless, those who attended the event decided that Afghans themselves should establish peace in Afghanistan by launching large-scale internal negotiations, while other countries will help them by ensuring sustainable economic development. Uzbekistan promised to act as country-guarantor of the Afghan settlement.

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry held talks with representatives of the Taliban. Details and results of these talks haven't been revealed yet. According to Igor Pankratenko, a member of Scientific Council of the Institute for Central Asian and Afghan Studies, the Uzbek side's activities in Afghanistan are being closely followed, and not always by friends. Tashkent's decision to step up its policy in the issue that the United States, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan couldn't resolve - from signing important economic agreements with Kabul to establishing working relations with the Taliban - sometimes raises skepticism and suspicion. Some say it's just a bluff of President Mirziyoyev, who seeks to raise Tashkent's rating in the eyes of external players, and in reality negotiations with the Taliban representatives are nothing more than an imitation. Some argue that Uzbekistan just plays the role that the United States gave it. Where do these views come from is a separate topic. What is the "Afghan project" that Tashkent proposes to Kabul, the Taliban and external players? First, it suggests that the Taliban shouldn't be treated as an "existential evil" and that it's necessary to recognize it as a full-fledged political force that expresses interests of a fairly large part of the Afghan population. By the way, Islam Karimov proposed similar measure in the 1990s, when the United Tajik Opposition was discussed. As a result, the civil was in Tajikistan ended with signing of the Moscow peace agreement. In other words, this scheme, proposed by Uzbekistan, already proved its viability. Second of all, Tashkent proposes to legalize the Taliban not through abstract political mechanisms that aren't completely reliable in conditions of local specifics, but through specific economic projects. Work within the framework of these projects can help to unite yesterday's enemies and help to make a profit, which is extremely important for Afghanistan. That's why Tashkent proposed so many economic projects - from geological project to transport infrastracture construction - in just two months. Afghanistan and the Taliban not only expressed interest in cooperation, but also committed to ensuring their safety. Tashkent's proposal was already coordinated with Washington and with Beijing. As for other external players, an extremely complex discussion process still continues.

Director of the Center for Research Initiatives Ma'no Bakhtiyor Ergashev wrote on his Facebook page that "Uzbekistan has ability to pursue active policy in Afghanistan, in the Afghan settlement. Conference on Afghanistan in March of 2018; agreements reached during visit of Uzbek President to the US; ongoing discussions with the Russian Federation on ways to deal with the ISIS (banned in Russia) problem in Afghanistan; Chinese neutrality towards active participation of Uzbekistan in the Afghan settlement; all of this helps Uzbekistan to pursue its publicly voiced policy and support the Afghan settlement," Ergashev said. In his opinion, the fact that the Taliban delegation visited Tashkent is a good sign.
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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UniCredit S.p.A. operates as a commercial bank. The company operates through Commercial Banking Italy, Commercial Banking Germany, Commercial Banking Austria, Corporate & Investment Banking, and Central Eastern Europe segments. It offers retail, corporate, and private banking services; investment services; leasing and factoring services; transactional, investment, and credit products and services; insurance solutions; and structured financing, hedging, and treasury solutions. The company also provides equity and debt capital market, corporate finance and advisory, syndication, and leverage buy-out services; and project and commodity, real estate, structured trade and export, and acquisition finance services, as well as wealth management services. In addition, it is involved in the structuring of products, such as FX, rates, equities, and credit products; and provision of cash management, e-banking, supply chain finance, global securities, and mobile banking services, as well as trade finance products. The company operates in Italy, Other European countries, America, Asia, and internationally. The company was formerly known as Unicredito Italiano S.p.A and changed its name to UniCredit S.p.A. UniCredit S.p.A. was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy.

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Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. provides technical, professional, and construction services. The company's Aerospace, Technology, Environmental and Nuclear segment offers scientific, engineering, construction, nuclear, environmental, and technical support services to the aerospace, defense, technical, and automotive industries. Its Buildings, Infrastructure and Advanced Facilities segment develops/rehabilitates plans for highways, bridges, transit, tunnels, airports, railroads, intermodal facilities, and maritime or port projects; develops or rehabilitates critical water resource systems, water/wastewater conveyance systems, and flood defense projects; and provides engineering design, construction management, design build, and operations and maintenance. This segment also designs and constructs buildings; offers consulting, engineering, procurement, construction management, and delivery services for life sciences clients; and provides services relating to modular construction and other consulting and strategic planning services, as well as offers services in containment, barrier technology, locally controlled environments, building systems automation, off-the-site design, and fabrication of facility modules. The company's Energy, Chemicals and Resources segment offers services relating to onshore and offshore oil and gas production facilities, processing facilities, gathering systems, and transmission pipelines and terminals; feasibility/economic studies, technology evaluation, conceptual engineering, front end loading, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and commissioning services; and engineering, procurement, and construction solutions. This segment also provides services, such as manufacturing complex, expansions, modifications, and management of plant relocations; construction management and field construction services; and services to operate and maintain facilities. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

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Armenias former president Robert Kocharyan, who was scheduled to convene a press conference today following his release from pre-trial detention, had to cancel it after a group of Armenians broke into the conference hall of Erebuni Plaza in Yerevan.

Then, the group of protesters headed to the Prosecutor General's Office to demand that it appeal the ruling of the Court of Appeals at the Court of Cassation, ARKA reported.

On July 26, Kocharyan was charged with toppling constitutional order in 2008. A Yerevan district court late on July 27 ruled that the Special Investigative Service (SIS) could hold Kocharyan for 2 months in pre-trial detention pending investigation.
The following companies are subsidiares of Valero Energy: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC..
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United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomes the signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, the secretary generals spokesman said in a statement.

"The Secretary General welcomes the signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan. This historic document demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation, which is vital for maintaining international peace and security," the statement reads.

The UN secretary general "believes the Convention should prove invaluable in regulating a wide range of longstanding issues among the Caspian Sea littoral states and is a significant step in the easing of regional tensions," TASS reported.

The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan singed the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea at the 5th Caspian summit held in Kazakhstans city of Aktau.
The process toward replacing the serving CSTO Secretary General is still in progress, acting press secretary of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anna Naghdalyan said.

"The rest of the steps will be discussed within the framework of the organization, at various levels," Naghdalyan said. "The respective arrangements will be submitted for the discussion and approval of the CSTO Collective Security Council." News.am cited her as saying.

On July 26, CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov has been charged within the framework of the criminal case into the tragic events in Yerevan in March 2008. On July 28, Khachaturov was released on bail.
Azerbaijan attaches special importance to economic relations with Turkey and absolutely confident in the future of the inviolable Turkish economy, spokesman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev said.

According to him, Azerbaijan contributes to the development of these relations by making investments, by participation in the bilateral trade, energy and transport projects of regional and global importance, and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkey in all spheres is strengthening day by day.

"Along with the fact that Azerbaijan continues to invest in the Turkish economy, the country is expanding its active participation in the Turkish economy. Azerbaijan believes that the mega-projects that Turkey has been implementing in recent years will provide additional opportunities for the economy of Turkey and the region in the near future," Hajiyev stressed.

"Azerbaijan is absolutely confident in the future of the inviolable Turkish economy. Azerbaijan, as always, will continue to fully support the people and state of fraternal Turkey in all spheres," Trend cited the spokesman ss saying.
Hospice of Chattanooga is hosting a memorial service on Sunday, Aug. 26, for anyone who has gone through the death of a loved one. This service is for all in the community, who are experiencing grief, regardless of whether their loved one died under hospice's care or not.

The service will begin at 2 p.m at First Christian Church on McCallie Avenue. If possible, please arrive by 1:45 p.m. for registration.
Deputy foreign ministers of the Caspian states plan to hold consultations in Azerbaijan this autumn to discuss the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstans Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said.

"As mandated by the heads of state, and according to the agreements formalized in the adopted documents, this meeting must take place not later than in six months," TASS cited the minister as saying.

"Moreover, we already have an agreement that in autumn of this year, the group will meet and begin work immediately. Tentatively, we are talking about a meeting in Azerbaijan," Abdrakhmanov said.

According to him, these consultations will be cover the realization of the agreements made within the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey will boycott electronic products from the U.S., which has imposed sanctions and raised tariffs against Ankara in a dispute about the detention of an American evangelical pastor.

Speaking at a symposium in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkish businesses must continue to produce and export the country's own goods.

"We will boycott US electronic products. If they have iPhone, the other side has Samsung. In our country there is Venus, Vestel," the Guardian cited him as saying.

"We are going to produce enough for ourselves. We have to serve better quality goods than we are importing from them," Erdogan added.

He said he had been taking necessary measures regarding the economy, amid a slide in the lira currency exacerbated by the dispute with Washington, but it was important to keep a firm political stance. The Turkish president added that switching to foreign currency would mean giving in to the enemy.

Erdogan warned the White House that those who waged "economic warfare" against Turkey would pay a price.
Moscow appreciates Turkeys independent foreign policy and Ankaras refusal to join anti-Russian sanctions, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Ankara after taking part in a session of Turkeys ambassadors and permanent envoys to international organizations. He also held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.

"In foreign affairs Russia and Turkey pursue independent policies," the Russian top diplomat noted at the press conference. "We appreciate our partners refusal to join anti-Russian sanctions," he stressed.

Lavrov said the situation in the world remained alarming. "It will not be an exaggeration to say we are at a turning point of world history - a phase of transition from bipolar and multi-polar models and patterns to building a polycentric world order, which is being formed as an objective reality," he said.

"Resistance to objective trends is obvious: the methods of sanctions, threats, blackmailing and dictating are widely in use," TASS cited Lavrov as saying.

The Turkish Foreign Minister, in turn, stressed that Ankara has never supported the anti-Russian sanctions and will never support anti-Iranian ones either.

He also called on the U.S. to drop its "erroneous position on sanctions imposed on Turkey." "They must drop their threats, otherwise there can be no progress in relations between the United States and Turkey," Cavusoglu stressed.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland has welcomed the decision to release the leader of the REAL movement Ilgar Mammadov in Azerbaijan.

"News that the Shaki Court of Appeal in Azerbaijan on August 13 ordered to release Ilgar Mammadov after more than five years in prison is to be welcomed," the Council of Europe's press service said in a statement.

The Shaki Court of Appeal considered the complaint of Ilgar Mammadov, who was in prison. At the trial under the chairmanship of Judge Gunduz Abbasov, the complaint was granted, the decision of the Shaki Court for Heinous Crimes was changed and the remaining part of the sentence was replaced by a conditional release without the right to leave the country.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act which authorizes a top-line budget of $717 billion.

Trump traveled to Fort Drum, home of the Army's 10th Mountain Division, in upstate New York to sign the bill.

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, includes $616.9 billion for the Pentagon's base budget, $69 billion for overseas contingency operations funding and $21.9 billion for nuclear weapons programs under the Energy Department.

The measure authorizes a 2.6% pay raise for troops. It also delays the delivery of stealth fighter aircraft to Turkey and blunts Chinese investments by strengthening the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The NDAA also allows $7.6 billion for 77 of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

The defense policy bill bars the delivery of F-35 jets to fellow NATO member Turkey amid concerns over Ankara's desire to buy a Russian missile defense system.

The legislation authorizes $85 million for UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters. Congress also agreed to fully fund the U.S. Air Force's new long-range stealth B-21 bomber.

Congress approved $1.56 billion for three littoral combat ships. The bill also authorizes the fourth Ford-class aircraft carrier, six icebreakers, and a Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. In all, 13 new warships were approved for the coming fiscal year.

The NDAA authorizes $225.3 million for Stryker A1 combat vehicles and supports efforts to modernize the Army's armored combat vehicles.

The legislation also adds $140 million to the Missile Defense Agency for development of critical directed energy and space sensing projects as well as hypersonic defense capabilities.

The Army's efforts to integrate its Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile defense systems also gets $284 million.

A raft of Russia measures in the NDAA clears the way for the military to pursue a new low-yield nuclear warhead, hikes authorized funding for the U.S. military presence in eastern Europe, and provides new waivers the Pentagon says could wean allies from dependence on Russia, Interfax reported.
Turkish Airlines will join a campaign circulating on social media and pull its ads from U.S. social media websites in protest, spokesman for the country's flag-carrier Yahya Ustun said.

"We, as the Turkish Airlines, stand by our state and our people. Necessary instructions on the issue have been issued to our agencies," the spokesman wrote on Twitter.

A campaign launched on Twitter with the hashtag ABDyeReklamVerme, meaning 'Dont advertise with the U.S., went viral on Twitter in Turkey as more companies pledged to suspend their advertising activities on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, Yeni Safak reported.

The lira's plunge - which had been ongoing for weeks - was turned into a rout on Friday when US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Turkey to 20% and 50%.
Using AI to help Fortune 500 brands deliver customer engagement, MoEngage Inc. - A California based marketing automation company, is the hottest marketing platform today.

Back in 2014, when Raviteja Dodda and Yashwanth Kumar - both alumnus of the prestigious IIT Kharagpur, founded MoEngage, they were out to disrupt an industry virtually untouched by technologies such as AI, and Dynamic Product Messaging.

The marketing automation industry, then, was packed with big-name vendors offering me-too solutions that were primarily focused on the web. Marketers were still unsure of the platforms capabilities in delivering seamless cross-channel engagement and justifying ROIs for the platform costs. However, with MoEngage, all of that has changed.

Traditional marketing clouds are natively built for the desktop web, rule-based with no intelligence. They often rely on cumbersome integrations with acquired tools that dont work smoothly together. Using MoEngage, companies can orchestrate campaigns across desktop web and mobile channels like push, email, in-app, web push and SMS, from one integrated platform, with auto-optimization towards higher conversions powered by AI. says, Raviteja Dodda, CEO, MoEngage Inc.

AI at its core

MoEngage leverages analytics that provides marketers unprecedented insights into the customer and has the robust AI technology optimizes engagement by identifying the right user for the intended message. Sherpa Interaction Graph - the platforms AI core is a set of machine-learning algorithms, that consistently maps each users behavior with the pages, products, and brands they visit or shop from, to deliver the right engagement in real-time.

In short, businesses use the MoEngage platform to observe behavioral patterns of users and apply the learning to its (business) marketing campaigns to improve engagement, retention, and conversion rates.

If a user is looking to buy sneakers on the app or the website and does not complete a purchase, you can nudge the user with a push notification or an email containing sneaker recommendations from several brands thereby increasing the propensity of the user completing a purchase. All of the above happens seamlessly with little manual intervention. Thats the power of AI-driven engagement. explains Ravi.

Use-cases,like above exist across industries, and the MoEngage platform has been relentless in helping businesses exploit the underlying potential to unlock revenue and greater customer satisfaction. Some of these businesses include Fortune 500 Brands such as Samsung, Deutsche Telekom, Hearst, Vodafone, Prudential & L Brands. The company's new customers across fast-growing internet verticals include Tokopedia, Traveloka, Oyo, Viu and EasyTaxi.

Such simple, yet tactical nudges take a user from the idle state to completing an action or a transaction on your app. In India, for example, the company is helping Gaana - Indias largest music streaming app identify and target the app users with highly-relevant music suggestions. MoEngage alone drives up to 10% of the active users on the app.

Innovations Lead the Way - A New Feature Every Quarter

It is not just in the AI space that the company has pioneered. The platform is also a pioneer in building the best-in-class push notification delivery platform dubbed Push Amplification - a ripe example of customer problem-oriented approach to product you could say. For the uninitiated, push notification delivery, however simple it may seem, is a key concern for marketers worldwide.

Due to device and OS-level limitations, mobile apps sometimes fail to deliver push notifications leading to a drop in marketing performance. MoEngage Push Amplification has ensured a push delivery success rate of up to 80%, which is unheard of in the industry, says Nalin Goel, Director of Product, MoEngage.

Simply put, push messages created on the MoEngage platform reach more users when compared with other platforms.

The company was recently in the news with the launch of Dynamic Product Messaging (DPM). With the DPM launch, MoEngage has entered the league of technology behemoths Facebook and Google. Through a combination of catalog inputs and user-tracking, Dynamic Product Messaging sends the most relevant product recommendations to users, automatically. The use cases extend beyond product recommendations to include content recommendations, price drop alerts, etc. Using Dynamic Product Messaging, several brands have been able to successfully target and convert 10% of the browse and cart abandoners into customers.

Continuous Improvement

Alongside launching industry-first features, continuous improvement is a constant focus for the company. Tech implementations like stream processing - something the company is experimenting with helps marketers segment users 10X faster than before and delivers real-time info about campaign performance - usually considered a lengthy process.

The secret to MoEngage's success lies in launching frequent updates and features, focused around gaining a keen understanding of user-behavior and engagement. The company launches a new feature every quarter making incessant improvements and feature launches a part of the company's culture.

Growth at an Unprecedented Pace

Funded by Helion Partners, and Exfinity Ventures with backing from industry veterans such as Anand Chandrasekaran, MoEngage has established operations in 35 countries across multiple continents, signing up Global Fortune 500 brands such as Samsung, Deutsche Telekom, Hearst, Vodafone, Prudential & L Brands. The company's new customers across fast-growing internet verticals include Tokopedia, Traveloka, Oyo, Viu and EasyTaxi. Whats more interesting is the company works with five of the Fortune 500 brands - all of whom were acquired in the last one year.

The SaaS startup was recently recognized by Gartner in their Magic Quadrant for Mobile Marketing Platforms, making it the only company from the APAC region. MoEngage has been joined by global giants such as Salesforce (CRM), IBM (IBM), and Oracle (ORCL) in the magic quadrant. This is the second such recognition for MoEngage after being named a Cool Vendor in 2017.

Within four years of inception, MoEngage now has offices in key markets such as Jakarta and Berlin along with the existing offices in San Francisco & Bengaluru. With an aggressive growth graph showing recurring revenue growth of over 3X in the last one year, "Today, more than 65% of our revenue comes from outside India, and our key focus markets include Europe and Middle-East, North America and South-East Asia. Mobile penetration and growth has been on the rise in these markets, and hence we see an opportunity. Our International market has grown more than 10 times." says Raviteja Dodda, CEO, MoEngage.
The government has accepted a parliamentary committees suggestion to provide insurance cover to chit fund subscribers to protect them against scams as part of the plan to amend Chit Fund Act of 2018. (Photo: AP)

New Delhi: The government has accepted a parliamentary committees suggestion to provide insurance cover to chit fund subscribers to protect them against scams as part of the plan to amend Chit Fund Act of 2018.

The committee, which tabled the report in Parliament last week, has favoured insurance cover to secure money of people who see chit fund as an alternative means of getting higher and faster returns.

The move comes amid reports of many investors losing money in dubious schemes floated by chit funds.

Keeping the recent Saradha-type chit fund scams in view, the government is taking steps to check such frauds. We are mulling inclusion of an element of insurance coverage for subscribers to such schemes in the bill, as suggested by the panel, a finance minister source told Financial Chronicle on Monday.

The finance ministry in association with the corporate affairs ministry is consulting market regulator Sebi and banking regulator RBI, the source said.

Sebi is also looking into chit fund issues and efforts are on to seize and sell assets of such companies to recover innocent investors money, said the source.

The bill to amend the Chit Fund Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha in March and was referred to the standing committee on finance for scrutiny.

The report noted that mobilising short-term funds to meet various personal needs has been a chronic problem faced by people in developing countries like India.

They have to often resort to high-interest loans from moneylenders and the informal sector, which leads to a huge burden on them, the report said and added the banking sector has not been able to fill these gaps and meet peoples financial needs to the desired extent.

The All India Association of Chit Funds in their memorandum to the panel had requesting for allowing a chit fund firm to mention under their name as the Rotating Savings and Credit Association (ROSCA).

It would help distinguish their business from other unconnected business, it added. The bill proposes to incorporate the name fraternity fund instead of the commonly known chit fund.

In this connection, the panel said the government might bring in further amendments to incorporate words, ROSCA institution, to the proposed name of fraternity fund. These changes may help them in image make-over and brand building, the report said.

The association had also contended that its not viable for individuals and partnership firms to run the business with a prescribed ceiling of aggregate chit fund amount  Rs 1 lakh for individuals and Rs 6 lakh for firms.
Armenian activists protesting in Yerevan are collecting signatures under a petition they will send to the Supreme Judicial Council to demand that it fires Court of Appeals judge Aleksandr Azaryan, who ruled to free former president Robert Kocharyan.

The activists argue that the ruling delivered by judge Azaryan was not impartial because he used to work in the Kocharyans administration when the latter served two terms as president, ARKA reported.

On July 26, Kocharyan was charged with toppling constitutional order in 2008. A Yerevan district court late on July 27 ruled that the Special Investigative Service (SIS) could hold Kocharyan for 2 months in pre-trial detention pending investigation.
Banks will soon have to refund you the value of such notes as the government and the central bank are working on amending the rules governing their exchange. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Do not panic if banks have refused to accept your soiled and torn Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 notes.

Banks will soon have to refund you the value of such notes as the government and the central bank are working on amending the rules governing their exchange.

According to reports, this week the ministry of finance and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are at an advanced stage of finalising new rules for exchange of torn currency of new denominations. The law ministry is examining the new draft rules.

At present, banks are finding it impossible to exchange soiled Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 banknotes as the rules governing their exchange are yet to be amended. It may be noted that mutilated currency note exchange is governed by RBI Note Refund Rules, 2009, under RBI Act's Section 28. According to the old rules, there are provisions for the exchange of Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000.

So, while the RBI has made provisions for the value of soiled or disfigured notes to be refunded to the owner, either in full or as a matter of grace depending on the state of the note, two of the newest denomination not-es were conspicuously absent from the list: Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 notes.

Due to change in size of Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series notes, mutilated/imperfect notes in MG (New) series could not be exchanged under the existing rules necessitating amendments to RBI (Note Refund) Rules, 2009. The mutilated/imperfect notes in the MG (New) series can be exchanged after notification of amendments in the official gazette, the central bank had recently told a newspaper, adding that it had written to the finance ministry about the need for amendment in 2017.
The fluctuating dollar cost only makes life harder as the rupee rate is falling. Every dollar is our 69 plus, making each dollar a crude sum.

Hyderabad: With the rupee weakening, the anxiety of many potential students who aim to study overseas is increasing. The cost of tuition, accommodation and daily necessities by itself can burn a deep hole in the pockets, and yet its appeal has not lost its sheen.

On average, per semester an Indian student shells out nearly Rs 6 lakhs only for semester fees. A masters degree requires students to completed a total of 32 credits which amounts up to a staggering, Rs 22 lakhs, sans the living cost. The fluctuating dollar cost only makes life harder as the rupee rate is falling. Every dollar is our 69 plus, making each dollar a crude sum.

Nihanth Reddy, a masters student at Purdue University states, When the time comes to pay my fees, and the rupee value has fallen, it creates a deep cut in my total expenses set out for my education. Estimations of how much expenditures may be is constantly shifting, my parents are thus, left to bear the extra unwarranted cost, not earlier expected.

Plus, after an expensive education, the scarcity in jobs is another burden, as repayment of loans becomes burdensome.

However, some students have the relief of securing a good paying job. The other advantage to the fall in rupee, is sending money back to repay loans or to reinstate ones family coffers.

Deeksha Cauvery, a Cyber Security analyst in the US said, I earn in dollars now, so when the rupee falls, it means I can send more money than expected back home and not feel the cringe.

Meanwhile, the travel industry may see a rise as foreigners look to take advantage of the dip. While, India offers an mix of culture, scenic places and culinary delights, the lower pinch to pocket is always a plus.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne had its awards night yesterday, beginning on an all time high with Bollywood biggies like Rani Mukerji and Rajkumar Hirani leading the pack of winners like Richa Chadha and Vicky Kaushal to a rather lustrous third day.

Sanju, which won Best Film, with leading man Ranbir Kapoor bagging the Vanguard award, had a special screening at the La Trobe University in Melbourne which was followed by a rather interesting Q&A with director Rajkumar Hirani and writer Abhijat Joshi.

The students were quite interested in the interaction and as the evening flowed, so did the session. With a rather fun repartee between the students and the esteemed director and writer, relevant questions and responses flew back and forth as Raju even answered the frequently asked question: Why did you make a biopic on Sanjay Dutt?

We were actually writing Munnabhai immediately after PK when we happened to meet Sanju. He was out on parole and we met at his place, when he started venting out; things that were bottled up. He just didn't care who he spoke to. He had to get it out. I always had a professional relationship with Sanju, but that was one long evening. He has told us things about his life, things that I didn't know and I thought, that's a wonderful story. Abhijat and I went over to his place for 5 days and just kept recording while he spoke. People know about the drugs and the controversies. But there are so many aspects of his life that the people don't know about. We wanted to show the world the other side of the story, the relationship he shared with his father, his mother; the wonderful relationship he shared with one of his closest friends. We wanted the audience to see that side of him, the PK director replied.

Another highlight of the evening was the special screening of the evergreen Siddhartha, starring the late Shashi Kapoor and Simi Garewal, who gave a rather touching tribute to her co star and dear friend. Held at HOYTS, the evening brought in an eager crowd of cinephiles who wanted to watch this 1972 classic and get a feel of true cinema. A Q&A session followed the screening and the veteran actress answered several wonderful questions on the film and how it was way ahead of its time with much elan.

Remembering such an important member of the Hindi film industry, Simi reminisced, Shashi was my friend and fellow actor and it is very common in India to praise someone after they've gone but I have always said this, Shashi Kapoor was the perfect Co-star. You dont want someone to interfere; you want someone to support you when youre acting. You want someone well behaved, punctual, who is polite and courteous with everyone and he was exactly like that. He was very professional and he had no ego at all he would shake hands with everyone from the lighting technician to everyone else. He was amazing that way and I dont know another actor in the world who would work in commercial cinema earn money from there and take it and put it into meaningful films like Kalyug, 36 Chowringhee Lane etc. But he had a passion for real cinema and he put his money where his mouth was. He started the parallel cinema. We never had it before.

Day 4 of the Indian Film Festival closed on a positive and hopeful note, chronicling Sanju as a true film for the masses and Siddhartha as a film for every generation. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will continue holding screenings of wonderful films from all across India and the subcontinent till 22nd August, ensuring the Australian audiences revel in the truest sense of cinema.
London: Internationally acclaimed Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer in London, on Monday pulled out of upcoming political satire series 'Gormint'.

Earlier in March, the 'Life of Pi' actor announced that he had been diagnosed with a rare high-grade neuroendocrine cancer.

Khan, in a statement, said that it was one of his favourite projects and that he had a fun time on the sets, but only to discover his current physical condition, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

Further in his statement, the 52-year-old actor, with a heavy heart, added that he is truly disappointed that after much work was done in the show, he would not be able to fulfill his commitment to his favourite show.

The 'Hindi Medium' actor also added that despite exiting the project at an unusual time he is excited to see the final outcome, as he finds this show to be unique in the Indian satire space.

'Gormint', which was earlier titled 'The Ministry' has been created by a well-known Indian comedian, Gursimran Khamba.

Irrfan was last seen in the recently released Bollywood film, 'Karwaan'.
Get ready to meet Jai who is laid back, innocent and every bit crazy. The trailer of the movie Mitron has just released and it is a tell tale of Jai aka Jackky Bhagnani and how he and his friends along with Kritika Kamra go from being dreamers to achievers. The movie is directed by National award winner Nitin Kakkar and is slated to release on September 14.

Mitron is a fun movie about love and friendship and the trailer encapsulates the humour and the journey in a very apt manner. We manage to see a glimpse of Jackky journey in this trailer from being an easy going person who keeps adopting unique ways to make it big in the world.

Set in the backdrop of the Gujarati milieu, Mitron looks to be a fun ride and the endearing Jackky is not to be missed.
Ramya Pandian, whose performance in the award-winning film Joker was much appreciated, is all set for the release of Aan Dhevathai. The film has been directed by Thamira and features Samuthirakani as the lead actor.

An excited Ramya tells DC, I played Mallika, a village girl, in Joker, and in Aan Dhevathai I play a totally different character  Jessica an IT girl. It was Samuthirakani sir who recommended me for the role. He was impressed by my performance in Joker, and he gave me a lot of encouragement while on set. Perhaps, it was because Im a Tamil girl.

Since I am conversant with Tamil, I was able to learn my dialogues easily and complete my shots in a single take. It also made dubbing easier. Thamira sir was so happy with my performance and my dubbing, that he gave me a cash prize, twice! the actress adds.

Though Ramya has been receiving many offers, she says that shes in no hurry to sign films. I will wait for the audiences verdict on my performance in Aan Dhevathai, she says.
Top producer Allu Aravind has warned youngsters not to share any leaked film clips because they may land themselves in trouble. It is very sad that a few clippings of our upcoming film Geetha Govindam leaked because of the inefficiency of our service provider. A youngster from Guntur got the clip and shared it with some others, said Allu Aravind, adding, All 15 students got arrested because they shared the clips. Now, thanks to technology, the police can easily identify the IP address and other details of the person sharing such clippings.

The veteran producer warned, Especially for the younger generation, dont dare to share any film clips, because its a crime. The parents are really distraught, but I cant help them as I had to file a case.

Meanwhile, the producers son and actor Allu Arjun, has donated Rs 25 lakh to Kerala Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund.

HT04
For the first time ever, actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan spoke out about his three marriages at a public meeting in Nidadavole while campaigning for his political party Jana Sena.

When I question public policies, Jagan talks about my three marriages, but I dont understand what the connection is, said Pawan Kalyan, adding, Compared to all of you, my personal life is good. Whether you like it or not, I never hide it from anyone.

The actor blamed all his lifes happenings on his fate. Its my karma. I dont go to pubs or parties; whenever I get time, I sit and read books. Else, you can see me doing some work in my farm with my cows. Yes, whenever there is a problem, I am quick to react, so who wants to stay with me? explained Pawan Kalyan on why his wives left him.

Expressing remorse, the actor added, My personal life has been ruined many times over and I cried a lot. I too faced many troubles. All of this happened accidentally, not because I was looking to have some fun.

PK explained that he was asking for a foot over bridge in Nidadavole, to which opposition leaders responded by saying, Pawan Kalyan three marriages chesukunnadu. (Pawan Kalyan married three times).

Naturally, the actor wanted to give a fitting reply to all those who had criticised him for his personal life.

HT08
The nationwide auditions began in June giving the winner the once in a lifetime opportunity to attain a ticket to Miss Universe.

The glamour quotient and oomph factor of Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva Miss Universe India 2018 styled by Central elevated its 6th year with the launch of its all new season. The winner will represent the country at the coveted pageant Miss Universe.

Collaborating in this incredible journey of bringing forth Indian beauty and talent at the global beauty platform, Lara Dutta who is the mentor and face will take over the mantle of finding that one girl who will revolutionise the definition of fun, adventurous, witty, sporty, sassy, sensual, fit, compassionate and captivating.

The nationwide auditions began in June giving the winner the once in a lifetime opportunity to attain a ticket to Miss Universe. The 10 city auditions that traversed through the length and breadth of the country from cities like Lucknow, Kolkata, Indore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Delhi culminated into the final leg of auditions at Mumbai last week and announced the top 20 finalists who shall now compete for the coveted crown.

The Top 20 finalists will undergo vigorous training & grooming from the best in the industry and will participate in 4 city sub-contest event followed by a thematic night, which is an all new format with a unique concept based event to vie for the crown.

The first sub contest was in Goa followed by the second at the Roseate House, Aerocity New Delhi. The 20 finalists will travel later to Chennai and the final sub-contest will be in Mumbai, to gauge the girls on various winning qualities.

The evening was graced by celebrities like former Miss Universe Lara Dutta, Sophie Chaudhary and Pulkit Samrat at the red carpet at Roseate House, Aerocity New Delhi.
When it comes to childhood obesity, sedentary behaviour may be the most influential and controllable factor that parents can change, especially through managing screen time, according to a new American Heart Association Science Advisory.

In particular, the AHA Obesity Committee recommends removing TVs and other screens from bedrooms and excluding them from meal times, creating daily device-free time, encouraging outdoor play and for parents to enforce appropriate screen time by modeling these behaviours themselves.

Weve seen such dramatic changes in the nature of screen-based recreational devices in the last 10 years, and our behaviours are quite different, too, said lead author Tracie Barnett of the National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec, Canada.

Sedentary behaviour is more than an absence of physical activity, the authors note in the journal Circulation. It includes time spent watching TV, reading and riding in a car. Increased sedentary time, including screen time and sitting time, is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity, the authors write.

Obesity now affects 1 in 6 children and adolescents in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Current guidelines recommend limiting screen time to less than two hours per day, yet with the number of screens used both at home and at school, researchers are looking at sedentary behaviour and physical activity for answers.

Since we have portable devices, you might think were using them while standing or moving, but the sedentary behaviours are still there, Barnett told Reuters Health by phone. And were learning more about what happens when we have multiple screens, such as a TV and a phone.

The committee looked at recent research around sedentary behaviour, childhood obesity, heart health outcomes and interventions that change screen time. They note that traditional TV watching at home has decreased among children and teens, but screen time has increased, and kids are using other devices around the house to watch movies or online videos, play games and chat with others.

A 2015 study by nonprofit organization Common Sense Media found that U.S. teens spend 6 hours 40 minutes per day on screens, including about two hours of TV, and younger kids spend just over 4.5 hours per day on screens. Screen time rises substantially as children enter their teen years, and girls and minorities tend to log slightly more time on screens.

Previous studies found that decreasing screen time, both at school and at home, reduced sedentary behaviour. The most successful interventions incorporated more parental involvement and structural changes in the home environment.

Most people are starting to realize this is a serious problem, particularly in this country, said Jennifer Roberts of the University of Maryland in College Park, who wasnt involved in the advisory.

When were sedentary at work and home and try to cram in a 45-minute gym session, thats already a challenge, she told Reuters Health by phone. How can we incorporate physical activity into our lives where we achieve some movement by getting from Point A to Point B?

Ultimately, the AHA Obesity Committee writes, future research should look at specific screen time and give device-specific guidelines. Also, scientists must look at the new patterns of binge-watching streaming TV services and using several devices at the same time.

We need to emphasize face-to-face interactions, prioritize time outdoors and create supportive environments with parks and walkable streets, Barnett said. Instead of limiting screen time, prioritize other activities that will have a positive impact on overall screen time.
A meteor crosses the night sky next to the milky way, early August 12, 2018 in Pierre-Percee lake area, eastern France, during the annual Perseid meteor shower night.(Photo: AFP)

MITZPE RAMON, Israel: Thousands of star-gazers gathered overnight at one of the darkest spots in Israel hoping to be dazzled by the annual Perseid meteor shower, only to be left somewhat disappointed by the show.

Locals had the rare task of directing traffic on a moonless Monday night in Mitzpe Ramon in the heart of the Negev Desert, a spot surrounded by terrain described as similar to a lunar or Martian landscape.

The Feinberg family from the Tel Aviv region drove for two-and-a-half hours for the display but the number of meteors, about one or fewer per minute, failed to truly light up the Ramon Craters dark night sky as in previous years.

We are here waiting for the stars to fall, the children are very impatient, said Eliran Feinberg, 42, who works for an air cargo company.

The Perseid meteors, which reach their peak every August, are produced by debris from the 109P/Swift-Tuttle comet that passes by the Earth every 133 years. It last passed in 1992.

Professor Rennan Barkana, head of the astrophysics department at Tel Aviv University, said this years shower was not as intense because the Earth had passed through a sparser part of the comets debris than previously and a smaller amount of particles had entered the atmosphere.
Three men barged into Kumars house on Tuesday morning to commit robbery and shot Kumar after he tried to stop them. (Representational Image)

Patna: A senior government officer posted at Patna Secretariat was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Tuesday morning.

Rajiv Kumar, an under secretary-level officer, was rushed to a hospital under a critical condition where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to reports, three men barged into Kumars house on Tuesday morning to commit robbery. The assailants shot Kumar after he tried to stop them.

"Three men entered our home around 3 am, all of them were carrying pistols. They locked us in a room and demanded money from my husband. When he resisted, they shot at him. The bullet pierced through his chest. Then they took money and valuables and fled," Rajni Ranjan, wife of the officer told NDTV.

58-year-old Rajiv Kumar was posted with the Department of Planning.

(With ANI inputs)
According to the police, six stolen two-wheelers were retrieved from the minors, hailing from Kodambakkam and Choolaimedu, which were hidden in various places to be sold. Police said that the trio had been indulging in the crime for a while.

Chennai: Three school students have been detained by the city police for allegedly being involved in a series of two-wheeler thefts in the city, on Sunday. The students were sent to the observation home at Kellys.

According to the police, six stolen two-wheelers were retrieved from the minors, hailing from Kodambakkam and Choolaimedu, which were hidden in various places to be sold. Police said that the trio had been indulging in the crime for a while.

Choolaimedu police began an inquiry after they received a complaint on Saturday and the students were nabbed with the help of CCTV footage. One of them is a regular offender and was recently released from Kellys home, the police said.

Meanwhile, Arumbakkam police have arrested L. Karan (21) of Kolathur, S. Gopal (22) of Moolakadai and K. Sadam Hussain (24) of Avadi. Three stolen two-wheelers had been recovered from them.
Hyderabad: An 85-year-old man, who was attacked by villagers for allegedly performing black magic, died at a government hospital on Monday. The incident happened three days ago at Dilwarpur in Yadadri Bhongir district, about 80 kms from Hyderabad.

According to the Motakondur police, Seelam Yadagiri (85), a native of Dilawarpur was reportedly performing black magic for a long time. He is survived by three sons, two of whom live in Dilawarpur and the third lives in Aler. His wife died a few years ago. Yadagiri stayed alone while his sons lived separately. His sons did occasional farming. Yadagiri used to stay for a month at each of his sons houses and for the rest of the year he used to live alone.

Three days ago, a group of villagers went to Yadagiris house and attacked him alleging that he had performed black magic on a family causing the death of two persons. Following the attack, the police admitted Yadagiri to an area government hospital for treatment where he died on Monday, the police said.

Motakondur sub-inspector D Madhu said, Three days ago, one Rajesh, a resident of Dilawarpur along with some locals and relatives gathered at Yadagiris house. They alleged that Yadagiri was responsible for the death of Rajeshs mother and father, who had died about six months and eight months ago respectively due to ill-health. Rajesh believed that Yadagiri had performed black magic on his family.

The inspector said that the injured octogenarian died at around 3.20 am on Monday while undergoing treatment. A case of murder has been registered against the mob including Rajesh. The police are carrying out investigations to nab the absconding accused.

The group of people was less than 10 in number. A few have been identified while the others are yet to be. We are looking for them, said Madhu.
Chennai: A con man was arrested in Mangadu on Tuesday after he was found with over 70 sim cards and gold. It was later found that the man had been conning women for over eight years and police had been on a lookout for him.

Murugan(58) would post advertisements in a Tamil newspaper seeking either a divorced or widowed woman, stating that he was a businessman making over Rs 50,000 and did not prefer any caste or creed. He would then go on to marry the woman at a temple nearby and run away with all the gold in her possession.

The incident only came to light after Nirmala from Hosur lodged a complaint with the Tambaram police station after Murugan fled with her 4 sovereign chain and Rs 10,000. He had taken the gold and cash from her promising to make the necessary arrangements to marry her, she had said in her complaint. The Tambaram police today spotted Murugan waiting on Thiruneermazhai road in Burma Colony. Although they did not recognise him, they took him to the police station to inquire as he had over 70 sim cards on his person along with the ads that he had been posting in the newspaper. Murugan then confessed to the crimes and said that it was he who had conned Nirmala. The police then searched his house and seized 18 sovereign gold, Rs 30,000 and two cell phones. Police sources say that Murugan confessed to have conned 10 to 12 women.
Over 500 CCTV cameras have been installed on the routes leading to the Red Fort with over 200 cameras in the fort itself. The footage is being monitored round the clock, police said. (Photo: AP)

New Delhi: The historic Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday, has been put under a heavy security cover, along with other critical areas in the national capital.

Police are on high alert in the wake of an attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid in the Lutyens' Delhi area on Monday.

Also Read: JNU's Umar Khalid escapes shooting bid, says, 'there's fear in country'

While nearly 70,000 Delhi Police personnel are guarding the national capital, close to 10,000 cops have been deployed at the Mughal-era fort, which will see the presence of senior ministers, top bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people during the PM's address on Wednesday.

Delhi Police personnel have been specifically asked to keep an eye on the sky to ensure that no stray kites are seen in the areas around the Red Fort.

Last year, when the Prime Minister was addressing the nation on Independence Day, a black kite had landed below the podium. The kite landed quietly without causing any disturbance and the Prime Minister had continued his address unfazed. Kite-catchers have been deployed even though kite-flying has been restricted in the area till 11 am.

Over 500 CCTV cameras have been installed on the routes leading to the Red Fort with over 200 cameras in the fort itself. The footage is being monitored round the clock, police said.

This time, 36 women personnel of the Delhi Police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit will also be guarding the venue with their male counterparts.

Police have already carried out anti-sabotage checks in the area and visited hotels in the vicinity in search of suspicious elements, officials said, adding that a security audit of the residents, including tenants, has been completed.

At the Red Fort, a special team of NSG snipers and commandos will form the inner layer of the security cordon, while anti-aircraft guns have been deployed to thwart any aerial intrusion by objects like drones and projectiles, senior police officials said.

Delhi Police has already prohibited aerial activities, including paragliding, flying UAVs and hot air balloons, across the city. The buildings facing the Red Fort will be secured by police and paramilitary personnel. Security along the route to be taken by the Prime Minister's cavalcade, from his official residence to the Red Fort, will be monitored with the help of hundreds of CCTV cameras.

Special "spotters" of Delhi Police and the paramilitary will keep an eye on parking areas. Sniffer dogs will also be part of the extensive security deployment.

According to a statement by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, train services will run as usual. However, stations like Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Delhi Gate and ITO will have restricted entry and exit during the ceremony owing to security considerations. Parking will not be available at the stations till 2 pm on Wednesday in view of the security measures, the DMRC said.
OFC committee Mr Raj directed BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad to form a committee on optical fibre cables with leaders of both ruling and opposition parties.(Representational Image)

Bengaluru: Cutting across party lines, corporators slammed BBMP officials for failing to provide right statistics on the number of legal and illegal hoardings across the city and revenues earned from them.

BBMP Council Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy questioned the disparity in the statistics given by the officials to the high court and the Palike council. He said that when the high court objected to unauthorised hoardings and sought information, the BBMP had said that over 10,000 hoardings existed in the city. But in reply to a star question in the Council, the officials gave the figure of 2,039 official and 1,164 unofficial hoardings.

Mr Reddy said, "Rs 2,000 crore revenue was expected from advertisements. Though the state government wrote to the BBMP on its laxity, the Palike failed to act. A CID probe was also ordered. What is the status of the probe?"

Mayor Sampath Raj admitted that corporators and other politicians too have contributed to the flex menace by putting up unauthorised banners ahead of party-related activities.

OFC committee Mr Raj directed BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad to form a committee on optical fibre cables with leaders of both ruling and opposition parties. All the corporators demanded action against the companies that have laid OFCs illegally. Mr Raj said that the committee will look into the loss incurred by the BBMP and also formulate a new OFC policy.
An FIR was lodged on May 31 against 11 people, including Brajesh Thakur, the owner of the NGO 'Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti' which ran the shelter home for destitute girls funded by the government. (Photo: PTI)

Muzaffarpur: An arrest warrant has been issued against suspended Child Protection Officer Ravi Roshan's wife Shobha Kumari Singh in connection with the Bihar's Muzaffarpur shelter home case.

The warrant came after Shobha Kumari Singh had reportedly revealed the name and pictures of one of the minor victims on social media.

On Monday, three police officials posted at the Shaheed Khudiram Bose Central Jail were suspended after documents were recovered from the case's prime accused Brajesh Thakur that contained over 40 phone numbers, including that of a Bihar Minister.

After police conducted a surprise check at the prison in which Brajesh Thakur is lodged, they recovered the documents.

The issue of sexual exploitation was first highlighted in a social audit report submitted by Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), Mumbai, to the state's Social Welfare Department in April.

An FIR was lodged on May 31 against 11 people, including Brajesh Thakur, the owner of the NGO 'Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti' which ran the shelter home for destitute girls funded by the government.

Brajesh Thakur is the main accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case, where more than 30 minor girls were sexually assaulted over a period of time. All 11 employees of the shelter home were arrested for harassing a number of girls residing at the facility.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on August 11, detained Brajesh Thakur's son after questioning him. The investigative agency had also frozen Brajesh's bank accounts and investigated his properties and bank balance.

He has, however, rubbished all charges levelled against him by claiming that he was being falsely implicated.
'Rahul Gandhi had recently said the Congress is a Muslim party... Today, he says he does not believe in any kind of Hindutva. This is a humiliation for India's majority community and a matter of concern,' Patra told reporters, alleging that it seems Gandhi 'hated' the Hindus. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The BJP accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday of "humiliating" the Hindus with his reported comments that he does not believe in any kind of Hindutva.

Quoting some media reports on the Congress president's interaction with journalists in Hyderabad, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said his comments indicated that he was an "ichchhadhari (shape-shifting) Hindu" who became 'janeu-dhari' (one who wears sacred thread) for political convenience.

"Rahul Gandhi had recently said the Congress is a Muslim party... Today, he says he does not believe in any kind of Hindutva. This is a humiliation for India's majority community and a matter of concern," Patra told reporters, alleging that it seems Gandhi "hated" the Hindus.

His comments showed that his visits to temples and claims by his party's leaders that he was a 'janeu-dhari Hindu' was a "temporary journey" aimed at appeasement of the Hindus for political reasons, the BJP spokesperson alleged.

When asked for comments, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said he would not respond to "theatrics" of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader "who often exposes himself to ridicule for publicity". Patra accused the Congress president of playing with the faith of the Hindus and questioned if Gandhi would make similar remarks about any other faith. He claimed that Gandhi also said he visited temples and met spiritual leaders because he was invited by people there.

"He does not go because of faith. His faith is not in Hinduism, but in illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh and Rohingyas," Patra alleged. While the Congress president claims that he wants to defeat the BJP and the RSS, but it appears that he wants to defeat the Hindus, he said. The BJP leader claimed that the term "Hindu terrorism" was coined by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government after Gandhi had said, according to Wikileaks, that radical Hindu groups were a bigger threat to the country.
Congress said postponing the upcoming state assembly elections and conducting these with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 is "not possible" under the Constitution or the law. (Photo: File | PTI)

New Delhi: Amid talks of simultaneous polls, the Congress on Tuesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha early and announce general elections along with polls in four states where the terms of the assemblies end this year.

Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot said postponing the upcoming state assembly elections and conducting these with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 is "not possible" under the Constitution or the law. He said elections in Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will have to be conducted before the terms of these assemblies end.

"There is only one way of holding simultaneous elections. The Prime Minister should dissolve the Lok Sabha and hold polls along with the four state assembly elections," Gehlot told a press conference.

"The Congress will welcome it. We are prepared," he said.

Gehlot's comments come a day after BJP president Amit Shah made a pitch for holding elections to 12 state assemblies including the present four along with 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The former Rajasthan chief minister said it will be in the "best interest of the country to dissolve the Lok Sabha early, given the all-pervasive atmosphere of fear, intolerance and intimidation".

"The Congress will not only welcome an early Lok Sabha election, we are all geared to fight the BJP and eliminate it," he said.

The Congress alleged that the BJP's intentions behind the 'one nation, one election' debate were not clean.

"Their approach from day one has been wrong. If they were serious, they would have called all political parties for a meeting, discussed ways and means of implementing a proposal and debated solutions for cases where the Lok Sabha or state assemblies are dissolved before their term. But the government did not do any such thing," he said. Gehlot said the 'one nation, one election' slogan is just a gimmick to deflect attention of people from government's failures.

Read: Amit Shah writes to Law Commission demanding One Nation One Election system

Gehlot also said the BJP was floating this idea because it fears losing of upcoming state elections, in which case it will be in a very weak state to face the electorate in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress legal cell head Vivek Takha said the party will move court if the government attempts to postpone upcoming state assembly elections.

"This cannot be done without a constitutional amendment," he said.
Thiruvananthapuram: CPM central committee member E.P. Jayarajan will be sworn in as minister on Tuesday taking the strength of the LDF ministry to 20.

Governor P Sathasivam will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Jay-arajan at a function to be held at Raj Bhavan at 10 am. Jayarajan was forced to quit Pinarayi Cabinet in October 2016 after the state secretariat found lapses on his part in appointing Sre-emathys son P.K. Sudheer as KSIE MD.

In his second innings, 68-year-old Jayarajan will ha-ndle industries, commerce, youth affairs and sports. His induction into the ministry has led to a minor reshuffle in the portfolios of other ministers.

A.C. Moideen will have local bodies (panchayats, municipalities and corporations), rural developme-nt, town planning regional development authority and KILA. Local bodies minister K.T. Jaleel will get higher education. He will retain welfare of minorities, wakf board and Haj pilgrimage.

With Jayarajan's induction, the number of ministers from Kannur district will go up to 4. Kannur is followed by Alappuzha district which has three members in Pinarayi Cabinet.

The chief minister is likely to hand over the charge to Jayarajan before leaving for the US for medical check up. Pinarayi is scheduled to travel to US on August 19 for a 17-day treatment at the reputed Mayo Clinic. It may be recalled that while quashing the vigilance case in Septem-ber 2017, the High Court had criticised the VACB asking why such cases which would not withstand judicial scrutiny are filed. The VACB had earlier informed the court that the offences against Jayarajan may not stand. The former minister had asked the central leadership to defer the disciplinary action till VACB completed its probe.

UDF calls it immoral, to boycott EP swearing in

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Monday said the UDF would boycott the swearing in ceremony of E.P. Jayarajan .

At a press conference here, Chennithala said the decision to reinduct Jaya-rjan in ministry amounted to political immorality. He said the decision could not be justified in any manner.

The Opposition leader took a dig at the CPM and CPI on the issue of appo-inting Government Chief Whip with cabinet rank. The CPI which spoke of idealism, after failing to get fifth minister, has audaciously settled for the post of chief whip, he said.

Chennithala recalled that when P.C. George was app-ointed chief whip, the CPM and CPI had unleashed a tirade against the UDF Government accusing it of extravagance and waste of public money. They sho-uld say sorry with retrospective effect for misleading the people, he added.

The CPIs true face has been exposed now. During the UDF governments ten-ure the number of posts with Cabinet rank was 25 and now with the Chief Whip Post being created, the LDF government has also touched the same figure. The Opposition leader said the LDF while coming to power had claimed that it would restrict the number of ministers to 19. Parliamentary affairs minister A.K. Balan had told Assembly that by keeping the ministry at 19 the government had earned `7.5 crore annually .

He accused the LDF Government of removing 10 lakh beneficiaries from the social welfare pension schemes at the behest of party leaders. The local comrades have conducted a biased survey on the basis of which people have been removed from the beneficiary list.

The UDF has decided to picket state government and central government offices on September 15 to protest against the anti people policies of the state and central governments .
BENGALURU: The Third Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court on Monday remanded Bharat Kurne, one of the accused arrested in connection with the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, to eight-day police custody. The court, after hearing prosecutor and defence lawyers on Friday, reserved the order for Monday on the custody of Kurne alias Tamatar (37), a resident of Sambhaji Galli in Belagavi who runs a dhaba and also sells vegetables. Kurne will be in police custody till August 20.

Kurne who was arrested on August 9 is the 12th accused arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the murder of Gauri. Though the SIT had demanded 14-day custody of the accused, the defence lawyer argued that the accused should not be kept in police custody for such a long time as he can be subjected to torture just like the other accused in the case. The court, however, remanded the accused to police custody as the SIT had claimed that accused, who was actively involved in the murder conspiracy, is yet to be questioned.

The SIT told the court that Bharath not only took part in conspiracy meetings held in his room in Shastri Nagar in Belagavi, but also allowed other accused to stay in the room. He had provided his land in Khanapur to other accused to practice shooting. The SIT may take the Kurnes custody on Tuesday and take him to Pune, Goa, Belagavi and Madikeri as part of the probe. He is now in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
Hyderabad: Violating norms, the state government has asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corp. (GHMC) get roads laid afresh after the monsoon without issuing an official order. However, GHMC officials are worried that the move to get roads relaid by the same contractors without clearing pending bills could backfire on the civic body and it could also entail an additional spending of at least Rs 350 crore. The official claim that they have been issued oral instructions without an written orders.

This, they claim, would make them difficult to convince the audit and vigilance departments. The government also wants GHMC to get contractors to relay the roads without relaxing defect liability clause in the contractors and without calling for tenders. Defect liability clause in the contract ensures that the contractor is held responsible for any repairs that the road requires for a period of two years. In fact, the government is working out modalities for fixing a three-year defect liability for road contractors for ensuring better road maintenance for a longer period.

Even with stringent rules in place, they say contractors often indulge in irregularities and if the rules are relaxed, it will only benefit contractors and middlemen but not provide any relief to commuters. The contractors have been indulging in several irregularities despite having stringent rules. If the rules are relaxed, the road conditions will turn from bad to worse and several hundred crores of rupees will be wasted, the official said.

The corporation has embarked on a whopping Rs 721 crore worth of works to give a facelift to the city roads. When asked about the proposed plan to hand over of road maintenance to private players, the official said that the idea would not be viable for a city like Hyderabad which had different problems at different locations.

The corporation has been carrying out surveys and preparing budget estimates for free and asking selected agencies to maintain the roads for two years. In case of failure to comply, the agency will be either blacklisted or legal action will be initiated. Private players will charge for everything. Unlike contractors, they will charge for even minor repairs and delay in payments will result in halting of works. The move will only benefit private agencies and not the commuters or the government, the official added.

GHMC completes only 50 per cent of road laying works

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has managed to complete a mere 50 per cent of the road laying works under periodical preventive maintenance (PPM), taken up at a cost of Rs 721 crore. Adding to the slow pace of works, the contractors to whom the works were allocated were laying a single layer when they were supposed to lay two layers to ensure good strength and prevent the road from getting damaged during the ongoing monsoon.

The newly laid single layer roads are prone to damage and about Rs 200 crore which has been spent on these roads will be wasted. Sources said that the civic body has been carrying out PPM on roads which were laid a year ago, some prior to the GHMC elections in 2015. The civic body had given work orders worth Rs 355 crore for 48 works, out of which 37 works were already in progress. A GHMC official said that works pertaining to Rs 26 crore were under approval. Out of 1047 lane kilometres, till date the corporation has completed about 400 lane kilometres of works, which is not even 50 per cent.

Termed PPM, the work involves milling of the existing BT road, re-profiling and re-laying it. It is ideally done once in five years. However, all that the GHMC has been able to do is mere patchwork at several stretches, which results in uneven bitumen pads in the middle of the road, eventually leading to bumpy rides. A senior GHMC official on condition of anonymity said that PPM works worth Rs 200 crore had been taken up in the city and if the contractors submitted the bills, the corporation was in a position to clear them.

The official said that till date the corporation had not received a penny from the special purpose vehicle, Hyderabad Road Development Corporation. which was formed to generate funds for PPM works. He said contractors had been submitting bills which the short-staffed civic body was unable to clear. When asked whether the single layer road would survive heavy rains, the official said that they might get damaged since roads would not have enough strength. Commenting on the wastage of public money, he said that the responsibility for road repairs would lie with the contractors and the corporation would only clear the submitted bills.
An article said a Chinese state-owned company, China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, has been contracted to print currencies on huge scale of international countries including that of India. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: The Centre has denied accusations that a Chinese company has been given a contract to print Indian currency.

The Ministry of Finance, in a statement, said, "Reports about any Chinese currency printing corporation getting any orders for printing Indian currency notes are totally baseless."

Subash Chandra Garg, secretary, Department of Economic Affairs told news agency ANI, "Reports about any Chinese currency printing corporation getting any orders for printing Indian currency notes are totally baseless. Indian currency notes are being and will be printed only in Indian Government and RBI currency presses."

An article in South China Morning Post titled, Why other countries are giving China a licence to print money, has said that a Chinese state-owned company, China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, has been contracted to print currencies on huge scale of international countries including that of India.

The report further said China is printing foreign currencies as Beijing seeks to increase its influence on the world economy and geopolitics.

Since then, the company (China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation) had seized the opportunities brought by the initiative (Belt and Road Initiative) and successfully won contracts for currency production projects in a number of countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Brazil and Poland, the South China Morning Post quoted president of a state-owned firm involved in printing Indian currency among several others.

The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party sought clarification from the Narendra Modi government at the Centre following a report published in the Chinese daily.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor asked Union minister Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal to clarify on the issue.

If true, this has disturbing national security implications. Not to mention making it easier for Pak to counterfeit, the Congress leader tweeted quoting another tweet carrying SCMP report.

If true, this has disturbing national security implications. Not to mention making it easier for Pak to counterfeit. @PiyushGoyal @arunjaitley please clarify! https://t.co/POD2CcNNuL  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 12, 2018

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala referred to the report and said that the report, if true, poses "grave breach of National Security".

Is China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation printing currency for Nepal,Bangladesh,Sri lanka?



Is this Dragons new design to engulf South East Asia?



Have the Chinese been given a contract to print Indian currency notes?



If so, its a grave breach of National Security. https://t.co/YicRkNtITc  Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 13, 2018

Aam Aadmi Party national spokesperson Raghav Chanda also termed the revelation as a big threat to Indias national security and financial sovereignity and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why this information was not available in the public domain.

"What were the reasons behind approaching a foreign firm instead of assigning someone domestically? Was India approached by China, and did we succumb to pressure from them in their bid to increase their global influence? Raghav Chadha asked.

"Modi Government puts India's national security and financial sovereignity in danger by outsourcing printing of currency to China."- @raghav_chadha pic.twitter.com/QjmSzXJRkP  AAP (@AamAadmiParty) August 13, 2018

The report in the Chinese daily claimed that despite domestic currency demand being at its lowest, China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation has been "functioning at full capacity to deliver on international contracts".

AAP also questioned Centre's intentions behind demonetisation and making India, a cashless economy. Chadha went on to dub the Modi government's demonetisation move as "wasteful and dubious" in making India a cashless economy and said that similarly, the decision of outsourcing the printing of Indian notes to China is "counter-productive and dangerous."
H D Kumaraswamy, who took oath as Karnataka CM on May 23, has set a record within 82 days of his tenure by visiting around 40 temples. (Photo: File | PTI)

Bengaluru: H D Kumaraswamy, who took oath as Karnataka chief minister on May 23, has set a record within 82 days of his tenure by visiting around 40 temples. This means that the chief minister visited a temple every alternate day.

According to a report in The Times of India, sources in the chief ministers office said that Kumaraswamy had visited 34 temples as of Sunday since assuming office,

Add to this, Kumaraswamys visit to Eshwar temple at Haradanahalli village and four other temples in Holenarasipura taluk of Hassan district and the tally goes to 39.

Accompanied by his wife Anitha, father H D Deve Gowda, mother Chanamma and elder brother H D Revanna, Kumaraswamy took part in elaborate puja rituals at Eshwar temple that went on for one-and-a-half hours, reports said.

Offering prayers at the temple on the first Monday of Shravana month has been a practice followed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his family.

A JD(S) leader close to Kumaraswamys family told TOI, Former PM H D Deve Gowdas family has strong faith in astrology and religious rituals ever since it entered the political arena. Kumaraswamy was an exception. But a series of health setback in the past few years has, perhaps, forced him to become religious.

Besides, Kumaraswamy has also visited at least six mutts, including Adichunchanagiri in Mandya, Suttur in Mysuru and Siddaganga of Tumakuru.

Once in power, several chief ministers have sought the intervention and support of the almighty to tide over personal or political crises they face but Kumaraswamy has been exceptional, political analyst Sandeep Shastri told TOI.
Madras High Court Chief Justice V.K. Tahilramani on her way to take part in reception accorded by Madras high court judges, advocates and office bearers of various Bar Associations on Monday. (Photo:DC)

Chennai: Advocates of the Madras high court on Monday accorded a warm welcome to Chief Justice V.K. Tahilramani, who was sworn into office on Sunday. Among others, office-bearers of various Bar Associations, Madras Bar Association, Madras high courts Advocates Association (MHAA), Women Lawyers Association (WLA) and Lawyers Association, welcomed the new Chief Justice at a function held in the campus.

Addressing the gathering, Advocate General Vijay Narayan, said that the Madras high court had been blessed twice in quick succession with the appointment of women at its helm, following previous Chief Justice Indira Banerjees elevation to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Tahilramani is the second senior-most judge among High Court judges across the country, and the third woman Chief Justice to take charge of the Madras high court.

MHAA president, G. Mohanakrishnan, said that the appointment of the new Chief Justice signifies that the steps of the judiciary are equal. Chief Justice Tahilramani commenced her address with Annaivarukkam vanakkam. She said she was privileged to become a part of the prestigious Madras high court. The glorious history, customs, conventions and lofty traditions and a galaxy of great judges and reputed lawyers of eminence, have combined to confer upon the high court of Madras a unique eminent status.

Later, addressing a gathering at the Madras Bar Association, Chief Justice VK Tahilramani, said, From the overwhelming reception I have received from you all, I am assured of abundance of cooperation from you, and on my behalf, I assure you all that I will discharge my duties with all sincerity and earnestness, understanding the problems of the Bar, as also the problems and miseries of the citizens.

She said lawyers and judges are part of a family  one fraternity  united with the sole aim of dispensing justice and serving the society. The Bench is a branch of the Bar, and together they constitute the justice system. Neither the Bench alone nor the Bar by itself can secure justice to the people.

Every practicing advocate must realise the nature of the functions he is expected to perform - that he is something more than the fuel in the engine of law. The legal profession and the law are therefore necessary for a well-ordered society. Independence and fearlessness are two very important pillars on the strength of which the existence of an effective bar depends, she added.
The nun had alleged that Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mullackal sexually abused her 13 times between 2014 and 2016. (Youtube Screengrab/ eCreators Mangalore)

Kochi: A special team of Kerala Police questioned a Roman Catholic Bishop in Jalandhar, who is accused of raping a nun, for over five hours.

On Monday, the Kerala police reached the Bishop House in Jalandhar to question Bishop Franco Mulakkal but were unable to do so since he was in Chandigarh. Punjab Police then asked the Bishop to return and appear for questioning.

Following the interrogation, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kottayam, K Subhash said, I questioned him and collected his statement. After verifying his part of the story further steps will be taken. This is an old case so we are collecting more evidence.

The state government earlier on Monday told the Kerala High Court that a decision on arresting Mulakkal, who has so far claimed innocence, will be taken after he is interrogated and the evidence examined.

As per the initial investigation of the police, Franco Mulakkal abused his position and repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala, a special team probing the case told the Kerala High Court on Monday.

Responding to a petition seeking speedy investigation, Subhash informed the court that the investigation was proceeding effectively and impartially. After the submission by the officer, the high court disposed off the petition with a direction to the police to investigate the case properly.

In the statement, Subhash said he and his team would continue their investigation in Jalandhar. The police statement was based on initial investigation and available evidence.

It is revealed that the accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal committed unnatural offence and committed rape repeatedly on the nun against her will, the statement read. The bishop confined the nun to a guestroom in St Francis Mission Home in Kuravilangad in Kottayam district of Kerala, the statement alleged. No laxity or indifference has been shown till date in the investigation of the case, it said.

The petition was filed by the Kerala Catholic Church Reformation Movement (KCRM), which claimed that the police were not taking speedy action in the case.

In her complaint lodged with Kottayam district police, the nun accused Mulakkal of raping and having unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016. State police chief Loknath Behera on August 1 reviewed the progress of the case and permitted the investigation team to proceed to Jalandhar, New Delhi and other cities as part of the investigations.
According to some of the journalists, the guards manhandled them and damaged their cameras and equipment while they were capturing the visuals of Bishop Mulakkal who had just returned to his headquarters from Chandigarh. (Photo: Screengrab | ANI)

New Delhi: Several mediapersons from Kerala were allegedly assaulted by a group of private security guards at the Bishop House in Jalandhar in Punjab on Monday.

The Delhi-based journalists were in Jalandhar to report on the police investigation and questioning of Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who had allegedly abused his position and repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala.

According to some of the journalists, the guards manhandled them and damaged their cameras and equipment while they were capturing the visuals of Bishop Mulakkal who had just returned to his headquarters from Chandigarh.

No official comment was immediately available on the alleged assault of journalists. A special team of Kerala Police earlier reached the Bishop House to question the Bishop but was unable to do so since he was in Chandigarh. Punjab Police then asked the Bishop to return and appear for questioning. Interrogation is now underway.

The state government earlier on Monday told the Kerala High Court that a decision on arresting Mulakkal, who has so far claimed innocence, will be taken after he is interrogated and the evidence examined.

As per the initial investigation of the police, Bishop Mulakkal abused his position and repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala, a special team probing the case told the Kerala High Court on Monday.

Responding to a petition seeking speedy investigation, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kottayam, K Subhash informed the court that the investigation was proceeding effectively and impartially.

The police statement before the high court was based on initial investigation and available evidence. It is revealed that Bishop Franco Mulakkal committed unnatural offence and committed rape repeatedly on the nun against her will, the statement read. The bishop confined the nun to a guestroom in St Francis Mission Home in Kuravilangad in Kottayam district of Kerala, the statement alleged.

In her complaint lodged with Kottayam district police, the nun accused Mulakkal of raping and having unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016.

State police chief Loknath Behera on August 1 reviewed the progress of the case and permitted the investigation team to proceed to Jalandhar, New Delhi and other cities as part of the investigations.
Bengaluru: In a heavily polarised society like Karnataka, this is the one issue which could bring warring political parties on the same platform. Amid fears that the prestigious Aero India show could be shifted to Lucknow, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a fervent plea to retain the biennial aviation show in the city itself. He pointed out that the state capital is the hub of defence and aviation majors in the country and is certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show.

The CM formally requested the Centre to host the Aero India-2019 in Bengaluru itself amid speculation that the show may be shifted to the Bakshi ki Talab airbase in the UP capital Lucknow. Starting from 1996, the IT capital has taken great pride in hosting eleven back to back Aero shows. In his letter to PM Modi, the Chief Minister explained in detail why the show should be hosted in Bengaluru itself. "A total of 549 global and Indian companies from 51 countries had participated in the eleventh edition of Aero show held in 2017," he reasoned.

Mr Kumaraswamy also pointed out that the state capital, Bengaluru was the hub of defence and aviation majors in the country and was certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show.

Karnataka on Monday formally requested the Centre to host the Aero India-2019 in Bengaluru itself amid speculation that the show may be shifted to Lucknow. Starting from 1996, the city had hosted eleven Aero shows in the past. In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy explained in detail why the show should be hosted in Bengaluru itself.

A total of 549 global and Indian companies from 51 countries had participated in the eleventh edition of Aero show held in 2017, he reasoned. Mr Kumaraswamy also pointed out that the state capital, Bengaluru was the hub of defence and aviation majors in the country and was certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show.

Earlier, the KPCC has written to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, telling her that as a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, she had to protect the interests of the state and ensure that Aero India show was retained in Bengaluru. A miffed Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar had said last week that under the NDA regime, the state was losing key defence projects to other states.
Kollam: Two priests of Malankara Orthodox church, booked for raping a homemaker abusing her secret at the confessional, have surrendered.

Fr. Jaise K. George, the fourth accused, surrendered at the Kollam Crime Branch office and the first accused Fr. Abraham Varghese, before a court in Thiruvalla on Monday.

Fr. Varghese was remanded till August 23. The Supreme Court had earlier rejected their anticipatory bail plea and directed them to surrender before August 13.

The investigation team was all set to arrest them if they failed to abide by the directive. Fr. Johnson V. Mathew, the third accused, was arrested from a house at Thekkemala in Kozhencherry and Fr. Job Mathew, the second defendant, gave in to the police in Kollam a few weeks ago.

Crime branch charged IPC sections 354 (assault to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 376 (rape) against the four, based on the victim's statement.

The 34-year-old woman had given a confidential statement before the Thiruvalla Judicial First Class Magistrate based on section 164 of CrPC reiterating her claim.

She says Fr. Varghese assaulted her while she was just 16. Fr. Mathew abused her when she told him about this at the confessional in 2009.

She complained to her former classmate Fr George and met Fr Mathew for counselling. But both of them also turned predators.

The Malankara Orthodox Church had suspended five priests after she complained in May.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday informed Madras high court that its hands are tied relating to the conduct of elections to local bodies immediately.

The special bench comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and M Sunder, before which the contempt plea filed by DMK came up for hearing on Monday, the senior counsel for SEC, CS Vaidyanathan said that the commission hands are tied in view of the recent amendments made to the TN local bodies legislation.

The provision, which was made available to conduct the elections without completing delimitation process based on the latest census, has been removed. Hence, the commission cannot conduct the elections without completing the delimitation process.

The commission had already commenced the delimitation process based on the 2011 census and it would be completed by August 31. A detailed proposal will be submitted to the state government. Once the state approves the proposal, the next stage would be to conduct street wise survey to ascertain the SC and ST for reservation of wards as such data is not available with the directorate of census which would take at least two months.

Once the state government approves the reservation the election notification may be issued, and the entire election process could be completed in 75 days from the date of notification.

The bench asked the senior counsel for the state Aryama Sundaram as to the time required for approving the delimitation proposal. Sundaram said, the state can give a tentative time only after getting the proposal from the delimitation committee. Later, the bench posted the contempt plea to Aug. 14 for further hearng.
Though Sena is part of the BJP-led NDA, the two parties have had strained ties since they contested the last Assembly elections in Maharashtra separately in 2014. (Photo: File | PTI)

Mumbai: Taking potshots at the BJP on the 'One Nation One Poll' proposal, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said it "may even propose to hold the elections simultaneously with those in the US and Russia."

Sena's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also wondered how holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously will benefit the country.

"They (the BJP) may conduct the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Or, they will hold the elections together with those in the US and Russia. You never know what will emerge out of the heads of top BJP leaders. What is the interest of the country in that (holding simultaneous polls)," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah has supported the idea of holding Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously, saying this will curb expenditure and also ensure that the nation is not in the "election mode" throughout the year.

Shah had also dubbed the opposition to the proposal as "politically motivated".

Also Read: Amit Shah writes to Law Commission demanding One Nation One Election system

In a letter to the Law Commission, Shah had said his party explicitly believes that in a progressive democracy like India elections should be held at a fixed time and for a fixed tenure. This, he added, will help people's representatives carry out their duties effectively.

Though Sena is part of the BJP-led NDA, the two parties have had strained ties since they contested the last Assembly elections in Maharashtra separately in 2014.
Hubballi: All BJP MPs and Union ministers from the state will do everything possible to stop shifting of Aero Show from Bengaluru to Lucknow, state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa asserted here on Monday. Speaking to reporters in Gadag, he said the state government was causing unnecessary confusion among the people on the issue when defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had already clarified that no decision had been taken in the matter.

The BJP state chief once again hit out at CM H.D. Kumaraswamy for his symbolic gesture of sowing paddy with farmers as it would not solve anything. "The government should instead focus on the 13 districts which are reeling under drought due to a poor monsoon in these parts. The Chief Minister should tour North Karnataka and take up drought relief measures on a war- footing as the standing crops are drying up, forcing the farmers to commit suicide. But the state government has not yet opened procurement centres although the Centre has announced a support price for the green gram crop," he said.
New Delhi/Patna: The Election Commission on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of holding general and Assembly elections simultaneously any time soon as a legal framework needs to be in place to facilitate extension or curtailment of the term of state Assemblies.

The terms of state Assemblies cannot be extended or cut short to hold elections without a change in the Constitution, Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat said a day after BJP president Amit Shah made a renewed push for One nation, One poll. Mr Rawat explained why holding simultaneous elections requires a legal framework. If term of some state Assemblies needs to be curtailed or extended, then a Constitutional amendment will be required, he said.

Speaking to the media, Mr Rawat explained why holding simultaneous elections requires a legal framework. If the term of some state assemblies needs to be curtailed or extended, then a constitutional amendment will be required Logistics arrangements with regard to 100 per cent availability of VVPATs (paper trail machines) will be a constraint, the CEC said in response to a question on whether simultaneous elections can be held anytime soon. On the issue of One nation, One poll, the Election Commission had given inputs and suggestions in 2015 itself Other requirements of additional police force, polling personnel would also be needed, he added.

The Congress, while concurring with the ECs view, challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha immediately. The Congress will not only welcome an early Lok Sabha election, we are all geared to fight the BJP and eliminate it, Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot said. On Monday, Mr Shah, arguing that holding simultaneous elections would check expenditure and ensure that the nation is not in election mode throughout the year, urged the law commission to look into the issue. In his eight-page letter to law commission chairman Justice B.S. Chouhan, Mr Shah said holding simultaneous polls is not only a concept but a principle that has been successfully tried in the past and can be implemented.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who has been advocating simultaneous polls for state Assemblies and Lok Sabha for quite some time, said on Tuesday that One nation, One poll was a good idea but not implementable in the forthcoming general elections. Mr Gehlot said postponing the upcoming state Assembly elections and conducting these with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 is not possible under the Constitution as elections in Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have to be conducted before the terms of these assemblies end.

There is only one way of holding simultaneous elections. The Prime Minister should dissolve the Lok Sabha and hold polls along with the four state Assembly elections, he said adding, It will be in the best interest of the country to dissolve the Lok Sabha early, given the all-pervasive atmosphere of fear, intolerance and intimidation. The BJP said that though it favours the idea of holding simultaneous polls in the country, it rejects media reports suggesting that it is mulling holding Assembly polls in 10-11 states with the coming Lok Sabha polls.
HYDERABAD: Four Myanmar refugees who had falsely obtained Indian identification cards have been arrested by the Balapur police along with a city resident who helped them get the IDs. The Rohingyas, Mohammed Elias alias Alyas, 31, his wife Yasmeen Aira Begum, 25, Noor Rashid alias Jawed Shaik, 26, and Murshid Alam, 22, of Akran district of Myanmar came to India five years ago, as refugees, and settled down at Wadi-e-Omer area in Shaheen Nagar of Balapur. They were given UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) cards, as refugees.

Since their settlement in the city along with several other refugees, they were working as labourers with construction contractors. Meantime, the Rohingyas met Mohammed Bin Omer, 44, of Chandrayangutta and Ahsan Zia Ansari, 37, living in Kamatipura, and both promised to help the Rohingyas get Indian identification cards in return for some money.

Balapur inspector S. Mohan Reddy said, Omer has taken Rs 1 lakh from Elias and his wife to arrange the identification cards as Indian citizens. Initially, Omer arranged voter identification cards for Elias and his wife, by producing an electricity bill that they were tenants of his house, and then arranged Aadhaar cards with the help of the voter IDs. In a similar way, Ansari arranged Aadhaar and voter IDs for Jawed and Murshid, said Mr Reddy.

Following a tip-off, a police team raided the houses of the refugees and found their UNHCR cards along with their voter IDs and Aadhaar cards, and recovered Rs 1lakh cash from Omer, while Ansari has gone absconding. Once Ansari is caught, we will get more information, said the inspector.
The government decided to hold adalats at grama panchayats, municipalities and corporations to provide new documents to the people who lost the original in the floods.

Thiruvananthapuram: The cabinet on Tuesday decided to take a slew of measures, including relief and rehabilitation, in the flood-affected districts.

The number of villages declared as flood-affected has been raised from 198 to 444 by including 251 more villages. The worst-affected places are in Idukki and Wayanad.

The government decided to grant financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to each family which spent a minimum of two days in relief camps because of flooding, landslides or damage to houses. A compensation of Rs 4 lakh would be given for houses that were fully damaged and Rs 10 lakh to those who lost their houses and land.

The chief minister appealed to the staff of government departments and state public sector units to contribute two days salary and PSUs and cooperative institutions to contribute their CSR funds for the relief fund. The government has urged the State-Level Bankers Committee to exempt bank accounts to which financial assistance is being deposited from the minimum balance condition.

The government has also urged the SLBC to exempt the commission and exchange charges levied by public sector banks and cooperative banks. UAE Exchange and Lulu Exchange have agreed to waive off the commission and exchange charges.

The government decided to hold adalats at grama panchayats, municipalities and corporations to provide new documents to the people who lost the original in the floods. The documents would be given without charging fee till September 30. Special adalats would be held between September 3 and 15.

The minister in charge of the district and a secretary-level officer would be responsible for organising the adalats.

The application for the new documents would be received at the Akshaya centres without charging any fee.

A cabinet subcommittee has been constituted to ensure time-bound disbursal of compensation and relief material to the affected persons. The committee comprises E.P. Jayarajan, E. Chandrashekharan, Mathew T. Thomas, A.K. Saseendran and Ramachandran Kadanapally.

The fish workers who lost fishing gear would be compensated. Farmers whose crops were destroyed in floods would be given adequate assistance.

The one-year moratorium on the repayment of loans which was declared during the first phase of the floods would be extended to the areas which were ravaged in the monsoon.

The government has arranged facilities for contributing money through the centres Unified Payment Interface (UPI) on its website www.kerala.gov.in .The receipt and certificate for IT exemption on such contributions would be given on the spot. For money deposited at bank counters, the certificates for IT exemption would be provided within a day.
Aero Shows have been held from the very start at San Diego, and Bethpage in New York . The Bournemouth Air Festival in the United Kingdom too has never moved.

The row over shifting of the Aero India show from Bengaluru to Lucknows air base, Bakshi Ka Talab has led to a political slugfest. While Karnataka cries foul, setting aside all political arguments, former Air Force officers from the city believe it has every reason to make a pitch for the air show as it has the necessary infrastructure. The issue has to be looked at in practical terms and not become a matter of ego or political wrangling they emphasise.

Former Air Force chief, S Krishnaswamy points out that while Bengaluru has an aero space industry and a huge air base at Yelahanka, Bakshi ka Talab is not only small but also lacks world class hotels, which could put off exhibitors.

The show could be held in Goa but it would be inconvenient (for those attending and exhibiting). It is not used to conducting such events , while Bengaluru has everything ready since the Indian Air Force (IAF) manages everything, including the security at the show, he says.

Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Krishnaswamy (Retd) too belie- ves that the aero show cannot be taken elsewhere for the simple reason that other states do not have the required infrastructure. Pointing out that the aero shows at San Diego, Bethpage in New York and the Bournemouth Air Festival in the United Kingdom are all still held where they were initially started, he adds, Abroad the infrastructure is developed at the places where the aero shows are hosted. An aero show is not a circus that it can be taken to different places.

Also, Wing Commander MA Afraz (Retd) says that with the show being just a few months away it cannot be shifted as it would require a lot of preparation and infrastructure that the other cities dont readily have.We have HAL and a huge base in the city. The entire idea to shift the aero show does not make any sense since the air base in Lucknow is very small and unless the aero industry is developed no exhibitor would be interested in going there, he reasons.

Although Kanpur, which is near Lucknow, has a big air base, it cannot host the aero show either as the slaughter houses in the city attract birds that would be a huge hindrance to flying, argue other IAF veterans.

As for those who note that the defence expo was easily shifted from Delhi to Tamil Nadu, Air Chief Marshal Krishna swamy says that that issue is entirely different as Tamil Nadu is an industrial base and well equipped to host it.
M K Stalin turned emotional as he paid tributes to his father, Karunanidhi, and raised the issue of DMK patriarchs burial at Marina Beach. (Photo: Twitter | @mkstalin)

Chennai: The DMK on Tuesday paid rich tributes to its departed leader M Karunanidhi, remembering his contribution to the development of Tamil Nadu at a crucial meeting held in Chennai.

Karunanidhis younger son M K Stalin turned emotional as he paid tributes to his father and raised the issue of DMK patriarchs burial at Marina Beach.

Addressing the first party executive meet since Karunanidhis death on August 7, Stalin said, When Kalaignar was in his last stage I held chief minister's hands and pledged to fulfill his (Karunanidhi) last wish to be buried in Marina Beach but Tamil Nadu government did not agree.

I give the entire credit of the victory (burial of Karunanidhi at Marina Beach) to the lawyers. If this wouldn't have happened then surely I would have been the person to be buried along with our leader, Stalin added.

Read: Would've been buried with Karunanidhi if he werent allowed space at Marina: Stalin

Though speculations were rife that Stalin would be elevated to the position of DMK president at the meeting, no such decision was taken.

However, many DMK leaders assured Stalin of their support as he vowed to follow in his fathers footsteps and defeat all barriers, a report in Hindustan Times said.

Heaping praise on Stalin, DMKs principal secretary Duraimurugan, said the DMK working president has all the capabilities to lead the party.

Duraimurugan said, You have the heart of Anna and Kalaignar. There is no one to challenge you. The credit of placing Kalaignar next to his brother Anna goes to you, HT further reported.

The emergency meeting came a day after Karunanidhis estranged son, M K Alagiri who visited Kaalignars memorial at Marina Beach, claimed that all loyal party workers and relatives are with him. The remark hinted at a fresh succession war in the DMK after Karunanidhis death.

Later on Monday, speaking to an English TV news channel, Alagiri said, "Even if I am inclined to rejoin the party, they (Stalin and his supporters) are not in a mood to let me in."

"The DMK will dig its own grave if it does not take me back," he said, adding nobody from the Karunanidhi family was interested in talking to him to facilitate a reunion.

Also Read: Karunanidhis true supporters with me: Alagiri takes on brother Stalin

However, Alagiris return to DMK seems to be a difficult task as party leaders are lending unconditional support to Stalin.

"We see Karunanidhi through Stalin. The party and Tamil Nadu are behind Stalin," DMK legislator J Anbalagan was quoted by NDTV as saying.

Karunanidhi had expelled Alagiri and his supporters from the party in 2014 at the height of his fight with his younger brother Stalin over establishing supremacy in Tamil Nadu's main opposition party.

A resolution paying tribute to five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi was also passed at the meeting, which was chaired by Stalin.

(With PTI inputs)
Chennai: Former AIADMK legislator and also former secretary of Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai, the trade union wing of the ruling AIADMK, R. Chinnasamy, was expelled from the party on Monday for acting in a manner that brought disrepute to the AIADMK.

He was expelled from the primary membership of the party as well, informed AIADMK convenor and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and joint convenor and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in a joint statement here.

Chinnasamy, who hails from Coimbatore, was also stripped of all party posts, they said and appealed to AIADMK workers not to have any truck with him. The release did not mention any reason for his expulsion.

The disciplinary action comes close on the heels of his arrest on Sunday by the Central Crime Branch officials, from his residence in Coimbatore on charges of misappropriation of funds of the party's Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai. The case was registered following a complaint of misappropriation of funds of the Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai to the tune of `8 crore when he was its secretary from 2009 to 2018.

Chinnasamy represented the Singanallur Assembly constituency for two consecutive terms (2006-2011, 2011-2016) and was appointed the secretary of the trade union in 2009 by the party's then general secretary J. Jayalalithaa.

The AIADMK leadership had on February 2 removed Chinnasamy from the post of secretary of the Anna Trade Union. His removal was viewed as a fallout of the strike by transport unions that had crippled the bus services in Tamil Nadu for over a week in that month. Following this, Chinnasamy filed a suit challenging his removal as secretary from the party's trade union wing.
Chennai: In less than a week after his father and DMK leader M Karunanidhis death, his estranged son MK Alagiri on Tuesday sounded the war bugle declaring the party loyalists were firmly behind him but (younger brother) Stalin was unwilling to take him back into the DMK as he was scared of his emergence as leader.

I have come to submit my anguish before my father. You will know later what that is, he told reporters after offering a huge garland at the Karunanidhi memorial on Marina, along with his family.

All the party loyalists, followers of thalaivar Kalaignar, are supporting me. Time will show this, Alagiri said. He said his anguish related to the party and not the family. As he was not a member of the DMK, he cannot comment on the party executive meeting happening on Tuesday, he said in response to a question.

While the media got excited over the clouds of succession war gathering over the DMK even as it is mourning the loss of its patriarch, the party itself dismissed the Alagiri missile as of no consequence. Only you, the TV channels and the other media, are giving credence to Alagiri. He is not even a member of the DMK as thalaivar (Karunanidhi) had himself expelled him, said the DMK south Chennai district secretary J. Anbazhagan, MLA.

That even their fathers long ailment and his death failed to bring the two warring brothers close was evident when Alagiri stood at a different corner in the room at their Gopalapuram residence when the body was brought from the hospital late night of August 7. It was Stalin who sat close to the head and accepted the condolences offered by the visitors. Even later, there was not even an eye-contact between the two at the Rajaji Hall and later during the last rites at Marina.

Party insiders insist that Alagiri decided on the Marina show as a last resort after failing to get the family prevail upon Stalin to accept truce on his terms and perhaps to repeat the OPS drama. They said Alagiri wanted the party to invite him to return to its fold and to offer him a position equal to that of Stalin.

Perhaps he is inspired by the EPS-OPS example in the AIADMK; but Stalin or for that matter any among the party leaders are quite clear there is no place for Alagiri after all that he had said and done to damage the party, said a DMK senior requesting anonymity.

He also pointed out that it was Karunanidhi who had announced the expulsion of Alagiri and his supporters from the DMK in January 2014 at the height of his war with Stalin. The DMK chief had justified his action saying Alagiri "nursed some unknown hatred for Stalin and cursed he would die in three months". Alagiri dismissed his father's charge as baseless.

But then, he continued to target Stalin for harsh attack on various occasions, such as when Stalin embarked on an aggressive voter outreach campaign across the state that he had named, 'Namakku Naame Vidiyal Meetpu Payanam' (We for ourselves, journey to retrieve the dawn), Alagiri dismissed it as "a comedy show". And when the DMK lost security deposit in the RK Nagar Assembly by-election last year, which was won by TTV Dhinakaran, he alleged that Stalin's leadership would destroy the DMK. "Not just the RK Nagar bypoll, the DMK will not henceforth win any election. There is no chance of the party winning as long as this working president (Stalin) is there," he had said.

All those open statements and activities soaked in bitter belligerence for his brother have not gone down well with the DMK functionaries and cadres, who are quick to point out that Stalin has diligently worked his way up in the party hierarchy and gone through much hardship, such as the harsh imprisonment during the Emergency.

On the other hand, Alagiri had remained in the background, at least till the Tirumangalam by-election victory for the DMK (2009), which ended up becoming the ready example for critics speaking about electoral corruption in TN. Nevertheless, that poll win for the party secured Alagiri the post of DMK's south zone organising secretary and winning the Madurai Lok Sabha seat at that time, he ended up as the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers. His controversial term at the Centre ended when the DMK pulled out of the UPA in March 2013 over the Lankan Tamil issue.
Week one is now in the books for the 31 students taking part in the pilot year of Walker Launch at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Students from LaFayette High School and Ridgeland High School have kicked off the 2018-19 academic year on GNTCs Walker County Campus.

The first two weeks of the brand new program located on the college campus will only focus on the high school curriculum the students must complete. Beginning Monday, when GNTCs fall semester launches, the students will be enrolled in both high school and college classes. They will be on their way to graduating from high school and college at the same time.

Classes needed to complete state requirements for their high school diploma will be taught by Walker County School teachers at GNTC. As for their collegiate instructor, GNTC instructors will handle those instructional responsibilities.

We have had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the program during week one, said Matt Harris, Walker County Schools coordinator of Innovation. Students, staff, and parents have been very pleased with the start of school. We already have more interest in the program, and we expect higher than anticipated growth. Administrators hope to expand the student body size of the program to 200 students in the near future.

Walker Launch will work a little differently than your traditional high school. Monday through Thursday, students will attend their usual high school and collegiate courses. However, on Fridays, a program is in place to teach students on how to develop soft skills. Critical thinking, customer service, financial literacy, communication with employees and customers, and many other professional skill sets will be taught extensively during those end-of-the-week sessions.

This program required a leap of faith from a lot of people in our community and our schools, said Mr. Harris. We have had 11 months to plan the program. Everyone had to be committed and involved to make it a success. GNTC staff have been integral throughout the process, and our counselors at LaFayette and Ridgeland deserve a lot of the credit for getting Walker Launch off the ground.

Transportation to the Walker Launch facility will be provided to and from the home high schools of each student. Walker Launch students are also eligible to take part in all extra-curricular activities at their home high schools.

The Walker County Schools provides laptop computers for every Walker Launch student so they can complete some of their high school and collegiate coursework online. Cost of dual enrollment tuition is paid by the Georgia Department of Education. This aid does not impact the funding available to the students once they graduate from Walker Launch.

Walker County Schools Superintendent Damon Raines stresses the importance he hopes this program will have on breaking a cycle. Our hope is to help students get into high-demand jobs, said Mr. Raines. We are training these young men and women for careers in everything from healthcare to logistics. But, its not only about that. Its about teaching the future of Walker County to live smarter; to avoid a lifestyle which forces so many families to live paycheck-to-paycheck.

For more information about the program, students and families can speak with the guidance counselors office at their high school. Students interested in joining the program will be required to apply to enroll in Walker Launch, as well as meet certain program guidelines.
Heaping praise on his 'friend' Karunanidhi, Rajinikanth said while many thousands had entered politics due to him, 'many hundreds became leaders' because of him. (Photo: ANI)

Chennai: Top Tamil star Rajinikanth on Monday suggested that Chief Minister K Palanisamy and his entire cabinet should have attended the burial of late DMK President M Karunanidhi last week at the Marina beach.

The actor said he would have launched a protest if the government had appealed against a Madras High Court verdict, directing it to provide burial space to the Dravidian stalwart on Marina beach.

Speaking at a memorial event organised by the South Indian Artistes' Association for Karunanidhi, the actor said that many leaders, ranging from state Governor Banwarilal Purohit to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, were present during the burial of Karunanidhi at the Marina.

"For his burial, the whole of India came. State honors were given by members of the three armed forces. He was given a 21 gun salute. But one thing remains. The Governor, many chief ministers and Congress president Rahul Gandhi had come. Tamil Nadu's first citizen, the chief minister, shouldn't he have come? Should not the entire cabinet have come? What will people think? Are you MGR (AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran) or Jayalalithaa," he asked.

Both Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa were considered rivals of Karunanidhi.

On the controversy over allocation of burial space for Karunanidhi, which was done by the state government on a court directive, Rajinikanth said he himself would have launched a protest if the government had appealed against the order.

Heaping praise on his 'friend' Karunanidhi, Rajinikanth said while many thousands had entered politics due to him, "many hundreds became leaders" because of him.

DMK working president M K Stalin also attended the memorial event.
The old narratives which were once dominant necessarily take a backseat as the years roll by. The story that India won independence through a non-violent struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi cannot remain a unilinear narrative. Historians are sure to explore the complexities and unearth other strands. The story of independence cannot be reduced to a struggle between the Congress and the Muslim League on the one hand, and the liberals on one hand and the conservatives the zamindars, the capitalists, the rulers of the princely states and their ruling elites on the other. Many progressive things were happening in the princely India, such as in Baroda, Hyderabad, Travancore and Gwalior. These stories too are a part of Indias journey to freedom.

We have also to reckon with the radicals Communists and socialists on the one hand and the reactionaries members of Arya Samaj, Hindu Mahasabha and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the other. The dalits, from Jyotiba Phule to Dr B.R. Ambedkar, took a separate stance of their own on the issue of Indias freedom.

Apart from throwing off the shackles of British colonial rule, Indias journey to political freedom is also the story of Indias modernisation and Westernisation. The idea of liberty is something we learnt from the West Europe and America and that of representative democracy with its implied concepts of rule of law and constitution-making. It is time to acknowledge the ideas that we borrowed. It is not any more necessary to hark back to some hoary past and assert that democracy existed in the city-republics like that of Vaishali and the 16 mahajanapadas of ancient India, though it is always good to study the political institutions of the past.

Partition and the division of India into India and Pakistan, the communal killings of Hindus and Muslims in Bengal and Punjab, Sindh and Delhi, and the forced migration of populations is the ugly side of Indias independence. These cannot be hidden and it cannot be used as an argument to nurse enmities and grudges at the national level. When India and Pakistan became two independent states, they became neighbours and they had immediately taken to deal with each other as two states. The hatred which people who paid an individual price through the loss of life and property could not be the fulcrum of relations between the two newborn nations. Even when war broke out over Kashmir in 1947-48, it was one between two independent states, though they both had only dominion status at the time. The formalities of war like an official ceasefire had to be followed and diplomatic exchanges maintained. As a matter of fact, the governments of the two countries handled the problems of refugees on both sides, the division of

armed forces and administrative personnel was handled in a systematic and cool manner. The post-Independence government of Jawaharlal Nehru, which included conservatives like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, handled relations with Pakistan with consummate skill and maturity. Neither the Indian nor the Pakistan governments behaved like peevish rivals.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments of both Atal Behari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi have dealt with Pakistan as they should, and the two have walked the extra mile at the official level to acknowledge the state of Pakistan. Mr Vajpayee went to the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore during the famous/infamous bus ride to Lahore in 1998 to make it clear that his party of Hindutva ideology accepts Pakistan. Mr Modi made his own gesture by inviting then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with other leaders of government of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) at his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014. They had to make these overgenerous public gestures because their Hindutva ideology painted Islamic Pakistan as the enemy. They had to distance themselves from that demonology at the official level. But at the populist level, both Mr Vajpayee and Mr Modi indulged in anti-Pakistan rhetoric to rake up toxic nationalist sentiment and garner Hindu votes. It is a temptation that Mr Vajp

ayee could not resist in 2001 and it is a temptation that Mr Modi cannot resist as well, along with BJP president Amit Shah.

Indians, like their South Asian neighbours, stuck to the colonial infrastructure of administration and education, of armed forces, of continuing to use English as a link language. What gives India the advantage in a partially globalised world is English, a colonial legacy. The BJP leadership, dominated as it is by Hindi zealots, maintains a tactical silence on the subject and marches on with English.

The Congress under Nehru and his successors tried rather unsuccessfully to create a place for Muslims who stayed back to create a multi-religious, multilingual polity under the ineffective rubric of secularism. The Hindutva advocates have demolished secularism, though Hindutva has not really replaced it. The country is in a dangerous zone where religious minorities like the Muslims and Christians are in a vulnerable position, with no assurances from the BJPs ruling elite. The lynching of a score and more Muslims over the issue of cow and beef creates the ugly spectre of a Hindu India.

My younger brother had recently recounted to me a remark of Pakistans military ruler Zia-ul Haq, who is supposed to have remarked: If Egyptians do not have Islam they will remain Egyptians. If Pakistan does not have Islam, there will be no Pakistan. Of course, it was a cynical remark of a man who used Islamisation to keep himself in power and destroyed Pakistani society. Pakistan is trying to move away from the toxic notion of a Muslim Pakistan. It should also be noted that India will not remain what it is if it becomes a Hindu India. A Hindu India will be an ugly India. A majority of Indians including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes dont really want a Hindu India. The leaders who now hold the reins of power need to keep this important lesson in mind on this Independence Day.

The author is a Delhi-based commentator and analyst
Thousands of star-gazers gathered overnight at one of the darkest spots in Israel hoping to be dazzled by the annual Perseid meteor shower, only to be left somewhat disappointed by the show.

Locals had the rare task of directing traffic on a moonless Monday night in Mitzpe Ramon in the heart of the Negev Desert, a spot surrounded by terrain described as similar to a lunar or Martian landscape.

The Feinberg family from the Tel Aviv region drove for two-and-a-half hours for the display but the number of meteors, about one or fewer per minute, failed to truly light up the Ramon Craters dark night sky as in previous years.

We are here waiting for the stars to fall, the children are very impatient, said Eliran Feinberg, 42, who works for an air cargo company.

The Perseid meteors, which reach their peak every August, are produced by debris from the 109P/Swift-Tuttle comet that passes by the Earth every 133 years. It last passed in 1992.

Professor Rennan Barkana, head of the astrophysics department at Tel Aviv University, said this years shower was not as intense because the Earth had passed through a sparser part of the comets debris than previously and a smaller amount of particles had entered the atmosphere.

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The key element that makes the modern woman a symbol of strength, versatility and independence is being financially self-sufficient.

To establish her identity and individuality whether at home, work or society, it is imperative women free themselves from financial dependence; these platforms are helping women to gain financial independence hence making them assertive and empowered:

Momspresso

Momspresso is India's largest multilingual content platform that offers support to moms across the country. A blogging site where the content is created by, of and for mothers, helps not just in their journeys as parents but also in their lives as wives, daughters, and - most importantly - as women. Momspresso that also has a video-based content has so far has created earning opportunity through these blogs for 6000 mums who have driven a whopping 50,000 blogs across the seven languages. The company also helps brands like Dettol, Pampers, Mother Dairy etc. to influence their target audience i.e. Mothers through these blogs.

UrbanClap

UrbanClap.com is recognized as the fastest-growing startup in India. A mobile marketplace for local household services but provide an equally exciting opportunity for all the women. It provides a lucrative platform to all women where they can monetize their skills and knowledge by offering classes/ training/guidance to enthusiastic beginners and get paid for it. It also helps individuals with profiting out of their independent skills and create a business opportunity out of it.

JobsForHer

JobsForHer is an online connecting a portal which seamlessly enables women on a professional break to restart their careers and achieve their full potential. JobsForHer connects them with suitable job opportunities, reputed companies, and curated experts in a plethora of restart resources such as re-skilling, community building & networking, etc. The platform helps your mom choose jobs - whether full-time, part-time, or work from home - as per her convenience. JobsForHer's vision is to reverse female brain-drain from within the Indian workforce.

LiveMe

LiveMe is a live broadcasting and streaming platform that allows users to communicate with each other 'live'. There are many talented and creative woman artists who are gaining popularity by uploading their videos to the platform. The app allows fans to send virtual gifts to their idols which is easily redeemable via PayPal. LiveMe is not only helping women to become financially independent but also support their family, by providing top artists with the opportunity to work with them as a host in their live shows.

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Google has just released the source code for the official Google I/O 2018 for Android app.

The 2018 version constitutes an all-inclusive rewrite of the app. For many years, the app has used a ContentProvider + SyncAdapter architecture. This year, Google rewrote the app using Architecture Components and brought the code in sync with the Android team's current recommendations for building modern apps.

Architecture

Google has followed the recommendations laid out in the Guide to App Architecture for writing modular, testable and maintainable code when deciding on the architecture for the app. They kept logic away from Activities and Fragments and moved it to ViewModels. Google also observed data using LiveData and used the Data Binding Library to bind UI components in layouts to the app's data sources.

Google has used a Repository layer for handling data operations. IOSched's data comes from a few different sources  user data is stored in Cloud Firestore (either remotely or in a local cache for offline use), user preferences and settings are stored in SharedPreferences, conference data is stored remotely and is fetched and stored in memory for the app to use  and the repository modules are responsible for handling all data operations and abstracting the data sources from the rest of the app. If Google ever wanted to swap out the Firestore backend for a different data source in the future, their architecture allows us to do so in a clean way.

Google implemented a lightweight domain layer, which sits between the data layer and the presentation layer, and handles discrete pieces of business logic off the UI thread.

Google also used Dagger2 for dependency injection and we heavily relied on dagger-android to abstract away boilerplate code.

Google has used Espresso for basic instrumentation tests and JUnit and Mockito for unit testing.

Firebase

The use of Firebase technologies has grown in the app as the Firebase platform has matured. The 2018 version uses the following Firebase components:

Cloud Firestore is Googles source for all user data (events starred or reserved by a user). Firestore gave Google automatic sync and also seamlessly managed offline functionality for them.

Firebase Cloud Functions allowed Google to run backend code. The reservations feature heavily depended on Functions checking a user's status (only attendees were allowed to make reservations), checking space availability and persisting reservation status in Firestore.

Firebase Cloud Messaging let Google inform the app about changes to conference data on their server. Conference data is mostly static, but it does change from time to time, especially after the keynote. The app has traditionally used a ping-and-fetch model when working with conference data, and Google retained that usage this year.

Remote Config helped Google manage in-app constants. In previous years, Google had found themselves unable to inform users when data not directly related to the conference schedule  WiFi information, conference shuttle schedule, etc.  changed unexpectedly. Remote Config helped Google update such values in a lightweight manner.

Kotlin

Google made an early decision to rewrite the app from scratch to bring it in line with modern Android architecture. Using Kotlin for the rewrite was an easy choice: Google says they loved Kotlin's expressive, concise, and powerful syntax; and found that Kotlin's support for safety features including nullability and immutability made their code more resilient; and also leveraged the enhanced functionality provided by Android Ktx extensions.

Material Design

At I/O 2018, the Material Design team announced Material Theming, giving apps much greater ability to customize Material Design to bring more of their product's brand. As Google launched the app before Material Theming, they couldn't use all of the new components but has managed to sneak a couple in like the new Bottom App Bar with inset Floating Action Button and were able to incorporate a lot of the conference's branding elements.

Future plans

The rewrite of the app brings the code in sync with Android's opinionated recommendations about building apps, and it resulted in a cleaner, more maintainable codebase. Google will continue working on the app, incorporating JetPack components as they become available and finding opportunities to showcase platform features that are good fits for the app. Developers can follow changes to the code on GitHub.

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Independent music labels group Impala has called on EU antitrust regulators to block Sony Corps bid to become the worlds largest music publisher with its $2.3 billion offer for control of EMI, saying the combination would have too much market power.

Sony announced the deal in May, the boldest strategy move by its new CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, which would give it rights to 2.1 million songs from artists such as Drake, Sam Smith, Pharrell Williams and Sia.

The Japanese conglomerate, which currently owns a 30 per cent stake in EMI, wants to buy Mubalada Investment Cos 60 per cent stake. Last month, it acquired the estate of Michael Jacksons minority share of EMI.

The growing popularity of fixed-price music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, SoundCloud and YouTube has boosted the industry.

Sonys control of EMI would give it the power to do what it wants, said Helen Smith, Impalas executive chair.

The market needs big operators, but not when they are allowed to acquire so much power that they start to strangle it and squeeze out the independents who are the ones taking the risks, she said, adding that 80 per cent of new releases come from independent labels.

She said the deal would give Sony the clout to negotiate online rights for both it's recording and publishing catalogues, promote its global repertoire both on radio and in playlists, and be better able to attract songwriters with better terms.

There was also a risk that Sony might focus more on bigger-selling Anglo-American hits rather than local songs, Smith said.

Blocking seems to be the only outcome as it is difficult to see how remedies could help in this case, she said. Impala plans to submit its comments to the European Commission this week.

The EU competition enforcer cleared Sony and Mubadalas acquisition of EMIs music publishing business in 2012 in return for hefty concessions, including the sale of the worldwide publishing rights to four catalogues and the musical works of 12 composers.

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The biggest selling point of the chips is an improvement in so-called "ray tracing."

Nvidia Corp on Monday released a new generation of chips aimed at helping expand its business among movie makers and other graphics professionals.

At a gathering of graphics professionals on Monday, Nvidia rolled out its newest generation of chip technology, called Turing after the legendary British computer scientist Alan Turing.

The biggest selling point of the chips is an improvement in so-called ray tracing, or the ability for the chip to simulate how light rays will bounce around in a visual scene.

That task takes so much computing power that designers have to wait while a chip churns through the data to see the results of their work. Nvidia says the new generation of chips will let designers make those changes in real time, which could speed up the creative process - and which Nvidia hopes customers will pay a premium for.

Turing is Nvidias most important innovation in computer graphics in more than a decade, Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, said in a statement.

The Santa Clara, California-based companys shares have risen more than 50 per cent over the past year, backed by data centre chip sales that more than doubled to $1.9 billion its last fiscal year. Nvidias data centre chips power artificial intelligence tasks training computers to recognize images and are increasingly eating away Intel Corps growth opportunities.

And Nvidias biggest business, its consumer chips that let video gamers play with improved graphics, grew 35 per cent to $5.5 billion in its most recent fiscal year. That growth came from hot gaming titles such as Epic Games Fortnite and the fact that the chips were adopted by homespun cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

But Nvidias middle line of chips, aimed at graphics and design professionals who make films and other digital content, has not fared nearly as well, growing only 11.8 per cent last year to $934 million.

Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights and Strategy and a former chip executive, said Nvidia is likely looking to stave off competition from rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc, which is likely to target the same group of professional users with its new graphics chips next year. Nvidias existing strength in the data centre market and the high-end gaming market have left it most open to attack in the middle of the market.

Where Nvidia gets the biggest bump right now (from a new chip generation) is in the workstation market, which makes it all that more competitive, Moorhead said.

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The FBI had warned the public last week about such email scams. They also mentioned that they recently received a surge of reports about the sextortion issue. The bureaus Internet Crime Complaint Center said that victims have received such extortion attempts via emails and physical letters too.

A personalised email from a hacker landed up into our mailbox a few days ago, which claims that he has some explicit material of us watching porn on our desktop and also has managed to record a video from the webcam on our laptop. The hacker says that he has recorded a video using the webcam which shows us in a compromising position. The email later goes on to state that the hacker will faithfully delete all such evidence if we send him the desired money to his Bitcoin account. Failing to pay the ransom will make him send the video to all our friends and family members which are listed in our contacts, that he has gotten hold of. Lastly, he also states that we could approach the cops, but it would be useless.

What hit us is that the hacker mentioned about recording a video of us in a compromising position. The funny part is that we dont use laptops, and neither do we have cameras attached to our systems. While we ignored this email, it seems that we were not the only ones who were sent this email. The threatening email (sextortion) seems like a huge scam, where hackers are sending the same content to millions of people on their email address list. The list may have been procured from an online database, which is easily available from the dark web.

A similar article was online a few days ago, which mentions the hilarious incident that hit an 82-year-old mans mail box. His email read the similar lines, where the hacker demanded $7,000 to his Bitcoin account. The 82-year-old stated that he was married for 6 decades to the same woman and never watched porn in his life.

Similar incidents have been reported in the last few weeks where the hacker claims to have evidence of targets watching porn, cheating on their spouses, or otherwise behaving badly. The email includes personal information of the victim in order to make it seem more genuine and a personalized target. If the victim really watched porn, and if he had done anything that the hacker claimed, he would be fooled into paying up. Unfortunately, the hacker actually has nothing with him and has just scammed the victim into paying money to an anonymous Bitcoin account.

It is a hoax.

PilotOnline reported that Devon Ackerman, an associate managing director at Kroll, a cybersecurity and investigations firm claims the email is a big hoax. There is probably a small percentage that is true, but the current mailing campaign were seeing globally right now that Kroll is tracking is by far and large a hoax. It is very low tech. It is relying on human vulnerabilities, said Ackerman.

The FBI had warned the public last week about such email scams. They also mentioned that they recently received a surge of reports about the sextortion issue. The bureaus Internet Crime Complaint Center said that victims have received such extortion attempts via emails and physical letters too.

These types of scams are not new. The hacker/scamster sends out a mass email to millions of email addresses that he may have procured through illegal methods. Such database of email addresses, usernames and passwords, and a lot more personal information are easily available on the dark web for a small sum. The database is probably picked from a number of hacked websites in the recent past, especially high-profile breaches at major websites.

They put enough facts in the email to make you think they really have compromised the system, when in reality the usernames or the passwords or email addresses are just from other publicly available website compromises, Ackerman said.

PilotOnline also stated that Brian Krebs, a former Washington Post reporter who runs the news website Krebs on Security, reported the sextortion scheme has managed to trick dozens of people into paying anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, based on his review of Bitcoin addresses his readers received. Websites such as bitcoinwhoswho.com allow users to see transaction histories for Bitcoin accounts.

So if you are one of those who received a similar email, simply delete it and block the email address.

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The Note 9s Exynos variant will be launched in India while the Snapdragon variant will sell in selected international markets.

After launching the Galaxy Note 9 in international markets, Samsung is now readying itself to bring the flagship phablet to the Indian market. The company has already started pre-bookings for the device and has even made the prices official  Rs 67,900 for the 6GB/128GB variant and Rs 84,900 for the 8GB/512GB variant. However, industry insiders have now suggested that Samsung will unveil the Note 9 by next week.

According to a report from IANS, Samsung will launch the Note 9 on August 22. The report goes on to say that the Note 9s launch event will be one of the biggest in India, with top executives from Korea paying a visit. It is expected that like previous Samsung flagships, the Note 9s Exynos variant will be launched in India while the Snapdragon variant will sell in selected international markets.

The Galaxy Note 9 brings minor improvements over the Note 8. The new Note gets a more powerful S Pen with Bluetooth connectivity, a dual rear camera setup with variable aperture, a bigger 4000mAh battery, a new variant with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage and an upgraded chipset. It will sit above the Galaxy S9 and S9+ launched earlier this year.

(via)

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We can expect the Snapdragon 636 chipset instead of the 660 which is there on its elder sibling.

BlackBerry disappointed people who were anticipating the KEY2 owing to its high price compared to the features it offers. The KEY2 LE has been in the rumours for a while and this is giving slight hopes as it is expected to be a lower priced version of the KEY2.

TCL, the parent company of BlackBerry, has sent out an invite saying Save the Date mentioning August 30 to be the date of IFA event in Berlin. The company didnt say anything about the phone model to debut but speculations suggest it will be the Lite version of the KEY2.

By Lite, perhaps the company doesnt mean a smaller variant but it will come with specs a bit scaled down. We can expect the Snapdragon 636 chipset instead of the 660 which is there on its elder sibling and this might be coupled with a 4GB RAM.

The 3500mAh battery could be replaced with a smaller 3000mAh unit which would not be enough. Another element expected to be stripped down is the camera which could be a pair of 12MP and 5MP sensors (KEY2 has two 12MP sensors). However, what makes this smartphone worth waiting for is its useful and compact keyboard.

(Via)

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Yemeni children vent anger against Riyadh and Washington on August 13, 2018 as they take part in a mass funeral in the northern Yemeni city of Saada, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, for children killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition last week. (Photo: AFP)

Saada: Thousands of Yemenis vented anger against Riyadh and Washington on Monday as they took part in a mass funeral for children killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition.

At least 29 children were among those killed in the air raid Thursday on a bus in a crowded market in Dahyan, Saada province, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The mass funeral was held in Saada city, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, with images broadcast by the rebels' Al-Masirah television.

Around 50 vehicles brought coffins into a large square in the city.

The coffins were covered with green drapes and portraits of the victims were lined up on the ground, where relatives cried over them and the Islamic prayer for the dead was recited.

Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

"America kills Yemeni children," read several banners.

The Saudi-led coalition has taken part in Yemen's conflict since 2015 in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government in its fight against the Huthis.

The head of the rebels' revolutionary council, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, took part in the funeral and slammed the raid as a "crime by America and its allies against the children of Yemen".

The Huthis' health ministry said that 51 people were killed in the raids including 40 children.

It also said 79 others were wounded, including 56 children. Al-Masirah did not say how many victims were buried on Monday. Some families had already buried their loved ones, according to residents.

The coalition said Friday it would launch a probe to "assess the events (and) clarify their circumstances", while the United Nations Security Council has called for a "credible investigation".

The UAE, a key Saudi ally in the coalition battling the Huthis, on Monday said that both sides in the conflict had been to blame.

Anwar Gargash, the UAE's minister of state for foreign affairs, bemoaned the "ugly" side of war and played up the coalition's own probe into the strike.

"In this war we have seen civilians shot at, bombed, killed and, unfortunately, this is really part of any confrontation," he said in Dubai.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke by telephone on Monday, discussing topics including efforts by a UN special envoy to "to resolve the conflict in Yemen", the State Department said.

The war in impoverished Yemen has left nearly 10,000 people dead and unleashed what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has invited the warring sides to talks on September 6 in Geneva.
Amid high alert in Srinagar on the eve of Independence Day, a scuffle broke out between locals and a group of non-Kashmiri residents when the latter attempted to hoist the national flag near city centre Lal Chowk here on Tuesday.

Reports and eyewitnesses said as soon as the group of five to six persons tried to unfurl the national flag at Lal Chowk, people present there stopped them and a minor scuffle broke out.

However, the police reached the spot and detained the persons.

Superintendent of Police (Srinagar East) Dawood Ayoub while confirming the incident said a police team rescued the persons who had come to unfurl the flag.

It was not immediately known who the people were. Police Station Maisuma has taken cognizance of the incident and registered an FIR.

This is not the first time that such an incident has taken place at the historic Lal Chowk.

Last year, around a dozen activists of the right-wing Shiv Sena tried to hoist the tricolour at the clock tower but were detained by the police.

In 1992, when militancy was at its peak in Kashmir, the then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi, who was accompanied by some party colleagues, unfurled the tricolour at the historic place on the occasion of Republic Day.

Meanwhile, security across Kashmir was beefed up to thwart any possible strikes by the militants during Independence Day functions.

In Srinagar, the police and paramilitary forces are maintaining an extra vigil in the wake of escape of militants from a hide-out at Batamaloo.
The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal on Tuesday submitted its final recommendation to the Ministry of Water Resources.

The tribunal was constituted to share the Mahadayi river water among Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. The tribunal was formed in 2011 and is headed by Justice J M Panchal.

On Tuesday, the tribunal submitted its final order to the government and will give details of the award to party states by evening. The content of the final order is not yet known.

In its interim award, the tribunal had rejected Karnataka's plea to utilise 7.5 tmcft of water for drinking purposes in the twin cities of Hubballi- Dharwad, parts of Belagavi and Gadag districts.

There was a dispute between Goa and Karnataka on diverting the river water. While Karnataka was seeking to divert water for drinking purposes, Goa opposed this saying it would dry the Mandovi river, the lifeline of the coastal state.

(More details awaited)
It was an emotional moment for Makhani Devi, 70, to see her husband Gajanand Sharma (71) stepping down from a white car, after 36 years. The couple united in Jaipur on Tuesday, a day after Sharma was released from a Pakistani jail on Monday.

After spending nearly four decades in jail, Gajanand Sharma, a labourer from Jaipur, received a warm welcome on his home coming. Hundreds of crackers were burst and heaps of flowers were showered upon him. Apart from his family members, long queues of citizens of Jaipur and hundreds of media persons waited outside his house.

"Mujhe wapas aake bahut accha lag raha hai (It feels so good to return), Yahan sab badla badla sa lag raha hai (Every thing looks changed here)", these were the first few words Gajanand said while sitting next to his wife.

When DH asked how he felt upon his release, he said "I cannot thank him (God) enough". His wife Makhani Devi, who was draped in a red bhandej saree with lac bangles around her wrist just like a newly wed, told DH with teary eyes, "I feel it's my rebirth. The day is important just like my wedding day. Today is the festival of Teej and i feel lucky to have husband back in my life. From last few years I had stopped fast on Karva Chauth (fast kept by women for long life of husband). But today I have dressed up in full Shringaar for my husband." After her husband's disappearance, Makhani Devi worked as a peon in a private hospital and raised her two sons.

At the reception were his two sons and grand daughters and relatives, who put a garland around his neck and took blessings. Gajanand Sharma was traced on May 7 this year and it was confirmed that he is lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.

The Ministry of External Affairs had sent a query to the state intelligence to confirm the nationality and whereabouts of Sharma on May 1. The CID then forwarded the query to Samod police and found that Sharmas family had left Samod village and moved to Jaipurs Brahampuri area. And police finally confirmed Gajanands presence in the Pakistan jail.

On August 9, Gajanands family after meeting Union minister of state for external affairs V K Singh, with BJP MP from Jaipur Ramcharan Bohra and Hawamahal MLA Surendra Pareek in New Delhi, were informed that he will be released on Monday.

Sharma is among 30 prisoners, including 29 fishermen, who were released and handed over to Indian authorities.
The comfortable victory of the NDA candidate Harivansh in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson election last week has exposed the weaknesses and shortcomings of the opposition parties which are trying to put up a joint fight against the Narendra Modi-led BJP in the next elections. The ruling fronts victory is especially embarrassing for the opposition because the NDA is in a minority in the House. The government had, in fact, delayed the election because it did not want to lose it, but when it was finally held, it clearly outsmarted the opposition. It waited till it was confident that it could pull off a victory in an adverse situation and planned its moves accordingly. It scored in the first place with the choice of a candidate from an ally, the JD(U). A BJP candidate would not have been acceptable to some parties which voted for Harivansh. UPA candidate BK Hariprasad from the Congress did not have that acceptability with non-NDA, non-UPA parties which decided the outcome of the election.

The NDA victory was possible because parties like the BJD, the TRS and the AIADMK, which are not affiliated to the NDA, voted for its candidate and other opposition parties like the AAP, the YSR Congress and the PDP did not support the Congress candidate but abstained from voting. The BJP reached out to the neutral parties after creating a situation in which a party like the BJD, for example, did not have to vote for a party that it considers its rival in its state, Odisha. The BJP also managed to keep its rebellious ally, the Shiv Sena, and a disgruntled partner, the Akali Dal, on its side. The Congress could not persuade any party outside the UPA, like the AAP and the PDP, to support its candidate. The AAP had stated that it would vote for the UPA candidate if Congress president Rahul Gandhi spoke to its leader Arvind Kejriwal and sought the partys votes. The Congress has not explained why its leader did not do that. Some MPs of parties that supported the Congress did not turn up to vote for their candidate.

The BJP was quicker and more purposeful than the Congress, which was complacent, even haughty. It is not just an embarrassment for the Congress and its allies. With the position of the deputy chairperson going to the NDA, it may lose some of the advantage of numbers it has in the Rajya Sabha. This may only be a tactical setback for it, but the important lesson is that unless the opposition unites and is seen to be standing together, it cannot pose a challenge to the BJP in 2019.
Top BJP leaders B S Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar asserted on Monday that the biennial Aero India show would not be shifted out of Bengaluru.

BJP state president Yeddyurappa told reporters in Gadag that union ministers and MPs from the state would prevail upon the Centre not to shift the biennial Aero India show out of Bengaluru.

He said the Uttar Pradesh government had only appealed to the union government to organise the Aero India show to Lucknow. But no final decision had been taken on the matter.

The former chief minister said Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar were only creating confusions among the people on the issue.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar told reporters in Chamarajanagar that the air show would be held in Bengaluru and the news that it would be shifted to Lucknow was only a rumour.

He said The MPs and union ministers from Karnataka will not allow the shifting of the air show from Bengaluru at any cost.

The Defence Ministry has made it clear that the news of shifting the air show is just a rumour. Even the officials in Lucknow have said that they have no basic facilities to organise the air show and it is not possible to organise it in Lucknow, he said.
Uttar Pradesh may host its first Aero India show later this year.

According to sources here, the Uttar Pradesh government has already started preparations to host the show, which has been held in Bengaluru since its inception in 1996.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had, during his recent meeting with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a function in Aligarh, requested her to hold the Aero India in Lucknow.

Although there was no official word on shifting of the Aero India Show from Bengaluru to Lucknow so far, officials here appeared to be quite certain that it would be held in Uttar Pradesh though they refused to say anything on record.

Sources said that the show could be held at the Bakshi-Ka-Talab Air Force station, which is about 15 km from the state capital.

The event is scheduled to be held in the month of November.

Sources also said that a technical team had recently visited the Bakshi-Ka-Talab Air Force station reportedly to assess the feasibility for holding the mega event and submitted its report to the Defence ministry.

Apparently hoping to gain political mileage ahead of next years Lok Sabha elections, the BJP leaders here are also in favour of shifting the show to Lucknow.

The show will not only help in the branding of the state but will also boost the image of Adityanath...it will help us in the elections, said a senior state BJP leader here.

In Karnataka, both Congress and JD(S) leaders, including Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, have sharply criticised the Centre for shifting the show to Uttar Pradesh from Bengaluru.

One of the two defence corridors announced in the Union budget would come up in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.

It would pass through six districts of the state. The state government expects an investment of Rs 50,000 crore and provide employment to around 2.5 lakh people.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a public debate on the controversial Rafale deal, intensifying the partys campaign ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

If you (Modi) have the guts and the 56-inch chest, I challenge you for a debate on the Rafale deal, Gandhi told a rally here. But Modi wont be able to answer even for a second because he has stolen from the country.

Gandhi was addressing the Janadhwani (voice of the people) rally at the Nehru playground in Bidar city, which formally marked the start of the state Congress campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

The alleged corruption in the Rafale deal has become of one Congress main agendas going into the Lok Sabha elections.

The UPA had given the Rafale deal to HAL in Bengaluru, which has been making aircraft for 70 years. The deal also had the transfer of technology that wouldve given jobs to lakhs of aeronautical engineers. Our contract fixed Rs 526 crore for one aircraft. But Modi went to Paris, changed the contract and announced that India would buy 36 aircraft at Rs 1,600 crore each. Is this what the chaukidaar (security guard) does, Gandhi asked.

He alleged that Modi gave the Rafale deal to his friend Anil Ambani.

He said Ambanis company was born 10 days before the contract went to him. Anil Ambani has never built an aircraft in his life, Gandhi said.

Gandhi censured Modi for evading the Rafale issue during the recent no-confidence motion in Parliament. I will also repeat what I said in Parkiament  Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lied to Indias youth that India and France had a secrecy pact that did not permit revealing the price of each aircraft. But when I met the French president and asked him, he told me there was no such secrecy pact, he said.

Gandhi then turned to the issue of job creation. At a recent innovation conference, Modis strategy for employment was to point out how a dhabawala lay a pipe in a drain and drew gas from there. So, he wants you to cook pakodas, but wont give you gas, he said.

The Congress president gave a clarion call to party workers. I want you to tell every person in Karnataka about the Rafale deal.
SALT LAKE CITY  The State School Board's internal auditors plan to conduct an audit or survey to determine why growing numbers of Utah schoolchildren have opted out of standardized testing in recent years.

The proposal is not without controversy.

While debating the proposal Thursday, some board members said an audit would infringe on parental rights. Others argued the findings could reveal problems with assessments that could be addressed to encourage higher participation rates.

State law allows parents to opt their students out of statewide tests. In 2017, 5.9 percent of students elected not to take them, up from 3.1 percent in 2015. Thirteen percent of charter school students opted out in 2017.

The proposed audit would review school district and charter school opt-out rates and gather information about why parents and guardians elect not to have their children take part in the state testing program.

Board member Spencer Stokes urged state education administrators to tread carefully when asking parents why they allow their children to opt out of testing.

"I think this has the potential of being a ginormous PR nightmare," Stokes said.

In most cases, the board authorizes the scope of audits it wants its internal auditors to conduct. In this case, Stokes proposed  and the board agreed  that auditors could not proceed into the field until the state school board approved the methodology of the audit.

According to board documents, the audit is expected to take six to seven months to complete and require the efforts of up to three audit staff members.

Aside from methodology, board member Michelle Boulter said she objects to the notion of "auditing parents."

State law permits parents to opt out their students, she said. "They don't have to answer to us why they're exercising their parental rights."

But others, like board member Kathleen Riebe, said the audit would provide information needed to improve state testing and assessment procedures.

Auditors might learn that some parents of children with disabilities opt out because they do not believe that current accommodations give them a fair chance of performing as well as possible or it takes too long to take the tests.

If parents don't want to participate in auditors' surveys or interviews, they too have the option of opting out, Riebe said.

The board voted to refer the proposed audit to its audit committee, which is a subcommittee of board members. That committee will report on the audit or survey's methodology and the board will determine if auditors can proceed.

Utah's opt-out rate was a sticking point in obtaining the federal government's approval of the state's Every Student Succeeds Act plan, which is essentially an application for federal funding. Federal law requires a 95 percent participation rate.
SALT LAKE CITY  The State School Board is considering creating a student council of high school juniors and seniors to advise the board on a wide array of issues such as college readiness, school climate and at-risk behaviors including suicide.

A Utah State Board of Education committee on Friday endorsed a board policy that would create the student advisory council, which could include up to 15 members. The proposal must be considered by the full school board, possibly next month.

Kate De Groote, who is entering her senior year at Skyline High School, proposed the idea to Linda Hansen, the state school board member whose district includes the Granite School District.

De Groote told the full board on Thursday that student representation is vital.

"Students have a unique perspective. After all, we're the ones who personally know what goes on in high schools around Utah, and we provide insight that not even educators or administrators have. We know what works and what doesn't. We are the ones who witness school bullying and what kind of teaching is the best," De Groote said.

It is important that people in positions of power understand the effects of their decision-making, she said.

"Students provide an invaluable voice. There are only benefits in having our input. We're educated, aware of the issues and excited to speak for the 650,000 students in Utah schools," De Groote said.

De Groote, who serves as West Valley City's youth mayor, said she recently learned about student advisory councils from peers out of state whose states have either student state school board members or advisory groups.

"When I realized such a council didn't exist (in Utah), I brought up the idea to my board rep, Miss Hansen, and we have been working on this proposal along with others here at the state department of education ever since," she said.

Utah's state board is considering an advisory board model. In a few states, student members who serve on school boards are selected by their state governors and have full voting rights.

In Maryland, the student board member is appointed by the governor and the appointment is confirmed by the state Senate. The student can vote on most matters except disciplinary actions or certain appeals.

According to a spreadsheet prepared by State School Board staff, most states have some form of student advisers to respective state school boards. They are a mix of advisory councils and student board members, although most have no or limited voting rights.

The proposal before the Utah State Board of Education contemplates a student advisory council of eight 11th-graders and seven 12th-graders. The seniors will serve one term while the juniors would be asked to serve two, according to the proposal. Some local school boards also have student members.

Students have served on local school boards in Utah. The Salt Lake City Board of Education has had a nonvoting student member for at least 25 years.

In higher education, college students have served on the Utah State Board of Regents for more than 40 years.

Interested college students apply to the Utah Student Association, which are made up of the student body presidents of state colleges and universities. That group narrows the field to three candidates and submits their names to the governor for his or her selection. One student regent is selected each academic year.

Student regents have full voting rights, participate in presidential searches and serve one-year terms, said Melanie Heath, spokewoman for the Utah System of Higher Education.

The State School Board policy and application are a work in progress, so it is unclear if the advisory council will be in place during the coming school year.

The board has yet to determine how student board members will be reimbursed for mileage or offered per diem or lodging.

De Groote urged the State School Board committee to follow the lead of other states and move ahead with an advisory council.

"Many states already have student representation and utilize the power of student voices. They understand having students involved make communities and schools better places," she said.
Without question, the United States has military assets in space that are vital in the event of war. However, President Trump has yet to make a compelling case that these require the creation of a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.

Vice President Mike Pence discussed details of the White Houses plans last week, including the need for $8 billion over the next five years.

Americans, weaned on science fiction films, may envision a Star Wars-like cadet corps being trained to manage star fleets that keep peace in the solar system.

Such a thing may be necessary eventually, but its not needed today.

The military already has an active space presence. It uses satellites for reconnaissance, communication, the guidance of missiles and an early warning system for hostile missile launches. National security would be severely compromised if hostile forces destroyed any of these.

It would be wrong to suggest other nations arent actively looking for advantages in space. China has demonstrated an ability to destroy space assets, successfully targeting its own dead weather satellite a few years ago. Russia also has significant space technology. Its not hard to imagine space battles during a war. Certainly, the United States needs to maintain superior defense and retaliatory capabilities as a deterrent.

But the Air Force currently includes space protection as part of its portfolio. All operations involve unmanned craft. There is no current need for military personnel in space.

History ought to be a guide. The Air Force itself was a part of the Army during both world wars. It became a separate military branch in 1947, only when technological advances made it clear that a separate chain of command and training structure were needed.

The day may come when outer space operations advance sufficiently that a new branch is necessary. That day isnt here yet.

One other big consideration ought to give the nation pause before creating a Space Force.

A new branch of the military inevitably would set in motion a bureaucracy that would grow on its own. A new command would perpetually discover the need to expand.

While the United States has an obligation to maintain its military supremacy, it also cannot afford to take its eye off a growing annual deficit that is feeding an enormous national debt. It would be naive to suggest the military isnt already a large and unwieldy bureaucracy that is largely responsible for this deficit.

Left unchecked, the nations current annual deficits seem destined to create a fiscal crisis that would imperil the funding of all branches of the armed forces. The prudent move would be to work on reducing all federal expenditures and increasing revenues first, rather than initiating a dramatic expansion of an already enormously expensive governmental obligation.

The president needs congressional approval to create a new branch of the military. That isnt likely to come, at least in the short term. He may decide to create a U.S. Space Command instead, with a general in charge. This would be less ominous than a new military branch.

However, we would hope the president would enumerate a more detailed and convincing justification first.
SALT LAKE CITY  A viral petition on Change.org calls for Chick-fil-A to bring its restaurants to military bases across the country.

Emily Carby, a senior airman at Colorados Buckley Air Force Base, filed a petition on Change.org that asked for the restaurant chain to add a branch at military bases across the country, according to The Panama City News Herald.

Right now, close to 2,200 fast-food restaurants, such as Subway, exist inside U.S. military bases.

Carby wrote on the petition that she is calling on all military members, base workers and retirees to come together and ask the United States Government to consider contracting Chick-Fil-As on United States military installations.

She wrote she wants Chick-fil-A to provide healthier choices and variety to the menu options for military personnel, the News Herald reported.

Though this seems like a minute issue, I believe the signatures on this petition will speak for themselves in regards to how many members agree with this proposition, she wrote. Please consider.

The petition garnered more than 58,000 signatures Thursday. Thats about 25,000 signatures shy of the goal, which is 75,000.

Supporters include military spouses and base workers who say they want more healthy food options and that Chick-fil-A service aligns with military values, according to KWTX-TV.

A Chick-fil-A spokesperson told Fox News the chain has no plans to expand onto military bases at this time.

We will continue to look for ways to serve great food and remarkable service while supporting the military locally with events such as Military Appreciation Night, in-restaurant commemorations and more, the statement continued.

A spokesperson for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service declined to comment for Fox News.
SALT LAKE CITY  A group of Minnesota women got stuck in the weeds at a local lake while riding an inflatable unicorn float over the weekend.

The five passengers were stranded in Fish Lake in Chisago County when the unicorn float got stuck in a patch of weeds and couldnt move around. The women tried their best to move the float using their hands, according to FOX9-TV.

Police arrived on the scene and helped them exit the weed patch.

The Chisago County Sheriffs department shared a video of the police helping on Twitter.

Driving by a local lake we observed a bunch of women in a stuck in the weeds...Yes a rainbow unicorn... With a handful of laughs and some mad rescue roping skills they were pulled back to the dock! #wherestheglitter pic.twitter.com/qCyhfJqAa9  Chisago Co Sheriff (@ChisagoCountySO) August 11, 2018

No one suffered injuries during the incident.

And, yes, the unicorn made it back to the shore safely.

The story began trending nationwide, making headlines for Time magazine, Fox News and USA Today, among other national news outlets.

Twitter shared shock, awe and comedy over the incident.

Sometimes even unicorns need help.  M.A. Rosko (@MaryAliceRosko) August 12, 2018

The rainbow unicorn inflatable stuck in a mucky lake in Minnesota is an avatar of a generation pic.twitter.com/7Nw6Exhv6j  Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) August 13, 2018

Stuck in the weeds in murky water on a giant inflatable rainbow unicorn.



That's got to be a metaphor for this entire year. https://t.co/sHF9MCe8yp  Peter Daou (@peterdaou) August 13, 2018
Editor's note: A version of this was previously published on the author's website.

We had just called on a globular star cluster and Paul Ricketts wondered where our next adventure should take place. Knowing he likes nebulas, I suggested we try to photograph one. He chose a complex, sprawling, breathtaking example in the summer sky, the Eagle Nebula. Ricketts ordered the University of Utahs great 32-inch-diameter telescope to move toward the nebula, technically named Messier 16, known as M16, and the instrument began to shift position.

This was June 30, a Saturday night. A few members of the Utah Astronomy Club had joined Ricketts, of the U.s Department of Physics and Astronomy, for an excursion through the stars, courtesy of the Willard L. Eccles Observatory. Although the observatory is a green steel dome and control building atop the 9,550-foot Frisco Peak near Milford, Beaver County, the explorers sat comfortably in the South Physics Building on campus, 175 crow-miles to the northeast, while Ricketts sent commands by remote control.

The first target that session was M13, the dramatic globular cluster in the constellation Hercules. Like the Eagle, the Hercules Cluster is a famous highlight of the summer night sky. Globular clusters are dense balls of hundreds of thousands or a million ancient stars, held together by gravity for 12 billion years or even as long as 13.4 billion years. Since the universe erupted about 13.8 billion years ago, globulars are the oldest objects we can see easily. They orbit the centers of big galaxies, dipping into and out of the galaxy plane. Some of the Milky Way's estimated 150 globulars are so close and bright that they show up in binoculars as blurs. To the naked eye, a nearby globular looks like a fuzzy star.

The other known variety of star cluster, the open cluster, is almost the opposite of a globular. Its members can be young, having condensed recently from clouds of gas and dust within a galaxy, or as old as 8 billion years. Occasionally, wisps or dense clouds of the primordial nebula remain with some younger ones, while in their older siblings the original material has been used up or blown away by the stellar wind. An open cluster is localized inside a galaxy and far less densely crammed than a globular, typically with hundreds or a few thousand stars.

Open clusters generally are smaller than globulars. While the globular M13 is 150 light-years from side to side, an open cluster such as M35 may be 30 light-years across.

The Eagle Nebula is a remnant of gas and dust where stars are still emerging, stretching about 70 light-years by 55 light-years, NASA estimates. The sprawling nebula is in the constellation Serpens, the serpent, and is at its best position for Northern Hemisphere observation in July.

The Eagle's open cluster is "very young and it is embedded in a star-forming region" of the Milky Way, says a June 2016 study published by the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Cairo, Egypt. Scientists from that organization and Egypt's Computer Science Higher Technological Institute analyzed 78 CCD images to determine optical properties that helped date the cluster's stars. They found that the cluster is about 7,175 light-years away and around 3.6 million years old.

The most famous parts of the Eagle Nebula are what look like fingers stretching out in its center, a feature dubbed the "Pillars of Creation." Between 4 and 5 light-years long (twice the distance from the sun to the closest star), according to NASA, the "towering tendrils of cosmic dust and gas ... are part of an active star-forming region within the nebula" that "hide newborn stars in their wispy columns."

Hubble Space Telescope astronomers describe the pillars as "actually columns of cool interstellar hydrogen gas and dust that are also incubators for new stars. The pillars protrude from the interior wall of a dark molecular cloud like stalagmites from the floor of a cavern."

"A torrent of ultraviolet light from a band of massive, hot, young stars ... is eroding the pillar," explains the Hubble team. "The starlight also is responsible for illuminating the tower's rough surface. Ghostly streamers of gas can be seen boiling off this surface, creating the haze around the structure and highlighting its three-dimensional shape. The column is silhouetted against the background glow of more distant gas."

As stars continue to draw in and compress this gaseous material and as light from blazing new stars blows away the lighter gas and dust, the nebulosity will evaporate. Thousands of years from now, the Eagle Nebula should be reduced to a scattering of stars in an open cluster.

Through the evening, conversations ranged through topics such as exposure, car trouble, telescope setup, how to keep one's spouse happy while purchasing equipment, writing, processing software, science and lightning. Some of them like lightning. I don't. Of course, that prompted me to tell the story of how an airplane we were in was slammed by a bolt one night while flying over the Pacific heading toward the Philippines, knocking out an engine.

The feeling in that small section of the building was one of camaraderie, learning and deep appreciation of nature. To examine stunning sections of the cosmos was both humbling and uplifting.

Bryan Kay Carter and his wife, Lana, of Kaysville were among those attending. The session "gave us the opportunity to see the controls up close and have a discussion about what was happening," Bryan Carter noted after the meeting.

"I am relatively new to astrophotography, and I was very interested to see the setup. ... It was fascinating to watch the images come on the screen. Each one had a little more detail and it was amazing what can be seen with that scope! What an experience!"

Carter later assembled an impressive view of the nebula, using raw images that Ricketts put on line.

Spencer Hinckley, of North Salt Lake, said it's his "sincere hope that these events will continue in the future because it was an opportunity with my daughter. I believe every opportunity should be taken to teach a love of science, math, reading and art." Visiting with Ricketts and the group gave his daughter, Zoey Hinckley, 5, and him "an opportunity to stay up late talking about the stars."
SALT LAKE CITY  Utah isnt one of the best states to have a baby, according to a new WalletHub report released this week.

The Beehive State ranked as the 12th best state in the country in which to have a baby, ranking above Hawaii, Iowa and Rhode Island within the top 15.

Vermont topped the list, with Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire and North Dakota rounding out the top five.

Connecticut, Colorado, Nebraska, the District of Columbia and California all made the top 10.

On the other end, Mississippi finished as the worst state in which to give birth to a baby, securing low rankings for its health care, baby-friendliness and family-friendliness.

WalletHub ranked all states on four categories: cost, health care, baby-friendliness and family-friendliness. It used 26 different measures to compare each state, including such data as hospital conventional-delivery charges, annual average infant-care costs and pediatricians per capita.

The report hoped to show those having a baby that theres more at play than just the cost of giving birth.

Birthing costs, however, wont hit your wallet as badly in some states as they will in others. Expenses can vary significantly, considering the wide disparities in cost of living, according to WalletHub. They can also differ from one pregnancy to another, given that some women experience delivery complications. But theres more to think about than just cost. Some states provide better quality health care service and better environments in which to care for children.

Utah ranked among the top five states for having the lowest hospital cesarean-delivery charges. But, it also had the second-fewest child care centers per capita, according to the report.

Overall, Utah ranked as the 24th state in terms of cost and the 17th state for its health care options for those having a baby.

But the state did rank as the 10th-best state in the union for baby-friendliness. The Beehive State ranked 16th for its family-friendliness, though.

In July a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Utah as the sixth-best state in the country for child well-being, according to the Deseret News.

The Beehive State ranked first in the country for its family and community, which mainly ranked states on teenage birth rate, the amount of single-parent families and how many children live in poverty.

"(The findings are) really kind of a reflection on that fact that we have a relatively low percentage of children living in poverty in general," Terry Haven, deputy director of advocacy group Voices for Utah Children, told the Deseret News.
DRAPER  A master of his craft. A hero. Bright. Compassionate. An amazing athlete. A decorated career.

All these words were used Tuesday by friends and colleagues of Draper Fire Battalion Chief Matt "Matty" Burchett, 42, in remembering a man who touched so many lives. Burchett died at a California hospital Monday night while fighting one of California's many raging wildfires.

"He was special. He was a good, good soul. His footprints are all over this county, this state and several other states," said Unified Fire Authority Assistant Chief Mike Watson.

"Matt just led by example, was always the first to do something, never had to be asked to do anything, was always leading by example," said Unified Fire Capt. Jay Torgensen, one of Burchett's longtime friends.

"He got people to follow him because they wanted to be like him. He was an amazing man. He was an amazing example  just a quiet leader who motivated people by his actions."

"We are truly missing a great man who has given his life to the communities he took an oath to serve," added Unified Fire Chief Mike Petersen.

Burchett was in the Lake Pillsbury area of the Mendocino National Forest when he was injured Monday while fighting the Mendocino Complex Fire north of San Francisco, according to Draper Mayor Troy Walker.

Grid View The Holy Fire burns near homes in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

A firefighter battles the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest along a hillside at Temescal Valley in Corona, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Firefighters fought a desperate battle to stop the Holy Fire from reaching homes as the blaze surged through the Cleveland National Forest above the city of Lake Elsinore and its surrounding communities. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu, Associate

Hummer Estes watches a helicopter battling the Hat Fire, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Fall River Mills, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher

The Holy Fire burns in the Cleveland National Forest at a hillside near homes in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

A firefighter lights a back burn while battling the Hat Fire, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, near Fall River Mills, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher

A firefighter keeps watch on the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

Hummer Estes watches a helicopter battling the Hat Fire, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Fall River Mills, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher

The Holy Fire burns in the Cleveland National Forest at a hillside near homes in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

Bree Seville uses a small brush to sweep the stairs leading to burned out ruins of her fiancee's mother's home in the Keswick area of Redding, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. California is seeing earlier, longer and more destructive wildfire seasons because of drought, warmer weather attributed to climate change and home construction deeper into the forests. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher

Residents watch the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

The Holy Fire burns the backyard of a home in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2017, file image taken from video provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, spot fires burn near power lines as heavy smoke fills the air from a wildfire in Santa Barbara, Calif. California lawmakers raised concerns Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, that a proposal from Gov. Jerry Brown to shield electrical utilities from some financial liability for wildfires would give them too much protection without ensuring the utilities safely maintain their equipment. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP, File) Mike Eliason

Loretta Root wipes her eyes while visiting the remains of her home in the Keswick area burned in the Carr Fire, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Redding, Calif. "It's hard to see this," Root says of her family home. Several of Root's family members living nearby also lost their homes to the fire. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher

The Holy Fire burns in the Cleveland National Forest along a hillside at Temescal Valley in Corona, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

Firefighters keep watch on the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

A sheriff's deputy stands guard at a gate near a hillside as the Holy Fire burns in the Cleveland National Forest at Temescal Valley in Corona, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

Starla Davis cries as she packs a suitcase in her makeshift tent at an evacuation center Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Redding, Calif. Davis was living with a friend near Whiskytown and had to evacuate because of the Carr Fire. The evacuation center closes on Aug. 10. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher

A firefighter sets a backburn to fight the Holy Fire as it burns in the Cleveland National Forest along a hillside at Temescal Valley in Corona, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Firefighters fought a desperate battle to stop the wildfire from reaching homes as the blaze surged through the forest above the city of Lake Elsinore and its surrounding communities. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

Firefighters battle the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

Members of Cal Fire take pictures while a plane drops water on the Holy Fire in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2017, file photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, flames burn near power lines in Sycamore Canyon near West Mountain Drive in Montecito, Calif. California lawmakers raised concerns Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, that a proposal from Gov. Jerry Brown to shield electrical utilities from some financial liability for wildfires would give them too much protection without ensuring the utilities safely maintain their equipment. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP, File) Mike Eliason

A firefighter battles the Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

A firefighter keeps watch as the Holy Fire burns in the Cleveland National Forest along a hillside at Temescal Valley in Corona, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Firefighters fought a desperate battle to stop the Holy Fire from reaching homes as the blaze surged through the Cleveland National Forest above the city of Lake Elsinore and its surrounding communities. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Ringo H.W. Chiu

A family sits along the shore of Lake Elsinore as they watch the Holy Fire burn in the distance on Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Patrick Record

A haze of smoke blankets San Francisco Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. Public health and air quality experts say the smoke drifting over cities in California is lasting for a longer stretch than normal as some of the biggest wildfires in state history rage. (AP Photo/Lorin Eleni Gill) Lorin Eleni Gill

Traffic makes their way south on I-15 as ash from the Holy Fire fills the air on Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Patrick Record

King Bass, 6, left, sits and watches the Holy Fire burn from on top of his parents' car as his sister Princess, 5, rests her head on his shoulder Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. More than a thousand firefighters battled to keep a raging Southern California forest fire from reaching foothill neighborhoods Friday before the expected return of blustery winds that drove the flames to new ferocity a day earlier. (AP Photo/Patrick Record) Patrick Record

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said a tree fell on Burchett as he and others were fighting the fire downstream from a dam, according to the Press Democrat in Santa Rosa. Three others were injured.

Burchett was taken by medical helicopter out of the area and flown to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

About 40 firefighters from Salt Lake City, Draper, Murray, Lone Peak, Provo, Uintah City in Weber County and West Valley City left Utah on Aug. 2 to join more than 12,000 firefighters from throughout the country who are helping California firefighters.

Draper sent five firefighters to California for this mission and Unified sent one. Walker said all of them were pulled from the fire lines after Burchett was injured.

"They have been with him the entire time. He's had someone with him the entire time. They stood by their brother and have been with him the entire way," he said.

Those firefighters are now being sent home, according to Walker. The other Utah firefighters have reportedly been pulled off the lines and put up in a hotel until a determination can be made about whether they should also be sent home, according to Unified fire officials.

Burchett joined the Draper Fire Department in May after serving the Unified Fire Authority for 20 years.

He joined Unified's wildland division in 1995 and became a full-time firefighter in 1999, said Petersen. He became a wildland specialist in 2000 and in 2003 was part of the recovery effort for the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, he said. Burchett became a captain in 2009, began training other firefighters in 2011 and moved into the Emergency Management Division in 2016.

But his "true love and passion" was wildland firefighting, Petersen said. "He possessed an incredible knowledge and wealth of experience in this area."

In 2017, Burchett was sent to California to act as a liaison between that state and all of the Utah firefighters sent to the region.

"He trained and kept safe hundreds of wildland firefighters. He got firefighters out of situations," said Watson. "He was amazingly skilled. He was always thinking ahead. He was thinking days ahead. That's how good he was.

"Matty had many, many, many friends.  He kept many, many, many firefighters safe," he said.

Watson said he will miss Burchett dearly as he recalled how the battalion chief always had a gleam in his eye and an infectious grin.

Draper Fire Chief Clint Smith, who was out of the country on Tuesday, issued a prepared statement.

"Draper City Fire Department has no words to describe the depth of sorrow we are feeling," the chief said. "Matt is a true hero who has given the ultimate sacrifice while serving others."

Burchett is survived by a wife and a 7-year-old son. He also has a brother who still works for Unified fire.

While he remembers his friend as a great firefighter, Torgensen said what really made Burchett great is the person he was when he wasn't working.

"Most of all, the thing I admired about Matt the most is the amazing family man that he was," Torgensen said before pausing as he fought back tears. "What a great example he was as a father, a husband, sibling and a son. I've spent a lot of time with his family and he's an example of how to live your life."

"This is not only a loss for our Draper Fire Department but a loss for all fire departments in the nation," said Walker. "As you can imagine, our hearts are very heavy this morning as we digest what is tragic news for us."

Draper Fire Battalion Chief Bart Vawdrey knew Burchett for two decades.

"It's tough. Any time you lose a brother it's hard," he said.

As news of the firefighter's death spread, messages of condolence were posted by fire departments across the state as well as from state and county officials and law enforcement agencies on social media.

"We are devastated to hear about the loss of this selfless firefighter and hero. Our hearts are with his family and friends today," Gov. Gary Herbert tweeted Tuesday morning.

He followed that tweet up a few hours later with one that says: "Today is a sad day in Utah. We are heartbroken for the family of (Draper) Fire Battalion Chief Matt Burchett, who gave his life heroically fighting a fire in Northern California. Chief Burchett's wife and son will be in our minds, hearts and prayers today."

"Our hearts are breaking as we announce the loss of one of Draper City's firefighters in the Mendocino Fire last night. Words cannot explain how it feels to lose a true hero. We sent five of our team members to California to battle these terrible fires. A very sad day in Draper," the city of Draper tweeted.

Utah Fire Info, the group providing information on many of Utah's wildfires, tweeted a picture Tuesday from the Coal Hollow Fire of firefighters there holding a moment of silence.

At Draper City Hall and Draper Fire Station No. 22, where Burchett was stationed, American flags were placed around the perimeter of the property as flags on poles were set at half-staff.

California Gov. Jerry Brown also ordered flags at the California state Capitol building to be flown at half-staff in honor of Burchett.

"Firefighters from across the nation  and world  have selflessly battled California's massive wildfires, and sadly today we mourn the loss of one of those heroes," Brown said.

But neither Vawdrey nor Walker believe Monday's tragedy will deter local firefighters from going back to California or any other state that needs them when duty calls.

"This is a job that we love. We got into this profession to help people and Matt jumped at the chance to go assist in California and I think anybody in our department would do the same," Vawdrey said.

"I mean, these men are American heroes," Walker added. "They go out, they literally stand in the fire to help other people. I don't know how you get better than that."

Torgensen said it's difficult for him to wrap his head around the tragedy.

"I couldn't believe it. I absolutely couldn't believe it. We know there's a certain amount of risk with our jobs. You don't go to work thinking that sort of thing is going to happen. That No. 1 thing on our mind is safety, and I know that's always the No. 1 thing on Matt's mind is safety, going home to his family.

"I just, can't believe it."
SALT LAKE CITY  A 17-year-old boy was charged as an adult Tuesday with shooting a bystander in the foot during a confrontation with a rival gang member.

Vincine Irizzary Jr., of Salt Lake City, is charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a second-degree felony, and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony. The charges are subjected to gang enhancements at sentencing if convicted, court records state.

On Dec. 30, Irizzary and a 16-year-old boy saw another car drive by a 7-Eleven, 2700 S. State, and gang signs were exchanged, police say. The car then pulled into the 7-Eleven parking lot and both teens opened fire, the charges state.

A 32-year-old man who was getting into his car in the parking lot was shot in the foot, the charges state.

Unified police assisted South Salt Lake in surrounding the area and brought in a police K-9 to locate them. The teens were found hiding in a shed of a nearby residence and were arrested.

Charges were pending Tuesday against the 16-year-old.
SALT LAKE CITY  The University of Utah is shouldering the growing costs of the proliferating use of SafeUT app, which provides real-time crisis intervention to youths, according to a legislative report.

For the 2018 fiscal year, the Utah Legislature appropriated $550,000 in ongoing education funds to support the app, which connects users, largely public school students, to licensed crisis workers at University Neuropsychiatric Institute.

"To date, the university has expended $785,900 due to the need for additional staff required for the support and rollout of the app. The university has absorbed the difference in funding to continue this initiative," the report states.

As of May 15, the U. spent $235,900 above the funding appropriated by the Utah Legislature, according to a report heard by the Utah Legislature's Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday.

Legislative fiscal manager Spencer Pratt recommended that the committee determine a "correct funding level" for the initiative.

"We just recommend that the Legislature either determine that $800,000 is the correct amount or tell the University of Utah that $550,000 is all you're going to get and if you want to spend more, that's fine," he said.

Kathy Wilets, spokeswoman for University of Utah Health, said the university's IT department is budgeted to cover some costs associated with the app "but everything else, we're covering and not necessarily budgeted for, particularly at the level that's been required because of the success and high use of this app."

The need for services is ongoing and growing "so the ultimate goal is to have funding so we can staff and plan for this app," she said.

The university is working toward a sustainable funding source for SafeUT "and we're working with our partners at the local level and the federal level to achieve that goal," Wilets said.

The U.'s written response to the committee states, "It is hard to put a price on the value of preventing youth suicide and planned school attacks. The social, emotional and financial losses which ensue from youth suicide or active shooter scenarios is such that if we are able to prevent one of these devastating events from occurring by funding SafeUT, these dollars are well spent."

The SafeUT staff has received 356 tips dealing with 207 unique potential school threats, Wilets said.

According to the legislative staff report, SafeUT crisis workers average two active rescues per week among students experiencing crises.

The SafeUT Crisis Text and Tip Line provides 24/7 crisis intervention to youth through texting and a confidential tip program via smartphone. The cellphone app can be downloaded free from Apple's App Store or Google Play.

Numbers of chats and tips reported via the SafeUT app grew from 994 in 2016 to 26,175, according to figures released during a press conference in April.
SALT LAKE CITY  Almost exactly one year ago, Amy Daeschel, 40, was arrested for outstanding warrants the while living for two years on "the block"  where drug addicts and drug dealers would mingle among Utah's homeless population in Salt Lake City's most infamous neighborhood.

It was her seventh arrest while in the throes of opiate addiction, a cycle that she said started with pain pills prescribed after a routine surgery, spiraled into heroin and methamphetamine use, and would continue with each arrest. Each time, she said she would spend a couple months in jail before she'd be back on the street, sleeping on tarps.

She said she wouldn't sleep at the Road Home's downtown shelter because the streets were safer.

"I was alone," Daeschel said. "I had no hope. I was to the point of begging, wishing, praying to God that the next shot would kill me."

But then that seventh arrest happened on Aug. 23, 2017. "This time, it was different," she said.

Daeschel told her story to a room full of state, city and county leaders Tuesday, who gathered in a storefront in The Gateway mall to mark the one-year anniversary of the beginning of Operation Rio Grande  the multiagency effort to root out crime in the Rio Grande neighborhood and to help the state's homeless.

As Daeschel spoke, some in the audience sniffed and wiped away tears. She told of how overdoses almost took her life  twice  even though she had previously lived a "normal life" with a career, a family and faith.

"I was broken. I had nothing," she said.

But Tuesday, now almost a year sober from the date of her seventh arrest, Daeschel said she's now living in her own apartment, works at a Volunteers of America detox center, and volunteers with other recovery programs.

"I know for a fact I would not be alive without Operation Rio Grande," she said.

Daeschel received standing applause from community leaders when she concluded her story, including Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, House Speaker Greg Hughes, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, and top law enforcement leaders  all players in Operation Rio Grande's launch 12 months ago.

The estimated $67 million operation has been lauded as a revolutionary way to root out crime around the downtown homeless shelter  a shift from previous crime sweeps and a more concerted effort to integrate treatment and work opportunities to help connect people to services.

Leaders gathered Tuesday to report on successes of Operation Rio Grande's first year  but to also identify the shortfalls.

"There is no 'mission accomplished' banner hanging behind us," Cox said, noting that along the way leaders have found "problems, roadblocks and impediments we knew would be there."

For decades, community leaders have tried to clean up Pioneer Park and the Rio Grande neighborhood, Cox said  and "it's not something that, again, will be solved last year or this year or next year."

"But the important thing for me is we're making progress," he said.

Some of the successes:

 Part one crime (more serious felonies) in the Rio Grande neighborhood had decreased by 44 percent, according to Salt Lake police estimates.

 Salt Lake County added 243 new residential treatment beds to target drug addiction.

 About 784 people have entered treatment through Salt Lake County contracts, including 132 who have entered through a new drug court program.

 Road Home average shelter stays have decreased from 48.5 days in 2017 to 43.5 days in 2018.

 About 106 people have become employed with the support of the operation's employment counselors, according to the Department of Workforce Services.

But state, city and county leaders also admit there are areas that need improvement, such as ongoing "dispersion" with crime being pushed into other areas of Salt Lake City, jail capacity, safety issues inside the downtown shelter, long waitlists and unmet demand for treatment, lack of capacity for criminal justice treatment programs, and lack of health coverage for the needy.

So while officials acknowledged successes over the past year, they also discussed the various weaknesses and discussed what will come next for Operation Rio Grande over the next 12 months.

Biskupski and McAdams  who have both long been advocates of full Medicaid expansion  advocated for more Medicaid dollars to help address long waitlists for treatment and to expand mental health care options for people who continue to struggle. The two Democratic mayors have sought full Medicaid expansion for years, while state leaders, wary of budget uncertainties, have been reluctant to go beyond approving partial Medicaid expansion.

Daeschel, too, advocated for more focus on treatment.

"We need more funding, more nonprofit treatment-based facilities that focus on the issues, not the behavior," she said. "Facilities that focus on the client and not the bottom line."

"We need to rally as a community," she said. "The epidemic is here, whether we want to avoid it or not."

Operation Rio Grande has been a good start, but "we've just scratched the surface," she continued. "This is just one program of many we need to roll out to be able to even make a dent in this problem."

The calls for more come as Utah approaches November's election when voters will decide whether to implement full Medicaid expansion. Either way, however, state officials expect more health care dollars, as a result of the partial expansion the Utah Legislature passed during the 2018 general session.

With that extra funding, Salt Lake County officials plan to expand the number of beds in October, and also to meet with the Department of Workforce Services to address the shortage of detox resources and discuss the possibility of making social detox a service covered under Medicaid.

For treatment options, County officials also plan to expand the sober living network by meeting with more eligible sober living providers, as well as forming a steering committee to increase capacity for structured criminal justice treatment programs.

A new Volunteers of America detox and residential treatment center is also slated to open next year to increase treatment resources, officials said.

Other next steps include continued deployment of public safety officials to target dispersed crime, enhanced security inside the Road Home's shelter, coordination between agencies to address jail bed capacity, and continued Department of Public Safety attacks on drug cartel networks.

For work opportunities, Department of Workforce services officials laid out plans to begin more programs to connect job seekers to jobs, as well as coordinate with drug court programs or treatment providers to help people who might not want change or aren't ready for work.

State officials also discussed the June 2019 closure of the Road Home's downtown shelter, including ongoing safety concerns and plans to work with the shelter's owner, Shelter the Homeless, to integrate the three new homeless resource centers under into Operation Rio Grande programs.

As for the operation's estimated $67 million cost, the budget includes both repurposed funds that were already allocated to existing state agency budgets and new revenue to the tune of about $15 million in one-time funds that was allocated by the Utah Legislature this year.

Cox said that he was somewhat "concerned" that both Niederhauser, R-Sandy, and Hughes, R-Draper, who have been faithful supporters of Operation Rio Grande, will be leaving their posts at the end of the terms this year, so there will need to be efforts to maintain the legislature's commitment when the time comes to ask for continued revenue next session.

"It will be important to keep that continuity where we can," Cox said, nothing Tuesday would not mark the last Operation Rio Grande meeting.

"We are not finished," Cox said. "We are moving forward."
SALT LAKE CITY  A man who claimed he was trying to steal gas when he accidentally lit a large fire at a Hertz rental car lot at the Salt Lake City International Airport has been charged.

Eduardo Hidalgo Fuenzalida, 27, of Salt Lake City, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with criminal mischief, a second-degree felony; reckless burning, a class A misdemeanor; trespassing, a class B misdemeanor; and theft, a class B misdemeanor.

On July 6, 19 cars were damaged by fire in the Hertz lot at the airport, 776 N. Terminal Drive, causing more than $500,000 in damage, according to charging documents.

Airport police reviewed surveillance video and spotted a man walking through the parking lot who also accessed the economy lot "through gate arms that are typically used by employees of the car rental agency," the charges state. Another video showed the man's car license plate, which was registered to Fuenzalida.

A manager at GCA Services at the airport told police that Fuenzalida used to be an employee, according to charging documents.

When interviewed by detectives, Fuenzalida said he went to the Hertz lot to steal gas, the charges state. First he tried to siphon it. "He then decided to get under the car and drill into the gas tank with a power drill," court documents state.

While doing this, gas spilled onto the drill and a fire ignited, the charges state. Fuenzalida got out from under the car, extinguished his pants and shirt that were on fire, gathered his belongings and left, according to the charges.

"Fuenzalida explained he did not attempt to put out the fire or report the fire because he was scared and saw the fire growing in size," the charges state.
Is Meghan Markle's Mother Planning To Move To The England?

Meghan Markle continues to be in limelight since her wedding with the Prince. And the rumours and the controversies surrounding Meghan Markle refuse to die down. According to recent reports, Meghan Markle's mother Doria Ragland is reportedly planning on moving to the U.K. for good.





As per a report in a daily, Ragland is planning to move to Britain in time for her 62nd birthday which is next month. Doria wants to be with daughter Meghan Markle at that time. It is even said that she will be living near her daughter and son-in-law. There is no doubt in saying that Meghan is very close to her mother. She was the only member of the family to attend the royal wedding.





Ragland's LA neighbourhood had also told a daily that she was very impressed by the royal family. It was added that she fell in love with England and revealed that she believes that she can happily live there. Apart from this, rumours are also doing the rounds about Meghans family. However, there is no confirmation from the side of the Royal family.





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Source: img1.thelist.com
Sanju Sivram To Play A Cop In Telugu-Odiya Movie

Sanju Sivram seems all set to perform in Tollywood again. After playing a Naxalite in National Award-winning director Rajesh Touchrivers Telugu movie Raktham, he will next be seen in Rajeshs Patnagarh film. The actor will play a police officer in a bilingual film made in Telugu and Odiya.





The film is based on a real-life incident of the Patnagarh parcel bomb case, which claimed the lives of a newly-married man and his relative in Odisha. Talking about the character, his character, Sanju says, My character Shekhar is part of the investigation team led by Atul Kulkarni, who enacts Crime Branch IG Arun Bothra. The team investigates the wedding gift blast incident.





Patnagrah bombing is a sensational case that happened in Odishas Patnagarh in which a 26-year-old newly-wed software engineer Soumyasekhar and his great-aunt were killed by a parcel bomb which was sent as a wedding gift. Soumyas wife Reema was seriously injured in the incident. After months of investigation, police arrested a colleague of Soumyas mother whom she had replaced at the college where she taught. Other than this, The film also has a popular Ollywood actor Manoj Mishra playing an important role.





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Source: secure-media1.hotstar.com
The CEO of Kenyan market leader Safaricom has stated that the operator has no plans to react to Airtel Kenyas imminent halving of its cross-network calling fees.

Safaricoms Bob Collymore has told members of the Kenyan press that he can see a price war coming after Airtel announced its cuts, but noted that Safaricom must maintain a sustainable business, and therefore would not lower its tariffs in response. He added that the operator was prepared to cede some of its (majority) share of the mobile market.

Collymores comments come on the back of his return from a leave of absence. Last week, he spoke to a National Assembly Committee investigating competition in Kenyas market in order to decry proposals that he claimed were punitive towards Safaricom and its subscribers.

Despite the committees investigation, the Communications Authority of Kenya has supported Collymores assertion that Safaricoms market dominance is not detrimental to competition in Kenya.

Collymore also spoke on the subject of security, with Kenyas Business Daily reporting that Safaricom is increasing the amount of subscriber data that it collects, which it claims will improve security. To this end, the operator is also testing biometric technologies for identity verification, including fingerprint scanners.
As part of their shared mission to boost financial inclusion throughout Nigeria, Oradian and the Association of Non Bank Microfinance Institution of Nigeria (ANMFIN) have launched a strategic partnership.

Princess Adesola Ogunleye, the President of ANMFIN, said: The partnership will enable all of our MFIs to move to Oradians cloud-based solution, helping our members to save time and money through more efficient, digitised processes - no more manual input of data. We and our members are very excited to improve administrative process, reduce high operational costs and offer digital financial services across the country.



Launching ANMFIN Cloud Express expands the range of solutions that Oradian offers in Nigeria. Antonio Separovic, CEO of Oradian, said: "Nigeria was Oradian's first market when we started six years ago and we remain committed to solving the financial inclusion challenge here. This is a long-term partnership that is an important step towards this goal".



The partnership will enable ANMFIN to promote access to financial services for Nigerian clients on a larger scale by using ANMFIN Cloud Express, a core banking system specially built for ANMFIN and its microfinance institution (MFI) members. ANMFIN Cloud Express, powered by Instafin, is a cloud-based toolset tailored to enable smaller Nigerian microfinance institutions (MFIs) to benefit from a cloud-based solution.



Oradians Programme Director for Africa, Onyeka Adibeli, said: ANMFIN Cloud Express enhances MFIs ability to manage all operations including client relationships, transactions, portfolio management and reporting in the same way that large banks do - but at a fraction of the cost. We are removing the barriers that prevent MFIs from using the right technology to serve their clients and to strengthen their operations.



With a cost and a system tailored for the needs of smaller MFIs, Oradians partnership with ANMFIN enables more financial institutions to take advantage of technology to become more efficient, grow and reach more unbanked individuals in rural communities.
The smartphone landscape in India has changed drastically over the past few years. After China, India is the go-to market to find a smartphone success story. Today, India is not just one of the largest smartphone consumer markets in the world, it is also a country where these devices are produced. With the government's push to "Make-In-India", we have seen a reduction in duties and an uptake in benefits for manufacturers making phones in India. We have also seen global giants like Foxconn and Wistron set up manufacturing/assembling plants in India.

From Xiaomi's smartphones and power banks to OnePlus entire portfolio of smartphones, India has emerged as a manufacturing hub of choice for global technology giants and startups alike. Even some older iPhones are now made in India by Apple, while its competitor Samsung recently inaugurated the world's largest smartphone assembly plant in the country. The new Samsung factory is said to double the company's current mobile phone manufacturing capacity of 67 million to 120 million, by 2020. Other smartphone makers like Lava, Micromax, Celkon, Intex, iBall, Karbonn, and more have also been making phones in India for a while now. Nokia is also expected to manufacture components in India. Ajey Mehta, Vice President India, HMD Global, recently said. Until this year, we imported all our components and assembled them here. Now we will be manufacturing some of the components in India as well... next year more, and the year after that even more. Its going to be a phased manner in which we start switching to component manufacturing also.

Needles to say, India has a sizeable infrastructure when it comes to making phones. While most phones are currently only assembled in India and not manufactured from scratch here, the day is not far when we will see semiconductors and SoCs being manufactured in the country. It's just a matter of time.

China's Xiaomi has already said that the company will have locally assembled printed circuit boards (PCB) by the third quarter of 2018. We have started manufacturing PCBs in India. The aim is that 100 percent of the devices manufactured in India have locally assembled on manufactured PCBs by the third quarter (July-September) this year said Xiaomi VP and India Managing Director Manu Jain.

So yes, the dream of a smartphone 100% made in India isnt a far-fetched one.

As per a report by the ICA (Indian Cellular Association), India is now the second largest manufacturer of smartphones in the world. According to the data shared by ICA, annual production of mobile phones in India increased from 3 million units in 2014 to 11 million units in 2017. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also made some recommendations for promotion of local manufacturing in India. The TRAI wants the telecom manufacturing sector in India to be less "import-dependent" and instead, focus on being a global hub for local manufacturing. The regulatory body has recommended that India should have "net zero imports of telecommunication equipment" by 2020.

Commenting on the same, Broadband India Forum made a key point saying, Today, Indias domestic manufacturers remain largely reliant upon the innovations and standards set up by the international players and organisations. Consequently, Manufacturing value added (MVA) by Indian manufacturers, either OEMs or ODMs, is relatively small due to high dependence on imported components and completely built up phones. Considering rapid increase in smartphone penetration from current levels and large dependency on imports, a slew of measures around making India a Global R & D hub, having a robust IPR framework, focus on exports etc is crucial for Govts flagship project - Make in India. There are some facts to support this recommendation. A 2017 story in the Hindu Business Line reads - Nearly 95 per cent of revenues generated from selling locally assembled phones goes back to China from where components for the product come. This is because the parts which are assembled in India are imported from China. The story goes on to say, The total value of mobile phones sold in India in 2016 was about $12 billion (cost to manufacturer) on a retail value of $16 billion. Of this, only $650 million worth of value-addition was done locally. That comes to 5.6 per cent. Vietnam has a value-addition of 35 per cent, Brazil 17 per cent while China has more than 70 per cent.

With the increase in component manufacturing in India, this value add should increase considerably in the years to come. For now, there are a number iof popular smartphones that find their roots in India. Today we will take a look at some of the best phones that are made in India.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5/Note 5 Pro/ Mi A1

Xiaomi has quite a large portfolio of smartphones in the budget segment. But the budget king has always been Xiaomis Redmi Note series of devices. Since the days of the Redmi Note 3 all the way to todays Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro, the smartphones bring with them design, features and specifications that can punch way above their asking price. From a metal build, dual camera and the latest operating system, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is a great example of why you dont need to spend a fortune on a smartphone.

The Mi A1 was Xiaomis first foray into the world of stock Android in 2017 and was quite the success story becoming Digits best phone under 15k at one point. Needless to say, its successor is one that we liked too.

Xiaomi also assembles its 10000mAh and 20000mAh power banks in India. You can read more about it here.

Xiaomi has a total of six smartphone manufacturing plants in India. Smartphones and power banks are assembled in partnership with Hipad Technology in Noida. There are three smartphone plants, in partnership with Foxconn, located across Sri City, Andhra Pradesh and a new campus in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.

Honor 7X/9 Lite

Another company that has a large portfolio of smartphones in India is Honor. An interesting fact to note is that the Honor 7X was available cheapest in India compared to its global price which is commendable. Honor has worked at making a unique space for itself in the crowded smartphone market. Taking the trend of AI and selfies head on, the Honor 7X brought with it an interesting set of features including a sturdy build. The 9 Lite brought with it a dual-camera setup in the front and a dual-camera setup at the back, ensuring there was no excuse for you not to click a lot of pictures. In our review of the Honor 9 Lite, we said that the smartphone brings with it the latest from the world of Android along with a premium design and Full HD+ display. Sadly, the camera didnt live up to the hype for us.

The Honor 7X is manufactured at Flex's plant in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai

Nokia phones

Making a comeback under the HMD umbrella Nokia has an interesting portfolio of devices catering to the budget user all the way up to the premium smartphone customer. The Nokia 3 brought with it a polycarbonate build making it quite the sturdy budget device whereas the Nokia 6 was made from a single block of aluminium. The specs on paper of the device may not wow you but the promise that the phone is functional and will receive timely updates is a factor thats more important to some.

Nokia phones are manufactured at the Foxconn plant near Chennai.

Moto G5/G5 Plus

Motos G series of smartphones have always been functional and ideal for those looking for a simple smartphone experience. The G5 and G5 Plus brought with them a functional design, stock Android UI with a hint of useful moto features and the G5 Plus even sported a dual camera setup.

Moto phones in india are assembled at Flexs facility in Chennai

Jio Phone

Services such as streaming content, social networking and banking on your phone are features that need you to have a smartphone. If there is one company credited with changing that, it is Reliance. With the launch of the JioPhone, the company ensured that everyone had access to content on the go and a smartphone wasnt necessarily a requirement to access certain features online, including some popular apps. Jios 4G and VoLTE services also ensured that the cost of data plans and the amount of data available to users in India was redefined.

BlackBerry Evolve/EvolveX

The BlackBerry Evolve and EvolveX smartphones are designed and manufactured at Optiemus Infracom's Noida facility. The Evolve will be available from the end of August whereas the EvolveX will be available from September. Both the smartphones may not have state of the art SoCs under the hood, but these phones are aimed at the business man for whom things like security, a good typing experience and overall build quality are important. Whether the devices stand tall for these requirements is something we will tell you when we review the smartphones.

iPhone SE/6S

Once upon a time, Apple would launch their smartphones a year later in India. Today, the difference in launch window between the US and India is a matter of weeks. Thats how important a market India is for Apple. With the make in India initiative, Apple started the assembly of the iPhone SE followed by the assembly of the iPhone 6S in India. The latest iPhones in India are the 8, 8 Plus and the iPhone X with the next gen iPhones just around the corner. We are still waiting for newer iPhones to be made in India.

iPhones in india are assembled at the Wistron facility in Bengaluru

Samsung phones  entry level to the flagship

With the inauguration of its largest mobile factory, Samsung is expected to roll out 120 million devices from its Noida facility by 2020. This facility will be home not only to the companys budget devices, but flagship offerings as well. It still needs to be noted that the devices are assembled in India. Samsung pipped Xiaomi in the smartphone shipments for Q2 2018 as per counterpoint. According to the report, Samsung surpassed Xiaomi with 29 per cent market share in the second quarter of 2018. This is because counterpoint also takes into account shipment of components to make phones. So when Samsung ordered a huge shipment of components to India for the Noida facility, they managed to gain ahead over Xiaomi in that quarter.

Micromax Canvas Infinity

There are a number of home-grown companies that make smartphones in India, but Micromax is one of the few that has launched devices that aim to keep up with changing smartphone trends. At its launch, back in August 2017, we said that the Canvas Infinity was the best-looking phone under the 10k price point. It had a dependable battery life along with a decent camera. The UI though, was something we werent fond of. Micromax is a company that has had a rollercoaster ride in India. Once upon a time, the market was flooded with Micromax devices. Micromax was also one of the budget smartphone makers to implement Gorilla Glass on the smartphones display. Its been a while since weve seen a device from Micromax stir up the market, but we do wish the company gets back on the horse before its too late.

OnePlus

OnePlus has become one of Indias top premium smartphone brand in a short span of time and the company assembles its smartphones in India. Vikas Agarwal, OnePlus General Manager has said, We are finalising our plans on local component manufacturing or sourcing. If the plans become successful, India can potentially become our global manufacturing hub with handsets getting exported from here. OnePlus entire portfolio of smartphones are assembled in India. OnePlus smartphones in India are assembled in Oppo mobile facility in Noida.

SRT phone

The Smartron SRT phone is one of the first phones to be designed, engineered and assembled in India. In our review of the device we said that the phone has a bright display, good build and impressive performance. It also brings with it unlimited cloud storage. However, the phone's poor camera, heating issues and battery life make it hard to recommend over competing devices. Nonetheless we have seen an impressive portfolio of devices from the company, Smartron, including home automation and IOT solution that are designed in India. You can check out more about the smartron smartphone here.

That was a look at some of the best phones that are Made in India. The portfolio of devices is much larger than what weve covered here. The journey for Make in India smartphones has just begun and with the growth in manufacturing of PCBs in India, we think the contribution of make in India devices to the growth of the economy of the country could be much higher and is yet to show its true colours.
A Chinese company claims licence to print Indian currency: report

A Chinese company claims to have won contracts for currency production in countries that include India, according to Chinese media reports. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), however, dismissed such claims.

The article in the South China Morning Post says state-run China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation highlights that China is printing foreign currencies on a huge scale, as Beijing seeks to increase its influence on the world economy and geopolitics.

In an article titled Why other countries are giving China a licence to print money, it has been highlighted that India, along with several other countries, has allowed Chinas state-owned firms to print Indias currency.

Since then, the company (China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation) had seized the opportunities brought by the initiative (Belt and Road Initiative) and successfully won contracts for currency production projects in a number of countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Brazil and Poland, the South China Morning Post quoted president of a state-owned firm involved in printing Indian currency among several others.

The article sparked a Twitter discussion with several people raising doubts on the dubious deal allowing China to print India's currency, which could have disastrous consequences for the countrys national security.

RBI has long maintained that India's currency is printed only within the country.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was quick to tweet that allowing China to print India's currency could have "disturbing national security implications". If true, this has disturbing national security implications. Not to mention making it easier for Pak to counterfeit. He also sought clarifications from finance minister PiyushGoyal and former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 12, 2018

RBI Sources Refute ClaimsTerming the reports on China printing India's currency as "baseless", Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs, issued a clarification on Monday, saying that no other country is involved in printing Indian currency.

The reports about any Chinese currency-printing corporation getting any orders for printing Indian currency notes are totally baseless. Indian currency notes are being and will be printed only in Indian government and RBI currency presses.

Garg stated on behalf of the finance ministry.

RBI sources had clarified that the reports of licensed printing of Indian currency in the South China Morning Post were false. The central bank did not, however, dismiss chances of the Chinese state-run company forging Indian currency.

RBI is yet to make a public statement on the report.

Guisheng-led China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, the article claims, has seized number of opportunities for currency production projects, specifically.

Apart from India, the report cites instances of Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brazil and Poland awarding contract to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation amidst a huge spike in currency demand from countries.

The report says, "most of the demand comes from participants in the Belt and Road Initiative," although India has never been and never wants to be part of China's Belt and Road initiative.

The news report claims that China sees printing foreign currencies as an opportunity to increase Beijing's "influence on the world economy and geopolitics".

According to the South China Morning Post report, China "did not print foreign currency until recently". However, that changed in 2013 with Beijing launching the belt and road plan, involving about 60 countries from Asia, Europe to Africa. "Since then the company had seized the opportunities brought by the initiative and successfully won contracts for currency production projects in a number of countries..." the report says.

"Some governments have asked Beijing not to publicise the deal because they are worried such information could compromise national security or trigger unnecessary debates at home", the report quotes a person as saying.
Food prices for consumers in ethnic enclaves could explain difference in assimilation rates

In ethnic enclaves, Mexican immigrants tend to spend less on food per week while East Asian immigrants spend more, which could explain the difference in assimilation rates and contrast in ethnic population density among the two groups, according to a University of Kansas study.

The findings address questions on consumer behaviour in the ethnically dense areas concentrated with businesses owned by immigrants of the same country. They also examine potentially why certain ethnic groups prefer to maintaining these types of enclaves instead of integrating their businesses more into the mainstream economy, said researchers ChangHwan Kim, professor of sociology, and Scott Tuttle, sociology graduate student.

Most past research on immigrant enclaves has only focused on how the conditions affect entrepreneurs in these metropolitan areas, and it has typically shown that Mexican-immigrant entrepreneurs tend to be less successful in ethnic enclaves than small business owners in other ethnic enclaves, such as Koreatown in Los Angeles.

"If we look at the flip side of this, it might benefit consumers," Kim says. "For Mexican immigrants living in Mexican communities, their cost of living is less."

The researchers will present their findings on 12 August at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting in Philadelphia.

Tuttle said they wanted to understand the complexity of enclave economies by examining how East Asian immigrants have higher assimilation rates as entrepreneurs than Latin American immigrants, particularly those from Mexico.

"We just want to try to understand why," he says. "Once we controlled for all the related variables, like income, educational level and whether they speak English, the level of spending on food is still a factor."

He added their findings also could implicate that for East Asian immigrants, living in ethnic enclaves might pose as a penalty for them as consumers.

"This might help explain, at least partially, why East Asian immigrants are less likely to self-select into enclave areas," Tuttle says.

The researchers examined the effect of co-ethnic immigrant density on degrees of consumer spending per week on food using data from the 1995-2015. Current Population Survey. As part of the survey, respondents report how much they spend per week on groceries.

They also found a difference in density among metropolitan statistical areas, or MSA, between the two immigrant groups. The East Asian immigrant density per MSA never exceeded 8 percent, but in some MSAs the numbers of Mexican immigrant density were as high as 58 percent.

"Of course, it's doubtful that the cost of groceries is the sole explanation, but it might shed some light onto the next series of steps future researchers should take," Tuttle says.

Kim said the findings could also explain the performance of business owners in these enclaves and how they fare economically, but the effect of what it means for consumers has been overlooked.

"Mexican immigrants as businessmen or women can be beneficial to Mexican immigrant consumers," he says.
The danger of coronary artery compression in children is more common than we think

The incidence of coronary artery compression in children fitted with epicardial pacemakers may be slightly more common than previously believed, say noted cardiologists.

After reviewing patient records at Boston Children's Hospital, they advocate for stricter monitoring to identify patients at risk and prevent complications. Their recommendations are published as a featured article in the journal HeartRhythm, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society and the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society.

Children who require pacemakers or defibrillators often need to have wires placed on the outside of their heart due to their size or unique anatomy. In rare instances, these wires can place the child at risk for "cardiac strangulation," which can lead to compression of the heart muscle and coronary arteries (the blood vessels that feed the heart) over time.

"Coronary artery compression is thought to be rare," explains lead investigator Douglas Y. Mah, MD, director of the Pacemaker and ICD Program in the Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, and assistant professor of pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. "Its true incidence, however, may be higher than we believed due either to a lack of awareness or lack of reporting in the literature."

The sudden death of a child with an epicardial pacemaker following coronary artery compression prompted investigators to enhance surveillance of all patients with epicardial pacing or defibrillation systems.

They reviewed the records of all patients followed at Boston Children's Hospital from 2000-2017 who had either active or abandoned epicardial wires that included coronary imaging, either by computed topography (CT) scan or catheter angiography through the vessels in the leg.

Of 145 patients, eight (5.5 per cent) exhibited some degree of coronary compression from their epicardial leads. Six of these patients displayed symptoms; in addition to the case of sudden death, there were three cases of chest pain and two cases of unexplained fatigue. As a result of the review, seven patients underwent surgical removal or repositioning of their epicardial leads.

This study helps provide a framework for monitoring patients with epicardial pacemakers or defibrillators and identifying those who may need revision or removal of their epicardial wires. Dr. Mah and colleagues compared three screening techniques.

They recommend that paediatric patients with epicardial devices should get screening chest x-rays every few years to assess how their wires look in relation to their heart, as the positioning may change as the child grows.

They found that chest x-ray had a high specificity and was a good screening tool, easy to perform, inexpensive, and non-invasive. However, it can produce some false-negatives even when patients were symptomatic.

The authors propose that patients with concerning chest x-rays, symptoms such as unexplained chest pain or tiredness, or evidence of heart muscle damage or dysfunction should ideally have a cine CT scan that can image the heart moving in relation to the epicardial wires.

Although this can also result in a false-positive, CT is less risky for paediatric patients because radiation doses are now much lower for this non-invasive imaging method.

If cine CT is not available, they advocate that patients undergo catheter angiography to confirm the diagnosis before taking a patient to surgery.

"The use of pacemakers and defibrillators in children is growing," noted Dr. Mah. "As more epicardial devices are implanted, more children may be at risk for developing coronary compression from their leads. We hope to increase awareness among healthcare providers and patients of this important, possibly preventable, and potentially fatal complication and provide a useful screening algorithm to detect at-risk patients and ultimately prevent complications."

"This article clearly emphasizes the need to not only carefully evaluate the potential site of electrode head fixation to avoid coronary injury, but also the need to evaluate closely where to route the electrode body to the device pocket," comments Gerald A. Serwer, MD, FHRS, pediatric cardiologist at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, in an accompanying editorial.

Dr. Serwer emphasizes that all cardiologists who have patients with epicardial electrodes should always be aware of this potential complication and periodically assess patients for coronary issues with at least a periodic chest x-ray.

When evidence strongly suggests ischemia secondary to coronary compression due to electrode position, electrode replacement must be considered in view of the potential morbidity and mortality.

"I strongly concur with the authors that any additional information one can obtain to aid in risk assessment would be of benefit and agree with them that additional studies to establish the efficacy of nuclear cardiology techniques are indicated," concluded Dr. Serwer.
Honda has given its Civic sedan a mid-life nip and tuck.

Revealed overnight in the US, the Japanese brands small sedan gets a minor facelift after two years on sale.

The tweaks are only subtle with a new piano black treatment to the front fascias upper wing, restyled lower fascia, bumper and lower grille and updated halogen or LED headlights at the front.

While these changes are only confirmed for the US-built cars at present its expected these will carry over to the Australian-specification cars in 2019.

Honda Australia has confirmed an update is coming next year but wouldnt reveal any specifics.

With any update there will be some modest styling changes and we always look to see how we can increase value for money for our customers, said a spokeswoman.

One important change in the US is the decision to make Honda Sensing, its active safety features, available on every model in the range. Currently only the top-specification VTi-LX model gets Hondas full suite of active safety functionality, including autonomous emergency braking.

Given the increased availability of those systems in the small car class its likely Honda Australia will expand Honda Sensing to other Civic models.
Martin McElligott is the Town Centre Commerical Manager with BIDS (Business Incentive District Scheme) and a born and bred Dundalk man

Whats your favourite thing about Dundalk?

Our location. We are in a perfect position. Its a great place to live and do business in with the scenery all around us from the Cooley mountains and the seaside just on our doorstep. Dundalk truly is my home, I am grounded here. The town and all its charming corners make me fill with pride whenever anyone asks me where I am from. I feel privileged to be doing the job that I do, Dundalks full potential has yet to be reached but for me thats a good thing, its that opportunity to showcase our hospitable nature and deep rooted culture to people that want to receive it.

What would your perfect day in the local area be  and why?

Im a foodie at heart, so a perfect day always revolves around my stomach. The town really has a unique food culture, each street offers something completely different. But what I am really enjoying at the moment is the variety of cool food being dished up. To name a few, the breakfast buttermilk pancakes with poached eggs in The Spotted Dog are a must for anyone that likes pancakes and the Natas from 23 Seats are dangerously delicious. We are spoilt for choice with all of our cool coffee houses and at long last nearly all were possible have embraced the street scene, I guess you could say we have become the continent beside the continent. Thats why I love it, wide streets with bums on seats.

What would you like to change about Dundalk?

Dundalk is such a big town and while this is by in large a good thing, It does come with its disadvantages. We have developed the town away from the Castletown river, this in my view is a mistake and we should look to ways on how to reconnect with it. Our beautiful and historical train station lies on the outskirts and I always wished we could go back in time to when they were developing the lines to warn them of the mistake they were making, but Im no Marty Mc Fly.

What annoys you about the town?

Nothing annoys me but my pet hate is how we dont really grasp or appreciate all we truly have to offer and I think the second we realise that, Dundalk will become a far more economically secure space for everyone that chooses to live here. In my view we are the jewel of the north east and once we start to express that in how we live the rest will follow.

What plans do you have for the rest of year?

Busy last quarter I hope, I am working on a comprehensive public Wi-Fi system that will span over much of the town centre, we are also excited about planning new Christmas lighting for the Saint Nicholas quarter in conjunction with the new Clanbrassil street redevelopment plan that Louth County Council have successfully brought to fruition. In general we are always planning forward and thankfully Dundalk has voted YES to keep this momentum and I am excited about all the things we will work on together.

How would you describe Dundalk people?

We truly are a very creative, passionate friendly and welcoming bunch, however we have a very clear line. We wear our hearts on our sleeve and somehow find our way through everything that gets thrown at us.

What new business are you most excited about in Dundalk and why?

I would have to say The Imperial Hotel, its one of those corners that has been with me all my life and having a town centre hotel is so important. Tourism is playing a big role in the future of towns all over Ireland, Dundalk is now beginning to catch up but we still have much more to do. The Lynch family have done an amazing job so far and I could not be more excited for them. I wish them every success now as it nears completion and our office looks forward to helping it in every way we possibly can.

What local Town Centre Improvements would you like for Dundalk?

We have recently carried out a study in relation to the amount of tourist coaches passing Dundalk on the M1, the figures are dramatic, with almost every coach choosing stop at the motorway services outside the town. Dundalk is losing out by not competing for some of this business. I feel that we need to provide both the amenities and packages to attract the coach tours that pass us every hour of every day. I also feel that The Demesne is one of the most beautiful Town Centre areas we have next to Market Square, but it falls short due to traffic safety issues for young families, because it is not fully enclosed, so I would love to see this area get the attention it really deserves, like Saint Helenas and Ice House Hill.

How do you feel about the future of retail in Dundalk?

This is the most talked about topic with everyone I meet and not just in Dundalk! I really feel that bricks and mortar stores are needed, local retailers really can compete for their piece of this digital era. While turning our Bricks into Clicks is very important, that does not mean a complete trade off. People still need each other, Its very evident at the moment that people are shopping with their stomachs, the bi-product of that action is retail. Dundalk is working hard on its overall experience to help attract more and more people in and we can do it.
Brendan (Benji) O'Callaghan who died recently was an inspirational figure who put aside his own serious health problems to help the many people he came in contact with.

He passed away peacefully, aged 44, in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on July 11, 2018, surrounded by his family.

Brendan, or Benji as he was fondly known, was born on January 15, 1974 to Anna and Billy OCallaghan, Annamar, Doylesfort Road, Dundalk.

He was born with a heart problem and his parents were warned he may not see the next morning.

At just nine weeks old he underwent surgery and was among the first babies in Ireland to have that particular operation in this country, as previously patients had to travel to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

It was the first of many times that Brendan defied the medics.

Throughout his life he underwent many operations and procedures, including three open-heart surgeries and he was also diagnosed with lung cancer.

However, Brendan rose above all of this to lead a life as active as he could which, among other things, saw him travel throughout the world.

He attended the De La Salle primary and Marist secondary schools, where he had a great head for figures, before qualifying in Business Studies from DkIT.

Brendan started working life with Dublin Bus and was due to change jobs to a role in Phillips Electrical when his heart difficulties returned at age 26.

His ability to work was severely curtailed thereafter and he spent a lot of time in and out of hospital. He attended the Mater Hospital in Dublin throughout the last 20 years.

It didnt stop Brendan living independently in Mary Street North or travelling extensively across the globe.

He regularly visited his brother, Donal, in Saint Johns, Canada; went to America and Germany, where he found Berlin to be his favourite city, among other destinations.

On one occasion, shortly after heart surgery, he did a five-week trip to Zanzibar with his good friend, Sharon.

Last year he went to Tokyo in Japan and on to Sydney and Canberra in Australia, with plans to attend the Melbourne Cup in Flemington where he had a box booked to watch the famous horse race.

Unfortunately, he became ill in October and had to cut short the trip to return home.

He was given just four weeks to live and was attending the oncology clinic in the Lourdes, his youngest sister, Sinead bringing him to appointments.

However, Brendan was tested with a gene therapy drug and not for the first time he battled bravely to survive for another seven months.

Like his father, Billy, who passed away earlier this year, Brendan was a hugely compassionate individual with a capacity to make friends easily, which he did, wherever he went.

These friends helped sustain him and keep Brendan going, especially since October. They called regularly to see him when he moved back to Doylesfort Road.

Brendan helped so many others himself over the years, proving a great source of counsel and advice. Many stories have emerged from people he helped get their lives back on track.

In his eulogy at the funeral Mass life-long friend Shane Hanrahan described Brendans house in Mary Street North as a psycho-therapy unit where he listened to all comers and dispensed advice, always in strictest confidence.

A six-week mindfulness course he took, unknown to most, no doubt helped in that regard, though Brendan always had a positive outlook.

He volunteered in the Netwell Centre, visiting elderly people in their homes.

A man of varied interests, he enjoyed documentaries, films and political programmes on television.

He also looked forward to big sporting events, was a keen follower of Celtic and attended games in Parkhead. Henrik Larsson was his all-time favourite player.

Brendan loved horse racing too and placing a few bets. He liked things worked out and even in his final days, as he fought to the end, was organised and thinking ahead.

Brendan is survived by his mother, Anna, sisters, Emer (Kelly), Aideen (Smith) and Sinead, brothers, Ciaran and Donal, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Billy and sister, Kathryn.

After reposing at home, Brendans remains were removed to Saint Nicholas Church. The funeral Mass was celebrated by Father Garrett Campbell, a family friend.

Readings were given by Sharon McArdle and Sheena Callan.

Prayers of the faithful were led by Kevin Lynch, Peter Hughes, John Murphy, Vincie McKevitt, Robert Leggett, Andre OConnell, Eugene OHare, Matthew OCallaghan, Stuart Agnew and Niall Curran.

Gifts symbolising Brendans life were brought to the altar and these included a Celtic scarf, his phone, portrait of Michael Collins and TV remote control.

A poem was read by Molly, his god-daughter and niece, while music was provided by Brendan and Sarah McCourt.

At the graveside, sister, Sinead, accompanied by Vincie McKevitt on guitar, sang Grace.

The burial took place in Saint Patricks Cemetery, Dowdallshill.
A Dundalk woman has warned people in the Louth area to be vigilant of suspicious phone calls after her elderly relative was conned out of hundreds of euros by phone scammers.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Democrat that the fraudsters rang from a UK number and told her relative "we put security software on your computer last year which needs to be updated" and then proceeded to look for bank details.

The Dundalk woman revealed that her relative had received his money back in full from his bank after explaining the situation.

However, the man has since received another phone call from the same fraudsters, which was quickly reported to the Gardai by the man's family.

The local woman urged people across Louth to be vigilant as she had heard "quite a few" reports of the same gang targeting other elderly people in the county over recent weeks.

Yesterday the Cooley Community Alert group took to Facebook to issue a similar warning.

Customers of AIB have also been warned of fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be from: "law enforcement officials, the National Crime Agency/Europol/Interpol" advising customers that their "Broadband has been compromised, their identity has been stolen and that their PC is being used for criminal purposes; e.g. drug trafficking/money laundering."

The notice sent out by AIB added: "They will ask you to assist them by making payments that they claim they will track to identify criminals. The callers may advise you not to disclose this information to law enforcement/bank staff."

AIB warned there is a second scam doing the rounds in which the callers say they are from: "A utility company telephone/mobile phone provider, broadband provider or software company, offering to "fix" PC or Broadband problems."

AIB said: "The callers will attempt to trick you into divulging your banking or card credentials and provide codes from your Card Reader, in order to access your online banking and make fraudulent payments.

"You may be asked to allow the caller to take remote control of your PC in order to "assist" you, however, this could allow the fraudster to show you fraudulent screens. The callers are professional and will be able to transfer you to their "supervisor" should you request this. They sound genuine."

AIB added: "NEVER disclose codes from your AIB Card Reader over the phone and to NEVER disclose the full five digits of your Personal Access Code (PAC). If you have received such a call and disclosed any of your Banking details, please contact us immediately."
Workers are losing extra pay on weekends and public holidays because of deals between unions and businesses not because of cuts to penalty rates, the Turnbull government says.

Government MPs arent backing a private members bill by Labor leader Bill Shorten to restore penalty rates for 700,000 workers, with Liberal Craig Kelly saying the bargaining agreements put large unionised workforces at an advantage over smaller organisations.

It has nothing to do with penalty rates, it is about more union control, more union dominance across the workforce, Kelly told the lower house on Monday.

Managing Director, McDonald Murholme, Alan McDonald said, The cuts in penalty rates are the prime cause for employees losing pay not the deals between the unions and businesses.

The deals between businesses and unions are done because union influence in the private sector has declined for the following three reasons since Bob Hawke sided with the airlines against pilots in 1989, a pivotal point in changing the balance, he said.

As an aside however, it can be inferred that there is no benefit for the unions in having private sector employees in the hospitality industry paid penalty rates at weekends if it results in higher costs of food and hospitality to them. The key unions in health, education and government have no vested interest in the rights of employees in the hospitality sectors.

The Fair Work Commission cut Sunday penalty rates for hospitality, retail, pharmacy and fast food employees from July last year.

The decision was backed by the Federal Court after a union challenge, but a Senate inquiry report last October called for it to be overturned.

The government rejected this proposal, accepting the Fair Work Commissions original call.

Shorten introduced the legislation in June in an attempt to try and protect incomes from July 1.

Labor MP Terri Butler said the penalty rate cuts occurred under the Turnbull governments watch, making it effectively responsible.

They have the chance now to fix it and they should, she said.

With AAP.


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Hackers cracked into a wide array of voting equipment Def Con's Voting Village, an event held Friday at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Last year, conference goers hacked five machines and an e-poll book of registered voters. This year, in addition to voting machines, tabulators and smart card readers were available for hacking.

Websites weren't off limits, either. An 11-year-old hacked into a replica of the Florida secretary of state's office site in 10 minutes and changed the results there. In real life, such an attack might create confusion, but it would not effect the actual vote tally of an election.

Election stakeholders last year were caught by surprise by the hacking frenzy at the Voting Village, but they were prepared for it this time around.

One of the largest providers of election equipment in the United States, ES&S, sent an email to its customers advising them that it was highly unlikely that any hacker would be able to get the physical access to a voting machine that a Def Con attendee could get at the conference.

Significant Threat

The National Association of Secretaries of State, which represents local officials overseeing elections in the states, expressed similar sentiments, arguing that the unlimited physical access Def Con attendees got to voting machines, many no longer in use, did not replicate real-world election conditions.

However, the weaknesses Def Con hackers exposed should not be ignored, security experts warned.

"These hacks pose a tremendously significant threat to election systems," said John Cassidy, CEO of Alexandria, Virginia-based King & Union, maker of a cybersecurity analysis collaboration platform.

"They illustrate just how poorly security has been considered in many of these systems," he told the E-Commerce Times.

While the Def Con hacks required manual access to the voting machines, it is highly likely hackers already know of other vulnerabilities that do not require that kind of access, Cassidy said.

More Than Machines

"Def Con demonstrates how vulnerable the system is," remarked Avivah Litan, a security analyst at Gartner, a research and advisory company based in Stamford, Connecticut.

"It's just amazing the country is so lax at responding to this. We don't have any national response that's meaningful," she told the E-Commerce Times. "Hacking elections has become a partisan issue."

As the 11-year-old's hack illustrated, more than voting machines are at risk.

"There are many different attack vectors," Litan said. "It's the tabulation systems, the absentee balloting systems and the system management systems."

Making matters worse is the lack of central control over voting systems.

"Even when weaknesses are exposed, the only people who can fix them are at the local level," Litan explained. "The Feds don't have any jurisdiction, and local people won't let anyone into their systems because of partisan concerns."

Lax Cyber Hygiene

Although the focus on election meddling has been at the national level, local elections might be better targets for foreign hackers, observed Major General Earl Matthews, USAF (Ret.), chief strategy officer of Verodin, a McLean, Virginia-based maker of a platform for measuring cybersecurity effectiveness.

An attack on a presidential election is a high-impact event, but it has a low likelihood of success, he told the E-Commerce Times. That contrasts with hacking a local election, where the impact would be lower, but the likelihood of success would be higher.

"While not highlighted in the media as much as national election attacks, influencing local, state and congressional elections will be valuable to attackers," Matthews said. "Those attacks are more likely to succeed without being noticed."

The cyber hygiene surrounding electronic voting machines hasn't changed drastically in more than a decade.

"The good guys and bad guys alike have had plenty of time to discover, and potentially exploit, vulnerabilities in the systems and processes underlying democracy around the world," Matthews noted.

Halfhearted Security

Despite proven vulnerabilities and a demonstrative lack of security, manufacturers and officials have not improved electronic voting systems, according to Matthews.

The combination of "a lack of basic security processes, such as penetration testing and security-by-design, and comprehensive physical access controls has resulted in halfhearted security, which enables an attack," he said.

"Voting machines become easier to compromise as vulnerabilities are discovered and left unpatched," Matthews continued, "and most of the time the concern doesn't arise until election time, and then it's too late to remedy."

The security of the election infrastructure needs the same attention that protection of the nation's critical infrastructure has been getting, maintained Eddie Habibi, CEO of PAS, a provider of security software for industrial control systems, based in Houston, Texas.

"Similar attention must be given to election voting machines to ensure every vote counts, and it counts only once," he told the E-Commerce Times.

"The confidence of the voting public in our western democracy is essential to our confidence in the government and in the rule of law," Habibi continued. "To that end, voting machines should be considered essential systems and be proactively protected against any kind of attack, domestic or foreign."

Return to Paper

Because of the difficulties of ensuring the security of electronic voting devices, there has been a call from some quarters to return to paper ballots.

"Paper ballots have first-degree integrity because they can be manually recounted and depend on a trusted chain of custody," Matthews said, but a paper ballot system offers challenges of its own.

"This is still not perfect," he added, "as there have been numerous reported cases of election officials altering ballots, removing ballot boxes, or otherwise compromising the paper trail."

Voter registration lists stored on computer systems also must be protected, Gartner's Litan added.

"Everyone who is entitled to vote should be able to vote, and there should be no tinkering with the registration databases," she said. "We already know the Russians are in those databases and may be stealing identities to cast fake votes, or deleting people from the rolls."

A return to total paper balloting would not be a wise move, however, according to Mounir Hahad, head of the threat lab for Juniper Networks based in Sunnyvale, California.

"We don't want to wipe decades of progress," he told the E-Commerce Times, "because we're choosing not to handle security risks properly."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.




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Michelle Cirocco is head of global marketing for Televerde, a company focusing on business-to-business demand generation and inside sales solutions.

Televerde staffs a portion of its contact centers with incarcerated women, providing them with training and helping them find career opportunities after their release.

In this exclusive interview, Cirocco explains how everyone wins when a company provides employees with the opportunity to turn their lives around.

Televerde Head of Global Marketing

Michelle Cirocco

Michelle Cirocco:

Televerde is the global leader in market insight. Our mission is to provide opportunities for our clients to grow their businesses and achieve their personal best.

We're a B2B sales and marketing agency, and we generate demand and accelerate sales for our clients. Our clients are the largest technology companies in the world, as well as startup, high-tech, high-growth companies. Ninety-eight percent of our customers are in the high-tech space.

We're a true extension of our clients' sales and marketing organizations, and we're consistently delivering measurable value for our customers.

Our company was founded with the idea of providing job opportunities for women in corrections. Our CEO came with a technical background, and when he came to Televerde, he found the answer to what sales, marketing and technology companies needed.

Sales reps needed good-quality leads, and he believed he could teach women in corrections all the skills they needed to enter the technical sales field. He built the business on this idea of providing job opportunities.

We've had over 1,700 women work for us inside correctional facilities in Arizona and Indiana, and we've expanded the business outside of corrections to provide jobs when they're released and want to build real careers.

TNW: Could you describe the trajectory of your career. How did you get where you are today?

Cirocco: My real business career started with Televerde, and I've been with the company for almost 20 years. When you have the opportunity to work with a company with such an amazing social purpose, it makes it easy to fall in love and be committed to the mission of the company.

That's also part of what the company is about -- investing in individuals and helping to achieve their personal best. I started in an entry-level position in project management and account management, and my career has been a procession of increasing responsibility within the company, from sales to sales operations to marketing.

As my responsibilities increased, so did my education. When I started, I had an associate's degree, and then I got my bachelor's in marketing and finally an MBA. It's been a commitment to lifelong learning.

TNW: Why do you have a passion for what you do?

Cirocco: I have a passion for what Televerde does. When you have the opportunity to work with people to recreate themselves and build a meaningful career for themselves and their families, and you get to watch and help that happen, it's very rewarding.

It enables me to have my arms around the brand and, promoting Televerde so that it becomes a bigger organization that can provide more jobs and more opportunities for women. The bigger this company gets, the more women and families we can help.

TNW: What does it mean to use technology to accentuate the human connection? And why is it important?

Cirocco: The thing about technology is that we're a human-touch organization. We're people people. Everybody's using technologies like artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, marketing automation tools, search engine marketing and lead analytics tools.

We're using all these tools and technologies to identify who we should communicate with, and we use them to set the stage for our marketing and demand-generation efforts, and to get our names or clients' names in front of their prospects.

Ultimately, though, our real goal is to build relationships. At the end of the day, people buy from people. Technology is a tool for us to enable trust and build relationships.

TNW: What kind of work do the women do?

Cirocco: A large portion of the work involves contact centers, lead development and inside sales. But we have people in a wide variety of roles outside of those, including project management, technical reporting, IT work and QA testing.

We have women certified in marketing automation tools who are designing and setting up our marketing automation campaigns. We have folks in our finance department doing financial reporting and analysis. I have my marketing and communications team that's responsible for writing content and graphic design.

Our own inside sales and sales development is also a job opportunity for women. They all have career paths at our corporate office when they get out, and many have career paths to go work for our clients.

TNW: Why do you think it's a good idea to work with people in correctional facilities?

Cirocco: They're a highly motivated, committed workforce. They're women who went left when they should have gone right, and they're at the lowest point in their lives. Every single one wants to have a better life.

They're all willing to work hard at whatever will enable them to have a better life, to get their children and families back. It's a workforce of people who are in love with their jobs. These are people who truly love what they're doing, because they have the time and focus and ability to commit to it.

They're in an environment that encourages them to be naturally supportive of each other to be more successful. Because of this environment, we have the highest-quality call centers in the world. Our clients buy from us because we're the best at what we do, and that's because we have a phenomenal workforce.

TNW: Is Televerde's mission being adopted by other companies?

Cirocco: Most states have correctional industries responsible for jobs within the community or within the government, providing work opportunities for inmates. While people are incarcerated, they're required to have a job, unless they're medically exempted.

Many companies are using this kind of workforce, but we're one of the biggest employers. We're also one of the few employers developing knowledge workers.

Most correction industry job opportunities tend to be vocational and blue collar, but our employees are truly knowledge workers, in fields like sales and technology. We offer more than just job opportunities. These are career opportunities.

Vivian Wagner has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. Her main areas of focus are technology, business, CRM, e-commerce, privacy, security, arts, culture and diversity. She has extensive experience reporting on business and technology for a variety of outlets, including The Atlantic, The Establishment and O, The Oprah Magazine. She holds a PhD in English with a specialty in modern American literature and culture. She received a first-place feature reporting award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. Email Vivian.


When people come across Michelle-Thuy Ngoc Duongs name, they often see a stumbling block bound to trip up their tongues.

The 17-year-old sees a bridge.

A bridge spanning her parents journey from Vietnam to the United States.

A bridge connecting the U.S.-born teen to Vietnamese culture.

A bridge to understanding.

My name is where I come from, Michelle-Thuy Ngoc said. Its a reminder of hope.

A junior at Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School, a San Jose, Calif.-based charter school, Michelle-Thuy Ngoc (Michelle knock twee) is among the students backing My Name, My Identity, a national campaign that places a premium on pronouncing students names correctly and valuing diversity.

The campaigna partnership between the National Association for Bilingual Education , the Santa Clara, Calif., County Office of Education, and the California Association for Bilingual Educationfocuses on the fact that a name is more than just a name: Its one of the first things children recognize, one of the first words they learn to say, its how the world identifies them.

For students, especially the children of immigrants or those who are English-language learners, a teacher who knows their name and can pronounce it correctly signals respect and marks a critical step in helping them adjust to school.

But for many ELLs, a mispronounced name is often the first of many slights they experience in classrooms; theyre already unlikely to see educators who are like them, teachers who speak their language, or a curriculum that reflects their culture.

If theyre encountering teachers who are not taking the time to learn their name or dont validate who they are, it starts to create this wall, said Rita (ree-the) Kohli , an assistant professor in the graduate school of education at the University of California, Riverside.

It can also hinder academic progress.

A divide already exists between many English-learners and immigrant students and their native-English speaking peers. Despite a national increase in the overall graduation rate, the dropout rate for foreign-born and immigrant students remains above 30 percent, three times that of U.S.-born white students.

Before transitioning into K-12 administration, Santa Clara County Superintendent Jon Gundry taught middle and high school English-as-a-second-language classes for 16 years. Many of his students were newcomer English-learners and he made it a priority to learn the proper pronunciation of each students name on the first day of class.

I was their first connection to a new culture, a new country, Gundry said. As a teacher, I felt that if I didnt make an effort to pronounce their name correctly, it showed I didnt care about who they were.

Rendered Invisible

Effort is the biggest obstacle to learning how to correctly pronounce a persons name; teachers have to want to do it, said Jennifer Gonzalez, a former teacher and author of the education blog Cult of Pedagogy. To even suggest that a childs name is difficult to pronounce is problematic, she said.

Even the word difficult is a pretty loaded word, Gonzalez said. Its only difficult because its culturally different.

As a kindergarten student in 1950s Brooklyn, Carmen Farina, a native-Spanish speaker, had a teacher who marked her absent every day for weeks because she didnt raise her hand during roll call. The teacher assumed Farina was being defiant, but the future New York City schools chancellor never heard her name called; the teacher had repeatedly failed to pronounce it correctly, including rolling the rs.

Mispronouncing a students name essentially renders that student invisible, Farina said during a keynote address at the National Association for Bilingual Education annual conference in March.

Kohli produced a study with Daniel Solorzano , a professor of education and Chicano studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, on microaggressions, the subtle slights that are painfully obvious and hurtful to the person receiving them, but unintended and unnoticed by the person saying them. The work, Teachers Please Learn Our Names! Racial Microaggressions and the K-12 Classroom, is littered with stories of students who endured shame, anxiety, or embarrassment, and sometimes a mix of all three, when their names were called in class.

Theres the tale of a Portland, Ore.-area student with a traditional Chinese name who had her name garbled by a vice principal during an honors ceremony. Set to present the student with an award, the principal laughed at his mistake, drawing chuckles from the audience.

To avoid embarrassment, the student slumped in her seat, refusing to rise to receive the prestigious award. She later skipped her graduation.

The mispronunciation wasnt an isolated event. Having endured years of slights, she felt the need to become invisible long before the principals laughter marked the tipping point.

The woman, who went on to become an educator, changed her first name to Anita.

If someone mispronounces your name once as a high school student, you might correct them, said Kohli, whose parents immigrated to the United States from India. But if this has been your entire existence in education, what do you do?

Kohlis own brother had a teacher mispronounce his traditional South Asian name, Sharad (shu-rudth) as Sharub during a 9th grade class. The teacher and the students decided it was easier to call him Shrub, and it stuck for the rest of high school. The nickname forced him to check part of his identity at the door.

Michelle-Thuy Ngoc didnt always embrace her full name, figuring that it would make other people uncomfortable. For years, she ignored the Vietnamese half of her first name, simply going by Michelle. The order in which Vietnamese names are spoken differs from English.

I came to accept [my full name] over time, she said.

Building Bridges

If students have teachers who share their cultural backgrounds, theyre more likely to hear their names pronounced correctly. But while the diversity of the nations public school student body has exploded in the last few decades, the number of African-American, Latino, and Asian teachers hasnt kept pace.

Gonzalez, a former teacher in school districts in Kentucky and Maryland, said she often observed a these people attitude from her mostly white female colleagues.

They approached it like Its your fault for having a weird name, Gonzalez said.

To some degree, Gonzalez understands the struggle students face. She grew up with a Russian surname, Yurkosky, that befuddled teachers and classmates. She said it rhymes with her-pots-ski, minus the t sound in pots.

But I did not experience all the other stuff and other ways that a person can feel discriminated against, said Gonzalez, who is white.

Kohli, a former Oakland Unified School District teacher, recommends that K-12 educators identify and expand their cultural limits and recognize the influence they wield over a students sense of self. While frustration or confusion may seem like a natural response when a teacher faces an unfamiliar name, it can leave a lasting impact on the way that child sees themselves and their culture, the studys authors argue.

Butchered names are not just a problem for English-learners and immigrants; students from a number of cultural backgrounds have their names garbled or ridiculed. Hawaiian and African-American students, with names that link to their ancestry, also shared stories of how constant mispronunciations made them feel uncomfortable with their names.

Mocking Names?

In an extreme case, a teacher in Wayne Township, N.J. lost her tenure status and job in 2015 for mocking a students name on Facebook. Several letters in the students name spelled out a profane word, legal documents show.

More often, the mocking is more direct and reflexive: laughing off pronunciation, asking the student to take on a nickname, or making a spectacle of their name, Kohli said.

It matters what you do when youre in front of a child and struggling with their name, Kohli said. Is it framed as my inability to say someones name or is it framed as the student doing something to make your life more difficult?

Michelle-Thuy Ngoc attends Downtown College Prep , a 210-student high school that primarily serves first generation, low-income Latino students.

Were taking the time to understand each persons story, said assistant principal Moises Buhain. Its as simple as starting with a name.

As part of a social media campaign, the My Name, My Identity initiative is seeking name stories with the #mynamemyid hashtag. The push is personal for Yee Wan , the national associations president and the director of multilingual education services for the Santa Clara County, Calif., office of education.

Wan came to the United States as an adolescent English-learner, and almost immediately faced pressure from instructors to adopt an American name to replace her given name, which means warm friendship in Cantonese.

Gundry and Wan developed My Name My Identity after hearing a principal share a story about his effort to build connections with English-language learners in school, then feeling the push fall flat when he mispronounced the students names at graduation.

As educators, we have the power to bring awareness to valuing diversity ... so that all of our students will feel included, Wan said.
Mindfulness, yoga, and meditation have gotten popular in K-12 schools across the country. However, not enough attention has been paid to how these practices can prepare students to critique and challenge inequities in our country. To many social-justice-minded advocates, mindfulness seems like nothing more than a distraction to get people to adjust to oppressive conditions.

Do we really have time to sit around in contemplation when theres so much going wrong in education and society more broadly? Isnt it a waste of time to sit in meditation, search for inner peace, and relinquish nonjudgment if we are supposed to be change agents for social justice and equality? Those questions get at the heart of the growing rift between mindfulness aficionados and social-justice proponents.

For teachers and school leaders who work in school systems with enormous gaps between rich and poor and widespread underfunding, mindfulness and meditation programs may appear self-serving, rather than a pathway toward equity. Some educators concerned with systemic inequalities feel uncomfortable with how these traditions are often practiced in high-poverty, majority-minority schools: predominantly white, female teachers leading students in meditation or yoga as a way to self-regulate their emotions. Many poor and working-class people are more preoccupied with securing their basic needs than learning about mindfulness, yoga, or meditation.

If we are to build a multicultural, cross-generational coalition around a common vision of well-rounded, holistic education experiences for all, we need to address this skepticism. At a time when we need activism, reform, and social justice, does investing in mindfulness and meditation programs just encourage passivity and compliance?

In his 2007 book The Mindful Brain, psychiatrist Daniel Siegel points out that when we put the automatic process of the brain on hold through mindfulness, we free up an abundance of energy that can be used to discover different perspectives, enhance creativity, and encourage novel thinking. This practice, he writes, can help us cultivate patience, generosity, and love.

Educators can engage in mindfulness meditation as a way to increase their sense of agency in the world, not submit. Paulo Freire, the father of social-justice pedagogy, cautioned against any action that is emphasized exclusively, to the detriment of reflection. He understood how contemplation can lead to the type of critical consciousness needed for responsible social action.

Educators can engage in mindfulness meditation as a way to increase their sense of agency in the world, not submit."

Communities that are dealing with chronic stress and adversity may not see the connection between contemplative practices and social activism. As contemplative practices gain momentum in the field of education, they often become commercialized and packaged as an individualistic, therapeutic pursuit, rather than a pathway for critical consciousness. The language and lifestyle of mindfulness and meditation have taken on a reputation for elitism. Yoga, for instance, is predominately marketed to the white and privileged.

As an education consultant, I work with educators to develop an understanding of spirituality and consciousness that is inclusive and representative of all cultures. I believe we need to teach mindfulness and meditation as a pathway to reduce suffering, for both ourselves and for others, to understand that our own well-being depends on the well-being of others.

When I meditate, I feel a release from disquieting thoughts and impulses that interfere with my sense of purpose. In my work with fellow educators, I have found we are often trapped by our own automatic behaviors, believing if we scour data and check all the right boxes, we can solve the knotty problems. We are often left drained, disappointed, and feeling helpless to make any real, long-lasting change for students and families.

In his book Good Citizens, the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh explains that engaged and applied Buddhism must seek action beyond mere awareness to relieve the suffering within us and around us. Practices rooted in this tradition can move us away from automatic reactions to help us recognize all experience is part of humanity. This awareness of being a part of humanity is the fundamental basis for empathy, compassion, and social responsibility.

The professors Elisa Facio and Irene Lara have studied the spirituality and activism in Chicana, Latina, and indigenous womens lives. In their book, Fleshing the Spirit, they share examples of how many of these women have always relied on the mind-body-spirit relationship to decolonize their minds, find liberation, and engage in sacred activism. By drawing on these perspectives from historically marginalized groups, teachers and school leaders from all backgrounds can collaborate on inclusive contemplative practices that lead to a deeper commitment to social justice.

Mindfulness and meditation programs in schools that dont explicitly lead to social awareness and transformation can be frustrating, especially for equity-minded teachers and school leaders who have a deep sense of urgency. Similarly, social activists need to realize that action for actions sake can be misguided and unsustainable. We need mindfulness meditation and critical consciousness. We also need the knowledge and skill to challenge norms and structures perpetuating inequities. Integrating both mindful reflection with social-justice action has the greatest potential to shape coalitions, build collective empowerment, and mediate a new standard for education.
OFT urges sailors, swimmers to check rescue lines

The Isle of Man Office of Fair Trading is urging those who take part in activities in water to ensure their safety equipment is up to scratch.

The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch is warning of defective throw bag rescue lines.

As a result, the OFT is urging owners and operators of commercial and recreational craft, rowing clubs, swimming clubs and other users to inspect their rescue lines.

The organisation says the entire length of the rescue line should be examined for joins, which can be done with bare hands to find rough patches of lumps.

Any issues can be reported to the OFT by calling 686500.
A new study has found that nearly half of fishers from seven countries had witnessed someone poaching in marine protected areas in the past year and most of them did nothing about it

A new study has found that nearly half of fishers from seven countries had witnessed someone poaching in marine protected areas in the past year and most of them did nothing about it.

Dr Brock Bergseth from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University led the study. He said poaching is widespread in the world's marine protected areas, and that fishers have the potential to make or break a marine protected area.

"Enforcement capacities are often limited, so managers are trying to encourage fishers to help out when they see someone breaking the law. But until now, we were uncertain about how fishers respond when they witness poaching."

The research team surveyed fishers in Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, and Australia.

Fishers told researchers that they typically did one of four things after witnessing poaching: "do nothing," "confront the poachers," "report them to authorities," or, in rare instances, "join the poachers."

"Unfortunately, the most common response was to 'do nothing,'" said Dr Bergseth.

Inaction was especially common on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR).

"Nearly 80 percent of fishers on the GBR did nothing in response to the observed poaching," said Dr Bergseth. "This means there is a substantial portion of fishers who managers might hope to engage in surveillance and reporting, given the growing concern over the health of the GBR."

Co-author Dr Georgina Gurney said fishers offered a variety of the reasons for inactivity after witnessing poaching on the GBR.

"GBR fishers said that they did nothing when they saw others poaching mostly because they thought it wasn't their concern or their responsibility, they were uncertain as to whether it was illegal fishing, or because of obstacles to reporting."

In all of the other countries in the study, a desire to avoid conflict was the most common reason offered by fishers for inaction after witnessing poaching, said Dr Bergseth.

"This highlights the fact that dealing with poachers is potentially dangerous in some countries - defending environmental rights can be risky, but there are tools to greatly reduce or eliminate the risk."

"The bad news is that apathy towards poaching in marine protected areas is widespread," said co-author Dr Michele Barnes, "but the good news is that there are already many tools and programs to encourage citizens to report poaching and other types of crimes. These can be adapted and tailored to encourage fishers to take action against poaching in a responsible way that minimises risk to themselves."

The research team found that people who agreed with marine protected area rules and who were included in the decision-making processes were more likely to report or confront poachers.

"We know that when fishers are engaged in the management process of marine protected areas they tend to follow the rules more often. Here, we show that empowering fishers can also encourage voluntary enforcement," said Dr Barnes.

"Encouragingly, many of the fishers who took action did so because they held stewardship beliefs, or saw that poaching personally affected them. These ideas can be further reinforced and leveraged by managers to improve conservation outcomes," said Dr Gurney.

"The reality is that fish stocks are almost certainly going to be increasingly depleted in the future, to the point where poaching will affect all of us," said Dr Bergseth.

"Equipping fishers with this knowledge, and the resources to responsibly do something about it, may well be the deciding factor as to whether our kids enjoy the same resources we do," he said.

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The paper "Addressing poaching in marine protected areas through voluntary surveillance and enforcement" is published today in the journal Nature Sustainability.

Images available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5pv7n5s7ej7nlax/AABratTLCxCzcLOf0TFClPDYa?dl=0
Tel Aviv -- Neutron stars are the smallest, densest stars in the universe, born out of the gravitational collapse of extremely massive stars. True to their name, neutron stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons -- neutral subatomic particles that have been compressed into a small, incredibly dense celestial package.

A new study in Nature suggests that some properties of neutron stars may be influenced not only by their multitude of densely packed neutrons, but also by a substantially smaller fraction of protons -- positively charged particles that make up just 5 percent of a neutron star. Because protons may carry substantially more energy than previously thought, they may contribute to properties of a neutron star such as its stiffness, its ratio of mass to size and its process of cooling.

The research was led by Prof. Eli Piasetzky of Tel Aviv University's School of Physics, Prof. Or Hen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Prof. Larry Weinstein of Old Dominion University. The graduate student who analyzed the data was Meytal Duer of TAU's School of Physics.

Protons more significant than originally believed

"This finding may shake up scientists' understanding of how neutron stars behave," says Prof. Hen of MIT's Laboratory of Nuclear Science.

"We think that when you have a neutron-rich nucleus, the protons move faster than the neutrons, so in some sense protons carry the action on average," Prof. Hen continues. "Even though protons are the minority in the star, we think the minority rules. Protons seem to be very active, and we think they might determine several properties of the star."

"The cosmological abundance of nuclei is not well understood," says Prof. Piasetzky. "We think that the merging of two neutron stars is one of the main processes in the universe that create nuclei heavier than iron, such as gold. Our study of neutron-rich nuclei indicates that we must reconsider the role played by the small fraction of protons in the neutron star and its impact on the nuclei creation process."

The researchers looked for signs of proton and neutron pairs in carbon, aluminium, iron and lead nuclei, each with a progressively higher ratio of neutrons to protons. They found that, as the relative number of neutrons in an atom increased, so did the probability that a proton would form an energetic pair. The likelihood that a neutron would pair up, however, stayed about the same.

"This trend suggests that, in objects with high neutron density, the minority protons carry a disproportionally large part of the average energy," says Prof. Piasetzky.

Squeezing more science out of an experiment

Research for the study was based on data previously collected by CLAS -- the CEBAF (Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility) Large Acceptance Spectrometer, a particle accelerator and detector based at Thomas Jefferson Laboratory in Virginia. The team chose to mine data collected during a 2004 experiment in which electrons bombarded carbon, iron and lead nuclei, with the goal of observing how particles produced in nuclear interactions travel through each nucleus's respectively larger volume.

Along with their varying sizes, each of the four nuclei has a different ratio of neutrons to protons, with carbon having the fewest neutrons and lead the most. The group studied the data for signs of high-energy protons and neutrons -- indications that the particles had paired up -- and whether the probability of this pairing changed as the ratio of neutrons to protons increased.

"People were using the detector to look at specific interactions, but it also measured a bunch of other reactions that took place at the same time," says Prof. Larry Weinstein of Old Dominion University. "So we thought, let's dig into this data and see if there's anything interesting there. We want to squeeze as much science as we can out of experiments that have already run."

Eventually, the team observed that as the number of neutrons in an atom's nucleus increased, the probability of protons having high energies (and having paired up with a neutron) increased significantly. The probability for neutrons to have these high energies remained the same.

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American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Israel's most influential, comprehensive and sought-after center of higher learning, Tel Aviv University (TAU). TAU is recognized and celebrated internationally for creating an innovative, entrepreneurial culture on campus that generates inventions, startups and economic development in Israel. TAU is ranked ninth in the world, and first in Israel, for producing start-up founders of billion-dollar companies, an achievement that surpassed several Ivy League universities. To date, 2,500 US patents have been filed by Tel Aviv University researchers -- ranking TAU #1 in Israel, #10 outside of the US and #43 in the world.
Future expansion of the palm oil industry could have a dramatic impact on African primates, according to the findings of a new study led by the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission's science and knowledge service. The study has been published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Scientists found only a few small 'areas of compromise' in Africa with a high suitability for oil palm cultivation and a low potential impact on the primate species living there.

These areas totalled 0.13 million hectares (Mha), which is less than 0.005 % of the total land mass of the African continent.

Even when taking into account all areas with at least minimum suitability to grow the plants from which palm oil is extracted, just 3.3 Mha of land is available to produce the oil without endangering primate populations. This amounts to only 6.2% of the 53Mha that would be required to cope with rising palm oil demand by 2050.

With the demand for palm oil steadily increasing, and the industry looking for new possibilities for expansion beyond Southeast Asia and South America, the study shows how it will be extremely challenging to reconcile conservation targets with future conversion of land to oil palm crops. Palm oil production expands as the world's population grows

Palm oil can be found in about half of all packaged products in the supermarket, from food to makeup and cleaning products. It is also used in some biofuels. Production is steadily rising, and expected to accelerate as the world's population continues to grow and demand for these products increases.

Most oil palms - the plants from which palm oil is derived - are currently grown in Southeast Asia and, to a lesser extent, in South and Central America. Africa is considered as a likely destination for new plantations, thanks to the abundant low-lying tropical ecosystems that are highly suitable for profitable oil palm cropping.

Lessons learned from the catastrophic impact of industrial oil palm plantations on wildlife in Southeast Asia prompted the international team of researchers, from the JRC, CIRAD, Stellenbosch University, Liverpool John Moores University and ETH Zurich, to produce a broad assessment of the expected effects of oil palm expansion on African primate diversity, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead. Primate diversity: a good indicator of ecosystem health

The researchers chose to focus on primates for multiple reasons. The most obvious one is that primates are a priority for conservation. Populations of many primate species are already in steep decline as large parts of their natural habitat are exploited for agriculture, logging and mining. Indeed, 37% of primate species in mainland Africa and 87% of species in Madagascar are threatened with extinction.

"Primates offer us a detailed view on ecosystem health, as they play an important role in seed dispersal and maintaining the composition of forest communities" explains Giovanni Strona, lead author of the study. "Primate diversity correlates with the diversity of other plant and animal groups, which implies that the potential impact of future oil palm expansion we modelled for primates could extend to biodiversity in general. The home ranges of most African primate species are relatively well known, which made it possible for us to confidently use them in our large-scale analysis." Mitigating the dangers of future expansion

Researchers produced and then compared two maps, one on primate vulnerability and the other on suitability for oil palm cultivation. The maps revealed striking similarities across sub-Saharan Africa, with areas of high primate vulnerability and high oil palm suitability overlapping in equatorial and forested regions across West and Central Africa.

"Some levers for the successful conservation of African biodiversity do exist, based mainly on realistic mitigation strategies," says Ghislain Vieilledent, co-author of the study. One strategy would be to identify alternative trajectories for agricultural expansion, using 'smart' criteria and minimising the loss of primate habitat. Another important one could be intensifying yields through the use of high quality seed and better breeding technologies."

Acknowledging that the real world application of such criteria can be problematic, researchers compared four oil palm expansion scenarios:

two income-driven scenarios, based on either land suitability or accessibility;

two conservation-driven scenarios, based on either minimising carbon dioxide emissions or first converting areas of low primate vulnerability.

The scenario based on land suitability led to the highest cumulative loss of primate habitat.

In the primate vulnerability scenario, the number of primate species significantly affected by oil palm expansion could be kept relatively low. Nevertheless, even in this 'optimal' scenario, more than five species, on average, will lose 1,000 ha of range land for every 1,000 ha of land conversion.

An increase in demand for palm oil for biodiesel would further ratchet up the demand for land conversion, highlighting the importance of future transport emissions policies.

National and international policy initiatives, alongside voluntary schemes such as the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), also have the potential to mitigate large-scale deforestation. To tackle the problem at source, government policies and retailer-led initiatives could help modify consumption patterns and reduce the increase in future global demand.

However, this requires additional actions, among them raising consumer awareness about the environmental consequences of their lifestyle.

"There is already a momentum for change, with many people worldwide starting to realise how their daily choices can have a significant impact on far away, vulnerable ecosystems." concludes Giovanni. "We hope that our findings could represent another important step in this constructive direction".

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Recently an article was published in the International Journal of Digital Television, which examined the changing relationship between traditional TV providers and their audiences. Senior Research Fellow Ulrike Rohn (Tallinn University) and Docent Mats Nylund (Arcada University of Applied Sciences) say that the notion of sharing, which is most prominent in the current buzzword of the 'sharing economy' may be applied for understanding current trends in TV markets .

With reference to the keyword of the 'sharing economy', Rohn and Nylund point out the increasing sharing activities in form of collaborative production and collaborative consumption in the TV audience market. In particular, they introduce the sharing activities between traditional TV providers and audience members as well as among audience members, which are enabled by new technological developments and platforms. They conducted interviews with TV providers and the main findings concern the so-called audience value.

In the article, researchers point out three sharing activities in TV audience markets - distribution, interaction and audience circulation. These also serve as a framework for the identification of success factors by TV providers. In terms of distribution, making content available generously and across various platforms is essential and increasingly expected by audiences," Rohn explained and added that with regard to the interaction with audiences, the interviewees emphasized that beyond actually incorporating audience input into the production of TV content, it was much more important to provide audiences with the feeling that they mattered in terms of content creation and production. In terms of circulation behaviour by audiences, the interviewees agreed that it was most important that they positioned their content in an environment that enabled and stimulated audience circulation behaviour. Facebook and YouTube were seen as important platforms for being noticed in the online world and for stimulating audiences to pick up content and make it viral," she added.

As a result of their study, Rohn and Nylund argue that the traditional, linear value chain that has seved as a framework for understanding how value is created in the TV industry is outdated. Instead, they introduce an activity net of value creation in the TV audience market.

Article The sharing economy: How sharing activities influence value creation in the TV audience market" was published in International Journal of Digital Television (Volume 9 Number 2). Authors are Ulrike Rohn (Visiting Professor and Senior Research Fellow at Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School in Tallinn University) and Mats Nylund (Docent at the Department of Culture and Media in Arcada University of Applied Sciences).

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Chemical compounds identified by Brazilian researchers may explain why less aggressive bees become ferocious. Study is published in Journal of Proteome Research

Brazilian researchers may have discovered why Africanized honeybees are so aggressive. The scientists detected higher levels of certain chemical substances in the brains of Africanized honeybees than in gentler strains of honeybees bred by beekeepers.

According to a study published in Journal of Proteome Research, the chemical substances in question may trigger irascible behavior by normally placid bees.

The same compounds had been detected in the brains of flies and mice, where they appeared to regulate food intake and digestion. This evidence provides an example of how behavior evolves differently in different species via similar molecular mechanisms.

The research was conducted by Professor Mario Sergio Palma at the Center for Studies of Social Insects in Sao Paulo State University's Bioscience Institute (IB-UNESP), Rio Claro, Brazil, supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) via Thematic Project funding.

"We study the composition of proteins in the glandular systems of wasps, bees, ants, spiders and scorpions. We analyze the individual functions of each protein and its molecular interactions, as well as its molecular structures. That includes these animals' venoms, their chemical communication systems via chemical compounds, and the neurochemistry of the regulation of arthropod behavior via the nervous system," Palma said.

The study set out to investigate the neurohormone production mechanism in the bee brain. Neurohormones are chemical compounds that regulate the nervous system and are involved in mediating the social behavior of these insects.

The research line is under the scope of FAPESP's Research Program on Biodiversity Characterization, Conservation, Restoration & Sustainable Use (BIOTA-FAPESP). The study relates to the identification, characterization and quantification of the proteins in animal systems.

"We wanted to study the origin and metabolism of neuropeptide precursor proteins in the bee brain in order to understand how these hormones are produced," Palma said. "We also wanted to identify the brain regions responsible for the action of these compounds. To this end, we used matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionization (MALDI) combined with mass spectrometry imaging (MSI)."

The technique consists of breaking down the atoms or molecules in a sample so that they become charged with more or fewer electrons than the original (ionization) and then separating them by mass/charge ratio in order to identify and quantify them. It can be used to identify chemical compounds inside tissue without requiring cellular extracts and to locate the brain regions in which hormones are active.

"You can use it to investigate the chemical structure of neuropeptides and map the brain regions they affect," Palma explained.

The experiments were performed at IB-UNESP's apiary. Combs containing larvae were incubated in the laboratory, and some 1,000 newly emerged workers were marked on the thorax using nontoxic paint. They were returned to the hive, and when the marked bees were 20 days old, the colony was subjected to what the researchers call an aggression or stinging assay.

The bees, including marked individuals, were placed in an observation arena. A small black leather ball with a diameter of 5 cm was waved several times in front of them.

"Various kinds of warning and attack behavior were observed and recorded by the researchers," Palma said.

Some bees also stung the target and thus got stuck to the surface of the ball by their barbed lancets. Marked individuals were collected, immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and dissected. Their brains were removed and cut into slices for proteomic analysis. Proteomics is a field of biotechnology that analyzes the entire protein complement of a cell, tissue or organism.

Worker bees that remained in the hive during the attack were also collected for comparison with the aggressive individuals.

Hormones and aggression

Commenting on the comparison between the bees captured outside the hive and individuals who remained inside, Palma stressed that it was not a matter of location but of differences observed between worker bees that displayed the various kinds of alarm and aggressive behavior, especially stinging, and workers that did not become aggressive even when stimulated to do so.

"The precursor proteins in the brains of the non-aggressive bees were found to be intact in their inactive form, meaning these substances didn't stimulate aggressive behavior," he said.

On the other hand, only the mature forms of these proteins were found in the brains of the aggressive bees. They were small pieces of precursor proteins created by the action of enzymes known as proteases. These smaller pieces must undergo further chemical modification (proteolysis or cleavage) in order to become active neuropeptides, that is, hormones acting on the brain in order to adapt the organism according to some behavioral pattern - in this case, the bee's aggressive behavior.

"The neuropeptides we identified can be found with minor structural differences in several insects, but until now, they have rarely been chemically and functionally characterized. In the aggressive bees analyzed, we concluded that the functions of these neuropeptides were to regulate the energy metabolism, activate vigilance and spatial coordination of flight, and stimulate the production of alarm pheromones."

When the researchers observed that the neuropeptides stimulated aggressive behavior, they decided to synthesize these compounds in the laboratory and inject them into young worker bees, presumably too immature to perform aggressive roles in the colony.

"The result was that these workers began displaying aggressive behavior only a short time after being injected with the neuropeptides. This included stinging the targets," said Palma, who is principal investigator for the FAPESP Thematic Project.

Origin of ferocity

The neuropeptide precursors are mature in the brains of adult workers, but in young workers, they have not yet been cleaved and cannot result in mature or active neuropeptides.

By the time workers are between 15 and 20 days old, they have the molecular tools needed to catalyze precursor maturation. As a result, the neuropeptides in their brains are instantly activated in response to threatening physicochemical stimuli, and they begin to behave aggressively.

"When we injected synthetic neuropeptides in their mature form into these young workers, they were endowed with mature neuropeptides, and in a few moments, these compounds activated metabolic and physiological transformations that enabled the bees to behave very aggressively," Palma said.

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About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. For more information: http://www.fapesp.br/en.
NEW YORK, NY--August 14, 2018--Whether treatment for opioid abuse and dependence most commonly emphasized methadone administration, naltrexone injection, group psychotherapy or another procedure in 2017 depended on the state or region where the patient received care, according to a new white paper and state-by-state infographics from FAIR Health, a national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information. Which procedures made up the largest share of total expenditures for opioid abuse and dependence also varied by region and state.

Analyzing 2017 data from its database of more than 26 billion privately billed healthcare claim records dating back to 2002, FAIR Health identified the top 10 procedure codes for specific treatments and services associated with opioid abuse and dependence diagnoses by utilization and aggregate cost in each US census region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West) and also reported the top 5 codes by utilization and aggregate cost in each state and the District of Columbia. Procedures include therapeutic procedures and other services, such as drug tests and visits to doctor's offices or emergency departments (EDs).

Among the regional differences the study revealed:

Methadone administration (H0020) was one of the 10 most common procedures by utilization in every region, but it was among the top 10 by cost in only one region, the Northeast.

Naltrexone injection (J2315) was in the top 10 list by cost in only one region, the Midwest.

Group psychotherapy (CPT 90853) was one of the 10 most common procedures by utilization in every region except the South.

The top 10 procedures by utilization in the South included 7 drug tests or test-related procedures, more than in any other region.

The top 10 procedures by cost in the West included 6 therapeutic procedures, more than in any other region.

Two outpatient rehabilitative services were found in the top 10 lists by utilization or cost only in the South and West: intensive outpatient treatment (H0015) and partial hospitalization (S0201).

Two inpatient treatments, sub-acute detoxification (H0010) and short-term residential (H0018), were included among the top 10 procedures by cost in one region, the West.

ED visits were found in the top 10 lists by cost only in the Northeast and Midwest.

Across states, the study found these differences, among others:

Only New York had group counseling (H0005) as one of its five most common procedures by utilization and cost.

Only five states--Delaware, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin--included psychotherapy, 45 minutes (CPT 90834), as one of their five most common procedures by utilization.

Only California had intensive outpatient treatment in its top five list by utilization.

Sub-acute detoxification appeared in the top five lists of only two states, Mississippi and Tennessee, and there only by cost.

Only Wyoming included among its top five procedures by cost an ED visit, high severity, immediate significant threat to life or physiologic function (CPT 99285).

Dr. Martin A. Makary, Johns Hopkins Professor of Health Policy, said: "FAIR Health has issued an excellent study of an important aspect of the opioid crisis. Treatment of opioid abuse and dependence should be driven by science. This report represents a step in that direction."

FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd commented: "Our study unveils a tapestry of variation by region and state in the procedures most commonly associated with opioid abuse and dependence. The findings transform the states into living laboratories, offering opportunities to research the outcomes linked to the different treatment strategies."

This is the fourth in a series of white papers released by FAIR Health on the opioid epidemic. The first white paper examined national trends in the epidemic; the second, the impact of the epidemic on the healthcare system; and the third, geographic variations in the epidemic.

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For the new white paper, click here. For the state-by-state infographics, click here.

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About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is a national, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 26 billion claim records contributed by payors and administrators who insure or process claims for private insurance plans covering more than 150 million individuals. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data products--including benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics, episodes of care analytics and market indices--to commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. FAIR Health also holds separate data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare from 2013 to the present (as well as Medicare Advantage enrollees represented in its private claims data). Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a Qualified Entity, FAIR Health receives all of Medicare Parts A, B and D claims data for use in nationwide transparency efforts. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health has earned HITRUST CSF and Service Organization Controls (SOC 2) certifications by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish and an English/Spanish mobile app, which enable consumers to estimate and plan their healthcare expenditures and offer a rich educational platform on health insurance. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Elisabeth Rosenthal's book, An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.

Contact:

Dean Sicoli

Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations

FAIR Health

646-664-1645

dsicoli@fairhealth.org
WASHINGTON -- A valuable cache of brain cancer biomedical data has been made freely available to researchers worldwide, say researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. The dataset, REMBRANDT (REpository for Molecular BRAin Neoplasia DaTa) hosted and supported by Georgetown, is one of only two such large collections in the country.

Information about the brain cancer data collection, which contains information on 671 adult patients collected from 14 contributing institutions, is detailed in Scientific Data, an open-access journal (Nature). Already, thousands of researchers in the U.S. and internationally log on to the data site on a daily basis, and word about the resource is expected to increase its use, says Subha Madhavan, PhD, chief data scientist at Georgetown University Medical Center and director of the Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics (ICBI) at Georgetown Lombardi.

The Georgetown data resource is unique in several ways. One is that it contains genomic information, collected from volunteer patients who allowed their tumors to be sampled, as well as diagnostic (including brain scans), treatment and outcomes data. Most collections contain either one or the other.

Additionally, the data collection interface is extraordinarily easy to use, Madhavan says.

"It sits on Amazon Web Services, and has a simple web interface access to data and analysis tools. All a researcher needs is a computer and an internet connection to log onto this interface to select, filter, analyze and visualize the brain tumor datasets.

"We want this data to be widely used by the broadest audience -- the entire biomedical research community -- so that imagination and discovery is maximized," says first author on the paper Yuriy Gusev, PhD, associate professor and a faculty member of the ICBI. "Our common goal is to tease apart the clues hidden within this biomedical and clinical information in order to find ways that advance diagnostic and clinical outcomes for these patients."

"We are just beginning to understand the science of how these cancers evolve and how best to treat them, and datasets like this will likely be very helpful," Madhavan says.

The REMBRANDT dataset was originally created at the National Cancer Institute and funded by Glioma Molecular Diagnostic Initiative led by co-authors Howard Fine, MD, from New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Jean-Claude Zenklusen, PhD, from the National Cancer Institute. They collected the data from 2004-2006.

The NCI transferred the data to Georgetown in 2015, and it is now physically located on the Georgetown Database of Cancer (G-DOC), a cancer data integration and sharing platform for hosting alongside other cancer studies. G-DOC investigators, led by Madhavan, developed novel analytical tools to process the information anew.

The genomic data includes the specific genes within individual tumors that are either over-expressed or under-expressed as well as the number of times that gene is repeated within a chromosome.

"We inherit two copies of a gene -- one from Mom and one from Dad -- but in cancer cells, DNA segments containing important tumor suppressor or onco- genes can be entirely deleted or amplified. It isn't unusual to see a chromosome within a tumor that has 11 copies of a gene, each of which may be producing a toxic protein that helps the cancer grow uncontrollably," she says.

The data collection also includes information on RNA, which is produced by genes (DNA) and can be measured to assess genes that are dysregulated.

Researchers can search their gene of interest, check their expression and amplification status and link that to clinical outcomes, Madhavan says. They can save their findings to their workspace on the G-DOC site and share with their collaborators. Given the approximately 20,000 protein coding genes in the human genome, and the variety of brain cancer tumor types, "it will take a big village -- really a vast metro area -- of investigators to understand the bases of these tumors and to effectively develop treatments that target them."

REMBRANDT includes genomic data from 261 samples of glioblastoma, 170 of astrocytoma, 86 tissues of oligodendroglioma, and a number that are mixed or of an unknown subclass. Outcomes data include more than 13,000 data points.

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Additional co-authors of the work are Krithika Bhuvaneshwar, MS, from Georgetown and Lei Song, PhD, from the National Cancer Institute.

Georgetown has filed a patent application related to G-DOC technology. Madhavan is the named inventor of the intellectual property protected.

The project was funded by the Georgetown Lombardi cancer center support grant (P30 CA51008) and a contract from the NCI to migrate the Rembrandt dataset to G-DOC.

About the Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics

The Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics (ICBI) was launched in 2012 at Georgetown as an academic hub for innovative research in the field of biomedical informatics with the goal of enabling individualized approaches to healthcare through data science and informatics approaches. ICBI's mission is to enhance clinical and translational research at Georgetown University Medical Center as well as its partners and, in turn, attract and educate the next generation of scientists and physicians for whom biomedical informatics and health data science will be an integral part of both biomedical research and clinical practice. Connect with ICBI on Facebook (facebook.com/GUICBI) and Twitter (@ICBI_Georgetown).

About Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center -- the only cancer center of its kind in the Washington, D.C. area. A part of Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Georgetown Lombardi seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Connect with Georgetown Lombardi on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgetownLombardi) and Twitter (@LombardiCancer).

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health. Connect with GUMC on Facebook (Facebook.com/GUMCUpdate), Twitter (@gumedcenter) and Instagram (@gumedcenter).
When engineers or designers want to test the aerodynamic properties of the newly designed shape of a car, airplane, or other object, they would normally model the flow of air around the object by having a computer solve a complex set of equations--a procedure that usually takes hours or even an entire day. Nobuyuki Umetani from Autodesk research (now at the University of Tokyo) and Bernd Bickel from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) have now significantly sped up this process, making streamlines and parameters available in real-time. Their method, which is the first to use machine learning to model flow around continuously editable 3D objects, will be presented at this year's prestigious SIGGRAPH conference in Vancouver, where IST Austria researchers are involved in a total of five presentations.

Machine learning can make extremely time-consuming methods a lot faster. Before, the computation of the aerodynamic properties of cars usually took a day. "With our machine learning tool we are able to predict the flow in fractions of a second," says Nobuyuki Umetani. The idea to use machine learning came up in a discussion between the two long-time collaborators. "We both share the vision of making simulations faster," explains IST Austria Professor Bernd Bickel. "We want people to be able to design objects interactively, and therefore we work together to develop data-driven methods," he adds.

So far, it has been extremely challenging to apply machine learning to the problem of modeling flow fields around objects because of the restrictive requirements of the method. For machine learning, both the input and the output data need to be structured consistently. This structuring of information works well for 2D images, where a picture can be easily represented by a regular arrangement of pixels. But if a 3D object is represented by units that define its shape, such as a mesh of triangles, the arrangement of these units might change if the shape changes. Two objects that look very similar to a person might therefore appear very different to a computer, as they are represented by a different mesh, and the machine would therefore be unable to transfer the information about the one to the other.

The solution came from Nobuyuki Umetani's idea to use so-called polycubes to make the shapes manageable for machine learning. This approach, which was originally developed to apply textures to objects in computer animations, has strict rules for representing the objects. A model starts with a small number of large cubes which are then refined and split up in smaller ones following a well-defined procedure. If represented in this way, objects with similar shapes will have a similar data structure that machine learning methods can handle and compare.

The researchers also proved in their study that the machine learning method achieves an impressive accuracy, a prerequisite for engineering. Nobuyuki Umetani explains: "When simulations are made in the classical way, the results for each tested shape are eventually thrown away after the computation. This means that every new computation starts from scratch. With machine learning, we make use of the data from previous calculations, and if we repeat a calculation, the accuracy increases."

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About IST Austria

The Institute of Science and Technology (IST Austria) is a PhD-granting research institution located in Klosterneuburg, 18 km from the center of Vienna, Austria. Inaugurated in 2009, the Institute is dedicated to basic research in the natural and mathematical sciences. IST Austria employs professors on a tenure-track system, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral students. While dedicated to the principle of curiosity-driven research, the Institute owns the rights to all scientific discoveries and is committed to promote their use. The first president of IST Austria is Thomas A. Henzinger, a leading computer scientist and former professor at the University of California in Berkeley, USA, and the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. The graduate school of IST Austria offers fully-funded PhD positions to highly qualified candidates with a bachelor's or master's degree in biology, neuroscience, mathematics, computer science, physics, and related areas. http://www.ist.ac.at
Bottom Line: An increased risk of suicide was associated with those residents of Denmark who sought medical attention for traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared with the general population without TBI in a study that used data from Danish national registers. A history of TBI has been associated with higher rates of self-harm, suicide and death than the general population. This observational study included nearly 35,000 deaths by suicide over 35 years, of which 3,536 (10.2 percent) had medical contact for TBI recorded as mild TBI (concussion), skull fracture without documented TBI, and severe TBI (head injuries with evidence of structural brain injury). The risk for suicide was higher among people with severe TBI, numerous medical contacts for TBI and longer hospital stays, with these patients at highest risk for suicide in the the first six months after hospital discharge. The study has several limitations, including no information on treatment received by patients with TBI and some people may not have sought medical treatment for TBI.

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Authors: Trine Madsen, Ph.D., Danish Research Institute of Suicide Prevention, Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark and coauthors

Related material: The editorial, "Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Suicide," by Lee Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D., Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, and Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, is also available on the For The Media website .

To Learn More: The full study is available on the For The Media website.

(doi:10.1001/jama.2018.10211)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Want to embed a link to this study in your story? Link will be live at the embargo time: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2018.10211
Technology giant Intel has been including an innovative security method in its processors for a number of years. This method works as a vault for your personal data. However, KU Leuven researchers (Belgium) have shown that the system can, in fact, be hacked using the Foreshadow attack. What's more, information processed in cloud systems also seems to be vulnerable to this kind of attack. Intel will be releasing patches and updates to resolve the flaw in millions of processors.

Computer systems are made up of different layers, making them very complex. Every layer also contains millions of lines of computer code. As this code is still written manually, the risk for errors is significant. If such an error occurs, the entire computer system is left vulnerable to attacks. You can compare it to a skyscraper: if one of the floors becomes damaged the entire building might collapse.

Viruses exploit such errors to gain access to sensitive or personal information on the computer, from holiday pictures and passwords to business secrets. In order to protect their processors against these kind of intrusions, IT company Intel introduced an innovative technology in 2015: Intel Software Guard eXtensions (Intel SGX). This technology creates isolated environments in the computer's memory, so-called enclaves, where data and programmes can be used securely.

"If you look at a computer system as a skyscraper, the enclaves form a vault", explains researcher Jo Van Bulck of the Informatics Section (KU Leuven). "Even when the building collapses the vault should still guard its secrets."

"You can put personal information, such as passwords or medical data, in this vault, but there are other possibilities as well. Streaming services such as Netflix, for example, can use enclaves for copyright protection: customers may look at films, but they cannot extract the data that would enable them to make an illegal copy of these films."

Until now, this technology seemed watertight, but KU Leuven researchers have discovered a breach. The attack they launched together with Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, University of Michigan and The University of Adelaide, called Foreshadow, shows that the content of the enclaves can be uncovered anyway.

"The attack uses speculative execution", says researcher Raoul Strackx. "To be able to work quickly, a processor will make certain calculations in advance. If it becomes clear that the calculations retrieve information from an enclave in an unauthorised way, they are discarded. But this is where Intel SGX makes a mistake. Not all traces of the calculations are discarded, which allowed us to enter the enclave."

The computer scientists already notified Intel of this security risk in January, ensuring the technology company had enough time to resolve the breach. An analysis performed by Intel itself also revealed that the impact of Foreshadow is even greater than expected. Not only can this kind of attack enter the enclaves, it also compromises the security of cloud platforms, which play a crucial role in our IT infrastructure. On 14 August, Intel will release an update to repair the flaw in millions of processors.

"Over the past years, researchers of KU Leuven have uncovered several important issues in our IT infrastructure", says Professor Frank Piessens of the Department of Computer Science. "Our scientists discovered a major breach in the WIFI security in October last year, for instance. In other words, this new successful attack is more than just a stroke of luck. That is why Intel Corporation has decided to support us in the coming years to help them in their search for solutions for cybersecurity."

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More information about the research can be found here: https://foreshadowattack.eu/

About KU Leuven

KU Leuven is Europe's most innovative university in the latest Reuters ranking. Located in Belgium, it is dedicated to research, education, and service to society. KU Leuven is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and has a strong European and international orientation. Its scientists conduct basic and applied research in a comprehensive range of disciplines. The university welcomes more than 50,000 students from over 140 countries. The KU Leuven Doctoral Schools train approximately 4,500 PhD students. http://www.kuleuven.be/english
A novel instrument that has already proven its mettle on field campaigns will attempt to measure atmospheric greenhouse gases from an occultation-viewing, low-Earth-orbiting CubeSat mission called Mini-Carb early next year -- marking the first time this type of instrument has flown in space.

Emily Wilson, a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is teaming with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, or LLNL, to fly a smaller, more ruggedized version of her patented mini-Laser Heterodyne Radiometer, or mini-LHR, on an LLNL-built CubeSat platform early next year.

Wilson has demonstrated the ground-based mini-LHR during several field campaigns in Alaska, the Amazon River Basin, and the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland, among other locations. Highly portable, the mini-LHR is comprised of commercially available components and literally can go anywhere to gather measurements.

Although NASA is currently measuring carbon dioxide from space, the agency has never flown a laser heterodyne radiometer to do the job.

Laser heterodyne radiometers were adapted from radio receiver technology. In this variation, the concentrations of greenhouse gases are found by measuring their absorption of infrared sunlight. Each absorption signal is mixed with laser light in a fast photoreceiver within the instrument and the resulting signal is detected at an easier-to-process radio frequency. While this is similar to other absorption techniques, such as those used in the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, laser heterodyne radiometry offers higher spectral resolution as well as improved signal-to-noise levels due to the internal mixing of sunlight with laser light, Wilson explained.

Other advantages are that the mini-LHR is more compact and includes no moving parts, Wilson added. Furthermore, the instrument can measure three greenhouse gases: in addition to carbon dioxide, her instrument can simultaneously measure water vapor and methane in Earth's atmospheric limb. "And comparatively speaking, the instrument cost a small fraction to build compared with more traditional, non-CubeSat instruments," Wilson said. "This is the epitome of science on a shoestring."

Flight Aboard New CubeSat Bus

About the size of a toaster, the flight version of her instrument will fly as the only payload on LLNL's new, 11-pound 6U CubeSat bus known as the CNGB -- short for CubeSat Next Generation Bus. The CubeSat Office at the National Reconnaissance Office originated the CNGB concept, funding researchers at LLNL, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Space Dynamics Laboratory to develop a government-owned nano-satellite architecture that could support a broad range of missions. Mini-Carb is the first mission to do so.

"Emily had a payload without a satellite and we had a spacecraft without a payload," said Vincent Riot, an LLNL engineer who helped develop the CNGB bus, which offers users a plug-and-play capability that allows for rapid configuration and integration. "That's where this partnership formed. This is a proof-of-concept mission to show that we can do excellent science with our platform," Riot said.

The debut flight of both Wilson's instrument and LLNL's CubeSat is slated for January 2019 through the Air Force Space Test Program. Wilson and her team recently delivered the instrument to LLNL where they helped integrate the instrument into the spacecraft in preparation for flight.

Upper Troposphere, Lower Stratosphere Targeted

Once in orbit, Mini-Carb will observe the region between the upper troposphere to the lower stratosphere between six and 18 miles above Earth's surface. Measurements in this atmospheric region provide important information about stratospheric circulation and how it responds to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. "Measuring stratospheric circulation and its variability are essential for projecting how climate change will affect the stratospheric ozone," Wilson said.

Scientists believe that the projected increases in methane and carbon dioxide this century will affect several physical processes that drive climate change, she said. Methane, which is especially long-lived, results in the increased production of stratospheric water vapor and hydroxide, which directly affects ozone, the layer that protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. "Because of methane's role in the changing chemistry of the ozone layer and because of its long lifetime, methane measurements are especially valuable," Wilson said.

Like its ground-based sibling, the Mini-Carb instrument is made of commercial parts and operates passively -- that is, it collects sunlight that has absorbed the targeted greenhouse gases. That light is combined with laser light tuned to the infrared wavelengths and then amplified. Through a series of other steps, the instrument can reveal the concentrations of the greenhouse gases contained in the atmosphere.

While Wilson originally developed both the ground- and space-based instruments for studying climate change on Earth, the instrument also could be employed on a probe or lander to study the atmospheric conditions on other planets, she said.

The immediate goal, however, is demonstrating Mini-Carb in space. "If we get one measurement, I'll consider it a success. There is potential for an extension if the mission works," Riot said. "If this works, our success could lead to bigger projects down the road," Wilson added. "This is a very big deal for us."

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For more Goddard technology news, go to: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/summer_2018_final_web_version.pdf
In collaboration with colleagues from Opole University in Poland, researchers at Horst Gortz Institute for IT Security (HGI) at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) have demonstrated that the Internet protocol "IPsec" is vulnerable to attacks. The Internet Key Exchange protocol "IKEv1", which is part of the protocol family, has vulnerabilities that enable potential attackers to interfere with the communication process and intercept specific information.

The research results are published by Dennis Felsch, Martin Grothe and Prof Dr Jorg Schwenk from the Chair for Network and Data Security at RUB as well as Adam Czubak and Marcin Szymanek from Opole University on 16 August 2018 at the Usenix Security Symposium as well as on their blog.

Secure and encrypted communication

As an enhancement of Internet protocol (IP), "IPsec" has been developed to ensure cryptographically secure communication via publicly accessible resp. insecure networks, such as the Internet, by using encryption and authentication mechanisms. This type of communication is often relevant for enterprises whose employees operate from decentralised workplaces - for example as sales reps or from home office - and have to access company resources. The protocol can, moreover, be utilised to set up virtual private networks, or VPNs.

In order to enable an encrypted connection with "IPsec", both parties must authenticate and define shared keys that are necessary for communication. Automated key management and authentication, for example via passwords or digital signatures, can be conducted via the Internet Key Exchange protocol "IKEv1".

"Even though the protocol is considered obsolete and a newer version, namely IKEv2, has been long available in the market, we see in real-life applications that it is still being implemented in operating systems and still enjoys great popularity, even on newer devices," explains Dennis Felsch. But it is precisely this protocol that has vulnerabilities, as the researchers found out during their analysis.

Bleichenbacher's attack successful

In the course of their project, the researchers attacked the encryption-based logon mode of "IPsec" by deploying the so-called Bleichenbacher's attack, which had been invented in 1998. Its principle is: errors are deliberately incorporated into an encoded message, which is then repeatedly sent to a server. Based on the server's replies to the corrupted message, an attacker can gradually draw better and better conclusions about the encrypted contents.

"Thus, the attacker approaches the target step by step until he reaches his goal," says Martin Grothe and adds: "It is like a tunnel with two ends. It's enough if one of the two parties is vulnerable. Eventually, the vulnerability permits the attacker to interfere with the communication process, to assume the identity of one of the communication partners, and to actively commit data theft."

Bleichenbacher's attack proved effective against the hardware of four network equipment providers. The affected parties were Clavister, Zyxel, Cisco, and Huawei. All four manufacturers have been notified and have now eliminated the security gaps.

Passwords under scrutiny

In addition to the encryption-base logon mode, the researchers have also been looking into password-based login. "Authentication via passwords is carried out with hash values, which are similar to a fingerprint. During our attack, we demonstrated that both IKEv1 and the current IKEv2 present vulnerabilities and may be easily attacked - especially if the password is weak. Accordingly, a highly complex password provides the best protection if IPsec is deployed in this mode," concludes Martin Grothe. The vulnerability was also communicated to the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), as it coordinates the response to actual IT security incidents and provided assistance to the researchers as they notified the industry about the vulnerability.

All-clear for users and network equipment providers

The identified Bleichenbacher vulnerability is not a bug in the standard but rather an implementation error that can be avoided - it all depends on how manufacturers integrate the protocol in their devices. Moreover, the attacker has to enter the network first, before he can do anything. Nevertheless, the researchers' successful attack has demonstrated that established protocols such as "IPsec" still include the Bleichenbacher gap that makes them potentially vulnerable to attack.

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Presentation at symposium

The research team headed by Jorg Schwenk will present the vulnerabilities at the Usenix Security Symposium, which will be taking place from 15 to 17 August 2018 in Baltimore, USA.

Online preview

Dennis Felsch, Martin Grothe, Jorg Schwenk, Adam Czubak, Marcin Szymanek: The dangers of key reuse: practical attacks on IPsec IKE, 2018, Online preview: https://www.usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity18/presentation/felsch
HOUSTON - (Aug. 14, 2018) - Synthetic biologists have the tools to build complex, computer-like DNA circuits that sense or trigger activities in cells, and thanks to scientists at Rice University and the University of Houston they now they have a way to test those circuits in advance.

Rice synthetic biologist Matthew Bennett and University of Houston mathematician William Ott led the development of models to predict the output of custom-built genetic circuits that, for example, can be prompted to start or stop the production of proteins. Their work is described in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Synthetic Biology.

The idea behind synthetic biological circuits seems simple. They are combinations of proteins and ligands that switch gene expression on or off in response to specific conditions in a cell. Such circuits can be used to engineer bacteria and other organisms to regulate cellular systems or perform functions they wouldn't in nature.

The approach allows unprecedented precision in programming microorganisms, and experts expect the field to bring about a revolution in biological sensing and delivery of customized medical treatments such as probiotics to patients and to advance the controllable manufacture of useful chemicals by genetically modified bacteria.

The concern is that the ability to engineer new circuits, with hundreds of genetic parts available to combine in thousands of ways, has outstripped the ability to characterize them. And the same combination can lead to different outcomes depending on the cellular environment. Bennett said the new work is a step toward solving those problems by eliminating much of the trial and error.

Bennett and Ott's initial modeling target is multi-input synthetic promoters, switches that require more than one condition to be met before they start or stop the production of a specific protein. For instance, a promoter could be designed to sense the environment around the cell and trigger production of a particular protein only if two chemicals are detected.

"One of the first problems in synthetic biology was just getting enough parts to assemble larger circuits," Bennett said. "Now that we have the parts, and we're faced with the task of being able to predict how these novel circuits are going to behave.

"There are different ways of constructing multi-input promoters, the parts of DNA that turn a gene on and off," Bennett said. "These constructs allow cells to sense multiple environmental conditions simultaneously to determine whether or not a gene should be turned on or off."

Bennett said the team explored different ways of modeling systems to predict how they work. The models used information from the input/output relations of simple, stand-alone circuits, and then predict how they'll work in combination.

The first "naive" model used data from single-input systems that sense the presence of ligands that repress transcription by chimeric transcription factors. Combining data from several circuits allowed researchers to accurately predict the on-off responses in two-input circuits with two chimeras.

The Rice lab confirmed the model's prediction by engineering bacteria with chimeric "AND" gates that required two ligands to be present to induce the production of a fluorescent protein. Changing the ligand levels changed the fluorescent output on a curve that closely matched the model's prediction.

Bennett said a second, more sophisticated model predicts a circuit's output over an entire landscape of input combinations. That required "informing" the model with a small set of data from experimental two-input systems, and more experiments to verify the accuracy of the model.

The lab also tested each model on multi-input hybrid promoters that included both activators (on switches) and repressors (off switches). The naive model sometimes succumbed to crosstalk between signaling molecules, but the informed model continued to produce accurate predictions.

"This provides a way of designing and constructing large synthetic gene circuits more efficiently," Bennett said. "In the same way that we can predict how electronic circuits work before we build them by modeling them in computers, now we can do that with these gene circuits as well."

He said the naive model will be useful for predicting the behavior of well-characterized single-input devices without additional lab work, and the informed model will help researchers design microbes for complex, constantly changing environments such as the gut microbiome or soil.

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Rice graduate student David Zong is lead author of the paper. Co-authors are David Shis of Rice and Selahittin Cinar and Kresimir Josi? of the University of Houston. Bennett is an associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology.

The National Institutes of Health, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, and the National Science Foundation and its Graduate Research Fellowship Program supported the research.

Read the abstract at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssynbio.8b00165.

This news release can be found online at http://news.rice.edu/2018/08/14/models-give-synthetic-biologists-a-head-start-2/

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials:

Rice U. biologists create toolkit for tuning genetic circuits: http://news.rice.edu/2018/01/11/rice-u-biologists-create-toolkit-for-tuning-genetic-circuits-2/

Scientists seek to engineer chatter among cells: http://news.rice.edu/2017/07/20/scientists-seek-to-engineer-chatter-among-cells-2/

The Biodesign Lab (Bennett): http://biodesign.rice.edu

William Ott: https://www.math.uh.edu/~ott/Research/

Kresimir Josi?: https://www.math.uh.edu/~josic/

Rice University Department of BioSciences: https://biosciences.rice.edu

University of Houston Department of Mathematics: http://www.uh.edu/nsm/math/

Images for download:

http://news.rice.edu/files/2018/08/0813_SYNTHETIC-1-web-1r00pk9.jpg

Researchers at Rice University and the University of Houston have developed mathematical models to predict the performance of multi-input synthetic biological circuits. Such circuits can be used to engineer bacteria and other organisms to regulate cellular systems or perform functions they wouldn't in nature. (Credit: Illustration by David Zong/Rice University)

http://news.rice.edu/files/2018/08/0813_SYNTHETIC-2-WEB-24f3opi.jpg

Rice University synthetic biologist Matthew Bennett and his colleagues have developed mathematical models to predict the performance of multi-input synthetic biological circuits. (Credit: Rice University)

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,970 undergraduates and 2,934 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 2 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. To read "What they're saying about Rice," go to http://tinyurl.com/RiceUniversityoverview.
(New York, NY - August 14, 2018)-- For the first time, Mount Sinai researchers have identified a way to make large numbers of immune cells that can help prevent cancer reoccurrence, according to a study published in August in Cell Reports.

The researchers discovered a way to grow the immune cells, called dendritic cells, at large scale in the lab to study them for their potential use in highly refined cancer vaccines to prevent patients' cancer from coming back. Dendritic cells are very rare in the body, so it has not been possible to isolate them from patients for generating vaccines without great expense and highly complicated methods.

The ability to grow many types of dendritic cells, which act as sentinels that warn the immune system to gear up with weapons specific to the disease it is attacking, will allow researchers to study their roles in the immune system. This discovery is especially important because dendritic cells aren't limited to one type of cancer and can attack all types of cancer with very limited side effects.

"The ability to generate large numbers of distinct types of human dendritic cells in vitro is critical for accelerating our understanding of dendritic cell biology and to harness them clinically," said Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD, Director of Immunotherapy at The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "Our system will also be useful for translational applications including in vitro drug and vaccine testing on different dendritic cell types."

This study also investigated the role of notch signaling, which is a biological pathway that plays a critical role in the development of a variety of organisms, from flies to humans, and is critical for generating a specific type of dendritic cell, cDC1, that is the best type of dendritic cell for cancer vaccines. The study revealed that some of the current cancer treatments being tested in clinical trials are flawed because they disrupt the notch signaling pathway, which could inhibit cDC1 and thus may negatively affect the immune system's ability to kill cancer cells.

This research is a jumping-off point for further research on the different types of dendritic cells and other immune cells and has implications for not only boosting cancer-fighting therapies but also to prevent organ transplant rejection, which involves the immune system as well.

This study furthers Dr. Bhardwaj's work with dendritic cells and vaccine development. Dr. Bhardwaj, a leader in this field, heads Mount Sinai's Vaccine and Cell Therapy Laboratory, which prepares cell-based protein and peptide-based vaccines. Dr. Bhardwaj's expertise in this area has been widely recognized, most recently by being invited by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy to participate in collaborative research with scientists from nine top medical centers around the country.

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The study was performed in collaboration with Marc Dalod, PhD, of Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy in Marseille, France. Sreekumar Balan, PhD, a post-doctorate researcher at The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, also played a significant role in this research.

This work was supported by the I2HD CIML-SANOFI project, Inserm, Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les Hepatites Virales (ANRS project ECTZ25472), the DCBIOL Labex (ANR-11-LABEX-0043, grant ANR-10-IDEX-0001-02 PSL) and the A*MIDEX project (ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02) funded by the French Government's "Investissements d'Avenir" program managed by the ANR, the European Research Council under the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013 Grant Agreement 281225; to M.D.); the NIH (AI044628, CA180913 and AI081848), the Cancer Research Institute and the Melanoma Research Alliance.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest integrated delivery system encompassing seven hospital campuses, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai's vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians; 10 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. The Icahn School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Medical Schools", aligned with a U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" Hospital, No. 13 in the nation for National Institutes of Health funding, and among the top 10 most innovative research institutions as ranked by the journal Nature in its Nature Innovation Index. This reflects a special level of excellence in education, clinical practice, and research. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 18 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of top U.S. hospitals; it is one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Nephrology, and Neurology/Neurosurgery, and in the top 50 in four other specialties in the 2017-2018 "Best Hospitals" issue. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked nationally in five out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 12th nationally for Ophthalmology and 50th for Ear, Nose, and Throat, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai West are ranked regionally. For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Trees are growing more rapidly due to climate change. This sounds like good news. After all, this means that trees are storing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in their wood and hence taking away the key ingredient in global warming. But is it that simple? A team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) analyzed wood samples from the oldest existing experimental areas spanning a period of 150 years - and reached a surprising conclusion.

The team led by Hans Pretzsch, Professor for Forest Growth and Yield Science at the TUM, examined wood samples from several hundred trees and analyzed every single annual ring using a high-tech procedure -- a total of 30,000 of them. "The heart of the LIGNOSTATION is a high-frequency probe which scans each sample in steps of a hundredth of a millimeter", says Pretzsch, explaining the analysis procedure. "By doing so, we measure the specific weight of the wood with an accuracy and resolution which until recently was unthinkable."

The wood samples come from the oldest experimental forest plots in Europe which were created at the same time the TU Munich was founded 150 years ago. The samples were taken from common European tree species such as spruces, pines, beeches, and oaks. "We have detailed knowledge of the history of every single plot and tree", says Pretzsch. "This allows us to rule out the possibility that our findings could result from the forest being managed differently now as compared to a hundred years ago."

Climate change is making the wood lighter

With the combination of wood samples from the 1870s to the present day coupled with the latest measurement technology, the team at the School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan were able to demonstrate that the annually growing wood has gradually become lighter since observations began: By up to eight to twelve percent since 1900. Within the same period, the volume growth of the trees in central Europe has accelerated by 29 to one hundred percent.

In other words: Even though a greater volume of wood is being produced today, it now contains less material than just a few decades ago. However, the explanation which immediately comes to mind does not apply. "Some people might now surmise that the more rapid growth could itself be the cause for our observations", says Dr. Peter Biber, co-author of the study -- "In some tree species, it is in fact the case that wider annual rings also tend to have lighter wood. But we have taken this effect into account. The decrease in wood density we are talking about is due to other factors."

Instead, Pretzsch and his team see the causes as being the long-term increase in temperature due to climate change and the resulting lengthening of the vegetation period. But the nitrogen input from agriculture, traffic, and industry also play a part. A number of details lead experts to surmise this, such as the decrease in the density of late wood and the increase in the percentage of early wood in the annual rings.

Lighter wood - What's the problem?

Lighter wood is less solid and it has a lower calorific value. This is crucial for numerous application scenarios ranging from wood construction to energy production. Less solid wood in living trees also increases the risk of damage events such as breakage due to wind and snow in forests.

But the most important finding for practical and political aspects is that the current climate-relevant carbon sequestration of the forests is being overestimated as long as it is calculated with established but outdated wood densities. "The accelerated growth is still resulting in surplus carbon sequestration", says Pretzsch. "But scaling up for the forests of central Europe, the traditional estimate would be to high by about ten million metric tons of carbon per year."

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More Information:

The research group at the Chair for Forest Growth and Yield Science at the TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan led by Hans Pretzsch investigates the effect of climate change on the growth, stability, and vitality of trees. An important basis for this research are the experimental plots of the Chair, on which the dynamics of forests have been measured since 1879 to answer ecological and economic questions. In the study reported here, they contribute to measuring the human footprint in forest ecosystems.

Publications:

Pretzsch, H., Biber, P., Schutze, G., Kemmerer, J. and Uhl, E.: Wood density reduced while wood volume growth accelerated in Central European forests since 1870, Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 429/2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.07.045

Pretzsch, H., Biber, P., Uhl, E., Dahlhausen, J., Schutze, G., Perkins, D., Rotzer, T., Caldentey, J., Koike, T., van Con, T., Chavanne, A., du Toit, B., Foster, K., Lefer, B.: Climate change accelerates growth of urban trees in metropolises worldwide. Scientific Reports 7/ 2017. DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-14831-w.

Pretzsch, H., Biber, P., Schutze, G., Uhl, E., Rotzer, T.: Forest stand growth dynamics in Central Europe have accelerated since 1870. Nature Communications 5/ 2014.

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Hans Pretzsch

Technical University of Munich

Chair for Forest Growth

Phone: +49 (8161) 71 - 4710

Mail: hans.pretzsch@tum.de
University of California astronomers, including three from UCLA, have resolved a mystery about the early universe and its first galaxies.

Astronomers have known that more than 12 billion years ago, about 1 billion years after the Big Bang, the gas in deep space was, on average, much more opaque than it is now in some regions, although the opacity varied widely from place to place. But they weren't sure about what caused those variations.

To learn why the differences occurred, the astronomers used one of the world's largest telescopes, the Subaru telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, to search for galaxies of young stars in an exceptionally large region of space -- 500 million light-years across -- where they knew the intergalactic gas was extremely opaque.

If the region had an unusually small number of galaxies, the scientists would be able to conclude that starlight could not penetrate as far as expected through the intergalactic gas; if it had an unusually large number of galaxies, the implication would be that the region had cooled significantly over the previous several hundred million years. (Having few galaxies in a region would mean not only that there was less light created by those galaxies, but also that even more opaque gas was being formed, so the light could not travel as far as astronomers had expected.)

"It was a rare case in astronomy where two competing models, both of which were compelling in their own way, offered precisely opposite predictions, and we were lucky that those predictions were testable," said Steven Furlanetto, a UCLA professor of astronomy and a co-author of the research.

The researchers found that region contains far fewer galaxies than expected -- clear evidence that starlight could not get through. The paucity of galaxies could be the reason this region is so opaque.

"It is not that the opacity is a cause of the lack of galaxies," Furlanetto said. "Instead, it's the other way around."

They concluded that because the gas in deep space is kept transparent by ultraviolet light from galaxies, fewer nearby galaxies might make it murkier.

The research is published in the Astrophysical Journal.

In the first billion years after the Big Bang, ultraviolet light from the first galaxies filled the universe with gas in deep space. This would have occurred earlier in regions with more galaxies, the astronomers concluded. The astronomers plan to further study whether the void and others like it will reveal clues about how the first generations of galaxies illuminated the universe during that early period. Furlanetto said the astronomers hope that studying the interplay of galaxies and gas in deep space will reveal more about how the intergalactic ecosystem took shape during that period of the early universe.

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Co-authors of the research are Matthew Malkan, a UCLA professor of astronomy; George Becker, assistant professor of astronomy at UC Riverside; Elisa Boera, a UC Riverside postdoctoral scholar; Craig Douglass, a UC Riverside graduate student; and Frederick Davies, a former UCLA graduate student who is now a postdoctoral scholar at UC Santa Barbara.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA.
An undergraduate researcher has developed a method to screen frogs for an infectious disease that has been linked to mass die-offs of frogs around the world. Thanks to her method, scientists will be able to track the disease and try to figure out why it is triggering the deaths.

Emily Karwacki, who recently earned her biology degree from the University of Central Florida, didn't set out to track the deadly pathogen Perkinsea, but after landing a research spot in Assistant Professor Anna Savage's lab, she was set with the task of trying to test for the disease. Frogs, which are indicators of environmental changes, have been dying off in mass quantities. They are also an important part of the food chain. Without frogs, many other species would die, Savage said.

Scientists have narrowed down what's most affecting frogs to three pathogens, including Perkinsea.

"Not a lot of people have studied Perkinsea because it has only recently been identified," Karwacki said. "It's different from other diseases because of the way it attacks the host."

The pathogen enters the frog through the skin or may be ingested through its mouth. Scientists know it goes straight to the liver, embedding itself, before moving onto the rest of the tissue. It spreads and then the frog dies.

Karwacki, along with Savage and doctoral student Matt Atkinson, suspected that Perkinsea was killing frogs in Central Florida, but the researchers needed a way to test for it first. Karwacki was tasked with creating the molecular test. The method is called qPCR, but because Perkinsea was newly discovered, there wasn't enough genetic data to make a specific test. Karwacki had to create what's called a primer pair, and match it with a DNA sequence of Perkinsea, to get the qPCR test to work.

"The test amplifies the DNA so you know if your pathogen is there or not," Emily said. "I had to align a bunch of DNA sequences from our samples with others from around the word to create my primer set. It was four or five months before we had both the primers and the probe to create a successful test."

Karwacki was the first to do this for Perkinsea and her work was recently published in the journal Diseases of Aquatic Organisms.

Using Karwacki's qPCR assay, the team of researchers found that 25 percent of the frogs they sampled tested positive for the pathogen. They sampled three sites in Florida: Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights, the UCF Arboretum in Orlando, and the Archbold Biological Station in Venus. The area they found with the most prevalent infection was Gold Head Branch, which is the farthest north. Archbold, the farthest south, had no infection at all. "There are only three papers on this disease that identify it specifically," Karwacki said. "It has greatly been affecting amphibians in the southeastern United States and should be studied more. It's most likely at least a co-factor in these extinction events we are seeing."

Karwacki's method will now allow researchers all over the world to test for the disease. After graduating this summer, she is working on a new study, swabbing frog tissue samples at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. She's swabbed more than 900 samples, and has found that Perkinsea dates back to 1922. This proves the disease has been in frog populations before, and scientists are trying to figure out why it's only now killing off large numbers of frogs. "Now with my qPCR, people can test areas where they are trying to release frogs to rebound populations," Karwacki said. "Scientists can test water and soil to see if Perkinsea is there so we don't send frogs out to die."

Karwacki is entering the nonprofit business management master's program at UCF before pursuing graduate school. She will continue her work as a research associate in Savage's lab.

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University of Central Florida: Founded in 1963 with a commitment to expanding opportunity and demanding excellence, the University of Central Florida develops the talent needed to advance the prosperity and welfare of our society.

With more than 66,000 students, UCF is one of the nation's largest universities, offering more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations in Central Florida and online.

UCF was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the nation's top 25 most innovative universities along with Harvard, Stanford and Duke, and has been described by The Washington Post as "part of a vanguard that is demolishing the popular belief that exclusivity is a virtue in higher education." For more information, visit ucf.edu.
An estimated 17 percent of humans worldwide die from cancer, but less than five percent of captive elephants--who also live for about 70 years, and have about 100 times as many potentially cancerous cells as humans--die from the disease.

Three years ago, research teams from the University of Chicago and the University of Utah, working separately, began to unravel why. They knew that humans, like all other animals, have one copy of the master tumor suppressor gene p53. This gene enables humans and elephants to recognize unrepaired DNA damage, a precursor of cancer. Then it causes those damaged cells to die.

Unexpectedly, however, the researchers found that elephants have 20 copies of p53. This makes their cells significantly more sensitive to damaged DNA and quicker to engage in cellular suicide.

In the August 14, 2018 issue of the journal Cell Reports, the University of Chicago team describes a second element of this process: an anti-cancer gene that returned from the dead.

"Genes duplicate all the time," said Vincent Lynch, PhD, assistant professor of human genetics at the University of Chicago and the study's senior author. "Sometimes they make mistakes, producing non-functional versions known as pseudogenes. We often refer to these dismissively as dead genes."

While studying p53 in elephants, however, Lynch and colleagues found a former pseudogene called leukemia inhibitory factor 6 (LIF6) that had somehow evolved a new on-switch. LIF6, back from the dead, had become a valuable working gene. Its function, when activated by p53, is to respond to damaged DNA by killing the cell. The LIF6 gene makes a protein that goes, quite rapidly, to the mitochondria, the cell's main energy source. That protein pokes holes in the mitochondria, causing the cell to die.

"Hence, zombie," said Lynch. "This dead gene came back to life. When it gets turned on by damaged DNA, it kills that cell, quickly. This is beneficial, because it acts in response to genetic mistakes, errors made when the DNA is being repaired. Getting rid of that cell can prevent a subsequent cancer."

Elephants have eight LIF genes, but only LIF6 is known to be functional. Although it was only recently described, it appears to have been helping elephants and their relatives for a long time.

"We can use the tricks of evolution to try to figure out when this defunct gene became functional again," Lynch said. It seems to have emerged around the time when the fossil record indicates that the small groundhog-sized precursors of today's elephants began to grow bigger. This started about 25 to 30 million years ago. This supplementary method of suppressing cancer may have been a key element enabling enormous growth, which eventually led to modern elephants.

There are significant and lasting benefits to being huge. Small animals, for example--mice, squirrels, groundhogs--get eaten all the time, mostly by larger animals. But "if you are enormous, such as an elephant or a whale, nothing is going to mess with you," Lynch said.

There are tradeoffs, however. Bigger animals have vastly more cells, and they tend to live longer, which means more time and opportunities to accumulate cancer-causing mutations. When those cells divide, their DNA makes copies of itself. But those copies don't match the original. Errors get introduced and the repair process can't catch up.

"Large, long-lived animals must have evolved robust mechanisms to either suppress or eliminate cancerous cells in order to live as long as they do, and reach their adult sizes," said study co-author Juan Manuel Vazquez, a doctoral candidate in the Lynch laboratory.

These huge animals thus have higher odds of developing cancerous cells. This can also happen on a smaller scale. Taller humans, for example, have a slightly higher incidence of several cancer types than average sized people, and shorter people tend to be at a reduced risk for those cancers.

LIF6, the study authors suggest, was "reanimated sometime before the demands of maintaining a larger body existed." It helped enable the growth of animals that were the size of a 10-pound groundhog into majestic creatures that can weigh more than 15,000 pounds. It was "permissive for the origin of large bodies," the authors note, "but not sufficient."

Exactly how LIF6 induces apoptosis, however, remains unclear. This will be "the focus of continued studies," the authors wrote.

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The University of Chicago funded this study through a new lab startup account to Lynch. Additional authors were Michael Sulak and Sravanthi Chigurupati.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and the loss of genetic diversity are the three main factors driving the extinction of many wild species, and the few eastern massasauga rattlesnakes remaining in Illinois have certainly suffered two of the three. A long-term study of these snakes reveals, however, that - despite their alarming decline in numbers - they have retained a surprising amount of genetic diversity.

The new findings are reported in the journal Copeia.

"Despite occurring in small, fragmented populations, eastern massasaugas in Illinois do not show genetic evidence of inbreeding," said Illinois Natural History Survey postdoctoral researcher Sarah J. Baker, who led the new research.

The genetic analysis did reveal, however, the loss of several rare versions of genes over the course of the 10-year study, which ended in 2012. Such losses can signal the early stages of local extinction, Baker said.

In 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the eastern massasauga as a threatened species nationally. Massasaugas are endangered in Illinois.

The widespread conversion of prairie to row-crop agriculture and the construction of the Carlyle Lake dam in central Illinois were among the biggest assaults on massasauga populations in the state, said INHS herpetologist Michael Dreslik, a coauthor of the study.

"The lake was constructed as an impoundment of the Kaskaskia River in 1967 and flooded bottomland habitat," he said. "The remaining massasaugas are now clustered in wet prairies containing crayfish burrow complexes that shelter the snakes. These represent the only remaining suitable habitat patches for them."

The construction of Carlyle Lake did not result in a genetic "bottleneck," however, Baker said.

"Bottlenecks can occur when a large population is quickly reduced in size, causing a loss of genetic diversity," she said.

Despite the positive findings, the snakes are likely to become locally extinct without significant intervention, the researchers said. According to a 2017 estimate, the largest subpopulation of wild massasaugas remaining in Illinois includes 26-69 snakes.

"Previous studies propose that a total population of at least 100 is required for short-term maintenance of genetic diversity, and a population of 1,000 is needed to ensure long-term conservation," Baker said. "Conservation and management actions that can increase population size should be enacted as soon as possible to preserve the remaining genetic diversity and ensure the persistence of the species in Illinois."

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The INHS is a division of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois.

Editor's notes:

To reach Sarah Baker, email sjbaker2@illinois.edu.

To reach Michael Dreslik, email dreslik@illinois.edu.

The paper "Temporal patterns of genetic diversity in an imperiled population of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus)" is available online and from the U. of I. News Bureau.
In the first study of its kind, researchers characterized the skin microbiome of a population of free-ranging snakes to begin to understand how the animals' environmental microbial community may promote disease resistance as well as how it may be disrupted by infection.

The study, which was recently published in Scientific Reports, a Nature research journal, focused on eastern massasaugas in Illinois. This species of endangered rattlesnake is highly susceptible to the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, which causes snake fungal disease (SFD). SFD results in disfiguring sores on snake skin, has a high mortality rate, and poses a significant threat to snake populations in North America and Europe. The mechanism by which the pathogen causes disease is unknown.

"Globally, fungal pathogens are increasingly associated with wildlife epidemics, such as white-nose syndrome in bats and chytridiomycosis in amphibians," said Dr. Matt Allender, a faculty member at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and an affiliate of the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), part of the university's Prairie Research Institute. "Snake fungal disease has been identified in a number of snake species, but very little is known about contributing factors for infection."

Dr. Allender, who heads the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, has been investigating SFD for more than 8 years. In 2014 he introduced a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test to quickly identify the fungus from a swabbed sample.

"In a 20-year collaborative study led by INHS researchers, we have been the primary investigator of numerous studies documenting disease trends in the eastern massasauga including overall health, but none of these health parameters seemed to explain the emergence of SFD. This study was undertaken in light of recent promising findings about the importance of environmental microbial communities in animal and human health."

Based on their analysis of 144 skin swabs collected from 44 snakes in 2015 and 52 snakes in 2016, all near Carlyle Lake, Ill., researchers determined that infection with SFD altered the bacterial and fungal diversity of the snakes studied. On the infected snakes, Ophidiomyces was present even at locations on the snakes' bodies distant to the open sores, indicating that the skin's entire microbiome is altered by the infection.

No Ophidiomyces spores were detected on SFD-negative snakes, as would have been expected had those snakes' microbiome proven protective against the pathogen.

Findings related to the specific bacteria and fungi found in greater or lesser abundance depending on the disease status of the snake are detailed in the study.

The researchers believe their findings will have broad relevance to other snake species and habitats and will provide insight into mechanisms of pathogen emergence, fluctuations in wellness of individuals, and development of therapeutic interventions.

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Dr. Allender's coauthors on the microbiome study include Dr. Sarah Baker, a postdoctoral researcher at INHS; Megan Britton, who will complete her veterinary degree at Illinois in 2019; and Dr. Angela D. Kent, a professor in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences who directs the Program in Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology, School of Integrative Biology, and is an affiliate of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.
Analyzing the incidents between residents in dementia in long-term care homes may hold the key to reducing future fatalities among this vulnerable population, according to new research from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. Gathered from media accounts and death review records, the exploratory study by Eilon Caspi, PhD, is the first to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of elders as a result of resident-to-resident incidents in dementia in the United States and Canada.

Despite growing concerns about the projected growth in the number of people with dementia and the expected rise in resident-to-resident incidents, the phenomenon is not currently being tracked by the two largest federally mandated clinical and oversight systems in nursing homes in the U.S.

"The fact that we are not capturing and tracking this phenomenon represents a major missed opportunity for learning and prevention of these incidents," says Caspi, the study's author and a research associate at the School of Nursing. "We need to develop a data-driven national action plan to reduce these incidents and ensure that frail and vulnerable residents will remain safe in the last years of their lives. Delivery of evidence-based staff training programs to improve understanding, prevention, and de-escalation of these episodes is urgently needed."

Among Caspi's findings:

- Nearly half (44 percent) of all fatalities were the results of physical contact classified as push-fall. "Many of the injuries consisted of hip fractures or head or brain injuries and on average it was slightly more than two weeks from the incident to their passing, which speaks volumes to the frailty and vulnerability of this population." - While men and women equally died as a result of these incidents, three-quarters of exhibitors were men. "The most common exhibitor-target dyad was man to man (approximately 50 percent) followed by man to woman (24 percent) and woman to woman (21 percent). Woman to man accounted for only 4 percent of the dyads. While more research is needed to examine the role of gender in injurious and fatal episodes, the preliminary findings may have implications for more targeted interventions." - More than half (59 percent) of all incidents took place inside bedrooms and 43 percent involved roommates. "The bedroom is the last frontier of privacy for people in dementia. Policies, procedures, and practices related to roommate assignment and monitoring need to be thoughtful and revisited regularly and we need to explore all avenues for reducing to the minimum possible the use of shared bedrooms or at a minimum increasing roommates' sense of privacy and security. In addition, stronger measures to prevent residents' unwanted entries into other residents' bedrooms (including the use of assistive technology) could reduce these incidents." - Evenings (44 percent) were the most common time for incidents to occur, with 38 percent of all incidents occurring on weekends. 62 percent were reportedly not witnessed by staff. "While incidents occur at virtually all times, evenings and weekends appear to be especially vulnerable time periods. Taking proactive, anticipatory, preventative measures and increasing staffing levels, the active presence of managers, and meaningful engagement during the evenings and weekends could reduce the incidence."

Caspi points out that his findings are not meant to suggest that residents with dementia are inherently "aggressive," "abusive," "violent," or "dangerous." He cautions that adopting this view could run the risk of stigmatizing an already stigmatized population.

Labeling a person with dementia using these terms assumes that these behavioral expressions are intentionally initiated to harm another person when the majority of individuals in mid-to-late stages of dementia do not initiate these expressions without a distressing situational trigger. Caspi says they often engage in these episodes when their human needs and situational frustrations are not met in a timely manner by dedicated but understaffed, undertrained, and undersupervised direct care staff members.

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The study, "The circumstances surrounding the death of 105 elders as a result of resident-to-resident incidents in dementia in long-term care homes," appears in the current issue of the Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect.

About the University of Minnesota School of Nursing

Founded in 1909 and recognized as the birthplace of university-based nurse education, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing continues to lead the profession into the future. With a mission to generate knowledge and prepare nurse leaders who create, lead and participate in holistic efforts to improve the health of all people, the school and its research are addressing health issues across the life span with a focus on health promotion among vulnerable populations, prevention and management of chronic health conditions, symptom management, and health/nursing informatics and systems innovation. The school is ranked among the top programs in nursing informatics and is internationally renowned for its efforts to improve health and health care through the use of big data.

Source of Research Support

The author would like to thank Theresa Piccolo for her generous support of this study. The research article is dedicated to the memory of her husband Frank Piccolo, Toronto, Canada.
Children as young as eight are vulnerable to poor body image as hormone levels rise with the onset of puberty, a new study has found

Dr Elizabeth Hughes, the lead author and a research fellow from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Melbourne, said the study explored a link between hormones and body satisfaction in young pre-pubescent children for the first time.

The study is based on data from more than 1,100 eight- to nine-year-old girls and boys in Melbourne, collected for MCRI's Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study.

The research, 'Body Image Dissatisfaction and the Adrenarchal Transition' is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Dr Hughes said the study clearly indicated that there was a need for strategies in schools and at home to help children maintain a positive body image prior to the onset of puberty.

She said the study found that girls tended to be more dissatisfied with their bodies than boys, but boys with higher hormone levels also felt unhappy with their physical shape.

"What we have learnt is that pre-pubescent children, as young as eight and nine, are vulnerable to poor body image and the dissatisfaction does appear to be linked to hormone levels associated with the onset of puberty," Dr Hughes said.

"Basically the higher the level of hormones, the more unhappy the children were with their body size; however children with heightened levels of hormones also tend to be taller and heavier than their peers, and this could be the cause of their poor body image."

Dr Hughes said she hoped the research might lead to a discussion about strategies and programs that could help children maintain a positive body image prior to the onset of puberty.

"It may be that children who are taller, heavier and more physically mature, feel more conspicuous amongst their peers," she said.

"There may be a need for community and school programs that help young people learn about what underpins good self-esteem, because self-esteem is not solely invested in physical appearance."

Body dissatisfaction was measured using a tool called the Kids' Eating Disorder scale (KEDS) body image silhouettes*. This is comprised of eight illustrated silhouettes of children ranging from very thin to very obese. There are separate sets for females and males.

The child is first asked to select the silhouette that most looks like them now (self-rating), and then asked to select the silhouette they would most like to look like (ideal rating). Each silhouette is scored and by subtracting the ideal from the self-rating children are allocated either a positive or negative body satisfaction score.

Adrenal androgens, which are naturally-occurring steroid hormones such as DHEA and testosterone, were measured through saliva.

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* Childress AC, Jarrell MP, Brewerton TD. The Kids' Eating Disorders Survey (KEDS): Internal consistency, component analysis, and reliability. Eat Disord 1993;1(2):123-133.
ANN ARBOR--A newly discovered processor vulnerability could potentially put secure information at risk in any Intel-based PC manufactured since 2008. It could affect users who rely on a digital lockbox feature known as Intel Software Guard Extensions, or SGX, as well as those who utilize common cloud-based services, a new report says.

Researchers at the University of Michigan, the Belgian research group imec-Distrinet, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, the University of Adelaide and Data61 identified the SGX security hole, called Foreshadow, in January and informed Intel. That led Intel to discover its broader potential in the cloud. This second variant, Foreshadow-NG, targets Intel-based virtualization environments that cloud computing providers like Amazon and Microsoft use to create thousands of virtual PCs on a single large server.

Intel has released software and microcode updates to protect against both varieties of attack. Cloud providers will need to install the updates to guard their machines. On an individual level, the owners of every SGX-capable Intel PC manufactured since 2016 will need an update to protect their SGX. Some of these updates will be installed automatically while others will need to be installed manually, depending on how a machine is configured.

To be demonstrated Aug. 16 at the Usenix Security Symposium in Baltimore, the flaw is similar to Spectre and Meltdown, the hardware-based attacks that shook the computer security world in early 2018. Researchers were able to break several security features that are present in most Intel-based machines.

"SGX, virtualization environments and other similar technologies are changing the world by enabling us to use computing resources in new ways, and to put very sensitive data on the cloud--medical records, cryptocurrency, biometric information like fingerprints," said Ofir Weisse, graduate student research assistant in computer science and engineering at U-M and an author on the paper presented at Usenix. "Those are important goals, but vulnerabilities like this show how important it is to proceed carefully."

The attacks and their targets

The Software Guard Extensions feature that the Foreshadow demonstration attack targets is not widely used today. Used by just a handful of cloud providers and a few hundred thousand customers, it's lying dormant on the vast majority of computers equipped with it, and those machines are not vulnerable at this time. That said, the researchers caution that the threat will grow with the use of the product.

"As long as users install the update, they'll be fine. And in fact, the vast majority of PC owners don't use SGX, so it's not likely to become a major problem right now," said Thomas Wenisch, a U-M computer science and engineering associate professor and an author on the paper. "The real danger lies in the future, if SGX becomes more popular and there are still large numbers of machines that haven't been updated. That's why this update is so important."

SGX creates a digital lockbox called an "secure enclave" in a machine, keeping the data and applications inside isolated from the rest of the machine. Even if a security vulnerability compromises the entire machine, the data protected by SGX is supposed to remain inaccessible to everyone but the owner of the data.

The main application of SGX is to enable the processing and storage of sensitive information, like proprietary business information or health data, at remote third-party data centers where not even data center employees should be able to access the protected data. SGX can also be used for controlling the distribution of copyrighted digital content, for example allowing a movie to be viewed only on specific machines.

Foreshadow breaks SGX's lockbox, enabling an attacker to read and modify the data inside. While this is not the first attack to target SGX, it is the most damaging thus far.

"Previous work could get some of the data some of the time. Foreshadow gets most of the data most of the time," said Daniel Genkin, a U-M assistant professor of computer science and engineering and an author on the paper. "In addition to reading the data, Foreshadow also extracts what's called an attestation key. That key enables attackers to masquerade as a secure machine and trick people into sending secret data to it."

The second variant, Foreshadow-NG, breaks the digital wall that keeps individual cloud customers' virtual PCs isolated from one another on large servers. This could enable a malicious virtual machine running in the cloud to read data belonging to other virtual machines. The virtualization code is present in every Intel-based computer manufactured since 2008.

"Foreshadow-NG could break the fundamental security properties that many cloud-based services take for granted," said Baris Kasikci, a U-M assistant professor of computer science and engineering and an author on the paper.

How the attacks work

Both variants of the vulnerability gain access to the victim machine using what's known as a side channel attack. These attacks infer information about a system's inner workings by observing patterns in seemingly innocuous information--how long it takes the processor to access the machine's memory, for example. This can be used to gain access to the inner workings of the machine.

The attack then confuses the system's processor by exploiting a feature called speculative execution. Used in all modern CPUs, speculative execution speeds processing by enabling the processor to essentially guess what it will be asked to do next and plan accordingly.

The attack feeds in false information that leads speculative execution into a series of wrong guesses. Like a driver following a faulty GPS, the processor becomes hopelessly lost. This confusion is then exploited to cause the victim machine to leak sensitive information. In some cases, it can even alter information on the victim machine.

While these vulnerabilities were caught before causing major damage, they expose the fragility of secure enclaves and virtualization technologies says Ofir Weisse, the graduate student research assistant involved in the work. He believes that the key to keeping technologies secure lies in making designs open and accessible to researchers so that they can identify and repair vulnerabilities quickly.

###

Other researchers on the project Include Jo Van Bulck, Frank Piessens and Raoul Strackx at Belgian research group imec-DistriNet, Marina Minkin and Mark Silberstein at Technion Israel Institute of Technology; and Yuval Yarom at the University of Adelaide and Data61.

Foreshadow is detailed in a paper titled "Foreshadow: Extracting the Keys to the Intel SGX Kingdom with Transient Out-of-Order Execution." The research was supported by the Research Fund KU Leuven, the Technion Hiroshi Fujiwara cyber security research center, the Israel Cyber Bureau, National Science Foundation awards 1514261 and 1652259, the Financial Assistance Award 70NANB15H328 from the United States Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 2017-2018 Rothschild Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) under Contract FA8650-16-C-7622.

More information about Foreshadow is available at ForeshadowAttack.com.
Researchers from the University of Turku and University of Palermo studied the ecology of investors in the financial market. The research results were published in the Palgrave Communications journal.

The ecology of investors is a well-known concept that has mainly been used in the modelling or simulation of financial markets. The Finnish-Italian research group studied the ecology of investors on a more extensive scale using data from actual markets.

"Traditionally it has been thought that the stock market is efficient and the investors are completely rational and process all the available information quickly. However, many external incentives and internal factors can influence people's behaviour and decision-making ability - also in the stock market. When studying financial markets, the adaptive market hypothesis has in the last 10-15 years risen as an alternative to the efficient market hypothesis. According to the adaptive market hypothesis, the investors compete in the stock market with constantly renewing and changing strategies that take into consideration the state of the markets and the surrounding financial circumstances. As a result, we can talk about the ecology of investors in the financial market where they compete for scarce resources and survival," explains University Research Fellow and Docent Jyrki Piilo from the Department of Physics and Astronomy who led the research group at the University of Turku.

So far, there are only a few studies on the ecology of investors which incorporate empirical data, as actual data on the trading of individual investors over a long period of time is not extensively available.

Piilo's research group conducted the research together with a group from the University of Palermo composed by Federico Musciotto and Luca Marotta and led by Professor Rosario N. Mantegna, a pioneer in econophysics. The Finnish-Italian research group studied the ecology of investors in the financial market by examining the trading of individual investors with Nokia stock in 1995-2009. This period includes, for example, the dot-com bubble at the turn of the millennium and the financial crisis of 2008.

The research results strengthen the assumption that the adaptive market hypothesis exists in the financial market and demonstrates the long-term market ecology of investors.

Groups of investors form interlinked clusters

The research based on actual data utilised the methods of network theory. For each year, the researchers constructed investor networks with links between the investors who used similar strategies in trading. In these networks, the researchers detected clusters of investors who had many links with each other but only a few to investors outside the cluster. Therefore, it was possible to study how the network of investors and the clusters within it changed and developed during the 15-year period.

The results show that the groups of investors can remain together from a few months to 12 years. The groups can also merge together or split up when the conditions change. Some groups often had an over-representation of investors from certain sectors, such as households or governmental organisations. Also the size of the clusters changed significantly in different years - the largest detected cluster consisted of 425 investors in 2005.

Connection between strategies and the volatility of markets

The results also clearly implicate that the number of strategies used in the markets and the volatility of the markets are connected: prices changed more evenly when investors used less strategies.

"And vice versa: the more there are strategies, the more the prices fluctuate. However, on the basis of the study, we cannot draw conclusions on which one is the cause and which one the effect," says Piilo.

The observations in the study help in understanding the operation of financial markets as well as their connection to theoretical models. It also opens new lines of inquiry into the connection between the volatility and number of strategies.

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The Papers of Andrew Jackson project has received a $325,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to prepare three new volumes for publication, covering 1833 through 1835. This grant is the second highest among the 21 awarded this year within the NEH Scholarly Editions and Translations program.



"This generous grant is the largest we have ever received from the NEH and comes as a welcome show of confidence in the quality and significance of our work," says Dan Feller, professor of history and director of The Papers of Andrew Jackson project.

"Together with the substantial increase in support we received this year from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, this three-year NEH award ensures that our progress towards completion of the series will continue and even accelerate."
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA  Joshua Cathers, of Sistersville, West Virginia, and Ronald Morgan, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, have admitted to their involvement in methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin distribution that spanned multiple states, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Cathers, age 38, pleaded guilty Monday, Aug. 13 to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. Cathers admitted selling methamphetamine in November 2017 in Tyler County.

Morgan, age 50, pleaded guilty on Friday, Aug. 10 to one count of Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Methamphetamine Morgan admitted to selling methamphetamine in March 2017 in Tyler County.

Cathers and Morgan each face up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams, Jr., and Shawn M. Adkins are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Marshall County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Tyler County Sheriffs Office; the Wetzel County Sheriffs Office; the Sistersville Police Department; the Paden City Police Department; and the New Martinsville Police Department investigated. The Columbus, Ohio, Police Department Gang Crimes Unit assisted in the cases.

The investigation was funded in part by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.
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China has so far chosen not to impose tariffs on U.S. crude oil and liquefied natural gas, but crude exports from Texas have fallen sharply this summer due to fears over President Trumps escalating trade conflict and shrinking discounts, according to a report by the investment research firm Morningstar.

China, which last year surpassed the United States as the worlds largest crude importer, is buying more oil from Russia and Saudi Arabia, said Sandy Fielden, director of oil and products research at Morningstar. As a result, U.S. energy companies are learning they need to build better long-term relationships with Asian nations, including China, to sell crude, LNG and other petroleum products, Fielden argued.

Crude exports only became legal again at the end of 2015, when Congress ended a 40-year ban that began in the 1970s after the Arab oil embargo. About 75 percent of U.S. crude exports come from the Texas Gulf Coast.

The industry is figuring out there is more to export markets than delivering crude to Houston or Corpus Christi docks by pipeline and waiting for passing tankers, Fielden said in his report, which came out Monday. A necessary first step is better shipping, hence the flurry of midstream projects announced this year to build out Gulf Coast export terminals to handle giant tankers, or very large crude carriers, that keep long-haul freight costs to a minimum.

RELATED: U.S. refineries process record amounts of crude

Apart from port expansions, companies such as Houstons Enterprise Products Partners and global commodities trader Trafigura are proposing building crude oil exporting terminals deeper off the Texas Gulf Coast in order to more easily accommodate the largest crude-carrying vessels.

U.S. crude oil exports to China surged from about 22,000 barrels a day in 2016 up to almost 400,000 barrels day last year and early in 2018, accounting for about 20 percent of all U.S. crude shipments. This summer, those volumes have plummeted to 200,000 barrels a day.

U.S. energy companies are compensating by diverting more of that crude to India and other Asian nations, such as South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand.

While China is buying less U.S. crude, the decision to spare oil and LNG from punishing tariffs shows that the Chinese still need the energy, analysts said. China has slapped tariffs of U.S. agricultural products in retaliation for tariffs placed on it products, including steal, by the Trump administration.

Brian Youngberg, a senior energy analyst at Edward Jones in St. Louis, said the trade conflict with China shouldnt upset energy markets too much, since Texas and U.S. oil producers are likely to find other buyers.

At the end of the day, oil is a global commodity, Youngberg said, and oil will find a home somewhere in the world.
Former state Sen. Carlos Uresti cant start collecting his Texas pension just yet, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, offering this advice to solve the convicted felons financial woes: He could start his prison sentence now.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra declined to issue an order authorizing the Texas Employee Retirement System to start issuing monthly pension checks to Uresti, who has valued the benefit at more than $80,000 a year.

Uresti, 54, has said he needs the pension because hes broke and has no money to survive. John Bud Ritenour Jr., Urestis court-appointed lawyer, said the longtime San Antonio Democrat has been relying on relatives to get by.

Ezra responded by saying there was an alternative for Uresti.

The alternative is for Mr. Uresti to go into custody, and at that point he wont have issues with his personal expenses, Ezra said.

Uresti has been free on an unsecured bond.

Ezra indicated he wants to ensure that victims of a Ponzi scheme Uresti was involved in receive the restitution theyre entitled to.

I am not going to allow them to make any distributions as yet, Ezra ruled, referring to the state agency that handles retirement benefits.

The disgraced ex-legislator was sentenced to 12 years in prison in June following his conviction four months earlier on 11 felony charges, including securities fraud and money laundering.

Uresti and other defendants in the case involving a now-defunct oil services company also must pay $6.3 million in restitution to the victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Giese later told Ezra that Uresti has been performing consulting work for San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts, who is representing Uresti in a bribery case that goes to trial in October.

Watts was disqualified from representing Uresti in the case involving FourWinds Logistics, which was set up to buy and sell sand used in hydraulic fracturing for oil production, because of a conflict of interest. But Watts has said he picked up the roughly $400,000 in legal expenses Uresti incurred in the case.

Mr. Watts is every part of this case, the judge quipped. Im glad Mr. Watts is employing Mr. Uresti.

The judge granted Urestis request that the Employee Retirement System begin calculating the amount of his monthly pension. The state agency had refused to do so because of a restraining order the judge issued to preserve Urestis assets.

Ezra issued the restraining order at the prosecutors request after Urestis estranged wife, Lleanna Uresti, moved to end their six-year marriage about a week after his conviction.

Prosecutors have questioned the motives behind the divorce, alleging its an attempt to avoid having to pay restitution to Urestis victims.

Juanita Pelaez-Prada, Lleanna Urestis divorce lawyer, disputed assertions that the divorce is a sham. She referenced testimony during the trial that Uresti had an extramarital affair with a FourWinds investor.

The judge responded that he had seen pictures in the newspaper and video of the Urestis hand-in-hand outside the courthouse during the trial, even after testimony about the affair was elicited.

Pelaez-Prada said she wants Lleanna Uresti, 42, to be allowed to proceed with her divorce. Lleanna is being held hostage to a marriage she doesnt want to be in.

My client has more than enough reasons to want to get a divorce, Pelaez-Prada said after the hearing. My client is also a victim. She was cheated and lied to, and really shouldnt be punished for the crimes Mr. Uresti committed.

But Ezra refused to allow Uresti to finalize a divorce settlement with Lleanna. The judge wants to ensure all of Urestis property is accounted for before agreeing to the request.

Uresti is permitted to sell his Helotes estate, listed for sale at $1.5 million (reduced from $1.7 million), and his former law office building at 924 McCullough Ave. in San Antonio.

Uresti and his family cant diminish the value of any of his property without court permission, though he is allowed to pay for normal monthly living expenses.

Giese told the judge the Urestis have many, many, many other assets.

With the divorce pending, it cant be determined how much of Urestis pension will go to Lleanna. However, the parties are working on an agreement that would allow the divorce to proceed.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, are trying to force Uresti to take a portion of his pension in a partial lump sum payment, which the government then would take for his victims  save for an amount that would go to his first wife, Yolanda Uresti, Giese said.

Yolanda Uresti gets a portion of his pension based on their divorce decree. Yolanda Urestis lien takes priority over the governments criminal judgment lien.

The government intends to then garnish 25 percent of Urestis monthly pension checks  after the amount owed to Yolanda.

Urestis pension is for the 21 years he served in the state Legislature. He announced his resignation from the Senate just days before he was sentenced in June.

Patrick Danner is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
Voters in South San Antonio Independent School District opposed a tax hike Tuesday evening, setting the district up for a spate of cuts to close a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.

Unofficial vote totals showed 57 percent of South San residents who voted in the tax ratification election opposed raising the local tax rate by 13 cents for every $100 of property value. Around 43 percent of the 1,853 people who cast ballots were in support of the measure.

The TRE would have raised around $6.3 million in revenue for South San, which has been struggling with declining revenue as student enrollment falls. The district, which is set to approve its budget next week  two days after the start of classes  is now faced with finding other ways to close a $6.4 million budget shortfall.

When the final election results were posted, Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra addressed supporters of the TRE who had gathered at a local restaurant, a group that included board President Angelina Osteguin and several other trustees.

We didnt pull it off, Saavedra said after reading out the vote counts. The community has spoken. We have to respect that.

The trustees all declined to comment on the results.

Under the proposed tax increase, the maintenance and operations portion of South Sans tax rate would have risen from $1.04 to $1.17 per $100 of property value, with the overall rate increasing to $1.58 per $100. It would have amounted to an increase of about $5.42 per month on a $75,000 home, according to the district.

Saavedra attributed the failure of the TRE to a segment of strong opposition formed early on that he said spread misinformation about the state of South Sans finances and the districts actions leading up to the election.

He said the election results would likely affect South Sans efforts to hire his successor. Earlier this year, Saavedra announced he would not seek an extension to his contract and would return to teaching at Texas A&M University. A successor is expected to be hired during the upcoming school year

We move forward, Saavedra said. It means there will be a tighter budget and less opportunity for a new superintendent to introduce new programs.

This year, as student enrollment continued to fall, South San eliminated 44 employee positions, including 22 teachers, reducing expenses by about $3 million.

As part of additional budget cuts in light of the TREs failure, Saavedra said he expected the district would have to cut about 30 more positions and set priorities for other reductions.

While a majority of the school board supported calling a TRE, longtime trustee Connie Prado opposed the measure.

Last month, she told the Express-News the timing for a TRE was poor. She also said the districts finances were in good shape. Her husband made contributions to a political action committee formed to oppose the TRE, according to filings with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Saavedra and several trustees donated to a PAC in support of the TRE.

In a written statement after the final results were posted, Prado said the South San community had spoken loud and clear, despite an election that she said had included biased media, huge special interest money and questionable tactics by the school district leadership.

It is time to heal and for the school district leadership to listen to those who make everything possible  our parents and taxpayers. School leadership must stop their arrogance and begin the process of inclusiveness, the statement said.

Despite the anticipated budget cuts, Saavedra said the district would move forward with the opening of specialized academies at its three middle school campuses and a retooled health science program at the high school when classes begin Monday.

Lauren Caruba covers several school districts, charter schools and private universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba
About Me

One of global Catholicism's most prominent chroniclers, Rocco Palmo has held court as the "Church Whisperer" since 2004, when the pages you're reading were launched with an audience of three, grown since by nothing but word of mouth, and kept alive throughout solely by means of reader support.



A former US correspondent for the London-based international Catholic weekly The Tablet, he's been a church analyst for The New York Times, Associated Press, Washington Post, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, BBC, NBC, CNN and NPR among other mainstream print and broadcast outlets worldwide.



A native of Philadelphia, Rocco Palmo attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 2010, he received a Doctorate of Humane Letters honoris causa from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St Louis.



In 2011, Palmo co-chaired the first Vatican conference on social media, convened by the Pontifical Councils for Culture and Social Communications. By appointment of Archbishop Charles Chaput OFM Cap., he's likewise served on the first-ever Pastoral Council of the Archdiocese, whose Church remains his home.

View my complete profile
Barely three blocks long, Losoya Street is among the shortest routes through downtown, but possible changes to it  in conjunction with modifications to Alamo Plaza  could either create havoc or promote its renewal.

The street, named for the only Alamo defender born and later killed at the mission site, may be converted from one way southbound to two way and might get new sidewalks. It could become part of the new route for Fiestas two major street parades if those are changed.

New sidewalks wont draw opposition, but the other alterations are, and that controversy is feeding into a larger debate over the multimillion-dollar plan to redo Alamo Plaza.

As proposed, that plan calls for the permanent closure of part of Alamo Street and several adjacent streets to traffic through the plaza, demolition of several nearby historic commercial buildings, demarcation of the Alamo footprint, relocation of the Cenotaph and construction of a museum, among other changes.

Fiesta parade officials oppose the realignment of their traditional Alamo Plaza parade route, which now directs the floats and bands onto Alamo Street in front of the mission church, making it the center of attention.

Now Playing: Designers of the new Alamo proposal plan to make Losoya Street two-way to help traffic navigate around the proposed expansion of the Alamo grounds. Video: San Antonio Express-News

Some businesses adjacent to Losoya have their own concerns about the proposed changes, such as how to get beer and other goods brought to their establishments without more hassle.

Beer trucks and trash bins

Michael Fisher

On a typical Friday, Losoya and nearby small streets are crammed with beer trucks making deliveries to bars and restaurants, sometimes getting ticketed for parking beyond a two-hour limit. Longtime River Walk restaurateur Bill Lyons said beer distributors accumulate fines totaling up to $10,000 annually.

They tell the drivers, Well pay the fines. But youve got to make these deliveries, said Lyons, who owns Schilos and Casa Rio, near the congested intersection of Commerce and Losoya, as well as property occupied by three other restaurants on Losoya.

Aside from Lone Star Cafe, where locals and tourists can take a selfie by a faux Longhorn steer on the sidewalk, theres little human engagement on Losoya. At night, theres often live music at a few clubs along it, along with occasional bar fights.

RELATED: 5-story affordable housing complex planned for downtown San Antonio

Part of the street is lined with the rear entrances of buildings and functions mainly as a service alley for businesses that feed off the Alamo and the River Walk. Besides the deliveries of beer and beverage CO2 tanks, trucks come to pick up the trash and empty the grease traps.

This whole strip down here is nothing but bars. No one comes to restaurants through Losoya, said Diandra Preciado, a Losoya Street resident and general manager of the Riverwalk Vista Inn.

Theres little to be seen linking the street to the Alamo, other than a gated space between buildings called Santa Annas Alley. Years have passed since a building alteration closed off its River Walk access. But some people still wander through the gates, hoping to reach the Rain Forest Cafe.

Michael Fisher

Gene Dawson, president of Pape-Dawson Engineers, a city consultant on downtown traffic, said Losoya, with about 20 commercial properties, also services other downtown businesses, adding to the clog of delivery trucks.

Right now, theres constant deliveries occurring, and some of the trucks are too big for the bump-outs, Dawson said.

Lyons said the businesses need deliveries Fridays because they dont have storage space for midweek deliveries to carry them through the weekend.

Losoya is home to more than 70 rollout trash bins, mostly on the west side, though not all out at once. Many say the bins, the cracked or boarded-up windows and broken gutters detract from the streets architecture, including the 1883 Dullnig Building, at the intersection with Commerce.

The Alamo master plan has been touted as a catalyst for the rebirth of Losoya. When presenting a draft site plan to the citys Alamo Citizen Advisory Committee in June, Erik Kramer, principal with Reed-Hilderbrand Landscape Architects, said the street could be transformed to a place where people will be happy to stroll up and down.

To rebuild Losoya could be an opportunity to make it a kind of great pedestrian street, Kramer told the panel.

Headlines & Hops  Facebook Live San Antonio Express-News' panel discussion on the Alamo and proposed Alamo master plan Wednesday is sold out. But it will be shown live on the San Antonio Express-News Facebook page. The discussion at Alamo Beer Co. will run from about 7 to 8:30 p.m. It will be moderated by Editor Marc Duvoisin. Panelists are Ricardo Pimentel, editorial board editor, and staff writers Elaine Ayala and Scott Huddleston. See More Collapse

His words drew jeers from skeptics. In response to the potential loss of Alamo Plazas two northbound lanes, Pape-Dawson proposed converting Losoya to two-way traffic, adding a northbound lane, with a 12-foot-wide sidewalk on each side. Critics have said there would be no room for deliveries.

Dawson envisions a two-lane delivery access by the northbound traffic lane, near Crockett. Lyons worries that a truck parked on the outer lane could be pinned in by a truck or tour bus on the inner lane.

Even with a two-lane, one-way street, the traffic is horrendous, Preciado said. I dont see a benefit in the two-way at all.

RELATED: First look: Photos of the new Playland pizza downtown

The improved streetscape also is partly contingent on the demolition of two privately owned commercial buildings in Alamo Plaza, to open up views of the iconic Alamo church from Losoya.

Parade officials, concerned about the loss of VIP bleacher seating and the tradition of floats passing directly in front of the Alamo church, want the route kept on the Alamo Plaza.

In a joint statement, the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau Parade associations said they want access for two days of the year to travel our same historical route in Alamo Plaza.

This is where the Battle of Flowers Association honors the fallen heroes of the Alamo and San Jacinto as we lay the floral tribute on the Alamo lawn. In addition, the Fiesta Flambeau has their long-standing 70-year tradition of the University of Texas Longhorn Band playing, The Eyes of Texas in front of the Alamo church, the parade groups said.

Maggie Thompson, executive director of the San Antonio River Walk Association, representing more than 150 businesses, said she is educating members on the evolving plan but has fielded a lot of concerns.

Ive heard a lot more negative opinions than positive, Thompson said.

History of Losoya

Losoya Street and the land around it have ties to two prominent early San Antonio families that arrived in the 1700s. Alamo defender Jose Toribio Loyosas mother, Concepcion de Los Angeles Charle, was a powerful landowner of her time, having inherited land that had been part of Mission San Antonio de Valero. By the time Toribio was born in his familys two-room house in the southwest corner of the compound, the mission had become a Spanish military fort known as the Alamo.

He was killed in the battle of March 6, 1836, with his body found in the church. News archives indicate that the street has been named Losoya at least since 1858. The San Antonio Conservation Society, fighting to preserve historic street names, resisted efforts in the 1930s to have Losoya renamed Broadway, which had become a major street to the north.

But in 1968, Losoya was renamed South Broadway and extended south, from Commerce to Market. In 1981, while the Hyatt Regency hotel was under construction, residents petitioned the city to restore the name Losoya.

In 1986, as gift to the city from the Adolph Coors Co. on the 150th anniversary of the battle, a bronze statue of Toribio Losoya by artist and San Antonio native William Easley was placed on the street, across from the Hyatt Regency.

RELATED: The Friendly Spot to open a second San Antonio location on the Southeast Side

The ultimate solution today for Losoya  one that might also benefit all of downtown  is the creation of a new system of deliveries for businesses. Dawson said the citys Center City Development and Operations Department is working on an analysis of downtown deliveries, taking a holistic view of points of access and traffic downtimes.

Councilman Roberto Trevino, who serves on a six-member Alamo Management Committee guiding the master plan, said the delivery issue is operational and not one of space. The other issue is pedestrian mobility and comfort, he said. Trevino is advocating creation of a pedestrian mobility coordinator and commission to help provide more attractive sidewalks with trees, shade and other amenities.

We as a community are drawn to a philosophy of prioritizing automobiles over pedestrians, Trevino said.

The story of Toribio Losoya and his mother, one of the noteworthy women of early San Antonio, is part of the Losoya legacy, he said.

Its hard for people to imagine that this will work. But Losoya will become one of those great walkable streets, even without any building demolitions, Trevino said.

Lyons said the the outer southbound lane must be accessible for daytime deliveries or its a deal-breaker.

Its going to take all of us putting our heads together to find the solution, he said.

Scott Huddleston is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
In an ongoing effort to improve its relationship with San Antonio-area residents, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office announced a new program Monday that officials hope will help ease cultural barriers and prevent miscommunication.

Twelve deputies from various departments volunteered to work as community liaisons, helping represent segments of the population that "sometimes can be marginalized," according to Sheriff Javier Salazar, while also recruiting new deputies from those segments.

"In law enforcement, it is always a good thing when the agency can say that they're connected to the community they serve," Salazar said. "It's a whole other thing to be able to say you're intimately involved and you've got a working, two-way mutually-beneficial relationship with as many segments of the population as you can. We're making strides in that respect."

RELATED: Tour of new intake center renews rift between officials

Communities with liaisons include LGBT, Hispanic, faith-based, senior citizen, African American, Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, deaf, Jewish, military, and Muslim.

Deputies involved in the program will serve as translators of both language and culture and will have the authority to call a "town hall" type meeting to explain American laws to their communities, if they feel it necessary, Salazar said.

The 12 deputies will also maintain their regular positions with the agency, and Salazar said he could imagine the program eventually doubling in size, increasing both the number of liaisons per community and the number of communities represented.

The idea for the program came a few months ago, when the sheriff's office was investigating an incident within the Muslim community, where a suspect was using arranged marriage as a front to sell his daughter, Salazar said. Salazar was invited to a local mosque to learn more.

"It was almost as if they felt the need to apologize on behalf of their community for the actions of this one suspect," Salazar said.

Though he recognized the difference between arranged marriage and the suspect's behavior, Salazar said the investigation helped him realize how beneficial a liaison could be. He asked the mosque attendees if any were interested in volunteering, and a deputy, who happened to be a member of the mosque, stepped forward.

After that, he put out a call to the rest of the deputies, and the Community and Internal Liaison Program was born.

RELATED: Bexar County releases new body camera bid request with broader specs

"We want to make sure they also have someone they can relate to here," LGBT Community Liaison Stephanie Flores said.

Liaisons will get involved in investigations as early as practical and possible, Salazar said. He said he also hopes they will recruit enough deputies from their respective populations so that the diversity of the sheriff's office accurately reflects the diversity of the city.

"I wanted to bridge that gap between law enforcement and community," Indian Community Liaison Abraham Abrahams said. "I take this as an opportunity to really help my community."

S. M. Chavey is a staff writer for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here. | sarah.chavey@express-news.net | 210-250-3122 | Twitter: @smchavey
The U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from interfering with your freedom of speech, but that does not mean anyone is obligated to listen to you.

Newspapers are not required to publish your carefully-crafted letter to the editor. Social media sites can politely reject your brilliant insights. And your family is not obligated to bathe in your wisdom during Thanksgiving dinner.

Your employer can even fire you for saying anything he or she finds objectionable.

Censorship? Yes. Illegal? No.

RELATED: The Bill of Rights probably isn't going to save your job

The First Amendment only guarantees that the government will not stop you from expressing yourself. No Pentagon censor reviewed my reports from Iraq before they were published. The FBI is prohibited from censoring conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claims about the Sept. 11 terror attacks or whether the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting took place.

Once you have your say, though, nothing protects you from the potential consequences of your speech, except maybe a good lawyer. Others may denounce you. Groups may ban you. And if your speech is libelous, defamatory or could immediately instigate violence, some publications face legal consequences if they give you a platform.

Courts have long held newspaper publishers responsible for what appears in their pages, whether it is journalism, commentary or advertising. Thats why you wont find clear cases of libel, Russian disinformation or Ku Klux Klan announcements in the newspaper. We are responsible for what we print.

Social media companies like Facebook and Twitter, though, have claimed exemptions to libel and defamation laws under the Communications Decency Act of 1992. Some members of Congress are rightly considering lifting those privileges.

Early Internet pioneers convinced Congress that to encourage the sharing of information, service providers should be free from liability for the content their customers posted. Even before the world-wide-web, no one thought providers like AOL could keep track of every post.

What seemed like a good idea then, though, now appears naive.

Internet trolls use social media sites to ruin peoples lives, as Jones has done to Sandy Hook parents by accusing them of fabricating their childrens deaths. Foreign intelligence services routinely use social media sites to destabilize nations around the world and promote bigotry and division.

Facebook, Apple, Twitter and other sites that facilitate such behavior are feeling the blowback, even if there are no legal repercussions. Some CEOs are trying to clean up their content before the government requires it.

The reason for last months drop in Facebook stock price was CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledging that the company will spend a lot of money hiring people to keep nefarious actors from leveraging his website to make the world a more hateful place.

Yet he is struggling to find the right balance when it comes to censorship. Zuckerberg said he would not ban Holocaust deniers, but he did follow Apple CEO Tim Cooks lead in removing Jones hate speech.

Many lawmakers doubt social media sites will effectively police themselves and want to hold website owners to the same standards as newspaper and magazine publishers for the content they carry.

RELATED: Battle against fake news begins right here

Senator Mark Warner made the case in a recent white paper. He would also like the U.S. to follow the European Unions lead and require sites to gain express permission from users before using their data for commercial purposes.

Other nations have proposed stricter limits on free speech itself. Germany passed a law in 2017 banning hate speech, terror-related items and false information from the Internet. Israel wants to remove social media profiles and posts from people they deem criminals. Russia may punish sites that dont delete posts that the government declares inaccurate.

Those measures have no place in the U.S., but they reveal the growing frustration with corporations that generate more revenue than most nations.

Jones, who broadcasts from Austin, decries the loss of his YouTube channel and the most important distribution channels for his podcasts. He is calling on supporters to buy more of his merchandise and visit his website to fight censorship. But whats happening to him is not a violation of the First Amendment.

How long his business will survive depends on the outcome of the defamation lawsuit brought by aggrieved Sandy Hook parents. If they can convince a court that Jones deliberately spread lies that hurt them, Jones will be out of business.

The ultimate solution for hate speech, though, is for the public and businesses to shun Jones and his ilk for the damage their lies - their free speech -- does to our society. The terms of service for Jones InfoWars website elegantly explains why.

"You are a guest here. It is not censorship if you violate the rules and your post is deleted, Jones warns visitors. All civilizations have rules and if you violate them you can expect to be ostracized from the tribe."

Chris Tomlinson writes commentary about business and economics.

chris.tomlinson@chron.com | twitter.com/cltomlinson
The casual chatter between parents and children gathered in a Northwest Side church quickly turned to silence as images of students and teachers killed at Sandy Hook and other mass shootings flashed on three large screens before them.

It was a solemn reminder of the harm a mass shooter can inflict.

The presentation was part a course geared toward teens on what to do during a mass shooting incident. About 200 people showed up for it Monday evening at City Church, 9439 Bandera Road.

Teens are the ones who have been affected by a lot of the mass shooting situations across the country, Sheriff Javier Salazar said. We believe that giving them the tools that they need to help keep themselves alive and to avoid that panic that criminals count on, they can stay alive until we get there.

During Mondays program, Deputies Joseph Rodriguez and Gus Trevino guided the audience through what occurred in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 in Colorado, listening to a 911 call between teacher Patti Nielson and dispatchers as she told students to stay down.

RELATED: After Santa Fe school shooting, Texas unlikely to expand weak red-flag gun law

They also pointed out that during the shooting at a concert in Las Vegas in November and in the Sutherland Springs attack, many people were lying on the ground as part of a natural response to hide or play dead.

But the deputies told students they need to take a different approach: Run.

You go, you run, Rodriguez said, reminding them to zigzag. When you run, you put yourself in a higher survival bracket.

It was an unexpected message for parent Chelsea San Miguel.

I always told the kids to lay down and play dead; now they need to run.

Chelsea and Natashia San Miguel brought their two children to see the presentation. Their 13-year-old daughter is going to eighth grade and their 9-year-old son is starting fourth grade.

San Miguel said even though her son was not yet a teenager, she felt it was important for him to learn what the deputies were teaching because elementary students have also been targeted.

Since shootings such as the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.; the massacre in Parkland, Fla., at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; and, closer to home, the May 18 killing of eight students and two teachers at Santa Fe High School, local schools have been crafting procedures to either prevent or handle a shooter on their campuses.

The North East Independent School District now requires students to have clear backpacks. Judson Independent School District has even crafted emergency protocols between its police agency and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office for faster response times.

Kristi Villanueva, president of the West Side Chamber of Commerce, has worked with the Sheriffs Office to offer the active shooter training classes to the public. She said many attendees had expressed interest in bringing their children but were concerned that some of the content may not be appropriate for them. That led to the development of Mondays program.

The two deputies stressed that an attack can occur anywhere and that a gun isnt the only deadly weapon.

RELATED: Teachers' dilemma: school shootings and shrinking paychecks

Salazar said the course also focuses on teaching a process called avoid, deny, defend.

If gunman runs in door A and you can run out door B, you can avoid the danger altogether, Salazar said.

As for deny, people are taught to keep the attacker from reaching them if they cant get away.

Tie (the door) shut with a belt if you have to; lock it with chairs, Salazar said.

If the first two fail, he said, the final option is defense  and that means teaching people to defend themselves by any means necessary.

If youre defending yourself with scissors or a fire extinguisher, or youre organizing a group to attack  then youre doing what you can to stay alive, Salazar said. We tell people to fight like youre fighting the devil himself  because you are.

jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
The Texas Veterans Commission is distancing itself from the Northwest Side canine-training and -handling school that was raided by federal authorities last week.

Commission spokeswoman Elaine Zavala said it never contributed any money to Universal K9, contradicting a disclosure in the nonprofits 2016 federal tax Form 990 that it received $158,003 from the state agency.

Universal K9 is not listed in the state vendor directory, therefore theres no possible way that we have given them money, Zavala said in a phone interview. Universal K9 is a private foundation.

The FBI and the Internal Revenue Services Criminal Investigation division were among the agencies that served a search warrant at Universal K9 as part of an investigation, possibly related to fraud. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the San Antonio Police Department also were part of the Aug. 8 raid. Animal Care Services removed 26 dogs from Universal K9s facility on 1532 Tradesman, near Loop 1604, as part of the raid.

Former agents said the FBI and IRS likely were involved because Universal K9 receives federal money from veterans programs and agents would want to look at tax records.

In a statement, the Texas Veterans Commission said it has not made or provided any financial support or contributions to Universal K9. In the Form 990, Universal K9 reported that it received a contribution from the Veterans Commission and listed the Texas Veterans Commissions P.O. Box number in Austin.

The Texas Veterans Commission may alert the VAs inspector general about the discrepancy, Zavala said. She didnt know why the agency would be listed on Universal K9s Form 990.

A call to Universal K9 was not returned.

The nonprofits 2016 Form 990 lists Fola Damazio as the preparer. Damazio, who lives in Atlanta, said he prepared the return based on information provided to him by Universal K9. The accuracy of that information is not my responsibility, he said.

Damazio wondered, though, Why would they falsify that information and say they received money when they didnt?

FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee said she had no comment.

The only other contributor listed in Universal K9s Form 990 was Animal Farm Foundation Inc., which gave $111,750. The New York group would take dogs from shelters and cover the cost of training them to do detection work for police. Animal Farm Foundation ended its relationship with Universal K9 last year, the group said last week.

Following last weeks raid, the Texas Veterans Commission withdrew Universal K9s authority to train veterans using VA education benefits for its various canine trainer and instructor programs.

The commission is in the process of identifying student veterans affected by last weeks events. Students will be contacted by the VA with information regarding their benefit payments, the commission said.

Meanwhile, court records show that a day after the raid, Universal K9 abruptly dropped a defamation lawsuit against two former students. A call to the David Angulo, a San Antonio lawyer who filed the lawsuit on Universal K9s behalf, was not returned.

Patrick Danner is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
The Mayors Housing Policy Task Force, formed about a year ago to develop recommendations on how San Antonio could positively impact affordable housing, released its final report on Monday outlining five overarching actions, nearly a dozen policy priorities and two dozen strategies for effecting change.

The release of the final report comes just days after City Manager Sheryl Sculley presented her $2.8 billion fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, which includes about $25 million in spending for affordable-housing programs. The City Council is expected to consider the final report next month.

Lourdes Castro Ramirez, the former San Antonio Housing Authority CEO who became principal deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Housing Department under Secretary Julian Castro, served as chairwoman of the task force and said the group went to great lengths to ensure it understood the myriad issues San Antonians face.

This report is the culmination of a years long community and data-driven process, she said. We have thoroughly outlined the housing challenges, and offered bold policy recommendations with actionable solutions. The main priority now is to implement. Housing is as essential to our citys economic engine as water, energy and transportation.

RELATED: Senior housing complex planned near Mission San Juan

The task force report details the five action items, lays out policy priorities and includes several strategies to implement them. Those sweeping, top-line action items are:

Develop a coordinated housing system

Increase the citys investment in housing

Increase affordable housing production, rehabilitation and preservation

Protect and promote neighborhoods

Ensure accountability to the public

In a letter at the beginning of the report, which can be found at www.sanantonio.gov/housingtaskforce, Mayor Ron Nirenberg explains the importance of addressing the looming housing crisis in San Antonio and notes that the city has been grappling with issues surrounding housing for three decades.

The issue is magnified now as San Antonio is expected to nearly double in size over the next-quarter century, eventually surging past a population of 2.5 million.

RELATED: Commissioner Tommy Calvert fights for affordable housing on East Side

San Antonio has long been home to socioeconomic segregation, Nirenberg wrote, and now faces an impending shortfall in housing.

I created the Mayors Housing Policy Task Force in August 2017 because all San Antonians, regardless of income level, deserve opportunities to find quality affordable housing within (the) city limits, he wrote. My charge to the Task Force was simple: to develop a framework for a comprehensive, compassionate housing strategy for our city.

The mayors request included plans to deal with protecting and connecting neighborhoods, rehabilitating old homes, preventing gentrification from driving longtime residents from their residences and promoting the development of sustainable, affordable homes.

The Task Force had full autonomy to determine what process and level of community input would best facilitate their objective. Im incredibly proud of the work they accomplished with full input from hundreds of San Antonio residents. As a result of their work, for the first time in the Citys history, City Council is finally making housing a core priority, so that as San Antonio grows up, San Antonians will not be priced out, Nirenberg wrote.

Josh Baugh is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbaugh@express-news.net | Twitter: @jbaugh
A state district judge in Travis County on Monday denied the Texas Republican Partys request for a temporary restraining order that would have blocked the secretary of state from certifying candidates in the Senate District 19 special election runoff.

Judge Tim Sulak made the ruling Monday afternoon, his court operations officer confirmed.

The hearing for the request, aimed at keeping Democrat Pete Gallego off the ballot, came three days after the party sued Gallego over claims that he lives outside District 19. The district covers 17 counties, including parts of Bexar, and extends for about 400 miles along the border.

Gallego, a former U.S. and state representative, finished second in a July 31 special election for the seat, behind Republican Pete Flores, a retired state game warden. Gilbert Garcia reported in a San Antonio Express-News column that Gallegos wife, Maria Elena Ramon, claims a homestead exemption in Austin, which is outside the Senate district.

Soon after the hearing, Gov. Greg Abbott set the runoff election date for Sept. 18, with early voting from Sept. 10 to 14. The race is headed to a runoff because neither candidate received enough votes to win outright.

State law requires that candidates live continuously in the district in which theyre running for at least six months before the filing deadline.

Christian Archer, Gallegos campaign manager, said the lawsuit had no merit from the very beginning.

We knew it. They knew it, Archer said. As soon as there was an action taken by the judge, who immediately threw out the lawsuit, the governor called the election date.

Joe Nixon, the attorney representing the Republican Party, said in a statement the party was glad that this issue can have a full hearing soon.

Today Pete Gallegos attorney told a court that Gallego is living in and has lived in Alpine, Nixon said. But over the past few years, Gallego has signed mortgage documents representing to banks that he lives in and intends to continue to live in a home in Travis County.

Photos obtained by the Express-News show Gallego leaving the Austin home and his truck parked in the driveway. His campaign maintains that he resides in Alpine.

His wife has a homestead exemption, but Pete has no ownership in that house at all, Archer said. He added that Gallego pays utility bills in Alpine and registered his car there. But Gallego is co-listed as a borrower on a 2009 deed of trust.

During the hearing, Gallego tweeted, The @GOP & @TexasGOP dont understand that Principles of convenience arent really principles at all. From local control to smaller government to deficit spending & lower taxes, the @GOP & @TexasGOP say one thing & do another whenever it suits them.

Gallegos tweet quoted a separate tweet from the Quorum Report referencing the role of the partys attorney, Joe Nixon, in a separate residency case involving Michael Quinn Sullivan, the president of tea party advocacy group Empower Texans.

Nixon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jasper Scherer is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jscherer@express-news.net | Twitter: @jaspscherer
A San Antonio police officer has been fired nearly three months after he allegedly struck his then-fiancee with a rock, fracturing her face in three places.

I first wrote about the May 26 incident in mid-June because the officer, Justin Ayars, had not been arrested or charged weeks after the alleged assault. On Monday, he still had not been charged; the Police Department opted in June to turn the case over to the Bexar County district attorneys office, where it remains under review.

Administratively, at least, Ayars was unable to avoid consequences. Police Chief William McManus last week accepted a review boards recommendation of indefinite suspension, which is tantamount to a firing. Ayars has appealed the ruling and will receive an arbitration hearing.

SAPD is simply not going to tolerate this type of misconduct, McManus said on Monday. Theres no room in the department for anyone who is going to engage in off-duty misconduct, especially when theres alcohol involved.

RELATED: Records: San Antonio police officer fired for sending 'personal and inappropriate' photographs

McManus added, The reason I issued an indefinite suspension is because I believe it happened.

Thats a significant determination in a case with diverging narratives.

Krista Cooper-Nurse has said that Ayars was drinking a ridiculous amount of whiskey while off duty before he held her down and struck her in the face multiple times outside her North Side apartment. A witness watching from a nearby apartment reiterated this account to police.

Cooper-Nurse, 24, was hospitalized after the incident. Medical records show she was treated for three fractures to the face; she later underwent surgery to have a metal plate put in her face.

Cooper-Nurse said she sought a protective order against Ayars after she was released from the hospital, but the DA stopped it. When I asked the district attorneys office whether it had prevented Cooper-Nurse from obtaining a protective order, a spokeswoman released a statement that both the D.A.s Office and SAPD are taking the necessary steps to ensure that Ms. Cooper is protected.

Ayars had an easier time gaining legal traction.

Fleeing the scene in a vehicle driven by a fellow off-duty officer, Ayars immediately went to the SAPD North Sub Station  the same substation to which he was assigned as an officer  and made an assault report, according to his own affidavit.

Nearly two weeks after the incident, Ayars applied for and received a protective order against Cooper-Nurse. In his affidavit, the officer contradicted witness accounts, swearing under oath that Cooper-Nurse had assaulted him as he left the apartment and forced him to react in self-defense.

RELATED: Former Harlandale ISD police officer accused of stealing iPads from district

The apparent lack of urgency by law enforcement on Cooper-Nurses behalf stirred some outrage in the community. A day after police opted not to charge Ayars, the Police Department posted a video attempting to raise awareness of domestic violence.

This year, escalation of domestic violence cases is on the rise, San Antonio Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Ramos says in the video. This is a call to #BreakTheCycle.

Several Facebook users registered their frustration at the timing.

Really?! After yall decided to not pursue one of your own for being a (expletive) that put his hands on someone he was in a relationship with?! wrote one. Hypocrites.

The Police Department took down the video shortly afterward.

On Monday, Cooper-Nurse was relieved to learn Ayars had been disciplined.

Oh my God, that is so amazing, she said. Because for the longest time, I was really, really disappointed in how the police chief and SAPD and Internal Affairs were going about it. I was really discouraged.

That gives me a little more faith in our system.

bchasnoff@express-news.net
Re: Cruz defends payday lenders at S.A. stop, Metro, Aug. 7:

Interesting article on Sen. Ted Cruzs defense of payday lenders while in San Antonio. The Center for Responsive Politics shows that Cruz has accepted $13,860 from payday lenders for his campaigns. In fact, the research shows that over 100 senators between 1989 and July 23, 2018, accepted payday lending money.

However, Beto ORouke is not accepting any lobby money, so he will be capable of challenging the predatory practices of these lenders.

Katherine Hess

Pain as deterrence

Re: Patients who misuse ER should feel the financial pain, Chris Tomlinson, Business, Wednesday:

So sorry to see the San Antonio Express-News run such a column. The folks who cant afford insurance or health care costs already feel financial pain.

Tomlinsons proposal to make low-income citizens feel the financial pain to punish them to cause behavioral change is as reckless, uncaring and insensitive as tearing families apart on the U.S.-Mexico border to frighten families in Mexico and Central America away from seeking refuge in the United States.

These are both horrible suggestions.

Peter Bella

ER help, please

Chris Tomlinson, please publish a list of facilities that are financially safe to use if I am in pain and dont know if it is a heart attack or indigestion, or a bruised elbow or a broken one, or if I have a bad cold or pneumonia.

Please use large print because I am old and dont see so well.

With the advent of freestanding emergency rooms, acute care clinics and physician groups that will not accept walk-ins from their own sick patients, how can insured consumers know what to do when they are suddenly sick and afraid?

It isnt clear by any means, and the Blue Cross ruling makes it harder.

Francille Radmann

Obamas vendetta

Re: Attack on free press, Your Turn, Aug. 5:

The writer complains about a CNN reporter being booted from a White House press event because shed asked questions in a previous event that the Trump administration didnt like. Since then, a second CNN reporter has been booted for the same thing.

In both cases, the issue seemed to be that the reporters were hollering inappropriate questions about domestic political issues in the presence of foreign dignitaries, when it would be more germane to ask questions about the bilateral issues concerning the two countries.

Some may remember Barack Obamas vendetta against Fox News because he didnt like what it said and wrote about him. His Treasury Department tried to exclude Fox News from pool coverage of interviews with a key official but backed down after strong protests from the rest of the networks.

When 92 percent of the stories written about President Donald Trump and his administration are negative despite a roaring economy and record low unemployment, one doesnt have to be a genius to recognize that theres hardly fair and balanced coverage by those news agencies. However, its interesting that none of the other news organizations have been banned, even though the president also considers them fake news organizations.

Its also noteworthy that the other news agencies havent protested very loudly about the CNN expulsions as they did when Fox News was threatened. Perhaps thats because the CNN reporters like to make themselves the center of attention at such events, which makes the story about them rather than about the events theyre covering  and the other news agencies are tired of it, as are the president and his administration.

Al Koppen, Fair Oaks Ranch

Whats not illegal

Murder is illegal.

Attempting murder is illegal.

A felon owning a gun is illegal.

Shooting people indiscriminately is illegal.

Using firearms in a crime is illegal.

Criminals do not go through background checks when they purchase an illegal gun. So how will criminals follow new gun laws? How will new gun laws make us safer? How will restricting law-abiding citizens even more make us safer?

Dan Dreher

Better uses

What could our city do with a gift of $450 million (what the Alamo reimagining is estimated to cost)?

How about new and upgraded roads and expressways?

How about turning the University of Texas at San Antonio into a world-class research university?

Or using the money for economic development? Dangle it in front of companies from around the world to establish facilities here paying high-salary jobs?

No! Wait! I've got it! Let's use it to demolish some historic buildings downtown and replace them with grass!

Yeah. That's the ticket.

Brian Hangen

Friendly airport

Having recently flown into the Charlotte, N.C., airport, I will never criticize our airport as being inadequate.

Here are some questions that people need to ask about our airport:

How long does it take your plane to taxi to the gate after landing?

How long does it take for your luggage to arrive at the baggage area after landing?

How long does it take your plane after leaving the gate to take off?

How simple is it to hail a taxi or other means of transportation after departing the baggage area?

How long does it take you to get through TSA and find your gate?

Other airports are bigger and have more stores and eating establishments, but the San Antonio airport is passenger-friendly, and I will take it any day over the other airports I have flown in and out of.

Tony Magnon, New Braunfels
BRIDGEPORT  Police Capt. Mark Straubel, the top aide to Police Chief Armando Perez accused of sending racist texts, left the department Monday.

A memo announcing Straubels retirement was distributed in the Police Department and City Councilman Ernest Newton said the chief told him of Straubels decision.

Perez and spokespeople for the mayor did not return calls for comment.

Straubel was placed on paid administrative leave last month after another officer filed a complaint in June with the citys Office of Internal Affairs.

Ken Kubel, a retired Bridgeport police sergeant who now works for the Stratford Police Department, confirmed in July that he had made a complaint against Straubel with OIA in June and as part of that complaint turned over texts that he was not part of and had intercepted.

In one of the texts obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media in late July, Straubel, who is white, allegedly wrote: I asked (an African-American officer) if he had seen (the film) Planet of the Apes. He saidyes. I asked him if it made him homesick.

In another text, Straubel stated that he hates African-Americans and hopes for a race war.

I guess he realized that what he said -- he couldnt justify it, Newton said Monday. And theres no place for that in our police department. Im sure this sends a message its not going to be tolerated.

Daniel Roach, acting chair of the city's police commission, said, "Its too bad. Mark was a competent administrator. But there's no room in the department for comments like these."

Straubel has been a member of Bridgeports Finest for more than 20 years and was promoted to captain in 2016. He has been a right-hand man to Perez and his alleged behavior came as a shock to many council members who have dealt with Straubel over the past few years.

Council President Aidee Nieves, in a statement released shortly after Straubel was placed on leave last month, had said if the allegations were true he really has no choice but to resign.

Nieves had said she was appalled and shocked that Straubel engaged in derogatory commentary about fellow police officers.

The Straubel scandal also came at an awkward time for Perez and for the chiefs close friend, Mayor Joe Ganim.

Perez, who Ganim promoted in 2016 from captain to acting chief, is currently competing for a five-year contract to be permanent top cop. And Ganim is running for governor and hoping to woo urban minority voters.
NEW CANAAN  Sisters and former school cafeteria workers could be serving lunch in prison after being charged with stealing nearly a half-million dollars in the past five years.

Joanne Pascarelli, 61, of Stratford, and her sister Marie Wilson, 67, of Wilton, turned themselves in to New Canaan police over the weekend after warrants were issued for their arrest. Both have been charged with larceny and defrauding a public community for purportedly stealing $478,588 from 2012 to 2017.

Police say the scam could have been ongoing for 15 years or more, but were advised to limit an investigation to five years due to statutes of limitations.

Pascarelli and Wilson were placed on administrative in late 2017 and resigned in December around the time when the Board of Education began looking into possible theft of money.

One of the cases brought against Pascarelli is the discrepancy in average daily deposits made at Saxe Middle School in the time before and after her resignation.

At Saxe Middle School, the average daily deposit from the 2013 to 2016 fiscal year (from July 1 to June 30) ranged from $18 to $33 a day.

After a new software installation in summer of 2016 that registered and documented cash intake, daily deposits went up to an average of $93 a day for the 2017 school year. In 2018, the fiscal year in which Pascarelli had left for the second half, the daily deposit average was at $183 a day.

According to an affidavit, Pascarelli told police in an interview in March that she didnt know how such a discrepancy could be explained and that she would never take money.

Separately, Wilson, in interviews with police, informed them that she provided money to her boss in the New Canaan High School cafeteria  around $100 a day  but that she personally never took a dollar.

Pascarelli and Wilson could not be reached for comment.

Mark Sherman, attorney for Wilson, said his client would be pleading not guilty at her arraignment and said that the accusations were false and misleading.

There is much more to this story. Marie is innocent and did not personally divert a single nickel of town money for personal gain, Sherman said. She is not going to be scapegoated for the missing money.

Mark Carta, the attorney defending Pascarelli, said he was not at liberty to comment on the charges.

Several witnesses who worked with Pascarelli and Wilson were voluntarily interviewed by police. Witnesses say they saw Pascarelli and Wilson come to the cash registers and remove the large bills in between each lunch period at their respective schools.

The investigation dates back to December of last year when the Board of Education filed a complaint with police regarding financial discrepancies in the handling of cash at Saxe Middle School and New Canaan High School cafeterias.

Superintendent of Schools Bryan Luizzi issued a statement via the New Canaan Public Schools website.

We are deeply upset by this alleged violation of our trust of the entire community and are committed to continuing our full cooperation with the New Canaan Police Department regarding these allegations, Luizzi wrote.

Luizzi added that the alleged crimes involve the cafeteria fund which is separate and apart from the districts operating budget.

Each individual was released after posting a $50,000 bond. Wilson was issued a Aug. 21 court date and Pascarelli Aug. 24.

According to police documents, the Board of Education received a $500,000 reimbursement from their insurance company but wished to continue forward with the criminal case.

The charges surprised some former high school students who recalled Wilson from the cafeteria.

I do remember seeing (Wilson) in the cafeteria but I never had a conversation with her nor was the lady who students would talk to, Jake Neuberger, class of 2018, said.

The school has had problems with staff before but there wasnt really a reason to expect that the cafeteria was having issues like that.

Allie Neugeboren, who also graduated this summer, shared similar thoughts.

I am very surprised but I remember (Wilson) very well, Neugeboren said. I remember her as always being rude or in bad moods but I always felt like that was understandable because I know some kids in the cafeteria are just plain rude so it always made me want to be even more nice to them.

humberto.juarez@hearst

mediact.com
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The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of Barclays: Adler Toy Holding Sarl, Aequor Investments Limited, Alymere Investments Limited, Alynore Investments Limited Partnership, Analog Analytics, Analog Analytics Inc, Analytical Trade Holdings LLC, Analytical Trade Investments LLC, Analytical Trade UK Limited, Archstone Equity Holdings Inc, Ardencroft Investments Limited, B D & B Investments Limited, B.P.B. (Holdings) Limited, BB Client Nominees Limited, BBAIL SAS, BCAP LLC, BIFML PTC Limited, BMBF (No.24) Limited, BMI (No.9) Limited, BNC Brazil Consultoria Empresarial Ltda, BNRI ENG 2013 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG 2014 Limited Partnership, BNRI ENG GP LLP, BNRI England 2010 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2011 Limited Partnership, BNRI England 2012 Limited Partnership, BNRI Limehouse No.1 Sarl, BNRI PIA Scot GP Limited, BNRI Scots GP LLP, BPB Holdings SA, BVP Galvani Global S.A.U., Barafor Limited, Barclay Leasing Limited, Barclaycard Funding PLC, Barclaycard International Payments Limited, Barclays (Barley) Limited, Barclays Aldersgate Investments Limited, Barclays Alzin Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Asia Limited, Barclays Asset Management Limited, Barclays BR Investments S.a r.l., Barclays BWA Inc., Barclays Bank (Suisse) S.A., Barclays Bank Delaware, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC, Barclays Bank Ireland Public Limited Company, Barclays Bank Mexico S.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bayard Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bedivere Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Bordang Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Brasil Assessoria Financeira Ltda., Barclays CCP Funding LLC, Barclays Cantal Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Capital (Cayman) Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Asia Limited, Barclays Capital Canada Inc., Barclays Capital Casa de Bolsa S.A. de C.V., Barclays Capital Derivatives Funding LLC, Barclays Capital Effekten GmbH, Barclays Capital Energy Inc., Barclays Capital Equities Trading GP, Barclays Capital Finance Limited, Barclays Capital Futures (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited, Barclays Capital Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Barclays Capital Japan Securities Holdings Limited, Barclays Capital Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Capital Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.2) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees (No.3) Limited, Barclays Capital Nominees Limited, Barclays Capital Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Capital Real Estate Finance Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc., Barclays Capital Real Estate Inc., Barclays Capital Securities Client Nominee Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Limited, Barclays Capital Securities Mauritius Limited, Barclays Capital Trading Luxembourg S.a r.l., Barclays Claudas Investments Partnership, Barclays Claudas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Commercial Mortgage Securities LLC, Barclays Converted Investments (No.2) Limited, Barclays Corporation Limited, Barclays Direct Investing Nominees Limited, Barclays Directors Limited, Barclays Dryrock Funding LLC, Barclays Electronic Commerce Holdings Inc., Barclays Equity Holdings Limited, Barclays Equity Index Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Europe Client Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Firm Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Europe Nominees Designated Activity Company, Barclays Executive Schemes Trustees Limited, Barclays Financial LLC, Barclays Financial Planning Nominee Company Limited, Barclays Funds Investments Limited, Barclays Funds and Advisory Japan Limited, Barclays Global Service Centre Private Limited, Barclays Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Group Holdings Limited, Barclays Group Operations Limited, Barclays Group US Inc., Barclays Index Finance Trust, Barclays Industrial Development Limited, Barclays Industrial Investments Limited, Barclays Insurance Guernsey PCC Limited, Barclays Insurance Services Company Limited, Barclays Insurance U.S. Inc., Barclays International Luxembourg Dollar Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Investment Management Limited, Barclays Investment Solutions Limited, Barclays Investments & Loans (India) Limited, Barclays Korea GP Limited, Barclays Lamorak Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Leasing (No.9) Limited, Barclays Leto Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Long Island Limited, Barclays Luxembourg EUR Holdings S.a r.l, Barclays Luxembourg Finance S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg GBP Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Global Funding S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Barclays Luxembourg Holdings SSC B, Barclays Marlist Limited, Barclays Mauritius Overseas Holdings Limited, Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited, Barclays Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd., Barclays Nominees (George Yard) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Barclays Nominees (Manx) Limited, Barclays Oversight Management Inc., Barclays Payment Solutions Inc., Barclays Pelleas Investments Limited Partnership, Barclays Pelleas Investments S.a r.l., Barclays Pension Funds Trustees Limited, Barclays Principal Investments Limited, Barclays Private Asset Management (Monaco) S.A.M, Barclays Private Bank, Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Barclays Receivables LLC, Barclays SAMS Limited, Barclays Securities (India) Private Limited, Barclays Securities Japan Limited, Barclays Security Trustee Limited, Barclays Services (Japan) Limited, Barclays Services Corporation, Barclays Services Jersey Limited, Barclays Services LLC, Barclays Services Limited, Barclays Shea Limited, Barclays Singapore Global Shareplans Nominee Limited, Barclays Switzerland Services SA, Barclays Tenedora De Immuebles SL., Barclays Term Funding Limited Liability Partnership, Barclays UK Investments Limited, Barclays US CCP Funding LLC, Barclays US Funding LLC, Barclays US GPF Inc., Barclays US Investments Inc., Barclays US LLC, Barclays Unquoted Investments Limited, Barclays Unquoted Property Investments Limited, Barclays Wealth Management Jersey Limited, Barclays Wealth Nominees Limited, Barclays Wealth Services Limited, Barclays Wealth Trustees (India) Private Limited, Barclayshare Nominees Limited, Barclaytrust Channel Islands Limited, Barcosec Limited, Barsec Nominees Limited, Blossom Finance General Partnership, Branchcall Computers (Pvt) Limited, Braven Investments No.1 Limited, CP Flower Guaranteeco (UK) Limited, CP Newco 1 Limited, CP Newco2 Limited, CP Newco3 Limited, CP Propco 1 Limited, CP Propco 2 Limited, CP Topco Limited, CPIA Canada Holdings, CPIA England 2008 Limited Partnership, CPIA England 2009 Limited Partnership, CPIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, CPIA Investments No.1 Limited, CPIA Investments No.2 Limited, CRE Diversified Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe Holdings LLC, CREW Tahoe LLC, Calthorpe Investments Limited, Capton Investments Limited, Carnegie Holdings Limited, Central Platte Valley Management LLC, Chapelcrest Investments Limited, Charles Schwab Europe, Claudas Investments Limited, Claudas Investments Two Limited, Clydesdale Financial Services Limited, Cobalt Investments Limited, Compania Regional del Sur S.A., Compania Sudamerica S.A., Condor No.1 Limited Partnership, Cornwall Homes Loans Limited, Crescent Crown Land Holding SPV LLC, Crescent Legacy LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential L.P., Crescent Plaza Residential LLC, Crescent Plaza Residential LP LLC, Crescent Real Estate Member LLC, Crescent Resort Development LLC, Crescent TRS Holdings LLC, Crescent Tower Residences GP LLC, Crescent Tower Residences L.P., Curve Investments GP, DBL Texas Holdings LLC, DMW Realty Limited, Desert Mountain Development LLC, Desert Mountain Properties Limited Partnership, Develop Training Group Limited, Dorset Home Loans Limited, Durlacher Nominees Limited, EWRD Summit LLC, Eagle Financial and Leasing Services (UK) Limited, East West Resort Development V L.P. L.L.L.P., East West Resort Development VII LLC, Equity Limited Partnership, Equity Value Investments No.1 Limited, Equity Value Investments No.2 Limited, Erimon Home Loans Ireland Limited, Expobank, FIRSTPLUS Financial Group Limited, Finpart Nominees Limited, First Assurance, Foltus Investments Limited, Full House Holdings Limited, Gallen Investments Limited, Global Dynasty Natural Resource Private, Globe Nominees Limited, Gracechurch Services Corporation, Grays Station LLC, Grupo Financiero Barclays Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hawkins Funding Limited, Heraldglen Limited, Holding Stuttgarter Strae GmbH, Hurley Investments No.1 Limited, Imalivest Mineral Resources LP, Investors In Infrastructure Limited, J.V. Estates Limited, JV Assets Limited, Kirsche Investments Limited, LTDL Holdings LLC, La Torretta Beverages LLC, La Torretta Hospitality LLC, La Torretta Operations LLC, Lagalla Investments LLC, Leonis Investments LLP, Liability Partnership, Long Island Assets Limited, Long Island Holding A LLC, Long Island Holding B Limited, MK Opportunities GP Ltd, MK Opportunities LP, MVWP Investors LLC, Maloney Investments Limited, Marbury Holdings LLC, Menlo Investments Limited, Mercantile Credit Company Limited, Mercantile Leasing Company (No.132) Limited, Meridian (SPV-AMC) Corporation, Mintaka Investments No. 4 Limited, Mira Vista Development LLC, Mira Vista Golf Club L.C., Mountainside Partners LLC, Murray House Investment Management Limited, Naxos Investments Limited, Nile Bank, North Colonnade Investments Limited, Northstar Mountain Properties LLC, Northstar Trailside Townhomes LLC, Northstar Village Townhomes LLC, Northwharf Investments Limited, Northwharf Nominees Limited, OGP Leasing Limited, Oakes Millers Ltd, Ownership Trustee Limited, PIA England No.2 Limited Partnership, Palomino Limited, Pecan Aggregator LP, Pelleas Investments Limited, Pelleas Investments Two Limited, Pippin Island Investments Limited, Preferred Liquidity LLC, Preferred Liquidity Limited Partnership, Procella Investments LLC, Procella Investments No.1 LLC, Procella Investments No.2 LLC, Procella Investments No.3 LLC, Protium Finance I LLC, Protium Master Grantor Trust, Protium Master Mortgage LP, Protium REO I LP, R.C. Grieg Nominees Limited, RVH Limited, RVT CLO Investments LLP, Razzoli Investments Limited, Real Estate Participation Management Limited, Real Estate Participation Services Limited, Relative Value Holdings LLC, Relative Value Investments UK Limited, Relative Value Trading Limited, Roder Investments No. 1 Limited, Roder Investments No. 2 Limited, Ruthenium Investments Limited, SPM GP Limited, Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC, Servicios Barclays S.A. de C.V., Societe Civile Immobiliere 31 Avenue de la Costa, Solution Personal Finance Limited, Southern Peaks Mining LP, Standard Life Aberdeen, Surety Trust Limited, Surrey Funding Corporation, Sussex Purchasing Corporation, Sutton Funding LLC, Swan Lane Investments Limited, TPLL LLC, TPProperty LLC, Tahoe Club Company LLC, Tahoe Club Employee Company, The Logic Group Enterprises Limited, The Logic Group Holdings Limited, Third Energy Holdings Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No. 2 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.1 Limited, US Real Estate Holdings No.3 Limited, US Secured Investments LLC, Union Center LLC, United Counties Bank, Verain Investments LLC, Walbrook Group Ltd, Wedd Jefferson (Nominees) Limited, Wessex Investments Limited, Westferry Investments Limited, Wilmington Riverfront Receivables LLC, Woolwich Homes Limited, Woolwich Plan Managers Limited, Woolwich Qualifying Employee Share, Woolwich Surveying Services Limited, Woori BC Pegasus Securitization Specialty Co. Limited, and Zeban Nominees Limited.
Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI Colombia Capped ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI Colombia Capped ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.

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The following companies are subsidiares of The Allstate: AIMCO Private Fund I Holding LLC, AIMCO Private Fund I LLC, AIMCO Private Fund II LLC, ALIC Reinsurance Company, ALINV Mosaic LLC, ANIHI Newco LLC, AP Real Estate LLC, AP Riverway Plaza LLC, AP Timber LLC, Allstate Assignment Company, Allstate Assurance Company, Allstate County Mutual Insurance Company, Allstate Digital Ventures LLC, Allstate Distributors L.L.C., Allstate Enterprises LLC, Allstate Exchange Services LLC, Allstate Finance Company Agency Loans LLC, Allstate Finance Company LLC, Allstate Financial Advisors LLC, Allstate Financial Corporation, Allstate Financial Insurance Holdings Corporation, Allstate Financial LLC, Allstate Financial Services LLC (1), Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Global Holdings Limited, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, Allstate Insurance Holdings LLC, Allstate International Assignments Ltd., Allstate International Holdings Inc., Allstate Investment Management Company, Allstate Investments LLC, Allstate Life Insurance Company (2), Allstate Life Insurance Company of Canada, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Allstate Motor Club Inc., Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings Inc., Allstate North American Insurance Company, Allstate Northbrook Indemnity Company, Allstate Northern Ireland Limited, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Settlement Corporation, Allstate Short Term Pool LLC, Allstate Solutions Private Limited, Allstate Texas Lloyds, Allstate Texas Lloyds Inc., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Company, American Heritage Life Insurance Company, American Heritage Service Company, Answer Financial Inc., Answer Marketplace LLC, Arity 875 LLC, Arity International Limited, Arity LLC, Arity Services LLC, CE Care Plan Corp, Castle Key Indemnity Company, Castle Key Insurance Company, Complete Product Care Corp, Current Creek Investments LLC, E.R.J. Insurance Group Inc. (3), Encompass Floridian Indemnity Company, Encompass Floridian Insurance Company, Encompass Home and Auto Insurance Company, Encompass Indemnity Company, Encompass Independent Insurance Company, Encompass Insurance Company, Encompass Insurance Company of America, Encompass Insurance Company of Massachusetts, Encompass Insurance Company of New Jersey, Encompass Insurance Holdings LLC, Encompass Property and Casualty Company, Encompass Property and Casualty Insurance Company of New Jersey, Esurance Holdings Inc., Esurance Insurance Company, Esurance Insurance Company of Canada, Esurance Insurance Company of New Jersey, Esurance Insurance Services Company of Canada, Esurance Insurance Services Inc. (4), Esurance Property and Casualty Insurance Company, First Colonial Insurance Company, Identity Protection Strategic Solutions LLC, InfoArmor Aggra Inc., InfoArmor Inc., Insurance Answer Center LLC (5), Intramerica Life Insurance Company, Ivantage Insurance Brokers Inc., Ivantage Select Agency Inc., Kennett Capital Inc., NBInv AF1 LLC, NBInv AF2 LLC, NBInv AF3 LLC, NBInv AF4 LLC, NBInv AF5 LLC, NBInv AF6 LLC, NBInv AP1 LLC, NBInv AP2 LLC, NBInv AP3 LLC, NBInv AP4 LLC, NBInv AP5 LLC, NBInv AP6 LLC, NBInv AP7 LLC, NBInv AP8 LLC, NBInv APAF1 LLC, NBInv Riverside Cars1 LLC, NBInv Riverside Management LLC, North Light Specialty Insurance Company, Northeast Agencies Inc. (6), Pablo Creek Services Inc., Pafco Insurance Company, Pembridge Insurance Company, PlumChoice Business Services Inc., PlumChoice Inc., Protection Plan Group Inc., Right Answer Insurance Agency LLC, Road Bay Investments LLC, ST Product Care Corp, Signature Agency Inc., Signature Motor Club Inc., Signature Motor Club of California Inc., Signature Nationwide Auto Club of California Inc., Signatures Nationwide Auto Club Inc., SquareTrade Australia Pty Ltd, SquareTrade Canada Inc., SquareTrade Europe Limited, SquareTrade Holding Company Inc., SquareTrade Inc. (7), SquareTrade Insurance Services Inc., SquareTrade Limited, SquareTrade Protection Solutions Inc., SquareTradeGo Inc., Tech-Cor LLC, and West Plaza RE Holdings LLC.
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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Rockwell Collins, Inc. designs, produces, and supports communications and aviation systems worldwide. The company's Interior Systems segment offers commercial aircraft seats; galley structures, food and beverage preparation equipment, and water and waste systems; oxygen and passenger service equipment; cabin lighting systems; and business jet and general aviation interior products. Its Commercial Systems segment provides cabin management systems; data link, frequency, very high frequency, and satellite communications systems; landing, radio navigation, and geophysical sensors, and flight management systems; situational awareness and surveillance systems and products; integrated flight controls; simulation and training systems; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. The company's Government Systems segment provides communications systems and products; radio navigation products, global positioning system equipment, and multi-mode receivers; avionics systems; precision targeting, electronic warfare, and training systems; simulation and training systems; space wheels; visual system products; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. Its Information Management Services segment offers voice and data communication services; flight support services; airport communications and information systems; train dispatching and information systems; mission critical security systems; and cabin connectivity solutions. The company serves original equipment manufacturers of commercial air transport, business and regional aircraft, commercial airlines, U.S. Department of Defense, other ministries of defense, other government agencies, defense contractors, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and passenger and freight railroads, as well as airport, critical infrastructure, and business aircraft operators. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO Energy Canada, XTO Energy Inc., and XTO Holdings LLC.
First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in Mexico. It holds 100% interests in the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine comprises 119 concessions covering an area of 71,839 hectares located in Durango and Sinaloa states; the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine consists of 32 concessions covering an area of 102,172 hectares located in Sonora; and the La Encantada Silver Mine comprises 22 concessions covering an area of 4,076 hectares situated in Coahuila, as well as surface land ownership of 1,343 hectares. The company also holds 100% interests in the La Parrilla Silver Mine that covers an area of 69,478 hectares located in Durango; the Del Toro Silver Mine comprises 70 mining concessions covering an area of 2,159 hectares located in Zacatecas; the San Martin Silver Mine includes 33 mining concessions covering an area of 38,512 hectares located in Jalisco; and the La Guitarra Silver Mine that covers an area of 39,714 hectares located in MAxico. In addition, it holds interest in the Springpole project, a gold and silver project covering an area of approximately 41,913 hectares in Ontario, Canada. The company was formerly known as First Majestic Resource Corp. and changed its name to First Majestic Silver Corp. in November 2006. First Majestic Silver Corp. was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Wall Street analysts have given Mongolia Growth Group 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 Mongolia Growth Group wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV.

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Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI Thailand ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI Thailand ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys.

View MarketBeat's top stock picks here.
by Jody Smith | Mon, Aug 13th 5:07pm EDT

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy has been named in a lawsuit that was filed in Fulton County, Georgia by his ex-girlfriend, who is seeking $133,000 as the victim of "multiple crimes and has suffered significant damages." McCoy is not being accused of the physical attack but the crime is still the subject of an ongoing investigation. The lawsuit also reads "the assailant held Plaintiff at gunpoint, struck Plantiff in the face several times with his firearm, demanded specific articles of jewelry given to Plantiff by McCoy for her birthday in 2016, and indicated that he knew McCoy." (Mike Rodak via Twitter)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.  As a grape and hop integrated pest management specialist in New York state, Tim Weigle has been keenly following news about the spotted lanternflys invasion of neighboring Pennsylvania and the considerable harm it is inflicting on agricultural crops.

The impact of this devastating insect on agriculture and homeowners cannot be overstated, said Weigle, whose appointment falls under the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension. From what I have heard and seen, it is not a matter of if spotted lanternfly will get to New York  it is more a matter of when.

For that reason, he readily accepted an invitation to join a multistate, interdisciplinary task force of more than 80 university, regulatory and agricultural industry representatives assembled to fight the looming threat, led by Penn States College of Agricultural Sciences.

Two-day summit

The group came together for an inaugural, two-day summit at Albright College in Berks County, Pennsylvania  the county in which the planthopper, native to Southeast Asia, first appeared in 2014. Co-hosting the meeting were Albright College and Northeastern IPM Center, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Its going to take more than one state, one university and one regulatory agency to defeat this pest, said Heather Leach, Penn States spotted lanternfly extension associate, who was the principal organizer for the July meeting. This is a war that is going to take an army and tons of reinforcements to win.

Spotted lanternfly  now in 13 Pennsylvania counties and recently spotted in New Jersey and Virginia  feeds on sap, weakening plants and leaving behind a sugary excrement called honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mold  further harming the plant  while attracting other insects and creating a mess that can render outdoor areas unusable. The pest threatens Pennsylvanias grape, tree fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which collectively are worth about $18 billion to the states economy.

The forum featured presentations on research, panel discussions on current outreach and education programs, and open discussions with industry stakeholders. Members were tasked with developing priority lists in the areas of research, extension and regulation.

Research

In the research realm, Leach reported that participants developed a list of immediate priorities, which include learning more about the pests feeding habits; understanding its preference for Ailanthus altissima, commonly known as tree of heaven; developing a biological control program; and coming up with safe insecticide recommendations.

To control it, we first have to understand it, said Julie Urban, senior research associate in Penn States Department of Entomology, emphasizing that Penn State and other universities are involved in research efforts. This is a new insect to the United States, and there is a lot we dont know.

Carrie Brown-Lima, director of the New York Invasive Species Research Institute, agreed. She said what she has found most surprising is how spotted lanternfly is affecting quality of life for citizens in the core of the infestation, forcing them to stay inside and alter their activities. That is another reason for those on the frontlines to be simultaneously seeking short-term and long-term control methods.

Outreach and education

Along with research, another focus has been stopping the pests spread through outreach and education efforts. Driven by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State and the USDA, these communications are aimed at teaching citizens how to identify spotted lanternfly, how to destroy egg masses and reporting methods.

Building on that foundation, Leach said the group wants to enhance and expand public awareness campaigns, especially in regions outside of the current 13-county quarantine zone in southeastern Pennsylvania. The members suggested hosting more industry-specific and public information sessions.

Nancy Cusumano, program extension aide for the Northeastern IPM Center, commended current public awareness efforts, saying, When you think of all the ways spotted lanternfly can be spread, it is truly a testament to the quarantine and education that it has not spread further or faster.

However, she advocated ramping up education even more. Getting the information to truck drivers, rail companies and others to prevent the insects migration to new habitats needs to be further explored, she added.

Making sure that spotted lanternfly is not hitching a ride to other areas was one of the concerns discussed during the regulatory discussions, with participants brainstorming ways to develop inspection procedures such as vehicle checks at state borders, and the need for surveillance at campgrounds, rest stops and forests.

Nesting grounds

While the presentations and information exchanges were informative, the activity most talked about, according to Leach, was a field trip to The Pagoda in Reading, a local landmark, where thousands of lanternflies have taken up residence.

It is one thing to hear about the pest, but I was stunned to see it in person, Weigle said. Not only did I see it at The Pagoda, but all I had to do was walk 100 feet outside of my hotel and I was able to find tree of heaven infested with spotted lanternfly along a fence line on a four-lane highway.

What now?

Going forward, the task force will meet regularly and keep the public informed of its progress. Leach is pleased with the new teams willingness to link arms to stop the pests advancement, with Cusumano among those supporters.

I do believe the group will make progress, Cusumano said. We have learned some things from recent invaders like brown marmorated stink bug and emerald ash borer that these pests need to be stopped faster and with better and more research early on. I think the quick reaction by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and USDA in research funding reflects this.

Continued funding will be critical  as will public involvement  to make significant headway, noted Urban. We wont have answers overnight, but bringing these experts together is an imperative first step, she said. We wont give up until this menace is defeated.

Whos involved?

In addition to Penn State and Cornell, research institutions represented at the meeting included USDA-ARS, Rutgers University, Virginia Tech University, Albright College, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Temple University, University of Rhode Island, Drexel University, Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and University of Delaware. Extension programs from several of those universities also attended.

Regulatory agencies involved are Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; Delaware Department of Agriculture; and New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

Among the key stakeholders in attendance were New Castle Lawn and Landscape, Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council, The Morton Arboretum, IPM Center, USDA Forest Service, Arborjet Inc., City of Reading, Wines and Vines, Maple Springs Winery, NYISRI, Salix Springs Landscaping, and Weavers Orchard.

More information

For more information about how to identify and control spotted lanternfly, how to report an infestation and how to comply with quarantine regulations, visit the Penn State Extension website or the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
The government's new plan on tackling pollution must not be "rushed" as this could lead to a negative impact on food production.

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has submitted its response to the governments Clean Air Strategy consultation, and is warning against rushing into "unnecessary legislation".

The organisations said this will have a negative impact on UK farm competitiveness and production.

The draftClean Air Strategy produced earlier this summer outlines the governments ambitions relating to reducing air pollution.

It sits alongside three other UK government strategies: the Industrial Strategy , Clean Growth Strategy and 25 Year Environment Plan.

'Negative effect'

TFA Farm Policy Adviser, Lynette Steel said that while the agricultural industry must play its part in helping to reduce emissions, the government should undertake more UK-based research into managing emissions before introducing legislation.

Ms Steel said: The Code of Good Agricultural Practice (COGAP) for Reducing Ammonia Emissions published in July will help to bring the issue of reducing air pollution to the fore and start a change in culture.

It is vital that any targets set by government should be realistic and not have a negative effect on farm competitiveness.

'Impacted'

The TFA is now pressing the need for any new regulations to avoid discrimination against tenant farmers.

The group said the Clean Air Strategy must consider the impact legislation would have on short term tenants and their lack of ability to plan for long term investments in infrastructure without the support of landlords.

The livestock sector, predominately dairy farmers, will be impacted by the draft strategy and with volatile markets and the increasing likelihood of a no-deal Brexit we are concerned that moving directly to legislation will create problems for production and barriers to innovation, said Ms Steel.

Farmers already adhere to a number of pollution reducing activities and while emissions must be included, any new clean air legislation must work alongside these in a joined up way.
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The censor board today justified its decision of censoring a movie's subtitles, saying it was to curb the "mischief" done by some filmmakers of inserting additional words after a film is certified. The Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) filed its affidavit in the Bombay High Court in response to a petition by the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), challenging the censor board's direction to submit subtitles of a movie for censorship.

The IMPAA approached the high court in July claiming that the new rule introduced by the CBFC was arbitrary. On April 27, the petitioner received a notice from the CBFC, saying producers of a movie are required to obtain a separate censorship certificate for the film's subtitles. The censor board in its affidavit said it was duty-bound and obligated to ensure that filmmakers do not insert any words or visuals after a film is duly certified.

"The rationale behind the impugned notice is to curb the mischief noticed in a number of films where subtitles were introduced or added after the film's certification by the CBFC. This amounts to an alteration in the film. This mischief needs to be plugged or curbed," the affidavit said.

Prabhas Rejected This Blockbuster Film Opposite Deepika Padukone

It cited examples where makers mute the cuss words when they present their films before the CBFC, but after certification, they add those words in the subtitles. "Dubbing and subtitles constitute an integral part of a film. In this context, translation errors can sometimes result in grave prejudice," the CBFC said.

A division bench headed by Justice R M Borde posted the petition for further hearing on August 20.

According to the CBFC notice, producers have to first obtain a certificate for the film and thereafter when the sub-titling is done in a different language, they are required to go for fresh censorship.

The petition said that earlier the CBFC certification was needed only for the film and there was no requirement or practice of certification for subtitles.

The petition claimed that programmes which are freely available on the Internet and other electronic media, do not require such a certification or censorship from any authority.

The IMPAA alleged that the CBFC's move was only to harass producers and extort money from them. Such a rule was also resulting in the films' release getting delayed, it said. The petitioner requested the high court to quash this procedure.
Australia's most loved Bollywood event, the 6th Annual Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition (TBDC), part of Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), drew thousands to Melbourne's Federation Square on Saturday, 11 August 2018 with returning judge Bollywood superstar Malaika Arora, joined by Bollywood heavyweights Nikkhil Advani and Avtar Panesar to judge all the Bollywood dancing action from 31 dance groups.

After Divorce With Malaika Arora, Arbaaz Khan To Marry His Girlfriend Giorgia Andriani?

The Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition immediately followed the emotional Indian Independence Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony, with India's most celebrated actress and queen of Bollywood, Rani Mukerji hoisting the flag in front of thousands of Indian Australians and people from the subcontinent diaspora.

Winning acts LAKS Dance Crew, C Walk and Fusion Beats wowed judges with their slick, polished performances and crowd engagement and each won $1,000 prize courtesy of Telstra.

Celebrity judge Malaika Arora said, "I'd like to thank Telstra for inviting me and my co-judges here today to judge the Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition. It is wonderful to see such large numbers of people coming to support their favourite group."

Celebrity judge Avtar Panesar said, "As someone who grew up outside of India, it is heartening to see Indian culture alive here in Australia. I see a lot of myself in these kids as they are embracing the language and culture."

Jeremy Nicholas, Executive Director, Brand, Consumer, Business Marketing, Telstra said, "Telstra is excited and proud to connect with the South Asian community for the sixth year by supporting Australia's most loved Bollywood event - the iconic Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition. As always, we were extremely impressed by the calibre of performances - every year the bar is set even higher."

Fans in Australia and around the world who could not attend tuned in to watch the action streamed live and free on the IFFM Facebook page and attracted over 17,000 viewers over the day.

"Telstra is delighted that so many fans in Australia and around the world were able to use the nation's largest and fastest mobile network to livestream the event as if they were really there."

"We know how important data is for Bollywood and dance fans wanting to stream their favourite content online. This is why we have said alvida to excess data charges on a number of our new mobile plans for use in Australia."

Now on Australia's best mobile network, customers can get 30GB for $69/mth with no excess data charges in Australia when you bring your own compatible phone. Min cost $828 on a 12 month BYO plan. Visit telstra.com/alvida

During this year's TBDC, fans could also participate by sending an SMS for their favourite acts and had the opportunity to ask our celebrity Bollywood judges questions throughout the competition. Over 4100 SMS votes were cast by fans and the winners on the day were:

Adult - LAKS Dance Crew

Pre-Teen - C Walk

People's Choice - Fusion Beats

The Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition features dance performers wearing vibrant colours and traditional South Asian and Bollywood inspired costumes, captivating the audience. Competitors were judged on choreography, technique, costumes, music and props.

Climax Of Superstar Rajikinath Starrer Robo 2.0 Revealed! AR Rahman Spills The Beans
Kamal Haasan & Mohanlal

Most recently, Kamal Haasan had made a surprise entry to the Bigg Boss house. The show also witnessed Mohanlal, the host of the show and Kamal Haasan sharing the big stage and it was indeed a great pleasure to see both the legends together on the dias.

Image Courtesy: Hotstar

Kamal Haasan In The Bigg Boss House

At the same time, all the inmates of the Bigg Boss house got a task to perform some of the roles portrayed by Kamal Haasan. The house inmates were in for a big surprise when Kamal Haasan himself entered the house and witnessed the performances of the contestants.

Image Courtesy: Hotstar

Mukesh As A Guest In Bigg Boss Malayalam?

Meanwhile, a report has surfaced in asianetnews.com which suggests that another surprise is in store for the audiences with a Malayalam actor paying a visit to the Bigg Boss Malayalam house. Reportedly, popular actor and MLA Mukesh will be seen as a celebrity guest in one of the upcoming episodes of Bigg Boss Malayalam.

Independence Day And Atham Special Episode

According to the report, Mukesh will be visiting Bigg Boss Malayalam in the special episode in connection with Independence Day as well as Atham, which marks the commencement of the Onam season. So, let us wait for the promo of the upcoming episode to know more about the same.
Padayottam is all set to be Biju Menon's next major release of the year and it has been slated for a release during the upcoming Onam season. The movie, which is expected to be a fun entertainer is definitely one among the much awaited Malayalam movies of the upcoming Onam season

An official confirmation regarding the release date of the movie has been made and the movie is gearing up for a big release on August 17, 2018. Reportedly, the censoring procedures of the film has already been completed and the movie has bagged a clean U certificate. The film has been directed by debut film-maker Rafeeq Ibrahim.

With this, Padayottam is all set to be the first Malayalam movie among the Onam releases to grace the big screens. Earlier, there were reports doing the rounds that Kayamkulam Kochunni might be hitting the theatres on August 17, 2018 but no official confirmation regarding the same was made. Now, various reports suggest that Kayamkulam Kochunni will be hitting the theatres only in the next week and has been scheduled for a release on August 22, 2018.

Apart from Padayottam and Kayamkulam Kochunni, the Onam season will also mark the arrival of other Malayalam movies like the Mammootty starrer Oru Kuttanadan Blog and Fahadh Faasil's Varathan.
Krrip Suri's last-minute replacement shocked the actor as well as the fans! The actor was replaced by Saath Nibhana Saathiya actor Mohammad Nazim, who is currently seen playing the role of Suraj's brother Ghumaan Singh. Krrip was hurt with the development and expressed how such things demotivate an actor! This didn't go well with Mohammad Nazim, who hit back at the actor. The actor was quoted by HT as saying, "Making negative comments about any show is not a good thing."

Nazim further added, "They were not even required. None of us owns the production house, and they are the final decision makers. I've been in the industry for long enough to understand that this is no big deal, and people should be professional enough to understand it."



The actor's comment obviously didn't go well with Krrip Suri. He took to social media to express his feelings. Krrip felt that Nazim's comment was unnecessary. He clarified that he hadn't said anything negative about the actor or any production house.

Sharing the snapshot of Nazim's interview article, Krrip wrote, "It takes so many years to build a reputation specifically for an actors but being an actor I feel lucky Coz if some body getting smile and feel relax and can digest his food by spoiling my reputation so it's ok." - (sic)

He wrote, "And dude read my article Coz I spoke good bout u and what ever I said it's something which is true and I dint point out any production house so hiring PR AND BY PAYING SOME MONEY getting ur articles so that can get urself in lime light then it's a shame on u." - (sic)

Krrip further added, "And dnt forget CIRCLE OF LIFE it comes back one day Coz it's MUMBAI so If you think about that, you'll do things differently next time @khilji_nazim ..God bless you always." - (sic)

Well, this fight doesn't seem to end soon! Let's see what Nazim has to say now.

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai: Aashi Introduces Her BF To Kartik; Mansi To Call Off Her Wedding!
Geetha Govindam, starring youth sensation Vijay Devarakonda and Karnataka crush Rashmika Mandanna, is the most sought-after flick in the T-town for now. The melodious and romantic number, Inkem Inkem has taken the internet world by a storm. It is not just the most liked song of Tollywood, but of the entire south cinema, thanks to its pivotal role in promoting the movie which has already seen a great upscale of sales in advance booking of tickets. The USA is one main region where the movie is expected to score big; and since the Geetha Govindam will have its premieres on Tuesday, AT & T's offer will add more value to the business proposition.

The pre-release event was held on Sunday which was a colourful affair. We bring you certain highlights of the event.

Rashmika Mandanna

The gorgeous heroine from Kannada industry spoke well in Telugu and had quite an interactive session with the audience. She requested her team to shake legs for a couple of lines. Rashmika instructed Vijay to impart training of a couple of steps, which was a cute moment to watch.

Satya Srinivas

A part-time actor who is involved in various capacities of jobs opined that his inclination towards movies had always been a never-ending thirst, despite his friends and family members questioning him about his choice. He thanked Aravind for allowing him to don the role of Rashmika's father on-screen, which is a meaty role, unlike the ones which have come his way.

Ghanta Srinivas

Politician of the local place, Srinivas, a close friend of Allu Aravind, wished the team a grand success for the flick and also requested Aravind to plan the success function of Geetha Govindam in Vizag, as it is said to be a cinema hub that has churned out many blockbusters over a period of time.

Parasuram

Director Parasuram seemed to be a shy person, as he kept his speech very crisp though he successfully conveyed his thoughts. He thanked producers, technicians and the main lead within his 1-and-a-half-minute speech.

Allu Aravind

The passionate producer launched an attack on piracy creators for sharing a few clippings from Geetha Govindam from Guntur, which is a crime that also creates havoc in the lives of young students. He stated that piracy is a bane to the industry and that there are a couple more upcoming flicks that are being affected by the threat.

Vijay Devarakonda

The young icon and sensation started his speech in an unconventional style. He claimed to have been floored down by the love and affection from Vizag people, which prompted him to have the pre-release event in the city. Having gone down due to piracy concerns, the Arjun Reddy actor stated that the energy levels of the entire team had sunk low and it was only after the crowd's interaction that the energy spiked high.

Despite his eye infection, Vijay was happy to be involved in the dubbing process and it was a collective effort. He had some great words for Rashmika Mandanna for her determination and hard work. Aravind and Vas as producers have already scored distinction, as some of the expensive sequences were re-shot for quality product.

The teaser of Geetha Govindam has already been quite a hit, as it has garnered over 7.5 Million views with 130K likes; and the movie is all set to release on 15th of August. The rom-com movie stars Vijay Devarakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, Subbaraju, Vennela Kishore and many more. The music has been composed by Gopi Sundar, while Parasuram has called action cut to the venture. Bunny Vas has bankrolled the much-awaited flick under the able guidance of Allu Aravind of Geetha Arts.
Provides for Transfer of Digital Assets and Tokens Between Users with Blockchain Technology

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - Hello Pal International Inc. (CSE: HP) (OTC Pink: HLLPF) (FSE: 27H) ("Hello Pal" or the "Company"), a provider of rapidly growing international social messaging, language learning and travel mobile apps based on blockchain technology, is pleased to announce it has released version 5.0 of the Hello Pal platform which includes a unique, proprietary digital wallet. Users will now be able to store and transfer popular digital assets and tokens, including Bitcoin and Ether, through the use of blockchain technology.

"This marks a watershed moment for the Company as we enter the blockchain world that is revolutionizing so many aspects of our lives," said KL Wong, Founder and CEO of Hello Pal. "Going forward, every Hello Pal user will now have an easy means of transferring value to other Hello Pal users to reward them for the value received from those users through the platform. We expect that this ability to transfer value between users will have a very significant impact on the motivation of users to help each other learn languages over the long term and to continue using the Hello Pal apps."

All Hello Pal users are now able to activate the Hello Pal digital wallet and use it to store popular blockchain-based digital assets and tokens such as Bitcoin and Ether. Blockchain-based digital assets are gradually gaining popularity across the world, and their borderless nature ties in perfectly with the international nature of the Hello Pal platform and its mission of "bringing the world closer together". The ability to transfer such digital assets is expected to be increasingly useful to the Hello Pal platform's over 3 million users spread over 200 countries and territories, as payments can now be easily and efficiently made to and from lesser developed countries and even in micro amounts.

"With the latest release, users can make transfers to other users in whatever amount and frequency they like, and not only is this done cost-effectively, it is also as simple as sending a picture within a chat," said Mr. Wong. Hello Pal anticipates that its digital wallet will also have a positive impact on further expanding the user base, user retention rates and daily activity levels of the Hello Pal app.

The incorporation of a digital wallet is the first new product launch through the Company's collaboration with Shanghai Yitang Data Technology Co. Ltd. and forms part of its plan to transform the Hello Pal platform into one that is based on blockchain technology.

To download Hello Pal, Language Pal, Travel Pal or the proprietary Phrasebooks please visit the IOS or Android store. For information with respect to the Company or the contents of this news release, please contact the Company at (604) 683-0911 or visit the website at hellopal.com. Email inquiries can be directed to: investors@hellopal.com.

To view a demo of the Hello Pal app please follow this link: Hello Pal Demonstration

To view a demo of the Travel Pal app please follow this link: Travel Pal Demonstration

About the Hello Pal Platform

The Hello Pal Platform is a proprietary suite of mobile applications built on a user-friendly blockchain based messaging interface that focus on social interaction, language learning and travel. Hello Pal, has been designed from the ground up to be easy to use and enables users' the freedom to speak in their own language regardless of the other person's language they are speaking to. Hello Pal's overriding mission is to bring the world closer together through social interaction, language learning and travel. By creating a platform where it is easy to instantly interact with others around the world and giving them the tools to communicate with each other in a joyful and fun way, we hope to do our part (however small) in fostering understanding and tolerance between all citizens of the world.

The Hello Pal platform also includes a proprietary digital wallet allowing users to store and transfer popular digital assets and tokens, including Bitcoin and Ether, based on blockchain technology.

Hello Pal, was the first app released to the public and experienced rapid growth building a diverse and active global user base. Travel Pal and Language Pal are the first and second companion apps to launch. Both apps benefit immensely from the existing and ever expanding globally based group of users. Each new app will launch with this established rapidly growing user base accelerating their adoption.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Hello Pal cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Hello Pal's control. Such risks and uncertainties are described in Hello Pal's Listing Statement dated May 10, 2016 available on www.cnsx.ca. Accordingly, actual, and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Hello Pal undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

THE CSE HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
Novartis International AG / Novartis appoints Dr. Klaus Moosmayer as Chief Ethics Risk and Compliance Officer . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Basel, August 14, 2018 - Novartis announced today the appointment of Dr Klaus Moosmayer as Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer. He will report to Vas Narasimhan, M.D., CEO of Novartis and become a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis (ECN). Dr. Moosmayer will join Novartis on December 1, 2018 and will be based in Basel, Switzerland. He succeeds Shannon Thyme Klinger who was recently appointed Group General Counsel.

Dr. Moosmayer has been the Chief Compliance Officer of Siemens since January 1, 2014. Prior to that he served as the Chief Counsel Compliance at Siemens for four years. During this time he played a key role in building up Siemens' new, globally recognized compliance system. Prior to joining Siemens Dr Moosmayer practiced Law in Germany, specializing in white collar crime, Litigation and Business Law. He holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D) degree from Freiburg University.

Dr. Moosmayer is a recognized global leader in Ethics and Compliance. Since 2013, he has been Chair of the Anti-Corruption Taskforce of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Additionally, Dr. Moosmayer is the Vice Chair of Business Compliance for the current G20 presidency and also served as Chair of Business Compliance during the 2016/17 G20 presidency.

Dr. Narasimhan said: "As we aspire to reimagine medicine, we must hold ourselves to highest ethical standards and always aim to win and maintain the trust of society and our many stakeholders. Klaus has extensive experience in leading Compliance for large global organisations and is internationally recognized in his field. As part of my executive leadership team, I am very confident that he will play a significant role in helping us to further define and shape our approach to ethics, risk and compliance in the coming years."

Dr. Moosmayer said: "It is a great honor for me to be given the opportunity to join Novartis. Society has high expectations of the Pharmaceutical industry and rightfully so. I am pleased to see that there is already a strong focus on driving personal accountability for behaviors, and generating learnings that can be applied across the organization within Novartis. I look forward to building on this strong foundation to create a truly worldclass risk and compliance function."

The role of Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, reporting to the CEO, was created in 2014, this step elevated the Compliance function to the highest levels in the company. On April 1, 2018, the role was further expanded to include oversight of all risk management functions and became a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "appoints," "will," "aim," "confident," "in the coming years," "can," "look forward to," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding the potential impact of the announcements regarding Dr. Moosmayer on the reputation of Novartis, and on the Novartis Ethics, Risk and Compliance function or regarding any potential future financial or reputational impact of the appointment of Dr. Moosmayer. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee as to how these announcements will be received by investors or the public. Nor can there be any guarantee that the appointment of Dr. Moosmayer will have any particular impact on the Novartis business or reputation. In particular, our expectations could be affected by, among other things, the difficulties inherent in making large-scale change changes to sizeable organizations; unknown potential developments in currently known or unknown ethics and compliance matters, including uncertainties regarding actual or potential legal proceedings, including, among others actual or potential government investigations; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures; general economic and industry conditions, including the effects of the persistently weak economic and financial environment in many countries; safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 125,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com (http://www.novartis.com).

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Media release (PDF) (http://hugin.info/134323/R/2210580/860582.pdf)


Curetis / Curetis Announces Change in Curetis USA Inc. Management . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Curetis Announces Change in Curetis USA Inc. Management

Christopher M. Bernard resigns as President & CEO of Curetis USA Inc. effective August 31, 2018

Chris D. Emery to succeed as President & CEO of Curetis USA Inc. effective September 1, 2018

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, San Diego, CA, USA, and Holzgerlingen, Germany, August 14, 2018, 01:00 am EDT -- Curetis N.V. (the "Company" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Curetis"), a developer of next-level molecular diagnostic solutions, today announced that Christopher M. Bernard has informed the Company of his resignation as President and CEO of Curetis USA Inc. and as member of the Curetis N.V. Management Board, effective respectively August 31, 2018. The Company has accepted Mr. Bernard's resignation as President & CEO of Curetis USA Inc. and has acknowledged his resignation as member of the Curetis N.V. Management Board and has appointed Chris D. Emery as President & CEO of Curetis USA Inc. effective September 1, 2018.

Mr. Bernard had joined Curetis USA Inc. as its President & CEO on July 1, 2016, and has served on the Management Board of Curetis N.V. since his appointment by the Annual General Meeting in June 2018. Further members of the Curetis N.V. Management Board are Oliver Schacht, PhD (CEO), Dr. Achim Plum (CBO) and Johannes Bacher (COO).

"Chris Bernard has been a highly valued member of the senior management team. On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Chris for building the U.S. subsidiary from the ground up, making excellent use of his broad and deep network in the U.S. diagnostics industry," commented William E. Rhodes, Chairman of the Curetis N.V. Supervisory Board. "We understand also his resignation from the Management Board of Curetis N.V. to pursue another opportunity, and we wish him luck in the future."

"On behalf of the entire Curetis management team, I would like to sincerely thank Chris Bernard for his drive and passion in building a 25-person strong U.S. commercial operation from scratch. Chris successfully launched the Unyvero System and LRT Cartridge for pneumonia patients in U.S. hospitals earlier this year," said Oliver Schacht, PhD, CEO of Curetis N.V.

The newly appointed President & CEO of Curetis USA Inc., Chris D. Emery, brings more than 20 years of relevant commercial experience in the diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries. His primary focus has been leading the commercial launch and execution for numerous next-generation molecular diagnostic tests in the precision medicine market. Most recently, he was the Chief Commercial Officer - North America for Menarini Silicon Biosystems, where he directed the U.S. sales and business development activities for the DEPArray NxT molecular device as well as the integration of the FDA-cleared CellSearch Circulating Tumor Cell test. Prior to this, he was the General Manager for Abbott's PersonalizeDx cancer diagnostics laboratory division, and he also held senior level management roles as Chief Operating Officer at CombiMatrix, VP Sales & Marketing at Response Genetics, and National Sales & Marketing Manager at US LABS, prior to its acquisition by LabCorp. He began his career in healthcare with Johnson & Johnson, promoting the antibiotic Levaquin (Levofloxacin) into hospital systems for a wide variety of bacterial infections, including hospital-acquired pneumonia. He obtained his MBA from Pepperdine University and his BA in Communications from University of California - San Diego.

"We are very pleased that in Chris Emery we have found a great successor for the strategically important role of President & CEO of Curetis USA Inc. With his extensive experience in the diagnostics market, Chris is very well positioned to seamlessly continue driving the commercial roll-out of Unyvero LRT in the U.S. where he finds a strong team in place and a very solid funnel of qualified accounts with some exciting near-term opportunities for commercial conversions," commented Oliver Schacht, CEO of Curetis.

"The Supervisory Board of Curetis extends a warm welcome to Chris Emery and is very pleased that he accepted the offer to join Curetis at this exciting time," added William E. Rhodes, Chairman of the Curetis N.V. Supervisory Board. "Chris Emery can be assured that he has the full support of the Supervisory Board in this strategically important role for Curetis."

With this change, the Board of Directors of Curetis USA Inc. will consist of Chris D. Emery as President & CEO, Oliver Schacht, PhD, as Chairman, and Dr. Achim Plum as board member going forward.

###

About Curetis

Curetis N.V.'s (Euronext: CURE) goal is to become a leading provider of innovative solutions for molecular microbiology diagnostics designed to address the global challenge of diagnosing severe infectious diseases and identifying antibiotic resistances in hospitalized patients.

Curetis' Unyvero System is a versatile, fast and highly automated molecular diagnostic platform for easy-to-use, cartridge-based solutions for the comprehensive and rapid detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance markers in a range of severe infectious disease indications. Results are available within hours, a process that can take days or even weeks if performed with standard diagnostic procedures, and thereby facilitates improved patient outcomes, stringent antibiotic stewardship and health economic benefits. Unyvero in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products are marketed in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the U.S.

Curetis' wholly owned subsidiary Ares Genetics GmbH offers next-generation solutions for infectious disease diagnostics and therapeutics. The ARES Technology Platform combines the world's most comprehensive database on the genetics of antimicrobial resistances, ARESdb, with advanced bioinformatics and artificial intelligence.

For further information, please visit www.curetis.com (http://www.curetis.com) and www.ares-genetics.com (http://www.ares-genetics.com).

Legal Disclaimer

This announcement contains inside information. This is a public announcement pursuant to article 17 paragraph 1 of the European Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014).

This document constitutes neither an offer to buy nor to subscribe for securities and neither this document nor any part of it should form the basis of any investment decision in Curetis.

The information contained in this press release has been carefully prepared. However, Curetis bears and assumes no liability of whatever kind for the correctness and completeness of the information provided herein. Curetis does not assume an obligation of whatever kind to update or correct information contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or for other reasons.

This press release includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," or "should" and include statements Curetis makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Curetis' actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Curetis undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Curetis' Contact Details

Curetis N.V.

Max-Eyth-Str. 42

71088 Holzgerlingen, Germany

Tel. +49 7031 49195-10

pr@curetis.com (mailto:pr@curetis.com) or ir@curetis.com (mailto:ir@curetis.com)

www.curetis.com (http://www.curetis.com)

Curetis International Media & Investor Inquiries

akampion

Dr. Ludger Wess / Ines-Regina Buth

Managing Partners

info(@)akampion.com

Tel. +49 40 88 16 59 64

Tel. +49 30 23 63 27 68

Curetis U.S. Media & Investor Inquiries

The Ruth Group

Lee Roth

lroth@theruthgroup.com

Tel. +1 646 536 7012

20180814_Curetis_PR_US Mangement_EN (http://hugin.info/171382/R/2210655/860699.pdf)


Basilea Pharmaceutica AG / Basilea reports half-year financial results reflecting strong in-market product sales growth in addition to progress and expansion of the R&D pipeline . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Total revenue increased by 30% to CHF 59.9 million; 2018 total revenue guidance is increased to CHF 120 - 130 million

Royalties on Cresemba sales more than doubled to CHF 10.8 million

Clinical oncology pipeline strengthened through in-licensing of phase 2 panFGFR kinase inhibitor (derazantinib)

Significant progress made in clinical programs

Cash position of CHF 247.3 million

Basel, Switzerland, August 14, 2018 - Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) today reported financial results for the first half-year, ended June 30, 2018.

Total revenue increased to CHF 59.9 million (H1 2017: CHF 46.2 million; +30% year-on-year). Revenue contributions from its marketed products Cresemba and Zevtera increased to CHF 27.8 million (H1 2017: CHF 22.2 million; +25%) with royalties on Cresemba sales more than doubling to CHF 10.8 million (H1 2017: CHF 5.3 million; +104%). As of June 30, 2018, Basilea reports CHF 247.3 million in cash and financial investments (year-end 2017: CHF 310.7 million) and an operating loss of CHF 20.4 million compared to CHF 19.1 million in H1 2017.

David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are very pleased with the strong sales performance in the first half of 2018. Our commercial partners continued to significantly grow product sales in existing markets and successfully launched our anti-infectives Cresemba and Zevtera in new markets. We have initiated key clinical studies for ceftobiprole and BAL101553 and demonstrated our ability to expand our R&D pipeline."

In the 12-months to March 2018, "in-market" sales of antifungal Cresemba reached USD 120 million and continued to grow strongly

Since the start of 2018, Pfizer launched Cresemba in Switzerland, Ireland, Greece and the Netherlands. In addition, Grupo Biotoscana was granted regulatory approval for Cresemba in Peru, the first approval of the brand outside the U.S. and Europe, which triggered a regulatory milestone payment of CHF 2 million to Basilea. As of March 31, 2018, the 12-months in-market Cresemba sales amounted to USD 120 million, compared to USD 62 million in the 12 months to March 31, 2017.1 For the first six months 2018 Astellas Pharma Inc. reported U.S. Cresemba sales of USD 54 million (H1 2017: USD 34 million; +59% year-on-year).

Zevtera sales in Europe by Correvio (formerly Cardiome) increased and sales growth is expected to further accelerate with increasing contributions from new markets outside of Europe, for example, Argentina, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

Basilea expanded its oncology pipeline

In April 2018, Basilea entered into a license agreement with ArQule, Inc., for its late-stage oncology drug candidate derazantinib (BAL087), which targets the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family of kinases. The exclusive license grants Basilea worldwide rights to derazantinib, excluding Greater China. Basilea made an upfront payment of USD 10 million and ArQule is eligible to receive up to USD 326 million upon reaching certain clinical, regulatory and sales milestones, as well as staggered single to double-digit royalties on sales upon commercialization.

Dr. Marc Engelhardt, Basilea's Chief Medical Officer, said: "As part of our strategy, we are continuously exploring opportunities to further strengthen our R&D portfolio through external innovation. The small-molecule drug candidate derazantinib fits with our existing oncology pipeline. It targets an important signal transmission pathway which is considered to be relevant for various tumor types, in patients with limited treatment options. Derazantinib also allows for a clinical development program that builds upon a clear patient selection strategy."

In addition, Basilea has entered into a licensing and research collaboration. The pre-clinical project focuses on the biomarker-driven development of potential first-in-class selective inhibitors of a kinase involved in controlling the process of chromosome segregation during cell division.

Significant progress made in clinical stage programs

During the first half of 2018, Basilea made significant progress in its clinical development programs:

Advanced the ceftobiprole phase 3 program to access the U.S. market

Basilea advanced its phase 3 program comprising two cross-supportive studies aiming to gain regulatory approval for ceftobiprole in the U.S. The U.S. market is an estimated 80% of the global market for branded hospital antibiotics based on value1and therefore it plays a critical role in Basilea's commercial strategy for ceftobiprole.

The first study, in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), started in February 2018 and the second study, in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), was also recently initiated.2 The studies are conducted under Special Protocol Assessments (SPAs) agreed with the FDA.

The phase 3 program is funded in part (up to USD 118 million, which is approximately 70% of the total estimated program costs) with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under Contract No. HHSO100201600002C. For the first half of 2018, Basilea recorded reimbursements for R&D expenses for this phase 3 program from BARDA in the amount of CHF 13.2 million.

Started phase 3 study with isavuconazole in Japan

Asahi Kasei Pharma, Basilea's partner for isavuconazole in Japan, initiated a phase 3 study in April 2018 to support a future regulatory filing in Japan.3 Japan currently represents about eight percent of the global market for best-in-class antifungals.1

Advanced tumor checkpoint controller BAL101553 into phase 2a expansion study in glioblastoma and ovarian cancer

Basilea continued its activities in the field of glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of primary malignant brain tumor and an area of high medical need where very few treatment options are currently available. Basilea is currently running three clinical studies with BAL101553 in this indication.

In the UK, phase 1 dose escalation is ongoing in recurrent or progressive glioblastoma patients with daily oral administration. The study is primarily designed to assess safety at various dose levels. In Switzerland, a phase 2a expansion study in recurrent glioblastoma was started in June using weekly 48-hour infusion. A separate arm in this study includes patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Finally, Basilea started a phase 1 study in the U.S. in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients with first-line oral BAL101553 in combination with radiotherapy. This study is conducted in collaboration with the Adult Brain Tumor Consortium (ABTC), which is funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

These studies will contribute to an assessment of efficacy signals and Basilea expects that an initial assessment of efficacy could become available during 2019.

Completed patient enrollment into phase 1 study with panRAF/SRC inhibitor BAL3833

Basilea's partner and licensor, the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), completed enrollment into a first-in-human phase 1 dose-escalation study in patients with solid tumors including metastatic melanoma.4 BAL3833 blocks BRAF and CRAF and also inhibits the SRC kinase family, which play an important role in the transmission of cell growth and proliferation signals.

A broad dose range was investigated in the study. A maximum tolerated dose was not defined. The study is currently in the analysis phase, including biomarker data, and results are anticipated to be published at a future scientific conference.

Registrational phase 2 study with derazantinib for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) ongoing

Derazantinib has demonstrated favorable clinical data in a biomarker-driven phase 1/2 study in patients with FGFR2 fusion positive iCCA, a form of biliary tract cancer. A registrational phase 2 study with derazantinib in patients with FGFR2 fusion positive iCCA is ongoing in Italy, Canada and the U.S.5 An interim analysis of the study is planned in H1 2019. The study may allow to file for U.S. accelerated approval in iCCA, subject to the final outcome of the study.

Basilea plans to initiate clinical phase 2 development of derazantinib in other FGFR-driven solid tumor types in mid-2019.

Basilea continues to implement its strategy for sustainable growth based on its focus areas: hospital antibiotics, hospital antifungals, and oncology

CEO David Veitch stated: "We are well on track in the execution of our strategy, in terms of both growing our revenues and advancing our R&D portfolio. Our partners for Cresemba and Zevtera are making significant progress in the development and commercialization of our two anti-infective brands around the world. We will continue to build on internal and external innovation in the areas of hospital antibiotics, hospital antifungals and oncology to optimize our portfolio and create the basis for sustainable long-term growth."

Key figures

(In CHF million, except per share data) H1 2018 H1 2017 Product revenue 6.5 9.8 Contract revenue 40.1 31.2 Revenue from R&D services 0.0 0.1 Other revenue 13.3 5.0 Total revenue 59.9 46.2 Costs of products sold (6.5) (3.5) Research & development expenses, net (57.8) (27.2) Selling, general & administrative expenses (15.9) (34.6) Total cost and operating expenses (80.3) (65.3) Operating loss (20.4) (19.1) Net loss (22.5) (20.6) Net cash used for operating activities (60.4) (36.6) Basic and diluted loss per share, in CHF (2.07) (1.90) (In CHF million) June 30, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Cash and financial investments 247.3 310.7

Notes: Consolidated figures in conformity with U.S. GAAP; rounding was consistently applied.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. for the first half-year 2018 can be found on the Company's website at http://interimreport.basilea.com (http://interimreport.basilea.com).

Financial summary

In the first half year of 2018, Basilea substantially increased its revenues and accelerated investments in its pre-clinical and clinical pipeline.

Total revenue in this period increased by 30% to CHF 59.9 million (H1 2017: CHF 46.2 million).

As a result of the change in the commercialization model for Europe in 2017, the allocation between product revenue and contract revenue has changed. Together, product and contract revenue continued to grow to CHF 46.6 million (H1 2017: CHF 41.0 million), particularly driven by Cresemba revenue contributions increasing by 30% to CHF 26.3 million (H1 2017: CHF 20.3 million). Other revenue increased to CHF 13.3 million (H1 2017: CHF 5.0 million), including CHF 13.2 million BARDA reimbursements (H1 2017: CHF 4.9 million) compensating for a substantial portion of expenses incurred related to Basilea's ceftobiprole phase 3 program.

In the first half of 2018, Basilea accelerated investments in its pre-clinical and clinical pipeline. Research and development expenses amounted to CHF 57.8 million (H1 2017: CHF 27.2 million), and were mainly driven by costs for the phase 3 program for the antibiotic ceftobiprole for which patient recruitment is ongoing since February, the in-licensing of clinical stage drug candidate derazantinib, including an upfront payment of USD 10 million, as well as in-licensing of pre-clinical oncology compounds, the phase 1/2a development of oncology drug candidate BAL101553 and activities related to the pediatric programs for ceftobiprole and isavuconazole.

Selling, general and administrative expenses declined significantly to CHF 15.9 million (H1 2017: CHF 34.6 million). This decrease was mainly driven by the transfer of the commercialization of Cresemba and Zevtera from Basilea to its partners following the license agreement with Pfizer and the distribution agreement with Correvio in the second half of 2017.

Costs of product sold, which include manufacturing costs, capacity reservation costs as well as shipping and handling costs, amounted to CHF 6.5 million (H1 2017: CHF 3.5 million) and increased approximately in line with the increased Zevtera and Cresemba demand supplied by Basilea.

In the first half year of 2018, the operating loss amounted to CHF 20.4 million compared to CHF 19.1 million for the first half year of 2017. Net loss in the first half year of 2018 was CHF 22.5 million (H1 2017: CHF 20.6 million), resulting in a basic and diluted loss per share of CHF 2.07 (H1 2017: CHF 1.90).

Operating activities in the first half year of 2018 consumed cash of CHF 60.4 million as compared to a cash consumption of CHF 36.6 million in the first half year of 2017, mainly reflecting the progress in and the expansion of Basilea's R&D pipeline and an increase in working capital. Combined cash and investments amounted to CHF 247.3 million as of June 30, 2018, compared to CHF 310.7 million as of December 31, 2017.

In March 2018, Basilea entered into a market making agreement with Kepler Cheuvreux. Kepler Cheuvreux provides market liquidity supporting trading of the company's shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

2018 Outlook

For the second half year of 2018 Basilea will continue to focus on:

Growing revenues from Cresemba and Zevtera, including preparing for further launches in markets outside of Europe and the U.S.

Progressing the ceftobiprole phase 3 studies in ABSSSI and SAB under the BARDA contract, for gaining access to the U.S. market

Advancing the ongoing clinical studies of derazantinib and BAL101553

Exploring opportunities to strengthen its hospital antibiotic, hospital antifungal and oncology pipeline through internal and external innovation

Reflecting these key priorities and the performance in the first half of 2018 Basilea updates its previous financial guidance for 2018. The company increases its guidance for total revenue from CHF 105-115 million to CHF 120-130 million with contributions from Cresemba and Zevtera expected to increase from CHF 60-65 million to CHF 75-85 million. Considering the upfront payments to license derazantinib and the pre-clinical oncology assets as well as the respective ongoing program costs, the operating loss for full-year 2018 is estimated at CHF 25-35 million.

Portfolio

Cresemba (isavuconazole) - an i.v. and oral azole antifungal addressing the urgent medical need for new options to treat invasive mold infections

Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements for isavuconazole covering the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Latin America, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Israel and the Asia-Pacific and Middle East and North Africa regions. In the EU and EEA member states, as well as in Jordan and Peru, isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of adult patients with mucormycosis for whom amphotericin B is inappropriate.7 It is also approved in the U.S. and Switzerland.6, 8 Isavuconazole has U.S. and European orphan drug designation for its approved indications.

Zevtera/Mabelio (ceftobiprole) - a cephalosporin antibiotic for i.v. administration, for the treatment of severe bacterial infections in the hospital9

Ceftobiprole has rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.10 Ceftobiprole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), excluding ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).10 It is marketed in major European countries, Argentina, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements for the brand in Europe, Latin America, China, Canada, Israel, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Ceftobiprole is currently in a phase 3 program for registration of ceftobiprole in the U.S.

Derazantinib (BAL087) -an investigational oral inhibitor of the FGFR family of kinases with potential in a number of cancer types and the opportunity to become the first FGFR kinase inhibitor approved for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), an indication with high unmet need and increasing incidence

FGFR kinases are key drivers of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Basilea in-licensed derazantinib from ArQule, Inc. The drug candidate has demonstrated favorable clinical data in a biomarker-driven phase 1/2 study in iCCA patients.11 Both the FDA and EMA have granted ArQule orphan drug designation for this disease.

BAL101553 - a small-molecule tumor checkpoint controller in phase 1/2a clinical testing in patients with advanced solid tumors including recurrent or progressive glioblastoma

The drug candidate BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862)12 is being developed as a potential therapy for diverse cancers. The molecule binds the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization,13 resulting in the activation of the "spindle assembly checkpoint" which promotes tumor cell death.14 It demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo activity in diverse treatment-resistant cancer models, including tumors refractory to conventional approved therapeutics and radiotherapy.15, 16, 17 BAL101553 efficiently distributes to the brain, with anticancer activity in glioblastoma models.18, 19, 20

BAL3833- a dual-targeting (panRAF/SRC) kinase inhibitor in clinical phase 1 testing in patients with diverse solid tumors, including melanoma

BAL3833 (also known as CCT3833) is an orally available small-molecule drug candidate which interferes with the transmission of growth and proliferation signal cascades through so-called kinases. If deregulated, these signaling pathways may lead to uncontrolled growth, i.e. cancer, and also to the development of resistance to current therapies. BAL3833 is called a panRAF kinase inhibitor because it not only blocks the BRAF and CRAF kinases but also inhibits the SRC kinase family. In particular, melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer, is often linked to a mutated BRAF kinase. BAL3833 demonstrated activity in preclinical studies in a range of patient-derived melanoma models with intrinsic or acquired resistance to selective BRAF inhibitors, as well as in tumor models derived from colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancers associated with genetic changes resulting in activation of the RAF pathway.21 The compound originates from The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, where it was developed by scientists funded by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust.

Conference call and webcast

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. will host a conference call today, Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 4 p.m. (CEST), to discuss the Company's financial and operating results.

Via audio webcast with presentation:

For the first time Basilea will conduct a live audio webcast of the results presentation, which can be followed here (https://78449.choruscall.com/dataconf/productusers/basilea/mediaframe/25073/indexl.html). Please note that there is no function to ask questions via webcast. For questions, please additionally dial-in via phone (see below).

Via phone:

To listen by phone and ask questions, please use the dial-in details below. To ensure prompt access, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.

+41 (0) 58 310 5000 (Europe and RoW)

+1 (1) 866 291 4166 (USA)

+44 (0) 207 107 0613 (U.K.)

Replay:

The webcast, along with presentation will be available online (https://78449.choruscall.com/dataconf/productusers/basilea/mediaframe/25073/indexl.html) shortly after the event and accessible for three months.

About Basilea

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company developing products that address the medical challenge of increasing resistance and non-response to current treatment options in the therapeutic areas of bacterial infections, fungal infections and cancer. With two commercialized drugs, the company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com (http://www.basilea.com).

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Peer Nils Schroder, PhD

Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

+41 61 606 1102

media_relations@basilea.com (mailto:media_relations@basilea.com)

investor_relations@basilea.com (mailto:investor_relations@basilea.com)

This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com (http://www.basilea.com).

References

1 IQVIA, March 2018

2 Clinicaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT03137173 (ABSSSI), NCT03138733 (SAB)

3 Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03471988

4 Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02437227

5 Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03230318

6 Isavuconazole is approved in the U.S. for patients 18 years of age and older in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis. Cresemba U.S. prescribing information (https://www.astellas.us/docs/cresemba.pdf) [Accessed: August 13, 2018]

7 In the 28 European Union member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Jordan and Peru, isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of adult patients with mucormycosis for whom amphotericin B is inappropriate. European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) Cresemba: http://www.ema.europa.eu (http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Summary_for_the_public/human/002734/WC500196131.pdf)

[Accessed: August 13, 2018]

8 In Switzerland, isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of mucormycosis in adult patients who are resistant to or intolerant of amphotericin B and in adult patients with moderate to severe renal impairment. Full indication in: Swissmedic-approved information for healthcare professionals as of August 2017

9 Ceftobiprole is generally marketed in Europe under the trade name Zevtera, except for France and Italy where the trade name is Mabelio

10 U.K. Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) Zevtera: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/ (http://www.mhra.gov.uk/spc-pil/?prodName=ZEVTERA%20500MG%20POWDER%20FOR%20CONCENTRATE%20FOR%20SOLUTION%20FOR%20INFUSION&subsName=&pageID=ThirdLevel&searchTerm=zevteraretainDisplay)

[Accessed: August 13, 2018]

11 V. Mazzaferro et al. ARQ 087, an oral pan-fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor, in patients (pts) with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) with FGFR2 genetic abberations. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2017, 35 (supplement), abstract 4017

12 J. Pohlmann et al. BAL101553: An optimized prodrug of the microtubule destabilizer BAL27862 with superior antitumor activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2011, abstract 1347; Cancer Research 2011, 71 (8 Supplement)

13 A. E. Prota et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL27862 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization. Journal of Molecular Biology 2014 (426), 1848-1860

14 F. Bachmann et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): the spindle assembly checkpoint is required for anticancer activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2015, abstract 3789

15 A. Broggini-Tenzer et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862) sensitizes a treatment refractory tumor model to ionizing radiation. EORTC-NCI-AACR symposium 2014, abstract 202

16 G. E. Duran et al. In vitro activity of the novel tubulin active agent BAL27862 in MDR1(+) and MDR1(-) human breast and ovarian cancer variants selected for resistance to taxanes. Cancer Research 2010, 70:8 (supplement 1, abstract 4412)

17 F. Bachmann et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): A unique microtubule destabilizer active against drug refractory breast cancers alone and in combination with trastuzumab. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2014, abstract 831

18 R. Berges et al. The novel tubulin-binding checkpoint activator BAL101553 inhibits EB1-dependent migration and invasion and promotes differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2016 (15), 2740-2749

19 A. Schmitt-Hoffmann et al. BAL27862: a unique microtubule-targeted agent with a potential for the treatment of human brain tumors. AACR-NCI-EORTC conference 2009, abstract C233; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2009, 8 (12 Supplement)

20 A. C. Mladek et al. The novel tubulin-binding 'tumor checkpoint controller' BAL101553 has anti-cancer activity alone and in combination treatments across a panel of GBM patient-derived xenografts. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract 4781

21 G. Saturno et al. Therapeutic efficacy of the paradox-breaking panRAF and SRC drug CCT3833/BAL3833 in KRASdriven cancer models. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract LB212





Press release (PDF) (http://hugin.info/134390/R/2210571/860569.pdf)


Foreign investors' confidence reaches 5-year high

BANGKOK, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand's investment drive will focus on the country's three major agendas - national competitiveness, the reduction in income disparity, and sustainability, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak.

Speaking after the annual meeting of Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI), with the heads of the 14 overseas offices, the Deputy Prime Minister said that investments are a significant tool to address the national agenda.

"In recent years, our investment promotion activities tended to attract investment in targeted types of business activities," Dr. Somkid said. "We must not forget that investments are crucial to support national transformation.

"From now, we have to make sure that investment promotion activities can also effectively address the three major national agendas - increasing national competitiveness, reducing income and social disparity, and promoting sustainability."

He cited the development of the bioeconomy as an example. In promoting investment in the bioeconomy, value will be added to the country's backbone industries. While a bioeconomy would increase national competitiveness, it also generates an income for people and that directly contributes to the reduction of income disparity and points to a long-term sustainable outcome. In terms of environment and resources, the bioeconomy is also focused on environmentally friendly business activities, which contributes to environmental sustainability.

Dr. Somkid also advised the BOI to promote an investment ecosystem. He said that to attract entrepreneurial ventures, the country should not only provide investment incentives but also assist other activities that support the development of startups. Education, people training, infrastructure and a supply chain in the related industries should all be developed to help investors ensure success.

The BOI, which regularly reviews and adjusts its policy and direction to address changing economic and business trends and national agendas, also released its foreign investors' confidence survey for this year.

The board's processes have contributed to a significant improvement in investors' satisfaction and confidence.

The survey showed that investors' confidence reached the highest level in five years, with 98.5% of the respondents confirming that they would continue to invest in Thailand. Out of the 600 companies that responded to the survey, 33% said they planned to expand investment, while 65.5% said their investment in Thailand would continue.

The top three reasons that boosted their confidence in continuing and expanding their investment in Thailand were given as: the availability of raw materials and parts (54.7%), sufficient suppliers (50.8%) and attractive investment incentives (44.5%).

"From this year's survey, it was clear that the ecosystem and supporting industries play an important part in investors' confidence," said Ms. Duangjai Asawachintachit, Secretary-General to the BOI. "Having extensive resources, parts, raw materials and suppliers is key to this success.

"Realizing this, the government and BOI have been promoting local supporting industries throughout these years. New investment promotion incentives have also been customized and offered in response to rapid technology development and more intense business competition."

Survey respondents also expressed improved satisfaction towards BOI's level of service, incentives, services and assistance in visa and work permit solutions. They also cited information provided on its website, the services at BOI's OSOS center, easy access to services and service speed.

For more information, please contact:

Thailand Board of Investment

Email: thailandinvestmentyear@gmail.com

Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111

Website: www.boi.go.th
ALBANY, New York, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research (TMR) delivers key insights on the global pharmaceutical cartridges market in its published report, titled "Global Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market: Global Industry Opportunity Assessment, 2018 - 2026". In terms of revenue, the global pharmaceutical cartridges market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 3.2% during the forecast period, owing to numerous factors, about which TMR offers thorough insights and forecasts in this report.

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The global market for pharmaceutical cartridges is segmented by material type and capacity type. On the basis of material type, the global pharmaceutical cartridges market is segmented into glass and plastic. The glass segment is further segmented into Type I, Type II, and Type III glass type. The plastic segment is segmented into cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), cyclic olefin polymer (COP), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

Request a Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=39854

On the basis of capacity type, the global pharmaceutical cartridges market is segmented into below 5ml, 5-50ml, 50-250ml and above 250ml capacity.

This report assesses trends driving the growth of each market segment on the global level and offers potential takeaways that could prove substantially useful for value chain business partners looking to enter the Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging market.

The North America pharmaceutical cartridges market includes country-level analysis for the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. pharmaceutical cartridges market is projected to witness a growth of 1.2x over the forecast period.

The Latin America pharmaceutical cartridges market includes country-level analysis for Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America. The Brazil pharmaceutical cartridges market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.3% by the 2026 end. The Mexico pharmaceutical cartridges market is anticipated to represent highest incremental $ increase during the forecast period.

Get a PDF Sample at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=39854

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) pharmaceutical cartridges market includes country-level analysis for GCC, South Africa, North Africa and Rest of MEA pharmaceutical cartridges market. The growth of the MEA region is particularly expected to be driven due to increasing number of pharmaceutical companies in the region. The government in various the African nation are majorly focusing on pharmaceutical industry. They have imposed various norms that restricts the import of pharmaceutical drugs from other region of world. This factor encourages global pharmaceutical drug manufacturers to expand their footprints and establish their plant in the region and also results in creating demand for the pharmaceutical packaging products. The pharmaceutical industry in the Africa region is expected to be more than US$ 35 billion in the year 2019, and is expected to create demand for the pharmaceutical packaging products in the region.

Download Report TOC for in-depth analysis at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/39854

The APEJ pharmaceutical cartridges market includes country-level analysis for China, India, Japan, ASEAN, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand and Rest of APEJ. The APEJ pharmaceutical cartridges market represents the most lucrative geographic region. In the region, China leads in terms of both production and consumption of pharmaceutical cartridges. Also, India and ASEAN countries represent substantial total incremental opportunity during the forecast period. The global manufacturers are capitalizing on increasing healthcare expenditure in the Asia Pacific region.

In this report, we have discussed individual strategies followed by companies in terms of enhancing their product portfolio, creating new marketing techniques, mergers and acquisitions. The 'Competitive Landscape' is included to provide report audiences with a dashboard view and company share collectively.

Browse Research Release at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/virtual-pbx-market.htm

Key players operating in the global market for pharmaceutical cartridges include Schott AG, Gerresheimer AG, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., Stevanato Group, SGD Pharma, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Pierrel group and Transcoject Gmb

Popular Research Reports by TMR:

Pharmaceutical Bottles Market - Spain Industry Analysis Size Share Growth Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024 :

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https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/spain-pharmaceutical-bottles-market.html Clinical Trial Packaging Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025;

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - Dunnedin Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DVI) (the "Company" or "Dunnedin") today announced that it has closed a non-brokered private placement of non flow-through units (each, a "NFT Unit") and flow-through shares (each, a "FT Share") for gross proceeds of $1,802,500 (the "Offering").

The Company has issued 5,080,000 NFT Units at a price of $0.20 per share and 3,419,565 FT Shares at a price of $0.23 per share through the Offering. Each NFT Unit consists of one common share and one-half-of-one common share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional common share at a price of $0.28 for a period of twenty-four months. The common share purchase warrants issued as part of the NFT Units are subject to accelerated expiry in the event the common shares of the Company trade on the TSX Venture Exchange at a volume weighted average price (VWAP) of $0.45 or more for twenty consecutive trading days.

Claudia Tornquist, President of Dunnedin, said, "To date in 2018 we have successfully extended two of our diamond-bearing kimberlite dikes, discovered a new kimberlite pipe and proven the effectiveness of our methods for locating new kimberlites by analysing at-surface diamond indicator minerals. We are currently awaiting the diamond recovery results from the kimberlite pipes drilled during our recent summer program, which are expected throughout the fall. In the meantime we are preparing to conduct additional field work to inform our next drill program in winter and, working with our advisor and largest shareholder Dr. Chuck Fipke, we continue to prioritize numerous additional kimberlite targets."

Proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the Company's exploration and analysis work on the Kahuna Diamond Project in Nunavut and for general corporate purposes.

In connection with the closing of the placement the Company paid finders' fees of $80,490 and issued 367,761 common share purchase warrants exercisable to acquire common shares of the Company (each, a "Finders Warrant") to eligible parties who introduced subscribers to the placement. All securities issued in connection with the private placement are subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period from the date of issue, expiring on December 15, 2018.

For further information please contact Mr. Knox Henderson, Investor Relations, at 604-551-2360 or khenderson@dunnedinventures.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Dunnedin Ventures Inc.

Chris Taylor

Chief Executive Officer

Claudia Tornquist

President

About the Kahuna Project

Dunnedin Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DVI) is focused on its 100% owned, advanced-stage Kahuna Diamond Project in Nunavut which hosts a high-grade, near surface inferred diamond resource and numerous kimberlite pipe targets. The Company holds diamond interest in 1,664 km2 of mineral tenure located 26 kilometers northeast of Rankin Inlet and adjacent to Agnico Eagle's Meliadine gold mine. To define and prioritize kimberlite pipe targets Dunnedin has evaluated an extensive historic data set and recovered diamonds and indicator minerals from a series of kimberlite and till samples over three seasons of field work. Working with advisor and largest shareholder Dr. Chuck Fipke, the Company has used the same till sampling and mineral screening protocols employed during Dr. Fipke's discovery of Canada's first diamond mine at Ekati, NWT, but improved by over 20 years of additional diamond data and experience. The Kahuna Diamond Project has an Inferred Resource Estimate of 3,987,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.01 carats per tonne, totalling over 4 million carats of diamonds (+0.85 mm) (see news release dated March 31, 2015). The largest diamond recovered from the property to date is a 5.43 carat stone from the Kahuna dike which was a piece of a larger diamond that had been broken during the sample preparation process and was reconstructed as having an original size of 13.42 carats. Based in Vancouver, Dunnedin is backed by a world-renowned team of diamond experts with decades of combined experience in Arctic exploration and significant capital market strength.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Future Farm Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "Future Farm") (CSE: FFT) (OTCQX: FFRMF) is pleased to announce that it has completed its acquisition of a 50% interest in CEPG Consulting and Design Inc. ("CEPG") of St. John's, Newfoundland. CEPG will participate in the cannabis and hemp breeding program under the previously announced joint venture between Future Farm and Rahan Meristem Ltd. ("Rahan"), a world renowned global agro-biotechnology company based in Israel. The joint venture will operate out of both an existing building to be transferred to CEPG by Snellen Holdings (1994) Co. Ltd. ("SHC") and 6,000 square feet of newly constructed laboratories.

CEPG is a Canadian corporation which, until the closing of Future Farm's acquisition of 50% ownership, was wholly owned by SHC, also based in St. John's. SHC has been developing controlled environment plant growth systems since 1981.

CEPG will apply for a dealer license from Health Canada, which will enable research and development to begin on the growth of cannabis plants. Once licensed, the R&D facility will use state-of-the-art controlled environment equipment and techniques to create a research hub for the Rahan and Future Farm JV, which is expected to create valuable IP to be sold or licensed worldwide. The joint venture will develop, own and utilize Rahan's proven and proprietary technology to mass-produce elite new strains of marijuana to fit various profiles required of the medical and legal use of this highly valuable and beneficial plant.

"Now that we are 50% partners with Future Farm, we can fast-track the build-out of our lab space," comments Chris Snellen, President of CEPG. "In the meantime, we hope to outsource initial analytical and tissue culture work to Memorial University of Newfoundland and even partner with them on several R&D projects."

As part of the JV, Rahan shall be responsible for providing the know-how and technology, as well as management and operation of the breeding program.

"We are delighted to continue the path that Chris and CEPG have forged over the years in St. John's," says Bill Gildea, CEO of Future Farm. "The relationships that Chris has made will streamline the process of getting the R&D facility up and running so that we can get down to the business of developing elite strains of cannabis and hemp with our partners at Rahan."

In consideration for the acquisition, SHC received 483,871 shares of Future Farm common stock and a cash payment of CAD$71,780. In addition, Mr. Snellen received a cash payment of CAD$50,000.

On behalf of the Board,

Future FarmTechnologies Inc.

William Gildea, Chairman & CEO

About Snellen Holdings:

Snellen Holdings and CEPG (controlled environment plant growth) are founding shareholders of Spot Therapeutics Inc. CEPG designed Spot's 40,000 sq. ft. medical marijuana production facility in Fredericton New Brunswick. CEPG, then a wholly owned Subsidiary of Snellen Holdings was incorporated to be Spot's horticulture department. Shortly after Spot received their 'letter to build' approval from Health Canada, Canopy Growth Corporation bought Spot. Future Farm is now a 50% owner of CEPG.

About Future Farm Technologies Inc.

Future Farm is a Canadian company with holdings throughout North America including California, Massachusetts, Florida, Maine, Puerto Rico and Newfoundland. The Company's mission is to advance sustainable agriculture through production of wholesale and retail cannabis products, including hemp. As a leader in its field, Future Farm is committed to using only the highest quality processes and products. Towards this goal, the Company acquires or partners with licensed cannabis operators, and acquires or develops leading technologies in cannabis production, breeding, genetics, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Future Farm's scalable, indoor CEA systems utilize minimal land, water and energy resources. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generates yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

For further information, contact:

William Gildea

Director

(888)387-3761


VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

By drug class, opioids are widely used analgesic drugs for treating moderate to severe pain such as pain caused by surgery, cancer, trauma, injury, and other diseases. Owing to their high efficiency and widespread availability in the developed markets of North America and Western Europe, opioids are a high revenue generating segment in the global analgesics market. In a new research publication, leading market research firm Future Market Insights presents forecasts on revenue generated from the sales of branded and generic analgesic drugs including opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, and local anaesthetics.

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According to Future Market Insights' projections, the global analgesics market is anticipated to reach a whopping US$ 79 Bn by 2028 end, up from an estimated US$ 47.5 Bn in 2018. This is indicative of a CAGR of 5.3% during the 10 year period from 2018 to 2028. This growth is mainly contributed by the regional markets in North America and Western Europe that are projected to collectively hold a revenue share of just under 71% in 2018.

A sample of this report is available upon request @https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1306

Commercialization of Abuse Deterrent Opioid Drugs to Provide Lucrative Growth Opportunities to Pharmaceutical Majors in the Analgesics Market

Following the U.S opioid crisis, several countries across the globe are introducing regulations pertaining to the prescription of opioids. To curb the growing abuse of painkilling drugs, pharma companies are introducing different types of abuse deterrent drugs in the global market. Opioids are widely used for pain management in North America and Europe and are being increasingly used for non-medical purposes as well. Government organizations in these economies are encouraging doctors to prescribe non-opioid analgesics. This is slated to create significant growth opportunities for companies to introduce novel non-opioid drugs in these markets. The situation in the countries of Asia and Africa is different - the limited availability of both opioid and non-opioid drug delivery systems for pain management provides immense opportunities to manufacturers of analgesics for regional market penetration.

Opioid intolerance is a new phenomenon that has hit the pharmaceuticals industry in North America and Europe. Opioids are ineffective in treating certain cases of severe pain, necessitating patients to take higher doses to alleviate the pain. This eventually makes them opioid intolerant or addicted to these drugs. Commercializing opioid tolerant drugs is the most viable solution that will help reduce the side effects associated with increasing consumption of opioids. Manufacturers in the global analgesics market are expected to benefit from the numerous opportunities presented by the commercialization of opioid tolerant drugs.

Request Report TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1306

Development of Non-opioid Extended Release Drugs and Commercial Expansion via Novel Product Approvals to Fuel Revenue Growth

Key players in the global analgesics market are focused on R&D initiatives to develop non-opioid drugs using innovative drug delivery approaches to facilitate extended release of the medication, which can provide pain relief for a longer time duration. Pharmaceutical companies are also launching cost-efficient opioid drugs in Asian countries and this is expected to boost revenue growth in the global market for analgesics. Commercial expansion of products across potential growth markets in Asia and Africa is a feasible strategy being adopted by manufacturers of analgesics to expand their global market footprint.

Reimbursement for Palliative Care and Opioid Consumption Trending the Global Market

Opioids are largely used in palliative care for treating terminally ill patients. There is a growing focus on palliative care services across third world countries. This - coupled with readily available reimbursement options - is expected to boost the consumption of opioids in the coming decade. Several government initiatives to promote palliative care among patients suffering from cancer pain in low and middle income countries are promoting the adoption of opioids as an effective pain management solution.

Another trend being observed in the global market is the use of Opioids Maintenance Treatment (OMT) to treat Opioids Dependence (OD). The main objective of OMT is to reduce patients' addiction to consume illicit drugs that are used to reduce opioid dependency. While there are certain controversies associated with the commercialization of OMT (it is claimed that OMT is another form of addiction), these drugs are highly regulated and the concerned governments are implementing stringent regulations to prevent abuse of these drugs.

Preview Analysis on Analgesics Market Segmentation by Drug Class- opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), local anaesthetics and acetaminophen; Pain Type -surgical pain, cancer pain, neuropathic pain; Distribution Channel- hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, drug stores, clinics: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/analgesics-market

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Segmentation by Radioisotope - Technetium-99, Fluorine-18, Iodine-131, Leutetium-177, Yttrium-90, Gallium-68, Gallium-67, Rubidium-82, Iodine-123, Iodine-125, Indium-111; By Source - Cyclotrons, Nuclear Reactors; By Application - Oncology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neuroendocrinology, Neurology, Nephrology; By End User - Hospitals, Diagnostic Imaging Centres, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Cancer Research Institutes: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/radiopharmaceuticals-market Auto-Injectors Market Segmentation By Indication - Anaphylaxis, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Others; By Product - Prefilled Auto-Injectors and Fillable Auto-Injectors; By Distribution Channel - Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies and Drug Stores: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/auto-injectors-market



Segmentation By Indication - Anaphylaxis, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Others; By Product - Prefilled Auto-Injectors and Fillable Auto-Injectors; By Distribution Channel - Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies and Drug Stores: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/auto-injectors-market Asia Pacific Reprocessed Medical Devices Market Segmentation By Product Type - Gastroenterology Devices, Cardiology Devices, Laparoscopy Devices, Orthopaedic/Arthroscopic Devices, ENT Devices, Others; By Classification - Critical, Semi-Critical, Non-Critical; By Reprocessing Method - In-House, Third Party Assisted, Non-Compliant Reprocessors; By End User - Hospitals, Diagnostic Centres, Ambulatory Surgical Centres: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/asia-pacific-reprocessed-medical-devices-market

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PORTLAND, Oregon, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Cytogenetics Market, By Product, Technique, Application, and End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018-2025," the market was valued at $1,121 million in 2017, and is projected to reach $3,097 million in 2025, registering a CAGR of 13.5% from 2018 to 2025.

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Cytogenetics is a branch of biology, which correlates cytology and genetics. The correlation is used to study chromosomes and genes in cells and tissues. The study is conducted in relation to hereditary and variations in genes and number of chromosomes, which are used for the detection of genetic disorders as well as selection of precise therapies for treatment of these genetic disorders. Cytogenetics includes various techniques such as comparative genomic hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization, karyotyping, immunohistochemistry, and others. These techniques require the use of cytogenetic products such as testing kits, media, and reagents; probes; consumables; instruments; and software & services. These product and techniques are used for the screening of genetic disorders and designing personal medicine.

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Increase in prevalence of cancer & genetic disorders, rise in global geriatric population along with surge in prevalence of chronic diseases, and surge in awareness related to acceptance of personalized medicines across the world are the factors that drive the global cytogenetics market growth. However, higher cost of advanced cytogenetic instruments is expected to impede the market growth. Conversely, shift from fish to array-based techniques is expected to provide many opportunities during the forecast period.

The utilization rate of testing kits, media, and reagents is high, as they are the essential elements of every cytogenetic technique performed. However, the software & services segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period.

The comparative genomic hybridization segment is the largest segment in the global cytogenetics market, and is anticipated to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period. The clinical & research laboratories segment is expected to grow at a moderate CAGR in the near future. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is anticipated to record a high CAGR during the forecast period.

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Key findings of the Cytogenetics Market:

The testing kits, media, and reagents segment accounted for approximately three-fourths share of the global cytogenetics consumables market in 2017.

The comparative genomic hybridization segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2018 to 2025.

North America accounted for the majority of the share of the global market revenue in 2017.

accounted for the majority of the share of the global market revenue in 2017. Asia-Pacific is expected to provide lucrative market growth opportunities, registering a CAGR of 12.1% from 2018 to 2025.

North America was the leading revenue contributor to the global cytogenetics market in 2017, and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is attributed to the presence of majority of major key players in this region. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, owing to increase in affordability, surge in healthcare expenditure, and rise in awareness towards early screening of genetic disorders.

The key players of this market include Abbott Laboratories, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Applied Spectral Imaging, Inc., Empire Genomics, LLC., Illumina, Inc., Irvine Scientific., OPKO Health, Inc. (GeneDx.), PerkinElmer Inc., Sysmex Corporation (Oxford Gene Technology), and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Other players (these players are not profiled in the report and the same can be included on request) in the value chain include Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., and MetaSystems.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE: MYM)(CSE: MYM.CN)(MYM.CN) (the "Company" or "MYM") is pleased to announce it as engaged well-known tourism and recreational expert, Sylvain Audet, to develop the concept of the CannaCentre in Weedon, QC. The CannaCentre is associated with the Company's 1.5 million square foot medical cannabis greenhouse complex currently under construction in Weedon, Quebec. The CannaCentre will host a research centre, a training facility, an auditorium for cultural and scientific activities, a hotel, a restaurant, a medical cannabis interpretation centre and a medical clinic.

Mr. Audet will work in close collaboration with the Sherbrooke Historical Society to develop the concept of the medical cannabis museum as part of the CannaCentre. Mr. Audet is tasked with identifying the primary, indirect and complementary clientele targets, to suggest services and activities complementary to the project's infrastructure and evaluate the profitability of the overall project.

"The addition of Sylvain Audet provides the project with the expertise for a harmonious tourism and cultural development," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM. "Mr. Audet's expertise will allow the region to offer a world-class tourism product that is in line with the needs of the local population."

Mr. Audet's experience includes positions with high-end hotels and resorts, regional organizations promoting tourism and ski resorts in the Eastern Townships. Mr. Audet has more than twenty-five years-experience as a recreational tourism consultant for several companies and regional organizations in Canada. He has acquired extensive expertise in tourism brand development, financial benchmarking analysis, marketing research and business plan development in several recreational tourism fields.

Mr. Audet is currently an instructor at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) in the institution's Hospitality and Tourism Management program. Mr. Audet holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Universite Laval (Quebec City) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BAA) in Management and Tourism Intervention from UQAM. Mr. Audet is currently working on a PhD in Business Administration (DBA) at the Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Business School (Scotland).

About MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. is an innovative company focused on acquiring Health Canada licenses to produce and sell high-end medicinal cannabis supplements and topical products. MYM is a shareholder in two production projects in Quebec that are anticipated to have over 1.5 million square feet of production space. MYM is also a shareholder in two additional cannabis production projects in Australia and Colombia. The "Northern Rivers Project" in New South Wales, Australia is expected to have 1.2 million square feet of cannabis production space. In Colombia, MYM partner, Colombia Organica, currently hold a seed to sale license for low THC cannabis and are in the licensing process for the cultivation and production of high THC cannabis extracts. Plans are underway for MYM and Colombia Organica to build a cannabis production facility in the region. To ensure a strong presence and growth potential within the industry, MYM is actively looking to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the technology, nutraceuticals and CBD sectors. MYM shares trade in Canada, Germany and the USA under the following symbols: (CSE:MYM) (OTC:MYMMF) (FRA:0MY) (DEU:0MY) (MUN:0MY) (STU:0MY).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Rob Gietl, CEO

MYM Nutraceuticals Inc.

http://www.mym.ca

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

Twitter: @mymnutra

Facebook: @mymnutra

Instagram: @mymnutra

Linkedin: @mymnutra

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

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

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

Investor Relations

Terry Brown

+1-855-696-2261

terry.brown@mym.ca
Markham, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - iFabric Corp. (TSX: IFA) ("iFabric" or the "Company"), today announced its financial results for its third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2018.

"Whilst the current quarter represents a transitional quarter for iFabric with results at break even, our nine months cumulative results still reflect profitability comfortably ahead of the corresponding period in 2017," said Hylton Karon, President and CEO of iFabric. "I would like to take this opportunity of informing where iFabric is headed as a company:

"In the first instance, during the course of the third quarter, we merged the operations of both operating divisions into one operating entity. Going forward, priority in allocating resources in the form of money, employee and management involvement, will be given to projects of either division that are projected to produce the highest revenues for iFabric. At the same time we have realigned our staffing so as to provide the technical and marketing skills to handle the numerous projects currently in process.

"With regard to our Intimate Apparel business, we have commenced the phase-out of our sleepwear offerings which will result in a short term drop in apparel revenue. We will be replacing the sleepwear business with newly designed products in our core specialty bra and accessories business. In particular, we have designed a new body solution product, in respect of which a patent is pending and we will be applying for additional patents for other innovative body solutions. In my opinion, this is one of our most exciting new products and will take us from servicing a limited niche market to having mass market appeal and opportunities.

"As previously advised, our Intelligent Fabrics business has shifted focus from being a pure chemical supplier, to providing customers with finished product performance apparel and other textile products that integrate combinations of our textile technologies. The main benefit to selling finished product is the increase in the unit sale by being able to sell the finished product at a significant premium over making purely a chemical sale. The first programs for a major Canadian retailer saw its preliminary shipments commence at the end of the current quarter, and will continue for the next year as these are 12 month replenishment programs. Based on the excellent retail sell-through to date, we expect further programs to be added in the future. We are also negotiating with a number of major US retailers to provide similar programs for the US market. Whilst we will continue to sell chemicals to a group of our major customers, I believe the bulk of the revenue growth in Intelligent Fabrics will come from the supply of finished products.

"With iFabric's balance sheet currently in the strongest position in company history, we are well placed to invest into and execute on our future initiatives," concluded Hylton Karon.

Q3 2018 HIGHLIGHTS:

Revenues in Q3 2018 decreased by 33% or $1,596,741 to $3,291,659 from $4,888,400 in Q3 2017. With regard to Company's operating divisions, revenue decreased by 25% or $879,077 in its Intimate Apparel Division and revenue decreased by 53% or $728,915 in its Intelligent Fabrics Division. The decrease in Intimate Apparel revenue in Q3 2018 versus 2017 was mainly as a result of the phase out sleepwear sales ahead of the Company's strategic initiative to focus future product development into its core specialty bra and accessories business. The lower revenues in the Intelligent Fabrics segment during the third quarter of 2018 compared to 2017, was caused by a major customer moving a substantial amount of its production from one of its major mill's in Asia to an alternate set of mills in Asia. This resulted in a delay in shipping chemicals due to the time required to train and certify the new mills in the integration of the Company's products into their production. Accordingly, chemical deliveries that were scheduled for this customer in Q2 and Q3 2018 are now anticipated to take place in Q4 2018. A written commitment to purchase these chemicals has been received from the customer.

Net earnings before tax of $11,235 compared to net earnings of $512,041 in 2017, representing a decrease of $500,806. The decrease in earnings was mainly as a result of lower sales and lower gross profit contribution. This was partially offset by lower share based compensation costs. As a result of the increasing importance of US dollar denominated transactions in the operations of its two main operating divisions, these division changed their functional currency to US dollars with effect from October 1, 2017. The effect of this change, is that unrealized currency gains on translation to Canadian dollars (the presentation currency), that were previously considered as earnings are now recognized in other comprehensive earnings (see below). This change had the effect of reducing earnings by $126,748 in the current quarter and increasing comprehensive earnings by the same amount. There was no corresponding adjustment in Q3 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA of $115,623 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $955,335 in Q3 2017, a decrease of $839,712 for the reasons discussed above.

Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 47% in Q3 2018, compared to 50% in Q3 2017. The decrease in margins was mostly the result of the clearance of end of season sleepwear products at lower margins in Q3 2018 compared to Q3 2017. Gross profit in dollars was $1,536,720 in Q3 2018 compared to $2,449,749 in Q3 2017 representing a decrease of $913,029 or 37%.

The net loss attributable to iFabric's shareholders during Q3 2018 was $175,707 ($0.007 per share, basic and $0.006 diluted) compared to net earnings of $264,213 in Q3 2017 ($0.010 per share, basic and diluted). The decrease in attributable net earnings of $439,920 in Q3 2018 versus Q3 2017 is largely attributable to lower sales, lower gross profit contribution and higher effective income taxes in Q3 2018 compared to 2017.

Other comprehensive earnings, being unrealized currency gains on the translation of foreign operations, amounted to $126,748 compared to zero in Q3 2017. The total comprehensive loss amounted to $44,953 in Q3 2018 compared to comprehensive earnings of $269,154 in 2017 representing a decrease of $314,107.

Working capital (excluding a demand-term loan classified as current under IFRS) was virtually unchanged at $9,481,426 compared to $9,481,795 at the end of the previous quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Cash increased by $346,580 to $4,698,813 compared to $4,352,233 at the end of the previous quarter ended March 31, 2018.

The Company's bank operating line was unutilized as at June 30, 2018, leaving the full amount of $3,750,000 available to finance future business of the Company.

Total liabilities at the end of Q3 2018 were $3,520,326 compared to $3,474,739 at the end of the previous quarter, representing an increase of $45,587.

Shareholder Equity attributable to common shareholders was virtually unchanged at $11,346,392 compared to $11,344,477 at the end of the previous financial quarter.

NINE MONTH HIGHLIGHTS:

Revenues increased by $383,968 to $12,629,679 compared to $12,245,711 for the corresponding nine months in 2017, representing an increase of 3%. With respect to its two operating divisions, Intimate Apparel revenues increased by 14% or $1,157,805 while Intelligent Fabrics division revenues decreased by 20% or $785,087.

Gross profit for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, increased by 10% or $541,078 to $6,220,828 (49% of revenues) from $5,679,750 (46% of revenues) for the comparable nine months of 2017. The increase in gross profit percentage for the nine months was the result of a higher proportion of sales in the Intimate Apparel segment which carries higher margins than the Intelligent Fabrics segment.

The net earnings attributable to iFabric shareholders for the nine months ended June 30, 2018 was $1,145,849 ($0.044 per share basic and $0.042 per share diluted) compared to earnings of $627,159 ($0.024 per share basic and $0.023 per share diluted) in the corresponding nine months of 2017, representing an increase of $516,890. This increase was mainly as a result of higher revenues, improved margins, higher exchange gains and a decrease in share-based compensation costs.

Other comprehensive earnings, being unrealized gains on the translation of foreign operations, amounted to $305,309 compared to zero for the nine month ended June 30, 2017. Total comprehensive earnings totaled $1,454,624 at the end of Q3 2018 compared to $629,826 in 2017 representing an increase of $824,798.

Complete Financial Statements are available on www.sedar.com.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Quarter Ended June 30, Nine Months Ended June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 $ $ $ $ Revenue 3,291,659 4,888,400 12,629,679 12,245,711 Income (loss) from operations 113,976 1,000,267 2,001,669 1,515,337 Share based compensation 38,875 369,359 128,852 401,919 Adjusted EBITDA *(Note) 115,623 955,335 2,250,479 1,652,049 Net earnings (loss) before tax 11,235 512,041 1,900,713 1,007,501 Net income (loss) after tax attributable to shareholders (175,707) 264,213 1,145,849 627,159 Other comprehensive earnings (loss) 126,748 - 305,309 - Total comprehensive earnings (loss) (44,953) 269,154 1,454,624 629,826 Net income (loss) per share - basic (0.007) 0.010 0.044 0.024 Net income (loss) per share - diluted (0.006) 0.010 0.042 0.023

*Note: Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and share based compensation.

ABOUT iFABRIC CORP:

Headquartered in Markham, Ontario, iFabric Corp www.ifabriccorp.com currently has 26.0 million shares issued and outstanding.

Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Intelligent Fabric Technologies (North America) Inc. ("IFTNA") and Coconut Grove Pads Inc. ("Coconut Grove"), the Company offers a variety of products and services in both of its strategic divisions:

IFTNA is focused on proprietary chemical formulations that render fabrics, foams, plastics and numerous other surfaces intelligent, thereby improving the safety and well-being of the consumer.

Coconut Grove, operating as Coconut Grove Intimates, is a designer, manufacturer, distributor, licensor and licensee of ladies intimate apparel products, accessories and sleepwear.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Forward-looking statements provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any words such as "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the development potential of the Company's products.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements as the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors affect the Company's business, or if the Company's estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Therefore, the Company cannot provide any assurance that forward-looking statements will materialize. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason except as required by applicable securities laws.

Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information in this news release, as defined by applicable securities legislation, has been approved by management of iFabric. Such financial outlook or future oriented financial information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's reasonable expectations as to the anticipated results of its proposed business activities. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact:

Hilton Price, CFO

Tel: 647.465.6161

Email: hilton.price@rogers.com

Gary Perkins - Investor Relations

Tel: 416.882.0020

Email: garyperkins@rogers.com

Jean-Francois Dube (Quebec) - Investor Relations

Tel: 514.233.9551

Email: jfdube@mac.com

Website: www.ifabriccorp.com

Neither the TSX nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Hamilton, Bermuda, August 14, 2018

Dear Shareholders,

Under reference to our 2Q2018 report of Friday August 10, 2018, this is to advise you that a firm contract of close to 3-months have been arranged for a NAO platform supply vessel in West Africa. The supply vessel shall serve a Scandinavian owned drilling rig.

This is the first time we have secured NAO employment outside the North Sea. Going forward, we will consider employment of this nature.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.



The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the PSV market, as a result of changes in the general market conditions of the oil and natural gas industry which influence charter hire rates and vessel values, demand in platform supply vessels, our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry docking and insurance costs, governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities as well as potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, the availability of financing and refinancing, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hire and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



Contacts:

Gary J. Wolfe

Seward & Kissel LLP

New York, USA

Tel: +1 212 574 1223

Bjrn Giver, CFO

Nordic American Offshore Ltd.

Tel: +1 888 755 8391 or +47 91 35 00 91

Herbjrn Hansson, Executive Chairman

Nordic American Offshore Ltd

Tel: +1 866 805 9504 or +47 90 14 62 91

Web-site: www.nao.bm (http://www.nao.bm)

Press release (PDF) (http://hugin.info/159489/R/2210733/860761.pdf)



This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Nordic American Offshore Ltd via Globenewswire


Transaction to complement Mercer's existing investment consulting, alternatives and wealth management offerings

Mercer, a global consulting leader in advancing health, wealth and career, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC), has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the investment consulting, alternatives consulting and wealth management operations of Pavilion Financial Corporation (together "Pavilion"). Pavilion, a diversified, global investment services firm with approximately 300 employees, is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada with offices across North America, in London and in Singapore.

Pavilion isan established market leader with experienced leadership talent supporting strong consulting and research capabilities, particularly for alternative investments. In the US, Pavilion is an industry leading specialist in the defined contribution, endowment and foundation, healthcare and insurance sectors. In Canada, Pavilion has a strong presence in private wealth management.

"With the launch of innovative new solutions like Mercer Future Wise, and now with the acquisition of Pavilion, our retirement and investment offering continues to grow and become more sophisticated as we focus on providing better outcomes to a broader range of investors," says Jean-Philippe Provost, Wealth Business Leader for Mercer Canada. "This acquisition will allow our consultants and advisors to draw on industry-wide best practices and deliver optimal outcomes for our clients."

In June 2017, Pavilion was ranked 13th in worldwide assets under advisement (US$685 billion)1 and has been recognized in the past three years as a Greenwich Quality Leader? for its traditional investment consulting.2

Daniel Friedman, the President and CEO of Pavilion Financial Corporation said, "In only a few years, we have assembled one of the industry's top consulting teams, with deep expertise in specialized areas such as alternatives, not-for-profit healthcare and retirement benefit consulting, all with the objective of supporting the evolving needs of our clients. Combining our creativity and knowledge base with Mercer's global research resources will further enhance our team's ability to serve our clients across the continuum of advisory and delegated services."

As part of Mercer, Pavilion clients will have access to Mercer's industry-leading global strategic and manager research and investment capabilities, including outsourced chief investment officer and digital delivery capabilities, while retaining access to customized, strategic advice delivered by a specialist consultant.

This transaction is subject to customary conditions to closing, including regulatory and shareholder approvals, and is expected to close in Q4.

1 Source: Pensions Investments Research Center, as of June 30, 2017.

2 source: Greenwich Association's 2017 investment consultant rankings; https://www.greenwich.com/asset-management/consultants-help-institutions-prep-shift-market-environment#

About Mercer

Mercer delivers advice and technology-driven solutions that help organizations meet the health, wealth and career needs of a changing workforce. Mercer's more than 23,000 employees are based in 44 countries and the firm operates in over 130 countries. Mercer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC), the leading global professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. With nearly 65,000 colleagues and annual revenue over $14 billion, through its market-leading companies including Marsh, Guy Carpenter and Oliver Wyman, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment.

For more information, visit www.mercer.ca. Follow Mercer on Twitter @MercerCanada.

About Pavilion Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries

Founded in 2006, Pavilion Financial Corporation is an employee-owned investment services firm offering advice and execution services to institutional and other investors. Through its subsidiaries, Pavilion offers a comprehensive suite of integrated services such as non-discretionary and discretionary tradition and alternatives investment consulting and wealth management. Pavilion Advisory Group offers investment consulting, advisory services, retirement benefit consulting, and implemented or discretionary solutions to corporate and public plan sponsors (DB and DC), not-for-profit healthcare systems, higher education endowments, foundations, and family offices. Pavilion Advisory Group is a registered trademark of Pavilion Financial Corporation, used under license by Pavilion Advisory Group Inc. in the U.S. and Pavilion Advisory Group Ltd. in Canada. Pavilion Alternatives Group provides investment consulting services across alternative asset classes including private equity, private credit, real assets and hedge funds. Pavilion Alternatives Group is a registered trademark of Pavilion Financial Corporation, used under license by Pavilion Alternatives Group, LLC in the U.S., Pavilion Alternatives Group Limited in the UK, Pavilion Alternatives Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd., and Pavilion Advisory Group Ltd. in Canada.

For more information, visit www.pavilioncorp.com.Pavilion Investment House, a division of Pavilion Advisory Group Ltd., provides institutional-quality, fully integrated wealth management services to business owners, families and other investors.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005402/en/

Contacts:

Mercer

Heather Nairn

Heather.Nairn@mercer.com
PUNE, India, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "Vaccines Market by Technology (Live, Toxoid, Recombinant), Disease (Pneumococcal, Influenza, DTP, HPV, Hepatitis, Meningococcal, Rotavirus, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Dengue), Route (IM/SC, Oral), Patient (Pediatric, Adult), Type - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to reach USD 50.42 billion by 2023 from USD 36.45 billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 6.7%.

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Browse 93 market data Tables and 46 Figures spread through 184 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Vaccines Market"

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vaccine-technologies-market-1155.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report

The growth of the market is attributed to the rising prevalence of diseases, increasing government and nongovernment funding for vaccine development, and increasing companies' initiatives to enhance R&D.

Conjugate vaccines to dominate the market in 2018

Based on technology, the Vaccines Market is segmented into conjugate vaccines, inactivated and subunit vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, recombinant vaccines, and toxoid vaccines. In 2018, the conjugate segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Vaccines Market. The growth in this market is mainly driven by increasing investments by the government of developing countries and rising prevalence of infectious diseases.

Based on disease indication, the meningococcal segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

By disease indication, the Vaccines Market is segmented into pneumococcal disease, influenza, DTP, hepatitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), rotavirus, meningococcal disease, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), varicella, polio, herpes zoster, dengue, and other disease indications. The meningococcal segment is expected to register the highest rate during the forecast period. The growth in this segment can primarily be attributed to the increasing government investments in meningococcal vaccination programs and high prevalence of meningococcal disease.

Ask for PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=1155

North America to dominate the Vaccines Market

In 2018, North America is expected to dominate the market. The large share of this geographical segment is attributed to factors such as increasing investments by government organizations and companies to promote immunization as well as develop new vaccines. Europe is expected to hold the second largest share of this market. Factors such as availability of funding and venture capital investments for the development of new vaccines and increasing government initiatives are expected to drive market growth in this region.

The Vaccines Market is highly competitive with the presence of several small and big players. Some of the players in the Vaccines Market are GlaxoSmithKline plc (UK), Pfizer, Inc. (US), Merck & Co., Inc. (US), Sanofi Pasteur SA (France), CSL Limited (Australia), Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. (US), Johnson & Johnson (US), MedImmune, LLC (US), Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan), Serum Institute of India (India), Bavarian Nordic (Denmark), Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (Japan), and Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (Japan).

Know more about the Vaccines Market:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vaccine-technologies-market-1155.html https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vaccine-technologies-market-1155.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 7500 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.

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Hercules at North Carolina kill pen, April 29,2017, hours away from being transported to Mexico for slaughter.

Scout Bendickson and Jagger were in the ribbons at the Gasparilla Charity Horse Show in March.The event marked the debut of Selah East Stables and the return to the show ring for Jagger, a former Amish buggy horse saved by Grune Heidi Farm Rescue.

Erika Gilbert, founder of Grune Heidi Farm Rescue.

Scout Bendickson and Sheila Steis, founder of Selah East Stables, celebrate a first-place win with Hercules, a slaughter-bound saddlebred the Bendickson family adopted in March.

Riding instructor Sheila Steis held her breath as 10-year-old Scout Bendickson rode Hercules into the Odessa arena north of Tampa.Rain pelted the covered show ring, surrounded by a sea of umbrellas, flapping vendor tents and the chatter of excited spectators. It was the worst possible scenario for an untried gelding to make his debut.The four other entries in the children's Hunter Pleasure class were seasoned show horses.But Hercules had never seen a show ring. He had no credentials and, until recently, he didn't even have a name.A year ago, he was simply Hip #83, a half-starved American Saddlebred in a North Carolina kill pen, within hours of being shipped to slaughter in Mexico.But on this Sunday in May, Hercules reclaimed his birthright as he and Scout trotted away with the blue ribbon."We were over the moon with their performance," says Steis.The young instructor/trainer is pinning the future of her new Lutz riding academy on a unique partnership with Erika Gilbert, who has been rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming discarded saddlebreds -- mostly former Amish buggy horses -- for more than 20 years at her Grune Heidi Farm in Lakeland."It's been quite a leap of faith," says Steis, who has made Grune Heidi's rescues the foundation of her child-centered program at Selah East Stables The academy opened its doors on March 1. That month, two other Grune Heidi rescues made their Selah East debut at the Gasparilla Charity Horse Show -- another leap of faith rewarded with more first-time ribbons for her stable of Amish rescues."They could have been a disaster," Steis says. "They could have been excused from the ring."In addition to Hercules, who was adopted from Grune Heidi by the Bendickson family in December and is boarded with Scout's instructor at Selah East, there is Jagger, a former show horse that somehow landed in Amish country, pulling a buggy. Gilbert out-bid a kill buyer for him at Pennsylvania's New Holland auction.Despite his obvious show training and experience, Jagger will never be able to compete in the "A" circuit, which requires breed registration papers.Most horses that enter the slaughter pipeline are stripped of their identity and saddlebreds born before 2003 when the registry began requiring DNA samples, are unlikely to recover their birthright.Lincoln, another Amish road warrior that Gilbert plucked from a Pennsylvania kill pen, also has found a place in the Selah East lesson program as a trusted beginners' mount.Hercules is the only one of the three whose identity has been discovered. A DNA match revealed that the plucky little chestnut gelding was foaled in 2003 at a saddlebred farm in Georgia, where he was registered as "Without Worry."The horses' road from impending slaughter to show ring was paved with the goodwill of Grune Heidi's small but committed cadre of "Saddlebred Saviors" who pitch in to raise some $2,000 in bail, transport and quarantine fees for each of the lucky few who make it to the rescue.Gilbert grew up in Pennsylvania Amish country; her family began saving discarded buggy horses at the local auction while she was still in grade school.She continued the tradition in 1996 when she moved to Florida and bought her small Lakeland farm. The adoption fee she charged would go directly to the rescue of another horse and her motto became: Adopt one horse and save two lives.In 2014 Grune Heidi Farm Rescue obtained an IRS 501(c)3 nonprofit status and has earned a Top-Rated badge from Great Nonprofits four years running. The 501(c)3 has opened the door to tax-deductible donations, which help with the expense of acquiring the rescues and bringing them to Florida.Still, much of the cost of rehabilitating them once they arrive comes out of Gilbert's paycheck from the chemical company, Arrmaz, Inc. in Mulberry, where she has worked as a full-time billing clerk for two decades."My boss is great, very supportive," says Gilbert.The feed bill alone -- for New Mexico alfalfa hay, premium feed, and supplements -- runs more than $500 per week for the half dozen or so rescues in residence at any given time."Her feeding program is the best in the equestrian world that I know of," says Steis, who grew up riding and training Lippizans her family once raised. "She's an expert at what she does."The result is #notyouraveragerescuehorse The remarkable transformation from gaunt bodies and defeated psyches to glossy, turbo-charged equines blooming with good health and renewed purpose is a legend among the Saddlebred Saviors who follow each horse's progress on Grune Heidi's Facebook page Many rescues flounder under the emotional and financial burden of tending to the relentless tide of abused, neglected and unwanted animals they feel compelled to take in.Gilbert has stayed afloat all these years by refusing to take on more than she can handle, her steely resolve forcing her to make heartbreaking choices every day as the kill pens fill with horses she can't afford to save."A long time ago, I made a promise to my dad and to myself that I'd never become a rescue that needs to be rescued," she says.Those she can't save she shares on social media, urging people to contribute to other rescues that might be trying to raise bail for a road warrior about to ship to slaughter.Meantime, each horse adopted from Grune Heidi -- about three dozen a year -- has received a riding evaluation, re-training, vet check, vaccinations, dental work and farrier trims. When they leave for their new homes, they are bathed, clipped, polished and presented as if they are about to enter a show ring -- even if they are destined for a life of semi-retirement riding Florida's trails.While saddlebreds are somewhat unfamiliar outside of show circles in this quarter horse-centric state, visitors to Grune Heidi discover the breed is extraordinarily smart, versatile and family friendly."They love the littles," says Gilbert.Many of the rescued Amish road warriors find homes with families looking for a pleasure horse for themselves or their children.Rhonda Eyring was looking to recapture the bond she shared with horses from the age of 5 through young adulthood, "until life got in the way."Now 64 and a teacher of design and architecture at Pinellas Technical College in Clearwater. Eyring recently adopted Shade, another Amish "buggy boy" Gilbert rescued from a Pennsylvania kill pen.Eyring is back in the saddle again and visits Shade every day where he is stabled."I feel complete," she says.To find more information, including how you can donate to the cause, visit the Grune Heidi Farm website. Writer Jan Hollingsworth lives in north Florida with eight horses. Two are former Amish road warriors.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC Pink: EQTRF), ("Altamira" or the "Company") announces that it proposes to raise up to $850,000 through a non-brokered private placement of up to 8,500,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.20 per warrant share for a period of five years from the issue date.

All the securities will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing. The private placement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Altamira intends to use the net proceeds for its exploration program on the Company's mineral properties in Brazil, and for general working capital purposes.

About Altamira Gold Corp.

The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits within western central Brazil. The Company holds 12 projects comprising approximately 200,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project has an NI 43-101 resources of 8.64Mt @ 0.78 g/t Au (for 214,000oz) in the Indicated Resource category and 9.53Mt @ 0.66 g/t Au (for 204,000oz) in the Inferred Resource category and an additional 1.37Mt @ 1.61 g/t Au in oxides (for 79,000oz in saprolite) in the Inferred Resource category (Gustavson Associates, 2016).

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

ALTAMIRA GOLD CORP.

"Michael Bennett"

Michael Bennett

President & CEO

Tel: 604-676-5660

Toll-Free: 1-833-606-6271

info@altamiragold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor it Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES NOR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES


Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. (TSX: XTG) (OTCQB: XTGRF) ("Xtra- Gold" or the "Company") announces that it has applied to the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") to extend the expiry date of 1,250,000 common share purchase warrants (the "2016 Warrants") by eighteen (18) months to February 25, 2020. The 2016 Warrants are currently due to expire on August 25, 2018.

The 2016 Warrants were originally issued pursuant to a non-brokered private placement closed on May 25, 2016. Each 2016 Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company at an exercise price of $0.50 per common share until August 25, 2018. None of the 2016 Warrants issued under the private placement have been exercised to date, and none of these warrants are held, directly or indirectly, by any insiders of the Company.

The amendments to the 2016 Warrants are subject to approval of the Exchange. The effective date of the amendment will be on or after August 28, 2018.

About Xtra-Gold Resources Corp.

Xtra-Gold is a gold exploration company with a significant land position in the Kibi greenstone belt ("Kibi Gold Belt") located in Ghana, West Africa. Our main assets comprise of 5 mining leases totaling 55,905 acres.

Forward-Looking Statements

The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of the Company's mineral properties, and the Company's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Contact Information

For further information please contact:

James Longshore

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 416-628-2881

E-mail: info@xtragold.com

Website: www.xtragold.com

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES
The Chinese PV manufacturer has proved to the European Commission that it does not use products from China at its Malaysian plant. Therefore, the commission has exempted these products from the applicable minimum import price regime.The European Commission has excluded the products of Longi Kuching SDN.BHD from the applicable minimum import price regulation. These are measures imposed retroactively by Brussels as part of an anti-circumvention procedure started in February 2016. This was intended to prevent Chinese producers from circumventing the minimum price undertaking by importing their goods ...

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.
Collaboration will harness AI technology to address an aging-related target

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Insilico Medicine, and Juvenescence Ltd announced today that they have formed Napa Therapeutics, Ltd to develop drugs against a novel aging-related target. The Buck Institute is one of the leading research centers in the world focused solely on research on aging and the elimination of age-related disease. Insilico Medicine is an AI company focused on a range of verticals devoted to aging. Insilico Medicine stands to earn more than $100M in milestone payments should the program be successful. Juvenescence is a company focused on developing drugs to modify aging and the diseases of aging.

Napa Therapeutics is based on groundbreaking research in NAD metabolism conducted in the lab of Eric Verdin, MD, President and CEO of the Buck Institute. The Verdin lab will collaborate with Napa, using Insilico's drug development engine to speed the discovery of new compounds. "This is a unique opportunity to use cutting-edge AI to accelerate drug discovery," said Dr. Verdin. "The Buck is excited to join forces with Insilico and Juvenescence as we work to eliminate the threat of age-related disease for this and future generations."

"I am most excited by this model and the ability to combine the quality science of the Buck Institute with the remarkable deep learning engine at Insilico Medicine. To me this is another big step in the evolving process of using AI with HI (human intelligence) to extract the best of both systems," said Gregory Bailey, MD, CEO of Juvenescence. "Napa Therapeutics lets Juvenescence deepen our collaboration with the Buck Institute and with Insilico Medicine. We hope to shorten the time required to identify molecules that can be brought to the clinic and most importantly help patients."

"We are very happy to partner with the Buck Institute and Juvenescence around a very promising set of targets in a pathway overlooked by the pharmaceutical industry. Aging research is among the most altruistic causes that will improve and extend the lives of everyone on the planet and reduce the pain and suffering associated with the age-associated diseases. However, in order to scale, our efforts must become sustainable and provide reasonable returns to investors. If successful, Insilico Medicine alone stands to earn in excess of $100 million in milestone payment from this deal", said Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine.

About Napa Therapeutics. Ltd

Napa Therapeutics, Ltd. is a biotechnology company focused on a novel target linked to one of the fundamental processes of aging. A privately held British Virgin Islands company with an office in the Isle of Man, Napa is developing small molecule drugs to address this target.

About the Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Our success will ultimately change healthcare. At the Buck, we aim to end the threat of age-related diseases for this and future generations by bringing together the most capable and passionate scientists from a broad range of disciplines to identify and impede the ways in which we age. An independent, nonprofit institution, our goal is to increase human health span, or the healthy years of life. Globally recognized as the pioneer and leader in efforts to target aging, the number one risk factor for serious diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes, the Buck wants to help people live better longer. Learn more at: https://buckinstitute.org

About Juvenescence, Ltd.

Juvenescence Limited is a company focused on developing therapies and drugs to increase human longevity and complementary investments in related sectors. It was founded in 2017. The Juvenescence team are highly experienced entrepreneurs and drug developers focused on life science and commercial drug development. Juvenescence creates new ventures and invests time and money directly in both start-up and in conjunction with established longevity related companies offering operational support.

Juvenescence believes that advances in science have made real the possibility of slowing, halting or potentially reversing some elements of ageing and is assembling a pipeline of therapeutic agents through joint ventures.

About Insilico Medicine, Inc.

Insilico Medicine is an artificial intelligence company with R&D offices and resources in the US, Belgium, Russia, the UK, Taiwan and Korea, sourced through hackathons and competitions. The company and its scientists are dedicated to extending human productive longevity and transforming every step of the drug discovery and drug development process through excellence in biomarker discovery, drug development, digital medicine and aging research.

Insilico pioneered the applications of the generative adversarial networks (GANs) and reinforcement learning for generation of novel molecular structures for diseases with a known ligand and with no known targets. In addition to working collaborations with large pharmaceutical companies, the company is pursuing internal drug discovery programs in cancer, dermatological diseases, fibrosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, diabetes, sarcopenia, and aging. Through a partnership with LifeExtension.com the company launched a range of nutraceutical products, compounded using advanced bioinformatics and deep learning techniques. It also provides a range of consumer-facing applications, including Young.AI.

In 2017, NVIDIA selected Insilico Medicine as one of the Top 5 AI companies for potential in social impact. In 2018, the company was named one of the global top 100 AI companies by CB Insights. In 2018 it received the Frost Sullivan 2018 North American Artificial Intelligence for Aging Research and Drug Development Award accompanied by industry brief. Brief company video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l62jlwgL3v8.

http://www.insilico.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005286/en/

Contacts:

Juvenescence

Alexander Pickett

alex@juvenescence.ltd

+1 617 652 0124

or

Insilico Medicine, Inc.

Qingsong Zhu, PhD

Phone: 443 451 7212

Email: zhu@insilico.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - Contact Gold Corp. (TSXV: C) (the "Company" or "Contact Gold") is pleased to announce drill results from an additional 12 holes, totaling 2,500 metres from its 2018 drill program at the Pony Creek gold property ("Pony Creek"), located in Elko County, Nevada, adjacent to Gold Standard Ventures' Railroad-Pinion Project.

Drill Highlights:

0.42 g/t A u over 33.53 metres oxide from 4.57 metres in discovery hole PC18-018 at West Target



- Including 1.11 g/t Au over 4.5 metres

0.61 g/t Au over 21.34 metres oxide from 103.63 metres in drill hole PC18-012 at Bowl Zone

0.18 g/t Au over 25.91 metres oxide from surface in drill hole PC18-07 at Bowl Zone

These drill holes were designed to begin testing the 2 km long gold-in-soil and CSAMT anomalies ("West Target"), which were generated through the 2017 exploration program and to build upon areas of open gold mineralization at the Bowl Zone. Drilling by previous operators in the area of the West Target failed to reach the structural control for gold mineralization identified by Contact Gold. The West Target is 1 kilometre north of the property's Bowl Zone and is interpreted to be located along the same major north-south structure associated with oxide gold mineralization at the Bowl Zone, and potentially Gold Standard Ventures' Jasperoid Wash zone.

"The team is very excited with this genuine new discovery of gold at Pony Creek. The West Target was generated through first-principles exploration methods, including geology, geochemistry and geophysics completed in 2017. Intersecting oxidized, near surface gold mineralization in the first hole into a fresh target is what every exploration geologist dreams of and it happens very rarely in a mature area like the Carlin trend. The West Target is over 2 km long and we intend to aggressively drill test both the west and east flanks of it in the coming months," stated Vance Spalding, VP Exploration of Contact Gold.

Drilling through 2018 is designed to expand mineralization at the Bowl Zone, and to test new large-scale targets, including the North Zone and the West, Moleen, and Elliot Dome targets, generated by Contact Gold since acquiring the property one year ago. The Company has completed 29 holes in 2018, totaling over 6,000m of 16,000 planned metres of drilling. The drill program forms part of a comprehensive property wide exploration program comprising over 4,000 soil samples and geological mapping to support additional drill target generation. Assays are pending for 12 holes, with drilling scheduled to run through November 2018.

Key Points:

Oxide gold mineralization has been discovered by Contact Gold in the first holes drilled by the Company at the West Target within newly recognized Pennsylvanian-Permian host rock calcareous sandstones and conglomerates - interpreted to be same host rocks as Gold Standard's nearby North Dark Star deposit

Contact Gold continues to focus on discovering new zones of oxide gold mineralization like the West Target, and expanding known mineralization at the Bowl and North Zones

The West Target discovery demonstrates the potential of Pony Creek to produce additional gold discoveries, and validates the systematic targeting methodology employed by Contact Gold

10,000 meters of additional drilling will be completed before year end, including 12 holes dedicated to follow-up the West Target







http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/newsWest-Target-August2018.pdf For a detailed map of the West Target drill collar locations, please click:http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/newsWest-Target-August2018.pdf For a detailed map of the Bowl Zone drill collar locations, please click:

http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/news/Bowl-Zone-August2018.pdf For a cross section showing drill hole PC18-018 please click:

http://www.contactgold.com/resources/news/PC18-018-Section.pdf

Table of 2018 Pony Creek Drill Results: Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Au g/t Interval (m) Zone/Target PC18-06 15.24 18.29 0.24 3.05 Bowl 24.38 27.43 0.15 3.05

38.1 44.2 0.16 6.10

67.06 80.77 0.15 13.72

112.78 120.4 0.17 7.62

129.54 164.59 0.35 35.05

including 155.45 164.59 0.29 9.14

185.93 201.17 0.20 15.24

PC18-07 0 25.91 0.18 25.91 Bowl 25.91 38.1 0.16 12.19

59.44 62.48 0.14 3.05

132.59 135.64 0.24 3.05

149.35 156.97 0.31 7.62

163.07 166.12 0.19 3.05

173.74 176.79 0.31 3.05

PC18-08 161.55 170.69 0.19 9.14 Bowl 184.41 208.79 0.21 24.48

301.76 306.33 0.25 4.57

PC18-09 30.48 39.62 0.29 9.14 Bowl PC18-10 39.62 42.67 0.19 3.05 Bowl 51.82 56.39 0.21 4.57

62.48 70.1 0.19 7.62

PC18-12 103.63 124.97 0.61 21.34 Bowl 144.78 147.83 0.18 3.05

163.07 166.12 0.17 3.05

PC18-15 1.52 4.57 0.21 3.05 West PC18-17 13.72 25.91 0.18 12.19 West 91.44 94.49 0.18 3.05

106.68 111.25 0.34 4.57

PC18-18 4.57 38.1 0.42 33.53 West including 15.24 19.81 1.10 4.50

Pony Creek is an early stage exploration property and does not contain any mineral resource estimates as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource estimate at Pony Creek. Additional information about Pony Creek is summarized in a technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Pony Creek Gold Project, Elko County, Nevada, USA" dated April 18, 2017, and effective March 15, 2017), prepared by Michael M. Gustin, C.P.G. of Mine Development Associates of Reno, Nevada (the "Technical Report"), which can be viewed under Contact Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Vance Spalding, CPG, VP Exploration, Contact Gold, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Drill intercepts were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 0.14 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of material averaging less than 0.14 ppm gold for low grade intervals and higher grade intervals were calculated using a minimum thickness of 3.05 metres averaging 1.00 ppm gold and allowing inclusion of up to 4.57 metres of assays averaging less than 1.00 ppm gold. Gravimetric assays are used for all Fire Assays above 4.00 ppm gold. True width of drilled mineralization is unknown, but owing to the apparent flat lying nature of mineralization, is estimated to generally be at least 70% of drilled thickness Quality Assurance / Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference standards, blanks, and duplicates. All failures are followed up and resolved whenever possible with additional investigation whenever such an event occurs. Multi element geochemical assays are completed on composites using the MEMS 61 method. All assays are completed at ALS Chemex; an ISO 17025:2005 accredited lab. Check assays are completed at a second, reputable assay lab after the program is complete. About Contact Gold Corp. Contact Gold is a gold exploration company focused on leveraging its properties, people, technology and capital to produce district scale gold discoveries in Nevada. Contact Gold's extensive land holdings are on the prolific Carlin, Independence and Northern Nevada Rift gold trends which host numerous gold deposits and mines. Contact Gold's land position comprises 275 km2 of target rich mineral tenure hosting numerous known gold occurrences, ranging from early- to advanced-exploration and resource definition stage. Additional information about the Company is available at www.contactgold.com. For more information, please contact: +1 (604) 416-0576

John Glanville - Director Investor Relations

Chris Pennimpede - Corporate Development

E-mail: info@ContactGold.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to the anticipated exploration activities of the Company on the Pony Creek property. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

For a map of the Pony Creek target areas and drill collar locations, please click:http://www.contactgold.com/_resources/news/Pony-Creek-Plan-Map.pdf
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

- Enhanced features to serve pilgrims and keep them connected to loved ones

- Smartphone app complements newspaper's annual Hajj news coverage

Arab News, the Middle East's leading English-language daily, today announces the 2018 version of its smartphone "Hajj App" for use during the upcoming annual Muslim pilgrimage season.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/730487/Arab_News_Logo.jpg )



The free app - available to download on iOS and Android devices via the App Store and Google Play - will include new and improved features, including live news updates and the signature "Hajj tracker," which enables pilgrims to connect with their loved ones back home.

Arab News is also proud to announce that once again the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) will be sponsoring the Hajj App. The partnership with MWL, which began last year, is part of the international Muslim body's global outreach efforts serving all Muslims.

The latest release of the app features several functions for use during the Hajj season, including safety features such as an emergency call number and list of embassies and important service providers during Hajj. New features include a digital Qibla compass, a real-time currency converter and Qur'an prayer audio files.

The app will also feature improvements to the hugely useful "pilgrim tracker" function. The feature, which is optional, allows users who activate the function to share their location and follow loved ones in real time, around the clock.

Mohammed Al-Sulami, Arab News' Jeddah bureau chief and head of the paper's Hajj coverage team, thanked MWL for its endorsement of the app and said that the aim of this corporate social responsibility initiative is to provide a useful and free service for pilgrims on this unique holy journey.

"Our mission is to make Arab News more global and more digital, and the Hajj App - thanks to the generous support from the MWL - does just that by providing a live news service and helpful, easy-to-use functions that every pilgrim can benefit from during Hajj," he said.

The Muslim World League commended the newspaper's initiative of using technology in such an innovative and useful way for the public good.

"We are happy to renew our partnership with Arab News and our support of this app, which reinforces our position as an umbrella body seeking to serve Muslims worldwide," the MWL said in a statement.

Arab News is part of the regional publishing giant Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG). It has been the English newspaper of record for Saudi Arabia and the region for over 40 years.

More details about the app can be found at http://www.arabnews.com/hajjapp

It can be downloaded via:

Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hajj-app-by-arab-news/id1271217604?mt=8

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.srpc.arabnews_hajguide&hl=en

ABOUT ARAB NEWS

Established in 1975, Arab News is the Middle East's leading English-language daily. As "The Voice of a Changing Region," the newspaper is renowned for providing the Arab perspective on international affairs via its network of reporters, opinion writers and analysts. It is considered the newspaper of record on major Arab affairs for a large number of global media outlets, governments and academic institutions. The newspaper is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a network on international bureaus. It can be read online at http://www.arabnews.com.
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged two firms and 18 individuals in a scheme to improperly divert new issue municipal bonds to broker-dealers at the expense of retail investors. According to the SEC's complaint, the defendants - known in the industry as "flippers" - purchased new issue municipal bonds, often by posing as retail investors to gain priority in bond allocations. The defendants then "flipped" the bonds to broker-dealers for a fee. The SEC also charged a municipal underwriter for accepting kickbacks from one of the flippers.

The SEC alleges that from at least 2009 to 2016, Core Performance Management LLC, RMR Asset Management Co., their principals, and certain of their associates, misrepresented their identities to gain priority in new issue municipal bond allocations. Municipal issuers typically require underwriters to give retail investor orders the highest priority when allocating new issue bonds, particularly retail investors within the municipal issuer's jurisdiction. According to the SEC's complaint, these defendants used fictitious business names, falsely linked their orders to ZIP codes within the issuer's jurisdiction, and split orders among dozens of accounts. After acquiring the bonds, the SEC alleges that the defendants quickly resold them to broker-dealers, typically for a fixed, pre-arranged commission, and often sought to hide the flipping activity from issuers and underwriters by manipulating sales tickets.

"More than a dozen of the individuals charged today are alleged to have engaged in plainly deceptive conduct," said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the Enforcement Division. "We are committed to investigating and charging individuals, especially where, as here, the alleged misconduct by many of these industry professionals harmed retail investors."

"By improperly placing retail orders on behalf of broker-dealers, we allege the flippers prevented true retail investors from receiving priority in municipal bond offerings," said LeeAnn G. Gaunt, Chief of the Division of Enforcement's Public Finance Abuse Unit. "We are continuing our investigation to determine whether other market professionals had a role in these improper practices."

Core Performance and managing director James P. Scherr, RMR and its president, Ralph Riccardi, and 13 of their associates settled the SEC's charges without admitting or denying the allegations, agreeing to injunctions, to return allegedly ill-gotten gains with interest, pay civil penalties, be subject to industry bars or suspensions, and to cooperate with the SEC's ongoing investigation. The settlements are subject to court approval. The SEC's charges against RMR associates Richard C. Gounaud, Jocelyn M. Murphy, and Michael S. Murphy will be litigated in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

In a related action, the SEC instituted settled proceedings against Charles Kerry Morris, the former head of municipal underwriting at broker-dealer NW Capital Markets Inc. The SEC found that Morris took kickbacks from Scherr and engaged in a parking scheme in which Morris allocated new issue bonds to Scherr with the understanding that Morris would repurchase them. As a result of this trading, the SEC found that Morris and NW Capital caused Scherr and Core Performance's improper unregistered broker activity. The SEC found that Morris's supervisor, James A. Fagan, failed reasonably to supervise Morris's activities.

Morris, NW Capital, and Fagan agreed to settle the charges without admitting or denying the SEC's findings. Morris agreed to pay a total of $254,009 and to consent to an industry bar. NW Capital agreed to be censured and pay a total of $87,065 and Fagan agreed to pay a $10,000 penalty and to consent to a six-month supervisory suspension.

The investigation, which is continuing, is being conducted by the Division of Enforcement's Public Finance Abuse Unit, including Joseph Chimienti, Laura Cunningham, Warren Greth, Cori Shepherd, and Jonathan Wilcox, with assistance from Deputy Unit Chief Mark Zehner and litigation counsel Nicholas Pilgrim. Kevin Guerrero and Ivonia Slade supervised the investigation. Mr. Pilgrim will lead the litigation against Gounaud, Jocelyn Murphy, and Michael Murphy.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - Opawica Explorations Inc. (TSXV: OPW) (the "Company") announces that, further to its news releases of June 29 and August 10, 2018, the Company has closed a private placement to raise gross proceeds of $150,000 (the "Offering") through the sale of 3,000,000 units priced at $0.05 (the "Units"). Each Unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant exercisable into one further common share at a price of $0.06 for a term of two years.

All securities issued in the private placement are subject to a hold period expiring December 15, 2018.

The proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital. A Pro Group Member purchased 300,000 Units. No finder's fees were paid on the Offering.

ABOUT OPAWICA EXPLORATIONS INC.

Opawica Explorations Inc. is a junior resource company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of gold and base metal mineral properties in Canada. The Company owns 100% interest subject to certain royalties in the Bazooka gold property located in the Beauchastel Township approximately seven kilometres southwest of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The Bazooka property comprises seven contiguous kilometres of strike length along the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt on the Cadillac Larder Lake Break. The eastern border of the Bazooka gold property adjoins Yorbeau Resources Inc.'s Rouyn Property and the western border adjoins Monarques Gold Corporation's Wasamac gold property (2,882,000 oz Au resources per Monarques NI 43-101 technical report dated October 25, 2017). The Company also holds 100% interest subject to certain royalties in the McWatters gold property in the Rouyn-Noranda area and the Arrowhead gold property in the Joannes Township, Quebec.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.opawica.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Lofthouse

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Opawica Explorations Inc.

Telephone: 604-681-3170

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2018) - Cardero Resource Corp. (TSXV: CDU) (FSE: CR5) ("Cardero" or the "Company") reports that it has entered into amending agreements dated September 14, 2017, January 8, 2018 and July 31, 2018 (the "Amending Agreements"), in relation to the option agreement dated August 27, 2015 (the "Option Agreement"), as amended between the Company and Redstone Resources Corporation ("Redstone"). Pursuant to the Option Agreement, the Company was granted the right to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Zonia Copper-Oxide deposit in consideration of, among other things, the aggregate cash payment of US$2,225,000 in cash and issuance of an aggregate of 16,500,000 common shares over a three-year period.

Pursuant to the Amending Agreements, Redstone has agreed to certain extensions of the timing of cash payments in consideration of, among other things, amendments to the timing of share issuances, the payment of an additional $200,000 and the payment by Cardero of interest in relation to USD1,123,250 remaining to be paid in cash pursuant to the Option Agreement.

The new schedule of timing of payments pursuant to the Option Agreement is as follows:

Date Cash to Redstone

(USD$) Cardero

Shares Within 2 business days of execution of the Letter Agreement ("Exclusivity Fee") $25,000 (Paid) - On or before August 30, 2015, payable to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as a Maintenance Fee for certain unpatented lode claims $26,350 (Paid) - On the Effective Date $150,000 (Paid) 1,000,000 (issued) January 31, 2016 $75,000 (Paid) 1,500,000 (issued) July 31, 2016 $75,000 (Paid) - January 31, 2017 $450,000 (Paid) 2,500,000 (issued) July 31, 2017 0 2,500,000 (issued) January 8, 2018 $500,000 (Paid) 4,000,000 (issued) August 17, 2018 $50,000 - October 31, 2018 $1,073,650 5,000,000

$2,425,000 16,500,000

With the exception of the Exclusivity Fee, the cash payments and share issuances set out in the above schedule are not committed, but Cardero must make the cash payments and issue the Cardero Shares in accordance with the schedule above in order to maintain the Option, subject to Force Majeure.

Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, Cardero has agreed to accrue interest on the outstanding balance owing to Redstone from October 1st, 2017 until the final payment is made October 31st 2018. Such interest will be paid through the issuance of shares in the amount of 100,000 shares from October 1st until January 8th, 2018 and 65,000 from January 9th 2018 until the $50,000 payment is made August 17th, 2018 and 80,000 from August 18th, 2018 until the final payment is made October 31st, 2018 for each full month and or each portion of the month the payment is outstanding the shares issued will be calculated based on the number of days of the month it is outstanding divided by the number of days in the month.

ABOUT CARDERO RESOURCE CORP.

Cardero Resource Corp., headquartered in Vancouver, is a resource company focussed on building a minerals exploration and development company. Cardero has the exclusive option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Zonia Copper Oxide Project, located in Arizona. Zonia is a near-surface copper-oxide resource and a brownfields site having already been mined in the late 1960s and '70s.

The entire resource (NI 43-101 as amended and dated October, 2017), as currently defined, is located on private land and Cardero has now completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment which has been announced in a news release NR 18-04 dated March 6, 2018.

In September 2016, Cardero completed staking a total of 57 claims, the Silver Queen block, covering 424.5 hectares (1,049 acres) adjacent to the southeast edge of Zonia. The Company has plans for exploration work on the Silver Queen claims which will include geological mapping, soil sampling and geophysics.

The Company also has two option agreements covering five nickel-cobalt properties in south eastern British Columbia the, Kootenay Project totalling approximately 8,000 hectares. The Project is within the prospective Lardeau Group, which hosts numerous volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, including the past-producing Goldstream mine located north of Revelstoke.

Detailed information is available at the Company's web site at www.cardero.com.

The common shares of the Company are currently listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol CDU), the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol CR5) and OTCBB (symbol CDYCF). For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's web site (www.cardero.com), Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

CARDERO RESOURCE CORP.

"Stuart R. Ross" (signed)

Stuart R. Ross, CEO and President

Contact Information:

Stuart Ross or Marla Ritchie

604 408 7488

General Contact:

Email: info@cardero.com

Toll Free: 1-888-770-7488

Tel: 604 408-7488

Fax: 604 408-7499

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Forward Looking Information: This news release includes certain information that may be deemed "forward looking information". Forward-looking information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. All information in this release, other than information of historical facts, including, without limitation, the potential of Zonia general future plans and objectives for the Zonia project, the completion of the Plan and receipt of shareholder and regulatory approval therefore, the likelihood of receipt of value from the Retained Right, the availability of financing to the Company and the Company's plan in relation to its listing review are forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such expectations are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information include changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, delays in receiving approvals, and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of our business, investors should review our continuous disclosure filings which are available at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States.

Cautionary Note to US Investors Regarding References to Resources and Reserves

National Instrument 43 101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource estimates contained in or incorporated by reference in this press release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on November 14, 2004 (the "CIM Standards") as they may be amended from time to time by the CIM.

United States shareholders are cautioned that the requirements and terminology of NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards differ significantly from the requirements and terminology of the SEC set forth in the SEC's Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7"). Accordingly, the Company's disclosures regarding mineralization may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by companies subject to SEC Industry Guide 7. Without limiting the foregoing, while the terms "mineral resources", "inferred mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "measured mineral resources" are recognized and required by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards, they are not recognized by the SEC and are not permitted to be used in documents filed with the SEC by companies subject to SEC Industry Guide 7. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and US investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource will ever be converted into reserves. Further, inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred resources will ever be upgraded to a higher resource category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility study, except in rare cases. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant "reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit amounts. The term "contained ounces" is not permitted under the rules of SEC Industry Guide 7. In addition, the NI 43-101 and CIM Standards definition of a "reserve" differs from the definition in SEC Industry Guide 7. In SEC Industry Guide 7, a mineral reserve is defined as a part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time the mineral reserve determination is made, and a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis of designated reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority.
Ooltewah Farmers Market will hold the fourth annual Melon Fest on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 3-6 p.m.

The market, now in its sixth season, hosts this annual event celebrating locally-grown melons and watermelons of all shapes and kinds. Several area small family farms have been growing melons specifically for this event. Look for old heirloom varieties, rare and exotic melons, and traditional Southern favorites. For example, Fred Nelson of The Healthy Kitchen Farm in Dunlap, will have Chamoe, a small bright yellow Korean melon with a white flesh and unusual flavor. Farmer Fred was served this melon while visiting Korea and he brought the seeds home with him to grow.

Other vendors will also have melon items such as Melon Cupcakes by The Cupcake Club (created using Cantaloupe and Yellow Watermelon they grew, topped with a Cantaloupe whipped Frosting), Watermelon iced tea from Amaizeing Eats food truck, handmade watermelon soaps from Dixie Soaps Farm, etc. A seed spitting contest will begin at 3:30 p.m. At 5 p.m. the market will teach The Watermelon Crawl line dance, and there will be melon-themed music throughout the entire event. Free watermelon samples will be available for all. A fun photo area offers the opportunity to photograph your face through a wooden cutout watermelon hand-painted by local artist, Sophie Perry. There is no charge to attend this event, which is outdoors rain or shine.



Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., Inc., is at 5829 Main Street, Ooltewah, Tn. 37363.

Ooltewah Farmers market is operated as a service to the community by Ooltewah Nursery and Landscape Co. OFM does not close seasonally, but is open all year round and features local farms and food artisans exclusively. For more information, visit Facebook or the website of Ooltewah Nursery.
The government seems wary of helping Jet Airways promoter Naresh Goyal in such trying times. Can he pull a rabbit out of his hat to save his beloved airline?

Aviation legend has it that Naresh Goyal, the enigmatic promoter of Jet Airways, has almost always been able to pull a rabbit out of his hat, to save his beloved airline whenever trouble knocked on his door. Jet, like almost all other airlines operating in India, has faced headwinds in the past too.

It has faced intense scrutiny for the source of promoter funds but almost always, it has managed to stave off a detailed investigation in this matter. Then, Jets business model has been investigated in detail when it signed up Etihad Airways to get much needed funds some years back.

This scrutiny came about as the government of the day had then simultaneously offered a huge increase in weekly seat entitlements to Abu Dhabi and many alleged the two developments were related. But the allegations were never proved and Jet not only got lifeline funds but went on to forge alliances with several other airlines as well.

A few months back, when reports appeared of Jets bid to offload promoter stake to Delta Airlines and then these were followed by reports that the stake sale had been stymied due to reported differences in valuation, the airline continued to function as before, not a wrinkle on the forehead of its top executives.

Jet has weathered many a storm in the past. The question now: Is there a rabbit left for Goyal to pull out this time? Can he manage to get urgent cash infusion without diluting his own stake, without letting the airline renege on payments and still appear smiling at the end of the current quarter? Can he, if no cash is forthcoming, get lenders to extend more loans so that Jet continues to operate?

On the face of it, Jet seems to be suffering from the pain all other airlines are also witnessing and as long as it manages to get urgent cash, things will go back to normal. But this time, Jets and by extension Goyals troubles may be far more deep seated than what appears on the surface. The airline has been denying any move to either sell a stake to get cash while insisting that it is current with all its payments.

This was borne out by SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar on Tuesday, who parried reporters questions on the airline by saying that the Jet account is standard. Thats banking parlance for saying the airline has not fallen back on its repayments yet.

So what is the trouble at Jet? One, its profitability was affected in the March quarter. As per Jets annual report, in the fourth-quarter of fiscal 2017-18 it posted a net loss of Rs 1,036 crore against a net profit of Rs 602 crore in the fourth-quarter of the previous fiscal. There is reason to believe that profitability continues to worsen in the current quarter as costs (fuel and ex-fuel) continue to rise without commensurate rise in revenues. Two, Jet asked pilots and some other categories of employees to take salary cuts of 15-25 percent because of the precarious cash position earlier this month.

These reports were later denied by the airline and pilots and engineers also refused to take any salary cuts. Three, reports suggest that fresh attempts by the airline to raise loans have met with resistance from lenders, who want it to raise money by selling equity first. Four, when results of Q1 of fiscal 2018-19 scheduled for 10 August were deferred after the management failed to present the accounts to the audit committee in time for the board meeting, the stock exchanges and proxy investment firms began raising more questions on the airlines solvency.

As this piece points out, on 31 March, Jet's free cash flow on revenue of Rs 23,958 crore was barely Rs 321 crore. And continued high aviation fuel prices have worsened its finances since then. In May 2018, ratings agency ICRA lowered credit ratings on its short-term and long-term loans due to weakening finances. The company has large debt repayments due over FY 2019 (Rs 3,120.3 crore), FY 2020 (Rs 2,444.5 crore) and FY 2021 (Rs 2,167.9 crore), ICRA had said. Continued support from Etihad Airways is fundamental towards turning Jet Airways around and improving its liquidity profile, ICRA had added.

A debt overhang

As per Jets Q4 concall with analysts, the net debt as on 31 March stood at Rs 8,150 crore, an increase of about Rs 224 crore over December 2017 which means within just three months. Responding to a question on whether a negative cash flow in the fourth-quarter will lead to increasing debt, CFO Amit Agarwal said primarily our focus will be maybe a quarter or two you will see slightly the debt going up; however, our journey as we have demonstrated over the last two and a half years of deleveraging the company, we have shown that Rs 3,000 crore of debt reduction has happened. Our journey would continue.

May be as you said in this quarter or in a quarter or two, there could be a short-term blip in terms of increase in the debt, but overall our strategy continues to be reducing the debt on an ongoing basis.

Hostile cost environment

Jets troubles seem to have compounded in the current quarter because of a hostile cost environment with fuel prices having risen by more than 40 percent in Q4 and the rupee depreciating sharply. Myriad costs such as expat pilot salaries, maintenance and lease payments are made in dollars. The airline has set itself a target of reducing ex-fuel costs by 12-15 percent over the next several months and seems well on its way to achieve that, despite having one of the highest cost structures in the industry. But fuel costs and currency fluctuation remain a cause for concern.

Revenue per passenger

Jet has been unable to raise fares as intense competition in the domestic market has actually taken fares south. Analysts say seats are currently being sold below cost by all airlines. So we have a situation where Indian aviation market has seen 50 months of uninterrupted double digit passenger growth but airlines profitability has nosedived nevertheless. Jets yields (revenue per passenger) were the lowest in the fourth-quarter for eight consecutive quarters.

Jet needs money for the short term, besides a benign external cost environment. As the government seems wary of helping out Goyal in such trying times, he has no option but to pull out another rabbit to keep his beloved airline in the air.
By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill signed by President Donald Trump on Monday asks the Pentagon to pursue more options for defeating U.S.-bound North Korean missiles by using radar and more missiles to spot and shoot down inbound threats. The National Defense Authorization Act gives the Pentagon $716 billion, with almost $10 billion going to the Missile Defense Agency to fund the expansion of missile defences, emphasizing the need to stop any North Korean or Iranian attacks

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill signed by President Donald Trump on Monday asks the Pentagon to pursue more options for defeating U.S.-bound North Korean missiles by using radar and more missiles to spot and shoot down inbound threats.

The National Defense Authorization Act gives the Pentagon $716 billion, with almost $10 billion going to the Missile Defense Agency to fund the expansion of missile defences, emphasizing the need to stop any North Korean or Iranian attacks.

The military is already exploring whether the United States can add another layer to defences to those already in place for intercepting incoming missiles in flight, Keith Englander, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's director for engineering, said at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, last week.

The Missile Defense Agency's head, Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, has said he wants to integrate the Aegis Combat System into the current ICBM defences of the U.S. homeland. The Aegis system, mainly found on ships, could be fitted with the Standard Missile 3 Block IIA (SM-3 IIA) interceptors that are being developed in a joint venture between Raytheon Co and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd <7011.T>.

The Lockheed Martin Corp-made Aegis system is currently deployed aboard 36 U.S. Navy ships, as well as at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Hawaii.

If given the new mission, the ships could patrol the Pacific Ocean and augment the network of Ground-Based Midcourse Defense interceptor missiles in Alaska and California that protect the nation from intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) attacks.

This is one of several avenues the Pentagon is studying to knock down inbound missiles. These include shooting the missile down soon after takeoff, stopping it in space as it flies above the Earth's atmosphere, and killing it soon after it re-enters the atmosphere before hitting its target.

Concern about U.S. missile defences has grown with the escalating threat from North Korea. Last year, North Korea conducted about a dozen missile tests, including the launch of a suspected ICBM that could hit the U.S. mainland and the test of a purported hydrogen bomb.

North Korea and the United States are struggling to agree on how to bring about the North's denuclearisation, after Kim vowed to work toward that goal at a landmark summit in June in Singapore with Trump.

The potential new defences must first be tested to make sure the intercepting missile can take out what could be an ICBM fired by Pyongyang.

In a previous spending bill, Congress mandated that the Missile Defense Agency perform an intercept test with the SM-3 IIA missile against an ICBM by the end of 2020.

Last year, Reuters reported that the Pentagon was investigating adding a missile defence layer under the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system.

In May 2017, the Missile Defense Agency held its first live-fire test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense against a simulated ICBM, and hailed the successful intercept as an "incredible accomplishment."

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Businessman Gagan Dhawan was arrested on 1 November last year after the ED had alleged that he had facilitated the directors of Gujarat-based pharma firm Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) in the purchase of several properties and helped in misuse and diversion of the credit facilities of several bank totalling Rs 5,000 crore

New Delhi: A city court on Tuesday directed a Delhi businessman, accused in a Rs 5,000-crore bank loan fraud case, to appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning.

The direction came after the agency told the court that he was required to be confronted with a man arrested on charges of sending Rs 25 lakh cash to the official residence of a senior Congress leader here.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora directed businessman Gagan Dhawan, who was earlier arrested by the ED and is currently out on bail, to appear before the ED on Wednesday and on 16 August.

The court passed the direction after special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana, appearing for ED, said that Dhawan had refused to appear before it despite repeated summons.

Rana has also urged the court to cancel Dhawan's bail, alleging that he had violated the conditions imposed on him by the court at the time of granting him relief.

In an application moved through advocate A R Aditya, ED told the court that Dhawan was required to be confronted with one Ranjit Malik, who had allegedly sent Rs 25 lakh cash through one Rakesh Chandra to the official address of the political leader.

The period of delivery of the cash was not disclosed by the agency.

Malik was arrested earlier this month by the ED and is currently in its custody.

Dhawan was arrested on 1 November last year after the ED had alleged that he had facilitated the directors of Gujarat-based pharma firm Sterling Biotech Ltd (SBL) in the purchase of several properties and helped in misuse and diversion of the credit facilities of several bank totalling Rs 5,000 crore.

He was granted bail by a court here on 4 January this year on several conditions, including that he will appear before the agency as and when called for.

The CBI had booked Sterling Biotech, its directors Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajbhushan Omprakash Dixit, Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Vilas Joshi, chartered accountant Hemant Hathi, former director Andhra Bank Anup Garg and some unidentified persons in connection with the alleged bank fraud case.

It had alleged that the company had taken loans of over Rs 5,000 crore from a consortium led by Andhra Bank which had turned into non-performing assets.

The FIR had also alleged that the total pending dues of the group companies were Rs 5,383 crore as on 31 December, 2016. The ED had taken a cognisance of this FIR to file a money laundering case against them.
Earlier, Musk wrote that in late July, he met Saudi Arabian sovereign fund representatives to discuss the electric carmaker's possible exit from the stock market.

Washington: Tesla founder Elon Musk has confirmed that he is closely working with Goldman Sachs and private-equity firm Silver Lake to take the electric carmaker private - a deal that would need nearly $70 billion in funding.

"I'm excited to work with Silver Lake and Goldman Sachs ," Musk tweeted on Monday.

Im excited to work with Silver Lake and Goldman Sachs as financial advisors, plus Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Munger, Tolles & Olson as legal advisors, on the proposal to take Tesla private  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 14, 2018

Musk has pinned a tweet on Tesla's account updating the move:

Update on Taking Tesla Privatehttps://t.co/AR6VKETrPn  Tesla (@Tesla) August 13, 2018

Earlier, Musk wrote that in late July, he met Saudi Arabian sovereign fund representatives to discuss the electric carmaker's possible exit from the stock market.

Musk said in a statement posted on the Tesla website on Monday that the Saudi sovereign fund had first contacted him "at the beginning of 2017 to express (their) interest because of the important need to diversify away from oil".

"They then held several additional meetings with me over the next year to reiterate this interest and to try to move forward with a going private transaction. Obviously, the Saudi sovereign fund has more than enough capital needed to execute on such a transaction," Efe quoted him as saying.

"I continue to have discussions with the Saudi fund, and I also am having discussions with a number of other investors, which is something that I always planned to do since I would like for Tesla to continue to have a broad investor base," he said.

He said he had most recently met with the Saudis on 31 July and left that meeting "with no question that a deal with the... fund could be closed, and that it was just a matter of getting the process moving".

"This is why I referred to 'funding secured' in the August 7 announcement," he said, referring to his surprise tweet on that date that he was thinking about taking Tesla private.

According to Musk, "two thirds" of Tesla's current stockholders would be interested in continuing to hold the firm's shares once it goes private.

On 7 August, Musk surprised the investment world with a Twitter announcement that he was considering taking Tesla private and that the funds needed to do so - which some financial analysts estimate at more than $70 billion - were "secured".

Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 7, 2018

Musk's tweet caused a financial firestorm with Tesla shares immediately skyrocketing by almost 11 percent, although in the coming days they lost a good part of what they had gained.

The Securities and Exchange Commission asked Tesla to report whether Musk's tweets were valid and asked him why he had not made the announcement in an official statement to the markets and investors.

Last week, Musk was sued by investors who accused him of having made the announcement to take the firm private to harm so-called "short sellers", people who sell the firm's shares anticipating a drop in the market price and with whom Musk has been engaged in open warfare for some time, contending that they are harming the firm's growth plans.

The Saudi sovereign fund already owns about 5 percent of the outstanding Tesla shares, Musk said.
Jet Airways, which is grappling with financial woes, had last week deferred announcement of its financial results for the June quarter and is yet to announce a date.

Mumbai: The Naresh Goyal-promoted Jet Airways, which is facing headwinds amid cash-crunch and under regulatory probes, said on Monday it has been evaluating various funding options to meet liquidity requirements on priority.

The second largest domestic airline by market share also said it has not at any time defaulted on its payment obligations with the lenders who have issued certificates to this extent as well on a regular basis.

Jet Airways, which is grappling with financial woes, had last week deferred announcement of its financial results for the June quarter and is yet to announce a date. The trouble comes five years after it co-boarded Etihad Airways with a 24 percent stake amidst a raging financial crisis then.

The airline and some credit rating agencies have come under regulatory scanner for alleged lapses in a timely disclosure of default risk of loans worth Rs 11,000 crore taken from state-owned as well as private sector banks.

"We have been evaluating various funding options to meet the liquidity requirements on priority. Our relationship with strategic partner Etihad Airways is very strong and continues to grow further," it said in a statement to PTI, after stock exchanges sought clarification.

Last Friday, Rajnish Kumar, the chairman of SBI, which is the key lender to the airline, had said that the Jet account was in the watch-list.

"We wish to reiterate that all our accounts with lenders are 'standard' and there is no overdue in any of our accounts. There have been no delays in discharging any of our loan obligations to any of the lenders," the airline said.

The statement also said recent news reports on stake sale as well as move to monetise investments in the frequent flier programme - Jet Privilege - as "purely speculative."

Reports said the airline had initiated a formal stake sale process to mop up $300-400 million from global private equity players. The airline further clarified that over the past several years, there have been no instances of default in meeting its debt obligations.

The domestic aviation sector, although witnessing double-digit traffic growth, has been passing through a tough phase primarily due to increase in crude prices as well as a falling rupee which the sector is unable to pass on due to competitive pressure, it said.

Jet has been pro-actively working on multiple revenue enhancement and cost-cutting measures, which have already started to deliver results, according to the statement.

"Recent news on deferment of our quarterly results was mainly due to certain additional time sought by the management from the audit committee to complete its accounts which was accepted and also due to audit committee chairman's term coming to an end on 9 August."

It also denied reports of differences with auditors BSR & Co, a KPMG affiliate and DTS & Associates, saying that they continue to be the statutory auditors. A section of media had also reported that audit firm BSR & Co had declined to sign the airline's first-quarter earnings amid differences over certain issues and if they were not resolved, the firm might resign as well.

"The company is in the process of finalising the same and shall shortly intimate the next date of the meeting where the financial results will be considered by the board," Jet said in its response to the stock exchange query on the announcement of the date of the now-deferred results.

It can be noted that both BSE and NSE have sought clarifications from the airline for the delay in announcing the earnings.

"Since the management sought more time from the audit committee to finalise the accounts and the audit committee on their request agreed to accord them further time to finalise the accounts and directed that the finalised accounts be placed before the audit committee thereafter. Accordingly, no issues were raised by the audit committee," the airline informed the exchanges.
For decades, several state-run banks operated like feudal institutions. But that's about to change.

There is no known precedent to any central government choosing to dismiss a state-run bank's managing director and chief executive on her final day in office. So, that honour has been bestowed upon Allahabad Banks sacked chief, Usha Ananthasubramanian.

Not for what she did at that bank, but in connection with her earlier stint at the scam-hit Punjab National Bank (PNB), where she allegedly failed to exercise her powers as MD & CEO, paving the way for the uncle-nephew duo of Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi to allegedly defraud the lender of roughly Rs 14,000 crore using forged trade credit instruments. Ananthasubramanian was PNB's chief between August, 2015 and May, 2017.

The government has authorised the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute Ananthasubramanian in the case. This means Ananthasubramanian will now have to prepare for a long legal battle.

So, what is the message the government wants to send to Ananthasubramanians colleagues in the banking industry by sacking her on retirement day, and denying her of a graceful exit? If you try to translate the action into words, it would read something like this -- if you mess up, you cant get away on easy terms, even if it is the last day of your three-decade long service. Well, thats a stern message to go around and no senior banker in any state-run bank will take his position for granted and act as a feudal lord. That should bring in some sense of sanity, accountability and responsibility to the post, not saying all of them were irresponsible, but certainly a good number were.

There is no denying that for decades, state-run banks operated like feudal institutions only with a few exceptions. In their approach and in the way they operated, these institutions were far different from private and foreign banks.

The sense of comfort given by sovereign backing, short-tenures of top level staff, micromanagement by the incumbent political leadership  all turned these firms into government vehicles that exist primarily to carry out the agenda of political populism. One could argue that, in hindsight, the nationalisation of these banks proved to be a mistake considering the erosion in operational efficiency and bad loan management. These institutions were endlessly prone to the begging bowl syndrome, the symptoms of which manifested every year when these entities lined up before North Block for survival capital.

But, the question here is why only Ananthasubramanian?

The CBI chargesheet says Usha Ananthasubramanian and some other senior bank officials were in the know of the fraud, ignored circulars and kept "misleading" the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) about the true state of affairs involving PNB Dubai and the Indian Overseas Bank, Chandigarh .

Yet they did not take any corrective action and remained silent spectators. This facilitated continuance of the fraud resulting in wrongful loss to the PNB," the CBI said in the chargesheet, according to the PTI report.

There are a few questions that are worth looking at here:

First, it could be true that the continuance of the fraud was facilitated by Ananthasubramanian. But what about those who headed the bank before her while the fraud was on? Ananthasubramanian was PNBs CEO between August 2015 and May 2017 while the scam began in 2011 as admitted by the bank management at the first press conference where it announced the scam. Between 2011 and 2015 there were two other CEOs at PNB  K R Kamath and Gauri Shankar. Were they asked about the letter of understanding (LoU) transactions by the RBI or CBI? If the charge is of ignoring banking rules, i.e. prudential norms governing the LoU transactions, shouldnt it apply to all?

Second, the charge against Ananthasubramanian and other officials is that they ignored RBI circulars and responded to the central bank's queries in a misleading manner since October, 2016. Back in 2011, when Nirav Modi first colluded with bank officials to begin the chain of fraudulent transactions using the now-infamous LoUs till 2016, was the regulator then blissfully unaware about of the problems in LoU-linked transactions? Doesnt it mean that the government, the RBI and various managements have, from time to time, failed miserably to guide the bank within the right risk-management framework?

Third, what about all the other biggies in the banking system who committed the same mistake? There were many other banks who may not have linked their core-banking software platform (CBS) to the SWIFT software -- a flaw that Nirav Modi used to his advantage in the scam. Modi chose PNB to commit the fraud but doesnt the charge of ignoring RBI norms apply to most other public sector banks (PSBs) as well?

Fourth, what was the motive of Ananthasubramanian, and the others, mentioned in the CBI chargesheet for facilitating the fraud? Did they receive any kickbacks?

The problem is that the PNB case is seen in isolation even now by investigators. This is clearly a systemic issue where risk management systems have failed when it comes to compliance. Merely passing the blame to the SWIFT software, its disconnect with the CBS system and Nirav Modis criminality wont help. This is a cardinal mistake.

PNB should be the trigger for an overhaul of the manner in which risk management systems function within the banking system. Ananthasubramanians dismissal will certainly nudge other bankers to pull up their socks. But investigators, the government and the regulator must ensure that they don't look at the PNB scam in isolation.

(A part of this piece was published earlier on Firstpost)
The foundation stone of the Bengal Silicon Valley Hub, to come up on 100 acres was laid by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Monday announced the creation of a silicon valley hub at New Town near the metropolis, where companies like Reliance Jio and Infosys Ltd will set up projects. The foundation stone of the Bengal Silicon Valley Hub, to come up on 100 acres was laid by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee said West Bengal was an industry and technology-friendly state, with "one of the least attrition rates", along with low operational costs.

State Chief Secretary Moloy De said that following Reliance Industries' Chairman Mukesh Ambani's announcement at the last Bengal Global Business Summit, Reliance Jio would set up a data centre on 40 acres within the hub.

Meanwhile, IT giant Infosys Ltd said it has commenced work on a new software development center inside the hub.

As part of the project, spread over 50 acres, Infosys will invest around Rs 100 crore in the first phase of construction, which will "create employment for 1,000 engineers initially," the statement said.

The first phase of the project will be completed within 15 months from the date of obtaining all statutory clearances, it said.

The West Bengal government has also collaborated with Amazon Internet Service and FujiSoft for high-end IT solutions, State Finance Minister Amit Mitra said.

Nasscom President Debjani Ghosh added that an international summit on SMEs would be held for the first time in India at Kolkata in January, which would be attended by around 2,000 delegates.

(Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd)
Tata Chemicals' total income grew by 11.96 percent during the quarter under review at Rs 2,860.77 crore, compared with Rs 2,546.14 crore in the same quarter of FY18

Mumbai: Tata Chemicals on Monday posted 14 percent year-on-year growth in consolidated net profit at Rs 269.61 crore during June quarter.

The company's profit from continuing operations after tax stood at Rs 236.52 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, the company said in a release.

Its total income grew by 11.96 percent during the quarter under review at Rs 2,860.77 crore, compared with Rs 2,546.14 crore in the same quarter of FY18.

Net debt of the company went down to Rs 1,506 crore, against Rs 1,860 crore last year.

Tata Chemicals managing director R Mukundan told reporters that the 'basic chemistry' products business registered a robust performance on the back of improved operational efficiencies, a better sales mix and better realisations.

"On the global front, the performance of the North American operations reflects planned shut down and Kenyan operations were impaired by heavy rains," he added.

The consumer business reported a 33 percent growth on the back of higher volumes from Tata Salt, which continued its

leadership and the business expansion path under the Tata Sampann brand, according to Mukundan.

"We introduced a range of all natural chutneys, while products launched earlier this year like Nutrimixes and organic pulses were well received in the market. We continue to focus on improving our market reach and availability for these products," he said.

Going forward, according to him, the revenue growth will come from consumer and speciality products segments where most of the investments are happening.

"In the long term, we are aiming for 50 percent of our revenue to come from these two segments," he added. Mukundan said Tata Chemicals is expanding its consumer segment portfolio and will introduce new products in all category almost every quarter.

For FY19, the company has a capex of Rs 500 crore for the basic chemical segment and around Rs 450 crore for the specialty products segment, he said.
Leo Puri, a dual Masters from Oxford and Cambridge University, has spent over 30 years in the field, joined the found house from Warburg Pincus India

Mumbai: Amidst the ongoing spat with the board and a pending case seeking his continuance as the head of the institution till the Initial Public Offer (IPO) is through, Leo Puri on Monday resigned as the managing director and chief executive of UTI Mutual Fund as his five-year contract came to an end.

According to sources, the fourth largest fund house has asked Imtaiyazur Rahman, the chief financial officer, to head the organization till a new person is named. Sources also said the UTI board will meet on 21 January to decide on the new CEO.

Meanwhile, a division bench of justices RM Borde and PK Chavan of the Bombay High Court today adjourned the hearing on a writ petition filed by the single-largest investor-the US-based T Rowe Price with 26 percent stake-to 28 August, after all the parties concerned sought an adjournment.

Rahman has about 25 years experience and currently heads the finance, accounts, taxation and board-related matters, apart from heading the global operations along with IT, administration, estates, fund management and co-ordinates its private equity arm.

Rahman, also on the boards of UTI International Singapore, Offshore Funds of UTI International, and Invest India Micro Pension, has been with the UTI Group since 1998 and with UTI AMC since 2003. Prior to UTI AMC, he has worked with Bells Controls, Leasing Finance India, and Sumeet Machines among others. But when contacted a UTI spokeswoman refused to confirm the development saying "there is no official word from the board yet."

The continuance of Puri, who joined the then-struggling AMC in 2013 from Warburg Pincus, came under a shadow after the domestic investors -- SBI, LIC, PNB and BoB who own the remaining 74 percent in equally -- locked horns with T Rowe Price, following which he refused an extension citing a divided board.

Puri, a dual Masters from Oxford and Cambridge University, has spent over 30 years in the field, joined the found house from Warburg Pincus India where he was the

managing director, prior to which a director and senior advisor with McKinsey & Company. Puri has been on the boards of Infosys, Max New York Life and Max Bupa Health Insurance and Bennett Coleman & Co among others.

The tussle escalated with the domestic shareholders asking Sebi for more time to meet a regulatory diktat to reduce their stakes to below 10 percent and also want the

foreign investor to be asked to do the same.

According to Sebi sources, however, there is no merit in this demand as Rowe Price does not have cross-holding in another domestic fund house as the rule applies to only those domestic shareholders who have their own fund houses as well. Rowe Price moved the court after its attempts to get UTI listed failed with the other shareholders, Sebi, and the finance ministry.

In its petition, Rowe Price claimed that the domestic shareholders were trying to stall the proposed IPO and were against granting Puri a second term. Following this, the finance ministry has reportedly asked Rowe Price to withdraw the petition as it expected the domestic stakeholders to comply with the Sebi regulation regarding shareholding.

Rowe Price wants the court to direct the UTI board to retain Puri for at least another 12 months so that he can prepare it for an initial public offering.

In an email to shareholders last Thursday, Puri has said he would go ahead with the decision to leave the firm on completion of his current term as had conveyed earlier.

It can be noted that overseas investors and public sector promoters have been fighting a bitter battle to control UTI, which was once the sole fund house in the country till early 2001 when its flagship scheme US-64 went belly up and had to be bailed out with by the government.
By Uday Sampath Kumar (Reuters) - VF Corp , one of the world's biggest apparel makers, will spin off Lee and Wrangler jeans into a separate public company, it said on Monday, allowing it to focus on its more profitable Vans sneakers and The North Face outerwear businesses.

By Uday Sampath Kumar

(Reuters) - VF Corp , one of the world's biggest apparel makers, will spin off Lee and Wrangler jeans into a separate public company, it said on Monday, allowing it to focus on its more profitable Vans sneakers and The North Face outerwear businesses.

Denims were responsible for more than half of VF's overall profit in 2000, but have since been outpaced by skateboarder favourite Vans, which has driven much of VF's recent growth.

The spin-off, expected to be completed in the first half of 2019, will also give VF more flexibility to pursue acquisitions and explore new business areas.

However, investors reacted coolly to the news, with VF's shares falling nearly 4 percent to $92.53 on Monday afternoon. The stock has risen roughly 20 percent year to date.

While VF's activity-based outdoor products business saw profit jump 15 percent in the year that ended in March, earnings from jeans slipped nearly 13 percent in the same period, as big outlets including Walmart Inc turned to their own denim brands.

"(Jeans) has been the weak link in the portfolio," Jane Hali, head of investment research firm Jane Hali & Associates, said via email. "Now they can concentrate on the outdoor coalition and Vans, a much more unified and strong stable of brands."

The new VF, which already sold off apparel brand Nautica last year, will have annual revenue of more than $11 billion, compared to just over $2.5 billion for the jeans unit, which includes Wrangler, Lee, Rustler and Rock & Republic.

The jeans company will focus on maintaining shareholders' dividends, cutting debt and increasing sales in China and other Asian markets. Acquisitions of smaller firms are a longer-term possibility, VF said.

However, the new spun-off retailer could face headwinds related to changing tastes - with some consumers souring on jeans - and U.S. negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement, said Ed Gribbin, U.S.-based CEO of apparel business and product development consulting firm Alvanon.

"If NAFTA were to go away, that would be a significant challenge for them in the denim business," Gribbin said. The jeans division is heavily invested in Mexico.

VF will shift base to Denver while the still-to-be-named jeans maker will move to the company's traditional base in Greensboro, North Carolina and be led by Scott Baxter, currently president of VF's Americas West group.

Baxter led VF's jeans business from 2011 to 2015.

VF, which has a market value of about $38 billion, projected a 5-cent hit to current-quarter earnings per share due to the deal.

VF had considered "all options" for the jeans business including an outright sale, but decided that a spin-off would serve shareholders best, executives said on a conference call with analysts.

(Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Melissa Fares in New York; editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar and Rosalba O'Brien)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The governor, in its order, said '23 members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly shall cease to be parliamentary secretaries', in line with the directions of the Itanagar Permanent Bench of Gauhati High Court.

Itanagar: All 23 parliamentary secretaries in Arunachal Pradesh have lost their positions with Governor Brigadier (Retired) BD Mishra issuing an order in this direction on Monday, a senior official said on Tuesday.

The governor, in its order, said "23 members of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly shall cease to be parliamentary secretaries", in line with the directions of the Itanagar Permanent Bench of Gauhati High Court, Chief Secretary Satya Gopal said.

"The order will be effective forthwith retrospectively from the date of pronouncement of the judgement by the court," Gopal stated.

A high court bench comprising Justice Monojit Bhuyan and Justice Rumi Kumari Phukon, while closing a PIL filed by one Kyoda Ram, pronounced the Arunachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007 as 'unconstitutional' on 25 July, citing a Supreme Court judgment of 2017.

"Parties are agreed that in view of the decision of the Supreme Court, the PIL does not survive for further consideration," the judges stated while giving their verdict.

The apex court, while disposing of a writ petition filed in 2006 by Bimalangshu Roy against the passage of Assam Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act by the then Congress government in the state, had stated that Article 194 "does not expressly authorise the state legislature to create such an office, and that the Assam legislature lacks the competence to make the act".
The Supreme Court on 10 August had reprimanded the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh governments over the cases of rape in shelter homes in the states.

In the wake of the recent cases of sexual abuse in shelter homes of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will conduct audits across all states by October.

The Bihar government has also given permission to NCPR to conduct social audits across the state, CNN-News18 reported.

The apex court asked the Centre about the action it has taken to deal with cases of abuse of 1,575 children living in shelter homes across the country. "We are concerned whether children living in shelter homes are being abused or looked after properly," the bench said on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court asked the Government of India to consider framing a child protection policy. It also asked the Bihar government to make public a Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) report on a social audit of shelter homes in the state.

#CNNNews18Impact -- Centre assures the Supreme Court that shelter home audits will be done by October #ShelterHomeSexRacket | @utkarsh_aanand with more details pic.twitter.com/QNAXsY4Ak2  News18 (@CNNnews18) August 14, 2018

Bihar government informed the bench on Tuesday that three bodies, including AIIMS Delhi, are examining psycho-social aspect of the girls allegedly abused at Muzaffarpur shelter home. Meanwhile, Muzaffarpur case prime accused Brajesh Thakur was sent back to prison after completion of his medical tests, ANI reported.

The Supreme Court on 10 August had reprimanded the Bihar and Uttar Pradesh governments over the cases of rape in shelter homes in the states. "What's happening everywhere in the country?" the apex court reportedly had reacted. The Supreme Court also pulled up both the state governments for not providing data on shelter homes.

The court's observations had come a day after at least 26 women were found missing from two shelter homes in Pratapgarh during surprise checks conducted by the district administration.

The Supreme Court on 7 August, while hearing the case of the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape cases, had also expressed concern over incidents of rape in India and said that women are being raped "left, right, and centre". The apex court referred to National Crime Records Bureau data which says that a woman is raped every six hours in the country.

A bench comprising Justices MB Lokur, Deepak Gupta and KM Joseph pulled up the Bihar government for funding an NGO which ran the shelter home in Muzaffarpur where girls were allegedly raped and sexually abused.

The possibility of sexual exploitation of the girls at the shelter was first highlighted in an audit report by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), submitted to the state social welfare department in April. Medical examination of the girls later confirmed that 34, of the total 42, were sexually abused.

On 12 August, two inmates of a state-run shelter home in Bihar died under unknown circumstances, a day after a man was arrested for allegedly asking the inmates of the home to escape by luring them with gifts. The women were staying at 'Aasra' shelter home in Nepali Nagar locality of the city.

With inputs from agencies
Aero India has traditionally been organised at Indian Air Force's Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Tuesday, said that there is no move to shift Aero India 2019 from Bengaluru to Lucknow, amid reports that the mega aerospace event is being moved out of its traditional venue of Bengaluru.

There have been reports that the biennial event  considered the largest aerospace exhibition in Asia  may be organised at the Bakshi Ka Talab air force base in Lucknow in October.

PTI had quoted sources at the defence ministry as saying that they have received requests from a number of states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to host the next Aero India show.

Aero India has traditionally been organised at Indian Air Force's Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The reports gathered more weight after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath made a request to Sitharaman to select Lucknow as the venue for the Aero India, on Saturday to announce investment raised by a defence corridor being built in the state. The corridor will pass through Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, and Chitrakoot. It has already raised investments worth Rs 3,732 crore.

Sitharaman, who was also present at the event, had not officially responded to the request, The Economic Times reported.

However, the reports elicited strong reactions from Karnataka, with Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy even sending a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, insisting that Bengaluru would be the "best choice" for the event. "Bengaluru being the hub for defence and aviation majors of the country, is certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show," he said in the letter.

"I seek your indulgence for conducting the 12th edition of Aero India-2019 in Bengaluru, where the mega event was held successfully for 11 times biennially since 1996," said Kumaraswamy in the letter to Modi.

Since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been hosting the air show.

Union minister and BJP MP from Bengaluru Ananth Kumar also clarified on the issue after Kumaraswamy's letter, stating that he has confirmed with the defence minister that these reports were mere rumours. "I have spoken to (defence minister) Nirmala Sitharaman, who has confirmed the same  no decision on shifting Aero India 2019 venue out of Bengaluru to Lucknow," said Kumar in a tweet.

Kumar is a six-time Lok Sabha member from Bengaluru South constituency, while Sitharaman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.

"There were similar rumours last time too, which were proved to be unfounded," added Kumar, referring to media reports then that the 2017 air show would be shifted to Goa, from where former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar hailed.

With inputs from agencies
Bihar government's action is more focused on political damage control than improvement of the state of shelter homes.

After the horrific incident of the sexual abuse of girls at a state-funded shelter home in Muzaffarpur, the Bihar Social Welfare Department suspended 14 officials on account of their "negligence and dereliction of duty".

Bihar social welfare minister Manju Verma had also resigned days after the incident had come to light. But let's not forget that this happened only after days of resistance, during which political parties and the media kept the attention on the purported telephonic conversations Verma's husband had with key accused Brajesh Thakur.

More importantly, the fact that incidents of sexual assault in shelter homes in the state are still coming to light raises the question of whether Bihar government's action is more focused on political damage control than improvement of the state of shelter homes.

After all, another case of alleged sexual harassment of women at a short stay home in Hajipur has come to light. On Sunday, it was also reported that two inmates of the state-run 'Aasra' shelter home in Nepali Nagar locality of Patna were found dead under unknown circumstances.

Reports of alleged sexual assault of inmates at a remand home for juveniles from Arrah also came to light on 1 August.

In fact, the seven-member team of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), which had exposed the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual assault case, had also pointed out similar incidents at 14 other shelter and short-stay homes in Bihar, reported The Hindu.

And apart from taking reactionary measures to deal with criticism and half-baked measures like appointing transgender guards at shelter homes to deal with sexual assault, the government has not been taking necessary action.

For example, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has said that Bihar is one of the nine states which has been resisting social audits at the state's child care institutions.

NCPCR had informed the Supreme Court about the states resisting the social audit, following which the apex court observed that those states resisting social audits by the child rights body appear to be "hiding something".

"We are distressed to note from the affidavit filed that a large number of states have not permitted the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) or its agency to conduct social audits," the Supreme Court had said.

"We make it clear that since there is a direction of this court and if the state governments are resisting in conducting the social audits, it appears that they are trying to hide something and so they do not want social audits to be conducted under the directions of this court," it had said.

On Friday, the Supreme Court had also pulled up the governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for not providing date on shelter homes. "With all these incidents happening daily, we can see why they are not giving data," News18 had quoted the apex court as saying.

"Social audits are not what our governments do very frequently or with ease. A reason for that could be the political vulnerability that it could create if services aren't appropriate. UUnfortunately, even the regular monitoring mechanisms in place have little scope for capturing the 'lived experiences' of the target groups," The Times of India quoted Mohammad Tarique  the leader of the field action team from TISS that blew the lid off this scandal  as saying.

While it has to be acknowleged that eight states apart from Bihar also resisted social audits of shelter homes, Bihar government so far seems to be focused only on taking negative action against authorities to deal with criticism. The fact that the government is resisting positive action to bring about transparency in shelter homes, like conducting social audits, shows its true intent.

With inputs from PTI
Sambit Patra said the BJP supports the idea of 'one nation, one election' but no one should spread misconception about it.

New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday dismissed reports that the government was planning to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and 11 state Assemblies early next year.

"The BJP rejects any such misconception," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told a press conference at the party headquarters.

He said as far as the idea of "one nation, one election" is concerned, BJP president Amit Shah, in his letter to the Law Commission on Monday, has appealed for a positive discussion on the issue with all stakeholders.

"In Shah's letter, there is no mention of holding simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha with that of 11 state Assemblies as reported by some media organisations," he said.

He said the BJP supports the idea of 'one nation, one election' but no one should spread misconception about it.

"In a democracy, a positive discussion must take place for any kind of reform. He (Amit Shah) has given a call for holding discussions and has said that if there is a consensus over the issue, it will be good for the country," he said.

The BJP leader also said that President Ram Nath Kovind, former president Pranab Mukherjee, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have supported 'one nation, one election.'

Reports of government planning to hold simultaneous polls emerged on Monday after a BJP delegation submitted Shah's letter to the Law Commission.

Shah told the Commission that simultaneous polls would lead to cutting down expenditure on holding elections.

He also rejected objections by Opposition parties that "one nation, one election" will be against the basic structure of the Indian federal system. "In fact, it will strengthen the federal structure in India," Shah said.

Shah also said that a perpetual electoral process strained national resources and that in a progressive democracy like India developmental work and policy decisions get halted when the Model Code of Conduct is enforced ahead of the elections.
A new culture of target-driven goal setting has emerged in the past four years of the Narendra Modi government.

The profound thought of a saint defined a civilisational goal that, in its bid to do good to others, does good to oneself. However, before fulfilling the dharma, the artha needs to be realised. When a large part of Indias population is still barely making ends meet, it is their well being that becomes the first and foremost priority of the collective consciousness of the nation.

It is this very consciousness that is reflected in the prime ministers Independence Day speeches as he addresses the nation and sets common goals. A new culture of target-driven goal setting has emerged in the past four years of the Narendra Modi government. Prime Minister Modi has used the Red Forts pedestal to express his governments intent in clear measurable objective goals while also providing a new direction for people to combine their efforts towards.

Modi's first call for action was made during his first Independence Day speech in 2014, where he brought the nations attention to the plight of crores of women who were forced to defecate in the open. He highlighted the problems faced by school-going girls for lack of separate toilets in schools. Thereon, he launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and made the promise of ensuring separate toilets for girls in every school. Within one year of the announcement, 4.17 lakh toilets in 2.61 lakh government elementary and secondary schools were constructed/re-constructed. The entire endeavour was driven with public and private efforts combined. Everyone pitched in, from states, PSUs to private corporates, NGOs and spirited citizens. It is the outcome of concerted efforts by one and all that within the span of four years, the sanitation coverage has risen to 88.9 percent from mere 38 percent in 2014.

In recent times, the government has not only been able to just achieve the set goals but achieve them before the set target date. The goal of electrifying 18,500 villages within 1,000 days, made by Modi on 15 August, 2015, was realised 12 days before the target date. Considering the fact that the said villages were located at some of the remotest areas and had the most difficult terrain, it is no mean feat. Before the pledge was made, the pace of rural electrification had increasingly gone down.

In 2011-12, as many as 7,934 villages were electrified. However, it fell to mere 2,587 villages in 2012-13 and to 1,197 in 2013-14. A firm commitment to the cause and channelising of digital solutions to bring in transparency and probity in the system led to accelerated pace of village electrification.

The power ministry launched the GARV app that mapped Indias six lakh villages and tracked the ongoing electrification process. Power to every village and every home is the precursor to prosperity. By making it a focal point of his administration, Modi has shown how well he is attuned with the aspirations of the people.

It is, therefore, no wonder that when the world doubted Indians transition to a digital economy, Modi was firm in his belief. During one of his Independence Day speeches, he had said: "We have to move in a direction where every poor person is able to operate his bank account from his mobile, is able to demand various things from the government, can submit applications, can conduct all his business, while on the move, through mobile governance and if this has to be done, we have to move towards 'Digital India'."

He saw Digital India as an opportunity to reach the person at the last mile and empower him/her. For him, it was a great economic leveler. This counter-intuitive ability of the prime minister to catch peoples pulse is evident from the fact that in the year 2017-18, the number of e-payment transactions increased to Rs 2070.98 crore from a mere Rs 220 crore in 2013-14. With BHIM, a biometric payment systems app, the Modi government has further ushered in an era of financial equality. Based on Unified Payment Interface (UPI), it facilitates e-payments directly through bank. One does not even need an internet connection to operate the app. Till now, the app has proven to be seamless and secure. It has managed to surprise people with its world class design and easy operability.

The trend of promise followed by delivery, started by the prime minister, has turned around Indias image from a lumbered elephant to a charging mammoth. Modi announced 'Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana' to open the doors of banks to the poorest citizens of the country in his first address from the Red Fort. Since then, 31.95 crore beneficiaries have been banked with Rs 78,952 crore as the balance amount. The sheer scale of the worlds largest financial inclusion exercise is astounding.

The list of commitments made by Modi does not end here. In his 2015 Independence Day address, he spoke extensively of the need to get rid of deep-rooted corruption. He followed it up by striking hard on black money through demonetisation, forming treaties with Mauritius, Cyprus, Singapore to avoid double taxation, crackdown on shell companies, among others. For farmers, he promised irrigation; for the young, he promised strengthening their entrepreneurial spirit through institutional support and discontinuation of interview for junior-level posts; for our soldiers, he promised implementation of long-standing demand of One Rank One Pension and to each, he delivered.

From the ramparts of Red Fort, he stood with the crores of Muslim women fighting against the religious hegemony imposed on them through the archaic tradition of instant triple talaq. He promised them nations support in their struggle and he fulfilled his commitment by ensuring smooth passage of the bill in Lok Sabha to ban the practice in the Lok Sabha. He launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to provide a smoke-free life to 5 crore BPL women within three years. He fulfilled the promise 8 months before the intended target date.

The next in line are two significant promises that he has made to the nation. In his efforts to ensure ease of living for the citizens, he intends to provide comprehensive health coverage to 10 crore poor and vulnerable families under Ayushman Bharat and reach the target of housing for all by 2022. With a stellar track record of delivering on his promises, these too seem to be on their way to getting realised.

Every Independence Day speech of Modi is eagerly awaited as to what new direction he would give to the nation. Once he makes an announcement, it is then closely analysed for the results it produces. The government machinery and public come together to achieve that goal that once seemed like a distant possibility. What we are witnessing is a new era of delivery that seems to be setting in with every Independence Day.
The only consolation the Congress can derive from the ABP-C Voter survey that predicts a clear win for the party in three states is that for the first time in five years it is touted as the front runner.

The only consolation the Congress can derive from the ABP-C Voter survey that predicts a clear win for the party in three states is that for the first time in five years it is touted as the front runner. Not since 2013, when it won Karnataka, has the Congress had the luxury of seeing itself as a favourite in a poll battle. Clearly, the mood of the nation is changing.

Among the three states that are likely to go to polls in November-December  unless the BJP pushes for simultaneous polls in 2019  Rajasthan appears to be the safest bet for the Congress. This is not only visible on the ground but is also reflected in surveys. And there are two major factors behind the predicted resurgence of the Congress.

One, voters of Rajasthan have the habit of rejecting the incumbent. So, this years, it is the BJPs turn for getting voted out. Rajasthans predilection for anti-incumbency could have been reversed only by a strong performance by the Vasundhara Raje government. But, Raje has not lived up to expectations of the electorate.

Two, Rajasthan is the only state in north Indiaother than Punjab-- where a Congress leader enjoys high popularity ratings. As the ABP survey points out, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot is the choice of nearly 40 percent voters for the CMs job. Compare this with Rahul Gandhi, whose popularity remains in the mid-20s in all these states.

Gehlots acceptance among voters may appear surprising. Under his watch, the Congress suffered its worst defeat in the electoral history of Rajasthan. In 2013, when Gehlot was the incumbent, the Congress won just 21 seats in the 200-member Assembly. But, with the benefit of hindsight it can be argued that Gehlot was swept away by the Modi tsunami in spite of his popularity and reasonably good performance and welfare schemes. Now that the Modi wave has subsided, voters are keen to look at Gehlot again.

Caste equations do not favour the BJP either. For almost two years, Rajput voters were upset with the BJP because of the encounter killing of gangster Anand Pala Robin Hood figure for the community youthand for allowing the screening of Padmavat in spite of protests. The BJP is now trying to appease them. But, any effort to mollycoddle the Rajputs would trigger an equal and opposite reaction among their traditional rivalsthe Jats who are arguably the most influential vote bank in the state.

Factors like anti-incumbency, absence of a wave, subdued performance of the government, rising joblessness, rural distress, unfavorable caste arithmetic and the presence of a popular Congress leader the electorate trusts would make Rajasthan the toughest state for the BJP to win if elections are held in 2018.

In Madhya Pradesh, the contest, as the poll also predicts, is close. Here the Congress appeared to be in a strong position till a few months ago. But chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has regained lost ground with two popular schemes. One of them a consume-as-much-electricity-as-you-can for a fixed amount of Rs 200 per month juxtaposed with waiver of pending bills of around 5200 crore has calmed down agitated farmers. The other scheme that insures the lives of daily wage workers with Rs 2 lakh till the age of 65 has resonated among the rural voters. In addition, his Jan Aashirwad Yatra has galvanised workers and created a buzz within voters.

In contrast, the Congress is nowhere on the ground. Its state chief Kamal Nath is more of a strategist who fights his battles from behind closed doors. His appeal and charisma do not match Chouhans. The Congress campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia is the other popular face of the Congress in the state. But his ratings, unlike Gehlots in Rajasthan, are nowhere close to his BJP rival.

The Congress, as the survey, predicts can indeed win Madhya Pradesh. But, for this to happen, the party would have to strike an alliance with the BSP to consolidate the anti-BJP vote, run a spirited campaign, unite its house and present a clear alternative to Chouhan. Unless that happens, it may find the ground slipping beneath the feet as the campaign progresses.

Chhattisgarh, as the survey predicts, is too close to call. The two parties are predicted to poll 40 and 38 per cent votes. A major portion of the remaining 22 per cent votes might go to the Ajit Jogis Janata Congress Chhattisgarh. In a triangular contest, all bets are off.
Following the attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid, CCTV footage grabs of the suspect have been released, according to ANI.

Following the attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid, CCTV footage grabs of the suspect have been released, according to ANI. In the pictures, the suspect can be seen running away from the incident spot. According to ANI, the footage is from outside the Vitthalbhai Patel Road in Delhi.

Firing on JNU student #UmarKhalid: A CCTV grab of the suspect, caught yesterday on the CCTV camera installed at Vitthalbhai Patel Road. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/q2fvIqIEvw  ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2018

Khalid had escaped unhurt on Monday after an unidentified man allegedly shot at him outside the Constitution Club of India in Delhi. Umar was at the venue to attend an event titled Khauff Se Azaadi, organised by the United Against Hate group. A case was registered with the Delhi Police under sections of an attempt of murder and Arms Act as the police have managed to seize the pistol used in the alleged firing.

Khalid had on Tuesday released a statement condemning the attack on him and urging the administration to provide him security cover.
Home ministry officials said the funds were released as part of a central government scheme under which it reimburses all expenses incurred by the states while carrying out anti-Naxal operations.

New Delhi: The Centre has released Rs 88.6 crore to the Naxal-affected states for various security-related expenditure in the last three months.

Home ministry officials said the funds were released as part of a central government scheme under which it reimburses all expenses incurred by the states while carrying out anti-Naxal operations.

Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra have been given Rs 88.62 crore for their security-related expenditure, a home ministry official said.

Altogether 126 people  civilians, security personnel and Naxals  lost their lives in the first six months of this year.

As many as 263 violent incident perpetrated by the Maoists were reported in 2017 while 278 such incidents were reported in 2016.

Nearly 200 security personnel were killed due to violence by Maoists between 2015-17, another official said.

The home ministry has recently said that 44 districts in the country were no longer under the influence of Maoists or have negligible presence, and most of the Left Wing Extremism is now confined only to 30 worst-hit districts.

Over 3,700 Naxals have surrendered before the authorities in last four years, the official said.
The Cajun Navy came into the spotlight in the wake of Hurricane Katrinas devastation of South Louisiana in 2005, the Great Flood of Baton Rouge in 2016, and gained national fame when they rolled into Texas after the flooding of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The State of Texas had bent over backward to help their neighboring State of Louisiana with shelter and supply that was so badly needed after Katrina, and a Cajun always pays his debts. The United Cajun Navy recently teamed up with a technology company called P.E.R.T (Patriot Emergency Response Team) to help a Louisiana family find closure after a loved one went missing.

Todd Terrell, Admiral of the United Cajun Navy and head of the non-profit organization bearing the same name was recently called to action when a 32-year-old woman from his hometown of Baton Rouge disappeared in Lake Pontchartrain off the coast of New Orleans. Sadie Thibodeaux had gone boating with a friend and due to events still under investigation, ended up in the water on Sunday afternoon, August 5th. Eventually, the Coast Guard noticed the uncrewed boat and found a dog and two cell phones onboard. On the morning of Monday, August 6th, Sadies companion and owner of the boat was found still alive in the water, clinging to the float of a crab trap. The search continued all day Monday but Sadie was still missing.

Through a family connection, Terrell and his United Cajun Navy group were called to assist in the search on Tuesday, August 7th, and he sprung into action and dispatched volunteers through the P.E.R.T. system. United Cajun Navy representatives rendezvoused with the family near New Orleans and shared their plan of action, which included a mobile communication App called Zello, and specialty drones that could fly overhead and assist the search. By using coordinates provided by the Coast Guard, drones showed Terrell wind and current patterns which led his team to within 50 yards of where they discovered a body. After describing some identifying features over Zello, Terrell knew that they had found Sadie. While it wasnt the happy ending everyone had hoped for, the family at least received closure that they would be able to bring Sadie home.

The United Cajun Navy and their volunteers, using their experience and technology from P.E.R.T., did in less than 15 minutes what the New Orleans Police spent over two days attempting to do. The P.E.R.T. system was designed by a former Coast Guard member, which is why it worked so well with Coast Guard technology.

Terrell commented to the local media, I promised Sadies family that no matter what I was going to bring her home. I just wish I could have found her sooner. Brian Trascher, a volunteer spokesman for the United Cajun Navy remarked, It just shows that when skilled volunteers and local authorities work together instead of against each other, positive results can be achieved for the community.

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Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon was admitted to a hospital on Tuesday after he complained of uneasiness, an official said.

Raipur: Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon was admitted to a hospital on Tuesday after he complained of uneasiness, an official said. Tandon, 90, felt uneasy this morning following which he was rushed to the state-run Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur, the governor's secretary, Surendra Kumar Jaiswal, told PTI.

He has been kept in the hospital's critical care unit and is under observation, Jaiswal said, but did not divulge any further details. Tandon, one of the founder members of the Jansangh which later became the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), became the governor of Chhattisgarh in July 2014.

During his long political career, he has served on various posts, including as deputy chief minister of Punjab. The six-time MLA was also jailed from 1975 to 1977 during Emergency.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops have reportedly intruded about 300-400 metres inside on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC)- at Demchok in eastern Ladakh

Troops of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have reportedly intruded about 300 to 400 metres into the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Demchok in eastern Ladakh, a year after the Doka La standoff in Sikkim.

According to The Times of India, Chinese troops set up five tents in the Cherdong-Nerlong Nallan area. PLA then removed three of their tents after brigadier-level talks between the two armies, but the remaining two tents with "some Chinese troops" are still present in the area.

According to Times Now, it is believed that this was carried out as a protest against building of a road in Nerlong area of Ladakh.

Demchok is one of the 23 disputed areas along the LAC, which stretches from eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, along with Chumar, Pangong Tso, and Dumchele, to name a few.

Demchok has witnessed similar incidents in the past. When Chinese president Xi Jinping was to visit India in September 2014, Chinese villagers set up tents in Demchok to protest the construction of a 100-foot-long water channel.

This time, the intrusion has been reported when Beijing has confirmed that its defence minister General Wei Fenghe will be visiting India soon, the report said.

Indian and Chinese troops had been locked in a stand-off for over two months last year in the Doka La area near Sikkim before "disengaging" on 28 August. The area of the standoff is also claimed by Bhutan. India-China boundary dispute spans to 3,488-km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

With inputs from PTI
In his first public appearance after becoming a Supreme Court judge, Justice KM Joseph, on Tuesday, said that at the age of 60-plus he felt 'like a baby again' on becoming the junior most judge of the top court, and added he knew of his own 'limitations'.

New Delhi: In his first public appearance after becoming a Supreme Court judge, Justice KM Joseph, on Tuesday, said that at the age of 60-plus he felt "like a baby again" on becoming the junior most judge of the top court, and added he knew of his own "limitations".

"At the age of 60 plus, I have become a baby again as I am the 25th judge of Supreme Court. I am rather conscious of my own limitations to be elevated to the highest court. It is indeed a big honour," Justice Joseph said in a short speech during a felicitation ceremony organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

Justice Joseph, while making it clear that he won't make any promises, said, "I won't be able to venture to make any promise but all I can do is, I hope and pray that I'll be true to the oath of office, which I have taken and which will go a long way in dispensing justice."

Recalling his short stint at apex court as a lawyer, he said that he has a very thin memory and expressed gratitude to bar members.

Justice Vineet Saran, who was also felicitated by SCBA, said that he too will not make any promises but will do his "best not to disappoint all of you".

"Role of lawyers is more important than that of judges, that is what I want to say and I am sure with the cooperation which we get from the Bar, we definitely do justice and do the best we can," he said.

Justice Indira Banerjee, who was elevated to the apex court along with Justices Saran and Joseph, said she would try her level best to live up to the oath of office which she has taken.

"At least three of us here have been judging for a very long time. For me, it has been about sixteen-and-a-half years and yet this jump to the Supreme Court is of much importance as this is the final court and after this the litigants have no other remedy," she said.

Justice Indu Malhotra, who was the first woman advocate to be elevated as a judge of the apex directly from the bar, said, "It is actually a very emotional moment for me as I have spent the last 35 years of my life as a member of the Bar. I was in the court every single working day of the last 35 years. I did not take a single day off for any other reason."

She said that she is honoured to be part of the justice dispensation system and "it is a great responsibility because this is the last court from where a litigant has no recourse".

Chief Justice Dipak Misra and SCBA president Vikas Singh congratulated all the four judges for assuming their office.
Rahul's lawyers had urged a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and AK Chawla to order that confidentiality be maintained regarding the contents of the petition and the reporting of the matter should only be confined to the arguments in the court.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined a plea made on behalf of Congress president Rahul Gandhi to put certain restrictions on the media reporting of his petition against reopening of his 2011-12 tax assessment in connection with the Young Indian-National Herald transaction case.

Rahul's lawyers had urged a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and AK Chawla to order that confidentiality be maintained regarding the contents of the petition and the reporting of the matter should only be confined to the arguments in the court.

Declining to pass an order on the issue, the bench said "we cannot go into all this" as it would be akin to going on a "wild-goose chase" as it was not known who reports the contents of the matter and who was the source of the information.

This is not the first attempt by the Congress president's lawyers to put restrictions on the reporting of the case, as on the last date of hearing they had orally urged the bench to prohibit the media from publishing the court proceedings. The court had then too rejected the plea.
The Delhi High Court will hear the CBI's and victim's appeals against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's acquittal in connection with 1984 Anti-Sikh killings case and also hear the appeals by five accused convicted by the trial court.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday will hear appeals by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and victims against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's acquittal in connection with 1984 Anti-Sikh killings case.

The court will also hear the appeals by five accused convicted by the trial court.

According to media reports, victims of the anti-Sikh riots had last week expected relief from the court, hoping for a decision on the plea filed in 2013 in the Delhi High Court. The bench, hearing the matter, asked for appeals and revision petitions.

In March, the Delhi High Court had received a letter petition containing a CD, which is stated to be Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's confession about accepting his role in instigating the connecting case. The court issued a notice to the Kumar, asking him to file a reply to the same.

According to official records, about 2,800 Sikhs were killed across India, including 2,100 in Delhi, during the pogrom that broke out after the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.
They were inducted into the Congress by state unit chief Amit Chavda and AICC in-charge of the Gujarat Congress Rajiv Satav at a function at party headquarters.

Ahmedabad: Former BJP MLA Shamji Chauhan and ex-mayor of Rajkot Ashok Dangar joined the Congress on Tuesday, claiming "injustice" is being meted out to Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities under the BJP rule in Gujarat.

They were inducted into the Congress by state unit chief Amit Chavda and AICC in-charge of the Gujarat Congress Rajiv Satav at a function at party headquarters. Both hail from OBC communities. Chauhan belongs to the politically influential Koli community, while Dangar, who was the Rajkot mayor from 2000 and 2003 - when the Congress was ruling the civic body - hails from the Ahir community. Dangar later joined the BJP, from where he resigned on Tuesday.

Chauhan was elected from the Chotila assembly seat in Surendrangar district in 2012 on a BJP ticket. He resigned from the BJP in November last year after being denied ticket from the same seat for the Assembly polls held in December. In 2016, he was appointed Parliamentary secretary by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

On the other hand, it was a homecoming for Dangar, who had joined the BJP in 2012 after quitting the Congress. He resigned from the BJP on Tuesday.

According to Chavda, both the OBC leaders have joined the Congress without any pre-condition. "Both these OBC leaders have realised that promises made by the BJP governments, in Gujarat as well at the Centre, have not been fulfilled. The poor has become more poor under the BJP rule. Both these leaders are joining the Congress to fight injustice against OBCs and the poor," said Chavda.

Echoing similar views, Satav said the Narendra Modi government has not paid any attention to the problems being faced by the OBCs across the country. According to Chauhan, the Koli community has been "ignored" by the BJP government in Gujarat. "The Kolis are the second largest community in Gujarat after the Patidars. Yet, very few Koli MLAs have been given key posts in the government. Koli MLAs are not allowed to become even district or taluka presidents of the party. I am joining the Congress because of the BJP's failure to do justice to the community," said Chauhan.

The former MLA maintained he has not joined the Congress out of any expectation of getting a ticket for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The four Myanmar nationals had migrated to Hyderabad as refugees around five years back and enrolled with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), they said.

Hyderabad: Four Rohingyas including a woman on Tuesday were arrested for allegedly illegally procuring Aadhaar and Voter ID cards by making false representation of being Indian nationals, police said.

The four Myanmar nationals had migrated to Hyderabad as refugees around five years back and enrolled with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), they said.

Two locals helped them procure Aadhaar cards, Voter ID cards by providing false declaration of their residential proof, Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat said.

A city resident Mohammed Bin Omer was also arrested. A police team seized UNHCR cards besides Voter ID and Aadhaar cards (which the accused procured by suppressing their identities as Rohingya refugees of Myanmar) from the possession of the accused and they are being produced before a local court, the Commissioner said.

Hyderabad is home to an estimated 3,500-4,000 Rohingyas, who reside in camps in different parts of the city.
As he addressed the nation through a special telecast, Kovind reached out to the youth and said that India did not just belong to the government but also the people of the country. 'The government has a leading role but not the sole role,' he said.

On the eve of the 72nd Independence Day on Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind stressed on the need to empower women and provide better weapons to security personnel to live up to the "principles of our freedom struggle".

As he addressed the nation through a special telecast, Kovind reached out to the youth and said that India did not just belong to the government but also the people of the country. "The government has a leading role but not the sole role," he said.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi's ideas and maxims, Kovind also urged the people to adapt them in view of his 150th birth anniversary, which will be this year. Here is the full text of Kovind's address:

Dear Fellow Citizens

My greetings to you as we complete 71 years as an independent nation. Tomorrow we will commemorate our 72nd Independence Day. For every Indian, whether living at home or anywhere else in the world, August 15 is sacred. It is marked on our calendars as a celebration of our sovereignty. We unfurl our national flag with great joy and enthusiasm in workplaces, municipalities, panchayats, colleges, schools, homes and neighborhoods. Our Tricolor is a symbol of our national pride. It is a constant reminder of our striving and our self-belief. It is a day to look back with satisfaction and gratitude for what we have been able to achieve due to the efforts of successive generations of our elders. And it is a day to renew our resolve to fill the gaps that still remain in our nation building project  gaps that our talented young people will no doubt fill.

Freedom came to our country on the Midnight of August 14-15, 1947. It was the result of years and decades and centuries of sacrifice and valour on the part of our ancestors and our revered freedom fighters. These were men and women of rare courage and foresight. They came from all regions of the country, all sections of society, all communities and all social and economic groups. They could easily have compromised and settled for some personal benefit, but they did not. Their commitment to India  to a free, sovereign, plural and egalitarian India  was absolute. It was my privilege to honour these freedom fighters on the anniversary of Quit India Day on 9th August in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

We are fortunate that we have inherited the legacy of such remarkable patriots. They left us with a free India, but they also left us with unfinished tasks for the development of our society, for the empowerment of the proverbial last person, for their liberation from poverty, and social and economic inequality. Every breath in our collective life as a nation is a tribute to our freedom fighters  and a commitment to accomplish whatever is still unaccomplished.

If we define freedom in narrow, political terms, then August 15, 1947, marks a closure. It was the day the political struggle against an imperial power culminated in success and in our Independence Day. But freedom is a broader concept. It is not fixed and finite. Freedom is a constant and relentless endeavour. Even decades after 1947, each one of us can contribute in the manner of a freedom fighter. We can do so if we expand the frontiers of freedom and of opportunity for our fellow Indians and our beloved India.

Our farmers grow food for tens of thousands of fellow citizens whom they have not individually met and will never meet. They are upholding our freedom by ensuring food security and nutrition for our children. As we assist our farmers by providing access to technology and other facilities for enhanced productivity and enhanced incomes, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our Armed Forces stand guard valiantly on our borders, up in the cruel climate of the mountains or under the blazing sun, or in the skies or at sea. They are upholding our freedom by ensuring security from external threats. As we give them better weapons and equipment, build supply chains for such equipment in India itself, or ensure welfare benefits for our soldiers, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our police and paramilitary forces take on a variety of challenges. In battling terrorism, in fighting crime and law and order disturbances, or even in helping ordinary citizens by holding their hands while they cross a flooded street. In doing this, they are upholding our civic freedom. As we improve their professional and personal conditions, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Women have a special role in our society. The expansion of freedom in our country in many senses amounts to the expansion of freedom for women in our country. This is true whether we see them as mothers, sisters, daughters or simply as women who are entitled to a life of their choosing  and deserving of the opportunity and the security to fulfil their potential. They could do this as sheet-anchors of our families or as absolutely critical entrants to our institutions of higher learning and our workforce. The choice is theirs; as a nation and as a society we must ensure that they have the right and the ability to exercise that choice.

As we take this process further, by facilitating credit for women-run enterprises and start-ups or by easier availability of LPG in millions of kitchens and millions of homes, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our young people, both boys and girls, represent the hope and optimism of India. Our freedom struggle saw the active participation of the young and the old, but its energy was provided by the young. They chose different modes or activism in their quest for liberty  but their resolve and their idealism, their passion for a free India, for a better India, for a more equal India, was nonnegotiable.

Today, as we ignite the fire within our youth, by building capacities for skilling and scholarship; for technology, engineering and entrepreneurship; for creativity and crafts; for playing music and producing mobile apps, for excelling in sports, we are harnessing the unlimited human capital of our youth. In doing so, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

I have given only a few examples; there could be many more. The reality is that every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment, who contributes to society by being true to a professional ethic, be it the doctors ethic, the nurses ethic, the teachers ethic, the public servants ethic, the factory workers ethic, the business-persons ethic, the ethic of those who have to care for ageing parents who brought them up with love and sacrifice  each of these and many others are in their own way upholding the values of freedom. They are providing the fruits and goods and services of freedom to fellow citizens. Every citizen of India who does his or her duty sincerely, fulfils a personal and professional obligation and keeps to a given word is, at a fundamental level, upholding the principles of our freedom struggle. I would argue that every Indian who does not jump the queue and respects the civic space and rights of those ahead in the line also lives up to the principles of our freedom struggle. Its a very small gesture. Let us try and abide by it.

Dear Fellow Citizens

You may wonder if what I have said so far would not have held true in the years gone by, maybe 10 or 20 years ago or even earlier. To some extent, it certainly would. Even so, we are at a juncture in our history that is very different from any period we have so far experienced. We are at the cusp of achieving many of our long-awaited goals. Universal access to electricity, the elimination of open defecation, the elimination of homelessness, the very elimination of extreme poverty is achievable and attainable. We are at a pivotal moment. Let contentious issues and extraneous debates not distract us.

After four years, we will be marking the 75th anniversary of Independence. In less than 30 years, our people will celebrate the 100th anniversary of India as a free nation. The decisions we take today, the foundations we lay today, the projects we undertake today, the social and economic investments we make today  whether for the immediate future or for the medium term  will determine where we stand. The pace of change and development in our country is rapid and appreciable. And as per our civilisational traditions, it is driven by our people, by civil society and by a partnership between citizen and government. Its focus, again in keeping with the essence of Indian thought, is on a better life for the less fortunate.

I will give you just one example. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is taking seven flagship programmes to the very doorstep of the poorest and the most deprived among our fellow citizens. These services include access to electricity, access to the formal banking system, access to welfare and insurance programmes, and access to immunisation in hitherto hard-to-reach areas. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has been extended to 117 Aspirational Districts where, seven decades after Independence, we still have stark gaps in the development narrative.

Not surprisingly there is a significant overlap between the populations of these districts and historically weaker communities, such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As such, we have an opportunity to raise the quality of life for those of our fellow citizens who have unfortunately remained at the bottom of the pyramid. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is not being carried out by government alone. It is a collaboration of public agencies and community groups, with selfless citizens who are keen to share, to empathise and to give back.

Dear Fellow Citizens

Independence Day is always special, but this year there is an unusual significance attached to it. In a few weeks, on 2nd October, we will begin the commemoration of the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji did not just lead our freedom struggle. He was and still is our moral compass. In my capacity as the President of India, I have been fortunate to have travelled around the world, particularly to a few countries of Africa. Everywhere, across continents, Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India.

It is not always simple to understand Gandhiji. He refused to be restricted in his definition of politics and political activism, or even of freedom. When Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba, travelled to Champaran in Bihar for the indigo farmers agitation, they devoted a considerable part of their time to educating local people, particularly women and children, as well as teaching them about hygiene and health. Here, and on other occasions, Gandhiji personally led the drive for swachhta or cleanliness. He linked the removal of dirt to an act of self-discipline and of promoting physical and mental health.

Many were puzzled at that time. What does all this have to do with freedom? For Gandhiji, they were the centre-piece of the quest for freedom. This was a struggle, according to him, not just for political power but for empowering the poorest of the poor, educating the uneducated, ensuring the right to a dignified life and a feasible livelihood for every village, for every neighbourhood, for every family  and for every individual.

Gandhiji spoke of swadeshi with an uncommon zeal. To him this was a pride in promoting Indian creativity and an Indian sensibility. Nevertheless, he was alive to intellectual currents from the rest of the world. He invited these to enrich our learning. To him, Indian civilisation was defined by open windows and not closed doors. This was his concept of swadeshi and it is still relevant to us as we engage with the world  whether for our economy, our health, education and social aspirations, or our policy choices.

Perhaps Gandhijis most noble mantra was to point out that the power of ahinsa is far greater than the power of hinsa. The power to stay your hand is far greater than the power to strike with your hand and hinsa has no place in the society. The weapon of ahinsa was the most effective weapon Gandhiji gave us. Like his other teachings, it was rooted in the ancient wisdom of India and yet has a resonance in the 21st century and in our daily lives.

This Independence Day, so close to the 150th anniversary commemoration of Gandhiji, let each of us adapt his ideas and maxims, in whatever manner we can in our everyday work and conduct. I can think of no better way to celebrate our freedom. I can think of no better way to celebrate Indianness.

And this Indianness is not for us alone. It is part of what our country and our civilisation bring to the global stage. In the spirit of Gandhiji and the spirit of India, we believe in the age-old ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or the World is one Family. This is why we demonstrate our concern for entire humanity by providing assistance to many African countries, taking initiatives on the issue of climate change, contributing to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in different parts of the world, helping neighbouring countries affected by natural disasters, rescuing people from other countries along with our own people, trapped in a conflict zone. In the spirit of Gandhiji and the spirit of India, we share the practice of yoga for health and well-being, and using technology for development. We are Gandhijis children. We dream for all humanity, even when we walk alone.

Dear Fellow Citizens

In my engagements with students and university authorities all over India, I have urged students to spend a few days  maybe four or five days in a year  in a village. Undertaken as part of what may be termed University Social Responsibility, this will help students understand our country. It will allow them to observe and participate in social welfare programmes and see how they are making an impact. It will be of benefit to the individual student and to the village, as well as to the country. It will also invoke the fervour of our freedom struggle, and the identification of every citizen with the national mission.

I am gratified by the idealism and the passion of our young people. There is a spirit to achieve something for oneself, for ones family, for wider society and for our country. This is the most moral education we can wish for. The outcome of education is not merely a degree or a diploma, but the commitment to help improve the life of another in a way that is sustainable. This is empathy and fraternity in action. This is the Indian spirit. This is India, because India belongs to the people of India  not just to the Government.

Together we can help every citizen in our country. Together we can conserve our forests and natural heritage, we can safeguard our monuments for future generations, we can renew our rural and urban habitats. Together, we can eliminate poverty, illiteracy and inequality. We can and we must do this together. The government has a leading role but not the sole role. Let us use the governments programmes and projects to further our own efforts. Let us make that sense of ownership, our motivation.

With those words, I once again wish you and your families all the best for Independence Day and best wishes for a bright future.

Thank you

Jai Hind!

The full text has been taken from the official website of Press Information Bureau. It has not been edited for style or content by Firstpost.
A total of 160 prisoners, including 12 on death row, several serving life-terms, and many under-trials, voluntarily took part in the exam but Arun Gawli scored the highest, with 74 correct answers.

Nagpur: Mafia don Arun Gawli, currently incarcerated for life in Nagpur Central Jail, has not only passed but topped the 2017 Gandhi awareness exam, surprising many, an organizer said on Monday.

"Gawli scored 74 correct answers out of the 80 in the question paper in the open-book exams. We are happy that he has made a serious effort to imbibe Gandhian principles in his life in prison," Ravindra Bhusari, Trustee of Sahyog Trust, told IANS.

A total of 160 prisoners, including 12 on death row, several serving life-terms, and many undertrials, voluntarily took part in the exam held on 1 October, 2017.

The results, usually declared on 30 January, were delayed by seven months this year on account of "certain security issues."

Incidentally, topper Arun Gulab Ahir, alias Arun Gawli, was not even an original applicant for the 2017 exam, said Bhusari.

"It was only after Gawli saw the advance study material and other literature despatched from the Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal (BSM), Mumbai, to all the candidates, that he expressed his desire to participate in the exam," Bhusari said.

Gawli went to the examination hall along with the other 159 candidates and patiently answered all the 80 questions in the hour-long session, scoring the highest, 74 correct answers.

On Saturday, a function was organized by the Sahyog Trust and the top winners were awarded a gift hamper of khadi clothes and Gandhian literature, besides, handkerchiefs, Gandhian books, a pen and diary to write their experiences on the Gandhi awareness exam.

"The Sahyog Trust affiliated to BSM, Mumbai, have been conducting these exams for 11 years in various jails across Maharashtra with huge participation among the inmates," said BSM head T.R.K. Somaiya.

"We want to encourage them further by requesting the government to allow a remission of, say 5 days per annum, in their sentence. For every prisoner who appears successfully in the Gandhi exam, it would mean a lot," said Bhusari.

Popular as 'Daddy' among his supporters, Gawli, 64, was active in the Mumbai underworld in the 1970s and bitterly opposed absconder mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar's gang till the 1990s, with bloody gang wars between them.

He was convicted in 2012 in the murder of a Shiv Sena leader and sentenced to life imprisonment, which he is currently serving in Nagpur Central Jail.

In 1997, Gawli floated a political party, Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) and was elected a Maharashtra legislator. His wife Asha also served as a legislator, while his daughter is a municipal corporator in BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation.

Gawli's uncle Hukumchand Yadav is a legislator in Madhya Pradesh, while his nephew, Sachin Ahir is a former Maharashtra minister and currently the Mumbai head of the Nationalist Congress Party.
Over Rs 320 crore has been released by the Centre to the Kerala government as calamity relief fund during 2018-19, the Home Ministry said on Monday night

New Delhi: Over Rs 320 crore has been released by the Centre to the Kerala government as calamity relief fund during 2018-19, the Home Ministry said on Monday night. The allocation of the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for 2018-19 was Rs 214 crore, of which the central government's share was Rs 160.50 crore and the state government's share was Rs 53.50 crore.

The balance available in the SDRF account as on 1 April this year as reported by the state accountant general Rs 348.45 crore, a home ministry statement said. The first instalment of the central share of the SDRF for 2018-19, released on July 20 this year was Rs 80.25 crore, while the corresponding state share was Rs 26.75 crore. The second instalment of the central share of SDRF for 2018-19, released on 10 August 2018 was Rs 80.25 crore and the corresponding state share was Rs 26.75 crore.

The central government supplements the effort of the Kerala government by providing assistance for relief of immediate nature through the SDRF and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per the established procedure, the statement said. A State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) has been constituted for each state.

The central government contributes 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of the assessed SDRF each year. The first charge of relief expenditure is on the SDRF and in the cases of calamities of severe nature, it is supplemented from the NDRF as per the established procedure. Financial assistance under the SDRF/NDRF in the wake of natural calamities is by way of relief and not for compensation of loss as suffered/claimed, the ministry said. Additional expenditure, if any, incurred over and above or on other than approved items/norms, is required to be met by the states from their own resources. In the case of notified natural calamities, as per the established procedure, the state government is required to submit a detailed memorandum indicating the sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature.

On receipt of a memorandum, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is deputed for an on-the-spot assessment of damages and additional requirement of funds. The report of the IMCT is considered by the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union Home Secretary and then by a High Level Committee (HLC), chaired by the Union Home minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance, from the NDRF. In the instant case, based on a preliminary memorandum submitted by the Kerala government for additional assistance of Rs 831.10 crore the IMCT was constituted immediately on 25 July this year.

The IMCT have visited flood/landslides affected areas in the state from 7-12 August this year. Upon receipt of report from the IMCT, it will be processed for placing before the SC-NEC and HLC for consideration, as per the established procedure. Though enough funds are available in the SDRF, however the Union Home minister has announced release of Rs 100 crore in advance from the NDRF to help the state in providing relief measures to the affected people.

In the instant case, the central government has been providing full support to the Kerala government by mobilising/providing timely logistics and financial resources to supplement the efforts of the state government to deal with the situation effectively in the wake of floods/landslides.The logistics support provided includes 14 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Air Force and the coast guard helicopters, army columns, navy and coast guard personnel along with necessary rescue equipments, the statement said.


to Drill Cauchari Project

Brisbane, Aug 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Argentine-focused lithium exploration and project development company Lake Resources NL ( ASX:LKE ) is pleased to announce that it will shortly commence drilling at its 100%-owned Cauchari Lithium Brine Project which adjoins SQM/Lithium Americas and Orocobre/Advantage Lithium's world-class combined 14.8 Mt LCE lithium brine projects (*1).- Targeting same aquifers as SQM/Lithium Americas and Orocobre/Advantage Lithium- Drill locations are likely extensions of 14.8 Mt LCE lithium resource (*1) with results that include 600mg/L lithium with high flow rates- LKE expects these known high grade lithium brines to extend into its leases- Drilling rig secured - mobilising to site within 4 weeks- Lake holds 100% and secure title on 18,000 Ha Olaroz -Cauchari Lithium ProjectsLake originally secured the 18,000 hectare Olaroz-Cauchari leases in early 2016 and is the only ASX junior exploration company with a large lease area in a proven, world class lithium brine province.Lake will commence drilling at its Cauchari West project (see figures 1 & 2 in link below) with drill locations on the margins of SQM/Lithium Americas project and Orocobre/Advantage Lithium's project where results include 600mg/L lithium with high flow rates and 470mg/L lithium on the immediate lease boundary (*2). Lake expects these known high grade lithium brines to extend into its leases.A drilling rig has been secured and barring any unforeseen delays, drilling is targeted to commence at the end of next month. Lake is fortunate to have secured a rig given high exploration activity in the area.Managing Director Stephen Promnitz said: "Lake's Cauchari lease has all the hallmarks of being another large-scale lithium brine project located in a world-class lithium brine basin. We believe that the same brines as SQM/Lithium Americas and Orocobre/AAL projects extend into our leases.""Lake applied for these leases in early 2016, before the value of the adjoining brine projects were crystallised. Cauchari West, which has a strike length of 11km, and is nearly 2000 hectares in size, is an outstanding prospect and we are looking forward to commencing drilling."Systematically, we are advancing with the development of our large 100%-owned lithium projects and have lots of optionality in the asset base. Exploration at Kachi is ongoing and interest in the project from battery manufacturers and the lithium supply chain is high. The drilling of Cauchari is very likely to be a major value event for Lake and we look forward to keeping shareholders updated on progress.""Lake's Chairman and Managing Director recently advanced discussions in China and Japan with major players in the growing lithium supply chain for cathodes used in electric vehicle batteries. Unlike some recent commentary regarding oversupply the interest level and demand was high. Strong and ongoing interest continues for both project development funding and offtake from major participants."Footnotes:(*1): Combined resource of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) from SQM/Lithium Americas (11.8 Mt LCE) and Orocobre/Advantage Lithium (3.0 Mt LCE) from their respective market releases on the TSX, ASX and NYSE.(*2): Drill results released by Orocobre/Advantage Lithium from their respective market releases on the TSX and ASXTo view figures, please visit:About Lake Resources NL

Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (OTCMKTS:LLKKF) is a clean lithium developer utilising clean, direct extraction technology for the development of sustainable, high purity lithium from its flagship Kachi Project, as well as three other lithium brine projects in Argentina. The projects are in a prime location within the Lithium Triangle, where 40% of the world's lithium is produced at the lowest cost.



This method will enable Lake Resources to be an efficient, responsibly-sourced, environmentally friendly and cost competitive supplier of high-purity lithium, which is readily scalable, and in demand from Tier 1 electric vehicle makers and battery makers.
Congress asked if the BJP will agree to early dissolution of the Gujarat Assembly after Amit Shah endorsed the idea of simultaneous elections

Ahmedabad: The Congress Tuesday asked if the BJP will agree to early dissolution of the Gujarat Assembly, as the ruling party's national president, Amit Shah, has endorsed the idea of simultaneous elections.

Shah on Monday wrote to the Law Commission, saying that simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will curb expenditure and ensure that the country is not always in "election mode".

Asked for a comment, Congress's Gujarat in-charge Rajiv Satav sought to know if the Assembly in BJP-ruled Gujarat, where elections were held December 2017, too will be dissolved for this purpose.

"They (BJP) should declare whether they also plan to disolve the Gujarat Assembly under one nation-one election (plan). If you plan to undertake this, you will have to carry it out across the country," Satav told reporters here.

"So, is the BJP also planning to dissolve the Gujarat Assembly? The party should clarify its stand," he said.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani hit back at the Congress over Satav's comment, asking if the party was serious about discussing the concept.

"(Terms of) Vidhan Sabha (Assembly), Lok Sabha, Panchayats, etc., will have to be gradually synchronised for one nation-one poll. I would like to ask Congress if its intention is right and if it wants to do so," Rupani said.

"Congress does not want to talk about national interest. It is doing politics of vote-bank and caste. Narendra Modi has come up with the concept (of simultaneous polls) because it is in the country's interest," Rupani said, when asked for his reaction.
Delhi Police arrested nine more persons in connection with the vandalisation of a vehicle by a group of 'kanwariyas' in Moti Nagar on Tuesday, ANI reported.

Delhi Police arrested nine more persons in connection with the vandalisation of a vehicle by a group of 'Kanwariyas' in Moti Nagar on Tuesday, ANI reported. The police had earlier arrested two people in this regard.

On Saturday night, a 22-year-old man was arrested for allegedly being part of a group of Kanwariyas involved in vandalising a vehicle in west Delhi last week, police said.

The incident took place on 7 August on a stretch of a busy road near Moti Nagar metro station causing a traffic snarl and forcing some of the commuters to take a detour. A grey car being driven by a woman, who was with a male friend, allegedly hit a Kanwariya. A heated argument ensued between the two sides and it was alleged that one of Kanwariyas was slapped by the male occupant of the car. Following this, the Kanwariyas damaged the vehicle with sticks.

The couple, who was in the car, fled the scene fearing for their lives and refused to give any complaint in writing, police had said. On the basis of inquiries conducted by the police and available CCTV footage, a case was registered and the accused was identified.

On 10 August, a 26-year-old man was arrested in the matter a day after the Delhi Police registered a case against unidentified persons after a group of Kanwariyas.

Two days after the incident, one Rahul Billa was arrested in connection with the attack. The accused, Yogesh alias Rahul Billa, was identified after scanning CCTV footage and registers of nine Kanwar camps on Najafgarh Road, police said.

With inputs from PTI
Union Minister K J Alphons on Monday termed Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac's comment that the Centre's relief of Rs 100 crore for the flood-hit state was inadequate, a 'political' one and alleged that he did not visit the worst-affected areas.

New Delhi: Union Minister K J Alphons on Monday termed Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac's comment that the Centre's relief of Rs 100 crore for the flood-hit state was inadequate, a "political" one and alleged that he did not visit the worst-affected areas.

This comes a day after Home Minister Rajnath Singh sanctioned a grant of Rs 100 crore to flood-ravaged Kerala where 39 people have lost their lives in unprecedented rainfall, with the state pegging its damages at Rs 8,316 crore. The Kerala government had sought an assistance of Rs 1,220 crore from the Centre to tide over the crisis.

On Monday, Isaac took to Twitter to say the "precious" Rs 100 crore was "from the regular disaster management fund due to Kerala". During a media interaction at the Indian Women's Press Club in the national capital, Union Tourism Minister Alphons said "Thomas Isaac is complaining all the time. This is a completely political statement. During the UPA rule, the ministers from Kerala never visited the state in the event of a disaster unlike under the current regime. "We went there; the home minister, I, MoS (home) Kiren Rijiju, we all went. Isaac never visited his constituency Alleppey during these floods. What is he talking about? I have asked for a special package for Kerala."Alphons further said that there are clear guidelines for providing relief for disaster-hit states and the government has followed prescribed norms to offer assistance to Kerala. He said there was no scope for any "discrimination" against any state.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier said rebuilding affected areas will be arduous task and that he has been personally campaigning to get generous donations to the relief fund. The state government is providing Rs 4 lakh for those who lost houses and Rs 6 lakh for those who lost land, apart from Rs 3,800 per family in affected parts. The usual range for the first two categories is around Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, and the Rs 3,800 aid is unprecedented. Beyond these, the Kerala government has announced that it would provide compensation for farm-related damages by providing thrice the amount of what central rules mandate.
Several mediapersons from Kerala were allegedly assaulted by a group of private security guards at the Bishop House in Jalandhar in Punjab on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Several mediapersons from Kerala were allegedly assaulted by a group of private security guards at the Bishop House in Jalandhar in Punjab on Tuesday. The Delhi-based journalists were in Jalandhar to report on the police investigation and questioning of Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who had allegedly abused his position and repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala.

According to some of the journalists, the guards manhandled them and damaged their cameras and equipment while they were capturing the visuals of Bishop Mulakkal who had just returned to his headquarters from Chandigarh. No official comment was immediately available on the alleged assault of journalists.

A special team of Kerala Police earlier reached the Bishop House to question the Bishop but was unable to do so since he was in Chandigarh. Punjab Police then asked the Bishop to return and appear for questioning. Interrogation is now underway. The state government earlier today told the Kerala High Court that a decision on arresting Mulakkal, who has so far claimed innocence, will be taken after he is interrogated and the evidence examined.

As per the initial investigation of the police, Bishop Mulakkal abused his position and repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala, a special team probing the case told the Kerala high court on Tuesday. Responding to a petition seeking speedy investigation, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kottayam, K Subhash informed the court that the investigation was proceeding effectively and impartially.

The police statement before the high court was based on initial investigation and available evidence. It is revealed that Bishop Franco Mulakkal committed unnatural offence and committed rape repeatedly on the nun against her will, the statement read. The bishop confined the nun to a guestroom in St Francis Mission Home in Kuravilangad in Kottayam district of Kerala, the statement alleged.

In her complaint lodged with Kottayam district police, the nun accused Mulakkal of raping and having unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016. State police chief Loknath Behera on 1 August reviewed the progress of the case and permitted the investigation team to proceed to Jalandhar, New Delhi and other cities as part of the investigations.
Karnataka and Goa, the riparian states of the Mahadayi  known as the Mandovi river in Goa  had been locked in a bitter battle over sharing the waters of the river for some 50 years.

The Mahadayi River Water Tribunal on Tuesday allowed Karnataka to divert an additional 5.5 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water to the Malaprabha basin during the monsoon, ending the 50-year dispute with Goa.

The tribunal has allocated 13.5 TMC of water to Karnataka in total, of which 5.5 TMC is meant for drinking purposes in the Mumbai-Karnataka region, 8.2 TMC for power generation, and 1.12 TMC and 2.18 TMC for the Kalasa and Banduri streams, according to News18.

As news of the verdict spread, activists and farmers in Hubbali and other regions of north Karnataka began to stage protests, according to The News Minute.

The Mahadayi Horata Samithi welcomed the ruling pronounced by retired justice JM Panchal in New Delhi. The group expressed satisfaction with the judgment, claiming that the people of Karnataka had finally got justice.

Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar also tweeted about the ruling, saying that the verdict has done justice to Goa. He thanked the legal team for protecting the Mahadayi, the "lifeline" of the state. A tweet on the official twitter handle of the chief minister of Karnataka said that Kumaraswamy will respond to the final award of Mahadayi Water disputes only after studying the 12 volumes of the Final Award Recommendation Tribunal and consulting with all concerned.

Karnataka and Goa, the riparian states of the Mahadayi  known as the Mandovi river in Goa  had been locked in a bitter battle over sharing the waters of the river, which originates in Karnataka's Belgaum district, for some 50 years. Since 2001, Karnataka has been asking Goa to release 7.6 TMC of the river water to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of its people in four drought-prone districts.

Although the river flow runs along a 29-kilometre stretch in Karnataka and 52 kilometres in Goa, its catchment area  the area from where water drains into the river  is spread over 2,032 kilometres in the southern state as against 1,580 kilometres in Goa.

Mahadayi was one of the key poll issues in the recent Karnataka Assembly elections, in which the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) had accused the BJP-led central government of not doing enough to resolve the water-sharing dispute.

Last year, the Supreme Court had ordered Karnataka to stop work on the construction of a canal in Belgaum's Kankumbi village, which was aimed at diverting water from the Mahadayi tributary. Goa claimed that it had photographic evidence to support its claim that the work had begun. However, Karnataka had rejected the claim, saying there was no such activity.

In January, the Goa government had told the tribunal that Karnataka's Mahadayi river water demand was in reality for irrigating its sugarcane fields. Parrikar had said that his state could share the river water with Karnataka for drinking purposes and expressed his willingness for talks.
The Maharashtra government had urged the Supreme Court to allow students whose results would be declared towards the end of August to take admissions in professional courses by 31 August and the Supreme Court had acceded to its request.

Mumbai: Students in Maharashtra who have cleared their Class X and XII board re-examinations can seek admissions to professional courses by 31 August, Education Minister Vinod Tawde said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, he said the state government had urged the Supreme Court to allow such students to take admissions by 31 August and the Supreme Court had acceded to its request.

He said the re-exams are conducted in July but results are declared by August-end.

As per orders of the apex court, admissions to professional courses need to be completed by 15 August. Due to this, students who appeared for re-exams would not have been able to seek admissions in such courses.

The state government had sought permission from the apex court to allow students whose results would be declared towards the end of August to take admissions in professional courses by 31 August.

Tawde said the Supreme Court has accepted the state's request. He said in 2018, 18,278 students from the Science stream re-appeared for examination held in July and those clearing it would be able to get admissions to professional courses.
Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi Sohail Mahmood emphasised that 'peaceful relations' with all Pakistan's neighbours, including India, were accorded 'high priority' in the foreign policy vision outlined by the incoming leadership in Pakistan.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to congratulate him for winning the elections is a positive development, Islamabad's envoy to New Delhi said on Tuesday and expressed hope that such steps could lead to betterment of ties.

Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi Sohail Mahmood made the remarks during an event held at the country's chancery to mark the country's 72nd Independence Day.

"Modi calling PTI chairman Imran Khan after the results of the general elections is another positive development. And it is hoped that such positive developments will lead to the betterment of ties between the two countries," Mahmood said.

The envoy emphasised that "peaceful relations" with all Pakistan's neighbours, including India, were accorded "high priority" in the foreign policy vision outlined by the incoming leadership in Pakistan.

During the celebrations, the envoy hoisted his country's flag to the tune of the Pakistan national anthem.

As people greeted each other, students of the Pakistan High Commission School presented a medley of songs on the occasion.

According to a statement issued by the embassy, the high commissioner pointed out that the peculiar trajectory of India-Pakistan relations over the past 71 years had often led to political and military tensions and prevented the two countries from realising their optimal potential in socio-economic development.

"Our next generations deserve a better future  one marked by peace and opportunities for progress and prosperity," he said.

He also hoped that South Asia would "turn a corner" and be known in the world, "not for confrontation, but for cooperation".

Along with deepening of democracy in Pakistan, "impressive strides" were being made in the fight against the scourge of terrorism, Mahmood added.

On 30 July, Modi spoke to Khan, who is set to become Pakistan's next prime minister after his party emerged the largest political party in 25 July polls, and hoped that democracy will take deeper roots in the neighbouring country India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said Modi "also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood".

Khan is expected to take oath as Pakistan prime minister on 18 August.

In a goodwill gesture ahead of the Independence Days of the two countries, India on Monday released seven Pakistani civilian prisoners, taking the total number of jailed inmates repatriated in the last one week to 21.

Pakistan also freed 30 Indian prisoners, including 27 fishermen.
Sitharaman said a contract for procurement of nearly 2 lakh bullet-proof jackets with best of the class specifications is underway, while in order to ensure faster decision-making, be it for the day to day requirements of the troops or the ammunitions, greater powers have been delegated to the force headquarters and other lower functionaries.

New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Wednesday assured the armed forces that there will be no shortcoming in efforts to provide them all dues and facilities.

"In a first-ever exercise after independence, the Ministry of Defence, in consultation with the Army, has decided to reform the Indian Army in a planned manner," Sitharaman said.

"The first phase of the reforms involves redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), ORs (Other Ranks) and civilians," Sitharaman," she said.

Sitharaman said a contract for procurement of nearly 2 lakh bullet-proof jackets with best of the class specifications is underway, while in order to ensure faster decision-making, be it for the day to day requirements of the troops or the ammunitions, greater powers have been delegated to the force headquarters and other lower functionaries.

"All available funds are being put to optimum utilisation so that there is no shortage of essential items," she said.

According to her, in line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, the Defence Ministry has taken the decision to pay the uniform allowance and clarity has been brought in with respect to what is covered within the ambit of the allowance and what clothing items will be provided by the government.

"From the Ministry of Defence, our endeavour would be to provide all dues and facilities to our brave soldiers who guard the nation and ensure peace and thus, prosperity to the countrymen. Let me assure you that there shall be no shortcoming in this effort," the Defence minister said in a customary broadcast to the armed forces on the eve of 72nd Independence Day.

"Major reforms include optimisation of signals establishments, restructuring of repair echelons, redeployment of ordnance echelons, better utilisation of supply and transport echelons and animal transport units, besides closure of military farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations," she said.

Steps are also being taken towards enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army and improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps. This, she said, restructuring is aimed at enhancing the combat capability of the Army in a manner that the officers, JCOs and ORs will be used for improving the operational preparedness.

She said, the government had taken a "historic decision" to implement One Rank, One Pension (OROP) for defence personnel in November 2015 and had promised to pay arrears in four instalments.

OROP was one of the long-pending demands of the defence forces.

"I can say that all OROP arrears have been cleared now with over 10,788 crore rupees spent. More than 65.81 lakh defence pensioners have benefited from this," she said.

The Liberalised Family Pension, which was available to army personnel working on the Line of Control (LoC) or International Border (IB) along Pakistan border, has now been extended to the personnel working along the Line of Actual Control with China as well, she said.

The government has enhanced the monetary allowances for the gallantry award winners, she said, adding that to recognise and honour the bravery of soldiers, the National War Memorial is under construction near the India Gate in New Delhi, which will be inaugurated soon.
Rinki is among the nearly 20,000 transgender persons in Assam who have been left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) as they were unable to furnish the required documents.

Editor's Note: Of the 4 million who didn't make it to NRC, 2.48 lakh have been marked as 'D' voters. The Supreme Court has asked Assam government not to take any coercive action on those who are found to be without proper documents as required under recent National Register of Citizens. NRC, a product of Assam Accord, is expected to solve the fear of Bangladeshi immigrants that has been prevalent in the state for quite some time now. The Centre proposed in 1999 an updated NRC in Assam to solve the problem of "illegal immigration" and two pilot projects were conducted in Dhubri and Barpeta districts. But breaking out of a riot in Barpeta grounded the project. In 2005, when All Assam Student Union opposed the prime minister's visit to the state, tripartite talk between AASU, State government, and the Centre resulted in a decision to prepare a model for the NRC process, which was delayed yet again by over 5 years by the state government. It was only when Abhijeet Sharma of Assam Public Works (APW), an NGO, filed a writ petition in 2009 that the SC's direct intervention led to the start of NRC process in 2014. Firstpost will run a series which will feature 30 profiles in 30 days of those residents of Assam who have not been covered under the final draft of NRC which will decide if they continue to live in the state that they call 'home'.

***

Guwahati: Over the years, 29-year-old Rinki Bora has come to terms with the fact that she will never be part of her family because of her trans identity. But she is only now finding out that she has to pay a much higher price for breaking ties with her kin: Her identity as an Indian.

Rinki is among the nearly 20,000 transgender persons in Assam who have been left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) as they were unable to furnish the required documents. Many from the community have been disowned by their family or have fled homes. They were unable to submit the pre-1971 legacy documents to prove that their ancestors were living in Assam before 24 March, 1971.

Rinki's case is no different. Born as Moon Bora in Upper Assams Lakhimpur town, Rinki was only 10 when she left home after she realised she identified herself as a woman.

"I was five when I realised I liked dressing up, wearing lipstick and being feminine. For this, I was bullied by my peers, while my two elder brothers would beat me up. My parents were ashamed of me. I decided to leave," she said.

For a while, Rinki worked at a roadside food stall in Lakhimpur.

"One day, a customer told me that he has seen transgenders earn a good living by asking passengers in trains for money. I thought it was a good chance for me to interact with others like me and be a part of the community. So I boarded a train from Lakhimpur to Rangiya in lower Assam. The journey changed my life," says Rinki.

Once she was amidst other people like her, Rinki said she felt 'accepted' and even found a 'guru'. For a decade, Rinki stayed with her guru, Zeena, another transgender person from Assam, shuttling between New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. In this period, she got all her government identity cards such as Aadhaar and PAN made on her Delhi address.

Later, she returned to Assam and has been living near Kamakhya Railway Station in Guwahati, earning a living by begging on trains, making up to Rs 300 daily on good days and about Rs 100 on lean days.

For 17 years, she had had no contact with her family. Until one day, two years ago, when she saw her brother while begging on a train.

"I saw him and requested him to share documents that would help me apply for the NRC. He agreed to it and I was overjoyed when we exchanged phone numbers. But after the chance meeting, I called him up several times, he did not take my call," she said.

"I had no option but to go ahead with applying for the NRC with whatever documents I had on me," she said, adding that she was hoping that she would be able to make it to the list with a stroke of luck.

"The issue of citizenship in Assam is different. Here, citizenship is not proved by one's birth but through the legacy of their ancestors. I'm an Indian by birth but I need to prove my Indian legacy through documents which I don't possess," she said.

Rinki said that ID proofs like PAN and Aadhaar are not enough for inclusion in the NRC but that is what most members of the transgender community have. While the process of filing of claims and objections to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft published on 30 July begins on 30 August, the transgender community has been left in the lurch as most say they do not have new documents to submit.

Rinki is hopeful that NRC guidelines will be relaxed for those like her.

"There are many like me. My guru, Zeena, was also left out from the NRC list. She was disowned by her family in Jorhat. There is no way for her to get documents from them to prove her citizenship," she said.

Zeena said, "Like Rinki, I left home at an early age. I remained in touch with my siblings in Jorhat, but they refused to cooperate in getting my name enlisted in the NRC. There is little we can do. Our families don't want anything to do with us. We are treated like a blot on the family name."

A recently conducted first-ever study on human rights of transgender persons in the country under the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) stated that only two percent transgender persons live with their families. This explains the struggles of many from the community while proving their identity in Assam.

The All Assam Transgenders' Association (AATA) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court for inclusion in the draft NRC which will be heard on 16 August.

Swati Bidhan Baruah, founder of AATA and Assam's first transgender person to be a judge, said that approaching Supreme Court was the only option left for people of the community.

"At least 2,000 transgenders had applied for enrolment in the NRC but barely a few made it to the list. It is not possible for transgenders to get legacy documents from their parental homes as they are mostly treated as outcasts. We are hopeful that the apex court will lend a sympathetic ear to our cause," she said.

Chandrani Sinha is a Guwahati-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com.
A day after BJP president Amit Shah wrote to the Law Commission in favour of 'One Nation, One Poll', the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat said on Tuesday that 11 assembly polls held simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections would not be possible.

A day after BJP president Amit Shah wrote to the Law Commission of India in favour of 'One Nation, One Poll', Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat said on Tuesday that holding 11 Assembly polls simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections would not be possible.

According to CNN-News18, Rawat said that there are not enough VVPAT machines for simultaneous polls. The Law Commission is set to present a report on the issue by the end of August.

#EXCLUSIVE-- CEC OP Rawat contradicts BJP on #OneNationOnePoll, says '11 assembly polls with LS polls not possible'. pic.twitter.com/5bz3LcPSA5  News18 (@CNNnews18) August 14, 2018

Also speaking to CNN-News18, former CEC SY Quraishi said that the One Nation, One Poll plan needs a "very strong ground", and that it cannot be taken lightly. He also said that the postponement of polls is not possible.

#EXCLUSIVE -- 'The number of machines for VVPAT are not enough, and for #OneNationOnePoll there has to be very strong ground, it cannot be taken lightly. The postponement of polls is not possible', former CEC @DrSYQuraishi tells CNN-News18 pic.twitter.com/WfJb3PmfCt  News18 (@CNNnews18) August 14, 2018

News18 reported that Rawat said that if the government wants simultaneous elections be held then a decision on ordering more VVPAT machines will have to be taken in a month or two. "There are not enough VVPAT machines to conduct 11 state elections simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls in 2019. If such a thing is to be attempted, more VVPAT machines will have to be ordered and a decision in this regard will have to be taken in a month or two," said Rawat.

Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand are slated for elections towards the end of 2019, while Bihar will vote in 2020. BJP sources said since the JD(U) supported the BJPs call for simultaneous polls, it would not be difficult for the state to agree to the proposal.

Elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, which are scheduled for this year, could be clubbed with polls in Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram and Odisha to be held with the 2019 general elections, said sources, in the report.

In his letter, Shah suggested that in a progressive democracy such as India, having separate elections strained the resources of the state.

He wrote that during elections, when the Model Code of Conduct is enforced, development works and policy decisions have to be stopped till the poll is over. Drumming support for the One Nation, One Poll proposal, Shah wrote, "There is no relation between Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Voters vote on different issues in both polls. Therefore, we must have faith and trust the voters."


Letter to Shareholders

Perth, Aug 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Carnarvon Petroleum Limited ( ASX:CVN ) ( OTCMKTS:CVONF ) provides the Company's Letter to Shareholders.Highlights- Carnarvon's strategy generates significant shareholder value- Phoenix Project drilling proves what we'd hoped for and much more in Dorado- Buffalo Project remains active with the team focused on this oil production asset- Exciting outlook across a quality portfolioDear Fellow ShareholderThe past month has seen unprecedented activity for Carnarvon Petroleum.The level of excitement and interest from media, shareholders and the broader market in our recent drilling and operational activities has been significant.On behalf for the Company, I would like to take the opportunity to update you on our strategy and plans for the coming months, while also welcoming new shareholders to our Company.StrategyIn 2013, Carnarvon refined its strategic focus, making a decision to divest its onshore Thailand oil production assets and other Asian interests to concentrate on Australian investments.The decision was driven by the reality that investment markets were not fully valuing the Asian assets in the Carnarvon portfolio. In two transactions Carnarvon divested its interest in these assets, realising in excess of A$100m in proceeds before the drop in oil prices at the end of 2014.In refining the strategic focus, the Company decided Australia's North West Shelf represented a logical, manageable and compelling area of focus for our geoscience team, which was familiar with the province.This was viewed as a strategy that investors could embrace, appreciating the risks (and potential rewards) that come with offshore exploration. Fortuitously, the significant drop in the oil price from 2014 to 2017 caused discretionary exploration to be largely curtailed by most upstream companies.With a strong cash position and an industry in retreat, Carnarvon secured and progressed new projects with its inhouse geoscience team, including in areas that majors had overlooked as unlikely to yield significant discoveries.A further benefit of this point in the cycle was that significantly reduced rig rates were negotiated, compared to earlier years, and Carnarvon was one of the most active in drilling wells throughout the bottom of the cycle.Phoenix Blocks (predominantly CVN 20% working interest)The Phoenix Blocks represent one such area of focus. Following the recent completion of the Dorado-1 and Phoenix South-3 wells, Carnarvon and its joint venture partner will have drilled six wells in this sub-basin, with hydrocarbons discovered in each well.The Dorado-1 well was one of the higher risk exploration targets considered by our joint venture, and the decision to drill was taken because of the large geological structure (i.e. potential for large volumes of hydrocarbons) and the low drilling cost relative to the potential reward.The joint venture has now announced that the well encountered approximately 120 metres of net oil pay. Both the light oil recovered in the wireline testing and the indicative quality of the reservoir point to a highly valuable discovery.Yesterday we announced that the Phoenix South-3 well had intersected a large gross hydrocarbon column in reservoir that was at the lower end of our expected range. The Phoenix and Phoenix South wells have confirmed a significant gas condensate resource. The commerciality of this will be assessed in time, but it is the oil in Dorado and potentially successful adjacent structures that will now become our immediate focus. And we expect this to be highly profitable for shareholders in due course.Buffalo Project (100% CVN)A project that the Company is equally excited about, but that has attracted far less investor attention so far, is the Buffalo Project in Timor-Leste territorial waters.BHP produced oil for several years at Buffalo before the field was successfully abandoned in 2004. It's important to note that the field was still producing some 4,000 barrels per day when it was abandoned.Carnarvon's technical team, convinced that there could be a quantum of oil left behind that was material for a junior and commercially recoverable, set about applying modern seismic data technology to answer this question.Using cutting-edge reservoir mapping technology, we have remodelled the project and identified a very attractive redevelopment project together with new exploration targets.The project appears economically very compelling based on our preliminary mean recoverable volume of 31 million barrels, which has been reviewed by leading independent consulting firm RISC.Importantly the capital expenditure can be predominantly or entirely funded by Carnarvon.To emphasise the scale of this project, at today's oil price this project would generate revenue of more than A$3 billion over a project life of a few years.We are progressing discussions with the Timor-Leste Government, with whom we have a constructive and supportive dialogue, and have set up a representative office in the capital Dili.Both parties are aligned in our wishes to fast-track this project through to development, but at the same time to establish, confirm and adhere to clear guidelines and regulatory processes.The Australian Government remains involved in this process to ensure the Maritime Boundary Treaty is ratified and all stakeholders are aligned.Carnarvon is targeting the drilling of the Buffalo-10 well in 2019, which will not only provide physical confirmation of the technical work, but also serve as the first production well for the project.While we won't get the adrenaline rush of an exploration discovery from the first Buffalo well, it is expected to prove up a resource with total project costs modelled at around US$20 per barrel. This would make this among the lowest cost structures we've ever seen, indicating the project will have attractive economics in any foreseeable oil price environment.OutlookAs you can imagine, the Carnarvon office is a hive of activity. Our team, most of whom are significant shareholders themselves, are working hard to unlock the value of the Company's assets.The Dorado result is a truly spectacular discovery and I'm looking forward to reporting on the volumetric estimates in the next couple of weeks.The Buffalo project remains an ideal oil field redevelopment for us and we're making good progress with this asset.And of course, we're working hard maturing our other projects with the Labyrinth project currently open for farm in.Shareholders monitoring movements in our share price will have noted significant volatility over July and August. As speculators move off our register and are replaced by institutions seeking medium term exposure to two quality oil projects, with exploration upside, I'm expecting this volatility will become more manageable.I very much look forward to keeping shareholders informed on our progress, and to meeting as many of you as I am able in the roadshows and AGM to come.About Carnarvon Petroleum Limited

Carnarvon Petroleum Limited is an oil and gas exploration company, listed on the Australian stock exchange (ASX:CVN), Frankfurt (FRA:CJB) and US OTC (OTCMKTS:CVONF). Carnarvon has an extensive acreage position in the North West Shelf of Western Australia that is designed to offer investors high alpha leverage to the energy sector. The company's near term focus is on maturing oil, gas and condensate discovered in its Phoenix project, with partner Quadrant Energy, and on bringing into production oil from the Buffalo field.
As many as 1,662 uniform resource locators (URLs) or posts on social media were blocked over 18 months ending June 2018, Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister for electronics and information technology, told the Rajya Sabha (Parliaments upper house) on 3 August, 2018, as part of an explanation on combating fake news.

- Chaitanya Mallapur

Mumbai: As many as 1,662 uniform resource locators (URLs) or posts on social media were blocked over 18 months ending June 2018, Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister for electronics and information technology, told the Rajya Sabha (Parliaments upper house) on 3 August, 2018, as part of an explanation on combating fake news.

Recently, it has come to the attention of the government of India that a number of disturbing instances causing loss of innocent lives have taken place in various parts of the country, RS Prasad said in his reply on the issue of misuse of social media and fake news. These are deeply painful and regrettable, as well as a matter of deep concern for the government.

We have asked social media companies operating in India to:

- to appoint a grievance officer in India

- find technological solution for addressing mass circulation of fake news/ messages : @rsprasad in #RajyaSabha pic.twitter.com/X3P8QtwjQd  RSPrasad Office (@OfficeOfRSP) August 3, 2018

To address the challenges of fake news / messages and its spread on social media we need to have technological solutions and administrative alertness as well: @rsprasad in #RajyaSabha pic.twitter.com/GS4gj9eNii  RSPrasad Office (@OfficeOfRSP) August 3, 2018

Facebook blocked the most (956 or 58 percent) of URLs, under section 69A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, followed by Twitter (25 percent) and YouTube (9 percent).

Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 says websites/pages can be blocked in defence of India, its sovereignty, security and integrity, foreign relations, public order and to prevent incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence relating to above, Prasad said.

The intermediary or the website or page that fails to comply with the law can be punished with imprisonment up to seven years and fined.

Of 2,190 million Facebook users across the world, 9 percent were Indians as of March 2018; Indians account for 8 percent of Twitters user base and 4 percent of YouTubes. They also accounted for 13 percent (200 million) of WhatsApps user base as of February 2017.

In July 2018, Facebook removed the news page of the right-wing fake news website Postcard News, which had over 5,00,000 followers, on grounds of posting content that violated intellectual property rights, including copyright and trademark, BOOM reported on 16 July, 2018.

Co-founder of Postcard news, Mahesh Hegde, was arrested on charges of spreading fake and communally sensitive news in March 2018, The Hindu reported on 30 March, 2018.

New, inexperienced smartphone users bearers of fake news

Spread of fake news has been pernicious in India with new and inexperienced smartphone users sending billions of WhatsApp messages every day, the Washington Post reported on 2 July, 2018.

Internet users in India increased 324 percent over six years to 2016, from 92 million to 390 million, compared to 60 percent in China to 750 million, 20 percent in Japan to 120, 14 percent in the US to 250 million and 63 percent in Brazil to 130 million over the same period, according to data from International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency.

India had 473 million wireless internet subscribers in India on March 2018, of which 30 percent (144 million) were in rural areas and the rest (329 million) in urban areas.

As many as 33 people have been killed in 69 mob attacks related to rumours of child lifting since January 2017, IndiaSpend reported on 9 July, 2018. About 77 percent of these were attributed to fake news spread through social media. WhatsApp featured as the leading rumour source, accounting for 28 percent or 19 of the cases.

To curb the spread of misinformation, the government has issued advisories to social-media platforms to prevent the proliferation of fake news.

(Mallapur is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)
PDP leader Yasir Reshi said the Muftis and Abdullahs in Jammu and Kashmir need to be shown that politicians not part of dynasties could also rule the state.

MLC Yasir Reshi, a disgruntled leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday said that by end September, Jammu and Kashmir will have a new government headed by People's Conference chief Sajjad Gani Lone. At least "18 PDP legislators are in favor of forming a new government", and an independent MLA will also support the new administration, he added.

"I am confident that a new government headed by Sajjad Gani Lone will be in office by the end of September, and this government will be beyond the influence of the Muftis and Abdullahs," Reshi said.

The state has been under Governor's Rule since the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition in June. The saffron party had pulled the plug on the alliance, after which PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had resigned as the chief minister.

This is the first time a politician in Jammu and Kashmir has spoken on record about the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) latest forays to install its ally as the next chief minister of the state. Lone's Peoples Conference was a BJP ally in the coalition with the PDP. He had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the elections in the state, and his Peoples Conference had received at least one lakh votes in North Kashmir.

"It will be a government that won't shy away from taking nationalistic positions on subjects, unlike the National Conference and the PDP, who take benefits from the Centre and curse it in the same breath," said Reshi, one of disgruntled PDP leaders who have defied Mufti's leadership openly. "We are not the only ones who rebelled in open; 18 to 20 other MLAs are ready to form government under a new leadership with the BJP."

The PDP legislator from Baramulla constituency, Javed Hassan Beigh, backed Reshi's claim that Lone will run the new Jammu and Kashmir administration.

The BJP emerged as the second-largest political party in the last elections  it has 25 legislators in the 89-seat Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Lone's Peoples Conference has only two MLAs in the House, and if he becomes the chief minister, it would be the first time in the state's electoral history that a leader with such minor support in the Assembly would hold the office.

To form the new government, the BJP would need the support of 17 MLAs, excluding the two from the Peoples Conference. Reshi claimed that all the PDP legislators who will join the new government have already spoken to Lone.

Last Thursday, the BJP's Jammu and Kashmir in-charge, Ram Madhav, held a meeting in Srinagar with leaders of the party's state unit. Sources at the meeting said that Madhav had asked MLAs whether the BJP should form the next government in the state. The leaders had overwhelmingly supported the idea as being out of office would have affected the party in the next Assembly elections.

"We appraised him (Madhav) about the shortcomings of being out of power," a BJP leader said on Monday. "Now, it is time to capitalise on the gains made in the past three years and not lose the chance of governing."

Kavinder Gupta, former Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister, said that Lone had met Modi before the last Assembly elections knowing well that it would work in his favour. "He has publicly identified with us (the BJP). If the new government is under his leadership, how would that harm us?" said the BJP MLA from Gandhi Nagar in Jammu.

The BJP waited two months to make its latest move as the Amarnath Yatra was on. Soon after the PDP-BJP alliance ended, six PDP legislators, led by popular Shia leader Imran Ansari, had come out against Mufti and accused the party chief of promoting nepotism.

However, analysts believe that any new government with a PDP legislator will be fought with anti-defection law. The state's tougher anti-defection law makes switching sides practically impossible. Constitutional experts said that for a new government to escape this provision, the number of legislators wishing to desert a party should be two-third of the party's total seat count in the House.

To evade disqualification under the anti-defection law, at least 18 MLAs will have to walk out from the PDP and declare a new leader, and the new leadership is aware of the challenge, according to sources. "Any 'floor crossing' will go to the Speaker of the Assembly, who is from the BJP, and then to court, where a decision could take years," the sources said.

Lone is likely to approach Governor NN Vohra to stake claim to form the new government. Vohra, in turn, will most probably give him time to prove his strength in a floor test.

The BJP may be seeking relief from the fact that during the term of the National Conference-led government in 2011, seven BJP MLAs had cross-voted in favor of the National Conference, despite the state's stringent anti-defection law. If the law had been taken into consideration then, the MLAs would have been eligible for disqualification for crossing the party line. But this never happened as the Speaker delayed the decision.

Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness high-voltage drama soon as the BJP's bold attempt to back a new formation and the changing contours of state politics may bear fruit in the coming days.

"The uncles and aunties of state politics have to be dislodged," Reshi said. "They should understand that a commoner from outside the two families can also rule the state without belonging to political dynasties."
Senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar said he represented the government on the chief minister's direction at the funeral of the departed DMK leader M Karunanidhi.

Chennai: The ruling AIADMK on Tuesday hit out at top actor Rajinikanth for slamming Chief Minister E Palaniswami over his absence from DMK chief M Karunanidhi's funeral and claimed he used a condolence meeting to try to graduate from a "part-time politician" to "full-time" one.

Senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar said he represented the government on the chief minister's direction at the funeral of the departed DMK leader on 8 August. He said Rajinikanth should not have spoken about politics at the condolence meeting. "It was a condolence meeting for a departed leader. It is not a healthy thing to have spoken politics there... By speaking politics, it is evident that dear friend Rajinikanth lacks political maturity," he told reporters.

Jayakumar, the state fisheries minister, said charismatic yesteryear actor MG Ramachandran had floated the AIADMK "only against the late DMK chief" Karunanidhi.

Speaking at the condolence meeting organised by the South Indian Artistes Association for Karunanidhi on Monday, Rajinikanth had said many leaders were present during Karunanidhi's funeral at the Marina. "For his funeral, the whole of India came. State honours were given by members of the three armed forces. He was given a 21 gun salute. But one thing remains. The Governor, many chief ministers and Congress president Rahul Gandhi had come. Tamil Nadu's first citizen, the chief minister, shouldn't he have come? Should not the entire cabinet have come? What will people think? Are you MGR (AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran) or Jayalalithaa," he had asked.

Both MGR and Jayalalithaa were considered Karunanidhi's rivals.

Hitting out at Rajinikanth for his remarks, Jayakumar said he used the occasion for his own benefit. "He has used this to try to graduate from a part-time politician to a full-time one. His talk was like a seasoned politician. He used the demise of a leader to attract his (Karunanidhi) supporters to himself," he added.
The RTI was filed by activist Sanjay Sharma who claimed that the state was covering up their missteps relating to the tragedy, where over 60 children died.

An RTI response has revealed that BRD Medical College Hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur was facing a shortage of oxygen cylinders on 11 August, 2017, where more than 60 children died in the encephalitis and neo-natal ward. The incident sparked a national debate about the dismal state of government hospitals.

The RTI was filed by Lucknow-based activist Sanjay Sharma, who claimed that the government was trying to cover up their missteps in relation to the tragedy.

Sanjay Sharma was quoted by News18 as saying, The RTI response by BRD stating that oxygen cylinders were brought from outside makes it clear that there was a shortage of oxygen on August 11. The information which was asked last year has been made available in July this year and that too without the information of the probe report. If everything was right, then why arent they sharing the outcome of probe report?

After the incident occurred in August 2017, the Uttar Pradesh government had contested that oxygen supply had only dipped temporarily, but there was no shortage of oxygen in the hospital. However, on 4 July, 2018, the state accepted that hospital had a shortage of oxygen and it had got oxygen cylinders from two unauthorised persons, National Herald reported. The BRD Medical College also accepted that Kafeel Khan, the former nodal officer of the hospital, managed to get six oxygen cylinders from Gorakhpur's Anandlok Nursing Home, and four others, according to the report.

Khan was unabashed in blaming the administration for not releasing funds to the oxygen suppliers. Later, he was arrested and sent to jail along with the principal of the BRD College and seven others. Khan was charged under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, Live Law reported. After spending approximately eight months in jail, Khan got bail on 24 April, 2018 from the Allahabad High Court. He held the government responsible for the deaths of the children.

Speaking to News18, Khan said, [The incident] is nothing but government sponsored victimisation. Whatever happened on the night of 10 August, 2017, I will always call it a massacre and that was a fault of those who got 14 reminders in six months from Pushpa Sales for the payment.
The court agreed to an urgent hearing after lawyer Aishwarya Bhati said that army personnel are being prosecuted in AFSPA areas for performing duties.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court agreed to hear on 20 August a plea filed by 350 army personnel challenging the registration of FIRs against them for operations in areas where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is in force.

After the 350 armed forces personnel, six Manipur Police commandos also moved the apex court on Monday stating that a bench led by Justice Madan Lokur remarked that they are "murderers" before the trial began, which suggests that they will not receive a fair trial.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar agreed to an urgent hearing after lawyer Aishwarya Bhati said that army personnel are being prosecuted for performing duties in disturbed areas. Bhati said that dilution of the AFSPA protection to armed forces in disturbed areas will jeopardise the efficiency of operations against ultras and endanger national security, The Times of India reported.

The plea said that registrations of FIRs and prosecution of army personnel went against the provisions of AFSPA as they grant immunity to them for actions performed during official duties. The plea also said that such prosecutions lower the morale of the military and paramilitary forces.

On 16 July, the Supreme Court had agreed to examine a plea by the Jammu and Kashmir government, which stated the police does not require prior sanction before lodging FIRs against army personnel. The decision came to be after Lieutenant Colonel Karamveer Singh, father of Major Aditya Kumar of 10 Garhwal Rifles, filed a petition seeking quashing of an FIR registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in connection with the deaths of three civilians in alleged army firing in Shopian on 27 January, The Indian Express reported.

Singh had claimed that his sons name was included in the FIR which was registered without the Centres sanction. He said the Centres sanction was needed as AFSPA was in force in the state.

With inputs from PTI.
By Joyce Lee and Yimou Lee SEOUL/TAIPEI (Reuters) - South Korea marked its first 'memorial day' on Tuesday for girls and women forced to work in Japan's wartime brothels, with both of the U.S. allies expressing concern that the emotionally charged issue could undermine their relations. Under a 2015 deal, Japan apologised to the 'comfort women', its euphemism for women - many of them Korean - forced to work in its wartime brothels, and provided a 1 billion yen (now $9.4 million) fund to help them.

By Joyce Lee and Yimou Lee

SEOUL/TAIPEI (Reuters) - South Korea marked its first "memorial day" on Tuesday for girls and women forced to work in Japan's wartime brothels, with both of the U.S. allies expressing concern that the emotionally charged issue could undermine their relations.

Under a 2015 deal, Japan apologised to the "comfort women", its euphemism for women - many of them Korean - forced to work in its wartime brothels, and provided a 1 billion yen (now $9.4 million) fund to help them.

But South Korea has recently sought to revisit the issue.

"I hope that this issue will not lead to a diplomatic dispute between Korea and Japan. Nor do I see this is an issue that can be solved through diplomatic solutions between the two countries," South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in comments marking the first "Memorial Day for Japanese Forces' Comfort Women Victims".

"It is an issue that can be solved only when the world, including ourselves and Japan, deeply reflects on sexual violence against all women and human rights problems and comes to a strong awareness and learns a lesson in a way that prevents this from ever repeating again."

Japan insists the issue was resolved by the 2015 deal, struck with a previous, conservative South Korean administration.

A senior Japanese official said differences with South Korea on the matter could undermine efforts to "develop a future-oriented relationship".

"We are concerned that this may spoil such endeavours," said the Japanese official, who declined to be identified.

"We have reached out through diplomatic channels to stress the importance of steadily implementing the Japan-South Korea agreement," the official said, referring to the 2015 deal.

The bitterness over Japan's wartime actions comes as concern about North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and missiles has posed a threat to both South Korea and Japan, both of which play host to U.S. military bases.

Moon's administration has spotlighted the issue and has called for Japan to do more, despite backing down in January from a demand to formally renegotiate the 2015 deal.

In March, Moon described Japan's wartime use of the women as a crime against humanity. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga called the remarks "extremely regrettable".

TAIWAN PROTEST

A monument was unveiled as part of the events to mark the day, chosen as it was on Aug. 14, 1991, that South Korean comfort woman victim Kim Hak-sun became the first to give public testimony about her experience.

A think-tank funded by the South Korean government devoted to researching the issue also opened this month.

Japan has protested over monuments in South Korea dedicated to the women, including one in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, as well as the decision to designate a day to remember the women.

The issue has been a regular source of animosity between Japan and neighbours including China, North and South Korea and Taiwan, where earlier on Tuesday, more than 50 activists protested in front of Japan's representative office.

"Japanese government should apologise," chanted the protesters, many wearing black shirts with their faces covered by white masks. They also demanded compensation for Taiwan women forced to work in the brothels.

A bronze statue symbolising comfort women was also unveiled in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan, the United Daily News reported.

The unveiling was attended by former President Ma Ying-jeou.

Japan colonised the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945 and occupied parts of China before and during the war.

"It is quite regrettable to witness statutes of comfort woman being established or displayed in various parts of the world, which is incompatible with the position and measures taken by our government," the Japanese official said.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul and Yimou Lee in Taipei; Additional reporting by Jeongmin Kim in Seoul, Judy Peng in Taipei and Linda Seig in Tokyo; Editing by Michael Perry, Robert Birsel)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
A man, whose identity has not been revealed, was allegedly thrashed by locals at Srinagar's Lal Chowk when he was trying to unfurl the Indian flag at the Clock Tower.

Srinagar has been put on high alert on the eve of India's Independence Day as a scuffle broke out between locals and a non-Jammu and Kashmir resident when he made an attempt to raise the tricolour at Lal Chowk earlier on Tuesday.

The man was allegedly thrashed by locals at Srinagar's Lal Chowk when he was trying to unfurl Indian flag at Clock Tower and was later rescued by CRPF and police, reported ANI.

According to India Today, sources from the Jammu and Kashmir Police said that the non-local, whose identity has not been revealed, tried to hoist the tricolour at the Lal Chowk in Srinagar and it has resulted in tension in the area. Locals objected to the act, raised slogans and two people were arrested in the resulting scuffle.

The man is now in police custody. Before police arrested the man, there was a chaos at Lal Chowk as people began to raise pro-freedom slogans and pro-Zakir Musa slogans, reported CNN News18.

Last year six activists of the Shiv Sena were detained in Srinagar as police thwarted their bid to hoist a tricolour at Lal Chowk. The Shiv Sena activists arrived at Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) in two vehicles and were taken into preventive custody as soon as they alighted, a police official said. The detained activists were taken to the Kothibagh police station where they were released after completing legal formalities.

With inputs from agencies.
Rajasthan's Jodhpur and Marwar railway stations have emerged the cleanest among the major stations in the country in the latest round of cleanliness assessment study

New Delhi: Rajasthan's Jodhpur and Marwar railway stations have emerged the cleanest among the major stations in the country in the latest round of cleanliness assessment study.

While Jodhpur secured first position in A1 category stations in 2018, Marwar took the pole position in A category, according to the study report released by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal Tuesday. Both the stations fall under North Western Railway zone.

A1 and A category stations contribute 80 percent of the passenger revenue. The stations are categorised based on revenue generated and footfalls.

Releasing the report, Goyal suggested making the annual study a half-yearly exercise for bringing about greater competitiveness among the stations and ensuring a "test check" in maintaining cleanliness standards.

None of the major stations in the metros found a place in the top 10 list save for Anand Vihar in New Delhi which came in at fifth position.

New Delhi station was ranked 39th, a position it had held in 2017 too.

In the A1 category, Jaipur has been ranked second and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh third. Vishakapatnam had emerged at the top in 2017 ranking of A1 category stations. It has slid to 10th position 2018.

Phulera in Rajasthan took the second place among A category stations, while Warangal in Telengana was ranked third.

When asked about the worst-performing station in the cleanliness chart, Goyal did not name the station but said the North Central Railway is at the 16th place, indicating that it was the worst performing among all the zones in terms of cleanliness. The railways is divided into 16 zones.

"Last year, it was in the 15th place. We will take it up, (sic)" the minister said, highlighting the unique challenges confronting the zone.

"The zone is saturated, has over utilised infrastructure and passing through difficult times," he said.

The North Central zone is headquartered in Allahabad and the routes passing through it have over 110 percent capacity utilisation.

The North Western Railway topped in cleanliness zone-wise, followed by South Central Railway while East Coast Railway was ranked third.

According to the survey report, compared to 2017, there is nine percent improvement in top 100 stations, 14 percent in the next 100.

The cleanliness ranking, conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI), was started in 2016. Since then, according to the study, there has been a significant improvement in cleanliness aspect.

In 2017-18, average cleanliness of stations went up by 18 percent, and 61 percent of all citizens covered in the latest round of the study said the cleanliness was "above average", QCI chairman Adil Zainulbhai said.

Significantly, 47 per of the citizens felt train toilets are "cleaner now", he said.

According to the study, 39 stations scored over 90 percent, a major jump, given that in 2017 none of them were in this bracket. Besides, 161 stations scored over 80 percent in the latest survey.

The parameters adopted for conducting the survey across 407 A1 and A2 category stations were 'evaluation of process of cleanliness in parking, main entry area, main platform, waiting room, direct observation by QCI assessors of cleanliness and passenger feedback, with each of the parameters carrying 33.33 percent.

A team of 160 assessors were trained for the survey and the data was collected on real-time basis through an online platform.

"Approximately 1,20,000 passenger feedback has been taken into account for the survey. Not only that, a central control room, operating round the clock, was set up to monitor daily progress," railways said.

Jodhpur and Jaipur stations in Rajasthan scored 977.71 and 972.30 points respectively out of 1000, followed by Tirupati which scored 964.96 points among A1 category stations.

In A category stations Marwar and Phulera in Rajasthan scored 972.71 and 961.57 points respectively. Warangal, which is in third position, scored 956.23 points.
The Supreme Court on Monday accepted Centre's proposal to have hologram-based colour-coded stickers on vehicles that would help in identifying automobiles running on various kinds of fuels.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday accepted Centre's proposal to have hologram-based colour-coded stickers on vehicles that would help in identifying automobiles running on various kinds of fuels.

A bench of Justice Madan B Lokur, Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to implement by 30 September the scheme of colour-codes stickers on vehicles plying in National Capital Region (NCR). The Centre told the bench that the diesel vehicles will have orange stickers pasted on their windshield while petrol and CNG vehicles will have blue stickers. The bench also suggested the Centre to to consider having green number plates for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ANS Nadkarni told the court that the ministry would look into it and decide soon. The issue of colour-coded stickers was raised when the court was hearing a petition on air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Advocate Aparajita Singh, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the case, had told the court that there should be coloured stickers for petrol and diesel vehicles according to the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) suggestions. The amicus curiae said the colour-coded stickers would help to identify the kind of fuel being used in vehicles. The Centre also told the apex court that there was no objection to putting stickers on vehicles.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also issued notices to the CRPF, the National Human Rights Commission and others.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and Assam government on a PIL accusing the armed forces and state police of allegedly indulging in fake encounters in the state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud also issued notices to the CRPF, the National Human Rights Commission and others.

The bench on Monday also sought responses from General Officer Commanding of 4 Corps and chairperson of Operational Group, Unified Command  Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)  CRPF commandant posted in Chirang district of Assam.

Some of the senior officials of the central forces are named in the petition filed by former bureaucrat E A S Sarma. The PIL is based on a report filed by CRPF IG Rajnish Rai in April 2017 alleging "cold-blooded fake encounter killing of two suspected members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) faction" on 30 March last year in Assam's Simalguri village.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for Sarma and cited newspaper reports claiming that Rai had met some of the witnesses to the alleged fake encounter. The former bureaucrat has sought a thorough probe into March 30, 2017, joint operation by Army, Assam Police, CRPF and SSB at Simalguri village in Chirang district, resulting in the killing of suspected NDFB(S) members Lucas Narzary aka N Langfa and David Islary alias Dayud.


Positive Sampling Results at Ginamwamwa Prospect

Sydney, Aug 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Kingston Resources Limited ( ASX:KSN ) (Kingston or the Company) is pleased to report encouraging exploration results from the Ginamwamwa Prospect (Ginamwamwa), located south of the Umuna Pit at the Company's flagship Misima Gold Project.Highlights- New sampling highlights Ginamwamwa potential at Misima Gold Project- Surface mineralisation identified over a strike of 500m with results including:o 25m @ 1.67g/t in channel sampling including samples up to 16.9g/to Southern zone of high grades averaging 4.91g/t Au- Sampling and structural mapping ongoing- Auger sampling now completed at Misima North initial target areas T2 & T3- More assay results from Misima drill program expected in coming weeksGinamwamwa was identified during fieldwork in early 2018(see Note below) with reported samples returning gold grades as high as 39g/t(see Note below) and is developing into a significant discovery with surface mineralisation identified over +500m strike length.Recent mapping and channel sampling has extended the prospect 200m to 300m northeast along the previously identified structural corridor. An intensively sampled area of closely spaced artisanal workings on the southern side of Ginamwamwa has averaged 4.91g/t Au, within an area of ~40m in diameter. (Figure 1 overleaf)(see link below).Approximately 200m northeast, a channel dug perpendicular to the interpreted strike of mineralisation has intersected a 25m mineralised zone averaging 1.67g/t Au including samples up to 16.9g/t.Channel sampling and structural mapping over Ginamwamwa continues with a view to generating future drilling targets. The Company is currently excavating costeans with an excavator to accelerate the progress.Further, Kingston advises that two structural targets over the Umuna Shear at Misima North have now been tested for geochemical anomalism by initial gridded auger sampling programs. Targets T2 and T3 were highlighted in early 2018 during the regional review conducted by Dr Greg Cameron. Both areas contain interpreted local flexures in the strike of the Umuna Shear characteristic with dilation - a classic structural setting for gold mineralisation in this environment. Assay results from this work are expected this quarter.Kingston Resources Limited Managing Director, Andrew Corbett said:"Recently completed work at Ginamwamwa is uncovering a highly prospective new area of mineralisation just south of the Umuna Pit. Our very capable in-country team has been working closely with artisanal miners and are beginning to develop a broader understanding of the area.""The initial high-grade results that we have received over a +500m strike length are most encouraging. Channel sampling and structural mapping activities continue at the prospect which will pinpoint future drilling targets. It is also important to note that this area is a new discovery so none of the mineralisation is included in our current 2.8Moz resource.""Our exploration activities are progressing well across the Misima Project, which include more mapping, channel sampling, auger sampling and drilling. Next assay results from recent drilling will be finalised towards the end of the month after which time we will be able to provide shareholders with a steadier stream of results. Misima is shaping up as a great asset with significant upside."Assay samples from drill program pending:Samples from the initial two drill holes are now undergoing final analysis in Townsville and are expected to be finalised very soon. These initial samples had been held up with the service provider in Townsville while clearing a backlog of work. Going forward, the provider has assured Kingston that turnaround times are expected to be reduced. More samples are currently in transit to Lae for sample preparation, following which they will be shipped to Townsville for final analysis. These results are expected in the coming weeks.Note: ASX-KSN announcement 27 March 2018To view figures, please visit:About Kingston Resources Limited

Kingston (ASX:KSN) is a metals exploration company. Currently the Company's priority is the world-class Misima Gold Project in PNG, which contains a JORC resource of 2.8Moz Au, a production history of over 3.7Moz and outstanding potential for additional resource growth through exploration success. Kingston currently owns 70% of the Misima Gold Project.

In addition, Kingston owns 75% of the Livingstone Gold Project, WA which holds a 50koz resource and is the site of ongoing exploration and a number of high-grade historic intersections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said there are proof of links between terror outfits and those who oppose developmental projects in states.

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said there are proof of links between terror outfits and those who oppose developmental projects in states. In an interview to Tamil newspaper Daily Thanthi, Modi said in the recent times it has been observed that some people hinder the implementation of developmental projects in states.

"There are proof of such people having links with terror outfits. It is not only me who is saying this, even my predecessor Manmohan Singh had rightly said that some foreign non-governmental organisations (NGO) are instigating protests against the nuclear power project in Kudankulam," Modi said in an e-mail interview to the news daily.

He was responding to a question about Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan saying that there are movements of terror organisations in Tamil Nadu and their activities are of serious concern. Continuing further, he had said that these terror outfits create fear among innocent people about projects that are for the welfare of people.

Asked about Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's statement that Tamil Nadu is one of the most corrupt states in India, Modi said it is the right of the people of that state to estimate the performance of their governments. "My government is against corruption. It will fight corruption wherever it is. No other government since Independence has fought against corruption like ours," Modi said.

On the issue of aligning with Rajinikanth when he floats a political party, Modi said the question itself is hypothetical and he cannot be expected to answer that. Modi said without the support of AIADMK and DMK, the BJP won one Lok Sabha constituency in the last general elections. "It is not an ordinary achievement in Tamil Nadu. We have some traditional pockets of support. That support base is now expanding. For a long period, the choice was limited in Tamil Nadu elections, but now youth are in search of an alternative," Modi said.
The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered a CBI inquiry into the police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi which had killed 13 people, media reports said.

The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered a CBI inquiry into the police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi which had killed 13 people, media reports said. All cases relating to the violence will now be transferred to the central bureau, CNN-News 18 reported.

#BREAKING -- Madras High court orders CBI inquiry into Tuticorin Unrest | @nimumurali with more updates pic.twitter.com/fC1zlm5cGQ  News18 (@CNNnews18) August 14, 2018

Reacting to this, Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar told ANI that the state government will definitely hold a meeting to discuss this.

The court also quashed an order detaining six members of the 'Makkal Adhikaram,' a Left outfit accused of inciting violence in the district. Six of them were arrested under the National Security Act. A division bench of Justices CT Selvam and Basheer Ahmed passed the orders on a batch of petitions related to the Tuticorin police firing.

On 22 May, after the Thoothukudi district collectorate was picketed to seek closure of the Sterlite copper plant, a unit of the Vedanta group, over pollution concerns, large-scale violence had followed.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on 17 August the plea of Tamil Nadu government challenging an order of the National Green Tribunal allowing mining major Vedanta access to the administrative unit inside its closed Sterlite copper plant at Thoothukudi in the state. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar considered the submission of the state government and posted its plea for hearing on 17 August.

Earlier, on 12 August Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami had chaired a meeting of ministers and officials to discuss the next course of action in the Sterlite copper smelter plant closure issue. In a statement, the government said that Palaniswami chaired a meeting of ministers and officials to decide on the next course of action after the NGT orders on the case filed by Vedanta Ltd that owns the Sterlite copper smelter plant in Tuticorin, around 650 kilometres from Chennai.

On 1 August, the Madras High Court had held up the Palaniswami government demanding an explanation of the circumstances that led to police firing into a crowd in Thoothukudi by 6 June. The protest took place last month, leading to the death of 13 people.

With inputs from PTI
The woman filed a complaint at a police station in Maharashtra's Kalyan area. Offences have been registered against the accused under relevant IPC sections

Thane: A 29-year-old woman activist of a political party was allegedly molested and beaten by three men while she was travelling in an auto rickshaw in Maharashtra, police said on Tuesday.

Her woman colleague and the auto rickshaw driver were also beaten up by the accused when they tried to save her, Thane Police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar said.

The victim was returning home from work along with the colleague in Kalyan town in the wee hours of Monday when the three men intercepted the vehicle and tried to board it. When the woman told them that it was not a shared auto rickshaw, they stood in front of the vehicle and obstructed its movement, Narkar said.

The men then allegedly molested the woman, pulled her out of the three-wheeler and slapped her, she said. They also beat up her colleague and the auto rickshaw driver when they tried to rescue her, Narkar said.

The victim, who is an activist of a political party, filed a complaint at the Kolsewadi police station in Kalyan on Monday evening. Narkar said the three men have been identified and a search is on to nab them.

Offences have been registered against the accused under IPC sections 354 (molestation), 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and other relevant provisions, she added.
Two Pakistani troopers were killed by the Indian Army in response to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, said Defence spokesperson.

Two Pakistani troopers were killed by the Indian Army in response to ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said on Tuesday.

Indian troops carried out operations on Monday night after the ceasefire violations. The incident happened in the Tangdhar sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara.

"In retaliatory action to unprovoked ceasefire violations and repeated attempts to facilitate infiltration by Pakistan Army in Tangdhar sector, our troops carried out calibrated operations last night in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.

The Army's action was a response to unprovoked firing from the Pakistan side in which one Indian soldier died, reported Deccan Herald.

With inputs from PTI.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid has released a statement post the attack on him by an 'unidentified person' in Delhi on Monday.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid has released a statement post the attack on him by an "unidentified person" in Delhi on Monday. Khalid had escaped unhurt after an unidentified man allegedly shot at him outside the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, the police said. Umar was at the venue to attend an event titled Khauff Se Azaadi, organised by the United Against Hate group.

Here is his full statement on "the attempt on his life" re-produced as it appears on his Facebook profile:

They cant scare us into silence!

(My statement on the attempt on my life, yesterday)

With the repeated death threats against my life, and having seen the assassinations of one activist after the other in the last few years, I somehow knew that someday a gun may be turned against me too. Dhabolkar, Kalburgi, Pansare, Gauri Lankeshthe list of assassinations has been ever-growing. But can I say that I was ready for this? Can anyone ever say that they are ready for such an eventuality for real? No. And two days before 15th August, the question also is what does freedom even mean if the citizens of this country have to be ready to die for their crime of just being vocal against injustice? What is most paradoxical is that I had gone to attend an event named Freedom from Fear today when an unidentified gunman attacked me and tried to kill me in front of the Constitution Club.

The fact that two days before Independence Day, in one of the most High Security zones of the national capital, an armed assailant could dare to attack me in broad daylight only goes onto show the brazen impunity that some people feel they enjoy under the present regime. I do not know who he was or who are the forces behind him. That is for the police to investigate. But I want to state here that if something untoward would have happened yesterday, or if it were to happen tomorrow, then do not just hold that unidentified gunman responsible. The real culprits are those who from their seats of power have been breeding an atmosphere of hatred, of bloodlust and fear. The real culprits are those who have provided an atmosphere of complete impunity for assassins and mob lynchers. The real culprits are those spokespersons of the ruling party and the prime time anchors and TV channels who have spread canards about me, branded me anti-national based on lies and virtually incited a lynch-mob against me. This has specifically made my life extremely vulnerable.

Even today, even after the police has registered an offence under Section 307 and Arms Act, why is it that a MP from BJP, Meenakshi Lekhi and other saffron agents online are trying to suggest that the attack never happened, or worse that I engineered it on my own? Even as I havent pointed fingers at anyone, why are they so desperate to twist the narrative? What should this desperation be taken as a sign of? Their own culpability? Well, if one is to just look into the murder of Gauri Lankesh as an example, the arrests one after the other clearly exposes the hands of Hindutva terror outfits. So when we say unidentified gunmen, what is important is to identify the real players behind these terror attacks.

This hate campaign against me has been going on for last two years. There is no evidence, only lies. There has been no charge-sheet, only media-trial. There are no arguments, only trolling. There has been no debate, only death threats. And today it has all come down to a gun. Why is it that hashtags like Tukde Tukde has literally become a prefix to my name, whereas BJP leaders openly support those who say they will do tukde tukde of the country if a certain movie is released? Why is that I am called an anti-national and subjected to a never ending media trial, but there is no outrage against those who burnt the Constitution in the heart of the capital, in the presence of the Delhi police just a few days back? Why is it that those who are hell-bent on polarizing the country by hate-mongering against the minorities and by felicitating mob-lynchers are respected, revered and garlanded? And we who speak against hatred are villainized? Why is it that those who speak of dividing the society in the name of caste and attack the dalits  the likes of Shambhaji Bhide, whom PM Modi calls a mahapurush- are not accused of breaking the country to pieces? Why is it that the people in power who want to sell off this country piece by piece to big corporates at the cost of the poor, are celebrated as deshbhakts and their critics deemed as anti-nationals? These are all relevant questions today.

If they believe that with attacks like this they are going to scare us into silence, then they are gravely mistaken. The ideas of Gauri Lankesh, the ideas Rohith have outlived them. They cannot browbeat us into silence, neither with their jails, nor with their bullets. We proved it yesterday itself. Despite the attack on me, the program Khauf Se Azaadi (Freedom from Fear) by United Against Hate was successfully held in the Constitution Club. Najeebs mother Fatima Nafees, the wife of Alimuddin (whose killers Union Minister Jayant Sinha garlanded recently) Maryam, the mother of Junaid (16 year old lynched on a train last year) Fatima, Rakbar Khans brother Akbar, Dr Kafeel Khan along with Prashant Bhushan, Prof. Apoorvanand, SR Darapuri, Manoj Jha and many others addressed the gathering raising their voice against hatred, lynchings and the terror spread by these saffron terror. That is the spirit of our resistance.

I also wish to reiterate the demand that the Delhi Police should provide me with security as there is a continuous threat to my life. In the last two years, I have demanded police protection twice from the Delhi Police, but only to be met with a callous response. I have been given death threats several times in the past and receive several threats and inciteful messages everyday on social media. After yesterdays incident, what is the Delhi Police waiting for? I appeal to all democratic forces to pressurize the Delhi Police to provide me with security, as it is no longer possible for me to go anywhere anymore without security.

I thank the countless well-wishers and co-fighters of justice who have stood by me and spoken out against this cowardly act. This is a collective fight for democracy that we all are part of, and we shall certainly defeat the followers of Savarkar and Godse. Tomorrow while there will be once again a shower of high voltage lies and sugar-coated jumlas from the ramparts of the Dalmia Groups Red Fort, our fight for real freedom and dignity, and making the dreams of Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb Ambedkar into a reality will continue with greater resolve.

Jai Bhim, Lal Salaam

Umar Khalid

Disclaimer: This article has been reproduced as it appeared on Umar Khalid's Facebook profile and has not been edited by Firstpost staff.
The biggest threat staring at Kerala after the rains is a host of water-borne diseases caused by mosquitoes and bacteria.

With rains slowing down and water level in reservoirs of most of the dams in most parts of Kerala receding, the state government and various agencies involved in the rescue and relief operations have heaved a sigh of relief.

However, the woes of thousands of people displaced by floods as well as landslides are far from over. The biggest threat staring at them when they return to their homes after the rains is a host of water-borne diseases caused by mosquitoes and bacteria.

Kerala has already been witnessing outbreaks of epidemics like dengue, chikungunya, malaria, diarrhea, typhoid, leptospirosis, cholera, jaundice and viral fever during the monsoon for the last few years. While dengue, chikungunya, and malaria are caused by mosquitoes breeding in stagnated waters, diarrhea, cholera and jaundice are caused by consumption of contaminated water and unhygienic foods.

Public health expert Dr PK Aravindan said that maximum vigilance was required against dengue fever and leptospirosis. The two diseases have claimed as many as 57 lives in the state between 1 January and 31 July this year, according to state health officials.

Total number of confirmed dengue cases reported from government hospitals during the period was 3,077. For leptospirosis, the number was 520. Curiously, maximum number of 2,231 dengue cases were reported since the onset of monsoon on 29 May. The number of leptospirosis cases reported since 1 June stands at 292.

Over 33,100 diarrhea and 16,27,300 fever cases were also reported from government hospitals across the state during the period. The two diseases claimed 35 lives between January and July, according to the health officials.

Dr Aravindan said that the flood may trigger more mosquito-borne diseases as floodwater had entered homes and waterlogged the surrounding areas. The floodwaters contaminated with discharge from sewage and various outlets of waste water and sewage are perfect conditions for mosquito breeding.

When cleaning up the house after flood, people normally ignore the stagnant pools of water and other mosquito breeding sites around their houses. The civic authorities are mostly focusing on roads and flooded public areas. Therefore, people themselves will have to take care of the breeding sites around their houses, he added.

V Ramankutty, director of Achutha Menon Centre for Health Sciences, said floodwater can cause a number of other water-borne diseases too. The stagnated waters around the houses are breeding grounds of not only mosquitoes but also pests that trigger various infections.

Floodwater often contains infectious organisms, including intestinal bacteria such as E coli, salmonella, and shigella, hepatitis A virus and agents of typhoid, paratyphoid and tetanus.

We cannot predict the post-flood situation. Kerala has been witnessing the return of several diseases that were eradicated earlier. Many of them are coming back with increased furiosity, he told Firstpost.

Health activists said that the situation in flood-affected areas was very grim. Suja Jose, a health activist at Alappuzha, said that doctors in the state health services were mostly focusing on people housed in the relief camps and ignoring people living in waterlogged areas.

She told Firstpost that people living in the flood-affected areas were not even getting safe drinking water. Most of the wells in the affected areas are contaminated. The water from these wells cannot be used for drinking unless they are cleaned and chlorinated. She said that many people were forced to drink this as there was no other alternative source available.

The flood water has filled septic tanks and toilets in all low-lying areas in Kuttanad region. The wastes from the tanks and toilets have spilled over and spread around the houses. They will lead to several water-borne diseases, Suja said.

She said that people have been wading through waterlogged areas without any protective gear. This condition is ideal for transmitting leptospirosis bacteria to human beings, she said, adding that the Kuttanad region was one of the most leptospirosis-prone areas in the state now.

State health director KL Saritha said that they have brought out an action plan to deal with the post-flood health challenges. She told Firstpost that they will undertake a massive drive in collaboration with local bodies, Kerala Water Authority, Food Safety Commission, Kudumbashree and other voluntary agencies as soon as the water recedes from the flood-affected areas.

The action plan envisages supply of safe drinking water, cleaning of drinking water sources, distribution of chlorine tablets, testing of blood, stool and rectal swab of people with symptoms of water borne diseases, testing of quality of the drinking water etc.

She said that the department had also drawn up preventive measures against rat fever, food poisoning, lifestyle diseases and even mental depression. Accredited social health activists under the National Rural Health Mission and health volunteers will be deployed to run the campaign, which include classes, house visits and distribution of posters.

A senior health official said the task to prevent post-flood communicable diseases was not easy as the entire health machinery was now focused on providing medical assistance to the people housed in the relief camps. The relief camps need close monitoring as there are many children, pregnant women and aged there requiring personal care.

The official, who did not want to be identified, said that many such vulnerable people have been shifted to hospital and are being cared for. He said that the department was gearing up to face the post-flood challenges as soon as doctors and field staff deployed in the relief camps return.

The official said that the process will take time as heavy rain, flood and landslides were continuing in some districts even now. He said that health authorities in districts where rains have subsided have already started the preparations to combat the challenge.
There were reports that the biennial event  considered the largest aerospace exhibition in Asia  may be organised at the Bakshi Ka Talab air force base in Lucknow in October.

The ongoing tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress in Karnataka over the venue of the Aero India 2019 does not seem to die down any time soon with Chief Minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy stating that the move in the venue was considered as an agenda ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, clarified that there is no move to shift the show from Bengaluru to Lucknow.

There were reports that the biennial event  considered the largest aerospace exhibition in Asia  may be organised at the Bakshi Ka Talab air force base in Lucknow in October.

Aero India has traditionally been organised at Indian Air Force's Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru. PTI quoted sources from the defence ministry as saying that they have received requests from a number of states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to host the next Aero India show.

Why does UP want to host the Aero India 2019

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier requested the defence minister to hold the show in Uttar Pradesh. The decision may bear political significance as the state has the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats. "I request the defence minister to hold the Aero India show in Uttar Pradesh. We will provide every type of facility. In this context, I request her to announce this at the earliest so that we can proceed with the preparations," Adityanath had said.

According to reports, the show is likely to be held during November-December, around the same time that neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh go to polls. The Lok Sabha elections will also be held in April-May.

Kumaraswamy had earlier written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, insisting that Bengaluru, and not Lucknow, would be the "best choice" for the event. "Bengaluru being the hub for defence and aviation majors of the country, is certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show," he said in the letter.

Venue shift because of Lok Sabha polls?

According to The Hindu Business Line, in an event in Hubbali during the weekend, Kumaraswamy also stated that the shift is politically motivated, with the Lok Sabha polls in mind. "The Defence Ministry is shifting world-renowned Aero India to Lucknow this year with the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in mind, he said.

Reports about shifting the venue have triggered a public spat between the Congress and BJP. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee had earlier written to Sitharaman, telling her that as a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, she should protect the interests of the state and ensure that Aero India show was retained in Bengaluru.

A miffed Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara had said last week that under the NDA regime, the state was losing key defence projects to other states. Speaking to reporters at Gadag in north Karnataka, Opposition BJP leader in the Assembly BS Yeddyurappa on Monday supported the state and said the party, its MPs and central ministers from the state would make all efforts to retain the show in Bengaluru by bringing pressure on the Centre. He accused Congress leaders of creating "unnecessary confusion" over the issue.

State revenue minister RV Deshpande also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi on Saturday to speak about the shifting of the venue of the air show. "Karnataka is the aerospace capital of India, a pioneer in the contribution of high tech ecosystem to the Indian Aerospace Industry by attracting 65 per cent of aerospace investments and producing a quarter of Indias Aircraft and spacecraft," the statement said.

World class Aerospace park is also coming up in Bangalore. Moreover, Bangalore has been hosting the biennial Airshow successfully for the past 20 years. In this background he urged the government of India to reconsider its decision, the statement further read.

Looks like BJP MPs have lost their spine when it comes to protecting our states interest, Priyank Kharge, minister for social welfare, tweeted on Saturday.

We have two Union ministers from the state who are serious about taking this matter up. The Union government has done a lot for Karnataka and Bengaluru in particular including Metro and the suburban rail. We are sad that we may lose Aero India but that doesnt mean the party hasnt done anything at all for Karnataka, MP P C Mohan said.

Ever since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been playing host to Asia's biggest air show, in which 549 global and Indian companies from 51 countries participated at the 11th edition, held in February 2017. Additionally, the city has a strong Defence vendor base created by public sector units such as HAL, BEL, BEML and ISRO, according to The Hindu Business Line. Karnataka also attracts 65 per cent of aerospace investments and produces a quarter of the countrys aircraft and spacecraft.

With inputs from agencies
According to the East Delhi district administration, the water level of the Yamuna river reached 205.08 metres on Tuesday, while its danger mark is 204.83 metres.

New Delhi: The water level of the Yamuna river on Tuesday crossed the danger mark and is expected to rise further, prompting authorities to issue directions to take appropriate measures to avoid flood-like situation in Delhi.

Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday held an emergency meeting with top officers of departments concerned and directed them to be "proactive" in taking measures for evacuation and providing relief to the people living in the low-lying areas, an official said.

According to the East Delhi district administration, the water level of the Yamuna river reached 205.08 metres on Tuesday, while its danger mark is 204.83 metres.

Prakash directed that all the staff in the field should be on duty despite being 15 August, a national holiday.

The official said as Haryana has released nearly 1.74 lakh cusecs water from Hathinikund barrage, Yamuna's water level is expected to rise further in the next one or two days.

In July, the water level of the Yamuna river had crossed the danger mark, prompting authorities to evacuate people living in the low-lying areas.

"The chief secretary has directed officials to repeat the same exercise and necessary precautionary which they had taken during the period of 28 to 31 July," the official said.

Prakash also issued directions to ensure that tentage and food are available at all the locations for the displaced persons from Wednesday.

He directed all stakeholders to depute their staffers at the central control room round-the-clock.
In 1988, Bangalore was witnessing the explosion of the IT industry, and VS Naipaul wanted to witness this miracle for himself. After two books where he had been critical of India, he wanted to talk about how India was transitioning

I first met VS Naipaul on the tree-shaded grounds of Bangalore's West End Hotel. He walked up to where I was waiting, dressed in khaki trousers and a felt hat, all ready to tackle the heat and dust of Bangalore. He introduced himself in a clipped accent. "I'm Naipaul," he said.

A day earlier, my editor at The Indian Express in Bangalore, TJS George, had received an urgent request from Rahul Singh, his counterpart in Chandigarh. Rahul told George that Naipaul was in Bangalore to research material for a new book, and to ask the Science reporter to meet him. Apparently, Naipaul needed a guide to take him around.

In 1988, Bangalore was witnessing the explosion of the IT industry. Texas Instruments had blazed a path that others soon followed: HP, Motorola, Digital, Wipro, and Infosys had all employed thousands of Indian engineers. Naipaul wanted to witness this miracle for himself. After two books  An Area of Darkness and A Wounded Civilization  where he had been critical of India, Naipaul seemed to want to make amends. His new book, he said, would talk about how India was transitioning from a traditional society to a modern one. He saw this transition as a complex web of mutinies across the country, by people aching to become modern. He already had a name for his book, IndiaA Million Mutinies Now.

Naipaul was accompanied by Margaret, an elegant beautiful lady who attended to his every need. I had just returned from a pilgrimage to Sabarimala and had not yet broken my vratha. My vegetarianism seemed to please Naipaul, because he ate little or no meat himself. By the time he left, however, my vratha hand ended and I took him and Margaret out for lunch. He was horrified when I ordered sheep brain curry and roti. "You're a carnivore like any other," he said, appearing disappointed. After over 40 days of vegetarianism, I was enjoying the brain curry too much to be even mildly offended. Margaret was smiling, she loved her meats.

I traveled with Naipaul to Mysore, sharing the road with thousands of Ayyappa pilgrims, all dressed in black. We were on our way to the Mysore Palace, where Naipaul was to meet up with the royal priest and the royal barber. The palace was overrun with Ayyappa devotees, who were using the pilgrimage to undertake some tourism on the side. I remarked that they should focus on the pilgrimage, not on sightseeing. My irritation amused him, and he later commented on that in his book.

Naipaul was disappointed with his interview with the royal barber. He thought he was a bombastic liar, but was very interested in the priest, a soft-spoken old man who had fascinating stories to tell about the old Wodeyar rulers of Mysore.

While we were there, I introduced Naipaul to a relative of mine, who worked for the Karnataka government. She told him, "You're the one who said India is big toilet." He just smiled. Later, on the way back, I realised that her words had upset him. "That was another time. India has changed," he said.

I borrowed my uncle's Willys Jeep to drive him and Margaret around Bangalore. With the three of us squashed into the front seat and the top down, I could see that Margaret was enjoying it. Naipaul, not so much. He complained about the traffic, the dust, and the incessant honking. He was most unimpressed with Bangalore's IT hub in Electronic City. If he expected to see a modern well-planned city, he was disappointed.

Naipaul and I were invited for breakfast at the home of MP Prakash, a minister in the Ramakrishna Hegde government. I went to Naipaul's hotel in the morning and we walked from there. The pavement was in a terrible condition and we had to hop, skip and jump our way through. Naipaul complained ceaselessly all the way. Looking back, I can't help thinking what he would say about things now. If anything, things have gotten worse.

You can't be a journalist and accompany a famous English writer for a week and not, at some point, ask if you can interview him. But when I did, he refused. "You haven't read any of my books, you don't know anything about me," he said. Then, in a more conciliatory tone, he said, "Wait for this book to be published, then you can write an article on your experience with me." I was disappointed, but I agreed.

I tried to make amends, however. A neighbor of mine presented me with his old tattered copy of A House For Mr Biswas. I also bought An Area of Darkness. One evening, when he was still in town, I visited a book exhibition at the Institution of Engineers, across the road from The Indian Express building. I spotted the hardcover edition of A Bend in the River, priced at Rs 20. I went back to the office and called him at his hotel room. I told him about the book and asked, "Do you think I should buy it?" He paused, probably taken aback by my cheek, and then replied, "It seems like a bargain. You should buy it."

I went back and bought it. He autographed all three books for me. While signing the books he said, "The guy in the hotel bookshop got me to sign all the books he had on his shelves. He said they were for himself, but I think he is planning to flog them." In his dry witty way, Naipaul was paying me back for being cheeky.

I was cheeky in other ways too. For instance, I once expressed my love for PG Wodehouse. He dismissed it, saying, "I don't read fantasy."

I asked him what he liked to read, and he mentioned Spinoza, Moliere, Guy du Maupassant, and Ray Bradbury. I told him he should read Wodehouse as it would change the way he looks at the world. When they were clearing out their room, Margaret gave me some books she had finished reading and thought I would like to keep. One of them was Right Ho, Jeeves! "It's nice," she said. Naipaul was looking somewhere else.

When A Million Mutinies was published, I was surprised that he wrote about my Sabarimala experience. My brother did a count, and my name appears 35 times in that book. Even more surprising was that Naipaul is studied, and has theses written on his works. Quite a few PhD scholars wrote about the Sabarimala episode. Some even speculated on what kind of person I was. One gentleman said I was a "colourless figure", thank you very much. I have never before or since been a subject of a scholarly study.

As agreed, I wrote about my experiences with Naipaul in The Indian Express magazine. I had his address in England with me, which he had written down for me with an invitation to visit. I toyed with the idea of mailing the article to him, but I never did. A few years later, I received a telephone call. The voice at the other end said, "Is that Deviah? I'm in Bangalore." I no longer worked with The Indian Express, but Naipaul had tracked me down. He asked, "Did you read the book?" I said yes.

His next question surprised me, "Did it change your life?"

My life had changed since then, but because of his book? Not really, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I said, why don't we meet for lunch. I arranged to pick him up from his hotel. I took him to Karavalli, an excellent coastal restaurant at the Taj Gateway. With him was his wife Nadira, a Pakistani lady who fiercely defended his point of view on everything.

Naipaul was then in the process of writing Beyond Belief. Its theme, he explained, was how Muslims in South and southeast Asia had difficulty reconciling with their own ancestry. Unlike Margaret, who preferred to remain in the background, Nadira was actively involved in his conversations. I couldn't help thinking how right for him she was. We had a lively discussion over an excellent lunch of rice and Goan fish curry, attended to personally by Karavalli's legendary Chef Thimmaiah.

After lunch, I took Naipaul to my office and showed him the article I had written about him. He read the first paragraph and stopped. He wasn't happy with my description of him (which is almost exactly what it is in the first paragraph of this article). "I don't have a clipped accent," he said. I replied, "You should have allowed me to interview you."

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Titan watch showroom in Safina Plaza. Someone had asked him to visit one as an example of the new retail culture that was sweeping India. He wasn't impressed. At the hotel, we shook hands. I could see he was still irritated by my article.

The next time he came to Bangalore, he was a Nobel Laureate. He never contacted me.
MK Alagiri's dramatic claim of having support of the 'real DMK loyalists' has raised speculation on whether the party will face the same situation as rival AIADMK

Chennai: Any hopes MK Stalin, working president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), might have had of a smooth elevation to party president following his father M Karunanidhi's demise, would have been dashed in the aftermath of elder brother MK Alagiri's visit to Karunanidhi's memorial on Monday morning.

Alagiri, a former Union minister in the UPA government, claimed that he had the support of the loyal followers of his father. He also accused Stalin of not wanting him back in the family. "I poured all my feelings to my father, and time will answer everything," he said.

Alagiri, a Madurai-based strongman, was expelled from the DMK in 2014 for "anti-party activities". At the time, Karunanidhi was grooming Stalin as his political heir, and given the DMK patriarch's inability to handle the party's day-to-day affairs on account of age and poor health, Stalin was appointed working president during a general body meeting in 2017.

After he took over, he reportedly invited all 65 DMK district secretaries to Chennai to hear their reports and concerns about the party's working. He continued to lead initiatives like the reorganisation of the party's district borders and change of district administrators. He was due to preside over his first general body meeting as working president on 19 August, but this has been postponed due to Karunanidhi's death.

Meanwhile, an emergency executive committee meeting is to be held on Tuesday. On paper, the agenda is to condole Karunanidhi's death and discuss issues like the demand for a posthumous Bharat Ratna for him, a statue in his honour, and how the party can continue to uphold his legacy. Additionally, the official nomination of Stalin to the position of party president is to be put forth, which will be formalised during the next general body meeting.

Sources said that the matter of reinstating Alagiri to the party, awarding party posts to Alagiri and their half-sister, former MP Kanimozhi, were also likely to be taken up, in addition to filling a number of vacant party positions  like that of treasurer, deputy general secretary and six zonal organising secretaries.

But Alagiri's dramatic claim that the "real DMK loyalists are with me", has raised speculation on whether the DMK will face the same situation as rival AIADMK, which is also going through a battle for control of late party chief Jayalalithaa's legacy.

Posters and banners supporting Alagiri as the next DMK party president have been erected by his loyalists in the state, even as the 67-year-old said he is not part of the DMK, and hence, cannot comment on the proceedings of Tuesday's meeting.

There is no major obstacle in allowing Alagiri back into the party, as the general secretary is empowered to do that, said V Kannadasan, joint secretary of the DMK's legal wing. "All he would have to do is submit a letter of apology, and with one announcement from the general secretary, he can be inducted into the party again," Kannadasan said.

Sources close to Stalin said that he has been focusing on getting the blessing of the executive committee in inducting Alagiri into the party fold, although technically he doesn't need their permission to do so. They said that Stalin would prefer to get him back into the fold first, and resolve the matter of which party post to give him at the yet-to-be-scheduled general body meeting. Stalin reportedly feels giving Alagiri an important party post immediately would not be appropriate.

Over the last two days, discussions about the distribution of power within the party have been going on between family members and senior party leaders, a party functionary who wished to remain anonymous said. Alagiri was also present for some of these meetings.

DMK general secretary and Karunanidhi's contemporary, K Anbazhagan, has expressed a desire to step down from his post. While Durai Murugan is waiting in the wings to take over, Alagiri's displeasure at this move had placed the brothers at loggerheads. Also, Stalin has been cautioned by senior functionaries against appointing Alagiri as treasurer (even though his family has been insisting that he do so) because they are worried that he might create problems for the party at a later date. This has infuriated Alagiri further, the party member said.

Some observers of Tamil Nadu politics, like veteran journalist Durai Karuna, compared Alagiri's move to that of former AIADMK chief minister O Pannerselvam's call to "dharmayudham" within his party. But others feel Stalin is not averse to bringing his brother back into the party.

Alagiri, after all, has been the organising secretary for southern Tamil Nadu and was primarily responsible for the party's victory in the Thirumangalam bypolls. How the modalities are resolved remains to be seen. But Stalin cannot ignore Alagiri's political strength in southern Tamil Nadu, as emphasised by the latter's supporters.

Speaking about the change in Alagiri's strategy, a close associate of his and a high-ranking politician in Madurai said, "For Kalaignar's sake, Alagiri was prepared to forget the past and set aside his differences with Stalin in order to bring the party together. But Stalin is feeling threatened about bringing Alagiri back into the party, and is working to prevent this. Alagiri must be reinstated immediately and given a party post. If Stalin knows what's good for him, he would try to placate Alagiri. If not, he would be digging himself deeper into trouble."

Similar sentiments were also echoed by K Issakimuthu, a long-time friend of Alagiri's and Madurai urban district presidium chairman. He said that Alagiri's anger was righteous and sidelining him would ruin DMK. Many people in and around Madurai have prospered because of Alagiri, and they are now worried about the party's treatment of him. "Boycotting Alagiri would only be detrimental to the party, not to him. Stalin will realise this soon," he said.

The only official statement from the DMK on this imbroglio has come from MLA J Anbazhagan, who told reporters that Alagiri is not part of DMK, and there is no need to respond to his statements. "He was expelled from the party by Kalaignar when he was the president; it's not a recent development. So, no DMK members are in contact with him and we will stay united under Stalin's leadership," he said.

The author is a Chennai-based freelance writer and member of 101Reporters.com
Firing on All Cylinders : An Update based on a May 2018 Visit to IRC's Teal & Goongarrie Projects



Research Report Completed by Keith Goode at ERA

Perth, Aug 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - ERA visited a number of Intermin Resources Ltd's (IRC's) ( ASX:IRC ) Kalgoorlie to Goongarrie Projects in May 2018, particularly Teal (and Jacques-Peyes), Goongarrie Lady, Anthill, Blister Dam (and its flaky visible gold), Baden Powell & Olympia as shown in Figure 1a(see link below). We glanced at the location of Crake, which reported those spectacular intercepts of 28m @ 3.3g/t (from 56m incl 4m @ 15.1g/t), and 20m @ 4.6g/t (incl 8m @ 8.4g/t).Intermin has a target route to become a ~100kozpa gold producer with a >5 year mine-life, by using the stepping stones of small mining projects (SMPs) to self-finance its exploration, and has displayed its capability to achieve that with its very successful oxide mining of Teal realising ~3.5koz higher gold production at 21.84koz, mostly from ~13% higher ore tonnes mined and 5% higher recoveries of 93.6%, which increased the expected revenue of $29.3m by 24% or $7.2m to $36.5m. The actual profit (>$8m?) is expected to be finalised in SQ 2018, with its operational JV partner claiming alternative cost variations.Intermin is currently rated by ERA as a SPEC BUY at 17c, with a target of >A$0.25.The key points from the visit and recent announcements are :- The SMP over Teal has been extremely successful, with a larger resource mined, better recoveries and higher profits than expected, and has increased IRC's confidence in advancing the next 3 prospects in the pipeline (Goongarrie Lady, Jacques-Peyes, and Anthill) through to mining, treatment and profitability.- Apart from Goongarrie Lady, the proposed production pipeline order of the projects/prospects is not "set in stone" and could change, especially if one prospect infers potentially better return characteristics, as illustrated by the Crake discovery joining the mix.- The results from the feasibility study on Goongarrie Lady were reported on 28 June 2018, with an expected free cashflow return of $5 to $7m over 7 months, possibly pre-strip mining in MQ 2019.- The Crake discovery in the Binduli tenements resulted from Evolution ending its JV farm-in and handing control back to Intermin who were then able to drill/explore where they wanted to, with IRC's first target (Crake) being on strike of Janet Ivy (where Zijin is mining & paying a 50c/t royalty).- There are a number of projects making steady progress such as Blister Dam and Baden Powell/Olympia, and the tenement package is increasing with Ida and Lakewood in Figure 1a(see link below).- In addition to the JVs mostly involving other companies farming-in, as shown in "blue" in Figure 1b(see link below), Intermin has its Richmond Vanadium JV in QLD, which has also been making steady progress.To view the full report with figures, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited

Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.
In its first reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's published interview, BJP ally Shiv Sena on Monday described it as 'akin to sheer propaganda'.

Mumbai: In its first reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's published interview, BJP ally Shiv Sena on Monday described it as "akin to sheer propaganda". "The reporters sent questions to the PMO, which sent written replies. Many have treated it as an an interview. In other words, it is propaganda," the Sena said in 'Saamana' and 'Dopahar Ka Saamana,' the party's mouthpieces.

"It happens in China, Russia and Communist countries, a case of one-sided dialogue," it added. The Sena pointed out how, in a direct interview, many questions could have been asked and any "fake statement" would have been detected by the interviewer. "That much freedom must be allowed to journalists.

"The incumbent Prime Minister seems to have ended this tradition. He answers what he deems proper and the interviews are published accordingly," the Sena said in a commentary. It noted that in the interview, the Prime Minister indicated that seven million jobs were created in one year, of which 4.5 million came up between September 2017 and April 2018. "The implication is that by 2019, double and triple number of jobs will be created, the PM feels," the Sena pointed out.

"If the interview had been conducted face-to-face, the journalist would have got the opportunity to ask supplementaries such as in which sectors these jobs have been created and how to verify (the claims). "If so many jobs have indeed been created, then why do unemployed youths rampage on the streets for employment and job reservations?" it asked.

It said barely two years ago after demonetization, there were huge job losses, both in the organized and unorganized sectors. "Mumbai's core job-creating sectors such as construction, production and service industries now resemble a desert," the Sena said. "In the recent (Maratha) agitation, over 500 factories were attacked in Aurangabad and Pune, thanks to the government's policies," it said.

"In the past four years, the PM did not hold a single press conference, but expressed his mind through (radio program) Mann Ki Baat which the media reported, but it brought no laurels to Modi," Saamna said. "Before the (2014) elections, Modi was a friend of the media, but after becoming the PM, he has retreated into a cage... If this continues, then many journalists may lose their jobs."
Wondering why Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has been supporting the NDA government's 'wrong' decisions, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on said the BJP and the BJD might go for some post-poll understanding in 2019.

Bhubaneswar: Wondering why Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has been supporting the NDA government's "wrong" decisions, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on said the BJP and the BJD might go for some post-poll understanding in 2019.

The people of Odisha have the right to know as to why Patnaik, also the ruling BJD president, frequently supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decisions even eight years after their break up, Anand said. The BJD had snapped its 11-year-old ties with the BJP before the 2009 Lok Sabha election over the seat sharing issue. "If you are secular why do you support Narendra Modi while all secular parties have been opposing him," said the former union minister.

Sharma was referring to the recent election for the post of deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha where nine MPs of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supported NDA candidate Harivansh. He said despite request by many non-BJP leaders, Patnaik preferred to go with the NDA candidate.

Asked whether Congress president Rahul Gandhi had called Patnaik seeking support of the BJD MPs in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's election, Sharma avoided a direct reply. "I do not want to embarrass a chief minister. Many leaders including chief ministers have reached out to Patnaik seeking BJD MPs support. But, he preferred to go with the NDA after getting a phone call from the prime Minister," he said. On whether he foresees revival of the BJD-BJP alliance, Sharma said the two parties might opt for post-poll understanding. "They may not go for alliance before elections. But, the BJP has been keeping relationship with the BJD because the BJP knows that their seats will drastically fall in many states (in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls)," he said.

He mentioned states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi where the BJP would lose seats. So, in a "Look East policy", the BJP has been eyeing Odisha, West Bengal and Assam and trying to secure more seats from these three states. "As they may not win many seats in Odisha, the BJP may get support of the BJD after the elections," Sharma said.

To a query about reason behind Patnaik's support to Modi, Sharma said the BJP has been misusing central agencies like the CBI, the ED and others to settle scores with political opponents. He, however, did not say whether the BJD is also being threatened by the BJP. Sharma also referred to the reported statement of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan yesterday that Patnaik might have some compulsion to support the NDA. "Therefore, we want to know from Patnaik what is the reason behind his party's support to the BJP," Sharma said, adding that a "match fixing is there between the BJD and the BJP and their opposing each other in the state is just an eyewash".

The Congress leader said Patnaik has supported the Centre on demonetisation, GST, no-confidence motion and now in the elections for deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Sharma also came down heavily on the NDA government over issues such as decline in GDP rate, frail economic growth, decline in investment ratio and alleged corruption in Rafale jet deal. The country has been passing through a crisis ever since the NDA government came to the power and there is an effort to nullify all the institutions, he claimed.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition BJP indulged in a war of words on Monday over Delhi Police's charge sheet in the chief secretary assault case

New Delhi: The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition BJP indulged in a war of words on Monday over Delhi Police's charge sheet in the chief secretary assault case, with the latter demanding chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to step down from his post on moral grounds.

It is a "shameful" day in the history of Delhi's polity as the chief minister and the deputy chief Minister stand accused of "criminal conspiracy" in the case of assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash, said Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari. "The chief minister should own moral responsibility for the attack on the chief secretary and hand over his charge to some other party colleague till the court decides the matter," he demanded.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj attacked the Narendra Modi government alleging that a "conspiracy" was hatched to defame the chief minister, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 party MLAs accused in the case. The Delhi Police in its charge sheet filed in a city court today has named Kejriwal and Sisodia as accused in connection with the alleged assault on Prakash in February. The charge sheet has also named 11 AAP MLAs who were allegedly present during the alleged assault on Prakash during a late night meeting at the chief minister's residence.

"A midnight conspiracy to defame the Delhi chief minister, deputy chief minister and 11 MLAs in a false and laughable case, was hatched at the highest level by the Modi government through its politically appointed Lieutenant Governor and the pro-BJP chief secretary," alleged Bhardwaj. The Aam Aadmi Party is of clear view that Anshu Prakash who has been associated with senior BJP leaders for long, was posted as chief Secretary of Delhi with a "sinister plan" to paralyse the elected Delhi government, charged the AAP spokesperson.
The BJP said it was a 'misconception' that Amit Shah's letter to the Law Commission of India concerned holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and assemblies.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially rejected the speculation that its leadership was mulling over a proposal to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and the assemblies of 11 states it governs around the March-May period next year.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra called it a "misconception" and said that there was no mention of simultaneous elections in party chief Amit Shah's letter to the Law Commission of India.

Patra was stating what was expected. As the party spokesperson, he would not have made any such statement without orders from the BJP's central headquarters. It could be inferred that the party leadership wanted to end the speculation.

Those who deal closely with the Constitution, law and politics knew that the speculation  with its origin at unknown sources  was without basis and would not go anywhere within the current legal framework. The notion that the BJP wanted to postpone the elections in four states  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram  to next year would be counterproductive for the party for two reasons:

First, it would give the impression that the BJP was apprehensive about the outcome of the Assembly elections and hence, wanted to buy time. The saffron party has been governing both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the past 15 years and hopes to win both states for a fourth consecutive term.

Also, despite the sweeping victory in Rajasthan in the last elections, the BJP is now making an all-out effort to fight the signs of disillusionment with the Vasundhara Raje government, which has been evident from the results of both Assembly and parliamentary bypolls. The BJP is also aiming to spread its saffron wave to Mizoram, which is currently under Congress rule. At this stage, the BJP wants to steer clear of sending confusing signals.

Second, the BJP leadership knows fully well that it is beyond the competence of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre or of the governments it runs in these states to postpone the elections to beyond the scheduled expiry of the current regimes.

Speculative reports in various newspapers and TV channels said that the government could postpone the elections in these four states by imposing President's Rule for a few months and then holding the polls. This was a completely fallacious argument as there is nothing in the current constitutional framework that suggests that a state can be placed under President's Rule to hold Assembly elections at a later date.

President's Rule can be imposed in a state only in case of a constitutional breakdown, as defined in Article 356 of the Constitution. "A situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with provisions of this Constitution," it reads.

The Election Commission of India is constitutionally mandated to hold free and fair polls within a stipulated period. For argument's sake, even if the Modi government does decide to get into conflict with the polling monitor and defy constitutional norms, two other aspects come into play  the need to get the move ratified by both Houses of Parliament at the next session and possible court intervention at any stage of President's Rule being promulgated.

One should also understand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah would not have risen to their current high had they not had the foresight and in-depth understanding of situations, both on ground and constitutional.

Coming back to the question of simultaneous polls. What Patra did not mention at his press briefing was holding elections in the states scheduled to go to the polls in the later half of 2019.

Consider the following: The Election Commission held the Lok Sabha polls between March and May in 2014. Elections were also held in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha the same year. These were followed by elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir from September to December.

The Election Commission will hold the next parliamentary polls in consultation with the Centre  for the deployment of paramilitary forces to ensure law and order  and with the states concerned  to seek their view on dissolution, as the EC can hold elections in a state six months ahead of schedule. With three BJP-ruled states  Maharastra, Haryana and Jharkhand  scheduled to go the polls within three to six months of the Lok Sabha elections next year, there is a possibility that they will recommend dissolving the state assemblies and holding the elections simultaneously with the parliamentary polls.

This makes it highly likely that between March and May next year, there will be eight Assembly elections in India  in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Odisha, Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand  along with the Lok Sabha polls, not in 11 BJP-ruled states as reports said.

By creating a hype for simultaneous polls  the One Nation, One Poll idea  the BJP leadership has put its opponents under undue pressure. The angry rants of the Congress and its allies over the subject helps the saffron party build a favorable public opinion for itself that its rivals are scared of it and they are trying to stall a reformist idea. Their charge that by asking for simultaneous polls, the BJP is trying to kill India's federal structure is also a fallacious argument  simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and assemblies were held in India till 1967. Did India make a dangerous start to federalism after Independence? The answer is no.

Under the Indira Gandhi administration, states were dissolved before schedule and parliamentary elections were also held early  as seen in 1971  and called a year later  in the case of the 1977 polls because of the Emergency. Did Indira Gandhi help the case of federalism? The answer would be a big no.
Whenever Karunanidhi spoke about Stalin being his heir, he did so in the tones of a schoolteacher praising the performance of a pupil without a final word about what reward he would get and when.

The first time I saw MK Stalin was in 1989 in Madras, as Chennai was then called. It was at an election meeting in the Thousand Lights Assembly constituency where he was the DMK candidate. I was intrigued by the names of both the constituency and the candidate. I was told that the place got its name from a mosque that is lit with a thousand lights during Muharram every year, but as is common in Tamil Nadu, there is no complete unanimity about the origin of this name.

And I learnt that Stalin was called Stalin because four days after he was born in 1953 came the news of Soviet leader Joseph Stalins death. A rising star of DMK at that time, Karunanidhi had perhaps decided to show off that his airy-fairy Dravidian ideology had a whiff of an equally dubious Soviet socialism. I understood that he had also wanted to tell the family that the second son of his second wife was the dearest child to him, and he wanted a quaint name to call him.

Even in 1989, there was a talk of Stalin succeeding Karunanidhi. But for a long time that remained a rumour, denied and confirmed several times by the father for his own reasons. Yet there was never a doubt that Karunanidhi doted on Stalin. Ever since Stalin was in his early 30s the father was dropping broad hints that he would step into his formidable shoes. But these hints were so broad and were couched in so many words and for so long that his elder son from the same wife Alagiri didnt see, or refused to see, the point. So Alagiri began to nurse his own ambition.

Alagiris undying ambition

That ambition never died and it was in evidence once again on Monday when he questioned Stalins leadership, less than a week after Karunanidhis death. But whatever little confusion there is about Stalin inheriting his fathers mantle, its only because the succession plan Karunanidhi had in mind only remained in his mind. He lacked the courage to execute or even announce it with a finality that would have silenced rival claims early enough.

The reasons for Karunanidhis continued vacillation were both hypocritical and practical. He was always at pains to tell the world in general and Alagiri and Kanimozhi, the daughter by his third wife, in particular, that if Stalin would ever be his successor it wouldnt be because he wanted him to be but only because of his own merit. So he proceeded to give his favourite son every available chance to prove his merit instead of unequivocally naming him as his heir.

But party leaders like Vaiko (as Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy is called) werent convinced about this merit argument. Protesting against Karunanidhis dynastic intentions, Vaiko left DMK in 1993 to launch his own Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK). Stalins rise in the party also angered Karunanidhis nephew Murasoli Maran. All this and the noises made by Alagiri made Karunanidhi even more circumlocutory about naming Stalin as his heir.

On again, and off-again

A 1997 rally at Salem had all the trappings of a formal coronation of Stalin, but Karunanidhi poured cold water on his sons joy when he famously said:

I am neither a king nor Stalin a prince. The DMK is not a mutt to determine the successor. Its a democratic party and its future leader will be decided only by the party cadres.

But in 2013, he said at a public meeting: I will struggle to help the downtrodden as long as I live. For the question who after that, Stalin who is seated here is the answer, dont forget.

But again three years later, when Karunanidhi was 92, he made it clear that he wanted to be the chief minister himself if DMK won the 2016 Assembly election. A few days before polling, he said in an interview to NDTV: Stalin himself doesnt want to become chief minister. He wants only the DMK chief (me) to become the chief minister. Ive not lost even a single election since 1957. If I win Id be the chief minister for the sixth time. Stalin is the first among all who wants me to become the chief minister for a record sixth time ... Stalin can become chief minister only if nature does something to me.

Then five months after his party lost the Assembly poll to AIADMK, he told a Tamil magazine: It would be apt that Stalin is my successor because of his hard work, dedication and sense of purpose. Stalin has proved himself that he is the future of the DMK.

Whenever Karunanidhi spoke about Stalin being his heir, he did so in the tones of a schoolteacher praising the performance of a pupil without a final word about what reward he would get and when. And even as this hide-and-seek was going on, Alagiri destroyed whatever miniscule chance he had of being a successor with his intemperate statements and actions.

Stalin inherits Karunanidhi brand

Despite Karunanidhis hemming and hawing about the whole thing, his action in expelling Alagiri from the party in 2014 and making Stalin the working president in 2017, leaves the party with little about whom he wanted as the successor. Alagiris latest empty claims about the support he enjoys notwithstanding, his irrelevance and Stalins relevance in the party have been established beyond doubt.

Unlike Alagiri, Stalin indeed worked his way up in the party even if his rise was only due to the fact of him being Karunanidhis son. Though Alagiris so-called rebellion can at best be called a storm in a teacup, it could turn catastrophic if others in the party unhappy with Stalin join hands with his brother, which seems unlikely at this point.

Stalin must, however, never forget that he is Karunanidhis son, but not another Karunanidhi. Unlike his father who remained a cult figure for a large section of voters whatever he did, the son has to prove to himself that he is worth the mantle he is inheriting. For starters, he can try to make DMK fighting-fit for the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. The party performed miserably in the 2016 Assembly poll, conceding to AIADMK a second consecutive term for an incumbent ruling party for the first time in three decades.

What Stalin also must guard against is a possible dissent from Kanimozhi in the course of time. And that calls for some deft political management.

With the passing of both Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi, both AIADMK and DMK have lost their iconic and megalomaniac leaders who treated their parties like personal fiefdoms, fostering personality cult and breeding corruption in the process in the name of Dravidian politics. Stalin must strive to bring democracy back to his party and good governance back to Tamil Nadu, and make it a model state for the country which it once was. Thats a good way to curb dissidence, small or big.

The author tweets @sprasadindia
DMK working president MK Stalin addressed an emergency meeting of the party's executive committee on Tuesday, where he said he is working for the future of the party and is trying to maintain its unity in the face of obstacles.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin addressed an emergency meeting of the party's executive committee on Tuesday, where he said he is working for the future of the party and is trying to maintain its unity in the face of obstacles.

"I have been holding a series of meetings with party leaders, through which I informed them of the need to be united. When my father was alive, it was my dream to form a government. Even when he was fighting for his life, doctors treating him were worrying that our dream was not being fulfilled," Stalin said while addressing the gathering.

No mention of Alagiri

An emotional Stalin said that he couldn't imagine running the party without his 'Kalaignar' and that he was standing here to fulfill Karunanidhi's "dream of forming a government." Stalin did not mention Alagiri during the meeting which seemed odd as media has been raging on about the fresh succession war which was started by Karunanidhi's eldest son Alagiri. The estranged son of Karunanidhi claimed that all loyal party (DMK) workers are with him.

Karunanidhi had expelled Alagiri and his supporters from the party in 2014 at the height of his fight with his younger brother Stalin over establishing supremacy in Tamil Nadu's main opposition party. Stalin is now the working president of the DMK and looks set to assume its reins.

"All the true and loyal supporters of Thalaivar, Kalaignar (The leader and the artiste, sobriquets used for Karunanidhi) are with me, they are supporting me...time will provide the answer," Alagiri, who has been leading a life away from the media glare in Madurai since his expulsion, said on Monday. Later, speaking to an English TV news channel, Alagiri said, "Even if I am inclined to rejoin the party, they (Stalin and his supporters) are not in a mood to let me in."

"The DMK will dig its own grave if it does not take me back," he said, adding nobody from the Karunanidhi family was interested in talking to him to facilitate a reunion. The Karunanidhi family had presented a united face when the DMK stalwart was fighting for life at a city hospital. Alagiri was present at the hospital and was seen at his father's funeral.

However, close watchers of Tamil Nadu politics expected him to flex his political muscle once Karunanidhi was gone. The former union minister wields considerable influence in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. He was the party's secretary for these districts before his expulsion.

When asked why there was opposition to his returning to the DMK fold, he shot back, saying "How do I know? You (media) have said I have a good reputation and the cadre likes me....they (Stalin and his backers) have that fear.... there could be a thought that I might become the party chief if I am taken back...that may be the reason."

Alagiri said several people in the DMK were in touch with Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth, who has said he will launch a political party. "The party will crumble if it loses the Lok Sabha polls. Party posts are being sold," he said, adding "Thalaivar will punish them... his soul will not allow them go scotfree."

Though Stalin sits firmly in the saddle and his ascension as DMK president is only a matter of time, Alagiri's tough posturing may prod his supporters in Madurai and adjoining districts to come out openly against the new party chief.

If that happens, the DMK, which has lost two successive assembly polls and failed to open its account in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, may encounter fresh electoral reverses in the general elections next year.

Karunanidhi burial politics

DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi breathed his last on 7 August, and Stalin said he lost a father and his political leader with the demise. He also spoke about the legal battle that was fought over allocating a burial space for his father at the city's Marina Beach, and recalled the politics played by the state government.

"We wrote a letter to the chief minister, seeking a burial ground space for Kalaignar. We begged the E Palaniswami government, but they let us down. I was hopeful of getting the place, but they gave us an alternative site," Stalin recalled.

That it ultimately resulted in a victory for the party was down to its legal team, Stalin said. "I give the entire credit of the to the party's lawyers. If this wouldn't have happened, then I would have been the person to be buried along with our leader," he said.

The meeting was purportedly called to condole Karunanidhi's death and discuss issues like the demand for a posthumous Bharat Ratna for him, a statue in his honour, and how the party can continue to uphold his legacy.

Additionally, however, the official nomination of Stalin to the position of party president is also to be put forth, which will be formalised during the next general body meeting. All members of the committee were asked to participate in the meeting, which started at 10 am at party headquarters in Chennai's Anna Arivalayam area. Apart from this, the emergency council might also finalise a date for the next general council meeting, which is the point when Stalin's elevation may be finalised.

The meeting was identical in its agenda to the one called in 1969, after party founder and former chief minister CN Annadurai passed away, a DMK leader told the news agency PTI. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Su Thirunavukkarasar backed the demand for a posthumous Bharat Ratna for Karunanidhi. In a statement, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour the departed leader in view of services to the people as a five-time chief minister and contribution to the Indian polity.

With inputs from PTI
Describing Telangana as the 'corruption capital' Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the TRS dispensation, alleging that only 'one family' government is running the state.

Hyderabad: Describing Telangana as the 'corruption capital' Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the TRS dispensation, alleging that only 'one family' government is running the state.

Speaking at a public meeting at Serilingampally here, the Gandhi scion also dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come for an open debate on the controversial Rafale deal.

"Today Telangana has become the capital of corruption... wherever you see somebody's land is snatched, only one-family government is here. Benefits are only for one family," he said targeting the family of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

The 'style' of Modi and Chandrasekhar Rao were the same as they only make tall and empty promises, alleged Gandhi, on his first visit to Telangana after become the party president.

Rao promised land for Dalits and Adivasis, but that was not honoured, he said.

"The government promised double bedroom houses, but in the last four years, not even 5,000 houses were built. In Telangana in the last four years, 4,000 farmers have committed suicide.

When Congress was in power (in undivided Andhra Pradesh) it was a revenue surplus state. Today it is deep in debt," he further said, charging the TRS government with not fulfilling its poll promises.

He alleged that though there were one lakh job vacancies in the government, the KCR-Government could fill just 10,000.

Gandhi's charges drew a sharp response from Rao, who 'advised' him to be more 'mature' while making remarks against the government.

"Rahul Gandhi should improve his maturity. He should not read a script written by someone else. He should know the facts about the state's finances," he told reporters.

The chief minister said nearly one lakh jobs have been announced by the State Public Service Commission, a fact which Rahul Gandhi could verify.

He said the Congress leader could also verify the status of the two-bedroom house scheme being implemented across Telangana.

Gandhi urged the people to vote the Congress to power, assuring them that once the party comes back to the helm of affairs, it would fulfil all promises made to both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the bifurcation.

"Wherever, either in Parliament house or anywhere, keep Modi on one side and keep me on another side, we will debate on Rafale. The truth will come out what is right and what is wrong and where the 'theft' took place," Gandhi said.

He alleged that defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had misled the public when she said the new price of the fighter aircraft could not be disclosed due to a secrecy clause in the contract.

Gandhi said when he spoke to the French President during his visit to India, he was told that there was no such secrecy clause and that India was free to disclose it to anybody.
While Rahul Gandhi's visit is expected to electrify party workers in an election year, the Congress has to first cross multiple hurdles before it can successfully challenge the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)

Congress president Rahul Gandhi visited Telangana on Monday, his first visit to the state since being elected Congress president in December last year. But while Rahul's visit is expected to electrify party workers in an election year, the Congress has to first cross multiple hurdles before it can successfully challenge the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).



Meanwhile, discontentment is brewing against the K Chandrashekar Rao government, but the Opposition Congress is far from winning over the confidence of the people.

A slew of welfare schemes gave the TRS government a populist reputation and helped Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao enjoy an iconic image, but several vulnerabilities haunt the ruling regime in Telgangana. Foremost among them is the half-hearted implementation of certain flagship schemes, like the 2-bedroom houses.

The TRS' victory in 2014 came in part due to an alluring promise of providing two-bedroom houses for the poor. Any government will find it formidable to implement a scheme of this nature given the extent of homeless people in the state and the high costs involved. And while the limited beneficiaries of the scheme are certainly overwhelmed, the heartburn among those who failed to draw benefits is much stronger. The TRS hopes to convert this heartburn into hope as it seeks a renewed mandate to fulfil poor people's wishes to own a decent house. How far the party can convince the aspirants is a question that is yet to be answered.

Jobs, funds and water were the prime demands of the TRS while it was agitating for statehood for Telangana. Though a state public service commission was promptly set up and the process of recruitment has begun, the number of government jobs filled are much less when compared to what was promised by the TRS during the movement.

Yet another glaring failure of the government is regarding implementation of its much publicised scheme of three acres for each landless Dalit family, besides providing the remaining extent of land for those who possess less land. The scheme is almost a non-starter with only couple of thousands of acres distributed.

However, the TRS expects to tide over the discontentment regarding such issues by focusing on its developmental and welfare schemes like cash support to farmers, drinking water scheme, irrigation projects, financial assistance to girls at the time of marriage, etc.

However, the Congress has failed to capitalise on this discontentment and strong anti-incumbency sentiment. Barring the occasional criticism through media and political platforms, the Congress failed to build a grassroots movement, and failed to mobilise sections of the state's populations who were being alienated by the TRS rule. This is more due to complacency within the party that any antipathy towards the ruling party would automatically benefit the principal Opposition. This complacency may cause many a slip between the cup and the lip for the Congress party at the hustings.

TRS expects to benefit from its cash transfer scheme of providing Rs 8,000 per acre for the farmers. But, about 30 to 40 percent of farmers are excluded, as this scheme is not applicable to tenant farmers, tribal farmers who are cultivating forest land and are yet to get rights over it due to non-implementation of the Forest Rights Act, etc.

However, concentration of power in the hands of the chief minister has made many ministers and MLAs dummy figures, and has also increased the anti-incumbency sentiment. Thus, there is sporadic discontentment against KCR's rule, but it's confined to certain sections only. There is no universal displeasure with the TRS.

The challenge before the Congress is in converting this sporadic disgruntlement into a strong anti-incumbency. Party president Rahul Gandhi spearheading the party's campaign in Telangana ahead of the polls would certainly enthuse the Congress' rank and file and unite the party leadership. But earlier experiences reveal that such unity among multiple leaders on the eve of the visit of the party supremo is usually symbolic.

The Congress plans to draw a wedge among Muslim voters and Seemandhra voters (Telangana voters whose origin is in the present Andhra Pradesh state) who are alienated from the Modi regime which seems to have the uncritical support of the TRS.



The Congress is desperately trying to create a strong perception that TRS is a 'B-Team' of BJP. The Seemandhra electorate is truly angry over the Modi-led BJP government for denying special status to the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has already extended unequivocal support for special status to Andhra Pradesh. The Congress held its public meeting in Serilingampally constituency of Hyderabad, where the Seemandhra electorate forms a majority, indicating the party's strategy.

The TRS, which earlier supported the demand of Andhra people, has recently retreated, giving Congress more ammunition. Seemandhra voters play a decisive role in many constituencies, especially in state capital Hyderabad. This is evident from the fact that TDP could get as many as 15 seats in 2014, most of them from Hyderabad.

But with the TDP weakening, the Congress intends to grab these seats. The Congress is even trying to forge an alliance with the TDP, at least in Telangana, to give TRS a more united fight. The party may even rope in CPI and the newly formed Telangana Jana Samiti of Prof. Kodandaram, the chairman of Telangana Joint Action Committee that spearheaded the movement for separate state.

Thus, the Congress is hoping for a comeback in Telangana in order to send maximum MPs to Lok Sabha from the state. The state is high on the Congress president's agenda as well. But the party has to do much more home work and hard work to fulfil this ambition.
Despite a new zeal, Congress has not yet been able to offer to the public a coherent vision of what it is going to do if it is voted into office.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has unambiguously kicked off his partys campaign for the Lok Sabha elections with back-to-back meetings in Rajasthan and Karnataka. On Monday, he addressed a fair gathering in Bidar district at which he returned to the themes that seem set to become part of the signature of the Congress campaign.

The Rafale deal dominated the Congress presidents speech, but the issues of unemployment, farmer suicides, broken election promises and the Muzaffarpur shelter home rapes also figured prominently, as they did in Gandhis speech at Jaipur last Saturday. But before addressing the substance of what he said, some preliminary observations would be in order.

First, the Congress has not been its usually procrastinatory self in that it has begun its campaign early to match the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) fast-off-the-blocks approach. But this alacrity has been unevenly evidenced. While it needed to seriously start moving in the three states in which elections are due a few months from now, it has inexplicably shifted its focus to Karnataka and Telangana, where Gandhi is rounding off his southern foray.

After the meeting in Jaipur, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh would have been obvious places to target. Reports, however, seem to suggest that the party is once again being dogged by familiar problems of faction and disunity in Madhya Pradesh, while in Chhattisgarh it has failed to get its re-organisation properly off the ground.

Nevertheless, there seems to be a greater sense of purpose and freshness in Congress ranks, much of it due to leadership initiatives provided by a seemingly revitalised leader. Gandhi has also shed some of his earlier diffidence. The attack centring on the Rafale issue has been the most aggressive campaign we have seen the Congress president and his party engage in for some time.

Gandhi has been pointed in his attacks: he has as good as accused defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman of being less than truthful in her claim that the government is being prevented from coming clean on the price of the Rafale craft by a confidentiality clause, citing a conversation with French president Emmanuel Macron; and, in Bidar, most pointedly, he has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being personally involved in corruption.

The fact that the government and the BJP have seemed less than forthcoming in clearing the air has given the Congress presidents accusations some heft though it would be way too premature to suggest, as some have done, that Rafale could be the Bofors of these times. As yet, the Congress has shown the public no smoking gun, though his cause has been strengthened by the accusations aired by former BJP ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie. How productive this political line will prove is unclear, but, from the Congress partys point of view, at least it gives it an air of purposiveness.

At the same time, the Congress has kept up its attack on the bread-and-butter issues: unemployment, agrarian distress, vigilantism, demonetisation, the governments failure to make any headway on black money and credit bank accounts with Rs 15 lakh, and Dalit issues. Gandhi has claimed in Bidar that in the few months that the Karnataka government has been in power it had far outstripped the Central government in providing farm loan waivers and increasing minimum support prices.

The problem in all this is that the Congress has not yet been able to offer to the public a coherent vision of what it is going to do if it is voted into office. By now it has become clear that voters are not easily swayed by negative campaigns alone. They must be accompanied by alternative blueprints.

The other problem is that the Congress has not yet been able to convincingly articulate its position on alliances. It has said recently that the leadership question will remain open should the opposition be able to put up a united front, but it needs to be much more positive in playing a leading role in welding together such a front.

Gandhi also needs to get cracking on the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh campaigns. To do this he has to deal with the problem of factionalism. In Madhya Pradesh, especially, the party has long been plagued by the problem of having too many leaders and too few foot soldiers. The Congress must also convince his colleagues that the party has to stitch up alliances in all three states where elections are due, whether or not it perceives it can do without them in a particular one. The larger issue of making coalitions work cannot be premised on a policy of cherry-picking.

Finally, the well-attended spectacle put up by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, coming as it did against the backdrop of some coalitional strain, may conceivably have sent out a more cohesive message had the party expanded its ambit to include its ally, the Janata Dal (Secular). Thats just the kind of imagination the Congress party needs.
The issue of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections has turned into a raging debate, and it is slowly snowballing into a political controversy rather than a Constitutional one as it is apparently being made out to be by the political parties involved.

The issue of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections has turned into a raging debate, and it is slowly snowballing into a political controversy rather than a Constitutional one as it is apparently being made out to be by the political parties involved.

While the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is pushing for the proposal, the Opposition parties, especially the Congress, is strongly against it. The Election Commission on Tuesday has clarified that simultaneous elections can't be held immediately due to non-availability of VVPAT machines required for the purpose.

"We dont have enough VVPAT machines for simultaneous polls," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat said. He reiterated that the number of machines expected to be delivered by September this year, would be available in November, which has already delayed the process. Given the circumstances, it would be difficult to conduct simultaneous elections in December.

The CEC also said that if required number of VVPAT machines was available on time by next year, Lok Sabha election and polls for 11 assemblies could be possible simultaneously in 2019. However, the concept of holding simultaneous elections or One Nation, One Election  which Congress and a few other opposition parties have strongly opposed is not new.

If the first four elections (1952 to 1967) were perfectly constitutional, what makes the Congress and the opposition parties now go hysterical over it?

One Nation, One Election concept not new

The concept of simultaneous elections is not new in India. After Independence and the enforcement of Constitution, the first election, conducted in 1952, was held simultaneously for the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies. It was in practice from 1952 to 1970. Simultaneous polls were held in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967.

This concept came to an end when fourth Lok Sabha was liquidated early. It was during the tenure of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The 1967 General Election elected the fourth Lok Sabha and under Indira Gandhis leadership, the Indian National Congress won a fourth consecutive term in power. However, the Congress suffered significant losses in seven states. There was a visible decline in support for Congress and it got reflected in assembly elections. INC lost control of six state governments in the same year.

"The electoral losses of INC-led Indira Gandhi to be more assertive and she took some decisions which were against the party establishment. This led to the split in the party. One such decision was to hold elections  Lok Sabha and state assemblies separately," a political analyst closely associated with Congress party told Firstpost.

Narendra Modi re-focuses the spotlight on the issue

The issue of simultaneous elections was again raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016 and the idea was later supported by the former President Pranab Mukherjee and current President Ram Nath Kovind.

The logic given for this 'One-Nation-One-Election was to save valued resources and bring the country out of a continuous election mode. Earlier Modi had told BJP workers that he supported the idea as it would give more time for social work as grassroots level. The concept was also included in BJPs 2014 manifesto.

What the Standing Parliamentary Committee report says

A Parliamentary Standing Committee in December 2015 recommended a move in this direction. It concluded that such a reform was important for India if it is to compete with other nations in development agenda and to become a robust and democratic nation.

"The concept of simultaneous elections prevailed earlier too. Its nothing new. In fact, if elections take place simultaneously, nation stands to gain. Almost after every three months theres one election or the other, which has become a burden not just on financial resources but also on all those who conduct polls, Constitutional expert SK Sharma told Firstpost.

Advantages of simultaneous elections

According to the Standing Committee, the rationale for holding Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections simultaneously is:

To reduce the cost associated with multiple elections.

To overcome policy paralysis associated with imposition of Model Code of Conduct during elections.

To limit the disruption of normal public life in the run-up to and during the elections.

To free up the manpower of the armed and para-military forces deployed on election duties.

Why is it being opposed?

The Congress has vehemently opposed the idea of holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together and stated it to be against the basic structure of federalism. A Congress delegation comprising senior leaders and former union ministers including, Mallikarjun Kharge, P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Anand Sharma and JD Selam, met the Law Commission on 3 August to present the partys stand on simultaneous elections.

AICC Communication in-charge, Randeep Singh Surjewala had earlier said those who had wanted all elections to be held in one go, have no faith on democratic process of this country.

Are you going to trample democracy? Are you going to cut short the tenure of Parliament and assemblies? Surjewala questioned. The Congress has questioned whether the tenure of an assembly which was elected in accordance with the will of the people, not a part of constitutional practice and basic structure of the Constitution.

What bothers the Opposition

If simultaneous elections system is implemented, transitional arrangements would be made so that the currently elected state governments could serve the full term for which they have been elected.

If Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held together, the national issues will dominate, while the state issues would be relegated to the background.

To hold simultaneous elections (General and state assemblies), all Assembly elections have to be brought in sync from their present status. In such a case, some state assemblies would have to be elected much before the normal term ends, which Opposition parties feel is unfair to the sovereign democratic mandate given to them by the voters. As a result many states wont be able to show their performance, which is spread over a period of five years.

House divided

While, the JD(U), SP, TRS, AIADMK, BJD and SAD, along with the BJP have extended support to the idea, the Congress, the Left, TMC, RJD, TDP, AIMIM and AAP are against it.How can the Centre push such an idea without bringing proper Constitutional amendment? And, why are they pushing it suddenly? asked TDP leader Lanka Dinakar.

According to a section of political pundits, the reason of opposing simultaneous elections is more political than constitutional. Congress and other opposition parties are opposing it because if Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held together, Modi will emerge as the most powerful face both at the Centre and in the states. Congress and regional parties will tend to lose. The BJP-ruled states will gain due to Modi, if elections are clubbed together, Sharma said.


Signs US Greyhound Distribution Deal

Sydney, Aug 14, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Board of The BetMakers Holdings Limited ( ASX:TBH ) ( OTCMKTS:TPBTF ) ("BetMakers", "TBH" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, BetMakers DNA Pty Ltd ("BetMakers DNA"), has signed a data and vision distribution deal with one of the USA's most prominent greyhound racing tracks, Palm Beach Kennel Club ("PBKC").Highlights- BetMakers DNA signs 2-year data and vision distribution deal with one of the USA's most prominent greyhound racing tracks - Palm Beach Kennel Club, which hosts over 5000 races per year- BetMakers DNA to create and distribute fixed-odds data and Global Tote access for races across the Palm Beach Kennel Club meetings- BetMakers DNA to pull data and vision from Palm Beach Kennel Club and distribute to global wagering operators- BetMakers DNA has already commenced integration of data and vision into the Global Betting Solutions Pty Ltd ("GBS") platformFounded in 1932, PBKC is a major destination for greyhound racing, poker and table games which hosts over 5000 races per year. BetMakers DNA has signed a 2-year deal with PBKC to distribute vision, data, fixed odds and Global Tote pools into International markets such as Australia, UK and Asia and any territory approved by PBKC. It is expected to launch in September 2018.The BetMakers CEO, Todd Buckingham, commented: "This is a very exciting deal and the first of what we hope are many similar deals. We believe this model will be the future of international distribution where wagering operators are given all the tools they need to strike a bet, including all of the data, fixed odds pricing, tote pricing, and the vision to enable their clients to engage.""For racing bodies such as PBKC, to get a distribution network, such as the one offered by the BetMakers DNA and GBS to more than 20 racing-focused wagering operators from around the world, is a perfect solution.""The deal includes an all-encompassing fee for operators based on turnover, which means the operator has minimal risk with no upfront cost as the information is distributed through GBS. The GBS platform is already integrated into many major global wagering operators, which means there will be minimal integration work required.""It is an exciting time for TBH and, through the acquisitions of GBS and Dynamic Odds, we are able to continue to offer global wagering operators a full package solution and expect to announce additional distribution and client onboarding deals in the coming weeks."The material terms of the deal are as follows:- BetMakers DNA will create and distribute to licensed bookmaking customers in such territories as authorised by PBKC:o customised fixed-odds pricing data using underlying data sourced and supplied by PBKC; ando Global Tote services, (together, the "Services").- In consideration for providing the Services, BetMakers DNA will receive a fee calculated on turnover.- The term of the agreement is 2 years, unless otherwise terminated by either party providing 90 days' written notice or immediately for cause.About Betmakers Technology Group Ltd

Betmakers Technology Group Ltd (ASX:BET) (FRA:T07) is an ASX-listed holding company and a global provider of online wagering products and services to both wholesale and retail markets through its various wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company operates a retail wagering business, offering consumers wagering, fantasy tournament and content products and services.
A laser focus on winning elections means that leaders take shortcuts, and the focus lies on redistribution of wealth through welfare schemes (or even bribery). While income inequality is a reality in India, for wealth to be redistributed, there needs to be greater focus on its generation.

Three concurrent moves by the BJP have revived the debate over simultaneous elections. BJP president Amit Shah has written to the Law Commission seeking its implementation to check expenditure and pull India out of a perpetual election cycle. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has again raised his voice, arguing that frequent elections impede governance and development, results in a drag on public exchequer and gives rise to election fatigue that is harmful for democracy.

Meanwhile, media reports have indicated that the party is exploring the feasibility of holding unofficial simultaneous polls next year by clubbing voting in some state Assemblies with the general elections.

The moves have also released the red herrings associated with the debate and caused political charges to be traded anew. While these are inevitable, the revival of the debate is important, necessary and topical. Simply put, simultaneous elections in India are inevitable. It is good for economy and even better for the health of Indias political system. It is an idea whose time has come. Its implementation, however, must be preceded by a patient and robust debate.

If India is to pull its billions out of poverty, reduce inequality and ensure the well-being of its citizens in line with developed nations, it needs to show greater political will. Unfortunately, there is simply no incentive for parties in the current electoral framework to show the political will necessary to undertake tough reforms that bear short-term pain but is vital for improving the economys efficiency.

A perpetual electoral season has made it impossible for leaders to pursue economic policies that bring long-term rewards when an anti-reform posture appears electorally more beneficial. Political discourse around reforms has become restrictive, prohibitive and inconducive. The space for even a debate lies squeezed. A laser focus on winning elections means that leaders take shortcuts, and the focus lies on redistribution of wealth through welfare schemes (or even bribery). While income inequality is a reality in India, for wealth to be redistributed, there needs to be greater focus on its generation.

This is where the never-ending election cycle has dealt the biggest blow. The political discourse has created a perverse risk-and-reward system where those who are seen to be in favour of reforms are voted out, and those who promise pain alleviation through anti-market measures (keeping Indias growth story stunted) are rewarded.

As Ashutosh Varshney, Professor of Political Science at Brown University, writes in Foreign Affairs (Indias Democratic Challenge): "In India's highly adversarial democracy, political leaders will continue to find it extremely difficult to stake their political fortunes on economic reforms that are expected to cause substantial short-term dislocations and are likely to produce rewards only in the long term As a result, what is of great consequence to mainstream economists is of secondary importance to politicians, who prefer predictability in and control over their political universe."

The situation is paradoxical. Unless the economy is truly liberalised through pro-market reforms, its benefits will not reach the poor. But to liberalise the economy, steps that bear short-term dislocation must be taken that is difficult amid a never-ending election cycle. No political leader will take the suicidal step of creating resentment among the most influential bloc of voters.

What we see in the case of India, therefore, is a conflict between radical reforms and electoral democracy. There is little political sanction among the poor for a robust reforms process. Unless we understand this paradox, the logic behind simultaneous election will elude us.

Among other reasons, the tension between electoral democracy and pro-market reforms has to do with the timing of universal adult suffrage in India, which came at the onset of Independence. This happened before the country could develop stable and mature institutions of governance, unlike in the West where Industrial Revolution preceded democracy. Countries such as South Korea or Taiwan that developed their economies faster than India adopted democracy only in the late 1980s and the mid-1990s, two decades after their economic upturn began, as Professor Varshney points out in his column.

In India, the polity has gained political power before the state could ripen its institutions for delivery of governance and meet their basic needs. As the state was frequently been found wanting in its responsibilities, the electorate developed a resentment towards the government.

In an interview with Reuters on his book When Crime Pays  that focuses on the role of criminals in Indian politics  author Milan Vaishnav (senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington) explains the situation in India where governance has simply not been able to keep up with the pace of rapid economic, political, and social change. This has opened up a gap between what citizens demand of the state and what the state is able to deliver. Whereas the West built institutions before democratizing, India embarked on both journeys simultaneously.

As the state has tried to develop its institutions along the way through administering reforms, the transitory costs have generated among the masses an antipathy towards pro-market reforms. Political power has enabled them to express that antipathy through ballot boxes, with the ultimate result that the trajectory of economic reforms in India since Independence has been episodic and cautious.

Electoral compulsions have led leaders to implement reforms either by stealth or compulsion. For instance, former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao tried his best to hide his reform credentials throughout the tenure of his premiership. Even though the steps taken by him in 1991 unshackled the Indian economy and set it on a path of sustained growth, Rao never took credit for these reforms, and in fact tried to erase his fingerprints, as political scientist Vinay Sitapati has written in book Half Lion.

In an interview with The Business Standard, the author says: Rao realised early on that while liberalisation was important, it did not have a political constituency. It had a lot of political opponents. In my judgment, Rao did not sell reforms. In the 1996 elections, he campaigned on the plank of welfare schemes because the beneficiaries of liberalisation only come in later.

This paradox can be fixed if elections spaced out. Leaders will find it relatively easier to take seemingly unpopular decisions if no electoral test lies on the horizon. For instance, the Modi government took a bunch of measures to aid ease of doing business and tried to reform labor laws as soon as it was elected in 2014, but its pace slowed down to a halt two years later when it realized that worker discontent and anger could work against it in elections.

Consequently, though the NDA government partially removed the arbitrary inspection system, allowed firms to file one self-certified return for a clutch of laws, implemented EPF number portability, and initiated moves to make EPF and NPS alternative social security schemes for organised sector employees, the consolidation of 44 labour laws into four codes remained a promise.

In 2017, the government dropped its plan to allow companies with up to 300 staff to lay off workers due to stiff opposition from trade unions, including the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, has slowed the reforms pace.

These withdrawals come with costs. Avoiding major reforms to alleviate short-term pain result in long-term dislocations that hit the poor the hardest. If the practice of holding elections every year is discontinued, it will create space for these steps to be taken that may subsequently reverse the adverse effects of policy myopia.

Happily, the space for debate in increasing. In his address on the eve of Republic Day in 2017, former president Pranab Mukherjee had come out in favour of concurrent polls. In his words: The time is also ripe for a constructive debate on electoral reforms and a return to the practice of the early decades after independence when elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies were held simultaneously. It is for the Election Commission to take this exercise forward in consultation with political parties.

Since this move will include Constitutional amendment, it cannot be (and should not be) done without consensus. But the time for discussion on it is now.
MK Stalin was among those listening to Rajinikanth, seated in the front row. On Tuesday morning, Stalin took off from where Rajini left and decided to tell the world about how the EPS regime went out of its way to put hurdles in fulfilling Karunanidhi's last wish.

In a strange way, the narrative of the DMK meet to condole the demise of M Karunanidhi was set by Rajinikanth. The actor-turned-politician, who by no stretch of imagination is associated with the DMK, tore into Edappadi Palaniswami for his lack of grace by absenting himself from Karunanidhi's burial at the Marina. Rajinikanth was speaking at a condolence meet organised by the Tamil film industry on Monday.

"All of India came here for Kalaignar (Karunanidhi). The soldiers from the three forces paid respects to him, they gave him the 21-gun salute. But I have an issue. From the Governor to the chief ministers of all states, from the Prime Minister to Rahul Gandhi, when they all stayed for at least two to three hours, shouldn't Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister have come there? Shouldn't he have stayed there? Shouldn't the Cabinet have stayed there?'' asked Rajinikanth, in what was his most blistering attack on the AIADMK so far.

The superstar did not stop there. He alluded to the AIADMK government's decision not to give land for Karunanidhi's burial next to CN Annadurai's samadhi at the Marina. The DMK subsequently went to the Madras High court which turned down the government's objections.

"You gave a resting place to him (at the Marina) and did not go in for an appeal (of the Madras High court order to the Supreme court). If you had chosen to appeal, I would have come down to protest,'' said Rajinikanth.

MK Stalin was among those listening to Rajinikanth, seated in the front row. On Tuesday morning, Stalin took off from where Rajini left and decided to tell the world about how the EPS regime went out of its way to put hurdles in fulfilling Karunanidhi's last wish.

"When the doctors told us that only a few hours were left for Kalaignar, we approached the chief minister. I held his hands and requested him for space at the Marina. Palaniswami said legal opinion was against it. When I told him the legal wing of the government will do what the political heads decide, the chief minister in order to make us leave his residence, said he will consider. The next morning when a team of senior DMK leaders went to meet him, they returned to tell me that the chief minister had refused to allot space at the Marina,'' revealed Stalin.

It was obvious that Stalin, looking grief-stricken in a rare unshaven look, was looking to target two birds with one stone. Both the political rival and the family rival. The DMK condolence meeting was a show of strength, with several speakers going on to say that anointment of Stalin as the next president of the party was a mere formality. The messaging was intended for Stalin's elder brother, MK Alagiri, who on Monday had declared that Karunanidhi's "true and loyal followers" are with him.

The sibling rivalry had come to the fore less than a week since Karunanidhi's demise. If the posters that have appeared in Madurai are an indication, Alagiri plans to start a political party called 'Kalaignar DMK'. It will be his attempt to ensure that post-Karunanidhi, the debate over who the rising son will be in the party of the rising son, has not been settled.

By speaking at length about his efforts to ensure Karunanidhi's wish was fulfilled, Stalin was trying to position himself as his father's favorite and obedient son. ``I would have died had Kalaignar not been buried at the Marina'' was Stalin's emotional pitch. The banner photograph in the background also reinforced the political succession plan. It had Periyar, Annadurai, Karunanidhi and Stalin's pictures.

By choosing the condolence meeting to criticise the AIADMK, Stalin was making it clear that the DMK would use the Marina episode to attack the ruling party. All through the Karunanidhi-Jayalalithaa era, the equation was marred by lack of political civility. Things seemed to change a bit when Karunanidhi's family visited Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospital. But Palaniswami's stand on the Marina is an attempt to employ the Jayalalithaa template while dealing with the DMK.

At the film industry meeting, Rajinikanth in an emotional tone said he could not handle it when Stalin broke down like a child. "Thalapathy (Stalin), don't worry. Your family is there with you,'' said Rajini. That it came within hours of Alagiri claiming that Rajinikanth and he could work together, was significant. The actor was pointing out that Alagiri's pronouncements notwithstanding, he stood with Stalin at a personal level.

The blot on Stalin's CV as the leading light of the DMK is his inability to get the party back to power in 2016 and make Karunanidhi chief minister for a sixth time. He was criticised over the past one and a half years for his failure to take advantage of the fissures within the AIADMK. What Tuesday showed was a Stalin determined to use the father card to do well in 2019.
Agence France-Presse

South Korea on Tuesday temporarily banned from the streets all recalled BMW cars that have not yet passed safety checks following a spate of engine fires.

BMW Korea last month started recalling 1,06,000 vehicles with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module, which it says caused the recent fires. The recall applies to 42 models, all with diesel engines.

An average 7,000 cars have been inspected every day but some 27,000 vehicles had not yet been checked by late Monday, the transport ministry said in a press statement, leaving some 20,000 cars to be hit when the measure takes effect on Tuesday midnight.

Once the ban comes into effect, drivers are forbidden from driving their vehicles unless they are taking them to be tested, the statement said, with a senior official telling Yonhap drivers would be liable in the event of a fire.

Images of BMW vehicles bursting into flames have made headlines in South Korea recently, with Yonhap reporting 39 cases so far this year and some parking lots refusing to accept the cars because of fears they could catch fire.

BMW is facing a series of legal actions over the issue in the country, and has said the problem was "not Korea specific".

In South Korea, six out of 10 imported cars are from Germany, with BMW selling nearly 39,000 in the first six months of this year, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.
Indo-Asian News Service

Google on 13 August announced the "2018 Doodle 4 Google" contest inviting creative, art-loving students from across India to bring their imagination to life for the search engine giant's logo.

This year's theme for the doodle is "what inspires you". The doodle, incorporating letters G-o-o-g-l-e, can be created using crayons, clay, water colours and graphic design.

The winner would win a Rs 5 lakh college scholarship, along with the opportunity to share their inspiration through their artwork, the company said in a statement.

The winning doodle would also get featured on Google's homepage on Children's Day.

The contest is open to students from Class 1 to 10 and the last date of submission is October 6.

A panel of guest judges including the original doodle team leader at Google, Ryan Germick, will review the entries this year.

The internal judging and jury votes would finally shortlist the top 20 doodles that would be put up for public voting from October 23 to November 5, the statement said.

The first edition of "Doodle 4 Google India" was held in 2009 and the theme was "My India".

The same contest also runs in regions including Canada, Latin America and other Asian countries.
tech2 News Staff

In a viral video on YouTube, the Apple iPhone 6 can be seen in a car, exploding into flames with the driver behind the wheels.

As seen in the video by EEC Media, the video was shot by a dash cam installed inside the vehicle. The woman screaming in the video was identified as Jiang as her phone burst into flames in a moving car.

The womans husband reportedly said that the phone was sent to a local repair shop to replace the battery in February. Surprisingly, she did not know that the replaced battery was not from Apple.

No one was had sustained any injuries, as per the video.

When you look at the video, the woman can be seen screaming at the top of her voice as the iPhone explodes multiple times, and the flames become dense. The back metal casing of the phone can also be seen partially melting in the process.

An investigation found that the counterfeit battery was the cause of the explosion.

This is not the first time that an iPhone has been caught bursting into flames. As per an earlier report, an iPhone 6s could be seen exploding while it was waiting to be repaired in a shop in Las Vegas. In another instance, an iPhone's battery blasted which came for repair in an Apple store. The blast had happened while it was being repaired.
Indo-Asian News Service

Parts of the national capital will now enjoy free Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched a slew of "smart city" projects on Monday.

During the inauguration at the Charkha Park in Connaught Place, Singh said that the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), by successfully launching the smart city initiative, has set an example before other aspiring smart cities in the country to follow.

Other initiatives which were inaugurated by the BJP leader include smart poles, solar tree, ideation centre, 50 LED interactive screens, Ambedkar Vatika, two hi-tech nurseries, four mechanical road sweepers, two litter picking machines and 10 auto tippers.

He also released a coffee table book on the green initiatives of the NDMC titled Green and Colourful NDMC  A Transformational Journey on the occasion.

Minister of State for Communications and Railways Manoj Sinha, who was also present on the occasion, said that it is a proud moment that Digital India and Smart City Mission integrated into the initiatives launched by NDMC and MTNL in a joint venture.

"Online or offline is the status symbol in every person's life today and it will be felicitated by the government reliable network provided by MTNL's optical fibre broadband network," Sinha said.

On the occasion, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri said that with the efforts of NDMC, New Delhi would be the "nerve centre of the command and control of country's digital and smart city mission".

Meanwhile, Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal suggested that the parking management system be integrated with information of vacancies in other nearby parking spots.

"Red light and over-speeding violation mechanism recorded by the Smart Poles, along with e-FIRs and female distress complaint should be recorded by the Digital Display panels in these smart infrastructures," he said.
Indo-Asian News Service

Putting rumours to rest, Samsung Electronics has confirmed its upcoming Galaxy S10 smartphone will not be the company's first 5G device.

According to DJ Koh, President and CEO of IT & Mobile Samsung Electronics, the smartphone maker was 'focussing on developing innovations that will be genuinely accepted and liked by users,' for the foldable phone but also that the company 'didn't want to lose the world's first title'.

"Samsung has reaffirmed its desire to be the world's first vendor to launch a foldable smartphone while adding that the Galaxy S10 won't be the firm's first 5G phone and that a separate model will," ZDNet reported late on Monday.

Koh, however, did not clarify whether this separate smartphone would be the long-awaited foldable smartphone or some other device altogether.

"We wouldn't have started (project) if it was a going to be a one-time thing," Koh was quoted as saying.

The smartphone maker also rubbished rumours that it was contemplating to club the Galaxy S series and Galaxy Note series.

"For the immediate future, there won't be a change in launching the S series in the first half and Note series in the second half of the year," Koh added.
tech2 News Staff

As we move ahead from the launch of the Galaxy Note 9 for global audiences, it is inevitable that leaks about the next Galaxy S-series smartphone start popping up. You would expect the South Korean smartphone giant to come up with some revolutionary design for the Galaxy S10 because a report has pointed out that the S9 and S9 Plus were the worst selling S-series phones since 2012.

However, a recent leak about the S10 has shed some light on what Samsung has in store for us and to sum it up in one word, it is mind-blowing. As per a report by Korean website ETNews, you can expect a massive camera upgrade on the S10 as the phone will reportedly have a triple-camera system on it.

The report points out that there will be a 12 MP wide-angle lens along with a 13 MP telephoto and a 16 MP super-wide angle camera. This triple camera system will be present in at least two of the three S-series smartphones that will be announced next year.

But if you are thinking that only the premium series Samsung devices will enjoy the triple-camera setup, you would be wrong. As a matter of fact, the triple camera system will be seen on many more smartphones from Samsung in 2019 and if the report is to be believed then we might even see one this year. The Galaxy A-series, which is Samsung's upper mid-range series will also be getting this triple camera setup and they have a device coming out in the next two-three months.

As per another report, it would seem that the Galaxy S10 will also be having an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, much like the one seen on the Honor 10. Samsung will also be looking to shrink the top and bottom bezels even further to provide for a complete full-view experience.

Though we are tentatively up to 4-5 months away from the launch of the Galaxy S10, we are quite sure that the rumour mill will be churning out a lot of leaks. We are sure to update you as soon as we receive further information.
tech2 News Staff

Vimeo too has joined the bandwagon of the several tech giants by removing Alex Jones' Infowars account on the basis of it violating the company's terms and conditions.

According to the report in the Business Insider, a Vimeo spokesperson spoke to stating that Infowars violated the company's Terms of Service which prohibits discriminatory and hateful content and they're not interested in profiting with a content of such nature. Also, the report in the Tech Crunch confirms the removal of Infowars content on Vimeo.

Vimeo was said to have less than a dozen videos of Infowars before the tech giants decided to pull the plug on Alex Jones'. Infowars then uploaded over 50 new videos and hours of footage between 9 August and 10 August.

All of this content was gone over manually and within 48 hours of the videos being uploaded a violation was determined.

Youtube, Facebook, Spotify, Apple, Pinterest have collectively removed all of Alex Jones' content from their websites such as the one in which he criticised Muslim immigrants and the creators of a transgender cartoon.

Twitter is the only one remaining to take an action over this, even though reports over his violations have been found by CNN.

We didnt suspend Alex Jones or Infowars yesterday. We know thats hard for many but the reason is simple: he hasnt violated our rules. Well enforce if he does. And well continue to promote a healthy conversational environment by ensuring tweets arent artificially amplified.  jack (@jack) August 8, 2018

Jones has managed to create a large audience base since Infowars was founded in 1999. He even was able to interview Trump.

His most extreme theories include assuming that the 11 September 2001 attacks on New York and Washington were executed by the government itself.

Also, Jones has been sued by parents of children who died in 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut over defamation.

As Infowars tries to find refuge and jumps from one platform to another over violating the terms of service and as per the report in Gizmodo it seems that Alex Jones' content has found a (temporary, maybe?) solace in the platform about which everyone knows but no one visits, Google+.
tech2 News Staff

Xiaomi seems to be clinging to its position as the number one vendor of smartphones in the country. Having lead Samsung in the first quarterly reports, fresh reports reveal that not much has changed so far.

According to data released by IDC India, Xiaomi's increased shipment numbers represent a whopping 20 percent growth when compared to numbers from the same quarter last year. The data states that the Chinese company shipped as many as 33.5 million smartphones in India during the quarter.

Samsung on the other hand also showed an impressive year-over-year growth of 21 percent in a period which saw strong shipments of its lower-end models, that include the Galaxy J7 Nxt, Galaxy J2 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2018). Vivo too had a strong showing as its shipments grew more than double from the previous quarter, representing a 18 percent year-on-year growth.

India Smartphone Market sees a healthy growth of 20% in Q2 2018 as Xiaomi retains leadership, According to IDC India.

Read more here: https://t.co/09HoACcLAt pic.twitter.com/5tVll4UHgd  IDC India (@IDCInd) August 13, 2018

Oppo and Transsion which filled up the other two spots in the top five saw a year-on-year growth of 15 percent and a whopping 53 percent respectively. Transsion's growth was bolstered by the growth of its offline focussed brand Tecno bringing in a growth of 26 percent, its online-exclusive brand Infinix growing by 45 percent and iTel by 15 percent.

The report also mentions that the top five vendors  Xiaomi, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Transsion accounted for a total 79 percent of the total shipments in the quarter which means that these brands are trying to consolidate their respective positions at the top. This also means that the brands that do not feature in the top 5 really need to pull up their socks if they want to dent the market in any way.
Kristin Davis, a former employee and close friend of Roger Stone, said after testifying before a grand jury, she sensed special counsel Robert Mueller's team was concerned with what Stone might have had prior knowledge of before the 2016 election.

"I think there's the general concern for some things that he seemed to predict," Davis said on CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" Monday night.

Investigations Kristin Davis (Manhattan Madam) Law and legal system Misc people Political Figures - US Roger Stone Testimony Trial and procedure Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal law Grand jury 2016 Presidential election Elections (by type) Elections and campaigns Government and public administration Political candidates Politics US Federal elections US Presidential elections Continents and regions Eastern Europe Europe Robert Mueller Russia Russia meddling investigation

Davis pointed to "the Podesta tweet" in particular -- an apparent reference to a tweet Stone sent in the heat of the 2016 campaign, where he said, "It will soon the Podesta's time in the barrel." That tweet in August came weeks ahead of WikiLeaks' publication of Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails, which were hacked by Russia, according to the US intelligence community.

A previous CNN review showed that outside of that tweet, Stone repeatedly claimed he knew about future WikiLeaks dumps.

Stone is a longtime acquaintance and supporter of President Donald Trump, and his name has continued to come up as the investigation into potential coordination between Russia and members of Trump's orbit has continued. Davis is more widely known as the "Manhattan Madam" and was set last week to testify before a grand jury convened for the special counsel investigation led by Mueller, a former FBI director.

Stone has denied any wrongdoing, and in an appearance on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" earlier Monday evening, he said he was communicating with Davis through their attorneys to avoid "any inference" that he had tampered with witnesses.

Davis told CNN that she spent "about an hour" before the grand jury and that the investigators showed concern "about whether or not any collusion happened with Russia."

"I think they're concerned with all of the people in the 2016 campaign, all of the high profile names that we've seen come across and all of the people that have worked for Roger," Davis said.

Asked if she got the sense that investigators were coming for Stone, Davis said, "I did."

"I think that there's cause for concern based on that they just want to believe something happened, which I don't believe that it did," Davis said.
Reuters

The United States voiced deep concern on Tuesday about Russias pursuit of weapons including a mobile laser system to destroy satellites in space, as well as its putting into orbit of a new "space apparatus inspector".

Yleem DS Poblete, US assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, was addressing the UNs Conference on Disarmament in Geneva which has been discussing a new treaty to prevent an arms race in outer space.

"To the United States this is yet further proof that the Russian actions do not match their words," she told the forum. Russias pursuit of counterspace capabilities "is disturbing given the recent pattern of Russian malign behavior," she added.
The suspension was enforced by Australia over charges of child trafficking for inter-country adoption by some recognised Indian placement agencies.

New Delhi: Australia has resumed adoption of children from India after it was suspended eight years ago over charges of trafficking by some recognised Indian placement agencies, a senior Women and Child Development Ministry (WCD) official said on Tuesday.

The suspension was enforced in 2010, and the WCD along with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) were constantly engaging with the Australian government for recommencement of the programme, he said. "The ministry was in constant touch with the Australian government to relent and allow adoptions from India and they have finally agreed," the official said.

The suspension was enforced over charges of child trafficking for inter-country adoption by some recognised Indian placement agencies, the official said without naming the agencies. "The regulations of inter-country adoptions have been made strict by Government of India with the enactment of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and notification of Adoption Regulations, 2017," he said.

A total of 651 inter-country adoptions from India were recorded in 2017-18.

According to the Special Broadcasting Service in Australia, Assistant Minister for Children and Families, David Gillespie confirmed the news and said the recommendation was to start with small numbers.

Gillespie said India had "improved its processes" to comply with the Hague convention on adoption and could rejoin the 13 countries still on Australia's approved adoption list. "We don't want to see child trafficking, we don't want to see children that aren't getting what they deserve. That is a permanent, safe, caring home," Gillespie was quoted by the SBS News as saying.
A Boston newspaper is proposing a coordinated editorial response from publications across the US to President Donald Trump's frequent attacks on the news media.

Boston: A Boston newspaper is proposing a coordinated editorial response from publications across the US to President Donald Trump's frequent attacks on the news media.

"We are not the enemy of the people," said Marjorie Pritchard, a deputy managing editor of The Boston Globe, referring to a characterisation of journalists that Trump has used in the past. The president, who contends he has largely been covered unfairly by the press, also employs the term "fake news" often when describing the media.

The Boston Globe has reached out to editorial boards nationwide to write and publish editorials on 16 August denouncing what the newspaper called a "dirty war against the free press."

As of Friday, Pritchard, who oversees The Boston Globe's editorial page, said about 70 outlets had committed to editorials so far, with the list expected to grow. The publications ranged from large metropolitan dailies, such as the Houston Chronicle, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Miami Herald and Denver Post, to small weekly papers with circulations as low as 4,000.

The newspaper's request was being promoted by industry groups such as the American Society of News Editors and regional groups like the New England Newspaper and Press Association. It suggested editorial boards take a common stand against Trump's words regardless of their politics, or whether they generally editorialized in support of or in opposition to the president's policies.

"Our words will differ. But at least we can agree that such attacks are alarming," the appeal stated, acknowledging that newspapers were likely to take different approaches.

Pritchard, who oversees the Globe's editorial page, said the decision to seek the coordinated response from newspapers was reached after Trump appeared to step up his rhetoric in recent weeks.

At an Aug. 2 political rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Trump told his audience that the media was "fake, fake disgusting news."

"Whatever happened to the free press? Whatever happened to honest reporting?" the president asked, pointing to journalists covering the event. "They don't report it. They only make up stories."

Pritchard said she hoped the editorials would make an impression on Americans.

"I hope it would educate readers to realize that an attack on the First Amendment is unacceptable," she said. "We are a free and independent press, it is one of the most sacred principles enshrined in the Constitution."
Westminster Underground station, close to the UK parliament, was closed and the building was cordoned off. No one was being allowed entry to parliament. As parliament is in recess for summer, most lawmakers are not using the building.

A car crashed into the security barriers outside the UK's Parliament building on Tuesday, injuring a number of pedestrians as armed police arrested the driver.

Scotland Yard said as its counter-terror unit arrested a man on suspicion of terrorism offences. The incident happened at 7. 37 am, prompting a major police response, reported PTI. Police have put up a Terrorism Act cordon, a reaction to incidents of this nature near any high-security hotspots in the city.

Westminster Underground station, close to Parliament, was closed and the building was cordoned off after the crash. No one was being allowed entry into the Parliament. As parliament is in recess for the summer, most lawmakers weren't using the building on Tuesday.

Footage on social media showed a handcuffed man being led away by heavily armed police.

Armed officers from Scotland Yard were instantly at the scene and one man has been arrested. "At 7:37 hrs, a car was in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament. The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene," the Met Police said in a statement.

"A number of pedestrians have been injured. Officers remain at the scene," it said. The area around Parliament Square has been cordoned off as investigations continue.

Witnesses said they saw the car crash into the barriers deliberately. Heavy armed police presence could be seen in the area as the incident unfolded.

One man described the unfolding chaos as "very sinister". Speaking to The Sun, eyewitness Jason Williams said, "He went into the bollard at high speed, about 40 or 50mph. "Someone driving towards Parliament at speed, it wasn't a minor accident, it wasn't a road traffic incident. It was, in my opinion, something planned and something very sinister."

Prime Minister Theresa May commented on the incident. "My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response," she said.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid also thanked emergency services for their quick response. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was in close contact with police.

The Metropolitan Police said it was "keeping an open mind" regarding the motive behind the incident as its Counter-Terrorism Command is leading the investigation. London Ambulance Service said in a statement that it had "treated two people at the scene for injuries that are not believed to be serious and have taken them to the hospital". The police added that they do not believe any of the injuries are "life-threatening".

Westminster was the scene of a terror attack last year, when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam, drove a car at pedestrians on a bridge over the River Thames, before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside Parliament.

The attack left five people dead and around 50 injured, and only ended when police shot Masood dead.

With inputs from agencies
Various political parties alleged that elections won by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan were not fair and demanded probe

Islamabad: Pakistan president Mamnoon Hussain in his Independence Day speech echoed the issue of alleged rigging in the recently held elections, saying the election commission should address the complaints of major political parties to make the poll process "fully transparent".

Addressing an official function held at Jinnah Convention Centre to commemorate the country's 72nd Independence Day, Hussain said it is crucial for the country to make state institutions powerful and independent.

Various political parties alleged that elections won by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan were not fair and demanded probe. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif on Monday alleged that "historical rigging" took place during the 25 July elections.

The PML-N came second in Pakistan's National Assembly with 82 seats compared to Khan's PTI which emerged as the single largest party with 158 seats in the 342-member lower house.

Hussain said the elections and celebration of Pakistan's Independence Day were held in close proximity which is a reminder that the way this country had come into being with the people's will, in the same manner, the decisions regarding its fate will be made through the vote." He said the polls were organised under new laws enacted by the previous government to make the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) powerful and independent.

He also said there is a complete unity in the nation to make process of elections fully transparent and the previous elected representative made laws to empower the ECP. But if some groups express disquiet over the issue of elections despite the efforts to make them transparent, then it is the responsibility of the ECP to pacify them and take such steps that makes voters confident that decisions about matters of state would be accepted and implemented, he said.

PTI chairman Khan, nominated by the largest party in the National Assembly to be the country's next prime minister, is expected to take oath on 18 August. Raising the Kashmir issue, the president said, Pakistan will continue to provide its political and moral support to resolve the Kashmir issue under United Nations resolutions. He called upon the international community to raise its voice to get the Kashmiri people their "due rights".

Pakistan celebrates 14 August as the Independence Day which marks the transfer of power by last British viceroy to the new government of Pakistan in Karachi. Though, the first day of independence was 15 August. The day-long festivities began with special prayers in mosques and the hoisting of the national flag at all important public buildings in the country, which have been decorated with bunting and lights.

To mark the day, a 31-gun salute was held in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals, the Dawn reported. Earlier, sirens were sounded and the moving traffic came to a halt as mark of national solidarity. The main ceremony was held at Jinnah Convention Centre, where Hussain hoisted the national flag.

The ceremony was also attended by caretaker prime minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities and foreign dignitaries. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in the provincial capitals as well as district headquarters.

Change-of-guard ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively. Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel.

In his message, the prime minister said the occasion "reminds us of the epic democratic struggle of our forefathers for securing a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent where they could fashion their lives according to their religious, cultural and social values."
The Indian Consulate in New York City is hosting a string of events to coincide with Indias 72nd independence Day celebrations, starting with the flag hoisting ceremony from 10 - 11 (by invitation) am at 3 East 64th Street in uptown New York, overlooking Central Park. For those taking public transport to the venue, subway stops at 59th and 68th are the closest walking distance away from the Indian consulate.

The Indian Consulate in New York City is hosting a string of events to coincide with Indias 72nd independence Day celebrations, starting with the flag hoisting ceremony from 10 - 11 am (by invitation) am at 3 East 64th Street in uptown New York, overlooking Central Park. For those taking public transport to the venue, subway stops at 59th and 68th are a walking distance away from the venue.

The Empire State Building will be lit up in the colours of the Indian tricolor Wednesday evening EST. In all, at least 25 public events have dotted the US East Coast and nearby states in connection with India's independence day celebrations all this week.

The iconic Empire State Building will be lit on the evening of August 15 in the colours of the Tiranga. Consul General attended a special function with @FIANYNJCTorg leadership and singer @mickeysingh at @EmpireStateBldg pic.twitter.com/4F1k3IMfax  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) August 15, 2018

Spectacular setting of the #Batterydancefestival at Battery Park. On August 15, we will have the India Independence Day Presentation of Kathak! Thanks to @batterydance & @ICCR_Delhi pic.twitter.com/Q8ltYap6RB  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) August 13, 2018

Kathak at Battery Park and Flushing on consecutive days

On the same evening, the Consulate is featuring some of Indias best known Kathak dancers at a stunning location in Battery Park, with views of New York's waterfront in the backdrop. The Kathak! dance event featuring Sandip Mallick, Biplab Bhattacharyya, Sunando Mukhrejee, Subhahish Bhattacharyya, Anuj Mishara, Kantika Mishra, Neha Singh Sengar, Piyush Chauhan and Preeti Sharma is happening at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park, Battery Park 20 Battery Place, Manhattan, NY 10280 from 7 to 9 pm on 15 August. The same artists will be performing at 7 pm on 16 August Saraswati Hall, 45-52 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY, 11355.

Dhai Akhar letter writing contest

Meanwhile, ongoing campaigns around the theme of Indias independence celebrations continue. One of them, the Dhai Akhar Letter Writing contest, with cash prizes, closes on 30 Septmeber. The contest theme is structured around Rabindranath Tagores Letter to my motherland. Open to two categories - under 18 and above 18 years, the Dhai Akhar letter can be written in English, Hindi or any of the official languages mentioned in 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Letters can be written on plain A4 size paper with a word limit of not more than 1000 words and must be mailed to Assistant Director General (Philately), Department of Posts, Room No. 108, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110001. Only handwritten letters posted by 30 September will be accepted. A scanned copy of the letter can be submitted on the MyGov portal by 30 September (23:59 IST). Yet, a hard copy of the letter with a postmark of not later than 30-09-2018 must be sent too. Letters must be uploaded on the MyGov portal by 30 September and not later. Complete details here.
Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were 'dozens' of victims, as rescue helicopters winched survivors on stretchers from the ruined bridge.

Genoa, Italy: About 39 people were killed on Tuesday when a giant motorway bridge collapsed in heavy rain in the Italian city of Genoa in what the government called an "immense tragedy".

The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, came as the bridge was undergoing maintenance work and as the Liguria region, where Genoa is situated, experienced torrential rainfall.

"Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious condition," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini told reporters.

Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were "dozens" of victims, as rescue helicopters winched survivors on stretchers from the ruined bridge.

Cars and trucks were tangled in the rubble and nearby buildings damaged by vast chunks of concrete, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

The incident  the deadliest of its kind in Europe since 2001  is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of economic stagnation.

Patrick Villardry, a French firefighter who came from Nice to help the rescue effort, said the task was huge.

"The first victims have been evacuated and now we have to search under the wreckage of buildings, but there are thousands of tonnes of concrete," he said.

President Giuseppe Conte was due to visit the scene later Tuesday.

'Unacceptable to die like this'

Aerial footage showed more than 200 metres of the viaduct, known locally as the Morandi bridge, completely destroyed.

"I'm following with the utmost apprehension what is happening in Genoa and what looks like it could be an immense tragedy," Transport and Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter.

Salvini, who is also leader of the nationalist League party in a power-sharing government, vowed to hold those responsible for the disaster accountable.

"I have gone over this bridge hundreds of times, and I commit to digging and finding out who is responsible for an unacceptable tragedy, because it's not possible that in 2018 you can work and die in these conditions," he said.

The cause of the disaster was not immediately clear, although weather services in the Liguria region where Genoa is situated had issued a storm warning on Tuesday morning.

The national motorways body said on its website that "maintenance works were being carried out on the base of the viaduct", adding that a crane had been moved on site to assist the work.

Shares in Italian company Atlantia, which runs much of Italy's motorway network, including the collapsed stretch of the A10, plunged on the Milan stock exchange after the news.

The shares were temporarily suspended when their slide exceeded 10 percent and closed the day down more than five percent at 23.54.

History of collapses

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, in a statement, expressed "my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died, and to the Italian people".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sent her condolences.

Genoa, home to half a million people, is located between the sea and the mountains of northwestern Italy. Its rugged terrain means that motorways that run through the city and the surrounding area are characterised by long viaducts and tunnels.

The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, over-spans dozens of railway lines as well as an industrial zone housing several factories.

One factory, immediately next to one of the viaduct's support columns, was virtually empty on Tuesday due to a national holiday, and seems to have sustained minimal damage.

In March 2017, a couple were killed when a motorway overpass collapsed on their car near Ancona on the country's Adriatic coast.

A pensioner died in October 2016 when his car was crushed by a collapsing bridge over a dual carriageway between Milan and Lecco.

That incident was blamed on bureaucratic bungling which led to a fatal delay in the bridge being closed after it was reported to be showing significant cracks.
By Nichola Saminather TORONTO (Reuters) - Ontario's newly elected conservative government said on Monday it will delay the start date of recreational marijuana sales in the province and will allow private retailers to sell cannabis rather than government-run stores. Ontario will allow private retailers to sell recreational marijuana starting on April 1, officials from the province's Progressive Conservative government told a news conference, abandoning its predecessor's plans for government-controlled stores starting on Oct

By Nichola Saminather

TORONTO (Reuters) - Ontario's newly elected conservative government said on Monday it will delay the start date of recreational marijuana sales in the province and will allow private retailers to sell cannabis rather than government-run stores.

Ontario will allow private retailers to sell recreational marijuana starting on April 1, officials from the province's Progressive Conservative government told a news conference, abandoning its predecessor's plans for government-controlled stores starting on Oct. 17.

While Canada will be the first Group of Seven nation to legalize recreational cannabis in October, it has chosen to make a cautious start. Many provincial governments, including the previous Liberal government in Ontario, have planned a small number of stores to start with and tight control over supply.

Ontario's new conservative Premier Doug Ford, however, prefers a more laissez-faire approach and had hinted at a shift to a private retail model before his election in June. In March, he told CBC Radio he did not believe in "the government sticking their hands in our lives all the time."

The province will begin consultations with several groups including businesses, consumer groups, municipalities and law enforcement next week and will examine the retail models planned by Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Ontario Attorney General Caroline Mulroney said at the news conference.

Between October and April, cannabis will be available only online, Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said at the news conference, which was broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

"The system were proposing marks a significant departure from the approach of the previous government," Fedeli said. "Implementing this new approach will take time."

The initial Liberal government plan was for 40 stores across Ontario in the first year, rising to 150 by the end of 2020 - all run by the provincial liquor board.

Fedeli and Mulroney did not say how many retail licenses will be issued or whether any of the multitudes of illegal dispensaries that currently operate will be able to apply, but added that more details will be released as the consultation advances.

The province will remain the wholesaler to retailers under the new framework, similar to the previous one.

Fedeli emphasized that safety and prevention of sales to underaged users will remain paramount.

"If a private retailer is caught selling cannabis to any underage buyer even once, their licence is done," he said. "And for those engaged in the underground today, our message is simple: stop."

(Reporting by Nichola Saminather in Toronto; Editing by David Gregorio and Matthew Lewis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day today while the country waits for its new prime minister to take oath. There is a lot of hope riding on the Imran Khan government as it is Pakistans third successive democratic transition to an elected government.

Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on Tuesday while the country waits for its prime minister-in-waiting to take oath. There is a lot of hope riding on the Imran Khan government as it is Pakistans third successive democratic transition to an elected government. And that, as The News International puts it, is in itself a milestone for a country which has been ruled by the military for most of its years as an independent nation.

"With the new government set to take charge, there are many who are full of hope that the PTI will conjure some kind of magic fix all ills. But there are others for whom there remain irreparable scars over the democracy. The election itself was a reminder of another ill Pakistan has not been able to completely deal with," The News International's editorial reads.

This year, Pakistan has achieved much on the political front as examples of a Dalit Hindu woman being elected to the Senate, a minority member winning a general seat for the first time in the history of the country, and a Sheedi woman taking oath as MPA from Sindh constituency came to the fore.

However, there are still a lot of challenges ahead of the South Asian nation with terrorism and a weak economy looming large over its growth prospects.

"It is rather unfortunate, but not surprising, that after 70 years independence, minorities in Pakistan still have to ask for a more inclusive society," highlights Dawn. Non-Muslims cannot aspire to be in the higher offices and that in itself, Dawn says, "makes non-Muslims second-class citizens, excluded from serving their country in certain capacities, a discrimination based solely on faith."

"A constitutional democracy can only be strengthened when all citizens, regardless of their faith, actually believe they are equal before the law," Dawn adds.

However, according to The Nation, "the last 70 years of Pakistans existence prove that the country and its people take pride in their existence and have created a working model for themselves not entirely dependent on other nations." It further says that "if Pakistan, with all its challenges, is able to harness the energy of its youth towards something positive, it may turn out to be the Pakistan that was envisioned by its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah."

"There is no denying that the country faces many issues, particularly the increasing debt, the lapsing economy and the mounting international pressure but has also make some of the most progressive decisions. The fact that a country like Pakistan has produced a female Prime Minister, has managed to introduce the women protection bill, and offers legal rights to the transgender shows that there is hope", concluded The Nation.
The day-long festivities for Pakistan's independence day began with thanksgiving prayers and the hoisting of the national flag at all the important public buildings in the country, which had been decorated with bunting and lights ahead of 14 August

People all across Pakistan on Tuesday celebrated the country's 72nd Independence Day with traditional zeal and fervour.

As the clock struck midnight, fireworks began across the county while buildings were lit up to celebrate Independence Day.

Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan said he was "optimistic" despite the economic crises the country has faced, due to "corruption and cronyism". He said a united resolve would pave the way for Pakistan to become a "great nation".

14 Aug 2018: On this Independence Day I am filled with the greatest optimism. Despite our grave economic crises, due to corruption & cronyism, I know if we are united in our resolve, we will rise to the challenge & Pak will become the great nation envisaged by our Quaid & Iqbal pic.twitter.com/T4EM7kToDE  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 13, 2018

The day-long festivities began with thanksgiving prayers and the hoisting of the national flag at all the important public buildings in the country, which had been decorated with bunting and lights ahead of 14 August, Dawn reported online.

The day began with a 31-gun salute in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals.

Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel.

The main ceremony was hosted at the Islamabad's Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain hoisted the national flag. Hussain and caretaker prime minister Justice (retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk addressed the people and asked them to take the country forward. "The dream of taking the country to the zenith would not come true unless we singularly concentrate on our national goals and objectives," Geo News reported Mamnoon as saying. The president expressed his elation over the country's new generation, which he said, was brimming with patriotism and passion for progress and development.

Nasir-ul-Mulk, in his address, said that 14 August reminded him of the struggle for a separate homeland for Muslims, Geo News reported. "An an unswerving commitment to Quaid's ideals and his principle of 'Unity, Faith and Discipline' would help us overcome our present-day challenges and make Pakistan a self-reliant, economically vibrant and a prosperous country," he said as per the Geo News report.

Change-of-guard ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively.

People across the country flocked to stalls that lined up streets to purchase national flags in different sizes, t-shirts, badges and other merchandise to display their national pride.

With inputs from ANI
Kristin Davis, a former employee and close friend of Roger Stone, said after testifying before a grand jury, she sensed special counsel Robert Mueller's team was concerned with what Stone might have had prior knowledge of before the 2016 election.

"I think there's the general concern for some things that he seemed to predict," Davis said on CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" Monday night.

Davis pointed to "the Podesta tweet" in particular -- an apparent reference to a tweet Stone sent in the heat of the 2016 campaign, where he said, "It will soon the Podesta's time in the barrel." That tweet in August came weeks ahead of WikiLeaks' publication of Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails, which were hacked by Russia, according to the US intelligence community.

A previous CNN review showed that outside of that tweet, Stone repeatedly claimed he knew about future WikiLeaks dumps.

Stone is a longtime acquaintance and supporter of President Donald Trump, and his name has continued to come up as the investigation into potential coordination between Russia and members of Trump's orbit has continued. Davis is more widely known as the "Manhattan Madam" and was set last week to testify before a grand jury convened for the special counsel investigation led by Mueller, a former FBI director.

Stone has denied any wrongdoing, and in an appearance on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" earlier Monday evening, he said he was communicating with Davis through their attorneys to avoid "any inference" that he had tampered with witnesses.

Davis told CNN that she spent "about an hour" before the grand jury and that the investigators showed concern "about whether or not any collusion happened with Russia."

"I think they're concerned with all of the people in the 2016 campaign, all of the high profile names that we've seen come across and all of the people that have worked for Roger," Davis said.

Asked if she got the sense that investigators were coming for Stone, Davis said, "I did."

"I think that there's cause for concern based on that they just want to believe something happened, which I don't believe that it did," Davis said.
For Naipaul writing was the only thing that mattered: all the rest was noise.

By the time I have sat down to write this, just a day after VS Naipaul's death, every publication and every writer in the world seems to have paid a tribute to him. But tribute is the wrong word here; that generally stands for undiluted praise, a highlighting of the deceased's qualities of heart and mind, whereas everything you read about Naipaul was conflicted. A great writer, yes. And that without the slightest doubt. A great writer with his heart in the right place? Um, no. If only he had been a nicer man...

Oddly enough, when you met him, he was a nice man. Softly spoken, given to thoughtful speech, he seemed to be far removed from the man with the ferocious temper we had heard about  leaving a press conference abruptly because of the stupidity of the questions, being waspish about other writers, alive or dead. (On EM Forster: A Passage to India has only one real scene. On Henry James: The worst writer in the world). But personally to me, he was always solicitous: What was I doing? Was I happy doing columns rather than write books? And faced with a room full of admirers as he did at a dinner to which I had invited him, he didn't play the lion in the room; instead he tried to blend in with everyone, asking each one what they did, and listening intently, as if he really did want to know.

Yet this was the same man who said about his publisher She was so good as a taster and editor, yet when she became a writer, lo and behold, it was all this feminine tosh. He then added, I don't mean this in any unkind way, making you wonder what other possible way he could have meant it. Naipaul didn't stop there; he went on to say that just reading a few pages of a novel, he would know if it was written by a woman. And none of them were his equal.

Was this difference in the public and private persona a deliberate act, designed to attract attention and headlines? You could have thought that at the beginning of his career, but he was already a name at 29 with A House for Mr Biswas, and the more famous he became, and the more outrageous his public comments became, it only hurt his reputation. For example, with the quotes about Forster and Henry James, some people could have well asked: Was Naipaul jealous of their reputation?

Someone really needs to do a psychological study of Naipaul. What was the source of his melancholia? He doesn't seem to have had an unhappy childhood  when we gave him the Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award, and he sat on the stage to talk about himself, he quietly wept at the memory of his father. The protagonist of A House for Mr Biswas was not only modeled on him, Naipaul has often said it was his father who inspired him to read. And the young Vidia must have been an over-achieving student to get a scholarship to Oxford to study English Literature. Yet he is said to have had a nervous breakdown at Oxford.

Like most Indians, it wasn't Biswas which brought Naipaul to my attention, but An Area of Darkness. I suppose if you need an executive summary of the book's contents, you don't need to go further than the title: it eschews any ambiguity; there's no question mark there, it's a statement of fact. And if you look at the book dispassionately, as I didn't, and most people didn't because it was impossible to do so, the book isn't a compendium of falsehoods. If he says Indians defecate everywhere, isn't that a commonplace enough observation for anyone taking a morning local train in Mumbai? When he goes to Gorakhpur, the place in Eastern Uttar Pradesh where his family came from, what he writes about are the flies swarming around a jalebi  hawker, a common enough sight. That's what made your hackles rise, the unrelenting piling on of negative observations, all of them expressed in the most infuriatingly beautiful prose, without a thought given to the causes that led to the offending effect.

I know some of the people who took Naipaul around when he was researching the book. They spoke of the many joyful moments he encountered on his travels, the many talented and energetic young people he met who were embarking on new directions that gave the country reasons for optimism. But these don't find any mention in Darkness because it didn't fit in with his pre-conceived idea of India as a wounded civilisation (which became the title of a later book).

When he had finished with India, he did the same with Africa and the same with Islam. The kindest thing you can say about his books on these subjects is that they are politically incorrect. Yet if an African writer wrote so searingly of his continent, would he be called a racist? He would, instead, be lauded for his honesty. Similarly, if a Muslin wrote about Islam in a similar fashion? People would applaud his courage. The same, I imagine, would be the case if an Indian writer wrote Naipauls India books. So there are two things you notice here: Naipaul observations hurt, not because they are untruths but because it's an outsider making them. Secondly, would an insider actually have written books that were so perversely unsympathetic, so dogged in their determination to avoid any understanding of underlying causes?

Perhaps Naipauls philosophy can be summed up in his own words: If a writer doesn't generate hostility, he is dead. Did he really believe that, or was even that said for effect? You can ask the same question of his many other statements. Like If ever you wish to meet intellectual frauds in quantity, go to Paris. Or: "Trinidad (where he was born) may seem complex, but to anyone who knows it, it is a simple, colonial, philistine society. He has said things in that vein about England too where he settled down, lived his entire adult life and now passed away. So was he unhappy everywhere? Did no place meet his exacting requirements, whatever they were?

How do you approach a writer as complex as this? To start with, there are two Naipauls, the writer of novels and the writer of non-fiction. The former shows a lightness of touch, a sly humour which you wouldn't suspect if you read only the latter. But his reputation really rests with his non-fiction. I would put aside his self-confessed misogyny (why would he tell us in such detail about his cruelty to his first wife, and to his mistress?) because that really has nothing to do with the contents of his books. I would file away in some remote corner of my brain his self-earned reputation of racism and bigotry. I would read him for his exquisite style, language at its loftiest; I would look objectively at his acute observations of the frailty of societies and see the truth in them. Reading Naipaul is to see literature at its finest, and really that's all that should matter.

That's really all that mattered to him. Apparently, he never read reviews of his books. If he was misquoted (as he often was), he never bothered to issue a correction. Five years ago at our Mumbai literary festival when we gave him the Lifetime Achievement award, Girish Karnad unleashed a vitriolic attack on him as an alleged hater of Muslims, and an alleged supporter of the Babri Masjid demolition. He didn't react. It was as if the storm that swirled around the festival because of him, had nothing to do with him. For Naipaul writing was the only thing that mattered: all the rest was noise.

Anil Dharker is a writer and columnist. He is the Founder and Director of the Literature Live! The Mumbai Literary Festival.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 as Huthi rebel fighters closed in on the last bastion of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government.

Forty children were among 51 people killed in a Saudi Arabia-led coalition air strike on a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, the Red Cross said in a new toll on Tuesday.

Fifty six children were also among the 79 people wounded in the Thursday strike on Saada province, a rebel stronghold that borders Saudi Arabia, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

The new casualty toll came after a mass funeral was held for many of the dead children on Monday at which thousands vented anger against Riyadh and Washington. Mourners raised pictures of the children and shouted slogans against Saudi Arabia and its ally and key arms supplier, the United States.

The Saudi Arabia-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 as Huthi rebel fighters closed in on the last bastion of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government. The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since then, the vast majority of them civilians, and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

The United Nations Security Council on Friday called for a "credible" investigation into the deadly strike. But it stopped short of demanding an independent investigation, and experts and aid groups voiced doubts that a promised coalition probe would provide transparency or accountability.

The coalition has been repeatedly blamed for bombing civilians, including a strike on a wedding hall in the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha in September 2015, in which 131 people died. The coalition denied responsibility.

In October 2016, a coalition airstrike killed 140 people at a funeral in the rebel-held capital Sanaa. The coalition has admitted to a small number of mistakes but accuses the rebels of using civilians as human shields.

The high civilian death toll has been an embarrassment for Washington and other Western governments which supply the coalition with warplanes and other weapons. But Washington continues to provide replacement munitions as well as intelligence and refuelling support for coalition aircraft.
The Taliban attack in the north coincided with clashes in the southeastern province of Ghazni, which lies on the main highway linking Kabul with the south.

Kabul: Taliban militants overran large parts of an army base in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 10 soldiers, wounding 15 and capturing dozens more infighting over the past two days, officials said on Tuesday.

The insurgents had captured tanks and ammunition in Chenayeeha army base, in Ghormach district of Faryab province, in an offensive that began on Sunday, according to Mohammad Tahir Rahmani, head of the provincial council. We have not been able to enter the base. Large parts of the base are still under the Taliban control, Rahmani said. Rahmani gave the casualty figures, but another provincial official added that the Taliban had captured 40 soldiers, but 30 militants had also been killed in the fighting.

The Taliban attack in the north coincided with clashes in the southeastern province of Ghazni, which lies on the main highway linking Kabul with the south. Hundreds of people have been killed or wounded during clashes there since last week, and hard-pressed Afghan forces received air support from US forces.

Residents who had fled the Ghazni city, the provincial capital, reported that the Taliban had cut telecommunications, electricity and water supplies, hospitals were running out medical supplies, while shops, homes and some government buildings had been destroyed.
Motorola P30, P30 Note and P30 Play surfaced on official Motorola website in China recently, and the XT1943 and XT1942 that got certified recently are expected to be P30 and P30 Note, respectively. Now the images and specifications of the smartphone has surfaced that reveals a similar design as the Lenovo Z5 that was introduced in June.

Even the specifications are expected to be similar to the Lenovo Z5, including a 6.2-inch Full HD+ display with 19:9 aspect ratio, Snapdragon 636 with 6GB of RAM, Android 8.1 (Oreo), glass back and gradient design.

It is expected to feature a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, 1.25m pixel size along with an 5-megapixel secondary rear camera to capture depth information in portrait shots with AI support and a 12-megapixel camera on the front with AI beautification and AI face unlock. It packs a 3000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.

Motorola P30 rumored specifications

6.2-inch (2246  1080 pixels) Full HD+ display with 19:9 aspect ratio

1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 636 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 509 GPU

6GB RAM with 64GB / 128GB internal storage, expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD

Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD)

Android 8.1 (Oreo)

16MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.8 aperture, 1.25m pixel size, 5MP secondary rear camera

12MP front-facing camera, f/1.8 aperture

Fingerprint sensor

Dimensions: 155.875.98.9mm; Weight: 170g

4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS

3000mAh battery with fast charging

The Motorola P30 is expected to come in White, Black and Aurora Blue colors. The P30 series is expected to go official tomorrow, August 15th.

Source | Via
Today is a big day for America's most important social program, so I hope you've brought a lot of candles.

Eighty-three years ago, on Aug. 14, 1935, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. The primary focus of the Social Security Act was to provide a guaranteed monthly benefit, and ergo a financial foundation, to aged workers during retirement. These payouts officially began on Jan. 1, 1940, and they've continued for the past 78 years. As of June, close to 62.5 million people were receiving a monthly benefit check, including 43.1 million retired workers.

Today, according to data from the Social Security Administration, 62% of retired workers lean on their monthly check to provide at least half of their income, with 34% reliant on Social Security for virtually all of their income (90% to 100%). This equates to more than 15 million retired workers being kept above the federal poverty line, per the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, as a result of this monthly check.

In short, it's an indispensable program today, just as it was when it first began making payments more than 78 years ago.

My gift to current and future Social Security beneficiaries

Of course, birthdays are about more than just candles and cake. That's right, I'm talking about the presents! And I have a doozy for current retirees and the estimated 175 million Americans covered by Social Security.

The Social Security gift that keeps on giving is the fact that this program is in absolutely no danger of going bankrupt, and that it will, despite pervasive misconceptions, be there for you when you retire.

According to the latest report from the Social Security Board of Trustees, the program is expected to hit an inflection point this year. For this first time since 1982, Social Security is expected to pay out more in benefits to its 62.5 million beneficiaries than it collects in revenue. Even though we're only talking about a net cash outflow of $1.7 billion, which is relatively microscopic compared to the $2.9 trillion in excess cash the program has saved up since its last major overhaul in 1983, it's the simple principle that the dynamics of the program are shifting that's worrisome.

The Trustees suggest that this net cash outflow will accelerate rapidly beginning in 2020 and thereafter. By 2034, the program's $2.9 trillion in asset reserves are expected to be completely exhausted. It's this idea of Social Security running out of its excess cash that's spurred so many falsities and misconceptions about the program, and has left close to half of all millennials believing that they won't receive a red cent in retirement benefits when they retire.

Here's why Social Security will pay retirees a benefit, in theory, forever

But here's the thing about Social Security: two of its three funding sources are ongoing and aren't reliant on its excess cash.

Should Social Security's $2.9 trillion in asset reserves disappear, the program would say goodbye to the interest income earned from this cash. In 2017, interest income accounted for $85.1 billion of the $996.6 billion brought in by the program.

However, it would still continue to generate revenue from the 12.4% payroll tax on earned income of up to $128,400 (as of 2018), as well as from the taxation of Social Security benefits.

Social Security's financial rock is its payroll tax, which supplied $873.6 billion in income in 2017. As long as Americans keep working, the payroll tax will ensure that Social Security is well funded. Plus, with the labor force and productivity growing, payroll tax revenue should steadily increase over time.

The only way that the program's future would be put in doubt is if lawmakers were to change its primary funding mechanism. Last year, a Republican lobbyist on Capitol Hill tossed around the idea of shelving the payroll tax in favor of a value-added tax on consumption. However, the idea never received any serious consideration. I find it highly unlikely that either party would shelve Social Security's payroll tax, making this a rock-solid source of funding for generations to come.

Then there's the taxation of Social Security benefits, which can be referred to as the program's "necessary evil." Implemented in 1983, this amendment to the Social Security Act allows the federal government to tax half of the benefits of single beneficiaries whose adjusted gross income (AGI), plus half of their Social Security benefits, tops $25,000. For couples filing jointly, this figure is $32,000. In 1993, a second tier was added that allowed 85% of benefits to be taxed for single filers and couples topping $34,000 and $44,000, respectively. Income from the taxation of benefits is expected to more than double over the next eight years.

In other words, Social Security has been around now for 83 years, and it could easily be around for 83 more, if not much, much longer. And as I'd like to think, the gift of having Social Security provide a benefit during retirement to eligible workers is priceless.
The American team are enjoying an impressive third season in Formula 1, notching up their best ever result in Austria , and they are currently Renaults closest challengers in the race for fourth in the constructors standings.

Kevin Magnussen has been the standout performer for them, delivering seven points-scoring finishes, and it is expected that he will remain with the team next season. However Romain Grosjeans mixed performances  with just three top-ten finishes - has led to doubts over his future with Haas.

Steiner maintained his stance that Haas will decide on their partnership following the summer break, but he did reveal that their progression this year has seen them attract plenty of interest.

I wouldnt say we are shopping around. You know, a lot of people are shopping with us, put it that way, he said, speaking during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

There are people asking for obvious reasons and they want to see what we are doing and if somebody is asking that doesnt mean they want to come, in my opinion, they might just be asking to see what other people are doing.

We will decide after the holiday what we are going to do but at the moment we dont think about it. There are a lot of people asking and it is part of my job to know what is happening in the market place.

Yeah (there is more interest), but I have a good relationship with a lot of these guys anyway. Ive got relationships with people and you just talk and they ask what is going on here and I give them the same answer.

Midfield rivals Renault recently confirmed the surprise arrival of Daniel Ricciardo to partner Nico Hulkenberg next year, meaning Spanish driver Carlos Sainz is now available. Steiner, however, did not comment on which drivers have shown interest.

He added: Its all potentially and I dont know where they are. For sure, they go round and say Im potentially on the market but it doesnt make it a fact.

"At the moment its more gossip, because nobody has pulled the trigger yet on anybody. Everyone is looking everywhere but no one has decided what to do, so somebody has to make the first move.

Haas are currently fifth in the standings, trailing Renault by 16 points. Theyll have the chance to close that gap when F1 returns to action at the Belgian Grand Prix on August 24-26.
Consumers in China now have access to hand-rolled soft pretzels thanks to Auntie Anne's opening its first location in the country this summer -- and there are more to come.

Focus Brands, which counts Auntie Anne's among its portfolio of brands, brought the pretzel brand to the Chinese city of Shenzhen in late June. Officials say it's the first of many Chinese locations to open under their development plan there. Next up will be locations in Beijing and Shanghai.

The new location is operated by Chinese franchisee Gaga Group, a group with a track record of successful food and beverage concepts, strong product innovation capabilities, and deep consumer insights.

"We are fortunate to have a passionate fan base around the world and are excited to bring the Auntie Anne's brand to Chinese consumers," said Ken Chen, senior vice president and managing director of Asia Pacific at Focus Brands.

For Focus, the introduction of Auntie Anne's is just the beginning of its strategic growth plan for China. The company says its also preparing to launch Cinnabon, another of its portfolio brands, in the country.

"China is a key market for Auntie Anne's and we think our handcrafted, freshly baked and brewed products will really resonate with the country's consumers," said Mike Kehoe, president of International at Focus Brands. "We see enormous growth potential in China, as we know there is broad appeal for our classic pretzel and new tea offerings."

The brand's Chinese locations will bring a customized approach to the market to meet the tastes and preferences of young Chinese consumers, including a new store design and expanded menu with more than 20 unique tea offerings.
Creamistry Inks Sweet Deal to Bring First Location to China

Nation's fastest-growing liquid nitrogen ice cream concept opens in Chengdu; offering customizable frozen dessert creations

August 14, 2018 // Franchising.com // IRVINE, Cali. - Creamistry - a California-based chain that specializes in made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream using all-natural and organic ingredients with more than 60 flavors and toppings - recently opened its first franchise location in China. With currently more than 55 successful locations operating across the United States, Creamistry is setting out to transform China's frozen dessert industry with plans to open over 100 stores over the next four years.

Located at No. 3, Section 4, South Renmin Road, B249 Shop, B2 Floor in Chengdu, the new Creamistry opened on August 3 and is owned and operated by HZ America Corp., a veteran international management company with decades of experience in restaurant management. With aspirations to make Creamistry China's leading liquid nitrogen ice cream concept, HZ America Corp. signed a development agreement, owning the rights to the Greater China Region.

"We are thrilled to launch Creamistry in an untapped market such as China with phenomenal brand area representatives," said Jay Yim, Founder and CEO of Creamistry. "Our experience with premium quality product coupled with the operations infrastructure in place positions us perfectly to get Creamistry up and running in China. As we continue to grow, we look forward to opening 100 Creamistry locations and beyond."

Here's how Creamistry works: Customers choose a portion size, then an ice cream base (premium, organic, vegan coconut, or non-dairy sorbet), one of 30+ flavors, and then toppings from a list of 35+ options that include candy, cookies and cereal, fruits, and sauces. The ice cream is made right before the customer with a lot of billowing smoke thanks to the flash-freezing process. When the liquid nitrogen (-321 F) hits the base it freezes so fast that ice crystals don't have a chance to develop, resulting in a decadently rich and luxuriously creamy ice cream with virtually no overrun.

Creamistry of Chengdu will offer special, localized flavors including:

Spicy Yolk: Made with Salty Duck Egg Yolk and a combination of spices, offering a flavor profile that is currently trendy in China. Salty Duck Egg is a traditional Chinese specialty commonly added to rice porridge or stirfry dishes.

Chengdu: Made with a famous Chinese liquor called Luzhou Laojiao, which is in itself slightly sweet with notes of peaches and pears.

Rice Wine: Made with real fermented rice liquor

"Creamistry is far more than just an ice cream shop - it truly is an experience," added Yim. "The brand's wild success and rapid growth is a testament to the completely customizable product and unique atmosphere, which has proven to appeal to consumers worldwide. HZ America Corp. will play an instrumental role in further establishing our brand throughout the Greater China Region."

Creamistry was founded in 2013 after founder Jay Yim was first introduced to liquid nitrogen ice cream when he spotted a street vendor making it during a trip to South Korea in 2003. Born into a family of Korean bakers, Yim and his wife, Katie, made their first homemade ice cream using liquid nitrogen with the help of his father as the quality control "chemist." Over the next two years, the team experimented with over a hundred flavors and combinations, the best of which eventually became an integral part of Creamistry's menu today.

About Creamistry

Founded in 2013 and franchising since 2014, Creamistry is an Irvine, California-based franchise that serves made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream using all natural and organic ingredients that can be customized with over 60 flavors and toppings. Currently, there are more than 55 shops open and operating in six states, with more than 300 additional locations in various stages of development worldwide. For more information, visit www.creamistry.com.

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Petland Celebrates More Than 350 Wishes Granted Through Make-A-Wish

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2018 // PRNewswire // -- Petland is proud to celebrate more than 350 wishes granted during its 20-year relationship with Make-A-Wish America.

Safari Stan's Children's Charities by Petland was formalized in 1994. Petland has two children's charities - Make-A-Wish and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Annually, Petland collects funds year-round for St. Jude, collecting nearly $500,000 since 2009; and, since 1998 has fulfilled more than 350 wishes for Make-A-Wish kids who wish to have a pet.

Make-A-Wish is the nation's largest wish-granting organization. It has fulfilled the wishes of more than 300,000 children with critical illnesses in the United States and its territories since 1980. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish serves every community in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico through its 62 chapters.

Petland truly believes in the human-animal bond and how important pets can be in our lives," said Elizabeth Kunzelman, Petland's Director of Public Affairs. "We've seen and heard how special these pets become to the children and their families and how they make such a difference in their lives. We are so thankful to have the opportunity to help."

Petland works with Make-A-Wish and is notified when there are children with pet-related wishes in order to send care packages to the "wish kids" and their new best friend. If a child is near a store and is able, Petland stores will host a shopping spree for the family.

Make-A-Wish is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that relies on the generous contributions of generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 35,000 volunteers across the U.S. to grant a wish every 34 minutes, on average, somewhere in the country. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 300,000 wishes to children in the U.S. and its territories; more than 15,400 in 2017 alone. These wishes are an integral part of a child's treatment because research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

About Petland

Petland, Inc. is a franchise operation with quality, full service retail pet centers across the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil and El Salvador. For more than 50 years, Petland Pet Counselors have been dedicated to matching the right pet with the right person and meeting the needs of both. To its customers who already have pets, Petland is dedicated to enhancing their knowledge and enjoyment of the human-animal bond. Petland was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in south central Ohio. For more information on Petland, visit www.petland.com.

Contact:

Elizabeth Kunzelman

Director of Public Affairs

740-775-2464

SOURCE Petland

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Spray-Net, Inc. Continues Ontario Expansion

August 14, 2018 // Franchising.com // MONTREAL - With 45 territories already open and operating in nine of Canada's ten provinces, Spray-Net, Inc.- Canada's fastest-growing home-improvement and remodeling franchise - is expanding its local footprint even further. The Montreal-based franchise is now focusing its expansion efforts on a handful of major markets throughout Ontario - specifically Kitchener, Kingston and Sudbury.

After signing its latest development agreement in Toronto less than three months ago, Spray-Net currently has 14 territories already open and operating throughout Ontario. While no locations have been formally announced, Spray-Net's Founder and CEO Carmelo Marsala believes the province can hold as many as 3 additional territories - all franchisee-owned.

The announcement comes on the heels of the company's recent announcement of its U.S. expansion initiative.

"We are thrilled to announce our expansion plans for Ontario," said Marsala. "Every year, homeowners invest billions of dollars to update the look of their homes. There is tremendous opportunity for growth throughout Canada as more consumers seek out home-improvement and remodeling companies. We've seen great success thus far and as the brand continues to expand, we look forward to bringing our professional painting services and eye-catching results to homeowners everywhere. As we plan our next growth phase, we look forward to beginning our search for enthusiastic franchise partners to lead Spray-Net's expansion throughout Ontario."

Spray-Net specializes in spray-applied paint on siding, doors, windows, stucco and brick, offering a cost-effective transformation and renewal of any home in just one day. The company applies its proprietary line of industrial-strength, patent-pending weather-adjustable formulations using specialized spraying equipment.

Another key to Spray-Net's success is its exclusive Centrally-Operated Call Center, which answers calls and schedules appointments for all of the company's franchisees. In addition to this call center, Spray-Net also provides in-house marketing for all of their franchise partners. This allows franchisees to provide top-tier services by solely concentrating on the operations of their business.

"There are a lot of exterior painting companies out there, and each one claims that they are best, but none of them have revolutionized the business the way we have," noted Marsala. By using science and technology to innovate smarter, quicker and more affordable formulas, we give homeowners the value and convenience they're looking for."

Spray-Net, Inc. is a home-based business with an investment ranging from $123,000 to $163,000 for one territory - which includes the franchise fee, accounting and legal fees, initial training and travel, leased equipment, locally-tailored marketing campaign, marketing materials and uniforms and residual cash flow.

For more information about Spray-Net's franchise opportunity, visit www.spraynetfranchise.com.

About Spray-Net, Inc.

Founded in 2010 and franchising since 2014, Spray-Net, Inc. specializes in spray painting on siding, doors, windows, stucco and brick - cost-effectively transforming your home in just one day. Recently featured in Dragons' Den, Property Brothers, CBC The National and Scott McGillivray's Buyer's Bootcamp, Spray-Net stands as Canada's fastest-growing home-improvement franchise. The brand currently services major markets in nine of Canada's 10 provinces and has grown to 45 operating territories. For more information, please visit www.spray-net.com.

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The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is seeking public input regarding deer management in Tennessee at three public meetings early next month. Meetings will be held in West, Middle, and East Tennessee on the evenings of Sept. 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

All members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend. The agency is particularly interested in getting feedback from those who experience impacts (positive or negative) from deer or the management of deer. This includes hunters, farmers, motorists, wildlife viewers, homeowners, or anyone else with a vested interest in how deer are managed in the state.

Input received at the meeting will be used to inform the development of a 5-year strategic plan for TWRAs Deer Management Program.

Details for each meeting are listed below:

Sept. 4 - University of Tennessee-West Tenn. Ag Research & Education Center 605 Airways Blvd., Suite 104, Jackson, TN 38301 7-9 p.m. CDT



Sept. 5 Lane Agri-Park Auditorium 315 John R. Rice Boulevard, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 7-9 p.m. CDT



Sept. 6 University of Tennessee-Plant Biotech Building (Rooms 156/157) 2505 E.J. Chapman Drive

Knoxville, TN 37996 7-9 p.m. EDT






MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. - The Draper City Fire Department out of Utah has identified the firefighter killed fighting the Mendocino-Complex Fire Monday.

The fallen firefighter has been identified as 42-year-old Matt Burchett.

Burchett was airlifted and transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Draper officials say a group of five Draper City firefighters deployed to California on August 2nd to help bring the fire under control.

Cal Fire announced the massive wildfires have grown to about 350,000 acres.
U.S Secretary of the Interior Visits Areas Devastated by Carr Fire

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue toured some of the areas impacted by the Carr Fire Sunday.

It's hard to imagine the force of the fires, the hot and the speed at which those fires devastated communities, Zinke said. And it did devastate these communities.

The secretaries ended their two-day tour in Redding with a press conference Monday.

What we learned today is these are tragedies we need to learn from, Perdue said. What can we do differently? What can we do better? And how can we prevent these kinds of things in the future.

Experts say extreme drought and higher-than-average temperatures have been mostly to blame for some of most devastating wildfires California has seen in the last few years.

Whether you're an opponent of proponent, a believer a non believer of climate change, it doesn't relieve you of the responsibility to manage our public lands, Zinke said.

He stressed the need to thin out dense forest lands that he believes contributed to the Carr Fire expanding to the size it's gotten to today.

Just the amount of dead and dying trees, the diseased, the fuel in the forests, this is where we all have to work together jointly to reduce the risk again, Zinke said. And it's prescribed burns, latencies and it's mechanical extraction, it's better forest management.

But Congressman Doug La Malfa, who also spoke at the press conference, said strict deforestation laws are preventing that from happening.

This is all about the overload of fuels that we have in our forests here that have been for decades basically hands off, La Malfa said. And we need to turn people lose to do that. There's not enough money inthe treasury for it to all be done by government. We need to all work together to make that happen as well.

Zinke says it will cost more than $2 billion to rehab the forest lands that the Carr Fire burned through.

But hed like to see that money spent preventing these kinds of fires from happening in the first place.
News

Last-minute delay could scuttle hotel, developer says

kelseywalling / KELSEY WALLING/The Daily News file Dennis Byrd stands on a construction site for a Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel on the corner of Seawall Boulevard and 33rd Street on Aug. 13, 2018. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delayed construction on the hotel, which was later resolved but not before the delayed coast Byrd $100,000, he said. kelseywalling / KELSEY WALLING/ The Daily News A lock is used on a gate to the construction site for a Holiday Inn Express and Suites hotel on the corner of Seawall Boulevard and 33rd Street on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Hotelier Dennis Byrd said he is concerned with the Army Corps of Engineers delays on his project.

GALVESTON

Delays in the construction of a hotel on Seawall Boulevard, driven by last-minute federal reviews and threats of a lawsuit, are starting to rack up significant costs for the company building it, the developer said Tuesday.

More delays could put the entire project in jeopardy.

Developer Dennis Byrds new Holiday Inn Express & Suites, at 3228 Seawall Blvd., was supposed to be under construction by now.

But last month, Galveston County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asked Byrd to hold off on construction because of the sites proximity to the Galveston seawall.

The engineers, who are responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the protective seawall barrier, were concerned construction could damage a retaining wall thats part of the Seawall structure.

Now, two weeks after the concerns were first raised, and two years after the plans for the hotel were first announced, Byrd said the delays have cost him $100,000. If they go on longer, they could jeopardize the hotel, he said.

At issue is whether the project, a new hotel and parking garage, needs permission from the corps and the county to move forward.

We understand the process and we respect the process, Byrd, who operates a complex of popular businesses anchored by The Spot at 3204 Seawall Blvd., said.

We havent been able to reach a definitive conclusion on whether we need a permit.

Thats upped the cost of the project, he said.

Instead of paying a daily fee to have a crane onsite, Byrd had it removed until the status of the project could be clarified, he said.

Byrd is waiting for the corps to tell him whether he needs a permit to move forward with construction, he said. If he does, that could add another four to six months until the start of construction, he said.

Such a delay could violate agreements he has with the corporate hotel chain for which he was building the hotel and parking garage, he said. If the project isnt completed on time, he could lose the branding for the hotel and be sued, he said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still was conducting a review of the proposed construction, Galveston County Engineer Michael Shannon said Monday.

Byrd didnt blame the corps for wanting to conduct a review, but he said he was frustrated that in 16 years of developing on the seawall, he had never run into such permitting issues.

Whats confusing was that Galveston building officials had insisted he didnt need added permission for the seawall construction, he said. Some of the problems could have been avoided if the city and the county communicated better, he said.

Weve done this type of work before, but this process has never been brought to my attention, he said.

Galveston Planning Director Tim Tietjens could not be reached for comment Monday. The city has issued building and demolition permits for the project, according to the city. The project did not require the approval of the Galveston City Council.

Galveston City Manager Brian Maxwell, a former projects manager for Galveston County, said the concerns raised by the corps were news to him. It was unclear whether city planners didnt know about the possible need for a corps permit, or whether the corps was taking a harder line on this hotel project than it had in the past, he said.

From an economic development standpoint, we dont want to see anyone get hamstrung by this, Maxwell said.

Built in 1904 and expanded multiple times over the last century, the Galveston seawall protects the most densely populated part of the island from storm surge.

The corps built the seawall but regular maintenance is the countys responsibility.

Citing the concerns raised by the corps, Galveston County Commissioners on July 30 gave the county legal department permission to sue Byrd to stop the development. The county has not filed a lawsuit against him, however.

Byrd called the wait for answers on the project exhausting.

Everybody has a job to do and we understand that, he said. But, he said, the wait was costing him a tremendous amount of money.
Cal Fire says a firefighter from Utah was killed while battling an active area of the Ranch Fire within the Mendocino Complex in Lake County Monday.

The firefighter's identity has not been released at this time. This firefighter is the first reported fatality from the Mendocino Complex. Two other firefighters had previously been injured fighting the fire.

In a press conference, Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman addressed citizens who have not left mandatory evacuations areas, as well as the firefighters still on the front lines.

Allman said, "We have two areas of this fire that are under mandatory evacuations. These are very dangerous areas. We have citizens who have decided to not leave this area for whatever reason. Understand if this could happen to a firefighter, it could certainly happen to citizens. To the men an women, to the hundreds of firefighters we see everyday, we thank you. We thank you for coming to our small corner of the world and risking your life and being away from your family. Today, tomorrow, and the next year we will mourn the loss of a true hero."

Six firefighters have now died in connection with the massive wildfires in Northern California. 11 people have been killed in all.

The Mendocino Complex has now burned a total of 354,410 acres. The River Fire has burned 48,920 acres, and is now 100% contained. The Ranch Fire has burned 305,490 acres and is 59% contained.
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Utah Firefighter Killed While Battling the Mendocino Complex

A Utah firefighter has been killed while battling the Mendocino Complex fire on Monday.

This now marks 11 people killed in state wildfires this year.

The Mendocino Complex has burned nearly 350,000 acres and is the largest in California history.

Fallen Chico Firefighter's Memorial to be Held Friday

Cal Fire says a memorial service for Butte County Cal Fire Mechanic Andrew Brake will be held this Friday.

The public service will be held at 5 p.m. at Saint John Episcopal church in Chico.

Brake, of Chico, was killed in a vehicle crash last Thursday, while on his way to work on the Carr Fire.

Hirz Fire Community Meeting to Take Place tonight

A community meeting for those impacted by the Hirz Fire will take place tonight. It's happening at the Lakehead Lions Club at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Eight homes are evacuated and several campgrounds closed in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, north of the McCloud arm of Shasta Lake. The fire is now over 4,500 acres and five percent contained.

Most of Yosemite National Parks Reopens Today

Today, most of Yosemite National park is set to reopen.

It is after a 20-day closure that costs the surrounding communities an estimated $50 million in lost tourism revenue.

The nearby Ferguson Fire has burned over 96,000 acres and is 86 percent contained.

Two firefighters have lost their lives battling that fire.

Butte County Sheriff Launches Citizen Rim

The Butte County Sheriff's Office has launched a new website called Citizen RIMS.

It has an interactive map of crime data in your area, as well as news releases.

Chico Police Street Crime Unit Ends

The specialized Chico Police Street Crimes Unit has wrapped up operations for the summer.

The officers will be put back on patrol in the north and south campus areas, now that Chico State students are returning for the fall semester.

Police say they are hopeful city council will approve funding to re-instate the street crimes unit.

Parts of Southern Upper Bidwell Park Reopen After Stoney Fire

More areas of south Bidwell Park are reopening following the Stoney Fire.

The park division warns there are still potential hazards, such as weakened tree branches or smoldering tree roots.

They advise you stay on the trails.
What does Giorgi Margvelashvili own? - GeorgianJournal
















Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, has announced that the province would be releasing $25 million to the police and courts in Toronto to help fight guns and gangs.

We are sending a clear message to the thugs, to the violent criminals who think they own our streets, Ford said. We are sending a message that we are coming for them.

The money would be rolled out in tranches for over four years and will equip city authorities with the needed tools to fight the increase in gun violence that has ravaged the city recently.

He said the decision on how to spend the funds would be left entirely to the police, Too many of our police officers are frustrated, frustrated that their hands are tied, they lack the best resources to do the job said Ford while announcing the release of the funds. We arent experts, Ford said. All politicians think theyre experts but theyre not. Its time to get serious about fighting guns and gangs, he said. No more talk. No more grandstanding. Its time for action. Its time to put public safety first.

The premier urged the federal government and the city of Toronto to support this move by matching the provinces investment.

Organized crime that starts in Toronto ends up spilling into Ottawa and other centers, Ford said. Fighting guns and gangs will remain a top priority for our government.

According to the report on TorontoS un.com, the government has assigned $18 million for Toronto police, saying the money will provide digital, investigative and other resources to help deal with drug gangs and gun crime. Ford noted, however, that the province did not plan to bring back the controversial practice of police street checks known as carding. Another $7.6 million will bankroll new legal SWAT teams at courthouses in the city dedicated to prosecuting gun crime cases, specifically to ensure violent criminals who use guns are denied bail and remain behind bars.

Torontos Mayor John Tory, in his response, said the city will match funding for 2018 but after the October municipal elections, the funding would need approval from future councils. For months, I have been urging my federal and provincial counterparts to toughen up bail for gun offenders and so this move today by the provincial government is particularly gratifying, said Tory.

However, critics have condemned this move saying it was not going to solve the root causes of the city crimes. We need to take a look at the issues of poverty, said opposition legislator, Gilles Bisson. Why is it that people pick up guns? Why do people join gangs?  If you really want to deal effectively with guns, youve got to look at everything.

Interestingly, in his speech, Premier Doug also mentioned politicians and activists who use gun violence as an excuse to campaign for more funding. He said The people are tired of city councilors and activists who use shootings as an excuse to campaign for more spending.
Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime 2 gets a price cut; listed for Rs. 11,990 News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Another Samsung phones gets a price cut.

Lately, Samsung is revising the cost of its mid-range smartphones in India. This could be an attempt taken by the South Korean tech giant to regain the lost foothold due to the emergence of Chinese brands such as Xiaomi. Today, the brand is back in the headlines for slashing the cost of the Galaxy J7 Prime 2.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime 2 was launched in India in March for Rs. 13,990. Last month, the device received a price cut of Rs. 1,000 taking its cost down to Rs. 12,990. Now, it looks like it has received another price cut and is available for Rs. 11,990. The official Samsung online store has listed the smartphone for the new pricing in two colors - Black and Gold.

In addition to the price cut, the device is listed with attractive exchange offers and EMI payment options starting Rs. 1,998 per month.

Price cuts on other Samsung phones

The Galaxy J7 Prime 2 is not the only one to have received the price cut. Early in July, the Galaxy J2 Duo, J7 Nxt J2 (2018) and J2 (2017) got their prices slashed. Yesterday, we came across a report suggesting that the Galaxy J7 Duo received yet another price cut in a month's time.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime 2 specifications

The Galaxy J7 Prime 2 is fitted with a 5.5-inch FHD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Under its hood, the smartphone makes use of a 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 SoC coupled with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage space that can be expanded up to 256GB with the help of a microSD card.

For imaging, the Samsung smartphone Prime 2 comes with a 13MP rear camera with an aperture of f/1.9 and another 13MP selfie camera at the front to click selfie shots. The camera can record FHD 1080p videos at 60 fps and comes with autofocus and LED flash as well.

It runs Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box and gets the power from a 3300mAh battery. The other goodies on board the Samsung smartphone include a micro USB 2.0 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.1, dual-SIM support and GPS.

Best Mobiles in India

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iPhone X and Google Home can now be rented from RentMojo News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The monthly rentals will begin at Rs 2,099 and will go up to Rs 9,299.

A new online startup has introduced its services in the Indian market. The startup which is known as RentMojo has announced the launch of its smartphone rental service. The rental service platform will offer flagship devices such as Apple iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9+, and Google Pixel 2. RentMojo was announced back in 2014 in India and is known for providing furniture, gadgets, appliances, and bikes on rent in a number of metropolitan cities in India such as Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon and Bengaluru among others.

Geetansh Bamania, CEO RentMojo said that "Consumers can now subscribe to or obtain smartphones on lease, through our RMI (Rental Monthly Instalments) system, as opposed to purchasing and owning." Bamnia also expects that the new smartphone rental service will bring more customers to the platform and it will help in increased transaction volumes.

"This arrangement offers the perfect opportunity for users to upgrade and keep up with the latest device innovation, frequently and at a significantly lower cost. In addition, a subscriber also has the option of owning the product by paying a certain sum, post the lease period."

In an effort to attract more customers to the rental service program, RentMojo will offer high-end smartphones from the popular brands. As mentioned earlier the users can get the high-end devices from the brands such as Apple, Samsung, and Google. The monthly rentals will begin at Rs 2,099 and will go up to Rs 9,299. Users can get the devices on rent for a period of 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.

Additionally, RentMojo is also offering the Google Home smart speakers on ret. Users can get the Google Home with installments starting at Rs 399 per month. Bamnia has also mentioned that the company is in works with other brands to make more devices available on the platform. If successful this will provide the users with a wide portfolio of products to chose from.

Bamnia further mentioned that the company is looking forward to expand its services to some other Indian states including Pune, Chennai, and Hyderabad in the next quarter. The concept of renting flagship devices seems pretty interesting and this should definitely grab some attention.

IMG Source: RentMojo

Best Mobiles in India

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Toronto Mayor, John Tory is determined not to back down on his resistance against the intended slashing of Toronto City Council seats. This is coming as Ontarios Premier, Doug Ford had in July called the City Council dysfunctional and introduced legislature intended to cut the council seats from 47 down to 25. This action did not go down with Tory who had since then spoken publicly against the idea.

Mayor John Tory tweeted last week on the 10th of August, Last night, I sent a letter to Premier @FordNation on behalf of Toronto City Council in opposition to the provincial governments legislation to reduce the number of wards from 47 to 25. I am asking the Premier to hit the pause button on cutting council and to call a referendum.

In a letter, John Tory asked that the decision to cut council seats as well as other reforms such as term limits be allowed to appear on ballots in the Oct. 22 municipal elections. He questioned the timing of the intended council cuts, stating, I have made my own position clear  it is unacceptable and unfair to change the rules in the middle of an election.

He implied that the process, if not done through a referendum, would be wrong and illegitimate. In his words,I would respectfully suggest that the legitimacy of your governments position dramatically increases if supported by a legitimate process, Tory said. It is always better to do something right as opposed to doing it quickly.

The letter further read,The proposed legislation is contrary to common sense in terms of both the practicality of altering a live election process and in terms of our ongoing provincial-municipal relationship. Something as fundamentally important as an election  a primary mechanism of civic democracy  should not be changed without public input and in the absence of a clear process or robust understanding of public impacts and costs. The Mayor said.

According to Citynews.ca, Ford who was once a city councilor has said he had always had the dream of cutting the council seats, I promised to reduce the size and cost of government and end their culture of waste and mismanagement in government, he said when announcing the plan. This is something I fought for at city hall, something I continue to believe in today.

The New Democratic Party, led by party legislator Gilles Bisson has also stood vehemently against the bill.

We will continue fighting like hell to allow people to have their say in what happens to their local representation, Bisson said in a statement. We will do whatever we can to stop Doug Ford from silencing the voices of the people in the middle of an election.

Ford had in July, dismissed accusations that his decision to cut council seats comes as a unilateral imposition on citizens, he said I consulted with thousands of people right across the city and every person I talked to said you have to reduce the size of government, no one has ever said to me Doug we need more politicians. In fact it is the opposite. People tell me that we have too many politicians making it hard to get things done and making it harder to get things built.
Rosita Mining Corp.[, August 14, 2018 - wp] (RST: TSX-V) ("Rosita" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding L.O.I. to acquire 100% of the Marilyn Three Project, Newfoundland. The Marilyn Three Property is located within a northeast-trending belt of Silurian volcanic, volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks, adjacent to a large bimodal intrusive. This intrusive (The Mount Peyton complex ) is thought to be responsible for the large regional fault structure located within the larger area and within the property. The project/property consists of 104 claim blocks representing exclusive exploration rights to a land package of approximately 6,448 acres (2600 hectares) and lies within the same belt of rock and on trend with the mineral license hosting Sokoman Iron Corp.'s recently announced discovery hole ([wp=1537]Sokoman Iron Corp. news release dated July 24, on its Moosehead gold project, where Sokoman Iron reported a drill intersection of 44.96 grams per tonne gold over 11.9 metres).). Additionally within the property, recent work has identified quartz subcrop blocks (enriched in silver, arsenic and antimony) with assays up to 4.8g/t Au. These blocks are located approximately 150m west of a recently identified 10-15m wide epithermal vein system in outcrop. Appearances and textures indicate that the vein outcrop is a fully preserved epithermal quartz veined system with potential significant grades just below the surface within the boiling zone.

Terms of the L.O.I. are as follows:

(i)Paying the Vendors $35,000 within 24 hours of signing this LOI; (ii)Issuing 2.5 million shares of Rosita Mining upon receiving regulatory approval; (iii)Vendors retains a 2% Net Smelter Royalty on the property. Rosita will have the the right to buy 1/2 (1%) of the royalty for 1% at any time for CAN$1 million; (iv)Reimbursing the Vendors for additional out of pocket staking costs.

Rosita cautions investors that it has not verified the historic exploration data on the Marilyn Three Project. The Company has relied upon the vendor's data which includes assays done at Eastern Analytical Ltd., NL. Rosita further cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the property.

The technical contents of this news release were approved by John F. Cook, MIMMM, a qualified person as defined by the National Instrument 43-101. The properties have not been the subject of an NI 43-101 technical report.



About Rosita Mining Corporation



Rosita is a junior mining and exploration resource company focused on growing shareholder value through the development of the Santa Rita Stockpiles and tailings and advancing accretive exploration opportunities.



Rosita and Calibre hold 67 % and 33 % interest respectively in the Rosita copper-gold-silver supergene/skarn/porphyry project in Nicaragua located 275 kilometres northeast of Managua.

Signed "John Cook"

For more information please visit www.rositaminingcorp.com

Contact: John Cook, CEO Rosita Mining Corp.

Telephone: (416) 200-8073

E-mail: johncook@kos.net

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the re-instatement of trading and the identification, negotiation and completion of a transaction sufficient to meet listing requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Risk factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by forward-looking information include, among other things: conditions imposed by the NEX and/or TSX Venture Exchange; changes in tax laws, general economic and business conditions; and changes in the regulatory regulation. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Copyright (c) 2018 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
OTTAWA, Aug. 14, 2018 - Northern Shield Resources Inc. ("Northern Shield" or the "Company") (TSXV: NRN) is pleased to announce assay results from rock grab samples that were collected from the Shot Rock Property, (the "Property") contemporaneously with the stream sediment sampling disclosed in a news release on August 8, 2018. Shot Rock is being explored through Northern Shield's wholly-owned subsidiary, Seabourne Resources Inc., which can earn up to an 80% interest in the Property.

Significantly, the three highest grab samples which assayed 1.0, 1.0 and 0.6 g/t Au and 11.0, 3.2 and 5.1 g/t Ag, respectively, are all float samples of colloform-banded quartz veins, collected along a stream as follow up to anomalous rock grab samples previously disclosed in a news release dated July 24, 2018. These three samples also contain elevated barium and elevated but sporadic arsenic and antimony, all of which are typical pathfinder elements in this environment.

These three samples were collected along a stream bed that also contained a stream sediment sample that assayed 1,045 ppb Au (1.05 g/t Au). Another sediment sample from a neighbouring stream 650 metres away assayed 679 ppb Au (0.68 g/t Au). It is important to note that the stream sediment samples have not been manually concentrated. Collectively, the grades of gold in the stream sediment samples, their distribution and the graded zonation of barium and gold along the stream, are strongly suggestive of a local bedrock source. Three other streams which contain anomalous gold in sediments (up to 1,015 ppb Au), are located to the west and drain the same geological feature, suggesting a 4.5 kilometre strike length. (see updated presentation on website.)

"We are consistently improving on the gold content of rock samples every time we return to Shot Rock," points out Northern Shield President and CEO, Ian Bliss. "We are very happy with the progress to date that required a methodical approach due to the size of the Property and limited data. We acquired this project based on the identification of panned gold at a certain stratigraphic level and some "out of the box thinking" by a prospector. Early on, we detected an epithermal signature in the area at the same time as the geologists from the Department of Natural Resources, Nova Scotia were drawing similar conclusions about an occurrence 80 kilometres west. We have now clearly identified classic, epithermal textured quartz veins, and they are gold bearing. We now need to find the bedrock source of these float samples. The next phases of exploration will move toward developing drilling targets and I am excited about the grades we could encounter at depth from a future drilling program."

The textures and mineralogy of the quartz vein material are all very consistent with the upper levels of epithermal gold systems, likely above the boiling cap. Boiling caps form at the level where rising boiling fluids, which carry the gold, interreact with cooler near surface water (water table). This results in epithermal quartz veins that typically show significant and rapid vertical zonation in gold grades from low-grades above the cap to higher grades below.

The next phase of exploration will include stream sediment and rock sampling on the northern flanks of the area of interest to cut off the source of the gold in the streams contemporaneous with manual and mechanical trenching in proximity to where the auriferous float samples are most abundant.

The program is being overseen by Christine Vaillancourt, P. Geo., the Company's Chief Geologist and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Samples were analyzed by ALS Global in Sudbury, Ontario and in Vancouver, BC, for Au by Fire Assay with ICP-AES finish and base metals by four acid digestion and ICP-AES. All standards and duplicates by ALS Global meet targeted values.

Northern Shield Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based company focused on generating high-quality exploration programs with experience in many geological terranes. It is known as a leader in executing grass roots exploration program for Ni-Cu-PGEs and utilizing expertise and innovation toward working on other deposit types. Seabourne Resources Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northern Shield focussing on epithermal gold and related deposits in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere.

Forward-Looking Statements Advisory

This news release contains statements concerning the exploration plans, results and potential for epithermal gold deposits, and other mineralization at the Company's Nova Scotia properties, geological, and geometrical analyses of the properties and comparisons of the properties to known epithermal gold deposits, and other expectations, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, information or statements about future, conditions, results of exploration or performance that may constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect.

Although Northern Shield believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because Northern Shield can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by Northern Shield and described in the forward-looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with geological, geometrical and geophysical interpretation and analysis, the ability of Northern Shield to obtain financing, equipment, supplies and qualified personnel necessary to carry on exploration and the general risks and uncertainties involved in mineral exploration and analysis.

The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Northern Shield undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Northern Shield Resources Inc.
INCLINE VILLAGE, August 14, 2018 - LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net) (the "Company"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), a lithium resource exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that it has secured an additional 800 acres of strategic land holdings at their Railroad Valley Lithium Exploration Project, through the purchase of 40 additional claims that cover the favorable closed basin salar.

The new claims, acquired through collaboration with their partner 3PL, are in close proximity to the company's existing Railroad Valley property. LithiumOre's geologists are currently compiling the available data to prioritize surface targets to be explored.

"The new land acquisition broadens LithiumOre's holdings, now totaling 300 claims/6,000 acres, in the Railroad Valley area and better secures its strategic land positioning in the Western Nevada Basin," notes Doug Cole, LithiumOre's CEO.

About LithiumOre

LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), is a lithium resource exploration and development company, whose primary focus is the establishment of a low cost, environmentally sound production base to supply the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery industry for both mobile devices and laptops, as well as the burgeoning EV (electronic vehicle) industry. LithiumOre is focused on becoming a substantial, profitable lithium producer via the timely development of valuable production-grade lithium brine deposits in Nevada.

For more information, please visit: http://lithiumore.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to the expected project economics for Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), including estimates of life of mine, average production, cash costs, AISC, initial CAPEX, sustaining CAPEX, pre-tax IRR, pre-tax NPV, net cash flows and recovery rates, the impact of self-mining versus contract mining, the timing to obtain necessary permits, the submission of the project for final investment approval and the timing of initial gold production after investment approval and full financing, metallurgy and processing expectations, the mineral resource estimate, expectations regarding the ability to expand the mineral resource through future drilling, ongoing work to be conducted at the Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), and the potential results of such efforts, the potential commissioning of a Pre-Feasibility study and the effects on timing of the project, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information, unfavorable exploration results, inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices, final investment approval and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release.

Contact Information

Hayden IR

Stephen Hart

(917) 658-7878

hart@haydenir.com

SOURCE: LithiumOre


SUDBURY, Aug. 14, 2018 - Transition Metals Corp. (TSX.V: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company") is pleased to report Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC, "Forum") has prioritized exploration and commenced a diamond drill program at the Janice Lake Sedimentary Copper Project. Forum can earn a 100% interest under option from Transition (see press releases dated February 6th and 15th, 2018)

Commenting on the news, Company CEO and President Scott McLean stated "Janice Lake is an exciting project particularly since the age and depositional environment at Janice Lake are directly analogous to the giant Udokan Deposits of the Lake Baikal region of Siberia. The property was optioned to Forum just earlier this year and so we're very pleased with the work the team has already undertaken and look forward to hearing the results of the drilling campaign."

A diamond drill program totaling ~600 metres in 4 drill holes will target the JS-2 area of historical drilling completed by Phelps Dodge to confirm and extend the known strike of the copper mineralization. Some intercepts from 2003 Phelps Dodge drill program are:



DRILLHOLE DRILL INTERCEPT HIGH GRADE

INTERVAL DEPTH Phelps

Dodge JL-03-38 20.8 metres @ 0.72% Cu incl. 1.3% Cu and

5.5g/t Ag over 5.8m 41 metres Phelps

Dodge JL-03-41 19.0 metres @ 0.49% Cu Incl. 0.91% Cu and 3.2

g/t Ag over 6.0m 42 metres

Also planned for this summer are prospecting, mapping and sampling of outcrops along lesser explored portions of the known 30 km long copper mineralized trend in areas exposed by recent forest fires. A portable XRF machine will be used to help identify the predominantly chalcocite mineralized trend in the field which has traditionally been hard to distinguish visually.

Janice Lake Exploration History

Janice Lake, which comprises 18 mining claims totaling 19,289 hectares is located in an area described by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey as "the most significant concentration of sediment-hosted copper showings yet known in the Wollaston Domain."1

In 1993, 20 of 35 holes totaling 5,500m drilled by Noranda intersected near surface chalcocite copper mineralization. In 2003, Phelps Dodge reprocessed the magnetic and induced polarization (IP) geophysical data and completed 6 diamond drill holes to target mineralization under cover. By targeting modelled IP/Resistivity anomalies, Phelps Dodge discovered new copper mineralization with two drill holes 100m apart 2 kilometers to the south of the JS showing. Forum has spent the last few months reprocessing and reinterpreting this historical data to better target zones of mineralization within open pit limits.

The Janice Lake copper occurrences are classed as sedimentary copper type similar to the Central African Copperbelt in Zambia and the DRC, the Revett Belt in Montana and is closely comparable in age and geological setting to the Udokan copper deposit in Russia. Udokan is one of the supergiants with a measured, indicated and inferred resource of 2.754 billion tonnes grading 0.97% copper and 11.9 g/t silver for a contained resource of 54 billion pounds of copper and 196 million ounces of silver (Source: Baikal Mining Company, JORC Compliant Reserve and Resource Summary published 2013).

Qualified Person

The technical elements of this press release have been approved by Mr. Tom Hart, P.Geo. (APGO), a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

1Geological Setting of Sediment-hosted Copper Mineralization in the Janice Lake Area, Wollaston Domain by G. Delaney et al., 1995

About Transition Metals Corp

Transition Metals Corp. (XTM -TSX.V) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity project generator that specializes in converting new exploration ideas into Canadian discoveries. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience in established, emerging and historic mining camps and actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, which often allows the company to acquire properties inexpensively. The team is rigorous in its fieldwork and combines traditional techniques with newer ones to help unearth compelling prospects and drill targets. Transition uses the project generator business model to acquire and advance multiple exploration projects simultaneously, thereby maximizing shareholder exposure to discovery and capital gain. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. The Company has an expanding portfolio that currently includes more than 25 gold, copper, nickel and platinum projects primarily in Ontario, Nunavut, British Columbia, Minnesota and Saskatchewan.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Transition Metals Corp.
VANCOUVER, Aug. 14, 2018 - Ashanti Gold Corp. (Ashanti or the Company) (TSXV: AGZ) announces first results for Gourbassi West from the recently completed 105 hole Reverse Circulation (RC) and Diamond Drill (DD), 12,283 metre drill program that tested mineralization on the Kossanto East Project (the Property) in western Mali (Figure 1). Results presented here fill-in gaps in previous drilling and test new step-out areas at Gourbassi West. The results support and expand on previously interpreted mineralized zones dipping moderately to the west. In addition, drilling has revealed that the silicified breccia host rock is part of a damage zone associated with a thrust fault system.



Overview of the Kossanto East property showing the location of Gourbassi West and Gourbassi East mineralized zones. Yellow dashed lines outline areas of anomalous soil samples (see March 18, 2018 Press Release). The Faleme River marks the southern boundary of the concession.



Gourbassi West with location of holes and section 1486100 reported here. Green dots show Ashantis 2018 drill holes.



East-west cross section at 1486100 north shows mineralization intersected in Ashanti 2018 drill holes GERC293, GERC294, GERC296, GERC303, GERC304, and GERC305 (light callout boxes) along with historic data (dark grey callout boxes). Geologic information as per legend in Figure 2.





Tim McCutcheon, CEO, said "These results come after much thought and analysis concerning the nature of mineralization at Gourbassi West. Paul Klipfel, our COO, planned important step out holes on width at Gourbassi West. Drill hole GWRC305 shows the significance of this decision. These results add important widths to the mineralized zone and support the contention that there are multiple zones of mineralization along stacked thrust faults at Gourbassi West."

Gourbassi West

Gourbassi West is the second of two principal areas of mineralization being investigated by the company at Kossanto East. The target consists of gold mineralization associated with silicified, brecciated felsic volcanic rocks along a northwest trending structural zone for over 1200m of strike length. 2018 diamond drilling revealed that the silicified brecciated volcanic rocks that host most of the gold mineralization are associated with shallow to moderately west dipping thrust faults. Sedimentary rocks that are younger than the host volcanic rocks and occur to the east of mineralization (Figure 2) are in fault contact with, and are overlain by older volcanic rocks. This is a classic older over younger thrust fault structural relation. Repetition of this pattern reveals that mineralization is associated with cross-cutting and stacked thrust surfaces. Drill result highlights are tabulated below:

Section Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Grade (g/t) 1486100 GWRC293 147 149 2 0.42 GWRC294 69 70 1 0.69 82 97 15 0.50 incl. 94 97 3 1.76 GWRC296 20 45 25 0.52 incl. 39 42 3 1.87 GWRC303 6 19 13 0.43 42 59 17 0.52 GWRC304 7 8 1 0.33 19 24 5 0.26 53 58 5 0.94 61 72 11 1.29 GWRC305 0 43 43 2.86 incl. 3 26 23 4.79 48 50 2 0.61

*Intervals indicated are not true widths as there is insufficient geologic information to calculate true widths. However, drill holes have been drilled to cross interpreted mineralized zones as close to perpendicular as possible.

Figure 1 is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a14dc4fe-8bb4-41e8-b374-c407c70d12e2

Figure 2 is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab713e49-c6c6-4c8c-bd3f-3776200ea394

Figure 3 is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/76369b0f-d54d-4b4f-bb14-9ef015284c65

About Kossanto East Project

The Kossanto East Project is a 66.41 km2 concession in the prolific Kedougou - Kenieba Inlier, the northwestern most exposure of Birimian rocks in West Africa and host to the Loulo and Sadiola group of world class gold deposits. The Property hosts two principal historically drill-tested targets, Gourbassi East and Gourbassi West and several surface anomalies identified in historic surface samples and Rotary Airblast (RAB) drill holes. Geochemical anomalies identified by previous explorers led to drill testing and successful intersection of gold mineralization. The results reported here are from Gourbassi West. Further results from Gourbassi West are anticipated in the coming weeks.

ABOUT ASHANTI GOLD

Ashanti is a gold-focused, exploration and development company that targets projects where it has a competitive advantage due to past work experience of the team and specific project know-how. The Company is driving forward its 100%-owned Kossanto East project in Mali on the prolific Kenieba Belt, which hosts such deposits as Loulo, Fekola and Sadiola. Ashanti is also working to advance, together with its earn-in partners, the Anumso project and the Ashanti Belt project in Ghana, which are near-adjacent to the Akyem deposit.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

Ashanti Gold Corp.

"Tim McCutcheon"

Tim McCutcheon

CEO

For further information, please contact:

Ashanti Gold Corp.

2300  1177 West Hastings Street

Vancouver BC, V6E 2K3

Phone: 604-638-3847

Qualified Person and Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Dr. Paul Klipfel, CPG (AIPG certification #10821), Ashantis COO and Chief Geologist is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Klipfel is responsible for all aspects of the work including the Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs. Dr. Klipfel is not an Independent Person, as he is a shareholder of Ashanti.

Certified Reference Materials and Blanks are inserted into the sample stream at the rate of 1:20 samples. Field duplicates are collected at the rate of 1:50 samples. All samples have been analyzed by SGS Laboratories in Bamako with standard preparation methods and 50g fire assay with atomic absorption finish. SGS does their own introduction of QA/QC samples into the sample stream and reports them to Ashanti for double checking. Higher grade samples are reanalyzed from pulp or reject material or both.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.
Infosys To Establish Development Centre In Kolkata Business oi-Roshni Agarwal

The second largest IT company Infosys on Monday said that it is looking to set up software development centre in Kolkata and the foundation stone for which has been laid by Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The new software development centre, spread over 50 acres, will be established in the Bengal Silicon Valley Hub in Kolkata.

The company plans to construct a 5,25,000 square foot centre with an initial investment to the tune of Rs. 100 crore. In an initial phase, the centre will look at providing employment opportunity to as many as 1000 engineers.

In a statement further the IT company clarified that the first phase of the project will be duly completed within 15 months of receiving all the statutory clearances and approvals.

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Infosys, Salil Parekh in a statement said, "I congratulate the Government of West Bengal on laying the foundation stone for the Bengal Silicon Valley Hub, here in Kolkata".

Also, the official added, "On this special occasion, I would like to thank the Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, for giving Infosys a unique opportunity to be a part of this prestigious project, and further strengthen our presence across the country".

Goodreturns.in

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 15:27 [IST]
















Four years ago, Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight mysteriously disappeared over the waters of the Indian Ocean, with more than 230 people on board. Malaysian authorities have been investigating the incident, but no answer has come to light so far. Malaysian Chief Investigator, Kok Soo Chon stated in a press conference: We cannot determine with any certainty the reason the plane diverted from its planned route. The team is unable to determine the real reason for the disappearance.

However, in recent days, conspiracy theorists have claimed that the answer could be found out of this world: according to them, the plane could have been taken by aliens.

An article published on British online newspaper The Express says that a Twitter user called Ty affirmed to have received a strange code via voicemail that allegedly contains the coordinates of the place where the plane was las seen. The message sounds like a series of numbers and letters, but according to some it is the NATO phonetic alphabet and has been translated as: S Danger SOS it is dire for you to evacuate be caution they are not human 042933964230 SOS Danger SOS, the article states.

Some internet users notice that when the number is spaced out  04 29 33 96 42 30  and put into Google, the coordinates takes you to Medan, the capital of Indonesias North Sumatra province, which is right next to Malaysia, the article continues.

Nonetheless, some researchers have raised their voice to denounce Tys claims as a hoax. One of the editors of fact checker website Snopes expressed about it: one outlandish fantasy that has made the rounds is that the plane was taken by space aliens, as demonstrated by an apparent Internet hoax that went viral around the incidents fourth anniversary.

So far, the Twitter user has gained up to 40,000 new followers, which is a considerable number. But, in spite of this controversy, the mystery continues unsolved.

Draw your own conclusions

For more information: https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/996207/mh370-report-aliens-voicemail-malaysia-airlines-extraterrestrial-boeing-777
The Briars and Dovetail Trio will be at Charles and Myrtle's Coffehouse Saturday at 8 p.m. The coffeehouse is inside Christ Unity Church at 105 McBrien Road. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door.

Review for the Briars:

The Briars are a Chattanooga based Americana duo featuring Jerris Schmidt and Robert Lovett, each sharing lead and harmony vocal duties, and each on guitar and percussion. The two also write, both separately and collaboratively, and the results are sure to please anyone who appreciates modern, melodic songs with acoustic textures rooted in traditional American music. The duo is off to a roaring start. Their first recorded single, Never Heard a Bird All Spring, has garnered attention on YouTube and Facebook, and has been a favorite in live settings.

Review for Dovetail:

Dovetail is a collaboration between Emma DuBose (fiddle), Jade Watts (bass/accordion) and Fritsl Butler (guitar) who, over the past year, have begun to join together the different styles and influences that each brings to the trio. Though Emma, Fritsl, and Jade come from distinctly different musical backgrounds, they love the challenge of blending their many musical experiences into one distinct sound. Dovetails repertoire includes songs by well-known artists such as GIllian Welch and John Prine; however the band also finds joy in recreating their favorite tunes by lesser-known songwriters.
Assyrians Walk Across Golden Gate Bridge for Genocide Awareness

Assyrians walk across Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to raise awareness of Assyrian genocides. ( AINA) San Francisco (AINA) -- The Assyrian people in Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran have been subjected to systematic ethnic cleansing for over a century. The biggest human losses suffered by the Assyrian nation happened between the years 1915 and 1933 -- this period of atrocities and oppression against the Assyrian people is commemorated every year on August 7th, and is known as Assyrian Martyrs' Day.

Turkey killed 750,000 Assyrians between 1915 and 1918, as well as one million Greeks and 1.5 million Armenians. It was a genocide against Christians.

Between August 7 and 11, 1933, the Iraqi military massacred more than 3,000 Assyrians in Simmele and many other villages in Iraq. Assyrians were indiscriminately slaughtered on that day. Furthermore, many Assyrian families lost their homes and were forced into exile.

Modern Turkey and Iraq have been found guilty of the Assyrian genocide and both governments have failed to acknowledge their crimes. As the two governments continue deny their actions and they campaign to erase the Assyrian Genocide from history, the Assyrian people around the world fight on and demand for justice.

The Assyrian Genocide and Research Center, in conjunction with Assyrian Associations in California, held a walk across Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco to raise awareness about the Assyrian genocides.

( AINA)

Hundreds of Assyrians gathered participated in the walk, waving Assyrian flags holding banners written in both Assyrian and English. The demonstrators demanded recognition of the Turkish genocide of Assyrians during World War One and the Simmele Massacre of 1933.

Emmanuel Homer Younan welcomed all participants on behalf of the Assyrian Genocide and Research Center and thanked the Assyrian American Association of San Jose, Assyrian American Civic Club of Turlock, Assyrian American Association of Modesto, the Assyrian National Council of Stanislaus County and American Mesopotamian Organization for their cooperation and endorsement of the walk.

( AINA)

Thirteen-year-old Tiamet Lazar spoke on the genocide, saying "We are the voice of the Assyrians throughout the world, we are the future of Assyria. I assure you that my generation, for as long as it's alive, will not let the Assyrian cause rest. Our Martyrs will not be forgotten."

After her speech, Larissa Petrosspour was invited to give her speech on behalf the Assyrian Genocide and Research Center. Petrosspour stated that 'hundreds of thousands of lives were stolen in 1843, 1894-1896, 1909, 1915 by Ottoman Turks, and in 1933 by Iraqi army and most recently by ISIS in 2014 to this day in Iraq and Syria. These are all dark pages in our history and we carry these atrocities with us as our identity."

Petrosspour concluded by saying "It is a big mistake to think that what happened in 2014, 1933, and 1915 lies in the past and should be forgotten. History is not about oblivion. It is about knowledge. It is about education. It is about the future. And, we will hold our future in our hands. We will continue to seek justice for the Assyrian people."
President Donald Trump's daily outbursts about the Russia investigation -- Witch hunt! Hoax! -- and attempts to smear law enforcement aren't fooling the large majority of Americans. By a margin of 55 percent to 34 percent, Americans disapprove of his handling of the investigation, according to a new CNN poll. Moreover, "[Special counsel Robert S.] Mueller's ratings have also rebounded in this poll, with 47% now saying they approve of his handling of the Russia investigation, up from 41% in June. That shift stems from a shift among Democrats -- almost three-quarters now approve of Mueller's work, 72%, up 10 points since June." Asked whether they think Russian interference in 2016 is a serious matter, 58 percent say it is a serious matter that should be fully investigated; 37 percent say it is an effort to discredit Trump.

Trump's credibility is low -- 56 percent say most or all of what he says about the Russia probe is untrue; 37 percent say most or all is true. By a margin of 56 percent to 38 percent, people think Trump interfered with the investigation. Some 70 percent think he should testify under oath; only 25 percent do not. Finally, 57 percent think Trump knew people associated with his campaign had contacts with suspected Russian operatives, while 36 percent did not.
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By Vasia Orion | Published on 2018/08/13

Actor Song Young-kyu is back to us very swiftly, having been added to the cast of upcoming mystery drama "Ms. Ma, Nemesis" as the husband of Kim Yunjin's heroine. I can already see the 'Suspect' sign on him going by his character description alone.

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Song Young-kyu will be playing Jang Cheol-min, a company CEO and excellent business man admired for his refined appearance, good manners and charitable activities. He sounds and looks perfect, and he's also very rich. I know better than to trust those in such stories, although I'm dying for some good, supporting husbands that don't turn evil in a suit, Dramaland. I'm curious what his role will be in the criminal proceedings.

On his casting, the actor has commented "From now on, I will be meeting you through your home screens every weekend. We are putting in a lot of hard work along with the production staff and fellow actors, so I ask for your interest moving forward". "Ms. Ma, Nemesis" will be following "Let Me Introduce Her" on SBS in September.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

Sources (1)
Published on 2018/08/13 | Source

The "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" team is going to Phuket for a vacation as a reward for filming.

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The tvN drama "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" set a record of 8.665% and earned itself a vacation.

Most of the cast such as Hwang Bo-ra, Kang Hong-suk, Kang Ki-young, and Kim Yewon cannot go because of their schedules, but Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young will be going.

Park Min-young will be headed to Phuket as soon as her business abroad is over. Park Seo-joon, who wasn't sure he could make it, managed his schedule welland is able to go.

Meanwhile, "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" is about aconceited deputy CEO who has everything he needs, falling in love with his secretary. Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young were rumored to be seeing each other because of the chemistry they had with each other in the drama.
Total: 107,817. That's the number of patients who visited one of Montana's Community Health Centers last year. One out of every 10 Montanans received their comprehensive primary care through this health center network that has delivered care to rural and underserved communities for over 50 years.

This week is National Health Center Week. It's a week dedicated to honoring and recognizing the value a Community Health Center brings to its community and understanding why they are now at center stage in a changing health care landscape.

In Havre, Bullhook Community Health Center delivers much-needed care to 4,498 patients a year who visit us over 17,000 times during the year. We provide primary medical care, dental care, integrated behavioral health care, and substance use treatment. Seventy-two percent of our patients are working families who live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty limit. As an employer and health care provider in Havre, Bullhook supports 97 jobs and impacts the Havre economy by over $10.5 million a year.

As a part of a nationwide network that is the family doctor to millions of Americans, Bullhook's mission is to provide affordable options for comprehensive, "whole person" primary care. Our model of care works by treating the whole patient with an integrated range of services located under one roof. That way, our patients, including low-income families, veterans and the elderly, need not navigate a confusing maze of services to see a dentist or to fill a prescription.

At Bullhook, our goal is to provide everyone with easy access to care no matter who they are, where they are from, or if they have an insurance card. We are proven innovators and problem-solvers in treating chronic disease. We look beyondmedical charts not only to prevent illness but also address the factors that actually cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, lack of nutrition and unemployment.

Health centers like Bullhook are on the front lines dealing with complex problems no one wants to think about, including the devastating opioid crisis and the growing problem of obesity in economically challenged neighborhoods - health conditions that, if left unchecked, end up in hospital emergency rooms for costly treatment. Together, health centers across the country save the U.S. health care system $24 billion a year by managing health conditions and reducing unnecessary visits to the hospital.

The theme of this year's National Health Center Week is "Celebrating Health Centers: Home of America's Health Care Heroes," but none of us who work at health centers consider ourselves heroes. Rather, we are people of the community who believe that affordable health care should always be within reach for everyone who needs it. During NHCW we invite you to learn more about health centers by visiting us here at Bullhook Community Health Center and learning about the range of services and programs we offer. Talk with our clinicians and staff and find out why health centers are a good prescription for our nation's health.

--

Brian Hadlock

CEO Bullhook Community Health Center
Jim Magera, local historian and former Havre High School history teacher, will speak on Havre at the Turn of the Century at the H. Earl Clack Museums final Summer Speaker Series event in September.

H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum Board discussed during its meeting Monday Mageras talk, which will be Friday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. in the conference room of Havre Inn and Suites.

The event will probably include cookies and refreshments, the board members added.

About a half-hour before the event, the museum board said, it will hold a public dedication of Mural Park, which is next to the Havre Inn and Suites.

The dedication will include a Native American smudging ceremony, board chair Lela Patera said.

The ceremony is a spiritual cleansing or blessing, member David Sageser added.

Future events and speakers

The board discussed its Digging Up History event, where kids and adults can excavate bones, as a fundraiser for the H. Earl and Margaret Turner Clack Memorial Museum Foundations renovations. The foundation is renovating the future home of the museum, the Havre History Center, that now houses Griggs Printing on the 10 Block of Fifth Avenue.

Digging Up History will fall on the Saturday afternoon of Festival Days, Sept. 22, Foundation President Elaine Morse said, and added that the foundation is hoping to get more advertising and sponsorship for this years event.

In December, the Clack Museum will celebrate Dinosaur Christmas, where kids can do craft projects including making dinosaur cookies, Morse said.

We are the baby dinosaur museum of the Dinosaur Trail, she added.

Next years Summer Speaker Series already has one volunteer speaker, Patera said.

David Evans, a paleontologist with the Royal Ontario Museum, will speak to the public in 2019 about recent findings in the Havre area, she said.

Morse added that he may also address the Clack Foundation at their annual meeting.

The museum board said it is interested in one-room schoolings local history and is seeking speakers for 2019 who can recount their teaching experiences in such schools.

The chairman of the USS Montana commissioning committee, Bill Whitsitt, may also give a historical presentation, the board said.

A Virginia Class nuclear attack submarine, SSN 794 is under construction, the USS Montana website says. She is expected to be commissioned sometime in 2020.

Whitsitts talk would include the history of the former USS Montana, which was a BB-67 battleship, the board said.

USS Montana was to have been the most powerful battleship ever devised for the (U.S. Navy), Militaryfactory.com says, but the emergence of the aircraft carrier during World War II sealed her fate.

Havre History Center renovations

Morse said members of the Clack family will visit in early September to look at progress of renovations at the future Havre History Center.

The space features a baby grand piano donated by the family, which board members said looks very nice.

Recent renovation progress includes cleaning out the main floor and taking down a staircase. Morse said the area looks much bigger now and added that they also put up blueprints on the walls to help workers see the future of the center.

We still have a long ways to go, Morse said.

High-quality visitors

Emily Mayer, manager of the Clack Museum, said volunteer guides do a really good job.

Were well-taken care of, Mayer said.

She added that she was impressed by the high-quality visitors the museum had received lately.

They come with excellent questions and good discussions, she said.

Mayer told the board she had received lots of nice comments about the museum.

Were gonna need a new guestbook for the museum cause were almost out, she added.

Donations

The Clack Museum received significant donations recently, Patera said.

Shannon Heggem donated solid oak wooden panels, which are at the future Havre History Center now.

It took us three pick-ups and a trailer to get em all down there, Patera said.

Sandy Anderson donated several historic military uniforms in good condition, including her husbands fathers World War II uniform and his grandfathers uniform from World War I.

The World War I uniform has cool short pants and a very heavy overcoat, board member Kathy Shrauger said.

Man, those poor guys that had to wear those, she added.

The H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum Board will meet Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the conference room of Havre Inn and Suites.
Montana Department of Commerce held a regional resilience summit meeting Monday in Havre to discuss what the areas largest threats are and possible solutions.

More than 20 people from local communities including Havre, Rocky Boys Indian Resrvation and Chinook showed up for the two-hour meeting in the Havre-Hill County Library.

The meeting was part of the Montana Department of Commerces Montana Ready Communities Initiative, a program to help individuals, communities and businesses to survive, adapt and grow in the face of challenges and barriers, the Department of Commerces webpage on community development says. The approach is meant to create long-term resilience in the states communities and align projects and priorities across state agencies.

Havre was the eighth stop in the 19 planned summit meetings, said Americorp Vista member Blake Sexton.

He said the meetings are being held to gain local insight into major changes in Havres economy and environment and to identify current resources and identify stressors and shocks. Sexton added that the goal is to create resilient communities around the state.

Community stressors are what weaken the fabric of a community such as poverty, economy, environmental issues and social activity, Sexton said, while shocks are usually individual events that magnify the communitys stressors creating a high impact such as natural disasters or an economic crash.

Sexton said the groups goal of community resilience is based on the definition of resilience on the Rockefeller Foundation.

Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities and systems to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of stress and shocks, and even transform when conditions require it, he quoted from the foundation.

During the meeting people in attendance identified by vote local major stressors. The top six were aging infrastructure, drug use, mental health issues, affordable housing, public transportation and poverty. The group agreed that the main hurdle to overcoming these issues is a lack of funding.

The largest recent shocks to the community were severe winter weather, drought, wildfires, flooding, business closures and failing infrastructure, the group agreed.

The topic of the new Burger King and other businesses in Havre was brought up and discussed. One of the issues the community is facing, audience members agreed, is that the community has many entry-level jobs but is unable to fill them due to a variety of reasons including a lack of public transportation between communities.

Audience member G. Bruce Meyers, Republican candidate for Montana House District 32 who will be facing off against Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, in the November election, proposed transportation be set up between Havre and Rocky Boy to provide jobs for the reservation.

He added that the reservation struggles with having no infrastructure in Rocky Boy and tourism attractions for Rocky Boy or Native culture are not utilized as an economic resource.

Meyers said both communities of Rocky Boy and Hill County need to come together to discuss the racial divide between the two, adding that there is a lot of resentment on both sides. He said in order for the communities to do well economically, financially, the communities will have to work together.

Some people at the meeting discussed the transportation available between Havre and both Rocky Boys and Fort Belknap Indian reservations through their transit systems and North Central Montana Transit, and that the systems need to be expanded and improved.

The audience discussed that housing prices are rising but wages are not, in addition to not having many developments or lots available for housing. The region also has large decayed, abandoned, structures standing all over the area that cant be developed because owners dont want to spend the money to have to tear the structure down.

During the meeting the audience was broken up into smaller groups to discuss further the topics such as watershed, infrastructure, health and social issues, and economy.

Watershed

Kristi Klines group looked at the watershed. She said the shocks that the group discussed were the extreme weather conditions, wildfires, drought and flooding; with the stressors being lack of funding, an aging flood infrastructure and businesses leaving.

If you have those shocks on a water system the entire community will lose because the water quality is lost, she said, adding that it will also cause businesses to leave.

She said the local leaders, such as the local municipalities, constantly regulate and monitor water quality to meet with EPA standards, which must be maintained at all times, as well as monitoring the supply and planning for the future.

Kline added that the issues that need improvement are communication techniques and to access more funding for improvements to infrastructure.

Infrastructure

The group discussing infrastructure said the shocks and stressors there ripple throughout the communities funding, population and lack of affordable housing as well as other items.

The community leader are working on improving and fixing the problems through local, reservation and state, the group said, but need to apply for and receive funding.

The group added that agencies are established but have no funding.

The group encouraged tax breaks be established to stimulate and encourage businesses to grow.

Health and social issues

Rocky Boy diabetes educator Laurie Harveys group discussed health and social issues facing the communities. She said some of the stressors they agreed on were drug use, lack of mental health care facilities and providers, public transportation and funding of health care, along the shocks of extreme weather and communicable diseases.

Harvey said that last winter patients did not have access to safe transportation and were unable to receive health care or receive medication. She added that some patients were in drug recovery and could not receive medications that were needed and risked a relapse.

She said that all of the problems, stressors and shocks are all cyclical.

Harvey said her group believed these issues have not been appropriately addressed by local, state or federal leaders.

The group also believed that there is competition between health providers rather than a collaboration, which poses a problem for communities.

Were just not working together, I think, for solutions in that particular area, Harvey said.

The gaps for improvement, the group agreed, are communication and funding, as well as education, she said.

Think earlier, Harvey said, and promote preventative health care.

Economy

The group that discussed the economy said the shocks and stressors were everything previously listed, such as aging infrastructure and the difficulty recruiting and retaining a workforce. With fewer people, less money is being spent in the local economy, which makes housing more expensive and ripples out across the state, the group said.

The local community leaders working to address these need to do more to promote education and higher education. High schools are promoting workforce training, the group said.

They also agreed local businesses should buy locally to keep the money in the local economy, such as the crops and beef being farmed or ranched in the area not being utilized in the communities and that trained professionals graduating from Montana State University-Northern should be hired locally.

The region should do more to facilitate companies, such as manufacturers, to open plants in town to utilize a trained workforce, they said, adding that transportation is another topic that affects the desirability of a community, they said.

Americorp Vista member Betsy Miller said the information learned in these summit meetings and the online surveys will be analyzed to find the biggest stressors and shocks in communities across Montana. Each input will be assessed and considered, she added, with the data available either at the end of this year or early next year for the community to review.

Miller said this is done to help communities come together to make a plan of action and fix the problems they see with state or federal aid.

For more information or to fill out the surveys visit http://comdev.mt.gov/Programs/MontanaReadyCommunities/.



Source: Rockefeller Foundation definition of resilience http://www.resiliencetools.org/node/14/.
This Saturday, the Second Annual Back to School Bash will provide fun, preparation and supplies for local students in need at Pepin Park, said organizer Christy Edmonds of Havre.

The activities are in conjunction with the Salvation Armys Back to School Bash, which supplies backpacks and school supplies for low-income families, Edmonds said, adding that her organization will provide free shoes and haircuts as well as hosting carnival games, lunch and a guest speaker.

Edmonds said anyone kindergarten through 12th-grade is eligible for the shoes and haircuts.

Salvation Army Director Tr...
The day I took over as CEO, we didnt have enough cash to make payroll, Bodnar said. While it would take years before Fresh Technologies would return to good health, the young CEO developed a strategy to steer the company to success.

My initial task was to clean up the company and get it organised, Bodnar shared on Entrepreneurs Problem Solvers podcast. I spent several years getting the financial end of the business squared away, figuring out what are the right business lines we need to be in, what are the profitable things were doing, what are the unprofitable things were doing, putting in the right systems and processes to help get the business out of danger.

It was super sexy and exciting to be a young CEO and to feel like, Wow, Im the master of my destiny and Im running this company and Ive got these crisp, new business cards that say CEO on them, he said.

While the business was saved, things began to plateau for Bodnar. We were sort of stagnating; the business wasnt growing to the next level the way that I wanted it to grow. It had reached a great stable balance point, but as the now maybe 27- or 28-year-old CEO of this company, I wanted it to be a fast-growing, high-flying business, and the reality is it wasnt getting there, he said.

It was in that period  after much soul-searching  that Bodnar decided to step down as CEO.
In the latest instance involving the sunscreen, Tupetagi claimed his co-workers told him he had a present waiting for him in one of the company-owned cars he was assigned. Inside, he found a used canister of sunscreen wrapped in bright yellow tape with the words BLACK GUY REPLLENT [sic] and CAUTION! ONLY USE ON BLACKS scribbled on the tape.

The incident made Tupetagi feel like an unwanted creature or pest, he said. When he reported it to the management, ONeill said it looked like something that Joel [Mahon] would do then sent Tupetagi home and promised to sort out the matter.

Court documents stated the complainant had since been diagnosed with severe depression and required extensive and ongoing psychiatric support. Medical certificates pointed to discrimination as the cause of his anguish.

In 2016, Tupetagis request for a sunshade to avoid working in the open sun had bee declined because the management assumed Tupetagi was less or not susceptible to sunburn and skin damage from the sun because of his skin colour, the statement of facts read.

A lawyer who filed documents on behalf of the tour company, as well as ONeill and Mahon, called the sunscreen incident a practical joke between good friends.
This comes down to a change in mindset and moving beyond the concept of failure to instead view setbacks as useful feedback, added Wenngren.

Once people see difficulties as being valuable opportunities to learn, they open themselves up to ongoing development and what will naturally arise is a culture of continuous improvement.

According to Wenngren, building a high-performing team starts with the employee/manager relationship.

Work relationships are really no different to personal relationships in the sense that they are all about trust and respect, she said.

HR really needs to move away from this notion of hierarchy and realise that strong relationships are actually partnerships.
Ethlyn Byrd, a devoted teacher, dies at age 70

Ethlyn Sims Byrd, a longtime Henderson County teacher who excelled in getting through to developmentally challenged students and pushing high achievers to their potential, died Friday at Pardee Hospital after an illness of about two months. She was 70.



She and her husband, Frank Byrd, both were inducted into the Henderson County Education Foundation for their contributions to education  Ethlyn Byrd for her 22 years in the county schools and Frank Byrd for his work at Blue Ridge Community College. She is also survived by her son, John, of Tampa, and daughter, Elizabeth, of New York City, and two grandchildren.

Ethlyn Byrd A service has been set for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is handling arrangements.

A native of Baton Rouge and graduate of Louisiana State University, Byrd also had a masters degree in school administration from Furman University and a certificate in gifted and talented education from Mars Hill College.

Quick to laugh and smile, she was known for her ability to adapt to any situation, for her range in teaching students from age 6 to 16 and for her positive attitude despite the frustrations that come with the territory.

"I liked the ones who were challenges," she said in a biographical sketch when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Her husband said he did not know what accounted for her positive attitude, but what he has heard repeatedly in the days since her death is what a difference she made.

"That was just her," he said. "I've been hearing it all over town, about what a great teacher she was. I always knew she was a great teacher and now I wish I had stood in the classroom and watched her."

What people said about Ethlyn confirmed that the fruit of her work lives on, in the lives of math pupils who finally grasped Cartesian coordinates, students who got their diplomas and children who grew to adulthood.

At an aerobics class on Monday, a young man told Frank Byrd that Ethlyn "was the reason he got out of seventh grade." Another friend stopped him to express condolences. "He talked to me for 15 minutes about what a difference she made to his children," he said.

She had tutored children regularly since her retirement, often for no pay, sometimes keeping the same child for years. "She was tutoring at Bruce Drysdale until she died," Frank Byrd said. "She was just involved with kids. She loved them and they loved her."

She taught for 35 years  22 in Henderson County  before her retirement in 2002. She taught math and science in Balfour seventh and eighth grades starting in 1967, the same year she married Frank. She taught at Flat Rock Junior High, Hillandale, Hendersonville and Bruce Drysdale elementary schools and Hendersonville Middle School.

She specialized in kids on either end of the spectrum, from emotionally troubled children at a state treatment center to academically and intellectually gifted (AIG) students.

Developmentally-challenged students "weren't necessarily the easiest children to teach, but they appealed to me," she said in the Hall of Fame interview. She chalked up a victory when a child would "blurt out an idea," join a class discussion and overcome shyness. "The ability to achieve is so important for students," she said. "It can be from a very simple job, being able to do it and remembering how to the next time."

Byrd was the county's nominee in 1990 for the Governor's Award in Excellence in Teaching for math and three times was teacher of the year at her school.

Byrd was a "Steel Magnolia  strong, determined and confident  with an air of diplomacy and Southern charm that put all those around her at ease," said her sister, Dorothy Fantle, who taught at Atkinson after Byrd. "She was an inspiration to all  always professional, exhibiting tact, diplomacy and a wonderful sense of humor."
Susie Barber Coppedge, a friend to her hometown, dies at age 54

Susan Barber Coppedge, a Hendersonville native whose bright success in the financial world never dimmed her devotion to her hometown, died Saturday at her home on Cape Cod at the age of 54.

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Coppedge, known as Susie, never neglected her hometown despite success in a financial career that helped her and her husband accumulate wealth, friends said. A graduate of UNC at Chapel Hill, she was senior vice president at Morgan Stanley in Boston.

Even though they knew that she had suffered from depression, family members and friends were stunned to learn that Coppedge had taken her own life on Saturday.

A 1978 graduate of Hendersonville High School, Coppedge earned a degree in chemistry from UNC. She started dental school, intending to follow in her father's footsteps, when Dr. Leonard Barber became ill with a brain tumor. She came home to help care for him and ultimately switched her aspiration to finance, where she had great success. She was married to Roy F. "Copey" Coppedge III, a Harvard MBA and banker who in 1983 founded BV Investment Partners, a pioneer among private equity investment firms. The couple owned homes on the waterfront in Boston and in Harwich on Cape Cod. In 2009, they bought a home and 6.4 acres of land on Willow Road near Champion Hills.

Susie Barber CoppedgeBesides her husband, Coppedge is survived by her son, Peter Banks Coppedge; her mother, Constance Clark Howard and her husband, Cliff of Elizabethton, Tenn.; her stepmother, Elizabeth Betty Barber Girard of Hendersonville, stepchildren Schuyler Coppedge, and his wife, Irene; Walker Coppedge and his wife, Jill; Luke Coppedge and his wife, Antonella; and Sophie Coppedge Walker and her husband, Brian; grandchildren Grace, Phoebe, Christopher and Luke; brothers John Sheldon Barber and his wife, Kathy of North Augusta, S.C., and Robert Douglass Barber and his wife, Robin of Greenville, S.C.

"She was just a wonderful giving person," said Debbie Rouse, a lifelong friend who has known Susie Barber since high school. "She loved Hendersonville, she loved Hendersonville High School. She built a house here and she loved to come back to her roots."

Girard said she was heartbroken.

"She's been mine from the time she was 9 years old," she said. "She's been my little girl for 45 years." She said she had just today had a chance to be with Susie's two big brothers. "We were just laughing and crying and hugging. It's all you can do."

"Even though she had been gone for 25 years, Susie was still a big supporter of Flat Rock Playhouse and the Hendersonville High School band as well as the stuff that she did in Boston," Girard said. "I just feel like my heart's been ripped out. I hope she's at peace. She just had these demons. She's been dealing with it for about a year and a half. It was a black hole she could not climb out of."

When the Hendersonville High School Band traveled to Boston to play, Coppedge rented the Boston Aquarium for the band, which was made up of around 100 musicians.

"She was just so generous," said Band Director Fran Shelton. "She had the money but she never lost her hometown roots. She contributed a lot to this band program. She found success but she never forgot the people back home, and she wasn't even in our band. We were coming to her town and she was going to take care of us. How many people do you know that would rent a whole aquarium?"

When Coppedge donated a bond to the band, boosters didn't even know how much it was worth.

"We cashed it for $15,000 and bought that baby grand," Shelton said, pointing to the piano the band program has used for the past eight years. "It will always be here."

Coppedge's donation of the aquarium visit and the piano were never covered in news stories or publicly announced. "She never wanted credit," Shelton said. She also was a donor to the Park Street School in Boston, the Inner City Scholarship Fund of Boston, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and UNC.

Locally, friends said they hoped that the family would schedule a memorial service to honor someone who had loved the community and was loved by many back home.

"Susie was a dignified beautiful person," Rouse said. "She was just a giver, and I want her to be memorialized for all that she's done."

Dr. William Lampley traveled to Boston in 2006 when three of his grandchildren played in the HHS Band, which had been invited to Boston Symphony Hall. The Coppedges invited him to stay at their Cape Cod home.

"I've known Susie all her life," Lampley said. "Leonard, her father, was a good friend of mine. In my name she started a scholarship. I don't understand why she picked me to do it. She gave away a scholarship every year for the last four or five years. She was very generous."

A memorial service has been set for Jan. 10 on Cape Cod. None has been set so far in Hendersonville. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors handled arrangements in Hendersonville.

"I told them Saturday afternoon that he (her husband) and Peter just need to come down here (for a remembrance) even if it was just meeting at their house here and having friends and family and having a drink and telling stories and eating barbecue," Girard said.
A man was secretly recorded in a nursing home threatening and verbally abusing his mother, the High Court has heard.

Yesterday the HSE was told by the High Court that it can keep an elderly woman, who has a number of medical conditions including dementia, at a nursing home.

The woman, who cannot be identified because she is a ward of court, was placed at the home after having been released from a hospital to which she had been taken by gardai who had removed her from her home following concerns for her welfare.

She had been made a ward of court following complaints about the manner in which she had been treated by her adult son who had attempted to interfere with her care and treatment and had tried to remove her from the hospital.

Mr Justice Charles Meenan was told by lawyers for the HSE and the Solicitor General, who acts in the interests of the ward, that they believed the nursing home was the best place for her.

Care

The HSE claimed the woman needs constant care and assistance and should not be returned home. A more suitable permanent placement for the woman is being sought.

The court heard that certain members of the woman's family supported the HSE's application and Judge Meenan said he was satisfied with the medical evidence to continue court orders allowing the HSE to keep the woman at the nursing home.

Judge Meenan said he was also amending the order to allow visits by the husband to the woman but only in the presence of certain family members and care providers.

The woman's son, who objected to her being made a ward of court, was not present in court for the application.

Last month the woman was made a ward of court by High Court President Mr Justice Peter Kelly after he was told the son had previously been secretly recorded by a family member at the nursing home threatening and verbally abusing his mother.

Mr Justice Kelly took the woman into the court's protection following a report from a court-appointed medical professional stating she lacked the capacity to make decisions affecting her health and welfare.

The judge noted evidence of the son describing his mother as "a mad bitch".

In separate but related proceedings, lawyers for the son have claimed the woman's ongoing detention at the nursing home is invalid.

An inquiry into the woman's detention, brought under Article 40 of the Constitution, was heard by the High Court last week. Both the HSE and Solicitor General reject the son's claim and say the woman is validly detained.
A mother-of-three broke the metal handle off a suitcase and threatened gardai with it after they were called to remove her from a locked toilet cubicle in a train station.

Winifred Joyce (23) became so violent that officers had to use pepper spray to arrest her.

She had earlier threatened Heuston Station staff, refusing to leave the toilets and telling them she had hepatitis C.

Judge Michael Walsh jailed her for 10 months.

Joyce, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to garda obstruction and 24 other charges from a series of other incidents ranging from public order offences to drug dealing and burglary.

A garda sergeant told Dublin District Court that officers were called to Heuston Station at 1.10pm on May 19 last year.

There had been a call that an aggressive woman had threatened staff and locked herself in a toilet cubicle.

She told staff she had hepatitis C before eventually coming out.

She was highly aggressive and broke the metal handle off a large suitcase she had in the cubicle, the court heard.

Sharp

She held the sharp handle in a threatening manner, the sergeant said. Gda Laura Jane Mahoney was forced to use pepper spray to subdue her.

Separately, Joyce was stopped by gardai on Capel Street on July 20, 2016.

She appeared to be smoking a joint and engaging with a known drug user.

She was found in possession of 480 worth of heroin.

On January 14 last year she was found with 200 worth of heroin after again being seen in a suspected drugs transaction on Parnell Street.

Joyce had spent years in care after the death of her mother, her solicitor John Feaheny said.

After leaving care at the age of 18, she became homeless.

Joyce had struggled with a drug addiction for some time and was now on a methadone programme.

Her health at this stage was compromised and she had been injured in an assault.

Joyce was a "very bright lady" and "in another life or world she would probably be doing a lot better for herself", Mr Feaheny said.

She was "not the main mover" in the drugs dealing incident.

Homelessness was at the root of her problems, and Mr Feaheny asked Judge Walsh to treat the defendant leniently.

Jailing her, the judge said Joyce had threatened to use a metal handle on people.
For Subscribers New restaurant to open in downtown Hagerstown

"It's just time that folks just relax and get back to having a good time and loving on one another," owner says of her planned restaurant.
Posted on: August 14, 2018 4:17 PM

At least 39 people are now known to have died as unprecedented torrential rains causes severe flooding in parts of Kerala, India. In addition to the high death toll, there are many more people who are suffering from flood-related injuries. The six dioceses of the united Church of South India (CSI) are already active in relief work. The CSI is urging all the Christian organisations in India [and] sister churches to express their solidarity and proactively engage in the relief work, which will be a great support they can extend to the Keralites in this time of calamity. The Anglican Alliance, which helps to co-ordinate the work of Anglican relief agencies around the world, is planning a conference call to organise international support.

The dioceses of East Kerala and Malabar, in the eastern hilly areas of south India, are badly affected by the floods and landslides. Low-lying areas in Cochin diocese are also heavily affected. Houses are destroyed by the floods and gushing water from the dams in fury, the CSI said. Educational institutions and religious buildings including churches are destroyed by this vigorous southwest monsoon.

Life is at a standstill, and people are faced with the stark reality that it will be a herculean task for most of them to bring their life back to normalcy. Thousands of people lost all their belongings except the dresses they are wearing. There are all the chances of the spreading of contagious diseases as the result of the floods. Food, clothes, and medical aid are the immediate need of the people in distress.

The Indian government have established more than 600 relief camps to house those displaced by the floods. Heavy rains continued to lash the state triggering flash floods and landslides, which have destroyed houses and other buildings.

Kerala in recent history has never witnessed heavy rains as this, which forced the state government to open the shutters of around 22 dams, including Idukki damn, which is the biggest arch dam in Asia, the CSI said. The Church said that the floods have wreaked havoc in 10 of Keralas 14 districts.
Posted on: August 14, 2018 3:46 PM

The Diocese of Kobe in the Nippon Sei Ko Kai  the Anglican Communion in Japan  has responded to significant flooding in the region by establishing support centres. Bishop Augustine Kobayashi called for the centres in response to the immense damage caused by heavy rain last month. Areas of western Japan were inundated with water as result of the extreme weather and the diocese has been providing support to the victims of the tragedy.

Diocesan administrator Michael Kominami headed the centres, while Diocesan Secretary George Daito was tasked with gathering information on the disaster situation throughout the diocese. Planning and support activities were carried out by the dioceses Social Director, Barnabas Seyama.

Clergy helped householders remove post-flood detritus in East Hiroshima and Kure, and helped to distribute the flow of daily supplies.

Bishop Augustine Kobayashi and Kobe diocesan officers meet to discus flood relief.

Photo: NSKK

The priest responsible for the worst affected area  the Mabi-cho area of Kurashiki City, in Okayama Prefecture - Paul Uehara, worked with the local Social Welfare Council to explore ways of supporting the disaster relief.

A disaster support centre was established at St Christophers Church in Kurashiki City at the end of July. The volunteer centre began its operations with a prayer service and will continue to provide accommodation and meals at least until 31 August. A second volunteer may be established in the Hiroshima area.

Clergy from outside the affected areas in the diocese are being drafted in to support local clergy. It is planned that relief activities will take place during weekdays with the usual worship services held at the weekends, for an initial period of one month, although this will be extended if deemed necessary, Bishop Augustine told the Anglican Communion News Service.
The month of August has brought cheer on the faces of six women inmates lodged in Tihar. For the first time in the history of Tihar, women inmates who have completed 12 years of imprisonment with a good track record are expecting to be transferred to the semi-open jail within the premises of the Tihar complex. Tihar is the largest prison complex in South Asia and is one of the most over-crowded of prisons in India.

There are about 570 women prisoners lodged in Tihar of which 125 are convicts. Inmates who will now be shifted to the new jail will help run the system of the same jail without constant surveillance of the staff. These women will be allowed to move freely within the prison complex but will not be allowed to leave the prison complex unlike the inmates who are shifted to the open jail. If any prisoner defies the law, the jail will have the right to send them back to the regular prison.

The data released by the National Crime Records Bureau in 2015 reveal that out of nearly 3,800 inmates in open prisons, only 109 are women. There are 63 open jails in India, out of which only four are for women. These are located in Yerawada, Thiruvanathapuram and in Durgapura and Sanganer. This itself is a testimony of how we treat women behind bars too.

Delhi is the third state after Rajasthan and Maharashtra to start a semi-open jail for women. The logic behind the semi-open jail or an open-jail is to help the inmates gradually get back into society before their release. These set of jails operate without having rigid walls and provide adequate freedom to the inmates to start a new chapter of their life. While in a semi-open jail the prisoner is not permitted to leave the prison, an open-jail opens its gates for the inmates to spent the entire day outside and come back by the end of the day. In many circumstances, they are even permitted to stay with their families. This system is immensely helpful in reforming and rehabilitating the inmates.

While the action taken by Tihar authorities is a welcome step, we cannot ignore the fact that women are discriminated against even inside the prisons. Before the intervention by the courts, prison authorities almost all across India felt that opening of spaces for women inmates will bring with it multiple problems. Their arguments ignored the fact that disallowing eligible women to enter into the open jails will bring in tougher situations for those who have already reached the last leg of their punishment term and are reformed and certainly deserve to live a better life in the same manner as it is allowed to their male counterparts.

It seems we still have to walk a long way in bringing in the shades of equality for women. Delhis Tihar can act as the torchbearer for other states by setting an example of justice, neutrality and fairness. After all, Tihar is seen as a model jail and being at the centre, has always been a newsmaker with different shades of news reaching the news desks.

Vartika Nanda is a prison reformer and is the founder of Tinka Tinka series dedicated to prison reforms in India

The views expressed are personal
Posted on: August 14, 2018 2:18 PM

Colleagues and supporters have paid tribute to a leading campaigner for gender justice within the Anglican Communion, Beth Adamson-Strauss. Beth Adamson, as she was known, a Methodist who worked as a volunteer for the US-based Episcopal Church, died on Sunday in hospital where she was receiving treatment for serious injuries caused by an accident two weeks earlier. For several years she had led the Episcopal Churchs campaigning on gender justice issues at the United Nations; and helped to organise delegations from both the US-based Church and the wider Anglican Communion to the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) meetings in New York.

Beth has touched so many people with her passion, determination, wisdom and joyful heart, Canon Terrie Robinson, the Anglican Communions Director for Women in Church and Society, said. Through her faith-filled and tireless work at the UN and with Anglican delegations to UNCSW, there are women and girls the world over who have been inspired and energised by her to be strong champions for gender equality, even in the most difficult circumstances.

I am one of them and I will always be grateful to her. Our love and prayers are with Beths husband Ned and their family. Beth will be sorely missed by so many.

Rachel Chardon, the former General Program and Administrative Officer at the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations in New York, said: For many years, Beth and I led delegations to the UN Commission on the Status of Women on behalf of the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations. Together, we worked on every aspect of preparing women from around the world to attend this annual two-week session. This included a Time Line that would generate over a seven month period materials for study that addressed the priority theme set for that year with the main purpose of empowering women.

When the two-week event concluded, these women had bonded and they soon returned home with new resources to share with their respective communities. Beth was exceptional in this charge! As a volunteer to the Office, Beth was a key support in engaging all elements of gender awareness via the various bodies of the United Nations and served as a sounding board for ideas approaching various issues.

The Ecumenical and Interreligious Deputy to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Margaret Rose, used to be Director for Womens Ministries in the US-based Episcopal Church. She said: Beth was instrumental in organising what was then called Anglican Womens Empowerment. She has since continued that work through the Anglican Communion office, the UN Working Group on Girls and much more.

But as important as her accomplishments, which were many, was Beth herself, whose generous spirit called out the best in every one she touched. . . Ned Strauss, Beths husband, wrote about our Beth  and that is indeed who she was: a woman who consistently offered herself to others, that they  we  might be more whole.

She carried and offered the light of Christ to all, and experienced the world with joy and wonder. In the face of suffering or poverty or pain or injustice, Beth refused to give up hope and was instrumental in addressing systemic change in every possible way.

She knew we were in it for the long haul and her legacy will be that none of us gives up the hope which propelled her and us to continue the struggle.

Beth Adamson (right) chats with Caroline Christie, a UNCSW delegate from the US-based Episcopal Church.

The US-based Episcopal Churchs Representative to the UN, Lynnaia Main, also paid tribute to Ms Adamson, saying she was beloved by so many.

She added: I can hardly think of any person with more light, joy, smiles, smarts, energy, kindness and love for God and others than Beth. Some light has gone out of my life, all of our lives, with her passing.

Beth had worked for many decades in the arena of womens and girls empowerment, with the Episcopal Churchs womens ministries and with the Anglican Communion. She served for many years as a member of the leadership team for the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations in its work with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

She expanded her work to focus at the crossroads of church, United Nations and girls empowerment, most especially through the UNs Working Group on Girls (WGG). She served as co-chair of the WGG and continued to be very active there. She was an integral part and pillar of so many communities at the UN, an astute observer of the political machinations of the UN and an excellent and very knowledgeable strategist in reaching member states to advocate for girls rights.

Main spoke about Adamson as a valued mentor and colleague and how the warm and totality of her embrace and inclusiveness in welcoming newcomers to UNCSW was so much appreciated.

She said: her joyous love for people was genuine and I never ever heard her say a critical word about anyone. She managed to be light-hearted, quick to laugh and fun to be around while at the same time being totally serious about and committed to her work. She was especially good at being a mediator who could hold together worlds in tension, bringing them in closer relationship to each other through her patient relationship-building. She was a master negotiator and very much a motherly influence on the girls in her care.

Every year on 11 October, the International Day of the Girl Child, Beth would take a group of girl advocates from the Working Group on Girls to the Episcopal Church Centre in New York. They would visit our space so the girls could practice their lines and relax prior to their Girls Speakout at the UN for the International Day of the Girl Child event, Main said. Those girls loved Beth  I watched her nurture many young women with her kindness and encouragement.

She pledged that Beth Adamsons exemplary work will continue to move forward, as we honour her presence, her gifts and her legacy, but we can never replace her, she said. We have loved her and learned so much from her. We will continue the spirited work shes done, as best we can, inspired by her example, a gift to us and the world.

In 2015, Adamson was presented with an Award for Global Service in recognition of her for her dedicated work to strengthen Anglican womens presence at the UNCSW. The award was created to honour volunteer service that furthers the work of the Anglican Communion through the vehicle of the UN Office.

Beth Adamson receives the Globas Service Award in April 2015.

Photo: Carole Hughes

Speaking after her death, Ned Strauss, Beths husband, said that had she survived, it was likely that she would never fully recover her cognitive ability or her fine motor skills. He said: so now, she can rest and be totally at peace. A private family funeral service is being planned in Exeter, Nebraska, where she was born and raised, ahead of a celebration of her life for friends and supporters in Redding, Connecticut, most likely in September.
Alia Bhatt has dismissed any form of stress between herself and her current boyfriend Ranbir Kapoors ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif. Alia was interacting with the media on the sidelines of the Caprese bags new collection launch on Monday here.

Alia and Katrina were known to share a close bond. They used to post pictures of their workout routines on social networking site Instagram, which were quite popular.

But ever since Alia started dating Ranbir, there have been reports that the girls were no longer on sweet terms. Even the Instagram posts have vanished.

Alia Bhatt at the engagement party of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani's son Akash Ambani and diamantaire Russell Mehta's daughter Shloka Mehta, at Antilia in Mumbai. (IANS)

Reacting to these reports, Alia said, I dont check my Instagram likes. So, I dont know why people are checking that? But I have to admit I have always been very fond of Katrina.

I believe that its the same both ways, according to us. So, I dont know why other people feel differently?

But now I will send her a message to start liking my pictures because if thats the barometer of friendship then we must start liking everyones picture.

Or maybe, I dont have good pictures, Alia said, adding that from now on she will post good pictures and then maybe she will like it. But with her, I have no stress whatsoever.

Girls interrupted...... photo by @s1dofficial A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif) on Nov 1, 2017 at 5:02am PDT

The Udta Punjab star is currently dating Ranbir Kapoor and there have been speculations that the couple might tie the knot next year. When asked about the same, Alia told reporters, I dont react to rumours. Rumours are not meant to be reacted upon. As long as you arent entering my bathroom, I am fine because if you are not talking about me then maybe I am not relevant enough. But honestly, I am in a very good place both personally and professionally so no issues whatsoever, she added.

Alia was shooting for Brahmastra in Bulgaria, not long ago. It is written and directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Karan Johar. It stars Ranbir-Alia and Amitabh Bachchan.

Rabir Kapoor seen at Alia Bhatt's residence in Mumbai on July 6, 2018. (IANS)

The Student of the Year actor will also be seen in the historical magnum opus Takht.

Asked about challenges of playing a historical character, Alia said: Honestly, to take any kind of character is challenging whether its historical or contemporary or modern.

I am just very happy and honoured to be associated with such a big film... and to be directed by Karan (Johar) again.

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How Sridevi and Boney Kapoor met and fell in love is a compelling story. At a special event to mark Sridevis 55th birth anniversary, an emotional Boney Kapoor recounted the story and said while everything about the two of them is in public domain, there are certain things that will always remain in his heart. Sridevi died in February 24 due to accidental drowning in her hotel bathtub in Dubai.

She (Sridevi) couldnt complete her schooling, she couldnt complete her college because she was so involved in her work, she deserves the recognition, respect and the tributes which are being paid to her all across the globe, he said.

Talking about life after the actors death, Today this vacuum, this void cannot be replaced but the good wishes and the goodwill that she has left behind is something that we can live with... She is with me, in my memories...with my children. I feel the loss of her every second of my life, not just me even my children do. This is something that we have to live with. Unfortunately, she was snatched away from us sooner than anybody expected, he added. The producer was in New Delhi, along with his daughters Janhvi and Khushi, for a retrospective on the veteran actor organised by the Films Division, Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Producer Boney Kapoor and daughters Jhanvi and Khushi look on during an event to commemorate the birth anniversary of their mother Bollywood actor Sridevi, at Film Division, in New Delhi. (PTI)

In the retrospective, Sridevis films such as Mom, Lamhe, English Vinglish, Chandni and Sadma will be shown. Boney said Sridevi may not be among her family and admirers today, but like a true artiste, the National Award-winning actor will continue to live throughout her legacy.

He praised the actor for her remarkable journey that was spread across different languages and spanned an almost 50 year-long career. I admire her sincerity, dedication and the understanding with which she played every character. Her biggest USP was that she never tried to act but would disappear in a character, he added.

Reminiscing his love story with Sridevi, Boney said it took him 10-12 years to win her heart. I fell in love with her when I saw her for the first time on the screen. It was one-sided love since the beginning. I chased her in the sense that I went to Chennai to sign her but unfortunately she was not available at that time. I was in awe of her, her work. The aura that she had created around as an actor was something that I admired. Maybe, all these reasons contributed to me falling in head over heels for her, he said.

My love story with Sridevi is an open book. Whatever matters of the heart that can be shared is all in the public domain. What is most close (about her) will remain in the heart. Thats my support system for life, he added.

Boney said his children, Arjun and Anshula from first wife Mona, too have been his strength through these tough times. The way they have accepted Janhvi and Khushi... That has made me feel very relieved. My all four children are my strength, he said.

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Actors Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain were challaned for riding a scooter without helmets in Vadodara. The two were promoting their upcoming filma Salman Khan productionLoveratri in the city.

The two were photographed on the streets, and even interacted with fans. The police arrived at their hotel in the evening and penalised them. Each was handed a fine of Rs 100.

Not without a helmet bro A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) on Aug 13, 2018 at 11:25pm PDT

According to a Times of India report, the actors drove from Harni airport to Sursagar lake at around 5 pm, which was when first images were shared online. We sent cops to issue memo to both the actors at their hotel. They are celebrities and hence they should understand their responsibility and follow traffic laws, said Amita Vanani, assistant commissioner of police (traffic).

A similar incident occurred in Mumbai recently, when actor Varun Dhawan was fined for disobeying traffic rules while promoting a movie.

Loveratri is a romantic drama directed by Abhiraj Minawala, and is scheduled to open in theatres in October. The film is the launchpad for Salmans brother-in-law, Aayush.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to boycott American electronics, including Apple Inc.s iPhone, as he retaliates against Donald Trumps attempts to isolate his economy.

After the US imposed sanctions on two Turkish ministers and amid growing domestic pressure from businesses and banks to contain a currency crisis, Erdogan said he wouldnt back down in the face of the economic attack against his country.

There is a cost for those who are plotting the operation against Turkey, he said in televised remarks from Ankara, without specifying when the boycott would start or how it would be enforced. If theyve got iPhone, there is Samsung on the other side. In our country, there is Venus Vestel, he said, referring to a Turkish-made smartphone.

While the economic penalties would probably do little to dent US economic interests, Erdogans threat shows that the standoff over the fate of an American pastor held in Turkey isnt going to end soon. The move is reminiscent of steps by President Vladimir Putin to ban food imports from countries that slapped sanctions on Russia in 2014 over its annexation of Crimea.

The difference is that unlike Russia, the US and Turkey are NATO members. Erdogan warned that the US is putting decades-old alliances at risk and pushing Turkey to seek allies elsewhere.

The lira rallied for the first time in a week nonetheless. Two Turkish business lobbies and the heads of two banks increased pressure on the government and central bank to act to stem a slide that saw the lira lose more than a quarter of its value in less than two weeks. It rose 5.1% to 6.5530 per dollar by 1:31pm in Istanbul.

The Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges of Turkey and the Turkish Industry and Business Association called on the government to cut spending, improve ties with the European Union and bring to an end the spat with the US.

Policy makers need to adopt a series of measures so that the situation doesnt make permanent damage to the real economy, the Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges of Turkey and the Turkish Industry and business Association said in a joint statement. Businesses are determined to provide support for success of the economys government program.

While Erdogan didnt address their concerns in his speech, he said Turks have already begun converting foreign exchange into Turkish lira because it would be tantamount to surrendering if they did otherwise.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
A day after recording statements of four nuns, the six-member Kerala Police team on Sunday recorded statements of two people at Trinity College in Jalandhar to investigate into a nuns complaint of sexual assault against Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal of Roman Catholic Diocese.

The team, led by Vaikom DSP K Subhash, arrived at the Trinity College, run by the church management, at 10.40am and spent about five hours there to record the statements of a nun and father Anthony. They both gave their statements in writing.

The police refused to disclose anything .

We have recorded statements of two people. We will now visit a church in Majitha. We are yet to question the bishop, said DSP Subhash. He refused to share any other details of the probe. Jalandhar DCP Gurmeet Singh said the Kerala Police are likely to question the Bishop on Monday.

Mulakkal, 54, was booked in Kottayam on June 29 for sexually abusing a 43-year-old nun 13 times, including in Jalandhar, between 2014 and 2016.

The four nuns questioned include mother superior Rejina and three nuns Amla, Mariya and Virgina on Saturday at the Missionaries of Jesus Congregation in Jalandhar, where the complainant was posted as mother general till 2013.

Mulakkal has refuted the nuns charges, saying she was targeting him for initiating a probe against her for her involvement in an illicit relationship.

The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus Congregation based in Punjab which runs two convents in Kerala. She was working at one of the convents at Kuravilanagad in Kottayam.

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A Muslim man, Imtiazur Rahman, who was denied permission to perform the final rites of his dead Hindu wife at a temple here last week because of his religion, has finally been able to hold the ceremony with the help of a Bengali philanthropic cultural society in Delhi.

People associated with the Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Memorial Society in the largely Bengali-populated area of Chittaranjan Park in south Delhi said Rahman, his daughter, some family members and friends attended the ceremony on Sunday.

They were given a room in the society (premises) and his daughter (Ihini Ambreen) performed the ceremony. We were of course disappointed to learn (he was refused permission by the Kali temple society), a person, who was present at the ceremony, told IANS.

Founded in 1973, the philanthropic society, which runs a non-profit medical centre, library, cultural classes, rents out its premises for social functions.

Rahman, based in Kolkata, lost his wife Nivedita Ghatak in the capital after she suffered multi-organ failure last week. The couple had married 20 years ago in accordance with the Special Marriages Act that allows inter-faith weddings of couples irrespective of their individual faith.

Ghatak was cremated as per Hindu rites at Delhis Nigambodh Ghat but the family could not perform shradh -- a set of Hindu rituals performed for the deceased.

Rahman had booked on August 12 a slot at Kali Mandir Society in Chittaranjan Park after paying Rs 1,300. But he was later told by the temple society that his booking has been cancelled for obvious reasons.

Ashitava Bhowmik, the president of the temple society, said that the woman could no longer be considered a Hindu after marrying a Muslim because a woman adopts the surname and belief system of her in-laws and becomes a part of that society.
National capital Delhi managed only the 65th rank out of 111 cities surveyed in the Ease of Living Index-2018 released by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.

Compared to cities such as Pune, Navi Mumbai and Greater Mumbai, which topped the index, Delhi fared poorly in parameters such as availability of healthcare professionals, crime recorded, air quality and efficiency of collection of municipal solid waste.

The index, released by the ministry on Monday, did not cover the entire geography of Delhi but only areas under the jurisdiction of New Delhi Municipal Council and the north, south and east Delhi municipal corporations. Delhi Cantonment areas were excluded.

Delhi faring poorly in air quality parameters came as no surprise to environment experts. The index also shows noise levels remained high in the city.

According to the World Health Organisations (WHO) report, Delhi ranks number four among the most polluted cities in the world.

Delhis poor air quality is definitely a challenge but it is symptomatic of other infrastructure failures as well. We need to understand poor air quality is not the cause of the problems. It can be fixed if other cross-sectoral interventions are made. We need to be more aggressive and stringent in our approach of controlling pollution, said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) Centre for Science and Environment.

Other areas where the city has performed poorly are inadequate recording or crime cases. Senior Delhi Police officials said the department is working towards making the process of registering FIRs transparent.

We made the FIR registration process online for several offences. This reduces human intervention and gives public the convenience to file complaints. For more heinous offences, especially in crimes against women, we have zero-tolerance against officers who refuse of file FIRs, a senior Delhi Police official said.

Despite the Delhi governments efforts in the health sector, the city ranked the worst (111) when it came to availability of healthcare professionals and incidences of water and vector borne diseases.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain, however, said water and vector borne diseases have seen a decline of almost 58% this year compared to 2017, which he said was not included in this study.

From January 1 to August 10 this year, 35 chikungunya cases of Delhi residents have been recorded. Last year, it was 140 during the same period. There have been 88 malaria cases this year. Last year there were 150 cases. And only 49 dengue cases against last years 118, Jain said.

The Delhi government said it had no role in the inadequate number of healthcare professionals as the power to recruit them lies with the lieutenant-governor.

In the power sector, the report gave a thumbs up to Delhi when it came to smart metering and energy efficiency. But, when it comes to coverage of electrical connections and power cuts, the survey said Delhi still had a lot to catch up.

Though there are areas that call for improvement, not everything looks bad for Delhi. The expansion of Delhi Metro has helped the city perform well in the area of geographical coverage of public transport.

Gurugram ranks 88

Gurugram ranked 88 out of 111 cities surveyed across India, indicating a generally poor quality of living for city residents.

Gurugram is the lowest ranked city in the National Capital Region (NCR), behind Faridabad, which is ranked at 82. Ghaziabad has the highest ease of living among NCR cities, according to the report, and is ranked at 46. New Delhi comes in somewhere in the middle at 65.

Data obtained from the report shows that Gurugram has performed well in certain respects such as access to public open spaces (2), reduced pollution ( 7) and housing and inclusiveness (13). However, the city fared among the bottom rankers in terms of health care (100), governance (97) and power supply (94), indicating deficiencies in the quality and delivery of these services.

The Livability Index revealed today validates what we have known for long; that livability in Gurugram is very poor, said Sarika Panda Bhatt, an integrated transport and road safety expert based in Gurugram.

Bhatt also commented on Gurugrams poor ranking (69) in the transportation and mobility category.

While the city has focused on creating flyovers and underpasses, it has failed to deliver on basics such as foothpaths and public transport, Bhatt said.
How far will Delhi Police be able to go ahead with their case against Arvind Kejriwal? Legal experts, who are part of the chief ministers team, believe police would need sanction under section 197 of the CrPC to prosecute him.

A lawyer, who has represented the chief minister in previous cases, said on condition of anonymity, Sanction is mandatory to prosecute the CM under section 197 of the CrPC because it is required in the case of discharge of duty by a public servant. If Delhi Police do not take sanction, we would challenge this in court.

Other experts in his team said that to prosecute a sitting chief minister, one requires sanction from the lieutenant-governor in Delhi. In other states, the governor gives permission.

Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa said it is up to the judge hearing the case to decide if a sanction is required in this case or now. It depends on the judge to interpret if a sanction of the lieutenant-governor is mandatory to prosecute the chief minister. It depends on the nature of the offences. All offences committed while discharging official duty will required a sanction, Pahwa.

Public prosecutor Atul Shrivastava said there is no need for a sanction in this case. Asked about immunity from arrest, Shrivastava said the chief minister enjoys no such protection.

Immunity is only for the president, governor and lieutenant-governor, but not the CM, he said.

On Monday, Delhi Police filed a charge sheet against Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and 11 other AAP MLAs  Amanatullah Khan, Prakash Jarwal, Nitin Tyagi, Rituraj Jha, Ajay Dutt, Praveen Kumar, Sanjeev Jha, Dinesh Mohania, Rajesh Gupta, Rajesh Rishi and Madan Lal.

The 13 AAP leaders have been charged under 13 different Indian Penal Code sections, including criminal intimidation, assaulting a public servant, wrongful confinement, criminal conspiracy. If found guilty, Kejriwal and his MLAs may have to be face a maximum jail term up of three years.

On August 25, the court is likely to take cognisance of the charge sheet and summon the 13 accused for trial.
A man was arrested after a woman from the United States filed a written complaint against him, alleging harassment onboard a flight from Delhis Indira Gandhi International airport to Mumbai, on Sunday night. The police said that a fight broke out between the man and the woman, which led to a scuffle in the aircraft.

According to the police, the incident took place around 10pm, when the passengers were boarding the aircraft. The man, who works in the stock market, kept his bag on a seat, to which the woman objected, and the argument turned int physical fight. The woman gave a written complaint; the man was offloaded and handed over to the Delhi Police.

Deputy commissioner of police (IGIA), Sanjay Bhatia confirmed that the man was booked under Section 354 of the IPC (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and was arrested.
There is not a day when I dont anticipate an attack on myself, said JNU student leader Umar Khalid. On Monday afternoon when he allegedly had a pistol pointed to his chest, he said he felt the moment had arrived.

When I had a gun pointed at me for 10-15 seconds, I thought it was the end. I thought I was going to be shot dead, Khalid said a few hours after the alleged attempt on his life by an unidentified gunman outside the Constitution Club of India near Parliament House in New Delhi.

I was very scared when the gun was pointed at me. I was reminded of what happened to Gauri Lankesh. I thought that moment has arrived, said Khalid, who was arrested in 2016 for allegedly raising seditious slogans at an event in JNU.

As he grappled with the suspect who had allegedly pounced on him from behind, Khalids instinctive response was to try and force the gun away from him. I wanted the gun away from my chest. My hands would instinctively push away the gun each time it was pointed towards me, Khalid recounted.

Moments after the suspect loosened his grip and escaped, Khalid ran into the club.

I ran inside to save myself. I wanted to be among people at the club, said Khalid.

Khalid said his three friends accompanying him at the time of the attack were instrumental in saving his life. When the attacker tried to pin me down, my friends overpowered him. That prevented him from shooting me, said Khalid.

He said that he did not know the individual or any organisation who may have been behind it and urged the police to identify them soon.

I hope the police do not botch up the probe, said Khalid.

Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), has said that the attack appeared to be pre-planned and that the attacker knew Khalids schedule and may have followed him before the assault. The DCP has said that there were strong leads about the suspect who has been captured by CCTV cameras.

Khalid dismissed certain reports on social media that slogans in his favour were raised at the crime spot immediately after the attack.

He also refuted suspicion by certain sections that he had planned the attack. I had a gun pointed at me in a public place. There are multiple independent eyewitnesses, said Khalid.

Meanwhile, Ajay Chaudhary, joint commissioner of police (New Delhi Range), said that the organisers of the Khauf Se Azaadi being attended by Khalid had not informed the local police about the programme.

However, Nadeem Khan, a core member of the campaign platform United Against Hate, said that there was never a need to inform police for an event organised indoors. The police need to explain how a man visited such a high security zone just two days before Independence Day celebrations, said Khan.
A new viral marketing campaign for The Nun, an upcoming horror spin-off of the Conjuring series, is reportedly so scary that several people are feeling compelled to warn others about it. It has been described as upsetting and irresponsible from those who have fallen for it.

The six-second advertisement pops up on YouTube and begins with a volume icon going down. The ad basically comprises of an unexpected jump scare - specifically an image of the titular Nun popping out at you with full sound effects.

One person took to Twitter to share their experience and perhaps warn others to be aware of the ad if they see the message to turn up the volume on their systems. WARNING! If you see an ad on youtube with the volume sign being turned down and nothing else, ITS A JUMPSCARE for the new NUN movie coming out. i advise you look away and/or turn down the volume if you have anxiety or just straight up hate jumpscares, pls rt to save a life, the person wrote. The tweet has so far accumulated over 120,000 retweets and over 130,000 likes.

WARNING! If you see an ad on youtube with the volume sign  being turned down and nothing else, ITS A JUMPSCARE for the new NUN movie coming out. i advise you look away and/or turn down the volume if you have anxiety or just straight up hate jumpscares, pls rt to save a life  apple  (@bbydvas) August 12, 2018

On Redditor called for YouTube to take the ad down. YouTube should allow you to not see horror movie ads, they wrote. I shouldnt get nightmares from a comedic video Im trying to watch.

YouTube later replied to the original tweet and confirmed that they had taken down the ad. Appreciate you bringing this to our attention! This ad violates our shocking content policy and its no longer running as an ad, YouTubes tweet read.

Appreciate you bringing this to our attention! This ad violates our shocking content policy and it's no longer running as an ad. More info here: https://t.co/dOUocjUevh  Team YouTube (@TeamYouTube) August 14, 2018

The Nun is the second spinoff to the Conjuring series, after the two Annabelle films. Every film in the series has been commercially successful. Directed by Corin Hardy, The Nun is about a priest who is sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a nun in Romania. The film will be released on September 7.

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A multinational hacking ring allegedly stole Rs 94 crore from the Pune-headquartered Cosmos Bank on August 11 and 13, mainly by gaining access to the banks systems.

The sophisticated attack seems to have involved a malware attack on the banks ATM server to gain credit and debit card details of customers; the approval of unauthorised transactions using these cards, often in excess of the amounts available for withdrawal in these accounts; and a SWIFT (a sort of money telegram between banks) transaction, again unauthorised, on the bank.

Cosmos Bank chairman Milind Kale described the cyber crime as an attack on the Indian banking industry from multinational cyber criminals operating from 22 nations. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, he said none of the fraudulent transactions have been debited to any of the customers accounts.

The Pune police commissioner K Venkatesham said experts from the Mumbai police and the local cyber crime investigation team have initiated investigations.We have sought more details, especially technical details of logs from the bank. We are in constant touch with our headquarters and briefing them about the case , he said.

An FIR was lodged against unidentified persons by a bank executive Suhas Subhash Gokhale (53) under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 379 (theft), 420 (cheating),120 (B) (conspiracy) and 34 and sections 43,65,66 (C) and 66 (D) of the Information Technology Act at Chatushringi Police Station on Monday night.

The attack may have originated from Canada, where many of the transactions were conducted, according to bank officials who asked not to be identified.

The FIR stated that during the malware attack, a proxy switch was created and all payment approvals were passed by the proxy switching system.

In the first attack on August 11, using stolen card details, approximately Rs 78 crore was withdrawn in transactions in 28 countries. This included around 12,000 Visa card transactions. On the same day, approximately, Rs 2.5 crore was withdrawn through 2,800 debit card transactions in India at various locations.

On August 13, the hackers transferred Rs 13.94 crore into an account in the Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong by initiating a SWIFT transaction.

The bank has appointed a professional forensic agency to investigate the malware attack.The details of the exact amounts siphoned off during the attack will also be ascertained.

Kale said that the bank has obtained forensic information which shows minute-by-minute record of logs of the transactions which took place around the world.

The incident came to light on August 11, Saturday, when unusual, repeated transactions were taking place through ATM Visa and Rupay cards for nearly two hours.

As soon as the suspicious transactions were reported, the bank immediately shut down its Visa and Rupay Debit card payment system.

The bank has described the cyber fraud as a malware attack on the switch which is operative for the payment gateway of VISA and Rupay Debit Card and not on the core banking system of the bank. Still, the extent of the hack will become clear only after the forensic investigation is complete.

Kale said savings, term deposits and recurring accounts of depositors are totally safe and also claimed the bank had met every safety requirement of the Reserve bank of India. The bank has appealed to its customers to remain calm and not to panic and continue to repose faith and trust on the 112 year old bank.
Army gunned down two Pakistani soldiers Monday night in Tangdhar sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in retaliatory action, an Army spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, an Indian soldier was killed in the LoCs Tangdhar sector in unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side.

Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told IANS: The Indian Army responded to the unprovoked ceasefire violations and repeated attempts to facilitate infiltration by the Pakistan Army in Tangdhar.

Kalia added, Our troops carried out calibrated operations last night in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed.

On August 6, four soldiers of the Indian Army, including a major, were killed in a gun battle with a group of militants trying to infiltrate near the Line of Control in Gurez sector in north Kashmirs Bandipore district.
Daredevilry in counter-militancy operations in the Kashmir Valley, including the Lethpora and Sumbal camp attacks, earned the CRPF the highest number of gallantry medals  96  this Independence Day, including five Shaurya Chakras, the third highest peacetime bravery award.

Head constable AS Krishna, constables K Dinesh Raja and Prafulla Kumar of the 45th battalion of the force were decorated with the Shaurya Chakra for their gallant act of thwarting a suicide attack on their camp in Sumbal in Jammu and Kashmirs Bandipora district on June 5 last year.

As the troops were alert and prepared, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) team eliminated the four terrorists and finished the operation in quick 45 minutes, the citation for the operation read.

Deputy Commandant KS Chahar and constable D Ravindra Baban (posthumously) of the 182nd battalion of the force won the military medal (Shaurya Chakra) for their brave act of thwarting a similar attack by three militants on the district police line camp in Pulwama on August 26 last year. The encounter had gone on for 20 hours.

Head constable Baban laid down his life for the cause of the nation in the treacherous gunfire, the citation said.

The countrys largest paramilitary force, with over three lakh personnel, got the highest of these bravery medals and only its personnel were chosen amongst all the forces for the top notch Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG). It also got 89 Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG), making it the highest tally during any Independence Day.

While Constable Sharief-ud-din Ganaie and Head Constable Mohd Tafail got the PPMG posthumously for displaying raw grit and courage during the December 30 last year suicide attack on their camp in Lethpora (Awantipora district), eight of their colleagues were decorated with the PMG for the same operation.

The midnight attack on the 131-acre camp, that had inadequate perimeter security owning to ongoing construction, went on for over 36 hours during which five men of the paramilitary force were killed.

Operation Lethpora was one of the most daunting and challenging operations and it was replete with numerous challenges, including logistical constraints, the enormous and knotty terrain, including rescue of scores of trapped force personnel in the buildings and overcoming of the initial casualities, the citation said.

Three militants were killed at the end of the violent siege and a lethal cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from them.

While Ganaie, who was one of the sentries of the camp, and Tafail laid down their lives in the line of duty, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) A S Negi, assistant commandants Naresh Kumar and L Ibomcha Singh, Assistant sub-inspector Uttam Raj and constables S Prakash, Jitendra Kumar, Budhi Singh and Zulfiqar Ahmed were also awarded for rendering their duty with courage.

The CRPF had deployed close to 65 battalions in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-militancy and law and order assistance duties. Each of its battalion had about 1,000 personnel. A total of 177 PMsG were awarded this time to various state police and central paramilitary forces, a government release said.

The CRPF was followed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police that was accorded 37 PMsG, Odisha Police (11), Border Security Force (10), Maharashtra Police (8), Chhattisgarh Police (6) among others. A total of 942 state police and paramilitary personnel were decorated with various service medals on the eve of the 72nd Independence Day.
Union minister for parliamentary affairs Ananth Kumar on Monday said there was no plan to shift Aero India 2019 from Bengaluru to Lucknow after Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisting that the state capital was the most suitable place to hold the show.

In a tweet late Monday, he said he had spoken to Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman who confirmed that Aero India was not being moved out of Bengaluru. He said the rumours were unfounded.

I have spoken to (Defence Minister) Nirmala Sitharaman, who has confirmed the same, Kumar tweeted.

There were similar rumours last time too, which were proved to be unfounded, he added.

There is no decision on shifting #AeroIndia 2019 venue out of #Bengaluru to #Lucknow, as clarified by Defence Min officials. I have spoken to @nsitharaman ji, who has confirmed the same

There were similar rumours last time too, which were proved to be unfounded@ANI @PTI_News  Ananthkumar (@AnanthKumar_BJP) August 13, 2018

Kumars tweet came within hours after Kumaraswamy wrote to Modi, seeking his intervention to ensure that the February 2019 five-day biennial event is held in this tech hub only.

I seek your indulgence for conducting the 12th edition of Aero India-2019 in Bengaluru, where the mega event was held successfully for 11 times biennially since 1996, said Kumaraswamy in the letter to Modi.

The Indian Air Forces Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru has hosted all Aero India shows so far.

Kumaraswamy wrote to the PM after media reports that the 12the edition of the air show was being shifted to the Bakshi Ka Talab air force base on the outskirts of Lucknow. Many leaders of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government criticised the alleged move to shift Aero India, although there has been no formal announcement from the Centre in this regard.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Karnataka slammed the ruling coalition for creating a controversy where there is none.

Last week, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath made a public appeal to Sitharaman in Aligarh to shift the venue of the event to Lucknow.
Afghan troops backed by US forces gained control over large parts of the embattled city of Ghazni on Tuesday, officials said, even as a minister said Pakistani fighters were involved in the assault on the provincial capital.

Reports of a Taliban attack in another province also raised questions about Afghanistans prospects. Heavy fighting has rocked Ghazni since late last week, exposing the governments failure to ensure the security of the strategic city on the main road between the capital Kabul and the southern parts of the country.

Government officials said nearly 100 security personnel, some 200 militants and at least 20 civilians were killed in the fighting, which followed months of warnings from officials in Ghazni about the citys vulnerability as the Taliban tightened their grip on the surrounding countryside.

Communications with Ghazni were cut when its telecommunications masts were destroyed in fighting but as contact was restored and people escaped the city, a grim picture emerged.

Video footage arriving in Kabul on Tuesday showed bodies and burned vehicles strewn in streets lined with destroyed buildings. Heavily armed Taliban fighters could be seen in the footage.

Reports from Ghazni said water and food were scarce and shops were being looted. Residents said on Tuesday the Taliban had withdrawn from several areas after setting government buildings on fire.

Afghan defence minister Tariq Shah Bahrami said on Monday Pakistani, Chechen and Arab fighters were involved in the attack on Ghazni.

Afrasiab Khattak, a senior leader of Pakistans Awami National Party, said reports had been received of Pakistani fighters being killed or arrested in Ghazni. In a tweet, he sought an explanation from the Pakistan government and called for a change in the policy of backing the use of militants in Afghanistan.

Pak govt needs to explain reports about the dead bodies of Pakistanis coming in from the war in Ghazni and Pak fighters getting arrested. Is it the repetition of the Jalalabad fiasco in 1989? Pak Afghan Policy is an unmitigated disaster, Khattak tweeted.

Afghan defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said on Tuesday government forces in Ghazni were reasserting control over strategic checkpoints. He added, Taliban militants have been pushed back. We will soon have complete control over the city.

The Taliban claimed on Monday 266 members of government forces had been killed.

The violence shattered faint hope for moves towards a peace process generated by a three-day truce during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June, and a Taliban report late last month of a meeting between a senior US diplomat and militant representatives in Doha.

While security forces appeared to reassert control over Ghazni, the Taliban attacked and seized large parts of an army base in northern Faryab province, killing 10 soldiers and capturing dozens over two days of clashes, officials said. One official in Faryab said the Taliban captured 40 soldiers, while 30 militants were killed.

The Taliban are fighting to expel foreign forces, topple the Western-backed government and impose their version of Shariah law 17 years after they were ousted by US-backed forces.

Western diplomats said the fighting raised questions about the viability of the US strategy to end the war, which for the past year has focused on pressuring the militants, largely with more air strikes, to force them to the negotiating table.
The BJP on Tuesday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of humiliating Hindus with his reported comments that he does not believe in any kind of Hindutva.

Quoting media reports on the Congress presidents interaction with journalists in Hyderabad, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said his comments indicated that he was an ichchhadhari (shape-shifting) Hindu who became janeu-dhari (one who wears sacred thread) for political convenience.

Responding to media queries in Hyderabad on whether he was adopting soft Hindutva to appease the majority community, the Congress president had said he did not believe in any kind of Hindutva  soft or hard.

If you are referring to my meeting religious leaders and visiting spiritual places, then I tell you I have been doing it since 2004. When I go to any state, I get invites to meet the spiritual leaders and I dont find anything wrong in meeting them, Gandhi had said.

Reacting to the statement, Patra said his comments showed that his visits to temples and claims by his party leaders that he was a janeu-dhari Hindu was a temporary journey aimed at appeasement of Hindus for political reasons.

Rahul Gandhi had recently said the Congress is a Muslim party... Today, he says he does not believe in any kind of Hindutva. This is a humiliation for Indias majority community and a matter of concern, Patra told reporters, alleging that it seems Gandhi hated the Hindus.

When asked for comments, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said he would not respond to theatrics of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who often exposes himself to ridicule for publicity.

Patra accused the Congress president of playing with the faith of the Hindus and questioned if Gandhi would make similar remarks about any other faith. He claimed that Gandhi also said he visited temples and met spiritual leaders because he was invited by people there.

He does not go because of faith. His faith is not in Hinduism, but in illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh and Rohingyas, Patra alleged.

While the Congress president claims that he wants to defeat the BJP and the RSS, but it appears that he wants to defeat the Hindus, he said.

The BJP leader claimed that the term Hindu terrorism was coined by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government after Gandhi had said, according to Wikileaks, that radical Hindu groups were a bigger threat to the country.
Police in Bihars Vaishali on Tuesday arrested district administration official Manmohan Prasad on charges of sexually harassing inmates of a shelter home in Hajipur.

This is third shelter home for women in Bihar where accusations of sexual harassment have been established and action initiated after an audit report by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) submitted to the state government revealed physical and sexual abuse of inmates at 14 shelter homes.

Acting on the allegations by the inmates that Prasad, a district programme manager and in charge of inspecting the shelter home, often sexually harassed them, Vaishali district magistrate Rajiv Raushan had last week set up a five-member team of officials headed by sub-divisional magistrate Sandeep Priyadarshani to conduct an inquiry.

In its 50 page report submitted on the weekend, the committee said they found much of the accusations against the official to be true. Preliminary inquiry has confirmed charges against the DPM to be true, Vaishalis superintendent of police MS Dhillon said.

Subsequently on Monday, a case was filed against Prasad, who was picked up by police, detained overnight for questioning and was formally arrested Tuesday morning.

Hajipur Town station house officer Om Prakash said the case was filed under different sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Prasad sent to jail .

The matter came to light after the home inmates, taking exception to Prasad recently recommending their shifting to Samastipur, informed senior officials about his activities.

The girls alleged that Prasad often visited the shelter home for inspection and misbehaved with them. One of them told police that he would enter a girls room and ask them to press his feet. If they protested, he would bully them.

An inmate said that he had once torn the clothes of a girl, who resisted his advancements.

Senior authorities then had a medical test of all the inmates conducted, but its report is yet to be made public.

The inmates had also alleged that Prasad used to organise parties at the shelter home with his friends.

However, Prasad, while being sent to jail, told a section of media that allegations against him were totally false.
Taking potshots at the BJP on the  one nation, one poll proposal, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said it may even propose to hold elections simultaneously with those in the US and Russia.

Senas Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also wondered how holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously will benefit the country.

They (the BJP) may conduct Lok Sabha and assembly polls together. Or, they will hold the elections together with those in the US and Russia. You never know what will emerge out of the heads of top BJP leaders. What is the interest of the country in that (holding simultaneous polls)? he said.

BJP president Amit Shah has supported the idea of holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously, saying this will curb expenditure and also ensure that the nation is not in the election mode throughout the year.

Shah had also dubbed the opposition to the proposal as politically motivated.

In a letter to the law commission, Shah had said his party explicitly believes that in a progressive democracy like India, elections should be held at a fixed time and for a fixed tenure. This, he added, will help peoples representatives carry out their duties effectively.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidus daughter-in-law N Brahmani was among the industrialists who attended a meeting of CEOs addressed by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The presence of Brahmani and Andhra Pradesh cabinet minister N Lokesh, TG Bharath, son of TDP MP TG Venkatesh and some industrialists considered close to the TDP was significant in view of the recent political developments.

Bharath told reporters that Rahul Gandhi promised that if voted to power at the Centre, the Congress would accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh as committed by the Congress-led UPA government in 2014 at the time of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana.

In March, the TDP pulled of the BJP-led NDA over its refusal to accord the special status. Subsequently, Naidu had shared the dais with Rahul Gandhi during the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy as the Karnataka chief minister.

Last month, the Congress party also backed the no-confidence motion moved by the TDP against the Narendra Modi government. During the interaction with the industrialists, Rahul Gandhi shared his vision and what he plans to do for industry, especially the small and medium enterprises.

He noted that demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had dealt a blow to the industry. According to Bharath, the Congress president promised to improve the implementation of the GST and address the concerns of the industry.

Rahul Gandhi also promised to bring transparency for greater ease of doing business.

Leading Telugu film producer D Suresh Babu, who was also present, said it was a positive interaction. He said that Rahul Gandhi has a good vision and thoughts.
Uttar Pradeshs Minority Welfare minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narain on Monday said chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai was a natural way of expressing ones love for the country, especially after flag hoisting on Independence Day, and every citizen should follow it.

But the minister whose statement came a day after controversial chairman of UP Shia Central Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi directed around 15,000 madrasas, schools and colleges being run on waqf property to compulsorily chant Bharat Mata ki Jai after the flag hoisting ceremony, questioned the need for such a directive.

Where is the need to issue a directive in this regard to madrasa? Every time the Tricolour goes up and the national anthem is played out almost everyone invariably chants Bharat Mata ki Jai, the minister said.

He, however, said that directives had been issued to madrasa to carry out flag hoisting ceremony and sing national anthem on the Independence Day with usual fervour and recount the sacrifices of freedom fighters to the students.

Unlike last year, the government has not issued any instructions to videograph Independence Day celebrations in madarsas.

Madrasas or institutions which receive government aid will follow these directives as it will be a compulsion for them. I think people are confusing singing of national anthem with national song, said Zafaryab Jilani, senior high court lawyer and secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). All of us respect national anthem and the national flag and nobody has any objection on this count, he said.
By the afternoon of July 12, the lawyers of the 34 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender petitioners and intervenors, including parents of queer persons and mental health professionals, had wrapped up their arguments on why Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code  a law that criminalises non-penile vaginal intercourse between consenting adults  disproportionately affected the LGBT communities and violated their fundamental rights. The case, heard before a Constitution bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Mishra, was a fresh bout in the legal fight over the colonial-era law.

The respondents included the Apostolic Churches Alliance (ACA), Trust God Missionaries, and Delhi-based astrologer Suresh Kumar Koushal all of whom had opposed a 2009 Delhi high court verdict that had ruled that the law did not apply to consenting adults. Within days, 11 petitioners, including Patanjali founder Baba Ramdev and many of the current respondents, challenged the judgment in the Supreme Court, and four years later, won.

This time too, the respondents lawyers made the same arguments in favour of Section 377. One argued that the distinction between sexual and carnal intercourse lay in the correct use of appropriate organs. One explained the sexual practices in the animal kingdom before the bench brought him back to the issue at hand. Another senior lawyer argued that public morality and customary practices cannot be overridden.

At the same time, barely minutes away from the courthouse, another kind of conversation about sexuality was taking place. A two-day national consultation on Interfaith Responses to Human Sexuality and Gender Diversity held on July 13 and 14 brought together LGBTQ persons and faith leaders from different religions, including Islam, Bahai, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity. Jerry Johnson, a 36-year-old writer, spoke at this closed-door gathering. You cant see human sexuality as pipes that fit together, he said. Our entire beings are sexual, and in fact, our minds are more sexual than our bodies and that is what we put in service to a sexual relationship, or in love, or when you are producing an offspring.

The conference was organised by an ecumenical forum of the National Council of Churches of India (NCCI) and sexual minorities rights group Aneka. At the end of it, a statement was issued: We believe that love is the basis of all religions and hatred can have no place. However, historically there have been dominant interpretations that have been used to perpetuate oppressive systems against these minorities. As a result, gender, sexual and sexuality minorities are often rejected and alienated by many religious leaders and faith communities.

In a country where only 0.1% of the population did not state a religion in the last census (the remaining 99.9% identified as Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain among others), this statement carries import for devout LGBTQ persons across faiths, who often find themselves excluded from religious spaces and either condemned or under-represented in scriptural interpretations.

In the past decade and particularly after the Supreme Court reinstated Section 377 in 2013, efforts have been undertaken to address this. Interfaith meetings have been organised; a theological university introduced an elective course on human sexuality; a book on karmic faiths responses to sexuality was published; a documentary on queer Sikhs is in the works; and most recently, a collective to create a safe space for queer Muslims has come up. It held its third event a workshop to facilitate conversations on faith and sexuality  on August 5.

The Queer Muslim Project (TQMP), says its 27-year-old founder Rafiul Alom Rahman, started as a Facebook page in March 2017. The page now has over 4,500 likes. Simultaneously, they launched their Facebook and WhatsApp groups. The WhatsApp group has 40 members from different parts of India, including small towns of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh; and in May they organised their first official meeting with the help of Bengaluru-based gender and sexual minority rights NGO Aneka. Faith is not only what is represented in the court, by religious groups who support Section 377, says Rahman.

Nearly 40 people attended the event held in Delhi on August 5, and it was a space of tremendous healing, says Rahman. We reclaimed a narrative of Islam and queerness thats always taken away from us. More than 30 had attended TQMPs meeting held in May in Bengaluru. One of them was a 22-year-old college goer. The youngest of four siblings, he does not wish to be identified, but says that he always felt that his queer identity equalled death, despite the Quran talking about mercy and forgiveness. He recalled hearing a verse at this meeting which spoke about diversity of tribes, which he loved. It feels good to be validated and because it comes directly through religion, you dont need to seek it via dating apps or by appeasing people, he said.

Even while some faith leaders might be supportive, they cannot appear to be publicly so, says Arif Jafar, one of the petitioners against Section 377 who has been speaking to clerics as part of his decades-long outreach work. For a cleric to say that the Quran is not explicitly against homosexuality is a very courageous thing to do, said the 47-year old who was the principal investigator in a 2005 study titled Faith, Cultures and Sexualities: A pilot study on the impact of Islamic beliefs, traditions and customs on Muslim males who have sex with males conducted by the Naz Foundation International. All 61 participants from Hyderabad, Lucknow, New Delhi and Dhaka believed that their sexual behaviour was sinful and felt ashamed by it, the study revealed.

The arguments made in favour of Section 377, drawn from tradition and public morality, are not new. Meera Baindur, an activist and interfaith researcher based in Bengaluru, says that it is tough to pin them down in Hinduism, because it is a plural faith with several texts and traditions of practices. According

to Baindur, in the absence of specific scriptural prohibition, many Hindu families fall back on traditional practices relating to marriage and worship to oppose LGBTQ rights. Even if the religion is inclusive, it is the practice of it that is exclusive, and thats what needs to be addressed.

Sukhdeep Singh, who edits an online magazine, Gaylaxy, and participated in the national consultation that took place in July, agrees. Ive not come across any gay Sikh who has felt conflicted about their religion, because the main focus of Sikhism is on equality and acceptance. The problem lies in our patriarchal socio-cultural milieu, and the expectations it puts on gender expression, like machismo, says the 30-year-old, who is working on a documentary on gay and lesbian Sikhs. He wrote about this in a book, I am divine, so are you, which was published last year. The book was co-edited and co-authored by Jerry Johnson, with significant inputs from mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik and Baindur, among others. The book offers a queer-friendly reading of karmic religions  Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Hinduism.

In August 2009, one of the first interfaith discussions took place in Bengaluru shortly after the Delhi high court verdict. LGBT persons, faith leaders such as Swami Agnivesh, and scholars such as Baindur and Asgar Ali Engineer attended it. In 2014, shortly after the SCs reinstatement of Section 377, the NCCIs Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation, the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, West Bengal, and Aneka organised another interfaith gathering, in which a book titled Faiths Against Homophobia was released. The participants read out different scriptures and tried to retrieve the teachings of various religious traditions with respect to stigmatised gender and sexual minorities. Since then, Aneka has conducted workshops with students and the Senate of Serampore College, a university with many affiliated colleges and seminaries, introduced an optional course on theological and ethical reflections on human sexuality.

Interpretation of religious texts is necessary to address another aspect of discrimination, which also affects LGBTQ lives.

We must admit that most texts that have achieved canonical status are not voices of the women or of sexual minorities. They are compositions of a select caste of male Brahmins who had access to learning and leisure and therefore it would be wrong to suggest that these are representing Indian culture or Indian social norms, Baindur points out.

S Bala, a 30-year old Bengaluru resident who is from an oppressed caste, feels the conflict between his devotion, his gay identity and the caste discrimination, keenly. For instance, he has never returned to his native village near

Chennai to attend the religious festival because he knows he will not be allowed to enter the temple. But the shrine in his kitchen has idols of gods he has chosen to revere. He also calls himself as Buddhist  a recognition of his grandparents Ambedkarite roots.

I cant identify as a practising Hindu, because as an organised religion, it finds my existence polluting. But at the same time, I worship Hindu gods. My altar is the place where youll find oppressed gods, who have been cast out in mythologies, like Matangi, a goddess who is associated with the Chandala community and is usually offered left-over food.

For the devout, faith offers space for collective healing, but diverse religious interpretations around gender and sexuality dont always agree with each other.

What we are saying is that lets expand the conversation to all possible interpretations. So we are not saying that Suresh Kumar Koushal, who went to the Supreme Court and argued that Section 377 remain in the books, is wrong. Were saying our opinion is valid too. There is far more grace and compassion in religion than what is being depicted, says Johnson.
The first executive meeting of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam after the death of party chief M Karunanidhi on Tuesday witnessed emotional scenes as tributes were paid to him while senior leaders requested working president MK Stalin to take charge, saying he had all the qualities to succeed his father.

The meeting at the Anna Arivalayam  the party headquarters in Chennai - saw hundreds of DMK leaders breaking down hearing the emotional speeches of senior leaders including Stalin and principal secretary Duraimurugan, eulogizing the contribution of Karunanidhi to the state.

Several high-level committee members of DMK also gave the green signal for making Stalin as the president on behalf of general secretary and Karunanidhis close friend K Anbazhagan.

Though it was only an executive meeting meant for the few hundred committee members of the DMK, an invitation was later extended to party MPs and MLAs, leading to around a thousand people gathering there.

A five-page condolence resolution for Karunanidhi was passed in the executive committee. As DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan read out the resolution, it drew huge applause.

Duraimurugan, the partys principal secretary and long time aide of Karunanidhi, made it clear that Stalin will be the next leader of the DMK.

Stalin has the capacity to lead the party. We are ready to work with him. After the demise of (party leader) CN Annadurai, our beloved leader Karunanidhi had said he was borrowing Annas heart for running the party. Now, I assure you, Stalin has the hearts of Periyar, Anna and Kalaignar, he said to applause from the gathering.

Addressing Stalin, he said: Dear Thalapathi (commander, as Stalin is called in the party), who is soon going to become (DMK) president, we are prepared to follow your orders... lead us, to loud cheers.

Former union minister and DMK high-level committee member TR Baalu declared that the Thalapathi will become the Thalaivar (leader) now.

Kalaignar (Karunanidhi)s demise is an irreparable loss to the party. But we pin our hopes on our working president. He will lead the party the same way Kalaignar always did, Baalu said.

Stalin, in his speech, said he would follow in his fathers footsteps and defeat all barriers.

It is unbelievable to conduct an executive committee meeting without Thailavar. While you workers have lost your leader, I have lost my mentor and father, he said.

He said the meeting without Karunanidhi was unbelievable and it hurt that they failed to form the government when he was still alive.

People are lauding me for getting a direction from the Madras High Court to bury Karunanidhi in Marina Beach. However, the credit should go to the legal wing of the DMK, an emotional Stalin said.

Setting aside my self-esteem and self-respect, I held the hands of chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and pleaded with him to allocate land in Marina for our leader. But he refused to allot it, he said.

But our legal team succeeded in getting directions from Madras High Court to bury Karunanidhis mortal remains. If the party had failed to get the Marina berth for Kalaignar next to his mentor Annadurai, I could have been buried in Marina instead, he added.

He also urged the cadre to work hard to fulfill the dreams of Karunanidhi.

I have advised the office bearers to work hard for forming the DMK government as a gesture to honour him. It hurts that we have failed to do it for someone who had struggled all his life. So, we should take it seriously now and fulfill his dreams, he said.

he meeting came a day after MK Azhagiri, Karunanidhis estranged son who was expelled from the DMK, claimed to have the support of the loyalists of his late father, in what was seen as a succession pitch.

Azhagiri, a former Union minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, was sacked by his father ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 for alleged indiscipline amid a turf war with Stalin over establishing a supremacy in Tamil Nadus main opposition party.

His cryptic comments about differences with the party and not the family on Monday created a buzz. By evening, posters with his image had been splashed all over Madurai, the temple town in Tamil Nadu considered his bastion, referring to a new party the Kalaignar DMK.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (DMK) will hold a meeting of its executive committee on Tuesday for the first time since the death of its leader M Karunanidhi a week ago amid a claim by his estranged son MK Azhagiri that he has the support of his fathers true and loyal supporters.

A senior DMK functionary said on the condition of anonymity on Monday that a resolution paying tribute to Karunanidhi would be passed at the executive committees meeting to be chaired by MK Stalin, the partys working president and treasurer.

Stalin has already been anointed as the political heir of Kalaignar. The meeting will not discuss anything about those who were expelled from the party, the functionary said.

Though the executive committee does not have the power to elect the party president, it can give the nod to making Stalin the president. After that, it will be endorsed in the general council meeting -- in which a formal announcement can be made, another senior DMK office-bearer had said on the condition of anonymity.

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi died at the age of 94 on August 7 in Chennais Kauvery Hospital.

Stalins elevation is not a big surprise since Karunanidhi had spoken about Stalin as his successor on a few occasions in the past -- including during Stalins birthday celebrations in 2015 and in an interview to Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan in October 2016.

Officials in the DMK familiar with the developments told HT last week that, apart from Stalin, Karunanidhis daughter and Rajya Sabha MP MK Kanimozhi may also be elevated  as either the partys deputy general secretary or treasurer.

Azhagiri, a former Union minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, was sacked from the party by his father ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 for alleged indiscipline amid a turf war with his brother Stalin over establishing a supremacy in Tamil Nadus main opposition party.

His cryptic comments about differences with the party and not the family created a buzz. By evening, posters with his image had been splashed all over Madurai, the temple town in Tamil Nadu considered his bastion, referring to a new party the Kalaignar DMK.

I came to pour out my anguish to Kalaignar (Karunanidhis nickname which means artist in Tamil). All true and loyal followers of Kalaignar are with me, Azhagiri told reporters on Monday after offering prayers at his fathers memorial at Marina Beach.

Azhagiri added that his anguish was about the party and not the family. The public will soon come to know more about it, he added, while declining to comment about the executive committee meeting saying he was not associated with party activities any longer.

Many in the party are also in touch with actor Rajinikanth and there is a threat to the party as posts are being sold. Stalin does not want me in the DMK, Azhagiri said later in the day.

It wasnt clear in which context he was referring to the popular actor-turned-politician, who recently launched a party and said he would contest the next state elections in Tamil Nadu.

Azhagiri added that the DMK under Stalin has weakened and is losing election after election. Kalaignars departed soul will certainly punish them, he said.

Both Stalin and Azhagiri were at Karunanidhis Gopalapuram home on Monday to observe the leaders seventh-day mourning rituals with other family members. Selvi, Karunanidhis daughter, is believed to have brokered peace between the brothers for the duration of the mourning.

The DMKs arch rival and the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khahzgram (AIADMK), described Azagharis comments as a sign of the DMKs weakness.

Azhagiri cannot be dismissed as yet another expelled party worker. Remember, Azhagiri is the elder son of Kalaignar and he has been a Union minister, AIADMK spokesperson Vaigai Chelvan said.

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, Tamilisai Soundarajan, cryptically said: After the demise of the sun (Karunanidhi), stars are trying to shine.

Experts say not much will come out of Azhagiris attempt to claim his fathers legacy as it may have come too late.

He was politically dormant for the past four years and his chances of succeeding are slim. Unlike AIADMK leader, J Jayalalithaa, Kalaignar was clear about his succession and the DMKs future. Further, Stalin has consolidated his position in the party, said political commentator A Marx.
Former BJP MLA Shamji Chauhan and former Rajkot mayor Ashok Dangar joined the Congress Tuesday, saying injustice is being meted out to the Other Backward Class (OBC) communities under the BJP rule in Gujarat.

The two were inducted into the Congress by the partys state unit president Amit Chavda and in-charge Rajiv Satav during a function at party headquarters in Ahmedabad.

While Chauhan belongs to the politically influential Koli community, Dangar hails from the Ahir community.

Chauhan was elected from the Chotila assembly seat in Surendrangar district in 2012 on a BJP ticket. He resigned from the BJP in November last year after being denied ticket from the same seat for the assembly polls held in December. In 2016, he was appointed parliamentary secretary by chief minister Vijay Rupani.

On the other hand, it was a homecoming for Dangar, who had joined the BJP in 2012 after quitting the Congress. He was the mayor of Rajkot from 2000 to 2003, when the Congress was ruling the civic body.

According to Chavda, both the OBC leaders have joined the Congress without any precondition.

Both these leaders have realised that promises made by the BJP governments, in Gujarat as well as at the Centre, have not been fulfilled, with the poor becoming more poor. Both these leaders are joining the Congress to fight injustice against the OBCs and the poor, Chavda said.

Echoing similar views, Satav said the Narendra Modi government has not paid any attention to the problems being faced by the OBCs across the country.

According to Chauhan, the Koli community has been ignored by the BJP government in Gujarat. The Kolis are the second largest community in Gujarat after the Patidars. Yet, very few Koli MLAs have been given key posts in the government. Koli MLAs are not allowed to become even district or taluka presidents in the party (BJP). I am joining the Congress because of the BJPs failure to do justice to the community, said Chauhan.

The former MLA maintained that he has not joined the Congress out of any expectation of getting a ticket for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
India is looking at two options to bring back Mehul Choksi, co-accused in the Rs 13,600-crore Punjab National Bank loan fraud, from Antigua and Barbuda and both could be reasonably long-drawn judicial processes, persons familiar with the development said.

A team of Indian officials, led by additional secretary in the external affairs ministry Manpreet Vohra, recently held discussions with the authorities of the Caribbean nation, apprising them about the severity of the charges against Choski.

The first option is trying to get Choski, as an Antiguan citizen, extradited. Though there is no extradition treaty between India and Antigua and Barbuda, there are existing legal frameworks between the two nations, under which he can be extradited.

Under a statutory instrument (No 34/2001 Extradition Designated (Commonwealth Countries) Amendment order under section 7 of that countrys Extradition Act India is designated as a commonwealth country. As per the provision, Choksi can be extradited to India, a commonwealth country. India, too, designated Antigua and Barbuda a commonwealth country under its extradition treaty early this month. Extradition is a judicial process. So, we need to prove that the crime, for which he is wanted in India, falls under the crimes under which an Antiguan national can be extradited to India, said an official, requesting anonymity.

Another option would be initiating the legal process to prove that Choksi acquired the Antigua citizenship to escape Indian law.

Another official said this could be longer route option as the moot demand in this approach would be seeking to cancel Choskis citizenship.

If we have to exercise that option, Choksi can move court... And cancelling citizenship is another issue of judicial back and forth, the official said.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh invoked the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA), 2000, on Tuesday, a senior officer said.

The KCOCA deals with unlawful activities committed by an individual, either as a member of an organised crime syndicate or on behalf of a syndicate. And its invocation signals that the police believe there was a larger organisation behind the conspiracy.

So far, 12 people have been arrested by the SIT in connection with the murder of Lankesh, who was gunned down outside her house on September 5.

The invocation of the Act comes in the backdrop of arrests made by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad, which is looking at possible links between the accused and the murder of Lankesh, and those of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi.

A senior officer of the SIT said the crucial link to prove a larger conspiracy was found in a diary recovered from one of the main accused in Lankeshs case, Amol Kale. Kale, a mechanical engineer from Maharashtra, is said to have plotted the killing along with Amit Degwekar, who has also been arrested, and one Nihal alias Dada, who is still at large.
The anniversary of Indian independence was captured in a colourful Google Doodle put up at Tuesday midnight.

The doodle features a couple of peacocks crossing their beaks in an intimate gesture, flanked on both sides by a Bengal tiger and an Asian elephant. Other elements in the doodle comprise a pool of water studded with lilies, a sun rising in the backdrop and a riot of colourful flowers.

Clicking on the image takes you to a number of entries on Independence Day, including videos, news reports and portals offering general information on the subject.

Independence Day is annually celebrated as a national holiday on August 15 to commemorate Indias independence from the United Kingdom on that very date in 1947.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the national flag from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on Wednesday morning to a 21-gun salute, and then deliver his address to the nation. His speech will be streamed live on Google and YouTube for the first time this year, and people can search for Independence Day to see his address. According to reports, public broadcaster Prasar Bharati collaborated with the search engine giant and the video-sharing website to telecast the programme live online.

Nearly 70,000 officials of Delhi Police are guarding the national capital and close to 10,000 personnel have been deployed at the Red Fort, where senior ministers, top bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people will be present during the Prime Ministers address.

This year, 36 women personnel of the Delhi Police Special Weapons And Tactics unit will also be guarding the venue with their male counterparts.

The Google Doodle is a temporary alteration of the logo on Googles homepages to commemorate holidays, events, achievements and people. The first Google Doodle honoured the Burning Man festival in 1998, and was designed by Internet entrepreneurs Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
President Ram Nath Kovind invoked the values of Mahatma Gandhi, and spoke about a range of issues, including women empowerment and farmers issues, in his address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day on Tuesday.

Heres the full text of his televised speech:

Dear fellow citizens

My greetings to you as we complete 71 years as an independent nation. Tomorrow we will commemorate our 72nd Independence Day. For every Indian, whether living at home or anywhere else in the world, August 15 is sacred. It is marked on our calendars as a celebration of our sovereignty. We unfurl our national flag with great joy and enthusiasm in workplaces, municipalities, panchayats, colleges, schools, homes and neighborhoods. Our Tricolor is a symbol of our national pride. It is a constant reminder of our striving and our self-belief. It is a day to look back with satisfaction and gratitude for what we have been able to achieve due to the efforts of successive generations of our elders. And it is a day to renew our resolve to fill the gaps that still remain in our nation building project  gaps that our talented young people will no doubt fill.

Freedom came to our country on the Midnight of August 14-15, 1947. It was the result of years and decades and centuries of sacrifice and valour on the part of our ancestors and our revered freedom fighters. These were men and women of rare courage and foresight. They came from all regions of the country, all sections of society, all communities and all social and economic groups. They could easily have compromised and settled for some personal benefit, but they did not. Their commitment to India  to a free, sovereign, plural and egalitarian India  was absolute. It was my privilege to honour these freedom fighters on the anniversary of Quit India Day on 9th August in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

We are fortunate that we have inherited the legacy of such remarkable patriots. They left us with a free India, but they also left us with unfinished tasks for the development of our society, for the empowerment of the proverbial last person, for their liberation from poverty, and social and economic inequality. Every breath in our collective life as a nation is a tribute to our freedom fighters  and a commitment to accomplish whatever is still unaccomplished.

If we define freedom in narrow, political terms, then August 15, 1947, marks a closure. It was the day the political struggle against an imperial power culminated in success and in our Independence Day. But freedom is a broader concept. It is not fixed and finite. Freedom is a constant and relentless endeavour. Even decades after 1947, each one of us can contribute in the manner of a freedom fighter. We can do so if we expand the frontiers of freedom and of opportunity for our fellow Indians and our beloved India.

Our farmers grow food for tens of thousands of fellow citizens whom they have not individually met and will never meet. They are upholding our freedom by ensuring food security and nutrition for our children. As we assist our farmers by providing access to technology and other facilities for enhanced productivity and enhanced incomes, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our Armed Forces stand guard valiantly on our borders, up in the cruel climate of the mountains or under the blazing sun, or in the skies or at sea. They are upholding our freedom by ensuring security from external threats. As we give them better weapons and equipment, build supply chains for such equipment in India itself, or ensure welfare benefits for our soldiers, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our police and paramilitary forces take on a variety of challenges. In battling terrorism, in fighting crime and law and order disturbances, or even in helping ordinary citizens by holding their hands while they cross a flooded street. In doing this, they are upholding our civic freedom. As we improve their professional and personal conditions, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Women have a special role in our society. The expansion of freedom in our country in many senses amounts to the expansion of freedom for women in our country. This is true whether we see them as mothers, sisters, daughters or simply as women who are entitled to a life of their choosing  and deserving of the opportunity and the security to fulfil their potential. They could do this as sheet-anchors of our families or as absolutely critical entrants to our institutions of higher learning and our workforce. The choice is theirs; as a nation and as a society we must ensure that they have the right and the ability to exercise that choice.

As we take this process further, by facilitating credit for women-run enterprises and start-ups or by easier availability of LPG in millions of kitchens and millions of homes, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

Our young people, both boys and girls, represent the hope and optimism of India. Our freedom struggle saw the active participation of the young and the old, but its energy was provided by the young. They chose different modes or activism in their quest for liberty  but their resolve and their idealism, their passion for a free India, for a better India, for a more equal India, was nonnegotiable.

Today, as we ignite the fire within our youth, by building capacities for skilling and scholarship; for technology, engineering and entrepreneurship; for creativity and crafts; for playing music and producing mobile apps, for excelling in sports, we are harnessing the unlimited human capital of our youth. In doing so, we live up to the principles of our freedom struggle.

I have given only a few examples; there could be many more. The reality is that every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment, who contributes to society by being true to a professional ethic, be it the doctors ethic, the nurses ethic, the teachers ethic, the public servants ethic, the factory workers ethic, the business-persons ethic, the ethic of those who have to care for ageing parents who brought them up with love and sacrifice  each of these and many others are in their own way upholding the values of freedom. They are providing the fruits and goods and services of freedom to fellow citizens. Every citizen of India who does his or her duty sincerely, fulfils a personal and professional obligation and keeps to a given word is, at a fundamental level, upholding the principles of our freedom struggle. I would argue that every Indian who does not jump the queue and respects the civic space and rights of those ahead in the line also lives up to the principles of our freedom struggle. Its a very small gesture. Let us try and abide by it.

Dear fellow citizens, you may wonder if what I have said so far would not have held true in the years gone by, maybe 10 or 20 years ago or even earlier. To some extent, it certainly would. Even so, we are at a juncture in our history that is very different from any period we have so far experienced. We are at the cusp of achieving many of our long-awaited goals. Universal access to electricity, the elimination of open defecation, the elimination of homelessness, the very elimination of extreme poverty is achievable and attainable. We are at a pivotal moment. Let contentious issues and extraneous debates not distract us.

After four years, we will be marking the 75th anniversary of Independence. In less than 30 years, our people will celebrate the 100th anniversary of India as a free nation. The decisions we take today, the foundations we lay today, the projects we undertake today, the social and economic investments we make today  whether for the immediate future or for the medium term  will determine where we stand. The pace of change and development in our country is rapid and appreciable. And as per our civilisational traditions, it is driven by our people, by civil society and by a partnership between citizen and government. Its focus, again in keeping with the essence of Indian thought, is on a better life for the less fortunate.

I will give you just one example. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is taking seven flagship programmes to the very doorstep of the poorest and the most deprived among our fellow citizens. These services include access to electricity, access to the formal banking system, access to welfare and insurance programmes, and access to immunisation in hitherto hard-to-reach areas. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has been extended to 117 Aspirational Districts where, seven decades after Independence, we still have stark gaps in the development narrative.

Not surprisingly there is a significant overlap between the populations of these districts and historically weaker communities, such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As such, we have an opportunity to raise the quality of life for those of our fellow citizens who have unfortunately remained at the bottom of the pyramid. The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is not being carried out by government alone. It is a collaboration of public agencies and community groups, with selfless citizens who are keen to share, to empathise and to give back.

Independence Day is always special, but this year there is an unusual significance attached to it. In a few weeks, on 2nd October, we will begin the commemoration of the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji did not just lead our freedom struggle. He was and still is our moral compass. In my capacity as the President of India, I have been fortunate to have travelled around the world, particularly to a few countries of Africa. Everywhere, across continents, Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India.

It is not always simple to understand Gandhiji. He refused to be restricted in his definition of politics and political activism, or even of freedom. When Gandhiji and his wife Kasturba, travelled to Champaran in Bihar for the indigo farmers agitation, they devoted a considerable part of their time to educating local people, particularly women and children, as well as teaching them about hygiene and health. Here, and on other occasions, Gandhiji personally led the drive for swachhta or cleanliness. He linked the removal of dirt to an act of self-discipline and of promoting physical and mental health.

Many were puzzled at that time. What does all this have to do with freedom? For Gandhiji, they were the centre-piece of the quest for freedom. This was a struggle, according to him, not just for political power but for empowering the poorest of the poor, educating the uneducated, ensuring the right to a dignified life and a feasible livelihood for every village, for every neighbourhood, for every family  and for every individual.

Gandhiji spoke of swadeshi with an uncommon zeal. To him this was a pride in promoting Indian creativity and an Indian sensibility. Nevertheless, he was alive to intellectual currents from the rest of the world. He invited these to enrich our learning. To him, Indian civilisation was defined by open windows and not closed doors. This was his concept of swadeshi and it is still relevant to us as we engage with the world  whether for our economy, our health, education and social aspirations, or our policy choices.

Perhaps Gandhijis most noble mantra was to point out that the power of ahinsa is far greater than the power of hinsa. The power to stay your hand is far greater than the power to strike with your hand and hinsa has no place in the society. The weapon of ahinsa was the most effective weapon Gandhiji gave us. Like his other teachings, it was rooted in the ancient wisdom of India and yet has a resonance in the 21st century and in our daily lives.

This Independence Day, so close to the 150th anniversary commemoration of Gandhiji, let each of us adapt his ideas and maxims, in whatever manner we can in our everyday work and conduct. I can think of no better way to celebrate our freedom. I can think of no better way to celebrate Indianness.

And this Indianness is not for us alone. It is part of what our country and our civilisation bring to the global stage. In the spirit of Gandhiji and the spirit of India, we believe in the age-old ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or the World is one Family. This is why we demonstrate our concern for entire humanity by providing assistance to many African countries, taking initiatives on the issue of climate change, contributing to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in different parts of the world, helping neighbouring countries affected by natural disasters, rescuing people from other countries along with our own people, trapped in a conflict zone. In the spirit of Gandhiji and the spirit of India, we share the practice of yoga for health and well-being, and using technology for development. We are Gandhijis children. We dream for all humanity, even when we walk alone.

Dear fellow citizens, in my engagements with students and university authorities all over India, I have urged students to spend a few days  maybe four or five days in a year  in a village. Undertaken as part of what may be termed University Social Responsibility, this will help students understand our country. It will allow them to observe and participate in social welfare programmes and see how they are making an impact. It will be of benefit to the individual student and to the village, as well as to the country. It will also invoke the fervour of our freedom struggle, and the identification of every citizen with the national mission.

I am gratified by the idealism and the passion of our young people. There is a spirit to achieve something for oneself, for ones family, for wider society and for our country. This is the most moral education we can wish for. The outcome of education is not merely a degree or a diploma, but the commitment to help improve the life of another in a way that is sustainable. This is empathy and fraternity in action. This is the Indian spirit. This is India, because India belongs to the people of India  not just to the government.

Together we can help every citizen in our country. Together we can conserve our forests and natural heritage, we can safeguard our monuments for future generations, we can renew our rural and urban habitats. Together, we can eliminate poverty, illiteracy and inequality. We can and we must do this together. The government has a leading role but not the sole role. Let us use the governments programmes and projects to further our own efforts. Let us make that sense of ownership our motivation.

With those words, I once again wish you and your families all the best for Independence Day and best wishes for a bright future.

Thank you

Jai Hind!

Source: PIB
Rifleman Aurangzeb, who was part of an Army squad that killed Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sameer Tiger in April, will be awarded Indias third highest peacetime gallantry award  Shaurya Chakra  on Independence Day, along with Major Aditya Kumar and the six-woman naval crew that made history by circumnavigating the globe.

Their names figure in a list of 131 military and paramilitary personnel who have been recognised for their gallantry on the eve of Independence Day. The defence ministry released the list on Tuesday.

Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh tops the list of awardees, with a posthumous Kirti Chakra (the second-highest peacetime gallantry award) for his heroics in an operation that led to the killing of three militants in Pulwama last November.

Aurangzeb was abducted and killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district on June 15. His citation stated that he was awarded the medal for indomitable spirit, camaraderie, conspicuous bravery and exceptional initiative under grave danger, leading to evacuation of injured soldier and subsequent neutralisation of three s.

Major Kumar was at the centre of a controversy after three civilians were killed when his unit opened fire at a stone-pelting mob in Ganaupora village in Shopian on January 27. Kumar won the award for a counter-terror operation in Budgam in November 2017.

The 131 awards, approved by President Ram Nath Kovind, include a Kirti Chakra, 20 Shaurya Chakras, three Bar to Sena Medals (gallantry), 93 Senal medals (gallantry), 11 Nao Sena Medals (gallantry) and three Vayu Sena Medals (gallantry).

The naval awardees include Indian Navys sailing vessel Tarini skipper lieutenant commander Vartika Joshi and other crew members, commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta. The Hindustan Times had reported on July 12 that the crew members had been recommended for Nao Sena Medal (gallantry). They had completed their voyage in 254 days.

CRPF head constable Mohammed Tafail and constable Sharief-ud-Din Ganaie have been posthumously awarded the Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).

Both of them lost their lives while fighting three Jaish-e-Mohammed militants on December 30, 2017, when the CRPFs Lethpora camp was attacked.

The Centre has announced the PPMG for only Ganie and Tafail. But 177 braves from central paramilitary forces and state police have been selected for the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG).

Maximum 89 PMGs have been awarded to the largest paramilitary force, the CRPF, while 37 Jammu and Kashmir police personnel have been selected for the PMGs. Five CRPF personnel have received Shaura Chakras as well for thwarting a suicide attack in Sumbal,Bandipora.

A total of 942 police personnel have been selected for gallantry, meritorious and distinguished service medals. Among these, 88 personnel have been given Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Services and 675 others have been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Services, a release from the home ministry stated.
The six-member Kerala police team investigating a nuns complaint of sexual assault against Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhars bishop Franco Mulakkal questioned him for around nine hours at the latters house in Jalandhar on Tuesday.

While a team led by Vaikom deputy superintendent of police K Subhash reached the bishops house at 3:15 pm on Monday, Mulakkal was not there and only returned there at 7:45 pm. The police team then recorded his statement and questioned him for around nine hours, leaving the premises at 4:50 am on Tuesday.

They also seized his personal laptop, mobile phone and a register that keeps record of all letters received and sent.

We have questioned the Bishop and he cooperated with us. The investigation is going on and no arrest has been made so far, said Subhash. He said that if needed, they would visit the city again. The team will return after some more investigations in Amritsar.

Meanwhile, Church officials also handed over some written statements of nuns that are in favour of the bishop.

On the delay, Father Micheal Ani said that the Kerala police team did not give any prior intimation to the Bishop to join the investigation. They questioned other staff members in the church on Monday afternoon and when they asked the bishop to join the investigation, he immediately returned to bishops house, he told the media.

The bishops counsel, Mandeep Sachdev said that no anticipatory bail has been applied by his client.

The police team has been in the city for the past four days.

Statements of five nuns and two fathers have been recorded so far. The four nuns questioned on Saturday were at the Missionaries of Jesus Congregation in Jalandhar, where the complainant was posted as mother general till 2013.

The Punjab-based Congregation runs two convents in Kerala and she was working at one of the convents at Kuravilanagad in Kottayam. Mulakkal, 54, was booked in Kottayam on June 29 for sexually abusing the 43-year-old nun 13 times, including in Jalandhar, between 2014 and 2016.

He has always dismissed the charges, saying the nun was targeting him for starting a probe against her for her involvement in an illicit relationship.
President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation on the eve of Independence Day on Tuesday .

The address was broadcast from 7:00 pm on all networks of the All India Radio (AIR) and telecast on Doordarshan channels.

In last years speech, the President had laid down markers for a New India, one that would be compassionate towards the disadvantaged and would not discriminate on the basis of gender or religion. He had also highlighted steps undertaken by the Modi government to improve the economy and fight corruption, and hailed citizens for their contribution.

Read: Full text of Presidents address

Here are the highlights on Presidents address:
Indias first Ease of Living Index was released on Monday. In an interview to Moushumi Das Gupta, Union minister of state (independent charge) of housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri spoke about what it means for cities and why it is important.

What challenges did the ministry face while assessing cities considering this is the first time the government has come up with a liveability ranking?

We did not face any challenges, but whenever you start something new and innovative you have to deal with the existing reality where you are dependent on a large number of local bodies for data. Now, many people think this is intrusive.

The good thing is that we faced much lesser resistance than we expected. Im convinced that this will have a very positive demonstrative effect and a lot of people will realise the importance of this kind of data.

In order for you to enjoy a higher ease of living, you have to have city-level data related to governance, economic health, social and physical infrastructure.

Will the ministry institutionalise the liveability index?

Its not a one-time exercise. From now on, we will have it every year. This will help in critical analysis of the state of urban services in our cities.

New Delhi is ranked 65 while Mumbai is ranked 2. Your comments.

When you talk of improvement it has to be in relation to something. This is the first such index, which in many ways will be the template. With this index, now there will be a baseline.

When I was a textile negotiator (for India at the World Trade Organisation) I was told there is a 500% growth. The first question I asked was, as compared to what? What was your base level?

What this survey is going to do is to ensure there is a base level. And this is where Delhi is very lucky. Because the 65 ranking will become the baseline. From here you can only go up. So in some ways, they (Delhi) have benefitted from this.

How does such a ranking help the city?

The most precious thing in any countrys existence is the value of land and civic infrastructure.

We have a population of 1.2 billion. Many people will invest (in land). A lot of people are retiringthey think I want to settle in so and so place after I retire. They will invest in land in a city where the ease of living is high. This is very fundamental and this is where the index will help.
The Madras high courts Madurai bench on Tuesday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the police firing on the anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi on May 22 that left 13 persons dead and scores injured.

The bench of Justices C T Selvam and A M Basheer Ahamed transferred all cases pertaining to the police firing to the CBI, while also quashing the detention of six members of Makkal Adhikaram (a left leaning outfit) under the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly instigating violence.

The bench also transferred all the anti-Sterlite violence cases to the agency, ordering it to carry out a fresh probe.

The copper smelter plant owned by mining major Vedanta Ltd in Thoothukodi hit the headlines following daily protests for 100 days against its planned expansion. On May 22, a massive protest was held by the local residents which triggered a major violence, leading the police to open fire.

According to Thoothukudi police, deputy tehsildar Sekar ordered police firing against the protesters to control the unruly crowd which picketed district collectorate and the Sterlite housing quarters endangering what public life and property. While 13 persons, including women, were killed, about 60 others were injured and so far the Tamil Nadu police have registered a total of 173 FIRs.

Last month, the high court also directed the state government to furnish videos in its possession allegedly showing the protesters instigating violence with petrol bombs. It had also asked why a CBI probe should not be ordered into the violence and said that a CBI investigation will instill confidence in public minds.

Early this month, the court also quashed the NSA invoked against advocate Hari Raghavan who had appeared for the protesters.

The Court also summoned the Thoothukudi district collector Sandeep Nanduri and directed him not to register cases against villagers who protested against the Sterlite plant.

The Court has given its order for the CBI probe and the government will meet to decide on the next course of action, state minister D Jayakumar said responding to the Madras High Court order.
The Delhi high court will Tuesday hear Congress president Rahul Gandhis plea challenging the income tax departments reopening of his 2011-12 assessment for not disclosing that he was a director in Young Indian company, an accused in the National Herald case.

In the last hearing on the case of August 8, a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and AK Chawla, who refused to grant any interim relief to Gandhi and or accept his counsels plea seeking restraint on publishing news on the case by various media organisations, listed the matter for further hearing on August 14.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the income tax department, had opposed issuance of any interim order. He however, assured the bench that no coercive step would be taken against Gandhi by the tax department till the next hearing.

Gandhis lawyers were seeking an interim order as the case related to the assessment was listed in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal for hearing on August 9.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi also moved the Delhi high court on Monday challenging the reopening of her assessments by the Income tax Department regarding the Young Indian-National Herald transactions. Her plea is also listed for hearing on Tuesday before the same bench.

Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi are major stakeholders in Young Indian Pvt Ltd, incorporated in 2010, and subsequently acquiring Associated Journals Limited, which published the National Herald newspaper.

As per the tax department, the shares Gandhi has in Young Indian would lead him to have an income of Rs 154 crore and not about Rs 68 lakh, as was assessed by it earlier and it had applied section 147 of the Income Tax Act, which provides for bringing under the tax net any income which has escaped assessment in the original assessment.

Gandhis lawyers said the query put to their client during the scrutiny of his assessment was whether he had any interest in any company or sister concern in which he was a director and he had replied in the negative as Young Indian was a Section 25 company, a non-profit entity, and hence no director would have any interest in it.

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, in a private criminal complaint filed before a trial court, had accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by paying just Rs 50 lakh, through which Young Indian had obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which the Associated Journals Limited owed to the Congress party. All the accused, also including Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, have denied the allegations levelled against them.
Pakistans incoming leadership under Imran Khan has accorded importance to good relations with all neighbours, including India, and finding a solution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue, the Pakistani envoy said on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion of Pakistans independence day at the high commission in New Delhi, Sohail Mahmood said positive developments, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modis phone call to congratulate Khan on his election victory, had raised hopes of improved bilateral relations.

The incoming leadership has made a detailed reference to relations with India in which importance was given to ending the blame game, finding a judicious solution to the Kashmir issue through talks, and increasing trade and people-to-people contacts between the two countries, Mahmood said.

It is a good sign that Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan and congratulated him. It is expected in the light of these positive developments, Pakistan-India relations will improve, he said, speaking in Urdu.

Pakistans leadership, Mahmood said, has always wanted peaceful relations with India on the basis of mutual request and equality.

He added, It is clear that peace, security and economic progress in South Asia can be achieved only through peaceful relations. We can expect that this region, which has been left behind in the race for progress because of tensions, will witness a new era of regional cooperation.

Imran Khan, who took oath along with all the newly elected Pakistani lawmakers on Monday, is expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister next week. During a meeting with the Indian envoy Ajay Bisaria in Islamabad on Friday, Khan called for the resumption of dialogue with India on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir.

He expressed the hope that the SAARC Summit will be held soon in Islamabad and also spoke about human rights violations in Kashmir during the 30-minute meeting. Bisaria briefed the PTI leadership on Indias concerns about terrorism and cross-border infiltration.
Investigations into the mysterious deaths of two inmates of Aasra Home, a shelter for women with psychological disorders run by Anumanya Human Resource Foundation (AHRF), in Patnas Nepali Nagar under Rajiv Nagar police station area are leading probe officials towards another sex scam in Bihar.

Barely two months back, an exposure of sexual exploitation of more than 30 minor children between seven to 17 years of age at a state-funded shelter home in Muzaffarpur, had shaken the entire nation. On Sunday, the teams of Patna police, CID and civil administration began scanning files and interrogated the 73 inmates of Aasra home after mysterious death of two women on Friday night. On Monday, three others were taken to hospital with serious ailments.

Without informing police, the NGO officials had hurriedly conducted the last rites of one of the inmates. However, as police got to learn about the incident, they stepped in and decided to go for a second autopsy of the other inmates body lying in the PMCH morgue to clear doubts of sabotage.

Two people identified as the NGO owner, Manisha Dayal and coordinator, Chirantan Kumar have been arrested for hiding facts and negligence. They were subsequently remanded to police custody here on Monday evening. Dayal is a socialite. Her rise in Patnas social and political circles has been meteoric.

The three-storey rented building where this shelter home was running since May this year is now in focus for all the wrong reasons. Neighbours and local residents have started spilling the beans before media and levelling serious allegations indicating that all was not well at this home too.

We often used to see SUVs stopping at the shelter home during midnight and in the wee hours. Many a times, we saw the shelter home women being taken away in the cars late in the night and dropped back in the wee hours, said a neighbour, who refused to be identified.

Another neighbour said they used to hear women screaming and shouting as if they were being beaten up or tortured. The authorities often kept the women away from locals and never allowed them to mingle, said the man, whose house is bang opposite the shelter home.

Efforts to speak to inmates turned futile. They did not reply to HTs queries and shut themselves in their rooms.

A couple of days back, four women had tried to flee the shelter home but the guards caught them before they could escape. For various reasons, the NGO officials did not inform police about the incident.

The next day, when police reached there after learning about the incident through locals, the NGO officials informed them that a neighbouring man, Nagina Singh alias Banarasi had with ulterior motives tried to lure the girl to flee.

On interrogation, the girls confessed that they had fallen to the baits of Banarasi and had tried to escape by cutting the window grille with a saw but were caught. They told police that Banarasi had given them the saw. Police arrested Banarasi and sent him to jail.

Speaking to reporters at the Rajiv Nagar police station before being taken to court, Chirantan Kumar rubbished the locals allegations as baseless. He said that only doctors used to visit on call in the night. We have records and CCTV footages of all visitors to the shelter home and have furnished the same to police. Since, it is a home for women with psychological disorders they often kept unwell and screamed during odd hours. The two women who died on Friday were keeping unwell and were on medication for few days. Their medical reports have been submitted to police, he said.

Kumar added, We are being framed by the department and Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual horror main accused, Brajesh Thakur.

A police official said both Thakur and Dayal knew each other well. Thakur often gave good coverage to events organised by Dayals two foundations, Pinkish and AHRF, in his English and Hindi dailies.

Dayals sympathiSers said that by implicating her in what seems to be a non-issue, the social welfare department and jailed Thakur might have connived to divert medias attention from the Muzzafarpur shelter home case.

An official of the welfare department rubbished it as baseless.
Harivansh, a Janata Dal (United) Rajya Sabha member, was elected deputy chairman of the Upper House on Friday. A former journalist, Harivansh spoke to Kumar Uttam and Prashant Jha about his elevation, the role of Rajya Sabha, and his priorities. Excerpts:

When you were approached to be the candidate of the National Democratic Alliance, what was your first response?

It was entirely unexpected. I am someone who takes up any responsibility with a degree of seriousness. I was in several committees. I tried to ensure that I went into any committee with adequate preparation. I noticed that a lot of work that should happen in Parliament does not happen, but that work does get done in the committees to some extent. But I had a particular vision of Parliament before I came in. This is a site where stalwarts and the best debaters of their times  Bhupesh Gupta, Chandrashekhar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prakash Vir Shastri, Nath (Bapu) Pai  discussed key national issues. There was a certain tradition in the house  when someone got up to speak, no one shouted. We have a strong memory of the idealism that drove politics from Gandhi till the time of Jayaprakash Narayan (JP).

But after coming to the House, I saw that this Parliament has travelled a long distance since then. I was often disappointed. In 2016, I wrote a piece lamenting what had happened. I felt that if we do not make it fruitful, fulfil the purpose for which the Upper Chamber was constituted, people will begin to ask about the rationale of Parliament. I tried to ensure I met my responsibilities seriously. I asked over 500 questions and participated in all debates whenever my party gave me an opportunity. I tried to speak about problems and solutions, and conduct myself in keeping with the traditions of the House. You would not have seen me in the Well, make any noise, disrupt proceedings.

When this proposal came my way, I was first apprehensive about whether I would be able to meet this responsibility in todays environment. It is also true that my political experience is of only four years, though my experience of observing politics closely as a journalist is for over four decades. And I have been attracted to politics since my times as a student. I have been attracted to the ideological worldview of JP ji, (Ram Manohar) Lohia ji, Chandrashekhar, and later Nitish Kumar ji and have had relations with them. So the offer did seem like a challenge. But I thought that seniors in Parliament will guide me, and like I have worked seriously as an MP, I will try to work with commitment in this position.

There is a view that disruptions are a legitimate parliamentary tactic.

I have a different view on this. After becoming an MP, I travelled to a college in Arra (in Bihar). A student asked me, we adopted the Westminster model, practiced in UK, US or Autralia. You will not see a single such instance there. We have an unprecedented situation in Parliament today. India has a rich tradition of debate and you will find it in Jain texts, Mahabharata, Nyay Sutra and other such texts. Frankly speaking, peoples faith in politics and leaders has declined. We have to restore that faith. I believe finally it is politics that changes society and country. We do not discuss issues related to farmers, construction labourers, hawkers, tribals and others. Why not raise issues related to the last man about whom Gandhi spoke? There will be differences of opinion. But there will be a point where we will have to find out a way.

Some leaders argue that the Rajya Sabha should not act as roadblock to a House elected by the people.

Dr (Sarvepalli) Radhakrishnan (the second president of India) said a second chamber is needed. It is believed (that) if Lok Sabha takes decisions under public pressure, then the Upper House, where there are people with creative thinking, would think over it cooly and correct the hasty decision. (MA) Ayyangar (former Lok Sabha speaker) defined it further, saying we should not be a clog. We feel it (Rajya Sabha) is necessary. I have seen brilliant discussion in the House.

Do you think federalism has got strengthened or weakened in recent times?

It is expected from us to raise issues related to states. But we mostly raise issues related to fights these days. There is little debate on how to strengthen the relationship. Regional disparity has increased for historical reasons. There is need for serious debate. This country can progress only when states are empowered. Only an empowered Centre is not sufficient.

Should political parties be more cautious in choosing their members in the Rajya Sabha?

The kind of selection started after 1980s was not there earlier. The challenge before us is to increase the level of debates in the context of development happenings around us, and find a solution to the problems faced by the country. There is debate over jobs  some say promise has not been fulfilled, the other side gives figure. There is debate over artificial intelligence and how it can create job losses. You cannot stop technology. Earlier, ideologies used to change the world, now it is technology. We will soon overtake China in terms of population. No country has been able to find a job model for such a big population; a growth model that can absorb all. Shouldnt we discuss these issues? Did we discuss it ever? Was there any debate on global warming issues, on missing rivers and drinking water problems?

Do you think there is a rise in communalism and there should be debate on this too?

Anger has increased across all sections. Limited employment opportunity is the main reason. TV has brought a huge change. Advertisement teaches us how materialistic life is good. And when people do not get means to achieve (it), it leads to deep frustration. Today tribals are agitated. The poor are agitated.Young people in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu are agitated. It is because of the mad race that we have got into. Everyone wants a good life. World is moving towards consumerism. Economist JK Galbraith was the first to warn us about the challenge. We have to address these issues.

Do you see any contradiction in getting elected to the chair with BJPs support considering that you come from a socialist background and have been critical of the party in the past?

There was a purpose behind forming the NDA. Because of the chair that I occupy now, I do not want to comment on the situation leading to it. But, at least we see a serious effort to address the issues confronting the nation. I think the best we can contribute towards it, we should.

Do you see any challenge for the socialist parties?

Ideologically, you will not find sharper politicians than socialists. I am reading a book by James Crabtree called The Billionaire Raj (on inequality). Socialist thought is most relevant today. The era of politics of ideology is going to return. Without ideology, the economic disparity in the society cannot be addressed.

Critics believe Indian democracy has weakened and its institutions have been attacked...

Not at all. We have seen Emergency. We felt democracy will not return if elections are held. It was only because of this that people in power during that time called elections. Our people are very mature. When they are awake, democracy cannot get weakened. I feel technology - there are some side effects of social media too - also has a positive impact. They keep an eye on everything.

As deputy chairman, what is your expectation from the Centre?

The chairman (M Venkaiah Naidu) gave a slogan - responsive government, responsible opposition. I want the same. PM (Narendra) Modi also told MPs to put so much pressure on the ministers that works, issues that skip their sight are done. House is for this.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday hailed late LM Singhvi as a true renaissance man, unveiling a book, Indias Vibgyor Man a collection of writings by Singhvi  edited by the diplomat and legal luminarys son, Congresss national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

In a reminder of the late Singhvis popularity, the function was attended by senior political leaders from at least six parties, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari and the Congresss Rajya Sabha deputy leader Anand Sharma.

The books title comes from an article on Singhvi by Gopalkrishna Gandhi published in Hindustan Times, Mukherjee and Abhishek Singhvi said at the event.

The book contains more than 25 articles by Singhvi on subjects ranging from the interfaith movement and constitutionalism to literary works and experiences as a diplomat and in Parliament. Abhishek Singhvi has written a chapter titled My sons grandfather while Gandhi has written the foreword.

Recalling his long association with LM Singhvi, Mukherjee said, Our paths crossed on many occasions, especially when he was Indias High Commissioner in the UK. He was a jurist, an envoy, a politician, a poet and a prolific writer. He was a scholar and a traditionalist. He was truly a renaissance man.

Mukherjee narrated how LM Singhvi was the original architect of Indias Lokpal, the proposed anti-corruption ombudsman, after he grasped the concept from Scandinavia and then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru told him to tailor it for India.

He even gave the names Lokpal and Lokayukta and it was only befitting that the parliamentary committee which gave the final report on the bill was headed by his son, Abhishek Singhvi. Mukherjee added.

A panel discussion followed the book launch on Is India losing its identity or realising it? the debate  moderated by Karan Thapar with Gadkari, Sharma, Janata Dal (United) leader Pawan Verma and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral as the panelists  veered towards recent political and social developments, including mob lynchings and how to balance unity and diversity.
Congress party president Rahul Gandhi has no plans to get married at least for now, as his whole objective is to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power.

I am wedded to the Congress party, was his cryptic answer to a question as to when he was going to get married.

In an hour-long interaction with journalists in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the Congress president said the priority before him was to defeat the Narendra Modi government in the 2019 elections.

We are talking to several like-minded parties, including those who were associated with us in the past and some new allies, to form a grand alliance to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next elections, he said.

Asked whether the Congress would follow the Karnataka experiment (where it asked its alliance partners chief to head the government) after the next general elections, Gandhi said: First things first. We are coming together to defeat the BJP. Once the objective is achieved, then comes the issue of who the next Prime Minister would be. I am not thinking about it now.

He expressed confidence that a Congress-led coalition would come to power in 2019. I bet, it is going to happen, he said and agreed to give an exclusive interview to a senior journalist who challenged whether he could defeat Modi.

He predicted that there was no question of Modi becoming the Prime Minister again, as several allies of the BJP, including Shiv Sena, were against him becoming PM for a second term. Moreover, if Modi has to become the PM again, the BJP has to win 230 seats on its own for which it has to win all the seats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This is next to impossible, as the Congress party alliance with Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party in UP and Rastriya Janata Dal in Bihar would bag majority of the Lok Sabha seats, Gandhi insisted.

He said he had no personal differences with Modi, but differs strongly with him on ideological front and also on policy issues. The Congress party has been fighting an ideological battle with the BJP and the RSS for several decades. It is on these ideological grounds that the Congress is forming an alliance with other like-minded parties, he explained.

Asked how warm the hug with Modi in Parliament was, the Congress chief said he had felt the warmth, but for the Prime Minister, it was very cold. I had done it (hugging Modi) only to show that I dont believe in hating people. But Modi doesnt like his political rivals. He doesnt even give them due respect. He doesnt listen to anybody, but wants others to listen to him, he said.

On whether he was adopting the soft Hindutva stand to appease the majority community, Gandhi said he did not believe in any kind of Hindutva  soft or hard core. If you are referring to my meeting religious leaders and visiting spiritual places, then I tell you I have been doing it since 2004. When I go to any state, I get invites to meet the spiritual leaders and I dont find anything wrong in meeting them, he explained.

Stating that the Congress was on course to win three major states of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in the upcoming assembly elections, Gandhi exuded confidence that it would win Telangana state as well, if not Andhra Pradesh.
The Supreme Court was shocked to know on Tuesday that 1,575 sexually abused children are living in shelter homes run by NGOs across the country and ordered the Centre to frame a child-protection policy to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

1,575 boys and girls are victims of sexual and physical abuse. What have you done about it? Which are the shelter homes where they are kept? What action the states have taken on this, a three-judge bench headed by justice MB Lokur asked additional solicitor general Pinky Anand.

Justice Lokur quoted the figures from a report that was placed before the bench by Anand. The report was based on an all India survey conducted by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) of shelter homes in the country.

According to the survey, 1,289 girls and 286 boys were sexually abused and 189 children were victims of pornography. Amicus curiae Aparna Bhat, who is assisting the bench, said after perusing the report that 94% of these homes were run by NGOs.

Anand said the Centre sent the report to states and informed them about it last year.

It means nothing happened for one year and the children continued to be sexually abused we are concerned whether children living in shelter homes are being abused or looked after properly, the judges asked Anand. The bench was hearing a matter related to sexual abuse cases reported from the Muzaffarpur shelter home in Bihar.

The direction to frame a child protection policy was issued after Bhat told the bench that in Muzaffarpur even a child welfare committee member and the district child protection officer were accused of raping minor girls. A social audit by an external agency was important as it exposed the shortcomings in the statutory mechanism.

The Bihar government was directed to make public the social audit report of 111 shelter homes in the state prepared by Tata Institute of Social Sciences after senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing Bihars Nitish Kumar government, said it had no objection to it. The lawyer said three organizations, including Bangalore-based Parivartan and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, were looking into the psycho-social aspect of the girls allegedly raped at a shelter home.

The court also asked the NCPCR to take into account a note submitted by TISS on how to conduct social audits while conducting such exercises.
A senior government official has been shot dead by unidentified persons inside his official residence in Patna Tuesday morning, police said.

The assailants reached the house of Rajeev Kumar (50), an under secretary in the state Department of Planning, around 4 am. They had an altercation with the official and then shot him, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sachivalay) Rajesh Singh Prabhakar told PTI.

Kumars government quarter is located in the R-block area under the Sachivalaya police station in Patna.

Rajni, the wife of the victim, told some local news channels that the gunmen had come with an intention to loot and opened fire when her husband tried to resist. She also alleged that they decamped with valuables worth Rs 30,000-40,000.

Prabhakar, however, said, We are investigating the matter from all angles. We suspect that some old enmity may also be behind the killing which the family is trying to hide.

Meanwhile, an association of secretariat employees expressed outrage over the killing and demanded stern action against the culprits.
Raising her pitch against the Centre on the NRC issue, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that of the around 66% of the Bengalis in Assam whose names do not figure in the draft are Hindus.

She also alleged that Assam government has kept over a thousand people in detention camps to prevent protests against the NRC.

Out of 4 million names deleted from the NRC, 3.8 million are those of Bengali-speaking people. And out of this 3.8 million, 2.5 million are Hindus. The rest 1.3 million are Bengali-speaking Muslims, Banerjee told the media after meeting members of some NGOs who recently visited Assam to conduct a field study.

Citing some examples, she said names of some people were deleted although they appeared on voters list way back in 1965 and 1966. Even family members of a freedom fighter have been excluded. Are they infiltrators? the chief minister said without taking any name.

I came to know that around 1,200 people have been kept in detention camps because they protested. Even some children have been kept in detention camps. The media is not being allowed to operate. Our delegation was stopped from interacting with the people. Propaganda is being orchestrated by putting pressure on local television channels, Banerjee alleged.

Assamese people have been asked to provide birth certificates of their parents, she said, hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Earlier, only one percent of the countrys population, which comprised educated people and elite families maintained birth records. I do not have birth certificates of my parents. Does BJPs president Amit Shah have the original birth certificates of his parents? she asked.

I doubt if even Gandhiji had birth certificates of his parents, she quipped.

Banerjee challenged the BJP to prepare NRC in Bengal if it ever came to power in the state. One should not hope to win the hearts of Bengalis with repression, she said.

Rubbishing Banerjees allegations, BJPs Bengal general secretary Sayantan Basu said she has been unnecessarily politicising the NRC issue from the very beginning. Not a single protest has been staged in Assam till now. But out here, she is shouting from day one because infiltrators from Bangladesh constitute her principal vote bank, he said.
A South Mumbai-based trust on Monday filed a petition in the Bombay high court (HC), seeking directions to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to stop issuing licences, public notices and recall of licences allowing slaughter of animals during Bakri Eid outside Deonar abattoir.

The petitioner, Jiv Maitri Trust, has claimed that temporary licences being issued by BMC violate existing environment and animal welfare laws. Bakri Eid is going to be observed from August 22 to 24 and many sacrifices are made at unlicenced places, based on the temporary licences issued by BMC.

According to the Trust, which operates from its office in Dongri, BMC and the Deonar abattoir authorities had issued two public notices regarding temporary licences for slaughtering sacrificial goats and sheep at unlicenced premises outside the abattoir. The petition claims that the notices create confusion with regards to provisions of applicable laws. The petition also refers to guidelines set by the Supreme Court with regards to slaughter of animals and mentions that allowing slaughter in unlicenced premises would result in sacrifices being carried out on footpaths, pavements, society premises and public roads. Hence, the notices should be recalled, the petitioner said.

The petition further points out that as the Deonar abattoir is equipped with facilities such as disposal of effluents and waste, sacrifice of animals at public places would create health hazards and severely affect the environment and ground water.

The petition has urged the withdrawal of public notices and recall of licenses issued from August 10 and an order restraining BMC and authorities from allowing sacrifices during Bakri Eid at unlicenced premises. The petition is expected to come up for hearing before the division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla later this week.
Durlabh Singh Brar, 37, a financier and former kabaddi player from Faridkot in Punjab, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Philippines, his family said on Tuesday.

This is second such incident within a week and fifth this year involving Punjabi financiers in Manila, capital city of the Pacific archipelago.

It was on Sunday that two men opened fire on Brar outside his house when he was leaving for work around 9am (local time). He died on the spot.

Brar, who was from Sirsiri village in Faridkot, had moved to Manila 15 years ago. He had participated in various national-level kabaddi tournaments during his college days. He is survived by his parents, wife and two children.

Former leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira took to Twitter to condole the death: Saddened to hear about the murder of kabbadi player Durlabh Brar... had our leaders created honourable employment opportunities, our Punjabis wouldnt be killed like this.

Brars uncle Balwinder Singh said the Government of India should take up matter of attacks on Punjabis with the Philippines authorities.
Touted as a highly confidential official document, Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission report on the sacrilege cases has been leaked even before the Punjab government could table it in the assembly session expected to be held next month.

Nothing confidential about Justice Ranjit Singh report, you can read it here:

The leakage of the much-hyped report, already reported in a section of media in bits and pieces, is set to embarrass the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government, which had planned to politically milk the  explosive report in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session.

It has virtually thrown a spanner in the Congress strategy to corner the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal, which has been roundly blamed for a string of incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in 2016 that had rocked then SAD-BJP government led by Parkash Singh Badal. The ruling Congress may now have to rethink its strategy.

The Amarinder government had set up the one-man commission under Justice Ranjit Singh, a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in April last year. The panel was tasked to probe the cases of sacrilege as well as a firing incident in Faridkot in which two Sikh protesters were killed.

Even as the government is yet to set the date for the assembly session, some parts of the report, ostensibly kept under the tight wraps of chief ministers office and home department, have trickled out through selective leaks in the past two weeks.

Since June 30 when Justice Ranjit Singh personally submitted the report to chief minister Amarinder Singh, both have consistently skirted the media queries on the findings with a stock answer: The report is highly confidential.

Earlier, emphasising upon the top secret nature of the report, Justice Singh had told mediapersons that he had got it typed privately as he didnt trust government officials.

But, now the entire report has been leaked. Hindustan Times has a copy of the 192-page document.

Apart from raising questions on the safekeeping of the report that was supposed to be first tabled before the state legislature along with an action taken report ( ATR), the all-out leak has political implications. Not only will it lend the opposition firepower to target the government over the credibility of the report, it gives Akalis ample time to chalk out their counter strategy in the assembly.

Clearly left red-faced, a section of senior Congress ministers are now wondering as to what the government would table in Vidha Sabha when there is nothing confidential about the report any more. This ( full leak) takes the sting out of our strategy admits a cabinet minister on the condition of anonymity.

In fact, Akalis are already gunning for the panel and have dubbed it the friendly commission of chief minister. Its a highly biased report. Justice Ranjit Singh has written what his friend Captain Amarinder Singh wanted him to write, says SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.

To buttress their charge, Akalis also cite Ranjit Singhs relationship with rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Khaira. The Bholath MLA is the real brother-in-law of Ranjit Singh.
Anu Meena, a young graduate of IIT-Delhi and founder of the startup Agrowave, will be in Ottawa next month as part of the first batch of entrepreneurs participating in a bi-directional programme to promote women-led businesses.

This is the Canadian India Acceleration Programme (CIAP), aimed at female technology entrepreneurs from both countries. Ten leaders of such enterprises will be mentored at Carleton University in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, so they can potentially expand into the North American market.

Similarly, 10 Canadian women entrepreneurs will head to India to try and reach that vast market. Carletons Canada-India Centre for Excellence (CICE) has created CIAP in partnership with the All India Council for Technical Education, the national regulator for a network of 10,500 colleges and institutes.

The programme will run five years and during that period, 100 entrepreneurs, 50 from each country, will get the opportunity of entering a new market.

Harry Sharma, manager of CICE, said the cohort of 10 entrepreneurs will arrive in late September and they were selected from among some 700 applicants after three rounds of appraisal by AICTE. Our experts will look at their potential and try and help get them traction in the North American market, he said.

This will include access to the universitys Lead to Win incubator. The key criteria, Sharma said, is that these entrepreneurs offered a technology-oriented product. Agrowave, for instance, is working on incorporating technology to bring logistics support to the fruits and vegetables supply chain in the unorganised sector.

Interestingly, several of these startups have a rural emphasis  ranging from a desi drone for precision agriculture and smart farming to a portable cold storage system using solar energy, solar electric stoves and biotoilets. Given the demographic and challenges women face in India, one startup is working on a wearable smart belt with an automatic kidnapping or rape detection mechanism.

The women hail from every region of India - from Haryana and Punjab in the north, to West Bengal in the east, to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south, and Maharashtra and Gujarat in the west.

Sharma said they had designed a holistic programme targeting startups that are mature enough to enter the global market. But since women entrepreneurs have not been getting their fair share in starting their own businesses, it gets them access to financing, training, mentoring by experts and entry into an established tech ecosystem.

The Canadian companies will head to India in the first quarter of 2019. Applications were invited in late July and by the end of this month, 10 startups will be selected.
China has flatly denied that it has put a million Uyghurs in re-education camps, saying there are no such things in its northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

It has set up vocational education and employment centres to provide livelihood skills to those who have committed minor offences, Chinese officials have told a United Nations rights panel.

The officials also defended the banning of veils in the province, saying it was against local customs and was required to fight terrorism.

This was Chinas first official denial of several reports that said hundreds of thousands from minority Muslim communities  mostly Uyghurs  have been packed off to camps.

Last week, Gay McDougall, vice-chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination told the UN panel there were deep concerns about XUAR being turned into a massive internment camp.

We are deeply concerned at the many numerous and credible reports that we have received that in the name of combating religious extremism and maintaining social stability (China) has changed the Uyghur autonomous region into something that resembles a massive internship camp that is shrouded in secrecy, a sort of no rights zone, McDougall told the panel.

The 49-member Chinese delegation that was attending the UN panel said the reports were false and baseless.

There are no such things as re-education centres or counter-extremism training centres in Xinjiang, Hu Lianhe told the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

The saying that a million Uyghurs are detained in re-education centres is completely untrue, Hu said.

With respect to persons involved only in minor offences, the authority provides them with assistance and education by assigning them to vocational education and employment training centres to acquire employment skills and legal knowledge, with a view to assisting their rehabilitation and reintegration, he added.

the legal rights of persons assigned to vocational training centers are duly protected and they are not subject to any arbitrary detention, let alone ill-treatment there, official news agency Xinhua quoted Hu as saying.

Hu also defended the ban on veils.

wearing masked robes is prohibited according to local laws and regulations, as such robes are not ethnic garments of the Uyghurs there.

Wearing masked robes is also prohibited in many countries in the world. The prohibition of wearing masked robes is not only the need to respect and protect ethnic customs in Xinjiang, but also the need for anti-terrorism and anti-extremism, Hu said.
Scotland Yard on Tuesday said its counter-terrorism command was investigating a morning incident in which a man drove his car into the barricades outside the houses of parliament in Westminster, injuring pedestrians and cyclists.

At this stage, we are treating this as a terrorist incident and the Mets Counter Terrorism Command is now leading the investigation, the police said.

Driving vehicles into pedestrians had been a feature of terror attacks in London in 2017.

Parliament is not in session during summer holidays, but the area is a popular destination among tourists and visitors.

A statement by police said: At 07:37hrs on Tuesday 14 August, a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians, before crashing into barriers outside the Houses of Parliament.

The driver of the car, a man in his late 20s, was arrested at the scene by armed officers. He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in police custody.

The man was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences.

Some of the injured were taken to hospitals but their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. The Westminster tube station was closed, as the police threw a security cordon around the area.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said her thoughts were with those injured in an incident outside parliament.
China will not jeopardise the security interests of another country even if it is printing currency notes for it, a top government official told state media following a news report that Beijing was printing notes on a massive scale for foreign countries including India.

The only statement on the claims so far did not clarify whether China was printing notes for India.

A report by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said on Sunday that China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM) was printing currency notes for India and several other countries.

In 2015, the CBPM started printing notes for Nepal, following the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a multi-billion dollar connectivity project launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Since then the company had seized the opportunities brought by the initiative; and successfully won contracts for currency production projects in a number of countries including Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Brazil and Poland, the newspaper quoted Liu Guisheng, CBPM president writing for China Finance, a bi-monthly journal run by Chinas central bank, Peoples Bank of China (PBC) in May.

The article said China was doing it to expand its economic and geopolitical influence. The CBPM reports to the PBC.

New Delhi has denied the SCMP report.

Reports about any Chinese currency printing corporation getting any orders for printing Indian currency notes are totally baseless. Indian currency notes are being and will be printed only in Indian government and RBI currency presses, Subhash Chandra Arya, secretary, Department of Economic Affairs tweeted on Monday.

China, however, hasnt yet denied the SCMP report.

Chinese state media picked up reports from New Delhi quoting Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on the issue.

If the news is true, it will have an impact on national security. Not to mention the Pakistani rupee. It is easy to fake, Tharoor tweeted. He also asked the government to clarify the matter.

But a top Chinese official dismissed Tharoors fears.

This statement is very ridiculous, Bai Ming, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Cooperation (CAITEC), which is affiliated to Ministry of Commerce, told Global Times, indicating China wasnt deliberately trying to spread its influence or expose loopholes in security.

Bai said currency of any country is determined by the authorities of that country.

Cooperation with China will not affect the interests of the other party. China has not let other countries be in debt for obeying China. We dont have this ability. We dont want to do this. The only thing we pursue is mutual benefit, Bai said.

Bai told the newspaper this argument is a replica of the China threat theory. But this time it has extended to the currency field, he said.

The Global Times report said modern banknote printing facilities are extremely complex and expensive to operate, and use technologies that are not available to ordinary companies to reduce the risk of counterfeiting.

Some security features require costly patent fees, and many countries are unable to afford the cost of printing the banknotes they need, it said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on questions emailed by HT.

The Peoples Bank of China is also yet to respond to HTs questions.
Up to 80 cars were set on fire overnight across western Sweden by masked vandals, police said Tuesday, in what they suspect was a coordinated attack weeks before a general election.

Most of the cars were burned at around 20 locations in Swedens second largest city of Gothenburg late Monday.

Authorities said two suspects aged between 16 and 21 have been arrested so far in Gothenburg and would be questioned on Tuesday.

Police said they believe the attacks were organised on social media. No one was injured in the car blazes.

Weve never seen this many cars set on fire before, Hans Lippens, police spokesman in western Sweden, told AFP.

The incident triggered outrage among Swedish politicians who are busy campaigning for the September 9 general election.

Im furious. My question to (the perpetrators) is: what the hell are you doing? Social Democratic prime minister Stefan Lofven told public broadcaster Swedish Radio on Tuesday.

Youre ruining things for yourselves, your parents and your neighbourhoods, Lofven said, adding the incident looked very coordinated, almost like a military operation.

Cars set ablaze is common in Sweden. In Stockholms suburbs alone, such crimes happen almost on a daily basis, usually attributed to disadvantaged youths.

Last year, 1,457 cars were deliberately set on fire across Sweden, compared to 1,641 in 2016, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agencys figures.

Sweden has tolerated this for too long. This must end now, Ulf Kristersson, leader of the conservative opposition party, the Moderates, wrote on his Facebook account.

Last year in February, two days after US President Donald Trumps baffling comments linking crime to immigration in Sweden, riots broke out in the immigrant-heavy northern Stockholm suburb of Rinkeby.

Dozens of youths clashed with police after they arrested a suspected drug dealer in Rinkeby. The rioters threw stones at police, burned cars and looted shops.

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D ecor and furnishings constantly take ideas from the catwalk  there is Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild and Henry Holland for Habitat, for example. But in a reverse trend, archive prints from wallpaper company GP & J Baker have just arrived at H&M in Oxford Street, printed on to jumpsuits, dresses, tops and skirts.

Statement-making prints are the mark of fashion today, says Pernilla Wohlfahrt, H&Ms design director. Brothers George Percival and James Baker set up their company in Dorset in 1884, snapping up rare and iconic designs.

Thus began one of the largest privately owned textile archives in the world, currently a resource of 10,000 designs. H&M has chosen nine patterns, each with a design pedigree. Magnolia, for example, was painted for the company in 1913. The classic Oriental Bird, Blossom and Hydrangea Bird sit alongside strong geometrics such as Fretwork, which pays homage to decorative Art Deco inlay work. The prints selected are some of our most iconic and treasured designs, says Ann Grafton, managing director and creative director at GP & J Baker.

SANDERSON MEETS UNIQLO

Big-brand high street names have an insatiable appetite for pattern. This spring, Uniqlo, from Japan, went hunting at brilliantly British Sanderson, founded in 1860, using archive prints for dresses and tops in typically fresh florals. The range sold out around the world. In the Oxford Street store this month comes a larger edit for autumn, with those quintessential florals in warm, autumnal shades, from 12.90 for a T-shirt. Interiors-savvy mums can matchy-match with aplomb, with dresses for children, too.

Sanderson, meanwhile, is doing handbags with cultish Radley, of the cute Scottie logo, which evolved from a Camden Market stall in 1998. We have a real passion for prints, says Natalie Bolton, creative director, particularly print for interiors, because it envelops our day-to-day lives. Sanderson was our first and only choice. Bolton found Roslyn in the archive, a pretty, stylised print with blossom on twining boughs with a navy background, for a backpack and Radleys handbags.

Edgy decor label House of Hackney started in 2011, when Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle made three explosive wallpapers for their own London Fields home. Now in their Shoreditch flagship store they are putting their furnishing patterns on to clothing: From walls to wardrobe, as they say.

They found Zuber, the elite French wallcoverings company established in 1797 and still in Alsace, with a showroom in Pimlico Road. A new collection of fashion and furnishings remasters, re-colours and revives a hand-picked selection of original Zuber prints, culled from an archive of 150,000 designs. The mood is Morocco moderne referencing the interiors at Yves Saint Laurents house in Marrakech, where Zuber reigned supreme. The city taught me colour, said the late French couturier. Before Marrakech everything was black.

MATCHY-MATCHES

E-tailer Matchesfashion.com is opening a retail/broadcasting destination at 5 Carlos Place in Mayfair next month and is branching into a huge range of homewares.

It has reworked original patterns from ceramics, illustrations, textiles and from fashion itself to create crockery, maximalist cushions, throws and glassware. Our customers now want provenance for the goods they buy, says fashion and buying director Natalie Kingham.

In Italy, Kartell is king of plastic, a family firm founded in Milan in 1949, with technology unrivalled worldwide for transparent and brightly coloured furniture. Now Kartell is crashing into pattern in collaboration with La DoubleJ, the brash-fash brand of JJ Martin, a vintage-obsessed American living in Milan.

JUST BELLISIMO

Martin has obtained access to the archives of Mantero Seta, one of Lake Comos oldest silk manufacturers. The result is a range of chairs, tables, cupboards and place mats that are splashed with racy retro florals and geometrics.
As the deadlock over a detained U.S. pastor remained unsolved, the White House said Monday that U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton met with Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kilic.

U.S. National security adviser John Bolton speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, in Washington. [File photo: AP/Evan Vucci]

According to a statement issued by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Bolton met with Kilic in the White House "at the Turkish Ambassador's request."

"They discussed Turkey's continued detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson and the state of the U.S.-Turkey relationship," the statement read, without giving further details.

The statement came as the two nations continued to wrangle over U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who was charged with involvement in a failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in 2016.

Transferred from detainment to house arrest last month, he could face up to 25 years in jail if found guilty.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he had authorized to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum products from Turkey to 50 percent and 20 percent respectively. The White House confirmed the tweet.

The United States also slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers over the case earlier in August.

In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry vowed to "retaliate" against U.S. "aggression" over the case of Brunson "without any delay," and called on Washington to reverse its decision.
Press Release

14 August 2018

Bench Events, the organiser of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), which is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, today announced that it is launching a sister event, named the Forum sur l'Investissement Hotelier Africain (FIHA), to focus more precisely on North and West Africa. Proceedings will be bilingual, with presentations and panel discussions led in French with simultaneous translation to English. The first edition of FIHA will take place in Marrakesh during the first week of February 2019.



In Africa, hotel investment is booming. Hotels are core infrastructure because they are essential to attracting tourists and business people who come with foreign currency to spend and invest. As the economic environment in Africa has become increasingly less risky in the past two or three decades and because the number of hotels per head of population is a tiny fraction of what it is in highly-developed western economies, the growth in hotel development across Africa has consistently outstripped general economic growth - which in many African countries is currently higher than much of the rest of the world.



Imad Barrakad, CEO, The Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), said: "I am very pleased that Morocco will be the launch venue for FIHA, as I fully expect it will attract the kind of people who have the influence and resources to make a destination successful. At FIHA, we will be engaging with them and making a compelling case for further investment in the hospitality sector here."



Morocco makes four strong arguments to attract investors. First, the country has a stable political and economic climate. Second, it is strategically-located, within a three-hour flight of the major European capitals and seven hours from Dubai, Moscow and New York. Third, its laws are investor-friendly, with no restriction on land ownership or repatriation of profits and fourth, it has robust infrastructure, including a major hub airport in Casablanca.



Tourism is central to Morocco's economy. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), reports that tourism represented over 21.5% of Morocco's exports in 2017 and forecast it to grow by 4.2% per annum over the coming decade. From an inbound tourism perspective, Morocco in general and Marrakesh in particular, have experienced a strong start to the year, with occupancy and room rates substantially up on the equivalent period in 2017, according to STR, the leading provider of data and analytics for the global hotel industry.

A recent economic study by Grant Thornton revealed that hosting AHIF brings, on average, a million dollars in direct benefit to the local economy, an additional 1.4 million dollars in indirect benefit and a substantial six-figure sum in tax to the government. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events, is keen to make a similar impact with FIHA. He said: "I'm delighted we are taking this step. Until now, the strongest interest in hosting AHIF has come from countries in Sub Saharan Africa, but with increasing interest emerging from North and West Africa, it makes sense to launch another premium hotel investment conference event with a different geographic focus. Since announcing the plan, we have received immediate interest and already have sponsorship commitments from the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), AccorHotels and Louvre Hotels."

Bench Events has previously run investment events in Morocco and in West Africa. The first edition of AHIF took place in Casablanca in 2011 and Bench Events staged the Morocco Tourism Investment Forum in 2013. Three years later, there was a special edition of AHIF in West Africa, coinciding with the opening of what was then the new landmark Hotel 2 Fevrier in Togo's capital Lome.

Outside Africa, Bench Events runs premium hospitality investment and aviation conferences across Europe, the Middle East and South America. Market-leading, annual conferences include the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), now in its 14th year, The Saudi Hotel Investment Conference (SHIC), The Russia Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (RHTIC) and the Latin American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conferences (SAHIC).

ENDS

About the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT)

The Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development - SMIT is a government institution created in December 2007 by the Moroccan government in order to implement the development strategy of the tourism product in Morocco. In an increasingly competitive international context among tourism destinations where differentiation is tougher and tougher, attractiveness has become one of the major issues of development. SMIT puts attractiveness at the heart of its concerns with an ambition to increase the value of the best assets of each tourism territory so that it becomes a real pole of competitiveness.

Designing the offer, identifying and highlighting the tourism attractions, mobilizing lands, guiding Government and private investment in tourism, supporting investors and tour operators, facilitating their development in Morocco and promoting investment opportunities These are some of SMIT's missions.

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 have an established record of delivering high-level networking and thought leadership conferences for hospitality investment and aviation in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. 'Creating an impact' is the core focus of Bench Events, as the company enables growth by facilitating deal opportunities. www.benchevents.com.
Opinion Article

14 August 2018

With unemployment at an all-time low - 4% across all industries as of June 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics - employee retention is top of mind. The proliferation of available jobs in hospitality has sparked even more competition among hotels to attract and retain employees. An additional dollar per hour or free daily lunch is proving to be enough of an incentive for hourly employees to leave one property and move to the next.

It's innately difficult to connect with hotel employees because in a 24/7 work environment, cross-team collaboration is near impossible. Daytime employees and managers rarely meet or communicate with those working the night shift or working part-time on the weekends. Factor in that on average, 83% of a hotel's hourly employee do not have a work email address and don't sit behind a desk, and the challenge to engage with those people responsible for touching and serving your guests heightens.

Today, 43% percent of Millennials envision leaving their jobs within two years; only 28 percent seek to stay beyond five years, according to the 2018 Deloitte Millennial Survey. Gen Z respondents express even less loyalty, with 61 percent saying they would leave within two years if given the choice. So, how do hoteliers retain valuable employees - especially Millennial and Gen Z associates?

Dr. Linda Herkenhoff, a professor in the Graduate School of Business at Saint Mary's College of California teaching Leadership and Organizational Behavior and Quantitative Analysis, says that to maximize employee retention, foster employee commitment and create a healthy workplace, hoteliers must understand how employees are perceiving the organization and at which stage during the employment lifecycle. In the Pre-Arrival Stage (before an employee accepts a position), job-seekers will research the hotel and form their own ideas about how this job will serve them if hired. Once hired, the Encounter Stage begins. It's here that the new employee is introduced to the organizational culture and determines if they want to engage with the hotel's culture or not. Then comes the Digital Metamorphosis Stage - the point when an employee is changed from an outsider to an insider that now fits into the organization. How long it takes to morph depends on the company's culture, the job position and the employee himself. Only when an employee gets through the Digital Metamorphosis Stage can employers maximize the employee's commitment to the organization. It's this stage when a hotel will achieve its lowest turnover because its people are committed to the beliefs of the organization.

The key to reaching digital metamorphosis is found in "socialization." Learning the acceptable behaviors of the group will enable staff to be transformed from outsiders to highly-valued members of the organization. It's in this last stage that employees will find it inherently difficult to quit their jobs because they don't want to leave their friends behind or because they find themselves engaged in something more meaningful than making a little more money. The additional $1 per hour from the hotel down the street will mean nothing to them compared to their new-found identity of performing an important role within the organization - one that helps the company, each guest, and ultimately themselves.

Metamorphosis is Achieved Digitally

The best way to engage employees and get them to embrace a hotel's culture is to connect them digitally to the organization. Linking employees across locations and departments in real time via mobile or desktop devices will keep each person wanting to learn more about the company  their department  VIP guests who may be arriving that day or that week  a new hire  an incentive contest  or even a new corporate policy. Digitizing the workforce will help companies improve internal communication and streamline business processes. It's an ideal way to connect non-desk workers to company news, updates and protocols; share crisis communications messaging; onboard new hires; and motivate existing employees and share their achievements. In other words, it keeps employees connected to management and each other.

When hotels digitize their employee communications, it increases efficiency. Here are a few examples:

A general manager wakes up in the morning, pours a cup of coffee, opens the hotel's communication app via his or her smartphone, tablet or computer and reads about what's happening throughout the day before getting dressed for work. Even if it's the GM's day off, he or she can remain connected to the hotel and can communicate with staff if needed.

A human resources director holds a meeting to announce a new company-wide security initiative. After the gathering, he or she can use the communications app ask the team whether they found the information helpful. Additional questions that employees may have after the meeting can be asked and answered via the app. Employees who were not on duty when the meeting was held still get to weigh in and ask questions.

A food-and-beverage director issues a new challenge: "Help Us Name Our New Employee Dining Room." Using the communication app as a survey tool, employees submit suggestions via the app. Names are narrowed down and the options are posted and shared via the app. Once out for a final vote, a name is chosen and the employee who submitted the name is recognized and rewarded.

A housekeeping manager wants to communicate with team members while the property is closed following a natural disaster. She uses the mobile app to check on staff and discuss returning to work. The tool automatically translates the message into each recipient's native language.

A front-office manager wants to introduce hotel staff to a new front-desk clerk who will be starting the next day. Information on the new hire, along with her photo, is shared via the communication app. When the new team member arrives the next day, she is greeted by name immediately by all staff who walk by. Co-workers who may share the same interests have something to chat about with the newbie, making her feel welcome and right at home.

When colleagues are connected, it makes them feel part of the hotel family, thereby making it difficult to take a job elsewhere due to relationships forged. It engages employees at a basic level. It gives them a voice, rewards them for contributing to a cause and doing something good, creates loyalty, and drives job retention. It makes employees feel a part of something big, something important, something with a social conscience.

On the low end, it costs a hotel approximately $4,000 to hire, train and uniform an employee. Just think how much money can be saved - and how many employees can be retained - with the right tools and processes in place.
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Toronto's hip hop scene took a tragic loss at the beginning of July when Smoke Dawg was shot dead. The Halal Gang member was gaining a lot of traction over the years in not only his city, but across the globe as well. He previously worked with Skepta on the song "Overseas" and developed a tight relationship with several rappers from the U.K. Today, Smoke Dawg's first posthumous record arrives and it features production from Murda Beatz and a verse from AJ Tracey.

The late Smoke Dawg teams up with Murda Beatz and AJ Tracey for the banger, "No Discussion." The song is the first track released following Smoke Dawg's death. The video for the song was filmed in Toronto with several shots done in the neighborhood Smokey grew up in, Regent Park. All the proceeds from the song will go directly to Smoke Dawg's family.

Smoke Dawg's EP Struggle Before Glory has been completed and is set to release in the coming months.

Quotable Lyrics

Talked to the plug yesterday

Said that he shippin' the crate

Carbon fiber on the K

To stay away from these fakes
Harry Uzoka, 25, suffered an untimely death at the hands of a fellow model, George Koh. The killer is facing a life sentence for stabbing the victim in the heart during a dispute. Koh has officially been convicted of murder today.

The 24-year-old Koh found himself in a rivalry with Uzoka after becoming obsessed with his colleague's success. The pair engaged in online quarrels through social media in the months leading up to Uzoka's murder in January. Koh is said to have been a "copycat", envious of Uzoka's style to the point of trying to schmooze his friends.



Uzoka had addressed Koh in a direct message: "Leave my name out of your mouth, its that simple. Ive never spoken bad of you in any way, so this is wild." Their rivalry peaked when Koh started claiming he had slept with Uzoka's model girlfriend, Ruby Campbell.

The successful model agreed to meet Koh outside of his London home. Both men brought back up as well as weapons. Uzoka wielded a dumbbell while Koh carried knifed in each of his hands. Some say that Uzoka fell on one of the knives, effectively stabbing himself, while others insist the wound was inflicted by Koh with a clear intention. Uzoka died on the sidewalk in front of his home.

Harry Uzoka was referred to as "the countrys most famous black model" in the English courtroom. Koh is said to have believed he was on the same professional level, according to the case's prosecutor.

He even suggested to one witness that they were on a similar level in the modeling world. And that was not true. Whatever was going in Kohs mind  was festering into an unhealthy and toxic mix.

George Koh's sentencing is set for September 21.

[via]
You may not be all too familiar with the name Rory Fresco just quite yet, but theres a good chance youve heard his work already. Back in 2016, Rory got a huge look when his song Lowkey appeared on soundcloud immediately following Kanye Westss Real Friends song, giving him a huge look at the time and amassing over 150K views in 24 hours thanks to Kanye. Since then however, Rory has been relatively quiet, working on his craft and signing a new deal with Kid Ink & DJ Ill Wills Alumni Gang in the process, but now hes ready to get back to the music.

Today, Rory decides to return to the scene and share a new infectious feel good record called "Oshea & OJ, which will see life on his forthcoming still untitled Indie album.

Take a listen to the self-produced cut and let us know what you think. Record available on iTunes.

Quotable Lyrics:

Never been a mother fuckin no name

Now Im blowin on my line like propane

Everywhere you go they know your name

How they sending for me but got no aim
It hasn't even been one full week since Travis Scott's last Nike Air Force 1 Low collab released, but the Houston native has already taken to instagram to reveal yet another "Cactus Jack" sneaker.

The latest Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 Low looks to feature a premium chocolate leather upper equipped with yellow stitching, a light purple Nike swoosh and light blue heel tabs. The left heel tab includes a colorful rendition of "NIKE" while the right heel tab features the familiar Cactus Jack logo. Unlike the Travis Scott x Air Force 1 Lows that have release in the passed, it does not look like this newly unveiled version features those removable tongue patches that nod to Cactus Jack Records.

It's unknown whether this special edition sneaker is an exclusive for La Flame himself, or if they'll be releasing at select Nike retailers in the future. While we await more details, check out a preview of the latest "Cactus Jack" Air Force 1 Low in the video embedded below.
Dave Ward is returning to the Houston airwaves.

The long-running news anchor at KTRK-13, who spent more than 50 years at the ABC affiliate before leaving last year, is coming back to the station next month with special segments called Dave Wards Houston, reflections on the citys history, mythology, and quirks.

The date of his return has not yet been determined.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: KTRK anchor mentors boys to become college-bound kings

Now Playing: Watch media personality Dominique Sachse reveal her beauty and life secrets. Video: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

I could not be happier to have this unique opportunity to reconnect with my viewers and KTRK colleagues as we explore the history of what I consider to be the greatest city in the world and connect with a new generation of viewers, he said in a statement.

After nearly a decade in radio, Ward came to KTRK on Nov. 9. 1966 as a reporter and was moved up to anchor a year later. He went on to cover wars in Vietnam and the Middle East as well as natural disasters and presidential elections.

Ward signed off as an anchor in May, 2017 where he fought back tears during his last broadcast. In my 50 years on television, I have never cried on the air. And I came close to it that night, closer than I ever have, he told the Chronicle. I knew it was going to be emotional. I thought I could get through it without a trembling lip, but lots of luck on that.

IN 2016: Dave Ward has had a rocky relationship with KTRK, according to HoustonChronicle.com column

Even then he said he was not using the word retire. I am not retiring, oh no, definitely not, he said. Im just going into other things.

And one of those things was, prophetically, Dave Wards Houston.

I would love to do a featurewith little-known facts about our history, he said last year in the Chronicle. There are many things about Houston that most people dont realizeFor example, our Main Street is the longest Main Street of any major city in the country, possibly the world. I want to share Houstons history with millennials and young people who are coming up. I want to stay in touch with viewers.

The more things change

cary.darling@chron.com
[Editor's note: This story contains detailed descriptions of painful burn wounds and the treatment needed to heal them. The squeamish may want to click away.]

Skin is an important organ, and often taken for granted. Until, of course, it's damaged.

And nothing damages skin like intense heat, which can kill wide swaths of flesh in a brief exposure. Recovery does not come easy.

News broke this week that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott suffered second- and third-degree burns from scalding liquid on his legs and feet. That left him needing daily hospital care to dress and clean his wounds.

"That as you can imagine is an extremely painful procedure if nerve endings are still alive in the skin and exposed," said Dr. David Herndon, chair in burn surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch and chief of staff at Shriners Hospital for Children. "It's one of the most excruciating processes known."

It's also a rare process. Severe burns are relatively uncommon injuries, requiring specialized treatment and specialized physician training. Texas only has five burn centers.

Burns come four degrees, depending on their depth. First-degree burns just touch the surface and fourth-degree burns bore down to bone. Widespread second-degree burns, and anything worse, require burn center treatment.

Because the burns kill skin. That breach in the outer walls opens a victim up to easy access by the billions of tiny predators, from bacteria to fungi, which float through the air we breathe.

Herndon said, "When skin is burned, fluid leaks out it, and that fluid is like milk. If you leave milk out for much time it grows bacteria. Bacteria will grow in the juice that leaks out of the wound."

RELATED: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott admitted to hospital for burn infection

Specifically, that liquid is filtered bloodblood without the red cellsseeping through the damaged skin.

So much can leak out that an emergency room doctor's top priority, after checking a burn patient's airway, is to replace the lost fluid with an IV, preventing the patient from going into fatal shock.

Then comes the gruesome part. A severe burn leaves the skin sticky and moist, prone to accumulate dust, fibers or dirt. Before the bandages can be applied, doctors have to clean the burn.

"We do use wash cloths. We use scissors and tweezers to remove the debris. If these wounds occur in fire they're usually covered in soot," Herndon said. "It's an extremely painful procedure which needs pain medicines and proper monitoring."

RELATED: Surgeons bring new hope to family of burned Chinese kids

Then physicians can bandage the wound. They put on a cream laced with silver, a metal with antibacterial properties, then wrap it up.

But that only lasts a day. Fluid is still leaking from the wound, and it dilutes the cream in about 24 hours, so more has to be applied.

New technology, Herndon said, allows doctors to use adhesive silver-impregnated bandages that don't need to be removed daily. But otherwise, burn patients need their wounds cleaned and re-dressed every day. Then it's the cleaning process with soap and water and wash cloths all over again.

"It's not a pretty picture," Herndon said.

Second-degree burns can heal with that process in about 10-14 days, depending on the depth. That's because some skin is still left alive to grow and repair the wound.

With third-degree burns, no living skin remains. So doctors need to plant a skin graft if the burn is bigger than a silver dollar.

To do that, they shave a thin sheet of skin from elsewhere on the patient's body and plant it on the burn. To make the grafted skin cover more area, physicians slice it up into a stretchy mesh, then attach it with stitches and bandages.

RELATED: Gov. Abbott recovering from skin graft surgery to burned feet

It has to be held in place for about a week, until blood vessels grow into it.

If a third-degree burn victim doesn't get a skin graft, Herndon said, pus will build up between the living flesh and the burn scab, until eventually it falls off, exposing the red tissue beneath.

"Then you've got a big, open, smelly sore," Herndon said.

Even with skin grafts, burn victims need years of surgery to deal with scarring.
The city of Pearland has reached an agreement for Brazoria County to handle construction of the citys planned improvements to Texas 288 frontage roads, which authorities say will hasten completion of the work by five or six years.

The planned work on the frontage roads will complement construction of four toll lanes in the median between the main lanes of Texas 288 from the Brazoria County line south to approximately County Road 58, according to a projection on a county project website. North of the Brazoria County line, Harris County is continuing the Texas 288 toll lanes into Houston.

BRAGGING RIGHTS? Houston freeway interchange is world's widest

The concept was born to include (the frontage lane work) in our current 288 project because were already working in the corridor and theres some economy of scale and funding opportunities to bump it forward, said Matt Hanks, Brazoria County Engineer. Plus you get it done in 2019 instead of 2025.

The Brazoria County portion of the toll lanes are scheduled to open to traffic in July 2019, according to Brazoria County project webpage.

The county is spending $97 million on the toll road and is contributing $1.5 million to the cost of the frontage road project in Pearland.The cost for the frontage road project is $9.9 million, of which 80 percent is eligible for federal reimbursement.

PAY ATTENTION: Texas cops really want you to learn these bus rules before school starts

The city proposed the access road project to provide additional roadway capacity and access to the retail area near the intersection. The work also would eliminate the need to enter the freeway to travel from County Road 59 to FM 518, would provide a southbound to northbound U-turn at County Road 59 and improve safety by reversing the ramps and eliminating traffic stacking into the freeway main lanes during peak traffic, according to a city press release.

The city, which approved the deal with the county on July 19, will retain responsibility for design work for the access road, which is in the early stages, city spokesman Joshua Lee said in an email statement.

A schematic design has been submitted to TxDOT for review. Comments were received a few weeks ago and are being addressed by the engineer, Lee said.

The city awarded the roadway design contract to HDR Engineering, a global infrastructure firm with offices in Houston, in late March for the design, and construction and work on schematic began in early April.

The City Council was scheduled to consider awarding a contract on Aug. 13 for a drainage plan regarding the area near the frontage road.

Design of both projects is scheduled to be complete in May 2019, and construction is estimated to begin October and be complete January 2020.

The drainage work would bid out and go to construction during the same period but separately.

The Texas Department of Transportation will oversee permitting, construction costs and associated drainage improvements. Brazoria County, as part of the agreement, will contribute $1.5 million to the project.
ESTACADA, Ore. - Justice is an 8-year-old American quarter horse who used to be named Shadow. And when he was named Shadow, he suffered. At a veterinarian's exam last year, he was 300 pounds underweight, his black coat lice-ridden, his skin scabbed and his genitals so frostbitten that they might still require amputation.

The horse had been left outside and underfed by his previous owner, who last summer pleaded guilty to criminal neglect. And now Justice, who today resides with other rescued equines on a quiet wooded farm within view of Oregon's Cascade mountains, is suing his former owner for negligence. In a lawsuit filed in his new name in a county court, the horse seeks at least $100,000 for veterinary care, as well as damages "for pain and suffering," to fund a trust that would stay with him no matter who is his caretaker.

The complaint is the latest bid in a quixotic quest to get courts to recognize animals as plaintiffs, something supporters and critics alike say would be revolutionary. The few previous attempts - including a recent high-profile case over whether a monkey can own a copyright - have failed, with judges ruling in various ways that the nonhumans lacked legal standing to sue. But Justice's case, the animal rights lawyers behind it contend, is built on court decisions and statutes that give it a stronger chance, particularly in a state with some of the nation's most progressive animal protection laws.

VIDEO: Scientists in Siberia recently found the remains of a horse dating back 30,000 to 40,000 years.

Now Playing: Scientists in Siberia recently found the remains of a horse dating back 30,000 to 40,000 years. Video: GeoBeats

"There have been a lot of efforts to try to get animals not only to be protected but to have the right to go to court when their rights are violated," said Matthew Liebman, director of litigation at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which filed the suit in Justice's name. Those "haven't found the right key to the courthouse door. And we're hopeful that this is the key."

These efforts have been made amid broad growth in legal protections and advocacy for animals. Three decades ago, few law schools offered courses in animal law; now, more than 150 do, and some states have created animal law prosecutorial units. All 50 states have enacted felony penalties for animal abuse. Connecticut last year became the first state to allow courts to appoint lawyers or law students as advocates in animal cruelty cases, in part because overburdened prosecutors were dismissing a majority of such cases.

These developments count as progress, animal rights lawyers say, in persuading lawmakers and courts to expand the traditional legal view of animals - as property - to reflect their role in a society in which dog-sitting is big business and divorces can involve cat custody battles.

"Our legislature acknowledged that people care a lot about animals, and that's something that's evolving and increasing," said Jessica Rubin, a University of Connecticut law professor who serves as an advocate in that state's cruelty cases. "The law, hopefully, is catching up to where our morals are."

But expanding the protections for animals is quite different from granting them legal standing, which courts have not been willing to do. In 2004, a federal appeals court shot down a suit in the name of the world's cetaceans, in which President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were sued over the U.S. Navy's use of sonar. In 2012, a U.S. District Court dismissed a suit filed on behalf of five SeaWorld orcas, which argued that their captivity was a violation of the 13th Amendment's prohibition on slavery. This spring, a federal appeals court ruled that a crested macaque that took its own photo could not sue for copyright protection, saying "this monkey - and all animals, since they are not human - lacks statutory standing under the Copyright Act."

In New York courts, a group called the Nonhuman Rights Project has for several years sought writs of habeas corpus for captive chimpanzees, arguing that they are "legal persons" - a term that can apply to corporations and ships - and have a right to freedom. While judges have occasionally praised the effort, they have ultimately rejected it, saying chimpanzees cannot bear the duties and responsibilities required of legal persons.

Against that backdrop, Liebman says Justice's case is "more reasonable" than the others. It does not involve the Constitution or historically weighted concepts such as slavery or a writ of habeas corpus. It's not so, well, silly-sounding as copyright for a monkey.

Instead, he and colleagues say, it is a logical next step. Their argument goes like this: While some state cruelty laws were written to protect animal owners or public morals, Oregon's anti-cruelty law makes plain it is intended to protect animals, which it calls "sentient beings." What's more, state courts have ruled that animals can be considered individual victims. And because victims have the right to sue their abusers, the lawsuit says, Justice should be able to sue his former owner.

Justice, of course, has no idea he is suing. Sarah Hanneken, an Animal Legal Defense Fund attorney in Portland, says that Justice's ignorance of the lawsuit is irrelevant.

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"This whole idea of somebody who has been injured by the acts of another and not being able to speak for themselves in court, so having an adult human do it for them, this is not new," Hanneken said. "Children are allowed to bring lawsuits, because we recognize that children have interests that laws protect."

According to court filings, Justice's former owner, Gwendolyn Vercher, surrendered the horse to a rescue organization in March 2017 at the urging of a neighbor in Cornelius, west of Portland. In a letter to law enforcement, an equine veterinarian who examined the horse at the time said he was "severely emaciated," lethargic and weak. That poor condition probably contributed to a lasting problem - the animal's penis had prolapsed, and his inability to retract it led to frostbite, trauma and infection.

"When I got him, he was a lot worse than I anticipated," said Kim Mosiman, executive director of Sound Equine Options, which takes in and finds homes for about 100 horses each year.

Justice, whom Mosiman fondly describes as "like a grumpy old man," has gained weight and become more social. On a sun-soaked afternoon at the dusty farm in Estacada, he nibbled grass alongside a retired racehorse named Flick and used his nose to nudge the notebook of a visiting reporter. But the lawsuit says his penis may require partial amputation and that his medical conditions will demand long-term care.

"I'm trying to find someone who wants to adopt him," Mosiman said. "But if they find out they're going to have to be financially responsible for him, he's never going anywhere."

Some animal law experts warn that Justice's lawsuit is extreme, even dangerous. Richard Cupp, a Pepperdine University law professor who has been critical of the chimpanzee personhood cases, said he thinks the horse case has even more radical implications.

Allowing Justice to sue could mean any animal protected under Oregon's anti-cruelty statute - a class that includes thousands of pets, zoo animals and even wildlife - could do the same, he said. (Livestock, lab animals, hunting targets, rodeo animals and invertebrates are exempted.) If this approach were adopted elsewhere, Cupp said, a stampede of animal litigation could overrun courts.

"Any case that could lead to billions of animals having the potential to file lawsuits is a shocker in the biggest way," Cupp said. "Once you say a horse or dog or cat can personally sue over being abused, it's not too big a jump to say, 'Well, we're kind of establishing that they're legal persons with that. And legal persons can't be eaten.' "

Cupp emphasized that he supports Oregon's progressive animal cruelty laws and rulings. But legislation is a more reasonable way of expanding animal protections, he said. Justice's case, for example, could be addressed through a law requiring an abuser to cover an animal's future care. "This would not be bad for society," Cupp said. "We do need to evolve. We're not doing enough to protect animals."

Cupp points to a Connecticut law as one that maintains an important distinction between animals and people. It focuses on "the interests of justice," not the animals' interests.

Geordie Duckler, a Portland animal law attorney who represents Vercher, said he views the horse lawsuit as a publicity stunt, one he does not expect Oregon courts to take very seriously.

"There's a massive chasm between saying a thing is a victim and saying now it must have rights, and the rights are apparently the full panoply of rights, and must include a right to sue," Duckler said. "There's no such thing as a right in a vacuum. . . . As soon as you have animal rights, then you'd better have animal jails and prosecutions against animals."

The slippery-slope arguments are familiar to Mosiman, who calls her group an animal welfare, not animal rights, organization. When she considered Justice's long-term needs, though, she had no qualms about signing him up as a plaintiff, she said.

"It was pretty clear-cut: If he wasn't starved, this wouldn't have happened," Mosiman said as Justice languidly scratched his neck and head against a towering pine tree. "It's about him."

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Video: Justice, an 8-year-old American quarterhorse who now resides on a rescue farm in Gresham, Ore., is the plaintiff in a negligence case against his former owner.(Joyce Koh/The Washington Post)

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WASHINGTON - A federal judge upheld the constitutionality of special counsel Robert Mueller's appointment on Monday, finding Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein lawfully named Mueller in May 2017 in a challenge to an indictment brought by a Russian firm accused of funding an Internet trolling operation targeting U.S. voters.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a 2017 appointee of President Donald Trump to the District of Columbia, was the latest trial-level judge - including ones appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents - to cast doubt on arguments advanced by conservative legal thinkers led by Northwestern law professor Steven Calabresi about the validity of Mueller's appointment.

Some advocates have said they are seeking to get an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.Calabresi is a founder and current chairman of the Federalist Society.

Friedrich became the second federal judge to find that higher court precedents "make clear that the Acting Attorney General has the necessary statutory authority" to name a special counsel under the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Attorneys for Concord Management and Consulting argued in the case that the Appointments Clause requires the special counsel either be a "principal officer" nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, or be put in place only after Congress passes a law specifically allowing the deputy attorney general to confer the attorney general's prosecutorial authority on an "inferior officer."

Concord has pleaded not guilty to charges it conspired to obstruct the 2016 U.S. election by funding a coordinated fake social media propaganda campaign run by Internet Research Agency of St. Petersburg that pushed voters toward then-Republican candidate Donald Trump and away from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Friedrich ruled in a 41-page opinion the special counsel is in fact an inferior officer subject to the direction and supervision of acting attorney general, who may rescind or revise the rules governing its work and who "moreover, . . . has the power to remove the Special Counsel at will."

"Congress vested the Acting Attorney General with the power to appoint the Special Counsel," Friedrich added, saying past rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit have made clear that authority "even though no statute explicitly authorizes" it.

Friedrich's ruling tracked a July 31 decision by Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell of the District, who rejected a similar challenge by a witness seeking to quash a subpoena to appear before a grand jury working with Mueller's probe.

In demanding witness Andrew Miller's testimony, Howell, a 2010 Obama appointee, concluded "the Special Counsel's power falls well within the boundaries the Constitution permits."

A third judge, 1987 Reagan appointee U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III of Alexandria, Virginia, who is overseeing the tax and bank fraud trial of Paul Manafort, former Trump presidential campaign chairman, was not asked to rule directly on the constitutional question, but noted in a separate opinion in Manafort's case that "such an objection would likely fail."

The judge in Manafort's prosecution in the District, 2011 Obama appointee Amy Berman Jackson, also dismissed defense motions to find Mueller's appointment in conflict with the Justice Department's special counsel regulations or that he exceeded his authority.

The defense team for Miller, a former aide to longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone, acknowledged they were prompted to step into the case after Calabresi wrote a series of articles outlining his views and planned Monday to appeal the issue to D.C. Circuit. Howell formally found Miller in contempt on Friday, after he refused to appear to grand jurors.

"None of these questions are easy. That's why we think it's headed to the Supreme Court," Miller attorney Paul Kamenar said.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump taunted Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Monday, asserting that his increasingly vocal Republican rival is "very unpopular" and a "failed presidential candidate," and to blame for the narrow margin in last week's special congressional election in the state.

Kasich responded with an impish tweet: an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin breaking into a grin and laughing.

The salvos were the latest in the feud between Trump and Kasich, who is considering challenging Trump in the 2020 presidential race and has become one of the president's sharpest GOP critics.

Trump's attack, while demeaning, gave Kasich something his allies say he needs: a burst of national attention as he mulls whether to take on Trump and seek the party's presidential nomination.

"It elevates Kasich," Bill Kristol, a conservative commentator and anti-Trump organizer, said. "What helps Trump the most is the idea that 85 percent of Republicans support him, so how could anyone run against him? The exchange with Kasich gets at Trump's problems with general election voters."

Kristol added, "After the midterm elections in November, the whole party is going to ask whether it makes sense, politically, to stick with Trump. Trump knows that moment is coming and so does Kasich."

Kasich has been busy making the case that Republicans should be wary of following Trump's lead. He told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the Aug. 7 election in Ohio's heavily Republican 12th Congressional District was a reaction to the "chaos" he says voters see in Trump's Washington, from the president's conduct to Trump's hard-line stances on trade and immigration.

"What you had is, I think, a message from the voters to the Republicans that you've got to stop the chaos and you've got to get more in tune and stop alienating people," Kasich said. "It wasn't a good night."

Troy Balderson, the Republican nominee in the central Ohio district, remains neck-and-neck with Democrat Danny O'Connor in the race, which has not yet been called nearly a week after voters went to the polls. Regardless who wins the election, the two candidates will square off again in November.

Trump swept into Ohio the weekend before the special election for a rally, and in a tweet last week, he moved to take credit for Balderson's tally at the time, which showed him slightly ahead of O'Connor.

Still, many GOP strategists viewed the results in Ohio and in several primaries nationally last week as a dark omen three months before Election Day, saying they illustrate the limits of Trump's ability to lift his party, particularly in suburban areas where the president's popularity has suffered.

Trump, however, singled out Kasich on Monday as the reason for Balderson's underwhelming showing, arguing without evidence that Kasich voicing concerns about Balderson's embrace of Trump - Balderson spoke alongside Trump at the closing rally - affected Republican turnout.

"The very unpopular Governor of Ohio (and failed presidential candidate) @JohnKasich hurt Troy Balderson's recent win by tamping down enthusiasm for an otherwise great candidate," Trump tweeted. "Even Kasich's Lt. Governor lost Gov. race because of his unpopularity. Credit to Troy on the BIG WIN!"

Ohio's lieutenant governor, Mary Taylor, lost her race for Ohio's Republican gubernatorial nomination in May.

A Quinnipiac poll in June showed Kasich far outpacing Trump in terms of approval among Ohio voters. Fifty-two percent of registered Ohio voters approve of the job Kasich is doing as governor, while 43 percent approve of Trump's performance as president.

Kasich's top advisers welcomed the president's scorn as a sign that Trump is keeping close watch on the threats he may eventually confront in his own party.

"They had been pretty disciplined about not attacking Kasich for the last two years or so," Kasich strategist John Weaver said in an interview, referring to the Trump White House. "But the president is watching TV, and he's not just watching Fox, and he's hearing the footsteps behind him."

Trump's tweet Monday also reflects his eagerness to deflect blame for Republicans' lackluster showing in the special election regardless of whether he perceives Kasich as a legitimate threat or just another critic to be rebuked for speaking out against him.

Kasich, 66, sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination yet struggled to loosen Trump's grip on the party's base voters and never mounted a serious challenge. At political stops since then, Kasich has regularly cast himself as a pragmatic and compassionate politician who holds hawkish views on foreign policy. Kasich has plans to return to New Hampshire, which holds the first presidential primary, in November.

During his years in the U.S. House, Kasich was known as a budget-cutting conservative, but he has since developed a more moderate persona due to his criticism of Trump and his decision to accept the expansion of Medicaid in Ohio as part of President Obama's health-care law.

Unlike a crowd of prominent Republicans who were critical of Trump in the final weeks of the 2016 race, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Ohio, and former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, Kasich has remained critical and frequently called out Trump and the president's agenda.

"It's been pretty lonely out here," Kasich told The Guardian in July. "Most of the people have been upset with [Trump], and then endorse him and then they get upset with him. I just have not operated that way."

Several modern Republican presidents have faced primary battles of varying degrees of seriousness. Incumbent Gerald Ford was challenged by Ronald Reagan in 1976 and George H.W. Bush was challenged by conservative leader Patrick Buchanan in 1992. Both Ford and Bush went on to fend off those challenges but were defeated in the general election after being hobbled.

Some historians are skeptical of a potential Kasich campaign, framing a challenge from the center as far more difficult than running against a president from the right.

"Reagan had deep roots in the conservative movement long before 1976," said conservative author Craig Shirley, who has written extensively about Reagan's run against Ford. Citing Reagan's national radio commentaries in the 1970s and his relationships throughout the GOP's activist wing, Shirley said "Kasich is not Reagan and has no such national following and no signature issue."

Kasich was coy on Sunday when asked about a 2020 run.

"Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. I don't know," he said.

Weaver, who served as Kasich's strategist during the 2016 race, said the governor's retort on Monday - a smiling, seemingly dismissive image of Putin on Twitter - was a message meant for the president.

"We're not going to be trifled with," Weaver said. "We're going to bring a machete to a knife fight."

White House officials dismissed Weaver's remark.

"He's cursing the darkness," said one senior administration official, who was not authorized to speak publicly. "Who's showing up to that fight? No one."

- - -

Felicia Sonmez and Emily Guskin contributed to this report.
Now Playing: A 12-year-old girl was grazed by a bullet when her home in southwest Houston was struck by gunfire in a drive-by shooting Monday night, police said. Video: Metro Video

A 12-year-old girl was grazed by a bullet when her home in southwest Houston was struck by gunfire in a drive-by shooting Monday night, police said.

Sometime between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, a car drove down the 11500 block of Fairmont, in the Fondren area, and shot at the upper level of a house, Det. Arthur Ferrell said.
A new reporter from Tennessee will soon be joining Houston's ABC 13 family.

After three years at WTVC Chattanooga, Katherine Marchand is heading over to ABC 13 as a reporter.

Marchand previously interned at CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," WSB Atlanta and the White House in the Communications Department, according to Houston media reporter Mike McGuff.

"The last three years in Chattanooga have made a huge impact on my life," Marchand said on Facebook. "The people here not only helped me grow as a journalist but have also become my closest friends. I'm sad to leave them and the beautiful city that I love so much (there's no Walnut Street Bridge in Houston!), but I'm so excited for this new opportunity."

Last month, two veteran ABC 13 journalists announced they would be leaving the station, including Tim Heller who announced his retirement after nearly two decades on the job.

See other recent changes that have happened to Houston's TV personalities above.

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Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93




Six years after journalist Austin Tice was kidnapped while reporting in Syria, Marc and Debra Tice swung through Washington and New York on Tuesday with one simple message: Enough. Its time to bring Austin home.

The American government and the Syrian government need to engage directly to secure Austins safe release, Debra Tice said Sunday. Its been six years.

Tice, a 37-year-old Houston native and former Marine, disappeared six years ago while reporting on the Syrian civil war for The Washington Post, the McClatchy newspaper chain and other news outlets.

Now Playing: Austin Tice was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 while covering the country's civil war. On Tuesday, six years after he went missing, his family called for direct talks between the U.S. and Syrian governments to secure his safe return to the U.S. Video: Austin Tice Family, Houston Chronicle

The Tices reiterated calls for their sons release in an appearance on NBCs Today Show, and in a stop at the National Press Club, which hosted an exhibition of photographs that Austin shot in Syria while covering the conflict there.

The exhibition  titled Children of Syria  was first displayed at Georgetown University. Debra Tice said she hopes to display it at other universities in Washington and elsewhere, and at the U.S. Senate and House.

Focusing attention

The Tices visit to the nations capital comes as the Trump administration has prioritized the recovery of American hostages  including the May release of three Americans held prisoner in North Korea and the July freeing of a Houston native jailed in Vietnam  and amid a shift in the U.S. governments efforts to locate Tice in recent years.

In April, the FBI announced that it was offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Tices whereabouts and his return to the U.S.

Margaux Ewen, the North America director for Reporters Without Borders, the press freedom watchdog, said Tices story needs to remain a priority for American journalists.

Its certainly challenging, the way news is produced and shared these days, to keep the publics attention on Austin because hes been gone so long, she said. But when people do hear about Austin, most are supportive and want to help, and the way they can help is by spreading the word about his case.

According to Reporters Without Borders, more foreign journalists are held captive in Syria than anywhere else, with three people missing for longer than five years. Of those, Tice is the lone American being held abroad. Kevin Patrick Dawes, a photographer from California, was kidnapped in 2012 by government forces and released four years later. Jordanian journalist Bashar al-Kadumi and British reporter John Cantlie have been held captive there since 2012, a Reporters Without Borders report from last year noted.

The Tices have steadfastly pushed to keep attention focused on Austins plight and to bring him home.

Since 2012, they have visited dozens of government officials. Theyve worked with Clear Channel to show Tices story on billboards around Houston, launched a campaign in newspapers nationwide to highlight his story, traveled to the Middle East in search of information about their sons whereabouts, and appeared on major TV networks to press for his release.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Monday that Tices absence over the past six years has proved an unimaginable and devastating time for Tices family and friends.

Im in awe of their perseverance as they continue their relentless push to bring him home, he said, renewing past calls for Tices release. Im thankful the Trump administration shares my desire to see him come home as soon as possible.

Courage and fortitude

Officials from the news organizations where Tice worked have also continued to press for his return and raise awareness about his work. Washington Post Foreign editor Douglas Jehl said that Tices stories from Syria contributed important, on-the-ground reporting at a decisive phase in the conflict.

His family has endured unimaginable pain as a result of his captivity, he said. His parents, Debra and Marc Tice, have championed his cause with passion, courage and fortitude.

Officials at the McClatchy newspaper chain penned op-eds calling for Tices release. Last week, company officials raised flags emblazoned with the phrase Free Austin Tice at its 33 newsrooms across the country, another move meant to bring attention to his absence.

We owe it to Austin, to his family and to journalists everywhere to keep telling his story, said Tim Grieve, McClatchys vice president of news. And its a somber reminder for all Americans about the risks journalists take every day to do their jobs and keep us informed.

st.john.smith@chron.com

twitter.com/stjbs
A Harris County jury is expected Tuesday to continue deliberating the fate of a Jordanian immigrant after prosecutors argued he should be put to death for masterminding two honor killings, fatal shootings where his son-in-law and his daughters close friend were ambushed at their homes in 2012.

Jurors spent almost five hours Monday trying to decide whether to give Ali Mahwood-Awad Irsan, 60, the death penalty for the two murders or sentence him to life in prison without parole.

His evil is real, and it is scary, special prosecutor Anna Emmons said of Irsan during closing arguments. He will lie, cheat, steal manipulate, abuse, torture, stalk and kill to get what he wants.

The damning words were some of the last statements the jury heard in the lengthy death penalty trial of Irsan. Weeks earlier the same jury quickly found him guilty of the double homicide of his 28-year-old son-in-law, Coty Beavers, in November 2012, and Gelareh Bagherzadeh, an Iranian activist who was a close friend of Irsans daughter, 11 months earlier in January.

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Irsans defense team invoked scripture and the story of Cain and Abel to try to convince jurors that God would prefer a condemned man to live with sin and shame rather than be killed.

Attorney Rudy Duarte also argued that jurors should take Irsans Jordanian upbringing and religion into account.

How can you sentence someone to death if you dont understand their culture, he asked the jury, and argued that the death penalty is ethically and morally wrong.

It is an attack on all human dignity, everywhere, Duarte said. In a modern society, the death penalty is not necessary.

The defense, in their closing arguments, also noted that Irsan may not be kept in general population if he is sentenced to life without parole. It was an argument that prompted jurors later to send a note to the judge for clarification. The jury was read portions of the earlier testimony of a prison official who said Irsan would not automatically be jailed in administrative segregation, but could end up there if he causes trouble behind bars.

In an attempt to mitigate Irsans actions, defense attorney Allan Tanner revisited testimony that showed the Jordanian patriarch chickened out at the first murder scene outside a Galleria-area townhome. Tanner pointed the finger at Irsans son, who allegedly went with his father and step mother and was the one who pulled the trigger to kill Bagherzadeh.

Thats mitigation, he said, referring to Irsans apparent hesitation to shoot his daughters friend.

Were not talking about convicting someone now, were talking about putting someone to death, Tanner said.

Duarte and Tanner noted that Irsans second wife, who was at both murder scenes, testified against her husband in exchange for a guilty plea to felony kidnapping and a sentence limited to the time she has been held in jail awaiting trial.

She has all the motivation in the world to lie to you, Tanner said about 40-year-old Shmou Ali Alrawabdeh. We dont know what happened at either crime scene, we really dont.

He also argued that the death penalty is futile, especially for a 60-year-old when the average time of death row is 11 years.

Just killing him, I dont see how that solves anything, Tanner said. I dont see any good in killing the guy when hes going to be 80 or 90.

During closing arguments, special prosecutor Marie Primm weaved together more than 20 years of Irsans bad acts to sway jurors against letting Irsan serve a life sentence in general population in prison.

She reminded the jury that Irsan also killed a different son-in-law in 1999.

Irsan testified that it was in self-defense. Other family members said he blasted Amjad Alidam in the chest with a shotgun because he did not approve of Alidams marriage to his oldest daughter, then planted a pistol on the body.

Ali Irsan gets to be the judge, jury and executioner of anyone who goes outside of Ali Irsans control. she said.

Both sides had about an hour to give closing arguments Monday capping an eight-week capital murder trial in state District Judge Jan Krockers court. After five weeks of testimony, the jury took less than an hour to convict Irsan of capital murder in July.

The same jury then spent two weeks listening to testimony to determine whether Irsan should be sentenced to death or life without parole.

In order to sentence Irsan to death, jurors will have to agree that he would be a future danger to society and there are not enough mitigating circumstances to spare his life. Jurors began deliberating immediately after closings.

brian.rogers@chron.com

twitter.com/brianjrogers
On Monday the debate remained: had El Tiempo erred in serving Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then posting to Facebook about it?

The decision over the weekend had drawn ire from both sides. Some called for a boycott of the restaurant, a favorite Tex-Mex spot of many. Others said El Tiempo should not apologize but stand strong.

And then, amid the noise, a rival Tex-Mex restaurant threw itself into the fray, perhaps seizing an opportunity to poke fun at -- and perhaps drum up some business from -- the establishment down the road.

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Along busy Westheimer Road in Montrose on Monday evening, the marquee on El Real Tex Mex Cafe blazed in bright red letters: "BRUNCH SESSIONS AT EL REAL ARE ALWAYS CAGE FREE AND FULL OF RAINBOWS."

El Tiempo wasn't the only place visited by Sessions, who was in Houston Friday to speak about ways to reduce gang violence. "This should be obvious: if we want to reduce violent crime we should reduce illegal immigrant crime," Sessions said.

He spoke the words after visiting La Mexicana for breakfast..

But it was the El Tiempo debate that drew attention from near and far, as the controversy spread on the radio, in offices and on personal social media accounts. (The restaurant's social media platforms are now dark .) People also took to Yelp, which Monday had an alert saying it was in the process of clearing out posts related to the news event.

A protest was planned at another of the El Tiempo locations for Monday night.
The parents of Raymond Pryer Jr. alleged that staff at a Houston day care facility were "grossly negligent" when they left their 3-year-old boy in a sweltering school van following a field trip last month, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday morning in Harris County District Court.

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The father, Raymond Pryer and mother, Dikeisha Whitlock-Pryer, said in a news conference Tuesday morning that their child's death on July 19 left them "destroyed." They're hoping the lawsuit sends a message to all daycares to follow safety procedures, and in some cases implement additional measures that prevent children from being forgotten in hot vehicles.

The family is also asking for more than $1 million in monetary relief, but their attorney said no amount of money could make up for their anguish.

"I feel like a whole part of my insides is missing," Raymond Pryer said during the news conference.

The family has since created a website for their son to draw attention to vehicular heat tragedies.

Around the time of the toddler's death, investigators and first responders said a chaperone and the driver, both daycare employees, left the boy in the bus for more than four hours after returning from a field trip at a local park with nearly 30 children.

The boy was discovered after his father came to the daycare center to pick him up, and a search determined he had been left in the van where temperatures were recorded as high as 113 degrees.

Houston police said they are still investigating the situation, and no criminal charges have been filed. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is also continuing its investigation into the death, spokeswoman Tejal Patel said.

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Discovering Me, located in the 8000 block of Antoine Drive, remained closed on Tuesday afternoon. Wilson said he didn't know whether the daycare or its owner and director, Tanisha Butler, have retained an attorney.

Discovering Me was cited in 2015 for failing to install safety alarms on the buses to prevent such tragedies, according to state records. They corrected that oversight within a month, but authorities have not elaborated on the safety measures in the bus where Raymond died, citing the ongoing investigation.

The family's attorney, Larry Wilson, said the boy's death could have been prevented if the daycare followed its own procedures.

"You take your children to a daycare in the morning, and you expect that people at the daycare will be looking out for your children," Wilson said. "That's all this family wanted."

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com
Spurred to action after the Santa Fe High School shooting on May 18, Houston-area school districts spent the summer upgrading security at their campuses.

The Chronicle polled more than 30 traditional ISDs in Greater Houston to see what changes students could expect on the first day of the 2018-2019 school year, which begins for some students on Wednesday. Here are updates from the 25 districts that responded or received coverage earlier this summer:

ALIEF ISD

Steps to increase safety integrity include:

Strict adherence to sign-in and identification procedures for visitors on campus

Implementation of random weapons checks on students at all grade levels carried out using walk-through metal-detectors and metal detecting wands

Increased number of active emergency drills

Construction of additional campus security vestibules

Added additional firearm- and explosives-detecting K9 officers

Increase of AISD police patrols and presence on and around campuses

Required printed photo student IDs at the secondary level

Increased camera surveillance systems across the district

Increased monitoring of social media

ALVIN ISD

The Board of Trustees authorized additional law enforcement manpower for campuses. This will be accomplished by expanding the full time Alvin ISD Police Force and partnering with officers from multiple neighboring law enforcement agencies.

Alvin ISD is installing and testing a lockdown emergency notification system that will be deployed to every facility (or campus) in the district.

Counselors and special programs professionals will intervene and offer broadened assistance for social, emotional, and psychological issues and support.

Alvin ISD is actively supporting the, See Something, Say Something campaign as it relates to safety and security.

Each campus leadership team engaged in a process focused on evaluating the caring, supportive, and nurturing environment provided to each student, and intentional action steps were identified to improve the campus climate.

CHANNELVIEW ISD

The Channelview Independent School District has expanded the District Safety Committee to include district and campus level administrators, teachers, parents and community members, and community agencies, to work collaboratively on proactively safeguarding our schools.

The Board of Trustees approved a recommendation to increase the number of school resource officers in the district for a total of 15 deputies in the district and at least one deputy on each campus.

READ ALSO: Metal detectors spark intense debate in Santa Fe

CLEAR CREEK ISD

New hires and volunteers

Add 15 SLOs to the CCISD security force which will bring comprehensive high schools to three full-time officers and intermediate schools to two SLO officers per campus. The second intermediate SLO also will patrol elementary schools and ensure intermediate schools always are covered with a minimum of one officer.

Establish or expand community policing and outreach programs such as DARE and Watch D.O.G.S. to provide an additional layer of security at the elementary schools.

Increase the number of student support counselors at the high school level and implement a student support counselor program at each intermediate school.

Investigate the need for additional licensed professional counselors to support student needs.

Create a counselor to student ratio commensurate with the state average of 450:1.

Increase mental health consultants and partnerships with agencies.

Facilities changes

Ensure all classroom doors can be locked from both sides.

Increase the number of controlled access points.

Decrease the number of uncontrolled access points.

Replace obsolete cameras in campuses and on buses.

Increase staff access to panic buttons and develop strict protocols for use.

Evaluate and install bullet/shatter-resistant film on windows and doors in strategic locations.

Ensure school liaison officers and area police dispatch centers can access security cameras remotely.

Develop individual site plans, utilizing technology, to ensure exterior doors are not ajar during school times.

Safety training

Conduct at a minimum, one lockdown and one hold drill per semester.

Conduct drills during random times of the school day so that staff and students know what to do during passing periods.

Train all substitutes on emergency protocols and require demonstration of proficiency annually.

Implement tabletop emergency scenario training for staff to be conducted four times a year during faculty meetings.

Develop training information specifically for parents, in multiple languages, on all CCISD emergency protocols.

Train all staff on basic life saving techniques every two years.

Offer volunteer lifesaving training courses for students before or after school.

Expand mental health first-aid training offerings to staff, substitutes, students and parents.

Through Safety Protocols

Develop student-centered plans for self-contained special education classrooms and communicate such plans to parents annually.

Create a reunification process for students and staff who leave a campus in an emergency.

Expand existing campus safety protocols to include after-hours activities.

Develop safety protocols for students who may be outside or not in room in an emergency.

Establish safety plans for students and staff with medical needs.

Develop a written policy for staff, limiting the use of cell phones and electronic devices until an all-clear is given.

Request, via legislative efforts, a reduction in the required fire drills to allow for more time for other emergency drills.

Policy

Strengthen dress code policy to address safety, not just modesty concerns.

Require students and staff to wear identification badges at all times on intermediate and high school campuses.

Reduce discretionary language from CCISD policies to ensure consistent application.

Student Wellness

Implement a standard mental health check-in as part of the school counselor academic advisement sessions in grades 6-12 and a mental health assessment tool at the elementary level.

Communications

Create a CCISD emergency app and website to share current security status, emergency protocols, and pertinent school safety information.

Implement a school-wide and community-wide information campaign, outlining the criminal, legal and disciplinary consequences of creating and sharing threats or rumors of threats.

Clearly communicate code of conduct violations and consequences to parents and students.

Develop graduated threat levels and post on the district's communication platforms.

Click here for more information about Clear Creek ISDs security action plan.

CLEVELAND ISD

Every classroom in Cleveland ISD to be equipped with devices to stop doors from being breached during active shooter events.

The door stoppers work by slipping the bottom of a door into a channel and then dropping an attached metal pin into a hole in the floor.

Read more of our earlier coverage on the door stoppers by clicking here.

CONROE ISD

Conroe Independent School District officials are considering a plan to add 46 officers to the districts police department over the next two years.

The goal is to have one police officer at each campus, according to district officials.

Read more about our earlier coverage of the potential new hires by clicking here.

RELATED: Clear Creek ISD security panel opts against metal detectors, armed teachers

CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD

The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD safety and security committee unveiled its 2018-2019 Safety and Security Action Plan at the Board of Trustees committee-of-the-whole meeting on Aug. 9.

Prevention

The CFISD police department has increased its number of commissioned police officers from 86 last year to 108 for 2018-2019. The department also will implement three K-9 units trained in narcotics and nitrate detection. Two police officers will transition into mental health officer positions to assist the guidance and counseling and psychological services departments in addressing mental health concerns on campuses.

Safety and security upgrades funded by the 2014 Bond Program continue to roll out at campuses, including secured entry vestibules, bullet-resistant glass, additional security cameras and emergency call stations. Panic buttons will be installed in all portable buildings in 2018-2019.

All students in grades 6-12 will be required to wear a student ID badge during the instructional day and will join elementary students in wearing the badges on board school buses. All school visitors must wear a visitor badge issued at check-in.

Backpacks worn by secondary students on school property are required to be clear backpacks. Approved extracurricular bags, including instrument cases, are permitted in the building but must be stored during the instructional day. Visitors to Cy-Fair FCU and Pridgeon stadiums in 2018-2019 will be required to limit bags to clear bags or a non-transparent 6-by-9-inch purse or similar bag. The district has purchased about 43,000 clear backpacks already for economically disadvantaged students and will provide others to students for $10.

All campuses will implement procedures to limit entry points for faculty, students and visitors. The district also will continue to explore the possibility of identifying exit-only doors and removing door handles on certain doors. Fast food deliveries for students will be prohibited.

Identification and Intervention

Campuses will continue to advertise the Cy-Fair Tipline for students, an internal and anonymous reporting system. A visible button will be added to each campus website for easy sharing with the CFPD and campus administration. The CFPD will continue to work with the Houston Regional Intelligence Service Center to identify potential threats on social media.

All teachers, counselors, district and campus administrators, transportation and community programs staff will undergo mental health assessment training prior to the start of the school year.

Response

CFISDs school safety and security committee will meet three times per year and provide updates and reports to the board of trustees twice a year.

All campuses will continue to implement and practice emergency operations plans, based on a template provided by the Texas School Safety Center. All campus and district administrators will be trained in the Standard Response Protocol and Standard Reunification Method prior to the start of the school year.

All staff members will receive active shooter training prior to the start of the school year, while all CFPD officers are required to complete active shooter trainings, as well as crisis intervention training. A mental health crisis response team of licensed behavior health professionals has been formed to respond during critical incidents.

View the Safety and Security Action Plan presented during the Aug. 9 Board of Trustees work session on the CFISD YouTube channel. For all safety- and security-related details in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, visit www.cfisd.net/safety.

DEER PARK ISD

Immediately after the Santa Fe ISD shooting, Deer Park ISD Superintendent Victor White released the following actions taken by the district:

Increased the number of police officers present at our high school campuses and the number of counselors available to provide support to students with emotional needs.

A security officer will be posted at each public and student entrance at the high schools.

Ongoing review and outside audit of safety and emergency operations procedures.

Plans under way to use 2017 bond proceeds to replace security cameras at all facilities, install shatter-resistant window film, update visitor check-in system, purchase panic alarms, and improve safety lighting.

School security cameras monitored throughout the school day by employees.

DICKINSON ISD

Dickinson is working to set-up a safety and security committee of parents, staff members, emergency officials and others to review potential changes.

The district has has contracted with Social Sentinel, a firm that screens students public social media posts and flags concerning words or images for school administrators. Another program, will monitor students district-issued Google accounts, including Gmail, Google Drive and other features.

One additional Galveston County Sheriffs deputy will join the districts four school liaison officers.

RELATED: Santa Fe shooting sparks renewed focus on designing safer schools

FRIENDSWOOD ISD

In the coming weeks, trustees will vote on an action plan created by the districts security committee

Other changes officials hope will be ready in August include:

Additional roving officer for elementary and intermediate schools

Increased duty officer presence on campus

Security enhancements for large events

Limit on the number of access points at the secondary level during and after the school day

FHS rear entrance will be staffed during school hours

Renovate existing security vestibules at Friendswood Jr. High, Cline, Windsong and Bales

Remove door hardware from doors not used as a physical entrance

Update school signage

Crisis/ student support counselor at Friendswood High

Hire administrative assistant for junior high school counseling staff to provide additional time for student interaction

Create a threat assessment team on each campus to identify and create action plans for students who are a possible threat to themselves or others

Create uniform and visible IDs for all staff and substitutes

Update the Student Code of Conduct to address penalties for failure to comply with safety measures

Communicate standard response protocols with students, staff and the community

Collect students cell phone numbers in grades 6-12 during registration for safety communication

All lunch visitations by parents in elementary and middle schools will require they be separated from the rest of the student population

Create staff safety manuals

Create an emergency management procedures handbook

Mandatory staff and substitute training

Threat assessment team training

Mental health training for all employees

Social media monitoring

School Guard App, staff panic button on smartphones

Stop the Bleed program training and kits

See something, Say something promotion

Purchase additional radios

Implement a GroupMe Communication System

FORT BEND ISD

The community can expect to learn more about recommendations to enhance safety measures already in place based on the recommendations of a community-based Safety Advisory Committee, which will be shared with our Board of Trustees on Monday. During the same meeting, the board will be asked to call a $992 million bond referendum that includes money for some of these enhancements, including funds for fences at campuses.

The 2014 bond program included millions for safety upgrades, including updated security cameras and vestibules, or upgrades to existing vestibules.

Work on the remaining vestibules was expedited earlier this year, and nearly all campus will have completed vestibules by the start of school. In the interim, district officials expect to have an extra security presence at those campuses where vestibule work continues.

GOOSE CREEK ISD

Goose Creek CISD has increased police, security, and patrol officers while continuing a training set of drills and scenarios focused on preparedness for students, teachers and all district staff.

HOUSTON ISD

HISD has not implemented any additional security measures ahead of the 2018-2019 school year.

HUFFMAN ISD

Huffman ISD's Board of Trustees approved a change in policy in May that will allow the district to arm qualified staff in the district's four schools beginning in August, supplementing protection already offered by two school resource officers who monitor the campuses.

The district hired a second resource officer after having only one patrol its schools for 15 years.

Read more on our previous coverage of Huffman ISD's guardian program by clicking here.

READ ALSO: Experts disagree on how students, teachers should respond when a gunman is on campus

LAMAR CISD

At its regular May meeting, the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Dallis Warren to be the District's first school safety coordinator. In his new position, Warren will ensure all campuses are following best practices in school safety and that all staff and students are prepared for any kind of emergency.

MAGNOLIA ISD

Magnolia ISD will add 10 school liaison officers to its ranks for a total of 18; Two will patrol each high school and one officer will be stationed at the rest.

Every employee will receive active-shooter training in September, and workers will install electronic locks and additional cameras at all campuses.

The district also created a new disaster plan with reunification points, triage plans and communication responses.

NEW CANEY ISD

Maintain coordination and cooperation with county law enforcement and emergency management agencies

All campuses have metal detecting wands for random checks or as needed for specific purposes

Conduct regular crisis and safety management drills with students and staff in schools; and annually conduct staff training in bullying prevention, mental health awareness, child abuse awareness and prevention, and suicide awareness and prevention

Conduct grade level meetings with students regarding safety, conduct, and responsibility, and implement character development programs like our POWER (Positive Outreach While Empowering Responsibility) program at the middle school level

Promote and encourage use of our Safe Schools Reporting program and Crime Stoppers program

PEARLAND ISD

New secured visitor entrances on almost every district campus through a project funded from a 2016 bond package.

All but four the district's 23 campuses will have secured entrances in operation for the start of classes.

Read more about our previous coverage of Pearland ISD's security vestibules here.

RELATED: Seven schools record threats amid heightened security after Santa Fe shooting

KATY ISD

Additional campus safety and security measures include:

All parents and visitors must now present a valid, current, government-issued picture ID outside of the main entrance at all Katy ISD campuses prior to gaining admittance. Each campus is equipped with a controlled access system that includes a camera and an intercom that parents and visitors will need to utilize when presenting their ID for entrance. To gain further access beyond the campus front lobby, individuals will again be required to present their ID to the front desk receptionist in order to be officially logged into the visitor tracking system.

Secondary students must wear their ID badges at all times during school hours, while on district property.

Controlled access systems on campuses will now unlock main entrance doors at a set time each morning. The standard door unlock times for main entrance doors are:

Elementary Group 1 7:35 a.m.

Elementary Group 2 7:55 a.m.

Junior High 8:10 a.m.

High School 6:45 a.m.

Students who are dropped off before the doors are unlocked will not be able to enter the building, unless they are there for an official school activity or other exception.

SANTA FE ISD

Explainer: What security changes are coming to Santa Fe schools after shooting?

SPRING ISD

Continued use of metal detectors at the secondary level to safeguard schools entry points. Clear or mesh backpacks are required at the secondary level. The district also is launching an anonymous bullying reporting tool on our district website.

SPRING BRANCH ISD

New safety and security measures include:

More training on mental health, mental health first aid, trauma prevention and intervention, and suicide prevention

The development of new partnerships with mental health and social service agencies

Educating parents on district and campus safety procedures/establish campus safety committees

Training, encouraging and empowering staff to challenge visitors not displaying District ID badges

Safety and security training for all district substitute teachers, mentors and volunteers

Locking all classroom doors

Requiring staff to carry handheld radios to all outside activities

Expanding surveillance system/change cameras from analog to digital

Updating Emergency Operation Plans (EOP) at all district facilities

Evaluating, updating and posting appropriate signage (visitor information, restricted areas, etc.)

Harden glass at campus entrances and inside vestibules. Repairing/replacing perimeter fencing.

Hiring one additional police officer at each comprehensive high school for a total of two at each campus, plus one at Westchester Academy of International Studies

Adding SBISD Police sub-station at Westchester Academy

Implementation of a social media monitoring tool

READ MORE: As parents fret about school safety, districts beef up security in wake of Santa Fe shootings

STAFFORD MSD

Stafford MSD has added security vestibules at the front of its campuses, as well as security cameras and extra lighting.

TEXAS CITY ISD

The TCISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of an additional 8 deputies through the Galveston County Sheriffs Office bringing the total to 19 school liaison officers. Each campus, including elementary schools, will have at least one deputy.

The board also approved an RFID system that will monitor students and staff in buildings and buses.

When all staff members return in August, professional development will have a strong focus on security. All staff will go through threat assessment training. All staff members will also receive Stop the Bleed training to know how to help in a bleeding emergency before professionals arrive.

Other changes include:

mental health reporting,

bullet proof glass reception areas,

social media monitoring,

infrastructure security improvements (ex. doors, windows, locks),

upgraded camera systems

The district will continue to use its free smartphone app called P3 Campus, which allow students, parents, staff members and others to file anonymous tips about school safety concerns.

For more information, click here.

TOMBALL ISD
The centuries-old crime of honor killing, stretching back to ancient Rome and present in the Middle East and Latin America, is taking place in America at a rate of more than 20 a year, according to a recent U.S. Justice Department report.

Its a phenomenon that has concerned women activists given continued migration from countries where honor killings are still reported, although they remain rare in the United States when compared to other homicides.

But over the last several weeks, the ancient scourge has been highlighted in a Houston courtroom as details have emerged about a pair killings masterminded by Ali Mahwood-Awad Irsan, a 60-year-old Jordanian immigrant. A Harris County jury last month convicted Irsan in honor killings of his daughters husband, 28-year-old Coty Beavers, and her close friend, Gelareh Bagherzadeh, 30, in two seperate shootings in 2012. Prosecutors also presented evidence that Irsan had killed another son-in-law nearly two decades ago.

The same jury is determining this week whether Irsan should face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole for his crimes.

You dont have to be Muslim to be a victim of an honor crime, said Michael Creed, the older brother of Coty Beavers. These are not infrequent events that happen in some random part of the world. Theyre happening in America and theyre on the rise.

In a planned vendetta of breathtaking scope, prosecutors said the husband and a close friend of Irsans daughter, Nesreen, were only the first two slated to die for helping her run away from her home in a rural Montgomery County compound and converting to Christianity.

Irsans plan to ultimately kill five people  including daughter Nesreen  in the name of family honor ranks as perhaps one of the worst of its kind in the U.S. in recent years, although experts differ on whether religion or culture drives this disturbing category of violent crime. Those who study honor crimes were taken aback by the extent of the murderous plan and how it reached into the lives of people who knew little about the culture of honor killings.

Creed is among a growing number of people who feel Americans should wake up to the possibility that a fanatic, bent on committing murder to wash their honor in blood, can destroy the lives of people who have never even heard of an honor killing.

If certain people who believe in honor killings feel that a daughter or a sister is becoming too Westernized, then the friends or individuals who support them are considered expendable and can be killed, said Creed, who faithfully attended a trial that is stretching into its eighth week.

Irsan was convicted of fatally shooting Beavers at the apartment he shared with Irsans daughter. In an earlier incident he drove to a Galleria-area townhouse and watched as his oldest son allegedly ambushed his daughters close friend, fatally shooting her in the head as she spoke on a cell phone while sitting in her parked vehicle.

During the sentencing phase, prosecutors called witnesses who testified that he murdered a different son-in-law in 1999 by blasting him with a shotgun after inviting him to his Montgomery County home. Irsan planted a gun on his body and escaped criminal charges by claiming self-defense before bragging to a neighbor he had gotten away with murder, testimony showed.

Because honor killings generally only mean the death of a young woman, experts consider Irsans most recent plan to kill his daughter, her best friend and his daughters husband and two other in-laws to be one of the most extensive they have seen, especially in America.

Amy Logan, an author and expert on honor killings who is the CEO of Gender Innovation, said the scheme was twisted because several women in the household, including Irsans wife and another daughter, apparently helped him carry out his plans.

A hit list with multiple people is interesting, Logan said. And disturbing.

She said some immigrants from Muslim-majority countries have trouble assimilating and raising their children because they were raised in places where women were seen as property, not people.

The code of honor runs so deeply in their DNA that it can be tough to raise children in the United States with such a different value system, Logan said.

She stressed that Islam does not support honor killings, and while most happen in Muslim families, most Muslim families do not believe in honor killings.

Islam itself does not condone honor killing, she said. There are many, many Muslims who are against it and it needs to be separated from Islam.

In 2000, the United Nations released a report estimating about 5,000 honor killings around the world every year. Womens advocacy groups put the number at closer to 20,000.

A report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2015 estimated that there are 23 to 27 honor killings each year in the U.S. In the last decade, there have been high-profile honor killings in Arizona, New York and Texas.

One of the most notorious cases involved the deaths of teenage sisters Amina and Sarah Said near Dallas in 2008. Their father, an Egyptian immigrant, remains the main suspect and is still a fugitive. To raise awareness about the issue, and maybe find the father, filmmakers made the movie The Price of Honor to document the circumstances of the killings.

Shortly before Amina was killed, she and a young man named Joseph Moreno fell in love. Joseph's mother, Ruth Trotter, learned about the abuse that Amina and Sarah were going through and tried to plan an escape. After their deaths, Trotter became a vocal advocate for victims of honor violence.

She said Irsans case reminded her of the Said case, because prosecutors have filed charges against family members who allegedly helped Irsan with the killings.

It is so similar to what we went through with Amina, Trotter said. The threat is real. The fear is real. Whether its one person or two persons or 10 persons, they are going to do what they are going to do.

She and other advocates noted that law enforcement needs to be more aware of the risk of honor violence when it comes to minors and especially runaways.

A runaway who tells a police officer that she cannot go home because she fears for her life may not be taken seriously, both Logan and Trotter noted.

To raise awareness, both said there needs to be better data. The problem with getting accurate numbers in America and other countries is that families who commit honor killings do not cooperate with authorities. That means deaths may not be reported, or when they are, they may be chalked up to suicides or random violence

Advocates note that Beavers death, which could have been reported as a random home invasion, is indicative of the way that numbers can be misleading, say victims advocates.

The FBI tracks hate crimes in America, but not alleged honor killings, according to Conner Hagen, a public information officer at the Houston office of the FBI.

To help combat the practice, the AHA Foundation was established by author and activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali in 2007 to end female genital mutilation, honor violence and forced marriages.

According to the organization, honor killings often involve several people in the family.

In Irsans case, his second wife testified against him that she and their oldest son stalked their targets, then worked together to kill Beavers and Bagherzedeh.

His wife, 40-year-old Shmou Ali Alrawabdeh, has agreed to plead guilty to kidnapping. Their son, Nasim Irsan, is in jail on a charge of capital murder for his involvement. One of Irsans other daughters, Nadia Irsan, faces stalking charges for her part in the alleged scheme.

During the trial, Irsans wife and nephew both explained how the patriarch was upset that his daughter Nesreen  who married Beavers in 2012  brought shame to the family and determined he had to wash their honor in blood.

Beavers brother said he believes there are more honor killings in the world and in the U.S. than statistics show.

You almost dont believe that its real and that it exists, Creed said. As you start digging into it, you find that it is real and its not rare. It happens frequently, and it happens so frequently that the numbers are skewed because its not reported because in some parts of the world, women just arent valued as human beings.

Witnesses in the case against Irsan alternated between saying that Irsan was motivated by Islam or his upbringing in his homeland of Jordan.

Irsan appears to be a fervent Muslim. State District Judge Jan Krocker maintained a court schedule with specific breaks to accommodate his request to pray several times a day.

However, Muslim advocacy groups say the Koran does not allow honor killings.

Hes not a devout Muslim, said Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the Houston office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. If he was, he would know that the Koran does not allow killing except in defense.

Carroll said he knows many Muslims and many Jordanians, and none condone honor killings.

Theres no honor in killing, Carroll said.

Professor A. Kadir Yildirim, a fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute at Rice University, said religion is often the justification, not the cause, of murderous plots to restore family honor.

Religion obviously will play into this in some fashion, as people will try to justify it in religious terms, he said. This is is not unique to Islam. This is not limited to the Middle East. The main dynamic to honor killings is the presence of tribal dynamics. Cultural bonds are very strong. Jordan is one of those countries where tribal affiliations are very strong.

Yildirim said there are no historical or modern Islamic scholars who justify honor killing on religious grounds.

He said honor killings in America are so infrequent that the crime does not need to be tracked as a separate category of domestic violence. However, he said combatting honor killings should be part of the broader fight to end violence against women.
A Jordanian immigrant was sentenced Tuesday to death for a pair of 2012 "honor killings" that were part of an extensive plot to kill five people, including his daughter, in retribution for her leaving home, converting to Christianity and marrying a Christian.

Ali Mahwood-Awad Irsan, 60, slumped slightly when the verdict was read, but did not react otherwise.

The twisted saga that emerged during the trial of intolerance and violent reprisal by the domineering patriarch of an extended family living in a rural Montgomery County compound shocked local residents, and has attracted national and international news coverage since it first unfolded with Irsans arrest in 2014.

Now Playing: FOX 26 News Reporter Damali Keith Video: Fox 26 Houston

The lengthy trial, and disturbing testimony during the punishment phase about rapes, drugging, beatings and a previous homicide, left both jurors and family of the victims sniffling and wiping tears.

Meanwhile, the trial judge praised the jurys verdict.

Dont second guess yourselves, state District Judge Jan Krocker told jurors. You listened attentively to every detail. It was the right verdict.

Jurors sat through seven weeks of testimony about Irsans rage and desire to wash his honor in blood, quickly convicting Irsan of the capital murder of his daughter's new husband, Coty Beavers, 28, and her best friend, Gelareh Bagherzadeh, 30, an Iranian activist and medical researcher who supporter her choice.

Families of the victims cried, hugged and took pictures together after Irsan was led out of the courtroom in a yellow jail uniform.

Adios, one family member said from the gallery.

Almost an hour after the verdict was read, four women and three men from the jury came back to the courtroom to hug the surviving family members of Irsans victims.

In tears, they introduced themselves and spoke quietly. They said it was tough decision, but they hope the families can now have peace.

Immediately after Krocker sentenced Irsan to death, he had to sit and listen as Beavers mother gave a victim impact statement, from the witness stand, with two of her sons standing next to her.

On November 12, 2012, Ali Irsan and his family destroyed life as we knew it forever, said Shirley McCormick. That was the day they ambushed and murdered Coty, to restore honor to someone who never had any.

Afterward, Coty Beavers twin brother said the family would focus on the remaining suspects: Irsans adult son, Nasim, who is charged with capital murder, and his adult daughter, Nadia, who is charged with stalking.

Honor violence typically involves participation of multiple family members, said Cory Beavers. We will continue to pray that everyone culpable in these murders are brought to justice.

Bagherzedehs parents, who attended every day of trial, asked family friend Kathy Soltani to speak for them.

By taking Gelareh away from us, they took away a true human being who would have helped anyone in any way that crossed her path throughout her life, Soltani said. They took something good from our society.

Defense attorneys for Irsan said they were disappointed in the verdict and noted that it would automatically be appealed.

We will just leave it in Gods hands, said lead attorney, Allan Tanner who represented Irsan with Rudy Duarte.

From the beginning of the trial two months ago, prosecutors said Irsan was hellbent on punishing his daughter and anyone who supported her break from the family.

"He wanted to kill her," prosecutor Jon Stephenson told jurors during his opening statements. "But he wanted to kill all those she loved first, so that she would suffer that much more before she died."

Stephenson was appointed special prosecutor along with Anna Emmons and Marie Primm after Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg recused her office. One of her top staffers represented one of the suspects in the multi-defendant case before joining the district attorneys office.

It is the first death penalty trial that has taken place since Ogg took office on January 1, 2017.

During the trial, some of Irsans family testified they lived in fear of daily beatings, including with a length of garden hose and sticks like Irsans cane and 2-by-4 boards. Two of his sons said that was not true.

One of Irsans daughters also testified that he cheered the 9/11 attacks on America and praised Osama bin Laden, and told his children they should volunteer to become suicide bombers.

For eight weeks, prosecutors put on evidence that Irsan had been a violent offender with a history of money grubbing schemes since coming to America in 1979.

He will lie, cheat, steal manipulate, abuse, torture, stalk and kill to get what he wants, Emmons said during closing arguments.

She pointed to allegations that he raped his first wife, a blind woman he met in Iowa, then manipulated her into marriage. There were also allegations that he raped his oldest daughter and tried to kill her because she married a man Irsan did not approve of in 1999.

Special prosecutor Marie Primm weaved together more than 20 years of Irsans bad acts to sway jurors against letting Irsan serve life without parole in general population in prison.

She reminded the jury that Irsan also killed a different son-in-law in 1999.

Irsan testified that it was in self-defense. Other family members said he blasted Amjad Alidam in the chest with a shotgun because he did not approve of Alidams marriage to his oldest daughter, then planted a pistol on the body.

Ali Irsan gets the be the judge, jury and executioner of anyone who goes outside of Ali Irsans control. she said.

In 2015, Irsan, his wife and another daughter were sentenced to federal prison for defrauding the Social Security system, one of several schemes revealed during the trial that showed how Irsan financed trips back to Jordan and purchases of properties he acquired in Montgomery County.

For example, he apparently often claimed that he lost baggage during flights and was able to obtain reimbursements from airlines for laptops, electronics and lost time. Those claims, prosecutors said, financed each trip.

He also convinced his mosque that he was renting his home and needed help paying rent and for electricity bills. That scam ended when elders at the mosque learned that his landlord was really his wife, testimony showed.

Prosecutors showed that he also opened dozens of credit card accounts in different names, including the names of deceased family members, to pay his bills. One such account, opened under his daughters name, went unpaid without her knowledge ruining her credit, testimony showed.

The prosecution was also able to show that he bilked thousands of dollars out of large corporations by claiming slip and falls in big department stores, or by faking injuries and then threatening lawsuits for product liability.

In addition to those scams, he also got food stamps, Medicaid and took advantage of other social safety nets by forcing family members to fake mental illness to receive disability payments.

Irsan testified that he has been disabled and unable to work since at least 1993, despite testimony that he cleared the land on his property and built fences by hand.

In 2014, a SWAT team swarmed Irsans Montgomery County compound and arrested him for Social Security fraud. State prosecutors later charged Irsan and his son, Nasim Irsan, 24, with capital murder. His trial is scheduled for next year.

Despite lengthy testimony over five weeks, jurors deliberated for less than an hour to convict Irsan of capital murder in July.

The same jury then spent two weeks listening to testimony to determine whether Irsan should be sentenced to death or life without parole.

To sentence Irsan to die, jurors had to decide he would be a future danger to society and there were not enough mitigating circumstances to spare his life.

Brian Rogers covers Houston crime and courts. You can email him at brian.rogers@chron.com and follow him on Twitter at @brianjrogers.
Celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti, who gained national fame for representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump, appeared in a Houston immigration court Tuesday to reunify a 9-year-old immigrant boy with his mother, who had been deported to Guatemala.

The attorney and cable TV fixture visited early-voting Iowa over the weekend after announcing a potential presidential bid. In Houston, he urged the goverment to immediately release Anthony Tobar Ortiz so that he could return to Central America with Avenatti that same day.

The boy last saw his mother three months ago when federal agents separated the two at the southern border and he celebrated his birthday alone in a federal shelter for immigrant children last week.

"There's no reason for this child to continue to be detained," Avenatti said.

NOT ENOUGH: Plan to reunite remaining separated children ruled 'unacceptable'

The Los Angeles attorney descended on the Rio Grande Valley at the height of national furor over the Trump administration's family separation policy. On Twitter he declared he was "entering this fight" to end "this outrageous conduct," even as Avenatti's law background and practice is focused on civil litigation and dozens of pro bono immigration attorneys volunteered for weeks in south Texas to find separated parents and children.

Now Playing: Michael Avenatti, the attorney of porn-star Stormy Daniels announced that he is officially looking into running in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election. Video: Buzz 60

Under the now-rescinded policy, widely regarded as one of the biggest fiascos of Trump's presidency, more than 2,500 immigrant children were separated from their parents. The adults were prosecuted for the federal misdemeanor of illegal entry, then spent a few days in prison before being transferred to immigration detention centers. Their children were sent to federal shelters run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Hundreds of parents were deported without their children, including Anthony's mother, Elsa Johanna Ortiz, and the government has struggled to find them. A California federal judge ordered their quick reunification in June, but as of last week, nearly 400 children remained in federal custody with their parents outside the United States.

CHAOS AT THE BORDER: Immigrant parents struggle to find separated children

The government said in recent court filings that it has no contact information at all for the parents of more than two dozen children, and has not been able to reach many others. The judge, Dana M. Sabraw, has criticized the government for risking "permanently orphaned" children if their parents cannot be found.

On Tuesday Avenatti and Ricardo de Anda, a Laredo immigration lawyer, asked the government to terminate Anthony's immigration case and allow them to immediately take the child to the airport and fly him back to Guatemala City. The mother had signed a legal document giving them permission to do so.

Rory Potter, an attorney for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the government opposed ending the case, but agreed to allow Anthony to return home through a procedure known as voluntary departure, effectively closing the legal matter, but not allowing for his immediate release.

In a press conference outside the courthouse, Avenatti called it an "absolute outrage."

"Trump and his cronies talk about wanting to return these kids to their parents, but when it really comes down to it, like you saw upstairs, they don't want to do that," he said. "They want to continue to send this message to the world that if people come to this country and are caught that basically their child is going to be detained, stolen from them, and their families are going to be destroyed."

IN DISPUTE: Houston officials reject claim that controversial shelter for migrant kids on verge of opening

De Anda said had the government agreed to formally terminate the case, Anthony would have been released from federal custody right then, whereas voluntary departure could take longer

"They are delaying as much as possible the reunification to further dampen the desires of refugees to come to America," De Anda said.

Potter, the government attorney, did not return a call for comment. Tim Oberle, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in an email that the agency couldn't comment on the case due to privacy concerns because it involved a minor.

Charles Foster, a veteran Houston immigration attorney who has advised President George W. Bush, said the government's response was completely routine.

"Voluntary departure is normally what we would want," he said.

Formally terminating cases means immigrants are freed without any compulsion for them to leave the country, while voluntary departure imposes penalties if people don't.

Despite all the bluster, Foster said, in practical consequences the latter amounted to the same result for Anthony.

Hours after the press conference, Avenatti posted on Twitter that the government had agreed to release Anthony late Tuesday after his "negotiating." Thousands responded on social media, with one user noting, "people can criticize and critique you all they want for being power and media hungry but any motivation aside, you are actually making America better."

Avenatti's co-counsel, De Anda, said officials had expedited the boy's voluntary departure, and that he would be flying back to Guatemala Tuesday night.

Many separated children remain without their parents.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the California lawsuit forcing family reunifications, has criticized the government for not doing more to quickly reunite families. It said the government withheld contact numbers for parents for weeks and that it is taking an "unnecessarily long time" to grant children the voluntary departure orders Anthony quickly received.

The New York Times first reported on the boy's case in June. His mother, who raised Anthony alone, told the Times that she came here fleeing violent criminals in her Guatemala City neighborhood and to join her boyfriend, who is working here illegally in construction.

Instead the mother and son were separated after Border Patrol agents found them near McAllen in May. The mother said agents first told her that Anthony would be put up for adoption, then that the two would be returned to Guatemala together. Instead she was deported alone in June without any idea about what had happened to her son.

She found him only after her boyfriend contacted a lawyer who helped them locate the child in federal custody.

Avenatti, who took on Anthony's case after it was publicized, has rejected characterizations that he inserted himself into the family separation issue to remain in the national limelight, telling the Washington Post in June that argument was "a bunch of nonsense, and it's offensive  highly offensive."

He said he did not seek out family separation cases, but was contacted by families asking him for help and that he was doing so pro bono. He now represents more than 70 such children.

Not an hour after leaving Houston's immigration court Tuesday, Avenatti posted on Twitter a summary of his views on various political issues were he to wage an outsider Democratic bid for the White House. They included a "basic Medicare plan for all Americans," a path to citizenship for young immigrants here illegally known as "dreamers," and decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level.

"Many have asked me my position on various issues," he said. "More positions & details will follow."

At HoustonChronicle.com: A Houston night with Stormy Daniels, the Trump-controversy stripper

lomi.kriel@chron.com

@lomikriel
At an official-ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, Mayor Sylvester Turner welcomed one of the city's newest attractions: A hostel geared towards millennials.

The Wanderstay hostel, located at 4018 Chartres Street between Midtown and the Museum District, is slated to officially open later this month. It's apparently the city's fourth hostel, joining the ranks of the Bunkwood Hostel in Second Ward, the Morty Rich Hostel in Montrose and the Houston International Hostel in the Museum District.

With shared bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas, hostels offer a cheap, youth-friendly alternative to hotels. That makes them a good barometer for how "hip" city is. Los Angeles, for example, has dozens, according to listings on the travel website Hostels.com.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston hostels open doors for world travelers

Last year, the city's Office of Business Opportunity awarded a $10,000 innovation prize to Deidre Mathis, the founder of Wanderstay, as part of 2017 Liftoff Houston.

An initiative by the city's Office of Business Opportunity, Liftoff Houston is designed to help local start-ups bring their business dreams to completion. Abigail Gonzalez, Program Manager for Liftoff, said Mathis had a "great idea" and "ambition."

The boutique hostel in a converted house accommodates up to 30 guests. It offers private and shared rooms in a dormitory-like space, as well as lockers, study rooms, bike rentals and other amenities.

The layout is designed to serve as a social space for young travelers, and the location offers easy access to the city's night life, festivals and sporting events. It's also the first hostel in the United States run by an African American woman, according to Mathis, its founder.

Mathis sees herself not only as a hostel owner but as a kind of tour guide, pointing visitors to "budget-friendly" activities in the Museum District, the nearby Axelrad bar and beyond. "I think because we're such a big city, people get kind of lost," she said.

Her goal has been to offer with the same "cool, social vibe" as other hostels but with a more intimate, neighborly atmosphere. "Intimate is my favorite word," she added.

Mathis was clearly excited at Monday's ribbon-cutting ceremony. But it's easy to see why local officials might be excited, too. The hostel fits neatly into the city's goals of increasing tourism and turning this neighborhood into a "innovation district." The historic Midtown Sears, which Mayor Turner hopes to turn into a tech incubator, is just a few blocks away.

During brief remarks at the hostel, Mayor Turner referenced the visitors that might attend the Jazz Weekend Festival, which debuts next year, and the Democratic National Convention, which the city hopes to host in 2020. "They needed places to stay," Mayor Turner said. "What better place to stay than right here?"

To commemorate the occasion, he signed one of the interior walls: "Congratulations in making rooms available for all."

"Y'all keep doing great things, all right?" he added as he left.

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com
WEBSTER  The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston plans to lease a Webster hospital that abruptly closed in May, causing 900 employees to lose their jobs and capping a spate of hospital layoffs in the Houston region over the last 18 months.

The hospital system, one of the largest health care providers in the region, signed a letter of intent on Friday, which would complete negotiations concerning the lease of the Bay Area Regional Medical Center in Webster, according to a press release from UTMB. The UT System Board of Regents approved the medical branchs proposed plans last week.

This is a unique opportunity for UTMB Health to advance our mission of education, research and patient care, stated Dr. David L. Callender, president of the university. The Webster location will complement our existing facilities on our League City Campus and in surrounding areas, as well as our future plans for education and research activities in the Bay Area. Together, these facilities will enable us to broaden our efforts to serve a rapidly growing region, while supporting our academic work to define the future of health care.

The university has not made official plans yet for how the property will be used. An opening date is still being decided, pending final agreements and a lease, according to the release.

Callender declined to comment on the lease agreement. He told the Galveston Daily News that the Webster facility will complement our existing facilities on our League City campus and in surrounding areas, as well as our future plans for education and research activities in the Bay Area.

The 191-bed hospital closed on May 4 after opening four years earlier and spending $200 million in construction and operation. CEO Stephen K. Jones Jr. told employees in an email provided to the Houston Chronicle that the company was not able to overcome significant hurdles with managed-care companies. An estimated 900 employees immediately lost their jobs, but a hospital spokeswoman later said that 342 of the workers whose jobs were cut are now employed at other hospitals in the Houston area.

While Bay Area Regional officials said at the time of the closure it would file for bankruptcy, there are no records yet that the company has filed.

At the time of the closing, a spokesman said Bay Area Regional tried for at least a year to get better reimbursement terms,but it did not have the backing of a major hospital system.

UTMB is negotiating the lease directly with Carter Validus Mission Critical, a Florida-based real estate investment management company that in 2014 acquired a 60 percent interest in Bay Area Regional Medical Center. The company reportedly paid $119 million for the hospital and committed another $35 million for a future build-out. The propertys developer, an affiliate of Medistar Corp., retained the remaining 40 percent interest in the property.

We are excited to be able to have the opportunity to be part of UTMBs presence in the Webster, Texas market and look forward to a strong relationship with such a well-regarded and world class health care system, said Michael Seton, CEO of Carter Validus, in a written statement.

The leasing agreement with UTMB comes at an opportune time for Carter Validus, since the medical center accounted for about 21 percent of the companys contractual rental revenue.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported in May that Mackenzie Realty Capital, a San Francisco area investment firm, made an offer to buy up to 1 million shares of Carter Validus for $3.36 a share, a low-ball offer  the company reported in February its stock had an estimated value of $6.26 a share  that came a week after Bay Area Regional Medical Center announced its closure. The Business Journal reported that Seton wrote a letter to shareholders on May 17 telling them to reject the offer and that the company would try its best to sell or lease the medical center.

A spokeswoman for Carter Validus declined to comment on the terms of the lease agreement with UTMB, referring only to the companys statement on the agreement.

Former employees of Bay Area Regional Medical Center have a class action lawsuit pending against the company after the medical center announced its closure.

The plaintiffs, Sandra Hood and Harry Bowers, allege that Bay Area Regional did not give employees proper notice that the company would be closing, qualifying them as aggrieved employees.

The former hospital workers are seeking damages in the amount of 60 days pay, according to the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District Of Texas.

The suit alleges that Medistar Corporation, the owner of Bay Area Regional, did not file a state-required WARN letter with the Texas Workforce Commission. The WARN letter, which stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, is a requirement for companies employing 100 or more people. Any company that plans to lay off 50 or more people must submit this document to the appropriate state agency, per U.S. Department of Labor regulations.

Stuart Miller, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the medical centers new agreement with UTMB.

The closure of Bay Area Regional Medical Center was the latest in a rash of hospital job losses in the region. East Houston Regional Medical Center, which had been open for more than 40 years, announced in November that it would not reopen following severe damage from Hurricane Harvey in August, costing more than 400 jobs.

Memorial Hermann Health System, Houstons largest employer, laid off more than 460 employees last year in three rounds of cuts. That amounts to slightly less than 2 percent of Memorial Hermanns 25,000-employee work force.

Also in 2017, MD Anderson Cancer Center laid off 778 employees and Catholic Health Initiatives Texas division cut 1,295 jobs, most at the St. Lukes Health System in Houston.

UTMB, however, appears to have staved off any dramatic cutbacks, instead expanding its footprint across southeast Texas.

In addition to leasing the Bay Area Regional Medical Center, UTMB will add 60 hospital beds to its League City Hospital campus that already includes medical and surgery services for adults, an emergency room and a mother/baby unit.

The university also has several clinics throughout Houston and Galveston, along with a hospital at its Angleton Danbury Campus in Brazoria County.

Jaimy Jones and Brooke Lewis contributed reporting.

nick.powell@chron.com
Chasing Orion: This is the third in a series of stories leading up to the April 2019 launch of Orions launch abort system, which is managed by NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston.

From a spot seated on the concrete floor in the Johnson Space Center warehouse, Jim Rice raised his arms above his head like a conductor prepping to lead his orchestra through a complicated musical score.

But instead of keeping musicians in sync, Rice was directing personnel at NASAs Houston center through a mass and center of gravity test for the 22,000-pound space capsule sitting high above his head.

The test is one of the most important that the module  a simplified version of the real Orion that will take humans back to the moon for the first time in 50 years  will undergo before its April 2019 launch to test Orions primary safety feature: the launch abort system.

READ MORE: NASAs Johnson Space Center preps Orion module  for failure

The module is being built specifically to test this system, which will allow the spacecrafts eventual four-person crew to escape if the rocket explodes. And because of that, its mass and center of gravity must be exactly the same as the real Orion when humans are on board.

For this vehicle, we want it to mimic the flight characteristics with the crew on board, project manager Jon Olansen said. So, we have target mass properties that were trying to meet  so that when we do the flight test in April, we can directly correlate the performance to exactly what Orion would be like if the system had to be used.

More Information In April 2019, NASA will launch a test of the launch abort system for Orion, the spacecraft that will take humans back to the moon for the first time in 50 years The work on this abort system, which will allow the spacecraft's eventual four-person crew to escape if the rocket explodes, is being managed by NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. You can read the Houston Chronicle's Chasing Orion series chronicling this work here: Part 1: NASA's Johnson Space Center preps Orion module - for failure Part 2: NASA's Orion spacecraft test module for moon launch system passes flight simulations See More Collapse

At Rices direction, Johnson personnel adjusted the giant metal frame holding the 11-foot-tall capsule several feet in the air. The capsule slowly started to tilt, personnel taking notes and snapping pictures until it reached a 90 degree angle.

Workers jotted down data points. And then they did the test again. And again. And then, they did it another time.

In total, the capsule underwent four strenuous days of testing. And as personnel pack up the capsule for a multi-day journey to NASAs Ohio-based Glenn Research Center that begins Monday, Olansen and his team are pleased the project is on track to meet the April launch date. The launch will last three minutes, in which the capsule will separate from the rocket at 31,000 feet in a half-second.

Everything went very smoothly, Olansen said Friday.

SIMULATIONS COMPLETED: NASAs Orion spacecraft test module for moon launch system passes flight simulations

The Orion spacecraft has been in various stages of design for nearly two decades, its destination oscillating between the moon and Mars depending on White House leadership. A return to the moon is a top priority for President Donald Trumps administration and his $19.9 billion proposed budget for the next fiscal year tasks NASA with launching an unmanned Orion flight by 2021, followed by a launch of Americans around the moon in 2023.

The simplified module will not be reused once the test is complete. Additional capsules for the unmanned and crewed missions are under construction elsewhere. The Space Launch System  the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built that will send Orion to space  as well as the ground systems for launch, also are being developed simultaneously.

Johnson personnel also are designing Orions cockpit and flight software, spacesuits and parachutes. Johnson is home to the nations astronaut corps, where human space flight research and training take place. It also is home to the International Space Stations mission operations and the Orion program.

From start to finish, the abort system test is expected to account for only $256 million of the programs more than $11 billion budget, according to NASA.

The tests cost is so low, in part, because the module being used for the test is a simplified version of the real Orion. It lacks seats, oxygen systems and parachutes, but contains the minimum systems needed for a successful test, such as flight computers, communication systems and about 800 data sensors. Johnson began outfitting the capsule with these systems when it arrived at the Houston center in March.

The simplified capsule will be in Ohio for about a month, where it will undergo additional testing. Then it will return to Johnson in mid-September so personnel can attach the capsule to the separation ring, which links the module and the rocket booster, allowing it to separate from the rocket if necessary.

In the meantime, Johnson personnel will begin outfitting the separation ring much like they did with the capsule several months ago.

Working on the separation ring will be a little bit simpler than the module, Olansen said. It will take a few weeks, versus a few months.
Nancy Pelosi is returning to Houston on Wednesday, just 83 days before critical midterm elections that could make her Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives once again.

Pelosi, a California Democrat who has said she will run for speaker again if Democrats win the majority in the U.S. House this year, is set to attend a pair of public events Wednesday, one with U.S. Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, and another with Democrat Sylvia Garcia, who is poised to become Houstons first-ever Latina elected to Congress.
Listen in on any parent-teacher conference and youll hear teachers asking, What is your most pressing concern for your child? Nine times out of 10, parents of elementary-school students will answer: I want him/her to read better.

Difficulties with reading are a major roadblock to students overall academic success, and the statistics are startling.

Nearly a third of all fourth-graders failed to reach a basic level of reading ability, according to a 2017 report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress Nations Report Card on Reading. And by eighth grade, nearly a quarter of students still didnt have such basic skills as identifying statements of main idea, theme or authors purpose; making simple inferences from texts; or interpreting the meaning of a word based on how it is used.

Needless to say, these are averages  reading scores for black, Hispanic and Native-American/Pacific-Islander students are even lower. As a general rule, affluent white children are taught literacy skills at home and arrive at school largely able to read, whereas low-income childrens parents expect that reading instruction will be the sole purview of the school.

This inconsistency in home support is magnified when you factor in the preparation that teachers bring to the singularly crucial task of reading instruction.

According to the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), 40 states (including D.C.) still either do not have sufficient licensing tests on the science of reading in place for elementary and special-education teachers, or they have no test at all. And only 11 states have adequate tests for people applying to be elementary-school or special-education teachers, even though 80 percent of students assigned to special education are there because of their struggles with reading.

States like Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska and Nevada license both elementary and special-education teachers without requiring them to pass assessments specific to reading-instruction knowledge  as opposed to tests that assess it only as part of a language-arts exam that also includes topics like grammar, spelling and writing.

To be fair, it might backfire if more states became increasingly rigorous in ensuring that teachers were better prepared to teach reading based on methods proven to yield the highest percentage of successful readers.

Thats because only 37 percent of elementary and special-education teacher-preparation programs can provide evidence that they teach scientifically based reading methods to their teacher candidates, according to NCTQs new report, Strengthening Reading Instruction through Better Preparation of Elementary and Special Education Teachers.

Yet teachers may bristle at more tests, more hoops to jump through and more barriers to overcome in order to get into the classroom. Its a fair complaint, given that most states (40) use the edTPA, a highly rigorous, subject-specific assessment in order to gain certification.

Still, having taken the edTPA within the last few years, I can tell you that it allowed me to demonstrate a high skill level in writing, direct instruction, group facilitation and communication. But it wasnt designed to test my ability to explicitly and systematically teach phonics skills and phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

The disconnect between how teachers are trained and how states license them to enter classrooms are at complete odds with how we evaluate student academic growth over time; were basically holding young students to a higher standard of proving proficiency via formal, standardized assessments than we do their teachers.

If we are asking students to demonstrate their content knowledge, then we must ensure teachers have the content knowledge to teach, said Heather Peske, the senior associate commissioner at the Center for Instructional Support in Massachusetts, a state that sets the bar high on reading credentials for both elementary and special-education teachers. She told NCTQ: The [Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure] ensures that teacher candidates have critical reading and writing skills. Massachusetts fourth- and eighth-graders have placed first in the nation on national tests of reading for over a decade. We believe this is linked to our educators solid and demonstrated content knowledge.

It seems like plain common sense that all states should require elementary and special-education teacher candidates to prove they can produce the highest number of successful readers.

But is anyone even paying attention to improving education these days? Perhaps when our country starts investing in students again, we can prioritize reading instruction to give children  especially our most vulnerable readers  a fair shot at mastering this crucial skill.

Cepedas email address is estherjcepeda@washpost.com, or follow her on Twitter: @estherjcepeda.
Lifestyle hotels are carving out a niche in Asia Pacific, boosted by youthful guests looking for authenticity, community and local experiences coupled with features like innovative design, good connectivity and convenient locations.

Lifestyle hotels are carving out a niche in Asia Pacific, boosted by youthful guests looking for authenticity, community and local experiences coupled with features like innovative design, good connectivity and convenient locations.

Once lumped together with independently run boutique hotels like those pioneered by hoteliers such as Ian Schrager with The Morgan in New York in the 80s, lifestyle hotels combine the intimacy and designer touches of boutique hotels while also offering the perks of a chain such as a consistent experience and economies of scale.

Starwoods W brand is widely acknowledged to be the first mainstream lifestyle hotel when it was launched in New York in 1998. This was soon followed by Ace in Seattle in 1999. Since then, similar brands and concepts such as 25 Hours in Europe and Dream Hotels in the United States have proliferated, but have been slower to move into Asia.

Not anymore. They are now eyeing expansion in the region while homegrown versions like Aussie hospitality group QT is similarly ambitious, opening its latest Perth outpost in August. Retail and lifestyle brands such as Japans fashion label Koe and Singapores nightlife icon Zouk are also making forays into the hotel sector.

The rise of lifestyle hotels in Asia is fueled by demographics, especially that of the emerging markets such as India and China, says Andrew Langston, Executive Vice President of Asset Management, Hotels and Hospitality, JLL Asia Pacific. Majority of travelers opting for such hotels are Millennials or, even the oldest members of Generation Z. There is a great potential to capitalize on this growing market by catering to them.

These hotels appeal to the tastes of younger travelers with clean crisp designs, a focus on the body and mind, strong connectivity, and having a clear brand mission which links to some of the big issues that people care about, adds Sashi Rajan, Senior Vice President, Strategic Advisory & Asset Management, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Asia Pacific. He points out how brands such as Akaryn from Thailand and Penta from Hong Kong have pro-environment policies that resonate well with this target audience.

Asian playing field

Global lifestyle hotels that have successfully nailed the formula have ventured to Asia in the last two years. UK-based Yotel opened in Singapore in 2017, and Marriotts Moxy started up in Bandung, Osaka and Tokyo.

More are expected to follow suit. Already Ace Kyoto is causing a buzz with its 2019 opening date. Asian companies will continue to roll out their own lifestyle properties. Just take Dusit Group, which will be introducing its Millennial-minded brand Asai across Southeast Asia next year.

Interesting concepts in the U.S. and Europe will eventually make their way to key markets in Asia Pacific, and more entrepreneurs in this region will start their own lifestyle collaborative accommodation concepts, says Rajan. It will happen a lot faster thanks to the proliferation of trends and the internet as well as developers willingness to try different things.

In cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Seoul, the premium on land prices puts pressure on room sizes. Room sizes will have to be smaller. Lifestyle hotels meet these demands as they incorporate great space utilization while staying focused on the needs of todays travellers, Langston says.

Since most hotels in Asia tend to be new builds, and not conversions, due to the region being an emerging market, its also easier to launch innovative lifestyle concepts.

Retail moves in

At the same time, theres no denying that Asias consumption prowess has led to a proliferation of lifestyle brands setting up their own hospitality concepts in the region. Mujis high-profile hotels are a case in point.

Meanwhile, toy maker Hasbro is also tying up with Malaysian property developer M101 Holdings to launch a Monopoly hotel in Kuala Lumpur next year, complete with Monopoly-inspired tokens and keepsakes as part of its amenities.

More non-hospitality players will enter the hospitality space, says Rajan. The barriers of entries to launch new hospitality products have greatly reduced and I believe the next evolution in the lifestyle hospitality space will be a convergence of mixed used projects  where guests can work, play, stay, sleep, socialise, shop in the same space. Think community rather than pure hotels or hospitality.

This article originally appeared on JLL Real Views.

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Montreal and Cape Town, 14 August 2018  In a major step forward for gender equality and gender action in international air transport, ICAO and South Africas Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) were joined by over 500 leaders and experts from around the world in Cape Town for the opening of the first-ever Global Aviation Gender Summit.

SACAA was supported by the Government of the Republic of South Africa through its Department of Transport, and the event was jointly opened and closed by ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu, and by the Honourable Deputy Minister of Transport for South Africa, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga.

Representing Member States and the entire range of air transport sector operations, and bringing perspectives and insights from a range of civil society and United Nations agencies with strong gender equity mandates, the events participants heard from a series of leaders on why the #TimeIsNow for concrete actions and commitments for gender equality in global aviation.

As a woman who has spent virtually her entire career in the service of international civil aviation, this is truly an exciting moment for me, commented Dr. Liu in her keynote opening address. Aviation already contributes greatly to peace, prosperity and sustainable development, all over the world, but it can do even more for our society, and especially for women.

Highlighting the vast global scope and forecast growth of worldwide air transport operations, Dr. Liu underscored that the optimal performance of the sector relies, at its core, on highly skilled, technical and managerial professionals. In order to meet its future needs, air transport must first become a better example of gender equality in action, and address head-on why women are still underrepresented in the majority of the technical and executive positions in aviation, she noted.

And while the current imbalance may be a challenge to those of us already serving as professionals in this sector, it is also an important opportunity for the next generations of girls now completing their studies and entering the workforce.

ICAO and South Africa designed the Global Aviation Gender Summit to analyze the issue through both behavioural and socio-economic lenses, with special focus on the importance of diversity, inclusiveness, and the positive impacts expected in terms of organizational effectiveness and success.

Dr. Liu commented that the participants work should align with and support the global efforts underway in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and in particular, SDG5 on Gender, stressing as well that we especially must not lose sight of the key role to be played in all of these efforts by reliable, disaggregated data on gender, whether for trend analysis, workforce planning, or related needs.

Dr. Liu also praised the UN agencys South African partners for the landmark aviation gender event, congratulating and thanking the Honourable Deputy Minister of Transport for South Africa, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga, and the States Director General of the Civil Aviation, Ms. Poppy Khoza, for their support and leadership.

The ICAO Secretary General concluded her remarks by recognizing that it was critical to our longer-term success that our agreed approaches advocate among both governments and the private sector, and that in each case the need for strong commitments and leadership, at the highest levels, must be consistently underscored.

The event concluded with participants establishing a roadmap of action aimed at accelerating gender equality and the advancement of women and girls. A communique in this regard was subsequently issued and read out to the event by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga.

During her mission to address the Summit, which took place 8 to 10 August 2018, Dr. Fang Liu, also held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Transport of South Africa, Dr. Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande, focussing on the sustainable development benefits of aviation growth to both the State and the region.

Dr. Liu underscored to the Minister how ICAO-compliant air connectivity serves as a catalyst for sustainable development and the achievement of 15 of the 17 United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Liu encouraged Minister Nzimande to ensure the prioritization of civil aviation development within South Africas national economic development strategy, and especially as it relates to infrastructure planning and human resources capacity development.

Recognizing that the South Africa civil aviation industry is at an advanced level compared to some other African States, the Secretary General also highlighted the importance of the opportunity it has to be an aviation leader in the region, and support other African States in training and capacity building, as well as advocate advocacy gender equality in aviation. . The Minister acknowledged the relevance of Dr. Lius points, and expressed his thanks to ICAO for its role in encouraging and enabling the sustainable development of aviation throughout Africa.

Dr. Liu was also informed by the Minister that South Africa had now joined the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), and that it would seek to play a regional leadership role in fostering the growth enabled by liberalization through the enhancement of aviation training provisions.



Resources for Editors

About ICAO



A specialized agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 192 Member States.



Global Aviation Gender Summit

ICAO's Women in Aviation Portal

YouTube Recordings

ICAO's No Country Left Behind initiative

Aviation and the UN SDGs

Contacts



Anthony Philbin

Chief, Communications

aphilbin@icao.int

+1 514-954-8220 +1 438-402-8886 (mobile)

Twitter: @ICAO



William Raillant-Clark

Communications Officer

wraillantclark@icao.int

+1 514-954-6705 +1 514-409-0705 (mobile)

Twitter: @wraillantclark

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raillantclark/
Greek fishermen accuse Turkish boats of opening fire off Leros Island

by Philip Chrysopoulos

August 13,2018 | Source: Greek Reporter

Greek fishermen have reported that they were fired upon by Turkish fishing boats near Kalapodi islet, 300 meters off the coast of Leros island.



Two Greek seamen, owners of fishing boats, spoke to Alpha television saying that the Turkish boats were inside Greeces territorial waters on Sunday when their crews shot at them. They also said that, since July, Turkish fishing boats have repeatedly intruded upon Greek waters to fish in the area.



The Greek fishermen said that usually they call the coast guard upon seeing the Turkish boats; the intruders are forced to exit Greek waters upon the arrival of coast guard ships.



This time, however, Leros fisherman Kostas Tsiftis told Alpha, the crew of the Turkish boat fired gunshots at them. He also said that the gunfire was from an automatic weapon because some of the shots were repeated.



The Greek fishermen were forced to leave the area and called the Hellenic Coast Guard. Upon the arrival of two coast guard patrol vessels, the Turkish fishing boats moved towards international waters.



The fishermen noted that even though they are used to provocative acts by Turkish fishermen, Sundays incident was unprecedented.



We heard six shots. The two of them, the third and the fourth, were repeated. The gun was neither a hunting rifle, nor a revolver, said Lefteris Giannoukas, who was in one of the Greek boats.



The Turkish fishermen were about 200 meters away. This is the first time that the Turks shot at us. Of course we were afraid, we did not expect it, Tsiftis said.



The Greek fisherman noted that this is the first time the Turkish boats came this close.

 2016 - GreekReporter.com

Theme(s): Others.
A third of India's coastline lost due to erosion

August 13,2018 | Source: PTI

Natural causes such as cyclones and waves, as well as human activities like construction have led to nearly one-third of a large part of India's coastline to be eroded in the last 26 years, but almost an equal area has been added because of new sediment deposits, according to a government report.



The National Centre for Coastal Research surveyed 6,031 kilometres of India's 7,517-kilometre coastline from 1990 to 2016, and found that 33 percent of it has witnessed erosion, most of it along the eastern coast facing the Bay of Bengal, with West Bengal recording the highest erosion. At the same time, 29 percent of the surveyed coastline saw an accretion, or gain in deposits.



"Erosion and accretion are complementary to each other. If the sand and sediments have drifted from one side, it must accumulate somewhere," said M V Ramana Murthy, director of NCCR and one of the authors of the report.?



The report says that 2,156.43 kilometres of the country's surveyed coastline faced erosion, while 1,941.24 kilometres saw accretion on shore.



It has long been known that the coastline is eroding, but officials needed to map and document it so that various agencies could take corrective measures, said M Rajeevan, Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences and another co-author of the report.



Erosion leads to loss of human habitation as sea water enters the land. This also effects farming done along the coasts. For traditional fishermen with small boats, beaches are gateway to the sea since they don't use fishing harbours. Loss of beaches mean they have to use harbours to venture into the sea.



Accretion results in increase in the land area as beaches get extended, which is positive. However, if accretion happens in the deltas and creeks, then it has a negative impact on the ecosystem because silting of sediments stops the inflow of sea water into these areas. The estuaries and creeks are a breeding ground for several species of aquatic flora and fauna. Any disturbance hurts the eco-system, Murthy said.



The report found that 63 percent of West Bengal's coastline has eroded, losing 99 sq km of land in the last 26 years. The second-highest loss was in Puducherry (57?per cent), followed by Odisha (28 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (27 per cent).



Kerala is the only state on the western coast that saw erosion of over 40 per cent of its coastline, while Gujarat, Diu and Daman saw an erosion of 26 per cent, Maharashtra 24 per cent, Goa 12 per cent and Karnataka 22 per cent.



On the other hand, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh saw a high-level of accretion ? 51?and 42 per cent of their coastline respectively, according to the report by the NCCR, an institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.



West Bengal saw a 24 percent accretion, Gujarat, Diu and Daman 31 percent, Maharashtra 12 percent,Goa 20 percent, Karnataka 30 percent, Kerala 21 percent, and Tamil Nadu 23 percent.



The survey measured 6,031 km of coastline, excluding creeks, and analysed 526 maps along 66 districts in 10 states and Union territories using data from five satellites - Landsat 5 and 7 (operated by NASA), ISRO's Resourcesat 1 and 2 and Cartosat-1.



The causes behind erosion differ from state to state, and the NCCR has started the second phase of the study to state-wise analyse the reasons behind it, Murthy said.



He said major reasons for erosion are: changes in the wave pattern, wave intensity, cyclones and depressions that bring heavy rains and make the waters along the coastline choppy, reduction in sediments that rivers and other water bodies bring to the sea, rising sea-level and human activities like construction and dredging of ports.



Rajeevan, the ministry secretary, said the eastern coast showed more erosion because the Bay of Bengal witnesses rougher seas in comparison to the Arabian Sea.



Asked why Kerala, along the Arabian Sea, showed higher erosion compared to other western states, Rajeevan said the southern Arabian Sea is usually rough and tide movement is intense, which affects the coast.



The eastern coast is also prone to cyclones, depressions, Murthy said.



He said that besides the Southwest Monsoon (June to September), the eastern coast also witnesses the Northeast Monsoon from October to December and brings rain to coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which ?keeps the sea rough for most of the year.



"It has been recorded that the intensity and height of waves in the Bay of Bengal has increased over the years. This also affects the coastline," Murthy said.



Human activities is one of the reasons behind erosion of the coastline.



Murthy said there is a lot of dredging in port areas and sediments are usually dumped in deep seas.



"We usually recommend that the sediments should be dumped along the coast nearby," Murthy, who is often a part of the panels that give recommendations compiled in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report before giving clearance to ports, said.

 TV18 Broadcast Limited

Theme(s): Others.
Nigerian biotech startup using shrimp shells to save food wins top prize

by Gemma Milne

August 13,2018 | Source: Forbes

Nigerian biotech startup Coating+ is looking to solve three problems.



In Nigeria, the aquaculture industry makes up a significant portion of the nations industry. With over 100,000 metric tons of fish being produced annually, the industry creates both wealth for the economy, and a sizeable amount of shrimp shell waste.



Globally, 32% of food produced goes to waste  enough food to feed 1.6million people. In Nigeria alone, over 28.4billion is lost just to tomatoes. Its one thing to say we need to produce more food to feed the world, but an effort must also go into saving what we already have.



Malnutrition  in particular, micronutrient deficiency and protein-energy malnutrition  is a huge issue in some parts of Africa. 35% of children under the age of 5 are stunted, and 24% underweight due to lack of nutrient intake in their food and drink.





Coating+ is out to tackle all three issues. The biotech has created a transparent gelatinous coating which is sprayed onto fresh fruit and vegetables to prolong their shelf life. Its made using a combination of chitosan  a sugar which can be extracted from shrimp shells  along with soy protein and micronutrients, and its preservation qualities are set to save farmers money on unsold produce. They are focusing on using the spray on fruit and vegetables that don't require peeling - such as tomatoes and grapes - so that the nutritional value of the coating is also consumed.



The company was born out of a group of Biochemisty masters students at the University of Ilorin. Albert Kure, one of the five team members working to get Coating+ to market, pitched the innovative solution to the 2018 Thought For Food Summit judges, and brought the team to victory bringing home $10,000 to complete their NAFDAC registration and automate the coating process for farmers.



The idea of harnessing biotech to preserve fruit and veg isnt unique to Coating+, however. Apeel, using a plant-based material, and Cambridge Crops, basing their material on silk, are two US-based startups looking to solve a similar problem. But as Kure pointed out on stage, neither company has current plans to take their product to Africa  and the Nigerian market is already yearning for a solution.



Its worth pointing out that the $10,000 Coating+ won is enough to power the team through their final stages of development to market by the end of 2018  an impressively low sum in the world of biotechnology in agriculture. Thought For Food is a global food and agriculture competition with an annual summit formally held in Europe  this year, their startup academy and pitching competition took place in Rio de Janeiro, and involved entrepreneurs from all corners of the globe. Many of the finalists were in need of comparatively small sums of money to get to commercialization stage, highlighting the opportunity that lies in early-stage localized solutions to country-by-country problems.



For Coating+, its not just the money that will propel their business  the award puts them in front of the international food and agriculture community, opening up the opportunity for corporate partnerships and other such inbound interests entrepreneurs in startup-heavy localities are more used to. Kure commented shortly after the win: This has been so much work, and getting recognized for that work on such an International platform is so huge for us.

 2018 PARS International Corp. All rights reserved

Theme(s): Others.
Naval blockade causing deterioration of living conditions for 4000 Gaza fishermen: PCHR

August 13,2018 | Source: PNN

For the fifth week, Israeli authorities continued its naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, through reducing the fishing area to 3 nautical miles adjacent to the Gaza Strip shores. As a result, the economic and living conditions of fishermen were deteriorated and they suffered great losses, due to restricting their movement and denying them access to areas where fish breed.



A report by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) in Gaza said that decreasing the fishing area caused great losses to about 4000 fishermen and 1500 workers in professions that are associated with fishing in the Gaza Strip. The fishermen were banned from sailing for more than 3 nautical miles and practice their normal profession, while a limited number of fishermen practiced their profession in the distances that were set by the Israeli authorities where the fish dont not breed.



According to PCHRs follow-up, the amount of fish production was reduced to less than 70% compared to the period prior to tightening the closure and reducing the fishing area. This has negatively affected on the living conditions of fishermen families and workers in professions that are associated with fishing and they were estimated at 30.000 individuals.



Nizar Ayash, Head of the General Union of Fishing Workers in the Gaza Strip, said to PCHRs fieldworker that the ongoing policy of naval blockade and reducing the fishing area along the Gaza Strip shores, disastrously reflected on the economic and living conditions for around 4000 fishermen and 1500 workers, professionals and fishing enthusiasts, who are associated with fishing in the Gaza Strip, given that the distance of 20 nautical miles is the good distance for fishermen where the fish breed. Ayash added that due to policy of restricting fishermens movement in the Gaza water, the amount of fish production reduced to less than the half compared to the period before the Israeli decision to reduce the fishing area.



The measures to decrease fishing area to 3 nautical miles coincided with continuous attacks against Palestinian fishermen in Gaza sea. During this period, PCHR documented about 40 attacks against Palestinian fishermen, the last of which was at approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 12 August 2018, when Israeli gunboats chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 nautical miles off al-Waha shore in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli gunboats opened fire at thePalestinian fishing boats, surrounded one of the boats, arrested 5 fishermen, including a child, and detained the fishing boat. The arrested fishermen were identified as:



Nasser Fadel Baker (55), his brother Hassan Fadel Baker (32),Yasser Nasser Baker (26), his brothers Mubarak (15), and Fadel (19), all of them are from Gaza City.



These violations are part of collective punishment practiced against the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, which aim at imposing restrictions on the fishermen and depriving them from practicing their job. The collective punishment constitute a flagrant violation of the international human rights and humanitarian law relevant to the protection of civilians lives and respecting their rights, including each persons right to work, life, security, personal safety, according to Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It should be noted the Israel is a contracting party of the abovementioned covenant.



PCHR confirmed that the decision to reduce the fishing area affects the economic and social rights of Palestinian fishermen and is a violation of the right to work according to Article (6) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen is considered a flagrant violation of the rules of the international humanitarian law.



Thus, PCHR: called upon the Israeli authorities to immediately reverse the decision of decreasing the fishing area and to enable fishermen to fish and sail freely, especially that they do not pose threat to the Israel authorities, and to compensate the Palestinian fishermen for losses suffered by the blockade and decreasing the fishing area.



In addition, it called for immediately stopping the policy of chasing Palestinian fishermen, and allowing them to sail and fish freely, release the detained fishermen and their fishing tools.



Finally, it called upon the international community to pressurize the Israeli authorities into ending the naval blockade, which led to the deterioration of the fishermen and their families living conditions, and stopping all violations against the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

 Palestine News Network 2018

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Imperial Valley News Center

Winners named in apple-picking robot competition

Detroit, Michigan - China Agricultural University (CAU) took home top honors in the 2018 ASABE Robotics Student Design Competition, held July 31 in Detroit. CAU teams won in both the advanced and beginner divisions.

Among the advanced teams, the University of Georgia, University of Florida and UC Davis finished second, third and fourth, respectively. Zhejiang University and Clemson University claimed those runner-up spots among the beginner teams. The beginners race was especially tight, with the top two teams achieving perfect scores. CAU used speed to edged out Zhejiang, completing the required technical task one second faster than Zhejiang. Teams from Cal Poly (6th place) and UC Merced (7th place) also competed on the beginners board.

All the teams incorporated innovative solutions in their robot designs, says ASABE member Alireza Pourreza, University of California Cooperative Extension agricultural mechanization specialist, who coordinated the 2018 event.

This years challenge involved identification, sorting, and harvesting of apples. The robots were required to autonomously harvest apples on a field measuring 8 feet by 8 feet. The robots identified and selected eight mature apples (red ping-pong balls), removed and disposed of eight diseased or rotten apples (blue ping-pong balls) and left eight immature apples (green ping-pong balls) on the tree.

China Agricultural Universitys Dream team presents one of the more prodigious designs in competition, covering two lanes at once and picking apples flawlessly, tweeted Michael Gutierrez, a University of Florida Extension water specialist.

The increasing interest in the ASABE robotics competition every year reflects a global response to the need of automation and robotics in agriculture, explains Pourreza, who is based at UC Davis. We aim to motivate young agricultural engineers to engage more with robotics and acquire an early-career experience that will prepare them for the future of agriculture and smart farming.

Fifteen university teams from the U.S., Canada and China competed in this years contest. Sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, the ASABE Robotics Student Design Competition allows undergraduate and graduate students to develop skills in robotic systems, electronics and sensing technologies by simulating a robotics solution to a common agricultural process.

Founded in 1907, ASABE is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food and biological systems.

MORE INFORMATION: 2018 ASABE robotics competition website: https://www.asabe.org/Awards-Competitions/Student-Awards-Competitions-Scholarships/Robotics-Student-Design-Competition
National conference to focus on trust in business relationships

West Lafayette, Indiana - Trust in business relationships will be at the forefront when Purdue Universitys Center for Food and Agricultural Business hosts the 2018 National Conference for Food and Agribusiness, Nov. 6-7 in West Lafayette.

The goal of the conference is to bring together professionals from across the agri-food industry to gain industry and business insights and to thoroughly explore research directly related to the changing marketplace. The research foundation of the 2018 conference is generational shifts, industry changes and the roles of internal and external business relationships. In addition to presentations by Purdue faculty, farmer and researcher panels, and industry professionals, this years conference will include new breakout workshops on a variety of topics, giving attendees the chance to customize their learning experiences.

Recent studies conducted by the center show that farms are getting larger, a generational shift is happening, and new buying processes have entered the marketplace, said professor of agricultural economics Michael Gunderson, center director and conference presenter. Similar change is happening in the agri-food industries with consolidations and a new generation of sales professionals coming into the marketplace. We know that industry professionals are facing new challenges that have direct impacts on building and developing trusted business relationships and we want to offer the resources to help our industry partners position their organizations for long-term success.

Day one of the conference will include general sessions on implications of market drivers on trusted relationships, internal organizational trust, ecommerce, and becoming a trusted agribusiness advisor. Also included are a farmer panel discussion and a poster presentation highlighting applied trust in business relationships research. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one and group conversations with speakers and industry peers.

Day two will consist of hands-on professional workshops facilitated by faculty members. Workshop topics are relationships with customers, relationships with employees, farmer buying (procurement processes), and negotiation.

Conference participants will develop industry-specific skills and gain valuable insights that are immediately applicable in their day-to-day business. Attendees have the option to attend one or both days but will ultimately gain the most benefit from attending both days.

Early bird registration for day one is $779 per person and the two-day bundle is $1,195 per person through Aug. 31. Regular registration is $899 per person for day one and $1,395 per person for both days. Group rates are available by contacting research project manager Masi Keshavarz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 765-496-3385.

Learn more and register at http://agribusiness.purdue.edu/seminars-and-events/national-conference.
State Department Terrorist Designation of Qassim Abdullah Ali Ahmed, AKA Qassim al-Muamen

Washington, DC - The Department of State has designated Qassim Abdullah Ali Ahmed, AKA Qassim al-Muamen, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons who have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. Todays designation seeks to deny al-Muamen the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks. Among other consequences, all of his property and interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.

Al-Muamen is an Iran-based leader of al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT that seeks to overthrow the Bahraini government. Al-Muamen has recruited terrorists in Bahrain, facilitated training on weapons and explosives for AAB members, and supplied AAB members with funding, weapons, and explosives to carry out attacks. In November 2017, Bahraini authorities identified al-Muamen as being involved in an AAB plot to assassinate prominent figures in Bahrain and target three oil pipelines.

Todays action notifies the U.S. public and the international community that Qassim al-Muamen has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. Designations of terrorist individuals and groups expose and isolate them, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and governments.
Secretary Pompeo's Call With Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Washington, DC - Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo: "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Secretary Pompeo thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabias support for northeast Syrias urgent stabilization needs, its engagement with the Iraqi government, and its offer to help Iraq address its water and electricity shortages by sending desalination vessels and providing diesel for offline generators.

"The Secretary and the Crown Prince discussed their support for a ceasefire in Afghanistan over the coming Eid, and peace in Afghanistan more broadly. They also reviewed the UN Special Envoys work to resolve the conflict in Yemen and other topics of mutual interest."
Pakistan Independence Day

Washington, DC - Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo: "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I would like to extend my best wishes to the people of Pakistan as they celebrate their independence day.

"For more than seven decades, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan has rested on the strong foundation of close ties between our two peoples. In the years ahead, we hope to further strengthen these bonds, as we continue to look for opportunities to work with the people and Government of Pakistan to advance our shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia."
Are You Getting Enough Sleep or Too Much? Oversleeping Puts You at Risk of Stroke
Cybercriminals are getting ready for a big payday.

Last week, the FBI warned banks that criminals are gearing up to execute a global bank heist in the coming days, according to security blog Krebs on Security. The scheme, known as "ATM cash-out," involves hacking banks or payment card processors, cloning cards, and using them to withdraw millions of dollars across the world in a few hours. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The alert said the agency had procured information indicating an attack was imminent and that it was likely an "unlimited operation," which uses malware to exploit network access and get customers' card information at a large scale. Once the criminals get the card data, they create fraudulent copies using reusable magnetic strip cards (like gift cards) and hit the ATMs.

"Historic compromises have included small-to-medium size financial institutions, likely due to less robust implementation of cyber security controls, budgets, or third-party vendor vulnerabilities," reads the confidential alert, which was sent to banks last Friday. "The FBI expects the ubiquity of this activity to continue or possibly increase in the near future."
Early in his research at the U.S. Army War College, Charles Parry asked a lieutenant colonel about After Action Reviews (AARs), a process for carrying forward lessons learned through experience. "He said it is very simple," Parry recalls. "That is just how we do leadership in the Army."

While companies today embrace failure as a cost of innovation and risk taking, failing repeatedly and in the same way won't cut it. Parry, owner of Signet Research & Consulting in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, helps organizations develop continuous learning cultures based on military practices--specifically AARs, which were developed by the Army to ensure units understand and build on past successes and failures.

To learn about AARs, in 2004 Parry and then-colleague Marilyn Darling began studying the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which serves as the opposing force (OPFOR) at the U.S. Army's National Training Center. Brigades visiting the center test themselves by battling OPFOR, a standing "enemy" that acts as a whetstone for sharpening decision making and skills in preparation for real battle.

"Every month they had a new enemy with completely different capabilities," Parry says. "Even though they had the home-court advantage, they had to completely change up what they were doing." OPFOR was so consistently successful that the Army began publishing its past plans and maneuvers for visiting brigades to study. "That way OPFOR couldn't work out someone's perfect routine and keep repeating it and expect to surprise the enemy," says Parry. "It forced innovation."

Parry adapted AARs for business use and coined the term After Review Cycle (ARC) to capture before-action planning as well. Two categories of action lend themselves to an ARC, he explains. First: activities that are repeated regularly but not often, such as quarterly presentations to investors. "In between those presentations are three months during which people get fuzzy about what worked, what didn't, and where they thought they could do better," Parry says.

The second category is imminent new challenges, for which leaders can prepare by running ARCs on activities that share some of the same processes. "If you're going to do a series of acquisitions in the next couple of years, then you might AAR a major capital investment to work out the nuts and bolts," Parry says. "That way you get really good at what needs to be done in a high-risk acquisition."

Getting everyone on the same page.

Perhaps the most valuable part of an ARC takes place in a Before Action Review (BAR) session. The first order of business is to clarify the "leader's intent." (In the military it's called "commander's intent.") Here is where leaders discover how well they've communicated their initiatives and whether everyone understands the marching orders. "The core of [it] is to compare what was intended with what actually happened," Parry says. "If you don't have a clear picture of what was intended, then any comparison is inherently weak."

The simplest approach is to ask those who will execute the initiative--typically the leader's direct reports or function heads--to repeat back what the team will do and why it will do that. "Maybe they've got it perfectly. Then there's no problem," Parry says. "Or maybe they're off in some way. Then the leader says, 'I want more emphasis on this and less on this. Focus on these people and not on those.'"

The "why" aspect is crucial. It is tempting simply to state what you want done and then fire the starter pistol. But when employees understand the thinking behind a particular strategy, they often come up with better alternatives. And as circumstances shift, a powerful, shared understanding helps them make better decisions, even if they are unable to consult with the boss. "The military tends to be really good at this for the simple reason that if I am leading this unit into conflict, I might get shot," Parry says. "Then who are they going to ask?"

After the leader establishes intent, the BAR discussion turns to anticipated challenges, critical factors, and lessons from earlier activities that might be relevant.

Lining up intent and actions.

Companies often do AARs poorly, Parry says. Typically, HR brings in a third party to facilitate the session. Leaders tend to sit in the back of the room, perhaps because they don't want to discuss their own mistakes. Junior people who have little to lose sit in front.

In the Army, by contrast, the senior leader runs the AAR. His immediate reports sit in the first row; and others sit farther back in descending order of rank. The senior leader's involvement ensures that people leave the meeting with concrete actions for which they're held accountable. "The leader models it by saying, 'Here is what I am going to do based on this conversation,'" Parry says. Consequently, military AARs always produce results. "People don't just say 'That was a good conversation' and disband,'" Parry says. That's how companies should do it as well.

In the AAR the leader restates the intent. Then the team reviews what actually happened compared to that intent: where intent and actions did not line up, what went wrong, and how we can do better. (Blame has no place in the room.) If intent and action did not line up but somehow produced a better-than-expected result, what went right? And how can we do it again?

Parry stresses that AARs are less about lessons learned--looking back--than about identifying best practices and potential pitfalls for the next challenge. He suggests creating a timeline for the action that is under review, then adding to it knowledge and insights gained during the AAR for later use. Returning to the acquisition example, the timeline might come to incorporate best practices for matters like due diligence, financing, and systems integration. What emerges is a project management guide that says, "This is how we do this thing."
Wes Anderson is set to launch production on his 10th film, following this years stop-motion animation outing Isle of Dogs.

And, according to French outlet Sud Ouest, the director has chosen to film for fourth months in Angouleme, located in southwestern France and the capital of the countrys Charente department.

Anderson has certainly dallied with French style and talent  working with the likes of Lea Seydoux and Mathieu Amalric  but has yet to set one of his pictures in the country, despite living there for several years now.

However, theres no word yet on who Anderson will call upon to fill out the films cast, or what exactly the nature of the project entails, outside of the fact it will take place immediately after WWII. Filming is set to begin in February 2019.

Part of Andersons crew is expected to arrive at the location to prep for filming this fall, which is set to make a splash in the region, considering its not usually frequented by American directors and their productions.

However, the director has a history of working in Europe, with production on Isle of Dogs taking place at Londons 3 Mills Studios, while The Grand Budapest Hotel was largely filmed in Gorlitz, Germany.

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.
Jackmaster, the Scottish DJ, has issued an apology after exhibiting what he describes as inappropriate and offensive behaviour towards staff at Bristols Love Saves The Day festival.

The DJ, real name Jack Revill, stated that he acted inappropriately and offensively to staff at the May event, also damaging equipment, while heavily intoxicated. He did not specify what those actions were.

I take full responsibility for my actions and the effect on those involved  I am sorry, he wrote in a Facebook post. As much as this was out of characters: substances are an individuals choice, not an excuse. I have already made major changes to my lifestyle, and will continue these ongoing.

Over the last few weeks I have done everything in my ability to confront and address the repercussions of my actions head-on, and apologise personally to those that I affected. This post will serve to remind me that my behaviour was unacceptable, and it is a bid to address issues in the wider events and music industries.

The festival issued its own response, in a statement which detailed: We received complaints from our staff as to the behaviour of Jack at our Love Saves The Day Festival this summer. We took the complaints extremely seriously and fully investigated the incidents.



Jack met with us and representatives of the staff involved and showed genuine remorse, full responsibility for his actions plus an undertaking to ensure that his behaviour would never be repeated at any event in the future.

They continued: Our staff and family have accepted his apology and consider this matter closed, whilst reserving the right to further pursue complaints at such point in the future that we are ever aware of this behaviour being repeated.



Love Saves the Day takes the welfare of its staff and family extremely seriously and will never tolerate any unacceptable behaviour towards them, from any member the public, contractors, or artists."

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Gun activist Dan Roberts has addressed his humiliating appearance on Who Is America? branding Sacha Baron Cohen malicious.

The episode saw the pro-gun group leader place a sex toy in his mouth after Cohen - in character as Israeli terror expert Erran Morad - convinced him it was a defence strategy designed to survive beheadings.

Roberts, the leader of Youth Shooters of America, told the New York Times he was unaware he was being pranked and is actively exploring what legal remedies may be available.

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He bit down on the sex toy, worn by Cohen, after being told the only way to escape a beheading was to bite the genitals of the enemy. Roberts claims that he was baffled and felt extraordinarily uncomfortable while filming the prank last July.

But at the same time, if you believe yourself to be in the presence of what anyone would rightly describe as experts in their field, and they are telling you that these are techniques or tactics that they themselves have used, and youre just a rank amateur, would you question it? he added.

Attempting to contextualise the moment, he said: Think about what theyre claiming: a last resort. You have one chance to do something, or youre certain youre going to die. Thats the scenario theyve laid out. I dont know many people, if they were completely honest, that they would say they wouldnt take that opportunity to maybe, hopefully, grab one thing to maybe save their lives.

Roberts branded his appearance a malicious, willful and deliberate act on the part of Sacha Baron Cohen, the production company and Showtime, who blatantly lied to me about the purpose of the entire thing, in a deliberate effort to humiliate me.

Earlier this week, Sheriff Joe Arpaio responded to his controversial appearance which saw him say he'd accept oral sex from Donald Trump.

Who Is America? continues in the US this Sunday with its UK premiere arriving Monday at 9pm Channel 4
Sizzling heatwaves are likely to be a feature of the global climate for at least the next four years, say scientists.

Researchers found that both average ground and sea surface temperatures around the world could be abnormally high between 2018 and 2022.

The biggest factor driving the forecast was an increased likelihood of "extreme warm events".

The research was carried out before the summer heatwaves that sent temperatures in the UK and other parts of the world soaring this year.

But the unusually hot weather was correctly predicted by the scientists, who said 2018 had a "high probability of having a warm anomaly" relative to the general effects of global warming.

Their paper, reported in the journal Nature Communications, was received for publication in January.

The new technique, called Procast (Probabilistic forecast), seeks to rationalise the inherently chaotic behaviour of systems such as the Earth's climate.

It involves gathering information from previous changes in a system's state to calculate the probabilistic chances of transitions to future new states.

A retrospective test of the method accurately predicted the global warming pause, or "hiatus", between 1998 and 2013.

The scientists, led by Dr Florian Sevellec, from the University of Brest in France, wrote: "For 2018-2022, the probabilistic forecast indicates a warmer than normal period, with respect to the forced trend (of global warming).

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

"This will temporarily reinforce the long-term global warming trend.

"The coming warm period is associated with an increased likelihood of intense to extreme temperatures."

Warm events affecting sea surface temperatures could increase the activity of tropical storms, said the scientists.
Support forums for suicide prevention are being shared on cryptocurrency forums amid concerns for the mental health of bitcoin investors after a major market downturn.

The price of bitcoin dropped to around $6,000 on Tuesday, down from above $8,000 at the beginning of August. At its peak in December 2017, bitcoin was trading at close to $20,000, after shooting up by around 1,900 per cent in value in 2017.

Such dramatic gains saw interest in bitcoin spike as new investors rushed to buy cryptocurrency in the hope of making a quick profit. In early January, however, the price of bitcoin collapsed to around half its value in a matter of weeks.

It has since continued to slide, in what has been the cryptocurrency's worst ever start to a year since its 2009 inception. Previous price crashes have led to reports of people taking their life in relation to cryptocurrency, prompting people to share links and phone numbers to support services.

Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins  the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images

The latest crash takes bitcoin back to the same prices it was trading at in November 2017, however investors in other cryptocurrencies have been hardest hit. In the last 24 hours, ethereum and bitcoin cash plummeted by almost 20 per cent, amid speculation of a mass sell-off.

The price falls sparked fresh concern for people who may have lost significant sums of money. One post to the popular r/cryptocurrency forum on Reddit shared helpline numbers and website links for the US Suicide Hotline and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

"If you feel you might be suicidal, and live in the United States, I urge you to call the Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255 or navigate to Suicide Prevention Lifeline for a live chat and additional resources.

Some cryptocurrency analysts have also warned that the market collapse may not yet be over.

"Looking ahead, I don't think we're at the end of the cycle just yet, and I can see bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continuing to fall before a meaningful return back up," said Clement Thibault, a senior analys at that investment platform Investing.com.

However, others believe that the technology underpinning bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies mean there is a a good chance the markets could recover.

It's been a bumpy ride for ethereum investors so far in 2018 (CoinMarketCap)

"While market swings of this nature are certainly not uncommon, they are often extremely discouraging for investors that have not weathered the storm of crypto volatility before," said Sheffield Clark, CEO of bitcoin ATM operator Coinsource.

"An enormous amount of new money entered the market late last year as the industry was booming, and those new investors are likely hurting right now. As any believer in this technology will tell you, however, bitcoin isnt going away."

For US readers, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-8255 and the Crisis Text Line is 741741. If you have been affected by this article in the UK, you can contact the following organisations for support:

mind.org.uk

nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth

mentalhealth.org.uk

samaritans.org
Bitcoin, ethereum and other major cryptocurrencies have plummeted in price, with analysts warning that the market has hit "panic mode".

Ethereum experienced the biggest drop in value of all the major digital currencies, falling by nearly 20 per cent over the last 24 hours to hit its lowest price in almost a year.

For all the latest updates on the cryptocurrency price crash, follow The Independent's bitcoin liveblog.

Massive trading volumes suggest a mass sell-off, with ethereum trading at $262 at the time of writing. The price of bitcoin has fallen to $6,043, down 7 per cent since this time yesterday.

Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins  the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images

Cryptocurrency analysts have linked the latest market movements to the liquidation of funds raised through ICOs (initial coin offerings), meaning companies may be selling the ethereum raised through the popular fundraising mechanism.

"The crypto market seems to have hit panic mode, with prices falling significantly across the board. As we can see in the case of ethereum, investors seem to be increasing liquidations of their ICO holdings, with significant drops in price and increased volumes," said Matthew Newton, an analyst at the online trading platform eToro.

"This has had a knock-on effect on the rest of the [cryptocurrency] market, with bitcoin also momentarily dropping below $6,000 late last night. With prices hanging in the balance, emotions will be running high among traders. But keeping things in perspective, bitcoin is still range-bound for now between $5,700 to $8,000 in line with how it has traded over the past few months.

Eiland Glover, CEO of crypto firm Kowala, said: "As crypto markets circle the drain today, with many of the more popular cryptocurrencies falling to levels not seen since November of last year, many of the more cautious investors may be looking to cut their losses and move on from the troubled asset-class. What is often and regrettably overlooked by everyday traders is the financially liberating nature of this technology, which has been nothing short of a miracle for those in equally unstable economies, such as Venezuela and Turkey."

He added: "While your average trader on Reddit or in a family office may be taking a hit this month, the true sufferers are those who are seeing their life savings plummet yet have no trustworthy fiat alternative to turn to."

It's been a bumpy ride for ethereum investors so far in 2018 (CoinMarketCap)

Cryptocurrency investors have been sharing their tales of woe on community forums, with some revealing the extent of their personal losses.

"I got into crypto's at the end of January," one member of the cryptocurrency forum on Reddit. "Put around 25,000 USD in in total, spread out pretty well I thought."

They continued: "I was never really worried during that past dips as I had a lot of faith in the future of crypto's and the technology... But the dips kept coming... My portfolio of 25k is now barely worth 5k, and not even worth selling. At this point I'd much rather consider it all lost."

Others in the sub-Reddit said they would make the most of the price crash by "buying the dip", despite the downward trend across markets in 2018.

"I honestly didn't believe the alt market... would hit these levels," one user wrote. "Well, I can only think of one thing to do. Time to double down. I'm either winning big or going down with the ship."

Experts warn that the volatility of cryptocurrencies mean people should not invest more than they can afford to lose.
Think the emblematic pigeon and the cawing crow, the gull that soars high over the river Thames and the quacking mallard waddling in the park are the only birds of London? Think again.

What would you say to discover that at the core of our city theres wigeon, teal and shoveler? That gadwall, pochard, tufted duck and grebes roam freely, and breed, while the bittern  once extinct in the UK owing to hunting and loss of habitat  can be spotted amid wetland reeds?

All these, and more, may be found at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) London Wetland Centre  a 105-acre award winning nature reserve, situated 10 minutes from Hammersmith.

An urban oasis: the marshlands are also home to otters, frogs, butterflies and rare insects

A conservation hotbed

Fashioned out of four disused Victorian reservoirs, the centre was opened by Sir David Attenborough in 2000, to provide a safe haven for a wide range of wildlife  from birds to bats, water voles to amphibians  and deliver a slice of the great British countryside to the heart of our concrete capital. Conservation efforts there have already proved enormously successful.

Just two years after it launched, in 2002, the centre was re-notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) owing to the emergence of an impressive number of wintering shoveler and gadwall.

Shoveler (Tom Hines)

Kingfishers and kiwi

Now among the open water lakes, grazing marsh, reedbed and scrub, woodland and grassland, more than 160 species of wild bird have been recorded each year; more than 40 pairs of black-headed gulls and sand martins breed there; and in 2016, a pair of kingfishers raised two broods of young.

Already this year, five sparrowhawks have successfully fledged, and there have been sightings of the rare Savis warbler and Temmincks stint. And its not just birdlife finding safety in this glorious green sanctuary: Asian short-clawed otters call it home, as do frogs, butterflies and moths, and all-manner of other insects too.

Spotting species: the Wetland Centre experts help visitors to identify birds

What is so significant about this initiative? It demonstrates the resilience of our planet; what can happen  so quickly  when the landscape is retrieved from human clutches and handed back to nature. And there are other examples of this happening all over the world, too.

In New Zealand, for instance, the endangered kiwi can now roam without fear on predator-free islands  habitats mirroring the landscape before mans arrival in the 13th century. Designed by charity Kiwis for kiwi, in association with Old Mout Cider, these islands protect the kiwi from the predators originally introduced by man  after all, New Zealand was once a land inhabited almost exclusively by birds.

Bittern (Gary Gray)

Initiatives such as predator-free islands and the London Wetland Centre give hope to endangered and rare birdlife. As seen with the bitterns return to the UK, it is possible to reverse the damage done, if we act fast and we act now. Support the WWT London Wetland Centre by visiting today. And help save the kiwi by signing your name to Old Mout Ciders campaign.

Protecting the kiwi

In New Zealand, charity Kiwis for kiwi, in association with Old Mout Cider, has created predator-free islands on which to nurture and protect the endangered kiwi. It is an environment mimicking that which existed before the arrival of man; a time when New Zealand was inhabited almost exclusively by birds, and had no mammal predators at all. In the case of this project  and the London Wetland Centre  its about going back to nature to move forward.

Join Old Mout Cider in the fight to help save the kiwi by signing up to the campaign.

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Take the quiz: What endangered animal are you?
It is North Americas dark, open secret that native women are far more likely to be raped, and far more likely to be murdered.

No justice. That is the constant cry from friends and families of victims as countless cases are left unresolved and ignored.

Marita Growing Thunder, a 19-year-old murdered and missing indigenous women (MMIW) activist from Montana, has experienced this lack of justice  five times.

(Tom Ford)

In the early 2000s, Maritas aunt died. Although Yvonnes death was officially recorded as an overdose, Marita claims her aunt had been beaten. All her fingernails had been pulled out. She was unrecognisable when we put her in the coffin. Her body was black and blue and swollen.

Marita also suggests there were four unrelated deaths in her family which police did not investigate. Her fathers aunt, Henry, her grandfathers sister, Shirley K, and two female cousins that her mother grew up with.

This is not a problem with one cause, nor is it one that is going away. Therefore any attempt to move towards a solution must recognise how terrifyingly deep the international crisis of MMIW runs.

Despite thousands of women going missing every year, and thousands being raped over their lifetimes, startlingly few statistics are available.

Given the complicated and tense mesh of federal, state and tribal law  as well as entrenched racism towards indigenous people across North America  cases continue to fall through the cracks.

Annita Lucceshi, a PhD student in Southern Alberta, has been tirelessly compiling a database of stories like Yvonnes across Canada and the US. A victim of human trafficking, domestic and sexual violence, she says herself: I almost ended up in this database.

I realised how difficult it is to get a sense of just how many murdered and missing women there are because it changes constantly and there is so little official information, Annita says. Her database, currently spanning 1900 to present day, is made up from other general missing people lists, social media, limited news coverage, archives and police databases.

The police are not helpful, she adds. Typically I get no response at all. If I do, they say they dont collect the data, or that they wont be able to pull that information.

Not only does this mean missing indigenous women and girls are less likely to be found, but perpetrators are less likely to be found guilty.

Jurisdiction plays a huge part in cases going unsolved, particularly in the US, with confusion or unwillingness to handle cases leading to delays in investigations.

The issue of jurisdiction in the states is a mess, Annita says with a heavy sigh. I would also say that the law enforcement agencies that are tasked with these cases are not handling them appropriately.

Annita gives the example of Ashley Heavyrunner, a Montana woman who was missing for nine months before the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) got involved, even though it fell into their jurisdiction.

Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Show all 9 1 /9 Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Save Our Sisters The Save Our Sisters project in Montana is in its second year of doing 80-mile walks to raise awareness of missing and murdered indigenous women Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Marita Growing Thunder Marita Growing Thunder dresses in traditional Native American regalia to raise awareness of murdered and missing indigenous women Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Save Our Sisters The project was created by Marita Growing Thunder, a 19-year-old student who is a citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux tribe Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Save Our Sisters The walk takes place in the Flathead Reservation in Montana Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Save Our Sisters Marita has been personally affected by the issue of murdered and missing women, with several of her female relatives having been killed Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Save Our Sisters This is the second walk done by the Save Our Sisters team Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Save Our Sisters Many other indigenous people affected by the issue joined Marita for the walk Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Marita Growing Thunder 19-year-old Marita Growing Thunder dresses in traditional Native American regalia to raise awareness of murdered and missing indigenous women Save Our Sisters Forgotten Women: Save Our Sisters project Marita Growing Thunder 19-year-old Marita Growing Thunder dresses in traditional Native American regalia to raise awareness of murdered and missing indigenous women Save Our Sisters

The number of indigenous women reported missing has remained remarkably constant in recent years.

There were 5,646 Native American women entered as missing into the National Crime Information Centre database last year, with 5,711 in 2016. In the first six months of 2018 there were 2,758 indigenous woman reported missing.

The FBI is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes committed on reservations. However when it comes to crimes on Native American land, the Department of Justice (DoJ) typically declines to send 30 to 40 per cent of all applications to prosecution. The last set of available data from 2016 shows that 35 per cent of cases were not sent for prosecution. The two major reasons given for this by the DoJ are either insufficient evidence, or the case being referred to another prosecuting authority  such as the tribes themselves.

With 567 sovereign tribal nations across the US, the rights of tribal governments as nations are written into the constitution. According to the National Congress of American Indians, in total, tribal governments exercise jurisdiction over lands that would make Indian Country the fourth largest state in the nation.

Hundreds of treaties, along with the Supreme Court, the federal government, and Congress, have repeatedly affirmed that tribal nations retain their inherent powers of self-government. Despite this sovereignty, as the National Congress of American Indians says, there is a lack of federal agency coordination and [there are] regulations and laws that prevent tribal governments from equitable access to federal programmes on par with state and local governments.

This is an issue Annita has repeatedly come across in her research. Tribes are sovereign nations and they should be treated as such. That means they have complete jurisdiction over crimes that happen in their territory, and that means that when one of their citizens dies or goes missing, they must be notified.

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But for some reason, theyre not being invited to the table. Theyre not even being notified, and theyre having no say in how things are handled. Thats the only example in the world when a nation isnt notified when one of their citizens is killed.

As a young native woman living on a reserve, Marita also points to policing as a huge issue in the case of MMIW. We are a small group of people and a lot of people view us as a lot more vulnerable. There are a lot less tribal police, for example the Navajo people, the reservation is huge  if you think about it as the size of Maine with 129 cops  roughly  and then if you think about Maine, they have thousands of cops. A lot of times it doesnt go beyond the missing persons report.

Despite there being little reliable data, it is safe to say this is not an issue to be relegated to the past.

In Canada in 2015, a quarter of all women murdered were indigenous. In 1980 it was 9 per cent.

What I really stress to people is that it happens everywhere, Annita says. People imagine this just happens in the oil fields of North Dakota and the huge expanse of the Navajo nation  and it does  but it also happens in cities. According to my database Seattle has the highest number of cases, a supposedly liberal, safe place to be.

2015 saw Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announce an inquiry into MMIW to bring justice to victims families, which launched in 2016.

Two years on, and the inquiry is plagued with resignations, heavily criticised by native activists, and has a press number that is out of order. Although she acknowledges Canada has been more open in its national discussion of MMIW than the US, Annita says the inquiry has been a complete failure.

Access for families has also been very difficult, with a lack of communication and pastoral care available to those grieving. Designed in a western legal framework, many native families have said the inquiry has not taken into consideration traditional ideas of both grief and justice. It seems like it was just something they did haphazardly, way too quickly, without very much thought, Annita says.

With federal level of justice seeming a distant hope, grassroot activism is very real.

Inspired by the horrific stories she had grown up with, Marita Growing Thunder began her fight for MMIW at the age of 17, founding the Save Our Sisters project to raise awareness. Initially it primarily used art and clothing to make a statement. I dress in my native regalia every day, so it consists of a ribbon skirt or a type of dress that northern indigenous people wore during the times of assimilation of native peoples.

Marita has also completed two 80 mile walks, much of that distance barefoot, across Flathead Indian Reservation land, with others joining her along the way. The project was not to raise money, rather to create awareness and as something for her own journey with MMIW.

I just got up one day and said Im gonna do this. There were a lot of emotions that appeared over those four days, it brought some healing, some closure to the other people who had walked with me.

By bringing traditional dress and native ideals onto contemporary platforms such as social media, movements like that spearheaded by Marita force us to question archaic stereotypes still held across North America.

I feel like a lot of people dont see it as an issue, they dont see native people as a current people, Marita says. The way that history has been taught in schools around the country is that the native people were completely wiped out. It is not true, we are still here  we belong here.

Native women across North America are calling for their voices to be heard, to have increased representation and for romanticised, patronising stereotypes to stop. Encouragingly, this year has seen the highest number of native women running in the 2018 US midterms, yet still the nation has a president who calls women Pocahontas, clearly intending to cause insult.

As much as action at a federal level is required, grassroot movements like Maritas are having an impact. Raising awareness of this issue is crucial in exposing the crisis being faced by women and girls.

I am hoping with not just my project, but a lot of other movements around the country and on the continent, that more people are seeing this as a current issue affecting everybody. This shouldnt just be an indigenous issue, but an issue for all people  everybody should be concerned.
(ANSA) - Rome, August 14 - Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that Tunisia had detained a group of potentially dangerous Islamist extremists who were about to try to reach Italy via sea.

"The Tunisian authorities have held nine Islamic extremists who were trying to embark on a rubber dinghy to reach Italy," Salvini, who is also deputy premier and leader of the rightwing League party, said via Twitter.

"This will show those who say 'the terrorists don't arrive by boat...' Will (daily newspaper) Repubblica report this?".


Arsene Tchakarian was the last surviving member of the Armenian-led Manouchian network, which fought alongside the French resistance against the Nazi occupiers during the Second World War. An ethnic Armenian born in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire, he later received Frances highest award, as a commander of the Legion of Honour.

Tchakarian, who has died aged 101, was commemorated on Twitter by French president Emmanuel Macron, who described him as a hero of the resistance and tireless witness whose voice resonated strongly to the very end.

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The Manouchian resistance network, named after Tchakarians fellow Armenian Missak Manouchian, a poet and resistance leader, was made up of immigrants from many nations that had been affected by Hitlers expansionism  Italians, Greeks, Romanians, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Spaniards, Poles, even young German Jews who had fled to what was then a free France.

There was such a friendship between us, between all these people coming from everywhere, Jews, Spanish, Italians, Germans, Armenians and French of course, Tchakarian said in a 2002 speech to pupils at a junior high school near his home in Vitry-sur-Seine, France. A brotherly friendship which surpassed all that you can imagine.

Tchakarian was awarded the Legion of Honour by French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 (Getty)

Throughout the Second World War, the Manouchian network linked up with the local French Resistance to carry out a guerrilla campaign against the Nazi occupiers, including broad-daylight assassinations and the sabotage of power lines and munitions trains.

Tchakarian, code-named Charles, started out secretly distributing anti-Nazi tracts in Paris. After meeting Manouchian, he recalled that his fellow Armenian told him: Enough of tracts, we are now being asked to fight with arms.

Tchakarians first assignment was to throw a grenade among a group of Nazi soldiers.

As I hesitated, Tchakarian told Le Parisien newspaper in February, Georges  Manouchians nom de guerre  snatched it from me and threw it himself.

The following day, Tchakarian took part in an attack on German military police. He was also part of a small resistance cadre that assassinated SS General Julius Ritter in September 1943. Ritter had been in charge of a forced-labour programme that deported hundreds of thousands of French workers to Germany to support the Nazi war effort.

The Manouchian network later became better known as LAffiche Rouge or the Red Poster Group, after the Nazi occupiers put up blood-red posters carrying the faces of the networks wanted members, including Tchakarian.

Anti-Manouchian network propaganda posters warned of The Army of Crime

The Germans called them The Army of Crime and focused on the fact that many of them were Jewish.

In November 1943, Tchakarian had scheduled a clandestine rendezvous with a fellow resistance fighter, Olga Bancic, a Romanian Jew, at the Gare dOrsay in Paris.

She didnt show up, as she always had without fail, Tchakarian recalled earlier this year. He had seen pro-Nazi police in the area and escaped shortly before Bancic was arrested along with Manouchian and 22 other male members of the underground network.

On 21 February 1944, all 23 men, including Manouchian, were lined up and shot by a German firing squad at the notorious Fort Mont-Valerien on the western outskirts of Paris. (More than 1,000 people, mostly Jews, were executed at the fort between 1941 and 1944.) Because French law prohibited the execution of women by firing squad, Bancic was taken to Germany, where she was beheaded with an axe.

Tchakarian fled from Paris to Bordeaux and continued the fight with the resistance. The German Luftwaffe had taken control of Bordeaux-Merignac airport and was using it as a base for maritime reconnaissance and attacks against allied shipping in the Atlantic. Tchakarian helped provide intelligence for a 1943 raid on the airport by British and US bombers.

During the spring and summer of 1944, he joined a resistance group that, along with US army troops, helped liberate the central French town of Montargis. The soldiers and resistance fighters were greeted with kisses, flowers, wine and delirium by residents who knew by then that the war had turned against the Germans.

After the war, Tchakarian returned to his previous occupation and became a master tailor near Paris. He also turned his focus to history, writing memoirs about his wartime experiences and about the Turkish massacres of Armenians when he was a child. Most Armenians, including Tchakarian, described the killings as genocide, although Turkish authorities have continued to reject that term.

Arsene Tchakarian was born in 1916, to Armenian parents in what is now Sapanca, Turkey, then part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Turkish purge of Armenians forced his family to flee first to Bulgaria and then to France.

Young Arsene, who adopted the French spelling of Arsene, arrived in Marseille in 1930 as an apprentice tailor. In 1937, though not yet a French citizen, he was conscripted into a French army artillery unit and fought the Nazis until they occupied France in June 1940 and he was demobilised.

He had come to consider France his home and was determined to fight on. Through Armenian connections, he soon found the Manouchians, the immigrant resistance group with nothing to lose.

Tchakarian was granted French citizenship in 1958. In 2005, he was made a knight of the French Legion of Honour, later upgraded to officer and finally to commander  Frances highest award  last year. His first wife, Bertha Christiane, predeceased him. Survivors include his second wife, Jacqueline Tchakarian, and four children. A complete list of survivors could not be confirmed.

In one of his last interviews, Tchakarian was asked about his time in the resistance.

I would like to shed a tear, he said. But I cannot. Ive never cried. We were not heroes. We resisted because we could do it: we didnt have families or jobs. And we resisted because we loved France. She had adopted us.

Arsene Tchakarian, Second World War French resistance fighter, born 21 December 1916, died 4 August 2018

 Washington Post
An alleged terrorist drove around London for almost eight hours before ploughing into cyclists and smashing his car into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament, police have said.

Officers guarding the area had to leap out of the cars path before armed colleagues rushed to detain the driver early on Tuesday morning.

Witnesses said the suspect, a 29-year-old British man, was silent as he was arrested and he has not been cooperating with questioning as police work to establish his motive.

Investigators said he had driven from Birmingham late on Monday and arrived in the capital just after midnight.

The silver Ford Fiesta was spotted in the central Tottenham Court Road area  a famous shopping and nightlife district  from 1.25am until around 6am.

It was then driven to Westminster and circled around the Houses of Parliament and Whitehall until the crash shortly after 7.30am.

Footage showed the car sharply swerving through several cyclists and pedestrians, over central reservations and down the wrong side of the road at high speed before crashing into security barriers.

The car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament (PA)

It struck during parliaments summer recess and ahead of the daily rush of tourists to the area, leaving it relatively deserted.

Three people suffered non life-threatening injuries in the attack, including a man and woman who needed hospital treatment but have since been discharged.

As the suspect remained in police custody, searches spread to two properties in Birmingham and one in Nottingham.

Labour MP Roger Godsiff confirmed the suspect was from his Hall Green constituency, and he is believed to have been known to West Midlands Police.

Theresa May vowed that terrorists would never succeed in dividing Britain, after Donald Trump took to Twitter to blame crazy animals for the attack.

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu, the head of UK counterterror policing, said: Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident ... no other suspects at the scene have been identified or reported to the police.

There is no intelligence at this time of further danger to Londoners or the rest of the UK connected to this incident.

Mr Basu said his teams current priority was to formally identify the suspect and establish his motivation if we can  he is not currently cooperating.

He added: We dont believe this person was known to either MI5 or counterterror policing.

Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Show all 30 1 /30 Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man Sky News Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers work at the scene EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Damaged bikes near the crash site Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man who crashed a car into the barriers ITV Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity outside the Houses of Parliament after a car crashed into security barriers BBC/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Bicycles lie on the ground at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator arrives at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police and emergency response teams work outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The area is cleared near to the incident PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator works at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police on Victoria Embankment PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensic officer attends the scene near the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers and a search team secure the roads around the Houses of Parliament as forensic teams continue their work around a vehicle Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police forensics officers outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The car crashed into parliament barriers Vincent McAviney/NBC News/Euronews/Twitter/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Fire fighters attend the scene Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A police dog team works behind the cordon REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament olice and emergency services respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police on Westminster Bridge PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police stand in the street after the incident Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers stand at a cordon Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity on Millbank PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters

Ben Wallace, the security minister, said the suspect was a British citizen who came from another country originally.

The Palace of Westminster and what it stands for  our values, our tolerance, our liberal society  is always going to be a target for those people whose beliefs we directly challenge, he added.

Thats why weve seen attacks here against us, either previous plots or actual attacks carried out.

Investigators said no one else was in the vehicle and no weapons had been recovered amid ongoing searches.

Recommended Police officer killed in Westminster attack honoured for bravery

According to open source data, the car used in the attack is a 2010 Ford Fiesta Zetec, which was first registered near Nottingham. It displayed a sticker with the website of a car dealership that had 11 branches across the north of England, in Yorkshire, Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

Barry Williams, a BBC employee who works near the scene of the crash, said he heard screams.

The car went onto the wrong side of the road to where cyclists were waiting at lights and ploughed into them, he added.

Then it swerved back across the road and accelerated as fast as possible and hit the barrier at full pelt.

It was a small silver car and he hit it at such speed the car actually lifted off the ground and bounced.

Then the police just jumped. Two officers managed to leap over the security barriers and then the armed police vehicles all sped towards the scene.

(Graphic News (Graphic News)

Jason Williams told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme the driver had driven at speed  more than 40mph.

He added: I was told basically to move away, to run. I have run for my life ... it looked deliberate, it didnt look like an accident.

Following a meeting of the governments emergency Cobra committee, the prime minister described the incident as shocking and said: For the second time in as many years the home of our democracy, which is a potent symbol for our precious values of tolerance and freedom, has witnessed terrible scenes just yards from its doors.

My thoughts are with the innocent members of the public who were hurt in this appalling incident. I wish them a speedy recovery and we must be thankful that nobody suffered life-threatening injuries.

I also wish to praise the formidable courage of our emergency services, who were on the scene immediately and in significant numbers.

Once again, they did not flinch and ran towards a dangerous situation in order to protect the public. The country is hugely grateful for their calmness and professionalism.

Ms May said the national terror threat level remains at severe, meaning further attacks are considered highly likely, and urged the public to remain vigilant.

The twisted aim of the extremists is to use violence and terror to divide us, she added. They will never succeed.

At a briefing for journalists in Westminster, the prime ministers spokesman said 13 Islamist and four far-right plots have been foiled since the first Westminster attack in March 2017  an average of one a month.

A total of 676 terrorism investigations by MI5 and counterterrorism police were underway by the end of June this year, up from around 500 just four months before.

Police officers at a cordon after the crash (Reuters)

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: All Londoners, like me, utterly condemn all acts of terrorism on our city. The response of Londoners today shows that we will never be cowed, intimidated or divided by any terrorist attack.

Police launched a huge security operation that saw large parts of Westminster shut down, including the tube station, and cordons spread up Whitehall and across Westminster Bridge.

Explosives detection dogs were seen carrying out checks as armed officers patrolled cordons and a police helicopter hovered overhead.

The cordons were progressively lifted throughout the day and Westminster tube station was fully reopened.

British Transport Police announced it was increasing patrols across England, Scotland and Wales, and a Scotland Yard spokesperson said. The public can also expect to see extra police officers  both armed and unarmed  out on the streets in and around central London.

The public should remain vigilant and if you see anything suspicious that causes concern, dial 999 immediately.

Police initially locked down the Houses of Parliament and surrounding buildings but later let parliamentary staff into work and tours were planned to restart for tourists as soon as possible.

MPs and peers are currently on summer recess, meaning Westminster Palace is less busy than normal.

The incident came at the beginning of rush hour, and ahead of the arrival of the bulk of sightseers who normally pack out the streets around parliament.

Rebecca Clark, a 52-year-old American tourist, had been due to go on a tour of the Houses of Parliament.

Armed police officers stand at a cordon after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster Reuters) (REUTERS)

She told The Independent: Im just frustrated mainly  I live in New York so we have these kind of things as well. They are being cautious and thats good.

Ms Clark said the incident had not affected her view of London, where she previously studied and lived in the 1980s. Its always a good time to visit London, this is just unfortunate.

It struck metres away from the UKs first Isis-inspired attack, which saw a car ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and gates outside parliament last March.

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The atrocity caused parliamentary security to be increased, with strengthened fencing installed around the building, protocols changed and new security barriers to prevent vehicles approaching entrances.

A spokesperson for the Houses of Parliament said: The safety and security of those working in or visiting the UK parliament is our top priority. Our current measures are robust and are continuously reviewed.

Security services have since foiled several other plots to attack Westminster using knives and bombs.

Last month a former Taliban bombmaker was jailed for life after being arrested walking towards parliament armed with three knives. Westminster was also the main target of Britains first all-female jihadi gang, who have been jailed for planning an Isis-inspired knife

Westminster was among the attack locations listed by another Isis fanatic who was training an army of children to launch simultaneous attacks in London.

And another jihadi planned to bomb the gates to nearby Downing Street before storming the building in a suicide vest to behead the prime minister.

Isis has issued advice to its followers non how to carry out atrocities using vehicles, knives and other easily obtained items, which have made attack plans faster and harder to spot for authorities.

The terrorist group urges perpetrators to carry a secondary weapon inside cars to inflict more damage after they crash, as seen in the previous attacks in Westminster and London Bridge.

Police are urging anyone with information on the incident or footage to call 0800 789 321 or visit www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk.
Conservative Brexiteers are reportedly drawing up an alternative plan to rival Theresa Mays Chequers agreement, detailing what they claim to be the advantages of leaving the EU without a deal.

The European Research Group (ERG) of backbench Eurosceptic Tory MPs  led by Jacob Rees-Mogg  is expected to publish a policy paper ahead of the Conservative partys annual conference in Birmingham next month.

The paper will challenge the prime ministers proposals set out before the summer recess, which led to the resignations of the Brexit secretary David Davis and the foreign secretary Boris Johnson.

According to The Times, it will outline the advantages of leaving the bloc without a deal on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms and has the backing of up to 80 Conservative MPs.

The newspaper added it also expected to advocate a Canada-style free trade agreement if Brussels dropped its demands on the Irish border.

We have made it very clear that we do not accept the Chequers proposals, but there is an acknowledgement that we need to make the case for an alternative, a source told the newspaper.

The tricky bit is coming to a common position that everyone can sign up to, but Im confident that we should be able to achieve that.

Details of the policy paper emerged after Peter Lilley, the Conservative peer and former cabinet minister, wrote in an article on Tuesday that a Canadian-style trade agreement would the best outcome followed be a no-deal Brexit, which he described as a second good best.

It also comes as an exclusive poll for The Independent showed public backing for a fresh referendum leapt in the last month amid dwindling support for the prime ministers Chequers plan for Brexit.

Late last month pollsters asked some 1,500 respondents: Should a Brexit deal be reached between Britain and the EU, to what extent would you support or oppose a referendum being held asking the public whether they accept or reject the terms of the deal?

Brexit casualties Show all 10 1 /10 Brexit casualties Brexit casualties Andrea Jenkyns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary at the ministry for housing, communities and local government role May 2018 - The Morley and Outwood MP said: We want to see a new relationship with Europe, with a new model not enjoyed by other countries  nothing that leaves us half-in, half-out. And in order to achieve this, we need to leave the customs union. Ms Jenkyns also said she wished to dedicate more of her time to Parliaments influential Exiting the European Union select committee, after a series of unbalanced reports produced by MPs PA Brexit casualties David Davis - Resigned from Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - quit following a major row with May over her plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU. Davis resignation letter said: As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the [European] Commissions sequencing of negotiations, through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market. I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely. He went on to argue that the general direction of Ms Mays policies would leave the UK in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one. AFP/Getty Brexit casualties Steve Baker - Resigned from Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - Mr Baker, a key Tory figure in the Leave campaign, was David Daviss main lieutenant at Dexeu, and was hailed as courageous and principled by other Brexiteer Tories as he also left. Reuters Brexit casualties Boris Johnson - Resigned from Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Johnson said: "On Friday, I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail and congratulated you on at least reaching a Cabinet decision on the way forward. "As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. "The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat." Reuters Brexit casualties Conor Burns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - A Brexit supporter who worked alongside Boris Johnson stated in his resignation letter: I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are other areas of policy I want to speak more openly on. Rex Brexit casualties Chris Green - Resigned from Department for Transport role July 2018 - The Bolton West MP said: "Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give the decision of whether to leave or remain in the European Union to the British people and they made an unambiguous decision that we ought to leave. "I have always understood the idea in 'Brexit means Brexit' is that the final deal should be clear to me and my constituents - that we have, in no uncertain terms, left the European Union. Twitter Ads info and privacy "The direction the negotiations had been taking have suggested that we would not really leave the EU and the conclusion and statements following the Chequers summit confirmed my fears. "I recognise that delivering Brexit is challenging, however I had hoped at tonight's meeting that there would be some certainty that my fears were unfounded but, instead, they have been confirmed. "I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary and it is with regret that I offer my resignation with immediate effect." PA Brexit casualties Maria Caulfield - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for women role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. Lewes MP warned that the direction of travel did not fully embrace the opportunities that Brexit can provide. Ms Caulfield said in her letter to the PM: The policy may assuage vested interests, but the voters will find out and their representatives will be found out. This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party. The direct consequences of that will be prime minister Corbyn. PA Brexit casualties Ben Bradley - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for young people role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. The Mansfield MP said: I admit that I voted to Remain in that ballot. What has swayed me over the last two years to fully back the Brexit vision is the immense opportunities that are available from global trade, and for the ability for Britain to be an outward looking nation in control of our own destiny once again. I fear that this agreement at Chequers damages those opportunities; that being tied to EU regulations, and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements, will be the worst of all worlds if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No10. PA Brexit casualties Robert Courts - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. MP Mr Courts said: I have taken a very difficult decision to resign my position as [parliamentary private secretary] to express discontent with the Chequers [plans] in votes tomorrow. I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of Woxon that I support the proposals in their current form. Getty Brexit casualties Scott Mann - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. "I fear elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents. I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered-down Brexit. "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes." Rex

At the time, 44 per cent backed the idea, with 27 per cent opposing, 15 per cent not having strong opinions either way and 14 per cent saying they did not know.

But four weeks later, amid increasing public divisions over Ms Mays Brexit plans, from both inside and outside the Conservatives, 48 per cent now want another referendum.

The Independent launched its campaign to win a Final Say Brexit referendum for the British people just three weeks ago  with more than 610,000 people signing our petition so far.
Jewish Labour members will boycott talks on tackling antisemitism after accusing party leaders of trying to deliberately antagonise tensions in the row over the issue, The Independent has learned.

The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) said it was pulling out of discussions with the partys working group on antisemitism because its faith that the Labour leadership wants to solve the crisis engulfing the party has all but disappeared.

It accused Jeremy Corbyns team of a deliberately misleading approach and further inflaming tensions rather than tempering them.

In an explosive letter seen by The Independent, JLM chair Ivor Caplin said the group cannot participate in good faith in further discussions until the party takes steps to prove it is serious about tackling antisemitism.

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Instead, Labour has adopted a strategy that will only antagonise tensions further, he said.

JLMs withdrawal from the crunch talks will come as a blow to Mr Corbyn and Jennie Formby, Labours general secretary, as they attempt to gain control of the row gripping the party. It is understood that no other formal talks are ongoing between JLM and the Labour leadership.

It came as Mr Corbyn faced questions over a memorial event he attended in Tunisia in 2014, at which a commemoration was held for the terrorists behind the Munich Olympics massacre that left 11 Israeli athletes dead. The Labour leader admitted being present at the ceremony but denied having laid a wreath at the attackers graves.

Labours working group on antisemitism was set up by the partys ruling executive in a bid to regain control of the issue and work with the Jewish community to resolve a series of bitter disputes.

It consists of senior members of the national executive committee (NEC), including shadow cabinet ministers, leading trade unionists and the chair of the influential Momentum group, Jon Lansman.

The second meeting of the group was due to take place on Wednesday, but Mr Caplin said JLM would be rejecting an invitation to take part in the talks.

In a letter to Ms Formby, copied to all members of the NEC, he said: You will be aware that we have raised a number of concerns directly with you, your office and with the leaders office over a significant period of time.

Specifically, we raised very clearly our frustrations and concerns that the antisemitism working group had been convened by the NEC without our engagement. Had the party sought to address matters of concern from any other affiliated organisation, they would have done so with their full involvement. This has not been the case.

Protests against Labour antisemitism Show all 14 1 /14 Protests against Labour antisemitism Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters clashed during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of the Jewish community hold a protest against Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism in the Labour Party AFP/Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Protesters hold placards and flags during a demonstration, organised by the British Board of Jewish Deputies for those who oppose antisemitism, in Parliament Square Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square to protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP Luciana Berger speaks during the protest PA Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester blows through a shofar during the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism Members of London's Jewish community protest in support of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn outside parliament EPA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour MP John Mann speaks during a protest against antisemitism PA Protests against Labour antisemitism People protest against antisemitism in the Labour Party as Jewish community leaders have launched a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn, claiming he has sided with antisemites again and again PA Protests against Labour antisemitism Labour politicians Stella Creasy and Chuka Umunna leave after attending the demonstration Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A pro-Jeremy Corbyn protester holds a placard during a counter-protest Getty Protests against Labour antisemitism A support of the Labour Party hold up a placard during the demonstration Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism Jeremy Corbyn supporters during the demo Reuters Protests against Labour antisemitism A protester holds up a sign reading For the many, not the Jew AFP

Mr Caplin said JLM had asked to have a permanent representative on the antisemitism working group, but that this had been rejected.

Instead, the organisation was invited to a meeting but later had its invitation withdrawn, with JLM representatives forced to wait outside while NEC members discussed whether they should be let in.

He wrote: After invitations were offered explicitly inviting JLM, these invitations were subsequently withdrawn. As NEC members spent the initial moments of the meeting in question confirming they had no objection to JLMs presence, our representatives were left waiting in the reception of your building.

JLM was reportedly told that only members of the ruling executive were allowed to take part in the working group, but Mr Caplin said this claim was completely undermined by the inclusion of Baroness Chakrabarti, the shadow attorney general and author of a report of antisemitism in Labour, who is not a member of the NEC.

He wrote: Instead, the party has now embarked on a strategy that will only antagonise tensions further. Despite our numerous warnings, we can only conclude that this has been done so with intent.

Unless and until we are able to obtain satisfactory outcomes to the below, the Jewish Labour Movement cannot participate in good faith with the antisemitism working groups activities.

And he added: We remain of the view that the party must act without delay to ease the considerable tension that has grown over the last few months. At all points during this crisis, JLM has offered constructive advice and suggestions to overcome the challenge we now find ourselves in. Faith that the party wishes to reciprocate in the same manner has all but disappeared.

 Jeremy Corbyn releases video apologising for antisemitism in the Labour party

Mr Caplin laid out four criteria that Labour must meet in order for JLM to re-enter discussions. They are: adopting in full an internationally recognised definition of antisemitism, responding to formal complaints about NEC member Peter Willsman and Labour MP Chris Williamson, and ending a disciplinary investigation into MP Ian Austin.

The issue of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition has been at the heart of Labours antisemitism crisis in recent weeks. The NECs decision not to adopt four of the IHRAs 11 examples of antisemitic behaviour in the partys new code of conduct was widely condemned by Jewish community leaders and Labour MPs.

Mr Corbyn is under mounting pressure to back down on the matter and has suggested he is ready to accept at least three of the four examples originally omitted. But despite trade union leaders having joined calls for the full definition to be adopted, the Labour leadership is set to maintain its opposition to the other example, which says it is antisemitic to suggest the creation of a state of Israel is a racist endeavour.

Labour had promised further consultation with Jewish groups, including JLM, on the issue but it is unclear whether this will now take place.

Mr Caplin wrote: No code of conduct on antisemitism developed in isolation without the involvement of JLM or the wider Jewish community will maintain any confidence. This belligerent position on behalf of the party is also at odds with its own decision in December 2016 to adopt the full IHRA definition alongside the working examples.

The subsequent decision by the party to revisit the IHRA document and amend its contextual examples without consultation represents a backward step in the partys handling of antisemitism.

The briefing by the party and the leaders press office to the media that only one contextualised example remains in discussion is further evidence of the deliberately misleading approach being taken, further inflaming tensions rather than tempering them.

 Jeremy Corbyn ally, Peter Willsman, blamed 'Jewish Trump fanatics' for inventing Labour antisemitism

Mr Caplin also said JLM had received no response to formal complaints it had made about Mr Willsman and Mr Williamson, and would not consider re-entering talks until it did.

Mr Willsman was recorded at a recent NEC meeting claiming the antisemitism row was the fault of Jewish Trump fanatics, but party officials declined to take disciplinary action against him, saying his apology was the end of the matter.

JLM also made a formal complaint about Mr Williamson after accusing him of repeatedly sharing platforms with expelled and suspended members of the Labour Party and regularly denying that antisemitism exists within Labour.

In his letter to Ms Formby, Mr Caplin said of the MP: His behaviour continues to undo any small progress achieved in dealing with this crisis.

JLM also demanded the party drop disciplinary proceedings against MP Ian Austin, who is being investigated after a confrontation with party chairman Ian Lavery over the antisemitism crisis.

A similar investigation into another MP, Dame Margaret Hodge, was dropped last week.

Mr Caplin said there was considerable anger and frustration at how the party has managed to recklessly and deliberately exacerbate tensions between it and the Jewish community, adding: Pursuing Ian Austin MP can serve no useful purpose.

He also said JLM was incredibly disappointed that NEC members are due to be given antisemitism training provided by an unknown organisation, rather than JLM. This was further evidence Labour attempts to deliberately undermine its formal Jewish affiliate and add to further tension, he said.

A Labour source said: "The party has always sought to work constructively with JLM and invited them to join the working group meeting.

"Jennie and the NEC have made clear that they want to work with the Jewish community to address their concerns about the code of conduct and tackle antisemitism within the party and across society."
Social housing tenants could be allowed to buy a fraction of the value of their property each year under new government plans announced today.

Introducing league tables of landlords is also among suggestions being considered by ministers as part of a new deal for social housing.

The proposals were included in the governments long-awaited social housing green paper, which outlines how ministers plan to improve the quality of low cost homes in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.

The former housing secretary, Sajid Javid, had promised the document would be the most substantial report of its kind for a generation.

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But Labour said the pitiful plan published today showed the government has run out of ideas.

Under the proposals, tenants who buy a property using shared ownership schemes would be allowed to purchase a minimum of 1 per cent of the value of their home each year  equating to just several hundred pounds in some parts of the country.

Current rules state that prospective owners must be able to pay 10 per cent of the value of their home upfront, stopping many tenants from getting a foot on the housing ladder.

James Brokenshire, the housing secretary, said the governments new deal for social housing would improve fairness, quality and safety for residents.

He said: Providing high quality and well managed social housing is a core priority for this government.

Our green paper offers a landmark opportunity for major reform to improve fairness, quality and safety for residents living in social housing across the country.

Regardless of whether you own your home or rent, residents deserve security, dignity and the opportunities to build a better life.

Plans for the green paper were announced after the Grenfell Tower disaster prompted ministers to bow to pressure to invest in social housing. In the weeks after the blaze, Mr Javid admitted the Tories had failed on housing and promised a fundamental rethink.

UK Housing Crisis: in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 UK Housing Crisis: in pictures UK Housing Crisis: in pictures Members of generation rent, as the younger generation is often known, are finding it far more difficult to get on the housing market than previous generations PA UK Housing Crisis: in pictures Then chancellor George Osborne visits a Help to Buy housing development in Lewisham in 2014. Osborne had announced the Help to Buy scheme in the 2013 budget as a means of helping first-time buyers on to the housing market PA Archive/PA Images UK Housing Crisis: in pictures In February 2017, then communities and local government secretary Sajid Javid issued a government white paper on housing. Introducing it in the Commons, he stated our housing market is broken and that the idea of owning or renting a safe, secure place of your own is, for many, a distant dream PA UK Housing Crisis: in pictures Residents of Fitzroy Road in Primrose Hill have demonstrated how urban areas might be built up without using extra land. 12 homeowners along the street all agreed to extend their house upwards by 1 floor. The government recently held a consultation on the revised National Planning Policy Framework, which, if approved, will support building above homes, shops and offices Google Earth UK Housing Crisis: in pictures Social Bite, a charity in Scotland, is creating a small housing community for the homeless. Up to 20 people will be housed for 12-18 months, with the charitys focus being on transitioning the residents into permanent housing and employment AFP/Getty UK Housing Crisis: in pictures A homeless man was found dead yards from Parliament in February. His death was taken by many, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, to be symbolic of the governments poor record on housing. PA UK Housing Crisis: in pictures Emergency homeless shelters in London had to be opened numerous times throughout the past winter to house those unable to find a room in an ordinary shelter or hostel Getty UK Housing Crisis: in pictures Carillion, the UKs second largest construction company, entered liquidation early this year. It held numerous government construction and maintenance contracts, for many of which the future is still uncertain AFP/Getty

Publishing the document, the government said it was prioritising ensuring social homes are safe and good quality, and giving tenants the power to hold landlords to account.

As part of this, the social housing regulator will be given new powers to intervene and ensure landlords are maintaining homes to a decent standard. The process of dealing with tenants complaints will also be sped up.

League tables could also be used to assess landlords based on how well their properties are maintained and how they treat tenants.

Separately, legislation will be introduced to protect the rights of domestic violence victims who have been given a social home for life.

Ministers said they were also prioritising tackling the stigma around social housing, and increasing the overall number of social homes being built.

They have launched a separate consultation of how councils are spending the money they receive from selling homes through the right to buy scheme, which critics say is a major cause of the diminishing number of social homes in the UK.

Less than half of the revenue generated by right to buy sales currently goes towards the cost of building new homes. Instead, almost a fifth goes to the Treasury and a quarter is used by councils to pay off debts.

Ninety per cent fewer social homes are being built now than when the Conservatives came to power in 2010, while 230,000 low cost homes are forecast to be lost between 2010 and 2020.

 Number of social housing properties in England drops 11 per cent in one year

More than 8,000 people have already fed into the governments green paper, and more views will be sought during the consultation period, which is set to close in November.

Publication of the document had already been delayed by several weeks, leading to it being released in the middle of parliaments summer break.

Labour said the proposals in the paper would do nothing to increase the supply of social homes.

John Healey, the shadow housing secretary, said: This pitiful document reveals a government that has run out of ideas on housing. Nothing in this green paper measures up to the scale of the housing crisis.

The number of new social rented homes is at a record low but there is no new money to increase supply, and ministers are still preventing local authorities run by all parties from building the council homes their communities need.

After eight years of failure on housing, ministers should back Labours long-term plan for a million new genuinely affordable homes over 10 years.

Council leaders also said the plan did not go far enough.

Judith Blake, the Local Government Associations housing spokesperson, said: This green paper is a step towards delivering more social homes but it is only a small step, compared with the huge and immediate need for more genuinely affordable homes.

There is a desperate need to reverse the decline in council housing over the past few decades.

She added: The government must go beyond the limited measures announced so far, scrap the housing borrowing cap and enable all councils across the country to borrow to build once more.

This would trigger a renaissance in council house-building, which will help people to access genuinely affordable housing.
A firefighter has been killed battling the largest recorded blaze in California history  the sixth fatality in a matter of weeks.

State fire officials did not immediately provide details of the death, which occurred north of San Francisco where the fire has been burning since 27 July.

Two other wildfires in Northern California have claimed five other firefighters and six other lives.

In Montana, Sprague Creek campground in Glacier National Park was closed and evacuated, a day after a fast moving fire triggered the evacuation of dozens of guests from the historic Lake McDonald Lodge late on Sunday night.

The fire grew to between two and four square miles by Monday afternoon.

It just completely exploded. Yesterday we were watching it grow all day, and now its so smoky you cant see anything, said Kyersten Siebenaler with Glacier Outfitters, which rents boats in Apgar, a small community at the south end of the lake.

A second campground, a motel and private residences inside the parks boundary also were evacuated. A 30-mile stretch of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun road was closed to traffic.

Triple digit temperatures across parts of the state  paired with lightning from passing thunderstorms  set the stage for several new large fires to take hold in Montana in recent days.

California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Show all 45 1 /45 California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Firefighters try to limit the spread of the Carr Fire by backburning, a process by which areas in the path of a fire are burned up in advance to rob the fire of its fuel Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A street is devastated by the Carr Fire in the town of Redding AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A truck burned by the Delta Fire is abandoned along interstate 5 AFP/Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 This image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration highlights the major fire AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Ranch Fire spots out ahead of the main fire in Spring Valley, burning two homes AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A picture taken by German astronaut and geophysicist Alexander Gerst, showing wildfires in the state of California as seen from the International Space Station AFP/Getty/ESA/Alexander Gerst California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Evacuees from Lucerne, from left, Ken Bennett with Ember Reynolds, 8, and Lisa Reynolds watch the sunset as smoke from the Ranch Fire rises into the sky at Austin Park Beach in California's Clearlake with Mount Konocti in the background The Press Democrat via AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The memorial for Redding firefighter Jeremy Stoke AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 REUTERS California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Holy Jim volunteer firefighter Luke Senger stands next to a home destroyed the Holy Fire in Trabuco Canyon AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Firefighters try to stop the spread of a massive fire in Lake County AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A woman walks out of the water after taking a dip as smoke rises in the distance from the Holy Fire in Cleveland National Forest Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A pyrocumulus cloud (or cloud of fire) explodes in the Carr fire near the town of Redding Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Delta Fire burns in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Trees set alight near Whiskeytown Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 An firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant to slow the spread of the River Fire near Lakeport Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A firefighter lights backfires in an attempt to limit the spread of the Ranch Fire Reuters California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Firefighters light backfires to defend houses in the town Upper Lake from the Ranch Fire Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Flames consume a home in Lakeport AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Ranch Fire spread towards the town of Upper Lake AFP/Getty Images California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A firefighter lights a backfire in the city of Redding Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Carr Fire burns near Whiskeytown AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Firefighters try to limit the spread of the Carr Fire by backburning Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Flames flare in the Cajon Pass near San Bernardino AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 An firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant to slow the spread of the River Fire near Lakeport Reuters California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A schoolhouse burns in the Carr Fire in Shasta County AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Carr Fire burns along Highway 299 by the city of Redding AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A car is seen amongst the devastation left by the Cranston Fire EPA California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A firefighter waters down a backfire on Cloverdale Road in Igo AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Firefighters convene while battling the Carr Fire in Shasta County AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Firefighters assess the damage in San Bernardino County AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Carr Fire burns along Highway 299 by the city of Redding AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Carr Fire burns along Highway 299 in Shasta County AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The land around Mountain Centre has been left devastated by the Cranston Fire EPA California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Firefighters battle the Carr Fire in the town of Redding AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A home burns in Redding Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Cranston Fire burns south of Idyllwild AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Carr Fire burns through the town of Shasta AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A home burns in Redding Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A collection of antique cars has been destroyed by the fire in the town of Redding Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A home on Sunflower Road in Redding burns in the Carr Fire Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A helicopter aids utility workers as they work to repair burned power lines EPA California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 A home burns in Redding Getty California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 The Carr Fire burns along Highway 299 by the city of Redding AP California in flames: wildfires rage across the US state in 2018 Sunflower Road in Redding burns in the Carr Fire Getty

Among them was one that triggered an evacuation order for residents of 15 houses southwest of the town of Ennis. The fire was burning in challenging mountain terrain with a mix of pine, fir and spruce trees, said fire information spokesman Dave Sabo.

In Colorado, a wildfire in the southwestern portion of the state ignited by lightning on 29 July had burned across 34 square miles by Monday.

Yosemite was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday after being largely closed since 25 July because of smoke from fires in remote areas that choked the scenic Yosemite Valley.

The closure caused upheaval for thousands of tourists whose summer trips were cancelled. Visitors were warned to expect limited hours and services as the park returns to normal.

The fire burning in Glacier was one of several started in the park by lightning on Saturday evening. Windy, dry conditions on Sunday caused the blaze to spread rapidly, in full view of tourists and people who live and work around Lake McDonald.

Two planes from Canada were brought in to help battle the blaze, but officials said high winds prevented their pilots from flying close enough to the fire to be effective.

It is the second year in a row that wildfires have prompted evacuations around Lake McDonald.

Associated Press
 Close Manafort Trial Turns from Prosecution to Defense as Manafort's wife and attorneys arrive

The defence has rested in the trial of former Donald Trump presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort, with Judge TS Ellis calling closing arguments for Wednesday morning.

Mr Manaforts trial on several counts of tax evasion and bank fraud will like see the jury head out for deliberations on Wednesday, after his legal team did not call any witnesses to the stand in the federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.

Mr Manfort decided not to testify in what is the first trial related to the FBI investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller, of Russian election meddling and possible collusion between Mr Trumps 2016 campaign team and Russian officials.

Mr Manafort's charges are not directly related to his work on the campaign, but Mr Mueller and the prosecution have alleged some of the fraudulent activity occurred while Mr Manafort served as the chairman.

Mr Manafort is accused, among other things, of hiding millions of dollars in more than 30 overseas bank accounts which he did not report on his personal taxes.

His lawyers have repeatedly attacked Mr Manaforts campaign deputy and longtime business partner Rick Gates, claiming it was he who was responsible for the account management.

Mr Gates had pleaded guilty to the counts outlined in the October 2017 indictment and said to be cooperating with Mr Muellers team.

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 Close Trump claims he doesn't know about Omarosa's firing in leaked audio of purported phone call between President and former WH comms director

Former White House aide Omarosa Manigault-Newman has said that she will not be silenced or bullied by Donald Trump after his campaign starting legal action alleging breach of a secrecy agreement amid a spat over a new book.

Mr Trump earlier called Ms Manigault-Newman a dog and a lowlife over the explosive new book, Unhinged, which makes several unflattering allegations against the president

The arbitration was filed with the America Arbitration Association in New York, and claims Ms Manigault-Newmans book and media tour breached her 2016 confidentiality agreement with the campaign.

Recommended Trump rages at Omarosa and claims TV producer called him about tapes

Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. has filed an arbitration against Omarosa Manigault-Newman, with the American Arbitration Association in New York City, for breach of her 2016 confidentiality agreement with the Trump Campaign, a Trump campaign official said in a statement.

Ms Manigault-Newman has made numerous television appearances and given a number of interviews in recent days promoting her book in which she reveals private conversations during her time on the campaign and in the White House. She has also released several audio recordings of conversations she had with Mr Trump and campaign aides.

On Tuesday evening, the former aide said that she would not be intimidated by the legal action from Mr Trumps campaign.

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Ms Manigault-Newman said she believes the action was intended to keep her from telling her story. Im not going to be bullied by Donald Trump, she told the Associated Press

During an earlier appearance, Ms Manigault-Newman told MSNBC that she had been interviewed by special counsel Robert Muellers team, which is investigating Russias meddling in the 2016 election and has been a regular target for Mr Trump.

I have, Ms Manigault-Newman said when asked if she had spoken to Mr Muellers team, which is considering potential ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.

Mr Trump himself has indicated Ms Manigault-Newman had signed a non-disclosure agreement that now appears to be a point of contention between the two sides, tweeting on Monday about the supposed document.

Wacky Omarosa already has a fully signed Non-Disclosure Agreement! Mr Trump tweeted.

Since the start of Ms Manigault-Newmans press tour, Mr Trump has repeatedly vented his frustration over the disclosures made in the new book, and has called his former White House aide a crazed, crying lowlife and a dog.

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out, Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!
Donald Trump has waded into the aftermath of a suspected terror attack outside the Houses of Parliament, lashing out at the animals behind the crash which injured at least three people.

Another terror attack in London, the US president tweeted. These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!

His intervention came five hours after a Ford Fiesta ploughed into cyclists and pedestrians in Westminster. The cars driver, a man in his late 20s, was arrested by armed police on suspicion of terror offences.

Scotland Yard said the man had not yet been formally identified but was not thought to have been known to authorities.

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu said the suspect was not currently co-operating.

Mr Trump has previously berated London mayor Sadiq Khan over terror attacks in the capital, accusing him of doing a terrible job.

After 11 people were murdered by three knifemen in an Isis-inspired rampage in London Bridge last June, the American leader misrepresented a quote from the Labour politician to attack him.

At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack, the president wrote on his personal Twitter account before the confirmed death toll rose, and Mayor of London says there is no reason to be alarmed!

Mr Khan had said the public should not be alarmed about an increased police presence on the streets.

Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Show all 30 1 /30 Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man Sky News Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers work at the scene EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Damaged bikes near the crash site Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man who crashed a car into the barriers ITV Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity outside the Houses of Parliament after a car crashed into security barriers BBC/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Bicycles lie on the ground at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator arrives at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police and emergency response teams work outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The area is cleared near to the incident PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator works at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police on Victoria Embankment PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensic officer attends the scene near the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers and a search team secure the roads around the Houses of Parliament as forensic teams continue their work around a vehicle Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police forensics officers outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The car crashed into parliament barriers Vincent McAviney/NBC News/Euronews/Twitter/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Fire fighters attend the scene Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A police dog team works behind the cordon REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament olice and emergency services respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police on Westminster Bridge PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police stand in the street after the incident Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers stand at a cordon Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity on Millbank PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters

In July, the president used a newspaper interview ahead of his visit to the UK to blame Mr Khan for attacks in London and fuel a personal feud with the capitals mayor.

You have a mayor who has done a terrible job in London. He has done a terrible job, he said.

Take a look at the terrorism that is taking place. Look at what is going on in London. I think he has done a very bad job on terrorism.

The US president is typically quick to tweet his reaction to Islamist terror attacks around the world.

He did not personally acknowledge a deadly attack outside a mosque in Finsbury park, north London, last year, when Darren Osborne drove a van into a group of Muslim worshippers, killing one and injuring 10.
 Close US Primaries: What are the key races as four US sates vote in primary elections?

Christine Hallquist has become the first transgender candidate to win a major political party's nomination for governor.

As part of the primaries in Vermont, Ms Hallquist beat three other Democrats to secure the victory.

The 62-year-old Ms Hallquist is part of a wave of LGBTQ candidates seeking higher office across the US. Ms Hallquist is being supported by The Victory Fund, a political action committee that backs LGBTQ candidates across the country. The committed labelled her a game changer.

Before Vermont's election, only four transgender candidates had won primaries in 2018, all for house and senate seats in state legislatures, and have a general election ahead. Seventeen have lost primary or general elections and 21 have yet to face voters

Elsewhere, Bernie Sanders has won the Democratic Senate beating Folasade Adeluola as he seeks a third term in office.

With 98 per cent of precincts reporting, Mr Sanders had 94 per cent of the vote. It was not immediately clear which Republican he will face in the general election in November, given a close race between Brooke Paige and Lawrence Zupan that had just hundreds of votes in it.

Mr Sanders' win does not come as a surprise. The self-described Democratic Socialist won re-election in 2012 with about 71 per cent of the vote. Before that, in 2006, he carried about 65 per cent of the vote.

While Mr Sanders won the Democratic nomination, he is widely expected to reject it. Doing so has become a regular move for the notably independent senator over the years.

 Bernie Sanders: Trump has been tougher on immigrant children than on Putin

Phil Scott, the Republican governor in the reliably Democratic state, has won the GOP primary as he seeks re-election and will face Ms Hallquist.

Ethan Sonneborn is another candidate worth mentioning. Hes a 14-year-old progressive who decided to launch his campaign after violence erupted last year during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, North Carolina. State law allows anyone who has lived in Vermont for four years to run for governor after securing enough signatures to get on the ballot, making Mr Sonneborn legally qualified despite his age. He secured more than 4,000 votes for an eight per cent share of the ballots.

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Vermont isnt the only state that held a primary on Tuesday  Minnesota, Wisconsin and Connecticut also had elections to determine which candidates will face off come November.
(ANSA) - Milan, August 14 - The share price of Atlantia, which controls highways agency Autostrade per l'Italia, closed 5.39% down on Tuesday after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, causing dozens of deaths. The stock lost around 1.1 billion euros in capitalization.


A gunman has shot at least two people at a Walmart store in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, according to police.

Police say shots were fired at the store and at least two people were struck. They have not yet revealed their conditions.

A large police presence is on the scene at the Walmart and at a second location at East Sedgwick St and Forrest Ave.

A suspect to said to have been taken into custody a few streets from the Walmart.

The suspect is said to have been detained after crashing into a Philadelphia Police vehicle.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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Police were called to the Cedarbrook Plaza Shopping Center at Easton Road shortly after 6pm local time.
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his country will boycott US electronic goods amid an escalating diplomatic dispute with the Trump administration.

The move comes after Washington imposed sanctions and raised tariffs against Ankara in a dispute about the detention of a US evangelical pastor.

Mr Erdogan said Turkey had been taking necessary measures regarding the economy in the wake of a slide in the lira currency exacerbated by the dispute with Washington, but that it was important to keep a firm political stance.

Switching to foreign currency would mean giving in to the enemy, he added.

Mr Erdogan suggested Turkey would stop procuring US-made iPhones and instead buy Korean Samsung or Turkish-made Vestel.

If they have the iPhone, there is Samsung elsewhere. We have Vestel, he said.

It was unclear how the Turkish president planned to implement the boycott.

He also renewed a plea for Turks to convert their dollars into the Turkish lira in order to bolster the currency.

The Turkish lira plummeted to 6.98 per dollar on Monday, having nosedived as low as 7.2 overnight. The currency has lost more than a quarter of its value over just seven days and is now around 45 per cent down since the start of 2018.

Mr Erdogan has blamed the crash of the lira on America  claiming a political, underhand plot had sent the value of his countrys currency falling to record lows.

Mr Erdogan accused Donald Trump of waging economic war against the entire world, after the US president escalated a diplomatic feud by doubling tariffs against Turkey on steel and aluminium.

The aim of the operation is to make Turkey surrender in all areas, from finance to politics, the Turkish president told supporters in the Black Sea city of Trabzon.

We are once again facing a political, underhand plot. With Gods permission we will overcome this.

The lira has lost more than 40 per cent of its value against dollar this year, amid deteriorating relations between Turkey and the US and concerns over Mr Erdogans influence over the economy.

Speaking in Trabzon, Mr Erdogan rebuffed suggestions Turkey was facing a financial crisis like those which hit Asia two decades ago.

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

What is the reason for all this storm in a tea cup? There is no economic reason. This is called carrying out an operation against Turkey, he said.

We will give our answer, by shifting to new markets, new partnerships and new alliances, to the one who waged an economic war against the entire world and also included our country. Some close the doors and some others open new ones.

Mr Trump announced a doubling of tariffs against Turkey last week as ties between the two nations continued to worsen over Ankaras detention of the US pastor.

Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time, tweeted the US leader. two days after talks between American and Turkish officials about pastor Andrew Brunson ended without any clear progress.

Mr Brunson, who has lived for two decades in Turkey, was arrested in 2016 and charged with having terrorist connections. He is also accused of having links to the failed coup attempt on Mr Erdogan that year.

Having spent two years in jail, he was recently released to house arrest, with his trial is due to resume in October.

Additional reporting by wires
The violence was on a whole new level  like nothing I had ever seen before, said Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish national who was just 17 when the Rabaa massacre happened. I have never seen so much killing in my life.

Ibrahim had taken a break from the pro-Muslim Brotherhood sit in at Cairos Rabaa Square to go home for a shower when his sisters called and told him in panicked voices they were being shot at.

He rushed back, dodging tear gas and snipers, only to encounter Egypts security forces just spraying bullets into everyone.

 Donald Trump shakes hands with Egypt President El-Sisi and pledges support to his regime

A man in his twenties was shot dead  but saved Ibrahims life  when he moved in front of the teenager and a split second later was shot in the stomach.

The bullet was meant for me, Ibrahim said.

It was at that moment he realised he had to find his sisters at whatever cost: JCBs were already scraping up burnt bodies from the street.

Even if they had been killed already, I had to get them, he said. This would be my only chance to bring their bodies back home.

He eventually got through to his aunt, who had located his sisters, and they were reunited a few streets away. All were wounded, and the family would later learn they had lost six friends in the violence.

Around 900 people were killed in Rabaa and nearby al Nahda square on 14 August 2013, a massacre Human Rights Watch says is the largest killings of demonstrators in a single day in recent history.

Egyptians prepare for life after Mubarak Show all 2 1 /2 Egyptians prepare for life after Mubarak Egyptians prepare for life after Mubarak AFP/GETTY Egyptians prepare for life after Mubarak GETTY

To Egyptians, it also marks the day former military general  and now president  Abdul Fattah al Sisi showed he was willing to go to any length to suppress support for the recently deposed Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed Morsi.

Ibrahim was arrested at another protest two days after the killings. Despite his status as a foreign national and high profile campaigns for his release from rights groups and the Irish government, he remained in jail until last October.

During his incarceration, which robbed him of four years of his youth, President Sisi has maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards dissent and the states respect for human rights has eroded, Human Rights Watch says.

The Rabaa massacre was a horrific turning point for human rights in Egypt, Najia Bounaim, North Africa campaigns director for Amnesty International, said in a statement.

Over the past five years human rights violations by Egyptian security forces, such as carrying out enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions, have occurred on a scale never seen before.

Repressive new legislation has effectively clamped down on non-governmental organisations, shut down independent media and allowed at least 15,500 civilians to be tried in military courts between 2014 - 2017.

At least 378 persons disappeared and the whereabouts of at least 87 remained unknown from 2017 alone, according to independent rights group the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms.

Arbitrary detentions, use of torture and extrajudicial killings by the security services are common as the perpetrators have almost complete immunity.

 Egypt jail routinely torturing prisoners, rights group warns

Perhaps most cruelly for Rabaas survivors, last month Egypts parliament passed a new law designed to protect senior military commanders from being prosecuted over the violence that followed the overthrow of President Morsi.

The move may have put families quest for justice on hold indefinitely.

Instead, a mass show trial of 739 people charged with participating in the 2013 protests  for offences ranging from murder to incitement to break the law, membership of an illegal group and illegal gathering continues.

Among those detained are journalists and photographers who documented the truth of what happened that day.

President Abdel Fattah al Sisis regime is keen to wipe out all memory of the massacre of the summer of 2013, even though the spectre of what happened will always loom over his administration, said Ms Bounaim.

The Egyptian authorities repeated failure to respect the rights of protesters and their failure to hold anyone accountable for mass murders has contributed to an environment in which the security forces feel empowered to violate human rights with absolute impunity.

Ibrahim, now home in Dublin, is still haunted by nightmares of the violence. He finds it shocking that no one has been held responsible for the events of 14 August 2013, but says he has given up hope that those responsible will be punished.

Whats the point? he asked. [The new immunity law] is a slap in the face to all the people who lost their loved ones, to all the parents who still dont know where their children are.

You dont seek justice in a country that doesnt have justice."
Rumours that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare and secret visit to Cairo to discuss a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip have been confirmed for the first time by an Israeli cabinet minister.

Mr Netanyahu travelled for meetings with his Egyptian counterpart president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in May, finance minister Moshe Kahlon told Israeli Army Radio on Tuesday.

Reports of the meeting in Arab media and on Monday, by Israels Channel 10, had previously been denied by Mr Netanyahus office.

 Israeli Defence Forces release aerial footage showing airstrike demolishing Gaza cultural centre

Everything that will happen in Gaza will be done with Egyptian mediation and involvement, Mr Kahlon said.

The deal is supposed to focus on ending months of simmering violence by easing the 11-year-old Israeli and Egyptian blockade on Gaza.

The strangulation of goods and services  along with three rounds of fighting between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls the Palestinian enclave  has left the Strip on the brink of collapse.

Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a racket to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian demonstrators run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator shouts Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Tear gas canisters are fired by Israeli forces at Palestinian demonstrators Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A wounded Palestinian is evacuated Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a sling to hurl stones at Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A female demonstrator uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator with a slingshot looks on Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Female Palestinian demonstrators react to tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Israeli forces fire teargas canisters toward Palestinian demonstrators AFP Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Female demonstrators run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian medics evacuate a wounded protester AP Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator moves a burning tire Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a racket to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian demonstrators during clashes with Israeli forces AFP/Getty

Egypt, along with United Nations mediators, have been left scrambling to broker a lasting truce as fighting between the two has intensified.

Gaza has suffered the worst violence in years in recent months in deadly protests sparked by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Strip and President Donald Trumps decision to move the US embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem.

At least 161 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire in weekly protests along the Israel-Gaza border that began on 30 March and one Israeli soldier has been killed by a Palestinian sniper.

Hamas has also launched massive rocket attacks on southern Israeli cities, which the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said it has responded to with strikes on Hamas targets inside the Strip.

At least two Gazan civilians have been killed in the limited tit-for-tat, which both sides have stressed they do not want to escalate into a fourth war.
Riyadhs diplomatic community was caught unawares on a stifling desert summer evening last week when the Saudi authorities abruptly announced they were expelling the Canadian ambassador over Ottawas tweeted criticism of the kingdoms human rights record.

The move was quickly followed up with a freeze on new trade and investment, the selling of Canadian assets, a boycott of Canadian wheat and the cancellation of Saudia Airlines flights to Toronto.

Saudi Arabias furious response over seemingly business-as-usual criticism of the arrests of two more womens rights activists amid an ongoing crackdown has astonished observers and led to an unprecedented diplomatic spat after Canada reiterated its stance on human rights.

 Saudi rapper Leesa A releases song about women being allowed to drive

The severe new measures are not expected to have a huge financial impact. Two way trade between both countries is modest  according to Bloomberg, Canada exported C$1.37bn (820m) worth of goods to Saudi Arabia and imported C$2.63bn in goods in 2017, which made up just 0.4 per cent of Canadas total trade for the year.

The worst affected appear to be Saudis themselves  students, patients and trainee doctors resident in Canada, whose futures have been plunged into uncertainty.

Its a shock. Everybodys going crazy and they dont really know what they should do, a Saudi citizen resident in Montreal, who did not wish to be named, tells The Independent.

Imagine youve been studying here for four, five, eight years and suddenly someone is telling you, You cannot stay here, go back home. You are ruining their lives Saudi citizen in Montreal

Imagine youve been studying here for four, five, eight years and suddenly someone is telling you, You cannot stay here, go back home. You are ruining their lives.

At least 1,000 Saudi medical trainees work in Canadian teaching hospitals as part of a longstanding extensive training programme and have been given until 31 August to leave the country. Preparations are underway to move Saudi patients receiving care in Canada to the US.

Many of the [Canada-based] trainees are fairly senior, doing fellowships, getting subspecialty experience, says Salvatore Spadafora, a vice dean with the University of Torontos medical school, where 216 students are affected.

You just know theyre going to go back and do so many great things for their country, and that potential loss is unfortunate, he says.

Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive Show all 8 1 /8 Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive A Saudi woman gestures while driving in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Reuters Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive A Saudi woman drives at night in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia Reuters Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive Saudi women embrace as they celebrate the lift of the female driving ban in Saudi Arabia Reuters Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive A Saudi woman straps in Reuters Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive A Saudi woman drives to work in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Reuters Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive Fadya Fahad is one of the first female drivers for Careem, a ride sharing company in Saudi Arabia Getty Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive A Saudi woman stops at a petrol station while driving to work in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Reuters Saudi Women celebrate their freedom to drive A Saudi woman waits for coffee on the commute in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Reuters

There are around 8,300 non-medical Saudi students enrolled at universities around Canada, all of whom have been ordered by the Saudi education ministry to end all ties and apply for a return ticket to the kingdom within one month.

Some are considering applying for asylum in order not to throw away years of study towards Canadian degrees, but immigration lawyers have warned the process is long and difficult and involves surrendering current student visas to qualify for refugee status, at least in the short term.

The crisis is also having knock-on effects for Saudis still at home.

Political activist Omar Abdul Aziz al Zahrani, who applied for asylum while a student in Canada in 2014, has been active on social media and has given interviews to various news organisations since the diplomatic row broke out.

He tells The Independent his brothers and friends in Riyadh and Jeddah have been threatened with detention if he continues to speak out about the crisis.

He says his brother, Ahmed, called in tears last week to say that men had come to their home and told him that if Omar continued to criticise Saudi Arabia he would be arrested.

The Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr Zahranis claim.

I have received threats from time to time, but using my family and friends? This is new, he says.

During King Abdullahs time I was criticising the regime and I was against so many policies, and I continued that under the new King Salman.

But right now I do not know what is going on, and I dont know whether my brothers and friends will be safe.

Saudi Arabia has embarked on a series of ambitious social and economic reforms since King Salman appointed his 32-year-old son Mohammed as crown prince in June 2016, including ending the kingdoms long standing ban on women driving and curbing the powers of the notorious religious police.

The positive changes have been overshadowed, however, by a crackdown on potential royal and business rivals as well as Saudi Arabias tiny activist community.

Critics say the arrests, as well as the row with Canada, jar with Mohammed bin Salmans image as a reformer.

 Trump touts weapons deals with Saudi Arabia

The young crown prince has a reputation for impulsiveness, but analysts say Saudi Arabia may be making an example of Canada in order to send a message to the rest of the international community.

International pressure to cool the row has not been forthcoming. The US  long Canadas most important friend  has refused to involve itself in the spat. A muted statement from the UK foreign office last week called on both sides to show restraint.

And according to BuzzFeed News, the EU dropped plans to release a statement which would have backed Canadas position in the fight.

A week on, the disputes final form appears to have settled, but it does not appear that the problems facing Saudis in Canada will be over any time soon. Its precursor  Riyadhs 2017 spat with Qatar  is still going strong.

Saudi Arabia may be trying to establish a new precedent with western states, Dr Hisham A Hellyer, senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Royal United Services Institute in London, previously told The Independent.

The Saudi strategy appears to be that if [western] states wish to have a fully normalised relationship with Riyadh, they should remain silent on domestic abuses in Saudi Arabia, said Dr Hisham. And if western capitals so much as think twice before they issue such comments in the future, Riyadh would have gained something.
We are approaching year four of the war on Jeremy Corbyn, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has joined the fray. In an intervention for which Corbyns enemies wont thank him, Netanyahu accuses Corbyn of laying a wreath at the graves of terrorists, and of comparing Israel to Nazis.

This is a blunder. The media was picking over the conflicting accounts of what Corbyn was doing at a Tunisian government-organised conference, which included a memorial for those killed in a widely condemned 1985 Israeli air strike. It was alleged Corbyn laid a wreath at the grave of a PLO leader who helped plan the killing of Israeli athletes forty six years ago. Along comes Netanyahu, a person very recently involved in mass killing, to lead the charge.

And he confused his lines. It was not Corbyn who compared Israel to the Nazis. That was Hajo Meier, a Holocaust survivor reflecting on his own experiences on Holocaust Memorial Day. Netanyahu, who once claimed that Hitler didnt want to exterminate the Jews but was goaded into it by Palestinians, is not in a good position to argue with Holocaust survivors.

The Israeli PM is fluffing an attack that was unlikely to work anyway. Since he took the leadership of the Labour Party, the line has been that hes an anti-British weirdo who doesnt bow to the Queen or sing the national anthem, and  most egregiously  is mates with terrorists. The extraordinary list of allegations might even destroy another politician merely by being repeated so often. But, unlike Netanyahus blunderbuss rhetoric, they have usually relied on a degree of productive ambiguity.

Consider the old IRA allegations. The word that most frequently came up in this offensive, which reached boiling point during last years election campaign, is links. It was sufficient to allege that the Sinn Fein leaders he met were in the IRA, maybe throw in the word treason, and let imagination do the rest of the work. The Sun ran a front page after the Manchester Arena bombing saying Corbyn had Blood on His Hands. The story, nothing to do with Manchester, rehashed the IRA allegations spiced up with thin testimony from a notoriously dodgy ex-IRA informant.

It didnt work. Nor did outright lies. The attempt to incriminate Corbyn as a communist spy was a disaster. No amount of equivocation  the questions have been asked, the questions need to be answered  could save Brexit minister Steve Baker from a public roasting by the big beast of Tory broadcasters, Andrew Neil.

Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Show all 9 1 /9 Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Brexit Labour is committed to leaving the European Union but would have different negotiating priorities to the Conservatives. It has said it would have a strong emphasis on staying in the single market and the customs union. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and leading figures in Brussels have been unambiguous that membership of the single market is impossible without free movement. PA Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Immigration The party would drop bogus immigration targets but move to a managed system of migration favoured by many leave voters. It has said this may include employer sponsorship, work permits, visa regulations or a tailored mix of all these. Getty Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained The Economy Labours manifesto commits to balance government spending with the amount raised by taxation, which can mean little more than significant tax increases. The greatest burden will fall on higher earners but they cannot meet demand on their own. It has also promised to bring rail companies back in to public ownership and cap fares. The party would also renationalise Royal Mail. It also promises a transition to publicly owned energy. Peter Byrne/PA Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Tax No one earning under 80,000 would pay any more in national insurance or income tax. It would raise corporation tax, from the current low of 19p to 26p. This higher rate would still be a competitive internationally, but the government is currently fighting hard to attract business in the wake of Brexit and they say a low corporation tax rate is crucial. Labour would also lower the top, 45p income tax threshold to 80,000. In theory, this could raise 7bn, but only if higher earnings did not decide to move abroad. Reuters Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained NHS Labour has promised more money for GP services, free hospital parking for patients, staff and visitors, and to take a million people off NHS waiting lists by guaranteeing treatment within eighteen weeks. These promises will be expensive to keep, and there is no certainty that the party s commitment to raising taxes on higher earners, increasing capital gains tax and reversing cuts to corporation tax will be enough to meet the need. PA Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Education The party has pledged to abolish university tuition fees and reintroduce maintenance grants and give free school meals to all schoolchildren. PA Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Housing Labours manifesto commits to building 1m new homes, and would introduce controls on rent rises for private renters. It would also scrap the so-called bedroom tax. Getty Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Environment Labour would ban fracking, but, crucially, also supports new nuclear projects. It would also introduce a new Clean Air Act to deal with illegal air quality Getty Should I vote Labour? Corbyn's biggest policies explained Defence Its manifesto says it is committed to the NATO target of 2 per cent spending on defence. It is also committed to the renewal of Trident, even though Jeremy Corbyn has spent a lifetime campaigning against it. AFP/Getty Images

The attacks over allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Party are more effective because they strike at the anti-racist conscience of the left, but dont alter the underlying situation. Labour still hovers around forty per cent in most polls. They can smear Corbyn, but so far they cant change the fact that millions of people want what Corbyns Labour, alone, is offering.

Why did nothing work? Why wont the latest attack work? For Corbyns core supporters, his record has never been a drawback. Whether opposing apartheid, campaigning against Pinochet, defending Irish republicans, or supporting a Palestinian state, his alliance with the oppressed is one of his most attractive qualities. He has an activist record unmatched by any other politician. He doesnt just talk: he means it.

Beyond the core support, most of Britain has moved on from the Cold War mentality. Good Friday is twenty years old. Martin McGuinness, who once launched an insurgency against the British Army, has been in government. Theresa May sent condolences when he died, and sent the Northern Ireland secretary to his funeral. The British state has accepted some responsibility for its own crimes in that war, and accepted the legitimacy of some of the other sides claims. That is how peace processes work. No one, even the depressed Protestant backwaters from which I hail, wants to go back to war. So Corbyn cant be stained by association with people who it is no longer acceptable to dehumanise.

Not all peace processes work. The Oslo Accords failed, as Israeli settlements expanded. Nonetheless, we saw PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who waged a violent struggle against Israeli occupation, sitting down with the US president and visiting Downing Street. When he died, a long list of dignitaries showed up for his funeral, including the British foreign secretary. Most politicians now claim to agree with the principle of land for peace, and a Palestinian state. And Israels brutal actions in the West Bank, Lebanon and Gaza, have tilted opinion sharply against it.

And thats why Netanyahu is in the worst possible position to lead this attack. He condemns Corbyn for laying a wreath. In return Corbyn calmly points out that Netanyahu has just murdered over a hundred unarmed protesters while passing racist legislation that even some of his long-standing supporters dislike. Whos going to win that one? Corbyn, hands down.
If you had made the case, just a few years ago, that Britain should leave the single market, with no substitute arrangements in place, jeopardising 40 per cent of our trade and millions of jobs, you would have been thought delusional.

Yet here we are, just months away from leaving the European Union, with no proper arrangements in place and a prime minister who has now instructed officials to start planning for a no-deal Brexit. We are truly through the looking glass.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk  and we know the effects will be disproportionate. Even leaked excerpts from the Brexit departments own research shows the further you are away from Greater London, the harder the impact.

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

Ministers have done nothing to prepare us for the shocks to come, refusing to publish its economic risk analysis so as to allow for a nuanced conversation about the impact on cities such as Liverpool.

The most optimistic assessment, assuming we have retained access to the single market, sees the UK take a 2 per cent hit to GDP over the next 15 years, rising to 8 per cent with a no-deal Brexit.

The risk is that we become a low-regulation haven for neoliberal hardliners, with the social and environmental protections currently guaranteed by EU law, jettisoned.

The city of Liverpool voted by a clear majority  58 per cent  to remain in the EU back in June 2016, primarily because people in this city recognised the tangible merits of EU membership. Europe helped us come back from the brink, providing the basis for Liverpools renaissance in recent years, including, of course, our year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Yet, papers released under the 30-year rule showed the Thatcher government seriously wanted to write us off. Managed decline it was called. EU funding helped us to bounce back and catalysed many of the dramatic changes weve seen over the past few years.

The risk is that Brexit reverses so much of our good work. After suffering a decade of austerity  with the loss of two-thirds of our government funding  we simply cannot take the extra shock of a hard Brexit.

This should worry Brexiteers. If places like Liverpool are negatively affected, then their project will have utterly failed, with the inflated claims made about how we will benefit outside the EU reduced to dust. So its actually in their interests to hold a second vote on the terms of our departure.

A poll for The Independent shows growing support for a second referendum, up four points in a month to 44 per cent, with just over a quarter of voters opposed to one. Nearly two to one.

The public deserves a chance to see what it is buying. So much water has passed under the bridge since the country narrowly voted for Brexit in June 2016, that the case for a second, confirmatory ballot is becoming deafening.

This is not about asking the same question over and over again; its about offering a chance to approve how the country will be governed after 2019  a discussion that never took place during the disingenuous referendum campaign.

Asking people whether theyre in favour of whatever last-effort deal ministers manage to negotiate is undoubtedly reasonable.

If, after hearing the arguments the British public still votes to leave, then I have no argument with that. It is the publics choice. As a democrat I would accept their decision. But if the facts change  and they have  we should have the opportunity to change our minds.

Joe Anderson is the mayor of Liverpool
There is a great deal that we do not precisely know about what appears to be the latest low-level terror attack at Westminster. However, like many you may have a terrible sinking feeling that, first, it could have been much worse and, second, it might not be unrelated to the heightened political tensions of the moment  across parties, across religious and political beliefs  across the country, in fact.

The debate about antisemitism, about the burqa and niqab, the hateful tone of so much that goes on in social media, the talk of traitors and treason, enemies of the people. If you want to see what racial or religious hatred looks like, you need not infiltrate some terror cell; just take a look at the comments left below the line on popular news websites, or surf around Twitter.

Sooner or later there was going to be a reckoning, a tangible act in response to the goading and climate of fear we seem to have generated in our peaceful land.

 Parliament crash: Footage shows moment man is taken away by police

The truth is that this is the kind of low-level terror that is disturbingly easy to perpetrate. We would have to institute a police state in order to eliminate it, and even then you could not be certain of doing so. As we witnessed in the more deadly Westminster Bridge attack last year, in Borough Market, with the murder of Lee Rigby, you need only a car or van and some knives to inflict huge harm on innocent people. The same goes of the lorry attacks in Nice and Berlin. At the Manchester Arena and in the murder of Jo Cox, and in the Paris massacres, there were more sophisticated techniques deployed, which required sourcing materials and some expertise, but not that much when so much can be gleaned from the internet. Car bombings have been attempted in mainland Britain, but, as in so many benighted areas of the world, we can see how relatively simple they are to construct, and the huge impact that they have.

Only days ago we commemorated the dead in the Omagh bombing three decades ago, in which Irish Republican terrorists murdered 29 people and injured 220 others. It was a reminder that car bombings were once not unusual on the streets of the UK, and not so long ago. The IRAs mainland Britain bombing campaign, of assassinations, letter bombs and explosions in crowded pubs, also remind us that the UK has been subject to domestic terror campaigns before.

Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Show all 30 1 /30 Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man Sky News Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers work at the scene EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Damaged bikes near the crash site Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man who crashed a car into the barriers ITV Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity outside the Houses of Parliament after a car crashed into security barriers BBC/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Bicycles lie on the ground at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator arrives at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police and emergency response teams work outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The area is cleared near to the incident PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator works at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police on Victoria Embankment PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensic officer attends the scene near the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers and a search team secure the roads around the Houses of Parliament as forensic teams continue their work around a vehicle Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police forensics officers outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The car crashed into parliament barriers Vincent McAviney/NBC News/Euronews/Twitter/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Fire fighters attend the scene Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A police dog team works behind the cordon REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament olice and emergency services respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police on Westminster Bridge PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police stand in the street after the incident Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers stand at a cordon Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity on Millbank PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters

We could, for the sake of those who live, work, visit and travel there, cordon off Parliament Square and make it a pedestrian-only zone. We could do the same with other high-profile potential targets in the capital. Yet we know that all that would do would be to relocate the acts of terror, not stop them.

Do we have get used to what they used to call in Northern Ireland during the Troubles an acceptable level of violence? We may not have much choice in these increasingly over-heated times, where political doubt turns to anxiety turns to fear turns to violence and revenge. The fear is always, as in Ulster, that tit-for-tat revenge attacks by vigilantes will follow, self-appointed defence leagues, threatening a spiral of violence. Thats what happened in Ireland.

 Man arrested outside Parliament after car crashes into barrier

We may be horrified by the idea of another possible attack, and, to a degree, relived that the violence was not far worse  its shocking, yes, but how many of us can claim to have been completely surprised? Is this the new normal?
The countdown is on for the hugely popular Energy in Agriculture event due to take place in Gurteen Agricultural College, Co Tipperary on Tuesday, 21 August.

The event, which attracted more than 2,500 visitors and 63 exhibitors last year, features panel discussions with leading voices in agriculture, information on energy and money saving schemes, demonstrations on delivering on- farm energy and displays of energy saving products.

The event will be opened by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughton at 10am and this will be followed by a panel discussion on energy in agriculture including the Minister, Teagacss Barry Caslin, IFA President Joe Healy and Paul Kenny of Tipperary Energy Agency.

Discussions on reducing fuel usage in machinery, energy efficiency options on dairy farms, fuel switching and SEAI supports will take place alongside talks on biomass generation, solar power, anaerobic digestion and forestry.

Speaking at the launch of the event Barry Caslin from Teagasc said farmers could play a significant role in the decarbonisation of Irelands national heat supply, although it would be a huge challenge.

"With dramatic falls in the cost of solar photovoltaics, on-shore and off-shore wind, biogas AD opportunities as well as battery energy storage technology, the prospect of complete decarbonisation of Irelands electricity supply is now in sight.

"An increased supply of agricultural feedstocks will be needed to fuel such growth in the bio-based economy, including a large fleet of bio-methane plants and new processes such as synthetic gas from biomass.

The event is free to attend.
iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Voters in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin head to the polls Tuesday as primary season slowly begins to give way to what promises to be a highly competitive general election in races across the country.



Governorships and U.S. Senate seats are up in all four states holding primaries, and both parties are again watching to see which candidates emerge victorious and advance to November. A combined 22 U.S. House seats are also at stake in the states voting Tuesday, many of which could factor heavily into the balance of power in Congress' lower chamber this fall.



Here's a look at some of the key storylines and races the ABC News Politics team will be watching on Tuesday.



Wisconsin a political barometer of the Midwest



Donald Trump's 2016 victory in Wisconsin was the first for a Republican presidential candidate since 1984, and now the state faces yet another test of its political identity on Tuesday.



Gov. Scott Walker is running for a third full term this cycle, which presents yet another chance for Democrats to defeat the former presidential candidate and longtime foe. The Democratic primary is a crowded and complicated field of eight candidates all vying to take on Walker and flip one of a number of Midwestern gubernatorial seats that fallen out of their grasp in recent years.



The top candidates on the Democratic side include Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, former state lawmaker Kelda Roys, the African-American leader of a state firefighters union, Mahlon Mitchell, former state Democratic Party chair Matt Flynn, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and state lawmaker Kathleen Vineout. Whoever emerges from the crowd Tuesday has a tall task in unseating Walker, who alongside the state GOP has built a powerful infrastructure in the state that has allowed him to win two full terms and survive a recall election in 2012.



Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is also up for re-election this cycle, and the GOP primary to take her on in November has been a bitter battle between state lawmaker Leah Vukmir and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kevin Nicholson.



Vukmir won the endorsement of the state GOP last month and has the backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan, while Nicholson has attempted to paint himself as a political outsider taking on a party insider. Hope for Democratic victories in the state were bolstered by special election wins in a state Supreme Court race and for a number of state senate seats, and losing Baldwin's seat would be a large blow to the party's hopes of taking back control of the U.S. Senate.



The liberal Baldwin, the Senate's first openly gay member, is one of 10 Democratic incumbents up this cycle in a state that Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election.



GOP on offense in Minnesota



While Republicans are likely to lose a number of U.S. House seats this cycle, the state of Minnesota presents the GOP a rare chance to go on offense in a year where they are almost exclusively playing political defense.



The retirement of Rep. Rick Nolan in the state's 8th Congressional District and the decision by Rep. Tim Walz in the state's 1st Congressional District to run for governor has given Republicans hopes that they could gain seats in a year where the national political environment is less than favorable.



While Donald Trump narrowly lost Minnesota in the 2016 election, he carried both the 1st and 8th congressional districts by more than 15 points -- another factor that makes these open-seat races highly competitive. Army veteran Dan Feehan, a former acting assistant secretary of Defense in the Obama administration, is the candidate with the backing of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party and is on the DCCCs Red to Blue list for top-tier candidates.



The Republican race in the 1st District is between state Sen. Carla Nelson and Jim Hagedorn, who has been the GOP nominee against Walz the last two cycle.



Democrats have held the 8th District in all but one congressional election since Harry Trumans administration -- Republicans held it from 2011 to 2013, but with voters leaning to Trump, it may open the door for the GOP.



(MORE: Bredesen, Blackburn win Tennessee primary elections for Senate)

Five Democrats have run to succeed Nolan, including Nolans former campaign manager Joe Radinovich. State Rep. Jason Metsa leads all Democrats in total fundraising. Republican candidate Pete Stauber, who campaigned with and has the backing of President Trump, leads the field in fundraising and will face former Duluth school board member Harry Welty.



Vermont Democrats poised to make history



Phil Scott has cemented himself among the rare breed of popular Northeast Republican governors and is in solid position to win re-election this cycle.



But Scott's popularity will likely not stop Democrats in the state from making history by nominating Christine Hallquist, who would be the nation's first transgender woman to hold a governor's seat if she is able to win Tuesday's primary and pull an upset against Scott in November.



Hallquist, 62, is the former chief executive of the Vermont Electric Cooperative and said she is seeking to utilize both her local experience and national profile in a potential race against Scott.



"Thats how I want to be known in Vermont," Hallquist said of he progressive platform and executive experience in a recent interview with the Associated Press, "Nationally, I want to be known as the first trans candidate."



Other key races to watch:



Connecticut governor: In a counter to the conventional wisdom that Democrats have the advantage in 2018, the Nutmeg State may provide an opportunity for Republicans to make inroads in a typically blue state.



Incumbent Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy leaves office as one of the least popular governors in the nation, and several Republicans are trying to take advantage. The GOP primary has seen a similar embrace of Trump that we've seen in races across the country, but there's no way to know how that strategy will play out in a state that is deep blue in presidential cycles, but much more purple in gubernatorial races and off-year elections.



Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who fell short in a run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2014, has the backing of the Republican Party in advance of the primary and is running against former nominee for state treasurer, Tim Herbst, and businessmen Stephen Obsitnik, David Stemerman and Bob Stefanowski.



Democrats have backed a familiar name in state politics in businessman Ned Lamont, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2006 in a challenge to then-Senator Joe Lieberman. Lamont has the state partys backing, but will have to defeat Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim.



Connecticuts 5th Congressional District: In the Connecticut district that includes some of the most Republican parts of the state, Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty is stepping aside after allegations that her chief of staff committed sexual assault.



Democrats have endorsed Mary Glassman, a former lieutenant governor candidate who served as First Selectman-- a similar position to mayor in other states-- of Simsbury. She will face Jahana Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year and first-time candidate who received encouragement to run from Sen. Chris Murphy. Murphy, however, has not issued a formal endorsement in the race.



Republicans may have the opportunity to pick up their first congressional victory in the state in a decade, with three candidates throwing their hats in the ring for the seat-- former Meriden mayor Manny Santos, businessman Rich DuPont and retired professor Ruby Corby ONeill.



Minnesota governor: The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes is another spot where Republicans will potentially be able to reverse the tide of the Blue Wave, as they may be able to ride the name recognition of a former Governor who wants another crack at the office.



Tim Pawlenty, former governor and Republican presidential candidate, has decided to run for his old job, but has stumbled a bit in the early going. Pawlenty lost the party endorsement to Jeff Johnson, the previous nominee in 2014, but is still favored in Tuesdays primary.



If Pawlenty withstands Johnsons challenge, he will face a tough battle against the winner of a Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary with several viable candidates. The focus, however, has been on the late decision by Attorney General Lori Swanson to run for governor, a move that triggered Rep. Keith Ellison to run for the newly open Attorney General post.



Swanson faces a difficult primary against Rep. Tim Walz, who decided to run for governor over re-election in the 1st district. Along with two high-profile candidates, the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party added an additional wrinkle when it endorsed the bid of state representative Erin Murphy, who supports a statewide single-payer healthcare system.



Democrats may have a slight advantage, as Republicans have not won a statewide election in over a decade, but considering that Trump came within 2 percentage points of winning the state in 2016, Republicans may have a fighting chance.



Minnesota U.S. Senate Special Election: Democrats will have a relative advantage in both of their Senate elections, as in addition to popular Senator Amy Klobuchar running for her regularly scheduled re-election, there will also be a special election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Al Franken.



Sen. Tina Smith, appointed to the seat earlier this year, is facing an unconventional primary challenge from Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer for George W. Bush. Painter, a former Republican, has become a vocal anti-Trump voice on Twitter and has leveraged his social media presence during his campaign.



Smith, however, has the endorsement of most Democratic leaders in the state as well as from Senate colleague Elizabeth Warren.



Republicans have a three-way primary, but the only candidate who has filed contributions with the FEC has been state senator Karin Housley.



Minnesota 2nd Congressional District: Incumbent Rep. Jason Lewis could have a more challenging re-election bid now that a CNN report has unearthed Lewis previous statements. Lewis referred to women as sluts and that African-Americans have an entitlement mentality.



The general election is all set, however, as no Republican is running against Lewis. Presumptive Democratic nominee Angie Craig will likely attempt to take advantage of Lewis attacks for the general election campaign, as she is running unopposed. Craig has been backed by progressive organizations including EMILYs List and the Human Rights Campaign.



Both Democrats and Republicans have listed the race as a target for extra funds, which makes sense for a largely suburban district that has been decided by one point or less in the last two presidential elections -- Obama won it in 2012 while Trump won it in 2016.



Minnesota 3rd Congressional District: Democrats have identified Republican Rep. Erik Paulsens seat as a potential target, as the 3rd district has backed Democrats in the last three presidential elections.



Paulsen has continued to survive in the suburban Twin Cities districts with a relatively moderate voting record and has distanced himself from Trump.



Democrats will seek to take advantage of a relatively favorable electorate in the 3rd District and have given extra financial support to Dean Phillips, the owner of a local coffee chain. Phillips has run on a progressive platform including Medicare-for-All and ending Citizens United.



If Democrats want to successfully take back the House of Representatives, this seat will be crucial to their path to control.



Minnesota 5th Congressional District: DNC vice chair Keith Ellison won this seat in 2007 and became the first Muslim-American elected to Congress and may be succeeded by the first Muslim woman elected to Congress.



Ellison stepped aside to run for Minnesota attorney general and the local Democratic-Farmer-Labor party has endorsed state Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born hijab-wearing refugee. Omar has run on a strongly progressive platform and has faced controversy for her criticism of Israel, but is favored in her primary race.



Four other candidates, including state Sen. Patricia Torres Ray and former State House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, are also running in the Democratic primary.



Three Republicans are running in the primary but will face a tough battle in a seat where Ellison won his last election with 69 percent of the vote.



Wisconsin 1st Congressional District: While Republicans need to defend all the seats they can in 2018, losing this seat would be especially painful as it currently belongs to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.



Ryan is not running for re-election and six Republicans have jumped into the race. Ryan has endorsed former staffer Bryan Steil, but arguably the most prominent candidate among Republicans is Paul Nehlen, who lost the support of the conservative website Breitbart for his white supremacist views and anti-Semitic comments.



Democrats have a pair of candidates in teacher Cathy Myers and ironworker Randy Bryce, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has backed Bryce, who has raised nearly $5 million in his campaign. Bryce, an army veteran who has gained national attention, has earned also earned the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders.



The district swung Trumps way in 2016 thanks to the support of its substantial white working-class population, but if Bryce wins, Democrats may be able to rely on his background as an ironworker and his pro-labor policies to earn enough support to flip the seat.



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A bridge on a main highway linking Italy with France collapsed Tuesday in the Italian port city of Genoa during a sudden, violent storm, sending vehicles plunging 45 meters (nearly 150 feet) into a heap of rubble below. A transport official said at least 22 people were killed and eight injured in the tragedy.

The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy August 14, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

A huge section of the Morandi Bridge collapsed over an industrial zone, sending tons of twisted steel and concrete debris onto warehouses below. Photos published by the Italian news agency ANSA showed a massive, empty gulf between two sections of the bridge.

Amalia Tedeschi, a firefighter, told RAI state TV that some 20 vehicles, including cars and trucks, were caught up as an 80-meter (260-foot) stretch of the bridge collapsed.

She said two people had been pulled alive from vehicles in the rubble. Officials said they were transported by helicopter to a hospital.

Edoardo Rixi, a transport official, told Sky TV that 22 were dead and 8 were injured in the collapse.

Video captured the sound of a man screaming: "Oh God! Oh, God!" Other images showed a green truck that had stopped just short of the gaping hole in the bridge and the tires of a tractor trailer in the rubble.

Firefighters told The Associated Press they were worried about gas lines exploding in the area from the collapse.

ANSA said authorities suspected that a structural weakness had caused the collapse, but there was no immediate explanation for what had happened.

Italy's transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, called the collapse "an enormous tragedy."

News agency ANSA said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will travel to Genoa later Tuesday. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said some 200 firefighters were responding to the accident.

"We are following minute by minute the situation of the bridge collapse in Genoa," Salvini said on Twitter.

The disaster occurred on a highway that connects Italy to France, and northern cities like Milan to the beaches of Liguria.

It came on the eve of a major Italian summer holiday on Wednesday called Ferragosto, which marks the religious feast of the Assumption of Mary. The day marks the high point of the Italian summer holiday season when most cities and business are closed and Italians head to the beaches or the mountains, which means traffic was heavier than usual on the Genoa highway.

The Morandi Bridge is a main thoroughfare connecting the A10 highway that goes toward France and the A7 highway that continues north toward Milan. Inaugurated in 1967, it is 45 meters (148 feet) high, just over a kilometer (.6 miles) long.

The collapse of the bridge comes eight days after another major accident on an Italian highway, one near the northern city of Bologna.

In that case, a tanker truck carrying a highly flammable gas exploded after rear-ending a stopped truck on the road and getting hit from behind itself. The accident killed one person, injured dozens and blew apart a section of a raised eight-lane highway.




(ANSA) - Rome, August 13 - Italian cartoonist Mauro Padovani has said that he and his husband have been the victims of a brutal homophobic attack near their home in Gand, Belgium.

Mauro Padovani posted photos of his and spouse Tom Freeman's bruised faces on social media.

Padovani had reported other attacks on gay couples via social media recently.


Barclays' Irish arm will have more assets than AIB and Bank of Ireland, after Barclays began shifting direct ownership of its French, German and Spanish branches from a British-based entity to its Irish bank, according to sources.

Barclays Bank Ireland will have total assets of around 224bn (250bn) after absorbing all the European business, Barclays said in its presentation to investors, out of 1.1trn for the entire bank as of the end of 2017.

The move shows Barclays putting its Brexit contingency plans into action, in common with other banks which are not waiting for the outcome of negotiations over how financial services will operate after Britain leaves the EU in March of next year.

The British bank outlined plans to expand its EU-based Irish entity in a slide presentation to investors earlier this month, saying the unit would primarily consist of Barclays corporate, investment and private banking activities and its Barclaycard credit card business in Germany.

In addition to the French, German, and Spanish branches, Barclays will ultimately move all of its European branches under control of Barclays Bank Ireland, one of the sources said.

Its other main corporate and investment banking businesses in Europe include Luxembourg, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands, according to a Reuters review of company filings.

Barclays no longer operates a consumer banking business in Europe, having sold the last of its retail operation in 2016 as the bank shifted its global strategy to focus on the United States and Britain.

While Barclays' European branches will still ultimately be owned by its London-listed holding company, the change in organisational structure shows how lenders are shifting business to try to avoid any disruption that Brexit might cause.

Banks are trying to ensure that even under a 'no-deal' scenario, where Britain would crash out of the EU without any agreements in place, they would still be able to serve EU customers as before.

British banks have largely chosen to base their main European hubs wherever they already have a suitably licensed existing subsidiary.

Barclays rival HSBC has begun shifting direct ownership of its European branches from its British entity to its French subsidiary, while Lloyds is planning three EU subsidiaries, Reuters reported in July. (Reuters)
Argi-Services firm Origin Enterprises has completed the acquisition of a 65pc stake in Brazilian based speciality nutrition and crop inputs business, Fortgreen Commercial Agricola.

Under the terms of the deal, Origin has initially paid BRL179m (41.3m) for the company. An additional BRL39m (9m) will be payable in 12 months, based on the achievement of specific profit targets.

Revenue and adjusted earnings for the year ended 31 December 2017 at Fortgreen were BRL123m (28.4m) and BRL40m (9.3m) respectively.

The deal was initially reported in June this year.

A separate transaction to acquire a 20pc share in Brazilian based agronomy services and crop input distribution business, Ferrari Zagatto E Cia ('Ferrari'), is expected to complete during the first half of Origins 2018/2019 financial year.

In a statement today Origin, which already has a market presence in Ireland, the UK, Belgium, Poland, Romania and Ukraine, said that the two investments underline its priority to scale its technology and service portfolios in markets which provide "tangible growth opportunities".

"The transactions also provide the platform to address the group's requirements for meaningful geographical diversification and seasonality balance," Origin said.

The company will issue its preliminary results for the year ended 31 July 2018 on 26 September.

Last month Origin appointed Brendan Corcoran to the role of head of investor relations and group planning.

Mr Corcoran, who has "extensive" agri-business experience in a corporate banking career spanning over thirteen years, will commence the role in September.

He moves to Origin from HSBC Corporate Banking, where he was relationship director leading the Agri, Food and Beverage portfolio, with responsibility for advising and supporting corporates in the sector.

Prior to joining HSBC in 2010, Mr Corcoran was a senior relationship officer at AIB Capital Markets.
A typical Airbnb host on the platform in Ireland is expected to earn 2,000 on average this summer, with guests from the US most likely to stay in these homes.

Insights into the platform's activity here has been released to coincide with Airbnb's global 10th anniversary in operation.

Over the course of the summer, measured from June 21 to September 22, around 640,000 people are expected to travel in Ireland using Airbnb.

According to the site's research, guests and hosts on Airbnb will contribute 57m to the Irish economy over this period.

Guests are most likely to come from the US, followed by domestic Irish travellers, the UK and France.

Aisling Hassell, Ireland Site Lead and Global Head of Community Support Operations at Airbnb, said that the data reflects how much the platform has grown in Ireland over the last number of years.

Most popular destinations for guests are Irish cities, with Dublin and Galway the top two most travelled hotspots in Ireland.

Tourists are also drawn to the Wild Atlantic Way route as Killarney, Cork and Dingle are also hugely popular for visitors.

The West's coastline is also calling those from here and abroad with Claremorris and Claregalway among the top trending places.

Between November 2016 and November 2017, around 1.2 million people travelled in Ireland using Airbnb, with almost 90pc of guests visiting for a holiday or for leisure.

Read More

Top countries of Airbnb guest arrivals:

US

Ireland

UK

France

Germany

Trending Destinations

Claremorris, Co Mayo

Claregalway, Co Galway

Strandhill, Co Sligo

Blarney, Co Cork

Dunmore East, Co Waterford

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Three Homebase stores in Ireland are among those earmarked for closure as part of a cull by the retailers owner, Hilco Capital.

Two stores in Dublin  at Fonthill and at Naas Road  will close, as well as an outlet in Limerick. The closures are certain to hit dozens of jobs.

It has a total of 11 outlets in Ireland that employ a 380 full and part-time staff.

Homebase confirmed today that its closing a total of 42 stores as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) where its seeking approval from creditors to reduce its cost base in the UK and Ireland. The stores are set to close between the end of this year and early 2019.

Homebase was ditched this year by its then Australian owner Wesfarmers, which had acquired the chain in 2016 for 340m (380.6m). The disastrous move into the UK market by Wesfarmers saw it sell the chain for just 1 to Hilco Capital.

Homebase was making a profit when it was acquired by Wesfarmers, but isn't now.

After a comprehensive review, Homebase has concluded that its current store portfolio mix is no longer viable, the chain said in a statement. Rental costs associated with stores are unsustainable and many stores are loss making.

It added: The proposed changes to the store portfolio will regrettably mean redundancies from those stores earmarked for closure. The process is expected to lead to a reduction of up to 1,500 roles, although every effort will be made to redeploy team members within the business where possible.

The CVA enables Homebase to make essential changes to its store portfolio, reducing its cost base and providing a stable platform on which to continue its turnaround, it said.
Data compiled by Bloomberg shows that manufacturers in most countries are positive about the outlook. Stock image

Manufacturers are on the front edge of the world economy.

What they are witnessing and the decisions they are making about spending and hiring can swiftly affect global growth.

Data compiled by Bloomberg shows that manufacturers in most countries are positive about the outlook.

The data is derived from purchasing managers' indexes - surveys of decision-makers at companies that are designed to elucidate sentiment.

The positivity comes despite potential disruption from trade disputes, and on a more local level for Ireland, Brexit.

Russia though is an exception to the general trend. Its manufacturing PMI continued to slide in July, despite the services index picking up.

Weakness in manufacturing could reflect higher input costs, sanctions-related uncertainty and a deterioration in external demand. It's best to think of the PMIs as a gauge of underlying momentum. They're a better reading of the breadth of changes in activity, rather than depth, and so the sharp slide this year could reflect a deterioration that has been broad based, but fairly mild.

But there are a few clouds hanging over the Russian economy that might cast a shadow on manufacturers, particularly non-oil exporters.

Fuel costs spiked just as tighter sanctions and diminished risk appetite in emerging markets sent the rouble into a plunge. That's an unusual combination for Russia, and has served to push up input costs.

The threat of further US action is probably only a mild drag on growth in the economy as a whole, but the effects could be more acute for the external sector.

And while Russia's exposure to the US-China trade war is relatively small, a retrenchment in foreign demand would still sting.

Manufacturing only accounts for about 13pc of gross value added in the Russian economy, but this engine needs to provide more thrust if President Vladimir Putin is to achieve his goal of boosting growth to a world-beating pace close to 4pc by 2024. In the Eurozone, hopes of stronger momentum were dispelled in July, with a slowdown in activity signalling that growth going forward might be sluggish at best. In most countries the outlook is neutral or only mildly positive.

A euro-area-wide Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing and services dropped to 54.3, ceding most of the ground it gained in June, IHS Markit said. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

Manufacturing has seen its most subdued spell in more than one-and-a-half years this summer, with July's print only slightly stronger than the previous month.

Weakening order growth has been the main factor weighing down output, according to IHS Markit. Companies are also less optimistic about future business amid ongoing threats of trade wars.

In the US, things look better. US manufacturing firms signalled a strong improvement in operating conditions in July, despite the headline PMI falling slightly. Weaker rises in output and employment were seen in the month, but business confidence remained strongly positive, and was supported by hopes of further increases in overall new orders.

Rising input costs were an issue faced by firms but strong domestic demand made it easier to pass costs on, said IHS Markit chief business economist Chris Williamson. (Bloomberg)
Actress Ruby Rose has deleted her Twitter account after receiving abuse following the announcement she will play the first openly gay superhero lead role in an upcoming TV series.

Earlier in August it was revealed that Australian star Rose, 32, had been cast as Batwoman.

The character has been described as a highly trained street fighter with a passion for social justice.

The Orange Is The New Black star claimed she had been sent negative tweets about her own sexuality since the announcement.

Expand Close Ruby Rose visits "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center on August 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ruby Rose visits "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center on August 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

In a final series of tweets quoted in various media outlets, Rose posted before deleting her account: Where on earth did Ruby is not a lesbian therefore she cant be Batwoman come from? Has to be the funniest, most ridiculous thing Ive ever read.

I came out at 12? And have for the past five years had to deal with shes too gay. How do yall flip it like that? I didnt change. I wish we would all support each other and our journeys.

When women and when minorities join forces we are unstoppable. When we tear each other down its much more hurtful than from any group.

But hey, love a challenge. I just wish women and the LGBT community supported each other more.

My wish was we were all a little kinder and more supportive of each other.

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Sending everyone my love and gratitude, its been a rollercoaster of a year, this month especially.

I am looking forward to getting more than four hours of sleep and to break from Twitter to focus all my energy on my next two projects. If you need me, Ill be on my Bat Phone.

The stars Instagram profile remains up but the settings have been changed so only people she knows can comment on her posts.

Rose previously told US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel that she was thrilled to be playing Batwoman and that she used to make bat wings and jump off high places as a child.

The tearful star added: I feel like the reason I kept getting so emotional is because when I was growing up watching TV, I never saw someone I could identify with, let alone a superhero.

Rose will be introduced as Batwoman in a December crossover event between The CW Networks other DC Comics shows Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl.

A standalone series about Batwoman is in development for the 2019-20 TV season.

Rose representatives have been contacted by the Press Association for comment.
One of the people pranked by Sacha Baron Cohen on his new show Who Is America? has revealed he had no idea that he had been set up until after the episode aired on Showtime in the US.

Daniel Roberts featured in the most recent episode of the satirical series which sees the UK actor and comedian posing as various characters including Erran Morad, an Israeli anti-terrorism expert, and engaging with mostly high profile conservative figures.

Roberts is the founder of Youth Shooters America which, he says, "teaches and promotes youth shooting sports". He was duped into believing Morad would school him in how to fight terrorism. At one point he got Roberts to bite down on a dildo in an effort to prevent himself from being beheaded.

Prior to the attempted beheading, Roberts said, "There's something wrong with the culture that we can't talk about being around guns." Baron Cohen replied, "It is crucial to have the guns in the school?" and Roberts said, "Yes, absolutely. I agree with you."

Roberts had previously been interviewed by Piers Morgan in the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting in which 58 people died. Asked what he was going to do about it by Morgan, Roberts replied, "not much of anything, hopefully".

Speaking to the New York Times, Roberts said he had no idea who Baron Cohen was and did not see the episode but was alerted to his appearance via a phone call from a friend.

He said the production company called him and said a group of Israeli special forces soldiers were shooting a programme about terrorism and how American's defend themselves against terrorist. He said it sounded "legitimate".

"Ive always had a great amount of respect for the Israeli military," he told the New York Times. "For me, it sounded like a perfectly legitimate opportunity to take advantage of a situation to be taught by people that I would regard as some of the best in the world with counterterrorism."

He said there were moments during filming when he felt "extraordinarily uncomfortable". However, he said the use of the dildo made sense to him in that moment.

"The use of the  whats the polite way to describe this?  the use of the sexual device as a prop, in my mind, it made sense," he said.

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"Think about what theyre claiming: a last resort. You have one chance to do something, or youre certain youre going to die. Thats the scenario theyve laid out. I dont know many people, if they were completely honest, that they would say they wouldnt take that opportunity to maybe, hopefully, grab one thing to maybe save their lives."

You can watch the segment here:

WHO IS AMERICA? Channel 4, Monday, 10pm
(ANSA) - Rome, August 14 - Premier Giuseppe Conte will go to Genoa later on Tuesday after a highway bridge collapsed in the northern city, taking many lives.

Conte will also spend Wednesday in Genoa, premier office sources said. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli on Monday described the collapse of a motorway viaduct in Genoa as an "inhuman tragedy". "I am following what has happened in Genoa with maximum apprehension, which looks like being an inhuman tragedy," Toninelli said via Twitter. "We are in close contact with the highways agency and we are going to the scene with deputy minister Rixi. "My total support and the moment is with the city".

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said that the government was working to save lives. "We are following the situation of the Genoa bridge collapse minute by minute," Salvini said via Twitter. "I thank the 200 fire fighters (and all the other heroes) who are already working to save lives".


Denis Shine (left, of the Irish Archaeology Field School) and Stephen Callaghan at last weeks dig beside Crinkle Barracks.

The excavation of a World War I training trench in Co Offaly has provided a snapshot of how soldiers were trained for trench warfare.

In the first excavation of its kind, volunteers unearthed threepenny coins and empty cartridges at the site of the former Birr Barracks.

The barracks housed staff and servicemen from the Leinster Regiment in Crinkill, Co Offaly.

The Sixth Battalion spent a period there some time after the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 in preparation for combat in Gallipoli.

Local historian Stephen Callaghan said it had been a very exciting time for everyone involved in the dig.

"The excavation was the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, and helped provide further information about the training structure put in place to train men for life in the trenches," he said.

"The dig has given an insight as to how training trenches in Ireland were used to help train Kitchener's new army for the war."

Mr Callaghan said spent casings of rifle cartridges indicates that firing training took place in the trenches.

The dig was facilitated by the Irish Archaeological Field School, with the support of Offaly County Council, as part of community outreach efforts. Mr Callaghan came up with the idea to carry out the dig and was helped by the Field School and the council. The licence for the dig was obtained from the National Monuments Service.

The dig lasted for seven days and none of the participants received any pay for their efforts. They were amateur enthusiasts including students, military historians and a number of locals.
The cost of the 'root and branch' review of policing in the wake of a string of Garda controversies has topped 1m as it approaches the end of its work.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is due to deliver its proposals to Government in September.

Chaired by Kathleen O'Toole, a former chief of police in Seattle and Boston, the group was set up in May 2017. Records released to the Irish Independent show that total expenditure stood at just over 1m at the end of May 2018.

This includes 326,773 in salaries and wages for its administrative staff and 280,586 in Commission member fees, all of which is subject to taxation and other appropriate deductions.

The fees for Commission members includes 81,000 to Ms O'Toole in relation to the 108 days she worked to the end of May.

Eight of the 10 other Commission members are entitled to 25,000 per annum.

Two members who have permanent salaried positions in the public sector do not receive payments.

Travel costs for the Commission amounted to 161,299.

This included the cost of Commission members travelling to the group's meetings from abroad.

Ms O'Toole is based abroad, as is Peter Fahy, who has held senior positions in UK police forces, Harvard academic Dr Antonio Oftelie, and Tonita Murray, an international police development consultant.

The travel costs also included carrying out domestic and international field studies.

The Commission held a public consultation exercise involving several meetings around Ireland, a process Ms O'Toole has previously described as "the most interesting and valuable component of our work".

A total of 156,325 was spent on general consultancy services and public relations, including on the Commission's public engagement campaign, media liaison and expert advice.

Other costs include 18,084 on information technology services and 8,589 on "refreshments/lunches/catering".

The Commission has an allocated budget of 1.5m.

A spokesperson said that it was operating within its budget and would publish an update of its activities next month. "The Commission will report in September as planned," a statement added.

Its report is to make proposals to Government in relation to policing structures and management arrangements among other areas.
Gardai have today moved their investigating the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob in Newbridge from one of a missing person to murder and revealed that "credible and corroborated" information has come to light in the 20 year long investigation.

Speaking to Independent.ie Chief Superintendent Brian Sutton of Naas garda station said they now have persons of interest in the case and may conduct searches for Deirdre in the near future.

While the details of the new information remains under wraps, Chief Supt Sutton said it was of such significance that the investigation could be upgraded to murder.

"The information is substantial, and in conjunction with the Serious Crime Review Team and the local crime management team a murder investigation has been launched," he said.

"As such, all the aspects of a murder investigation will be examined, and searches, interviews, re-interviews and other investigation techniques cannot be ruled out," he added.

The fact that new information has come to light has been shared with Deirdre's family, but the nature of the information has not been revealed to them for operational reasons.

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"Deirdre's family were told last week that the investigation was being upgraded. It is a difficult time for them but they have accepted it," said Chief Supt Sutton.

"We deal with evidence, not rumour or speculation, and this new development is significant, but we would still urge anyone with information to come forward, or if they have come forward before to come back to us if they have any more information," he added.

Asked if the new information might have a bearing on the investigations into Ireland's other missing women cases Chief Supt Sutton said that it could not be ruled out.

"At the moment the case of Deirdre is top priority, and we will look at the other cases if we feel this information could benefit those investigations," he said.

Deirdre Jacob was last seen on the 28th July 1998 near her home, at Roseberry, Newbridge, Co Kildare at around 3pm.

There has been a 20-year investigation into Deirdres disappearance during which significant enquiries were carried out to establish her whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which she disappeared.
THE former president of Dublin City University (DCU), Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, is stepping down from his position as principal of Scotland's Robert Gordon University (RGU) after a conflict of interest controversy.

Prof von Prondzynski has been at the centre of a storm after failing to declare a business relationship with a man who was appointed as a vice-principal of the prestigious university in Aberdeen in north-east Scotland earlier this year.

The former DCU president and Mr Gordon McConnell are co-directors of Knockdrin Estates Limited, with an address at Knockdrin Castle, Mullingar, Co Westmeath - the family home of the von Prondzynskis since 1947.

The 18th-century gothic revival castle, on more than 1,000 acres near Mullingar, was put on the market late last year with an asking price of 13.5m.

An internal investigation found last month that the appointment was properly made and that neither Prof von Prondzynski, nor Mr McConnell had intentionally sought to mislead.

However, the governing authority's failure to sanction either of the men for breaching the university's conflict of interest policy triggered the resignation last month of Prof Paul Hagan, vice-principal for research.

In a joint statement from the university and Prof Von Prondzynski, announcing his resignation, he said there was an "oversight on my part, for which I have taken full responsibility".

The former DCU president said he recognised that "the outcome of the investigation has caused division and therefore had a damaging impact on the university's reputation, which I personally hugely regret".

He said his main reason for deciding to step down was "to allow RGU to recover from these events".

"I am confident it will do so quickly," he said.

Mike Fleming, chairman of the board of governors at RGU, said the way the matter has played out in public has had a damaging impact on the university.

"We respect Ferdinand's decision, which we know he has taken in the best interests of protecting the university's well-deserved and hard-won reputation," he said.

He paid tribute to Prof von Prondzynski and said under his leadership the university had had significant successes.

Prof von Prondzynski, who was president of DCU from 2000 to 2010, will step down on August 31 and will be succeeded by the current deputy principal, Prof John Harper.
"Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost

We have all been there. The stress of the Leaving Certificate, waiting anxiously for the results and then waiting again for that all-important CAO letter. This stressful summer is then followed by the start of a whole new voyage into college only a few months after finishing school. New friends, new studies, new home; it is everything all at once.

There are also students who might not have earned enough points to be accepted onto their dream course. This can understandably cause anxiety and a feeling of dejection to the point where they might not feel like going to college at all.

But, the traditional route of going straight into college is not the journey for everyone, and it certainly wasn't the journey for me. It is being replaced by other possibilities, from taking a year out to completing a post-Leaving Certificate course. These other options can help make your life the one you want to live.

1 DEFERRING

Deferring* a year before going to college has many benefits, and I would know, since this is the choice I made. Having attended school for 14 years non-stop, it was difficult for me to immediately jump into more formal education, so soon after saying goodbye to my school uniform. At 18, I didn't feel ready for university. I decided to defer my place in the BA in History in UCD for one year, while I got the hang of adult life.

During my year, I started a job and saved money for my upcoming college term. This year gave me the opportunity to work in the real world and it made me realise just how important it is to have a college education! I had time to learn new things without the stress of exams looming over me. I started writing seriously during that year, which is how I realised that writing was what I wanted to do with my life. That one year did so much for me and I am forever grateful that I chose to make that decision. So, it could be the right choice for you too.

*Even if the points increase for your course in the next year, your spot is still saved for you. However, always check if your college of choice accepts deferrals.

2 POST-LEAVING CERTIFICATE COURSE

Sometimes you might not get the points you need. Or, sometimes you need time to build up a portfolio in order to be accepted on a course. There are plenty of options available for those who require an extra boost on their applications.

There are many institutions around Ireland which offer Level 5 and Level 6 courses which can be used as stepping stones for a degree course.

Louise Curtin, from Dublin, wants to be a graphic designer. In order to get the amount of points required and the time to create the perfect portfolio of work, she attended Marino College of Further Education after her Leaving Certificate and did a Level 5 course in graphic design.

"I needed to create a portfolio showing my art and design skills and I felt like this was too much work to do while I was also doing the Leaving Cert," says Louise. "I decided to take a year to really get it right while also furthering my education.

"On my course I had the opportunity to go on work placement which has really opened my eyes to what happens in a real workplace environment. I have completed my portfolio and work experience and I am now in a much better position to enter my degree course this September."

3 MATURE STUDENTS

Occasionally, college is not the right choice right now. Maybe you need more time than just a year to figure out what you want to do; maybe you dropped out of another course; or perhaps you were waylaid by work or family commitments and now think it's too late. But, there is always an option to go to college no matter how 'old' you think you are.

There are many advantages to being a mature student:

 Most universities specifically set aside several college places for mature students, which means there is usually less competition.

 You may be in a much better financial situation than you were when you were 18, so mum and dad don't need to be called every weekend for money!

 The wealth of experience a mature student has is used in conjunction with CAO points to see if they are suited to the course. This means there is more opportunity for those who didn't get the points they wanted.

There is always another road. And sometimes the one less travelled can make all the difference.
Tough call: Maria Maguire dropped out of college the first time around, only to return when she was 40. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson

It's generally accepted that the path from school to college is a direct one, but for some of the 55,000 secondary school graduates anxiously awaiting the results of the Leaving Cert next week, it might be worth considering a more circuitous route.

Their average age is 18, but with students having had little by way of life experience outside the classroom, would they do better by taking a year or more off before knuckling down to four years of study? They could travel, or do a Post Leaving Cert (PLC) course as a trial before committing to a full-on degree.

They could work and save for college, develop life skills not taught at school, discover what they like to do and explore new career options in the ever-changing world of work.

"If a student feels he/she is not quite ready for college, for whatever reason, it may be wise to defer for a year," says Catherine O'Connor, Education Consultant at Trinity College Dublin and author of Cracking the College Code - A Practical Guide to Making the Most of the First Year College Experience. "Peer pressure doesn't make that an easy choice, but sometimes it's best to leave the pack.

"However, there is no right or wrong age to start college, any more than there's a right age to get married. The key to getting the best experience is in choosing the right course and college to suit the individual student. You need a plan, and to make an informed choice, there needs to be a lot of conversation between parents and children.

"The social aspect is hugely important: 62pc of students say they find it difficult to fit in socially, particularly in the larger colleges. I encourage them to stick with it. The first semester is the most challenging, as that's when students realise they're largely left to their own devices.

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"They have to manage their own time, attend lectures, study, meet different people and perhaps juggle a part-time job."

When Maria Maguire from Carlingford, Co Louth, first went to college at the age of 19, she took a part-time job in an off-licence - and later realised it was giving her more job satisfaction than her course work.

Three years into her art college degree, she realised the subject she'd chosen wasn't for her after all and she dropped out.

"It was a very hard decision, especially as my parents had supported me and there was only a year to go," she recalls. "However, I was enjoying the buzz of retail and meeting people, and I wanted art to remain in something I loved rather than something I had to do, so I decided to change direction."

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She began a career in retail management, spending much of her 20s travelling the country in her job with a department store chain. That changed when her son Liam was born, and Maria found that being a new mum wasn't conducive to constant travel.

"For the next 13 years I drifted between Community Employment (CE) schemes and contract work - six months here, a year there," she says.

"I built up years of experience, but had no qualifications. When I turned 40 I thought, if I'm ever going to do something about that, now is the time. But I wanted more from college than just a qualification. I wanted stability and structure in my life."

She enrolled for a business and management degree at Dundalk IT and after three years was elected president of the Students' Union. She took this past year out to devote herself to that role, and has one more year to complete her honours degree, after which she hopes to work in the education sector, particularly student retention and recruitment.

From her personal experience, Maria sees no need for school leavers to rush into third level education. "As a mother, I'd like my son to do a PLC course after the Leaving as a stepping stone to college, to give himself a chance to see if he really likes the subject he's interested in," she says. "If you hate a subject, it's better to find out sooner rather than later.

"As president of the Students' Union, I try to make sure students are fully aware of all the supports available, and help them manage the transition to college life, which is very different from the school experience."

John Fortune from Wexford made the leap from school to college at 17 when he enrolled for business studies and Chinese in Waterford IT. After two years, it dawned on him that he'd be only 21 when he graduated.

He didn't want to be that young setting out into the world of full-time work, so he deferred for a year, during which he worked as Education Officer with the college's Students' Union.

"Starting college at 17 took me so far out of my comfort zone, it was sink or swim time and I decided to swim," says John. "I'm more confident and outgoing as a result, but I have no doubt that other students would have dropped out. The first year at college can be lonely for a 17-year-old. You miss out on the social aspect because your friends go out to bars and clubs, and you can't be part of that because you're under age.

"I advise others to wait until they're at least 18 or even older before starting college. Do a PLC course, or take a year out to discover yourself. Do something you enjoy, something you're passionate about, and you'll grow as a person. The ideal time to start college is not about age, it's about maturity."

Dubliner Pat Curran was more mature than most when he enrolled at the National College of Art and Design 10 years ago at the age of 51.

"I left school at 15 with no qualifications," he says. "I had a series of dead-end jobs over the years, but was largely unemployed, and then something happened that changed my life. My wife Breda and I had two grown-up children when she became pregnant with our son Luke after a gap of 18 years.

"It made me rethink everything. I did a CE course where an art teacher spotted some potential and encouraged me to apply for a year-long art and design portfolio course in Ballyfermot College. I got a place, but almost at the same time I was also offered a job as a support worker. I had a choice to make: take the offer of full-time employment for the first time in many years, or go to college.

"I was torn. In the end I followed my heart and chose college. The portfolio course led to me getting a place in the National College of Art and Design, through the Higher Education Access Route.

"I wouldn't have been mature enough at 18 to go to college, but at 51, I knuckled down, went to every seminar and did everything I was supposed to do. The first two years were hard, but I stuck with it. I'm not a quitter. Then in the third year it all came together for me. After the four-year degree course I did a two-year MA, and loved it."

Pat now paints in a studio in St Andrew's Community Centre, Rialto, run by the Common Ground community arts organisation. Inspired by images supplied by local residents, his paintings create a powerful social documentary of life in working class Dublin.

"I feel blessed to have found this occupation at such a late stage in my life," says Pat.

"It's given me a purpose, and made me realise that life is all about change. If anyone else is thinking of going to college, at any age, take my advice - you're never too old, it's not too late, and you can do it."
Gardai are investigating all the circumstances after the body of a male was found in a west Dublin housing estate this morning.

The body was discovered at 7.30am and gardai rushed to the scene. They are treating the death as a tragic accident.

Investigating officers later erected a forensics tent around the body of the man, who is believed to be aged in his late 20s and from eastern Europe

"Gardai at Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body of a man (late20s) in the Greenridge Court area of Blanchardstown at approximately 7.30am this morning," a spokesman said.

The discovery was made in the Greenridge Court estate in Blanchardstown.

The body has since been removed to Dublin City morgue.

Exact details of how the man died have not yet been disclosed - but investigating gardai believe that his death was a tragic accident, and that no foul play was involved. It is believed he may have become caught up in railings.

The case is being investigated by Blanchardstown gardai who are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.
Detectives believe an incident in which a man was stabbed 13 times, after the car he was travelling in was rammed, was linked to Dublin's prostitution trade.

The stab victim, who is a Romanian national aged in his 30s with an address at a docklands apartment complex, was still being treated at the Mater Hospital last night for his horrific injuries which included being stabbed multiple times in the leg, body and hands.

He was stabbed 13 times by a gang of five men who jumped out of the car that was chasing him down as he tried to flee in a savage early morning city centre attack in Dublin.

Smashed

The shocking incident happened at the back of the Customs House at 5am yesterday when a black Saab car smashed into the back a silver Volkswagen Passat at the junction of Amiens Street and Beresford Place.

Investigating gardai believe the occupants of the cars are known to each other and all have links to Romanian organised crime gangs involved in the city's lucrative illegal, organised prostitution trade.

The silver VW in which the victim was travelling was left in the middle of the junction after the impact, and the black Saab was several metres back at the traffic lights.

Gardai believe the victim ran from the VW after a group of five men jumped from the Saab and ran after him and the driver of the car. The victim was stabbed 13 times when the gang caught up with him close to the Famine Memorial on the city's north quays.

Bloodstains over a wide area of pavement at nearby Custom House Quay indicate that the attack was a prolonged one and the victim was moving and trying to escape while being stabbed.

The victim of the stabbing was taken to the Mater Hospital where he was being treated for multiple stab injuries which were described as serious but not life-threatening.

He had been a passenger in the VW Passat which was occupied by one other man known to him and who was driving the vehicle.

The driver, also a Romanian national, gave a witness statement to investigating officers yesterday afternoon.

No arrests have yet been made in the case but detectives are satisfied that some, if not all, of the five-man gang are Romanian criminals suspected of operating in the prostitution trade.

"Investigators are satisfied that this incident is linked to organised criminality involving Romanian gangs, namely prostitution," a senior source said last night.

Gardai who responded to the incident sealed off the junction where Amiens Street joins with Beresford Place.

Rush hour traffic ground to a halt after the incident in which the black Saab car appears to have rear-ended the silver VW Passat.

Both cars were travelling on Beresford Place at the back of the Customs House when the crash occurred.

The silver VW ended up in the middle of the junction at Beresford Place and Amiens Street, a vital traffic artery on the city's northside.

Gardai were last night trying to piece together what happened before the incident.
Protesters take over a house in Summerhill to protest against the lack of rental accommodation, overcrowded accommodation and homelessness in Dublin. Photo: Arthur Carron

The owner of a building being occupied by activists in Dublin's north inner city has served them a notice to quit, threatening to take legal action if the property is not vacated.

Today, the notice was placed on the door of no.35 Summerhill Parade.

It reads: "Take notice that all those present on this property are trespassing therefore are not authorised to be present on the property and are present at their own risk.

"You should note that the Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Dublin City Fire Brigade previously expressed concerns about this property."

The notice states the owner is Pat O'Donnell & Co Ltd Retirement and Death Benefit Plan, the trustees of which are PJ O'Donnell and Peter McLornan.

For months, mystery surrounded the ownership of a number of properties in Summerhill Parade after up to 120 tenants were evicted with only 48 hours notice due to "fire safety reasons".

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Last week, around seven housing groups, including Dublin Renters Union and Dublin Central Housing Action, organised the occupation of no. 35 in response to the evictions.

Dublin Fire Brigade inspected the properties in May and found them to be in breach of fire safety regulations.

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However, according to the Property Price Register, two of the houses were each sold for 350,000 in February this year.

Tenants were not notified in writing of the eviction and were told by people acting on behalf of the property owner that they needed to leave.

Tenants said they have never met the owner and had been paying their rent to a Brazilian man believed to be subletting the properties.

Up to 20 people were living in each of the houses, and some only had one bathroom between them.

The notice served today states that "the owners intend to bring an application before the High Court seeking Orders in those terms without further notice."

Washington Bertolino da Silva (33), who lived in one of the houses for two years, spoke to Independent.ie as he was packing up his belongings and searching on Facebook for somewhere to spend the night.

I arrived here in 2016 and found out tonight we have to leave. I had to go to Penneys to buy suitcases and stuff to pack up my whole life. The conditions are not great but we have no other choice.

At least in my room there are no bunkbeds and I only share with one other person... now I am searching in Facebook groups for somewhere to sleep. Look at all my suitcases, where can I go, he said.

Housing activist group, Dublin Central Housing Action, has organised a rally for 2.30pm tomorrow at Summerhill Parade in response to the notice.
The forthcoming presidential election and the European elections next summer are wide open to serious disruption by dishonest internet campaigners due to lack of regulation in Ireland, a leading expert has warned.

Fianna Fail's James Lawless said few of the "pen and paper" election rules apply to online operations which are almost totally devoid of controls, especially when it comes to politics.

He also said it was high time big online operators such as Google and Facebook faced regulation comparable to traditional media.

"In 2011, the presidential election campaign was thrown completely off course, with days to go, by a fake tweet. Of course something like that can happen again this time," the Kildare North TD told the Irish Independent.

The computer scientist and barrister has written his own Online Advertising and Social Media Bill but, despite support from all parties except those of the Government, the draft law is stuck at phase two of the five phases required to see it become law. He has challenged Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to help the measure make the statute books as a goodwill gesture to Fianna Fail, which could help boost the confidence and supply arrangement keeping the minority Coalition in power.

"If the Taoiseach is serious about this Government arrangement continuing, then he could show more co-operation and give us a few wins," Mr Lawless said.

The Fianna Fail TD repeated his declaration that online campaigning was now "the Wild West of politics".

He said there was an urgent need to control the use of market research, put forward as a purely commercial or social operation, suddenly being used to play on voters' fears.

Mr Lawless said this happened in Kenya, where research was billed as examining things such as education and clean water supply and later used to stoke voter fears about banning non-governmental organisations.

He said next year's European Parliament elections were open to manipulation by those backing extremist candidates or those who simply wanted to disrupt the EU.

He also warned that online control in politics was currently spread across the justice, communications and local government departments, without even one junior minister being given responsibility.

"Where responsibility is divided like this, it is often dodged. It is time to consider appointing a Minister for Technology, since it pervades every corner of our lives," Mr Lawless said.

He also said Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin's backing for the abortion referendum had moved the party into line with the majority of Irish people's views on social issues.

He compared the party leader's stance to that of British Labour leader Tony Blair's move to drop the party's Clause Four, which linked Labour to nationalised industries and the unions.

"The abortion issue was in many ways Micheal Martin's 'Clause 4 moment'," Mr Lawless said. He added it had been "a very difficult time" for the parliamentary party, and "political scars" remained from the majority of TDs and senators backing a No vote in spite of the leader's stance.

But he said the continuance of the "free vote" on forthcoming legislation, and the acceptance by 'No side' TDs and senators of the referendum result, meant the divisions would be healed relatively quickly.

"We are all democrats and accept the will of the people. Pretty well everyone in Fianna Fail is ready to move on from this," he said.

"I think the people are ahead of the politicians, and this applies to social issues as much as to anything else.

"Micheal Martin recognised this and so did many others in the party."

The Kildare North TD first stood unsuccessfully for the local council in 2009 and later canvassed in their ill-starred 2011 election campaign when they "were run from the doors".

He says the experience toughened him to the realities of politics and he insists Fianna Fail's current opinion poll standing, trailing Fine Gael, will again be overcome.

"Fianna Fail has reinvented itself many times, notably in the 1950s under Sean Lemass, when they stressed an open economy, investment in education and closeness to Europe. Those messages are still valid today in an era of Brexit," he said.
A fifth Labour Party councillor has called for Brendan Howlin to facilitate a leadership contest.

Cllr Martina Genockey, a member of the party's Executive Board, has joined colleagues in publicly urging Mr Howlin to step aside.

She said the party has "continued to lose support both in elections and in the polls" since the Wexford TD took over as leader after the last general election.

"To that end, I think that a leadership contest would give those involved a chance to lay out their vision for the Labour Party and give a renewed sense of urgency to the rebuild of the party," Cllr Genocky said.

Already her colleagues on South Dublin County Council, Pamela Kearns and Mick Duffy, as well as Noel Tuohy from Co Laois and Terry O'Brien from Co Kerry, have called on Mr Howlin to resign. Their statements prompted a statement from 16 other councillors who have argued it is not the right time for a change at the top.

Labour has struggled to show any signs of revival since its near wipe-out in the 2016 general election when it went from having 37 TDs to only seven.

Mr Howlin took over from Joan Burton as party leader without a contest, even though Tipperary TD Alan Kelly had expressed an interest in challenging him.

In her statement, Cllr Genocky said she sought a position on the party's Executive Board because she wanted an influence over the way party interacts with members and in its decision making. "I disagree that now is not the right time for a leadership election. I do not feel that such a contest would hinder the work of the party," she said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is facing renewed criticism for launching a west Belfast festival after the organisers posted videos showing attendees waving tricolours emblazoned with 'IRA'.

Around 10,000 people attended a concert by the Wolfe Tones on Sunday night with videos showing large numbers of tricolours in the crowd.

Some had 'IRA' and 'PIRA' written on them, leading IRA abuse victim Mairia Cahill to question Mr Varadkar's decision to associate his office with the festival.

She said it was "foolhardy" of the Taoiseach to endorse Feile an Phobail, which many associate with the Republican movement.

Its programme included a talk by the leaders of 'The Great Escape', when 38 IRA prisoners broke out of a H-Block in Long Kesh in 1983.

"He was warned about it before he went and did it," Ms Cahill told the Irish Independent, adding that the scenes from the Wolfe Tones concert "tainted the entire event".

The video showing the IRA flags was posted on the official Feile on Phobail Twitter page.

"There are some very good events that go on during Feile but this caricaturing of Belfast as a community where everybody supports the IRA is wrong," Ms Cahill said.

Local Progressive Unionist Party councillor Julie-Anne Corr Johnston said she was "angry" and "disheartened" to hear people singing "F*** your Union Jack, we want our country back" and "Oooh ahhh, up the 'Ra".

DUP leader Arlene Foster previously described herself as "very concerned" about Mr Varadkar's involvement with Feile.

A spokesperson for the Taoiesach last night noted that on the same day in June that he launched the festival, he met with members of the Orange Order at their museum in the city.

"Feile an Phobail is a community event, which has seen the attendance of many politicians from all parts of the community over the years. While the Taoiseach was very happy to speak at the launch, this does not mean he endorses every aspect of every event over its 10-day programme," the spokesperson said.

At the launch, Mr Varadkar said Feile was a "genuine festival of the people".

"Some might think it remarkable that a celebration of community and of culture was able to emerge from the background of the Troubles, 30 years ago. I don't. It's exactly what was needed," he said.

The Taoiseach added that the programme of events promised to be an "enriching experience".

"It provides the perfect opportunity to build understanding and to explore what it means to be Irish or British or both, in a rapidly changing world."
Ahead of the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland, a nationwide Sunday Independent/Kantar Millward Brown opinion poll has found strong public support for former President Mary McAleese's recent severe criticism of the Catholic Church.

The poll has found more than half agree with Mrs McAleese that the Church does not treat women equally, while two-thirds support her views in favour of female priests. A similar two-thirds believe Catholic priests should be allowed to marry.

In recent months, Mrs McAleese has strongly challenged the Catholic Church, and Pope Francis, stating that the Church "has long since been a primary global carrier of the virus of misogyny", and has described theological objections to women priests as "pure codology".

Today's poll finds 55pc support her view that the Church does not treat women equally, with only 15pc not in agreement, a further 15pc stating 'it depends', and 15pc stating they did not know.

It also finds a significant 62pc in favour of the ordination of female priests, with 18pc against, 11pc saying that 'it depends' and 9pc did not know.

In a further related finding, a comfortable majority - 67pc - believed priests should be allowed to marry, with just 15pc opposed, 11pc saying it depends, and 8pc did not know.

These findings show the extent to which public secular opinion in Ireland is now out of step with traditional Catholic Church dogma.

In general, the poll also finds stronger opposition to the Church's principles among women and younger people, particularly in Dublin, where a significant degree of indifference to the Church - and the Pope's visit - has been detected.

The poll finds that fewer than one in five will attend a ceremony scheduled to coincide with the Pope's visit, while 64pc say they will not. However, nationwide, half (50pc) will watch ceremonies on television or online, or listen on radio.

In the Sunday Independent today, Paul Moran, associate director of Kantar Millward Brown, writes: "In effect, over two-thirds (69pc) of the population will pay heed in one way or another to this visit. For some, it will be for religious considerations, while for others it will be for the curiosity factor.

"Either way, while we are now a much more secular society, for many this is an umbilical cord to our past, despite the misgivings that we have."

The poll was taken between July 23 and August 6 among a representative sample of 875 adults at 64 sampling points nationwide. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.3pc.
"There is a bond," says Jeannine Masset.

That's an understatement. The day before I spoke with Jeannine, born in the Netherlands but living in Dingle, Co. Kerry, she and husband Rudi Schamhart had taken their little rubber dinghy out for an almost daily ritual - the search for Fungie.

"The boats were all looking for him, but when we came out he came straight over to to us," she says. "He just knows certain people. Even if you are in a different boat. He knows the engine sounds, who is on board, even who is walking on the beaches."

For 26 years now, Jeannine and Rudi have been coming to boat in the bay, looking for a bottlenose dolphin that means the world to them.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Jeannine and Fungie. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie at sunset. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Rudi with Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12. Rudi and Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Jeannine and Fungie. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more.

And almost always, he shows up. Hundreds of hours of video, "about 10,000 photos" and a trail of salt-spoiled cameras and fading phone batteries attest to that.

The couple has no commercial or business interest in Fungie. They use amateur equipment (a GoPro and a tough little waterproof Olympus), but years of patient interactions have yielded footage that would do the BBC's Planet Earth proud.

In their videos and photos (watch our highlights, above), Fungie can be seen leaping metres from the water, interacting in whispery-close proximity, playing with hunted salmon ("his absolute favourite fish," as Jeannine says) and suspended in almost static bliss, hanging in emerald green waters before her GoPro.

"We simply want to share our wonderful adventures, because he brightens up so many people's days and shows the incredible beauty of Dingle Bay," she says.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Fungie at sunset. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Rudi and Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Rudi with Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Jeannine and Fungie. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. / Facebook

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Jeannine and Rudi's story goes back decades. She first visited Dingle from the Netherlands with her parents in 1962. She loved it, and later in life recalls seeing a documentary on a dolphin thrilling locals around the same bay.

"It was love at first sight," she says of her first swim with Fungie.

She returned over and again, before relocating to Kerry in 1991. She and husband Rudi have been boating with him ever since.

Jeanine describes Fungie as "a very lovely and complex character... there is so much more to him than the tourist attraction. There is no aggression in him. He is very gentle, friendly. He can be naughty, but in recent years he's gotten gentler. He rarely allows himself to be touched. He's not a petting kind of dolphin."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Rudi and Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Rudi with Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12. Fungie at sunset. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Jeannine and Fungie. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. Fungie in Dingle Bay. Photo: Jeannine Masset & Rudi Schamhart. See facebook.com/12FungieForever12 for more. / Facebook

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The couple's videos and photos have attracted thousands of viewers and fans on their 'Fungie Forever' Facebook and YouTube pages. Beneath the flowery fonts and breathtaking footage, however, lies a firm anti-captivity message.

"I grew up with Flipper on TV and like so many other kids, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer," Jeannine says. "Then I found out how they get into aquariums and shows. The captivity industry opened my eyes. There really is more to them...'

Dolphins should not be kept in captivity, she believes. They should remain free, with any human interaction on their terms, in their natural habitat.

"They need to chase their own live food, swim hundreds of miles in the open fresh ocean water, live in social groups and simply enjoy their free lives," she adds.

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Fungie's interactions with local boats are the stuff of legend, but when he has had enough of the crowds, he "disappears into the deep", Jeannine says. "As the summer advances, he does that more and more. Even he has to have a life!"

Fungie has been resident in Dingle Bay since 1983, and Jeannine believes he is aged somewhere between 38 and 40. Male bottlenose dolphins can live into their 50s, she says, and like the locals who make their living off dolphin tours and merchandise, she wonders what will happen when, inevitably, one day he does not show up to play.

"I've had very bad health in the last 15 years. I know Fungie cannot heal anything, but he gives me an energy boost that helps me cope so much better. Out there with him, you forget your energy and discomfort."

"But for me it's important that he is happy and healthy. That's it."

Read more:
How Sligo surgeon Fintan Shannon has to take 'the DIY approach' for six weeks each year T HE NEXT TIME you feel the need to complain about our 'deplorable' health service, consider this parable: An impoverished man is told in hospital that the only thing which will save the life of his 13 years old son is the amputation of his cancerous leg. He is given 500 to buy medicine while he decides whether to allow the operation proceed. His dilemma: go back to the hospital and agree to the amputation, or abscond with the 500 to feed the rest of his starving family, knowing his sick child will die.

It is but one of the heartbreaking episodes encountered by retired orthopaedic surgeon, Fintan Shannon, over nine years of voluntary work in the Black Lion Hospital in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The achingly sad story encapsulates the almost unimaginably difficult conditions which exist in the hospital, and the heroic efforts of the 72 years old Sligo medic to somehow improve the situation.

Mr. Shannon spends six weeks every year at his own expense working in the challenging environment of a hospital deprived of even the most basic medical equipment and facilities, where armed guards patrol the grounds and wards and seriously ill patients are often turfed back on the streets without proper treatment.

He brands the tragic story quoted above as the 'chemotherapy or cattle' dilemma -- a father literally having to choose between treatment for his terminally ill child or buying cattle to help the rest of his family. And that's only half the story. To get to the hospital in the first place, the father and son had to make a mammoth 700 kilometer trip over ten days, including two days on a bus rattling over dirt-track roads and two days being stretchered across desert wilderness.

"When we told the father we would have to amputate his son's cancerous leg in order to save his life he said he didn't want this. They said it would be a loss of dignity if the boy had to go home with one leg. He said he wanted to go home and talk it over with his wife and family and that he would come back. We gave him some money, the equivalent of 500, to help with transport and medication, but a nurse told me he would not be back, that he would use the money to buy cattle. We never saw him again. There is no doubt that young boy died soon after, maybe even during the difficult return trip home. I don't believe the father was a conman. He genuinely made the choice to help the surviving members of his family, knowing it would cost the life of his young son," Mr. Shannon recalls.

Another illustration of the pathetic lack of facilities and equipment: Up until recently, surgeons at the hospital used manual drills to drill through bones for the insertion of pins. Things have improved -Mr. Shannon brings over electric Black & Decker drills, the type we use for our DIY chores. With sterilised towels wrapped around the blades, they do the job.

"The sterilised drills used in Irish hospitals cost about 4,000. I picked up the Black and Decker drills for about 40 each. The thought of using such equipment in Ireland would be greeted with horror; in Ethioipia it's actually progress," he reports.

Our throw-away items such as crutches or Plaster of Paris are scarce and valuable commodities in the Black Lion Hospital.

"I once came across a man lying on a trolley in a corridor with an open leg wound, who had been there for days. I enquired about the reason for this and was told his family wouldn't co-operate. On investigation, I disovered what they meant was that the family couldn't afford to pay the 10 for the plaster. On another occasion, I went to buy some sets of crutches, only to find it was a massive bureacratic exercise, with trips to and from the hospital office and the local store looking for the necessary paperwork. I was so worn out in the end that I probably needed the crutches more than the patients," he reports.

After 25 years working as an orthopaedic surgeon in Sligo General Hospital, Mr. Shannon would have been well entitled to indulge in the 'pipe and slippers' model of well-earned retirement in 2003. Instead, he responded to an appeal in a medical journal and headed to Ethiopia for the first time. He's travelled there for his annual six week sojourn ever since, in recent years being accompanied by nurses from the Sligo hospital's orthopaedic and oncology units, all of whom travel entirely at their own expense. His selfless devotion to the cause has inspired a team of helpers and supporters. Over the years, a stagggering total of 100,000 has been donated in a wide-ranging series of local fund-raisers, every single cent of which has been put to good use on the ground in Ethiopia.

"The money goes straight from our hands into the hands of Ethiopians, be they starving beggars on the streets or patients in the hospital who just can't afford to pay for things such as x-rays, scans, crutches or plaster. Anyone who donates to our fund-raisers can be assured that every cent goes directly to the people who benefit from it. There is no such thing as overheads, as we all pay our own expenses," Mr. Shannon points out.

Despite what he describes as the grim conditions and the chaotic need for improvements in medical services, Mr. Shannon finds the impoverished people to be remarkably dignified.

"They live in dreadful poverty and yet they are a very gracious, refined people. They are so appreciative of any care, just that you care at all means so much to them," he says.

Hospital staff, meanwhile, find it increasingly difficult to cope with the incessant demand for overstretched services. Not nearly as well trained as their Western counterparts, they have a great appetite for learning and improvement.

"They probably need organisation more than anything else. I have noticed over the years how the doctors and nurses seem to be gaining more confidence in their own ability, but they are simply snowed under with work, and they need to be better organised in order to cope. I try to pass on as many tricks of the trade as I can while l'm there, and just hope they can learn from that and cope that bit better when I'm gone," he says.

While he thankfully notices little improvements each year he goes there, Mr. Shannon still encounters feelings of utter frustration at how difficult it can be to provide even the most basic treatment.

"Even small things, like getting a set of crutches for somebody, can be a nightmare. People lose limbs or die simply because they don't come to hospital in time. The amount of deformities or neglected injuries that become infected and beyond repair is quite shocking," he adds.

Notwithstanding that sense of understandable frustration, the indomitable Mr. Shannon has no intention of putting his feet up just yet.

"As long as the Lord spares me, I'll continue to go each year. I get a lot of fulfillment out of it. There's a good feeling about being of some use, even if it's only a drop in the ocean," he explains.
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex exit St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their royal wedding ceremony, in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. NEIL HALL/Pool via REUTERS

(L-R) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF on July 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk down the west steps of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. Ben STANSALL/Pool via REUTERS

The Duchess of Sussex during the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in Windsor

The Duchess of Sussex arrives to attend the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks at St Mary the Virgin Church in Frensham, Surrey. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Sussex. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Frensham, Surrey, after attending the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends a reception at Glencairn, the residence of Robin Barnett, the British Ambassador to Ireland during day one of their visit to Ireland on July 10, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Geoff Pugh - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Meghan Markle spoke about the "pomp" surrounding future sister-in-law Kate Middleton's wedding one year before she met her now-husband Prince Harry.

Britain's Duchess of Sussex (37) met Harry in 2016 and they wed in May of this year after a whirlwind two year romance. And while she previously said she didn't "grow up with the same understanding of the royal family", a recently unearthed post from her defunct lifestyle website The Tig details - at leas some - of her knowledge of the royals.

She wrote about her childhood dreams of becoming a princess in an interview with humanitarian Princess, Alia Al Senussi, whose family were dethroned from Libya in 1969 when Gaddhafi seized it, according to Glamour.

"Little girls dream of being princesses," she wrote.

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Whatsapp Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex exit St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their royal wedding ceremony, in Windsor, Britain, May 19, 2018. NEIL HALL/Pool via REUTERS

"I, for one, was all about She-Ra, Princess of Power. And grown women seem to retain this childhood fantasy. Just look at the pomp and circumstance surrounding the royal wedding and endless conversation about Princess Kate."

In November, hours after announcing their engagement, Meghan and Harry sat down for their first joint interview and Markle said it was her American upbringing that allowed her to get to know his royal world through his eyes.

"While I now understand very clearly, theres a global interest there, I didnt know much about him, and so the only thing that I had asked her when she said that she wanted to set us up, was, I had one question. I said, 'Well is he nice?' Cause if he wasn't kind, it just didnt, it didnt seem like it would make sense," she told Mishal Husain.

"I think for both of us though, it was, it was really refreshing because given that I didnt know a lot about him. Everything that Ive learned about him, I learned through him. As opposed to having grown up around different news stories, or tabloids, or whatever else. Anything I learned about him and his family was what he would share with me. And, vice versa," she added.

"So for both of us, it was just a really authentic and organic way to get to know each other."
WPP made headlines in recent months following the departure of its former boss Sir Martin Sorrell (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Advertising giant WPP has acquired US firm Hirshorn-Zuckerman Design Group for an undisclosed sum.

Hirshorn-Zuckerman logged around 23.5 million US dollars (18.4 million) in revenue in the year to December 31, 2017 and counts Hilton Worldwide, Salesforce and Tishman Speyers Rockefeller Centre among its clients.

The branding, content and design agency employs around 200 staff and is based in the state of Maryland, with offices in Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, DC.

The company counts digital design and development, social media and brand creation, as well as data analytics as part of its services.

The deal was clinched through Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW), which is wholly owned by WPP.

It will keep Hirshorn-Zuckermans founder and chief creative officer Karen Zuckerman among its ranks, reporting to BCWs global chief executive Donna Imperato.

Ms Imperato said: With the acquisition of a top creative agency in the US, BCW has taken a major step toward becoming a global leader in integrated communications.

She said Hirshorn-Zuckerman would be a powerful partner for clients across the business to business, corporate, public affairs, crisis, consumer, healthcare and technology sectors.

We have been working with HZ for more than a year and they are a true cultural fit with our organisation, Ms Imperato added.

It is the latest deal by WPP, which made headlines in recent months following the departure of its former boss Sir Martin Sorrell amid allegations that he misused company funds.

WPP carried out an inquiry over the allgations, but details of the investigation were never disclosed.

It has been alleged that the probe looked into whether he used company cash to pay for a sex worker, claims that Sir Martin has strenuously denied.

The WPP board also came under fire for its handling of his departure, which included a bumper 20 million payout.

Sir Martins new venture S4 Capital recently clashed with his former firm in a high-profile battle to buy Dutch firm MediaMonks.

He pressed ahead with the deal despite a legal threat by WPP alleging he broke a confidentiality agreement with the firm.
Im not the first to try it I must admit, but I dont think Ive seen an image quite like mine, as of yet.

These are the words of Rod Evans, 41, and hes describing the remarkable image he created on his front yard in Lismore near Byron Bay, Australia, with nothing but a spool of hot steel wool to spin and a 360 degree camera  take a look.

What I love about this image is the natural looking swirls, Rod told the Press Association. It reminds me of lava rock that Ive seen near the ocean. It has the exact same patterns swirling throughout it.

Rods camera, an Insta360 ONE, uses two fish-eye lenses to take two hemispherical images which it then stitches together  capturing a full, 360 degree view of the environment in which it sits.

For the image above, he sat the camera about two metres in front of him and set it on a 15-second timer, so he could get into position with his spinning steel wool, before taking a 20-second exposure  he then added a tiny planet distortion to the image and made some slight Photoshop adjustments.

The dazzling 360 degree picture is one of a collection of stunning long-exposure pieces Rod has made with steel wool in more regular perspectives.

Nine years ago Rod was editing music videos for a living, working on over 25 with various artists across the world, but he now works as a primary school teacher while exploring the world of photography.

I must say that Im new to the whole world of 360 imagery but I am quite experienced with spinning steel wool, said Rod. The tool I use to spin steel wool is basically an egg whisk attached to skipping rope cable.

I use a jump rope because the handle has a ball-bearing where the cable joins to it which makes for blister-less spinning.

I cant tell you how much skin I took off my fingers in the past by spinning with a rope or dog leash.

I should highlight the dangers of spinning steel wool, especially in hot dry conditions. It is a huge fire hazard so the utmost care needs to be taken.

Rods work has drawn a lot of attention online, with over 87,000 upvotes on Reddit for his latest image as well as thousands of followers on Instagram.

So, what can we expect from Rod for the future?

If I tried this type of image again, I would place the (360 degree) camera on a surface other than grass, maybe some flat concrete covered in graffiti like a skatepark or something like that, said Rod.

I have a few other ideas Id like to try with this camera but I wont mention them just yet, I dont really like to talk about my ideas until after Ive gone out and done them.

If you want to see more from Rod, check out his Redbubble page or take a look at his Instagram.
Michael Avenatti is weighing up a bid for the White House (AP)

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer taking on US president Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, has offered some details on his policy views as he weighs up a possible Democratic bid for the White House in 2020.

In a new policy document, Mr Avenatti said he supports a basic Medicare plan for all Americans with an option to purchase additional coverage, and backs a path to citizenship for the young immigrants known as Dreamers.

He also wants to see a national paid family leave programme.

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The lawyer added that cannabis should be decriminalised at the federal level, so-called assault weapons should be banned and the United States should re-join the Paris climate accord.

Those positions generally align Mr Avenatti with the left wing of potential 2020 Democratic presidential prospects, but he is more moderate on some issues.

Many have asked me my position on various issues. Below is a summary of where I stand. This is not an exhaustive list and more positions & details will follow. Most importantly, I didn't have to hire a pollster or political consultant to tell me what to say or what to believe. pic.twitter.com/hbXj1Vv3O9  Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) August 14, 2018

While other Democrats  including senators Kristen Gillibrand and Kamala Harris  have called for outright abolition of the federal governments chief immigration and customs enforcement agency (ICE), Mr Avenatti said: We should not eliminate ICE but we must change the way ICE carries out enforcement.

Mr Avenatti is a self-styled provocateur who has gained national attention for representing Ms Daniels in her lawsuit against Mr Trump, following an alleged 2006 affair which the president denies.

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For months, he has been a fixture on cable news shows, taunting Mr Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets. Mr Avenatti also has a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan.

He pledged that, should he run, he will not take corporate Political Action Committee (PAC) money  putting him in line with a number of potential 2020 prospects.

Mr Avenatti is more general on some issues in the brief outline, saying he wants an economic plan that delivers good quality jobs and that college must be more affordable for all Americans.

He promised a detailed infrastructure plan called the Real Deal.

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On trade, he said America must be aggressive in dealing with countries that have gamed the system  but smart about how we fight back to avoid inflicting unnecessary harm on American workers and farmers.

On international relations, he said the United States must negotiate denuclearisation agreements with North Korea and Iran.

Mr Avenatti said he is studying the issues, consulting with experts and will be releasing more information, including his detailed economic infrastructure plan, in the coming weeks.

The document also serves as a statement of principle for the lawyer, who has never run for public office. It stresses his support for all Americans regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity.

He fully backs unions and said teachers need more financial support, according to the document.
A motorway bridge which collapsed on Tuesday near the northern Italian port city of Genoa

Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

A picture taken on August 14, 2018 in Genoa shows a view of the Ponte Morandi motorway bridge, after one of its section collapsed Photo: ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images

The scene in Genoa where the Morandi Bridge collapsed during torrential rain

At least 35 people were killed when a bridge collapsed in the Italian port city of Genoa, police said on Wednesday after firemen worked through the night looking for any survivors buried under the rubble.

"The latest official number is 35 but we can't rule out it could rise further," a spokeswoman for the police in Genoa said.

A 50-metre (160-foot) high section of the Morandi bridge, including a tower that anchored several stays, crashed down with as many as 35 vehicles driving on it on Tuesday. Huge slabs of reinforced concrete plunged onto two warehouses, train tracks and a riverbed

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP) Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rescues work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

More than 400 people were evacuated from buildings near or below the still-standing section of the bridge. The collapse appeared not to have killed anyone beneath the bridge, only people driving over it, the civil protection agency said.

Firefighters heard voices under the rubble and pulled out seven survivors, fire official Bruno Frattasi told the state broadcaster RAI.

"We hope to find more people alive," police official Alessandra Bucci said.

Within hours of the disaster, the anti-establishment government that took office in June said the collapse showed Italy needed to spend more on its dilapidated infrastructure, ignoring EU budget constraints if necessary.

"We should ask ourselves whether respecting these limits is more important than the safety of Italian citizens. Obviously for me, it is not," said Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, head of the right-wing League, which governs with the 5-Star Movement.

"THEY WILL PAY"

The government has already pledged to increase public investment and lobby the European Commission to have the extra spending excluded from EU deficit calculations.

Mr Salvini also said he wanted the "names and surnames of those who are to blame, because a tragedy like this in 2018 is not acceptable."

"They will have to pay, pay for everything, and pay a lot," he said.

Aerial footage showed trucks and cars stranded on either side of the 80-metre long collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge, built on the A10 toll motorway in the late 1960s. One truck was shown just metres away from the broken end of what locals called their "Brooklyn Bridge".

Motorist Alessandro Megna told RAI state radio he had been in a traffic jam and seen the collapse:

"Suddenly the bridge came down with everything it was carrying. It was really an apocalyptic scene, I couldn't believe my eyes."

An official for the civil protection agency said there had been 30 cars and five to 10 trucks on the section that fell.

Some 300 firefighters were working in the wreckage, using sniffer dogs to try to locate survivors, along with 400 police.

"People living in Genoa use this bridge twice a day," said Deputy Transport Minister Edoardo Rixi, who is from the city. "We can't live with infrastructure built in the 1950s and 1960s."

BRIDGE 'CONSTANTLY MONITORED'

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli told state television that the disaster pointed to a lack of maintenance.

Autostrade, a unit of the infrastructure group Atlantia , controlled by the Benetton family, manages the section of the toll highway that collapsed.

"The collapse was unexpected and unpredictable. The bridge was constantly monitored and supervised well beyond what the law required," Stefano Marigliani, the Autostrade official responsible for the Genoa area, told Reuters.

He said there had been no indication that the bridge was dangerous.

Autostrade said it would work with investigators, and that it was already assessing how to rebuild the bridge.

In a 2016 interview posted online, Antonio Brencich, a University of Genoa professor specialising in reinforced concrete construction, said: "This bridge is usually characterised as a masterpiece of engineering, but in reality it is a failure of engineering."

He did not say at the time that it was in danger of collapsing, but that it required continuous maintenance and would eventually have to be torn down and replaced.

The 1.2 km-long bridge was completed in 1967 and overhauled in 2016. The motorway it carries is a major artery from northern Italy's industrial centres to the Italian Riviera and to France's southern coast.

Autostrade said work to reinforce the slab under the road surface was going on at the time of the collapse.

Premier Conte visited the rescue teams in Genoa, saying afterward that Italy's infrastructure should be more closely monitored.

Atlantia shares closed down more than 5 percent.
A fire burns next to Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park in Montana (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News via AP)

A firefighter has been killed battling the largest recorded blaze in California history  the sixth fatality in a matter of weeks.

State fire officials did not immediately provide details of the death, which occurred north of San Francisco where the fire has been burning since July 27.

Two other wildfires in Northern California have claimed five other firefighters and six other lives.

In Montana, Glaciers Sprague Creek campground was closed and evacuated, a day after a fast-moving fire triggered the evacuation of dozens of guests from the historic Lake McDonald Lodge late on Sunday night.

The fire grew to between two and four square miles by Monday afternoon.

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It just completely exploded. Yesterday we were watching it grow all day, and now its so smoky you cant see anything, said Kyersten Siebenaler with Glacier Outfitters, which rents boats in Apgar, a small community at the south end of the lake.

A second campground, a motel and private residences inside the parks boundary also were evacuated. A 30-mile stretch of the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic.

Triple-digit temperatures across parts of the state  paired with lightning from passing thunderstorms  set the stage for several new large fires to take hold in Montana in recent days.

Among them was one that triggered an evacuation order for residents of 15 houses south-west of the town of Ennis. The fire was burning in challenging mountain terrain with a mix of pine, fir and spruce trees, said fire information spokesman Dave Sabo.

In Colorado, a wildfire in the south-western portion of the state ignited by lightning on July 29 had burned across 34 square miles by Monday.

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Yosemite was scheduled to reopen on Tuesday after being largely closed since July 25 because of smoke from fires in remote areas that choked the scenic Yosemite Valley.

The closure caused upheaval for thousands of tourists whose summer trips were cancelled. Visitors were warned to expect limited hours and services as the park returns to normal.

The fire burning in Glacier was one of several started in the park by lightning on Saturday evening. Windy, dry conditions on Sunday caused the blaze to spread rapidly, in full view of tourists and people who live and work around Lake McDonald.

Two planes from Canada were brought in to help battle the blaze, but officials said high winds prevented their pilots from flying close enough to the fire to be effective.

It is the second year in a row that wildfires have prompted evacuations around Lake McDonald.
Donald Trump and Omarosa Manigault Newman attend a church service in Detroit in 2016 during the presidential election race. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump yesterday said he kept former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman on staff because she praised him even as she failed to do her job, the latest insult in the two former reality television stars' public battle.

Mr Trump said the former 'The Apprentice' contestant had begged for a job in the White House but was hated by others, missed work and was "nasty".

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Still, he said he directed his chief of staff, John Kelly, to try to smooth things over with her.

"When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me - until she got fired!" he wrote in a series of posts on Twitter.

Ahead of today's release of her book 'Unhinged', which describes her time in the White House, Omarosa - known commonly by her first name - has released recordings of conversations she had with Mr Kelly and Mr Trump when she was fired in December.

The White House said the recordings raise questions about her integrity.

Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders on Sunday also said the recordings, including one in the White House's secure Situation Room, showed "a blatant disregard for our national security".

Asked if she was concerned about any legal consequences, Omarosa told NBC's 'Today' programme: "No, absolutely not."

She was previously best known for repeatedly being fired on NBC's 'The Apprentice' and was one of Mr Trump's more visible African-American supporters during his 2016 election campaign.

"It's sad that with all the things that's going on in the country that he would take time out to insult me and to insult my intelligence," she told MSNBC in reaction to Mr Trump's tweets.

"This is his pattern with African-Americans, and he doesn't know how to control himself."

The row comes as Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who came under fire by Republicans for sending text messages that disparaged Mr Trump during the presidential campaign, was dismissed from the bureau late on Friday, his attorney said yesterday.

Terminate

Mr Strzok is the third high-ranking person to be fired from the FBI during the Trump administration, including former director James Comey.

Aitan Goelman, Mr Strzok's attorney, said in a statement that FBI deputy director David Bowdich made the decision to terminate his client.

The decision, Mr Goelman added, was at odds with a recommendation by the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility, which had called for Mr Strzok to face a 60-day suspension and demotion from his supervisory responsibilities.

"The decision to fire special agent Strzok is not only a departure from typical Bureau practice, but also contradicts director Wray's testimony to Congress and his assurances that the FBI intended to follow its regular process in this and all personnel matters," Mr Goelman said.

Mr Trump took to Twitter not long after the news broke. "Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI-finally," he said. "The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & long."

Mr Goelman said that his client's firing was politically motivated and that his texts represented political speech protected by the First Amendment.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe after a scathing report by the Justice Department's internal watchdog concluded he had leaked information to reporters and misled investigators about his actions.

Mr Comey was fired by Mr Trump in May 2017 after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein helped pen a memo that was critical of how Mr Comey handled the FBI's probe into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.

Later, however, Mr Trump claimed he fired Mr Comey over that "Russia thing", apparently referring to the FBI probe into whether his presidential campaign colluded with Russia. Mr Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion.

Mr Strzok was deeply involved in the FBI's Clinton email investigation and was temporarily assigned to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office. He was removed from that post after his texts came to light.

Republicans in Congress have repeatedly pointed to the texts as evidence the FBI is biased against Mr Trump.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told Turks to boycott US electronic goods (Andrew Parsons/PA)

The FTSE 100 spent another session in the red as jitters over Turkeys financial crisis continued to dampen appetite for European stocks.

Londons blue chip index ended the day down 0.4% or 30.81 points at 7611.64.

The French CAC 40 was also in the red, down 0.16%, while the German DAX was flat.

Investors have been slow to re-embrace European stocks amid concerns of a contagion effect from Turkeys currency crisis, triggered by worries over President Recep Tayyip Erdogans economic policies and a trade and diplomatic dispute with the United States.

The two countries are at loggerheads over Turkeys detention of American evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson, with Donald Trump exacerbating the feud by doubling steel and aluminium tariffs on the country.

Mr Erdogan has responded by telling Turks to boycott US electronic goods.

David Madden, a market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: The uncertainty surrounding Turkey is still hanging over equity markets.

Tensions between Turkey and the US have risen in light of President Erdogans declaration that the country will boycott US electrical goods.

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Firms like Apple wont be too worried about this announcement, but it sends out the message that sour relations are here to stay.

Given the potential exposure that eurozone banks have to the country, investors will remain cautious.

Sterling was mixed, trading lower by around 0.3% against the US dollar at 1.272 but rising 0.2% versus the euro to trade at 1.121.

Investors were digesting UK data which showed unemployment reached a 40-year low.

The Office for National Statistics said unemployment fell by 65,000 in the latest quarter to 1.36 million, the lowest figure since 1976, while the jobless rate came in at 4%.

Brent crude prices were up 0.4% at 73.08 US dollars per barrel as markets reacted to reports that Saudi Arabia had cut its oil production.

It added to concerns about restricted supply, with US sanctions on Iran also threatening to hit crude exports.

In UK stocks, Antofagasta was the worst performing stock after reporting a 16% drop in half-year earnings, having been stung by higher costs and lower production output.

Costs were up due to a stronger Chilean peso, while copper production fell 8.5% and gold production dropped 36%.

Shares in the miners were down 66.4p at 886.4p.

Royal Mail shares fell 7.4p to 454.9p after communications regulator Ofcom fined the postal service 50 million for a serious breach of competition law.

Ofcom said the company abused its dominant position by discriminating against its only major competitor for delivering letters, Whistl.

Esure jumped 10.4p to 277.6p, having agreed to a 1.2 billion takeover by private equity outfit Bain Capital.

Esure will recommend Bains formal 280p a share offer to investors, which represents a 37% premium to last weeks share price.

Debenhams shares jumped 0.5p to 13.26p amid rumours that retail boss Mike Ashley might swoop on Debenhams and combine it with House of Fraser, which he recently bought out of administration for 90 million.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were United Utilities up 11.8p at 751.4p, Severn Trent up 24.5p at 1,994.5p, Ferguson up 68p at 6,241p, and Pearson up 10p at 926.6p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Antofagasta down 66.4p at 886.4p, TUI down 45p at 1,481.5p, Anglo American down 36.2p at 1,644.2p, and St James Place down 22.5p at 1,134p.
The Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Act, 2017 came into force on May 5, 2018, and has introduced key changes to The Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

In this article, we highlight important provisions under the amended minimum wage law that employers in Delhi must be aware of or face much harsher penalties than under the previous system in case of non-compliance.

Foreign employers should note that the increased minimum wage rates for Delhi has been struck down by the Delhi High Court; it will soon be referred to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Delhi labor department is considering aligning the citys minimum wage rates with those fixed at the federal level; these will be slightly higher than the initial hikes proposed while amending the Minimum Wages Act.

About 5.5 million unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers currently work in Delhi.

Managing the minimum rates of wages

The Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Act, 2017 requires that the appropriate government must take the following conditions into consideration when fixing and revising the minimum wage rates:

Skill required;

Difficulty of the work assigned to the worker;

Cost of living of the worker; and,

Other such components.

Cashless payment of wages

It is mandatory for employers to pay wages electronically, except in exigent situations like natural disasters, fire, death of the employer, or director of the establishment.

Relaxation is also applicable for the daily wage labor class of people who predominantly depend on cash transactions, so long as the stipulated minimum wages have been paid.

Overtime

The employer must pay the employee for every hour or for part of an hour  worked in excess  at the overtime rate fixed under the Amendment Act.

The minimum limit for calculating the overtime rate will not be less than twice the normal rate of wages fixed under the Act or under any law of the appropriate government that is in force, whichever is higher.

Penalty for non-compliance

In case an employer is found guilty of paying wages less than the stipulated minimum rates, the term of punishment will be three years. Previously, non-compliance resulted in jail term of up to six months.

The maximum amount of fine that may be imposed under the amended Act is Rs 50,000 (US$715); previously, the amount was Rs 500 (US$7.15).

In certain instances, faulty employers may be subject to both imprisonment and the maximum fine.

The Act also describes general punishment  in cases where a specific penalty for the offence committed is not prescribed.

In such cases, the penalty will include imprisonment for a term of one year and / or a fine of up to Rs 20,000 (US$286).

Speedy disposal of cases

The Courts will have to dispose of the complaints made under Section 22 of the Act within three months of the date of filing the complaint.

Maintaining digital records

Employers in Delhi are now required to upload their employee data online  on a website or web portal.

New minimum wage rates for Delhi

In March 2017, the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), announced a hike in the citys minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers.

The move was then immediately challenged by the business community and opposition parties, including Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatya Janata Party (BJP).

Most recently, on August 11, the Delhi High Courts verdict stated that the Delhi governments decision to raise minimum wages by 37 percent was done arbitrarily, without consulting employers or employees.

The verdict will now be challenged at the Supreme Court, according to the Delhi labor minister, Gopal Rai.

As per the new legislation, Delhis minimum wages for unskilled workers was to be increased from Rs 9,724 (US$139) to Rs 13,350 (US$191) per month; for semi-skilled workers from Rs 10,764 (US$154) to Rs 14,698 (US$210); and for skilled laborers from Rs 11,830 (US$169) to Rs 16,182 (US$231). (US$1=Rs 69.94)

However, since the High Court struck down the Delhi governments proposal and the case will be referred to the Supreme Court, the Delhi labor department has proposed implementing the federal structure of minimum wages. This would also mean that the minimum wage increase in Delhi would be higher than originally proposed.

The federal minimum wage rates as on April 1, 2018 were: Rs 14,378 (US$205.73), Rs 15,912 (US$227.68), and Rs 17,498 (US$250.38) for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers, respectively.

The labor department will soon issue a notice seeking objections for a two month period  with respect to implementing the federal rates. Following this, a committee will be constituted and a proposal placed before the Delhi cabinet. The entire process could take up to six months.
U.S. Congressional candidate Sharice Davids had trouble finding housing when she lived and worked on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota a few years ago, The Washington Post reports.

That's because Davids, who is the first openly LGBT candidate on the general election ballot in Kansas, and her partner at the time didn't qualify for Indian housing, she told the paper.

I wasnt able to get housing with my partner at the time because we were in a same-sex relationship, Davids, who is a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation , told The Post. We violated their policies.

Davids said the experience made her think about making a difference. After starting a coffee business at Pine Ridge , making her professional debut in mixed martial arts and working at a prominent economic development organization on the reservation, she became a White House fellow during the Obama administration.

Her timing was auspicious. Earlier in 2016, the Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed a rule to bring LGBT equality to Indian housing.

The regulation was finalized in November of that year, shortly after Davids was named a White House fellow. She spent a year in Washington, D.C., and returned home in Kansas, where she's seeking to make an even bigger difference as the Democratic candidate in the 3rd Congressional District

I thought, we need more people who have experiences like I do, like my friends and family do, Davids told the paper.

Davids is hoping to defeat Republican Kevin Yoder at the polls in November. Despite being endorsed by President Donald Trump, his candidacy is in trouble -- the independent, non-partisan Cook Political Report just downgraded the 3rd Congressional District from Republican-leaning to "Toss Up."

Read More on the Story: Sharice Davids, who sees past discrimination as her asset, could become the first gay Native American in Congress (The Washington Post August 14, 2018)

Federal Register Notice: Equal Access to Housing in HUD's Native American and Native Hawaiian Programs-Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity NNovember 17, 2016)

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Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor currently are the 'It' couple of Bollywood. The rumoured couple is currently associated professionally with Dharma Productions-Brahmastra, which is an upcoming 2019 Hindi-language fantasy film written and directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Karan Johar.

This trilogy is being touted as one of the most important projects for Dharma.

Instagram/Alia Bhatt

This project has also proved special for both Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, who have reportedly found love in each other. While Ranbir has hinted at their affair a lot of times, Alia has never denied or accepted her relationship.

Filmfare

These relationship rumours soon converted to their marriage rumours but do they affect Alia Bhatt in any way?

Currently, Alia Bhatt is in a very peaceful zone, both personally and professionally and this is the reason why she not bothered by these rumours at all. Ranbir had spilled the beans about their 'affair' in his detailed interview with GQ magazine but Alia, on the other hand, chose to maintain a graceful silence. Recently during a brand launch event in Mumbai, she was asked how she feels reading about the latest report surrounding her marriage.

Alia had a rather interesting reply which surely has a lesson or two for all of us, who get frequently bogged down with all the bullshit that is said about us. Talking about her way of dealing with rumours, Alia said,

Viral Bhayani

I dont react to rumours. Rumours are not meant to be reacted upon. As long as you arent entering my bathroom, I am fine. If you are not talking about me, then maybe I am not relevant enough. Honestly, I am in a very good place both personally and professionally so no issues whatsoever."

Alia was further asked if having a co-star, who she is dating, adds to her acting process, she again had a very mature response to it. She said,

Instagram

When youre an actor, your job is to act. When you are in front of the camera, it doesnt matter who you are dating, not dating, whether youre tall or short or fat or unhappy or very happy. Sometimes there have been days when Ive been very upset, but I had to dance around and feel very excited. So thats the process of being an actor."

In just six years of being active as an actor in the film industry, Alia Bhatt has achieved what only a few can. With smart choices of films, Alia has managed to win everyone's heart, despite minor flak she received for being Mahesh Bhatt's daughter and product of nepotism.

In fact, talking about nepotism, Alia Bhatt herself admitted that it exists. In a recent interview, she had said,

Agencies

"Of late, I have realized that there is no need to defend the nepotistic nature of the industry because it does exist. The reason why it has become an emotional debate is that those who don't get a chance, it is difficult for them. If I was on the other side, I would be heartbroken. I may have felt the same way. Yes, it does exist everywhere but this is the only business where there's no fixed funda. You need to be at the right place at the right time."

But at the end of the luck, it's all about the choices you make and hard work you do and Alia Bhatt is big proof of this.
From sharing unusual parenting tips to trolling his wife Blake Lively, Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has often proved that he is the king of wit on Twitter. So, recently, the man who portrays the role of Deadpool in the Marvel universe traded jokes with his contemporary Chris Hemsworth AKA Thor. Wondering what was the result of the conversation? Well, it could lead to the greatest plot twist of all times. #ThorPool

So, what happened exactly? Chris Hemsworth, on his birthday, tweeted about how his son who has had Ninja training slammed his face into flaming candles right after the photo he posted was taken. And so, now he has to resort to playing the role of Ryan Reynolds mutant, he suggested.

For the uninitiated, Deadpools alter-ego Wade Wilson burnt his face after undergoing an experimental treatment to cure his body of cancer, which gave him superhuman healing as well as strength.

Immediately after this shot was taken my son viciously attacked me from behind (due to his ninja training) and slammed my face into the flaming candles, Ill now be playing Deadpool if @VancityReynolds pulls the pin #bestbirthdayever @ElsaPataky_ pic.twitter.com/QUvjAC4xAH  Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) August 11, 2018

When Ryan Reynolds came across this tweet, he was quick to spread the magic of his wit all over. He offered to take Chris Hemsworths role of Thor. See what he tweeted below.

Weird. My daughter JUST stabbed me in the right eye. (Shes not a ninja, but she IS a bit of a dick) Point is, We can finally trade roles... (Happy Birthday Bubba!) https://t.co/TsDLuTACaO  Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) August 11, 2018

If that happens, it would bring the Marvel Universe upside down, right? And looks like fans know that! They have since been demanding a cross-over. Take a look!

MAKE A THOR DEADPOOL CROSSOVER  daddy stark (@woIvern) August 11, 2018

THORPOOL   (@lordposty) August 11, 2018

I'd watch that.  Jimibear Spettel (@Bear42J) August 11, 2018

Thorpool the hero we all need  pic.twitter.com/AQj8qJJgSM  Rob Walker (@llamedos77) August 11, 2018

Also Read: Deadpool's On-Screen GF Throws Major Shade On Him, Compares Kissing Him To Kissing A Condom
In a shocking report, a three-year-old boy lost his life and was found in New Mexico, as a part of an odd ritual.

The toddler, who was found buried at a New Mexico desert compound died in a ritual to "cast out demonic spirits." However, his extended family actually believed that the young boy would "return as Jesus" to identify "corrupt" targets for them to attack.

The prosecutors in the case that it was an exorcism-like ritual, allegations of weapons training for children and references to martyrdom and conspiracy were aimed at persuading a judge to deny bond for the five adults charged with child abuse in the case, reported news agency Reuters.

The judge said at the end of the detention hearing that she was unconvinced that prosecutors had proven the defendants were a danger to the community and set bail at $20,000 for each of them. Describing what some children had told investigators about the boy's death, prosecutor John Lovelace told the court, "It was a religious ritual carried out on Abdul-Ghani, a ritual intended to cast out demonic spirits."

The five suspects, who had established a communal living arrangement with their children in the high-desert compound, have been in custody since authorities raided their house north of Taos in New Mexico about 10 days ago. The two men and three women are all related as siblings or by marriage. Three are the adult children of a prominent New York City Muslim cleric who is himself the biological grandfather of nine of the children involved. They were waiting for Abdul-Ghani to be resurrected to let them know which government institutions to get rid of.

The principal suspect, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, has been charged with abducting his severely ill three-year-old son, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, from the Atlanta home of the boy's mother last December. The body of the boy was found in a tunnel at the site three days after the raid. No charges have been filed in connection with the death.

Eleven children, ranging from one to 15 years old and described by authorities as starving and ragged, were placed in protective custody after the August 3 raid. According to prosecutors' presentation on Monday, at least some of the children were given weapons training to defend the compound against a possible FBI raid.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Travis Taylor testified that a 15-year-old youth recounted one of the adults telling him that the spirit of the dead three-year-old would return "as Jesus" to direct the group in carrying out violent attacks. Taylor said prospective targets would include "the financial system, law enforcement, the education system."
In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi started the Quit India Movement and lakhs of youngsters came out of their home at the call Mahatma to strike one of the last nails in the coffin of the British rule in India.

Most of them remained unknown despite facing trials and jail term and one among them was the lesser known Usha Mehta, who was later known as Ushaben, helped set up an underground radio station which led to the awakening about the movement.

In August 1942, young Usha disappeared from public view. The young girl studying in the college in Bombay told her father that she would take a break from her studies and disappeared for over a fortnight.

She worked clandestinely to set up an underground radio, which broadcasted on frequency 41.72-metre band and was known as the Secret Congress Radio.

The radio broadcasted the national songs along with stirring nationalist speeches by Ram Manohar Lohia and other revolutionaries.

A Gandhian since an early age

Youtube

Dr Usha was born on March 25, 1920, in Saras, Gujarat. She was a Gandhian ever since she met Mahatma when she was young, she followed his principles ever since. From picketing liquor shops to raising the Simon Go Back Slogans, Usha was a Gandhian at as early as eight.

Then came the radio

Being a Gandhian, Dr Usha was known to Mahatma and therefore she worked as an advisor to Mahatma and also was central to the three major broadcasts from the secret radio. The Secret Congress Radio existed for 88 days and in this time, it left the British almost helpless and create an awakening for the Quit India Movement in Bombay.

A few months of survival

Usha Mehta

The radios first broadcast was made on August 27, 1942, on the 41.72-metre band. On March 6, 1943, the secret radios broadcast stopped. It came on air one final time on January 26, 1944, which was chosen the Independence Day by Congress in its Lahore session a more than a decade back.

The radio was funded by local cotton merchants, grain dealers, business houses and trade association in Bombay.

Operated discreetly by changing locations

The press censorship was at its peak and she knew crackdown would come, therefore, she and her group carted their equipment from one location to another in Bombay to keep the radio running without getting nabbed by the British. The radio never transmitted any broadcast from a location more than once and thus effectively avoided the British sniffing. The British would run with a detection van in hope of catching the signal from street to street. But she managed to remain hidden and keep her radio inspiring the people with national songs, speeches and other programs.

But finally, she was caught

The British were finally able to trace and that according to her was the finest as well as the saddest moment she ever lived because it was an Indian technician who betrayed her and told the British location of the radio program for that day.

ap

During the trial, she refused the answer questions asked by the judge and she was sent to jail for 4 years. Ushaben was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for her service to the nation. She passed away on August 11, 2000.
Indian Soldier Rifleman Aurangzeb who was abducted, tortured and brutally killed by terrorists in Kashmir will be honoured with the prestigious Shaurya Chakra gallantry award.

Aurangzeb along with Major Aditya Kumar of Garhwal Rifles will be awarded the prestigious honour posthumously on the eve of the Independence Day.

Aurangzeb, who was a rifleman with 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was abducted and murdered by terrorists in June this year when the Poonch resident was travelling home to celebrate Eid.

He was reportedly targeted as he was a close aide of an army officer who led the team that killed Sameer Tiger and part of the team that carried out the encounter that killed the hardcore Hizbul militant.

Aurangzeb hailed from a family which had a history of serving the Indian Army, where his father Mohammad Haneef, is an ex-Indian army man, while his eldest son Mohammad Qasim is a serving army personnel and two of Aurangzeb's younger brothers had cleared the tests to join the forces.
A recent report by Un states that about 20,000 to 30,000 Islamic State fighters are now remaining in Iraq and Syria despite the jihadist group's defeat. IS once controlled large portions of territories in Iraq as well as Syria, but last year it was driven out of Mosul and Raqa the twin seats of power of the Sunni extremist group, news agency AFP has recently reported.

Some of the key operatives in the extremist group were being relocated to Afghanistan. The report that was released on Monday by UN sanctions monitors estimated that as many as 3,000 to 4,000 IS jihadists were based in Libya as well.

The sanctions monitoring team submits reports that are independent every six months to the Security Council on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda which are on the UN terrorist blacklist.

Member-states told the monitors that the total IS membership in Iraq and Syria was "between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals, roughly equally distributed between the two countries." "Among these is still a significant component of the many thousands of active foreign terrorist fighters," said the report.

ap

By January 2018, it was believed that IS was confined to small pockets of territory in Syria. This report conveyed that the group "showed greater resilience" in eastern Syria. IS "is still able to mount attacks inside Syrian territory and that it does not fully control any territory in Iraq, but it remains active through sleeper cells" of agents hiding out in the desert and elsewhere, said the report.

Concerns have been raised about new IS cells emerging from the densely populated Rukban camp for internally displaced persons in southern Syria, on the border with Jordan, where families of IS fighters are now living.
Pune-based Cosmos Bank was robbed, the thieves making off with over Rs 94 crore in digital funds without a single shot fired.

Police say the perpetrators were able to hack into the banks server, and transfer the funds to various accounts outside India.

Cosmos Bank officials have filed an FIR at the Chatushrungi police station in Pune in this regard, stating they suspect a malware attack is to blame. Theyre pinpointing an ATM switch at the banks headquarters on Ganeshkhind Road in Pune as the exposure point. The hackers stole details of customer debit cards as well.

The hackers used their access to first transfer Rs 80.5 crore to a foreign bank over 14,849 transactions on as many debit cards, and another Rs 13.9 crore through SWIFT transactions. They also detail that the money transfers took place over two occasions last week, on August 11 and 13. The local Pune police as well as the cyber crime cell have launched an investigation.

The stolen money seems to have been withdrawn in Hong Kong, and the SWIFT transaction was directed towards the account of ALM Trading Limited also at Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong. As such, the group has been included in the FIR, along with unknown person in Pune.
Environmentalists and others who are concerned about the planet and its future have gone hoarse explaining to people that the abuse we are subjecting earth to will ruin their lives forever. Even though many are comfortable preaching something else on social media, the reluctance in their own actions says a lot.

Trash washed ashore in Manila Bay as strong waves caused by southwest monsoon brought rains and floods in the metropolis. | via KJ Rosales pic.twitter.com/jqX90AHnqw  The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) August 12, 2018

We've choked our oceans and lakes with plastic because of laziness, overdependence and ease of use. But, nature finds its own ways to come back at us.

In a recent video that has emerged on social media, tonnes of plastic waste can be seen washing up the shores of Manila Bay in the Philippines. The shocking video shows plastic bags, plastic straws and everything plastic coming out from the ocean and covering the entire shoreline.

LOOK: Volunteers participate in a clean-up drive as the water from Manila Bay overflows along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. pic.twitter.com/hHx5IfQ7FK  The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) August 11, 2018

The cleaners are now attempting to clean the heaps of garbage of Roxas Boulevard. The video representing a depressing reality is enough for everyone to know that the water has risen above the safety mark. We have been dumping plastic in the sea for years, from straws to bags and after killing countless marine plants and animals, after finding its way in our food through fishes and killing numerous birds who feed on the shore - it's all coming back to us.

Waves of plastic rubbish thrash on to shore of Philippine bay. https://t.co/8I4r5T7JiN pic.twitter.com/IlslT12vpQ  LADbible (@ladbible) August 12, 2018

"We have assigned many personnel for our continuous cleanup in the city, especially in the Manila Bay area, which usually experiences heavy flooding, headed by our DPS chief Belle Borromeo," said Bambi Purisima, Manila Public Information Officer.
Groundwater contamination is increasingly recognized as a widespread environmental problem. The most important course of action often involves long-term monitoring. But what is the most cost-effective way to monitor when the contaminant plumes are large, complex, and long-term, or an unexpected event such as a storm could cause sudden changes in contaminant levels that may be missed by periodic sampling?

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Savannah River National Laboratory have developed a low-cost method for real-time monitoring of pollutants using commonly available sensors. Their study, In Situ Monitoring of Groundwater Contamination Using the Kalman Filter, was published recently in the journal, Environmental Science & Technology.

Conventional methods of monitoring involve taking water samples every year or every quarter and analyzing them in the lab, said Haruko Wainwright, a Berkeley Lab researcher who led the study. If there are anomalies or an extreme event, you could miss the changes that might increase contaminant concentrations or potential health risk. Our methodology allows continuous monitoring in situ using proxy measurements, so we can track plume movement in real time.

Analysis of the autonomous in situ data can be rapidly analyzed remotely using machine learning methods, she added. It can act as an early warning system  we can detect sudden changes in contaminant levels. These changes may indicate a need for more or less intervention in terms of the remediation strategy, ideally leading to improved as well as more cost-effective cleanup.

Environmental monitoring has become more important in recent years as remediation methods have been shifting away from intensive groundwater treatment and soil removal. Intensive cleanup has a lot of negative environmental impacts, including air pollution, large energy-water use, and waste production, Wainwright said. So experts have started thinking about a paradigm shift from this very intensive remediation to a more sustainable remediation, or 'green remediation,' so we don't just think at the contaminant level but we think about the net environmental impact.

However, long-term monitoring could be costly over time for large contaminations. What's more, current long-term monitoring strategies do not consider how abrupt or gradual changes in weather, such as heavy rain events, might influence plume behaviors. This aspect is particularly important when considering persistent plumes, such as those associated with metal or radionuclide contamination.

The new approach starts with sensors to track water quality variables that have been determined to be reliable indicators of contaminant levels. For the purposes of this study, the researchers tracked levels of tritium and uranium-238 in the groundwater at the Savannah River Site, a former nuclear weapons production site in South Carolina managed by the DOE.

For this site, they measured the acidity (or pH) levels and specific conductance (a measure of electrical conductance); these variables were determined to be reliable indicators for tritium and uranium-238 concentrations. The data from the multiple sensors were then fed into a Kalman filter to estimate contaminant concentrations. A Kalman filter is not a physical filter but rather a mathematical algorithm that can integrate mixed time-series data to make estimates. It is commonly used in various fields, such as traffic prediction and remote sensing.

Using historical data from the Savannah River Site, the researchers found that their technique provided reliable information about plume behavior over the last 20 years, indicating that the new approach holds significant promise as a long-term monitoring strategy for rapidly assessing a contaminant's plume stability. Another advantage over conventional approaches is that it can reduce the frequency of manual groundwater sampling and lab analysis, and thus reduce the monitoring cost.

Wainwright, who is an expert in groundwater contamination and environmental data analytics, said this methodology can be used for both surface and underground water. It can also potentially be used to track other metals, radionuclides, and organic compounds commonly found in groundwater, such as arsenic, chromium, and fuels.

There are so many different types of sensors available now, and sensor networking and rapid statistical analysis is straightforward, she said. We can put together all types of in situ sensors and estimate the target contaminant concentration using this framework for data integration in real-time.

She added: Improved monitoring techniques are essential to protect public health and the ecology. People feel safe if it's properly monitored. Our technique is a way to monitor such sustainable remediation  effectively and cheaply.

###

The study was funded by DOE's Office of Environmental Management and Office of Science. The other co-authors of the study are Franziska Schmidt of UC Berkeley, Boris Faybishenko of Berkeley Lab, Miles Denham of Panoramic Environmental Consulting, and Carol Eddy-Dilek of Savannah River National Laboratory. The advances build upon concepts developed through the Office of Science's Watershed Scientific Focus Area project.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world's most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel Prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. For more, visit http://www. lbl. gov.

DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.
This has prompted Allianz to set the record straight as far as its involvement is concerned.

Allianz is Irelands leading insurer and the only indigenous insurer capable of covering an event as big and as complex as the WMoF, the report quoted the company as saying in a statement last night. The statement clarified that Allianz, while it had made a donation, is not the headline sponsor but rather the official general insurer of the weeklong affair.

An event logo seen by Insurance Business shows Allianz as the general insurer & proud supporter of this years WMoF. In addition, a spokesperson for the event has been cited as saying that it was not its policy to disclose the identity of its sponsors.

Allianz said that it respects different cultures and religions and strongly promotes a diverse and open society and corporate culture.

With donations, we generally aim to support local communities around the globe and follow our corporate citizenship strategy, the report quoted a representative as stating. Nonetheless, we do not take responsibility for single decisions, actions, or opinions of all members of the supported organisations and corporates.

Insurance perspective

Earlier this year, an online post by Allianz Ireland chief executive Sean McGrath read: As the general insurer of choice for the Catholic Church and Schools business in Ireland since 1902, Allianz is delighted to be in a position to support World Meeting of Families 2018 CLG through the provision of a comprehensive package of insurances.

The World Meeting of the Families will not only be one of the biggest events in Ireland in 2018, but also across Europe and the wider world.

The blog post, which was published in March, did not refer to Allianz as the headline sponsor of the event.

Instead, it shed light on the insurance implications, with McGrath saying: Obviously from an insurance perspective this brings with it many challenges to ensure the organisers can operate with the confidence that should some fortuitous event occur, they are in a position to address any issues arising. The range of covers required for an event of this magnitude range from standard material damage, employers/public liability, professional indemnity/directors & officers to cancellation of event, terrorism, employment practices, and motor insurance.

As a major global general Insurer, Allianz is uniquely positioned to provide the full range of covers required and so will be the official general insurer to the World Meeting of Families 2018.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Greenberg said the NFIP crowds out the private sector from playing a greater role in flood insurance.

The government under the NFIP charges an inadequate rate in most instances, he said. It underprices the cost of risk. It incents people to live in places they otherwise wouldnt because they dont pay the right price to live with that risk. And it disincents government from putting money toward infrastructure to mitigate exposure to flood.

There is a better way. Where you recognise the right rate to the exposure, that creates responsible behaviors at both the public and private level that will drive societys behaviour in better directions.

The science around flood insurance has improved, he added. We have modeling and geomapping capabilities today that we didnt have a decade or two ago. The private sector would charge an actuarially sound rate - thats to everyones advantage because it brings stability to the system.

According to Greenberg, the government still has a role to play, and that is to serve those who are less fortunate and have an affordability problem but cannot move.

The government should subsidise the cost for those people, he said. Thats a societal decision. And its the right decision.

He added that the government can maintain a role as reinsurer of last resort for extreme events, as it would take time to develop a private-sector market.

A recent study by consulting and actuarial firm Milliman  in collaboration with Risk Management Solutions  found that more than 90% of homes in New Jersey and New York could have more affordable premiums with private flood insurance.

Milliman principal and consulting actuary Nancy Watkins, a co-author of the study, said that the report shows how a private insurance market could work in conjunction with the NFIP to not only reduce premiums in both states, but also to provide more choices and increase coverage for consumers.

Greenberg told The Wall Street Journal that his firm would be willing to play a greater role in flood insurance.

We would be willing to write substantially more coverage if the government allowed private companies to charge an adequate, actuarially sound rate that is matched to the risk, he said.
The news organization reached out to Provenchers office in Lowell, MA and a woman told them the office is still working with every customer and trying to help them. The woman also transferred the news organizations call to Edward Lukatsky who told them he is in the process of taking over the agency.

Lukatsky said they have reached out to the states Division of Insurance for guidance and have sought legal counsel, the report added.

One customer previously told the news organization that she had been Provenchers customer for 30 years, but her insurance was on the verge of cancellation despite paying her premiums.

I would have never thought this would happen. Never, customer Lillian Rosenberger told Boston 25 News.

Hes a great guy. So, no-one seen this coming at all, said Jaime Kirby, whose daughter paid Provencher $750 to insure her first car, but they recently discovered that their insurer never insured the car in the first place because Provencher issued a bad check, the report added.

So now were no longer covered, so were being asked to pay several more hundred dollars to get our coverage back, Kirby added.
When it comes to connected technology, data is value. Using smart home devices to understand how a home works and where exposures lie can be extremely valuable for both the homeowner and the insurance carrier or broker. The problem is, the connected home market is so fragmented and saturated with various devices that the ability for these devices to work together and collate data is impeded.

Insurtech firm Plasmatic Technologies has come up with a solution to assist P&C carriers and brokers in accelerating their ability to leverage IoT assets present in properties. The firms Alana Connected Home System harmonizes data from the connected devices homeowners are already using, giving insurers the ability to develop and deploy smart home products and initiatives that enhance their services.

Theres some really low hanging fruit available for homeowners and insurers if they can bring smart home devices together and collate the data to form whole home insights, said David Sussman, CEO of Plasmatic Technologies. Our platform enables the customer to live better and have peace of mind about the safety of their homes, and it also helps insurers to better understand risks in the home and offer a more personalized service to homeowners.

The Alana Connected Home System is a cloud-connected SaaS (software as a service) platform with multiple interfaces, including user friendly apps. Its fully branded for the insurance company and includes features like a robust messaging platform so that carriers or brokers can send direct and personal notifications to homeowners alerting them to situations in the home, or even just telling them about new programs, products or tips they think will bring value to the customer.

Many carriers and brokers are already offering point specific hardware solutions, such as water leak detectors or carbon monoxide monitors. While Sussman encourages insurer engagement with smart home technologies, he stressed that the hybrid nature of the current systems will continue to be a challenge.

The advantage of insurers using a connected home platform approach like ours, as opposed to offering hardware point solutions [a single leak detection system] or even a suite of hardware solutions, is that a platform will be able to keep pace with the rapid evolution of the smart home, Sussman told Insurance Business. A platform can accommodate real changes in dynamos and interfaces, which is going to continue to make sense as smart home technologies change and adapt to customer needs.
She started her career as a corporate risk manager at Georgia-Pacific LLC where she stayed for six years before taking other positions at Blue Circle North America, Lafarge North America, and Cendian Corporation. With her experience and deep knowledge of captive insurance, Bunting has become one of the thought leaders in the industry. She has managed to write and speak about captive insurance and its relation to business, tax and estate planning, as well as its condition in the middle markets.

Insurance Business had a brief chat with Bunting to learn more about her role in the industry. In this short interview, she shares how her company, River Oak Risk, has been helping companies learn the value of captive insurance.

How did your insurance career journey start and what led you to this path?

My career in insurance began when I worked in the legal department at Georgia-Pacific on large insurance coverage matters and was offered the corporate risk manager position, running the risk management department for a Fortune 50 company.

Tell us briefly about your company and its role in the insurance industry. What makes it different from other companies in the same space?

Our company, River Oak Risk, is a captive insurance management company primarily serving the middle market. We help operating companies evaluate if a captive insurance company is beneficial to the operating company in managing or financing its risk.

A captive insurance company can be a valuable risk management tool. Our company is different than many companies in the captive management space because we have deep risk management experience and expertise based upon my and my partners experience and background. I am a former Fortune 50 risk manager and risk management consultant to Fortune 1000 companies as well as an attorney.

My business partner, Doug MacGinnitie, is the former COO of a top 25 insurance broker, Beecher Carlson, and the former Revenue Commissioner for the State of Georgia. He is also an attorney. Captives operate at the intersection of Risk Management/Insurance, Legal and Tax, and Doug and I have experience in all these areas.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your work in the insurance space?

I really enjoy helping companies, many of which do not have internal risk managers, evaluate their risk management profile and designing a useful tool to help manage their risks. We offer consultative risk management guidance as well as captive management services to our clients.

Have you seen any significant or notable changes in the industry or in your line of work from when you started?

Insurance is an ever-evolving area. Healthcare captives have become more prevalent than ever before and more and more creative uses of captives to help companies manage their risks are emerging. We see growth in producer-owned reinsurance involving MGAs as well as different types of operating companies that can offer their customers benefits by utilizing a captive on the back end of the transaction.

What are your hopes for the insurance industry moving forward?

It is important that the insurance industry continue to attract top talent from the finance and legal worlds and become more diverse. More women and other minorities are needed in the industry.

What has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome so far as insurance professional? What did you do to conquer it?

Being a female in a male dominated industry is always a challenge. I have always tried to be as prepared or better prepared on the subject matter than others in the room to establish my credibility from the start.

How does your strong legal background help you in your current position?

My legal background helps because I have been involved in coverage litigation and drafting numerous agreements. I understand the importance of clear documents and adhering to regulations governing insurance. While I am not practicing law in my role as a captive manager, it certainly helps to have the background to understand complex legal documents, like an insurance policy.

What are your passions or hobbies outside insurance?

I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family.
Officials fear that an underground coal refuse fire at the site of a soon-to-be-shuttered glass factory in western Pennsylvania may be spreading.

Workers say fire was seen shooting up through the ground behind the Pittsburgh Glass Works plant in East Deer Township last Thursday, the Tribune-Review reported. Two pockets of smoke were visible rising from the ground behind the plant Friday morning.

PGW, the current owner, discovered visual embers and flame in a small crack in the soil about 30 or 40 yards away from its auto glass production building. The crack was approximately 5 to 6 feet in length and 2 to 3 inches wide, the company said in a statement.

Since last September, the company has been investigating an ongoing fire under the plant caused by coal refuse apparently used as backfill at the site many years ago.

Officials say workers suppressed the flames and are clearing vegetation from the area. Indoor air quality will be monitored inside the plant, where the company has had to address localized hot spots on the interior concrete floor since last year.

Operations at the 135-year-old automotive glass manufacturing site formerly owned by PPG are to end after this week as production is moved to other sites. PGW has said that the Creighton plant is outdated and its manufacturing capacity is above market demand. About 160 remaining employees are to be laid off.

The fire has been investigated by the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but details on a plan to extinguish the fire havent been made public.

Tony Taliani, chairman of the township commissioners, said he is disturbed that the fire discovered about 10 months ago is still burning and said the company hasnt shared information about its plans for the fire and the site. He said he plans to re-engage federal, state and county agencies on the issue. PGW vowed in its statement to keep employees, neighbors and community leaders updated.

Information from: Tribune-Review

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pennsylvania
The Beacon Group of Companies, an independent financial services firm, has announced senior-level promotions within its Institutional Retirement Plan Practice.

Mark W. Schatzel has been promoted to the role of managing director of retirement plan sales and services. Schatzel will be responsible for the development of retirement plan initiatives, training, sales and management.

Schatzel joined The Beacon Group in 2015 where he worked in sales, 401(k) plan consulting and relationship management.

Michele Healey has been promoted to senior director of compliance. Healey has demonstrated leadership in compliance oversight and operations. In her expanded role, she will implement internal staff initiatives, oversight and expanded business directives in the retirement plan and retail marketplace. Michele joined The Beacon Group in 2009 and has served as a member of the compliance team.

The Beacon Group of Companies is a financial services firm headquartered in King of Prussia, Penn., specializing in employee benefits, property and casualty insurance and corporate retirement plan services.

Source: The Beacon Group of Companies

Topics Pennsylvania
Chubb announced the appointment of Janet Edey as head of Management Liability for the UK and Ireland.

In this role, Edey will have responsibility for leading and overseeing the development and execution of Chubbs management liability strategy. Management liability includes areas such as directors and officers liability, pension trustee liability, employment practices liability, crime, initial public offering liability and kidnap and ransom.

The appointment is effective immediately and Edey reports to Hilda Toh, Financial Lines manager, UK & Ireland, Chubb.

Edey was previously head of Professional Lines at Amtrust where she was responsible for the strategic direction of two syndicates. Prior to that, she was head of Specialty at Pen Underwriting where she developed and grew the Financial Lines and Specialty division within the MGA. Edey was also underwriting manager at HCC and spent 15 years at AIG in various senior management and leadership roles.

Hilda Toh, Financial Lines manager, UK & Ireland, Chubb, said: With 30 years of industry and underwriting experience, Janet is a seasoned insurance practitioner whose strong leadership skills will help us execute our Management Liability strategy in a challenging market.

Source: Chubb

Topics Chubb
Canadas largest province is delaying the launch of private marijuana sales in bricks-and-mortar stores until April 2019, nearly six months after the drug is legalized for recreational use.

Ontarios Progressive Conservative government said Monday it will start cannabis sales with an online-only retail model when cannabis is legalized on Oct. 17, to be followed by private retail sales on April 1. This is an abrupt policy change from the former Liberal government, which planned to sell cannabis in government-run pot shops, starting with 40 in 2018.

Implementing this new approach will take time, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said at a media conference in Toronto. We have to get this right and we will not be rushed.

Ontario is one of the last provinces to announce a model for pot sales as Canada becomes the first Group of Seven country to legalize recreational use nationally. Alberta is approving privately run stores while Quebec plans to sell through its government-run alcohol agency. Legal sales are expected to reach $4.9 billion by 2022, according to a report published Monday by U.S. cannabis research firms Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics.

Municipal Opt-Out

The government-run Ontario Cannabis Store will provide the online platform for retail sales, and will also be the wholesaler once private stores open. The province said its website will include a verification system to ensure customers are 19 or older, and will limit purchases to 30 grams. It will only be legal to smoke pot in private residences.

In another policy change, Ontario municipalities will have the option of saying no to cannabis stores within their boundaries and will be given C$40 million ($30 million) over two years to help them cover costs related to legalization. The government will consult with cities and other stakeholders to develop a regulatory framework it said will be aimed at keeping youth, roads, workplaces and neighborhoods safe.

No specific targets have been set for the number of stores.

The move could create a short-term drag on sales as fewer people may transition over to the legal market if sales are initially available online only, Canaccord Genuity analyst Matt Bottomley said by telephone. However, the plan will be positive for marijuana growers that are able to make their product in-house and sell it through retail channels, he said. Ontario will be the second largest private market for legal marijuana sales, behind California, he said.

Investors Tiring?

Still, there will likely be bumps in the road, as Ontario rolls out its plan, Bottomley said. The province still needs to conduct consultations, go through a tender process and award retail licenses and it seems very plausible that could take a year as opposed to six months, Bottomley said. Im a little suspect on these stores being open April, but maybe the first batch will be open then, he said.

Companies such as Aurora Cannabis Inc. see the switch as positive. The Edmonton-based marijuana grower plans to be a significant retail player in Ontarios market with its partner Alcanna Inc., said chief corporate officer Cam Battley. Alcanna already has good relationships with landlords in the province and has been working to identify locations and line up leases, he said.

Its our intention, subject to the details of the Ontario framework, to enter Ontarios retail market in a big way, Battley said by phone.

Vic Neufeld, chief executive officer of Aphria Inc., said in an emailed statement Monday the Leamington, Ontario-based marijuana grower looks forward to working with Ontario Cannabis Store, the government and private retailers to combat the illicit market.

Vahan Ajamian, managing director of analyst relations at MedMed Enterprises Inc., said the companys real estate team has already been exploring potential sites for new stores in Canada, with a big emphasis on Ontario. MedMen has a proven concept and a demonstrated track record with 14 cannabis stores currently open in California, Nevada and New York, he said in a statement Monday.

Investor enthusiasm over marijuana has waned in recent months in Canada. Ballooning company valuations have tempered, with the BI Canada Cannabis Index tumbling about 44 percent this year after reaching a record high in January.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Cannabis Canada
A bridge on the main highway running down the Italian Mediterranean coast collapsed in Genoa, with the death toll reported to be 35 people while others were trapped in the rubble.

A police video showed the viaduct connecting the A10 highway between southern France and the city on the western side of the Italian peninsula, completely cut in two. The Transport Ministry said traffic was interrupted in both directions on the A10 highway, with the disaster happening near the turnoffs for the freeway to Milan and the Genoa airport.

As dozens of rescue workers kept digging through the rubble in search of survivors, news agency Ansa quoted firefighters as saying the death toll had reached 35 people.

The Morandi bridge, a heavily traveled infrastructure as well as a soaring bypass between Genoese neighborhoods, opened in 1967 and was 1.1 kilometers long (0.7 miles) with a height of 45 meters (148 feet) above the Polcevera river.

Major Blow

The collapse amounts to a major blow to both maritime and land transport to and from the busy port city, with negative consequences for the Italian economy as a whole, Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Edoardo Rixi said in an interview with Sky Tg24 television on Tuesday afternoon.

RAI TV said rescue workers pulled four people out of the rubble alive, and numerous cars were crushed amid the debris. Ansa also reported that witnesses said theyd seen lightning hit the bridge.

Shares of Atlantia SpA, which runs the stretch of highway, fell almost 11 percent in Milan, the companys biggest intraday drop since 2008, before reducing losses. The stock was down 5.3 percent as of 4:45 p.m.

Autostrade per lItalia, the Atlantia unit that manages 3,000 kilometers of highway in Italy, said work had been underway to consolidate the viaduct, which was built in the 1960s. It said it would carry out an investigation into the causes of the collapse. The Benetton family is the biggest investor in Atlantia, which also manages highways in Chile, India, and Brazil, and airports in Italy and France. Atlantia jointly controls Spanish toll-road operator Abertis Infraestructuras in partnership with Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA.

Atlantia Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Castellucci said the company had not received any specific reports or alerts regarding the bridges solidity. Speaking to state-owned radio network RAI, he also said that there are absolutely no issues regarding the maintenance of the highway network across the country.

The Genoa bridge collapse follows by just one week a massive accident on another Atlantia-managed Italian highway. On Aug. 6 a tanker truck carrying a highly flammable gas exploded after rear-ending a stopped truck on a crowded highway near the northern Italian city of Bologna.

The events prompted Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to reiterate that despite Italys commitment to contain its public debt as agreed by previous governments with the European Union, the current administration might have to start questioning whether external constraints limiting spending for maintaining our infrastructure have to be accepted.

There cant be a tradeoff between fiscal rules and safety, Salvini told reporters in Catania, Sicily.

The disaster in Genoa highlights the need for a review of the safety at all the infrastructures across Italy, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in an interview with Sky Tg24. While it is too early to say whether lack of inspections contributed to the collapse, initial information suggests Atlantias Autostrade per lItalia was in charge of bridge maintenance, he said.

Toninelli added that the government is united in opposing big, useless public works that often led to corruption in the past and that both coalition partners, the League and Five Star Movement, support more spending for the maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Contes office said he was heading to the site in the afternoon.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Privately held independent insurance agency, MJ Insurance, has relocated its Indianapolis headquarters to 30,000 square feet at 571 Monon Blvd., located in the newly-expanded Midtown District of Carmel, Indiana.

MJ Insurance has also unveiled a complete rebrand with a new company logo, bold color palette and brand elements to play off the companys tagline, Your future in focus.

The new logo and overall design will be rolled out across MJs locations in Carmel and Phoenix over the next several months and is being applied initially to brochures, social media, major signage and the website.

A private VIP grand opening event will commemorate the new MJ Insurance headquarters in September.

MJ Insurance is a commercial and personal insurance, risk management and employee benefits consulting agency that since 1964, has grown from a two-person start-up to an agency with more than 150 employees in both Phoenix and Indianapolis.

Source: MJ Insurance

Topics Indiana
Auto insurance shoppers are placing a greater importance on having more services provided to them today versus five years ago, underscoring the fact that shoppers are increasingly demanding more product options and more and different ways to connect with their insurer, according to the J.D. Power 2018 Insurance Shopping Study.

The study also found that representation by a local agent has increased in importance the most over the past five years (45 percent) compared to other touch points, and reliance on agents was especially true among first-time shoppers.

The J.D. Power 2017 Large Commercial Study also found 34 percent of the risk managers who responded to the survey based their buying decisions on their agents recommendations, while 38 percent of the small commercial buyers, as reported in the J.D. Power 2017 Small Commercial Satisfaction Study, looked to their agent to recommend a carrier.

These findings suggest that agents still have a vital role in providing expertise and guidance throughout the sales, onboarding and servicing of both personal and commercial insurance policies.

The importance of the agent, direct or independent, from a customer perspective, is not only evident during the buying process but also throughout the life cycle of a customers experience with a carrier. What the 2018 J.D. Power studies (both shopping and claims) found was that the customer is more likely to look to their agent for advice, counsel and support when dealing with insurance matters over any other resource such as a carriers call center or website. This need on the part of customers is key to the survival and growth of the agency system in the United States.

Regardless of the advancements in technology, there is still a strong need for a personal connection, even if that connection is manifested through a digital pathway between a customer and an insurance professional. Customers want access to policy information and other services 24/7, and they look to online access for much of this information. However, in terms of making key decisions and getting support for such activities as reporting a claim, customers want to deal with a person who can answer questions, offer empathy and instill a level of confidence that the customer is doing the right thing or making the right decision.

Given the development of artificial intelligence (AI), customers may likely be able to have a fully digital interaction with their carrier in the future using chatbot or even more advanced technology to replicate the personal interaction. But for the foreseeable future, customerseven the youngest cohortsare not willing to give up that personal connection, especially when reporting a claim, and it is up to carriers and agents to foster a customer experience to match rapidly changing consumer expectations.

Carrier vs. Agent Priorities

Historically, agents and carriers have touted their support for each other, but in reality both groups generally have different priorities:

They dont communicate effectively.

Carriers have been pushing for greater access to customers without any real coordination with agents.

Carriers are notorious for disrupting relationships with their agents by making unilateral decisions.

Agents are more likely to use carriers to block markets or test quotes against incumbents with no real intent of moving business.

If these practices continue, the ability of both carriers and agents to meet customer expectations over the long term is suspect.

Carriers and agents working to improve the customer experience without involving each other may have short-term successes. In the long term, however, they will likely open the market for more disruptions from the continued growth of the InsurTech sector or even from other innovators such as Amazon, Walmart and possibly banks that have moved much further in the development of their mobile capabilities than most insurance carriers.

To elevate the relationship to a level that customers expect, carriers and agents must find a way to integrate their interactions with customers into a single conversation instead of disjointed transactions where customers must repeat themselves because different entities within the insurance company and the agency are not using the same information.

To achieve a single conversation, carriers and agents need to digitize routine matters, eliminate the need for multiple workflows and access points, and there must be a reconnection between agents and carriers that allows agents to truly act on behalf of their carriers. Achieving these kinds of improvements must begin by simply communicating with each other.

Good Communication

The first and most critical step for agents and carriers is focused, honest and cooperative communications. As with any good collaborative effort, communication must be two-way, with each party genuinely listening to the other.

Findings of the J.D. Power 2018 Independent Agent Study show that greater communications and training have a strong effect on the overall satisfaction level of agents. Increasing the communication and support a carrier provides to its agents shows an improvement in agent satisfaction of more than 200 points (on a 1,000-point scale) among both commercial and personal agents.

Agent satisfaction is even higher when the carrier provides ongoing and regular training or support sessions throughout the year.

Without regular and clear agency/carrier communications and ongoing carrier support (training and development), the kind of customer experience carriers and agents need to provide is highly suspect.

To achieve a more lasting and sustainable relationship between carrier and agent, both will need to better align their resources. In other words, agents should align themselves with carriers that target the markets the agent services, offer the broadest products for the agents markets, and are willing to have an integrated digital footprint that supports the agency and the customers being serviced.

For carriers, their agency forces must be aligned with their targeted markets, be a part of the carriers integrated processes, and work within a reasonable and sustainable commission structure. They should also support a profit-sharing plan that is based on long-term profitability.

The agents role is still vital to the insurance process, but that role and the carriers ability to reach and sustain higher levels of customer satisfaction will be tested.

Agents and carriers must better align their digital strategies and clearly design a division of work that allows the agents to focus more on being an adviser throughout the life cycle of the policy. Carriers must be willing to provide a stable and sustainable marketplace. Finally, agents and carriers must agree on a long-term, sustainable compensation system that supports both growth and profit.

This transformation must come sooner rather than later, and the customer must be at the center of every action taken by both the agents and carriers.

This article was originally published by Wells Media Groups Carrier Management, the publication for property/casualty insurance executives.

Topics Carriers Agencies InsurTech Tech Training Development
Although there has been an overall decline in workers compensation claims, the frequency of claims for motor vehicle accidents has increased in recent years.

According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) in a new report, these accidents can be very severe and are responsible for a significant portion of fatal workers compensation claims.

While workers compensation claims have been declining, motor vehicle accidents have been on the rise over the last five years, said Jim Davis, author of the paper and NCCI director and actuary. These often involve very serious injuries that can take their toll on injured workers and their families.

NCCI actuaries found that from 2011 to 2016, the frequency of all claims declined by 17.6 percent, while the frequency of motor vehicle accident claims increased by five percent.

Additionally, 41 percent of fatal workers compensation claims were the result of a motor vehicle.

According to the workers compensation rating organization, motor vehicle accident claims cost 80 percent to 100 percent more than the average claim because they involve severe injuries. These claims also tend to represent a higher share of the costliest claims. Over a five-year period, motor vehicle claims accounted for 28 percent of workers compensation claims above $500,000, versus just five percent of all claims.

Whats Driving Accidents

While numerous factors may explain the rise in accidents, the NCCI report notes that it is striking how the increasing popularity and use of smartphones coincides with this growing trend of motor vehicle accidents. By the end of 2010, approximately 27 percent of all cell phones were smartphones but by the end of 2016, that figure had tripled to 81 percent, the report notes.

Bill Donnell, president and CEO of NCCI, said this points to distracted driving as a key contributing factor.

Its time for all stakeholders to better understand and work together to address this important societal issue, Donnell said.

The increase in motor vehicle accidents is not limited to workers compensation. NCCI found a similar pattern in the general population, with accidents generally increasing over the same time period, along with an increase in the number of traffic accident fatalities.

Over the same period that motor vehicle accidents increased, smartphone use grew. According to the National Safety Council, a minimum of 27 percent of crashes involve drivers talking and texting on their phones. However, that report also states that driver cell phone use is likely highly underreported and, therefore, substantially underestimated.

Topics Carriers Auto Claims Workers' Compensation Talent
EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has added attorney Jeremy Glassford to the firms Birmingham-based National Energy Construction practice as a senior client executive, reporting to EPIC Managing Principal Crawford McInnis.

Glassford will be involved in all aspects of new business development, risk management and client retention, including needs assessment and exposure identification; risk management and insurance program audits; program design and placement; ongoing client management; program stewardship; and resource and vendor management.

Glassford joins EPIC from Birmingham-based law firm Balch & Bingham where he was a commercial litigator. In that capacity, Glassford represented clients throughout the country, ranging from private equity investors and public utilities to product manufacturers and insurance companies, in commercial litigation involving contract disputes, insurance coverage issues, business torts and unfair competition, financial services, products liability, intellectual property and trade secrets, class actions, and health care issues.

Glassford has also served in the U.S. Army since 1999, including three tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq and with extensive leadership and risk management/safety training. He currently serves on the U.S. Army Reserves Regional Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer Team for Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV, where he coordinates Department of Defense military assistance to other federal agencies, state governments, and civilian authorities during large-scale disaster response operations.

EPIC is a retail property & casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm with 50 offices across the U.S., providing property & casualty, employee benefits, specialty programs and private client options to more than 20,000 clients.

Topics Alabama Construction
A federal judge has dismissed part of a lawsuit in connection with an industrial fire in West Virginia.

The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reports U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnson dismissed most of the claims made in a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was one of several filed in the aftermath of the Oct. 2017 fire at a 420,000-foot warehouse owned by Intercontinental Export Import Inc., or IEI Plastics.

The lawsuit alleged the fire exposed the plaintiffs to pollutants, horrific odors and air contaminants. Johnson dismissed all of the claims except for negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Attorney Jim Leach represents the plaintiffs. He told the newspaper he and other attorneys would be reviewing the order and considering their options.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Claims Virginia
What Is an Appropriation?

Appropriation is when money is set aside money for a specific and particular purpose or purposes. A company or a government appropriates funds in order to delegate cash for the necessities of its business operations. Appropriations for the U.S. federal government are decided by Congress through various committees. A company might appropriate money for short-term or long-term needs that include employee salaries, research and development, and dividends.

Key Takeaways Appropriation is the act of setting aside money for a specific purpose.

A company or a government appropriates money in its budget-making processes.

In the U.S., appropriations for the federal government are earmarked by congress.

What Does an Appropriation Tell You?

Appropriations tell us how money or capital is being allocated whether it's through the federal government's budget or a company's use of cash and capital. Appropriations by governments are made for federal funds each year for various programs. Appropriations for companies may also be known as capital allocation.

Appropriation could also refer to setting apart land or buildings for public use such as for public buildings or parks. Appropriation can also refer to when the government claims private property through eminent domain.

Federal Appropriations

In the United States, appropriations bills for the federal government's spending are passed by U.S. Congress. The government's fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30 of each calendar year.

Each fiscal year, the U.S. President submits a budget proposal to Congress. Budget committees in the U.S. House and Senate, then determine how the discretionary portion of the budget will be spent through a budget resolution process. The process yields an allocation of an amount of money that is assigned to the various appropriations committees. The House and Senate appropriations committees divide the money up between the various subcommittees that represent the departments that'll receive the money. Some of the departments include the following:

Department of Agriculture

Department of Defense

Department of Energy

Department of Commerce

Department of Labor

Department of Transportation

Federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare fall under the mandatory expenditures category and receive funding through an automatic formula rather than through the appropriations process.

Congress also passes supplemental appropriations bills for instances when special funding is needed for natural disasters and other emergencies. For example, in December 2014, Congress approved the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015. The act approved $5.2 billion to fight the Ebola virus in West Africa and for domestic emergency responses to the disease. The act also allocated funding for controlling the virus and developing treatments for the disease.

Appropriations in Business

Corporate appropriations refer to how a company allocates its funds and can include share buybacks, dividends, paying down debt, and purchases of fixed assets. Fixed assets are property, plant, and equipment. In short, how a company allocates capital spending is important to investors and the long-term growth prospects of the company.

How a company appropriates money or invests its cash is monitored closely by market participants. Investors watch to determine whether a company is using its cash effectively to build shareholder value or whether the company is engaged in frivolous use of its cash, which can lead to the destruction of shareholder value.

Monitoring Corporate Appropriations

Investors monitor corporate appropriations of cash by analyzing a company's cash flow statement. The cash flow statement (CFS) measures how well a company manages its cash position, meaning how well the company generates cash to pay its debt obligations and fund its operating expenses. The cash flow of a company is divided into three activities or behavior:

Operating activities on the cash flow statement include any sources and uses of cash from business activities such as cash generated from a company's products or services. Investing activities include any sources and uses of cash from a company's investments such as a purchase or sale of an asset. Cash from financing activities includes the sources of cash from investors or banks, as well as the uses of cash paid to shareholders. The payment of dividends, the payments for stock repurchases, and the repayment of debt principal (loans) are included in this category.

Example of Company Appropriations

Below is the cash flow statement for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) from Sept 30, 2018, as reported in its 10Q filing. The cash flow statement shows how the executive management of Exxon appropriated the company's cash and profits:

Under the investing activities section (highlighted in red), $13.48 billion was allocated to purchase fixed assets or property, plant, and equipment.

Under the financing activities section (highlighted in green), cash was allocated to pay down short-term debt in the amount of $4.279 billion.

Also under financing activities, dividends were paid to shareholders (highlighted in blue), which totaled $10.296 billion.

Exxon Mobil cash flow statement 09-30-2018. Investopedia

Whether Exxon's use of cash is effective or not is up to investors and analysts to debate since evaluating the process of appropriating cash is highly subjective. Some investors might want more money allocated to dividends while other investors might want Exxon to allocate money towards investing in the future of the company by purchasing and upgrading equipment.

Appropriations vs. Appropriated Retained Earnings

Appropriated retained earnings are retained earnings (RE) that are specified by the board of directors for a particular use. Retained earnings are the amount of profit left over after a company has paid out dividends. Retained earnings accumulate over time similar to a savings account whereby the funds are used at a later date.

Appropriated retained earnings can be used for many purposes, including acquisitions, debt reduction, stock buybacks, and R&D. There may be more than one appropriated retained earnings accounts simultaneously. Typically, appropriated retained earnings are used only to indicate to outsiders the intention of management to use the funds for some purpose. Appropriation is the use of cash by a company showing how money is allocated and appropriated retained earnings outlines the specific use of that cash by the board of directors.

Limitations of an Appropriation

For investors, the cash flow statement reflects a company's financial health since typically the more cash that's available for business operations, the better. However, there are limitations to analyzing how money is spent. An investor won't know if the purchase of a fixed asset, for example, is a good decision until the company begins to generate revenue from the asset.

As a result, the investor can only infer whether the management is effectively deploying or appropriating its funds properly. Sometimes a negative cash flow results from a company's growth strategy in the form of expanding its operations.

By studying how a company allocates its spending and uses its cash, an investor can get a clear picture of how much cash a company generates and gain a solid understanding of the financial well being of a company.
By Gordon Deegan

Pre-tax losses at Dublin-based house builder Noonan Developments climbed to 6.9m last year, as revenues rose threefold to 12.9m.

The companys bank loans were transferred to Nama in October 2010, and the directors state that since then, the group has focused on achieving an agreed property strategy which has been approved by Nama.

The directors said the group expects to increase production in the coming year and are positioned to take advantage of any further market improvements.

They said the group had successfully reduced its bank debt from 41.9m to 27.76m in September 2017.

The new accounts show that pre-tax losses at Noonan Group Holdings Ltd increased to 6.9m in the 12 months to the end of September.

However, the directors said the group expects to increase production in the coming year and with a good product, strong geographic spread and with a well-established reputation built on quality, we are positioned to take advantage of any further market improvements. The company said that it had completed 44 house sales with revenues of 12.89m and generated an operating loss of 6.15m.

At the height of the building boom in 2006, the Noonan Group posted revenues of 31m, and at the time its then seven directors shared pay of 4.29m.

However, the collapse in the industry meant revenues had slumped to 325,991 in 2013.

On the 2017 performance, the directors said in the accounts: We achieved an increased level of house construction as there were continued signs of recovery in the Irish new homes sector.
By Eamon Quinn

Confirmation that Ulster Bank has struck terms with a vulture fund for a major sale of its troubled mortgages with a face value of 1.4bn has reignited the debate over loan sales by Irish banks, with debt advocates again questioning if regulators should insist lenders writedown debt rather than selling on loans.

Ulster Bank, which first unveiled its plan in May, said it had agreed on the sale of 2,300 non-performing home loans, and the disposal of a further 2,900 buy-to-let or investment home loans, to Cerberus, the US fund which is best known for its buying of distressed Irish commercial loans, including the controversial Project Eagle sale by Nama.

Ulster did not disclose the hefty discount that usually applies in such sales by banks but said no loans currently subject to a home loans arrangement between the bank and borrower were part of the deal.

The average span of arrears on the loans was almost seven years, the banks said, and affected customers would be contacted.

Plans of Irish lenders have the backing of the Central Bank, as one of the means to reduce the huge pile of soured loans on their books and to bolster their return to full financial health. The ECB is insisting Irish and other eurozone banks badly affected by the property and debt crash that started 10 years ago cut the share of their bad loans to around 5% in the coming years.

Despite the political furore, Permanent TSB last month agreed to sell 10,700 buy-to-let mortgages and principal home loans to Lone Star, while Bank of Ireland, which had previously said it had no need to sell loans, said it too may sell non- performing loans as it rethinks the best ways to preserve capital and boost profitability.

However, Paul Joyce, head of policy at Free Legal Aid Centres, or Flac, said that the sales by Ulster Bank and Permanent TSB were substantial and accounted for a large slice of all the countrys mortgage arrears.

The sales raise questions over why lenders hadnt written down the loans for customers who had been in arrears for an average of seven years, instead of selling the loans, Mr Joyce said. We would prefer that loans are not sold to vulture funds who are likely to be less accommodating to homeowners. Vulture funds are not going to wait around, he said.

David Hall, chief executive of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, said that the details Ulster Bank had provided about the loans showed that distressed customers had engaged with the lender. The tsunami that I warned about has been delayed and outsourced, but it is coming, Mr Hall said.

However, consumer advocate Brendan Burgess said that the Ulster Bank sale would benefit many borrowers. There was little evidence that vulture funds will hound the borrowers more than the main banks, while homeowners will have the same legal protections under the new owners, Mr Burgess said.

Ulster Bank said: This difficult decision comes a decade after the financial crisis began and the continued extension of forbearance cannot be maintained.

Not all mortgages are sustainable and we are obliged to reduce the level of non-performing loans on our balance sheet.

For mortgages that are not sustainable, additional forbearance will not bring them back to a performing position.
The body of a man in his late twenties has been found at a housing estate in west Dublin.

The man's body was discovered in the Greenridge Court area of Blanchardstown at 7.30am this morning.
Burnout is the greatest threat of all to the health service, according to one of the countrys leading emergency physicians, Dr Chris Luke, who has announced he is stepping down from his current position.

Dr Luke, who works at Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital, said he is withdrawing from the frontline after 35 years due to a health issue.

A form of arthritis in his neck has caused some nerve damage that affects his right hand so he has decided to retire early from his position.

He said he hopes to remain in healthcare and, as a fanatical radio listener, has an interest in broadcasting.

In an interview with Miriam OCallaghan on RTE radio, Dr Luke said the greatest challenge in the health service in the English-speaking world is burnout.

He said burnout is a form of spiritual anaemia  the exhaustion of the spirit  and it is that kind of energy that sustains the health service. The British and Irish health services are predicated on the heroic doctor model but sometimes it is not enough for a doctor or a nurse to be heroic.

Can I say to the powers that be that burnout is truly the greatest threat of all because the loss of that energy and that vocation is far more nefarious than the want of beds or staff, he said.

Dr Luke said that while the health service in Ireland has improved because of advances in science and technology, there are not enough beds and there are problems recruiting staff because the conditions are challenging.

He recalled sitting outside a post office in Stillorgan, Dublin, during the summer heatwave in 1976 and having two letters in his hand.

One was a letter to the Law Faculty in Trinity College Dublin and the other was to the School of Medicine in University College Dublin.

I suppose I came up with the idea that medicine was a noble, self-sacrificing enterprise and, on balance, it gave me a bit more security  thats what nudged it.

Dr Luke said the sudden death of his father when he was a small child affected him hugely.

His mother worked at St Jamess Gate Brewery. He was an only child and spent a lot of time on his own.

However, he had a happy 12 years in St Conleths College in Ballsbridge where he became a school captain.

Dr Luke said his maternal grandmother had grown up in the tenements in Gardiner St in Dublin. It was only when we studied the census of 2011 that we found that she started life in the tenements. And I know she had a really difficult time. Her father was an army man and he had mental issues.

Dr Luke said he often told colleagues working in inner-city hospital emergency departments that difficulty makes people difficult.

If you are wondering why this person drinks too much or smokes too much or has a generally chaotic life, remember that their privation and emotional difficulties will make them difficult in turn to deal with.

Asked why he chose emergency medicine, Dr Luke said it was his time in Moze in Zambia in the early 1980s that helped him make up his mind.

He worked in a bush hospital with Sr Lucy OBrien just after President Robert Mugabe won the war of independence. Sr OBrien was a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary as well as a highly qualified physician and gynaecologist.

We got to do all sorts of extraordinary things in terms of surgery and medicine, he recalled.

Dr Luke, a father of four, met his wife, Victoria, in the back of an ambulance when working in the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. He later moved to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

However, he was drawn back to Ireland by the need to mind his mother, who will celebrate her 99th birthday next month.
By John McCarthy

The family of a young GAA player murdered in Mayo has made a fresh appeal for information on the first anniversary of his death.

Joe Deacys uncle Paul says someone knows why Joe was found in the driveway of his friends house a year ago.

The 21-year-old, of Butt Field View, St Albans, Hertfordshire in England, was on a two-week visit to his family home in Ireland when he was beaten to death.

He was discovered outside a house at Gortnasillagh, Swinford, Co Mayo, on August 12 last year by a passer-by.

His mother, Alison Thebald, who was at the anniversary Mass with her husband, Adrian Deacy, and daughter Charlotte over the weekend, had told Dublin Coroners Court in her written deposition last November: I was advised that the cause of death was a single blow to the head.

Gardai in Mayo arrested two men in their 20s in connection with the death, but they were released without charge.

Joes uncle Paul said the family will never stops looking for the truth.

Horrific is the only word I can use to sum up the last year.

My father is the shadow of the man he used to be; him and Joe were so close, he said.

There was a Mass held in Bohola for Joe and Adrian went up to the altar and made a passionate plea to stop praying for Joe now and pray for the people who are not coming forward.

We need to find answers, he said.

Its disappointing for a tight community like in Mayo that people arent coming forward.

There will never be closure, Joe will never be forgotten, it will help to get the answers on what happened that night.

Joes father, Adrian, told parishioners in the Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph that his son died in a manner not befitting an animal.

Mr Deacy had said that mourners should pray for those who know what happened my beautiful boy.

Without doubt (those persons) are also suffering, he said.

Hopefully, someone, somewhere, possibly in this parish, will have the courage to come forward, said Mr Deacy.
Fianna Fail says it will propose laws for a digital safety commissioner with powers to impose sanctions, in response to a minister advising that social media must be regulated.

Culture Minister Josepha Madigan said unregulated social media networks could pose one of the biggest threats to western democracy. She made the remarks at the opening of the 28th Parnell Summer School in Wicklow at the weekend.
By Ryan Nakashima

The privacy of some two billion users of Google Android software and hundreds of millions of iPhone users has been questioned after it emerged Google records peoples movements even when explicitly told not to.

An investigation has found many Google services on Android devices and iPhones store the persons location data, even if they have used a privacy setting which states it will prevent Google from doing so.

The tech giant lets a user pause the location history setting. However, the Associated Press has reported  and researchers at Princeton University have agreed  that even with location paused, some Google apps store time-stamped location data without asking.

Jonathan Mayer, a Princeton computer scientist and former chief technologist for the US Federal Communications Commissions enforcement bureau, said storing location data in violation of a users preferences is wrong.

Mr Mayer said: If youre going to allow users to turn off something called Location History, then all the places where you maintain location history should be turned off.

Google said it provides clear descriptions of its location tools and robust controls so people can turn them off and on and delete histories at any time.

However, it is claimed that leaving Web & App Activity on and turning Location History off only prevents Google from adding your movements to the timeline  its visualisation of your daily travels. It does not stop Googles collection of other location markers.

Since 2014, Google has let advertisers track the effectiveness of online ads when it comes to driving foot traffic, a feature Google has said relies on user location histories. The company is pushing further into such location-aware tracking to drive advertising revenue.
Conall O Fatharta and Daniel McConnell

The Government has been accused of washing its hands of the problem of mortgage arrears after Ulster Bank becomes the latest bank to sell over 5,000 of its non-performing loans to a vulture fund.

The bank confirmed it had agreed the sale of 5,200 non-performing mortgage loans to Cerberus Capital Management.

The portfolio of loans is valued at 1.4bn and includes around 2,300 (615m) mortgages relating to private homes and a further 2,900 (740m) loans dealing with buy to let properties. Ulster Bank said the buy-to-let mortgages have been in arrears for, on average 34 months and have average arrears of 32,000.

The private homes included in the sale have been in arrears for an average of 83 months with average arrears of 61,000.

Ulster Bank confirmed the portfolio does not contain any performing home loans or any home loans in a restructuring arrangement.

It will be contacting affected customers and giving 90 days notice of the sale instead of the 60 days it was required to provide.

Fianna Fail finance spokesman Michael McGrath said the sale was another example of an Irish bank outsourcing its dirty work to a US vulture fund and accused the Government of washing its hands of the mortgage arrears problem.

The opposition TD said it was hard to see many of these mortgage holders managing to negotiate a restructuring solution with the bank and that Ulster Bank needed to clarify whether the mortgages were being purchased by a regulated or unregulated entity.

The sale again underlines the abject failure of government to put in place a safety net in the form of a properly functioning mortgage to rent scheme for borrowers where a mortgage restructure is deemed not possible, he said.

Responding to the sale, the Department of Finance said it has always been a Government priority that all mortgage holders maintain their full contractual rights, regardless of the owner of the loan.

It also said the Government is not blocking a private members bill put down by Mr McGrath, despite concerns with its contents, particularly about how to target so-called vulture funds.

We have worked closely with the Deputy McGrath to make the bill more effective, the department said.

The Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2018 was considered by the select committee on July 12.

Report stage will be taken after the summer recess. It is of the upmost importance that we remember that the protections which borrowers enjoyed prior to the sale of their loan do not change after the loan is sold. Their rights and obligations remain the same, a department spokesman said.
By Gordon Deegan

A Clare hotelier has offered to fund the return home of an 80-year-old Lahinch man who is wondering if there is anyone left in the seaside resort who remembers him.

Lahinch hotelier, Michael Vaughan, confirmed on Monday that he has written to the sheltered accommodation in London where Jim Logan lives to offer to pay for a return visit by Mr Logan to see his homeplace.

Mr Logan emigrated to England as a 16-year-old in 1954 and Mr Vaughan made the offer after reading a heartfelt plea penned by Mr Logan and published in the letters page of the current edition of The Clare Champion.

In his letter, Mr Logan wrote: I am an 80-year-old man from Lahinch, lying on my bed here in London on a very hot day.

He said: I was wondering how everyone is doing back in Lahinch and is there anyone left who remembers me?

He went on: I was born in June 1938 in Lahinch and lived in Cregg from age nine to 16, when I emigrated to England. I attended national school in Lahinch and CBS in Ennistymon. It would be great to hear from anyone from that era. I wonder how many of us are left?

The letter has gone viral and after being posted on the Clare Clare Clare Facebook page, the letter, according to the page, is easily the most popular post ever on the page  over 300,000 hits and nearly 4,000 shares.

Operations director with Lonely Planet Ireland and former Sunday Tribune editor, Noirin Hegarty, replied to Ennistymon CBS tweeting the letter to say: My Dad, Sean Hegarty was in school with Jimmy Logan and remembers him well. He is going to write to him, reminding him of their antics. He has some great stories.

Mr Vaughan said that Mr Logans letter conjured up a sad image for me  that one of our own would be so long without any contact with his home place.

Mr Vaughan said he has written to the sheltered accommodation address provided in Mr Logans letter to offer to fund a return visit to Lahinch for Mr Logan to meet some of those from that time: I dont even know at this stage if Jim would like to travel back so if not, we can organise a small delegation to go over from here to London to cheer him up.

Mr Vaughan said he knows of three people who have already written to Mr Logan to fill him in on who from his era is still in Lahinch and with news about developments in the seaside resort.

One of those who knew Jim growing up in Lahinch in the 1940s is Lahinch native, Tomsie OSullivan. Mr OSullivan confirmed on Monday that he will write to Jim.

Mr OSullivan said Mr Logans family were very hard workers and very well respected.
People could be missing out on life-saving early cancer treatment by not visiting their doctor sooner, the Irish Cancer Society has warned.

Almost 40% said the cost of a GPs visit stops them from making an appointment.

The finding emerged from research commissioned by the society to mark the launch of Cancer Week Ireland.

It also found that 42% are too busy to see a doctor and 35% have too many other things to worry about.

Other doctor visit deterrents are fears of wasting the doctors time (31%) and being too worried about what the doctor might find (29%).

Over a quarter (28%) said knowing they would have to wait a long time for a doctors appointment puts them off making one.

Embarrassment (27%), fear (25%) or lack of confidence (25) are other reasons that prevent people from going to their doctor.

One in five (20%) are put off because they feel it would be too difficult to talk to their doctor about an issue or symptom.

The society is worried that early signs of cancer are being missed due to social, emotional and financial barriers that prevent people from consulting their doctor sooner.

Every 15 minutes someone in Ireland hears the words You have cancer. And while cancer rates are increasing, so too are survival rates.

This year an estimated 40,000 people in Ireland will be diagnosed with cancer.

At the same time, there are more than 165,000 people living with cancer.

The societys chief executive Averil Power said an early cancer diagnosis could be the difference between life and death.

She said the society works hard to inform people about the early warning signs and symptoms of cancer so they get them checked out as soon as possible:

Its disappointing to see the range of barriers that are stopping people from taking action when it comes to their health.

Last November, Health Minister Simon Harris said GP consultation fees of 55 to 60 are too expensive, a matter he intends raising in negotiations on a new GP contract.

Ms Power urged people with cancer concerns who are putting off visiting their doctor to contact the societys Freephone Cancer Nurseline on 1800 200 700 weekdays for confidential advice.

Cancer Week Ireland, which takes place from September 24, is a week-long series of events, initiated by the society and Trinity College Dublin in 2014.

The week is about encouraging people to open up about cancer so that the fear of the past can be replaced by hope for better outcomes and a brighter future.

Individuals and organisations can log onto cancerweek.ie to register events.
By Sean ORiordan, Defence Correspondent

A group organising a major march on the Dail to highlight poor pay and conditions in the Defence Forces is about to launch a lobbying campaign aimed at local and national public representatives.

The organisers of the Respect & Loyalty march, due to take place on September 19, are asking partners of Defence Forces members and ex-servicemen/women to start the lobbying campaign on August 20.

Retired regimental sergeant major Noel OCallaghan, who is at the forefront of the campaign, said it is hoped thousands of people will email councillors, TDs, and senators highlighting the plight faced by members of the Defence Forces, who are the poorest paid public servants.

Mr OCallaghan said the format for the march on Leinster House has now been finalised.

Its hoped thousands of people will take part in the march, which will form at the military monument in Merrion Square, Dublin, at 11.45am.

The march will be conducted with military precision and will be stewarded by former soldiers in an effort to ensure minimum disruption in the capital.

A number of speakers, including Mr OCallaghan, will address the gathering at the monument which will be followed by a reading of the Proclamation, a wreath-laying ceremony, the playing of the national anthem, and a minutes silence.

The parade will then march towards Kildare Street and Leinster House.

It will be addressed outside the Dail by Declan Power, a retired army officer and security consultant.

Seven members of the parade will then step forward and hand submissions to each of the party leaders in the Dail.

It is expected that will occur around 1pm.

The march has the full support of the Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces (WPDF) and will be attended by a number of retired personnel, some of whom are flying in for the day from Britain and Spain.

Mr OCallaghan said many people had suffered after the Celtic Tiger crash, most of all members of the Defence Forces and nurses.

He said the Defence Forces were becoming dysfunctional because of the continued exodus of highly-trained personnel who are getting better pay and conditions in the private sector.

It is crisis management all the time.

There is a lack of leadership and supervision, said Mr OCallaghan.

Even accelerated recruitment, he added, is failing to keep pace with the numbers leaving.
Anaesthetists in one of Corks main hospitals have warned that the Governments proposal to remove private practice from public hospitals would result in a deterioration in care to patients.

The Department of Anaesthesiology in the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital claims one of the key proposed changes of Slaintecare, the programme to reform the healthcare system, would have significant, serious, long-term and unforeseen adverse effects on its public patients.

The department said some consultants had already signalled they would move fully into private practice if the measure was introduced.

In a submission to the independent review group established by Health Minister Simon Harris to analyse the impact of the separation of private practice from the public hospital system, the hospitals anaesthesiology department said: Public patients are the only losers in this misguided attempt to improve equity and access.

It said it already delivered 45% more anaesthesia theatre hours than required under its contractual obligations.

This extra service is delivered free to the public health service because we are able to care for some private patients in these 45% extra hours, said Dr Michael OSullivan, chairman of the hospitals Department of Anaesthesiology.

Anaesthetists in the South Infirmary acknowledged that the removal of their ability to carry out private practice in the hospital would reduce their income.

In order to maintain our livelihood, a number of consultants have indicated that they would leave the public-only hospital entirely, while the remainder have said they will expect compensation and new contracts to allow them to work off-site, said Dr OSullivan.

He claimed his department would be unable to recruit highly qualified consultants as candidates would be enticed by an earning potential two to three times greater in full-time, private practice or abroad.

As examples of the effect of recent changes to the working terms and conditions of consultants in the South Infirmary, Dr OSullivan said one of four radiologists had left to work in a private hospital, while three out of eight orthopaedic surgeons and one out of five plastic surgeons had changed to a contract which allowed them to treat fee-paying patients in off-site private hospitals. Difficulty was also encountered in recruiting candidates to fill a number of vacant consultancy positions, he added.

Dr OSullivan said anaesthetists did not believe funding would be provided to replace income which would be lost to the South Infirmary if private practice was removed from the hospital.

The reality is that removal of private practice will require a significant decision by our consultants on whether to stay in the public system or leave, he said, adding that the recent experience of An Garda Siochana had shown the catastrophic outcomes which could result from the loss of senior people from an organisation.
A local authority could face a legal challenge over plans to close a dangerous junction on road safety grounds.

The warning came as residents ramped up their opposition to the possible full closure of the Waterloo junction on the N20 Cork to Limerick road with a protest yesterday.

They are also holding a public meeting on the issue in Whitechurch tonight to discuss their options.

Two US tourists were killed at the junction last September and two more escaped death in almost identical circumstances in April when they were directed by satnav to take a right turn at the junction while driving southbound for Blarney.

While the junction has been closed temporarily in recent weeks during resurfacing of a stretch of the N20, local councillor Kevin Conway says he has sought legal advice on whether the temporary closure complies in full with sections of the Road Traffic Act.

But he said new road markings which have been painted on the recently laid road surface indicate that permanent closure of the junction is on the cards even before the proposed full closure is subject to required public consultation.

That has come ever before public consultation. The people here will take whatever action is necessary to change that, he said.

Yes, there is a safety issue here and we are all very aware of that. But there are various solutions to this problem.

Geraldine Kelleher, who has run a childcare facility in Waterloo for 14 years, said the junction is very important for the community on both sides of the N20: There are junctions like this all over the country. What are they going to do  close all those junctions? Its crazy. What they need is proper road markings and signage. They should sit down and talk with the locals and come to a proper conclusion on this.

Deirdre Butt, who lives in Whitechurch, said the permanent closure of the junction would increase her journey time to her parents home from seven to 20 minutes: The junction does need improvement but full closure is not good for the community.

Local residents gather at the Waterloo junction on the N20 Cork to Limerick road. The junction has been closed temporarily during resurfacing of a stretch of the N20 but residents are protesting against its possible permanent closure

Cliona Browne, chairwoman of Whitechurch NS parents association, said everyone wants a safe junction: We need it made safe but we need to keep it open. Its just not viable to close it.

Diana Baker, whose father Jim, 62, was one of the US tourists killed at the junction last September, said she believes the right turn southbound is the issue that needs to be addressed. She described full closure as heavy-handed.

She added: While Im certain in the short run its cheaper and more convenient for the council to close the entire junction, its pertinent that the council listen to everyone impacted by this decision.

The county council says full closure is the preferred solution from a road safety viewpoint and that its a statutory process that would involve public consultation.
A Cork sexual health charity has seen a five-fold increase in requests for support, information and advice, particularly in relation to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The Sexual Health Centre, which has been in operation since 1987, provides counselling, education, drop-in, free condoms, testing and support services to over 5,000 clients annually. These services are requested via e-mail, telephone and individuals visiting the centre.

A new report examining the range of services requested through the centre from 2014 to 2017 shows that the number of phonecalls the centre received in that period jumped from 607 annually to 3,164.

In 2015, 497 males and 353 females phoned the Sexual Health Centre helpline. This increased to 1,556 males and 1,608 females in 2017.

The number of drop-ins jumped from 1,176 to 1,321 in the same period, while internet inquiries rose from 116 to 824.

The full STI screening provided is the most common enquiry received and rises year on year. In 2017, a total of 1,676 individuals contacted the centre in relation to an STI screening service. This represented an increase from 622 in 2014. Similarly, over 1,000 enquiries were received in 2017 in relation to STI information, increasing from 135 in 2014.

Since 2014 an increase in enquires related to STI information and contraception has also been noted among women. Men are more likely than women to seek condom demonstrations or free condoms.

However, a similar proportion of men and women contacted the centre in relation to STI screening and STI information in 2017.

The centre offers counselling free to clients experiencing a crisis pregnancy, their partners and family members, those who are post-abortion and people living with HIV, their partners and significant others. The total number of counselling clients for post-abortion counselling and HIV counselling have stayed relatively similar from 2014 to 2017.

In relation to crisis-pregnancy counselling, the centre has provided an overall increasing number of sessions to clients since 2014.

The number of HIV clients has remained relatively stable during this time.

Commenting on the figures, report author Gosia Waldowska described the Sexual Health Centre as an innovative and creative organisation that facilitates peoples need for clear and unambiguous information and support regarding their sexual health, while advocating for positive social change.

This report highlights the impact we are having in the community across counselling, testing, education, and information services, she said.
By Stephen Rogers and Victoria Bryan

After the grounding of more than 100 flights to and from Ireland in the last month, Ryanair pilot representatives and management will later begin a second day of mediation talks aimed at preventing further disruptive strikes here.

Independent mediator Kieran Mulvey, the former chief executive of the Workplace Relations Commission, has set three days aside for the discussions, asking both sides not to make public comment while they remain in the process.

As the first phase of talks opened yesterday  the first time the sides were in the room for 24 days  sources indicated that Mr Mulvey would not be a prisoner to the 11 points which have dominated public utterances by both sides in recent weeks.

Those points are around such issues as pilot transfers and seniority.

He will be looking for the essence of what people want rather than be tied to the language of the points, one source said. He will be looking for a deal around that essence which is acceptable to both sides.

The union, which also represents cabin crew, will seek assurances from the company as to its members futures after management threatened on July 25 to sack 100 pilots and 200 cabin crew or transfer them to Poland, partly in response to the strike action which its pilots were taking.

The airline endured its worst one-day strike on Friday after a walk-out by pilots in five European countries disrupted the plans of an estimated 55,000 travellers. Approximately 100 of Ryanairs 350 Irish-based pilots joined colleagues in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden in a series of stoppages.

Meanwhile, German union Verdi will meet Ryanair in Dublin tomorrow to start pay talks for around 1,000 cabin crew working in Germany.

Verdi is seeking a substantial pay increase for cabin crew and wants Ryanair to recognise German law and pay social security contributions.

Through seasonal shifts and a lack of guaranteed flight hours, some full-time employees receive gross pay of only around 1,000 a month. Thats completely unacceptable, said Verdi board member Christine Behle.

Ryanair has denied that the 1,000 gross pay per month for some full-time employees is an accurate figure.
Those jetting off on holiday may want to reconsider posting snaps on social media  otherwise, they could become a burglary target, writes Helen OCallaghan

For those of us who feel like were always getting social media updates about other peoples holiday plans, its surprising to hear a recent survey found almost three-quarters of people are very likely to avoid mentioning their holiday on social media out of fear the information will fall into the wrong hands.

The message about not blasting holiday plans all over social media seems to have got through, says Barry Aldworth, senior media officer at AA Ireland, which is warning homeowners to double-check how secure their home is before they travel.

Nevertheless, some of us continue to be a bit more cavalier about keeping our holiday plans to ourselves. The AA Home Insurance survey of over 5,000 people found 8.5% are somewhat likely to keep mum about their plans. Over three percent are somewhat unlikely to do so, while over four percent are very unlikely to.

Given that you spend most of the year counting down the days until your holiday its understandable that people may want to share their plans with family and friends, says AA director of consumer affairs Conor Faughnan

Unfortunately, once you post this kind of information online you lose control over where it could end up. Why would you broadcast on Facebook that youre going on holiday? Its like taking out an ad that your house is empty, says John Kinsella, managing director of AccurA Security Products.

Remember as a child going on holiday your mammy said dont tell the neighbours? I often didnt know until I was brought to the airport that we were off somewhere. It was a surprise  but the real reason was my parents didnt want people to know we were going. There was common sense thats often missing now, says Kinsella, who recommends sharing less of our inner monologue.

The idea that were all just six degrees of separation away from anyone else is good to remember when youre on social media. Its not that you dont trust your friends, says Kinsella. But your friends have friends and if you have 100 friends and you multiply by six, thats around 600 people getting to see your status as to where you are. Posting Im in Dublin Airport heading to Majorca is foolish. But even if you do post it, how can a potential intruder know the precise location of your house? Perhaps you live in a rural community where everyone knows everyone. People have the information on what house is whose, says Aldworth.

Barry Aldworth

Maybe your 14-year-old is stamping her location each time she checks in on Facebook. Or, says Kinsella, maybe your friend, Donal, likes that youre heading to Spain.

One of Donals friends  who could be any sort of criminal or have connections with one  sees that Donal has liked it. He thinks Johns heading away. Whos this John? Next time hes on the phone to Donal, he says oh, your friend, John  where does he live again?

Or perhaps you have a social media friend who you think is great  but you dont know about their addiction. This friend thinks oh theres money to be had in that house, says Kinsella, adding that todays burglars arent looking for big, awkward items like a TV thats worth only 500 retail. Theyre looking for smaller items like jewellery  gold, platinum, diamonds.

Which is why we shouldnt flag expensive gifts on social media: People get engaged. Next thing theyre on Facebook, posting thanks Hon next to a picture of the ring. A criminals thinking thats worth about 12 grand  I might get 5,000 for it.

John Kinsella

Sgt Tony Davis, crime prevention officer in Cork City, cites 2017 stats from the Garda Analyst Service, which found one in four burglaries happened where windows and doors had been left open. That was last year. With burglaries weve had in Cork over the last few weeks, its been a lot more  in the majority of burglaries in Cork over the past three weeks, entry was gained through an open front door or window. Davis puts this down to the fantastic weather weve been having all through this summer. Very few of the home-owners were away on holiday, but with the fine weather people head out and they dont think to check that all doors and windows are secure. Faughnan urges holiday-bound homeowners to review how secure their home is before they leave and ask someone to keep an occasional eye on the property while theyre away.

The AA is also advising homeowners to check their burglar alarm is fully functional and to ask someone to collect any letters/packages that are left at their door while theyre away. The survey found almost 66% of respondents were very likely to check their burglar alarm is operating correctly before they depart, with 61% planning on having someone collect any items left at their door.

But dont be lulled into thinking Im not expecting any post, forgetting about the free periodicals and flyers, the couple of bills that can arrive and be clearly visible through the front door. A build-up of letters or parcels can be a dead giveaway that your home is empty, so its worth asking whoever will be checking in on your home to either move these into your home or take them somewhere safe until you return, says Faughnan.

The big mistake is to think youre immune to risk of home intrusion while youre basking on the beach. Saying what are the chances itll happen to me isnt very wise. You can never completely eliminate the risk, but by being security conscious before your leave you can at least reduce the likelihood of coming home to a nasty surprise, says Faughnan.
Grainne McGuinness offers more consumer advice, this week for mortgage holders.

An Irish mortgage expert is warning that an increase to the European Central Bank rate is almost certainly on the cards between now and 2021. The ECB rate will have an impact on mortgage rates but there is some good news for cash-strapped homeowners.

Joey Sheehan of mymortgages.ie believes Irish mortgage-holders are in a strong position to cancel out the impact of such increases by switching lenders and availing in particular of fixed rate offers.

Mortgage holders with more than 10% equity in their home are in a particularly strong position, Mr Sheehan said. So, its time to be proactive in reviewing your mortgage and ensuring you get a piece of the rate war savings pie.

These savings are possible because of what Mr Sheehan describes an impending explosion in the fixed rate mortgage market in Ireland.

KBC is the latest to slash its rates to 5-year fixed rate to 2.8%. Ulster Bank are now offering a 2.3% 2-year fixed rate and a 3.25% fixed rate for 7 years. PTSB have also recently dropped its fixed rates to 3.7% for existing customers.

According to the mortgage brokers, these cuts signal real savings for mortgage holders.

Irish mortgagees are less inclined to fix their rate than their European counterparts, but that is changing - latest figures showed that fixed rate mortgages accounted for 54% of new agreements over the three months to May 2018.

This is all well and good for people taking out new mortgages but the only way existing customers can benefit is by switching.

Our figures show that a homeowner in Cork with a typical 350,000 mortgage could save 310 per month by switching to a better fixed rate now and save 111,733 over the lifetime of a 30-year mortgage.

The savings in Dublin could be even higher, up to 143,657 over the lifetime of the mortgage. These figures are based on moving from a rate of 4.1% to 2.6% and having an LTV of 90% or less.

Mr Sheehan is aware the idea of switching is off-putting to the average homeowner but says the benefits are too big to ignore.

We deal with clients on a daily basis who are unaware that switching could even be an option for them  many believe they are simply locked in to the contract with their current lender, he said. And of those who have heard of switching, most just think its too much hassle.

Mortgages are just like any other financial product  they should be reviewed every 3 years to ensure you are not paying over the odds.

Actually committing to the switching process may sound painful but could be the single best financial decision you make for years. Remember, switching is not comparable to the process when you first bought your home and took out a mortgage.

I firmly believe it is the memory of months of paperwork and proving repayment capacity that puts mortgage-holders off switching. But in this new situation you have already qualified for a mortgage and have been meeting repayments for some time, so getting approval for a new loan is far more straightforward.

To get the ball rolling, contact your existing lender and confirm your rate of interest, balance outstanding and term remaining on the mortgage. Ask the lender if the variable rate you are on is the best available and what fixed rate options are available as an existing customer.

Then either compare rates with other institutions yourself or contact a mortgage advisor and ask them to compare your existing terms to appropriate alternatives.

With six-figure savings to be made over the lifetime of your mortgage, can you really afford not to check out your options?

Mr Sheahan concludes: A mortgage is the biggest financial undertaking most people will ever make and yet its something that people dont pay enough attention to when it comes to getting the best value on the market.

DEAL OF THE WEEK

As being widely advertised by Usain Bolt at the moment, Virgin Media have reduced the price of their wifi and home phone package with homeowners able to get both for an initial price of 39 per month.

The Connect 240 plan includes 240Mb broadband, with 24Mb upload speeds, and the World Talk phone package with unlimited calls to Irish landlines, mobiles and 400 minutes to 22 countries.

The media operator are also promoting their Red House Technician, who will visit your home for an extra 50. Virgin promise that the premium installation service will make sure your new broadband is the best it can be. For an additional 30 per month, households can add TV to the package.

The TV bundle has more than 50 channels, including Virgin Media Sport which will be airing all 343 UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches.

The 39 rises to 59 for the second half of the 12 month contract, get full details at www.virginmedia.ie.
Des Ekins new book is filled with all sorts of tales from Irelands pirate past, writes Esther McCarthy.

As a youngster, author Des Ekin would bemoan the idea that there were no colourful, swashbuckling pirates in his homeland, and that all the plundering and villainy was carried out in more exotic waters.

Fascinated by the world of piracy since he was a little boy, he wondered why it never caught on in this part of the world. Some research on the subject was a revelation to him as he discovered that Ireland generally  and West Cork in particular  were, for many hundreds of years, pirate central.

Ever since I was a child Ive been fascinated by pirates. I always assumed it was something that happened in exotic faraway places, he said.

I always felt a bit cheated when I was a youngster that we didnt have any pirates here. It was only when I started researching that I discovered the astonishing truth that for 1400 years Ireland was an epicentre of pirates. We had all sorts of different guises of piracy. We had the great Irish clans, the OMalleys in Mayo, the ODriscolls in Cork.

They operated more or less protection rackets on the coastline on passing shipping. Then you had the revolutionary pirates of the 1500s and 1600s who were fighting politically against the English. Its a whole spectrum. The latest I found was in the mid-1800s there were still pirates operating on the Shannon Estuary.

Were absolutely besotted by the pirates of the Caribbean but they only lasted 50-70 years, it was a very brief flash in the pan. Irelands pirates reigned for nearly a millennium and a half.

The Dons of their day, pirates have long fascinated the public in movies, history and popular culture. But the Irish involvement in piracy at home and abroad has, strangely, been largely forgotten. Ekins latest book, Irelands Pirate Trail: A Quest to Uncover Our Swashbuckling Past sees him take to the entire coast of Ireland to research and find stories of our piratical heritage of bandits, both native and imported.

He found that some of the most colourful and notorious lived, loved, sailed, and plundered from their bases in West Cork. By the early 1600s, it was one of the biggest centres of piracy in the world.

Kinsale-born Anne Bonny.

A lot of people would say its about a big shift in economic power, he observed.You had places like South-West Ireland which was very disadvantaged for all sorts of reasons.

English and Dutch pirates moved to West Cork and it actually became pirate central, one of two notorious places in the world where pirates thrived with impunity. It even had its own currency  it became a virtual pirate republic around South-West Cork. If you went into many of the disreputable taverns in the area you were expected to pay in pieces of eight.

You had a spectrum. On the one hand you had the part-timers, the people who kind of drifted in and out of piracy. Theyd do some land work, farming, and then theyd take to piracy for a few months in the summer. Then youd have the hardcore pirates who actually lived and died for the trade. They were often men in trouble with the law, looking for the last roll of the dice.

Because of the manner of the business they were in, many of them died young and violently.

Ships in battle.

They gambled their money, they stole from each other and they also killed each other, which meant their lives were often brutish and short.

A lot of the big pirate families such as the ODriscolls in Baltimore, had actually decamped off to Spain, because the climate was very unhealthy for them. The ODriscolls had ruled piracy in Cork for centuries but they ran out of steam at around that time [the early 1600s[. You got this new wave of pirates that was far more wide-ranging and far more spectacular than those that had gone before. People with enormous fleets and far more firepower.

It may be a haven of peace and tranquility now, but Leamcon, near Schull, was once a bastion of banditry.

Dublin-born privateer Luke Ryan, who helped win American independence.

That was one of the epicentres of pirates in the area, said Ekin. The local economy roared because of this and it became really prosperous in a black-economy fashion. Local people enthusiastically welcomed these pirates into their harbours.

Pirates werent always unwelcome when they came because they had the potential to set the economy absolutely roaring, practically overnight. You had exotic spices coming in, fine wines, tobacco, animal hides. Pirates hadnt a clue what they were worth and often sold them for half nothing.

Then they would reinvest in the local economy. A lot of prostitutes would come into the area around that time from far away. If I was offered a trip in a time machine, Leamcon in Roaring Water Bay in the early 1600s would be one of the places I would go to.

"It must have been an absolutely fascinating experience to stand on the shore and watch the great pirate ships roll in, filled with pirate plunder, to see them selling off nutmeg and cinnamon and ivory.

Having said that, of course, they were thuggish, they were violent, they were not nice people.

It was a male-dominated business, but female pirates plundered too and Anne Bonny, who hailed from near Kinsale in Co Cork, was one of the hardest of them all.

She was a very tough cookie. Shes now taken over the mantle of most famous female pirate in the world, because of the fictional series Black Sails, said Ekin.

She was hardly out of her teens when she terrorised the Caribbean. Witnesses testify that she was a ferocious figure, she was toting a gun.

She became involved with another pirate, John Calico Jack Rackham, whose fondness for colourful clothing means hes believed to be the inspiration for Captain Jack Sparrow. When he was taken prisoner following a battle at sea, said Ekin, she famously said to him: Im sorry to see you here Jack but if youd fought like a man you wouldnt have been hung like a dog.

Ekin has written about piracy before. His book, The Stolen Village, about the kidnapping of the inhabitants of Baltimore by Barbary pirates, was shortlisted for Irish Book of the Decade and is on its 11th print run.

A former reporter for the Sunday World newspaper, he availed of a voluntary redundancy package after 30 years, and set about researching this book.

For years Id wanted to write a book on Irelands forgotten pirate heritage but I didnt want to do a conventional history. I wanted to travel around the coast. It would take time and it wasnt really practical while I was working.

Going around the coast on a pirate road trip seemed like a good metaphor for a scary new freedom.

Des Ekin.

Irelands Pirate Trail is out now, published by the OBrien Press
Shandrum Ceili Band are striking a new note after triple Fleadh success for Cork, writes Pet OConnell.

THREE years ago in Sligo, Cork representatives Shandrum Ceili Band took Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann by storm, winning the first of three back-to-back all-Ireland titles a mere eight months after the groups formation.

Now they are bowing out of competition on a high, with a pristine played-five, won-five unbeaten record since their whirlwind reign began with victory at Fleadh Cheoil Chorcai 2015.

As the band members head for Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Drogheda this week, instead of defending their All-Ireland crown, their mission is to bring the music of North Cork to a wider audience in quite a different setting.

The void left by their absence from the competition stage is filled on another platform at Saturdays fleadh concert, where the Shandrums fans can catch a glimpse of their next project.

We said three [all-Irelands] is enough, said accordion player and band leader Alan Finn. The three-in-a-row hadnt been done in over 10 years and people had said it would never be done again, so it was kind of a big deal.

We formed in December 2014 and it was our first year in the competition. It was unheard of to win it straight out. We won the county, we won the Munster, we won the All- Ireland and then we won the All- Ireland again [twice]. Weve only played five competitions and weve won the whole time.

He rejects notions of a future competitive comeback: To go again in a couple of years, the pressure would be on, so the competitive side of the band is after being quenched now. Were happy with what weve achieved.

Whats coming next is a second CD, a follow-up to the Shandrums 2017 debut album, The Dawn.

Due for completion by the start of next year, nine tracks are already recorded and will likely be aired when the band share the bill with Teada for Saturdays concert at Drogheda Dominican Church.

The forthcoming album brings it all back home for Buttevant native Finn and the band, which is a reincarnation of an older Shandrum Ceili Band popular in the dancehalls of North Cork from the 1950s to 70s, and with whom his grandfather sang on occasion.

Therell be tunes people will never have heard before, Finn promised. Theyre unusual tunes from the Boss Murphy Collection.

The CD will be made up entirely of tunes collected by fiddle player John Boss Murphy, (1875-1955), a native of Churchtown, not five miles from Buttevant. His manuscripts of tunes gathered dust until they were edited by Dr Colette Moloney and published in 2003 as The Boss Murphy Musical Legacy.

The tunes proved a perfect fit for the Shandrum, which sprang into existence as a spontaneous response to the passing of Finns grandfather, but whose musical roots are deep in the Sliabh Luachra heartland of Freemount.

That villages Comhaltas branch, Craobh Chronain, had already produced Corks first All-Ireland ceili band winners, the Allow, in 2007, before Finn led the branchs Awbeg ceili band to glory in 2012. He now teaches Freemounts youth groups, his U18 Crossfields Ceili Band attempting their own four-in-a-row in Drogheda this week.

Among generations of musicians taught by Craobh Chronain founding chairman Con Herbert, it was Newtownshandrums Ger Naughton who suggested forming what became the Shandrum, an idea initially rejected by Finn.

Ger Naughton said to me around October 2014, Will we get a ceili band together? And I said no. But then my grandfather, Paddy Finn, passed away in October as well, and he was involved with the Shandrum. I rang Ger and I said Cmon so, well get a band together in memory of my grandfather.

I rang Michael OMahony, who was the leader of the original Shandrum, and I asked him would he have a problem with us calling it the Shandrum and he said no, hed be more than happy to see it revived.

While continuing the musical legacies of OMahony  who passed away last year  of his bandmates, of Paddy Finn and Boss Murphy, the Shandrums focus is on a future where ceili bookings are interspersed with the likes of Saturdays sit-down concert and a first appearance next month at Electric Picnic.

Shandrum Ceili Band, August 18, Fleadh Cheoil, Drogheda. theshandrum.com/ www.fleadhcheoil.ie
Brendan Howlin does not need to be overly spooked by the calls for his head just now, writes Daniel McConnell.

Nobody is happy with the poll ratings, one Labour TD told me yesterday.

Responding to the call from a fifth party councillor,

Read More:

Ms Genockey is the latest to call on Brendan Howlin to give up the leadership in order to re-energise the party, which has seen poll ratings languish at sub-10% continuously.

Four other Labour councillors, Pamela Kearns and Mick Duff from South Dublin County Council, Noel Tuohy of Laois, and Kerrys Terry OBrien, called on Mr Howlin to step down earlier this month. Mr Touhy said the party risks becoming totally irrelevant as a political force unless a change occurs. Ms Kearns echoed his calls, saying only a change of leadership and a fresh approach can unite the party and achieve the momentum we need to move forward.

In her statement, Ms Genockey said she largely agreed with a group of 16 Labour councillors who last week issued a statement in support of Mr Howlin, but she did say a leadership contest would do some good.

The gripe is that the party is flailing, going nowhere fast, and led by a reluctant leader who gives a strong impression he still thinks he is in government.

From Mr Howlins point of view, criticisms such as these from five out of 51 councillors is not yet a crisis, but he does need a break.

He has little from his term as leader to point to, with many in the party saying it needs good local and European elections to begin the recovery.

His defenders have rallied to the cause, saying the discussion about the leadership is interfering with the ordinary business of trying to win seats at the next election.

He does not need to be overly spooked by the calls for his head just now. These are five councillors and there is no evidence to date to show this is being orchestrated by one of his likely rivals within the parliamentary party.

Tipperary TD Alan Kelly has previously said he was giving Mr Howlin six months to turn the situation around, but he too has distanced himself from any potential heave.

There is an increased sense that senator Aodhan O Riordain aspires to be leader, but his return to the Dail would have to happen first and there is no guarantee of that.

Aodhan O Riordain

Mr O Riordain has form as he was part of the rump of new TDs in 2014 who moved against Eamon Gilmore after the disastrous local and European elections which precipitated his resignation.

As long as the grumblings remain among councillors, then Mr Howlin has nothing to worry about. But should one of his TDs or senators join the chorus, the reluctant leader could quickly find himself under pressure.
We all like to think of ourselves as morally sound individuals. However in doing so we often assume that morality is static  that we are consistently moral to some extent over time, writes Nishat Babu.

In reality, research suggests that most of us will behave in contradictory ways and act both morally and immorally from time to time.

Interestingly, when we think about our past moral actions, we are likely to engage in compensatory behaviour and act immorally going forward.

For instance, if you recently donated to charity, you may donate less money at a future charity event or be less willing to volunteer.

This has been termed moral licensing, and describes how previous engagement in moral behaviour provides people with moral credits that then affords them with a ticket to subsequently engage in morally questionable behaviour.

The consequences of this can be quite serious, and happens even when people are merely anticipating future engagement.

One study showed that people who expected to engage in some future moral action, such as in a fundraiser or donating blood, were more likely to pick a white candidate over a black candidate as being suitable for a job.

Moral licensing has also attracted attention in the area of corporate social responsibility. This term can broadly be thought of as an organisations focus beyond the bottom line  how it acts towards its stakeholders, the environment, and society.

For example, Kenneth Lay, the former CEO of Enron  a company notoriously known for its accounting fraud which ultimately led to its collapse in 2001  was noted to be a keen philanthropist.

It may well be that he felt that his philanthropic efforts provided him with moral credits, allowing him to subsequently endorse the negative goings on within the company.

This view is in fact reinforced by research. One study that looked at moral licensing within the organisational context showed that prior corporate social responsibility of CEOs was linked to more corporate social irresponsibility later. Interest in moral licensing has even extended to areas such as energy conservation.

One study showed that residents reduced their water consumption when exposed to a water conservation programme. However, at the same time their electrical consumption was shown to have increased in comparison to a control group.

Previous organisational CSR has been linked to subsequent social irresponsibility. David D'Amico/Flickr.

Currently we are not sure what the psychological processes underpinning moral licensing are.

Does prior moral behaviour really provide credits that can be withdrawn to allow engagement in a questionable act  because we feel we have earned the right to do so? Or could it be that prior moral behaviour changes the meaning of the subsequent questionable behaviour?

For instance, if we have established through previous actions that we are not racially biased, we may more easily convince ourselves that picking a white candidate over a black candidate was due to some factor other than race.

But are others willing to accept our moral license? One study looked at the reactions of individuals to a white speaker who made a potentially offensive comment directed at African Americans.

When this comment was preceded by Im not racist or anything, but , the white people rated the speaker as slightly less racist, while the black people judged the speaker as more racist. And so, where the targeted group was concerned, they were less likely to license the speaker  causing the speakers initial claim of not being racist to backfire.

Moral cleansing

The opposite to moral licensing is also true. We know that when people recall their recent immoral behaviour, they express greater willingness to engage in compensatory moral actions. This is referred to as moral cleansing  demonstrating the dynamic nature of moral behaviour.

For instance, Donald Trumps quick decision in April 2017 to launch a missile strike in Syria in response to a chemical attack by the Syrian regime, drew praise from his critics as being the right thing to do. However, as Hillary Clinton pointed out, we cannot in one breath speak of protecting Syrian babies and in the next close American doors to them  referring to a ban on receiving refugees.

It could well be argued that Trumps morally questionable previous behaviour motivated him to engage in moral cleansing by launching the applauded missile strike.

But the example clearly shows that while this may have assured him about his own morality, it takes more consistency to be accepted as moral by others.

Trump received praise for his response to a chemical attack in Syria  but didnt want to receive refugees to the US. Gage Skidmore/ Flickr.

Finally, there is some evidence to suggest that moral licensing seems to be apparent only for private transgressions, such as donating to charity privately as opposed to doing so publicly.

It seems as individuals, we seek to protect, and in some cases even bolster our reputation through public displays of moral actions.

And engaging in morally questionable behaviour that we ourselves feel we have earned isnt something we want to broadcast. Indeed, research has evidenced that those people who are publicly charitable do benefit from reputational enhancement.

Being good isnt always easy. When it comes to behaving morally, it appears there is a balance we all strive to achieve, so that personally we can remain assured of our own moral goodness.

This article was written by Nishat Babu of Aston University and was originally published on The Conversation.

Read the original article here.
Poland has watered down a law that imposed penalties on those who blame Poles for Jewish deaths in the Second World War  it is not enough, says Slawomir Sierakowski

There is no escaping history in Poland. At an abruptly convened session in late June, the Polish Sejm (the lower house of parliament) rushed through an amendment to the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance, reversing another amendment that had been adopted in January of this year.

Effective immediately, attributing blame to Poland for Second World War-era Nazi crimes would no longer be punishable by three years in prison.

The ruling Law and Justice Partys (PiS) rapid defanging of its own memory law comes as no surprise. The original legislation attracted international outrage, especially from Israel.

Even US president Donald Trump  usually a close friend to Polands nationalists  indicated that he would not meet Polish leaders until the crisis was resolved.

Still, the way the Polish government went about tweaking the law was absurd. For one thing, the entire process was carried out in secret, to the point that Israeli-Polish relations were mediated by the countries respective intelligence agencies, lest the laws key proponent, Polish minister of justice Zbigniew Ziobro, catch wind of what was in the works.

Ziobro is Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawieckis main rival in the battle for influence with PiS chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski. So, when the new amendment passed, Morawiecki did not hesitate to take credit for salvaging Polands image.

He and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a joint declaration ending the dispute between their countries; and the Polish government purchased full-page ads in major newspapers around the world, including the three largest Israeli dailies, to promote the text of the statement.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Yet, just when the Polish government seemed to have put its troubles behind it, Israels Holocaust remembrance centre, Yad Vashem, and its minister of education and diaspora affairs, Naftali Bennett, issued sharp denunciations of the joint declaration.

As it happens, the push within Israel to condemn Polands memory law was launched by the Israeli opposition, and Netanyahu had only gone along with it because he had no other choice.

In the event, Netanyahu  a fellow populist  was eager to resolve the conflict with the PiS government, because he did not want to alienate Israels most loyal ally within the EU.

This explains why the joint declaration is so emphatic about assigning culpability for Nazi death camps solely to Germans. Moreover, it even seems to suggest that the evil of anti-Polonism is somehow comparable in scale to that of anti-Semitism. While the Polish version of the statement admits of individual instances of cruelty to Jews by Poles, the Hebrew version states that, we acknowledge and condemn every incident of cruelty.

However, both versions then immediately go on to remember heroic acts of numerous Poles, especially the Righteous Among the Nations, who risked their lives to save Jewish people.

In the next section, there is merely a veiled reference to the szmalcowniks who regardless of their origin, religion, or worldview  revealed their darkest side.

By contrast, the language concerning Polish heroism is very concrete, and embraces the entire nation. The Polish underground State supervised by the Polish Government-in-Exile created a mechanism of systematic help and support to Jewish people, and its courts sentenced Poles for collaborating with German occupation authorities, including for denouncing Jews.

This is invented history. As Bennett notes, while some Poles did help Jews, these activities were few and not central.

Thus, the joint declaration incorrectly treats the rare doers of kindness as a common phenomenon, and the widespread events of [Poles] handing over [Jews] as rarities.

Bennetts characterisation is supported by thorough research, not least Night Without an End: The Fate of Jews in Selected Counties of Occupied Poland, a two-volume history edited by Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski of the Polish Centre for Holocaust Research.

According to the books tally of nine German-occupied Polish counties, two-thirds of the 250,000 Jews who escaped during the Nazis liquidation of Jewish ghettos in 1942 had been killed by 1945, most of them by Poles or with Polish participation.

Of course, supporters of the joint statement would point out that Yad Vashem itself has recognised more Poles (6,863) than any other nationality as the Righteous Among the Nations who helped Jews.

However, this is pure casuistry.

Poland was home to more than three million Jews before the war, and the Germans built their death camps on Polish territory. So, where else would the Righteous Among the Nations come from if not Poland?

None of this is to say that Poles are collectively worse or better than any other nationality. Indeed, Yale University historian Timothy Snyder, who could hardly be accused of harbouring anti-Polish sentiments, has concluded that Poles behaved more or less the same as other people under similar circumstances.

Heroism is rare, which is precisely why it is accorded such high honours.

If an entire country could be heroic, the term would lose all meaning. Kaczynski and Morawieckis desperate struggle to burnish Polands historical standing is a wasted effort.

As Snyder reminds us, it was the Polish underground leader Wladyslaw Bartoszewski who perhaps put it best: [The] individuals who worked on behalf of Jews did not first ask the Polish nation for permission to do so.

- Slawomir Sierakowski, founder of the Krytyka Polityczna movement, is director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Warsaw and a fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018
Business Central Bank Drops Exchange Rate Limits

A man holds a $100 bill at a currency exchange counter in Yangon in July 2016. / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  The Central Bank of Myanmar announced on Monday that private banks and exchange counters are no longer required to trade within the official exchange rate band in a move meant to help prevent price manipulation and settle recent fluctuations.

The announcement does not explicitly say whether the Central Bank was adopting a floating exchange rate. But experts said the move was another step in that direction, after the Central Bank adopted a managed floating exchange rate during the previous government administration.

Up until Monday, the Central Bank allowed private banks and exchange counters to trade only within a 0.8 percent band. But when the gap between the Central Banks reference exchange rates and market rates grows wider than that, the rule becomes hard to abide by. It also creates a bottleneck for some foreign exchange transactions.

The rule also puts a strain on banks current account transactions, making foreign banks in particular reluctant to participate in the foreign exchange interbank market.

A financial expert said removing the exchange rate band would likely help with foreign exchange transactions and liquidity flow to some extent.

The Myanmar kyat has been depreciating against the US dollar for the past two months. U Myint, who served as chief economic adviser to the previous president, warned that if the government fails to keep the exchange rate stable the economy could be in deep trouble.

The Central Bank said it would be providing loans of between $300 million and $400 million to private banks and exchange counters to try to keep the rate stable.
From the Archive A Woman's (Political) Work is Never Done

Ma Mee Mee, center, joins a security line in front of the house of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during a public speech by the Nobel laureate in Yangon in June 1996. / Uzo Uda

Ma Mee Mee, a prominent member of the 88 Generation Students group, died in a car accident on Monday while on her way back to Yangon from Irrawaddy Region. She was 47 years old. The Irrawaddy revisits this story from November 2012 about the activist, who urged women to take a more active role in politics.

As a former political prisoner, Thin Thin Aye knows something about fear: that you should never let it stand in your way. Thats why the veteran activist, better known as Mee Mee, has made it her mission to persuade other Burmese women to set aside their fears and take a more active role in politics.

Since her release from prison in January of this year, Mee Mee has done much to live up to her own advice. As a prominent female member of the 88 Generation Students group, she is living proof that there is plenty of room for women in Burmese politics, if they choose to get involved.

The political landscape is changing, and women are participating in politics more now than they did two decades ago, says Mee Mee, speaking to The Irrawaddy during a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she was taking part in a series of workshops with exiled womens groups.

The 40-year-old veteran activist is actively engaged in efforts to empower women through the Womens Center, led by fellow 88 Generation leader Nilar Thein. The 88 Generation group has made womens empowerment one of its major issues, along with human rights, peace in ethnic areas and workers and farmers rights.

Mee Mee has been imprisoned three times for her role in Burmese politicsin 1988, 1996 and 2007and has spent a total of 10 years behind bars in nearly half a dozen prisons: Insein, Tharrawaddy, Pathein, Kathar and Shwebo.

She was just 16 the first time she was thrown in jail for taking part in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Then, at the age of 24, she was locked up again in her final year of studying zoology at Dagon University in Rangoon, this time for leading a student demonstration. After five years and nine months without contact with her two children, she was released from Tharrawaddy Prison in 2002.

Her third spell in prison began after the 2007 Saffron Revolution, when she received a 65-year sentence for leading protests against a dramatic rise in fuel prices. She was freed in January as part of a general amnesty that saw the release of hundreds of prominent political prisoners.

Since her time in prison in the mid-1990s, Mee Mee has suffered chronic pain in her joints due to the dire conditions under which she was forced to live. I was arrested in winter, and for three months I stayed in a cell with nothing except a dirty mat in it, she said.

Like other political prisoners, she was denied access to paper and reading materials, something she remembers as a real hardship. During her more recent prison term, however, she was not as severely restricted.

This time I was allowed to read, so I had chance to study about issues that interest me, she said. Unfortunately, she added, things were not much better in other respects, due to the attitude of some prison staff, who seemed to think it was their duty to mistreat prisoners.

Since her release from prison, Mee Mee has joined the network-building efforts of the 88 Generation group, traveling around the country and learning how to use social media to develop what the group calls its Discussion on Peace and Open Societyan initiative led by its most prominent members, Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Mya Aye.

Her own role in this effort has been to draw women into the discussion. She said that despite meeting many women who participate in everyday political activities, most say they dont know how to get more politically involved.

The main obstacle for women, she said, is fear, something that most Burmese understand only too well after decades of oppression. But gender stereotypes are also a problem, as Women tend to exclude themselves from political roles, she said.

As much as she would like to change this mindset, however, Mee Mee doesnt simply urge women to ignore social attitudes or their own reluctance to get involved in activities that many still see as potentially dangerous. Rather, she appeals to their own innate capacity to understand issues that really matter to them.

I would not force them to accept any ideology without knowing the meaning of it themselves, she said. I want women who join politics to be able to think for themselves about what is right or wrong, using their own critical thinking.

Part of this process is teaching women that they are already actively engaged in politics. If they are doing philanthropic work, we have to explain to them that this is also political work. Gradually, their thinking changes, she said.

Of course, its not enough just to change womens attitudesmens mindsets also have to be taken into consideration. On this score, however, Mee Mee said that she finds that men are more open-minded about giving women a role in politics than they would have been in the past.

Although some now say that a quota should be set to make more room for women in politics, Mee Mee said the first priority should be to ensure that women are qualified to fill leadership roles, by giving them the skills they need to succeed in politics.

It doesnt mean anything to set aside 30 percent of political positions for women, if they dont have specific skill-sets, she said. We need more women politicians who have the courage to speak the truth and who have the ability to do so.

Courage is also needed to deal with issues to dont have any easy answers. During a number of recent trips to Arakan State with Nilar Thein, Mee Mee saw first-hand that some attitudes die hard. There is a lot of work to be done there to develop peoples thinking about many things, she said about her encounters with local people in the strife-torn state.

Asked what she thought about the participation of women in exiled political groups, Mee Mee said that she was greatly encouraged by what she has seen during her trip to Thailand.

Burmese women activists are so strong here in Thailand and I would like to see women inside the country become more like them. So we have to do more networking within the country as well as outside, she said. She pointed out that a major difference between women inside Burma and those outside the country is that former have far less access to gender-related knowledge.

Although sheer determination to do the right thing has been the driving force in her life, Mee Mee said she could not have come this far without the support of her family, especially her husband, who has been very understanding of her efforts.

Im not the perfect mother or housewife, and I dont think I ever will be, she said, noting that she has not been able to spend as much time with her family since her release as she would have liked.

Despite her obvious passion for politics, however, Mee Mee said she has no interest in becoming a politician and running in the 2015 election.

I will continue to work for the people as one of them, in accordance with the 88 Generation Students groups 10-year plan to carry its Peace and Open Society activities, she said.
This is a group art exhibition of six artists.

Aug. 15, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Pullman Yangon Centrepoint at No.65, Corner of Sule Pagoda Rd and Merchant St, Kyauktada Tsp. Free Admission.

Celebrated artist Win Pes paintings will be exhibited at this art night. Profits will be donated to a charity organization which is focusing on health and education in Myanmar.

Several employers and recruiters will attend this job fair looking to recruit potential admin, HR and sales staff.

This seafood buffet features a variety of delights to choose from including appetizers, salads, soups, hot dishes, fresh oysters, BBQ, desserts, fresh fruits, juices, wine and beer.

There will be 35 organizations including Japanese universities, professional training colleges, Japanese language institutions and scholarship sponsorship associations for interested attendees to discuss in detail and find out any information they need to know.

Aug. 15, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Japan Culture House, Room 322B, 2 nd Floor, Building C, Pearl Condo, Kabar Aye Pagoda Rd, Bahan Tsp. Free admission.

Peoples memories and their thoughts about memories have been recorded and edited for listening at this sound art event which is the second part of a project initiated at last years second annual My Yangon My Home Festival.

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News 5 Months On, Lawmakers Still Waiting to Debate Proposed Protest Law Changes

Lawmakers attend a session of the Lower House of Parliament in Naypyitaw on Aug. 13. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  The Lower House of Parliament has yet to begin debate on proposed amendments to the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law nearly five months after they were submitted to the chamber.

The bill was forwarded to the Lower House in March. Twenty civilian lawmakers from different parties and 60 military representatives have registered to debate the bill, said U Kyaw Soe Lin, secretary of the chambers Bill Committee.

Because the debate is likely to take a while, the committee recommended that lawmakers discuss the bill in a separate meeting and approve or reject the amendments by consensus, but lawmakers rejected the idea.

None of the lawmakers is willing to compromise on the bill. They insist that they will debate it in Parliament. So we have submitted their request to Parliament as it is their right, U Kyaw Soe Lin told reporters on Monday.

U Thein Tun Oo, spokesman for the Union Solidarity and Development Party, speculated that debate was being delayed because of opposition from his party and civil society organizations.

When the bill was first submitted to the Upper House, we opposed it because it denies the rights of citizens. The bill denies the rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution, U Thein Tun Oo told The Irrawaddy.

In March, the Upper House of Parliament approved the set of controversial amendments to the law despite strong opposition from activists and rights groups who claim the changes would further restrict the freedom of expression.

Even some lawmakers from the ruling National League for Democracy voted against the bill, which was approved with 113 votes for and 78 votes against.

If the changes are fully approved, Article 4 (d) of the law will require would-be protesters planning peaceful assemblies and processions to inform police in advance of not only their agenda and estimated numbers, but also the estimated cost of the event and the identities of the people or organizations paying for it.

The most controversial part of the bill would stipulate jail terms for those convicted of provoking or exhorting others to organize or participate in demonstrations by bribing or paying them or for doing anything else with the intention of harming the stability, rule of law, peace and tranquility of the community.

The provision was criticized as being too broadly written; activists warn it could be exploited to stifle political dissent.

U Tun Tun Hein, a member of the NLDs central executive committee, told reporters in March that the existing law was enough to regulate people who want to stage protests with good intentions.

But if it is applied for destructive purposes, we have to do what it takes in the interests of the country, he said.

U Kyaw Soe Lin said the bill was likely to be discussed during the current session of Parliament.

The General Administration Department of the Home Affairs Ministry and the police are the primary agencies responsible for enforcing the protest law.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma Lack of Funding Fueling Corruption in Forestry Sector, Senior Official Says

Forest areas in southern Shan State / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAWMore than 3,200 Forestry Department staff overseen by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation have been subject to disciplinary action over the past seven years, department director U Khin Maung Win said, adding that the problem is largely a result of under-funding.

They were disciplined for violations including bribery and corruption, negligence, misconduct, and poor performance, said U Khin Maung Win during a workshop on combating corruption in the forestry sector at the ministry on Monday.

The main reason [for disciplinary action] was negligence. The second was their poor track record in arresting illegal loggers. Most of the staff members disciplined were rangers, he said.

Between fiscal 2011-12 and 2017-18, the ministry took action against 3,272 staff. It took action against a further 121 from April to the end of July this year.

Around 35 percent of those disciplined were rangers, while their deputies accounted for the second-largest group, at 34 percent.

A total of 82 staff members of the Forestry Department were the subject of corruption and bribery complaints. The department has taken action against nearly 50 of them, and is investigating the remaining cases.

Director U Khin Maung Win lamented that staff are overstretched and the department is seriously under-resourced with a workforce of just 5,300 staff to take care of over 74 million acres of forest.

Moreover, the department lacks the funds needed to purchase machinery and equipment to manage the forests, he added.

Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Ohn Win called for greater efforts to eliminate corruption in the countrys forestry sector.

U Myint Wai, a lawmaker representing Rakhine States Gwa Township in the Lower House of Myanmars Parliament, claimed that Forestry Department staff do not even have the funds and equipment to transport seized logs in order to hand them over to the department.

He said that if the necessary assistance were provided in a timely manner, Forestry officials would be able to arrest more illegal loggers, thereby reducing both corruption and illegal logging.

Staff dont want to spend money out of their own pockets to arrest illegal loggers. It seems that it is easier for them to take money from illegal loggers and let them go. [Failure to fund the officials] essentially encourages corruption among those who wouldnt ordinarily be corrupt, U Myint Wai said.

According to the ministry, more than 250,000 tons of teak and other hardwoods were seized over the past seven years. The ministry arrested 306 foreigners and 39,265 locals and seized an unspecified amount of machinery in connection with illegal logging.
Burma Myanmar Asks Bangladesh to Stop Calling Rohingya Refugees 'Nationals,' 'Forcibly Displaced'

A Rohingya refugee woman poses after receiving an ID card from the Bangladesh army in a camp near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, on Oct. 10. / Reuters

YANGON  Myanmar claims that Bangladesh has agreed to stop labeling the IDs it has been issuing Rohingya refugees Myanmar Nationals Registration Card.

The request came during a three-day visit to Myanmar by Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali that included a day-trip to northern Rakhine States Maungdaw Township, where military operations triggered by militant attacks on security posts in August 2017 drove some 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh seeking refuge.

The United Nations has labeled the military operations ethnic cleansing, and international rights groups have called on the UN to refer Myanmar military chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing to the International Criminal Court over widespread reports of arson, rape and murder by security forces.

On his visit, Abul Hassan held meetings in Naypyitaw and Rakhine State with Vice President U Myint Swe, Social Welfare Minister U Win Myat Aye, State Counselors Office Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe and with an interfaith group in Yangon.

On Saturday, Myanmar announced that it reached seven agreements with the foreign minister including a promise to revise the language used on the cards issued by Bangladesh.

On Monday, U Win Myat Aye told The Irrawaddy that Myanmar asked Abul Hassan to change the language on the ID cards Bangladesh was issuing the refugees that describe them as Myanmar nationals and to stop referring to them as forcibly displaced.

Neither the announcement nor the social welfare minister explained what Myanmar wants Myanmar Nationals Registration Card replaced with.

But U Win Myat Aye said Myanmar objected to forcibly displaced because, he claimed, most of the refugees were not technically forced out by the military. He conceded that some were forced, but that most left later on as the gradual departure of neighbors made it untenable for them to continue to make a living in their communities.

They just left very gradually and no government officials gave orders or forcibly drove them out. The real situation is not the way they describe it, said U Win Myat Aye, claiming that the refugees object to the term as well.

He said some of the displaced people may be Myanmar nationals but most of them would need to go through a verification process.

An Aug. 11 press release from the Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry, however, a day after Abul Hassans meeting with U Myint Swe, makes no mention of any agreement on nomenclature and actually uses the term forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals twice.

Bangladesh started issuing the refugees ID cards in September, but most Rohingya refused to accept them because they did not specifically identify them as Rohingya, which Myanmar refuses to recognize as an ethnic group. The laminated paper cards, written in English, include the holders name, age, place of birth, nationality and parents names. At the time, Bangladeshi officials were quoted by international media claiming that the omission of ethnicity was in line with international practice.

In early October, Bangladesh started issuing new ID cards labeled Rohingya People Registration that included their place of birth and listed their nationality as Rohingya. It is unclear whether the first cards were revoked or replaced.

Both cards were issued by Bangladeshs Immigration Department.

Separately, Bangladesh and the UNs refugee agency have jointly started issuing the refugees over 12 years old yet another type of ID card that includes anti-fraud features including biometric data but no ethnic identity.

In addition to changing the wording of the Bangladeshi ID cards, Myanmar said, Abul Hassan agreed to set up a hotline between the two governments to discuss repatriation, expedite the repatriation process, hand out the agreed-to repatriation forms in the camps, and ensure that the forms were filled out voluntarily.

Saturdays statement said Abul Hassan also vowed to have the remaining four of five promised refugee transit camps on Bangladeshs side of the border built soon, step up joint anti-narcotics operations along the border, cooperate on a joint survey of the border between posts 34 and 35 and help Myanmar repatriate the refugees taking shelter there.

In its own Aug. 11 statement on the visit, the Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry said Abul Hassan urged Myanmar to prepare villages and housing in northern Rakhine State for the refugees to return to and that he was told that 42 sites had been identified.

It said Bangladesh also asked Myanmar to help convince prospective returnees to accept Myanmar National Verification Cards (NVCs) and that Myanmar agreed to send teams to the refugee camps to explain their advantages. Most Rohingya refuse to accept the NVCs because they do not guarantee them the Myanmar citizenship they believe they are entitled to.
Burma Shady Bagan Projects Reported to Anti-Corruption Commission

Bagans famous temples, some of which are now behind hotel walls. / The Irrawaddy

MANDALAY  Locals of Bagan, the archaeological zone in central Myanmar, said they have filed a complaint to the Anti-Corruption Commission of Myanmar and requested an investigation into development and conservation projects that were done in their area.

Save Bagan, a local activist group focusing on the conservation of heritage and environmental protection, told The Irrawaddy that it submitted a complaint to the commission on Aug. 6, which was signed by more than 8,000 locals.

There have been many unjust incidents where local hoteliers were sued while the cronies and rich businesspeople who built their hotels inside the archaeological zone are still out of the reach of the law, said Ko Myo Set San, a leader of Save Bagan.

The group said a complaint was also sent to the Presidents Office, regarding hotels that have ancient pagodas in their compounds.

In early June, the group urged the government to declare a safe zone for about 100 ancient pagodas and temples that are located inside the leased compounds of hotels and other private compounds in Bagan.

After receiving no reaction from the authorities, the group decided to gather signatures from locals and send the complaint to the Presidents Office and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

We suspect there is corruption at the local authority level. Weve requested that the commission investigate both the local administration offices and the Department of Archaeology, who are the responsible bodies that have allowed the hotels to operate like that, Ko Myo Set San said.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture reportedly held a series of meetings with the hotel owners in early August and said they were looking for the best way to create a win-win situation for both the businesspeople and the conservation of the region, and to make sure there would be no more similar negative impacts on Bagan in the future.

The group also said the current landscaping projects in Bagan have no transparency or clarity in their budgets.

A few months ago, a cement sidewalk was constructed at Ananda Pagoda. When locals and visitors showed their dissatisfaction and sent complaints, it was removed.

A similar reaction occurred when the local authorities announced plans to build a public toilet at Alodawpyae Pagoda and manmade hills for watching sunrise and sunset. The projects were halted after public disagreement.

Bagan is home to over 3,000 ancient pagodas and temples built between the 9th and 11th centuries. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture has sought to register Bagan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nomination dossier was submitted in 2016 and a team of experts from UNESCO is due to visit Bagan this September. Their report is to be brought up for deliberation at the UNESCO World Heritage Site convention in 2019.

Currently, Nyaung U district administration office is doing a landscaping project at 17 prominent pagoda and temples where they are growing grass and have no transparency, Ko Myo Set San explained.

The group said since Bagan is located in the dry zone and already has its own natural dry zone landscape that matches the ancient temples, the grass patches are not needed and, in fact, negatively affect the ancient temples and pagodas.

Growing grass is unnecessary but the authorities are doing it and we suspect they are doing this project to show off and squeeze money [from the government] to put in their pockets or just wasting money, thus we reported it to Anti-Corruption Commission, he added.

The group said the Anti-Corruption Commission has told them they will be in touch within two weeks. When The Irrawaddy contacted the commission, it said it could not comment yet as the case is new and needs to be investigated first.
News Govt Investment Body Announces New Criteria for Private Education Institutions

A private international school located in Yangon, photographed on Tuesday. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

YANGON  The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) announced 17 points of standard criteria for private education services on Monday, with specific guidelines on organizational structure, standards for instructors and the school environment.

The government investment body stated that the criteria apply to private schools and training centers that offer certificate qualifications, diplomas and bachelors degrees to students, for Myanmar- and foreign-owned companies or organizations as well as joint ventures.

Publication of the new criteria comes four months after the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) announced that Myanmar would allow foreigners to make full capital investment in private schools and other educational institutions.

Since MIC opened the education sector to foreign investors, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand have expressed interest in investing in Myanmar, according to DICA.

In June, US educational provider Kaplan Inc. opened Kaplan Myanmar University College in Yangon offering certificate courses, degree programs, Master of Business Administration programs and short courses for students.

If they can afford it, many parents in Myanmar prefer to send their children to private schools for a higher standard of curriculum, which makes it easier to later join foreign universities for further study. According to the Ministry of Education, some 600 private schools were in operation during the 2016-2017 academic year in Myanmar.

DICA says the education services can only offer a certificate, qualification, diploma or bachelors degree that has been approved by the related ministry. They need to provide information on the type of course content to be used at the school as well as the syllabus type and the educational background of the members of the institution who are responsible for administration, management and learning activities.

Private school teachers will need to present their teaching credentials and details of their teaching experience as well as a brief biography.

Education services need to have adequate numbers of teachers as well as administration staff and an appropriately sized school compound and sufficient buildings.

According to DICA, the investor will need to get signed agreements from at least 10 people who live around the site of the proposed private school outlining that they have no objections to the establishment of a school. A document of recommendation from the relative ward administrator is also required.

Having an appropriate environment for education is another element of the criteria. DICA stated that the school administrator needs to keep the school compound, surroundings, classrooms and practical rooms in conformity with health, cleanliness and tidiness and prove preparation measures for health emergency, security measures and a firefighting system.

Other points outline the necessity of having a recommendation from the relevant ministry depending on the type of school to be established as well as rules prohibiting drug and alcohol consumption and sexual harassment of students and teachers.
News Residents, Some Lawmakers Oppose Hotel on Former Wildlife Area Near Inle Lake

A fisherman paddles his boat with one leg on Inle lake, in Myanmar's Shan State. / Reuters

YANGON  Lawmakers of Nyaung Shwe Township, southern Shan State, have joined local residents in objecting to the proposed construction of a hotel on 90 acres of prime land in a village in the Inle Lake area.

The Inle hotel zone already occupies more than 620 acres of land, and residents and lawmakers urged that there should be no more new hotels built in nearby areas.

The land in Mai Thaut village was once a wildlife preservation area, but the protected status of the land was removed just before the former military junta ended its authoritarian rule. U Thein Aung, the former forestry minister and then chief minister of Irrawaddy Region, in March 2011 approved the removal of 90 acres from the Inle wildlife sanctuary so that a luxury hotel could be built on it by Myanmar Naing Group Co. Ltd.

Local residents told The Irrawaddy this week that they will continue their objection, simply to protect the biodiversity and wildlife in the Inle area.

We did not know about the hotel project before. We have become aware of the importance of preserving these areas; we oppose [the plan] and we will continue doing so, said Ma Khaing Khaing Tun, an Inle resident.

The developers initially planned to start the hotel project in 2016, as they received permission to do so in 2011, but it was stopped after local residents objected. Their efforts resumed in mid-June this year. According to a notice from the district resettlement and land record office, any objection to the hotel project would have to be made before Aug. 15.

We will see whether the government will allow the hotel project to continue or not, as the deadline for the objection is on Wednesday, said U Nay Myo, a Lower House lawmaker representing Nyaung Shwe.

Innthar Ethnic Affairs Minister Dr. Tun Hlaing, Lower House lawmaker U Nay Myo and state lawmakers U Khin Maung Win and U Thein Zaw Moe joined the locals signature campaign against the hotel project this month.

As a resident of Inle region, I want the area to be preserved, as Inle Lake already faces a lot of environmental challenges, U Nay Myo said.

In order to protect its rich biodiversity, residents of the Inle Lake region cannot build structures  not even huts  within 10 miles of Inle Lake, said Inle residents, on the orders of the wildlife preservation committee.

We have a hotel zone already, and as it is inside the Inle Wildlife sanctuary, it will affect the natural biodiversity, added U Thein Zaw Moe, a state lawmaker from Nyaung Shwe Constituency 2.

The lawmaker said there had been some efforts by the developers to persuade locals to accept the project by promising to support village development with infrastructure like roads and bridges.

No permission should be given to build the hotel on this important land, said Dr. Tun Hlaing, who is also the vice chair of the Inle Lake conservation committee.

If the cabinet approves the hotel project on those 90 acres, it will have both environmental and social impacts, he said, partly because locals are not even allowed to build any structures designed to protect the sanctuary. The minister added that the cabinet must uphold its responsibility to conserve natural diversity.
Commentary KNU Leader Has Changed His Tune on the Chances for Peace

Padao Mahn Nyein Maung appears at the 3rd Session of the 21st-Century Panglong Peace Conference in Naypyitaw last month. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

MON STATE  I met senior Karen National Union (KNU) leader Padao Mahn Nyein Maung during the Karen New Year in 2013. He was very actively working for peace at that time, and it seemed to me that he felt it was the right time to work with the government and the Myanmar Army. I met him in Ah Lone Township, Yangon Division, where a large Karen community and a number of journalists were celebrating the New Year.

The KNU had signed a ceasefire agreement with the government after fighting the state for more than 50 years. The KNU was the countrys oldest and strongest armed rebel group, and had long refused to sign an agreement with the military regime.

However, the political reforms embarked upon under then-President Thein Sein had convinced the KNU to change its mind. I asked Padao Mahn Nyein Maung what he thought the benefits of signing a ceasefire would be. His reaction was quite defensive. He told me that he knew what I was really trying to ask. You journalists always have a negative viewpoint, he said. How can I say what the benefits are for our ethnic Karen? We have only just signed the ceasefire agreement.

Some journalists, including myself, were disappointed by his behavior. Padao Mahn Nyein Maung was instrumental in bringing the KNU to the table to sign a peace agreement with the government, according to some Karen sources. Earlier, he had been sentenced to life in prison after being detained in China for attempting to cross the border in order to travel to Laiza, the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army. The government of then-President U Thein Sein initially approached Padao Mahn Nyein Maung about making peace with the KNU while he was still in prison.

Padao Mahn Nyein Maung received an amnesty along with other political prisoners under the U Thein Sein administration and was successful in bringing the KNU to the table to sign a peace deal. At that time, Padao Mahn Nyein Maung took the view that he and the KNU could work for peace. He continually praised the administration for its commitment to seeking peace and always spoke positively about the peace process. The KNU was the ethnic armed group with the closest relationship with the government and the Myanmar Army at that time.

At that time, the KNU was a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). There was a long debate among members of the bloc about whether to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). After deciding to sign it, the KNU left the UNFC. The government was extremely pleased by this development, and by the UNFCs subsequent loss of influence. Within the KNU, however, the leadership was divided about whether to sign the NCA. Naw Zipporah Sein, who was a former vice chairman of the KNU, disagreed with the decision to sign the pact. She and others did not want the KNU to leave the UNFC. However, a group of KNU leaders including Padao Mahn Nyein Maung were happy to leave the UNFC and decided to sign the NCA.

It has been over three years since the KNU signed the NCA. But the situation has changed, and the relationship between the KNU, the government and the Myanmar Army has changed as well. Fighting recently broke out between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)s Brigade 5 and the Myanmar Army over the latters decision to rebuild an old road through a KNLA-controlled area.

Padao Mahn Nyein Maung has changed his tune a lot since the NLD government took power. He has grown more pessimistic about peace, telling reporters at the recent third session of the 21st-Century Panglong Peace Conference in Naypyitaw that no one could touch the 2008 Constitution, which was written by the Myanmar Army. He even said he did not think the conference would help the peace process, as the Myanmar Army did not allow discussion of political issues.

Many people in the country view Padao Mahn Nyein Maung as a supporter of the Myanmar government. So it was a surprise to see him criticizing the peace process, the Myanmar Army and the government.

Padao Mahn Nyein Maung told some reporters during the 68th Karen Martyrs Day in Hinthada Township, Ayeyarwady Division, that the KNU could not build peace and national reconciliation with the Myanmar Army, as military leaders and government authorities did not allow the Karen people to celebrate the occasion.

The Myanmar Armys action was disrespectful and would damage the peace process, he said, adding that the KNU could not establish trust with the Myanmar Army. He said the Karen people had the right to pay respect to their leaders and celebrate Karen Martyrs Day.

If they [the Army] continue to oppress ethnic groups, it will render meaningless all the work done to achieve peace, create unity among ethnic groups, and achieve national reconciliation, Padao Mahn Nyein Maung said.
Optus has consolidated and expanded its services to government with the securing of a $6 million deal to provide the Australian Governments Department of Health with telecommunications products and services, including Wide Area Network, mobile and voice services to the departments 5000 users.

Under the single-service agreement, Australias second largest telco has been appointed as the Department of Healths whole-of-department telecommunications provider.

Singtel-owned Optus adds the new agreement to its current long-standing agreements with the Australian Taxation Office and the Department of Home Affairs.

The new agreement is for three years and the Optus Business appointment was finalised after a competitive tender process was completed.

Optus Business managing director John Paitaridis said the Optus solution had been designed to provide the Department of Health a resilient WAN and Voice environment which has multiple levels of redundancy and resiliency.

Optus is committed to providing services that are cost-effective, robust and scalable to meet the Department of Healths current and future needs as they deliver the nations health and wellbeing, he said.

We look forward to working with the Department of Health to support their digitisation and innovation agenda, through the provision of high-performance infrastructure and ICT services.

The Department of Health said it was looking forward to working with Optus Business to provide employees with high-quality WAN and Data Carriage, Mobile and Voice Services.

The Department  which has already begun transition activities under the new agreement  says the arrangement will support its national footprint, enabling its vision to support the health and well-being of all Australians.

Paitaridis said the new agreement complements Optus long-standing partnerships with the ATO and Department of Home Affairs.

With our recent addition to the supplier panel for Department of Defence, Optus Business is now involved in supporting three of the four largest government departments in Australia, reinforcing our position as a market leading telco and ICT provider, he said.
Graphics processor unit manufacturer Nvidia has announced its new Turing architecture and Quadro RTX video card, the worlds first real-time ray-tracing GPU.

The Turing architecture includes three processors, including the usual compute and shading processor, along with two brand new processing units dedicated to ray-tracing and to deep learning, respectively. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Nvidia founder and chief executive, Jensen Huang, at SIGGRAPH 2018 in Vancouver.

This is a historic moment, Huang said.

nVidia started with its pursuit to produce the most amazing imagery within one 30th of a second, at the price-point consumers would pay for."

He highlighted three previous events which were significant milestones in Nvidia's history, beginning with the release of the GeForce 256, the first processor which performed graphical computation for geometry and transformation in hardware. Secondly, Huang highlighted the GeForce 3 as the worlds first programmable shader, and thirdly, the GTX 8800, the world's first compute GPU with its CUDA architecture.

The announcement added a fourth major milestone, he said.

We have been able to operate and optimise performance across the stack, removing bottlenecks, and creating new ideas that break Moores law. All this horsepower and performance is following the road to real-time photorealism with amazing amounts of geometry in a scene, physically-based materials, simulated physics, facial animation and character animation."

However, there has been one enormous roadblock, one as fundamental as can be  the simulation of light. We can do amazing things, but they take a lot of effort like placing invisible lights in the environment. Simulating light for photorealism has been pursued as the holy grail of computer graphics since Turner Whitted first wrote about it in 1979.

Whitteds algorithm  multi-bounce recursive ray-tracing  is intensively computationally heavy. Back in 1979, Whitted could animate one frame on a VAX 11/780 in 1.2 hours of computation. He estimated it would take a Cray supercomputer behind every single pixel for real-time ray tracing.

Thirty years later we can put a Cray supercomputer behind every pixel, Huang said, announcing the worlds first real-time ray-tracing GPU, the Quadro RTX. Using Nvidias Turing architecture, the RTX includes a new powerful compute and shader processor, as well as a new processor named RT Core for ray tracing, and another new processor for deep learning and artificial intelligence named Tensor Core.

The specifications include

Up to 10 Giga Rays per second Up to 16 TFLOPS + 16 TIPS with both floating point and integer calculations able to be performed concurrently Up to 500 Trillion tensor operations per second Up to 100 GB/sec data transfer with NVLink, a brand new GPU connector so RTX cards can connect to the frame buffer in other FTX cards, effectively doubling the frame buffer capacity.

The Tensor Core aids the ray tracing engine by allowing it to render smaller scenes and then using deep learning to infer the missing pixels and fill in the scene, producing the final image in a faster time with less computation. The deep learning was trained using very high-quality images, Huang says.

No CPU in the history of CPU has ever commandeered this much computational power on one chip, Huang said.

By comparison, Nvidia's Pascal architecture offers 11.8 billion stores with 24Gb RAM and 10GHz throughput. The Turing architecture can deliver 18.6 billion stores with 48Gb RAM (+ another 48Gb using NVLink) at 14GHz.

Turing renders images at six times the speed of Pascal running on the Epic Unreal 4 RTRT Engine on top of Microsoft DirectX ray-tracing.

Software-wise, Turing includes a plug-in architecture for deep learning and offers interoperability between rasterisation, ray tracing, compute and AI. It provides hardware ray tracing acceleration in OptiX, DXR and Vulkan, includes an NGX SDK for DNN plug-ins, supports Pixars Universal Scene Description (USD) language, and provides a new open source nVidia Material Design Language (MDL).

Nvidias new GPU brings real-time ray tracing to market years before anyone thought possible and its going to completely change how artists and designers work, said Tim Sweeney, chief executive, Epic Games.

Huang says not only will Turing and the Quadro RTX make amazing games today and in the future, it opens access to the $250B visual effects industry that until now could not use GPU acceleration because their requirements are photorealism with global illumination, physically-based materials and to hold large detailed assets. As such, Huang said, this industry  such as architecture and engineering and film and television  mostly runs on CPUs, running vast multi-million dollar render farms with pre-computed lights by artists.

To serve that industry, Nvidia also announced the Nvidia RTX Server for production rendering with global illumination, reducing rendering time from hours to minutes. The server will be available in early access within quarter four and then released the following quarter.

Huang stated a current render farm used by the film industry comes to 240 dual 12-core Skylake CPU servers, using 144kW of power for US$2 million. However, the same power can be replicated by four RTX 8-GPU servers consuming 13kW of power and priced at US$500,000. This takes one-tenth the space, at a quarter of the cost and one-eleventh the power consumption.

A three-second shot can be produced in an hour instead of four to five hours, Huang said, taking film producers from two shots per day to seven.

We never expected to see results this dramatic. This will completely change how our artists work, said Michele Sciolette, chief technology officer, Cinesite.

Nvidia says its RTX processor will be supported by Adobe Dimension CC, Autodesk Arnold, Solidworks, Renderman, Siemens NX, Unity, Unreal engine, and other leading imaging products.

The Quadro RTX will be released in three models

The Quadro RTX 5000 with 16Gb RAM (supporting 32Gb using NVLink), 6 Giga Rays per second, for US$2300 The Quadro RTX 6000 with 24Gb RAM (supporting 48Gb), 10 Giga Rays per second, for US$6300. The Quadro RTX 8000 with 48Gb RAM (supporting 96Gb), 10 Giga Rays per second, for $USD 10,000.

The first Toy Story movie rendering took 800,000 hours of computation on 100MHz SPARC workstations, Huang said. Yet nVidias announcement brings real-time rendering to the next generation of film and games.

The writer attended SIGGRAPH18 as a guest of Nvidia.
Individuals who disclose information about any of the three classes of notice to technology or Internet companies, seeking co-operation over an investigation, can be jailed for five years, under a new draft law unveiled on Tuesday.

Under the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018, a draft of which was released this morning for public comment, a wide range of people are covered by this part of the proposed legislation.

The law appears to aim at discouraging whistleblowers by including public servants  employees of the Federal, State or Territory Governments  among those who could be sent to jail for disclosing information of this kind.

Some of the categories of people covered are:

a designated communications provider;

an employee of a designated communications provider;

a contracted service provider of a designated communications provider;

an employee of a contracted service provider of a designated communications provider; or

an entrusted ASIO person; or an entrusted ASIS person; or

an entrusted ASD person; or

an officer of an interception agency; or

an officer or employee of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

The law also specifies that Australian entities would be asked to co-operate with requests for assistance from abroad, if local authorities deem this is necessary.

Another thing specified by the law is that hacking back  that is, infiltrating computers in other jurisdictions, if deemed necessary to obtain information for an investigation  can only be carried out with a judicial warrant.

A court can refuse to admit evidence from such sources if it is satisfied that it was not obtained by legal means.

The government has invited feedback on the draft bill which can be sent to assistancebill.consultation@homeaffairs.gov.au by 10 September.
Senator Jordon Steele-John: What were talking about here is a serious pre-crime measure that will ultimately diminish the presumption of innocence and the privacy of all Australians online..."

The Australian Greens appear to be unimpressed with the Federal Government's new cyber law , saying that it would "completely undermine the point of end-to-end encryption and the privacy of every single Australians personal information online".

Greens Digital Rights spokesperson Jordon Steele-John said in a statement that encrypted messaging, which was used by practically every politician, gained popularity "because of intrusive data gathering practices introduced by governments and security agencies to keep peoples personal and private information secure". The new draft law was released on Tuesday morning.

This new legislation, the likes of which we have been expecting for some time, is a direct response to people wanting to keep their personal and private data safe and it is a massive over-reach by this government," Steele-John said.

Regardless of what (Cyber Security) Minister (Angus) Taylor claims, installing software or legislating some other means to capture data as it is unencrypted on the receiving device undermines the very principle of end-to-end-encryption.

Installing malware on peoples devices to read encrypted data is not a solution to catching criminals, but it is weakening the defences of every single device that receives encrypted messages, therefore making it easier for criminals who want to steal data!"

Steele-John said the government has proven repeatedly that it was not capable of keeping the public's data secure. "So why on earth would I trust them to build  lets call it for what it is, a backdoor  into the one mechanism that Australians trust to keep them safe online?" he asked.

What were talking about here is a serious pre-crime measure that will ultimately diminish the presumption of innocence and the privacy of all Australians online, and the Australian Greens will be referring the matter to committee for rigorous scrutiny when it comes to Parliament.

I call upon those tech companies who are likely to be affected to immediately condemn this legislation, which presents a very serious threat to the privacy of their users!

The government has invited feedback on the draft bill which can be sent to assistancebill.consultation@homeaffairs.gov.au by 10 September.
The communications and telecommunications industry has welcomed the Australian Governments release for public consultation of the draft telecoms assistance and access bill  otherwise dubbed the Encryption Bill.

The chief executive of telco industry lobby group Communications Alliance, John Stanton, says the industry is currently working through details of the complex piece of legislation and looking for ways in which it might be improved and understanding the implications of the new rules for our industry.

The draft Assistance and Access Bill extends significantly the reach of government and its agencies and the types of assistance that can be requested or required from telecommunications players in Australia or companies providing communications products and services to Australia from offshore.

The draft Bill includes amendments to a number of existing Acts. It will take some time to get a clear picture as to what is being proposed and whether the draft legislation is practical and provides sufficient clarity to allow our industry to implement the new regime in the relevant timeframes envisaged by the law, Stanton said.

We will make a submission in response to the exposure draft and continue to engage closely with government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that Australia is protected by a practical approach that balances security needs and individual freedoms.

In an analysis of the draft encryption bill, the iTWires Sam Varghese says that The Australian Government has left open the door for enforcement agencies to use specific cracks to gain access to encrypted communications on specific devices, given the language it has used in a draft of a new cyber law."

There has been much speculation over the last year about what Canberra would do with regard to encryption. The draft law issued on Tuesday indicates that no foolhardy attempt will be made to insert generic backdoors, Varghese writes.

The government has invited feedback on the draft bill which can be sent to assistancebill.consultation@homeaffairs.gov.au by 10 September.
NordVPN is warning Australians about the dangers of Australia's Federal Government releasing "a legislative proposal to give law enforcement agencies new rights to access personal user communications and data".

When NordVPN sends out its media releases, they always serve two functions: reminding people that NordVPN exists and is a great VPN option, and also to highlight a genuine security and/or privacy concern that can affect everyday people.

Given that NordVPN actually delivers useful content and commentary intermixed with its obvious attempt at free publicity, I'm content enough to reprint NordVPN's content, so here's what the company has to say about this new legislative proposal.

The company states: "If the proposal gets approved, it would undermine encryption and force everyone who uses the Internet to cooperate with the government demands. The government, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has been trying to pass the controversial bill for at least a year.

"As Australians feel the threat to their privacy, tech experts expect them to start using VPNs at a higher rate. Australian citizens turned to VPNs after the countrys government passed the mandatory data retention law in 2015, with NordVPN gaining 200% more purchases from Down Under. However, the new law might also aim to ban VPNs  a practice similar to that of China."

It's at this point that we hear from a regular contributor to NordVPN's commentary, being Marty P. Kamden, the company's chief marketing officer, who said: "Encryption is vital for online security.

In order to be safe on wireless networks, people need to use encryption services, such as VPNs. Encrypted communication apps, such as Telegram, are important for private conversations.

"Since many businesses have moved online now, the significance of Internet privacy and security has increased, and people should be allowed to use encryption.

Opening a backdoor for the government means opening it for other entities capable of exploiting the access as well. It lead to a flood of hacks, stolen information and other forms of abuse.

"This could jeopardise the privacy of all players involved  individuals, companies, and their clients, continued Kamden.

Now, for those who might need a refresher on what a VPN or virtual private network actually does, the company reminds us that "a VPN encrypts internet users data and routes it through a secure tunnel before accessing the Internet".

"The only information visible to a third party (such as a government agency) is that a user is connected to a VPN server  nothing else."

So, whether you use NordVPN's VPN software on your PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, iPad or Android tablet, or choose to use someone else's, the advice given and concerns expressed are sound, and I guess we can at least be happy that our current hapless Federal Government hasn't resurrected the previous government's idea of an Internet filter again, too.
The UK and Canada are understood to be lobbying Australia not to ban Chinese telecommunications equipment firm Huawei from playing a role in building 5G networks Down Under, iTWire has learnt.

This came to light a day after a report that said Huawei was likely to be allowed to play a role in 5G in Australia, but would face curbs on provision of equipment for what are deemed sensitive parts of the networks.

Sources told iTWire that the two countries, both members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance which also includes the US and New Zealand, were lobbying Canberra to give the Chinese company a role, because a ban would put pressure on them to justify sticking with Huawei.

Both Canada and the UK have arrangements in place to examine all equipment supplied by Huawei.

The Chinese firm has a cyber security centre in the UK alongside members of the Government Communications Headquarters, the intelligence and security organisation responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance.

The Huawei unit is known as The Cell and monitors threats and backdoors in its own hardware, with the researchers being overseen by the NCSC.

In May, Huawei announced a promise of procurement with the UK worth 3 billion during a meeting in Beijing between the company's chairperson, Sun Yafang, and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

In Canada, the government does its own monitoring of Huawei's equipment and the company has conducted trial runs for 5G technology in rural communities along with Bell Canada.

And in March 2017, the Ontario Government said it would focus on 5G technology at the Chinese companys Canada Research Centre in Kanata. In December, Huawei included Carleton University in its 5G research.

The sources indicated that a similar arrangement to what exists in the UK or Canada would be put in place to alleviate any suspicions that have been raised about Huawei.

The company itself has pushed for setting up a security assurance centre in Australia.

If peace of mind is achieved by keeping Huawei out of what are deemed to be core areas of the network, then that should not be a problem, as a research paper produced by Huawei points out.

"There is a clear standardised interface and separation between Core Network and Radio Access Network across the whole transition of deployments and in a final 5G standalone environment," the paper, written by Dr David Soldani, Dr Malcolm Shore and Jeremy Mitchell, says.

And it adds: "The 3GPP 5G System design follows requirements from various organisations. The most prominent input is perhaps the NGMN 5G Whitepaper, which provides functional design and migration considerations from a network operator perspective.

"As in previous 3GPP systems, the 5G Access-Core Network boundary has been set out in the 3GPP global standards with a clear functional split and offers globally accepted principles. This enables the adoption of different business models, and the utilisation of RAN equipment from one vendor and core elements from other network infrastructure providers, as it is currently in 4G networks in Australia."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is expected to announce a decision on Huawei sometime before the Telecommunications Sector Security Reform law takes effect on 18 September.

Huawei was banned from bidding for contracts for Australia's national broadband network, the NBN, in 2012.
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Outward shipments of petroleum products surged from USD 3 billion in July last year to USD 3.9 billion.

Export of gems and jewellery was up 24.62 per cent to USD 3.18 billion.

New Delhi: India's exports rose by 14.32 per cent to USD 25.77 billion in July compared to USD 22.54 billion in the year-ago month mainly on account of better performance of gems and jewellery sector as well as petroleum products.

The trade data released by the commerce ministry on Tuesday also revealed that merchandise imports during July were valued at USD 43.79 billion, a growth of 28.81 per cent compared to USD 33.99 billion in the year ago period.

The sharp surge in imports led to worsening of trade deficit to USD 18.02 billion in the reporting month as against a deficit of USD 11.45 billion during July 2017.

Gold imports surged by 40.94 per cent in July to USD 2.96 billion compared to USD 2.102 billion in July 2017.

As regards exports, the outward shipments of petroleum products surged from USD 3 billion in July last year to USD 3.9 billion, showing a growth of about 30 per cent.

Export of gems and jewellery was up 24.62 per cent to USD 3.18 billion.
The full-scale roll-out of his pet project expected in September end.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to announce the launch of the Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme (AB-NHPS) on a pilot basis in some states tomorrow on the occasion of Independence Day, with the full-scale roll-out of his pet project expected in September end, sources said.

The ambitious Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10 crore poor families.

The scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers' families, 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas, as per the latest SECC data, and will cover around 50 crore people.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will talk about the scheme in his Independence Day speech and is also likely to announce its launch on a pilot basis in some states tomorrow," a government official said. While Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are yet to come on board, Odisha has refused to be a part of the scheme, the official said.

According to the official, as many as 22 states have preferred to run the scheme on "trust model". The Centre has allocated about Rs 10,000 crore for the project, which is claimed to be the world's largest government funded healthcare insurance programme. It is yet to release its share of the funds to the states.

The Union health ministry has launched a formal process to empanel public and private hospitals to achieve universal health coverage under the programme. The Centre was simultaneously carrying out beneficiary identification. Under the process, 80 per cent of beneficiaries, based on the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) data in the rural and the urban areas, have been identified.

The health ministry has included 1,354 packages in the scheme under which treatment for coronary bypass, knee replacements and stenting among others would be provided at 15-20 per cent cheaper rates than the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). Each empanelled hospital will have an 'Ayushman Mitra' to assist patients and will coordinate with beneficiaries and the hospital.

They will run a help desk, check documents to verify the eligibility and enrolment to the scheme," the official said. Also, all the beneficiaries will be given letters having QR codes which will be scanned and a demographic authentication conducted for identification and to verify his or her eligibility to avail the benefits of the scheme.

Further, the government recently clarified that the NABH is not mandatory for the hospitals to get empanelled under the scheme. However, hospitals with NABH/NQAS accreditation can be incentivised for higher package rates subject to procedure and costing guidelines.

Also, the basic empanelment criteria allows empanelment of a hospital with a minimum of 10 beds, with the flexibility provided to the states to further relax this if required.
https://www.johnnyfd.com/2018/08/odessa-ukraine-for-digital-nomads-long.html





Visas and Travel









A big reason why I choose to visit Odessa and Ukraine in general every summer is because of the Visas. For the past 5 years ever since I started making enough money online to travel and work online, I've been coming to Europe every summer and spending more and more time here. I wrote about this dream goal and how I accomplished it in my book Life Changes Quick . The only problem became that even though I loved summers in Europe and could finally afford to travel and live here, as an American, I am only allowed to spend 90 days every 180 days in the Schengen zone which is pretty much all of Western Europe including Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland and even as far east as Greece. I tried spending some of my time in Bulgaria which isn't yet part of the visa zone for EU but got bored really quickly. Then I discovered Ukraine. Unlike Russia, we don't need a visa to enter and we get 90 days upon arrival. This means every summer I can easily and legally spend 3 months in Western Europe and 3 months in Ukraine or Eastern Europe allowing me to spend the entire summer in the sun without having to leave.









Also I've heard from a few different expats in Ukraine that fees and penalties for overstaying your visa in Ukraine isn't that big of a deal and in general, if you fly out of Ukraine before your 90 days are up, you can come straight back after a week of vacationing in Europe even before your 180 days clears, but it's not guaranteed as I've also met one guy who was refused entry for not staying out long enough. However I've also met multiple people who have overstayed by up to 8 months and just paid an 850 UAH fine ($35) with no issues and were invited to come back the next day if they wished. There are also a ton of posts in expat groups similar to:



"If you payed your fine your record ID clears. You can come back anytime , even next day and break the rules again ...as many time as you want. When you pay your fine they reset your record. I know 100% ...do it all the time for 6 years."



But even though it's very easy and the fines are low. The border control could have a bad day, not like the way you look, or decide to enforce the rule in the future, so realize it's still a risk. For me, I wouldn't want to stay here over winter anyways, and I don't mind a week trip to Poland or somewhere else as a vacation after 90 days for a visa run, so I'd recomend that route over overstaying.



Ukraine's visa requirements are extremely easy for Americans, Canadians, Brits, EU members, and even many South Americans in which we just show up, and get 90 days (3 months) upon entering with zero paperwork or hassle. For whatever reason, Australians don't qualify for the visa exemption, but maybe that's a good thing as it keeps Odessa from turning into the next Kuta Beach in Bali. To check your visa requirements of our country, visit the Official Ukraine Visa page for more info. The other issue is that even though Odessa Airport (ODS) is technically international, there are limited flights, mostly from Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Istanbul, and sometimes Sofia which is where I flew in from. So if you're flying in from another country, you'll most likely have to land in Lviv (LWO), Kiev (IEV) or even Chisinau in Moldova which is confusingly abbreviated (KIV). There is a lot more info on travel and tourism in my "Johnny's Guide to Ukraine" blog post.Also I've heard from a few different expats in Ukraine that fees and penalties for overstaying your visa in Ukraine isn't that big of a deal and in general, if you fly out of Ukraine before your 90 days are up, you can come straight back after a week of vacationing in Europe even before your 180 days clears, but it's not guaranteed as I've also met one guy who was refused entry for not staying out long enough. However I've also met multiple people who have overstayed by up to 8 months and just paid an 850 UAH fine ($35) with no issues and were invited to come back the next day if they wished. There are also a ton of posts in expat groups similar to:"If you payed your fine your record ID clears. You can come back anytime , even next day and break the rules again ...as many time as you want. When you pay your fine they reset your record. I know 100% ...do it all the time for 6 years."But even though it's very easy and the fines are low. The border control could have a bad day, not like the way you look, or decide to enforce the rule in the future, so realize it's still a risk. For me, I wouldn't want to stay here over winter anyways, and I don't mind a week trip to Poland or somewhere else as a vacation after 90 days for a visa run, so I'd recomend that route over overstaying.





Odessa City Center Map



Where to Stay in Odessa



Google maps for Odessa is deceiving as everything looks super close by and within walking distance. However, everything is actually much further than you expect as the blocks here are extremely long and there is a slight hill going from higher up in the main city center, sloping down to the beach and park area on the right. That means that even though it's a nice easy 20 minute walk from the main walking street, Deribasovskaya in the center down to one of the coworking spaces or Fitness stadium, on the way back, you'll find yourself walking for more than half an hour slightly uphill in the hot summer sun. Also confusing is that the word "Center" or "Centre" on the map, while technically is the city center of Odessa, isn't actually where all of the bars, restaurants, and places to go out are. For that you'll want to be somewhere in between the word center on the map to either Deribasovskaya street or the Opera house. Technically the entire area shown on the map above is considered the center so if you find a nice Airbnb place to stay, you can get around easily enough with a short $3 taxi ride or the local bus if you can figure it out.



Most locals would consider any place on the map above a desirable place to live and they'd be right as you'll always have a grocery store, park, and and a cafe close by. However, if you really like being able to walk everywhere within 10-15 minutes, you'll want to stay in the pink area above. I stayed basically at Bunina 20 which is right in the center in between everything and was within a block of two super markets and within an easy walk of everything you'd want to go to. During my first trip to Odessa I stayed in Arcadia which is where Ibiza beach club is, and even though it was fun for a weekend, if you're staying for more than 2 days, you'll want to stay in the city center instead as there's much more to do, and it's less touristy. The good news is however you can get to Arcadia with a 20 minute taxi ride which will cost you between 100-150 UAH which is $4-$6, which is the same price as getting an Uber from the Airport to the center as well. The train station will cost you even less.



There are definitely a lot of apartments in the city center for around 8,000 UAH ($300USD) a month or less the only issue is being able to find one that will rent month to month.







Dinner on Deribasovskaya Street







Hotels and Apartments



The good new is that hotels in the city center or in Arcadia are reasonably priced at around $35 (900uah) a night for somewhere in a great area. So if you're staying for a week or less, it's actually relatively easy to find a decent place. You can also rent an apartment for 6 months or longer in the center for around $300 a month. Unfortunately this isn't how we digital nomads travel so we're a bit screwed when it comes to finding monthly rentals, especially since during the time we'd most likely come are the peak summer months of June-August when prices are often three times higher than the rest of the year. The problem is that there isn't a month to month rental market in Ukraine. People coming to Odessa either need to pay a daily rate, or sign a 6 month contract. That means that if you want to get an apartment for 1 or 2 months, we're basically screwed on pricing as there isn't a place to rent mid term with the exception of Airbnb. Even my local friend came to visit for the summer booked her place on Airbnb as she had no other options despite being from Odessa originally. The other issue is the mindset that most Ukrainians would rather their apartment sit empty than give a discount. If you want, you can try the Airbnb bargaining trick I mentioned in my



Landlords would rather hold out for someone to maybe pay full price even if it might not happen. I know this is true as my airbnb host has 3 units next to mine that have been empty 90% of the time I've been here these past two months and he still refuses to lower the price as he's rather someone pay full price once in a while and have the chance to make more than have a guaranteed tenant in the room. Just take a look at places that are still available on Airbnb and are sitting empty for the rest of summer as an example, these places in the photo below are holding out and will most likely sit 90% empty as they are asking for too much. I'm paying $680 a month for my apartment in a great location in the center, which is a bit overpriced as it doesn't include utilities which is another $60 a month but it was the best option I could find. The solution to getting a good deal in Odessa would be to sign a 6 month contract or come for just 2 weeks or less at a time. It's honestly a huge shame as everything else in Odessa is very reasonably priced and sometimes are super cheap, it's just that the accommodation kills the budget for a lot of people. Let me know in the comments below if you find another solution or what you paid if you've been here.





Overpriced apartments on Airbnb Hotel prices depending on Season. (27 UAH = $1USD / 850UAH = $32)

An apartment in the center: 9,500UAH / $350 a month (long term)





Taxis and Ubers in Odessa



One great thing about Ukraine is the fact that they have Uber and that when it works, it works great and is super cheap. Two years ago when I first came, Uber worked fantastic and I loved it. However, as of 2018, Uber has stopped incentivizing drivers and the service has started to slow. That means that even in the city center, you often can't find a ride, or if you do it'll be at 2x surge pricing. I've heard from drivers that this is because Uber takes around 35% which is super high compared to other local apps. The downside is that the other apps aren't as easy to use and don't take credit card. So as a passenger I still default to trying Uber first and leaving a tip through the app first. However when cars aren't available or there is a high surge price, I use one of the other local taxi apps instead. After a lot of hunting around I have five different taxi apps installed on my phone as randomly one work better than the other. The one I use the most after Uber is "Tachku" which I actually hated in the beginning as it's mostly not in English and is an bidding type fare. However I've learned to just bid 50 uah ($2) around the center, and 100 uah ($4) to Arcadia which usually ends up getting accepted.



I also have Yandex, Uklon and Bond installed but don't use them unless the above two really aren't an option. The annoyances of all the apps aside from Uber is that even if you drop a pin or give an address, the drivers almost always call you which is annoying especially since I can't speak Russian. They also almost never have change even though it's cash only, and often ask you to cancel the ride through the app so they don't have to pay the 10% fee to the company or pay taxes. Still it's better than hailing a taxi on the street or dealing with the taxi drivers in front of the airport as these guys are a huge time waster and always want 500% what the fare should be. Arriving in Odessa's airport at midnight the first night really sucked as the airport's wifi wasn't working, the shops were closed so I couldn't buy a SIM card, and I had no way to call an Uber. That meant I had to waste 30 minutes negotiating with drivers in front of the airport which all wanted 300-500 UAH which I refused to pay upon principle as I knew the actual price was between 100-150 UAH maximum. Luckily I managed to find someone who would share their internet hotspot with me so I could call an Uber, then I had the driver call my Airbnb host to let them know I was there to check in.



I know the above sounds terribly annoying, and honestly, it sometimes is. But the fact is that it's still a million times better than places like Bali where the taxi mafia literally beats up Uber drivers and rides are often impossible to get. Or places like Germany where they completely ban the app and it costs a minimum of $25 (650UAH) for a normal taxi wherever you go. The fact that you're able to easily get around the city for $2-$3 a ride, means that you can go wherever you want and really enjoy the city.







Odessa Opera house in the center, a great meeting spot.



Odessa Digital Nomad Scene



The great news is that there are three coworking spaces in the center of Odessa, all within walking distance of each other. Even better news is that they are all reasonably priced, have daily or even half day rates, and great internet. The downsides are mainly that there isn't currently much of a digital nomad or entrepreneur scene in Ukraine so you'll most likely be coworking solo unless you bring friends with you. Even at the busier spaces like Terminal 42 or Impact Hub where you'll be surrounded by dozens of people, since 99% of people are locals and there's not the culture to go out to lunch together, it's actually really hard to get to know people. At Impact Hub the staff is super friendly but being here for over a month, I still haven't been out to lunch or drinks with anyone. At Terminal 42, after spending an entire month there, I barely had a 2 minute conversation with anyone. Compared with Chiang Mai where it's normal to go to lunch with new people almost everyday, Ukraine is completely different. The best place to actually have a conversation and meet people would be the various English Language Club meetups that happen a few times during the week.



One of my goals for writing this blog post was actually to try to get more digital nomads to move to Odessa each summer so there would be more of a nomad scene and people to hang out with. I even created the facebook group:





My review of Impact Hub Odessa on Coworker.com

My review of IQ Space on Coworker.com

My review of Terminal 42 Coworking



Wifi and Russian



The great news about Ukraine is how fast and cheap the internet is here. You can get a 4G/LTE SIM card with unlimited data for 155 UAH ($5.50) a month including the SIM Card itself. Compared to what you'd pay in the US, Spain, or other countries, this is a steal. Wifi is also available at every restaurant and cafe, but since it's unlimited on my phone anyways, it's just a strange habit that I bother logging in at all. I'm using KyivStar as there was a store right by my house, but from what I've heard, Vodafone is the best service in Ukraine. The most convenient part is unlike the EU, you don't need to bring your passport to register, and you don't have to wait 4 hours for it to activate. I walked in the store, handed them 200 UAH ($8) and my phone and 10 minutes later had a working SIM card and 45 UAH in extra credit on my phone as for whatever reason they can't give change?



The great news about Ukraine is having internet and a host of apps like Google Translate to be able to communicate, translate menus, and call taxis make your life extremely easy. But the two times I went without internet, once when I first arrived late at night, and then again once when I somehow forgot my password and locked myself out of my iPhone for an hour. (don't ask) I felt super lost and way more confused and nervous than I would have been somewhere else in the world. Having a smart phone and internet is your lifeline to be able to order a taxi without getting ripped off, being able to read menus, and order food. If you're coming for more than a few weeks, I'd suggest downloading some Russian learning apps as well. My favorite has been "RusAlphabet" which markets itself as "Learn Russian in 3 hours." The podcast "Russian Made Easy" has also been helpful. If I come back again, I'll take classes, but being able to read and pronounce the Cyrillic alphabet has been super handy to be able to read street signs, restaurant names, especially since a lot of them are actually English words just written in Russian. Oh by the way, in Odessa, they speak Russian. If you want to speak Ukrainian, go to Lviv, some parts of Kiev, or Western Ukraine. I wrote more about those cities in my "











Wifi speeds at Impact Hub Coworking



Food and Drinks



The food in Odessa is extremely good. It's not quite as cheap as places like Bulgaria or Thailand and most locals only go out to restaurants once or twice a month because of it. There's a huge culture to eat at home, and to bring your own lunch to work. When people do eat out, it's usually to quick serve restaurants like



For an example, you can go to to a really nice steakhouse in the city center, on the main walking street    (Meat and Wine) and have a nice steak for around $10 and a glass of wine for $2 more. Going out for a nice dinner date with drinks and food for two people will usually cost around 800 UAH ($30 usd) even for Sushi. To some people that may sound expensive, and to be honest, it is. Most people shouldn't be spending $15 on dinner every single night, and for locals just that would be more than their entire monthly salary. The point is, if you are making $3,000 a month online or more, you can easily afford to eat at nice restaurants and even treat out friends or a date every night of the week if you chose to. This simply wouldn't be possible living in LA, NY, Australia, Canada, or other expensive places. It's the same with bars, most places charge between 30 - 50 UAH ($1-2) for a beer or a glass of wine, and you could get a bottle of Vodka or Wine staring at around 250 UAH ($10US) even at night clubs or bars. Some of my favorite restaurants include Bodega 2K, Kinza, Khinkalnya, Givi to Me, Friends and Beer, Legend, and Dacha. I also take away a lot of food from the Whole Foods type grocery stores and sometimes have a late night pizza at Mister Cat which actually has amazing 2 for 1 pizzas after midnight.











A 72 UAH ($3) Flight of Beer (yes for all of them)

Google maps for Odessa is deceiving as everything looks super close by and within walking distance. However, everything is actually much further than you expect as the blocks here are extremely long and there is a slight hill going from higher up in the main city center, sloping down to the beach and park area on the right. That means that even though it's a nice easy 20 minute walk from the main walking street, Deribasovskaya in the center down to one of the coworking spaces or Fitness stadium, on the way back, you'll find yourself walking for more than half an hour slightly uphill in the hot summer sun. Also confusing is that the word "Center" or "Centre" on the map, while technically is the city center of Odessa, isn't actually where all of the bars, restaurants, and places to go out are. For that you'll want to be somewhere in between the word center on the map to either Deribasovskaya street or the Opera house. Technically the entire area shown on the map above is considered the center so if you find a nice Airbnb place to stay, you can get around easily enough with a short $3 taxi ride or the local bus if you can figure it out.Most locals would consider any place on the map above a desirable place to live and they'd be right as you'll always have a grocery store, park, and and a cafe close by. However, if you really like being able to walk everywhere within 10-15 minutes, you'll want to stay in the pink area above. I stayed basically at Bunina 20 which is right in the center in between everything and was within a block of two super markets and within an easy walk of everything you'd want to go to. During my first trip to Odessa I stayed in Arcadia which is where Ibiza beach club is, and even though it was fun for a weekend, if you're staying for more than 2 days, you'll want to stay in the city center instead as there's much more to do, and it's less touristy. The good news is however you can get to Arcadia with a 20 minute taxi ride which will cost you between 100-150 UAH which is $4-$6, which is the same price as getting an Uber from the Airport to the center as well. The train station will cost you even less.There are definitely a lot of apartments in the city center for around 8,000 UAH ($300USD) a month or less the only issue is being able to find one that will rent month to month.The good new is that hotels in the city center or in Arcadia are reasonably priced at around $35 (900uah) a night for somewhere in a great area. So if you're staying for a week or less, it's actually relatively easy to find a decent place. You can also rent an apartment for 6 months or longer in the center for around $300 a month. Unfortunately this isn't how we digital nomads travel so we're a bit screwed when it comes to finding monthly rentals, especially since during the time we'd most likely come are the peak summer months of June-August when prices are often three times higher than the rest of the year. The problem is that there isn't a month to month rental market in Ukraine. People coming to Odessa either need to pay a daily rate, or sign a 6 month contract. That means that if you want to get an apartment for 1 or 2 months, we're basically screwed on pricing as there isn't a place to rent mid term with the exception of Airbnb. Even my local friend came to visit for the summer booked her place on Airbnb as she had no other options despite being from Odessa originally. The other issue is the mindset that most Ukrainians would rather their apartment sit empty than give a discount. If you want, you can try the Airbnb bargaining trick I mentioned in my guide to Gran Canaria but in my experience, even writing in Russian, most Airbnb hosts wouldn't discount the apartment further even if you're renting for 2 months. Luckily I just found out that some hotels, like California Hotel will give you 30% off weekly or monthly rates if you call or email them. That means you can stay at a 5-star hotel in the center for around $35 - $50 a night or around $1,000 -$1,500 a month including breakfast, spa, sauna, hotel gym and an impressive hotel lobby.Landlords would rather hold out for someone to maybe pay full price even if it might not happen. I know this is true as my airbnb host has 3 units next to mine that have been empty 90% of the time I've been here these past two months and he still refuses to lower the price as he's rather someone pay full price once in a while and have the chance to make more than have a guaranteed tenant in the room. Just take a look at places that are still available on Airbnb and are sitting empty for the rest of summer as an example, these places in the photo below are holding out and will most likely sit 90% empty as they are asking for too much. I'm paying $680 a month for my apartment in a great location in the center, which is a bit overpriced as it doesn't include utilities which is another $60 a month but it was the best option I could find. The solution to getting a good deal in Odessa would be to sign a 6 month contract or come for just 2 weeks or less at a time. It's honestly a huge shame as everything else in Odessa is very reasonably priced and sometimes are super cheap, it's just that the accommodation kills the budget for a lot of people. Let me know in the comments below if you find another solution or what you paid if you've been here.One great thing about Ukraine is the fact that they have Uber and that when it works, it works great and is super cheap. Two years ago when I first came, Uber worked fantastic and I loved it. However, as of 2018, Uber has stopped incentivizing drivers and the service has started to slow. That means that even in the city center, you often can't find a ride, or if you do it'll be at 2x surge pricing. I've heard from drivers that this is because Uber takes around 35% which is super high compared to other local apps. The downside is that the other apps aren't as easy to use and don't take credit card. So as a passenger I still default to trying Uber first and leaving a tip through the app first. However when cars aren't available or there is a high surge price, I use one of the other local taxi apps instead. After a lot of hunting around I have five different taxi apps installed on my phone as randomly one work better than the other. The one I use the most after Uber is "Tachku" which I actually hated in the beginning as it's mostly not in English and is an bidding type fare. However I've learned to just bid 50 uah ($2) around the center, and 100 uah ($4) to Arcadia which usually ends up getting accepted.I also have Yandex, Uklon and Bond installed but don't use them unless the above two really aren't an option. The annoyances of all the apps aside from Uber is that even if you drop a pin or give an address, the drivers almost always call you which is annoying especially since I can't speak Russian. They also almost never have change even though it's cash only, and often ask you to cancel the ride through the app so they don't have to pay the 10% fee to the company or pay taxes. Still it's better than hailing a taxi on the street or dealing with the taxi drivers in front of the airport as these guys are a huge time waster and always want 500% what the fare should be. Arriving in Odessa's airport at midnight the first night really sucked as the airport's wifi wasn't working, the shops were closed so I couldn't buy a SIM card, and I had no way to call an Uber. That meant I had to waste 30 minutes negotiating with drivers in front of the airport which all wanted 300-500 UAH which I refused to pay upon principle as I knew the actual price was between 100-150 UAH maximum. Luckily I managed to find someone who would share their internet hotspot with me so I could call an Uber, then I had the driver call my Airbnb host to let them know I was there to check in.I know the above sounds terribly annoying, and honestly, it sometimes is. But the fact is that it's still a million times better than places like Bali where the taxi mafia literally beats up Uber drivers and rides are often impossible to get. Or places like Germany where they completely ban the app and it costs a minimum of $25 (650UAH) for a normal taxi wherever you go. The fact that you're able to easily get around the city for $2-$3 a ride, means that you can go wherever you want and really enjoy the city.The great news is that there are three coworking spaces in the center of Odessa, all within walking distance of each other. Even better news is that they are all reasonably priced, have daily or even half day rates, and great internet. The downsides are mainly that there isn't currently much of a digital nomad or entrepreneur scene in Ukraine so you'll most likely be coworking solo unless you bring friends with you. Even at the busier spaces like Terminal 42 or Impact Hub where you'll be surrounded by dozens of people, since 99% of people are locals and there's not the culture to go out to lunch together, it's actually really hard to get to know people. At Impact Hub the staff is super friendly but being here for over a month, I still haven't been out to lunch or drinks with anyone. At Terminal 42, after spending an entire month there, I barely had a 2 minute conversation with anyone. Compared with Chiang Mai where it's normal to go to lunch with new people almost everyday, Ukraine is completely different. The best place to actually have a conversation and meet people would be the various English Language Club meetups that happen a few times during the week.One of my goals for writing this blog post was actually to try to get more digital nomads to move to Odessa each summer so there would be more of a nomad scene and people to hang out with. I even created the facebook group: Odessa Digital Nomads in hopes people coming to town can connect with each other. But honestly I don't know if that'll happen anytime soon especially with the apartment bottleneck as a lot of digital nomads either can't or don't want to pay $1,000 a month for an apartment which is the biggest expense. You'll see that in the next section, everything else is reasonable, including coworking which range from $30 to $72 a month depending on how many hours you take. Coffee shops here are super cheap as well with coffee usually costing $1 or less and some are relatively easy to work at all day and most have great internet and some power outlets. The only regular entrepreneur meetup here is the Silicon Drinkabout Odessa which is a smaller version of the same club in Kiev. Overall, as of 2018 Odessa's digital nomad scene is pretty much non-existent even though the infrastructure is in place and there's plenty of local IT talent here and people working for remote companies out of coworking spaces. Below are my reviews of all three coworking spaces here in Odessa on Coworker.com.The great news about Ukraine is how fast and cheap the internet is here. You can get a 4G/LTE SIM card with unlimited data for 155 UAH ($5.50) a month including the SIM Card itself. Compared to what you'd pay in the US, Spain, or other countries, this is a steal. Wifi is also available at every restaurant and cafe, but since it's unlimited on my phone anyways, it's just a strange habit that I bother logging in at all. I'm using KyivStar as there was a store right by my house, but from what I've heard, Vodafone is the best service in Ukraine. The most convenient part is unlike the EU, you don't need to bring your passport to register, and you don't have to wait 4 hours for it to activate. I walked in the store, handed them 200 UAH ($8) and my phone and 10 minutes later had a working SIM card and 45 UAH in extra credit on my phone as for whatever reason they can't give change?The great news about Ukraine is having internet and a host of apps like Google Translate to be able to communicate, translate menus, and call taxis make your life extremely easy. But the two times I went without internet, once when I first arrived late at night, and then again once when I somehow forgot my password and locked myself out of my iPhone for an hour. (don't ask) I felt super lost and way more confused and nervous than I would have been somewhere else in the world. Having a smart phone and internet is your lifeline to be able to order a taxi without getting ripped off, being able to read menus, and order food. If you're coming for more than a few weeks, I'd suggest downloading some Russian learning apps as well. My favorite has been "RusAlphabet" which markets itself as "Learn Russian in 3 hours." The podcast "Russian Made Easy" has also been helpful. If I come back again, I'll take classes, but being able to read and pronounce the Cyrillic alphabet has been super handy to be able to read street signs, restaurant names, especially since a lot of them are actually English words just written in Russian. Oh by the way, in Odessa, they speak Russian. If you want to speak Ukrainian, go to Lviv, some parts of Kiev, or Western Ukraine. I wrote more about those cities in my " Guide to Ukraine " blog post. After learning what the alphabet is in the app above, try learning some of these basic phrases in the video below.The food in Odessa is extremely good. It's not quite as cheap as places like Bulgaria or Thailand and most locals only go out to restaurants once or twice a month because of it. There's a huge culture to eat at home, and to bring your own lunch to work. When people do eat out, it's usually to quick serve restaurants like Puzata Hata or similar concepts where it looks like a buffet, but you pay by weight or piece. McDonald's is also a super popular place to go as lines are often out the door. The only good news is that according to the Big Mac Index, the costs of goods in Ukraine is approximately 70% cheaper than a comparable product in the USA. On average a Big Mac (sandwich only) costs $5.03 in America, while in Ukraine it's 52 UAH ($1.88). The same concept applies for Shawarma Kebabs for 56 UAH ($2), pastries or slices of pizza. However, walking in a restaurant, you can't expect to get $3 meal like you would in Thailand, unless you're just having soup and bread, but you can have a really nice sit down experience just like you would in New York or Miami at a fraction of the price.For an example, you can go to to a really nice steakhouse in the city center, on the main walking street    (Meat and Wine) and have a nice steak for around $10 and a glass of wine for $2 more. Going out for a nice dinner date with drinks and food for two people will usually cost around 800 UAH ($30 usd) even for Sushi. To some people that may sound expensive, and to be honest, it is. Most people shouldn't be spending $15 on dinner every single night, and for locals just that would be more than their entire monthly salary. The point is, if you are making $3,000 a month online or more, you can easily afford to eat at nice restaurants and even treat out friends or a date every night of the week if you chose to. This simply wouldn't be possible living in LA, NY, Australia, Canada, or other expensive places. It's the same with bars, most places charge between 30 - 50 UAH ($1-2) for a beer or a glass of wine, and you could get a bottle of Vodka or Wine staring at around 250 UAH ($10US) even at night clubs or bars. Some of my favorite restaurants include Bodega 2K, Kinza, Khinkalnya, Givi to Me, Friends and Beer, Legend, and Dacha. I also take away a lot of food from the Whole Foods type grocery stores and sometimes have a late night pizza at Mister Cat which actually has amazing 2 for 1 pizzas after midnight.





Going Out in Odessa









This is where it gets tricky. There are places like the above bar, Molodost, or any of the dozens of bars around the center that have drinks for less than $2.50 for a pint for craft beer, or around $1 to $1.50 for a pint of local beer. Shots of Vodka start at 26 uah ($1) and bottles of wine or cava (champagne) can be had for 250-350 UAH ($9-$13US). But then you also have the really fancy cocktail bars, like my favorite, The Fitz which have 200 UAH Cocktails ($7.28US) or places like Ibiza Beach Club and Park Residence where it's not uncommon to spend 3,000UAH ($110usd) per person or more a night on bottle service and going out. It's a bit crazy as the average salary in Ukraine is around $300 US a month (8,000UAH). So the good news is, there's really a bit of everything for everyone here in Odessa. You can ball out like a millionaire if you choose, or you can go out and have a great time with friends on a budget.





The type of friends you'll meet and the girls you'll date will very cleary be in one financial category or the other. Someone will either expect you to spend 3,000 UAH ($110US) when you go out, or will be the exact opposite and think that's insane and unnecessary. The good new is that people will let you know right away which lifestyle they expect to be living. For more about my thoughts and insights on the Economy, Mindset, and Dating in Ukraine , read my blog post from last year that is still reflective of today. There are always exceptions, but in general, if you meet a girl in Ukraine on Tinder or at a bar, she'll let you know really quickly if she just wants money from you or what she's expecting. I've even met a few guys who have gone on dates with girls only to be scammed into a $600 (16,000 UAH) bill at a restaurant or bar that she chose.





I've also spoken to girls that insisted on only going to the most expensive sushi restaurants or clubs and refused to be seen anywhere cheaper. But at the same time I've also been out with girls who were the exact opposite and insisted that we take the local bus for 7 uah (25cents) or even walk 4 miles (6km) rather than have me waste $3 on a taxi. That being said, going out or dating in Odessa can be both extremes. Going out can also be a fantastic value if you go local places, or even for a great time rivalling a Vegas Pool Party or a cool spot in New York or Miami but at a fraction of the price.









26 UAH = $1 USD ($2.18 for a pint of craft beer)

Pool Party entrance and a bottle of Champagne for $20

Gyms in Odessa

















Overall Thoughts on Odessa

Odessa, Ukraine Weather Year Round

The Travel Plan









If you ask me if I plan on coming back to Odessa next summer, I honestly couldn't tell you. Part of me really likes it here and I could see the perfect life being 6 months here in the summer and 6 months in Thailand during the winter. Both places can be super affordable especially if you sign 6 month contracts, and best of all, both are excellent hubs to leave your stuff, develop a home base and travel from. From Ukraine I could easily and cheaply travel to places in Europe like Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, Prague, Budapest, and to places like Georgia and Kazakhstan that I've always wanted to visit. I could go back to California for a month to visit family, then do the same thing in Thailand, while checking out the Maldives, Philippines, and other Islands from October - March when it's freezing in Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Also since visas to Thailand are super easy for Ukrainian citizens, if you ever started dating someone seriously here, you could easily bring to to Thailand for the winter with you and live together back in Odessa the warm summer months.





The only issues with this grand master plan is that for digital nomads with all of the freedom and flexibility we have, it's a bit of a big commitment to sign a 6 month rental contract and commit to taking Russian classes for half a year. I know that it almost sounds silly to someone who isn't used to this carefree nomadic lifestyle of ours, as 6 months in one place really isn't that long, but it sure feels like it. If anyone wants to do this with me, let me know in the comments below or in the Travel Like a Boss Facebook group. I think that if we could get a good crew together committed to learning the language, coworking together, hitting the gym and going out on weekends, it would be both a super fun and productive 2019. Honestly I think as the years pass and the movement matures, home basing like this as a digital nomad will become more and more normal verses moving countries every month. Lets see what actually happens next year, but if anyone wants to start planning for it. Let me know! Until then, feel free to ask anything below. If you want to know more about what life is like in Ukraine and who travels here and why, listen to one of the episodes of the Travel Like a Boss Podcast below, all recorded in Ukraine.













I know I wrote a blog post and guide to Odessa a few years ago during my first trip to Ukraine but that was purely from a travel and tourist point of view. Now that I've been here for a couple of months and have spent an entire summer here, I'm writing this post to explain the pros and cons of living in Odessa, Ukraine long term, or at least for a few months at a time. On paper Odessa is the perfect place for digital nomads to come to during the summer. Imagine a place that has super fast internet, 4G/LTE, Uber, low costs of living, great infrastructure, an international airport, amazing good, great wine and beer, a beautiful historical city center, beaches, sea, amazing nightlife, pool parties, coworking spaces, and easy visas for most people. You would imagine that this place would automatically be a hub for digital nomads and a dream destination for a lot of people.It's a bit like being in Spain, Miami, or Southern California at a third of the price. Or imagine being in Bali but clean with modern amenities, good internet, infrastructure, and Uber. To take it a step further, imagine the beauty and convenience of Chiang Mai's old city center but with a beach and seaside. Sound too good to be true? Well, it kind of is. Even though everything I mentioned above is true, life in Ukraine is also difficult, even if you have money. In this post i'm going to break down all of the downsides and workarounds for life in Odessa, and what it's actually like for digital nomads, expats, and long term travelers. Here you'll learn the actual costs, the best taxi apps to use, where to stay, eat, sleep, cowork and what to do during your next summer in Odessa, Ukraine.Pro Tip: Always google reviews of restaurants, bars or nightclubs if someone you just met suggests going there. The good news is most of the scam clubs have english written reviews stating what happened.Before I came to Odessa, I looked up where the best gyms were so I could figure out where to live. I know it sounds silly but a big part of choosing where to home base as a digital nomad is access to a nice gym. When I first found Fitness Stadium I was blown away at how cool it looked. I even created a little tour video below showing off how cool it is. It turns out that there are a few other super nice gyms in the center such as Platinum Fitness, and Formula Fitness, but the problem is they all require 1 year annual memberships. Luckily Fitness Stadium does month to month. The only issue is that since it's inside a park, you have to walk 20 minutes just to get in and out of the park as most taxi's won't be able to find the entrance. That's fine for when you have free time to walk home, but it's also annoying when you want to go straight to dinner or out somewhere after. I'm glad I did a month at Fitness Stadium, and it really is a nice gym. However, a lot of it is just for show, like make up and instagram selfies.For my second month in Odessa, I decided to instead join the crappiest gym I've ever been to. It's right by my house so it was super convenient, but is basically just a small narrow room with a bunch of weights. It's called Power Gym and I'm honestly surprised anyone works out there. But it's cheap and in a great location. I paid 500 UAH ($18US) for a month but I'm assuming it's even less for locals who commit to a longer membership. Something in between the two luxury wise would be Yes Fitness which I joined last year during my trip here and is a good but basic gym. They also have CrossFit gyms, boxing gyms, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Ballet.It's complicated. On paper, this place is perfect. Easy visas, great weather during the summer, walkable city, beautiful old architecture with great infrastructure, wifi, internet and uber. Fantastic restaurants, beer, wine, food, nightlife, all for an incredible price. People are genuinely friendly once you get to know them and there's a ton of history and culture here to learn about and explore. There's beaches, pool parties, cafes, barber shops, outdoor activities, english language movie theaters, great gyms, amazing restaurants, drinks, beautiful women, parks, events, concerts, DJs, shopping, everything you can ask for. Best of all, it's all super affordable to live like a baller here in the life of luxury. However, the gym video above probably sums it up best. Many things in Odessa look amazing from the outside, are covered in fancy lights, makeup, and are made to look luxurious and glamorous in photos. However on the same note, everything is super confusing, overly complicated and often things just don't work. There are rules and unnecessary bureaucracy for many things and it's often frustrating.A good example is the fact that 8 out of 10 ATMs will only dispense 200-1,000 UAH maximum ($8-$36) while if you get lucky or go to the right ones, you can get a normal amount of up to $300. When Uber and other apps work, it's amazing and is super cheap. But sometimes, there's just no cars because drivers get their accounts suspended for refusing to pay tax or fees. Living in Odessa is both amazing and frustrating at the same time. It can be and should be an amazing value, but the current rental market makes it overpriced. Someone really needs to come into Odessa, rent out a bunch of apartments for $250 a month and just rent them out month to month or on Airbnb for $450-500. They'd still make a profit, and it would great for month to month travelers. As of right now, I'd say that if you want to come to Odessa, either just come for 2-8 weeks knowing that you'll overpay a bit in rent. Or if you want to get maximum value, come in mid April during the start of Spring and sign a 6 month rental contract to stay until mid October. That way you can have an apartment in the city center for around $350 a month, a great gym membership, and you'll have enough time to properly learn how to speak Russian and get immersed into the country and culture.With Love from Odessa,Johnny FD
These Bollywood stars have become a catalyst for social change by supporting causes they believe in.

Behind the never-ending glamour and high-octane action sequences in the lives of our Bollywood stars, there is a life of gratitude and thoughtfulness. These Bollywood biggies have now become the catalyst for social change. Not only are they associating themselves with social causes, but also are extending monetary help to the issues they believe in. This Independence Day, we take a look at a few of those who have used their name for a good cause.

Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan:

The actor set an example by aptly using his fan base towards creating awareness. After creating a show like Satyamev Jayate that discussed social issues, the actor went ahead and founded Paani Foundation. Through an experiential training programme, the villagers of rural Maharashtra are equipped with both technical know-how as well as leadership skills to tackle the issue of drought in their villages. In the next five years, Paani foundation wouldnt be needed as all the villages will know by then how to do this. They shouldn't need us anymore. I am getting very strong support from the government, not monetarily but also in other ways, he said.

Kareena Kapoor Khan:

For someone who couldnt finish her education, Kareena Kapoor Khan has been actively been involved in promoting childrens education and the safety of women. The actress has been a brand ambassador of UNICEF for the last six years. Talking about girl child education, an issue close to her heart, she said, I didnt get to complete my education and I know how important it is for children to complete their secondary education. So, it started with the discussion and opened up from there, says the actor who also took up the issue of neo-natal health after her son was born. The actor has already done field trips to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and the North East and wants to get involved in reaching out to more people.

They spoke about things that I found relatable to talk about and people can relate to those issues, she adds. In 2010, Kareena adopted the village of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh to provide the village with a regular supply of electricity and later took part in the international campaign, 1GOAL Eduction for All. She was also the ambassador of Shakti Campaign.

Katrina Kaif:

The actress likes to remain tight-lipped about her philanthropic activities. But her surprise visit to a rural school in Tamil Nadu made headlines in March. It appears that Katrina has been contributing a portion of her earnings from films and reality shows to the Mountain View School in Tamil Nadu. Her mother Suzanne Turquotte, who is a part of the Relief India Project, is also associated with the school. Despite her hectic shooting schedules, the actress ensures that her monthly donations reach the school on time and occasionally drops in to spend time with the kids.

Akshay Kumar:

His movies Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and PadMan have contributed immensely in terms of strengthening conversations around menstrual hygiene and open defecation in the country. But besides this, the actor has also been instrumental in promoting the Swachh Bharat campaign and has paired up with BMC to promote cleanliness drives in Mumbai. The 50-year-old martial arts exponent is also vocal about the cause of womens safety. I have been saying this for so many years. Make self-defense compulsory especially for women. Its wrong for a man to think that he can overpower a woman whenever he wants to and take advantage of her when she is defenseless. I want to use the greatest gift and asset I have with me for the greater goodmartial arts.

John Abraham:

The Satyameva Jayate actor has actively been involved in various philanthropic activities. John has helped to raise funds for the poor to build them safe and decent homes and has been associated with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) through its numerous campaigns. The actor believes its only when we give back to the society we can foster change. Unfortunately our country is capital of the World for certain unwanted happenings. I love India but we need to solve corruption, child molestation, rape, and women molestation. If we do not address who will do it, he says.

Amitabh Bachchan:

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has been associated with many causes and charities. After polio cases peaked in 2002, he was made the UNICEF goodwill brand ambassador for the Polio Eradication Campaign. In 2015, the actor made a startling revelation about surviving with only 25 per cent of his liver today, having lost the rest to the deadly Hepatitis B virus. Now, he is the goodwill ambassador for spreading awareness on the disease. In an interview to a news channel, he had said, I am absolutely committed to the cause of Hepatitis. As a person living with Hepatitis-B, I know the pain and sufferings that Hepatitis causes. No one should ever suffer from viral Hepatitis.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone:

Her Live Laugh Love Foundation aims to reduce the stigma and lack of awareness around mental health in India. The actress herself came out in an interview in 2015 to normalise conversations around depression in a bid to highlight that depression could happen to the best of us. In the same year, the actress founded the Bengaluru based foundation on World Mental Health Day that has been visiting schools around the country to offer sessions for students and teachers.
Indian troops carried out operations on Monday night after the ceasefire violations.

Two Pakistani troopers were killed by the Indian Army in response to ceasefire violations along the LoC in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir. (Representational Image | PTI)

Jammu: An Indian Army jawan was killed on Saturday in firing and mortar shelling by the Pakistani troops in Rajouri sector of Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, the defence spokesman said.

Lance Naik Mohammed Naseer, 35-year-old from border district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, was hit during the firing and shelling by the Pakistani troops on the Indian forward posts, the spokesman said.

"Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked firing on Indian Army posts in Rajouri sector at around 1.30 pm today. Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively," he said.

There was Pakistani firing and shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Balakote, Panjgrian, Naika and Manjakote areas.

"In the fire exchange, Lance Naik Mohammed Naseer was grievously injured and succumbed to his injuries," he said.

Naseer, who belonged to Ajout village of Poonch district, leaves behind wife Wasim Akhtar, he said.

Paying tributes to Naseer, the spokesman said he was a brave and sincere soldier who loved his job to the core.

"The nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the spokesman added.

Earlier on Saturday, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was injured after terrorists lobbed grenade in Kulgam's Laroo.

On July 12, two Jawans were killed in sniper fire by the Pakistani Army in Keran sector of north Kashmir.

Earlier on July 8, two civilians were killed and some others injured when Pakistani Army violated ceasefire violation and resorted to mortar shelling and firing of small and automatic weapons targeting forward posts and hamlets

along the LoC in the Poonch district.

The deceased were Sepoy Mohmmad Shaukat of Territorial Army, who was visiting home on leave, and his wife Safia Bi.
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London (Middle East Monitor)  Israels nation-state law discriminates against the countrys Palestinian minority, British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Monday, Anadolu reports.

Corbyn made the remarks on Twitter in reply to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who joined the criticism against Corbyn over his alleged participation in a wreath-laying ceremony in Tunisia four years ago to honour the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.

The nation-state law sponsored by @Netanyahus government discriminates against Israels Palestinian minority. I stand with the tens of thousands of Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel demonstrating for equal rights at the weekend in Tel Aviv, Corbyn said.

British tabloid the Daily Mail published photos of Corbyn at the ceremony holding a wreath while standing near the graves of members of the Black September group. The event took place in 2014 before he was elected Labour leader.

The Black September group is believed to be behind a deadly terrorist attack that targeted Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympics in Germany which left 11 dead.

The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorists who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone, Netanyahu said on Twitter.

However, Corbyn told the British press that although he was present at the ceremony, he was not involved.

The Daily Mail cited sources close to Corbyn as saying that he was at a service to commemorate the 47 Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in 1985 on a Tunisian base of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The monument to the airstrike victims is only yards away from a plaque that lies beside the graves of the Black September members.

An Israeli airstrike killed 47 people and wounded 65 others on 1. Oct0ber 1985, according to official sources in Tunisia.

Corbyn said wreaths were laid at the graves of those who died in the airstrike and on the graves of others killed in Paris in 1992, referring to PLO members killed by Mossad agents.

I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere.

Because we have to end it. You cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence. The only way you can pursue peace is by a cycle of dialogue, he said.

Israeli PM @Netanyahus claims about my actions and words are false, Corbyn also said on Twitter in his response to Netanyahu.

What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children, Corbyn said, referring to the Israeli armys killing of unarmed Palestinian protesters during the Great March of Return gatherings earlier this year.

Corbyn was referring in his tweet to thousands of people, mostly Israeli-Arabs, who demonstrated in Tel Aviv last Saturday against the controversial nation-state law which was passed by Israels parliament, the Knesset, last month.

The law defines Israel as a Jewish state with a united Jerusalem as its capital. It also promotes Hebrew as the only official language, stripping Arabic as an official language while recognizing its special status.

The legislation risks further alienating the Arab minority, who argue that they already face discrimination from Israeli Jews and the government and feel as though they are second-class citizens.

Palestinians who have Israeli citizenship comprise 21 per cent of the population and are known as Israeli Arabs and have members in the Knesset.

Read: Israel killed 4 Gaza children without authorisation, secret report reveals

The accusations directed at the Labour party are not new, but they grew after Labours success in last years snap election with the party winning 262 seats in the House of Commons and attracting attention as an alternative to the current Conservative government.

In a 2016 renewed leadership contest following resignations from his shadow cabinet, Corbyn secured his position as the leader with 61.8 per cent of the votes from party members.

A joint editorial published last month by The Jewish Chronicle, Jewish News and Jewish Telegraph that appeared on the front pages of all three papers under the headline United We Stand described the Labour Party as the natural home for Britains Jewish community but claimed the party had seen its values and integrity eroded by Corbynite contempt for Jews and Israel.

The stain and shame of antisemitism has coursed through Her Majestys Opposition since Jeremy Corbyn became leader in 2015, the editorial charged.

Accusing the party of becoming institutionally racist, the editorial underlined the strong concerns raised in the Jewish community.

Read: Israel awaits outcome of talks before hitting Hamas leadership

The latest row over anti-Semitism accusations by the UKs Israeli lobby arose over Labours refusal to accept the full text of the working definition of anti-Semitism produced by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

The party expressed concern over creating a code of conduct that could be used to deny Palestinians, including Palestinian citizens of Israel and their supporters, their rights and freedoms to describe the discrimination and injustices they face in the language they deem appropriate.

Corbyn signaled that three of the four IHRA examples of anti-Semitism would be added to the partys code of conduct, namely comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of Nazis, suggesting Jewish people are more loyal to Israel than their home country and holding Israel to different standards to other democratic countries.

But Corbyn also signalled that he would continue to reject the fourth example: Denying Jewish people have a right to self-determination  for example by claiming that the existence of a state of Israel is a racist endeavour.

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Middle East Monitor



Bonus Videos added by Informed Comment:

1.

Jeremy Corbyn Calls Out Netanyahu On Twitter

2.

Al Jazeera English:  Exclusive: Israels parliamentary plot against UK politicians
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD) ("Erdene" or "Company") is pleased to provide an update on second quarter corporate and project activities, along with an outlook for the second half of 2018. This release should be read in conjunction with the Companys Q2-2018 Financial Statements and MD&A on the Companys website or on SEDAR.

Our Company has had an active and successful second quarter where we reported some of the highest grade drill results to date from our flagship gold project Bayan Khundii, announced an updated resource estimate at our neighboring Altan Nar project that nearly doubled the total ounces, became the first foreign-listed company to cross-list its shares on the Mongolian Stock Exchange, and closed two oversubscribed financings, said Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO. Taken together, the solid progress this quarter has increased the fundamental value of the Company, and set the stage for further value enhancement in the months ahead. Looking forward, we anticipate announcing the maiden Bayan Khundii resource estimate in Q3, which will compliment the updated Q2-2018 Altan Nar resource estimate, both of which will form the basis of a Preliminary Economic Assessment, expected to be announced in Q4. Both of these projects are high-grade, near-surface open pitable resources, located within an exceptional gold and copper terrane that remains under-explored and that continues to be a core focus of the exploration team actively exploring for the new deposits adjacent to a growing mining region.

Project, Corporate and Financial Update

Bayan Khundii Gold Project  100% Erdene

The Company completed a 4,584 metre drill program at Bayan Khundii in Q2-2018 bringing total drilling to 42,656 metres since the project was discovered in Q2-2015.

In Q2-2018, multiple intersections returned very high gold grades, including: 18 metres of 21.6 g/t gold, including 2 metres of 169 g/t gold (BKD-238); 37 metres of 4.4 g/t gold, including 2 metres of 50.5 g/t gold (BKD-241); 10 metres of 16.9 g/t gold, including 2 metres of 17.5 g/t gold and 2 metres of 56.8 g/t gold (BKD-242); 12 metres of 11 g/t gold, including 3 metres of 35.6 g/t gold (BKD-245); and 81 metres of 2.6 g/t gold, including 17 metres of 9.2 g/t gold (BKD-254).

Significantly, the testing of a potential feeder zone in the Midfield Zone at the intersection of a deep-seated northwest-trending fault and the interpreted relay ramp structure, returned 7 metres of 34.4 g/t gold (BKD-244) from the widest zone of gold-bearing quartz-adularia veins intersected to date at Bayan Khundii.

All Bayan Khundii drill results were delivered to RPMGlobal in late July who have commenced work on the maiden Bayan Khundii mineral resource estimate, anticipated to be announced in Q3.

This maiden resource estimate will accompany the Companys updated resource estimate for Altan Nar (16 kilometres northwest of Bayan Khundii) announced in Q2-2018 (see below for further detail).

Following the announcement of a consolidated resource estimate for Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, the Company will advance both projects to the preliminary economic assessment stage, with results of that study expected in Q4-2018.

Altan Nar Gold-Polymetallic Project  100% Erdene (16 kilometres north of Bayan Khundii)

In Q2-2018, the Company announced an updated resource estimate for Altan Nar with significant increases over the maiden resource estimate announced in March 2015.

The Indicated gold equivalent (AuEq) resource increased by 208% and the Inferred AuEq resource increased by 172%, compared to the March 2015 resource estimate.

The Indicated Resource of 452,900 ounces (oz) AuEq averaged 2.8 g/t AuEq and the Inferred Resource of 277,100 oz AuEq averaged 2.5 g/t AuEq, within a total resource of 5.0 million tonnes (Mt) Indicated and 3.4 Mt Inferred.

Approximately 90% of the Mineral Resource is within 150 metres of surface with all zones open along strike and at depth.

Multiple undrilled and scout-drilled prospects along the 5.6 kilometre Altan Nar trend have the potential for hosting additional gold-polymetallic resources.

Regional District Exploration

The Company has completed significant exploration within the 11.4 kilometre long Bayan Khundii license.

Subsequent to the end of Q2-2018, the Company has completed reconnaissance drilling on multiple targets in the Bayan Khundii license area with additional drilling planned in Q3/Q4-2018.

In Q3-2017, the Company acquired a 51% interest, with the option to acquire up to 100%, in the Ulaan license, located immediately west of its Bayan Khundii license. Ulaan has no history of drilling and is host to very large, 3-kilometre diameter, intense alteration zone with characteristics thought to be related to a porphyry complex. The Company completed a surface geophysical program in Q3-2018 and intends to initiate a maiden drill program at Ulaan in late Q3.

Erdene continues to be active through its Alliance with Teck Resources Limited (Teck), Canadas largest diversified mining company, in assessing regional base and precious metal opportunities in southwest Mongolias prolific Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Between 2013 and 2017, Teck invested a total of $3 million through six separate private placements in Erdene, fulfilling the initial terms of the Companys original agreement with Teck. Teck will continue to have the right, through to Q1-2020, to elect to enter into a joint venture agreement on any designated properties within the Alliances Area of Interest submitted by Erdene and approved by Teck for acquisition.

Mining Studies Group

In Q2-2018, the Company formed a Mining Studies Group responsible for all technical and permitting-related studies pertaining to Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar. The team includes: Cameron McRae (Chair of Technical Committee of the Board and Erdene Director); Former President of Oyu Tolgoi LLC where he led the construction and start-up of the US$6 billion Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in southern Mongolia; Julian Lawrence (Erdene Advisor); Mining Engineer and qualified Project Manager with over 15 years experience in permitting and developing mining projects across the Asia region, including Mongolia; Paul Korpi (Erdene Advisor); Metallurgical Engineer and Mining Consultant with over 40 years experience in the mining sector, including 22 years with Newmont Mining Corporation, and 4 years with Centerra Gold where he was part of the development team and managed the first hard rock gold mine in Mongolia (Boroo mine) producing 250,000+ ounces per year; David Mosher (Erdene Director); Geologist and former President and CEO of High River Gold Mines where he developed and managed gold mines in Burkina Faso and Russia; and Chris Cowan (Erdene Chairman); Mining executive/engineer with over 40 years experience in senior industry positions, including 28 years with Falconbridge Ltd.



Permitting, Water, Energy, and HSEC

Permitting: Erdene has engaged several consulting firms in preparation of anticipated resource estimates, preliminary economic studies, mining license applications, and geological modeling and targeting for the Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects. Erdene also continues to update the baseline surveys at Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar to fulfill Mongolian regulatory requirements for registering mineral resources, including conducting geotechnical work and mine hydrogeology studies.

Water: A preliminary water resource was recently identified approximately 15 kilometres from Altan Nar, which is believed to be sufficient to meet the processing needs of both projects (Altan Nar and Bayan Khundii). Additional work will be required in 2019 prior to the completion of a feasibility study to better define the water resource.

Energy: Through an initiative of the International Finance Corporation, the Company participated in a co-financed study of renewable energy supply options at Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar. The study provided technical and financial analysis for potential mine electricity demand scenarios that indicated an optimal pairing of renewable power with rotating machines for lowest cost, most reliable energy supply.



Health, Safety, Environment & Community (HSEC): No Lost Time Injuries reported to date in 2018. Through a province-based, non-profit organization, the Company initiated cultivation trials of endemic plant species in and around its project sites as part of its commitment to stewardship of natural resources in Mongolias southwestern Gobi. The Company entered into an annual Local Cooperation Agreement with the local, provincial and county governments, which outlines the responsibilities and commitments of the Company and local governments in relation to regulating and increasing public awareness of the minerals sector. In 2018, Erdene approved voluntary contributions for over ten different initiatives at the county and province levels focused on improving local livelihoods, basic education, public health and natural resource management. The Company recently appointed a dedicated Health and Safety Officer and site-based Environmental Officer to assist with HSEC related efforts.



Financial and Corporate Update

As of August 14, 2018, the Company has a working capital position of approximately $3.95 million. Current working capital is expected to fund the Companys budgeted expenditures to Q1-2019.

Erdene's Q2-2018 Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis were filed with regulatory authorities on August 14, 2018 and are available on the Company's website and on SEDAR.

In Q2-2018, Erdene became the first foreign-listed company to cross-list its shares on the Mongolian Stock Exchange and closed an oversubscribed Mongolian financing for gross proceeds of $1.36 million. Concurrent with the cross-listing, Erdene completed a private placement with gross proceeds of $4.12 million.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recognized a net loss of $2,141,134, or $0.01 per share, compared to a loss of $2,664,797, or $0.02 per share for the same period in 2017.

Exploration expenditures, including capitalized costs, totalled $3,180,081 for the first six months of 2018 compared with $4,799,360 for the same period in 2017, a decrease of 34%. Together, the Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects represented $2,208,354 or 69% of the 2018 exploration expenditures compared with $3,753,946 or 78% of the 2017 exploration expenditures for the same period in 2017.

Excluding non-cash share-based compensation and depreciation, the cash corporate and administrative expenses for the first six months of 2018 were $738,017 compared with $904,207 for the same period in 2017, a decrease of $166,190 or 18%. Total corporate and administrative expenses were $1,278,047 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $1,725,192 in 2017.

The corresponding cash exploration expenditures for the first six months of 2018 were $2,825,044, compared with $4,209,544 for the same period in 2017. The cash corporate and administrative expenses represented 26% of cash exploration expenditures incurred the first six months of 2018 compared with 21% for the same period in 2017.

Outlook

With the Q2-2018 Bayan Khundii drill program complete, the Company has delivered all Bayan Khundii drill results to RPMGlobal who have commenced work on a maiden independent NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for Bayan Khundii to accompany the Companys updated mineral resource estimate prepared by RPMGlobal for Altan Nar announced in Q2-2018.

The Bayan Khundii resource estimate is expected to be announced in Q3-2018.

Following the definition of resources, the Company has commissioned RPMGlobal to complete a preliminary economic assessment for Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, anticipated to be announced in Q4-2018.

It is expected that the Company will progress through a series of increasingly more detailed and rigorous assessments through 2019. It is anticipated that these assessments will lead to a feasibility decision that will potentially lead into mine and plant development and construction and onto initial commercial production.

Regional exploration within the Tian Shan Belt will continue, however the Companys immediate focus will continue to be the advancement of Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, and evaluation and potentially acquisition of prospects in the surrounding Khundii District.

Qualified Person

Michael MacDonald, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Vice President Exploration for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

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 (Q2-2015), 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 161,775,791 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 185,951,320 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 a number of 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
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (TSX: GCM) announced today the release of its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying managements discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. All financial figures contained herein are expressed in U.S. dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted.

Serafino Iacono, Executive Co-Chairman of Gran Colombia, commenting on the Companys results for the first half of 2018, said, We are very pleased with the outcome of our efforts this year to fix our capital structure, reduce our leverage and strengthen our balance sheet. Over senior debt is now down to $93 million, about half of what it was two years ago. Our operating success at Segovia, one of the top highest-grade underground gold operations globally, has been a solid engine driving our free cash flow that has enabled us to refinance our convertible debentures and put cash back on our balance sheet rather than in sinking funds. Our first half 2018 operating and financial results reaffirm that we are seeing continuous improvement in production, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. We can now step into a new era, one where we use our internally generated cash flows and our high quality assets to take this Company to the next level as a cash generating, mid-size Latin America-focused gold producer.

Second Quarter and First Half 2018 Highlights

The Company has successfully transformed its capital structure in 2018 , eliminating the convertible debentures which exposed shareholders to further dilution, and in the process, strengthened its balance sheet by reducing its debt to equity ratio and increasing its cash position, which stood at $24.9 million at June 30, 2018.

, eliminating the convertible debentures which exposed shareholders to further dilution, and in the process, strengthened its balance sheet by reducing its debt to equity ratio and increasing its cash position, which stood at $24.9 million at June 30, 2018. On April 30, 2018, the Company completed a $98 million Offering of Units , comprising 8.25% senior secured gold-linked notes due 2024 (the Gold Notes) and warrants (the 2024 Warrants), to refinance its 2020 and 2024 Debentures, providing the Company with greater access to its internally generated free cash flow to explore, expand and modernize its mining operations, and significantly reducing the potential dilution to the Companys shareholders compared with the previous capital structure. Holders of $22.9 million aggregate principal amount of 2020 and 2024 Debentures elected to roll their debt into the Offering and the net cash proceeds raised through the Offering of approximately $67.6 million was more than sufficient to complete the redemption of the remaining 2020 and 2024 Debentures totaling $63.5 million aggregate principal amount on May 14, 2018. In addition, the $9.6 million of cash held in the sinking fund for the 2020 and 2024 Debentures was also released to the Company in the second quarter of 2018, helping to bolster its cash position.

, comprising 8.25% senior secured gold-linked notes due 2024 (the Gold Notes) and warrants (the 2024 Warrants), to refinance its 2020 and 2024 Debentures, providing the Company with greater access to its internally generated free cash flow to explore, expand and modernize its mining operations, and significantly reducing the potential dilution to the Companys shareholders compared with the previous capital structure. Holders of $22.9 million aggregate principal amount of 2020 and 2024 Debentures elected to roll their debt into the Offering and the net cash proceeds raised through the Offering of approximately $67.6 million was more than sufficient to complete the redemption of the remaining 2020 and 2024 Debentures totaling $63.5 million aggregate principal amount on May 14, 2018. In addition, the $9.6 million of cash held in the sinking fund for the 2020 and 2024 Debentures was also released to the Company in the second quarter of 2018, helping to bolster its cash position. On August 13, 2018, the Company completed the repayment of its 2018 Debentures . As the weighted average trading price during the 20-day measurement period prior to maturity on August 11, 2018 (Maturity) exceeded $1.95 per share, the Company was able to exercise its option to repay the remaining $32.1 million aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Debentures outstanding and accrued interest entirely with common shares, increasing the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as of August 13, 2018 to 48.2 million .

. As the weighted average trading price during the 20-day measurement period prior to maturity on August 11, 2018 (Maturity) exceeded $1.95 per share, the Company was able to exercise its option to repay the remaining $32.1 million aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Debentures outstanding and accrued interest entirely with common shares, increasing the . Following three consecutive quarters with over 50,000 ounces of gold production , the Company has raised its guidance for 2018 and now expects that it will produce over 200,000 ounces of gold this year. Total gold production of 52,906 ounces in the second quarter of 2018, up 15% over the second quarter of 2017, brought the total gold production for the first half of 2018 to 105,578 ounces, up 24% over the first half last year. The Company followed this up with a further 19,296 ounces of gold produced in July 2018. Fueled by continued growth in the Companys high-grade Segovia Operations, the Companys trailing 12-months total gold production increased to 198,632 ounces as of July 2018, up 14% over the total for 2017 of 173,821 ounces and above the Companys initial guidance range for 2018 of between 182,000 and 193,000 ounces.

, the Company has and now expects that it will produce over 200,000 ounces of gold this year. Total gold production of 52,906 ounces in the second quarter of 2018, up 15% over the second quarter of 2017, brought the total gold production for the first half of 2018 to 105,578 ounces, up 24% over the first half last year. The Company followed this up with a further 19,296 ounces of gold produced in July 2018. Fueled by continued growth in the Companys high-grade Segovia Operations, the Companys trailing 12-months total gold production increased to 198,632 ounces as of July 2018, up 14% over the total for 2017 of 173,821 ounces and above the Companys initial guidance range for 2018 of between 182,000 and 193,000 ounces. The Company will continue to prioritize its exploration and development activities to identify avenues to increase production from its cash-generating, high-grade Segovia Operations. Through the first half of 2018, the Company completed 88 holes representing approximately 56% of the 20,000 meters of drilling planned for Segovia this year with three rigs carrying out resource definition within the underground developments of the Providencia and El Silencio mines and one drill rig operating from surface at Sandra K targeting peripheral extensions to the known vein system. On June 18, 2018, the Company announced multiple high-grade results from the ongoing underground sampling program in the deepest levels of the El Silencio mine and that it had identified a new structure at the El Silencio mine. On August 7, 2018, the Company announced that it will follow up on these results with additional drilling at El Silencio in 2018 to extend the north, middle and south ore-shoots down-plunge with the objective of testing extensions another 200 meters below the currently delineated resource. This drilling program, expected to commence in September, will be a combination of conventional drilling with 50 meter by 50 meter nominal center spacing on the north ore-shoot and directional drilling on the middle and south ore-shoots.

and development activities to identify avenues to increase production from its cash-generating, high-grade Segovia Operations. Through the first half of 2018, the Company completed 88 holes representing approximately 56% of the 20,000 meters of drilling planned for Segovia this year with three rigs carrying out resource definition within the underground developments of the Providencia and El Silencio mines and one drill rig operating from surface at Sandra K targeting peripheral extensions to the known vein system. On June 18, 2018, the Company announced multiple high-grade results from the ongoing underground sampling program in the deepest levels of the El Silencio mine and that it had identified a new structure at the El Silencio mine. On August 7, 2018, the Company announced that it will follow up on these results with additional drilling at El Silencio in 2018 to extend the north, middle and south ore-shoots down-plunge with the objective of testing extensions another 200 meters below the currently delineated resource. This drilling program, expected to commence in September, will be a combination of conventional drilling with 50 meter by 50 meter nominal center spacing on the north ore-shoot and directional drilling on the middle and south ore-shoots. Revenue increased 23% in the second quarter of 2018 over the second quarter last year to $68.9 million bringing the first half 2018 total revenue to $133.7 million, up 31% over the first half last year. 2018s revenue has been positively impacted by the increased level of gold production as described above and higher realized gold prices in the first half of 2018 as spot gold prices rose 6% compared with the first half last year.

increased 23% in the second quarter of 2018 over the second quarter last year to $68.9 million bringing the first half 2018 total revenue to $133.7 million, up 31% over the first half last year. 2018s revenue has been positively impacted by the increased level of gold production as described above and higher realized gold prices in the first half of 2018 as spot gold prices rose 6% compared with the first half last year. The Company continued to hold its total cash costs (1) and all-in sustaining costs (AISC) (1) in the second quarter and first half of 2018 within its guidance range. For the second quarter of 2018, total cash costs and AISC averaged $696 per ounce and $913 per ounce, respectively, bringing the first half 2018 averages to $683 per ounce and $905 per ounce, respectively. For 2018, the Company continues to expect that its total cash costs and AISC averages for the full year will remain below $735 per ounce and $950 per ounce, respectively.

and in the second quarter and first half of 2018 within its guidance range. For the second quarter of 2018, total cash costs and AISC averaged $696 per ounce and $913 per ounce, respectively, bringing the first half 2018 averages to $683 per ounce and $905 per ounce, respectively. For 2018, the Company continues to expect that its total cash costs and AISC averages for the full year will remain below $735 per ounce and $950 per ounce, respectively. For the third consecutive quarter, the Company reported adjusted EBITDA (1) in excess of $26 million. The trailing 12-months adjusted EBITDA at the end of June 2018 stood at $94.6 million, up 25% over 2017s adjusted EBITDA of $75.5 million, driven by production growth, better realized gold prices and continued efforts to control total cash costs per ounce. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 increased to $26.5 million compared with $21.3 million in the second quarter of 2017, bringing the first half 2018 adjusted EBITDA to a total of $53.9 million, up 55% over the first half last year.

in excess of $26 million. The trailing 12-months adjusted EBITDA at the end of June 2018 stood at $94.6 million, up 25% over 2017s adjusted EBITDA of $75.5 million, driven by production growth, better realized gold prices and continued efforts to control total cash costs per ounce. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2018 increased to $26.5 million compared with $21.3 million in the second quarter of 2017, bringing the first half 2018 adjusted EBITDA to a total of $53.9 million, up 55% over the first half last year. The Company generated $11.2 million of Excess Cash Flow (1) in the second quarter of 2018, up from $2.6 million in the first quarter this year which included a heavier burden of income tax payments in Colombia. This brings the total Excess Cash Flow generated during the first half of 2018 to $13.8 million, more than double the amount generated during the first half of 2017, fueled by the improvement in adjusted EBITDA.

in the second quarter of 2018, up from $2.6 million in the first quarter this year which included a heavier burden of income tax payments in Colombia. This brings the total Excess Cash Flow generated during the first half of 2018 to $13.8 million, more than double the amount generated during the first half of 2017, fueled by the improvement in adjusted EBITDA. The Company reported a net loss for the second quarter of 2018 of $30.7 million, or $1.09 per share, compared with net income of $33.8 million, or $1.65 per share, in the second quarter last year. For the first half of 2018, the Company reported a net loss of $25.4 million, or $1.02 per share, compared with net income of $33.0 million or $1.64 per share, in the first half last year. The net losses reported for 2018 include $26.4 million of losses on financial instruments, primarily triggered by the extinguishment of the 2020 and 2024 Debentures in the second quarter, and a $ 7.6 million charge for the costs associated with the Offering completed in the second quarter of 2018. The net earnings in the second quarter and first half of 2017 included a reversal of impairment of the Segovia Operations in the amount of $45.3 million.

for the second quarter of 2018 of $30.7 million, or $1.09 per share, compared with net income of $33.8 million, or $1.65 per share, in the second quarter last year. For the first half of 2018, the Company reported a net loss of $25.4 million, or $1.02 per share, compared with net income of $33.0 million or $1.64 per share, in the first half last year. The net losses reported for 2018 include $26.4 million of losses on financial instruments, primarily triggered by the extinguishment of the 2020 and 2024 Debentures in the second quarter, and a $ 7.6 million charge for the costs associated with the Offering completed in the second quarter of 2018. The net earnings in the second quarter and first half of 2017 included a reversal of impairment of the Segovia Operations in the amount of $45.3 million. Adjusted net income (1) for the second quarter of 2018 was $8.2 million, or $0.29 per share, up from $6.8 million, or $0.33 per share, in the second quarter last year, bringing the adjusted net income for the first half of 2018 to $18.1 million, or $0.72 per share, compared with $9.9 million, or $0.50 per share, in the first half last year. The year-over-year improvement in adjusted EBITDA was the primary driver behind the improved adjusted net earnings in 2018.

for the second quarter of 2018 was $8.2 million, or $0.29 per share, up from $6.8 million, or $0.33 per share, in the second quarter last year, bringing the adjusted net income for the first half of 2018 to $18.1 million, or $0.72 per share, compared with $9.9 million, or $0.50 per share, in the first half last year. The year-over-year improvement in adjusted EBITDA was the primary driver behind the improved adjusted net earnings in 2018. On July 26, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of an approximately 15% investment in Sandspring Resources Ltd. (Sandspring), a Canadian junior mining company currently moving toward a feasibility study for the multi-million-ounce Toroparu Project in the emerging western Guyana gold district. Sandspring concurrently completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Chicharron Project located within the Companys mining title at Segovia.



Ltd. (Sandspring), a Canadian junior mining company currently moving toward a feasibility study for the multi-million-ounce Toroparu Project in the emerging western Guyana gold district. Sandspring concurrently completed the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Chicharron Project located within the Companys mining title at Segovia. Refer to Non-IFRS Measures in the Companys MD&A

Financial and Operating Summary

A summary of the financial and operating results for the second quarter and First Half of 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

Second Quarter First Half 2018 2017 2018 2017



Operating data Gold produced (ounces) 52,906 46,075 105,578 85,083 Gold sold (ounces) 53,051 45,179 102,661 83,613 Average realized gold price ($/oz sold) $ 1,286 $ 1,225 $ 1,290 $ 1,201 Total cash costs ($/oz sold) (1) 696 676 683 709 All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold) (1) 913 884 905 910 Financial data ($000s, except per share amounts) Revenue $ 68,927 $ 55,973 $ 133,713 $ 101,690 Adjusted EBITDA (1) 26,506 21,263 53,949 34,854 Net (loss) income (30,742 ) 33,783 (25,390 ) 32,999 Per share - basic (1.09 ) 1.65 (1.02 ) 1.64 Per share - diluted (1.09 ) 0.39 (1.02 ) 0.44 Adjusted net income (1) 8,205 6,839 18,051 9,923 Per share - basic 0.29 0.33 0.72 0.50 Per share - diluted 0.13 0.08 0.25 0.13 Excess Cash Flow (1) 11,208 3,228 13,762 5,504

June 30, December 31, 2018 2017 Balance sheet ($000s): Cash and cash equivalents $ 24,915 $ 3,272 Cash in trust for Senior Debentures (2) 3,530 11,911 Gold Notes, including current portion, net of gold in Gold Trust Account (3) 78,235 - Senior Debentures, including current portion (4) 31,870 98,713 Other debt, including current portion 299 439

Notes:

Refer to Non-IFRS Measures in the Companys MD&A. Represents amounts deposited into sinking funds for the 2018, 2020 and 2024 Debentures (collectively, the Senior Debentures), net of amounts used for repurchases and partial redemptions. The $3.5 million balance as of June 30, 2018 was returned to the Company on August 13, 2018 following full repayment of the remaining 2018 Debentures at Maturity with common shares. Represents carrying amounts, which are at a discount to principal amounts, for the Gold Notes. At June 30, 2018, the principal amount of the Gold Notes outstanding was $98.0 million and the Gold Trust Account included $3.8 million of physical gold used toward the $4.9 million quarterly Amortizing Payment completed on July 31, 2018. Represents carrying amounts, which are at a discount to principal amounts, for the Senior Debentures. At June 30, 2018, only the 2018 Debentures were outstanding and the aggregate principal amount was $33.6 million. The 2018 Debentures were fully repaid at Maturity on August 13, 2018. At December 31, 2017, the aggregate principal amounts of the 2018, 2020 and 2024 Debentures outstanding were $45.2 million, $48.7 million and $47.0 million, respectively. The remaining 2020 and 2024 Debentures were fully redeemed in the second quarter of 2018.

Segovia Operations

At the Segovia Operations, gold production in the second quarter of 2018 amounted to 47,071 ounces, bringing the total for the first half of 2018 to 93,543 ounces, up 28% compared to the first half of 2017. This brings Segovias trailing 12-months total gold production as of June 2018 to 169,206 ounces, up 14% from 2017 fuelled by continuing growth in the Companys three mines which represented 95% of Segovias first half 2018 and trailing 12-months total gold production. The Company processed an average of 972 tonnes per day (tpd) in the first half of 2018 with an overall average head grade of 16.7 g/t, continuing to benefit from growth in production from its high-grade Providencia mine. In July 2018, Segovias gold production amounted to 17,164 ounces. Based on its performance to-date, the Company now expects that the Segovia Operations annual gold production will surpass 175,000 ounces for 2018.

The increased production level at the Segovia Operations in 2018 continues to have a positive impact on total cash costs, reducing fixed operating costs on a per ounce basis compared with 2017. Segovias total cash costs per ounce averaged $620 in the first half of 2018 compared with $652 in the first half last year. The Company continues to expect that Segovias total cash costs will remain below $700 per ounce in 2018.

The Companys AISC of $905 per ounce for the first half of 2018 included $16.9 million of sustaining capital expenditures, equivalent to $165 per ounce sold ($15 per ounce higher than the first half of 2017), the major components of which included (i) $7.7 million for exploration and mine development at Segovia, including 11,186 meters of the 2018 drilling program, (ii) $4.9 million for the Segovia mines including underground equipment and ventilation improvements at the El Silencio mine and completion of a ventilation shaft and further infrastructure upgrades at the Providencia mine, (iii) $2.3 million for further upgrades of equipment in the Maria Dama plant and laboratory at Segovia together with costs associated with a new filter press and the project to construct the new El Chocho tailings storage facility, (iv) $0.8 million related to the 44kV connection at the Segovia mines, and (v) $1.1 million at the Marmato Operations, including $0.5 million for technical studies and the first 164 meters of the 2018 drilling program which commenced in June 2018 and $0.6 million of expenditures related to the existing mine and plant.

Marmato Operations

The Companys Marmato mine produced 5,835 ounces of gold in the second quarter of 2018, bringing the total for the first half of 2018 to 12,035 ounces, on par with the first half of 2017. In April 2018, the grades at the Marmato mine dropped to about 2.2 g/t, having an adverse impact of total cash costs per ounce. To improve the situation, mine management increased the cut-off grades for material being mined and in June 2018, head grades improved to just over 3 g/t, reducing tonnes processed in the month to an average of 832 tpd and the average for the second quarter of 2018 fell to 919 tpd. As of June 2018, Marmatos trailing 12-months total gold production amounted to 25,110 ounces, on par with 2017s annual production and within the Companys guidance range for 2018 of between 24,000 and 26,000 ounces. Tonnes processed in July 2018 averaged 890 tpd at an average head grade of 2.9 g/t resulting in gold production of 2,132 ounces for the month.

Total cash costs per ounce at Marmato increased to an average of $1,176 per ounce in the first half of 2018 compared with $1,061 per ounce in the first half of 2017, reflecting the impact on production of the lower head grades in the early part of the second quarter of 2018 as noted above. By raising the cut-off grade, mine management successfully brought the mines total cash cost per ounce back down below $1,100 per ounce by June 2018.

Outlook

The Company produced a total of 105,578 ounces of gold production in the first half of 2018 and another 19,296 ounces in July 2018. The Company has raised its guidance for 2018 and now expects that it will produce over 200,000 ounces of gold for the full year compared with the 173,821 ounces produced in 2017. Production growth will continue to be fuelled by the Companys mines at its high-grade Segovia Operations which are expected to produce more than 175,000 ounces in 2018.

With the initiatives in 2018 to simplify the Companys capital structure and strengthen its balance sheet now complete, the Companys focus will center on taking its Segovia Operations to the next level. Capital investment in 2018 at the Segovia Operations amounted to $15.6 million in the first half of 2018 and is expected to total close to $30 million this year. Emphasis will continue to focus on exploration, including the additional $2.3 million of drilling announced in early August at the deepest levels of the El Silencio mine, and ongoing mine development at its Providencia and El Silencio mines. Mine development has also commenced to expand production operations at the Sandra K mine in the second half of 2018. Capital spending at Segovia in 2018 also includes ongoing investments in mine infrastructure upgrades, ventilation, health, safety and environmental initiatives, mine equipment and expansion of tailings storage facilities at El Chocho.

At Marmato, the Company completed a conceptual study in 2017 to consider the potential for underground mining operations combining the existing operating mine with the new mineralization identified below the existing mine (Deeps). In 2018, the Company is following up with further technical studies and, in mid-June, commenced a drilling program of up to 10,000 meters to gather additional data related to the Deeps mineralization to support the technical studies. These efforts are intended to provide further analysis of the underground mine expansion opportunity at Marmato, leading toward the expected completion of a preliminary economic assessment in early 2019.

The Companys total cash cost averaged $683 per ounce sold in the first half of 2018 and the Company continues to expect that its total cash cost will average less than $735 per ounce sold for the full year. The Company also continues to expect that its AISC for the full year will remain below $950 per ounce.

The Company generated $13.8 million of Excess Cash Flow in the first half of 2018. Spot gold prices, which averaged $1,318 per ounce in the first half of 2018, have dropped thus far in the first half of the third quarter to a range from $1,262 to as low as $1,209 per ounce, averaging about $1,233 per ounce. If gold prices remain at this level throughout the back half of 2018, the Company expects that it will continue to generate positive Excess Cash Flow, but it will be at a reduced level compared with the first half of this year.

The Company is continuing to deposit 1,300 ounces on a monthly basis in 2018 into the Gold Trust Account as required for the Gold Notes. The next scheduled quarterly principal repayment will take place on October 31, 2018 and the Company has a put option contract in place at $1,250 per ounce to protect the guaranteed floor price for this repayment. The Company is continuing to review its strategy to hedge quarterly repayments beyond 2018 on a commercially reasonable basis.

Webcast

As a reminder, Gran Colombia will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday August 15, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results.

Webcast and call-in details are as follows:

Live Event link: Click Here International: 1 (514) 841-2157 North America Toll Free: 1 (866) 215-5508 Colombia Toll Free: 01 800 9 156 924 Conference ID: 47275629

A replay of the webcast will be available at www.grancolombiagold.com from Wednesday, August 15, 2018 until Friday, September 14, 2018.

About Gran Colombia Gold Corp.

Gran Colombia is a Canadian-based gold and silver exploration, development and production company with its primary focus in Colombia. Gran Colombia is currently the largest underground gold and silver producer in Colombia with several underground mines in operation at its Segovia and Marmato Operations. Gran Colombia is continuing its exploration, expansion and modernization activities at its high-grade Segovia Operations.

Additional information on Gran Colombia can be found on its website at www.grancolombiagold.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information



This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to anticipated business plans or strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gran Colombia to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 27, 2018, which is available for view on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Gran Colombia disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Mike Davies

Chief Financial Officer

(416) 360-4653

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
43m of 2.86 g/t gold (including 23m of 4.79 g/t gold) and 11m of 1.29 g/t gold

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashanti Gold Corp. (Ashanti or the Company) (TSXV: AGZ) announces first results for Gourbassi West from the recently completed 105 hole Reverse Circulation (RC) and Diamond Drill (DD), 12,283 metre drill program that tested mineralization on the Kossanto East Project (the Property) in western Mali (Figure 1). Results presented here fill-in gaps in previous drilling and test new step-out areas at Gourbassi West. The results support and expand on previously interpreted mineralized zones dipping moderately to the west. In addition, drilling has revealed that the silicified breccia host rock is part of a damage zone associated with a thrust fault system.

Tim McCutcheon, CEO, said "These results come after much thought and analysis concerning the nature of mineralization at Gourbassi West. Paul Klipfel, our COO, planned important step out holes on width at Gourbassi West. Drill hole GWRC305 shows the significance of this decision. These results add important widths to the mineralized zone and support the contention that there are multiple zones of mineralization along stacked thrust faults at Gourbassi West."

Gourbassi West

Gourbassi West is the second of two principal areas of mineralization being investigated by the company at Kossanto East. The target consists of gold mineralization associated with silicified, brecciated felsic volcanic rocks along a northwest trending structural zone for over 1200m of strike length. 2018 diamond drilling revealed that the silicified brecciated volcanic rocks that host most of the gold mineralization are associated with shallow to moderately west dipping thrust faults. Sedimentary rocks that are younger than the host volcanic rocks and occur to the east of mineralization (Figure 2) are in fault contact with, and are overlain by older volcanic rocks. This is a classic older over younger thrust fault structural relation. Repetition of this pattern reveals that mineralization is associated with cross-cutting and stacked thrust surfaces. Drill result highlights are tabulated below:

Section Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Grade (g/t) 1486100 GWRC293 147 149 2 0.42 GWRC294 69 70 1 0.69 82 97 15 0.50 incl. 94 97 3 1.76 GWRC296 20 45 25 0.52 incl. 39 42 3 1.87 GWRC303 6 19 13 0.43 42 59 17 0.52 GWRC304 7 8 1 0.33 19 24 5 0.26 53 58 5 0.94 61 72 11 1.29 GWRC305 0 43 43 2.86 incl. 3 26 23 4.79 48 50 2 0.61

*Intervals indicated are not true widths as there is insufficient geologic information to calculate true widths. However, drill holes have been drilled to cross interpreted mineralized zones as close to perpendicular as possible.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

About Kossanto East Project

The Kossanto East Project is a 66.41 km2 concession in the prolific Kedougou - Kenieba Inlier, the northwestern most exposure of Birimian rocks in West Africa and host to the Loulo and Sadiola group of world class gold deposits. The Property hosts two principal historically drill-tested targets, Gourbassi East and Gourbassi West and several surface anomalies identified in historic surface samples and Rotary Airblast (RAB) drill holes. Geochemical anomalies identified by previous explorers led to drill testing and successful intersection of gold mineralization. The results reported here are from Gourbassi West. Further results from Gourbassi West are anticipated in the coming weeks.

ABOUT ASHANTI GOLD

Ashanti is a gold-focused, exploration and development company that targets projects where it has a competitive advantage due to past work experience of the team and specific project know-how. The Company is driving forward its 100%-owned Kossanto East project in Mali on the prolific Kenieba Belt, which hosts such deposits as Loulo, Fekola and Sadiola. Ashanti is also working to advance, together with its earn-in partners, the Anumso project and the Ashanti Belt project in Ghana, which are near-adjacent to the Akyem deposit.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

ASHANTI GOLD CORP.

"Tim McCutcheon"

Tim McCutcheon

CEO

For further information, please contact:

Ashanti Gold Corp.

2300  1177 West Hastings Street

Vancouver BC, V6E 2K3

Phone: 604-638-3847

Qualified Person and Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Dr. Paul Klipfel, CPG (AIPG certification #10821), Ashantis COO and Chief Geologist is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 and has supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Dr. Klipfel is responsible for all aspects of the work including the Quality Control/Quality Assurance programs. Dr. Klipfel is not an Independent Person, as he is a shareholder of Ashanti.

Certified Reference Materials and Blanks are inserted into the sample stream at the rate of 1:20 samples. Field duplicates are collected at the rate of 1:50 samples. All samples have been analyzed by SGS Laboratories in Bamako with standard preparation methods and 50g fire assay with atomic absorption finish. SGS does their own introduction of QA/QC samples into the sample stream and reports them to Ashanti for double checking. Higher grade samples are reanalyzed from pulp or reject material or both.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.
VANCOUVER, Aug. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Silver Viper Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Silver Viper") (TSXV: VIPR) is pleased to announce mobilization of a camp building crew to La Virginia Gold-Silver Project, 220 kilometres ("km") east-northeast of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Camp and drill pad construction is currently underway and Silver Viper expects to commence drilling on a 5,000m initial campaign shortly. The Phase One program will include confirmation holes in and around the historic La Virginia and Con Virginia workings and will also continue to advance exploration on known mineralized trends. The first phase work will be conducted within the Rubi-Esperanza group of claims currently under option by Silver Viper (see June 25th 2018 news release).

Silver Viper has received all permits and completed land-owner agreements necessary to commence work. Due to the location of the drilling area, drilling as well as core logging and sampling will be conducted from the field camp currently under construction. Silver Viper's regional exploration effort continues to prospect and refine additional targets slated for drill testing in the coming months.

Characterized by laterally extensive epithermal style gold-silver mineralization in quartz stockworks, veins and hydrothermal breccias, strong mineralization has historically been identified within shoots developed along the main trend. The initial 5000m Phase I drilling will include holes on the main trend and two parallel trends. Historical mining activities evidenced by several underground workings are developed on zones of increased silica alteration and veining. The two largest historical workings, "La Virginia" and "Con Virginia" are still open and accessible and host mineralization ranging between one metre to greater than twenty metres in thickness.

Silver Viper's President and CEO Steve Cope states, "We are very excited to begin our first phase drilling program on the La Virginia Project. This asset has produced some fantastic results in the past and we look forward to continuing on that success. There is the potential here to both grow the existing mineralized zones, as well as the potential for new discoveries."

Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration is a 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101, and has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About the Company

Silver Viper Minerals Inc is a Canadian-based junior mineral exploration company focused on precious metals exploration in northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. The company also has an option to acquire a one hundred percent (100%) interest in the Clemente Precious-Base Metals Property, a highly prospective exploration project located within the prolific Sonora-Mojave megashear. Silver Viper is under management provided by the experienced Belcarra Group Management Ltd ("Belcarra Group"). The Belcarra Group is comprised of highly qualified mining and financial professionals.

On behalf of the board of directors,

Steve Cope

President and CEO

Forward Looking Information

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the use of proceeds, are made as of September 27, 2017 and are based on assumptions as of that date. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development; the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; the Company's limited operating history; the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; fluctuations in the prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Amended and Restated Prospectus dated July 21, 2017 available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER 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.
CONFERENCE CALL AUGUST 14, 2018 AT 10:30 AM (EDT)

(All $ figures reported in USD)

Adjusted EBITDA of $28.9 million in Q2 2018 increased 64% from $17.6 million in Q2 2017

in Q2 2018 increased 64% from in Q2 2017 Operating cash flows before movements in working capital of $29.5 million in Q2 2018 increased 70% from $17.4 million in Q2 2017

in Q2 2018 increased 70% from in Q2 2017 Revenue from metals payable of $62.7 million in Q2 2018 increased by 29% from $48.6 million in Q2 2017

in Q2 2018 increased by 29% from in Q2 2017 Q2 2018 consolidated copper production of 8.6 million pounds, consolidated silver production of 0.7 million ounces, consolidated zinc production of 20.3 million pounds, and consolidated gold production of 1,814 ounces; a 62% increase, 12% increase, 10% increase, and 38% increase respectively, from Q2 2017, and within production guidance (1)

Record quarterly throughput at Yauricocha and Bolivar Mines

$21.8 million of cash and cash equivalents as at June 30, 2018

of cash and cash equivalents as at Net Debt of $41.5 million as at June 30, 2018

as at Shareholder conference call to be held Tuesday August 14, 2018 at 10:30 AM (EDT)

(1) Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for Q2 2018 were calculated using the following realized prices: $16.36/oz Ag, $3.12/lb Cu, $1.09/lb Pb, $1.38/lb Zn, $1,296/oz Au. Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for Q2 2017 were calculated using the following realized prices: $17.22/oz Ag, $2.58/lb Cu, $0.99/lb Pb, $1.20/lb Zn, $1,265/oz Au. Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for 6M 2018 were calculated using the following realized prices: $16.56/oz Ag, $3.13/lb Cu, $1.12/lb Pb, $1.47/lb Zn, $1,315/oz Au. Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for 6M 2017 were calculated using the following realized prices: $17.47/oz Ag, $2.61/lb Cu, $/1.02lb Pb, $1.24/lb Zn, $1,248/oz Au.

TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Sierra Metals Inc. (TSX:SMT)(BVL:SMT)(NYSE American:SMTS) ("Sierra Metals" or the "Company") today reported revenue of $62.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $28.9 million on throughput of 602,087 tonnes and metal production of 4.7 million silver equivalent ounces, 24.5 million copper equivalent pounds, and 55.3 million zinc equivalent pounds for the three month period ended June 30, 2018.

During Q2 2018 the Company achieved record quarterly ore throughput from both the Yauricocha and Bolivar Mines, continuing the successful production increases realized during the last five quarters. Consolidated production of Copper increased 62% to 8.6 million pounds, silver increased 12% to 0.7 million ounces, lead decreased 16% to 7.1 million pounds, zinc increased 11% to 20.3 million pounds and gold increased 38% to 1,814 ounces compared to Q2 2017.

During Q2 2018, the Company released encouraging Preliminary Economic Assessments studies ("PEA's") for all three Mines, demonstrating positive economics and supporting potential future operational production increases. Development at all three Mines will continue with an objective of progressing the resource increases at the Cusi Mine, as well as the reserve and resource increases at the Yauricocha and Bolivar Mines into the mine plans. Additionally, continued exploration programs at all three Mines are expected to further increase reserves and resources at all mines which benefit future growth plans.

Igor Gonzales, President and CEO of Sierra Metals stated: "I am very pleased with our strong Q2 2018 results which builds upon our solid first quarter results. The Company is realizing positive returns on our capital investments and our operational improvement efforts. This can be noted through improving operating performance and strengthening of our asset base in addition to improved cash flow and increases to mineral reserves and resources at each of our mines.

Yauricocha continues to perform well with sequential record throughput in the second quarter. Additionally, despite lower realized metal prices in the second quarter, Yauricocha still contributed to higher revenue and improved net production revenue per tonne representative of the successful capital investments made. At Bolivar, the effects of the Mexico turn-around program are very noticeable, we achieved record throughput with a 5% increase over Q1-2018 and continue to work towards our goal of 3,500 tonnes per day by year end. We have again achieved lower all-in sustaining costs in the second quarter, which remain below guidance. At Cusi, we are progressing on the ramp up of tonnage and realized quarter over quarter improvements. We continue to campaign development ore from the Santa Rosa de Lima zone with increasing throughput rates, while selectively mining structures in the older part of the mine. We are pleased to report that the Company reached the existing mill's production capacity of 650 tonnes per day in late Q2-2018. The addition of another ball mill in the second half of 2018 will see the capacity increase to approximately 1,200 tonnes per day in early 2019."

He concluded, "Sierra Metals balance sheet remains strong with solid liquidity to meet its operational and growth expenditure requirements. Management maintains its optimism for the remainder of the year as the groundwork for further improvements has been laid through the implementation of best operational practices. Our recently completed, positive PEA's at all three Mines demonstrate the robust growth opportunities for the Company. Additionally, aggressive, brownfield exploration programs focused on high value targets are being executed which could lead to further significant growth in mineral reserves and resources at all of our Mines, which will add to the value of our assets now and in the years ahead."

The following table displays selected financial and operational information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018:

Q2 and H1 2018 Financial Highlights

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended (In thousands of dollars, except per share and cash cost amounts, consolidated

figures unless noted otherwise) June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Operating Ore Processed / Tonnes Milled 602,087 454,805 1,159,797 984,500 Silver Ounces Produced (000's) 692 616 1,287 1,314 Copper Pounds Produced (000's) 8,621 5,315 16,710 12,605 Lead Pounds Produced (000's) 7,096 8,467 13,408 17,610 Zinc Pounds Produced (000's) 20,300 18,530 38,514 36,666 Gold Ounces Produced 1,814 1,312 3,765 3,089 Copper Equivalent Pounds Produced (000's)1 24,452 21,937 47,937 47,071 Zinc Equivalent Pounds Produced (000's)1 55,279 47,165 102,190 99,479 Silver Equivalent Ounces Produced (000's)1 4,663 3,287 9,071 7,034 Cash Cost per Tonne Processed $ 44.62 $ 49.64 $ 45.60 $ 44.37 Cost of sales per AgEqOz $ 6.68 $ 8.10 $ 6.91 $ 7.61 Cash Cost per AgEqOz2 $ 6.34 $ 7.83 $ 6.55 $ 7.23 AISC per AgEqOz2 $ 9.56 $ 13.43 $ 9.70 $ 11.87 Cost of sales per CuEqLb2 $ 1.27 $ 1.21 $ 1.31 $ 1.14 Cash Cost per CuEqLb2 $ 1.21 $ 1.17 $ 1.24 $ 1.08 AISC per CuEqLb2 $ 1.82 $ 2.01 $ 1.83 $ 1.77 Cost of sales per ZnEqLb2 $ 0.56 $ 0.56 $ 0.61 $ 0.54 Cash Cost per ZnEqLb2 $ 0.53 $ 0.55 $ 0.58 $ 0.51 AISC per ZnEqLb2 $ 0.81 $ 0.94 $ 0.86 $ 0.84 Cash Cost per ZnEqLb (Yauricocha)2 $ 0.50 $ 0.48 $ 0.54 $ 0.45 AISC per ZnEqLb (Yauricocha)2 $ 0.72 $ 0.76 $ 0.77 $ 0.69 Cash Cost per CuEqLb (Bolivar)2 $ 1.14 $ 1.42 $ 1.21 $ 1.29 AISC per CuEqLb (Bolivar)2 $ 1.90 $ 2.60 $ 1.92 $ 2.24 Cash Cost per AgEqOz (Cusi)2 $ 12.78 $ 18.90 $ 14.96 $ 13.01 AISC per AgEqOz (Cusi)2 $ 19.98 $ 45.06 $ 23.25 $ 29.22 Financial Revenues $ 62,721 $ 48,571 $ 124,396 $ 103,089 Adjusted EBITDA2 $ 28,878 $ 17,620 $ 56,281 $ 42,981 Operating cash flows before movements in working capital $ 29,525 $ 17,355 $ 56,873 $ 40,155 Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders2 $ 12,557 $ 4,258 $ 23,744 $ 15,248 Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders $ 10,843 $ (2,798) $ 19,546 $ (240) Cash and cash equivalents $ 21,804 $ 31,121 $ 21,804 $ 31,121 Working capital $ 2,896 $ 5,163 $ 2,896 $ 5,163 (1) Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for Q2 2018 were calculated using the following realized prices: $16.36/oz Ag, $3.12/lb Cu, $1.09/lb Pb, $1.38/lb Zn, $1,296/oz Au. Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for Q2 2017 were calculated using the following realized prices: $17.22/oz Ag, $2.58/lb Cu, $0.99/lb Pb, $1.20/lb Zn, $1,265/oz Au. Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for 6M 2018 were calculated using the following realized prices: $16.56/oz Ag, $3.13/lb Cu, $1.12/lb Pb, $1.47/lb Zn, $1,315/oz Au. Silver equivalent ounces and copper and zinc equivalent pounds for 6M 2017 were calculated using the following realized prices: $17.47/oz Ag, $2.61/lb Cu, $/1.02lb Pb, $1.24/lb Zn, $1,248/oz Au. (2) This is a non-IFRS performance measure, see Non-IFRS Performance Measures section of the MD&A.

Revenue from metals payable of $62.7 million in Q2 2018 increased by 29% from $48.6 million in Q2 2017. Higher revenues are primarily attributable to the 19% increase in throughput, the increase in copper, and gold head grades, and higher recoveries for copper, lead, and gold at Yauricocha; and the increase in the prices of copper (21%), lead (10%), zinc (15%), and gold (2%) in Q2 2018 compared to Q2 2017; the 41% increase in throughput, higher copper and silver head grades, copper and gold recoveries, and the higher copper price resulted in Bolivar's revenues being 61% higher than Q2 2017; and the 95% increase in throughput, and higher silver recoveries resulted in Cusi's revenues being 102% higher than Q2 2017.

Yauricocha's cash cost per zinc equivalent payable pound was $0.50 (Q2 2017 - $0.48), and AISC per zinc equivalent payable pound of $0.72 (Q2 2017 - $0.76). The decrease in the AISC per zinc equivalent payable pound for Q2 2018 compared to Q2 2017 was a result of lower sustaining capital expenditures, while zinc equivalent payable pounds and cash costs remained consistent; this was partially offset by slight increases in general and administrative costs.

Bolivar's cash cost per copper equivalent payable pound was $1.14 (Q2 2017 - $1.42), and AISC per copper equivalent payable pound was $1.90 (Q2 2017 - $2.60) for Q2 2018 compared to Q2 2017. The decrease in the AISC per copper equivalent payable pound during Q2 2018 was due to the increase in copper equivalent payable pounds resulting from higher throughput, copper and silver head grades, and copper and gold recoveries; as well as a decrease in sustaining capital expenditures, as there were additional mine development costs, and various equipment purchases made by the Company during the Q2 2017 in an effort to improve equipment availability and increase tonnage.

Cusi's cash cost per silver equivalent payable ounce was $12.78 (Q2 2017 - $18.90), and AISC per silver equivalent payable ounce was $19.98 (Q2 2017 - $45.06) for Q2 2018 compared to Q2 2017. AISC per silver equivalent payable ounce decreased due to higher silver equivalent payable ounces resulting from higher throughput and higher silver recoveries.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $28.9 million for Q2 2018 increased 64% compared to $17.6 million in Q2 2017. The increase in adjusted EBITDA in Q2 2018 was primarily due to the $14.1 million increase in revenues discussed previously.

Cash flow generated from operations before movements in working capital of $29.5 million for Q2 2018 increased 70% compared to $17.4 million in Q2 2017. The increase in operating cash flow is mainly the result of higher revenues generated and higher gross margins realized.

Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders for Q2 2018 was $10.8 million (Q2 2017: $(2.8) million) or $0.07 per share (basic and diluted) (Q2 2017: $(0.02)).

Cash and cash equivalents of $21.8 million and working capital of $2.9 million as at June 30, 2018 compared to $23.9 million and $(6.8) million, respectively, at the end of 2017. Cash and cash equivalents have decreased by $2.1 million during H1 2018 due to $27.0 million of operating cash flows, and $5.0 million drawn down from a short term revolving line of credit, being offset by capital expenditures incurred in Mexico and Peru of $(24.0) million, repayment of loans, credit facilities and interest of $(8.3) million, dividends paid to non-controlling interest shareholders of $(1.6) million. Included in the $27.0 million of operating cash flows were negative changes in non-cash working capital items of $11.1 million due to the increase in trade receivables as at June 30, 2018.

(1) This is a non-IFRS performance measure, see Non-IFRS Performance Measures section of the MD&A.

Project Development

The Company provided an updated Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimate at the Bolivar Mine (press release dated July 5, 2018). The NI 43-101 Technical Report was filed on SEDAR and was prepared by SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc.

The Company reported the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Bolivar Mine (press release dated July 9, 2018) yielding a 550% return on investment and after-tax net present value ("NPV") of US$214 million at an 8% discount rate. The PEA was compiled under NI 43-101 standards by Mining Plus Peru SAC.

The Company reported the results of a PEA for the Yauricocha Mine (press release dated June 27, 2018) yielding a 486% return on investment and after-tax NPV of US$393 million at an 8% discount rate. The PEA was compiled under NI 43-101 standards by Mining Plus Peru SAC.

The Company reported the results of a PEA for the Cusi Mine (press release dated June 18, 2018) yielding a 75% internal rate of return ("IRR") and after-tax NPV of US$92 million at an 8% discount rate. The PEA was compiled under NI 43-101 standards by Mining Plus Peru SAC.

Mine development at Bolivar during Q2 2018 totaled 1,025 meters. Most of these meters (550m) were developed to prepare stopes for mine production. The remainder of the meters (475) were related to the deepening of ramps and developing service ramps to be used for ventilation and pumping.

During Q2 2018, at the Cusi property, mine development totaled 1,652 meters, and 960 meters of infill drilling was carried out inside the Mine, and 9,455 meters drilled from surface.

Exploration Update

Peru:

During Q2 2018, the Company drilled 45 holes totaling 8,366 meters at Yauricocha. The drilling included the following:

Exploration Drilling:

Contacto Oriental (Level 1070): 4 holes totaling 588 meters have intercepted positive results regarding the continuity of the orebody at depth;

Contacto Sur Medio Oeste (Level 1070 Central Mine Zone): 2 horizontal holes totaling 316 meters to explore possible mineralize orebodies;

Esperanza (Level 1070 Central Mine Zone): 2 holes totaling 1,507 meters with the objective of verifying the continuity of the orebody dimensions to the 1570 level;

(Level 1070 Central Mine Zone): 2 holes totaling 1,507 meters with the objective of verifying the continuity of the orebody dimensions to the 1570 level; Esperanza - Cuye (Level 1070 Central Mine Zone): 1 hole totaling 859 meters (246 meters during Q2 2018) with the objective of exploring the area between Cuye and Esperanza , an area which has provided evidence of a potential porphyry system;

- Cuye (Level 1070 Central Mine Zone): 1 hole totaling 859 meters (246 meters during Q2 2018) with the objective of exploring the area between Cuye and , an area which has provided evidence of a potential porphyry system; Cuye (Level 1070 Central Mine Zone)  2 long holes totaling 1,113 meters with the objective of exploring the continuation of the orebody at depth, which project the dimensions of the orebody to extend to the 1570 level;

Escondida Norte (870 Level Cachi Cachi)  1 hole totaling 243 meters which intercepted mineralized oxide zones down to the 1120 level; we are continuing to drill this area;

Definition Drilling:

Antacaca (Level 1070): 4 holes totaling 210 meters to provide more certainty and definition of the orebody;

Esperanza (Level 970): 10 holes totaling 1,410 meters to define the continuity of mineralization of the orebody; which were executed from the 970 level;

(Level 970): 10 holes totaling 1,410 meters to define the continuity of mineralization of the orebody; which were executed from the 970 level; Catas (Levels 1020 & 1070): 8 holes totaling 799 meters to further define the orebody;

Butz (1070 Level): 9 holes totaling 862 meters to further define the orebody, which intercepted polymetallic mineral;

Mascota (1170 Level): 2 holes totaling 459 meters in the polymetallic area of the orebody to further define it; these holes intercepted stretches of economic mineral;

(1170 Level): 2 holes totaling 459 meters in the polymetallic area of the orebody to further define it; these holes intercepted stretches of economic mineral; During Q2 2018, surface exploration was continued in the southern end of the Central Mine Zone, mainly in the areas of the Chonta Fault (Yauricocha II), where diamond drilling will be carried out.

Bolivar

At Bolivar during Q2 2018, 7,403 meters were drilled from surface as well as diamond drilling within the mine. 2,026 meters were drilled within the mine in the El Gallo zone, and 5,377 meters of surface diamond drilling divided between Bolivar Northwest, Bolivar West and Cieneguita . This drilling was performed to explore the extension of the orebody to the North and West, exploring the skarn orebody with semi-massive magnetite, and disseminated nodules of chalcopyrite. There are also greenfield exploration targets being explored to analyze geological anomalies and the continuity of the orebody Americanos to the west.

Cusi:

During Q2 2018 the Company drilled 960 meters inside the mines to verify the continuity of the orebodies and support development work on the various veins and 10,416 meters on surface.

On June 29, 2018 the Company announced the definition of a 40-metre wide, high grade silver stockwork area which remained open to depth and width within the Santa Rose de Lima zone. Subsequent drilling has since extended the width of that zone to 50-meters from 40-meters with the area still remaining open to depth and along strike.

Conference Call Webcast

Sierra Metals' senior management will host a conference call on Tuesday August 14, 2018 at 10:30 AM (EDT) to discuss the Company's financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018.

Via Webcast:

A live audio webcast of the meeting will be available on the Company's website:

Click Here

The webcast along with presentation slides will be archived for 180 days on www.sierrametals.com.

Via phone:

For those who prefer to listen by phone, dial-in instructions are below. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the call.

Participant Number (Toll Free North America): (833) 245-9659

Participant Number (Toll Free Peru): 0800-71-476

Participant Number (International): +1 (647) 689-4231

Conference ID: 3657779

Quality Control

All production technical data contained in 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 discoveries and still has additional brownfield exploration opportunities at all three mines in Peru and Mexico that are within or close proximity to the existing mines. Additionally, the Company 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".

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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.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal took application on record and sought response from Delhi police on it by August 25.

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy on Tuesday moved a court in Delhi urging it to restrain the city police from "leaking contents of the chargesheet" against them in connection with the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash to the media.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal took the application, moved by Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 11 AAP MLAs, on record and sought a response from the Delhi police on it by August 25.

The Delhi police on Monday filed a chargesheet against Kejriwal, Sisodia and 11 legislators of the Aam Aadmi Party -- Amanatullah Khan, Prakash Jarwal, Nitin Tyagi, Rituraj Govind, Sanjeev Jha, Ajay Dutt, Rajesh Rishi, Rajesh Gupta, Madan Lal, Parveen Kumar and Dinesh Mohania.

Read: Delhi CS assault: Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia, 11 AAP MLAs named in chargesheet

In an application, field by advocate Mohd Irshad, the AAP politicians said that "the investigating agency is selectively leaking the excerpts of the charge sheet to the media malafidely, to assassinate the character of the persons allegedly mentioned in the charge sheet, especially Kejriwal and Sisodia."

Also Read: AAP hits back after Kejriwal, Sisodia charged for assault on Delhi chief secy

It said that the matter was sub-judice and the probe agency had no power to pass on the contents of the charge sheet to the media before cognisance is taken by the court. "The act and conduct of the probe agency is an interference in the administration of justice as their only intention is to create hype in the media and to influence the proceedings so that the image of the chief minister and deputy chief minister are adversely affected," the application said. It claimed that if the agency is not restrained from making such "uncalled for, unwarranted and biased comments against the two constitutional authorities (CM and Dy CM), same would cause irreparable loss to their image and the proceeding in the case would also be affected."

In its around 1,300-page chargesheet, the police alleged that the accused had criminally conspired to threaten the chief secretary of death or grievous hurt, obstructed him in discharging his public function and caused hurt. It has also accused the AAP leaders of other offences punishable under sections of IPC, including wrongfully confining any person, assaulting or using criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty, insulting him to provoke breach of peace and abetment of the offence.

They were also chargesheeted for offence committed under IPC section 149, which says if an offence is committed by any member of an unlawful assembly, every other member of such assembly shall be held guilty of the offence. The court has put up the chargesheet for consideration on August 25.

If convicted, the accused may get a maximum of seven years jail. The Delhi Police had on May 18 questioned Kejriwal for over three hours in connection with the alleged assault on Prakash.

Prakash was allegedly assaulted during a meeting at Kejriwal's official residence on the night of February 19. The police said the chief minister was present when the alleged assault took place. Police have already questioned 11 AAP MLAs present at the chief minister's residence for the meeting. Two of the party MLAs -- Amantullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal --were arrested in the case. The alleged assault on the chief secretary had triggered a bitter tussle between the Delhi government and its bureaucrats.
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2018 / Condor Gold ("Condor Gold", "Condor", the "Group" or the "Company"), (AIM: CNR; OTCQX: CNFGF; TSX: COG) presents its unaudited interim financial report together with Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and six month periods to 30 June 2018. Both of the above have been posted on the Company's website www.condorgold.com and are also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Highlights for six months to 30 June 2018

Successful secondary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange ;

; Amendment of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") involving a re-designed mine infrastructure to avoid resettlement was submitted to the Nicaraguan Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources ("MARENA") in application for the Environmental Permit to construct and operate a 2,800 tonnes per day ("tpd") processing plant with capacity to produce 100,000 oz gold per annum ;

; Final site visit inspection completed by the "Inter-Institutional Committee" which comprises of three Ministries and representatives from the local Mayors' offices;

Additional technical studies completed and submitted to MARENA following the site visit inspection;

2.5 million raised through a private placement ;

; Positive rock chip assay results and detailed geological mapping progress the plan to define a major gold district around La India Project;

Appointment of Andrew Cheatle as a Non-Executive Director based in Canada with 30 years industry experience, strengthens the Board.

Post Period Highlights

MARENA completed a positive review of the ESIA, including amendments, and formally notified the Company to proceed to a Public Consultation on July 13, 2018. The turn out was high; a total of 499 people registered and attended the Public Consultation at which the technical, environment and social aspects of a new mine were presented and discussed in a transparent manner. During presentations of the Project to community groups and house-to-house visits the Company received over 600 expressions of interest in/applications for new jobs.

On August 6, 2018, the Company announced that MARENA had granted the Company the key Environmental Permit for the development, construction and operation of a processing plant with capacity to process up to 2,800 tpd. Gold production is expected to be approximately 80,000 ounce ("oz") gold per annum from a single open pit, with the La India project representing a US$120 million investment and creating an estimated 1,000 new jobs.

Mark Child, Chairman and Chief Executive of Condor Gold, commented:

"This has been a very encouraging first half year period for the Company. A re-designed mine site infrastructure to avoid community resettlement and amended ESIA were submitted to MARENA in January 2018. We subsequently held several encouraging meetings with key Ministries. A final site visit inspection was completed in March 2018 by the 'Inter-Institutional Committee', which is comprised of three Ministries and representatives from the local Mayors' offices. Further technical studies were subsequently submitted to MARENA. MARENA then completed a positive review of the ESIA, including amendments, and formally notified the Company to proceed to a Public Consultation on July 13, 2018.

"On August 6, 2018, the Company announced that MARENA had granted the Company the key Environmental Permit for the development, construction and operation of a processing plant with capacity to process up to 2,800 tpd. Gold production is expected to be approximately 80,000 oz gold per annum from a single open pit, with the La India project representing a US$120 million investment and creating approximately 1,000 new jobs."

For further information please visit www.condorgold.com or contact:

Condor Gold plc

Mark Child, Executive Chairman and CEO

+44 (0) 20 74932734

Beaumont Cornish Limited

Roland Cornish and James Biddle

+44 (0) 20 7628 3396

Numis Securities Limited

John Prior and James Black

+44 (0) 20 72601000

Blytheweigh

Tim Blythe and Camilla Horsfall

+44 (0) 02 7138 3204

About Condor Gold plc:

Condor Gold plc was admitted to AIM on 31 May 2006. The Company is a gold exploration and development company with a focus on Central America.

Condor published a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") on its wholly owned La India Project in Nicaragua in December 2014, as summarised in the Technical Report (as defined below). The PFS details an open pit gold mineral reserve in the Probable category of 6.9 million tonnes ("Mt") at 3.0 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold for 675,000 oz gold, producing 80,000 oz gold per annum for seven years. La India Project contains a mineral resource in the indicated category of 9.6 Mt at 3.5 g/t for 1.08 million oz gold and a total mineral resource in the inferred category of 8.5 Mt at 4.5 g/t for 1.23 million oz gold. The indicated mineral resource is inclusive of the mineral reserve.

Disclaimer

Neither the contents of the Company's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

Technical Information

Certain disclosure contained in this news release of a scientific or technical nature has been summarised or extracted from the technical report entitled "Technical Report on the La India Gold Project, Nicaragua, December 2014", dated November 13, 2017 with an effective date of December 21, 2014 (the "Technical Report"), prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The Technical Report was prepared by or under the supervision of Tim Lucks, Principal Consultant (Geology & Project Management), Gabor Bacsfalusi, Principal Consultant (Mining), Benjamin Parsons, Principal Consultant (Resource Geology), each of SRK Consulting (UK) Limited, and Neil Lincoln of Lycopodium Minerals Canada Ltd., each of whom is an independent Qualified Person as such term is defined in NI 43-101.

David Crawford, Chief Technical Officer of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has approved the written disclosure in this press release.

Forward Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are 'forward-looking information' with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to: to the Company's plans, mineral resources and mineral reserves, production rates and the economic impact on the La India Project. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as: "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "strategies", "estimate", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", "could", "might", "will" and similar expressions. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions regarding: future commodity prices and royalty regimes; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of capital expenditures; future currency exchange and interest rates; the impact of increasing competition; general conditions in economic and financial markets; availability of drilling and related equipment; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; the receipt of required permits; royalty rates; future tax rates; future operating costs; availability of future sources of funding; ability to obtain financing and assumptions underlying estimates related to adjusted funds from operations. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, risks related to: mineral exploration, development and operating risks; estimation of mineralisation, resources and reserves; environmental, health and safety regulations of the resource industry; competitive conditions; operational risks; liquidity and financing risks; funding risk; exploration costs; uninsurable risks; conflicts of interest; risks of operating in Nicaragua; government policy changes; ownership risks; permitting and licencing risks; artisanal miners and community relations; difficulty in enforcement of judgments; market conditions; stress in the global economy; current global financial condition; exchange rate and currency risks; commodity prices; reliance on key personnel; dilution risk; payment of dividends; as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017and dated March 29, 2018, available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Tuesday called for a government report on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre to be annulled, in a provocative move that could raise ethnic tensions ahead of October elections.

Compiled by a previous government, the 2004 report marked Bosnian Serbs first official acknowledgement of the scale of the massacre, in which some 8,000 Muslims were killed in the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II.

On Tuesday, Dodik, the ultra-nationalist president of Bosnias Serb-run entity Republika Srpska (RS), urged MPs there to overturn the report, calling it biased and untrue.

He has refused to describe the mass killing by Bosnian Serb forces as a genocide, despite two international courts ruling it as such.

Dodik said the report, which contained the names of 7,806 victims, is not relevant, is very selective, untrue, unproved, biased, distorts facts, creating a fake picture about the events in and around Srebrenica, according to Bosnias Fena news agency.

Dodik, who is running to be a member of Bosnias central tripartite presidency in October 7 elections, also called for an international commission to make the final report on Srebrenica.

Bosnian Serbs have long downplayed the scale of the Srebrenica massacre, which saw Bosnian Serb forces summarily execute thousands of Muslim men and boys over several days.

Dodik previously called for the report to be revised when he was prime minister of RS in 2010, claiming it was made under pressure from the international community.

On Tuesday, Bosnias Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic condemned Dodiks latest request as a pre-election move aimed at diverting public attention away from other issues.

No one, not a single institution in Bosnia could detract from the rulings of international courts, Zvizdic was quoted as saying by Fena.

The Srebrenica massacre is the only episode of Bosnias 1992-1995 war to have been ruled as genocide by two international courts, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN war crimes tribunal.

The war claimed some 100,000 lives and left the Balkan country split into two semi-autonomous entities: the Serbs Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation. Each has its own government, president and parliament.

Dodik, known for incendiary rhetoric, was sanctioned by the US in 2017 for threatening the peace accord that ended the war by pushing to celebrate a controversial Serb-focused holiday.
DA urges victims of domestic violence to contact BE SAFE In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn is reminding residents that his office is a resource for victims of domestic violence, and will continue...

Ken-Ton school threat found not to be credible The Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District reported to district families Monday about the existence on social media of a non-specific and non-credible school threat. The school districts Oct. 25 message...

International Institute, community partners awarded $250,000 for Buffalo Refugee Careers Pathway Project Rep. Brian Higgins has announced that $250,000 in federal grant funding has been awarded to the International Institute of Buffalo and community partners through the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The...

Town resident arraigned on felony drug charges Town of Tonawanda resident Adriane D. Roman, 37, has been arraigned on multiple felony drug charges after Erie County Sheriffs deputies raided his residence and allegedly found 1.5 kilos of...

Man arraigned for exchanging sexually explicit messages, images with minor Town of Tonawanda resident Daniel Syracuse, 38, has been arraigned in Amherst Town Court on a felony charge of disseminating indecent material to minors, in connection with sexually explicit text...
Earlier, fourteen Pakistani fishermen were released and repatriated on August 7, 2018.

While Pakistan, which observes Independence Day on August 14, is releasing 30 Indian prisoners, India repatriated seven Pakistani prisoners on Monday after having released another 14 Pakistani fishermen on August 7.

New Delhi: In a humanitarian gesture from both sides, India and Pakistan on Monday released some prisoners of each other including fishermen ahead of the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations of both countries.

While Pakistan, which observes Independence Day on August 14, is releasing 30 Indian prisoners, India repatriated seven Pakistani prisoners on Monday after having released another 14 Pakistani fishermen on August 7.

In a statement, the Pakistan government said, The Government of Pakistan has decided to release 30 Indian prisoners, including 27 fishermen on August 13, 2018. This is a humanitarian gesture to mark Pakistans Indepe-ndence Day on August 14. This is in line with Pakistans consistent policy of not politicising humanitarian issues. It is our hope that the Indian side will also reciprocate in a similar manner.

In a statement, India said, Seven Pakistani civilian prisoners were repatriated today. Earlier, fourteen Pakistani fishermen were released and repatriated on August 7, 2018. India attaches high priority to addressing humanitarian issues including early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and prisoners in Pakistans custody. The release of 178 Indian prisoners, including 174 fishermen, has been secured in 2018, so far.
This is because he may like to ensure his party gets to contest lions share of assembly seats while the BJP fights more Lok Sabha seats.

New Delhi: In a bid to underline its commitment to simultaneous polls, the BJP is mul-ling holding Assembly elections in 10-11 states along with the Lok Sabha polls, which are scheduled in the first half of next year.

A top party leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they are exploring the possibility of deferring Assembly elections of some states by a few months and advancing some others to ensure they are held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.

The tenure of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assemblies will expire in January next year and the governments of these BJP-ruled states may recommend a brief spell of governors rule so that Assembly elections there could be held with the Lok Sabha polls, he said.

The tenure of the Assembly in the Congress-ruled Mizoram is ending in December this year. Former Lok Sabha secretary general and constitutional expert P.D.T Acharya questioned the legal validity of imposing the governors rule in states where Assembly elections are due before the Lok Sabha polls.The governors rule can be imposed only in case of constitutional breakdown, he said.

The source said other states where Assembly polls can be advanced to enable it to be held with the Lok Sabha polls are Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra  all under the BJPs rule. Assembly elections in these three states are also scheduled next year following the Lok Sabha polls.

The Lok Sabha elections in 2014 were held in April-May. The source said Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana are any way scheduled to be held with the Parliamentary polls.

Another state where talks of advancing Assembly elections are doing the rounds is Bihar, where they are due in 2020 end. The BJP is a junior partner in the state government led by JD(U)s Nitish Kumar.

The JD(U) has in public pooh-poohed the suggestion that the state elections be held with the Lok Sabha polls but many political watchers believe that it may suit Kumar as well.

This is because he may like to ensure his party gets to contest lions share of assembly seats while the BJP fights more Lok Sabha seats.

There is a view within the BJP that holding Assembly elections of as many states as possible with the Lok Sabha polls will be a positive plank in its favour as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasised his support to the idea.

With the Opposition parties like the Congress being against the idea, the government is not in a position to effect the constitutional amendment that the exercise of holding assembly and Lok Sabha polls simultaneously would require. By clubbing Assembly elections in states ruled mostly by the BJP, the party would send a message that it means business, its leaders said.

This would also help the party counter the anti-incumbency factor in states ruled by it.
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Lets begin with a quiz question:

Patients may be allergic to:

A. oxygen

B. carbon

C. iodine

D. none of the above

If you answered anything but D, better keep reading.

Consider this scenario: If a patient is allergic to penicillin, you would document penicillin in the medical records. It would never occur to you to list antibiotics as an allergy, and you certainly would not call it a carbon allergy for slang, just because penicillin contains carbon.

This not an exercise in semantics, but a patient care issue. Iodine is a mineral we all need, intentionally added to our salt supply, so that people do not get iodine-deficiency goiters as they once did. (We could boost everyones protein intake by adding peanut powder to the salt supply, but people might understandably object.) So while some people may be allergic to compounds that happen to contain iodine, the iodine in the molecule is not the culprit.

Iodine-based contrast agents are widely used for CT and other X-ray studies. They light up blood vessels and enhance perfusing tissue. These agents are essential for diagnosing everything from clots, to tumor, to bleeding. Unfortunately, many patients do not get contrast studies they may benefit from, due to unnecessary confusion about allergies.

The most important step to avoiding confusion is to start calling contrast agents by their names, as you would do for any other drug, and to remove iodine from your allergy vocabulary. Like antibiotics, there is more than one kind of contrast agent. Radiologists routinely dictate the name of the agent used in their study reports, so if a reaction occurs, the information is readily available. The problem comes when we do not distinguish one agent from another. Most patients with a prior reaction were never told the name of the drug they received, and they incorrectly assume that an allergy to one means allergy to all. Not so, just like with other classes of medications.

Heres a brief summary of the pertinent points regarding contrast allergy:

Older ionic iodinated contrast agents were more allergenic, and are no longer commonly used most places. When there may be a history of a contrast allergy, always first try to determine the actual drug name. If unattainable, and the reaction occurred before circa 1990, it was almost certainly an older ionic contrast agent.

If symptoms consisted of nausea, vomiting, or a brief warm sensation, it may not have been pleasant for the patient, but those are considered physiologic effects of IV contrast, not actual allergic reactions.

If the reaction to an older ionic contrast agent was mild, such as hives with no trouble breathing, a newer nonionic agent (those commonly used today) will usually be tolerated. Oral steroid premedication may also be prescribed.

If the former allergic reaction was severe, including anaphylaxis, using any iodinated contrast agent would be discouraged, even the newer less allergenic agents.

Other points to remember:

Gadolinium based agents for MRI are completely different than iodinated contrast agents for CT. Allergies to gadolinium agents may occur, but more rarely.

Topical iodine soap sensitivity is unrelated to IV contrast allergy. If a patient is allergic to a topical soap, list the soap allergy by name, to prevent confusion with IV contrast.

The same goes for shellfish allergies, a reaction to the tropomyosin of the muscle protein. Like any other food allergy, this is not associated with IV contrast.

Having worked in radiology for over 25 years, I cannot count the number of patients who have iodine allergy listed in their records, when they have never even received one of the current class of contrast agents. Once an allergy is posted in a medical record, people are reticent to remove it  but this is precisely what should be done whenever information is inaccurate. A few questions in the history taking, and confirmation of agents used for prior injections, are usually all that is required to clear a patient for a study they may need. Better to clarify now, than to wait until there is an immediate situation with less time to act, like a possible pulmonary embolism, stroke, or trauma. And for anyone in the electronic medical records business, it would be best if iodine were not allowed as an allergy choice option. It is not only nonsensical; it may prevent someone from obtaining a prompt diagnosis when they need it most.

Cullen Ruff is a radiologist. This article originally appeared in Doximitys Op-(m)ed.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
The hugely popular Irish Curry Awards are expected to attract nominations from more than 400 Asian restaurants from across the island of Ireland, according to organisers.

Now in their third year, the awards, conceived by Belfast-based restaurateur and community activist Ali Askir, will be announced at a gala dinner on October 23 in the Pillo Hotel in Ashbourne, County Meath.

The awards will be hosted by Kilkenny duo,. Edward Hayden, the morning chef on TV3 and Siobhan Donohoe from the Irish TV Network.

The Irish Curry Awards have been welcomed by the Asian community which includes Bengali, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepalese and Sri Lankan restaurateurs as one of the most meaningful celebrations of diversity to emerge on the island of Ireland. This year sees the awards extended to South Asian restaurants including Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese and others from the region.

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have also warmly welcomed the return of the awards and their first appearance in Ireland following two years in the north.

Noel Rock, North West Dublin Fine Gael TD says the awards have a significant role to play in the Irish economy. The Irish Curry Awards are a marvellous showcase for the great food that is being produced in every corner of our country, says Mr Rock. Never have standards been so high o the contributions so diverse. Its highlighting the best of Irish food in a booming sector and helping our economy too.

Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Equality, Immigration and Integration Fiona OLoughlin TD says: These awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate diversity and recognise the great contribution that immigrants have made to communities right across Ireland. These awards have proven to be hugely popular and I encourage people to get out and support their local Asian restaurant.

Seven award categories include best chef, best restaurant and best take-away and the public is being urged to nominate their favourite Asian food operation or person on the www.irishcurryawards.com website.

Founder Ali Askir says the awards are intended to acknowledge the social and economic contributions of the Asian community to towns and cities across Ireland.
ABP Food Group has called on Kilkenny students to enter farm safety projects for the BT Young Scientist Exhibition 2019.

At this years Tullamore Show, ABP announced it would continue its sponsorship of the special 'Farm Safety' category at the upcoming BT Young Scientist Exhibition in January 2019. This will be ABP's fifth consecutive year involved with Irelands leading science and innovation expo.

The ABP award will recognise the best project that focuses on improving safety on farms. Students have until Tuesday, September 25 to express their interest in entering this years competition.

As part of its ongoing campaign to promote and improve safety on farms, ABPs stand at the Tullamore Show featured a number of farm safety themes. These included an interactive farm safety games hosted by Agri Kids, Irelands leading farm safety educational platform for children.

Also present on the ABP stand were Jack and Alex Brady from Colaiste Chraobh Abhann in Wicklow showcasing their winning ABP farm safety project from the 2018 BT Young Scientist Expo. The innovative project saw the students design a safety lock for livestock trailer gates helping reduce the potential for farm injuries. Since the competition the boys have developed a real live prototype.

Promoting safety on farms is something that is very important to all of us at ABP," said Martin Kane, Managing Director ABP Ireland.

"Unfortunately safety continues to be an issue on farms and through our sponsorship of the Farm Safety prize at the BT Young Scientist we want to encourage young people to become farm safety advocates on their farms, with their families and in their wider communities."

So far in 2018, 12 people have died as a result of farm accidents according to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Last year, 24 people were killed in farming accidents.
The long wait comes to an end tomorrow morning for students in Kilkenny due to collect their Leaving Certificate results.

While most will go return to their local schools to receive the results in person, an online facility will also be available from noon.

Meanwhile, the National Parents Council post primary Leaving Cert Helpline (1800-265165) will operate from tomorrow until next Wednesday, August 22. This period covers the release of the results through to the first round of offers from the CAO.

The phones will be staffed by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, who will assist callers with up to date information on all the issues that arise at this time. These will range from, appeal procedures, points, CAO applications and non-CAO options. SUSI, the Student Universal Support Ireland, will also have a representative on hand to advise on any grant related queries.

In 2017, the Helpline had over 4,300 queries that were answered over the six days. That was an increase of over 40% on the previous year.

Best of luck to everyone getting results tomorrow.

Helpline opening Hours

Wednesday 15th August 10am  7pm

Thursday 16th August 10am  7pm

Friday 17th August 10am  1pm

Monday 20th August 8am  7pm

Tuesday 21st August 8am - 7pm

Wednesday 22nd August 10am - 1pm
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Michael Johnston, a senior lecturer in education at VUW writes:

For a time I have been observing from afar, with rising horror, attacks on open debate and free speech on university campuses in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. Speakers  usually, but not always, from the right of politics  have been harassed and assaulted by protesters and sometimes de-platformed  a euphemism for being deprived of the opportunity to speak  by university administrations. Until very recently New Zealand campuses were blessedly free of this phenomenon. Now, thanks to Professor Jan Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of Massey University, that has changed.

Now only has this never happened before, it has happened to a former politician who 40% of the country voted for.

What is almost as outrageous as the Massey decision itself is that, to the best of my knowledge, the other universities and their leaders have been virtually silent on the incident. As an academic, I am embarrassed by this silence.

Where are the other VCs? Where is the TEU? Where are the hundreds of academics who benefit from academic freedom?

The tactic of labelling an opponents point of view hate speech is a dishonest and craven attempt to write it off without contending with its substance. For the vice-chancellor of a university to use such tactics is, as current National Party leader Simon Bridges put it, an absolute disgrace.

Don Brash is opposed to race based seats on local authorities. So I suspect are most New Zealanders. So rather than debate the merits, the Massey VC labels such views as hate speech.

A less well-rehearsed argument in favour of free speech, and one especially important to the fundamental mission of universities, is that, for human beings, thinking is a linguistic process: to formulate ideas, the use of language is required. A complex line of thought must be formulated, revised, analysed, debated and reformulated. All of this requires the expression of ideas in language. An attempt to restrain speech, then, is an attempt to restrain thought.

This is at the crux. How dare some of us think the wrong thing. We must be reeducated.

Learning to think inevitably involves encountering ideas we find offensive. In fact, to learn to think rigorously, we have to become accustomed to feeling uncomfortable  and even offended  and to maintain a spirit of reason in the face of that negative emotion. Deeply held ideas are, almost by definition, intrinsic to peoples identities. To challenge such an idea, therefore, is to challenge a persons identity. An environment in which people are enabled to develop the ability to contend with ideas that are alien or unpleasant to them comes at a price. That price is allowing people who may not be arguing in good faith to say things that are deliberately hurtful. (For the record, I do not believe Brash is such a person.) The proper response, even to them, is not to silence them but to allow them to express their ideas and then to point out in a rational manner why we believe they are wrong.

This is the depressing thing with the debate on Maori seats and wards. There are good arguments both for and against them. But so often each side just accuses the other of being racists, rather than recognise that there are legitimate pros and cons to having Maori seats.

As Richard Dawkins has pointed out, universities are not supposed to be intellectually safe environments. Theyre supposed to be places in which ideas are put to the blowtorch of evidence and analysis.

They are, but no longer at Massey it seems.

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There is an excellent chance that western Washington is going to be hit by a major lowland snow event. And yes, the mountains will be b...
Madras High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete its probe within four months.

13 people were killed after violent clashes broke out in May as the police tried to prevent protesters from marching to the district collectorate at Tuticorin. (Photo: File | AFP)

Chennai: In a major setback for Tamil Nadu government, the Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered CBI inquiry into police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu on May 22 in which 13 people were killed.

The court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to complete its probe within four months.

A division bench of Justice C T Selvam and A M Basheer passed the order on a batch of pleas moved against the police firing and detention of protesters under the National Security Act.

The bench passed the order in the principal seat of the Madras High Court. The court originally reserved its order in the Madurai bench for August 1.

After the high court's order, Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar said, "The Court has given its order for the CBI probe. The Tamil Nadu government will definitely meet to decide upon this."

Violent clashes broke out in May as the police tried to prevent protesters from marching to the district collectorate at Tuticorin; the protesters had been demanding a permanent closure of the Sterlite plant at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, owned by London-listed Vedanta Resources, on environmental grounds.
Sena's RS member Sanjay Raut also wondered how holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously will benefit country.

Though Sena is part of the BJP-led NDA, the two parties have had strained ties since they contested the last Assembly elections in Maharashtra separately in 2014. (Photo: File | PTI)

Mumbai: Taking potshots at the BJP on the 'One Nation One Poll' proposal, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said it "may even propose to hold the elections simultaneously with those in the US and Russia."

Sena's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also wondered how holding the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously will benefit the country.

"They (the BJP) may conduct the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Or, they will hold the elections together with those in the US and Russia. You never know what will emerge out of the heads of top BJP leaders. What is the interest of the country in that (holding simultaneous polls)," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah has supported the idea of holding Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously, saying this will curb expenditure and also ensure that the nation is not in the "election mode" throughout the year.

Shah had also dubbed the opposition to the proposal as "politically motivated".

Read: Amit Shah writes to Law Commission batting for One Nation, One Poll

In a letter to the Law Commission, Shah had said his party explicitly believes that in a progressive democracy like India elections should be held at a fixed time and for a fixed tenure. This, he added, will help people's representatives carry out their duties effectively.

Though Sena is part of the BJP-led NDA, the two parties have had strained ties since they contested the last Assembly elections in Maharashtra separately in 2014.
'We met the chief minister and made our request. He said the norms dont allow a former CM to be buried at Marina Beach,' said Stalin.

Praising the DMK's legal team led by T Wilson, Stalin said they approached the Madras High Court late at night and won the case the next day. (Photo: Twitter | @mkstalin)

Chennai: DMK leader M K Stalin on Tuesday said that he pleaded with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy to allot space at the Marina Beach to bury his father and party president M Karunanidhi.

When Kalaignar was in his last stage I held chief minister's hands and pledged to fulfill his (Karunanidhi) last wish to be buried in Marina beach but Tamil Nadu government did not agree, Stalin said at party's emergency Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday.

Stalin added that he had not gotten permission to bury his father at the Marina Beach, he too would have died.

Stalin said, We (DMK leaders and family members) met the chief minister (Palanisamy) and made our request. He said the norms do not allow a former chief minister to be buried at Marina Beach.

If this wouldn't have happened then surely I would have been the person to be buried along with our leader, Stalin said.

He said the decision to meet Palanisamy in person was taken after doctors declared that Karunanidhi was in critical condition.

According to Stalin, Palanisamy said the matter would be looked into -- but this was stated in order to send out the delegation.

After the announcement of Karunanidhi's death at 6:10 pm on August 7, the government issued a statement formally refusing a burial space at Marina.

Praising the DMK's legal team led by T Wilson, Stalin said they approached the Madras High Court late at night and won the case the next day.

I give the entire credit of the victory (burial of Karunanidhi at Marina Beach) to the lawyers, Stalin said, adding that had the case been lost, a situation would have arisen leading to his own burial next to his father Karunanidhi.

Stalin had broken down soon after the Madras High Court in an early morning hearing allowed Karunanidhi burial at Marina Beach.

Read: Stalin breaks down after HC ruling on Karunanidhi's burial at Marina
Admitting the petition, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar agreed to hear the matter next Monday.

New Delhi: A group of 350 serving soldiers and senior Army officers, led by a colonel, moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa), saying that the prosecution of soldiers serving in disturbed areas by civilian authorities like police and the CBI endangers national security.

Citing police cases against soldiers in Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur for civilian killings and other offences, the petitioners have alleged that FIRs and investigations against soldiers lowers their morale. They have sought directions from the apex court to ensure that no soldier is harassed by initiation of criminal proceedings or arrest for actions taken in good faith as part of their duties.

Admitting the petition, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar agreed to hear the matter next Monday.

After the 350 Army officers and soldiers petitioned the court, six Manipur police commandos also moved a plea stating that the top courts bench led by Justice Madan Lokur, while hearing a petition alleging extra-judicial killings in Manipur, had remarked that they were murderers.

The commandos said that the comment, even before the trial has begun, suggests they will not get a fair trial.

Afspa allows soldiers serving in insurgency-hit areas to arrest, use force and even open fire on anyone without the prospect of facing prosecution for their actions.

The immunity that Afspa gives has often been criticised by rights activists as it gives soldiers a free hand, without any accountability for their actions. In all the states where the Army has been deployed in counter-insurgency operations, there have been several instances of rape, fake encounters and excessive use of force.

Seeking a direction to lay down guidelines to protect bonafide actions of soldiers under Afspa, the Armymens lawyer Aishwarya Bhati said that any dilution of the protection offered to the armed forces in disturbed areas would jeopardise the efficiency of operations against ultras.

Petitioner Col. Amit Kumar, who leads the 350 petitioners, said that the plea has been filed collectively by soldiers and serving officers of the Army for protecting the sovereignty, integrity, security and dignity of the nation and restore the confidence and morale of the soldiers of the Indian Army.

They said that it is imperative to protect soldiers engaged with direct proxy enemy and involved in insurgency operations.

The petition said soldiers are facing insurmountable difficulties and odds in performance of their duties in disturbed areas and they never hesitate to lay down their lives in the line of duty in order to uphold the dignity of the Indian national flag.

The ultimate sacrifice expected from a soldier cannot be sustained under a state of confusion or cloud, the petition said.

Lodging of an FIR without ordering a preliminary inquiry to ascertain the facts related to intention, error of judgment or the circumstances under which soldiers act, without giving a fair chance to the personnel facing allegations, is against the principle of natural justice, the petition said.

Two years ago, the Supreme Court said excessive force cannot be used on people even in insurgency-hit areas while hearing a petition on extra-judicial killings. Last year, it upheld the decision, which had directed the government to probe every such case.

Recently, the father of an Amy officer posted in Jammu and Kashmir approached the apex court seeking the cancellation of a police case against his son, who was leading a convoy that allegedly opened fire on a group of civilians during a protest in Shopian in March. Three civilians had died.
New Delhi, Aug 14: Soldiers of China's Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) have intruded around 300-400 metres inside the Demchok sector of eastern Ladakh, according to reports. However, the Indian security forces said they convinced Chinese forces to remove some of their tents pitched in Demchok and efforts were on for complete removal.

The transgression reportedly took place in the first week of July this year when a group of shepherds understood to be PLA troops entered more than 300 Metres in Demchok and pitched five tents. The Indian forces raised the issue at brigadier-level talks, following which three tents were removed. Two tents and and some Chinese personnel still remain in the Indian territory.

Indian security forces in Demchok is directed to have followed the standard protocols of banner drill and escalating the matter at the appropriate level. In banner drill, a banner in Chinese and Hindi is shown to the Chinese with the message to them that they have entered the Indian territory and they should return back to their side.

In 2014, some Chinese villagers had setup tents in Demchok to protest the construction of a 100 feet long water channel, followed by deployment of Chinese troops. India too sent its forces at the spot, later troops from both sides withdrew from the area following talks.

The fresh intrusion came after a 73-day long stand-off last year which started on June 16 and ended August 28 when the Chinese stopped building road in the disputed trijunction of the Doklam shared between India, China and Bhutan.

India shares a long border of 4,057 kilometres which is termed as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) divided into three sectors viz the Northern, Middle and Eastern sectors starting from the state of Jammu and Kashmir to the eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The issue of the borders remains disputed as the Chinese perception differs from the position of the borders as claimed by India. (With agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2018 10:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Washington, August 14: United States President Donald Trump has a long list of errors and faux pas moments. According to a report, Trump mispronounced the names of Nepal and Bhutan during a White House meeting in 2017. While he called Nepal 'nipple', Bhutan was 'button' according to him.

A report in Politico says that Donald Trump didn't even know that Nepal and Bhutan were two countries. The report quoting two unnamed sources said that Trump was surprised when he was told that Nepal and Bhutan were countries and not parts of India. The report says that Trump was studying a South Asia map ahead of his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he said, "What is this stuff in between and these other countries?

The report adds that Trump even joked about Modi's marital status when he was told that Modi didn't live with his wife. Ah, I think I can set him up with somebody," Trump reportedly quipped when he was told about Modi's marriage.

Trump had earlier stirred a row after he had termed several African nations as shithole countries. Trump had even branded the European Union as the foe of America.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2018 03:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The arrival of refugees from Yemen has sparked a debate in South Korea about accepting these asylum seekers.

Those saying no are making their voice heard. More than 7,00,000 South Koreans have signed a petition calling on the government to revoke the refugee applications of 550 Yemenis and have them expelled from the island of Jeju. The protest against these people fleeing war and starvation in Yemen has taken on Islamophobic overtones. Due to these protests, the South Korean government has banned refugees from traveling to mainland South Korea and also revoked visa free travel from Yemen.

The presidents office typically responds to petitions that garner over 200,000 signatures, but so far president Moon Jae-in, himself the son of refugees from North Korea, has stayed silent on the issue.

As reported by many media outlets, residents of the resort Island of Jeju where these refugees are housed, fear that the refugees will rape their women and kill their children. The Guardian reports that an online forum for mothers on Jeju that usually discuss pram reviews or the best preschool have turned overwhelmingly political in recent months. I am absolutely against having refugees, one woman wrote. I really hate the thought of people with the religion of Islam living on Jeju in a large number.

Jeju has a population of around 600,000 and a recent survey with 500 islanders revealed 90 percent felt insecure about going outside since the Yemenis' arrival.

A rise in fake stories and anti-Islam propaganda online has also spurred on the protesters in South Korea but, according to Il Lee, a human rights lawyer, who also says that the anti-refugee sentiment is not new in Korea. There are also worries that the spread of false information is going by unnoticed and the government's apparent lack of involvement in the matter has failed to calm down the situation.

This weekend, around 100 anti-refugee campaigners hosted a fourth protest outside Seoul Station to demand from the government to deport all the "fake refugees" from Jeju and not accept any other asylum seekers.

South Koreas acceptance of refugees shows the countrys conservative attitude towards accepting new ethnicities. Of about 10,000 people who applied for asylum last year, only 1.2%, or 121 cases, were accepted, according to South Koreas justice ministry. The principal of ethnic purity still runs strong in the country  danil minjok or monoethnic nation  as an idea was part of the official school curriculum in South Korea until the UN advised it should be removed in 2007.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2018 06:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Aug 14, 2018, 9:08am ET

South Korea grounds unrepaired BMWs to prevent fires

20,000 vehicles under recall will be banned from South Korean streets.

The South Korea Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is imposing a driving ban on roughly 20,000 BMW models currently under recall after a rash of fires blamed on a faulty exhaust component.

The ban only extends to vehicles which have not yet been submitted for repair. Owners will only be allowed to drive vehicles subject to the ban to have them inspected and the recall service performed. Violators can face as much as a year in prison if their vehicles catch fire while being illegally operated.

Close to 40 fires have been reported in South Korea so far in 2018 according to the AP, and BMW currently has a worldwide recall in effect to address the issue. 106,000 vehicles were recalled in South Korea alone; it was expanded to Europe earlier this month, widening the total number of vehicles under recall to more than 320,000.

The recall spans 42 different models and addresses what the company says is a faulty exhaust gas recirculation valve cooler which, according to the wire service, can start a fire if the vehicle is driven at speed for prolonged periods of time.




Emotions seemed to run the gamut this week as Wegmans shoppers in Hanover Township, Northampton County navigated aisles with empty shelves, found popular items moved and entered departments in total disarray.

"It won't always be like this," an employee reassured a customer visibly frustrated and asking where items were.

"I know, I'm just used to everything where it's supposed to be," the woman replied.

Before customers even entered the store, though, a large flat-screen monitor did warn the crowds of what was ahead. "Please Pardon Our Dust," it read, followed by the following:

"Over the next few weeks, our store will be going through a major remodel so that we can serve you better. Many items and departments will be moving, and some items might move a few times before we permanently locate them. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. We appreciate your patience and loyalty during these changes and are looking forward to providing an even better Wegmans shopping experience."

Katie Roche, a Wegmans spokeswoman, said remodeling began Aug. 6 at the store, 5000 Wegmans Drive and off Route 512. The project is slated to last eight to 10 weeks, she said.

The upgrades are the first for the Hanover Township location since opening 18 years ago. The changes are being modeled after some newer, more modern locations.

"Our goal is to create an even easier and more enjoyable shopping experience for our customers," Roche said. "All of these renovations will bring Bethlehem in-line with the most current layout seen in our newer stores."

Changes will include new refrigerated cases in prepared foods to provide space for products the Hanover Township location previously was unable to offer consistently, such as a full line of quiches and more family-pack-size sides and entrees.

Roche did confirm a relocation of the Old World Cheese behind the produce department and moving the store's floral section to where the cheese section had previously been located to create a more "open air market" feel.

What's being eliminated most definitely is the Wkids Center -- a place for parents to drop off their children to be supervised by store employees as they shopped.

Roche said while the area was appreciated by parents, the actual number of customers using the service at the Hanover Township location on a regular basis was minimal. It remains unclear what's going in place of the Wkids Center, which is already covered in black plastic in the store's front end.

What's not on the store's upgrade list is a pub area offered at the Allentown location.

Shoppers in a rush, however, might need to allow for extra time as finding items on a grocery list could now resemble more of a scavenger hunt.

Among the aisles nearly gutted Monday afternoon at the store were those containing pickles, tuna, gravy and dressings; Mexican food, soups, side dishes, rice and bread crumbs; juice and drinks; and soda, water and seltzer.

An area next to the produce section and near the deli area was completely empty with yellow "wet floor" cones stationed throughout. A stand with pre-packaged deli meats and cheeses was moved closer to a dairy section.

Signs were scattered about, stating, "If you are looking for snack nuts, it is now located in bulk foods" and "If you are looking for water, it is now located behind aisle 14B" with the added line, "Thank you for your patience during our remodel."

To ease the headache, employees are being scheduled in aisles to help those in search of products during the course of the remodel, said Jo Natale, another Wegmans spokeswoman.

Natale said there are no plans by the chain for major remodels at either the Tilghman Street location in Allentown or Easton-Nazareth Highway location in Lower Nazareth Township.

The Allentown location, Natale said, already went through a major remodel about four years ago. The Lower Nazareth location currently has some minor projects underway, but not the scale of what's happening in Hanover Township, she said.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A total of 215 female juvenile rafters were all accounted for Monday night after searchers spent four hours making sure no one was missing in the raging waters of the Lehigh River.

At least 46 rafters were in distress and had to be rescued by emergency workers, Lehighton fire Chief Patrick Mriss said.

Mriss said the girls were part of a camp on a rafting trip organized by Nesquehoning-based Whitewater Rafting Adventures. The Times-News of Lehighton reported the girls were members of a New York-based church camp.

A search began when someone noticed an empty raft at Bowmanstown -- a borough along the Lehigh River between Lehighton and Walnutport -- about 5:40 p.m. Monday. A passerby is believed to have called 911.

A whole bunch of rafts later were found to be caught up in trees, with Mriss saying there were eight girls to a raft.

He said one girl was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, but he didn't know the extent of her injuries.

There were conflicting reports during the search as to specifically just how many rafters were missing due to guides being scattered throughout the river, Mriss said.

"Until we got a good firm count, we weren't sure how many people were still missing," he said.

The search was mostly south of the Route 209 Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge and spanned the portion of the river near Jim Thorpe and Lehighton in Carbon County, Mriss said. A total of seven rescue teams from Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon and Schuylkill counties responded.

The scene was cleared by about 10:30 p.m. when the rafting company advised all the campers were accounted for.

"Everyone's safe," Mriss said.

Firefighters and rescue personnel with the Lehighton Fire Department return from a massive water rescue of boaters stranded Aug. 13, 2018, on the Lehigh River in the area of the Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge (Route 209) in the Carbon County borough. (Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com)

In addition to Lehighton, fire companies sent boats and water rescue personnel from neighboring Franklin Township, Ryan Township in Schuylkill County, Fullerton and Cementon in Whitehall Township, Northampton and Walnutport.

Pennsylvania State Police sent one helicopter from Reading to assist in the rescue, and the National Guard sent two from Fort Indiantown Gap, Mriss said.

Widespread flooding from heavy rains in eastern Pennsylvania had created dangerous conditions throughout Monday on the region's roads and waterways. A motorist earlier in the day had to be rescued from a vehicle stranded in water in Lower Macungie Township.

Reporter Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: The 35 Diocese of Allentown priests named as 'offenders' in grand jury sex abuse report



It took two years for a Pennsylvania grand jury to investigate allegations of widespread sexual abuse of children and coverups of that abuse in six Roman Catholic dioceses across the state.

After months of "an intense legal battle" to make the report public, Attorney General Josh Shapiro finally was able to release the 884-page report on Tuesday.

"We need you to hear this," the 23 members of the Pennsylvania grand jury wrote in their report.

It is the largest, most comprehensive investigation into child sexual abuse in the Catholic church ever in the United States, Shapiro said, speaking in the Capitol Media Center in Harrisburg.

The 40th statewide grand jury investigation looked into six of the eight dioceses covering the state not already investigated: Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton.

All told, the dioceses have some 1.7 million members. The Diocese of Allentown administers to Catholics in a region that includes the Lehigh Valley.

The "painful body of facts and documents" was released on the attorney general's website here. Interest in the report caused the website to crash Tuesday afternoon.

It includes allegations against 301 "predator priests," and more than 1,000 victims, Shapiro said.

"We don't think that we got them all," Shapiro said of the offending clergy. Victims either did not come forward, or the dioceses did not create records of the abuse.

Because of the statute of limitations, Shapiro said he was only able to file criminal charges against a few priests in the wake of the investigation.

"For many victims, this grand jury report is justice," he said.

2 years of investigating, a grand jury, hundreds of sexually abusive priests & thousands of children who carry the burden as Survivors. For too long, the Church has shielded pedophiles, pushing their victims into the shadows. No longer. Today, we publish the truth. Posted by Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The grand jury heard of decades of abuse, with one case involving five sisters being systematically abused by the same priest.

Jurors also heard of the extensive system used to hide the abuse, Shapiro said, both in Pennsylvania and the Vatican.

In Pittsburgh, a group of four priests are accused of "violently" sexually assaulting boys.

One victim described being stripped naked, forced to pose as Jesus Christ and the priests taking photos, the attorney general said. It was part of child pornography produced and shared on church grounds.

The boys were given gifts, gold crosses, what Shapiro described as marks of being groomed. One victim that testified to the grand jury brought that necklace.

The allegations detail sexual abuse that "weaponized the Catholic faith and used it as a tool for their abuse," the attorney general raid.

One boy was allegedly forced to perform oral sex on a priest, who then rinsed the young boy's mouth with holy water. Girls reported being told by priests who raped them that God wanted them to express his love this way.

In Scranton, a priest raped a young girl and she became pregnant, and the priest arranged an abortion for her, the attorney general said.

In Allentown, Shapiro highlighted Father Edward Graff.

Graff left the Allentown diocese in 1988, but was arrested in 2002, when he was 73, in Texas on allegations he molested a teenage boy. Graff died in a Lubbock, Texas jail in November 2002.

Shapiro said Graff raped "scores" of children over 35 years. One victim, named Joey, was so violently sexually assaulted as a 7-year-old that his spine was injured.

Joey became addicted to pain medication, and eventually overdosed and died.

Before he died, Joey wrote to the Allentown Diocese, telling them Graff killed his potential and the man he could have become.

"The abuse did happen. The grand jurors believed Joey," Shapiro said to Joey's mother, who was sitting on the stage Tuesday.

Also in Allentown, Shapiro described victims reporting abuse to other clergy, and the men telling the victims not to tell them or not say the priest's name.

For the record, Shapiro said, the priest was Francis Fromholzer.

Fromholzer, who taught at Allentown Central Catholic High School, was named in a lawsuit against the diocese over alleged sexual abuse in 2004, according to The Morning Call.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Diocese of Allentown said the offending priests are either no longer in active ministry or are deceased.

"In the event of an allegation of abuse, we immediately remove the priest from ministry, immediately notify law enforcement, and address the issue in a transparent manner," the diocese said.

Shapiro said many victims attempted suicide and were successful. One victim tried to take her life before she was to testify before the grand jury, he said.

Tuesday's report follows previous grand jury investigations in the other two dioceses in the state.

Philadelphia was investigated and reports issued in 2005 and 2011; the 2011 report can be read here.

The investigation into the diocese of Altoona-Johnstown was released in 2016. You can read that report here.

This past June, Cambria County Judge Norman Krumenacker, who supervised the grand jury, refused to delay releasing the report and refused to allow parts to be challenged before the release.

That same month, the state Supreme Court stepped in and blocked the release of the report.

A group of unidentified current and former clergy sought redactions in the report, claiming their constitutional rights were being violated. Sections of the report referring to these objectors are redacted in the report for now.

At the same time the objections were filed, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the Greensburg and Harrisburg dioceses sought to shut down the grand jury investigation in 2017, arguing the investigation should have been left to local district attorneys.

Shapiro said the dioceses cover-up system was sophisticated, and "above all else they protected their institution above all costs."

The challenge to the report was priests and personnel wanting to "cover-up the cover up," he added.

Shapiro said he is still fighting to remove the redactions, and oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 26 before the state Supreme Court.

"You can be certain we will fight vigorously to remove every redaction," Shapiro said at his news conference.

Shapiro also said they believe some victims have not come forward, and urged them to contact his office.

The lists of credibly accused

Two dioceses, Erie and Harrisburg, already released lists of the priests and personnel credibly accused of child sexual abuse.

The dioceses of Allentown, Greensburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton are expected to publish their own lists, now that the report is public.

Erie was first, releasing its list of is 34 priests and 17 lay people. You can read Erie's list here.

In a letter issued Sunday, Bishop Lawrence Persico said the victims in the report "have experienced cruel behavior by the very individuals who should have had the greatest interest in protecting them.

They have suffered in darkness for a very long time. It is shocking to read the graphic details of exactly what occurred," he wrote.

Persico referenced the recent allegations against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick

The Harrsiburg diocese had 71 people on its list: including 37 priests, three deacons, six seminarians, nine from other diocese and 16 members of religious communities. Read the entire list here.

Last week, the Greensburg diocese, which covers Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties, announced it removed Rev. James W. Clark from his ministry in June. Clark was accused of sexual abuse dating back 50 years ago, but the allegations were only reported June 28.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: 46 girls rescued in river search during camping trip

A large-scale rescue effort is underway in Carbon County for several missing rafters along the Lehigh River, a Carbon County 911 dispatch supervisor confirmed.

"We're in a holding pattern right now," the supervisor said just before 9:30 p.m. Monday.

There are conflicting reports of the exact amount of people searchers are looking for.

The discovery of an empty raft at Bowmanstown -- a borough along the Lehigh River between Lehighton and Walnutport -- about 6:40 p.m. Monday initially raised fears that one person was missing.

Officials then were informed the company that rented the rafts was not sure where nearly 150 rafters were in a river that's been raging throughout Monday with heavy rains, according to various published reports.

WNEP-16 News is reporting crews set up a staging area near the Thomas J. McCall Memorial Bridge between Lehighton and Weissport.

Lehigh and Northampton county emergency officials said they sent first responders up to the Lehighton area just north of the Lehigh Valley.

"According to reports on the scene, about 30 young girls have been pulled from the Lehigh," the Times-News of Lehighton reports on its website. "All are members of a church camp in New York and were whitewater rafting."

Emergency Alerts County of Lehigh, a volunteer group that runs a Facebook page focused on EMS, fire and weather alerts pertinent to Lehigh County, about 7:45 p.m. posted that approximately 200 people were rafting from Jim Thorpe and only 50 were accounted for. This report, which had been shared on Facebook more than 4,000 times in about an hour, could not immediately be confirmed.

Widespread flooding from heavy rains in eastern Pennsylvania has created dangerous conditions on the region's roads and waterways. Earlier Monday, a motorist had to be rescued from a vehicle stranded in water in Lower Macungie Township.

Several dozen roads remain closed because of the flooding, and a flood watch remains in effect for the region until midnight, the National Weather Service says.

We'll provide updates as more information becomes available.
MindField at Electric Picnic 2018 - The Electric Picnic's Braintrust Changes and Engages

The Electric Picnic's totally unique spoken word arena, this year sees a couple of big changes with the addition of a new podcast stage called Ah, Hear! and a new writing and ideas stage called Manifesto.

Already returning to the beautiful countryside setting are The Word, Leviathan, An Puball Gaeilge, Dublin Theatre Festival Theatre Stage as well as the newly expanded Theatre of Food and DANCE DAYS by Dublin Dance Festival presenting yoga flow, boogie bounce, breakdance, ballroom, burlesque and more, suitable for all levels.

Highlights of the inspiring and engaging programme include talks on foreign affairs and Brexit, hosted by the Rubberbandits' Blindboy Boatclub, who will also present live editions of his massively popular podcast, now listened to by a worldwide audience of 200,000 every week.

Ah, Hear! the new podcast stage also features Soundings hosted by Lisa Hannigan and Dylan Haskins with special guests Marian Keyes and Ships; a host of podcasts curated by the Headstuff Podcast Network collective; and a special An Irishman Abroad podcast with Jarlath Regan.

Highlights of the new Manifesto stage include Northern Soul, a conversation about growing up in music in Northern Ireland with Tim Wheeler from Ash andBronagh Gallagher; readings of Seamus Heaney's poems from the recently published 100 Poems selected by his family.

Stray Lines is an intriguing new format that brings together live readings of comics and graphic novels with visuals, special effects and music.

New to the Parish hosted by Sorcha Pollak features a panel of fascinating people new to Ireland with reflections on this country's direct provision regime from theatre maker Oonagh Murphy.

Joining us also are International Dublin Literary Award winner Mike McCormack (Solar Bones); former political prisoner, Ibrahim Halawa; writer, Michael Harding; and legendary comedy producer John Lloyd (Blackadder, Spitting Image, QI).

With 14 million readers in 2017, the Internet sensation that is the satirical news website Waterford Whispers News will present a Sky News-style special preview of their new live show which premieres in October.

National treasure Miriam O'Callaghan presents the annual Sunday Brunch Show with very special guests reviewing the papers, chewing the fat and having the craic.

Blindboy Boatclub also hosts the delightful Illuminate illustra ted talks with artists and creatives including celebrated jewellery designer Chupi among many others.

There's an Amnesty Hour Special on Human Rights Defenders hosted by Roisin Ingle; debates on fake news and the digital public square with the Irish Research Council, the ever-popular Salon du Chat; History Ireland Hedge Schools; and Paddy Cullivan's Ten Dark Secrets of 1798.

The Theatre Stage - presented in association with Dublin Theatre Festival - brings a provocative and thoughtful programme of performances to this year's festival.

Programme highlights include Kicking All the Boxes developed by world-renowned performer and theatre maker Mikel Murfi, written and performed by Liz FitzGibbon; Thisispopbaby's pr esentation of Tara Flynn's deeply personal, brave and funny Not a Funny Word which had such an impact in the lead up to the referendum on the Eighth Amendment; and electrifying performances by The Word Up Collective featuring Hassan Baker, Jake Hurley & Nick Stanley, Amber O'Connell, Sasha Terfous.

The Breadline Collective in association with Theatre Upstairs presents Say Nothin to No One by Thommas Kane Byrne; Sickle Moon Productions present Tryst by F inbarr Doyle and Jeda de Bri, performed by Katie McCann, Clodagh Mooney Duggan and Finbarr Doyle; and Pan Narrans Theatre present My Left Nut performed and co-written by Michael Patrick and Oisin Kearney - the true story of a Belfast boy growing up with no father to guide him through, and a giant ball to weigh him down. Malaprop present LOVE + devised by Dylan Coburn Gray, Claire OReilly, Breffni Holahan, Maeve OMahony; and X+Co./Xnthony present Confirmation performed by Anthony Keigher (Xnthony) A musical memoir about growing up in Roscommon.

The Word Stage is, as always, packed to the rafters with an electric mix of spoken word, storytelling, poetry, cutting-edge comedy and theatre; rap, funk and rock and roll. UK rapper Finn Detax will be strutting his stuff on Friday, while The Word Up Collective will be bringing all kinds of cool to the stage over the weekend featuring some of the top rappers and spoken word artists on the Irish scene. Expect blistering sets from Outsider YP, Jay Ronic and Tommy G. There's also lots of live music by night with festival favourites Good Man Sheila and Cronin and their special guests ready to whip the crowd into a frenzy along with Bobby and The Blunts, Backroad Smokers Club, Megacone, and Reprisal. During the day we will please delicate minds with storytelling, poetry and comedy, building up to dulcet tones from the likes of Oscar Mild, Con Murphy and Distant Sons. Sunday night closes The Word Stage with a rip roaring high octane trad. set from Ruaile Buaile.

Puball Gaeilge  the festivals Irish language stage  will have another exciting programme of events this year as it celebrates 11 years at Electric Picnic in conjunction with Raidio na Life and Glor na nGael. Among the programme of events at this years Puball Gaeilge, will be exciting live performances from many excellent bands and musical acts, live podcasting, a magic show, Ted Talks as Gaeilge, comedians, plays, poetry and lots more! Each night will see new music presented by Raidio na Life, Ronan Mac Aodha Bhui, and Raidio Failte. Among those who festival-goers can see at Friday nights Siamsa Raidio Na Life will beCult Called Man, Nocturnes, Three Underneath, Oski Bravo, Exiles, Bruadar and Ullchabhain. Saturday nights Cabaret Craiceailte will see Belfasts edgy Irish-language rappers Kneecap, alongside other fantastic musical acts such as Shane Hennesy, Thatchers of the Acropolis and more. Sundays Scleip Raidio Failte will feature appearances from Abhainn Bheara, Grainne Holland, Eiriu, LAS, and Na Hot Totties among others

SEE MORE ELECTRIC PICNIC NEWS HERE.
Macaws owner raised alarm because she feared her pet, named Jessie, was injured after escaping from her home in Edmonton, North London.

While Jessie responded 'I love you' back, they then discovered that she had a bit of a foul mouth and kept swearing, much to the firefighters amusement. (Photo: Pixabay)

Can it get more bizarre and funny than this? Firefighters called to rescue a parrot stuck on a roof for three days were told to f*** off -- by the parrot.

According to a story published in The Sun, the macaws owner raised the alarm because she feared her pet, named Jessie, was injured after escaping from her home in Edmonton, North London.

The crew were told to bond with the parrot by saying I love you, which Jessie repeated.

According to Watch Manager Chris Swallow, Jessie had been on the same roof for three days and there were concerns that she may be injured which is why she hadn't come down.

"Our crew manager was the willing volunteer who went up the ladder to try and bring Jessie down., he added.

He went on to say that they were told to bond with the parrot by telling her I love you, and that is what they did.

While Jessie responded 'I love you' back, they then discovered that she had a bit of a foul mouth and kept swearing, much to the firefighters amusement.

It turns out that Jessie speaks Turkish and Greek as well so the brave men tried cajoling her into coming in multiple languages.

However, it soon became apparent that the macaw was fine and uninjured and they left her on her perch.
Gardai have upgraded the investigation into the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob to a murder investigation.

The move is based on new information received by gardai, 20 years after the teenager disappeared.

Speaking today at Naas Garda Station, Chief Superintendent Brian Sutton said; "Deirdre Jacob was 18 years of age when she was last seen on 28 July 1998 as she walked to her home in Newbridge, Co Kildare. She was a young woman starting off her life, who had just completed one year at St Marys University, Twickenham, London. Deirdre had enjoyed her life in London and was looking forward to returning to college that September when her life was taken away on or after the 28th July 1998.

"This 20-year-old investigation has been reviewed in detail by Gardai from Kildare and from the Serious Crime Review Team over the last 12 months. As a result of this review and new information that has been received, An Garda Siochana have re-classified the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob from a Missing Person investigation to a Murder investigation."

He said the investigation team are following a number of lines of enquiry and progress is being made on the investigation.

"I wish to appeal to any person with information in relation to the murder of Deirdre Jacob to come forward, particularly persons who have not come forward in the past," he added.

"The investigation team can be contacted at Kildare Garda Station, 045 521222 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Deirdre was last seen near her home, at Roseberry at approximately 3 pm on the day in question.

There has been a 20-year investigation into Deirdres disappearance during which significant enquiries were carried out to establish her whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which she disappeared.

The murder investigation is being conducted by Gardai from the Kildare Garda District with the support of the Serious Crime Review Team. An incident room has been set up at Kildare Garda Station.
Litter and pollution in rivers across Laois and Offaly has been 'chronic' according to Sinn Fein Environment Spokesman Brian Stanley TD.

The Laois TD says the latest report by An Taisce shows the need for a new approach to litter.

"The report highlighted that shockingly only 8 percent of Irish waterways and beaches were judged clean. This is yet another indication of the chronic levels of littering and illegal dumping throughout the country," he said.

The report outlined that four Irish waterways that were inspected were deemed to be clean. The River Shannon at Athlone was seen as moderately littered.

"We all know the pollution seen across many rivers in Laois and Offaly and throughout our countryside which has gone to chronic levels in many places.

"Laois and Offaly County Councils are spending huge amounts of money each year cleaning up illegal dumping. Along with the damage caused to the Environment the report shows the high level of litter was unpleasant for tourists. So for a State so reliant on tourism it further compounds the urgent need for change in how we deal with waste.

"This report indicates yet again that the current policy for waste management is flawed, and ineffective, and that a new approach is required.

"Reduce reuse and recycle should be at the centre of waste policy as well as specific new initiatives such as a deposit return schemes," he said.

Deputy Stanley said Sinn Fein would establish a system similar to Europe whereby recyclable materials could be returned and a deposit repaid.

"As Sinn Fein Spokesperson on the Environment, I put forward a bill last year in the Dail to establish a deposit return scheme. This would mean that drink containers, such as plastic bottles and aluminium cans, could be returned and a deposit repaid. Such schemes are common across Europe.

"Sinn Fein in government would introduce this scheme as part of the fight against illegal dumping and litter. The Sinn Fein Bill also provides for an increase for fines for littering and illegal dumping. It also would put an obligation on householders to have a legal and proper way of disposing of their domestic waste.

"While some progress has been made with reducing the volumes of waste being produced by manufacturers, further more stringent measures need to be implemented.

We must reduce waste at source and put an obligations on manufactures to stop producing excessive amounts of needless packaging in the first instance," he said.

Portarlington 'Avon Generation' fondly remembered in new radio documentary.
Naas politician Darren Scully has thrown his weight behind Kevin Sharkeys bid for the presidency.

Mr. Sharkey, who was brought up in Donegal, is an artist and is also known as a dancer and a TV presenter.

He has also had financial difficulties and was homeless for a period recently.

Hes been described by Cllr Scully as a very engaging man whose life experience would make him a great president and truly represent the culture and traditions of Ireland.

I have spoken at length to Kevin and he is someone who has done a lot in his life and who has been through some difficult times. Mr. Sharkey and other hopefuls seeking a nomination from local authorities across Ireland, have been invited to attend a special Kildare County Council meeting on Monday August 27.

KCC is entitled to put forward a nomination for the presidential race.

Cllr Scully said he is disappointed that FG decided not to run a candidate in the election. He said he looks forward to introducing Mr. Sharkey to KCC.
Gardai have re-classified the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob 20 years ago as a murder investigation.

Deirdre was last seen on the July 28, 1998 near her home, at Roseberry, Newbridge, Co Kildare at approximately 3pm. There has been a 20-year investigation into Deirdres disappearance during which significant enquiries were carried out to establish her whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which she disappeared.

As a result of new information being received, An Garda Siochana have re-classified the investigation from a missing person investigation to a murder investigation.

The murder investigation is being conducted by Gardai from the Kildare Garda District with the support of the Serious Crime Review Team.

An incident room has been set up at Kildare Garda Station.

Speaking today at Naas Garda Station, Chief Superintendent Brian Sutton said: "Deirdre Jacob was 18 years of age when she was last seen on 28th July 1998 as she walked to her home in Newbridge, Co Kildare. She was a young woman starting off her life, who had just completed one year at St Marys University, Twickenham, London. Deirdre had enjoyed her life in London and was looking forward to returning to college that September when her life was taken away on or after the 28th July 1998.

"This 20-year-old investigation has been reviewed in detail by Gardai from Kildare and from the Serious Crime Review Team over the last 12 months. As a result of this review and new information that has been received, An Garda Siochana have re-classified the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob from a Missing Person investigation to a Murder investigation."

The investigation team are following a number of lines of enquiry and progress is being made on the investigation.

"I wish to appeal to any person with information in relation to the murder of Deirdre Jacob to come forward, particularly persons who have not come forward in the past," he said.

The investigation team can be contacted at Kildare Garda Station, 045 521222 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
Fianna Fail TD for Cavan-Monaghan Niamh Smyth has received confirmation from the RCSI Hospital Group that 38 positions are vacant within the Cavan and Monaghan Hospital Group. The bulk of the vacancies are in nursing.

The figures came to light following a Parliamentary Question from Deputy Smyth. I understand from speaking with staff on my recent visit to Cavan Hospital with our Health Spokesperson Stephen Donnelly that efforts are underway locally to try and attract nurses to the smaller hospitals.

Deputy Smyth said, The government needs to examine why we cannot attract nurses back to our local hospitals. I have been told that its due to the work load and the stress of the job. The terms and conditions being offered by the HSE are also significantly less attractive than what is available in other countries.

The workload expected of our healthcare professionals is becoming untenable. Nurses in particular have asked for the availability of flexi-time to create a better work-life balance.

I have been informed by the RCSI Hospital Group that along with the 22 nursing positions there are 4 vacancies in Medical, 7 positions free in Health Care and Professionals, 1 in Management Administration, 2 in General Support Staff and 2 in Patient and Client Care.

I am urging the Health Minister, along with the RCSI Group, to commit to filling these vacancies without delay so that staff and patients can have full confidence in the care that is being provided at Cavan and Monaghan General Hospitals.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Mr Michael Ring T.D., has announced the provision of 500,000 to support the work of Mens Sheds throughout Ireland. This capital funding provides small grants to individual Mens Sheds in order to enable them to purchase equipment or to carry out minor works to improve their premises.

Which groups are eligible?

Only Mens Sheds that are affiliated with the Irish Mens Sheds Association are eligible. Any Mens Shed that is affiliated at the time of the closing date of August 31 is eligible to apply.

Can a Mens Shed apply for funding under the main CEP and also under this fund?

Yes. A group can apply for funding separately under both funds. They could potentially be awarded funding when applications under the main CEP are evaluated, and then separately receive further funding (for different costs or projects) when applications under the Mens Shed fund are evaluated.

If a Shed is unsuccessful under the CEP scheme do they need to fill out a second application under the Mens Shed Fund?

No. Any unsuccessful applications by groups affiliated with the Irish Mens Sheds Association under the main CEP should automatically be considered under the Mens Shed fund. They do not need to fill out a second application, unless they choose to do so or unless they want to apply for a different amount or different project.

See here for link to funding application form.
Leitrim children will form part of 40 dancers who will perform Sean Nos dancing for the Pope in Croke Park on Saturday, August 25.



Edwina Guckian's Airc Damhnsa Club were asked to perform at the World Meeting of Families 2018 by Tyrone Productions following a number of TV appearances such as the Late Late Toy Show.

Edwina Guckian told the Leitrim Observer the children are more excited about dancing in Croke Park than dancing for the Pope!

She said children from Manorhamilton, Dromahair, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim Village, Drumsna, Annaduff, Mohill, Drumshanbo and Kiltubrid will join with dancers from Sligo, Donegal, Cavan, Roscommon, Mayo and Westmeath.



Over 70,000 will be in Croke Park for the event where Pope Francis will deliver an address to all assembled and five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, India, Iraq, and Africa will be presented.

The Sean Nos dancers aged 5-15 years will join Riverdance on stage for a six minute performance. Edwina said they are performing a brand new piece with original music composed by David Brophy. They have been rehearsing in Dublin and will rehearse in Croke Park on Friday, August 24.



The Leitrim children will be performing along with big names such as Daniel O'Donnell and Nathan Carter, The Priests and around 2,000 performers.



Edwina said she was apprehensive at first to take on such a project over the summer holidays. She said rehearsing such a large crowd of children means a lot of travelling for parents, but I would have felt guilty if I had turned it down for the children.



The children will be wearing their own colourful clothes that will allow natural free movement.

The World Meeting of Families 2018 Festival is a two hour event. It is a ticket only event and will be broadcast live on RTE2 television as well as on radio.

Also read: Road closures for Pope's visit to Knock
THE UNIVERSITY Maternity Hospital Limerick building will be no longer fit for clinical use following its 160m relocation to Dooradoyle, unless it gets a significant Government investment.

UMHL on the Ennis road in Limerick city is one of three maternity hospitals that will be relocated under the Governments 2040 capital plan, and the project is expected to be delivered by 2028.

At present, there are no plans for the Ennis Road site following its relocation, which was originally priced at 210m in February. A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said if the building were to be used for clinical use, a significant renovation, upgrade and modernisation project would be required to bring it up to meet current healthcare and Strategy for the control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland (Sari) standards.

In a 2016 draft plan of the relocation, received by this newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act, it states: In the case of acute health services, experience has shown, that the form and construction of early health buildings tends to be irremediably inefficient in meeting modern acute clinical demands save in the provision of ancillary services where these can be integrated accordingly.

Referencing the original buildings at University Hospital Limerick, where UMHL will be relocated, it said that they can only be assigned to non-clinical administration and support and to symbolic uses.

UMHL opened in 1960, five years after UHL.

The UL Hospitals Group spokesperson said it continues to advance plans for UMHLs relocation.

Nothing has been decided on the future use of the current site and all options are being kept open.

UMHL dates back to 1960 and has had a number of upgrades and extensions over the years including the installation of ensuites in each of the four-bed or two-bed rooms in 1995 and, in 2005, the addition of an operating theatre and three additional delivery rooms together with a new entrance, waiting, reception and assessment/ admission suite, he said.

Fianna Fail TD Willie ODea said the building could yield big revenue from the State if hired out to organisations. Hardly a week passes when I dont have applications from various groups looking for space, looking for accommodation, looking for a building in Limerick. And heres a big public building very centrally located. Obviously, there are several potential uses but it cant just be lying idle, he told the Limerick Leader.
THE International Aviation Services Centre in Shannon has become the first Irish member of an elite European aerospace cluster.

The importance of the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC), run by the Shannon Group, has been acknowledged on a European scale with the appointment to the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP), it said.

The membership acknowledges Shannon IASC as not only the largest aerospace cluster in Ireland but a cluster of pan-European significance, allowing the firms within it to co-operate on a European level to identify new projects, funding sources and development opportunities, the Managing Director of IASC Patrick Edmond has said.

Achieving membership of EACP is a very significant moment for IASC, he said.

Up to now, EACP comprised 42 clusters from 17 countries, with the linkage to the other clusters set to give us a constant exchange of knowledge and information, helping it to achieve best practice within the industry. EACP connects us into a network that links clusters worldwide and matches and stimulates innovation in the industry.

IASC was established by Shannon Group in 2013 and is Irelands largest aviation and aerospace cluster, with over 60 companies employing over 2,600 staff. The cluster is growing rapidly and recent additions include STS UJet, Aerospace Asset Trading, A-techSYN, GTS Robotics and Stratos.

It benefits from close links with local third-level institutions such as University of Limerick and Limerick Institute of Technology, both of which have strong aviation-relevant programmes and research activities.

Membership of EACP is conferred based on a vote of the existing members.

IASC was formally signed up as a member of the European aerospace Cluster at the recent Farnborough Air Show, at which Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection Pat Breen led a trade delegation to promote Irelands growing capability in aviation and aerospace to international trade partners.

He said: Ireland is growing in strength in the aviation and aerospace sector each year. Im delighted to have announced that the IASC aviation cluster in Shannon is joining the elite EACP. This is a fantastic example of how well the sector is performing and is recognition of Shannon IASC as not only the largest aerospace cluster in Ireland, but a cluster of pan-European significance.
And much like the rest of the experiences here  this is a country that is as warm as it is friendly and welcoming.

An aerial view of the city of Bahrain is a good precursor to what you can expect to see in this archipelago of islands. The turquoise blues and greens merge with the sandy browns to create a landscape that is straight out of a painting. Even as you enter the city of Manama, the first thing you see is a large life-size colourful camel sculpture Caravan of Peace. This is part of a project by artists and students of different areas of Bahrain to promote national unity and the idea of citizenship and co-existence among Bahrainis. And much like the rest of the experiences here  this is a country that is as warm as it is friendly and welcoming.

Sights & Sounds

A good place to start your exploration is the Bahrain National Museum that will take you on a trip down memory lane, and acquaint you with the 4,000-year-old history of the country. With nine halls housed in a beige hued building, the museum is spread over three levels. The ground floor has sections dedicated to graves, the history of Dilmun as well as the customs and traditions. On the first floor, you can check documents and manuscripts, Tylos and Islam, and trades and crafts. The lobby level has an art gallery, invested in culture exhibitions, temporary exhibition spaces, a cafe, gift shop and auditorium. Do look at the brilliant sculptures on the exterior of the museum that are framed by stunning sea views. Adjacent to this is the Bahrain National Theatre spread over 12,000 square metres with a seating capacity of 1,001.

Opened in 2012, the architecture of this building has been inspired by 1001 Arabian Nights. A visit to the Qalat Al Bahrain or The Bahrain Fort is also recommended, especially towards the evening as you can visit the fort as well as see the fantastic light and sound show that takes you through the countrys history, the legend of Gilgamesh as well as Dilmun and the pearling journey. Also make time for the Beit Al Quran  a museum dedicated to the Quran that has a number of Qurans  some dating back to the 1st century.

Modern architecture in Manama

Cosmo Vibes

In spite of being a relatively small country, Bahrain has a vibrant night life scene replete with pubs, bars, night clubs and lounges, especially in most five stars. These are extremely popular with the youth. Among some of the popular watering holes in Manama are Club XS, W Club Lounge and Apollo Club Bar. Thursdays at W-Night at Bushido Lounge are recommended for DJ Alberts thumping music. Women must check out Klub 360, every Sunday and Wednesday as they can enjoy free drinks and also take part in raffles to win spa vouchers, perfumes and designer bags.

When in Manama, a great way to spend your evening is to visit Adliya, Block 338. This is a locality that has a motley mix of art galleries and restaurants but it is its vibrant street art that is its most attractive feature. Of course, the food choices here are great  an eclectic mix of Indian, Arabic, Mediterranean, Japanese, there is never a dull culinary moment here. The locale is filled with art galleries like the Al Riwaq Gallery that displays art by emerging artists from Bahrain and the region as well as the Al Bareh Gallery, a private space that hosts exhibitions by regional artists.

Being neighbours with Saudi Arabia, a short 25 minute drive on the King Fahad Causeway brings you to the border of Saudi. From this spot, it is lovely to see the azure vast expanse of the ocean, especially in the evening. For some shopping, you must check out the local souk Bab Al Bahrain where you can buy traditional souvenirs. The Seef Mall is a good place for urban shoppers. Of course, all race buff have to visit the Bahrain International Circuit, for a spot of adventure where you can experience a 4X4 land rover drive that is full of thrills and spills.

Getting Arty

A stop at the Al Jasra Handicraft Centre is a must whether you love arts and craft or not, simply because this is a space where you can get up close with all traditional arts and crafts of the country under one roof. There is a separate room dedicated to each craft form  whether it is production of musical instruments, boat building, weaving, gypsum engraving, traditional chest making and pottery. The artisans work here so you can also interact with them. A small store retails these products so you can buy a piece of Bahrain for your home. This is a country that lives up to its tourism tagline  Ours. Yours. And its yours to discover.

 Photographs by Bindu Gopal Rao
LIMERICKS newest secondary school looks set to open at a new location in the next two weeks after planning was stalled on a temporary premises for the building in Plassey.

Limerick Educate Together Secondary School (Limerick ETSS) looks set to open at the Salesian College at Fernbank, North Circular Road, which was purchased by Limerick City and County Council as part of the Cleeves site.

The site is currently managed by Limerick 2030.

The council and Limerick 2030 has agreed to lease the ground floor and the gym to Limerick East Educate Together on a one year lease as a temporary premises for the school.

This will come as great relief to the parents and students who have waited eagerly for news of the temporary site, according to principal Eoin Shinners.

This is fantastic news for the school. Salesians offers us everything we need. Its a school and with that we will have the best of facilities for students and teachers, Mr Shinners said.

The parents and students have been hugely supportive and patient throughout this process. Contractors have already been appointed and are ready to commence a significant schedule of works this week so that the school is ready for the 55 students and 12 staff later this month, he added.

There is further good news for Limerick ETSS as the Department of Education is very close to finalising the purchase of a green field site for the new school in the Castletroy/Monaleen area, Mr Shinners added.

Mr Shinners also paid tribute to Senator Kieran ODonnell for the role he had played in securing a site for Limerick ETSS.

Senator ODonnell has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the school has a temporary building. On behalf of Educate Together, the interim Board of Management and the parents and students of Limerick ETSS, I would like to sincerely thank Kieran for all his relentless hard work throughout this process and we look forward to working closely with him in the coming months as we set our sights on the new building project later this year.

Senator Kieran ODonnell said: I am delighted to have worked with Principal Eoin Shinners and all at Limerick Educate Together Secondary school to ensure that this school will shortly open its doors to its first pupils.

This is a great addition to the secondary school educational offering here in Limerick and I am glad to be associated with this project.

The school previously had a planning application for a change of use request at a premises on Holland Road, Plassey stalled in July.

The building was expected to house the first incoming students of the new secondary school until a permanent location was secured.

Mayor of Limerick and Limerick 2030 director James Collins said: Staff, pupils and parents were getting nervous as September was quickly approaching so Im delighted that the council and Limerick 2030 were able to facilitate them on a short term basis.

It will get the school up and running. Im on the board of management at Mungret Community College so I know how difficult it can be to get a school operational in a short period of time.
SHANNON Foynes Port Company delivered the highest profit before tax in the history of the company last year at 4.3m and paid a dividend of 250,000 to the Exchequer.

It was the third consecutive year of record profits with turnover up by almost 6% to 13.98m, the annual report for 2017 released this Tuesday reveals, with last years return up 2.8% on 2016.

2017 also saw cargo volumes surpass the peak levels of the boom, reaching 11.3m tonnes, an increase of 18% since 2014.

But company leaders warned that delivering key infrastructure projects such as the Limerick to Foynes road was becoming more urgent if the company is to reach its full potential as the countrys premier deep-water port.

The 2017 record profits were achieved in a year in which the company, the largest bulk port company in Ireland, also invested over 6.5m in infrastructure improvements and a high capacity mobile crane.

Significantly also for the health of the company, an operating margin of 34.3% was delivered, six times what it was at the height of the Celtic Tiger boom when a 5.5% margin was delivered.

We are very pleased with our performance in 2017, which was positive across all metrics, company chief executive Pat Keating said.

Cargo volumes are a key barometer for port companies and last year we were up by 4% at our general cargo terminals of Limerick and Foynes. This growth reflects the resurgence in the domestic and export economy where, for example, agricultural, petroleum and construction products were particularly strong. In addition, renewable and recyclable related cargoes also performed strongly.

However, Mr Keating continued, substantial demands on cash flow exist to fund the investment programme of the companys masterplan, Vision 2041.

These investments are vital in order to significantly expand our infrastructure in order to keep pace with customer demand, he said.

Whilst it is early days in the Vision 2041 plan period, we are very much on track to achieve its growth projections, company chairman David McGarry said.

But he stressed that a number of key projects must be delivered for the port authority to reach its potential. One of these is the Limerick to Foynes Road Scheme and delivery of this, Mr McGarry said, is becoming more and more urgent.

The reinstatement of the Limerick to Foynes rail line for freight use, likewise, is a key project.

While there are obvious economic threats arising from Brexit, we believe it also presents opportunity, Mr McGarry said.

Brexit is a disruptor and has forced the freight sector, including its policy makers, to review current systems and traffic paths. To this end, we have been very active during 2017 and note that the European Commission, in its CEF mid-term review intend to extend the North Sea Mediterranean Corridor to include SFPC.

This is a major change and one which should enhance our ability to access future European Funding under the CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) budget.

Phase 1 of the companys 2041 investment programme ended in 2016 at a cost of 12m and planning application is in progress for a further 22m investment covering Phases II to IV. These phases will comprise a significant extension to berthing facilities at Foynes, including the development of the recently acquired 38 hectares of land for port activity.
A LIMERICK woman is battling to secure an All-Ireland final ticket for her father, who donated his 1973 hurling final ticket to a family member after flying all the way from London when he was13.

Lauren OSullivan, a law student in Belfast and former teacher at Scoil Carmel, is trying to secure a ticket for her dad who supports club and county in any way he can and he deserves to be inside the stadium on Sunday.

Born in Kilfinane, John emigrated to London in 1963. He is now on a community employment scheme with Ballyhoura Development, maintaining tracks and trails up the mountains.

Lauren told the Leader about how her legend dad donated a ticket to a family member who had lost their ticket to the Limerick-Kilkenny All-Ireland in 1973.

Right lads. Who has connections @officialgaa, mafia or otherwise & can get me 2 tickets to the Liam final. Help me get my *amazing* Dad there. He drove me the length of the country for emergency surgery and nursed me. Hes been at the matches. Legend!#limerickgaa @LimerickCLG  Lauren O'Sullivan (@Sullubrious) August 6, 2018

Example of legend: Dad was 13 the last time Limerick won the Liam McCarthy Cup and had a ticket. Travelled from London to watch it. Yet STILL ended up listening on a radio *outside the stadium* as his uncle lost his own ticket and Dad gave him his. (Hes a better person than I). August 6, 2018

Example of legend: I was very sick last year, not able travel for the long planned family Christmas in Limerick (we dont all get together often); he drove to get me in Belfast, then drove me back up after for surgery, only to have it cancelled. 4 times. Travelled up each time.  Lauren O'Sullivan (@Sullubrious) August 6, 2018

He travelled from London with my Grandad Liam and various uncles, cousins and his brothers, meeting up with relatives from Limerick along the way. It was discovered some where along the way that one of the adults had misplaced their own ticket and it was decided that Dad, as the youngest, should donate his. So he sat in the region of Croker with a bag of Tayto, a Lucozade with the orange cellophane wrapper and a radio. He was delighted with the result anyway!

Laurens grandfather Liam, who passed away four years ago, used to play for Kilfinane and was a founding member of Sean Treacys GAA club in London. A consummate hurling fan, John proposed to his wife Sheila when he was just 19 on the way to a GAA dinner dance in London in 1979. They got married two years later and Lauren was born a year later.

If he were to secure an extra ticket, she said she would definitely love to join him.
Apr 28, 2021, 5 AM

A souvenir sheet from the Czech Republic pictures the Bombay cover, considered to be a crown jewel of philately. The sheet promotes the Praga 2018 exhibition and show, where the cover was planned for display.

By Denise McCarty

A new Czech Republic souvenir sheet shows one of the stamp hobbys greatest rarities, the Bombay cover. Franked with two of the Mauritius 1847 1-penny Post Office stamps (Scott 1), the 1850 cover is addressed to Bombay, India.

The famed cover last sold in a 2016 David Feldman auction in Switzerland for more than $2.5 million. The buyer was a Czech stamp collector, who is exhibiting the cover at the Praga 2018 specialized world stamp exhibition taking place Aug. 15-18 in Prague, Czech Republic.

The souvenir sheet was issued Aug. 8, a week before the start of the exhibition, and includes the Praga 2018 logo in the upper left.

The single 59-koruna stamp in the souvenir sheet is a stamp-on-stamp design, featuring the two Mauritius stamps from the Bombay cover.

In the catalog for the Dec. 1, 2016, Feldman auction of the cover, Helen Morgan (author of The Blue Mauritius, the Hunt for the Worlds Most Valuable Stamp) wrote: For as far as used specimens of the one penny Post Office stamps go, these two are in as perfect a condition as could be hoped: their colour is vibrant, their margins generous, and their cancellations are comforting in their authenticity, barely obliterating the young Queens profiles.

The rest of the cover is shown in the selvage of the souvenir sheet. Inscribed below it are words in Czech that translate to Czech Post  General Exhibition Partner.

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Kamil Knotek designed the souvenir sheet. The republics Post Printing House printed it by offset.

The Bombay cover was mailed Jan. 4, 1850, by the Rev. Langrische Banks, who was working for the British and Foreign Bible Society in Mauritius. It is addressed to Thomas Jerrome Esq., secretary to the Bombay Auxiliary Bible Society.

The cover was discovered by C. Howard in 1897 at a Bombay bazar. According to the Feldman website, Howard paid 5 rupees for the cover, and sold it in 1898 for 1,600.

After that, the cover was owned by several collectors, including Alfred Lichtenstein. At H.R. Harmers 1968 auction of the Dale-Lichtenstein collection, Raymond Weill purchased the cover for $380,000, a record price for any philatelic item at the time.

For more information about the Czech Republic souvenir sheet showing the Bombay cover, visit the website.
Aug 14, 2018, 6 AM

The Stockholmia 2019 international stamp show and philatelic exhibition will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Royal Philatelic Society of London.

Philatelic Foreword by Jay Bigalke

One of the big philatelic events of the decade, Stockholmia 2019, is on the horizon and if you want to attend, now is the time to start making plans.

The international show will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Royal Philatelic Society London. It will be held May 29 through June 2, 2019, at the Waterfront Congress Center in Stockholm, Sweden.

Exhibits will be on display from members of the society, and a court of honor section will include highlights from the Royal Philatelic Collection of the British royal family, the unique 1855 Sweden 3-skilling banco yellow error of color, and much more.

The bourse (dealers sales area) will have 50 participants from 14 countries. The Global Philatelic Network is the philatelic partner to the exhibition and will conduct a rarities auction on June 1.

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The philatelic literature section of the show, called the Stockholmia Library, will be coordinated by the International Association of Philatelic Journalists (Association Internationale des Journalistes Philatelique). Related presentations and displays will take place throughout the show.

Stockholm is a wonderful place to visit. Various interesting locations in the city will host banquets and dinners being held in conjunction with the show.

Additional information on Stockholmia 2019, including a complete list of the dealers, can be found online.
Plenty of meteors  including some fireballs  are visible over Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in this photo by astrophotographer Sergio Garcia Rill. He captured these meteors during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 12, 2018. (Image credit: Sergio Garcia Rill

Brilliant displays of Perseid meteors lit up the heavens this past weekend as the annual Perseid meteor shower reached its peak.

Skywatchers across the Northern Hemisphere had the best views of the Perseid meteor shower, which produced around 60 to 70 "shooting stars" per hour over the weekend. The shower peaked overnight on Sunday (Aug. 12) and early into Monday morning (Aug. 13).

Because the meteor shower's peak arrived just after the new moon on Saturday (Aug. 11), the dark "moonless" sky provided excellent conditions for spotting meteors in the night sky. [Photos: Amazing Perseid Meteor Shower Displays]

Astrophotographer Stojan Stojanovski captured this photo of a fireball during the Perseid meteor shower in August 2018. (Image credit: Stojan Stojanovski

As Perseid meteors dashed across the sky throughout the night, skywatchers were treated to the occasional fireball meteor. Fireballs are large meteors that explode with bright, green light as they enter Earth's atmosphere.

At Galicica National Park near Ohrid, Macedonia, astrophotographer Stojan Stojanovski captured a Perseid fireball as it lit up the starry sky above a serene mountain landscape. "Near the big puddle where animals drink water, we started shooting around 11 p.m. local time," Stojanovski told Space.com. "It was a good night with very good number of meteors per hour."

Watching the meteor shower outside Las Vegas, astrophotographer Tyler Leavitt spotted a pink-and-green Perseid meteor crossing in front of the Milky Way  and pointing toward Mars.

A Perseid meteor, Mars and the Milky Way light up the night sky in this photo taken near Las Vegas by Tyler Leavitt overnight on Aug. 12-13, 2018. (Image credit: Tyler Leavitt

The Red Planet, which is still bright in the sky following its close approach to Earth on July 31, continues to offer spectacular views in the night sky. While waiting for the Perseids to make an appearance over southern Idaho, photographer Catherine Oostdyk snapped a view of her son Benjamin patiently scanning the skies. No meteors are visible in the photo, but the image does show Mars, the biggest and brightest object in the sky.

Although much of the U.S. was unable to see the meteor shower due to cloudy weather and smoke from wildfires, skywatchers in Europe were blessed with clear skies. In Italy, Gianluca Masi, an astrophysicist with the Virtual Telescope Project, hosted a live webcast of the Perseid meteor shower from Castel Santa Maria. Masi told Space.com that the meteor-spotting event "went very well, and we could see tons of stars and many Perseids."

Benjamin Oostdyk patiently waits for early Perseid meteors while camping with his family in Idaho in this photo taken by his mother Catherine a few days before the peak of the Perseid meteor shower of 2018. Mars is visible as the bright orange object at left. (Image credit: Catherine Oostdyk

While the meteor shower's peak has passed, the Perseids haven't left us just yet. Some meteors will still be visible until the end of August. The next major meteor shower will be the Orionids, which peak on Oct. 21-22.

Several Perseid meteors dash across the sky above Italy's Castel Santa Maria in this photo by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project taken during the peak on Aug. 12-13, 2018. (Image credit: Gianluca Masi/ Virtual Telescope Project

<>Editor's note: If you have an amazing meteor shower photo you'd like to share with Space.com and our news partners for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Choi Yong-seok, CEO of Shinil Group, looks at video footage taken by a submersible of the shipwreck (possibly the Dmitri Donskoi warship), during a news conference on a Russian ship in Seoul on July 26, 2018.

In July, reports of a Russian warship that was discovered by a South Korean company and rumored to contain $132 billion worth of gold briefly made headlines and nudged stock investments. As it turns out, however, it was very likely a cryptocurrency scam, according to recent news reports.

The Dmitrii Donskoi ship sank during the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War off of a Korean island. Over the years, rumors emerged that the ship contained lost treasure. [Image Gallery: Shipwreck Alley's Sunken Treasures]

Last month, the South Korean company, called the Shinil Group, took photographs of an underwater stern and various parts of a shipwreck and posted a video online with declarations that the group had discovered the Dmitrii Donskoi ship. Better yet, company representatives said, they had seen a treasure box on board, according to Gizmodo. The company further announced plans to apply for salvaging rights from the South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Officials and other experts were leary of the company's claims from the start  and, it turns out, rightly so.

At a July 26 news conference, the president of the company, Choi Yong-seok, said there's no way to tell if there is actually gold on board and that the company had made such claims based on media reports and speculation, according to Gizmodo. To make matters weirder, he said he'd become the company's president just a few hours before the conference and that most of his leadership team had resigned.

Last week, the Yonhap News Agency reported that police had interviewed Choi and the previous president of the company, Rhu Sang-mi. The police suspect that the company's Singapore-based affiliate attempted to sell investors cryptocurrency based on the proposed value of the shipwreck. The company allegedly told investors that 200 units of cryptocurrency would turn into 10,000 by the end of September, according to the Yonhap News Agency. So the "shareholders" of the Shinil Group who were to receive portions of the money from the treasure were actually people who were buying its cryptocurrency, according to Gizmodo.

The police suspect this alleged fraud was led by Rhu and his brother Rhu Seung-jin, who left South Korea in 2014 amid an unrelated allegation of fraud and is thought to be in Vietnam. Authorities requested he be put on the international wanted list, according to Gizmodo. Since then, the company has taken down its YouTube video of the wreckage, and its website is down.

Originally published on Live Science.
An astonishing video that circulated on Twitter yesterday (Aug. 13) shows a surreal and stomach-dropping scene: An azure wave, streaked with vertical white lines, rises up and up  and, somehow  up higher, until it dwarfs a red tower and row of silhouetted onlookers in the foreground. Another line appears, the wake of a figure at first too small to see, slashing across the growing mountain of water. As the wave finally rolls over itself and breaks toward shore, the figure resolves for the camera lens: Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa, appearing impossibly calm as he rides down the face of this liquid avalanche. The behemoth, which Koxa surfed in November 2017, is considered the biggest wave ever ridden, topping out at 80 feet (24 meters) off the coast of Nazare, Portugal.

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This is a wildly impressive feat by Koxa. But how was it possible at all? If you're a regular beachgoer along most shorelines, you might spot the occasional large wave  but it's a good bet that even most hard-core surfers have never seen an 80-footer. So how did Koxa know where to go to conquer such a mammoth wave? And why did an 80-foot wave roll into Nazare and not, say, Coney Island? [Six Bizarre Feeding Tactics from the Depths of Our Oceans]

Here's the thing: Koxa, besides being super-talented, got super lucky.

Sharon Gilman, a biological oceanographer at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, wrote on her website about some features of wind-driven waves the most common sort of wave, and the kind Koxa rode in Portugal  that make them extraordinarily difficult to track and predict.

"There are waves of all sizes and shapes rolling into the beach at any given time," she wrote. "If theyre not stopped by anything, waves can travel across entire ocean basins  so the waves at your beach might be from a storm half a world away."

Koxa didn't make that 80-foot wave appear under his surfboard; he was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

But while there was some luck involved in Koxa's 80-footer, Koxa had good reason to suspect Nazare might offer some prime surfing opportunities.

Not every beach is created equal, Gilman said. The underwater terrain leading up to a beach plays a big role in what sort of waves roll onto shore.

Certain shorelines have shallow, open shorelines, she wrote. They don't do much to shape incoming waves' energy, so the waves just roll in one at a time, resulting in a calm surface for the water. (Think of any beach where you can walk dozens of feet into the water and still have gentle waves lapping against your belly.)

Other shorelines act like amplifiers. They might have steeper sea bottoms, which can cause waves to climb on one another's shoulders as they approach the beach, she wrote.

"The ones in front start really getting dragged by the bottom and so they slow down," she wrote. "This allows the ones behind them to ride up their backs. As the distance between the rows of waves decreases, all that wave energy gets condensed into a narrower and narrower space and has to go somewhere, so the wave gets taller."

At a certain point, as this website from the University of Hawaii explains, the back of a wave outpaces the front of the wave, causing it to "break"  effectively tripping over itself.

High walls, like those around a canyon, along a shoreline can also amplify ripples into monsters, she wrote. Waves crash into them and then bounce off, moving in different directions than the waves around them. If that wave peaks or reaches its low point as it runs into an incoming wave, that incoming wave will briefly gain the energy of the reflected wave  boosting itself in a process known as "constructive interference."

Nazare, NPR reported in 2013, features both an intense upward slope toward shore and huge, constructive-interference-generating underwater walls  extreme versions of both amplifying effects that make it one of the top sites for monster waves in the world. Nazare Canyon, a deep gorge off the coast, sinks to about 16,000 feet (nearly 4,900 meters) below the ocean's surface and blasts waves toward the surface.

That's why the previous record-breaking wave, a 78-footer, was also surfed off the coast of Nazare. The canyon's waves have proved dangerous, injuring or nearly killing both surfers and beachgoers on several occasions. Waves topping 100 feet have been spotted offshore, according to NPR's report.

Still, as long as that hidden canyon continues to fire gobsmacking waves toward the ocean surface, it's hard to imagine that thrill-seeking surfers will stay away.

Originally published on Live Science.
We may go to sleep at night, but our brains don't. Instead, they spend those quiet hours tidying up, and one of their chores is to lug memories into long-term storage boxes.

Now, a group of scientists may have found a way to give that memory-storing process a boost, by delivering precisely timed electric zaps to the brain at the exact right moments of sleep. These zaps, the researchers found, can improve memory.

And to make matters even more interesting, the team of researchers was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. agency tasked with developing technology for the military. They reported their findings July 23 in The Journal of Neuroscience.

If the findings are confirmed with additional research, the brain zaps could one day be used to help students study for a big exam, assist people at work or even treat patients with memory impairments, including those who experienced a traumatic brain injury in the military, said senior study author Praveen Pilly, a senior scientist at HRL Laboratories, a research facility focused on advancing technology. [5 Surprising Sleep Discoveries]

The study involved 16 healthy adults from the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area. The first night, no experiments were run; instead, it was simply an opportunity for the participants to get accustomed to spending the night in the sleep lab while wearing the lumpy stimulation cap designed to deliver the tiny zaps to their brains. Indeed, when the researchers started the experiment, "our biggest worry [was] whether our subjects [could] sleep with all those wires," Pilly told Live Science.

The next night, the experiment began: Before the participants fell asleep, they were shown war-like scenes and were asked to spot the location of certain targets, such as hidden bombs or snipers.

Then, the participants went to sleep, wearing the stimulation cap that not only delivered zaps but also measured brain activity using a device called an electroencephalogram (EEG). On the first night of the experiment, half of the participants received brain zaps, and half did not.

Using measurements from the EEG, the researchers aimed their electric zaps at a specific type of brain activity called "slow-wave oscillations." These oscillations  which can be thought of as bursts of neuron activity that come and go with regularity  are known to be important for memory consolidation. They take place during two sleep stages: stage 2 (still a "light" sleep, when the heart rate slows down and body temperature drops) and stage 3 (deep sleep).

So, shortly after the participants in the zapping group fell into slow-wave oscillations, the stimulation cap would deliver slight zaps to the brain, in tune with the oscillations. The next morning, all of the participants were shown similar war-zone scenes, and the researchers measured how well they detected targets.

Five days later, the groups were switched for the second night of experiments.

The researchers found that, the mornings after, the participants who received the brain zaps weren't any better at detecting targets in the same scene they saw the night before, compared with those who slept without zaps. But those who received the zapping were much better at detecting the same targets in novel scenes. For example, if the original scene showed a target under a rock, the "novel" scene might show the same target-rock image, but from a different angle, according to a press release from HRL Laboratories.

Researchers call this "generalization." Pilly explained it as follows: "If you're [studying] for a test, you learn a fact, and then, when you're tested the following morning on the same fact  our intervention may not help you. On the other hand, if you're tested on some questions related to that fact [but] which require you to generalize or integrate previous information," the intervention would help you perform better.

This is because people rarely recall events exactly as they happen, Pilly said, referring to what's known as episodic memory. Rather, people generalize what they learn and access that knowledge when faced with various situations. (For example, we know to stay away from a snake in the city, even if the first time we saw it, it was in the countryside.)

Previous studies have also investigated the effects of brain stimulation on memory. But although they delivered the zaps during the same sleep stage as the new study, the researchers in the previous studies didn't attempt to match the zaps with the natural oscillations of the brain, Pilly said.

Jan Born, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Tubingen in Germany who was not part of the study, said the new research showed that, "at least in terms of behavior, [such a] procedure is effective."

The approaches examined in the study have "huge potential, but we are still in the beginning [of this type of research], so we have to be cautious," Born told Live Science.

One potential problem is that the stimulation typically hits the whole surface of the brain, Born said. Because the brain is wrinkled, and some neurons hide deep in the folds and others sit atop ridges, the stimulations aren't very effective at targeting all of the neurons necessary, he said. This may make it difficult to reproduce the results every time, he added.

Pilly said that because the zaps aren't specialized, they could also, in theory, lead to side effects. But he thinks, if anything, the side effect might simply be better-quality sleep.

Originally published on Live Science.
Helped by a female constable, she gave birth to a baby girl. They were later admitted to Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital where they are doing fine.

On the way to the hospital, in between Wazirabad and Majnu-Ka-Tila, the police noticed that the woman was in acute pain and was close to delivering the baby. (Representative/AFP)

New Delhi: The Police Control Room van of the Delhi Police doubled up as a labour room recently when a woman delivered baby in it en route to hospital in north Delhi's Burari, the police said on Monday.

On August 12, a PCR van stationed at Burari received a call about an ailing woman in Satya Vihar, Burari.

The staff comprising assistant sub-inspector Jitender, and head constable Mahender, rushed to the spot and reached there soon after.

On reaching there, they found a 22-year-old woman in advanced labour pain. The staff immediately shifted the lady to the PCR van and sped away from there for hospital.

On the way, in between Wazirabad and Majnu-Ka-Tila, they noticed that the woman was in acute pain and was close to delivering the baby, the police said.

They informed another PCR van, having base at ISBT in which a woman constable was available.

The staff of the other vehicle comprising assistant sub-inspectors Pitam Singh and Virender, and woman constable Komal, also reached the first van.

With the help of constable Komal, the woman in labour delivered a girl child and later they were admitted to Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital where they are doing fine, said SD Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (PCR).
Gobs of algae are causing problems in Florida. Here, green algae blooms create a striking view at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam on Lake Okeechobee on July 10, 2018.

A blanket of green goo  runaway growth of blue-green algae  is choking waters in Florida's St. Lucie River, an estuary near the state's southeastern coast.

But if for some reason you are tempted to touch the slimy mess, please don't. Recent testing by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of the widespread bloom shows that the algae, also called cyanobacteria, are emitting toxins called mycrocystin at levels of 110 parts per billion, which is 10 times the amount considered to be hazardous to human health, according to a water sample collected on Aug. 2, the local newspaper, TCPalm, recently reported.

In another St. Lucie River location, microcystin levels were even higher  154 parts per billion  in a sample collected on July 5, according to The Weather Channel (TWC). [10 of the Most Polluted Places on Earth]

Microcystins can cause rashes, dizziness and nausea, and the toxins may irritate the throat and eyes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But they primarily target the liver and can cause severe damage  even liver failure  if ingested in high-enough quantities.

While blue-green algae are typically found in all of Florida's brackish and freshwater habitats, blooms generally emerge as a result of environmental pollution, such as urban runoff and nutrient pollution from agriculture, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Fed by pollution, algae populations thrive and grow, and the longer these conditions persist, the bigger and more intense the blooms (and the related microcystin toxins they sometimes emit) can become, the DEP reported.

Blooms that don't produce toxins can still harm water plants by blocking sunlight, and they can starve fish and other aquatic organisms by sucking up all the oxygen in the water, according to the FWS.

The current St. Lucie River bloom emerged in June, after contaminated water was released into the river from Lake Okeechobee; about 90 percent of the lake's surface was covered with a gloppy algae skin, TCPalm reported.

Since June 1, about 25 billion gallons of algae-laden water were discharged from the lake. On June 20, Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order to curtail the flow of harmful water and prevent the blooms from spreading. But the algae were already established in freshwater and brackish waterways, with 68 blooms reported by the end of July, according to the TC Palm.

In fact, a canal fed by the St. Lucie River was covered in an algae mat so dense and foul-smelling that a magazine office nearby temporarily closed on July 24, after employees complained of runny noses, itchy throats and respiratory trouble, the TCPalm reported.

Original article on Live Science.
Two brain scans (one from the top of the woman's head, and one from the side) showing the small cyst in her eyelid. The red arrows indicate the cyst.

Nearly three decades ago, a 14-year-old in the United Kingdom got hit in the eye during a game of badminton and lost her contact lens. No big deal, right? Well, 28 years later, doctors found the missing contact  embedded in a cyst in her left eyelid.

It's not like the woman was looking for it the entire time, though. Instead, at age 42, she visited an ophthalmologist for what she thought was an unrelated problem: Her left eyelid had been swollen and drooping for about six months, and doctors could feel a small lump under the skin, according to a report of her case, published Aug. 10 in the journal BMJ Case Reports.

An MRI revealed a "well-defined" cyst, measuring 8 by 4 by 6 millimeters (0.31 by 0.16 by 0.24 inches), just above her left eye. The doctors then surgically removed the cyst. [27 Oddest Medical Cases]

Once the cyst was removed, however, it broke open, revealing an extremely fragile hard contact lens inside.

The hard contact lens, after it was surgically removed. (Image credit: BMJ Case Reports 2018)

Of course, the woman couldn't immediately recall how the contact lens got there or how long it had been there. But then, her mother remembered that the woman had been hit in the eye with a shuttlecock 28 years earlier, during a game of badminton, according to the report. Apparently, the woman, then 14 years old, lost her contact lens at the time, and it was never found. After that, she never wore hard contact lenses again.

The doctors who treated the woman said they could "infer that the [contact] lens migrated into the patient's left upper eyelid at the time of trauma and [remained there] for the last 28 years," they wrote in the report.

Still, it's a mystery why the contact lens only caused swelling and inflammation nearly three decades later, the doctors wrote. There were no "elicited triggers" that could've caused the symptoms to start, they wrote.

The woman did tell the doctors that her left eyelid had been droopy for a long time but that it hadn't been a cause for concern, according to the report. The doctors assume that this drooping was due to the embedded contact lens, they wrote.

Originally published on Live Science.
Former state Sen. Carlos Uresti cant start collecting his Texas pension just yet, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, offering this advice to solve the convicted felons financial woes: He could start his prison sentence now.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra declined to issue an order authorizing the Texas Employee Retirement System to start issuing monthly pension checks to Uresti, who has valued the benefit at more than $80,000 a year.

Uresti, 54, has said he needs the pension because hes broke and has no money to survive. John Bud Ritenour Jr., Urestis court-appointed lawyer, said the longtime San Antonio Democrat has been relying on relatives to get by.

RELATED: Cantu told FBI her affair with Uresti began in 2010 with 'sexy' comment, lewd text

Ezra responded by saying there was an alternative for Uresti.

The alternative is for Mr. Uresti to go into custody, and at that point he wont have issues with his personal expenses, Ezra said.

Uresti has been free on an unsecured bond.

Ezra indicated he wants to ensure that victims of a Ponzi scheme Uresti was involved in receive the restitution theyre entitled to.

I am not going to allow them to make any distributions as yet, Ezra ruled, referring to the state agency that handles retirement benefits.

The disgraced ex-legislator was sentenced to 12 years in prison in June following his conviction four months earlier on 11 felony charges, including securities fraud and money laundering.

RELATED: Uresti co-defendant Bates pleads guilty to money laundering, other charges

Uresti and other defendants in the case involving a now-defunct oil services company also must pay $6.3 million in restitution to the victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Giese later told Ezra that Uresti has been performing consulting work for San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts, who is representing Uresti in a bribery case that goes to trial in October.

Watts was disqualified from representing Uresti in the case involving FourWinds Logistics, which was set up to buy and sell sand used in hydraulic fracturing for oil production, because of a conflict of interest. But Watts has said he picked up the roughly $400,000 in legal expenses Uresti incurred in the case.

Mr. Watts is every part of this case, the judge quipped. Im glad Mr. Watts is employing Mr. Uresti.

The judge granted Urestis request that the Employee Retirement System begin calculating the amount of his monthly pension. The state agency had refused to do so because of a restraining order the judge issued to preserve Urestis assets.

RELATED: Uresti was 'my friend, my lover,' the government's star witness testifies in criminal trial

Ezra issued the restraining order at the prosecutors request after Urestis estranged wife, Lleanna Uresti, moved to end their six-year marriage about a week after his conviction.

Prosecutors have questioned the motives behind the divorce, alleging its an attempt to avoid having to pay restitution to Urestis victims.

Juanita Pelaez-Prada, Lleanna Urestis divorce lawyer, disputed assertions that the divorce is a sham. She referenced testimony during the trial that Uresti had an extramarital affair with a FourWinds investor.

The judge responded that he had seen pictures in the newspaper and video of the Urestis hand-in-hand outside the courthouse during the trial, even after testimony about the affair was elicited.

Pelaez-Prada said she wants Lleanna Uresti, 42, to be allowed to proceed with her divorce. Lleanna is being held hostage to a marriage she doesnt want to be in.

My client has more than enough reasons to want to get a divorce, Pelaez-Prada said after the hearing. My client is also a victim. She was cheated and lied to, and really shouldnt be punished for the crimes Mr. Uresti committed.

But Ezra refused to allow Uresti to finalize a divorce settlement with Lleanna. The judge wants to ensure all of Urestis property is accounted for before agreeing to the request.

Uresti is permitted to sell his Helotes estate, listed for sale at $1.5 million (reduced from $1.7 million), and his former law office building at 924 McCullough Ave. in San Antonio.

Uresti and his family cant diminish the value of any of his property without court permission, though he is allowed to pay for normal monthly living expenses.

Giese told the judge the Urestis have many, many, many other assets.

With the divorce pending, it cant be determined how much of Urestis pension will go to Lleanna. However, the parties are working on an agreement that would allow the divorce to proceed.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, are trying to force Uresti to take a portion of his pension in a partial lump sum payment, which the government then would take for his victims  save for an amount that would go to his first wife, Yolanda Uresti, Giese said.

Yolanda Uresti gets a portion of his pension based on their divorce decree. Yolanda Urestis lien takes priority over the governments criminal judgment lien.

The government intends to then garnish 25 percent of Urestis monthly pension checks  after the amount owed to Yolanda.

Urestis pension is for the 21 years he served in the state Legislature. He announced his resignation from the Senate just days before he was sentenced in June.

Patrick Danner is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
A man was found dead near Chacon Creek over the weekend, according to Laredo police.

On Saturday, a man reported he had discovered a body in advanced stages of decomposition in the 3000 block of Guatemozin Street, near the creek.
Sanjay Turde had demanded money from the contractor of a toilet under construction. Refused, Turde and his aides kidnapped and beat the man.

Based on the victim's complaint, the police arrested Turde, the Raj Thackeray-led party's corporator in the city civic body, and his three aides on Tuesday morning. (Representational image)

Mumbai: Four people, including a corporator of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), were arrested in Mumbai on Tuesday for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a man, police said.

MNS corporator Sanjay Turde had allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from the contractor of a toilet being constructed in Krantinagar area of suburban Kurla, senior police inspector Dattatray Shinde said.

When the contractor did not pay the money, Turde's two aides kidnapped a 33-year-old supervisor from the contractor's office in Kurla on Monday, he said.

They took the supervisor to Turde's office where the corporator and his three aides allegedly thrashed him, the official said. The supervisor received injuries in the assault and was admitted to a hospital, he said.

Based on the victim's complaint, the police arrested Turde, the Raj Thackeray-led party's corporator in the city civic body, and his three aides on Tuesday morning.

They have been booked under IPC sections 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 387, 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 143 (unlawful assembly), Shinde said.

The four accused were produced in a local court which remanded them in police custody till August 16, he added.
Editor's note: An earlier version of the article noted that Liberty County Commissioners were superiors of Sheriff Bobby Rader. The commissioners are not Rader's boss, as both the sheriff and the commissioners are duly elected by residents.

A Liberty County Salary Grievance Committee listened to a presentation on Aug. 3 and ruled unanimously that Sheriff Bobby Rader should receive a salary increase equal to that of the county commissioners.

The committees approval sends it now to the Liberty County Commissioners Court for a final decision based on performance.

Rader was asking the committee to give him a raise of $3,403 or $141.79 per paycheck before taxes. The amount would be the equivalent of commissioners salaries.

County officials say it is only the second time in the known history of the county, that there has been a salary grievance committee organized to hear a case. Ironically, both have been with Raderincluding once while he served as a judge.

Rader was the only one making a presentation to the committee.

It was not a trial, as Rader pointed out, so no one represented the county or taxpayers interests. County Judge Jay Knight, who puts the budget together but does not vote on the salaries, was directing the meeting and could only address factual errors.

He could not defend the countys position, and neither could County Attorney Matthew Poston, who would have been in a dilemma having to represent both the county and the sheriff. Angela Maselli, from the county auditors office, was present to answer any questions on the budget or salaries but was never called upon by the salary grievance committee to explain the numbers.

The sheriff, who has also served as a Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, began his presentation asking committee members if they had ever served as an employer or boss that had the ability to give an employee a raise.

One committee member said, Yes.

What did you look for when someone was asking for a raise? the sheriff asked. And the committee member responded, The kind of job they do.

He then asked committee members if they had been employees and at anytime had asked for a raise.

Rader questioned committee members, Why did you think you deserved a raise?

Committee members responded because of their performance.

He continued by asking them if they had worked next to someone who was making the same amount as them doing work they thought was as good or better and when raises came they got more than you.

Did you think that was fair? he asked.

Thats why Im here today. At one time I was making the same amount of salary as the commissioners. I believe the sheriff should make at least the same as the commissioners, he told the committee.

Rader pointed out that he had made less than the commissioners through 2016 when he took a 2.78 percent increase, which then gave him the same salary as the commissioners.

Historically, the sheriff has never made the same as commissioners except for the last two years when commissioners, the county judge and the county attorney did not take raises as far back as 2009. Rader has had two including the one proposed for this year.

Rader was upset that commissioners were given a 10 percent raise while he received a 7.78 percent raise.

Then Rader began to describe the duties of the commissioners, setting salaries, benefits, maintain roads and bridges, and set policies. He also pointed out that they only worked Monday through Thursday and were closed on weekends and holidays.

As to the sheriff, it says Im the chief law enforcement officer of the county, [from a list provided by the state] which means Im the No. 1 officer in the county, he said.

Im a licensed peace officer and Im responsible for enforcing the laws of the state. Im responsible for the whole county, he said drawing his comparison with commissioners, not just one precinct.

Then he continued listing a litany of responsibilities for which he was responsible.

We work seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and even on holidays, he said.

He continued his comparison to the commissioners, with a chart of each commissioners budget.

Talking about Pct. 1 commissioner, He has 15 employees to my 104, Rader said.

He continued comparing himself to each of the commissioners by their employees and his bigger budget and larger force.

If you combine all the commissioners together, they have 70 employees and I have 104. I think my responsibility is much larger than the commissioners, he said. Some commissioners said they disagree with that rationalization since they are responsible for all 350 county employees, including the sheriff and his employees.

Rader presented a chart showing that most of the counties in the state of Texas pay the sheriff and commissioners either the same or more.

What the chart from the Texas Association of Counties Salary Survey failed to show was whether they came from an economically disadvantaged county, like Liberty, where they are below average per capita taxable property value, below average per capita income, and above average unemployment.

Im not saying Im better than the commissioners, but Im pointing out that the sheriff is ranked behind the county judge. I should at least be even with the commissioners, he said.

The sheriff closed with another comparison of counties he said were similar in size, but did not mention that Bastrop and Chambers counties, for example, are not considered economically disadvantaged counties like Liberty.

dtaylor@hcnonline.com
Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School in Katy opens its doors to students Aug. 16.

It represents the culmination of four years of planning, work and fundraising for the elementary and middle school.

This was a complete parish effort that took a couple years of activity in fundraising, said Denny Dellinger, development board co-chair. It started four years ago with a master plan for the parish and about 12 or 18 months of fundraising. Pledges over a three-year period got funding for the school, he said, and the development board followed with periodic fundraisers to supplement the initial pledges.

We currently have just over 90 students, said Principal Nicholas Morgan of the school which will offer grades prekindergarten through fourth. Eventually the school will also include grades 5-8.

We expect to have about 100 students by the first day, he added. The school will have 14 teachers, two in prekindergarten and two in kindergarten and one teacher per class in grades 1-4.

We will add at least one grade each year over the next three to four years until we get to eighth, he added. However, if the demand is high enough we may add two grades one year, either 2019-20 or 2020-21.

Dellinger said, We really hope for explosive growth in the school. We believe it will be a fabulous academic experience and a wonderful addition to parish life. These are really exciting times for us.

The Epiphany school is the newest and our 60th Catholic school in the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, said Jo Ann Zuniga, media relations manager for the archdiocese, which is the largest Roman Catholic diocese in Texas and the fifth largest in the United States.

The $12 million, two-story school has approximately three classrooms per grade. We have a library, art room, music rooms, science lab and STEM lab, said Morgan. Theres no cafeteria, but students will eat in one of the existing buildings on the campus of the Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community at 1530 Norwalk Drive, Katy.

The parish raised about $5 million during a capital campaign and the rest of the project cost is financed through a loan. Fundraising wasnt easy. Dellinger said fundraising started on the heels of a downturn in the energy sector that affected the whole area. Then Harvey hit which wiped out a large number of folks personally and totally changed their ability to participate.

Annual tuition is $7,500 for a Community member and $9,060 for a non-Community member with discounts for families who have more than one child enrolled at the school.

Sponsors also have stepped forward. A July church bulletin lists sponsorships for the STEM lab of $30,500; the art program at $12,500, a nurses station at $8,000; and library books at $35,000. Since then, Morgan said sponsors also have stepped forward for library furnishings at $50,000 and for an exterior statue at $22,000. Sponsors also were being sought for the playground at $100,000, for the music program at $14,000 and for sponsor-a-classroom (full classroom technology) at $25,000.

We offer an alternative to the public schools with a faith-based but academically challenging approach to education, said Morgan. Our four foundations from our mission statement is what will set up apart from other private and public schools - faith, knowledge, compassion and character will be taught, celebrated, recognized and incorporated into our daily lives.

Dellinger said, Both my wife (Lyn) and I from bringing up all the kids have always recognized the importance of education in development of the next generation. I myself had gone to Catholic schools from first grade on to a masters degree. Im familiar with the integrated approach of academics and theology and we believe in it. When the parish as a whole through the master-plan system decided the school was a priority, we knew we would be supporters of it. Father Tom asked us to lead the capital campaign and that got us started.

Pastor Father Tom Lam celebrated the Mass of Dedication for the school on Aug. 4 with Cardinal Daniel DiNardo.

After the Mass, the cardinal blessed the new school as congregation members assembled in the building. We dedicate this building to the education of youth, to the progress of sciences and arts and to learning, said DiNardo.

It was a great event on a number of fronts, said Dellinger. Everyone was thrilled with the physical aspects of the school and how it had all come together. Every aspect of the parish  we have 6,700 families in the parish  people from every different demographic represented at the dedication. All were very supportive and happy. The dedication went quite well.

After the Mass and building dedication and blessing, the school was open to tours. Dellinger said it was the first time many folks were inside the building.

The rewards are many many fold. My wife and I took the approach and believe this is part of our way of paying back for all the wonderful blessings weve had through our life. Its part and parcel of being part of the parish and the community, said Dellinger.

People may email nmorgan@epiphanycatholic.school or visit http://epiphanycatholic.school for information.

karen.zurawski@chron.com
More than 300 Catholic priests across Pennsylvania sexually abused children over seven decades, protected by a hierarchy of church leaders who covered it up, according to a sweeping grand jury report released Tuesday.

The investigation, the broadest inquiry into church sex abuse in U.S. history, identified 1,000 children who were victims, but reported that there probably are thousands more.

"Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing; they hid it all. For decades," the grand jury wrote in its report.

The 18-month investigation covered six of the state's dioceses - Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton - and follows other state grand jury reports that revealed abuse and coverups in two other dioceses. The grand jury reviewed more than 2 million documents, most from the "secret archives" - what church leaders referred to the reports of abuse they hid from public for decades, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Tuesday.

The 1,400-page report, delivered in scathing language, described some of the abuse in disturbing detail:

In Erie, a 7-year-old boy was sexually abused by a priest who then told him he should go to confession and confess his "sins" to that same priest.

Another boy was repeatedly raped from ages 13 to 15 by a priest who bore down so hard on the boy's back that it caused severe spine injuries. He became addicted to painkillers and later died of an overdose.

One victim in Pittsburgh was forced to pose naked as Christ on the cross while priests photographed him with a Polaroid camera. Priests gave the boy and others gold cross necklaces to mark them as being "groomed" for abuse.

The report makes clear that few criminal cases may result from the massive investigation.

"As a consequence of the coverup, almost every instance of abuse we found is too old to be prosecuted," the report said.

Shapiro said at a news conference that he was bound by the state's statutes of limitation. In Pennsylvania, victims of child sex abuse have until they are 30 to file civil suits and until they are 50 to file criminal charges. The oldest victim who spoke to the grand jury was 83.

"We all wish more charges could be filed, but due to the church's manipulation of our weak laws in Pennsylvania, too many predators were out of reach," he said.

The investigation has helped renew a crisis that many in the church thought and hoped had ended nearly 20 years ago after a church scandal erupted in Boston. But recent abuse-related scandals, including in Australia and Chile, have reopened questions about accountability and whether church officials at the highest levels are still covering up crimes.

About 15 victims flanked Shapiro at the news conference Tuesday, several holding back tears.

James VanSickle, 55, recalled being sexually abused in 1981 by a priest in Erie, but the priest was not prosecuted for the abuse because the statute of limitations had passed.

"This is the murder of a soul," said VanSickle, who testified before the grand jury. "We don't have a statute of limitations on the crime of murder. We don't go after victims . . . and question their 'repressed memories' or 'recovered memories.' "

State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D, said he was raped by a priest at his Catholic school in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The same priest, he said, sexually abused one of his childhood friends, who killed himself in 2009.

Rozzi called on fellow legislators to pass measures that would eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution of sexual abuse of children.

In addition to ending such limitations, the grand jury also called for a law to allow older victims to sue a diocese for damage inflicted upon them as children, tighter laws that mandate the reporting of abuse and an end to nondisclosure agreements when settlements have been reached.

The new allegations have focused attention on Pope Francis and his handling of abuse as many Catholics look to him to help the church try to regain some of its credibility.

The Vatican press office declined Tuesday to comment.

The grand jury's report follows the resignation last month of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a towering figure in the U.S. church and a former archbishop of Washington who was accused of sexually abusing children and adults for decades. Both have further polarized the church on homosexuality, celibacy and whether laypeople should have more power.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, figures prominently in the report, because he led the Pittsburgh diocese as its bishop from 1988 to 2006. The grand jury depicts his actions as a mix of well-intentioned and obfuscatory, at times stopping abusive priests from continuing in their ministries in the diocese and at other times guiding them back into parishes.

Wuerl defended his conduct in a statement, saying: "While I understand this Report may be critical of some of my actions, I believe the Report confirms that I acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse."

Pennsylvania is believed to have conducted more investigations of institutional child sex abuse than any other state. But there is no full accounting of abuse in the Catholic Church in the United States.

Peter Isely, a longtime advocate for victims of sexual abuse, said groups have long been pressing the U.S. government for a national investigation of child sex abuse, especially in the Catholic Church. Isely, who was abused and is a spokesman for the global group Ending Clergy Abuse, said that a five-year inquiry in Australia is "the gold standard," but that other nations, including Canada, Germany and Ireland, have conducted national forensic reviews.

"Imagine if they did what was done in Pennsylvania, but nationwide," he said, but noted that the problem needs to be solved by the Vatican.

The closest thing was the 2004 study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York. It reviewed abuse by priests and deacons from 1950 until 2002.

Worldwide, national law enforcement agencies are targeting abuse within the church. In Chile, prosecutors and police are raiding church offices, confiscating documents and looking for evidence of crimes that went unreported to police. On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that authorities were raiding the headquarters of Chile's Catholic Episcopal Conference.

The crisis in Chile is just one case in a new wave of abuse-related revelations that have raised pressure on Francis to deal more forcefully with abuse. In France, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin is facing a trial on criminal charges of not reporting sexual abuse. In Australia, one archbishop was recently convicted in a criminal court for concealing sexual abuse, and Cardinal George Pell, a top Francis lieutenant, will soon stand trial on charges related to sexual offenses.

- - -

Gately reported from Harrisburg. Reis Thebault and Julie Zauzmer in Washington contribute to this report.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R, has a considerable lead over Democratic challenger Ben Jealous and is supported by slightly more than half of likely voters, according to a poll released Tuesday by Gonzales Research and Media Services.

Hogan, who has governed as a moderate and repeatedly distanced himself from Republicans in Washington, leads Jealous 52 percent to 36 percent with 11 percent of likely voters undecided. The margin is similar to Hogan's 18-point lead in a June poll by the same firm.

The poll raises questions about whether Jealous can expand his appeal beyond the progressive base that elected him in a six-way primary. It found that while Hogan remains widely popular in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1, the unfavorability ratings for Jealous, a former NAACP president, have increased over the past two months.

While 19 percent of surveyed voters held a negative view of Hogan, 33 percent said they felt that way about Jealous -- a 19-point spike since the last Gonzales survey. The increase is primarily among Republicans and independent voters and is particularly pronounced among Republicans, whose disapproval of Jealous rocketed from 21 percent to 71 percent.

Beginning the day after the primary, Hogan and the GOP have hammered Jealous as too "extreme" for Maryland. The Republican Governors Association has targeted him with more than $1 million in attack ads, which have gone unanswered on the airwaves by Jealous and his Democratic allies.

Last week, asked about Republican attempts to label him a socialist, Jealous dismissed the idea with an obscenity.

The Gonzales poll, conducted mostly before that incident, offers some hope for Jealous to close the likability gap: Roughly 1 in 5 voters said they didn't have an opinion about him, and 15 percent did not recognize his name.

His favorability rating ticked up slightly to 31 percent, an increase that was within the poll's margin of error. And three-fourths of the undecided voters in the race are registered Democrats, suggesting that Jealous could still gain significant ground.

But with Hogan slightly above 50 percent -- and his job-approval ratings above 70 percent -- Jealous will have to find a way to damage the governor's credibility or make good on his pledge to dramatically drive up Democratic turnout to close the gap.

Jealous "will need to work out a way to infuse some pizazz into his campaign within the next month, in order to give himself at least a modicum of momentum for the fall campaign," pollster Patrick Gonzales said. "The burden is always on the Republican in deep-blue Maryland, but the Democrat still does need some positive thrust."

At a briefing with reporters last week, aides to Jealous outlined a plan to beat Hogan by strongly boosting turnout among Democratic voters disgusted with President Trump.

The Gonzales poll confirms that Trump is deeply unpopular in Maryland -- 58 percent disapprove of the job he's doing -- but suggests an anti-Trump wave would not necessarily lead to a Jealous victory.

Among voters who do not already prefer Jealous as their candidate, 13 percent said they would consider voting for him "as a way to express disapproval of Donald Trump." Seventy-seven percent said they would not consider supporting him as a protest vote against the president.

"Trump's negatives might ultimately help him, but only a tad," Gonzales said.

Hogan has an enormous financial advantage in the race, and both he and Jealous are supported by outside groups willing to spend money on their behalf.

Jealous received a potential boost Monday with the endorsement of a new political group that is focused on improving the economic fortunes of black Americans and has raised $3.5 million over the past two months.

The Black Economic Alliance said it plans to invest in "competitive contests" that emphasize improved economic conditions for black voters and in which African American turnout is crucial to victory.

Before the poll was publicly released, the Jealous campaign obtained a copy and questioned its credibility, noting in a statement that previous surveys by Gonzales did not accurately predict Jealous's strong primary victory. The statement said the Jealous campaign had conducted internal polling that showed a more competitive race.

Hogan campaign spokesman Scott Sloofman said the campaign sees the poll as validating Hogan's tenure as governor, noting its finding that, by wide margins, Marylanders from all political backgrounds think the state is headed in the right direction.

While Hogan is leading the contest overall, Jealous has stronger support among Democrats and African Americans and among voters in the Washington metro region.

Hogan is dominating the race in rural areas, among white voters and in the Baltimore area.

The poll of a random sample of 831 likely voters was conducted Aug. 1-8 on landline and cellular phones and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
Referring to the claims made by Modi about the employment generation in the last 6 months, the Sena chief asked for specific details of these claims.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over their claims of providing more than one crore employment. He alleged that because of the chief ministers inefficiency, 25,000 jobs were lost due to violence during the Maratha agitation in Aurangabad and other regions of the state.

Referring to the claims made by PM Modi about the employment generation in the last 6 months, the Sena chief asked for specific details of these claims.

Where are these jobs, in which states and in which fields were they created? The government has not given any details to support their claims. Industry is suffering since the decision of demonetisation was taken and the governments policies are not benefiting industry, which is unable to create more jobs.

Mr Thackeray also criticised the practice of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of furnishing bogus figures of achievements of the government.

He cited the incidents of violence which occurred in the Aurangabad MIDC area and across the state during the Maratha stir. The home department, which is with CM Fadnavis, was inactive and inefficient during this time and did not take any action against agitators. Due to this, more than 25,000 jobs were lost, he alleged.

He also criticised Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar indirectly on the pagari issue at a function held at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh. Mr Pawars statements on the pagari issue created a controversy recently. Mr Thackeray asked, Those who have done politics on the issue, do they have the head (brain) to wear it? 
Authorities in Nebraska used the powerful opioid fentanyl in a lethal injection on Tuesday, an unprecedented move that came as the state - where just three years ago lawmakers moved to abolish capital punishment - completed a remarkable reversal and resumed executions for the first time in nearly a generation.

Nebraska experienced a series of firsts on Tuesday morning: the state's first execution in 21 years, its first lethal injection and the country's first death sentence carried out with fentanyl, a synthetic painkiller that has helped drive the opioid epidemic. The execution was even more unusual given the state's very recent history, which saw its legislature vote to abandon the death penalty in 2015 before voters reversed that decision the following year.

At the center of this was Carey Dean Moore, the 60-year-old inmate executed after spending more than half his life on death row. Moore was sentenced to death for killing Reuel Van Ness and Maynard Helgeland, two Omaha cabdrivers, in 1979. He said before his execution that he would not try to stop it, nor did he want anyone to intervene.

Moore was executed at the state penitentiary in Lincoln, the capital. The execution drew an unusual amount of attention, in large part because authorities chose to utilize fentanyl even as law enforcement officials are aggressively trying to get the potent drug off of the streets and highlighting its role in the ongoing opioid crisis.

The state's plan called for it to use four drugs in total, two of which prompted a recent lawsuit from a drug company arguing Nebraska was going to use its products and unsuccessfully trying to block Nebraska from using them.

The first drug was injected into Moore at 10:24 a.m. and the coroner announced his time of death at 10:47 a.m., according to Scott R. Frakes, director of Nebraska's Department of Correctional Services, who read a statement after the execution.

Moore's case wound its way through the court system for nearly four decades, ever since the August 1979 slayings of Van Ness and Helgeland, both taxi drivers and Korean War veterans. Relatives of the men have said they were ready for an outcome in the case.

"Thirty-eight years has been long enough," Richelle Van Ness-Doran, Van Ness' daughter, recently told the Omaha World-Herald. "It's just prolonging this . . . it's like a slap in our face."

Among the witnesses to Moore's execution were four people he chose to attend - which included his twin brother, his lawyer said - and four members of the news media.

Moore had faced execution warrants before Tuesday. He also appeared, albeit briefly, to be heading toward a sentence of life in prison when the Nebraska legislature voted to ban the death penalty in 2015.

The move was a dramatic shift for a cherry-red state. Lawmakers voted to override a veto from Gov. Pete Ricketts, R, who sharply criticized the decision. A group with considerable financial backing from Ricketts and his family then pushed to have the issue added to the statewide ballot in 2016, where 60 percent of voters chose to restore capital punishment.

A spokesman for Ricketts did not respond to a request for comment about the execution. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson's office said in a statement that the "somber event serves to provide a measure of closure for what has been a lengthy enactment of justice."

In a handwritten statement from Moore disseminated after the execution, he acknowledged his guilt and called on "those out there who are against capital punishment" to focus on people he said are innocent on Nebraska's death row.

He signed the letter "Carey Dean Moore, ex-Death Row Inmate." Journalists who attended the execution played a recording of Moore's remarks to witnesses beforehand, during which he referred to that handwritten letter as "all that I have to say."

Whether Moore would be executed on Tuesday as scheduled was thrown into question last week when the drug company Fresenius Kabi filed a federal lawsuit accusing Nebraska of obtaining what it believed were two of its products "through improper or illegal means." The lawsuit was the third of its kind from drug manufacturers and distributors seeking to keep their products away from executions.

Under Nebraska's plans, one of the drugs cited in the lawsuit, potassium chloride, was meant to stop Moore's heart. Another drug, cisatracurium besylate, would paralyze his muscles. Nebraska's plans also called for officials to use diazepam, a sedative better known as Valium, along with fentanyl to render Moore unconscious.

Nebraska officials said they obtained their drugs legally and legitimately - and also argued they were facing a ticking clock in Moore's case. With drug companies' objections to their products being used in executions helping cut states off from the chemicals they want to use to carry out death sentences , Nebraska officials said their supply of potassium chloride expires at the end of August and they do not have a way to obtain more.

A federal district judge ruled against Fresenius Kabi last week. After a circuit court panel on Monday rejected the company's appeal, the firm said it would not seek further appeals in the case.

The lawsuit - and Nebraska's claims that it had essentially one narrow window to carry out this lethal injection - speaks to how dramatically the landscape for American capital punishment has transformed since Moore was sentenced in 1980. Death row populations swelled and executions became more frequent until both began to decline. More states abandoned the death penalty, with seven of the 19 states without it dropping the practice since 2007.

In recent years, as the states seeking to carry out death sentences have hit roadblocks in their attempts to obtain drugs, some states have turned to other methods of execution, including nitrogen gas or the firing squad. Others still have looked instead to untested drug combinations.

Nebraska is one such state, announcing plans to use fentanyl in its execution, something Nevada also adopted. Last month, Nevada was hours away from being the first state to use fentanyl in an execution when a lawsuit filed by another drug company prompted a judge to halt the lethal injection.

Experts said the choice to use fentanyl in an execution pointed to a state's desperation to find drugs.

"There's no particular reason why one would use fentanyl," said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington nonprofit group. "No one has used it before, and we've had hundreds and hundreds of executions by injection. That suggests that the state is using fentanyl because it can get its hands on it."

State officials in Nebraska have not elaborated on how they chose fentanyl, but they suggested their options in purchasing execution drugs were extremely limited.

"Lethal substances used in a lethal injection execution are difficult, if nearly impossible, to obtain," Frakes, the state's corrections director, said in an affidavit filed in federal court.

Frakes laid out his efforts to find execution drugs to illustrate this, describing how he contacted at least 40 suppliers and a half-dozen other states seeking drugs. Just one source - whom he identified only as "a licensed pharmacy in the United States" - would provide them, he said, and won't sell any more.

"Here we have a state that hasn't executed in a very long time, it's using a four-drug formula, it's the first time the state is using lethal injection," said Deborah W. Denno, a Fordham University law professor and a death-penalty expert. "I don't think Nebraska wins points by going down this route in the long run."

Before the execution, Moore had unsuccessfully tried to dismiss his lawyers as part of his effort to let it take place.

"He didn't want to have a lawyer because he didn't want to fight the death penalty," Jeffery A. Pickens, chief counsel of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy and an attorney for Moore, said in an interview before the execution.

Pickens had also tried and failed to withdraw as Moore's attorney because he felt there was "a conflict of interest" between following his client's wishes and providing competent representation.

In particular, Pickens said, there were filings that would have extended the legal proceedings beyond the looming expiration date for one of the drugs involved. Pickens listed these options in court filings, including a suit asking where Nebraska obtained its drugs, a challenge to "this experimental protocol" the state was using and another focused on "the nearly 38 year unconstitutional delay in executing him."

Pickens, who is opposed to the death penalty and was not a witness to the execution, was blunt about where he stood on the case.

"I don't want to see Carey Dean Moore die," he said before the lethal injection took place. "I don't want him to be executed."

Danielle Conrad, executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska, said in a statement that Moore's 38-year journey to the death chamber "further proves what we've been saying all along . . . the death penalty in America is a broken process from start to finish and should be abolished nationwide."

As rain fell on the penitentiary Tuesday morning, Vivian Tuttle, whose daughter was among five people killed in a Nebraska bank in 2002, stood outside with Pierce County Sheriff Rick Eberhardt to show support for the death penalty. The rain had increased to a downpour by the time word arrived that Moore had been executed.

"This isn't easy for anyone," Eberhardt said of the execution. "But it's justice."

- - -

The Washington Post's Ted Genoways in Lincoln, Neb., contributed to this report.
GRAFTON  The convenience of a nearby grocery store can be priceless, and now, after more than a decade without one, the city can once again boast of the amenity since Grafton Market quietly opened Friday.

When co-owner Scott Myers first purchased the building, which formerly housed a grocery store, he wasnt quite sure how he was going to utilize it, but when he discovered that the mayor and local residents were really hoping he would put it back to its former use, he and Loemker decided to do just that.

Myers and co-owner and business partner Susan Loemker began renovations, and the approximately 1,500 square feet of space at 1415 W. Main Street will be filled with a little bit of everything, manager Traci Walker told The Telegraph.

Not only is it convenient for people who live here, but its a great stop for boaters and campers who come into town to go out on the river or up to the park, she noted.

Inventory will include sliceable sandwich meats that come from the Goshen Meat Market in Edwardsville; a soda fountain, with an assortment of coffee, tea and soda; a large selection of wine, beer and spirits; frozen foods, such as pizzas and entrees; ice cream, milk snacks and dairy; baked items; some produce; laundry detergent; soap; basic over-the-counter pharmacy items and even a little bit of hardware.

We will have nuts and bolts, car oil, work gloves and some other basic hardware needs, Walker said.

And, as the store grows and becomes established, she said people can tell them what they want or need, so the inventory will keep evolving. A machine in front of the store houses small and large bags of ice.

The stores decor is outdoorsy, keeping with the local flavor of outdoor recreation, with deer heads mounted on the wall, a bobcat and lots of knotty pine and other wood, including hand-built wooden counters.

Speaking of wood, as customers walk in the door, they are greeted by an old-fashioned, wood-and-glass antique candy counter that is said to have been in an old Sears store.

We found the counter on Craigslist, and drove to Newberg, Indiana to get it, Loemker said. It was made in 1920 in Chicago.

Two large tables, made by Graftons Knotty by Nature, gives customers a spot to sit down for a cup of coffee.

There have been so many people stopping by while weve been getting everything ready, and everyone is really excited about having a grocery store again, Walker said.

The stores grand opening is set for Sept. 1, when the team will be barbecuing. Grafton Market is at 1415 W. Main St. in Grafton. Current hours for the store are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday through Saturday, which may change during the winter.
WASHINGTON - In June, Washington voters made a surprising but decisive choice. By a 12-point margin, the District of Columbia approved raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour for restaurant workers and others who earn tips.

Less than 24 hours later, at least one council member was already trying to overturn the decision made by voters. "It's not really the will of the people; it happens to be the will of the 17 percent of people who showed up and voted," said Councilman Jack Evans.

Now seven of the council's 13 members, plus the mayor, have sided with lobbyists for the restaurant industry and endorsed a plan to disregard Initiative 77. They worry that eateries will go out of business because of higher labor costs and rising prices if the measure goes into effect.

The fight here reflects a national trend in which state lawmakers of both parties are persistently working to overturn decisions made by voters at the ballot box.

The strategy of putting policy questions directly to voters has become more popular in recent years. (In 2016, some 76 initiatives appeared on ballots across the country. That's the highest number in a decade.)

So have attacks on the results. In the past two years alone, legislators have filed more than 100 bills across 24 states aimed at reversing ballot measures, according to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, which focuses on advancing progressive priorities through ballot initiatives.

"It's a power grab," the center's executive director Chris Melody Fields Figueredo said last month. "It's an attempt to take that power away from the people. It is counter to why we have democracy in the first place."

Looking ahead, there will be ample opportunity for state lawmakers to try reversing popular will after this November's elections. Fields Figueredo's group is tracking more than 60 proposed initiatives in 21 states this fall, addressing everything from term limits to medical marijuana. Of those initiatives, 45 have already been approved to appear on ballots this fall. (Another 18 proposals are awaiting official approval or are facing legal challenges.)

The most prominent recent example of lawmakers disregarding the will of their constituents has been in Maine, where GOP Gov. Paul LePage and a handful of Republican lawmakers have successfully blocked the implementation of a Medicaid expansion that 59 percent of Maine voters approved last November. The expansion, made possible by the Affordable Care Act, would be largely funded by the federal government and would cover at least 70,000 low-income Mainers. LePage has asserted the expansion could cost as much as $100 million a year, an estimate disputed by outside groups, and insisted that the legislature fund Medicaid at his inflated price point without increasing taxes or relying on one-time "gimmicks."

"I think it's really inexcusable that the governor can just do what he's doing right now, which is to just ignore a law that the people have enacted," Robyn Merrill, the executive director of Maine Equal Justice Partners, said in an interview. Her group was a part of the original coalition that got the Medicaid question on last year's ballot and has been involved in the months-long legal battle to force LePage to implement the expansion. The case remains pending before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, but the expansion was originally supposed to go into effect early last month. Merrill's group has been encouraging Mainers who think they might be eligible for the expansion to sign up for coverage. To her knowledge, she said, no one has been denied so far.

In South Dakota, Republican lawmakers early last year repealed an ethics reform package that voters approved in 2016. The initiative would have set up an independent ethics commission and placed limits on campaign finance and lobbying access. Legislators made overturning the initiative, known as Measure 22, one of their first orders of business once the state legislature started its session after the election.

The measure passed with 52 percent, but GOP Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) claimed that voters had been "hoodwinked by scam artists who grossly misrepresented" what the initiative did.

Daugaard later signed into law a package of bills meant to replace pieces of Measure 22, but critics continue to denounce him and the GOP legislature for repealing the initiative before any substitute was passed. Republicans also overturned the measure under a so-called "state of emergency," which blocked efforts to put it back on the ballot for 2018.

But in Maine, even as a core bloc of House Republicans has aligned themselves with LePage and repeatedly sustained his vetoes on Medicaid expansion, some GOP state lawmakers broke with the governor. "The court has ruled that the expansion is the law and I swore an oath to uphold the laws of this state," GOP state Rep. Robert Foley said in an email. "My vote so reflected that oath and obligation to my constituents who approved the initiative by 58.9%[.]"

Washington voters' decisive approval of Initiative 77 is giving some council members similar second thoughts. "[W]hile I didn't support this initiative at the ballot box, Ward 1 voters did," Councilwoman Brianne Nadeau, D-Ward 1, said in a statement. "[The reversal bill] would be a full repeal of the initiative, which I do not feel comfortable with, and did not co-sponsor."

But a majority of Nadeau's colleagues feel differently. "We should no more defend a bad law if it's an Initiative, than we should defend a bad law if the Council wrote it," Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a Democrat, said in a statement announcing a hearing next month on repealing the initiative.

One Fair Wage DC, a group that supported Initiative 77, has produced an ad comparing the council's reversal efforts to House Republicans' past attempts to overturn D.C. legislation. "Residents of Washington, DC just voted overwhelmingly to raise the tipped minimum wage to $15 an hour," the ad reads in all caps. "But now, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council are threatening to overturn the will of the voters." Mendelson is featured in the ad, saying, "It's not right for a legislature to swoop in and say, 'Well, we're going to disapprove this little piece.'"

"When your elected officials aren't listening to the majority of constituents, then citizen initiatives are the way to go," Diana Ramirez, the director of the D.C. chapter of the Restaurant Opportunities Center United, said in an interview.

Ramirez's group, which backed Initiative 77, argued that the restaurant industry's overreliance on tips disadvantages women and people of color and that those concerns were ignored when the city raised the minimum wage two years ago. "In our democracy, we must have a tool to circumvent elected officials when they're not listening to the majority of their constituents," she said.

Ramirez added that the low voter turnout of the election - commonly cited by Initiative 77's opponents - is the same turnout that just secured several council members' Democratic primary victories, effectively guaranteeing their reelection. She said, "For them to say they have the right to overturn this, well, then maybe they should put themselves up for another election."
U.K. police are searching three houses in the middle of the country as part of a counter-terrorism probe into a car attack on Parliament Tuesday that left pedestrians and cyclists injured.

A 29-year-old man was arrested by armed officers after crashing into early-morning commuters and then striking barriers outside the home of the U.K. government. Three people were treated for injuries after the incident, which was similar to a deadly attack last year in central London.

"At this early stage, there is no intelligence of further danger to Londoners or the rest of the U.K. in connection with this incident," the Metropolitan Police said in an email. No other arrests have been made in the case, police said.

Two addresses in Birmingham and one in Nottingham are being searched, police said in an emailed statement. The Ford Fiesta arrived in London around midnight Monday and remained in the center of the capital until the attack, the police said.

The driver hasn't been identified, although police said he is a British national. He isn't thought to be previously known to security services, according to Neil Basu, the U.K.'s counter-terrorism police chief.

"This appears to be a deliberate act," Basu said in a televised press conference in London. "We are treating it as a terrorist incident."

Parliament is in recess, and few lawmakers were likely to have been in the building during the 7:30 a.m. incident. The area is one of the world's major terrorist targets. In March 2017, a man drove a car through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before crashing into the railings and running into Parliament grounds through the gates. He killed four pedestrians and a policeman before he was shot dead.

"For the second time in as many years, the home of our democracy, which is a potent symbol of our precious values of tolerance and freedom, has witnessed terrible scenes just yards from its door," Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement. "The threat to the United Kingdom from terrorism remains severe. I would urge the public to remain vigilant -- but also to come together and carry on as normal."

London is used to living with terrorism, and the threat level is currently at severe, the second-highest level, which means an attack is regarded to be highly likely, according to U.K. security services. The highest level -- "critical" -- is designated when a terrorist attack is expected imminently.

There were 676 active terrorism investigations as of the end of June, compared with "over 500" as of March, the prime minister's spokesman James Slack told reporters in London. Since March 2017, 13 Islamist plots and 4 far-right plots have been foiled, he said.

The attack drew a tweet from President Donald Trump, who has previously criticized London officials for not taking a hard enough line on terrorism.

Television pictures from the incident on Tuesday showed armed police surrounding a silver car that had hit heavy barriers outside St. Stephen's Gate, the main public entrance to Parliament. Its hood was crumpled and its airbags had been deployed. The police said nobody else was in the vehicle, and no weapons had been recovered.
Mumbai Congress leaders staged a protest led by former MP Eknath Gaikwad at Dadar (east) on Monday morning.

Mumbai: Opposition parties and youth from various organisations on Monday staged a protest in Mumbai and Pune against certain people who allegedly burned a copy of the Constitution at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi last week.

Mumbai Congress leaders staged a protest led by former MP Eknath Gaikwad at Dadar (east) on Monday morning. Those who have burned the Constitution are infamous due to their political affinity. They are RSS supporters and close to the current ruling party. It is well known that they want to enact the Manusmruti in the country, but we will fight against this fascist conspiracy, he said.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik led the protest in Chembur. This government has been anti-democracy and anti-Constitution from day one. Its real face is getting exposed day by day. Citizens of this country need to unite against these forces to defeat them and save democracy, said Mr Malik. Similar protests were held in Pune as well on Monday. Almost 150 youth gathered at Good Luck Chowk, Pune to register their outrage.

Two youth and their colleagues had burned copies of Constitution of India at Jantar Mantar, in Delhi on August 11. One of the accused, Deepak Gaur, is a leader of Azad Sena while the other, Abhishek Shukla, is founder of the Aarakshan Virodhi Party.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The school year at George Mason University had just ended, and Najwa Elyazgi was ready to go home to Libya for the summer. Her bags were packed, her belongings boxed for storage.

All she needed was one form from the Department of Homeland Security before buying plane tickets. That June morning in suburban Virginia, she got an email with the necessary document, an essential step toward enrolling in graduate school at Harvard University in the fall.

And then she read the news: The Supreme Court had upheld the president's right to ban people from certain countries -- including Libya -- if he deemed it necessary to protect the United States.

She had planned to fly that day or the next. But the ruling plunged her into despair: If she left the country, could she be certain she would be allowed back in? Should she stay -- or go?

Like many foreign scholars, for months she's been unsure of the status of her education and her future. She, and many others like her, know this: The ground has shifted profoundly, with rules upended, assumptions discarded.

It soon became clear that to go home might mean risking her education at Harvard.

_ _ _

International students contribute nearly $37 billion to the U.S. economy, said Peter McDonough, vice president and general counsel for the American Council on Education, which represents college and university leaders.

"We cannot afford as a country to not be seen as the destination of choice for the people that are ultimately going to be the innovators and the business creators," McDonough said.

But President Donald Trump saw it differently when the Supreme Court reached its verdict.

"In this era of worldwide terrorism and extremist movements bent on harming innocent civilians, we must properly vet those coming into our country," Trump said in a statement issued by the White House.

Advocates of the president's ban -- which mainly affects travelers from certain Muslim-majority nations -- said increased scrutiny of some travelers is necessary to protect the United States. Andrew Arthur, resident fellow in law and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies, said delays make sense "so we can ensure they are who they say they are."

Technically, students from all of the affected countries -- except North Korea and Syria -- can get student visas. But that has not been happening consistently in practice, some advocates argue.

Considerable uncertainty exists, said Dan Berger, an immigration lawyer, noting a memo issued Thursday by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that changes the way student visa status is evaluated. Students who followed standard procedures years ago may face penalties based on new interpretations.

A USCIS official said the agency has found significant "overstay" rates on certain types of student visas; rates from some countries were greater than 20 percent.

"Foreign students who are no longer properly enrolled in school are violating the terms of their student visa and should be held accountable," USCIS Director Francis Cissna said in a written statement.

Some advocates questioned the statistics, saying the agency is not accounting for students who may have moved to another legal means of staying in the country, such as a work visa or marriage.

Many universities are being circumspect in their advice to international students and faculty members, advising them that there may be extended delays and unexpected denials.

_ _ _

Elyazgi, 25, said she had not known her pursuit of an education would come with so much uncertainty and so much risk.

She remembers all too well the moment when she realized things had changed. It was January 2017, and she was in an airport in Turkey, a layover on her way back to George Mason in suburban Fairfax, Mirginia. She glanced at her phone while she waited, then stared at the news alert in disbelief: The Trump administration had imposed a ban on people from several Muslim-majority countries entering the United States.

She was not allowed to board her flight to Dulles International Airport.

She spent the following days in a hotel room in Istanbul checking constantly for updates, wondering whether her college education had just been destroyed. It had been so difficult, and had taken so long, to get all the legal documentation and approvals to study here; it was hard to believe it could dissolve so quickly.

Then a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the ban. She quickly booked a flight and was allowed to return to the United States.

Trump warned last year the judge's actions would be felt. "Because the ban was lifted by a judge, many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country," he wrote on social media. "A terrible decision."

When the executive order was signed last year, Elyazgi was locked out. Now, she feels locked in.

After studying so much, and staying in Virginia over the winter break to prepare her graduate-school applications, she had been looking forward to going home.

_ _ _

At her graduation from George Mason, she called her parents using FaceTime so they could see her in cap and gown. At times she had to put the phone in her bag or her pocket, but she didn't hang up during the ceremony. Her emotions were jumbled, a mix of joy and pride and loneliness. "I had to have them the entire time on my phone so I can feel like they're with me," she said.

Going home to Libya, she knew, would mean she could sleep the most peaceful of nights at her parents' house in Tripoli. She planned to see her not-quite-2-year-old niece, who calls out her own version of Elyazgi's name when she hears the app buzzing on her mother's phone, signaling an international call). Then she would go to her grandmother's house, where the whole family gathers for celebratory meals.

Elyazgi would eat all the food she has been missing -- couscous with fish, dough with date molasses.

She was going to be honored by the Libyan Education Ministry for her academic achievements at a ceremony this summer. She planned to celebrate at her cousin's elaborate six-day wedding.

And then she would go on the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. It would be her first time. When she learned her name had been selected through the lottery process, she was so excited. "You may never get it, ever," she said.

Immediately after the hajj, she would fly to Boston and start orientation at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, studying human development and psychology.

Instead, she found herself in a packed-up home in Virginia, wondering how to find a short-term rental for the summer. She tried to forget about the ruling that night at a farewell dinner with friends who had just graduated. She left early, too upset to enjoy any of it, and went straight to bed.

Her feelings about the United States have changed in the past year and a half. When she came to the country, her parents worried she might face hostility as a Muslim woman. She reassured them, "No, the United States is so international -- people are so friendly!"

She had her first bad experience last year, at the beach, when some people followed her, shouting about her hijab. This spring in Boston, a man stopped her in the street, cursed and threw a bottle at her legs. The glass smashed.

"I honestly believe with the travel ban, people who are racist or have issues with other religions, they started to express their feelings more," she said.

She's grateful for the education, surely among the best the world has to offer. She hopes she will be able to complete her master's degree uninterrupted, even dreams the policy might change again so that her parents will be able to attend her graduation from Harvard.

But once she returns to Libya, to a job she has already been offered there, she said, "I won't be back."
A C-5M Super Galaxy is shown in this video landing without its nose gear at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland a few months ago, the first incident of its kind in years.

The C-5 was on a routine training mission over the Alamo City when it came in for a landing on March 15 with a crew of 11 on board.

The flight was a training mission that involved pilots, flight engineers and loadmasters. The crew discovered the nose landing gear wasnt lowering while preparing to land at Lackland. That prompted them to declare an in-flight emergency.

From our premium site: Mysterious cockpit problems continue, but Air Force trainers still fly

No one was injured, but the failure of the planes nose gear came after an Air Force order to ground all C-5 cargo planes so a faulty ball screw assembly could be replaced in all 56 of them. The grounding, ordered Aug. 2, 2017, came after two C-5M cargo planes based at Dover AFB in Delaware had problems with their nose gear.

The ball screw assembly is located in the nose landing gear.

The Air Mobility Command ended the stand-down about a month after crews repaired the planes, the largest in the services inventory.

The stand-down grounded the 433rd Airlift Wings Super Galaxies, which are often seen flying over U.S. 151 and U.S. 90 in southwestern San Antonio.

From our premium site: Pilots report more oxygen system woes, but Air Force says T-6A is safe to fly

The Air Force Reserves 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland flies eight Super Galaxy cargo planes. Its 356th Airlift Squadron and 733rd Training Squadron routinely do training missions over San Antonio. Another unit on the base, the 68th Airlift Squadron, does local training missions as well but often flies overseas.

The wing said Tuesday the March incident at Lackland remains under investigation with no cause determined yet.

This video first appeared on John Q. Publics Facebook page.

sigc@express-news.net
A judge Tuesday sentenced a former Edgewood school district assistant principal to six years in prison for sexually assaulting a high school student with whom he began having relations with when she was 14.

As part of an agreement reached in July before state District Judge Frank Castro, Severo Campos Jr., 45, pleaded guilty to one count of indecency with a child and one count of improper relationship between educator and student.
(CNN)  "Crazy Rich Asians" understandably feels like an occasion -- a big, colorful coming-out party for Asian (and especially Asian-American) talent. Set aside the cultural significance, though, and director Jon M. Chu has delivered a highly satisfying, decidedly old-fashioned romantic comedy, garnished with soapy elements and enough mouth-watering shots of food to inspire a big meal before or after.

Bringing Kevin Kwan's hit novel to the screen, "Crazy Rich Asians" gets the most important part of the movie very right, casting Constance Wu ("Fresh Off the Boat") as Rachel Chu -- the New York economics professor thrust into a world of staggering opulence, and almost-to-scale sniping and judgment -- and Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor, the imperious mother of Rachel's otherwise-perfect boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding, making a strong bid for romantic heartthrob status).

Somehow, Nick has managed to shield Rachel from the fact that he's the heir to one of Singapore's wealthiest families, and thus a kind of royalty. So she's in for a rude awakening when she accompanies him on a trip home for his best friend's wedding, meeting his extended, eccentric relatives as part of the bargain.

"His parents can't not like me, right?" she asks before they leave.

Based on Rachel's resume, one would think not. But that's before she encounters the tradition-bound Youngs, amid a whirlwind trip filled with plenty of detours, most designed to show off Singapore (the tourism bureau should be over the moon), delectable dishes and dazzling opulence.

That includes not just the old-money trappings that the Youngs embody, but also Rachel's irrepressible college friend Peik Lin (Awkwafina, having a moment after her "Ocean's 8" role) and her nouveau-riche family, offering Ken Jeong a chance to join the festivities.

In terms of recent movies, "Crazy Rich Asians" has a bit in common with "Fifty Shades of Grey," to the extent that Rachel falls for a super-rich guy with a high degree of difficulty built into the relationship -- there, his dominant-submissive appetites; here, his disapproving mom and the prying eyes of those encircling them.

Thanks to Kwan's book, though, Chu and writers Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim have a rich assortment of characters to mine, and the latitude to flesh out the central romance with subplots like the strained marriage of Nick's cousin Astrid ("Humans" star Gemma Chan). Moreover, that's all set against a lavish backdrop of parties, dinners and eventually the wedding -- accompanied, cleverly, by Chinese versions of pop tunes like Madonna's "Material Girl."

Wu provides a perfect surrogate for the audience in her wide-eyed reaction to it all, able to pull off the Cinderella riffs while exhibiting the grit to weather being reluctantly placed under the microscope. Yeoh, meanwhile, speaks volumes with just a withering stare that packs as much punch as any of her action roles.

Of course, because of Hollywood's shoddy history with Asian actors, the movie's mere existence is being heralded as a breakthrough. After stereotypes, best-friend roles and white actors playing lead Asian characters, seeing a major U.S. studio throw its resources behind a film with a virtually all-Asian cast brings with it an added dimension of trailblazing scrutiny.

That's a lot of baggage, but like almost everything else in this meticulously appointed film, "Crazy Rich Asians" wears it well. And while those who know a bit about Chinese culture will recognize that the review embargo corresponds with an auspicious date, by crafting such a broadly appealing movie, the filmmakers have seemingly made their own luck.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "'Crazy Rich Asians' serves up auspicious mix of romance, laughs."
Scanning of hotels, lodges, and vehicle will be carried out.

Railway police personnel carried out a search operation for any possible security threats in the train compartments at CSMT on Tuesday. (Photo: Debasish Dey)

Mumbai: In the wake of the recent seizure of ammo including crude bombs from Nalasopara and Pune, the city has been put on high alert ahead of Independence Day on Wednesday. Leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled to ensure that they are on duty in a bid to keep the city safe. The Mumbai police will keep a hawks eye on more than 5,000 CCTV cameras in the city.

We have sounded an alert across Mumbai and all special wings of city police and the special branch will be on duty. Security will be beefed up across the city, said Manjunath Singe, deputy commissioner and Mumbai police spokesperson.

Scanning of hotels and lodges, and vehicle checks will be carried out from late Tuesday. Crime branch units will scan all hotels and lodges to check on suspicious persons put up anywhere. Hotels and lodges have been ordered to keep a copy of the identity documents of residents. Police presence will be stepped up at vital installations, railway stations, and all such places with high footfall.

The traffic police meanwhile will carry out nakabandi (checks) at important locations across the city. There will be visible police presence in the city and vital installations will be secured by Quick Response Team (QRT) commandos. The entry and exit points of Mumbai will see heavy police presence.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) will also have considerable presence at all major stations and terminals. Stations with heavy footfall will have railway police commandos on patrol. The railway police will also conduct anti-sabotage checks with sniffer dogs and round-the-clock monitoring of CCTV footage.
Arkema's Crosby facility and another chemical company 30 miles away both shuttered operations when Hurricane Harvey rolled in Aug. 25  but documents indicate their response to the rising waters was different.

In Pasadena, officials with AkzoNobel Polymer Chemistry worked diligently to remove about 122,000 pounds of chemicals from their site, including about 67,000 pounds that were sent about 1,500 miles north to safety in upstate New York.

In Crosby at Arkema, repeated failures of systems led to multiple explosions and fires, releasing toxic chemicals into the air and resulting in a criminal indictment for the company, as well as two of their executives.

AkzoNobel's procedure, outlined in about 50 pages of documents and emails recently filed in Harris County's criminal case against Arkema, show the stark contrast between how the two companies handled the disaster.

But Rusty Hardin, Arkema's attorney, said the two aren't comparable.

"The fact that one plant in another section of the city, with perhaps a different flooding situation" historically, shipped out their materials has no bearing, Hardin said. "You don't judge recklessness by what someone else did. It requires you to prove the mindset of the people you are charging."

He added that Arkema didn't move the chemicals, in part, for fear of what might happen in transit in a road was flooded or there was a traffic jam.

"I don't personally think most people in the industry would agree that the safe thing to do is have [the chemicals] out on the highways during a major hurricane," he said.

In removing the chemicals, AkzoNobel was following its 17-page Hurricane Preparedness Plan, which states that the company will remove "as much refrigerated product from the site as possible" during a Category 3 or greater storm, court documents show.

Only at HoustonChronicle.com: Silent Spills--The toxic legacy left by Hurricane Harvey

Preparation for the removal began the day before, on Aug. 24, documents indicate.

In an email sent at 2:39 p.m. Aug. 24, Elaine Sampaio, AkzoNobel's supply chain manager, told several other employees that the company already was implementing phase 3 of its plan, which involved removing the chemicals.

"At this time, while we have a very short time till we find out if we are going to have a hurricane or not, we already know we shall expect flooding and potential loss of power at the site," Sampaio wrote. "Due to this, we have decided to stop production and clear the plants now to be empty by Friday."

WARNED: Arkema officials were warned of flood risks a year before Hurricane Harvey

The chemicals were shipped the next day, Aug. 25, to an AkzoNobel facility in Burt, New York, according to the documents.

By contrast, federal documents show that Arkema wasn't even prepared for a much smaller flood, despite being partially in a flood plain. The company's emergency plan provided little direction to employees on how to handle major floods, and as a result, it couldn't keep combustible organic peroxides cool. Its main power transformers and backup generators were not high enough off the ground. Neither was its backup liquid nitrogen cooling system.

And Arkema's last line of defense failed when water inundated the fuel tanks that power freezer trucks. Over the next week, nine trailers of organic peroxides erupted in flames, sending pillars of fire and thick plumes of black smoke into the air. More than six first-responders were sickened, according to civil suits filed against the company.

Earlier this month, a Harris County grand jury charged Arkema and two executives, CEO Richard Rowe and plant manager Leslie Comardelle, with reckless emission of an air contaminant under the Texas Water Code. The charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison for the individuals and a fine of up to $1 million for the corporation.

Rowe and Comardelle made their initial appearance last week in Harris County District Court, where bail was set at $20,000 each.

Both individuals will continue working for the company despite the charges, and Arkema is paying their legal fees. Even though the company was also indicted, last week's proceedings focused solely on the two executives. The next court hearing is set for Oct. 22.

At the Aug. 6 hearing, Arkema attorney Rusty Hardin called the charges "tremendously unfortunate," adding that the company had a hurricane preparedness plan.

"This is the most outrageous, dumbest, wrong, unfair indictment I've ever encountered in my 43 years of dealing with the criminal justice system," Hardin said, adding that he's "comfortable" that a jury will find the two executives not guilty.

The last time a chemical company faced criminal charges for a major incident in Texas was 2005, when an explosion at BP's Texas City refinery killed 15 workers and injured almost 200. BP paid $50 million in fines for the incident, but no one from the company served prison time.

Hardin said he believes the AkzoNobel documents were filed by the Harris County District Attorney's Office as a "publicity play."

"This was done to generate stories and justify their indictment," he said. "It is that company's conduct that they have cited in the indictment as somehow supporting [Arkema] being reckless. ... It has absolutely nothing to do with what they have to prove to show that [Arkema] was reckless."

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.
The cards belonged to customers in hotels, most of which are located in the western suburbs.

The police began a detailed probe in June, after a person from Vikhroli lodged a complaint stating that Rs 24,000 had been fraudulently withdrawn from his account.

Mumbai: The Mulund police has busted a card-skimming racket and arrested three persons who had duped at least 65 customers. The victims were targeted at five separate restaurants, where they had presented their cards for making payments. According to police, many more accused are stated to be involved in the racket.

Two of the accused are waiters, who used to handle the cards of patrons. As many as 64 diners were duped of Rs 7.63 lakh over a period by the accused trio, identified as Tukaram Guddaji, his brother Maruti and Karan Tandon.

Investigators said that the accused cloned the cards and made fake cards to use them for debiting and withdrawing money from other places. The cards belonged to customers in hotels, most of which are located in the western suburbs.

The police began a detailed probe in June, after a person from Vikhroli lodged a complaint stating that Rs 24,000 had been fraudulently withdrawn from his account.

When the Mulund Polices cyber cell sought details from the bank, they were informed that at least 64 persons had reported similar fraudulent transactions. The police enquired with the hotel and found a common link in Tandon, who had worked at all these places as waiter.

He was traced to his native place in Madhya Pradesh, and was arrested from there. He had been carrying a palm-sized skimming device in his pocket to steal data, said Akhilesh Kumar Singh, deputy commissioner of police, zone VII.

Tandon would note the pin number while the customer punched it in and later use the information to withdraw money fraudulently from their accounts.
Rodney-based Labour MP Marja Lubeck received a petition on the steps of parliament last week seeking the banning of conversion therapies that aim to make gay people straight.

The petition, containing 5157, signatures was organised by the Rodney Area Rainbow LGBTQ+ group.

The petition was presented by InsideOUT national coordinator Tabby Besley on August 8, along with a second petition seeking the same ban organized by InsideOUT, Young Labour and the Young Greens.



Rodney Area Rainbow Group spokesperson Amanda Ashley says conversion therapies are abhorrent with no basis in modern science or psychology.

Its trying to change people from who they are, and what they are, to be someone elses idea of what they should be, she said.

In addition to gay conversion therapies, the Rodney petition also seeks to ban other conversion therapies such as trans-conversion therapy, which aims to dissuade an individual from trying to change their gender should they wish to do so.

Ms Ashley said there are various types of conversion therapies. Some may involve a counselling session where an effort is made to programme an individual to change their minds. Others are more extreme and involve electric shock therapy.

She said the therapy is often forced upon people, typically in a religious community where parents might force a child to attend a church-led conversion therapy.

Ms Ashley said conversion therapy was wrong even if a person was unhappy about their sexual orientation and wanted to give the therapy a try.

I dont think they should be able to go through conversion therapy because it is not usually done by people who are registered counsellors or psychologists. If someone felt that way they should be going to a registered counsellor and psychologist to get help, she said.

Marja Lubeck decided to receive the petition after contacting the Rodney Area Rainbow group and asking how best she could support them.

Once an MP receives a petition, its delivered to the Clerk of the House of Representatives for presentation in the House. It is then allocated to a select committee for consideration.

Although the receiving MP does not necessarily have to support the petition, Ms Lubeck said she supports this one.

Its proven from several studies that have been published that conversion therapy does more harm than good, she said.

She said countries such as Taiwan and Brazil have already banned the therapy and the UK and Ireland were considering following suit.

She hoped conversion therapy would be added to the Crimes Act so that it would become a criminal offence to practice it.

But the principal of Nelson-based Living Wisdom School of Counselling David Riddell says banning conversion therapy would be a disaster.

Mr Riddell said same-sex attraction is usually the result of social, emotional or sexual damage in the formative years.

The vast majority of people who discover within themselves a same-sex orientation, can, with a competent therapist, also be empowered to discover the mal-nurture that set that preference up in their psycho-sexual nature, he said.



He added if conversion therapy was banned many of his clients who had found their way out of an emotional condition that was bringing them acute shame, deepening anxiety and profound guilt would never have escaped from it.

Any number of my clients have experienced a re-awakening of heterosexual orientation during the course of therapy, he said.

Mr Riddell holds a bachelors degree in pastoral therapy and counselling from Otago University and has undertaken two years of post-graduate study.
Hopes that this summer would see firm rules in place to restrict freedom camping on the Hibiscus Coast have been dashed, with Auckland Council announcing on July 31 that its new Freedom Camping bylaw will not be finalised, as planned, this summer.

Resident were hoping that the bylaw could mean an end to ongoing issues with freedom campers crowding car parks, leaving waste and rubbish and putting pressure on public facilities such as toilets  especially in Orewa.

Locally, freedom camping is allowed in designated places because of a bylaw that the former Rodney District Council put in place. Some of those sites have also been recommended to have restrictions or prohibitions placed on them when the new bylaw is introduced due to issues experienced in recent years.

A key reason for the delay in finalising the new bylaw is the number of objections made by local boards to the sites suggested by Council for freedom camping.

Those objectors include the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, which rejected four out of the seven sites that Council staff suggested as suitable for freedom camping (HM July 4). These included Orewa Library car park, Duncansby Lookout & Esplanade Reserve in Stanmore Bay, Red Beach Lookout Reserve (at Vista Motu) and Victor Eaves Park in Orewa. The local board feedback to Council was that only the Hammerhead at Gulf Harbour, Hatfields Beach Recreation Reserve and the seaward side of Stanmore Bay Park are suitable.

However, it is clear that in the face of community opposition, Council is still looking at ways to increase the number of freedom camping sites. It is seeking legal advice and considering approaching Government for consent to enable freedom camping in parks held under the Reserves Act. Currently overnight camping is prohibited in reserves under the Reserves Act unless an exemption applies.

Councils social policy and bylaws manager Michael Sinclair says several councils around New Zealand have used powers available to them through ministerial consent to enable freedom camping in parks held under the Reserves Act.

Quite a few of the sites that have been suggested as restricted sites in recent reports to the local boards are on parks held under the Reserves Act. Staff are investigating if there are legal avenues available to provide for freedom camping with restrictions on these sites, he says. If no legal avenues are available, then these sites will not be scheduled in the bylaw.

Currently there are very few sites across Auckland where freedom camping can occur. This forces campers to either overcrowd those sites or break the rules. Part of the review has also looked at whether there are additional sites where restricted access could be appropriate in order to reduce this pressure.

While local board chair Julia Parfitt agrees that making more sites available could relieve pressure on areas where freedom camping is a problem, she says on the Hibiscus Coast it could also simply create more problem areas.

She says since the areas suggested by Council were made public by Hibiscus Matters in July, residents have been contacting her to express relief that the local board is not supporting those additional sites.

The delay in creating a new bylaw means that the status quo will apply this summer and Mrs Parfitt says this is a real concern to residents, particularly those living adjacent to areas that have had issues with freedom camping, such as Arundel and Orewa Reserves.

Arundel Reserve in Orewa has continued to have problems with freedom campers through the winter, and one repeat offender was trespassed.

Orewa Beach Reserve, by Orewa Surf Club, is also a problem, and Mrs Parfitt says all options are being considered to control overnight parking there including potentially chaining off the car park at night. This is being discussed with the surf club.

Mrs Parfitt says that the delay with the bylaw means that resources to effectively enforce the No Overnight Camping signs that currently restrict freedom camping in some car parks needs to be sorted out before this summer.

Mr Sinclair says that extending the timeframe will give Council more time for implementation and enforcement planning. He says the resources needed for enforcement, wherever the practice is banned, will vary depending on the number of locations that are being prohibited.The more sites the council prohibits, the greater the pressure this would place on compliance staff to monitor and enforce them. Decisions about enforcement are also dependent on resourcing and prioritisation decisions that are made operationally and can vary over time, he says.

Mr Sinclair says that the delay also means that Council can do further monitoring of sites this summer.

A draft bylaw and statement of proposal will be presented to the Regulatory Committee later this year, and if accepted will go out for public consultation.

The local board has set up a designated email for public feedback on this issue, which is freedomcamping@aklc.govt.nz.
At this years Tullamore Show, ABP announced that it will continue its sponsorship of the special Farm Safety Category at the upcoming BT Young Scientist Exhibition in January 2019. This will be ABPs fifth consecutive year involved with Irelands leading science and innovation expo. The ABP award will recognise the best project that focuses on improving safety on farms. Students have until Tuesday September 25 to express their interest in entering this years competition.

As part of its ongoing campaign to promote and improve safety on farms, ABPs stand at the Tullamore Show featured a number of farm safety themes. These included an interactive farm safety games hosted by Agri Kids, Irelands leading farm safety educational platform for children. Also present on the ABP stand were Jack and Alex Brady from Colaiste Chraobh Abhann in Co Wicklow showcasing their winning ABP farm safety project from the 2018 BT Young Scientist Expo. The innovative project saw the students design a safety lock for livestock trailer gates helping reduce the potential for farm injuries. Since the competition the boys have developed a real live prototype.

Martin Kane, Managing Director ABP Ireland, Promoting safety on farms is something that is very important to all of us at ABP. Unfortunately safety continues to be an issue on farms and through our sponsorship of the Farm Safety prize at the BT Young Scientist we want to encourage young people to become farm safety advocates on their farms, with their families and in their wider communities.

So far in 2018, 12 people have died as a result of farm accidents according to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Last year, 24 people were killed in farming accidents. 14 of those deaths resulted from tractor and farming vehicle accidents, including quadbikes, a vehicle used by many young farmers.
Local News, Crime, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: August 14 2018

Follows Governor's 2018 State of the State Commitment to Hold Corporations Responsible for Spread of Opioid Crisis.

New York, NY - August 14, 2018 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma Inc., and Pursue Frederick Company, Inc. ("Purdue"), alleging a decades-long and continuing pattern of persistent deceptive and illegal conduct, whereby Purdue's misled prescribers and patients about the risks of its opioids, including OxyContin, intentionally understating the risks and overstating the benefits of these powerful and dangerous drugs.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that Purdue persistently made -- directly and through third party groups -- numerous misrepresentations about its products, including concealing the link between long-term use of opioids and abuse and addiction, masking the signs of addiction by referring to them as "pseudoaddiction," falsely claiming that withdrawal from its products can be easily managed, overstating the risks of alternative pain relief therapies as compared to opioids, and misrepresenting the extent to which opioids improve body function. These representations were part of Purdue's concerted effort to increase sales of its opioid products and directly affected prescribing, public opinion, and consumption of those products.

"The opioid epidemic was manufactured by unscrupulous distributors who developed a $400 billion industry pumping human misery into our communities. In this year's State of the State, I pledged that we will hold these companies responsible for their reprehensible actions," Governor Cuomo said. "This lawsuit sends a clear message all these who mislead the public to increase their profit margins that we will hold you accountable for your actions."

"Our investigation found a pattern of deception and reckless disregard for New Yorkers' health and wellbeing - as Purdue lined its own pockets by deliberately exploiting our communities and fueling an opioid epidemic that's destroyed families across the state," said Attorney General Underwood. "We're now holding Purdue to account for this reprehensible and illegal conduct. Our work won't stop with this lawsuit: our office will continue to lead the multistate investigation of opioid manufacturers and distributors across the country."

As alleged in the Attorney General's complaint, Purdue continued to engage in deceptive marketing of its opioid products even after pleading guilty to criminal conduct in 2007 and pledging to correct its misleading marketing, and after entering into an Assurance of Discontinuance with the New York Attorney General in 2015

Purdue's conduct contributed to the over-prescription and overuse of Purdue's opioid products, including the opioid epidemic impacting communities across New York. In New York alone, there were 3,086 deaths from overdoses involving opioids in 2016; 2,399 of those deaths were the result of opioid painkillers, including those sold by Purdue.

The lawsuit seeks an order requiring Purdue to "abate the public nuisance and pay all costs of abatement." The lawsuit also seeks an order prohibiting Purdue from engaging in deceptive, fraudulent, and unlawful practices; requiring Purdue to disgorge money obtained as a result of the violations of the law alleged in the complaint; and directing Purdue to pay civil penalties and damages to the state.

Today's lawsuit stems from Attorney General Underwood's ongoing investigation into whether opioid manufacturers and distributors engaged in unlawful practices in the marketing and distribution of prescription opioids. New York is joined by a bipartisan coalition of Attorneys General in that national, multistate investigation.

Since taking office, Governor Cuomo has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the opioid epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Actions include:

Limiting initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain from 30 to 7 days;

Expanding insurance coverage and eliminate many insurance restrictions for substance use disorder treatment;

increasing training and education for prescribers;

Increasing access and enhancing treatment capacity across the state, including a major expansion of opioid treatment and recovery services;

Implementing the comprehensive I-STOP law to curb prescription drug abuse;

Launching a public awareness and prevention campaign to inform New Yorkers about the dangers of heroin use and opioid misuse and the disease of addiction; and

Assembling a task force to propose initiatives to tackle the heroin and opioid epidemic.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
Local News, Crime, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: August 14 2018

Training includes administration of intranasal Narcan.

Suffolk County, NY - August 14, 2018 - Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced an Opioid Overdose Prevention Class will take place on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and encouraged all residents to participate in order to gain the skills that will enable them to save lives. The training, which meets New York State Department of Health requirements, will enable participants to recognize an opioid overdose, administer intranasal naloxone, better known as Narcan, and take additional time-dependent steps while Emergency Medical Service teams are in transit. Participants will receive a certificate of completion and an emergency resuscitation kit that includes the intranasal Narcan

My administration is committed to providing more resources, more education and more training to fight back against the scourge of the opioid epidemic, said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. These training classes, which provide everyday citizens with the power to save lives, have proven to be a force multiplier, augmenting our robust public safety system, and they are an integral part of our multifaceted approach to dealing with the opioid epidemic.

Since the inception of Suffolk Countys Opioid Overdose Prevention Program in 2013, Suffolk County Department of Health has trained 11,256 non-traditional responders, each of whom received a Narcan kit. In addition, local hospitals, which offer opioid overdose prevention training and Narcan kits under Suffolk Countys license with New York State, have dispensed 1,185 kits since they began in 2016, bringing the total to 12,441.

Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Tomarken said, I commend the staff of the health departments division of emergency medical services, which very early on recognized the need for this program and was among the first in New York State and nationwide to offer the opioid overdose prevention training to community members. I encourage anyone who has not taken the class to do so. You might save a life.

The class will take place as follows:

Wednesday August 22, 2018, in conjunction with Legislator Kevin J. McCaffrey

6:30 p.m.  7:30 p.m.

126 Arnold Ave, West Babylon , NY 11704

RSVP Required to Zachary.Giglio@suffolkcountyny.gov OR 631-854-1100

Suffolk County has approached the opioid epidemic on multiple levels, working with lawmakers, medical providers, medical prescribers, parents, school districts, law enforcement, local fire and emergency medical service agencies, and community partners.

Suffolk County hosts on its website a Substance Abuse Resource Center, featuring powerful videos, a directory of substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services, and a listing of available opioid overdose treatment classes, some of which include the Ugly Truth, a program for parents, conducted by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, Police Department, and Department of Healths Division of Community Mental Hygiene.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a

of up to

for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an

by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting SCPD and your message to CRIMES (274637) or by email at

. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Pakistan is trying to move away from the toxic notion of a Muslim Pakistan.

The old narratives which were once dominant necessarily take a backseat as the years roll by. The story that India won independence through a non-violent struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi cannot remain a unilinear narrative. Historians are sure to explore the complexities and unearth other strands. The story of independence cannot be reduced to a struggle between the Congress and the Muslim League on the one hand, and the liberals on one hand and the conservatives  the zamindars, the capitalists, the rulers of the princely states and their ruling elites  on the other. Many progressive things were happening in the princely India, such as in Baroda, Hyderabad, Travancore and Gwalior. These stories too are a part of Indias journey to freedom.

We have also to reckon with the radicals  Communists and socialists  on the one hand and the reactionaries  members of Arya Samaj, Hindu Mahasabha and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)  on the other. The dalits, from Jyotiba Phule to Dr B.R. Ambedkar, took a separate stance of their own on the issue of Indias freedom.

Apart from throwing off the shackles of British colonial rule, Indias journey to political freedom is also the story of Indias modernisation and Westernisation. The idea of liberty is something we learnt from the West  Europe and America  and that of representative democracy with its implied concepts of rule of law and constitution-making. It is time to acknowledge the ideas that we borrowed. It is not any more necessary to hark back to some hoary past and assert that democracy existed in the city-republics like that of Vaishali and the 16 mahajanapadas of ancient India, though it is always good to study the political institutions of the past.

Partition and the division of India into India and Pakistan, the communal killings of Hindus and Muslims in Bengal and Punjab, Sindh and Delhi, and the forced migration of populations is the ugly side of Indias independence. These cannot be hidden and it cannot be used as an argument to nurse enmities and grudges at the national level. When India and Pakistan became two independent states, they became neighbours and they had immediately taken to deal with each other as two states. The hatred which people who paid an individual price through the loss of life and property could not be the fulcrum of relations between the two newborn nations. Even when war broke out over Kashmir in 1947-48, it was one between two independent states, though they both had only dominion status at the time. The formalities of war like an official ceasefire had to be followed and diplomatic exchanges maintained. As a matter of fact, the governments of the two countries handled the problems of refugees on both sides, the division of armed forces and administrative personnel was handled in a systematic and cool manner. The post-Independence government of Jawaharlal Nehru, which included conservatives like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, handled relations with Pakistan with consummate skill and maturity. Neither the Indian nor the Pakistan governments behaved like peevish rivals.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments of both Atal Behari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi have dealt with Pakistan as they should, and the two have walked the extra mile at the official level to acknowledge the state of Pakistan. Mr Vajpayee went to the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore during the famous/infamous bus ride to Lahore in 1998 to make it clear that his party of Hindutva ideology accepts Pakistan. Mr Modi made his own gesture by inviting then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif along with other leaders of government of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) at his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014. They had to make these overgenerous public gestures because their Hindutva ideology painted Islamic Pakistan as the enemy. They had to distance themselves from that demonology at the official level. But at the populist level, both Mr Vajpayee and Mr Modi indulged in anti-Pakistan rhetoric to rake up toxic nationalist sentiment and garner Hindu votes. It is a temptation that Mr Vajpayee could not resist in 2001 and it is a temptation that Mr Modi cannot resist as well, along with BJP president Amit Shah.

Indians, like their South Asian neighbours, stuck to the colonial infrastructure of administration and education, of armed forces, of continuing to use English as a link language. What gives India the advantage in a partially globalised world is English, a colonial legacy. The BJP leadership, dominated as it is by Hindi zealots, maintains a tactical silence on the subject and marches on with English.

The Congress under Nehru and his successors tried rather unsuccessfully to create a place for Muslims who stayed back to create a multi-religious, multilingual polity under the ineffective rubric of secularism. The Hindutva advocates have demolished secularism, though Hindutva has not really replaced it. The country is in a dangerous zone where religious minorities like the Muslims and Christians are in a vulnerable position, with no assurances from the BJPs ruling elite. The lynching of a score and more Muslims over the issue of cow and beef creates the ugly spectre of a Hindu India.

My younger brother had recently recounted to me a remark of Pakistans military ruler Zia-ul Haq, who is supposed to have remarked: If Egyptians do not have Islam they will remain Egyptians. If Pakistan does not have Islam, there will be no Pakistan. Of course, it was a cynical remark of a man who used Islamisation to keep himself in power and destroyed Pakistani society. Pakistan is trying to move away from the toxic notion of a Muslim Pakistan. It should also be noted that India will not remain what it is if it becomes a Hindu India. A Hindu India will be an ugly India. A majority of Indians  including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes  dont really want a Hindu India. The leaders who now hold the reins of power need to keep this important lesson in mind on this Independence Day.
A former former agent with Immigration and Customs agent was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for taking bribes from a former Warren councilman and immigration attorney

Clifton Divers, 49, of Detroit, was punished for his conspiracy with Charles Busse, a former councilman, for carrying out a pay-stay immaigration scheme that involved fake information on drug cases or money laundering that deportees would use to leverage favorable treatment in immigration cases from investigators.

Divers received free legal services and summer work for his daughter at Busses Birmingham law offices, along with a laptop computer, in exchange for his help over a six-year period, prosecutors said.

In a plea agreement reached last January, Divers admitted to conspiracy and bribery charges.

Busse was convicted in May 2017 and is serving a 37-month sentence in Morgantown Federal Correctional Institution, a minimum security facility in northwest West Virginia.

U.S. attorneys were seeking 52 months in prison for Divers.

No one is above the law, particularly law enforcement officers in whom we place our trust to maintain the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and professionalism, said United States Attorney Matthew Schneider, chief of the Detroit office, in a news release. I commend the dedication and commitment of the agencies involved in conducting a comprehensive criminal investigation into corruption that targeted the federal immigration system.

Clifton Divers committed an egregious breach of the trust placed in DHS employees by the American people, said Keith Barwick, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. While his actions are atypical of the dedication and integrity demonstrated by the vast majority of DHS employees, this sentence should send a message about the serious consequences facing those who exploit their positions and violate the law.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S Department of Homeland Security, IRS  Criminal Investigations, FBI, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and ICE  Office of Professional Responsibility.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison and former Assistant United States Attorney, Bruce C. Judge.
A Shelby Township contractor who contributed heavily to Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marroccos failed 2016 re-election campaign was charged with a minor crime that indicates he may cooperate with one or two ongoing federal investigations in Macomb and Wayne counties.

Angelo DAlessandro, 54, of Shelby Township, was charged Monday with knowing about a felony, wire fraud, committed by another, which carries a three-year maximum penalty.

DAlessandro is the fourth person charged as part of a federal probe into corruption and bribes at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, raising speculation he could possibly cooperate with the feds in that investigation and/or provide information about Marrocco.

Marrocco is under investigation by the FBI and a federal grand jury for his activities as commissioner, in which had control over lucrative sewer projects with contractors. Marroccos top deputy, Dino Bucci, was indicted last November on 18 counts of extortion, bribery, fraud, theft and money laundering.

DAlessandro is a top executive of Lanzo Construction in Roseville, which via several Lanzo-associated family members contributed $23,500 to Marroccos 2016 failed re-election campaign in which he lost to current Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller. Marrocco spent $1.9 million, $1.1 million of his own money.

DAlessandros attorney, David Griem, insisted Monday his client is not cooperating in either probe, and the charge against him fits like a glove with the facts of the case.

He is not cooperating against Anthony Marrocco, Griem said. He is not cooperating against anyone. This is a not a lesser charge based on cooperation.

The charge is in connection with business DAlessandro completed with Gary Tenaglia, the first person charged in connection with corruption at Romulus airport and the Wayne County Airport Authority.

Some time ago, my client did business with someone he shouldnt have trusted, Griem said. He later learned that person had used his company to commit fraud. It was his duty under the law to report that individual to law enforcement, but he did not do so. For that my client is truly sorry and accepts full responsibility.

Peter Henning, a Wayne State University law professor and former assistant U.S. attorney, said Monday the charge  formally called misprision of a felony  typically indicates a defendant has information about a potential co-defendant. It can be reduced to a misdemeanor and allow for probation.

That charge is reserved for defendants who have valuable information, he said. I think this indicates hes provided helpful information to U.S. attorneys. Where it heads is an open question.

A sealed wiretap that was revealed late last year showed FBI agents tapped a dozen or more phones that pointed investigations to Marrocco, according to a published report.

Twenty people have been indicted since November 2016 as part of a public investigation case that is centered in Macomb County. Nine defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced, and several more have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in early fall.

Marrocco has not been charged.

Bucci, who has not plead, remains a trustee in Macomb Township but hasnt shown up for a township Board of Trustees meeting and is subject of multiple efforts to remove him from office.

He is accused of participating in a nine-year-long bribery conspiracy with other public officials and various contractors while serving as a township trustee and as operations manager under Marrocco, according to the feds.

Federal prosecutors obtained information from at least four wiretapped phones  including Buccis cell phone and a burner phone  gained by the FBI involving Bucci, including the cell phone of a cooperating witness in the case. Investigators have video recordings of Bucci allegedly making a bribe payment, emails, bank and financial records, photographs and hundreds of wiretapped calls made including calls concerning extortion, bribery and kickback schemes. A burner cell phone is a low-cost, disposable and prepaid mobile phone often used by drug gangs looking to evade law enforcement detection.

In the airport investigation, James Warner and William Pritula also have been charged.

Warner, a field inspector at the Wayne County Airport Authority, was charged May 23 with money laundering, bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in an alleged $5 million scheme in kickbacks from contractors.

Warner, with the cooperation of William Pritula, owner of Pritula and Sons, conspired with Pritula and others to commit theft from a federally funded program, along with bribery of a federal program, according to the feds. Pritulas companies received more than $18 million in payments from the airport authority from September 2010 through October 2014.

Tenaglia, who owned and operated Envision Electric, also entered into an agreement to provide maintenance and repair contracts with the authority from May 2011 to June 2014. U.S. attorneys say he got confidential and proprietary information from Warner that helped him secure repair and maintenance contracts for parking structures at the airport.

Tenaglia and Pritula have reached plea deals, according to the feds.

In 2002, DAlessandro and Lanzo Construction were each charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 1999 workplace death of Robert James Whiteye, who died in a trench collapse in Southfield. The manslaughter charge against DAlessandro and Lanzo was thrown out. But Lanzo was found guilty of a willful criminal act to violate standards of the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration and sentenced by an Oakland County judge to two years probation.
SPRINGFIELD -- Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness Centers along with all Big Y supermarkets now sell a pouch that neutralizes medications, even opioid painkillers, at home and prepares the medications for safe disposal.

The product is Deterra Drug Deactivation System, and according to Deterra's website, the pouches are also available at a few pharmacy chains in Minnesota, where the company is headquartered. It's also available on Amazon.

According to Big Y, Deterra works on pills, liquids and patches. Consumers are told to add the recommended amount of unused medicines in the pouch, fill the pouch half-way with warm water, wait 30 seconds, seal the pouch and gently shake and dispose of in normal trash.

Deterra has activated carbon, which bonds to pharmaceuticals and renders them inert and unavailable for abuse, according to a press release.

Disposing of pills in the trash is dangerous because they can be abused, and flushing them down the toilet can result in water contamination.

Deterra said on its website that one-third of people age 12 and over who used drugs for the first time began by using a prescription drug for non-medical purposes.

"At Big Y, we share everyone's concern about the opioid crisis in our communities," said Steve Nordstrom, Big Y Pharmacy and Wellness Center director of pharmacy. "By bringing these easy to use and highly effective Deterra Drug Deactivation pouches to all of our stores, we hope to empower our customers to prevent drug abuse by getting rid of their unused or unneeded medications, especially opioids."

Big Y has the pouches on sale at an introductory price of $3.99 per pouch. Each pouch has the capacity to deactivate up to 45 pills, 6 ounces of liquid or six patches.

Deterra available at BIg Y by Jim Kinney on Scribd
China is trying to encircle India using blue-water tactics with a string of pearls strategy.

Myth-making can be very seductive, like a coquettish whisper in your ear, beckoning you to make a tryst with yet another urban legend. Remember that every legend is a myth whispered at a campfire. And this acquires a life form of its own once it finds a way into an echo chamber. There are voices in the head, which squabble, challenge and harangue, but the chrysalis nature of the myth prevails, trumping all else. So, while Doklam becomes the big story and the quantum of naked Chinese aggression is viewed as a force majeure, the reality of the past cannot be ignored. The relentless nature of Chinese intrusions is much like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season creeping up on you just when you least expect it to. They are invasive and constantly trespassing, gauging our strength and resolve levels. The India-China relationship is beyond counter-proliferation responses, it is the conventional war which is a more likely scenario.

Battle, it is said, is a great redeemer. And on the 51st anniversary of Nathu La, Chinas transgressions and lust for land notwithstanding, the crucible of warfare in which heroes are forged where courage overcomes fear is a stand-out chapter in the derring-do and bravado of the Indian armed forces. Let me contextualise this for you. Jawaharlal Nehru was dejected and his psyche brutalised by the gargantuan Chinese deception of 1962, and died a heartbroken man. Our great foe and natural adversary, Pakistan, thinking this was the moment to kick us and keep us down, structured Operation Grand Slam and Gibraltar. Operation Grand Slam was a key operation of the 1965 war. The Pakistan Army plan in May 1965 was to attack the vital Akhnoor Bridge in J&K. The bridge was not only the lifeline of an entire infantry division in J&K, but could also be used to threaten Jammu, an important logistical point for the Indian forces. The operation ended in a failure for the Pakistan Army as the stated military objectives were not achieved and they were subsequently forced to retreat, following a counterattack by the Indian Army.

The second part of this construct was Operation Gibraltar. Believing the Indians were badly demoralised and Muslims of J&K would revolt against them with a little help, Gen. Ayub Khan gave his approval for Gibraltar, a plan to provoke uprisings in J&K by infiltrating teams of military personnel to conduct sabotage and prod the Kashmiri people against the Indian forces. The infiltration started in the first week of August 1965, as Pakistani infantry infiltrated the border in teams of twos and threes, eventually swelling to more than 4,000-5,000. Identifying the insurgents as Pakistan Army regulars, India countered them by bringing in additional troops. The Indian Army also launched attacks on the logistical bases of the insurgents in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Intertwined with Gibraltar was Grand Slam. The Pakistani Army commenced Operation Grand Slam at 5 am on September 1, 1965. The aim was to ease the pressure on the 12th Division, which was defending against repeated Indian attacks, and to guard against the threat to the city of Muzaffarabad from the territorial gains by Indian forces of strategic areas such as Haji Pir Pass in PoK. As always, Pakistans best-laid plans went awry.

On January 11, 1966 Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, a feisty young Indira Gandhi took charge in a faction-ridden Congress Party where the Kamaraj-led Syndicate called the shots. The Syndicate was all-powerful  K. Kamaraj, the former chief minister of Madras; Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, an Andhra leader; S. Nijalingappa, chief minister of Mysore state; and Atulya Ghosh, the president of the Bengal Congress Committee, along with Maharashtra leader S.K. Patil. Against this backdrop comes one of Indias finest military victories in a distant place called Nathu La. The Chinese, who revel in their military might, have received a bloody nose twice in recent memory  an abomination called Nathu La in 1967 followed years later with the Sino-Vietnam war, where the unceasing waves were taught a lesson in 1979. Nathu La can be described as a largish skirmish, but it resulted in the death of 300 to 400 Chinese soldiers. More than 80 Indian soldiers were killed. In many ways, the Doklam standoff and what began in Nathu La are mirror images. Nathu La also began with pushing, jostling and shoving. Nathu La was a result of the Chinese being irked over the Indian military presence in Sikkim, then a protectorate of India, while Doklam is at the tri-junction of Bhutan. India and China, where India has the heights and the Chinese the valley below. The aggressive mien being displayed by a muscular China has been pushing the envelope repeatedly with as many as 426 border transgressions last year, on the back of 273 in 2016. Many of these have resulted in actual physical contact between the two sides with the Indian Army keeping the PLA at bay. The new Chinese mindset is a result of anger over Indias infra build out across the undefined border running for over 4,000 km from Ladakh to Arunachal.

Recent media reports suggest that India has upped the ante in terms of border infrastructure and military deployment. Of course, the daunting challenges for the Indian troops remain  ranging from lack of requisite roads, bridges and inter-valley connectivity to shortages of artillery, helicopters, drones and specialised ammunition stocks. Visits to the far-flung areas by media teams show that operational readiness and troop morale is high, with India slowly but steadily adding some much-needed muscle to its military capabilities all along the 4,057-km-long LAC to offset the stark military asymmetry with its larger neighbour. This has picked up pace after the PLA occupied north Doklam throughout the winter this time, even as it is disengaged from the actual faceoff site on Bhutanese territory.

Ground zero reports say that four infantry mountain divisions (each with over 12,000 soldiers) under the 3 Corps (Dimapur) and 4 Corps (Tezpur), with two more divisions in reserve, are for example tasked for the defence of Arunachal Pradesh alone. The troop density at Tawang, which China claims to be part of south Tibet, is particularly high to thwart any nefarious designs. Then, of course, the new 17 Mountain Strike Corps and associated units, with a total of 90,274 soldiers for quick-reaction ground offensive capabilities, will be fully raised by 2021-2022. After the 59 Infantry Division of 17 Corps became fully operational at Panagarh (West Bengal), the 72 Infantry Division, to be headquartered in Dehradun, is now taking shape, with its first brigade to raised at Roorkee. Despite a depleting squadron strength, two full Sukhoi-30 squadrons armed with the Brahmos has been readied at Tezpur. Further, an Akash SAM squadron has been deployed in the airbase. China has three airbases just 350 km from Tezpur. Similarly, more Sukhoi-30s are parked at Chabua, also in Assam. The controversial Rafales, when they arrive, will be stationed at Hasimara airbase in West Bengal to replace the ageing MiG-27s. The second Rafale squadron is expected to be stationed at Sarsawa base in Uttar Pradesh. The IAF recently activated the advance landing ground (ALG) at Tuting, in Arunachals Upper Siang district. It is the sixth such ALG to be made operational in Arunachal apart from the ones in eastern Ladakh, all with China in their crosshairs. The Panagarh base in West Bengal is also set to get its six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Panagarh, of course, is also going to be the headquarters of the Armys new 17 Mountain Strike Corps being raised with two high-altitude infantry divisions, apart from other armoured, artillery, air defence and engineer brigades spread from Ladakh to Arunachal.

Moreover, a fresh controversy has broken out with the circulation of a draft report of the standing committee on external affairs headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor that deals with the Doklam standoff. This has been opposed by NDA MPs on the panel for revealing sensitive information provided in the course of privileged briefings. The draft is understood to deal with details that could cause diplomatic awkwardness for the information revealed in a manner that reproduces official briefings in a verbatim manner, without fully explaining contexts. Which once again establishes the primacy of the 73-day old Doklam standoff and its relevance to the national narrative. With Rahul Gandhi on this committee, questioning officials over the objectives behind China forcing a confrontation in the areas near the Sikkim-Tibet-Bhutan trijunction have acquired a deep political hue. Questions have also been asked about the current situation in the area, as it has been said that the Chinese are fortifying their positions in a very hostile and belligerent manner. With so many parallels between Nathu La and Doklam and given the strategic nature of the plateau as an access point to the vital Siliguri corridor or Dooars as it is called, India needs to be alert and constantly vigilant.

A two-front war represents a great risk to the already stretched Indian Army, which requires large dollops of funding for modern weaponry. The delicate issue of Doklam remains unresolved  the Chinese extending a road through a disputed piece of land which slopes down to the Siliguri corridor, a narrow strategic strip of Indian territory dividing the Indian mainland from the seven northeastern region states. If China cuts off this access point, it can isolate the Seven Sisters, a frightening thought for the Indian Deep State. Not only is it pushing the envelope in the border areas, it is trying to encircle India using blue-water tactics with a string of pearls strategy. From the One Belt One Road initiative to Gwadar, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar, it is teasing India using its financial muscle. Described as salami slicing by Indian strategists, it works due to the absence of proper road infrastructure in vast swathes of border areas in India.
SPRINGFIELD -- State regulators have scheduled a hearing on a group of Springfield-area investors' plans to create New Valley Bank & Trust Co., potentially the first new bank founded in Massachusetts since 2009.

The hearing before officials from the state commissioner of banks, the Department of Revenue and the Massachusetts state Treasurer's office is 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 5 at the state Division of Banks, 1000 Washington St., First Floor. The state will accept public comment until Sept. 14 at 1000 Washington St. 10th Floor, Boston MA, 02118-6400.

The hearing is the latest step toward getting a state charter for New Valley Bank & Trust Co. The group is headed by Longmeadow attorney Frank Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald worked at the old Valley Bank and founded Bank of Western Massachusetts here in 1986.

Fellow industry veteran J. Jeffrey Sullivan is the proposed director, president and CEO of the new bank.

New Valley Bank & Trust has identified a site for the first office, a former medical building at 908 Allen St. in the city's East Forest Park neighborhood, according to an application filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and obtained by The Republican through a public records request.

New Valley Bank's officers told the FDIC that they plan to spend about $300,000 to renovate the building, the parking area and to add a drive-thru.

New Valley would be the first start-up Massachusetts bank since 2009 and would be the first new bank in Springfield Nuvo Bank & Trust opened in Tower Square in 2008. Nuvo has since been sold twice and is now part of Community Bank, headquartered in Syracuse, New York.

Fitzgerald, Sullivan and their team say Springfield needs a bank headquartered in the city to both cater to business lending needs and provide basic banking services like savings accounts and check cashing to underserved and "unbanked" populations.

The bank takes its name from the former Valley Bank. That Bank started thorough the 1957 merger between Springfield National Bank and Union Trust Co.

Valley Bank became BayBank Valley Trust Co. in 1979, and BayBank in 1991.
There is pride of place in his shared nursing home room for the Honor Flight New England Certificate.

It documents his June 17 chartered trip with other veterans to the war memorials in the nation's Capital that Heidi Curboy of Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts helped coordinate for him through the Honor Flight Network.

"He deserves to be honored. I have known him for five years. He has a strong sense of pride about his service," said Curboy of the Marine Corps rifleman.

"It had such an impact on him. He did it for us."

The trip, however, is not what William Matte in his 94th year pulls from his memory bank this summer day to share.

Leaning forward in his wheelchair the World War II veteran with a Marine emblem tattoo on his arm instead recites his military service that spanned much of the war.

The listener does not expect an answer of battles from the Western Massachusetts resident with a pleasant face and quick humor that saw him take part in some of the most difficult ground assaults on Japanese-occupied islands near Australia.

These battles - particularly on Peleliu - were some of the worst in Marine Corps history in terms of fighting in dense, swampy jungle where bullets intended for the enemy ricocheted off thick foliage back to the shooter or being easy targets for shelling by enemy soldiers hidden from view in caves.

"I was there," says Matte, pointing to the patriotic cap on his bureau that displays where he served and with which branch of the Armed Forces.

"First Marine Division, Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Borgen Bay, Talasea, Iboki, and Peleliu.

These battles took place in the Solomon Islands, what is now Papua New Guinea and on Peleliu, part of the island nation of Palau that was colonized by Germany and later came under the control of the Japanese.

The engagements were part of the Allies plan that included amphibious assaults after naval and aerial bombardment on Japanese-held islands to prevent a Japanese blockade of Australia, provide bases of support for recapturing the Philippines and isolating Japanese forces at a main supply base off New Guinea at Rabaul as well as preparing for an invasion of the main Japanese islands.

General Douglas MacArthur led the Allied advance through New Guinea, while Admiral William "Bull" Halsey led a northward advance in the Solomon Islands.

The battles in the Eastern Solomon Islands northeast of Australia were part of a counteroffensive against the Japanese in the wake of their decisive naval defeat in the Battle of Midway northwest of Hawaii in the Central Pacific.

Matte's division fought in the brutal six-month Battle of Guadalcanal that launched Aug. 7, 1942 to capture an airfield the Japanese had constructed there in the Solomon Islands.

The battle is said to be the first major ground offensive in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese.

It launched eight months after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and two months after the Battle of Midway. Midway and Guadalcanal are considered turning points in the war in the Pacific.

Guadalcanal, basically a 2,500-square-feet mass of jungle terrain in the Solomon Islands, was strategically important to both sides because of its location near Australia and American bases in the Pacific.

The Allies also wish to take it as part of an offensive strategy originally planned to take back Rabaul on the island of New Britain.

Rabaul, which ironically was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1994, had become a main Japanese garrison base where some 100,000 troops were stationed.

The Guadalcanal Campaign consisted of several naval battles, some of which inflicted heavy damage on the U.S. fleet, but ended with the Japanese losing more than 30,000 men, 600 aircraft and 24 aircraft. The Allies lost more than 600 aircraft, 25 warships and suffered about 7,500 casualties out of 60,000 committed.

The naval carriers taking part included the USS Enterprise. The shipe provided cover for the troops' initial landing and for reinforcements and was heavily damaged and then took part in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942.

Matte's division, which had initially deployed to New Zealand, was then sent to recuperate in Australia.

Under orders from MacArthur, commander of the Southwest Pacific Area, the division was sent in December 1943 to New Guinea to employ the skills learned fighting in the jungle terrain of Guadalcanal to capture the airstrip from the Japanese on Cape Gloucester on the western end of New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.

The division also fought at Borgen Bay southeast of Cape Gloucester and at Talasea on the mountainous Willaumez Peninsula in the middle of the island and at Iboki, a coconut plantation area that had become a hideout for Japanese infantry.

Their mission was to capture any Japanese trying to retreat eastward from Gloucester to their base at the other end of the island at Rabaul.

The division landed on Peleliu's beaches on Sept. 15, 1944 to help secure an airfield there for what was supposed to be an assault of a few days. However, the island's inland network of connected caves initially provided cover from aerial bombardment for the Japanese troops as well as military advantage.

Eugene B. Sledge, with the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines 1st Marine Division, said the shelling the exposed Marines received "surpassed, by the intensity of the blast and shock of the bursting shells, all the subsequent horrifying ordeals on Peleliu and Okinawa."

"The attack across Peleliu's airfield was the worst combat experience I had during the entire war," Sledge, author of "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa," wrote in his notes about how the Marines, climbing in the open toward the airfield, were shelled by Japanese gunners stationed 300 feet above on what was dubbed "Bloody Nose Ridge."

The Battle of Peleliu is said to have resulted in the highest casualty rate of any amphibious assault in American military history. Some 40 percent of the approximately 28,000 Marines and infantry troops that fought for the island died or were wounded.

Only a few hundred of the 11,000 Japanese soldiers on the island survived.

The island was not secured and returned to the Palauans until March 1945. Today, memorials to both sides stand at Bloody Nose Ridge, and sealed caves marked where Japanese soldiers died fighting rather than surrender.

During the visit with Jewish Family Service's Heidi Curboy, Matte dons the cap with his military identity but does not speak in detail about his service.

"He can name all of the men he was with and talks about watching some of his best friends getting killed next to him," said Curboy of Matte who left his Hartford home at 17 for an enlistment that would take him like many others to a terrain far different than that of New England.

He does, however, mention getting wounded at Guadalcanal for which he received the Bronze Star but elects to move on from the topic of war and, looking at a picture of himself around age six, recalls it as being taken "in the days when nobody was fighting."
Boston police are investigating whether the 55-year-old public works foreman shot and killed while sitting in his couch in Mattapan on Saturday night was targeted.

Alexander Allen was sitting on the couch in his living room on Saturday - his birthday - when he was shot and killed. This was the second time the city highway maintenance supervisor he had been shot since Dcemeber 2017, family told The Boston Herald.

Allen's wife told the newspaper security cameras had been removed from the front of their home before the slaying. She believes it was "well-planned," but was unsure of a motive, according to the Herald's reporting.

Dola Thelwell-Allen, 59, described the events of late Saturday night that left her husband dead in their Manchester Street home by 11:15 p.m.

"I was upstairs in my bedroom and he was downstairs, watching TV and taking a little nap. I heard this noise and then I heard, 'Pow, pow, pow!' I didn't know exactly what happened, but I knew it wasn't good. I just went for my phone and I called 911 and I begged them, 'Please come over here now. I need help,'" Thelwell-Allen to the newspaper.

Adding: "When someone catches you in your sleep, it's just wickedness. You don't even have a chance to defend yourself."

Asked if he believes the city worker was targeted, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross told the newspaper: "Yes, somewhat. We want to make sure it's not random. At this point, it's not leaning that way."

Allen's father told the newspaper that after his son was shot while sitting in his Department of Public Works truck in December he told him to leave Boston.

"'Get out. Leave town. They'll be back.' But he never did leave," Bishop Alexander Allen Sr. told the Herald.

Thelwell-Allen said her husband was her "hero" who had just donated his kidney to her.

"I just lost a wonderful man. He was a very brave person," she told The Boston Herald.

This is the city's 33rd homicide of the year, one more than at this time in 2017.
Emergency crews are responding to Haymarket station in Boston Tuesday afternoon after a person was hit by a train.

Around noon the MBTA announced on Twitter that a train had struck a person at Haymarket station, an underground stop located on the corner of Congress Street and New Sudbury Street. The MBTA called the situation a "medical emergency" and said there would be delays on the Orange Line.

As of 1 p.m. Haymarket remained closed as nearly a dozen transit police officers investigated what they called an "accident" at the station. At least 20 MBTA employees were standing outside the station along with about seven emergency vehicles.

Cawley Lewis, of Boston, said she was riding the Orange Line toward Oak Grove Tuesday afternoon when the train was stopped at Back Bay station.

The conductor told passengers to get off because a person "fell" in front of a train, Lewis said.

"I just hope it wasn't a kid," Lewis said, as she stood outside Haymarket Station. "People stand too close to the yellow line like its a barrier. It's not."

Following the incident, the MBTA said Orange Line service was suspended between North Station and Back Bay, where trains will be stopping and "crossing back."

The transportation authority suggested customers use the Green Line to access stops between North Station and Copley Square.

#MBTA #OrangeLine service is suspended btw N Station & Back Bay due to a person struck by a train at Haymarket. Customers are advised to use Green Line service btw N Station and Copley. Orange Line service will be crossing back at N Station and Back Bay.  MBTA (@MBTA) August 14, 2018

Video shared by WBZ showed a man being rolled out of the train station on a stretcher, and many emergency vehicles could be seen around the station entrance on Congress Street.
Boston Police Commissioner William Gross called on judges to increase penalties for people caught with illegal firearms at the scene of a triple shooting in Mattapan Tuesday.



Three men, all in their late 20s, were shot at 9:48 a.m. while sitting in a car on Deering Road which connects to Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan, police said. Gross said though the investigation is in its early stages, he believes the men were targeted by a fourth person who is still at large.



One man has died, but the remaining victims are expected to recover, Gross said.



Police did not have a description of the suspect and could not whether he fled the scene on foot or in a car.



Speaking from the homicide scene in Mattapan - one of his first as commissioner - Gross took a moment to address "senseless violence" in the community. This on the heels of a fatal shooting of a 55-year-old city worker on Saturday night. He said he is "sick and tired" of arresting people who have previously been charged with firearms offenses.





"Stay away orders and ankle bracelets do not work," he said. "We need to send a message...this is not acceptable. We're doing our part....anybody who commits a senseless act of violence should be locked up."



In the brief press conference, which was streamed live by NBC Boston, Gross was asked if he felt judges are being too lenient in sentencing people charged in "senseless acts of violence." He said: "yes."





"Three officers dead. Several other people dead. Common sense here...I'm not telling any lies here. If we're all supposed to be held accountable we should all be accountable," Gross said.



Gross asked that anyone with information about Tuesday's shooting contact police.



"When we're all working together I don't think we'll have these shooting," Gross said.



This is the city's 34th homicide of the year, two more than this time in 2017.
WESTFIELD - Disabled veteran and certified EMT Leon Morin of Westfield is continuing an appeal to the state Civil Service Commission because the city bypassed him for a firefighter/basic EMT position with the Westfield Fire Department.

A prehearing was held in Springfield last week and his hearing is set for Sept. 26.

Disabled veterans have preference for civil service jobs. Morin also scored the highest on the civil service test among all candidates for the position, 96 out of 100.

In May, Westfield fire commissioners bypassed Morin in favor of John Camerota, Police Chief John Camerota's son, which triggered Morin's claim. They bypassed him again last month for Michael Wailgum, nephew of former Fire Chief Mary Regan.

Morin suggested the relationships of the two selected candidates had a bearing on them being chosen over him.

Commissioners said they followed the law in making their decisions. The process included in-person interviews with both candidates, a prescreening, a city application, reviews of introduction letters, resumes, references and a comprehensive background check.

"We really looked at this," Chairman Albert Masciadrelli said July 23. "If we make a bypass, there's a reason for it."

Morin received a letter in May stating he was not selected for the first position because "following an extensive three-prong process (the Commission) felt that three candidates stood above all others." The letter states that "the three chosen candidates were goal driven, focused and emphasized how they wanted to grow as professionals and embraced the team approach."

Morin said the letter was "vague" but he received some clarity at the prehearing.

"The reason for the bypass was I interviewed poorly, or others interviewed better," he said. "Hard to believe that would be the only reason."

After filing his appeal in May, Morin said he saw an agenda item for a special meeting in June to hire Wailgum.

"I called everyone from City Hall to civil service to state reps and senators to get my name on the 'willing to accept job' list for the meeting," said Morin. "All agreed it was wrong the city would do a hire with only one candidate but could not stop it. The system is set up to be reactive, not proactive, so there was nothing I could do."

Morin believes his efforts paid off because the commission did not hire Wailgum at the June meeting and invited him to attend the July 23 meeting.

"I guess I made enough noise to make them reconsider," he said.

However, Morin was unable to attend the meeting because he was on military orders, and he was bypassed again.

At the time, Commissioner Patrick Olearcek said it was a difficult process.

"This is not taken lightly," he said.

Morin said he hopes his appeal will end up in his favor not just for himself, but also for other veterans up for future positions. He said he spoke with The Republican for them.

"I was hoping to get this covered to benefit the veterans and disabled veterans coming out on the next (civil service) list," Morin said. "Many of these guys have reached out to me already with concerns of the hiring process."

Morin is waiting for the letter stating why he was bypassed in July and said he guessed "it's the same as the last bypass and I was given no chance to do another interview."

Morin was a member of the U.S. Army from 2008-11, serving a 12-month deployment to Afghanistan, and has been a member of the Army Reserve since 2012. He supported the Army as a Department of Defense contractor in 2016-17 in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

He said he has injuries to his left wrist, left knee and nose and has ringing in his ear. He has no restrictions on his Army duties because of the disability, he said.

Morin works full time at Aegius Energy in Holyoke.
BOSTON - The U.S. Attorney's Office filed federal kidnapping charges against a French national who last month defied a judge's orders and fled the country with his 3-year-old child without the mother's permission.

Malik Benhamza, 33, who had been living in East Boston, is believed to be in Algiers, Algeria. Neither he nor the child have been seen or heard from since July 1.

The U.S. Attorney's Office on Monday filed a criminal complaint that charges him with a single count of international parental kidnapping. He is now considered an international fugitive.

The United States has no extradition treaty with Algeria, a country in northern Africa bordering on the Mediterranean Sea.

According to prosecutors, the child's mother, Jerusha Hall, in February was granted sole legal custody of the child by Essex County Family Court. Benhamza was granted visitation rights but only on specific days and times.

The family court judge also ordered that neither parent could travel outside Massachusetts with the child without written consent of the other parent.

On July 1, Benhamza did not return the child following a scheduled visit. Hall contacted law enforcement when the child was not returned, and officials tracked him by cell phone records to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. A review of flight records showed that he and the child had departed on a Royal Air Moroc flight to Algiers where they disembarked.

If he is apprehended, Benhamza faces a penalty of up to three years in prison for international parental kidnapping.
A report of a man holding several people hostage inside a Bridgewater home and threatening to kill them turned out to be a hoax.

Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher Delmonte said authorities continue to investigate the Tuesday morning prank call to 911.

At approximately 4 a.m., a Bridgewater Police dispatcher received a call on the business line from a man who said he had 10 to 15 hostages inside of a home on Aldrich Road. The caller said he would kill people if he was not given money.

"The man called the department business line numerous times, making various threats," police said.

Officers rushed to Aldrich Road and found nothing wrong at the home.

"While officers were on scene, a juvenile resident of the house called 911 to report that a man she was speaking to on the social media application Houseparty had threatened to harm her," police said. "Police believe that the man the juvenile was speaking to was the same person who had called the police station making the threats."

The girl was using the live video group chat app Houseparty and was talking to three friends. A man they didn't know joined the conversation and threatened her.

The chief reminded parents to discuss the use of social media with their children. Police do not know how the man got into the conversation with the teen and her friends.
It began with unreturned texts.

Tony Paulyk had accompanied his wife Christy to a doctor's appointment, leaving their four children in the care of 20-year-old babysitter Kaylena Sayers.

But when they texted her to check in, she did not respond. Nor did she pick up the phone, or reply to Facebook messages. It was stormy that day in Pittsfield; maybe the house had lost internet service, Paulyk thought. But the radio silence worried him.

"I kept having a weird feeling that something was off," Paulyk said in an interview. "I said, let me check the camera."

When Paulyk watched a stream of the family's nanny cam on his phone, what he saw was shocking: Sayers appearing to slap his crying 19-month-old son in the face.

"Immediately on my other phone I called the Pittsfield police department," Paulyk said. "I'm beyond relieved she's behind bars."

Sayers was arrested Thursday and charged with misdemeanor assault and battery on a child under 14 without bodily injury, the Berkshire Eagle reported. She is being held pending a hearing for violating probation on a domestic assault conviction from October 2017.

The incident was unexpected, Paulyk said. Sayers had repeatedly babysat for the family since last summer, after meeting Christy while they worked at the Golden Phoenix Chinese restauraunt in Pittsfield. There had been no previous problems, and his children had never before complained of mistreatment.

In response, Paulyk has publicized the video on Facebook and given MassLive permission to publish it as a warning to other parents, he said.

"I posted the video because I wanted people to be aware of her actions. We considered her a friend for the last year and half. It's a you-think-you-know someone scenario," Paulyk said. "Be careful of who you're hiring to watch your kids."

Sayers' attorney Dean Manuel did not immediately return a request for comment. But the Eagle reports that Sayers told her probation officer she thought the child was choking.

The video, however, shows a woman attempting to feed the child and eventually resorting to violence when he does not eat.

The footage shows the woman ordering children to bed just after 2 p.m. on Aug. 7 if they do not finish their food. She attempts to feed the youngest boy, who is seated in a highchair, but appears to grow increasingly frustrated about his reluctance to eat.

"Put it in your mouth, put it in your mouth," she says, attempting to feed the child by hand. The child then begins to cry and the woman appears to react with force, rising from her chair and slapping him in the face with her left hand.

As the boy continues to cry uncontrollably, she returns to eating her plate of food. After about 40 seconds of the child's vocal distress, she turns to him again and delivers three right-handed slaps to his face.

She then leans in and yells indecipherably into the child's face. When he continues to cry, she raises a hand and yells again, before returning to her seat.

Paulyk said Sayers had babysat for the family a few times in the summer of 2017. They fell out of contact for several months, but about two weeks ago Sayers texted his wife offering her services again, he said.

The Paulyks hired Sayers to watch the children while Christy went to a doctor's appointment. They never expected anything like this to happen, Paulyk said.

"We didn't see any cause for alarm," he said.
STURBRIDGE - A 50-year-old Spencer woman was killed when she collided with a tractor- trailer truck transporting cars Monday morning.

Kelly Lacroix was identified as the victim of the crash that happened at about 7:20 a.m. on Route 49 and Putnam Road, Massachusetts State Police said.

Lacroix was driving a 2008 Buick LaCrosse and had stopped at the intersection before she pulled out onto Route 49 into the path of the tractor-trailer truck. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The truck driver, a 54-year-old Manchester, New Hampshire man, was taken to Harrington Hospital by Sturbridge Emergency Medical Services ambulance with injuries that were not critical, police said.

Police remain at the scene 11 hours after the crash. Traffic continues to be detoured off Route 49 while officers investigate the cause of the accident, police said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by troopers from the Sturbridge Barracks. Troop C Headquarters, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, Sturbridge Police, Sturbridge Fire Department, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation all assisted at the scene, police said.
Retired Admiral James Stavridis, an ex-NATO supreme allied commander, urged US and Turkey to do all they can to improve relations.

Washington: The crisis in US-Turkish relations, which already has put Turkeys economy under massive strain, also risks souring military ties between the two Nato allies, unleashing unknown geopolitical consequences.

US President Donald Trump last week announced new tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, causing the countrys currency to plummet, over his frustration with Ankaras continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

Then on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote in The New York Times that unless Washington can reverse this trend of unilateralism and disrespect, Turkey will start looking for new friends and allies.

The warning came after Erdogan held a phone call with Russian Pres-ident Vladimir Putin to discuss economic and trade issues, as well as the Syria crisis.

Military ties between Turkey and the US are already fraught over Washingtons support to Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG, which Ankara sees as little more than an offshoot of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

And tensions were heightened further after Turkey, despite being a NATO ally, entered into an understanding to buy Russias advanced S-400 air defence system.

Such a move would defy US sanctions on Moscow, and Turkeys increasingly cozy relationship with Putin has alarmed both the US and the European Union. Trump on Monday signed a defence authorisation act that notably prohibits the delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey if it goes ahead with the S-400 purchase.

Retired Admiral James Stavridis, an ex-NATO supreme allied commander, urged US and Turkey to do all they can to improve relations.

To lose Turkey would be a geopolitical mistake of epic proportions, he said on Monday.
BOSTON -- A judge has ruled that the identities of witnesses who spoke to Senate investigators about Bryon Hefner's alleged sexual misconduct can remain confidential.

Suffolk Superior Judge William Sullivan denied a request by Attorney General Maura Healey to provide prosecutors with the names and statements of people interviewed by investigators from the law firm Hogan Lovells. The Senate hired Hogan Lovells to investigate whether former Senate President Stan Rosenberg broke any Senate rules related to the alleged misconduct by Hefner, his husband.

Healey asked for the records as part of the criminal case against Hefner related to allegations that he sexually assaulted four men.

Hogan Lovells and the Senate repeatedly promised witnesses that their identities would not be released.

"The promise of confidentiality should not be an empty one or one significantly limited by pro forma words," Sullivan wrote.

Sullivan wrote that there "may be any number of compelling reasons why an alleged victim does not want to be identified or come forward for the prosecution of a criminal case." In the case of sexual assault, he noted, the decision "is highly personal and a complicated one."

Sullivan wrote that he respects the fact that the alleged victims were told that their identities would be protected.

"These are individuals who did not come forward willingly, and only spoke to Hogan Lovells after repeated assurances that their identities would remain confidential," Sullivan wrote.

The Hogan Lovells investigators identified and interviewed 45 people based on business records provided by the Senate.

They issued a scathing report, finding that Rosenberg knew or should have known about Hefner's inappropriate behavior -- although not necessarily the sexual assaults -- and still gave Hefner undue access to his Senate affairs. Rosenberg resigned after the report was released.

The Senate gave state prosecutors the same business records it provided to Hogan Lovells. Sullivan said there is no reason prosecutors cannot use those records to track down potential witnesses the same way Hogan Lovells did.
The number of urgent care facilities in Massachusetts is surging, creating new opportunities for cost savings in health care, according to a new study by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission.

The study found that the number of urgent care clinics in Massachusetts increased from 18 in 2010 to 145 at the end of 2017. Other urgent care systems are currently planning additional expansions.

"One key factor is patient demand... for convenient, timely access points for care," said David Seltz, executive director of the Health Policy Commission. "The market is responding to that level of patient demand."

Urgent care clinics are places where patients can walk in and be seen for urgent conditions that do not require emergency room care -- things like a severe sore throat, respiratory or sinus infections, wounds, broken bones and ankle sprains. Clinics are often open on evenings or weekends.

Retail clinics are another type of facility, which treat conditions like sore throats and sinus infections, provide vaccines and offer wellness exams, but do not treat wounds or more complex conditions. CVS Minute Clinics are the only retail clinics in Massachusetts, and these have grown from 20 in 2010 to 57 in 2018.

If these clinics are able to divert patients from going to the emergency room, the study finds that they have the potential to save a significant amount of money. The study priced out emergency department visits for the type of minor conditions that can be treated in another setting.

It found that the average cost of an emergency room visit for these conditions was $688 with a patient copayment of $130. In a physician's office, the average cost would be $166, with a $15 copay.

At an urgent care center, the average cost was $147 with a patient copayment of $32. The average cost was $78 at retail clinics with a copay of $26.

Previous studies have found that 27 percent of emergency room visits are for conditions that could be treated in an urgent care facility.

Seltz said the commission will continue to examine whether urgent care centers are diverting patients from emergency departments or from primary care doctors, or whether they are attracting new patients who would not have sought care elsewhere.

Over the years, urgent care settings have emerged as their own independent businesses, rather than being affiliated with a hospital. The study found that today, 61 percent of urgent care centers are part of non-hospital chains such as American Family Care and Carewell Urgent Care. Among hospitals, Partners HealthCare, the state's largest health care system, owns the most urgent care centers.



The majority of urgent care and retail care centers, 58 percent and 72 percent respectively, are in high income areas. They are concentrated in the Boston area, although both Springfield and Worcester have seen noticeable increases between 2010 and 2018.



One challenge for state regulators is that urgent care centers are not all licensed and monitored in the same way. For example, some are licensed as clinics, others as physician practices. They do not pay the same state fees that are assessed on hospitals, surgery centers and health plans.



A version of a health care bill that was being considered by the Legislature this year would have imposed an 8.75 percent tax on urgent care centers and imposed new regulatory and licensing requirements, including limiting the services they can provide.



Urgent care centers pushed back against the bill. Negotiations on the bill fell apart at the end of the legislative session.

Read the full Health Policy Commission report here.
DEERFIELD -- A concert hall at Deerfield Academy was filled to the brim Monday night as four contenders in the Hampshire, Franklin & Worcester Senate District fielded questions.

The declared candidates are educational administrator Chelsea Kline, progressive activist Jo Comerford, Northampton City Council president Ryan O'Donnell and Central Hampshire Veterans Services director Steve Connor. Kline is the only one whose name will appear on the ballot, and the rest are waging write-in campaigns.

All are Democrats, and since no Republican is running, the winner of the Sept. 4 primary will fill the shoes of former senator Stanley Rosenberg, who represented the district until he resigned May 3 following a Senate ethics investigation.

Candidates shared similar views on economic development, education, the arts, energy, agriculture and more, but each revealed differences in style and emphasis.

Comerford described her deep understanding of legislative issues and tax policy as former director of the National Priorities Project, and said she would "pick up the baton" from Rosenberg and "be ready on day one."

Connor spoke of his daily work connecting homeless veterans, the disabled and the poor with services. "I see this every day," he said. "I am a doer, and it gives me a unique perspective."

Kline said she would work hard for disadvantaged communities. "We need people with authentic lived experiences that are impossible to ignore," said Kline, who spoke of climbing from poverty to build a career. "I want to raise some eyebrows and rock the boat."

"I believe in the legislative process," said O'Donnell, who touted his experience as a city councilor. "You have to know how to work when people disagree with you." He said as a legislator, he would "fight in a way that preserves relationships and respect."

Each agreed that taxes should be raised on the wealthy to pay for public education, transportation and affordable housing; that implementing single-payer health care should be a priority; and that climate change is an issue that needs immediate attention.

A question on impediments to universal health care drew strong responses.

"The biggest challenge to implementing single-payer health care is the health insurance industry," said O'Donnell. "There is too much money in politics." However, O'Donnell said he is confident that Massachusetts can "be a leader" and implement such a program.

"Health care is a human right," said Kline. She said that even if single-payer is not implemented, "we can work on prescription drug prices now." She said equitable community hospital reimbursements, "telemedicine," safe staffing limits and workplace violence legislation could be addressed.

"I don't know why we can't just provide people with the things that they need," said Connor. "Food, shelter, health care." He said that recently, an elderly woman came to his office saying she does not know how she will care for her two grown children, who are both disabled.

"Our society didn't used to be like this," said Connor. "How did we let this happen?"

"Medicare for all is one of my main campaign priorities," said Comerford. She said health care is 40 percent of the state budget, and represents "spiraling costs" for cities and towns. "We need a paradigm shift," she said, "from profit-centered to people-centered policies."

Questions were posed by Stanley Moulton, opinion and politics editor at the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and Marie Gauthier, president of the Franklin County League of Women Voters, and the audience.

The district is comprised of Amherst, Bernardston, Colrain, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Leverett, Leyden, Montague, New Salem, Northampton, Northfield, Orange, Pelham, Royalston, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell and Whately.
The constitution makes it mandatory to convene NA session within 21 days of general elections.

Islamabad: Pakistans Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan on Monday took oath as member of National Assembly, a step forward to take over power.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto also made his parliamentary debut by signing the rolls.

The first session of the 15th National Assembly was held as 325 members of the lower house of the parliament took oath after the July 25 general elections.

Outgoing NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over the historic session and administered oath to the MNAs-elect in the 342-member house.

The session began with the MNAs-elect standing up for the national anthem and was followed by the recitation of the Quran. The speaker then read out the procedure for the election of the new speaker and deputy speaker.

He then administered oath to the MNAs-elect following which they signed the roll of members in alphabetical order. PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari was the first one to sign the roll register.

Mr Imran Khan, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) president Shahbaz Sharif, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto, co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Khurshid Shah, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Munazza Hassan were among others who attended the first session of the revamped House.

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan warmly met various political members including Bilawal Bhutto and posed for a photograph with him.

Strict security arrangements were in place for the occasion as at least a thousand security men were deployed in and outside the parliament building.

The constitution makes it mandatory to convene NA session within 21 days of general elections.
BioSig Technologies, out of Los Angeles, California, won FDA clearance for its novel PURE EP, a system for gathering, analyzing, and manipulating electrocardiographic and intracardiac data during electrophysiology procedures. The company believes that its system can provide a more detailed and nuanced view of the heart during ablation procedures when treating atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm disorders.

Ablation catheters can create a great deal of electrical background noise, throwing off the signal as viewed on an electrophysiology system. Sometimes the signal is so out of normal bounds that it cant be displayed properly, forcing companies to implement front end filters to compensate for this signal drift.

The PURE EP system is able to reduce, and at times even eliminate, this noise. Moreover, instead of filtering the signal, BioSigs technology allows the operator to pin the signal to the baseline while preventing the noise from corrupting the real-time data. According to Ken Londoner, Founder and Executive Chairman of BioSig, who we spoke with last year, PURE EP allows surgeons to detect signals as small as one microvolt in amplitude. This is done with a combination of novel hardware and software components.

Flashbacks: BioSigs Pure EP System Detects Deadly Cardiac Arrhythmia Cells (Interview); BioSig Technologies Announces FDA 510(k) Submission for PURE EP (A Follow-up Interview)

Product page: PURE EP System

Via: BioSig
by Sean Hargrave , Staff Writer, August 14, 2018

One can draw a multitude of conclusions about today's sad return of terror to London's streets. That the men and women in uniform running to an unknown danger are worthy of the highest praise is unquestionable. Conversely, praise will soon be followed by anger if the perpetrator turns out to be usual low-life petty criminal who was on the police's radar but wasn't taken seriously enough to keep a closer eye on.

While all will be mightily relieved that nobody suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack, there is one inescapable conclusion for the media. We may be in an era where print is suffering a long-drawn-out demise -- as witnessed by redundancies, merged editorial teams and closures -- but we are also firmly at the start of the age of citizen journalism.

It has been a rallying cry for local newspapers for a long time. Get local people to send in free copy and we'll be saved the axe, the thinking goes. However, all too often only those with a proverbial axe to grind get involved and well-intentioned projects crumble.

However, in digital, on many occasions, there is no better resource for news reporting than accidental citizen journalists who happened to have seen a dramatic event take place before logging on to Twitter to tell the world about it. I'd challenge everyone reading this to think of a time when they last read the news online without several stories referencing tweets, usually lifting them from the page and running them in the middle of flowing copy. It's great for vox pop, just as it is for finding out what the President of the US is thinking at any given time.

What today showed more than anything was that as the police sectioned off a large area around Parliament Square to keep reporters a safe distance from the scene, those same reporters and the public alike were checking out eyewitness reports from social media -- particularly Twitter.

In the past, these people would have taken hours, if not days, to track down by knocking on doors and asking around. Trust me, when I started out on local papers as a student, I did my fair share of "doorstepping." Today, accounts are they are up and being read out by reporters and news desks within minutes. Those eyewitness accounts we are told of before the tv station has a reporter on the scene? You can bet your life they're based on tweets.

There is sometimes exaggeration and warped views at play but there is also the news we'll find out about in due course. I have seen references to where the perpetrator comes from in the UK already reported on Twitter. These early tips are no doubt what the country's media will currently be attempted to "firm up" before reporting.

In the absence of reporters having access to the police, beyond initial brief announcements, nor the area, Twitter comes into its own.

My prediction is that we will find the criminal concerned has some grudge against the UK authorities and will likely have a history of mental illness or petty crime, and possibly both. To ram a car through a crowd of cyclists before screeching into a barrier at probably the most protected site in the UK, while neither house is sitting hardly appears to be the result of a well-planned attack.

What we can take from the attack is that citizen journalism is alive and well -- and it didn't need a newspaper to bring people into its proverbial campaign tent to get launched. It just kind of accidentally happened through social media and, at times like this, it is initially much of the basis of what we have to go on when a major event unfolds and the police tape is lowered.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, August 14, 2018

Agency veteran Rob FitzGerald has been named president and chief operating officer at Cincinnati-based media shop Empower.

UK native FitzGerald has worked in all aspects of the agency business all over the world, including strategy, social media, creative, media and operations. He has held senior roles at global agencies, serving as president of OMD in China and managing director of Initiative in Tokyo.

For the last 12 years he held senior roles at several New York operations including COO and media director at GlobalHue Ventures, managing director at Big Fuel, and most recently president of We Are Social.

FitzGerald has worked with clients such as Adidas, Puma, Revlon, Kao, T-Mobile, Verizon, Pepsi, McDonalds, P&G, and Unilever, among others.

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Commenting on the hire, Empower CEO Jim Price stated that FitzGerald is a world-renowned strategic visionary who brings an authentic and cultural perspective to our business that will complement and challenge our talent and clients in all the right ways. We conducted a rigorous search for a president and COO who would embody our position as The Creative Media Agency that Builds Trust at Scale and deliver on it.

FitzGerald cited the agencys long history of trust and transparency, steady growth, and an appetite for evolving," adding: Additionally, Empowers independence offers a competitive edge of agility and flexibility that clients crave and holding companies struggle to provide. Simply put: Empower brings the rare opportunity to be professionally fulfilled and live a superior quality of life while being on the cutting edge of media-centric creativity.
The disaster occurred on highway that connects Italy to France and other vacation resorts on eve of a major Italian holiday on Wednesday.

Milan: Italys interior minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that around 30 people had been killed after a motorway bridge collapsed in the northwestern port city of Genoa.

Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious condition, Salvini told reporters in the Sicilian city of Catania.

The 45-year-old, who is also deputy prime minister and the leader of the nationalist League that governs with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, said that he was going to find out who was responsible for the tragedy.

I have gone over this bridge hundreds of times, and I will do everything I can to have the names of those responsible, past and present. It is unacceptable to die like that in Italy, he said.

Eurosceptic Salvini also said that Italy needs to make massive investments in its infrastructure, much of which is dilapidated, alluding to supposed potential restrictions from the European Union should his government unleash funds.

There is a large part of Italy that needs to be made secure, and if there are external commitments that prevent us from spending the money we need to on the safety of motorways ... we will have to ask ourselves whether we continue to respect these commitments or put the safety of Italians first and foremost, he said.

Obviously I will choose the second option.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 14, 2018

House Democrats are slamming Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai for waiting until last week to disclose that the agency's commenting platform crashed during the net neutrality proceeding due to an overload of comments -- and not, as the FCC previously reported, a cyberattack.

"It is troubling that you allowed the public myth created by the FCC to persist and your misrepresentations to remain uncorrected for over a year," Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (New Jersey), Mike Doyle (Pennsylvania), Jerry McNerney (California) and Debbie Dingell (Michigan) write in a letter sent to Pai Tuesday.

The letter comes one week after the FCC's Office of Inspector General issued a report about the reasons the agency's comment system crashed on May 7, soon after HBO aired "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver."

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Oliver endorsed net neutrality on that program, and urged viewers to submit comments to the agency. Hours later, the FCC's comment system went down.

The agency publicly blamed the problem on a distributed denial-of-service attack, and Pai said in a June 15, 2017 letter to Congress that the agency was the victim of a "cyber-based attack."

But the Inspector General said last week that the crash was due to "apparent shortcomings" in the comment system, as opposed to a denial-of-service attack.

The lawmakers are now criticizing Pai for failing to correct the record sooner.

"Given the significant media, public, and Congressional attention this alleged cyberattack received for over a year, it is hard to believe that the release of the [Inspector General's] report was the first time that you and your staff realized that no cyberattack occurred," they write. "Such ignorance would signify a dereliction of your duty."

They add: "To the extent that you were aware of the misrepresentations prior to the release of the report and failed to correct them, such actions constitute a wanton disregard for Congress and the American public."

The lawmakers are now posing a series of questions to Pai, including when he learned that the comment system didn't crash due to a denial-of-service attack, and why he didn't inform Congress before last week.

Pai is expected to face similar questions on Thursday, when he is slated to testify at a Senate Commerce Committee oversight hearing.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 14, 2018

Consumer groups and small cable operators are among the outside organizations supporting the Department of Justice in its appeal of a decision to allow AT&T's purchase of Time Warner.

That decision was a "setback for consumers of video programming," Public Knowledge, Consumers Union and the American Antitrust Institute write in a friend-of-the-court brief submitted this week to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Public Knowledge and the other groups are weighing in on a battle dating to late last year, when the Justice Department sued to block AT&T's purchase of Time Warner on the grounds that the deal would decrease competition and result in higher prices for consumers. The Justice Department contended that the merger -- which brings cable companies including CNN and HBO into AT&T's fold -- would enable the telecom to harm competitors by withholding (or demanding excessive fees for) popular channels.

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U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C. rejected that argument in June. He said in a written ruling that AT&T would have reason to distribute Time Warner content "as broadly as possible."

But Public Knowledge and the other organizations argue that Leon discounted the possibility that AT&T would threaten to withhold programs as a bargaining tactic.

"The court believed that because AT&T would lose money in the event of a blackout, and that therefore a blackout was unlikely to occur, AT&T could not obtain increased bargaining leverage and drive up the rates of rival distributors by threatening to withhold content," the groups write. "But bargaining theory and common sense dictate otherwise. It is a common bargaining tactic to threaten to engage in conduct that would be unprofitable when considered in isolation, as trade wars, nuclear deterrence, and labor strikes illustrate."

The American Cable Association, which represents small cable operators, also submitted a friend-of-the-court brief siding with the government. That group wrote that Leon engaged in "faulty and inconsistent economic reasoning" when he rejected the government's arguments.

The companies closed the deal in late June, but AT&T is managing the Turner network separately from DirecTV and U-Verse. The telecom plans to maintain that structure until the earlier of February 28, 2019 or the conclusion of the government's appeal.
In glaucoma, pressure builds up inside the eye and damages the optic nerve, which leads to vision loss. However, scientists note that even in some people treated for the pressure buildup, who regain regular intraocular pressure, vision loss still occurs. New research finds out why that is.

Share on Pinterest Scientists uncover a hidden culprit in glaucoma: the immune response.

Dr. Dong Feng Chen and his colleagues  at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge  were interested in learning why people with glaucoma who undergo treatments to lower their eye pressure are not always protected from progressive loss of eyesight.

Also, some people diagnosed with glaucoma do not, in fact, have abnormal pressure inside the eye.

So, the researchers suspected that the reason lay beyond the buildup of pressure on the optic nerve, and they turned their attention to the activity of immune cells in the eye.

Their findings  which appear in the journal Nature Communications  indicate that an immune response to bacterial exposure may actually drive loss of vision, and this discovery, the team hopes, could lead to better, more targeted treatments of this eye condition.

Our work shows that there is hope for finding a cure for glaucoma, or even preventing its development entirely, if we can find a way to target this pathway, explains Dr. Chen.

Current glaucoma therapies, the researcher goes on, are designed solely to lower eye pressure; however, weve known that, even when patients with glaucoma are treated and their eye pressure returns to normal, they can still go on to have vision loss.
A casual encounter with India transformed into a longlasting love affair for Gabriella Demetriades, who never imagined she would come to call the subcontinent her second home in the near future, since her first visit to the country in 2009.

A South African model, she now has another title added to her crown, that of a designer and a successful entrepreneur whose designs have been sported by some of the leading names in the fashion and film industry.

A beauty to behold, with sculpted features and green eyes gorgeous enough to leave you spellbound, she wears many hats, steals as many hearts and rocks at everything she decides to put her mind to.

When It All Began

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Having been to India once before, Demetriades found herself back in the hustling 'n' bustling country in 2011 for a modelling contract that spanned over three months. However, we must tell you and perhaps also refresh your memory as to where else you might have spotted this beauty before.

She first came into the limelight when she auditioned for Miss IPL Bollywood in 2009. She also happens to be one of the contenders for FHM magazine's '100 Sexiest Women In The World'. Having been the face of Deccan Chargers as well as also having been a Miss IPL Bollywood representative, she caught the eyes of spectators who then chose her to represent Kolkata Knight Riders. Thus began her ride to glory.

Not All That's Rosy, Is Pretty

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Like every big name in the making, Demetriades had her share of hiccups and the most memorable one has to be when she made national news back in 2010.

She found herself amidst a tiff between businessman Lalit Modi and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor over certain disagreements involving the model's visa, which made Gabriella find her way to the headlines.

The episode left her parents worried but the former model claims that she didn't feel scandalised even for a moment. Whatever the actual cause, we presume it did some good to her career in terms of publicity and recognition.

The High Life

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Cut to 2016 when the model donned the hat of a designer and launched her own clothing label 'DEME'. With some of the prominent industry bigwigs attending her store launch in Bandra, Mumbai her entrepreneurial journey got a kickass start. Ever since a number of celebrities and leading models have stepped out in her designs that are a mix of edgy and soft, flowy silhouettes which complement any and every woman of style out there.

Stealing Hearts And Bringing Up The Temperature

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Now, while she has turned into a businesswoman for the past two years, she hasn't ignored her talents as a gorgeous model and is often seen updating her Instagram account with photographs from various shoots and outings.

Her feed screams sexy and oomph and one can always spot a great number of men (and women) fawning over her beauty and charm.

With every post, she sends her followers into a tizzy and the paparazzi into a shutter frenzy, because no matter the time or occasion, every appearance she makes turns up the heat by a few degrees. People have and continue to take notice of this beauty, who now calls this country her home and plans to continue to explore, expand and do what she is best at.

Take a look at a few of her posts on Instagram to be sure of our claims and add to your list of divas to 'Follow' on insta.

 A post shared by Gabriella Demetriades (@gabriellademetriades) on Feb 6, 2018 at 9:03pm PST

Swamp thing @martinoprihoda #demelove A post shared by Gabriella Demetriades (@gabriellademetriades) on Oct 24, 2017 at 8:47pm PDT

A post shared by Gabriella Demetriades (@gabriellademetriades) on Dec 22, 2017 at 12:00am PST

all ya need is ... @taras84 A post shared by Gabriella Demetriades (@gabriellademetriades) on Jul 2, 2018 at 9:22pm PDT

got something on my face @taras84 A post shared by Gabriella Demetriades (@gabriellademetriades) on May 17, 2018 at 6:46am PDT

slip @rahuljhangiani A post shared by Gabriella Demetriades (@gabriellademetriades) on Jun 13, 2018 at 8:54pm PDT

jaw game strong A post shared by Gabriella Demetriades (@gabriellademetriades) on Jul 24, 2018 at 11:42pm PDT
Congrats people, you can go back to loving 69! No, I'm not being NSFW, but just over a month ago, the Rupee hit an all-time low at 69 against the US Dollar. A lot of people started hating 69 for the first time, just because of this. But now everybody will be relieved to know that it's not the case anymore.

But, we still have to worry about how there's been another 'all-time low' in less than two months. Our country is doing so well, wow, I'm so impressed.

10 years ago, the value of one dollar was about 42 but in just a decade, it's close to being the double of that. The fall in rupee is in line with global decimated emerging markets currency, accentuated by the Turkish crisis, Sanjiv Bhasin, executive VP-Markets & Corporate Affairs, India Infoline told TOI.

But, who needs all these 'facts' when you have a government and a Prime Minister to hate? PM Modi is now being targeted on Twitter with people asking if these indeed are the 'achhe din' he promised.

Even the Congress decided to take a shot at the Centre and posted this.

Modiji finally managed to do something that we couldn't do in 70 years. pic.twitter.com/jCFH79YrCQ  Congress (@INCIndia) August 14, 2018

That hashtag tho.

This is it, this is the best tweet to come out of this disaster.

1 Dollar = 70 Rs/-

1 Euro = 80 Rs/-

Looks like DOLLAR and EURO are taking revenge on India for naming underwear brands on their names   Pankaj Baid (@pankajbaid17) August 13, 2018

Uhh.

Once again modiji created history

Where Rs is 1 st time at its low value (70 rs per $) against dollor#CongressIsWinninghttps://t.co/IymooTAloa  swapnil mahantare (@s_mahantare) August 14, 2018

So intense.

Tomorrow is our Independence day (15 Aug) and dollar rate is Rs.70/$1



I don't feel we're independent, we're moving towards slavery again. I don't know when these politicians actually start working and leaving their policies behind.



Should I say happy Independence day?  Jagdish Kashyap (@Jagdish1O1) August 14, 2018

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Probably the Indian rupee is chasing the INDEPENDENCE YEAR mark!?!#RBI #rupeefallsagain  Abhishek Tiwari (@abhi7863) August 14, 2018

Yes, get to it.

An achievement, indeed.

Rupee at 70. Another 'first time in 70 years' achievement!  Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) August 14, 2018

A lesson for everyone?

In 2014,Modi made falling value of rupee to accuse Dr Manmohan Singh as a weak PM



In 2018, as rupee value to Dollar breaches 70 for first time Modi's credibility is at stake.



Allegations at times boomerang.



Modiji think before you speak.

 pic.twitter.com/lml1eNM3a7  K . Chandrakumar  (@kurup62) August 14, 2018

Great way to look at it.




Steel imported from Turkey has been walloped with a 50% duty as of 12:01am Eastern time on Monday August 13, according to a presidential proclamation dated Friday August 10.Turkey had previously been subject to Section 232 tariffs of 25%.Turkey's steel market faces "unprecedented volatility" because of the collapsing lira and because its imports are effectively blocked from two of the world's biggest markets: the US as a result of Section 232 and Europe as a result of European Union safeguard measures, Jefferies analyst Seth Rosenfeld wrote in a research note dated Friday August 10.Some traders had hoped President Donald Trump might delay the tariffs until at least September 1 to give vessels at port or on the water time to unload their cargoes.Without any grace period, shipments might be diverted to Canada or Mexico or brought into US foreign-trade zones for re-export to other countries, one East Coast trader said.Such diversions won't be necessary for importers who have a clause in their sales contracts stipulating that buyers pay all or part of the increased duties.Otherwise, diversion is a better option than paying unexpected US duties that could tally into the tens of millions of dollars, he said.Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross said the increased duties were necessary to protect US national security.Since the imposition of the Section 232 tariff in March, exports to the United States have declined and domestic capacity utilization has increased, but not to levels sufficient to remove the threat to national security, Ross said in statement dated August 10.Doubling the tariff on imports of steel from Turkey will further reduce these imports that the department found threaten to impair national security as defined in Section 232, he said.US crude steel production in the US totaled an estimated 1,855,000 net tons for the week ended August 11, up 1.5% from 1,828,000 tons the previous week.US mills operated at an average capacity utilization rate of 79.1% during that period, according to figures from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).The Trump administration has said that one of the goals of the Section 232 order is to increase capacity utilization rates to 80%. But the AISI's overall figure does not reflect big differences among mills. Steel Dynamics Inc (SDI), for example, has boasted record profits and mill capacity utilization rates of 99%.The impact on the US steel and ferrous scrap market could be significant because Turkey is both the top foreign reinforcing bar supplier to the US and the top consumer of US ferrous scrap exports.The US imported 34.5 million tonnes of steel in 2017, and nearly 2 million tonnes (5.6%) - or 166,666 tonnes per month - came from Turkey, according to Commerce Department figures. That made Turkey the US sixth-largest source of offshore steel last year.That trend is more pronounced on the rebar side. The US imported 1,347,303 tonnes of rebar in 2017, and 791,586 tonnes - or 58.8% of that total - came from Turkey, per Commerce data.That figure represents 8% of US rebar demand. And new Section 232 tariffs of 50% on Turkish rebar - on top of existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties - will effectively cut off Turkish rebar supply to the US, Rosenfeld wrote.The immediate winners will be US rebar producers such as Commercial Metals Co (CMC), Nucor and SDI. But there is a catch: Trumps bull-in-china-shop approach to trade policy is [rightly] not viewed as sustainable by most investors, and we doubt the longevity of these tariffs, Rosenfeld wrote.On the scrap front, the US exports 20-25% of the scrap it generates. Turkey is the top destination for that material and in some years accounts for 30% of overall US scrap exports. But the plunging Turkish Lira - down about 70% this year - is making US-dollar denominated commodities, such as ferrous scrap, more expensive for Turkish mills, Rosenfeld wrote.That trend has hurt demand and prices for exported US scrap. Should US scrap prices weaken on the back of lower export demand, this may weigh on local [US] steel prices but not necessarily impair metal spreads for mini-mills, he wrote.Mini-mills use ferrous scrap as their primary feedstock. And electric-arc furnace producers such as Nucor, SDI, CMC and TimkenSteel might see input costs decrease in tandem with selling prices for finished steel products, Rosenfeld wrote.Integrated mills make steel from iron ore. And integrated mills such as U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal, by contrast, could see steel prices fall without a matching decline in raw material costs, he suggested.The spread between finished steel selling prices and scrap was already wide when the increased duties on Turkey were announced.From a global perspective, Turkey is unlikely to be the last target of increased duties. Other countries such as Vietnam and Egypt are probably on the radar, the East Coast trader said.The bottom line: It is more risky than ever to import steel products into this country, he said.Trump announced blanket Section 232 tariffs of 25% on March 1. Ross in February had recommended tariffs of at least 53% on 12 countries: Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.Some traders have said they fear Trump will keep the 25% blanket tariffs on most nations and increase duties to 50% or more on the "dirty dozen" called out by Ross.
Police suspects attacks organised on social media, operation resembled military operation.

Some of the cars that were burned down.

Stockholm: Up to 80 cars were set on fire overnight across western Sweden by masked vandals, police said on Tuesday, in what they suspect was a coordinated attack weeks before a general election.

Most of the cars were burned at around 20 locations in Swedens second largest city of Gothenburg late pm Monday.

Authorities said two suspects aged between 16 and 21 have been arrested so far in Gothenburg and would be questioned on Tuesday. Police said they believe the attacks were organised on social media. No one was injured in the car blazes.

Weve never seen this many cars set on fire before, Hans Lippens, police spokesman in western Sweden, told AFP.

The incident triggered outrage among Swedish politicians who are busy campaigning for the September 9 general election. Im furious. My question to (the perpetrators) is: what the hell are you doing? Social Democratic Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told public broadcaster Swedish Radio on Tuesday.

Youre ruining things for yourselves, your parents and your neighbourhoods, Lofven said, adding it looked very coordinated, almost like a military operation.

Cars set ablaze is common in Sweden. In Stockholms suburbs, they happen almost on a daily basis, usually attributed to disadvantaged youths.

Last year, 1,457 cars were deliberately set on fire across Sweden, compared to 1,641 in 2016, according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agencys figures. Sweden has tolerated this for too long. This must end now, Ulf Kristersson, leader of the conservative opposition party, the Moderates, wrote on his Facebook account. Last year in February, two days after US President Donald Trumps baffling comments linking crime to immigration in Sweden, riots broke out in northern Stockholm suburb of Rinkeby. Dozens of youths clashed with cops after they arrested a suspected drug dealer in Rinkeby. The rioters threw stones at police, burned cars and looted shops.
MIDDLETOWN  A report into the actions of Mayor Dan Drew was presented to the Common Council on Monday, undertaken following a gender discrimination complaint made against Drew by a Board of Education employee.

The report contained no bombshells, however. In fact, the only real fireworks of the evening came in Drews office after the meeting had adjourned.

Standing behind his desk, Drew criticized Margaret P. Mason, a New Haven lawyer who was the author of the report, and Councilors Mary A. Bartolotta and Sebastian Giuliano.

They should be ashamed of themselves, Drew said of the councilors, who were not present to hear his denunciation.

This entire process was poisoned form the very beginning by their animus toward him, he said.

The two councilors embarked on a politically motivated attack on him and in doing so squandered thousands of dollars only to see me and my staff were cleared tonight multiple times by Masons report, the mayor said.

At issue was a complaint from Michelle DiMauro, the human resources director of the Board of Education, who alleged she had been denied a pay raise and that Drew was responsible.

These allegations were discussed with the mayor who denied them. ... We cannot conclude one way or the other that the mayor actually influenced the process, Mason wrote in a summary of her report.

She said DiMauro also has filed a complaint with the states Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, and , We therefore defer to that process to resolve those complaints.

But Mason also said she and her associate Daniil P. Elliott were approached by 23 individuals, most of them town employees, who affirmatively reached out to us and requested to be interviewed.

Most of them requested anonymity and a few requested to be interviewed in our office rather than in City Hall so as not to have their images captured on surveillance cameras, Mason said.

Many of the interviewees wished to speak with us about what they perceived to be unfairness in the hiring process for various city jobs, Mason said.

A number of interviewees expressed ... that they felt as though the outcome of various job postings had been re-determined with  in some instances  political supporters of the [Drew] administration having been pre-selected for positions.

Drew denied politics played a role in his hiring process, saying, I only hire the best people.

Mason was taken to task by Councilor Gerald Daley because the interviewees were not sworn in or required to sign their statements.

Mason included a list of 11 proposals to alter or improve a number of hiring practices.

Drew dismissed many of them as either impractical or illegal.

He also said the basis for many of the complaints was a desire on the part of Bartolotta and Giuliano to gain control of hiring to further patronage jobs for friends, supporters and/or relatives.
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (AP)  A brewing company in New York has joined with an ice cream maker so consumers can have their cake in a beer.

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company's "Fudgie the Beer" is a take on Carvel's "Fudgie the Whale" ice cream cake that's formed in the shape of a whale.

The stout beer is brewed with the ice cream cake maker's signature chocolate and fudge and is 6 percent alcohol by volume. The brewery says the beer pairs well with smoked foods and chocolate desserts.

The first batch of "Fudgie the Beer" sold out and the second batch will be available Friday. The beer will be available only at Captain Lawrence's beer hall in Elmsford, New York.





Fudgie the Whale turned 40 in 2o17. It all started in 1977 when Tom Carvel decided he wanted to make a fish-shaped Father's Day Cake.

More for you One of the creators of Carvel's Fudgie the Whale reminisces on the cake's 40th birthday

Last year, Hearst spoke to Kathy Dumas, a Carvel employee who helped design teh iconic ice cream cake.

Dumas and the whole Carvel team began the long and arduous task of designing a fish-shaped ice cream cake. Carvel's idea got a lot of push-back from within the company.

"People said 'this is fish and ice cream; it's never going to work,'" Dumas said. But Carvel insisted.

I can't tell you how many fish we made that never made it out of the pond," she said.

Carvel was determined to make it perfect, and he had a vision in his head right down to the "Mona Lisa smile," Dumas said.

Finally, Carvel liked a fish Dumas was making one day because it was large and rectangularlike a whale. The only issue was that the tail kept falling off; their solution was to cover it in fudge, which would work like cement to keep it together.

And like many great inventions, out of a quick fix to a problem, Fudgie the Whale was born on June 1, 1977.




If true, this has disturbing national security implications, MP wrote on twitter. Many want the government to clarify the matter, worried that financial sovereignty is shared with China, with which India almost clashed over the Doklam plateau.

Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  There is concern and anger in the posts on social media after news agencies reported yesterday that India is one of many countries whose banknotes are printed in China.

The Indian government has denied the claim saying it is "baseless". "Indian currency notes are being and will be printed only in Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) currency presses," an official with the Department of Economic Affairs told agencies.

The news report gained traction on social media, causing the hashtag #ChinaPrintingRupee to briefly trend worldwide.

Many users want an explanation, worried that the country's financial sovereignty was shared with China, a country with which India almost clashed over the Doklam plateau, in Bhutan.

MP Shashi Tharoor was among those who demanded a clarification from the Indian government. "If true, this has disturbing national security implications, he wrote on twitter.

A spokesman for the Delhi state government warned that the move would endanger India's "financial sovereignty".
Angelo Orlando and Kelly Becker's recent walk down the aisle at Price Chopper ended in an "I do." Or at least a, "Yes, I will."

The Capital Region couple got engaged in the frozen food aisle at Price Chopper up in Malta  complete with a custom pint of Ben & Jerry's "Marry Me Mint" ice cream.

Once Orlando decided he was going to propose, he researched unique proposal ideas.

"I knew Kelly's taste was very simple. She wouldn't want something over the top," Orlando said. "To her, having her siblings there so we could all celebrate together was one of the most important pieces." (You'll see/hear them in the background on the video above.)

The proposal took months to prepare and involved Orlando working with Ben & Jerry's to design the custom pint (the flavor name had to be 12 letters or fewer) and with Kelly's siblings to assure she'd go to the store that evening.

While everything leading up to that Friday night proposal went smoothly, recalls Orlando, Becker almost foiled the plan.

"Kelly was totally in the dark, but she didn't feel like going to the market. She asked us all to go while she would stay home," Orlando said. "[Becker's sister] managed to persuade her into coming. ... Once we got there it was easy."

Becker's family kept the fiancee-to-be busy in the store while Becker's sister, Jen, and Orlando went to the ice cream aisle to "plant" the pint.

"I was hoping to actually get her to look in the cooler and see the pint on her own, but she didn't want ice cream," Orlando said. He then stayed by the freezer, keeping an eye on his custom creation and texted Becker's friend who led her to the frozen food section.

The store staff did not know about the proposal in advance and didn't find out about the engagement until Orlando contacted them after it happened, said Maureen Murphy, manager of consumer trends, nutrition and lifestyles with Price Chopper/Market 32.

"This is the first time that I've heard of someone getting engaged in the stores," Murphy said, adding the idea was cute and fun.

It seems, Price Chopper may play a role  however small  in their wedding which is tentatively planned for October 13, 2019.

"We'll do some gesture to help them celebrate," Murphy said.

Read more and comment on Kristi's blog.
Ghazni is now a "ghost town". Water, electricity and communications cut off. The government assures: "The city will not fall". Military base in the north of the country also taken.

Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Taliban are pushing ahead with a wave of attacks, which in the last week has cost hundreds of lives. While the clashes continue in Ghazni, now a "ghost town", the Islamist rebels have conquered a military base in the north of the country.

Hundreds of people have fled Ghazni, the scene of violent clashes between the armed forces and the Taliban. At least 120 people, including 20 civilians, have lost their lives. There have been about 200 deaths among Islamist militants.

The Taliban have managed to take different parts of the city, although the Afghan government assures that Ghazni "will not fall". The fleeing residents say that Ghazni has become a "ghost town": in the areas under their control, the rebels cut water, electricity and communications. Hospitals are difficult to reach for safety reasons and without medicines, amd are struggling to remain operative.

The city has 270 thousand inhabitants, and has a fundamental strategic value because it is located along the highway one, which connects Kabul to the southern provinces, traditionally rebel territory.

Today, the Taliban have taken control of a military base in the north of the country, in Chenayeeha, in the Ghormach district (Faryab province). About 43 members of the security forces were killed in the clashes. Official sources say that 40 soldiers have surrendered to the Taliban: for 48 hours they asked for reinforcements and ammunition to counter the siege of the Islamist group, without receiving an answer.
Still undetermined is whether the impact caused the October leak, or if the line was hit by something else at a later date.
President Donald Trump went to Fort Drum in upstate New York on Monday to sign the nearly $717 billion National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a 2.6 percent military pay raise and could set the stage for creation of a Space Force.

Trump never mentioned Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, a harsh critic who is battling brain cancer, in his remarks to troops at the base, home to the Army's much-deployed 10th Mountain Division, although the bill is named the "John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019."

In a statement marking the signing, McCain never mentioned Trump, with whom he has clashed on a range of issues from health care to the Helsinki summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"This year's NDAA represents an important opportunity to implement an effective approach to confront a growing array of threats," McCain said, adding that the administration's National Defense Strategy "outlined a framework for identifying and prioritizing these threats," with an emphasis on building readiness to deter China and Russia.

Related content:

In a hangar at Fort Drum, with an Apache attack helicopter as a backdrop, Trump said, "The NDAA is the most significant investment in our military and in our warfighters in modern history, and I'm very proud to be a big, big part of it."

Putting the NDAA in place will give impetus to his plan to create a Space Force as a sixth branch of the military, he said.

"Space has become a warfighting domain. Adversaries are weaponizing space," Trump said. "They want to jam transmissions," but "we'll be catching them very shortly.

"We must have American dominance in space," he said while gesturing to Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, who attended the signing. "Gotta get it, Joe. Right Joe?"

Trump devoted much of his speech to touting job creation and the economy, but said the NDAA will boost the size of the military by 15,000, while adding 13 new ships, 77 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and full funding for the new strategic B-21 Raider bomber.

He said the Army will get 135 "brand-new" Abrams M1A1 tanks, 60 Bradley fighting vehicles and new Black Hawk and Apache helicopters for the Army National Guard.

"Our bases and vital equipment were allowed to fall into a state of disrepair" under the previous administration," Trump said, but "this authorization gives America's warfighters the firepower they need to win any contest."

The 2.6 percent pay increase would be the biggest for the military in nine years. Estimates are that the pay raise will translate into about $670 more annually for junior enlisted troops and about $1,300 more for senior enlisted and junior officers.

The NDAA put forward by a House and Senate Conference Committee and signed by Trump essentially avoided the Space Force issue, but House and Senate appropriators have yet to rule on how the money will be allocated.

Last week at the Pentagon, Vice President Mike Pence outlined Trump's proposal for a Space Force as a new sixth branch of the military and called for Congress to allocate $8 billion to advance space security systems to begin implementing Trump's plan.

When the House and Senate agreed on the NDAA, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis noted that the bill was being sent to the president earlier than in recent years.

He said the timing could possibly avoid the continuing resolutions and threats of government shutdowns that have plagued the military budget process in the past.

"I'm grateful for the strong commitment of members on both sides of the aisle to pass this year's NDAA in record time," Mattis said. "Together, they have demonstrated the deep and abiding bipartisan support our military enjoys."

Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the NDAA "takes important steps to confront the aggressive behavior of Russia, China and others" in line with the National Defense Strategy outlined by Mattis.

"Most of all, it helps ensure that our troops get what they need to carry out the missions they are assigned" for the current counter-insurgency missions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere, he said in a statement.

Thornberry also noted that the NDAA is a policy bill authorizing funds to be spent, but figuring out the allocations and how to pay for it is still up to Senate and House appropriators.

"It is now essential that we follow this bill with matching appropriations before the beginning of the fiscal year" on Oct. 1, he said.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, the senior Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee after McCain, echoed Thornberry on the need for the appropriators to back up the NDAA policy with funding.

"This is the earliest that the NDAA will have been signed into law in more than 40 years, but that historical significance will be lost if we fail to pass appropriations to match the authorization enacted today," he said in a statement.

At Fort Drum, Trump invited members of the 10th Mountain's 2nd Brigade Combat Team to gather round him as he signed the NDAA.

"There's no better place than right here at Fort Drum to celebrate its passage. No division in the Army has been deployed more times to Iraq and Afghanistan than you," he said of the 10th Mountain. "Through it all, you've proven to the world, to our country, to your families, that Fort Drum soldiers aren't just tough, you are mountain tough."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com.
U.S. Air Force fighters and Army helicopter gunships have attacked and killed more than 220 Taliban forces in Ghazni over the past several days after militants launched a massive attack on the Afghan city less than 100 miles from Kabul.

"Ghazni City remains under Afghan government control," Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for Operation Resolute Support and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, told Military.com on Tuesday.

Afghan forces are conducting clearing operations in the city, but hundreds of civilians have fled, trying to escape the fierce fighting, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

"The Afghan National Army's 203rd Corps, the Afghan National Police's 303rd Zone and Afghan Special Security Forces are rooting out the remnants of the Taliban within the city," O'Donnell said. "What we observed, as these Afghan-led operations drove a large portion of Taliban from the city over the last day or so, was the retreating Taliban attacking the more vulnerable surrounding districts, which Afghan forces are reinforcing."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied that insurgents had been driven from Ghazni and said the Taliban destroyed a telecommunications tower on the city's outskirts during the initial assault, cutting off landline and cellphone links to the city, the AP reported.

O'Donnell said the Taliban who remain in Ghazni "do not pose a threat to the city's collapse ... however, the Taliban who have hidden themselves amongst the Afghan populace do pose a threat to the civilian population, who were terrorized and harassed."

U.S. Special Forces and 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade advisers are providing advice to Afghan forces on how to effectively conduct clearance operations and combined-arms integration, he added.

"U.S. airpower has killed more than 220 Taliban since Aug. 10," O'Donnell said. "In addition to the initial strike on Friday, U.S. forces conducted five strikes Saturday, 16 strikes Sunday, 10 Monday and none thus far today."

AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Combat Aviation Brigade provided close-air support for Afghan forces on Friday, Sunday and Monday, he said, adding that Brig. Gen. Richard Johnson, deputy commander of the 101st and commander of Task Force South East, advised Afghan leaders in an operational command-and-control center.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
Five years after the Marine Corps stood up a new land-based unit to respond to threats at U.S. embassies and other emergencies across Africa, the Pentagon's top watchdog wants to make sure the force has what it takes to carry out its mission.

The Defense Department Inspector General's office announced last week that it will immediately begin evaluating whether Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa can meet its operational requirements. The study comes months after the unit's former commander recommended the land-based force be moved back to Navy ships.

The task force, which was created after the deadly 2012 attack on a diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, was meant to fill a gap since budget cuts left the Navy and Marine Corps without enough amphibious assault ships to regularly patrol the Mediterranean Sea. But the special-purpose unit was "not designed to be something in perpetuity," said Col. Sean Salene, who led the response force for seven months last year.

"Re-establishing that presence in the Mediterranean as a more capable, larger-capacity force, we think would work better to meet all the demands that are out there," Salene said in November. He has since been nominated for promotion to one-star.

The Marine Corps declined to comment on the inspector general's study since it's ongoing. But the service fully cooperates with all DoD inspections and evaluations, said Capt. Karoline Foote, a Marine spokeswoman at the Pentagon.

"Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa is uniquely tailored to meet the demands of the mission to which it is assigned," Foote added. "... The flexible, expeditionary nature of this SPMAGTF makes it uniquely qualified to respond to a litany of mission sets, crises and limited contingencies in the absence of an amphibious ready group with an embarked Marine expeditionary unit."

The unit, which includes about 1,000 Marines and sailors based in Spain and Italy, first deployed in 2013 -- about eight months after the attack in Benghazi left four Americans dead, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. In that incident, nearly 24 hours passed before any U.S. troops arrived in Libya to reinforce security, which led to harsh criticism of the response by the State Department and Pentagon.

Since then, the Marines with the crisis-response unit have evacuated State Department personnel from several diplomatic posts under duress, including from South Sudan and Libya in 2014.

Since most of the unit is based in Europe, though, reaching some areas on the vast African continent can be difficult. The Marines conducting the 2014 evacuation mission in South Sudan flew MV-22B Ospreys more than 4,000 miles from Spain to Juba, requiring mid-flight refueling from a KC-130 Super Hercules.

As the fight against the Islamic State has kicked up, both of those aircraft have been in high demand. The Marine Corps has stood up two more land-based crisis-response units: one that operates year-round in the Middle East and one that heads to Central America during hurricane season. Last year, the crisis response force for Africa saw its number of Ospreys and C-130s slashed in half, leaving it with six MV-22Bs and three transport tankers.

That, said Col. Martin Wetterauer -- another of the unit's former commanders, wouldn't change the Marines' ability to conduct their mission in Africa, but it would prevent them from carrying out multiple operations at once.

Operating from the sea as a MEU also removes the need for permission from partner nations to use airspace or stage gear on the ground for future missions, Salene added.

While conducting its evaluation, the inspector general's team plans to speak to the defense secretary's office for policy, the Joint Staff, Marine Corps headquarters, U.S. Africa Command, Marine Corps Forces Africa, personnel with Special Purpose Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa and others, according to a notice about its study. No timeline was given as to when the evaluation will wrap up.

Foote said the Marine crisis response force is designed to be expedient while still providing significant capabilities for crisis situations and other theater-security cooperation efforts in Africa.

"Its highly mobile organization allows the MAGTF to conduct limited crisis and contingency response operations to safeguard U.S. citizens and interests in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility," she said.

-- Military.com's Hope Hodge Seck contributed to this report.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.
WASHINGTON -- Peter O'Rourke, who became embroiled in multiple controversies during his short time as acting secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, will stay on as a senior adviser to new VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, the VA announced Monday.

Wilkie, sworn into the job two weeks ago, listed several changes he's made to his leadership team. O'Rourke will maintain a top position at the VA, bucking rumors that Wilkie would reassign him to a less visible role.

"Our veterans deserve the best, and that is what we are doing by bringing together a talented leadership team to serve them at VA," Wilkie said in the prepared statement.

During his two months as acting secretary, O'Rourke engaged in a public feud with the VA inspector general and was accused of lying during a congressional hearing. In addition, Democrats in the Senate asked for an investigation of O'Rourke following news reports that he was purging employees who were perceived as disloyal to President Donald Trump.

O'Rourke, a former Trump campaign staffer, has been with the VA for a year and a half. He was assigned as a senior adviser to former VA Secretary David Shulkin after Trump's inauguration. O'Rourke was then chosen to lead the new Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, which has recently come under scrutiny after allegations that it's being used to retaliate against whistleblowers and target low-level employees.

In February, O'Rourke was tapped to take over as VA chief of staff. He started his two-month stint as acting VA secretary in May.

A Washington Post report in July casted doubt on O'Rourke's future at the agency. It suggested O'Rourke and his leadership team would be sidelined.

ProPublica, a nonprofit news agency, reported last week that a trio of wealthy members of Trump's private club in Palm Beach, Fla., are effectively running the VA in secret. According to the report, O'Rourke gained their approval.

Other leadership positions that Wilkie announced Monday were the VA chief of staff, deputy chief of staff and acting assistant secretary for human resources and administration.

Wilkie previously worked at the Pentagon as the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. He's bringing over a staff member from that position, retired Air Force Col. Pamela Powers, to serve as VA chief of staff.

Chris Syrek, the acting deputy chief of staff, will become the VA's permanent deputy chief of staff. He worked previously as the director of state and local government relations for the VA.

Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd was named as the acting assistant secretary for human resources and administration. She formerly held the position of VA deputy chief of staff, and for about two months, she's been working as acting VA chief of staff.

According to the VA's statement, the leadership changes will take effect shortly.

"These leadership changes will build upon a strong current team that will continue to carry out the priorities of President Trump and newly appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie," the statement reads.
If Dan Sullivan could use small drones to keep an eye in the sky over U.S. air bases, he would. But that may be a future strategy to survey wildlife lurking near military airfields, posing a risk to aircraft.

Drones would negate the need for airmen to suit up and wade through swampy areas around bases to look for animals. And "if your drone is equipped with a forward-looking infrared, at night it could pick up deer, hogs, coyotes  and having that drone pick up heat flying around, that would be a great asset for a BASH program," Sullivan, the Air Force's wildlife biologist and the Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard chief, said in a recent interview with Military.com.

While drone use remains debatable in terms of safety and vulnerabilities, Sullivan said there is a growing need for them and other technologies as wildlife finds refuge near installations that house major aviation operations.

But for now, he said, he'll settle for having more airmen trained in spotting bothersome wildlife and how to safely confront it. "I'm looking to institute a more in-depth training [program] here at the [Air Force Safety Center], more for folks that are boots on the ground."

'A Little War'

Sullivan, who oversees the BASH program, which is headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, said he sees the "threat" of wildlife increasing because the U.S. has some of the best wildlife conservation programs in the world.

Wildlife encounters accounted for 418 of the Air Force's 5,109 Class A, B and C mishaps from 2011 to 2017, according to a recent independent study from Military Times. The encounters have cost the service roughly $182 million in that time, Military Times said.

Class A mishaps are defined as involving fatalities, severe damage totaling $2 million or more, or a complete loss of the aircraft; Class B, between $500,000 and $2 million in damage, partially disabling the aircraft, or persons involved sustaining minor injuries that may result in loss of work hours; and Class C, between $50,000 and $500,000 in damage to the aircraft, or minor injuries sustained.

A repeat offender? The Canada goose, which has cost the Air Force roughly $94,000 in damages to aircraft between 1995 and 2016, the Times said.

Related content:

"What's dangerous to a C-17, a large aircraft, is different than what's dangerous to an F-16, a single-engine fighter aircraft," Sullivan said. But "our large [species] of birds are increasing."

Sullivan wants to make sure squadrons have a plan in place to avoid accidents with animals.

His job is to write policy, give technical expertise on whether birds and other wildlife can best be dealt with in lethal or nonlethal ways, and often act as the service's liaison with state governments. He previously worked as a Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services biologist at airports including John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York.

"One of our policies is that any Air Force base that has  any type of flying operations, they must have  a BASH plan," he said.

Sullivan said a new policy enacted in May requires bases to conduct airfield surveys more frequently to keep tabs on what kind of species are entering the area. "By doing surveys monthly, it will tell you if what you're doing now is effective," he said. "Wildlife is challenging, because they learn, they adapt. It's kind of like a little war."

Birds vs. Aircraft

Sullivan in recent months has done research that shows if extra airmen are trained in BASH safety practices, there will be better continuity in the mission, allowing the Air Force to train other airmen as they move between units. He is also trying to get a specialized civilian wildlife manager at more bases to oversee operations in tandem with airmen doing their day-to-day duties.

Their mission is depredation. A small group of airmen will go out and scan the surrounding area as part of the base flight safety check. Flight safety aircrew are also in the watchtower to help flag what they see below.

Per Sullivan's suggestion, some bases keep a conservation wildlife biologist as part of their BASH team to survey the surrounding area on a regular basis.

At Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Zachary May, the USDA Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard manager, serves as the biologist and surveys the airfield six hours a day. "We monitor what's where in relation to approaching aircraft," he said.

The base has 30,000 aircraft movements -- take-offs and landings -- per year.

May last year joined the flight safety team, which includes Master Sgt. Michael Ottmo, the 7th Bomb Wing noncommissioned officer, and Maj. Jeff Smith, the 7th Bomb Wing chief of flight safety.

"I'm trained that anytime I spot a bird in the traffic pattern to call it out, its location  so that someone from airfield management or the USDA rep can try to get the bird to move and scare it away," Smith said.

The team will watch how the birds or other wildlife behave, and then use the proper techniques to shoo them away before the animals make their nesting habitual.

Zero Tolerance

"My policy is zero tolerance from mammals such as deer, coyote, elk. If they're on your airfield, get rid of them," Sullivan said. "If you can't let them out safely, then you're going to have to remove them lethally." But "the last thing we want to do is kill wildlife," he added.

Large mammals drive up costs, especially in potential damage, he said. To keep them away, vegetation must be kept between seven and 14 inches high and there must be adequate water drainage and fences, among other factors.

Some techniques regularly used to scare animals away include nonlethal pyrotechnic guns, noise makers ("screamers" and "bangers," as Sullivan called them), propane cannons and airsoft guns.

May said shooting the animals is usually the last resort. Poisoning isn't a common practice.

Sullivan said the Air Force must seek permits through various agencies, notably the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to use lethal force. The service encourages working with state agencies before killing certain species, which may be on the endangered list.

"Within that, there are a limited number of birds we can take [out], but we regularly maintain well below that number," May said.

While the Trump administration has mulled rolling back policies that protect numerous species, Sullivan doesn't expect Air Force bases to increase the number of animals killed.

"Even if they did give us [those authorities], we wouldn't do it," he said. "Everything that we've been doing over the past number of years hasn't changed. The Air Force is not going to do anything different."

Look at Species, Not Numbers

Safety Center officials, airfield managers and wing commanders form a bird hazard working group and meet twice a year to discuss needs, restrictions and operations on airfields, Sullivan said.

He said he has been to more than 120 military installations across the globe, and each varies in habitat, climate and species, as well as the amount of funding devoted to the program. The Federal Aviation Administration also has a wildlife hazard management plan, he added.

The Air Force teams are aware bird migration patterns change by season, warning pilots to be on high alert when taking off or coming in for a landing.

Dyess' 317th Airlift Wing reported 15 bird strikes to its C-130J Super Hercules fleet in April, according to a release.

They also try to avoid times of day when birds are more active, such as sunrise and sunset.

"We request that [pilots] minimize all landing and takeoffs in low-level flight in these migratory pathways," Smith said. "We want to limit the number of flights and time spent low to the ground."

The airmen said analysts shouldn't necessarily look at the numbers, but rather the species of bird.

Ottmo said any bird could be catastrophic to an aircraft depending on where it hits, with engine strikes being particularly dangerous. But a B-1 Lancer bomber may take more damage from hitting two ducks than hitting 19 smaller Starlings.

If a bird strike occurs, airmen take a sample of the bird's remains and send it to the Smithsonian Institution Feather ID Lab for testing, Ottmo said, adding that it helps to identify migratory bird species patterns across the U.S.

"When I get that data back from the Smithsonian and I know what kind of bird was hit  I'm able to better manage the airfield to make it less attractive to that species," May added.

The Fish and Wildlife Service, which has its own migratory bird program, collects the data and passes it to other agencies as requested.

New Tech?

Someday, airmen may get technology that could make all this easier.

Additional radars may be able to pick up bird movements. Some bases currently use bird detection radars or an Avian Hazard Advisory System, Sullivan said.

But the systems are costly and are most useful when there's a large flock together for clearer detection, May added.

Drones have potential too. Just gathering data, "the power of prediction will help with the BASH program," Sullivan said.

Until then, as long as nature isn't ignored, everything should co-exist just fine, May said.

"Keep in mind, the mission is to keep the airfield safe for our airmen," he said. "Every day, we just have to be vigilant."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
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Manila (CNN Philippines Life)  Cinemalaya will always be revered as having kickstarted a new era of Philippine cinema. However, after a middling lineup last year  where acclaim was the exception rather than the rule  this festival forebearer had a lot to prove this 2018.

Is the festival still capable of innovation? Could it still hold up beside its younger, fresher, bigger-budgeted contemporaries? You know, the classic Rocky story in the age of Ivan Dragos.

Thankfully, we could say Cinemalaya 2018 fares much better than its predecessor. Not exactly a return to form, but instead a demonstration of its capability to move beyond its withered formula.

This year, Cinemalaya came in with an eclectic mix of films: from genre exercises like ML by Benedict Mique Jr. and The Lookout by Ari Africa to the magical realism of Pan de Salawal by Che Espiritu. There are also ruminations on relationships such as marriage and old age with Distance by Perci Intalan, Mamang by Denise OHara, and Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon by Carlo Enciso Catu. Of course, there is always poverty cinema, a festival mainstay, with School Service by Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio. And how can we forget the rousing and deeply personal Liway by Kip Oebanda, the coming-of-age in the time of conflict in Iar Lionel Arondaings Mga Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma and the slice of life that is Kuya Wes by James Mayo?

Below are our thoughts on these films.

Photo from CINEMALAYA

Mamang

In Mamang, death is a spectre, hovering as ghosts from the past as reminder of restless loves, still-brewing hate, and forgotten promises. Celeste Legaspi plays the titular old dame, who waits for death at her bed, refusing to eat or go out because everything is useless when youre just waiting for your expiration date. Her son, Ferdie (Ketchup Eusebio) is the only one who takes care of her. But Ferdie, having been fired from the school he teaches at due to an illicit affair with another man, is looking elsewhere for a new life, which may or may not involve his mother.

Once the rhythm of Mamang settles in, its easy to figure out where its going: who the ghosts are, their intentions, and how Mamang will be rid of them once and for all. To some extent, it is a haunted house story but with schmaltz instead of fear. Ghosts pop in and out of corners, carrying some terrible recollection that Mamang would rather forget. Director Denise OHara infuses this puzzle box of memories with moments of reprieve and release, mostly anchored on Celeste Legaspis buoyant performance. Mamang though is cheapened by its plot twist, a revelation that serves no purpose to the narrative other than to manipulate the audiences emotions even more.

Waking up to reminders of your own degradation is probably horrifying, but Mamang allows these apparitions to serve as partners in a dance, waltzing and swaying until twilight comes to take everything away.  DJ

Screencap from CINEMALAYA

Even via a camp lens, Afi Africas The Lookout still doesnt have enough for it to be a delightful watch.

Possibly aiming for a cross between John Wick and a throwback to the sexy action-thrillers of Philippine cinemas past, the film tries to weave an intricate tale of double-crosses and unexpected connections set to Manilas hidden assassin ecosystem. Africa confuses convolution for complexity though as in his attempt to stack his narrative high he fumbles, slipping in a display of unintentional comedy.

One could even argue that the films bevy of cliched action movie tropes are so clumsily executed that they form the films supposed camp aesthetic: from cheesy dialogue and caricatures for characters, to plot points which either leave you scratching your head in confusion or laughing at the utter lack of logic.

The Lookout isnt all bad, though. Blatantly calling itself the story of a gay hired killer in its synopsis, you can feel the misguided sincerity in its attempt to put some heart at the center of the film. Self-marginalization is tackled at times and a blossoming romance hindered by the protagonists self-destructive behavior  a product of years of childhood abuse  is a smart idea which could have served as an emotional anchor of the film.

But nice try is as far as praises go for The Lookout as it makes even gratuitous sex boring, and the whole gay experience is at times conflated with that of being an outsider mainly because of crime.

The Lookout is confused and incomprehensible. There are nuggets of potential here and there, but it wouldnt surprise me if even its cast and crew do not know what it is about.  GP

Screencap from CINEMALAYA

Pan de Salawal

Part by-the-numbers feel good movie, part Wansapanatym episode, Che Espiritus Pan de Salawal revels in its cooped up magical realism to explore how the lives of a small barangay is changed when a wandering child turns out to be a miracle worker. In contrast to the goodness expected of a character who has healing powers, Aguy (literally ouch in Bisaya) turns out to be more of a trickster, inflicting pain on the subjects ailing body part until they are relieved. She comes and goes, slipping like a mythological creature (or a displaced child, existing without any parent or guardian) in and out of everyones lives but when she encounters Sal (Bodjie Pascua), an aging baker suffering from a chronic kidney condition, simply twisting the flesh near his kidneys will not do; the pain has to be greater and emotionally crippling.

Pan de Salawal lives off of hopelessness and optimism, two extremes that govern the lives of the films characters: from a matadero with a tumor, a Carinosa dancer suffering from the after-effects of a stroke, to a former beauty queen with a debilitating cough. Espiritu manages to weave their stories without the film feeling episodic, but it is apparent how the resiliency of the secondary characters serves as contrast to Sal and his quiet desperation. In Aguy (Miel Espinosa), he finds a new lease in life after a suicide attempt, even dusting off his creaky old bakery to get back on his feet and give Aguy a decent home.

The film happily trudges the genres well worn grooves, never straying away from presenting a story about hope and human suffering. Pascua and Espinosas proxy father-daughter tandem ground the films shiny veneer; the two representing a charismatic take on the interplay between light and loss.  DJ

Screencap from CINEMALAYA

School Service

The image of independent cinema as dark, gritty, and obsessed with poverty is kept alive in this years Cinemalaya through Luisito L. Ignacios School Service.

More found film than poverty porn, the film is impressionistic rather than excessive in its manner of doling out a neorealist narrative  showcasing slices of life, with little bits of drama mildly resembling a plot in the middle.

The film is content (and that seems to be the intent) in not sending a message beyond presenting the dire lives of the poor. Its simply a glimpse into it, and by all means, that is fine.

If theres a message to all this, its the forever reliable theyre human after all. School Service posits that there can be some sincerity behind families formed through kidnap-and-beg syndicates. Loose morals are merely their defense mechanism, and at their core, these people deserve some understanding, if not sympathy.

Whether its just Stockholm Syndrome or being forced into a ragtag group of street beggars is a better alternative to abusive or neglectful homes, thats up to the audience to decide. Thankfully, Therese Malvar and Ai-Ai delas Alas turn in layered performances that mix world-weariness and heart that this humanization can bank on.  GP

Photo from CINEMALAYA

Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon

There is one scene in Carlo Enciso Catus Kung Paano Hinihintay ang Dapithapon that pronounces its evocation of personal histories: Teresa (Perla Bautista) steps inside the house of her estranged husband, Bene (Dante Rivero), for the first time after almost two decades. She finds her old sewing machine. The camera observes her from a distance, just outside the window, the lone figure in light in a house suffused in darkness. We see her face brighten as she tries on the machine, rusty after years of unuse. Bene, now wrecked with cancer, longingly watches her from behind, slowly emerging out of the darkness, eyes smiling, to find the woman he once loved.

Decay is more pronounced in Dapithapon among all of the senior films in Cinemalaya this year. Neil Dazas masterful cinematography plays a large part in showing this degredation. Bene is gradually emptying his house of possessions, such as the long mahogany table or precious china which both signify familial gathering. His days are dull and lifeless, until he learns he has brain cancer. His house slowly regains life as Teresa and her current partner Celso (Menggie Cobarrubias) go out of their way to take care of Bene. Despite this probable setup for soap opera histrionics, the hidden resentments and buried questions unfold gently, their hearts softened by acceptance all these years.

Dapithapon has little stakes  the inevitability of death is diminished by the blossoming of this platonic relationship between three people  that it feels refreshing to witness a film that is fascinated by how its characters are immersed in their tiny pockets of life, all slowly merging into a whole so bright despite the dimming light of their days.  DJ

Photo from CINEMALAYA

Distance

[Spoilers below]

Perci Intalans Distance is another one of the films this year in which the emotional blow is hinged on a reveal: Liza (Iza Calzado) left her family for her great love who happens to be a woman (Max Eigenmann). Its supposed to be the great dilemma of the movie: how can a mother abandon her family just because shes found love somewhere else? The martyr husband Anton (Nonie Buencamino) accepts her unconditionally. Her youngest daughter gives her a chance, glad to have her mother back but her eldest, Karla (Therese Malvar) is suspicious, unresponsive to her mothers attempts to reconnect. Much of Lizas struggle feels like punishment, treading the Gays Cant Have It All trope but it is also a testament to how familial responsibilities feel more like an obligation rather than a bond to be forged. That no matter how many lunches, gifts, or bonding moments she gives her family, some wounds just cut too damn deep. Distance is fascinating in how it explores disconnection and how bonds never solidify no matter how much you prove that youre worthy of forgiveness.

The suffering in Distance is supposed to be universal: the disintegration of a family in the wake of abandonment but it feels painfully middle class at times. Distance is bleak, from start to finish  from the gray beaches of a foreign country, to the colorless interiors of a familys home suffocating from repressed emotions. The film literally trades in distance: the space between rooms, between family members coldly eating meals at the dining table, between the driver and the passengers seat, between the attempt to accept and understand each other, or, hell, even the servants and the amos space in the house.

The problem though is that Distance bottles this tension so tightly that the narrative has no room to breathe, despite all the slowness and the empty spaces the film affords its characters. Were forced to accept things as they are: that the love between Anton and Liza has calcified; that Jen is someone worth ditching your whole life at the drop of a hat. Hence, Distance feels like a snapshot rather than a fully realized portrait, discarding nuances in its characters that could have helped the film feel less stiff and inert.  DJ

Photo from CINEMALAYA

Liway

Directed by Kip Oebanda, the whole of Liway is greater than the sum of its parts.

Based on the true story of Dakip, a child born to rebels inside a prison camp, the film exudes a lot of heart. Every scene retold feels undeniably personal.

In a way, it reminds me of Pans Labyrinth in how it uses chiaroscuro  contrasting light and shadow  to make childhood innocence and wonder stand out in a milieu of oppression. (A microcosm to this description would be the films rendering of magical tales via shadow puppets.)

However, even though technically and visually astounding, Liways narrative is messy. Unfocused and lacking momentum at times, its hard to identify whose perspective the film wants to center on, Dakips or his mothers (Inday/Liway).

This seeming confusion is detrimental as plot points that could have been better emphasized are diluted and undercut by the narrative switches. For example, the film could have lingered more on the veneer of magic and wonder Dakip reveled in amid growing up in prison. (But if thats the reality, who am I to say otherwise? This isnt a story I lived through.)

Ultimately, as mentioned, what Liway stands for is more profound than its actual product. Its an ode of love for ones mother and motherland. By being partly funded by martial law reparation money, it is a symbol of reclamation.

Liway does enough to provide the rousing very much needed today.  GP

Screencap from CINEMALAYA

Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma

Death and violence is inherited in Iar Lionel Arondaings Musmos na Sumibol sa Gubat ng Digma. The film opens with the creation story of man emerging from the Earth, accompanied by a chant from the Quran. Next, a man and his father travel the length of a river in search of an unnamed person while the father launches into a tale in the time of war. The story of displaced children Eshal (Junyka Sigrid Santarin) and Farhan (JM Salvado) forms much of the film. It is told almost like an oral lore, the father passing it to his son, lending it a folk tale-like quality, and is evident in the way Eshal and Farhans scenes are captured in a dream-like haze.

The film though is too preoccupied with looking pretty, dispensing beautiful images rather than investing on a story that engages the audience. Too much beauty can be boring. The story of Eshal and Farhan feels like an afterthought if not for the strong performances of the lead actors Santarin and Salvado. There is an emphasis of death and war as something that is passed down in the land of conflict such as Eshals and Farhans, especially in the first 15 minutes of the film, punctuated by a long take of a village being burned and its inhabitants either fleeing or watching the destruction out of shock. From hereon, the violence appears offscreen, often told and remembered  memories of how innocence has been stripped away by years and years of injustice and bloodshed.

At some point, all of it becomes a balancing act: passages from the holy book contend with the father-and-son guessing game, and the struggle of Eshal and Farhan to survive in the forest  and to what end?

Arondaings attempt at a tone poem about the ravages of war has commendable moments and it fares better than in his debut Sa Gabing Nanahimik ang mga Kuliglig. But when a film is supposedly telling a story that is rarely told in local cinema, it helps when its focused on the job at hand and not just enamored by how it looks.  DJ

Screencap from CINEMALAYA

Kuya Wes

In his full length debut The Chanters, James Robin Mayo has shown he is adept at deploying humor in stories that bear significant cultural weight. In The Chanters, a high school girls teenage angst collides with her tribes tradition. In his second film, Kuya Wes, placing his characters in a remittance center draws out a capsule of sorts about The Filipino Dream, encased in a small glass box where money from hardworking Filipinos are transmitted to their wives, husbands, sons, daughters, or relatives. Kuya Wes makes no qualms about its intentions though, which is to draw out a supposed love story between a pera padala kuya (Ogie Alcasid) and Erika, a young mother (Ina Raymundo) who always arrives to pick up her husbands padala every 16th of the month at exactly 1 p.m.

The level of access to their customers personal information becomes a disturbing conceit in the movie, particularly when they use this data to stalk Erika. It gets to creepy Kita Kita levels, when Kuya Wes  which we later learn is not his real name  does favors and doles out money for Erika not just out of sheer kindness but also in the hopes of dating her. But this time, the shift in tone makes it apparent that this is not just some male wish fulfillment romance. Kuya Wes fantasies overtake reality and he is forced to contend with the problems that he should be facing.

Mayo seems to be building a body of work that is distinct in tone and stylistic choices (particularly the use of color and cinematography). Though people may be quick to draw Wes Anderson comparisons, this skewed and symmetric view of the world reflect the turbulent psyches of his characters. Its encouraging to see that he doesnt let aesthetics overrun his films but instead uses it to flesh out narratives that are both accessible and disarming in their sentimentality.  DJ

Photo from CINEMALAYA

ML

Set to be a problematic favorite for years to come, Benedict Mique Jrs ML is a surprisingly entertaining genre piece one wouldnt expect in a Cinemalaya line-up.

It follows Black Mirrors penchant for unbalanced tragedy  minimum irredeemability, maximum retribution  by way of Saw and Hostel.

In creating a scenario where believable neo-martial law sympathizers cum conyo kids (props to Tony Labrusca and Henz Villaraiz) are subjected to the same torture they so vehemently defend as justifiable 30 years ago, ML is oddly cathartic. It is the revenge fantasy spawned from the toxicity of internet troll culture, a perverse parable for the post-truth era.

Calling it torture porn with a purpose may be reductive in what constitutes purpose. If the purpose is to shock audiences with an unflinching look at torture (all of which were relayed to the filmmaker by real-life victims of martial law era torture), then the film succeeds. But for any profundity beyond shock value, the film may be lacking in depth and sophistication, especially when some of MLs worst shocks come from its gravely misogynistic portrayal of sexual violence on the character who least deserves a seat at the torture table.  GP
The Japanese Minister of Education will also be present. The initiative involves a thousand students. Tokyo wants to confirm a summit with Xi in October. China and Japan mark 40 years since the signing of their peace and friendship treaty. Both want to counter US protectionism as the trade war escalates.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang plans to attend a student exchange event with Japan later this month, sources close to diplomatic circles said.

The relations between the two neighbouring countries have improved lately. Beijing looks to Tokyo to counter US hegemony in the region, as the trade war with Washington heats up.

The event, set for 29 August at Peking University in Beijing, will bring together about 1,000 Japanese and Chinese students. Japans Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yoshimasa Hayashi is expected to attend.

Tokyo hopes that the event will confirm Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes visit to China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, potentially in October, sources said.

The relationship between the two countries, which has often been strained by differences in views on history and territory, has been improving recently. Two days ago, the two marked the 40th anniversary of the signing of a peace and friendship treaty.

Last May, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited Japan, becoming the first high-ranking Chinese official to visit the country in seven years. On that occasion, the two leaders agreed to promote student exchanges.

China has been looking to its neighbours to counter US hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region.

Although Tokyo has sought to boost ties with Beijing to improve regional stability, some diplomats warn that China is likely to try to drive a wedge into the Japan-US alliance.

What is certain is that the trade war between Washington and Beijing is pushing Tokyo to get closer to China to resist US protectionism.
When the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced this year that they would soon be rolling out beer and wine at commissaries stateside, there was great rejoicing among shoppers who like to buy their beer at the same time that they score their subsidized potato chips.

Now a lobbyist group that represents the other side of the alcohol house wants in on the action, too. And they're hoping a measure included in a report accompanying the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed by President Donald Trump Aug. 13, will help make that happen.

The report orders the Defense Department to "conduct a study on the feasibility of expanding commissary alcohol sales to include the sale of distilled spirits ... [and] include an estimate on revenue and sales that could result from such an expansion."

The DoD is ordered to brief Congress on the idea by the end of September.

The commissary is currently newly able can sell beer and wine on behalf of the Exchange service thanks to April 27 change by the Defense Department. Just like tobacco sales, beer and wine sold at the commissary is actually sold by the Exchange but placed in commissary stores. That matters because any price increase to those items over wholesale does not benefit the commissary system or its bottom line, which is separate from that of the Exchange.

Beer, wine and other alcohol has long been available at the Exchange-run stores, including gas station shoppettes and a store known as the "Class Six."

Officials with the Distilled Spirits Council argue that separating beer and wine sales from other alcohol in commissaries and elsewhere makes it seem like beer and wine are somehow less alcoholic or fall into a different category than distilled drinks.

"Beer and wine are in commissaries and we think in the interest of sound public policy distilled spirits ought to be in commissaries as well," said David Ozgo, Distilled Spirits Council's chief economist. "It's really bad public policy to treat to spirits differently."

Ozgo said 28 states allow distilled spirits sales in grocery stores with beer and wine. He said most consumers want the convenience of being able to buy all kinds of alcohol in the grocery store, not just beer and wine.

Whether or not getting distilled beverages in commissaries, therefore making purchasing it more convenient, is likely to happen remains to be seen.

But a recent study found that a third of troops reported binge drinking, which is defined as having five or more drinks on one occasion for men and four or more drinks for women at least once in the past month. The report didn't examine military family drinking habits.

The report, by the Rand Corps and the Defense Department, says that 68.2 percent of service members perceived the military culture as "supportive of drinking." Since alcohol is often purchased on base, the report found, researchers recommended raising prices.
If you have kids and have been stationed at a base where this organization has a presence, you know they're there.

Maybe it's the kid camp help. Maybe it's the playgroups, preschool, childcare or parent-kid adventures. Or maybe you've used their food pantry or ball gown lending closet.

But no matter the reason you've crossed paths, the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) has probably made life just a little bit easier for you and your military family. And that's exactly what they are trying to do, said ASYMCA president William French.

"Strengthening our military family is really what we do, and our focus, just like the boarder YMCA, is youth development, healthy living and social responsibility," he said.

French, a retired Vice Admiral who once led Navy Installation Command, is intimately familiar with how budget cuts impact services on base. And even when the military budget is increased, family services don't always see that money. That means families must rely on non-profits like the ASYMCA or go without that support.

That's why French emphasizes his organization's child-related help. By giving military spouses easy access to affordable childcare and parenting help, the ASYMCA frees them up to find employment. And in a world that assumes households have two incomes, giving spouses a shot at having a job goes a long way.

Once one of the largest military support organizations in the nation, the ASYMCA currently has 13 branches with 20 affiliates and 200 service centers on or near 75 military installations, he said.

And each service center is designed to meet the needs of the local community. For example, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky the ASYMCA provides a variety of programs, including a preschool service and a military ball gown lending closet. At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, the ASYMCA not only has multiple on-base locations, but also staffs a lounge at the nearby international airport.

And the ASYMCA doesn't just offer services. My family got to jump in on a recent ASYMCA mother-son day trip. The organization subsidized train tickets and organized a hike to the Spencer Glacier in Chugach National Forest, a stop that is only accessible by foot, train or plane. We were given snacks for the ride, access to a forest ranger to answer questions and the chance to spend time together in a place free from distractions. It was awesome.

French said those are the kinds of programs that help them meet their mission of strengthening families. And the organization, he said, is looking to grow by expanding their summer camp programs and working closely with local YMCAs to leverage resources there.

You can check out all the ASYMCA's locations and resources on their website.
"Blackmark" is an astonishing straight-to-DVD movie that promises a "millennial take on the Cold War." Writer-director AJ Martinson III says he wrote the script at age 21.

Set in 1963, the movie stars low-budget action stalwart Kaiwi Leonard, who must have insisted that he be allowed to keep his beard and '90s hot-guy haircut. Once the crew realized that their lead wouldn't go along with a period look, they just gave up on everyone else. No suit, shirt collar or tie remotely matches the era and, even though the production designer makes an effort to have the sets look right, the movie's going to look weird to anyone who was born before the end of first Bush 41 administration.

The plot? There's a mysterious military contractor named Arthur Blackmark who's been secretly running the government since he eliminated his arm dealer rivals. Leonard thinks he's a CIA agent but he's really working for Blackmark. He teams up with a Soviet officer to stop a nuclear attack at the beginning of the movie and the rest of the running time is filled up with the unraveling of an impenetrable conspiracy. Bonus: the actor who plays Lee Harvey Oswald looks enough like the actor who plays the Soviet officer that they're easy to mistake for each other.

Anyone who thinks that they don't make 'em like they used to might want to check this out. "Blackmark" fits right in with the weirdest VHS action pictures that you'd find stuffed in the back corner of your local video store back in the early '80s.
"The Equalizer 2" was hit movie in theaters this summer and it's good to see Denzel Washington reprise his role as retired spy Robert McCall, but the real classic remains the original. 2014's "The Equalizer" has just been reissued on 4K and the remastered version is aces.

McCall is keeping a low profile, working in a Boston home improvement superstore. A young prostitute named Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz) befriends him at the late-night diner they both frequent and his ass-kicking mojo is reactivated after the Russian mob she's working for beats her up.

Denzel doesn't carry a gun, so he carefully scans each situation for makeshift weapons he can use to handle the dirty work. He tries to buy Teri's freedom from the mobsters and kills them all when they won't let her go.

That leads the Russian boss to send his fixer Teddy (Martin Csokas) to Boston to find out who killed his men. Things get messy and end with a giant showdown in the home improvement warehouse.

It's not the plot that makes this one so good: It's Denzel's performance and Antoine Fuqua's direction. They know what they want to do here and don't waste a frame in creating McCall's character and motivation. The original TV series was set in NYC and the move to Boston was a great one. They take full advantage of the New England locations and it's always great to see a movie shot in the actual city where it's supposed to take place.

The 4K transfer is stunning, worth the upgrade if you already love the movie. There are a handful of previously unreleased deleted scenes and some high-quality making-of featurettes repeated from the earlier Blu-ray release.
Nathan Wertz is the editor of ThisAndThatTech.com.

Vice Admiral Richard Hunt, United States Navy (Ret), is the Vice President for U.S. Business Development at Raytheon, a major U.S. defense contractor. Over the span of his 37-year military career, Rick served in many high-profile positions, including: Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, Commander of Carrier Strike Group Six, Commander of Naval Surface Force for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and the Director of Navy Staff.

Rick shares his insights with us about his own military transition, working at Raytheon, and Raytheon's $5 million dollar multiyear partnership with the Student Veterans of America (SVA), which focuses on veteran education and employment.

[NOTE: Since we conducted this interview, Rick has become the Chief Strategy Officer at Fincantieri Marinette Marine].

Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

Sure. I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, not too far away from the campus, the University of Wisconsin, so diehard Badger through and through.

That hurts me. I'm a Michigan fan, but okay.

Oh, goodness. My wife is an Ohio State grad, so that makes it even better.

That's even worse for me...

Sort of a liberal background, I think, just because of the city that I grew up in. Great high school, very much enjoyed that part of Wisconsin. Most of the relatives are farmers in the rural area of the state and, I'd say, kind of middle class background, as we grew up.

What was your catalyst for entering the military?

My dad was a disabled veteran from World War II. He was in the Navy. I think I'd always heard those kinds of discussions and stories of his experiences and I was kind of interested in doing that. The fact that he was a disabled veteran allowed me to go to college on the GI Bill. And so when I finished school I looked at GI, sort of owed something back to the country. This has been a terrific experience. Graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and I looked to joining the Navy through the Officer Candidate Program.

Actually, it was while I was a senior at one of the job fairs. Navy folks were there and I had a chance to interact with one of the lieutenants that was there at the Navy booth. I found that pretty interesting. So, applied to go to Officer Candidate School, got accepted to Officer Candidate School for the Navy, which was in Newport, Rhode Island.

And enjoyed it, figured I'd be in for four years or so, kind of a payback for four years of college. Found I fell in love with Navy life, with the experience, the world travel, all the equipment that we got to use and operate. And first, at the top of the list, I would say truly enjoyed the comradery of shipmates, sailors at sea doing a common mission. I ended up staying for 37 years.

So I had a chance to go through the surface warfare community: served on frigates, destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, commanded at a variety of different levels, to include Third Fleet towards the end of my career. And enjoyed, I'll say, almost every day. The one thing that I did enjoy was the interaction with our sailors and other servicemembers throughout that entire career. Just a fantastic opportunity, one that I've always really been thankful for having.

Any lessons from your time in service that have stuck with you?

I think one of the big things is how important it is to learn about individuals, understand their motivations, their concerns. And I would take that from a very personal level, one on one, and expand that to folks from different cultures and backgrounds from around the world.

One of the opportunities that I did have as a flag officer was to be the commander in Djibouti for Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. Kind of a unique thing for a naval officer to do; we're traditionally at sea with a certain degree of separation. Being the Commander on the ground working with a combined force, so it was multinational, but also with our soldiers and Marines, Special Operation Forces, gave me a different appreciation to just how much influence, in a very positive way, we could exert with our allies and folks thinking about becoming our allies.

And that was something that I think I had experience with in my sea duty as we went around and made fort visits globally, but it wasn't really until I was able to develop some of the relationships at a pretty high level with different countries and different cultures and backgrounds that I really grew to appreciate just how enriching diversity of opinion and diversity of background can be as we make decisions.

U.S. Army Spc. Travis Flynn celebrates with members of the Djiboutian Armys Rapid Intervention Battalion (RIB). (U.S. Navy)

What was your path from exiting military service to your current position?

Well, it was interesting. I finished in my last job as Director of Navy Staff. I had previously been in San Diego at Third Fleet and at Naval Surface Forces, being both an Operational Commander and being in charge of Man, Train and Equip functions for the Navy Surface Force. Came back to D.C. and got to run the Navy staff working directly for the Chief of Naval Operations. Gave me great insight, continued to build upon my experiences, and I saw an awful lot of things across the Pentagon that perhaps I hadn't been exposed to in the past.

When I retired, I actually took a break of, I guess about three or four months or so, went down to Florida where we purchased a house when I was a lieutenant many years before. Did some work on the house and I felt that the piece that I was missing was that aspect of continuing to serve. It just so happened that Raytheon was reaching out looking for a business development person in the Navy/Marine Corps area and I applied for that job. The fit was great, the culture blended very, very well with my experience and the values that I found in Raytheon, that I knew before as a surface warfare officer.

Almost all the weapon systems that you have on our Navy surface ships are made by Raytheon, so I've been an end user. The opportunity to participate on the other side of that and contribute to that team doing some of the crosswalk between the Navy and the Marine Corps, customer and the engineers that do the design work, development, and manufacturing of the products that support those sailors was very satisfying to me. I was able to continue to advance some of the key areas that I was very interested in as I transitioned from the Navy, continued to work in directed-energy, cyber, undersea, some of those kind of areas that I felt needed continual technical advancement.

And the fit turned out very, very well. So great time, great engineers, working with a professional team on par with that I experienced in my previous Navy life was very personally rewarding, satisfying, and I think I found a place where I could contribute in a very meaningful way, not only to Raytheon as the company, but continuing to serve on the uniform side, providing those capabilities for our sailors.

What are some specific Raytheon products that people would be familiar with?

After being here for a little over a year, I was able to fleet up to the domestic side of business development for Raytheon. And in that role, I got the responsibility for all the services and some of the inner agency aspects, intel space, homeland security, FAA, some of those areas.

And so Patriot is a great example, that would be one. Our Standard Missile Series, SM-2, 3, and 6's, ESM, RAM, all the missiles that go off our surface ships. Tomahawk being a franchise program, all those are Raytheon products and very good.

The larger rocket motors of the SM-3 Block IIA interceptor will allow it to take out threats sooner. (Photo Credit: Raytheon)

We had recently won AMDR (Air and Missile Defense Radar), which is the next generation radar for surface ships that will replace the SPY-1 of an earlier day, enhancing the capability tremendously. Next Generation Jammer and the electronic warfare capability to go on our Growlers. Supporting the fleet and land activities is another area that I think we're making a very strong contribution.

And we do an awful lot of classified programs in space and, most notably, in the cyber domain. Across the board, a combination of offense and defense, cyber resilience, greatly improving and enhancing both equipment sets and cyber defensive networks.

The Air and Missile Defense Radar  AN/SPY-6(V)  is the Navy's next generation integrated air and missile defense radar.

In my research on Raytheon, I came across the mention of 3DELRR (Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar), a next generation long-range radar system. This was a contract that went to Raytheon and then it was protested in 2014 by competitors, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. Can you give us a thousand-foot view on how the industry competition works?

We as a nation do a very effective job of competing with almost all the products. And that's an example of one where, unfortunately, Raytheon did lose [Raytheon has subsequently been awarded this contract at time of publication] . But in most instances for those kind of systems, I would say it's generally a competition of three or four of the major defense industry partners out there that are competing for different products. We've got a pretty good success rate here at Raytheon, certainly over the last decade or so, and that was one that went the other way.

Back to your transition. How did you feel the day you left military service?

Certainly people that make a career out of any of our armed services, when you leave it's kind of a sad day. I mean that's what I think most servicemembers devote their life to doing and do so very proudly. It's just filled with comradery, satisfaction of mission accomplishment across the board. Given the opportunity to serve, given the opportunity, in my case, to go back at sea and serve, would be something I would do in a minute.

It just becomes kind of a time thing. At certain points I think I contributed to the extent that I could and it was time to move on at that point. And I look back on my service very fondly and with a great deal of pride, as I know all of our other servicemembers do, in the accomplishments that we've had over the last several decades.

Do you feel the military has helped or hindered you in the job market?

I think, not only myself, but one of the things that I've tried to do throughout my career, and I have the opportunity to continue to do this, is to mentor and advise folks as they do the transition. I think that's something that we, in uniform, all take very seriously. And in some cases post-service, we have the opportunity to continue to do that.

So I think it was an easy transition for me, again, because this is very straightforward. The products that I've used are the products that we are involved in manufacturing. Many of the folks that work as part of my team, in fact the vast majority, have a very strong military background. The culture of Raytheon, the values of Raytheon, is very similar to that, that I experienced in my Navy life. So that all helped.

You know I think values is probably at the top of everybody's list. But a combination of the values and fit, feeling accomplishment in what you're actually producing, has made for, I would say, a pretty straightforward transition.

There are certainly differences between the military life and the civilian life. You have to learn new acronyms, new terminology, but the vast majority of the skills that we have learned, I think, translate well and would translate well for most folks coming from the uniform into a defense industry/aerospace industry kind of organization.

Let's talk about mentoring veterans in the corporate realm. What is something you've learned or noticed from doing that over the years?

I think an awful lot of folks in uniform take a look at working for the defense industry as one of those key options. So I would tell you that be it at job fairs or interactions on military bases, there has always been a very strong presence by the defense industry. Talking to those guys, getting an understanding and appreciation is very, very useful. I actually encouraged it while I was on active duty. Some people go, oh, man, people think it's better on the other side. We could end up losing really good people.

What I found was many of our servicemembers were comforted by the fact that there was industry out there waiting to use them when the time occurred. And it gave them comfort to stay in and remain on active duty, to continue to have that job satisfaction that they get from being in the service, knowing that there were plenty of opportunities when the time came and they actually did the transition.

We do an awful lot of mentoring here. The fact that we are a customer-faced base as a business development organization, means we're out and about talking to folks all the time. And my group of folks that I work with, myself included, actively offer recommendations to folks, I think in a very objective and neutral manner, to anybody that asks.

Virtually everybody that I've worked with, doesn't matter what company that they're in, I think feels strongly like I do, that it's very important to help folks transition. And frankly, we find great personal satisfaction in being able to give advice. So I'm fortunate that I could do that from this position and maybe give a little more insight than some others may not be able to do.

Why do you think some veterans struggle when they first transition? How does it relate to the corporate realm? Can you talk a little bit about that?

So I would tell you that it takes a little bit of time, effort, and work to find that organization that you want to continue your next phase in and feel a great deal of satisfaction. And that's why I say starting the transition process, thinking about where you're going earlier, and kind of poking into a whole variety of different opportunities makes an awful lot of sense. People will tell you, don't rush into a first job. Others will say, most folks getting out of the military will go through two or three different ones in the first five years. I would offer that that may happen, but you can cut down on that a lot if you kind of do your research ahead of time.

You talk to people in the business that are working, you research the company, perhaps you've interacted with those companies, like I indicated that I had with Raytheon in my Navy life. I think if you do that, you can really put yourself on a different path, as opposed to, "My end of active duty time is up next month and, oops, I better start looking for a job."

And with most of our servicemembers having family responsibilities at some point, they can often get put in a position where they need to make a decision on getting a job for the job's sake to take care of family, before they're able to navigate, find, and work through the employment process to get to where they ultimately want to be.

You know of interest to me, I would tell you that I think in some of the larger companies like Raytheon and across the defense industry, it probably takes more time than most folks think to go through the interview process, acceptance, kind of the vetting process that goes on by the companies. And if you're up against a timeline where maybe your terminal leave runs out and you've gotta take care of family, you can get pushed into a position that you don't want to be and maybe end up in a place that you might not have settled for, had you given yourself more time to go out and really explore the job opportunities.

Were there any moments that come to mind in your military career, as well as Raytheon, where your position significantly changed?

I certainly took some interesting changes in my military career, I think, very diverse. A lot of joint time, a lot of Pentagon time, operated off both coasts, served on aircraft carriers for a couple deployments, just about all the complete suite of different surface ships. I think the thing that stands out as an unusual piece was probably that tour on the ground as the Commander in Djibouti in Horn of Africa.

You know going into a command position in a pretty challenging part of the world without that ground experience. I found it a little bit intimidating at first, but when we go out there, the training package that comes with it, and the support that the Defense Department puts in place for those kind of transitions was very, very positive, and I think yielded a powerful result in the one year that I had over in Africa, in the mission.

Rear Adm. Richard Hunt (from left), Army Gen. John Abizaid and Rear Adm. James Hart salute the colors during the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa change-of-command ceremony Feb. 14 at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. General Abizaid officiated as Admiral Hunt passed command of the task force to Admiral Hart. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Carrie Bernard)

So it's very interesting. I think in almost every position that I've had in uniform was one where due to the continual training, education, and development, I felt pretty comfortable moving up that ladder, all the way through my last tours. And that includes fleet command and positions like that. So that was very helpful.

In transitioning to Raytheon, I think it was really a matter of picking up on the nuances of what motivates companies to do business. What their focus is on, which is a little bit different than what you get in the military. I think that the bottom objective of producing the best capability possible to satisfy the solution sets, in this case, for a military or intelligence customer remains very similar.

So again, I would say, a few surprises, a couple of challenges where I needed to adjust and break away from what I'd been doing earlier. But my military experience, I think, set me up very, very well, not only throughout my career there, but for follow-on opportunities here at Raytheon.

Is it plausible to have work/life balance and how did you navigate that in the military with so much responsibility?

I probably get a C- on work balance and my wife may say the same. It's interesting, if you are passionate about what you do, that goes a long way to making up for the work balance. And if you have a spouse and family that supports you in your activities, maybe it just redefines work balance a little bit.

When I hear that term and I compare it to some of the courses and reading I've done on that, I may not score very high. When I think about personal and professional satisfaction, I think I'm right in the sweet spot of where I want to be. Not everybody may want to be in that position.

But I think one of the most important things and a piece of advice that I give to those transitioning is you really want to find fit with whatever you're doing, to be passionate about what you're doing, to feel like you're a valued contributor. And if you're fortunate enough to get that fix, and that takes you a little bit of study and effort to make sure you can achieve that, I think you become in a very good place that is very rewarding and beneficial not only to you personally, to your family, but also to the organization that you're working for.

Any books, podcasts, mentors that helped you along the way, that maybe you could recommend?

I would offer that most of my mentorship and interaction has really been from other people, as opposed to reading or listening or surfing the web. Maybe it's I'm just from that older generation, but I get great value from talking to folks and listening, active listening being critical to all that we do. And opening the aperture to get a different appreciation on how people approach problems.

So I'm afraid I can't give you the magic book or podcast or website to go to.

Military.com has many active duty and veteran readers that may want to someday work in your field. To get to where you're at today, what do you feel is the optimum path to travel? What would you recommend to people just starting out?

You come into a company like Raytheon or into the defense industry, being well-versed in those STEM areas is very important. So taking technical background, engineering, cyber, probably at the top of that list right now. And doing the very best that you can to expand your professional abilities in those areas is very, very important.

My advice to our servicemembers is start planning ahead early when you decide it's time to do that transition and I would sit down and spend a fair amount of time trying to assess what your ultimate goals are. Not getting out and getting a job right away, but where do you want to be 20, 30, 40 years down the road? And what does it take to get there? So figure out what you want to do, what are your goals in life, where you are right now, and what it takes in portfolio development to get there.

The GI Bill gives all of our servicemembers such a tremendous opportunity to fill in some of that professional portfolio in a very positive way. Going to pick up a college education, if you don't have that already, and working in some of those high-demand areas really can be lifechanging. So I strongly encourage people to take a look at doing that early, to get out and get mentors from diverse backgrounds with different experience and perspectives on life, talk to many different groups.

Student Veterans of America is key. Around the nation, they support our major military installations. Here you have people that have done exactly what I've just described and are very successful at it. They can be great mentors, offer terrific advice.

Organizations like that facilitate others. Raytheon certainly does it. I know our partners in the defense and aerospace industry contribute also, but mentors coming in from the industry to talk to people, to tell them what's important, how life is on the other side. Getting that perspective can be very, very helpful and useful. Starting that very early and broadening your goals, to make sure you set them really high and then figure out what the precise steps are to get there is important.

You're not gonna go for that grand slam right off the bat. So what does it take to position yourself in transition? What are the moves to advance so you can continue to really stretch and go to the ultimate goal? That would be a strong recommendation that I would have.

Let's talk about SVA. What's Raytheon's partnership with Student Veterans of America? What does that entail?

So we've been involved with SVA really since the beginning. And I think the premiere supporters, certainly we were at the national meeting in Los Angeles in early January. We feel a great passion to being able to help and participate. I think we had over 40 folks throughout the three-day event come out and mentor folks, to interact, and talk about opportunities with Raytheon and just discuss the defense industry, in general. I'm pretty sure we are committed to maintaining that relationship. We see great value in that.

I mentioned going after STEM degrees and being able to give back. I would tell you, being able to shape some of the folks maybe that are coming in as freshman, that have the opportunity to make a decision as to what that educational path would be, to put them in line for good, meaningful jobs down the road is something that Raytheon really wants to contribute to. We do that through our STEM programs at a younger level and we know that the college level is even closer to bringing some of these folks into our workforce and to see great value across the industry as a result.

Student Veterans of America logo

How many veterans are employed at Raytheon right now?

I think it's about 1 in 6 right now. I think we're, what, over 11,000 or so out of a 60,000+ workforce.

How did this opportunity come about, working with Student Veterans of America?

So the opportunity came up of going out and interacting with veterans. And so, as I said, that's something that I have done throughout my entire military career and continue to do here in this position. So when the opportunity came to go out and say a few words with the organization, to meet and talk to those guys, I jumped on that. And it was well worth my time to do that and very personally satisfying.

What are some of the programs and resources that the SVA offers that stick out to you?

I think it really goes to the mentorship. And again, helping many folks do that cross-walk between some pretty demanding combat experiences and setting them up to make the transition. Having folks you can talk to with regular gatherings in a very positive way is, in my mind, the most important thing that they do.

The SVA website shows an ongoing research study called NVEST (National Veteran Education Success Tracker), commissioned by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Student Clearinghouse in conjunction with the Student Veterans of America, detailing academic success of student veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

One of the fact sheets there shows a success rate of 72% for student veterans. When you compare that to the U.S. Department of Education, you see numbers around 59% for the general public. Why do you feel that it's much higher with veterans?

My experience, as I said, I went to university on the GI Bill with an awful lot of veterans coming out of the Vietnam era. And I would tell you, those Vietnam veterans were incredibly impressive. I think the focus that you get out of our veterans is they do the transition. They've learned a very strong work ethic, they've had strong values or goals put in front of them that they reach out to achieve.

If you were to say 72% success rate, that would not surprise me at all. Again, having looked at where we are right now with the quality of individual that comes into the United States military, this is the very best that we have in American youth. And I would expect three quarters of them to graduate and do a very good job.

I'll tell you when I was on active duty we did some work with the Cal State System across the board, where we kind of streamlined the process. This is active duty, Navy, Marines, and working with the Cal State folks, streamlined the admittance process. And those guys had success, right? These were people that were vetted by the chain of command as some of the best and brightest that were transitioning. And so we got them and expedited admittance to the university system there. And the success right there was just, and I don't have those facts and figures now, it's a little bit dated, but were at least the 72 percent that we're talking about.

Wow.

And so we've come to expect that out of our great men and women in service, just being successful in everything that they do. The fact that you've got an organization like SVA that helps in the mentorship, helps them do the transition, helps some of those folks that had challenges from their military service, many of the ground forces with the experiences that they went through, navigating that with like-minded folks, I think puts them very prominently in a position for success, which is one of the reasons why we think SVA is just so critical.

You get that mentorship and that continual engagement and it goes a long way to generating success. My guess is some of the lower numbers probably goes to maybe some of the not for profits and that sort of thing. When you get top-named schools like we're supporting here through SVA across the board, people are there for one thing, and that's to graduate and move on and make their life better than when they started. And they do a great job of doing that.

(Screenshot from NVEST Fact Sheet).

Can people actively serving integrate with Student Veterans of America?

Certainly people that are looking at transitions can become part of that. I think you can take advantage of their functions that they have. We were just out in Los Angeles. I think there was somewhere over 1,200 student veterans there. There were also some veterans, not as many, most of them were students, but they have organizational representation around where bases are as well as the universities. So I think there is great opportunity to cross-pollinate.

And that's getting in and encouraging folks, six or even more months out before they transition, to be thinking and understanding what the opportunities are, how I might pick a university to go to, and for what reason. An organization like SVA is just a really good place to go and to be able to utilize that experience.

So the all-encompassing question, why should vets consider joining the Students Veterans of America?

Again, I think it's for that support network. After I talked, I had three or four different folks come up and talk about different things. Some of it was just personal education, some of it was advancing support for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), Wounded Warrior kind of issues. There was one group that came up talking about suicide prevention, some of the challenges that they are experiencing. So it's pretty interesting that all these different things are incredibly important. And by having an organization like SVA be there to help address these issues as they come up is just a very positive avenue for support.

And it was great being able to get out there to talk to people, to get a feel for the type of folks there. This was kind of the leadership of the organization. And I'll tell you, the folks that I saw out there were just off the charts for passionate, energized, with many different experiences and backgrounds and things that they wanted to advance. The common thread was they were all leaders. So whether they worked for defense industry or they go work in the social services area or the medical area, they're gonna be successful.

And all of our service men and women have been on the greatest team in the world, the US military. Being able to continue to develop and to pass that kind of passion for being the best possible in whatever you do is something that I think takes continual reinforcement and you get it out of a group like SVA.

What's next for you at Raytheon and can you give us any kind of insider information?

[laughs] I could never give you insider information. That'll get me in deep trouble.

Well, I always throw it out there. I hope somebody slips, but nobody ever does...

Yeah. What I would say is that much like my military service, I just want to continue to work with and serve Raytheon. It is a terrific company with great values, most importantly making great products that keep our wonderful military safer and more able to achieve mission success. And being able to do that is as rewarding as when I was on active duty.
SALINE, MI - It was when two wayward raccoons found their way into William Law's living room and kitchen two years ago that he, his wife and granddaughter, all living in the home, realized their roof was in need of repair.

But for Law, an 87-year-old Army veteran who served in the Korean War era, finding the money to pay for a new roof was not an easy task, he said.

"The house really needed a new roof, but since roofs cost so much, we were having problems looking for a way to pay for it," said Law's granddaughter Mary Alice Truitt, who lives in the home.

Fortune smiled on Law while looking for assistance from the Veterans Administration, which referred him to a charitable program that began two years ago with a mission to build new roofs for veterans.

Neighborhood Roofing Company Inc. installed a new roof for free on Law's home in Saline Monday, Aug. 13, as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project.

Owens Corning Platinum Contractors, working in coordination with Habitat for Humanity, has donated 83 new roofs to veterans nationwide in its two-year existence.

Law's home is the 26th home to receive a new roof through the program this year.

"It's amazing what they are doing for us and I'm truly grateful for everything they are doing," Law said as teams of roofers tore aging wood off his home throughout the morning.

Law served four years in the army as a corporal, from 1948 to 1952, assigned to work in Army public relations until the Korean War broke out and the program was shelved, he said.

Instead of being sent to Korea, the Army sent him to Panama, where he worked as a radio DJ, playing music for soldiers stationed there.

"We're happy to help and appreciate his service to the country," Neighborhood Roofing Company Inc. Co-Owner Tom Meadows said. "We would love to do more, but we don't think there are enough vets reaching out to this program."

Meadows estimated Law's home received about $6,000 of work donated by the program.

Law has been living in the house with his wife, Lisle Law, since it was constructed 54 years ago. The couple had five children together, who later gave them seven grandchildren, one great grandson and a great granddaughter on the way, he said.

After leaving the Army, he worked for a time at Ford Motor Company as a draftsman before going to Eastern Michigan University to earn a degree in business administration.

From there he got a job at General Motors, where he worked for 31 years, retiring in 1989.

For more information on the Roof Deployment Project, or to learn more about how to get involved in the program, visit RoofDeploymentProject.com.
HAMTRAMCK, MI - In the waning days of Prohibition, Hamtramck found its leaders entangled in a corruption probe and accused of taking bribes.

But as MLive reporter Gus Burns explains in this week's Michigan Crime Stories podcast, even corrupt politicians can be revered.

That's where Dr. Rudolph G. Tenerowicz comes in - the much-beloved mayor, who was welcomed home from prison with a beer-fueled party.

Listen to the episode and catch up on past ones on iTunes and SoundCloud.

Tips for Michigan Crime Stories podcast episodes can be sent to hosts Darcie Moran at dmoran@mlive.com or John Counts at johncounts@mlive.com.
Ora F. Troyer

GLADWIN, MI -- An Amish man is facing more than a dozen criminal charges after prosecutors allege he sexually abused three girls.

Ora F. Troyer appeared Aug. 9 in Gladwin County District Court for arraignment on 18 charges.

Gladwin County Sheriff Michael Shea said deputies began investigating after elders in the county's Amish community contacted law enforcement regarding Troyer.

Troyer, 53, now faces the following host of charges:

Four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relation. The charge involves penetration and is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relation.

Two counts of assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relation.

Five counts of assault with intent commit sexual penetration.

Five counts of accosting children for immoral purposes.

Investigators allege the abuse occurred from 2003 until June 2018 and involved three girls.

During an interview with investigators, Troyer made admissions corroborating his alleged victims' descriptions of the abuse, Shea said.

Troyer, described in court documents as a married farmer, is being held in the Gladwin County Jail on a $900,000 cash-surety bond. If he posts it, he is not to have contact with his alleged victims or anyone younger than 17.

Troyer is to appear for a preliminary examination on Aug. 21.
A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was sentenced to three years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Clifton Divers, 49, of Detroit admitted in January to conspiring with Birmingham attorney Charles Busse in helping at least four immigrants avoid deportation, according to court records.

The crimes occurred between 2013 and 2015, according to court records.

Divers also admitted to accepting something of value in exchange for shirking his duties as a federal agent, federal prosecutors say.

Investigators alleged Busse collected more than $50,000 in cash bribes from immigrant clients from Ablania, Iraq and Mexico in exchange for helping them avoid deportation. Records show Busse claimed the immigrants were informants providing inside information in drug or terrorism investigations.

Divers was accused of helping Busse by pretending the immigrants were informants assisting with federal criminal prosecutions and as falsifying and destroying records in federal investigations.

Divers never took money, but accepted free legal services and a laptop computer, according to federal prosecutors.

Busse, a former Warren city councilman, was sentenced to three years in prison last year after pleading guilty in 2016 to bribery, conspiracy and tax evasion charges.

"Clifton Divers committed an egregious breach of the trust placed in DHS employees by the American people," said Keith Barwick of the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, in a statement. "While his actions are atypical of the dedication and integrity demonstrated by the vast majority of DHS employees, this sentence should send a message about the serious consequences facing those who exploit their positions and violate the law.

"The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility and the DHS Office of Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate corruption and seek to prosecute perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law."
Detroit has received a $500,000 federal grant to expand and preserve the Dr. Ossian Sweet home and adjacent houses, officials announced Monday.

The home at 2905 Garland Avenue, one of the first places where racial segregation was challenged in Michigan, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Sweet, a black physician, bought the house in 1925. The home was in a white neighborhood on Detroit's east side, and the family's move was met with violent backlash, but Sweet held his ground.

A mob attempted to move the Sweet family out of the neighborhood on On Sept. 9, 1925, throwing rocks and eventually rushing the home. Shots were fired in self-defense, killing one member of the mob and injuring another.

When Sweet and others were arrested and charged with murder, the NAACP hired renowned attorney Clarence Darrow.

Sweet and his companions were acquitted in a case that brought widespread attention to the issue housing discrimination in the U.S.

Daniel Baxter, elections director for Detroit, grew up as the youngest of five children in the house after his mother Ruby Baxter, 90, bought it with her husband in 1958.

"I realize when history is your landlord, you have a greater responsibility to America and the world," Baxter said alongside his mother, as she shed tears out of pride for her son.

"Even though Dr. Sweet didn't realize the dream that he wanted to see for his family, because of what he did, my family had that opportunity," Baxter said on the front porch of the home alongside Mayor Mike Duggan, his mother, sister Monica Baxter, 64, and nephew Aaron Baxter, 29.

The grant to restore the home comes from the African American Civil Rights program of the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund.

The effort is one of 51 "winning projects that will preserve sites and highlight stories related to the African American struggle for equality in the 20th century," according to the mayor's office.

"As Detroit continues to move forward, we cannot forget where we've been," Mayor Mike Duggan said in a news release. "Preserving the Dr. Sweet home and expanding the historic district will give us a chance to reflect on the struggles many African American families have faced and celebrate champions like Dr. Sweet and others, who stood up for what is right."

The grant will cover the preservation and expansion of the historic district, and the opening of a public space in the Sweet home. It will also restore two properties across the street at 2912 and 2918 Garland St., where the mob gathered.

The project is also supported by the $130-million Strategic Neighborhood Fund in the Islandview and Greater Villages area, which involves revitalizing streetscapes, single-family housing, commercial corridors and parks.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Two new priests were ordained in the parish of the Holy Cross in Beduai. Msgr. Mencuccini: "To become priests means to consecrate all of your life to God and to the Church so that you may 'die' for the good of your flock". Local Catholics perform traditional dances and ceremonies before the consecration.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - "To become priests means to consecrate all of your life to God and to the Church so that you may 'die' for the good of your flock". With these words, Msgr. Mencuccini explained the meaning of consecrated life during the ordination of two new priests in the province of West Kalimantan. The ceremony was held on August 10th in the parish church of the Holy Cross in Beduai.

The bishop of Sanggau, Msgr. Giulio Mencuccini celebrated together with the archbishop emeritus of Pontianak, Msgr. Hieronymus Bumbun of the Order of Friars Minor.

The new priests are: Fr. Aga Saputra who will be parish priest in the parish church of Jesus the Crucifix in Nanga Taman, in the diocese of Sanggau; Fr. Joseph Wasito who was assigned to the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul in Sekadau.

The ordination began with local dances and ceremonies. The Catholics of Beduai have explained to AsiaNews what they consist of: "This traditional Dayak dance is a cultural heritage from our ancestors. It is performed by Dayak's 'primus inter pares'. They call him 'Pomang Figure' ".

During the dance slices of pork and chicken meat, sirih leaves, fruit made from betel nuts, chicken eggs, white rice and the local palm wine known as the Indonesian tuak are offered.

Fr Augustinus Kraeng explains that the ritual dance is performed before the ceremony with the hope that God will give his blessing to all people and that the ordination goes well. "While the two deacons are about to enter the church's front door, the Pomang Figure performs the ritual with the chicken and, finally, both deacons must jump on the eggs," said the priest.

On August 4, the Archbishop of Pontianak, Msgr. Agostino Ago ordained three priests and four deacons in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Pontianak. The three new priests are: Fr. Matius of the parish of St. Pius X Bengkayang; Fr. Marselinus M. Jano of the diocese of Ruteng in Flores, Fr. Marsianus Iwan Setiawan, of Calvari Lubang Buaya. While the deacon are: Paulinus Surip; Valerius Hilarion, Josemaria Caritas and Methoddius of Magelang.

(with the contribution of Sr. Maria Seba)
Had police and prosecutors avoided the mix-ups and missteps that allowed a now-accused serial killer to remain free, up to five killings may have been prevented, authorities acknowledged this week.

James E. Matthews Jr., 65, a former Detroit resident extradited to Michigan from New York on Sunday, appeared via video feed Tuesday, Aug. 14, from the Wayne County Jail to be arraigned on charges stemming from a 2000 sexual assault, a 2001 domestic misdemeanor and a 2003 strangling.

Matthews was previously arrested in connection with the strangling, but was never prosecuted. All three incidents occurred in Detroit.

Matthews has also been identified as a suspect in at least one other Michigan killing, as well as three homicides in Texas and another in New York, George Hunter of the Detroit News reported, based on statements made by Detroit police.

"I don't know what's going on," Matthews said when asked if he understood the charges against him. Matthews claimed the domestic violence case was not his.

Wayne County 36th District Magistrate Judge Magistrate Millicent D. Sherman ordered Matthews held without bond on the 2003 first-degree murder charge.

Suspected serial killer arraigned in Detroit 10 Gallery: Suspected serial killer arraigned in Detroit

Matthews, appearing in a green jail jumpsuit with glasses, with a graying goatee and receding hairline, shook his head in disagreement when Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Ciaffone told the court Matthews has ties, as well as prior convictions, in New York and Texas, making him a flight risk and threat to the public, specifically to women.

Matthews was arrested in New York in April when he became the prime suspect in a 2007 killing there. The case was dismissed when a grand jury declined to file criminal charges; however, DNA collected during the investigation linked Matthews to the 2000 sexual assault of a 50-year-old woman in Detroit.

According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Matthews, who lived in Detroit at the time, invited the woman to his home to "talk" on the morning of July 12, 2000.

"Once inside, it is alleged that Matthews became violent and sexually assaulted the woman while armed with a knife," the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said. "After the assault, he restrained the victim and left the room. While he was in another part of the house, the victim was able to escape and call 911."

After the woman was interviewed, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct were issued April 19.

Prosecutors say forensic evidence collected at the sexual assault crime scene was reexamined, linking Matthews to the 2003 strangling of 40-year-old Marchella Robinson, who was found dead on the lawn of a home next door to where Matthews was living on St. Mary's in Detroit at the time.

Matthews was previously arrested and identified as a suspect in both the sexual assault and homicide. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said the sexual assault case was never originally charged because the victim failed to show up for an interview.

The murder charge wasn't initially filed because the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office requested further information or evidence that the Detroit Police Department never provided.

"I'm not going to say it's the prosecutor when our investigators know you've got to follow up," Detroit Police Chief James Craig told WDIV-TV, Chanel 4 News. "We've got a murder suspect, or at least who we believe is a murder suspect, and we don't follow up on the case status.

"It's good that we have a (suspected) serial killer off the streets, but should we have done more in 2003 ... I believe there are additional cases here, and God knows what additional states."

Matthews is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault for the 2000 case and first-degree premeditated murder for the 2003 strangling.

He is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on Aug. 28.
FLINT, MI - The Flint city attorney says she's concerned the state is giving "bad advice" about hydro excavation for water lines -- much like it gave "inaccurate direction" in the past that led to the Flint water crisis.

"The (Michigan Department of Environamental Quality) -- the primacy agency for enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act -- continues to ignore the facts relative to public health and safety ... favoring cost savings, to the detriment of the public," City Attorney Angela Wheeler wrote in an Aug. 9 letter to Michigan Attorney General's Office.

Wheeler's letter came in response to concerns raised by Assistant Attorney General Richard Kuhl, who earlier this month questioned Mayor Karen Weaver's decision to no longer use hydro excavation to unearth water service lines.

Kuhl contended the decision could unnecessarily cost taxpayers an estimated additional $14.6 million compare to traditional excavation and could cause Flint to exceed the maximum cost for service line replacement, spelled out in a lawsuit settlement with the Concerned Pastors for Social Action and others.

Wheeler said the city is not over-budget on service line replacement, making that concern premature, and she said the safety of water and residents' health takes precedence over financial mandates.

"The state has mentioned 'cost' no less than twelve (12) times in this (Aug. 1) correspondence," she said of a letter Kuhl sent to the city. "I think this is the wrong approach; and I sincerely hope that the state and the (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) carefully consider the human impact at stake, and work with the city to stop making costs its singular focus."

DEQ officials have maintained that there is no health or safety benefit to traditional excavation compared to hydro excavation, provided the procedure is done properly.

Hydro excavation bores holes in the ground by using high pressure water and vacuum power to expose portions of service lines to determine what they are composed of.

Weaver suspended the use of hydro excavation in June, contending it was missing lines that were spliced with more than one type of material and resulting in damaged lead and copper remaining in the ground.

Wheeler attached photos of Sincere Smith to her letter to the state. Smith is the 2-year-old who was the subject of a Time magazine cover about Flint water and rashes he developed, calling him "one of the youngest victims of bad information from the MDEQ."

"For the moment, the state should look to the faces of the children, pregnant mothers, the immuno-compromised and senior citizens that live in Flint; and consider that if even one house with a lead service line is missed, it will have a real and lasting impact on the lives of those residents," the city attorney's letter says.

The DEQ could not be reached immediately for comment.

Flint is in process of removing all lead and galvanized steel water service lines in the city -- a job certain to cost tens of millions of dollars.

City, state and federal officials have said the service lines were damaged and have the potential to bleed lead into the Flint water supply because the DEQ never required that the city's water treatment plant treat Flint River water to make it less corrosive.
VIENNA TWP, MI -- The musical lineup for the High Times Midwest Cannabis Cup in Genesee County has begun to trickle out roughly one month in advance of the event celebrating all things marijuana.

Scheduled for Sept. 8-9 at Auto City Speedway, 10205 N. Saginaw Road, in Vienna Township, the first musical act announced on the event's website is a throwback to the mid-2000s southern rap scene.

Houston rapper Mike Jones is set to take the stage on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the all-medical marijuana event. Jones is best known for his songs "Back Then" and "Still Tippin."

The Cannabis Cup event in June featured hip-hop and rap artists including Lil' Wayne, Machine Gun Kelly, Ludacris, Vic Mensa, Berner, and Yo Gotti on stage as vendors occupied the infield selling their wares.

September's event comes just a few months prior to Michigan voters heading to the ballots to vote on a ballot proposal that could legalize recreational marijuana usage by state residents.

The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act would, in part, create a 10 percent excise sales tax and allow for those 21 and over to possess two-and-one-half ounces of marijuana at home and grow up to 12 plants.

Caretakers may currently grow a limited amount of plants for a certain number of patients following approval by voters of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act in 2008.

This year's events mark the fifth year the High Times magazine is holding the event at Auto City Speedway.

Started in 1988 in Amsterdam, the Cannabis Cup events include a trade expo with vendors and marijuana competition.

It became an all-medical event for the Michigan event in June 2016.

Tickets can be purchased online or on-site starting at $40 for a one-day general admission pass to $115 for a two-day VIP pass that includes a free water bottle and a commemorative poster.
CALEDONIA, MI - Davenport University and the Wyoming VA Health Care Center are partnering on a nursing initiative to enhance health care delivery for veterans.

Davenport received a four-year, $2.4 million grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration to recruit and train nursing students and current registered nurses to strengthen the workforce of primary care registered nurses.

Officials say the Wyoming VA serves almost 23,000 patients per year and has seen growth of about 2,000 patients over the last two years. The facility provides over 167,000 outpatient visits but grew about 7,000 visits just in the past two years.

Karen Daley, dean of the College of Health Professions at Davenport, said primary care provides comprehensive community care and requires different training and expertise from the acute care nurses provide in hospitals.

"It takes a different kind of nurse -- someone to provide long-term, patient-provider relationships and coordinate across multiple disciplines so patients do not have to go anywhere else but that clinic," Daley said.

"Working together, the Wyoming VA and the Davenport University Nursing program will be able to ensure that veterans continue to get the primary care they need and deserve.''

The grant's goals are two-fold:

Enhance the outpatient and veteran care skills of 45 existing registered nurses at the Wyoming VA through sustained professional development focused on best practices.

Improve the nursing education for 30 students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pre-licensure program by preparing them for employment in Community-Based Ambulatory Primary Care settings. Scholarships are targeted at students underrepresented in the healthcare workforce.

"The program will incorporate primary care into the curriculum which is generally not included in nursing studies," said Kimberly Zipper, associate director for Patient Care Services at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center.

"We will be able to hire nurses from the program who have practical experience in primary care and with Veterans."

In addition to the Wyoming VA, located at 5838 Metro Way, the Battle Creek VA Medical Center has outpatient clinics in Lansing, Benton Harbor, and Muskegon.

Daley said Davenport will develop curriculum inside the university and in the clinics to focus on primary care.

"Working within clinics will give students a different experience and we will be one of the only universities delivering nursing curriculum in primary care,'' Daley said. "It is really cutting edge. ''

After this planning year, Davenport will provide scholarships to 10 nursing students per year. Fifteen Wyoming VA registered nurses will receive the professional development support per year.

"This partnership not only helps to train nurses in primary care but also provides education and exposure to the military and veteran culture,'' said Brian Pegouske, Public Affairs Officer for the Battle Creek VA Medical Center.

"Both of these are extremely important no matter where a nurse works in the future.''

He said part of the VA's mission is to help train healthcare professionals.

The Health Resources & Services Administration provided $25.7 million in funding to 42 awardees located in rural and underserved areas across all its 10 regions.

The only other school in Michigan to receive the grant was Wayne State, which got $2.6 million.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Instead of the usual annual contract, Mark Washington will step into the Grand Rapids city manager position with a three-year deal.

The city commission voted unanimously Tuesday, Aug. 14, to approve Washington's contract and start date of Oct. 1. He'll make $250,000 -- the high end of the Grand Rapids job listing, and more than the $210,595 salary of former city manager Greg Sundstrom in 2016.

City officials said they gave Washington a multi-year contract instead of the usual one-year deals because of the many complex challenges and opportunities facing the city.

"This gives Mark the time he needs to work with city staff and our partners to dig into complex issues such as racial disparities, housing affordability and community and police relations and help us move forward together as a city," said Mayor Rosalynn Bliss in a statement.

Washington, 45, has 22 years of local government experience, including in his role the last three years as an assistant city manager in Austin, Texas. He oversaw eight departments in Austin, including human resources, communications and innovation.

As the first non-local city manager appointee in the last 30 years, Washington will also receive a $40,000 stipend for relocation costs.

"We feel strongly that we need to provide a competitive salary and benefits package to attract national talent like Mark," Bliss said. "This is a trend in cities across the country, including right here in Michigan, and something that our executive recruiter has recommended. It makes sense based on Mark's expertise in our areas of focus and his leadership experience."

Bliss pointed to Ann Arbor as an example. She said Ann Arbor recently approved a contract for its new city administrator -- also from Austin -- with a similar relocation stipend.

Sundstrom was Grand Rapids city manager for nine years. He announced his plan to retire in August 2017 before stepping down at the end of the calendar year.

Washington was selected over four other finalists on July 31. In total, the city spent $51,000 on contracts with recruiting firms to bring in candidates.

The city manager contract will be formalized at Tuesday's 7 p.m. city commission meeting at Grand Rapids City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- State and local public health officials say they will begin testing the blood of Rockford and Belmont residents exposed to PFAS in their drinking water after a long-awaited review of cancer incidences in the area returned inconclusive results.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced plans for the new "exposure assessment" on Tuesday, Aug. 14 during a press conference related to the newly-released cancer registry review at Kent County Health Department.

Blood draws and other information collection related to PFAS exposure in the areas where shoemaker Wolverine World Wide dumped PFAS-laden tannery waste into unlined landfills and gravel pits will begin this fall, according to health officials.

The effort will build upon the cancer review, which found "no consistent elevation" in cancer incidences besides prostate cancer in 12 census tracts and ZIP codes 49306 and 49341 between 2000 and 2014. Officials called the data review a first step in local, state and federal efforts to understand the health effects of high PFAS contamination levels in local water.

"We recognize this is incomplete and insufficient," said Adam London, Kent County administrative health officer. "That's why we're continuing."

State officials echoed that statement.

"This is like taking a snapshot, but there's no context to it," said Eden Wells, the state's chief medical executive. "Now, we've got to go forward and get some context."

About 800 people with contaminated wells are needed to participate in the new assessment, said DHHS environmental health director Kory Groetsch. The state will sample two groups: People with wells contaminated above and below 70 parts per trillion (ppt).

The goal is to answer some population-level question related to the health effects of PFAS exposure similar to the well-known C8 study involving 69,000 people in the Mid-Ohio Valley, where a DuPont plant contaminated municipal drinking water with PFOA, one of numerous PFAS compounds that have been turning up in local water supplies.

Groetsch said the state will fund the estimated $1 million study, but there are legal mechanisms to recover costs from Wolverine.

The new assessment will be done parallel to similar PFAS exposure studies the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is preparing for eight sites around the United States with recently appropriated funding from Congress. Because that effort is tied to defense funding, folding Kent County into the mix is unlikely.

Nonetheless, "we're still going to do this," said Wells.

Attorneys for Varnum Law, who represent more than 400 people suing Wolverine over the contamination, reacted to the news by noting the firm pushed Wolverine, the state and the county to blood test residents with PFAS in their wells nearly a year ago.

"We went ahead and blood tested close to 100 people and found high blood levels, some of which were higher than those expected from workers in a PFAS manufacturing plant," said Varnum attorney Paul Albarran. "While our original position has been vindicated, we are disappointed that nearly an entire year was wasted by Wolverine's stubbornness."

The data released Tuesday was not required before embarking on the next phase of cancer study. When asked about why a deeper assessment was not undertaken sooner, Groetsch and Wells said the state was waiting for federal PFAS guidance.

London said it became more apparent a larger assessment was warranted as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality investigation progressed over the winter and contamination was found at high levels in larger swaths of Plainfield and Algoma townships.

In response to the cancer registry report, Wolverine released an uncharacteristically long statement that called the report a "first step in an ongoing and long-term scientific analysis" around the health impacts of PFAS in Kent County, but which did not otherwise address blood testing or the potential costs involved.

"As Michigan's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eden Wells explained, MDHHS is "not convinced" that the elevated incidence for prostate cancer is fully explained by PFAS, and MDHHS could not "make that linkage" between prostate cancer and PFAS. The lack of definite results presented today underscores how complicated these issues continue to be," Wolverine wrote. "As MDHHS notes, the ability to draw any more specific conclusions is constrained by the limitations of the study."

Inconclusive cancer findings are not exactly surprising. Local health officials have been warning the review scope was likely to return ambiguous results.

The Michigan Central Cancer Registry data review found that urogenital cancers were in normal ranges compared to statewide rates between 2000 and 2014, but four census tracts had "significantly higher rates" than white county residents between 2000 and 2004.

Kidney and renal pelvic cancer rates were also "significantly" higher than expected between 2000 and 2004, but "the difference declined over time."

Testicular and ovarian cancers were found in normal ranges.

Prostate cancer numbers are "difficult to interpret as published associations with PFAS exposure are weak and there are other factors known to influence prostate incidence that are beyond the scope of this review." Wells noted prostate cancer is common among males.

The review area included parts of Plainfield, Algoma, Courtland, Cannon, Grattan and Oakfield townships as well as the city of Rockford and villages of Belmont and Cannonsburg.

The registry review, first announced shortly after news broke last fall about PFAS in local drinking water, was undertaken to address community concerns, officials said.

Groetsch said the results are "pretty typical" of such reviews.

"It hopefully alleviates the notion that there's this broad prevalence of elevated cancer," he said. "In this first cut, we're saying we don't see that. It doesn't mean PFAS hasn't harmed people. We're still going to keep pursing that through this exposure assessment."

Nonetheless, officials don't want to be handing out false hope. The elevated occurrence of prostate cancer warrants further study.

"We went and looked, and you don't see anything dramatic today," Groetsch said. "To go make assumptions beyond that, like 'oh, this isn't an issue,' or 'it's some bigger issue' and 'oh my goodness, focus on some element of that report' -- way too soon."
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids police have released the name of a 24-year-old motorcyclist who died in a single vehicle crash on Saturday after losing control of his motorcycle.

Matthew Rodriguez of Wyoming was killed in the fatal single vehicle motorcycle crash, police said.

Around 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, Rodriguez was driving a motorcycle and was passing cars in the left and right turn lanes. Police said he lost control at Burton Street SW and Jerome Avenue SW, hitting a curb that sent him into a telephone pole.

Although Rodriguez was wearing a helmet, when officers arrived at the scene, Rodriguez was unconscious and was transported to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.

Police said speed appears to be a factor in the crash and it is unknown if alcohol was a factor.

Police officers, the Grand Rapids Fire Department and paramedics responded to the scene.

Additional information about the incident can be directed to the Grand Rapids Police Traffic Unit through Officer Andy Bingel, (616) 456-3414, or Officer Frank Barthel, (616) 456-3938. Anonymous tips can be made to Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
A judge has struck down ex-Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar's attempt to disqualify the judge that sentenced him to decades in prison for sexually assaulting hundreds of girls and women under the guise of medical treatment.

Nassar's lawyers alleged Ingham County Circuit Judge Judge Rosemarie Aquilina was biased against him by allowing 169 people to give victim impact statements during his sentencing and cheering them along. Nassar is asking to be re-sentenced, and was attempting to seek a different judge to do so.

Tuesday, Ingham County Circuit Court Chief Judge Richard J. Garcia denied Nassar's motion to disqualify Aquilina.

"Judge Aquilina clearly understood the importance of righteous indignation. She also understood the role of the court to have this emotion controlled by the judge rather than allow it to run wild in the community," Garcia wrote in his ruling. "She explained that as she expressed her indignation, there was a palpable decrease in the tension in the gallery. This was a controlled burn."

Nassar's attorneys alleged that Aquilina used the sentencing -- which was broadcast on national TV -- to advance her own agenda. Nassar was attacked in federal prison hours after being booked, his lawyers claimed. The sentencing lasted nearly two weeks - and, as part of Nassar's plea deal, allowed any victim beyond those he faced charges against to speak

Garcia defended Aquilina's candor in the courtroom extensively in his ruling.

"Had Judge Aquilina discharged her duty of office 'without rhetoric' and dispassionately and blandly admonished the Defendant in polite terms, the survivors who poured their pain onto the record would have left feeling that their voices were again being ignored by the state," Garcia said.

Garcia said the only judge that could consider re-sentencing Nassar is the judge that heard the survivors speak. A date for Aqualina to hear Nassar's motion for a new sentence has not yet been set.

Nassar's attorneys with the State Appellate Defender Office could not be reached for comment.

Nassar also is seeking a new sentence in his Eaton County case, where he was charged with sexually assaulting girls and women at Twistars gymnastics facility in Dimondale.

Nassar, a former doctor for Michigan State and the U.S.A. Gymnastics team, is serving 40-175 years in prison for sexual assault. He is also serving a 60-year sentence in federal prison on child pornography charges.
LANSING, MI -- The Michigan Department of Corrections will close the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Gogebic County to fulfill a requirement in the upcoming state budget.

The Fiscal Year 2019 budget, which runs from Oct. 1, 2018 through Sept. 30, 2019, required the state to close a prison without specifying which facility would shut down. The budget anticipates a savings of $19.2 million from such a closure.

The department named which prison would close on Tuesday, choosing the Ojibway Correctional Facility in the Upper Peninsula's Gogebic County. The facility was opened as a camp in 1971 and converted to a prison in 2,000. It has 1,162 beds and employs 203 people.

It is slated to be closed on Dec. 1, 2018.

The closure is possible because the state's prison population has declined by more than 10 percent in the last three years. The state attributes the population decline to its Offender Success model, which emphasizes vocational training and education.

"We are committed to using taxpayer resources wisely as we further our mission to make Michigan a safer place to live by ensuring returning citizens have the education and skills they need to lead productive lives," said Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington.

The department will work with union leaders and the Office of the State Employer on bumping chains and transfer options for employees. It also plans to absorb as many displaced employees as possible into its 700 corrections officer openings and other vacancies.

The prison will be the third closed in recent years. The state closed the West Shoreline Correctional Facility in Muskegon in March and the Pugsley Correctional Facility in 2016. The state has closed and consolidated 27 prisons and camps since 2005.
ADRIAN, MI - Using DNA and with advances in technology, authorities have identified remains buried in a Georgia "pauper's grave" as those of a 15-year-old Addison High School student missing for nearly 40 years.

Andrew Greer ran away from home Feb. 12, 1979. Unbeknownst to police and his family in Michigan, indications are he died two days later, when he was hit by a semitrailer while hitch-hiking down I-75 near Macon in central Georgia, about 800 miles south of Addison, according to a Tuesday statement distributed by Michigan State Police.

It was not until December that police linked the "John Doe" killed in the crash and the boy in Addison.

"The thing is, you want to feel good about it," state police Detective 1st Lt. Thomas DeClercq said Tuesday. "It is a lot more bitter than sweet. It is sad.

"A young boy lost his life, you know, running away."

Decades ago, Greer's mother reported he disappeared from their home on Burton Road in Rollins Township, north of Clayton, and he was last seen on U.S. 127 in Addison, according to Greer's profile on NamUs, a national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified and unclaimed people. The only confirmed final sighting was at the high school. State police investigated, but the case went cold.

The file never really was closed. The Lenawee County Sheriff's Office re-opened the inquiry in 2000 and the state police again began an investigation in 2014, according to the statement.

Late last year, a retired sheriff's deputy in Bibb County, Ga. connected the events, state police reported. According to the Daily Telegram, investigators in Georgia came across a story about Greer published in the Adrian newspaper, called upon by a half brother to try to bring attention to the case.

DeClercq, of the Lansing-based First District Special Investigation Section, said the deputy had kept the case in mind all these years and learned of Greer, with a disappearance date so close to the Georgia fatality.

"This is just one of those cold cases, a 15-year-old boy gone missing. People are going to keep looking at that," DeClercq said.

The deputy contacted the state police, and a Michigan detective traveled south in April to exhume the body, with help from the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, the Macon district attorney's office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Remains were additionally tested, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation sent a DNA sample to the Center for Human Identification at the University of North Texas. Results led police to conclude they belong to Greer. It is 1.9 trillion times more likely the "John Doe" and Greer DNA are the same, they showed, according to the statement.

DeClercq said state police had collected familial DNA from Greer's mother's side.

Until now, the identity of the body had been a mystery in Georgia. In 1979, long before computer databases tracked the missing, no information surfaced in Michigan about the teen crash victim and no one in Georgia claimed the body, so it was buried, the Telegram reported.

"The media wasn't what it is now. They didn't have the social media and news..., weren't able to put two and two together," DeClercq said.

Arrangements are now being made to bring Greer's body back to Michigan, according to state police.
By Bronwyn GIllanders, Professor , University of Adelaide

Fred Bavendam, Author provided

Australia is home to the worlds only known site where cuttlefish gather to mate en masse.

From May to August, if you head into the water around Point Lowly, South Australia, it will be a chilly 12. But youll be able to observe what look like aliens  hundreds, even thousands of tentacled organisms with their unusual distinctive W-shaped eye pupils, and pulsating colours moving across their body.

Intent on mating, the cuttlefish will be totally oblivious to your presence.









David Wiltshire, Author provided









Read more:

The science and art of reef restoration





But this population of cuttlefish dropped in abundance from an estimated 150,000 animals in the late 1990s to only 13,492 in 2013.

Although counts in recent years suggest the creatures have recovered, my research aims to determine what sorts of factors influence this very unique cuttlefish population. This may allow us to better manage and protect the species  important not just for science, but also for the local environment and economy.

Rockstars of the sea

Every time I head to the Point Lowly coastline and dive with the giant Australian cuttlefish Im amazed and excited by their antics.









Matt McMillan, Author provided





The name giant is perhaps a misnomer. Giant Australian cuttlefish only ever reach about one metre in size. Most animals are much smaller, especially in South Australia.

Cephalopods have been described as rockstars of the sea for their live fast, die young life history strategy  they grow rapidly, reproduce early and die following reproduction. Giant Australian cuttlefish live for 1-2 years.





Although they are found in waters across southern Australia, giant Australian cuttlefish live in distinct populations that do not interact. We know from genetic studies that those breeding along that small area of Upper Spencer Gulf coastline are restricted to an area north from a line across the gulf from Wallaroo to Arno Bay (around 6,500 km).









Ellen Rochelmeyer (using Google Maps), CC BY-NC-ND





Outside the breeding season of May to August they are distributed throughout this northern region. Come May they start to move towards a narrow 8km stretch of rocky coastline. At their peak you see literally one cuttlefish per square metre. Its the sheer numbers that are impressive!

They come solely for one purpose over winter  to find mates to reproduce.









Tim Rogers, Author provided





Sudden drop in numbers

Around the late 1990s, the cuttlefish breeding aggregation in the Upper Spencer Gulf began to be targeted by fishers. Since then, a number of restrictions on taking cuttlefish and other cephalopods from these waters have been in place.

Around that time, a program of research through the University of Adelaide and SARDI Aquatic Sciences also began. Estimates of abundance and biomass of the breeding aggregation population suggested around 150,000 cuttlefish bred in the Upper Spencer Gulf. The surveys stopped after a few years.









Matt McMillan, Author provided





Then in 2005 anecdotal reports from SCUBA divers suggested cuttlefish were less abundant. A survey at that time and continual data collected since 2008 confirmed that numbers had dropped. In 2013 less than 15,000 individuals were estimated on the breeding aggregation.

Significant resources were put towards studying the cuttlefish to determine what might be causing such a decline. Changes in water temperature and salinity may be involved.





Read more:

Three reasons why its a bad idea to ramp up Adelaide's desalination plant





We looked at data for other cephalopods over a similar time frame, and found no such decline. In fact, over the last 60 years many different types of cephalopod have been increasing in abundance  its not yet clear why.

The low numbers of 2013 seem to be unique to the giant Australian cuttlefish on the Upper Spencer Gulf.

Since this time there has been a recovery in this population, with numbers bouncing back towards their late 1990s levels.









Nick Payne, Author provided





How cuttlefish breed

We know that cuttlefish come to this breeding aggregation to mate using a range of amazing strategies and behaviours  for example, small males impersonate females to avoid detection by larger males and gain access under cover.





Read more:

Did they mean to do that? Accident and intent in an octopuses' garden





Because the population on the breeding aggregation is skewed towards males (an average of four to one), females have some choice over who they mate with.

After mating takes place, females deposit eggs on the underside of rocks.









Fred Bavendam, Author provided





Cuttlefish eggs take three to five months to develop, hatching from mid-September through to early November. They emerge as miniature adults about the size of your thumbnail.

Baby cuttlefish disperse within the Upper Spencer Gulf with an even sex ratio.









Matt McMillan, Author provided





To work out why there was a difference in sex ratio between the broader region (1 male:1 female) and the breeding aggregation (4 males:1 female), we tagged male and female cuttlefish using trackable acoustic markers. We discovered that males spend around four times the length of time on the breeding aggregation compared to females, and that individuals are not present for the whole breeding season.

So the breeding aggregation is likely larger in size than fixed time frame counting estimates allow us to measure.

Positive influence on local economy

Although the apparently low population size in 2013 caused great concern, we are now cautiously optimistic for our giant Australian cuttlefish in Upper Spencer Gulf.









Matt McMillan, Author provided





These creatures attract tourists from around the world, who come and snorkel or SCUBA dive on a unique breeding aggregation. This in turn injects money into the local economy and diversifies business in the region.

The cuttlefish are just one user of our shared marine environment along with the other activities and industries of South Australia.

This article is based on a presentation delivered by Bronwyn Gillanders at the South Australian Museum as part of the Sprigg Lecture Series.

Bronwyn GIllanders receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Fisheries Research Development Corporation, government and industry investors. She is a member of the South Australian giant cuttlefish working group.

Originally published in The Conversation.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A man who confessed to choking and then beating a Kalamazoo man to death has pleaded guilty in his criminal case.

Shanadore Rice, 34, of South Haven, pleaded guilty to one count of second degree murder as a third-time habitual offender Monday, Aug. 13 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

Police have said Rice confessed he choked 69-year-old William Gray, then used a table leg and paint cans to beat him to death on Dec. 29, 2017.

Officers responded to Gray's home in the 1200 block of North Rose Street in Kalamazoo Dec. 30, 2017, after they received information Gray had been killed in the home, a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety detective said during a probable cause hearing in Kalamazoo County District Court.

After executing a search warrant at the home, officers found a bloody crime scene in the living room, which had been partially cleaned up, and blood in the basement.

"It was apparent from the evidence found in the living room that significant efforts were made to clean up the scene," the detective said in the hearing.

After Gray had not been seen or heard from by family members or friends, police asked the public for help locating him, saying he had disappeared under suspicious circumstances.

Police interviewed several witnesses who independently reported Gray had gotten into a physical fight with his girlfriend and Rice "was summoned to assault Gray," the detective testified.

William Henry Gray

The witnesses told police Rice choked Gray, causing him to fall to the floor, then used his fists, a table leg and paint cans to beat him. They said that shortly after Gray fell to the floor, he appeared motionless and was no longer trying to protect himself, the detective said.

Through the investigation, police learned Rice drove Gray's car to the Detroit area. KDPS detectives worked with Michigan State Police and Detroit detectives in a homicide task force and conducted foot and helicopter searches to locate Gray's body.

On Jan. 12, police learned Rice checked himself in to the Detroit Receiving Medical Facility, and told staff that he had left his vehicle in the parking area. The task force was alerted and found Gray's car, but did not find his body. Police found blood in the trunk and bloody paint cans in the car, the detective testified.

KDPS detectives interviewed Rice at the South Haven Police Department and he admitted to police that he had assaulted Gray inside the North Rose Street home. Rice said he cleaned up the crime scene, stripped Gray of his clothes, zip tied his wrists and ankles, wrapped him in a sheet, put his body in the truck of Gray's car, drove to Detroit and dumped Gray's body under the back porch of an abandoned house, the detective testified.

He said that on Jan. 14, Rice showed police the location of Gray's body.

Rice faces life in prison or any term of years when he is sentenced Sept. 10.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - Three sheriff's detectives have been named 2018 Peace Officers of the Year for their investigation of the Jeffrey Willis kidnapping and murder cases.

The Michigan Fraternal Order of Police recently honored Muskegon County Sheriff detectives Lisa Freres, Chad Petersen and Matt Schultz.

The Peace Officers award recognizes their efforts to solve the 2013 kidnapping and murder of gas station attendant Jessica Heeringa and the 2014 shooting death of jogger Rebekah Bletsch, for which Willis has been convicted.

"These three detectives compiled a large volume of information and presented a clear case that resulted in a conviction for first degree murder," said Mike Sauger, present of the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police. "Their relentless effort and attention to detail helped make our communities safer."

Schultz was the officer who discovered the existence of surveillance cameras at a blueberry farm near to where a 16-year-old said she was abducted and later escaped. The cameras captured images of a van similar to one described by the teen, and investigators were able to identify Muskegon-area owners of the same type of van. The teen chose Willis as the van owner who abducted her.

The Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office recently decided not to prosecute the teen kidnapping case. Willis already was sentenced earlier this year to two mandatory life terms for the murders of Bletsch and Heeringa.

Petersen was involved in searches of Willis' home that uncovered computer hard drives containing evidence - including folders with photos of and info about the Bletsch and Heeringa cases - including one hidden in ductwork.

Freres interviewed Willis' cousin, Kevin Bluhm, who said he saw Willis with Heeringa's lifeless, nude and bound body in the basement of their late grandfather's home.

Police Lt. Michael Kasher of Norton Shores, where the kidnapping and murder of Heeringa occurred, mentioned Freres as among investigators from outside agencies who regularly kept in contact with him during the five years it took to find Willis and bring him to justice.

The Michigan chapter of Fraternal Order of Police is the state's largest and oldest law enforcement organization, with 7,500 active member and 3,000 associate members in more than 50 lodges across the state. The FOP is dedicated to improving working conditions for law enforcement officers.
Ian Davis

FREMONT, MI - An escaped inmate was captured in Fremont after he crashed a motorcycle that he allegedly had stolen, according to the local sheriff.

Ian Riley-Jackson Davis, 32, was captured before 1 p.m. Hours earlier, just before 9 a.m., he escaped from police custody at Gerber Memorial Hospital in Fremont.

Newaygo County Sheriff Bob Mendham said Davis was traveling on a stolen motorcycle when he was recognized by a Fremont police officer who turned around to try to stop him.

"What it looks like is he had stolen the motorcycle and was trying to flee," Mendham said. "He drove by one of the Fremont officers who recognized him immediately and that's what caused him to drive so recklessly and get in the accident."

Davis was handcuffed and loaded into an ambulance at Main Street and Mechanic Avenue in downtown Fremont. He was complaining of pain and had suffered a left leg injury, Mendham said.

"It's our belief he probably broke into a home somewhere near the hospital and was trying to flee the city on the stolen motorcycle with the stolen possessions," Mendham said.

On its Facebook page, the sheriff's office had advised residents to lock their home and car doors, noting that Davis "is known for auto theft." Mendham said it appears that Davis broke into a home in the city of Fremont to gain access to the motorcycle. The homeowner was not aware of the break-in, he added.

He had changed out of the orange jail jumpsuit he was wearing into stolen clothes, including boots and pants, Mendham said. He had a helmet with him, but it wasn't immediately clear if he had been wearing it.

Bystander Molly Nielsen said she saw the officer turn around to chase the motorcyclist who sped up and fishtailed through the intersection at Main Street and collided with a truck.

"He got off the bike and tried to run, but he had such a bad broken leg that he collapsed right there," Nielsen said. "He got hit and hurt pretty bad."

A local businesswoman, Nielsen said the town was on "high alert" looking out for the escapee.

Mendham said there was heavy police presence in Fremont as a lot of "manpower" was dedicated to finding Davis. The sheriff said he was grateful no one was hurt and that Davis wasn't killed as a result of his "recklessness."

Mendham said two officers were assigned to watch Davis at the hospital. Sheriff personnel will review their procedures to make sure they prevent future escapes, he said.

"These things happen. We try our very best to eliminate all possibilities, but we weren't good enough today," Mendham said. "We'll get much better, I can guarantee that."

MLive Multimedia Specialist Mike Krebs contributed to this report.
MUSKEGON, MI - The lineup for Moosefest 2018 is stacked with country music talent.

The 15th annual free event in downtown Muskegon is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18, at Heritage Landing park.

Headlining the show is Kip Moore who's been on the national country music scene since 2012 when he first hit the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck," which went to No. 1 in June that year.

The lineup also includes country music up-and-comers Trent Harmon, Abby Anderson, Travis Denning, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Arts and local artist Bari Lee.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and music begins at noon. Parking costs $10. Bag chairs and blankets are allowed.

As free, radio-station sponsored music festivals and events fade from existence, this one is in full force.

Moosefest is put on by 107 MUS The Moose, an iHeart Radio country station based in Muskegon. The festival remains free even as fellow West Michigan iHeart Radio country station 93.7 B-93 converted its Birthday Bash into a paid event this year.

Although the festival is free, you'll still need a ticket to gain entry. Tickets can be picked up at any ticket drop leading up to the event. You must be 16 or older to get tickets. Each person can get up to four tickets.

Here are currently announced ticket drops:

4-5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14 at Airgas, 6865 Grand Haven Road in Spring Lake Township

6-7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15, at Bella Mack Pizza, 207 N. Seventh St. in Grand Haven

6-7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 16, at Jake's Fireworks, 1490 E. Apple Ave. in Muskegon

Kip Moore may be the biggest headliner in Moosefest's history. However, the organizers have a knack for finding artists who will make it big.

Russell Dickerson, who was among the 2017 lineup, had his first two songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart this year. Jordan Davis who also appeared in 2017 also had his first two songs on the same chart this year.

Other well-known Moosefest alums include Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Jon Pardi, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Eric Paslay, Lauren Alaina, David Nail, Thompson Square, Brothers Osborne, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, Runaway June, the Eli Young Band and Chris Janson.
LONDON -- Police say an incident Tuesday morning involving a man driving a car into a crowd of people is being treated as a terrorist attack. The driver of the car was arrested on scene, just outside of the House of Parliaments.

The Associated Press reports a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after he drove a Ford Fiesta into a number of cyclists and pedestrians. He then crashed the car into the barriers outside Parliament during the morning rush hour.

Two people were injured in the crash, but none of the injuries are expected to be life-threatening.

London Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Basu said that despite being in custody, the suspect is not cooperating with police. He also said no other suspects have been identified and there is no "intelligence" of further danger to London, according to the AP.
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation has fired an agent who was caught sending text messages bashing President Donald Trump.

Peter Strzok was fired last Friday a year after he was removed from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation after the text messages were discovered.

Strzok was under investigation by the bureau following the discovery of the texts, but his lawyer says the dismissal is the result of pressure from Trump and his supporters.

Aitan Goelman, Strzok's lawyer released a statement Mondaycalling the firing an effort "to punish Special Agent Strzok for political speech protected by the First Amendment." He went on to say the firing "should be deeply troubling to all Americans."

Last month, Strzok appeared before at a hearing before members of the House that turned into a shouting match at times and where Strzok defended the texts which included him calling Trump a "disaster" and saying "We'll stop" a Trump candidacy."

Trump has repeatedly questioned the bias of agents involved in the investigation and celebrated Strzok's firing on Twitter.

Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction - I just fight back!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018
Another firefighter was killed fighting the massive, weeks-long wildfire burning through Northern California Monday, Aug. 13 which brings the death toll in recent weeks up to 12.

The Associated Press reports that five other firefighters and six other people have been killed fighting wildfires throughout the state over the past couple of weeks. Monday's death was connected to the Mendocino Complex fire, which has already been the state's largest of all time by acreage for a week now.

The firefighter killed on Monday north of San Francisco was reportedly from Utah, and he was injured and later died at a hospital.

--

A.P. reports that Monday's fires extended into the busiest area of Montana's Glacier National Park as officials in another part of the state prepared to reopen Yosemite National Park after portions closed for two weeks due to the fires.

Glacier National Park reports that several structures were destroyed or damaged on its grounds near Lake McDonald.

"While multiple buildings were saved, a number of structures were lost last night. Exact details are not yet available," the park reports in its most recent update on its website.

A.P. reports that fires in the area of the park grew to between 2 and 4 square miles by Monday afternoon and that witnesses said it "just completely exploded."

The Mendocino Complex fire -- twin fires being treated as one -- covers 354,410 acres altogether as of about 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, Aug. 14. California Fire officials report that the massive fire is 68 percent contained, and that it expects the blaze to be fully contained by Sept. 1.

"Today fire crews on the Ranch Fire will continue to engage an active fire front. Fire crews will continue operations on both the east and west flanks of the fire, working to protect the communities of Lake Pillsbury and Stonyford" the most recent CAL Fire update reads.

"Fire crews are working in difficult conditions and terrain to bring the fire around threatened communities and back into the Mendocino National Forest. Firefighters are actively engaging in structure protection where the fire has already reached structures and communities. The south side of the fire has had no significant events and remains in a suppression repair status with patrol. The River Fire had no movement. Suppression repair along with patrol will continue on the River Fire."

--

#HolyFire [update] off Holy Jim Canyon Rd, west of N. Main Divide (Orange County) remains 22,986 acres and 59% contained. Unified Command: US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Riverside County Fire, Orange County Fire Authority, and the California Highway Patrol https://t.co/URoS9zxFUg pic.twitter.com/LyivoXCPtf  CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 14, 2018

#HatFire [update] off Hwy 299 east and Fish Hatchery road, northeast of Burney (Shasta County) remains 1,900 acres and 75% contained. https://t.co/rCIdP1XpBl pic.twitter.com/Ya2P4mg7G9  CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) August 14, 2018
NASA has still not heard from the Mars Opportunity Rover since a global dust storm forced it to power down more than 60 days ago on the Red Planet.

While "morale has been a little shaky" on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover team, engineers are not giving up on the resilient rover which recently celebrated its 15th birthday. Space.com reports those on the rover team have adopted a new tradition in playing a wake-up-themed song each day in an attempt to "inspire" Opportunity into waking up.

"Morale has been a little shaky," Michael Staab, a NASA engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told Space.com. "This is the first time she has stopped talking to us and not resumed communication when we expected.

"That's a long time not hear from your rover, and we don't know what it's doing. We still have things to do; we still have work to get done. But, it's definitely slowed down a bit."

Space.com took the songs NASA has been playing the Opportunity Rover each day and turned it into a Spotify playlist. Some of the songs include Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!, The Trooper by Iron Maiden, Dust in the Wind by Kansas, Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles, Everlong by the Foo Fighters and Life on Mars? by David Bowie, among others.

The Martian dust storm itself has started to fade in the last two weeks, but the U.S. space agency remains unsure how long -- or if -- the Opportunity's batteries will take to charge.

Clearer skies ahead?

The global storm on #Mars has peaked, but it could take weeks or months for enough dust to settle that Opportunity could recharge and phone home: https://t.co/VwuuPwmOY2 pic.twitter.com/8t0Tu8FS0T  Spirit and Oppy (@MarsRovers) July 27, 2018

NASA has touted the rover's durability in lasting nearly 15 years in action despite only being designed for a 90-day mission back in 2003. The space agency made contact with the rover as the massive Martian dust storm first moved in, but have not heard back from it since June 10.

NASA says the Martian dust storm "blotted" out the view of the sun from the rover, which uses solar panels to provide power and to recharge its batteries. As it currently stands, all of Opportunity's subsystems -- besides its mission clock -- are turned off in its low-power mode.

"Opportunity has likely experienced a low-power fault and perhaps, a mission clock fault and now an up-loss fault," NASA reports in its latest update. "The science team is continuing to listen every day for the rover either during the expected fault communication windows or listening over a broader range of times using the Deep Space Network Radio Science Receiver.

"For the near term, the project will continue to send a command three times a week to elicit a beep if the rover happens to be awake. The science team does not expect to hear anything from Opportunity until there has been a significant reduction in the atmospheric opacity over the rover site."

As for these massive Martian dust storms, NASA says they "are not surprising, but are infrequent" and can last not only weeks but "even months." The space agency, as always, is treating the global dust storm on Mars as a learning opportunity as it says it will study why these dust storms like this one last for as long as they do "while others stay small and last only a week."
As the largest wildfire in California history continues to burn, NASA is using its bird's eye view to offer a different perspective of the massive blaze responsible for covering more than 354,000 acres.

Six firefighters and six other people have been killed by the wildfires raging throughout the state over the course of the past month. A Utah firefighter was killed fighting the massive Mendocino Complex fire on Monday, Aug. 13 in Northern California.

The image below was taken on Sunday using NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System:

"NASA's EOSDIS provides the capability to interactively browse over 600 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks 'right now.'"

#California has seen a range of natural extremes this summer, from heat waves to wildfires. The state can now add to the list record-warm #ocean temperatures. https://t.co/gFJi12tztu #NASA  NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) August 8, 2018

The Mendocino Complex fire -- twin fires being treated as one -- covers 354,410 acres altogether as of about 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, Aug. 14. California Fire officials report that the massive fire is 68 percent contained, and that it expects the blaze to be fully contained by Sept. 1.

"Today fire crews on the Ranch Fire will continue to engage an active fire front. Fire crews will continue operations on both the east and west flanks of the fire, working to protect the communities of Lake Pillsbury and Stonyford" the most recent CAL Fire update reads.

"Fire crews are working in difficult conditions and terrain to bring the fire around threatened communities and back into the Mendocino National Forest. Firefighters are actively engaging in structure protection where the fire has already reached structures and communities.

"The south side of the fire has had no significant events and remains in a suppression repair status with patrol. The River Fire had no movement. Suppression repair along with patrol will continue on the River Fire."

--
The sky has been hazy over the Midwest the past several days. The reason is the upper-level winds have been perfect for transporting California wildfire smoke our way.

Here's a map of the current wildfires torching parts of California.

Many of the large fires are in the northern half of California.

Now let's look at the wind flow at around 15,000 feet up. The map below shows the wind flow at that height. The "flags" as we call them on weather maps show the direction and speed of the wind flow. I've drawn on the map the direction of the upper-level winds.

The upper-air flow on August 13, 2018 shows air from California is tracking across the northern Plains and then south into Michigan.

It doesn't take long for air from the West Coast to be overhead of the Midwest. Wind speeds at the level I'm showing you are 40 mph on average. Smoke from the fires 2000 miles away would be over the Great Lakes region in 50 hours.

What it really takes to get smoke over our sky is the right path of wind flow. We have that now. The air over California is moving east into Idaho, Wyoming, the Dakotas and Minnesota. Then, because of the circulation around a low pressure center in Pennsylvania, the upper-air is moving south over Michigan.

The smoke in the air produces sunrises like this at my house this morning.

Smoke producing red sunrise near Saginaw, MI on August 14, 2018

If you look at the upper-air map, you can see another storm center in Kansas. That storm will move east and bring the Midwest and Michigan showers Thursday and Friday. The rain will wash the smoke out of the sky. Then it may take a few days for smoke to build up again in the upper atmosphere. So enjoy the smokey sunrises and sunsets before the rain.
Rank 3 | Amazon | E-commerce company (Image: Amazon)

Global online retailer Amazon invested an additional Rs 2,700 crore in its Indian marketplace business earlier this month, and also invested around Rs 100 crore in its food retail business, according to a report by Mint.

The marketplace arm of Amazon India -- Amazon Seller Services -- received the funds earlier this month, according to regulatory documents filed with the Registrar of Companies sourced by Paper.vc.

The latest capital infusion brings Amazon's total investment in India to roughly $4 billion in the five years.

The retailer had earlier committed to invest at least $5 billion in India, and separately allocated an additional $500 million to build its food retail business in the country.

Also read | Walmarts acquisition of Flipkart to get government $2 billion: Report

After having achieved its previous target of investing around $2 billion in India, Amazon Inc Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos had said in June 2016 that the company would invest an additional $3 billion in the country.

Amazon has used the previous investments to build massive warehouses, a large logistics unit, and for marketing, offering discounts and increasing product assortment, all aimed at stepping up its battle against Flipkart.

Analysts believe that Amazon and Flipkart are expected to spend hundreds of millions of dollars towards expansion over the next few years, as both companies give more priority to sales growth than cutting losses.

Flipkart is likely to spend as much as $2 billion in cash over the next one and a half years to push its sales growth, following its acquisition by global retail giant Walmart.

Also read | Walmart Flipkart tie-up: Industry consolidation amid a strong growth landscape

According to the report, Amazon India chief Amit Agarwal has repeatedly indicated that the online retailer will invest as much as necessary to conquer the domestic market.

India is one of the most important international markets for Amazon Inc and winning the market share battle here is its topmost priority, especially after it lost out to Alibaba in China.

Amazon, however, may have to keep up its aggressive pace of investments in India in the near term, given that it is up against Flipkart, which is now backed by an equally deep-pocketed Walmart.

In May, Walmart bought 77 percent stake in the Bengaluru-based company for $16 billion
European country Moldova should consider importing agriculture items, including fruits and vegetables, from India, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today. Singh said this in a meeting with Tudor Ulianovschi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova here.

The minister called for strengthening traditional ties between the two countries by promoting closer cooperation in the agriculture sector, an official statement said.

During his meeting, Singh highlighted the country's tremendous progress in the agriculture sector.

He also spoke about the government's goal to double farmers' income by 2022 through a series of reforms, namely Soil Health Card, organic farming, crop insurance, irrigation, e-NAM etc.

"We have achieved food security and have become a net exporter of agriculture commodities," Singh said.

The minister said that the agriculture sector has immense opportunities and huge potential for both the countries and there is a need to promote interaction among government agricultural institutions, experts, scientists and agro business.

Singh called for businesses from both sides to explore possibilities for enhancing agricultural trade.

He said it was imperative to enhance agricultural trade between the two countries.

India has already initiated the enabling processes for export of apples from Moldova, Singh said, and urged them to consider import of agriculture commodities including fruits and vegetable from India.
Apart from being a business head with an empire worth $650 million, Narendra Raval, 56, is also a 'guru' for the powerful and high profile individuals in Africa. Raval got his guru title thanks to his initial days as a cleric in the Swaminarayan Temple in Bhuj. Raval, a local of Maathak in Surendranagar area, is known as a palmist and crystal gazer for Kenyan presidents and other high ranking Africans.

As reported by The Times of India, Raval moved to Kenya in 1982, and his Devki Group of Companies employs 5,000 people. He has various national and worldwide titles to his credit, including Kenya's Elder of the Burning Spear and UK's Commonwealth Philanthropy Award. Raval has been named as one of the most extravagant Africans by Forbes.

Raval told TOI that on account of his closeness to President Moi, he had the advantage of getting connected to other high profile personalities. In fact, Raval's recently launched autobiography 'Guru: A Long Walk to Success', carries a foreword by Kenya's present President Uhuru Kenyatta. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also shared a message for the book.

About his encounters with the world of palmistry and crystals, he said: "I will consider it a fate. I have never charged for palmistry or crystal gazing and religious ceremonies."
Rajnish Kumar, chairman, State Bank of India (SBI)

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Beleaguered carrier Jet Airways Ltd has not yet approached State Bank of India (SBI) for any funds, the chairman of the country's top bank said on Tuesday, according to television channel CNBC-TV18.

Jet, India's biggest full service carrier, told staff earlier this month it was running out of money, but it has denied this and said it is confident of cutting costs and keeping its planes flying.

Shares in Jet, India's biggest full service carrier, hit a three year low on Friday after it deferred its earnings report due the previous day.

SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar said Jet's account with the bank is 'standard', according to CNBC-TV18.
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Indian markets closed lower on Monday dragged down by weak global cues as well as fall in currency which touched a fresh all-time low of Rs 69.89/USD.

Growing economic crisis in Turkey shook investor confidence; however analysts are suggesting investors to buy this dip as Nifty holds above crucial support levels.

For momentum to continue on the upside, Nifty50 has to hold above 11400 levels.

The decline is due to external factors which would be short-lived and traders should continue with "buy on dips" approach.

It is healthy to have such corrective phase as it eliminates weak hands. However, it also causes trouble to traders as stock selection and position management become difficult.

Investors are advised to keep a close eye on global development along with prevailing earnings season for cues, suggest experts.

Big News:

On the earnings front, 1093 companies will report their results for quarter ended June later today which include names like Allahabad Bank, Bharat Dynamics, Emkay Global, Essar India, Finolex Cables, Gayatri Projects, GMR Infra, DB Realty, Dilip Buildcon, GVK power, Hathway Cable, Indiabulls Real Estate, IVRCL, JBF Industries, La Opala, MMTC, SpiceJet etc. among others.

Technical View:

Nifty formed a bearish candle on the daily charts

Support for the index is placed at 11,340 and a breach of the said level on Tuesday could take the index towards 11,034, suggest experts.

Three levels: 11034-11340, 11478, 11500

Maximum Put OI is placed at 11,000 followed by 11,200 strikes

Maximum Call OI is placed at 11,500 followed by 11,400 strikes

Technical Recommendations:

We spoke to HDFC Securities and heres what they have to recommend:

Infosys: Buy | LTP: Rs 1409 | Target: Rs. 1495 | Stop loss: Rs 1347 | Return: 6%

Everest Industries: Buy | LTP: Rs 552.5 | Target: Rs 630 | Stop loss: Rs 510 | Return: 14%

Crompton Greaves Consumer: Buy | LTP: Rs 267 | Target Rs 302 | Stop loss: Rs 250 | Return: 13%

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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Shares of Allahabad Bank slipped more than 6 percent on Tuesday as company reported net loss of Rs 1,944 crore for the quarter ended June 2018.

The company had reported net profit of Rs 28.8 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.

Meanwhile, company's net loss declined from Rs 3,509.63 crore reported in Q4FY18.

Gross NPA was flat at 15.97 percent, while net NPA was down at 7.32 percent, QoQ.

On the absolute term, the company's gross NPA was down at Rs 25,068 crore and net NPA was down at Rs 10,410 crore, QoQ.

Provisions for the quarter was at Rs 2,763 crore versus Rs 4,783 crore, QoQ and 1,335 crore, YoY.

Net Interest Income (NII) rose 37 percent at Rs 1,704 crore against Rs 1,243 crore.

The company board approved raising equity capital by an amount aggregating to Rs 1790 crore by way of preferential issue to the Government of India (President of India) against their capital infusion of Rs 1790 crore in the bank for FY 2018-19, subject to approval of shareholders and all other requisite statutory/ regulatory approvals.

The extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the bank is scheduled to be held on September 18 for obtaining shareholders' consent/ approval for said preferential issue to the Government of India.

At 12:48 hrs Allahabad Bank was quoting at Rs 41.15, down Rs 1.55, or 3.63 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
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The Indian benchmark indices this Tuesday afternoon continues to trade on a positive note with the Nifty up 61 points at 11, 416 while the Sensex jumped 184 points and is trading at 37,829.

With rupee hitting an all-time low of 70.08 against the US dollar, IT stocks are trading on handsome note led by Mindtree, Oracle Financial Services and Tech Mahindra which jumped 2-3 percent. The other gainers include names like HCL Tech, Infosys, TCS and Tata Elxsi.

Selective private banks are also trading in the green led by Axis Bank which jumped 2 percent followed by ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and YES Bank.

Realty stocks are also buzzing this afternoon, up 1 percent with DLF adding 4 percent while Indiabulls Real Estate, Godrej Properties, Prestige Estates and Sobha are the other gainers.

From the BSE midcap space, Adani Power, Reliance Communications, AB Fashion, Reliance Capital and PAGE Industries are the other gainers.

Jindal Drilling up 14 percent along with ZF Steering, Tirumalai Chemicals, Vivimed Labs and NCL India are some of the smallcap stocks from the BSE which are the top gainers.

UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, Eicher Motors and Axis Bank are the top gainers on the Nifty.

The most active stocks include Tata Steel, TCS, Dewan Housing Finance, SBI and Axis Bank.

The top BSE gainers are Balkrishna Industries, Kwality, Religare Enterprises, DLF and AB Fashion and Retail.

Bata India, Dabur India, Exide Industries, Infosys, ITC, PAGE Industries, JSW Steel and United Breweries are some of the stocks which have hit new 52-week high in the afternoon trade on NSE.

Can Fin Homes, Castrol India, eClerx Services, Mcleod Russel, SREI Infra, Tata Motors and Videocon Industries are some of the stocks which have hit new 52-week low in the afternoon trade.

The breadth of the market favoured advances, with 875 stocks advancing, 808 declining and 386 remaining unchanged. On BSE, 1191 stocks advanced, 1225 declined and 125 remained unchanged.

: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
CRUDE-OIL

Iran is selling oil and gas at a discount to Asian customers as it prepares for the return of US sanctions, state news agency IRNA reported today.

The "informed source" in Iran's oil ministry did not give details of the discount, but sought to downplay the move as common industry practice.

"Discount is part of the nature of the global markets being offered by all oil exporters," the source told IRNA.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that the state-run National Iranian Oil Company was reducing official prices for September sales to Asia to their lowest level in 14 years, compared with Saudi crude.

The United States will seek to block Iran's international oil sales from November 5, when the second phase of sanctions are reimposed as part of Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Several key buyers, including China and India, who account for roughly half of Iran's sales, have said they are not willing to make significant cuts to their energy purchases from Iran.

But analysts predict Iran could still see its oil sales drop by around 700,000 barrels per day from their current level of around 2.3 million.

Much will depend on the European Union, which has vowed to resist US sanctions on Iran, but whose companies and financial institutions are more vulnerable to US financial pressure than their Asian counterparts.

French energy giant Total has already said it is pulling out of its multi-billion-dollar investment project in the South Pars oil field in southern Iran as a result of the renewed sanctions.
A Jet Airways passenger plane takes off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad

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Shares of Jet Airways fell 3 percent intraday Tuesday even company clarified to the exchanges on media report about selling its stake to PEs and auditor resignation.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has sought clarification from Jet Airways asking whether the airlines management had sought extension from its audit committee or the committee did not recommend the financial result to the board.

The exchange has asked the Naresh Goyal-led airline to provide the date when the meeting, to consider the financial result, will be held.

The stock exchange further sought clarification from Jet Airways after media reports suggested on August 13 that the airline was planning to raise USD 400 million from stake sale to private equities (PEs).

Reports suggested that audit firm BSR & Co, an affiliate of KPMG India, was considering to resign from the account if the issue is not resolved soon.

Responding to NSEs queries, Jet said that the reports on stake sale are "purely speculative in nature" and that BSR & Co may quit as an auditor is "factually incorrect".

At 13:44 hrs Jet Airways was quoting at Rs 281.40, down Rs 5.10, or 1.78 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 13)  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered a stop to quarrying in two Rizal towns amid claims the activity is linked to flooding in nearby cities.

DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones confirmed the order made by Environment chief Roy Cimatu to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

"Yes, the secretary has directed the MGB to order stoppage of all quarry operations pending investigation as to the veracity of the claim that floodings were caused by quarrying," he said.

Leones said some residents and local government units have raised concerns on quarrying in the Rizal municipalities of San Mateo and Rodriguez.

The order comes after nearby Marikina City was submerged in floods following torrential monsoon rains enhanced by Tropical Storm Karding.

Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro welcomed this development.

More than 22,000 residents of Marikina City continue to stay in evacuation centers despite a drop in the river's water levels due to fears of continued flooding.

Teodoro said, in a phone interview with CNN Philippines, the Marikina River is affected by activities near the upstream river communities.

"Kung mapo-protektahan 'yung Marikina watershed in the upstream communities, ang effect niyan maganda para sa Marikina," he said. "Mababawasan 'yung mabilis na pagbaba ng mga tubig galing sa taas."

[Translation: If the Marikina watershed will be protected in the upstream communities, the effect will be great for the city. The volume of water from the upstream will decrease.]

Teodoro said of the 16 barangays in Marikina City, 14 of them are located near the river system.
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Recently-listed TCNS Clothing and International Paper were two stocks that mutual fund houses added to their portfolios in July, according to data provided by IDBI Capital.

The data, based on market value, saw fund houses buying TCNS Clothing shares worth Rs 204.71 crore and International Paper shares worth Rs 1.37 crore.

Reliance Mutual Fund was the biggest buyer of TCNS Clothing, having bought shares worth Rs 99.43 crore. Axis Mutual Fund bought shares worth Rs 58.83 crore, and Sundaram MF, Edelweiss MF and Aditya Birla MF were the other buyers.

In the case of International Paper, the entire Rs 1.37 crore worth of shares was bought by Principal Mutual Fund.

Max Ventures and Industries was among those companies that witnessed exits by asset management companies. Reliance Mutual Fund sold Max Ventures shares worth Rs 60 lakh.

The data also throws up sectoral trends in terms performance. On a month-on-month basis, the financials sector emerged to be the top gainer, having risen over 10 percent in terms of market value.

The consumer goods and energy sectors were next in line from the top, while the media and metals sectors made up the bottom two.

On an annual basis, the telecom sector is the biggest gainer, up around 94 percent, followed by the IT and consumer goods sectors, which rose 85 and 65 percent, respectively.

"Domestic mutual funds turned out to be net equity buyers for July 2018. Mutual Funds were net equity buyers in 22 trading session for an amount of Rs 3,995.02 crore against net buying of Rs 9,231 crore in June 2018. In July, mutual funds were net buyers in equities for 15 trading sessions and net sellers in the remaining 7 sessions. Net buying in equities were recorded highest at Rs 1,095 Cr on 17th July 2018; while net selling was recorded at Rs 2,326 crore on July 26, 2018," analysts at IDBI Capital wrote in their report.

Mutual funds' asset base rose by 5 percent month on month to Rs 23.96 lakh crore, as at the end of July, driven by participation from retail investors and a spirited investor awareness campaign by the industry.

The total assets under management (AUM) of the mutual fund industry, which has 42 players, was Rs 22.86 lakh crore as at the end of June, according to the data by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

"The monthly rise in the asset base is mainly due to the industry body's investor awareness campaign and strong participation from retail investors," AMFI Chief Executive NS Venkatesh told PTI.

Besides, Systematic Investment Plan (SIPs) continue to be the fancy of retail investors and people continue to invest through the route as it allows investors to invest in small amounts periodically instead of investing everything at one go, Venkatesh said.

Retail equity AUM touched Rs 10 lakh crore last month. It stood at Rs 9.61 lakh crore as at the end of June.

As many as 9 lakh new folios were added last month, taking the total to an all-time high of 7.55 crore folios as at the end of July, up from 7.46 crore folios at the end of the previous month.
The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is planning to cap investor exposure in the equity market based on their income or net worth. The move, which is aimed at preventing individuals from going overboard on equity investments, is wrong on many fronts. It is nothing short of apartheid, a system of institutionalized segregation. It is not only bad for the retail investor but also for the market and the economy as a whole.

According to media reports, investors will have to get a net-worth certificate from their chartered accountant to prove they are solvent enough to enter the exchange or trade in equities. It seems that the markets regulator does not want the retail investor to be anywhere close to the big boys club.

The very act of placing a cap and asking the chartered accountants net worth certificate defies logic. Without commenting on the sanctity of such certificates, why should a person with a small capital not be allowed to trade to his maximum potential if there is an opportunity to make money? Why should he be judged on his economic status?

Equity trading is as good as any other business and carries its own set of risks. The good part of trading is that it can be started with a small capital and done on a part-time basis, unlike many other businesses which require sizeable capital and time. Many high profile investors of today have a rags-to-riches story behind them.

To SEBIs credit, its aim might be to keep the retail investor from hurting themselves. But every retail participant who enters the market does so knowing the risk behind it. Investing in equity is a risky venture with or without leverage. The more conservative investors have traditionally been advised to invest in equity mutual funds as they are safer. But apart from a handful of mutual funds, others have not managed to beat the performance of the broad indices.

Sure, leveraged products are riskier, but if a participant is willing to take the risk and is good for the loss that he will incur, why should the regulator have a problem? There are already enough safeguards for leveraged products where an investor is allowed to trade only after he submits his bank statements for the past six months and gets the approval from the brokers risk management team.

This is not the first time that regulators have tried to keep retail investors from capitalizing on market opportunities. The markets regulator banned the popular mini-Nifty derivative contract which was aimed at small investors. It then increased the lot size of futures from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Yet, after initial reluctance, retail traders moved to the bigger lot sizes in stock futures.

Banning retail investors from investing as they please could have other, less desirable, consequences. There is a ready market, perhaps more liquid and involving lower hurdles, that is awaiting such investors. These investors, who might not like to trust their money with any fund manager, would move to the bucket shops, popularly known as dabba markets in India. Dabba trading risks would be far greater.

Second, such a cap on the small investor could very well mean a loss of liquidity from the markets. NSE data shows that nearly 50 percent of trading volumes in equity and 40 percent in derivatives comes from non-institutional investors, the segment that SEBI wants to target. Moreover, lower trading volumes could lead to a loss in revenue for the government.

In conclusion, SEBI would do well not to pursue this line of thought. There are other ways to protect small investors and make the marketplace a level playing field. For starters, it can focus on resolving the NSE colocation case.
After breaching the psychological mark of 70 per US dollar, the rupee has staged a recovery of around 35 paise and trading near 69.77 level. Experts believe that a possible intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could have stemmed the rupees fall.

The currency on Tuesday touched an all-time low of 70.08 to the US dollar. With this, the currency has depreciated around 10 percent in 2018 so far. It had opened marginally higher at 69.85 against the greenback on Tuesday morning.

Analysts attributed the weakness in Turkish lira as one of the key reasons for rupee to be under pressure. This has strained emerging market currencies such as India.

Prior to this, the currency ended 110 paise lower at 69.93 on Monday against its Friday's close of 68.83, which was a biggest single session decline against dollar since September 3, 2013.

Technical pattern indicates that the rupee could further depreciate towards 71 per dollar.

A slowing Chinese economy, tightening monetary policy and an escalating trade war are some of the main reasons for this turmoil into currency markets as sentiments towards emerging markets are worsening. The Indian rupee breaching 70 mark is not because of India-specific factors, but on account of risks of a global contagion emerging on account of the weakening Turkish Lira against the US dollar. If global concerns were to persist, the rupee may even slide to 72 against the dollar, Abhishek Bansal, Founder and Chairman, ABans Group of Companies told Moneycontrol.

Meanwhile, some analysts also attribute it to domestic factors at play.

The rupees fall today was largely due to domestic reasons. Previous resistance for the currency was 69.50 and a fall below that triggered stop losses from importers. There is lot of panic demand seen from importersthe next short-term resistance is seen at 70.50, while the important resistance to watch out for the market will be 71 per dollar. On the downside, support is around 69.30 levels, Rushabh MaruResearch Analyst at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, told Moneycontrol.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India may soon ask retail investors in the stock and commodity markets to submit a net worth certificate to their brokers, according to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine.

The aim is to keep a check on retail investors' trading limits, which cannot exceed their level of income.

The regulator's decision to pursue this course of action follows a recommendation by the committee on fair market conduct, headed by former Law Secretary TK Vishwanathan.

SEBI will likely approve and implement the move by the end of 2018, a source told the newspaper. The cap on retail investors' position limit in the derivatives segment could be as high as 40-50 percent, the source said.

Net worth is defined as the value of all financial and non-financial assets owned by an individual, minus his or her liabilities.

When looked at in light of the light existing SEBI stipulations on upfront margin requirement and lot sizes, the net worth criterion seems 'blunt', brokers told the financial news daily.

"Over-regulation often leads to higher compliance cost and could be counter-productive for the markets," said Deven Choksey, Managing Director, KR Choksey Investment Managers.

Experts are of the opinion that the stock market thrives on leverage and any attempts to curb leverage have often led to sharp declines in volume and widening price spreads, making the market seem unattractive.

According to market participants, the move can have major ramifications for India's stock and commodity markets, as it could lead to a severe dearth of liquidity.

If a trading limit is really enforced on retail investors, it could lead to a massive unwinding of positions in the derivatives segment and trigger a cash market sell-off as retail participants rush to adjust their trades.
A high level Sebi panel has prosed a confidentiality clause in the settlement mechanism, wherein identity of the applicant will not be disclosed, in order to garner information of defaults as well as possible violations from defaulters in the securities.

Currently, the settlement regulation does not have a provision for settlement with confidentiality and all settlement orders contain details of the applicant and are published on Sebi website.

"There is no explicit provisions for an applicant to voluntarily provide information to the (Sebi) board relating to the fraudulent and unfair trade practices and other serious defaults that would assist the board in dealing with any inquiry, investigation, inspection, and audit," the panel said in its report submitted to the regulator.

The panel headed by retired judge A R Dave has suggested for a provision for settlement with confidentiality under the settlement norm.

It has recommended that even the settlement order in cases of settlement with confidentiality will need to be published. However, the identity of the applicant may not be disclosed.

The settlement mechanism enables entities to settle charges against them without admission or denial of guilt on payment of fee.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought comments from public till September 1 on the committee's suggestions and final regulation will be put in place after taking into views of the stakeholders.

It also suggested not settling the case with wilful defaulters and fugitive economic offenders under settlement norms.

Besides, it has recommended that proceedings relating to insider trading, front running and misstatements in the IPO documents may be settled "depending on the facts and circumstances of each case".

An applicant seeking the benefit of confidentiality in settlement with Sebi will have to cease to participate in the violation of securities laws from the time of the disclosure of information.

Moreover, the applicant would need to provide complete and true disclosure of information; cooperate full throughout the investigation; and will not conceal and manipulate documents in any manner that may contribute to the establishment of the alleged violation, the panel suggested.

Noting confidentiality is multi faceted and depends on the nature of assistance provided to Sebi, the panel suggested that there will not be any public disclosure unless such disclosure is made by the applicant himself or are agreed to by the applicant in writing.

Such applications and information pertaining to applicants and the assistance provided by them to Sebi are already protected from disclosure.

"Further, the confidentiality also depends upon the nature of the assistance provided to the Board.

"If the assistance is in nature of a clue or information, such as indicating the relevant bank account details, phone numbers or any other information which can be independently proven, the information pertaining to the applicant will not be revealed either to the public or during the relevant proceedings to the accomplices who are charged by the Board," the panel noted.
manufacturer of Titanium alloys in India.

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Shares of Tata Steel gained more than 3 percent intraday Tuesday as company posted robust numbers in the quarter ended June 2018.

The company's Q1FY19 consolidated profit more than doubled to Rs 1,933.8 crore compared to Rs 921.1 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal, driven by growth across the board.

Revenue during the quarter grew by 27.6 percent to Rs 37,832.8 crore from Rs 29,657.3 crore.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) increased 30 percent year-on-year to Rs 6,467.6 crore and margin expanded by 30 basis points to 17.1 percent in Q1.

Brokerage: Credit Suisse | Rating: Outperform | Target: Rs 860

Credit Suisse has maintained outperform rating on Tata Steel with a price target of Rs 860.

According to Reserach house, Bhushan Steel acquisition drove net profit miss, while adjusted EBITDA was inline.

India business was inline, while Europe business beat the estimates. Credit Suisse cut EV/EBITDA multiple as cyclical profitability of industry improves, it added.

Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 855

CLSA has maintained buy call on Tata Steel with a price target of Rs 855.

The company posted good operational results in June quarter. Steel margins expand QoQ in both India and Europe, it said.

CLSA expects margin to ease sequentially from Q1 high, while iron ore integration can provide a boost to Bhushan Steel margins.

Brokerage: Investec | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 730

Investec has maintained buy on Tata Steel and raised price target to Rs 730 from Rs 720 per share.

According to Investec, the company's operational performance beat across geographies on back of stronger spreads.

The balance sheet remains a concern, it feels.

The research house expect, an expensive Bhushan power win and volatility in currencies are near term risks.

At 09:52 hrs Tata Steel was quoting at Rs 576.65, up Rs 7.45, or 1.31 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
The Nifty50 rebounded after two-day losses and extended rally as the day progressed despite volatility in the rupee which touched 70-mark per dollar for the first time on Tuesday.

The index closed decisively above psychological 11,400 levels despite mixed global cues, forming bullish candle on the daily candlestick charts.

The rally was broad based as all sectoral indices ended in the green with Pharma leading the charge with 3 percent rally. The broader markets also participated in the upmove, with Nifty Midcap index rising a percent.

The Nifty50 after opening higher at 11,381.70 extended gains as the day progressed and crossed 11,400 levels to hit an intraday high of 11,452.45. The index closed 79.30 points higher at 11,435.10.

The Indian equity market will remain shut on Wednesday for Independence Day.

The index formed bullish candle but technical oscillators on lower time frame charts are still on sell mode which is a cause for concern, experts said.

"Nifty50 made a strong come back as it registered a robust bullish candle which not only erased all the losses of last session but also comfortably closed above the bearish gap zone of 11,40611,420 registered on Mondays session," Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist  Technical Research & Trading Advisory, Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol.

On the face of it, price chart is suggesting bullishness but technical oscillators on lower time frame charts are still on sell mode with daily MACD triggering a fresh sell signal in Tuesdays session which is a cause for concern, he said. "Hence, to confirm more strength in this leg of upswing Nifty50 needs a strong close above 11,500 levels."

In that scenario this current leg of upswing can be expected to initially extend towards 11,615 levels, according to him.

As technical picture, as of now, is looking mixed traders are advised to remain cautiously optimistic with a stop below 11,367 levels, Mazhar said.

Jayant Manglik, President, Religare Broking expects volatility to remain high and would advise traders to hedge their risky leveraged positions.

India VIX fell by 1.52 percent to 13.19 levels.

On the option front, maximum Put open interest (OI) was seen at 11,000 followed by 11,200 strike while maximum Call OI was at 11,500 followed by 11,600 strike. Put writing was seen at 11,400 and 11,500 strikes whereas Call writing was seen 11,700 followed by 10,600 strike.

Option band signifies a hold in the current trading band in between 11,350 to 11,500 then 11,600 zones, experts said.

"Nifty index managed to respect its rising support trend line by connecting all the swing lows of 10,557, 10,630, 10,946 and 11,340 levels. It formed a Bullish candle and filled its supply gap by closing near to 11,435 zones," Chandan Taparia, Associate Vice President | Analyst-Derivatives, Motilal Oswal Securities told Moneycontrol.

He said now the index has to continue to hold above 11,400 zones to extend its move towards 11,500 then 11,600 zones while on the downside immediate support is seen at 11,350 zones.

Bank Nifty opened positive and managed to rebound towards 28,050 zones.

"It respected its immediate support of 27,750 zones and a hold above 28,000 could take it towards 28,128 then 28,333 levels while immediate support is placed at 27,800-27,750 zones," Taparia said.
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The chairman and co-chairman of Hotel Leelaventure were forced to forgo their full salaries for the financial year ended March as the company continued to grapple with a huge pile of debt on its books.

This was the second consecutive fiscal year for which Chairman and Managing Director Vivek Nair, and his brother Dinesh Nair, who is Co-Chairman and MD, did not draw any remuneration.

Even in 2015-16, the duo were paid only one month's salary.

On the other hand, Hotel Leelaventure's Chief Financial Officer got a 25 percent jump in remuneration.

"The Executive Directors did not draw any salary during the financial year 2017-18. The CFO received an increment of 25 percent and the Company Secretary received an increment of 5 percent during the financial year 2017-18," the company said in its annual report.

The law stipulates that in the event of losses or inadequacy of profits, the remuneration will be within the ceilings applicable under the Companies Act, 2013.

But with a debt overhang of Rs 3,800 crore as at the end of FY18, lenders like JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Company have tightened the screws on Leela.

JMFARC controlled 95.6 percent of the company's CDR (restructured) debt as at the end of March.

That said, the loss-making company, which runs nine hotels including five owned properties, did manage to bring down its debt from the Rs 4,206 crore reported at the end of FY17.

Any further reduction of the company's debt through sale of properties has been stalled because of legal disputes and an inability to find buyers at given valuations.

The 254-room Hotel Leela Palace at Chanakyapuri in New Delhi was put on the block in 2012 but has still not found any takers. Similarly, the Adyar beach-facing 326-room Chennai property is yet to find an investor.

"The company's plan to sell the Hyderabad land is getting delayed due to legal disputes and the plan to sell the Agra land is getting delayed due to delays in Government approvals. The company is in the process of selling one more hotel or alternatively getting equity from a strategic investor for reduction of debt. The company will continue to pursue for a viable debt restructuring package," Hotel Leelaventure said.

The company is battling eviction proceedings against its Mumbai property, which is one of the city's first luxury hotels and the oldest in the Leela portfolio.

"Airports Authority of India has arbitrarily increased the lease rental payable for the Mumbai hotel, effective from October 1, 2014, which increases the rental by Rs 38.77 crore for the period up to March 31, 2018. The company has objected to this increase and has not provided for the same. AAI has unilaterally terminated the lease and commenced eviction proceedings and the company is legally contesting the same," the company said.

Meanwhile, three independent directors -- Navnit Kulwantsigh Batheja, Ashok G Rajani, and Vijay Amritraj -- resigned from the company's board of directors last year.

Shereveer S Vakil was appointed as an additional director of the company in the independent director category. He, however, resigned from the board within three months of his appointment.

"The default to LIC and disqualification continues and the company has been finding it difficult to get new Independent Directors. Even though the replacement could not be done before the date of the immediate next Board Meeting or 3 months from the date of such vacancies, whichever is later, as provided in Regulation 25 (6) of SEBI (LODR), the Company has been able to fill up the vacancies, with some delay. This also resulted in lack of availability of sufficient number of Independent Directors to broad base the Committees of the Board," the company said.
Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has signed a bill imposing a ban on government and government contractors' use of technology from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE.

The ban is a component of the Defense Authorization Act, which was signed by Trump. The ban will go into effect over the next two years, according to a report by The Verge.

In June, an amendment was passed by the US Senate that would have reinstated a trade ban on ZTE. However, this was not accepted by the House.

The Congress however, decided to restrict the US government or anybody working with the government from using technology from Huawei, ZTE and various other Chinese communications firms.

Some parts from these companies may however be permitted, as they cannot access or view any information.

According to the report, Huawei has called the ban a random addition to the Defense Bill and has also said that this ban is ineffective, misguided, and unconstitutional.

Huawei has also said that the ban would increase costs for consumers and businesses and that it failed to identify real security risks or improve supply chain security, according to the report.
The chamber of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission (ABNHM) on the third floor of Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi has been buzzing with activity all day.

Indu Bhushan, the 1983 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan, was called by the government to helm Ayushman Bharat popularised as Modicare.

The scheme announced in the Union Budget 2018-19, aims to provide health coverage to 100 million poor families constituting about 40 percent of India population.

The challenge of running Ayushman Bharat is of different magnitude says Bhushan, who spoke to Moneycontrol recently taking time from his busy schedule to share more details on the status of the scheme and the challenges he faces.

Progress so far

Bhushan who took charge on May 1  says tremendous work has been done in terms of preparing guidelines on establishing trusts at the state level, designing request for proposals (RFPs) and contracts to bring insurance companies on board, grievance redressal mechanism, establishing criteria for empanelling hospitals, and rolling out package rates. The agency is also putting up a three module IT system in place.

In the IT platform we have three major modules one is for hospital management, one is for beneficiary identification and the third one is transaction management. The module for beneficiary identification is completed, modules for hospital and transaction management have little work pending," he said.

Bhushan said states are also getting the systems in place, training people and work is going on.

Most of them are going for trust model  they need to have strong claim management and processing. All of that should be done in a month, he added.

So far 28 states have come on board to implement the scheme, but eight states -- Telangana, Odisha, Kerala, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have kept away from the scheme.

In most of the cases - the issue is that - they (states) are covering more people than we are covering. They already have an existing scheme. If they converge their scheme with our scheme they have to increase coverage. It has a financial implication. The issue is also whether to keep the two schemes separately or merge the two. Since they have their scheme going, they dont feel the urgency, he said.

By not signing they will not get funds from us, they need to decide fast, Bhushan added.

Will private hospitals join?

Bhushans other challenge is to empanel as many large private hospital chains as possible. As over 70 percent of healthcare in India is provided by private hospitals, making the participation of these hospitals critical to the success of Ayushman Bharat.

So far, little over 3,000 hospitals have empanelled in the scheme. Large private hospital chains have kept away from the scheme citing the proposed reimbursement package rates as unscientific, arbitrary and insufficient.

Bhushan is confident about large private hospital relenting. He asked private hospitals to consider large volumes that Ayushman Bharat generates and said he doesnt see any reason for private hospitals from sitting out of the path-breaking government initiative.

This scheme is opening up (a market) of around 500 million beneficiaries. We are talking about large volumes. We havent had such scheme so far that provides this kind of volumes, Bhushan said.

We want to make sure that rates are high enough so that we can attract the private sector, but at the same time they should not be so high that they make the scheme unsustainable, he added.

He also assured private hospitals the government has initiated cost studies of 1,350 medical procedures covered under the scheme.

If we believe that rates need to be revised we will revise them," he said.

Though the prices were set at the national level, Bhushan said, the hospitals should not be worried as states were giving the states the flexibility to increase or decrease prices, and some states have done that already.

"The Cesarean section has been put at a package rate of Rs 9,000, Chhattisgarh has changed it to Rs 18,000. States have the flexibility to change that based on their requirement," Bhushan said.

There are also a few inbuilt incentives, over and above the package rates announced by the government to improve the quality of treatment and expand healthcare infrastructure in backward districts.

For hospitals with entry-level National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation, the government provides 10 percent commission above the package rate and 15 percent for fully-accredited hospitals.

Trust vs Insurance models

With the opportunity to provide health cover to 100 million families, insurance companies were expecting a huge boost to their volumes and were also eyeing cross-selling of their other products to boost margins.

But with most states opting for a trust-based model  they are left in the lurch.

In trust-based model each individual state will form its own trust to manage the scheme and claims will be disbursed from a corpus created from central and state government contributions.

"When the scheme was announced insurance companies were looking at it with a lot of interest, it's potentially giving them huge business," Bhushan says.

"In the RFP (request for proposal) or tender document, we made sure that they don't have windfall gain. So we ensured that they can take a maximum of 15 percent (profit margin), and if the profit (margin) is more than 15 percent they have to give it back. They are still interested, but their level of enthusiasm has gone down, as they can't make a big profit," Bhushan said.

Bhushan, who worked in Asian Development Bank before joining Ayushman Bharat, added with a few exceptions, mass health insurance schemes across the globe are administered by state agencies.

"The idea is that why should the states share profit with private insurance companies," Bhushan said.

States also have apprehensions over the insurance model becoming costly in the long run and over possible problems in administering claims.

To be sure there are problems with trust-based models as well, as most states don't have the experience to handle the high volumes of claims, and possible frauds and corruption.

Bhushan said thats a reason why Centre will be hand holding states until they are able to run their schemes.

Funding

We have sufficient funding, this is the flagship programme of the government, the funding will not be a problem. Its the absorption that is the problem and not funds, Bhushan said.
Q7. Identify this Indian publishing house, founded in 1957 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education of the Government of India.

The late Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, had once called the tri-colour "a flag not only of freedom for ourselves but a symbol of freedom to all the people."

Since its introduction at the July 1947 Constitutional Assembly meeting, the tri-colour served momentarily as the National Flag of the Dominion of India between August 1947 and January 1950, and since has been the National Flag of the Republic of India.

Each colour of the flag represents a specific aspect of Indian culture  Saffron for courage and sacrifice, white for truth and peace, and green for faith and chivalry. The second president of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, said that the Chakra in the middle of the flag stands for continuous progress  "There is death in stagnation. There is life in movement."

The flag must always be in the 2:3 ratio and needs to be made from khadi, hand-woven cotton or silk. Manufacturing can only proceed once protocols laid out by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are met. The BIS specifies dye, cloth, colour, and thread count, besides laying down various dos and donts for hoisting the flag.

Manufacturing rights are entirely held by the Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission, which delegates the work of manufacturing flags to the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha.



The national tri-colour was first hoisted on foreign soil in August 1907 by freedom fighter Madame Bhikaji Rustom Cama; the ceremony took place in Stuttgart, Germany.



It was hoisted on the highest point on Earth  Mount Everest  on 29 May 1953.



The tri-colour was carried along by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma when he travelled to space in 1984. The flag was attached to his space suit in the form of a medallion.



India currently holds the world record for the largest human flag ever formed  50,000 volunteers from Chennai in December 2014.



The Indian flag was hoisted for the first time in August 1906 at the Parsee Bagan Square in Kolkata.



It has gone through at least five different iterations before the current tri-colour was formally accepted in 1947.

Here are some interesting facts about the Indian flag:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi on Wednesday on Indias 72nd Independence Day.

With Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in the first half of 2019, this will be PM Modis last address during his current tenure.

Observers suggest that the speech  a long-standing annual tradition  will focus on highlighting the achievements of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and will act as a report card on the Centres performance.

Here are some of the key topics that the prime minister is expected to talk about in his fifth Independence Day speech:

Ayushman Bharat

Multiple reports suggest that Prime Minister Modi is likely to announce the launch of the Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Scheme (AB NHPS) in some states on a pilot basis on Wednesday. A complete rollout is expected to happen by September-end.

The ambitious programme aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, and is expected to benefit more than 10 crore poor families.

While Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are yet to come on board, Odisha has refused to be a part of the scheme. According to reports, 22 states have preferred to run the scheme on "trust model".

The Centre has allocated around Rs 10,000 crore for it, which is claimed to be the world's largest government-funded healthcare insurance programme. However, it is yet to release its share of funds to the states.

Also read: Promises kept or broken? An analysis of PM Narendra Modi's Independence Day speeches

Jan Dhan Yojana

To provide a boost to the government's financial inclusion drive, the PM is expected to announce benefits for about 32 crore Jan Dhan account holders on Wednesday.

There could be an announcement on doubling of overdraft facility to Rs 10,000 for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders.

The government may also announce a micro insurance scheme. The free accident cover for RuPay Cardholders could be increased from the existing amount of Rs 1 lakh.

Also read: The evolution of the Indian national flag through history

Atal Pension Yojana

Prime Minister Modi may announce an increase in the pension limit under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) from the existing slab of up to Rs 5,000 to up to Rs 10,000 per month. The scheme was announced in 2015-16.

Currently, subscribers of the APY scheme receive pension of Rs 1,000-5,000 per month at the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions.

Some observers suggest that the speech could touch up on issues such as internal security, terrorism and social issues as well.

With assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram scheduled for later this year, the PM may also touch upon the Cabinets decision to hike minimum support price (MSP) for all Kharif crops by 1.5 times the input cost for the 2018-19 season.

Also read | Freedom from income tax & locking up Amit Shah: Here are some bizarre suggestions PM Modi got for his I-Day speech

Earlier, the prime ministers office (PMO) had invited people to send suggestions and ideas for the prime ministers Independence Day speech.

PM Modi is expected to incorporate some of those ideas in his speech.

Last year, the PMO had received suggestions to incorporate themes such as education, cleanliness, environment, digitisation and girls' literacy.

PM Modi had kept his promise last year by delivering his shortest Independence Day speech. The speech lasted 54 minutes, well short of the 96-minute speech he had delivered in 2016. This year too, the address is expected to be short.

The address to the nation is likely to begin at 7.30 am on Wednesday. This year, the speech will go live on Google and YouTube, besides Doordarshan.

Google's home page has an embedded live telecast screen, which is aimed at grabbing more eyeballs for events that are already regarded as high viewership programmes.

Along with this, Doordarshan will also translate the PMs speech in over 20 regional languages. The translated speeches will be telecast later on Wednesday.
Tourists could soon cruise on a ship to Buddhist pilgrimage centres in Bihar if a proposal that the government is discussing with Japan and South Korea materialises.

According to sources, the two countries have shown interest in developing the Bodh Darshan circuit in the state to promote Buddhist tourist places.

This Bodh circuit has received a lot of interest from Japanese and Korean government. They are willing to invest for infrastructural development in Bihar, said a person aware of the development.

Sources said that the two countries are expected to do the studies for the region and approach New Delhi with their detailed project reports (DPRs) about the circuit. The expected route will be a mix of road, rail and cruise from Haldia to Bihar.

What they are saying is that, Bihar has areas like Buddhas birth place (Lumbini, now Nepal), followed by Sarnath Pillars and Gaya So the entire area of Patliputra can be made into a circuit, the source added.

Also read: Private firms to maintain logistics hubs at Varanasi, Haldia for 30 years: Inland Waterways Authority

Both, Japan and South Korea, have significant population practicing Buddhism. The circuit would thus help India pitch itself as an attractive tourist destination for people around the globe practicing Buddhism.

Centre has engaged Bermello and Ajamil as consultants to help formulate a roadmap to promote cruise tourism in the country. About 1,62,660 cruise passengers visited India in 2017-18. This was less than 1,91,725 cruise passengers that visited India in 2016-17.

Union minister for shipping, Nitin Gadkari, expects the industry to generate revenue of around Rs 35,000 crore and generate employment for about two lakh people.

An official from the shipping ministry, confirming the development, said that the talks are at preliminary stage and the studies are being done by the two countries.

They are mapping it out right now as to how this can be taken forward, what kind of an infrastructure is required, et cetera A study is being done, said the official.

The official also added that the circuit will be part of the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).

Also read: Domestic travellers on radar to speed up cruise tourism in India; Mumbai, Cochin, Vishakhapatnam chosen destinations for govt push

We are doing it at different places where they will go via roads, trains and cruise. So they will board at Haldia, go to Bihar, roam around the circuit and come back, the official added.

The official further said that the ministry is in talks with tourism ministry as well as industrial and commercial development corporation (ICDC) to look if the investment can be done through public-private partnership (PPP) route.

These are the thought processes that are being considered Lead is being taken by these countries (Japan and Korean) who are doing it on their own They are looking at the circuit and saying that they will do the DPR and get back to us, he said.

Sources said that as vessels for cruise tourism in India are being provided by inland waterways authority of India (IWAI), the authority has to consider the proposal too.

The lead is being taken by IWAI for developing cruise vessels but they can only build and give permissions to run vessels Its a different thing when you have to run and sustain it, said another source.

The source also added that as Budh tourist circuit falls under the jurisdiction of the state government, thus Centre, beyond a point, is dependent on it.

Also read: Cruise tourists could soon travel to India without passports via E-landing cards

Shipping ministry has cut cruise ship charges by 50 percent to attract ships along with recommending other steps like setting up a single window system for all pre-cruise requirements, declaration of only limited items of inventory of the cruise ships, no face to face check after dis-embarking formalities, standard operating procedures (SoPs) to be framed for training and education of the personnel handling of passengers.

The shipping ministry has also decided to increase the number of dock-days permitted from one to three. Foreign flag vessels carrying passengers have also been allowed to call at Indian ports without securing a licence from the director general of shipping till February 2024.
A farmer in the Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru district has declined his loan waiver and sent a letter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, according to a report by The Times of India.

The farmer has asked the chief minister to look into the problems faced by the farming industry instead of opting for a one-time solution of loan.

MH Amaranath (45) is an art graduate, and owns 11 acres of farmland in the Mudigere district.

Growing black pepper, coffee and other crops, he had taken a loan of Rs 4 lakh from a private bank. He told the newspaper that the loan waiver was hurting his self-respect, which is why he decided to write the letter.

"I dont know other farmers opinion on the issue," Amaranath said.

Amaranath informed the District Administration and the Karnataka Government of his decision to refuse the waiver, and further suggested that the chief minister should announce schemes such as GiveItUp LPG Subsidy so that affluent families could voluntarily refuse the subsidised refills, the report suggests.

Amaranath stated that Kumaraswamy governments scheme of waiving off loans up to Rs 1 lakh hurt the farmers who have enough self-worth to repay their loans even in times of crisis and suggested the scheme to be transferred to less fortunate families.

According to the report, drawing the governments attention to issues such as fake fertilisers and pesticides, unscientific support pricing and a flawed crop insurance scheme, Amaranath said: For example, Rs 7,000 was deducted from my loan account as premium for the crop insurance scheme last year. But I haven't received a rupee in claims though I lost the black pepper crop. The chief minister must iron out such wrinkles.
Ananth Kumar: Often considered to be the man who built the BJP from the scratch in Karnataka, Kumar passed away on November 12, 2018 after battling lung cancer for months. (Image: Creative Commons)

Amidst a row over reports that the venue of the prestigious Aero India show would be shifted from Bengaluru to Lucknow, Union Minister Ananth Kumar has said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had confirmed that there was no decision on the matter.

Kumar's statement comes after Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, insisting that Bengaluru would be the "best choice" for the biennial aerospace exhibition.

"There is no decision on shifting #AeroIndia 2019 venue out of #Bengaluru to #Lucknow, as clarified by Defence Minister officials. I have spoken to @nsitharamanji, who has confirmed the same. There were similar rumours last time too, which were proved to be unfounded," Kumar, the Lok Sabha MP from Bangalore South constituency, tweeted yesterday.

Aero India has traditionally been organised at the Indian Air Force's Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru since its inception in 1996. Reports about shifting the venue has kicked up a political storm between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress.

The state Congress has written to Sitharaman, asking her to protect the interests of the state by retaining the exhibition in Bengaluru as she was a Rajya Sabha member from the state.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara had alleged that Karnataka was losing key defence projects to other states under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule.

Opposition leader in the state Assembly B S Yeddyurappa had said yesterday the party, its MPs and central ministers from the state would make all efforts to retain the show in Bengaluru by putting pressure on the Centre.
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his whirlwind poll rallies, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said on August 13 he should address election meetings of all parties and not just the BJP. He said the prime minister, a star campaigner for the BJP in elections, and also chief ministers, should treat all as equal.

"While being sworn-in, the prime minister, chief ministers and ministers take oath that they will treat everyone as equal.

"Why should the prime minister go only for the BJP (poll) campaign?" he said, speaking at the 58th anniversary function of the weekly magazine 'Marmik' this evening.

"They (prime ministers) should go for poll campaign of all (parties). They should attend the poll campaign of the Shiv Sena, independents and Communists," Thackeray said.

He made a veiled reference to BJP president Amit Shah writing to the Law Commission, pitching various benefits of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies in the country.

"One nation, one election is nice. If democracy has to take root in our country, then the Election Commission should ban prime minister, chief ministers and ministers from (participating in) poll campaigns," Thackeray said.

"The prime minister says he will give houses for all by 2022. If someone objects, he will say that person has negativity," Thackeray said.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said the popular "achhe din" slogan of the BJP has become a "gale mein haddi" (bone stuck in neck) for the NDA government, he said.

He referred to Modi announcing a financial aid of Rs 1,000 crore for the IIT-Bombay during its 56th annual convocation here on Saturday and said the BJP-led government in the state is ignoring the adjoining Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation.

The corporation has not got even a single penny of the Rs 6,500 crore that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised in 2015, the Sena chief said.
On August 15, 1947, many saw their dream of a free India realise when Jawahar Lal Nehru gave his iconic "Tryst with destiny" speech. What is often missed that although the task of freeing India from the British was not easy at all, what was more difficult was to bring together princely states that now lay scattered.

As the British exited, it was unclear how leaders at the time would unify the country as over 500 states lay loosely-stitched across the vast nation.

This is one of the reasons why some cities and states became a part of Independent India much later than August 15, 1947. And hence, this is not the 72nd Independence Day for them.

Hyderabad

Some princely states were happy under the British raj, with a semi-autonomy. Having to give up their rule for a free India was tough for them.

The responsibility of integrating states fell on the government that came to power after independence. A new department was set up to help reorganise states headed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and VP Menon. With help from Lord Mountbatten, they set out to coax and convince princes to accede to the Indian union.

Hyderabad was one of the toughest to convince, but it joined India in 1948. The state was ruled by Nizam Mir Usman Ali over a largely Hindu population. Ali wanted Hyderabad to be made an independent state and wanted to part of the British Commonwealth. He got support from the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

On September 13, Indian troops were sent to Hyderabad in what was called "Operation Polo". In an armed encounter that lasted four days, the Indian army gained control over the state.

Junagadh

Another state that was not ready to give up its freedom was Junagadh, one of the most important among the Kathiawar states. Due to geographic compulsions, many states had to go with India. However, Junagadh, which shared no borders with Pakistan, chose to accede to Pakistan, saying that it could reach the country by sea.

The Indian government did not accept the accession as it would worsen simmering communal tensions in Gujarat. The government called for a plebiscite, cut off fuel and coal supplies to Junagadh, severed air and postal links and sent troops to the frontier. On October 26, the Nawab and his family fled to Pakistan and the Junagadh court invited the Government of India to take over.

A plebiscite was conducted on February 1948, which was unanimously in favour of India.

Goa

The Portuguese colonized India in 1510, conquering many parts of the western coast and establishing many colonies in the east. But by the end of 19th century, the colonies were only in Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Anjediva Island.

In December 1961, the Indian government annexed the Portuguese territories of Goa, Daman and Diu with the help of armed forces. Following the end of the Portuguese rule, Goa's capital Panjim was placed under military rule, which was replaced with a civilian government on June 8, 1962.

Puducherry

Pondicherry, as it was formerly known, remained a French colony while India celebrated its freedom in August 1947. The city saw the colonial rule of the Dutch, Portuguese, English and finally the French. Although, the Indian government pressed for unification continuously.

Although a treaty of cession was signed between France and India in May 1956, it was ratified by the French Parliament in May 1962. Puducherry was liberated from the French rule on August 16, 1962, and it officially merged with India. Since July 1, 1963, the region has been administered as the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is leading in Bhokar.

The Maharashtra Congress hit out at the Modi government today over the rupee breaching the 70- mark against the US dollar and said the drop shows "achhe din" are here for US citizens.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan said the falling rupee was an Independence Day "gift" to the people of India from the BJP- led NDA government.

"Achhe din (good days) are here for US citizens with the rupee touching a historic low of 70 per dollar. On the eve of Independence Day, this is the incredible India that BJP has gifted us," the former (rpt former) chief minister tweeted.

The rupee crashed below the 70-mark in early trade to touch an all-time low of 70.10 against the US dollar, a day after bloodletting in global markets due to worries over Turkish economic crisis and a sharp plunge in the lira.

Ushering in "achhe din" was one of the key campaign slogans of the BJP in the 2014 general elections.
HD Kumaraswamy

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has visited 40 temples since the day he became the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 23 this year. That's 40 temples in 82 days - one temple every alternate day.

As reported by The Times of India, he visited the Ishvara Temple at Hradanahalli on Monday (August 12), before visiting Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala, four temples in Hollandaraspur taluk of Hassan. He has also made six visits to famous mutts - Adichunchanagiri, Mandir's Sutur Math, and Tidukur's Siddhaganga Math. Kumaraswamy has visited various temples in different parts of Karnataka, some even outside the state.

"Once in power, several chief ministers have sought the intervention and support of the almighty to tide over personal or political crises they face but Kumaraswamy has been exceptional," political expert Sandeep Shastri told TOI.

Kumaraswamy faces stiff competition from BS Yeddyurappa, ex-CM of Karnataka, who visited numerous temples after becoming the CM in 2008, all the way to Kerala and Vaishno Devi.

"Once in power, several chief ministers have sought the intervention and support of the almighty to tide over personal or political crises they face but Kumaraswamy has been exceptional," Shastri added.
Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh are round the corner. While the Congress is putting its best foot forward in the state to bridge a gap of around 0.7 percent votes, the saffron party is likely to get the support of Ajit Jogis party, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, to take on Congress.

To win Dalit votes, Chief Minister Raman Singh-led BJP is depending on Ajit Jogi . Congress, meanwhile, is likely to tie up with BSP for the same, reports The Economic Times.

Around 65 percent votes come from the Satnamis (Dalits) and tribals for Congress and they form the core vote base for the party. BJP gets around 70 percent of its votes from the upper caste and backward caste.

To make a dent in BJPs vote share, Congress has appointed Tamradhwaj Sahu, a backward caste leader, as a member of Congress Working Committee and head of its OBC Cell. Congress is wooing Kurmis and Yadavs, who are present in sizeable numbers, to poach some of the OBC support enjoyed by BJP till now, party sources said.

Presidents of both parties are trying their best to build a strong base in Chhattisgarh. While party president Amit Shah will hold a meeting with around 15,000 shakti kendra workers of the party on August 22, Congress Rahul Gandhi inaugurated a new Pradesh Congress Committee office in Raipur on August 10.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today criticised the government for keeping a watch on the media. He mocked the government saying earlier the media used to keep a tab on government activities, but now its the other way round. Thackeray has never shied away from criticising the BJP government.

As reported by the India Today, speaking at a media awards function in Mumbai organised by the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, he lashed out at the government.

Thackeray said, "One now hears whether a second Emergency is stealthily coming through the back door. Earlier the media kept a watch on the government. Now the government is keeping a watch on the media. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy, but the situation makes one feel whether this pillar is wobbling or what?"

He encouraged the media not to succumb to government pressure and take charge, adding that in a democracy people are supreme.

He further questioned the media by stating how can anyone write anything once the pen gathers rust?

Thackeray criticised catchy slogans and phrases like GaribiHatao" and "Acche Din" and said that such slogans have damaged the country of doing more harm than good.

He recalled Jawaharlal Nehru's slogan of uprooting corruption and hanging the corrupt once the government comes to power and said, "Since then there is this fashion of making catchy slogans or phrases. Is it possible to give housing for all by 2022 and doubling of farm income?"
Google on Monday announced the '2018 Doodle 4 Google' contest for Indian students, offering an opportunity to win a scholarship worth Rs 5 lakh. The search giant has invited students from class 1 to 10 to submit their doodles. The last date for submission is October 6. The theme for this year is what inspires you.

The official release by Google says that the doodle, incorporating letters G-o-o-g-l-e, can be created using crayons, clay, water-colours and graphic design. Students have to bring their imagination to life for the search engine giants logo.

The award-winning doodle will get a college scholarship worth Rs 5 lakh along with an opportunity to share their inspiration through artwork. Not just that, the winning doodle will have its share of publicity as it will be displayed on Googles homepage on this year's Childrens Day on November 14, the company said in a statement.

The entries will be reviewed by an expert panel of judges including original doodle team leader at Google Ryan Germick. Out of the entries, top 20 doodles will be shortlisted by the internal judging and jury votes. Those 20 lucky entries will then go for public voting from October 23 to November 5.

The first edition of "Doodle 4 Google India" was held in 2009 and the theme was "My India". The same contest also runs in regions including Canada, Latin America, and several Asian countries.
Allowed | Data and call centres for government activities. (Image: Moneycontrol)

Hinduja Global Solutions, which reported first-quarter results on Friday, saw profit fall about 9 percent annually, and 21.6 percent sequentially, while revenue rose 9.7 percent.

Chief Financial Officer Srinivas Palakodeti spoke to Moneycontrol about the June-ended quarter and the way forward.

Edited excerpts:

Q: What was the reason for the fall in profit this quarter?

A: That is because of seasonality in our business. Typically, Q4 is our strongest quarter. In most of the years, Q1 has been weak on profitability compared to Q4, and that is primarily because we have healthcare in our portfolio, which is primarily US healthcare related.

They have an open enrollment season which comes in in Q3. We have to start hiring and training people in Q1 and Q2, so the revenues come in Q3 and there is a spillover in Q4.

We also did an acquisition effective April of this year. So from an overall perspective, on the revenue and business side, we are doing well.

In India, we do a lot of work for the telecom companies, and the pressure being faced by clients in a way has come down to us. So we have seen a drop in volumes.

We are re-calibrating on what we need to do in terms of headcount consolidation, giving up some unprofitable lines of business and grow the non-telecom business.

The minimum wages issue in Karnataka has also raised costs for us.

Q: There has been an increase in healthcare from 51 percent in Q4 to 54 percent this quarter. Do you have a wide variety of clients in the sector or is the revenue constituted concentrated in a few accounts?

A: We have been in the healthcare business from inception. We have added clients on both sides. In the US, there are the insurance companies which are called the payers, and the other side are providers.

We do work for both- providers as well as payers.

On the payers' side, we have multiple client renewals. The largest client accounts for 16-17% of our revenue, and is a health client. We have three or four health insurance companies.

We also have a medical durable company which is also growing well. The payer side is bigger for us, and older.

Q: Where do you see the business going forward?

A: On the healthcare side, traditionally we started servicing clients from India, which was non voice, then clients gave us voice business which was primarily done out of Philippines. Then it went to Jamaica which is the near shore destination and also on the offshore.

All geographies have seen growth from a delivery perspective. Traditionally we have been focused on the administrative side of healthcare business.

We would like to go to the medical side, where we can help improve outcome and reduce the cost of medical care.

The other is digital. The mode of interaction is not a call, its email, chat or social media. We have been doing this for a number of media houses in India.

We recently signed up with a very large retailer in US to do social media. We expect to grow this. We are getting good traction for US onshore delivery. We are also opening up a new site, earlier we never did because the price points never looked so good.

We have now been able to give better solutions, and we have been winning more business at better price points and margins than we have done in the past. That part is doing well, as well as Canada.
Every Independence Day is an occasion to remember, cherish and celebrate Indias freedom; to plunge into Indias history  both pre and post-Independence  and marvel at the achievements and sacrifices of the countrys freedom fighters.

Every Independence Day also marks the occasion when the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation. Here are some of the most iconic speeches, and how they shaped the course that we  as a nation and as a people belonging to that nation  took.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.

This was Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus iconic speech, delivered on the midnight of August 14, as India entered its first day as an independent nation.

Nehrus speech instilled hope of a new, free dawn for the people of India, and inspired courage, even as the nation stood divided  both geographically as well as internally along communal lines.

Nehru addressed the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort 16 more times after that, but his first speech has come to define the way consequent speeches have been written, in a manner that will address the nation, as well as the idea of it.

Lal Bahadur Shastri

Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indias second prime minister and, some would argue, a forgotten giant of Indias post-Independent history, delivered his first I-Day speech on the background of Nehrus death, and his second on the background of Pakistans intrusion into India, which triggered the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

Speaking about 10 days after the first Pakistani infiltrators had made their way into the country, Shastris repeated calls for Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and his firm assertion that force will be met by force inspired a nation and an Army demoralised after the 1962 defeat to China.

Whether we remain or not, let this country remain strong, and let this flag keep flying, Shastri had said; lines which are still relevant, and still upheld.

Morarji Desai

Morarji Desai was the first non-Congress Prime Minister to come to power in India. But what was even more essential was the fact that he was helming and thus addressing a nation that had emerged from Emergency, which in its very nature was undemocratic and going against the idea of freedom.

During his 1977 speech, Desai stuck to the moment, and spoke about building power of the people. You can catch me by the ear when I make a mistake. But do not catch me alone; catch all colleagues of mine if mistakes are committed. That is the kind of peoples power we want to build.

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India in 1966. She was the first woman prime minister, and addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort 16 times.

In her first I-Day address, she spoke about Indias glorious past, a past studded with achievements. It is for us to see that our record remains unblemished, she had said.

In a sense, Indira Gandhi managed to keep her promise she led India to victories, internationally as well as on domestic front.

The former Principal Information Officer of the Government of India, I. Ramamohan Rao relates how, on the eve of Gandhis 1975 the year she declared Emergency Independence Day speech, she received the news of the assassination of Bangaldeshs Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the coup in Dhaka. Indira Gandhis face that day at Red Fort looked like it had been carved in stone, Rao wrote.

Around two months before she was assassinated, in her address from the Red Fort in 1984, she spoke about protecting India and its independence.

 We have to protect this flame of Independence from every storm, every gust of wind, she had said.

Rajiv Gandhi

The youngest Prime Minister of India and the third to assume that position from his family addressed the nation five times.

In 1986, he addressed not just India, but also the diversity that makes up India. Being an Indian does not mean we are mere inhabitants of country We have a diversity of cultures. We belong to different religions- Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists We accord equal respect to all faiths and religions. Our strength and unity flow from this fact. This is the only path we must follow, for our strength lies in our diversity.

In his 1989 I-Day speech, three months before he lost power right in the middle of the Bofors fiasco, he spoke about his vision for India.

We have to make India self-reliant. We have to develop India into a great power in the world but not like other great powers that have risen by suppressing others, he had said.

PV Narasimha Rao

Narasimha Rao had the distinction of being the first Prime Minister from the non-Hindi belt. He assumed the top position during a tumultous time: Indias economy was in crisis, communal and caste-based politics was rearing its head out once again and Rao was personally battling internal politics within the Congress.

In 1993, with communal politics at its peak, and in the aftermath of the blasts and riots in Bombay, Rao spoke about not allowing bombs to affect Indias still-recovering economy.

In such a big country, will we allow two or three bombs to put the economy in disarray? How will we work? We will just not permit this to happen, Rao had said.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Vajpayee addressed the nation from the Red Fort six times. Dramatic and long pauses and speeches laced with poetry made Vajpayee a formidable orator.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch is known for many things, among them are making India a nuclear power and his policy on Kashmir something that he espoused during his Independence Day addresses as well.

"I have a vision of India: an India free of hunger and fear, an India free of illiteracy and want. I dream of an India that is prosperous, strong and caring. An India, that regains a place of honour in the comity of great nations," he had said in 1999.

Three years, a loss in no-confidence motion and a win in general elections later, Vajpayee spoke on Kashmir, saying Kashmir, for India, is not a piece of land, but "a test-case of Sarva Dharma Samabhava secularism."

"India has always stood the test of a secular nation. Jammu and Kashmir is a living example of this. And this itself is Kashmiriyat," Vajpayee said.

Manmohan Singh

'Silent PM' Manmohan Singh addressed the nation from Red Fort 10 times.

Much like Rajiv Gandhi, Singh also nodded to India's unity in diversity in his 2007 speech.

In 2013, Singh spoke about ridding India of "poverty, hunger, disease and ignorance" if the country progressed on the path it had been progressing for the past 10 years.

Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi is known to be silver-tongued and he doesn't regard public speaking as just a part of the job  he revels in it.

Modi's speeches have ranged from praising the government's initiatives, announcing new policies to directing attacks on international rivals.

Modi has tended to emphasise upon the concept of a united nation, a trait he has shared with his two predecessors. In his first speech as the Prime Minister, for instance, Modi spoke about nation-building.

"My dear countrymen, this nation has neither been built by political leaders nor by rulers nor by governments," Modi said.

"This nation has been built by our farmers, our workers, our mothers and sisters, our youth. The country has reached here today because of generation-to-generation rigours undertaken by our sages, our saints, our maestros, our teachers, our scientists and social workers," he added, speaking extempore and breaking the tradition of reading from a paper.

In 2016, Modi roused the Balochistan issue, sending a signal across border to Pakistan.

"Today, I want to especially honour and thank some people from the ramparts of the Red Fort. For the past few days, the people of Balochistan, people of Gilgit, people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the way their citizens have heartily thanked me, the way they have acknowledged me, the goodwill they have shown towards me..." he said.
Australia has resumed adoption of children from India after eight years, a senior official with the Women and Child Development Ministry said today.

The suspension was enforced after a woman reportedly adopted an Indian child and abandoned her in Australia, prompting the Australian government to suspend adoptions from India, the official said.

"The ministry was in constant touch with the Australian government to relent and allow adoptions from India and they have finally agreed," the official said. The suspension was reportedly lifted after eight years, he said.

A total of 651 inter-country adoptions from India were recorded in 2017-18.

According to the Special Broadcasting Service in Australia, Assistant Minister for Children and Families David Gillespie confirmed the news and said the recommendation was to start with small numbers.

"We don't want to see child trafficking, we don't want to see children that aren't getting what they deserve. That is a permanent, safe, caring home," Gillespie was quoted by the SBS News as saying.
Last year, Brazilian farmer Gustavo Lopes sized up his sugarcane plantation against his soybean fields.

He looked at global trends, including rising US China trade tensions and a stubborn sugar arket glut. Then he tore up the last of his cane fields and ditched a decades-old supply contract with a local sugar mill.

Lopes planted soybeans across his 1,600-hectare (4,000-acre) farm in Sao Paulo state a bet that paid off earlier this month when Chinese buyers loaded up on South American soy after Beijing imposed tariffs on US beans. The farmer got his highest price ever for soybeans.

"It was unusual for this time of year," Lopes said in an interview at his farm, where he's prepping to plant another soy crop in September. "It's got to be a result of Chinese demand."

Shifting trade flows are redefining the Brazilian landscape, spurring more farmers to align their crops with Chinese appetites. The nation's soy plantings have expanded by 2 million hectares in two years an area the size of New Jersey while land used for cane shrank by nearly 400,000 hectares, according to government data.

China's growing demand for meat has supercharged soy imports for animal feed. The Asian nation paid $20.3 billion last year for 53.8 million tonnes of soybeans from Brazil, nearly half its output a and up from 22.8 million tonnes in 2012.

A new 25 percent Chinese tariff on U.S. soybeans a retaliation for U.S. levies by President Donald Trump is expected to boost Brazil's soy exports to an all ime record this year.

Brazilian soybean exports to China rose to nearly 36 million tonnes in the first half of 2018, up 6 percent from a year ago. In July, they surged 46 percent from the same month a year earlier to 10.2 million tonnes.

Brazil's grains boom has it rivaling United States as the world's top soy producer this year, after outpacing US exports over the past five years.

All that soy is eating into Brazil's sugarcane belt, which is reeling from sugar prices near multi ear lows. Chinese sugar tariffs have weighed on the global market for the sweetener as developed nations continue to cut back consumption.

"We lost 3,000 hectares of cane area to grains in the last two years," said Roberto de Rezende Barbosa, chief executive of Nova America. The largest cane growers in Brazil, managing 110,000 hectares.

Rezende said he had seen farmers migrating from sugarcane into grains in nearly every state where both crops are viable.

SHUTTERED SUGAR MILLS

The crop swap is catching on quickly with farmers, threatening the survival of cane mills they once supplied.

About 60 cane mills have closed in the past five years in Brazil's center-south cane region. About 270 that remain open must fight harder than ever to secure cane supplies.

Agroconsult, an agribusiness consultancy, said it has received requests from mills to calculate the premium they will have to pay producers to keep them from switching to grains.

Douglas Duarte, a director at the Londra mill in ItaA - which used to lease part of the Lopes farm - said he has plans to add 500,000 tonnes of capacity at the mill but has yet to line up enough cane supplies.

With so many farmers focused on grain, Duarte has worked to sign leases with families who are not interested in actively managing their land.

"In places where the owners have expertise with grains the equipment and everything then you can't compete," he said.

In some places, the closing of cane mills has also discouraged planting.

Farmer Antonio de Morais Ribeiro Neto gave up planting cane last year after the closure of the sugar mill that he supplied, called Usina Maracaju. Biosev SA, the Brazilian sugar arm of global commodities trader Louis Dreyfus Co, shut it down in a cost-cutting move.

So Riberio replaced 400 hectares of cane with soybeans, adding to the 2,000 hectares of soy he already had planted. As he watched the U.S.-China trade war escalate, he bought two new grain silos, more soybean-planting machinery and a new harvester.

'BETTING BIG'

Plenty of sugar mills, which often grow part of the cane they process, have realized they cannot fight the soy boom and decided to plant their own soybeans as part of a crop rotation strategy.

Cane fields typically need to be replanted after five or six years, and mills are using the renovation window to produce soybeans.

"In the past, those areas subject to renovation would be left fallow until the following year," said Victor Campanelli, who has exploited the niche.

His firm, Agro Pastoril Paschoal Campanelli, manages the planning, inputs and equipment for sugar mills' one off soy crops, sharing in the profits.

While the grains bonanza has many farmers flush with cash, some are wary about relying so much on one crop and one massive importer.

"This Chinese demand has attracted all the farmers," said Marcos Cesar Brunozzi, who switched part of his land from sugar to grains in the state of Minas Gerais. "I hope the whole situation doesn't change suddenly, because we are betting big."

Lopes has no regrets about tearing up his cane fields.

Last year, his sugarcane yielded a net profit of 480 reais per hectare - compared to 2,600 reais per hectare for his soy fields. I know it won't always be that way," he said. "But still, it's a huge difference."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan to congratulate him for winning the elections is a positive development, Islamabad's envoy to New Delhi said today and expressed the hope that such steps could lead to betterment of ties.

Pakistan's High Commissioner in New Delhi Sohail Mahmood made the remarks during an event held at the country's chancery to mark the country's 72nd Independence Day.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling PTI chairman Imran Khan after the results of the general elections is another positive development. And it is hoped that such positive developments will lead to the betterment of ties between the two countries," Mahmood said.

During the celebrations, the envoy hoisted his country's flag to the tune of the Pakistan national anthem.

Students of the Pakistan High Commission School presented a medley of songs on the occasion as people greeted each other.

On July 30, Modi spoke to Khan, who is set to become Pakistan's next prime minister after his party emerged the largest political party in July 25 polls, and hoped that democracy will take deeper roots in the neighbouring country.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said Modi "also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood". Khan is expected to take oath as Pakistan prime minister on August 18.

In a goodwill gesture ahead of the Independence Days of the two countries, India yesterday released seven Pakistani civilian prisoners, taking the total number of jailed inmates repatriated in the last one week to 21.

Pakistan also freed 30 Indian prisoners, including 27 fishermen.
A highly coordinated attack on ATMs across the world is being planned by cyber criminals, which could lead to the withdrawal of millions of dollars in just a few hours, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned.

A report in CNN said that a confidential alert was sent to banks sharing details of this ATM hacking operation. The alert - ATM cashout - stated that the attack could mostly happen on weekends after the banks are closed. By making use of cloned cards, together with a hack on a bank or payment processor to facilitate fraudulent withdrawal of funds, the operation can be materialised within a span of few hours.

The threat was reported on Sunday by Krebs On Security, a popular cyber security blog run by journalist Brian Krebs. A FBI spokeswoman said: "FBI routinely advises private industry of potential threats observed during the course of the investigation. This data is provided in order to help systems administrators guard against the actions of persistent cyber criminals."

A similar attack was reported last month by Krebs On Security, which resulted in losses of $2.4 million for the National Bank of Blacksburg, involving hundreds of ATMs across the United States over the course of several months. Another incident in Thailand in 2016 saw the state-owned Government Savings Bank lose $360,000 from cash machines in the country. "Virtually all ATM cashout operations are launched on weekends, often just after financial institutions begin closing for business on Saturday," the blog post said.

Hackers often remove fraud controls like withdrawal limits, which allow perpetrators to empty cash machines of all the money stored in them to maximise the payouts.

The FBI advised banks to review their security measures, keep their software up to date, and implement stronger protections whenever possible.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today said Turkey would boycott US electronic goods, in retaliation for punitive sanctions Washington placed against Ankara over the detention of an American pastor.

"We will boycott US electronic goods," Erdogan said in a televised speech. "If (the United States) have the iPhone, there's Samsung on the other side," he said, referring to US giant Apple's iconic phone and the top South Korean brand. "We (also) have our Venus and Vestel," he said, referring to homegrown Turkish electronics brands.
GBSTs share price has suffered after the company has had to reset several aspects of the business.

Shares of GBST Holdings Ltd [ASX:GBT] are currently trading at $2.10 in todays market, down 4.97% at time of writing.

Poor Full year results affecting GBST Holdings Share Price

GBSTs financial results for the full year ending 30 June 2018 proved troubling for the company, and this along with resting several aspects of the business, is most likely contributing to its falling share price.

Net profit after tax was down 10.5% to 6.2 million, with full year operating EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) before R&D down 7.2% to $20.2 million, which was offset by a 9.4% increase in the second half, at $10.5 million.

Will GBST Holdings share price recover?

Despite GBSTs full results proving underwhelming, its not all doom and gloom, considering the second half year results showed a stronger revenue performance, which could potentially underpin future growth and bounce GBSTs share price in good time.

Managing Director and ECO Mr Rob DeDominicis commented on the momentum cross key financial measures for the second half, and the progress on its R&D program:

While full year earnings were down slightly on FY17, the second half of FY18 was a stronger six months for GBST. During FY18, we reset serval aspects of the business including an upgrading of skills and experience in the executive team, organisation and operating model restricting and improvements to business systems and processes. We also focused on reducing operating costs where possible and all of these things together put GBST in a much better place to take advantage of future growth opportunities.

Free Report: Discover four red hot ASX profit plays for 2018. Read Now

In other news, GBSTs three year strategic R&D Program is now live in the market, and was on time and on budget this year at $14.7 million. Along with this, the program met technical feasibility and progress milestones.

And their new digital and web integration solution, catalyst, has been really well received in the market.

This, along with optimising future growth opportunities could aid in some damage control for GBSTs share price.

Regards,

Ryan Clarkson-Ledward,

For Money Morning

PS: Our Aussie finance expert Sam Volkering reveals the four Aussie stocks he believes could be top performers in 2018. Get your free report now: The Four Best ASX Stocks For 2018.
Unitatea Administrativ-Teritoriala Municipiul Galati anunta finalizarea proiectului cu titlul Cresterea performantei energetice a blocului de locuinte M, str. Albatros nr. 1 din Municipiul Galati, cod SMIS 122620, finantat prin Programului Operatio ...

Bovine constiente in timpul sacrificarii, abatorizarea vacilor gestante cu extragerea fetusilor, sange prelevat pentru extragerea serului fetal. Un investigator de la L214, asociatie pentru apararea animalelor folosite ca resurse alimentare, s-a in ...

Guvernul Ungariei le va cere angajatilor din institutiile de stat sa fie vaccinati impotriva COVID-19, dupa o crestere a numarului de contaminari, a anuntat joi seful de cabinet al premierului ungar Viktor Orban, Gergely Gulyas, informeaza Reuters. P ...
Described as "four old friends" by Thompson on her Instagram post, the foursome went on to star in two more Back To The Future movies, in 1989 and 1990.



And while fans are beside themselves to see the gang together again, the panel discussion at the expo made it clear audiences shouldn't hold out for a fourth film.

"Basically, I think America is saying, 'Come on they've wrecked every other franchise with bad sequels, why not this one?'" said Wilson.

"'C'mon, we would watch it until it sucks.'"

Fox then chimed in that original co-creator Bob Gale is the "gatekeeper of the franchise", and that he's not interested in making part four.

Many fans at the event were decked out in the iconic vest made famous by Marty McFly.

Fox commented that he used to hate his costume, claiming, "'it looked great, but it was terrible to wear!".

Newshub.
James Corden is known for his funny skits on his late night TV talk show, for his next effort he's teamed up with Ariana Grande to recreate the entire Titanic movie!

The pair filmed the segment in one take and used a range of different pop songs to tell the story. The video has gone down well with fans and has gained millions of views online.

"At first I thought there was only 1 song In the Titanic soundtrack. Guess they proved me wrong!" one person commented.

Check out the full performance above.
Long acknowledged as one of the nations most in-demand housing markets, B.C. still has some areas of relative affordability that small households can take advantage of, according to a new report.

The latest analysis by real estate portal Zoocasa looked at the home-price-to-income ratios of the provinces major city, using data from Statistics Canada as a baseline. A lower ratio correlates to a shorter timeline needed to pay off a home purchase.

Unfortunately for single-income households, no B.C. metropolitan market is remotely near the economist-recommended ratio of 3. In red-hot Vancouver, an average home costs at least 32 times the income of a single-earning household, and 14 times that of two-or-more person households.
Investors are about to find out whether the world's largest oil companies have learned their lesson from $80 billion of cost blowouts in major projects during the era of $100 crude.

From liquefied natural gas in Mozambique to deep-oil in Guyana, the world's biggest energy companies are gearing up to sanction the first slate of mega-projects since the price crash in 2014, Wood Mackenzie Ltd. analysts including Angus Rodger said in a report. Firms will approve about $300 billion in spending on such ventures in 2019 and 2020, more than in the three years from 2015 to 2017 combined.

That spree will provide the first real test to the capital discipline that energy companies have vowed they adopted after oil's collapse, when they downsized their ambitions and began to complete projects on time and below budget. Before the crash, the 15 biggest oil and gas projects combined went $80 billion over budget, eating away at investor returns, Rodger said.

RELATED: Life appears to be returning to Gulf's energy sector

"Oil companies have improved their delivery in small projects, but can they do it with bigger ones?" Rodger said in a phone interview from Singapore. "There's massive upside on the table if they can show sustained success with capital discipline as oil prices rise. They could deliver the best returns in a decade."

Cost Overshoot

Several years of oil prices in the $100s at the start of this decade emboldened companies to take on massive, complicated projects to extract as much of the valuable oil and gas as they could, Rodger said. That spurred developments like Chevron Corp.'s Gorgon LNG project on the remote Barrow Island in western Australia, where costs ballooned from an initial expected $37 billion to $54 billion.

Cost overruns on projects sanctioned from 2008 to 2014 diluted returns to 12 percent on average, compared with an expected 19 percent at the time of investment, according to Wood Mackenzie.

"Oil companies already had a history of bad project management, and then adding $100 oil to that was like pouring gasoline on a fire," Rodger said. "Costs got out of control."

RELATED: Deepwater discoveries signal offshore revival

Those weak returns and plummeting oil prices that began in 2014 forced energy companies to rethink the way they spend. They started targeting smaller fields or expansions of existing projects that were cheaper and could be finished quicker. Fields sanctioned since 2014 have on average been delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, Wood Mackenzie said.

Scaling Up

While the dearth of mega projects has helped energy prices recover, with oil and LNG returning to the highest levels since 2014 earlier this year, large investments are again needed, Rodger said. What's uncertain is whether the cost discipline energy companies enforced on smaller projects could be replicated on a much bigger scale.

For example, oilfield service providers like Halliburton Co. and Schlumberger Ltd. shrunk their workforce during the downturn, leaving only the best roughnecks to work on projects. It remains to be seen if such companies will be able to deliver as efficiently as they scale up to handle new projects, Rodger said.

Oil companies will also have to avoid the temptation from rising oil and gas prices to expand the scope of projects in order to maximize production, Rodger said. Benchmark crude Brent was trading up 0.7 percent at $73.13 a barrel as of 9:09 a.m. London on Tuesday, about 44 percent higher than a year ago.

"Will they live with a lean approach and leave value in the ground, or as prices rise will they want to return to big projects," he said. "If they feel the latter way, we could see the same mistakes again."
Oil fell as Turkey's economic strife sparked an emerging-market sell-off, fueling fears of broader market turmoil.

West Texas Intermediate futures dropped 0.4 percent. The Turkish lira extended declines to a record low, sending tremors across global markets and spurring a shift to haven assets. OPEC published its monthly report, showing the group's output increased in July.

Turkey's currency has been a casualty of a deepening crisis spurred by the administration's growth-at-all-costs agenda and a worsening spat with the U.S., which has sanctioned the country. The slide continued after Turkish policy makers made their first move to bolster the financial system. In the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, declining crude output from Iran and Venezuela was offset by Kuwait and Nigeria.

"The key risk to oil is the contagion risk to other emerging markets, especially those representing a major share of demand growth," said Ole Sloth Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A/S. Traders "are most certainly looking for Turkey to contain the situation and come up with viable solutions."

WTI crude for September delivery fell as much as 44 cents to $67.19 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and traded at $67.38 as of 8:54 a.m. local time. The contract climbed 82 cents on Friday. Total volume traded Monday was about 35 percent below the 100-day average.

Brent for October settlement held steady at $72.76 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, and traded at a $6.07 premium to WTI for the same month. The global benchmark crude advanced 74 cents on Friday.

Iran Sanctions

Oil rose earlier on Monday amid supply concerns as Iran's foreign minister said the OPEC nation won't meet with the U.S. at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. The Trump administration has forecast that international buyers will cut Iranian imports by as much as 1 million barrels a day once renewed American sanctions take effect, according to people familiar with the matter.

In the U.S., the number of working oil rigs rose by 10 to 869 last week, the highest level since March 2015, Baker Hughes data showed. Producers have recently announced billions of dollars of new investments in the Permian Basin and elsewhere as they chase oil prices near three-year highs.

Other oil-market news:

OPEC boosted crude production by 41,000 barrels a day in July, despite sliding output in Libya, Iran and Saudi Arabia, the group said in its monthly report. Five Caspian Sea states reached a breakthrough agreement on sovereign rights to the sea, paving the way for new oil and gas extraction -- and pipelines -- after more than two decades of disputes. Hedge funds cut bets on rising prices for WTI and Brent, and total positions in both benchmarks shrank for a fifth straight week -- the longest stretch of declines since 2016. Royal Dutch Shell Plc said its head of global manufacturing, a business that includes refineries and chemicals plants, will step down at the end of August.
A grieving orca whale has released the body of her dead calf after carrying it for at least 17 days through the Pacific Ocean in an unprecedented act of mourning, according to researchers.

On Saturday, Tahlequah, as the mother has come to be called, was observed swimming without the body of her calf, according to Center for Whale Research Founder Ken Balcomb.

"Her tour of grief is now over and her behavior is remarkably frisky," read an update on the research center's website.

The center said whale-watchers near Vancouver, British Columbia, had reported seeing Tahlequah without her calf's body last week, but Saturday was the first time researchers were able to confirm those reports.

Tahlequah's mourning had astonished and devastated much of the world.

The orca gave birth on July 25 in what should have been a happy milestone for her long-suffering clan.

As Allyson Chiu wrote for The Washington Post, the pod of killer whales that roams between Vancouver and San Juan Island has dwindled to 75 members over the decades. The cause is no mystery: Humans have netted up the whales' salmon, driven ships through their hunting lanes and polluted their water, to the point that researchers fear Tahlequah's generation may be the last of her family.

The 400-pound, orange-tinted baby that wriggled out of her that morning was the first live birth in the pod since 2015, Chiu wrote. It lived about half an hour.

People love to anthropomorphize animals, often fallaciously. But studies have found that orcas really do possess high levels of intelligence and empathy, and emotions that may not be totally alien to our own.

So, when Tahlequah did not let her emaciated calf sink to the bottom of the Pacific, but rather balanced it on her head and pushed it along as she followed her pod, researchers thought they understood what was happening.

"You cannot interpret it any other way," Deborah Giles, a killer whale biologist with the University of Washington, told Chiu. "This is an animal that is grieving for its dead baby, and she doesn't want to let it go. She's not ready."

That was the beginning of a long funeral procession. "The hours turned into days," Chiu wrote two days after the death. "And on Thursday she was still seen pushing her baby to the water's surface."

And still the next day, and through the weekend, and into the next week and next month.

The act itself was not unprecedented, but researchers said it was rare to see a mother carry her dead for so long. It couldn't have been easy for her. Tahlequah's pod travels dozens of miles in a day, Chiu wrote, and she pushed her baby's hundreds of pounds every inch of the way. She was forever picking up the body as it sank, hoisting it out of the water to take a breath, and repeating.

Researchers with the Canadian and U.S. governments and other organizations tracked her all the while, the Seattle Times wrote. They hoped to capture the calf once Tahlequah finally let go, and discover why it had died - as nearly all the babies in this pod seemed to.

But Tahlequah would not let go. Eventually, researchers stopped calling what they were witnessing "rare" and began using the word "unprecedented."

And the phenomenon was no longer of purely scientific interest.

People wrote poems about Tahlequah and drew pictures. People lost sleep thinking about the whale. A scientist cried thinking of her. Tahlequah inspired politicians and essayists - and a sense of interspecies kinship in some mothers who had also lost children.

And still, Tahlequah carried her child. The world's interest in her feat finally grew to encompass her whole family.

Last week, the Times wrote, biologists and government officials began working on a plan to save the youngest living member of Talhequah's pod - a 3-year-old orca that appears to be on the brink of starvation. They are tracking the young whale - Scarlet - in an attempt to feed her antibiotic-laced salmon.

In that sense, maybe, Tahlequah's doomed calf did bring new hope to the pod, which had previously swum and struggled in near-anonymity.

At the same time, the mother's obsession had become gravely concerning to researchers. They worried that the effort of pushing her calf - for about 1,000 miles - would make Tahlequah weak and keep her from finding enough food. Fortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case.

The Center for Whale Research said Tahlequah "vigorously chased a school of salmon with her pod-mates" when researchers spotted her on Saturday.
Like a cocaine-fueled Homeric epic, Colombia's long tragic battle with the drug cartels has produced countless heroes and villains. But one figure cutting across the country's current narco battlefield, a name drawing praise and hate alike, is actually a six-year-old German Shepard you can find trotting through the country's airports.

Sombra - "Shadow" in English - is a drug detection dog with the Colombian National Police. Over the last few years, her radar nose has led to more than 200 arrests and the seizure of at least 9 tons of illicit drugs. That success has turned the dog into something of a folk hero in a country consumed by ongoing bloodshed piled on top of a long legacy of drug violence. The Colombian press has even dubbed Sombra "the terror" of drug traffickers.

THE DIFFERENCE: MS-13 is a street gang, not a drug cartel

But Sombra is so good at her job that Colombia's dominant drug crew is retaliating. They've put a price on the dog's head.

According to Colombia's RCN Radio, police intelligence recently learned about the bounty set by the Urabenos, also known as the "Gulf Clan." Reports vary on the price tag for killing the dog, between 20 and 200 million Colombian pesos - or about $7,000 and $70,000 in American currency. But the threat is serious enough for the National Police to take extra precautions for Sombra's security.

"The fact they want to hurt Sombra and offer such a high reward for her capture or death shows the impact she's had on their profits," a police spokesperson told the Telegraph.

Sombra came to Colombian law enforcement from a kennel in Antioquia, the region of the country that's home to Medellin, the springboard for Colombia's fearsome cartels of the 1980s and 1990s. Outfitted in a neon-yellow vest, the dog is tasked with thrusting her trained snout into luggage and packages in Colombia's ports and airports along the country's Gulf Coast.

RCN Radio reports her first major bust was in March 2016, when Sombra nosed her way toward a container of banana boxes that secretly held 2,958 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride. The shipment was on its way to Belgium.

FEMININE SIDE: Charming, but ruthless females taking over Mexico's cartels

In May 2017, Sombra discovered another shipment heading to Belgium containing 1.1 tons of cocaine. Last June she led police to an even larger find - 5.3 tons of cocaine, the BBC reported. Later she discovered 4 more tons secreted in an auto parts shipment.

In total, her busts have resulted in 245 arrests, Colonel Carlos Fernando Villareal told RCN Radio. Sombra's efforts for law enforcement have twice earned her the Wilson Quintero medal, an honor awarded for critical contributions to the fight against drug trafficking.

Sombra's accomplishments have made her the cuddly face of Colombia's anti-drug effort.

She's been featured on local television. In airports, the dog is asked to pose for selfies with admirers. And the narcotics police regularly post about her accomplishments on Twitter. This month, police used Sombra to specifically call out the Urabenos's alleged notorious chief, a former paramilitary guerrilla turned drug trafficker named Dairo Antonio Usuga. In Colombia, he's known as "Otoniel."

"[I]n the last three years she's become the torment of 'Otoniel,'" a recent tweet stated.

The dog can handle the high profile, her owners have said.

"Sombra is a very friendly, calm canine, and for that reason, she has no problem approaching children or people who want to say hello to her," Oscar Favian Solarte, head of the anti-narcotics division, told El Tiempo. "She's playful, and in fact that is part of the development of her job. Not only to look for caches of illicit drugs but also, after her work is done, to de-stress, so to speak."

AUTHOR NOTES: Joe Tone talks drug cartels and horses, exclusively on HoustonChronicle.com

But all that attention has put Sombra in the Urabenos's crosshairs.

Originally a paramilitary outfit, one of the many armed groups trading bullets in Colombia's long national struggle, the Urabenos are now the country's largest criminal organization and control much of the drug trade, according to InSight Crime. Consolidating power by taking on all rivals, the group's power base spreads along Colombia's northwest coast. According to InSight, the group pulls money from various criminal activities, such as extortion, illegal mining, and smuggling.

Otoniel remains at large and in control of the vast organization.

In response to the bounty on Sombra's life, General Jorge Nieto, head of the national police, has ordered the dog transferred to Bogota's El Dorado International Airport, outside of the Urabenos's territory on the coast. According to the Telegraph, additional officers will now accompany Sombra on her rounds.

- - -

The Washington Post's Samantha Schmidt contributed to this report.
The Midland ISD board will get an update on the district's policy and procedures related to bullying at its meeting tonight.The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Bowie Fine Arts Auditorium. The meeting will follow summer graduation ceremonies that are slated for 5:30 p.m.

Bullying has received more attention this calendar year as a group called Midland Moms on a Mission has expressed concerns about the issue. The group, through comments made at board meetings and during a protest outside Midland ISD central offices, has indicated the reporting and investigative processes allow for too many holes and inevitably arent fair for the victims.

The womens comments have centered around a case of a former Emerson Elementary student they said was sexually assaulted by another student. They said Midland ISDs investigation was flawed and failed to recognize the actions of one student against another. They also have presented evidence from a Midland Police Department detective who calls the alleged victims assault claims credible. An arrest, he said, didnt take place because the person accused was younger than 10.

The bullying committee, according to Midland ISD, has met three times; the most recent meeting was Aug. 2. Topics discussed include implementing new programs related to bullying prevention; re-evaluating the definition of bullying; defining words such as reasonable, imbalance of power and empathy; and recording and documenting a bullying investigation.

Other topics discussed included conferencing with parents when students are moved from one class to another; counselor involvement at the onset of an investigation; parent notification before, during and after the investigation; and conducting unbiased investigations.

Recommendations from the committee include using an app-based tool to anonymously report bullying harassment, cyberbullying, misconduct, inappropriate behavior or self-harm. Other recommendations include implementing a uniform training process for all staff on bullying reporting, investigation, documentation and determinations, and revising a bullying checklist used by administrators.

The next steps of the committee, which will continue to meet regularly, are developing a survey for campuses to determine best practices, finalizing the revision of the bullying checklist and training, and developing and implementing a training schedule for staff, according to the district.

The checklist has six questions and will be used to determine if bullying has taken place. The questions are:

 Was this possibly a crime?

 Was there physical or emotional harm to the student?

 Was there dominance?

 Did the incident happen?

 Did the incident interfere with the students education or substantially disrupt the operation of the school?

 Was it persistent or severe?

If yes to numbers 1-6, action is bullying, according to the checklist.

It remains to be seen if this checklist is different enough from current practices to make a difference in certain cases. There is no information in the board packet posted that provides any detail on how the process has changed.

In a conversation with the Reporter-Telegram this spring, Teresa Moore, Midland ISD executive director of Student Services, said at least 90 students were punished this past year for having committed code of conduct violations that met bullying or harassment standards and 70 students were reported as being the target of bullying or harassment. She also said other reports were submitted but that after an investigation, officials determined the claims did not meet the definition of bullying. This was the case with the former Emerson student, she said.

Moore also acknowledged there are instances of bullying that are not reported. This spring, the parent of that former Emerson student offered the Reporter-Telegram dozens of other claims of bullying that she received from parents of Midland ISD parents.

We are constantly evaluating processes and looking for ways to improve on them, Moore said.

Tax rate ordinance

Also at tonights meeting, the board will consider an ordinance approving a tax rate of $1.12005 per $100 valuation. That includes $1.04005 for the purpose of maintenance and operations and $0.08 for the purpose of payment of principal and interest on debts.

The tax rate will effectively be raised by 9.4 percent and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a home by approximately $9.69 on a $100,000 home, according to the district.
Eddie Carpenter didnt set out to be an attorney, but his decision to enter the field will result in a 36-year career before he retires in September.

Growing up on a farm near Franklin, Carpenter, now 70, graduated from Franklin High School and Illinois College before earning a masters degree from the University of Iowa. He started his career as a high school English teacher at Pleasant Plains High School before deciding to do something different and heading off to law school at the University of Illinois.

Its not that Ive wanted to be a lawyer all my life. I had never even thought of it really, Carpenter said. We had a meeting among the teachers with a representative for the teachers union who was trying to assert a position for another teacher in opposition to the superintendent of schools. I thought very highly of the (superintendent) and so the union representative and I got into it.

As we left that meeting, one of the other teachers said, Hey, you should be a lawyer. It had never occurred to me, but I knew I wanted to get out of teaching and do something else, so I thought Id look into that.

After graduating from law school, Carpenter went on to work for Justice Richard Mills at the Fourth District Appellate Court. After a year he went on to work with Jacksonvilles oldest law firm, Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard LLP, from 1982 to 1990.

Carpenter then decided to buy the offices at 305 W. State St. to begin his own solo practice, for which he has been working ever since. Working far away from his hometown never interested Carpenter, who said he much preferred the comfort of west-central Illinois, where his parents and family lived.

Over the years, Carpenter has seen quite a few changes to the legal field, such as an emphasis on electronically filing documents and the removal of abstracts from the real-estate transaction process, he said. Of course, not every change he has noticed has been limited to the legal process.

One of the biggest changes Ive noticed in representing farmers is farmers wearing shorts, Carpenter said with a laugh. When I was growing up, you were a sissy if you wore shorts, but now all of the farmers wear shorts. It really annoys me.

Many of Carpenters clients have been with him for many years. He has written wills for three generations of clients.

Carpenter will enter semi-retirement on Sept. 1 as he completes legal matters that still need attention. His firm will become part of the Bellatti law firm and Carpenter will be available to transition clients to that firm if they choose.

His two longtime assistants, Diana Duncan and Stephanie Little, also will become Bellatti employees. Little will continue to be available for tax preparation work and Duncan will focus on real estate matters.

Carpenter extended his thanks to the community for the years of support and noted that he and his wife, Sandra, will continue to be part of the community. After retiring, Carpenter intends to travel, particularly to see his kids, Tyler Carpenter in Utah and Camber Carpenter in New York, and to spend time in Jacksonville with his daughter, Devon Carpenter; and his granddaughter, Menai Evans. As a fan of fractions and decimals, Menai noted that she is 3.16 years old.

(My granddaughter) is the most brilliant child in the history of Christian civilization, Carpenter said. I want to see her grow and really be a part of it.

Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper.
City aldermen are looking for community input on a proposal to allow liquor sales on Sunday before noon.

City Attorney Dan Beard explained that Mayor Andy Ezard, who was not present for Mondays meeting, wanted to bring up the issue. Several years ago, he said, the proposal was barely defeated and Ezard wished to bring the idea up again as two aldermen will not be present for a future vote on the issue.

Most (other municipalities) have relaxed laws that wouldnt allow people to serve any kind of alcohol on Sunday, Beard said. The idea was that if youre selling alcohol thats keeping people away from church. That was the argument that was out there in the past year. The trend from a commercial standpoint is to allow the sales because theyre going to take place somewhere and that may be just outside town or a store someplace else.

This change would allow for businesses holding morning events, such as a brunch, to serve alcohol. Package liquor sales would also be allowed.

Alderman Lori Large-Oldenettel asked that the community reach out to the city to give their input on whether or not they feel Sunday morning liquor sales would be a good idea.

The item will be brought up at the next city council agenda with an emergency clause to allow for rapid approval.

In other business, the city heard a request from Eric Hack to resurface the alleyway that travels by his two properties at 207 and 209 S. Sandy St. that he intends to renovate. Aldermen noted that the area has been a point of discussion before as there are issues with parking and truck access and moved the item to committee to further investigate what needs to be done with the alleyway.

Aldermen heard the first reading of an ordinance that would give Eastgate Drive the right of way at the intersection of Eastgate Drive and Harold Cox Drive to improve traffic flow in response to complaints from residents. Harold Cox Drive would then receive a yield sign and Eastgate Drive would lose its current sign.

As part of the work the city is doing with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to close the Jacksonville Municipal Landfill, the city approved consulting services with Fehr Graham for a compliance commitment agreement.

The first reading of an ordinance that would drop the five-block limit for trick or treaters was approved by the city council.

The purchase of three utility squad cars for $28,657 each from Westown Ford for the Jacksonville Police Department was approved by the council, as well as the purchase of a K-9 squad car that costs around the same amount.

Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper.
Morgan County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 A 13-year-old boy was booked into the Morgan County jail at 6:37 p.m. Monday on a charge of battery.

Jacksonville Police

ACCIDENTS

 A vehicle driven by Emma B. Baldwin, 47, of Jacksonville struck a vehicle driven by Cassidy S. VanHyning, 37, at 12:03 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of Hardin Avenue. Baldwin was cited for failure to yield.

No injuries were reported.

 A vehicle driven Robert L. Miller, 55, of Jacksonville was struck by a railroad control arm at 3:54 p.m. Monday on North Prairie Street. Miller was cited for driving with a revoked license.

No injuries were reported.

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 James E. Lacy, 30, of 1144 S. Main St. was lodged in the Morgan County jail at 4:34 a.m. Monday on charges of improper license display, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, having an expired registration and theft.

 Dennis B. Lancaster, 36, of 15 Harmony Drive was lodged in the Morgan County jail at 12:48 a.m. Sunday on charges of criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and resisting a peace officer.

Lancaster is accused of alarming people while breaking their property and trying to flee from police custody.

 Sharon Ann Washington, 56, of 114 Lorren St. was lodged in the Morgan County jail at 11:37 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while license is revoked or suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

THEFTS, BURGLARIES

 Plants were stolen from a yard in the 600 block of Brandywine Lane, according to a report filed at 10:50 p.m. Sunday.

 A dirt bike was stolen from a residence in the 100 block of Fairview Terrace between 5 p.m. Friday and 1:45 p.m. Sunday, according to a report filed at 2 p.m. Sunday.

 Sometime overnight Sunday a red four-wheeler was stolen from a residence in the 100 block of South Grand Avenue, according to a report filed at 2:49 p.m. Monday.

OTHER REPORTS

 A man told police he was hit on the head by a water bottle thrown from a passing car while he was riding his bicycle about 11:47 p.m. Sunday.

South Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Thomas J. Smith, 35, of Peoria was lodged in the Morgan County jail at 6:42 p.m. Saturday on charges of domestic battery and resisting a peace officer.



Brown County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Matthew M. Schreieck, 39, of 318 W. First St., Versailles, was arrested at 7 a.m. Aug. 6 after deputies from the Brown County Sheriffs Department, Mount Sterling Police and the Illinois State Police Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at his residence.

Schreieck was lodged on a charge of manufacture or possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Lisa Montgomery, 31, of Versailles was at the residence and arrested on an unspecified Cass County warrant, according to authorities.

Compiled by Nick Draper and David C.L. Bauer
Consider it election year magic.

Unfortunately, magic is not real. Its about illusion.

Thats why it may seem nice to wave legislation wands around and say a few sentences with hot-button phrases about improving our education system and bipartisan collaboration. But when we peek behind the curtain of the states massive teacher shortage, its apparent all the state has managed to do so far is mask the problem with short-term solutions.

Granted, Band-Aids are better than nothing when trying to tend to wounds that have been festering for years. They can only do so much, though.

Legislation will make it easier for substitute teachers to ease some of the strain, or to marshal the services of teachers aides. New laws also will streamline the process for out-of-state teachers to get into Illinois classrooms.

The problem runs much deeper.

A report on the educator shortage commissioned by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools found that more than three-quarters of school districts did not have as many qualified people applying for positions, and nearly half said the issue has become more pronounced each year.

That has resulted in 60 percent of school districts surveyed saying it was difficult to fill vacancies. A remarkable 16 percent of school districts responding said that shortage has made them cancel classes or programs.

In some key areas, such as special education, the problem is even more pronounced.

This weekend, Gov. Bruce Rauner and others used Kids Day at the Illinois State Fair as a backdrop to introduce additional measures designed to alleviate some of the problems  plural, because there are myriad issues contributing to the teacher shortage crisis.

Senate Bill 2658 will extend the validity of a Professional Educator License with Stipulations from two years to three years for service members and spouses. That will make it easier for members of military families to teach in Illinois. House Bill 4742 will let school districts experiencing severe teacher shortages contract with a recruiting firm to help search for substitute teachers. House Bill 5196 will cut in half the fees teachers aides pay to become licensed.

Each will provide some benefits to strapped school districts, but none will provide any long-term solutions.

The reason is because they do little more than circle around the periphery of a very nuanced and multi-leveled problem.

If Illinois, or any other state, really wants to get more and better educators into the classroom, start at the core: Return respect to the profession and provide real incentives for skilled teachers to want to stay and a new generation to choose teaching as a profession.

Teachers want to teach. They want to be able to make a difference in the lives of children and feel appreciated for their work.

Instead, too many are languishing in school districts where finances and morale have been gutted by years of neglect from the same government that now says it wants to help the situation. Too many have seen worthwhile programs destroyed because money had to be diverted to the whims of unfunded mandates that do little to improve education. Too many have grown tired of having to teach what standardized tests require rather than being able to prepare students for the real world.

The system is broken. Years of societal and bureaucratic mind-sets have made teachers the scapegoats for everything that is wrong with the education process.

Fixing that dangerous trend will take more than magic and good intentions, but the results will be worth it for generations to come.
Allow females to help shape technology  ...
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Services Command (AFPHSC) has a new chief after allegations of corruption rocked the institution Monday.

On Tuesday, BGen. August Villa took over the post left by BGen. Edwin Leo Torrelavega.

Villa is currently the AFP's Surgeon General and will be taking over the post as acting commander.

In a speech in Malacanang also on Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted Torrelavega "humiliated" in front of his peers during court martial proceedings.

"(AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Carlito) Galvez showed to me the report and I was scratching my head. He said, 'Mayor, sorry but this is what happened.' I said, 'You court martial him. Create a court where he will appear for his peers and give him the most humiliating...," the President said.

Torrelavega was removed from his post Monday after being identified as among the 20 officials from the V. Luna Medical Hospital, who where linked to an alleged ghost contract worth 1.2 million.

Apart from Torrelavega, those involved are V. Luna Medical Center Commander Colonel Antonio Punzalan; and AFPHSC chiefs of the Management and Fiscal Office and the Logistics Office.

All 20 accused will be facing an investigation to determine if there are grounds to charge them before the military court.

Anomalous transactions included ghost purchasing, splitting of contract to circumvent mandatory bidding processes, and conceiving fictitious suppliers, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday.

"Apparently it's a conspiracy. It was institutional corruption in V. Luna," he said.

Those involved in the corruption mess will be charged with fraud against the government, the AFP said.

At the Change of Command ceremony on Tuesday, an emotional Galvez admitted being disturbed by the controversy rocking the organization.

"I know its sad. Nine days na ako hindi nakakatulog [I have not slept for nine days]. I should... I will do my best... In one month, I will clear the AFP Medical Center of corruption," he said.

Galvez earlier described the corrupt practice at the hospital as systematic being run by a cartel.

Another officer also came under fire Tuesday.

In an event in Malacanang, President Duterte signed the dismissal order for Lt. Col. Hector Marana, the Comptroller of the Philippine Military Academy, who was found guilty of malversing 15 million of the cadets' allowance.

"He was recommended to be imprisoned six to 12 years. This is good. Can I have a pen I will sign it in your presence? Send the guy to hell." Duterte said.

CNN Philippines' senior correspondent Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
Microphone and US Flag View Photos

During the Democratic Weekly Address, Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) touted the Aim Higher Act.

Scott was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Hi, Im Congressman Bobby Scott, representative of Virginias Third Congressional District, and the Senior Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Today, I want to talk to you about Democrats vision for the future of higher education.

In 1965, when President Johnson signed the Higher Education Act, he said that it meant  and I quote  that a high school senior anywhere in this great land of ours can apply to any college or any university in any of the 50 States and not be turned away because [their] family is poor.

But fifty-three years later, the promise of an affordable education is out of reach for millions of students. And in May of this year, Americas outstanding student loan debt surpassed $1.5 trillion. We can and must do better for Americas students.

Last month, I was joined by House Democratic leadership in offering a solution. Its called the Aim Higher Act.

Under the Aim Higher Act, every student will have the opportunity to earn a quality, debt-free degree or credential that leads to a rewarding career.

Heres how it works: First, we provide two years of tuition-free community college to every student through a federal-state partnership. We also address the rising cost of public four-year schools by pushing states to reinvest in their public colleges and universities. This will help reverse the persistent trend of states cutting higher education funding and shifting the costs to students and families.

Second, we make student financial aid more generous to keep pace with the rising cost of college, and we allow students to use Pell Grants for quality, short-term programs that provide an accelerated path to the workforce.

And third, for students who do take on debt, we make student loans easier to understand and cheaper to repay. The Aim Higher Act eliminates the confusing web of repayment programs and establishes two, straightforward plans with generous plans that help students get out of debt sooner.

In response to the nationwide teacher shortage, we also preserve the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to encourage talented individuals to pursue careers in the classroom.

The Aim Higher Act isnt just focused on cutting the cost of higher education, its focused on improving the quality of higher education. Our proposal cracks down on predatory institutions that waste student and taxpayer money by peddling expensive, low-quality programs. Our veterans  who have earned their GI benefits through sacrifice and service  are frequently victims of fraudulent schools.

Accordingly, we eliminate the perverse incentives that lead for-profit institutions to aggressively recruit student veterans with deceptive marketing and false promises.

Under the Aim Higher Act, all schools will be measured by their students success in both completing their college education and entering the workforce.

And finally, the Aim Higher Act gives students the tools they need to graduate on time. We invest in campus child care for student parents, subsidized housing for homeless and foster youth, faculty training for students with disabilities, and community centers to help student veterans transition to civilian life.

Our plan for higher education  in which we invest in students, focus on quality, and crackdown on predatory schools  is dramatically different from the proposal advanced by our Republican colleagues.

Last December, House Republicans supported the PROSPER Act, a bill that actually cuts $15 billion from federal student aid and diverts taxpayer money to low-quality programs. Later that month, President Trump signed a tax bill that primarily benefits corporations and the wealthy. It costs nearly $2 trillion over 10 years.

Policy is defined by priorities. Instead of spending limited resources on a tax cut for those who dont need it, Democrats believe that we should invest in our children and in the future of our economy. Thats what the Aim Higher Act does.

My district is home to exceptional public colleges, public universities, community colleges and apprenticeship programs. And education and training available at these institutions should be available to all students. I hope you will join us in pushing for a higher education system that puts the promise of a quality debt-free degree and rewarding career within the reach of all Americans.

Again and again, hard-working families have been given a raw deal by the Republicans in Washington  driving an agenda that hurts students, workers, seniors, people with pre-existing conditions, just about everyone outside of big corporations and the wealthiest 1%.

Democrats are fighting to advance an agenda thats For The People: Lowering your health care costs and prescription drug prices, increasing your pay through strong economic growth by rebuilding America, and cleaning up corruption to make Washington work for you.

Together, we will deliver A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages and a Better Future for every American, everywhere.

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 FM KVML.
Smith St Louis Arrest Scene Photo Aug 12 2018 View Photos

Sonora, CA  In the early hours Sunday, a car with several vehicle violations flagged the interest of Tuolumne County deputies, who pulled it over and wound up arresting a pair of suspects for multiple felonies.

According to Tuolumne County Sheriffs spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson, the traffic stop in the area of Horseshoe and Springfield roads in Sonora around 1 a.m. turned out to be a major bust. Once contacted by deputies, the driver, 35-year-old James St. Louis of Glendive, Montana, admitted to having several loaded guns in the car, also confiding that while one of the guns was his, one might be stolen. Deputies searching the car found a total of three unregistered handguns of which two were loaded. They also turned up bags containing two pounds of methamphetamine.

Deputies arrested him and his passenger, 37-year-old Nicole Smith of Sacramento, on charges of possession and transportation of methamphetamine for sale. St. Louis faces additional charges of possessing a large capacity magazine, possessing a concealed weapon, and possessing a controlled substance while armed. Smith was also booked on an outstanding warrant for her arrest in Tuolumne County. Both were assigned bails of at least $100,000.
Sacramento, CA  Californias Insurance Commissioner is warning that homeowners may soon find it harder to purchase or maintain insurance due to increasing wildfire activity.

We reported earlier this week that California is on pace to potentially have its most destructive season on record when it comes to total acreage burned. There are around 20 active large fires currently burning in the state that have forced about 20,000 people to evacuate. The Associated Press reports that California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones expects more insurance companies to decline to renew policies, as a result, and stop writing policies in high-risk areas. Jones says it is not a crisis level yet, but you can see where the trends are going.

Jones notes that those directly in the evacuation zones could especially be impacted, and even those well outside, due to the increasing fire activity all across the state.
Adapted from a recent online discussion.

Dear Carolyn:

My sister-in-law, "Mary," has always been a mess. She has two kids with two different men who never see them, don't pay child support, and she doesn't work. Mary and her children lived with my mother-in-law, "Kate," until Kate moved into a 55-plus community and told Mary she was on her own. Mary has been living with her boyfriend since then.

A few weeks ago -- not for the first time -- Mary unexpectedly dumped the kids (5 and 3) on my husband, "Dan," and me, saying she was going on a trip. This week she texted us that she's staying where she is and we should send the kids to live with her mom. Kate, of course, can't take them.

Now Dan is talking about assuming permanent custody. They are sweet but energetic, and love it here since they have a yard and stability. Mary will jump at the chance to get rid of them.

I know these little ones need us but this is not how I saw us building our family, and will delay our having our own children. While I am trying to do the right thing I am crying inside. If I turn these children away I'll feel like a monster, but if I take them in I'll feel like a martyr. What to do?

-- Crying Inside

I feel for you, and know exactly how hard it is when something you've counted on, even lived for, won't happen. It's a kind of grief.

But I disagree your only choices are monster or martyr. "Mom" is available.

And I've come to see "how I saw us [blank]," whether it's "building our family" or "starting our careers" -- or any future we envision -- as a false promise at best. We can want and dream and plan, but life always gets its say. Always.



Columnist Carolyn Hax dishes out advice daily.

Email Carolyn at

Read the Email Carolyn at tellme@washpost.com , follow her on Facebook or chat with her online at noon Eastern time each Friday at www.washingtonpost.com Read the daily Carolyn Hax columns at https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/advice/

And so I see the path to happiness not as the milestones we strive for but as a mind open to the opportunities, even beauty, in what we receive.

This "will delay ... our own children" -- yes -- but these can soon become your own children, too, thereby accelerating versus delaying your promotion to parent. These kids need you and are attached to you already, and their chance to grow up in a loving and safe environment isn't just a gift for them. It's a gift for you. It will get you outside of yourself, it will give you sharply illuminated purpose, it will produce two planets to your sun -- at least until they are independent, which is also a gift to you in the form of a sense of accomplishment.

Is it Plan A? No. Will it be easy? No. These kids have been raised indifferently and can expect some emotional fallout. But everything worth doing takes a piece out of us -- that's what makes it so, the investment of an essential part of you.

Absolutely do go cry it out with friends or a therapist even -- but when you're ready, please open yourself to the possibility that life just gave you more than it took away.



Re: Kids:

Please get legal advice. Protect yourselves and them in case Mary decides she wants to take them back even for a limited time.

-- Anonymous

Of course, thanks.
STAMFORD  Police say a New York woman who was the target of a bank fraud investigation was found with child porn on her cellphone.

According to the womans four-page arrest affidavit, TD Bank on Post Road in Darien filed a fraud complaint in March against Kashai George, 26, of Bronx, N.Y.

The identification card George presented to the teller belonged to someone named Barojni Basil, the affidavit said. George told officers she did not know Basil, the affidavit said.

George, a Darien home health aide who was charged with fraudulently trying to cash a $4,532 check, gave police permission to search her phone, the affidavit said.

While examining the phone for bank-related fraud, Darien police Detective Gregory Benedetto discovered a thumbnail picture of a child performing a sex act, the affidavit said.

The FBI was notified and obtained a search warrant for the phone and discovered a 54-second video of the child performing the sex act, the affidavit said.

The analysis also determined that George did not make the video, the affidavit said. An Alabama man was arrested for shooting the video and the child was taken into protective custody.

The FBI determined the video was sent to Georges phone through the encrypted Whatsapp application, the affidavit said.

After being charged with possession of child porn, George was ordered by a Stamford judge to be held in lieu of a $100,000 court appearance bond.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
Polls are now open until 8 p.m. for the Democratic and Republican primaries in Connecticut.

We will be updating this story throughout the day to provide the most complete coverage of all the races.

Only the states roughly 1.2 million registered Democrats and Republicans can participate in the primary. They represent about 57 percent of the states electorate.

Unaffiliated voters, the largest voting bloc, cannot participate in party primaries in Connecticut.

Seven candidates are running for governor including two Democrats and five Republicans. Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is not seeking a third term.

There is also a primary in Connecticuts 5th Congressional District because Democratic U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty is not seeking re-election.

There are also numerous primaries for everything from state treasurer to the state House of Representatives.

Candidate reactions

Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, a Democrat challenging Susan Bysiewicz for lieutenant governor, said she felt the bulk of her support in New Haven  she went to four polling locations there and each time was greeted by a crowd of Bermudez Zimmerman voters  though she traveled to nearly a dozen different towns Tuesday.

Its going well, she said Tuesday evening. But Im disappointed about turnout, turnout is low. No matter which precinct or town were in, turnout is low.

Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, a Republican running for lieutenant governor, spent Tuesday traveling to towns throughout Fairfield County.

Im feeling great, weve gotten such a great reception today, Jayme Stevenson said Tuesday evening while she waited for the polls to close. Im hoping and praying that I did enough hard work to make that happen.

Jodi Latina, campaign manager for Republican lieutenant governor candidate Erin Stewart, said the bulk of Stewarts support came out of the New Britain area, though Stewart spent much of the day in other parts of the state. Voter turnout in New Britain for the Republican primary had surpassed that of the 2014 primary by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Latina said.

Thats a positive for us, and were working the phone list really trying to get her base to come out, Latina said about three hours before the polls closed. Were happy with that but we want to keep them coming.

Kaitlyn Krasselt

Turnout so far

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill reports that between 3 and 5 p.m., the Republican turnout among 75 towns is 19.25 percent and the Democrats were voting at a 15.92 percent rate.

Complaint filed

One official elections complaint affidavit has been filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission and could be on the commissions agenda as early as tomorrow, said Josh Foley, staff attorney with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

Foley could not provide additional details about the nature of the complaint or who it was against.

Other than that, its been business as usual for the office in Hartford where attorneys and elections officials are tending the phones fielding voter questions and aggrieved observations, as Foley likes to call the unofficial complaints.

Kaitlyn Krasselt

Bridgeport

Gabriel Bonanni, 40 and a lifelong Bridgeport resident, was among the group of small but steady voters casting ballots at Madison School in Bridgeports North End Tuesday.

The citys mayor had Bonannis vote.

Im more familiar with him, Bonanni said. I know hes done a lot for the city in the past and has the strength to come back from a lot.  He could maybe take our state somewhere it needs to be.

Vincent Abner, a former social worker for the city, recalled when a young Ganim was first mayor in the 1990s.

He came in with the right type of attitude and personality, Bonanni said. I think hes worth a shot (as governor).

Bonanni was weary of hearing about Ganims corruption.

You show me where the Pope hasnt done something a little screwy, he said. Its part of being human.

Shirley, who did not want to give her last name but has lived in Bridgeport since 1980, also voted for Ganim. She said he has done a good job since being re-elected in 2015.

She admitted she would be sorry to see him leave the job of mayor, But hell be over all (the state) and I know hell be a good governor.

Tim and Gerry Oliver, however, who moved to Bridgeport in 1999, voted for Lamont.

I dont see hes made any changes (or) see hes done a lot, Gerry Oliver said of Ganims comeback to City Hall. If you get a second chance, do something. Make it count.

Tim Oliver questioned how often Ganim gets around Bridgeport: I dont see him a lot.

State Sen. Marilyn Moore stood outside of Madison School urging voters to support Lamont. She said constituents in recent weeks, in Bridgeport and Trumbull, which she also represents, have said they would not vote for Ganim.

Im comfortable that its Ned who will win, Moore said.

One woman, 69, who exited Madison school, said she voted, but was not pleased with either Ganim or Lamont. Ganim knows her family so she did not want her name published.

I started not to come, she said. Then I said thatll be the first time in my voting history I never voted.

She does not know enough about Lamont and said Ganim jumped too quickly into seeking higher office after being re-elected mayor.

You need to show me something here, she said. He just became mayor. He just got out of the penitentury.

Brian Lockhart

Derby

Voter turnout is nearing 30 percent in Derby as of 6:30 p.m., according to Town Clerk Marc Garofalo.

Turnout among Democrats was just over 26 percent, with 627 ballots cast, while Republican turnout was more than 28 percent, with 306 ballots cast, according to Garofalo.

Wilton

The afternoon was supposed to be amongst the busiest points of primary day, according to the Democratic Registrar of Voter Karen Birck. But, midway through Tuesday, only a handful of voters occupied Wiltons District 3 polling location at Middlebrook School.

Id say it has been somewhere between slow and dead, said Jim Burch, the sites moderator and a 10-year polling veteran.

The Democratic and Republican primaries saw a slow, but steady trickle of voters at the polls across town, according to moderators at Wiltons three polling locations.

While turnout stood at 14.4 percent town-wide as of 3 a.m., there were some passionate voters amongst the small sliver of the population that showed up to polls.

Dana and Scott Gips, both Democrats, made the trip to the District 2 polling location at Cider Mill School to vote for Ned Lamont over Joe Ganim in the Democratic gubernatorial race.

I just thought he (Lamont) had a different approach to things, and I think that he can make some changes that are well-needed, said Dana Gips, a 21-year Wilton resident.

As he approached the Cider Mill polling station, Colin Tietjen, an 18-year-old student at Coastal Carolina University and newly registered Republican, admitted that he would likely make his final decision at the last moment.

Im leaning toward the Danbury mayor, Mark Boughton, right now. Hes the only one that really stood out to me, and I feel like we share a lot of the same stances, he said.

Pat Tomlinson

New Haven

New Haven Wards 6, 8, 9 and 10 saw a slow trickle of primary voters throughout the day, they said, but expected more voters between 5 and 8 p.m.

Ward 10, which encompasses parts of East Rock, reported 300 ballots cast by 4 p.m., the most of those four wards.

Several voters said they cast ballots for Ned Lamont because Joe Ganims felony corruption conviction made them not trust him. But two voters, including an Eva Bermudez Zimmerman canvasser, said they voted for Ganim because they saw his commercials and believed he deserved a second chance.

Meanwhile, many New Haven voters said they cast ballots for Eva Bermudez Zimmerman because she is a woman of color with a working class background. One voter said she supported Zimmerman because a Bernie Sanders-affiliated organization Our Revolution endorses her.

A Yale University Ph.D student CJ Rice said he was refreshed by her story.

Emilie Munson

Greenwich

In looking out at turnout for the state-wide primaries, the operative word for Greenwich is slow.

As of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, 3,660 of Greenwichs 22,476 eligible voters have voted in the primaries, which include several town residents. That equals a 18.37 percent turnout for the town as a whole and, in breaking it down by party, there has been a 19.38 percent turnout for Democrats and a 17.56 percent turnout for Republicans.

Because of the number of contested elections this year, I thought it would bring out the vote, John Vecchiola, moderator for District 2s polling place in Town Hall, said on Tuesday afternoon, reporting theyd had about 165 to 170 people in both elections. But its been pretty slow so far. This is how it usually is in a primary. The question is whats going to happen in the cities. That will determine the winners. It certainly wont come from the suburbs.

And the District 2 turnout has been fairly representational across town, Democratic Registrar of Voters Michael Aurelia said it has been slow everywhere but it could have been worse.

Im just glad its not raining, Aurelia said. If it was like Monday with all that pouring rain it could have been much lower.

Well probably get 20 to 25 percent turnout, Sharon Vecchiola, a former Democratic Registrar of Voters who was serving as chief moderator for the election. 30 percent would be wonderful.

Republican Registrar of Voters Fred DeCaro III added, If you look at the last two (primary) elections where a lot of money was spent, which was 2010 and 2012, it was literally 24 and 25 percent turnout. I think were going to be pretty close to that.

The election has been a quiet one, save for one incident in District 12 involving a woman who came out to vote in the Democratic primary. Aurelia said the woman made a commotion after her address on her ID had not been updated to her current address but while police did respond no arrest was made.

Aurelia said since the address on the womans drivers license did not match the one in the book used at the polling location there was initially some confusion. The woman reportedly became aggravated and left but then returned to vote without further incident.

Aurelia said the person checking the addresses should have just let the woman vote and refer her questions to the moderator since the job of the clerk is to confirm identity and not prove residency.

According to Aurelia, there had been an issue in the past with the same woman, whom he did not name. Aurelia said the woman has a lot of knowledge of election law and likes to test us including by showing up to the polling place with her children wearing political shirts, which is typically not allowed, except that she was wearing a shirt for a candidate who is not on the ballot.

Greenwich Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. John Slusarz said the matter was resolved when the woman signed an affidavit and there is no requirement for people to have a drivers license or a photo ID.

There was a misunderstanding and we responded and resolved the issue, Slusarz said.

Ken Borsuk

Danbury

Turnout among Republicans is higher than Democrats in Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Boughtons home city of Danbury. Registrar Mary Ann Doran reported 1,730 Republicans, or 17.2 percent of registered party members, have cast ballots by 1:45 p.m. Doran said 1,231 Democrats had cast ballots for a turnout of 9.6 percent.

That voter turnout is higher than the primary four years ago, she said.

On the Republican side, most of the votes are coming out of the Ward 1 polling place at Danbury High School. Ward 3, which votes at Stadley Rough School, has turned out heavily for the Democrats, Doran said.

Julia Perkins

Greenwich

A surge of voters cast their ballots late Tuesday morning at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, from a first-time voter in her 20s to a longtime native in his 70s.

Victoria Jahns, 24, cast her first vote as an American citizen after living in China for the last two years.

I thought thered be more of a youth turnout, she said. She appeared to be the only person at the polling place under the age of 40.

Its definitely problematic, especially since the Democratic party is so youthful, she said.

But Jahns commended the accommodating volunteers and the smooth voting process.

I dont know if its fun, but its definitely empowering, she said.

Earl Coyne, 75, remembered voting in the armory on Mason Street and at the Board of Education building before the local polling place moving to Julian Curtiss, his alma mater.

They didnt have air conditioning when I was here, he said.

Turnout had been slow, but steady until about 10:15 a.m., according to longtime moderator Carol Dixon.

She expected the low numbers, but she did not expect traffic problems caused by construction at the school that caused complications for some voters.

We need a traffic supervisor, she said. This was not well thought-out.

Candidate signage and construction fencing obstructed views for several elderly voters who came later Tuesday morning.

Within a half-hour, Dixons said she heard complaints from two women as they crossed the threshold to vote: This is a terrible situation for someone my age, exclaimed one. You need more signs out there, these are smaller than a minute, said another.

She listened to their complaints and started looking for poster boards to label the road back to Putnam Avenue. An assistant moderator tried rearranging candidate signs so the polling signs stood out.

For Dixon, moderating means putting out little fires everywhere.

The construction fencing was a little off-putting, Bobbie Collins said. Her husband, Rick, agreed with those who complained that the signage could be better.

In the end, Bobbie said, she and her husband did their civic duty.

Well be back in November, thats for sure, Rick said.

Jo Kroeker

Polling at the polls on the pols

The Quinnipiac University Poll is planning a survey of Connecticut voters Tuesday, asking their opinions of candidates for governor, sometime in the next month.

No problems reported

Connecticut officials say no major problems are being reported as the states roughly 1.2 million registered Democrats and Republicans choose their candidates for the November election.

The Secretary of the States Office says there were minor malfunctions of a paper ballot scanning machine in Hartford and another machine in New Britain.

No turnout figures are available yet.

How many people voted, so far, in Greenwich

3,094 voters voted today as of 1:22 p.m.

There are 22,475 eligible voters.

Turnout: 13.77 percent

New Milford

About a quarter of New Milfords affiliated voters have come out to cast ballots in the primary.

About 23 percent of the 4,400 Democrats and 27 percent of the 4,600 Republicans have voted.

Marcel Grenier, the Democratic registrar, said these numbers were on par for a typical primary turnout.

Its hard to tell though, because a lot can happen after work, he cautioned.

Katrina Koerting
The city of Houston played a lead role in the Department of Homeland Security's "Run, hide, fight" strategy for active shooter events. Now, one Houston doctor is leading an effort to modify the strategy for health-care facilities.

In an editorial in the latest New England Journal of Medicine, Texas Medical Center trauma surgeon Dr. Ken Mattox and three other experts argue that practical and ethical concerns in certain vulnerable locations in hospitals and other large medical buildings suggests a better strategy: "secure, preserve, fight."

"For professionals providing essential medical care to patients who cannot run, hide, or fight owing to their medical condition or ongoing life-sustaining therapy, a different set of responses should be considered  secure the location immediately, preserve the life of the patient and oneself and fight only if necessary," says the editorial.

The authors created the strategy after reviewing data on past hospital shootings between 2000 and 2011. Mattox noted a 2017 active-shooter false report at Ben Taub Hospital disrupted the ER and some operating and delivery rooms when some staff followed the strategy to run and hide.

RELATED: What to do in face of shooter on rampage

The editorial said the "run, hide, fight" strategy should be followed by doctors, staff, patients and visitors able to comply with it. But it said the strategy is not appropriate in settings involving incapacitated patients who might die if abandoned by caregivers who have a moral and ethical duty not to abandon their patients.

The editorial added that the design of most hospitals can pose a problem, with their reliance on elevators and narrow stairwells, "target-rich chokepoints for a shooter;" and large common areas containing very little furniture, intersecting walls, or equipment to hide behind.

The "secure, preserve, fight" strategy emphasizes preparation, calling for designated areas to be equipped with devices that can lock and secure doors and entry points. It also recommends life-saving kits, designed to treat excessive bleeding, be placed throughout the building.

Mattox, a Baylor College of Medicine professor of cardiothoracic surgery and Ben Taub chief of staff, said he's hopeful the modified strategy will become a national campaign, led by the American College of Surgeons and the Department of Homeland Security. He noted that two of the paper's authors are doctors turned SWAT police officers who've already taken the article to law enforcement agencies. Mattox is the paper's senior author.

Todd Ackerman writes about medicine for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at todd.ackerman@chron.com or on Twitter@ChronMed.
KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghan government deployed hundreds of additional troops to battle Taliban insurgents in the beleaguered provincial capital of Ghazni, authorities announced Monday, three days after the militants overran parts of the strategic eastern city in a massive onslaught.

The Taliban's four-pronged assault began Friday after months of repeated warnings by lawmakers and civilians about growing infiltration by the militants in Ghazni's urban areas. The attack was seen as another major blow to the shaky U.S.-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped in their homes in Ghazni, which lies about 90 miles southwest of Kabul on a key highway linking the Afghan capital with the country's southern and southwestern regions. Ghazni, the seat of the province of the same name, is regarded as the cradle of Afghanistan's culture and once was the capital of one of its ancient empires.

Some residents are without food and water, and electricity and phone connections have been cut. Many residents are unable to flee because of the intensity of the fighting, which includes U.S. airstrikes and land mines planted by the insurgents.

Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami said in Kabul that about 1,000 fresh troops had arrived in Ghazni, where the Taliban has had far more presence and fighters than the government forces, according to lawmakers.

There were reports of street-to-street fighting in some areas early in the day, with flames rising from several parts of the city of 270,000 people.

"With the deployment of additional troops to the city, we have prevented the collapse of Ghazni province," Bahrami said at a news conference.

Fazl Fazely, a senior adviser to Ghani, said in a tweet that government forces "have been deployed in all roundabouts and important roads in the city."

Bahrami said that nearly 100 members of government security forces and 30 civilians had been killed in the fighting and that 50 Afghan commandos were missing. He put Taliban fatalities at 194, including a dozen leaders.

Among the slain insurgents, he said, were fighters from Pakistan, Russia's Chechnya region and various Arab countries.

The U.S. military in Kabul said 140 insurgents were killed in airstrikes in the past three days.

Ghazni "remains under Afghan government control, and the isolated and disparate Taliban forces remaining in the city" do not threaten to cause its collapse, said Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, a U.S. military spokesman.

Civilians in the city are at risk from insurgents trying to hide among them as sporadic clashes continue, O'Donnell added. He said residents were "terrorized and harassed by this ineffective attack and the subsequent execution of innocents, destruction of homes and burning of a market," the Associated Press reported.

Like other officials, Bahrami claimed that the government has the situation in Ghazni under control.

The Taliban rejected that claim and denied the reports of its death toll in the assault, the largest on Ghazni since the radical Islamist group was ousted from power in Kabul 17 years ago.

The gravity of the situation and vulnerability of the civilians, as well as the lack of medicine and doctors in Ghazni's hospital, prompted the United Nations in Afghanistan to urge the warring sides to ensure the protection of noncombatants.

"We call on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the lives and rights of civilians and to protect civilian infrastructure," said Rik Peeperkorn, acting U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan. "Notably, parties to the conflict need to ensure that access to medical services is not denied and respect for medical facilities and staff is upheld."Medication at the main hospital was reportedly becoming scarce, and people were unable to safely bring casualties for treatment. Main access roads north and south of the city to larger cities where medical facilities are available were contested and unsafe for travel, Peeperkorn added.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said a short lull in the clashes allowed the organization to dispatch aid for some of the wounded. "With a break in the fighting, we have been able to provide the provincial hospital in Ghazni with fuel and emergency medical supplies to treat over 100 people," it said in a statement.

In a separate development, the Pentagon disclosed Monday that a U.S. soldier with the 1st Special Forces Group, Sgt. 1st Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, was killed Sunday by an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province. The U.S. military did not have additional details about the incident, which is under investigation.

- The Post's Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.
It was the first day of middle school in Achille, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, and a 12-year-old student needed to use the bathroom.

For the past two years in the rural school district, the student, a transgender girl, had been using a staff restroom. But this middle school building, which recently reopened in the small town in the southern edge of the state, was unfamiliar to the girl. Not yet knowing where the staff bathroom was, "she used the girls bathroom," her mother, Brandy Rose, told local television station KXII, "one single time."

A parent in the district somehow found out, and posted an angry message on a Facebook group for fellow parents of Achille students.

"Heads up parents of 5th thru 7th grade girls," the woman, Jamie Crenshaw, posted in Achille ISD Parents Group. "The transgender is already using the girls bathroom. We have been told how the school has gone above and beyond to make sure he has his own restroom yet he is still using the girls. REALLY . . . Looks like it's gonna be a long year.

"We have made school board meetings over this situation last year but nothing seems to be changing," the post continued. "This is the same kid that got an [sic] trouble as soon as he transferred two years ago for looking over the stalls in the girls bathroom. Enough is enough."

The post has since been deleted, but the group reposted a screenshot for the sake of transparency. Other screenshots of comments, from adults outside of the district, also emerged on Facebook about the preteen girl. Some of them dehumanized her, calling her "this thing" and a "half baked maggot."

"Why are parents letting their kids be transgender ?" said one post. "Parents and Churches need to shut this down, the Bible says God created man, and woman . . . not any transgender bs," said another. "Hell with new laws and new rules, this is what our future is if WE don't stop it."

Others made disturbing threats of violence:

"If he wants to be a female make him a female. A good sharp knife will do the job really quick."

"Just tell the kids to kick a- in the bathroom and it won't want to come back!!"

Screenshots of the posts circulated widely on Facebook, drawing outrage from transgender advocates. After activists began writing to the superintendent and organizing a protest at the school, the district announced it would be canceling all classes on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

The girl's family also filed for a protective order in Bryan County court on Friday against a person with the same surname as one of the parents who attacked the girl on Facebook, according to the Oklahoman.

Rose, the transgender girl's mother, told KXII the messages were "scary."

"These are adults making threats to a child. I don't understand it," Rose said. "She's just an awesome kid, and then to see any fear in her like that . . . I can't explain how bad that hurts me."

Her daughter has been identifying as a girl for years, and has not had any problems with the district in the time since, Rose said. The only issue arose when a student accused the girl of "peeping" under a bathroom stall, the mother said.

"My daughter leans very far forward to use the bathroom so I can understand why someone might see her leaning forward as 'oh my gosh she's trying to look under the stall,'" Rose told KXII.

Rick Beene, the superintendent of Achille Public Schools, told KFOR that law enforcement officials urged him to cancel classes due to the potential for demonstrations on the campus, which is attended by about 360 students.

"The thought was, for law enforcement, that you can have an opposing group that might be here and that could lead to problems," Beene said. "When you get into a small town, you don't have to get a permit to demonstrate, therefore the problem with that is you don't know who's showing up, you don't know what time they're going to show up or anything like that."

Beene clarified that only the person who wrote the initial Facebook post was a parent who actually lives in the district. The other messages came from parents living in other parts of Oklahoma and Texas.

One of the administrators of the Achille school district parent Facebook page wrote a message Monday night saying she wanted to "clarify that Jamie's initial post was the only one posted in the Achille parent group."

"The other comments were screenshots from another thread not related to the Achille parent group," the administrator wrote. "The way they were pieced together made it appear as such but no threats made within our group."

The initial post, from Jamie Crenshaw, was shared on a relative's Facebook account, which then drew many of the other derogatory responses.

The Facebook group appeared to have been deleted by early Tuesday morning.

The incident comes as the Trump administration has rolled back federal guidelines protecting transgender students. Last year, the administration rescinded an Obama-era directive that said transgender students have the right to use public school restrooms that match their gender identity. The Education Department has also stopped investigating civil rights complaints from transgender students fighting for bathroom access.

LGBTQ advocacy groups, including the Oklahoma City chapter of PFLAG, have rallied around the transgender girl, condemning the attacks against her.

"Grown adults threatening mutilation of a preteen trans child in our own backyard," PFLAG Oklahoma City tweeted. "This is unacceptable."

The group also wrote in a letter to Achille school district officials that it was "heartbroken, angered, and dismayed" by the Facebook posts.

"The Achille ISD community MUST show that they stand by their stated values by actively and publicly supporting and protecting this family," the group wrote. "This should include not just the child but also her parents, who we imagine are also heartsick, angry, and terrified for their child's safety . . . That is the reality too many families in the LGBTQ community face on a daily basis."

Sara Cunningham, executive director of local LGBTQ advocacy group Free Mom Hugs, offered the school district resources and connections with mental health professionals "to create LGBTQ sensitivity training among board, staff or student body."

"The tragedy is, this level of emotional torture and threats of violence (from adults), will undoubtedly lead to depression, mental illness and the prompting of suicidal thought," Cunningham wrote in a letter to district officials. According to KWTV, the school district is hiring an extra resource officer.

Beene, the superintendent, told KFOR he has received more than 300 emails about the incident. He stressed that the school district aims to be accepting of "all populations," but said he would be open to additional training regarding the LGBTQ community.

"I need education. We all need to be educated," Beene said. "It's certainly something that people didn't deal with 20, 30 years ago."
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NEW YORK  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Democratic primary challenger Cynthia Nixon are set to debate late this month after a back-and-forth over the event.

Both campaigns said Monday their candidates agreed to debate Aug. 29 at Hofstra University, with WCBS-TV hosting.
It was dark on Earth when NASA's Parker Solar Probe launched on its journey to endless day. The first spacecraft designed to swoop by a star took flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 3:31 EDT Sunday morning. A roaring Delta IV Heavy rocket carried the probe out of Earth's atmosphere. Next stop: A loop past Venus to rendezvous with the sun.

The source of all light and life on Earth is also the source of one of its biggest natural threats: space weather. The sun's atmosphere regularly erupts with fast-moving flashes of protons and explosions of energetic particles that can hit Earth within minutes and disrupt radio communication, interfere with GPS, and fry the electric grid. A "worst-case scenario" space weather event could cause more damage than Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey and Sandy combined.

"It sounds like science fiction," said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologist William Murtagh, who heads the Space Weather Prediction Center. "But it's something that's not only possible but very likely to happen in the not-too-distant future."

Scientists have long struggled to understand and predict space weather events, because the ferocious environment around the sun makes them difficult to witness as they form.

Murtagh and scores of other researchers watched as NASA's newest spacecraft embarked on a mission that should take it closer to the sun than any human-made object has gone before.

The probe is the culmination of a half-century effort to understand our star, Murtagh says, and it may help us prepare for the hazards the sun may throw at us in the future.

Part of the sun erupted on Sept. 1, 1859. English astronomer Richard Carrington noticed a brilliant white solar flare on the sun, brighter than the sunspots he usually observed. Roughly a day later, a blast of charged particles - known as a coronal mass ejection, or CME - arrived at Earth, jostling the planet's magnetic bubble. People as far south as Cuba saw the sky light up with auroras. Geomagnetic currents sent surges of electricity through copper telegraph wires, zapping operators and setting telegraph paper aflame.

If a similar event happened today, it would bring life as we know it to a halt.

The energetic particles within a coronal mass ejection can penetrate the walls of spacecraft and pose a radiation risk to astronauts and the technology they depend on. They can interfere with satellites, disrupting radio communication and GPS. And if a CME hits our planet's magnetosphere at the right angle, it can generate powerful waves of electricity within the Earth. These may then infiltrate utility grids and blow out transformers that provide electricity - like tripping a circuit on a massive scale.

The sun exploded again in July 2012, spewing material toward Earth at nearly 6 million miles per hour. This time the coronal mass ejection hit a NASA spacecraft called STEREO-A at full-blast. The spacecraft's sensors were stressed, but they still managed to measure the solar particles, gusts of solar wind and the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field.

A year after the explosion, in a paper published in the journal Space Weather, astrophysicists examined the STEREO-A data to answer a worst-case question. "What if that coronal mass ejection had occurred 10 days earlier, when the Earth was in the line of fire?" said Daniel Baker, a professor of planetary and space physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder and one of the authors of the study.

Their conclusion: If it had hit Earth, Baker and his colleagues wrote, there was a "very legitimate question of whether our society would still be 'picking up the pieces.'"

In 2008, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report on the economic and societal impacts of space weather came up with a worst-case estimate for an extreme geomagnetic storm: It could cost North America up to $2 trillion in the first year, and recovery would take four to 10 years.

It's said that space weather science lags about 50 years behind terrestrial weather forecasting. Meteorologists know what conditions cause hurricanes, and they can spot the seeds of a storm brewing over the ocean long before it makes landfall.

But warning times for space weather events are often measured in minutes, Murtagh said, and there is too much we do not know.

"There's a lack of understanding," Murtagh said. "It's science. It's knowledge of the sun and the physical processes that are likely to produce those energetic particles. We just don't fully understand the science yet."

Much of our modern understanding of the sun stems from 91-year-old Eugene Parker, for whom NASA's new probe is named.

In the mid-1950s, Parker discovered a link between two seemingly unrelated space mysteries. First, bizarrely, the corona, or atmosphere of the sun, is hotter than its surface - scientists liken the sun to a campfire that feels hotter the further one stands from the flames. And second, the dusty tails of comets always point away from the sun, as if blasted by a powerful wind.

Parker realized the corona is not a static halo, but a stream of material from the sun itself. It starts slow and dense and zooms up as it escapes the sun's gravity, eventually exceeding the speed of sound. The pointed tails of comets behave like windsocks caught in the solar wind.

The acceleration of the particles in the solar wind remains one of the "fundamental mysteries of the sun," said Nicola Fox, a heliophysicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and the project scientist for Parker Solar Probe. And it is one of the keys to understanding CMEs - the blasts that pose so much danger to life on Earth.

After the National Academies released its sobering 2008 report, "awareness, both at government and in the public, for this hazard really came to the fore," said a Federal Emergency Management Agency official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Trillion-dollar space storms are a rare issue that rallies Republicans and Democrats alike. The Obama administration's executive order 13744 created a national space weather policy in 2016. FEMA recently finished drafting a federal operations plan for space weather that was sent to the Trump administration for approval. Congress is also considering legislation directing funds toward developing a space weather plan.

The issue is particularly pressing for the East Coast of the United States between Washington and Maine, not only because of the extensive electric infrastructure in this region. The very ground beneath our feet makes us vulnerable, Murtagh said. The 300 million-year-old igneous rock on which the Eastern Seaboard is perched does not conduct electricity well. If a current strikes this rock, it will seek an easier path - like metal pipes, telephone wires and electric cables. Eventually, the current can hit high-voltage transformers, the spine of the power grid, and overwhelm their magnetic cores.

This is not idle speculation. It happened, on a relatively small scale, in Canada in 1989. The sun belched out a gas cloud in early March that cut off radio signals. (At first, some observers suspected Soviet, not solar, interference.) Electrical currents buzzed through the ground and flooded into the Hydro-Quebec power plant. Six million people in Quebec were without power for nine hours. Glancing effects were felt as far away as New Jersey, where the electrical surge roasted a transformer at the Salem Nuclear Power Plant.

Industry reports suggest operators would have enough time to shut down the grid before it suffered permanent damage. But others are not as optimistic.

"We're not going to know until a real event happens whether or not that's a true statement," said the FEMA official, who added power utility engineers "won't say this publicly," but they have been stocking up on spare transformers where they can. Installing new transformers - which would have to be built overseas - might take one or two years.

That a future solar storm will blast Earth is not a question of if, but when. In 2012, Peter Riley, who studies the sun's corona at Predictive Science Inc., a San Diego-based company that develops computer models of the sun, published an article in Space Weather that calculated the odds of a Carrington-scale repeat. Within the next decade, he concluded, it could be about 12 percent - on par with the risk of other 100-year hazards, like massive floods.

Over the next seven years, the Parker Solar Probe will embark on a series of 24 egg-shaped orbits around the sun, repeatedly swinging past Venus to reorient itself. Each close approach will shoot it through the corona at a breathtaking 450,000 miles per hour - fast enough to get from Washington to New York in about a second. With its dust detectors, particle counters, and a telescope that can take 3-D images of the corona, the probe will measure the sun's electric and magnetic fields, scoop particles from the solar wind for sampling and watch as shocks travel out from the sun's surface, through the atmosphere and into space.

"There's no doubt in my mind that measurements from probe and our understanding is going to have a huge impact on our ability to predict space weather," said Christina Cohen, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology's Space Radiation Lab who studies energetic particles.

It is a project scientists have dreamed about for roughly as long as they have known about the solar wind. But it took half a century to develop the necessary technology. When the spacecraft makes its first close approach in November, a carbon-composite heat shield will be all that protects the minivan-sized Parker Solar Probe from the million-mile-wide ball of hot gas.

Parker was interviewed on NASA-TV shortly after witnessing the launch of the probe that bears his name. "All I can say is, wow, here we go," he said. "We're in for some learning over the next several years."
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the D.C. region tallies the cost of a massive police effort to protect two dozen white supremacists who rallied on Sunday, some are questioning whether the extremist group received too many accommodations.

D.C. police and the mayor called the event a success -- no injuries, one minor arrest -- and said security measures were solely designed to physically separate white nationalists and counterprotesters with a history of violent clashes.

But those same methods included what appeared to observers as amenities -- police escorts and a semiprivate Metro rail car to spirit the rally's organizer, Jason Kessler, in and out of the District.

"All these police here, and they're protecting them?" said Bethan Neal, who joined thousands of counterprotesters held by police at a distance from Kessler and his group. Neal is friends with the mother of Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old killed during Kessler's first "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year. "They're protecting that terrorist? It's not right."

The region's ability to ensure a peaceful event may turn out to be a double-edged sword. Kessler, who thanked D.C. police and other law enforcement agencies for protecting his right to free speech, said it went so smoothly, he'd like to return. "Hopefully we'll do more demonstrations in the D.C. area in the future," he said.

Police called the rally a unique event that should not set a precedent for other small groups with incendiary messages to show up week after week and expect the same level of police protection. A spokesman for D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said the violent history between Sunday's groups set it apart.

"You need that number of officers to make sure no one gets hurt," Newsham said.

The chief said that getting Kessler's group safely out of Lafayette Square, where the rally was staged, required an "alternative plan" because the anti-fascist group known as antifa and other groups had gathered outside the rally's entrance points. "There was a sense that tensions were rising," the chief said.

Kessler and his group boarded a Metro train in suburban Vienna, Virginia, and took it to Foggy Bottom. Despite assurances from the transit agency that they would not get a "private car," reporters noted that Kessler's group was in a rear Metro car with police escorts. Passengers were urged to board other cars, though reporters were able to get on the car with Kessler and his group.

After arriving in Washington, they walked to the park, flanked by police. After the rally, they left amid an angry throng with the help of police, who appeared to use vans and diversion techniques designed to avoid concentrations of protesters, including antifa demonstrators gathered at White House entrance points.

Newsham, while not confirming details, called it "a well-executed plan."

Most agencies from the District and Virginia were not immediately able to provide a detailed accounting of the costs to taxpayers. But it is clear that a massive amount of resources were used.

The District's Metropolitan Police Department, with its 3,900 members, was on "full deployment" with overtime approved, authorities said.

Police agencies from Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia also helped, as did Virginia State Police, and large numbers Metro Transit Police, federal Park Police and the Secret Service, along with the District's transportation and public works departments. Dump truck drivers, for example, parked rigs in streets to prevent motorists from using their vehicles to plow into crowds.

Last year in Charlottesville, Heyer was killed when a self-acclaimed white supremacist allegedly drove into an unprotected crowd, and two Virginia state troopers died when their helicopter crashed while observing the events on the ground.

Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, in a statement, swatted away the notion that the white supremacists were given special treatment. Kessler's group "rode a regularly scheduled Metro train" that made all stops. . . . No passenger was turned away," he said.

D.C. Council member Charles Allen, D, who leads oversight of public safety agencies, said he understood why officials were guarding white supremacists to prevent violent melees. "Just like everyone else, I hate seeing tax dollars and other things go to defend something I would spend a lifetime arguing against, but our police officers and law enforcement have a responsibility to make sure the city was safe during that event," he said. "We certainly saw from a year ago when law enforcement doesn't coordinate, when law enforcement doesn't take it seriously, we saw what happened with devastating and deadly outcomes."

But he said transportation officials seemed to cross a line by allowing white supremacists to board a public Metro train with a car essentially blocked off to the public. "Have we now set a precedent if one group feels their safety has come into question because of what they are espousing, they can now go onto Metro and have a private car essentially?' the council member said. "I think that's a dangerous precedent. How does WMATA say no to the next group?"

Council member Robert White Jr., D, also criticized Metro, saying it "broke the trust of WMATA employees and our residents."

Mayor Muriel Bowser. D, oversaw the operation from a command center at police headquarters, after she abruptly decided to return from a previously scheduled four-day official trip to El Salvador. She and her chief of staff flew back to Washington on Sunday and returned Monday morning to complete the trip, costing taxpayers an additional $2,800.

The mayor's return also seemed to be a matter of optics. Bowser's office publicized photos of the mayor monitoring rallies, sitting in a seat reserved for a high-ranking D.C. Homeland Security official. Other mayors have been pilloried for being out-of-town during crises, including when former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, D, stayed in balmy Los Angeles for the Super Bowl in 1987 as a blizzard crippled the nation's capital.

Anu Rangappa, Bowser's spokeswoman, said Bowser decided to come back to D.C. after consulting with law enforcement and religious leaders ahead of the white supremacist rally. "She understood there was consternation, and there was a lot of back-and-forth about how to best have leaders in the community to push back on this," Rangappa said.

Though there were tense moments Sunday, the only arrest police reported was of a man they say punched an Ohio man for wearing a Trump hat. John Andrew Mulligan, 40, of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, a borough about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, was charged with assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. Police said he had a slingshot on him when he was arrested about 5 p.m. Sunday at New York Avenue and 13th Street NW.

A Superior Court judge ordered Mulligan released pending a hearing Sept. 24. He declined to comment as he left the courtroom.

Most counterprotesters left after Kessler had gone and a steady rain began to fall. But a group of antifa protesters marched through downtown, many angry with police over the protections given to Kessler, and briefly skirmished with officers at 13th and G streets.

- The Post's Keith L. Alexander, Perry Stein, Peter Jamison, Marissa J. Lang and Hannah Natanson contributed to this report.
"Let me remind you that when the Republicans took power when President Obama was president of the United States, what Mitch McConnell said is, 'The most important thing we can do is to make sure he does not succeed.' If that wasn't a racist statement. That is unthinkable."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in an interview on MSNBC, Aug. 12, 2018

---

Well, a zombie claim emerges from the dead again. But it's even uglier than usual.

As an example of Republican intransigence, Democrats love to bring up some long-ago remarks by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. But they often get the timing and the context wrong, even if they get the quote that McConnell wanted to keep Obama a "one-term" president right.

In this case, Pelosi got the timing mostly right - McConnell made his remarks on the eve of the midterm elections in 2010, just before House Republicans took power. (Usually Democrats suggest he said it after Obama first won election in 2008.) But she twists his words out of context and states it was a "racist statement" as well.

Let's take a look.

The Facts

McConnell made his comments in an interview that appeared in the National Journal on Oct. 23, 2010. The interview was relatively short, so we will print it in its entirety.

"NJ: You've been studying the history of presidents who lost part or all of Congress in their first term. Why?

"McConnell: In the last 100 years, three presidents suffered big defeats in Congress in their first term and then won reelection: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and the most recent example, Bill Clinton. I read a lot of history anyway, but I am trying to apply those lessons to current situations in hopes of not making the same mistakes.

"NJ: What have you learned?

"McConnell: After 1994, the public had the impression we Republicans overpromised and underdelivered. We suffered from some degree of hubris and acted as if the president was irrelevant and we would roll over him. By the summer of 1995, he was already on the way to being reelected, and we were hanging on for our lives.

"NJ: What does this mean now?

"McConnell: We need to be honest with the public. This election is about them, not us. And we need to treat this election as the first step in retaking the government. We need to say to everyone on Election Day, "Those of you who helped make this a good day, you need to go out and help us finish the job.'

"NJ.: What's the job?

"McConnell: The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.

"NJ: Does that mean endless, or at least frequent, confrontation with the president?

"McConnell: If President Obama does a Clintonian backflip, if he's willing to meet us halfway on some of the biggest issues, it's not inappropriate for us to do business with him.

"NJ: What are the big issues?

"McConnell: It is possible the president's advisers will tell him he has to do something to get right with the public on his levels of spending and [on] lowering the national debt. If he were to heed that advice, he would, I imagine, find more support among our conference than he would among some in the Senate in his own party. I don't want the president to fail; I want him to change. So, we'll see. The next move is going to be up to him."

So, seen in context, McConnell was saying that if Republicans wanted to achieve their goals, such as repeal of the Affordable Care Act, they can't just win the midterms they also need to ensure that Obama does not win reelection. It's less of "an announcement" than a statement of fact.

McConnell further elaborated on his remarks in a speech at the Heritage Foundation after the 2010 election, in which the GOP won control of the House:

"'Let's start with the big picture. Over the past week, some have said it was indelicate of me to suggest that our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term in office. But the fact is, if our primary legislative goals are to repeal and replace the health spending bill; to end the bailouts; cut spending; and shrink the size and scope of government, the only way to do all these things it is to put someone in the White House who won't veto any of these things.'"

Of course, Obama did not become a one-term president, and the GOP did not take control of the Senate until 2014. And even when Republicans took the presidency in 2016, they still could not eliminate Obamacare.

Let's go back to Pelosi. She made her comments in response to this question: "You've worked with Speaker Ryan, you know Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, why do you think they haven't spoken up as leaders in the United States against something as pernicious as white supremacy and racism?"

(Note: McConnell on Aug. 16, 2017, issued this statement when white supremacists were reported to be planning a rally in Kentucky: "We can have no tolerance for an ideology of racial hatred. There are no good neonazis, and those who espouse their views are not supporters of American ideals and freedoms. We all have a responsibility to stand against hate and violence, wherever it raises its evil head.")

Pelosi did not directly answer but instead harked back to this 2010 interview. But nowhere in McConnell's comments can we find a line like: "The most important thing we can do is to make sure he does not succeed." Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesman, said it was a paraphrase of this line: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

Hmmm. That ignores the rest of the conversation: "If he's willing to meet us halfway on some of the biggest issues, it's not inappropriate for us to do business with him. . . . I don't want the president to fail; I want him to change."

In response to our questions, Hammill said: "The leader's larger point is that President Obama was treated differently than other presidents by Republican leaders like McConnell. They undermined him at every turn, obstructed his agenda at levels not seen in the history of our country and turned normally bipartisan matters like government funding, infrastructure, etc., into crises over and over again."

But we found numerous examples of when Obama thanked McConnell for his help in passing legislation. McConnell worked with Obama on making the George W. Bush tax cuts permanent and on free trade. Those are policies that Pelosi at the time opposed, but they are also good examples of Obama and McConnell meeting halfway on key issues.

Hammill's response: "This is the leader's opinion based on her firsthand experience."

In 2015, we should note, the New York Times published a lengthy article on McConnell's "nuanced, sometimes surprising, sometimes contentious record on civil rights that has placed him apart from some Republican colleagues and from some voters in his home state, Kentucky."

The Pinocchio Test

We obviously don't factcheck opinion. But clearly Pelosi's paraphrase bears little relationship to what McConnell actually said in 2010 - he even said he did not want Obama to fail - and we are flummoxed how this anodyne political statement then is twisted into being an allegedly racist statement. McConnell was a tough customer for Obama, his political opposite, but they did cooperate when their interests were in sync.

Democrats have sometimes placed McConnell's "one-term" comment in the wrong year, but we are unaware of a senior Democrat bungling the actual quote so much in service of an incendiary charge. Pelosi earns Four Pinocchios.

Four Pinocchios
New York

For Letitia James, politics has made quick and convenient bedfellows.

After Eric Schneiderman suddenly resigned in May as New York's attorney general, it soon became clear that James, the New York City public advocate, was the favored choice of Gov. Andrew Cuomo to succeed Schneiderman.

Within weeks, Cuomo endorsed James; the Democratic Party's formal nomination quickly followed. The governor then held a fundraiser for her with a minimum ticket price of $1,000. He invited her to appear with him at rallies for reproductive rights. And, in July, he brought James and several of his political allies on his fifth trip to Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria.

As the other three Democratic candidates for attorney general have tried to distance themselves from Cuomo, James has fully embraced him. But at a time when prosecuting Wall Street, pursuing political corruption in Albany, and being willing to challenge President Donald Trump and his administration are considered highly prized qualifications for the job, James' strategy has been one of high rewards, but also some risk. "Perhaps no criterion is more important right now than the capacity of the next attorney general to be independent," said the former attorney general, Eliot Spitzer, under whose tenure James ran the office's Brooklyn operations. "The occupant of that office must have the wherewithal to pursue cases against the most powerful forces without regard to political consequences."

The issue of demonstrating independence has jump-started a relatively quiet race where 42 percent of voters said in a recent poll that they are undecided about whom they will vote for in the Sept. 13 primary.

With little separating the four Democratic hopefuls on most campaign issues, the candidates  Sean Patrick Maloney, New York's first openly gay congressman; Leecia Eve, a former top aide to Hillary Clinton and Cuomo; Zephyr Teachout, a law professor who ran a surprisingly effective race against Cuomo in the 2014 primary; and James  have taken to arguing about who is the least anchored to Cuomo.

"Unbossed and unbought," James said when asked about her independence from Cuomo after a fundraiser at a union hall in Manhattan last week. She scrunched her face and called the speculation that she was too close to Cuomo "disrespectful," hinting that it may be coming her way because she would become the first black woman to hold statewide office were she to win.

"I think the governor supports me because he knows that I get things done, that I've got a long record in public service and that I understand how Albany works," James said in an interview. "That does not mean I'm beholden to the governor."

A series of remarks has not helped James make that case. James has said that she did not think there was a need for another Moreland Commission, a fact-finding body that Cuomo authorized to investigate corruption in Albany. The governor later hastily dismantled it, prompting Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan at the time, to probe the commission's demise.

In a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, James said she would use the Martin Act, the law that prosecutors in New York have used to pursue fraud charges against Wall Street firms, but in a "judicious" manner.

James also defended Cuomo against recent remarks that some said were critical of women. At a Women for Cuomo campaign event, Cuomo quipped that "usually it is worse" to be in a room filled with women.

"What did he say that was offensive?" James asked. "Everyone in the room enjoyed his comments and, in fact, he got a standing ovation."
WASHINGTON - The District of Columbia spent $2.6 million on policing and other costs related to Sunday's white supremacist rally and the associated counterprotests, according to a preliminary estimate from the city government.

The city plans to ask the federal government to reimburse those costs. Congress budgeted $13 million this year for a fund to help Washington pay for its responses to large-scale protests and events, which are common in the nation's capital but have become more frequent during the Trump administration.

The Unite the Right 2 rally, held on the anniversary of the deadly white nationalist gathering in Charlottesville, Virginia, attracted fewer than 40 supporters. But law enforcement responded with a massive presence to keep the white supremacists physically separated from thousands of counter protesters.

Police also had to contend with a group of anti-fascists, known as Antifa, who roamed the downtown area, skirmished with officers at 13th and G Streets NW, and had threatened property damage but ultimately backed down.

City officials called their response a success: No one was injured, and only one person was arrested on minor charges.

But critics say the city may have inadvertently encouraged more groups with provocative messages to come to the nation's capital by pouring so many resources into defending the First Amendment rights of Sunday's rally goers. Unite the Right organizer Jason Kessler praised the level of police protection his group received and suggested he'd like to stage additional events in the Washington area.

Anu Rangappa, a spokeswoman for Mayor Muriel Bowser, stressed that the $2.6 million price-tag was an early estimate and not the final cost that will be charged to the federal government. She could not immediately answer if the city incurred additional expenses related to the event that cannot be reimbursed.

The initial tally comes almost entirely from the Metropolitan Police Department, which reported an estimated $2.5 million in costs related to staffing and overtime for its 3,900-member force. Washington's Department of Public Works, Fire and Emergency Medical Services and Homeland Security and Emergency Management agencies each reported costs in the low ten thousands.

In fiscal year 2017, the federal government reimbursed the city $9.1 million for policing costs related to demonstrations and special events.

Local officials praised police for preventing a repeat of the chaos in Charlottesville last year.

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham has said the costs were necessary to keep the city safe.

"When these two groups have come together in the past, we have seen violence," Newsham told reporters Sunday. "You need that number of officers to make sure no one gets hurt."

But some counterprotesters say they're troubled by how the city was willing to spend millions to ensure a white supremacist rally could proceed.

"It does highlight the extent to which both the Bowser administration, MPD and law enforcement in D.C. will go to protect people and systems that uphold white supremacy," said April Goggans, an organizer for the Black Lives Matter D.C. "You have advocacy groups fighting every day for just hundreds of thousands of dollars for programs that touch thousands of D.C. residents."

Washington's expenses on Sunday don't reflect the total cost to taxpayers.

Four other agencies also responded to the rally: the Virginia State Police, Fairfax Police, WMATA and U.S. Park Police. The Washington Post has requested each of those agencies provide a breakdown in costs related to the white supremacist rally, and has yet to receive figures.

A spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service said the agency will not disclose the costs of protective operations "for operational security purposes."
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  A gun loaned to Texas' Democratic nominee for governor while she was sheriff of Dallas County is missing and she is working with her former department to find it, authorities said Monday.

Lupe Valdez was sheriff for 13 years before stepping down in December to become a longshot challenger to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. In a statement, spokesman Juan Bautista Dominguez said "it is possible that this weapon could have been stolen or misplaced during Sheriff Valdez's moving transition and she is working with Dallas County Sheriff Department to locate the firearm."
Friday afternoon, a jogger was joined by an uninvited, four-legged partner while running on the North Side.

The brown, black and white pygmy goat wasnt aggressive, but friendly, while he kept pace with the woman as she sprinted through District 8, in the Parkwood subdivision, north of Prue Road. When she finally reached her home, the goat was still by her side.

She was able to lead the goat through her house, without incident, and contain him in her back yard, where an Animal Care Services officer retrieved the animal.

ACS staff named the goat with crystalline blue eyes Jabber Jaw, because he hasnt stopped bleating since he arrived at the shelter.

This is not a wild goat, but one thats typically kept as a companion animal, ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said. This is a very amenable goat. You could even say he was a gentleman.

RELATED: Texas man catches 12-foot shark near South Padre Island

Jabber Jaw was the third roaming hooved animal that ACS officers have picked up in neighborhoods around the city in the past few weeks.

Shelters throughout San Antonio are overwhelmed with animals in need right now, she said, we have dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, we dont need to add livestock to the mix. Wed be happy if we didnt have to keep revisiting these stories.

On Aug. 5, ACS dispatchers received a call from the San Antonio Police Department, asking for assistance  officers were chasing two pigs in the 500 block of Trudell, off of I-10 and Vance Jackson, in District 1.

They were able to corner one of the animals that Sunday morning, but the other one is still on the run. The pig ACS staff named Flower is still at the shelter, taking mud baths and spending most of her time in the shade.

Norwood reiterated that swine are not allowed in the City of San Antonio.

Dellview is a very densely populated neighborhood, she said, and while wed like to say that wed be surprised to see a pig running in such a residential area, unfortunately were not.

All of the animals will be taken to an animal rescue outside the city.

The third arrival was Billy the Kid, who ACS staff said is aptly named.

At the end of July, the shelter received a call for a white goat running through a residential neighborhood near Mission Jose. An ACS officer drove through the area, tracking the goat to a trade school in the 9300 block of South Presa.

The caprine had entered the property through an opening in a fence and was running and jumping across the campus. The officer called for help and another ACS officer came in; together, they captured the goat.

RELATED: A 100-pound tortoise, a goat and a python among the animals found roaming SA streets

After they brought him back to the ACS shelter, staff members set up a corral for him. Shortly after he arrived the shelter manager sent out an all-staff email urging caution  Billy the Kid had a grumpy side.

The email said that the goat requires experienced handling  he doesnt like to be bothered. He expressed his displeasure with people coming into his living space by bounding and springing in the air around his corral like an Impala.

Sometimes, Norwood said, goats are grumpy. He doesnt walk, he bounces.

She said Jabber Jaw, while more friendly, also has a somewhat salty disposition. When they went to check on his corral mates, he became upset. He jumped on his hard plastic house and attempted to scale the nearby wall to see what the ACS staff members were doing. The jogging goat almost made it to the ledge of the 8-foot-tall brick wall.

Norwood said Billy the Kid has attracted the interest of a national rescue organization and theyre hoping to find a similar happy ending for Flower and Jabber Jaw.

vtdavis@express-news.net
San Antonio police have enlisted the help of multiple agencies to search for a car burglary suspect who fled from police near the Dominion Tuesday morning and was thought to be on Camp Bullis property.

Officer Carlos Ortiz said an officer responding to an unrelated call at Shady Lane Drive around 9 a.m. and saw a Ford pickup truck with all its doors open.

When the officer tried talking to the man near the vehicle, the man took off running, Ortiz said.

Camp Bullis issued a lockdown around 10 a.m., when officials believed the suspect breached a fence and came onto military property. The lockdown at Camp Bullis was lifted at about 5:30 p.m., officials announced on social media.

Joint Base San Antonio officials did not say whether the suspect who entered their property was apprehended.

They advised people driving in the area to stay on hard roads and not pick up any hitchhikers in the area.

Military officials had said that the man is believed to be armed and dangerous.

RELATED: SAPD looks for man suspected of hitting H-E-B grocer with his car

He eluded police when he jumped down an embankment with heavy bamboo in the Leon Creek area, then took off running toward the Dominion, police said.

When police ran the truck's license plates they discovered it had been reported stolen.

Ortiz said the area is heavily covered with brush and bamboo, requiring help from multiple agencies to establish surveillance overhead and secure the wooded area.

The suspect has reddish blonde hair, a scruffy beard and is about 6 feet tall. He was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, officials said.

Ortiz said police will remain in the area until the suspect is brought into custody.

Police don't believe the man is dangerous but asked residents to call police if they see the suspect.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA
Bexar County would generate an additional $16 million if commissioners decide in September to maintain last years property tax rate, Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti told commissioners Tuesday.

Thats because the countys effective tax rate  the levy needed to generate the same year-over-year tax revenue accounting for property value changes  has fallen to 29.6862 cents per $100 property value, 0.2954 lower than last years rate, Uresti said.

The tax rate actually levied by the county is 30.4097 cents per $100 property value. Commissioners have reduced the countys tax rate or kept it stagnant for the last 23 years, although rising appraisals have meant higher property tax bills.

Its always been the position of this court to try to stay at the effective tax rate, or as near to the effective tax rate as we can, County Judge Nelson Wolff said. Theres been several times that weve gone below it. So our goal will be to get as close as we could to that effective tax rate.

Commissioners will set the 2019 fiscal year budget next month. Last year, the court approved a budget of $1.76 billion and lowered the county tax rate by nearly a half-cent.

November elections

The November elections will cost Bexar County an estimated $1.2 million, Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen told commissioners Tuesday. The county is set to hold a joint election with local independent school districts and municipalities at a total cost of about $1.8 million, with the other entities covering the difference.

On Tuesday, commissioners established 42 early voting locations for the election, setting the usual main location at the countys elections office at 1103 S. Frio St. They also voted to raise the hourly pay of all Bexar County election officials by $1 per hour, costing the county an additional $79,000.

Callanen said the countys election officials, who last received a pay raise in 2014, basically are the pillars of democracy here.

For information about November elections, call the elections office at 210-335-8683.

Jasper Scherer is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jscherer@express-news.net | Twitter: @jaspscherer
Will the Pentagon, with its 30-year planning cycle for building ships, still be launching aircraft carriers in 2048  even though theyre highly vulnerable to attack today?

Thats an example of the military-modernization questions that kept nagging participants at the recent gathering of the Aspen Strategy Group, which annually brings together top-level current and former national-security officials, along with a few journalists, to discuss defense and foreign policy. A big takeaway was this: The future of warfare is now, and China is poised to dominate it.

Speakers at the conference described a new generation of combat systems, powered by artificial intelligence, cyberweapons and robots that can operate on land, sea and air. But America is still largely wedded to legacy weapons of the past  superbly engineered (but super-expensive) aircraft carriers, bombers, fighter jets and submarines.

We have a small number of exquisite, expensive, manned, hard-to-replace systems that would have been familiar to Dwight D. Eisenhower. They are being overtaken by advanced technology, argued Christian Brose, staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Instead, he said, the Pentagon needs a large number of inexpensive, unmanned, expendable, autonomous systems that can survive in the new electronic battlespace and overwhelm any potential adversary.

Future needs are being overwhelmed by past practices, because of what Broses boss, Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, has called the military-industrial-congressional complex. Brose calculates that in the Pentagons initial request for $74 billion in new defense spending in fiscal 2019, only .006 percent was targeted for science and technology. The National Science Foundation estimates that in fiscal 2015, only 18 percent of the Pentagons research and development budget went for basic, applied and advanced research.

Even when the Pentagon tries to push innovation, it often stumbles. When Ashton Carter was defense secretary under President Obama, he created the Defense Innovation Unit  Experimental, or DIUX, with offices in Silicon Valley, Boston and Austin. That operation thrived initially, negotiating 60 defense contracts with startups. The program has slowed under the Trump administration, despite support from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, because it lacks funds and bureaucratic support, warned Christopher Kirchhoff, a former DIUX partner.

The biggest technological challenge discussed here was artificial intelligence. In a few years, these systems have taught themselves to play complex games like chess and Go better than humans, and to recognize voices and objects better, too. And soon, they will be driving the weapons of combat.

China appears determined to seize this AI high ground of future conflict. For the last two years, Chinese companies have won an AI competition for detecting objects. The Chinese are happy for the U.S. to keep building carriers and bombers, so long as they deploy the more advanced technologies that can disable these systems.

Richard Danzig, a former Navy secretary, published a brilliant paper discussed at the conference warning that as AI systems dominate warfare, they will introduce important new risks of loss of control. Humans must be maximally thoughtful and creative during design (and plan for failure), because these AI-driven weapons will have accidents and unintended consequences. Wise policymakers must avoid a Dr. Strangelove world of unsafe killer robots and doomsday machines.

The Aspen Strategy Group is a devoutly bipartisan forum. But there was an intense discussion here of the issue thats vexing America this summer  the growing political polarization thats creating so much discord that its becoming a national-security problem.

As the gathering concluded Monday, Republicans and Democrats were equally passionate about spreading the message that this is a Sputnik moment for modernizing our military. Competing with a rising China begins at home, with a more nimble Pentagon and a country thats more united to face the big problems ahead.

David Ignatius writes a column for the Washington Post.
An open letter to Mayor Ron Nirenberg:

It is easy to destroy a vibrant and growing city such as San Antonio. Impose a $15 minimum wage on all businesses, including restaurant wait staff. Impose paid sick time for all businesses. Institute a universal basic income and tax all your businesses to pay for it. Provide affordable or free housing, and tax both businesses and property owners to pay for it.

Just keep providing everyone with more city ordinances, more regulations, and more bureaucratic paperwork in order for businesses to comply. In short, keep implementing more feel good rules and regulations in which you tax evil, rich corporations to pay for them.

San Antonio (soon to be known as San Frantonio) already has problems attracting new businesses. You and your City Council are not helping.

David Gay, Alamo Heights

Equity overdue

I applaud the change to equity funding of the city of San Antonio budget supported by the mayor, the city manager and (apparently) most of the City Council. It is long overdue.

The contrary approach of equal funding, supported by Councilman Greg Brockhouse, evokes the sentiment of Anatole France: The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges.

John R. Heard

Workers as adults

Re: Sick days, Your Turn, Friday:

Richard Wallish writes that employees taking a sick day should have to prove they were under a doctors care.

This is absurd on many counts. It would force the employee with food-induced vomiting and diarrhea to somehow get to a doctor, incurring additional expense and discomfort, just to qualify for time he has earned through his employment.

It would penalize the healthy employee who seldom gets sick because he takes care of himself, and reward the employee whose lifestyle has caused serious health issues. It would incur resentment among hourly paid employees seeing their managers take an extra half-hour at lunch to run personal errands.

When I got involved in the management of a trucking company with hundreds of mostly low-wage employees almost 50 years ago, one of the first things I did was redefine sick leave. We converted it to personal time, which could be used for illness, attending a childs performance, caring for a parent, or any other purpose, no questions asked. It could be taken in hourly increments if desired.

Converting sick leave to personal time may have been the most popular change we ever instituted. Treating employees like responsible human beings is always preferable to mindless disciplinary requirements.

Reagin McAllister

Ds dont transfer

Re: Roadblocks for students who transfer, Editorial, Aug. 8:

As a community college student in the 1960s, I knew that a D grade would not transfer. As far as I know, this is still true. A D grade is only accepted for a diploma from the institution where it was earned.

My question: Of those with transfer woes, how many are students assuming a D would be transferred?

I suggest a closer look at such transferring facts.

Wanda Seals

Trumps rhetoric

Communication scholars have written about the concept of therapeutic rhetoric. In contrast to the ancient notion of deliberative rhetoric, which focuses on how speakers and writers employ discourse to create change (e.g., passing legislation, securing votes and getting others to see the world as they do), therapeutic rhetoric is invoked in those instances where one realizes they cannot persuade others to change reality; as a result they use a kind of self-rhetoric to bolster and make themselves feel better about that over which they have little control.

Late-night television host Seth Meyers recently referred to President Donald Trumps frequent rallies as public therapy. This portrayal isnt just funny. It points to the fact that that we may have a chief executive who is mentally unstable  someone who rather than seeking professional help or engaging in self-reflection chooses to vent frustration and anger in public to make himself feel better.

This is not just unhealthy for him but for the American public as well.

Richard Cherwitz, Ernest S. Sharpe Centennial Professor, Moody College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin

Space farce

The administrations new diversion is the Space Force. We already have a space program, called NASA. Dont put our tax money into the Space Force, a bureaucratic drain on our resources. Put that money into NASA and other necessary spending, like our aging infrastructure.

Rebecca Baker

Special, too

Re: Kavanaughs views on ACA could hurt LGBT community, Other Views, Friday:

Sofia Sepulveda claims pride for being a transgender Latina woman living in Texas.

Should I follow suit in writing that I am a proud white lady, 90 years age, of Irish/English heritage?

While I have lived in San Antonio for many many years, I was born in Brooklyn, New York. Doesnt that make me as special as Sepulveda?

Jean Hood
WASHINGTON  Imagine if it emerged that the Republican chairman of the House or Senate intelligence committee had a Russian spy working on their senate staff. Think it would cause a political firestorm? Well, this week we learned that Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., had a Chinese spy on her staff who worked for her for 20 years, who was listed as an office director on payroll records and served as her driver when she was in San Francisco, all while reporting to Chinas Ministry of State Security though Chinas San Francisco Consulate. The reaction of the mainstream media? Barely a peep.

Feinstein acknowledged the infiltration, but downplayed its significance. Five years ago the FBI informed me it had concerns that an administrative member of my California staff was potentially being sought out by the Chinese government to provide information Feinstein said in statement  which means the breach took place while Feinstein was heading the intelligence committee. But, Feinstein insisted, he never had access to classified or sensitive information or legislative matters and was immediately fired. In other words: junior staffer, no policy role, no access to secrets, quickly fired  no big deal.

But it is a big deal. I asked several former senior intelligence and law enforcement officials how serious this breach might have been. Its plenty serious, one former top Justice Department official told me. Focusing on his driver function alone, in Mafia families, the bosss driver was among the most trusted men in the crew, because among other things he heard everything that was discussed in the car.

A former top CIA clandestine officer explained to me what the agency would do if they had recruited the driver of a senior official like Feinstein. We would have the driver record on his phone all conversations that Feinstein would have with passengers and phone calls in her car. If she left her phone, iPad or laptop in the car while she went to meetings, social events, dinners, etc., we would have the driver download all her devices. If the driver drove for her for 20 years he would probably would have had access to her office and homes. We would have had the source put down an audio device in her office or homes if the opportunity presented itself. Depending on the take from all of what the source reported, we would use the info to target others that were close to her and exhibited some type of vulnerability.

In short, this officer says, we would have had a field day.

It seems improbable that Feinstein never once discussed anything sensitive in her car over a period of years. But lets assume that Feinstein was extraordinarily careful and never discussed any classified information in front of her driver or on any devices to which he had access. Even so, one former top intelligence official told me, someone in that position could give an adversary a whole bunch on atmospherics and trends and attitudes which are from time to time far more important than the things we call secrets. He added Its like [having access to her] unclassified emails. (And we all know no one ever exposes classified information on unclassified emails).

Washington is understandably focused on the threat from Russia. But according to FBI director Chris Wray, China from a counterintelligence perspective represents the broadest, most pervasive, most threatening challenge we face as a country. It was China, after all, which hacked the Office of Personnel Management in 2015, stealing the SF-86 security clearance forms of many thousands of executive branch employees in the most devastating cyberattack in the history of our country. Beijing has successfully recruited FBI agents and State Department employees as spies, and has used information from U.S. informants to kill dozens of CIA sources inside the regime. And now, we know they recruited a high value senate staffer who worked in immediate proximity to the head of the senate intelligence committee.

Feinstein owes the country a detailed explanation of how she let a Chinese spy into her inner sanctum. And the media should give this security breach the same attention they would if it involved Russia and the Republicans.

Follow Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen.
The annual Perseid meteor shower reached its peak Sunday night with as many as 60 shooting stars streaking across the sky each hour into the early hours of Monday.

This year's event coincided with a new moon phase of the lunar cycle, allowing for a darker show and brighter celestial spectacle.

Stargazers and photographers around the world stepped outside to look for the blazing fireballs and above you'll find images of last night's peak.

Many Bay Area residents saw little in the sky due to foggy conditions. "Too cloudy to see the Perseids, as usual for the Bay Area." Tweeted @explodedsoda. "Maybe it'll be clearer when I wake up to pee at 4am."

But outside the urban areas, the show was clear and bright. "Drove up to Tahoe last night to watch the Perseid Meteor shower and play with the telescope at the Bright Star Observatory," wrote CodyDarkstalker on Twitter. "So cool to see Mars and the rings of Saturn and the meteor showers and the milky way."

The Perseids light up the sky every year when the Earth passes through the cloud of debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, and appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus in the northeastern sky.

The 2018 Perseids run from July 17 to Aug. 24, but the peak occurred on Aug. 12 and most of the shooting stars will have passed with only a few strays etched across the sky.
It is a crying shame that Zimbabwes political stalemate, in the wake of the hotly-disputed July 30 presidential poll, has pushed the urgent need for the country to fix its ailing economy on the back-burner  as price hikes and severe shortages of cash, foreign currency and fuel continue to bite.

At the same time, business leaders and economists have warned that the dispute  in which opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is challenging President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwas razor-thin victory  is likely to further weaken the countrys economy.

This comes as millers have also warned of looming price jumps on bread and other bakers confectioneries, as they struggle to import wheat due to the countrys worsening foreign currency crisis, as well as rising international input costs.

And to add to the misery of Zimbabweans, the country continues to experience severe cash shortages, as well as erratic supplies of petrol and diesel at most garages  amid conflicting statements from authorities.

The president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR), Denford Mutashu, told the Daily News yesterday that the political stalemate was not good for the country, and was affecting business badly.

Its impact is to create a debilitating wait and see mode within the business sector  the parallel foreigners exchange rates are also on the rampage again, climbing back to 185 percent from 155 percent to the US dollar just before and during voting day.

Business expectation is that the courts will bring the stalemate to finality soon, so that the country can move forward in unity and tranquillity, he said.

Economist Eddie Cross said there was no doubt that the economy would continue to burn until the presidential poll dispute was resolved.

Business never likes uncertainty and until the position of the president is resolved, we will see reduced business activity across all sectors, he warned.

Another economist John Robertson also said the long time that it was taking to inaugurate a new president was affecting business, warning that the recent ugly protests, as well as the clampdown on opposition kingpins by authorities would negatively affect Zimbabwes prospects of attracting badly-needed investment.

The more serious problem is that many have been waiting for this election before making any investment decisions, and the outcome so far will discourage many from making those decisions.

Some may even abandon the whole idea of investing here altogether. So, I think the unrest  may cost the country millions of dollars that may now not come in, or may take a little longer to come in.

The exchange rate will also probably continue to soar and in any case, that was not going to come right until significant investment had come into the country, Robertson told the Daily News.

Millions of Zimbabweans cast their vote in the historic July 30 elections, to choose both a new Parliament and president  following the dramatic fall from power of ousted former leader Robert Mugabe in November last year.

The elections were the first since 1980 to be held in the country without Mugabes participation, whose 37-year iron-fisted rule was stunningly ended by a military operation which triggered events that ended with his resignation.

The elections also marked the first time that the main opposition MDC was not represented by its founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who lost his brave battle with cancer of the colon on Valentines Day this year.

Zanu PF retained its two thirds parliamentary majority in the elections, with Mnangagwa narrowly winning a tightly contested race by 50,8 percentage points.

However, Chamisa has challenged Mnangagwas victory at the Constitutional Court (Con-Court), delaying the inauguration of Zimbabwes new leader.

In determining the petition or application, the Con-Court may declare a winner or invalidate the election  in which case a fresh election will have to be held within 60 days after the determination.

It is against this background that business leaders fear the struggling economy will further weaken, as black market rates for the coveted United States dollars continue to push the prices of basic commodities upwards.

The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (Gmaz) recently warned of an increase in the cost of bread, due to the rising price of imported wheat.

In a statement, Gmaz said it had been advised by its international suppliers that wheat import prices had gone up due to transport and shipment costs that had skyrocketed.

The prices have increased by between $30 and $35 per metric tonne, meaning that you now need to pay $405 per metric tonne, from $370, it said.

The July 30 national harmonised were seen as a litmus test for Mnangagwa and his government, as their conduct was seen as determining whether the country would qualify for international bailouts and new investment.

Political analysts have said the violence and clampdown of opposition leaders might have already done a lot of harm to Mnangagwas quest to mend years of frosty relations with Western governments.

They said until the post-poll anarchy, Mnangagwa had done enough to project himself and his administration as different from Mugabe  who was accused of running Zimbabwe into the ground.

However, the peaceful campaigns and a friendly spirit that had characterised the run-up to the elections were marred in the aftermath of the elections when deadly violence broke out in Harares central business district (CBD), following a clash between opposition supporters and security agents.

At least seven people subsequently died when the army, which had apparently been called in to assist in managing the situation, used live ammunition to break the ugly protests.

 DailyNews

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UNITED Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader Daniel Shumba has joined MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa in denouncing Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwas recent presidential victory.

Shumba, in a statement yesterday, also blasted South African President and current Sadc chair Cyril Ramaphosa for rushing to endorse Mnangagwas victory without considering electoral fraud allegations raised by the opposition.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and the current executive refused to attend to the important issues of electoral reforms, and illegal statutes on our books, most of which are benefitting Mnangagwa and his cronies, and Zec doctored the V11 forms to reflect an inflated Zanu PF position countrywide, he said.

It is not strange that Ramaphosa has already congratulated Mnangagwa, and the implications of this endorsement means that what is, and would be abnormal in South Africa has been normalised in Zimbabwe. Ramaphosa is part of the broader conspiracy of aiding the Zanu PF regime.

Shumba described Mnangagwas government as coup conspirators that were greedy for Executive powers.

The army was used in November (last year) to remove former President Robert Mugabe, and it has been used again, as an instrument of evil. The world knows the truth. It was deployed in order to threaten, beat and kill dissenting voices against the robbed elections, he said.

Who deployed the army without following due process? Whose hands are dripping with the blood of innocent civilians once again? It only points at one man and his coup conspirators.

Shumba said Zanu PF and other State institutions circumvented, and continued to undermine the will of the people through use of force.

Zec will not agree to a recount of the votes, and political parties will be referred to the courts for judicial pronouncements whose outcomes are unfortunately predictable. The elections were rigged and robbed long before the fact, and it is simply a continuation of the phases that led to the November 2017 coup, when the State was overtly captured by the junta and its proxies, he said.

Shumba said Mnangagwa played a pivotal and leading role in the execution of many decisions and processes that undermined the rule of law in Zimbabwe over the past 38 years.

 NewsDay

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President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa made an impassioned plea to all Zimbabweans yesterday  calling on them to leave behind the countrys recent political turmoil and focus on the future by working hard to resuscitate the ailing local economy.

Mnangagwas call came as commerce and industry have bemoaned the economic uncertainty that has been created by the disputed July 30 presidential poll in which the Zanu PF strongman narrowly beat opposition leader Nelson Chamisa  who has since challenged that result in the Constitutional Court (Con-Court).

Addressing thousands of people at the National Heroes Acre yesterday, Mnangagwa said it was time for the country to move on, and to build a strong Zimbabwe that all citizens aspire for, irrespective of political affiliation.

It is now time to put behind the election period behind us and embrace the future to achieve the Zimbabwe we all want. The task facing us today is a great one.

Let us unite as Zimbabweans, revive our economy and rebuild our great nation. We should never be deterred by temporary setbacks or regrettable events which we encounter in our course to build an open, free, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe, he said.

We are indeed building the Zimbabwe we want, growing the economy together and creating employment and improving the standards of living for everyone  where everyone is involved, irrespective of tribe, creed, gender, religion and party affiliation.

Let us move forward with the same determination and a single mind, after all we share the same vision and dream for the country, Mnangagwa added.

Millions of Zimbabweans cast their vote in the historic July 30 elections to choose both a new Parliament and president  following the dramatic fall from power of ousted former leader Robert Mugabe in November last year.

However, the peaceful campaigns and a friendly spirit that had characterised the run-up to the elections were marred in the aftermath of the polls when deadly violence broke out in Harares central business district (CBD), following clashes between opposition supporters and security agents.

At least seven people subsequently died when the army, which had apparently been called in to assist in managing the situation, used live ammunition to break the ugly protests.

Yesterday, Mnangagwa also urged Zimbabweans to resist the temptation of being separated by their political differences.

It is indeed time for us to close ranks and collectively push our national agenda and forge our country to new frontiers of economic development.

I urge all political parties to remain peaceful and to always strive to do that which is in the public good and that which is in the national interest.

The time for politics is behind us. Now is the time for progress, action and delivery, he told the gathered crowds.

Chamisa challenged Mnangagwas victory at the Con-Court on Friday, delaying the inauguration of Zimbabwes new leader in the process.

In determining the petition or application, the Con-Court may declare a winner or invalidate the election  in which case a fresh poll will have to be held within 60 days after the determination.

The July 30 harmonised elections were seen as a litmus test for Mnangagwa and his government, as their conduct was seen as determining whether the country would qualify for international bailouts and new investment or not.

Political analysts have said the violence and clampdown of opposition leaders might have already done a lot of harm to Mnangagwas quest to mend years of Zimbabwes frosty relations with Western governments.

They said until the post-poll anarchy, he had done enough to project himself and his administration as different from Mugabe  who was accused of running Zimbabwe into the ground.

Last Wednesday, United States President Donald Trump extended sanctions on Zimbabwe in the aftermath of the poll dispute and the ensuing damaging allegations of human rights violations.

This followed the treatment that MDC Alliance officials received, including opposition kingpin Tendai Biti who was manhandled at the Chirundu Border post while trying to seek political asylum in neighbouring Zambia on Tuesday.

Biti was later handed back to Zimbabwean authorities by the Zambians, and has since appeared in court where he was granted $5 000 bail.

Meanwhile, business leaders have warned that the current political stalemate, in the wake of the hotly-disputed presidential poll, has pushed the urgent need for the country to fix its ailing economy on the back-burner  as price hikes and severe shortages of cash, foreign currency and fuel continue to bite.

The president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR), Denford Mutashu, told the Daily News at the weekend that the political stalemate was not good for the country, and was affecting business badly.

Its impact is to create a debilitating wait and see mode within the business sector  the parallel foreigners exchange rates are also on the rampage again, climbing back to 185 percent from 155 percent to the US dollar just before and during voting day.

Business expectation is that the courts will bring the stalemate to finality soon, so that the country can move forward in unity and tranquillity, he said.

Zimbabwe is currently in the grip of a huge economic crisis which analysts say can only be mitigated by international bailouts and fresh investment.

Recently, former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan said Zimbabwes economic challenges were so serious that whoever won the July 30 elections would need help to rebuild the country.

The upcoming elections are the most significant for Zimbabwe since independence. The country faces serious challenges which will persist whoever wins.

It is critical that everyone acts responsibly before, during and after the elections to ensure a Zimbabwe free from violence, where human rights are respected and prosperity restored, the Nobel Peace laureate said during his visit to the country ahead of the polls.

 DailyNews

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- Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has declared that Senator Bukola Saraki must vacate his seat has the Senate president

- Agege is a member of the Parliamentary Support Group

- He said APC senators have requested Saraki to do the honourable thing by resigning his position

Bukola Saraki must resign from his position as Senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege, the senator representing Delta central senatorial district, has insisted.

Omo Agege who is a member of the Parliamentary Support Group, a body of federal lawmakers loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this in an interview with Punch.

READ ALSO: Former Nigerian ambassador James Barka renounces membership of APC

He said APC senators have requested Saraki to do the honourable thing by resigning his position.

"Our position is very clear. The moment Saraki defected from the APC to the minority party, he no longer has the moral, political and legal rights to remain as the Senate President. We have requested of him to step down. We have requested him to do the honourable thing, to do the needful by stepping down. It is a request we are going to continue to make and any opportunity we have, we are going to insist that he must step down.

"When we get to that bridge we will deal with it. Saraki knows that he cannot continue to preside over that Senate. Nobody is usurping his right as a sitting senator but that right to continue to preside as the Senate president is what we are questioning. People need to understand that the Senate President seat is not a birthright of Saraki. Anybody from the majority party can aspire to become the Senate president.

"I do not see why anytime the call is made that Saraki should step down, people now equate that call with an attack on democracy, as if Saraki is now synonymous with democracy. Indeed, he is not and he must step down. He cannot continue to preside over that Senate," he said.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the pressure by the Presidency for the reconvening of the Senate was out of a sinister motive to arrest and impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

The party insisted that the call to reopen Senate had nothing to do with any emergency in the approval of the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2019 elections as claimed.

Nigeria Latest News: Who is responsible for the siege on the National Assembly?| Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is reportedly going to meet with APC senators

- The meeting is expected to be used to strategise on how to take over the National Assembly

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who is the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is reportedly scheduled to meet with senators elected on the platform of the party.

Nigerian Tribune reports that the senators and party chairman plan to meet on Monday, August 13 at the latters office on Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Breaking: National Assembly calls off Tuesday reconvening

Daily Trust reports that the meeting may be connected to the failed attempt at taking over the leadership of the National Assembly which eventually led to the removal of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Lawan Daura.

Sen Ahmed Lawan who is the Senate majority leader is expected to lead other senators to the meeting.

It was speculated that the meeting is meant to allow the party strategise on a new game plan to allow them take over the leadership of the National Assembly.

Legit.ng had reported that National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, vowed that the party will definitely impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The APC chairman who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, August 10, also claimed that the party will work hard to ensure that Saraki's political dynasty is destroyed it, The Cable reports.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

He (Saraki) failed to understand that the Nigeria national project is more complicated and is not that easy. He will not only be impeached, we will work hard to have him defeated as a senator in his own senatorial zone come 2019.

The people of Kwara state are fed up with Saraki and we are fed up with Bukola Saraki will not be the first to be impeached and I doubt if he is going to be the last but definitely he will be impeached according to law and according to the democratic norms , the only way senator Saraki can avoid impeachment is for him to do what is honourable, which again leads to the issue of character, he said.

Nigeria Latest News: Who is responsible for the siege on the National Assembly?| Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- A House of Representatives aspirant, Abu Najakku has described victory of the APC in last weekends bye-elections as a signal victory for President Muhammdu Buhari

- Nakakku said the victory is a clear indication that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the 2019 presidential election

- The ruling party had emerged victorious in all the two senatorial seats of Katsina and Bauchi states, as well as the House of Representatives seat in Kogi

The victory of the All Progressives Congress in last weekends bye-elections signal victory for President Muhammdu Buhari come 2019, according to a House of Representatives aspirant, Abu Najakku.

Najakku, who is an aspirant for Birnin Kebbi/Bunza/Kalgo Federal Constituency, Kebbi, on the platform of APC, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, August 13.

The aspirant also said that the victory was for all progressive Nigerians.

READ ALSO: Buhari will still run with Osinbajo in 2019 - Presidency

NAN reports that APC emerged victorious in all the two senatorial seats of Katsina and Bauchi states, as well as the House of Representatives seat in Kogi on August 11.

This is a clear indication that President Muhammadu Buhari will, insha-Allah, win the 2019 presidential election.

The victory shows that the masses are behind our president because of his good plans for Nigeria as well as what he has done for the entire country.

I have no doubt in my mind that APC will do it again by recording a landslide victory over other political parties and all these will be possible by the grace of God Almighty.

Buhari is a gift from Almighty Allah and our prayers for him are that Allah will increase him in health and wisdom to lead this country to Promised Land, he said.

While urging Nigerians to support the policies and programmess of the present administration in the country, Najakku assured that the president would not disappoint them.

The aspirant advised the people to always ensure that they elect people with proven integrity that would not only deliver the goods but deliver them effectively, successfully and excellently.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

Legit.ng previously reported that the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Yahaya Gumau has reportedly won the Bauchi South senatorial election held on Saturday, August 11.

The results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shows the APC won in six of the seven local governments in the senatorial district where election was conducted.

The opposing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) only won in Bogoro Local Government Area, the council of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Lets Talk About Salaries of Nigerian Senators - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- PDP calls on the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, to address the allegation that thousands of PVCs were found at the private residence of the sacked director general of the DSS, Lawal Daura

- The party claims that Nigerians are aware that a blood relation of President Buhari is in charge of operations in INEC

- Electoral commission adopts new method to check vote buying

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said there is huge doubt over the ability of INEC to conduct free and fair general elections in 2019 following the commissions silence over the alleged discovery of thousands of its Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at the private residence of the sacked director general of the Department of State Service (DSS), Lawal Daura.

The opposition party in a statement on Monday, August 13, through its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, urged the National Assembly to investigate the allegation against the former DSS boss and verify whether the chairman of INEC, Yakubu Mahmood, is culpable in the issue, Daily Trust reports.

READ ALSO: Breaking: Buhari will still run with Osinbajo in 2019 - Presidency

The party said the silence by the INEC chairman and officers of the commission over the issue suggests the commissions complicity in the allegation.

"The PDP says Prof. Mahmood should stop playing the ostrich and immediately come out clear and inform Nigerians how thousands of electoral materials as sensitive as PVCs, under his watch, found its way to the custody of a kinsman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant," the party said.

"Already, Nigerians are aware that a blood relation of President Buhari is in charge of operations in INEC.

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"On account of this established relationship between President Buhari and this INEC official, Mahmood owes Nigerians explanation as to the source of the PVCs allegedly found in possession of Daura."

Meanwhile, polling booths are henceforth to be position in a way to make it difficult for people to see how voters cast their votes during elections, a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), announced in Awka on Monday, August 13.

Nkwachukwu Orji, the REC in charge of Anambra, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the measure was to make it impossible for anyone to know who a voter voted for.

The measure comes against the backdrop of massive vote-buying reported in recent elections in the country, including the governorship election in Ekiti, which analysts said, was characterised by vote-buying.

Ekiti State REC Reveals How INEC Will Stop Rigging In Forthcoming Election | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit Newspaper
- Senate President Bukola Saraki has revealed why he visited Olusegun obasanjo in Abeokuta

- Saraki said he visited to make up for his absence at the formal inauguration of the presidential library held last year

Contrary to the rumour that Bukola Saraki may have visited the former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, to talk about his presidential ambition, the senate president said his visit has nothing to do with politics.

Saraki, who spoke with journalists after the meeting with the former president said he was in Abeokuta to make up for his (Sarakis) absence at the formal inauguration of the Presidential library held last year, Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Breaking: Buhari will still run with Osinbajo in 2019 - Presidency

He said: You know, I missed the official opening of the library and that is why I have decided to come and see the place and, honestly, it is beautiful.

We are very proud of what he has done here.

He, however, declined to comment on the crisis rocking the National Assembly when asked questions about it by the journalists.

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Recall that Legit.ng earlier reported that the senate president arrived at the home of Obasanjo in the evening on Monday, August 13 for a closed door meeting.

Meanwhile, Saraki's meetig with Obasajo is coming less than a week after he met with former military president, Ibrahim Babangida.

The meeting took at the Hilltop residence, of the former military ruler.

Saraki landed at Minna International Airport at about 4.10 PM and drove straight to the hilltop home of the reclusive former leader.

Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Young Nigerians aspiring to political leadership in 2019 will have the support of Methodist Church of Nigeria

- The prelate of the church, Samuel Uche, made this assurance on Monday, August 13

- He says upright and young aspiring candidates will be mobilised by the church

The prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Samuel Uche, has said that the church will mobilise support for young Nigerians aspiring to political leadership in 2019.

NAN reports that Uche made the disclosure on Monday, August 13 at a news briefing to mark the end of the churchs 46th Conference and 11th Biennial Conference at Wesley Cathedral Methodist Church, Aba, Abia.

Legit.ng gathers that he said the church would only mobilise for good, upright and young aspiring candidates to make Nigeria better.

According to Uche, the church has a political evolution monitoring group to support the progressive political developments in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Why I visited Obasanjo in his home - Saraki

Meanwhile, in a communique signed by Uche and the conference secretary, Reverend Michael Akinwade, the church announced its support for young in politics.

The church commended the federal government for signing into law the Not too Young to Run Bill to enable young people be involved in leadership.

It called for an enabling environment to make the law effective. The church said financial autonomy for local governments would enhance grassroots development.

The church said: We therefore appeal to those at the local governments not to divert funds accruing to them to white elephant projects.

"On maintaining a vibrant polity, Methodist Church Nigeria urges every citizen above 18 years old to process permanent voters card which is the main tool for determining who governs us.

We equally urge citizens to come out and vote, not sell their votes but vote according to their conscience. Stakeholders in the electoral process should ensure that rigging elections is resisted."

It said that no political party would be allowed to misbehave in 2019 and that anyone which misbehaved would face the consequences.

The church said that politics with bitterness which had become rampant in Nigeria was overheating the polity and urged politicians to play by the rules.

It urged governments to pay sustainable wages to workers, pointing out that owing them had often led to the untimely death of many.

The church called on the government to handle the welfare of workers with care to discourage financial corruption in private and public sectors of national life.

It further called on the government to do everything possible to ensure the release of Miss Leah Sharibu who was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in February.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) Project Initiative, a civil society organisation, on Sunday, August 12, said it would set up a support fund for political aspirants among youths ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The executive director of the group, Precious Oche, made this known at a news conference in Abuja to commemorate the International Youth Day, with Safe Spaces for Youth as theme.

How Nigerian youths protest made the National Assembly pass the 'Not Too Young To Run' bill - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- The family's of former Head of State, Murtala Muhammed, has sought justice for their son's murder 25 year after his death

- Zackari Muhammed, late Murtala's son, was shot dead on August 13, 1993 in Abuja

- It was gathered that he was 27 years old at the time of his gruesome murder

The family of the late former Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, on Monday, August 13, called on the National Assembly to enact a victims rights law.

The Punch reports that daughter of the late Head of State, Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, who made the call in Lagos, said that this would give protection to future victims of heinous crimes.

Legit.ng gathered that that she spoke at a special prayer organised by the family to mark the 25th remembrance of the murder of the late Zackari Muhammed, son of the late Head of State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the family members, including brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces, among others, held special prayers for him simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja.

READ ALSO: PDP senators drag DSS, AGF, police to court over alleged plot to impeach Saraki

NAN recalls that Zackari, a finance graduate of the University of Canterbury in Kent, was shot dead on August 13, 1993 in Abuja.

He was 27 years old at the time of his gruesome murder.

In order to give protection to future victims of such heinous crimes and as a remembrance to our brother, we want to call for the enactment of victims rights legislation.

Such law will ensure that the rights of victims of all crimes are protected in criminal prosecutions, Muhammed-Oyebode said.

She decried the manner in which the case was handled, insisting that it left the family seeking justice.

The case was shrouded in confusion and the way and manner it ended is an obvious injustice.

Exactly 25 years ago today, our brothers life was fatally cut short.

In spite of knowing who the perpetrators were, all efforts to prosecute the matter did not pass the initial investigation and arraignment.

According to her, such law will ensure that the rights of victims of all crimes are protected in criminal prosecutions.

All around the world, victims rights have been acknowledged as a basic human right.

As far back as 1985, the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Basic Principles of Justice for victims of crimes and abuse of power; so, it is time for Nigeria to adopt a victim-centric approach to criminal justice.

Until such legislation is enacted, many of such crimes will continue to remain unsolved, and it will encourage unlawful killings and criminal impunity in our nation.

In the crime of murder in particular, where the primary victim has been killed, the secondary victims must be able to have the legal support to seek justice and push the prosecution to its logical conclusion, she further said.

Muhammed-Oyebode, however, described the late Zackari as a kind and very considerate son and brother, whose passion for the family and for his nation was unquantifiable.

We miss his laughter too, she added.

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Muhammed-Oyebode said that the 25 years remembrance include support to his Alma Mater, Kings College, Lagos, with academic resources in his memory. (NAN)

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that General Muhammed was assassinated on his way to work in Lagos state during an abortive coup led by Lt-Colonel B.S. Dimka on February 13, 1976. In the short time of his reign Muhammed's policies won him broad popular support, and his decisiveness elevated him to the status of a folk hero.

Nigeria Latest News: Who is responsible for the siege on the National Assembly?| - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
Editor's note: Reuben Abati, an aide to the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, analyses the invasion of the National Assembly by some men of the State Security Services.

Abati calls on the new director general of the agency to tighten his seat belt and get to work to correct all the wrongs by the secret police.

The week that just passed will for long be remembered as perhaps the most momentous week in the history of the Muhammadu Buhari administration since 2015.

Exactly a week ago, officers of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), acting under the instructions of their boss at the time, Lawal Daura, wearing hoods, stormed the premises of the National Assembly in Abuja, Gestapo-style, occupied the place and resorted to the harassment of National assembly workers, members of the Legislative Assembly who had rushed to the place, and civil society groups that heard of the assault and decided to witness the special drama that was unfolding.

A few days earlier, the Presidency had made a special appeal to the National Assembly to cut short its vacation, and return to consider some urgent national matters, including the approval of the supplementary budget to accommodate expenditure for the 2019 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The leadership of the National Assembly took a favourable view of this request and chose to meet last Tuesday at 12 noon to take a decision accordingly. But that meeting never held. Unknown to the Senators in particular, other people had other plans. By 6 am, gun-wielding, mask-wearing DSS officials had taken over the National Assembly.

There have been many conspiracy theories, reports and conflicting accounts about this incident. What is clear is that what we are left with, what we can hang on to - are very embarrassing conclusions about the integrity of public institutions, the state of our democracy, the quality of leadership and the bad politics that stands in the way of everything else.

READ ALSO: Saraki speaks on reason for visiting Obasanjo days after meeting Babangida

The assault on the National Assembly by the Department of State Security has been rightly condemned by all and sundry.

It was indeed an assault on the sovereignty of the Nigerian people, to the extent that the National Assembly is the work-place of the elected representatives of the people of Nigeria.

That also was a violation of the principle of the separation of powers, and a coup attempt against the rule of law. It was an illegal and unconstitutional act, and can be rightly labeled an act of treasonable felony.

The allegation by the now dismissed, and detained former Director General of the State Security Services that he acted based on an intelligence report that there was a plan by some people to smuggle dangerous weapons and incriminating items into the National Assembly remains unproven. If anything, his action has thoroughly embarrassed the Buhari government.

The biggest victim of that act of indiscretion is the President himself. Dauragate is by far, one of the worst own goals by this administration.

It is worse that the Presidency had to disown Lawal Daura and sack him immediately. The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo described the seizure of the National Assembly as unlawful and unauthorized.

The Acting President, being a student of history, must have realized that each time the Executive arm of government takes on the legislature in such a physically violent manner, it is the entire government that is about to be violently destroyed. This was part of the problem in the Western region in 1964/1965.

Despite the attempt by the administration to distance itself completely from Lawal Daura, however, so much damage has been done already from which the government cannot extricate itself. Nigeria has been put to shame.

The international community must be wondering what kind of people are actually in charge in Nigeria. The relationship between the legislature and the executive arms of government at the centre, not at any time a good example, has been further damaged.

The National Assembly, battling with the politics of defection at the same time, is seriously overwhelmed by an unmistakable crisis of confidence among its members.

READ ALSO: PDP senators drag DSS, AGF, police to court over alleged plot to impeach Saraki

Nobody should be surprised that the Senate has not yet made up its mind whether to reconvene or not, since what is more important to some elements in Abuja is the plot to impeach the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The situation was bad, but Dauragate made it worse. There is no doubt that the Buhari government has unwittingly made itself lame-duck. Daura has further eroded the governments legitimacy.

What I find curious is the Presidency saying that the former DG SSSs action was unauthorized. Should an unlawful and unprovoked attack on the National Assembly ever be authorized?

No, I dont think so. Can or should the head of state security services, who is in addition a member of the National Security Council, chaired by the President, and who is duty bound to submit daily national security reports to some persons and share information with same persons who are on the list of government personnel with a need-to-know access to state secrets go on a frolic of his own, in a manner that jeopardises state interest and embarrasses his principal?

No, I dont think so. I also cannot imagine that Lawal Daura spent any part of his life as a professional herdsman, where he possibly may have learnt such tactics as he put on display recently. I have also not heard that he spent some time in Nollywood either as an actor or producer, to learn the kind of histrionics that he and his men staged at the National Assembly.

There is definitely a lot more to this matter that no one has told us.

State security is not something to be trifled with because on it rests the stability of the state. Intelligence is also not such a casual phrase as deployed by Nigerias security chiefs. It cannot become a blanket excuse for misconduct.

Michael Warner in an essay titled: Wanted: A definition of intelligence (see Christopher Andrew, Richard J. Aldrich and Wesley K. Wark (eds), Secret Intelligence: A Reader, London and NY: Routledge, 2009, 552 pp.) writes that Intelligence involves information, yes, obviously it is far more. He adds: It is what people do with data and information that gives them the special quality that we casually call intelligence.

I interpret that by saying it is not the information in itself that constitutes intelligence but how exactly the information is used.

On August 7, the Department of State Security Services and Lawal Daura acted unintelligently. But I am tempted still to give Daura the benefit of the doubt in one regard: could he possibly be a fall guy?

READ ALSO: Breaking: Fate of INEC budget hangs on the balance as Saraki, Dogara say no date to reconvene at National Assembly

Is it possible every one was part of the plot all the way to London as part of the get-rid-of-Saraki-by-all-means-plot, and when the shit hit the fan, Daura had to be sacrificed?

How the Daura case is handled going forward will either prove or disprove this hypothesis. If he is suddenly rehabilitated or nothing is done further about the incident, then of course we would know we have been sold a dummy and we shall return here to point out their hypocrisy.

But should Daura be guilty as alleged, then we would certainly be dealing with a major crisis at the heart of government.

First, the abuse of strategic public institutions which seems to be a growing norm. Second, the personalization of state institutions; third  the danger that the politicization of strategic institutions poses to the entire polity, and fourth, how easily the government can be hijacked by power mongers.

I make this point with an intention to link it to the statement made by Senate President Bukola Saraki to the effect that there is a-government-within-the-government.

Saraki is simply saying that President Muhammadu Buhari is not in charge of his own government, that some other people are in charge, and they are so powerful that they give orders to the Director-General of the State Security Services to act in defiance or without the knowledge of the President. Daura has had a long career in the security services. It cannot be assumed that he does not understand protocols and procedures.

But the tragedy we face is that those who are supposed to work professionally to protect the state often abandon procedures and protocols and become politicians or agents of those who run government-within-government and hence threaten the integrity of the same state they are supposed to protect and defend. This is the short and long of it.

Dauragate should serve as an entry point therefore, into a full audit of the activities of our various law enforcement agencies, not just the Department of State Security Services, but also the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the police, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Immigration and Customs.

Dauras acting successor, Matthew Seiyefa, has already alluded to the rot in the SSS when he practically threw his former boss, Lawal Daura under the bus. He did when he publicly admitted that there are too many cases of illegal detentions and human rights abuses involving the SSS and his first task would be to address these cases and ensure that the SSS under his watch respects the rule of law and the right of all Nigerians to dignity and fundamental rights.

Given his previous and present position, we believe Seiyefa knows what he is talking about. He should be encouraged to do as he has promised. Femi Falana, SAN has already provided him with a list of persons in SSS detention who should be set free, including Colonel Sambo Dasuki, El Zakzaky and his wife.

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To that list should be added James Abiri and all victims of political persecution. Seiyefa needs not wait a day longer, and he must resist the temptation to tell us what we want to hear in order to gain some legitimacy.

But the full audit that I call for is not something to be handled by either the police or the EFCC. The EFCC is obviously claiming a moral victory over Lawal or so it seems. But the EFCC has its own issues.

For example, shutting down the accounts of Benue and Akwa Ibom states was a coup against autonomous components of the country, clearly in violation of Section 14 of the Nigerian Constitution. Why the coincidence that this happened shortly after APC members in Benue state defected to the Peoples Democratic party?

This in itself calls for an investigation. The Acting President must not cherry-pick. The higher loyalty must be to God, conscience, and the people because those in charge today will, tomorrow, also become yesterdays men, and what they sow today is what they will reap tomorrow, most certainly.

The audit cannot also be assigned to the Inspector-General of Police who obviously has been gloating over Dauras fate, and has been acting in a holier-than-thou manner. As they say on the streets, Ibrahim Idris should go and sit down! He lacks both the moral and technical integrity to sit in judgement over Daura.

There is nothing that Daura has done that he himself is not guilty of. In the course of work, he has also in various ways, undermined the integrity of the National Assembly and at the state level, he should answer these questions: what role did his men play in the Ekiti election?

And were his men not reported to have provided protection for the eight members of the Benue State House of Assembly who just recently wanted to impeach the Governor, Samuel Ortom, illegally?

He says the Police have investigated and interrogated Lawal Daura and he has submitted an Interim Report to the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo. I find his interim report inadequate and shoddy.

I am embarrassed that Professor Osinbajo actually accepted the Report and intends to pay attention to it. He should have transmissioned it back immediately to the olodo rapata that wrote it, and ask that all the grammatical errors in it be corrected and a clean copy be transmissioned back to him.

The office of the Inspector-General of Police is a very important office. And yet a report comes from that office, signed and circulated in the public domain and it contains such grammatical monsters as weep up sentiment; did conspired, on a claimed of, usedconspired, hoods and marks; took strategic location of; experts or specialist.

I am shocked that the Inspector-General of Police appended his signature to this document but come to think of it, I worry too much, the man himself probably doesnt know better. They dont speak English in this government. They just play with power, guns and bullets.

I insist that Dauragate is not so much about the man and his foibles, rather it is a metaphor for something far deeper which must be isolated, contained, cauterized and disallowed from cancer-like mestasization - in order to save Nigeria.

The gangrene eating at the heart of everything, and the thing that hangs around the neck of this government are so easily decipherable, no one will need the services of a marabout to know what to do.

It is up to President Buhari to identify those who have constituted themselves into a government within (his) government making him look weak and distracted, acting in defiance of or without regard for his authority; I mean all those formal and informal power brokers who seem to be busy making enemies for him and ridiculing him in the eyes of the world. These are persons Nigerians will forget as soon as they are out of power and relevance.

But they will remember Muhammadu Buhari and the mandate they gave him in 2015 - and what he did with it. I urge President Buhari to cut short his trip to London and come back home to put an end to this disturbing drift. This is not the right time to remain on vacation.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng.

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Nigeria Latest News: Who is responsible for the siege on the National Assembly?| Legit.ng TV

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A Lagos-based barren housewife Bose Ogedengbe has been arrested by the police for brutalising a 13-year-old girl, Favour. Both parties are reportedly from Akoko Edo, Edo state, and lives on Bush Street around Anthony Village.

According to Punch, Favours father who was identified as a farmer reportedly handed over his daughter to Ogedengbes husband who is a close relation about a year ago. The young girl was a student of Mende Junior High School and was beaten for allegedly taunting her madam of being childless.

One of those who rescued the 13-year-old Favour, Wasiu Ismail, disclosed that the young girl was found around 6:30am on Friday, August 10.

Bose Ogedengbe and 13-year-old Favour. Source: Punch

READ ALSO: 15-year-old Lagos girl went missing after leaving for church on Sunday (photo)

He said: Around 6.30am on Friday, an elderly man who lives on this street brought the girl. He said he saw her with blood all over her body. When I queried her, she said her guardians wife maltreated her every day and it was when it became unbearable that she decided to run away from the house.

Ismail added that when they querried the young girl on why she was beaten, she disclsoed that she washed some clothes the previous day and because she left some of the clothes outside, she was beaten.

After being asked if she would like to go back to meet her aunty, Favour disclosed that she is not interested in going back there because the woman might kill her. The teenager added that her madam beats her at the slightest provocation.

It was further reported that Ogedengbe later stormed the street and attempted to take the girl away but was not permitted by angry residents. The woman later came with police officers.

The woman said: Her version of the story was a bit different. She said the girl abused her that she was a witch and that was why she had not conceived. She said the girls grandma was behind the mischief.

A student, Suleiman Habeeb, who was there when the teenager was not released to the woman disclosed that:

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We told the woman not to think that she could use the police to harass us. We called different emergency numbers of Lagos State and sent distress calls to government agencies. Some youths wanted to beat up the woman, but we cautioned them. We are happy that the government has now taken over the case and we hope justice will be done. We want the government to take action against the woman. If you cannot take care of a child, return her to her parents and do your domestic chores yourself.

The police also disclosed that Favour has been taken to the Lagos state Ministry of Youths and Social Development. According to their public affairs director, Adeola Olabisi, Favour has fresh and fading scars to show for being beaten by her madam.

Star Chat: We are not lovers - Broda Shaggi and Aunty Shaggi | Legit.ng TV - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit
Nigeria is a very religious and superstitious country, so it comes as no surprise that the words of any religious leader are usually taken seriously by many.

However, in recent times, some people have started to speak up about the apparent corruption dominant in religious houses.

A video went viral recently of the controversial pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, who asked that students should sow a seed of N500,000 to his church.

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In the video, the pastors said:

Im not even facing the elderly ones; Im facing the young ones. I want you to start early. Lets leave those who have already. I want to face you studentsOffering is what you offer; a seed is what the Lord demands. 500,000 is what you need to release your faith for and give. I want you to come forward if thats you.

READ ALSO: We are responsible for getting This is Nigeria by Falz banned - MURIC

OAP and other celebrities react after COZA Pastor Fatoyinbo asked students to sow 500K

His call for such a large amount from students has raised a lot of eyebrows. On Air Personality and social critic Daddy Freeze has reacted to the issue.

He posted an edited version of the video on his Instagram page and expressed his shock that students are asked to pay tithe. The OAP asked where students are expected to get such a huge amount, he also asked if the pastor would prefer them to engage in fraud to get the money. Freeze is of the opinion that collecting tithe in the first place is not even biblical.

Recall that Legit.ng reported the case of sexual harassment levelled against pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo by one of his former church workers, Ese Walters. In response to the allegations, the pastor promised to give a robust response. But four years after the scandal erupted, the world is still waiting for his robust reply.

Is it really appropriate for Christians to pay tithe? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Lai Mohammed has described Bukola Saraki's emergence as Senate president as APC number one problem

- The minister said Saraki's defection did not come as a surprise to members of the ruling APC

- According to Mohammed, Saraki's defection came later than expected

The minister of information, culture and tourism, Lai Mohammed, has said that the defection of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, from the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not come as a surprise for members of the party.

Mohammed said virtually no member of the ruling party was taken aback by the defection of the number three man in Nigeria to the opposition.

Speaking in an interview with Tribune, Mohammed said he thinks Saraki's defection came later than expected.

Mohammed said: "I dont think anybody who has been a close watcher or observer of this political landscape should be taken aback by the defections. I think that it even came so late, we shouldnt be surprised. A Yoruba adage says, If we build a house on spittle, the first fog will demolish it. The foundation for what you see today was laid the day the Senate President forced himself on the party as Senate President."

READ ALSO: Saraki speaks on reason for visiting Obasanjo days after meeting Babangida

The minister said Saraki defiled the wishes of party members by aligning with members of the opposition to become a Senate president, an alignment which gave them an offer they could not refuse.

"I cant quite remember the number but in a situation whereby almost the entire 40 plus senators in PDP voted for him, he needed only a minority from the APC. We were all waiting for Mr. President to come and address us on this issue at the International Conference Centre, when when it was announced that he (Bukola) had emerged as the Senate President," Mohammed said.

He noted that the ruling party from the incident that took place on that day knew it had two major problems.

"From that day, we know we had two problems. Number one we had a Senate President who imposed himself on the party; and to make it worse, as an insurance, he arranged for an opposition person to be deputy Senate president, and that makes it impossible for us to remove him. If you remove me, you are going to have a PDP Senate president.

I think from that day, we had a problem. I think this is not a surprise at all. Of course you could see the behaviour of the National Assembly since then. We have a National Assembly in which we had a clear majority in both houses but which treated the executive with contempt and which actually slowed down the work of government.

In 2016, 2017 and 2018, our budgets were delayed. We can understand 2015 budget because we came in, in the middle of the year, but 2016, 2017, the earliest we got our budgets was June.

Key appointments, nominations and confirmations for key organisations that could move the government forward like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), like the Nigerial Deposit Insurance Corporation, were delayed. Really, it couldnt had been worse if the PDP had a majority in the National Assembly.

READ ALSO: Check out full list of APC senators as of August 14, 2018

Some are also blaming the APC for its refusal to zone those positions before and after the elections were won and lost. Some believe that those who are members of the APC today arranged with former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to go against the partys decision in 2011. You should have expected what happened in 2015.

It is not exactly the same thing. In 2011, there were two aspirants from the PDP. Each of them knew that they needed the opposition to emerge.

So, the kind of horse-trading that took place in 2011 is normal in any democracy since the party did not succeed in getting one candidate. Now, when they approached us, we looked at the offer and we believed that the other party didnt do as much. What we did in 2011 in helping him to come to power was a normal thing in democracy because once you dont have absolute majority, you would need the support of the other smaller parties. And in 2011, we were the biggest minority in the House of Representatives," Mohammed said.

He also said that the difference between the case of Saraki's defection and that of Aminu Tambuwal to APC then was that the latter did not destroy his party in the process.

"That is the difference. I dont know what took place in PDP then. In our own case, we tried to get all parties together. We called meetings which were boycotted by their group, and at the end of the day, when we realised this thing was getting so bad, Mr. President was to address all of us.

We were waiting for Mr President to come with majority of our Senators there when it was announced. So it is not the same thing," the minister noted.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Senate president had met with a former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, at his home in Sango Ota, Ogun state.

Saraki said he visited the former president to make up for his absence at the formal inauguration of the presidential library held last year.

The Senate president however declined to comment on the crisis rocking the National Assembly when asked questions about it by the journalists.

Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Some lawyers faults attempts by few senators to impeach Senate president Bukola Saraki

- Femi Falana calls for the planned removal of the Senate president by the APC to be stopped

- Godswill Akpabio says any attempt to declare his seat at the Senate vacant will not work

Some lawyers in the country have explained that Senate president, Bukola Saraki, can only be impeached by two-third of all the 109 senators, and not just a simple two-thirds of those present at a sitting.

The legal practitioners told Daily Sun that the constitutionally recommended number of senators required to impeach Saraki is 73 senators.

Human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), insisted that only 73 senators and not 24 lawmaker can remove the Senate president.

READ ALSO: APC senators as of August 14, 2018 (full list)

He said: "Much ink has been spilled and much needless rocus generated by the argument that a mere 24 Senators can lawfully remove Saraki as Senate President.Nothing can be further from the truth.Expectedly, this skewed view emanates mostly from pro-government lawyers and commentators, baying for the blood of Saraki,who had defected from the ruling APC to the opposition PDP, inspite of sustained, spirited and overt pressures by the President, presidency and the APC leadership not to do so.

This interpretation however stands both reasoning and logic on their heads.It is full of puff and emotion, more of lachrymal effusion, than of solid law or constitutionalism. I shall show this anon. In statutory interpretation, one cannot import into a law that which is not so specifically stated."

Another human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), called for the planed removal of the Senate president, Saraki by the APC to be stopped. He said Sarakis can only be removed by two thirds majority of senators.

The attention of APC legislators ought to be drawn to section 52 of the Constitution which provides that the President and Deputy Senate President can only be removed by the resolution supported by the votes of not less two thirds majority of the entirety of the members of the Senate. Since the APC legislators cannot muster the required two thirds majority of the votes of the entire members the plan to impeach Senator Saraki should be dropped forthwith, Falana said.

Another senior lawyer who spoke to Daily Sun explained that what is required to impeach a Senate president is the two-thirds of the entirety of the senators.

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Citing past instances of impeachment, he said: While Enwerem was impeached by 90 senators, 80 members voted out Okadigbo, thus, exceeding even the 73 two-thirds that is constitutionally demanded.

He said if the debate was reduced to the two-thirds of members present and voting, what it means is that where 30 senators were present, only 20 could conveniently remove the senate president in a house of 109 members.

But the senior lawyer noted that this would have made nonsense of the intentions of the framers of the constitution, who envisaged that there could be mischief in the attempt to remove a senate president, which only requires a few disgruntled elements to gather at the chambers and announce a leadership change.

Meanwhile, the former minority leader at the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reacted to an alleged plan to declare his seat vacant.

The Akwa Ibom senator declared on Monday, August 13, that any move to declare his seat vacant in the Senate will prove abortive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akpabio said he was yet to hear about the plan to declare his seat vacant.

Nigeria Latest News: Why Yemi Osinbajo Terminated The Appointment Of Lawal Daura | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- The APC has alleged that the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has plans to attack its senators

- The ruling party claimed that it has discovered and revealed top schemes by Saraki to harm senators who belong to its fold

- The party's national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, in a statement said that Saraki is guilty of 'high treason'

The All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed it has discovered and revealed alleged plots by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attack its members in the Senate in order to foil their efforts to bring about a change in the leadership of the National Assembly.

This came after the party accused the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, of high treason, adding that his alleged attempts at placing his personal motives above national interests must be checked, Vanguard reports.

READ ALSO: Lawyers insist Saraki can only be impeach by 73 senators

The APC's national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, who said this on Tuesday, August 14, stated: While Saraki and his cohorts continue to postpone their doomsday regarding the imminent Senate leadership change, the yet-to-be considered 2019 budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC is dangerously delayed. Clearly, Sarakis actions as Senate President now bother on high treason.

Nabena further said: By this statement, we call on security agents to protect APC senators. If any Senator is harmed, the PDP and Saraki should be held directly responsible.

"We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack APC Senators is real and imminent.

Nabena said that the party's attention had been drawn to alleged darked schemes by the PDP to attack some APC senators as part of the its desperate bid to ensure that Saraki remains head of the Senate.

Nabena remarked: We were informed that the plot was hatched in the private residence of a PDP leader in Maitama-Abuja on Sunday night. The meeting was attended by 15 pro-Saraki Senators including the Senate President himself.

The party said it learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APCs Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings.

Nabena said: The PDP have recruited thugs for this purpose, we have now learnt. During Sundays meeting, the PDP Senators planned several types of attack, one of which is to lure some of them (APC Senators) out at night in the guise of inviting Senators to a political settlement meeting and thereafter instigate a violent confrontation during the meeting and unleash standby PDP thugs on APC Senators.

This revelation has not come to us as a surprise because the Senate President through proxies has made several failed attempts to buy over APC Senators with N100 million each. As a Party, we dont believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve our legitimate goal of removing Saraki as Senate President.

"We will get the support of some PDP Senators to get the required 2/3 vote and impeach Saraki. We are already talking to some of PDP Senators who believe and support the direction of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to achieve our legitimate goal. We reiterate our call for Sarakis immediate resignation as Senate President.

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"He cannot lead the APC majority Senate. But if he fails to resign honourably, we will impeach him. The PDPs propaganda and threat of violence cannot save him. As Chairman of the 8th National Assembly, Sarakis decision not to reconvene the National Assembly done with the support of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara further buttresses our position that Saraki is ever ready to pursue his selfish interests over National Interest.

"This is another brazen display of his penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government, however the cost and implication.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the chairmen and leaders of 45 political parties on Thursday, August 9, raised alarm over alleged plans to impeach Saraki and speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Legit.ng gathered that they raised the alarm during a solidarity visit to Saraki in Abuja in connection to blockade of the National Assembly by security operatives.

Speaking on behalf of the party leaders, national chairman of National Unity Party (NUP), Perry Opara, also alleged that they had privileged information of secret moves to freeze Sarakis bank accounts.

Nigeria Latest News: Here's What Saraki and Tambuwal's Defection Means for the APC | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- The former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, has paid a visit to General Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger state

- Yusuf Abubakar, the director of media and publicity to Bafarawa Campaign Oragnisation, disclosed this on Tuesday, August 14

- Abubakar said Bafarawas trip to the state was in continuation of political consultations on his presidential aspiration in 2019

Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)s presidential aspirant, on Monday, August 13, visited the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, in Minna, Niger state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Yusuf Abubakar, director, media and publicity, Bafarawa Campaign Oragnisation (BCO) on Tuesday, August 14, in Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that he said Bafarawas trip was in continuation of political consultations on his presidential aspiration in 2019.

Attahiru Bafarawa, PDPs presidential aspirant and the former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, in Minna, Niger state. Photo source: NAN

READ ALSO: APC senators as of August 14, 2018 (full list)

Abubakar said that Babangida and the former Sokoto state governor met behind closed doors at the hosts hilltop residence.

He maintained that Bafarawas discussion with Babangida was fruitful.

The media aide said that Bafarawa was accompanied on the visit by the director general of BCO, Senator Paul Wampana, Becky Igwe, Alhaji Sani Kabiru, Amanze Obi and Iliya Stephen, among others.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, disowned the presidential posters indicating that he is seeking the presidential ticket of the PDP ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The former governor revealed that he has not yet decided to run saying he is still consulting with his family, friends and political associates on his political ambition.

He also stated categorically that he has not authorised anybody to produce any campaign materials on his behalf in that regard.

Bafarawa in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, November 24, said: It has come to my attention that some people whose desires is for me to contest the presidential primaries of our great party, the PDP have printed posters and produced other campaign materials with my name and photographs. I am told that these materials have been distributed in some Nigerian cities including Abuja.''

The Next President of Nigeria. Who Will Win the 2019 Elections? | on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
The Federal High Court in Abuja has insisted that the Inspector-General of Police must arrest and produce the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, in court on August 16.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Stephen Pam gave the order following the absence of Yakubus team of lawyers in court and there was no explanation as to why they were absent.

At the commencement of proceedings, counsel to the applicant, Kanayo Okafor, informed the court that the Court of Appeal on Monday, August 13, asked the court to stay proceedings in the matter.

READ ALSO: Breaking: No guns, money, PVCs were found in sacked Dauras house - DSS reveals

The counsel to the respondent is not in court and no reason has been given for their absence.

The contempt proceedings and the bench warrant issued for the arrest of Prof Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman still subsists, the I-G is to carry out the order of the arrest of Yakubu.

This court being a court of record has nothing to prove that there was an order for stay from the Court of Appeal," the judge ruled.

The reports says that while the judge was delivering his ruling, a counsel on Yakubus team walked into the court and made attempts to call the judges attention to his presence.

This was, however, in vain as Justice Pam adjourned the matter until August 16, for continuation.

It was learnt that the counsel was late because he was at the Court of Appeal making efforts to get the ruling to present to the lower court, but the ruling was not yet ready.

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The court had on August 1, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Yakubu for 'flagrant' disobedience of court orders.

Legit.ng earlier reported that the warrant to arrest Mahmood Yakubu by Justice Stephen Pam of the Federal High Court had been halted by the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal.

Top Nigeria Corruption Scandals: Joshua Dariye, Olisa Metuh and Sambo Dasuki | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- A viral video shows the exchange between a Nigerian and an American man

- The American man is of the opinion that corruption has eaten deep into the country because it is found on every level

- He advised that intelligent Nigerians should leave the country and women also

The world is now a global village and information about almost anything can be found on the internet. Even countries are not left out as their dirty secrets are now left exposed for the world to see.

Nigerian comedian Ali Baba shared a now viral video on his Instagram page that showed the chat a Nigerian man in Canada had with an American man, Legit.ng gathered.

In the video, once the American discovered that his interviewer was from Nigeria, he used the opportunity to share what he had heard about the country as well as his advice to her citizens.

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He said: Everything that Ive ever read about Nigeria, if you dont open your pocket and pay off everyone from the lowest to the highest, you dont get anything done.

READ ALSO: Washman celebrated for his honesty by grateful employer (photo)

American man shares his candid opinion about Nigeria as he advises citizens

He went further to say: If youre an intelligent Nigerian, you need to get out of that country if you want to get ahead, because the powers that be there is going to hold everybody down, especially women and especially intelligent people.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng gathered that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, explained that there are many corrupt free Nigerians. According to him, if President Buhari can be recognized globally for his hard stance against corruption, there are definitely many others like him.

He said this at the commissioning of the new corporate headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on May 15.

He also said that the construction of the EFCC headquarters is a demonstration of the federal government's commitment to the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Top Nigeria Corruption Scandals: Joshua Dariye, Olisa Metuh and Sambo Dasuki| Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- Police have said that a kidnapper who took Tramadol in Ondo is dead following complications

- The suspect had been unconscious since his arrest at a chemist in Owo died at Owo General Hospital where medical personnel had battled to revive him

- The deceased and three other members of his gang attempted to kidnap a shop owner in Owo town

The police in Ondo state said the suspected kidnapper who was arrested in a botched kidnap attempt in Owo is dead following complications from a high intake of tramadol.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspect had been unconscious since his arrest over the Aug. 5 incident at a chemist in Owo.

Femi Joseph, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Ondo State Command, made the death public while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, August 14, in Akure.

READ ALSO: You must arrest INEC chairman Yakubu - Court orders IGP Ibrahim

According to Joseph, the suspect died at Owo General Hospital where medical personnel had battled to revive him.

The suspect died nine days after we arrested him; we thought he would be revived so that he could help us in our investigation. Unfortunately, he died yesterday (Monday).

This could be connected with the high intake of tramadol which he took.

We are using this opportunity to further educate the public, especially parents, to monitor their wards and the kind of company they keep,  he said.

NAN recalls that suspected kidnappers had stormed Chinery Pharmacy in Owo township with the intention of kidnapping the pharmacist.

The pharmacist, on sighting the suspects with arms, was said to have escaped through an exit door at the back of the chemist.

The suspects later snatched a Bajaj motorcycle from one Daodu Wale who came to the chemist to buy drug.

While one of the suspects fell and was arrested, two accomplices escaped on the motorcycle.

One cut to size locally made gun and 400mg of tramadol were recovered from the suspect.

He was said to have slipped into coma since his arrest until his death on Monday evening.

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Legit.ng previously reported that a suspected kidnapper whose identity has yet to be confirmed by the Ondo state police command was still sleeping six days after he was taken to the police custody.

The Punch reports that the suspect was arrested by men of the command on Sunday, August 5, as he and three other members of his gang attempted to kidnap a pharmaceutical shop owner in Owo town.

The police said the three-man gang stormed the shop with guns with the intention to kidnap the owner, but the victim raised the alarm and escaped through the back door.

Farmers protest members' kidnap in Lagos - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
The immediate past governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo, has paid a visit to former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

The Punch reports that Dakwambo, a presidential aspirant on the platform of PDP, arrived the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library complex at exactly 1.10pm with his entourage.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Senator Bukola Saraki paid a visit to former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

The Senate president arrived at the home of Obasanjo in the evening on Monday, August 13.

The duo went in for a private meeting after the arrival of Saraki. Although details of the meeting have not been made public yet, there are rumours it is related to Sarakis possible presidential ambition ahead of 2019.

Saraki recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party and has been in a tussle with his former party to relinquish his position as Senate president.

In a related development, Obasanjo showed up at a rally of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abeokuta, on Monday, July 9, years after dumping the party.

Obasanjo made a surprise appearance at the mega rally organised by the Ogun state chapter of the party.

It was learnt that the former president greeted PDP members and supporters who had converged to round off the familiarization visits of a House of Representatives member and governorship aspirant, Oladipupo Adebutu.

The Next President of Nigeria. Who Will Win the 2019 Elections? | on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
While a lot of things may be in vogue and considered socially acceptable by many people in the present generation, there are still some African parents who would rather their children stick to the old ways.

When you compare the fashion trends of today to that of the pre-millennia era, a huge contrast seem to stand out. Although retro are the new cool, there are still those outfits we put on that gets our parents itching with the need to cover us up with more decent clothing.

Well, this isn't far from the case of a Nigerian lady who left social media rumbling with laughter after she revealed how her mother reacted when she dressed up in ripped jeans, a fashion trend which is common today.

In the screenshot of their conversation, the mother lambasted her daughter for wearing what she called 'nonsense'. According to her enraged mother, she didn't raise them up that way and if she (her daughter) doesn't want to end in hell, she should 'repent and burn all the useless clothes' she has as God 'passionately hates' people who dress that way.

READ ALSO: BBNaija's Bambam flaunts hot legs as she steps out with the vice president's daughter in Lagos

See screenshot of the conversation below:

Screenshot of the ripped jeans and their conversation Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: 37 corps members survive ghastly auto crash along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, 19 terribly injured

The post received several reactions on social media with some people advising her to block her on social media so she can enjoy her freedom.

See comments below:

Screenshot of reactions on social media Source: Instagram

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Source: Legit
- Ex-governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has been accused of stashing over $1 million in Ukraine

- The state government alleged that the ex-governor stashed the funds in a university in the European country where no Kano state student was studying

- The name of the university was not mentioned by the state government

The Kano state government has alleged that ex-governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, paid over $1 million to a university in Ukraine where no Kano state student was studying.

The senior special assistant to governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on higher education, Hussaini Akilu Jarma, stated that the state government made the discovery.

READ ALSO: Over 100 newspapers to publish editorials against Donald Trump's attacks on media

The Nation reports that Jarma stated this on Tuesday, August 14, during the inauguration of the state scholarship disbursement committee.

Legit.ng gathers that the governor's aide said the payment was made by Kwankwaso as part of his foreign scholarship programme.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar, said in a statement: Investigation reveals that a sum of $1,304,618 was abandoned in one university in Ukraine, when the sum was taken there during the last administration in the state.

No student was sent to the university at all. The money was sent unattended and un-utilised. We said business should not be as usual anymore."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that former deputy governor of Kano state Hafiz Abubakar, said that it would be a miracle for governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, to be re-elected in 2019.

The former governor who resigned his position and decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) explained that he quit his position because of irreconcilable differences between him and the Kano state governor.

How workaholic Governor Ganduje is transforming Kano state - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Senator Chiz Escudero is not sold on federalism  nor does he think it will pass Congress by next year, he said Tuesday.

When asked on CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday when he thought the plebiscite would take place, Escudero answered, "Not until after 2019, if at all it will happen."

The Consultative Committee (ConCom), handpicked by the President to review the 1987 Constitution and draft a federal charter, is pushing for a plebiscite by next year.

While the House of Representatives has said it would support the shift to federalism, the Senate is not so sure. Senator Ping Lacson previously said charter change was "as good as dead" in the upper house, casting doubt on the intentions of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Even some Cabinet officials  particularly Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia  doubted the shift. This prompted Con-Com member Fr. Ranhilio Aquino to say the President should fire them if he is serious about federalism.

On his part, Escudero said the proposed federal charter is an "incomplete document" and "not perfect."

He pointed out that the administration's economic managers could not even peg the cost of federalism.

"If I were one of the economic managers of the President, the economy is growing... why would you change anything?" said Escudero. "As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, why fix it?"

As an alternative to federalism, the senator suggested shifting the internal revenue allotment to 60 percent for local governments and 40 percent to the national government, instead of the other way around.

"It will just entail an amendment to the Local Government Code," he said.

Escudero questions 90 million info campaign budget

The senator also questioned the allocation of 90 million into an information dissemination campaign on federalism. He maintained there was nothing to inform yet, because the draft of the federal charter was not final.

"What will they disseminate? Shouldn't we disseminate something that's final, set in stone, something that will be voted upon by the people-not something that can completely change?" said Escudero.

"If they conduct an information dissemination campaign then Congress totally changes it... what [will] happen to our 90 million?" he added.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan also noted that a participant in Baguio City said he attended four seminars, each with different proposals.

The information drive has been hounded by controversy, most recently after a controversial jingle posted by Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson went viral. Both proponents of federalism and administration critics slammed the video as vulgar. Uson had been tasked with informing the public about the proposed government system, although she said the video was not in line with that assignment.

Prior to that, the federalism roadshow was slammed after the Philippine News Agency reported thousands of attendees in Bicol were supporters of charter change. It was also criticized as an early campaign platform for possible candidates like Special Assistant to the President Bong Go and presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino.
- The Nigerian military has revealed new platforms used by Boko Haram terrorists to recruit new members

- The artillery commander of operation Lafiya Dole, Major Murtala Usman, said that terrorists gang now use social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, SnapChat, Instagram and Youtube

- Usman further revealed that the terrorists group now has 2,000 followers on its social media accounts

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday, August 14, said it had unravelled a Facebook and other social media accounts allegedly used by a faction of the Boko Haram group to recruit new members.

The artillery commander of operation Lafiya Dole, Major Murtala Usman, who announced this at the ongoing Nigerian Army combat support training week in Maiduguri, said the social media accounts are peopled with 2,000 followers, Punch reports.

READ ALSO: APC senators as of August 14, 2018 (full list)

Usman said that terrorists from the Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram group were getting recruits on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, SnapChat, Instagram and Youtube.

He remarked that the military discovered this while interrogating a highly placed Boko Haram commander known as Malu-Mamman Barde, who was tracked and apprehended in the Kala-Balge local government area of Borno state.

Barde is among the most wanted Boko Haram suspect that had committed so many atrocities against humanity.

Through the suspects mobile phone, we found several videos soliciting finance for the group. We also found some other videos where Barde was seen preaching Jihad and the ideology of the group.

Most of Bardes pictures were that of Abu-Mosad Albarnawi and other Boko Haram fighter posing with Anti-Air craft guns, rockets and Boko Haram flag, he said.

Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, the chief of Army staff, represented by Major-General Abubakar Salihu, said that the training was to draw up strategies for several military operations across Nigeria.

He added that the training was designed to adopt new strategies to combat insecurity in the country through brainstorming and reviewing of operations. He said: The nation faces series of security challenges, including Boko Haram insurgency, farmers/herders crisis, kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and violence, among others.

Major-General Abubakar Tarfa, the corp commander artillery, said the week-long training was a veritable media for the generation of ideas for combat arms.

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The training was themed Strengthening Combat Support Arms Cooperation in Contemporary Security Challenges. Tarfa remarked that it was designed to generate strategies for confronting current security challenges in the nation.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Army had dismissed reports that 23 Nigerian soldiers were yet to be accounted for after Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a military convoy at Boboshe village in Bama local government area of Borno state.

The army in a tweet on Monday, July 16, described the report as misleading, adding that 22 members of Boko Haram were killed when the terrorists tried to cart away operational vehicles of troops.

Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- A group identified as the Igbo Leaders of Thought has demanded for a new constitution

- The group says a new constitution should replace the 1999 constitution before the forthcoming general elections

- It says there are irregularities in the military-drafted 1999 constitution

As the 2019 general elections approach, the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) has demanded for a fresh Nigerian constitution that would be adopted for operation before the elections.

Vanguard reports that the group is calling for a new constitution because of what it described as irregularities in the military-drafted constitution.

Legit.ng gathers that ILT stated this in a communique made available in Enugu on Tuesday, August 14, in which its leader, Professor Ben Nwabueze, said there was a general rejection of the 1999 constitution because it was drawn by people who were not acceptable to the people.

READ ALSO: APC senators as of August 14, 2018 (full list)

Nwabueze said in the communique he signed: The Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) calls for immediate setting up of a constituent assembly to prepare a new constitution before 2019 elections."

Speaking on corruption, Nwabueze said: The Igbo Leaders of Thought feels that the solution to corruption is to resolve political corruption which includes nepotism, appointment on basis of religious faith, protection of loyalists who are known to be mainfestly corrupt, expenditure of public funds without budgeting. ILT strongly condenms the government selective approach to the fight against corruption.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a group, Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Presidents (NENYP), disagreed with some Igbo leaders who said Ndigbo were more interested in restructuring of the country than producing the presidency in 2023.

The group in a statement said they were interested in the restructuring of the country as well as the presidency which is our constitutional right.

The group said: We wish to disagree with the trending story that Ndigbo are not interested in producing a president in 2023 but in restructuring. We are amused that those making these statements are not speaking the minds of majority of Igbo but the minds of their paymasters who are only out to deceive Ndigbo to get their votes in 2019."

Top 5 coolest facts about the Igbo people - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- The APC national leader, Tinubu, commended Acting President Osinbajo for sacking the former DG of DSS, Lawal Daura over his alleged role in the recent invasion of the National Assembly

- He said Osinbajos intervention helped save the country from embarrassment

- The party chieftain added that Osinbajo has been doing a wonderful job in the absence of President Buhari

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, August 14, commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for his intervention in the blockade of the National Assembly complex.

Tinubu gave the commendation while addressing party members at the state secretariat of the party, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

He said the response of Osinbajo in sacking the director general of the Department of State Service (DSS) helped to douse the tension created by the blockade.

READ ALSO: As pressure mounts on Saraki to step down, see full list of APC senators as of August 14, 2018

The APC chieftain described the blockade as a threat to democracy, saying Osinbajo saved the country an embarrassment with his intervention.

We thank the vice president for the wonderful job he has been doing in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari.

We particularly thanked him in the way he intervened on the National Assembly blockade.

Vice President Osinbajo saved the country from embarrassment. We thank him, we will continue to support him, he said.

Tinubu said the APC was committed to the tenets of democracy and would continue to promote democratic values.

The party chieftain urged party members to be committed to the party and work for its progress.

He said APC was not divided in the state and that whoever was involved in acts to divide it would fail.

Tinubu urged members to work in unison for the greater interests of the party. He said the party would embark on aggressive registration of new members in the chapter.

The chieftain added that prospective members would be issued membership cards after registration adding that it was important that new and existing members have their cards as they would be able to elect their candidates in the primaries.

He said with the direct primary system the party is adopting, it is members that would determine their candidates.

What we are doing with the direct primary is to give power to the people.

But for you to choose your candidates in the primaries, you need to have your membership cards.

All those of you just joining us, it is important you register to be our members officially. If you dont have our cards, we cant call you our members, he said.

He said people without membership cards or PVC would not be allowed to contest in primaries or represent the party in any capacity.

Tinubu urged council chairmen and party leaders to mobilise members to collect their PVC in their areas as that would help APC in 2019.

The party chieftain warned party members and aspirants against violence in the upcoming primaries. He said any aspirant engaged in violence would be disqualified.

Tinubu expressed confidence that APC would win the upcoming Osun election, saying the people were for the party.

Governor Akinwinmi Ambode, speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa were some of those at the gathering.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the sacked DSS director general, Lawal Daura, was released from custody and his international passport confiscated.

Daura was sacked and taken into custody on Tuesday, August 7, after he ordered the deployment of SSS operatives to lay siege on the National Assembly.

The former DSS boss was reported to have been released on the evening of Wednesday, August 8, from a guest house run by the DSS in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja.

DSS invade National Assembly - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit
- Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has declared that he is not desperate to be president of Nigeria

- He also pledged not to leave the PDP even if he fails to secure the presidential ticket of the party

- Atiku was Nigerias vice president to Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007

Former vice president and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that he is not desperate to be president of the country.

Atiku stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Benin on Tuesday, August 14.

He however pledged not to leave the PDP even if he fails to secure the presidential ticket of the party.

Atiku pledged not to leave the PDP even if he fails to secure the presidential ticket of the party. Photo credit: Punch

Atiku who was the nations vice president to Olusegun Obasanjo, between 1999 and 2007, said he would have become president in 2003 if he were desperate.

READ ALSO: APC senators as of August 14, 2018 (full list)

What do you expect my critics to say? I can run as many times as I want. I am fit and qualified and I still have ideas to put this country on the right path. What is wrong in trying again and again.

I am not desperate to become president. If I were desperate, I would have taken the presidency in 2003. If I were desperate, I would not have stepped down for Abiola. I have the interest of this country.

NAN reports that Atiku who touched down at the Benin Airport in a private jet alongside the Director General of his campaign organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was in Benin as part of the campaign to pick the partys ticket.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

Legit.ng had reported that Nigeria's former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state met behind closed doors in Abuja on Sunday night, August 12

Legit.ng gathered that both men met at the Asokoro Abuja residence of the former vice president in what sources close to Atiku said was a courtesy visit.

Atiku versus Buhari: Who will win? - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit
- The US embassy has temporarily closed its Abuja consular section

- The embassy said it all appointments at the consular section have been suspended until further notice

- It added, however, that consular functions in US Consulate in Lagos are not affected and will continue

The United States embassy has temporarily closed its consular section in Nigerias capital city, Abuja.

A notice by the US embassy on Tuesday, August 14, said until further notice, all appointments at the consular section in Abuja have temporarily ceased for both visa and for American citizen services.

It added, however, that consular functions in US Consulate in Lagos are not affected and will continue.

READ ALSO: As pressure mounts on Saraki to step down, see full list of APC senators as of August 14, 2018

Scheduled visa and ACS applicants for Abuja will be contacted for rescheduling, the notice said.

American citizens in northern Nigeria with emergency services needs should continue to contact the after-hours emergency number for Abuja at 09461-4000 and press 0 to go to the operator to request assistance.

American citizens in northern Nigeria with urgent travel needs who are travelling before Tuesday and who are willing to re-schedule their travel through Lagos should contact the ACS office at Consulate Lagos ( 01460 3400 and LagosACS@state.gov ) to discuss their options.

The notice explained further that those travelling after Tuesday, August 14, should follow up with Abuja ACS to confirm their appointments closer to their appointment date.

For details of the consulate operations, the notice directed affected people to monitor the Facebook and Webpage of the US Embassy for a later announcement of resumed consular operations in Abuja.

The consulate office in Lagos is located on Victoria Island.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

Legit.ng previously reported that the US President Donald Trump said he would be willing to shut down the government if the Democrats do not give their votes for the country's border security.

President Trump made the threat on his Twitter page on Sunday, July 29, in which he said the United States must get rid of the lottery and have a system of immigration that is merit-based.

He tweeted: "I would be willing to shut down government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release etc. and finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!"

Street Gist: Will Nigeria be a better place with Trump as president? | on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
By Shefali Luthra, who covers consumer issues in health care. Her work has appeared in news outlets such as The Washington Post, CNN Health and NPR.org. Originally published at Kaiser Health News

Medicaid home care aides  hourly workers who help the elderly and disabled with daily tasks like eating, getting dressed and bathing  are emerging as the latest target in the ongoing power struggle between conservatives and organized labor.

About half a million of these workers belong to the Service Employees International Union, a public-sector union that represents almost 1.9 million workers in the United States and Canada. The union is an influential donor to liberal politicians and boasted strong ties to the Obama administration.

A proposed rule from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would prohibit home health aides paid directly by Medicaid from having their union dues automatically deducted from their paychecks, though it doesnt name the fees explicitly.

Blocking these direct Medicaid payments means the workers  especially those who dont work in a single, centralized office, or dont have a credit card or a bank account  are far less likely to pay dues, diminishing the unions potential influence.

CMS language affects only individual providers  that is, those who arent employed by the private, for-profit agencies that dominate this industry. Individual providers, who are technically state employees, are far more likely to be unionized.

The directive, which would overturn an Obama administration policy put in place to ease the collection of union dues and pay for other fees, such as health benefits, could take effect by the end of this year. A month-long comment period, ending Monday, has attracted more than 3,300 responses.

This is just another way to make life more difficult for public-sector unions, said Jake Rosenfeld, an associate professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, who studies unions and their influence.

The proposed rule comes on the heels of Junes landmark Supreme Court ruling, in which a 5-4 majority held that public-sector workers dont have to pay unions for the cost of collective bargaining, calling it a violation of their free speech.

That decision expanded on the Supreme Courts 2014 ruling in Harris v. Quinn, in which the high court found that home care workers must explicitly state their desire to be in a union before the organization can collect dues. But because these workers are not attached to a single office or meeting point, organizing them into a collective unit poses a distinct challenge; collecting membership dues, even more so.

As union membership has waned in other sectors, organized labor has doubled down on home care, lobbying liberal governors to declare thousands of workers as state employees, rendering them eligible to organize and engage in collective bargaining.

The median annual salary for home health aides in 2017 was $23,100, with about 67 percent turnover in 2017. The federal Bureau for Labor Statistics projects that demand for home care will increase by as much as 41 percent from 2016 to 2026, as more Americans age.

Both SEIU and the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group, said that, if the rule takes effect, they expect to file a lawsuit seeking to reverse the decision. And a spokesperson for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who has frequently clashed with the White House, said the state will take any action necessary to blunt its impact.

In states where home care workers are unionized, the group can have the state withhold membership fees from their paycheck and transfer them directly to the union. Workers must actively choose to join the union.

In California, where most home care workers dont work for private agencies, about 250,000 belong to the state SEIU chapter.

Theyll effectively lose their voice on the job and their ability to advocate, said Laphonza Butler, president of SEIU Local 2015, the California branch of the union.

Beyond California, home care aides have unionized in states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Illinois, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

The government is arguing that federal law does not allow states to divert Medicaid dollars to pay for a home care workers other benefits, such as health care or job training.

The law provides that Medicaid providers must be paid directly and cannot have part of their payments diverted to third parties outside of a few very specific exceptions, said Tim Hill, acting director for CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, in a statement.

Supporters of the rule, such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses, argue it stops powerful unions from using taxpayer dollars to pad their lobbying budget.

But its a controversial take. Critics said CMS argument inappropriately casts workers paychecks as government property, instead of as their own money. And they said it leaves vulnerable workers  arguably, the backbone of elderly care  unable to fend for themselves.

When a state pays a worker, and the worker pays the union, its the workers money going into the union, said Benjamin Sachs, a professor at Harvard Law School who studies labor law. CMS doesnt have the authority to decide.

Some conservatives suggested that limiting union membership is less about home care policy and more about curtailing a powerful liberal lobbying force.

There have been steps taken in underlying law and practice to provide extra favors to public sector unions. They are as much political bodies as they are representatives, argued Thomas Miller, a resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

But labor advocates warned the consequences could be steep, and not just for home care workers.

Surveys from the National Employment Law Project suggest that unionized home care workers stay in their jobs longer when represented by unions, partially because they can negotiate better pay and benefits. Higher pay also makes the job more appealing, especially as need grows.

That, many experts argued, means patients also benefit.

We can be putting more money into making these good quality jobs. The shortages and turnover we are facing it is not rocket science what is causing that, said Caitlin Connolly, who runs the National Employment Law Projects campaign to increase home care wages. If we made these quality jobs, we would be able to ensure that people had access to quality care.
Using state of the art CGI and the latest underwater technology and working alongside divers, wreck investigators and archaeologists, Ocean Wreck Investigation tells the stories of the final moments of ships and those on board.

Thursdays from 9:30pm AEDT.
(Natural News) A common mistake many managers make today is being too focused on hiring new people rather than concerning themselves in keeping the employees they already have. The error is understandable, as the constant need to push numbers and meet targets is always on their minds. Yet the consequence of such benevolent neglect is that many employees tend to feel like robots after a while and leave after only a brief stint in a specific company.

It was nice knowing you, and all that. Now give me my paycheck.

From a revenue point of view, losing employees too often is painfully expensive. Constantly having to train new people takes away from overall productivity and is estimated to cost companies billions of dollars each year. This is why more managers are being told to focus on building their employees resilience to ensure steady production.

One way to do this is by enrolling employees in some sort of adventurous training. A new study being presented to the British Psychological Society suggests that employees who participate in mentally and physically demanding adventurous training are often more resilient in their offices and are less likely to leave.

This is such a profoundly interesting study despite the fact that the tested participants were Regular and Reserve Army Officers working in office environments. The research team saw that those who went through an adventurous training activity lasting for at least five days within the previous nine months scored higher in resilience than those who did not. The training exercises included such activities as canoeing, freefall parachuting, and mountain biking. These sessions were also designed to develop qualities in the participants such as leadership and teamwork.

Whilst care must be taken when generalising from Army staff to the civilian population, those taking part in the study were posted in an environment that is similar to many civilian offices, with less opportunity for staff to be taken out of their physical and mental comfort zones on a regular basis, concludes Dr. Ann Bicknell who helped conduct the study.

Resilience is an attitude, and it can be developed

Building resilience in the contemporary work context can be done without resorting to paying your employees to jump off the building (with a parachute, of course). It is necessary to understand that stress, which the World Health Organization (WHO) describes as the global health epidemic of the 21st century, is a contributing factor to how resilient office workers are.

The new study implicates that office workers need a de-stressing activity  preferably one that forces them out of their 44 cubicle. An adventurous training activity may not be feasible for many companies, but there are simple tips that managers can use to help their employees be more resilient.

Employ mindfulness programs  Social psychologists have stated that mindfulness improves judgment accuracy as well as insight-related problem solving. Neuroscientists have likewise stated that companies that place an emphasis on mental health (particularly in engaging in mindfulness programs) have employees who are less likely to call in sick and are more likely to participate in work activities.

Compassion cultivation  Managers need to recognize that their employees are people. An often overlooked aspect of resilience is interpersonal relations. Employees are more likely to be resilient if there is a positive work environment and a feeling of compassion, cooperation, and collaboration.

Resilience is a part of the overall mental health of each employee. While many symptoms of a mental disturbance are not immediately obvious, their impact is highly tangible. Signs of depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety regularly affect an employees productivity.

Sources include:

AlphaGalileo.org

Health.Harvard.edu

HBR.org

PsychologyToday.com
(Natural News) Chocolates, both white and dark, can be considered healthy and can be used as a carrier for bioactive substances like the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), depending on the sources of these oils and how they were made.

A team of researchers from Yildiz Technical University in Turkey worked on two studies, in collaboration with a confectionery company Tayas Food, to assess the effects of the addition of omega-3 fatty acids in various forms and from different sources on the quality and characteristics of white and dark chocolate.

The results of the study, which concentrated on the white chocolate formulation, revealed that using EPA or DHA in different forms and origins affected the color saturation, aftertaste, and overall acceptance of the samples of white chocolate. In addition, the researchers said that making white chocolate of desired quality is possible through the use of EPA and DHA from an algal origin and when used in a free-flowing powder form.

Meanwhile, the results of the other study, which focused on dark chocolate formulation, showed that dark chocolate produced with algal oil had the lowest quality, while microencapsulated EPA or DHA was the most preferred source. The study also showed that dark chocolate can be fortified with EPA or DHA without compromising the quality.

The white chocolate study attained maximum EPA and DHA content of 226.8 and 54.3 mg, respectively, per 25 grams of chocolate. On the other hand, the peak levels of EPA and DHA were 121.9 and 79.3 mg, respectively, per 25 grams of chocolate. Based on the guidelines of the EFSA, products can only be considered as a source of omega-3 fatty acids if they provide at least 250 mg EPA and DHA combined per day.

Other benefits of chocolates

Chocolates, particularly dark chocolates, provide health benefits. The following are some of the health benefits that dark chocolates can offer:

Dark chocolates are very nutritious  High-quality dark chocolates that are rich in cocoa are nutritious. They contain a decent amount of soluble fiber and is packed with minerals, such as iron, magnesium copper, and manganese. Just do not overindulge as they also come with moderate amounts of sugar and calories. (Related: Chocolate and roses have health benefits: Not just for Valentines Day  find out how to get the best chocolate and roses for your health.) Dark chocolates are a great source of antioxidants  Cocoa and dark chocolate contain a wide variety of potent antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins. Dark chocolates may enhance blood flow and lower blood pressure  Because of the bioactive compounds in dark chocolate, such as flavanols, it can improve blood flow in the arteries and lower blood pressure. Dark chocolates increase good cholesterol levels  Eating dark chocolate can be good for the heart. Studies revealed that it increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol while reducing the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to oxidative damage and enhancing insulin sensitivity. In turn, the risk of heart disease is also reduced. Dark chocolates are good for the skin  The flavonols in dark chocolates can protect the skin from the harsh effects of the sun, improve blood flow to the skin, and increase skin density and hydration. Dark chocolates could enhance brain function  Dark chocolates can also improve the function of the brain. This beneficial effect can be attributed to the flavanols of cocoa that increase blood flow. Caffeine and theobromine, which are also found in dark chocolates, can improve brain function in the short term.

Read more news stories and studies on the benefits of chocolates by going to Chocolate.news.

Sources include:

NutraIngredients.com

Healthline.com
(Natural News) Conservative journalist Laura Loomer is the latest Facebook victim. The social media company unceremoniously deleted Loomers Facebook page this week, after she posted a video of a Muslim political candidate assaulting her for asking a few questions. In the video, soon-to-be congresswoman Rashida Tlaib can be seen grabbing Loomers phone right from her hand.

Ms. Loomer, a Jewish reporter, approached Tlaib and another Muslim candidate, Ilhan Omar at event held for the latter this past weekend. Loomer had several questions for the would-be congresswomen, which went unanswered. In the video, Loomer can be heard asking Tlaib, a Palestinian woman, if she would condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization. Palestine-based Hamas is considered a terrorist group by the U.S. government.

Loomer continued by asking the candidates how they would represent their Jewish constituents, and condemned Omar for voting against legislation in Minnesota that would have made the practice of female genital mutilation a felony. See the video Loomer shared on Twitter below:

MUST WATCH: I confronted Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, two Jihadi US candidates with connections to terror organizations. They have both expressed hatred towards Jewish people, & are campaigning w/ pro-HAMAS Linda Sarsour, & CAIR, which is a terror org.@OzraeliAvi @debbie1ala pic.twitter.com/qbiJMjW0ge  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) August 12, 2018

MUST WATCH: I confronted Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, two Jihadi US candidates with connections to terror organizations. They have both expressed hatred towards Jewish people, & are campaigning w/ pro-HAMAS Linda Sarsour, & CAIR, which is a terror org.@OzraeliAvi @debbie1ala pic.twitter.com/qbiJMjW0ge  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) August 12, 2018

Loomer has been attacked by the left-wing media, with liberal pundits admonishing her for disrupting Omar and Tlaibs campaign event by asking them questions they didnt want to answer. A headline by Newsweek even accused Loomer of accosting the Muslim candidates. Another publication, Haaretz, called Loomer an alt-right troll.

The hypocrisy of the left-wing shines here; where were these concerns when Antifa was rioting in the streets to literally shut down conservative events? It is no less accosting when a leftist accuses a conservative of racism or Fascism for supporting free speech, yet, only one party gets shunned for this sort of behavior. Its liberal fascism at its finest: Only the Left has the right to call out and interrupt their political adversaries.

Loomer banned by Facebook

Biased media coverage is no longer the only issue facing conservative journalists and activists these days, however. Shortly after Loomer shared the video of Omar and Tlaib on Facebook, the social media giant informed her the footage was taken down for not following community standards.

Within 24 hours, Loomers personal Facebook page had been suspended. Facebook says Loomer was banned for 30 days, due to repeatedly posting things that dont comply with the Facebook Terms. At the time of this reporting, it appears that Loomers official Facebook page is still active, though she herself is unable to post on it.

As Big League Politics notes, Loomer joins the ranks of Alex Jones, Tommy Robinson and Gavin McInnes, all of whom have been banned by various social media outlets for daring to be publicly conservative.

While it is true that Facebook, YouTube and Apple are private companies who are not typically bound to uphold civil rights and can ban users at whim, there are serious concerns about allowing these corporations to operate outside the rule of law.

As sources note, the big four (Apple, Facebook, Twitter and Google/YouTube) have a serious monopoly in the world of social media and the internet in general. The internet is the primary arena for public discourse in our tech-savvy society  and now politicians and left-wing legacy media outlets are lobbying them to get what they want.

While the government may not be doing the dirty work, that doesnt mean its not censorship. See more coverage of news about silenced conservative voices at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

VoiceOfEurope.com

BigLeaguePolitics.com
(Natural News) Back in 2006, The Guardian published an article entitled, A climate of censorship, in which Brendan ONeill warned that government officials in the U.K. were comparing climate change deniers to terrorists and arguing that both should be denied media air time. He warned that many such deniers were, in fact, scientists at respected British universities, and that no government official had the right to compare them to dangerous terrorists. He noted that there was an increasing push towards the censorship of free speech, including the right of such scientists and others to insist that man-made global warming does not exist.

ONeill noted:

Increasingly, environmentalists are calling for the silencing of climate-change skeptics or deniers. The deniers words are so dangerous, we are told, that they must be censored for the good of humanity. Some have even claimed that in denying climate change, these individuals are committing a crime against humanity and should be put on trial.

I am not a scientist or an expert on climate change. But I am a free speech advocate. And this rising tide of intolerance and censoriousness in the debate about climate change should concern anyone who believes in free and open and rational debate.

A dozen years later, it is highly unlikely that The Guardian would even publish an opinion piece like ONeills anymore. It has become commercially dangerous to suggest in any way, shape or form that man-made global warming might not be true  though these days you are more likely to encounter the term climate change than global warming, as temperatures have inconveniently refused to match up to the predicted highs of the so-called experts. In short, it would be financial suicide for any mainstream broadcaster or publication to give airtime to the evidence presented by anyone who denies global warming; their advertising dollars would simply disappear, and they would be mocked and decried as scientifically ignorant. (Related: Global warming debunked  NASA report verifies carbon dioxide cools atmosphere.)

YouTube censors any who dare to spread climate misinformation

BuzzFeed recently reported that the social media giant YouTube is now fact-checking any videos which dare to question climate change. The company has also taken the step of adding the following disclaimer to such videos:

Multiple lines of scientific evidence show that the climate system is warming.

Amazingly, this line is a direct quotation from a Wikipedia entry, as if Wikipedia can be referenced as an accurate source of scientific information!

Since March, YouTube has also been adding Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica entries next to conspiracy theory video clips, such as those claiming that the moon landing and Oklahoma City bombing never took place. By doing the same for climate change videos, they are directly censoring scientific information  in many cases presented by knowledgeable experts  and lumping it together in the public mind with completely unbelievable and historically unsound clips. (Related: The global warming hoax  30 years of failed predictions that never came true.)

There are respected scientists who insist global warming does not exist

What YouTube is doing would be acceptable if all the worlds most respected scientists were in agreement about the climate change theory. Nothing could be further from the truth, however, as was recently illustrated when the highly respected, retired German climatologist Dr. Werner Kirstein addressed the annual Anti-Censorship Conference.

In reference to global warming, Kirstein warned: [T]he science has been seriously compromised by politics, power-hungry bureaucrats and politically motivated organizations, such as the WMO, IPCC and The World Bank. It all comes down to funding. Its sad, but thats how it works. He added, Climate science is totally politicized.

So much for Wikipedia and its Multiple lines of scientific evidence.

Of course, YouTubes actions mimic those of all the other social media platforms, all of which have been actively censoring the information they have access to. Pretty soon, censorship wont be enough, and anyone who admits to skepticism regarding the mainstream global warming narrative will likely be denied access to these platforms.

Sources include:

TheGuardian.com

BuzzFeedNews.com

CO2IsLife.WordPress.com
(Natural News) Greg Locke, head of Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is outraged that many leftists are now falling lockstep in cahoots with the LGBTQ agenda to normalize pedophilia. In a recent video rant posted to Brighteon.com, Locke lets loose whats on his mind.

I am absolutely blown away and sickened at the lengths that people are going to to protect pedophiles and say its just a natural sexual orientation, Locke is seen saying in the video, prefacing this with commentary about how his statements probably wont last long on traditional social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

Are you smoking crack? Have you lost your mind? Putting your hands on little children? Having a desire to touch and have sex with children is a natural sexual orientation? Youve lost your mind, people!

Locke points to a recent TED talk, which we recently covered as well, in which a Ph.D. candidate from Germany tried to argue that its perfectly normal for some adults to be sexually attracted to children, and that society needs to accept them.

No, they ought to be executed is what they ought to be, says Locke. This is ridiculous, ladies and gentlemen. Were talking about ruining the lives of children!

You can watch the full video at Brighteon.com below:

Pastor Locke: pedophilia normalization is the next LGBT agenda

Locke has long preached at his religious gatherings that so-called gay marriage was simply a stepping stone towards much greater perversions in society. And it appears that he may have been right, seeing as how the LGBT mafia has now set its crosshairs on underage children in an attempt to sexualize them as early as possible.

Years ago when same-sex marriage was legalized, I got on the stage at our church  and I said, you wait, theyre going to try to now protect pedophilia because the LGBTQ, whatever they are, have opened a floodgate of perversity in this nation, Locke says.

And now people are saying that its okay if youre a pedophile.

Locke says anyone who supports the normalization of pedophilia is a sick, demented psychopath who is both mentally ill and demonically-possessed.

You let one of them perverts put one of their hands on my children, and I will allow my Second Amendment right to put a hole in you that big, and I wouldnt even think a second about it, he says.

So what should society do to stop pedophiles? Kill them, says lock. Its absolutely necessary, he insists, to protect innocent children from being victimized by satanic sexual abusers who would target the most innocent among us.

Civil societies put pedophiles on death row and protect the children, period, Locke says.

What about all of those Roman Catholic priests whove victimized children? Locke notes that hes not a Catholic, and that he fully supports shutting down the Catholic Church, if necessary, to protect children against sexual abuse.

Shut those churches down and put those perverts in prison where they belong, he says.

If you in any way, shape, form, or fashion try to justify or protect a pedophile  you are lower down than a snakes navel in a wagon track. You are wicked, demented, and you are crooked as a barrel of fish hooks. There is no room on this planet for someone who wakes up every day wanting to violate children. Its evil. Its a disease. Its a curse. And its not some natural sexual orientation. Its the most unnatural thing on the planet.

Be sure to watch his video at Brighteon.com.

Sources for this article include:

Brighteon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The Left-wing politico-corporate warfare against conservatives and Trump supporters continued their coordinated effort this week to deplatform Alex Jones and Infowars, with Vimeo, Criteo, and Shopify joining other social media and e-commerce firms who deplatformed him a week ago.

As Paul Joseph Watson reported at Infowars, the platforms used the same excuse as Apple, Facebook, and YouTube used  that Infowars, a news and information site featuring pro-Trump, anti-Leftist content, was somehow in violation of guidelines.

Watson said thats the excuse used by a senior manager at ad platform Criteo, though no specifics whatsoever on precisely what terms of service we had violated were provided to the site.

He noted further:

Despite the company, which numerous other big conservative news outlets use for advertising, reaching out to Infowars after we were previously banned by AdRoll, it has now succumbed to the online brigading that was launched as a result of Apple, Facebook, YouTube and others arbitrarily censoring Infowars content.

He added that Criteos actions were somewhat perplexing since the company initially claimed it was a libertarian-leaning firm very supportive of free speech. That must not really be the case, he surmised, given that the platform has now followed the same patch as the other social media and e-commerce giants in deciding what Americans can and cannot see online.

In addition to Criteo, Shopify payments notified Infowars to also inform the news site that they, too, would be pulling their services.

This clearly represents tortious interference, which occurs when one person intentionally damages someone elses contractual or business relationships with a third party causing economic harm, Watson wrote.

He noted that the political warfare assault against Infowars began after fake news central CNN called for social media giants to ban or censor the news sites content, claiming it was too conspiratorial and not genuine (a real hoot given CNNs dismal record of publishing unsubstantiated and incorrect garbage about the Trump administration and the president himself).

Vimeo also contacted Infowars to inform the site that it was also banning Infowars content citing its claim about Islamic training camps inside the United States as the reason for the ban  even though the claim is completely true, Watson noted.

The Left is scared of Jones influence

He noted that it was widely reported last week that five Islamic extremists were busted by New Mexico authorities last week after they were found to be teaching children how to carry out school shootings.

So in other words, Big Tech is now banning us for reporting accurately about real world events. Thats the level it has reached, Watson noted.

Jones tweeted about the hypocrisy of Vimeos ban:

So @Vimeo banned Infowars because we reported there were "Islamic training camps" in America. Presumably they don't read the news. See how slippery this slope has become? pic.twitter.com/4dPrq3SY4J  Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) August 13, 2018

Intelligence specialists know exactly what is happening to Jones and Infowars. (Related: Heres the REAL reason why the tech giants banned Alex Jones: Theyre trying to steal the mid-term elections.)

Former Army and contract intelligence specialist Samuel Culper, writing at Forward Observer, noted Aug. 8 that on the same day four major tech companies de-platformed Infowars within 12 hours, which is exemplary of the Lefts political warfare.

He wrote that the Democrat Left has identified Jones as one of its biggest threats to regaining control over the House and Senate, as well as the presidency in 2020, so they are moving to destroy him:

Alex Jones and InfoWars undoubtedly played a role in the Trump revolt against the establishment, and Joness circulation is now gone from four major platforms conveniently three months ahead of the 2018 mid-terms. The flak is the thickest, as they say, when youre over the target, and this was nothing short of a maneuver in political or information warfare.

Culper said these tech firms deliberately negated mainstream consumption of one of POTUS Trumps and Republicans most effective political and cultural warriors ahead of the coming elections.

Thats the correct lens through which to view what is happening to Jones, Culper writes.

Read more about the banning of Alex Jones and other conservative voices by Big Tech at Censorship.news.

Sources include:

ForwardObserver.com

TheNationalSentinel.com

Infowars.com
(Natural News) Eating vegetables obviously makes people stronger. A U.K. study recently demonstrated that using vegetable-derived materials in the construction of a building apparently makes the structure stronger, too, an article in Alpha Galileo stated.

The fibers found in carrots, sugar beets, and other root vegetables are good for digestion and beneficial bacteria in humans. The nanoplatelets in those fibers were used to strengthen concrete mixtures, increasing the strength of the construction material while also making them more environmentally-friendly.

The vegetable-composite concrete mix is the work of Lancaster University engineers and their partners at Cellucomp Ltd. U.K. It is supported by the Horizon 2020 project of the European Union.

Earlier testing showed that concrete mixtures with nanoplatelets possess much better mechanical properties. The plant-based additives even outperformed other commercially-available counterparts like graphene and carbon nanotubes, which says a lot given those two are considered to be supermaterials.

The nanoplatelets have two ways of boosting the strength of the concrete. First, they increase the amount of calcium silicate hydrate, the substance responsible for much of concretes mechanical properties.

Second, like the blood component with which they partly share a name, the nanoplatelets also stop cracks from forming in the concrete. Strengthening concrete in these ways allow smaller amounts of the material to be used during the construction of buildings. (Related: Researchers use graphene to make new and improved concrete.)

Carrot fiber helps make concrete stronger while reducing carbon dioxide

The construction industry generates a significant amount of air pollution. Eight percent of the worlds total carbon dioxide emissions are attributed to the manufacture of ordinary Portland cement, which is one of the important ingredients for concrete. The pollution is expected to double within the next 30 years as new construction increases the demand for concrete.

The Lancaster researchers reported that every cubic meter of their vegetable-composite concrete mix saves 40 kilograms of ordinary Portland cement. In carbon dioxide terms, that translates to saving 40 kg of CO2 as well.

These novel cement nanocomposites are made by combining ordinary Portland cement with nanoplatelets extracted from waste root vegetables taken from the food industry, explained study leader Mohamed Saafi, a professor at Lancaster University. The composites are not only superior to current cement products in terms of mechanical and microstructure properties, but also use smaller amounts of cement. This significantly reduces both the energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with cement manufacturing.

Professor Saafi added that the microstructure of the vegetable-based concrete mixture was much denser than normal concrete. It could resist corrosion much better and last much longer.

The research team is considering strengthening already-built concrete structures with the addition of slender sheets of vegetable nanoplatelets. Concrete beams that are being supported by these sheets will be able to bend more, thereby avoiding taking damage.

Improving concrete and paint with plant fibers

The Lancaster researchers are continuing to investigate the myriad processes through which the root vegetable nanoplatelets improve the concrete mix. They are optimizing the mixture so that it can one day be used by the construction industry to build stronger, safer, and more eco-friendly buildings.

Cellucomp Ltd., meanwhile, is already using knowledge derived from this research to improve another common products strength and environmental friendliness. The company is making paints with improved durability thanks to the addition of root vegetable fibers.

We are excited to be continuing our collaboration with Professor Saafi and developing new applications for our materials, where we can bring environmental and performance benefits, said Dr. Eric Whale, a member of Cellucomp Ltd. who worked alongside his Lancaster University counterparts.

Inventions.news holds more articles about improvements to everyday materials that make them better for the environment and for us.

Sources include:

AlphaGalileo.org

Dezeen.com
In a weekend crash in Walnut Creek that killed two teens and seriously injured three others, the California Highway Patrol said Monday underage drinking is to blame.

The mother of one of the victims said her 17-year-old son tried to take the keys away from the 18-year-old driver, but the driver would not give them up. That grief-stricken mother also said shes forgiven the driver.

The two teens who died in the crash where the vehicle plunged off a freeway connector ramp to a street about 40 feet below were both 2018 graduates of Deer Valley High School in Antioch and were bound for college. One of those victims was going to turn 18 on Sunday, and now his family is preparing for his funeral.

"Im going to miss my best friend, Im going to miss my son," said Kimberlea Oloruntoba, mother of 17-year-old Dakarai.

In Swahili, the boy's name means happiness. But with her son now gone, its hard for Oloruntoba to find Dakarai in everyday life.

"Were grieving not just two kids lost their life," she said. "Five kids' lives are changed forever!"

Dakarai and his 18-year-old friend John Hamed Walizada were killed early Sunday when the car they were in careened off a Highway 24 connector ramp to Interstate 680 in Walnut Creek. The three other teens in the car were rushed to John Muir Hospital for serious injuries. The CHP suspects the 18-year-old driver, Ramya Ramey of Antioch, was under the influence of alcohol.

"She was an honor student; they graduated together. We took pictures of them," Oloruntoba said.

She said the teens went out to an 18 and older club named City Nights in San Francisco. Dakarai had texted his twin brother before the group headed back home, saying he had tried to get the car keys from Ramya, but she refused to hand them over.

"You gotta wake up and be told that, at the risk of your decision, your two friends are no longer here," Oloruntoba said. "You cant drink and drive! Give the keys up. Pull over! Uber! Call your parents!"

The family says they will hold a birthday celebration for Dakarai on Sunday, and they're working with Deer Valley High to hold a vigil on Sunday.

GoFundMe campaigns have been launched for Dakarai and Walizada to help each family with the funeral costs.
Utah firefighter Matthew Burchett said goodbye to his wife and 6-year-old son in early August and volunteered to head to California along with 37 other firefighters from the state to help battle blazes that have been ravaging homes in the coastal state.

On Monday night, Burchett, 42, died after he was injured while fighting the largest recorded blaze in California history, the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco. California officials have declined to provide details about what led to Burchett's death.

In Utah, city and fire officials in the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper where Burchett lived and worked mourned his death on Tuesday. A large American flag flew at half-mast outside the town hall, and smaller American flags were put up lining the sidewalk.

Draper Mayor Troy Walker said at a news conference that Burchett was a veteran firefighter with extensive experience working on wildfires. He said he didn't have details about the events that led to Burchett's death.

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"These men are American heroes. They literally stand in the fire to help other people," Walker said. "I don't know how you get better than that. I know he was proud to do it. I know all of them are."

He was one of five Draper firefighters who went to California, Walker said.

Burchett had just started with the Draper Fire Department in May after 20 years with another Salt Lake City area fire department. He was a battalion chief who was hired to oversee the city's wildland firefighting efforts, colleague Bart Vawdrey said.

Burchett was a good man with a dry wit who was very professional and a "master of his craft," said Vawdrey, a fellow battalion chief in Draper.

"It's tough anytime you lose a brother," Vawdrey said. "We get into this profession to help people, and Matt jumped at the chance to go assist in California."

Firefighters from all over the country have been helping California battle a series of deadly and devastating wildfires in recent weeks that have spread through drought-parched forests and rural communities.

Six firefighters have died in those wildfires.

Funeral services are pending for Burchett.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said in a statement that he's heartbroken over Burchett's death and offered his prayers for Burchett's wife and son.

"When he left with his fellow firefighters to battle the wildfires in California we were so proud of his service  now his heroism leaves us both proud and devastated," Herbert said. "He gave everything to defend the lives of others."

The Mendocino Complex fires, twin wildfires that are being fought as one, are together the largest wildfire in California's history.

The Ranch Fire has charred over 300,000 acres and is 68 percent contained. Cal Fire on Monday said the River Fire is now 100 percent contained and has burned nearly 49,000 acres.

Six firefighters have now died in connection with a wave of massive wildfires that struck Northern California in the past weeks.

The deadliest wildfire, the Carr Fire, has left a total of eight people dead, including three firefighters.

Two firefighters have died fighting a fire near Yosemite National Park.
Kyle Shanahan wants an insurance policy. That policys name is Alfred Morris.

The veteran running back, 29, will sign with the 49ers, said Shanahan, to bolster a group that has been hit by injuries the past week. No. 1 back Jerick McKinnon suffered a calf strain in practice over the weekend and will sit out this week, the team says. No. 2 back Matt Breida suffered a separated shoulder in the exhibition game Thursday vs. Dallas and isnt expected to be ready to play again until the regular-season opener on Sept. 9.

Now, the 49ers will add Morris, who played for Shanahan in 2012 and 2013 when he was offensive coordinator at Washington, to join a group that incudes Joe Williams, Raheem Mostert, Jeremy McNichols and Jeff Wilson Jr. for this weeks practices leading up to San Franciscos exhibition game Saturday night in Houston vs. the Texans.

Morris, a free agent, spent the past two seasons with the Cowboys as the backup to starting running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Alf did a great job for us for the two years I was with him, Shanahan said, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. Its not flashy but he runs extremely hard, hes very reliable, hes a hard-nosed runner you can keep handing the ball off to.

Morris had good seasons in Shanahans offense in Washington, rushing for 1,613 yards in 2012 and 1,275 yards in 2013.

Morris, who is 5-foot-10 and 224 pounds, had a good season in 2017 in a limited role for Dallas, carrying 115 times for 547 yards (a 4.8-yard average). Since rushing for 1,074 yards for Washington in 2014 when he went to the Pro Bowl, hes played a more limited role in both Washington and Dallas. But, hes a hard, physical runner who has a career average per carry of 4.4 yards.

Morris will need to pass a physical before he can sign with the team.

Shanahan says Morris is expected to participate in joint practices with the Texans this week, which would allow him to play in Saturdays game.
A woman immigration officials put on a plane to El Salvador last week despite government promises not to deport her said she was "very sad and scared" on the flight, according to a statement in court documents filed Monday, NBC News reported.

"While we were in the air, no one told me anything about what was happening," the woman said.

She and her daughter stayed on the plane and returned to the United States because an outraged federal judge demanded Thursday that immigration officials turn her plane around. He threatened to hold Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other administration officials in contempt of court if they didn't get her back to the United States.

The woman and her daughter are plaintiffs in a case challenging the Trump administrations changes to asylum regulations that Sullivan was holding a hearing on when the woman and her daughter  identified in the lawsuit as Carmen and J.A.C.F  were deported.

Immigration officials blamed the incident on a data error and confusion over why her deportation had been delayed.


What to Know Massachusetts authorities released new details Monday about how the woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car last week died.

The woman has been identified as 28-year-old Maddilyn Burgess of Massachusetts.

Burgess died of blunt force injuries, according to an autopsy conducted by the Maine medical examiner.

Massachusetts authorities released new details Monday about how the woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car last week died.

The woman has been identified as 28-year-old Maddilyn Burgess of Massachusetts, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said. She died of blunt force injuries, according to an autopsy conducted by the Maine medical examiner.

Police said Gyrth Rutan, 34, of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, committed suicide in front of a trooper after being pulled over on Interstate 295 in Gardiner, Maine last Thursday afternoon. He reportedly got out of the car armed with a shotgun and turned the weapon on himself. An autopsy determined that he died of a shotgun wound to the head.

It's not clear why Rutan drove to Maine, but police said he has family in the state and his Facebook page indicates that he grew up in Brewster.

Sturbridge police and state police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office got involved after it was learned that Rutan lived in Sturbridge.

Detectives searched Rutan's residence on Fairview Park Road on Friday and discovered evidence of a crime scene. Authorities did not specify what was found.

Neighbors in Sturbridge said Rutan kept to himself and was someone they never really knew.

"Surprised and appalled and all mixed up, you know, living so close to this person and not knowing anything really about him," one woman said.

Police were going in and out of Rutan's Sturbridge home on Friday, according to neighbors.

"Surprising. I mean, I saw the cops around a lot, going in, and it's just a lot going on," Sarah Fulginiti said.

The investigation into Burgess' death is ongoing.
What to Know Christine Hallquist is one of four Democrats seeking the gubernatorial nomination in Vermont.

If elected, Hallquist would become the nation's first transgender governor.

The winner of Tuesday's Vermont Democratic primary will face either incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott or GOP challenger Keith Stern.

One of the most closely-watched races in Tuesdays Vermont Primary was between the Democrats who want their partys nomination for governor in November, and one candidate, in particular, received considerable national attention for what her candidacy could mean for the LGBT movement.

The pride is in the campaign team, Christine Hallquist said of her campaign after casting a ballot for herself in Hyde Park Tuesday morning.

Hallquist is running for Vermont governor, and crisscrossed the state on Tuesdays primary day, thanking voters and meeting with candidates in local races.

Hallquist is a Democrat, an engineer, the former head of an electric utility, and just happens to be a transgender woman.

Its part of us expanding our moral compass, she said of her place in the race.

Hallquists opponents in the race for the party nomination reflected a range of experiences: a prominent environmental advocate in James Ehlers, an educator and single mom in Brenda Siegel, Sen. John Rodgers, D-Essex & Orleans County, who is waging a write-in campaign, and even a 14-year-old student in Ethan Sonneborn.

The Hallquist run, in particular, has drawn a lot of media attention nationally, because she has a shot at becoming the countrys first-ever transgender governor.

I may be the first, but its about the second, the third, and the fourth, Hallquist told NBC 10 Boston Tuesday.

On the trail, the candidate tells voters she wants to combat climate change and grow Vermonts rural economy, like through expanding broadband to un-served areas.

[Gender] identity doesnt come up, Hallquist said. Its about, What are you going to do for Vermont? Theyre worried about their jobs and can their children live here and get jobs?

Keith Goslant of the LGBTQIA Alliance of Vermont said Hallquists presence in the race is a big milestone.

Shes a candidate who has been treated as any other candidate, the longtime civil rights advocate said. I think any time someone from an underrepresented community steps forward, thats increased visibility, thats us moving forward with social change.

Hallquist said she already conquered one mountain in showing the world her authentic self, adding that she is now ready for the next climbin the political world.

The winner of the Vermont Democratic primary will face either incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott or GOP challenger Keith Stern.

Scott is seeking his second term, in a state that has been known to stick with incumbents.
In three days, 30 dead seals have been found on beaches in southern Maine, alarming beachgoers and scientists who cannot explain why.

On Monday, 11 seals were found on beaches in Saco.

Its heartbreaking because everybody loves seals, said Noah Fahy, 13, of Asheville, North Carolina.

Its his first time visiting Kinney Shores beach in Saco, and he wont soon forget the sight of several deceased seal pups.

It makes me think there might be something, like a predator or bacteria in the water, Fahy said.

Scientists at The Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) say the seals they have examined did not show any obvious signs of injury.

These animals didn't all die at the same time, said Executive Director Lynda Doughty. There's different age classes, different decomposition levels, so right now I don't feel like there's a high concern for people not to be going in the water.

Doughty said her group will be working with scientists from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), performing necropsies, and testing seal samples for bacteria and biotoxins like red tide.

[The seals] are eating the same things that we're eating, so they're really great bioindicators of something that may be going on, she said.

Staff and financial resources at MMoME have already been stretched thin this summer. Doughty said they are responding to a much higher number of sick, stranded, and deceased seals this year compared to last.

We have not slept or gotten any rest, she said. Our whole team is out responding to animals. We want to get to the result of why these animals arent making it.
Some governors from the northeast U.S. and premiers from eastern Canada on Monday called for the end of the trade war between the U.S. and Canada and a successful renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement as they gathered in Vermont for an annual meeting.

Despite the dispute between Washington and Ottawa, participants in the 42nd annual meeting of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers said the cooperative ties between those states and provinces remain strong.

The conference at the Stowe Mountain ski resort came as the U.S., Canada and Mexico are renegotiating NAFTA. The group heard from experts in energy storage, electric vehicle innovation and NAFTA and tariffs.

Three of the region's six governors attended. New Hampshire and Rhode Island sent other officials and Maine's governor didn't attend.

A major takeaway from the meeting was that "the Mexican-U.S.-Canadian trading block as a participant on the global stage ... is far more influential and powerful together than it is apart," said Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

"And I would hope that people would recognize and understand that renewing the current agreement among these three players will make them all better among themselves but also make them a much more significant and important player in global trade discussions."

At the end of the day, the co-chairs of the conference, Republican Gov. Phil Scott and New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant signed a resolution concerning NAFTA and the benefits of cross-border trade. In it, the governors and premiers acknowledged the economic interdependence across the region and contribution of cross-border trade to their states' and provinces' economic prosperity.

While the region has had a longstanding cooperative relationship and bonds among the leaders, concerns about the trade dispute hung over the meeting.

"We are now facing a situation where we're dealing with tariffs and counter tariffs. It's to nobody's advantage," said Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

Scott said he didn't believe trade wars worked. "I think it leads to isolation among our countries and especially the way it's being done right now, the retaliation on both sides, obviously leads to relationship damage and nothing you can fix in a matter of a couple of years," he said. "It takes a long time."

After a June meeting of the Group of Seven in Charlevoix, Quebec, Trump called Trudeau "dishonest" and "weak." Then White House trade adviser Peter Navarro asserted Trudeau "deserves a special place in hell" for attempting to "stab (Trump) in the back." Navarro later apologized.

The U.S.-imposed tariffs on Canadian steel are already being felt in the region, officials said.

Trump's rhetoric has made the relationship between the U.S. and Canada more fragile, said Couillard.

"We've been allies, we've been neighbors, we've fought wars together...We didn't expect that type of relationship from our friend, ally and neighbor," he said.

"We've always been friends and allies and neighbors. And we really want it to be that way again," Couillard said.

During the meeting about a half-dozen protesters demonstrated outside against hydropower dams in Canada and what they say is not enough action to address climate change.
Ahead of the annual Clear the Shelters event this weekend, a participating non-profit in southern Vermont hopes prospective pet adopters will consider a series of questions as they prepare to visit their area shelters.

The Second Chance Animal Center in Shaftsbury encourages people to ask themselves the following questions:

Can we make the time to properly take care of an animal and help enrich its life, with plenty of time for exercise, grooming, training, and other needs?

Is our household high-energy or low-key, and what type of pet best fits that lifestyle?

Do we have disposable income sufficient to cover vet bills, boarding, food, and other costs that may arise down the roadincluding potential emergencies?

Andy and Donna Chambers asked themselves all those questions before adopting a hound mix named Maddie this summer.

Second Chance told the Chambers that Maddies previous owners neglected her by keeping her tied up outside, rarelyif everletting her indoors, and failing to feed her properly.

Its like she knows how she had it and she likes the change, and she appreciates it, Donna Chambers said of Maddie. We appreciate her. And it feels really good to do it.

The Chambers are both retired, so have time to devote to Maddie, who had no real training at alluntil now.

I knew we were going to spend lots and lots of hours, Andy Chambers said.

Thats where Second Chance offers dog parents a special bonus.

The shelter has a trainer who works with adopters on ways to correct certain behaviors. In Maddies case, jumping on the couch appears to be a problem to address.

That trainer even makes home visits, explained Cathi Comar, the executive director of the Second Chance Animal Center.

All at our cost, Comar noted. So that our behaviorist can see if the trainings going well, what maybe needs to be changed, and just to ensure that the dog actually stays in the home. In the end, thats our goal is for all of our animals to stay in their forever homes.

Comar and her team will get a new place to work on that goal this fall.

The Second Chance Animal Center is moving into a more than 10,000 square-foot headquarters in Arlington, Vermont, to better serve its large coverage area: Vermonts Bennington County and parts of nearby New York and western Massachusetts.

Comar said the new facility will allow for expanded surgical operations, create new opportunities for visits and classes for members of the community, and will allow for an even better quality of care for shelter animals.

The focus of the expansion, Comar indicated, is to help even more animals like Maddie to get a Second Chance.

Click here to visit the website of the Second Chance Animal Center.
A man was pronounced dead Monday afternoon after a shootout with police in south suburban Richton Park, authorities said.

Park Forest police responded about 2 p.m. to the 400 block of Suwanee Street after receiving a call of a man shot in the head, authorities said. Officers found a man with a serious wound in that rea, police said. The man was able to speak and officers obtained a description of a suspect. A person matching that description was found walking a short distance away in neighborhing Richton Park, Park Forest police said.

When the suspect refused police orders to stop and continued to walk away, additional officers responded, Park Forest police said. The officers reported that the suspect, while continuing to disobey police commands, produced a handgun and an exchange of gunfire ensued as the man ran westbound. The exchange of gunfire occurred over an approximately block-long distance, at the conclusion of which the suspect collapsed.

Police said officers began performing CPR on the man and called paramedics but he was later pronounced dead.

The suspects identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The suspects firearm was recovered at the scene and no officers were hit by gunfire, police said.

The original victim found with a head wound was transported to Christ Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Three Park Forest officers and one Richton Park cop were directly involved in the shootout.

Those officers will be placed on administrative leave while and investigation continues, police said.

The officer-involved shooting is under investigation by the Illinois State Police Public Integrity United.

Richton Park police said Richton Square Road will be closed for an unknown length of time between Sauk trail and Taylor Avenue.

Please avoid the area and find an alternate route, the department said in a Facebook post.

No other information was immediately available.
Animal shelters across Illinois are pitching in to care for 91 dogs found in a home authorities describe as having "deplorable" conditions.

The Southern Illinoisan reports Franklin County Sheriff's Office and Animal Control discovered the dogs after responding to a complaint of cruel treatment of animals at a home in the southern Illinois community of Macedonia.

Animal Control Officer Paris Dunk says some dogs were emaciated or blind. Officers believe the animals never left the home.

Dunk said the Franklin County animal shelter in Benton only has 16 kennels.

He says other animal rescue groups began reaching out almost immediately after learning of Monday's discovery. Groups from Jacksonville, DuQuoin and Pekin have taken some of the dogs.

A woman and her two adult sons were charged with animal cruelty.
One person was in custody after a heavy police presence Monday night in the north suburban village of Winnetka. Police said the incident was related to a fatal shooting in Northfield.

There is significant police activity on Tower Road between Hibbard and Green Bay, Winnetka police posted on Facebook. Please avoid the area at this time. If you are in the area, please follow the officers' instructions.

One user on Twitter questioned whether or not the situation was an "active shooter," which police were quick to dispel.

"There is not an active shooter at this time; however, there is significant police presence on Tower Road between Hibbard and Green Bay," Winnetka police said in a tweet. "Everyone is being asked to avoid this area at this time."



Social media users responded to police asking for further details, saying they were nervous.

Pictures shared by a Twitter user showed officers in the North Shore suburbs streets, and squad cars parked near businesses.

No other information was immediately available.
What to Know A huge section of the Morandi Bridge fell at midday over an industrial zone, sending tons of twisted steel and concrete onto warehouses

Hundreds of firefighters and emergency officials were searching for survivors in the rubble

One man who was standing under the bridge in front of his truck when the span collapsed called it "a miracle" that he survived

A 51-year-old highway bridge in the Italian port city of Genoa collapsed in a driving rain Tuesday, killing at least 39 people and injuring 15 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte called it "an immense tragedy ... inconceivable in a modern system like ours, a modern country."

The disaster, on a major interchange connecting Genoa and other northern cities with beaches in eastern Liguria into France, focused attention on Italy's aging infrastructure, particularly its concrete bridges and viaducts built in the postwar boom of the 1950s and 1960s.

What caused the Morandi Bridge to fall remained unknown, and prosecutors said they were opening an investigation but had not identified any targets. Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the collapse was "unacceptable" and that if negligence played a role "whoever made a mistake must pay."

Early speculation focused on the structural weakness of the span.

Witnesses reported hearing a roar as the 45-meter (nearly 150-foot) bridge collapsed in a torrential rain during midday traffic on the eve of a major holiday that sees most Italians abandoning cities for beaches and mountains.

One unidentified woman who was standing below told RAI state TV that it crumbled as if it were a mound of baking flour. Video of the collapse, showing a misty scene of crumbled concrete, captured a man screaming: "Oh, God! Oh, God!"

Civil Protection authorities said at least 30 cars and three heavy vehicles were on the 80-meter (260-foot) section of the span that collapsed in the industrial area of warehouses.

There was an immense gap where the bridge used to be, and one heart-stopping image showed a green truck halted on the rain-slickened roadway just short of the edge.

A man who was standing under the bridge in front of his truck at the time of the collapse called it "a miracle" that he survived. The middle-aged man, who did not give his name, said the shockwave sent him flying over 10 meters (33 feet) into a wall, injuring his right shoulder and hip.

"I was in front of the truck and flew away, like everything else. Yes, I think it's a miracle. I don't know what to say. I'm out of words," he said, walking away from the site.

More than 300 rescue workers and canine crews were on the scene. They used heavy equipment and dogs to search for survivors in the rubble. At least four people were pulled alive from vehicles under the bridge, ANSA reported.

"Operations are ongoing to extract people imprisoned below parts of the bridge and twisted metal," said Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy's civil protection agency.

Officials evacuated several hundred people living along the raised highway that traverses the city as a precaution.

The effort would continue into the night.

"It is a bit like working on an earthquake," said firefighters spokesman Luca Cari. "The main difficulty is removing the rubble and safeguarding the rescue teams."

There was confusion over the death toll throughout the day, with different officials giving conflicting numbers.

After visiting the scene, Conte told RAI state TV the tragedy was "a serious wound for Genoa, Liguria and Italy."

The Italian CNR civil engineering society said that structures dating from when the Morandi Bridge was built had surpassed their lifespan. It called for a "Marshall Plan" to repair or replace tens of thousands of bridges and viaducts built in the 1950s and 1960s. Updating and reinforcing the bridges would be more expensive than destroying and rebuilding them with technology that could last a century.

They cited previous accidents: a bridge that fell in April 2017 in the northern province of Cuneo, crushing a carabinieri police car after the officers and driver had barely managed to get away in time; and an overpass that in the northern city of Lecco that collapsed under exceptional weight, crushing a car and killing the driver.

The design of the bridge has been criticized in the past. Antonio Brencich, a professor specializing in reinforced concrete construction at the University of Genoa, called the span "a failure of engineering" in an interview in 2016.

"That bridge is wrong. Sooner or later it will have to be replaced. I do not know when. But there will be a time when the cost of maintenance will be higher than a replacement," he told Italian media Primocanale.

Other engineers said corrosion or weather conditions could have contributed.

"As this reinforced and pre-stressed concrete bridge has been there for 50 years, it is possible that corrosion of tendons or reinforcement may be a contributory factor," said Ian Firth, former president of The Institution of Structural Engineers, a London-based international network. He called the bridge "an unusual design."

Mehdi Kashani, an associate professor in structural mechanics at the University of Southampton in the U.K., said maintenance issues and pressure from "dynamic loads," such as traffic and wind, could have resulted in "fatigue damage in bridge components."

Borrelli said highway engineers were checking other parts of the bridge and that some areas were evacuated as a precaution.

"You can see there are very big portions of the bridge (that collapsed). We need to remove all of the rubble to ascertain that all of the people have been reached," he said.

The transport minister, Toninelli, said the company that has the concession to operate that section of highway said its maintenance on the bridge was up to date and no work was being done at the time of the collapse. But he added that they were about to launch a 20 million euro ($22.7 million) bidding process for significant safety work on the bridge.

"There has not been sufficient maintenance and checks, and safety work for many bridges and viaducts and bridges in Italy constructed  almost all  during the 1960s," he said.

It was the second deadly disaster on an Italian highway in as many weeks.

On Aug. 6, a tanker truck carrying a highly flammable gas exploded after rear-ending a stopped truck and getting hit from behind near the northern city of Bologna. The accident killed one person, injured dozens and blew apart a section of a raised eight-lane highway.
A Connecticut father is facing deportation back to his native country, Colombia while his 14-year-old son battles a rare genetic condition.

I am the support for my family, Julian Rodriguez told NBC Connecticut.

He is waiting on news for a request for stay in the United States from ICE.

Julian came to the United States 18 years ago seeking political asylum from Colombia. That ended in 2009, and he has been giving numerous stays based on his son Santiagos treatments. Santiago has a genetic immune deficiency disorder and undergoes treatment at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center.

It occurs in about one in 200,000 kids, said Dr. Juan Salazar, physician in chief at Connecticut Children's Medical Center. So it is extremely rare, but it is devastating. Kids who have the disease sometimes grow into adulthood, but in the end universally it is always fatal.

Santiago is doing well now after an experimental stem cell therapy at the National Institutes of Health. He and his family are part of a study there that aims to help other kids like him.

His care needs to be done in the United States, Salazar said. This is something that cannot be done elsewhere. This is something that has contributed to the health care of children.

Congressman Joe Courtney and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are standing behind them.

We are going to fight, Blumenthal said. Vamos a luchar. Just as Santi has fought. We must fight for him. Our values as well as our medical research depends on Santee and his family staying here.

I dont know what I would do, or be doing here without my dad, Santiago Rodriguez said. Hes helped me through so much during my life. Hes always been a support and I really need him.

Rodriguezs attorney says hes trying to comply with ICEs orders. He has a plane ticket for September 12, but hes hoping he doesn't have to use it.
A Utah firefighter has died while battling the Mendocino Complex fire, officials said late Monday.

Authorities said the man died Monday night at a hospital after he was injured at the fire. An investigation is ongoing and notification of the next of kin is in progress. No other details have been released.

The Mendocino Complex fires, twin wildfires that are being fought as one, are together the largest wildfire in California's history.

The Ranch Fire has charred over 300,000 acres and is 59 percent contained. Cal Fire on Monday said the River Fire is now 100 percent contained and has burned nearly 49,000 acres.

Six firefighters have now died in connection with a wave of massive wildfires that struck Northern California in the past weeks.

The deadliest wildfire, the Carr Fire, has left a total of eight people dead, including three firefighters.

Two firefighters have died fighting a fire near Yosemite National Park.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.
#WomensMonth: Adding glamour and sparkle to the agro-processing sector

Entrepreneur Silvana Dantu is marketing director of African Equations PTY Ltd, together with her business partner Shareen Parker, the producers of Zari Sparkling Grape juice , a local brand which has set out to disrupt the male-dominated agro-processing sector with its sparkling, alcohol-free beverage brand.



Silvana Dantu and Shareen Parker, female founders of local brand Zari Sparkling Grape. In



What are the challenges of being a wholly woman-owned, BEE-owned company in the agro-processing sector? What are the challenges of being a wholly woman-owned, BEE-owned company in the agro-processing sector? In #WomensMonth we spoke to Dantu about their approach to product development, packaging, branding and positioning of this proudly all women-owned South African company.

You manage the sales and marketing side of the business; what are some of the key areas of focus for you? You manage the sales and marketing side of the business; what are some of the key areas of focus for you?

How do you think being a women-owned business differentiates you from other commercial brands? How do you think being a women-owned business differentiates you from other commercial brands?

What advice would you give someone wanting to launch an indie brand? What advice would you give someone wanting to launch an indie brand?

Terry Levin's articles About Terry Levin Adding more zeros and heroes to brand value. Brand Turn Around and Brand Positioning specialists. Specialising in corporate identity development, brand identity refreshes and the creation of heritage brands to achieve market leadership position. Currently acting as Bizcommunity.com creative director at large. Email



Adding more zeros and heroes to brand value. Brand Turn Around and Brand Positioning specialists. Specialising in corporate identity development, brand identity refreshes and the creation of heritage brands to achieve market leadership position. Currently acting as Bizcommunity.com creative director at large. Email az.oc.flehsehtffo@yrret , follow @terrylevin on Twitter, view her photos on Instagram , connect on www.facebook.com/offtheshelfmarketing or LinkedIn

The biggest learning curves have probably been in the areas of coordinating the product life-cycle  from quality control and distribution of the cold-pressed Cape Muscat seedless grape juice from the Western Capes Robertson Valley, to bottling, sleeving, closures and outer packaging, to negotiating local and global distribution networks in the retail, hospitality, eventing and corporate sectors. Competing for mind-share against established brands and channels has also been something we have focused on.We have had to spend a lot of time getting to know and understand markets and trends. We set out to meet the needs of the growing number of people who are foregoing alcohol for health and wellness concerns, in pregnancy or for cultural and religious reasons. We wanted to offer them something special, on par with the best South African wines, a drink that would make any celebration, party or event into an occasion.People associate weddings with popping corks, toasts, tasting, food pairing and we wanted to bring these rituals to people without the alcohol. Also, we feel that the fact that our products have no added sugar, no concentrates and are cold-pressed, meets the needs of new discerning markets such as Mipsters and new markets from African, Asian and Middle Eastern business and tourism sectors.This is why we have adopted the brand positioning of 'Celebrate Openings'! Our grape juice is suitable for any occasion especially when you need to offer non-alcohol drinking patrons or clients a luxury beverage other than the usual soft drinks.From the outset we named our brand Zari after the gold and silver threads that run through Middle Eastern silk fabrics, so the brand definitely has a feminine feel. Women make most of purchase decisions in the FMCG category as well.For this reason, we have taken great care in the presentation of our decorative packaging to tell our brand story of quality, luxury and festivity  both on the shelf and for use in glamorous non-alcohol bubbly bars and eventing decor, especially for weddings, baby showers, matric farewells and corporate events.We focus a lot on providing ideas for caterers, baristas and foodies with mocktail recipes and food pairing, mostly via consumer magazines, our website and media that appeal to women. But we did recently have a gentleman phone in with an enquiry for Zari for his wedding as well.We are aware of the potential for a more manly option to compete with the traditional options in the category and have something exciting under wraps in this regard.We believe strongly in the power of African and South African brands to disrupt categories. We admire the many young South Africans and millenials who are using new social media channels and e-commerce platforms to create new economic opportunities for themselves and to create jobs.Keeping an eye on local and global trends, attention to customer experience, a culture of excellence, putting the right systems in place and having a supportive business partner with complementary skills can also make all the difference to success. Also talk to everyone, word-of-mouth, getting people talking about your brand, collaborating and networking are key.
Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa won election Friday with just over 50 percent of the ballots as the ruling party maintained control of the government in the first vote since the fall of longtime leader Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa received 50.8 percent of the vote while main opposition challenger Nelson Chamisa received 44.3 percent. The opposition is almost certain to challenge the results in the courts or in the streets.

While election day was peaceful in a break from the past, deadly violence on Wednesday against people protesting alleged vote-rigging reminded many Zimbabweans of the decades of military-backed repression under Mugabe.

Zimbabwe's president says he is "humbled" by his win.

"Though we may have been divided at the polls, we are united in our dreams," Mnangagwa said on Twitter.

"This is a new beginning. Let us join hands, in peace, unity & love, & together build a new Zimbabwe for all!" Mnangagwa tweeted, after a week that began with peaceful voting Monday but spiraled into deadly violence in the capital Wednesday as the military fired on protesters.

Western election observers who were banned in previous votes have expressed concern at the military's "excessive" force in the capital, Harare. Their assessments of the election are crucial to the lifting of international sanctions on a country whose economy collapsed years ago.

Shortly before the election commission's announcement, Morgen Komichi, the chief agent for Chamisa's opposition alliance, took the stage and said his party "totally rejects" the results and said he had not signed the election results. Police escorted him from the room.

Later Komichi said the elections were "fraudulent" and "everything has been done illegally." He said he had refused an electoral commission request to sign papers certifying Mnangagwa's win.

"We're not part of it," said Komichi, adding that the opposition would be challenging the election in the courts.

Commission chair Priscilla Chigumba urged the country to "move on" with the hopeful spirit of election day and beyond the "blemishes" of Wednesday's chaos: "May God bless this nation and its people."

With the military still deployed in Harare, the capital's streets were quiet following the announcement of Mnangagwa's victory.

By the center where the election results were announced, Charity Manyeruke, who teaches political science at the University of Zimbabwe, said she was delighted.

"There is continuity, stability," Manyeruke said. "Zimbabwe is poised for nation-building."

The signs that Mnangagwa's election will be disputed appears to deepen a political crisis that was worsened by Wednesday's violence in Harare as the military swept in with gunfire to disperse opposition supporters alleging vote-rigging.

The death toll rose to six, with 14 injured, police said, and 18 people were arrested at the offices of the main opposition party amid tensions over a vote that was supposed to restore trust in Zimbabwe after decades of Mugabe's rule.

While Mnangagwa and the ruling party accused the opposition of inciting the violence, the opposition, human rights activists and international election observers condemned the "excessive" force used against protesters and appealed to all sides to exercise restraint.

Police raided the headquarters of Chamisa's Movement for Democratic Change party while a lawyers' group said Chamisa was being investigated for allegedly inciting violence. He and several others are suspected of the crimes of "possession of dangerous weapons" and "public violence," according to a copy of a search warrant seen by The Associated Press.

Chamisa, however, said police seized computers and were looking for what he called evidence that his party had gathered of vote-rigging by Mnangagwa's party. The evidence already had been moved to a "safe house," he said.

Mnangagwa called for an "independent investigation" into Wednesday's violence, saying those responsible "should be identified and brought to justice."

Mnangagwa was a longtime Mugabe confidante before his firing in November led his allies in the military to step in and push Mugabe to resign after 37 years in power. Thousands of jubilant Zimbabweans celebrated in the streets of Harare, greeting the military with selfies and cheers.

Since taking office, the 75-year-old Mnangagwa has tried to recast himself as a voice of reform, declaring that Zimbabwe was "open for business" and inviting long-banned Western election observers to observe Monday's vote, which he pledged would be free and fair.

A credible election after past votes were marred by violence against the opposition and alleged irregularities is crucial for the lifting of international sanctions and for the badly needed foreign investment to help Zimbabwe's long-collapsed economy revive. Mnangagwa himself remains under U.S. sanctions.

While Monday's election has been widely judged as peaceful with a high turnout, the deadly violence that erupted on Wednesday brought back chilly memories of decades of repression under Mugabe.

It was a reminder, as opposition leader Chamisa declared Thursday, that "'We have removed Mugabe but not Mugabe-ism."

The military deployment was the first time that soldiers had appeared in the streets of the capital since Mugabe's resignation. Some Harare residents expressed frustration and exhaustion at the dramatic change from November's exuberant expression of hope to the current tensions.

"We are a peaceful nation," said 29-year-old Sifas Gavanga of the latest chaos. "We don't deserve the death we saw."
Today is the most significant political day on the calendar up until the general election on November 8.

CLICK HERE for complete Decision 2018 coverage

Registered Democrats and Republicans will each cast ballots for the candidates they want to represent them in the general election. On both sides, and in races up and down the ballot there are very competitive contests, which, in some cases were completely unexpected.

The State Election Day Hotline: 866-SEEC-INFO (866-733-2463) or elections@ct.gov

This line is staffed by the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC), and the email is staffed by the SEEC and the Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Any voting irregularities or problems at the polls should be reported to these numbers.



The NBC CT Investigates Voter Hotline: 1-855-NBC-CT30 (1-855-622-2830)

NBC Connecticut Investigates will be tracking issues and concerns. If you come across something youd like the team to investigate, contact them at this number.

Heres your primer on the key races and trends to follow on Connecticuts primary day:

GOP Race for Governor

Five candidates emerged from the pack of more than 20 that had been running for governor at various points throughout 2017 and the first half of 2018.

The five who emerged were endorsed Republican Mark Boughton who is Danburys longtime mayor, former UBS and General Electric executive Bob Stefanowski, former hedge fund manager David Stemerman, former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, and tech entrepreneur Steve Obsitnik.

Stefanowski and Boughton share a desire to phase out the states income tax, though neither has provided a full explanation as to how they would replace the states largest source of revenue.

Steve Obsitnik and David Stemerman have each run as experienced business outsiders with plans to fix the states sagging economy. Obsitnik pledges to create 300,000 jobs over eight years, while Stemerman has provided the most detailed plans out of any candidate running for governor on issues like investing in infrastructure, cutting taxes, and addressing the states soaring pension obligations.

Tim Herbst has run the furthest to the political right of all of the Republicans, picking up endorsements from the Connecticut Citizens Defense League and the socially conservative Family Institute of Connecticut.

The trends to watch in the race will be where turnout is highest and how that vote is distributed. Four of the Republicans: Boughton, Herbst, Stemerman, and Obsitnik all call Fairfield County home. The vote will inevitably be split among them, but Boughton has a built-in advantage with the Fifth Congressional District having an open race and a three-way GOP primary. The district includes Danbury and Boughton may have a leg up with that extra attention, and the fact that hes at the top of the ballot, having the partys endorsement.

Other scenarios include the money poured into the race by Stemerman and Stefanowski paying off and one of them emerging, or Herbst or Obsitnik having strong ground games that lead to better than expected turnouts, giving one of them the win.

Democratic Race for Governor

UPDATE: Businessman Ned Lamont has won the Democratic nomination for Connecticut governor, defeating Bridgeport mayor and ex-convict Joe Ganim. Details here.

Ned Lamont won the partys endorsement at their May convention, emerging from a field of about 10 Democrats seeking the office at the start of the year. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim collected more than 16,000 signatures to achieve a position on the ballot and start a long-shot bid for governor, his second in the past 25 years.

Ganim has run an aggressive campaign and has called himself, the second chance candidate, a not so subtle nod to the 16 felony convictions that led to him spending 2003 to 2010 in federal prison for public corruption.

Hes attacked Lamont for his wealth, saying hes out of touch with regular working class families. Ganims support is centralized in the states largest cities, especially Bridgeport.

Lamont is making his third run at statewide office, failing to win a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2006, and losing to Dan Malloy for governor in the primary in 2010.

This time around Lamont has many establishment Democrats in his corner and has the name recognition to potentially lead to a victory to send him to November.

Lamont is the founder of a cable television system thats used on college campuses and he sold it years ago for millions.

Establishment Democrats have lined up behind Lamont, who has advocated for a fairer tax system, highway tolls for trucks, and improving the states economy.

Just a day ahead of the primary, voters said theyre concerned about the economy, taxes and the state budget, among other things.

Fifth Congressional District: Democrats

Elizabeth Est announced she would retire at the end of the year after her response to sexual assault allegations by one of her former staffers was made public. That led to the opening in the Fifth for newcomer Jahana Hayes and well-known Democrat Mary Glassman to make runs for the job.

Hayes is a former National Teacher of the Year from Waterbury whose campaign has revolved around Hayes experience as a single mom who worked her way through college and received multiple degrees as she became one of the most popular teachers at the school where she worked.

Glassman is a former first selectwoman from Simsbury who previously ran twice for lieutenant governor.

The two candidates share similar policy proposals like addressing the opioid epidemic, a health care system that resembles Medicare for all, stronger gun laws for the district that includes Sandy Hook and addressing inequity in the states schools.

Whoever wins will have a significant fundraising edge on the Republican field. Hayes and Glassman have each eclipsed more than $400,000 in contributions while the Republican candidates havent donated more than $300,000 as a group.

Fifth Congressional District: Republicans

Republicans have three candidates running to flip the 5th Congressional District. Former Meriden Mayor Mann Santos, who won the partys endorsement in May, former college professor Ruby Corby ONeill, and businessman Rich DuPont are vying to go to November.

Similar to the Democrats, the candidates on the GOP side do not have much daylight on policy between them. They all pledged to protect and promote the Trump agenda in Congress including on tax cuts and tariffs, they also all want to see a more conservative voice in the district.

Their different backgrounds and grassroots operations will likely be what determines this race.

ONeill, whose husband is a sitting member of the Connecticut General Assembly, leads the pack in fundraising with more than $120,000 raised so far.
The Hot Wheels Legends Tour arrives in Garland later this month with several life-sized versions of some of the die-cast 1:64th scale classics -- with a bonus for creative custom car makers.



Hot Wheels has put together a 15-city tour where they'll not only show off their full-sized classics, but invite custom car makers to compete and show off their creations.

Hot Wheels Legends Tour Coming to Dallas on 15-Stop National Tour

One finalist will be selected from each of the 15 cities to join Hot Wheels at SEMA 2018 in Las Vegas. Once there, a winner will be immortalized as a Hot Wheels Legend and their car will be made into a die-cast car that will be sold around the world.

In North Texas, the tour will be held at the Garland Walmart on North Garland Avenue from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 25.

In addition to the life-sized fleet of Hot Wheels, also at the tour ...

Photo Ops

Historical Die-Cast Display

2018 Hot Wheels Anniversary Edition Cars

Hot Wheels Kid Zone

Car & Pop Culture Influencers

Microsoft Forza Gaming Zone

For more details, including how to register, visit hotwheels.mattel.com.


More than 38,000 Americans suffer from migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.



There hasn't been a medicine specifically designed to treat migraines up until this summer.



In May, the FDA approved erenumab (Aimovig), the first medication aimed at preventing migraines. Allison Henderson, a pediatrician from Richardson, said the drug has changed her life.



Henderson said she's suffered from migraines since grade school.



"I remember not wanting to go to the zoo or go to camp because I was outside in the heat, in the sun and I would get a migraine. I thought all kids hated camp!" she said.



Her migraines got stronger and more frequent over the years.



She tried more than 30 medicines in hopes that something would ease the pain long enough to get her through long days as a pediatrician.



"It was difficult because I didn't have a choice. I always showed up for work. I couldn't call in sick, but being in pain would take away some of the joy of my practice."



According to her doctor, Baylor Headache Center's Dr. Priyanka Chaudhry, Henderson was a good candidate for the new migraine drug, which works by blocking a molecule called calcitonin gene-related peptide, or CGRP, related to migraines.



"What happens is when you release CGRP, the migraines can be can be more intense. Here, we have a drug which can actually block the mechanism of CGRP," Chaudhry said.



Patients inject the medicine in their thigh or belly once a month.



It can take up to four weeks to work, while traditional treatments might take up to 12 weeks.



Chaudhry said it also doesn't come with the severe side effects associated with traditional treatments.



"Here we have a drug which hardly gives you side effects specifically designed for migraines that is now available to our headache patients," she said.



Henderson has had two injections and said she went from three or more moderate to severe migraines each week to just one mild headache a week.



"It's a whole new world, being able to go outside, especially living in Dallas, in Texas," Henderson said. "We have hot, sunny summers and I want to be able to enjoy them and not have a headache."



There is no cure for migraines.



Three more drugmakers plan to release their version of the drug in the next two years.



You are advised to check with your doctor and health insurance to see if this class of medicine is right for you.


The chancellor of the Texas Tech University System announced his retirement Monday, effective Aug. 31 -- just four days after the first day of classes at the school's flagship campus in Lubbock.

Chancellor Robert Duncan made the announcement in an email to Texas Tech system employees Monday.

In the message, Duncan talked about the progress the university made in his four years as chancellor and his need to reflect on his own life.

The statement read in part:

Serving the System as Chancellor has been the honor of a lifetime and the highlight of my professional career. This position, and working alongside each of you, is an experience for which I am forever grateful. The growth and progress of the System and our four institutions over the past four years are undeniable and will make a difference in our communities, state and nation for years to come.

Duncan was named Texas Tech's fourth chancellor in July 2014. Prior to joining Texas Tech, he served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1992-96 and in the State Senate from 1996-2014.

Duncan graduated from Texas Tech in 1976 and earned his law degree from the TTU School of Law in 1981.

The Texas Tech University System includes three North Texas campuses -- Collin College in Dallas, Hill College in Cleburne and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Dallas.
The Texas comptroller's office is seeking federal approval to reform a troubled state program designed to protect a rare lizard species in the petroleum-rich Permian Basin.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar has requested the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approve the state agency's new version of the Texas Conservation Plan, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The move comes amid threats by the federal agency to designate the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered, which would enact strict land-use regulations.

Some environmentalists have critiqued the old Texas Conservation Plan as favoring oil and gas companies over species protection.

Hegar's office was quick to rewrite the plan after environmental groups asked the Fish and Wildlife Service in June to consider the lizard species endangered due to the area's newly booming sand-mining industry.

The new proposal aims to eliminate some of the old plan's failures, such as its inability to address the sudden arrival of sand-mining companies. The original plan only applies to oil and gas companies, but sand miners are disrupting thousands of acres of lizard habitat in the Permian Basin.

The comptroller's office also identified other ways the original plan failed to protect the species.

"Investigation revealed problems that were systemic and not amenable to piecemeal fixes," the comptroller's office wrote in a letter this month to U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials.

The rewritten proposal defines ways companies can avoid lizard habitat and incentivizes industrial activities to focus on non-habitat areas. The new plan also eliminates scientifically unsupported conservation options.

"It's fair to say we're very pleased that it strikes balance of protecting species while also allowing growth and development in the Permian Basin," said Robert Gulley, who oversees endangered species conservation for the comptroller's office.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will gather comments from companies and affected parties in the coming months.

------

Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com

AP-WF-08-14-18 1919GMT
Child's play or a sign of a serious security problem in one of the nation's swing states?

That's the question confronting Florida election officials who are pushing back against reports that an 11-year-old hacked a replica of the state's election website.

Multiple media outlets over the weekend reported that children at a hacking conference in Las Vegas were able to easily hack into a version of the website that reports election results to the public. An 11-year-old boy got into Florida's site within 10 minutes, while an 11-year-old girl did it in 15 minutes, according to the organizers of the event called DEFCON Voting Machine Hacking Village.

State officials contend there's no way that the replica used by hackers is an actual representation of the state's website.

"This was a mock site with likely very few, if any, security measures in place," said Sarah Revell, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Ken Detzner. "It is not a real-life scenario and it offers a wholly inaccurate representation of the security of Florida's elections websites, online databases and voting systems that does not take into account the state-of-the-art security measures the Florida Department of State has in place to prevent any possible hacking attempts from being successful."

Florida's election website that displays results is not connected to the actual local election systems responsible for tabulating votes. Instead, on election night supervisors upload unofficial results to state officials through a completely different network.

Still if someone was able to manipulate the website it could create confusion and sow doubts about the actual results once they were announced. Investigators in May found evidence of a cyberattack on a Tennessee county's elections website from a computer in Ukraine, which likely caused the site to crash just as it was reporting vote totals during a primary.

Nico Sell, one of the organizers of the event, told PBS Newshour on Sunday that the replicas used at the conference were accurate representations.

"The site may be a replica but the vulnerabilities that these kids were exploiting were not replicas, they're the real thing," the television network quoted her. "I think the general public does not understand how large a threat this is, and how serious a situation that we're in right now with our democracy."

Mark Earley, the elections supervisor in Leon County who is a cybersecurity liaison between state and local officials, questioned how outsiders could obtain the security protocols used by Florida if they weren't already behind the system's firewalls. He said that all this "hacking noise" and "misinformation plays into the hands of the folks who are trying to undermine democracy."

Jeff Kosseff, a lawyer and assistant professor at the United States Naval Academy Cyber Studies Department, said states are struggling with election security threats. He said they should work with outsiders in order to see if there are flaws in their systems.

"All states should look at this as a wake-up call," Kosseff said. "What were the shortcomings identified and how they can fix it. I don't think it should be an adversarial."

The reports of hacking into Florida's website that reports election results coincide with a dust-up between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott over possible Russian meddling in other parts of the state's election system.

Nelson last week said Russians were able to get inside the election systems of "certain counties" and "now have free rein to move about." He added that "the threat is real and elections officials  at all levels  need to address the vulnerabilities."

The senator has not provided any more details, saying that additional information is classified. Scott has demanded that Nelson provide proof of his claims. Last Friday two Republicans who are on the Senate intelligence community declined to confirm or deny Nelson's statements.

Russian hackers targeted at least 21 states, including Florida, ahead of the 2016 election and breached the voter registration system in at least one, Illinois, investigators say. An indictment released last month said Russian operatives sent over 100 fake emails to elections offices and personnel in Florida as part of the hacking effort. State officials have never acknowledged how many counties were targeted by the Russians.
What to Know Joseph DeAngelo, 72, is accused of being the "Golden State Killer."

DeAngelo is charged with 12 killings throughout California in the 1970s and 1980s.

Authorities say they identified him by connecting him through familial DNA.

Prosecutors in Northern California on Monday announced a new murder charge against a man suspected of being the notorious "Golden State Killer," closing a murder case in Tulare County that has gone unsolved for more than four decades.

Joseph DeAngelo, 72, was charged in the fatal shooting of Claude Snelling, a 45-year-old journalism instructor at the College of the Sequoias, in 1975, prosecutors in Tulare County said.

Snelling died while trying to protect his daughter from an apparent rapist, prosecutors said. Snelling was shot when he tried to confront the ski-masked gunman who was dragging his daughter away in their backyard, The Associated Press reported at the time.

The man fired two shots from a pistol at Snelling, then released Snelling's 16-year-old daughter, kicked her in the face and fled, Lt. Dale Treece, of the Visalia Police Department, said, according to the AP.

DeAngelo, a former police officer, was arrested in the Northern California city of Citrus Heights in April after authorities say they linked him to cases in Sacramento through DNA.

Detectives linked DeAngelo to the Snelling slaying and believe he is the "Visalia Ransacker," whose 18-month home burglary spree of 100 homes shocked the Visalia community for over 18 months in 1974 and 1975, Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar said.

The gun used to kill Snelling had been stolen from a home during a burglary in Visalia a month earlier, Salazar said.

The bicycle the gunman used to get away was recovered a block away from Snelling's the day after the crime. The bike had been stolen from a nearby yard two days before murder, the chief said.

The timing of the ransackings and Snelling's killing match the time that DeAngelo was a cop for the city of Exeter, about 10 miles away from Visalia, from May 1973 to August 1976, Salazar said.

The methods that the "Visalia Ransacker" used matches the "Golden State Killer," Salazar said.

He'd break into homes in the evening by prying open doors or windows. He stole keepsakes and left valuables, he'd leave items on doors or doorknobs to alert him of returning residents, and he'd eat or prepare food during his crimes, the chief said.

Victims told police they received strange phone calls weeks after the crimes, Salazar said. He prowled locations and planned escape routes and often used a bicycle to get away.

On Dec. 10, 1975, months after Snelling was killed, police believe they spotted the man responsible while doing surveillance to try to capture the "Visalia Ransacker."

The man shot at an officer during a confrontation with police in a backyard.

The bullet struck the officer's flashlight and the shooter got away. The officer saw his face and was able to give investigators a detailed composite sketch.

Afterward, the ransacker went underground and no further crimes that fit the pattern were committed in the city of Visalia, Salazar said.

A few months later, the "East Area Rapist" began terrorizing east Sacramento from 1976 to 1979, the time when DeAngelo was a cop for the nearby city of Auburn, Salazar said. He left the Exeter Police Department in 1976.
More than a half-million Los Angeles Unified School District students will head back to campus Tuesday as classes resume at the nation's second-largest school district.

Streets will likely be more congested in many neighborhoods as parents shuttle their children to school or buses maneuver through traffic delivering students. The start of school also means traditional warnings for motorists to be extra careful of students walking to class.

The school year marks the first for Austin Beutner as LAUSD superintendent, and he plans to tour a variety of campuses and meet with students and staff throughout the district to mark the first day of classes.

Beutner will begin the day with an early morning tour of Edward R. Roybal Learning Center before attending morning roll call at the Los Angeles School Police Department as officers deploy. Beutner is also scheduled to visit classrooms and meet staff at campuses including University Pathways Public Service Academy at Charles Drew Middle School, Coeur D'Alene Avenue Elementary in Venice, San Fernando Senior High School, University High School Charter in West Los Angeles and the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center in Cudahy.

The excitement of the first day of school will be slightly overshadowed by the lingering possibility of a teachers' strike. United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing district teachers, declared an impasse in contract talks last month, leading to the appointment of a state mediator.

Should mediation fail to bring the sides together, a fact-finding period will follow, after which the union could potentially call a strike.

The union has been asking for 6.5 percent salary increases, along with steps to lower class sizes, reduce standardized testing and implement "accountability measures'' for charter schools. The district has offered ongoing 2 percent salary hikes, along with a one-time 2 percent bonus and a $500 stipend for materials and supplies.
What to Know A report into child sex abuse in six Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses says thousands of young victims were abused over many decades.

A grand jury worked for two years to investigate the alleged predator priests. Some clergy opposed the release of the report.

The grand jury blacked out some accused priests' names, after some clergy said the release would violate their rights to due process.

A damning, years-long grand jury report implicates hundreds of Catholic clergy members in six of Pennsylvanias dioceses of sexually abusing thousands of young victims over many decades, court records revealed Tuesday.

Lurid details released throughout more than 1,300 pages include rape, abortions, confessions and cover-ups. It took the grand jury more than two years to fully investigate the claims contained in the sometimes explicit report.

In one diocese, for example, a priest is accused of impregnating a 17-year-old girl, forging the head pastor's signature on a marriage certificate and then divorcing the teen months later.

The scathing grand jury report marks the most sweeping look into sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in the United States, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

The grand jury investigated dioceses in Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton, which together minister to more than 1.7 million Catholics.

About 25 percent of people throughout the state identify as Catholic, according to the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.

NBC10 and Telemundo 62 were among the news organizations that joined a court case pressing for the report's release. Read it here (warning: explicit and disturbing content).

"We, members of this grand jury, need you to hear this," the report read. "There have been other reports of abuse in the Catholic Church. But never on this scale."

The grand jury heard allegations against more than 300 clergy members, according to the report. Most of the victims were boys. Some were teens, while others were prepubescent. Several alleged victims were lured with alcohol or pornography. Afterward, they turned to substance abuse and even suicide to escape the lingering trauma.

All told, more than 1,000 victims were identified from the church's own records and there could be thousands more, the grand jurors concluded.

One such victim included a 7 year old boy who was repeatedly raped by Father Edward Graff in Allentown. Graff, a physically imposing man, used so much force to subdue the boy that he severely damaged his victim's spine, Shapiro said. To treat the pain, doctors gave the boy painkillers. He became addicted and eventually overdosed.

Before his death, the victim wrote to the Diocese of Allentown saying that Graff did more than rape him.

"He killed my potential and, in doing so, killed the man I should have become," the letter read.

The victim's mother was among those interviewed by the grand jury and present during Shapiro's comments Tuesday afternoon.

"Shockingly, church leadership kept records of the abuse and the cover-up. These documents, from the dioceses' own 'Secret Archives,' formed the backbone of this investigation," Shapiro said.

Graff left the Allentown diocese in 1988 and was jailed in Texas in 2002 for molesting another boy. He died in jail.

In a separate Allentown incident, a 12-year-old boy experienced physical pain after being roughly molested by a priest, according to the grand jury report.

"Please help me," the priest later confessed.

But the diocese concluded that "the experience will not necessarily be a horrendous trauma" for the victim, and that the family should just be given "an opportunity to ventilate."

The priest continued his ministry for several more years, according to the report.

"They wanted to cover up the cover up," Shapiro said. "My office is not satisfied with the release of a redacted report."

Some victims' names were blacked out from the document but many were revealed with their permission.

Significantly, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington and the former bishop of Pittsburgh, defended himself ahead of Tuesday's revelations.

Wuerl, Pittsburgh native, wrote to priests late Monday saying he acted diligently to protect children while running that diocese for 18 years.

The grand jury named 99 so-called predator priests from the Pittsburgh diocese, however, including several whose actions were especially shocking.

"One boy was forced to stand naked on a bed in the rectory, strip naked and pose as Christ on the cross for the priests," Shapiro said. "They took photos of their victim, adding them to a collection of child pornography which they produced and shared on church grounds."

Some current and former clergy named in the report went to court to prevent its release, arguing it violated their constitutional rights to reputation and due process of law. The state Supreme Court said the public had a right to see it, but ruled the names of priests and others who objected to the findings would be blacked out pending a September hearing on their claims.

The identities of those clergy members remain under court seal.

A couple of dioceses got out ahead of the report and released the names of clergy members who were accused of sexual misconduct with children. On Friday, the bishop of Pittsburgh's diocese said a few priests named in the report are still in ministry because the diocese determined allegations against them were unsubstantiated.

The grand jury's work might not result in justice for Catholics who say they were molested as children. While the probe yielded charges against two clergymen  including a priest who has since pleaded guilty, and another who allegedly forced his accuser to say confession after each sex assault  the vast majority of priests already identified as perpetrators are either dead or are likely to avoid arrest because their alleged crimes are too old to prosecute under state law.

The document comes at a time of renewed scrutiny and fresh scandal at the highest levels of the U.S. Catholic Church. Pope Francis stripped 88-year-old Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of his title and ordered him to a lifetime of prayer and penance amid allegations that McCarrick had for years sexually abused boys and had sexual misconduct with adult seminarians.

The report reverberated around the country because of the movement of priests over the years. Father Raymond Lukac, who was named in the report, also had been assigned to parishes in Illinois and Indiana.

In Pennsylvania, criminal charges can only be brought under the statute of limitations in effect at the time of the crime.

For those alleging abuse in the 1970s, that means two years from when it happened. For others, it means two years after they turned 18. Current state law allows prosecutors to file criminal charges before the one-time child victim turns 50 and for victims to seek civil damages in court before they turn 30.

A more than 1300-page report details accusations against abusers in dioceses across Pennsylvania including clergy members in our area.
The Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign has called for a more robust, proactive Climate Change Bill, following the release of the Department of Environmental Affairs' proposal.

The Bill must make disclosure and public access to all reports, assessments, and records provided for in the Bill, mandatory. In its current form, the Bill does not require carbon budgets or annual reports on compliance with carbon budgets, for example, to be published or disclosed.

The Bill does not make clear the urgent need to curb emissions or set a clear target and strict emissions trajectory, creating dangerous uncertainty, loopholes, and the risk of further delays.

The Bill does not expressly recognise the Paris Agreement commitments  including South Africas Nationally Determined Contribution  as legally binding on all organs of state. South Africa should not be giving itself any space to deviate from those commitments, says Hugo.

The Bill places a large burden on municipalities, provinces, sector departments, and the minister, without providing for additional capacity, funding, oversight and monitoring. Many such authorities are already failing to fulfil obligations such as those relating to air quality, water, and waste management.

The Bill does not go far enough to ensure reductions of GHG emissions, or to hold to account those who contribute significantly to and/or exacerbate the impacts of climate change. Unless government holds big emitters like Sasol and Eskom to their carbon budgets under the Bill, there is little hope that these will bring about meaningful emission reductions. The Bills penalties  a R5m fine and/or five years imprisonment on a first conviction  are woefully inadequate to deter non-compliance.

The Bill does not make compulsory the assessment of climate change impacts when approving new developments. If South Africa is serious about reducing GHG emissions, the Bill must provide for independent institutional structures to oversee climate adaptation and mitigation, such as: an independent specialist advisory body; a climate change monitoring and enforcement authority; and an appeal authority.

The Bill must establish GHG inventories (a single repository of all GHG emissions data) and the keeping of, and regular reporting on, GHG and other relevant climate change data and information.

The Bill should provide for detailed facility-level reporting, transparent auditing, and verification of data. The failure to do so affects the integrity of the entire climate data and reporting system.

The Bill does not adequately empower communities and individuals to respond to the impacts of climate change and to hold those responsible (government and emission-intensive industry) accountable. The Bill must improve provisions for education, awareness-raising, and empowerment of communities, who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Addressing SAs vulnerability to climate change

While we applaud the department for taking this necessary step to regulate climate change, in order for the Bill to have any hope of serving as a useful response to climate change issues in South Africa, it needs to be much tougher about reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, preventing devastating climate change impacts, and holding emitters and government accountable, says Robyn Hugo, the head of CERs Pollution & Climate Change Programme.The campaigns main concerns and recommendations for the Bill are  in summary  the following:If polluters are not forced to be transparent about GHG emissions and their management, there is no ability for independent researchers to verify data, and for the public to hold emitters to account. Instead, it allows for private deals to be done between government and large polluters, says Makoma Lekalakala, director of Earthlife Africa.Missing entirely from the Bill is any recognition of the duty of care or climate justice. Companies that knowingly contribute to and exacerbate the impacts of climate change must be held accountable, and be forced to compensate those who suffer these impacts, says Bobby Peek, director of groundWork.According to Hugo: Rigorous climate change legislation is necessary, not only to give domestic effect to the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, but more urgently to address South Africas own vulnerability to climate change impacts, and our contributions to those impacts. By making decisions that favour the use and exploitation of fossil fuels  such as issuing environmental authorisations for proposed new coal-fired power stations  government is continuing to expose itself and its people to devastating climate impacts that will cause irreversible harm. This is not consistent with the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.Peek says: Tackling climate change now has extensive benefits for health, the environment (including water), jobs and the economy. A June 2015 Lancet report confirms that tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.With air pollution from Eskoms coal-fired power stations currently responsible for 2239 attributable deaths each year, and coal-fired power being an expensive and unnecessary electricity source, government should not waste any more time in implementing a just transition to a low carbon and climate-resilient society. The Bill must be drastically amended and urgently implemented, in order to deliver environmental justice and prevent runaway climate change, says Peek.Life After Coal is a joint campaign of non-profit environmental justice organisations groundWork, Earthlife Africa, and the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER).
What to Know Homeowners in New Jersey communities devastated from flooding over the last few days are trying to figure out their next steps

Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency in at least six counties in New Jersey

Many in areas like Howell or Little Falls don't have flood insurance because they were told they're not in flood zones

Amid a state of emergency for the New Jersey communities flooded in the latest round of storms, many residents are still scrambling to figure out what to do next.

Although Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order Tuesday declaring states of emergency for Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Ocean and Passaic counties, it's still too early to know if FEMA will come in. Some communities got enough rainfall for an entire month over the last few days.

In the Jersey Shore community of Brick Township, 100 or so residents flooded out of their homes attended a community meeting Tuesday, trying to understand the process to recovery. But even as they work to empty their houses, most are being told by their insurance companies they're not covered.

Homeowners Janet and Rob Burnside showed News 4 the destruction inside their home: three feet of water scattered memories everywhere, little of which can be salvaged. Their first order of business is taking photos of everything, but they're not even sure if they'll return.

"I don't know, where are we going to go?"

The streets in the mostly senior community are littered with what used to be furnishings froms homes. The Red Cross is trying to help those who will stay, handing out cleanup kits of brooms, mops and bleach.

On the Manasquan River, the backyard of a home on a small bluff has washed away: "My wife actually saw a huge part of the yard just break away," said homeowner Shawn Dunphy.

And in Monmouth County, four roads were closed Tuesday, including Allenwood Road in Howell, where bridges were severely compromised by rushing waters.

Over in Passaic County, residents in Little Falls are still in shock from the sudden deluge over the weekend. John Reilly says floodwater from Saturday's torrential rain swept the foundation right out from underneath the Cedar Drive home he's lived in for 27 years. He's one of the lucky few with flood insurance, but it doesn't cover anything in his basement, which contained a bar, a pool table and a wine cellar.

Reilly says the now-viral video showing vehicles from the Jeep/Chrysler dealership by the Route 46 bridge sweeping away and piling up is "what happens when you don't fix something." The makeshift dam stopped the Peckman River from flowing downstream and instead "found its way right into our neighborhood."

Little Falls and Woodland Park are investigating whether the Route 46 Jeep/Chrysler dealer had too many vehicles in general, and whether they were parking them too close to the river. Reilly says the towns have to make more room for the river at the overpass to prevent the next flood.

"We did the Panama Canal, you're telling me we can't fix a creek? Give me a break," he said.

Other neighbors are devastated, having to leave so many of their waterlogged possessions out at the curb.
What to Know Illegal school trailers have popped up in Rockland amid increasing demand for private religious schools to serve ultra-Orthodox Jews there

Trailers were first constructed at 261 Route 306 in Monsey in 2015, and still don't have a certificate of occupancy

Residents say they are worried about safety inside the trailers and on the neighboring roads

A new neighborhood battle is erupting in Rockland County over school trailers housing hundreds of children amid an increasing demand for private, religious schools to serve the ultra-orthodox Jewish community.

As the controversy has plagued Rockland in recent years, Monsey resident Reuven Weinstein is leading the fight against the series of "temporary" trailers for a school at 261 Route 306 in Monsey, which has not had a certificate of occupancy for nearly a year. The trailers were first constructed in 2015. Congregation Bair Chinuch Alteres Bnos is affiliated with a property next door, where several hundred more children attend school in a different building.

"How is a building being occupied by nearly 300 children without a certificate of occupancy? Arent those certificates of occupancies for all our safety? How is the town letting this slide?" Weinstein said.

Weinstein said he is worried about safety inside the school and on the neighboring road, where traffic has become increasingly congested. The longtime resident lost his son at a nearby intersection in 2005, when a car ran a red light and struck the 10-year-old boy as he was riding his bicycle home from a friend's house. Weinstein claimed the intersection was dangerous when his son died, and that it has become even more problematic since the school opened a few years ago.

"Its only gotten worse," he said. "The traffic is uncontrollable. Theres more traffic here than can be handled."

Ramapo's prior administration was plagued by building department scandals. Recently elected supervisor Michael Specht said his administration is trying to get a court order banning the school at 261 Route 306 from operating until representatives get the required approvals.

"Its illegal," Specht said, "but there is no remedy in the law that allows us to shut them down."

The supervisor said an inspector recently went into the property after a fire call but did not find any serious safety issues. In February, an inspection noted "dangerous conditions" and multiple fire violations, which the town said were addressed.

Justin Schwartz, chairman of the Rockland County illegal housing and private school task force, said, "Im asking people to intervene before we bring out body bags. People seem not to care about the children. Not the firefighters, not anyone."

A representative for the school, who declined to speak to the I-Team on camera, said they are working with the town. In court papers, an attorney said the school has been singled out for discrimination and that "numerous violations exist for similarly situated properties throughout the Town of Ramapo."

Retired Rockland fire coordinator Gordon Wren said, "Its epidemic. Its widespread. And its not just the schools. Its all over. The lack of enforcement is just criminal."
Former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman says in her new book that President Donald Trump and his chief of staff, John Kelly, "referred to Puerto Ricans with derogatory terms many times," NBC News reported. Manigault Newman did not detail what those terms were.

In "Unhinged," Manigault Newman also says that the president tossing rolls of paper towels to Hurricane Maria victims during his visit to the devastated island was a moment of "cavalier behavior in the face of human tragedy."

She asserts "many of the problems and delays with getting aid to Puerto Rico were partly political." Kelly fought efforts to secure aid for Puerto Rico, believing its government was trying to exploit the tragedy to get money from Washington, she alleges.

Manigualt Newman instead cast herself and former homeland security adviser Tom Bossert as fighters for resources for Puerto Rico.

The White House had no immediate comment on Manigault Newman's allegations.


Rafters who rented from a Pennsylvania company were found safe Monday night following an extensive, multi-county search, state police said.



An empty raft was found in the Lehigh River around 6:40 p.m. in Bowmanstown which raised concerns that rafters were missing. Officials then checked with a company that rented the rafts out of Nesquehoning, Carbon County, and were told that 30 who went out on the river Monday morning were still unaccounted for.

Crews searched along the Lehigh River in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties and rescued stranded rafters in the process.

Officials later confirmed that all of the more than 200 people who rented from the company were accounted for and safe.


What to Know Saudia Shuler allegedly collected nearly $37,000 in government benefits by claiming she was disabled while continuing to work

In 2017, Shuler made headlines for spending $25,000 on a camel, three tons of sand and exotic cars to celebrate her son's prom

"She is obviously upset because there are allegations contained in the indictment that are absolutely untrue," her lawyer said

A North Philadelphia restaurateur who gained local fame last year for spending $25,000 on her son's prom, including camels, has been charged with defrauding the Social Security Administration.

Saudia Shuler was indicted for allegedly collecting nearly $37,000 in government benefits by claiming she was disabled yet continuing to work, according to the U.S. attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania.

"The defendant applied for benefits from the Social Security Administration, claiming she was disabled and unable to work. After Social Security approved benefits, the defendant continued working, including the operation of her own restaurant," a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office said in an email Tuesday. "This work and income was never reported to Social Security, in violation of program rules."

Prom was really a movie. My vision is Dubai came to Norrh Philly.  S/O @pc.prince for JJ's custom #SnapchatFilter A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 2, 2017 at 8:46pm PDT

My son so thurl . You the shit son @jjedenjr . All I asked for was straight AAAAAAA all Ur life and u sis that .  A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 2, 2017 at 8:48pm PDT

If she is found guilty, Shuler faces a maximum sentence of 140 years in prison.

The fraud charges come in the aftermath of a momentous year for Shuler, 44, who twice made headlines for lavish spending.

Jay stylist killed it . You are amazing @stylesbychey . thank u A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 3, 2017 at 9:58am PDT

My cakes was amaZing @_sweetaffection . You never disappoint me. thank u A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 2, 2017 at 8:59pm PDT

Prom was really a movie. My vision is Dubai came to Norrh Philly.  S/O @pc.prince for JJ custom #SnapchatFilter A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 2, 2017 at 8:46pm PDT

The whole city came out for my boy @jjedenjr prom A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 2, 2017 at 8:38pm PDT

The real deal for my son @jjedenjr . All the fake ones that tried to stop my show it shines brighter .  A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 2, 2017 at 8:03pm PDT

Dubai was really in North Philly yall . I hope Yall enjoyed it A post shared by Saudia Shuler (@countrycookin1) on Jun 2, 2017 at 7:44pm PDT

In the spring of 2017, Shuler spent $25,000 on a camel, three tons of sand and exotic cars for a massive event in her neighborhood celebrating her sons prom.

It was dubbed "Dubai to Philly."



Months later, at Christmastime, the North Philly restaurant owner held another big party in her neighborhood. It featured hundreds of gifts and two reindeer.

I know what hard time is, Saudia Shuler told the crowd of hundreds who gathered along North 22nd Street. Because I come from hard times.

The event was held at Country Cookin', the restaurant Shuler owns. She put her role as a business owner aside for the night and became "Saudia Claus," handing out hundreds of gifts to excited children.

We gave them 140 bikes, she said. We gave out over 50 scooters. We gave out 'Batman' cars, like the remote-controlled cars you put your feet on and then drive.



Shuler told NBC10 that she used the chances to celebrate her good fortunes after dealing with tragedies, including the murder of her son's father and multiple health scares over the past decade.

I had a stroke. I had seizures. I had cancer, she said. All within the last three years.

At the time, Shuler said shed received donations from all over the country to help pay for the outsize events.

After reading his client's indictment, Philadelphia-based attorney Tariq El-Shabazz, said, "I didn't see the meat yet, I've just seen the bones." He added that Shuler is still waiting to see what evidence the U.S. attorney's office will present.

"She is obviously upset because there are allegations contained in the indictment that are absolutely untrue," El-Shabazz said.

Other allegations are being turned around to look different than reality, he said.

She faces six counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government funds and two counts of Social Security fraud.
What to Know The suspect, Keenan Jones, allegedly opened fire inside the Cedarbrook Plaza Walmart store Tuesday night then led officers on a chase.

Jones also allegedly fought responding Philly officers after fleeing the scene with a woman and crashing into a police car.

All of eight victims of the shooting and fight suffered non-life threatening injuries, police said. Two suspects were taken into custody.

An argument inside a crowded suburban Philadelphia Walmart escalated into a shooting, crash and fight with responding officers that left five people shot and others wounded in the "chaos" of gunfire.

The alleged gunman was identified Wednesday as Keenan Jones of Philadelphia. He faces one count of attempted murder, 13 counts of aggravated assault, 19 counts of reckless endangerment and related gun charges. He was held on $1 million bail.

The shooting began shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday inside the Walmart at Cedarbrook Plaza Shopping Center on South Easton Road in Wyncote. An argument near the checkout line allegedly pre-empted the shooting, police said.

"Words were exchanged" and the suspect pulled a gun from his female companion's waistband and fired "at least 10 shots," Cheltenham Township Chief of Police John Frye said.



Jones, 30, and the woman are brother and sister, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office said. She has not been identified or charged.

Photos: 'Chaos' of Gunfire and Police Pursuit During Suburban Philadelphia Walmart Shooting

Two women in their 40s and a man in his 40s were wounded in the legs and another person had a graze wound to the leg. A fifth person later went to a hospital with unspecified injuries caused by gunfire. In addition, a pregnant woman was taken to the hospital after a fall, police said.

None of the injuries are life-threatening, officials said. Two of the victims are Walmart employees, the company said.

"The surveillance depicts Jones standing in the check-out line and then starting to walk towards the back of the line when he pulls out a black semi-automatic handgun and fires a single round at a male who is standing only feet away, striking him," the criminal complaint filed Wednesday read. "Jones then begins to run through the front end of the store and is seen firing additional rounds indiscriminately."

The complaint described the scene captured on the surveillance video as "chaos" and "pandemonium," which led to a pregnant woman falling to the ground. She was hurt, the complaint said.

Customers and employees inside the store ducked for cover as bullets flew near the checkout line.

"It was rough just seeing everybody running for cover," a woman who said she was next to the gunman, told NBC10. "People were terrified. They were jumping over the register."



Jones and his sister fled the Walmart in a Pontiac Grand Prix, police said.

"He kept straight coming down," according to a witness, who said she was nearly struck by the vehicle. "He didn't stop."

Keenan Jones, the man accused of opening fire inside a Cheltenham Township Walmart store Tuesday, apologized while appearing before a judge Wednesday.

After allegedly tossing the gun out of the car, Jones and his sister crashed into the back of an empty police vehicle at Forrest Avenue and East Sedgwick Street in neighboring Philadelphia, according to investigators.

"The officers just got done taking a theft report and saw the vehicle crash into a police vehicle, thinking it was just an auto accident," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.



The two tried to flee the scene after the crash, but were taken into custody by responding officers, police said. A witness told NBC10 that Jones resisted arrest and it took several officers to apprehend him and place him inside a police vehicle.

Shooting inside a Walmart in Cheltenham ends at Sedgwick and Williams in Philadelphia. Witness: Suspects car rams into a parked Police SUV and then two people take-off. Police catch-up to them. @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/B0067jhjEl  Denise Nakano (@DeniseNakanoTV) August 14, 2018

While inside the vehicle, Jones allegedly tried to kick out the window. He also managed to bring his cuffed hands in front of him and attack officers, according to police. Police then used a Taser to subdue him.



Police said Jones appeared to be either high on narcotics, intoxicated or both. Both he and his sister were taken to the hospital.

Getty Images

Two officers also suffered minor injuries during the fight with Jones, police said.

Frye called the shooting a "very dangerous situation," given that it was a "very crowded Walmart, a lot of shots were low, the floor is hard ... there's a risk of ricochet." Reports from the hospital, he said, indicate that the suspected shooter was "definitely on some type of drugs."



Jones's weapon was recovered on the 8300 block of Cheltenham Avenue, according to investigators.

In court Wednesday morning, Jones apologized and said "I don't know what the hell I did," reported NBC10's Drew Smith. Jones also claimed he hadn't slept in five days.

Keenan Jones apologized in court, claims I dont know what the hell I did and that he hadnt slept in 5 days. Hes charged with shooting 5 people at a Walmart. Held on $1 million cash bail @NBCPhiladelphia https://t.co/vivmsRMnKo  Drew Smith (@drewsmithtv) August 15, 2018

A total of 22 police departments from Montgomery County and Philadelphia responded to the Walmart. A SWAT team went inside to clear the building. Investigators remained inside the store overnight. By Wednesday morning, workers were back in the store which reopened later during the day.



"We are relieved that an arrest has been made and thankful that injuries sustained by two of our associates and a customer are non-life threatening," Walmart spokesperson Casey Stahli said. "Local authorities acted quickly and did an outstanding job. Our focus remains on supporting our associates and continuing to assist law enforcement."
What to Know The Pinellas County Sheriffs Office announced Monday that the State Attorney has filed a manslaughter charge against Michael Drejka.

The case gained national attention after Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced shortly after the shooting that he would not charge

The Florida man at the center of a controversial "Stand Your Ground" case who fatally shot another man during a dispute at a convenience store parking lot faces manslaughter charges.

Michael Drejka, 47, has been charged with the July 19 death of Markeis McGlockton outside a Clearwater convenience store, Pinellas County State Attorney Bernie McCabe said. Drejka, who is white, was being held at the county jail on $100,000 bail. It is unknown if he has an attorney.

McGlockton's girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, who was seated in the couple's car with two of their children, ages 3 years and 4 months, said Drejka confronted her for being parked in a handicapped-accessible space. McGlockton, a 28-year-old black man, had gone into the store with their 5-year-old son. Jacobs said Drejka cursed at her. Video shows McGlockton exited the store and shoved Drejka to the ground. Seconds later, Drejka pulled a handgun and shot McGlockton as he backed away.

In court documents, McCabe and Pinellas sheriff's Detective George Moffett cited three other drivers who said Drejka threatened them during confrontations that preceded his run-in with McGlockton. Two of them said he displayed a gun.

A black man who drives a septic truck told Moffett he parked in the same handicapped-accessible spot three months before the shooting, the documents show. The man said Drejka began yelling at him and said he would shoot him. The driver said he left, but as he pulled away Drejka shouted racial slurs. The man's boss told Moffett that Drejka later called, telling him "that he was lucky he didn't blow his employee's head off."

In separate 2012 cases, drivers reported that Drejka waved a gun at them during road rage confrontations. In both cases, officers stopped Drejka and found a gun in his car, but he denied showing it to the other drivers. In one case, the teenage driver didn't want to press charges. In the other, the driver left before the officer could get her information.

McGlockton family attorney Benjamin Crump  who gained national prominence representing the family of Trayvon Martin after the black teen's fatal shooting by a Hispanic man in 2012  said in a statement Monday "it's about time" Drejka was arrested.

The family, civil rights groups and others had been holding protests demanding he be charged, saying if Drejka had been black and McGlockton white, deputies would have arrested Drejka immediately or shot him.

"This self-appointed wannabe cop attempted to hide behind 'Stand Your Ground' to defend his indefensible actions, but the truth has finally cut through the noise," Crump said. "I have full faith that this truth will prevail to punish this cold-blooded killer who angrily created the altercation that led to Markeis' needless death."

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri originally declined to charge Drejka, saying one day after the shooting that the man was protected by Florida's stand-your-ground law. The sheriff passed the case to prosecutors for a final decision. The law says people can use deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and have no obligation to retreat. Under a change made by the Legislature last year, if a suspect raises a stand-your-ground defense, prosecutors must prove the law doesn't apply.

Gualtieri said in a statement Monday that he supported McCabe's decision.

Store security video shows the confrontation began about a minute after Jacobs pulled into the handicapped-accessible spot. Jacobs told Moffett that McGlockton had picked her up from her job as a nursing assistant and that two trucks blocked her from getting to other spaces. McGlockton and his oldest son got out and entered the store.

Drejka pulled up in his SUV seconds later, parking perpendicular to Jacobs. Drejka got out, walked to the back of Jacobs' car, looked at the license plate, and then went to the front, apparently looking for a handicapped sticker there. Jacobs told Moffett that Drejka began yelling at her. The video shows him pointing to two empty spaces nearby.

The video then shows him walking to Jacobs' window. A man entering the store about 15 feet (5 meters) away stops to look. He later told Moffett he thought about intervening on Jacobs' behalf.

McGlockton then exits the store, walks toward Drejka and  just as Jacobs gets out of the car  shoves Drejka with both hands. Drejka lands on his back and McGlockton takes a step toward him. Drejka sits up, pulls his gun and points it at McGlockton, who takes three steps back until he is about 12 feet away (3.6 meters). Drejka fires, hitting McGlockton, who runs back into the store clutching his chest. Witnesses said he collapsed in front of his son, waiting inside.

Crump also represented the family of Martin, a 17-year-old black youth who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, a Hispanic man who was his Orlando-area neighborhood's watch captain. Zimmerman had confronted Martin, who was walking back to the home of his father's fiancee after making a purchase at a convenience store.

Zimmerman said he thought Martin might be a burglar casing homes. They fought and Zimmerman fatally shot him. There were no eyewitnesses or videos. Zimmerman said he feared Martin, who was unarmed, was about to kill him and a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder.
What to Know Fighting in Afghanistan has intensified in recent weeks despite a fleeting outbreak of peace earlier in the summer

The Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield, most recently with an attack on Ghazni, which killed about 120 people since Friday

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says it's too early to render judgment on whether peace talks will emerge anytime soon

A year after the Trump administration introduced its strategy for Afghanistan, the Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield even as U.S. officials talk up hopes for peace. That's raising questions about the viability of the American game plan for ending a war that began when some of the current U.S. troops were in diapers.

A Taliban assault on Ghazni, a key city linking areas of Taliban influence barely 75 miles from Kabul, has killed about 100 Afghan security forces and 20 civilians since Friday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said. That has demonstrated the militants' ability to attack, if not hold, a strategic center on the nation's main highway, and highlighted the vulnerability of Afghan security forces.

In a reminder that U.S. troops and their families are paying a heavy price, even with Afghan forces in the lead combat role, the Pentagon announced Monday that a 36-year-old soldier, Staff Sgt. Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion of Waikoloa, Hawaii, died Sunday of wounds sustained on a combat patrol in the Helmand province.

Against that turbulent backdrop, some wonder whether President Donald Trump can resist pulling the plug on a war in which the U.S. is still spending $4 billion-plus a year just to keep Afghan forces afloat. He said when he introduced his strategy on Aug. 21, 2017, that his instinct was to withdraw entirely.

Fighting across the country has intensified in recent weeks despite a fleeting outbreak of peace earlier in the summer. Taliban and the Afghan government called separate, briefly overlapping, national cease fires in June, and the administration has made its own contact with the Taliban in hopes of nudging them into talks with Kabul.

The strategy revisits an approach that was tried, and failed, under President Barack Obama: increasing military pressure to push the Taliban into peace negotiations with the Afghan government. Signs point to Trump pressing ahead; he is about to send a new Army general, Scott Miller, to take charge of the U.S.-led coalition in Kabul.

David Sedney, who has worked on Afghan issues as a civilian, including multiple years in Kabul and at the Pentagon, since the war began in October 2001, said he believes the chances for peace are the best they've been.

"That doesn't mean they're great," he said in an interview. "It just means they're better."

Among the meaningful factors at play, Sedney says, is Trump's announcement a year ago that the U.S. would no longer set time limits on its military support for Afghanistan. This introduced an element of uncertainty for the Taliban, he said. On the other hand, the current U.S. push to draw Taliban leaders into peace negotiations with Kabul must succeed soon, he said, or risk following the failed path of previous efforts.

Trump also gave the U.S. military more leeway to attack the Taliban, and a few thousand additional U.S. troops were sent to Afghanistan this year as part of an effort to improve the effectiveness of training and advising Afghan ground forces, while also developing a small Afghan air force. The battlefield results have been mixed, however, as the Taliban have managed to preserve their influence in numerous districts.

Early in 2018 the U.S. military declared Afghanistan to be its top combat priority, supplanting the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Key U.S. warplanes, including A-10 ground attack aircraft, were switched to Afghanistan, and the Pentagon introduced a newly formed outfit called a Security Force Assistance Brigade of U.S. soldiers assigned to help Afghan forces closer to the battlefield.

With Ghazni under threat, the U.S. has dispatched military advisers to assist the Afghan forces in retaking the besieged city, and has launched airstrikes.

Seth Jones, a longtime watcher of Afghanistan and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it was unlikely the Taliban will be able to hold populated areas of Ghazni for long. The militants have lacked sufficient popular support and military power to hold population centers.

But the Taliban's ability to mass forces in multiple areas of Afghanistan at virtually the same time_including in Ghazni, Faryab, Baghlan, and Kunduz provinces  should worry Afghan and U.S. officials. Tribal leaders and local officials had been repeatedly warning Afghan policymakers in Kabul that the Taliban was preparing for a broad offensive in Ghazni, Jones said.

He remains skeptical the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan will work as he sees no sign that Trump is willing to take what could be a game-changing move: to target the top Taliban leaders in their Pakistan sanctuaries.

"Much like Bush and Obama, the Trump administration has other areas of the world that it would rather focus on, whether it's the Korean Peninsula or Iran or China more broadly, and to move on, if possible, from Afghanistan," Jones said. "If a settlement is the way to do that, then they are willing to give that a shot. The challenge, though, is that it is still not clear to me that the Taliban is seriously interested in peace negotiations" in terms that would be acceptable to the U.S. and the Afghan governments, including making a formal, public break with al-Qaida.

"The Taliban is willing to talk a little bit about talks, but not to sit down and formally negotiate," he added. "I think they view time as in their favor and that the longer the war continues, the better their negotiating position."

The group has growing regional clout. The Taliban assault on Ghazni began as the head of its political office was wrapping up a rare diplomatic foray in neighboring Uzbekistan.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who helped persuade Trump last summer not to quit Afghanistan, says it's too early to render judgment on whether peace talks will emerge anytime soon.

"No doubt the strategy has confronted the Taliban with a reason to go to cease fires ... and to go into discussions" about potential negotiations, he said Aug. 7. "But it is still early in that reconciliation process."
A Santa Rosa family celebrated a first special day of school Monday because, thanks to a judges order, their 5-year-old child will be able to attend kindergarten and bring her medical marijuana products on campus.

When Brooke Adams walked onto campus Monday morning she was setting a legal precedent.

While medical and recreation marijuana became legal in the state of California, it's still illegal to have marijuana products on public school campuses. Brooke will be one of the first children in the state and country to be legally allowed to be given medical marijuana at school.

When she was just an infant, Brook was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome.

It gives her seizures that dont stop very easily, or dont stop at all, her father Jon Adams told NBC Bay Area.

Her seizures would last for half an hour  or longer  and paramedics would often have to be called.

Doctors tried a number of powerful drugs to control and prevent them. But none seemed effective  and they all had powerful side effects.

Behavioral problems, sleep deprived, different things that not good for her, her mother Jana Adams said.

When Brooke was a little more than a year old, she was issued a medical marijuana card. Her parents say the two products she uses  daily CBD oil and emergency THC oil  are very effective.

CBD is a chemical found in marijuana plants that doesn't produce psychoactive activity the same way THC does. THC is the psychoactive constituent of cannabis that produces the "high" effect.

Brooke now has fewer seizures and they only last three to four minutes after the administration of the oil, according to her family.

With the emergency THC medicine, she pretty much just like, takes a nap, and shes back to normal, her father said.

Lawmakers didnt take into account that maybe students would be on cannabis and need it at school, Adams said, so the family went to court.

A judge is still weighing their case but he did issue a temporary stay, allowing brook to attend class at least until his decision.

The school district issued this statement about brooks situation saying: "The Rincon valley unified school district is happy to have the opportunity to serve brook and now has direction from the court to be able to do so.

The Adams have already met with the school nurse to teach her how to administer the emergency THC oil.

The judge is expected to issue his final decision on this case in late September or early October.

CORRECTION (Aug. 16, 2018. 8:39 a.m.): An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the first name of Jana Adams.
Cameroonian authorities should speedily investigate an alleged arson attack on community radio station Sky FM in the volatile Northwest region and ensure those responsible are prosecuted, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.

An alleged arson attack on Cameroon's Sky FM gutted the private community radio station in the Northwest Region town of Ndu destroying equipment, furniture, and the studio. Credit: Barnard Tata Gibip/CPJ Africa.

Targeted

Threats

Unknown persons on August 3 set fire to the station, destroying the building and equipment, according to the station owner Abdou Borno, an article on Sky FM's official Facebook page, Cameroonian journalist Ndi Eugene Ndi, and two local websites report. The equipment included two transmitters, computers, four recorders, a video camera, a mixer, decoder, television set, and office furniture, according to Borno.The radio station is based in the town of Ndu, about 124 km (77 miles) from Bamenda, the capital of the Northwest region--one of two regions where Anglophone separatists have been waging an armed struggle for an independent state called Ambazonia against the predominately French-speaking government of President Paul Biya , according to news reports. A recent Human Rights Watch report blamed both sides for grave abuses against civilians, including killings."All parties to the conflict in Cameroon, whether government forces or Ambazonians, should stop targeting journalists and media organizations and allow them to operate safely and without fear of reprisal," said Angela Quintal, CPJ Africa Program Coordinator. "The media is not the enemy. Journalists are simply trying to do their jobs by ensuring that citizens are armed with useful information in what has become an increasingly bloody phase in Cameroon's history."Borno told CPJ that he learned of the fire the morning of August 4 when the manager of the nearby Summit Hotel, Nformi Victor, called him to tell him that the radio station had burned down. According to Borno, Victor told him that a hotel receptionist heard a noise at about 11pm, the night before; she did not investigate further since she did not hear the noise again and because it was windy.Sky FM's station manager, Bernard Tata Gibip, found a cutlass, gasoline container, and a box of matches near the radio station after he too was alerted by Victor, Borno told CPJ.The station broadcasts in English and "all other local languages including Limbum and Mbororo", on topics including culture, health, and the economy, according to Borno, who is a local official of Biya's ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement party. The station also broadcasts BBC programs and national broadcasts in French.Borno told CPJ on August 7 that he believed his radio station was targeted because of its "Back to School" campaign, which began last year encouraging students to return to school. The new school year starts in September, and a school boycott has been in place since November 2016 when lawyers and teachers in both the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions began protesting the alleged marginalisation of English by Biya's central government in Yaounde, according to news reports.The grassroots protest was then taken over by separatist factions as the conflict escalated with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accusing them of violently enforcing the boycott, according to the independent humanitarian news website, IRIN The station has been off air since May 19 after its two transmitters were damaged in a lightening strike; they were planning to relaunch the week of August 8, according to Borno.Borno told CPJ that because the new school year starts next month, the "separatist activists know very well our stand so they decided to burn the entire radio house with all equipment."In a detailed emailed statement to CPJ, a spokesperson for the separatists' Self Defense Council of the Ambazonian Interim Government (ASC), A.J.N. Mbiydzenyuy, said it controlled about 98% of the "restoration forces"-- which are the self-defence units of the separatist Ambazonia movement-- in the Northwest and Southwest regions and that there was no evidence that they were responsible for the arson attack."The ASC leadership has never approved [an] arson attack, the restoration forces council in Nkambe is unaware of any involvement of their forces... and the field commanders of our forces in Ndu declined responsibility of the FM radio station arson attack," he said.CPJ could not verify independently the alleged motive or whether separatists were responsible for the alleged arson.Ndi, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the weekly NewsWatch , told CPJ that both the government and separatists were targeting journalists. "Separatists are threatening us with messages that we are siding with government in our reports as we try to stay neutral or objective in the crisis. On the other hand, any report that seems to be propagating the agenda of the separatists is tantamount to the crime of 'apologies de terrorisme' punishable under the anti-terrorism law by the government," he said.Borno said he employed four staff members to report and produce programs. He said that the station, which he established in 2013, was not a profit-making enterprise, nor was it subsidised by the government.Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who also serves as a government spokesperson, did not respond to CPJ's request via Whatsapp for comment. The Northwest Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique had not replied to CPJ's request for comment at the time of publication.In a Cameroon special report about the abuse of anti-terror laws against journalists published last year, CPJ spoke to journalists who said they were increasingly caught between the Cameroonian government and separatists.
The two women whose bodies were discovered about three miles apart in Escondido, and who were believed to have been killed by the same man, were sisters, police said Monday.

Gabriella Soto, 26, was found dead at about 4:15 a.m. Thursday in a burned-out SUV near Kauana Loa and Country Club drives just west of Stone Brewing, the Escondido Police Department (EPD) said.

The plates on the vehicle led officers to a home in the 500 block of W. 11th Avenue, about a mile south of the Escondido Center for the Arts, where Gabriella Sotos sister, Veronica Soto Ortega, 30, was found dead, EPD said. The two sisters lived at the residence together.

Officers found two children asleep inside the residence when they arrived. The children were not harmed and were taken into protective custody, EPD said.

Veronica Soto Ortega's estranged husband, Juan Carlos Ortega, 33, is accused of murder in the sisters' deaths, the Escondido Police Department (EPD) said.

Early in their investigation, officials believed there was a connection between the two women, prompting the department to lead a homicide investigation that lasted more than 12 hours.

Juan Carlos Ortega was located at about 8:30 p.m. the same day and booked into Vista Detention Facility on two counts of murder and one count of arson.

EPD did not release details on possible motives or the events leading up to both deaths.

Both locations are just south of State Route 78. The home is located east of Interstate 15 while the burned-out vehicle was found west of I-15.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.
A man initially arrested in the Monday shooting death of a chef in the Gaslamp Quarter is now considered a person of interest, police said.

Joseph Aaron Holtz, 33, was shot at least once in the torso just before 2 a.m. after a confrontation between two groups near the intersection of 5th Avenue and Market Street, outside Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, the San Diego Police Department said.

People in the area rushed to aid Holtz. Medics arrived and took over life-saving efforts but he was pronounced dead at the scene about 20 minutes after he was shot, SDPD Lt. Matt Dobbs said.

Witnesses told police they saw two men leave the scene in a taxi. Those two men were located at 15th Street and Imperial Avenue, less than a mile from where the shooting occurred, and were taken into custody for questioning, Dobbs said.

One of the men, 23-year-old Jonathan Hernandez, was arrested and booked into jail, Dobbs said.

However, on Wednesday, Dobbs said Hernandez was considered a person of interest, not a suspect.

"After discussing the developments with the District Attorneys Office, no charges will be filed at this time pending further investigation," Dobbs said.



Throughout the police investigation Monday morning, people stood outside the police-tape perimeter hoping they would not learn they knew the victim.

But their suspicions were confirmed -- Holtz was their co-worker, an employee of the Myst Lounge, they told NBC 7.

Friends described him as family.

"A very good guy; kind heart," the man's friend, Shaun Spearman said. "Would take care of anybody, looked out for anybody. He had just a big heart."



Flowers were placed outside the Myst Lounge, which had curtains covering the closed door Monday afternoon.
What to Know Melissa Howard last week posted a photo of herself with what looked like a Miami University diploma after being accused of lying.

The Ohio university later sent reporters a statement saying she attended the school, but never graduated.

A Republican candidate for the Florida Legislature who falsely claimed she had a college degree and posted a purported copy of her diploma online dropped out of her race on Tuesday.

Melissa Howard told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that the right thing to do was drop out of the race for the Florida House seat.

"I made a terrible error in judgment," Howard said. "I am thankful for everyone who gave so much toward my success, and I am deeply sorry."

Howard last week posted a photo of herself with what looked like a Miami University diploma after being accused of lying about her degree. The Ohio university later sent reporters a statement saying she attended the school, but never graduated and the diploma Howard posted has inaccuracies.

Howard later posted an apology on her campaign Facebook page and admitted she didn't graduate from the school.

The House seat represents portions of Manatee and Sarasota counties. She would have faced primary opponent Tommy Gregory if she had stayed in the race.

Sarasota County GOP chairman Joe Gruters told The Associated Press that Howard made the right decision.

"I think she saved the party and community a lot of heartache," Gruters said. "I hope she gets the help she needs."

With Florida's primary in two weeks, it's too late to get her name off the ballot. Vote by mail ballots were sent out a month ago, and about 20,000 Republican votes have already been cast.

"I can't imagine that voters would have given her a pass on this, but we will never know," Gruters said. "This is a good example for everybody, that if something is in their background, A, be prepared for it to come up, and B, the cover-up is always worse than what happened."
The Washington DC VA Medical Center is apologizing to its patients for a shortage of accessible parking spaces.

An investigation by the News4 I-Team revealed struggles by patients with disabilities to find parking spaces for medical appointments at the giant medical center.

Video and interviews by the I-Team show patients with severe mobility limitations making long, winding walks through car traffic and small hills to get access to the building.

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The DC VA Medical Center is the flagship facility in the nationwide health system run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It has more than 100,000 patients and approximately 2,000 employees, but parking spaces are limited on the congested campus along Irving Street NW.

A parking garage construction project is expected to add 460 new spaces once its completed in March.

In the meantime, patients and staffers told the I-Team parking can be scarce and challenging during peak hours at the medical center.

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Sometimes if I have a noon appointment, Ill leave home at 8 oclock in the morning, said Jonathan Warwick, a U.S. Army veteran from Gaithersburg, Maryland, who is recovering from a fractured spine and two recently replaced hips.

I-Team cameras captured video of Warwick attempting to walk up a small grassy hill to get access to his car in a parking spot nearly 1,000 feet from the medical center entrance.

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One time my foot got stuck and I fell walking there, Warwick said. I told my doctor about it.

An internal VA study of accessibility challenges released under the Freedom of Information Act reveals agency officials were aware of the parking challenges in D.C. Even for the able bodied it is a hike from car to front door, the study says. A visitor must walk in the drive aisles through parking lots or on grass around parking lots because the only sidewalks are up at the building perimeter. For disabled patients this is an unacceptable deficiency.

Army veteran Sequoia Pointer of Waldorf, Maryland, said the valet system offered by the medical center requires patients wait 30 to 60 minutes before they deposit their cars. Pointer uses a motorized scooter as he recovers from the effects of a stroke.

I give myself two hours (to find parking), he said. If I start doing the valet, itll be two and a half hours.

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In response to questions from the I-Team, an agency spokeswoman said, We fully understand the frustration veterans and visitors are experiencing when parking at the facility. We offer our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience the Patient and Visitor Parking Garage construction project may cause.

In a good way, business is booming at the VA, said Heather Ansley, acting associate director of Paralyzed Veterans of America. A lot of veterans go get their care. But that poses some logistical challenges.

If there are complications anywhere along the spectrum, you may have people say, Im not getting the health care that I really need, Ansley said.

The VA study released to the I-Team shows parking challenges exist at more than a dozen other VA facilities nationwide. The study shows additional handicapped-accessible parking spaces are needed at medical centers in Beckley, West Virginia; Augusta, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Officials with the Veterans of Foreign Wars said the agency should be advocating for better funding from Congress for its maintenance and medical center upgrades.

Theres a backlog, VFW Associate Director Patrick Murray said. They simply cant perform all these tasks on a yearly basis. It would involve a major effort to do so.

Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones and Jeff Piper.


Police in D.C. and Arlington say they've caught a man responsible for a string of sex crimes dating back to 2016.

Santiago Rodriquez Campos, 34, of Fairfax County, was arrested Aug. 9 and charged with an incident that happened nearly a year ago.

Police say the victim was walking in the area of 14th Street North on Aug. 29, 2017, when a man approached her from behind, exposed his genitals and brushed against her. The suspect left the scene before police arrived.

He was arrested after two D.C. officers spotted him wearing a white-and-red mask and appearing to be preparing to sneak up on a woman, police said.

Officers got Campos' DNA and linked him to four cases in D.C. and one in Arlington. In Arlington, he's a suspect in at least nine other cases.

"Obviously, this is somebody who has been doing this behavior for a long time, so in addition to our detectives reviewing this, we're asking the public to come forward if they have any information," Arlington police spokeswoman Ashley Savage said.

Campos has been charged with sexual battery and indecent exposure. Additional charges are pending, police say.
Despite pandemic lockdown restrictions Norwich Youth For Christ increased its contacts with young people both in person and online in the last year.

Despite pandemic lockdown restrictions Norwich Youth For Christ increased its contacts with young people both in person and online in the last year.

Norfolk charity seeks volunteer Bible distributors Good News for Everyone, formerly the Gideons, is looking for new members to join in its Bible distribution in Norfolk. Read more

Norwich church opens first money advice centre A Norwich church has opened a new Community Money Advice Centre to offer debt advice, help with claiming benefits and financial education. Read more

Dig now, bloom later for Sheringham church Members of Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham gathered one Sunday in October to plant daffodil bulbs at various locations in Sheringham as part of programme of activities aimed at serving the local community. Read more

Wild Church Norfolk produces a worship toolkit Charlie Houlder-Moat from the Diocese of Norwich Mission Enablers Team has written a Wild Church Toolkit to explore Christian spirituality and mission in the natural world. Read more

Job vacancies at Norfolk Christian retirement home Christian retirement home, Quebec Hall, near Dereham in Mid Norfolk, is looking to add three staff to enhance its team. Read more

Norwich speaker to revive the virtue of extraordinary hospitality After the disconnect of the pandemic, a Norwich church is hosting a talk to relaunch the practice of extraordinary hospitality. Read more

Norfolk homeless charity celebrates 10 years Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney is celebrating a decade of supporting people out of homelessness with a day of celebrations on Saturday October 30 at its Ditchingham Community and everyone is invited. Read more

Choral Society celebrates Creation in Cromer church The Sheringham and Cromer Choral Society will be performing Haydns Creation in Cromer Church next month, which will be their first concert performance for two years. Read more

Norwich church bells to ring out for climate At least half a dozen churches across Norwich will be taking part in a UK-wide initiative to sound their bells on the eve of the COP26 summit. Read more

Chance to talk about Norwich childcare careers Muddy Puddles Nursery, part of YMCA Norfolk, welcomed new nursery children in April 2021 and has since been rapidly expanding and gaining a brilliant reputation. It now needs to expand its childcare team. Read more

Science-faith outreach cash for Yarmouth church Great Yarmouth Minster is one of a number of churches nationally which has been awarded 10,000 to take part in a programme exploring the relationship between science and faith. Read more

Dippy says a blue light farewell to Norwich More than 200,000 people have visited Dippy at Norwich Cathedral and, ahead of the iconic dinosaurs final week, emergency services workers were last night treated to a special preview of the Dippy at Night farewell spectacle. Read more

Time for the church to take action? In his two previous articles, Nigel Fox asked if we had an adequate view of Jesus is, challenging some of our preconceptions, and then explained why he believes that Jesus is now angry with the world. His final column in this trilogy is a call to action. Read more

Music event at Revelation in Norwich Following last year's hugely successful and entertaining event the Trustees of Revelation will be holding another six hour 'MusicOn' marathon fundraising event at St Michael at Plea Church on Saturday October 30 between 10am - 4pm. Read more

Norfolk Churches receive Historic England grants Four Norfolk churches have received Historic England grants for repairs. Read more

'Visions of Salvation' Julian retreat The Friends of Julian of Norwich present 'Visions of Salvation', a two day in-person and online retreat taking place on October 29 and 30. Read more

A Kenyan farmer looks at climate change in Norwich screening To mark COP26, St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich will host a screening of 'Thank you for the Rain' in partnership with Christian Aid. Read more
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today announced the receipt of two, two-year grants from the Office of Minority Health (OMH) to support the development of programs that aim to increase the recruitment and enrollment in lupus clinical trials of minority populations affected by lupus.

"This is the sixth year ACR has been awarded a grant from the OMH. We are very excited to work with our members and partners to expand programs that focus on improving minority participation in clinical trials," says Sheryl McCalla, JD, Senior Director of Collaborative Initiatives (COIN) at the ACR. "Clinical trial results often do not reflect the entire lupus patient population. The lack of diversity in clinical trials reduces opportunities for discovering potential differences in the effects a treatment may have in disparate groups of patients, but there are challenges in getting people to enroll in lupus clinical trials. Therefore, over the next two years, COIN will work with ACR member-experts on the Materials to Increase Minority Involvement in Clinical Trials (MIMICT) and the Community Health Worker Lupus Clinical Trials Training (LuCTT) projects to address some of these challenges."

ACR will utilize $500,000 in funds from a two-year OMH grant to develop, evaluate, and disseminate modifications of the ACR's current model for the MIMICT program model developed in 2017 with OMH grant funding to increase minority participation in lupus clinical trials. The initial MIMICT program helped clinical trials sites and providers to work together to deliver accurate, trusted, and understandable information to people with lupus so that they can make informed decisions about participation in clinical trials. Over the next two years, ACR will expand and modify MIMICT by broadening the pool of providers and patients to which it applies.

The ACR has partnered with two of its member- experts to apply their distinct experiences and resources for the benefit of MIMICT. Dr. Saira Z. Sheikh, MD, Assistant Professor, Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, who is Director of the Lupus and Clinical Trials Programs at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center and Allen Anandarajah, MD, MS, Associate Professor, Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Sheikh will harness UNC's collective expertise in developing clinical trials education programs for minorities to the benefit of MIMICT.

"The modified MIMICT program will include projects that focus on primary care providers serving Latino patients, and health teams specializing in nephrology and dermatology (including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and others) as referral sources," says Dr. Sheikh. "Our goal through this important national initiative is to ensure that all lupus patients, across the country are informed and educated about participation in clinical trials, which may provide opportunities to access new and cutting edge therapies, and to enable rheumatologists to build effective partnerships with colleagues in primary care and sub-specialties to achieve this goal."

Dr. Anandarajah will utilize the strategies and lessons learned from his Improve Quality in Low-income, Underserved, Poor, Underprivileged, SLE patients (IQ-LUPUS) project to inform MIMICT in connection with building community partnerships, and evaluating minority clinical trial education and participation programs.

"Building genuine connections and trustworthy partnerships with the community are critical to accurately identifying the educational needs of the under-educated portion of the minority populations." Dr. Anandarajah explains.

At the same time, the ACR will utilize $375,000 in funds from a second two-year OMH grant to develop a separate program related to clinical trials that will focus on minority recruitment. Using a different approach from MIMICT, the LuCTT program will aim to promote the recruitment and enrollment of minority populations affected by lupus into clinical trials by making use of community health workers (CHW) as referral sources. The LuCTT program model will include multiple interconnected components that will be used by state, local, and community organizations to host regional CHW training summits on lupus clinical trial recruitment support.

The ACR has partnered with Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY and local CHW networks for implementation of specific aspects of the LuCTT program. Irene Blanco, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine - Rheumatology and Associate Dean of Diversity Enhancement at Albert Einstein College of Medicine will provide the vital support necessary to ensure cohesiveness in preparation and planning of content development, implementation, evaluation, dissemination and publication.

"We will be able to leverage the amazing work already accomplished by CHWs to now have an increased focus on lupus and lupus clinical trials," says Dr. Blanco.

Source: https://www.rheumatology.org/About-Us/Newsroom/Press-Releases/ID/936/American-College-of-Rheumatology-Receives-Grants-to-Help-Increase-Access-to-Clinical-Trials-for-Minority-Populations-Affected-by-Lupus
In the end, it wasn't easy for Aaron McQ to decide when to die.

The 50-year-old Seattle man  a former world traveler, triathlete and cyclist  learned he had leukemia five years ago, followed by an even grimmer diagnosis in 2016: a rare form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

An interior and urban designer who legally changed his given name, McQ had been in pain and physical decline for years. Then the disease threatened to shut down his ability to swallow and breathe.

"It's like waking up every morning in quicksand," McQ said. "It's terrifying."

Last fall, McQ decided to use Washington state's 2009 Death With Dignity law to end his suffering. The practice, approved in seven states and the District of Columbia, allows people with a projected six months or less to live to obtain lethal drugs to end their lives.

Although the option was legal, actually carrying it out was difficult for McQ, who agreed to discuss his deliberations with Kaiser Health News. He said he hoped to shed light on an often secretive and misunderstood practice.

"How does anyone get their head around dying?" he said, sitting in a wheelchair in his Seattle apartment in late January.

More than 3,000 people in the U.S. have chosen such deaths since Oregon's law was enacted in 1997, according to state reports. Even as similar statutes have expanded to more venues  including, this year, Hawaii  it has remained controversial.

California's End of Life Option Act, which took effect in 2016, was suspended for three weeks this spring after a court challenge, leaving hundreds of dying patients briefly in limbo.

Supporters say the practice gives patients control over their own fate in the face of a terminal illness. Detractors  including religious groups, disability rights advocates and some doctors  argue that such laws could put pressure on vulnerable people and that proper palliative care can ease end-of-life suffering.

Thin and wan, with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, McQ still could have passed for the photographer's model he once was. But McQ's legs shook involuntarily beneath his dark jeans and his voice was hoarse with pain during a three-hour effort to tell his story.

Last November, doctors told McQ he had six months or less to live. The choice, he said, became not death over a healthy life, but a "certain outcome" now over a prolonged, painful  and "unknowable"  end.

"I'm not wanting to die," he said. "I'm very much alive, yet I'm suffering. And I would rather have it not be a surprise."

In late December, a friend picked up a prescription for 100 tablets of the powerful sedative secobarbital. For weeks, the bottle holding the lethal dose sat on a shelf in his kitchen.

"I was not relaxed or confident until I had it in my cupboard," McQ said.

At the time, he intended to take the drug in late February. Or maybe mid-March. He had wanted to get past Christmas, so he didn't ruin anyone's holiday. Then his sister and her family came for a visit. Then there was a friend's birthday and another friend's wedding.

"No one is ever really ready to die," McQ said. "There will always be a reason not to."

Many people who opt for medical aid-in-dying are so sick that they take the drugs as soon as they can, impatiently enduring state-mandated waiting periods to obtain the prescriptions

Data from Oregon show that the median time from first request to death is 48 days, or about seven weeks. But it has ranged from two weeks to more than 2.7 years, records show.

Neurodegenerative diseases like ALS are particularly difficult, said Dr. Lonny Shavelson, a Berkeley, Calif., physician who has supervised nearly 90 aid-in-dying deaths in that state and advised more than 600 patients since 2016.

"It's a very complicated decision week to week," he said. "How do you decide? When do you decide? We don't let them make that decision alone."

Philosophically, McQ had been a supporter of aid-in-dying for years. He was the final caregiver for his grandmother, Milly, who he said begged for death to end pain at the end of her life.

By late spring, McQ's own struggle was worse, said Karen Robinson, McQ's health care proxy and friend of two decades. He was admitted to home hospice care, but continued to decline. When a nurse recommended that McQ transfer to a hospice facility to control his growing pain, he decided he'd rather die at home.

"There was part of him that was hoping there were some other alternative," Robinson said.

McQ considered several dates  and then changed his mind, partly because of the pressure that such a choice imposed.

"I don't want to talk about it because I don't want to feel like, now you gotta," he said.

Along with the pain, the risk of losing the physical ability to administer the medication himself, a legal requirement, was growing.

"I talked with him about losing his window of opportunity," said Gretchen DeRoche, a volunteer with the group End of Life Washington, who said she has supervised hundreds of aid-in-dying deaths.

Finally, McQ chose the day: April 10. Robinson came over early in the afternoon, as she had often done, to drink coffee and talk  but not about his impending death.

"There was a part of him that didn't want it to be like this is the day," she said.

DeRoche arrived exactly at 5:30 p.m., per McQ's instructions. At 6 p.m., McQ took anti-nausea medication. Because the lethal drugs are so bitter, there is some chance patients won't keep them down.

Four close friends gathered, along with Robinson. They sorted through McQ's CDs, trying to find appropriate music.

"He put on Marianne Faithfull. She's amazing, but, it was too much," Robinson said. "Then he put on James Taylor for, like, 15 seconds. It was 'You've Got a Friend.' I vetoed that. I said, 'Aaron, you cannot do that if you want us to hold it together.'"

DeRoche went into a bedroom to open the 100 capsules of 100-milligram secobarbital, one at a time, a tedious process. Then she mixed the drug with coconut water and some vodka.

Just then, McQ started to cry, DeRoche said. "I think he was just kind of mourning the loss of the life he had expected to live."

After that, he said he was ready. McQ asked everyone but DeRoche to leave the room. She told him he could still change his mind.

"I said, as I do to everyone: 'If you take this medication, you're going to go to sleep and you are not going to wake up,'" she recalled.

McQ drank half the drug mixture, paused and drank water. Then he swallowed the rest.

His friends returned, but remained silent.

"They just all gathered around him, each one touching him," DeRoche said.

Very quickly, just before 7:30 p.m., it was over.

"It was just like one fluid motion," DeRoche said. "He drank the medication, he went to sleep and he died in six minutes. I think we were all a little surprised he was gone that fast."

The friends stayed until a funeral home worker arrived.

"Once we got him into the vehicle, she asked, 'What kind of music does he like?'" Robinson recalled. "It was just such a sweet, human thing for her to say. He was driving away, listening to jazz."

McQ's friends gathered June 30 in Seattle for a "happy memories celebration" of his life, Robinson said. She and a few others kayaked out into Lake Washington and left McQ's ashes in the water, along with rose petals.

In the months since her friend's death, Robinson has reflected on McQ's decision to die. It was probably what he expected, she said, but not anything that he desired.

"It's really tough to be alive and then not be alive because of your choice," she said.

"If he had his wish, he would have died in his sleep."
London-based DeepMind which is owned by Googles parent company Alphabet, is coming up with Artificial Intelligence based devices that can help diagnose eye conditions accurately.

The recent progress report appears in the latest issue of the journal Nature Medicine. It says that DeepMind, in collaboration with Moorfields Eye Hospital in London has successfully created algorithms that could help diagnose 50 of the more serious eye conditions that could lead to vision loss. The accuracy of the device is equivalent to expert ophthalmologists. The device can not only detect the eye conditions, but it can also sort out the cases that are more serious and need more urgent care. Thereafter the device can outline the therapeutic measures that could be adopted to treat the patient.

DeepMind Health Research and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: What our research shows Play

This latest project from DeepMind began a couple of years ago when the company started incorporating these algorithms into the machine. The machine was fed with thousands of earlier scans that were in the databases and asked to diagnose them for serious eye conditions. Dr Dominic King, medical director, DeepMind Health explained the process of how they trained the machine to read the scans. He said, We used two neural networks, which are complex mathematical systems which mimic the way the brain operates, and inputted thousands of eye scans. They divided the eye into anatomical areas and were able to classify whether disease was present. For initial testing they developed five machine-learning systems that were fed 877 clinical OCT scans. These machines then created the maps of the OCT scans. The five maps were then analysed by a second series of five machine-learning systems. These second learning systems were trained on 14,884 OCT scans from 7,621 patients. Once the machine gave a result it was then trained to provide a referral decision.

The researchers found that the machine was capable of detecting these serious vision-threatening eye conditions with 94 percent accuracy. The team says that this machine could soon change how eye exams take place globally.

The researchers explain that diagnosing eye conditions from scans manually is a time consuming and tedious job and is also quite complex with a high rate of errors. Further, there is a steep rise in the aging population and this means that the prevalence of eye conditions is also on the rise. This can mean a higher burden on the ocular health care system. AI can shorten the process as well as provide the accuracy needed for diagnosis and detection of these conditions. Pearse Keane, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields, in a statement said, The number of eye scans we're performing is growing at a pace much faster than human experts are able to interpret them. There is a risk that this may cause delays in the diagnosis and treatment of sight-threatening diseases, which can be devastating for patients. He added that using AI could mean earlier and more accurate diagnosis and earlier treatment. This could save sights in many patients.

The AI developed by DeepMind as of now is useful as a type of eye scanner. Researchers add that the machine is compatible with any model. This means that that there are no hardware restrictions for its use and its use could be widespread. The AI can also be used when the machine is being replaced or updated, they add. The AI does not only give out the diagnosis but also details the steps to the diagnosis for the clinician. This can help the doctor go through the findings in details before deciding upon the next course of action.

There are several fields in healthcare where AI is making forays. This year in June, Babylon Health for example, came up with AI incorporated machines for general practitioners that would help them diagnose several diseases. AI was also found to be more effective in classification of the anatomy of the heart by scanning it ultrasonically. This can help emergency heart attack cases.

De Fauw et al. Nature Medicine (2018): Supplementary Video 2: Wet AMD Play

De Fauw et al. Nature Medicine (2018): Supplementary Video 4: DME Play

Mustafa Suleyman head of DeepMind Health, said in a press statement that this was a ground breaking research and in time it could, transform the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with sight threatening eye conditions around the world. For this newly developed AI device to be used routinely, it needs to undergo clinical trials and then be approved by the regulatory bodies.
The MDI Biological Laboratory has announced the formation of the Morris Scientific Discovery Fund, which will provide a total of up to $250,000 per year for eligible research programs.

The goal of the fund is to ensure the continued development of the MDI Biological Laboratory faculty by providing short-term, pilot project support for research programs that demonstrate a likelihood of successfully competing for federal funding.

The fund is supported by Martha and Wistar Morris of Villanova, Pa., and Northeast Harbor, Maine, who are long-time benefactors of the MDI Biological Laboratory. Their support at critical points in the institution's development has contributed significantly to its transformation into a global leader in the fields of regenerative biology and aging.

"Martha and I are pleased to support the outstanding scientists at the MDI Biological Laboratory by providing the seed monies that will help move their pioneering research forward," Wistar Morris said.

"The key word in the name of this fund is 'discovery'," said faculty member

"We are deeply grateful to their Morrises for their support," added

The Morris Scientific Discovery Fund will provide up to $75,000 per year to professor-track faculty with a history of independent, extramural funding who meet the eligibility requirements.

The Morris fund is the most recent chapter in an extensive history of giving that was recognized in 2008 when the MDI Biological Laboratory named its first major laboratory building after the Morrises in honor of their commitment to the institution and to its research mission of extending healthy lifespan and improving quality of life.

Source: https://mdibl.org/press-release/mdi-biological-laboratory-announces-morris-scientific-discovery-fund/
Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Krems launches project to study the growth of water-based microorganisms

In order to better understand and assess the quality of ground and spring water, state-of-the-art methods from the fields of molecular biology and microbiology, as well as chemical high-performance analytics are now developed. This has been made possible by a project currently underway at the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems). The aim of the project is to combine new technologies across a number of disciplines to evaluate the growth of water-based bacteria and their biochemical processes. This will make it possible to determine and predict the biostability of water with much more accuracy than before, thus making a fundamental contribution to water hygiene and health. The project, which is funded by the federal state of Lower Austria, is based on internationally recognized research conducted at the Interuniversity Cooperation Center Water & Health (ICC Water & Health) and at the Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, which enable bacteria and their activities in water samples to be precisely characterized.

Water is not just H2O when it bubbles up as ground or spring water, for example. It also contains a myriad of microorganisms whose natural habitat is the cool water. Up until now, very little has been known about how the water-based bacterial community develops in ground and source water. It is therefore still difficult to ascertain or predict its potential effect on the quality of the water after it is stored and distributed. At KL Krems, a project funded by the FTI Program, a program run by the federal state of Lower Austria, has taken this issue on board and is developing a pioneering combination of processes that are designed to facilitate, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic of water-based bacteria and thus of the associated biochemical key processes when water resources are used.

"READY TO GO!" FOR AQUASCREEN

Prof. Andreas Farnleitner is coordinating the AQUASCREEN project, as it is known. The Head of the Department of Water Quality and Health at KL Krems explains the background to the project: "Existing standard methods to detect microorganisms in ground and spring water are based on principles dating back to the 19th century. These focus mainly on bacteria that pollute the water from the surface rather than water-based bacteria, some of which we know absolutely nothing about. Less than 1% of water-based bacteria can generally be detected using the standard methods. Up until now, therefore, we have known very little about the development of these natural water microbiota and how they can affect the quality of the water over longer periods when it is stored and distributed. A better understanding of these dynamics, including the existing nutrient and environment situation, is necessary to assess and predict the quality of drinking water but also to identify potential health risks."

INTO THE 21ST CENTURY WITH AQUASCREEN

In cooperation with ICC Water & Health, IFA-Tulln and EVN Wasser GesmbH, a new combination of processes is being developed. This will be able to determine the existence and growth of water-based bacteria more directly and with more accuracy and speed. In order to achieve this, following a simulation of the storage of water, the team will deploy state-of-the-art sequencing techniques and cytometric methods in which bacterial cells are stained with a fluorescent dye and optically captured. The advantages of these methods are obvious for Prof. Farnleitners team colleagues, Prof. Alexander Kirschner and Prof. Regina Sommer, who are based at the Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology at the Medical University of Vienna. Prof. Kirschner says: "It will be possible to directly detect and identify the actively growing populations of the water-based bacterial communities, and not just to search indirectly for selected indicator bacteria, which could indicate external contamination." Based on this, Dr. Wolfgang Kandler at IFA Tulln will link this process with a third element  chemical high-performance analytics. This should make it easier to trace both the existence and growth of water-based bacteria and the associated biochemical key processes in water supply.

FTI PROGRAM SUPPORTS RESEARCH

The project is supported by the federal state of Lower Austria with funding provided by the FTI Program, which has an interdisciplinary focus on nutrition, medicine and health. The federal state is thereby making a significant contribution to the further expansion of KL Krems focus on water quality and health. AQUASCREEN can thus build seamlessly on current results generated by NO Forschungs- und Bildungsges.m.b.H. (NFB) as part of the AQUASAFE project funded by Science Call 2015. This project develops and refines a new approach to determine the origin of faecal contamination in water. In addition, highly specific, quantitative evidence of minute quantities of genetic material (DNA) from specific human and animal gut bacteria is developed. Thanks to the consistent support of this research work, KL Krems has managed, within a short space of time, to make important contributions to health and quality of life through its research on water quality and health.
The Departments of Emergency Medicine and Hematology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have been awarded a $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health toward further study of inhaled corticosteroids to treat sickle cell disease (SCD) in individuals who do not have asthma. The IMPROVE 2 study is a one-year randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 80 SCD patients.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SCD affects 100,000 Americans and is more prevalent in certain ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Hispanic Americans. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, a database consortium sponsored by the federal government, reports that per-patient health care costs in the U.S. are higher for SCD than any other disease, with total expenditures exceeding $2.4 billion. The disease causes the production of abnormal hemoglobin, a protein inside red blood cells that attaches to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to the rest of the body. Healthy red blood cells are flexible, but in SCD, abnormal hemoglobin forms long rods and distorts the red cells into a sickle shape. The repeated damage to red cells causes the blood to become inflamed and sticky and to break down faster, causing pain attacks, infections, stroke, and early death. The only organ in the body that can reverse sickling is the lung, but it is highly inflamed in SCD, which is why researchers thought to use inhaled steroids as a treatment.

Over the last decade, researchers at Mount Sinai have demonstrated that pulmonary inflammation is present in mice and humans with SCD. Furthermore, those with symptoms of more inflammation in the lungs are four times more likely to die prematurely. In Mount Sinai's first study of inhaled steroids for SCD, a triple-blind randomized trial of 52 patients called IMPROVE 1, inhaled steroids that are FDA-approved for other conditions were shown to reduce systemic inflammation, hemolysis, and daily pain.

The research team will include experts in hematology, pulmonology, and immunology and will be led by Jeffrey Glassberg, MD, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and of Medicine (Hematology, and Medical Oncology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

"In sickle cell disease, the interaction between the lung and red blood cells represents a potentially high-value therapeutic target," said Dr. Glassberg. "Hydroxyurea is the primary FDA-approved drug for treatment, but it is underutilized due to side effects, stigma, and fertility concerns. Other promising drugs are coming, but their costs, efficacy, and scalability are hard to predict at this point. Inhaled corticosteroids offer a creative new approach with the potential to dramatically improve patient outcomes."

Dr. Glassberg says patients with SCD will often end up in the emergency department because they experience excruciating pain. He says alternative treatments will improve patient care, reduce ED visits, and lower healthcare expenditures.

Dr. Glassberg is director of the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Program for Sickle Cell Disease, a specialized clinic that offers clinical and psychosocial services to patients in New York City, which has the largest population of SCD patients in the country. The team includes physicians, nurses, and social workers who specialize in the treatment of sickle cell disease.

Source: https://www.mountsinai.org/
Titan Krios cryo-electron microscope reveals the inner workings of life at the cellular level

Australias most advanced and powerful microscope, capable of visualizing down to the level of individual atoms, begins its working life today (Thursday 9 August).

The University of Wollongongs (UOW) three-metre tall, one tonne FEI ThermoFisher Titan Krios cryo-electron microscope lets scientists see the inner workings of human cells with unprecedented clarity, and will enable new ways of understanding and curing diseases such as motor neurone disease, Alzheimers and cancer, as well as tackling health challenges like antimicrobial resistance.

The microscope will be the centerpiece of Molecular Horizons, UOWs world-leading molecular and life sciences research facility, and part of a suite of transformative technology.

Senator the Hon Zed Seselja, Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation, will commission the Titan Krios at a ceremony at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) campus in Lucas Heights.

UOW and ANSTO have come together to make available a facility to house the Titan Krios while its future home, the purpose-designed Molecular Horizons Building on UOWs Wollongong campus, is built.

Thanks to the partnership between UOW and ANSTO, the Titan Krios will become operational and accessible to researchers almost two years before its final home is completed.

The microscope will be available not just to scientists from UOW and ANSTO, but to researchers from universities and other research institutions across Australia and around the world.

A cryogenic electron microscope, the Titan Krios uses electrons rather than light to look at molecules, firing a stream of high-energy electrons through a frozen sample, generating multiple two-dimensional images that scientists then convert to three-dimensional models of molecules, visualizing their nano-sized loops and chains.

Molecular Horizons Director Distinguished Professor Antoine van Oijen, an ARC Laureate Fellow and a molecular life scientist of world renown, said the Titan Krios was a game changer in the battle against disease.

The driving philosophy of Molecular Horizons is to use visualization as an enabler for scientific discovery. Seeing is believing, after all, Professor van Oijen said.

Medical research has come a long way in understanding disease and finding cures. But most of the drugs we prescribe, in most cases very successfully, have been discovered basically by trial and error.

One of the major challenges in the molecular life sciences is to understand the molecules and proteins involved in a disease at such a level of detail that we dont have to find drugs by trial and error, but instead can design or engineer them. Almost like knowing exactly how the inside of a lock looks like so you can design the key instead of having to pick the lock with a paperclip.

This is where the Titan Krios comes in. The molecular details it reveals are so small and precise it allows us to map out every nook and cranny of the surface of biological molecules such as proteins and DNA. Working in combination with the other technologies at Molecular Horizons it will unlock the door to an unprecedented understanding of how life works.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE said the commissioning of the Titan Krios was a significant step forward for Australian research and an exemplar of the benefits of taking a collaborative approach to scientific research.

The revolutionary technology we are commissioning today will accelerate research and discovery. It has the power to change lives. The Titan Krios will allow us to see things we have never seen before, Professor Wellings said.

The University of Wollongong pursues a partnership approach to delivering its initiatives because we recognize that it is through collaboration that we can make a difference. Our partnerships bring together some of the best and brightest in the world to help solve global challenges.

The University is appreciative of the long-standing partnership we have with ANSTO. Our organizations have shared commitments, particularly in investing in and providing access to technology to give researchers the tools to make significant health-related breakthroughs.

ANSTO Chief Executive Officer Dr Adi Paterson said that the state-of-the-art microscope would be very welcome at its new, albeit temporary home.

ANSTO is home to some of Australias leading science infrastructure, it is down the road from Wollongong and we have an excellent relationship with the University, so it made perfect sense to partner with them to offer their new technology a temporary home, said Dr Paterson.

Every day we use complementary nuclear, accelerator and synchrotron sciences to understand diseases and how to fight them, and it is wonderful that we are in a position to bring this new technology into the mix for a while. We have 1200 scientists and engineers at ANSTO who are very much looking forward to seeing the research outputs and possibilities that this microscope enables.

Senator Seselja said the commissioning of the Titan Krios marked the beginning of an exciting period in scientific research in Australia.

Collaboration between government, businesses, universities and research institutions is an important driver of innovation in healthcare. Australia is an innovative nation that has given the world cochlear implants, a cervical cancer vaccine and silicone hydrogel contact lenses, Senator Seselja said.

Technology such as the Titan Krios, together with the work of ANSTO and UOW, will provide benefits and opportunities for all Australians.
New research illuminates how some men and boys who are contemplating suicide are finding emotional support in an unexpected place: Reddit.

Sometimes referred to as the "front page of the Internet," Reddit is a social news aggregation and discussion website that's especially popular among young adult males.

The website includes several topic-specific subreddit discussion forums, one of which is SuicideWatch. The regulated space allows people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts to post anonymously about what they are going through and receive emotional support from other users.

As of this month, SuicideWatch has more than 96,000 subscribers.

University of Arizona sociology doctoral student Darla Still has been analyzing the content of anonymous posts made to SuicideWatch to learn more about what individuals go through when contemplating suicide and how they express those thoughts and feelings to others.

Among her early findings, which she presented today at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, is that the SuicideWatch subreddit may provide a unique source of gender-specific support for men and boys.

Although Reddit does not identify users by gender, Still focused on a subset of posts in which gender was implied by the posts' content. For example, users wrote things like "I am a joke of man," or referred to instances in which they've been told to "be a man" or "man up."

Responses to those posts often contained gendered language of their own, like, "Hey, bro, I've been through that before," or, "What's bothering you, man?"

Still suggests that the use of that type of gendered language is meaningful.

"It's about knowing that you're not the only one who's going through what you're going through, and being able to identify that you're not alone," she said. "We see this as a space where men may be a little more at ease to be vulnerable and express those emotions because of the screen and the anonymity."

Still decided to focus on posts by males because while females are twice as likely as males to attempt suicide, males are three times more likely to die by suicide.

Men also underreport mental health symptoms, and many scholars have theorized that men have more difficulty openly expressing emotions than women due to the ways in which they are socialized with masculine norms.

"If you think about stereotypical masculinity theories, men are socialized to believe that expressing emotions is weak," said Still, who presented her work with her collaborators Amelia Blume, a UA sociology doctoral student, and Charlene Hack, who earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from the UA in 2017.

"Our main goal was to bring attention to this issue and try to move away from the stigma that men, in particular, face," Still said.

Males who feel uncomfortable talking about their emotions with loved ones or mental health professionals - or those who are unable to do so - might find an alternative or supplemental option in posting anonymously online, Still said.

Still's initial findings were based on an analysis of 3,125 posts collected between mid-October 2017 and early January of this year.

Going forward, she will continue to analyze 165,000 posts and more than 1 million comments submitted to the SuicideWatch subreddit between 2009 and 2017. She hopes to gain a better understanding of what both men and women go through when contemplating suicide and how an online forum might offer support.

"We know that men underreport mental health symptoms, so this is giving us a better understanding of the suicidality experience of what men go through, and what's specific to men in comparison to women," Still said. "The fact that this space on Reddit is there - we don't know, but maybe it's helped somebody."
A new method to analyze a commonly understood route for antibiotic resistance could lead to earlier detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Researchers in Japan have developed a new way of testing bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and found three previously unknown resistance mutations in the process. The fact that they detected both known and unknown mutations suggests their approach will be useful for monitoring resistance to antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem: more and more pathogenic microorganisms are developing immunity to widely-used antibiotic drugs, rendering them useless. Tremendous effort is being made to identify the mechanisms and mutations that lead to bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Understanding this can help ensure we can effectively treat bacterial infections ranging from pneumonia and infected wounds, to less serious, but contagious conditions such as impetigo and chlamydia.

Researchers from Hokkaido University and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan developed an approach to systematically hunt for resistant ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. rRNA is the essential/indispensable part of the cell that creates proteins. It is one of the main targets of antibiotics, but mutations to rRNA is now a well-known route to resistance.

The researchers took rRNA from a wide range of bacterial species in the natural, or non-clinical, environment where mutations are taking place all the time. They inserted them into inactive E. coli lacking in rRNA, and found that more than 2000 imported rRNA could compensate for this lack, therefore preventing the E.coli from dying. They then tested whether a common antibiotic, spectinomycin, effectively killed the bacteria, or if the rRNA gave the E. coli resistance. Their screen found three previously unreported mutations in rRNA from the pathogens that resisted the antibiotic, along with other mutations that were already known. Although using inactive E. coli to test for mutations has been proposed before, this screen can analyze rRNA from other pathogens rather than just what is present in the E. coli.

"Our results suggest that there are many unfound and uncharacterized antibiotic resistance point mutations in rRNA genes," says Kei Kitahara, a molecular microbiologist at Hokkaido University. "We hope our method could be used to verify antibiotic resistance mutations, and contribute to the development of a database for the discovery and diagnosis of resistant bacteria."

The same method could be used to investigate clinical samples, such as testing fecal samples for resistant bacteria in the large intestine, as well as and a broader range of antibiotics.

Source: https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/blog/pinpointing-mutations-that-give-bacteria-antibiotic-resistance/
The famous idiom "seeing is believing" is not enough to help amputees with the use of their prosthetic limb. Many amputees opt out of prolonged use of their prosthetic limb because their missing limb simply does not fit their prosthesis. In other words, their own perception of the missing limb, or the brain's representation of it, does not match-up with what they see of the prosthesis.

The underlying problem is twofold. Amputees still feel their missing limb, even if it is physically gone, and this ghost limb aka phantom limb is perceived as much smaller that the lost limb. Next, the commercially available prosthetic limb does not yet provide sensory feedback other than what the patient sees, meaning that the patient has no sense of touch from the prosthetic limb and must constantly watch it for correct use.

Tricking the brain to embody the prosthetic limb

Now, in a scientific collaboration led by EPFL (Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne), scientists show that amputees can actually be convinced that the prosthetic hand belongs to their own body. They do this by going beyond the "seeing is believing" idiom based on established research on how the brain identifies what belongs to its own body. Instead of using the sense of sight alone, they used an astute combination of two senses: sight and touch. The results are published today in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

"The brain regularly uses its senses to evaluate what belongs to the body and what is external to the body. We showed exactly how vision and touch can be combined to trick the amputee's brain into feeling what it sees, inducing embodiment of the prosthetic hand with an additional effect that the phantom limb grows into the prosthetic one," explains Giulio Rognini of EPFL's Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroprosthetics led by Olaf Blanke, in a collaboration with Silvestro Micera of EPFL and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Italy. "The setup is portable and could one day be turned into a therapy to help patients embody their prosthetic limb permanently."

In two hand amputees, the scientists provided artificial tactile sensations at the tip of the index finger - of the phantom limb - by stimulating the patient's nerve in the stump. At the same time, the patient wore virtual reality goggles which showed the index finger of the prosthetic limb glowing in synchrony with the administered touch sensations. This combination of virtual reality with artificial tactile sensations takes the rubber-hand illusion to another level.

Both patients reported feeling as though the prosthetic hand belonged to their own body. Moreover, when asked to evaluate the position of their hands, both patients felt as though their phantom limb had extended into the prosthetic limb. Previous to the experiment, they both reported that the phantom hand was small and directly connected to the stump, as if the phantom limb had no forearm, a change in size referred to as "telescoping" in scientific jargon. In fact, their phantom limb extended during the experiment, and remained extended for up to 10 minutes afterwards.

The experiment simply requires the patient to passively observe two sensations on the fingertip, the visual glow and the artificial touch happening in synchrony, in order for embodiment and extension of the phantom limb to take place. This is the first time that the principles of multisensory integration, in particular how the brain integrates bodily multisensory information to create the coherent and compelling experience of having a body, have been tailored to provoke embodiment of the prosthetic hand and reduction of telescoping.

Building upon results from a European-wide collaboration

The study builds upon research that opened new avenues is prosthetics. In 2014, in a European collaboration led by EPFL, scientists overcame a major hurdle by giving an amputee the ability to feel - in real-time - with the help of their prosthetic hand. Information about touch coming from sensors at the prosthetic fingertips were directly processed and relayed into the nervous system via electrodes that were surgically wired to the stump's main nerves. The potential of this technology is still being explored, and two years later in 2016, the scientists showed that the enhanced prosthetic technology could even help the same amputee detect differences in texture.
A new study has shown that use of peripheral nerve blocks in the treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia (TGN) may produce long-term pain relief.

TGN is a condition involving sudden episodes of severe facial pain that significantly reduces quality of life in those affected. When medication fails to control the pain, some patients turn to invasive procedures that require a high level of expertise and can result in long-standing numbness. Peripheral Trigeminal Nerve Blocks (PTNB), a procedure in which a numbing medication is injected at the sites where the problem nerve reaches the face, is a promising alternative to the riskier, ganglion-level procedures, although its efficacy in both short-term and long-term management of TGN has not been well studied.

In a case series in this week's American Journal of Emergency Medicine, Michael Perloff, MD, assistant professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, examines nine patients with TGN treated with PTNB. He finds that all nine had immediate relief of their pain after the procedure, with most reporting that they were pain-free. In addition, six of the nine patients noted continued pain relief from a range of one to eight months following the procedure, with two of them having complete resolution of their pain months after the injections.

Perloff, also a neurologist at Boston Medical Center, sees these results as a promising step for treating patients with TGN. "PTNB can be a simple, safe alternative compared to opioids, invasive ganglion level procedures or surgery."

Source: https://www.bmc.org/
Marvel's new Iron Fist probably is a Chinese hero that's been waiting in the wings for years

Marvel may have revealed the new Iron Fist the moment it announced Danny Rand's retirement
Jodhpur : At a time when the world is battling one of its biggest refugee crises, India has its own share of the problem -- thousands of Hindu migrants from Pakistan remain stranded at this Rajasthan transit hub. They have been awaiting their citizenship papers for years, despite submitting their passports, documents and hard-earned money too.



Although the world observed International Refugee Day in June, these migrants continue to run from pillar to post to check their status as a callous Indian bureaucracy works at its own inefficient pace unmoved by their plight.

Wandering like a nomad, one of these migrants, Anumaal, told IANS: "Our lives have become deplorable since the time we came to India. The longing to be a part of this country forced me to come here. But since then, from the year 2000 in April, we have been making untiring efforts to get citizenship, but to no avail."

"My son has completed his 12th, but he couldn't get admission in any college as the authorities demand domicile certificates and other identity proof. Eventually, he started working as a labourer to ensure we don't die of hunger. His future has become dark and the same will be the case with my other son who is pursuing his 12th. Eighteen years of running from here to there has failed to bring any result for us," he lamented.

"In a camp organised in the year 2005, we missed submitting our certificate by a day. The officials asked us to come with a certificate but it being a Saturday, we reached on Monday and since then, our grievances remain unheard," Anumaal added.

"We surrendered our passports, our forms were duly filled, and they asked us to come along with a certificate. However, when we reached on Monday, we were informed that we can't be given citizenship as they had received fresh instructions from the government. Since then, we have been meeting district collectors... the home secretary too, but to no avail. We have exhausted all our savings to pay these officials. We have even borrowed money, which has now exhausted. Now we are asked to fill in fresh forms and deposit fresh fees. When asked about the money we had already deposited, the officials said its gone, so forget about it and make a fresh start.

"There are many people like me who are running around in distress. We were doing agriculture in Pakistan but here we are forced to work as labourers. Initially, during partition, we lost our ancestral land which was seized by residents of Pakistan. Most of the Hindus lost their lands at that time. Now this is the second time we are losing a lot. We were initially in Jaisalmer. However, we left the place a long time back because of the water crisis. It is an irony that people consider us as Pakistanis now, which is quite sad to hear," he added.

Then there is Dr Rajkumar Sharma, who practises medicine and was whose citizenship was confirmed on June 17. He said, "We came to Jodhpur in 2004. Since then, we have been working hard to make a decent living. There are thousands like me who have come here, their passports have been submitted, but they are yet to get their citizenship. The major challenge for them is getting a long-term visa (LTV) which gets stuck in red tapism," he added.

Sharma said that he, being educated, managed to earn his bread and butter. "But when I think of other people like me who have migrated, I have tears in my eyes. They are really suffering. People refuse to give them a house on rent or a job to earn considering them as Pakistanis. More than 1,000 people are awaiting their long-term visas," he informed.

"I belonged to Sindh and came here as Muslims were not so kind to Hindus in Pakistan. Radicalism was growing and so was their influence. Although we had land there, we preferred coming here leaving everything as we knew that things might become challenging in the coming days for Hindus," he said, adding: "Now, when I have got citizenship, I will try to clear the Medical Council of India examination so that I can start my practice here."

Dr Hindu Singh Soda, an activist for Pakistani minorities living in India, said that the number of Total Registered Migrants (TRMs) at various FROs in Rajasthan is 13,623. Of them, 12,253 are at FRO Jodhpur alone. Of them, 3,408 were granted LTVs in 2017 while rest of the applications are still under process.

On paper, an LTV is supposed to be granted within 120 days of applying; but in almost all cases, these are not granted for many years, he said, adding that 965 migrants were permanently sent back to Pakistan in 2016 and 2017.

Soda said red-tapism is to be blamed for this situation. Also, the processing of LTVs needs to be hastened to ensure the migrants get justice in India -- a land for which they have left everything in Pakistan, he added.

(Archana Sharma can be contacted at archana.s@ians.in)
Fiji : An Indian Naval ship on Monday reached a Fijian port and over the next three days would be conducting activities in collaboration with the government there.

INS Sahyadri is visiting the Republic of Fiji en route to India after participation in the RIMPAC 2018 at Hawaii and will be celebrating India's 72nd Independence Day in the Port of Suva on Wednesday.

During the visit, the Indian Naval ship personnel will have professional interaction with their Fiji counterparts. The ship will have an open day for the general public on Tuesday.

Apart from the interaction, officers from INS Sahyadri, Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) bands and Indian High Commission will also be participating in mangrove/sandalwood planting activities the second day.



On Wednesday, a medical camp will be organized in collaboration with the Fijian government where doctors from both the countries will jointly perform free health screening from 10 am to 4:30 pm at Ratu Sukuna Park, Suva.

The day will also see the Indian Navy and RFMF bands perform between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm.

INS Sahyadri (F49) is the third and latest ship among the Shivalik Class of indigenously built stealth frigates and forms a part of the Eastern Fleet of Indian Navy.

Built by the Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai, INS Sahyadri was launched into the sea in 2005. She undertook sea trials for over a year in 2011-12 and was finally commissioned along with her sisters INS Shivalik (F-47) and INS and Satpura (F-48) into the Indian Navy on July 21, 2012.

The Shivalik-class frigate ship draws her name from the age-defying Western Coast (also known as Sahyadri ranges) stretching across 1,600 km along the Western Coast of India.

INS Sahyadri has also won the Best Ship trophy in the Fleet Award Function of 2018 for its immense contribution in carrying out massive maritime operations in the Eastern front.
New Delhi : US Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster on Monday told Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju that his country was keen on continuing the ongoing homeland security dialogue between the two countries to jointly counter the threats posed by terrorism.

Juster's remarks came during half-an-hour meeting with Rijiju at his North Block office where they took up homeland security issues.

"The US Ambassador and other embassy officials reiterated the strong resolve of India and US to jointly counter the threats posed by terrorism to two of the world's biggest democracies as well as world peace," a Home Ministry statement said.

In the meeting Juster expressed his country's keenness to "continue the ongoing Homeland Security Dialogue to a concrete conclusion," the statement added.

The envoy was accompanied by other officials of the US Embassy.

During a joint meeting on July 18, senior officers from both sides had agreed to work out modalities to address issues relating to security cooperation, customs and immigration, aviation security and capacity building.



On August 7, Juster also held a meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra.
Maimana (Afghanistan) : At least 17 Afghan soldiers were killed after Taliban militants overran an Army base in the northern part of the country following a three-day intense fighting, officials said on Tuesday.

The clashes started last Saturday after hundreds of Taliban militants stormed and besieged Camp-e-Chenayeeha base in remote Ghormach district of Faryab province in which about 106 Army soldiers were stationed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Taliban attack in the north coincided with clashes in southeastern province of Ghazni, which lies on the main highway linking Kabul with the south. Hundreds of people have been killed or injured during clashes there since last week. Heavy clashes and airstrikes were reported on Tuesday as fighting in the city entered the fifth day.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that residents of Ghazni were struggling to access basic services and medical care.

"The besieged soldiers showed stiff resistance and fought back the attackers for the past three days but the base was captured by militants as the soldiers received no help or supplies despite repeated requests," said Sebghatullah Selaab, an official from the provincial council.

He said 15 soldiers were injured and five others were captured by the militants while several soldiers fled to nearby villages or mountains.

The Taliban seized 14 armoured military vehicles, heavy guns, weapons and ammunition after the seizure of the base in the province, 425 km northwest of Kabul.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when the Afghan security forces assumed full responsibilities of security from the US and NATO troops.
China printing new Indian currency: Report

Beijing : A report by South China Morning Post mentioned that China is printing currencies for the governments of several countries, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Brazil.

The Chinese media report quoted a top official of the state-owned banknote printer.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor brought the matter with a serious concern and asked Union ministers, Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal, to clarify.

If true, this has disturbing national security implications. Not to mention making it easier for Pak to counterfeit. @PiyushGoyal @arunjaitley please clarify! https://t.co/POD2CcNNuL  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 12, 2018

Liu Guisheng, Chairman of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, wrote in an article in May in China Finance, a bi-monthly journal run by China's central bank, that China obtained the first international commercial order for printing money from Nepal in 2015.

The state-owned firm won the bids of 100 rupees, 1,000 rupees and 5 rupees from Nepal, Liu said.

Since then the company had "seized the opportunities brought by the initiative" and "successfully won contracts for currency production projects in a number of countries" including Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brazil and Poland, Liu wrote.

The 'China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation', headquartered in Beijing, describes itself as the world's largest money printer by scale. With more than 18,000 employees, it runs more than 10 strictly guarded facilities for the production of paper notes and coins, the paper said.
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Joselito Dapuppet, the social media sensation who was featured on The Wendy Williams Show, and has appeared in music videos for hip-hop artists Fat Joe and Baby Bash, is headed to Connecticut.

The wide-mouthed star will appear at Fairfield Comedy Club on Friday, Aug. 24. Joselito took the internet by storm in 2015 when a bunch of his online comedy skits went viral, the club said. Since then, hes attracted a sort of cult following, with more than 400,000 combined followers.
In life, she was about 5-foot, 6-inches, and taller with heels. In the 56 years since her death, Marilyn Monroe has only grown in stature  wielding a larger-than-life presence in pop culture and serving as a muse for numerous artists over the decades.

Sculptor Seward Johnson, 88, has directly channeled that mammoth influence in his statue Forever Marilyn, which has been spending her summer in Stamford at Latham Park. At 26-feet tall and 30,000 pounds, in one of her most famous poses, she is hard to miss. The statue recreates the scene from the 1955 film, The Seven Year Itch, when the actress stood atop a subway grate donned in a white dress with a billowy skirt. It didnt take much of a breeze to kick it all up.

She joins more than 30 life-size sculptures situated in realistic poses throughout the city as part of an art exhibition, Timeless  The Works of Seward Johnson. This is a repeat appearance for the New Jersey sculptor, whose work has been featured in previous Art in Public Places series presented each summer by Stamford Downtown Special Services District.

Giant Marilyn is celebrity writ large, but there are many small decisions that went into making her  from her pearl earrings to the veins near her ankles. As we deconstruct Marilyn, Johnson shares his insights.

Running Press

The sculpture was originally created in life-scale and then made monumental. So I had an opportunity to work on her fine details when I was eye to eye with her, Johnson says, by email. I wanted to do things like make the earrings pearlized and the red toenail polish high gloss. Those are little things to convey something in the overall piece. There are some nice veins near her ankle that people do enjoy.

The pose, while iconic, had to work as a statue. When dealing with the human figure, it has to look as if the weight balance would work. I have to think about where the hips go that make the two legs and two feet support the body. We do this naturally as we move about, but making it work with a sculpted figure can be tricky.

Johnson certainly has had his practice. More than 450 of his life-size cast bronze figures are in private collections and museums around the world, according to the Hamilton, New Jersey-based Seward Johnson Atelier. He has enlarged some of these works to large-scale depictions, exploring additional themes. He muses on how scale might effect sensuality in Forever Marilyn. His mammoth Crossing Paths, which features two older ladies sitting on a public bench, moves them from being part of the scenery to being the scenery itself.

Whenever scale becomes an element of the composition EVERYTHING changes, he writes. The perspective from the viewers position is, of course, one of these things, but also how the image is perceived. (In Crossing Paths) if they stood up, they would be 40 feet tall. And one reason that I made this piece was to play with the use of scale and how these innocent little ladies came to have great power and strength when towering above all of us. I loved how it made the new statement for the subjects.

The time to share perceptions and statements will soon be over, however. Forever Marilyn, as well as her smaller cast cousins, depart after Labor Day.

chennessy@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @xtinahennessy
A 20-member fire crew returned to Connecticut Monday night after battling two fires in Colorado.

The crew includes two Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection employees, 16 private sector firefighters and two firefighters from New Hampshire. Among the crew is Sergio Liguori, of New Milford, and Michael Kronick, of Trumbull.

The crew left Connecticut on July 27 and worked on the Buttermilk and Green Mountain fires. The two Colorado fires total about 800 acres.

DEEP maintains a roster of agency staff members and personnel from local fire departments who have been certified to fight forest or wildfires. Crew members must complete a rigorous training program and participate in an annual renewal course, according to a DEEP press release.

Connecticut participates in a reciprocal aid program operated by the U.S. Forest Service. This means trained personnel from other parts of the nation are available to assist Connecticut in the event of a fire emergency or other natural disaster in return for the support of Connecticut personnel when needed.
KENT  The suspect in a December homicide was trying to defend himself when he shot and killed another man with a shotgun, authorities said Tuesday.

Several members of my staff, including myself, reviewed the investigation and concluded that it appeared to be a lawful exercise of self-defense, States Attorney David Shepack said.

Andre Edness, 32, the father of five children, was killed Dec. 1 when he was shot in the chest at a home on Kent Cornwall Road.

State Police investigated the homicide for more than six months before closing the case without making any arrests.

Hunter Chatfield called 911 shortly after the homicide and admitted he had shot Edness on recordings that were obtained Tuesday by Hearst Connecticut Media.

I was in fear for my life, a frantic Chatfield told police. On the tape he can be heard screaming that Edness broke into my bedroom door with a knife. He was going to (expletive) kill me. I killed him. I shot him. Hes (expletive) dead. It was self defense. He was going to stab me.

Sara Edness, the victims wife, was home at the time of the shooting and also called police.

My husband was shot, Edness said hysterically as young children screamed in the background. Oh my God. My husband was shot. Hes dead. I think hes dead.

Sara Edness and the couples five children had moved to the home from Massachusetts to Kent several months before while her husband was recuperating from a serious car accident.

Andre Edness joined the family shortly before the shooting and was also staying in the home, according to David Moraghan, an attorney representing Chatfield.

Moraghan said Andre Edness had asked Chatfield for a ride to the liquor store and began threatening his client when he refused. Edness then grabbed a knife and threatened to kill Chatfield, who ran to his bedroom for safety.

He warned him multiple times not to enter the room, Moraghan said. Edness kicked in the door and my client defended himself.

More Information "I was in fear for my life," said Hunter Chatfield. "My roommates wife's husband broke into my bedroom door with a knife he was going to (expletive) kill me. I killed him. I shot him. He's (expletive) dead. It was self defense. He was going to stab me" See More Collapse

Moraghan said an imprint from Edness foot was left on the door after he kicked it down.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
NEW MILFORD  The finance board will consider appropriating up to $6.5 million to expand and renovate the library, which has been decades in the making.

The Town Council supported the project Monday night to rounds of applause from the more than 100 people who filled the meeting room and the dozens of overflow supporters who lined the hallway outside.

The support is part of a state public library construction grant application the town will now submit. The town is requesting $1 million for the project, the maximum request allowed. There is a total $9 million available for the year.

The council also unanimously approved sending a supplemental appropriation request for up to $6.5 million to the finance board, which would cover the towns portion of the project.

The library is expected to cost $8.5 million. The librarys board of trustees has already committed $1 million for the project and officials hope to use another $1 million from the Waste Management Fund for the project. Residents will still have to approve funding for the project before it can advance.

The council already approved the overall design of the project, though certain line items and features are still being worked out, including the type of heating, ventilation and cooling system.

Councilman Tom Esposito said he supports the project, but said the heating system should be energy efficient and modern, which he said the proposed boiler is not. He suggested a variable refrigerant flow, or VRF, system, which he said would be cheaper to operate, could be regulated for each room and would be quieter than a traditional heating, ventilation and cooling system.

If you want a modern library, you need modern equipment, he said.

The votes followed pleas from about 15 residents to support the expansion. They said the library is a vital part of the community but there isnt enough space there now for programs and materials. They said renovating the building will be a benefit to the community, as well as help attract businesses.

To keep the library vibrant in the new century, we have to spend some money on it, said David Elmore, a member of the modernization committee.

The project will expand the library from 15,000 to 22,000 square feet. It will add a new facade and entrance to the 1977 addition, to help it fit better into the downtown aesthetic. The plans will also make the library compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and add much-needed meeting space.

The remodel includes using existing space as well as constructing new space, adding a second floor with an outdoor terrace to the existing 1977 addition.

Under the plans, the childrens library would move to the 1977 section and the Goodwin House, freeing up the old library for an adult reading room. The childrens section would share a program room with the young adult section, which doesnt have its own space at the library now.

The mezzanine level would be used for more stacks and house the library staff. There will be a self-serve cafe on the first floor.

This is the third attempt to renovate the library, which has not been updated in more than 40 years.

In 2003 and 2008, plans for the library failed largely due to cost estimates and the recession. The 2008 proposal was $21 million.

Officials are more optimistic this time, especially with the state funding.

Library Director Sally Tornow said only one library in the state has not renovated since New Milfords last project in the 1970s, which gives it a good chance of getting the $1 million grant.

Everything has been renovated since we renovated, she said.

Councilman Peter Mulled said the town has been saying no to too many projects for too long. He said the town was in a better financial position to bond the project as well.

Its going to cost a few bucks, thats OK, he said. Its time to make this town really nice.
BROOKFIELD  The Board of Education is poised to discuss the $78.1 million plan to build a new Huckleberry Hill Elementary School at its meeting Wednesday evening.

The proposal calls for combining pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in one school and vacating Center Elementary School, the oldest building in the district, for town use. Both Center and Huckleberry have various problems, including a lack of energy efficiency and handicap accessibility.

In one swing, were able to take care of all our students, K-5, with this plan, Superintendent John Barile said.

Eve Sturdevant, chair of the Strategic Facilities Committee, which recommended the proposal, said the plan considers parents desires for elementary students to be on one campus, while maintaining the tight-knit, safe environment the younger grades at Center are accustomed to.

Its like the perfect plan, Sturdevant said.

The committee, along with Jeff Wyszynski, from Tecton Architects, will describe the proposal in detail to board members at their 7 p.m. Wednesday meeting in the media center of the high school.

Sturdevant said pre-kindergarten through first-graders, who now go to Center, would have their own entrance and wing, while each of the other grades would have their own wings, as well. A driveway, parking and ball fields would also be added.

[The building is] going to be bright with lots of windows, Sturdevant said. Its going to be airy and just a really enduring, warm atmosphere.

The building would also have flexible learning spaces and modern technology and would be designed with safety in mind, Barile said.

The district plans to pursue a state grant that would bring the cost to the town down to $63.3 million.

Sturdevant said the town would also save money over time on staffing and heat costs by eliminating two schools with poor energy efficiency.

The committees recommendation still includes renovating Whisconier Middle School, a cramped building Sturdevant said has barely changed since she was part of the first class to attend there in 1970.

The clocks and phones are still the same, she said.

But the committee plans to focus on Huckleberry first.

The new school would be built on the back field the Huckleberry campus, with the woods behind it.

Its going to be beautiful, Barile said. Im so happy for the children and for the town that were at this point in the project planning.

During construction, students would stay in the existing Huckleberry, Center and Whisconier until the new building is complete. The old Huckleberry would then be demolished.

If the school board approves the Huckleberry proposal, the Municipal Building Committee and the board would work together to finalize plans.

The selectmen and finance boards must sign off on the plan before it goes to voters, ideally in March.
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist who became one of the richest men in world history through his company, Carnegie Steel. He sold Carnegie Steel to J.P. Morgan in 1901 for $480 million -- according to Time, that number equated to more than 2 percent of the American GDP. He was worth the equivalent of $309 billion today, and he spent the last several years of his life donating the majority of that money to universities, libraries and other public causes.

Carnegie wrote The Gospel of Wealth in 1889, when he still ran Carnegie Steel, advising others on how best to follow his lead. His words have been edited here to Entrepreneur.com's modern style, which will make for an easier read. However, it's no substitute for the real thing, which you can read here. Or, you can listen to Carnegie read it himself below.

The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie

The greatest problem we face today is the proper administration of wealth, so that the rich and poor can live harmoniously.

The conditions of human life have been revolutionized within the past few hundred years. There used to be little difference between a chief and his people. Today, a millionaire in America lives in a palace, while a laborer can only afford a cottage.

This change is highly beneficial -- in fact, it's essential. It is much better that some people enjoy the best literature, art and refinement, than that no one enjoys it. Inequality is better than universal squalor, because without wealth there can be no patrons or philanthropists.

The "good old times" were not good old times, and a relapse to old conditions would be disastrous to both the servant and the master. It would sweep away civilization.

The "good old times" were not good old times. Neither master nor servant was as well situated then as today. A relapse to old conditions would be disastrous to both -- not the least so to him who serves -- and would sweep away civilization with it. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

But, whether we consider the change good or bad, it's here. We can't change it, so we must accept it and make the best of it: It is a waste of time to criticize the inevitable.

Related: 5 Inspiring Quotes From 19th Century Entrepreneurs

How we have arrived at the present conditions

It is easy to see how the change has come. It's especially visible in the manufacturing industry. In the past, items were manufactured in homes or small shops, which were part of the household. The master and apprentices worked and lived together, and therefore enjoyed the same lifestyle. Then, when these apprentices rose to be masters, there was little or no change in their mode of life, and they educated others in the same way. There was substantial social and political equality for manufacturers -- though they had little or no political voice at the time.

That way of manufacturing led to crude items sold at high prices. Today, we can sell commodities of excellent qualities at much lower prices -- prices that even the preceding generation would have deemed incredible.

Civilization has benefited through this, and now the poor enjoy what the rich could not before afford. Things we once considered luxuries are now necessities. The laborer now has more comforts than the landlord had a few generations ago. The farmer has more luxuries than the landlord had, with better clothes and a better house. The landlord today has access to better books, art and theatre, than the king could then obtain.

We pay a great price for these benefits: Employers and employees have become strangers to one another.

Thousands of operatives work in factories, mines and banks, and the employer knows little or nothing of each one. On the other end, the employer is little better than a myth to his employees.

They are divided, and they do not interact regularly. Rigid castes are formed, and, as usual, mutual ignorance breeds mutual distrust. Each caste feels little for the other, and they blame every misfortune on each other.

All intercourse between them is at an end. Rigid castes are formed, and, as usual, mutual ignorance breeds mutual distrust. Each caste is without sympathy for the other and ready to credit anything disparaging in regard to it. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

Because the employer faces competition from other businesses, labor rates are often very strict. Thus, there is natural friction between the employer and the employed, between capital and labor, between rich and poor. Human society loses homogeneity -- loses a sense of equality.

And so the price for competition is also great, just as its advantages are great. We owe our wonderful material development to the law of competition, which in turn improves conditions for everyone.

This competition may sometimes be hard for an individual, but it is here and there are no substitutes for it.

Related: 20 Leadership Quotes From the World's Most Influential Leaders

Image credit: ullstein bild Dtl. | Getty Images

Why individualism is better than communism

More importantly, it is best for humanity, because it insures survival of the fittest. We must accept and welcome great inequality of environment and business into the hands of a few -- that the competition between these few is essential for progress.

It follows that there should be great scope for merchants and manufacturers of special ability to conduct their businesses at a great scale. We can see that the necessary talent for organization and management is rare, because it invariably leads to enormous rewards -- regardless of where it comes from or under what conditions.

When seeking a partner, experienced businessmen always evaluate the person, not their monetary value. A talented person will soon create capital, but without special talent, the money will fly away.

The experienced in affairs always rate the MAN whose services can be obtained as a partner as not only the first consideration, but such as to render the question of his capital scarcely worth considering, for such men soon create capital; while, without the special talent required, capital soon takes wings. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

These talented people are like simple interest for firms or corporations, bringing in more money than they spend. Those without talent will do the opposite.

There is no middle ground. If a business does not earn at least interest, it will soon become bankrupt. It must either go forward or fall behind: to stand still is impossible. It's essential that a successful business should be profitable in addition to the interest.

If talented people constantly earn profit, then under a free economy, they will soon earn more revenue than they can fairly spend on themselves. This is as beneficial for civilization as competition or the evolution of manufacturing.

Some will argue against this, but civilization is better with this principal than with any other that has been tried. Perhaps a new solution will arise, but it hasn't yet.

The socialist or anarchist who seeks to overturn present conditions attacks the foundation of civilization itself, because civilization started when capable, industrious workers said to the lazy, "If you do not sow, you will not reap." This separated the drones from the bees and ended primitive communism.

Civilization is dependant upon the sacred nature of property -- that a laborer has the right to a hundred dollars in the bank, just as the millionaire has the right to millions. To anyone who would argue for communism: We have tried that. All of the progress that has come since that trial resulted from its displacement -- from the accumulation of wealth by those who have the ability and energy to produce it.

Even if we agree that it would be nobler to labor for others -- just as Swedenborg said that the angels labor for each other in Heaven -- it is not evolution. It's revolution. That is to say, we would need to change human nature itself, and that takes eons.

It is not practical in our day and age.

Our duty is to now and what comes next for our generation, because we cannot uproot the universal tree of humanity. We can only bend it a little in a favorable direction, and the laws of individualism, private property, accumulation of wealth, and competition are the soil in which society so far has produced the best fruit.

These laws might be imperfect to the idealist, or unjust, but they are like the talented people who move civilization forward. They are the best and most valuable thing that humanity has yet accomplished.

Related: Embracing Failure: Lessons From History's Most Successful Entrepreneurs

How can we make individualism more equitable?

Our current condition of affairs is in the best interest of civilization, but it still gives wealth to only the few. What is the proper mode of administering wealth from there?

I believe I have the solution.

Understand that I speak of fortunes, not moderate sums saved by many years of effort. That is competence -- returns required for the comfortable maintenance and education of families -- and it should be everyone's aim.

It is not wealth.

There are three ways to dispose of surplus wealth:

It can be left to the families of the deceased, passed from generation to generation. It can be bequeathed for public purposes. It can be administered by its possessor.

Most wealth tends to be applied in either the first or second way, but let's consider each in turn.

Image credit: Anwar Hussein | Getty Images

1. Leave the wealth to the families of the deceased.

The first method is the most unfair. In monarchies, estates and wealth are left to the first son so the vanity of the parent can be gratified by the thought that his name and title will continue unimpaired. But history teaches us that this is futile -- the successors eventually become impoverished through their mistakes or the decrease in value of their land. Even in Great Britain, where the strict law of entail can prevent heirs from selling an estate, it is not enough to maintain status. The land rapidly passes into the hands of a stranger.

In republican countries, the division of property among the children is fairer, but it still begs the question: Why should people leave great fortunes to their children? If it is from affection, is it not misguided?

Generally speaking, it is not good for children to be so burdened. It is not beneficial for the state, either.

Beyond providing for a spouse and children some very moderate allowances, it is without question that leaving great sums often do more harm than good.

Beyond providing for the wife and daughters moderate sources of income, and very moderate allowances indeed, if any, for the sons, men may well hesitate, for it is no longer questionable that great suns bequeathed oftener work more for the injury than for the good of the recipients. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

Wise people will soon conclude that such bequests are an improper use of wealth.

Some parents will fail to educate their children in a way that allows them to earn a livelihood, and these children shouldn't be cast into poverty. But, both they and those who choose to work for public ends without consideration for monetary gains, should be provided for with moderation.

There are instances of millionaires' children who were unspoiled by wealth, and they performed great services in the community. Such people are the salt of the earth, valuable as they are rare.

Thoughtful people should consider the rule, not the exception, when looking at the enormous amounts of wealth that are regularly passed on. They should say, "I would leave my child a curse before a dollar," and admit that enormous legacies are inspired not by the children's welfare, but by family pride.

Related: How Billionaire Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates Settle Disagreements

Image credit: Victor Fraile Rodriguez | Getty Images

2. Leave the excess wealth for public uses after death.

The second method of disposing excess wealth -- leaving it for public uses -- only works if people are content to wait until they are dead before they allow their wealth to do good in the world. The history of such legacies does not inspire much hope.

Often, whatever goal the giver had is never attained, or else it is thwarted. These failed gifts then become nothing more than monuments to mistakes.

Doing good for the community through these gifts requires as much talent as it took to acquire the wealth in the first place. Besides, no one should be praised for doing something inevitable, nor should they be thanked by the community for only leaving wealth behind at death. In fact, these people would often leave nothing behind if they could take their vast sums with them.

Men who leave vast sums in this way may fairly be thought men who would not have left it at all, had they been able to take it with them. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

These people will not be remembered gracefully, because there is no grace in their gifts. It's no wonder, really, that these bequests so often lack others' blessing.

The growing momentum for taxing large estates left at death more and more heavily is a positive indication of a good change in public opinion. Pennsylvania now takes, with some exceptions, 10 percent of the property left by its citizens. The budget presented in the British Parliament recently proposes to increase death taxes -- and most importantly, the new tax is a graduated one.

Of all forms of taxation, this seems the wisest. Men who continue hoarding great sums all their lives, when it should be used for the good of the community, should be made to feel that the community and the state cannot be deprived of its proper share. By taxing estates heavily at death, the state marks its condemnation of the selfish millionaire's unworthy life.

Nations should go much further in this direction. In fact, it's difficult to set limits on just how much of a rich person's estate should go to the state at death. By all means, these taxes should be graduated, beginning at nothing upon moderate sums to dependents, and increasing rapidly as the amounts swell, until it is like Shylock's fortune in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice: "... The other half / Comes to the privy coffer of the state."

This policy would incentivize the rich to administer wealth during their lives, which is what society should be aiming for because it is the most fruitful method for the people. However, it would not sap the root of enterprise or make people less ambitious to accumulate wealth. In fact, for those who do wish to leave great fortunes and be talked about after their death, it will attract even more attention because it is a somewhat nobler ambition to have enormous wealth paid to the state from their fortunes.

Related: A $150 Billion Net Worth Makes Jeff Bezos the Richest Person on Earth and 24 Other Crazy Things We've Learned About the Amazon Founder

Image credit: Jeff Greenberg | Getty Images

3. Spend the money for public good during life.

There is only one other way of using a great fortune, and within it is the true antidote for the temporary, unequal distribution of wealth. We have the reconciliation of the rich and the poor -- a reign of harmony. It is another ideal, different from the communist one in that it requires only evolution, not the overthrow of our civilization.

This ideal is founded upon our present individualism, and we can put it in practice by degrees starting today. Through it, we can live in an ideal state, where the surplus wealth of the few will become -- in the best sense -- the property of the many, because it will be administered for the common good. This wealth can be made a potent force for our collective elevation while passing through only a few hands, rather than given in small sums to the people themselves.

... the surplus wealth of the few will become, in the best sense the property of the many, because administered for the common good, and this wealth, passing through the hands of the few, can be made a much more potent force for the elevation of our race than if it had been distributed in small sums to the people themselves. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

Even the poorest can be made to see this and agree that the fortunes gathered by some of their fellow citizens, while being used for the masses' benefit, are more valuable through public use than if the money was scattered among them over the course of many years in trifling amounts.

Take the results that flow from the Cooper Institute (a small institute in Manhattan that offered free classes for its admitted students), for instance, which helps the best portion of New Yorkers who do not possess means. Now, compare these results with what good might have come if Mr. Cooper had instead distributed an equal to sum to the masses during his lifetime. Through this comparison, we can form some estimate of the possibilities for civilization under the present law of the accumulation of wealth.

Much of the wealth would have been wasted on nice dinners or excess if it were given to everyone in small quantities. Even if people used their portion in the best way possible and improved their homes, this would not be as helpful as the benefits from the Cooper Institute for generations.

Let the advocate of violent or radical change ponder well this thought.

Another example is Mr. Tilden's bequest of $5 million for a free library in New York City, even though it would have been much better if Mr. Tilden had devoted the last years of his own life to the proper administration of this gift. Then, there could have been no legal contest or cause of delay to interfere with his aims. But, let's assume that Mr. Tilden's millions finally become the means of giving to this city a noble public library, where the treasures of the world contained in books will be open to all forever, without money and without price.

Considering the good such a library would do for everyone who congregates in and around Manhattan Island, would its permanent benefit be less than if the $5 million circulated in small sums to the hands of the masses? Even the strongest advocate of communism might doubt this, and most would have no doubt about which is better.

The options we have in this life are poor and restricted. Our horizon is narrow and our best work is imperfect. But, the rich should be thankful for one important gift: They have the power to make great donations that will have a lasting, positive benefit on their fellows. Through this, the rich can dignify their own lives.

It is the highest form of life.

Related: 10 Memorable Quotes From the "World's Greatest Showman" P.T. Barnum

The rich man's duty

Tolstoy tells us to imitate the life of Christ, but by recognizing the changed conditions of this age, we can instead adopt ways of expressing his spirit in more suitable ways. We can still labor for the good of our fellows, which was the essence of his life and teaching, but we labor in a different manner.

This, then, is the rich man's duty:

Set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance. Provide moderately for the legitimate wants of his dependents. Consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he should administer in a way that, to his judgment, will produce the best results for the community.

By doing these things, the rich offer more than just money -- they can also offer their superior wisdom, experience and ability to administer, doing for others better than they would or could do for themselves.

There are still difficult questions to answer. What are moderate sums to leave family members? What is modest living? What is the test of extravagance?

There must be different standards for different conditions. It is as impossible to name exact amounts or actions as it is to define good manners, good taste or the rules of propriety. Nevertheless, these are truths, well-known although undefinable. Public sentiment is quick to know and to feel what offends these, and the same holds true for wealth.

Public sentiment is quick to know and to feel what offends these. So in the case of wealth. The rule in regard to good taste in the dress of men or women applies here. Whatever makes one conspicuous offends the canon. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

The rule in regard to good taste for fashion applies here. Whatever makes a person stand out often offends, and if any family is known chiefly for display and extravagance, we have no difficulty in making judgments. Likewise for the use or abuse of surplus wealth, or to generous cooperation for the public good, or to hoarding until the end.

The verdict rests with the best and most enlightened public sentiment. The community will judge, and its judgments will not often be wrong.

Related: 9 Inspirational Quotes From Billionaire Entrepreneur Bill Gates

How the money should be spent

The best use of surplus wealth has already been outlined, and those who would administer wisely must be careful. One of the serious obstacles to improvement is indiscriminate charity -- it would be better to throw money into the sea than to spend it on encouraging the slothful, drunken and unworthy.

Of every $1,000 spent in "charity" today, it is probable that $950 is spent unwisely. In fact, that money often produces the evils it proposes to mitigate or cure.

A well-known writer of philosophic books admitted the other day that he gave a quarter to a man who approached him as he was going to visit a friend. The writer knew nothing of the beggar's habits, or the way he would use the money, but he had every reason to believe it would be spent improperly. This man said he believed in Social Darwinism, but the quarter proved him to be a thoughtless donor. He only gratified his own feelings, and this was probably one of the most selfish and very worst actions of his life, for in all respects he is a most worthy man.

In giving charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves -- to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve can do so. The charity should be given to those who desire help that will allow them to rise -- but only to help them, and rarely ever to do it all. Neither the individual nor the race is improved by alms-giving.

Those who are worthy of assistance seldom require it. The really valuable people never do, except in cases of accident or sudden change. Everyone can think of someone who could genuinely benefit from temporary assistance, and these people should not be overlooked. But, the amount a benefactor can wisely give to individuals is limited by the lack of knowledge surrounding each person's circumstances.

Every one has, of course, cases of individuals brought to his own knowledge where temporary assistance can do genuine good, and these he will not overlook. But, the amount which can be wisely given by the individual for individuals is necessarily limited by his lack of knowledge of the circumstances connected with each. -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

A true reformer is as careful and anxious not to aid the unworthy as he is to aid the worthy -- and perhaps even more so, for in alms-giving, more injury is done by rewarding vice than by relieving virtue.

The rich should follow the examples of Peter Cooper, Enoch Pratt of Baltimore, Mr. Pratt of Brooklyn, Sen. Stanford and others, who know that the best means of benefiting the community is to place within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise. For example, parks and means of recreation, which help the body and mind; works of art, which give pleasure and improve the public taste; and public institutions of various kinds, which improve the general condition of the people. In this manner, returning surplus wealth to the masses is best calculated to do them lasting good.

Image credit: Jerry Cooke | Getty Images

The keys to proper administration of wealth

This is how we solve the problem of rich and poor. The laws of accumulation and distribution will be left free. Individualism will continue, but the millionaires will be only trustees for the poor, intrusted for a time with a great part of the increased wealth of the community. They will administer it to the community far better than it could or would have done itself.

The best minds will see that there is no better way of disposing surplus wealth than by using it year by year for the general good. This day already dawns.

Some may die while sharing in great business enterprises, from which their capital cannot be or has not been withdrawn, and it will be left chiefly at death for public uses. But those who die and leave behind many millions of available wealth, which they should have administered during life, will pass away "unswept, unhonored and unsung," regardless of what he does with what he cannot take with him.

The public verdict for these people will be: "The man who dies rich, dies disgraced."

This is, in my opinion, the true gospel concerning wealth. By following it obediently, we will someday solve the problem of the rich and poor, and we will bring "peace on earth, good will toward men."

Such, in my opinion, is the true Gospel concerning Wealth, obedience to which is destined some day to solve the problem of the Rich and the Poor, and to bring "Peace on earth, among men Good-Will." -- From the 1889 version of "The Gospel of Wealth"

Related:

'The Gospel of Wealth' by Andrew Carnegie

A Modernized Version of Andrew Carnegie's 'The Gospel of Wealth'

11 Great Quotes on Money From Andrew Carnegie's 'The Gospel of Wealth'



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
In the Women Entrepreneur series My First Moves, we talk to founders about that pivotal moment when they decided to turn their business idea into a realityand the first steps they took to make it happen.

Miko Branch started working as a hairstylist for two reasons: She loved hair, and she knew she could be her own boss in the industry. When a string of entrepreneurial successes, failures and misfires ultimately led her to focus on serving women with curly hair -- primarily African American women who, like Branch, wanted to wear their hair naturally -- she found a lucrative niche. Along with her sister, she started experimenting and creating a product line for curly hair, one that could support the very cut she'd popularized. Today, those kitchen experiments have grown into Miss Jessies, a multi-million dollar product line sold in retailers across the country. Branch breaks down her start and details how lifes necessities -- paying the mortgage and keeping her son happy and healthy -- drove her toward success.

1. Dont let missteps and failure stop you.

Miss Jessies isnt Branchs first experience as an entrepreneur. Decades ago, she and her sister and father ran a cleaning business which was fairly successful but didnt keep Branch satisfied. I was actually scrubbing toilets, she says. It became very clear that I needed to do something I loved. Being your own boss isnt fulfilling if youre doing something you dislike. She eventually went to hair school and opened her first salon with her sister. It was a two-chair salon in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, and we experienced failure within two years. In hindsight, she sees that they expanded too quickly, without the clientele to support moving and growing the business. But they tried again: The sisters, along with Branchs newborn baby, moved into a brownstone in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn and opened a new salon on the ground floor.

RELATED: This Millennial Founder Decorated Her Dorm Room Using Product She Created.

2. Find (and commit to) a niche.

Branch had long kept her own hair styled straight, but it would get splashed with water every time she bathed her son, so she decided to let it go natural. I just couldnt keep it straight -- I was a single parent, doing hair out of the house. I didnt have time for my own blowouts. But her customers loved her new, natural hair, and she saw an opportunity. There wasnt a marketplace to support curly hair, especially curly hair with a tighter coil, also known as a kink, Branch says. I knew I could become an expert -- and I needed to, because the mortgage was due and my son needed milk! She threw herself at her new mission, and even stopped offering relaxing services. It was a bold move, because we needed money, but we knew this was an opportunity. She developed a technique to cut and style curly hair, and before she knew it, women from far outside her Bed-Stuy neighborhood were traveling to the salon. In 1999, Bed-Stuy was the hood, Branch says. But we had all these women -- Jewish, Italian, Latina -- with curly hair coming to us.

3. Develop new revenue streams.

Branch and her sister couldnt find styling products to support the haircuts they were offering, so they started experimenting. We started adding stuff to store-bought products, then eventually developed our own, she says. We realized we could do whatever we want: make it smell fruity and yummy, design the packaging, give it a name! They named their homemade product line Miss Jessies, after their paternal grandmother, who was a legendary cook -- something that inspired the playful names they gave each creation. We made the brand food-themed: curly butter, curly pudding, curly meringue, Branch says of what ended up being a trend-setting move. Now, youre not a player in this industry if you dont name your curly-hair product after food.

RELATED: This Founder Sold Her Home to Fund Her Startup.

4. Take a big swing.

In addition to selling product to customers, Branch and her sister got retail placement at a local thrift shop, but they knew they could serve more customers. One day, they walked into Rickys -- a gift and beauty store in New York -- and asked a stock boy who they could talk to about product. He told us they have a product meeting in the store every Tuesday and to send them samples, Branch says. The next day they called us, and we were sold in 25 stores.

5. Expand.

The Rickys deal gave the women the push -- and the ability -- to move production out of their kitchen and into a designated space, and they eventually grew to a 5,000 square foot facility. They started outsourcing production, so they could focus on marketing and product development. And thank God we did, Branch says. Because in 2010, Target called. Their operation was already set up to scale, and they launched in 250 Target locations across the country, and have continually expanded their reach with the retailer.

RELATED: How a First Date Led to Multi-Million Dollar Confection Company Sugarfina.

6. Dont fix what isnt broken.

Today, Miss Jessies sells 16 different products and is available in Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens and CVS locations across the country. The owners still operate a salon -- albeit a larger one, in Manhattans Soho neighborhood. The salon serves as our R&D, Branch says. We get real intel from the salon, and it helps us come up with product that the market really needs, especially as more and more brands launch in this space.

Related:

The Founder of Miss Jessie's Got Retail Placement by Asking a Stock Boy for Intel

How a First Date Led to Multimillion-Dollar Confection Company Sugarfina

This Founder Sold Her Home to Fund Her Startup



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The Virginia Democratic Party on Monday sued the state Board of Elections to force an independent candidate off the ballot in the 2nd Congressional District, where aides to the incumbent, Republican Rep. Scott Taylor, have been accused of collecting fraudulent signatures in order for the independent to split the vote among challengers and help their boss win re-election.

A special prosecutor is investigating claims that Taylor's aides forged signatures on petitions for independent candidate Shaun Brown to help her get on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Analysts say voters disinclined to vote for Taylor would split between Brown and Democratic challenger Elaine Luria, possibly delivering Taylor enough voters to win a third term.

But nearly three dozen voters came forward and said they never signed the petitions on which their names appeared.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond against Elections Commissioner Christopher Piper and the three-member Board of Elections, says Brown's petitions were "positively riddled with fraud" and should disqualify her from the ballot.

Thirty-five people signed affidavits saying their signatures or those of their deceased relatives were forged, according to the lawsuit.

They include Del. Glenn Davis Jr., R-Virginia Beach, and his wife, as well as Elizabeth "Bet" Cake, the widow of R. Stuart Cake, a longtime civil servant for the Navy who died in April, before the date on which he is supposed to have signed the petition.

Brown filed 2,512 signatures to qualify for the ballot. The lawsuit claims that in addition to 35 allegedly forged signatures submitted by Taylor aides, more than 1,600 signatures are invalid because the signers do not live in the district and include other technical problems. Without those signatures, the lawsuits says, Brown would not meet the 1,000-signature threshold to be placed on the ballot.

Forging information on election materials is a violation of state law.

Virginia Democrats are represented by Marc Elias, a Virginia resident and chair of the political law group at Perkins Coie. He has worked for Hillary Clinton, former governor Terry McAuliffe and Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, and he spearheaded a spate of redistricting lawsuits on behalf of Democrats.

The Department of Elections declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Brown, through her attorney, James Ellenson, said the lawsuit shows Democrats, with their "bankrupt ideology," are bent on bullying his client off the ballot.

"They ought to be ashamed," the statement says. "Let the people speak for themselves on November 6th."

Democrats nominated Brown to run against Taylor in 2016; he won with 61 percent of the vote.

Brown is awaiting retrial in federal court on charges that she bilked the government out of public funds by inflating the number of meals her nonprofit organization served children in 2012. The first trial ended this month in a hung jury.

Taylor's spokesman, Scott Weldon, said Brown should remain on the ballot and that Democrats would "stop at nothing" to remove her.

Taylor has said that when the fraudulent signatures were first reported by WHRO-FM, he fired his campaign consultant and that it reinforced his earlier decision to fire his campaign manager.

The race between Taylor and Luria was already one of the most closely watched midterm contests in Virginia. President Donald Trump won the 2nd District by four percentage points in 2016, and Northam won it by four points last year.

The appointment of a special prosecutor brings more attention to the military-heavy district where Luria, a former Navy commander, is challenging Taylor, a former Navy SEAL who served in the state House of Delegates before his election to Congress.

Elias last week wrote a letter to the Board of Elections threatening to file a lawsuit if the three-member board did not act to remove Brown from the ballot by noon.

In a separate letter, Elias also urged Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring, whom he represented in a recount when Herring was first elected in 2013, to investigate the claims.

Herring's spokesman, Michael Kelly, said the attorney general's office would work with the special prosecutor - Roanoke Commonwealth Attorney Donald Caldwell - and the Department of Elections as the investigation continues.
It's not a hoppy India Pale Ale. It's not a heavy Imperial Stout. It's not a sour or a grapefruit-pomegranate-watermelon-infused hefeweizen.

It's a light lager (that's light as in color, not necessarily calories). It's moderate in alcohol and low in bitterness. It is, in the words of its brewers, "approachable," "easy drinking," "light-bodied and crisp" and an "everyday" beer.

If it sounds like the beer your parents, or your grandparents, or even your Great-Grand-Dad drank, that's the idea.

This is the new Congress Beer. It's retro. It's a throwback. And yet it's also a craft beer.

It debuts Wednesday, Aug. 15, with a gala party from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (Hotel Syracuse). The new Congress will be delivered to the hotel an an old-fashioned beer wagon, drawn by two big draft horses (not Clydesdales, but similar). (More event details below).

The beer is made by Willow Rock Brewing Co. in Syracuse, in partnership with the Onondaga Historical Association. It's the recreation of the historic Congress Beer, made from the late 1800s until 1962 by the Haberle (later Haberle Congress) Brewing Co. on Syracuse's North Side.

On Monday, meanwhile, members of Haberle family, which once owned the brewery, announced plans to launch their own new version of Congress.

Congress was the last of the "old school" pre-craft era beers made in Syracuse. For much of 20th century, it was Syracuse's equivalent to regional lagers like Genesee of Rochester, Iroquois or Simon Pure of Buffalo and Utica Club of Utica. Genny and Utica Club survived, most, like Congress, didn't.

After the launch, the new Congress Beer will be available at the hotel, then at the Willow Rock brewery, 115 Game Road in Syracuse. It will be showcased at the New York State Fair, and eventually find its way to bars and restaurants around Central New York. It's draft only, for now, and will likely sell for about $5 a pint.

"This is the OHA model -- to reach back into the past and bring it into the present," said Gregg Tripoli, director of the OHA, which spearheaded the project. The OHA owns many of the historic Congress Beer trademarks, and recently acquired the right to brew a beer using that name.

The slogan on the back of the T-shirts commissioned for the launch reads: "Congress is Back in Session."

Recreating a lost beer

The new Congress Beer is both a traditional American premium lager (think Bud, Miller Coors), and a "craft" beer.

"It's an easy-drinking beer that will also appeal to the craft beer fan who expects full flavor," said Kevin Williams, who co-owns Willow Rock, at 121 Game Road in Syracuse, with Rockney Roberts.

Together, Williams and Roberts faced the challenge of using their craft brewing knowledge and passion to reproduce a beer that, to some extent, represented the style that the early craft beer movement rebelled against.

Not to mention, there's hardly a soul left alive who remembers what the beer tasted like 56 years ago.

But they worked it out. For example, they're using corn in the beer, even though corn and other so-called adjunct grains -- like the rice in Budweiser -- are often villified in the craft beer world. That's because they are thought to reduce flavor and body and cheapen the end product.

There's not much corn in the new Congress (it's mostly barley malt), and it is true that adjunct grains are once again finding their way into some modern craft beers.

"Corn is no longer a four-letter word," Roberts said. "We're using it not to cut flavor, but to honor the legacy of Congress beer as it was originally made. Really, it adds just a touch of sweetness, which is true to the style."

Roberts and Williams are basing their recipe on some notes and procedures left to the OHA by Haberle Congress' last brewmaster after the brewery shut down in the 1960s.

One technique they "re-discovered" was the old school practice of blending different hops before adding them to the beer. In the case of Congress, it's a blend of Cascade, an American hop, with Tettnang, a classic German variety.

"Congress was made in a brewery founded by German immigrants," Roberts said, "so we definitely wanted to follow that German lager tradition."

Still, the new Congress is made with New York-grown and produced malts and hops.

Roberts and Williams have been working for more than six months to perfect the recipe. Willow Rock is in the midst of a major expansion that will quintuple the size of their brewhouse, so they supervised the brewing of Congress's first batch at another New York state brewery.

After their expansion is complete this fall, Congress production will shift to Willow Rock. Distribution will be handled by anoher small Syracuse company, the Party Source, a bottle shop on Erie Boulevard East.

Keeping the Congress legacy alive

For the OHA, bringing Congress back to Syracuse is the culmination of many years of stewarding the Haberle Congress legacy. Since the brewery closed, the association has acquired many artifacts and documents, from mugs and trays to posters -- and even the 11-foot high statue of Gambrinus, the king of beer, that once stood stop the brewery. The OHA's gift shop at 321 Montgomery St. has also been selling T-shirts, glassware and similar merchandise with the Congress Beer label.

Last year, Tripoli said, the OHA acquired the rights to make the beer, with goal of using the proceeds to support its operations. Then he began looking for a local brewer.

"Willow Rock is the perfect fit for us, because they make good beer, and they're a small but growing business that we can support while they support us," Tripoli said.

"The brewing industry, and Congress was a big example, was part of the great manufacturing heritage of this community," he said. "That's one of the big reasons we wanted to do this -- to showcase a part of our past that we can be proud of."

Willow Rock is happy to be part of it.

"You really have to give credit to the OHA for keeping Congress alive," Williams said. "Without their efforts, probably no one would remember that beer today."

The Congress Beer Launch Party

What: Reintroducing Congress Beer in Syracuse

When: 3:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15

Where: Marriott Syracuse Downtown (Hotel Syracuse, and its Eleven Water restaurant and Shaughnessy's Irish Pub.

Details: The first kegs of the new Congress Beer will be delivered to the hotel on an old-fashioned beer wagon pulled by two draft horses. The wagon will arrive at the Warren Street side of the Eleven Water patio about 3:40 p.m., with an official toast at 3:45 p.m. The party coincides with the last Grill 'n Chill event of the year at Eleven Waters featuring live music from Jay Lock and Brian Michael, and a photo booth with Gambrinus (the "king" of beer). Congress will be on tap at Shaughnessy's Pub starting at 4 p.m.

Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
In St. Louis, the names were Eberhard Anheuser and Adolphus Busch. In Milwaukee, there were Joseph Schlitz and Frederick Pabst, among others.

In Utica, it was Francis Xavier Matt. On the banks of the Genesee River in Rochester, it was the Wehle family and its predecessors.

In Syracuse, the name was Benedict Haberle.

The brewery this German immigrant founded on Syracuse's North Side in 1857 was among the largest of the dozen or so operating during the city's late 1800s beer-making heyday. Haberle Brewery lasted longer than any of the others in Syracuse, beyond Prohibition and through two world wars, until closing in 1962.

It was the last brewery in the city of Syracuse until the advent of "micro" or "craft brewing in the 1990s, although two "macro" brewers -- Schlitz (later Anheuser-Busch) and Miller -- did open big breweries in Central New York in the 1970s.

In the 1890s, Haberle began using the brand name "Congress" for its light-colored German-style lager. When it reopened after Prohibition, it renamed itself Haberle Congress Brewing Co.

On Wednesday, Aug. 15, Congress Beer makes its return to Syracuse after 56 years. It's being launched by the Onondaga Historical Association and Syracuse's Willow Rock Brewing Co. at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

Meanwhile, several members of the Haberle family -- including Benedict Haberle IV -- announced this week they plan to relaunch their own version of Haberle Congress beer. They are seeking a Syracuse-area brewer and have no firm timetable on starting production.

Video: Watch Steve Adydan of Marietta talk about the Haberle Congress beer memorabilia he's collected over the years:

The Story of Haberle Congress Brewing

Its founding came in the wake of a wave of immigration to Central New York in the mid-1800s. "This included an increasing number of German immigrants in the 1840s and 1850s who brought their great beer-drinking customs with them," wrote the author of a pamphlet called "Bottoms Up," a history of brewing in Syracuse published by the OHA in 1997. "In Syracuse, Germans settled primarily on the city's north side, which led to the start of that neighborhood's preeminence as the Salt City's brewing district."

Haberle Brewery joined the ranks of Syracuse breweries with names like Greenway, Zett's, Moore & Quinn, Kearney and Bartels.

The Haberle Brewery stood at the corner of North McBride and Butternut streets, high atop a hill overlooking the rest of the city. "Its hilltop location was ideal for the excavation of storage cellars under the buildings," according to the OHA pamphlet.

The brewery grew over time, producing 12,000 barrels in 1881 and 60,000 by 1894, around the time it launched its Congress lager brand. (A barrel is 31 gallons). Also in the 1890s, it merged with another local company, Crystal Spings Brewing.

During Prohibition, Haberle and Crystal Springs jointly produced a low alcohol "near beer" called Congo, which was legal as long it was less than 0.5 percent alcohol.

The brewery was among a handful in Syracuse to reopen -- as Haberle Congress -- at Prohibition's end in 1933. But the Depression, World War II and increased competition from national brands like Budweiser, Schlitz and Miller took their toll.

When Warren Haberle, the last of the third generation company managers, died in 1949, the estate's executors realized the problem. "They noted a 'disastrous situation' in the local brewing field caused by beer consumers in this locality drinking 'nationally advertised beers," the OHA reported, " ... to such an extent that it is doubtful if the local brewers can exist."

Despite a $500,000 modernization overseen by Benedict Haberle III in the late 1950s, the brewery couldn't compete, and closed a few years later.

On May 14, 1932, Syracuse was home to an enormous anti-prohibition parade and protest. The 11-foot tall statue of Gambrinus, mythical patron saint of beer who was also the figurehead of Haberle Brewery, was carried on the back of a railroad car in front of one of the largest crowds to assemble in downtown Syracuse. The statue is now at the Onondaga Historical Association museum

For much of its history, from 1881 on, an 11-foot statue of Gambrinus, the mythical "king" of beer, stood on a platform near the brewery roof, raising a stein of beer in a toast to the city.

"For nearly 80 years the statue held his frothy glass of beer high over the city's North Side, representing a famous enterprise, a neighborhood and an ethnic heritage," the OHA reported.

After the brewery closed, in 1962, the statue moved across the street, to a perch outside Mirbach's Restaurant. It is now housed at the OHA museum, along with many other Haberle artifacts. The brewery itself was razed and became a shopping plaza.

Over the years collecting Haberle Congress memorabilia -- from cans and bottles to trays and tap handles -- has become a hobby for many people, especially mmbers of the Congress Chapter of the Beer Can Collectors of America. One is Steve Adydan, who talks about his collection in the accompanying video.

'Hard workig guys'

In its day, Haberle was a major Syracuse employer, and a big part of the city's culture.

Mike Prell, whose grandfather, father and uncle all worked at Haberle, emailed this recollection of the brewery to syracuse.com:

"My Grandfather, Father and Uncle worked for Haberle up to when it closed. Grandpa (Louis Prell) was put in charge of repairing those heavy wooden barrels. They had to be made that way because of the pressure that carbonated brew could generate.

"Uncle Ray worked in the bottling plant and Dad (also Louis) worked in the cellars filling those barrels I mentioned. The cellars were very, very cold as was needed to age the brew.

"Aging took place in the form of giant wooden vats. From what I recall, Haberle used about eight of them. When I close my eyes I can still envision those vats, along with the bottling plant, but above all, the generation building used to power the brewing of beer. I believe that there were four. I was just a little kid at the time so one might think that every thing to me was big. No Sir! Not those or the vats. Really (forgive me for this) HUGE!

"Another memory is that of the Kettle Room. It contained a well polished and beautifully maintained copper 'kettle' where the cooking process took place. I don't totally remember what went into the mix. I remember something about hops and malt and not much else. Hops were grown near Malone, NY. The malt came in the form of syrup that went great with pancakes and french toast, not forgetting malted milk shakes!

"You won't read about the following in any of the history books, but you can take this to the bank. As part of their union contract with local AFL-CIO, each employee could draw a glass of beer from a spigot located just outside the Generating plant located near the main gate. Not one guy who worked there ever got hurt as a result.

"... One part of history that's probably been forgotten but worth remembering is that Ben Haberle sponsored a traveling bowling league with teams from each department from Bottling to Cellar; Brew House to Carpentry. Back then the Syracuse area had quite a few very fine bowling allies.... The best time always came in the fifth frame when the words, "BEER FRAME or sometimes BEER BALL" was called out. The team with the lowest combined score at that point bought for the rest of the teams."

Overall, Prell recalled, "The men who worked for Haberle-Congress were a great group of hard working, very tough and capable guys."

Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo this afternoon announced a weeklong state of emergency for 14 Upstate New York counties as torrential rains have continue to cause flash flooding.

"I want to make this point as serious as a heart attack: floods are nothing to play with," Cuomo said in a news release.

The state of emergency is in effect until Aug. 21 for Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schulyer, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Wayne, Yates and contiguous counties.

Cuomo earlier today toured flood damage in Seneca County, where a "sea of debris" blocked the paths of first responders.

The National Weather Service reported that more than 6 inches fell in Hector, in Schuyler County on the east side of Seneca Lake. The force of the water swept away a two-lane bridge over an unnamed creek.

One volunteer observer measured 8.75 inches of rain in nearby Dundee, just across the lake from Hector.

Cuomo said the New York National Guard will deploy 150 people and 40 vehicles to help respond to the flooding. The 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse will deploy 25 people and five vehicles, he said.

The state will also send sandbags, pumps and swift-water rescue teams, Cuomo said.

Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | Google + | (315) 470-3251
In my many years of covering fashion, I've never seen this: 11 mainstream magazines all feature black women, including Rihanna, Zendaya and Yara Shahidi, on the cover of their September issues this year.

It's a powerful statement. One that's long overdue.
TAOS, N.M. - A state judge on Monday denied a request from prosecutors to hold five adults without bond while they await prosecution on allegations that they kept 11 children in a New Mexico compound for months in squalid conditions with little food.

Law enforcement has characterized the two men and three women as Muslim extremists and said a child associated with the group had reported that they were preparing to conduct school shootings.

But defense attorneys said the family was being unfairly characterized because of their religion and said if they had been white, law enforcement would not have paid much attention to their stockpile of firearms.

"What I've heard here today is troubling. Definitely troubling facts about numerous children, far from usual circumstances," said State District Judge Sarah C. Backus. She said she was most troubled by the discovery of the body of a child at the group's remote, fortified compound.

However, she added, "The state alleges that there was a big plan afoot, but the state hasn't shown to my satisfaction, by clear and convincing evidence, what that plan was."

Backus ruled that she would allow the defendants to be released pending further hearings on conditions, including that they each post an unsecured $20,000 bond, wear GPS devices to track their movements and not leave Taos County without permission.

Deputies took 11 children into protective custody and found the body of a 12th child - who has not been officially identified - during the Aug. 3 raid here, just south of the Colorado border. Authorities said they also found multiple firearms and little food on the desolate patch of dirt to which the group had laid claim, using a partly buried trailer ringed by old tires, wooden pallets and garbage.

FBI Special Agent Travis Taylor testified Monday that he questioned two boys, aged 13 and 15, who had been at the group's compound when law enforcement raided it. Taylor said the boys told him that adults there were training them with firearms and that the group ultimately intended to attack law enforcement or education or financial institutions.

Defendants Lucas Allen Morton, 40; Jany Leveille, 35; Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40; Hujrah Wahhaj, 37; and Subhannah Wahhaj, 35; appeared at the hearing before Backus. They each face 11 counts of child abuse while Siraj Ibn Wahhaj faces an additional count alleging custodial interference.

All of the defendants and the children are relatives of a well-known Brooklyn imam, Siraj Wahhaj, which has ignited allegations from far-right groups that the compound was part of a conspiracy by Muslim extremists. Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is his son, and Hujrah and Subhannah are his daughters.

Defense attorneys had argued Monday that prosecutors had failed to meet their legal burden of showing that the five adults posed a risk to the community. Lawyer Tom Clark, representing defendant Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, had argued to Backus before her ruling that the state was treating the defendants unfairly.

"These people are not Christian, they are black and they are Muslim," Clark said. "They look different and they worship different from the rest of us."

The five adults and their 12 children disappeared from the Atlanta suburbs in December 2017. But only Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, 3, was officially reported as missing because his mother told police that his father had taken him, and that the boy suffered from serious seizures and required regular medication.

Although a formal identification of the dead child is pending, officials in court identified him as Siraj Ibn Wahhaj's 3-year-old son, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj. Siraj Wahhaj is wanted by Georgia authorities who allege he had taken the boy from his mother without permission late last year.

Taylor, the FBI agent, testified that the older boy that he interviewed told him that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj held repeated rituals at the compound in which he read from the Quran and tried to cast demons out of his young son's body. Taylor said the boy he interviewed reported that Wahhaj's son, who had been gravely ill before he came to New Mexico, died in February.

Deputy District Attorney Timothy R. Hasson had urged Backus to keep the defendants in jail. He said the evidence suggested the group was on a dangerous mission.

"It's clear from a number of the elements of the evidence that the family as a whole was strongly anti-governmentin terms of their actions of moving here to New Mexico," he said.

Assistant District Attorney John Lovelace declined comment after Backus' ruling.

Clark said after the hearing that his client will remain in custody on a Georgia warrant. He said the state has to hold a preliminary hearing within 60 days, at which time the judge will determine if there's sufficient evidence to make them stand trial.

Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe has come under fire for not entering the compound earlier. Jason and Tanya Badger, who own the land where the group camped out, said they had repeatedly raised alarm bells since January after noticing the squatters and filing for their eviction.

The Badgers said law enforcement officers from the sheriff's department and the New Mexico State Police visited the site and spoke to members of the group at the entrance to the compound on at least two occasions in January and February to address the Badgers' eviction concerns. But the couple said police never entered the property, despite having the Badgers' permission to do so.

A neighbor, Kenny Jenkins, said the family arrived last December, and he helped them dig a hole for their travel trailer to protect it from the wind. He said he and other neighbors also provided the group with construction materials, solar panels and water.

"Right before Christmas, we had a small hat full of money, and we spent half of it on those guys," Jenkins said. "We bought them a propane heater and a couple of little tanks because one of the little kids said, 'Man, it's cold out here.' We helped them out in every little way possible."

Morton sometimes borrowed tools and said he wanted to build a sustainable home constructed from recycled materials.

"We didn't question anything, because they're doing the same thing we did. They came here to live a subsistence lifestyle," he said.

But after Ramadan in June, Jenkins said, the group blocked off the entrance to their compound with tires and no-trespassing signs.

A Taos County spokesman, Steve Fuhlendorf, said last week that the FBI had had the compound under aerial surveillance since May, and Ashanti Marbury, a spokeswoman for the Clayton County Police Department in Georgia, said police there were in touch with the FBI and Taos County officials for "a few months" before the raid.

Hogrefe said after the raid that the FBI "didn't feel there was enough probable cause to get on the property," despite the surveillance. And the criminal complaint makes no mention of evidence collected through that surveillance that might support the claim that the children were training with weapons.

The FBI has declined to comment on the case or acknowledge involvement in the investigation.

Police in Georgia said the raid occurred after they received a desperate "communication" that originated in the compound asking for food. The imam said that his daughter Subhannah had sent the message to a family friend and that the family then passed the location on to the police.

Jason Badger said he discovered a shotgun and a pistol stashed in a cargo van on the property after police conducted the raid. He pointed to what appeared to be a child's drawing of a human silhouette target that was peppered with bullet holes at a makeshift shooting range at the compound. Boxes of ammunition and instruction manuals for semiautomatic pistols and a rifle were left at the scene.

Hogrefe has declined to address most of the criticism, but said that he was unable to legally enter the compound before the Aug. 3 raid and that the search warrant then limited police in what they could take. Over the weekend, he walked out of a CNN interview when the reporter pressed him on whether he could have saved a child's life.

In court Monday, Hogrefe mentioned tunnels for the first time, saying police found a sniper rifle at the scene. He said the arrests transpired peacefully.

The child's body was found wrapped in cloth and plastic at the entrance to one of those tunnels, Hogrefe said.

---

The Washington Post's Abigail Hauslohner contributed to this report.
NEW HAVEN  There is a lot of residential development in the city, but one style that has been lacking is condominium.

That will change in the relatively near future, when a plan for 30 condos in the East Rock neighborhood is discussed at the City Plan Comission meeting Wednesday.

The staff has recommended that it be approved.

Ocean Management is the developer, while the project was designed by architect Wayne Garrick.

It first came to the citys attention about a year ago at a community management team meeting. It got approal from the Board of Zoning Appeals last month.

The redevelopment, in addition to providing more housing for the city, will clean up a large, blighted block that once was home to the Lehman Bros. engraving company, a well-known business that went bankrupt in 2008.

Lehman Bros. turned out expensive engravings and wedding invitations for a century before being forced to close.

The housing project is being organized as a planned unit development at 191 Foster St. The one-acre site is bound by Canner, Nicoll and Willow streets.

Garrick said the owners determined that there definitely is a market for condominiums.

A portion of the main factory will be revamped and two floors added to house 24 condominium units. Across from this, the developer plans to construct 6 townhouses with attached garages.

The apartments will be two bedrooms, while the townhouses will have three bedrooms.

A warehouse and quonset hut will be removed from the site.

The developers decided to offer some three-bedroom units at the urging of the neighbors who would like to have families move there.

They originally had hoped to start construction a year ago.

Garrick said because condos are individually owned, they tend to be properly maintained and should be an asset to the East Rock neighorhood.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577
NEW HAVENThe citys police and fire chiefs spoke before an aldermanic committee Monday to explain why the current overtime budgets arent realistic.

Both departments will be asking the city to supplement their respective overtime budgets in the current fiscal year, because on a weekly basis they already are estimating their expenses will run over.

Our overtime budget is not a realistic number, Fire Chief John Alston told the alders Finance Committee. Police Chief Anthony Campbell said the same for his department.

Police are budgeted for about $83,000 per week in overtime expenses, but without a full staff, Campbell said thats not possible. The department spent close to $217,000 in overtime from July 29 to August 4, largely caused by officer overtime, supervisor overtime, background checks for incoming officer candidates and investigative services and patrol related to homicides and shootings.

Police are operating with a deficit of 111 officers. When the two academy classes are ready for duty, Campbell estimates the department will need between $125,000 to $150,000 per week to cover overtime and, without a full force, the current overtime budget isnt realistic, he said. It wont be until May 2019, when the the overtime would be able to come down because the new officers will have finished months of training after the academy.

Its crucial that we get this academy class not only because of overtime, Campbell said We will have officers retiring, and officers getting jobs elsewhere, applying (to) other departments. Its crucial that we not only get these two academy classes in, but additional academy classes to mitigate the overtime.

In the department, 28 personnel are eligible for retirement now and another 22 will be eligible December 7, Campbell said. This year, his department already saw 14 people retire; 10 of those who retired moved on to other jobs.

Alder Anna Festa, D-10, asked whether New Haven needed the number of officers on the force for a city this size, but Campbell said its difficult to compare the city with other municipalities.

When you compare New Haven to other cities, its difficult because its the beacon on the hill, everyone comes here, Campbell said. You cant compare it to other towns. Our officers are doing work that five years ago they wouldnt have been called on to do. While emergency call volume continues to rise, the department continues to see a drop in property and violent crimes, he said.

Campbell said the overtime situation will continue not only because of retirements, but also because of officers starting pay, which is around $44,000 a year, the lowest in the state, he said. Without a union contract in place, officers may be tempted to retire early or leave for another department where their benefits will be secure, he said. The department has lost 22 officers to other municipalities, Campbell said.

The fire department is in a similar overtime runover with a shortage of firefighters and a number of retirements possible this year. It is budgeted for almost $42,000 per week in overtime, but consistently has spent more than $100,000 per week in July, which Alston said largely comes from providing services for special events from which they cant recoup money.

We didnt have a way of tracking whether the bills that are being paid were coming back to our budget, so we had no way to track it, he said. This year theyve requested a revenue line so they can track money coming into the department, which will help offset the overtime budget. Non-suppression overtime concerns me because we have difficulty determining if its a city event, a city sponsored event or an event in the city, he said, which creates ambiguity on who pays for the fire overtime.

The fire department spends much of its overtime providing services for concerts, special events, festivals. This includes providing emergency medical services for the events in addition to money spent on overtime for training new firefighters, which happens during this time of year.

Our budget is not realistic based on the current contract, he said. We are looking for ways to improve that, but contractually there have to be 72 bodies during the day and at night. Thats how it works unless you can tell me which firehouse to close. ... I dont want to close firehouses. I wasnt hired to close firehouses.

This fiscal year, fire overtime is budgeted as $2,169,000 for the year; and $4,312,684 for police. As of August 10, the police department has spent $935,320.67 in overtime since the start of the fiscal year and the fire department has spent a total of $554,629.66.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com
HARTFORD  All students attending five Connecticut Technical Education and Career System high schools will be provided breakfast and lunch for free, according to a press release from the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System.

The technical high schools are: Eli Whitney, Hamden; A.I. Prince, Hartford; E.C. Goodwin, New Britain; Bullard Havens, Bridgeport; and Ella T. Grasso, Groton, the release said.
Authorities on Tuesday said vandals flooded a World War II-era submarine moored at the New Jersey Naval Museum and stole four memorial plaques from the property.

Intruders intentionally opened hatches throughout the 312-foot U.S.S. Ling, causing the entire inside of the 2,500-ton craft to flood with water from the Hackensack River, according to city police Capt. Brian Corcoran.

The damage reported Tuesday came after officers responded to the Naval Museum in Hackensack a day before, police said. A caretaker found plaques valued at more than $10,000 that honored sailors and the 52 U.S. submarines lost during World War II were pried from a cement casing and stolen.

"The Hackensack Police Department Detective Bureau is investigating this disgraceful incident further, with hopes to locate and prosecute those responsible," Corcoran said in a statement.

The Ling was an exhibit off the Naval Museum located at the former River Street site of North Jersey Media Group, which published The Record newspaper before it was sold to Gannett.

Developers plan to demolish the former Record building to make way for luxury apartments at the 20-acre site, and museum staff were working to relocate. Navy officials collected artifacts from the museum, but the fate of the Ling has been unclear.

Though vandals didn't manage to sink the Ling, the submarine is mired in mud, heavily rusted and in a shallow area of the river, according to NorthJersey.com. The Ling is not included in any redevelopment plan for the property.

The Ling was forced to close after Hurricane Sandy damaged a connecting pier in 2012.

Berthed at the Hackensack site since the mid-1970s, the Balao class submarine never saw combat and was used for training.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The boyfriend of a woman whose 3-year-old daughter died in 2017 was charged Monday in connection with the girl's death.

Travis W. Graham, 22, of Gloucester Township, was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Charlette Dawkins was found unresponsive inside the Bittersweet Drive home she lived in with her mother and Graham on March 14, 2017.

Graham initially told investigators that, while he was caring for Charlette, she fell down the stairs and that he caught her before she hit the bottom of the steps, prosecutors said Tuesday. After she didn't wake up from a nap later that day, he drove her to the hospital.

When Graham spoke to detectives last month, however, his story changed.

While she was standing at the top of the stairs, refusing to take a nap, he admitted striking the child across the forehead with the back of his hand, knocking her down the steps, prosecutors stated.

Graham told investigators that he "backhanded" Charlette after she pinched him during the argument about taking a nap.

Graham said he hit her with such force that she "was spun around and fell down the steps face first," according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Charlette was unresponsive at the bottom of the stairs and had wet herself, Graham told authorities. He said he changed her soiled clothes and drove her to the hospital within five minutes of the fall.

Charlette Dawkins (Provided photos)

The affidavit, however, includes text messages Graham apparently sent to Charlette's mother covering a three-hour time span between when he said she fell and when he said he was taking her to the emergency room.

At 12:38 p.m., he wrote: "lol nvm char just threw a hissy fit and dropped dead weight while walking up the stairs. I caught her but she banged her head."

At 1:35 p.m., he wrote: "her head is pretty bad with bruises."

At 3:26 p.m, he wrote: "Going to emergency room"

After Graham took Charlette to a hospital in Stratford, she was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where she was diagnosed with fixed and dilated pupils, which indicated a brain injury, multiple healing rib fractures and bruises on her forehead, chest, abdomen and legs.

She suffered cardiac arrest several times and was later diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury, according to the affidavit.

A doctor's evaluation concluded "the history, physical examination, and diagnostic studies are diagnostic of child physical abuse to a medical degree of certainty."

Bill Townsend, chief of detectives in the prosecutor's office, said at the end of July that charges against Graham were imminent after "promising developments in the Charlette Dawkins death investigation."

The medical examiner ruled Charlette's death a homicide earlier this month.

Graham is currently being held on charges related to several armed robberies. Prosecutors are expected to ask that he remained detained pending trial on the murder charge.

-- NJ Advance Media staff writers Alex Napoliello and Matt Gray contributed to this report.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A convicted felon who accidentally shot a 5-year-old girl during an argument in Newark was arrested Saturday, officials announced Monday.

Jamar Battle, 30, of Newark, was charged on Aug. 10 with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Battle was arrested the next day and was in Newark federal court Monday, where he was ordered to detained until his next hearing.

Jamar Battle (Newark Department of Public Safety)

The shooting, which police originally called a "cowardly act,' happened on July 4 on Avon Avenue at 11:30 p.m., when Battle was arguing with another person, investigators said. During the argument, Battle fired his gun, but instead of hitting his intended target, he hit the 5-year-old girl who was walking down the street with her father.

The girl, who was not identified by police, was treated and released from University Hospital.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said Battle was convicted in 2015 for illegally possessing a firearm, so he was still considered a felon at the time of the shooting.

If he is convicted, Battle could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $250,000.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.
JERSEY CITY -- More than 100 locals got a tour of the city's small business landscape this weekend during the very first Jersey City Business Scavenger Hunt.

The event, hosted by the city's Office of Small Business Services, offered a family-friendly competition to see who could visit and explore the most local businesses throughout the city.

Carmen Class, 29, and her mother, Nancy, 59, finished in first place after visiting all 48 businesses that participated in the competition, including The Grind Shop, the JC Oddities Shop, Garcia Photography and Low Fidelity bar -- among many others.

More than 130 people participated in the scavenger hunt, but only those who visited businesses in each of the city's six wards got the chance to win prizes.

"I'm retired, (Carmen's) a school teacher, so we've got all of the time in the world," Nancy said.

The competition began on Friday, ended Sunday, and culminated with a party at City Hall Plaza. The Classes (the mother and daughter duo dubbed their team "Touch of Class") spent each day traversing the city and visiting each of the listed businesses.

Players were tasked with decoding clues from starting locations, and then visiting businesses based on the clue card. From there, players collected stickers from each of the participating stores.

Both women are lifelong residents of Downtown Jersey City, yet, they discovered new shops and new places to eat.

"It was really eye-opening see all of the stuff that has come up from the time we grew up. We saw a mix of old and new," Nancy said. "It was really nice."

"A lot of places I'd definitely go back to," Carmen said.

The Classes first place finish earned them a complimentary night at Hyatt House Jersey City and other prizes, while runners-up received a variety gift certificates from participating businesses.

Vanessa Quijano, a small business development coordinator with the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation, organized the event.

"My initial goal," Quijano said, "was to provide a channel, or a program that would promote (the city's) businesses in a fun, family-friendly way."

Quijano began working with the Office of Small Business Services, which operates under the umbrella of the city's EDC, in July 2016 and typically spends her time providing counseling to local entrepreneurs interested in starting a small business.

"I wanted to really demonstrate the different businesses you can find in town," she said.

Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
This morning at 11:55am a man acting erratically smashed our shelter front door with a rock, ran inside, and threw an... Posted by Liberty Humane Society on Monday, August 13, 2018

JERSEY CITY -- A man smashed the glass door of an animal shelter in Jersey City on Monday when he learned the facility was closed, authorities said.

Police responded to a call of property damage at Liberty Humane Society just before noon, Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said in a statement to The Jersey Journal.

Wallace-Scalcione added that according to the property manager, the man attempted to get into the shelter. When he learned the shelter was closed, he became "irate" and threw a rock, breaking the glass door, Wallace-Scalcione said.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, she said.

Liberty Humane Society described the incident in a Facebook post and said the man got inside after breaking the door and then threw an injured cat in a box at one of the shelter's staff members.

"We try to stay positive, but this has staff rattled," the organization wrote. "Animal welfare can be a contentious place, and we're so grateful for our supporters who understand, empathize and lift us up as we continue this work, no matter what comes our way."

The shelter, which is closed on Mondays, could not be reached for comment.

Liberty Humane Society is now accepting donations to fix the glass door. Donations can be made on its website.
JERSEY CITY  The group seeking to keep the Katyn monument at Exchange Place cleared a major hurdle on Monday when City Clerk Robert Byrne certified it has submitted enough valid signatures to halt the council's recent action that authorizes moving the statue to York Street.

Byrne's certification of the Katyn petition represents a stunning turnaround for the group and a major defeat for Mayor Steve Fulop, whose plan to move the controversial statue to make way for a new park at Exchange Place is now on hold.

"This isn't just a win for the Polish community, it's a win for all Jersey City residents who supported us," Kristen Zadroga-Hart, a member of the committee that collected the signatures, told The Jersey Journal. "And it's a win for democracy. There's a process, we saw it through and hopefully the City Council will understand the work and time that went into this and will vote on the side of the people."

The issue moves now to the nine-member council, which has two options: vote on Sept. 12 to reverse the ordinance approving the statue relocation; or ignore the matter entirely and allow voters to decide in a referendum.

Council President Rolando Lavarro said he will discuss with his council colleagues how they want to move forward.

About the petitioners, Lavarro said, "I congratulate them on their success."

Successful petition drives to overturn council actions are rare. A group in 1995 failed to halt an ordinance approving a city payroll tax (that measure never went into effect for other reasons). In 1963, a group attempting to stop pay hikes for police officers and firefighters submitted 39,000 signatures on a petition that led to a referendum that November. The referendum failed.

The wild story behind the proposed Katyn statue relocation started in April when Fulop revealed he wants to move it so the city can oversee the creation of a new park at Exchange Place. The announcement met with immediate resistance from the Polish community, which accused the city of attempting to erase history. The statue, which commemorates the 1940 massacre of over 20,000 Polish people by the Soviet Union, was gifted to the city in 1986 and was unveiled at Exchange Place in 1991.

The council at its June 13 meeting approved 6-3 an ordinance that authorized the city to move the statue one block south to York Street. Fulop has said the statue would be the centerpiece of a new city park at that location. On the Friday following the council vote, a five-person committee formed to attempt to overturn the action by collecting a minimum of 6,714 signatures of valid Jersey City voters.

Byrne on July 23 told the group its initial batch of 9,471 signatures contains only 3,833 valid signatures. The group then submitted another batch of 5,000 signatures on Aug. 3 and challenged Byrne's rejection of about 1,000 of the signatures from the first batch.

On Monday, Byrne said the group's second batch includes 2,295 valid signatures and that 668 of the previously rejected signatures are valid after all. That gives the group 6,796 valid signatures, 82 more than the minimum it needed to succeed.

Fulop has hinted that if the petition drive succeeded, the city might move the Katyn statue to Montgomery Street, the location it was originally intended to be when the council accepted the monument as a gift in 1986. City spokeswoman Hannah Peterson on Monday indicated that's the city's plan.

"We are indifferent whether the statue moves to York Street or moves two blocks away from the waterfront on Montgomery where it is legally supposed to be," Peterson said. "If the committee prefers two blocks away we are happy to pursue that as well. We thought the York Street location was ideal as it would create two new parks but we are happy to explore either of the two options."

It may not be so easy for the city move the statue to Montgomery Street. Last week, U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez, who is overseeing a lawsuit filed against the city by four Polish men, including the sculpture's artist, Andrzej Pitynski, said in an order that the city must notify the plaintiffs 14 days in advance if it intends to move the statue to give their attorney a chance to challenge the relocation.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
One business was destroyed while another was severely damaged after both caught fire when a truck slammed into a building in Hunterdon County on Monday night, officials said,

Galasso's Pizzeria was gutted while the adjacent Frenchtown Cafe also suffered significant damage when a heavy duty wrecker hauling a large trailer left the road and hit the building on Bridge Street around 10:40 p.m., according to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office.

The wrecker is owned by B&L Towing and Recovery, a Carteret company.

No one inside the building was hurt, though several people who live in apartments above the businesses were displaced, the mayor said. The truck driver, a 37-year-old Kearny man, declined to be treated for minor injuries, the prosecutor's office said.

Frenchtown 53Bridge St truck into building Posted by Connie Neidlinger on Monday, August 13, 2018

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
New Jersey's capital city has to pay the state a $13,000 fine after failing to make mandated improvements to its water system -- an outdated infrastructure that is contaminating the water residents use.

The state Department of Environmental Protection reached an agreement with the city's mayor and water treatment agency, Trenton Water Works, to address its aging infrastructure, after test results revealed elevated levels of lead in 12 of 100 water samples taken in the first six months of the year.

The Administrative Consent Agreement chastises the city for failing to address lead issues earlier, and outlines a plan for addressing the lead issues in the future.

The 18-page agreement outlines a host of problems with the city's water utility, including unacceptable levels of lead found in the drinking water. Lead generally seeps into a water supply from outdated piping in service supply lines.

The city was first found to be in violation of lead levels in 2017, which prompted the start of a lead service line replacement project. However, according to the consent agreement, the city failed to carry out the project as had been planned.

The agreement outlines a set of DEP-established guidelines that the city and TWW must follow in order to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The document requires TWW to submit a new corrosion control treatment project plan, complete a lead service line replacement project, and comply with regular monitoring for lead and copper lines, as well as water quality.

The city must also pay the DEP a $13,000 fine, levied when TWW failed to provide documents about lead service line replacement the DEP had requested, and missed several deadlines for beginning a project to replace the service lines.

Trenton Water Works, a city-owned utility that provides water to about 225,000 people in Trenton and parts of Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence and Hopewell, has been under fire for months, for water quality and a host of other issues.

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, who was elected in June and sworn in July 1, campaigned on a platform of more aggressively attacking Trenton's water issues. He signed the consent order July 26.

Fourteen water samples tested during the first half of 2017 were above the lead action level, compared to 12 samples above the lead action level during the first half of 2018, according to DEP spokesperson Larry Hajna.

According to the DEP's Drinking Water Watch, TWW lead levels were within acceptable amounts during the second half of 2017.

"Generally speaking, a lot of variables can go into individual test results, one of the biggest of which is how long the water has been sitting in the plumbing before it is turned on and the sample is taken. The longer the water sits, the more likelihood there is of traces of lead to leach out of the pipe," Hajna said.

Results could also differ between the six month testing periods because it is voluntary for consumers with lead and copper pipes to submit samples for testing, according to Hajna.

"TWW is concerned about the health of their residents because lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources," the mayor said in a statement.

The DEP recommends that homeowners take certain steps to determine if lead is present in their pipes and reduce exposure to lead in their drinking water.

To determine if lead is present in pipes or plumbing, homeowners or tenants can consult with a licensed plumber or their public water supplier. If lead components are found, it is recommended that property owners replace the lines.

Until the service lines can be replaced, the DEP and the city of Trenton recommend the following water safety tips.

Home owners can run faucets that haven't been used for several hours to flush out any lead particles.

Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. The DEP says that lead dissolves more in water that comes from a hot water tap.

Use alternate sources of water, such as bottled water, or invest in a water filter.

Gusciora said he has no intention of selling the water utility, and will continue to update the public about ongoing projects.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Federal agents on Tuesday arrested a former Middletown resident on allegations she collected almost $160,000 in government benefits by lying about her ability to work, prosecutors said.



Martha Aguilar, 56, was arrested by special agents from the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Education on a four-count indictment charging her with the theft of government funds, social security fraud, false statements in furtherance of social security fraud and student loan fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.



Prosecutors allege Aguilar submitted forms to the Social Security Administration on which she claimed she was completely disabled, when she was in fact regularly working as a paralegal and collecting temporary disability benefits -- also fraudulently obtained -- from the state of New Jersey.



As a result, the government has alleged, she fraudulently collected approximately $136,879.24 between November 2004 and January 2015 while failing to report $470,000 in state benefits and income.



The grand jury's indictment also accuses Aguilar, who now lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania, of falsifying her son's student financial aid paperwork to conceal her earned income and state benefits, resulting in his wrongfully receiving $23,195 in aid.



Aguilar made her first appearance in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon before Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton, court records show.

She was released on a $250,000 appearance bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment Thursday before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson.

Her court-appointed attorney from the Federal Public Defender's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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An unauthorized immigrant who had been arrested multiple times in New Jersey and New York was sent back to El Salvador last week, where he was wanted on murder charges, federal officials said.

Brian Alejandro Martinez, who has also gone by the name Maximiliano Cornejo, was flown to El Salvador and turned over to local authorities Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

"This individual's egregious immigration history and serious criminal history in the U.S., as well as being wanted for homicide in his home country, shows that he is a dangerous individual who warranted removal from the community and the U.S.," said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations division in Newark.

Martinez, 32, originally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2006 in Texas, but was picked up by border control agents two days later. He falsely claimed to be a Mexican citizen and was sent back to Mexico, federal officials said.

He crossed the border again and re-entered the U.S. on an unknown date, ICE officials said.

Martinez was arrested in New Jersey in 2014 on local charges in West New York, federal officials said. He was sentenced to 253 days in jail, fined $125 and was placed in ICE custody at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny to await a deportation hearing.

However, he posted bond in 2015 and was released from custody.

He was arrested again in New York in August 2016 on unspecified local charges. He was re-arrested by ICE two months later.

In July, nearly two years after his latest arrest, an immigration judge ordered him removed to El Salvador.

Martinez's removal from the U.S. comes as ICE has been stepping up arrests and efforts to send unauthorized immigrants back to their home countries.

In fiscal year 2017, ICE removed or returned 226,119 immigrants to their home countries, federal officials said. That is about 15,000 more than the previous year.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.
More than 1,000 children were sexually abused by at least 300 priests in six Roman Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania while top church officials tried to cover up the problem for decades, according to a blistering report released Tuesday by a grand jury.

The 1,356-page document names many of the accused priests -- including at least four who had served in New Jersey.

The priests with New Jersey ties in the report include:

The Rev. James Hopkins, who was transferred from Pennsylvania to the Diocese of Camden in 1973. He pled guilty to sexually molesting an altar boy in Camden County and received a ten year prison sentence.

The Rev. Augustine Giella, who served in parishes in Hackensack, Jersey City, Cliffside Park and Glen Rock before moving to Pennsylvania. He died in 1992 while awaiting trial on child molestation and child pornography charges.

The Rev. A. Gregory Uhrig, who worked as an assistant at St. Francis Cathedral in Metuchen in the 1980s and returned to New Jersey in the 1990s. He was

The Rev. John P. Connor, who served in parishes in Vineland, Gloucester and Haddon Heights in the 1960s. He was also on the faculty of Paul VI High School in Haddon Township until he moved to Pennsylvania in 1970. He was

The investigation by a Pennsylvania grand jury, considered the most sweeping look at sex abuse in the U.S. Catholic Church, looked into abuse claims in the dioceses of Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton, Erie and Greensburg.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the two-year probe found a systematic cover-up by senior church officials in Pennsylvania and at the Vatican.

"The cover-up was sophisticated. And all the while, shockingly, church leadership kept records of the abuse and the cover-up. These documents, from the dioceses' own 'Secret Archives,' formed the backbone of this investigation," Shapiro said at a news conference in Harrisburg.

Several of the priests named in the report went to court to keep their names from being released. Their identities were redacted from the report.

The report begins with plea from the grand jury that readers who have grown weary of hearing about priest sex abuse pay attention to their investigation.

"There have been other reports about child sex abuse within the Catholic Church. But never on this scale. For many of us, those earlier stories happened someplace else, someplace away. Now we know the truth: it happened everywhere," the report said.

The grand jury placed blame on church leaders for covering up abuse and moving accused priests from parish to parish.

The report singled out Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the former longtime bishop of Pittsburgh who now leads the Washington archdiocese, for what it said was his part in the concealment of clergy sexual abuse.

In a statement, Wuerl defended himself. He said he "acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse."

Two priests named in the report were charged as a result of the grand jury probe. But, most of the other accused priests named in the document are either dead or unlikely to be charged because their crimes are decades old.

The report comes as priest sexual abuse has been in the headlines again with the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who stepped down this summer after accusations he sexually abused at least two boys.

Pope Francis stripped McCarrick of his cardinal title and told him to remain in prayer and penance until a church trial.

McCarrick, the former head of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Metuchen, was also accused of sexual misconduct with at least three adults during his time in New Jersey, including two cases that resulted in settlements, church officials said.

Last week, the head of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey's largest Catholic diocese, said he has ordered a re-examination of sexual abuse cases in his parishes.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin has "arranged for an external firm to audit all the personal files" of the Newark Archdiocese in the wake of revelations about previously-undisclosed settlements involving McCarrick, a spokesman said.

Tobin did not say if the archdiocese planned to make the names of priests accused of sexual abuse public after the audit of the New Jersey cases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Transportation Security Administration officer showed he has some moves as he processed a family of five through security at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Officer Joshua McCall admired how one of the three children danced and the boy challenged McCall to a dance-off last week in Terminal B.

In a video shared by the TSA, the officer is shown keeping up with the boy. Another child who appears to be the boy's younger brother also attempts to get in on the fun.

McCall then posed for a photo with the entire family.

"After ensuring all are secure as they enter the checkpoint, our TSA officers will be happy to accept any dance challenges from passengers," TSA Federal Security Director for New Jersey Tom Carter said in a light-hearted statement. "It's a good example of the human side of our great and dedicated professionals on the front lines of homeland security. Officer McCall not only helped keep this family safe, but also made their checkpoint experience both pleasurable and memorable."

The Associated Press and NJ Advance Media staff writer Jeff Goldman contributed to this report.
Women have always vastly outnumbered men in the nursing profession -- by a lot. In fact, today, they make up nearly 90 percent of the industry's U.S. workforce. So it begs the question: Why do their male counterparts still make so much more than them?

A recent survey of more than 4,500 registered nurses from all 50 states found that male nurses earn an average of $79,688 a year compared to $73,090 for women -- a nearly $6,600 pay gap, according to Nurse.com by OnCourse Learning, an online educational resource for nurses throughout the world, which conducted the study.

According to the survey, the wage gap may boil down to the negotiation factor -- that men are "more likely to negotiate their salaries" than women. The survey found that while 43 percent of men "most of the time or always negotiate," only 34 percent of women do so. Research has found this to be the case in professions across the U.S.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, full-time, year-round working women in 2016 earned just 80 percent of what their male counterparts earned, which is similar for full-time working women in New Jersey, who women earned 81 percent of their male counterparts, according to the nonprofit American Association of University Women.

While the overall gender wage gap in the U.S. has narrowed since the 1980s, particularly for women 25 to 34, it nonetheless remains a pervasive issue in professions nationwide, according to a report by Pew Research earlier this year.

And while the Nurse.com survey found that the wage disparity in the U.S. nursing profession is slightly better than the overall national gender pay gap, it nonetheless serves as a daunting example in an industry overwhelmingly made up of women.

There were more than 80,000 registered nurses in New Jersey in 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, earning a median salary of $82,010 a year. New Jersey also ranks third for states most in need of registered nurses.

Judith Schmidt, CEO of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSA), an organization that advocates for the registered nurses in the state, told NJ Advance Media that she was not surprised by the survey's findings.

"Entry level salaries are basically the same. However, more men (around 7 to 10 percent of total nursing workforce) go into the higher salaried areas such as administration and entrepreneurial positions," she said via email. "Female nurses are staying in direct patient care and bedside."

Dr. Benjamin Evans, president of the New Jersey State Nurses Association, told NJ Advance Media in an email that, in his view, male nurses have tended to seek out more opportunities to advance their education and careers, whereas female nurses have often used the profession as "supplemental support for their families."

He also said that often nurses are often at a disadvantage when it comes to their pay.

"Salaries and money flow are often set between non-nurse health care administrators, finance officers and human relations officers," he said. "Nursing's true cost and revenue has not been vetted well. Frequently, nursing care is lumped in with the daily bed rate in a hospital."

Millicent Gorham, executive director of the National Black Nurses Association, said in the statement from Nurse.com that "women need to learn to negotiate for everything."

Susan C. Reinhard, senior vice president and director of AARP's Public Policy Institute and chief strategist at the Center to Champion Nursing in America, also noted in that statement that research has also linked higher degrees with "more career choices that can lead to better paying jobs."

In fact, professional certifications, the statement said, is one avenue female nurses can use to narrow the salary gap. According to the survey, men with specialty certifications had a salary of only about $1,250 higher than their female counterparts.

Brent MacWilliams, president of the American Association for Men in Nursing, said in the statement that "traditionally, men have gravitated toward acute care, high-paid specialties and to management/administration, which are all higher paying" and that based on the survey, "it seems clear men are being paid significantly more than women in the profession doing comparable work."

"I would call on employers to assess their current workforce for gender gaps and raise salaries to create parity," he added.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Your commute is hellacious, but look on the bright side: At least the no-show engineer who was supposed to be running your cancelled train is from this great state.



That was the idea behind a law that Gov. Chris Christie signed in 2011, requiring public employees to live here: To keep New Jersey jobs for New Jersey residents, and our tax dollars in-state.



It was a nice soundbite at the time, back when Rep. Donald Norcross, then a Democratic state senator, rallied for this. Now, not only do we have a rail system that is a "national disgrace," in the words of Gov. Phil Murphy, but also the comfort of knowing that it can't just hire the best people.

The most immediate fix for NJ Transit: manpower | Editorial



NJ Transit says it is nearly 50 engineers short, which is only compounding the delays. While it just trained nine new hires, another class won't be ready until at least next Spring. Until then, we'll all be stuck waiting on the platform.



Yet even when NJ Transit is desperately understaffed, it can't poach trained engineers from other lines in New York or Pennsylvania, thanks to this ludicrous law. NJ Transit acknowledges that the rule is a factor in its engineer shortage. Some legislators are proposing an exception, just for NJ Transit.



But what sense does that make? Shouldn't our state be allowed to hire the best candidate for any highly skilled job? What about computer technicians, or teachers?



This is also a real drag on school districts. A principal in Jersey City can't hire a teacher who lives just two and a half miles away, if happens to be over the border into New York state. Same goes for Camden: Instead of recruiting top talent to teach needy kids, it's required to toss out any application from someone who lives in Philly.



Senate President Steve Sweeney, who voted for this rule, told Politico he wants proof that it's actually worsening NJ Transit's recruiting problem before we kill it. But what about its effect on all these other areas, like education?



At the time he signed this law, Christie praised its "efforts to increase employment opportunities for New Jersey residents." But where's the proof that it has actually done so?



Norcross's office noted on Monday that a process exists for state employees to seek a waiver for those who can prove a special hardship. True - but you have to divulge personal details of your life to a public board, and getting its approval to live elsewhere can be really onerous.



Why should an engineer have to tell a tear-jerking story about needing to be a caregiver to an ailing parent in Pennsylvania? Shouldn't it be enough that this potential staffer shows up to work and knows how to run a train?



The idea that New Jersey government institutions are so top-notch that we don't need to expand the base of possible hires is ridiculous on its face. So is any rule that prevents our state from hiring the most qualified person available. And that's the only reason NJ Transit would reach outside New Jersey - to hire the best people.



State Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr., (R-Union), was against this rule from the beginning, and right about it all along. He wants to pass a bill reversing it for most state employees, not just NJ Transit, a measure that's had bipartisan support in the past.



Instead of refusing to hire a top engineer, teacher or administrator because he or she is from out of state, let's focus on making New Jersey a more attractive place for everyone to live, by ensuring we have the best teachers, and our trains actually show up at the station.

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A West Milford High School student and her parents are suing the school district for not taking appropriate action for a pattern of pervasive harassment, including physical assaults and racial taunts, over a seven-year period, according to a superior court complaint.

The student, a biracial girl who is now a high school senior, alleges that classmates called her the N-word on multiple occasions including in text messages and physically assaulted her on at least one occasion during a confrontation in a high school hallway in 2016. The complaint alleges a school vice principal witnessed the assault and did nothing.

The lawsuit, filed in April, alleges incidents were reported to school officials on multiple occasions and they failed to take adequate measures against the perpetrators, fellow students. It also alleges a teacher once harassed the girl by following her into a bathroom to accuse her of avoiding classwork.

The girl's attorney, Jeffrey Youngman, said he did not know if police reports were filed for the alleged physical assault in the hallway in 2016 or for text messages with alleged threatening and racist taunts on other occasions.

"We deny the allegation and are working through...the legal process," said Nathanya Simon, an attorney for the school district. "We are involved in a vigorous defense."

A request for comment Monday from West Milford Township school Superintendent Alex Anemone was not immediately returned.

A court filing in June in response to the lawsuit asked for the complaint to be dismissed because "the board defendants acted in good faith and without malice at all relevant times and acted based on legitimate, non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory reasons and motives."

The girl's lawsuit challenged those claims citing a text message it said was reported to the board in 2014.

"I'm going to kick the s--- out of you, you ugly a-- n-----," the text from a classmate said.

"This incident was reported to the board who, incredibly, did not deem it to be an act of HIB [Harassment Intimidation and Bullying]," the suit said.

Other text messages allegedly said: "I'll kill you," "KKK is coming for you," and "you're a b---- and deserve to get the s--- beat out of you."

"This looks like something that would have happened below the Mason-Dixon line before 1964," said Youngman, the attorney who filed the suit. "We can't keep sweeping this under the rug like it doesn't exist. This is in northern New Jersey not Alabama or Mississippi."

Youngman previously secured a settlement of at least $172,500 from the West Milford school district in 2014 in another student harassment case. He said Monday that amount was what the school district paid and another sum paid was not disclosed.

He said he was "surprised" the school district did not move to address his current situation sooner. He said the plaintiff complained to school administrators before the lawsuit was filed.

He said monetary compensation is now being sought.

"There's no other way in society of making people whole," Youngman said. "And even that is not sufficient. Nobody said this amount makes it worth it."

The suit claims that because of "repeated abuse, assaults and intimidation," the plaintiff "became depressed and suffered other injuries and damage."

Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Videos of New Jersey police officers chasing down and arresting suspects won't be turned over to the public and the media in many cases under a state Supreme Court ruling issued Monday.

A divided court ruled 4-3 that police dashboard videos are criminal investigatory records exempt under the state's Open Public Records Act, known as OPRA, which is the primary method by which many police records are disclosed.

The decision still allows for some videos to be released, but largely cements a common practice among police departments across the state: refusing to release any video tied to a criminal investigation, sometimes even months or years after that investigation is closed.

"What in the world was the point of buying all these cameras if we can't see the video?" asked John Paff, the open records advocate whose request for dashboard camera footage from the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office sparked the Supreme Court fight.

In a major ruling last summer, the Supreme Court found that videos of deadly police shootings should be made public under what's known as the common law right of access. But Paff's case argued a wider category of police videos should be made public, in part because they are records required to be maintained by order of local police chiefs and prosecutors.

Writing for the majority, Justice Anne Patterson found that while directives from the state attorney general -- who is the state's top law enforcement official -- carry the force of law, the same can't be said for local police executives.

So unless the attorney general orders police officers to keep the cameras rolling, the videos they produce aren't subject to OPRA, the majority found.

"Law enforcement agencies have to have some ability to withhold some records some of the time," said Samuel Marzarella, an attorney who argued the case for the Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.

Marzarella noted that the court's ruling leaves open the option of requesting police videos under the common law right of access.

"You just have to wait a little," he said, adding that courts can order police videos released if the public's interest in disclosure outweighs privacy or confidentiality concerns.

But in a biting dissent, Justice Barry Albin wrote that the lesser-known common law right of access is "a difficult and burdensome path fraught with litigation and increased costs" that would limit the public's access.

"In the wake of today's majority opinion, the operations of our government will be less transparent and our citizenry less informed, which may lead to greater misunderstanding and more distrust between the public and the police," Albin wrote.

Even before Monday's decision, many police departments across the state only released dashboard or body camera footage in a few circumstances. Those included drunken driving cases -- which are motor vehicle violations, not criminal matters -- and fatal police shootings.

The particular video sought in the Supreme Court case, known as Paff v. Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, depicted a 2014 incident in which a Tuckerton police officer sicced a police dog on a woman during an arrest.

That officer, Justin M. Cherry, was indicted on official misconduct and assault charges over the arrest, but the case later fell apart.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to weigh in on whether the video should have been released under the common law right of access, sending that question back to a lower court to rule.

But in the years between Paff's initial request and the high court ruling, the video has already surfaced. It was published online by the Asbury Park Press and other media outlets after it was introduced as an exhibit in a legal filing in the officer's criminal case, making it a public court record rather than a police record.

In his dissent, Justice Albin called on the state Legislature or the attorney general to rewrite the rules and broaden the public's access to police videos.

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a February directive speeding up the release of police shooting videos, but his office joined the prosecutor's office in arguing against the release of video in the Paff case.

A spokesman for Grewal said Monday they were "continuing to review the opinion."

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The Times-Picayune is marking the tricentennial of New Orleans with its ongoing 300 for 300 project, running through 2018 and highlighting 300 people who have made New Orleans New Orleans, featuring original artwork commissioned by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune with Where Y'Art gallery. Today: the Baroness Pontalba.

The icon: Baroness Pontalba.

The legacy: Michaela de Almonaster y Roxas, better known as Baroness Pontalba, was born a wealthy woman but by no means a weak one. Headstrong and forceful, she once survived being shot point-blank in the chest by her father-in-law. She also, through force of will, pushed through a plan to rejuvenate the Place D'Armes -- later renamed Jackson Square, at her urging -- by replacing the old apartments and elms flanking the square with the stately edifices that today bear her name. Many were opposed to the plan; the elms were beloved local landmarks. "But," wrote The Daily Picayune, "it was great folly to oppose M'me Pontalba in any of her projects. She carried her object." She also enhanced the square that would become one of the city's most identifiable landmarks -- and cemented her legacy as one of the most extraordinary women in New Orleans history.

The artist: D. Lammie Hanson.

The quote: "She was a terror to the lawyers, whose bills she always disputed. She had no fears of lawsuits, and always exacted what she considered her legal rights, and resisted most sturdily any demand she regarded unreasonable." -- The Daily Picayune, on Baroness Pontalba on May 17, 1874

Explore more of Hanson's work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal St.

Michaela de Almonaster y Roxas was born in New Orleans on Nov. 6, 1795. Her parents were Andres Almonaster y Roxas, a wealthy Spanish aristocrat who moved to New Orleans while it was a Spanish colony, and his French wife, Louise Denys de la Ronde, a member of the prominent local de la Ronde family.

Source: The Times-Picayune archives; staff research

More on 300 for 300:
Louisiana State Police arrested a woman accused of killing a Kenner man in a hit-and-run crash in Ascension Parish Monday morning (Aug. 13).

Brittany Mackie, 29, of Prairieville, was arrested just after 1 p.m. Monday and was booked with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run resulting in death, careless operation of a motor vehicle and failure to report a crash, according to Trooper Bryan Lee, spokesman for the State Police.

Mackie is accused in the death of Christian Martinez, 31. Martinez was walking on the southbound side of Louisiana Highway 73, just north of Interstate 10, around 7 a.m. when he was hit by a car that fled the scene, State Police said. It's not clear whether Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene or later succumbed to his injuries.

Troopers determined the suspect vehicle was a charcoal or gray-colored, 2008-2013 Lexus IS 250 based on evidence at the crash scene, Lee said. Troopers located the vehicle and arrested Mackie.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact Louisiana State Police Troop A at 225-754-8500.
UPDATE: Man shot in CBD has died from injuries: NOPD

Three people are at large in connection to a shooting in the Central Business District Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 14) that left a man critically injured and prompted a response from the New Orleans Police Department's SWAT and K9 units, NOPD said.

The wounded man, who is in "grave condition," was in a car with the three suspects when he was shot, NOPD 8th District Cmdr. Nicholas Gernon said from the scene.

The maroon sedan where a witness said he saw a man slumped and suffering from a gunshot wound to his head, had crashed into a window on the first floor of the New Orleans Exchange Centre, a 21-story office tower at 935 Gravier Street, at the corner of Gravier and O'Keefe. The car had not hit hard enough to break the window.

Two of the suspects ran south on Gravier Street and "made good on their escape," Gernon said. A third ran into the garage in the 900 block of Gravier, he said, prompting the response from the SWAT and K9 units. Police initially received a call about the shooting about 2:10 p.m., department spokesman Aaron Looney said.

NOPD viewed surveillance video from the parking garage and could see the suspect moving through different floors, Gernon said. As police cordoned off the perimeter, he said, the suspect slipped out an emergency exit.

By about 3:45 p.m., the garage had been cleared and the third person still remained at large.

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Gernon, noting the investigation was in early stages, said police had no information on the motive and did not immediately have a description of the three suspects. It's unclear, he said, how many of the suspects shot at the wounded man.

At least 15 New Orleans Police and Louisiana State Police cars were at the scene about 3 p.m., and police had taped off O'Keefe Avenue from Union to Gravier streets. A SWAT team could be seen searching a parking garage on the block.

"We certainly treated it as a volatile situation, as we had a possibly armed subject in a parking garage with a vantage point of several blocks in either direction," Gernon said.

Watch Gernon's briefing below.

A member of office management at Exchange, Corey Stewart, said he was standing at his desk when someone came in and said a car had just hit the glass. He went outside and found a man slumped in the driver's seat of the maroon car with an apparent gunshot wound to his head.

Among those investigating the scene were members of NOPD's homicide unit, which is sometimes deployed to crime scenes involving critical injuries. Sgt. Robert Barrere, a supervisor in the unit, was seen peering into the maroon car where witnesses had spotted the gunshot victim.

Stay with NOLA.com for updates.
UPDATE: 3 suspects at large in CBD shooting that prompted SWAT response

One man was shot in the head and critically injured in New Orleans' Central Business District on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 14), according to officials.

The shooting was reported in the 900 block of Gravier Street about 2:10 p.m.

Police were searching for the suspect or suspects as of about 3 p.m. Tuesday, and at least 15 New Orleans Police and Louisiana State Police cars were at the scene establishing a perimeter. Police had taped off O'Keefe Avenue from Union to Gravier streets. A SWAT team could be seen searching a parking garage on the block.

The injured man, who was in his mid-30s, was taken to a local trauma center, said Lt. Jonathan Fourcade, EMS spokesman. The call was initially reported to police as a car crashing into a wall, with gunshots heard in the area.

A red maroon car could be seen about 20 feet down from the Gravier and O'Keefe intersection, crashed into an office window on the first floor of the New Orleans Exchange Centre, a 21-story office building. The car had not hit hard enough to break the window.

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A member of office management at Exchange, Corey Stewart, said he was standing at his desk when someone came in and said a car had just hit the glass. He went outside and found a man slumped in the driver's seat of the maroon car with an apparent gunshot wound to his head.

Among those investigating the scene were members of NOPD's homicide unit, which is sometimes deployed to crime scenes involving critical injuries. Sgt. Robert Barrere, a supervisor in the unit, was seen peering into the maroon car where witnesses had spotted the gunshot victim.

At the Exchange Centre building, about a dozen office workers had gathered in the lobby, murmuring about what happened. Many were gathering at a window neighboring the car.

A crowd of about 40 to 50 people had gathered at Baronne and Gravier. Several people said they were waiting to get to their cars in lots nearby that had been blocked off by police.

Check back with NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune for updates.

NOLA.com reporters Emily Lane and Maria Clark contributed to this report.
A Mississippi man whose family could not get in touch with him after he came to New Orleans to visit his mother has been found, New Orleans police said.

Albert James Grant, 51, had last been heard from Saturday night (Aug. 11) when NOPD said he told his wife he was "stranded" at the intersection of Esplanade and North Claiborne Avenue.

On Tuesday morning, NOPD said that Grant had been located.

No other information was immediately available.
New Orleans police are searching for 40-year-old Ravanell Williams, who is suspected of cutting, punching and threatening to kill a woman in the Plum Orchard neighborhood of New Orleans East on Saturday (August 14).

Around 5:30 p.m., Williams and the woman were driving when they began to argue, police said. The woman told police that Williams stopped the car near Dale and Warfield streets and pulled out a silver box cutter. He held the weapon to her neck, threatened to kill her and cut her on the left side of her jaw, according to a NOPD release.

The woman attempted to exit the vehicle, but Williams reportedly slammed the door on her hand to keep her inside. The woman eventually fled the scene on foot, but Williams caught up with her and struck her several times in the face and body. When the woman called the police, Williams snatched her cellphone and fled, police said.

Williams pleaded guilty to simple battery in July 2018, as well as in February 2015, June 2012 and January 2010. He pleaded guilty to domestic abuse battery in December 2010. He has a history of drug, property and theft convictions, according to court records.

Anyone with information regarding Ravanell Williams' whereabouts is asked to contact 7th District detectives at 504-658-6070. Citizens with information that can help solve crimes are asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.
School officials and students are celebrating this week as the University of Holy Cross welcomes students to its first-ever on-campus residence hall, which is the latest construction task at the Catholic university since UHC built its A&P Lab in 2004.

The $14 million, four-story building can house up to 135 students in single bedroom suites, two-bedroom suites equipped with living rooms, and four-bedroom suites that have kitchens. The rooms also have private bathrooms, and the dormitory is equipped with wireless Wi-Fi, conference centers and study rooms on the second, third and fourth floors. A meditation room, a fitness center, postal area and laundry facilities are also in the dorm.

Painters were putting the final touches on stairwells as incoming freshmen moved into the dormitory Sunday morning. Heather DuCharme, the university's housing and residence life director, said Monday (Aug. 13) the university's inaugural move-in experience was "special" for everyone involved.

"It's all about making sure that the students themselves and their families are confident that they're well taken care of," DuCharme said.

Freshman Joshua Mitchell, 18, was among the handful of students who moved into the dorm Sunday. On Monday, he said he enrolled into Holy Cross because he likes the "small environment" atmosphere of the campus.

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Holy Cross President David "Buck" Landry on Monday said they hope the dorm will increase student enrollment, which stands at 1,301 students in the university's undergraduate and graduate programs. He also hopes the "first-class" dormitory will help the university develop more campus life as it begins to expand its academic and physical footprint.

Landry said he hopes the dorm can be used for summer camp programs going forward. He also hopes the school can debut its new physician assistant's program by next summer. The school is working to build a simulation lab for that program, and Landry said ultimately they plan to build another classroom as well as a student union center in the future.

Watch the video below for a tour of Holy Cross's new dorm, which is located at 4123 Woodland Drive in Algiers. Students interested in staying at the dorm can find more information at the university's website.

. . . . . . .

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 judge has dismissed the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office from a lawsuit brought by an employee of a Covington law firm that was shot up by a former client in 2013.

Judge Reginald T. Badeaux III on Tuesday (Aug. 14) granted the Sheriff's Office's motion seeking to be removed from the suit filed on behalf of Robin Dominique.

Roderick Rist, 47, fired as many as 60 shots outside and inside the Upton Law Firm on North Columbia Street before killing himself on July 30, 2013, authorities said. He was carrying two .22-caliber pistols and two 9mm pistols, police said.

Dominique, the office manager, was the only worker in the office at the time. Her suit says the incident left her with physical injuries and severe emotional injuries.

"While this event occurred under the prior administration, the sheriff (Randy Smith) has always felt that this was a very unfortunate incident which was the sole result of Mr. Rist's mental illness," Sheriff's Office attorney Chadwick Collings said Tuesday. "Sheriff Smith stands behind his deputies who at all times acted appropriately and lawfully in their interactions with Mr. Rist."

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Dominique's suit - which names as defendants the Sheriff's Office, Coroner's Office and others - claimed those agencies didn't properly investigate threats of violence "by an individual known to be dangerous and mentally unstable."

The suit said deputies visited Rist's Slidell-area home the day before the shooting after a neighbor reported that Rist had made "disconcerting statements" and appeared to be "on edge."

Rist told deputies he was fine, and admitted he had expressed some "personal concerns" to his neighbor, a Sheriff's Office spokesman said at the time. Rist told deputies he wasn't going to hurt anybody.

Deputies noted in their report that Rist was "in a good state of mind" and that he seemed to be "intelligent," the spokesman said.

The sheriff's motion to the court said that "under the plaintiff's theory of the case, in order to not be negligent, the deputies would have had to unlawfully detain Mr. Rist, in violation of his 4th Amendment rights."
Former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin is often credited with the observation that, "The people who cast the votes don't decide an election. The people who count the votes do."

Sixty-five years after his demise, Stalin's words are chillingly prophetic, especially for a country like the United States where votes are tallied by machines, high-tech software and electronic networks and fears of manipulation grow daily.

Want a frightening example?

It took an 11-year-old boy less than 10 minutes last Friday (Aug. 10) to hack into a replica of the Florida state election website and change reported vote totals. Fortunately, it was not an actual attack but an exercise conducted during DEFCON 26, the world's largest yearly hacking convention.

DEFCON officials said Emmett Brewer was one of about 50 children between the ages of 8 and 16 who took part in the "DEFCON Voting Machine Hacking Village," which gave the kids the chance to manipulate the names of parties and the candidates and to outright change vote count totals.

Nico Sell, co-founder of the non-profit r00tz Asylum, which teaches children how to become hackers, said an 11-year-old girl also managed to change votes totals on the Florida replica website within 15 minutes. Another 30 children were able to break into a variety of similar state replica websites in less than half an hour.

"These are very accurate replicas of all of the sites," Sell told PBS NewsHour. "These things should not be easy enough for an 8-year-old kid to hack within 30 minutes, it's negligent for us as a society."

The National Association of Secretaries of State said it is "ready to work with civic-minded members of the DEFCON community" to make the state websites more secure, but sought to reassure the public of the integrity of their systems.

"While it is undeniable websites are vulnerable to hackers, election night reporting websites are only used to publish preliminary, unofficial results for the public and the media," a statement from the organization said. "The sites are not connected to vote counting equipment and could never change actual election results."'

The secretaries of state, however, are missing the point. Even though the counts on the voting machines aren't being altered, Sell pointed out, changing the numbers that get released to the public on election night "could cause complete chaos."

Doubt and distrust would grow geometrically, eventually destroying faith in our complete electoral system, something some of Stalin's political progeny have been working feverishly to accomplish.

The hacking concerns come at a time when serious questions are being raised about Louisiana's purchase of new voting terminals. The multimillion-dollar contract was awarded last week to Dominion Voting Systems, but with another bidder accusing the secretary of state's office of trying to rig the deal.

Election Systems and Software, one of the two losing bidders, complained that the secretary of state's office released add-on standards weeks later than allowed and that one set of standards was so specific that only Dominion Voting Systems would qualify, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, who took over the office when Tom Schedler resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, admitted the standards were a mistake and withdrew them along with another set that was issued too late.

The state office overseeing the contractor selection eventually scrapped the original evaluation committee and removed Ardoin from it. Ardoin said he changed the selection process so it would be "good, fair and equitable for the people of Louisiana." But a spokesman for the procurement office said overhauling the evaluation committee was the procurement director's "decision unilaterally."

Not a good look for a secretary of state's office that needs to have the public's confidence now more than ever.

Ardoin, you may recall, initially said he would not run for election to keep his job because the "office has to remain laser-focused, ignoring the politics swirling around us at this time." But he then jumped into the race at the last minute declaring "I don't think we need on-the-job training" for the next secretary of state.

Ardoin was right the first time. We have enough to worry about with outside hacks. We don't need any inside ones.

Tim Morris is an opinions columnist at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at tmorris@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter @tmorris504.
The exercise is as old as the Republic, but the first thing you need to understand about redistricting is that hot-water cornbread is as ubiquitous in north Louisiana as etouffee is in the south, says Rick Gallot, the Ruston Democratic representat
Warren Easton cornerback Chester Kimbrough is headed to the Sunshine State.

The 5-foot-11, 168-pound Kimbrough announced his commitment to Florida in a video posted to his Twitter account on Monday night.

He chose the Gators over offers from LSU, Alabama, Florida and Georgia among others. Florida has long been considered the favorite to nab Kimbrough's commitment.

Kimbrough earned his offer to LSU in June but the Tigers received commitments from cornerbacks Dreshun Miller and Cordale Flott soon thereafter.

Kimbrough is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and is considered the No. 22 cornerback in the country by the recruiting service. He's a three-star prospect on ESPN and 247 Sports.

He was recognized as one of the top prospects in the country when he participated in Nike's The Opening Finals in Dallas in July.

Kimbrough becomes the first Louisiana player to commit to Dan Mullen and the Gators and the 12th commitment overall for Mullen's 2019 recruiting class.

If Kimbrough signs with Florida, he'll become the second Louisiana-born player on the Gators roster joining former McDonogh 35 defensive back Brad Stewart.

Stewart, a sophomore, played in 11 games in 2017 for the Gators. He finished with 13 tackles and one interception.

Check out highlights from Kimbrough's performance at LSU's camp in June.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  None of the projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) flood management master plan for Metro Manila and nearby provinces has been completed since 2012, the agency said Tuesday.

Lydia Aguilar, DPWH flood control engineer, on Tuesday said only 14 percent of the projects under the ?352-billion initiative have been funded since it was approved.

"Sa ngayon po, mula 2012 after the approval ng master plan, nakaka-14 percent pa lang kami ng naa-allocate na pondo. Hindi pa yun nai-implement lahat," Aguilar said during a public hearing on the status of the master plan.

[Translation: Since the approval of the master plan in 2012, only 14 percent has been allocated. All projects are not yet implemented.]

"'Yun po yung dahilan ba't pa rin may pagbaha, kasi di pa natin nabubuo yung projects," she added.

[Translation: That's the reason why there are still floodings, we haven't completed the projects yet.]

Aguilar, however, noted that the agency still has a lot of time to complete the projects as the master plan runs until 2035.

The master plan includes 11 large-scale infrastructure projects such as the construction of dams, retarding basins, road dikes, and rehabilitation of pumping stations across the metro and in nearby provinces such as Rizal, Laguna, and parts of Bulacan.

Meanwhile, Patrick Gatan, DPWH Unified Project Management Office and Flood Control Management Cluster director, said repairing all drainage systems in the metropolis will require major funding.

"Kasama ho sa design, meron ho kaming mga analysis kaya lang ho kino-consider rin namin yung economic system dito, baka lumaki at di na ho mapondohan," he said.

[Translation: We included in the design some analysis, but as we consider our economic system, it may not be funded.]

Doing so will also worsen traffic, Gatan added.

Victor Pablo Trinidad, Metro Manila Development Authority director, said trash that clog drainage systems aggravate floods in the metropolis.

"Ang isa sa mga nakikita naming problema, 'yung mga plastic na nagbabara sa mga laterals natin," Trinidad said.

[Translation: One of the problems that we see are the plastic that clog our laterals.]

The Senate Committee on Public Works sees the slow implementation of flood control projects as the reason for widespread flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

"Mabagal ang implementation sa DPWH. Kumbaga, ang dahilan maraming problema, maraming ano. Pwede naman nating masolusyonan yan," Senator Manny Pacquiao, the Committee's chair, said.

[Translation: The implementation of projects are slow in the DPWH. They always have a problem. But we can solve that.]

Citing a report by the Commission on Audit, Pacquiao said the DPWH has failed to complete projects worth ?62.59 billion on time. Included in these projects are 622 measures designed to address flooding around the country, he said.

The senator called on the DPWH to work closely with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government units (LGU) on speeding up the construction of flood control projects.

"Hindi ito biro kasi bawat baha, bawat baguo may namamatay na tao. Ang solution siguro, coordination o cooperation ng LGU at right implementation of projects. Kailangan seryoso, hindi yung pa-good for three months lang," he said.

[It should be taken seriously because someone dies every time it floods. The solution maybe is coordination or cooperation among LGU's and right implementation of projects. We need to be serious and should not go for projects that are good for only three months.]

Pacquiao will invite Metro Manila mayors to the next hearing to hear their suggestions on the capital's flood woes.

CNN Philippines' Robert Vergara contributed to this report.
Tripp Girardeau is the crime and courts reporter with the Aiken Standard. Follow him on Twitter at @trippgirardeau.
Community Reporter

Erica Welch is the special sections editor for The News-Review, mother of two and a native of Roseburg. She is an alumni of RHS, UCC and Western Oregon University. Contact her at ewelch@nrtoday.com or 541-957-4218.
You might not believe there are things Nora hasnt experienced at the fair over the years, but its true. For the first time, she was at the fairgrounds bright and early for the Flag Raising in Pioneer Village.


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Why do people say the craziest things on Twitter?

What is it about social media that makes powerful, accomplished individuals say things that they later need to recant, walk back or at least explain?

This isnt about President Trump (although it could be). It is about chief executives.

The tweets that Elon Musk of Tesla sent last week about taking his company private pushed investors into a tizzy as they tried to parse his every word. Regulators are examining Mr. Musks posts, but there is an another, perhaps broader question government officials should reconsider: Is Twitter the right forum for public company executives to disseminate market-moving information in the first place?

For years, companies and their executives were limited to disclosing market-moving information in news releases that were widely distributed over services like Business Wire or in interviews with media outlets. That is, until Reed Hastings, the chief executive of Netflix, broke ranks in 2012 and wrote on his Facebook page that the companys video-streaming service had exceeded 1 billion hours for the first time.

That, in turn, led to whats known as the Reed Hastings Rule, when the Securities and Exchange Commission permitted such use of social media. Most social media are perfectly suitable methods for communicating with investors, said George S. Canellos, the agencys acting enforcement chief at the time.
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The slowdown in smartphone sales is hurting Foxconn far more than its biggest customer.

The news: Profit at the Taiwanese company  which is the worlds largest contract electronics manufacturer, making iPhones for Apple as well as devices for companies like Amazon  has fallen for two straight quarters. Foxconn reported a net profit of 17.49 billion Taiwanese dollars (about $567 million) for the quarter that ended June 2018. That is less than the 17.9 billion Taiwanese dollars it made during the same quarter a year earlier, and far below the 20.2 billion expected by analysts, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Back story: Sales of smartphones have begun to plateau in recent years. The number of first-time purchasers of smartphones has tailed off and feature improvements have become more modest, meaning that consumers no longer feel the need to upgrade their devices as often. Other companies are also feeling the effects. Samsung, for instance, recently reported falling revenue and operating profits, blaming it partly on a decline in smartphone shipments and revenue.
The only items that concern me is when his image is being used in a negative, ugly way  denying the tragedy, calling him a crisis actor and everything else that the typical global village idiot on the net does, Mr. Pozner said.

In the absence of uniform online policies about hoaxes, Mr. Pozners most effective tool has been filing copyright claims on images of Noah. He has filed such claims with Automattic about photos of Noah appearing on posts that labeled him a crisis actor who had been spotted in Pakistan after Sandy Hook and others that claimed he was a fiction and that photos of him were created using images of his older half brother.

Automattic has repeatedly responded to Mr. Pozner with form letters saying because we believe this to be fair use of the material, we will not be removing it at this time. The letters explain that fair use could include criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. They also warn that the company could collect damages from people who knowingly materially misrepresent copyrights.

The responses from their support people are very automated, very generic, very cold and theres just no getting through to them, Mr. Pozner said.

They have taken this incorrect interpretation of freedom of speech to an extreme, he added. The only thing WordPress has taken out  and where Ive been successful  is if someone posts personal information like my drivers license or address.

Automattic said that the responses Mr. Pozner received were a predefined statement that is used in copyright situations. We regret that it was used in this situation, the company said. We offer our apologies to the family for the response we gave to them.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has agreed to a televised debate against his Democratic rival, Cynthia Nixon, on Aug. 29, two weeks before Primary Day on Sept. 13.

The announcement comes after three months of accusations by the Nixon campaign that he was afraid of engaging with her; Mr. Cuomo had refused to debate his primary challenger in 2014.

Ms. Nixon  an actress, activist and first-time political candidate  has been challenging Mr. Cuomo to a debate since May, when she accepted an invitation from WABC and taunted the governor for skipping a debate with Zephyr Teachout, his challenger in the 2014 primary. (At the time, Mr. Cuomo said debates could be a disservice to democracy.) But Mr. Cuomo, as in 2014, had demurred, with his staff saying only that they had received and would review multiple invitations.

But while Ms. Nixon, who trails the governor by a wide margin in polls, has made mocking Mr. Cuomos noncommitment a motif of her campaign, Mr. Cuomos announcement that he had finally agreed to a debate was muted.
Normally, a party that gives away $2 trillion without worrying about where the money will come from can buy itself at least a few votes. But Donald Trumps tax cut remains remarkably unpopular, and Republicans barely mention it on the campaign trail  in fact, Democrats are running against the tax cut more than Republicans are running on it.

Nor are Republicans talking much about Trumps trade war, which also remains unpopular.

What, then, does the G.O.P. have to run on? It can hype the supposed menace from illegal immigrants  but that hasnt been gaining much traction, either. Instead, Republicans attack ads have increasingly focused on one of their usual boogeymen  or, rather, a boogeywoman: Nancy Pelosi, the former and possibly future speaker of the House.

So this seems like a good time to remind everyone that Pelosi is by far the greatest speaker of modern times and surely ranks among the most impressive people ever to hold that position. And its interesting to ask why she gets so little credit with the news media, and hence with the general public, for her accomplishments.

What has Pelosi achieved?

First, as House minority leader, she played a crucial role in turning back George W. Bushs attempt to privatize Social Security.
Reporters and political commentators often express frustrated surprise at the steadfast support of President Trump from most Republicans in the House and Senate. But they shouldnt  it has happened before.

In fact, when these critics refer back to the Watergate era as a time of bipartisan commitment to the rule of law over politics, they get it exactly wrong. Defending the president at all costs, blaming investigators and demonizing journalists was all part of the Republican playbook during the political crisis leading up to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Despite the fact that 32 people and three companies have been indicted so far by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, only four of 11 Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee joined Senate Democrats earlier this year in an effort to protect Mr. Muellers investigation. The House majority leader, Kevin McCarthy of California, said in June that he thinks the Mueller investigation has got to stop. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and the House Intelligence Committee chairman, Devin Nunes of California, have joined Mr. Trump in calling the investigation a witch hunt.

Dispiriting, perhaps, but not shocking or unprecedented. In late 1972, when a Democratic congressman, Wright Patman of Texas, began to investigate connections between Mr. Nixons aides and the Watergate burglary, the House Republican leader, Gerald Ford of Michigan (who later succeeded Mr. Nixon as president), called it a political witch hunt, according to the historian Stanley I. Kutler in his book The Wars of Watergate.
In a nod to the sad reality that shootings at the nations schools are far too prevalent, the United States government will award a $1.8 million grant to create a program to teach high school students proper bleeding-control techniques.

The goal of the program, called School-Age Trauma Training, is to enhance a bystanders ability to take decisive, lifesaving action to assist victims with traumatic injuries, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which posted notice of the grant online last month.

Similar to how students learn health education and drivers education, they must learn proper bleeding control techniques using commonly available materials, according to the notice, including how to use their hands, dressings and tourniquets.

The grant notice was posted in July, and the program is being overseen by the departments Science and Technology Directorate and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Independent school districts and nonprofit organizations are among the groups eligible for the grant, and they have until Aug. 27 to apply.

The development of the program could take about 36 months once a proposal is selected, John Verrico, a spokesman for the Science and Technology Directorate, said in an interview on Monday. He said it was too early to say how the program would be rolled out and expanded to the rest of the country.

The grant to develop a program is not tied to any one school shooting, but comes at a time when there have been more than 250 deaths of students and teachers in the countrys schools since 2000, according to Homeland Security. The bleeding-control program is also meant to address providing immediate help during natural disasters, Mr. Verrico said.
WASHINGTON  A Special Forces soldier died Sunday after being injured last week by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Monday in a statement, bringing the total number of American troops killed this year in combat in Afghanistan to five.

Last Tuesday, Sgt. First Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, of Waikoloa, Hawaii, was working alongside Afghan commandos in the Musa Qala district of Helmand Province when he was killed by the bomb, which also wounded several Afghans and at least one other American, according to two military officials.

The Pentagon said it was investigating the explosion.

Sergeant Transfiguracion was assigned to the Third Battalion, First Special Forces Group based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, according to a biography released by the Army. He was born in the Philippines and enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard less than two months before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The attack in Musa Qala  one of the most violent districts in Helmand Province at the height of the American troop surge in 2010 and 2011  came only days after a Marine in the neighboring Sangin District was shot in the head while at his guard post, according to two military officers familiar with the shooting. The bullet glanced off the Marines helmet.
WASHINGTON  Stephen Miller, one of the key architects of President Trumps hard-line immigration agenda, is the descendant of Jewish immigrants who arrived to a welcoming United States at the turn of the 20th century.

But in an essay posted online Monday, Dr. David S. Glosser, Mr. Millers uncle, argues that the family would have been turned away if the immigration policies currently backed by Mr. Trump and Mr. Miller were in place at the time.

I have watched with dismay and increasing horror as my nephew, an educated man who is well aware of his heritage, has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our familys life in this country, Mr. Glosser wrote in the article, published Monday by Politico.

The article was a notable rebuke by a family member to Mr. Miller, who is one of the most fervent public defenders of Mr. Trumps immigration policies  the ban on travelers to the United States from several Muslim countries, the separation of families crossing the border illegally and the drastic reduction in the number of refugees admitted to the United States.
1950: The Korean War begins. Its technically never ended. Heres why. First off, the war itself. It killed about 4 million people. On one side, there was South Korea, allied with U.N. forces led by the Americans. On the other side, there was North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union and China. They fought for three years, until  A special building had been erected for the signing of the Korean armistice. This was the signing of a cease-fire, and it did seem to offer some hope. We have stopped the shooting. That means much to the fighting men and their families. And it will allow some of the grievous wounds of Korea to heal. But a cease-fire is not a binding peace treaty. It was all quiet on the Korean front the day after the signing of the armistice. It only ended the fighting. It also set guidelines, like for the exchange of prisoners and where the army should withdraw to. The open ground left between must become the demilitarized zone  or DMZ. It also laid the groundwork for a permanent peace treaty. But heres the catch. South Koreas president was against the troops  President Syngman Rhee is the man who threw a spanner into the works just as the armistice talks at Panmunjom seemed to have reached finality.  and never let his country sign it. He wanted to keep fighting to unify the whole peninsula and punish the North. None of this boded well for the peace conference, which kicked off a year later. Seeking solutions for Far Eastern problems. The free world and Communism are again locked in bitter argument. One of those arguments was over whether foreign allies, like the U.S. and China, could keep troops on the peninsula. And another was how to unify the two countries through elections. Even allies couldnt agree amongst themselves. So the talks went nowhere. Sixty-five years later, theres now talk of hashing out a formal ending to the Korean War. And that could set the stage for a broader peace on the Korean peninsula.
Flights, the newly translated novel by Olga Tokarczuk, winner of this years Man Booker International Prize, was first published in Poland in 2008 as Bieguni, a word for a fictional group of Slavic wanderers who seek salvation in constant motion. My energy derives from movement  from the shuddering of buses, the rumble of planes, trains and ferries rocking, the nameless narrator tells us. As a child, shed watch boats, longing to become one herself.

Its a busy, beautiful vexation, this novel, a quiver full of fables of pilgrims and pilgrimages, and the reasons  the hidden, the brave, the foolhardy  we venture forth into the world. The narrator, coolly evasive in the way of Rachel Cusks heroine in the Outline trilogy, relishes how travel and growing older allow her to become invisible. She can become a gargantuan ear, a repository of narratives as her fascination with teratology  the study of the errors and blunders of creation  takes her to specialized museums around the world, to contemplate salamanders with two tails; oddly-shaped apples; a fetus, floating serenely in a jar, with its one head and two bodies.

Flights itself is a cabinet of curiosities, of moments, crumbs, fleeting configurations. The book is transhistorical, transnational; it leaps back and forth through time, across fiction and fact. Interspersed with the narrators journey is a constellation of discrete stories that share rhyming motifs and certain turns of phrase. These vignettes often have the flavor of case studies, with interlocking themes related to the brittleness of the body and the complicated work of mourning. (Tokarczuk once worked as a clinical psychologist. She quit, she has said, when she realized that she was much more neurotic than my clients.)

Image Flights is narrated by a nameless female traveler who is not so unlike the author herself. The narrator is partly me and sometimes something more than me, Ms. Tokarczuk said. Credit... Maciek Nabrdalik for The New York Times

In one episode, an apparent homage to Michelangelo Antonionis film LAvventura, a mother and child go mysteriously missing on an island. In another, a woman returns to Poland after decades abroad, to help her first love, now terminally ill, die. The most bizarre stories are taken from life. Chopins sister carries his heart in a jar from Paris to Warsaw, to bury it at home. The Dutch anatomist Philip Verheyen discovers the Achilles tendon while dissecting his own amputated leg. The most harrowing tale is of Angelo Soliman, kidnapped as a child, possibly from Nigeria, and taken to Austria as a sort of pet. He became a courtier and was acquainted with Mozart. When he died, his body was skinned, stuffed and displayed. Tokarczuk recreates the desperate letters of Solimans daughter to the court, begging for a decent burial for her father.
The child of Korean immigrants, Lee is fascinated by ways in which the ingredients and techniques of the worlds cuisines recombine on American shores, carried here by migrants who may try to cling to their traditions, but invariably see them transformed in the mash-up culture of their new home. Here he sets out across the country to find some of their more striking stories.

Lees travels take him to Lowell, Mass., where he meets Sam, who fled Cambodia in the 1970s and later reinvented himself as a chef. Sams menu skews to the spring rolls and noodles that Americans favor, but Lee susses out a profoundly unadapted mudfish sauce that, although it makes him gag, earns the cooks trust. In Houston, home to the countrys largest Nigerian population, he learns to make a beef curry whose key ingredient  besides Knorr bouillon cubes  is cow skin. And in Dearborn, Mich., where he lands during Ramadan, Lees fasting earns him entree into culinary secrets he would otherwise be denied.

In an age in which white chefs have been chided for cooking Asian, Latin or African food, Lees catholic approach is refreshing. He doesnt really believe in cultural appropriation, this Korean-American Southerner who brines his restaurants fried chicken in an adobo broth, and likes his instant ramen with Saltines and mayo. Lee doesnt always succeed in integrating all the parts of his tale, especially the autobiographical vignettes. But when it comes to Americas culinary landscape, he is a master of showing how that melting pot of recipes gets turned into stew. When a cook newly arrived from Morocco insists that fermented butter can be seasoned only with thyme, Lee understands her rigidity  its tradition, after all  but feels none of it himself. Maybe, he writes, part of being American is releasing the anchor we have to our heritage.

MY AMERICAN DREAM

A Life of Love, Family, and Food

By Lidia Matticchio Bastianich

Illustrated. 334 pp. Knopf. $28.95.

Image

Bastianich is one of our great culinary matriarchs, so it comes a tonic, in these days of Muslim bans and DACA threats, to learn that she arrived in this country as a refugee. In this autobiography, plainly told but gently gripping, she recounts how she went from asylum seeker to the embodiment of Americas most enduring myth about itself.

As a child, Bastianich and her family fled Istria, which was ethnically Italian but annexed to communist Yugoslavia in the aftermath of World War II. They spent more than two years in an Italian refugee camp before finally making their way to the United States, a country almost unrecognizable in its generosity. A little luck and a lot of hard work later, Bastianich and her husband had launched a restaurant empire, raised children who would join and advance the family business and played a significant role in Americas food revolution.
THE FIGHTERS

Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq

By C. J. Chivers

374 pp. Simon & Schuster. $28.

C. J. Chivers, a senior writer for The New York Times and a former Marine infantry officer, begins his new book with a description of an American weapon, equipped with GPS sensors and a guidance system, hitting precisely the wrong place and killing and mutilating a family of women and children on the Afghan steppe as a consequence. But Chiverss narrative has only begun to slam you in the gut; later on, the author captures the psychological effect the errant bomb has on the Marines at the scene. Indeed, because of the way the stories and characters spool into one another with mathematical intensity, and the second-by-second in-your-face descriptions of prolonged battles from a sergeants eye view, The Fighters: Americans in Combat in Afghanistan and Iraq could be the most powerful indictment yet of Americas recent Middle East wars.

Chivers is interested in the chemistry between platoons and companies, not that between battalions and brigades: In other words, this is a book about the lower ranks who experience the thing itself, the gut-wrenching violence and confusion of war  history from the ground up, not from the top down, precisely what Washington elites miss. The Fighters constitutes an illusion-free zone, where the concrete triumphs over the abstract, where the best and most indelible of those profiled, from that vast working-class heart of the country, begin their military service in a blaze of patriotism following 9/11, and end up confused, cynical, betrayed and often disfigured or dead.

Image

Of course, all wars are messy in the bloodiest and worst ways. What can redeem them for the combatants is only strategy, so that their ordeals contain a larger purpose within a realistic context. But in the background of this book is the very absence of such strategy, not only on the larger political level but on the microlevel, too: missions, one after the other, that even the grunts can see make no sense at all.
New this week:

IF YOU LEAVE ME By Crystal Hana Kim. (Morrow, $26.99.) Kims debut novel tells a story of star-crossed love during the Korean War. A young refugee chooses security over her heart, setting in motion a plot that spans the war years and beyond, following the implications of her difficult decision. SUMMER By Karl Ove Knausgaard. (Penguin, $30.) The Norwegian chronicler of the minutiae of life concludes his seasonal quartet, a series of short diary entries addressed to his infant daughter about everything under the sun  in this book, lawn sprinklers, slugs, tears, ice cream and cynicism. READER, COME HOME By Maryanne Wolf. (Harper, $24.99.) The author of Proust and the Squid returns to the subject of technologys effect on our brains and our reading habits. This is an even more direct plea and a lament for what we are losing, as Wolf brings in new research on the reading brain and examines how the digital realm has degraded her own concentration and focus. STRANGE PARADISE By Grace Schulman. (Turtle Point, paper, $17.) Schulman is an award-winning poet who writes in this memoir about caring for her ailing husband. She puts their relationship under the microscope and meditates on what it means to have a happy marriage. THE ONLY GIRL By Robin Green. (Little, Brown, $28.) A dishy memoir about life as the first woman on the masthead at Rolling Stone magazine during the sex and drugs heyday of the 1970s.

& Noteworthy

In which we ask colleagues at The Times what theyre reading now.

Not long after President Trump took office last year, my nonfiction reading turned toward books about Americas past  probably my way of getting some intellectual distance from our increasingly acrimonious and insistent present. Recently I picked up Ron Chernows GRANT, a sober and admiring portrait of the peerless Civil War general and flawed 18th president. Chernow is a lucid, spare narrator of Grants military campaigns, but also of the political calculations intertwined with them, as Grant fends off incompetent politician-generals, appointed to gratify this or that wavering Northern constituency, and becomes Abraham Lincolns partner in managing public expectations for a quick victory. All this from a man who, at the wars outset, was a failed farmer and middling leather-goods salesman. It is a reminder that every national crisis, even one so deadly and intractable as the Civil War, creates its own heroes. They are rarely whom you expect.

 Nicholas Confessore, political correspondent


1. A grand jury found Catholic leaders across Pennsylvania covered up the sexual abuse of at least 1,000 children by priests over a period of 70 years.

The report, the broadest examination by a U.S. agency of child abuse in the Catholic Church, found that bishops and other leaders persuaded victims not to report cases of abuse and police officers not to investigate them.

It catalogs horrific cases of abuse, including a priest who raped a young girl in the hospital after she had her tonsils out.
 Police in London are conducting a terrorism investigation after a driver struck several pedestrians and cyclists before crashing into a security barrier outside Parliament. [The New York Times]

 In Afghanistan, the Talibans assault on Ghazni City has demonstrated a stunning display of tenacity that belies the official Afghan and American narrative of progress in the war. [The New York Times]

 Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania covered up child sexual abuse by hundreds of priests over a period of 70 years, according to grand jury report. [The New York Times]

 The U.S. state of Nebraska became the first to use the powerful opioid fentanyl in an execution. [The New York Times]

 North and South Korea want to start the process toward a peace treaty to officially end the decades-long Korean War. Heres why Washington is standing in the way. [The New York Times]

 A single father in Thailand wore a pink dress to a Thai Mothers Day event so that his two sons wouldnt feel left out. Video of the event has received millions of views. [Buzzfeed]
 A surprise meeting.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia are scheduled to meet near Berlin this weekend to talk about Syria, Ukraine and a natural gas pipeline.

But analysts say the unexpected meeting, of two leaders who are often at odds, could also touch on a common concern  President Trump.

The Trump administration has slapped both Germany and Russia with steel and aluminum tariffs. Ms. Merkel and Mr. Putin, above, may use this opportunity to explore ideas about how best to respond to Mr. Trumps unpredictable diplomacy.
(Want to get this briefing by email? Heres the sign-up.)

Good morning.

Heres what you need to know:

The long reach of the Turkey crisis

 The country is experiencing its worst economic unraveling since 2001, and its currency, the lira, hit another record low on Monday. Investors are concerned that the financial problems could spread to other emerging markets, such as Argentina and South Africa.

Although these countries economies arent all that large, history shows that chain reactions in financial markets can have global repercussions. Read more about why Turkeys financial crisis matters far beyond its borders.

 The countrys problems have less to do with its dispute with the U.S. over sanctions, analysts say, than with President Recep Tayyip Erdogans efforts to bend the logic of monetary policy to suit his political purposes.
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Yep, Elon Musk was winging it

Almost a week after the Tesla C.E.O. tweeted that he might take the company private, with funding secured, he has shown his hand. In it: several past discussions with Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, and a meeting this year that convinced him the Saudis would back a bid to delist Tesla.

Except, according to the NYT, the Saudi fund never did anything to prepare for a deal like that. And Mr. Musks tweet blindsided many of the people who should have known about the plan  including Teslas board.

So far, only one thing is becoming clear: Mr. Musks definition of secured differs from everyone elses. Some of the questions that remain:

 How would Mr. Musk handle a national security review of a Saudi deal?

 What will the S.E.C. do about his tweet now?

 Mr. Musks blog post declares that he was tweeting only on his own behalf, as a potential bidder for Tesla. Is that enough to shield the company from legal trouble?
LAS VEGAS  The first lesson of the day concerned the spray gun  a powerful, deafening contraption filled with tinted cocoa butter. A dozen students from as far as New Zealand and Trinidad clustered together, taking photos of their teacher, the chocolatier Melissa Coppel, committing her every move to memory.

They noted the way she stirred and warmed the butter so it ran fluid from the gun. They watched how she adjusted her stance and pressure on the trigger, according to the fluctuating temperature, and the way she angled the trays so the flawless, glossy tops of each chocolate would be marked with a black-and-gold waxing moon.

I always say, you have to develop a romantic relationship with your gun, Ms. Coppel said over the clamor of the machine. Her students laughed. Im not even joking, she added.

Ms. Coppel, who is 37, runs Atelier Melissa Coppel, a small chocolate school in an unglamorous strip mall in western Las Vegas, that shares the parking lot with an orthodontics office and a law firm. But with her meticulous, colorful style of making chocolates and more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, she draws pastry chefs from all over the world who want to learn by her side.
The rustic little shop held out longer than many other Ukrainian outposts in the East Village. With its shelves of records, tapes, books, newspapers, dyed Easter eggs, the beeswax styluses used to give those eggs their symmetrical patterns, white smocks and blouses with red and black embroidery, and local honey, Surma Book & Music Company had operated on East Seventh Street since 1943. At other addresses, it went back to 1918.

Two summers ago, it closed, going the way of Ukrainian butcher shops selling wrinkled sticks of hunters sausage, Ukrainian restaurants offering starchy knobs of halusky, and Ukrainian bars where the customers were downing shots of vodka before that was cool, and kept going after it wasnt.

The East Village is a less interesting place without Surma. But the chain-store monoculture that might have seemed inevitable as the Ukrainian community fell away hasnt been the neighborhoods fate. Not yet. New Chinese restaurants have sprung up in the area over the past few years faster than the old Eastern European business have died off. In January, one of them moved into Surmas old address. Its called Le Sia, and its thriving.

Walk in any weekend night between 6 and 9, and a small throng will be waiting for seats by the entrance, below the kayaks that are stowed up by the ceiling as if this were the garage of somebodys summer house. During the week, Le Sia takes reservations, but that doesnt ease the demand by much. On some nights, the crowd is almost exclusively Chinese people of college age or slightly older, many of them lured out of their nearby New York University dorm rooms for steaming pans of shellfish, especially Le Sias specialty, crayfish.
Mactaggart had agreed to whittle down his biggest stick: The private right of action would permit consumer lawsuits only in the case of a traditional data breach, as when your credit-card information is stolen. And instead of naming every third party they shared your data with, companies would have to disclose only the kinds of data they were sharing, an obligation the companies already had to European consumers under G.D.P.R. Many privacy activists hated the deal, and some of the same groups that had refused to support Mactaggarts initiative now savaged him for compromising on it. The A.C.L.U. and E.F.F., both of which rely heavily on civil litigation to win advocacy battles, were particularly upset by the narrowed private right of action.

But as Mactaggart saw it, the core of his initiative remained intact  and was in some ways strengthened. Now you could see exactly what information Silicon Valley and the data brokers had collected about you. You could still demand that they stop selling or swapping your data. And if they refused, the California attorney general could investigate and impose fines. Even in this reduced form, Mactaggart and Soltani believed, this would be the most stringent consumer-privacy law in the country  the most significant step in years toward regulating the surveillance capitalists, and a proof of concept for activists and industry alike. If it passed, the tech industry could no longer claim that no one cared about privacy, or that data rules would kill jobs, or were too technically challenging. Californias attorney general could police the entire industry, while other states worked on their own versions of the rules. Under this law, the attorney general of California will become the chief privacy officer of the United States of America, Mactaggart argued. Eventually, it might drive the tech industry back to the negotiating table in Washington, in hopes of getting a single national standard.

The next morning, Hertzberg summoned tech lobbyists to a meeting. They had a simple choice, he explained. They could agree to the deal, or take their chances with Mactaggart in the fall. Hertzberg told the lobbyists they could probably scare his colleagues into killing this new bill, too. But Mactaggarts initiative was polling extraordinarily well. To beat him in November, the tech industry and its allies  the cable companies, the data brokers and the financial companies and retailers that used their data for advertising  would have to mount a huge negative campaign, at considerable cost to their own image. And if they do, well be right back here next year, Hertzberg told me later that day.

Legislative staff members had finished rewriting AB 375, and a deal seemed imminent. That Friday, as he drank his morning coffee, Mactaggart decided to read the new bill  the fine print  one more time. He noticed a seemingly minor alteration in one section, the kind of thing most people would skip over. Mactaggart realized it would completely gut what remained of the private right of action. Furious, he called Hertzberg and Chau and told them the deal was off. Neither lawmaker could explain who made the change, Mactaggart told me, but Hertzberg scrambled to fix it. In most negotiations, you are talking to all these different interest groups, Hertzberg told me recently. This is a situation where we had to go and reach out to everyone and bring that information to Mr. Mactaggart and ask him what he wanted to do. By Monday morning, the deal was back on again.

That Tuesday, Facebook signaled that it would not fight the bill. In a statement emailed to reporters, Will Castleberry said that while not perfect, we support AB 375 and look forward to working with policymakers on an approach that protects consumers and promotes responsible innovation. At hearings, industry representatives complained that they had been put in the impossible position of either accepting the compromise or fighting a ballot initiative they had no power to change. The internet industry will not obstruct or block AB 375 from moving forward, the Internet Association announced, because it prevents the even-worse ballot initiative from becoming law in California. Soltani wryly pointed out that Mactaggart had offered Silicon Valley a take-it-or-leave-it privacy policy  the same kind that Silicon Valley usually offered everyone else.

That Thursday, California lawmakers began voting on the bill. Mactaggart, who wore a blazer and khakis, watched from the Senate gallery with his wife. As the vote was called, Mactaggart kept his eyes on the electronic billboard where votes were recorded: One by one, almost every light flipped to green. They walked over to the Assembly, where much the same scene unfolded. In the end, not a single lawmaker in either chamber voted against the compromise.

Political power is a malleable thing, Mactaggart had learned, an elaborate calculation of artifice and argument, votes and money. People and institutions  in politics, in Silicon Valley  can seem all-powerful right up to the moment they are not. And sometimes, Mactaggart discovered, a thing that cant possibly happen suddenly becomes a thing that cannot be stopped.

I spoke to Mactaggart shortly after the vote. It felt like a moment  people didnt want to be on the wrong side of this issue, he observed. A part of Mactaggart was already thinking ahead. The legislation would not take effect until 2020, and both the Legislature and the tech industry would have a chance to amend the new law beforehand. In the weeks after the vote, as Silicon Valleys accumulated troubles sent shares in Facebook and other tech companies plummeting anew, their lobbyists were back on the march. The Trump administration was convening meetings to discuss a new national privacy standard, one that would perhaps override Californias newly minted statute. There would be plenty of chances for mischief. But as he basked in the victory, Mactaggart was giddy, even emotional. Everyone who could have blocked it didnt, he said. When the system wants to work, it can.
A dangerous thing, photography. Sometimes, being seen, being looked at, signals value, importance, rank. Yet, other times, being seen  or being watched  signals objectification, victimization, being stripped of dignity. Racism renders black and brown bodies simultaneously hypervisible and invisible. In 1955, when Emmett Tills lynched and mutilated body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River in Mississippi, his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, wanted her sons body visible, his coffin open so people could see what had been done to him. Let the people see what they did to my boy, she said. I believe that the whole United States is mourning with me. But were we? Are we? And if we are, is mourning enough?

Sixty years later, Michael Browns mother, Lesley McSpadden, wanted his body covered. She learned that it was her son who had been killed when someone showed her a cellphone picture of him laying in the street. Her son was not an orphan body for everyone to look upon, Claudia Rankine wrote in June 2015 for The New York Times Magazine. She wanted him covered and removed from sight. He belonged to her, her baby. When the decision about a bodys visibility can be made by a mother or a loved one, its hard to imagine how it could be decent to intervene in that intimate and painful choice. But on a societal level, as a policy, decisions about whose bodies are seen and whose are hidden matter enormously.

Despite the risks and contradictions that come with looking and seeing  the tension between witnessing, honoring and responding on the one hand, and gawking, appropriating and violating on the other  I am convinced that the videos and photographs of police violence against black bodies should be made public, that they must be seen, just as photographs of dead American soldiers should be made public. And holding the two disparate cases together  the contrasting policies of hiding our dead soldiers from sight and circulating images of our slain fellow civilians  can make us understand both war and racism better. If we were to put our war dead and our civilian dead in the same frame, might it be possible to see that they are all ours?

It is the hierarchy of grief that must be questioned, Judith Butler argues in Precarious Life, a book written at the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, criticizing the use of violence as a response to loss. Depending on who you are and where you stand, some lives count more than others, and some deaths count more, too. That is why there are no obituaries for the war casualties that the United States inflicts, and there cannot be, Butler writes. If there were to be an obituary, there would have had to have been a life, a life worth noting, a life worth valuing and preserving, a life that qualifies for recognition, a life worth protecting  and thats a value a country doesnt wish to accord to the people it has categorized as enemies or rivals. But these hierarchies of value and grief are not inevitable or immutable, Butler tells her readers. They are learned and constructed, which means they can be unlearned and reimagined.

Come on, one of my students said when I taught Butlers text. Of course were going to mourn our dead more than theirs. Who counts as our dead? another student asked. Publishing some images of the dead while hiding others restricts our answers to that question. Keeping images of our war dead out of sight signals a distrust of the viewing public, a fundamental misgiving about our ability to view images ethically, to do anything to repair the violence we see. Whats more, it negatively affects how we view the images of the dead we are allowed to see; it suggests that those visible dead do not belong to us. Looking brings risks, particularly through the warped lenses of racism and nationalism. But censorship is not the solution to these failures of looking. The remedy is to become better viewers, to learn ethical and constructive ways to view images of people in pain, especially when those suffering bodies have been marked as other, as stranger, as not our kin, and especially when those suffering bodies have been hidden from us.

I worry every day that my response to the pictured suffering of others is inadequate, inappropriate, that I turn away too soon, go on with my daily life, absorbed by my to-do lists and my own pressing concerns. But my failure as a viewer is exacerbated by our medias practice of keeping some bodies protected from view while other bodies  be they victims of bombings or natural disasters or police violence  are visible everywhere. My students were right: Hiding some bodies affects how other bodies are seen. But if we were allowed to see all our dead, if we were to stop obscuring some bodies while revealing others, then photographs might be able to teach us to become better viewers, better grievers, responsible and accountable for the injuries we see.
Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy, a big-screen take on a literary hoax, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, organizers announced Tuesday.

The movie, which will close out the festival, is based on the true story of Laura Albert, a writer who created the fictional persona of a young gay man named JT Leroy and wrote novels under that name. She then employed her boyfriends sister Savannah Knoop to portray JT in public. The story was told in a 2016 documentary, and the narrative feature is based on a memoir by Ms. Knoop. Justin Kelly (King Cobra, I Am Michael) directs the new film, featuring Laura Dern as Ms. Albert and Kristen Stewart as JT.

The festival also announced its opening night film, Outlaw King, a Netflix period feature from David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) starring Chris Pine as the Scottish king Robert the Bruce. The film will start showing on Netflix on Nov. 9.

The festival runs Sept. 6-16. For more information, go to tiff.net.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, one of Mr. Guzmans lawyers, William B. Purpura, speculated that the marshals would house Mr. Guzman at  or near  the Brooklyn courthouse during trial days, but, he said, he wasnt sure if his client would return to Manhattan for the weekends.

Theyve done it before for other proceedings, Mr. Purpura added, where theyll build a facility here.

All of this fretting is necessary because Mr. Guzman, 61, has twice escaped from maximum-security prisons in Mexico  once, according to his lore, secreted in a laundry cart and once by way of a mile-long tunnel that was dug into the shower of his cell.

When Mr. Guzman was extradited to New York last year to face charges of running a vast and violent criminal empire, federal officials promised there would be no tunnels this time. They placed him in what is called 10 South, the most secure wing of the citys most secure federal jail, the Metropolitan Correctional Center. There, Mr. Guzman is locked behind bars for 23 hours a day and is denied most visitors except for members of his legal team. His lawyers have argued that the harsh conditions of confinement have hindered his ability to prepare for trial.

The most sobering accusation the government has made so far in the case is that Mr. Guzman personally ordered the deaths of thousands of people during his decades-long reign atop the Sinaloa drug cartel. In recent months, federal prosecutors have started to reveal the names  and the manners of death  of some of his alleged victims, including members of Los Zetas, a rival drug cartel, whom he is said to have shot in the head after relaxing over lunch. But many of those who were killed years ago have been identified only by their categorical labels: Informants, for example, or members of law enforcement.

At Tuesdays hearing, Judge Cogan said he was inclined to exclude from the trial at least some of the evidence about these vaguely described assassinations, which would severely limit the number of murders that the jury in the case may ultimately hear about. Judge Cogan added that he planned to publish an order on the issue of the killings later this week.

Mr. Guzmans other lawyer, A. Eduardo Balarezo, has complained about the lack of details concerning these killings, saying it is almost impossible to defend his client when all the government has revealed to him is  to give just one example  that Mr. Guzman killed an untold number of unnamed associates who betrayed the drug cartel at some point between 1989 and 2014.

We are defending this case with two hands tied and one eye closed, Mr. Balarezo said.
WASHINGTON  As we bear witness to the global democratic recession, we cannot afford to ignore the increasing militarization of societies in Latin America, which has coincided with illiberal trends in other parts of the world. After President Trumps ill-advised suggestion to use the United States military to secure our southern border, the administration has an opening this week to demonstrate commitment to our core principles by stating its opposition to the militarization of law enforcement, which represents a challenge to liberal democracy across much of Latin America.

As James Mattis embarks on his first trip to South America as secretary of defense, he has the opportunity to declare United States support for police and judicial reform as the best method to fight crime and violence. It is the perfect time to highlight the dangers of militarization; three of the four countries on the secretarys itinerary  Brazil, Argentina and Colombia  have to varying degrees turned to their armed forces for domestic security. Unfortunately, as weve seen in Mexico, reliance on the military jeopardizes the protection of human rights and can actually exacerbate citizen insecurity.

Secretary Mattis will begin his trip in the Southern Cone before traveling to Colombia. Given the militarys participation in past repression in Brazil and Argentina during the dictatorships of the Cold War, the deployment of the armed forces to supplement and sometimes even supplant the police is particularly alarming. Military operations in the favelas of Brazil have become commonplace, and the Brazilian Army is currently in charge of Rio de Janeiros police force. The front-runner among eligible candidates for Brazils October presidential election, the retired Army Capt. Jair Bolsonaro, would most likely increase the use of troops to fight crime. After all, he has suggested that security forces should have greater impunity to shoot criminals, and he has expressed nostalgia for Brazils 21-year military dictatorship, which he has called a time of glory.

Concurrently, Argentina is taking the first steps down the path toward reliance on the military for internal security. Last month, President Mauricio Macri announced the deployment of troops to the northern border region to work alongside the police to counter illicit trafficking. And in the case of post-peace-accord Colombia, President Ivan Duque will continue to rely on the armed forces in the ongoing struggle against criminal bands, the National Liberation Army and former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia members who have refused to disarm.
Under Mr. Trumps new rule, however, such plans can last for 364 days and can be renewed for up to three years. That rule joins an earlier one that allowed businesses to join together to create association health plans that also evade the Affordable Care Acts strictures. In effect, these rules are creating a cheap form of junk coverage that does not have to meet the higher standards of Obamacare. This sort of splintering of the insurance markets is not allowed under the Affordable Care Act as Congress drafted it.

The Trump administrations goal is not only to weaken the Affordable Care Act but also to trick the public into thinking, as opponents of the law like to say, that Obamacare is collapsing under its own weight. Lets be clear: If the Affordable Care Act collapses, it is because the president demolished it.

Never in modern American history has a president so transparently aimed to destroy a piece of major legislation. What makes Mr. Trumps sabotage especially undemocratic is that Congress has repeatedly considered repealing the law  and repeatedly declined to do so. In addition, the Supreme Court has twice sustained the Affordable Care Act in the face of major legal challenges. Mr. Trumps attempt to destroy the law any way he can is an unconstitutional usurpation of power.

That is also the message of a lawsuit  the first of its kind  filed this month in federal court in Maryland. Brought by several plaintiffs including the cities of Chicago, Cincinnati and Columbus, the lawsuit recounts the relentless and unlawful campaign to sabotage and, ultimately, to nullify the Affordable Care Act. Taken individually, some of the Trump administrations actions may be defensible. Taken together, they amount to a derogation of his constitutional duties.

The lawsuit asks the court to strike down the administrations new rules and to enjoin the president from further sabotage. To prevail, the plaintiffs may have to overcome some procedural hurdles, including questions about whether the courts have the authority or the institutional competence to prevent violations of Article IIs requirement that the president take care that the laws be faithfully executed  especially given the wide discretion that presidents traditionally have to implement the laws.

But if there is ever going to be a viable claim along these lines, this is it. After all, no court has ever held that the president has the power to consciously aim, in bad faith, to destroy Congress handiwork. Yet with his attacks on this law, that is precisely what Mr. Trump has been doing. No matter how you feel about Obamacare, we should all care about that.

Nicholas Bagley is a professor of law at the University of Michigan. Abbe R. Gluck is a professor of law at Yale.

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It was the big tech equivalent of drink responsibly or the gambling industrys safer play; the latest milestone in Silicon Valleys year of apology. Earlier this month, Facebook and Instagram announced new tools for users to set time limits on their platforms, and a dashboard to monitor ones daily use, following Googles introduction of Digital Well Being features.

In doing so the companies seemed to suggest that spending time on the internet is not a desirable, healthy habit, but a pleasurable vice: one that if left uncontrolled may slip into unappealing addiction.

Having secured our attention more completely than ever dreamed, they now are carefully admitting its time to give some of it back, so we can meet our childrens eyes unfiltered by Clarendon or Lark; go see a movie in a theater; or contra Apples ad for its watch, even go surfing without  heaven forfend  checking in.

The liberation of human attention may be the defining moral and political struggle of our time, writes James Williams, a technologist turned philosopher and the author of a new book, Stand Out of Our Light.
My mind is like a mosaic of rainbow-colored memories, says Angela Missoni, the Italian designer who is celebrating her 21st year as the creative director of the house her parents built in 1953. Starting with a few simple chevron-patterned wovens produced in a small factory in Gallarate, Italy, Rosita and Ottavio Missoni pioneered the now widely used space-dying technique for yarn  still the magic ingredient in the houses signature kaleidoscopic knits. By the time Angela was a teenager, she was shadowing her mother as she worked on runway collections, and she soon started designing accessories. Since taking over the company in 1997, Angela has continued the familys vibrant legacy  introducing beachwear and updating the once-weighty zigzag knit with lighter Lurex yarns and gauzy constructions for evening. Shes also crystallized what it means to be Missoni: a luxe-bohemian mix of bright Amalfi-inspired colors, rich cashmeres and wools, and a lavishly layered mismatch of happy florals and crooked stripes.

For me, Missoni is ingrained and instinctual  its not something I have to study to understand, says the 59-year-old, who is indeed a walking house archive, with a photographic memory of every fabric, look and accessory the brand has ever made. She picked her favorites of these, resurrecting cotton and wool patterns from the past two decades, for the patchwork overcoats shown in her resort collection this year, which also happens to be Missonis 65th anniversary.
The Trump administration is moving to replace punishment of underperforming colleges with market-based accountability in which students will get more information about their range of enrollment choices. This is part of a group of regulatory changes aimed at promoting innovation in higher education.

But the market for higher education is different from traditional markets in ways that mean merely providing more information, while helpful, is not enough.

For one thing, the market for higher education is strongly local; most students choose a college less than 15 miles from home.

Moreover, approximately 11 million Americans live in education deserts that are more than an hours drive from a public college that accepts at least 30 percent of applicants. And millions more have sparse options, such as a single community college.
A grass fire that erupted late last week in Vacaville, Calif., climbed the hills southwest of the city on Saturday and roared toward the S.P.C.A. of Solano County. Dozens of animals  dogs, cats and a handful of snakes and rodents  were in the path of the wildfire.

Officers Carly Stone and Kirsten Jennings were first to pull up outside the animal shelter on Saturday afternoon. They raced inside and started to round up animals, placing dogs on leashes and loading kittens into crates.

As flames roared several hundred feet away and smoke swirled above, they and several other officers guided the animals out of the shelter and into cars. Within 10 minutes, the police, as well as shelter employees and volunteers who joined in, had wrangled 60 animals and brought them to safety.
Good morning.

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California has been a leader in trying to counter the forces contributing to climate change, from its stringent standards for auto emissions to its mandate that 50 percent of the states electricity come from carbon-free sources by 2030.

Now, with climate concerns magnified by extreme summer temperatures and catastrophic wildfires, lawmakers are considering a move that would go further: a proposal to mandate 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2045.

The bills sponsor, State Senator Kevin de Leon, says that with the Trump administrations efforts to bolster electricity generated from fossil fuels, California and other states must chart their own course on energy policy. And, partly owing to recent events, he thinks the bill can pass within three weeks.

Because of the fires, because of the extreme drought, because of the anti-environmental edicts coming from this president, theres a huge ground swell of support, Mr. de Leon said of his proposal, designated Senate Bill 100.
LINCOLN, Neb.  Prison officials in Nebraska used the powerful opioid fentanyl to help execute a convicted murderer on Tuesday, the first such use of the drug in the United States and the first execution in the state since voters overturned a death penalty ban in 2016.

The use of fentanyl, an opioid at the heart of the nations overdose crisis, as part of a previously untested four-drug cocktail drew concern from death penalty experts who questioned how the execution unfolded. And here in Nebraska, a state that last killed a prisoner in 1997, the lethal injection represented a stark political turnabout from when legislators outlawed capital punishment three years ago.

The condemned man, Carey Dean Moore, 60, had been convicted of killing two Omaha taxi drivers decades ago and did not seek a reprieve in his final months. He was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m. at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, officials said, 23 minutes after the first drug was administered. Mr. Moore breathed heavily at one point and coughed, said four Nebraska journalists whom the state selected to watch the execution. Mr. Moores face turned red, then purple.

The four-drug cocktail contained diazepam, a tranquilizer; fentanyl citrate, a powerful synthetic opioid that can block breathing and knock out consciousness; cisatracurium besylate, a muscle relaxant; and potassium chloride, which stops the heart.
Bishops and other leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania covered up child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years, persuading victims not to report the abuse and law enforcement not to investigate it, according to a searing report issued by a grand jury on Tuesday.

The report, which covered six of the states eight Catholic dioceses and found more than 1,000 identifiable victims, is the broadest examination yet by a government agency in the United States of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The report said there are likely thousands more victims whose records were lost or who were too afraid to come forward.

It catalogs horrific instances of abuse: a priest who raped a young girl in the hospital after she had her tonsils out; a victim tied up and whipped with leather straps by a priest; and another priest who was allowed to stay in ministry after impregnating a young girl and arranging for her to have an abortion.

The sexual abuse scandal has shaken the Catholic Church for more than 15 years, ever since explosive allegations emerged out of Boston in 2002. But even after paying billions of dollars in settlements and adding new prevention programs, the church has been dogged by a scandal that is now reaching its highest ranks. The Pennsylvania report comes soon after the resignation of Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, who is accused of sexually abusing young priests and seminarians, as well as minors.
A candidate for the Florida State House of Representatives who lied about graduating from college and then flew across the country to try to prove her false claim dropped out of the race on Tuesday, according to local news reports.

The candidate, Melissa Howard, who was running in the Republican primary for the 73rd District seat, told The Sarasota Herald-Tribune that she would withdraw. I made a terrible error in judgement, she said in a text message to the newspaper. I am thankful for everyone who gave so much toward my success, and I am deeply sorry.

Her decision comes a day after she apologized for her mistake, but resolved to remain in the race. I am staying in the race and intend to win and lead by example from now on, she told the newspaper on Monday.
Prosecutors for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, rested their case Monday after calling roughly two dozen witnesses and introducing hundreds of exhibits. Mr. Manafort, 69, is accused of evading taxes on roughly $16.5 million in income that he earned working for pro-Russia political forces in Ukraine. When that income ran out, prosecutors claim, he fraudulently obtained more than $20 million in bank loans so he could maintain an extravagant lifestyle.

Defense lawyers made a special effort, including submitting a last-minute brief, to persuade the judge to throw out four bank fraud charges involving $16 million in loans that Mr. Manafort obtained from a small Chicago bank in late 2016 and early 2017. Richard Westling, one of Mr. Manaforts lawyers, argued that the bank, Federal Savings Bank, was not defrauded because its chairman, Stephen M. Calk, was determined to do business with Mr. Manafort, despite questions about Mr. Manaforts wherewithal. He also argued that bank officials were well aware of Mr. Manaforts true financial situation.

Emails cited by the prosecution showed that Mr. Manafort was trading heavily on his connection to the Trump campaign in seeking those loans, one of which he used to prevent another creditor from foreclosing on one of his homes. In August 2016, before he was forced out of his position as campaign chairman, Mr. Manafort arranged to add Mr. Calk to Mr. Trumps economic advisory committee. In November, just days after the election, Mr. Calk sent Mr. Manafort a long list of top administration jobs for which he wanted to be considered.

Mr. Manafort then emailed Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, recommending Mr. Calk as someone who would be totally reliable and would advance D.T. agenda, referring to the president-elect. Mr. Calks preference is secretary of the Army, he wrote. In the next two months, Mr. Calk overruled his underlings and granted Mr. Manafort more money than any other of the banks borrowers had obtained, bank officials testified.

Mr. Westling argued that the bank was not victimized because it would have approved Mr. Manaforts loans regardless of the information he had submitted. But the judge ruled that was a question for the jury to decide, not him.
Two Republican-held House districts are considered competitive here, including one long occupied by Representative Paul Ryan, the House speaker, who is retiring. Randy Bryce, a union organizer, and Cathy Myers, a school board member, are running for the Democratic nomination for Mr. Ryans seat in the First District, which has been held by a Republican for more than two decades. In the Sixth District, which Mr. Trump won by 17 points in 2016, Democrats are hoping to oust Representative Glenn Grothman, a two-term Republican incumbent.

Get full results from Wisconsin here.

Connecticuts governor candidates include an ex-convict

The race for governor in this blue state has become heated, with a vast and varied field that includes businessmen and mayors competing on both sides to succeed Dannel P. Malloy, a two-term Democratic governor who is not running for re-election. Mr. Malloy's deep unpopularity has made the state a potential Republican target despite its overall Democratic lean.

Republicans include David Stemerman, a Yale- and Harvard-educated former hedge fund manager; Bob Stefanowski, a business executive and former Democrat; and Mark D. Boughton, the mayor of Danbury. On the Democratic side are Ned Lamont, a prominent businessman who ran for governor in 2010 and lost, and Joseph P. Ganim, the mayor of Bridgeport, who was re-elected after serving seven years in prison on corruption charges. Mr. Lamont has become the favorite among Democratic leaders.

Another race to keep an eye on? The lieutenant governor primary. On the Democratic side, the race has become a classic test of establishment versus activist, with Susan Bysiewicz, the former Connecticut secretary of state, facing an unexpectedly intense challenge from Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, a young, Puerto Rican labor organizer.

None of the states House races are considered particularly competitive in the general election, and all five districts are expected to stay under Democratic control. Two Democrats are running in the Fifth District, the only open seat: Mary Glassman, a former first selectman, and Jahana Hayes, a political newcomer. They are running to replace Representative Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat, who said she would not defend her seat after she was accused of mishandling sexual harassment accusations against her former chief of staff.

Get full results from Connecticut here.
It would be easy to dismiss this as the familys lack of insight into the patients true clinical state, which was admittedly my first thought. But this wasnt so.

At one point, my patients face appeared to contort into a grimace.

Is she in pain? I asked.

Its hard to tell, but I dont think so, one of the sisters responded. She doesnt really feel much. The other sister nodded. Everyone in the room seemed to acknowledge the extent of the damage to her brain.

We talked some more about their family, about her care at the nursing home. The questions I couldnt muster asking were: Do you think her life has meaning? Do you think you made the right decision, all those years ago?

But by the end of my patients stay in the E.R., I think I already knew what their answer would be.

When I was an intern, I recall getting into a lively conversation with a neurosurgeon, a friend who had already finished his training, about the familys right to choose what they wanted in these situations. I argued that we couldnt possibly understand or decide for them what was best, when patients are neurologically devastated like this. Who could speak for anothers cultural and religious beliefs, their personal values?

He felt entirely differently, explaining that, as a neurosurgeon, he cared for these patients all the time and that I was too inexperienced in my training to understand. He felt that they are kept on machines for way too long, that their lives amounted to nothing, that if he had it his way it would be our job as physicians to pull the plug  to make the decision for them, regardless of what the family wanted. A heated argument ensued, ending somewhere between him calling me naive and me telling him he was insensitive and coldhearted.

Years later, I no longer disagree with him, at least not with the same wholehearted conviction. Whenever patients similar to the one I saw that day come into the hospital, my colleagues and I inevitably shake our heads and say to each other, Dont let me end up this way. When the time comes, just let me go. To us, its not a life worth living. Of course, were also under pressure to care for our other patients, and feeling the strains that our health care system places on all of us.

I cant say my interaction with this family has changed my overall position on what I would do in a similar situation. If it were me, making the decision for myself or anyone in my family, I would have withdrawn life support. If my patients family had asked me what they should have done back then, I would have told them that they should have let her go.
CAPE TOWN  Under pressure from education activists and the courts, South Africas government announced on Tuesday that it would tackle a crippling sanitation backlog in schools, where two children recently drowned in pit toilets, the only facilities available for hundreds of thousands of children across the country.

The initiative, known as Sanitation Appropriate for Education, would spare generations of young South Africans the indignity, discomfort and danger of using pit latrines and other unsafe facilities in our schools, said President Cyril Ramaphosa at a kickoff in Pretoria, calling the lack of school sanitation facilities an emergency.

But education activists said the announcement was long overdue and not nearly enough to solve a crisis that has been brewing for years.

Nearly 4,000 schools nationally are equipped only with pit toilets, according to government figures. In the Eastern Cape, South Africas poorest province, one in four public schools have no other options for students to relieve themselves.
If you look at whats happening with trade in China, it hasnt been fair for many, many years. When President Trump rails against China, he says things like, Our country is being taken advantage of, or, We lost years ago by presidents and others allowing this to happen. Hes probably referring to the past four decades, when China has grown faster than any major economy in history and gone from a poor, developing country to an economic powerhouse that is challenging Americas spot at the top of the international food chain. Its emergence as a global power was so sharp and so extreme, faster than the world can handle, in some ways faster than China can handle. The U.S. and other Western nations kick-started much of Chinas rise by opening up trade. What they havent figured out is how to get this fundamentally different economic system to play by free market rules. A pivotal moment came in 2001 after 15 years of negotiations. China joined the World Trade Organization, which sets the rules for free and fair trade between member countries. All of the countries that were in the club at the time put enormous demands on China for what they needed to do. The Chinese committed to sharply lower tariffs and reduced some of the governments role in how business gets done. But they argued then, as they still do now, that China is a developing country and so should be held to less stringent free trade standards. The hope was that these first steps would lead to even more sweeping changes. Why did we assume that? The experience of communism was through the lens of the Soviet Union and its satellite states, which was ultimately not a success. And so the presumption was, Chinas going to want to become like us, more market oriented. After China joined the W.T.O. in 2001, you saw this enormous surge of Chinese exports to everywhere in the world, and to the United States in particular. They were kind of an elephant hiding behind mice with respect to other countries in global trade negotiations at the time. The U.S. and other countries complained that China was not opening its markets enough, and keeping the value of its currency artificially low to make Chinese exports more attractive. China has been making great strides using tools that are really not acceptable under the global trade system. China has continued to operate as a centrally planned economy. The government owns, influences or subsidizes major industries, giving them an artificial competitive edge. There are heavy restrictions on foreign investment, and foreign companies are pressured to share their technologies. China has become more market oriented, but dating back to probably 2007, 2008, I think it was recognized that China wasnt on the path to become more like us. And so then countries began to think about, well, what do we do instead? Some view the rise of Asia-Pacific with suspicion and fear. America doesnt. Enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership, initiated by Bush, signed by Obama. When implemented, It wont just boost trade and support jobs in our 12 countries. It will help set stronger rules for trade across the Asia-Pacific. Put less politely, It was also supposed to be a bulwark to Chinas growing economic power. The idea was that China would want to join this great trading pact, and so they would have this incentive to reform their economy. This is the one that President Trump ripped up on his third day in office. The first one is withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I had seen the erosion of popular and congressional support for trade for many years. But Id never seen anything like Donald Trump. Our founding fathers understood trade much better than our current politicians, believe me. Trade is generally accepted by economists as win-win for countries on the whole. But Trump says that China is winning and the U.S. is losing. He and people in his administration argue that past approaches to dealing with China havent worked. Its not actually that profitable to negotiate with them. We need to focus on this much bigger trade measure, and then we can really hit them with a very aggressive, forceful action. He seems intent on generating a moment of crisis. We put a $50 billion tariff on, then we put a $100 billion tariff on. And you know at a certain point, they run out of bullets. But dynamics have changed. Today, China sees its economy as strong enough to withstand almost anything the U.S. can throw at it.
The whole camp was covered in blood, said First Lt. Shah Fahim, another platoon leader. On Sunday night, speaking by phone, he wept and worried he would be killed in the night. On top of that, the family of the dead company commander, Capt. Sayid Azam, kept calling him, asking for news of the captain.

I couldnt tell them, Lieutenant Fahim said. I told them I would tell him to call them back later.

Lieutenant Fahim and a squad of five men were assigned to one of the outposts around the camp on Sunday night. On Monday morning, all six surrendered to the Taliban, Lieutenant Reza said. He knew that because some soldiers taken prisoner began calling their friends still on the base at the Talibans urging.

They kept asking us to go with them.

Throughout the morning, groups of five or six soldiers at a time began disappearing from the base and the outposts.

Finally, the 40 of us who were left decided to surrender, too, he said.

At American urging, the Afghan military has been shifting its strategy to concentrate on holding population centers instead of territory. That previous territory-based strategy left numerous small bases scattered around rural Afghanistan highly vulnerable when the insurgents mass against them, as happened in Ghormach.

But giving up Ghormach District to the Taliban would hand them a coup in a part of the country where the insurgents were weak only a couple of years earlier. So Company A was sent to Chinese Camp a year ago.

Before he was killed, the companys captain expressed concern that even without a Ghazni, the Afghan militarys priorities were skewed at the expense of troops in the field. Politicians commandeered badly needed military helicopters for their own use at times when bases like his were struggling for resupply.
LONDON  A car struck and injured several pedestrians and cyclists, then crashed into a security barrier just outside the Houses of Parliament in London early Tuesday, in what the police said they were treating as a terrorist attack.

About a dozen armed police officers swarmed a silver Ford Fiesta and pointed their weapons at it, before handcuffing the driver, who was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses. The police said that the driver, in his late 20s, was the only person in the car, and that no weapons had yet been found in the vehicle.

Neil Basu, the counterterrorism chief of the Metropolitan Police, said the department was treating the episode as one of terrorism, given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the sensitive location and the method used. Parliament has been attacked before, and past terrorist attacks have involved cars driving into pedestrians.
He asked how I had become involved in the protest and I mentioned the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Mr. Beinart wrote in a column published in The Forward on Monday.

He asked if the center had incited violence, and I replied that, as its name suggests, it practices nonviolence. My interrogator then replied that names could be misleading. The government of North Korea, he observed, calls itself a democracy but is not. I told him I didnt think the Center for Jewish Nonviolence and the North Korean government have much in common.

The questioning ended when Mr. Beinart was asked if he would attend another protest and replied in the negative.

The Shin Bet internal security agency, which carried out the interrogations, issued a rare apology for Mr. Beinarts detention, calling it an error of judgment by a field officer. The agency said it would look into the case, adding that it works only in accordance with the law and for the security of the state.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, a human rights organization, had complained earlier about the questioning of other activists at the airport. In response to those complaints, the attorney generals office said two weeks ago that the cases had been passed on to the Shin Bet for inquiry.

There has been an increase in deportations of foreign, pro-Palestinian activists since the parliament passed legislation in 2017 barring entry to people considered to have taken significant action to advocate for boycotting Israel. The law was part of a campaign to counter the movement of boycotts, divestments and sanctions, which Israelis overwhelmingly oppose, consider anti-Semitic and view as calling for the countrys destruction.

Israels Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy, which is charged with combating boycotts and related actions, published a list of about 20 organizations in January that would be affected by the law. It includes several American groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace, the Quakers American Friends Service Committee, the feminist group Code Pink and the United States Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
Six years after Austin Tice, a journalist and Marine veteran, was abducted while reporting on the war in Syria, his parents expressed confidence on Tuesday that he was alive.

The parents, Marc and Debra Tice, spent the anniversary of Mr. Tices disappearance publicizing efforts to free their son, 37, who they believe remains a captive somewhere in Syria, entangled in the war.

It seems like, in many ways, the time has gone so quickly, but we know that, for Austin, it must be grinding on, his mother said in an interview on NBCs Today. Asked what keeps them optimistic, his father said, Well, we know hes alive, and were sure he wants to come home.

They also released a video about his abduction, Now Is the Time to Free Austin Tice, which emphasized the historic events over the past six years that their son had missed.
BAGHDAD  The father of the Iraqi spy who spent 16 months undercover inside the Islamic State said Tuesday that his familys long struggle to receive his sons pension and death benefits has finally borne some fruit.

Iraqis have been abuzz with the story of Capt. Harith al-Sudani, the man Iraqi officials describe as the countrys most successful spy, since The New York Times published an article on Sunday about him and his secret intelligence unit called Al Suquor, or the Falcons.

As a mole inside the terrorist group, Captain Sudani foiled dozens of planned attacks in the Iraqi capital and provided his Iraqi commanders and the American-led coalition fighting the group a live wire into the senior ranks of the organization. The Islamic State discovered Captain Sudanis identity and killed him in August 2017, according to Iraqi intelligence officials.

The Sudani family has been trying for a year to get recognition for Captain Sudanis sacrifice and his pension for his widow and three children, only to be stymied by Iraqs infamous bureaucracy, according his father, Abid al-Sudani.
What to watch: The race for governor in this blue state has become heated, with a vast and varied field of businessmen, mayors and veterans competing on both sides to succeed Dannel P. Malloy, a two-term Democratic governor who is not running for re-election. Read more

Republicans include David Stemerman, a Yale- and Harvard-educated former hedge fund manager; Bob Stefanowski, a business executive and former Democrat; and Mark D. Boughton, the mayor of Danbury. On the Democratic side are Ned Lamont, a prominent businessman who ran for governor in 2010 and lost, and Joseph P. Ganim, the mayor of Bridgeport, who was re-elected after serving seven years in prison on corruption charges.

None of the states House races are considered particularly competitive in the general election, and all five districts are expected to stay under Democratic control. Two Democrats are running in the Fifth District, the only open seat: Mary Glassman, a former first selectman, and Jahana Hayes, a political newcomer. They are running to replace Representative Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat, who said she would not defend her seat after she was accused of mishandling sexual harassment accusations against her former chief of staff.

 SYDNEY EMBER

Read more about todays most important races.
What to watch: At the top of the ballot is the open race to replace Governor Mark Dayton, a Democrat who is not seeking a third term. On the Republican side, former Governor Tim Pawlenty, is trying to make a comeback after eight years away from the office. His opponent, Jeff Johnson, a tough-talking, Trump-supporting county commissioner, has said that if Mr. Pawlenty wins the primary, the general election in November would be about the past. Read more

If a Republican wins the governors race in November, and Republicans keep their majority in the State Legislature, the party will have full control of state government for the first time in a half-century.

At least four House districts in Minnesota are considered competitive in the general election. Republicans are hoping to pick up seats in the First and Eighth Congressional Districts, both of which Donald J. Trump won in 2016. Democrats are targeting two seats in the Minneapolis suburbs: the Second and Third Districts.

In the safely Democratic Fifth District, three Democrats are vying to replace Representative Keith Ellison, who is running for state attorney general. One of the candidates, State Representative Ilhan Omar, would be among the first Muslim women in the House if she were elected.

 SYDNEY EMBER

Read more about todays most important races.
What to watch: Eight Democrats are looking to unseat Governor Scott Walker, a Republican who is seeking a third term. The front-runner in the crowded Democratic field is Tony Evers, the state superintendent, who led Mr. Walker by as many as 13 points in one recent poll. Read more

At the federal level, five Republicans are hoping to unseat Senator Tammy Baldwin, a first-term Democratic incumbent running in a state Mr. Trump narrowly won in 2016. Two front-runners on the Republican side  State Senator Leah Vukmir and businessman Kevin Nicholson  are locked in a bitter battle, most recently over a familiar theme: who supports Mr. Trump more.

Two Republican-held House districts are considered competitive here, including one long occupied by Representative Paul Ryan, the House speaker who is retiring. Two Democrats, including union organizer Randy Bryce, and five Republicans are running for Mr. Ryans seat in the First Congressional District, which has been held by a Republican in more than two decades. In the Sixth District, which Mr. Trump won by 17 points in 2016, Democrats are hoping to oust Representative Glenn Grothman, a two-term Republican incumbent.

 SYDNEY EMBER

Read more about todays most important races.
Opposition supporters are to blame for the shooting and death of Kyadondo East legislator Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine driver Yasin Kawooya, police has said.

Kawooya was shot dead yesterday Monday evening near Hotel Pacific in Arua town while driving a Toyota Tundra vehicle registration number UAT 416K.

The car is believed to belong to Bobi Wine, who appears not to have been in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. Shortly after the incident, Bobi Wine tweeted that his driver was shot dead by police, thinking they'd shot him instead.

Senior press secretary to the president, Don Wanyama published this photo of one of the president's cars that he claimed was pelted with stones by opposition supporters

Bobi Wine and several other opposition MPs were in Arua for former Forum for Democratic Change MP Kasiano Wadri's final campaign rally. Wadri is contesting for the Arua municipality seat that fell vacant in June this year following the shooting of the area MP Ibrahim Abiriga.

Now police spokesperson, Emilian Kayima says people dressed in Wadri's campaign T-shirts began pelting the presidents convoy with stones forcing security to open fire.



"At around 6:30 [yesterday] evening, the president's motorcade was attacked by hooligans at Prison Cell in Arua municipality as the president left Boma grounds where he had held the last rally for his candidate," Kayima said.



Adding that, "one of the president's lead cars was attacked and smashed by the hooligans donning T-shirts of Mr Kasiano Wadri. Security force quickly intervened to calm down the situation but the situation became riotous as many were throwing stones at the convoy of the president, which is unacceptable. Unfortunately in the scuffle one person was fatally injured."

West Nile police spokesperson Josephine Angucia said Kawooya was shot by a stray bullet, she however declined to divulge any further details.

Scene of crime officers have since taken charge of the scene of shooting. It is still unclear who exactly between police and presidential guards fired the bullet that killed Kawooya. Police have also impounded a grader registration number UAP 064R that was being used by Wadri's campaign team.



The grader was impounded when it allegedly intercepted the president's convoy as he was heading to Boma Grounds to campaign for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate, Nusura Tiperu.



Kayima said "A number of suspects have been arrested for intercepting the president's convoys as investigations continue to establish their motive."

Several MPs including Paul Mwiru, Francis Zaake and NTV journalist Herbert Zziwa were arrested and are still under police custody. The whereabouts of Bobi Wine remain unknown as police denied holding him and his family in Kampala said they'd lost contact with him.

Hotel Pacific sealed off

Meanwhile, following an evening of running battles between presidential guards, Special Forces Command and opposition supporters, Hotel Pacific the base for Wadri's campaigns has been sealed off including the nearby roads.
The head of the European Union mission in Uganda ambassador Attillio Pacifici has said youth in Uganda should be given an opportunity to express themselves without fear of repercussions because thats what democracy demands.

Speaking at the International Youth Day organized by Creating Africa with support from the European Union in Bugolobi Design Hub under the theme Creating safe spaces for young people,' Pacifici said instead of governments seeking to gag its young people they should engage them to get solutions for the issues bedevilling them like the rampant unemployment.

He said he was also dismayed that the different poverty alleviation projects dont target youths in the countryside.

Ambassador Attillio Pacifici with lawyer Nicholas Opiyo pose for pictures

Its very worrying that many initiatives like the youth fund have difficulties in extending access to finance beyond the area of Kampala, Pacifici said.

He encouraged the youth to continue working together in partnerships to share ideas on different platforms that can help them get out of poverty.

Uganda has one of the worlds youngest population but unfortunately also one of the highest youth unemployment, Pacifici said.

Nicholas Opiyo, a human rights lawyer, echoed the ambassadors message calling on young people to fight for their rights especially that of expression.

He implored them to make use of the place where they can ably express themselves without fearing that what they say might backfire. He criticized the government for introducing the now controversial tax on social media which he said was aimed at limiting young people from accessing information and expressing themselves in a more comfortable way.

Its a violation of human rights and limits the space in which youths operate. Youths must know their rights because it is the only way they can claim them. Safe spaces should be your natural entitlements, Opiyo said.

He also lashed out on government for failure to translate the Constitution to local languages as demanded by article 4 of the 1995 Constitution.

The state has deliberately refused to do it and this keeps more Ugandans who dont know English ignorant about their natural entitlements and therefore cannot be in a position to claim them, Opiyo said.

Mildred Apenyo one of the panelists urged the government to respect and protect the rights of everyone including sexual minorities. She also called upon women to engage in all societal issues and desist from leaving them to only men.

We most affected by the decision that these men make; so, we must make sure that we are part of them, Apenyo said.

ssebunyaibrahim13@gmail.com


Jeffrey Sharlach (L) and Allison Mann (R) on stage during one of the seminars in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

JeffreyGroup held a series of events in Brazil and Argentina last week featuring Allison Mann, head researcher for the Mad Men TV series, and agency founder Jeffrey Sharlach. Marking the agencys 25th anniversary working with multinational companies and brands in Latin America, the seminars, called Mad Men to Artificial Intelligence, took a look at how corporate communications have changed since the time when the show took place. Mann spoke about how each season she would prepare a reading list for the writers and cast to better understand the issues that affected the world of the shows characters. She also talked about employees lives at agencies during the era noting, Success in the business depended considerably on fitting into well-defined lifestyle choices and those who didnt fit the prescribed mold were often ostracized. Sharlach described the changes that communications have gone through on the way from the Mad Men universe to the post-mass media environment. He said that when JeffreyGroup started up in 1993, getting an article published in just two or three major newspaper in a market could provide a client with coverage of 90 percent of the target audience. About todays world , he said that when everyone is able to transmit information, being heard is a much greater challenge.

Susan Davis International has won two Stevie American Business Awards for In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace: Centennial Commemoration of Americas entry into World War, a project executed for the World War I Centennial Commission. SDI took home a Gold Stevie for Best Event and Bronze Stevie for Public Relations Campaign of the Year honoring their work on the campaign. To commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Americas entry into WWI, SDI created a multifaceted which included executing the commemoration ceremony and implementing national and international public relations campaign. Over 4,000 guests and general public attendees from 29 nations and 26 states accepted the World War I Centennial Commissions invitation to the anniversary event. SDIs media outreach resulted in 602 Commission and commemoration-related stories.

Germinder + Associates has named Guy Pidgeon, ex-chair of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, its eighth #Germinder20 #PowerofPink Honoree. Launched in January 2018 as part of the celebration of Germinders 20th anniversary, #Germinder20 #ThePowerofPink is a womens storytelling initiative that, in addition to highlighting agency founder Lee-Ann Germinders story of breast cancer survivorship, shines a spotlight on 20 leaders whose stories have touched and inspired her.


Tom Rogers

5W Public Relations has been named PR agency for search intelligence company Captify. 5W is positioning Captify as a fast-growing tech company that demonstrates the unique insights search can provide. Captifys semantic technology understands the search behaviors of over 2.2 billion consumers across the globe, powering insights and media for some of the worlds biggest brands. 5W is also showcasing Captifys expansion in North America, and is publicizing key hires, such as the appointment of CNBC founder Tom Rogers as the companys chairman and Rob Berzinskas as vp of U.S. Sales. 5W has also secured media coverage in The Drum, MarTech Series, MarTech Advisor and Marketing Industry News

Zapwater Communications has been retained by Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club in Grenada. Zapwaters scope of work will include media relations, influencer engagement and strategic partnerships. Located on Grenadas Grand Anse Beach, the resort has 28 villas and suites, each with its own veranda. In addition to Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club, Zapwaters international hotel and resort client list currently includes Coco Prive Private Island (Maldives), Glenapp Castle (Scotland), La Sultana Signature Hotels (Morocco) and Casa Kimberly (Puerto Vallarta).

Childs Play Communications has brought on UK-based Curiscope, which uses Augmented Reality to transform the way children learn about science. Childs Play will be responsible for managing media relations to launch and support the brand in the U.S. Curiscopes inaugural product, the Virtuali-tee, is an Augmented Reality t-shirt that allows children to learn about the human body. Childs Play is also the creator of the Kids & Family Tech Expo, the only media event exclusively for tech products designed for children and parents, and recently launched Seriously STEM, a first-of-its-kind awards program for toys promoting learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Offaly has been revealed at the fourth least popular county for tourists by a Failte Ireland report.

While the tourism numbers in the county have not decreased year-on-year, they have plateaued. The figures show that 52,000 overseas visitors came to Offaly as part of their trip in 2017, generating 16 million for the local economy.

228,000 homegrown trips were made to Offaly in the same period, generating 30 million for the economy, bringing Offaly's tourism total to an estimated 46 million, 18 million less than neighbours Westmeath who generated 64 million between both homegrown and overseas tourism.

Offaly did generate more tourism revenue than both Laois and Longford in 2017. Laois has a 44 million tourism industry while Longford generated just 28 million, although their figure is likely to grow in the coming years with the opening of their Center Parcs holiday development.

These figures show that the Midlands was the least visited region in the country in 2017 with just 218,000 overseas tourists, down from 226,000 the year before.

Dublin still enjoys the largest share of the tourism pot with 5.9 million overseas visited making their way to the capital, spending a whopping 2 billion.

Galway, Cork and Kerry enjoy over one million overseas visitors a year, while counties like Clare also performed very well in the figures which were produced using a Failte Ireland survey of 10,000 overseas travellers and data provided by the Central Statistics Office and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

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If you have a story for us, sports news, an event happening in your area, or if you want to submit pictures or videos, contact the Offaly Express team via email to justin.kelly@iconicnews.ie, or through our Facebook.
A new survey from Taxback.com has ranked Offaly in 19th position when it comes to the amount paid per household in terms of income tax.

Using CSO figures, Taxback.com produced a league table of income tax per household per county, showing Offaly pays an average of 12,764 in income tax per household, less than fellow midland counties Westmeath and Laois, and over 8,000 than neighbouring Kildare, which largely serves the Dublin jobs market.

PICTURED: The income tax league table produced by Taxback.com

As a nation we would broadly be in favour of the introduction of a Wealth Tax, as evidenced by the results of the latest instalment of the Taxback.com Taxpayer Sentiment Survey Series 2018. The leading tax refund specialists asked 1,700 taxpayers throughout the country for their views on taxing public wealth.

The survey uncovered that a landslide 65% agreed a new tax on accumulated wealth should be imposed. 61% of respondents concurred that a new higher third rate of Income Tax should be introduced to gather additional taxes from those on larger incomes.

Commenting on the findings, Barry Flanagan, Tax Director at Taxback.com said: Im sure many people will be surprised that support for a wealth tax amongst taxpayers is so high. After all, 65% pretty much constitutes a landslide. However, the results come with a caveat; when asked if they themselves would be prepared to pay more tax if it resulted in better public services 72% said they wouldnt  either because they think they pay enough already or they think that it wont result in better public services."

"The most recent statistics from CSO show that in terms of the average working household, the estimated average tax paid per household in Offaly 1 year (2015) was 12,764. My sense would be that most of these households believe that they contribute enough already.

When asked which assets should be taxed  and how often the tax should be due  a strong majority of the Taxback.com survey respondents favoured taxing land (69%), property (57%) and shares (56%), with 61% in favour of imposing a wealth tax on an annual basis. There was little support for further taxes on pensions (14%) or more personal items like cars (26%) and jewellery (16%).

The recent increase in property prices has meant that those who are on the ladder are seeing their net worth grow by 11% a year. In 2015, statistics from economist David McWilliams revealed that wealth is highly concentrated in this country  with 73% of the countrys wealth is owned by the most affluent 20%. It doesnt matter if its those with high income or those with accumulated wealth that have already been taxed  our survey has indicated that two thirds of people want to tax it again," Flanagan commented.

Balancing that, the top 1% of earners paid almost 25% of the income tax collected. The top 6% of income earners  those households with income over 100,000 per year - paid a staggering 11 billion in income tax in 2017. This figure is over half of the record high total of 22 Billion that was collected.

Experts at Taxback.com say that whether a tax on the wealthy will ever actually come to fruition in Ireland remains to be seen. Last year the former Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, said in the Dail, In order to estimate the potential revenue from a wealth tax, it is necessary to identify the wealth held by individuals. As there is currently no such wealth tax in operation in Ireland, the Department understands that the Revenue Commissioners have no basis or requirement to compile the data needed to produce estimates in relation to a potential wealth tax.

Mr Flanagan concluded Perhaps its time we started this debate in earnest and start to compile the data."

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If you have a story for us, sports news, an event happening in your area, or if you want to submit pictures or videos, contact the Offaly Express team via email to justin.kelly@iconicnews.ie, or through our Facebook.
RENUA Ireland leader Cllr John Leahy has described free education as a myth for hard pressed working parents.

He said it was a source of 'grave concern' that a recent annual school-costs survey commissioned by the Irish League of Credit Unions indicates that parents are now spending on average of 999 per primary school child and 1,379 per secondary school pupil.

He added, "It is indicative of how thinly the boom is being experienced that parents are now going to money-lenders to keep their children in new shoes and crested uniforms."

He also hit out at the government's level of funding for schools.

"Truly the dream of free primary and secondary education has turned into a myth under a government that wont even pay schools enough capitation to keep students warm. We are in this regard only one step away from the days when children had to bring a sod of turf to the school each. It may be hard on our Ministers to realise but 1,000 a child is a real imposition on after tax income. Ireland's education system is now worse than the era prior to Donagh OMalley in the sixties."

"Not only has free secondary education collapsed but it now costs as much to send a child to primary school as to college. The government should move now to restore the primacy of the concept of freedom for education for all," Cllr Leahy concluded.
Bob Falcetti/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Less than three months out from the first major election since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, much of the national focus remains on high-profile U.S. Senate and House races that could determine control of Congress.



But while millions of dollars pour into those important congressional races, voters in 36 states will choose governors this year, including 26 currently under Republican control. That has Democrats hoping for a resurgence on the state level in places where theyve been pushed out of power.



The wide range of gubernatorial contests has seen Democrats looking to expand the map into red states where they have not been competitive for years. At the same time, Republicans are looking for unique opportunities to pick up seats in states that may tilt blue in presidential years but trend purple in off-year and statewide races.



Following the 2008 elections, the Democratic Party held 32 governorships. In the aftermath of the Republican wave election of 2010, the balance of power in governorships was flipped, and the GOP took control of 32 seats nationwide, a dramatic shift that has endured for the rest of the decade.



Wisconsin a test case for Democratic inroads

Republicans have total control of half of the state legislatures across the country and make up 56 percent of state legislators, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).



Democrats are eyeing an end to the GOP dominance on the state level this cycle, a road that runs through states like Wisconsin, where the party views Gov. Scott Walker, who is running for a third full term, as particularly vulnerable.



"In Wisconsin, Scott Walker is right. He is in deep, deep trouble. It is very difficult to see how he survives," Democratic Governors Association Chairman Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington State told ABC News.



A recent NBC News/Marist poll showed Walker trailing Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, one of eight Democrats competing in Tuesdays primary to take on Walker in November, by 13 points.

Other Democratic contenders in the crowded and complicated primary include former state lawmaker Kelda Roys, the African-American leader of a state firefighter union Mahlon Mitchell, former state Democratic Party chair Matt Flynn, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and state lawmaker Kathleen Vineout. Whoever emerges from the crowd Tuesday has a tall task in unseating Walker, who alongside the state GOP has built a powerful infrastructure in the state that has allowed him to win two full terms and survive a recall election in 2012.



That a state like Wisconsin, which has trended red in recent cycles and in 2016 sided with the Republican nominee for president for the first time since 1984, is in play for Democrats this year shows the breadth of the opportunity they see for pickups on the state level.



Democrats view the Midwest as a particularly fertile ground to pick up governorships this cycle. In addition to Wisconsin, the open seat races in Michigan and Iowa are possible pickup opportunities. In Illinois, GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner is viewed as the most vulnerable Republican in the country, and Democrats are hoping that the deep pockets of Hyatt hotel chain heir J.B. Pritzker will help them take back control of the governors mansion.



There are 15 governorships currently held by Republicans that the University of Virginia (UVA) Center for Politics rates as either "Lean Republican" or "Toss-up," giving Democrats a vital opportunity to rebuild their strength at the state level.



"This years midterm is absolutely critical to regaining Democrat strength in governorships and also state legislative seats, where Democrats lost well over 900 during Obamas two terms as president," Larry Sabato, director of the UVA Center for Politics, told ABC News. "Redistricting is coming up in 2021-22, and most of the people elected this year will be in office then. Democrats got skunked in 2011-2012 in redrawing the lines, and they cant afford to let that happen again."



"With 26 GOP governorships on the chopping block and only 9 Democratic ones, this is the exact mirror of the Senate elections," Sabato added. "Just as Democrats are disadvantaged in the Senate by having to defend so much territory, so too are Republicans in the governorships."



Other key pickup opportunities for Democrats include blue states like Maine and New Mexico, where term-limited GOP governors are likely to give way to well-funded and established Democratic candidates. In Maine, Democrats nominated state Attorney General Janet Mills, who has the chance to be the first female governor in its history, and in New Mexico Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham is looking to succeed GOP Gov. Susana Martinez.



Democrats are also hoping to compete in redder states where a favorable national political environment could help push compelling candidates over the top. States like Georgia, where Stacey Abrams is aiming to become the nations first female African-American governor, Kansas, where a bitter GOP primary may drag on for weeks in a recount, and South Dakota, where state lawmaker Billie Sutton is running as a "prairie populist," hoping to appeal to the states overwhelmingly conservative electorate.



But despite the Democratic optimism, there are still states where Republicans see opportunities to go on offense.



GOP sees opportunity in 'purple' territory

Democrats' strategy of exploiting Trump's unpopularity to energize voters might be creating gains in some red states, but in historically blue states, a changing of the guard might be coming.



Connecticut and Minnesota voters are less than 24 hours away from shaping the ballot for the next chief executive, and with the specter of a blue wave looming over the GOP across the country, Democrats in these states are contending with a similar, deeply troubling reality: Republicans taking back the governorship.



The Nutmeg State has not supported a Republican nominee for president since 1988 and Democrats hold a tight grip on federal offices: Both Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal and all five congressional representatives are Democrats. In the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, the GOP has not won a statewide election in over a decade, both U.S. Senators are Democrats, and Democratic House members outnumber their Republican counterparts 5-3.



But there is growing optimism for the Republican Party at the state level, where Connecticuts state Senate is evenly tied and Democrats are defending a slim 9-seat majority in the state House, and the GOP controls both chambers of Minnesota's state legislature. It wasnt that long ago that the top office in either of these states was held by a Republican -- former Gov. Jodi Rell in Connecticut who preceded Malloy before he was elected in 2010, and former Minnesota governor and now-candidate Tim Pawlenty in 2011.



In a state in which among registered voters, Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 5 to 3, Connecticut is shifting from a deep blue towards purple in the Trump era, and in a strong signal of the states dissatisfaction with a stagnant economy and Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy -- who is not seeking re-election -- the race for the states top office is a toss-up.



Five Republican contenders are seizing on the opening to succeed Malloy: Bob Stefanowski, Stephen Obsitnik and David Stemerman are all political outsiders coming from the upper echelons of the private sector; and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, the GOP-endorsed candidate, and former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, are tethering their candidacies to their experience in local politics.



The GOP primary echoes a reappearing theme this cycle, one that is splitting the party in races with a crowded field: voters must choose between establishment, politically experienced candidates and Washington outsiders that bring a 2016 Trump-like style to the trail.



Tapping into the more rural, blue-collar parts of the state that better reflect Trump country than the Golden Coast, the Republicans have focused on blaming Malloy for the current state of the economy and promising a comeback for Connecticut by embracing the presidents agenda.



On the Democratic side, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim is challenging Greenwich-based cable television executive, Ned Lamont, who secured the partys endorsement in May. Ganim is no stranger to underdog status -- he made a stunning return to Connecticut politics in 2015 when he was elected to a sixth term as mayor after serving seven years in prison for corruption.



Making the case for his candidacy, Ganim said in a statement to ABC News, "It is important for Democrats to pick a candidate to run for governor who connects with ordinary working people in the state of Connecticut and I am that candidate."



But Lamont is confident that he will be successful as the outsider candidate Tuesday.



"I think we're in a pretty strong position but I have to earn it every second," Lamont told ABC News. "We're gonna come in as an outsider, a problem-solver who makes the changes to get Connecticut moving again."



Yet some political experts are wary about the Democrats' grip on the state.



"You wouldnt expect Connecticut to vote for a Republican," said Geoffrey Skelley at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. "However, Malloy is really unpopular."



Halfway across the country, in another staunchly blue state, is a toss-up race and possible Democratic anomaly in 2018. Minnesotas gubernatorial contest to succeed sitting Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is turning into an opportunity for Republicans to capture the governorship. Leading that effort is presumptive front-runner Pawlenty.



After serving two terms as governor from 2003-2011 and launching a comeback bid for his old job, the former governor and presidential candidate is using name recognition and a deep chest of fundraising cash to fuel Republican energy.



Pawlenty, who skipped the Republican convention, is also hinging his hopes on the Trump factor. Hillary Clinton won the state narrowly in 2016, by less than 2 percentage points.



Pawlenty faced a few stumbles early on, including losing the partys endorsement to Jeff Johnson, the 2014 Republican nominee. But he is still favored in Tuesdays primary, according to the NBC News/Marist poll, which puts him in the lead by 15 points.



A lot is at stake for Democrats to stem a "red wave" in this liberal stronghold, as the next governor will be involved in redrawing Minnesotas congressional map for the next decade after the 2020 census, possibly reshaping the balance of power in Congress.



The Democratic field is a tight three-way fight between Rep. Erin Murphy, who clinched the partys endorsement, Rep. Tim Walz and the more moderate Attorney General Lori Swanson.



According to the NBC News/Marist poll, the top two contenders are neck-in-neck: Swanson captures 28 percent support from registered voters, compared to Walzs 27 percent. State Rep. Erin Murphy trails with only 13 percent of voters.



With a strong candidate at the top of the ticket in what is expected to be a competitive general election race, Minnesota Republicans may have a fighting chance to propel Pawlenty to the governors mansion.



Victories are looking more and more possible for Republicans, who are targeting governorships in Alaska, Minnesota, and Connecticut, according to Sabato.



"Realistically, thats their playing field," he said.



Connecticut and Minnesota are in the GOPs crosshairs, and these deep blue states represent outliers for Democrats this cycle. But voters will ultimately decide who lands on the general ballot, and usher in a fierce yet uncertain November.



Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  President Rodrigo Duterte said he had little confidence in Vice President Leni Robredo leading the country should he step down from office.

Speaking at the launching of "Pilipinas Angat Lahat" program in Malacanang Tuesday, the President said, "I am hesitant to suggest a constitutional succession. I have nothing against Robredo. She's a lawyer and you've heard her talk. But I do not think she can improve on anything here."

He said Robredo's hometown Naga City is a "hotbed of shabu."

"Of course she will deny it. But you can ask the hotbed of shabu in the past years, I would not mention the name It was Naga City," the President said.

This is not the first time Duterte expressed his doubts about the Vice President.

In an interview with members of the media on July 10, the President said Robredo was incompetent.

RELATED: Roque: Duterte won't ask for transition president if Robredo is competent

"Kung siya mag-Presidente [If she will become President]? Look, I will not resign because it will make her President. My resignation is addressed to the people para makapili sila ng gusto nila [so they can choose who they want]. Siya, I don't think she will ever be ready to govern a country. Reason? Incompetence," he said.

The day after, Robredo said she would not dignify Dutere's statements with a response, saying he should focus on fixing the economy instead.

"Ayoko na sana i-dignify pero siguro sabihin ko nalang na imbes na insultuhin ako o ang Diyos, asikasuhin nalang muna ang mga problema ng ating ekonomiya," Robredo told reporters.

[Translation: I didn't want to dignify the comment, but perhaps I'll tell him that instead of insulting me or God, he should focus on fixing the problems in our economy.]

CNN Philippines' Pia Garcia and Chad de Guzman contributed to this report.
7th Pay Commission: Variable DA for CG employees hiked, all you should know

7th Pay Commission: Here is why basic monthly pay of CG employees will not increase

7th Pay Commission: When will the new DA hike be effective from

7th Pay Commission: Govt will not go beyond fitment factor 2.80

India

oi-Madhuri

New Delhi, Aug 14: This news regarding the 7th Pay Commission may bring about some amount of cheer for the Central Government employees.

The likely roll out of a pay hike could be expected and the fitment factor may be 2.80. As per the ongoing discussions, the government may announce a pay hike with the fitment factor 2.80 instead of 2.57.

7th Pay Commission latest: This report will stand in the way of a pay hike

The 7th Pay Commission had used fitment factor with which the basic pay in the 6th Pay Commission is multiplied for the basic pay of the 7th Pay Commission.

The government which is yet to take any concrete decision is under immense pressure to announce a hike in basic minimum pay. While government sources say that a decision is likely none are indicating clearly when it would be done.

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended the minimum pay fro Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 a month with a fitment factor of 2.57. The pay panel had also recommended a 14.27 per cent hike in the basic pay at the junior levels, which incidentally is the lowest in 70 years.

7th Pay Commission latest: Disaster for these employees, hunger strike begins

The 6th Pay Commission had recommended a 20 per cent hike which the government doubled while implementing it in 2008.

Unhappy with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, the CG employees had demanded minimum pay of Rs 26,000 instead of Rs 18,000. They had also asked for the fitment factor to be raised 3.68 times instead of 2.57 times.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 6:50 [IST]
In the Talibans victory at Kabul, Al-Qaeda has a loud message on Jammu and Kashmir

Ties of blood: Why there is no separating the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Haqqani Network

Al-Qaeda has the intent to hit, but remains a non-starter in India

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 14: The Al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-Continent has failed to gain much traction since it was set up in 2014. While it has an ideological intention to strike India, it does not have the required capability.

There are a host of factors that have ensured that the AQIS was a non-starter in India. First and foremost, it did not find the desired space in a crowded terror market dominated by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Moreover its key affiliates, the Students Islamic Movement of India and the Indian Mujahideen are down in the dumps as a result of which it failed both on the recruitment and logistic front.

Further when the AQIS was set up in India, it had ample competition from another global outfit, the Islamic State. The ISIS was able to capture the imagination among a large number of Muslim youth and gained the traction it was looking for.

A UN report said that that the AQIS is relatively isolated owing to increased security measures within the wider region, but the group continues to seek security gaps for opportunistic attacks.

Lacking in numbers:

The group is "ideologically inclined to carry out attacks inside India but its capability is believed to be low, it said, adding that according to Member States, the strength of AQIS in Afghanistan is estimated at several hundred people, located in Laghman, Paktika, Kandahar, Ghazni and Zabul provinces.

Noting that Al-Qaida still maintains a presence in South Asia, the report said the terror group adapts to the local environment, trying to embed itself into local struggles and communities and is closely allied with the Taliban.

According to one Member State, although the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, poses an immediate threat, Al-Qaeda is the intellectually stronger group and remains a longer-term threat.

The report added that some members of the Al-Qaeda core, including Aiman al-Zawahiri and son of slain al-Qaida terrorist Osama bin Laden, Hamza bin Laden are reported to be in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas.

Other members of the Al-Qaeda core may leave for more secure areas, it said.

Also Read | New offshoots of Al-Qaeda, ISIS banned in India

The ISIS:

The report said that between 20,000 and 30,000 Islamic State fighters remain in Iraq and Syria and among these there is still a significant component of the many thousands of active foreign terrorist fighters.

One Member State reports that some recent plots detected and prevented in Europe had originated from ISIL in Afghanistan. In addition to establishing a presence across Afghanistan, ISIL also attempts to have an impact on other countries in the region.

"According to one Member State, ISIL in Afghanistan is responsible for at least one attack in the Kashmir region, the report said. However, no details about the attack in Kashmir were given in the report.

The sanctions monitoring team submits independent reports every six months to the Security Council on the Islamic State, al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities.

Also Read | Al-Qaeda makes fresh push to revive outfit in India

The report added that in Afghanistan, ISIL persistently tried to expand its presence, despite pressure from the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, the international coalition and the Taliban.

ISIL currently has its main presence in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Nuristan, and is also active in Jowzjan, Faryab, Sari Pul and Badakhshan provinces in the north. The group has the intention to expand into Ghazni, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar and Uruzgan provinces.

In Kabul, Herat and Jalalabad, ISIL already has sleeper cells and has committed disruptive, high-profile attacks, including against both Government and Taliban targets during the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire, it added.

The report noted that that ISIL has between 3,500 and 4,000 members in Afghanistan, including between 600 and 1,000 in northern Afghanistan (with both numbers on the increase). It is led by Abu Sayed Bajauri who is not listed and the majority of its members and leaders were formerly members of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and it may represent an emerging threat to Central Asian States.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 16:54 [IST]
Prashant Kishor in viral video: With or without Modi, BJP will be centre of Indian polity for decades

CEC casts doubt over possibility of 'One Nation One Poll'

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

New Delhi, Aug 14: In a setback to ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Chief Election Commissioner has raised doubts over the possibility of 'One Nation One Election'.

Chief Election Commissioner, OP Rawat, said, "Simultaneous polls aren't possible without amendments in law. But if polls are to be held in instalments, like in 11 states at once, possibilities are there if all respective houses agree to dissolve and conduct polls together."

"Extra polling personnel, security, & VVPATs will also be needed," Rawat added.

One Nation One Election: BJP has a strategy in place, but will it go through

BJP President Amit Shah wrote to the Law Commission of India on Monday, advocating for a 'One Nation, One Poll' and suggested that in a progressive democracy such as India, having separate elections strained the resources of the state.

He wrote that during elections, when the Model Code of Conduct is enforced, development works and policy decisions have to be stopped till the poll is over. Drumming support for the 'One Nation, One Poll' proposal, Shah wrote, "There is no relation between Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Voters vote on different issues in both polls. Therefore, we must have faith and trust the voters."

Amit Shah writes to Law Commission for One Nation One Election

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Law Commission will submit its report to the Centre before the end of this month on 'One Nation One Poll'.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 15:02 [IST]
Post Doklam, here is what the Chinese are doing in Tibet

China cuts army size by half: Here is why

Chinese soldiers intruded India posing as nomads in July

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 14: There has been some amount of activity reported at the Demchok sector by the Chinese. Troops of the People's Liberation Army had recently pitched five tents in the Demchok sector of eastern Ladakh.

While three tents were removed after brigadier level talks, two still remain. The PLA soldiers, according to sources had come into Indian territory in the first week of July. They had posed as nomads with cattle and entered Indian territory, despite India conducting banner drills and telling them to go back.

While three tents were taken down, the Chinese however complained that the Ladakh administration was attempting to construct a road in the Nerlong area.

Meanwhile a parliamentary panel has suggested that India must encourage Bhutan to increase deployment of soldiers around the Northern Doklam area in the Sikkim sector to check Chinese activity.

How India solved the Doklam standoff

The Parliamentary Panel on External Affairs, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, felt that increasing the number of soldiers in North Doklam was important for safeguarding India's strategic interests in the region.

The draft report, circulated among the panel's members on August 6, did not clarify whether the committee was favouring increasing the deployment of Indian troops in the region.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam in the Sikkim sector from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped construction of a road in the disputed tri-junction by the Chinese army.

Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam and both the countries have been holding talks to resolve the issue.

Stay alert:

The parliamentary panel also suggested that India should remain alert and watchful in the Doklam area even though last year's face-off between Indian and Chinese armies was resolved peacefully.

It is clear that China's Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) took advantage of absence of Bhutanese soldiers in Batangla-Merugla-Sinchela ridgeline, which is in Bhutan, the panel noted.

Revealed: This is what the Chinese are doing at Doklam

Therefore, the committee recommends deployment of higher number of soldiers in Northern Doklam. India should encourage Bhutan for it so that the Chinese army could be stopped from pushing the limit of the tri-junction point, it said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is a member of the 31-member panel, where a majority of the members are from the BJP.

Some members of the committee travelled to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to take stock of ground situations and meet senior officials there.

Why is China so aggressive on the Doklam standoff

The panel has been briefed several times on the situation in Doklam by S Jaishankar, former foreign secretary, and his successor Vijay Gokhale.

The foreign ministry officials had informed the panel that Bhutan was firmly with India on the issue, sources in the panel said.

They said during discussions, Gandhi had questioned foreign ministry officials on China's objective and why Beijing chose Doklam to trigger a confrontation.
Desh Ke Mentor: What is Delhi govt's ambitious programme and how it works?

'Red Light on, Gaadi off' initiative to begin from Oct 18: Delhi CM

Delhi: AAP seeks court's direction to stop cops from sharing chargesheet contents with media

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

New Delhi, Aug 14: A day after Delhi Police filed a chargesheet in the case of alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday approached the Patiala House Court seeking an order to restrain cops from sharing contents of the chargesheet with the media.

Delhi's Patiala House Court has reportedly issued a notice to Delhi Police in this regard and fixed August 25 as the next date of hearing.

Delhi Police names Kejriwal, Sisodia in Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash assault case

The Delhi Police on Monday named Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 11 other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs as accused in its chargesheet in connection with the case.

The Delhi Police had on May 18 questioned Kejriwal for over three hours in connection with the alleged assault on Prakash.

Delhi chief secretary 'assaulted': Bureaucrats to boycott meetings until Kejriwal apologise

Kejriwal and Sisodia have been booked for criminal conspiracy - the duo can be jailed for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years if convicted. Nine other AAP MLAs have been booked for criminal conspiracy.

Kejriwal, Delhi ministers stage sit-in protest at L-G's office

Prakash was allegedly assaulted during a meeting at Kejriwal's official residence on February 19. The alleged assault on the Chief Secretary had triggered a bitter tussle between the Delhi government and its bureaucrats.
Amit Shah spends night at CRPF camp in Pulwama; says will see a peaceful J&K 'in our lifetime'

Does Amit Shah have his father's birth certificate? Mamata's all-out attack against BJP

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

Kolkata, Aug 14: Launching a fresh tirade against the Centre on the issue of NRC in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today claimed that those who did not make it to the final draft of the citizens' register are being sent to detention camps.

She also said those who have been staying in the country for years were "branded as infiltrators" and accused the BJP of carrying out the exercise with an eye on Lok Sabha elections.

In a scathing attack on BJP National President Amit Shah, Mamata said, "Amit Shah is not God. The party has anti-Bengali stand and now they are planning to strengthen its base in Bengal!."

Mamata questioned Amit Shah, "Do you have your parent's birth certificate. I don't have my parent's certificates (which are needed to prove citizenship according to the NRC guidelines). I want to ask the same question to all the BJP and RSS units. Do they have birth certificates of their parents?

Asked about BJP chief Amit Shah's recent statement about starting a similar process in West Bengal, Banerjee said, "They (BJP) are anti-Bengali." The BJP is looking at a presidential form of government but "they will lose everywhere", she claimed.

"If everything is fine in Assam, as claimed by the government there, why were 400 companies of central forces deployed in the state? Are media persons allowed to move freely in Assam," she asked.

"Around 1,200 people, including children and women, have been sent to detention camps," she told reporters at the state secretariat. Of the 40.07 lakh people who did not find a place in the complete draft that was released on July 30, 25 lakh were Bengali Hindus and 13 lakh Bengali Muslims, she claimed. The remaining two lakhs are Biharis, Marwaris and Nepalis, Banerjee said.

Brandishing few voter cards, she claimed the identity proofs belonged to people born between 1962 and 1965. "Are these people genuine citizens or infiltrators," she asked. Banerjee said she was fortunate enough to have been born in West Bengal, else "I, too, would have been dubbed as an infiltrator."

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 23:23 [IST]
ED tightens noose around Yasin Malik in 2001 FEMA case

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Srinagar, Aug 14: The Enforcement Directorate has issued notices to Kashmir separatist and JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik directing him to be present for questioning on September 5 or 6.

The ED has also issued notices to a couple fro Batamaloo in connection with the case. The ED in its letter to Malik, Shamima and her husband, Mushtaq Ahmad Dar said that the adjudication proceedings are to be held against them.

J&K: Separatist leader Yasin Malik in police custody for calling shutdown

"This is to inform you that after considering the cause shown by you to the show cause notice, the Assistant Director is of the opinion that adjudication proceedings as contemplated in sub section 1 of section 13 the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 should be held against you," the ED said in its letter. Further the ED also said that they would either need to be present personally or through authorised representatives.

"You are required to present yourself personally or through authorized representative before the Assistant Director for personal hearing on 05-09-2018 or 06-09-2018 at 10:30am in this office at Enforcement Directorate, Government of India Srinagar zonal office Durani house near Rajbagh police station Srinagar," the ED said.

The ED however warned that if they did not appear before the adjudication authority, then proceedings would be initiated against them.

The case on hand dates back to 2001, when the Jammu and Kashmir police had seized Rs 48.23 lakh from Mushtaq Ahmad Dar and his wife Shamima. Dar had told the police that the money was given to him by a person from Nepal and was told to hand it over to Malik.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 11:05 [IST]
Modis Independence Day speech to be live-streamed on YouTube

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 14: Public broadcaster, Prasad Bharti has tied up with Google and video sharing site, YouTube to live stream the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day. The move is aimed at reaching out to the digital generation.

On August 15, in case you search for Independence Day, you will be able to see the live stream of the speech from Red Fort on the Google homepage itself. This time, you won't need to go on DD's YouTube page. Just a simple Google search will land you on DD's Live YouTube window. Similar exercise was done in USA during the coverage of their current President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Modi, this year too has asked people to send in ideas on the Narendra Modi App for the speech.

Modi may push financial inclusion drive in I-Day speech

On the eve of the Independence Day, President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation, a statement issued today by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.The address will be broadcast from 7:00 pm on the entire national network of the All India Radio (AIR) and telecast over all the channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version, it said.

The broadcast of the address in Hindi and English will be followed by broadcast in regional channels of Doordarshan, the statement said.

"The AIR will broadcast regional language versions from 8:00 pm onwards on its respective regional networks," it said.

Pakistan releases 30 Indian prisoners ahead of Independence Day

Going digital:



For generation X and millenials, the name Doordarshan has a nostalgic and emotional connect as they grew up watching it. In their formation years, Doordarshan contributed to their social and cultural awareness as much as school and college contributed to their intellectual growth. But as 2000s witnessed the entry of a plethora of private channels in the TV industry, for post-millenials, Doordarshan became just another but credible TV name.

To bridge this gap and to establish brand Doordarshan for today's youth, a cultural shift was required in the organisation. Hence Prasar Bharati, over last one year, has made great strides in marking a huge digital presence across the country, with more than 37 active YouTube Channels and 250 Twitter handles. The power of this digital network couldn't have been better leveraged than in the coverage of important national events like Republic Day and Independence Day.

Last Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations coverage on DD's YouTube network got more than 1 million and 3 million views respectively.

How could the Independence Day celebrations be complete without the patriotic songs accentuating the glories of our freedom fighters and struggle of our nation so far! So, Doordarshan brings to you a breath of fresh air with a brand new patriotic song sung by legendary singer Shankar Mahadevan only for DD viewers.

Doordarshan says that it could not have brought all these Independence Day specials to the tech-savvy smart-phone generation without a mobile app. Hence, on the new version of All India Radio android app, you can listen to the entire live Independence Day programmes, including Prime Minister Modi's speech. The app has everything that the entire Prasar Bharati (DD & AIR) network has to offer, from breaking news, live radio channels and Twitter feed to old classic radio magazines.
Committee to Protect Journalists reveal number of journalists jailed due to their work

Journalists assaulted at Jalandhar Bishops house

India

oi-Madhuri

New Delhi, Aug 14: Several mediapersons from Kerala were allegedly assaulted by a group of private security guards at the Bishop House in Jalandhar in Punjab.

The Delhi-based journalists were in Jalandhar to report on the police investigation and questioning of Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who had allegedly abused his position and repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala.

Journalists will lose jobs if Modi continues with email interviews: Shiv Sena

According to some of the journalists, the guards manhandled them and damaged their cameras and equipment while they were capturing the visuals of Bishop Mulakkal who had just returned to his headquarters from Chandigarh.

No official comment was immediately available on the alleged assault of journalists.

A special team of Kerala Police earlier reached the Bishop House to question the Bishop but was unable to do so since he was in Chandigarh.

Have you never winked in your life? Scindia asks journalists

Punjab Police then asked the Bishop to return and appear for questioning. Interrogation is now underway.

The state government earlier today told the Kerala High Court that a decision on arresting Mulakkal, who has so far claimed innocence, will be taken after he is interrogated and the evidence examined.

As per the initial investigation of the police, Bishop Mulakkal abused his position and repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala, a special team probing the case told the Kerala high court today.

Responding to a petition seeking speedy investigation, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kottayam, K Subhash informed the court that the investigation was proceeding effectively and impartially.

Journalists should be free from fear of being violently attacked while doing job: Donald Trump

The police statement before the high court was based on initial investigation and available evidence. It is revealed that Bishop Franco Mulakkal committed unnatural offence and committed rape repeatedly on the nun against her will, the statement read.

The bishop confined the nun to a guestroom in St Francis Mission Home in Kuravilangad in Kottayam district of Kerala, the statement alleged.

In her complaint lodged with Kottayam district police, the nun accused Mulakkal of raping and having unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016.

State police chief Loknath Behera on August 1 reviewed the progress of the case and permitted the investigation team to proceed to Jalandhar, New Delhi and other cities as part of the investigations.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 7:24 [IST]
Journalists will lose jobs if Modi continues with email interviews: Shiv Sena

India

oi-Madhuri

Mumbai, Aug 14: The BJP's sulking ally, Shiv Sena has said that journalists would lose their jobs if the Prime Minister continued to speak with the media through emails instead of face to face interviews.

In an editorial in its mouth piece, Saamna, the Shiv Sena said that the PM had chosen a short cut of emails for media interviews. It is a propaganda exercise and a kind of a monologue prevalent in countries such as China and Russia.

PM should campaign for all parties during elections: Thackeray

Journalists would lose their jobs if the PM continued with such interviews via emails and he would only be tasked with making available employment for them, the editorial also said.

Further the editorial said that the PM had not addressed a single press conference after becoming Prime Minister. Instead he created a cage around himself and not speaking with the media does not behove Narendra Modi's image, it further stated.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 6:00 [IST]
Businessman in Kolkata shot at after his car was stopped by 18 men

Left leaders' presence at Somnath Chatterjees house leave kin miffed

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Kolkata, Aug 14: The family of Somnath Chatterjee, who passed away yesterday, were reportedly not pleased to see the presence of Left leaders at the former Lok Sabha Speaker's house.

Left leaders Biman Basu, Surya Kanta Mishra, Sujan Chakraborty and other party leaders had visited Chatterjee's Raja Basanta Roy Road residence in Kolkata on Monday evening to floral tributes.

The CPI(M) had expelled Chatterjee from the party in 2008 for refusing to resign as Speaker after it withdrew support to the UPA-I government.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee passes away at 89

"My father dedicated his entire life to the party but what he faced was only humiliation from its members and nothing else. Biman Basu hurt my father several times. He used to stay at my father's house in Delhi whenever he was in the capital. They used my father, but never gave him the respect that he deserved," a News 18 report quoted Somnath Chatterjee's son Pratap Chatterjee as saying.

Chatterjee's daughter, Anushila Basu, said the CPI(M) wanted to take his body to the party headquarters at Alimuddin Street, but they refused to allow it, reported Indian Express.

Condolences pour in for former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee

"CPI(M) offered a red flag to be placed on my father's body but we refused. It was just a courtesy visit for them but we are not looking for such gestures. They hurt my father and I remember how he cried when the party expelled him in 2008," Anushila said.

Former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee passed away at the age of 89 years in a Kolkata hospital on Monday. Chatterjee, who breathed his last at 8:15 AM today was undergoing dialysis. Doctors said he had a cardiac arrest.

Calling spade a spade led Somnath Chatterjee into political oblivion

Chatterjee, who was suffering from a kidney-related ailment, was admitted to the hospital last week. He suffered a mild heart attack on Sunday morning, but was revived.He was in ICU and was put on ventilation. Chatterjee was readmitted to hospital on August 10 following kidney ailments.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 9:57 [IST]
India takes pride in having largest vaccination programme in the world: PM Modi

From 2014 to 2021: A look at Narendra Modi's Independence Day Turban tradition

Major Aditya, Rifleman Aurangzeb likely to get Shaurya Chakra

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

New Delhi, Aug 14: Major Aditya and rifleman Aurangzeb are likely to be honoured with the prestigious Shaurya Chakra gallantry award for their acts of bravery in Jammu and Kashmir.

Major Aditya Kumar, who is with 10 Garhwal Rifles, hogged limelight when his unit fired on a stone-pelting mob in Shopian district on January 27, leaving three people dead.

On June 15, on the occasion of Eid, Aurangzeb was on way to join his family when the militants intercepted the private vehicle in which he was travelling. He was abducted and killed by militants.

Meanwhile, 6 women officers of the Indian Navy, who successfully circumnavigated the globe on Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini (INSV Tarini) have been awarded the Nav Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Bravo! INSV Tarini crosses Cape Horn, tri-colour unfurled

As per gallantryawards.gov.in, the following categories of persons are eligible for the Shaurya Chakra:

Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.

Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.

Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military Forces and Railway Protection Force.
Massive security deployed in Kasganj after permission for 'Tiranga Yatra' denied

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Lucknow, Aug 14: To prevent a Republic Day-like incident in which a youth had died in communal clashes, the administration in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj have not only denied right wing groups to take out a 'Tiranga Yatra' but also imposed section 144 ahead of the Independence Day.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Kasganj Shivhari Meena reportedly said that some groups had sought permission to take out a 'Tiranga Yatra' march, but it was denied so as to prevent any communal flare up.

UP govt submits report to Centre on Kasganj violence: Top developments

"Nobody will be allowed to disturb peace and harmony in any way on Independence Day. People are requested to celebrate the day in good spirit. Section 144 has been imposed in the area. Three companies of Provincial Armed Forces (PAC) and two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in Kasganj to keep a check on any unwanted situation," a News 18 report quoted Commissioner Aligarh (Zone) Ajaydeep Singh as saying.

Youth protesting Kasganj against Chandan's killing During Tiranga Yatra on the Republic Day, a 22-year-old youth, Chandan Gupta, was killed after which a series of violence and communal clashes broke out in Kasganj. The police in Kasganj are on their toes as intelligence reports indicate that some right wing groups may try to take out a march despite permission being denied. Kasganj violence: Prime accused in murder of Chandan Gupta held Chandan Gupta's mother Apart from Kasganj, other districts like Bareilly, Aligarh, Purvanchal and parts of Western Uttar Pradesh have also been marked as "sensitive" ahead of August 15 celebrations. According to reports, various organisations had sought permission to organise yatras on August 15, claiming that it was a tradition, but the district magistrate has not granted any permission to them. File photo of January's Kaganj violence The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier this year sent a report to the Centre giving details of the communal violence in Kasganj, where one person was killed and two others were injured, and the steps taken so far. The state government's report contained details about the arrests made by the UP Police and circumstances leading to the death of the lone victim Chandan Gupta. Pakistan supporters behind Kasganj violence, says Vinay Katiyar Rapid Action Force being deployed in Kasganj in January this year The government conveyed to the Union home ministry that the police are investigating the case and all facts are being ascertained to know if the violence was pre-planned.
One Nation One Election: BJP has a strategy in place, but will it go through

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 14: With an intention of rolling out the One Nation One Poll, the BJP is set to hold a meeting to discuss the issue. BJP, president, Amit Shah had written to the Law Commission of India in support of the concept.

During the meeting, the BJP would look to push for simultaneous elections in 11 states along with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The 11 states include:

Chhattisgarh

Madhya Pradesh

Rajasthan

Mizoram

Odisha

Telangana

Andhra Pradesh

Haryana

Maharashtra

Jharkhand

Bihar

Among these 11 states, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha are already scheduled to go to elections in 2019, when Lok Sabha polls will be held. The BJP would try and advance the elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana, which go to polls months after the Lok Sabha elections.

Three reasons why India must adopt 'One Nation, One Poll'

Moving the schedule:

While advancing the elections in states such as Maharashtra would be a possibility, the challenge would be in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In these states, the elections are scheduled for 2018 and getting them postponed to 2019 would be difficult. The option would be to impose Governor's rule in these states, but then it would face a challenge before the court.

The other state to watch out for would be Bihar, where polls are scheduled in 2020. If both the BJP and JD(U), which are in an alliance are on the same page, the assembly could be dissolved and elections held in 2019 itself.

In the run up to 2019, the BJP would look to debate the issue and educate the people about the benefits of having simultaneous elections. In his letter, Shah had said that there are ill-effects of the current imposition of the model code of conduct, which disrupts the implementation of schemes.

'One Nation One Poll:' UP becomes first state to draft report backing the concept

Consensus?

While the BJP and few of its allies are in favour of simultaneous elections, there appears to be no consensus from the other parties. For instance the Trinamool Congress, Telugu Desam Party, DMK, Congress, CPI(M) and Goa Forward Party have opposed the concept. The TRS and the Samajwadi Party on the other hand have favoured the exercise.

On this issue bringing about a consensus would be the key. The Congress which senses a victory in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh would not agree to postpone the elections to 2019. It would immediately approach the court in case the Governor's rule is imposed and the elections postponed.

BJP sources say that this is an issue which has to be debated by all and only then can a consensus be reached. It would in the long run only benefit the people of the country and hence a consensus on the issue is needed.

UP would be crucial:

Elections in UP would be crucial for any party in 2019. Amit Shah had recently told party workers that he is confident that the BJP would bag 73 seats, even if a grand alliance of the opposition is in place.

The Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party had come together for the recently held by-elections and managed to beat the BJP in its strongholds of Gorakhpur and Phulpur. The two parties are likely to continue with the alliance in 2019. However this equation could go wrong if the Yogi Adityanath government decides to dissolve the assembly and have simultaneous polls in 2019. The BSP and SP are unlikely to come together at least in the assembly segment.

Naveen Patnaik supports Modi's 'One Nation One Poll' proposal

UP in fact became the first state to draft a report advancing the need for a 'One Nation One Poll. The report prepared by a panel headed by state minister, Dr. Siddharth Nath Singh submitted the report to the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath.

UP along with Madhya Pradesh were the first states to constitute such a panel in a bid to carry forward Modi's campaign to hold simultaneous elections.

Elections in UP are due in 2022, but the party's state unit has shown willingness to go for simulteneous elections in 2019. If this goes through then UP would be setting a precedent. The issue pertaining to a 'One Nation One Poll' was advocated by the Prime Minister. The Election Commission of India also said that it would ready for the concept.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 9:34 [IST]
Tamil Nadu schools for classes 1 to 8, cinema halls to reopen with full capacity

TN will not implement NEP, to form expert panel to formulate State policy: CM Stalin

TN Plus One Results 2018 declared, check for RV, RT also

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

New Delhi, Aug 14: The TN Plus One Results 2018 have been declared. The results including RV, RT are available on the official website.

The DGE Tamil Nadu 2018 examination was held at various test centres across the state. The results are available on dge.tn.nic.in.

How to check TN Plus One Results 2018:

Go to dge.tn.nic.in .

. Click on the results link

Enter all the required details

Submit

View Results

Take a printout

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 7:02 [IST]
Members of farmers' body detained in Lucknow for trying to burn effigies of PM Modi, Shah

UP Minister's logic: 'If we can organise Kumbh Mela, Aero India is no big deal'

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Lucknow, Aug 14: Amid speculation that Aero India show could be shifted from Bengaluru to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Aviation Minister on Tuesday gave a weird logic and compared organising of a mega air show to making arrangements for a mass pilgrimage - the Kumbh Mela.

There have been reports that the biennial event -- considered the largest aerospace exhibition in Asia -- may be organised at the Bakshi Ka Talab air force base in Lucknow in October.

Also Read | Defence Ministry yet to decide on venue for next edition of Aero India



The minister did not stop at that and in bid to further strengthen his state's case said that UP has everything as it was 'birthplace of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna'.

"UP mein Bhagwan Ram aur Sri Krishna ki janambhoomi hai. To yahan par sab kuch hai. Itna bada Kumbh Mela hone jaa rha hai.Hum vo tayari kar sakte hain to Aero Show ki tayari mein aisa kuch ni hai (UP is the birthplace of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. So there is everything. A massive event like like Kumbh Mela is organised here. If we can organise Kumbh, then Aero india is nothing)," UP Aviation Minister Nand Gopal Gupta told ANI.

Also Read | CM Kumaraswamy asks PM Modi not to shift Aero India out of Bengaluru



Aero India has traditionally been organised at Indian Air Force's Yelahanka air base on the outskirts of Bengaluru. At an event on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a request to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to select Lucknow as the venue for the Aero India.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy yesterday sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, insisting that Bengaluru would be the "best choice" for the event.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 16:42 [IST]
With new found love in TRS, BJD, BJP may have a softer approach in Odisha, Telangana

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 14: The win for the NDA in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman elections was a major victory for the combine and a blow for the opposition. The jubilant scenes in the BJP camp following Harivansh's victory were quite expected.

Prior to this, the NDA also managed to sail through a no confidence vote with ease. In both cases, there was support direct and indirect from the BJD and TRS. The BJP's senior leaders pointed out that both these parties had abstained during the no-confidence vote and in the deputy chairman polls, backed it.

The question now is what will be the strategy of the BJP in both Telangana and Odisha, where the TRS and BJD are the top players. Sources tell OneIndia that the BJP would surely look to make major inroads, but the approach may be a softer one.

The BJP would not look to go all out in a bid to try and demolish either the TRS or BJD. This change in strategy comes in the wake of two reasons. First and foremost the support that the BJP got in both Houses of Parliament and secondly both these parties are not allying with any of the opposition parties.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Election: NDA's Harivansh wins with 125 votes

Backing the BJP:

Naveen Patnaik has stayed away from the joint opposition. K Chandrashekara Rao too has indicated that he would not be part of any coalition that the Congress is part of. The BJP would prefer that the two parties remain neutral, if they do not join the NDA. In case of any numbers required in the post election scenario, the BJP could rely on both these parties, sources also said.

If both the TRS and BJD have backed the BJP in Parliament then it was based on calculations for the future, a BJP leader said. In the case of Patnaik, he has an uninterrupted run since 2000 and has been an ally of the BJP in the past. He however severed ties with the BJP in 2009 following the Kandhamal riots.

However, there is also a view that the new-found bonhomie between the two parties could lead the BJP to tamp down its campaign against him ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state, making things easier for the BJD.

Both elections are held simultaneously in the state. The BJD had won 20 of 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2014 and the BJP one.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had called up Patnaik to seek his party's support for Harivansh, a JD(U) member and NDA nominee for the Deputy Chairman post.

This was followed by a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Patnaik which sealed the deal.

Also Read | No confidence vote: How the numbers stacked up against the opposition

Handy in 2019:

BJP leaders believe that cordial ties with non-NDA parties may come handy for the party after 2019 elections in case its tally fall below the majority mark. In Telangana, political watchers believe, Rao has a firm grip in absence of a strong opposition after he won 11 of its 17 Lok Sabha seats and swept the assembly polls in 2014.

Like Odisha, Lok Sabha and assembly polls are held simultaneously in Telangana as well. Rao had met Modi following which TRS sources said their party was open to a post-poll tie-up with the BJP in 2019.

Both regional satraps may have reckoned, sources said, that a friendly relationship with the BJP- which had been working aggressively to expand its footprints in their states- may help them to return to power.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 15:36 [IST]
30 dead in Italy motorway bridge collapse 'tragedy'

International

pti-PTI

Genoa (Italy), Aug 14: About 30 people were killed today when a giant motorway bridge collapsed in heavy rain in the Italian city of Genoa in what the government called an "immense tragedy".

The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, came as the bridge was undergoing maintenance work and as the Liguria region, where Genoa is situated, experienced torrential rainfall.

"Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious condition," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini told reporters. Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were "dozens" of victims, as rescue helicopters winched survivors on stretchers from the ruined bridge.

The incident -- the deadliest of its kind in Europe since 2001 -- is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of economic stagnation. Patrick Villardry, a French firefighter who came from Nice to help the rescue effort, said the task was huge.

"The first victims have been evacuated and now we have to search under the wreckage of buildings, but there are thousands of tonnes of concrete," he told AFP. President Giuseppe Conte was due to visit the scene later today.

Aerial footage showed more than 200 metres of the viaduct, known locally as the Morandi bridge, completely destroyed.

"I'm following with the utmost apprehension what is happening in Genoa and what looks like it could be an immense tragedy," Transport and Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter.

Salvini, who is also leader of the nationalist League party in a power-sharing government, vowed to hold those responsible for the disaster accountable.

"I have gone over this bridge hundreds of times, and I commit to digging and finding out who is responsible for an unacceptable tragedy, because it's not possible that in 2018 you can work and die in these conditions," he said.

The cause of the disaster was not immediately clear, although weather services in the Liguria region where Genoa is situated had issued a storm warning Tuesday morning.

The national motorways body said on its website that "maintenance works were being carried out on the base of the viaduct", adding that a crane had been moved on site to assist the work.

Shares in Italian company Atlantia, which runs much of Italy's motorway network including the collapsed stretch of the A10, plunged on the Milan stock exchange after the news.

The shares were temporarily suspended when their slide exceeded 10 percent and closed the day down more than five percent at 23.54 euros. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker in a statement expressed "my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died, and to the Italian people".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sent her condolences Genoa, home to half a million people, is located between the sea and the mountains of northwestern Italy.

Its rugged terrain means that motorways that run through the city and the surrounding area are characterised by long viaducts and tunnels.

The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, overspans dozens of railway lines as well as an industrial zone housing several factories. One factory, immediately next to one of the viaduct's support columns, was virtually empty today due to a national holiday, and seems to have sustained minimal damage.

In March last year, a couple were killed when a motorway overpass collapsed on their car near Ancona on the country's Adriatic coast.

A pensioner died in October 2016 when his car was crushed by a collapsing bridge over a dual carriageway between Milan and Lecco. That incident was blamed on bureaucratic bungling which led to a fatal delay in the bridge being closed after it was reported to be showing significant cracks.

PTI
Applications for H-1B visa to be accepted from April 1: US

Immigration to US will be temporarily suspended to protect US jobs

Immigration ban to US may last for 60 days

As US sets new course on immigration, Biden under pressure

Crackdown on immigration in US: Several Indians among over 100 people detained

International

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

Washington, Aug 14: In a majot crackdown on illegal immigration, the US border patrol and immigration officials have in separate enforcement actions detained over 100 people for illegally entering and living in the country, reported PTI. Among the detained are several Indians.

The exact number of Indian national detained has not yet been revealed.

Individuals from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, Nigeria, Chile and Turkey are also said to have been detained along with Indian nationals.

Thousands protests across US against Trump's immigration policies

Federal Officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 45 people in the Houston area for violating US immigration laws during a five-day enforcement action, as per a PTI report.

The local enforcement operation targeted at-large criminal aliens, many of whom had absconded from prior immigration proceedings, ICE statement said.

Indian-American lawmaker arrested for protesting against Trump's immigration policy

The agency said some of the individuals arrested during the operation will face federal criminal prosecution for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after deportation.

Arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted, will be detained in ICE custody and administratively processed for removal from the US, it said.

In a separate action, US Border Patrol agents discovered 78 illegal aliens inside a locked refrigerated trailer at a checkpoint in Texas last week.

Melania speaks out on Trump's policy of separating kids from illegal immigrants

Earlier, nearly 100 Indians, mostly from Punjab, were detained at two immigration detention centres for illegally entering the US through its southern border.

President Donald Trump had reversed his controversial decision on immigration by signing an executive order to end the separation of immigrant families on the US-Mexico border, following widespread protests against the move of his administration to separate children from their parents who illegally enter the country.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 12:05 [IST]
DNA of those who burst firecrackers in India on Pakistans win cannot be Indian: Anil Vij

Shoaib Akhtar takes mic off, walks out of TV show after being asked to leave by the PTV host

Independence Day celebrated in Pakistan

International

pti-PTI

Islamabad, Aug 14: Pakistan on Tuesday celebrated its 72nd Independence Day with commemorative ceremonies held in cities across the country. The day-long festivities began with special prayers in mosques and the hoisting of the national flag at all important public buildings in the country, which have been decorated with bunting and lights.

To mark the day, a 31-gun salute was held in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals, the Dawn reported.

The main ceremony was held at Islamabad's Jinnah Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain hoisted the national flag. The ceremony was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities and foreign dignitaries. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held in the provincial capitals as well as district headquarters.

Change-of-guard ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively. Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel. In their separate messages, President Mamnoon and Prime Minister Mulk extended felicitations to the nation on occasion of the 72nd independence day.

Mamnoon said Pakistan can overcome the economic problems and other issues it is facing by only following the teachings of Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in their true spirit.

In his message, the prime minister said the occasion "reminds us of the epic democratic struggle of our forefathers for securing a separate homeland for the Muslims of the sub-continent where they could fashion their lives according to their religious, cultural and social values," according to Radio Pakistan. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, nominated by the largest party in the National Assembly to be the country's next prime minister, is expected to take oath on August 18.

PTI
Bihar: Secretariat officer shot dead in Patna

Patna

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Patna, Aug 14: An Under Secretary officer was killed by unidentified people in Patna on Tuesday. The murders barged into his house and fired at him.The official was rushed to hospital under critical condition.

According to India Today report, the officer was posted with the Department of Planning in Patna. The officer has been identified as Rajiv Kumar. Kumar is suspected to have been shot during a robbery attempt.

A day before unidentified gunmen shot dead newly elected head of Jandahan block panchayat Samiti in Bihar's Vaishali district triggering violent protest by locals, a district official said.

Bihar: JDU MLA Bima Bharti's son found dead on railway track in Patna

Six others also suffered bullet injuries in the attack while local people and supporters of panchayat head Manish Sahni resorted to arson at Jandahan bazar, block office and police stations besides resorting to firing in the open, the official said.

Bihar: 3-year-old girl who fell in borewell in Munger rescued

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(With PTI inputs)
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Belarus Welcomes an Innovative iGaming Regulation Model

Published August 14, 2018 by Lee R

Effective gaming legislation seeks to keep revenue flowing back into the economy.

Gambling is now officially legal in Belarus.

Set to Improve

Belarussian state-run media outlet BelTA reported last Wednesday that the countrys President Alexander Lukashenko signed the decree as part of a greater new legislation set to improve national gaming regulation.

Online Operations Permitted

Signed August 7th, the new law permits licensed establishments to conduct online gambling operations, with online casinos for the first time permitted to offer their services to citizens of Belarus.

Specific licensing and taxation laws set specific groundwork criteria for all licensees including both online casinos and land-based gaming parlours.

New Requirements

The minimum gambling age will be raised from 18 to 21. Further, land-based operations will be required to install video surveillance systems, while patrons will be prohibited from lending money to each other for gambling.

Operators will be required to make a guarantee deposit to fully cover customer winning, taxes and all other payouts in advance.

Further, before real money play online, all registering users will undergo identity checks before real money play.

Tax Transparency

This also paves the way for Belarus tax authorities to gain remote access to online casinos, with casinos required to participate in a special payments network transparent to local authorities.

Improving Local Economy

According to the BelTA report, the measures seek to cut down on financial outflow to offshore unlicensed gambling sites and pass along reduced tax savings to Belorussian operators.

Local activity should pick up as a result of the move through the stimulation of businesses to increase short-term gambling activities such as poker tournaments, games during weekends, etc.

Beyond adding gambling to local revenue, the legislation seeks to diversify if not transform the entire Belorussian economy, which has struggled for decades as a small, manufacturing-based economy.

The local governments stated goal in encouraging in this manner the opening of new gambling operations is to shift a trend of overregulation that would lead to a tourism boost as well.

Outlook

The new legislation in Belarus has the potential to show how some economies can use innovative regulation in newly welcomes sectors to improve their economies. The key test will be how effectively the new legislation addresses and prevents problem gambling to optimize the outcome of the bold new effort.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  President Rodrigo Duterte said he was considering quitting his post because he was tired of fighting corruption and illegal drugs.

He made the statement at an event in Malacanang Tuesday, saying he first revealed this during a command conference with the military and police last week.

"At ang sinabi ko sa mga sundalo at pulis [And I told soldiers and policemen], 'Guys, I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down because I'm tired. While I am not against or angry against anybody, my chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless, and it has contaminated almost all government departments and offices,'" the President said.

Duterte did not elaborate on whether he was serious about this plan or if it was made in the heat of the moment.

He said he's become exasperated because corruption and illegal drugs in the country seemed to be getting worse, adding that despite his efforts, transactions involving illegal drugs have ballooned from millions to billions of pesos.

At the same event, Duterte said he will not be able to fulfill his promise of ending corruption in the government.

The President, however, clarified the reported 6.8 billion worth of shabu that supposedly slipped through customs was mere speculation.

Duterte said he is not convinced that the magnetic lifters said to contain shabu were actually full of supply.

He told officials not to speculate next time.

"But they opened it, there was none. It was pure speculation...and they suspected and they also presumed that it was full of shabu. And they just made an assumption of the price. But there was really none and I am not convinced. So next time, you do not go into a speculative contents," he said.
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From Mondoweiss



Peter Beinart

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The detention of Peter Beinart for an hour of political questioning at Ben Gurion airport yesterday as he and his family arrived to attend a bat mitzvah is roiling the Jewish world today. Beinart is a strong Zionist. And today the Prime Minister himself rushed out an unusual statement in English saying he had "immediately" looked into Beinart's detention. ("He was told it was an administrative mistake. Israel is an open society which welcomes all -- critics and supporters alike.")

Of course detentions are nothing new at Israeli ports, and we have reported on countless incidents in which Palestinian activists have been deported. Here a young American schoolteacher denied entry for arbitrary reasons. Last year a young skateboarder was interrogated aggressively for eight hours before being deported.

But Beinart is a Zionist Jewish writer who has become more and more critical of Israel in the last 10 years, and his detention is causing alarm in American Zionist circles about the political culture of the country they love. "This is crazy,"writes a prominent neoconservative. J Street says the Beinart treatment is part of an Israeli government pattern of targeting American Jews, which is politically dangerous for Zionism:

"...the Israeli government is shamefully signaling its contempt for the beliefs of progressive American Jews and for the norms of liberal democracy. As with the recently passed nation-state law, they are alienating supporters of Israel around the world."

Daniel Gordis, a conservative Zionist, shares the concern that Israel is alienating Jewish opinion:

"Although it is hard to know exactly who is issuing directives to the security services on this issue, the clumsiness leads one to suspect there is an unstated goal. It seems likely that Netanyahu has decided to stoke the embers of 'Zionists versus Israel's enemies' discourse, which will win him points with the right-wing factions of Israeli society he needs to win the next elections."

Gershom Gorenberg, a liberal Zionist writer, is also alarmed by the detentions of Jews:

"Mr. Netanyahu, you are keeping lists of people whose opinions you don't like. Seriously, Mr. Netanyahu, I have lived here for 41 years, raised 3 children here, and I love my country. But you are not making me or people with my concerns about your government feel welcome."

The alleged pattern includes a few earlier Jewish detentions. On August 5, Simone Zimmerman of IfNotNow and the Sanders campaign tweeted that she and her friend Abby Kirschbaum were detained for four hours at the Taba crossing from Egypt, and were asked about their political actions.

"We are being questioned solely about our political opinions and activities vis-a-vis Palestinians esp in the occupied territories... [Later] We're out. That was four hours of rounds of interrogation, waiting and mostly attempted intimidation centering on our connections to Palestinians."

The Times of Israel quoted the Shin Bet security service defending the action. The questioning related to "their involvement in violent protest against Israeli security forces in Judea and Samaria."

Before that, it was author Moriel Rothman Zecker, who was detained and questioned over his actions in the territories with Breaking the Silence and All That's Left, and told by a security official that his grilling was a "warning." ("Just listen to my warning. Make sure not to go down the slippery slope. You can go now.") Rothman-Zecher was plainly disturbed by the treatment, and sees a pattern of targeting dissent.

A month ago it was Myer Koplow, a leading American donor to Israel who is on establishment boards, because he had a copy of This Week in Palestine in his luggage. He'd just been on a liberal Zionist tour that included the territories. Times of Israel:

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A big surprise is coming!

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Summary: People have been divided about the DNC hack-leak ever since the story began with the Chalupa-Isikoff article. These divisions run so deep they mark where people stand politically. Mutually exclusive positions range from whether or not Russians hacked the DNC or if the information was downloaded and then leaked, presumably by Seth Rich. All three are different positions.

This article culminates what I've learned about the hack-leak and the Information Operation surrounding this. It presents a much different perspective.

There were multiple DNC hacks. There is also clear proof supporting the download to a USB stick and subsequent information exchange (leak) to Wikileaks. All are separate events.

Here's what's different in the information I've compiled.

- The group I previously identified as Fancy Bear was given access to request password privileges at the DNC. And it looks like the DNC provided them with it.

- I'll show why the Podesta email hack looks like a revenge hack.

- The reason Republican opposition research files were stolen can be put into context now because we know who the hackers are and what motivates them.

At the same time this story developed, it overshadowed the Hillary Clinton email scandal. It is a matter of public record that Team Clinton provided the DNC hackers with passwords to State Department servers on at least 2 occasions, one wittingly and one not. I have already clearly shown the Fancy Bear hackers are Ukrainian Intelligence Operators.

This gives some credence to the Seth Rich leak (DNC leak story) as an act of patriotism. If the leak came through Seth Rich, it may have been because he saw foreign Intel operatives given this access from the presumed winners of the 2016 US presidential election. No political operative is going to argue with the presumed president-elect over foreign policy. The leaker may have been trying to do something about it. I'm curious what information Wikileaks might have.

The real crime of the DNC hack wasn't the hack.

If only half of the following proved true in context and it's a matter of public record, that makes the argument to stop funding for Ukraine immediately barring an investigation of high crimes by Ukrainian Diaspora, Democrat, and Republican leaders in Congress, private Intel for hire, and Ukrainian Intel's attacks on the US government and political processes.

Perhaps it's time Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump should consider treason investigations across the board. Make America great again by bringing justice and civility back.

After reading this it's time to demand Congress to stop funding Ukraine.

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From Robert Reich Blog

When Trump's not blaming foreigners for everything that ails America, he's blaming regulations.

Last week he even blamed regulations for the wildfires now ravaging California. They're "made so much worse," he tweeted, "by the bad environmental laws which aren't allowing massive amount[s] of readily available water to be properly utilized."

I have news for Trump. California's tough environmental laws are among America's (and the world's) last bulwarks against climate change. And it's climate change -- not regulation -- that's reaping havoc across California as well as much of the rest of the world.

Oh, and Californians are using water very carefully.

Yet Trump is pushing in the opposite direction. He's now proposing to let cars pollute more and to strip California of its right to set higher air-quality rules.

It's not just the environment. Trump is also gutting regulations that protect consumers, workers, investors, students, and children.

The Trump regime is now contemplating a loophole through which companies can apply to use asbestos-- a known carcinogen banned by most developed countries -- in making adhesives, roofing material, floor tile, and other products.

What's the justification for all of this? "The Administration's agenda of deregulation is unleashing the ... true potential of American businesses," trumpets Trump's Council of Economic Advisers in its 2018 economic report.

Translated: Cutting regulations means more corporate profits. More profits satisfies Trump's donor class.

Don't get me wrong. Some regulations should be eliminated because they're just too costly relative to the protections they provide.

But many regulations protect you and me from being harmed, fleeced, shafted, injured, or sickened by corporate products and services. And they're worth it.

Yet Trump is taking a meat axe to all regulations. In so doing he's creating a new form of trickle-down economics -- where the benefits go to corporate executives and major investors, while the costs and risks land on the rest of us.

Trump's Education Department under Betsy DeVos intends to repeal a regulation limiting the amount of debt students attending career programs at for-profit colleges can pile up. It has already stopped investigating for-profit colleges.

These moves will result in more profits for the for-profits. But they will leave many young people and their parents more vulnerable to fraud.

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Kris Kobach - Caricature: in trouble again, for nothing else but successfully purging more than 1 million names of likely Democratic. voters from rolls in at least 27 states throughout the country.

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When Katherine Harris, Florida Secretary of State (SoS) under Gov. Jeb Bush's silent guidance purged 94,000 registered voters from the rolls via an outsourced data cruncher, she successfully planted Jebb's brother "W" into the White House far ahead of the Supreme Court the following month (that hideous date 12/12/2000).

Harris was also co-chair of W's presidential campaign.

Whose interests were really stymied by these conflicted wing nuts?

The people's.

And when R. Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio SoS under Gov. Bob Taft in 2004 and, like Harris, also co-chair of W's re-election campaign, used countless manipulative devices to hand the victory in this decider state to W, history was again stabbed in the heart and the death toll soared, of young soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq and of democracy.

In these two cases, state-level SoS's decided which candidate would win the presidency--surprise: G.W. Bush!

This year, 2018, three SoS's will donate conflicts of interest to the election pool. As a matter of fact, the Georgia primaries last week chose SoS Jack Kemp, a notorious vote purger, as Republican candidate for governor of the Peachtree State. Did his office influence his victory? Does the dynamic progressive Stacy Abrams hold a chance up against the Machine?

The second SoS is John Husted of the Decider State Ohio (again). He is running for lieutenant governor, unsurprisingly a Republican. He will also run his own election in November 2018, the running mate of former U.S. Senator and Congressman Mike DeWine, presently second-term state Attorney General (AG). With Husted at the hub, he's a shoe-in. In some states the attorney general has the election-relevant duties of the SoS. Ideal contenders, these gentlemen.

Though he vociferously opposes voter ID, Husted has otherwise helped engineer elections won by the GOP in his home state. In Election 2012, approval for the uncertified patches placed on ES&S voting machinery came from his office--but the patches were disabled through vigorous, last-minute-efforts by attorney/activist/professor Bob Fitrakis, on Election Day itself. Obama won the Decider state while Karl Rove had an exasperated seizure broadcasted countrywide. He had also set up a man-in-the-middle device to work in concert with the patches. HIs eleventh-hour reprise of What Happened in Ohio 2004 tanked.

Fox News had to quiet him down. Fox News conceded graciously.

SCOTUS recently okayed caging practices in Ohio as Constitutional. Husted had no objections to this victory over likely Democratic voters.

The third SoS running his own campaign this year is NOTORIOUS for his role in creating the so-far most formidable registration list purger of them all, Kris "KKK" Kobach, originator of the Interstate Crosscheck program. A scion of the Help America Vote Act's requirement that all states initiate statewide registration databases, he has successfully manipulated voter lists in circa 60 percent of the states, purging millions, mostly minorities. Those whose names resemble each other, from far-flung states, and share birthdates are purged from the list, accused of double voting. So Jon Jones in Washington state and Jonathan Quincy Jones in Rhode Island are both crossed off the rolls. Naturally this disaster hits common hames most frequently, names coincidentally held by likely Democratic voters, read: minorities.

There are lots of minorities in this country and their numbers are growing. Blacks and Hispanics comprise 24.5 percent of the population according to the U.S. Census. Kobach's solution is one of many brutal battles back by white mostly-males who, by the way, are no longer the majority of voters. But they are scared.

I could go on about Kobach, but you can find out all about him in Greg Palast's latest film, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: Billionaires and Ballot Bandits and its sequel Billionaires and Ballot Bandits: The Case of the Stolen Election. He is one of Palast's favorite vote vultures.

So this Harvard and Oxford scion, not their favorite alumnus, to be sure, will be in charge of an election that may very well feature him as GOP gubernatorial candidate. The Republican primary in Kansas was held last Tuesday, August 7, and the totals between "KKK" and his opponent, the incumbent governor Jeff Colyer, were nearly tied. Shades of Al Franken's small margin of victory in 2008, and G.W. Bush's in Florida and Ohio and even smaller ones like the 129 votes that handed the gubernatorial election to Christine Gregoire in Washington state in 2008. Kobach a week after the primaries holds a 110-vote lead over Colyer, out of 311,000 votes cast. That's as of yesterday, August 12.

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Trump-Pence Clown Car

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Surprise! The Trump presidency will end sooner than you think.

The demise will begin after the mid-term elections in which the Democrats will bust the Republican Party's monopoly.

December 2-6 will set off a serious of events by which the Trump administration will begin to unravel. At the same time, leaks or actual proceedings in the Mueller investigation may begin to expose some incriminating evidence that will highlight Trump's nefarious dealings, resulting in a classic disconnect by the flaccid Republicans as they turn on Trump, their moneymaker.

Not wanting anything to do with Trump anymore the Republicans will then confer with the Democrats to find the most painless exit from this rather embarrassing moment in American History. As a result, by consensus, they will offer an "agreement" to forgo the blame game and move forward. The Democrats will once again oblige.

However, the complete remedy will be to ask Trump to resign in lieu of impeachment proceedings. Trump will be allowed to use whichever excuse he chooses but the Truth will be obvious.

As for any potential criminal proceedings, barring treason, they may also agree to allow the next president to grant a pardon to Trump for any non-treasonous crimes and the nation will be asked to reset its government and to move forward.

January 22-26, 2019 will signal the end of the Trump presidency.

Now, welcome to the post-Trump presidency.....President Michael Pence!

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com.

When it comes to guns and Americans, here (thanks to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence) are a couple of stats for you: every year an average of 17,102 children and teens and 116,255 Americans overall are shot in "murders, assaults, suicides, and suicide attempts, unintentional shootings, or by police intervention." And this doesn't happen for no reason. Consider these recent estimates from the Small Arms Survey, a gun research group: "There were approximately 857 million civilian-held firearms in the world at the end of 2017... National ownership rates vary from about 120.5 firearms for every 100 residents in the United States to less than 1 firearm for every 100 residents in countries like Indonesia, Japan, Malawi, and several Pacific island states." In fact, the U.S. leads the rest of the world by a long shot in gun ownership, with 45% of those 857 million weapons (you do the math) right here in this country. War-torn Yemen comes in a distant second.

In 2017, a Pew Research Center study found that 48% of American white men, 25% of white women, 25% of non-white men, and 16% of non-white women owned guns and, as Margaret Talbot wrote in the New Yorker, "Half of all gun owners say that ownership is essential to their identity." There's one catch, though. If you have that primal urge to buy a gun to strengthen your own sense of self-identity, you better set aside a little time to do so. After all, it took a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter all of seven minutes to buy an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle soon after the Parkland, Florida, massacre and it took just 38 minutes, according to the Huffington Post, to buy the same weapon in Orlando two days after an AR-15-style weapon was used in the Pulse nightclub massacre to kill 49 people.

Now, as TomDispatchregular William Hartung reports, Donald Trump and his administration are determined to make this a truly all-American planet by putting real effort into spreading such deadly small arms far and wide. Hey, think of it this way: in the weeks after Apple hit the headlines with a trillion-dollar market valuation, the Trump administration has the hope of hitting the trillion-firearm mark in civilian hands globally. Now that would be an accomplishment! What a boost for our global identity! USA! USA! Tom

Donald Trump, Gunrunner for Hire

The NRA and the Gun Industry in the Global Stratosphere

By William D. Hartung American weapons makers have dominated the global arms trade for decades. In any given year, they've accounted for somewhere between one-third and more than one-half the value of all international weapons sales. It's hard to imagine things getting much worse -- or better, if you happen to be an arms trader -- but they could, and soon, if a new Trump rule on firearms exports goes through. But let's hold off a moment on that and assess just how bad it's gotten before even worse hits the fan. Until recently, the Trump administration had focused its arms sales policies on the promotion of big-ticket items like fighter planes, tanks, and missile defense systems around the world. Trump himself has loudly touted U.S. weapons systems just about every time he's had the chance, whether amid insults to allies at the recent NATO summit or at a chummy White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose brutal war in Yemen is fueled by U.S.-supplied arms. A recent presidential export policy directive, in fact, specifically instructs American diplomats to put special effort into promoting arms sales, effectively turning them into agents for the country's largest weapons makers. As an analysis by the Security Assistance Monitor at the Center for International Policy has noted, human rights and even national security concerns have taken a back seat to creating domestic jobs via such arms sales. Evidence of this can be found in, for example, the ending of Obama administration arms sales suspensions to Nigeria, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The first of those had been imposed because of the way the Nigerian government repressed its own citizens; the second for Bahrain's brutal crackdown on the democracy movement there; and the last for Saudi Arabia's commission of acts that one member of Congress has said "look like war crimes" in its Yemeni intervention. Fueling death and destruction, however, turns out not to be a particularly effective job creator. Such military spending actually generates significantly fewer jobs per dollar than almost any other kind of investment. In addition, many of those jobs will actually be located overseas, thanks to production-sharing deals with weapons-purchasing countries like Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and other U.S. allies. To cite an example, one of the goals of Saudi Arabia's economic reform plan -- unveiled in 2017 -- is to ensure that, by 2030, half the value of the kingdom's arms purchases will be produced in Saudi Arabia. U.S. firms have scrambled to comply, setting up affiliates in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and in the case of Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky unit, agreeing to begin assembling military helicopters there. McClatchy news service summed up the situation in this headline: "Trump's Historic Arms Deal Is a Likely Jobs Creator -- In Saudi Arabia." For most Americans, there should be serious questions about the economic benefits of overseas arms sales, but if you're a weapons maker looking to pump up sales and profits, the Trump approach has already been a smashing success. According to the head of the Pentagon's arms sales division, known euphemistically as the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Department of Defense has brokered agreements for sales of major systems worth $46 billion in the first six months of 2018, more than the $41 billion in deals made during all of 2017. And that, it seems, is just the beginning. Slow Motion Weapons of Mass Destruction Yes, those massive sales of tanks, helicopters, and fighter aircraft are indeed a grim wonder of the modern world and never receive the attention they truly deserve. However, a potentially deadlier aspect of the U.S. weapons trade receives even less attention than the sale of big-ticket items: the export of firearms, ammunition, and related equipment. Global arms control advocates have termed such small arms and light weaponry -- rifles, automatic and semi-automatic weapons, and handguns -- "slow motion weapons of mass destruction" because they're the weapons of choice in the majority of the 40 armed conflicts now underway around the world. They and they alone have been responsible for nearly half of the roughly 200,000 violent deaths by weapon that have been occurring annually both in and outside of official war zones. And the Trump administration is now moving to make it far easier for U.S. gun makers to push such wares around the world. Consider it an irony, if you will, but in doing so, the president who has staked his reputation on rejecting everything that seems to him tainted by Barack Obama is elaborating on a proposa l originally developed in the Obama years. The crucial element in the new plan: to move key decisions on whether or not to export guns and ammunition abroad from the State Department's jurisdiction, where they would be vetted on both human rights and national security grounds, to the Commerce Department, whose primary mission is promoting national exports. The Violence Policy Center, a research and advocacy organization that seeks to limit gun deaths, has indicated that such a move would ease the way for more exports of a long list of firearms. Those would include sniper rifles and AR-15s, the now-classic weapon in U.S. mass killings like the school shootings in Parkland, Florida, and Newtown, Connecticut. Under the new plan, the careful tracking of whose hands such gun exports could end up in will be yesterday's news and, as a result, U.S. weapons are likely to become far more accessible to armed gangs, drug cartels, and terrorist operatives.

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Mothers Are America's Best Healing Power

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There are truths we must finally face as self-evident: the ideals of perfection enlightening our American Dream, in mere mortals is, like evolution, in constant motion -- sometimes seemingly blind ambition following the yellow brick road with no guiding beacon of light from The Hill.

Hope's truth is, our journey to perfection doesn't require perfection, only effective peaceful assembly. Our dreams of unity, civility and humanity are nonetheless justifiably encouraged by our courage to learn from our past without repeating it -- extending joint ownership of Justice for All, to all.

Living in a trumped America, where a towering fee allows firmly ensconced organized crime in private enterprise and multi-layered governments -- there is little value in media headlines and political talking heads unless serving to ignite truth seeking citizen sleuths.

When a people are both poised and tainted by nefarious Branding as prerequisite for infectious misconceptions, understanding is bombarded by cravings for the convenience of, obvious villains and marketable heroes.

Dispatching Andrew Jackson racism, John Wilke Booth hatred, Trump/Pence/Sessions bigotry, Ivanka, Laura Ingram & Dana Loesch ruse, and denying access to hacks like, Putin, Sheldon Adelson and their Koch brothers -- is Best Evidence of American greatness.

Being Newton's equal opposite reaction to evil genius, let freedom ring from sacred parchment through us, to Native-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans Latino-Americans and Puerto-Rican Americans regardless of sexual preferences, reassuring America's New Deal Reconstruction.

Rescuing abused refugee families seeking asylum, we rescue ourselves. Stoking righteous indignation for leadership elected for the proposition that all are created equal, having disappeared hundreds of innocents -- we receive the fruits of an administration unhinged from morality.

Now we rise! Demanding all political parties melt the frigid grip of ICE on families running from abusive governments as abusive as our own, we eject Conservatives choosing KKK residue of white supremacists, as a family value.

In a child's distress, mothers are a healing balm. America is now in distress and Mothers, whether married suburbanites or single Millennials, whether Caucasian or full of color, believers in a universe beyond themselves or going it alone -- regardless of political affiliation -- mothers remain the too often overlooked power necessary for America to heal itself.

Mothers, and the women they elect to rebuild community, neighborhoods -- fighting the good fight for a better future for all children -- including mothers too often invisible to us because of their color, who like Susan Bro -- snatch hope from the jaws of tragedy.

Although seldom heralded for their heroism over America's 242-year war with itself, daughters, wives and mothers of all colors, all beliefs -- all with their own dreams of service to national and individual ideals -- have prevailed on the battlefields of preserving children, protecting family and home and defending every women's right to income parity.

Courage isn't a smearing louse with a Tiki-Torch, and Charlottesville is no more ground zero nor frontline in America's infighting over racial equality and gender justice, than any town USA.

Like Virginia State Troopers, Berke M.M. Bates and Lt. H. Jay Cullen -- Alesia Thomas, Malissa Williams, Miriam Carey and Tanisha Anderson probably didn't plan on being another tragic, but temporary headline.

Historically, Liberals have been battling Conservatives with one arm tied behind our backs -- not only by the cold and timid avoiding the arena, but by our own duplicity regarding women and people of color.

Headliners and heroes are chosen for their eye-catching potential for convenient media resale, because we are addicted to, if we can label it, we can shelve it without expending any energy for internalized comprehension.

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We've been given a rare opportunity. While the United States military has slaughtered innocents by the hundreds of thousands in the Middle East over the past couple of decades, almost never have U.S. television viewers seen images of the victims, in particular images of them alive just moments before death rained down on them.

Now we have video footage of dozens of little boys on a bus less than an hour before U.S.-made Raytheon bombs murdered many of them, wounded others, and traumatized survivors.

As with a racist police murder, what is rare here is not the crime but the video. This bus was bombed by the U.S.-Saudi alliance. The weapons used by Saudi Arabia are U.S. weapons. The U.S. military aids the Saudis in targeting and refuels their U.S.-made airplanes in midair, so that the bombing need never cease. This was a bus full of little boys in the middle of a crowded market. The tens of thousands of people who attended the boys' funeral are certain to have recognized the crime of mass murder.

Dozens of U.S. Senators recognized the outrage months before it happened, because it's one blip in an ongoing mass-murdering forever-war. Back in March, numerous Senators took to the floor of the U.S. Senate and denounced ongoing U.S. participation in this war. I wrote at that time:

"The facts of the matter were presented very clearly in the debate by numerous U.S. senators from both parties. They denounced war lies as 'lies.' They pointed out the horrendous damage, the deaths, the injuries, the starvation, the cholera. They cited Saudi Arabia's explicit and intentional use of starvation as a weapon. They noted the blockade against humanitarian aid imposed by Saudi Arabia. They endlessly discussed the biggest cholera epidemic ever known. Here's a tweet from Senator Chris Murphy: "'Gut check moment for the Senate today: we will vote on whether to continue the U.S./Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen which has killed over 10,000 civilians and created the largest cholera outbreak in history.' "Senator Jeff Merkley asked if partnering with a government trying to starve millions of people to death squared with the principles of the United States of America. I tweeted a response: 'Should I tell him or wait and let his colleagues do it?' In the end, 55 of his colleagues answered his question as well as any history book could have done."

That's right, 55 U.S. Senators voted for genocide. And they got what they voted for. But imagine if they hadn't, and someone else had. Imagine if the racists who marched in DC last weekend and in Charlottesville last year had blown up a bus full of children. Or imagine if, just prior to a desired attack on Iran, an attack on a bus full of kids were blamed on Iran (and the footage aired 89 million times on every U.S. channel).

It's not as though U.S. residents cannot object to cruelty engaged in by the U.S. government. Look at the protests in recent months against cruel treatment of immigrants in the United States. I don't think people have chosen to care about those children stripped away from their families simply because those crimes have occurred within the borders of the United States. I think far more important is the frequency and the depth of the story in U.S. television and news reports.

So, what might happen if we were to persuade television networks like MSNBC to mention Yemen more than once a year? I strongly suspect that the delusion that maintains that Americans cannot care about non-Americans would be shattered. People will care if you show them what to care about, instruct them to care, and make clear that their political party identification need not conflict with caring.

Dear Republicans, please feel free to ignore that Trump is overseeing these horrors, and focus instead on the fact that Obama's "successful" drone war played a major role in creating the current catastrophe.

Dear Democrats, please do the reverse.

Dear Everybody, the important thing is to speak up now for removing the U.S. military and U.S. weapons companies from Yemen and its region of the earth.
Canada Home Healthcare Market To Record An Exponential CAGR of 8.9% from 2014 to 2020

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Transparency Market Research has published a new report on the Canada home healthcare market. According to the report, the Canada home healthcare market is expected to expand at an 8.90% CAGR from 2014 to 2020. The report, titled Canada Home Healthcare Market - Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, states that the market stood at US$10.45 bn in 2013 and is expected to reach US$18.94 bn by 2020 owing to the rising incidences of lifestyle and chronic diseases and the technical advantages in home healthcare services.The Canada home healthcare market comprises a wide range of home healthcare services and devices to support people with chronic diseases. The prevalence and risk of chronic diseases are continually rising in Canada. This has led to the increasing acceptance of home healthcare services as hospital stays can be both expensive and inconvenient. The changing demographics in Canada are further expected to propel the Canada home healthcare market in the years to come.Obtain Report Details @As per recent statistics, in Canada, there were around 5 million people aged over 60 years in 2011 and the number is predicted to reach 10.4 million in the next 25 years. Chronic diseases are more likely to be detected in elderly people. As the pool of aging people is expected to increase in Canada, the number of people affected by chronic diseases is expected to increase, thus benefiting the Canada home healthcare market.The Canada home healthcare market is segmented on the basis of region, service, and device type. By device type, the Canada home healthcare market is classified into diagnostics and monitoring devices, home mobility assist devices, home healthcare devices, and medical supplies. In 2013, the diagnostics and monitoring devices segment held a share of 30% in the Canada home healthcare market. The Canada government is constantly taking efforts to spread awareness among people about various chronic diseases and illnesses such as hypertension, sleep apnea, and diabetes. Over the past few years, people have thus become aware of the benefits of home healthcare devices for the management of chronic diseases.Request For Sample of Report @Factors such as challenging regulatory restrictions and the lack of training to operate home healthcare devices are expected to restrict the growth of the Canada home healthcare market in the years to come. However, the constantly rising disposable income, the rising pool of patients with chronic diseases, the development of home healthcare technologies, and the untapped market are some of the factors expected to propel the Canada home healthcare market in the years to come.By service, the Canada home healthcare market is classified into telehealth and telemedicine, rehabilitation, infusion therapy, unskilled home healthcare, and respiratory therapy services. In 2013, the Canada home healthcare market was dominated by the unskilled home healthcare services owing to the rising geriatric population and the rising uptake of nonprofessional home healthcare services. The telehealth and telemedicine segment is expected to expand at an 11.0% CAGR from 2014 to 2020.Request For Report Brochure @Based on region, the Canada home healthcare market is divided into Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and Rest of Canada. In 2013, the Canada home healthcare market was dominated by Ontario owing to favorable government policies towards various home healthcare services. Johnson & Johnson, 3M Healthcare, We Care Health Services, Home Care Ontario, Omron Healthcare, GM Healthcare, and The Canadian Home Care Association are some of the key companies operating in the Canada home healthcare market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Vehicles Wheel Aligner Market to Witness Robust Expansion by 2025 - QY Research, Inc.

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This report studies the Vehicles Wheel Aligner market size (value and volume) by players, regions, product types and end industries, history data 2013-2017 and forecast data 2018-2025; This report also studies the global market competition landscape, market drivers and trends, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Vehicles Wheel Aligner in these regions, from 2013 to 2025, coveringNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam)South America (Brazil etc.)Middle East and Africa (Egypt and GCC Countries)The various contributors involved in the value chain of the product include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers. The key manufacturers in this market includeHunter Engineering CompanySnap-on IncorporatedCorghi S.p.A.Beissbarth GmbHWONDERLaunch Tech Co., LtdYantai Haide Science And TechnologyShenzhen 3Excel Tech Co.,LtdActia MullerYingkou Dali Automobile Maintenance EquipmentSupertrackerPanther Electronic Machinery Manufactory Ltd.Yingkou Hanway Techonology Co.LtdShanghai Yicheng Auto-inspection Device Science & TechnologyBy the product type, the market is primarily split intoCCD Wheel Aligner3D Wheel AlignerOtherBy the end users/application, this report covers the following segmentsGaragesAuto Manufacturers & Auto SellersTiresOtherRequest Sample Report and TOC@Contact USQY Research, INC.17890 Castleton, Suite 218,City of industry, CA  91748USA: +1 626 295 2442Email: sales@qyrsearchglobal.comWeb:About Us:QY Research established in 2007, focus on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, data base and seminar services. The company owned a large basic data base (such as National Bureau of statistics database, Customs import and export database, Industry Association Database etc), experts resources (included energy automotive chemical medical ICT consumer goods etc.Room 2905, Vili International, 167 Linhe West Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
Low Voltage Switchgear 2018 Global Market Key Players  ABB, Powell Industries, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Bharat Heavy Electricals  Analysis and Forecast to 2025

Low Voltage Switchgear Market

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WiseGuyRerports.com Presents Global Low Voltage Switchgear Market Research Report 2018 New Document to its Studies DatabaseThis report studies the global Low Voltage Switchgear market status and forecast, categorizes the global Low Voltage Switchgear 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).Generally electrical switchgear rated upto 1KV is termed as low voltage switchgear.The rapid development of industrial infrastructure and expansion witnessed in the construction sector, primarily in the emerging markets, are fuelling demand for low voltage (LV).The global Low Voltage Switchgear market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportABBPowell IndustriesSiemensSchneider ElectricBharat Heavy ElectricalsCrompton GreavesEatonHyosungMitsubishi ElectricGEOJSC Power MachinesOthersRequest For Sample Report @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 AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into1kv1kV - 5kV6kV - 15kV16kV - 27kV28kV - 38kVOn 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, includingCommercialIndustrialResidentialUtilitiesThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Low Voltage Switchgear capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Low Voltage Switchgear 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.Complete Report Details @Table Of Contents:1 Low Voltage Switchgear Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Low Voltage Switchgear1.2 Low Voltage Switchgear Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 1kv1.2.4 1kV - 5kV1.2.5 6kV - 15kV1.2.6 16kV - 27kV1.2.7 28kV - 38kV1.3 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Segment by Application1.3.1 Low Voltage Switchgear Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Commercial1.3.3 Industrial1.3.4 Residential1.3.5 Utilities1.4 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Low Voltage Switchgear (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Low Voltage Switchgear Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Low Voltage Switchgear Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Low Voltage Switchgear Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Low Voltage Switchgear Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion.7 Global Low Voltage Switchgear Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 ABB7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Low Voltage Switchgear Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 ABB Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Powell Industries7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Low Voltage Switchgear Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Powell Industries Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Siemens7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Low Voltage Switchgear Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Siemens Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Schneider Electric7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Low Voltage Switchgear Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 Schneider Electric Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Bharat Heavy Electricals7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Low Voltage Switchgear Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Bharat Heavy Electricals Low Voltage Switchgear Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015-2018)7.5.4 Main Business/Business OverviewContinued.CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Address:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Mobile Water Treatment Market offers huge growth opportunities for the future | Suez Environnement, Veolia, Evoqua Water Technologies, Pureflow, Siemens, Pall Corporation, Applied Membranes Inc

Mobile Water Treatment Market

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https://www.crystalmarketresearch.com/report/mobile-water-treatment-market

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A research study titled, Mobile Water Treatment Market By End User - Global Industry Analysis And Forecast To 2023 published by Crystal Market Research, states that the Mobile Water Treatment Market has encountered substantial development in the recent years and is foreseen to witness significant growth in the upcoming years.Competitive Insights:The leading players in the Mobile Water Treatment Market are Suez Environnement, Veolia, Evoqua Water Technologies, Pureflow, Siemens, Pall Corporation, Applied Membranes Inc and Aquatech International.Sample Copy of the Report here @The Mobile Water Treatment is segmented as follows-By End User:EnergyManufacturingIndustry Outlook and Trend Analysis:The Global Mobile Water Treatment Market has encountered substantial development in the recent years and is foreseen to witness significant growth in the upcoming years. One of the major factors that will empower development in the market is the ascent in enterprise tourism. The Americas and Europe are considered as the two major destinations for tourists. The adventure tourism market is encountering development because of the foundation of open private associations in the tourism business. These adventure tourism destinations are by and large situated in remote territories and far from centre regions. This thusly, will drive the interest for portable water treatment in these remote areas to serve tourists.Table of Contents:1.Introduction2.Executive Summary3.Market Overview4.Mobile Water Treatment Market, By End User4.1.Introduction4.2.Global Mobile Water Treatment Sales, Revenue and Market Share by End User (2014-2017)4.3.Mobile Water Treatment Market Assessment and Forecast, By End User, 2014-20234.4.Energy4.5.ManufacturingTo be continued...For more information, click on the below link @Key Growing Factors:An extensive research study on the Market, and its entire ecosystem, describes the market trends, drivers, restraints and opportunities of the Mobile Water Treatment Market.We provide you the longest possible market segmentation based on type of products, procedures and geography and describe the market share region wise.The Mobile Water Treatment Market Report gives a bird eyes view on the competitive landscape which includes mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, market strategies, and new product launches.Regional Outlook and Trend Analysis:In the Americas, the United States is continuously witnessing difficulties associated with shortage of water. The rising requirement for water will drive the water reuse rate. This in thereby, will boost the implementation of water treatment equipment in the United States throughout the estimated period.What our Mobile Water Treatment Market Report offers:Mobile Water Treatment Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments.Mobile Water Treatment Market share analysis of the top industry players.Strategic recommendations for the new entrants.Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends.Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements.Features Of The Mobile Water Treatment Market Report:The analysis of Mobile Water Treatment Market, their Growth, Demand, position, size and share from different regions are mentioned in detailed.The key players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.The new strategic plan and suggestions that will help old as well as new market players to maintain the competitiveness are also discussed.The Mobile Water Treatment Market report provides some important points related to growth factors, challenges, opportunities, end-user analysis and achievement and so on.The latest trends that are being followed in the market are included along with an example.How technological advancement and research, as well as development activities, are impacting the Mobile Water Treatment Market is explained in detail.The development plans and policies are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures too are discussed.Buy Now This Report @About Crystal Market Research:Crystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact Us:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.com
Global Wind Turbine Market Forecast 2018-2025 Suzlon, Gamesa, Shanghai Electric Wind, Sinovel Wind, Goldwind, DEC

Wind Turbine Market

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Recently added detailed market study "Global Wind Turbine Market" examines the performance of the Wind Turbine market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Wind Turbine market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Wind Turbine market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Wind Turbine Market 2018 report includes Wind Turbine market Revenue, market Share, Wind Turbine industry volume, market Trends, Wind Turbine Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Wind Turbine Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2025.Firstly, the report covers the top Wind Turbine manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Market Forecast Report on Top Manufacturers companies are GE Wind, Suzlon, Gamesa, Shanghai Electric Wind, Zhejiang Windey Wind Power Enginerring, Repower, China Creative Wind Energy, Beijing BEIZHONG Steam Turbine Generator, Envision Energy, CSR Zhuzhou Insitute, ZheJiang Huayi Wind Energy Development, Nordex, New Unite Holdings, Sinovel Wind, Goldwind, DEC, Guodian United Power Technology, MingYang Electrical Appliance, Vestas, XEMC Windpower.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Wind Turbine Market By Application are Power Plants, Desalination Plants, OtherWind Turbine Market By Type are Onshore, OffshoreFurther, the Wind Turbine report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Wind Turbine industry, Wind Turbine industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Wind Turbine Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Wind Turbine research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Wind Turbine market revenue worldwide.Finally, Wind Turbine market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About US:"QYResearchStore.com" is a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of technology industry. We are as a firm expertise in making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact Us:3626 North Hall Street (Two Oak Lawn),Suite 610,Dallas, TX 75219, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Web:Email: sales@qyresearchstore.com
Wood Pellets Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.2% by 2025

Wood Pellets Market

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Progressive Markets published a report, titled, Global Wood Pellets Market - Size, Trend, Share, Opportunity Analysis, and Forecast, 2014-2025. As per the report, the global wood pellets market is expected to register a CAGR of 15.2% from 2017 to 2025. The report offers an extensive analysis of changing market scenario, revenue growth, investment opportunities, and new developments. Moreover, the study the demands of market players for thorough understanding of the industry for the historic period, 2014-2016 and the forecast period, 2017-2025. These insights will help market players, investors, VPs, stakeholders, and new entrants to gain detailed analysis devise strategies for the future and gain maximum profitability.Request Sample Report:The report offers an executive summary to help management executives, VPs, CEOs, and investors save time and determine strategies with future-centric approach. It helps them in devising a prolonged growth strategy and sustain in the global industry. Key findings of the industry are outlined in the study along with market attractiveness. Current market trends are provided to determine recent news and policies. Moreover, recent industry developments are explored in the study to help market players give a brief idea about current happenings. Significant terminology is defined along with scope of the report. Research methodology implemented by analysts is provided to outline sources of data and information. Primary and secondary methods are implemented to gather data, statistics, and information and present it in the form of tables and graphs.Access Full Report:The report offers detailed analysis of changing market dynamics of the global wood pellets market in terms of drivers and challenges. The driving factors for the market include regulatory policies focused on increase in the utilization of renewable energy for domestic, industrial, and commercial applications for heat and power generation along with rise in environmental concerns that resulted in need to find alternatives for fossil fuels. However, less availability of woody biomass along with fluctuating feedstock prices would hinder the growth of the global wood pellets market. These insights help market players gain insights on changing scenario and capitalize on growth opportunities for the future.The report outlines competitive intensity across the globe with the help of Porters Five Forces model. Bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat of substitutes, threat of new entrants, and industrial rivalry are parameters upon which analysis is carried out to help market players and investors develop business strategy. Market share analysis for the historic period as well as the forecast period is provided in the research using tabular format.The research provides insights on key segments of the global wood pellets industry. Key segments analyzed in the research are feedstock, application, pellet heating appliances, and geography. Based on feedstock, the report classified the market into forest residues, agricultural residues, and energy crops. Application segment is further classified into power generation in industries, co-firing in industries, heating in residential sites, and heating in commercial sites. Pellet heating appliances are segmented into free standing pellet stoves, pellet stove inserts, and pellet boilers. Geographically, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. The report discusses historical market size by region for the historic period and market forecast by region for the forecast period. Revenue generated by each segment is provided for the historic period and the forecast period with the help of tabular and graphical format. These insights help gain detailed understanding of dominating segments and capitalize on them to gain competitive edge.The report offers an extensive analysis of key manufacturers active in the global wood pellets industry. The report provides an extensive analysis of each players in terms of company snapshot, financial segments, business segments, and recent developments. These insights are helpful to determine competitive scenario, enable geographical expansion roll-ups, and grow a national footprint. Key manufacturers profiled in the research are Green Circle Bio Energy Inc., Corinth Wood Pellets LLC, New England Wood Pellets LLC, Energex, Graanul Invest AS, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc., Weyerhaeuser, Mitsubishi Corporation, Borregaard LignoTech, and German Pellets GmbH. Tables and figures offer an overview of each manufacturer to help reader gain a brief understanding of each market player. This information also help investors to determine companies to invest in to gain maximum returns.The company makes use of primary corporate research and secondary inputs from trusted sources to build its own reference base. It maintains consistency in quality as it keeps itself updated with changes in market dynamics and gauging its net effect on global business trends.Reach UsMr. Shriram Dighe4th Floor, Unit 12, Marisoft III,West Wing, Marigold IT Park,Kalyani Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411014,India: +91 20 66346040Toll Free: + 1-888-906-9222help@progressivemarkets.com
Polycarbonate(PC) Resin 2018 Global Industry Key Players - Covestro , SABIC , Mitsubishi , Saudi Kayan Market Analysis And Forecast To 2023

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World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin MarketExecutive SummaryPolycarbonate(PC) Resin market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Request a Sample Report @The Players mentioned in our reportCovestroSABICMitsubishiSaudi KayanFormosa IdemitsuLG Polycarbonate(PC)Chi Mei CorporationSamsung CheilSamyangTeijinGlobal Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market: Product Segment AnalysisBy ProcessPhosgene MethodInterfacial Polymerization ProcessGlobal Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market: Application Segment AnalysisElectronic ComponentsConstruction MaterialsAutomobilePackagingMedicalGlobal Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaTable of Content-Key Points CoveredChapter 1 About the Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Industry1.1 Industry Definition and Types1.1.1 By Process1.1.2 Phosgene Method1.1.3 Interfacial Polymerization Process1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a GlanceChapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape2.1 Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Markets by Regions2.1.1 USAMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2023Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2023Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.2 EuropeMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2023Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2023Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.3 ChinaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2023Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2023Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.4 IndiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2023Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2023Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.5 JapanMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2023Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2023Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.6 South East AsiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2013-2023Sales and Growth Rate 2013-2023Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.2 World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market by TypesBy ProcessPhosgene MethodInterfacial Polymerization Process2.3 World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market by ApplicationsElectronic ComponentsConstruction MaterialsAutomobilePackagingMedical2.4 World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market Analysis2.4.1 World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-20172.4.2 World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market Consumption and Growth rate 2013-20172.4.3 World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market Price Analysis 2013-2017Chapter 3 World Polycarbonate(PC) Resin Market share3.1 Major Production Market share by Players3.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players3.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20233.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2023Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis4.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis4.2 Raw material Market Analysis4.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2013-20174.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis4.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis4.3 Production Process Analysis4.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks4.5 End users Market AnalysisContinued..Complete Report Details @Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India
Natural Sweeteners to Witness Significant Demand in the Global Market during 2017-2026

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According to the research report, the global market for natural sweeteners is witnessing a considerable rise. The market is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 4.50% during the period from 2017 to 2026 and reach US$ 39,091.7 mn by the end of the forecast period. Low intensity sweeteners and high intensity sweeteners are the two main products available in the global market for natural sweeteners. Among the two, the demand for high intensity sweeteners is relatively high and the trend is likely to remain so over the next few years, states the research report.The shift in the consumer preference towards food and beverages including natural ingredients is growing at a faster phase. Moreover, soft drink producers are also witnessing rising demand for a soft drink with reduced sugar. Hence, to meet the demand, producers are replacing sugar with natural and artificial sweeteners. A lot of research activities are also going on to produce new natural sweeteners. Companies are also investing in advanced technologies to for product development with innovative and superior quality.Request For Report Brochure For Latest Industry Insights @Asia Pacific to Dominate Global Market for Natural SweetenersIn terms of the geography, the global market for natural sweeteners has been segmented into North America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Latin America, Japan, the Middle East and Africa, and Europe in this research study.Among these, the Asia Pacific excluding Japan market has acquired the dominance, owing to the high demand for various Asian food, such as flavored pastes, pickles, and sauces. This regional market is anticipated to remain on the top over the next few years. North America and Europe are also expected to witness a significant rise in the years to come, states the research report.Rise in Diabetes and Obesity to Support GrowthThe global market for natural sweeteners is driven significantly by the rising concerns among consumers pertaining to obesity and overall health and fitness, says a TMR analyst. The increasing prevalence of diabetes among people across the world is also fueling the demand for natural sweeteners, reflecting positively on the growth of this market. In the coming years, innovations by vendors are likely to boost this market significantly, reports the market study.Obtain Report Details @The global market for natural sweeteners is demonstrating an intensely competitive business landscape, thanks to the presence of market participants in a large number, states a new report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Some of the key players in this market are Tate & Lyle, Niutang Chemical Ltd., MacAndrews & Forbes, Cargill, Ajinomoto Co., DuPont, Symrise AG, Nestle S.A., Archer Daniels Midland Co., Wilmar International Ltd., American Sugar Refining Inc., Associated British Foods, Ingredion Inc., and Roquette Freres. The level of rivalry between these players is significantly high and is expected to continue to increase in the years to come, notes the market study.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is leader in analytics, research, and advisory services for Fortune 500 companies, scores of high potential startups, and financial institutions. Our success stories have proven why we are a preeminent provider of cutting-edge syndicated and customized research services. Leverage the best of our seasoned research analysts who hold a keen interest and enviable expertise of almost 4 million hours in global, regional, and local market intelligence.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Seating Market in Aircraft 2018 Global Key Leaders: Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, B/E Aerospace, Zodiac Aerospace, RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH, Acro Aircraft Seating

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Market Scenario:Global Aircraft Seating Market Information by Seat Type (First Class, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy), Aircraft Type (Wide body, Narrow body, and Regional Transport Aircraft), Fit type (Line Fit and Retro Fit), and Region - Forecast to 2023.The overall aircraft seating market in the globe is largely dominated by the passengers various requirement regarding seating comfort. For the long-distance journey, aircraft seat fitted into passenger airlines are designed to develop better relationship between passenger and the company. Similarly, manufacturers in the global aircraft seating market are targeting upon designing seats with an ergonomic and aesthetic design, which enables them in serving the needs of passengers across different cultures. Airlines sometimes go with both, high and low-end options, varying the seating, depending on the market/route, flight timing or target audience.Get a Sample Report @Key PlayersIn the Middle East, the key airline companies, such as Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Emirates, propel the market. Some major aircraft seat manufacturers are also focusing on catering these airlines to increase their sales and revenue. Similarly, the emerging regions such as Asia, Africa, and South America, have immense potential and are considered to grow, exponentially, during the forecast period.The key players of this market are B/E Aerospace, Inc. (U.S.), Zodiac Aerospace (France), RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Aviointeriors S.p.A. (Italy), Acro Aircraft Seating (U.K.), Thompson Aero Seating Ltd. (U.K.), Haeco Americas (U.S.), Geven S.P.A(Italy), Sogerma S.A. (France) and ZIM Flugsitz GmbH (Germany).Intended AudienceDistributer & Supplier companiesEnd UsersConsultants and Investment bankersThe aircraft seating market, with the highest rate of the commercial aircraft cabin interior market, is forecast to undergo high growth rate in the markets of Saudi Arabia, North America, and Europe. The reason behind this may be the increased popularity of business and ultra-luxury segments of air transport. The seats used in the most luxurious segments can cost over USD 460,000. Hence, this is a high-value segment and will drastically contribute in the growth of the aircraft seating market.The commercial aircraft seating market in the Americas is expected to grow with the rising number of aircraft in service, and hence the use of the aircraft seat for new aircraft as well as the retrofit purposes. In 2013 there was an aircraft fleet of 8,050, in service, in the region; 6,550 of which was in North America, and the remaining 1,420 aircraft were in Latin America. The region is expected to see a demand for a new fleet of 11000 over the next two decades.Americas is the major markets in terms of global aircraft retrofit and MRO market. In 2014, the Americas accounted for 35.18 percent (North America: 30.68 percent, S. America: 4.51 percent) of the global aircraft MRO market.Owing to the increased sale of commercial jets, Asia Pacific and the Middle East are expected to have the fastest growth rate. India and China can be among the biggest contributors of the aircraft seating market by 2023. North America, however, would remain the largest market, globally.Some major driving factors for the global aircraft seating market include the provision of proper safety and security in aircraft and the mandatory government regulations. Moreover, rise in manufacture of aircraft across the globe, growth percentage in the aviation sector, high disposable income of consumers, and a gradual rise in investments in flight seats by manufacturing companies are also expected to add to the growth of the flight seat market, globally. Also, increased tapping of aircraft seat manufacturers in the emerging regions such as the Middle East, Asia Pacific, South America, and Africa, growth in trade and tourism, across the globe, are other significant reasons for the rise of growth of this market.Industry/ Innovation/ Related NewsNovember 2017  Delta Air Lines announced that it will offer lie-flat business-class seating on domestic flights on six more routes next year as customer service on US domestic long-haul flights continues to become more competitive.November 2017  AUSTRALIAS largest budget airline commenced a bold plan to squeeze more seats onto its planes. An extra row of economy seating has been fitted into 43 of Jetstars A320 fleet by rearranging the toilets and reducing the galley space.November 2017  Singapore Airlines unveiled new Airbus A380economy-class seats, which will be introduced by the end of the year. The seats, Recaro Aircraft Seatings CL3710, will also be used on the carriers A350 and Boeing 787-10aircraft in 2018. According to Recaro, the highly customized seat back and special padding will ensure exceptional passenger comfort.Get Complete Report @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Moringa Products Global Market Top Key Players  Ancient Greenfields , Earth Expo Company , Grenera , Kuli Kuli , Genius Nature Herbs and Forecast to 2022

Moringa Products Market

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Global Moringa Products MarketWiseGuyRerports.com Presents Global Moringa Products Market 2018-2022 New Document to its Studies Database. The Report Contain 114 Pages With Detailed Analysis.DescriptionMoringa is the sole genus of the flowering plant Moringaceae and is indigenous to the Indian sub-continent. Currently, moringa is widely cultivated in India, the Philippines, African countries and in some parts of the US and the European Union. Moringa products are widely recognized for their health benefits. Besides, moringa products are available in various forms like moringa tea, moringa oil, moringa leaf powder, and moringa seeds.The analysts forecast the global moringa products market to grow at a CAGR of 9.53% during the period 2018-2022.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global moringa products market for 2018-2022. 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.Get sample Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEAThe Global Moringa Products Market 2018-2022, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors Ancient Greenfields Earth Expo Company Grenera Kuli Kuli Genius Nature HerbsMarket driver Rising awareness of the health benefits of moringa products For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Growing demand for other superfood-based products For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Growing millennial population worldwide For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2022 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?Complete Report Details @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsPART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SCOPE OF THE REPORTPART 02: RESEARCH METHODOLOGYPART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysisPART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2017 Market size and forecast 2017-2022PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market conditionPART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Segmentation by product Comparison by product Global moringa seeds and oil  Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Global moringa leaves and leaf powder  Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Global moringa fruits, tea, and pods (drumsticks)  Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Market opportunity by productPART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPEPART 08: REGIONAL LANDSCAPE Geographical segmentation Regional comparison Moringa products market in APAC  Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Moringa products market in EMEA  Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Moringa products market in Americas  Market size and forecast 2017-2022 Key leading countries Moringa products market in India Moringa products market in China Moringa products market in US Moringa products market in Germany Moringa products market in UK Market opportunityPART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORKPART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challengesPART 11: MARKET TRENDS Growing millennial population worldwide Rising trend of online retailing Mushrooming vegan demographic across the globePART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenarioPART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Ancient Greenfields Earth Expo Company (EEC) Grenera Kuli Kuli Genius Nature Herbs (GNH)..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)
Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market trends estimates high demand by 2023 | CybelAngel, KB Crawl SAS, Palantir Technologies, SAIL LABS Technology, Digimind, Verint Systems, Intrinsic Technologies LLC

Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market

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A research study titled, Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market By Security Type, Technology And Application- Global Industry Analysis And Forecast To 2023 published by Crystal Market Research, states that the Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Market has encountered significant growth in the recent years and is anticipated to grow tremendously over the forecast period.Prominent Players:The leading players in the Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market are CybelAngel, KB Crawl SAS, Palantir Technologies, SAIL LABS Technology, Digimind, Verint Systems, Intrinsic Technologies LLC, Expert system, Thales Group and Exalead Dassault Systemes.For more information, click on the below link @The Open Source Intelligence Market is segmented as follows-By Type:Human intelligenceDark web analysisLink/network analysisContent intelligenceText analyticsData analyticsArtificial intelligenceBig dataBy Technology:Text AnalyticsVideo AnalyticsWeb AnalysisBig Data SoftwareSocial Media AnalysisCyber SecurityOthersBy Application:Public sectorMilitary & DefencePrivate sectorHomeland SecurityNational securityOthersIndustry Outlook and Trend Analysis:The Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Market has encountered significant growth in the recent years and is anticipated to grow tremendously over the forecast period. Open-source knowledge (OSINT) is information gathered from freely accessible sources to be utilized as a part of an intelligence context. In the intelligence community, the expression "open" alludes to overt, freely accessible sources instead of covert or undercover sources. It isn't associated with open-source programming or public intelligence. OSINT under some name has been around for many years. With the introduction of instant communications and quick data transfer, a lot of significant and predictive intelligence would now be able to be acquired from public, unclassified sources.Click Sample Copy of the Report here @Table of Contents1.Introduction2.Executive Summary3.Market Overview5.Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Market, By Security Type5.1.Introduction5.2.Global Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Security Type (2014-2018)5.3.Human Intelligence5.4.Content Intelligence5.5.Dark Web Analysis5.6.Data Analytics5.7.Text analytics5.8.Artificial intelligence5.9.Big Data5.10. Other Security Types6.Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Market, By Technology6.1.Introduction6.2.Global Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Technology (2014-2018)6.3.Big Data Software6.4.Video Analytics6.5.Text Analytics6.6.Cyber Security6.7.Web Analysis6.8.Social Media Analysis6.9.Other Technologies7.Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Market, By Application7.1.Introduction7.2.Global Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Application (2014-2018)7.3.Military & Defense7.4.Homeland Security7.5.Private sector7.6.Public sector7.7.National security7.8.Other ApplicationsTo be continued...Market Segmentation:The Open Source Intelligence Market is segmented on the basis of Type, Technology and Application. Based on type the market is segmented into divided into Human Intelligence, dark web analysis, link/network analysis, content intelligence, text analytics, data analytics, artificial intelligence and big data. Out of these, big data, text analytics and link/network analytics command the market. This is owing to technological progressions and analytics in cyber space prompting increased threat of cyber-attacks, piracy, and other illegal exercises. Based on technology the market is segmented into Big Data analytics, web analysis, text analytics, cyber security, video analytics, , and social media analysis. Big data software enables OSINT to provide productive and important support for an organizations business techniques and intelligence. On the basis of application the market is segmented into Homeland Security, Public sector, Military & Defence, Private sector, National security and others.What our Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market Report offers:Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments.Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market share analysis of the top industry players.Strategic recommendations for the new entrants.Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends.Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements.Ask Questions to Expertise at @Regional Outlook:North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Rest of Europe)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Rest of Asia-Pacific)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Rest of South America)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Rest of MEA)Features Of The Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market Report:The analysis of Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market, their Growth, Demand, position, size and share from different regions are mentioned in detailed.The key players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.The new strategic plan and suggestions that will help old as well as new market players to maintain the competitiveness are also discussed.The Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market report provides some important points related to growth factors, challenges, opportunities, end-user analysis and achievement and so on.The latest trends that are being followed in the market are included along with an example.How technological advancement and research, as well as development activities, are impacting the Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market is explained in detail.The development plans and policies are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures too are discussed.Buy Now Open Source Intelligence (Osint) Market Report @About Crystal Market Research:Crystal Market Research is a U.S. based market research and business intelligence company. Crystal offers one stop solution for market research, business intelligence, and consulting services to help clients make more informed decisions. It provides both syndicated as well as customized research studies for its customers spread across the globe. The company offers market intelligence reports across a broad range of industries including healthcare, chemicals & materials, technology, automotive, and energy.Contact Us:Judy304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: sales@crystalmarketresearch.com
Solar Photovoltaic in the United Kingdom Market Outlook to 2030 Update 2017-Capacity Generation Levelized Cost of Energy Investment Trends Regulations and Company Profiles

Solar Photovoltaic

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Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in the United Kingdom, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2017-Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market in United Kingdom.The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with forecasts up to 2030. The report analyzes the power market scenario in United Kingdom (includes conventional thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2030. The research details renewable power market outlook in the country (includes hydro, small hydro, biopower and Solar Photovoltaic (PV)) and provides forecasts up to 2030. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2006 to 2030 in United Kingdom Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. A detailed coverage of renewable energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is provided in the report. The research also provides company snapshots of some of the major market participants.Request a sample copy atThe report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData's team of industry experts.ScopeThe report analyses global renewable power market, global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market, United Kingdom power market, United Kingdom renewable power market and United Kingdom Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. The scope of the research includes--A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption.-An overview on global renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends, generation trends and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources. The information is covered for the historical period 2006-2016 (unless specified) and forecast period 2017-2030.-Renewable power sources include wind (both onshore and offshore), Solar Photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), small hydro power (SHP), biomass, biogas and geothermal.-Detailed overview of the global Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by major Solar Photovoltaic (PV)power countries in 2016 and key owners information of various regions.-Power market scenario in United Kingdom and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2030.-An overview on United Kingdom renewable power market, highlighting installed capacity trends (2006-2030), generation trends(2006-2030) and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources in 2016.-Detailed overview of United Kingdom Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market with installed capacity and generation trends and major active and upcoming Solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects.-Deal analysis of United Kingdom Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market. Deals are analyzed on the basis of mergers, acquisitions, partnership, asset finance, debt offering, equity offering, private equity (PE) and venture capitalists (VC).-Key policies and regulatory framework supporting the development of renewable power sources in general and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) in particular.-Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country.Inquire for Report atReasons to buy-The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner.-Identify key growth and investment opportunities in United Kingdom Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.-Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) market.-Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industry's growth potential.-Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events.-Identify key partners and business development avenues.-Understand and respond to your competitors' business structure, strategy and prospects.Companies MentionedTrina Solar LimitedTerraForm Power, Inc.Primrose SolarLightsource Renewable Energy LimitedChina Sunergy Co., Ltd.British Solar Renewables LimitedAbout ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queriesPune:505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
POU Water Purifiers Market is expected to reach US$ 471 Mn at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2014 to 2020

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Future Market Insights (FMI) announced the release of a latest report titled, POU Water Purifiers Market: MENA Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020. FMI estimates that the Point of Use (POU) water purifier market in Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach US$ 471 Mn at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2014 to 2020.View complete report:Residential water purification system includes point of use water purifiers (POU), point of entry (POE) water purifiers, portable water purifiers. Moreover, the demand for POU water purifiers is high among consumers in MENA region as compared to POE and portable water purifiers.In the POU water purifiers market, products with high purification capabilities such as combination of reverse osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet (UV) technologies are more preferred. It has also been observed that a majority of the demand is coming from urban centres in GCC when compared to the entire MENA region.Request for sample report:Market SegmentsThe POU water purifiers market is segmented on the basis of technology which includes RO, UV and media-based. RO technology based water purifiers segment is estimated to account for slightly over 40% of the total POU water purifiers market in MENA region in 2014. Media-based water purification, which is a conventional water purification technology has also witnessed technological advancements, and is estimated to display a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period, in terms of volume. The third technology, UV based water purifiers, is estimated to exhibit a sluggish growth rate during the forecast period due to its limitation in removing only organic contaminants from water. Additionally, UV-based water purifiers are also priced higher in comparison to media-based water purifiers and hence the product preference for UV based water purifiers is comparatively low.Region-wise, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Algeria are the promising markets for POU water purifiers. In addition, a cumulative scenario has been highlighted for rest of MENA (includes smaller countries like Kuwait, Jordan etc.). Among the aforementioned regions, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to be the prominent market for POU water purifiers, followed by Turkey, due to its growing population and rapid urbanization, and increasing awareness for safe drinking water forecast period.Request for TOC:In addition, penetration of bottled water is a challenge for the POU water purifiers market in Anatolia. As a result, Anatolia is estimated to demonstrate a sluggish growth rate in the near future. Furthermore, POU water purifiers market in UAE is anticipated to reach 149.2 thousand units by 2020, exhibiting a CAGR of 10% between 2014 and 2020.Drivers and RestraintsDeteriorating water quality, rising cost of bottled water, increasing population coupled with increasing per capita income are some of the prominent factors which will catalyse the point of use water purifiers in the region. Though the MENA market is attractive in terms of absolute dollar opportunity, low awareness about safe drinking water and product unavailability are major challenges for the MENA POU water purifier market.Competitive LandscapeKey players operating in the MENA water purifier market are LG, Eureka Forbes, Strauss Water, Panasonic, WaterLife and Coolplex. The report sheds light on their key growth strategies and recent developments. In addition, the report also discusses the value chain followed by multinational companies in MENA for POU water purifiers.Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:
Operating Room Equipment Market is registering a healthy 6.7% CAGR between 2017 and 2023

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The global operating room equipment market is anticipated to grow substantially in the forthcoming years, according to a report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The market is currently fragmented and features a large pool of regional as well as global players. A significant share of the overall market is held by the top three companies, namely GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare and Stryker Corporation.Key market players are expected to invest into research and development of innovative equipment in order to gain traction in the market, according to analysts at TMR. Vendors are expected to focus on production of advanced equipment for hybrid operating rooms, to thrive the market competition. Other key players participating in the global operating room equipment market are TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG., Olympus Corporation, Skytron, LLC, Maquet Holding B.V. & Co. KG (Getinge AB), Philips Healthcare, and Steris Corporation.Request A Sample Of Report @According to TMRs report, the global operating room equipment market is envisaged to reach a valuation of US$42,873.3 mn by 2023, rising from US$29,105.4 mn in 2017. The market is predicted to grow at a steady 6.7% CAGR over the forecast duration from 2017 to 2023.In 2017, among the types of products, the movable imaging systems segment held the dominant position in the operating room equipment market, generating a revenue of US$8,384.9 million. Over the forecast period from 2017 to 2023, this segment is expected to witness rapid growth owing to increased funding by government bodies.Geography-wise, North America and Europe are two of the largest markets for operating room equipment, on account of the larger affordability of countries in these regions for purchasing and installing advanced medical devices. There is a strong demand for constant upgrading of operating room equipment, giving these two regions a considerable boost in the global operating room equipment market.Request Brochure @Rising Prevalence of Chronic Ailments to Boost GrowthProminent factors driving the operating room equipment market are expanding geriatric populace combined with rising frequencies of chronic diseases, rising awareness about the viability of minimally obtrusive techniques. Additionally, the expanding number of changing inclinations and a vast patient pool for medical procedures, enhancing health care basics and moderateness of the patients are additionally foreseen to fuel the development in this market over the duration of forecast. Besides, expanding ventures for innovative headways in this field are likewise expected to supplement the market development in the coming years.Increased Government Spending to Provide Lucrative Market OpportunityGrowing assets and investments by different government bodies and private investors are additionally fuelling the market to a large extent. For example, in its 2016-17 spending plan, the Hong Kong government devoted an arrangement of USD 200 billion for a ten-year hospital improvement system for that would encourage extend and update health care institutions. Under the arrangement, number of operating performance centers would increment by 40% and pro outpatient benefit limit would increment by 40% from 6.8 million to 10 million attendances for a year. The design likewise incorporates redevelopment and construction of different clinics in the the region. This could be a potentially significant factor leading to upsurge of the operating room equipment market in the coming years.Hybrid Operating Rooms to Emerge as Key Market TrendThe increasing demand of hybrid operating rooms is expected to emerge as a leading trend and positively impact market growth as surgeons and clinicians as they have greater flexibility across surgical procedures, which ensures patient safety and expand their therapeutic options. Moreover, the rapid proliferation of multispecialty clinics in developing regions of Asia, particularly India, is expected to open exciting opportunities for market players.This review is based TMRs report titled, Operating Room Equipment Market (Product Type  Movable Imaging Systems, Biomedical Systems, Endoscopes, Anesthesia Systems, Operating Tables, Operating Room Lights, Surgical Imaging Displays, Operating Room Integration Systems, Surgical Booms, and Microscopes)  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017  2023.About UsTransparency Market Research is a next-generation market intelligence provider, offering fact-based solutions to industry leaders, consultants, and strategy professionals.Our reports are single-point solutions for industries to grow, evolve, and mature. Our real-time data collection methods along with ability to track more than one million high growth niche products are aligned with your aims. The detailed and proprietary statistical models used by our analysts offer insights for making right decision in the shortest span of time. For organizations that require specific but comprehensive information we offer customized solutions through adhoc reports. These demands are delivered with the perfect combination of right sense of fact-oriented problem solving methodologies and leveraging existing data repositories.TMR believes that unison of solutions for client-specific problems with right methodology of research is the key to help enterprises reach right decision.Contact Us90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
PROPERTY MANAGERS GET FREE OPEN SOURCE CLOUD SOFTWARE WITH RENTOMY

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https://zigguro.org/rentomy

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PHOENIX, AZ - Zigguro LLC has released Rentomy, free open source cloud software for residential rental property managers. With about 43 million rental residential units in the U.S. alone (per statista.com), there is a substantial market for software that caters to both the professional property managers and individual landlords.A fully functional online demo is atRentomy can be deployed as "Software as a Service" on the web or in-house, and property managers can sign up right away.Users only need a web browser to securely access their portals and can upload pictures directly from mobile devices."Rentomy was created to help not just property managers, but also tenants, owners and others. Free open source software can help lower the cost for everyone," said Cidney Rhee, head of marketing at Zigguro.Rentomy includes online rental applications, monthly statements, maintenance requests, document and transaction management, as well as lease management, inspection reports, property listings, notes and reminders, and unpaid rent alerts. Administrator's features include listing and access management, as well as multiple data backups."Rentomy is easy to use and install. We think it's all about useful features. We've been property managers ourselves," said Rhee.Rentomy, along with download and installation instructions is available for free atAbout Zigguro:Zigguro makes free open source software for business and software developers. Founded in 2017, Zigguro also makes Cloudgizer, a software development tool for the cloud, with emphasis on performance and low footprint.To learn more about Rentomy and Zigguro products, visit, email Sergio Mijares at admin@zigguro.org, or call +1 (951) 357-6259. Mailing address: Zigguro LLC, PO Box 1432, Queen Creek AZ 85142
Washer System for Vehicle Market Size & Share - Industry Trend and Forecast 2018 - 2026

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The report analyzes and presents an overview of "Washer System for Vehicle Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018 - 2026" worldwide.The main objective of this report is to define, describe, and forecast the global Washer System for Vehicle market on the basis of types of applications, major sectors, deployment models, organization size, and regions. The report contains an analysis of the major factors influencing the growth of the market (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges). It aims to strategically analyze the micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the market. The report attempts to forecast the market size for 5 major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. It contains key vendor profiles and comprehensively analyzes their core competencies. The report also tracks and analyzes competitive developments, including partnerships, collaborations, acquisitions, new product developments, and R&D activities in the market.Get Sample Copy of this report @The washer system used in vehicles is a vital convenience and safety feature. The washer system removes the dirt and water and improves the visibility to aid driver. The washer system consist of a water tank, water pump, wiper arms, motor and other components. Technological advancements has led to development of headlight washer technologies with the conventional windshield washer system.The windshield washer system is mandatory across all the regions, with differences in wiping area. The demand for optimal visibility has led to rise in wiper blade trends and evolution of beam blade and hybrid blade. Luxury vehicles such as Mercedes has started using integrated blades with water jets. The use of this technology allows saving space and light weighting of the vehicle as it consumes less water and permits vehicle to have a smaller washer tank. The washer system with integrated jets cleanse the windshield without any smudge and obtains better visibility.The headlamp washer system have undergone a revolution with the wipers disappearing as the new polycarbonate headlamps developed scratch. The headlamp washer nowadays only use a high speed jet fitted on the bumper that removes the dirt on the headlamp surface. The headlamp washer system for vehicle market is expected to grow in North America and Europe region as they use road salts and antifreeze chemicals to prevent ice forming on roads. The dirt accumulation on headlamps increase glare to other road users and also reduces visibility of driver. Continental Automotive GmbH, Kautex and Valeo are leading companies developing headlight washer systems.The global washer system for vehicle market is classified by washer system type, vehicle type, component type, sales channel type and geography. By system type the global washer system for vehicle market is classified under three systems. The windshield washer system is the leading segment with major market share. The market for the headlight washer system is expected to witness a higher CAGR. The headlight washer system has penetrated the premium car markets with leading automakers like Mercedes, Volvo and Skoda using the system. The development of technology and visibility regulations are suspected to boost the headlight washer system for vehicle market further.By Vehicle type the global washer system for vehicle market is segmented under passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle. The passenger vehicle is expected to drive the washer system for vehicle market with its increasing production. As the penetration of rear wipers in the passenger cars is higher than the commercial vehicles it is fruitful market for the washer system components such as wiper arms. The North America is a leading market for the commercial vehicle production and thus promises high demand for the commercial vehicle washer systems.By components the washer system for vehicle market consist of parts such as wiper blade, wiper arm, washer tan, motor and other 3 components. The wiper motor is one of the leading components in the washer system. The increase in SUV and cross over market is leading to growth in wiper blades, as such vehicles have rear wipers also.By sales channel, the washer system for vehicle market is segmented under OEM and Aftermarket. Wiper blades and wiper arms are the leading components for the aftermarket sales. As the wipers have a shell life and needs to be changed on intervals they pose a strong aftermarket potential.By Geography, the global washer system for vehicle market is spread across regions divided as North America, Europe, Asia- Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. The Asia-Pacific is the dominant market for the washer system and is expected to depict further increase in market penetration.The global key players operating in washer system for vehicle market include Valeo SA, Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental Automotive GmbH, Hella KGaA Hueck &Co., Kautex, Magneti Marelli S.p.A., Denso Corporation, B. Hepworth and Company Limited, Federal-Mogul Motorparts LLC., AM Equipment, Pilot Automotive.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Request For Enquiry @The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout UsMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Foaming Agents Market to Penetrate Untapped Regions During 2015  2021

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Foaming agents are used create foam in food products and also used to add flavour to the food products. Various types of foaming agents include Gelatin and Lecithin.Gelatin is used in various food products to stabilize the foam. However, Lecithin is primarily used for converting juices to foams. Foaming agents are of various types including natural and artificial foaming agents. Natural foaming agents such as Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria are used in various applications such as carbonated beverages, juices and beer. These foaming agents are especially used in products that require enhanced foaming properties.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global foaming agents market is segmented on the basis of type, application and region. Based on the type, food foaming agents is segmented into natural and artificial. Of which, the natural foaming agent is the leading segment in terms of revenue contribution, followed by the artificial foaming agents. The natural foaming agent is the dominating segment, as companies are primarily manufacturing natural foaming agents in order to meet the rising preference of the customers for the food products that contain natural ingredients. On the basis of application food foaming agents, segmentation includes beverages and dairy. Of which, beverage segment is expected to be the dominating segment over the forecast period due the expanding market for the beverage such as alcohol globally, However, followed by the dairy, dairy segment is expected to witness consistent growth in the coming four to five years. Global foaming agents market is segmented on the basis of the region into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa and Japan.The Global foaming agents market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period due to the expanding beverage and dairy industry. Globally among all regions, North America is the most dominating segment followed by other regions. In North America, U.S. is expected to contribute highest market share, followed by other countries during the forecast period. North America is expected to contribute maximum market share owing to the high consumption of food products, especially in the dairy segment. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness fast growth in the next four to five yearsA major factor that fuel the growth of foaming agents market includes the growing demand of consumers for the food products that are superior in taste. Another factor that is expected to boost the demand of foaming agent is increasing consumption of beverages such as alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Moreover, application of foaming agent in beverages such as alcohol is the cost-effective method for releasing foam in drinks. However, major factor that is expected to hinder the growth of foaming agents is adverse effects related to the consumption of food products in beverage and dairy segmentMajor companies operating in Foaming Agents are Nature S.A., Bergen International, Adams Food Ingredients Ltd, Desert King International, Garuda International Inc., Kerry Inc., RIKEN VITAMIN Co., Ltd. Companies operating in foaming agent market are adopting strategy to launch numerous foaming agents in order to cater to the evolving demand for foaming agents especially from food and beverage industry. Companies are also adopting a strategy to expand its geographical reach in order to increase its market presence and grab the maximum untapped and potential market related to foaming agents. Companies operating in foaming agents market are also adopting a strategy to increase the revenue by manufacturing foaming agents tailored for the specific application.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Key features of this reportDrivers, restraints, and challenges shaping the Foaming Agents market dynamicsLatest innovations and key events in the industryAnalysis of business strategies of the top playersFoaming Agents market estimates and forecasts(2015 -2021)About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Just How Big Is The Diabetic Lancing Device Industry? Here's What You Need to Know - China

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Diabetic Lancing Device Market Key Companies Analyzed In Report Are:B. Braun Melsungen AG, Terumo Corporation, Becton Dickinson, Sanofi, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Bayer AG, Novo Nordisk A S, Eli Lilly and Company, Owen Mumford Ltd, Medtronic, Ypsomed Holding AG, Sarstedt AG & Co, Greiner Bio One, Abbott Laboratories, HTL-STREFA S.A, Improve Medical, UltiMed, Inc., Allison Medical, Inc., Artsana S.p.a., VOGT MEDICAL, Perrigo Diabetes Care, MedExel Co., Ltd, ARKRAY Inc., Simple Diagnostics, Stat Medical, Terumo, Trividia Health, and others.Get Sample Copy of Report At:Market Drivers and Restraints:Diabetes is a global epidemic affecting an estimated 382 million people worldwide. The WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030. An estimated 4 million people die annually from the complications associated with diabetes. Therefore, if the current trend associated with the prevalence of diabetes continues over the coming years, the number of diabetic patients across the globe would be tremendous after a decade. Increasing prevalence of diabetes will result in the rising demand for devices and products to monitor and control diabetes, eventually leading to increased consumption of lancets. Thus, the demand for lancets is expected to be enormous in the coming future.Lancets are one of the widely used alternative device to obtain the blood samples. These devices are receiving global recognition and acceptance due to its several convenient characteristics which gives them an edge over the traditional methods for vein puncture. Some of the important features of the safety lancets are painless vein puncture, easy handling, and safety while using. The major applications of the lancets are HIV screening test, capillary blood micro sampling and cholesterol test, blood group test, coagulation tests, haemoglobin, allergy tests, and many other blood based tests.According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), approximately 29.2 million people in the US are estimated suffer from diabetes in 2015. Japan had approximately 7.2 million. in 2015.Rising prevalence of diabetic population, increasing awareness for blood glucose monitoring device and increased awareness of safety measures in order to avoid the infectious diseases are some of the significant factors of the increased awareness and use of lancets. However, the price erosion is a major issue that is negatively impacting the diabetes management devices. Moreover, significant changes in reimbursement policies in the US for blood glucose monitors, particularly the ongoing impact to the private insurance sector are some of the factors restraining the growth of diabetic lancing device market.Market Segmentation:The global diabetic lancing devices market is segmented on the basis of type, gauge, penetration depth, and end user.On the basis of type, the market for diabetic lancing devices it is segmented into safety lancets and standard lancets. The safety lancets are further categorized into push-button safety lancets, pressure activated safety lancets, and side button safety lancets. The pen needles is further categorized into standard pen needles and safety pen needles.On the basis of gauge, the market for diabetic lancing devices it is segmented into 17/18g, 21g, 23g, 25g, 28g, 30g, and others.On the basis of penetration depth, the market for diabetic lancing devices it is segmented into 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm, 1.1 mm to 1.5 mm, 1.6 mm to 2.0 mm, 2.1 mm to 2.5 mm, 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm, and others.On the basis of the end users, it is segmented into hospitals & clinics, diagnostic centers & medical institutions, home care & home diagnostics, research & academic laboratories, and others.Get Exclusive Discount @Detailed Regional Analysis:The global diabetic lancing device market consists of countries namely America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.Europe is projected to hold the largest share of the global diabetic lancing device market attributed to change in lifestyle, increase in R&D activities for the development of new drugs. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in 2015 approximately 59.8 million people had diabetes in Europe. HTL Strefa and Sarstedt are two European companies which have marked their presence on the global level as a major manufacturer of lancets and safety lancets in the world.The Americas holds a key share in diabetic lancing device treatment market. Moreover, North America dominated the overall market in terms of revenue in 2016. In the U.S., ongoing uncertainty as to the future of the Affordable Care Act and the Trump Administrations repeal and replace initiative may further impact the market.Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest region to grow at a high CAGR during the forecast period, led by an increase in government spending on healthcare services in India and China. A large number of lancet manufacturers are from developing Asian countries such as China, India, Japan and Republic of Korea mainly because of the low labour cost and low R&D cost. China being one of the highly populated and technologically advanced developing countries, has a major number of lancets manufacturers. Some of the renowned Chinese Safety Lancet manufacturers are Guangzhou Improve Medical Instruments Co, Huang and KDL China.The Middle East & Africa is projected to expand during the forecast period, owing to the rise in investments by market players and increase in prevalence of diabetic lancing devices.Table of Content1. Report Prologue2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentBrowse more on Diabetic Lancing Device Research Report- Forecast 2023 at:About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Innovation Trends with Current Overview 2018 Deliveroo, Delivery Hero, DoorDash, GrubHub, Just Eat Holding, MEITUAN, Foodler, Postmates, Swiggy, OrderUp, Munchery

ReportsWeb

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http://www.reportsweb.com/global-online-on-demand-food-delivery-services-market-size-status-and-forecast-2018-2025

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Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market report provides a vital recent industry data which covers in general market situation along with future scenario for industry around the Globe. It also consist of major data along with forecasts of a global market along with clear presentation of diagrams (charts and tables).This report focuses on the global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services development in United States, Europe and China.Request a sample copy atOnline on-demand food delivery service providers are adopting digital and social media promotional campaigns in their marketing strategies. These services are further boosted by digital platforms through mobile and smartphone technologies. Their various features increase their service visibility and expand their product portfolio. Further, service providers further use social media platforms to run their service promotions and campaigns. These platforms increase consumer engagement and create brand and service awareness. The increasing digital platform and consumer engagement on social media platforms is identified to be one of the key factors having a positive impact on the online on-demand food delivery services market.In 2017, order-focused food delivery services dominated the market by accounting for a share of more than 95%In 2017, the Americas dominated the global online on-demand food delivery services market and accounted for a share of more than 45%In 2017, the global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 32.6% during 2018-2025.The key players covered in this studyDeliverooDelivery HeroDoorDashGrubHubJust Eat HoldingMEITUANFoodlerPostmatesSwiggyOrderUpMuncheryMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaThe study objectives of this report are:To study and forecast the market size of Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services in global market.To analyze the global key players, SWOT analysis, value and global market share for top players.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region.To analyze and compare the market status and forecast between China and major regions, namely, United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Rest of World.To analyze the global 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.For more information about this report atMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoOrder-focused food delivery servicesLogistics-focused food delivery servicesMarket segment by Application, split intoOffice buildingsFamilyOtherKey Highlights:A Clear understanding of the Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market based on growth, constraints, opportunities, feasibility study.Concise Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market study based on major geographical regions.Analysis of evolving market segments as well as a complete study of existing Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market segments.Key Points from Table of Content1 Report Overview2 Global Growth Trends3 Market Share by Key Players4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application5 United States6 Europe7 China8 Japan9 Southeast Asia10 India11 Central & South America12 International Players Profiles12.1 Deliveroo12.1.1 Deliveroo Company Details12.1.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.1.3 Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Introduction12.1.4 Deliveroo Revenue in Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Business (2013-2018)12.1.5 Deliveroo Recent Development12.2 Delivery Hero12.2.1 Delivery Hero Company Details12.2.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.2.3 Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Introduction12.2.4 Delivery Hero Revenue in Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Business (2013-2018)12.2.5 Delivery Hero Recent Development12.3 DoorDash12.3.1 DoorDash Company Details12.3.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.3.3 Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Introduction12.3.4 DoorDash Revenue in Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Business (2013-2018)12.3.5 DoorDash Recent Development13 Market Forecast 2018-202514 Analyst's Viewpoints/ConclusionsList of Tables and FiguresFigure Other Case StudiesFigure Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Report Years ConsideredTable Global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Size 2013-2025 (Million US$)Figure Global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Size and Growth Rate 2013-2025 (Million US$)Table Global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Size by Regions 2013-2025 (Million US$)Table Global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Size by Regions 2013-2018 (Million US$)Table Global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Share by Regions 2013-2018Figure Global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Share by Regions 2013-2018Figure Global Online On-Demand Food Delivery Services Market Share by Regions 2018Table Market Top TrendsPlace a Direct order for complete report at(Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.)Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Electric Wires market 2018 analyze the market by countries by type, by application and by manufacturers, with revenue and market share by key countries

Electric Wires Market

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Wires are able to carry electrical energywhich are divided into bare wire, magnet wire and insulated wire. Bare wires have no insulating layers, including copper, aluminum flat wires, aerial strands, and various sections (such as profile lines, bus bars, copper bars, aluminum bars, etc.). It is mainly used for outdoor overhead and indoor busbars and switch boxes. Electromagnetic wire is an insulated wire that generates a magnetic field after being energized or induces a current in a magnetic field. It is mainly used for motor and transformer windings and other related electromagnetic equipment. The conductor is mainly a copper wire, and should have a thin insulating layer and good electrical and mechanical properties, as well as heat, moisture, solvent resistance and other properties. Different insulation materials can be used to obtain different characteristics.Request a Sample Report @An electric wire is an adaptable metal strand protected with a dielectric material used as a conductor of electricity. A cable consists of at least two wires, which are fortified, bent, or braided together. Wires embodied in non-conducting plastic materials, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE) to protect users and the surrounding environment.The wire industry analysis distinguishes the development of renewable power generation to be one of the essential elements for the development of the electric wire market. The focal point of several nations over the globe to market renewable power generation will create a huge demand for electrical wires. This is basically because of the absence of a transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure in areas where sustainable power source resources are set up. In addition, the development of the current renewable power generation plants, in the emerging nations, will likewise bring about the increasing demand for electrical wires. Activities, for example, extract duty exemption for Ferro-silicon-magnesium and pig iron used for manufacturing components for wind-operated electric power generators and the objective set by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission to generate more than 1,00,000 MW of solar power by the end of 2022, will boost the demand for electrical wires in this region.Scope of the Report :-This report focuses on the Electrical Wires in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.First of all, the increasing demand for power, light and communication has kept demand high for wire and cable. Second, building wires will remain the biggest market and will followed by fiber optic wire and power. Talking about the power sector, copper holds high significance in terms of usage and consumption in this sector. The world average per capita copper consumption is around 2.7 kg. Electrical sector is the largest user of copper in India. Since copper and its alloy components play a vital role in electricity generation, distribution and utilisation, 12-15% per annum demand growth in this sector is possible, if good quality is assured. In the following yearAsia Pacific market is expected to grow through the forecast period.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversLeoniJudd WireSumitomo Electric IndustriesFurukawa Electric industriesGeneral Cable CorporationBeldenCords Cable Industries LimitedFinolex CablesTorrent CablesEnfield CablesHitachi CableMarlin WireMarket Segment by Type, coversWiresHouse WireElectronic WireMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoPower TransmissionTelecomBuilding WiringHave any special requirement on above Electrical Wires market report? Ask to our IndustryExpert @Some Of The Major Factors Driving The Growth Of The Market:Increasing demand across different application areas, including transmission, engine, lights, seat heaters, braking, and air conditioners is expected to boost the growth of the global electrical wires market over the forecast period. Surging demand for in-vehicle wiring applications is also expected to substantially fuel market demand during the forecast period. Rising urbanization and infrastructure development together with surging transmission grid capacity are also expected to serve as a potential growth factor to the market. Supportive government initiatives with regards to the housing sector provide ample potential growth opportunities. In addition, rising demand across the telecommunication sector is also expected to positively affect the growth of the overall market during the forecast period.Rapid urbanization, which is resulting in the expansion of power transmission & distribution networks, as well as the increase in residential & commercial buildings, contributes to the growth of the market along with a high market share. Besides, rising demand for low-voltage wires in the installations of automobiles also creates a huge demand for electrical wires, hence adding to the growth of the market during the forecast period.Asia-Pacific To Dominate The Market Over The Forecast PeriodThe Asia Pacific dominated the market for electrical wires in 2017, with China accounting for the majority of its revenue share. The growth of this region can be attributed to its large population base, development in transmission and distribution networks, rising industrialization and urbanization, increasing automobile manufacturers, increased renewable energy production, and favorable governmental drives for the expansion or upgrade of existing infrastructure.China is expected to lead the market for electrical wires in the region substantially over the forecast period. The country has a relatively high number of wire manufacturers and its production is more than double to that of the largest wire manufacturing company. Along with China, countries like India, South Korea, and Japan are also expected to contribute considerably to the electrical wires market in the Asia Pacific region. The market in India is estimated to grow at a CAGR of approximately % over the forecast period. Moreover, North America and Europe together accounted for around 34.2% share of the overall market in 2017.Browse Complete Report with TOC of Electrical Wires Market Report, Visit :About US:Reports Monitor is a market research and consulting company that 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 including Health care, Technology, Chemicals, Materials, and Energy.We periodically update our market research studies to ensure our clients get the most recent, relevant, and valuable information. 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Antiaging Products and Services Market Analysis 2018 With Top Industry Players Like CHANEL, GSK, Allergan, Neutrogena & More

Global Antiaging Products and Services Market

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The global antiaging products and services market is expected to reach USD 859.11 billion by 2025, from USD 347.58 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Looking for more information on this market? Get Free sample report @Key Developments in the Market: In October 2014, Bellatora Inc. (U.S.) has launched a new prestige anti-aging beauty line with advanced Torra48 release ingredient delivery system. The product helps in the anti-aging of the skin and there are several other products that are launched in the same segment by the company.Major Market Drivers and Restraints: The rapid developments in anti-aging skin care services Anti-aging product advancements coupled with improved efficiency Increased emphasis on promotional strategies Growth in global aging populationMajor Market Competitors/PlayersSome of the major players operating in the global antiaging products and services market are Chanel SA, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Allergan Inc, Neutrogena Corporation, Procter & Gamble, Elizabeth Arden Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Orlane SA, Revlon Inc, Novartis International AG, Unilever PLC, Avon Products Inc, Woodridge Labs Inc, Beiersdorf, L'Oral SA, Merck & Company Inc, Christian Dior, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, NeoStrata Company Inc, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd among others.Browse Detailed TOC, Tables and Figures @Market Segmentation: Based on product, the market is segmented into UV absorbers, anti-wrinkle products, anti-stretch products and others. Based on therapies and services, the market is segmented into eye-lid surgery, abdominoplasty, hormone replacement therapy, breast augmentation, liposuction, gene therapy, injectable skin, botox, telomere based therapy, rejuvenation and dermal fillers, sclerotherapy, anti-pigmentation therapy, hair restoration services and chemical peels. Based on geography, the market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and, Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and, Brazil among others.Reasons to Purchase this Report Current and future of global antiaging products and services market outlook in the developed and emerging markets The segment that is expected to dominate the market as well as the segment which holds highest CAGR in the forecast period. Regions/countries that are expected to witness the fastest growth rates during the forecast period The latest developments, market shares, and strategies that are employed by the major market playersAny specific requirements are you looking for? Ask to your Industry Experts @Related ReportEurope Healthcare IT Market  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Europe Healthcare IT Market, By Products & Services (HCIT Outsourcing Services, Healthcare Provider Solutions {Clinical Solutions, Non-Clinical Solutions}, Healthcare Payer Solutions), By End User (Providers, Payers), Country (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Nether lands, Switzerland, Rest of Europe)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com
Composite Doors and Windows Market 2018-2023 | Andersen Corporation, Dortek Ltd, The Pella Corporation, Vello nordic AS, ECOSTE Wood Polymer, Hardy Smith Group, Special-Lite Inc.

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Market Overview:Market research future published a raw research report Global Composite doors and windows market that contains the information from 2018 to 2023. The Composite doors and windows market is expected to grow with the CAGR of approximately 5.8% from 2018 to 2023.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 85 market data tables and figures spread in 140 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content & market synopsis on Global Composite doors and windows market Information from 2018 to 2023"Composite doors are the new type of doors which are manufactures with two or materials to ensure higher performance and minimal maintenance. These doors are manufactures with wood or wood composite plastics that makes the doors strong and energy efficient. They are highly energy efficient than many other doors and provide good thermal insulation to the premises. They have high durability and can withstand high degree of wear and tear. They are extremely water resistant and they have the feel like traditional timber doors. The market is currently driven by the need for corrosion and heat resistant doors and windows in various industrial and commercial applications.The report has been analyzed based on the material type, application and regions. Among all the regions, North-America region is expected to dominate the market for composite doors and windows. There is a huge demand for the doors especially in the industrial, commercial and healthcare applications. The doors are resistant to sound, dust and are easy to maintain.Get Sample Copy @Study Objectives of Global Composite doors and Windows 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 Composite doors and Windows market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the global Composite doors and Windows market based on various tools such as Supply Chain Analysis, and Porters Five Force Analysis To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to regions and their respective key countries To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by material type, product, application and region To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the composite doors and windows marketBrowse Full Report @Industrial application segment leads the market for composite doors and windowsIn North America and Europe, many construction projects are undertaken that focus on building offices, healthcare and educational institutions. This is driving the market for composite doors and windows because of their cost effectiveness and their ease of maintenance. The insulation property of these doors provide better sound resistant and heat retention. Also, the use of the doors significantly reduce the energy and utility bills which adds to a further advantage.Key Player: Andersen Corporation (U.S.) Dortek Ltd (U.K.) The Pella Corporation (U.S.) Vello nordic AS (Norway) ECOSTE Wood Polymer (India) Hardy Smith Group (India) Special-Lite Inc.(U.S.)Intended Audience Distributer & Supplier companies End Users Consultants and Investment bankers Government as well as Independent Regulatory AuthoritiesProduct Analysis Product matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional Information Regulatory Landscape Pricing Analysis Macroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis Geographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany Information Profiling of 10 key market players In-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report title Competitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesThis research report has provides the insights, on various levels of analyses such industry analysis, market share analysis leading market players and their profiles. This report also helps in studying the target segments by providing views on emerging & high-growth segments and market conclusion. Together the market data comprise and discuss with the basic assessments on the competitive scenarios & strategies, of the global Composite doors and windows market, including the high-growth regions, countries and their political, economic and technological environments. Furthermore the project report also provides the views over the historical market values as well as, pricing and cost analysis of the same.Enquiry Before Buyning @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:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Disc Packaging Wallets Market is driven by demand for music albums worldwide

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Global Disc Packaging Wallets Market: OverviewDisc packaging wallets are compact disc protection solutions. Compact discs being extremely delicate, require protection from water, chemicals, tear, and other varieties of physical damage. Disc packaging wallets are packaging solutions that can contain more than one compact discs. Disc packaging wallets enjoyed wide usage about until a decade ago, after which, a decline was witnessed. This was due to the rise of alternative storage devices such as external hard drives, which could store more than what is achievable with the help of a compact disc. Despite that, a significant amount of todays population use compact discs. The packaging industry has undergone rapid transformation in the last decade, with consumer preference inclining more towards convenient packaging solutions. Disc packaging wallets manufacturers emphasize on features such as compatibility with full color printing, to create a vibrant look. Also, competition among manufacturers have led them to prefer raw materials with special features, such as anti-static properties. Factors which contribute to high preference for disc packaging wallets is their ability to pack more than one compact discs, without compromising on safety and protection against damage. The global disc packaging wallets market is poised to decline further over the forecast period, due to increase in the number of people with access to internet. However, manufacturers of disc packaging wallets across the world are expected to use the opportunity to increase their presence in regions with limited or no internet access.PDF Brochure For Future Advancements @Global Disc Packaging Wallets Market: DynamicsThe global compact disc market has witnessed a steady decline in the last decade. However, it would be too early to term compact discs obsolete. Several companies use compact discs as a means to communicate media to target buyers, by placing them in places with high foot traffic, such as pharmacies, retail stores and supermarkets, among others. This is one of the key factors expected to generate demand for disc packaging wallets, over the forecast period. The global disc packaging wallets market is expected to have more penetration in regions with least internet access. According to a survey by International Telecommunications Union in 2016, nearly 47% of the world population had internet access. Of these, internet enjoyed more than 80% penetration in the developed countries, while the figure was half, in developing regions. Therefore, the developing countries are expected to be at the epicenter of marketing strategies for compact disc manufacturers and disc packaging wallets manufacturers. The global disc packaging wallets market is also expected to be driven by demand for music albums worldwide. They are mostly used to contain a full music album, or a collection of compact discs. A key factor for high preference for disc packaging wallets is their portability. Disc packaging wallets are manufactured in a variety of configurations, all of which are aimed at increasing convenience as well as maximize disc protection. In 2015, more than 80% of the revenues generated from music sales in Japan, were in compact disc format. Therefore, in terms of penetration, disc packaging wallets enjoy higher demand in Japan. Despite the decline, the global disc packaging wallets market manufacturers are expected to target the internet deprived population, over the forecast period. Availability of alternative disc packaging solutions such as disc packaging sleeves, might hamper growth of the global disc packaging wallets market.Download Table Of Content @About Us:Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Packer Bottle Market is Projected to Grow US$ 6,600 Mn by 2027

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The global packer bottles market will register 6.4% CAGR through 2027, according to a report by Future Market Insights (FMI). In terms of sales, the packer bottles market is estimated to account for revenue worth US$ 3,555 Mn by 2017. By 2027, sales of packer bottles for application in tablets and capsules will reach 74,418 units. Food & beverages, and pharmaceutical sector will be major end-users of packer bottles. In addition, chemicals, followed by food & beverages sector is expected to exhibit highest CAGR through 2027.Request to Sample of Report @Polyethylene will Remain Preferred Plastic Material for Packer Bottles GloballyIncreasing preference for plastic materials, and anti-counterfeit packer bottles are factors driving growth of the global packer bottles market. Based on material type, manufacturers operating in the market will primarily rely more on plastic for production of packer bottles than glass. By 2017, sales of plastic packer bottles is expected to reach US$ 2,018.3 Mn in revenue. Polyethylene sub-segment of plastic material for packer bottles will retain its dominance in terms of value as well as volume in the market. In terms of value, sales of packer bottles of capacity size above 500 cc is estimated to register 6.6% CAGR through 2027.Government in various countries are increasingly encouraging development of private healthcare market. This will fuel demand for packer bottles in healthcare sector. In addition, increasing shipping needs has revved up demand for bags & containers for transportation of products and materials globally. Such factors will significantly contribute to growth of the global packer bottle market through 2027. In contrast, soaring adoption of blister packaging is likely to hinder growth of the market. Additionally, increasing commoditization and extensive reforms is likely to hike the prices of packer bottles, which will further inhibit demand for packer bottles.North America to Remain the Largest Market for Packer BottlesIn terms of value, North America will continue to be the leading market for packer bottles, and is expected to exhibit highest CAGR by 2027-end. Pharmaceutical sector will be the largest end-user of packer bottles manufactured in North America. Attributed to chemical inertness and impermeable features, the glass packer bottles will witness a comparatively higher demand in pharmaceutical and chemical sector.Request to Report Methodology @In terms of value, India and China will register highest CAGR among other countries of Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ). The packer bottle market in APEJ is projected to register 6.6% CAGR through 2027. Polyethylene segment will witness significant demand from manufacturers of packer bottles operating in the APEJ region. HDPE segment among polyethylene materials will register highest 7.1% CAGR through 2027. In contrast, market for packer bottles in MEA and Latin America are expected to register a relatively low CAGR through 2027.Key market players identified in FMIs report include Amcor Ltd., Gerresheimer AG, Berry Global Group Inc., Mpact Limited, Comar, LLC., Berlin Packaging, LLC, Beatson Clark Limited, Alpha Packaging, Inc., Maynard and Harris Plastics Ltd., CL Smith Company, Shanghai Hopeck International Trade Co., Ltd., Dongguan Fu Kang Plastic Products Co., Ltd, Jiangmen K. K. Plastic Factory Ltd., Xuzhou Das Packing Solution Co., Ltd, Andler Packaging Group, Aaron Packaging, Inc., KG International, Inc., Avantis Packaging, Inc., Graham Packaging Company L.P., O.Berk Company, LLC.Get full report now @About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact UsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:
Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market to Witness Huge Growth by 2023: Key Players Siemens AG, IBM Corporation, Alphabet, Microsoft

Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market

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Latest research study from HTF MI with title Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the market and contains Future trend, Current Growth Factors, attentive opinions, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry validated market data. The study is segmented by products type, application/end-users. The research study provides estimates for Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Forecast till 2023.If you are involved in the Industrial Artificial Intelligence 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 Applications Semiconductor and Electronics, Energy and Power, Pharmaceuticals, Automobile, Heavy Metals and Machine Manufacturing, Food and Beverages & Others (Textiles & Aerospace), Product Types such as [Hardware & Software] and some major players in the industry. 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.Request Sample of Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market Size, Status and Forecast 2018-2025 @:Key Companies/players: Intel Corporation, Siemens AG, IBM Corporation, Alphabet Inc, Microsoft Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc, General Electric Company, Data RPM, Sight Machine, General Vision, Inc, Rockwell, Automation Inc, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Oracle Corporation & SAP SE.Application: Semiconductor and Electronics, Energy and Power, Pharmaceuticals, Automobile, Heavy Metals and Machine Manufacturing, Food and Beverages & Others (Textiles & Aerospace), Product Type: Hardware & Software.The research covers the current & Future market size of the Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography [United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India & Central & South America]. 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. On the basis of attributes such as company overview, recent developments, strategies adopted by the market leaders to ensure growth, sustainability, financial overview and recent developments.Stay up-to-date with Industrial Artificial Intelligence market research offered by HTF MI. Check how key trends and emerging drivers are shaping this industry growth as the study avails you with market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, shares, trend and strategies for this market. In the Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market Analysis & Forecast 2018-2023, the revenue is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2023. The production is estimated at XX million in 2017 and is forecasted to reach XX million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2023.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Key questions answered in this report - Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market Size, Status and Forecast 2018-2025What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate beWhat are the key market trendsWhat is driving Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market ?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Market?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence market? Get in-depth details about factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, and EMEA?Enquire for customization in Report @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence, Applications of Industrial Artificial Intelligence, Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, Export & Import, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India & Central & South America, Industrial Artificial Intelligence Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Industrial Artificial Intelligence Segment Market Analysis (by Application [Semiconductor and Electronics, Energy and Power, Pharmaceuticals, Automobile, Heavy Metals and Machine Manufacturing, Food and Beverages & Others (Textiles & Aerospace)]) Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Hardware & Software], Market Trend by Application [Semiconductor and Electronics, Energy and Power, Pharmaceuticals, Automobile, Heavy Metals and Machine Manufacturing, Food and Beverages & Others (Textiles & Aerospace)];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence by region, type and application ;Chapter 12, to describe Industrial Artificial Intelligence Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Industrial Artificial Intelligence sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Buy this research report @Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a 5-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsThanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA  08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us at
Sodium Lactate Market | Industrial Forecast On Global Industry Analysis and Trends till 2025

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The global sodium lactate market can be segmented based on form, application, and end-use industry. Based on form, the sodium lactate market can be classified into liquid and powder. In general, sodium lactate is produced in the liquid form. It is then converted into the powder form based on application. In terms of application, the sodium lactate market can be divided into acid regulator, pH regulator, antioxidant, bulking agent, preservative, humectant, and others. Based on end-use industry, the sodium lactate market can be segregated into food & beverages, pharmaceutical & laboratory, personal care, and others.Request PDF Brochure @Demand FactorsFood Industry: Sodium lactate is used as a pH regulator and preservative in the food industry. It is also used as a flavor enhancer, humectant, antioxidant, and emulsifier. It prolongs the shelf life of foods by reducing the effects of bacteria.Beverage Industry: Sodium lactate is used as an acidity regulator and pH regulator to enhance flavor in sour drinks. It is also used as a preservative in wine processing by promoting yeast growth and preventing muddy wine.Pharmaceutical Industry: Sodium lactate is used as a pH regulator in pharmaceuticals to relieve acidosis.Personal Care Industry: Sodium lactate is used as humectant and pH regulator in cosmetics. It is employed in shampoos, soaps, moisturizers, and bath gels. It retains moisture and whiten skins.Regional AnalysisBased on region, the global sodium lactate market can be divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America holds the major share of the sodium lactate market, followed by Europe, due to the development in food & beverages and pharmaceutical sectors in the region. The sodium lactate market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period owing to the growth in end-use industries in the region. Latin America and Middle East & Africas market share is likely to decline by the end of the forecast period.Ask for Discount @Key PlayersKey players operating in the global sodium lactate market include Finetech Industry Limited (the U.K.), TCI America (the U.S.), Phion Ltd (the U.K.), abcr GmbH (Germany), AK Scientific, Inc. (the U.S.) , 1717 CheMall Corporation (the U.S.), King Scientific (the U.K.), MP Biomedicals, LLC. (India), Aurora Fine Chemicals (the U.S.), Labseeker (U.S.), and Glentham Life Sciences Ltd. (the U.K.).Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Connected Home Appliance Market: Honeywell, Comcast, ARRIS, Haier (GE), AT&T

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MarketResearchReports.Biz has recently announced the Latest industry research report on: "Global Connected Home Appliance Market" : Industry Size, Share, Research, Reviews, Analysis, Strategies, Demand, Growth, Segmentation, Parameters, Forecasts.This report studies the global Connected Home Appliance market status and forecast, categorizes the global Connected Home Appliance market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia and other regions (Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).Connected home appliances are smart electronic appliances having internet connectivity, which can be accessible from any remote location using mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets and laptops.The classification of Connected Home Appliance includes Security Appliances, Laundry Appliances, Water Treatment Appliances, Kitchen Appliances and other.The global Connected Home Appliance market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The major manufacturers covered in this reportHoneywellComcastARRISHaier (GE)AT&TWhirlpoolMideaPanasonicSAMSUNGSONYLGHisenceElectroluxPhilipsGreeTCLArcelikChanghongSKYWORTHMelingGeographically, 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 AmericaEuropeChinaJapanIndiaSoutheast AsiaOther regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)We can also provide the customized separate regional or country-level reports, for the following regions:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSecurity AppliancesLaundry AppliancesWater Treatment AppliancesKitchen AppliancesOtherBy Application, the market can be split intoOffline ChannelOnline ChannelRequest For TOC Report @The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Connected Home Appliance capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Connected Home Appliance 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 market.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Connected Home Appliance 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 StakeholdersConnected Home Appliance ManufacturersConnected Home Appliance Distributors/Traders/WholesalersConnected Home Appliance 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 Connected Home Appliance market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsState Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-621-2074Website:Email: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Cultures Market: Projected to Reach US$ 1,514,969.6 Million in Terms of Revenue.

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A fresh report has been added to the wide database of Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE). The research study is titled North America Market Study on Ignition Interlock Devices: Increasing Incidences of DUI to Catalyze IID Demand in North America which encloses important data about the production, consumption, revenue and market share, merged with information related to the market scope and product overview.Request For Free Sample Report @Microbial food cultures include yeasts, bacteria, moulds used in the production of various food products including food including dairy products, fermented food products, probiotic food products and processed food products. In the recent years, probiotic cultures have gained popularity in dairy products due to the health benefits offered by these cultures. Probiotic cultures are being used on a large scale in food products as it helps in improving digestive system and protects the immune system.Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry is using lactic bacteria in various types of capsules and tablets which are sold as supplements in the health food industry. Supplements containing lactic bacteria are witnessing rising demand as it helps in improving the quality of life. Lactic bacteria also play an important role in sour dough fermentation. With the rise in food borne illness, various countries have introduced risk management strategies including quality control and preventive measures to eliminate the outbreak of microbial infections. These strategies include sample checking at different stages of the production process, ensuring safety and quality. Despite the growing market for cultures, there is still the need for different strains of cultures with high potential value in the food processing industry. Meanwhile, innovation in biotechnology is leading to the advancement in the development of microbial food cultures.According to a study by Market Research Report Search Engine (MRRSE), the global market cultures market is likely to experience a moderate growth. The market is projected to increase to a CAGR of 4.1% between 2017 and 2026. Towards the end of the forecast period, the global market for cultures is projected to reach US$ 1,514,969.6 million in terms of revenue.Browse Full Report with TOC @one of the top-selling product between 2017 and 2026. Towards 2026 end, starter is projected to exceed US$ 455,900 million revenue. Starter culture is largely used in the production of cheese which is consumed across the globe on a large scale. Moreover, meat starter cultures are increasingly used to make fermented and dried products including pepperoni, salami, dried ham, chorizo, etc. Starter cultures are also used at more than one stage in the manufacturing of various food products in order to develop required metabolic activity during fermentation. Also, the researchers across the globe are trying to understand roles played by microbes in human health and food processing.Cultures are likely to find the largest application in bakery & confectionery during 2017-2026. Bakery & confectionery are projected to generate more than US$ 366,600 million revenue by 2026 end. Major ingredients used in baking are subject to mould infections and fungus, hence cultures are being used on a large scale in bakery & confectionery goods. Cultures help in eliminating microbial spoilage of bakery products, thereby increasing its shelf-life. Moreover, increasing demand for various bakery & confectionery food products is driving the market for cultures.Europe is likely to dominate the global market for cultures, owing to the increasing demand for fermented foods, and rising health concerns related to the microbial infections. Meanwhile, North America and Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) are also anticipated to witness growth between 2017 and 2026.Evonik, KF Specialty Ingredients, Naturex, Ingredion, Ashland Inc., Kerry Group, Tate & Lyle, Royal DSM, DuPont, Chr. Hansen, and Cargill are some of the major companies in the global market for cultures.Enquire about this Report @About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY  12207(United State)Telephone: +1-518-730-0559(US, Canada toll free no)Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
New Generation Technology for Third-party Banking Software Market to Analysis Global Key Players Like Oracle, SAP, Tata Consultancy Services, Temenos Group, Diasoft Software Solutions

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In this Third-party Banking Software Market research report, the prominent factors driving the advancement of this market were recorded and the business accomplices and end administrators were indulgent. Third-party management is the process whereby companies monitor and manage interactions with all external parties with which it has a relationship. This may include both contractual and non-contractual parties.The global third-party banking software market to grow at a CAGR of 8.38% during the forecasted period 2018-2022.The setup of the business division, examples, and challenges monitoring the market comprehensively are in like manner a bit of this wide examination. Different meetings and social events were driven by the distinguishable pioneers of this industry to get persisting and revived encounters concerned to the market.Top Key Venders of Market:Oracle, SAP, Tata Consultancy Services, Temenos Group, Diasoft Software Solutions, FIS Group, Fiserv, Infosys, Jack Henry & Associates, Misys, Nucleus Software, Polaris Financial Technology, Sopra Banking Software, Sungard Ambit, Path Solutions Key Market DriverGet Sample Report @:This Third-party Banking Software Market research report highlights the key players in this market all through the world. This segment of the report contains the association systems, prerequisites, and product outlines, expertize, manufacture, contact information, cost, and revenue. Moreover, the program assembly, upstreams, and downstream demand analysis is similarly overseen.For more Information:In like manner, this examination is very much portrayed generally recollecting the various sections of this market. It correspondingly assesses the present scenario and a conclusive aftereffect of the market by using the perception prospect. The projection is analyzed on the basis of capacity and income of this market. The apparatus used for analyzing the Third-party Banking Software Market look into report incorporate Porter's five forces analysis and SWOT investigation.Table of Content:Global Third-party Banking Software Research Report 2018-2023Chapter 1: Global Third-party Banking Software OverviewChapter 2: Global Economic ImpactChapter 3: Competition by ManufacturerChapter 4: Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2018-2023)Chapter 5: Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2018-2023)Chapter 6: Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7: Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8: Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11: Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12: Market Forecast (2018-2023)Chapter 13: AppendixGet Upto 30% Discount on this Report:About IT Intelligence MarketsWe at IT Intelligence Markets conduct intensive market research and generate detailed reports about the products and services offered in the IT domain. Our team is devoted to providing custom reports that are taylor-made to suit the customers requirements. We make sure to keep our customers updated with the latest market dynamics as IT industry is undergoing sea change intrinsically & extrinsically by forces such as regulatory fluctuations, rapidly evolving consumer preferences, and newer technologies. Not only do our market research analysts scrutinize market requirements but also track competitors relentlessly for obtaining the most updated scenario of the market.Contact infoVijay TannaSurvey No-9/4, Flat# 6, Panchshil Park, Ganpati Marg, Nigidi, Pune 411044 Website:Email: sales@itintelligencemarkets.comPhone: +91 976-460-7607
Classified Platform Market Gain Impetus due to the Growing Demand over 2024

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In the past, classified ads were part of newspapers which offered advertisers cheap, small type notices arranged under specific categories. The media industry has witnessed switch from print media to digital media and has proven itself quite lucrative for classified platform players. Growing number of sites are providing specialized classified marketplaces online catering to niche categories including products and services such as boats, pianos, pets, and adult services. Classified platforms market includes both business to consumer (B2C) and consumer to consumer (C2C) categories. Despite of several advancements in the online classified platforms, the market is currently at a nascent stage due to large of consumers spending time on the print media; however, with increasing internet subscribers and growing number of subscribers on social media, the market for online classified platform is expected to hold promising revenue opportunity during the forecast period.Online advertising of a particular product or service through classified platforms enables consumer to explore and compare a particular product or service in a better way than print advertising. Few of the classified platforms also provides 360 degree view of products which enables consumers to better understand the dimension and esthetics of a product, thereby enhancing consumers experience. Moreover, with the proliferation of business applications on mobile platforms, classified ads platforms is providing greater opportunity to both buyers and sellers in terms of saving time and cost.As classified advertisement platforms do not charge for posting an advertisement, few of the classified platform websites displays clutter of information and lack of genuine content. This is acting as a challenge for classified platforms market. Leading players in this market need to focus on building intelligent processes in order to have genuine content without comprising scale of their business.Segmentation of Classified Platform market on the basis of ad models:Horizontal Model:This model offers a wide range of categories such as mobiles, electronics & accessories, cars, bikes, furniture, pets, books, fashion, jobs, real estate, and home services. Although, horizontal players are capable enough to drive large audience base on their platforms, they often lack specialized product offering.Request for Report Sample:Vertical Model:Vertical model focuses on single categories such as cars and real estate. Usually these kind of business models charge consumers to for listing their products on the platforms. Vertical model comprises advertisements of all the entities in the ecosystem of a particular industry.Classified Platforms Market: Key DealsOn January 2016, Quikr acquired online real estate portal Commonfloor.com for US$ 200 millionOn December 2015, OLX, Inc. raised US$ 13.5 million in series B round of fundingCountries in Europe region such as France and Norway are witnessing increasing popularity for horizontal classified model. Most of the consumer in the Europe are using classified platforms for searching second hand merchandise across a range of categories. Countries such as U.K and Germany have witnessed increased popularity for online classified with vertical business models.In the North America and Latin America regions, the market of online classified is yet to go as a mainstream business. Few of the enterprises in the countries such as the U.S. and Brazil, prefer advertising their product or service on print media as against online digital media.Although overall e-commerce market in Asia-Pacific region is booming, online classified platform market is witnessing moderate growth. In countries such as China and India, the online classified ad penetration is low, primarily due to presence of this platforms in only tier 1 and tier 2 cities.Craigslist Inc., Finn.no, Gumtree (ebay), Quikr India Private Limited (Commonfloor.com), OLX, Inc., Rightmove plc, Backpage.com are some of the key player of global classified platform market.Request for Report TOC:About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA,Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Impact of Existing and Emerging Clean Label Ingredients Market Trends 2017-2025

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Clean label is referred to food additives or ingredients that are fruits, vegetable, colors, flavors, flours, starch, sweeteners, malt, and others that fulfil any or all of the primary factors (such as less product ingredients with no chemical name, easy to understand, no artificial additives) and minimum one secondary factors (that include natural, organic and non-GMO products). An increase in clean label product is because of the growth in consumer preference towards clean label food products that indirectly drive intake of clean label ingredients another reason is the health issues that are linked to the consumption of artificial food additives of which people are becoming health alert and cautious for food safety.Request to view Sample Report:The global clean label ingredient market has been categorized into seven key regions including North America and Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. The clean label ingredient market is globally expected to register healthy CAGR during the forecast period. The countries such as U.K, Spain, Germany, Italy, Hungary has a huge number and variety of clean label ingredient products because of which they are the maximum clean label ingredient consuming countries; this makes Eastern and Western Europe the leading region in the market of clean label ingredient market at the global level. The growing awareness about healthy food has led Asia-Pacific to opt for clean label ingredients over artificial ingredients. The clean label ingredients market is expected to make its presence in Africa, shortly. The awareness about clean label ingredients in many countries is growing, and this is compelling manufacturers to use more of natural clean label ingredients over artificial and synthetic ingredients.Read Report Overview @The key global players for Clean Label Ingredient Market are as follow: Cargill, Brisan, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Koninklijke DSM N.V., Sensient Technologies Corporation, Corbion N.V., Kerry Group PLC., Tate & Lyle PLC, Groupe Limagrain, Beneo, Arjuna Natural Extracts Ltd, Kerry and others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Lime Oil Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast, 2017-2025

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Lime oil is obtained from Citrus aurantifolia of the Rosacea family. It possess some useful characteristics such as it is antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, aperitif, bactericidal, disinfectant, febrifuge, haemostatic, restorative and tonic in nature. It is useful in restoring energy, increasing hunger and appetite, preventing aging symptoms, fights infections, reduces muscle and joint pain and helps in treating food poisoning and typhoid. Due to its useful properties, lime oil have their application in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, healthcare etc.Download PDF Brochure @Lime Oil market can be segmented into its source, form, application and distribution channel.On the basis of source, lime oil market can be segmented into organic as well as conventional. Among the two sources, lime oil in its organic segment is being anticipated to have higher share as compared to its conventional form.On the basis of form, lime oil market can be segmented into distilled, cold pressed, infused and essence. Lime Oil in each of its form are being used in large scale in various industries mainly due to some of the important properties it possess.On the basis of application, lime oil market can be segmented into pharmaceutical industry, food industry, and cosmetic industry. Among these application, lime oil has been used in large scale in pharmaceutical industry mainly due to the numerous health benefit properties that it possess. Lime oil even has the property of curing viral infections caused in the respiratory system. Besides this, lime oil has applications in the food and beverages segment, where it is used to add a sweet flavor to various dishes like chicken. In the world of cosmetics, lime oil is also used to purify the skin and the hair. Adding one or two drops of lime oil to the shampoo or the face cleanser gives benefits to the hair and the skin, which is supporting the cosmetic segment growth in lime oil market.Read Report Overview @On the basis of distribution channel, lime oil market can be segmented into direct and indirect distribution. The indirect distribution for lime oil can be further sub segmented into modern trade, convenience store, and e-retailers. Among all these segment e-retailer is expected to represent significant growth in the lime oil market. Increasing internet penetration and rising consumer influence towards online purchasing is expected to drive the segment growth over the forecast period.Regional segment for the market of lime oil is segmented into five different regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific including Japan and Middle East & Africa. Europe market is expected to dominate the global lime oil market in terms of revenue, and this trend is projected to sustain throughout the forecast period. Europe lime oil market is the most attractive market. MEA regions have higher global share for cosmetics. Thus in MEA the lime oil have an opportunity to gain in demand and sustain its presence for long term.Due to the numerous health benefits with lime oil, it has got a surging demand in the market, especially in the European region. The various benefits that lime oil has include being antiseptic and can help in curing infections, and can help in preventing tetanus if the wound is caused by something derived from iron. Due its other critical therapeutic properties, helps lime oil drive its demand in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, lime oil is widely used as a natural ingredient in cosmetics and food industry which further expected to support lime oil market growth over the forecast period.Some of the key players in the Lime Oil market are: Statfold Seed Oil Ltd, Inovia International, NHR Organic Oils, Phoenix Aromas & Essential Oils, LLC, SpringThyme Oils Ltd, Penny Price Aromatherapy, Gogia Chemical Industries Pvt. Ltd, Ultra International B.V., Citromax.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Farm Animal Drug Market  Long Term Demand Strategies 2025| Elanco Animal Health, Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC

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Global Farm Animal Drug Market: SnapshotFarm animal drugs are medicines mainly used for healthcare-based practices for diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of diseases that could affect livestock. These medicines need to be used as per strict requirement based on their essentiality to maintain well-being of farm animals. Simply said, farm animal drugs are a key factor supporting the growth of livestock industry all over the globe.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Farm drugs include a wide variety of medical substances such as anti-infective drugs, hormones, analgesics, parasiticide anti-inflammatory medicines, anesthetics, and antibiotics. The manufacturing, distribution, use, and safety of these drugs is controlled by specific administrations in most regions. Before a drug is rolled out for commercial use, it needs to be approved by these administrations. The sponsor or manufacturer of the drug must document scientific testing of the substance, and get it labelled safe and effective. The testing data should also show that a methodology is available to detect and measure any residue left in edible animal products. This needs to be done to analyze how much of the drug remains in the animals body, and its consequences.Apart from this, farmer and veterinary doctors need to strictly adhere to guidelines about how much time must elapse before a treated animal can be slaughtered. The drugs sold also should carry all relevant warnings, constraints, and other important information on their label. Of all drugs under the farm animal drug category, vaccinations are the most commonly used medical substances. Since several decades, an extensive use of vaccines has now been able to eradicate several diseases affecting farm animals. The vaccines need to be kept in chilled or frozen containers, and they might deteriorate rapidly after exposed to warm conditions. Farmers and others involved in animal husbandry practices need to gain thorough knowledge about veterinary practices regarding treatment of farm animals. In this way, they can become aware of all associated aspects in context of animal drugs.Request TOC of the Report @Global Farm Animal Drug Market: OverviewFarm animal drugs are veterinary products that are used in the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases and disorders in livestock. The usage of these products is essential for their well-being and is a key factor supporting the growth of the livestock industry world over. The wide variety of farm animal drugs comprise anti-infective, parasiticide anti-inflammatory, analgesics, anesthetics, hormones, and antibiotics. The rising number of pet ownership, coupled with a growing population of companion animals, is fostering the demand for food, feed, and pharmaceutical products. Over the years, the rising uptake of farm animal drugs has been driven by their role in reducing the burden of a number of livestock diseases.Global Farm Animal Drug Market: Key TrendsDrugs for farm animals have gained immense significance in meeting the nutritional requirements of livestock across the globe. The rising demand for meat and dairy products in various parts of the world has led farm owners and livestock managers to spend substantial sums in keeping these animals healthy. The extensive demand for these drugs in preventing a variety of infectious diseases among animals is also positively driving the growth of the market. To this end, the market in recent years has witnessed burgeoning production of anti-infective drugs. The emergence of new diseases, notably avian influenza H5N1, has caused considerable concern among industry players and governments alike, favoring the growth of the market.Global Farm Animal Drug Market: Market PotentialThe substantial consumption of meat and dairy products among humans has led to the emergent condition of antimicrobial resistance, have found indiscriminate use of antibiotics among farm animals, confirmed several regulatory agencies in recent years. According to World Health Organization, the overuse of antibiotics in animals in the recent decade has been found to be contributing to the growing drug resistance in humans with serious health repercussions. Antimicrobial resistance is a genuine concern and has recently generated widespread attention in developed countries such as the U.S., Canada, and several European countries. In a bid to curb the routine use of antibiotics to boost the health and prevent diseases, WHO has recently drafted new guidelines for farmers in Europe and harped on more stringent implementation in countries where the overuse is prominent.Against the backdrop of rising antimicrobial-resistant infections world over, Health Canada has in July 2017 drafted a framework to urge livestock farmers in Canada to prevent the overuse of antibiotics. Starting December 2018, farm owners will be required to get prescription from veterinarians to buy scores of common veterinary antibiotics. Such stringent regulations are likely to have wide impact on the market potential over the forecast period of 20172025.Global Farm Animal Drug Market: Regional OutlookThe study offers critical insights into the outlook of various regional markets and highlights promising avenues and key investment trends in these regions. Developed and developing regions are expected to be potentially prominent regional markets for farm animal drugs. Europe will contribute attractive revenues to the global markets, driven by the burgeoning demand for meat. Asia Pacific is anticipated to emerge as a vastly lucrative market, with the burgeoning demand for farm animal drugs being attributed to the rapidly rising livestock industry in its key economies.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Farm Animal Drug Market: Competitive OutlookThe report takes a detailed look at the prevailing competitive dynamics in various parts of the globe. It analyzes the regulatory framework likely to shape that dynamics in the coming years. Several players are focusing on new product launches and spending copious funds on research and development activities and clinical trials pertaining to the efficacy of veterinary drugs and medicines. Some of the players holding prominent positions in the farm animal drugs market include Zydus Animal Health Ltd., Zoetis, Inc., Virbac SA, Alembic Animal Health, Intas Pharmaceutical Ltd., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Merck Animal Health, Elanco Animal Health, Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC, and Bayer AG.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Complex Fertilizers Market: Global Industry Top Key Players: Yara International, SQM, EuroChem, CF Industries, Coromandel International Limited and The Mosaic Company

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The future market research report contains information for historic year 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2026. The report analyzes and presents an overview of Complex Fertilizers - Global Market Outlook (2017-2026)' is a professional analysis, drivers, constraints, opportunities, threats, challenges, investment opportunities, and recommendations and in-depth research & with a focus on the current state of the global industry.Global Complex Fertilizers market is expected to grow from $36.59 billion in 2017 to reach $72.58 billion by 2026 with a CAGR of 7.9%. Increasing demand for greenhouse production, rising crop demand for animal feed and rising awareness about soil profile & nutritional balance and increasing markets for fruits & vegetables are some of the key factors propelling the market growth. However, factors such as fluctuations in raw material prices, unfavorable regulatory stance and depressed commodity prices & lower farm incomes are hindering the growth of the market.Request Free Sample Copy of the Report @The global Complex Fertilizers market is highly fragmented and the top key players have used various strategies such as new product launches, sales, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of Complex Fertilizers market for global, North America, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.SOME OF THE KEY PLAYERS IN GLOBAL COMPLEX FERTILIZERS MARKET INCLUDE Yara International ASA Ocp S.A Eurochem Group AG Helena Chemical Company CF Industries Holdings, Inc Sociedad Quimica Y Minera De Chile SA Haifa Chemicals Ltd. Coromandel International Ltd. J.R. Simplot Company Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. Hebei Monband Water Soluble Fertilizer Co., Ltd. Azomures The Mosaic Company Agrium Inc. Kugler Company Israel Chemicals Limited PhosagroComplex fertilizers include unstable ratios of two or three macronutrients required by plants. Their function simplifies the mission of balancing soil nutrients and boosts yields.Browse Full Report with TOC @Complex fertilizers provide crops through essential nutrients in a form favorable for plant nutrition, assuring peak efficiency in a variety of climatic conditions. They offer a wider variety of options and can be customized to satisfy demand in accordance with specific soil compositions. Most important complex fertilizers are Nitro phosphates & polyphosphate based fertilizers.Based on Type, an incomplete complex fertilizer has a considerable growth in the market due to increasing awareness on multi nutrient complex fertilizers in the soil. Incomplete fertilizers are usually used to overcome specific nutrient deficiencies in the soil. Incomplete complex fertilizer such as diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate are the most commonly used around the globe. They are less expensive than complete fertilizers and require more skill to use properly.Crop Types Covered: Oilseeds Fruits & vegetables Cereals Other Crop TypesComplex Fertilizers Types Covered: Complete Complex Fertilizers Incomplete Complex FertilizersForm Covered: Liquid SolidAsia Pacific region is the largest consumer of complex fertilizers. The region is mainly dominated by significant operations, through a planned distribution chain. Asia Pacific largely consists of marginal farmers practicing conventional farming methods. Moreover, South America is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, the growth is due to rising awareness about the modern agricultural practices in this region.What our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)Place a Purchase Order for Complex Fertilizers Market@Note: Any special requirements about this report, please let us know and we can provide custom 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.Contact:Mr. A NaiduResearch for MarketsTel: +44 8000-4182-37 (UK)Email: alan.naidu@researchformarkets.com
Bare Metal Cloud Service Market - The Booming Bare Metal Cloud Service Marketplace With The Presence of Well-Established and Emerging Players

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According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research, global bare metal cloud service market is expected to reach US$ 25,704.4 Mn by 2025. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 16.76 % during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. According to the report, North America will continue to be at the forefront of global demand, with the market in the region growing at above 16% through 2025.There are different factors driving the market including elimination of noisy neighbor, provision of dedicated hardware for user, and novel load balancing bare metal cloud service among others. However, stringent regulations pertaining to the cloud can restrain the growth of the bare metal cloud service market worldwide. Increasing application of bare metal cloud service for the artificial intelligence is expected to create novel opportunity for the market.Browse The Report:The report offers detailed segmentation on the basis of components, enterprise type, and services. According to the report, under the component segment, services type continues to remain sought-after among users. The high demand for the bare metal cloud service is on account of its vital useful features for the highly intensive applications. Furthermore, many well-established players are launching novel services pertaining to the bare metal cloud. For instance, in January 2017, Oracle Corporation announced the availability of the load balancing service that enable user to create a highly available load balancer within the companys virtual cloud network. The report projects services segment to grow at a CAGR of over 17% and expected to surpass US$ 8000 Mn in value by 2025-end. By enterprise type, SMBs (small and medium enterprises) continues to be the most lucrative segment, and the status quo is likely to remain unchanged during the assessment period. The report projects SMBs enterprise type segment to grow at a healthy growth rate during the assessment period.North America is the largest region in the global bare metal cloud service market. The report projects Asia Pacific bare metal cloud service market to grow at over 18% CAGR and reach US$ 4,922.2 Mn by 2025. The demand for bare metal cloud service market in Asia Pacific is likely to remain concentrated in the prominent economies such as China and India, owing to a larger IT sector in the region. In addition to APAC, growth will also be robust in North America, where the U.S. will account for the bulk of the demand, whereas Canada will hold a miniscule shareGet Sample Copy of this report @The company profiling of key players profiled in the global bare metal cloud service market includes company overview, major business strategies adopted, SWOT analysis and market revenues for year 2015 to 2017. The key players profiled in the global bare metal cloud service market includes IBM Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Scaleway, Liquid Web, Inc., Joyent, Inc., RACKSPACE US, INC., Internap Corporation, CenturyLink, Inc., BIGSTEP, and Packet among others. Various players are introducing superior bare metal cloud services offerings and entering into strategic M&A activities to expand and generate more revenue from the bare metal cloud service worldwideTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendationsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Prefilled Syringes Market Estimated to Experience a Hike in Growth by 2026

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With increasing demand for efficient drug delivery systems, especially for injectable drug delivery, the need for innovative injectable drug delivery options has risen. Given the advantages of standalone drug injecting systems such as prefilled syringes, such as ease in use and enhanced safety, their demand is expected to increase at a high pace in the coming years.According to Fact.MR analysis on prefilled syringes, the market for prefilled syringes is anticipated to expand at a meteoric rate during the period of forecast. The prefilled syringes market is poised to grow at a volume CAGR of 9.1% during the period of assessment, 2017-2026 and the sale of prefilled syringes across the globe is estimated to cross US$ 11 Bn by end of the year of assessment (2026).Get Sample Copy of The Report:Manufacturers are focused on developing enhanced prefilled syringe systems to cater to the growing demand for these injectable drug delivery systems. For instance, Becton Dickinson has developed PosiFlush prefilled syringes with a 4% sodium citrate lock solution that can reduce the number of catheters for hemodialysis by about exchanged per 1000 days by about 59% thus minimizing risks.The research report on prefilled syringes market has profiled many such key companies involved in the manufacturing of prefilled syringes, such as Unilife Corporation, Sterinova, SHL Group, NIPRO, Bespak, AptarGroup, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Vetter Pharma International GmbH, Stevanato Group, SCHOTT AG, Gerresheimer, Medtronic, Baxter International Inc., Terumo Medical Corporation and Becton Dickinson and Company.Request for Customization Report atKey Highlights on the Prefilled Syringes Market:North America in terms of sale of prefilled syringes tops other regional market during the period of assessment. This regions, especially dominated by United States, has witnessed increased adoption of glass prefilled syringes owing to high presence of chronic disorders. On the other hand, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region is expected to showcase increased inclination towards these injectable drug delivery systems. Asia Pacific excluding Japan region has shown immense potential as a favorable market place for various end use industries owing to its huge business potential. This has increased the presence of various pharmaceutical industries in the region. Moreover, increasing population growth in China and India, along with aging population has raised the demand bar for prefilled syringes to inject drugs to treat diseases such as diabetes and other autoimmune disordersBy material type, glass based prefilled syringes hold the highest market share and sales of glass based prefilled syringes is estimated to surpass U$ 7.5 Bn by end of 2026. However, owing to high fragile nature of these syringes, manufacturers have developed polymer based prefilled syringes that are also gaining high traction. Polymer based prefilled syringes have a comparatively higher break resistance and do not react with the drug they carryWith respect to distribution channels, hospitals are the most lucrative. Sale of both glass and polymer based prefilled syringes from hospitals is estimated to reach a value of over US$ 6.5 Bn by end of the year of assessment. Online pharmacies and specialty clinics are also expected to significantly contribute to the growth of the prefilled syringes market in the coming yearsBy technology type, sale of conventional prefilled syringes is higher than safety prefilled syringes. However, rate of sales of safety prefilled syringes is expected grow at a higher pace than the conventional product during the period of forecastBy function type, single chambered prefilled syringes have gained high steam since past years. This segment is expected to grow at higher rate during the period of forecast and the sale of single chambered prefilled syringes is estimated to reach a value of over US$ 8 Bn by end of the year of assessment (2026)About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Fact.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Follow us in Linkedin:
BIPV Glass Market to Perceive Substantial Growth During 2015 to 2021

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Building integrated photovoltaic or BIPV modules are essentially panes of glass with photovoltaic cells embedded between two sheets of glass. Used for making roofs, skylights, facades, spandrels, and curtain walls of buildings, BIPV glass is ideal for making those parts of a construction which do not require a high degree of transparency, such as an atrium roof. Various advance technology such as thin-film PV, OPV and DSC offers light weight and flexible BIPV glass . BIPV glass allows the entry of natural light and provides both thermal and sound insulation. It filters out harmful radiation and produces clean and free energy. Along with the conventional roles of providing protection from noise and rain, BIPV glass facilitates electricity generation and offers light and thermal management, effective shading, and glare protection.Awareness about carbon footprint reduction and growing focus towards generation of electricity at lower cost from conventional and renewable sources act as key drivers for the growth of the BIPV glass market. The buildings sector accounts for the largest market share (over 80%) of the global BIPV glass market. BIPV modules act as key enabling technologies for zero net energy buildings. BIPV modules are being used extensively for the construction of educational, corporate, commercial, and residential buildings as well as hotels, hospitals, and retail outlets. The BIPV glass market is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period. Growing investments in the architectural segment would further help boost the growth of the BIPV glass market. On the basis of end users, this market is segmented into commercial buildings, residential buildings, and industrial buildings, among others.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global players, such as Suntech Power Co., Ltd., Pilkington Group Limited, and Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., in the BIPV glass market offer innovative BIPV glass products with emphasis on latest technology and better quality. Growing investments in research and development of BIPV products and introduction of new technology further boost the BIPV glass market.Asia Pacific is one of the most prominent markets for BIPV glass. With growing investments in domestic and institutional building construction, the demand for BIPV glass is also on the rise. Growing economies and increasing household income are some of the key triggers fuelling the growth of the BIPV glass market in Asia Pacific. In North America, the U.S. holds the largest market share of the BIPV glass market. The total number of zero-net energy buildings in the U.S. and Europe is growing exponentially. EU Directives demand zero energy capability for all buildings by 2021. Such initiatives by governments help boost the BIPV glass market in North America as well as in Europe. The global BIPV glass market is expected to exhibit a double digit growth rate during forecast between 2014 and 2020.Major companies operating in the global BIPV glass market are Suntech Power Co., Ltd., Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., Onyx Solar, Ascent Solar, Canadian Solar, Hanergy, Hanwha Solar One, EMMVEE Solar Systems Private Limited, Ascent Solar, DuPont, First Solar, GE, Solar Frontier Pilkington, CENTROSOLAR Group AG, Power Film, Inc., Pythagoras Solar, and Sun Power.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @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 UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Passive Optical Network (PON) Equipment Market - GPON Preferred More While EPON Developments Enable Better Adoption

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According to the Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global passive optical network (PON) market has a highly competitive business landscape. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Alcatel-Lucent S.A., ZTE Corporation, and Calix, Inc. have been leading this market and are expected to continue on the same path over the next few years. The rivalry among these players is expected to intensify in the near future with each of these getting involved in partnerships to expand their reach among consumers, states the research report.Obtain Report Details @As per the research study, the worldwide market for passive optical network is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 20.70% over the period from 2015 to 2023 and reach a value of US$163.50 bn by the end of the period of the forecast. In terms of structure, the demand for gigabit passive optical networks is relatively greater and the trend is anticipated to remain so in the years to come, notes the market study.Geographically, the market registers its presence across Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and North America. Asia Pacific is leading the global market, thanks to the high popularity for PON structures and equipment. A large portion of this rise in demand is attributed to the fast system usage of China and India. China has acquired a key role in the development of PON equipment manufacturers of late and is projected to keep doing as such for the coming years. A factor that enables China to demonstrate a higher demand for PON than most different nations is the sheer volume of information being exchanged crosswise over systems. The sum and additionally rate of information activity in the nation is making numerous clients change from remote systems to wired modes, therefore expanding the utilization of PON equipment. Over the next few years, India has proposed to manufacture build up a National Optical Fiber Network, which will be an arrangement to improve the availability between various towns crosswise over India, reports the research study.Download Sample Copy of this report @The superiority of optics in networking is the key factor behind the growth of the global PON market, says a TMR analyst. Since, PONs are easily scalable, highly reliable for consistency, offer advanced security, and assist in optimizing the bandwidth connectivity, this demand is likely to increase manifolds ion the near future. In addition to this, PON equipment are easy to deploy as well as maintain in comparison to traditional networks and also do not emit electromagnetic radiation, thanks to their dielectric nature, which also are projected to support this market over the next few years, reports the research study.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendationsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Analysis Software Market Global Industry Analysis 2018  2023

Global Analysis Software Industry

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Global Analysis Software IndustryNew Study On 2018-2023 Analysis Software Market Global Key Player, Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Forecast Added to Wise Guy Reports DatabaseThis report mainly introduces volume and value market share by players, by regions, by product type, by consumers and also their price change details. As a Detailed Analysis report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinion in Analysis Software industry.This report splits Analysis Software market by Software Type, by Operating Systems, which covers the history data information from 2013 to 2017 and forecast from 2018 to 2023.This report focuses Global market, it covers details as following:Major CompaniesALTAIRAUTODESKBentley SystemsBrukerBuildSoftComsolDelphin Technology AGEntalysisEtapFRT GmbHGE Intelligent PlatformsHexagon PPMiba AGIBMICONICS, Inc.Mentor GraphicsMoldex3D, CoreTech System Co., Ltd.MSC SOFTWAREOraclePTCQ-DAS IncSAPSIEMENSSIMULIAStatus Pro GmbHTEBISTechnoTeam Bildverarbeitung GmbHThe MathWorksWyatt TechnologyYOKOGAWA EuropeTry Sample Report @Main RegionsNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaLatin AmericaMexicoBrazilArgentinaOthersEuropeGermanyUnited KingdomFranceItalySpainRussiaNetherlandOthersAsia & PacificChinaJapanIndiaKoreaAustraliaSoutheast AsiaIndonesiaThailandPhilippinesVietnamSingaporeMalaysiaOthersAfrica & Middle EastSouth AfricaEgyptTurkeySaudi ArabiaIranOthersMain Product TypeAnalysis Software Market, by Software Type3D SoftwareReal-time SoftwareAutomated SoftwareOnline SoftwareOthersAnalysis Software Market, by Operating SystemsWindowsMac OSLinuxWeb BrowserMain ApplicationsBusiness AnalysisBusiness TrainingEducational InstitutionsIndustrial DesignOthersFor Detailed Reading Please visit WiseGuy Reports @Some Major Points from Table of content:Global Analysis Software Detailed Analysis Report 2018-2023Chapter One Analysis Software Market Overview1.1 Global Analysis Software Market Sales Volume Revenue and Price 2013-20231.2 Analysis Software, by Software Type 2013-20231.2.1 Global Analysis Software Sales Market Share by Software Type 2013-20231.2.2 Global Analysis Software Revenue Market Share by Software Type 2013-20231.2.3 Global Analysis Software Price by Software Type 2013-20231.2.4 3D Software1.2.5 Real-time Software1.2.6 Automated Software1.2.7 Online Software1.2.8 Others1.3 Analysis Software, by Operating Systems 2013-20231.3.1 Global Analysis Software Sales Market Share by Operating Systems 2013-20231.3.2 Global Analysis Software Revenue Market Share by Operating Systems 2013-20231.3.3 Global Analysis Software Price by Operating Systems 2013-20231.3.4 Windows1.3.5 Mac OS1.3.6 Linux1.3.7 Web BrowserChapter Two Analysis Software by Regions 2013-20182.1 Global Analysis Software Sales Market Share by Regions 2013-20182.2 Global Analysis Software Revenue Market Share by Regions 2013-20182.3 Global Analysis Software Price by Regions 2013-20182.4 North America2.4.1 United States2.4.2 Canada2.5 Latin America2.5.1 Mexico2.5.2 Brazil2.5.3 Argentina2.5.4 Others in Latin America2.6 Europe2.6.1 Germany2.6.2 United Kingdom2.6.3 France2.6.4 Italy2.6.5 Spain2.6.6 Russia2.6.7 Netherland2.6.8 Others in Europe2.7 Asia & Pacific2.7.1 China2.7.2 Japan2.7.3 India2.7.4 Korea2.7.5 Australia2.7.6 Southeast Asia2.7.6.1 Indonesia2.7.6.2 Thailand2.7.6.3 Philippines2.7.6.4 Vietnam2.7.6.5 Singapore2.7.6.6 Malaysia2.7.6.7 Others in Southeast Asia2.8 Africa & Middle East2.8.1 South Africa2.8.2 Egypt2.8.3 Turkey2.8.4 Saudi Arabia2.8.5 Iran2.8.6 Others in Africa & Middle EastChapter Three Analysis Software by Players 2013-20183.1 Global Analysis Software Sales Volume Market Share by Players 2013-20183.2 Global Analysis Software Revenue Share by Players 2013-20183.3 Global Top Players Analysis Software Key Product Model and Market Performance3.4 Global Top Players Analysis Software Key Target Consumers and Market PerformanceChapter Four Analysis Software by Consumer 2013-20184.1 Global Analysis Software Sales Market Share by Consumer 2013-20184.2 Business Analysis4.3 Business Training4.4 Educational Institutions4.5 Industrial Design4.6 Others4.7 Consuming Habit and PreferenceChapter Five Global Top Players Profile5.1 ALTAIR5.1.1 ALTAIR Company Details and Competitors5.1.2 ALTAIR Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.1.3 ALTAIR Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.1.4 ALTAIR Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.2 AUTODESK5.2.1 AUTODESK Company Details and Competitors5.2.2 AUTODESK Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.2.3 AUTODESK Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.2.4 AUTODESK Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.3 Bentley Systems5.3.1 Bentley Systems Company Details and Competitors5.3.2 Bentley Systems Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.3.3 Bentley Systems Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.3.4 Bentley Systems Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.4 Bruker5.4.1 Bruker Company Details and Competitors5.4.2 Bruker Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.4.3 Bruker Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.4.4 Bruker Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.5 BuildSoft5.5.1 BuildSoft Company Details and Competitors5.5.2 BuildSoft Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.5.3 BuildSoft Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.5.4 BuildSoft Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.6 Comsol5.6.1 Comsol Company Details and Competitors5.6.2 Comsol Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.6.3 Comsol Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.6.4 Comsol Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.7 Delphin Technology AG5.7.1 Delphin Technology AG Company Details and Competitors5.7.2 Delphin Technology AG Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.7.3 Delphin Technology AG Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.7.4 Delphin Technology AG Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.8 Entalysis5.8.1 Entalysis Company Details and Competitors5.8.2 Entalysis Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.8.3 Entalysis Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.8.4 Entalysis Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.9 Etap5.9.1 Etap Company Details and Competitors5.9.2 Etap Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.9.3 Etap Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.9.4 Etap Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.10 FRT GmbH5.10.1 FRT GmbH Company Details and Competitors5.10.2 FRT GmbH Key Analysis Software Models and Performance5.10.3 FRT GmbH Analysis Software Business SWOT Analysis and Forecast5.10.4 FRT GmbH Analysis Software Sales Volume Revenue Price Cost and Gross Margin5.11 GE Intelligent Platforms5.12 Hexagon PPM5.13 iba AG5.14 IBM5.15 ICONICS, Inc.5.16 Mentor Graphics5.17 Moldex3D, CoreTech System Co., Ltd.5.18 MSC SOFTWARE5.19 Oracle5.20 PTC5.21 Q-DAS Inc5.22 SAP5.23 SIEMENS5.24 SIMULIA5.25 Status Pro GmbH5.26 TEBIS5.27 TechnoTeam Bildverarbeitung GmbH5.28 The MathWorks5.29 Wyatt Technology5.30 YOKOGAWA EuropeContinued..For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.Contact Us:Norah Trent+1 646 845 9349 / +44 208 133 9349Follow on LinkedIn:
Pumped Hydro Storage Market Top Key Player Analysis - Voith Hydro, EDF, Absaroka, Genex, Toshiba, Schluchseewerk AG, Dongfang Electric, Snowdonia, SinoHydro, Eskom & More

Pumped Hydro Storage

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MarketStudyReport.com Adds New Pumped Hydro Storage Market 2017  2024 research report providing information and data By System, Industry Analysis, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast spreading across 140 Pages with table and figures in it.Pumped Hydro Storage Market size will exceed USD 350 billion by 2024. Favorable regulatory framework pertaining to the upgradation and expansion of electrical infrastructure coupled with growing adoption of sustainable energy will drive the pumped hydro storage market size. Lack of efficient monitoring system and frequent supply outages across the developing economies will further stimulate the product demand. The China National Energy Administration in 2017 declared a funding of USD 326.4 billion toward the expansion of renewable electrical network by 2020.Request a sample of this premium report at:Ongoing expansion of micro-grid networks favored by rapid development of distributed generation technology will propel the pumped hydro storage market size. Growing concerns toward reduction of carbon footprint along with upgradation and expansion of existing PHS system to enhance the operational flexibility will propel the business outlook. In 2016, the Government of Canada pledged to reduce emissions by 80% below 2005 levels until 2050.Japan pumped hydro storage market size is set to exceed 30 GW by 2024. Growing concerns toward energy security along with increasing investments toward deployment of grid network will propel the product landscape.Upsurge across the integration of renewable energy technologies will further stimulate the business outlook. The Japan Ministry of Economy, have announced investments worth USD 700 million in line with the integration of sustainable energy storage technology across the country.High storage capacity, energy efficiency and grid stability are some of the key parameters that will drive the pumped hydro storage market. According to EASE, the PHS plants have an average efficiency of 70% ? 80% when compared with other technologies. Increasing energy demand across emerging economies will further foster the business outlook.U.S. pumped hydro storage market size will grow owing to upgradation and refurbishment of existing grid infrastructure along with rising adoption of advanced grid support system. Integration of clean energy technologies and expansion of micro grid networks will further embellish the product landscape. China under its sovereign wealth fund has proposed an investment of USD 800 billion across the U.S. infrastructure sector.Open loop in 2016, accounted for over 90% of pumped hydro storage market share. Availability of free-flowing water source along with effective compatibility with a hydroelectric plant will embellish the product penetration. According to Department of Energy, there are three open-loop projects announced and in under construction phase in the U.S.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Growing energy consumption along with ongoing investments toward modernization of electric grid infrastructure will embellish the South Korea pumped hydro storage market. Favorable government initiatives pertaining to sustainable energy mix will further stimulate the industry outlook. In 2017, The South Korea government has approved a plan to invest USD 1.67 billion toward development of renewable energy in the country.Key industry players in pumped hydro storage market includes Voith Hydro, EDF, Absaroka, Genex, Toshiba, Schluchseewerk AG, Dongfang Electric, Snowdonia, SinoHydro, Eskom, Enel, Northland Power and J-Power.Table of Content:Chapter 1 Methodology & ScopeChapter 2 Executive SummaryChapter 3 Pumped Hydro Storage Market Industry InsightsChapter 4 Pumped Hydro Storage Market, By SystemChapter 5 Pumped Hydro Storage Market, By RegionChapter 6 Company ProfilesMore Details on this Report At:Related Report:Global and Chinese Pumped Hydro Storage Industry, 2018 Market Research ReportThe 'Global and Chinese Pumped Hydro Storage Industry, 2013-2023 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Pumped Hydro Storage industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Pumped Hydro Storage manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
Plasma Cutting Machine Market -Product Segmentation Analysis 2025 | Esprit Automation, SPIRO International

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Global Plasma Cutting Machine Market: SnapshotA plasma cutting machine mainly makes use of an electrically conductive gas to transfer energy from a power supply to any other conductive material, thus resulting in a cleaner and faster cutting process than any other oxyfuel.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The cutting system mainly works by formation of a plasma arc when a gas such as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, or even air is made to go through small nozzle inside a torch. An electric arc is formed from the external power supply used to generate enough energy, which is then introduced to a high pressure gas flow. This flow is what we commonly call the plasma jet. This jet reaches temperatures off about 40,000 degrees Fahrenheit. After reaching up to such a high temperature, the flow can easily penetrate through most materials, by blowing away the molten material.As such cutting operations provide a lot of ease when carried out with the help of plasma technology, these processes are widely used all over the world, thus constituting a distinct plasma cutting machine market. Plasma cutting systems comprise three major portions, viz. the power supply, the arc starting console, and the plasma torch.Request TOC of the Report @The power supply converts a single or three phase AC line voltage into a smooth and constant DC voltage that may differ from machine to machine. This voltage is mainly needed for keeping the plasma arc steady throughout the cutting process. The arc starting console produces AC voltage that can form a spark inside the plasma torch to create the plasma arc. And the plasma torch mainly provides proper alignment and cooling of the consumables. Major consumable parts needed for plasma arc generation are the swirl ring, electrode, and the nozzle. In some machines, a shielding cap may also be used to enhance quality of cutting processes. All the parts may be held together by inner and outer retaining caps too.Global Plasma Cutting Machine Market: OverviewOver the past few years, the global market for plasma cutting machine has been witnessing a commendable rise. Industry experts anticipate that this market will continue to experience a phase of positive growth in the near future, thanks to the increasing trend of automation.This research study on the global plasma cutting machine presents a detailed and unbiased assessment of this market on the basis of its previous and current performance. Researchers have also examined the most prominent trends and the growth prospects of this market in order to predict its future status in this market study.Global Plasma Cutting Machine Market: Key TrendsThe current trend in the global automated plasma cutting machine is automated plasma cutting machines, which are highly efficient in increasing the productivity and profit of most businesses. Another key trend in this market is the incorporation of biochemistry with plasma cutting. Both the trends are likely to support the growth of this market, substantially, in the years to come.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Plasma Cutting Machine Market: Market PotentialThe uptake of plasma cutting machines has gained significant traction in the recent times, thanks to their consistency in delivering across a wide array of operating temperatures and with clean cuts and negligible dross. However, the complex operability of plasma cutting machines may emerge as a challenge in the near future, inhibiting its uptake. The dearth of skilled professionals, high cost incurred in maintenance, and limited application scope are also expected to act as deterrents for the growth of this market over the forthcoming years.Nevertheless, the market is anticipated to gain substantially from the geographical expansions of established market participants over the next few years. The frequent introduction of new and innovative products is also predicted to boost the growth of this market in the near future.Global Plasma Cutting Machine Market: Regional OutlookNorth America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are considered as the key regional markets for plasma cutting machines. Asia Pacific, among all, has been dominating the global market, thanks to the increasing investments by a number of leading players, looking to cash on the untapped opportunities this region holds. The continual rise in various end-use sectors, such as automotive, defense, aerospace, industrial machinery, and electrical equipment, in Asia Pacific is likely to support this regional market in the forthcoming years.Global Plasma Cutting Machine Market: Competitive AnalysisThe global market for plasma cutting machine demonstrates a moderately fragmented market with a large number of participants. ESAB, Hypertherm, Komatsu, Messer Cutting Systems, and NISSAN TANAKA are the leading players in this market. Some of the other prominent players in this market are Koike Aronson, AJAN ELEKTRONIK, Voortman Steel Machinery, Wurth, ERMAKSAN, C&G Systems, HACO, SICK, MultiCam, Kjellberg Finsterwalde, Hornet Cutting Systems, Farley Laserlab, Kerf Developments, System Engineers Cutting & Welding Pvt. Ltd., JMTUSA, Miller Electric Mfg, The Lincoln Electric Co., Esprit Automation, SPIRO International, and Automated Cutting Machinery.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Lactates Market Facing Global Growth Challenges 2025| Corbion N.V., FBC Industries, Inc.

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Global Lactates Market: SnapshotThe global market for lactates is expanding at a robust pace due to the multiplicity of application of lactates. The pharmaceutical industry is amongst the largest consumers of lactates as the latter is used to process, produce, and develop several forms of medicines. As the pharmaceutical industry expands, the demand within the global lactates market is also expected to reach new heights. Furthermore, the usage of lactates has also found its way into the manufacturing of certain types of foods and beverages. The food and beverages sector is an ever-expanding industry that has witnessed continual additions to its product portfolio. Hence, the relevance of lactates in this industry is bound to bring in commendable revenues for the global market. Lactates are also used in personal care products, and hence, a propensity towards general grooming and self-care is also expected to drive demand within the global market for lactates. Despite these evident drivers of demand, the high cost of lactates could act as a roadblock for the growth of the global lactates market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The splendid development of the healthcare, medical, and pharmaceutical industries across North America and Europe has given a lead to the markets in these regions. Furthermore, the food and beverages industry has also been growing at an astral rate across North America and Europe, which further enhances the growth prospects of the regional markets.Some of the key players in the global market for lactates are Caldic B.V., Henan Jindan Lactic, and Jost Chemical Co., Seidler Chemical Co, Inc., Magnesia GmBh, nd Prathista Industries Limited.Global Lactates Market: OverviewThe report details an exhaustive account of this market along with numerous associated factors. Some of these that are included in the report are drivers, restraints, competitive analysis, latest trends and opportunities, geographical outlook, and many other aspects. The study covered in the report spans a forecast period from 2018 to 2025. From an overall perspective, the report is expected to exist as a valuable insight to businesses which are already operating in the market, as well for those who intend to newly establish themselves in this environment.Request TOC of the Report @The global lactates market is divided into several segments on the basis of product type, application, and region. Under product type, sodium lactates, magnesium lactates, zinc lactates, potassium lactates, calcium lactates, and could be the major segments. From the perspective of applications, the global lactates market might comprise segments such as pharmaceutical industry, animal feed industry, food and beverage industry, animal feed industry, agriculture industry, personal care industry, and others.Global Lactates Market: Trends and RestraintsRapidly growing pharmaceutical industry all over the world is primarily responsible for driving the global lactates market. Apart from healthcare and medicines, some lactates are also greatly utilized in manufacturing of foods and beverages, thereby posing as a key growth propelling factor for the market. An overall maintenance of general wellbeing and health has led towards a rising demand for personal care products, wherein lactates are utilized extensively. Thus, the use of these products in a way has led towards the global lactates market to expand in a widespread manner. However, high costs of these products could hinder the market substantially. Nevertheless, efforts are being taken by businesses to develop less expensive products to reduce the restraints.Global Lactates Market: Geographical OutlookRegion-wise, the global lactates market is divided spread across North America, China, South East Asia, Europe, Japan, and India. Of these, a maximum demand for lactate products occurs in Europe and North America, owing to the presence of a strong healthcare and medical infrastructure. A burgeoning food and beverages industry wherein lactate products can be used extensively has also led to these regions gaining handsome revenue in the global lactates market.However, rapid establishment of key players in leading countries such as Japan, India, and China from Asia Pacific is expected to make this market depict a rampant growth in this region. Rising disposable income, briskly increasing population, and a surge in geriatric population has also been responsible for contributing towards an extensive growth in the global lactates market in Asia Pacific.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Lactates Market: Competitive LandscapeThe global lactates market mainly depicts the existence of a highly fragmented and competitive vendor landscape, majorly due to the presence of innumerable players. Bringing about widespread product innovations for overall development is a prime strategy implemented by most businesses working in this market. Most businesses have been present in this market for numerous years, and have relied on strategic mergers & applications as a key tool for attracting success. However, most local players experience a substantial cutthroat competition due to the larger and bigger players operating in the market.Corbion N.V., FBC Industries, Inc., Caldic B.V., Jost Chemical Co., Henan Jindan Lactic, Acid Technology Co., Ltd., Global Calcium Private Limited, BSA Inc., Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Pfanstiehl, Inc., Dr. Paul Lohmann GmbH KG, Galactic s.a., Seidler Chemical Co, Inc., Prathista Industries Limited, Magnesia GmBh, Zhengzhou Tianrun Lactic Acid Co., Ltd. are some of the key players operating in the global lactates market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Transformer Monitoring System Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment (2017 - 2027)

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Recent market study on transformer monitoring systems has uncovered global aspects influencing the growth of the market in a new publication titled Transformer Monitoring System Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017-2027), skilfully crafted by Future Market Insights. The research report unveils in-depth analysis on numerous factors along with key participants involved in transformer monitoring systems. Key trends, drivers, developments and innovations and restraints have been included in this research report that impact the growth of the global market for transformer monitoring systems. An all-inclusive angle of the global transformer monitoring system market has been assessed with a weighted market segmentation that covers every aspect of the market. Along with historical data representations and current scenario of the global market, future market insights have been deduced for a period of 10 years starting from 2017 till 2027.Request Sample Report @Global Transformer Monitoring System Market: Forecast AnalysisThe global market for transformer monitoring system market is anticipated to register significant growth during the forecast period, 2017-2027. Research says that the global transformer monitoring system market is projected to grow at a stellar CAGR of 10.4% during the period of assessment to reach a value of more than US$ 3 Bn by the end of the assessment year from a valuation of US$ 1346.3 Mn in 2017.Global Transformer Monitoring System Market: Segmental SnapshotThe global transformer monitoring system market is segmented by product, by installation type, by application, by end use and by region.By product type, the market is segmented by hardware and software. Hardware is further categorized by direct winding transformer monitors and intelligent transformer monitors. Of these, the digital winding transformer monitors segment is leading in terms of high market value and is expected to grow at a high value CAGR of 10.4% throughout the period of assessment. The software segment is expected to register a CAGR of 10.3% during 2017-2027 and is estimated at US$ 277.6 Mn in 2017By installation type, retrofit segment is expected to reflect high market valuation by the end of the period of assessment. However, the new installation segment is poised to grow at a comparatively faster pace to register a CAGR of 11.0% throughout the period of assessmentBy application, the bushing monitoring segment is dominating the market and is expected to provide huge opportunities to players in the coming years. It is projected to rise at a CAGR of 12.1%Request to View TOC @By end use, power transformers segment shows high market attractiveness during the period of forecast. The distribution transformers segment, on the contrary, is expected to grow at a higher pace in the years to follow to register a CAGR of 10.7%By region, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) is expected to show high potential for the growth of transformer monitoring systems. The transformer monitoring system market in APEJ is expected to lead the global market in terms of value and is estimated to showcase a high valuation of about US$ 1.2 Bn by 2027 endGlobal Transformer Monitoring System Market: Factors Impacting Revenue GrowthAgeing power infrastructure, increasing need for monitoring large and complex power networks, rising demand for retrofit installations, increasing renewable energy penetration to accelerate demand for transformer monitoring systems, rising focus on grid reliability, emerging green power transformers, rising electricity consumption, expanding wind and solar energy sectors, rising investment in power systems network, investment in smart grid infrastructure by utilities and reforms to strengthen electricity infrastructure have propelled the growth of the global transformer monitoring system market. However, factors such as high installation costs of transformer monitoring systems, unpredictable regulations and policies and capital supply constraints have challenged the growth of the global market for transformer monitoring systems.Global Transformer Monitoring System Market: Competition AnalysisThe research report on global transformer monitoring system market includes a detailed market assessment that includes competition tracking along with key developments undertaken by the competitor, SWOT analysis, company overview, strategies undertaken, mergers and acquisitions, product portfolios etc. Major Companies such as ABB Group, Siemens AG, General Electric, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc., Eaton Corporation, Hitachi Ltd., Qualitrol Company LLC, Koncar-Electrical Engineering Institute Inc., Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH (MR), CETT Co., Ltd., Groupe Cahors, Camlin Power, MTE Meter Test Equipment AG and Advanced Power Technologies LLC have been assessed during the course of the research.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.CONTACT:Future Market InsightsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:
Steam Autoclaves Market 2018: Study on Eminent Players |Priorclave, Nuve, Astell Scientific, Steris, Dental X, LTE Scientific, Medisafe International, Panasonic Healthcare, Zhermack, and Melag

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Steam Autoclaves Market will exceed USD 2.5 billion by 2023 as per a new research report.Increasing incidence of nosocomial infections along with increasing number of surgical procedures will drive steam autoclaves market growth over the forecast timeframe. Higher efficiency of steam sterilization owing to higher temperature, better penetration power, ease of protein denaturation leading to better removal of microorganisms will increase adoption rate. Non-toxicity and lowcost nature will further increase demand.Hospitals are adopting to Central Sterile Supply Department floor design to check the increasing rate of hospital acquired infections will propel the market growth. Growing requirement for managing the increasing bio-hazardous and medical waste generated in healthcare setting such as hospitals, pharmaceutical and life science facilities will boost market growth.Request sample copy of this report @However, high costs associated with large capacity and specialized autoclaves should restrain market growth. Lack of proper implementation of sterilization guidelines mandated by regulatory authorities such as FDA will impede growth.Table top steam autoclaves Market should grow at the fastest rate during the forecast time frame. Higher convenience in operation and less space requirement of table top autoclaves will propel future market growth.High pressure steam autoclaves Market will witness lucrative growth owing to their robust construction and ability of handling all type of bulk sterilization requirements. Increasing demand for bulk sterilization in the fields of agriculture, medicine and pharmaceuticals will further increase adoption rates.Demand for floor standing autoclaves is predicted to increase at a rapid pace. Low charging height coupled with big interior chamber enabling the disinfection of high sterilization requiring goods will increase market.Laboratory steam autoclaves market will grow at the fastest rate over the forecast timeframe. Improvement in healthcare infrastructure along with increasing number of medical and clinical laboratories will boost segment growth. Growing need to manage laboratory biohazard waste will further boost growth.Make Inquiry about this report @Dental steam autoclaves should exhibit lucrative growth owing to the increasing prevalence of dental disorders.Germany steam autoclaves market accounted for the largest regional revenue share. Technological advancements coupled with presence of strong distribution channel of major industry players will boost future growth. Increasing healthcare spending and presence of a strong healthcare system will favor industry expansion.Mexico steam autoclaves market should witness robust growth over the forecast timeframe. Increasing prevalence of hospital acquired infections will drive industry growth. Geographical proximity of Mexico to U.S. coupled with development of healthcare infrastructure will further fuel growth.Some industry players include Steris, Astell Scientific, Dental X, LTE Scientific, Medisafe International, Panasonic Healthcare, Promotal, Priorclave, Zhermack, Melag, Nuve. The industry participants are consolidating their market position by focusing on new product development.Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.com
Thermally Conductive Plastics Market  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017  2025

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In the highly competitive vendor landscape of the global market for thermally conductive plastics, the rising number of companies is likely to play a key role in bringing down costs of products and opening up several new growth opportunities as cost-conscious consumers become more open to using these plastics as alternatives to other materials, observes Transparency Market Research in a recent report. Companies in the market could benefit from the rising demand across the electrical and electronics and automotive sectors. Increased focus on growth opportunities across emerging economies could also play a key role in helping companies establish their dominance in the market.Request to view sample of this report at:Prominent players in the market are Koninklijke DSM N.V. (Royal DSM), Celanese Corporation, Poly One Corporation, Toray Industries Inc., Kaneka Corporation, SABIC Group, E.I.du Pont de Nemours and Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and Arkema Group.According to the report, the global thermally conductive plastics market was valued at US$838.8 mn in 2016 and is projected to reach US$2,634.3 Mn by 2025, at a CAGR of 13.8 % from 2017 to 2025.Asia Pacific to Remain Highly Lucrative in Future YearsBased on type, the segment of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) accounted for the dominant share of the global thermally conductive plastics and is likely to continue to lead. The demand for polycarbonate and polyetherimide is also propelling owing to demand from electrical and electronics and automotive industry and the segment is expected to exhibit growth at a healthy pace over the forecast period.Geographically, the Asia Pacific market held the dominant share of the global thermally conductive plastics market in 2016. Growth in this region can be primarily attributed to increasing use of thermally conductive plastics for applications such as manufacturing electrical devices and bumpers of cars in automotive industry. Factors such as the increasing demand for smart electronics, easy availability of plastic feed stock, and increasing investment of the plastic manufacturers in the region are also estimated to boost the market for thermally conductive plastics market.Increased Uptake across Electronics, Electrical, and Automotive Sectors to Serve Market WellThe global market for thermally conductive plastics is chiefly driven because of the increased demand for smart solutions in end-use industries such as electrical and electronics and automotive. Increased preference of the global consumer to lightweight products is also spelling growth for the global thermally conductive plastics market. The thriving automotive sector and the increased uptake of personal cars across emerging economies has also acted as a key driver for the market as a variety of thermally conductive plastics finds extensive usage in all varieties of vehicles, more so now owing to the increased inclination towards lightweight vehicles.The market has also massively benefitted from technological advancements and the vast rise in investment in the field of research and development from companies wanting to strengthen their positions in the increasingly competitive market. However, factors such as volatile costs of key raw materials could act as a prominent restraint for the global thermally conductive plastics market. The final cost of the product substantially rises with the rise in processing and development costs and most thermally conductive plastics are manufactured from crude oil. As such, the rapidly varying costs of crude oil and the complex and costly manufacturing and processing costs of crude oil derivatives continue to remain a key challenge for companies in the global thermally conductive plastics marketThis analysis of the global thermally conductive plastics market is based on a recent market research report by Transparency Market Research, titled Thermally Conductive Plastics Market (Type  Polyamide (PA), Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyetherimide (PEI), Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), PEEK, and PEKK; Application  Electrical & electronics, Automotive, Industrial, Healthcare, and Aerospace)  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017  2025.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Life Science Multichannel Campaign Management Market Expected to Rise Steadily throughout 2026

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Life science multichannel campaign management system helps companies to orchestrate, define and communicate their product offers to customers through social, mobile, call centres, direct mails and websites. Digital marketing is an integral part of multichannel campaign management that includes addressable advertising/branding, transactional marketing and contextual marketing. In short multichannel campaign management is a marketing process that extends through channels like video, web, mobile, kiosks, terminals of point of sales, digital signage and social applications. Global companies have urged for advanced version multichannel campaign management solutions to get the valuable information from the customers and plan for new ways for customer retention and acquisition of new customers. The traditional marketing practices have reformed due to the implementation of such kind of multichannel campaign management solutions implementations. The global life science multichannel campaign management market is expected to expand at a modest CAGR in the forecast period.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global Life Science Multichannel Campaign Management Market: Drivers and RestrainsThe major drivers for global multichannel campaign management market are trending digital marketing, technological advancements, advanced mobility solutions such as tablets, smartphones, and other kind of hand held devices. Also the ease of marketing through these multichannel campaign management solution and better service to the customer through these solutions are propelling the growth of this market.However, the restrains for this market can be the factors like rapid technological advancements, due to which the companies needs to keep pace with the upcoming technology and their costly implementation can hamper the global life science multichannel campaign management market. Also most of the customers are still not accessible to the technologies needed to avail the benefits of these kind of multichannel campaign management solutions, this can again act as a barrier in the growth of global life science multichannel campaign management market.Global Life Science Multichannel Campaign Management Market: SegmentationOn the basis of Services, the global life science multichannel campaign management market can be segmented as follows:System implementationSystem integrationTraining & supportConsultingOn the basis of applications, the global life science multichannel campaign management market can be segmented as follows:AdvertisingBrandingPromotionSellingOn the basis of end-use industry, the global life science multichannel campaign management market can be segmented as follows:PharmaceuticalsRetailHealthcareTransportationTelecommunicationsInformation technologyTourismGlobal Life Science Multichannel Campaign Management Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global life science multichannel campaign management market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is the leader in the global life science multichannel campaign management market due to the upcoming retail, transportation and tourism industry in this region. China and India are the major contributors in this region for the growth of the market. North America is following Asia Pacific in term of the market share in global life science multichannel campaign management market owing to its ever increasing pharmaceuticals industry and the existing information technology sector. Europe is the next major contributor in the market due to its significant automobile sector and the other retail industry flourishing in this region due to the automobile sector. Latin America and Middle East and Africa are at a nascent stage in global life science multichannel campaign management market but are expected to expand at a significant growth in the forecast period.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Global Life Science Multichannel Campaign Management Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global life science multichannel campaign management market are:TeradataAdobe Systems IncorporatedMarketo, Inc.IBM CorporationSAP AGInforSalesforce.comSAS Institute Inc.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact UsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:
Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market 2018: Study on Eminent Players | Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, Pfizer, Eisai, AstraZeneca, Eli Lily, and Sanofi

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Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market size is set to exceed USD 28 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Increasing prevalence of breast cancer, introduction of various diagnostic and screening programs across the world and favorable reimbursement policies should drive breast cancer therapeutics market growth over the forecast period.Advancement in cancer biology technologies, growing investment in research and development activities for novel drugs used in the treatment of disease should drive industry growth over the forecast timeframe. Growing adoption of minimally invasive cancer therapy should further drive breast cancer therapeutics market size.Furthermore, rising awareness levels regarding disease prevention, early diagnosis and screening should drive the industry revenue. However, high cost associated with breast cancer therapeutics, stringent regulatory guidelines, complications associated with chemotherapy and patent expiry of drugs can restrain industry growth.Request sample copy of this report @Targeted drug therapy should contribute for significant revenue share in 2016. Targeted drugs block the growth of cancerous cells. It targets abnormal protein HER2 (human epidermal growth factor) to stimulate growth of breast cancer cells. Increased focus on anticancer drug development for targeted therapies should drive the demand for these products.Hormone drugs should witness substantial growth over the forecast period. Growth is attributed due to its use to stop or slow down the hormonal sensitive tumor growth. Hormonal drugs function to interfere with bodys hormone production ability or by obstructing effects of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen on breast cancer cells. Furthermore, growing incidence rate of breast cancer, increasing acceptance of hormonal therapy to curb disease occurrence and growing usage of therapy as adjuvant therapy should drive hormonal drugs market growth over the forecast period.Distribution of breast cancer therapeutics through retail pharmacies contributed for major revenue share in 2016. Rising number of pharmacies in both developed and developing regions should drive industry growth over the forecast period. Large number of retail pharmacies and their software systems have facility of screening harmful drug interactions which will further drive segment growth.U.S. breast cancer therapeutics market size held major revenue share in 2016, and it is expected to grow at substantial rate over the forecast timeframe. Presence of well-established healthcare infrastructure and growing healthcare expenditure should drive industry growth. Increased access to breast cancer screening and growing adoption of therapy drugs among patients should further drive business growth in the U.S.Germany should experience significant growth over the forecast period. Rising prevalence of disease and arrangements of various symposiums and conferences to spread awareness regarding the disease in the country are the factors driving industry growth over the forecast period.Japan should contribute for considerable growth over the forecast period. Increasing mortality rates related to breast cancer have raised serious concerns in the country. Moreover, robust healthcare insurance system and well-developed infrastructure will drive business growth in the region.Make Inquiry about this report @South Africa is expected to grow at a lucrative rate over the forecast timeframe. Various organizations taking significant efforts to increase the awareness and accessibility will drive the business over the forecast period.Some of the companies operating in breast cancer therapeutics market includes Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, Pfizer, Eisai, AstraZeneca, Eli Lily, and Sanofi. Strategies implemented by the companies includes geographical expansion, launch of new products, strong product pipeline, mergers, and acquisition to enhance their business.Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.com
Pharmaceutical Testing Services: Market 2018 Segmented by Manufacturers (Eurofins, WuXi AppTec, Pace Analytical Services, Catalent, Envigo, PPD, Element (Exova), ALS Pharmaceutical) and Forecasts to 2025

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Pharmaceutical Testing Services Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Pharmaceutical Testing Services industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Pharmaceutical Testing Services market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Pharmaceutical Testing Services market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Pharmaceutical Testing Services players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The Pharmaceutical testing services market size will reach about 5.4 billion USD in 2025 from 2.26 billion USD in 2017 all around the world, with the CAGR of 11.5%.The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions.United States will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Pharmaceutical Testing Services.EU also play important roles in global market, with market size of 732 million USD in 2017 and will be 1620 million USD in 2025, with a CAGR of 10.5%.Pharmaceutical Testing Services Market Players: Eurofins WuXi AppTec Pace Analytical Services Catalent Envigo PPD Element (Exova) ALS Pharmaceutical Intertek Group SGS Boston Analytical EAG DYNALABS Maxxam ARLBioPharma West Pharmaceutical BioScreen Microbac RD Laboratories Analytical Lab Group Asymchem Piramal Pharma SolutionsTo Get the SAMPLE or PURCHASE the Full Report please click on the Link @On the basis of product, the Pharmaceutical Testing Services market is primarily split into Raw Materials Testing In-Process and Product Release Testing Finished Pharmaceutical Products Testing Environmental SamplesOn the basis on the end users/Application, this report covers Analytical Testing Method Development Stability Testing Other TestingMajor regions are as follows: United States EU Japan China India Southeast AsiaThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Pharmaceutical Testing Services market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Pharmaceutical Testing Services market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying @Also, key Pharmaceutical Testing Services market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Pharmaceutical Testing Services market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.To Check Avail Discount @Contact Us:Call: +1-888-236-2744Email: sales@qyresearchgroups.comAbout Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Room B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China.
Aerospace Coatings Market 2024 Global Analysis of Key Players  BASF SE, PPG Industries, AkzoNobel, Sherwin-Williams, Mankiewicz Gebr. & Co, and Zodiac Aerospace

Aerospace Coatings, Aerospace Coatings Market, Aerospace Coatings Market Size, Aerospace Coatings Industry

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The report is a comprehensive exploration of global Aerospace Coatings market offering growth rates, size of the industry, competitive landscape information, factors to the contributing growth of the global Aerospace Coatings market and more.Aerospace coatings market size has been forecast to surpass a revenue collection of USD 1 billion by the end of 2024, owing to the surging use of coatings in commercial, military, and space aircrafts. The rise in international trading opportunities have further had a significant impact on the growing requirement of commercial aircrafts. Regional governments have also been taking initiatives to promote cross-country trading, while simultaneously making investments in the aviation industry to fulfill the increasing requirement of aircrafts. For instance, China invested USD 3 billion in the aerospace sector in 2014, fueled by the demand for aircrafts. The escalating investments in research and development programs in the aviation sector is thus poised to boost aerospace coatings industry share over the coming timeframe. Over the last few years, aerospace coatings market has been accumulating commendable proceeds on account of the rapid expansion of the aerospace industry driven by the demand for commercial, military, and general-purpose aircraftRequest a sample of this premium Aerospace Coatings market Research Report @Taking into account the popularity and increasing adoption of aircrafts for transportation, prominent aerospace coatings market players are looking forward to not only enhance product efficiency but also to minimize the associated manufacturing costs. In addition to this, manufacturers have been continuously involving themselves in research and developments activities to innovate high quality paints and coatings. Nano Coatings for instance, in one of the most remarkable inventions in this business space, that has gained considerable popularity owing to its capability to provide an extended lifespan and resist dust particles.The shifting trends toward the usage of composite materials for manufacturing integral parts of next-generation aircraft may hamper the future growth of aerospace coatings market size. In consequence, players in aerospace coatings industry are looking forward to developing effective coating technologies.The product segment of aerospace coatings market mainly includes epoxy and polyurethane resins. Currently, polyurethane resins are extensively used in the next-generation aircrafts such as Boeing 787, pertaining to the advantages they provide, such as high resistance to UV rays and ability to prohibit abrasion, chemical, and staining damages. Polyurethane resins will hold 55% of the overall aerospace coatings market share by 2024, driven by its excessive sales and growing popularity.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium Aerospace Coatings market Research Report atRegionally, North America aerospace coatings industry is predicted to collect a revenue of more than USD 350 million by 2024, owing to the fact that the region houses some of the biggest players. Moreover, increasing development of next-generation aircrafts such as Airbus A350, Boeing 737, and Boeing 787, mainly for commercial applications, will also push the product demand across North America.Meanwhile, renowned biggies in aerospace coatings market are substantially investing in technology developments and R&D activities to introduce products with an improved service life. This business sphere encompasses some of the most notable players such as BASF SE, PPG Industries, AkzoNobel, Sherwin-Williams, Mankiewicz Gebr. & Co, and Zodiac Aerospace.Outside of the scope aerospace coatings indeed, are one of the vital components of aircraft manufacturing as they protect the interior as well as exterior surfaces of the aircraft in extreme operating environments. In addition, the exterior surface of the freight needs decorative painting to maintain performance, appearance, and protection against corrosion. The escalating need of coatings for protecting aircraft surfaces from adverse weather conditions, control drag and dirt resistance is likely to propel aerospace coatings market share.The use of aerospace coatings tends to prolong the lifecycle of aircraft structures, on the grounds of which leading coating manufacturers have been looking forward to developing high-performance coatings. In addition, changing environmental policies for reducing the VOC content in the aerospace coatings have been encouraging manufacturers to develop premium coating products. Aided by the rapidly expanding aviation industry, aerospace coatings manufacturers have been focusing on achieving high revenue benefits with the development of modern coating technologies. The attractive growth prospects of the aerospace domain have also helped coating manufacturers invest in facility expansions across myriad geographies. The UK aerospace industry for instance, as per the British Coatings Federation, generates a revenue of more than 20 billion British pounds annually and is one of UKs largest businesses, thereby contributing toward the growth of the regional aerospace coatings market. The growing preference for air transportation, increasing need to enhance military needs and stringent regulatory norms to develop high-performance coatings will thus boost aerospace coatings market size in the forthcoming years.More Report At:Table of content:Chapter 3. Aerospace Coatings Industry Insights3.1. Industry segmentation3.2. Industry landscape, 2013 - 20243.3. Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1. Raw material supplier3.3.2. Manufacturers3.3.3. Profit margin analysis3.3.4. Distribution channel analysis3.3.5. Vendor matrix3.3.5.1. Role3.3.5.2. Product portfolio3.3.5.3. Global presence3.4. Pricing trends by region3.4.1. North America3.4.2. Europe3.4.3. LATAM3.4.4. APAC3.4.5. MEA3.4.6. Cost structure analysis3.5. Technology landscape3.6. Regulatory landscape3.6.1. North America3.6.2. Europe3.6.3. LATAM3.6.4. APAC3.6.5. MEA3.7. Industry best practices & key buying criteria3.8. Industry impact forces3.8.1. Growth drivers3.8.1.1. North America3.8.1.2. Europe3.8.1.3. LATAM3.8.1.4. APAC3.8.1.5. MEA3.8.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges3.9. Innovation & sustainability3.10. Growth potential analysis3.11. Porters analysis3.12. Competitive landscape, 20163.12.1. Vendor Matrix3.12.2. Strategic dashboard3.13. PESTLE analysisFor More:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:Connect with us:Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter
Global Coated Fabrics for Defense to Remain a High-Volume-Low Value Market Through 2028

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Recent findings from a month-long deep sea exploration in the South China Sea have shown astounding results pertaining to new materials that can be used to manufacture military and aerospace equipment. The military seeks constant support of such developments to support their critical day-to-day activities. The impact of the recent developments taking place in the sector have impacted the coated fabrics market, as these fabrics are used for different products in the defense industry.The improved support by the government of various countries to provide better products to their military has facilitated a moderate revenue growth in the global coated fabrics for defense market, which is expected to reach a valuation of over US$ 5,200 Mn by the end of 2028. A recent forecast by Future Market Insights projects the market to grow at a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period.Request Sample Report @Thermoplastics to Emerge As a Viable Alternative to Rubber for Reducing Fabric WeightDifferent materials are being incorporated in various military products and equipment due to their special properties. Thermoplastics is now being given more preference in the global market over rubber as it is considered lighter and more durable. Thermoplastics is also considered to be more efficient as it possesses other special properties such as chemical resistance, strong environment sustainability and convenience in opening and folding. As a case in point, the U.S Army is working on a lightweight hot weather alternative to the current Army Combat Uniform (ACU), which weighs about 1.4 pounds and has a lot of pocket and multiple layers of fabrics.Adoption of Electronic Textiles Trending the Global Coated Fabrics for Defense MarketRevolutionary advancements have resulted in the implementation of new technology in many sectors of the global market. This implementation of technology is not just limited to the technical or electronic fields but also to the textile industry. The most evident example of this innovation can be seen in electronic textiles that are widely used by military personnel. This technology integrates miniature electronic components into the textiles used in different military products and equipment. The special features of these textiles such as ballistic protection, embedded sensors, etc. helps military personnel perform their daily operations efficiently. This innovation in military fabric technology is anticipated to boost the growth in demand for lightweight materials, eventually leading to a growth in revenue of the coated fabrics market.Request to View TOC @Privatization of the Defense Industry to Introduce New Companies in the Global MarketPrivatization of the defense industry will continue to be an important factor impacting the overall growth of the coated fabrics for defense market. Privatization has abolished several barriers to entry of new companies. These new companies will provide the necessary services support and will also lead to a change in the working of the global defense industry. Most of the companies are launching innovative products to sustain in the competitive market of coated fabrics for defense. By introducing new products, a business can target previously untapped markets.However, stringent emission norms for coated fabrics is expected to limit the growth of the global coated fabrics for defense market. These norms have resulted in plant closures and restructuring of ownerships and some of the companies have also gone bankrupt in the past.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.CONTACT:Future Market InsightsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:
IT Security Spending Market Detail Analysis focusing on Key Players like Check Point Software Technologies, Cisco Systems, EMC, Fortinet, Juniper Networks

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ReportsWeb Adds Global IT Security Spending Market offers an up-to-date analysis of the market with regards to the innovations, current competitive landscape and latest trends and drivers, to provide new predictions for the forecast period.Global IT Security Spending Market Size Status and Forecast 2018-2025This report focuses on the global IT Security Spending status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the IT Security Spending development in United States, Europe and China.Get sample copy of this report:Companies Profiled in this report includes: Check Point Software Technologies, Cisco Systems, EMC, Fortinet, Juniper Networks, McAfee, Palo Alto Networks, Symantec, Trend Micro, Akamai Technologies , Avast Software, AVG Technologies, Barracuda Networks , Citrix Systems , Dell SonicWALL, F5 Networks, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Imperva , Microsoft , Panda Security, Radware , Sophos, Trustwave HoldingsIT security is the practice of preventing unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, inspection, recording or destruction of information. To standardize this discipline, academics and professionals collaborate and seek to set basic guidance, policies, and industry standards on password, antivirus software, firewall, encryption software, legal liability and user/administrator training standards. This standardization may be further driven by a wide variety of laws and regulations that affect how data is accessed, processed, stored, and transferred.Get Discount of this report:The increasing use of mobile devices and cloud servers to store sensitive data and the subsequent rise in technologically sophisticated cyber criminals threatening to steal that data have accelerated growth in the IT Security Consulting industry. This industry offers managed IT security services, such as firewalls, intrusion prevention, security threat analysis, proactive security vulnerability and penetration testing and incident preparation and response, which includes IT forensics.The study objectives of this report are:To analyze global IT Security Spending status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.To present the IT Security Spending development in United States, Europe and China.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies.To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions.Table of Content:1 Report Overview2 Global Growth Trends3 Market Share by Key Players4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application5 United States6 Europe7 China8 Japan9 Southeast Asia10 India11 Central & South America12 International Players Profiles12.1 Check Point Software Technologies12.1.1 Check Point Software Technologies Company Details12.1.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.1.3 IT Security Spending Introduction12.1.4 Check Point Software Technologies Revenue in IT Security Spending Business (2013-2018)12.1.5 Check Point Software Technologies Recent Development12.2 Cisco Systems12.2.1 Cisco Systems Company Details12.2.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.2.3 IT Security Spending Introduction12.2.4 Cisco Systems Revenue in IT Security Spending Business (2013-2018)12.2.5 Cisco Systems Recent Development12.3 EMC12.3.1 EMC Company Details12.3.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.3.3 IT Security Spending Introduction12.3.4 EMC Revenue in IT Security Spending Business (2013-2018)12.3.5 EMC Recent Development12.4 Fortinet13 Market Forecast 2018-2025Complete Report:Contact Info:Name: Sameer JoshiEmail: sales@reportsweb.comCompany Name: ReportsWebWebsite: Reportsweb.comPhone: +1-646-491-9876About ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.533, 5th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Meningococcal Vaccines Market : Developing economies reshaping global health and development

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The global meningococcal vaccines market consists of a good number of established players who are on a quest to expand their market shares. The competition in the market has been stiffening over the past decade, partly due to the innovative business strategies of leading players, and majorly on account of the continual entry of new players. The companies operating in the pharmaceutical industry can easily expand their horizons by manufacturing meningococcal vaccines and this is the prime reason behind the emergence of new market players.Request a Brochure of the Report @The established market vendors have attained a deft level of expertise in the manufacture, sale, and marketing of products, thus, enhancing their growth prospects in the contemporary times. On the other hand, the smaller market vendors in the global meningococcal vaccines market are expected to form strategic alliances to counter the strong footholds of the leading players. The manufacture of novel drugs by leading players such as Sanofi, GSK, and Pfizer has resulted in an increased share of these players in the total market share. Besides all of the aforementioned factors, the decisive factor in the growth of the market vendors is the expertise with conducting core research in the field of meningococcal vaccines. Other key vendors in the global market for meningococcal vaccines are Biomed Pvt. Ltd., Serum Institute of India Ltd., Baxter International Inc., Nuron Biotech, Novartis International AG, and GlaxoSmithKline plc.A report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) is an aplomb description of the global market for meningococcal vaccines. The report estimates that the global market would settle at an astral CAGR of 12.40% over the period between 2014 and 2022. Furthermore, the researchers of the report predicted that the global market for meningococcal vaccines would accumulate revenues worth USD 4.450.4 million by 2022.Rising Incidence of Meningococcal Disease Propels DemandThe occurrence of meningococcal disease relies on several factors inclusive of age, geographical location, environmental fettle, and immunity. Such a wide range of factors responsible for the diseases also increases its rate of incidence, and this gives an impetus to the growth of the global market for meningococcal vaccines. The rising incidence of the disease is rebutted by the awareness campaigns to inform and educate people about the ills of meningococcal disease and ways to prevent and treat it. This has also created growth spaces for the pharmaceutical companies manufacturing vaccines and drugs for the treatment of meningococcal. The efforts of international bodies towards building a strong healthcare awareness framework have also aided the growth of the global market. Subsidization of vaccinations and mandates from global healthcare bodies have also benefitted the global market for meningococcal diseases.Request a Sample of the Report @Cost Wars could hamper Market GrowthThe cost wars that have cropped with from the drug makers of similar vaccines is expected to hamper the growth of the global market. Furthermore, the penetration of the market into regions with strict regulatory framework for the manufacture of drugs is also a hindrance to market growth. There have been several attempts to build a robust base for research and development of antibodies in key European regions but to no avail. Nevertheless, the efforts of the leading vendors to capture maximum regional share is expected to enhance the growth prospects of the global market for meningococcal disease.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market : Potential Growth of Domestic Pharmaceutical Companies

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Featuring a largely consolidated vendor landscape where the leading three companies, namely Astra Zeneca, F.Hoffmann-LaRocheLtd., and Novartis AG, collectively accounted for over 93% of the overall market in 2014, the global market for breast cancer therapeutics has remained tough for small players over the years, observes Transparency Market Research in a recent report. The scenario, however, is increasingly changing as the patents of a number of blockbuster drugs from these vendors have either already expired or are soon to expire, allowing the entry of generic drug manufacturers in the market.Request a Brochure of the Report @In the face of these changing dynamics, there has been a surge in strategic collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions, allowing companies to expand their product portfolios, geographical outreach, and consumer bases. Focus on the development of new and more effective drug classes has also increased as companies plough in increased resources into R&D activities in the bid of remaining ahead of competitors.According to the report, the global breast cancer therapeutics market will exhibit an 8.4% CAGR from 2015 to 2023, rising to a revenue opportunity of US$16.21 bn by 2023.North America Market Remains Dominant Contributor of RevenueGeographically, the market in North America accounts for a sizeable chunk in the global market, chiefly owing to a well-established medical insurance structure in key country-wide markets in the region. The region is likely to remain the top-grosser, accounting for over 36.2% of the overall market by the end of the reports forecast period. In terms of drug types, the segment of HER2 inhibitors will emerge as the top-grossing segment over the forecast period as generic drugs are entering the market following the patent expiry of several branded drugs in the category.Increased Global Risk of Breast Cancer Drives Demand for Effective Breast Cancer DrugsOne of the key factors to have driven the demand for breast cancer therapeutics in the past few years is the rising prevalence of breast cancer among women across the globe. Risk of developing a number of cancers, including breast cancer, is also largely said to increase with age. Thus the rising geriatric population globally is also leading to a vast rise in the patient-base for the condition, driving increased demand for effective breast cancer treatments. Studies have also associated breast cancer with patterns such as rise in age of childbearing, high intake of oral contraceptive pills, reduced breast feeding, and undergoing estrogen modifying drug treatments. The rising number of women associated with these behaviors and the consecutive rise in breast cancer cases globally is also expected to drive the market.Request a Sample of the Report @Rise in Population of Obese Women Globally Could Drive MarketMoreover, a significant rise in the global numbers of obese women is also a key factor contributing to the increased rates of breast cancer worldwide, which could drive the market. The market is also benefitting from the rising number of pharmaceutical companies ploughing in increased resources into R&D activities related to breast cancer drugs and a number of new vendors focusing on the manufacture of generic drugs to serve a vast pool of unmet demands across emerging economies. Furthermore, the development of customized companion diagnostic models for patients according to the molecular characteristics of the cancer is expected to provide promising growth opportunities to the market. However, the increased and easy availability of generic drugs in the global market, which has massively increased the level of competition in the market, could hamper its growth to a certain extent.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Imitation Jewellery Market 2018 Latest Trends and Future Scope with Top Key Players- Chudong, Daihe, Jingyingying, Yalunfengshang, Chuangyi, Zhengdong, Jinjia, Yafeini, Laikeni

Imitation Jewellery

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The report gives the clear picture of current Imitation Jewellery Market scenario and the predicted future of the industry. The report focuses on the basis of market drivers, restraints, growth, trends and forecast for the period of 2018-2025. In addition, the report also maps the market performance by value chain analysis which will help in better product differentiation along with the analysis of each segment in terms of opportunity, market attractiveness index and growth rate.The report Imitation Jewellery Market by Key players highlights the essential market dynamics of Imitation Jewellery Market sector. The efficiency of this segment has been studied deeply along with the noteworthy challenges and forthcoming growth opportunities and prospective. The report focuses in decision making abilities and supports to make effective counter strategies in order to achieve competitive advantage. Current market scenario of the segment and forecasts of the market situation have also been bounded in this market report.QY Research groups can be relied upon for the most updated and in depth information of the title Global Imitation Jewellery Market this is estimated by experts to develop at the most elevated CAGR amid the estimate time frame 2018-2025.To Grab the SAMPLE or PURCHASE the Full Report please click on the LinkThe major manufacturers covered in this report Chudong Daihe Jingyingying Yalunfengshang Chuangyi Zhengdong Jinjia Yafeini LaikeniGeographically, 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 India Southeast Asia Other regions (Central & South America, 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 into Rings Necklaces Earrings OthersBy Application, the market can be split into Decorate OthersThe study objectives of this report are: To analyze and study the global Imitation Jewellery capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025); Focuses on the key Imitation Jewellery 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 market. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Get the best Discount in the market here @This market is segmented by Types and Applications. It provides a profound study of the leading players in the market and the prevailing regions in the business, thereby benefiting new entries in the business by proving the most updated insights of the market.At QY Research Groups we render the most authentic and elaborate information for the utmost benefit of our clients.About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Call: +1-888-236-2744Email: sales@qyresearchgroups.comRoom B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China.
Healthcare/Medical Simulation Market rising healthcare costs and growing demand for minimally invasive treatments

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Global Healthcare/Medical Simulation Market: OverviewThe end users of medical simulation, which is leveraged to train and teach medical professionals about different types of surgeries and teach students about anatomy and physiology, include hospitals, academics, and military, among others. Depending upon the products and services, the global healthcare/medical simulation market can be segmented into computed tomography, high fidelity mannequins, magnetic resonance imaging, live environments, serious game, simulated clinical environment, positron emission tomography, fidelity trainers, performance recording, cardiovascular simulators, imaging simulation, IV simulators, surgical simulators, interventional simulators, mid/low simulator, ultrasound imaging, and healthcare/medical simulation training services.View Report:The global market for healthcare/medical simulation is characterized by the presence of numerous small players that operate in different segments in the regional markets. They are providing stiff competition to the dominant market players by denting their market shares. This has prompted the big names in the industry to invest heavily in developing new technologies and improving their existing products. Overall, the global market for healthcare/medical simulation is fragmented and is forecasted to grow at a robust pace in the near future on account of the robust competition between small and big players.Global Healthcare/Medical Simulation Market: Trends and OpportunitiesMajor growth drivers in the global market for healthcare/medical simulation are the rising healthcare costs and growing demand for minimally invasive treatments. Increasing concern over patient safety is another crucial growth driver. As per the Institute of Medicine, about 44,000 to 98,000 deaths are caused very year globally because of medical errors during treatment. This has significantly upped the demand for healthcare/medical simulation as it helps doctors and surgeons to understand better the procedures and avoid fatal missteps while treatment or surgery.Request a Brochure of the Report @Medical simulation leverages haptic and virtual and reality technology. Haptic technology makes use of the sense of touch by applying forces, vibration, and motions to aid in realistic and multisensory learning. Virtual and reality technology on the other hand leverages computer simulated environment. It assists surgeons to learn surgery sans actual patients.Besides the aforementioned growth drivers, another factor slated to boost the market substantially in the years to come is the swift pace of technological innovation resulting from the stiff competition among existing market players wanting to improve their sales by offering more advanced and sophisticated products. This would also help address the prevalent challenges in the field of medical simulation, tackle compliance issues, and satisfy the unmet needs of the market. Deterring the growth in the market, however, is the expensiveness of the simulators.Global Healthcare/Medical Simulation Market: Regional OutlookThe global market for healthcare/medical simulation can be segmented geographically into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World. Currently, North America dominates the market followed by Europe. The presence of prominent players in the region and their continuous expansion via acquisition has led to the easy availability of medical simulation products and services in the two continents. This has significantly bolstered their markets.Request TOC @Going forward, however, Asia Pacific will drive substantial growth in the global market due to the massive emphasis on development of the healthcare industry in the region through favorable regulations stoking innovation and commercialization. The emerging economies of India and China will majorly fillip the market in the region due the growing thrust on medical studies and research. Increasing number of hospitals, academic institutions, and medical devices will also fillip the market in the region.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Opportunities for the global polyurethane tooling board market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2016 to 2021

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According to a new market report published by Lucintel, the future of the global polyurethane tooling board market looks good, with opportunities in aerospace & defense, automotive, marine, wind energy, and others. The global polyurethane tooling board market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2016 to 2021. The major driver of growth for this market is increasing usage of polyurethane tooling boards in the automotive and aerospace industries due to low cost and shorter prototype production time.In this market, aerospace & defense, automotive, marine, wind energy, and others are the major end use industries. On the basis of its comprehensive research, Lucintel forecasts that the automotive and wind energy markets are expected to show above average growth during the forecast period from 2016 to 2021.Within the global polyurethane tooling board market, the automotive segment is expected to remain the largest market. Excellent surface finish, high dimensional stability, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and high glass transition temperatures are the properties that will drive the growth of polyurethane tooling boards. Complex shapes can easily be formed by using polyurethane tooling boards.Europe is expected to remain the largest region because major customers of polyurethane tooling are located in this region. Furthermore, the demand for polyurethane tooling boards is growing for developing prototypes for formula one cars, motorsports vehicles, and lightweight vehicles.Asia Pacific is expected to witness above average growth over the forecast period because of growth in the automotive industry.For business expansion, the report suggests innovation and new product development to produce polyurethane tooling that has high mechanical resistance, durability, and easy machining.Emerging trends, which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the industry, include the development of high temperature resistance and custom sized tooling boards. Camtek (Sika), RAMPF Tooling Solutions GmBH & Co. KG, General Plastics, OBO Werke, and CMT Materials are among the major suppliers for the polyurethane tooling board.Lucintel, a leading global strategic consulting and market research firm, has analyzed growth opportunities in the global polyurethane tooling board market by end use industry and by region, and has come up with a comprehensive research report, entitled Growth Opportunities in the Global Polyurethane Tooling Board Market 2016-2021: Trends, Forecast, and Opportunity Analysis. The Lucintel report serves as a springboard for growth strategy, as it provides a comprehensive data and analysis on trends, key drivers, and directions.The study includes a forecast for the global polyurethane tooling board market by end use industry and region as follows:By End Use Industry (Value ($M) and Volume (Million Board Feet) from 2010 to 2021): Automotive Aerospace Marine Wind Energy OthersBy Region (Value ($M) and Volume (Million Board Feet) from 2010 to 2021): North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the WorldThis 110-page research report will enable you to make confident business decisions in this globally competitive marketplace. For a detailed table of contents, contact Lucintel at +1-972-636-5056 or helpdesk@lucintel.com. Lucintel offerings include advanced materials reports, composite materials market report, strategic growth consulting, market research due diligence and business strategy consulting.This report answers following 11 key questions:Q. 1. What are some of the most promising, high-growth trends in the global polyurethane tooling board market by end use industry (aerospace, automotive, wind energy, marine, and others) and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World)?Q. 2.Which product segments will grow at a faster pace and why?Q. 3.Which region will grow at a faster pace and why?Q.4.What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the drivers and challenges in the market?Q.5.What are the business risks and competitive threats in this market?Q.6.What are the emerging trends in this market and reasons behind them?Q.7.What are the changing demands of customers in the market?Q.8.What are the new developments in the market and which companies are leading these developments?Q.9.Who are the major players in this market? What strategic initiatives are being implemented by key players for business growth?Q.10.What are some of the competitive products in this area and how great a threat do they pose for loss of market share through product substitution?Q. 11. What M & A activities have transpired in the last 5 years in this market?Lucintel, the premier global management consulting and market research firm, creates winning strategies for growth. It offers market assessments, competitive analysis, opportunity analysis, growth consulting, M&A, and due diligence services to executives and key decision-makers in a variety of industries. For further information, visitLucintel LLCLucintel, 8951 Cypress Waters Blvd., Suite 160, Dallas, TX 75019Ph: +1-972-636-5056 Fax: +1-877-883-5140marketing@lucintel.com
Dupuytren Contracture Market is Trending with CAGR of 4.4% by 2023, Key Players- Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co., Fresenius Kabi AG, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Pfizer Inc.

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Market Research Future recently introduced Global Dupuytren Contracture Market study with in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status to 2023. The report also provide detail analysis of the market structure along with forecast, market size & share, various segments and growing trends of the bottled water industry.Global Dupuytrens Contracture Market -HighlightsDupuytren's contracture is a condition primarily of the fingers of the hand in which there is difficulty in articulating fingers due to formation of knots of tissue form under the skin which may worsen to a degree that fingers become permanently bent in a flexed position. The exact causes of Dupuytren's contracture are unknown however the risk factors include alcoholism, smoking, thyroid problems, liver disease, diabetes, previous hand trauma, epilepsy, family history etc.Request Sample with New Market Trends @Dupuytren's contracture has a higher rate in males over the age of 50. There is also a genetic propensity with Caucasians being affected more while it is rare among Asians and Africans. Dupuytren's contracture has a regress rate of approximately 10 % of patients. The annual incidence proportion of this disease was estimated at about 3 cases per 10,000 adults. The occurrence rate in the United States is about 5% of people, while Scandinavian nations has a higher rate of about 30% of men over 60 years old have the condition.Global Dupuytrens Contracture Market Growth and AnalysisNeedle aponeurotomy (NA) is the preferred surgical treatment of choice and used in the majority of patients. It is less invasive than the open hand surgery which is now reserved for the most severe conditions. The collagenase injection segment is however expected to grow the fastest due to minimum invasive nature and the lesser hospitalization stay.The market drivers for Dupuytrens contracture market are increasing cardiac cases such as heart attack, other factors includes cancer, kidney failure, end-stage lung cancer, hypothyroidism, rising screening and penetration of healthcare, growing awareness about cardiac diseases and growing income and healthcare expenditure etc. The market restraints are cost of Dupuytrens contracture surgery, complications and risk of the surgery, invasive nature of treatment etc.Global Dupuytrens Contracture Market Key PlayersBristol-Meyers Squibb CoFresenius KabiMerck & CompanyPfizer Inc.West-Ward PharmaceuticalsSpear PharmacueticalsActiza Pharmaceutical Private LimitedNantong Jinghua Pharmaceutical Co., LtdObtain Report Details with TOC @Global Dupuytrens Contracture Market -Regional AnalysisEurope account for a significant market share owing to extensive use of medications and high expenditure on the health care. Additionally, the greater prevalence of Dupuytrens contracture in Europe drives the Dupuytrens contracture market. Also, concentration of major research companies in the developed countries of this region is adding fuel to the market growth.The highly developed healthcare system of the Scandavanian region coupled with high expenditure on healthcare, cruises the sale of Dupuytrens contracture treatment. Europe is led by countries such as Germany and France. Norway is expected to be the fastest growing market.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 50 market data tables and figures spread over 80 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content (TOC) & market synopsis on Global Dupuytrens contracture Market Research Report  Forecast till 2023.Global Dupuytrens Contracture Market -SegmentationThe global Dupuytrens contracture market has been segmented on the basis of types, diagnosis, surgery, drugs, therapy and end users.Based on type, the market has been segmented as type I, type II, type III.Based on diagnosis, the market has been segmented as physical examination, x-ray and others.Based on drug, and the market has been segmented as steroids, collagenase injection, immune-modulators and others.Based on therapy, the market has been segmented as radiation therapy, physiotherapy and others.Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals & clinics, academic and research and others.Get Excusive Discount @Major Points form TOC for Dupuytren Contracture Market Research Report  Forecast to 2023Chapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market IntroductionChapter 3. Research MethodologyChapter 4. Market DynamicsChapter 5. Market Factor AnalysisChapter 6. Global Cancer Immunotherapy Market, By TypeChapter 7. Global Cancer Immunotherapy Market, By TreatmentChapter 8 Global Cancer Immunotherapy Market, By End UserChapter 9. Global Cancer Immunotherapy Market, By RegionChapter 10 Company LandscapeChapter 11 Company ProfilesChapter 12 MRFR ConclusionChapter 13 AppendixAbout US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
IoT Analytics Market is expected to progress at a CAGR of +12.7% over the forecast period (2015-2023)

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IoT Analytics Market is expected to progress at a CAGR of +16.7% over the forecast period. Growing penetration of connected devices and the sudden outburst of data from IoT- enabled devices have shown a significant growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) analytics market. IoT Analytics refers to analyzing and examining the data obtained by the Internet of Things. Sensors, network end devices and other data storing and transmitting equipment are the key components of collection of Internet of Things data, upon which analysis is performed.The report, titled Global IoT Analytics market defines and briefs readers about its products, applications, and specifications. The studies lists key organizations running within the global marketplace and also highlights the key converting trends adopted by the organizations to maintain their dominance. By the usage of SWOT evaluation and Porters five pressure analysis tool, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of key corporations are all mentioned in the report.Get Sample Copy Of this Report @:Key Players Personal Identity Management:IBM Corporation (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), Oracle Corporation (US), SAP SE (Germany), Cisco Systems (US), Dell Technologies (US), Google (US), Amazon Web Services (US), Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (US), PTC (US) Hitachi (Japan), Teradata Corporation (US), Green wave Systems (US)Moving further, the players dominant in the IoT Analytics market have been presented. The trends and competitive status of the market during this period have also been reviewed under this section of the report. The new entrants and the predicted trends in the market have also been summarized under this section of the report.On the basis of product pricing, production volume, data regarding demand and supply, and the revenue garnered by the product the global IoT Analytics market is also analyzed thoroughly. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis have been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the market for IoT Analytics across the globe.For Enquiry:Table of Content:Global IoT Analytics Market Research Report 2018-2025Chapter 1: Industry OverviewChapter 2: International and China Market AnalysisChapter 3: Environment Analysis of IoT Analytics marketChapter 4: Analysis of Revenue by ClassificationsChapter 5: Analysis of Revenue by Regions and ApplicationsChapter 6: Analysis of IoT Analytics Revenue Market Status.Chapter 7: Analysis of IoT Analytics Industry Key ManufacturersChapter 8: Sales Price and Gross Margin AnalysisChapter 9: Marketing Trader or Distributor Analysis of IoT AnalyticsChapter 10: Development Trend of IoT Analytics Industry 2016-2021Chapter 11: Industry Chain Suppliers of IoT Analytics market with Contact InformationChapter 12: New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of IoT AnalyticsChapter 13: Conclusion of the Global IoT Analytics Industry 2015 Market ResearchAbout Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Where counting on a legitimate board company for your selections will become critical. Research N Reports specializes in enterprise evaluation, marketplace forecasts and as a result getting great reports overlaying all verticals, whether be it gaining angle on modern market situations or being in advance inside the cut throat Global opposition.Contact us:Research N Reports10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064,Sunny Denis(Sales Manager),+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.com
Aerospace Maintenance Chemicals Market to Witness Growth Acceleration During 2024

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Market Study Report adds a new Increasing frequency of air traffic by passenger and commercial segments has tremendously augmented the commercialization graph of aerospace maintenance chemicals market, driven by the constant need for repair and servicing of aircraft engines and components for period of 2018-2024 that shows the growth of the market is rising at a Steady CAGR to 2024.Strict government regulations associated with frequent maintenance operations are driving the aerospace market over the forecast timeframe. Increasing requirement for MRO for the old aircrafts will further stimulate the aerospace maintenance chemicals business.Declining air fare coupled with improving living standards is enhancing the travel and tourism sector growth. This will further strengthen the aircraft business driving the need for higher maintenance, soaring product penetration till 2024. However, inventory management of the chemicals may negatively impact the aerospace maintenance chemicals industry.Request a sample of this premium Research Report at:Government agencies across the globe such as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are amending the chemical requirements for maintenance procedures to decrease labor fatalities owing to prolonged exposure. Industry players are heavily investing in R&D activities to enhance their product line and reduce costs. Technological advancements to manufacture environment friendly products is positively influencing the aerospace maintenance chemicals business growth rate during the study period.Aircraft cleaning chemicals segment is predicted to be valued at USD 2.5 billion by 2024. High product usage in the aircraft exteriors and interiors will escalate the industry growth. Additionally, fast and efficient operation in a wide range of defense and commercial aircrafts will further accelerate the product demand. Aviation paint removers segment will exhibit sturdy growth rate owing to benefits such as extended shelf life, fast paint removal, and superior operation.Predilection of manufacturers towards ease of compatibility with various equipment offering fast operations and superior performance will drive the inorganic chemicals segment growth. The competitive product pricing along with wide availability in customized quantity as per the customer requirements will further boost the aerospace maintenance chemicals industry till 2024.North America is expected to surpass USD 2.6 billion by 2024. Increasing maintenance, repairs, & operations activities at competitive prices along with the presence of several maintenance centers will drive the regional demand. The U.S. is dominating the aerospace maintenance chemicals market share owing to the massive expansion of the aerospace industry, positively enhancing the overall business growth.Arrow Solutions, Eastman, Shell, and The Dow Chemical Company are the major participants in the aerospace maintenance chemicals market. Other notable participants include 3M, Henkel, KLX Inc., and Wesco aircraft. Industry participants are engaged in strategic partnerships to enhance their industry share. For instance, in October 2017, Arrow Solutions announced strengthening of its partnership with distributors in Norway to improve product availability and enhance industry share.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Table of Content:Chapter 1 Methodology & Scope1.1 Methodology1.1.1 Initial data exploration1.1.2 Statistical model and forecast1.1.3 Industry Insights and validation1.1.4 Scope, definitions, & forecast parameters1.1.4.1 Definitions:1.1.4.2 Forecast parameters & considerations1.1.4.3 To further validate our research, there had been a vivid study on business jets registered in top countries1.2 Data Sources1.2.1 Secondary1.2.2 PrimaryChapter 2 Executive Summary2.1 Aerospace maintenance chemicals industry 360 degree synopsis, 2013 - 20242.1.1 Business trends2.1.2 Product trends2.1.3 Aircraft trends2.1.4 Nature trends2.1.5 Regional trendsChapter 3 Aerospace Maintenance Chemicals Industry Insights3.1 Industry segmentation3.2 Industry landscape, 2013 - 20243.3 Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1 Raw material suppliers3.3.2 Manufacturers3.3.3 Profit margin trends3.3.4 Distribution channel analysis3.3.4.1 On-site support3.3.4.2 Online sourcing and procurement3.3.5 E-Commerce3.3.5.1 Aerospace manufacturing value chain analysis3.3.6 Vendor matrix3.4 World fleet3.5 Global GDP & airline traffic growth3.6 Pricing trends by region3.6.1 North America3.6.2 Europe3.6.3 Asia PacificOutside scope of this report as aircrafts experience harsh weather and deterioration of interiors owing to hundreds of passengers being transported daily, cleaning chemicals are essential to maintain exterior surfaces as well as the seats, floorings and lavatories. Worldwide, governments and international agencies have enforced several mandates to outline safety guidelines, which are not just limited to cabin hygiene but also entail stringent engine and landing gear maintenance. A spurt in international trade in the last two decades has propagated the use of commercial and cargo aircrafts, further stimulating the aerospace maintenance chemicals market.According to statistics revealed by Airbus, from 2018 to 2037, the passenger-air traffic will grow at a tremendous pace, and close to 37,400 new passenger & dedicated freighter aircraft would be required over the next 20 years. These figures represent an enormous potential for airlines to increase their fleet size, ensuring a large future demand for surface cleaning, deicing, paint removal and turbine engine cleaning chemicals, among others. Replacement of military aircrafts will also be a notable factor for the industry growth, with many countries undertaking upgradation of their defense arsenal. Recently, in its largest ever purchase, the Israeli Air Force began negotiations with the U.S. for a USD 11 billion-deal to secure upgraded F-15 jets, cargo helicopters and aerial refueling planes to replaces its outdated aircrafts.For More Details about this report:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWeb site:Blog:
Cerebral Vasospasm Market SWOT Analysis by Global Industry Revenue | Latest Treatment by triple-H therapy, nimodipine and other  Outlook Till 2023

Cerebral Vasospasm Market

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Global Cerebral Vasospasm Market Research Report, by Route of Administration oral, Intravenous and Intra-Arterial, by End User Hospitals, Clinics and others- Forecast Till 2023Global Cerebral Vasospasm Market - ScenarioCerebral vasospasm is a condition where blood vesicles becomes narrow due to contraction. Cerebral vasospasm further results in haemorrhage. Patient who experienced haemorrhagic stroke are in more risk to develop a cerebral vasospasm. Changing lifestyle and consumption of unhealthy food are major market driving factors.Premium Sample Report Available @Beside this introduction of many new treatments in the market has increased this markets growth. Other high cost associated with treatment may hamper the growth of this market.Global cerebral vasospasm market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 5.4% during the forecasted period 2017-2023.Global Cerebral Vasospasm Market - Key PlayersSome of the key players in this market are Headsense Medical Ltd (Israel), B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Minnetronix, Inc (US), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (US), Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Germany) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Denmark)Global Cerebral Vasospasm Market - SegmentationGlobal cerebral vasospasm market is segmented on the basis of type of treatment which includes triple-H therapy, nimodipine and other. On the basis of route of administration the market is segmented into oral, intravenous and intra-arterial and on the basis of end user the market is again segmented into hospitals, clinics and others.Global Cerebral Vasospasm Market - Study ObjectivesDetail analysis of global cerebral vasospasm market with region specific growth and competitive analysis on the basis of major players present in the market.Detail analysis of global cerebral vasospasm market including different drivers and restraints who are contributing in the markets growth as well restricting growth of the marketDetail analysis of past as well as estimated future market analysis including price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Force analysis etc.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments along with research and developments in the global cerebral vasospasm market.Detail analysis on segments and sub segments of the market. Along with regional analysis of the market which includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, plus Middle East and Africa.Insights on major countries regions in which this market is flourishing as well as identify untapped regions which has the potential for this markets growth in the future.Browse Complete Report @Global Cerebral Vasospasm Market - Regional AnalysisGeographically, North America has the largest market of cerebral vasospasm. North America cerebral vasospasm market is driven by robust research & development practices along with growing advancements in the field of neurology. Europe has the second largest market of cerebral vasospasm which is followed by Asia Pacific. In Middle East and Africa the market is least due to limited development in the healthcare sector.The report of global cerebral vasospasm market by Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with detail analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts and key opinion leaders to gain a deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives a clear picture of current market scenario which includes past and estimated future market size with respect to value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detail information about and strategies used by top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the markets different segments and regions.Global Cerebral Vasospasm Market - Intended AudienceResearch and development (R&D) companiesPharmaceutical companiesCompanies into cerebral vasospasmGovernment and independent research laboratoriesContract research organizations (CROs)Medical research laboratoriesAcademic medical institutes and universitiesTABLE OF CONTENTS1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS1.2.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.2.2 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET STRUCTURE:2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS:2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH:3 MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 DRIVERS3.2 RESTRAINTS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.4 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL4.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS4.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS4.4 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS4.5 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES4.6 INTENSITY OF RIVALRY5. GLOBAL CEREBRAL VASOSPASM MARKET, BY TYPE OF TREATMENT5.1 TRIPLE-H THERAPY5.2 NIMODIPINE5.3 OTHERMajor TOC Continued!Get Exclusive Discount @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will start implementing its provincial bus ban on portions of EDSA on Wednesday.

Provincial buses will be banned from traversing portions of EDSA during rush hour, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.

Buses will be banned from traversing from Cubao to Pasay City and vice-versa. Buses from the north will end their route in Cubao while buses from the south will end their route in Pasay.

Violators will be fined 2,000.

Like the ban on single-passenger vehicles, the MMDA scheme aims to lessen traffic in EDSA.

READ: MMDA to start trial of new EDSA rush-hour scheme
Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market Leading Players with Booming CAGR | Expected to reach USD 2.95 Billion | Changing Lifestyle and Increase in Lifestyle Disorders Favor the Growth  Says MRFR

Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market

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Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Information, By Products Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Stendra, Zydena, Others, By End Users Hospitals, Clinics, Pharmaceutical Companies, Others - Forecast To 2023Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market - ScenarioInability to keep firm erection firm enough during sexual intercourse in known as erectile dysfunction. It is also known as impotence. It is a common medical disorder primarily affecting men older than 40 years of age. Stress and mental health concerns may worsen the problem of erectile dysfunction. Physical and psychological issues may also cause erectile dysfunction.Get Premium Sample Report Available @There is also an increase in the competition among the major market players. Patent expiry of number of blockbuster drugs, availability of counterfeit drugs and increasing manufactures of generic drugs in the market may result in the decline of erectile dysfunction drugs market. Global market of erectile dysfunction drugs is expected to reach USD 2.95 billion in 2023 from USD 1.65 billion in 2016 with a CAGR of approximately 6.5% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market - Key PlayersPfizer Inc. (U.S), Bayer AG (Germany), Eli Lily & Co. (U.S), DongA Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (South Korea), Apricus Biosciences Inc.(U.S), S.K. Chemicals Co. Ltd. (South Korea), Apricus Biosciences Inc. (U.S), Cristalia Produtos Quimicos Farmaceuticos Ltd. (Brazil), Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., (South Korea), Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (U.S), Vivus, Inc. (U.S), and others are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the global erectile dysfunction drugs market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market  SegmentationGlobal Erectile dysfunction drugs market has been segmented on the basis of product which includes Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Stendra, Zydena and other drugs and on the basis of end users the market is segmented into Hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies and others.Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market - Study objectivesMain objective of this research is to provide information about erectile dysfunction drugs market, products and end users.To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next seven years of the various segments and sub-segments of the erectile dysfunction drugs market.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East and Africa.To provide country level analysis of the market for segments by products, by end users and its sub-segments.To provide overview of key players and their strategic profiling in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market.To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the global erectile dysfunction drugs market.Browse Complete Report @Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market - Regional AnalysisGeographically, the regional market is segmented into America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.The Americas account for the major share of the market owing to the presence of patient population, well-developed technology, and high healthcare expenditure. According to University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, about 5 percent of men that are 40 years old have complete erectile dysfunction, and that number increases to about 15 percent of men at age 70. Mild and moderate erectile dysfunction affects approximately 10 percent of men per decade of life.Europe holds the major share of the market, which is majorly contributed by Germany, the U.K., and France. According to the UK Health Centre, 50 percent of men that smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have a higher chance of developing erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, as per a study recently presented at the European Association of Urology showed that erectile dysfunction isnt being treated very often, with only 25.4 percent of men in the being treated for the condition.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market owing to rapidly changing healthcare sector, and the presence of huge opportunities for the development of this market. However, the Middle East & Africa has the least share in the market owing to the presence of poor and slow developing countries, especially, in African region. The Middle East holds the major share of the regional market due to well-developed technology and high spending.MAJOR TABLE OF CONTENTS:1. Report Prologue2. Introduction3. Research Methodology4. Market Dynamics5. Market Factor Analysis6. Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market By Product7. Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market By End Users8. Global Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Market By Region9 Competitive Landscape10 Company Profile11 Conclusion12 AppendixGet Exclusive Discount @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Basalt Fibers Market Forecast Report 2018-26: Sales Revenue of Basalt Fibers is Expected to be nearly US$ (000) 62,568.1 in 2018

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In its report titled Basalt Fibers Market: Forecast, Trend Analysis and Competition Tracking, 20182026 Fact.MR offers detailed insights on the global basalt fibers market over the forecast period, 2018  2026 along with the historical data for the period, 2013-2017. Valuable insights compiled in the report offers crucial information pertaining to the factors encouraging the growth of the global basalt fibers, leading segments, untapped opportunities for manufacturers, trends, and various market developments. In-depth insights that are offered in the report also identifies various drivers and restraints that are impacting the growth of the global basalt fibers market. To equip the client with accurate market information, the report provides imperative information pertaining to the recent market trends in the basalt fibers market for improved decision making. In addition, the report highlights the macroeconomic factors and its overall impact on the global basalt fibers market growth in the coming years.Get Free Sample Copy of Report @Mature Markets to Retain Leadership, though Emerging Markets to Grow FasterFrom a regional perspective, Europe is projected to lead the global basalt fibers market both in terms of production and consumption. Russia holds a significant share in the European basalt fiber market. The region has witnessed growing demand for basalt fibers from the automotive industry as there are stringent regulations prevailing in the EU regarding vehicle emissions and greenhouse gas amongst others. Moreover, the rising concern over energy conservation has also led to the growth of renewable wind energy generation industry. Thus, creating traction in the global market. North America is also projected to hold a significant share in the global basalt fibers market expanding at a CAGR of 8.3% over the forecast period. China is projected to grow at a relatively higher CAGR over the forecast period. A number of new players have ventured into the market to cater to the growing demand for basalt fibers in China and across other regions. Latin America and MEA are projected to remain low-volume-high-growth regions over the forecast period.Basalt Fibers as an Alternative to Steel Reinforcements Empowers its Market GrowthBasalt fibers have exhibited better mechanical strength, chemical and thermal resistance, insulation and other properties. There has been an increase in the use of basalt fibers as an alternative to steel reinforcements owing to a number of properties such as corrosion resistance and light-weight, which allows mounting without the use of lifting or any other specialized equipment. Basalt fibers also outperform e-glass fiber in composites used for construction. In all the forms i.e. roving, chopped strands, fabrics, etc. basalt fibers have witnessed higher breaking load capacity and better durability and stiffness.Get Complete Report with TOC and Company Profiles @In addition to these, basalt fibers are available at lower price and there has been a relative ease for raw material procurement. Owing to all the above mentioned benefits, there has been an expected upsurge in demand for basalt fibers over the forecast period.Another major factor significantly driving the growth of global basalt fibers market is the increase in the use of light-weight composite materials in automotive industry. The stringent regulations, especially, in North America and Europe region regarding vehicle emissions has led the manufacturers to focus on reduction of weight of vehicle. Basalt fibers are used as composites for the manufacture of vehicle and aircraft bodies as well as components such as exhaust mufflers and brake pads amongst others.The growing government spending for infrastructural and industrial development has led to a rise in the demand for basalt fibers as reinforcement material for the construction of roads, pavements and bridges amongst others.However, there are a few challenges with respect to the production of basalt fibers. For instance, the quality and exact chemical composition of the basalt rock required for the formation of basalt fibers is available at only specific locations in Eastern Europe. Therefore, though the raw material is available at cheap cost, it has to be imported. Moreover, the initial set up and equipment cost are quite high and require capital investment, thus posing a major challenge for the manufacturers.Ask for Discount on Research Report@About FactMRFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Follow Us on Linkedin:
Global Keratoconus Treatment Market 2018 Major Key Vendors - Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, CIBA VISION, CooperVision, HOYA Vision Care Forecast upto 2023

Keratoconus Treatment Market

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Keratoconus treatment market information, by type (Forme Fruste keratoconus, Corneal Hydrops, and others), by diagnosis (Computerized corneal mapping, Keratometry, and others), by treatment (Lenses, Surgery, and others), by end user- global forecast till 2023Market Scenario:Keratoconus KC is a condition of the eye which results in liberal thinning of the cornea. This may result in blurry vision, double vision, near sightedness, astigmatism, and light sensitivity. Usually both eyes are affected. In more severe cases a scarring or a circle may be seen within the cornea. While the cause is unknown, it is thought to occur due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.Further about seven percent of those affected have a family history of the condition, proposed environmental factors comprise of rubbing eyes and allergies. The fundamental mechanism involves changes of the cornea to a cone shape. Diagnosis is by examination with a slit lamp.Moreover initially the condition can typically be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses. As the disease worsens special contact lenses may be required. In most people the disease stabilizes after a few years without severe vision problems. In a small number of Keratoconus KC is a condition of the eye which results in liberal thinning of the cornea. This may result in blurry vision, double vision, near sightedness, astigmatism, and light sensitivity. Usually both eyes are affected. In more severe cases a scarring or a circle may be seen within the cornea. While the cause is unknown, it is thought to occur due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.Get Sample Copy @Further about seven percent of those affected have a family history of the condition, proposed environmental factors comprise of rubbing eyes and allergies. The fundamental mechanism involves changes of the cornea to a cone shape. Diagnosis is by examination with a slit lamp.The global keratoconus treatment market has been evaluated as a rapidly growing market and it is expected to continue growing in the near future.Approximately 3 million people are affected by this disease across the globe. Advanced diagnostic and treatment options are key drivers for this market. Increasing awareness of the disease, increasing funding for R&D and growing demand from emerging regions such as Asia are major driving forces of the market. Major players of this market are investing in R&D to develop effective solution for keratoconus. Introduction of wide range of lenses is important factor for market growth. people scarring of the cornea occurs and a corneal transplantation is requiredThe global keratoconus treatment market has been evaluated as a rapidly growing market and it is expected to continue growing in the near future.Approximately 3 million people are affected by this disease across the globe. Advanced diagnostic and treatment options are key drivers for this market. Increasing awareness of the disease, increasing funding for R&D and growing demand from emerging regions such as Asia are major driving forces of the market. Major players of this market are investing in R&D to develop effective solution for keratoconus. Introduction of wide range of lenses is important factor for market growth.Key players for global keratoconus treatment market:Some of the key players in this market are: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (US), CIBA VISION (US), CooperVision (US), HOYA Vision Care (Singapore), Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. (US), Menicon Co., Ltd. (Japan), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Optik Seis (Indonesia), and SAFILENS S.R.L. (Italy), and others.Segments:Global keratoconus treatment market has been segmented on the basis of type which comprises of forme fruste keratoconus, corneal hydrops, keratoglobus, pellucid marginal degeneration, posterior keratoconus, and others.On the basis of diagnosis, the market is segmented into computerized corneal mapping, keratometry, slit-lamp examination, refraction test, and others. Slit-lamp examination includes tonometry, vision testing, and others.On the basis of treatments, the market has been segmented into lenses, surgery, collagen cross-linking, and others. Lenses is sub-segmented into eyeglasses or soft contact lenses, hard contact lenses, piggyback lenses, hybrid lenses, scleral lenses, and others. Surgery is sub-segmented into corneal inserts, cornea transplant, and others. Collagen cross-linking is still in research process and more study is required to implement this treatment option.On the basis of end user, it is segmented into eye hospitals & clinics, medical research centers, academic institutes, and others.Regional analysis of global keratoconus treatment market:Considering the global scenario of the market, America is the highest revenue generator with North American region contributing the most. North America mainly includes US and Canada. US is one of the dominant markets not only in America but also in the global market. European market is the second largest and UK is believed to be the fastest growing market for keratoconus treatment in this region. Increasing awareness, growing purchasing power, and rapidly improving healthcare sector are driving the growth for Asia Pacific keratoconus market. Asia Pacific is one of the high potential market for keratoconus treatment. Due to slow adoption of new treatments and prosucts, Middle East and Africa is expected to grow at steady pace.Apply for Exclusive Discount @Detailed Table of Contents:1 Report Prologue2 Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of The Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3 Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model...ContinuedSend An Enquiry @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
RF Market 2018 Recent Development and Future Status by Top Leading Brands - Microsemi, Cypress, Anadigics, China Unichip, Xilinx, IDT, Vanchip, Junheng, M/A-COM

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Global RF Market Insights Forecast to 2025ReportsWeb Adds Global RF Market Size Status and Forecast 2018-2025 This study also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Radio frequency (RF) is any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in the range extending from below 3 kilohertz to about 300 gigahertz and that include the frequencies used for communications signals (as for radio and television broadcasting and cell-phone and satellite transmissions) or radar signals.The following manufacturers are covered in this report:Skyworks, Qorvo, Avago, Murata, Sumitomo Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Analog Devices, Infineon, RDA, Microchip, Texas Instruments, Samsung, Microsemi, Cypress, Anadigics, China Unichip, Xilinx, IDT, Vanchip, Junheng, M/A-COMGet a Sample Copy atThis report is mainly about the Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) industry. Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits normally work between 300 MHz to 30 GHz. RFIC applications include mobile phone, WLAN, UWB, GPS and Bluetooth devices, etc.Increasing government regulations pertaining to the use of radio frequency components especially in consumer electronics is anticipated to drive growth. The inception of emerging technologies including 5G is estimated to increase demand for these components in order to catch wireless radio signals. Widespread usage in several application areas including military, health care and wireless communication is also estimated to escalate demand.RF Breakdown Data by TypeRF FiltersRF SwitchesRF Power AmplifiersRF DuplexerRF Modulators & DemodulatorsOthersRF Breakdown Data by ApplicationConsumer ElectronicsIndustrial & AutomotiveCommunicationAerospace & DefenseRF Production by RegionUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSouth KoreaOther RegionsOther RegionsThe study objectives are:To analyze and research the global RF status and future forecast,involving, production, revenue, consumption, historical and forecast.To present the key RF manufacturers, production, revenue, market share, and recent development.To split the breakdown data by regions, type, manufacturers and applications.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in global and regions.To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.Check Discount atTable of Contents1 Study Coverage1.1 RF Product1.2 Key Market Segments in This Study1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global RF Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 RF Filters1.4.3 RF Switches1.4.4 RF Power Amplifiers1.4.5 RF Duplexer1.4.6 RF Modulators & Demodulators1.4.7 Others1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global RF Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 Consumer Electronics1.5.3 Industrial & Automotive1.5.4 Communication1.5.5 Aerospace & Defense1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 Global RF Market Size2.1.1 Global RF Revenue 2013-20252.1.2 Global RF Production 2013-20252.2 RF Growth Rate (CAGR) 2018-20252.3 Analysis of Competitive Landscape2.3.1 Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)2.3.2 Key RF Manufacturers2.3.2.1 RF Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters2.3.2.2 Manufacturers RF Product Offered2.3.2.3 Date of Manufacturers Enter into RF Market2.4 Key Trends for RF Markets & Products3 Market Size by Manufacturers3.1 RF Production by Manufacturers3.1.1 RF Production by Manufacturers3.1.2 RF Production Market Share by Manufacturers3.2 RF Revenue by Manufacturers3.2.1 RF Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.2.2 RF Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.3 RF Price by Manufacturers3.4 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion PlansRead More atReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Solar Tracker Market Value, Trends, Situation, Sales Area, Competitors, Industry Demand, Scope 2022

Solar Tracker

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Research Reports Inc introduce the Solar Tracker Market basics: definitions, classifications, applications and market overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Get sample copy of this report @The regional analysis of Global Solar Tracker Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading/significant region across the world in terms of market share. Whereas, owing to the countries such as China, Japan, and India, Asia Pacific region is anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2017-2022.The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study.Enquire more at @Complete report on Global Solar Tracker Industry 2017 Market Research Report is spread across 162 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and landscape details in this niche sector.The report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.The Solar Tracker Market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, Solar Tracker landscape analysis, and major regions' development status. The report focuses on Global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. What's more, the Solar Tracker industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed...Get Direct Copy of this Research Report @In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Then this Report analyzed the worlds main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, supply, demand and market growth rate and forecast etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysisThe report includes six parts, dealing with:1.) Basic Information;2.) Asia Solar Tracker Market;3.) North American Solar Tracker Market;4.) European Solar Tracker Market;5.) Market Entry and Investment Feasibility;6.) Report Conclusion.Major points from Table of Contents for Global Solar Tracker Industry 2017 Market Research Report include:1 Industry Overview of Solar Tracker2 Global Solar Tracker Competition Analysis by Players3 Company (Top Players) Profiles4 Global Solar Tracker Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2017)5 United States Solar Tracker Development Status and Outlook6 EU Solar Tracker Development Status and Outlook7 Japan Solar Tracker Development Status and Outlook8 China Solar Tracker Development Status and Outlook9 India Solar Tracker Development Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia Solar Tracker Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2023)12 Solar Tracker Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Research Finding/Conclusion15 AppendixMethodologyAnalyst IntroductionData SourceAbout Us:Research Reports Inc. is one of the leading destinations for market research reports across all industries, companies, and technologies. Our repository features an exhaustive list of market research reports from thousands of publishers worldwideContact us for your special interest needs and we will get in touch within 24hrs to help you find the market research report you need.With our expertise and research offerings, we ensure we deliver on all your requirements, whether youre looking for industry analysis or market trends or anything else, first time and every time!Email us sales@researchreportsinc.comCall: US / Canada Toll Free: +18554192424, UK : +4403308087577
Flip Chip Market to Garner $46 Billion, Globally, by 2022

Flip Chip Market

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The global flip chip market size is expected to reach $46 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period 20162022.The flip chip market is majorly driven by the imminent need of circuit miniaturization, growth in internet of things (IoT), and technological superiority over wire bonding. However, the major restraints associated with the flip chip industry include the huge initial investment required for setting up new manufacturing facility and less available options for customization. Moreover, growth in demand of sensors in smartphone industry and increase in application in personal electronic devices, such as personal computers and mobiles, opens new opportunities in the flip chip market.Get Full Summary of this Insight @The exclusive advantages of flip chip such as less space consumption, better efficiency, more I/O options as well as improved heat dissipation make them apt replacement of wire bond. In addition, improved heat dissipation of ball grid array type flip chips makes them suitable choice in applications, where smaller size is available without the presence of external heat sink. With the collective effect of these factors the flip chip market is anticipated to witness a high growth in next 5-6 years.In bumping technology segment, copper bumping held over 50% in the year 2015 due to its exclusive advantages of low cost, compatibility with bond pads and applications in technologies such as transceivers, embedded processors, application processors, power management, baseband, ASICs and SOCs. However, Tin-lead eutectic solder is expected to witness low growth rate due to government initiatives to ban toxic substances that have impacted its market heavily.Electronics industry contributed over 45% of the overall flip chip market in the year 2015. Imminent need of size reduction in electronics devices, requirement of higher data transmission speed and improvement in efficiency collectively thrust the replacement of wire bond with flip chips in electronics industry, hence making it dominant in the overall market. However, IT and telecommunication would be the fastest growing segment and is expected to register highest CAGR 12.3% during the forecast period. This is due to the increasing reach of telecommunication services in remote areas as well as introduction of new players in IT industry where flip chips are used in large scale in servers, host systems and data centers.Get PDF Brochure of this Insight @Asia-pacific dominated the market in the year 2015 by accounting over 50% of the total market revenue and it is expected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is accredited to the presence of various manufacturing facilities in the region, high consumption and production of electronic products where flip chip is steadily replacing wire bond and ongoing research and development in the region.The key players in the flip chip market are focused on expanding their business operations in the emerging countries with new product launches through various research and development facilities. The major players profiled in this report include IBM, Intel Corporation, Fujitsu Ltd., 3M, Samsung electronics Co., Ltd., Amkor Technology, Inc., TSMC, Ltd., Apple, Inc., Texas Instruments, Inc., and AMD, Inc. among others.About UsAllied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:Shriram Dighe5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Spa Bed Market 2018 | Major Key Players  ComfortSoul, Earthlite Medical, Hbw Technology, Living Earth Crafts, Meden Inmed Analysis And Forecast : MI Reports

Spa Bed Market

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Description :Spa Bed-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Spa Bed 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 Spa Bed 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Spa Bed worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Spa Bed marketMarket status and development trend of Spa Bed by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Spa Bed, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesRequest For sample Report @The report segments the global Spa Bed market as:Global Spa Bed Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Spa Bed Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):Fold NumberDriving TypeGlobal Spa Bed Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Beauty SalonSpaOtherGlobal Spa Bed Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Spa Bed Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):ComfortSoulEarthlite MedicalHbw TechnologyLiving Earth CraftsMeden InmedSauna ItaliaSomethyStar WellnessComplete Report Details @Table Of Content :Chapter 1 Overview of Spa Bed1.1 Definition of Spa Bed in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Spa Bed1.2.1 Fold Number1.2.2 Driving Type1.3 Downstream Application of Spa Bed1.3.1 Beauty Salon1.3.2 Spa1.3.3 Other1.4 Development History of Spa Bed1.5 Market Status and Trend of Spa Bed 2013-20231.5.1 Global Spa Bed Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Spa Bed Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Spa Bed 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Spa Bed by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Spa Bed by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Spa Bed by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Spa Bed by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Spa Bed by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Spa Bed by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Spa Bed by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Spa Bed by Types3.2 Production Value of Spa Bed by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Spa Bed by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Spa Bed by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Spa Bed by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Spa Bed5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Spa Bed Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Spa Bed Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Spa Bed by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Spa Bed by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Spa Bed by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Spa Bed Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Spa Bed 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 Spa Bed Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 ComfortSoul7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Spa Bed Product7.1.3 Spa Bed Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of ComfortSoul7.2 Earthlite Medical7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Spa Bed Product7.2.3 Spa Bed Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Earthlite Medical7.3 Hbw Technology7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Spa Bed Product7.3.3 Spa Bed Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Hbw Technology7.4 Living Earth Crafts7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Spa Bed Product7.4.3 Spa Bed Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Living Earth Crafts7.5 Meden Inmed7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Spa Bed Product7.5.3 Spa Bed Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Meden InmedContinued.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.
Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (BOPA) Films Market Demand Supply, Key Players Analysis 2025

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Biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) films are a highly common type of polyamide (nylon) films. BOPA films possess properties such as high tensile strength, high mechanical strength, and excellent flexibility owing to biaxial orientation. These films are primarily employed in food packaging.Read Report Overview @The Biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) films market can be segmented based on technology, end-use industry, and region. In terms of technology, the BOPA films market can be divided into sequential, simultaneous, and blown. Based on end-use industry, the market can be classified into food & beverage packaging, pharmaceutical, electronics, and others. The food & beverage packaging segment can be further sub-segmented into processed meat, fruits & vegetables, cheese, dry food, and others. The electronics segment can be further split into batteries and circuit boards. The others segment can be sub-segmented into household products, balloons, book laminations, and others. Based on region, the BOPA films market can be segregated into Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, North America, and Latin America.The films are manufactured in monolayer, bilayer, triple layer, and in multilayers. Monolayer BOPA films are usually utilized in liquid soap packaging, and some sterilized food products. Multilayered films have wide applications in different industries such as household products, and electronics. High aroma, flavor, gas barrier, and chemical resistance are major factors driving the food and pharmaceutical packaging segments of the global market for BOPA films. Demand for BOPA films is anticipated to rise at a rapid pace during the forecast period owing to their transparent & glossy appearance. However, the production, storage, and transportation cost of BOPA films increases due to the hygroscopic nature of these films. This, in turn, is projected to restrain the BOPA films market in the near future.The sequential segment is anticipated to account for a higher share of the BOPA market during the forecast period. The simultaneous segment is expected to expand at a higher CAGR in the near future. The food & beverage packaging segment is anticipated to dominate the BOPA films market in the next few years owing to their oxygen and water barrier properties. The oxidation of perishable food products such as fruits & vegetables and processed meats gets delayed due to oxygen barrier property of these films. Thus, the food & beverage packaging segment is estimated to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The pharmaceutical segment is anticipated to witness an increase in demand for BOPA films owing to the chemical resistance and flexibility of these films. The others segment is estimated to hold a major share of the BOPA films market in the next few years.Asia Pacific is anticipated to dominate the biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) films market in terms of both volume and revenue in the next few years. End-use industries such as food & beverage packaging, pharmaceutical, and electronics are anticipated to witness a rise demand for BOPA films in Asia Pacific during the forecast period. Europe is estimated to hold prominent share of the market in the near future. North America is projected to offer lucrative opportunities to the BOPA films market in the near future. Latin America is witnessing a rise in demand for BOPA films due to the expansion of the food & beverage industry in the region. The BOPA films market Middle East & Africa is estimated to expand at a moderate pace in the near future.Request to view Sample Report:Major players operating in the global biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) films market include Tianjin Yuncheng Plastic Industry, AEC Group, Honeywell, Toyobo, and DOMO Chemicals.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Dye Intermediates Market Lucrative Scenario Flabbergast 2025

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Dyes are used to impart colors to a substance or surface. Dye intermediates are raw materials used to manufacture dyes. Dye intermediates comprise petrochemical products that are processed to manufacture the final dyes and pigments. H-acid (1-amino, 8-napthol, 3,6-disulfonic acid) is an extensively used dye intermediate. These intermediates are used in the production of hair dyes. Dye intermediates are manufactured from nitro-aromatics, which are manufactured from benzene and toluene. Benzene and toluene are petrochemical downstream products. Therefore, any change in the crude oil prices affects the dye intermediates market significantly.Read Report Overview @Increase in demand for dye intermediates in textile and extensive use of dye intermediates in printing inks are some factors driving the dye intermediates market. This is prompting companies to increase production of dye intermediates. Additionally, easy availability of raw materials is anticipated to boost the demand for dye intermediates in the near future.The global dye intermediates market is witnessing technological advancements. Companies are constantly striving to develop new and better ways to manufacture dye intermediates. Development of new manufacturing processes of dye intermediates and applications is estimated to propel the dye intermediates market. However, volatility in prices of raw material is projected to inhibit the market.Based on products, the dye intermediates market can be divided into beta naphthol, vinyl sulfone, Gamma Acid, H-Acid, CPC Blue, J-Acid, -Naphthyl Amine, and others. The beta naphthol segment of the dye intermediates market is anticipated to expand at a significant pace owing to increasing demand from emerging economies such as India and China.In terms of application, the dye intermediates market can be divided into textiles, plastics, paints, printing inks, paper, and others. The textiles segment of the dye intermediates market is anticipated to expand at a considerable pace due to increasing demand of appeals from the emerging economies.Based on geography, the dye intermediates market can be segregated into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is anticipated to constitute a key share of the market during the forecast period. The dye intermediates market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand a considerable pace owing to the increase in demand for dye intermediates in the paints and printing inks. Middle East & Africa is likely to be an attractive region for the dye intermediates market during the forecast period due to the rise in demand for these in the textile industry in the region.Request to view Sample Report:Prominent players operating in the global dye intermediates market include Odyssey Organic Pvt. Ltd., Jay Chemical Industries Ltd., Dispo DyeChem Pvt. Ltd., and Afine Chemicals Limited, and Jiangsu YaBang Dyestuff Co.,Ltd.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Transparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Thermal Desorption Systems Market Size, Share, Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Application, By Region And Global Forecast 2018-2023

Thermal Desorption Systems

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The Report published on UpMarketResearch.com about Thermal Desorption Systems Market is spread across 105 pages and provides newest industry data, market future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. The industry report lists and studies the leading competitors, also provides the insights with strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.Thermal Desorption Systems Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state which focuses on the major drivers and restraints for the key players. Thermal Desorption Systems Industry research report provides granular analysis of the market share, segmentation, revenue forecasts and geographic regions of the market.The report begins with the overview of the Thermal Desorption Systems market and updates the users about the latest developments and future expectations. It presents a comparative detailed analysis of all the regional and major player segments, offering readers a better knowledge of areas in which they can place their existing resources and gauging the priority of a particular region in order to boost their standing in the global market.In Thermal Desorption Systems Market Report, there is a healthy amount of coverage of the market economies such as the demand and supply, cost and profit of the Thermal Desorption Systems Market. This holds key importance for users and hence this information is well supported with due statistics that are represented in easy to consume graphs, charts, and tables.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @The report compiles exhaustive information obtained via proven research methodologies and from trusted sources within the industries.The report segments the Global Thermal Desorption Systems market as:Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Consumption Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023): North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaFor More Information Click Here @The Report covers in-depth analysis as follows: Chapter 1 Thermal Desorption Systems Market Overview Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Thermal Desorption Systems Industry Chapter 3 Global Thermal Desorption Systems Market Competition by Manufacturers Chapter 4 Global Thermal Desorption Systems Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018) Chapter 5 Global Thermal Desorption Systems Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2013-2018) Chapter 6 Global Thermal Desorption Systems Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Chapter 7 Global Thermal Desorption Systems Market Analysis by Application Chapter 8 Global Thermal Desorption Systems Manufacturers Analysis Chapter 9 Thermal Desorption Systems Manufacturing Cost Analysis Chapter 10 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Chapter 11 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Chapter 12 Market Effect Factors Analysis Chapter 13 Global Thermal Desorption Systems Market Forecast (2018-2023)Buy This Report @Key Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Thermal Desorption Systems and its commercial landscape. Assess the Thermal Desorption Systems production processes, major issues, and solutions to mitigate the development risk. To understand the most affecting driving and restraining forces in the Thermal Desorption Systems market and its impact on the global market. Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations. To understand the future outlook and prospects for Thermal Desorption Systems MarketCustomization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. 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.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United StatesPhone: +1 347-377-7033
Enteral Feeding Formulas Market Analysis 2018 With B. Braun Group, Nestle, Hormel Foods, Fresenius Kabi, Danone, Abbott, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Hormel Foods, Victus, Inc.

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The Enteral Feeding Formulas Market report covers in-depth description, competitive state of affairs, wide product portfolio of prime players active during this market and business ways adopted by competitors at the side of their SWOT analysis. The report additionally provides Porter analysis, market attractiveness that helps to higher perceive the market state of affairs on macro and small level. The market report contains data for historic year2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Side by facet, it expressly provides Enteral Feeding Formulas Market info concerning mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and every one the opposite vital activities occurred within the market throughout current and past few years. the worldwide report explores manufacturers competitive state of affairs and provides market share for all major players of this market supported production capability, sales, revenue, geographical presence and alternative major factors. The Enteral Feeding Formulas report additionally covers import/export knowledge across all major regions lined during this report. Moreover, we will completely give info concerning import/export knowledge across any explicit country as per demand.Get Free Sample of This Analysis:The Global Enteral Feeding Formulas Market is expected to reach USD 10.32 billion by 2025, from USD 4.87 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The Report Segments Global Market Analysis By Product (Standard Formulas, Disease-Specific Formulas), Application (Oncology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Diabetes, Critical Care, Others), End Users (Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities), Stage (Adults, Pediatrics) Geography With Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025.Major Market Competitors/Players: Global Enteral Feeding Formulas MarketThe global enteral feeding formulas market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of Enteral feeding formulas market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America. Some of the major players operating in the global enteral feeding formulas market are Nestle S.A. Fresenius Kabi AG Danone S.A. Victus, Inc. Abbott Laboratories Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. Global Health Product, Inc. Mead Johnson Nutrition CompanyOther Players Are B. Braun Melsungen AG and Hormel Foods, LLC, Mead Johnson & Company, LLC, Real Food Blends, Nutritional Medicinals, LLC, C. R. Bard, Inc, Halyard Health, Inc., MOOG INC ,Shield HealthCare, Inc., Apple Discount Drugs, Shepherd Center, Fresenius Kabi India Pvt. Ltd. ,Aveanna Healthcare LLC. amongst others.Want Full Report? Enquire Here:Major Market Drivers and Restraints: Increasing healthcare expenditure Increasing demand for homecare Rising geriatric population Increase in number of preterm births Reimbursements policies Growth in healthcare expenditure of developing economies increasing demand for personalized medicineMarket Segmentation: Global Enteral Feeding Formulas Market The global enteral feeding formulas market is segmented based on product, end user, application, stage, end user and geographical segments. Based on product, the market is segmented into standard formulas and disease-specific formulas. The standard formulas segment is further sub-segmented on the polymeric formulas, monomeric formulas. Disease-specific formulas segment is further sub-segmented into diabetic formulas, renal formulas, hepatic formulas, pulmonary formulas and others. On the basis of stage, the market is classified into adults, pediatrics. On the basis of application, the market is classified into oncology, gastroenterology, neurology, diabetes, critical care and others. On the basis of end users, the market is segmented into hospitals, long-term care facilities. Long-term care facilities segment is further sub-segmented into home care agencies and hospices, nursing homes, assisted living facilities. Based on geography, the market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and, Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and, Brazil among others.Related Report:The Global Enteral Feeding Devices Market accounted to USD 2.9 billion in 2016 growing at a CAGR of 5.43% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024.Visit:About UsData Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. Get Customization and Discount on Report by emailing sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com . We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.Contact UsData Bridge Market ResearchToll Free: +1-888-387-2818Mail: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com
Indian Phospho Gypsum Industry Outlook 2025

Phospho Gypsum Industry Outlook 2025

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The Future of Phospho Gypsum Markets to 2025- Trends, Drivers and Supply, Demand OutlookWith the ongoing rapid infrastructural developments, the country's gypsum consumption is rising briskly. However, the sources of natural gypsum are limited and the production of natural gypsum has reduced considerably. To catch with this growing demand, Indian cement makers are considering the utilization of by-product gypsum as a valuable option.The report "Indian Phospho Gypsum Industry Outlook 2025" is an outcome of our exhaustive research and comprehensive analysis of India's phospho-gypsum market with respect to supply and demand. The report studies the major states for phospho-gypsum production, its consumption and trade in India.Get Inquiry before Request a sample copy here atPhospho Gypsum in its database, which provides an expert and in-depth analysis of key business trends and future market development prospects, key drivers and restraints, profiles of major market players, segmentation and forecasting. A Phospho Gypsum Market provides an extensive view of size; trends and shape have been developed in this report to identify factors that will exhibit a significant impact in boosting the sales of Phospho Gypsum Market in the near future.This comprehensive Phospho Gypsum Market research report includes a brief on these trends that can help the businesses operating in the industry to understand the market and strategize for their business expansion accordingly. The research report analyzes the market size, industry share, growth, key segments, CAGR and key drivers.New vendors in the market are facing tough competition from established international vendors as they struggle with technological innovations, reliability and quality issues. The report will answer questions about the current market developments and the scope of competition, opportunity cost and more.Our report covers different facets of the India phospho-gypsum market, integrating thorough analysis of its various categories. The production section studies production of natural gypsum and by-product gypsum, while the demand section discusses the consumption into various industries. Overall, our research portrays the state of each of these categories over a period of 10 years (during 2014-15 to 2024-25).Get more details of research here atMoreover, the research report assessed market key features, consisting of revenue, capacity utilization rate, price, gross, growth rate, consumption, production, export, supply, cost, market size & share, industry demand, export & import analysis, and CAGR.Key Phospho Gypsum market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.As for gypsum trade in the country, we have covered a comprehensive analysis of the product's import by value, volume and country during 2014-15 to 2024-25.To provide a balanced outlook of the country's phospho-gypsum market to clients, our report includes the profiles of ten industry players with their key financials. In a nutshell, the research provides all the pre-requisite information for intending clients looking out to venture into this industry and facilitates them to devise strategies while going for an investment/partnership in the Indian phospho-gypsum market.Get Purchase a Research Copy here atAbout us: - MarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on Shipping Containers industries, organizations, products, and trends.Contact us: - Mr. Jeet Jain, Sales Manager, sales@marketresearchnest.com ;+1-240-284-8070(U.S), +44-20-3290-4151(U.K);Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Global Antibody Drug Conjugate Drug Sales, Pipeline Analysis (By Phase, Linker, Technology, and Indication) & Market Forecast to 2023

Antibody Drug Conjugate Drug Sales, Pipeline Analysis (By Phase, Linker, Technology, and Indication) & Market Forecast to 2023

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The Future of Antibody Drug Conjugate Markets to 2023- Trends, Drivers and Supply, Demand OutlookAntibody Drug Conjugates are the fastest growing class of oncology therapeutics. These are monoclonal antibody based therapies which have achieved great success in the field of cancer treatment, primarily when used with cytotoxic drugs. ADC is a class of therapeutics which harnesses the antigen-selectivity of monoclonal antibodies to deliver the highly potent cytotoxic drugs to antigen expressing tumor cells. The use of monoclonal antibody directed delivery confers a therapeutic index to highly potent cytotoxic drugs, increasing both the efficacy and safety of therapy. Such novel anti-cancer drugs are being used these days to target cancers, while minimizing the exposure of healthy tissue. The recent approval of four ADCs in the global market and a strong pipeline of such drugs, highlight the potential for new therapeutic innovations in this industry.This comprehensive Antibody Drug Conjugate Market research report includes a brief on these trends that can help the businesses operating in the industry to understand the market and strategize for their business expansion accordingly. The research report analyzes the market size, industry share, growth, key segments, CAGR and key drivers.Get Request a sample copy here atAntibody Drug Conjugate in its database, which provides an expert and in-depth analysis of key business trends and future market development prospects, key drivers and restraints, profiles of major market players, segmentation and forecasting. A Antibody Drug Conjugate Market provides an extensive view of size; trends and shape have been developed in this report to identify factors that will exhibit a significant impact in boosting the sales of Antibody Drug Conjugate Market in the near future.New vendors in the market are facing tough competition from established international vendors as they struggle with technological innovations, reliability and quality issues. The report will answer questions about the current market developments and the scope of competition, opportunity cost and more.According to the report entitled "Global Antibody Drug Conjugate Drug Sales, Pipeline Analysis (By Phase, Linker, Technology, and Indication) and Market Forecast to 2023", the Global Antibody Drug Conjugates Market is anticipated to witness a double digit growth during 2017-2023. The report provides information about the current and future market scenario of the Global ADCs Market. The report also highlights the major drivers, such as increasing incidences of cancer and advances in linking technologies, for the Global Antibody Drug Conjugates Market. Furthermore, the report also gives information related to the commercially available ADCs such as ADCETRIS, Kadcyla, Mylotarg and Besponsa.Moreover, few hindrances, such as high cost of production cost, lack of experienced manufacturers and regulatory challenges, which are slowing down the growth of the Global ADCs Market, have also been mentioned in the report. In addition, the report also highlights various trends and developments taking place in this market.Get more details of research here atMoreover, the research report assessed market key features, consisting of revenue, capacity utilization rate, price, gross, growth rate, consumption, production, export, supply, cost, market size & share, industry demand, export & import analysis, and CAGR.Key Antibody Drug Conjugate market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Furthermore, in this report, we have structured the information regarding ADCs at various stages of clinical development that are under research or in collaboration, and those individually being developed by companies. The pipeline chapter provides in depth analysis of ADCs of companies as well as research organizations by clinical phase, indications for which they are being developed, type of linker, drugs, and technology. Additionally, the study provides all-inclusive current analysis of various ADCs in advanced as well as early stages of development. Moreover, our report places an emphasis on the strategic alliances that can impact industry's growth.The prominent players in Global Antibody Drug Conjugates Market have been discussed in the last section of the report. A brief business overview and financial information about each of these players has been provided, along with their product portfolios, product pipeline and recent developments. Overall, the research contains exhaustive information that will help clients in formulating market strategies and assessing opportunity areas in the Global Antibody Drug Conjugates Market.Get Purchase a Research Copy here atAbout us: - MarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on Shipping Containers industries, organizations, products, and trends.Contact us: - Mr. Jeet Jain, Sales Manager, sales@marketresearchnest.com ;+1-240-284-8070(U.S), +44-20-3290-4151(U.K);Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) Market by 2025: Top Players Like ABB, General Electric, Siemens, Eaton, Exelon, Nrg Energy, Pareto Energy, Spirae, Anbaric Transmission and More

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The Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) Market report includes details analysis of market segments, sub-segments, market dynamics, feasibility study, key strategies used by leading players, cost structures and growth prospects of the industry. The report also evaluates the growth established by the market during the forecast period.Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) Market Survey 2018The Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) Market report is a complete an in-depth analysis of the current state of global and regional Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) markets including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The research provides an informative and statistically evaluated data about the Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) industry. It presents a detailed study of the Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market, enlightening the major areas such as future market scenario, growth factors, market segmentation, industry challenges and forecasts. Then, the market study sheds light on the various market opportunities, tie-ups, acquisition, innovative business approach, new launches, revenue and global trends as well as the report describes the drivers and restraints for the Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. In addition to this, the industry growth in distinct regions and R&D status are enclosed within the report.The report includes details analysis of market segments, sub-segments, market dynamics, feasibility study, key strategies used by leading players, cost structures and growth prospects of the industry. The report also evaluates the growth established by the market during the forecast period.Get Sample report of Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth rate (%) of Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) in these regions, from 2018 to 2025 (forecast), covering North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa.This report focuses on the global top players, covered, ABB, General Electric, Siemens, Eaton, Exelon, Nrg Energy, Pareto Energy, Spirae, Anbaric Transmission, Solarcity, Green Energy.Market segment by Type, the product can be split into, Grid Connected, Remote or Islanded.Market segment by Application, split into, Government & Education, Residential & Commercial, Industry, Military, Public Utilities.The report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the demand of Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market. Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast. We also have highlighted future trends in the Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market that will impact the demand during the forecast period. Moreover, the competitive analysis of Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market brings an insight on the product usability profiles of the leading players.Additionally, the analysis highlights features & pricing, informant reviews of the key products in the market.The report covers the precisely studied and evaluated data of the global market players and their scope in the market using a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as investment return analysis, SWOT analysis and feasibility study are used to analyze the key global market players growth in the Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) industryEach analysis is based on highly researched sources of information, and is combined with Competitor analysis, R&D funding comparisons, Competitor business strategies, SWOT analysis, Individual company reviews, High impact tables and figures.Read Complete Report with Table Of Contents @Key questions answered in the report include:What will be the market size and the growth rate by the end of the forecast period?What are the key factors driving the growth of the global Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the market?What are the challenges to the market growth?Who are the leading competitors operating in the global Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market?What are the latest products launched by the leading competitors in the market?What are the potential growth opportunities and threats faced by the leading competitors in the market?What are the key outcomes of Porters five forces analysis and the SWOT analysis of the key players functioning in the global Microgrid as a Service (MaaS) market?In the end, the report covers segment data, including industry segment, type segment, channel segment etc. as well as cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers. If you need more information, please contact Reports Monitor.The report is built with the in-depth secondary research, understanding the market access aspects across the different countries.TO BUY THIS REPORT @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like Asia, United States, Europe.About UsReports Monitor is a market research and consulting company that 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 including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Materials, and Energy. With an intrinsic understanding of many business environments, Reports Monitor provides strategic objective insights.Contact Us- Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, NIBM Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India
Global Military Communications Market Report forecast to 2025 by Applications - Air Communications, Water Communication, Ground Communication, Maritime Communication

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Military Communications Market Status and Forecast 2025This Write up presents in detail analysis of Military Communications Market especially market drivers, challenges, vital trends, standardization, deployment models, opportunities, future roadmap, manufacturers case studies, value chain, organization profiles, Sales Price and Sales Revenue, Sales Market Comparison and strategies.The Military Communications market Report provides a detailed analysis of the Military Communications industry. It provides an analysis of the past 5 years and a future forecast till the year 2025.It also studies the future market trends in the global market. It studies the market by the various parameters such as sales, volumes, and the revenues. It also gives us an insight in the Military Communications industry and is also making strategic decisions. It is also prepared with a view to understand the current market trends, opportunities and global analysis in the market.REQUEST A FREE SAMPLE @For your understanding and application wise distribution, the consumption figures are also given. With the important data of supply and consumption the gap between both the parameters is explained in detail. It also provides a detailed overview of the competitive landscape and also analysis the gross market landscape. It also studies the sales, production revenue market price also the import and export value and the trending section of the Military Communications market report.The research covers the current market size of the Global Military Communications Market. This market can be split based on Major Players, product types and major applications.Top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including such as Lockheed Martin, Bae Systems, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Anschutz, Thales Group, Alcatel-Lucent, General Dynamics, Harris, L-3 Communications Holdings, Rockwell Collins.The in-depth information by segments of Military Communications market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The report will the intensive investigation of the key business players to get a handle on their business routes in which, yearly income, organization profile and their commitment to the Global Military Communications piece of the overall industry.This Market, presents critical information and factual data about the Global Military Communications Market providing an overall statistical study of this market on the basis of market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects. The widespread Global Military Communications opportunities and trends are also taken into consideration in this industry.Military Communications Market On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Military Satellite Communication, Military Wireless System, Military Security System, Communications Supervision And Management System.Military Communications market On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, including Air Communications, Water Communication, Ground Communication, Maritime Communication.CHECK DISCOUNT FOR THIS REPORT @All aspects of the Military Communications industry report are quantitatively as well as qualitatively assessed to study the Global as well as regional market comparatively. The basic information such as the definition, prevalent chain and the government regulations pertaining to the Military Communications market are also discussed in the report.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, coveringUnited States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India.The report answers several questions about the Military Communications market. These questions include:What will be the market size of Military Communications market in 2025?What will be the Military Communications growth rate in 2025?Which key factors drive the Military Communications market?Who are the key market players for Military Communications?Which strategies are used by top players in the Military Communications market?What are the key market trends in Military Communications?Which trends and challenges will influence the growth of Military Communications market?TO BUY THIS REPORT @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like Asia, United States, Europe.About UsReports Monitor is a market research and consulting company that 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 including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Materials, and Energy. With an intrinsic understanding of many business environments, Reports Monitor provides strategic objective insights.Contact Us- Office C & D - 4th Floor, Siddhi Towers, NIBM Road, Pune 411048, Maharashtra, India
Telecom API Platform Market Analysis| Aepona Ltd., Apigee Corp., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Oracle Corp.

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This report on the global telecom API platform market provides an analysis for the period from 2013 to 2022, wherein 2014 is the base year and the years from 2015 to 2022 are the forecast period. Data for 2013 has been included as historical information. The report covers all the prevalent trends and technologies playing a major role in the growth of the telecom API platform market over the forecast period. It also highlights various drivers, restraints, and opportunities expected to influence the markets growth during this period. The study provides a holistic account of market growth, throughout the above forecast period in terms of revenue estimates (in US$ Mn), across different geographies, which include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America (LATAM).Click here -> To Get Sample Copy of Report @Telecom API platforms enable telecom operators to set-up their own API and expose its services to a large number of external developers. Many telecom operators are considering setting up an API platform since it is one of the key potential sources of revenue for them. Rapid growth in the mobile applications market has created demand for telecom APIs and as such telecom operators own a large number of APIs. Telecom API management platform providers offer management services for these APIs wherein a provider offers set-up services and monetization. As more telecom operators enter the digital space competing with OTT players, their need for API management is continuously increasing. Thus, API management platform market is anticipated to grow in the near future with a rise in the number of telecom operators opting for management solutions. The rapid implementation of digital technologies and applications by enterprises, consumers, and governments around the globe is significantly contributing to the growth of API service adoption among MNOs. In developed markets, the API platform services markets growth is more due to the presence of a large number of T1 players, who have sufficient infrastructure to use APIs and have also made significant investments for the purpose. Europe dominates the overall demand for telecom API platforms globally owing to surging demand from T1 players in this region.This research report provides in-depth analysis of the global telecom API platform market on the basis of telecom operator and module. The telecom API platform market based on telecom operator includes T1 players, T2 players, and T3 players. The telecom API platform module segment comprises set up, and monetization and pricing model.In terms of geographical regions, the report segments the global telecom API platform market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America; the regions are analyzed in terms of revenue generation. The report provides cross-sectional analysis of the global telecom API platform market in terms of market estimates and forecasts for all segments across different geographic regions.Click here -> Download Complete PDF Report with TOC @The report also includes competitive profiling of major players engaged in developing telecom API platforms. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and their recent developments have also been identified in the research report. This report also provides market positioning analysis of major players in the telecom API platform market based on their 2014 revenues. Players profiled in the report include Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Aepona Ltd., Apigee Corp., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Oracle Corp., Hewlett-Packard Development Co., LM Ericsson, Tropo, Inc., Axway Software S.A., and ZTE Soft Technology Co., Ltd.The global telecom API platform market is segmented as below:Telecom API Platform MarketBy Telecom OperatorT1 PlayersT2 PlayersT3 PlayersBy ModuleSet-upMonetization and Pricing ModelOperator ShareVendor ShareBy GeographyNorth AmericaThe U.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeEU7 CountriesCIS CountriesRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanSouth AsiaAustralasiaRest of APACMiddle East and Africa (MEA)GCC CountriesSouth AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaPlace an Enquiry to Our Industry Expert @About UsMarket 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 StreetSuite 700Albany, NY  12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite:
Oral Care Market Size Worth $254.7 Billion by 2025 | CAGR: 36% | Global Key Players - Procter and Gamble Company, Glaxo Smith Kline, GC Corporation, Colgate

Oral Care Market

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Global Oral Care Market 2017-2025 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 Oral Care Market Overview:The report spread across 80 pages is an overview of the Global Oral Care Market 2017-2025. The Global Oral Care 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 @Global Oral Care Market to reach USD 254.7 Billion by 2025.Global Oral Care Market valued approximately USD 16 Billion in 2016 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 36% over the forecast period 2017-2025. There is also an increase in awareness amongst people about cosmetic dental treatment, which helps improve esthetics, and maintaining fresh breath; these factors are also positively impacting the demand of oral care products.Cosmetic whitening products are being widely used by people in order to enhance their dental esthetics. Some of the cosmetic whitening products include Arm & Hammer Whitening Booster by Church & Dwight Co. Inc. and Complete Care Whitening Pen and Complete Care Curve + Whitening by Dr. Fresh, LLC. High incidence of dental caries is also significantly driving the growth of the market. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 91% of U.S. population over 20 years of age had dental caries at some point of time in their lives. Among them, 27% of people remained untreated. The abovementioned factors result in growing need for medicated oral care products, and this is anticipated to propel the market growth.The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market.Purchase this report online with 80 Pages, List of Tables & Figures and in-depth Table of Contents on Global Oral Care Market 2017-2025 @Major Key Players:1 Procter and Gamble Company2 Glaxo Smith Kline3 GC Corporation4 Colgate and MoreMarket Segment by Product:1 Toothpaste2 ToothbrushesMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers:1 North America2 Europe3 Asia Pacific4 Rest of the WorldGrab 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 are the challenges to market growth?4 Who are the key players in this market?5 What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key players?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 Oral Care Market.Major Points in Table of Contents:Global Oral Care Market Report 20181 Global Oral Care Market Definition and Scope2 Research Methodology3 Executive Summary4 Global Oral Care Market Dynamics5 Global Oral Care Market, By Product6 Global Oral Care Market, by Regional Analysis7 Competitive IntelligenceAbout 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
Medical X-ray Market to Witness Huge Growth by 2024 | Leading Key Players: Siemens Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Canon, Philips Healthcare

Medical X-ray Market

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The Medical X-ray Market size is set to exceed USD 15 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Rising prevalence of chronic diseases, favorable reimbursement scenario in developed nations, growing number of diagnostic imaging procedures and increased funding on research and development activities by the government will serve as major driving factors for the medical x-ray market growth over the forecast period.Technological advancement in medical imaging, particularly in computed tomography (CT), has led to the rapid growth in performance of x-ray examinations. Demand for imaging procedure is high among females as compared to males. Owing to increasing number of breast cancer. However, high risk associated with exposure to radiation among patients and high installation cost of medical imaging modalities may restrain industry growth.Request for a sample of this research report @Line scan detectors market should contribute for significant growth over the forecast timeframe, owing to factors such as ideal for in-line x-ray photography and enables high resolution capture for x-ray. It provides imaging function within a single scan which will further drive industry growth.Direct radiography should witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. The growth is attributed due to availability of mobile digital x-ray systems. It is used in various application such as chest imaging, dental, mammography, and orthopaedic. Moreover, increased demand for portable systems from geriatric population will drive medical x-ray market growth.Dental application contributed for substantial revenue share in 2016. Rising prevalence of dental diseases such as, gingival disease, periodontitis, dental plaque and caries should drive industry growth. Dental x-rays are obtained with techniques such as intraoral and extraoral imaging. Technological advancement in imaging devices to detect these diseases should increase demand for the products in the coming years.Hospitals should witness significant growth rate over the forecast period. Most of the procedures performed in hospitals with mobile C-arm x-ray equipment, that require flat panel technology. Hospitals can afford expensive equipment as they have budget allocated. Such factors will drive business growth.Browse key industry insights spread across 200 pages with 199 market data tables & 16 figures & charts from the report, Medical X-ray Market Size By Product (Flat Panel Detectors, Line Scan Detectors, Computed Radiography Detectors, Charge Coupled Device Detectors [CCD]), By Technology (Computed Radiography [CR], Direct Radiography [DR], Others), By Portability (Fixed Systems, Portable Systems), ByMake an inquiry for purchasing this report @Application (Dental, Veterinary, Mammography, Chest, Cardiovascular, Orthopaedics, Others), By End-use (Diagnostic Centers, Hospitals, Others) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, UAE), Technology Development, Competitive Landscape & Forecast, 2017  2024 in detail along with the table of contents.U.S. medical x-ray market will grow at significant rate over the forecast timeframe. Increasing healthcare expenditure, advancement in detector based techniques, presence of well-established reimbursement for imaging procedure and rising demand for digital x-ray systems should drive industry growth.Growing geriatric population, increasing focus on research and development activities to advance medical technologies by German government will propel industry growth in Germany. Furthermore, rising need for sophisticated healthcare, homecare services and recent health reforms for accident or illness will propel business growth.Brazil medical x-ray market size should witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. Increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases in the country coupled with growing adoption of diagnostic imaging procedure should fuel industry growth. According to Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in 2015 CVD mortality accounted for nearly 28% of deaths in Brazil.Some of the companies operating in medical x-ray market includes Siemens Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Canon, Philips Healthcare, Hitachi Medical and Shimadzu. Industry players are focusing on new product launch, investment in R&D activities, mergers and acquisition to gain revenue share.Global Market Insights Inc. is a global market research and management consulting company catering to leading corporations, non-profit organizations, universities and government institutions. Our main goal is to assist and partner organizations to make lasting strategic improvements and realize growth targets. Our industry research reports are designed to provide granular quantitative information, combined with key industry insights, aimed at assisting sustainable organizational development.Global Market Insights, Inc.4 North Main StreetSelbyville, Delaware 19975 USAPhone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email:sales@gminsights.com
Voice Evacuation Systems Market Research Report till 2027: Demand for Quick and Smart Voice Evacuation Systems Influencing Key Companies to Focus on R&D Activities

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The gas turbine compressor market has witnessed a significant number of acquisitions among the leading suppliers operating in the global landscape of gas-based power turbines in the past half a decade. These acquisitions are redefining the future growth trajectory of the gas turbine compressor market. For instance, GE completed the acquisition of Alstoms power and grid business unit which significantly impacted the regional as well as the global landscape of the gas turbine compressor market. According to the recent scenario, while GE and Siemens are witnessing a downturn in terms of fewer numbers of their flagship energy products and services, both the giants are actively involved in restructuring business strategies. Siemens is expected to supply compressor trains for a gas pipeline expansion project in Canada.Request TOC of this Report@Globally, rising power demands have led to increased reliance on power generation applications such as industrial cogeneration, combined-cycle power generation services, and combined heat and power applications. This has fueled the growth of the gas turbine compressor market. Further, the growing adoption of renewable energy resources and increased construction of renewable energy power plants are estimated to boost the progress of the gas turbine compressor market. As the number of natural gas vehicles proliferates, rising demand for gas turbines is likely to augur well for the growth of the gas turbine compressor market.An ongoing research study by leading market research firm Fact.MR offers in-depth insights and analysis on gas turbine compressor market. The research report is a comprehensive source of information and analysis that offers stakeholders an unbiased and transparent perspective on the gas turbine compressor market.The research report gives actionable intelligence on various facets of the gas turbine compressor market considering key global regions. Moreover, with historical data analysis, current and future data projections of the global gas turbine compressor market have been included in this insightful research report. The forecast projections are for a nine year period, starting from 2018 till 2027. Additionally, intelligence on various market participants have been covered in this analytical research report. Main aspects of these market participants such as product portfolio analysis, key strategies, SWOT analysis, market expansion plans, innovations and product developments, revenue shares, supply chain analysis, sales figures, mergers and acquisitions and future expansion plans along with key financial analysis have been covered in the competitive landscape section of the global gas turbine compressor market report.Growth of Aerospace Industry to Trigger Demand for Gas Turbine Compressors in the Coming DecadeAerospace sector has witnessed steady growth since past several years. Increasing investments in the defense and aerospace industry signifies high growth potential in the forthcoming years. With growing investments, this industry is expected to shift towards linear growth side, consequently creating significant growth opportunities across the supply chain, which consist of manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and vendors of gas turbine compressor market.Governments in developed countries have initiated high investments in the respective aerospace sectors for both commercial aerospace and defense. According to International Air Transportation Association, demand for air travel in 2016 grew by 6.3 percent. This pushed the manufacturing of commercial aircrafts across regions. According to IATA, the manufacturing of large commercial aircrafts has risen in 2017 and is expected to grow in the coming year.To know more about the Gas Turbine Compressors Market, Visit the link @With respect to defense, investments in developing advanced aircrafts have triggered the adoption of gas turbine compressors. Gas turbine compressors are an integral part of an aircraft that are used, along with fuel combustion, to propel the aircraft at higher speeds. Increasing investments in defense sector are expected to offer potential opportunities for gas turbine compressor manufacturers. Recently, President Donald Trump initiated an increase in the spending for defense of around US$ 25 Bn in 2017 and is looking forward to further increase it by 10% in 2018. This factor is expected to bode well for the overall aerospace industry, thus paving a huge growth platform for gas turbine compressors, pushing their sales in the coming years.Participants in the global gas turbine compressor market are coming up with new innovations in their products. Several participants have filed patents for their products recently. For instance, in 2018, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft filed a patent for its new gas turbine arrangement that has a controlled bleed air injection system. Another for a compressor assembly for mass flow control in gas turbine has been initiated by the company. Such developments are expected to increase the scope of use of gas turbine compressors in various end use industries. Key market participants involved in the global gas turbine compressor market include Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, General Electric Company, Pratt & Whitney, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd., MAN Turbomachinery and Opra Turbines B.V.The research report on global gas turbine compressor market includes analysis on various aspects such as trends, developments, drivers and opportunities that positively influence the growth of the global market. In addition, restraints and challenges that hinder the growth of the global gas turbine compressor market have also been included in this insightful research study. This research report offers a complete understanding about the market, its growth trajectory few years down the line as well as key insights on various market factors that can be used to gain hold over the market in the years to follow.Request Brochure of this Report@About FactMRFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Follow Us on Linkedin:
Stethoscopes Market: Emerging Trends, Business Growth Opportunities, Major Driving Factors

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The technological advancements that electronic and digital stethoscopes have made in the recent decade have helped them in attaining an edge over traditional stethoscopes. The main development in stethoscopes market include superior digital sound transmission competencies of digital stethoscopes and their growing use in telemedicine. In spite of the introduction of advanced technologies such as portable and handheld ultrasound systems, stethoscopes are still the preferred choice of healthcare professionals for preliminary physical examination.Global stethoscope market is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period as a result of growing demand for electronic stethoscope and fetal heart rate detectors. Digital stethoscopes have innovative features such as recording sound and amplifying the recorded sound up to 24 times the original sound, and removing other disruptive sounds for improved prognosis. Moreover, the digital stethoscopes are also furnished with software that allows doctors to extrapolate the readings to chart for monitoring the heart rate of patient. Enhanced acoustics, better performance, and innovative designs are the major focus of most stethoscope industry manufacturers. Fetal dopplers and heart rate detectors are other significant sector driving the growth of this industry.Obtain Report Details @On the basis of product type the global stethoscope market can be segmented into manual & mechanical stethoscopes, fetal stethoscopes, esophageal stethoscopes, electronic stethoscopes, optical stethoscopes,doppler stethoscopes, teaching stethoscopes, 3d-printed stethoscope, and acoustic stethoscope. Manual & mechanical stethoscopes remain the major segment and expected to remain dominant segment due to ease of use. Electronic stethoscopes, due to their advanced features, offer strongest growth potential in stethoscope industry.Increasing global per capita income and increasing living standards of population in both developed and developing has increased the public affordability and boosted the overall healthcare industry. This in turn has raised the demand for technologically advanced products and is anticipated to drive the medical devices market as a whole including the stethoscope market. The global rise in the geriatric population which is more susceptible to various chronic ailments is also expected to fuel the growth of stethoscope industry. Based on end-user, the global stethoscope market can be segmented into hospitals, physician offices, clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, nursing facilities, research and academic institutes, and others.Request For Report Brochure @Geographically, the global stethoscope market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Growing population and rapid urbanization in emerging economies of Asia Pacific are expected to drive the stethoscope market in the region during the forecast period. Asia Pacific is projected to have the fastest growth, owing to a rapidly developing medical infrastructure, increasing spending on healthcare and growing medical tourism in developing nations such as China and India in this region. Developing countries in the region are likely to witness rising demand for stethoscope in the next few years.Key players operating in the global stethoscope market are 3M Corporation, A&D Medical, American Diagnostic Corporation, Cardionics, Inc., GF Health Products, Inc., Medline Industries, Inc., Rudolf Riester GmbH & Co. KG, Omron Corporation, McCoy Medical, and Welch Allyn, Inc.Request for TOC @About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (HPAPI) Market is Registering a Healthy 8.3% CAGR between 2015 and 2023

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The vendor landscape of the global high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) market is highly fragmented due to presence of a large number of players. Some of the prominent players in this market are WuXi AppTec, Pfizer, Inc., Novartis AG, Lonza Group, Novasep, Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., Cambrex Corporation, and Sigma-Aldrich Corporation. Transparency Market Research has estimated that the individual revenue share of these players range between 3% and 4% of the overall market. These players are focusing on cost containment to sustain their profit margins. Furthermore, various companies in this market are involving in strategic partnerships to remain significant occupant and gain the first-mover advantage in the market.Transparency Market Research has estimated that the HPAPI market valued at US$2.64 bn in 2014 and expected to reach US$25.11 bn by 2023, while exhibiting a steady CAGR 8.3% during the forecast period 2015-2023.Obtain Report Details @Regionally, Asia Pacific is expected to show significant opportunities to the market due to soaring contract manufacturing activities in the region. Within this region, Japan contributes the leading share. However, due to supportive foreign exchange policies, well-equipped manufacturing plants, and low labor costs, China is expected to surpass Japans total revenue in the forthcoming years.Extensive Research and Development Aimed at Cost-efficiency to accelerate the Market GrowthThe high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient market is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years due to rising cases of diabetes, cancer, and various cardiovascular diseases and the booming ongoing oncology research. The cost of drugs have been reduced due the cost containment strategies followed by the players in this market. This has in turn made these drugs more affordable to a larger audience. This trend has boosted the market and is expected to help the market grow in the coming years. Furthermore, promising pipeline of targeted therapeutic drugs is most likely to add advantage to the market growth. Without any lingering after effects, these drugs help patients to impact targeted areas and recover faster. Continuous development and research going on in mimic branded drugs are envisioned to create cost-effective treatments, further accelerating the growth of the market.Request For Sample of Report @Post treatment effects of chemotherapy such as infection to non-cancerous cells are motivating numerous health facilities to adopt targeted therapy as they do not harm non-cancerous cells. This trend is expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period. HPAPI are extensively used in hormonal drugs that are used for treatment of breast cancer. The other prominent applications of HPAPI is for the treatment of glaucoma. The increasing incidences of glaucoma is most likely to poise to the growth of the market. Applications of HPAPIs in musculoskeletal drugs, central nervous system drugs, and cardiovascular drugs are increasing adding benefits to growth of the market.High Labor Cost for Drug Manufacturing Could Impede Market GrowthThe capital intensive nature of manufacturing activities of high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient have been a major subject of concern for the players in this market. Furthermore, the manufacturing of these drugs need highly skilled labors, which could increase the labor cost hence the cost of the pharmaceutical ingredient. This can act as a restraining factor for growth of the market. In addition, the absence of norms pertaining to environmental, health, and occupational safety while manufacturing and researching potency APIs is threatening the market growth.Request For Report Brochure @Nevertheless, the increasing incidence of cancer are expected to help the market sustain its growth. The escalating occurrence of cancer have augmented the research and development activities in healthcare sectors of various regions such Asia Pacific and North America. This has resulted in the increased demand for effective anticancer drugs, assisting growth of the high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Blue Biotechnology Market 2023 Top Key Players are Aker BioMarine, Marinova, New England Biolabs, PML Applications Ltd., Sea Run Holdings, Inc., PICES, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and More

Blue Biotechnology Market

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Namely Blue Biotechnology Market Report has Been Published by Market Research Future Which Covers All the Geographical Locations with Demand, Trend Analysis with near about Forecasted results and Also Covers the Market Expectations.Market Synopsis:Blue biotechnology deals with the application of biotechnology to marine or aquatic sources at a molecular level to extract active new ingredients for development of new drugs and other purposes. Market Research Future (MRFR) has published a report asserting that the Global Blue Biotechnology Market is anticipated to expand at a strong CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period of 2017-2023.Competitive Analysis:The major players of the Global Blue Biotechnology Market that are profiled in the report by MRFR are Aker BioMarine (Norway), Marinova (Australia), New England Biolabs (the U.S), PML Applications Ltd. (the U.K), Sea Run Holdings, Inc.(the U.S), PICES (Canada), Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (the U.S), Shell Marine Products (the U.S), GeoMarine Biotechnologies (India), GlycoMar (Scotland), Cellgen Biologicals Pvt Ltd. (India), Nurture Aqua Technology Pvt. Ltd. (India), Samudra Biopharma Pvt.Ltd (India) and Sanosil Biotech (India).Get PDF Sample Copy @Market Latest Update:The rapidly increasing research and development expenditure by the players for innovative product launch in medical, cosmetics, food and other industries is triggering competition in the global blue biotechnology market. The nascent stage of blue biotechnology has created huge opportunities for the product manufacturers and research institutes to explore higher verticals in the global blue biotechnology market.In June 2018, Hilton Lifestyle, LLC, a skincare manufacturer in the U.S., has announced the launch of its first full skincare line under the Paris Hilton brand called ProD.N.A. These skin care products are manufactured with the use of enzymes sourced from marine microalgae.Market Driver and Restraints:Oceans and Seas consist of large biodiversity and the development in the field of biotechnology has made it possible to utilize the marine and aquatic sources for obtaining various products that are useful for mankind. The availability of large market for blue biotech products in the various sectors is majorly driving the Global Blue Biotechnology Market.The increasing demand for blue biotech products in the pharmaceutical industry for production of various medicines and drugs is fueling the expansion of the global blue biotechnology market. The flexibility, adaptivity and constant development of blue biotechnology are widening its application range in various industries.The vital application of blue biotech products in cosmetics, food and feed industries is impacting positively on the expansion of the global blue biotechnology market. The increasing consumer demand for biologics over the conventional synthetic products is one of the major factors driving the growth of the global blue biotechnology market.The rapid development in the field of biotechnology owing to the increasing research and development expenditure is resulting in the significant expansion of the global blue biotechnology market. However, the strict regulatory framework for conservation of marine ecosystem is likely to act as a restraint on the expansion of the global blue biotechnology market.Market Segmentation:The global blue biotechnology market has been segmented on the basis of product, application and end-users. Based on products, the blue biotechnology market is segmented into enzymes, pharma products, bulk chemicals, biopolymers and other products. Based on application, the blue biotechnology market is segmented into bio-engineering, genomics, vaccine development, drug discovery and others. Based on end-users, the blue biotechnology market is segmented into hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, research institutes, laboratories, and others.Get Discount @Regional Analysis:The global blue biotechnology market has been segmented into five major regions such as North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East and Africa. The North America region is dominating the global blue biotechnology market owing to the rapid development in the field of biotechnology and large number of players focusing on development of blue biotechnology in this region. The Europe region is the second largest market in the global blue biotechnology market due to the increasing consumer demand for biotech products in this region. The Asia Pacific region accounts for the steady growth in global blue biotechnology market as the blue biotechnology is still at a nascent stage in this region. Lack of awareness and less technological penetration in the underdeveloped area is resulting in the slow growth of blue biotechnology market in the Middle East and Africa region.Table of Content1 Report Prologue2 Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3 Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Threats4.5 Macroeconomic IndicatorsContinuedEnquiry Form @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, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Immuno-Oncology Market, By Type [mAb (Naked, Conjugate), Cancer Vaccines, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4]), By Application (Lung, Melanoma, Leukemia, Lymphoma) - Global Forecast to 2022

Immuno-Oncology Market, By Type [mAb (Naked, Conjugate), Cancer Vaccines, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4])

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The Future of Immuno-Oncology Markets to 2022- Trends, Drivers and Supply, Demand OutlookImmuno-oncology is a unique approach that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. These therapies activate an individual's immune system, making it able to recognize cancer cells and destroy them. Immuno-oncology therapies provide long lasting anti-cancer benefits to patients who previously had very few treatment options available to them. These therapies work against a large number of cancer types. The technological advancements are helping the growth of immuno-oncology market. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are striving to launch new and most effective therapies.This comprehensive Immuno-Oncology Market research report includes a brief on these trends that can help the businesses operating in the industry to understand the market and strategize for their business expansion accordingly. The research report analyzes the market size, industry share, growth, key segments, CAGR and key drivers.Get Request a sample copy here atImmuno-Oncology in its database, which provides an expert and in-depth analysis of key business trends and future market development prospects, key drivers and restraints, profiles of major market players, segmentation and forecasting. A Immuno-Oncology Market provides an extensive view of size; trends and shape have been developed in this report to identify factors that will exhibit a significant impact in boosting the sales of Immuno-Oncology Market in the near future.New vendors in the market are facing tough competition from established international vendors as they struggle with technological innovations, reliability and quality issues. The report will answer questions about the current market developments and the scope of competition, opportunity cost and more.According to the report "Immuno-Oncology Market, By Type [mAb (Naked, Conjugate), Cancer Vaccines, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4]), By Application (Lung, Melanoma, Leukemia, Lymphoma) - Global Forecast to 2022", the global immuno-oncology market is anticipated to cross US$ 100 Billion by 2022. The report provides a detailed analysis of the global immuno-oncology market. The report also provides the current and forecasted market for immuno-oncology.Furthermore, the report provides insights about the major drivers and challenges, along with the latest trends and developments impacting the industry growth. In addition, the report also highlights various opportunities available for growth of the global immuno-oncology market. Moreover, the report provides the sales of major marketed immuno-oncology drugs.The global immuno-oncology market has been segmented on the basis of type of product into monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic vaccines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors amongst others. According to the report, monoclonal antibodies segment was estimated to account for the largest share in 2016 due to rising prevalence of cancer and rising usage in a number of therapies (antibody-directed enzyme pro-drug therapy and radio immunotherapy).Get more details of research here atMoreover, the research report assessed market key features, consisting of revenue, capacity utilization rate, price, gross, growth rate, consumption, production, export, supply, cost, market size & share, industry demand, export & import analysis, and CAGR.Key Immuno-Oncology market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.The report also sheds light on the geographic segmentation of the global immuno-oncology market. In 2016, North America was estimated to account for the largest share. Presence of major players, increased awareness and better distribution mechanisms are some of the prominent factors that have led to North America being the market leader.On the basis of type of cancer, the immuno-oncology market is dominated by Lung Cancer and Melanoma applications with several companies and academic institutions focusing on novel treatment approaches, thus making the major contribution to the global immuno-oncology market. The report provides the market analysis of major indications along with the forecast till 2022.A major focus has been on the ongoing clinical trials for the development of innovative products. In this context, the report provides information about the immuno-oncology programs at various stages of clinical development. In addition, the report highlights the strategic collaborations amongst the players for enhancing their market share.The later part of the report discusses some of the prominent players in the global immuno-oncology market. Market share analysis of major players is also provided in the report. Furthermore, a brief business overview of each player has been provided along with their product and pipeline portfolios and recent developments. Overall, immuno-oncology is an important and rapidly emerging field. This report will prove as a complete source of knowledge and analysis for clients and potential investors.Get Purchase a Research Copy here atAbout us: - MarketResearchNest.com is the most comprehensive collection of market research products and services on the Web. We offer reports from almost all top publishers and update our collection on daily basis to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and recent database of expert insights on Shipping Containers industries, organizations, products, and trends.Contact us: - Mr. Jeet Jain, Sales Manager, sales@marketresearchnest.com ;+1-240-284-8070(U.S), +44-20-3290-4151(U.K);Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Twelve utility and IPP CEOs confirmed so far for Utility CEO Forum at Future Energy East Africa in Nairobi

PR strategies and financial viability are strong themes this year

http://www.future-energy-eastafrica.com

Great excitement in the run-up to Future Energy East Africa as the co-located Utility CEO Forum: East Africa has already confirmed the attendance of 12 utility and IPP CEOs for key discussions on the financial viability of the sector, PR strategies and collaborations between utilities and IPPs. Future Energy East Africa takes place in Nairobi from 12-13 September.The Utility CEO Forum: East Africa is an exclusive, by invitation only, gathering of regional utility CEOs within the power and energy sector providing a unique, safe space for discussion and debate the modern day challenges of their roles in running African utilities in a fast developing market with high political expectations and low returns within aging or no infrastructure.It is part of a series of four exclusive regional platforms which allows utility and industry leaders to discuss and compare utilities financial viability, utility reform, the new energy revolution and general topics that impact all African utilities such as the regional challenges or cross border co-operation.Attending Utility CEO Forum: East Africa, so far are:- Shiferaw Telila, CEO, Ethiopian Electric Utility, Ethiopia- Khilina Dodhia, CEO, Kenergy Renewables, Kenya- Henry Muthanji, CEO, IberAfrica Power Ltd, Kenya- Brian Kelly, MD, Virunga Power, Kenya- FCPA Fernandes Barasa, CEO and MD, KETRACO, Kenya- Representing the CEO of KenGen, David Muthike, Strategy & Business Performance Director, Kenya- Representing the CEO of EGENCO, representatives name to be confirmed, Malawi- Idirus Hamud, CEO, Aloog Electricity Company, Somalia- Beck Awan Deng, CEO, South Sudan Electricity Corporation, South Sudan- Representing the CEO of Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited, Mark Martin Obia, Company Secretary, Uganda- Thozama Gangi, Managing Director, Eskom Uganda, Uganda- Willy Kiryahika, CEO, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited, UgandaFuture Energy East AfricaAccess to energy and the speed at which the region is achieving this will be a strong theme of the 20th edition of the Future Energy East Africa conference and exhibition, formerly known as EAPIC or the East African Power Industry Convention, which returns to the KICC in Nairobi from 12-13 September.A firm favourite and a fixture on the regions power calendar for the last 20 years, Future Energy East Africa will once again host many of the regions leading energy decision makers next month. This leading energy forum comprises a high-level, strategic conference focusing on energy access, finance, renewables and transmission & distribution.Industry supportFuture Energy East Africas expo will feature some 80 leading global and local technology and services providers, including several country pavilions, as well as free, technical workshops for visitors. Koncar, Trans-African Projects and Eskom Rotek Industries have already confirmed their sponsorship for the event.Future Energy East Africa dates and location:Strategic conference: 12-13 September 2018Venue: KICC, Nairobi, KenyaFuture Energy East Africa is organised by Spintelligent, a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, real estate, energy, mining, agriculture and education sectors. Other well-known events by Spintelligent include African Utility Week, Future Energy Nigeria (formerly WAPIC), Agritech Expo Zambia, Kenya Mining Forum, Nigeria Mining Week and DRC Mining Week. Spintelligent is part of the UK-based Clarion Events Group.Senior Communications Manager: Annemarie RoodbolTelephone: +27 21 700 3558Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.comWebsite:Postal address: PO Box 321, Steenberg, 7947, South Africa
Air Springs Market To Witness Exponential Growth by 2017-2026

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According to the latest market report published by Fact.MR, growing penetration of air springs in luxury passenger vehicles continues to open new growth opportunities for manufacturers. Traditionally limited to heavy commercial vehicles, end-user preference for comfort, glide ride, and suspension adjustment are impacting where the revenue is going in the air springs landscape. Stakeholders in the air springs market must consider the evolutions in this marketplace if they are to rapidly adapt to the new status quo.Fact.MR Survey Finds Weight Reduction and Flex Cracking Mitigation as Key Focus Areas for ManufacturersThe air springs market remains fragmentally consolidated, with a large number of America, Chinese, and Indian suppliers/distributors vying for increasing their market penetration and share. A majority of market participants covered in the market have a sizeable presence in APEJ and North America  two key air springs markets globally. Sensing the untapped opportunities in this marketplace, leading manufacturers, including BWI Group, Continental AG, Dunloop Systems and Components, Firestone Industrial LLC, Hendrickson LLC, Mando Corporation, Tata AutoComp Systems, ThyssenKrupp AG, VB AirSuspension, and Wabco Holdings Inc. are focusing on reducing weight and mitigating flex cracking as key focus areas.Although air springs offer a better ride quality than steel and coil springs, vulnerability to wear and tear, and high maintenance costs continue to impede widespread adoption. Manufacturers who are able to scale up without compromising on quality will have a better shot at market consolidation. Whereas luxury car manufacturers equip air springs as an additional feature, these are steadily gaining traction as standard features in heavy vehicles, says lead automotive analyst at Fact.MR.Request Report Sample@End-Users List High Upfront Cost and Relatively Lower Lifecycle as Key Barriers to AdoptionAccording to the analysis carried out by Fact.MRs automotive research team, high upfront costs and relatively lower lifecycles remain the key barriers to widespread adoption of air springs for end-users. Although the analysts have a bullish long-term outlook, the mantra for success is to mitigate high OEM upfront costs when compared to the aftermarket.OEMs Accounted for 52% Volume Sales in 2017, Aftermarket to Reign Supreme by 2026Sales of air springs are evenly spread out in both OEM and aftermarket channels, however the former accounted for a higher volume and lower revenue share in 2017. The prevailing scenario in the sales channel is likely to be transformed during the assessment period on account of competitive offerings by aftermarket players. By 2026, aftermarket is likely to reign supreme  both in terms of value and volume.Visit For TOC@Air Springs Market Suspending on the Performance of Asian MarketsA direct correlation of vehicle production, sales, vehicle parc and demand for air spring is evident. Its apparent that the Asian economies are leading in terms of vehicle production as well sales, thus equating to preeminence in the air springs market during the assessment period 2017-2026, according to a new business intelligence study by Fact.MR. Manufacturers must prioritize ASEAN and GCC in their long-term strategic plans to consolidate their position.Fact.MRs research study projects the air springs market to surpass US$ 4 Bn in revenues by 2026. In terms of volume, over 33,000000 units of air springs are likely to be sold by the end of the forecast period.About FactMRFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Follow Us on Linkedin:
High Purity Aluminium Market Forecast Report 2018: Demand from the Electronics Industry to Boost Market Growth

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A new report available with Fact.MR, about the global high purity aluminium market, provides a comprehensive outlook of the industry trends. Sharp-eyed analysis of the changing global needs and consumption of high purity aluminium are few of the prime factors impacting the growth of the market. The recent restrictions enacted by Trumps Administrations on steel and aluminium import in the United States and its predictable influence on the global aluminium market is another important factor considered in the report analysis. With such thorough analysis, the report provides the most credible go-to forecast of the global high purity aluminium market.Request TOC of this Report@Derived from bauxite ore, based on purity levels, high purity aluminium finds application in multiple industries. Notable demand for the highly pure material is observed in electronics, chemical and high purity alloy sectors. Purity of high purity aluminium ranges from 99.99% to 99.999% which is also referred to as 4N to 6N. Manufacturing titans use three-layer electrolysis as well as the segregation or the fractional crystallization methods to refine aluminium.Demand from the Electronics Industry to Boost Market GrowthThe electronics industry has witnessed a steady growth in past decade. Currently, the industry is helmed by Asian countries including India, China, and Malaysia. Due to its intrinsic properties, the highly pure metal finds application in the manufacturing of electrolytic capacitor foils, high purity alumina (HPA), the semiconductor industry, photovoltaic cells, TFT LCD applications, decorative uses or for electronic storage systems. Its utilization becomes irreplaceable for the industry as the metal provide high electric and thermal conductance as well as low tensile strength. To address the increasing requirements of high purity aluminium, manufacturers are enhancing their capacities and personnel in metallurgy, application technology, metal purification, as well as trace analysis. As electronic industry significantly penetrates in other end-user industries, demand for stated electronics components is set to rise. Owing to this, the market for high purity aluminium is likely to witness persistent growth in future.Steady Bauxite Extraction & High Purity Aluminium ProductionTop global locations popular for surplus bauxite resources includes Australia, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Guinea, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Russia and Republic of Suriname. Individual regional analysis has reported accretive growth of bauxite extraction in the fiscal year 2017 worldwide. For instance, the Mines Ministry of Guinea reported production of 5 million tons of bauxite from one of Guineas largest mines per year from 2019. This represents a threefold increase in bauxite production by 2020 in Western African countries. Although China reported highest bauxite export in 2017, air pollution crackdowns may influence the future alumina and bauxite demand. Amidst this scenario, steady bauxite extraction was witnessed globally and is estimated to rise in future. According to the World Bureau of Metal Statistics, world bauxite production is projected to grow at the rate of 8% annually in 2018 and 2019, and to reach 337 million tons by the end of 2019. In addition, helmed by China, world alumina production and consumption also witnessed a rise in 2017. Thus, stable bauxite extraction and growing high purity aluminium demand is likely to influence the market growth in near future.To know more about the Market, Visit the link @Key Company Developments in High Purity Aluminium MarketShowa Denko KK (SDK), a leading Japanese chemical engineering firm has enhanced production capacities of high-purity aluminium foil in China in 2017. High purity aluminium foil is one of the most prominent materials of aluminium electrolytic capacitor. The SDK expansion is aimed at responding to the rising demand for aluminum electrolytic capacitors worldwide.Norsk Hydro, a Norwegian aluminium company that operates throughout Brazilian aluminium chain has recently announced reduction in alumina production by 50%. Alunorte which is owned by Norsk Hydro by 92.1% of shares, delivered lesser alumina to Albras due to reported residue leakage. Hence, Albras which is owned by Norsk Hydro by 51% of shares reported significant decline in production.Altech Chemicals Ltd., an Australia-based leading supplier of highly pure alumina (HPA), has applied for manufacturing license application to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in Malaysia. The company has plans to produce HPA from kaolin clay supplied from Altechs kaolin plant based in Western Australia.To address the rising demand from end-users, industry titans are focusing on enhancing production capacities with respect to delivery of refined, reliable and defined material quality which is a prerequisite to meet intense competition in the global market.Details associated with all the highlighted trends of the high purity aluminium market are included in the report to deliver a clear industry outlook which will help the financial community in making business decisions.Request Brochure of this Report@About FactMRFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb:Follow Us on Linkedin:
Pan Masala Market by Manufacturers, Countries, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023

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https://www.futuregenicreports.com/Reports/Pan-Masala-Market

"Pan Masala refers to a balanced mixture of betel leaf with lime, areca nut, clove, cardamom, mint, tobacco and many other ingredients. It is prepared with precise measurements so as to maintain a balance of all ingredients while keeping in mind its taste and human health.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Pan Masala 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 coversDS GroupManikchandGodfrey PhillipsKothari ProductsLalwani GroupA & C- Pan BaharDinesh Pouches LimitedRequest For Free Sample Of The Report @Market 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, coversPan Masala with TobaccoPlain Pan MasalaFlavored Pan MasalaOtherObtain Report Details @Market Segment by Applications, can be divided intoRetail StoresSupermarketOnline StoresOthersAbout Future Genic ReportsFuture Generic Reports is a market research and consulting organization, offering premium collection of market research reports, custom research and consulting services to corporations, no-profit organizations and government institutions across the globe.The wide range of information is presented by a team of well-trained researchers of specific sectors through exhaustive research. We deliver premier market research services that cover all industry verticals, including chemicals and material, automotive, healthcare, electronics & semiconductor, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and technology and media.We believe in building an eternal bond with our clients through offering them inclusive research study meeting their specific requirements. Our services are tailored specifically to our clients by proposing them the potential outcome, based on our in-depth analysis and insights for exploring the growth strategies through providing the best possible decision for quality production.Contact Us-USA Office244 , Madison AvenueNew York City, NY - 10016United StatesE-mail: sales@futuregenicreports.com
Global Neurology Emr Software Market 2018 Dynamics- Allscripts, Bizmatics, Brainlab, Kareo

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The Global Neurology Emr Software Market report is crafted by executing an outstanding research process to gather key statistics of the Global Neurology Emr Software Market. The research analysis is based on two sections, particularly, primary research and extensive secondary research. Secondary research includes a practical market review and segmentation of the Global Neurology Emr Software Market. It also highlights important players in the Neurology Emr Software Market. On the other hand, the primary research focuses on the transportation channel, region, and product category. The major market players in the Global Neurology Emr Software Market are Practice Fusion, Healthfusion, Advanced Data Systems, Nextgen, Athenahealth, Epic, NueMD, Greenway Health, Allscripts, Bizmatics, Brainlab, Kareo.Free Access to the sample pages of the report at :The Global Neurology Emr Software Market report highlights key market players and various manufacturers influencing the Neurology Emr Software market. It also covers key financials, SWOT analysis, advanced technologies, development processes, and so on. The Global Neurology Emr Software Market report assists the user by providing in-depth analysis of the Neurology Emr Software market. In addition, the main product categories and segments Advanced Neurology EMR Software, Other as well as the sub-segments Hospitals, College & Research Institutes, Other of the global Neurology Emr Software market are included in the report.The Global Neurology Emr Software Market report covers a detailed study of key market players. It also involves a review of various contributors along with manufacture analysis, size, share, forecast trends, sales, supply, production, demands, industry, and CAGR The Global Neurology Emr Software Market research report helps the user to boost their business by offering them in-depth market insights. It helps them to plan strategic moves to expand their businesses.This Neurology Emr Software Market Research Report Contains Importance on: Manufacturing technology used in Global Neurology Emr Software, existing developments in that technology and trends causing these developments Entire Neurology Emr Software analysis, including an appraisal of the parent market Developing specialty Neurology Emr Software sections and territorial markets An account of worldwide Neurology Emr Software market, volume and forecast, by leading players, product type and end-client applications Geological spread, pieces of the overall industry, key methodologies, development designs, and different financials systems of Neurology Emr Software Global Neurology Emr Software industry chain analysis by upstream raw materials, downstream industry, current market dynamics and ensuing consumers analysisInquire before buying Neurology Emr Software Market report :A comprehensive research report of the Global Neurology Emr Software Market highlights valuable growth opportunities in the market that will help the user for strategic planning for their future expansions in the Global Neurology Emr Software Market in a specified region. All the statistics and other data are proficiently crafted to assist the user to expand their business strategically.A detailed Global Neurology Emr Software Market research report highlights the growth opportunities in the market that assist the user to plan upcoming expansions and developments in the Global Neurology Emr Software Market in an estimated area. All the insights, statistics, and other data are skillfully crafted and represented as per the user requirement.Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651
Global Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices Sales Market 2018 | at a CAGR of 6.6% during 2018-2025

Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices

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https://www.researchmoz.us/global-orthopedic-braces-and-support-devices-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc

This report studies the global Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices market status and forecast, categorizes the global Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia India and Other regions (Middle East & Africa, Central & South America).Orthopedic braces are medical devices designed to address musculoskeletal issues; they are used to properly align, correct the position, support, stabilize, and protect certain parts of the body (particularly the muscles, joints, and bones) as they heal from injury or trauma. These medical devices are often prescribed for the patient to wear during the process of recovery and rehabilitation.. . Get Sample Report_' 'The global Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices market is valued at 4800 million US$ in 2017 and will reach 8030 million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% during 2018-2025.- The major players covered in this reportDJO GlobalOttobockOssur3M CompanyBauerfeindDeRoyalMedi GmbH & Co.ZimmerLohmann & RauscherBregTHUASNEORTECBSN MedicalTynor OrthoticsDUK-INPrime MedicalAdhenorAspenRcaiTruelifeHuici MedicalDynamic Techno Medicals- Geographically, this report studies the key regions, focuses on product sales, value, market share and growth opportunity in these regions, coveringUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndia. . More Clear Details get Full Table of Contents_' '- The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices sales, value, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);To analyze the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, to study the sales, value and market share of top players in these regions.Focuses on the key Orthopedic Braces & Support Devices players, to study the sales, 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.Continue.....About Researchmoz,ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,sales@researchmoz.usTel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Global PV Solar Energy Charge Controller Sales Market 2018 (Solar Energy Charge Controller) | Phocos, Morningstar, Steca, Shuori New Energy

PV Solar Energy Charge Controller

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This report studies the global PV Solar Energy Charge Controller (Solar Energy Charge Controller) market status and forecast, categorizes the global PV Solar Energy Charge Controller (Solar Energy Charge Controller) market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia India and Other regions (Middle East & Africa, Central & South America).PV Solar charge controllers, also known as PV solar charge regulators, are used in solar energy systems to protect the battery from being overcharged and over-discharged. The main types of solar charge controllers in this report covered MPPT and PWM.. . Get Sample Report_' 'The key players in the global PV Solar Energy Charge Controller market are Phocos, Morningstar, Steca, Shuori New Energy, Beijing Epsolar, OutBack Power, Remote Power and among others.In 2016, major demand was accounted 28.89 % from China. Other major demand is expected from emerging markets of India, Americas and MEA.PV Solar Energy Charge Controller demand is applied in Industrial & Commercial, such as Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, Commercial Lighting, Monitoring/Surveillance, Traffic, and Railroad, and Residential & Rural Electrification. As of 2016, Industrial & Commercial application of the PV Solar Energy Charge Controller is the largest segment market with a market share of 89.66 percent.The global PV Solar Energy Charge Controller (Solar Energy Charge Controller) market is valued at 290 million US$ in 2017 and will reach 380 million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% during 2018-2025.- The major players covered in this reportPhocosMorningstarStecaShuori New EnergyBeijing EpsolarOutBack PowerRemote PowerVictron EnergyStuder InnotecRenogySpecialty ConceptsSollatekBlue Sky EnergyWuhan Wanpeng- Geographically, this report studies the key regions, focuses on product sales, value, market share and growth opportunity in these regions, coveringUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndia. . More Clear Details get Full Table of Contents_' '- On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPWM PV Solar Energy Charge ControllerMPPT PV Solar Energy Charge Controller- On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingIndustrial & CommercialResidential & Rural Electrification- The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global PV Solar Energy Charge Controller (Solar Energy Charge Controller) sales, value, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);To analyze the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, to study the sales, value and market share of top players in these regions.Focuses on the key PV Solar Energy Charge Controller (Solar Energy Charge Controller) players, to study the sales, value, market share and development plans in future.Continue.....About Researchmoz,ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,sales@researchmoz.usTel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074
Gynecology Robotic Surgery Market Technology Growth with Titan Medical, NovaTract Surgical, Intuitive Surgical, AVRA Surgical Robotics, TransEnterix

Gynecology Robotic Surgery

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Surgical robotic systems include the use of a range of components such as equipment, software, accessories, and services. These robotic systems help conduct several minimally-invasive surgeries such as neurological, gynecological, cardiac, and orthopedic. The surgeons can automate the surgical procedure with the help of robotic systems, which enhances the efficacy and precision during the procedure & minimize the risk of any post-surgical complications. Surgeons can work on inaccessible body parts using robotic systems as they are effective representations of body parts; it also increases dexterity.To Explore More | Get PDF Brochure:Global Gynecology Robotic Surgery Market Is Segmented:The global gynecology robotic surgery market is segmented on the basis of product, application, end user, and geography. Based on product, the market is categorized into robotic platform, instruments & accessories, and robotic platform services. Based on application, the market is categorized into hysterectomy, sacrocolpopexy & myomectomy, and gynecologic malignancy. Based on end-users, the market is further divided into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and physicians offices. Based on geography, the market has been analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.The advantage of using gynecology robotic surgery over traditional surgery such as minimal risk of blood loss and infection, reduced recovery time, and leave minimum scars contribute to the market growth. In addition, a rise in the demand for minimally invasive surgery will increase the adoption rate of robotic-assisted techniques, which propels the growth of the global gynecology robotic surgery market.Gynecology Robotic Surgery Market Facts about Growth:The use of robotic systems enables precise movement of instruments and provides a better view of the targeted area during complicated surgeries. Moreover, the high satisfaction rate among patients motivates manufacturers to develop more advanced robotic equipment. Furthermore, the high prevalence of hysterectomies, malignant, and benign ovarian cancer cases also increases the requirement of these robotic systems. However, the high costs associated with the use of these systems and high maintenance requirement can hamper the market growth.Customize Advance Research Report As per Your Requirements:Gynecology Robotic Surgery Market Key Segments:By Product Robotic Platform Instruments & Accessories Robotic Platform ServicesBy Application Hysterectomy Sacrocolpopexy & Myomectomy Gynecologic MalignancyBy End User Hospitals & Clinics Ambulatory Surgical Centers Physicians OfficesAbout UsAllied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:Shriram Dighe5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1855550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) Market,2018 Major Product by Top Key Players: 3M Company, Arkema Group, Avery Dennison Corporation, Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) Ltd., DOW Corning Corporation;

Hot Melt Adhesive Market

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Global Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA)Market study with depth analysis, describing about the Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA)demand and explain market outlook and status to 2025. The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence and some of the key players from the complete study are: 3M Company, Arkema Group, Avery Dennison Corporation, Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) Ltd., DOW Corning Corporation, HB Fuller Company, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Jowat Se, Sika AG, Tex Year Industries Inc., Adhesive Direct UK, Adtek Malaysia SDN BHD, Buhnen GmbH & Co. Kg, Cherng Tay Technology Co.For In depth Information Get Free Sample Copy of this Report@Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) Market accounted for USD 6.50 billion and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period of 2017 to 2024. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2014, 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2017 to 2024.Some of the major players in the hot melt adhesive (HMA) market include:- 3M Company, Arkema Group, Avery Dennison Corporation, Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) Ltd., DOW Corning Corporation, HB Fuller Company, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Jowat Se, Sika AG, Tex Year Industries Inc., Adhesive Direct UK, Adtek Malaysia SDN BHD, Buhnen GmbH & Co. Kg, Cherng Tay Technology Co., Ltd., Costchem SRL, Daubert Chemical Company, Evans Adhesive Corporation, Ltd., Evonik Industries AG, Helmitin Adhesives, Klebchemie GmbH & Co. Kg, KMS Adhesives Ltd., Sanyhot Adhesivos S.A., Sealock Ltd., Toyobo Co., Ltd., Worthen Industries and many more.Competitive Landscape: Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) MarketThe global hot melt adhesive (HMA) market is highly fragmented with the presence of a large number of players across different regions. These major players have adopted various organic as well as inorganic growth strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, and others to strengthen their position in this market.Customization With Discount Available On This Report@Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) Market Segments:By Resin Type :- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, Styrenic Block Copolymers, Metallocene Polyolefin, Amorphous Polyalphaolefins, Polyolefins, Polyamides, Polyurethane, Others;By Application :- Packaging Solutions, Nonwoven Hygiene Products, Furniture & Woodwork, Bookbinding, OthersBy Geography, the hot melt adhesives (HMA) market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies such as :- North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Brazil among others.Major Market Objective: Extensive range of applications Increasing demand for eco-friendly adhesives Increasing demand for the pressure sensitives industries that use HMAs Volatility in the raw material prices Loss of bond strength at high temperatureHot melt adhesives (HMA) commonly referred to as hot glue, do not contain solvents or water and have a fast setting speed. Hot melt adhesives consist of three main components; high molecular weight polymer, tackifier and plasticizer. Hot melt adhesives are used in several industries such as packaging solutions, non-woven hygiene products, book binding and furniture.Report Brief Focus On:Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) Market, By Resin Type (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, Styrenic Block Copolymers, Metallocene Polyolefin, Amorphous Polyalphaolefins, Polyolefins, Polyamides, Polyurethane, Others); By Application (Packaging Solutions, Nonwoven Hygiene Products, Furniture & Woodwork, Bookbinding, Others)  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Read More about This Report @About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-281Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com
Modified Starch Market, 2018 Major Function by Top Key Players: Cargill, Tate & Lyle PLC, Agrana Beteiligungs-AG, Ingredion Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company;

Modified Starch Market

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Global Modified Starch Market study with depth analysis, describing about the Modified Starch Demand and explain market outlook and status to 2025. The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence and some of the key players from the complete study are: Avebe U. A., Grain Processing Corporation, Emsland- Starke GmbH, Sms Corporation Co. Ltd, Global Bio-Chem Technology Group Company Limited, SPAC STARCH PRODUCTS (INDIA) LTD., Qingdao Cbh Co., Ltd.,Get Free Sample Report@Global Modified Starch Market is expected to reach USD 13.65 billion by2025, from USD 9.90 billion in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic year is 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.The key players operating in the global modified starch market are  Cargill Tate & Lyle PLC Agrana Beteiligungs-AG Ingredion Incorporated Archer Daniels Midland Company Avebe U. A., Grain Processing Corporation, Emsland- Starke GmbH, Sms Corporation Co. Ltd, Global Bio-Chem Technology Group Company Limited, SPAC STARCH PRODUCTS (INDIA) LTD., Qingdao Cbh Co., Ltd., Beneo-Remy N.V., China Essence Group Ltd, Samyang Genex Corp, Ulrick & Short Ltd., Grain Processing Corporation, Roquette Freres, Siam Modified Starch Co. Ltd., Pt Budi Acid Jaya Tbk .Modified Starch Market Competitive Landscape:The global modified starch market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of Modified Starch market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.In, July, 2018, Archer Daniels Midland Company introduced a new line of specialty tapioca starches and tapioca ingredients in partnership with company Vedan International. This product is available in organic version.Have any special requirements about Report, let us know and we will offer you@Market drivers: Raising in consumption of processed and convenience food Increasing demand for adhesives in a range of industrial applications High investment in research and development activities to develop innovative product.Market restraint: Growing Gum Arabic Market High cost of natural AdditivesModified Starch Market Scope:By Raw Material Corn Potato Cassava WheatBy Application Food & Beverageso Bakery & Confectionery Productso Beverageso Processed Foodso Other Food & Beverage Applications Animal Feedo Swine Feedo Ruminant Feedo Poultry Feedo Other Animal Feed Applications Industrialo Medicines & Pharmaceuticalso Papermakingo Cosmeticso Weaving & Textileso OthersBy Function Thickeners Stabilizers Binders Emulsifiers OthersBy Modification Physical Modificationo Pre-Gelatinizedo Hydrothermalo Non-Hydrothermal Chemical Modificationo Cationic Starcho Etherified Starcho Esterified Starch Resistant StarchResearch Methodology: Global Modified Starch MarketData collection and base year analysis is done using data collection modules with large sample sizes. The market data is analysed and forecasted using market statistical and coherent models. Also market share analysis and key trend analysis are the major success factors in the market report. To know more please Request an analyst call or can drop down your inquiry.The key research methodology used by DBMR Research team is data triangulation which involves data mining, analysis of the impact of data variables on the market, and primary (industry expert) validation. Apart from this, other data models include Vendor Positioning Grid, Market Time Line Analysis, Market Overview and Guide, Company Positioning Grid, Company Market Share Analysis, Standards of Measurement, Top to Bottom Analysis and Vendor Share Analysis. To know more about the research methodology, drop in an inquiry to speak to our industry experts.Key Insights in the report: Historical and current market size and projection up to 2025 Market trends impacting the growth of the global modified starch market Analyze and forecast modified starch market on the basis of raw material, application, function and modification Trends of key regional and country-level markets for raw material, application, function and modification Company profiling of key players which includes business operations, product and services, geographic presence, recent developments and key financial analysisRead More About This Report@About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-281Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com
Dental Consumables Market to Grow at a CAGR of 6.1% During 2016 - 2024

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The global Dental Consumables Market is anticipated in a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) to find top players accounting for a larger share. Leading companies secured close to a 62.0% share of the market in a recent year. Owing to their excellent brand recognition and low pricing, Danaher Corporation, Henry Schein Inc., and Dentsply Sirona have managed to keep ahead of their competitors. With a view to strengthen their presence in the market, these companies are expected to continue to take part in joint ventures, takeovers, and mergers.TMR prognosticates the global dental consumables market to grow strong at a 6.1% CAGR for the forecast tenure 2016-2024 to earn a US$33.4 bn by the end of 2024. By product, crowns and bridges could take hold of a greater share of the market while rising at a 7.2% CAGR. Regionally, the market is predicted to witness the rise of Europe as a frontrunner collecting a 41.1% share.Request to View Sample of Report -Affordable Oral Healthcare Services in Emerging Countries Increase UptakeOver the course of last few years, demand for dental consumables is envisaged to increase on the back of dental tourism in India, Turkey, and Hungary and the emergence of new services. A number of customers are being attracted to adopt dental treatments due to the less expensive nature of oral healthcare services offered in developing countries. Other factors that could work in the favor of the market are minimal government intervention in the operation of healthcare firms in developing economies, availability of improved treatment methods, and low labor cost.Overall growth of the global dental consumables market is foreseen to gain impetus as a result of the rising success rate of dental implants, especially for upper jaw treatments. This has given rise to the adoption of various types of procedures that involve dental implants. Sophisticated healthcare facilities in European countries such as Italy, Spain, the U.K., and Greece are projected to support the growth of the market.Request to View Brochure of Report -Heavy Research and Development Spending Increases Cost of Dental ConsumablesLarge spending on research and development activities could act as a leading growth restraint for the global dental consumables market. This has resulted into expensive costing of products offered in the market. On the other hand, poor reimbursement policies are foretold to hamper the demand for dental consumables in the coming years.However, the global dental consumables market is projected to create lucrative prospects while riding on the rising prevalence of dental diseases such as tooth erosion, mouth sores, tooth decay, and gum decay. While this could benefit the market, there could be rewarding growth opportunities taking birth due to increasing incidence of chronic diseases. Furthermore, growing attention toward oral care, changing lifestyle, and improving disposable income are envisioned to increase the demand in the market.View Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Refrigeration Oil Market Forecast by Key Players: Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, PETRONAS, Chevron, Sinopec Group, FUCHS, Behr Hella Service GmbH, CAMCO Lubricants, Cosmo Oil Lubricants Co., Ltd

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Market Overview:The refrigeration oil market has been segmented by product type into synthetic and mineral oil. The synthetic oil segment is further sub-segmented into polyolester, polyalkylene glycol, polyalphaolefin, alkyl benzene, polyvinylether, etc. The synthetic oil segment is expected to have a larger share attributable to compatibility of synthetic oils with refrigerant, high thermal stability, and enhanced chemical resistance in comparison to mineral oil.Based on end user industries, global refrigeration oil market can be segmented into industrial, commercial and residential and others such as automobile, etc. Use of refrigerators freezers, chillers, and air conditioners in pharma research labs, R&D department of food & beverage, fine chemical industries are likely to witness a significant growth of industrial segment over the forecast period.Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @Refrigeration Oil Market size is set to grow at a healthy CAGR from 2018 to 2025. Refrigeration oil is a high-temperature formulation of a mixture of oil and additives devised for usage in cooling systems. It acts as a lubricant in refrigeration compressors, derived from both mineral and synthetic oil in order to lubricate or reduce friction of metal parts and wear on the compressor. The product flows under high pressure to turn from liquid to vapor state to generate a cooling effect due to its special characteristics such as better chemical and thermal stability, low contamination, low pour point, high dielectric strength and viscosity.The application areas of the product include refrigerators & freezers, air conditioners, coolers, chillers, condensers and others such as automotive AC systems, etc. The refrigerator & freezer segment will dominate the refrigeration oil market attributable to the growing demand for perishable food products due to the changing lifestyle of people in developed and developing regions. and growth in the trade of food products.Request for customization of this report @Top key players:The refrigeration oil market competitive landscape includes key players such as BASF SE, Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, PETRONAS, Chevron, Sinopec Group, FUCHS, Behr Hella Service GmbH, CAMCO Lubricants, Cosmo Oil Lubricants Co., Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Johnson Controls, National Refrigerants, Inc., Total S.A., Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc to name a few. Last year ExxonMobil Corporation has expanded new synthetic and grease production facility in Singapore to strengthen companys flagship in lubricants segment. Singapore is being recognized as emerging market for lubricants.Market share calculation in this report is not done based on companies covered in it. The calculation of refrigeration oil market share is done based on a regional approach and countries covered. On request, additional companies can be covered as well as regional data for particular country / countries can be provided.Regional Segmentations:The Asia-Pacific refrigeration oil market will witness high growth during the forecast period owing to the escalating demand for air conditioner, refrigerator, consumer appliances and automobiles in the markets of APAC, such as India and China. Furthermore, development of supermarkets, shopping complexes pharmaceutical industries coupled with growth in the cold storage, and frozen food sectors are some of the factors that make APAC an appealing market for refrigeration oil producers. Refrigeration oil market demand has been restricted in Europe due to stringent governmental regulations related to environmental concerns.Based on refrigerant type, the global refrigeration oil market has been segmented into hydrocholoroflurocarbon (HCFCs), chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), hydro fluorocarbon (HFCs), ammonia and others such as butane & Iso-butane, propane, etc. HFC, and ammonia is expected to grow at a faster pace as compared to others due to no greenhouse potential.Browse Full Report @About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog:
Medical Microbiology Testing Technologies Market to Expand at a CAGR of 5.4% Between 2016 and 2024.

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The global Medical Microbiology Testing Technologies Market is anticipated to experience an intense level of competition among the major players in the market. The gradual growth of the players for example, Agilent Technologies Inc., Dickinson & Company, Becton, Beckman Coulter Inc. (A Danaher Company), Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Biomerieux SA, and Roche Holding AG., that are indicating an increased competition. The key organizations are concentrating a lot on the innovation of the advanced products, improved product offerings, diversification in the product, and consistent efforts to penetrate the market more to maintain their position around the globe. The market seems to be really fragmented owing to the presence of various vendors, especially niche ones all over the world. Moreover, to get an edge over the competitors, the firms in the global market for medical microbiology testing technology are taking up the product packaging strategy that comprise of over two services or products. The developing nations are expected to provide great opportunities for regional and global vendors.According to a recent report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global medical microbiology testing technologies market is estimated to expand at a steady CAGR of 5.40% within the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. In 2015, the market was valued at worth of US$2.1 bn. This market figure is likely to reach around worth of US$3.4 bn by 2024. This is attributed to the rise in demand for automation in the field of medical microbiology.On the basis of the type of technology utilized in the medical microbiology testing technologies market is categorized into serological tests, microscope, and cell culture. Even though the sector is experiencing rise in use of automated medical microbiology testing technologies by various end users for hospitals, healthcare specimen testing, and diagnostic institutes are likely to emerge into major revenue-making segments. Geography-wise, in the forecast period, the Asia Pacific region for medical microbiology testing technologies will project the biggest market growth at a steady CAGR of 7.3%. Increased conversion rate from conventional testing procedures to new advanced testing technologies is the major factor depicting to surge the market growth in Asia Pacific.Request to View Sample of Report -Rising Prevalence of Chronic Ailments to Fuel market DemandThe global market for medical microbiology testing technologies is estimated to increase at a really high pace in the upcoming years, on account of the increasing in the investments by the government to expand the research and development activities in life sciences and biological and sciences. The market is additionally anticipated to be helped by the increase in cases of chronic ailments, especially in developing economies. One of the essential drivers for this market is the exponential increase in the advanced technologies that make microbiology tests speedier, less expensive, more exact, and builds the utilization of microbiology tests for the detection of different illnesses. Additionally, the emergence of new tests by players in the market is required to drive the microbiology testing market in the entire world. These innovative progressions combined with high buyer acceptance will push the global microbiology testing market within the forecast period.Request to View Brochure of Report -High Expense in Using of Technology to Hinder Market DemandThen again, the increased expenses caused in the utilization of these technologies may restrict their popularity in the forthcoming years, impacting this market, adversely. The complex application strategies will increase the trouble the market, and is foreseen to look in the years to come.View Report -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Baby Monitor Market is Expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% by 2020, Globally

Baby Monitor Market

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Baby Monitor Market Report, published by Allied Market Research, forecasts that the market is expected to grow at CAGR of 8.5% during forecast period of 2015-2020. In 2014, the North America accounted for the largest share of about 62.3%, owing to higher per-capita spending on baby care products and prevalence of nuclear family culture. However, emerging countries in Asia such as China and India, would witness increasing demand for baby monitors during the forecast period, owing to increasing awareness, the rising number of employed parents and growing disposable income.Increase in the number of working parents and nuclear families has led to a higher adoption of baby monitors in homes and day care centers. Growing awareness about baby safety, increasing disposable income and increased online retailing are other factors that have fueled the growth of the market. However, declining birth rate due to sedentary lifestyle and safety concerns associated with these products are amongst major challenges for the players operating in the industry. Irrespective of challenges, the industry is anticipated to offer attractive business opportunities in developed as well as developing regions in near future.Get the PDF brochure:Rise in number of employed parents in the countries such as the United States, Canada, China and others, is the major factor that drives baby monitors market. This increase in number is subjected to increase in number of working mothers. These baby monitors enable employed parents to watch their baby or track babys movements when they are away from home or at workplace. Increase penetration of smartphones and growing usage of internet have enabled parents to watch their baby from a remote location.Declining birth rate is a key challenge faced by manufacturers of baby monitors. Sedentary lifestyle and high stress level are the main causes of low birth rate. Urbanization, smaller household, a higher number of people are entering into education and career, and population control have led to increase in the stress level of consumers. Low fertility is observed especially in the Western European countries, Japan, Canada, Russia, and Poland which limits market growth.Buy from here:Among the two types, Video baby monitors accounted for a larger share of about 86.4% of the overall market in 2014 and is expected to maintain this trend throughout the forecast period, owing to increasing demand for high-end baby monitoring devices with smart monitoring features. This segment is anticipated to witness faster growth in the developed economies, and would account for 88.7% of the overall market by 2020.The prominent companies profiled in this report include Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Dorel Industries, Inc., Angelcare Monitors, Inc., LOREX Technology, Inc., VTech Holdings Ltd., ShenZhen Foscam Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd., Summer Infant, Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Nest Labs, Inc., and Withings, Inc. Presently, the baby monitor market is majorly driven by growth strategies such as product launch and acquisition. Lorex Technology, Inc., Summer Infant Inc., Nest Labs, Inc., and VTech Holdings Ltd. have launched smart baby monitors in recent past to increase their customer base and expand their market penetration.Key Findings of Baby Monitor Market: In 2014, North America was the highest revenue-generating market, owing to higher adoption of niche baby care products Western Europe has emerged to be the second largest market with Germany and U.K. accounting for the prominent share of the overall market by value Video monitors have emerged to be the prominent segment due to increasing demand for high-end baby monitoring devices with smart monitoring features The Asia-Pacific region would witness the fastest growth during 2015-2020, owing to the increasing adoption of high-end baby monitors in developing economies such as China and IndiaAbout UsAllied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:Shriram Dighe5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1?855?550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
Floatless Level Controller Market: Emergence of Advanced Technologies and Global Industry Analysis

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A floatless level controller is a device that controls the level of liquid electrically. They find usage in various application like water and sewer services for office and apartment buildings, industrial applications for iron and steel, food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor industries, and liquid level control for agricultural water, water treatment plants, and wastewater plants.Immersing the electrodes in the liquid completes the circuit letting the current flow. Various conducting liquids can be controlled using a floatless level controller. Detecting the resistance between the electrodes and comparing it to see if it is larger or smaller than a reference resistance is used to detect the surface of the liquid.Floatless Level Controller Market: DynamicsThe floatless level controller market is being driven by factors like need for optimum production process quality, operational excellence and improved productivity. The key driving factor for the market is growing automation industrialization around the globe. Macroeconomic factors like government initiatives and urbanization supplement the market further.Preview Report @Floatless Level Controller Market: SegmentationThe global Floatless Level Controller Market is segmented by product type and application.The global Floatless Level Controller Market is segmented by product type as:General-purpose ControllerFor control of ordinary purified water or sewage waterHigh temperature ControllerFor control of ordinary purified water or sewage water in cases where the ambient temperature is highLong-distance ControllersGet PDF Sample of Report @For control of ordinary purified water in cases where the distance between sewage pumps and water tanks or between receiver tanks and supply tanks is long or where remote control is requiredHigh-sensitivity ControllersFor control of liquids with high specific resistance such as distilled waterLow-sensitivity ControllerFor control of liquids with low specific resistance such as salt water, sewage water, acid chemicals, alkali chemicalsTwo-wire ControllerFor control of ordinary purified water or sewage water used in combination with Two-wire Electrode HolderThe global Floatless Level Controller Market is segmented by application as:Water/Waste water ProcessingOil & Gas IndustryChemical IndustryBoiler Control and etc.Food & BeverageDownload TOC@Floatless Level Controller Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the Global Floatless Level Controller Market is designed for seven regions namely, North-America, Western Europe, Asia Pacific except Japan (APEJ), Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa and Japan. Over the forecast period Asia pacific is expected to contribute about 35% of the total Global Floatless Level Controller Market. The market for Floatless Level Controller is highly fragmented in nature with a lot of tier 2 and tier 3 companies entering constantly.Floatless Level Controller Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in Floatless Level Controller Market are:Gems Sensors and ControlsOmron CorporationSJE-RhombusWIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KGEmerson Electric CompanyEndress+Hauser Inc.zhejiang huanli electric co. ltdMagnetrol InternationalRIKO Float Technology co.,ltd.FineTek Co., Ltd.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Research Blog:
IoT in Education Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2017-2023

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Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected embedded sensors, which help the end users to transfer data from one system to another remotely. Implementation of IoT solutions in the education sector enables institutions to track daily activities such as time & attendance, performance management, and learning management. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, SAP SE, SMART Technologies are some of the key players of IoT in education market.Request Sample@Rise in demand of IoT solutions is expected to fuel the market growth. Further, rise in government expenditure on IoT technologies is also expected to boost the market. However, inadequate IT infrastructure is anticipated to hinder the market growth during forecast period.IoT in education market is segmented on the basis of product, application, and geography. On the basis of product, the market is divided into hardware, software, and services. Based on application, it is classified into learning management systems, lecture capture solution, big data analytics, and academic devices. By geography, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.Purchase Inquiry@Dominating Market Players Profiled in the Report:Hitachi Ltd.IBM CorporationSAP SEEducomp SolutionsCisco Systems Inc.Smart TechnologiesSamsung Electronics Co. LtdPearson PLCPromethean Inc.Tata Interactive SystemsKey Benefits for Stakeholders:This report provides an extensive analysis of the current and emerging market trends and dynamics in the global IoT in education market.In-depth analysis is conducted by constructing market estimations for the key market segments between 2016 and 2023.Extensive analysis of the market is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring the top competitors within the market frameworkComprehensive analysis of all regions are provided that determines the prevailing opportunities in these geographies.Key market players within the IoT in education market are profiled in this report and their strategies are analyzed thoroughly, which helps in understanding competitive outlook of global IoT in education market.This report provides the quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations through 2016-2023, which assists in identifying the prevailing market opportunities.Pre-book@ 10% Discount-About Us:Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:Shriram Dighe5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1-855-550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
Notes from The Oregonian/OregonLive's books desk.

Courtenay Hameister: The former host and head writer of the Portland-based "Live Wire Radio" show has published a memoir, of sorts. "Okay Fine Whatever: The Year I Went From Being Afraid of Everything to Only Being Afraid of Most Things" (Little, Brown and Company, 320 pages, $26) traces Hameister's tremulous steps as she spends 12 months girding her loins and facing her anxieties. Loins, both hers and others', play a pivotal part in this book; apparently the "everything" in the title really means dating and sex, though Hameister does also confront her first joint and venture into a sensory-deprivation tank. Regardless, the book is eminently relatable for anyone who's ever felt vulnerable for more than five minutes, and Hameister writes with just the right amount of self-deprecating humor and dry asides. Hameister reads from the book at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Powell's City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside St., and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Broadway Books, 1714 N.E. Broadway.

Riley Costello at the pre-launch party for her debut novel, "Waiting at Hayden's."

Shopfiction: Lake Oswego native Riley Costello makes her fiction debut with "Waiting at Hayden's," a Portland-set novel about millennial dating and relationships that introduces a format she's branded as shopfiction. Download the digital edition and you'll find links to Costello's blog, Sincerely, Riley, that allow you to watch scenes, listen to music composed for the novel, and shop the characters' outfits, provided by brands that Costello solicited. A longtime writer - she freelanced for The Oregonian as a Lakeridge High School student - Costello said that every time she posted a story online, "everyone just wanted to know what (brands) I was wearing. You know, they're like, 'Where did you get that outfit?' And I was like, 'No, but the story! Read the story!' That is honestly why I started my blog and had the fashion component." The book also addresses something she's noticed as a reader of women's fiction: "I've been feeling like there aren't books that speak to what it's like to fall in love today as a young woman." In the hardcover edition, links to Costello's blog appear after selected chapters. Eventually she hopes to convert other titles to the format and bring in other types of products. "Anytime I mention it to people, they are instantly really excited about it," she said, adding, "It'll just be another way to enrich people's reading experience."

David D. Levine: The Portland author is featured in the anthology "Nebula Awards Showcase 2018" (Pyr, 284 pages, $18), edited by Jane Yolen. The collection salutes the year's top science fiction and fantasy works, including Levine's novel "Arabella of Mars," which won the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. It was also a 2017 Oregon Book Awards finalist. "Arabella of Mars" is the first volume in a trilogy about a young Englishwoman growing up on the Red Planet in the 19th century; Levine just published the final volume, "Arabella the Traitor of Mars" (Tor Books, 336 pages, $26.99).

Ooligan Press: Portland-based Ooligan Press has published Peter Donahue's "Three Sides Water" (412 pages, $17), a collection of three short novels set on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The book is suffused with sense of place, especially in the first novel, "On Rialto Beach," which tells the story of a pivotal summer in the life of a young performer. In "At Fort Worden," a young man headed down the path to criminality finds unexpected community while in custody on the peninsula's northeast tip. "Out of Shelton" follows another young man eager to escape his mill town in the heart of the peninsula so he can at last fulfill his lifelong dream - or is it really someone else's dream? Donahue crafts these coming-of-age stories with a compelling mixture of compassion and violence, idealism and practicality.
A driver crossed a northern California interstate median and crashed into a motorhome last weekend, killing an Oregon City couple, authorities say.

The crash, which also killed the driver who crossed the median, happened early Sunday afternoon in Mount Shasta, a small city at the base of its namesake peak, said California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Hoskins. One of those killed was Kelli Monroe, daughter of Bill Monroe, the longtime outdoors writer for The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Jeff Mueller, 58, was also killed in the crash. Both he and Kelli Monroe, 48, lived in Oregon City. Authorities haven't yet been able to identify the driver of the pickup truck, said Mark Hilsenberg, chief coroner for Siskiyou County.

Hoskins said the motorhome was going north on Interstate 5 when a southbound pickup truck crossed a dirt and gravel median and hit the motorhome. Both vehicles went over the side of an embankment and were engulfed in flames, he said.

The crash is under investigation, Hoskins said Monday.

-- Jim Ryan
Oregon lawmakers voted Monday to hire a Portland law firm to handle the Legislature's response to a complaint alleging top Democrats covered up sexual harassment at the Capitol.

Barran Liebman LLP is not to charge more than $100,000 for the work, said Legislative Counsel Dexter Johnson.

The complaint filed earlier this month by fellow Democrat and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian alleges that House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter Courtney failed to act quickly or effectively enough to stop then-Sen. Jeff Kruse from harassing female senators and student interns working in his office.

Kotek and Courtney have said they reacted appropriately and in a timely manner upon learning of allegations against Kruse, a Republican from Roseburg. The Legislature commissioned an investigation and the report released in February confirmed Kruse groped women, including other senators, student interns and a lobbyist, and created a hostile workplace.

Legislative leaders also asked the Oregon Law Commission to recommend by 2019 improvements to the Legislature's procedures for responding to allegations of misconduct, which may require changes to Oregon's Constitution.

The Legislature had asked the Oregon Department of Justice to represent it, but the agency declined because it typically represents both lawmakers and the Bureau of Labor and Industries overseen by Avakian.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud
Jesse Lee Brockner, who broke into a barn in Yamhill County, held up a bank in Beaverton, fled from police and was shot in the neck by officers last summer, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for his one-day crime spree.

Prosecutor John Brassell sought a stiffer sentence of more than 14 years, citing Brockner's escalating behavior on Aug. 30, 2017, his threat to a bank teller and his decision to speed away from police.

Brockner's defense lawyer Conor Huseby argued for a nine-year term. He described Brockner's actions that day as aberrant behavior and said Brockner was under the influence of heroin and other opioids.

He also cited Brockner's traumatic childhood, when Brockner watched his abusive father repeatedly assault his mother.

In May, Brockner pleaded guilty to bank robbery and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a crime of violence, two felonies.

"It's way out of my character,'' Brockner told the court. "I know more than anyone I have to accept the consequences for it. I accept responsibility.''

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman said he considered Brockner's difficult childhood and that he was impaired by drugs.

The judge said he was struck by the absurdity of Brockner going directly to Macy's to buy furniture immediately after the bank robbery. The set of furniture was the same as one Brockner bought a month earlier for his apartment when he expected to regain custody of a child, according to his lawyer.

"It's one of the weirdest things I've seen a bank robber ever do,'' the judge said.

Yet Mosman also noted Brockner carried a gun, told a teller that he'd shoot her if she didn't turn over money in 10 seconds and fled from police in a residential neighborhood.

Brockner robbed the U.S. Bank at 18485 S.W. Farmington Road in Beaverton about 9:30 a.m. that day. He entered wearing a welding mask and holding a gun in his right hand, according to prosecutors. He demanded money and pointed a 9mm handgun at the teller, prosecutors said.

"Where are the 100s? You have 10 seconds or I'll shoot," he said, according to a court affidavit.

Brockner took more than $3,400 from the bank, the affidavit said.

About two hours later, a Portland police officer with an FBI task force spotted a stolen SUV driven by Brockner near Southeast Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Clinton Street. Authorities believed the blue Chevrolet Blazer had been stolen from a Washington County barn earlier that morning.

Brockner drove off and police chased him, ending in a crash at Northeast 55th Avenue, between East Burnside Street and Couch Street, in Portland.

According to police, Brockner refused police orders to get out of the SUV after the crash and was shot by Portland Officer David Staab. Brockner was taken by ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Hospital for treatment.

According to the prosecutor, Staab approached Brockner with gun drawn and ordered him to show his hands. Brockner refused and Staab shot him in the neck and shoulder after Brockner made furtive movements inside the Blazer, where he had a loaded pistol under the driver's seat.

Investigators determined that earlier the same day, Brockner was with two other men who burglarized a barn in Yamhill County, stealing a Chevy Blazer and filling a rented moving truck with the victim's belongings. Brockner left in the Blazer, while the others left in a U-Haul truck.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
A 60-year-old man who reported a fake bomb on a MAX train last year was sentenced Tuesday to eight months of home detention and three years of probation.

Wilfredo Reyes admitted he left a backpack with wires protruding from it on a Green Line train and then called 911 on June 9, 2017.

More than 40 officers from different agencies, including Portland police and TriMet police, were called to the Hollywood station about 12:15 p.m. to investigate the backpack.

Officers from Portland's Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit examined the backpack with a remote-controlled robot. Police closed parts of Interstate 84 and surrounding streets for at least two hours as they evacuated the train. By 4 p.m., the bomb squad determined the pack wasn't dangerous.

Reyes was interviewed by officers at the scene and initially denied having called in the suspicious pack. Once officers opened the backpack and found his name inside, he was arrested.

"None of this was a 'joke,''' as Reyes initially told police, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Horsley wrote to the judge.

Yet the prosecutor said she recognized Reyes didn't intend to cause such harm, has expressed genuine remorse and wasn't taking medication for his schizophrenia at the time.

The sentence was jointly recommended by the prosecutor and Reyes' defense lawyer Michelle Sweet as part of a plea deal.

Before Reyes faced a federal indictment, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive last year that he called 911 while he was still on the train. He had his name on the backpack. He said the wires were from a spiral calendar in the pack. He also left a pair of old shoes, a newspaper and a shirt inside the bag, he said.

He called 911 for attention and had no idea the problems it would create, he said.

In court, U.S District Judge Anna J. Brown asked Reyes if he understood the scare that he caused unnecessarily.

"Using our emergency personnel to respond to a hoax bomb on public transit is a frightening situation,'' the judge said. "I hope you understand what you did caused legitimate concern and a great waste of resources.''

"Do you?'' Brown asked.

"Yes,'' Reyes responded, speaking through a Spanish interpreter.

In April, he pleaded guilty to one count of conveying a hoax bomb threat.

"I would really like to apologize for what happened,'' Reyes said. He also thanked the court for the opportunity to change his life.

His restitution to TriMet, calculated at $669.68, is expected to be ordered at a later date. The judge said she's awaiting a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clarification on whether the court can order restitution amounts be paid in full, while also setting up a payment plan for offenders who can't pay the full amounts immediately.

The disruption from the fake bomb came two weeks after Jeremy Christian is accused of stabbing three men aboard a Green Line train at the Hollywood station. Two of the men died. They were trying to protect two teenage girls from a racist rant, police and witnesses said.

Officers from the Portland FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force worked with Portland police, Portland Fire and TriMet investigators on the case.

Conveying a hoax bomb threat brings a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian
Loretta Smith, a Multnomah County commissioner running for Portland City Council, on Tuesday accused her challenger, Jo Ann Hardesty, of failing to register her consulting business and called on Hardesty to publicly release company documents.

Hardesty has since 2001 operated Consult Hardesty, according to the "occupational background" section of her city candidate filing. But Consult Hardesty is not listed in the state, city or county business registries. A search of the registries using Hardesty's current and maiden names and addresses show no companies registered with the state and an out-of-date registration with the city of Portland.

Anyone doing business in Oregon, Portland or Multnomah County must register. The definition of "doing business" is broad and encompasses anyone performing services for pay or employing themselves. Businesses may be subject to tax and must file annual reports and, in some cases, tax returns.

Those doing business as a sole proprietor are not required to register with the state unless they use an assumed business name, said Peter Threlkel, head of the corporations division at the Secretary of State's Office. "Consult Hardesty" would be an assumed business name, Threlkel said, and require registration with the state.

Those who do not register or pay taxes owed are subject to financial penalties. Failing to register carries a "minimal" penalty, Threlkel said. The state does not pursue violators, he said.

Hardesty did not return a message seeking comment Tuesday. Her campaign manager, Anna Nguyen, said in an email that the Smith campaign's call for Hardesty documents is "simply a cheap trick and typical, establishment dirty tactics to distract voters and the media from the real issues at hand in this race."

If Consult Hardesty was not in fact operational, Hardesty would not have been required to register it. But that does not appear to be the case. Though the website for Consult Hardesty has been taken down, archival web records show Consult Hardesty once touted a variety of services for political campaigns and activists.

The website had a page titled "We Can Make State Law" that said the firm has "a demonstrable ability" to write legislative bills. Hardesty submitted testimony to the Oregon Legislature in 2015 on Consult Hardesty letterhead, referring to herself as its "principal partner."

Because her firm registration is marked "unable to confirm compliance," it's unclear if Hardesty owes back taxes to the city of Portland or Multnomah County. In addition, whether an individual or business has paid Oregon income taxes is not a public record.

Smith's campaign manager, Elizabeth Mazzara Myers, said Hardesty should release records of her business registration and government contracting, if her firm did any work for a government, to "set the record straight."

Hardesty and Smith are the two general election candidates vying to replace Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who is retiring. Hardesty is the presumed frontrunner after winning 46 percent of the primary election vote compared to Smith's 21 percent.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209
Lissa Meade thought she was thriving in her new job at a financial technology company.

The sales and project manager loved her clients and enjoyed her colleagues, and the software developer she shared an office with was teaching her to code. In her late 20s at the time, Meade felt like she was in the beginning of a great career.

And then one night, Meade said, she and a group of colleagues went out to a trivia night at a bar near their Corvallis office. At the end of the evening, the software developer she worked with told her point-blank, in vulgar terms, he wanted to have sex with her. His pregnant wife wouldn't mind, he insisted, suggesting they do it in their office.

Meade said she turned him down and tried to brush off the incident. But the man wouldn't let it go, she said, and began complaining to their superiors about her. He was later promoted, and Meade said he and his friends in the office ostracized her, stalling her career and turning what had been delightful work into a place she dreaded.

"It killed my soul, having to work with those people every day," Meade recalled. "I don't know how to express the feeling of isolation I had working there."

A survey out Tuesday suggests harassment and stereotyping remain common in Oregon's tech scene despite the state's progressive reputation and years of work to improve workplace conduct. Nearly a fifth of female respondents say they experienced harassment on the job in the past year alone, according to the survey from PDX Women in Tech, a nonprofit that seeks to support women working in the regional tech community.

The survey of 804 people working in Portland tech found most women don't report the harassment they experience. PDX Women in Tech board President Megan Bigelow said one reason is that women aren't confident their employers will respond effectively.

While many tech companies have policies designed to prevent harassment and encourage equal treatment of employees, Bigelow said most aren't doing enough to encourage employees to describe their own experiences and raise awareness of what constitutes harassment.

"There isn't a sense of urgency," Bigelow said. "There's just not a lot of awareness campaigns in the workplace, so when people experience harassment they feel isolated because no one's talking about it."

Survey results

PDX Women in Tech, working with SurveyMonkey and Planet Argon, surveyed 804 tech workers to gauge women's attitudes about the industry. Here are some findings:

Harassment

Salaries by gender

Company culture

Source: PDX Women in Tech, based on surveys of 804 tech workers in the Portland area, of whom 81 percent were female.

Gender issues in the tech industry have made national headlines over the past several years amid accusations of harassment and misconduct against prominent executives and investors. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich quit in June after the company uncovered what it called a "past consensual relationship with an Intel employee" in violation of corporate policy.

Workplace harassment isn't confined to tech, of course. It takes place in all kinds of fields.

Nike parted with 11 executives in the spring, for example, acknowledging "conduct inconsistent with Nike's core values." Four employees sued the company last week alleging pay disparities, harassment and discrimination made the company inhospitable to women.

Tech stands out because it's Oregon most vital and economically important industry and because it remains overwhelmingly male. Fewer than 30 percent of the state's tech workers are women.

Meade and other women say the disparity results, at least in part, from a homogenous, male-dominated culture and from an unwelcoming attitude at many employers. She said she never told her bosses about her colleague's conduct in Corvallis.

Since he propositioned her outside the office, Meade said she didn't believe the company would consider it workplace harassment.

"I never reported anything at all," said Meade, now 36. "I didn't think I had a leg to stand on."

Uncomfortable in the office, Meade asked her employer if she could work remotely from Portland. She quit three years ago to work at a Portland tech company Meade said places greater emphasis on workplace values.

It shouldn't matter whether someone harasses a colleague in the office or the bar - it still affects the workplace, said Brenna Kutch, manager of culture, inclusion and development at Portland State University's Office of Information Technology. She said employers have a responsibility to create a workplace environment encouraging open communication and conversations about sensitive topics.

"Trust is such an important thing, and it's really fragile," Kutch said. "You should be able to report things and have them taken seriously."

Cases of explicit harassment and abuse sometimes overshadow more subtle, insidious behavior that can make a workplace unwelcoming, according to Kutch.

For example, the survey found a third of female respondents had been asked to do organizational tasks like event-planning or note-taking outside the scope of their jobs. Just 6 percent of men reported similar requests.

And Kutch said women, people of color and others in underrepresented groups frequently hear comments or jokes reinforcing stereotypes or biases.

"I think, for the most part, people aren't really doing it on purpose. Maybe I'm too optimistic," Kutch said.

Regardless, Kutch said all employees have a responsibility to listen to their colleagues and be alert to potentially offensive language and behavior. A comment that might strike one person as benign may touch a nerve with someone else.

It's natural to become defensive if someone says you did or said something hurtful. Kutch said people should understand the other person's feelings are real. In general, she said, people aren't looking to dwell on an offensive comment. They just want to be heard, and understood.

"It's not about if it was wrong," Kutch said. "It is about: Are you respectful to that person?"

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit our Facebook page. or submit a letter to the editor.

-- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699
NAMPA, Idaho -- Authorities say a fatal plane crash in eastern Oregon killed two people including a retired Idaho doctor.

The Baker County Sheriff's Office says 77-year-old William J. Watts and 70-year-old Mihoko Matsuda Nelsen were identified as the two passengers killed when a small passenger airplane nosedived into a hay field in Baker City on Saturday.

Dr. Charles Davis with the Saint Alphonsus Medical Group told the Idaho Press in an emailed statement that Nelsen was a neurologist with the group who practiced in Saint Al's facilities in Nampa and Fruitland before retiring about a year ago.

Authorities say Watts was piloting the plane that left from Caldwell.

The cause of the crash is being investigated.

--The Associated Press
Midland County Fair visitors have three chances daily to see creatures not normally encountered here  Australian wonders, brought with conservation in mind.

The Aussie Kingdom, complete with tour guide Carolyn Lantz, features kangaroos, wallabies, kookaburras, a python, an assortment of lizards and even a sugar glider. Shows are at 1:30, 6 and 8 p.m. daily in front of the Gerstacker Building.

Australia has lost more animals to extinction than any other country, Lantz told the Tuesday afternoon audience.

The first animals introduced to the crowd of all ages included a python named Tula and a bearded dragon named Kimba, followed by invitations for anyone who wanted to pet the creatures to step closer. A flood of waist-high children rushed Lantz, who kept a careful eye on all the little hands, and patiently showed the children how to pet the animals without hurting them.

She explained Kimba is an Aboriginal name meaning brush fire, and shared the Aboriginal culture is the oldest on earth, at 40,000 years.

Australia also has its share of beautiful birds, and one of the best known is the laughing kookaburra, Lantz said. She said the bird is actually responsible for the movie noise that we recognize as monkeys in the jungle, and urged the crowd to make noise to get the birds with the show to respond.

Those guys are the largest members of the kingfisher family, she said while the kookaburras chittered.

For an example of an invasive species, Lantz presented a dingo, who calmly walked on a leash. She said among the skills the formerly domesticated animals learned is how to swivel their wrists.

So, they can open doorknobs, she said.

The show features five species of kangaroos and wallabies, all of which were born in captive in the United States.

The red kangaroo grows to be the largest of the bunch, with males topping out at 7 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. The Aussie Kingdom species  featuring a Western gray kangaroo and an Eastern gray kangaroo - are considerably smaller. One wallaby mother, Pippi, is carrying her 4  month old baby in her pouch.

After the show, Kyle James of Midland County talked with the kangaroos and the wallabies.

Youre pretty, youre the pretty one, he told one of the animals. Watch their ears, their ears will turn right back, listening James talk.

We dont see you guys very often, he told the animals before leaving with his wife and son.

James experience with animals comes from running an 80-acre cattle farm, where he said he also talks to the animals.

I just love animals, he said.

Aussie Kingdom was created in 2007. Centrally located in Colorado with Lantz as founder and president, the show gives fairgoers the opportunity to connect with animals on a personal level.

Were more likely to preserve and protect what we know, Lantz said.
Sharon and Gerald Crouterfield have experienced the world of pizzas, having owned a pizzeria in Standish. Now they are going to take that knowledge into a new field, coffee.

They are the new owners of The Coffee Grounds Shoppe, 4951 Eastman Ave., next to McDonald's.

"We've been (in Midland) nine years now. We kind of kept our eye open for something that wasn't as strenuous as a pizzeria," Sharon said of the coffee shoppe, which previously was Grounds for a Better World.

Having taken over on June 1, The Coffee Grounds Shoppe will celebrate with a grand opening Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17-18.

The first 50 customers each day will receive a free mug with more than $10 in coupons. Drawings will take place on Sunday for gift cards and gift baskets. Also, samples of scones will be available.

Besides their ventures into the food industry, both Crouterfields work full time at The Dow Chemical Co.

"A friend I work at Dow with told me that this business was for sale. So, we went and talked to the previous owner. She wanted to sell at the same time I wanted to buy," Sharon said. "I want to keep it a family environment. I want people to come in, sit down and hang out."

The Crouterfields retained the entire staff from Grounds for a Better World.

"They're great. They know all the coffees and everything. One of the staff has been here over 20 years," Sharon said. "The customer loyalty in here amazes me."

Those loyal customers will continue to enjoy the popular "Jamaican me crazy" coffee, a blend of caramel, rum and pecan flavors.

"We sell eight different kinds of coffee beans that we grind for customers," Sharon said. "We're making sure that we have products in the store. I want people to come in and give us a try."

Besides "Jamaican me crazy," other popular coffee beans are: Italian Roast, a European style dark roast; Snickerdoodle; Rain Forest Crunch, a vanilla and caramel blend; and Moose Crossings, a Kahlua and chocolate flavor.

Along with scones, Coffee Grounds offers cookies, oatmeal and bagels and cream cheese. It also has many flavors of Chai products and smoothies.

Customers will also see a few changes.

"We painted the inside purple and gray, and hung photos on the wall," Sharon said. "We'll be getting new tables and chairs."

Hours for the business are: Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

To contact the shop, call 989-839-1024, visit its website at www.thecoffeegroundsshoppe.com or follow the business on Facebook: The Coffee Grounds Shoppe.
In late September, four area dams will see a 4 foot draw-down for inspection. Edenville Township Supervisor Craig Gosen and the Sanford Lake Preservation Association have announced that the Sanford, Edenville, Secord Lake and Smallwood dams will be lowered for inspection of spillway gates and spillway slabs.

"Yes, that is the information that I have received," Gosen stated in an email to the Daily News.

The drawdowns are the requirement of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the four dams.

"These inspections are a consequence of the near-failure of the Oroville, California earth-embankment hydroelectric dam in February 2017," stated SLPA President Adam Beebe on the SLPA website. "Owners of affected dams will inspect the downstream structure of the spillways, looking closely for any part of that structure that needs repairs. This requires exposing parts of spillways that are normally submerged."

The SLPA is stating that the draw down will take six to 10 days, followed by an inspection lasting four to eight days, and then at least five days to refill the lakes.

Drawdowns have been a serious issue since 2010 when Sanford Lake residents were caught offguard of an imminent drawdown by Boyce Hydro.

An Aug. 15, 2010 Daily News article reported, "Residents around Sanford Lake lined up 10 at a time Saturday at Sanford Lake Marina on Water Road to take their boats out of the water ... Residents used the telephone and door-to-door visiting to alert each other to the rumor of a drawdown of Sanford Lake that might strand their boats for the winter if they didn't get them out. The drawdown is necessary so Boyce Hydro, owner of Sanford Dam, can fix leaks in the right embankment of the dike at the dam."

Since that time, the financial stability of Boyce Hydro has been very unstable, resulting in FERC proposing to revoke Boyce's license for the Edenville Dam, which would leave Wixom Lake "without state requirement or governmental structure to maintain lake levels."

The SLPA has initiated the formation of an assessment district and the development of an authority to manage the dams.

"The federal government has lake levels established there, the state does not. When the federal license is removed this goes to the oversight of DNR and DEQ, and there is no lake level established," said SLPA President Dave Kepler in a July 20 Daily News article.

To view the article: https://bit.ly/2Mg5R5d
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette will deliver a keynote address at Northwood University's 12th Annual Bay Harbor Symposium at 10 a.m. Aug. 18 at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club in Bay Harbor.

Schuette is Michigan's 53rd attorney general and a candidate for governor.
For Dan Kennihan, membership to Saginaw Valley State University's National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter means an experience sure to expand the mind and enrich the community.

Kennihan is the latest president of the SVSU student organization with a membership that prides itself on participating in community-minded service projects. The biology major from Mason said the experience is humbling.

"You hand out food to people in need on a Saturday, but then you get to go home to your house, with your warmth or your air conditioning," he said. "For me, it puts it in perspective how easy it is to make a difference."

Kennihan and his fellow members recently were recognized for the difference they make in the the lives of others across the Great Lakes Bay Region.

The SVSU group received the Gold Star Chapter award from the NSCS' national office. The status is a distinction earned by some of the 320 chapters nationwide that best demonstrate excellence in engaging, student-centered community service projects.

SVSU's chapter in recent months participated in initiatives benefiting organizations such as Relay For Life, the Saginaw Children's Zoo and The Jared Box Project.

Hali Motley, the previous chapter president for SVSU's group, said the community engagement provides an enriching experience. She was particularly moved by her work with The Jared Box Project, a nonprofit that provides boxes of toys to children admitted to hospitals.

"Jared Box Project is important to us as a chapter because we -- as college students -- know how important it is to work hard and play even harder," said Motley, a Birch Run native who received a bachelor's degree in international business in May. "We wanted a chance to give back to the kids in our community -- who are stuck in the hospital during the holiday season -- to give them more chances to play while they were working hard on getting better."

Kennihan said his involvement in the SVSU chapter's work continues to provide him with a sense of community with his fellow members.

"We are all working toward the same goal of giving back to the community," Kennihan said.
An MOU has been signed between Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and Sjmatterminalen AS to operate the Seafood Center at Oslo Airport in Norway.

The Seafood Center will handle up to 250,000 tons of seafood annually in a facility designed to meet industry requirements for cool chain logistics and innovation.

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Martin Langaas, director  cargo at Avinor, said, We are confident in WFSs experience in perishable cargo and their commitment to this project. This is a unique opportunity to define the future of cool chain logistics for seafood as air cargo.

The Seafood Center at Oslo Airport will increase the competitiveness of Norwegian Seafood globally and industrialize the handling. With an experienced international handler as WFS, we believe Oslo Airport will increase its competitive advantage as the preferred cargo hub in Northern Europe.

Norway produces half of all the air cargo generated in the Nordic region. In 2017, Oslo Airport was the fastest growing cargo airport in Europe with a 36% growth. Some 185,000 tons were flown in and out of the airport, with 90,000 tons of this being seafood.

In 2018, Norwegian seafood as air cargo is expected to reach some 230,000 tons. As a result, Oslo Airport is now the largest freighter airport in Northern Europe with 14 cargo airlines calling at the airport weekly.

John Batten, executive vice president cargo EMEAA at WFS, commented, As one of the worlds leading cargo handlers globally, we are excited to expand our network into Norway and Oslo Airport. The seafood industry is a unique opportunity for us to share our experience and excellence in air cargo handling.

We look forward to opening a dedicated facility at Oslo Airport that is fully adapted to the future needs of the seafood industry. Our terminal will be a game changer in the handling of seafood as air cargo and be an important part of ensuring the future growth of one of Norways most important industries.

Construction of the terminal is expected to commence in April 2019, with an opening of the terminal in 2021.
It looks like the fearsome GPU inside Nvidias Titan V will never make it to gamers after all. Poor Volta. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed the Quadro RTX 8000, 6000, and 5000 graphics processors at Siggraph 2018 late Monday, powered by an all-new and long-rumored Turing graphics architecture. Friends, Turing looks ferociousand its brimming with portent about Nvidias next-gen GeForce graphics cards.

The Quadro RTX GPUs are overflowing with CUDA cores, AI-boosting tensor cores, and an all-new technology dubbed RT cores designed to make Nvidias new graphics architecture up to 25x more efficient at cutting-edge real-time ray-tracing operations. Turing is Nvidias most important innovation in computer graphics in more than a decade, Huang said. The arrival of real-time ray tracing is the Holy Grail of our industry.

We dont normally cover data center and workstation graphics here at PCWorld, but with Nvidia teasing a GeForce event with spectacular surprises at Gamescom in a mere weeks time, lets examine what the announcement of these Quadro RTX GPUs potentially mean for PC gamers and the consumer GeForce lineup, including the rumored GTX 2080. Or should I say RTX 2080, as a GeForce tweet heavily hints?

1. Turing GPUs get official

For months, rumors have been swirling about potential next-gen GeForce GTX 1180 or 2080 graphics cards, but each leak featured a different name for the would-be GPUs. Volta? Ampere? Turing? What would Nvidias new architecture be called?

Nvidia Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang holds up a Quadro RTX GPU built on the Turing architecture.

The Quadro RTX announcement made Turing GPUs official, and their guts will likely make up the inside of new GeForce cards, too. Theres still the possibility that Nvidia could strip Turing of its AI-boosting tensor cores and call the resulting consumer GPU architecture Ampere, though that doesnt seem likely.

2. GeForce RTX

This is a significant moment in the history of computer graphics, Jon Peddie, the well-respected CEO of analyst firm JPR and a noted graphics expert, said in Nvidias press release. Nvidia is delivering real-time ray tracing five years before we had thought possible.

The Quadro RTX GPUs are the first GPUs to include hardware dedicated to real-time raytracing, a gorgeous visual effect that models how lighting works in the physical universe by sending light rays out from illuminated sources in the 3D scene. Light might be reflected by other objects, or look different after passing through water, or be blocked by another object completely and create a shadow. The objects the rays bounce off even affect the final color you see, just like in real life. (Traditional rasterization rendering converts a games 3D models into pixels on your 2D screen, then applies the color information after.)

Ray-traced scenes can look much more realistic than rasterized visuals, but theyre very computationally expensive. Thats why raytracing is traditionally found in movie CGI, which doesnt need to be rendered on-the-fly, but not games. The dark era appears to be ending though. Microsoft laid the groundwork software-wise with the DirectX Raytracing API in Windows earlier this year, and its likely that Turings RT cores will be coming to at least some GeForce GPUs.

Nvidia already said its next-gen graphics card will include dedicated RTX technology for enhanced raytracing support, and just days before the Quadro announcement, Videocardz unearthed new Nvidia filings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for Turing, Quadro RTX, and GeForce RTX. The same day, YouTuber AdoredTV published a video claiming that Nvidias next high-end GeForce GPUs would be called the RTX 2080 and RTX 2070, ditching the long-standing GTX moniker. (Lesser-powered graphics are still branded with GTX, AdoredTV claims.)

The timing of the two leaks, the weekend ahead of this Siggraph unveiling, seems significant. With Turing and Quadro RTX proving accurate, and real-time ray tracing being pushed so hard by the graphics industry, its very possible that Nvidias more potent GeForce cards could indeed adopt RT cores and the RTX branding, as the GeForce account itself hinted at later in the evening. More on that later.

3. New streaming multiprocessor architecture

Nvidias streaming multiprocessors are the building blocks of its architectures, the design of which dictates how its GPUs are created. The Turing GPUs overhaul Nvidias current model with some new tricks, including features added to the Volta GPUs for AI and data centers.

To quote the companys press release:

Turing-based GPUs feature a new streaming multiprocessor (SM) architecture that adds an integer execution unit executing in parallel with the floating point datapath, and a new unified cache architecture with double the bandwidth of the previous generation. Combined with new graphics technologies such as variable rate shading, the Turing SM achieves unprecedented levels of performance per core.

Nvidia also says Turing works in new graphics technologies such as variable rate shading. Deep-level technical details werent released, but theres no question that the GeForce GTX 2080s Turing GPU will be a step forward from the Pascal architecture in todays GTX 10-series graphics cards.

4. GDDR6 memory

The Quadro RTX cards feature cutting-edge GDDR6 VRAM, an upgrade that memory suppliers have been hinting at for months. Depending on which supplier you ask, GDDR6 should be about 40-percent faster than the GDDR5X VRAM inside GTX 10-series graphics cards, and offer twice the bandwidth of non-X GDDR5 memory. Theres no reason to think that the more powerful cards in Nvidias next-gen GeForce lineup, including the rumored RTX 2080 and RTX 2070, would skip GDDR6 memory.

5. VirtualLink and USB-C

Finally, the Quadro RTX GPUs add native support for VirtualLink, the new USB-C alternate mode that a consortium of PC giants announced last month. VirtualLink standardizes virtual-reality connections around a single USB-C cable that bakes in four high-speed HBR3 DisplayPort lanes, a USB 3.1 data channel for sensors and camera information, and up to 27 watts of power.

VirtualLink

Simulating reality requires incredible visual fidelity and processing power, Jason Paul, Nvidias general manager of gaming and VR, said in a statement when the standard was announced. With a single, high-bandwidth cable, VirtualLink unlocks the full potential of the PC to power amazing VR experiences.

With VirtualLink already making an appearance in the Quadro RTX 8000, 6000, and 5000, I fully expect to see it supported in the GeForce GTX 2080, GeForce RTX 2080, or whatever Nvidias next high-end consumer graphics card will be called. Fingers crossed we hear more definitive information at the GeForce event at Gamescom on August 20. Speaking of which

6. RTX 2080 confirmed?

The same night that Nvidia announced Quadro RTX GPUs, the GeForce Twitter account tweeted this hardware-heavy teaser for the August 20 event in Cologne, Germany. Pay close attention to the order the numbers rise up at the 53-second mark: 2-0-8-0.

Nvidia Screenshot of Nvidia tweet possibly confirming the RTX 2080. (Click to enlarge.)

A glimpsed conversation between gamers at the 45 second mark seems to confirm the GeForce RTX 2080 branding. In it, RoyTeX (RTX) chats with Not_11, who says to gimme 20. Subtle, Nvidia.
If there was smoke before, theres an outright fire now. Shortly after Nvidia revealed its radical Turing GPU and new Quadro RTX hardware at Siggraph Monday night, the GeForce Twitter account posted a teaser video full of cryptic hints that the long-awaited GeForce RTX 2080 will launch during Gamescom next week.

Nvidias Gaming celebration with spectacular surprises takes place in Cologne, Germany on August 20. The hardware-heavy video below hypes it up, but if you pay close attention, youll find all sorts of not-so-subtle clues about what to expect at the event.

First, pay attention to the order the numbers rise up at the end of the video, around the 53-second mark: 2-0-8-0. Rapid-fire cuts of hardware at the beginning and end of the video appear to show the GeForce RTX 2080s cooler and shroud, though its hard to glean many details.

Yes, RTX 2080. In a discussion between gamers at the 44-second mark, RoyTeX (RTX) chats with Not_11, who says to gimme 20. That seemingly confirms that the new GPU will be called the 2080, not 1180, and carry the RTX branding like the new Quadro GPUs. And in case that isnt clear enough, in the shot immediately after, Mac-20 is chatting with Eight Tee. Again: Subtle.

Finally, around the 41-second mark, a user named AlanaTlike Alan Turing, the scientist the Turing GPU is named after, get it?says Aqui: 50.968495,7.014026. Translated, Aqui means Here and plopping the coordinates into Google Maps reveals a location in Cologne, Germany, possibly where Nvidias Gaming celebration will be held.

So there you have it, straight (kind of?) from Nvidia itself. Going by these easter egg-style hints it seems awfully likely that a new GeForce GTX 2080 graphics card built on the new Turing GPU architecture will be the spectacular surprise revealed at Nvidias Gamescom event. Itll be livestreamed at 5:30 p.m. CET/12:30 p.m. Eastern on August 20, though Nvidia hasnt shared a link yet.

Check out our guide to 6 things PC gamers need to know about Turing and Quadro RTX to discover the sort of hardware youre likely to find inside the GeForce RTX 2080.
The following list includes business bankruptcies that were filed in United States Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg) from July 1, 2018 - July 31, 2018.

CHAPTER 7

Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may be used by businesses or individuals. A portion of the debtors assets is liquidated and distributed among creditors by a trustee to satisfy debts. In some cases, action can be brought against a debtor by creditors.

High Country Express Inc., 421 South Grand St., Lewistown. Docket No. 18-2799

Qunique Corporation, 1 Lion Trail, Carroll Valley, Adams County. Docket No. 18-2975.

Lamy America Inc. doing business as Accent.Z and doing business as Lamy Shoes, 630 Morningside Way, Swatara Township. Docket No. 18-3066.

Co-Del Construction Co. Inc., 315 Zion Church Road, Windsor Township, York County. Docket No. 18-3067.

CHAPTER 11

Provides businesses or large investors with protection from creditors while they continue operating and develop a repayment plan. Both creditors and owners must agree on a reorganization plan, which ultimately must be approved by a federal bankruptcy judge.

Hauser Estate Inc. doing business as Hauser Estate Winery, doing business as Jack's Hard Cider, 28 W. Middle St., Gettysburg. Docket No. 18-3201.
Pulitzer prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will be performing a special set at the 2018 Made in America music festival in Philadelphia.

The news was announced on Aug. 13. Lamar is the latest addition to the hip-hop heavy lineup, joining headliners Nicki Minaj and Post Malone, as well as Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill. Also on the line-up are Janelle Monae, Diplo, Zedd, Miguel and Alessia Cara.

Made in America will be held Sept. 1-2 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Tickets are available for both days of the festival and are $175, with VIP tickets available for $750. Tickets can be purchased at madeinamericafest.com.

It's shaping up to be a busy year for Lamar, who won Billboard and Grammy awards for DAMN. and its league single "Humble." He also wrote original songs for the soundtrack of blockbuster hit "Black Panther."

Lamar also won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album DAMN. Lamar is the first artist to win the award who doesn't specialize in jazz or classical music.

He isn't the only new addition to the Made in America lineup since the festival's first reveal. Daniel Caesar, Tekashi 6ix9ine, Pusha T and Lil Skies were added earlier this month.

This is the seventh year for Made in America, which is curated by business and music mogul Jay-Z. The festival raises money for the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, as well as the ACLU.

For more information visit madeinamericafest.com.

Want more stories about Philadelphia? Click here for all our Philly coverage.
Update

MILAN (AP) -- A bridge on a main highway linking Italy with France collapsed Tuesday in the Italian port city of Genoa during a sudden, violent storm, sending vehicles plunging nearly 300 feet into a heap of rubble below.

The head of Italy's civil protection agency Angelo Borrelli has put the number of victims at 20 people dead and 13 injured.

Borrelli told a press conference in Rome on Tuesday that the victims appear to all have been in vehicles that plunged from the bridge. Borrelli said that while there are two warehouses below the collapse it is believed they were closed for the summer holiday and that no one was inside. He said no residences were involved.

Amalia Tedeschi, a firefighter, told RAI state TV that some 20 vehicles, including cars and trucks, had been involved in the collapse of a stretch of bridge some 260 feet long.

She said two people had been pulled alive from vehicles in the rubble. Officials said they were being transported by helicopter to a hospital.

Photos published by ANSA on its website showed a huge gulf between two sections of the bridge. Video captured the sound of a man screaming: "Oh God! Oh, God!" Other images showed a green truck that had stopped just short of the gaping hole in the bridge and the tires of a tractor trailer in the rubble.

ANSA said authorities suspected that a structural weakness had caused the collapse, but there was no immediate explanation by authorities for why they might have thought that or what had happened.

Italy's transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, called the collapse "an enormous tragedy."

The disaster occurred on a highway that connects Italy to France, and northern cities like Milan to the beaches of Liguria. It came on the eve of a major Italian summer holiday on Wednesday called Ferragosto, which means traffic was heavier than usual as Italians traveled to beaches or mountains.

The Morandi Bridge is a main thoroughfare connecting the A10 highway that goes toward France and the A7 highway that continues north toward Milan. Inaugurated in 1967, it is 295 feet high, just over a half-mile long, with the longest section between supports measuring over 650 feet.
The beginning of the end of World War II came on Aug. 15, 1945, (it was Aug. 14 here) when Japan surrendered to the Allies just days after the United States dropped atomic bombs three days apart on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As World War II was entering its sixth year, Nazi Germany had surrendered in May but the Japanese refused to accept the terms of surrender.

The United States called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945. Failure to comply would result in "prompt and utter destruction," according to history.com.

A uranium atomic bomb called "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. The "Fat Man" plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9.

On Aug. 15, Japan surrendered to the Allies - Emperor Hirohito went on national radio and announced Japan's unconditional surrender.

When the surrender was announced, celebrations erupted around the world - and in Harrisburg.

In the evening on Aug. 15, a celebration erupted in Market Square. From The Evening News: "High spot of Harrisburg's hilarious observance of the end of World War II last night was a mammoth parade of service men and women, industrial groups and just happy men, women and children, anxious to give expression to their feelings. Focal point for the city's celebrators was Market Square, which was a seething mass of humanity throughout the night. The top picture shows just a small portion of the throng in front of The Patriot Company Building early in the evening, with smiles lighting every face. Automobiles and buses, stalled by the growing crowd, can be seen in the background. The middle picture shows a group of WAVES from the Mechanicsburg Naval Supply Depot as they marched past the reviewing stand at the foot of the Capitol steps on Third Street. The paraders in the bottom picture carrying signs were part of the group of 1,000 employees of the Harrisburg Steel Corporation. They are shown at Fourth and Market streets."

For some, however, V-J Day is on Sept. 2, 1045, the day that Japan formally signed the surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri.
One priest impregnated a 17-year-old girl.

Another groomed boys for oral sex.

There was fondling and penetration and numerous church leaders covered it up and allowed the priests to continue to serve.

That's what a grand jury report revealed happened in the Diocese of Greensburg in western Pennsylvania.

The grand jury report, released today, names these offenders in Greensburg:

Father Dennis Dellamalva,

Father Greg Flohr,

Father Charles B. Guth,

Father Francis Lesniak,

Father Raymond Lukac,

Father Henry J. Marcinek,

Father Robert Moslener,

Father Fabian G. Oris,

Edmond A. Parrakow,

Father George R. Pierce,

Father Gregory F. Premoshis,

Father Thomas W. Rogers,

Father Leonard Sanesi,

Father Roger A. Sinclair,

Reverend Joseph L. Sredzinski,

Father John T. Sweeney,

Reverend Joseph Anthony Tamikowski,

Father Roger J. Trott,

Father Charles Weber, OSB.

One priest's name was not available, identifying him as "Greensburg Priest #1."

The report states the Diocese came to settlements with some victims, often containing confidentiality agreements. The Diocese regularly failed to independently investigate allegations in order to avoid scandal, according to the report.

The grand jury details allegations against the priests. Among the 20 clergy, it points out three particular cases in the main body of the report.

According to the report:

Father Edmond A. Parrakow:

Parrakow was ordained in 1968 and served in the Archdiocese New York where there were complaints of sexual abuse to children leveled against him.

In 1985, a man said he was abused by Parrakow 15 years prior, prompting the Archdiocese of New York to ask the Greensburg Diocese to take him for the next few months.

When interviewed for counseling at the Foundation House, a facility that provided evaluations and treatment for priests accused of sexual abuse of children or other improper acts, Parrakow admitted to molesting 35 children over the previous 17 years, preferring victims who were 15 or 16, and a doctor concluded that he is a pedophile.

Bishop William G. Connare, who served from 1960 to 1987, still accepted Parrakow into the diocese, where he served at numerous churches until 1989 when a complaint was made against him for inappropriate contact with a seventh-grade boy at the Holy Trinity Catholic School in Mount Pleasant.

This victim's parents became concerned that Parrakow was abusing their son, and the situation escalated when the boy was brought to the emergency room for an illness and Parrakow began to touch the victim on the face, hands and chest, resulting in a violent argument with the boy's father.

Parrakow remained in the diocese for a few years after the incident, and while he did not take part in any priestly activities, he wasn't formally removed from priesthood in 2004.

That victim told investigators last year that Parrakow was "a pervert." Another boy linked with Parrakow said while he was an altar boy at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant, Parrakow told the altar boys not to wear clothing under their cassocks as God "did not want any man-made clothes to be worn next to their skin while they were serving Mass."

He also told investigators Parrakow took altar boys into a private room to conduct physical examinations, touching the children "all over"

Parrakow appeared before the grand jury in December and admitted to molesting children, though he did not recall how many. He also said the diocese placed no restrictions on his ministry and his contact with schools, despite the warnings that came from the Foundation House. The statute of limitations for Parrakow has expired, and Connare, the bishop who accepted him into the diocese, died in 1995.

Parrakow is currently employed at a shopping mall in Westmoreland County.

Raymond Lukac:

Lukac was ordained in the Greensburg Diocese in 1954. The following year, after parishioners complained that he was romantically involved with an 18-year-old organist, he was transferred to the Holy Trinity Church in Ford City to avoid further scandal.

But a year later, the head pastor there found Lukac had become involved with a 17-year-old girl. He married the girl, forging the head pastor's signature on the marriage certificate. A short time after the victim had his child, and he divorced her.

Numerous parishioners continued to complain about Lukac's contact with teens. Despite the head pastor's warnings to Bishop Hugh Lamb, who served from 1952 to 1959, Lukac was permitted to continue to serve the diocese for several more years, and Connare, who served as bishop after Lamb, worked to find a new diocese for him.

Father Robert Moslener:

Allegations against Moslener started near the beginning of his tenure when he admitted to engaging in "inappropriate behavior" with a 15-year-old victim. He was still permitted to return to ministry after the allegations.

Numerous allegations continued to be leveled against him in the coming years. In 1986, several elementary to middle school aged children provided statements to the diocese regarding what Moslener had been teaching in his religion class. The children stated Moslener asked them if they masturbated and described how Mary had to "bite off the cord" and "lick" Jesus after he was born to clean him off.

In a confidential memo, Bishop Connare sent Moslener to a psychologist for evaluation.

The bishop was also notified in 1987 that Moslener was involved with a 16-year-old boy in the North Huntington area and another at the St. Joseph Parish in New Kensington.

Another victim came forward in 2004.

In 2013, the Diocese received an email from another victim stating Moslener sexually abused him and his siblings a decade prior.

Both Connare and Bishop Anthony G. Bosco permitted Moslener to serve for 22 years, despite complaints of child sexual abuse.

Shortly after the release of the grand jury report, the Greensburg Diocese released a list of its own, naming 21 clergy. The grand jury reported included 20. In the statement, the Diocese pointed to these are historic allegations with the most recent dating back to the early 1990s.

See Greensburg's statement here.
The grand jury report released Tuesday names 41 priests in the Diocese of Erie who allegedly committed sexual abuse including fondling of sexual parts and penetration of sexual organs and mouths of both males and females.

That included one priest, Father Chester Gawronski, fondled boys and told them he was giving them a "cancer check," according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. The grand jury found that Gawronski had provided the diocese with a list of 41 "possible" victims. Although he confessed to multiple instances of sexual abuse, Gawronski remained in active ministry, repeatedly reassigned to new parishes, from 1987 until 2002, Shapiro said.

The report said administrators including bishops knew of incidents yet regularly allowed accused priests to continue to minister. It further said the Erie Diocese made financial settlements with victims containing confidentiality agreements forbidding victims from speaking about the abuse, and threatening legal action to take back settlement money if the victim did so.



It also said Diocese of Erie administrators, including the bishops, "often dissuaded victims from reporting abuse to police, pressured law enforcement to terminate or avoid an investigation, or conducted their own deficient, biased investigating without reporting crimes against children to the proper authorities."

Erie Bishop Lawrence Persico was scheduled to discuss the report at a news conference at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
Tales of perversion and horror pepper the report the statewide grand jury released Tuesday regarding accused predator priests in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.

The report lists 45 priests, although three aren't named. That is 27 fewer than the number of priests on a list the diocese released last week.

The grand jury didn't spare the bishops of the diocese, either. It faults former bishops William Keeler, Nicholas Dattilo and current Bishop Ronald Gainer for what it deems ineffective handling of reports against Father Joseph Pease, who it labeled a particularly notorious predator.

Some of the most damning allegations in the grand jury report are as follows:

The first Harrisburg diocese cleric identified in the report is Reverend Francis J. Allen, who was a seminarian. He worked with altar boys in the St. Patrick parish in York from 1974-78. In 1989 the diocese received an allegation that Allen had molested a boy in the 1970s. A second allegation involving another boy was logged in 1994. In that case, the victim reported that Allen had masturbated him.

The Rev. John G. Allen resigned from the ministry in 2002, but not before he spent nearly 30 years molesting children in various parishes, the grand jury found. Diocesan documents reveal the diocese was concerned with (Allen's) sexual behavior as early as January 1970. Between 1970 and 1992 Allen served at Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary in Lebanon, Saint Patrick in Harrisburg, Saint Francis Xavier in Gettysburg, Saint Francis of Assisi in Harrisburg, Saint Ann in Steelton, Saint Pius X in Selinsgrove and Saint Joseph in Lancaster.

In 1992, Lancaster City police arrested Allen for soliciting an undercover police officer. He pleaded guilty to harassment, then went on leave. Yet he returned in 1993 to serve at Saint Theresa in New Cumberland and Saint Margaret Mary in Harrisburg.

After receiving reports in 2002 that Allen had molested a Harrisburg boy 10 to 15 times in the 1990s, the diocese "issued a penal precept suspending Allen's ability to function publicly as a priest," the grand jury noted. In 2003, another man reported being abused by Allen as a juvenile in Selinsgrove. That man claimed Allen had paid boys to sit in a circle and masturbate while Allen watched. He paid the boys $40 or $50 each, the informant said. He said Allen also paid him for enduring sexual abuse.

Finally, in 2016, another man told the diocese that Allen made him play strip poker in 1971 when he was an altar server.

In the early 2000s the Rev. Francis A. Bach was accused of sexually abusing young boys on a boat he owned with another priest and in the Cathedral parish in Harrisburg and at a motel. The grand jury noted that then-Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades wrote an assessment in 2007 stating that Bach was then living in solitude "doing good when he can" and "spending time in prayer and penance, trying to make reparation for the harm he has caused." Rhoades also advised against conducting a church trial of Bach because "I fear it will cause scandal to many."

Reports against Bach kept flowing in. As late as 2016 the diocese received a report from a man who claimed Bach had fondled him when he was an 8-year-old altar boy in the 1960s.

The Rev. James Beeman, once a chaplain for the state prison at Camp Hill, was accused of raping a 7-year-old girl while visiting her in the hospital after she had her tonsils removed. Beeman raped her again when she was 13, the girl reported, and again when she was 19 and pregnant.

Beeman admitted to committing the sexual abuse when confronted in 1991. The grand jury cited diocesan documents citing reports that Beeman had molested three other preteen girls. The first victim was abused starting in 1953. Beeman told diocese officials that he had a "deep love" for that victim, the grand jury noted. He admitted to abusing seven young girls while practicing in Harrisburg.

In 2012, federal agents told the diocese that Rev. Donald Cramer had been on a web chat site stating that he wanted to go to Mexico and "rent" boys. He left the ministry two years later.

The Rev. Herbert Shank was accused in 1994 of molesting seven boys, including five altar boys, and of taking semi-nude pictures of his victims. Hundreds of photos of young boys were found in Shank's rectory room. Later, he was accused of videotaping his abuse of boys.

When a girl reported that Rev. Timothy Sperber made her remove her shirt while he was tutoring her in math at Saint Joan of Arc in Hershey around 1979, the school principal accused her of lying and being a "demon-child," the grand jury reported.

The Rev. Frederick Vaughn was accused of molesting several young girls. In 2004, the mother of a victim reported that she had walked into a room and seen Vaughn fondling her daughter's breasts over the child's clothing. "Vaughn saw the mother and calmly put his coat on and left the home," the grand jury noted. Similar allegations followed. In 2016, a woman claimed she struggled as Vaughn molested her when she was 11. As he wrestled with her, Vaughn said, "I like a fighter," the victim reported.

The Rev. Salvatore Zangari admitted to fathering a child with a former student. He was retired in 2002.
UPDATE: The man was taken into custody at about 7:30 p.m., according to police.

An armed man with "mental health issues" has barricaded himself inside a home in Adams County, according to state police.

The standoff started just after 4 p.m. Monday at a home along the first block of Kimberly Lane in Reading Township, police said.

Troopers were called to the house "for a welfare check on the male who has firearms in the residence," police said.

Further details were not provided.

A State Police Special Emergency Response Team is currently on scene.

Authorities are advising "residents in the area to stay inside their homes or stay clear of the area until the incident has ended," according to a statement from the state police.
The grand jury report on child sexual abuse in six Catholic diocese in Pennsylvania identifies 301 offenders, and said they likely abused thousands of children.

Here are the number of offenders the grand jury found in each of the diocese:

Erie diocese: 41 offenders.

Allentown diocese: 37 offenders

Greensburg diocese: 20 offenders

Harrisburg diocese: 45 offenders. The diocese had previously identified 72 priests and other employees who it says had been accused of abuse at some point. The diocese did not evaluate the credibility of the accusations.

Pittsburgh diocese: 99 offenders who sexually abused children were identified by the grand jury.

Scranton diocese: 59 offenders were identified by the grand jury.

In all diocese, evidence of abuse was hidden or ignored, the grand jury said. 59
Update: 17-year-old impregnated by priest, another priest served two decades despite allegations: grand jury report on Greensburg

With the release of the long-awaited grand jury report into clergy sex abuse in six Catholic diocese across Pennsylvania, the grand jury identified 20 offenders in the Diocese of Greensburg. Of the 20, only one name was not included.

According to the report, a priest impregnated a 17-year-old girl, forged a head pastor's signature on a marriage certificate, then divorced the girl months later. Despite having sex with a minor and fathering a child, and despite being married and divorced, the priest was permitted to stay in ministry thanks to a bishop in another state being willing to take him on, the report states.

Another priest, grooming his middle school students for oral sex, taught them how Mary had to "bite off the cord" and "lick" Jesus clean when he was born. It took 15 years and numerous other reports for this priest to be removed from service, according to the report.

This is the same diocese where just last month, Father John Sweeney, 75, pleaded guilty to charges related to the molestation of a boy. He was the first priest convicted as a result of the investigating grand jury.

And on Thursday, the diocese removed the Rev. James W. Clark from ministry for allegations dating back 50 years and vowed to release the names of others soon.

The diocese had been named in a number of lawsuits alleging clergy sex abuse of children over the years. In a 2005 lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County, a 52-year-old man accused the late Rev. Francis Lesniak of abusing him in the mid-1960s, when the man was a 12- or 13-year-old boy. The lawsuit named the diocese and retired Bishop Anthony Bosco as defendants.

Bishop Edward C. Malesic currently presides over the Diocese of Greensburg. He appointed in 2015 by Pope Francis. Malesic was born in Harrisburg.

The diocese encompasses Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties.

This story was corrected to show that the name not included in the report had not been redacted, but had been excluded by the grand jury.
A grand jury report into clergy sex abuse revealed 90 offenders in the Pittsburgh Diocese, the most of any other Diocese under investigation, and sharply criticized some former bishops for protecting the most abusive priests.

The report detailed a predatory ring of priests who manufactured child pornography, shared intelligence on victims and gave large gold crosses to certain boys to mark them as already being "groomed," for abuse.

The report also identified a former Beaver County District Attorney, Robert Masters, who shut down "all investigations" into abuse of boys in 1964 to avoid "unfavorable publicity" for the church.

Masters testified before the recent grand jury that he sided with the church because he was seeking its support for his political career.

After a victim came forward in 1964 to report sexual abuse, Masters sent a transcript of the interview with that victim to Bishop Vincent Leonard and recommended that church officials talk to him and his mother and later inform "our probation officer of their unwillingness to prosecute."

The victim had accused Father Ernest Paone, who then was allowed to relocate to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and later San Diego, where he taught seventh and eighth grade students for 19 years. But his home Diocese remained in Pittsburgh, where former Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua left Paone to his ministries with little to no oversight, according to the report.

"As Paone continued in ministry, he did so with approval from the Diocese in spite of the Diocese' knowledge that Paone was a child molester," the report said.

In 1989, Bishop Donald Wuerl, who now is assigned as a Cardinal in Washington D.C., sent a letter to the Vatican regarding priests who had been accused of sexual abuse. He wrote that parishioners had a right to know whether priests accused of crimes had been reassigned to their parish and noted that pedophilia is "incurable."

Despite Wuerl's summary and acknowledgment of the seriousness of the problem, however, Diocesan records revealed that Wuerl granted Paone's request to be reassigned again in 1991, to the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas. Wuerl noted that Paone had most recently served on a high school faculty.

Diocesan records from 1994 revealed that church officials had extensive knowledge of Paone's sexual conduct with children as early as 1962 and questions about his "emotional and physical health" as early as the 1950s when he was in seminary.

"Wuerl's continued approval permitted Paone to enjoy all the faculties of the Diocese," the report said. "The Diocese did not recall Paone; nor did it suspend his faculties as a priest."

Wuerl responded to a new complaint that surfaced in 1994 by sending letters to the relevant California and Nevada Dioceses about that complaint, but he did not report the more detailed information contained within Diocesan records, according to the grand jury.

Paone continued to serve in the church until an article by the Boston Globe newspaper in 2002 revealed the Catholic Church's practice of reassigning priests accused of sexual abuse of children.

Allegations against Paone included fondling, oral sex, and anal sex that occurred at a victim's house, a hunting camp and in Paone's car.

A victim referred to as "George" who testified before the grand jury last year, finally revealing what happened to him in the 1970s, told about being befriended by Father George Zirwas and introduced to his "friends" who were priests. A group of them asked George to remove his clothes and the priests took photos that were added to a collection of similar photographs depicting other nude teenage boys.

Each of these priests had a group of favored boys who they would take on trips, George testified. The boys received gifts, specifically gold cross necklaces.

The grand jury observed that these crosses served another purpose: they were a visible designation that these children were victims of sexual abuse and a "signal to other predators that the children had been desnetsitized to sexual abuse and were optimal targets."

The report listed 99 offenders, with nine unidentified priests, and 90 identified but eight redacted names. The eight redacted names are the subject of litigation by the named subjects to hide their identities.

The Diocese was the largest of the six under investigation for this report. It employs 211 priests at 188 parishes. The Diocese includes the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Green, Lawrence and Washington.
Editor's note: This story was updated to correct the number of recommendations.

The grand jury that investigated child sexual abuse in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania made four recommendations for changes to the state's laws.

"We spent 24 months dredging up the most depraved behavior, only to find that the laws protect most of its prepetrators and live its victims with nothing," the grand jury report reads.

The recommendations are:

1. Do away with the statute of limitations.

A recent change in law now permits victims to come forward until age 50.

"We heard from plenty of victims who are now in their 50s, 60s 70s, and even one who was 83 years old," the report says. "We want future victims to know they will always have the force of the criminal law behind them, no matter how long they live. And we want future child predators to know they should always be looking over their shoulder -- no matter how long they live.

2. Create a 'civil window' law

This would allow older victims to sue the diocese for damage inflicted when they were children, the grand jury said. The law now gives child sex abuse victims 12 years to sue once they turn 18. Victims who were already in their 30s when the law was passed got only two years, a period that expired back in the 1990s, the report says.

"Our proposal would open a limited"window" offering them a chance ,finally, to be heard in court," the grand jury report says.

3. Improve the law for mandated reporting of abuse.

The grand jury said church officials, going back decades, insisted they had no duty to report to law enforcement when they learned of child abuse.

"New laws make it harder to take that position; but we want them tighter," the report said. "The law penalizes a 'continuing' failure to report, but only if the abuse of 'the child' is 'active.'"

The grand jury recomends that the law make clear that the duty to report a child abuser continue as long as there's reason to believe he may abuse again.

4. Non-disclosure agreements should not apply in criminal investigations.

The church, the report says, has long been using confidentiality agreements to guarantee the silence of victims.
With Tuesday's release of a grand jury report explicitly detailing allegations of sexual abuse of children by hundreds of Roman Catholic priests, Pennsylvania lawmakers face a generational test of their leadership.

But with the Republican-controlled General Assembly set to meet for just 10 days during an abbreviated election year session this fall, and some serious disagreement in key quarters over what needs to get done (and how that happens), there's a real capacity for something - or everything - to go badly wrong.

Those obstacles include an ongoing argument of the constitutionality of tougher reforms sought by one lawmaker who's a survivor of clerical abuse, and the deep-seated opposition to that reform from the church and Pennsylvania's insurance industry - who'd be jointly responsible for footing the bill for potential big-ticket damage awards.

Let's start with the admonition from the grand jury, which spent two years hearing testimony from scores of witnesses, finally releasing a more than 900-page document that includes stomach-wrenchingly graphic stories of abuse.

"We can't charge most of the culprits," the report reads. "What we can do is tell our fellow citizens what happened, and try to get something done about it."

The report calls for four key reforms to existing state law. They include:

Eliminating the statute of limitations for the sexual abuse of children. Current law now permits victims to come forward until they're 50 years old.

Creating a "civil window" so that older victims can sue for damages in civil court. Current law gives victims 12 years, from age 18, to sue for damages. But victims aged 30 and older fall under a different law, and only get two years. The window would offer an additional two years to those older victims.

Clarifying the penalties for the continuing failure to report child abuse by amending current law requiring someone to report abuse "while the person knows, or has reasonable cause to believe," the abuser is likely to commit additional acts of child abuse.

Specifying that civil confidentiality agreements do not include communications with law enforcement.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro, whose office oversaw the grand jury, called the report and its attendant recommendations "the most comprehensive report on child sexual abuse within the church ever produced in our country."

Shapiro called on church leaders to support the recommendations, saying "that's the test that will determine whether things have really changed or if it will just be business-as-usual when the dust settles."

Now let's talk about what happens next.

Like the shock, horror and rage that erupted in in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal in 2011, the nightmare-inducing allegations included in the grand jury report alone should be enough to spur lawmakers to action.

To their credit, legislative leaders were making all the right noises Tuesday about the report and the need to get a bill onto Gov. Tom Wolf's desk before the lights blink out on this year's legislative session in late November.

"I would say that all four of the recommendations are very much warranted quick consideration by the General Assembly," Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, said late Tuesday afternoon.

Outgoing House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, promised action this fall on a previously approved Senate bill making reforms to the existing statute of limitations law.

"The days of protecting abusers must end. It is time for all of us as policymakers, but more importantly, as humans, to stand up against the betrayals of the most vulnerable among us," Reed said in a statement.

Reed was joined in that sentiment by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, the sponsor of that Senate bill, which includes ending the criminal statute of limitations.

In a statement, Scarnati criticized the House for dragging its feet on the bill, saying his legislation "should have been passed by the House of Representatives over a year ago and sent" to Gov. Tom Wolf for his signature.

But Scarnati's criticisms mask a deeper division between the House and Senate over the best way to move forward on the contentious issue.

That's because senior Senate Republicans aren't onboard with language circulating in the House that they say would unconstitutionally expand the right to sue in civil matters.

Rep. Mark Rozzi, a Berks County Democrat, and a clergy-abuse survivor, has spent months unsuccessfully pushing for approval of a so-called "real deal" amendment that would give adults who were abused as children an additional two years to seek justice in civil actions. That's the same one included on the grand jury's recommendation list, Rozzi confirmed.

"We just want the Legislature to step up and really listen to these recommendations," Rozzi told reporters in an interview after Shapiro's news conference. He added that Pennsylvania's Catholic bishops need to heed Shapiro's call to drop their opposition and get behind the fixes too.

And that's where things get complicated.

Earlier this month, a senior Scarnati aide said Rozzi's proposal violates a constitutional prohibition against retroactively altering expired statutes of limitations.

"We believe there is recent [Pennsylvania] Supreme Court case law that says you can't change them after the fact," Senate GOP Counsel Drew Crompton said. "We think we're on very solid ground constitutionally."

In his statement, Reed alluded to that ongoing debate, saying that "while there are discussions about various amendments to the bill, ultimately, it will be up to the 203 members of the House to decide what will be approved and sent back to the Senate."

Backers of that expanded window have argued that the House and Senate should pass Scarnati's bill, amended to include Rozzi's "look-back" language, and leave any potential constitutional challenge to the courts.

That's a non-starter for Scarnati, who said that his proposal is "a constitutionally sound bill that takes a crucial step forward to help protect victims of child sexual abuse."

Wolf supports Rozzi's language, administration spokesman J.J. Abbott has said.

Interim Redacted Report and Responses by PennLive on Scribd
(Editor's Note: The Conversation asked a panel of three university presidents - from Elon University, Bowdoin College and the University of Washington - these questions: As the nation commemorates the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville tragedy, what is the most important thing you think needs to happen in order to make college campuses places where controversial ideas can be heard? Do you believe free speech should be treated differently on campus than it is in the rest of society? And if so, how? Their answers follow below.)

Not censorship but more speech

Ana Mari Cauce, president of the University of Washington

Ana Mari Cauce, president of the University of Washington. University of Washington

Universities are essential and suitable forums for discussion and debate of controversial topics. Debate helps students develop the skills that strengthen democracy, skills like critical thinking, reasoned argument and the ability to advance those arguments. We should always err in favor of more - not less - speech on campus.

That principle, however, is put to the test when campuses - especially public institutions - are targeted by speakers who seek to generate more heat than light, who have no intention of participating in a substantive debate. In some cases, they can't or don't articulate coherent arguments beyond profanity-laced provocations. Skillful at pushing the limits of free speech right up to the line of incitement, their aim is to attract publicity to their own personas or agendas.

Public universities are legally obligated to allow protected forms of speech, no matter how offensive or insipid. However, as leaders, we also have the right and the duty to publicly denounce repugnant speech and actions, like support for white supremacy.

It can be difficult to accept that even hateful and repugnant speech is protected by the Constitution and that allowing it to occur at public universities, sometimes elevating a speaker's status, is the price we pay for ensuring everyone's freedom of speech.

The remedy is not censorship, but more speech.

As institutions of learning, we are our own best solution for presenting and discussing ideas in substantive and respectful ways. Despite breathless headlines, campuses remain places where controversial topics are routinely debated.

Nonetheless, education leaders and lawmakers need a push to increase civic education, similar to the push to increase STEM education. A college degree should ensure that anyone, regardless of major, has grappled with some of the difficult questions facing modern democracies and has some historical understanding of free expression in the United States. Giving students the tools to understand their rights will help protect those rights.

University leaders also require better ways of deciding who should bear the true costs when public university campuses become places where society at large, not just our university community, engages in debate.

In the past, student associations could rarely afford the fees and travel expenses of speakers with national reputations or notoriety. But, between crowd-sourcing and financial backing from outside political groups, not to mention media-savvy speakers who know the value of publicity, even small student groups now host speakers who attract widespread attention and often protests, leading to substantial security costs.

I would argue that these are costs that a democratic society should be willing to pay. The question for individual campuses is: how best to divvy up those costs so that free speech can continue to flourish while not imposing too much of a financial or other burden on the university and its students?

Charlottesville 2017: nothing to do with free speech

Clayton Rose, president of Bowdoin College

Clayton Rose, president of Bowdoin College. Bowdoin College

Charlottesville 2017 had nothing to do with a free speech "balancing act." What was on display there was the voice and the face of white nationalist Nazis and their fellow travelers.

The ideologies of these people are despicable and have been used to rationalize some of the most heinous regimes the world has seen. White supremacists have the right to express their views, and in doing so the demonstrators starkly revealed their racism and anti-Semitism, which have no place in civilized society. We must continue to be vigilant about calling these people out. As Justice Brandeis observed, "sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants."

The events of last summer have nothing to do with the opportunities and challenges of free speech on campus. There are critical issues that divide us as a society and that must be openly discussed on campuses across the country -- issues like economic, political and social opportunity, immigration, the environment and privacy. Our students need to develop the skills and sensibility for thoughtful and respectful discourse on these divisive topics -- something that has all but disappeared in our cable news society.

The twisted ideologies on view in Charlottesville last year play no part in the essential effort to ensure that this country's great colleges and universities remain places to learn these skills -- where students can test deeply held beliefs, examine ideas that might profoundly unsettle and may even offend, and where they can challenge each other and campus guests in ways that sharpen or change their thinking by engaging facts, data, analysis and reason.

The most important thing we can do as educators is to remain respectfully and persistently skeptical and to underscore that higher education and intellectual experience are more about the questions than the answers.

It is only through this engagement that our students, and ultimately the rest of us in American society, can best understand the issues and challenges embedded in the hardest, fiercest problems we face today. This is how we develop in our students the knowledge, intellectual skills, and emotional fortitude to confront the most challenging questions of our time to make our society and our world better.

How to get beyond shouting at each other

Connie Ledoux Book, president of Elon University

Connie Ledoux Book, president of Elon University. Elon University

Freedom of expression is fundamental to learning on our campuses and at the heart of a university's existence. Protecting a student's right to speak and another student's right to disagree is an imperative. Every day, thousands of diverse ideas erupt in our classrooms and residence halls.

Surprisingly, however, formal instruction on how to exchange, consider and debate different perspectives is missing at many universities, according to a National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement.

Learning to ride a bicycle is not intuitive. Nor is knowing how to conduct a civil dialogue. While a broadly educated student can become familiar with the ideas and theories driving differences in points of view, the practice of exchanging those ideas with each other is a set of skills that can and should be taught.

Civic skills matter for democracy. As a recent study by Tufts University's Institute for Democracy and Higher Education showed, five college campuses where students turn out to vote at rates greater than historically predicted also had intentionally integrated civic engagement practices within the curriculum and running parallel to it. In other words, these campuses have infused civic engagement into the college experience as a way to prepare students for effective citizenship.

Four key teaching practices were identified on these campuses as promoting successful civic participation:

Faculty sought training to help them manage "hot" discussions with their students in the classroom.

Faculty built trust among students by building together well-defined standards for behaviors during class discussions, including encouraging dissent and managing conflict, and then enforcing those standards.

Diversity of backgrounds and ideologies among students was used as an asset in teaching

Professors often played "devil's advocate" by introducing dissenting and diverse views when key perspectives were absent in discussions.

The Conversation

If we are doing it right in higher education, students in their own self-discovery will become passionate, zealous and fierce about sharing ideas in hopes of making a difference in the world. Let's make sure we have also taught them how to disagree: if Americans are only capable of shouting at each other, those of us in higher education will shoulder a part of the blame.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Applications began being accepted on Monday from the state's poorest citizens for a cash assistance program being reinstated next month after a six-year hiatus despite some lawmakers' concerns about where the money will come from to pay for it.

The general assistance program provides about $205 a month to eligible recipients who are unable to earn an income for a limited number of reasons and in many cases, for a limited period of time.

The reinstatement of this safety net program that ended six years ago stems from a state Supreme Court ruling last month. The court struck down a state law, dubbed Act 80 of 2012, that ended the program, saying the House and Senate violated a constitutional provision that requires all legislation to be considered in each chamber on three separate days before it is put to a vote.

Because the number of people who will potentially be eligible to receive cash assistance is still being determined, it's unclear how much this reinstated program will cost taxpayers, said state Department of Human Services spokesman Colin Day.

At the time the program ceased, the state was spending about $150 million annually to provide the cash assistance to about 68,000 individuals, most of them childless adults with a temporary or permanent disability waiting for the Social Security Administration to rule on their application for disability benefits.

However, no money was earmarked for this type of cash assistance in the state's 2018-19 budget since the budget was enacted prior to the court's decision.

The $25.5 million that was included in the budget for cash grants is the federally required maintenance-of-effort amount the state provides for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), according to House GOP officials.

Regardless, the Wolf Administration has taken the position that the state will have to fund it.

"This is a mandated program following the court's unanimous invalidation of Act 80, we will have to make payments and if the cost exceeds appropriated levels, a supplemental budget request will be necessary," Day said.

He said once the general assistance payments begin to be made in September, they will come out of the $25.5 million earmarked for cash grants. Once that money is exhausted, the governor's next year budget will need to be adjusted, as often happens, to cover the unanticipated costs for this and other mandated programs incurred this fiscal year.

A House Republican leader sent a memo on Friday to his GOP colleagues expressing concern about the lack of notice given or information provided by Gov. Tom Wolf's Budget Secretary Randy Albright about the re-launching of this program.

"We do not know how he intends to pay for this program," wrote House Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York County. "While our caucus lawyers will review the legal ability of the governor to restart this program (with or without funding), the Appropriations Committee will be focused on the impact this decision will have on our budget. We need to know what the cost will be and how the governor intends to pay for this welfare program. "

Saylor indicated he plans to hold a hearing on what he called the "administration's decision" to restart this program unless he gets answers to his questions. He pointed out that Wolf never proposed bringing back the cash grants in any of his budget proposals over the last four years.

Wolf spokesman J.J. Abbott responded, "The court, not the governor, reinstated the program after unanimously finding that the General Assembly violated the constitution when they passed the bill ending the program in 2012. The executive branch cannot ignore an order from the Supreme Court."

A message left for Saylor was not returned by late Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Diana Polson, a policy analyst for the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, said she expects this reinstated general assistance program to be an iteration of the previous version and is happy it is back.

"This is a critical program that helps some of Pennsylvania's most vulnerable: people with disabilities; children who are not living with a relative; people caring for an unrelated child or for someone who is ill or disabled; victims of domestic violence; or those who are in a drug or alcohol treatment program that prevents them from working," she said.

A statement on the department's website indicates the department is working to update its internal systems and train staff to determine eligibility and process applications for general assistance cash benefits.

It goes on to indicate that applications for all forms of cash assistance - general and medically needy - will be accepted online through COMPASS or on paper at a county assistance office.

Along with disabled individuals, the program, as it was previously structured, offered cash assistance to individuals who were unable to work because they were in a drug or alcohol treatment program, victims of domestic violence, children under age 18 years being cared for by an unrelated adult, as well as adults caring for a someone who is sick or disabled adult or an unrelated child.

Polson said most cash assistance is limited to how long it will be provided. She offered as examples, victims of domestic violence and those in drug or alcohol treatment program were limited to nine months over the course of their lifetime.

"When we help these folks make ends meet, it's good for the entire community," she said.

Information will be posted in the county assistance offices, according to the department's website. If Pennsylvanians have questions in the meantime, they can contact their county assistance office or call the DHS Helpline toll-free at 1-800-692-7462.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The House of Representatives has passed a bill lifting limits to rice imports and replacing it with a general tariff.

Two hundred lawmakers passed House Bill 7735, or the proposed Revised Agricultural Tariffication Act, on third and final reading Tuesday. Only seven voted against, while two abstained.

President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned the bill as a priority during his State of the Nation Address.

The high price of rice is one of the reasons for the recent uptick in prices, according to economic managers.

READ: Prices of goods hit new five-year high in July

Currently, private rice traders can ship 805,200 tons of rice annually without tariffs.

The bill aims to do away with this restriction, and instead, impose a general tariff on all rice imports, which will allow more entry of the staple to reduce market prices.

It also assigns the National Food Authority as the sole body that can facilitate direct imports of rice to attain food security.

The President, when necessary, may adjust tariff rates, regulate exports, impose temporary regulations or restrictions, and enter into trade negotiations when it comes to rice.

The Senate counterpart bill is pending at the committee level. Once the Senate version is passed, the two chambers will convene a bicameral conference committee to reconcile their versions for ratification by Congress, and signing into law by the President.
Special teams key to help Boyne City hold on for playoff win over Grayling

GRAYLING  A lot of the focus heading into Fridays Division 6 district matchup between Boyne City and Grayling was on the big-play athletes on both sides of the ball.
Dani Arnold climbs the Cassin route up Grandes Jorasses in 2 hours and 4 minutes

13.08.2018 by by Planetmountain

On 27 July 2018 Swiss alpinist Dani Arnold climbed the Cassin route up Grandes Jorasses in the Mont Blanc massif in just 2 hours and 4 minutes.

News has just come in about the record-breaking speed ascent of the Cassin route up Grandes Jorasses, carried out on 27 July 2018 by Dani Arnold who climbed the 1200 meters away in just 2 hours and 4 minutes. The 34 year old Swiss mountaineer, who in the past has blazed his way up the North Faces of the Eiger and the Matterhorn, repeated the historic route first ascended from 4 to 6 August 1938 by Riccardo Cassin, Luigi 'Gino' Esposito and Ugo Tizzoni along the Walker Spur Walker, after having climbed it three times previously in preparation for his speed ascent.



Published below is the full the text Arnold posted on his website. It goes without saying that ascents of this sort, practically without gear and without the slightest margin of error, require an acute awareness of the risks involved and are reserved for a select few.









GRANDES JORASSES in 2:04 by Dani Arnold



Ive achieved my very big dream of making fast solo ascents up the three big north faces in the Alps. The goal was lingering in my mind for years. Every mountaineer is fascinated by the three big faces and knows the "last great problems of the Alps".

Everything started with the North Face of the Eiger and the circle now closes with the completion of the Grandes Jorasses project.

To be honest the preparation, training and mental challenge were not too big for the Eiger and Matterhorn. Sure, they werent easy, but somehow I just did them.

Things were a bit different with the Grandes Jorasses. Certainly also because the starting point is Chamonix in France, and therefore a bit further away. It's harder to gauge what conditions are like. Furthermore, best conditions only present themselves in the height of summer. In some years the mountain never comes into good condition. I got really close to trying the face last year, but something didnt feel right and in the end I never went. This explains why my desire was even greater to try it this summer. I also have to say that I needed that time: over the years my technique and tactics have improved significantly.

The fact that it worked out now makes me feel deeply satisfied and happy, of course. And in particular the fact that things turned out exactly as Id imagined and wished them to be, makes me particularly proud. That means: everything is reduced to a minimum. While for the Eiger I carried a 50-meter rope, on the Matterhorn it was only about five meters long. And now? I took with me no rope, no harness and not a single carabiner on this 1200 m high face!

Of course, this is associated with huge dangers, I dont want to downplay this and I was 100 percent aware of this predicament. I trained seriously and with utmost caution for the ascent. Only like this was it possible to set this new record. The record is of course very important now. For me though its secondary. I enjoyed climbing the route and not for a second did I ever feel unsafe. Days like there occur very rarely, Im aware of this. That's why Im so happy for having pulled off this project. Its always worth fighting for your dreams, never giving up and always stay focused.

I would like to thank everyone who supported me.

Good times in the mountains and best regards to everyone

Dani



Link: www.daniarnold.ch, Mammut, Petzl, La Sportiva, Victorinox
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According to a stunning new report, Jared Kushner is in the pocket of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and, when the two met in Saudi Arabia last October, the Trump son-in-law shared sensitive U.S. intelligence with him.

Citing multiple sources, The Intercept reports that Kushner had discussed the names of Saudis disloyal to the crown prince.

More from the report:

In late October, Jared Kushner made an unannounced trip to Riyadh, catching some intelligence officials off guard. The two princes are said to have stayed up until nearly 4 a.m. several nights, swapping stories and planning strategy, the Washington Posts David Ignatius reported at the time. What exactly Kushner and the Saudi royal talked about in Riyadh may be known only to them, but after the meeting, Crown Prince Mohammed told confidants that Kushner had discussed the names of Saudis disloyal to the crown prince, according to three sources who have been in contact with members of the Saudi and Emirati royal families since the crackdown. Kushner, through his attorneys spokesperson, denies having done so.

MSNBCs Chris Hayes was stunned when learning that Kushner might have shared highly sensitive material with the Saudi royal prince:

Saudi Prince Claims Jared Kushner Is In His Pocket And Shared Sensitive U.S. Intel With Him #Kushner #Inners pic.twitter.com/bpS8QrjBhh  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) March 22, 2018

The exchange between Hayes and Ryan Grim, one of the reporters who broke the story on Wednesday:

HAYES: The Saudi crown prince boasting that the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner is in his pocket. Ryan, what is your reporting saying about the relationship between Jared Kushner and the current crown prince in Saudi Arabia? GRIM: It depends on where you want to start this story. You could pinpoint it in late October when Jared Kushner took an unannounced trip to Riyadh and sat down with the crown prince. And the two princes stayed up late at night a couple nights in a row talking strategy, talking politics. Over the weeks before that, weve learned that Jared Kushner had access to highly sensitive intelligence that detailed the names of some political dissidents within the Saudi royal family who were skeptical of the rise of the crown prince. We dont know exactly what happened in the room between Jared Kushner and Mohammed bin Salman. But we do know that after bin Salman came out, he started boasting to people Kushner was in his pocket and Kushner had given him the names of people that were disloyal to him. HAYES: Wait a second, wait a second. Youre reporting, based on sources that heard this from bin Salman, that he has been boasting the presidents son-in-law gave him U.S. intelligence about who his own internal enemies are? GRIM: Mohammed bin Salman might be making it up. We dont know. HAYES: But what youre reporting is that he has been telling people that. GRIM: And we also have independent reporting that shows that Kushner would have had access to the precise type of intelligence that bin Salman is saying that he gave to him.

Why does Kushner still have a job in the White House?

The more information we learn about Jared Kushners activities as a government official, the more its apparent that he doesnt deserve the access that Donald Trump has given him to highly sensitive U.S. intelligence. Its why, last month, Kushner lost his top security clearance.

In other areas, the Trump son-in-law has used his role in the White House to benefit his own businesses. As I wrote earlier this month, citing a revealing New York Times report, Kushners family business was loaned over $500 million from companies after they met with him in the White House.

From the start, Kushner has always been unqualified to clean the floors of the Oval Office much less be shaping policy at home and abroad. Not only shouldnt he have access to the sensitive information he reportedly gave to the Saudis, but he shouldnt even be allowed in the doors of the White House.
A tape that has Donald Trump repeatedly using the N-word will most likely drop before November, Omarosa Manigault Newman said on Monday.

In an interview with MSNBCs Chris Matthews, the former White House aide said she has heard the tape and believes it will be used for an October surprise.

I believe that theyre using it for politically motivated things, Manigault Newman said.

Video:

The exchange between Matthews and Omarosa:

MATTHEWS: The person who has the tape, a copy of it, is planning to use it at some point? OMAROSA: Yes. In fact, I believe that theyre using it for politically motivated things. MATTHEWS: Before November? OMAROSA: Before November. Another October surprise. MATTHEWS: Are they Democrats? OMAROSA: I dont know what their political affiliation is.  They used to be a part of the production staff for The Apprentice. And they saw it  took it on themselves to actually document this so that they could actually expose him for the racist that he is. MATTHEWS: They have a copy you said of the tape? OMAROSA: They do, of the audio. MATTHEWS: When you listen to the parts you heard, how many times did you hear Mr. Trump, your former boss, how many times did you hear him use the N word? OMAROSA: Multiple times. MATTHEWS: Five or ten? It was three minutes. OMAROSA: Multiple times.

Would it even matter if the tape was released?

While the release of a tape containing the President of the United States spewing racial slurs would be a huge development, its unclear what it would do to change the political environment in America.

On two fronts, such a recording might be meaningless.

First, it would only confirm what most Americans already knew about Trump: Hes a flat-out racist. He has repeatedly demonstrated that, whether in his business or political career. The voters who understand this fact wouldnt be surprised to see it confirmed on tape.

Second, for those who still support the president, they are likely to be unfazed by Trump spewing bigotry. Many would probably share his racism and privately applaud it. Keep in mind, these are the same people who were unmoved when the Access Hollywood tape surfaced, and they had no problem with Trump saying that there were some very fine people participating in a white supremacist march in Charlottesville.

What the potential release of such a bombshell tape could do is further energize a Democratic base that is already eager to drown the capital in a blue wave this fall.

Its why Donald Trump and his team are working overtime to prevent the release of more tapes.
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Trump appears to have finally admitted what journalists have been investigating since the beginning of his administration. Donald Trump made government employees sign non-disclosure agreements before joining his administration.

Trump tweeted:

Wacky Omarosa already has a fully signed Non-Disclosure Agreement!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018

The New York Times pointed to the conflict that the Trump NDAs create, But it is highly unusual for White House officials to be asked to sign such agreements for matters beyond classified information. As stewards of the taxpayers, federal employees typically are not asked to muzzle themselves to protect reputations or insulate others from embarrassment, as is typical in confidentiality agreements that bind private citizens. They are obliged to respond to disclosure requests from members of Congress and federal agencies, among others. And they enjoy strong whistle-blower protections to safeguard their ability to speak out if they witness wrongdoing within the government.

Government employees are not employees of Donald Trump. Individuals may serve at the presidents pleasure, but the President Of The United States is not their employer. Government employees cant be silenced through a non-disclosure agreement, and most legal experts believe that Trumps NDAs are unenforceable.

The agreements themselves point to a much larger problem. Trump doesnt view himself and his administration as public servants. To him, the presidency is a Trump venture. He is in charge. He doesnt work for the American people. The American people work for him. The NDAs are the Trump mentality in written form. Trump has placed himself above the country, and voters must deliver a reminder of who is really in charge this November.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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Donald Trump further demonstrated his lack of shame on Monday by never once mentioning Sen. John McCain at a signing ceremony for a bill named after the Arizona Republican.

When the president signed the National Defense Authorization Act, named after McCain, he didnt offer his gratitude or even mention the Republican senator by name.

More from CNN:

We would not be here for todays signing ceremony without the dedicated efforts without the dedicated members of Congress who worked so hard to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, said Trump while thanking service members and military leadership. However, he did mention Rep. Elise Stefanik, who spoke briefly and represents the district containing Fort Drum, as well as Don Baker, Dan Donovan, Joe Wilson, and Martha McSally.

Trump has no problem attacking the ailing Senator

While Trump seemingly went out of his way to avoid mentioning McCain at the bill signing in Fort Drum, New York, he has had no trouble attacking him in the past  even if its indirectly.

As CNN also pointed out on Monday, Trump has taken veiled shots at the war hero on the campaign trail in recent weeks, often zeroing in on McCains no vote on a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

During the campaign, Trump infamously attacked McCains heroic service in Vietnam by saying he is not a war hero, citing his capture. It should be noted that Trump was not captured in Vietnam  because he dodged the draft five times.

Ultimately, its no surprise to see this president snub somebody in such a shameless way. Its textbook Donald Trump.

At the end of the day, if you dont love and worship Donald Trump the way he loves and worships himself  even if youre a war hero fighting brain cancer  then he cannot help but throw a tantrum.
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Thanks to an email sent by Paul Manfort to Jared Kushner the presidents son-in-law is now part of the official record of Manaforts criminal trial.

After Donald Trump won the presidential election in November of 2016 former campaign manager Manafort sent Kushner an email in which he gave his advice for who should be appointed to senior positions within the new administration.

Manafort emailed Kushner with recommendations for senior administration posts

Manafort emailed Kushner with recommendations for senior administration postshttps://t.co/LX1xUMMeaY pic.twitter.com/a9Riiftd3V  Top News Today (@topnewstodayx) August 14, 2018

The fact that presidential son-in-law Jared Kushners name is now part of the evidence in Manaforts trial is interesting but does directly implicate him in any crimes or other wrongdoing.

The list of recommendations sent to Kushner by Manafort included the controversial suggestion that Federal Savings Bank chair Stephen Calk be appointed as secretary of the Army. This was done in an email dated November 30, 2016 according to information provided by the U.S. Justice Department.

At the same time that Manafort was putting forth Calks name for the high level and very high profile Army Secretary position, Manafort was receiving from Calk some extremely valuable quid pro quo to complete his part of the illicit transaction.

At the time the email to Kishner was sent Manafort had already received the first installment of a $16 million loan from Calks bank under sweetheart terms that would be available to noone else. There is no indication that Manafort provided sufficient collateral for the loan or actually met any of the legal banking requirements for such a large loan.

Even though he was forced to resign in disgrace from his position in the Trump campaign his trial has shown that Manafort still had great influence in the Trump transition and even found ways to benefit monetarily from selling this influence.

In the Kushner email Manafort recommended two other people to receive appointed positions within the new Trump administration. In the email Manafort wrote to Kushner, The 3 individuals are people who I believe advance DT agenda. They will be totally reliable and responsive to the Trump White House.

Kushners response to Manaforts suggestions shows that he still had a lot of respect from high levels of Trumps team. There was no delay on the part of Kushner and as soon as he got Manaforts email he immediately responded, saying On it!

Kushner and Manafort, as senior Trump advisers, were both part of the infamous Trump Tower meeting with Russian agents which took place in June of 2016 and had worked together closely on the Trump campaign.

There was no evidence entered into the trial record that Kushner was aware of any financial connection between Manafort and Calk, but it is not clear why Kushner was so eager to listen to Manaforts recommendations.

Trial evidence did show Manafort receiving a $9.5 million loan from Calks bank in November 2016 after the election, and an additional $6.5 million loan in January 2017, after Trumps inauguration.

Calk was named to an economic adviser position during the campaign, but there was no evidence given by prosecutors to show whether Trump considered following through on Manaforts suggestions.

Before Manafort sent the email to Kushner he had had talked to Calk about other possible administration positions. In a separate email also released Monday by prosecutors, Calk forwarded to Manafort his bio and a list of 29 different administration positions he would consider in exchange for making the large unsecured loans.

Calk included in his list of acceptable administration posts the top jobs at Treasury, Defense, Commerce and Housing and Urban Development. He also listed 19 potential ambassadorships, including the United Kingdom, France, Holy See and China.

Manafort also emailed Kushner the name of Vernon Parker to be deputy attorney general. Parker is an Arizona Republican and former official in the Bush administrations.

Manafort has pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of tax and banking crimes in the first major trial of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. 2016 election.
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Kellyanne Conway refused to condemn Trump calling the only African-American woman worked in his administration a dog.

Video:

Conway was asked by reporters if it was appropriate for the president to call a woman a dog?

She answered, It is inappropriate for someone to say theyve never heard the president use certain words and never tell us they have concern about it, then say it later on. I didnt  

Kellyanne Conway admitted that she briefed Trump about the rumors of an N-word tape, but she later claimed that Trump has never said anything like that in the two years that she has worked with him, Ive worked alongside Donald Trump for two straight years and never heard him say anything like that.

That was a nice dodge from Kellyanne Conway, but the question wasnt did she ever hear Trump use the N-word. The question was about Trump calling an African-American woman a dog. It is not Omarosas fault that Trump used the N-word, and in a tape that she released today, it is clear that the campaign knew that Trump used racist language.

As if his attacks on prominent African-Americans ranging from Obama and Oprah to Lebron James and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) werent a big enough tip-off, there is likely a tape out there of Trump using a word that will not only doom his political future, but also doom any Republican who stands by him in the midterm election.

Kellyanne Conway is going to defend every single thing that Trump says, even when his words would be more appropriate coming from someone in a white hood instead of the White House.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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This is not good news for the Republican Party as they head into a midterm where they have already spent millions to defend seats in red districts that Trump carried in 2016 in special elections.

American voters do not like President Trump by a stunning 2-1 margin, according to a new Quinnipiac University National Poll released today.

Only 31% of American voters like President Trump as a person, while 59% dislike him. Voters also dont approve of the job Trump is doing, by 54  41% and 48% disapprove strongly. Another 30 percent approve strongly.

The only people who like Trump are Republicans, who like him by a 66-24 % margin.

54-43% dont like Trumps policies.

Think about that: 54% do not like Trumps policies, like their tax cuts where 83% of the benefit went to the top 1% or his policy of jailing babies to try to manipulate Democrats into paying for his unnecessary and, quite frankly ignorant, wall idea.

Even more people than those who do not like those policies dislike the man himself.

The poll also shows that the public doesnt think Trump treats people of color with the same amount of respect he affords white people, by 54  39%. This poll came out on the same day as a tape dropped suggesting that Omarosa was telling the truth about Trump using the n-word, as the tape covers the fact that Trump campaign advisers knew about the tape existing of him using the n-word, and worried about damage control.

Voters say 54  37% that President Trump has emboldened people who hold racist beliefs to express those beliefs publicly.

Americans do not like Donald Trump. No one but the hardcore Republican base likes President Trump, and this is not good news for Republicans who have been defending and enabling him no matter what he does or says.

The public does not want a racist president: A divider.

Without the help of the Russians, Donald Trump and many of these down-ballot Republicans would likely not be in office today. Ironically, even Republicans agree that its not acceptable for a campaign to do what Donald Trumps campaign did. It is never acceptable for a presidential campaign to obtain information on a political opponent from a hostile foreign power, voters say 79  12 percent, including 69  19 percent among Republicans.

Only one in three Americans likes President Donald Trump, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in analysis of the poll.
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The Wonderland of Trump World just gets curiouser and curiouser.

The President of the United States spent 13 hours yesterday tweeting about a former contestant on The Apprentice who, for some unknown reason, he later hired as a White House adviser, and now has written a tell all book.

The Presidents current lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was babbling incoherently again on TV, and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, had to post a tweet denying the president used to eat paper after making notes during their meetings.

In the meantime, one of Trumps closest friends, Roger Stone, posted an image on Instagram of him and others in Trump World wearing swastikas, while declaring I love this.

Mr Stone does several things in his Instagram post:

1. He supports Space Force

2. He supports those pictured.

3. He notes that the only liars are liberals.

4. He doesn't criticize the placement of a swastika in the picture.

Helluva thing to overlook there, Roger. pic.twitter.com/xDv6UftleC  AltSpaceForce  (@AltSpaceForce1) August 14, 2018

Its hard to believe, but Stone really posted this. Hes either senile, crazy or now openly embracing the Nazi philosophy.

But that isnt the only reason Roger Stone was in the news yesterday. It was also reported that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating Stone for sending death threats via email. The charges relate to Randy Credico, a radio host and acquaintance of Stones, who reportedly was asked to contact Julian Assange by Stone.

Assange, of course, is the notorious fugitive known for founding WikiLeaks and publishing the stolen emails from Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). (Which as we now know were stolen by Russian intelligence agents working for Vladimir Putin, who have since been indicted by Mueller.)

Credico has been in the news lately because he refused a request for a voluntary Mueller interview, saying he doesnt want people to call him a rat. Therefore Mueller had to issue Credico a subpoena to get him to testify, and he is now scheduled to give his testimony after Labor Day.

As was reported previously, Credico has said that the last thing that I would like to be known as is a rat.

I didnt talk to the House committee and Im not going to talk to the Senate committee, he said.

Mother Jones had previously reported on the existence of emails between Stone and Credico, including one from Stone that said, prepare to die c*ck s*cker. Apparently the context of Stones threat is not clear but Mueller has a lot of questions for both him and Credico.

Credicos lawyer Martin Stolar admitted that Mueller is investigating the Stone-Credico-Assange connection. He believes they worked together on the 2016 hack of the DNC that obtained dirt on Hillary Clinton.

It was reported that Muellers team saw some emails which led them to ask more questions and they are now investigating whether or not Credico was threatened.

In the threatening email referred to above, Stone said that it was nothing but a response he wrote after Credico told him that he had terminal prostate cancer.

Credico, however, has said that he has never told Stone anything about prostate cancer, and he doesnt have it. So clearly Muellers team believes Stone is lying, and they want to get to the bottom of the apparent threat on Credicos life.

Stone has responded by saying he did nothing wrong.

I have testified truthfully before the House Intelligence Committee that Randy Credico was the source who confirmed Assanges June 2016 CNN interview in which the Wikileaks publisher said he had substantial information on Hillary Clinton, Stone said. As I testified Credico told me this material would be released in October. I now realize that Credicos source was a Wikileaks lawyer and not Assange himself. At no time did Credico tell me what the source, content or scope of the WikiLeaks disclosures would be. 

Former Stone aide Andrew Miller is another person who Mueller had to subpoena because of a lack of voluntary cooperation. Former Stone aide Kristin Davis, on the other hand, has cooperated voluntarily.
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Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is hanging tough in the face of an onslaught of Republican dark money in Missouri, but a positive sign for Democrats is the wide support voters have for medical marijuana and raising the minimum wage.

The poll done for Missouri Scout finds Sen. McCaskill and Republican candidate Josh Hawley tied at 47%-47% with 6% undecided. Democrats should feel encouraged by the underlying direction in which the states voters are going. Voters overwhelmingly support legalizing medical marijuana 54%-35%, and they support raising the states minimum wage from $8.60 to $12.00/hour by an even bigger margin of 60%-28%.

McCaskill is in a tough reelection fight. She has been a target of both Trump and the Russians, as the Russians have already tried to hack her campaign, while the president held an illegal rally for Hawley on the taxpayers dime.

Claire McCaskill always seems to be in a tough reelection contest in Missouri, but with the Russians and Trump working against her, it is incredible that her race is tied in a state that Trump won by 18 points in 2016.

Republicans thought that McCaskills seat, along with several other red state Senate Democrats, was going to be an easy pick up for them, but Democrats are fighting hard, and with a little bit of a nudge from Democrats, Sen. McCaskill may do what seemed unimaginable two years ago and win another term.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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President Donald Trump unleashed one of his most brutal tweetstorms ever this morning as he tried to make headlines in advance of the release of a new tell all book from former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault Newman. In a tweet he referred to the black woman as a dog.

President Trump calls former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman a dog

President Trump calls former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman a "dog" https://t.co/Dg7gMpTI7g pic.twitter.com/4lNcQNwRpB  CNN (@CNN) August 14, 2018

Trumps tweet was immediately condemned throughout the Twitter universe by all but his most hardcore racist and white nationalist supporters.

CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin pointed out that Trump has a very long history of attacking black people, and that is a core feature of his political appeal and a cause of his ascendancy to the White House.

Who does the President attack on Twitter constantly?  Its always black people  The entire basis for Donald Trumps political career is his racist attack on Barack Obama  The tweet today calling Omarosa a dog is just part of that story @JeffreyToobin

"Who does the President attack on Twitter constantly?  It's always black people  The entire basis for Donald Trump's political career is his racist attack on Barack Obama  The tweet today calling Omarosa a 'dog' is just part of that story" @JeffreyToobin pic.twitter.com/o4OaGKo3M0  New Day (@NewDay) August 14, 2018

Another black woman who Trump has a history of insulting in racially insensitive ways lashed out at the president very quickly.

Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson slams President Trump for calling Omarosa Manigault Newman a dog in a tweet: How dare he? How dare he call anyone a dog?

Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson slams President Trump for calling Omarosa Manigault Newman a "dog" in a tweet: "How dare he? How dare he call anyone a dog?" https://t.co/ARPWobX6hu pic.twitter.com/WDR6w4z1EA  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 14, 2018

Not only did the presidents tweet refer to Omarosa as a dog but it also referenced some of the other insults he has been hurling at her in recent days. She has been on a promotional tour for her book which comes out today in which she criticizes Trump and reveals some of his darkest secrets. Today he once again called her a crazed, crying lowlife.

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2018

Nobody should be surprised at what Trump does or says anymore, especially when it comes to insulting people. Still, referring to a woman as a dog is particularly low and demeaning, given the other often-used term for a female dog.

Trump probably thinks that tweets like this mornings solidify his political base but it appears more likely that it will continue to alienate the vast majority of American voters and lead to big Republican losses in this years midterm elections.
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Mary Katherine, who also goes by MK, covers health care for The Post and Courier. She is also pursuing a master's degree in data science. She grew up in upstate New York and enjoys playing cards, kayaking and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Jackie Baer, a family nurse practitioner, works in her office on Johns Island, which sees about 3,000 patient visits per year, on Jan. 11. Because of state laws, Baer will have to close if her supervising physician retires, which would leave her patients without access to primary health care.
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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Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
Political Reporter

Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work.
REDWOOD FALLS, Minn.  Primary voters this week chose the final slate for the November ballot in many races, including governor.

Only once before the primary election did all five gubernatorial candidates appear in a forum together and it drew a standing-room only crowd Aug. 8 in the Wicks Building at Farmfest.

Political forums at Farmfest date back to 1990, and they have become a mandatory stop for those looking to win the rural vote.

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, Attorney General Lori Swanson and former House Majority Leader Erin Murphy fielded questions from WCCO Radio host Dave Lee on a variety of issues affecting rural Minnesota and its agricultural industry.

Opinions on President Donald Trumps approach to trade relations were addressed, with candidates from both parties voicing concern about the effect its had on commodity prices.

The DFL-endorsed Murphy said recently offered aid packages should be seen as a temporary aid. She said that as governor, she would work to find new markets for trade.

"Were going to have a problem here in Minnesota with pork farmers and soybean farmers in the immediate future when we see the loss of sales to China and Mexico," Murphy said. "And that will continue into next year when well have depressed bean prices, and that will spill over into corn."

Swanson echoed those concerns, saying that cutting off foreign markets will lead to markets for Minnesota farmers getting cut.

Pawlenty said he agreed with the Trump administration being tough on China, but took issue with the kind of damage it was causing to the bottom lines for Minnesota farmers.

The states soybean and corn industries benefit from government-mandated fuel blends.

All the DFL candidates voiced their support for renewable fuels, but none of them as much as Pawlenty, who lauded himself for his hand in improving renewable mandates during his two terms as governor.

"Theres an unquestioned champion of renewable fuels as a governor in this state and in the modern history of the country, and hes talking to you right now," Pawlenty said. "Look at my record, no one has ever surpassed a commitment and drive to help greater Minnesota and rural America with those kind of approaches."

Pawlentys primary opponent and the GOP-endorsed Johnson offered a different kind of response. Johnson said he was skeptical of government having any hand the renewable fuel industry. He then backtracked to say he wouldnt go as far as working to get rid of the mandates.

"Im not going to pull the rug out from under that," Johnson said.

After DFL candidate Tim Walz shared his vision for being a "One Minnesota" governor that would reach all kinds of communities, Pawlenty took aim at the claim.

"The problem thats really going on with my Democratic friends on this panel is they want one Minneapolis," Pawlenty said. "Higher taxes for everybody, more spending out-of-control for everybody. They want sanctuary cities and sanctuary states. They want government to take over their health care."

Swanson followed Pawlentys remark with a more collaborative viewpoint.

"We do best as a state when we dont pit the rural against the suburban and the metro," Swanson said.

Megan Falvey of Clarkfield, Minn., was holding a sign that appealed for candidates to provide realistic solutions for health-care issues. She wasnt convinced by any of their responses.

"I thought the questions were kind of canned," Falvey said. "And not coming from the public, but coming from the organizations that put on Farmfest."

Next to Falvey was Glenn Gelhar, who operates a small farm on the ridge just south of Clarkfield. After a successful career in health care, he returned to the land that he said his family has farmed since the 1880s.

Gelhar said it was helpful to hear all the candidates speak at the same forum, but no candidate persuaded him that they were capable of getting the agricultural industry out of its current dire state.

"Now its boiled down to the small farms competing with Big Ag, and its a crisis," Gellar said. "For my family, Im going to feel real bad if Im the last one farming this land."
HOUSTON, Minn.  Bluegrass music is back with the 26th SEMBA Bluegrass Festival, to be held Thursday through Sunday at Cushons Peak campground near Houston.

The Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Associationhosts the festival, which brings bands from as far away as Alabama to perform in concerts each day and evening.

Bands scheduled to perform include the Basement Bluegrass Band from Illinois, the Finley River Boys from Missouri, Southern Gentlemen from Alabama, Terry Smith from Tennessee and the Doubledown Daredevils from Minnesota.

Concerts are at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and at noon Sunday. In addition, there is a Gospel music show at 9 a.m. Sunday. Patrons should bring their own lawn chairs.

Music workshops are at 9 a.m. Saturday, and open stage sessions will also be held Thursday through Saturday. Plus, informal jam sessions start up at any time. No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed in the festival building or concert area.

Camping is available at the site; for reservations, call 507-896-7325.

Tickets are $35 for all four days, $43 for Friday through Sunday, 20 for Saturday only, $16 for Thursday or Friday only, $10 for Sunday. For tickets, call 507-251-1884.

Cushons Peak Campground is located at 18696 Minnesota Highway 16, near Houston.

Prior to the start of the festival, a bluegrass instrument workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m Wednesday at Cushons Peak.
A guy named Jeff Kolb, who is a city councilman in a Minneapolis suburb, has raised a new sexual assault allegation against Congressman, Deputy DNC Chairman and candidate for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. I have no idea how reliable Kolb is, but his tweets dont seem to depend much on his own credibility.

This is the first one, which includes a record of a 911 call in 2005. I dont know where Kolb obtained the record:

UPDATE: This is a record of a 911 call from May 16, 2005. The caller reported she was assaulted by Keith Ellison. pic.twitter.com/Z080dzS702  Jeff Kolb (@jpkolb) August 13, 2018



If the record is legitimate, it says that someone (name redacted) reported that she was ASLTD BY ELLISON/KEITH/BM/41/LS LEAVING APT.

Keith Ellison was born in August 1963 and therefore would have been 41 in May 2005.

Kolb has more:

The caller's name has been redacted in the report, but according to records searches Amy Alexander, who spoke out in 2006 about her relationship with Ellison, lived at this address in 2005.  Jeff Kolb (@jpkolb) August 13, 2018



I dont pretend to know whether the multiple sexual abuse charges against Keith Ellison are valid or not, but they certainly are a bombshell, with the primary election tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Ellisons more recent girlfriend and accuser, Karen Monahan, says she has a video that confirms her allegations against him, but doesnt intend to release it.

She told MPR News that she would not be posting the video for many reasons, including that its traumatizing, humiliating and sets an expectation that abuse survivors must prove their stories.

I doubt whether the video exists, but the multiple claims of sexual assault against Deputy Democratic National Committee Chairman Keith Ellison are not so easily dismissed. The Minnesota primary, in which Ellison is running for Attorney General, is tomorrow. We will soon see how seriously Democratic Party voters take allegations of sexual assault against a far-left candidate.

UPDATE: Cillian Zeal has more on Ellisons abusive history as it relates to Amy Alexander:

I regret that like many, I too was duped by Keith Ellisons considerable charm, Minnesota Democrat activist Amy L. Alexander wrote in the Wright County Republican back in October of 2006. I was seduced by the idea of what I thought he represented.

***

By 2004, Alexander had returned to Minnesota and the relationship reignited, leading to an alleged incident of abuse when things fell apart in 2005. In May, Keith wanted to try and quiet me so he came to my home uninvited, Alexander wrote. We had words. His anger kicked in. He berated me. He grabbed me and pushed me out of the way. I was terrified. I called the police. As he fled he broke my screen door. I have never been so scared. And then, when Ellison ran for Congress, he tried to intimidate her into staying quiet, even with the restraining order.

More at the link. Alexanders account tallies precisely with the 911 report of violence on the part of Keith Ellison that began this post.

Will Minnesotas Democrats vote to make a far-left, bigoted, Jew-hating socialist who has abused multiple women, by their accounts, the Democrats nominee for Attorney General? In all probability, yes. That wont tell us anything about Ellison, but it will tell us a great deal about todays Democratic Party.
Conservatives have been saying for a long time that our porous southern border poses a security risk. Over the years there have been multiple news stories about Middle Easterners with terrorist connections being apprehended at the border, or after crossing the border. But because these crossings havent resulted in successful terrorist attacks, they have gotten essentially no notice.

Meanwhile, Democrats are committed to the view that there is no reason to want a secure border other than racism. This is pretty much insanecountries have wanted secure borders for centuries, and until now no one thought there was anything untoward about itbut it is the media narrative, and anything that contradicts the Democrats narrative will not be publicized.

Except by Judicial Watch:

Years after a Judicial Watch investigation uncovered that Islamic terrorists are entering the United States through the Mexican border federal authorities have arrested a Jordanian man for smuggling six citizens of Yemenan Al Qaeda hotbedinto the U.S. through Mexico. The smuggler, 31-year-old Moayad Heider Mohammad Aldairi, conspired with others to sneak the six Yemeni nationals across the Texas border for a fee, according to a statement issued this week by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

***

Sometime between October 31, 2017 and December 12, 2017 the six citizens of Yemen crossed illegally into the U.S. from Mexico, the federal document says, adding that the [Special Interest Aliens] were detained and interviewed by investigators from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Each of them paid Aldairi varying amounts to be smuggled into the United States from Mexico, the warrant affidavit states, adding that all six Yemenis positively identified Aldairi from a photo lineup as the person who brought them into the country.

I dont suppose anyone imagines that the Yemenis are refugees who made their way across the world to our southern border to escape domestic abuse, or whatever. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated instance:

Foreigners from nations with terrorist ties have been slipping into the U.S. via Mexico for years and Judicial Watch has exposed several plots as part of an ongoing investigation into the critical national security threats that grip the region. In one operation exposed by Judicial Watch, Mexican drug cartels smuggled nationals of terrorist countries into a small Texas rural town near El Paso Texas. To elude the Border Patrol, they used remote farm roads to reach stash areas in Acala, a rural crossroads located around 54 miles from El Paso. Judicial Watch also uncovered State Department records confirming that Arab extremists are entering the U.S. through Mexico with the assistance of smuggling network cells. Among them was a top Al Qaeda operative wanted by the FBI, identified via a cable from the American consulate in Ciudad Juarez as Adnan G. El Shurkrjumah. Shukrijumah helped plan several U.S. attacks, including plots to bomb Oprah Winfreys studio and detonate nuclear devices in multiple American cities (watch a Judicial Watch documentary on it here). For years Shukrijumah appeared on the FBIs most wanted list and, despite being sought by the agency, crossed back and forth into the U.S. from Mexico to meet fellow militant Islamists in Texas. In fact, as one of the worlds most wanted terrorists, Shukrijumah piloted an aircraft into the Cielo Dorado airfield in Anthony, New Mexico. Another renowned jihadist, an ISIS operative named Shaykh Mahmood Omar Khabir, has traveled back and forth through the porous southern border, a high-ranking Homeland Security official told Judicial Watch. Khabir, a national of Kuwait, lives in the Mexican state of Chihuahua not far from El Paso and has trained hundreds of Al Qaeda fighters in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. Mexican drug traffickers help him and other Islamic terrorists stationed in Mexico cross into the United States to explore targets for future attacks, according to state and federal law enforcement officials interviewed by Judicial Watch. This has been going on for many years.

There is much more at the link, along with many links that I have omitted in the text above. The bottom line is that the Democratic Party, including its partisan judges and its media enablers, is exposing us to the risk of terrorist attack by doing its best to make it impossible to secure our southern border. We can only hope that the Democrats partisanship doesnt lead to a catastrophe like the September 11 attacks.
Politico has published a opinion piece by David Glosser called Stephen Miller Is an Immigration Hypocrite. I Know Because Im His Uncle. Glossers piece is a shrill, hyper-personal rant of the Give me your tired, your poor genre. But for Glossers status as Stephen Millers uncle, I dont think Politico would even have considered running it.

Glossers great-grandfather came to America from what was then Russia and now is Belarus (my fathers father also came here from there). Glossers thesis is that if Trump administration immigration policies, which Miller helped craft, had been in effect in the early 20th century, Millers forebears (and Glossers) would not have been able to immigrate to the U.S. Instead, they would have been wiped out by German Nazis. Therefore, Miller is a hypocrite for pushing these policies.

Glosser makes no real effort to support his claim that Trumps policy would have stranded his great-grandfather in Belarus. Trump has not ended the taking in of refugees. Rather, he has cut the number of refugees admitted per year in about half  down to 45,000 per year  with further cuts a possibility.

Would Jews facing pogroms in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century, and Jews threatened by Nazism 30 years later, have been among those excluded under a Trump-like refugee policy implemented back then? Theres no way to say for sure, but I think its unlikely they would have been. Nor does Glosser engage this question.

Glosser cites Trumps temporary travel ban. It applies to a handful of countries that are sworn enemies of the U.S. and/or in a state of anarchy, and/or hotbeds of terrorism. Russia was not such a nation when Glossers great-grandfather came here.

The travel ban is a red herring. It features in Glossers diatribe as a hack lefty talking point, not a serious argument about the Glosser-Miller family. The real question is whether Trumps policies would prevent victims of pogroms  organized massacres of Jews because of their religion  from coming here as refugees. Theres no reason to believe it would.

Modern-day refugees are sometimes targeted for violence because of their religion, but many are exposed to the danger of violence because they live in war ravaged areas or because they chose the losing side in a civil war. Thats typically the case with refugees from Syria, for example. Some refugees  e.g., from Central America  are fleeing high crime regions.

These individuals often have sympathetic stories and, though there are limits to the number of such people we realistically can take in, one can certainly argue that the U.S. should admit them in numbers closer to those chosen by the Obama administration (or even higher) than the numbers preferred by Trump and Miller. But their situations differ from those of Jews subjected to pogroms, and one cannot infer from cuts in the number of such refugees we now admit that Glossers great-grandfather would not be admitted in a Trump administration. Yet, this is the basis for Glossers accusation that his nephew is a hypocrite.

Glosser also discusses chain migration. Trump and Miller would like to limit such migration to spouses and the underage children of legal immigrants. It seems (I cant tell for sure) that Glossers grandfather (Millers great-grandfather) came here as an adult. Thus, he wouldnt have qualified for chain migration through his father under the policy Miller prefers.

But if Glossers grandfather was under assault by Jew-hating Russians, he would likely have been able to come here under Trump-Miller policy. If he wasnt, its not clear why he should have been admitted.

Is Miller a hypocrite for opposing a chain migration policy that may have benefited his great-grandfather (and therefore himself). I dont think so. You dont have to favor lotteries just because your great-grandfather won one and you are still benefiting from it.

Glosser laments that Miller repeat[s] the insults and false accusations of earlier generations against. . .refugees to make them seem less than human. This claim is too much even for the Washington Posts Greg Sargent. He says he is not aware of any instance in which Miller himself has publicly engaged in the. . .vicious public dehumanization of immigrants.

Glosser cites none. He is slandering his nephew.

Glosser also misses a critical distinction between immigrants like his forbears and todays Muslim immigrants. Todays Muslim immigrants belong to a religion, an influential faction of which hates America, its values, its laws, and its non-Muslim citizens. Eastern European Jews belonged to no such religion.

One can debate the extent, if any, to which this consideration should inform American immigration policy. But one cannot honestly deny the distinction, pretending that security concerns about large-scale immigration from certain Muslim nations are the modern equivalent of canards about European Jews.

Glosser concludes that immigration reform is a complex issue that will require compassion and wisdom to bring the nation to a just solution. . . True. But it will also require realism, clear thinking, and considerably more intellectual honesty than Uncle David is able to muster in his nasty attack on his nephew.
Anyone who bothered to read the transcript of Glenn Simpsons testimony and absorb its contents would have been left with deep suspicions about the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting of Donald Trump, Jr. and campaign officials with the connected Russian lawyer. The Russian lawyer met with Simpson before and after the meeting for some reason or other. Now Lee Smith puts the pieces of the puzzle together in an excellent RealClearPolitics investigative piece suggesting that the meeting was a setup. Tucker Carlson invited Lee on his Fox News show last night for a brief segment stating his findings (below). Highly recommended.

In the current issue of the Weekly Standard, Eric Felten goes in for a close look at the public statements about the meeting by the Trump team once it became public. He asks: Will Don Jr. be left holding the bag? Read together with Lee Smiths piece, we have a case study in the coverup aggravating the non-crime (and distracting attention from the real perpetrators).
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PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-14 10:06:02

Euro Note Souvenir: Irelands First 0 Euro Banknote Officially Released

Euro Note Souvenir

Peter Schneider

p: +353 (0)85-1076487

e: info@euronotesouvenir.ie

Euro Note Souvenir, a Galway based company, has launched the first 0 Euro banknote for Ireland this month. The banknote, also referred to as Euro Souvenir, shows the picture of a Celtic harp and a map of Ireland and its counties, and marks the beginning of the introduction of the Euro Souvenir concept in Ireland as an Irish souvenir or Irish gift.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005

Ireland's first zero euro banknote (Photo: Business Wire)

The Euro Souvenir note looks and feels like a real Euro banknote, and with the Celtic harp and the map of Ireland, one could think of it as an official Irish banknote. The note carries even security features such as watermark, hologram, microprint, security thread and the symbols that appear only under UV light.

The Euro Souvenir is a new souvenir or merchandise concept for the tourism sector and visitor attractions. The note can be personalized with a picture of an attraction, event or building, like built heritage, a museum or a zoo, and marketed to visitors and tourists via an ATM-like machine or counter displays.

All that is needed for the production of the personalized banknote is a photo, an image or drawing of what should appear on it, says Sara Medwed, Head of customer Service at Euro Note Souvenir.

The 0 Euro Souvenir concept already exists in eight EU countries. It started in France, where it was invented by French entrepreneur and innovator Richard Faille in 2015, who was successfully dealing with souvenir coins before he invented the 0 Euro banknote. The concept was then carried to Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy Switzerland, Spain and Portugal, where it was very successfully introduced by individual businesses.

Ireland will be one of the next countries to welcome the 0 Euro Souvenir as an Irish gift, and personalized banknotes with Irish locations can be produced from January 2019 to be ready for the start of the new tourist season. Not only do tourists like this new type of souvenir, but also people who collect the 0 Euro notes as a hobby, like coins or stamps.

There are in fact large communities of collectors in the other countries who collectively order their required amounts, says Peter Schneider, the founder of Euro Note Souvenir. Of the five thousand notes produced in the first batch, almost half of them were sold to collectors even before they were available in the market, adds Schneider.

The company offers the souvenir banknote with the Celtic harp via their web shop for 4.99 EUR a piece, but also seeks business partners in Ireland, such as souvenir and gift shops interested in selling the souvenir locally.

The 0 Euro Souvenir banknotes are approved by the European Central Bank (ECB) and printed by Oberthur Fiduciary in Switzerland, which is an official Euro banknote printing partner of the ECB. It takes about 8 weeks to produce a banknote with a new picture, while reorders of an existing banknote take 4 weeks.

For more information, please visit: http://www.euronotesouvenir.ie

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005
PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-14 08:41:07

Press Information

Goldtsein Research

99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005



Steve Blade

Global Sales Head

6465687747

email

https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/





# 655 Words

99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005Global Sales Head6465687747

According to Goldstein Research, global breath analyzers market is segmented on the basis of technology, application and end user. On the basis of technology, fuel cell is the largest segment which holds a market share of around 43.0% in 2016 as it has the capacity to deliver accurate analysis of BAC in individuals.Browse Full Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/global-breath-analyzers-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 Fuel cell technology segment was valued at USD 0.51 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach at USD 2.02 billion by 2024. On the basis of geography, North America breath analyzers market generated around 45.0% market share in 2016 and expected to account USD 2.79 billion by 2024 from USD 0.53 billion in 2016. Europe is the second largest region after North America which contributed a market share of around 30.0% in 2016 with a value of USD 0.50 billion in 2016. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market and is expected to grow at a promising CAGR of 30.0% over the forecast period. Existence of large number of manufacturers offering and large scale availability of low cost breath analyzers are swelling the demand for breath analyzers.Global Breath Analyzers Market Outlook, 2016-2024 covers the present ground scenario and future opportunity prospects for the market players to analyze the target markets across the globe. Moreover, competitive analysis includes the in-depth analysis of the major players and leaders in healthcare industry. The market study conducted on the basis of primary as well as secondary research where the analysts fragment the data from various databases such as Bloomberg, Factiva, Owler and others. Our primary research team conducted various interviews, surveys and group discussions of industry breath analyzers manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, healthcare institutions, clinical centers, medical research laboratories and academic medical centers and universities to analyze the future prospects of the overall healthcare industry.Get More Information About Breath Analyzers MarketGlobal Breath Analyzers Market Segmentation can be classified on the basis of:By Technology Fuel cell Semi-conductors InfraredBy Application Alcohol detection Drug abuse detection Medical applicationsBy End User Law enforcement Enterprises Others (Individuals)By Geography North America (US, Canada) Breath Analyzers Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Europe (UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, Russia, Poland and Rest of Europe) Breath Analyzers Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, North Africa, South Africa and Rest of Middle East & Africa) Breath Analyzers Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Rest of Latin America) Breath Analyzers Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Rest of Asia-Pacific) Breath Analyzers Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)}Market Trends, Drivers & ChallengesGovernment initiatives to minimize drink and drive cases are the primary factors which are fostering the growth of global breath analyzers market. Breath analyzers are also used in medical purposes for diagnostics breath related issues such as tuberculosis, asthma and other diseases. Rising demand for breath analyzers in medical facilities along with the advancement in breath analyzers is fostering the growth of global breath analyzers market. However, lack of awareness in major sectors and low adoption rate in developing nations are the two major restraints for the global breath analyzers market.Download Exclusive Sample Report:Global Breath Analyzer Market Report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis from industry experts. The report covers the competitive landscape and current position of major players in the market space. The report also includes porters five force model, SWOT analysis, company profiling, business strategies of market players and their business models. Global breath analyzer market report also recognizes value chain analysis to understand the cost differentiation to provide competitive advantage to the existing and new entry players.Browse Similar Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/global-connected-healthcare-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024
According to Goldstein Research, global medical device market is anticipated to reach USD 532.2 billion by 2024 from USD 380.0 billion in 2016 at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period.

medical device market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-08-14 11:27:21

Press Information

Goldtsein Research

99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005



Steve Blade

Global Sales Head

6465687747

email

https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/



Published by

Steve blade

+ 1-6465687747

e-mail

https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/







# 779 Words

99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005Global Sales Head6465687747Steve blade+ 1-6465687747

According to Goldstein Research, global medical device market is anticipated to reach USD 532.2 billion by 2024 from USD 380.0 billion in 2016 at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period. Global medical device market is segmented on the basis of medical device type such as surgical and infection control medical devices, cardiovascular medical devices, general medical devices, home healthcare medical devices and other medical devices. On the basis of medical device type, cardiovascular medical devices are projected to acquire the largest market share in the global market of medical devices due to increasing heart disease rate in the growing population. North America acquires approximately 40% revenue share of the global medical device market in 2016 while Europe is the most diverse nation focusing entirely on innovative products and services. There are more than 500,000 medical technologies are registered in Europe.Browse Full Report: https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/report/global-medical-device-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 Global Medical Devices Market Outlook, 2016-2024 covers the present ground scenario and future opportunity prospects for the market players to analyze the target markets across the globe. Moreover, competitive analysis includes the in-depth analysis of the major players and leaders in healthcare industry. The market study conducted on the basis of primary as well as secondary research where the analysts fragment the data from various databases such as Bloomberg, Factiva, Owler and others. Our primary research team conducted various interviews, surveys and group discussions of industry medical devices manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, cosmetic product manufacturers, healthcare institutions, clinical centers, medical research laboratories and academic medical centers and universities to analyze the future prospects of the overall healthcare industry.Get More Information On Global Medical Device MarketGlobal Medical Devices Market Segmentation can be classified on the basis of:Based on Medical Device Type Surgical and Infection Control Medical Devices Cardiovascular Medical Devices General Medical Devices Home HealthCare Medical Devices Other Medical DeviceBy Modality Portable WearableBy Distribution Channel Online OfflineBy End User Hospitals Clinics Diagnostics Lab Home Care SettingsBy Geography North America (US, Canada) Medical Devices Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Europe (UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, Russia, Poland and Rest of Europe) Medical Devices Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, North Africa, South Africa and Rest of Middle East & Africa) Medical Devices Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Rest of Latin America) Medical Devices Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)} Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Rest of Asia-Pacific) Medical Devices Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion), Adoption Rate (%)}Download Exclusive Sample Report @ https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/request-sample/global-medical-device-market-outlook-2024-global-opportunity-and-demand-analysis-market-forecast-2016-2024 Trend: Concept of Connected HospitalsIdea of the ultimate connected hospital due to the courtesy of emerging technology, digital health and the inception of the IoT has the potential for the growth of medical device market. For instance products like intelligent asthma management kit aid in the management and treatment of this chronic (lifetime) illness, valedo back therapy kit for patients who experience lower back pain or related complications, Healthpatch MD aiding healthcare professionals in keeping tabs on their patients, Helius- a digital pill, Googles smart contact lenses, tiniest healthcare monitoring crystals, ITBRA to keep track of breast health, Qardiocore  the connected ECG monitor are the smart health gadgets to fuse communication with functionality.Driver: New Care Models Like Healthcare Security & Remote CareThe growing potential of new care models like healthcare security, remote care and transforming healthcare with IoT to improve security, privacy, interoperability, and analytics for medical devices. For instance, Intel technology innovation combined with advocacy and real-world experience with IoT across multiple industries is making the promise of smart and connected care a reality. Intels ecosystem healthcare solution providers are creating data-smart solutions to fight disease, streamline provider decision-making, and personalize treatment.Challenge: Hospital Consolidations Dwindling The Demand Of Medical DevicesIn USA, more than 100 hospital consolidations occur in last 5 years, leading to fewer buyers, though this trend of consolidation is expected to slow down in 2017 due to a tougher consolidation approval process. In addition, lack of medically trained staffs is the main obstacle for medical device industry.Global Medical Device Market Report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis from industry experts. The report covers the competitive landscape and current position of major players in the market space. The report also includes porters five force model, SWOT analysis, company profiling, business strategies of market players and their business models.Browse Similar Report:
The Tilapia and Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN) on Tuesday decried the exemption of Tilapia, a farmed fish species, from the federal governments import prohibition list.

The associations National President, Remi Ahmed, expressed the associations displeasure with the list in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Mr Ahmed said that the omission from the official prohibition list by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) would send a negative signal to the international community.

He said the Nigerian Tilapia farming model was currently being appreciated globally and this would mean unregulated importation of the commodity to retard local production.

This is coming when the international community is happy with the level of work done in Nigerias Tilapia sub-sector.

Within the short period Tilapia was introduced to Nigeria, we have been able to develop and produce Tilapia feed within the country that is better than the ones used in most African countries.

Let government stop importation of Tilapia into the country because afterwards, the smuggled Tilapia will not allow local producers to get ready-made markets.

Restriction of Tilapia importation is not even enough, we want an outright ban because we are producing a lot and we can meet the Tilapia deficit if given the right playing field, Mr Ahmed said.

The president also told NAN that he had over 10 tonnes of farmed Tilapia stored in cold rooms because the smuggled ones were crashing the market price, making it seem like locally produced ones were expensive.

On Tilapia production in Nigeria, Mr Ahmed said that there were bigger farmers across the country and this development would chase entrants and discourage current producers in the long run.

I have nothing less than 10 tonnes of Tilapia waiting for delivery and I am one of the smallest producers, there is Ejide Farms and others, our fishes are staying too long with us.

Some of us have invested so much money in the facilities where we farm Tilapia. So, do we remove them now and start doing what? The cost of power and others are serious challenges, so this is not encouraging.

These importers of the commodity are enjoying grants and other incentives from their countries which is why when the fish is brought here it is very cheap.

Here, we do not have any sort of support from government, and this is the height of it, he said.

Mr Ahmed said that in 2017, the NCS intercepted a 40-foot container containing Tilapia and during the briefing informed Nigerians that Tilapia was banned.

Contributing, the Vice-President of TADAN, Nurudeen Tiamiu, told NAN that the government should collaborate with real stakeholders in the sector to fashion out a roadmap to develop farmed fish in the country.

Mr Tiamiu said that the aquaculture sector had been besieged by people who were not known fish farmers, making and taking decisions on behalf of the real time producers.

Mr Tiamiu said: I see no reason why the Ministry of Finance is making policies on fish import, while the Ministry of Agriculture is not doing anything for stakeholders.

We have a bunch of stakeholders, you have not met with them and have not seen their capabilities in production and that means the Nigerian government do not understand the issues to be addressed when it comes to food safety.

We do not even know the quantity of Tilapia needed for consumption, we only know that we have 15 million metric tonnes of fish deficit.

The exemption of Tilapia from the import prohibition list is not a good development because we have spent so much money in production and dealt with unforeseen environmental issues.

If insurance that is not structured at the end of the day, you cannot compete with what comes in from China and other competing countries.

Let government meet with stakeholders and fashion out a roadmap to develop farmed fish and farmed fish is the only way aquaculture can survive in Nigeria, Tiamiu Said.

Another farmer, Abiodun Adedeji, said that stakeholders were not duly consulted before the decision to strike out Tilapia from the list was made.

According to Mr Adedeji, the decision is made without ascertaining the effects on local producers of the fish.

It is not a good decision and I am sure that the ministry did not get stakeholders opinion on this matter to ascertain how the exemption will affect the local producer of the fish.

We are already facing problems with market pricing as a result of importation through neighbouring countries which usually brings down market price for Tilapia.

Whereas Nigeria farmers produce with higher production cost as against the lower imported price of the same products.

This decision will affect investment in Tilapia aquaculture by foreign investors.

Government is expected to protect the industry by doing things in active consultation with stakeholders and also encourage this importers to invest in local production in Nigeria,  he said.

Nan reports that the Import Prohibition List by the NCS restricts importation of items.

(NAN)
The Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Joseph Ari, says the fund will train 13,000 Nigerians on 11 vocational skills in order to achieve the Federal Governments policy on job and wealth creation.

Mr Ari made this known in Abuja on Tuesday during a news conference.

According to him, numerous vacancies still exist in several sectors of the economy that cannot be filled by Nigerians due to the absence of requisite skills.

In order to address the issue of unemployment and drive President Muhammadu Buharis job creation drive, ITF management came up with a list of implementable programmes for 2018.

The programmes are the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (Training on Wheels), Designing and Garment Making, and Skill Training and Empowement Programme for the Physical Challenged (STEP-C).

Others are Post-Harvest Techniques and Project Development, Aqua-culture/Fish Farming, Manure Production, Crop Production/Greenhouse Technology, Poultry Farming and Training Programme Development on international Marketing, he said.

Mr Ari said the training programmes would last for a period of five months, adding that the 13,000 Nigerians that would be trained was like a drop of water in the ocean and called on state governments and other stakeholders to sponsor additional trainees.

He said such stakeholders would be required to cover the monthly stipends of the trainees, as well as provide start-up packs for such additional trainees.

According to him, they will also offset any allowances for the master-craftsmen that will be retained as a result of the additional trainees.

Mr Ari said tackling unemployment through skills acquisition cannot and should not be the responsibility of the ITF and other Federal Government agencies alone.

He said the gesture to train Nigerians was informed by the growing realisation that accelerated skills acquisition was the only way to stem unemployment, especially among youths.

According to him, governments all over the world have turned to skills acquisition, which is the universal currency of the 21st century to arm their citizenry with skills for employment and growth.

He called on the media to educate members of the public in order to disabuse their minds that skills acquisition were not for never-do wells, the poor and the wretched in the society.

Mr Ari said as part of ITF mandate, the fund had trained 92 personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on various vocational skills.

According to him, the training will enable the personnel to improve on their job, which will in turn lead to a multiplier effect as other people learn from them.

Mr Ari said in line with the mandate, the fund unveiled one of its most ambitious six years plan since establishment tagged ITF Reviewed Vision: Strategies for Mandate Actualisation

He said the plan commenced in 2016 and would terminate in 2022, adding that the key objectives were to accelerate the impartation of technical vocational skills to Nigerians.

Mr Ari said about two years into the implementation, ITF trained more than 150,000 Nigerians on various trades and crafts.

He said the beneficiaries were earning sustainable livelihoods either as paid workers or as entrepreneurs employing others.

(NAN)
Scheduled visa and ACS applicants for Abuja will be contacted for rescheduling.

The United States Embassy has temporarily closed its consular section in Nigerias capital city, Abuja.

A notice by the U.S. embassy on Tuesday said until further notice, all consular appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja have temporarily ceased for both visa and for American Citizen Services.

It added, however, that consular functions in U.S. Consulate Lagos are not affected and will continue.

Scheduled visa and ACS applicants for Abuja will be contacted for rescheduling, the notice said.

American citizens in northern Nigeria with emergency services needs should continue to contact the after-hours emergency number for Abuja at 09461-4000 and press 0 to go to the operator to request assistance.

American citizens in northern Nigeria with urgent travel needs who are travelling before Tuesday and who are willing to re-schedule their travel through Lagos should contact the ACS office at Consulate Lagos ( 01460 3400 and LagosACS@state.gov ) to discuss their options.

The notice explained further that those travelling after Tuesday should follow up with Abuja ACS to confirm their appointments closer to their appointment date.

For details of the consulate operations, the notice directed affected people to monitor the Facebook and Webpage of the U.S. Embassy for a later announcement of resumed consular operations in Abuja.

The consulate office in Lagos is located in Victoria Island.
Israels finance minister confirmed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt in May to discuss a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

A spokesman for Mr Netanyahu had declined to comment on the meeting after it was first reported on Monday by Israels Channel Ten News.

Egypt and the UN have been trying to mediate a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza, following a spike in cross-border violence in the past few months.

The two leaders discussed the easing of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza, rehabilitation of its infrastructure and terms for a ceasefire, the Channel Ten report said.

Asked on Israeli Army Radio whether he had known of the meeting, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon replied Yes.

He added that everything that will happen in Gaza will be done with Egyptian mediation and involvement.

More than two million Palestinians are packed into the Gaza Strip, which is experiencing deep economic hardship.

The World Bank has described the situation as a humanitarian crisis with shortages of water, electricity and medicine.

Citing security concerns, Israel and Egypt keep tight restrictions on their border crossings with Gaza, which have reduced the enclaves economy to a state of collapse.

Israel says the blockade is intended to prevent weapons reaching Hamas and other Gaza militant groups that have launched hundreds of rockets across the border in the past few months, during which time Israel has also carried out dozens of air strikes, targeting what it said were Hamas sites.

At least 161 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire in weekly protests along the Israel-Gaza border that began on March 30, and one Israeli soldier has been killed by a Palestinian sniper.

(Reuters/NAN)
The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday said the number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) has reached 2.8 million in Ethiopia, up from 1.6 million at the beginning of the year.

In a press statement, UNICEF said Ethiopia also hosts more than 920,000 refugees, mainly from neighbouring Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea.

UNICEF said it expects seasonal flooding to affect 2.5 million people, possibly further increasing the number of IDPs in Ethiopia.

Helping the IDPs and refugees needs an estimated 111.8 million U.S. dollars, 31 per cent of which has so far been donated to UNICEF.

Increasing communal violence and natural disasters across various parts of Ethiopia in the first half of 2018 is thought to be behind the spike in the number of IDPs in the country.

Oromia, Somali and Southern regional states house most of the IDPs in the country.

(Xinhua/NAN)
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey would boycott electronic products from the U.S., which has imposed sanctions and raised tariffs against Ankara in a dispute about the detention of a U.S. evangelical pastor.

Mr Erdogan said Turkey has been taking necessary measures regarding the economy, amid a slide in the lira currency exacerbated by the dispute with Washington, but it was important to keep a firm political stance.

Switching to foreign currency would mean giving in to the enemy, Erdogan said.

Tensions between the two NATO allies have intensified amid a dispute over the detention of Mr Brunson, whose cause has been championed by Vice President Mike Pence.

Mr Erdogan has signaled defiance, saying the U.S. cannot tame his country with threats and warning that Mr Trump was risking the loss of a strategic ally.

President Donald Trumps top national security aide warned Turkeys ambassador on Monday that the U.S. has nothing further to negotiate until a detained American pastor is freed.

According to two people familiar with the matter, signaling a standoff between the countries will continue as Turkeys financial meltdown spread to emerging markets.

White House National Security Adviser John Bolton delivered that message to Ambassador Serdar Kilic in Washington asking for room to discuss the encounter.

The White House said that Mr Kilic had requested the meeting, which centered on the Ankara governments detention of an American evangelical pastor, Andrew Brunson.

Turkeys failure to free Mr Brunson has become the latest conflict between the two nations.

(Reuters/NAN)
Dozens of Afghan soldiers were killed in fighting with Taliban militants after their base was surrounded in Afghanistans northern Faryab province, local officials said on Tuesday.

Sebghatullah Sailab, a provincial council member, said initial reports indicated that at least 50 soldiers were killed and numerous others wounded at the base within the past three days.

He said the remaining soldiers of the 140-strong force surrendered to the Taliban after their ammunition ran out late Monday, adding that the base was now fully controlled by the Taliban.

According to Sailab and Mohammad Rahmani, another provincial council member, the base, which was the only remaining government facility in the district, had been surrounded by Taliban militants for at least two months.

According to Rahmani, all but a small number of the soldiers were killed and those remaining surrendered.

He added that the road to the base is controlled by the Taliban, rendering ground support impossible.

Afghan Defence Ministry spokesman, Ghafoor Javid, only confirmed the death of 17 soldiers, with 19 others wounded.

He said that help is on the way, but declined to give further details.

Taliban militants have ramped up attacks on Afghan security forces, their facilities and the Afghan government in the past few months.

(dpa/NAN)
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Tuesday slammed the head of Britains Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, for attending a 2014 ceremony said to have honoured the Palestinian perpetrators of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre.

The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone left, right and everything in between, Netanyahu wrote in a tweet.

Speaking to Britains Sky News on Monday, Corbyn said he was present at the wreath laying because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who died in every terrorist incident everywhere.

Corbyn on Twitter, called the prime ministers accusation false.

The Labour leader said Israels killing of Palestinians during protests along the Gaza border in recent months is what deserves unequivocal condemnation.

Corbyn has come under fire for months from critics, including his own lawmakers, who accuse him of failing to tackle anti-Semitism within the Labour party.

(dpa/NAN)
The police on Tuesday charged a father from the eastern German state of Thuringia with sexually abusing his daughters 800 times during a span of six years.

A spokesman for the police confirmed that the public prosecutor in the town of Muehlhausen has brought the charges against the 43-year-old man.

The man is accused of repeatedly abusing his two daughters, now aged 12 and 14, between 2012 and 2018.

The younger daughter is believed to have revealed the abuse to her mother in March.

The mother then involved the police.

The man was arrested at his workplace shortly afterwards and is currently in pretrial custody.

The public prosecutor said the man has largely admitted the charges, but denies acting violently.

Investigators are assuming one or two cases of abuse per week performed on or in front of the girls.

The mother says she did not notice anything about the attacks.

(dpa/NAN)
After seemingly retarding the progress made in the health sector by the last administration in the last two years, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Monday hinted on the revival of the free health care services for expectant mothers and children under the age of five years.

The government also took further steps in extending the mother and child hospitals, which major on the care for children and expectant mothers, to other senatorial districts in the state.

One of the legacies of the immediate past Olusegun Mimiko administration was the provision of maternal and child care free of charge in the hospitals across the state.

Mr Mimiko had also abolished the practice of traditional birth attendants whose practices had resulted in the deaths of many expectant mothers.

However, the Akeredolu government did not provide the hospitals with needed funds when he assumed office in 2017, forcing an abrupt end to the programme.

The cost of delivery in hospitals and health centres during the period had forced some women to resume the patronage of traditional birth houses which were hitherto abolished.

The announcement on Monday is expected to be a great relief to mothers in the state, who could not afford maternal care due to dwindling economic fortunes.

The mother and child hospitals are currently in Akure and Ondo towns. But the new directive would see similar ones in the northern and southern senatorial districts of the state.

Mr Akeredolu gave an indication of his willingness to return to the path of his predecessor, when he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during his visit to the United States that Mr Mimiko had done well in the area of quality, accessible and affordable health care in the state.

The governor had noted that his administration would continue from where Mr Mimiko left, and would even surpass his achievements.

The Commissioner for Health, Wahab Adegbenro, along with the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi, told journalists after the executive council meeting on Monday that the administration was committed to bringing effective health service delivery to the door steps of the people.

Mr Adegbenro said that the over 500 health centres in the state would serve as mini centres for the free health care services for pregnant women and children between zero to five years.

We have scaled up the mother and child hospital, he said. As part of the efforts of the government to ensure that the vulnerable group have unrestricted access to quality health care service, council has approved that the Mother and Child hospitals should be scaled up with five more centres.

You will also recall that the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, signed into law the contributory health insurance scheme which has also made provision for the vulnerable people.

The government has also approved the introduction of free health care service for pregnant women and children between zero to five year old.

From the two mother and child hospitals that we currently have, we are moving up to seven. The council deliberated and approved that the state specialist hospital, Ikare Akoko will now become Mother and Child hospital, Ikare.

The general hospital in Owo will also become mother and child hospital. Equally, the general hospitals in Ore, Okitipupa and Igbokoda have been scaled to mother and child hospitals respectively .

Mr Adegbenro noted that the statement government had sought to improve the health sector, and had succeeded in ensuring that the state owned School of Nursing and Midwifery was absorbed by the University of Medical Science, Ondo (UNIMED) into a degree awarding institution.

He added that the newly initiated bill would also upgrade the School of Health Technology in Akure, to a College of Health Technology.
The management of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, has sacked one of its lecturers, Omananyi Yunusa, over his involvement in sexual harassment of a female student of the institution.

The Deputy Director, Information and Publications of the university, Lydia Legbo, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview, said the dismissal of Mr Yunusa, a lecturer in the Department of Geology, followed the outcome of investigation into alleged sexual assault on a female student in the department who took a course taught by him.

Yes, he was dismissed for sexual harassment after investigations proved beyond reasonable doubt, the spokesperson said.

The dismissal was approved during the University Councils 131st meeting after an investigative panel constituted by Vice Chancellor Abdullahi Bala found Mr Yunusa guilty of inappropriate relationship with the student.

The news was kept away from media to avoid distraction, Yusuf Abideen, a student of the institution, told PREMIUM TIMES. In fact, most other departments were not aware. We all saw the resolution.

A colleague of the victim, who does not want his name mentioned for fear of victimisation, told PREMIUM TIMES Mr Yunusas dismissal would bring peace to the department.

My class governor is a lady but she feels very reluctant when we want to have things to do with Mr Yunusa. It got to a time, we felt like impeaching her only to realise that she was avoiding the lecturer because of harassment, the student said.

We all got the notice about his dismissal, he disappointed himself, a senior staffer said.

The University Vice Chancellor, however, said the dismissal of the lecturer would serve as lesson to others to ensure total elimination of sexual harassment in the university community.

The lecturers dismissal follows a similar one in another university.

On June 20, the Obafemi Awolowo University announced the dismissal of a lecturer, Richard Akindele, after he was found guilty of misconduct with a female student of the school.

The Council, at its meeting of today, Wednesday, 20th of June, 2018, having considered the recommendation of Senate, as well as the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate, decided that Professor Richard I. Akindele should be dismissed from the services of the University for gross misconduct, the Vice Chancellor, Eyitope Ogunbodede, said.

On July 12, the Lagos State University (LASU) issued a query to Sunkanmi Odubunmi, another accused lecturer involved in a scandal with a student and the case is already before a Joint Action Disciplinary Committee.

Adekoya Martins, the universitys spokesperson said the management of the institution had zero tolerance for such act.

The LASU Registrar, Olayinka Amuni, has said the sanction for such act once established would be dismissal.

Also, the University of Lagos has called for submission of memoranda to its probe panel on sexual harassment allegations involving one of its staffers, Olusegun Awonusi.

The university appealed to blogger Linda Ikeji, who first reported on the matter, to assist in convincing Nwanna Joy, the victim to defend her sexual harassment claim.

The institutions vice-chancellor also said UNILAG might involve the police to help invite her.
There is no plan to declare the seat of a senator, Godswill Akpabio, or that of any other defecting lawmaker vacant, Senate President Bukola Saraki has said.

Mr Saraki was reacting to reports there were such plans and a reaction to it by Mr Akpabio who recently joined Nigerias ruling APC, from the main opposition PDP.

At least 15 senators have changed parties in the past month, including Mr Saraki who moved from the APC to the PDP.

Mr Sarakis media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday that the rumour to declare any seat vacant was false.

All that is mere talk, he said. People are making claims when we dont even know when theyll reconvene.

The spokesperson was making reference to the current recess of the National Assembly which was expected to be suspended this week. However, Mr Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, released a joint statement on Tuesday saying there was no date yet for the resumption.

Speaking further on the reports of plans to declare Mr Akpabios seat vacant, Mr Olaniyonu said, Theres a lot to be done and we dont even have time for all that one.

He linked the reports to the travails of Mr Saraki who risks losing his seat after the APC asked him to resign or be removed.

These people should focus on other things and leave Saraki alone. They have turned the man into a superstar overnight, Mr Olaniyonu said.

He called on the public to ignore such reports saying the leadership of the National Assembly is focused on making the country better.

Earlier the Punch Newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying arrangements were being made to ensure that Mr Akpabio, and others who defected recently from the PDP to the APC are removed or face a recall process.

According to the Punch, the source hinted that the move against the defectors started just before the Senate went on recess, with the alleged refusal of Mr Saraki to read the letter of defection submitted to him by Mr Akpabio.

In his reaction, Mr Akpabio said he is not perturbed over alleged plot to declare his seat vacant, the Vanguard Newspaper reports.

Mr Akpabio who spoke to select journalists in Abuja, described the insinuations as mere rumour. He also said there is no division in his new party, APC, at the moment; and so seats of those like Mr Saraki who left the party should rather be declared vacant.

Even as you are looking at me, do I look perturbed? I have not heard the report. Because the reason why I think that is a rumour is that there is, at the moment, no division in the APC. The APC is one family.

If you hear about R-APC that was not really a political party. That was not a division, it has since been consumed in what they call Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP). So, there is no division. And so, any defection from APC to PDP, we will like to declare those seats vacant, Vanguard quoted him as saying.

He also denied having knowledge of the APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomholes call for Mr Saraki to resign or be removed.
The Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dakwambo, is currently in a closed door meeting with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Mr Dakwambo, a presidential aspirant under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arrived his hosts private residence located inside the premises of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta and shortly entered into the meeting.

The meeting comes less than 24 hours after Senate President Bukola Saraki also met with Mr Obasanjo. None of the officials spoke about the details of their meeting which held few days after Mr Saraki also met with ex-military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.

Mr Obasanjo also recently played host to another PDP presidential aspirant, Kabiru Turaki, and visited ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The meetings are believed to be in preparation for the 2019 elections with Mr Obasanjo pledging to spearhead a coalition to oust incumbent President Muhammadu BUhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Obasanjo supported Mr Buharis election in 2015 but has since fell out with the president.

Details later
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has called for an independent investigation into the recent invasion of the National Assembly by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

Officials of the SSS on august 7 laid siege to the National Assembly complex preventing lawmakers, journalists and other staff from gaining entrance.

The operatives said they were acting on order from above.

Some lawmakers told PREMIUM TIMES the siege was to aid senators who support President Muhammadu Buhari remove Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, thereafter, ordered the immediate sack of the Director General of the SSS, Lawal Daura. The presidency said the siege was not authorised.

Mr Daura was promptly replaced by the next most senior official at the SSS,

Mr Saraki at a press conference condemned the siege and praised the Acting President for terminating Mr Dauras appointment.

He also said he will not relinquish his position as senate president, contrary to the demand of Nigerias governing party, APC. The senate president recently left the APC for the main opposition party, PDP.

On his official twitter handle on Tuesday, Mr Saraki called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an independent judicial panel of inquiry into the siege on the National Assembly.

The very serious questions about last Tuesdays siege on the National Assembly can only be answered through a thorough and neutral investigation.

I call on Mr. President to immediately institute an independent judicial panel of inquiry to look into that assault on our democracy, he tweeted.

The very serious questions about last Tuesdays siege on the National Assembly can only be answered through a thorough and neutral investigation. I call on Mr. President to immediately institute an independent judicial panel of inquiry to look into that assault on our democracy.  Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) August 14, 2018

Mr Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, had earlier accused the presidency of planning to implicate them and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the invasion.

The duo alleged that the presidency had constituted a closet panel to review the interim report submitted by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, and submit a final recommendation that implicate them and their colleagues.

They also said the mandate of the closet panel being formed by the federal government is to turn facts on their head and blame the invasion of the National Assembly on the two leaders of the Senate who will then be presented as having worked in tandem with the sacked Director-General of the DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura to stage the parliamentary security breach.
On the day the Nigerian presidency was complaining about the excesses of a unit in the police, the same unit was forcing a PREMIUM TIMES journalist to disclose his source.

The Nigerian police, through the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Tuesday arrested and detained Samuel Ogundipe, who covers the security sector.

Apart from Mr Ogundipe, this newspapers editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained and manhandled by the police at the SARS headquarters in Abuja.

Ms Adedigba was later released after about three hours of detention.

Mr Mojeed and Mr Ogundipe were driven from the SARS headquarters in Abuja to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was made to write a statement.

At the Force headquarters, a DCP at the IGP Monitoring Unit, Sani Ahmadu, was heard directing lawyers to rush to court to obtain a warrant to detain Mr Ogundipe.

They repeatedly asked the journalist to disclose his source for a story published by this newspaper.

The story, also published by other media, revealed a letter written by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on last weeks siege to the National Assembly by security officials.

When Mr Mojeed alerted the DCP that it was wrong compelling a journalist to disclose a source of information, the police officer became furious threatening the journalist.

He said the police was acting within the law and that Samuel would remain detained unless he discloses those who gave him the document, the journalist said.

Samuel Ogundipe, a reporter at Premium Times

Officials at the police headquarters told PREMIUM TIMES that the directive to detain the journalist came directly from the Inspector General of Police who is said to be angry at this papers critical reporting of his activities.

How the journalist was arrested

Moves to arrest Mr Ogundipe started on Saturday, August 11, when a Police Superintendent, Emmanuel Onyeneho, phoned a PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Azeezat Adedigba, requesting her to show up at their station.

PREMIUM TIMES management had then insisted that the request be formally sent to it so the reporter could honour it on Monday.

A formal of invitation letter from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Muhammed, said the police was investigating a crime of which her name and number was involved.

This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, cybercrime, attempted kidnapping and fraudulent act that your name and phone number featured.

You are kindly requested to interview the undersigned officer on 14th August 2018 by 1000hrs for fact findings, the letter reads.

It turned out it was all a lie when the reporter arrived at the SARS office as directed.

As early as 10 a.m. Monday morning, the reporter, in the company of Mr Mojeed and another staffer was at the SARS headquarters, Guzape, but was told the investigating officer, Emmanuel Onyeneho, was not available.

An armed operative (ostensibly on directives), who attended to the trio subsequently confiscated Ms Adedigbas phone and detained her, after physically manhandling PREMIUM TIMES editor-in-chief, who attempted to intervene.

After she was led in, the editor and the staffer had to wait for over four hours before Mr Onyeneho eventually sauntered in.

See the police letter containing totally fabricated allegations against a Premium Times reporter.

See the police letter containing totally fabricated allegations against a Premium Times reporter.

Subsequently, the official, who declined giving details on the reason for the invitation requested that Ms Adedigba dial a number, he provided, with her phone. The dialled number turned out to be that of Mr Ogundipe. The official requested that Mr Mojeed ask the reporter, to come down, a request he immediately obliged.

Immediately, Mr Ogundipe came in, Ms Adedigba was allowed to go while Messrs Mojeed and Ogundipe were detained.

It was at this point that the two were notified that the police were investigating the source of the interim report sent by the IGP on Mr Daura as published by PREMIUM TIMES.

They were subsequently driven to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was made to write

The Story

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, recently accused Mr Daura of gross violation of Nigerian constitution in Tuesdays barricade of the National Assembly by State Security Service operatives.

In a preliminary report on the controversial incident prepared for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, Mr Idris said Mr Daura was working for some politicians for selfish interest, but did not name the accomplices.

He said Mr Daura did not consult with other security agencies before ordering the siege, and questioned the validity of a security report that allegedly anticipated a violence at the parliament.

Mr Daura was sacked by Mr Osinbajo on Tuesday afternoon. He was immediately handed over to the police for further interrogation, after unathorised deployment of SSS officers that sparked nationwide outrage and condemnation.

Mr Idris said the police have been interrogating Mr Daura in Garki, Abuja, since he was arrested.

The report, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, was signed by Mr Idris on August 8, but it was not immediately clear whether Mr Osinbajo has received it.

Apparently disturbed by the report, the police operatives are bent on making Mr Ogundipe disclose the source of the documents.

However, the report was also published by other newspapers who had access to the documents.
An operative of the police Special Anti-robbery Squad, (SARS) on Tuesday physically assaulted PREMIUM TIMES editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, as he tried to defend a reporter from being harassed at the SARS headquarters, Abuja.

The police, through SARS, had on Saturday verbally requested that a reporter, Azeezat Adedigba, who covers the education beat appear before it on Monday morning over a criminal investigation it was carrying out. PREMIUM TIMES later found out that this was a subterfuge to get at another reporter, Samuel Ogundipe, over a recent report he authored.

PREMIUM TIMES management had earlier insisted that the invitation request to Ms Adedigba be formally sent so she could report as requested.

As early as 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the reporter, in the company of Mr Mojeed and another staffer was at the SARS headquarters, Guzape, but was told the investigating officer, Emmanuel Onyeneho, was not available.

An armed aggressive operative (ostensibly acting on directives), who attended to the team, violently seized Ms Adedigbas phone even when Mr Mojeed expressed willingness to wait with the reporter for the officer to know the reason for the invite.

The irate officer, in a sudden violent move to get at the phone, which was briefly in the hands of Mr Mojeed, shoved at him, physically manhandling him and threatening to deal with him even as he wielded a loaded gun. When told the reporter was not under arrest by a calm Mr Mojeed, the officer sneered and simply told the journalist not to go beyond a certain point or he would be dealt with.

After Ms Adedigba was led in, the editor and a staffer had to wait for over four hours before investigating officer, Emmanuel Onyeneho, eventually sauntered in at about 2 p.m.

Subsequently, the official, who initially declined giving details on the reason for the invitation, requested that Ms Adedigba dial a number, he provided, with her phone. The dialled number turned out to be that of Mr Ogundipe. The official requested that Mr Mojeed ask Mr Ogundipe to come over, a request the editor immediately obliged.

Immediately, Mr Ogundipe came in, Ms Adedigba was allowed to go while Messrs Mojeed and Ogundipe were detained.

It was at this point that the two were notified that the police were investigating the source of the interim report sent by the IGP on Mr Daura as published by PREMIUM TIMES.

They were subsequently driven to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was detained.

Mr Ogundipe is currently being pressed to disclose his source for the report, a request he has declined. He has now been moved to the SARS headquarters where he is being detained while Mr Mojeed was released.
Local and international media rights advocates have criticised the police over the arrest and detention of PREMIUM TIMES security sector reporter, Samuel Ogundipe, on Tuesday.

Two other PREMIUM TIMES journalists, editor-in-chief Musikilu Mojeed and education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained by the operatives of the police Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS). Unlike Mr Ogundipe, both journalists were released on Tuesday after several hours.

Mr Ogundipe is currently being pressed to disclose his source for a story published by this newspaper, a request he has declined. He was moved to the SARS headquarters on Tuesday where he is being detained.

The International Press Centre (IPC) in a statement by its director, Lanre Arogundade, said it was particularly dismayed that the Police authorities want Mr Ogundipe to disclose the source of information over a story published by the newspaper on a correspondent between the Inspector General of Police and the Vice President.

This, to us, is a clear assault on press freedom and a clear threat to the safety of the detained journalist and his colleagues.

The Police Authorities are also hereby reminded that the Freedom of Information Act, a federal law, enacted in 2011, in Section 16 subsection C confers on the media Journalism Confidentiality Privileges and as such should desist from engaging in unconstitutional acts. We condemn the arrests and detention of the concerned journalists and hereby demand the immediate release of Mr. Ogundipe.

The Social Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) in a tweet said the authorities and the police should immediately and unconditionally release Mr Ogundipe.

SERAP also expressed shock over the freezing of the bank account of the detained journalist by the police.

Freezing bank account of detained journalist Samuel Ogundipe @PremiumTimesng is a textbook case of a vicious crackdown on critical media. It amounts to a double jeopardy and this must end Now.

Journalism Is Not a Crime. Detaining and ill-treating journalists isnt just a human rights abuse, but also an attack on the press and Nigerians freedom of expression and access to information.

Also condemning the detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in a tweet expressed concern over the development.

We gravely concerned by reports that journalist @SamuelOgundipe has been arrested and detained by @PoliceNG for his reporting with @PremiumTimesng.

Amnesty International also condemned the police for coercing a journalist to reveal his source.

Nigeria Police must release journalist #FreeSamuelOgundipe of @PremiumTimesng. Journalism is not a crime and coercing a journalist to reveal his sources is a gross violation. #ENDSAR.

Another civic group, Enough Is Enough also condemned the arrest.

We condemn the detention of @PremiumTimesng journalist by @PoliceNG. Such attack on the media is unlawful and has no place in a democracy, the group wrote on its Twitter handle

Apart from the civic groups, Nigerians across board and on social media have also been calling for the release of Mr Ogundipe using the hashtag #FreeSamuelOgundipe on Twitter.

On the same day you ordered the police to overhaul SARS, SARS still arrested Samuel Ogundipe, a @PremiumTimesng journalist because of a story. Please consider this as evidence that SARS needs to be scrapped and not overhauled. #EndSARS, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, wrote.

The arrest of @SamuelOgundipe a Journalist with @PremiumTimesng by @PoliceNG for not disclosing his news source, journalists are not expected to disclose sources. The police should stop arbitrary arrest and detention of citizens. Not on a day government announced #ReformPoliceNG, said Kayode Ogundamisi, influential public commentator and analyst.

Arresting, detaining @PremiumTimesng journalist @SamuelOgundipe to compel source disclosure is a constitutional violation that should have no place in democracy. @PoliceNG #IGPIdris should order his immediate & unconditional release #FreeSamuelOgundipe @PLACNG @SituationRoomNg, Clement Nwankwo, a human rights lawyer wrote.

Dear @ProfOsinbajo, on the very day you set the ball rolling on reforming SARS, the same SARS have detained a journalist, @SamuelOgundipe of @PremiumTimesng, and are trying to force him to reveal his source for a story, Cheta Nwanze, a data analyst and public policy expert wrote.

For popular social commentator, Japhet Omojuwa, #FreeSamuelOgundipe should go hand in hand with #FireTheIG !
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to attack some of its senators in a bid to ensure the Senate President, Bukola Saraki retains his position as senator.

The position of the senate president since his defection has been under threat as the ruling party is bent on him resigning or being removed. The APC says Mr Saraki can no longer lead the Senate having joined the minority party. Mr Saraki, however, insists on retaining his seat and says he will not resign.

The APC, which still has slight majority in the Senate, will need two third of the senators to remove Mr Saraki which means it will need the help of some PDP senators.

The party, noting it does not believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve its goals, said it is already in talks with PDP senators it believes are in support of President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

The APC, in a statement on Tuesday by its acting national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, said it learnt the PDP will recruit thugs for this purpose.

It therefore called on security agents to protect APC senators and warned that if any senator is harmed, the PDP and Mr Saraki should be held directly responsible.

Our attention has been drawn to sinister plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attack some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators as part of the PDPs desperate bid to ensure that Dr. Bukola Saraki clings to the position of Senate President.

We learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APCs Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC Senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings.

We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack APC Senators is real and imminent.

The party also alleged that Mr Saraki tried to bribe its senators with N100 million each. It provided no evidence to back up its claims.

We reiterate our call for Sarakis immediate resignation as Senate President. He cannot lead the APC majority Senate. But if he fails to resign honourably, we will impeach him. The PDPs propaganda and threat of violence cannot save him.

Sarakis decision not to reconvene the National Assembly done with the support of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara further buttresses our position (that) Saraki is ever ready to pursue his selfish interests over National Interest. This is another brazen display of his penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government, however the cost and implication.

Clearly, Sarakis actions as Senate President now bother on high treason.
The Centre for Democracy and Development has added its voice to the demand for the release of Premium Times journalist, Samuel Ogundipe.

Mr Ogundipe was arrested and detained on Tuesday for refusing to disclose his source for a story.

Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists and other international and local civic groups have all condemned Mr Ogundipes arrest and called for his release.

Read the CDDs statement signed by its director, Idayat Hassan, below.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) condemn in strong terms the detention of Samuel Ogundipe of the Premium Times. This case again points to the intolerance and clamp down on the media, thoughts and fundamental rights by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). The constant attempt to intimidate journalist to cover the truth, against the oath of speaking, search and unveiling the truth, men of the press have sworn to uphold is not just inimical to democracy but the sustenance of our hard fought and won democracy in Nigeria. As Walter Lippmann noted in Liberty and the News, There can be no higher law in journalism than, to tell the truth, and shame the devil.

CDD call on the Nigerian Police Force under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Kpotun to immediately release Samuel Ogundipe. The protection of a source is a sacred trust journalist uphold. Samuel Ogundipe has the right to protect the secrecy of informants information.

We immediately call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, to respect the fundamental rights of journalists and unconditionally release of Mr Ogundipe from unlawful arrest and detention and bring to an end to all forms of harassment of the fourth estate of the realm.

Release Mr Samuel Ogundipe now!
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, on his conferment with the 2018 Michael Hill Prize by the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL) in Montreal, Canada.

Mr Onnoghen was honoured at the 31st conference of the ISRCL, an international non-governmental association of judges, legislators, lawyers, academics, governmental officials, and police and corrections professionals.

Mr Osinbajo noted that the award was in recognition of Mr Onnoghens commitment to the development of the countrys judicial system.

He said, It is heart-warming to see the Your Lordships hardwork and commitment to deepening reforms for a more effective administration of Justice system in the country has received international attention and commendation from such a prestigious association.
An Ikeja High Court has dismissed the murder charge filed against Moshood Salvador, the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the PDP.

Mr Salvador was remanded in the Kirikiri Prisons following his arraignment at a Yaba Chief Magistrates Court alongside 10 others on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful killing on July 25.

During Tuesdays proceedings, the vacation judge, Obafemi Adamson, dismissed the charge after entertaining submissions from counsels in a counter suit challenging the charge filed by Salvador against the state.

Justice Adamson in the ruling said that in view of the advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP,) which exonerated the PDP chairman from the murder charge, Mr Salvador should be released from the Kirikiri Prison.

Earlier, Olaitan Soetan, an Assistant Director from the DPP had informed the court that there was a new development regarding Mr Salvadors prayers in the counter suit.

Lawal Pedro, Mr Salvadors defence counsel, also told the court: the matter has been overtaken by circumstances.

He urged the court to still grant all prayers sought.

Mr Salvador and the 10 other defendants were charged over the murder of Adeniyi Aborishade, the PDP Chairman of the Apapa Local Government Area (LGA).

Mr Aborishade was murdered on July 21, during the PDPs visitation meeting that held at Igbosuku Village, Eti-Osa LGA.

The offences contravene Sections 223 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

(NAN)
A judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Stephen Pam, has insisted that the police arrest the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.

A Court of Appeal presided by Justice Abdul Aboki had on Monday suspended the bench warrant issued for the arrest of Mr Yakubu by the lower court on August 8.

Mr Pams initial order was made after Mr Yakubu failed to appear in court for the third time, over a case involving Anambra State politics.

Mr Yakubus case was brought before the lower court by an Anambra State politician, Ejike Oguebego, challenging the commissions refusal to recognise him as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment of December 2014.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr Yakubus lawyer, Adebgboyega Awomolo, confirmed the report and explained that the order given by the court of Appeal on Monday means that the lower court cannot sit, until all pending appeals at the appellate court are decided.

The FHC also slated August 14 for the continuation of the matter.

When the high court resumed on Tuesday, Mr Pam said the defence team had not shown any evidence that a higher court ordered the suspension of the matter. According to the judge, the suspension of the August 8 directive cannot be based on hearsay. The court frowned at the absence of Mr Yakubu as well as his counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, who arrived after the judges ruling.

After noting that the defence failed to provide evidence of the appeal court ruling, the court said the August 8 order still stands and adjourned the matter till August 16.
PREMIUM TIMES hereby calls for the immediate release of its reporter, Samuel Ogundipe, who was detained on Tuesday by the Nigeria Police over a report.

On the day the Nigerian presidency was complaining about the excesses of a unit in the police, the same unit was forcing a PREMIUM TIMES journalist to disclose his source.

The Nigerian police, through the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Tuesday arrested and detained the reporter.

Apart from Mr Ogundipe, this newspapers Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained and manhandled by the police at the SARS headquarters in Abuja.

Ms Adedigba was later released after about three hours of detention.

Mr Mojeed and Mr Ogundipe were driven from the SARS headquarters in Abuja to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was made to write a statement.

At the Force headquarters, a Deputy Commissioner of Police at the IGP Monitoring Unit, Sani Ahmadu, was heard directing lawyers to rush to court to obtain a warrant to detain Mr Ogundipe.

They repeatedly asked the journalist to disclose his source for a story published by this newspaper.

The story, also published by other media, revealed a letter written by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on last weeks siege to the National Assembly by security officials.

When Mr Mojeed alerted the DCP that it was wrong compelling a journalist to disclose a source of information, the police officer became furious threatening the journalist.

He said the police was acting within the law and that Samuel would remain detained unless he discloses those who gave him the document, the journalist said.

The police are yet to offer a coherent reason for their denial of the reporter his freedom.

Premium Times especially condemns the Gestapo manner in which the Nigeria Police have taken Mr Ogundipe into custody and hereby demands his immediate and unconditional release.

His detention is in gross violation of Mr Ogundipes rights, the Nigerian laws and all democratic tenets; and is an unacceptable abridgement of his citizenship and professional privileges.

It should be embarrassing to the Nigeria Police to so brazenly clamp down on a law-abiding citizen and journalist with an apparent sinister view to inhibiting the practice of his profession in line with its ethics and within the latitude guaranteed by the laws of Nigeria and international conventions.

The subterfuge employed in bringing in the reporter, even while harassing his colleagues should also be condemned by all Nigerians.

This heavy-handed treatment of a journalist against whom no case of violation of the law has been made is an embarrassment to Nigeria and advertises the country as disdainful of its own laws and democratic practice.

We wonder what the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, finds attractive in making Nigeria a laughing stock at a time the eyes of the civilised world are on the country as it approaches a milestone in the development of its democracy.

We therefore call on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to direct the Police to release Mr Ogundipe immediately and unconditionally.

Dapo Olorunyomi

Publisher, Premium Times.
As part of moves to further traumatise him, the Nigerian police, through the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Tuesday froze the bank account of PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Samuel Ogundipe.

Mr Ogundipe was arrested at about 300 p.m. and driven from the SARS headquarters in Abuja to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where he was made to write a statement concerning the source of a recent story he wrote. He has declined giving his source as allowed by journalism ethics.

Mr Ogundipes salary account with Ecobank was frozen in an attempt to frustrate him. One of the police officers handling the investigation, Emmanuel Onyeneho, an inspector, was heard saying they had to freeze the account to incapacitate the reporter.

At the Force headquarters, where he was taken, a Deputy Commissioner of Police at the IGP Monitoring Unit, Sani Ahmadu, was heard directing lawyers to rush to court to obtain a warrant to detain Mr. Ogundipe.

They also repeatedly asked the journalist to disclose his source.

Mr Ogundipe has been taken back to the SARS headquarters in Abuja and is currently being detained there.

Apart from asking Mr Ogundipe to disclose his source, the police also accused the reporter, who covers the security sector, of publishing mainly negative stories about the police.

Mr Onyeneho told Mr Ogundipe that they believe the journalist had written more negative stories than positive stories about the police and they considered that a crime.

He said the journalist must disclose all his sources for his stories about the police, something Mr Ogundipe professionally declined.

Aside Mr Ogundipe, this newspapers editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained and harassed by the police at the SARS headquarters in Abuja.

Ms Adedigba and Mr Mojeed were later released after hours of detention.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) at the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters in Abuja, Sani Ahmadu, has said he does not care if compelling a journalist to disclose his source embarrasses Nigeria.

Mr Ahmadu said this while responding to a question posed to him by the Premium Times Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, regarding the arrest and detention of Samuel Ogundipe through subterfuge.

Mr Mojeed asked the police chief if he was aware that it was globally wrong to force a journalist to disclose source for a story, and thus could be embarrasing for Nigeria. In response, Mr Ahmadu said, I dont care. He shouted at the top of his voice threatening the editor.

The Nigerian police, through the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), on Tuesday arrested and detained Mr Ogundipe, who covers the security sector.

Apart from Mr Ogundipe, this newspapers editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained and manhandled by the police at the SARS headquarters in Abuja.

Ms Adedigba was later released after over three hours of detention, same as Mr Mojeed.

Messrs Mojeed and Ogundipe were driven from the SARS headquarters in Abuja to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was made to write a statement.

At the Force headquarters, a DCP was heard directing lawyers to rush to court to obtain a warrant to detain Mr Ogundipe.

Mr Mojeed, thereafter, asked Mr Ahmadu if he (the DCP) was aware that asking a journalist to reveal his source of a story could become an embarrassment to Nigeria as global journalism standards forbid such.

I dont care if I embarrass Nigeria or not. I have the right to keep him here and I will keep him until he reveals his source, the DCP said. We are ready for it (to embarrass Nigeria). Go and tell that to those who are afraid of the media. We are not.

Officials at the police headquarters told PREMIUM TIMES that the directive to detain the journalist came directly from the Inspector General of Police who is said to be angry at this newspapers critical reporting of his activities.
#TakeItBack movement, a support group loyal to presidential hopeful and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has been announced as one of the newly registered political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The movement is behind the new party named Africa Action Congress (AAC). It is one of the 23 political parties announced by the electoral umpire on Tuesday.

Malcom Fabiyi, Director General of the TakeItBack Movement/Sowore 2019 Campaign, said the official unveiling of the party will take place in Abuja.

On August 15th, the official unveiling of our party, the AAC, will hold at the Party Headquarters in ABUJA. We will also be announcing the members of our Coalition of Authentic Progressive Parties & Organizations (CAPPO) on that date, Mr Fabiyi said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday afternoon.

With our own dedicated party platform, we are now able to match up a pace setting movement with a transformative political platform.

We call on progressives and youth everywhere to embrace the AAC. Our party is the authentic platform for political transformation in Nigeria. Our partys slogan will be  Take it Back  Action!!!

Mr Sowore, who is vying for the seat of Nigerian president, is expected to adopt the new party.

The activist and newspaper publisher has been moving around different parts of the country discussing with Nigerians and organising town hall meetings. He has also held meetings with many Nigerians in the diaspora.
Notable Nigerians have expressed their excitement over the decision as many clamoured for the scrapping and reformation of the police unit in the past months. The #EndSARS hashtag gained prominence on Twitter.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Osinbajo, in a press release, ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to overhaul the activities of the police unit.

Nigerians have commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, following his directive to review the management and operations of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with immediate effect.

This is an important step forward in the reform of Nigerias notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad. It helps that the Human Rights abuses got referenced too. Hopefully, it leads to a much better unit. @ProfOsinbajo ! #EndSARS issagoal! he tweeted.

JJ. Omojuwa @omojuwa, a social media enthusiast, said the step is germane in the reformation of SARS.

Another Twitter user, Reno Omokri @renoomokri, an author, tweeted:

I commend @ProfOsinbajo for responding to Nigerians clamour over SARS, however, I dont believe an overhaul is what is required. You shouldnt overhaul what has become a vehicle for oppressing Nigerians. I call on the VP to #EndSARS and return its officers to core police duties.

Joe Abah @DrJoeAbah also commended the campaign team and supporters, who advocated for the reformation.

Well done to you @segalink and the team. It takes a lot of discipline to remain methodical, focused & persistent without allowing a rush of blood to the head to derail efforts. For academics like us, the process you all have adopted to successfully #EndSARS is worthy of study.

However, some begged for the implementation of the orders of the VP.

The Devil is in the details. The implementation of the order is key. We will remain vigilant as we press on to ensure effective monitoring. Humans are weakest at the point of success but we must understand that success by itself is a journey & never a destination, Segun Awosanya @segalink, an advocate of #EndSARS, tweeted.

Former minister for finance, Oby Ezekwesili, after applauding the presidential directive, said wisdom expects that a directive must be actioned for any change to happen.

So, it is even now more crucial for citizens to collectively monitor EXECUTION of Directive VIGILANTLY. #DontSlack.

The directive by Mr Osinbajo occurred on the same day the SARS was forcing a PREMIUM TIMES journalist to disclose his source.

The Nigerian police through SARS on Tuesday arrested and detained Samuel Ogundipe, who covers the security sector.

Apart from Mr Ogundipe, this newspapers editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained and manhandled by the police at the SARS headquarters in Abuja.

Ms Adedigba and Mr Mojeed were later released while Mr Ogundipe was still being detained at the time of this report.
The Governor of Gombe State and presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Dankwambo, said he paid a visit on Tuesday to former President Olusegun Obasanjo like a son to his father.

Mr Dankwambo served as Accountant-General of the Federation under the administration of Mr Obasanjo before his election as governor of the North-east state.

He declined to give details of the meeting which took place at the private residence of the former president within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

At the end of the meeting which lasted over an hour, the governor met some PDP members and addressed them on his presidential ambition.

He said if elected, he will declare war on poverty and injustice in Nigeria, stressing that such a fight should be the number one priority of a leader in order to ensure the happiness of citizens.

Nobody can do it alone, but when you understand the people you want to serve you are going to give them the best.

I didnt know there are potholes in Ogun State because there are no potholes Gombe State. But anyways, victory in 2019 is coming to our party PDP.

We were all shouting we want change, but we didnt ask how he wanted to change the whole thing from negative to positive. Is he even qualified to make the change, he said in an allusion to President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

I have been a governor for seven years now. We have provided leadership before and we are still going to do more of it. We have developed economic blueprint, we will share it. I will provide the leadership Nigerians want.

He described the event as a  family meeting with the party stakeholders, stressing the ability to identify people that can do the work is what we should look after.

Mr Dankwambo is the latest PDP presidential aspirant to visit Mr Obasanjo although the former president is no longer a member of the party.
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) is organising a National Youth Skills Exhibition, TVET Expo and Conference as a Post-25th Anniversary Celebration.

The three-day event is scheduled to take place October 17 to 19 in Benin City, Edo State.

The Conference and Exhibition aims to convene an ecosystem of NABTEBs stakeholders (government, industry, academia, sectorial groups and other partners) to meet, amplify and catalyse skills development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)as a veritable tool for transforming the lives of young people, combating unemployment and poverty, and building a sustainable growth economy.

The expected attendees will include a combination of educators, policymakers and practitioners from national and state educational systems, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), decision makers from industries and commerce, academics, entrepreneurs, development practitioners, international institutions, donor agencies and non-governmental organisations engaged in various aspects of education, employment and economic development, as well as students, parents, career changers, young people and the general public.

This multi-faceted Event is a further indication of NABTEBs commitment to strengthening dialogue with its stakeholders and employers of labour on the need to take concrete steps to raise the skills profile of the Nigerian labour market and the importance of NABTEB assessment and certification as a driver for learning and professional advancement.

EVENT STRUCTURE:

National Youth Skills Exhibition: The Skills Exhibition is a celebration of quality and excellence in technical and vocational education, and is targeted at Science and Technical Colleges, and allied Post-Basic Educational Institutions in Nigeria. The Exhibition will showcase the skills and talents of students, and provide competitors with the opportunity to challenge their peers in various skills, trades and technologies based on criteria set by industries. The Exhibition is the culmination of the hard work of young people, their trainers, training providers and employers.

The Skills Exhibition aims to raise awareness among young people, their parents and educators about the value of technical and vocational training as viable career option. This Event is a great opportunity for industries and professional bodies to share their expertise and knowledge through participation as members of the Panel of Judges and sponsorship of events.

Education That Pays for Itself Nigeria 2018 Conference: Taking place concurrently with the Youth Skills Exhibition is the Education That Pays for Itself Nigeria 2018 conference. Organised in collaboration with Teach A Man to Fish UK, the three-day conference will bring together over 300 delegates from Nigeria and beyond to present, discuss and share information on key issues and challenges facing education, skills development, especially assessment for preparing young people for the world of work and professional advancement.

The theme for this years conference is: Learning for Life: Entrepreneurship, Employability and Skills for Career Advancement.

The Conference programme is packed with practical solution-oriented workshops and interactive knowledge exchange sessions, learning labs, plenary sessions, panel discussions and poster presentations on specific topics. Representatives from governments, academia, industry and international organisations will exchange experiences, ideas, new information and perspectives on issues related to preparing students for a future that lays premium on skills and entrepreneurial mindset

The Conference presentations will be facilitated by leading experts and practitioners, and will offer attendees a unique opportunity to learn about the latest developments and acquire important skills. This is an occasion tonetwork andmake useful connections with people at the forefront of education, business and skills development.

TVET Expo: Alongside the Exhibition and Conference, the TVET Expo will spotlight the wide variety of TVET institutions and career options available to young people in Nigeria. The Expo will bring together TVET institutions, Post-Basic Educational Institutions and employers of labour to provide a forum on accessing technical and vocational training, employment and support for starting small businesses.

The TVET Expo aims to sensitise primary and secondary school students, teachers, parents and the general public to embrace practical technical and vocational skills education as an attractive and viable career option for students after basic education and for further education of young people. The Expo attendees will have the opportunity to access a broad range of educational information and career advice, as well as interact with representatives of accredited public and private TVET institutions and colleges to discuss technical and vocational courses and develop a career plan for the future.

The Expo is also a distinctive platform for businesses and industries to showcase their products, services and expertise to a wide variety of stakeholders and decision makers in the Nigerian educational sector.

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION:

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) invites all stakeholders, including educational institutions, the business community and social and economic development organisations to take advantage of the opportunity to attend the NABTEB National Youth Skills Exhibition, TVET Expo and Conference. With the support of stakeholders, friends and enablers, the Event aims to become an annual fixture on the NABTEB calendar.

National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) is the leading examination body that assesses and certifies all post-basic learners (below the tertiary educational level) for the world of work and for further educational advancement. NABTEBs qualifications are recognised locally and globally for the purpose of employment and admission to tertiary institutions.

NABTEB was established in 1992 to take over the conduct of examinations hitherto conducted by the City and Guild (C&G) of London and Royal Society of Arts (RSA) of London, and the technical and business examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in order to domesticate their examinations and tailor them to address societal needs.

Essentially, while TVET builds skills for work and life, NABTEB assesses and certifies these skills for specific career pathways that lead to engagement in quality self-employment, as high-skilled employees and for admission into tertiary education. NABTEB is key player in the Nigerian educational system and is a leading contributor to the development and implementation of educational policies and strategies at all levels of government, especially in the area of TVET.

Teach A Man To Fish, the UK Registered international organisation, is a global leader in providing school based enterprise and entrepreneurship education to empower young people to succeed in work and life. Operating in more than 130 countries in South America, Africa and Asia, Teach A Man To Fish enhances the quality and relevance of education, and positively impacts poverty reduction, employment generation, wealth creation and general standard of living. Now in its 12th year, the Education That Pays For Itself international conference is a product of Teach A Man To Fish.

To find out more about the NABTEB National Youth Skills Exhibition, TVET Expo and Conference, please contact the following: Mark Ugwoke (+234 8033781644, +234 8183742525), Adeyemi Brown (+234 8063876913), Ema Ndon (+234 8033750662) or email NABTEB at nabtebhqt@yahoo.com. For more information about NABTEB, please visit www.nabtebnigeria.org.
More than 50 houses were destroyed in Dakingari town in Suru Local Government Area of Kebbi on Monday night by heavy downpour that resulted to flooding.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late hour rain rendered many people homeless in the town.

Rabiu Kamba, the Executive Director of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told NAN in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that no death was recorded so far.

So far, we have not recorded any death, but over 50 houses were destroyed by the late night rain, he said.

According to Kamba, officials from the agency have visited the affected area to assess the damage done by the rain.

We are collating data to report back to the state government for possible assistance to the victims, he said.

Mr Kamba warned residents against using contaminated water from their wells as the wells had been contaminated by the flood.

We will report the situation to the state ministry of health for prompt action and necessary measures, he said.

(NAN)
The federal government on Tuesday, signed a N12.7 billion agreement with the Kano State Government on the expansion of water and sanitation services to the populace.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, at the event in Abuja, said the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH), agreement was a 15-year programme targeting mobilisation of all stakeholders to channel efforts to increase access to potable water and sanitation.

He said the programme, inaugurated by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in 2016, was a three-tier collaborative effort, which spans from 2016 to 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goal six for overall target of providing adequate and qualitative access to water at an affordable price.

He noted that the PEWASH was fallout from the efforts by Nigerian Government to meet its SDG commitment, saying these efforts was obvious with the development of a National Action Plan on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

On water supply, the planned scope of the PEWSAH Programme is the rehabilitation of 77,693 facilities and provision of 17,264 new facilities to increase access to rural water supply from 57 per cent to 62 per cent.

On Sanitation, we are targeting a total of 20,600,000 household toilets from 2019 to 2025 to end open defecation, he said.

He said todays agreement signing with Kano State, which came after Ogun State had shown that the states were taking the lead from the remaining 22 states which had shown interest by signing the PEWASH Protocols.

Mr Adamu urged the Kano State Government to attend to water supply through setting aside more funds for the implementation of the programme, saying this would go a long way to improve the lives and reduce diseases especially among under-fives.

The minister added that the responsibility of providing water supply rests with the states, hence the need for continued efforts to complement the gains recorded.

Responding, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said N12.7 billion earmarked for the programme clearly showed the concern and commitment of the present administration to improve the lives of Nigerians.

He said most rural populace depended on hand pump and motorised boreholes, saying with the implementation of the agreement, more lives would be improved.

Mr Ganduje said the state had budgeted N32 billion for provision of water supply in its 2018 budget, saying this would augment current efforts, and further maintain an average water production capacity of 150 to 200 million litres daily.

He said the state government had established a water law for the establishment of a WASH department in all 44 local councils to further strengthen water delivery services to the grassroots.

Mr Ganduje, while commending the efforts of all stakeholders, pledged to speedily commence the implementation of the agreement for the betterment of Kano populace.

He also appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the $200 million Islamic Development bank credit facility to promote water and agricultural development in the state.

(NAN)
Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, has approved the immediate payment of August, 2018 salaries to state and local government workers in the state.

The approval was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Dakingari, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital on Tuesday.

The statement quoted Head of the state Civil Service, Abubakar Idris, as saying, the payment is to enable civil servants celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir Festival with their families in a brighter and good mood.

It urged the civil servants to rededicate themselves to their duties and work diligently for the progress of the state.

The statement said that Mr Bagudu rejoiced with the civil servants ahead of the festival and urged them to pray for the peace and progress of the state, the nation and her leaders.

(NAN)
There was panic in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, on Monday evening as another man was killed by unidentified gunmen in daylight.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the killing of the man, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, came barely three days after a close ally of former governor Segun Oni, Bunmi Ojo was assassinated in the capital.

Witnesses said the man was shot at a junction close to the end of the newly constructed overhead bridge at the Okesa/Ojumose Area of the ancient town at about 5:30pm.

According to the witnesses, the victim, who was said to be a passenger on a commercial motorcycle, popularly called Okada, was allegedly pursued to the area where he was later killed by his assailants.

NAN learnt that the killers who also came to the scene on another Okada, ordered the operator of the commercial motorcycle conveying the victim to stop at the spot where he was killed and sped-off immediately they achieved their aim.

However, the assailants spared the operator of the Okada.

The body of the shot passenger had since been moved to an undisclosed hospital by sympathisers who felt he could still survive, as he bled profusely.

The incident led to sudden closure of many shops in and around the Bisi Market located close to the area by their owners, even as many residents who either witnessed or got wind of the killing hurriedly left for their homes.

When contacted, spokesperson for the state command, Caleb Ikechukwu, told NAN that the command was yet to be briefed by the Divisional Police Officer of the Okesa Division.

He promised to speak on the attack as soon as he got information about the incident.

(NAN)
The General Manager of King Solomon Chariots Transportation, Johnson Ogbonnaya, has voluntarily handed over to law enforcement officials a driver of the company, Abuchi Okpara, who absconded to Ghana after allegedly knocking down an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the agency said in a statement Tuesday.

Mr Okpara allegedly knocked down Obafemi Ogunmeru, a LASTMA officer, on August 7, 2017, at the Igando area of Alimosho while attempting to evade arrest after violating the State Traffic Law.

The offender was driving a Ghana-bound Nigeria commercial vehicle with registration number KJA 633 XT when he dropped passengers at an undesignated spot at Igando.

The unwholesome action of drivers around the axis, according to traffic officials, usually results in traffic obstruction and gridlock on the ever busy Igando-Ikotun road, a development which made LASTMA officials to step up enforcement to ensure free flow of traffic in the area.

Mr Okparas action was said to be in gross violation of the relevant sections of the Lagos State Traffic Laws, and effort of the traffic official to make him move the vehicle to the nearest lay-bye proved abortive.

The drivers failure to obey Mr Ogunmerus directive and desperate maneuvering to evade apprehension led to Mr Okpara running his Toyota Sienna vehicle over the traffic official.

In its statement, LASTMA stated that the intervention of nearby police officers was unable to prevent the driver from escaping from the scene of the incident after which he allegedly fled to Ghana.

The victim was rushed to lgando General Hospital for initial treatment, before being transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for comprehensive medical care, the agency said.

However, the commitment of police officers of the Igando Police Station and subsequent support of Ogbonnaya eventually led to the drivers arrest.

Ogbonnaya personally travelled to Ghana to apprehend the suspect, brought him to Nigeria and handed him over to LASTMA and police to face the full wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, the driver was on Monday charged before an Igando Magistrate Court where he was ordered to be remanded in Kirikiri Prison.

Speaking on the development, LASTMAs General Manager, Olawale Musa, condemned the unwarranted attack on Mr Ogunmeru in strong terms, saying the trend of vicious attacks on the state traffic officials by unscrupulous people was of great concern to government, and warned any aggrieved individual to take advantage of the various complaint channels set up by the agency to channel their grievances for immediate action instead of taking laws into their hands.

He said LASTMA officials remained committed to discharging their duty and responsibility to the good people of the state, just as he urged vehicle owners to take a cue from the action of Mr Ogbonnaya by cooperating with the agency and ensuring that violators of laws on their payroll were not allowed to go scot-free.

We like to commend Ogbonnaya for this rare display of patriotism and exemplary behaviour and urge others to take a cue from him because this can only encourage traffic officials to continue discharging their duty effectively.

We also like to commend the Igando Station Police Officers. What we have noticed is that LASTMA officials are increasingly becoming hesitant in responding to accident victims due to the fear of being attacked and our message to the public is that attack on our personnel can be counterproductive to the victims of such accidents since they usually serve as first responders at most scenes of accidents.

So, it is in our collective interest to stop the menace of offenders attacking traffic officials, while government will also not relent in intensifying efforts to continually address same, the LASTMA boss said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  A local court has ordered the arrest of alleged drug lord Peter Lim within 10 days.

A Makati Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant on Lim, who is facing charges of conspiracy to commit illegal trading for selling and distributing illegal drugs in the Visayas. His co-accused are self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, Marcelo Adorco, and Ruel Malindangan.

Their trial will begin on August 28, as ordered by Acting Presiding Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos, on charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The court directed the Mabolo Police Station in Cebu City to make the arrest. Lim's last known address is in Barangay Mabalo, but his exact whereabouts is unknown since he skipped hearings on his drug cases at the DOJ.

On August 17, the court will also hear an urgent motion of the DOJ to issue a hold departure order against Lim to prevent him from leaving the country.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said Lim left for a "short trip" abroad in March, but had since returned to the country.

READ: Where is Peter Lim?

Espinosa has been under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation since his arrest in Abu Dhabi in October 2016. Espinosa and his late father were first linked to the illegal drug trade by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Espinosa had admitted he was a drug dealer and told a Senate hearing that Lim was his supplier. Duterte had also named Lim as part of a Chinese triad leading illegal drug operations in the Visayas, a claim Lim has denied.

The charges against the men were earlier dropped by a first panel of prosecutors for lack of evidence, placing the DOJ in hot water. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre ordered a reinvestigation of the cases before resigning from his post.

A second panel of prosecutors recently recommended the filing of drug charges against the accused for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

CNN Philippines' Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
Between 6 and 9 August 2018 Debra Long, Research Fellow at the Human Rights Implementation Centre, delivered training in Uzbekistan, on the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT), a treaty aimed at the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment.

The OPCAT seeks to prevent torture and other ill-treatment through the establishment of a system of regular visits, to places where people are deprived of their liberty undertaken by a UN treaty body, the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) and national bodies, National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs).

The overall aim of the training was to help inform the ongoing national debate on the ratification of the OPCAT and the establishment of an NPM in Uzbekistan.

The training was arranged by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the National Human Rights Centre in Uzbekistan. It brought together representatives from a range of institutions including the government, law enforcement, parliament, the Ombudsman Office and the National Human Rights Centre, to examine the opportunities and challenges for the ratification of OPCAT in Uzbekistan. Expert support was also provided by Mari Amos, a member of the SPT.

The training explained how the OPCAT aims to assist States to implement their existing obligation to prevent torture and other ill-treatment and examined the mandate and functioning of the SPT. It also explored different models for National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs), drawn from the experience of States parties to the OPCAT globally.

This training forms part of the HRIC's ongoing work to support and provide advice to national institutions on the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment.
DOYLESTOWN >> Jarrod Eisenhauer, a detective with the Bucks County District Attorneys Office, has been honored by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the hard work of the Bucks County Detectives in taking down a large-scale drug trafficking ring that sold dangerous drugs in Bucks County and surrounding areas. Eisenhauer was among those honored at the Law Enforcement Partner Agent Awards...
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.




Huws Gray has appointed Stephen Thompstone as Non-Executive Director.

Currently the CEO of Crendon Timber Engineering and MD of Wyckham Blackwell, Thompstone has more than 35 years' industry experience.

Most of his career was at the Grafton Group, where most recently he was Managing Director of Buildbase, guiding the company through a successful acquisition-led growth strategy that included the successful integration of Hirebase and Jackson Building Centres. Prior to that he held senior roles at Jewson and Harcros. He also spent six years as a Non-Executive Director of the Builders Merchants Federation.

Thompstone said: I have been very impressed by Huws Grays rapid growth over the past 28 years from a single outlet in Anglesey into the leading UK-wide independent builders' merchant it is today. There is significant potential for Huws Gray to grow further, and I am excited by the opportunity to draw upon my experience at Buildbase and the Builders Merchants Federation to help guide the Huws Gray management teams ambitious growth strategy as they expand into new parts of the UK."

Terry Owen, Managing Director of Huws Gray, said: Stephen has an unrivalled knowledge of our industry gained from his time at the Builders Merchants Federation, which will be invaluable in supporting the growth of Huws Gray. Stephen has a distinguished track record of driving expansion through acquisition at Buildbase and we look forward to leveraging his experience to further our own expansion plans.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Endace, a specialist in high-speed network recording, traffic playback and analytics hosting, and Gigamon, the company leading the convergence of network and security operations to help organizations improve their security stance, today announced a technology partnership to dramatically improve visibility into network traffic for SecOps, NetOps and DevOps teams.

The partnership brings together the EndaceProbe Analytics Platform and the GigaSECURE Security Delivery Platform to give analysts the complete packet-level visibility they need to quickly and conclusively investigate and respond to security threats and remediate network and application performance issues.

Typically, analysts often struggle to uncover the evidence they need to quickly determine the root cause of cyber threats, breaches and network or application performance problems so they can respond appropriately. This is becoming more and more challenging as threat actors increasingly leverage encrypted traffic streams to hide evidence of their activity.

The GigaSECURE platform, a next generation network packet broker, delivers customers total control over how they direct traffic to their security and performance monitoring solutions. It enables filtering, load-balancing and decryption of encrypted traffic in addition to other features. EndaceProbes accurately record network traffic at full line rate and provide high-performance hosting for network security and performance analytics solutions in Application Dock the EndaceProbe's built-in hosting VM hosting environment.

By combining the GigaSECURE Security Delivery Platform with EndaceProbes customers can accurately record every packet on all segments of their network and decrypt encrypted traffic before it is delivered to hosted analytics applications and recorded by EndaceProbes.

"Investigating security threats or troubleshooting performance problems can be a slow, challenging and inconclusive process if you don't have access to the packets," said Stuart Wilson, CEO of Endace. "With the Endace and Gigamon partnership, customers have access to a highly scalable solution that delivers the definitive evidence they need to rapidly and accurately investigate and resolve issues."

Phil Griston, Senior Director of Partner Marketing and Development at Gigamon, commented: "Combining the GigaSECURE Security Delivery Platform with EndaceProbes gives our mutual customers total control over, and visibility into, the traffic on their networks. They can direct traffic with absolute precision to the EndaceProbe platforms on their network for analysis and recording. And control traffic flows to the security and performance analytics solutions they have deployed  both hosted on their EndaceProbes or standalone."

About Endace

Endace's multifunctional Analytics Platform can host 3rd-party network analytics applications while simultaneously recording a 100% accurate Network History, enabling fast, accurate detection, investigation and analysis of network security and performance issues.

The platform enables agile deployment of analytics functions and dramatically reduces OPEX and CAPEX costs by consolidating datacenter hardware. Hosted applications can analyze live or historical traffic. Global customers include banks, healthcare, telcos, broadcasters, retailers, web giants, governments and military.

For more information see www.endace.com or follow Endace on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Gigamon

Gigamon is the company leading the convergence of networking and security operations to help organizations reduce the complexity and increase efficiency of their security stack. The Company's GigaSECURE Security Delivery Platform is a next generation network packet broker that helps customers make threats more visible across cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments, deploy resources faster and maximize the performance of their security tools. Global 2000 companies and government agencies rely on Gigamon solutions to stop tool sprawl and save costs. Learn how you can make your infrastructure more resilient, more agile and more secure at www.gigamon.com, on our blog and Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

SOURCE Endace

Related Links

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MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the first store was set up overseas in 2015, MINISO has expanded throughout the world in three years. So far, MINISO has opened over 1,000 stores overseas in more than 70 countries and regions, and its sales volume of the overseas markets has reached $380 million in the first half of 2018. In the eyes of global consumers, MINISO has become the representative brand of "good-looking, high quality and high cost performance".

MINISO has gradually increased its expansion in overseas markets since 2016, and relevant data proved that it has achieved good results. The Philippines ranks in the top three for the number of MINISO stores in the world, only after Indonesia and India. For the good performance of the Philippine market, MINISO held a global agents summit in Manila on August 4. Representative partners from dozens of countries and senior officials of MINISO gathered together for discussion, learning and exchanges.

Mr. Ye Guofu, the global co-founder and CEO of MINISO addressed the summit that currently, the American section performs the best in the regional ranking of daily performance. In the TOP10 of MINISO's global store openings, there are three countries in the Americas, which are Mexico, Brazil and Canada.

Among all the Asian countries that MINISO has developed in, the Philippines performed the best, ranking in the top three. The representative of the Philippine market said that, MINISO had opened 58 stores in the Philippines till now, and they all performed well. Such achievement cannot be achieved without efficient management and operation. From ordering to local distribution, inventory optimization and personnel management, every link is closely linked.

Mr. Vincent, the vice president of MINISO International Operation Center concluded the overall development status of MINISO in overseas markets in the first half of 2018 and its planning for the second half of the year. According to Vincent, MINISO has opened over 1,000 stores in the overseas markets, and about 350 of them were opened in the first half of 2018. Besides, MINISO has also opened stores in another 10 countries and regions in 2018. In the first half of 2018, MINISO's global sales totaled $380 million. In the second half of 2018, MINISO will focus on products and adopt differentiation strategy for overseas markets. At present, the top three categories in the international market are fashion accessories, electronic appliances and health & beauty products. Among them, the cosmetics market is not yet saturated, and has great potential to grow.

The development of MINISO in overseas markets is rapid and mighty, and the actual operation and management in different countries and regions have accumulated a lot of experience. Such development momentum makes investors more confident.

During the summit, MINISO had reached cooperation agreements with Hungary and Costa Rica, making a step forward to its goal of "opening ten thousand of stores in one hundred countries with one hundred billion sales volume".

SOURCE MINISO Japan
"We are excited to be working with UbiQD to explore this innovative approach in managing wavelengths of light from light source to plant leaf within a food plant production application," said Dr. Gene Giacomelli, professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering Department and the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center at the University of Arizona. "This technology has the potential to improve the PAR light source efficiency, thereby becoming a game-changer for indoor crop production."

UbiQD has quietly been developing its QD agriculture films after receiving funding from Breakout Labs in 2017 to explore the concept. The company is now aiming to launch a retrofit version of its film product in late 2018 under the UbiGro brand. The UbiGro Film is designed to promote vegetable production and accelerate plant growth.

"With NASA's support we will work with the University of Arizona's Controlled Environment Agriculture Center in their College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to evaluate our quantum dot agriculture films for improved lettuce production," said Dr. Matt Bergren, Chief of Product at UbiQD and Principal Investigator for the project. "We have already been testing the films, in both research and commercial greenhouses in the U.S., and we've seen yield improvements for tomatoes on the order of 20-30 percent."

About UbiQD, Inc.

UbiQD is a nanotechnology company based in Los Alamos, New Mexico that manufactures high-performance cadmium-free quantum dots and composite materials. The company uniquely focuses on applications that utilize its nanomaterials to manipulate sunlight, enabling solar windows and spectrum-controlled greenhouses. Spun out of technology developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Washington, and Western Washington University, UbiQD envisions a future where quantum dots are ubiquitous in a wide spectrum of applications. For more information visit UbiQD.com and UbiGro.com.

About University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center

The Mission of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (UA-CEAC) is to develop economically, environmentally and socially sustainable agricultural systems that will provide food of high quality for helping to feed the world. Engineers and scientists focus on CEA production agricultural practices within greenhouse, growth rooms and vertical farms to provide the desired aerial environment and the necessary root zone environment using hydroponic production techniques. Resource use efficiency of water, energy and plant nutrients are improved within automated systems.

About NASA STTR Program

The NASA STTR program is sponsored by its Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) and managed at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. STMD is responsible for developing the cross-cutting, pioneering, new technologies and capabilities needed by the agency to achieve its current and future missions. For more information about the SBIR/STTR program, including the selection list, visit: sbir.nasa.gov/. To learn more about the other missions and programs NASA's Kennedy Space Center supports, visit www.nasa.gov/kennedy.

MEDIA CONTACTS

UbiQD, Inc.

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SOURCE UbiQD, Inc.
This year marks the first #GiveHeartsForKids campaign in which Nurse Mates is officially partnering with St. Jude. The affiliation with St. Jude is a stepping-stone for the campaign, and solidifies the initiative's stance as a major, ongoing movement. The 2018 campaign is anchored around the launch of the Nurse Mates Limited-Edition Sparkle Sneaker collection sold exclusively on NurseMates.com.

"The #GiveHeartsForKids campaign is such a meaningful initiative and we couldn't be happier with the support we have received from the community thus far. With the addition of the limited-edition collection we will undoubtedly be able to make an even more significant contribution to St. Jude this year. Launching our first official partnership with St. Jude is such an exciting step for us, and watching this campaign grow and evolve each year has been truly fulfilling. We look forward to keeping the momentum going for years to come. The possibilities are endless!" said David Issler, President and Creative Director of Nurse Mates.

Consumers who purchase these stand-out shoes will also receive campaign branded items to commemorate their support, including: a custom shoe box, St. Jude hang tag, satin dust bag, and a Give Hearts For Kids lapel pin. In addition to the resulting proceeds from the sales of the limited-edition shoe collection, Nurse Mates will launch the #GiveHeartsForKids social initiative on September 1. The brand will elicit the community to post heart photos to Instagram with the hashtag #GiveHeartsForKids in an effort to raise awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Nurse Mates will donate $1 to St. Jude for every post published with the campaign hashtag during the month of September.

"The generosity of Nurse Mates and its customers through campaigns like Give Hearts For Kids helps ensure St. Jude Children's Research Hospital can continue its lifesaving work of finding cures and saving children," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. But there's more work to be done and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer."

The limited-edition collection includes three unique styles and will be available on NurseMates.com beginning August 13. Each footwear style will retail for $129.00 per pair, and Nurse Mates will donate 100 percent of the net proceeds to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with no less than $100.00 per pair directly benefitting St. Jude. Nurse Mates will also donate $10.00 for all other footwear styles sold on NurseMates.com during the month of September creating an opportunity for the community to give back in several ways.

About Nurse Mates

For over 55 years, Nurse Mates has been dedicated to providing high quality and dependable, yet fashionable and innovative products for the health care profession. Our premium full-grain leathers, slip-resistant bottoms and comfort technologies make Nurse Mates footwear the best choice for working professionals seeking long lasting style and comfort. As the leader in professional footwear, accessories and apparel, Nurse Mates is always at the forefront of what busy professionals need - designing durable and comfortable workday products with a sense of purpose and creative flair.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food  because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude), following St. Jude on Twitter (@stjude) and subscribing to its YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/MyStJude).

SOURCE Nurse Mates
RUEIL-MALMAISON, France, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In Haut-Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the lack of qualified electricians is undermining the province's economic development. With this in mind, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, and the Society of Jesus in the DRC will help 500 local young people find work between 2018 and 2020 by creating two certified training courses for electricians. Eighty percent of these trainees will come from underprivileged families.

Boosting the Haut-Katanga economy

As Africa's fourth most populated country, with a wealth of natural resources, DRC has experienced GDP growth of between 2 to 9 percent in recent years. Economic growth has been particularly strong in Haut-Katanga, the DRC's industrial and mining center, and the province's capital Lubumbashi, the country's second-largest city and major business center.

However, the DRC's economy is being hampered by its lack of infrastructure and skills, which is undermining growth. In Haut-Katanga, the electricity sector is having to resort to foreign workers to meet its electrical equipment, installations and maintenance needs, impacting the province's underprivileged populations.

A partnership to help underprivileged young people find work

Committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, Schneider Electric is particularly invested in SDG 7, or ensuring access to sustainable energy for all, as a prerequisite for child education, quality of life and economic development. In 2009, the company launched its Access to Energy program with the objective of supporting vocational electrical training, in partnership with local organizations. Since then, the program has helped more than 148,000 people in more than 45 countries. Moreover, between 2009 and 2020, Schneider Electric will have helped train 20,000 young people in 22 African countries with about 90 partners. In 2018 alone, 5,200 young people will be trained.

In DRC, Didier Chika, Access to Energy business development manager, contacted Father Max Senker, director of Mwapusukeni Technical College in Lubumbashi. This college, which is managed by the Society of Jesus, has offered vocational training courses including steel construction and car mechanics for young people between 18 and 25 since 2017. Majority of students are from poor families.

After studying market needs, the partners defined two training programs in the energy sector: Building Electricity and Solar Energy. "A partnership agreement signed at the end of 2017 between the Jesuits, Schneider Electric DRC and the Schneider Electric Foundation describes the courses, the duration of the training, the number of beneficiaries and the target audience. It also defines the commitments of each party," explained Didier Chika. "Given the region's needs for qualified electricians, trainees are guaranteed job prospects." The aim is to enable 500 young people, including 80 percent from underprivileged families, to train as electricians from September 2018 to 2020.

Two certified programs for trainee electricians

The Building Electricity program is designed to last a year (six months of classes and six months of experience in a company). This training will lead to a locally recognized vocational certificate. Meanwhile, the Solar Energy program lasts four months and will take 80 students every year, including those that have completed the Building Electricity program.

The quality of the programs is partly due to the equipment provided by Schneider Electric, through the support of the Schneider Electric Foundation. This includes learning stations (booths in which students can make connections), solar panels, batteries, charge regulators and more. Schneider Electric is also contributing to instructor training. The instructors' training modules are dispensed by a Schneider Electric Teacher, an employee that applied for the position on a volunteer basis and was selected for his or her technical skills in the relevant equipment.

The program is designed to be replicated and adapted to the constraints of each region through ongoing development and improvement. For example, the solar module was developed by a professor from the Schneider Electric Paul-Louis Merlin School in Grenoble during a trip to Senegal with local technicians. Similarly, feedback out of Tanzania highlighted a need for industrial maintenance, leading to the design and introduction of another module. All the training courses are presented in a catalogue organized by level of qualification, such as a vocational training certificate and a master's certificate.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management  Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.

https://www.schneider-electric.us/en/

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Hashtags: #LifeIsOn #CSR #EnergyAccess #Training #SDG7 #SchneiderElectricFoundation #VolunteerIn

SOURCE Schneider Electric

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The family  David, Jessica, David Jr., and Danielle  was surprised Monday when they arrived home to dozens of people including family and friends, Team Rubicon staff and volunteers, volunteers from workwear brand Carhartt, and Houston third baseman Alex Bregman, who recently was awarded the 2018 all-star game MVP award.

The reconstruction project mobilized more than 80 Team Rubicon volunteers working 1,088 total hours. Materials used included five rolls of insulation, 992 sq. ft. of sheet rock, 16 bags of mud, 10 bags of texture, 20 gallons of primer, and 36 gallons of paint.

"Team Rubicon is happy to play a part in getting the Postels, and 99 other families, back into their homes after Hurricane Harvey," said Brian Meagher, Strategic Partnerships Officer at Team Rubicon. "Partners like Carhartt help us continue to carry out our mission and do what we do best."

Carhartt, America's premium workwear brand since 1889, announced a partnership with Team Rubicon in May and attended the event as a show of thanks to the volunteers who are committed to assisting Houston families. A group of Carhartt associates attended the event, and as a welcome-home gift for the family, the brand purchased $15,000 worth of gift cards to local businesses for the family to furnish their newly-renovated home.

Carhartt, which earlier this year announced it would provide the nonprofit group with 15,000 Carhartt Force Delmont T-shirts and an initial $200,000 donation, is committed to helping hardworking people recover from disasters.

"All of us at Carhartt could not be more impressed with the work Team Rubicon has done to support victims of Hurricane Harvey," said Janet Ries, vice president of marketing at Carhartt. "Many families are counting on Team Rubicon to help restore their lives, and visiting with the Postel family shows that the organization will continue to make a meaningful, lasting impact."

Team Rubicon is the nation's only disaster response organization whose volunteers are primarily comprised of U.S. military service veterans. Team Rubicon volunteers, or Greyshirts, use their unique skills and experiences gained from serving in the military to assist those most affected in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.

Formed in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Team Rubicon was founded by a small group of veterans searching for an opportunity to give back through continued service. The organization now boasts an 80,000-strong, highly-skilled volunteer workforce. Since its inception, Team Rubicon has responded to more than 280 disasters domestically and internationally, including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

About Carhartt, Inc.

Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, with more than 4,700 associates worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company's founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com and follow @Carhartt on Twitter.

About Team Rubicon

Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Team Rubicon is a nonprofit organization offering veterans a chance to continue their service by helping those affected by disasters, and also themselves. Programs and services are made possible by the support of individual donors, corporate partners, and the dedication of volunteers across the country. To join or support Team Rubicon's mission, visit www.teamrubiconusa.org .

Contact: Tim Gilman Contact: DJ Sprenger

The Brand Amp

Team Rubicon

(949) 438-1076

(469) 471-3155

[email protected]

[email protected]

SOURCE Carhartt

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To follow the story of Katie Stubblefield, the youngest face transplant recipient in U.S. history, a team of National Geographic journalists was given unprecedented access by the Cleveland Clinic to document Katie's journey and detail a full-face transplant procedure in a way that has never before been done. The story is featured on the cover of the September 2018 edition of National Geographic and is available now at natgeo . com / face . National Geographic has also released a 22-minute documentary, "Katie's New Face," here .

The Cleveland Clinic performed the full-face transplant over the course of a 31-hour procedure in 2017. Writer Joanna Connors, as well as photographers Maggie Steber and Lynn Johnson, together spent hundreds of hours with Katie, her parents and doctors over a period of more than two years, documenting Katie's story at the Cleveland Clinic, throughout many surgeries, and ongoing as she continues her recovery.

"'The Story of a Face' is about hope and resilience, identity, the power of a family's love and devotion to their daughter, and the medical miracle that gives Katie Stubblefield a second chance at life," said Susan Goldberg, Editorial Director of National Geographic Partners and Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic magazine. "It is told with the unparalleled visual storytelling that National Geographic is known for and uniquely connects audiences to the deeply human story behind the science, thanks to the bravery of Katie and her family who gave us unfettered access to share their journey with the world. The result is an extraordinary look at a breakthrough scientific procedure that will make you question how you think about the relationship between outward appearance and our inner selves."

Katie's face transplant surgery was paid for by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine, in an effort to improve treatment for service members who are wounded in battle and come back with similar injuries. As such, Katie's face transplant surgery has made her a lifelong experiment for the treatment of ballistic trauma to the face.

Trauma to Katie's face occurred on March 25, 2014, when Katie was 18 years old, by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Katie received a full-face transplant starting May 4, 2017. Katie was 21 years old at that time, making her the youngest full-face transplant recipient in the United States.

Katie was on the transplant list for over a year before a donor was found. Adrea Schneider, a 31-year-old woman who had recently passed away, was a match. Her grandmother, Sandra Bennington, made the decision to donate Adrea's face to Katie. Adrea was a registered organ donor whose heart, lungs, kidneys and liver were also donated and saved lives across the United States.

In publishing "The Story of a Face," National Geographic continues its tradition of bringing its audiences around the world incredible stories of science, exploration and the human journey in an up-close and personal way. In the last two years, National Geographic has explored the latest developments in the science behind addiction in response to the global opioid crisis; released a single-topic issue on the shifting landscape of gender that became a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting; and published The Race Issue, a controversial, yet timely exploration of what race means in the 21st century.

"The Story of a Face," from the September 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine, is available online now at natgeo.com/face and on print newsstands August 28.

INFORMATION FOR PRESS:

Interviews and visuals available.

"Story of a Face" digital hub: natgeo.com/face

Direct link to full cover story, "The Story of a Face": here

Direct link to full documentary: here

Link to Editor-in-Chief Susan Goldberg's Editor's Letter about the cover story: here

Link to b-roll of Editor-in-Chief Susan Goldberg discussing "The Story of a Face": here

Link to list of available spokespeople and individual pieces of content: here

Link to September issue media alert: here

Link to social media toolkit: here

Link to teen suicide prevention resources: http://natgeo.com/katiespeaksup

National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 130 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers  and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

SOURCE National Geographic

Related Links

http://www.nationalgeographic.com


"It is an honor to be recognized as the best in the region yet again," said Bimal Patel, president, Hartford Hospital; senior vice president, Hartford HealthCare. "Our commitment and reputation for excellence is cemented in the region thanks to the dedication of each Hartford Hospital staff member. Every day this team delivers the best possible care in the safest and most compassionate way. Our journey to excellence is a team effort, and we are so thankful to our staff and the patients who trust us with their care."

U.S. News & World Report recently changed its methodology making it much more difficult to achieve a rank in "High Performing" banners. The new methodology recognizes the best of the best.



Hartford Hospital High Performing Specialties:

Nephrology

Pulmonology

Hartford Hospital High Performing Procedures:

Aortic Valve Surgery

Heart Bypass Surgery

Heart Failure

Colon Cancer Surgery

A complete outline of how the newer methodology works can be found here.



Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is ranked # 2 in the nation among the top the hospitals specializing in cancer care. This marks the 27th year that MSK has been recognized as one of the nation's top 2 cancer hospitals. The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute is proud to be the charter member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance. The Cancer Institute is comprised of five cancer centers  one at each of Hartford HealthCare's acute care hospitals across Connecticut.

The rankings, available at www.usnews.com/best-hospitals, will appear in the U.S. News "Best Hospitals 2018" guidebook (ISBN 978-1-931469-678), available in August from the U.S. News Store.

About Hartford Hospital

Hartford Hospital, founded in 1854, is one of the largest teaching hospitals and tertiary care centers in New England with one of the region's busiest surgery practices. It is annually ranked among America's Best Hospitals by US News & World Report and has been recognized nationally for the quality of many of its programs, including cardiology, cancer, stroke and joint and spine care. The 867-bed regional referral center provides high-quality care in all clinical disciplines. Among its divisions is The Institute of Living, a 114-bed mental health facility with a national and international reputation of excellence. Jefferson House, a 104-bed long-term care facility, is also a special division of Hartford Hospital. The hospital's major centers of clinical excellence include cardiology, oncology, emergency services and trauma, mental health, women's health, orthopedics, bloodless surgery and advanced organ transplantation. Hartford Hospital owns and operates the state's first air ambulance system, LIFE STAR.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Hartford Hospital
"Our Halloween cruises typically attract more than 500 singles and we are thrilled to bring it back again this year," said Sharon Concepcion, Vice President of Leisure Operations for SinglesCruise.com. "A choice of two fantastic itineraries provide the opportunity to enjoy charming and historic ports of call featuring distinctive architecture, stunning vistas, pristine waters and sandy beaches. The fun and festive onboard atmosphere is definitely something that keeps our repeat customers coming back, as well as attracting new cruisers looking to make long-lasting friendships."

SinglesCruise.com will offer two Halloween cruises: a "West" and "East" option. Highlights for both cruises include: a costume contest, spooky themed mixers, karaoke, speed meeting and more.

7 Night Halloween "West" Singles Cruise: Romance and adventure  the Mexican Riviera has it all. This 7-night offering leaves Los Angeles on October 27, 2018 onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Bliss. Ports of call include: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Mazatlan, Mexico; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Zip-line through a pristine forest, shop in a charming downtown, take a scenic drive along the coastline or perhaps pay a visit to Cabo's signature landmark El Arco ("The Arch"), a rock formation at the tip of "Land's End."

7 Night Halloween "East" Singles Cruise: This 7-night Halloween adventure out of Port Canaveral takes place onboard Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Breeze starting on October 27, 2018. Come in a day or two early and enjoy Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando before setting sail. Ports of call include: Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, USVI; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos.

"Statistics show that two out of every three adults celebrate Halloween," said Concepcion. "Our Halloween cruise has been the most popular cruise for over a decade and we know that the holiday is a wonderful way to get out of your comfort zone, meet like-minded single travelers and take a relaxing vacation. Bring your spirit for an adventure of a lifetime."

Other benefits available to all SinglesCruise.com guests, no matter what the sailing, include access to a private online group to network with other single cruisers before their trip and free roommate matching, which cuts the cost of having a single stateroom by hundreds of dollars.

For more details on SinglesCruise.com or any other upcoming vacations, whether cruises or land-based adventures, please visit www.singlescruise.com or call 800-393-5000.

SinglesCruise.com offers hosted singles cruises throughout the year to top destinations such as the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and Alaska. Founded in 1991, SinglesCruise.com is part of Travel Leaders Group, which is the largest traditional travel agency company in North America with more than 7,000 locations.

2018: Year of the Travel Agent

Travel Leaders Group has named 2018 Year of the Travel Agent. Over the last decade, the travel agency industry has flourished through technology, the growth of travel options and personalized service. Travel Leaders Group represents approximately 52,000 travel agents with unmatched expertise in 135,000 destinations and 53,000 areas of interest. Travelers and suppliers have rediscovered the value a professional travel advisor delivers to the travel experience. Travel agents help to move people around the world, and keep our economy growing.

Contact: Hillary Kline

763-577-3688

[email protected]

SOURCE SinglesCruise.com

Related Links

http://www.singlescruise.com


"These rare artifacts give viewers a glimpse into biblical times, and bring to life the story of the prophet Isaiah and King Hezekiah," said Brad Macdonald, curator for the exhibit. "We've had tour buses and thousands of visitors from all over the U.S. experience the interactive display at Armstrong Auditorium." According to Macdonald, over 4,000 people have visited the exhibit in just the first nine weeks, prompting the foundation to request an extension from the Israel Antiquities Authority. The IAA approved the request and the exhibit will remain open through January 27, 2019.

The exhibit includes over three dozen artifacts from Jerusalem's First Temple period, including royal Judean vessels, silver bullion and weapons used during the siege of Lachish, as well as replicas of the Assyrian wall reliefs of Lachish and the famous Annals of Sennacherib Prism (aka Taylor Prism).

"I loved the experience of walking in Hezekiah's tunnel," commented Cary Rholdon on Facebook, about the exhibit's 10-foot-long exact replica of Hezekiah's underground water tunnel in Jerusalem.

Wally Jones, who drove over three hours to view the exhibit wrote, "Fabulous exhibit! Anyone interested in Old Testament studies should put this on their must see list."

The most popular artifacts are the two clay seals that were discovered in an excavation by Dr. Eilat Mazar of Hebrew University, explained Macdonald. According to their inscriptions, the clay seals, called bullae, belonged to King Hezekiah of Judah and Isaiah, believed to be the prophet. The seals were found by Mazar in the same strata of soil just feet apart in the ruins of the royal palace in Jerusalem and scientifically dated to the 8th century B.C.

"My church group had a wonderful time at the exhibit of the seals of King Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah. What a gift you have given to those of us who love the integrity of the Scriptures," wrote Dr. Kathleen Wilcoxson in an e-mail. "Our guide did an excellent job in her tour of the exhibit. She was articulate, knowledgeable, and patient with the loquacious members of our group. Thank you again for making the Bible come alive once again."

Featured in Biblical Archaeology Review magazine, the "Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered" exhibition is free and open to the public. The exhibit will also be on display in the lobby of Armstrong Auditorium during the first half of Armstrong's 2018-2019 performing arts season.

For more information call (405) 285-1010 or visit www.ArmstrongAuditorium.org.

The Edmond-based Armstrong International Cultural Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian organization sponsored by the Philadelphia Church of God with executive offices on the campus of Herbert W. Armstrong College. The foundation's cultural activities include a series of performing arts concerts at Armstrong Auditorium and support of archaeological excavations in Israel.

**HI-RES PHOTOS OF ARTIFACTS AVAILABLE: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gxkw9ixx31t90mk/AADNnPX0QlrV0bsOYMF5rQgIa?dl=0

SOURCE Armstrong International Cultural Foundation

Related Links

http://www.armstrong.foundation


LISLE, Ill., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) today announced that Christian Schulz has been named to its board of directors, effective immediately. Schulz, 41, replaces Matthias Grundler, who previously resigned from the Navistar board after serving more than a year as a director. Schulz has been appointed to the board's finance committee.

Schulz is currently the CFO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus, soon transforming into TRATON AG, and was previously in charge of Corporate Development, Strategy and M&A at the company since January 2017.

"We look forward to Christian's contributions to the Navistar board of directors. His automotive and truck experience and knowledge will be of great value to our board and to Navistar management," said Troy A. Clarke, Navistar chairman, president and chief executive officer. "I also want to personally thank Matthias Grundler for his distinguished service to our company. He played a key role in establishing Navistar's global alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus and in overseeing the alliance's strong progress. His knowledge, dedication and expertise have been invaluable to Navistar."

Prior to joining the Volkswagen Truck & Bus team in January 2017, Schulz worked as Director of Controlling Operations worldwide at Mercedes-Benz Cars from 2011 through 2016. Between 2008 and 2011, Schulz worked as the Controlling Director for Purchasing, Production, and Development at Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus in Tokyo. Schulz began his career at Daimler AG in 1999 and held various positions in the Finance, Controlling and Risk Management departments.

About Navistar

Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, proprietary diesel engines, and IC Bus brand school and commercial buses. An affiliate also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com.

SOURCE Navistar International Corporation

Related Links

http://www.navistar.com


DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Choice Financial Inc. ("CCFI") filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. CCFI will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss the results for the quarter. CCFI will make this call available for replay for three months starting approximately two hours after the call has ended. The conference call can be replayed in its entirety by dialing (855) 859-2056 (toll free) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and enter conference ID "6465339".

Financials are publicly available at www.sec.gov

Conference Call Dial-In Information:

International Direct: +1 (937) 203-2407



U.S. Toll Free: +1 (877) 497-9564



Conference ID: 6465339

About Community Choice Financial Inc.

Community Choice Financial Inc. is a leading retailer of financial services to unbanked and underbanked consumers through a network of 476 retail storefronts across 12 states and are licensed to deliver similar financial services over the internet in 30 states. CCFI focuses on providing consumers with a wide range of convenient financial products and services to help them manage their day-to-day financial needs including consumer loans, check cashing, prepaid debit cards, money transfers, bill payments, and money orders. Please visit www.ccfi.com for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information:

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements in this release other than those relating to our historical information or current condition are forward-looking statements. For example, any statements regarding our future financial performance (including, but not limited to, CCFI's ability to execute its long-term strategy and to manage operational efficiencies across its national footprint), our business strategy, and expected developments in our industry are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the current views and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, those views and expectations and the related statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are not under our control and may not even be predictable. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from our expectations as of today and any future results, performance, or achievements expressed directly or impliedly by the forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations: [email protected] or (888) 513-9395.

SOURCE Community Choice Financial Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ccfi.com


DALLAS, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Condon Tobin Sladek Thornton PLLC, a full-service business law firm specializing in commercial real estate, banking and corporate transactions, and complex litigation, is pleased to announce that experienced M&A and corporate finance lawyer Mark Goglia has joined the firm as partner.

Mr. Goglia will advise emerging growth and Fortune 500 companies, focusing on M&A and private equity transactions, corporate governance, investment vehicles, joint ventures, IPOs and other registered securities offerings. He was a partner at global law firm Jones Day where he practiced for more than 11 years before starting his own firm, Goglia PLLC.

"Mark has an enviable track record and is forward-thinking in crafting winning solutions for complex transactions. We are pleased he has chosen to take the next step in his career with our firm," said firm partner David Condon.

Having advised issuers and underwriters of IPOs for more than 15 companies, Mr. Goglia's experience demonstrates substantial expertise in the technology, energy, and retail/consumer packaged goods sectors. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University.

Mr. Goglia has been recognized on the Texas Super Lawyers list for five consecutive years and before that was recognized on the companion Texas Rising Stars list of up-and-coming young lawyers. He also has been on D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas list since 2011.

Bill Sladek, also a partner with Condin Tobin Sladek Thorton, adds, "Mark's expertise will be a tremendous asset to the group and to our clients."

Condon Tobin Sladek Thornton is a full service business law firm focused on protecting clients in a broad range of business transactions and disputes. Our attorneys have a unique depth of experience drawing upon a foundation of industry knowledge and a keen focus on its clients' businesses. For more information, visit https://ctstlaw.com/.

Media Contact:

Jennie Bui-McCoy

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Condon Tobin Sladek Thornton
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Constellation HomeBuilder Systems, the largest provider of home building software solutions and services, is changing the homebuyer customer experience landscape with the newly formed customer experience group.

Today, over 87% of homebuilding companies say they expect to compete in their market mostly or completely on the basis of customer experience. As homeowners demand a more engaging customer service experience from builders, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems is leading the way by making them the highest priority.

Over the past two years, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has made strategic investments in the customer experience space, acquiring CustomerInsight, CustomerConnect, Woodland, O'Brien & Scott and Conasys Homeowner Care. Each of these companies brings highly valued products and services that have been proven to increase customer experience, reduce warranty costs and drive brand recognition and referrals. "Customer experience is a strategy to fundamentally align a company's products and services with the wants and needs of its customers," says Christian Casewell, Director of Customer Experience at Constellation Homebuilder Systems. "While this might seem simple, there really is no other way to uncover the truth than to ask your customers directly."

The newly formed Customer Experience Group will help bring new resources and opportunities to builders by approaching customer experience from two sides. On one side, independent "voice of the customer" surveying will be conducted at key moments with performance metrics and strategic analysis to help homebuilders stay ahead of the curve. On the other side, powerful customer communication platforms will deliver value to homes, while allowing homebuilders to strengthen customer relationships. "As this new group comes together, the additional value that we can bring to our customers is exciting," said Charlie Scott, Director at Woodland O'Brien & Scott. "No other company in the industry offers this depth and breadth of home builder tools and service  it's very exciting."

Learn what the new Customer Experience Group has to offer and how they will help homebuilders achieve excellent customer service. Watch the video.

Homeowners today want to do business with builders that truly listen to them, not just make them think they are listening. Companies that engage customers and create exceptional experiences can set themselves apart from competitors and thrive.

About Constellation HomeBuilder Systems

Constellation HomeBuilder Systems is the largest provider of software and services in the building industry. Their innovative software solutions, available as standalone or integrated systems, empower builders with information to drive business objectives and simplify the process of building homes and condos. Constellation HomeBuilder Systems is the home building software division of Constellation Software Inc., an international provider of market-leading software and services for specialized industries, which is traded publicly on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

For further information:

Elmira Abushayeva, Director of Marketing, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems, 888-723-2222, [email protected]

SOURCE Constellation HomeBuilder Systems

Related Links

http://www.constellationhb.com/


ANNAPOLIS, Md., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DATUM, a leader in data governance, stewardship and metadata management software, today announced a partnership with Zaloni, whose self-service data platform, ZDP, provides industry- leading data lake management and governance capabilities. with the leading solution provider of Data Lakes, Zaloni. Driven by the vision of creating a metadata catalog that serves both the business users who wants to be able to determine what data they have and where to locate it, and the technical data provider who wants to be able to add new data sets and sources  altogether allowing for an automated way of linking data assets to business definitions and governance rules critical to an enterprise data ecosystem.

DATUM provides an Information Governance framework that helps organizations manage enterprise data governance policies. It is purpose-built to discover, understand, connect and measure data value throughout an organization. Zaloni provides an operational framework for implementing these policies as part of a modern data platform. Together DATUM and Zaloni provide enterprise level data governance from big data to big enterprise and deliver the full Information Value lifecycle for an organization.

"Our partnership with Zaloni allows us to unify the conversation and reference model between the business subject matter expert, data engineers, and the data science function to achieve meaningful, measurable return from data assets" said Will Crump, DATUM President & CEO.

By combining a business-focused metadata management platform with deep functionality in data preparation, the joint offering balances out the full picture of an organization's need to visualize the connection between business goals and objectives through to the enforcement level of policies, standards and rules. An end-to-end lineage can be traced from the business lineage in data as well as the technical lineage in how data moves through the ecosystem.

"The Zaloni-DATUM partnership was born out of hearing from customers and partners who wanted to be able to better leverage all the hard work that they put into defining their processes, standards, rules, dictionaries and glossaries. Combining DATUM's Information Value Management platform with the Zaloni Data Platform (ZDP) allows us to deliver the definition around policies that in turn are operationalized in the Zaloni Data Platform," said Ben Sharma, Zaloni's CEO.

"I believe the heritage of both our organizations and our practical experiences standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our customers when delivering large enterprise data strategies and Big Data solutions have taught us to listen to the customers and to anticipate their future needs in operating their business," said DATUM President & CEO, Will Crump. "The Zaloni partnership is a natural extension for focus on delivering Data Value for our customers".

About Zaloni

Zaloni simplifies data management for transformative business insights. We work with pioneering enterprises to modernize their data architecture and operationalize their data lakes to incorporate data into everyday business practices. The Zaloni Data Platform (ZDP) provides total control throughout the data pipeline from ingestion to analytics, with comprehensive data management, governance and self-service data preparation capabilities for IT and business users. A leader in big data for more than a decade, Zaloni's expertise is deep, spans multiple industries, and has proven invaluable to customers at many of the world's top companies. We are proud to be recognized by CRN's 2018 Big Data 100 list, Forbes top 20 big data companies to work for, and Red Herring's Top 100 North America Award. To learn more, visit www.zaloni.com.

About DATUM

Recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Data Governance, Stewardship and Discovery Providers, 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. To learn more, visit www.datumstrategy.com.

Media Contacts:

Marie Crump, DATUM LLC

[email protected]

Annie Bishop, Zaloni

[email protected]

SOURCE DATUM

Related Links

http://www.datumstrategy.com


EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer Teamwork is thrilled to announce, CEO and Co-founder, Sean Stapleton will be speaking at the 2018 Google Partners Growth Summit at Torrey Pines in San Diego, CA. A select few members of the executive team at Dealer Teamwork will be in attendance to listen to Sean speak on a panel with Google and other partners. After attending Google's Growth Summit in 2017, Dealer Teamwork is honored to be invited back and speaking, this time.

"It's funny, when we went in 2017, we were the wide-eyed new kids," said Dealer Teamwork GM, Katie Donovan. "I remember someone from our executive team telling me we would be invited back to speak the next year, which I laughed off because it was such a lofty goal. We kept that goal through the year and we are now super excited to be given the opportunity to fulfill that goal!"

CEO, Sean Stapleton is equally thrilled. "This is the most excited I have been to speak at any digital marketing event, EVER. It's Google, for goodness sake! When they take notice to Dealer Teamwork among hundreds of other companies in this industry, it makes me extremely proud of our team and where we came from."

The purpose of the Growth Summit is to give Google Partners a chance to connect with senior leadership at Google to learn how Google can help enhance their products and services, learn best practices and hear from experts from a variety of industries and collaborate with other partners in hands-on sessions.

Dealer Teamwork has been extremely fortunate to have had the continuing opportunity to collaborate with Google as a Premier Partner to accelerate growth and improve products and services for Dealer Teamwork customers.

"We are honored that Google has selected Dealer Teamwork to join an exclusive panel to share our experiences and recommendations for success," said Christian Miller, CSO at Dealer Teamwork. "Google is a tremendous partner of ours and we look forward to sharing our insights on we built such a successful partnership with Google."

About Dealer Teamwork



Dealer Teamwork is one of the fastest growing S.a.a.S. companies creating first-class solutions for the retail automotive industry. Dealer Teamwork created the automotive industry's first MPOP, a patented Merchandising, Personalization & Optimization Platform. The platform creates a significant competitive advantage for dealers by distributing their transactional data to more in-market shoppers effectively and efficiently. For more information please visit DealerTeamwork.com or visit the Dealer Teamwork FAQ.

Dealer Teamwork's headquarters is in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and services an international customer base from offices in California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Texas and Washington.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12724029

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Dealer Teamwork

Related Links

https://www.dealerteamwork.com


LAKEWOOD, CO, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU; TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), a leading producer of uranium and vanadium in the United States, is pleased to announce that it has completed the previously announced acquisition from Excalibur Industries ("Excalibur") of royalties on the Company's 100%-owned Nichols Ranch in situ recovery ("ISR") project in Wyoming ("Nichols Ranch"), along with royalties on several operating, standby, and advanced-stage ISR projects in Wyoming owned and operated by Power Resources, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cameco Corporation (collectively, the "Royalties"). The Company has also provided the State of Wyoming with a notice of its intent to repay and retire its Wyoming Industrial Development Revenue Bond ("Wyoming Debt"), which has a balance of $8.3 million as of the date of this release.

Acquisition of Royalties:

Today, the Company acquired a 6% - 8% sliding-scale gross proceeds production royalty on its Nichols Ranch, Hank and Doughstick properties (Doughstick is a part of the Company's Jane Dough Project expansion area). This royalty also applies to the nearby Niles Ranch, Willow Creek, and Verna Ann properties, which are important pipeline uranium properties also owned by the Company. Acquisition of this royalty is expected to significantly decrease the Company's cost of production at Nichols Ranch. Energy Fuels also acquired the 4% gross proceeds production royalty on Cameco's North Butte/Brown Ranch Project ("North Butte"), the Ruby Ranch Project, and the Greasewood property. North Butte is a fully permitted and operational project that has been operated by Cameco as a satellite to its Smith Ranch-Highland ISR Project since 2013. In November 2017, the Company announced that this transaction was to occur by way of a merger of Excalibur with an Energy Fuels subsidiary. However, the parties subsequently agreed to structure the transaction as a purchase of assets.

At the closing today, the Company delivered to Excalibur 995,619 common shares of Energy Fuels having a total value of $2.90 Million, which were priced at $3.26 per share based on the volume-weighted average price ("VWAP") of Energy Fuels' shares on the NYSE American for the five trading days ending on August 13, 2018, as well as approximately $25,000 cash for all accrued but unpaid royalties owing to Excalibur at the time of the closing. In addition, the Company is holding back another 107,221 common shares having a total value of $0.35 million which, pending the satisfaction of certain conditions, will be released to Excalibur six months following the date of closing. These shares were likewise priced at $3.26 per share based on the VWAP of Energy Fuels' shares on the NYSE American for the five trading days ending on August 13, 2018.

Notice of Repayment of Wyoming Debt:

On August 10, 2018, the Company provided notice to the State of Wyoming that it intends to repay and retire the entire outstanding principal balance of its Wyoming Industrial Development Revenue Bond ("Wyoming Debt") within the next 30  60 days. The Wyoming Debt, which is secured by the Company's Nichols Ranch Project, currently has a principal balance of $8.3 million. As of June 30, 2018, the Company reported approximately $55.25 million of working capital, including cash and cash equivalents of $43.2 million, and the Company previously announced its intent to use a portion of its working capital to repay debt, including the Wyoming Debt. Repayment of this loan will reduce the Company's short- and long-term debt and avoid significant future interest.

Mark S. Chalmers, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated: "Today, we strengthened our position in Wyoming by adding to our assets and announcing our intent to retire debt. We believe today's acquisition of the Royalties will be extremely accretive for Energy Fuels as uranium prices rise, whether due to global supply and demand fundamentals or through remedies associated with the current U.S. government investigation into uranium imports into the U.S. As Energy Fuels increases production, today's acquisition of the 6% - 8% royalty on Nichols Ranch together with our other Wyoming projects will significantly enhance our operating margins and cash flow profiles. Furthermore, the acquisition of the 4% gross production royalty on Cameco's properties, including North Butte which has an extensive production history and significant in-ground resources, should result in an attractive return on investment for Energy Fuels and our shareholders. Cameco has stated that all of their projects in Wyoming could achieve up to 4 million pounds of production per year within 18  24 months of a production decision. A significant portion of this production would likely come from the Cameco properties on which we now hold a royalty, resulting in a very rapid payback on this royalty in an improved market. Energy Fuels' leverage to increasing uranium prices just became much stronger with today's acquisition of the Royalties.

"In sum this quarter, Energy Fuels is deploying almost $12 million of capital into the State of Wyoming. Furthermore, by lowering the costs at our projects, we are in a position to make future investments in Wyoming sooner than we were before. We are committed to Wyoming and its people, and we look forward to continuing to operate responsibly in the State for many years to come."

About Energy Fuels : Energy Fuels is a leading integrated US-based uranium mining company, supplying U 3 O 8 to major nuclear utilities. Its corporate offices are in Denver, Colorado, and all of its assets and employees are in the western United States. Energy Fuels holds three of America's key uranium production centers, the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the Nichols Ranch Processing Facility in Wyoming, and the Alta Mesa Project in Texas. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today and has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Nichols Ranch Processing Facility is an ISR production center with a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. Alta Mesa is an ISR production center currently on care and maintenance. Energy Fuels also has the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolio in the U.S. among producers, and uranium mining projects located in a number of Western U.S. states, including one producing ISR project, mines on standby, and mineral properties in various stages of permitting and development. The Company also produces vanadium as a by-product of its uranium production from certain of its mines on the Colorado Plateau, as market conditions warrant. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU", and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR". Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to: the Company being a leading producer of uranium and vanadium in the U.S.; the Company's intent to repay and retire its Wyoming Debt; any expectation that the acquisition of the Royalties will be accretive, will decrease the Company's cost of production, will enhance the Company's operating margins and cash flow profile, or will result in an attractive return on investment; any expectations about future production from the Cameco properties and the pay-back on the Royalties; any expectations about increases in uranium prices or the Company's leverage to any increases in uranium prices; any expectations about the outcome of the current U.S. government investigation into uranium imports into the U.S.; and any other statements regarding Energy Fuels' future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects; constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions) should be considered forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Energy Fuels' ability to control or predict. A number of important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation factors relating to: the Company being a leading producer of uranium and vanadium in the U.S.; the Company's intent to repay and retire its Wyoming Debt; any expectation that the acquisition of the Royalties will be accretive, will decrease the Company's cost of production, will enhance the Company's operating margins and cash flow profile, or will result in an attractive return on investment; any expectations about future production from the Cameco properties and the pay-back on the Royalties; any expectations about increases in uranium prices or the Company's leverage to any increases in uranium prices; any expectations about the outcome of the current U.S. government investigation into uranium imports into the U.S.; and other risk factors as described in Energy Fuels' most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly financial reports. Energy Fuels assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Energy Fuels' filings with the various securities commissions which are available online at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and plans of the management of Energy Fuels relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof.

SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.

Related Links

http://www.energyfuels.com


HOUSTON, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Truss, an award-winning platform for commercial real estate, announced it will expand its industrial space into the Houston market with more than 16.5 million square feet of industrial space available to search, tour and lease in Houston. Truss currently has more than 275 square feet of retail, office and industrial space.

Thanks to the success of business owners in Chicago and Dallas finding their own industrial space, Truss is able to expand further in the Lone Star state in popular areas like Port of Houston, Northwest Houston and Manchester.

"We outgrew our current industrial space in Houston and needed to find a new location quickly to suit our growing needs," said Todd Kaplan, president of Gulf Coast Boiler Service Company. "We found an excellent warehouse space that was quadruple in square footage from our current space, giving us opportunity to expand. We saved time using Truss' technology to find, search and lease the new space."

The Houston market has several benefits for small business owners looking for warehouse space or to expand their businesses, including an inexpensive cost of living and no state income tax.

"After seeing a tremendous volume of activity following the launch of industrial space in Chicago and Dallas, we are looking forward to a similar wave of demand with our launch of industrial space in Houston," said Marshall Hudes, co-founder of Truss.

Business owners can search, tour and lease office, retail and industrial space through Truss platform, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to review and compare their options in the market.

More about Truss

Truss helps small and medium businesses find, lease and tour office, industrial and retail space with more than 275 million square feet available in Chicago, D.C., Houston, Dallas, Austin and Miami. The business owner can search for the space from their own computers or mobile devices. The AI-enabled technology enables business owners to find the right space in a convenient and easy manner. Truss also offers dedicated brokers who act as the point person throughout the seamless process. To learn more about Truss, visit www.truss.co or follow them on social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Media Contact:

888-611-7282

SOURCE Truss

Related Links

https://www.truss.co


BEIJING, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HRG Robot Group ("the Group"), one of China's leading robot manufacturers, is to present their new vision for the future of the Robotics industry, under their new "Robotics Biosphere" business model at this year's World Robot Conference, held from August 15-19 in Beijing. The vision, created as a response to a changing robotics industry in China, has led to the creation of several new product lines which will be on display throughout the event.

HRG will present their choice products based on an Analysis Report on the Chinese Robotics Industry in China 2018, co-produced by the China Institute of Science and Technology, HRG, and HIT Insights which detailed the latest trends and challenges facing the industry. The report found the Chinese robotics industry experienced vigorous development last year at a world-leading growth rate, with investors' enthusiasm reaching historically high levels. The report also found that both Chinese industrial and service robot companies have seen considerable advancement in technology, products and service in several sectors which HRG has invested heavily in recent years, including the medical and educational robotic solutions will be on display during the exhibition.

"The collaborative, educational, medical robots that HRG will present at the Beijing World Robotics Conference fully reflect the industry trends as well as our latest efforts," said Wang Meng, President of HIT Robot Group.

One of the star products at HRG's booth which combines both industries will be the Intelligent Education and Rating System, created for Elderly Care and Rehabilitation. An educational system integrating Chinese and Western medical theories and nationally standardized curriculum with state-of-the-art robotic and sensor technologies, to train staff at medical schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities.

Alongside the Intelligent Education and Rating System is the lifting laser-guided AGV, a new model for lifting and shipping large-sized stocks through narrow pathways in factories. Powered by the world-leading SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology, the robotic vehicle can easily avoid various obstacles during operation.

The booth will also play host to two further product lines:

HRG's Wearable Lower Limb Robotic Exoskeleton: a smart wearable device that gives users an extra power boost when walking and climbing up stairs. The lightweight device is simple in structure making it easy for users to put-on and take-off. It can also monitor the user's walking data and provide health tips accordingly.

Bang Bang: An innovative one-stop platform meeting the demands of providers and manufacturers, Bang Bang incorporates the concepts of "smart manufacturing" and "internet service". Bang Bang, integrates resources including the information of government policies, industry trends, manufacturing campuses and funds, to help match various players and stakeholders in the industry to further expand their businesses.

Other products on display will include HRG's network engraving robot, a small firefighting robot, the HRG T5 and the lightweight ROS enabled cooperative robot (T5).

About HIT Robot Group

HIT Robot Group (HRG), founded in 2014, is one of China's leading robotics companies. It focuses on manufacturing a range of robots and robotic equipment for different industries and is a solution and service provider for technology companies. Currently, HRG has a presence in 16 major Chinese cities and overseas offices in Washington D.C., California, Frankfurt, Seoul and Tokyo.

SOURCE HIT Robot Group
BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain enthusiasts of all ages, genders and skill levels are invited to bring their enthusiasm, skills, and creativity to the Global Blockchain Hackathon at Berkeley this weekend on Aug 18th and 19th, hosted by International Data Engineering and Science Association (IDEAS).

Solo developers/coders or teams of up to five members are welcome to participate. You will spend the weekend learning new skills, competing for prizes, meeting investors, sponsors, and the local tech community, while also having fun, enjoying food, social activities and more.

The free event with more than 300 participants will cover industry trends, real-world applications, open source software and solution-based case studies. Hackathon competitors will demonstrate their cutting-edge technologies, and startups will pitch their solutions to the top investors globally. Register your team at https://hackathonsf.eventbrite.com

All attendees will also be invited to the Blockchain Networking Night on Sunday evening (19th) in San Francisco, hosted by IDEAS and OnePiece Work.

The Hackathon at Berkeley is part of the Global Blockchain Hackathon series in North America. The first two events, held in June in Los Angeles and July in New York, attracted more than 500 attendees with 50+ teams participating from companies including TINKR, WorldCloud, Detrust and Hashpets and top educational institutions Stanford University, USC and UC Berkeley. More than 30 investors have brought over 2,000,000 ETH to invest in projects for the series to date.

The winning teams from each series in the U.S. will join the final competition at Chicago Blockchain Week. Special prizes will be awarded at each event, and the final winning team will be rewarded with 1 Bitcoin.

Co-organizers and sponsors of this event include Node Capital, Eigen Capital, Data Application Lab, Detrust.io, Calculus, Kambria, and MOAC. Tech support is provided by IBM Blockchain Platform and The Purdue Blockchain Lab.

In 2018, IDEAS held many major blockchain conferences in Boston, New York and Los Angeles. The upcoming Southern California Blockchain Leadership Connect Conference will expect thousands of attendees on Oct. 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Learn more at https://ideassn.org

If you would like more information about this topic, please call IDEAS Hackathon Team at +1 (800) 293 0368, or email [email protected]

SOURCE International Data Engineering and Science Association (IDEAS)

Related Links

http://ideassn.org


RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaleo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company, today commented on reports of continued manufacturing delays of epinephrine auto-injectors in the United States. Kaleo confirmed that AUVI-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-injectors are available for prescription and are not affected by the manufacturing delays reported by other epinephrine auto-injector manufacturers. Kaleo has sufficient supply to meet any anticipated demand. For live assistance in filling an AUVI-Q prescription, any patient, physician or pharmacist in the United States can call the AUVI-Q hotline at 1-877-30-AUVI-Q or visit www.auvi-q.com to download an enrollment form.

"We understand how critically important it is for those affected by life-threatening allergies to be able to access an epinephrine auto-injector, especially as families prepare for the back to school season. Kaleo is able to fill, and is filling, all the AUVI-Q orders through our Direct Delivery service at www.auvi-q.com," said Phil Rackliffe, General Manager of Allergy and Pediatrics, at kaleo. "It's important to note that patients must obtain AUVI-Q through the Direct Delivery service to ensure delivery to their home or healthcare provider's office and the best expiration dating for AUVI-Q."

AUVI-Q is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions. Its innovative features include voice instructions that help guide a user step-by-step through the epinephrine delivery process, as well as an auto-retractable needle system, a first for epinephrine auto-injectors, that injects the epinephrine and retracts the needle back into the device within seconds.

Identical twin brothers, Eric and Evan Edwards, the inventors of AUVI-Q, grew up with life-threatening allergies. They know what it is like to live in fear of that life-or-death moment, both as patients and parents of food-allergic children. Eric and Evan Edwards believe and trust in AUVI-Q, not only for themselves, but also for their children and other families who may have to depend on it to administer epinephrine during an allergic emergency. AUVI-Q does not take the place of emergency medical care. Seek immediate medical treatment after using AUVI-Q.

Through the AUVI-Q AffordAbility program, patients with commercial insurance, even those with high-deductible plans, as well as the uninsured who have a household income of less than $100,000, can obtain AUVI-Q for $0 out of pocket. The cash price for AUVI-Q is $360. Each AUVI-Q prescription includes two Auto-injectors and one Trainer.

The latest information regarding epinephrine auto-injectors experiencing manufacturing delays, as well as related advisories to patients and healthcare providers around epinephrine auto-injectors at home, is listed on the FDA drug shortage webpage.

To learn more about AUVI-Q, please visit www.auvi-q.com.

About Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis (pronounced ana-fuh-lak-sis) is a serious allergic reaction that happens quickly and may cause death. Anaphylaxis can occur as a result of exposure to allergens including tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, insect bites, latex and medication, among other allergens.

About AUVI-Q (0.3 mg, 0.15 mg and 0.1 mg)

AUVI-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-injector is a prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or who have a history of serious allergic reactions. AUVI-Q contains epinephrine, a well-established, first-line treatment for severe, life-threatening allergic reactions that occur as a result of exposure to allergens including food such as peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, dairy, eggs, soy and wheat; insect stings or bites; latex and medication, among other allergens and causes.

AUVI-Q is the only compact epinephrine auto-injector with a voice instruction system that helps guide patients and caregivers step-by-step through the injection process, and a needle that automatically retracts following administration. In anaphylaxis emergencies, it is often individuals without medical training who need to step in and deliver potentially life-saving epinephrine. AUVI-Q was designed through careful analysis of the situations where epinephrine auto-injectors are used and with significant input from the allergy community that relies on it incorporating Human Factors Engineering (HFE). HFE is about designing products or systems that are easy to operate and, most importantly, support correct use, with the goal to remove the potential for error. For more information about AUVI-Q (0.3 mg, 0.15 mg and 0.1 mg) visit www.auvi-q.com.

Indication

AUVI-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) is a prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.

Important Safety Information

AUVI-Q is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. Seek immediate medical treatment after using AUVI-Q. Each AUVI-Q contains a single dose of epinephrine. AUVI-Q should only be injected into your outer thigh, through clothing if necessary. If you inject a young child or infant with AUVI-Q, hold their leg firmly in place before and during the injection to prevent injuries. Do not inject AUVI-Q into any other part of your body, such as into veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands, or feet. If this occurs, seek immediate medical treatment and make sure to inform the healthcare provider of the location of the accidental injection. Only a healthcare provider should give additional doses of epinephrine if more than two doses are necessary for a single allergic emergency.

Rarely, patients who use AUVI-Q may develop infections at the injection site within a few days of an injection. Some of these infections can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms at an injection site: redness that does not go away, swelling, tenderness, or the area feels warm to the touch.

If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have more or longer lasting side effects when you use AUVI-Q. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma. Also tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, especially if you have asthma, a history of depression, thyroid problems, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, heart problems or high blood pressure, have any other medical conditions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Epinephrine should be used with caution if you have heart disease or are taking certain medicines that can cause heart-related (cardiac) symptoms.

Common side effects include fast, irregular or 'pounding' heartbeat, sweating, shakiness, headache, paleness, feelings of over excitement, nervousness, or anxiety, weakness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, or breathing problems. These side effects usually go away quickly, especially if you rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and the Patient Information at www.auvi-q.com.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

About kaleo (kuh-LAY-oh)

Kaleo is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to building innovative solutions for serious and life-threatening medical conditions. Our mission is to provide innovative solutions that empower patients to confidently take control of their medical conditions. We believe patients and caregivers are the experts on how their medical condition impacts their lives and are an integral part of our product development process. Kaleo is a privately-held company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. For more information, visit www.kaleo.com.

Contact: Mark A. Herzog

kaleo

[email protected]

[email protected]

804-545-6360 (office)

SOURCE kaleo

Related Links

http://www.kaleo.com


PITTSBURGH, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) announced they will attend the Longbow Research Investors Conference on August 21, 2018 in New York. Patrick Watson, Vice President & Corporate Controller and Kelly Boyer, Vice President, Investor Relations will be attending. The presentation slides will be available on the company's website www.kennametal.com on August 21, 2018. Once on the homepage, select "About Us", "Investor Relations" and then "Events".

Celebrating its 80th year as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 10,000 employees are helping customers in more than 60 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated nearly $2.4 billion in revenues in fiscal 2018. Learn more at www.kennametal.com.

SOURCE Kennametal Inc.

Related Links

http://www.kennametal.com


FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent survey of engaged couples found one in three are planning non-traditional weddings, nodding to cultural shifts nationally. Even more so, 83 percent are tossing traditional elements if they are not meaningful to them. With that in mind, Marshalls took a closer look at couples embracing surprising wedding experiences in the same way the retailer surprises shoppers with every visit.

"Shifting trends around weddings open the door to new ways of celebrating and gifting the special couples in our lives," said Victoria Shonkoff, Marshalls vice president, marketing director. "We take pride in offering thoughtful, quality gift options at prices you'll love and we're excited to inspire shoppers to think beyond a registry and consider giving more personalized gifts."

As more couples opt for the thrill of non-traditional weddings, gifting expectations for weddings are also shifting. Two out of three engaged couples are hoping for surprising or unexpected wedding gifts, and 42 percent are even forgoing the long-held tradition of registries altogether.

"Gone are the days of the standard wedding gifts of china, silverware and linens. Couples today crave thoughtful, useful gifts that speak to their personalities," said etiquette expert Lizzie Post, great-great granddaughter of Emily Post. "This is why I'm happy to partner with Marshalls. They have a variety of high-quality gift options which makes picking a personal gift and surprising the couple that much more fun!"

Post offers gifting tips for loved ones celebrating couples who jump right into the fun of marriage:

Registries are a convenience for guests, but certainly never mandatory. Sixty-four percent of couples want to be surprised regardless of whether they have a registry. Use the registry as a guide for the couples' style and needs, and embrace the thrill of discovering something unexpected.

percent of couples want to be surprised regardless of whether they have a registry. Use the registry as a guide for the couples' style and needs, and embrace the thrill of discovering something unexpected. Create a custom gift basket for your couple! Mix and match products that reflect the couples' interests and taste. Just like every wedding, no two Marshalls are the same, with a fresh mix of trends to find perfect items for your gift basket each time you visit.

Eighty-one percent of women describe themselves as fun, flexible wedding planners, and are open to surprise. If you know a couple like this, consider pairing a thoughtful gift with an enjoyable experience. For example, find some high-quality wine glasses and pair it with a wine tasting class. It allows the couple to open something immediately as well as look forward to an experience.

percent of women describe themselves as fun, flexible wedding planners, and are open to surprise. If you know a couple like this, consider pairing a thoughtful gift with an enjoyable experience. For example, find some high-quality wine glasses and pair it with a wine tasting class. It allows the couple to open something immediately as well as look forward to an experience. There is no rule on how much to spend on wedding gifts; let your budget and relationship with the couple guide your spending. Marshalls is a great solution for thoughtfully curated gifts at incredible prices.

Fifty-one percent of couples reserve spending money on traditional wedding expenses to splurge on a better honeymoon. Luggage and other travel finds can be some of the least thought of, and most appreciated gifts couples receive.

percent of couples reserve spending money on traditional wedding expenses to splurge on a better honeymoon. Luggage and other travel finds can be some of the least thought of, and most appreciated gifts couples receive. Don't forget your bridal party! It's courteous to give a gift to each member of the bridal party as a thank you for their love and support. Marshalls makes it easy with a wide selection of home accents or handbags for bridesmaids and socks or ties for groomsmen.

Wedding gifts can be sent before the wedding, brought to the wedding or sent up to three months after the wedding. This makes it easy to take your time and get something you really feel great about giving.

Thank-you notes are crucial to good bridal couple etiquette and Marshalls has an impressive supply of thank-you notes and stationery to help make the process fun and personal! Remember, try to get thank-you notes sent out as gifts come in  your hands will thank you later!

From curated bridal baskets to essentials for their new home, Marshalls is the destination for the more personalized gifts couples are seeking. Find your closest Marshalls location at marshallsonline.com.

ABOUT MARSHALLS

Marshalls is one of the nation's leading off-price family retailers with more than 1,000 stores spanning 47 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Since opening its first store more than 40 years ago, the Marshalls name has become synonymous with off-price shopping. Marshalls shoppers can find a surprising selection of high-quality, on-trend, brand name and designer merchandise for men, women and children, footwear, beauty, accessories, and home merchandise - all at prices that wow.

For fashion tips, style alerts and more, visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/marshalls, Twitter at @marshalls, Pinterest at pinterest.com/marshalls and Instagram at @marshalls.

CONTACT:

Ashley Greenwood

Direct Line: 646.315.0379

[email protected]

SOURCE Marshalls

Related Links

http://www.marshallsonline.com


ALGONQUIN, Ill., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MASONRY Publications has announced a partnership with the American Institute of Architecture Students. This partnership will further expand MASONRY Publications' reach within the educational community while also highlighting the important work that AIAS' university partners and student members are doing to define the next generation of architecture.

"Working on this partnership, in particular, has been a highlight of my career. This relationship is designed to help feature the schools, projects, and people who are the future of the industry. It's one of our primary missions at the magazines, and we are honored to call AIAS our partner," said Dan Kamys, Editorial Director of MASONRY Publications.

The new content and expanded distribution to AIAS members at no charge will begin with the November 2018 issue of MASONRY DESIGN. Additional feature articles will come in the form of school profiles, project case studies, and interviews with AIAS members and former members making a difference in the community. MASONRY Publications will also contribute to the AIAS CRIT Journal and collaborate with the editorial team on a variety of topics.

"An understanding of today's materials and what they can accomplish in design represents a critical tool that architecture students need for success. Partnering with MASONRY Publications is a fantastic new addition in our expanded effort to ensure our members get exposed to information and skill sets beyond what they're learning in the classroom," said AIAS Executive Director Nick Serfass, FAIA, CAE.

ABOUT MASONRY PUBLICATIONS  Comprised of MASONRY and MASONRY DESIGN, MASONRY Publications are the Mason Contractor Association of America's magazines aimed to inform the entire construction process. Since 1961, MASONRY has served as the premier resource for mason contractors to stay up to date on the industry. Since 2008, MASONRY DESIGN has served as a cornerstone within the architectural, design, and educational communities.

ABOUT AIAS  The American Institute of Architecture Students is a non-profit, student-run organization dedicated to programs, information and resources on issues critical to architecture and the experience of education.

ABOUT MASON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA  The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is the national trade association representing mason contractors. The MCAA is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.

MEDIA CONTACT  Dan Kamys | 800.536.2225 | [email protected]

SOURCE MASONRY Publications
According to the Home Instead, Inc. survey, money is an important overall factor in desire to return to work. However, the second most important motivator for those who have retired was fighting boredom (44 percent) or keeping their minds sharp (22 percent), while finding new challenges and fulfillment were the second and third most important motivators for those pending retirement. In terms of their next move, the majority of both those approaching retirement (68 percent) and those who have "unretired" and returned to work (65 percent) said they will change or have changed industries.

"Today, more aging men and women are redefining what their next chapter looks like, seeking out new career opportunities that serve their skills, passions and life goals," said Jeff Huber, president and CEO of Home Instead, Inc. "We are seeing the desire among seniors for a second career to not just fulfill a monetary need, but source of personal fulfillment later in life. In fact, many of our own professional caregivers are seniors themselves."

The need for personal fulfillment was evident among those surveyed by Home Instead. Nearly 80 percent of both those nearing retirement and unretired said they want to make a meaningful impact in their communities in their post-retirement years, such as through volunteerism or a role involving caregiving, teaching or giving back.

Catherine Collinson, CEO of Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, reaffirms that with people living longer than ever, it's important to focus more on maintaining a sense of purpose than holding on to the outdated hallmark of retiring at age 65.

"With Boomers blazing the way, full retirement is no longer a point in time. The transition could be a decade or more, and involve shifting gears and working in a different capacity or finding a flexible arrangement, all with more time for family," Collinson said.

Many of today's older workers are seeking flexible work options, including at organizations that meet criteria for age-friendly workplaces. Retail sales clerks, bank tellers, online tutoring and caregiving are among some of the most popular jobs.

Home Instead consulted with retirement experts at Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, RetirementJobs.com and Encore.org to introduce online tips and materials to help older workers decide how to make the most of their post-retirement years. Resources include an online career assessment tool that asks the user questions about their interests, skills and ideal work environment before recommending categories of jobs that might suit them.

"Whether you are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, share your expertise, network with new people or create something new, our hope is the career assessment tool will help spark ideas and conversation around what a rewarding next chapter could look like," explained Huber.

Families can find program resources and information at UnRetireYourself.com. Or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office for additional resources and to learn about professional CAREGiversSM opportunities. Find an office near you by visiting www.homeinstead.com/state/.



ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,100 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 60 million hours of care throughout the United States and 11 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 70,000 CAREGivers worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network partners with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum  from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer's care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.

i Home Instead, Inc., commissioned two separate online surveys each consisting of 502 people in the United States and Canada to determine attitudes surrounding a return to work after retirement. One survey was comprised of 502 people in the United States (451) and Canada (51) who have unretired. The other survey was comprised of 502 people in the United States (451) and Canada (51) who said they have plans to retire within the next 5 years. The fieldwork took place between May 7 and 10, 2018.

SOURCE Home Instead Senior Care
NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Stribling & Associates, a premier luxury New York residential brokerage, today releases the Mid-Year 2018 Luxury Report. The report covers sales, contracts and active inventory, priced $5M and above, in both Manhattan and Brooklyn.

"The first half of 2018 saw a 31% decline in luxury sales from the same period one year ago," said Garrett Derderian, Director of Data & Reporting at Stribling & Associates. The decline was concentrated in the condo market, which saw a 39% decrease in total sales. "This was the first time in the past six years the condo market saw a reduction in sales," Derderian observed. Markedly, the luxury co-op market saw a 10% increase in sales, after recording yearly sales declines in both 2016 and 2017.

Derderian went on the explain why co-ops, which have seen considerably less demand in recent years, saw a sudden uptick in sales: "Over the past several years, buyers' predilections shifted towards downtown new development condos. As a result, uptown co-op prices became considerably softer since sellers have been adjusting expectations. Now, with a flood of costly new construction condos on the market, there is a perception those prices are overinflated. Co-ops, which have already adjusted their prices, have become more attractive and oftentimes offer more space for the same dollar amount."

Still, the number of luxury condo sales, at 303 deals, was significantly higher than co-op sales, which recorded 103. Both property types measured yearly price increases. For condos, the median price increased 3% to $7,537,550, and the average price was up 2% to $9,929,390. Meanwhile, co-ops saw a median price increase of 4% to $7,000,000, and an average price rise of 5% to $9,382,169.

The report also highlights that while the Downtown market continues to be a top choice for condo buyers, with 52% of all deals, the Brooklyn market is also attracting well-heeled purchasers. "The luxury market in Brooklyn is an area we continue to watch closely," said Derderian. "Even though prices were down from this time last year, we still see a steady stream of high-priced sales in the borough," he stated.

Indeed, the median condo sales price in Brooklyn fell 12% to $5,900,000, while the average price dropped 10% to $6,719,670. The average price per square foot also fell 10% to $1,901. Still, Brooklyn captured more luxury deals then the Financial District/Battery Park City, a market experiencing a tremendous construction boom, where only 4 sales were recorded.

For co-ops, the Upper East Side remained the most active market: 54% of all co-op sales were recorded in the neighborhood. Here, both the median and average prices surged. The median price grew 16% to $7,525,000 and the average price jumped 14% to $9,810,262. Derderian accredited the growth to both the renewed interest in Uptown markets, as well as the size of the units, which measured the largest of any submarket.

When looking at the nature of the market overall, Kirk Henckels, Director of Stribling Private Brokerage, put it best: "It is very clear that this market is enduring what is the kindest, gentlest major price correction in memory. It is hard to recall a real estate market incurring such an adjustment without some relatively catastrophic triggering event. This is simply a market that is adjusting itself to chronic overpricing relative to buyers' perception of value." He also added the luxury market still remains above the last peak in 2008.

Highlights from Stribling & Associates Mid-Year 2018 Luxury Report:

- Median sales price was $7,600,000

- Average sales price was $9,898,736

- Average price per square foot was $2,631

- Average days on market was 247

- There are 15.4 months of supply, up from 13.9 last year

- 67% of condo inventory was priced between $5-10M

- 69% of co-op inventory was priced between $5-10M

Recorded Condo Sales:

- There were 303 condo sales, down 39% from 500 in 2017

- The median sale price was $7,537,550, up 3% year-over-year

- The average sale price was $9,929,390, up 2% year-over-year

- The average PPSF was down 3% to $2,866

- 71% of sales were priced between $5-10M

- 52% of sales were located downtown

- Brooklyn registered 2% of luxury sales

- Midtown recorded the highest average price, at $14.54M

- The largest properties, at 4,467 square feet, were located in FiDi/BPC

Recorded Co-op Sales:

- There were 103 co-ops sales, a 10% increase from 94 one year ago

- The median sale price was $7,000,000, up 4% year-over-year

- The average sale price was $9,382,169, up 5% year-over-year

- 70% of sales were priced between $5-10M

- 54% of sales were located on the Upper East Side

- 24% were located on the Upper West Side

- The Upper West Side recorded the highest average price, at $9.99M

- The largest properties, at 3,951 square feet, were located on the Upper East Side

About Stribling & Associates

Stribling & Associates, Ltd. is a premier residential real estate firm with over 300 agents throughout five locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island City. As one of the most renowned brokerages in New York, Stribling uses its respected expertise in the current market to provide individualized services to both buyer and sellers. Stribling agents specialize in the sale of luxury townhouses and cooperative and condominium apartments. The company's philosophy is based on professional, personalized services coupled with exceptional knowledge of key residential market trends. Stribling Private Brokerage specializes in the discreet marketing of properties over $5 million and commands a prominent market share in that sector of Manhattan residential real estate. Through strategic partnerships with Miami's Cervera and international estate services firm Savills, Stribling's global reach extends to more than 700 offices worldwide.

Press Contact:

Ashley Murphy, Director of Public Relations

[email protected]

646-675-5068

SOURCE Stribling & Associates

Related Links

http://www.stribling.com


CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Petland is proud to celebrate more than 350 wishes granted during its 20-year relationship with Make-A-Wish America.

Safari Stan's Children's Charities by Petland was formalized in 1994. Petland has two children's charities  Make-A-Wish and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Annually, Petland collects funds year-round for St. Jude, collecting nearly $500,000 since 2009; and, since 1998 has fulfilled more than 350 wishes for Make-A-Wish kids who wish to have a pet.

Make A Wish

Make-A-Wish is the nation's largest wish-granting organization. It has fulfilled the wishes of more than 300,000 children with critical illnesses in the United States and its territories since 1980. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish serves every community in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico through its 62 chapters.

Petland truly believes in the human-animal bond and how important pets can be in our lives," said Elizabeth Kunzelman, Petland's Director of Public Affairs. "We've seen and heard how special these pets become to the children and their families and how they make such a difference in their lives. We are so thankful to have the opportunity to help."

Petland works with Make-A-Wish and is notified when there are children with pet-related wishes in order to send care packages to the "wish kids" and their new best friend. If a child is near a store and is able, Petland stores will host a shopping spree for the family.

Make-A-Wish is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that relies on the generous contributions of generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 35,000 volunteers across the U.S. to grant a wish every 34 minutes, on average, somewhere in the country. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 300,000 wishes to children in the U.S. and its territories; more than 15,400 in 2017 alone. These wishes are an integral part of a child's treatment because research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

Petland, Inc. is a franchise operation with quality, full service retail pet centers across the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil and El Salvador. For more than 50 years, Petland Pet Counselors have been dedicated to matching the right pet with the right person and meeting the needs of both. To its customers who already have pets, Petland is dedicated to enhancing their knowledge and enjoyment of the human-animal bond. Petland was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in south central Ohio. For more information on Petland, visit www.petland.com.

Contact: Elizabeth Kunzelman, Director of Public Affairs

740-775-2464

SOURCE Petland

Related Links

http://www.petland.com


SAN FRANCISCO, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The global Power over Ethernet (PoE) chipsets market size is likely to reach USD 1.22 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, progressing at a CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period. Increasing applications of Power over Ethernet (PoE) chipsets in the residential sector, for instance, in IP telephones, webcams & closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs), and complete wireless local area network (WLAN) coverage are poised to stoke the growth of the market over the forecast period.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg )



Key benefit of Power over Ethernet is that it is able to transmit both network connectivity as well as power supply over a single cable and overcomes the need for installing separate wires. Similarly, VoIP phones allow transmission of mobile signal over a data network. Rising awareness regarding these merits is projected to support the growth of the market.

Growing IT developments in the education and healthcare sectors are leading to an increase in deployment of the PoE chipset technology in the commercial sector. Enhanced applications of technology such as smart meters use the Ethernet technology for benefits such as energy efficiency, improved comfort, convenience, and security. Increasing number of installations of smart meters is anticipated to drive the Power over Ethernet market over the forecast period. Surging demand for better network access and minimum disruption and cost is leading to an increase in installations of PoE chipsets in various businesses.

North America accounted for the largest share in the market in 2017. The Asia Pacific regional market is estimated to witness tread along a healthy growth track over the forecast period, on account of growing demand for high-speed internet facilities and automation across different industries. Additionally, Japan, China, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong are expected to be the key contributors to the growth for the upcoming 802.3bt standard in the region.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Power over Ethernet (PoE) Chipsets Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Powered Devices, Power Sourcing Equipment), By Standard, By Application, By End Use, By Device Type, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/power-over-ethernet-poe-chipsets-market

Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest:

Demand for Power over Ethernet chipsets is expected to increase owing to growing penetration of internet in developing nations.

The Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) segment is estimated to post a CAGR of 11.7% over the forecast period

The U.S., China , and Japan are anticipated to witness considerable growth over the forecast period, owing to favorable regulations

, and are anticipated to witness considerable growth over the forecast period, owing to favorable regulations The key players in the PoE chipsets market include Akros Silicon, Inc.; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Flexcomm Technology Limited; Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.; Microsemi Corporation; Texas Instruments Incorporated; Linear Technology Corporation; ON Semiconductor; Silicon Laboratories; and STMicroelectronics.

Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Mobile VoIP Market - The global mobile VoIP market size was valued at USD 27.5 billion in 2015. Low data rates, inexpensive calling prices, and the presence of robust network infrastructure are expected to boost the growth of mobile VoIP industry.

ERP Software Market - The global ERP software market size was valued at USD 27,648.0 million in 2014.

Online Movie Ticketing Services Market - The online movie ticketing services market size was estimated at USD 13.98 billion in 2014.

Speech Analytics Market - The global speech analytics market size was valued at USD 626.4 million in 2015 and is expected to witness a significant growth.

Grand View Research has segmented the PoE chipset market report on the basis of type, standard, end-use, and region:

Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) PoE Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) Chipset PoE Powered Devices (PD) Chipset

Standard Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) 802.3af standard 802.3at standard 802.3bt standard

Application (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Connectivity Infotainment LED Lighting Security Others

End User Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Commercial Office Buildings and Small Offices Retail Healthcare Hospitality Industrial Residential

Device Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Network Cameras VoIP Phone Ethernet Switch & Injector Wireless Radio Access Point Proximity Sensor Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK Asia Pacific China Japan India South America Brazil MEA



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: [email protected]



Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college, today announced its Bloomington, Mankato and St. Cloud, Minnesota campuses have earned programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).1,2 Accreditation highlights the College's commitment to meeting rigorous education standards for its Practical Nursing Diploma program at its Mankato and St. Cloud campuses as well as for its Professional Nursing Associate's degree program at its Bloomington, Mankato and St. Cloud campuses. It also signifies the Nursing programs have met or exceeded standards and criteria for educational quality in Nursing curriculum and preparation for Nursing students to work successfully in the profession.

"Rasmussen College is committed to delivering the highest standard of education across all of our Nursing programs," said Dr. Joan Rich, vice president of nursing at Rasmussen College. "Accreditation through ACEN is a rigorous, peer-driven process that takes months to complete. Successfully fulfilling ACEN's requirements and achieving accreditation reinforces that we are delivering on our responsibility to offer quality Nursing education for our Minnesota students."

About the Rasmussen College ACEN-Accredited Nursing Programs

The Rasmussen College Practical Nursing Diploma program provides students with a hands-on Nursing education experience guided by experienced nurse faculty. The program, which can be completed in as few as 12 months, prepares students for their NCLEX-PN exam.3 To offer more flexibility and help students save money, the PN program is offered with Flex Choicea learning option that allows students to combine traditional courses and optional self-directed assessments in order for students to earn their PN Diploma with more flexibility and affordability.

The Rasmussen College Professional Nursing Associate's degree program offers a path to a rewarding career as a registered nurse (RN). The program can be completed in as few as 18 months.3 Upon graduation, Nursing students are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The program is also offered with Flex Choice, allowing students to save time and money.

In addition to its Practical and Professional Nursing programs, Rasmussen College offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program with three entrance options and a fully online Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) with two specializations. The Rasmussen College BSN degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).4

"Our Nursing courses are taught by experienced nurse faculty and feature small classroom sizes which enables faculty members to focus on each student and their unique needs," said Rich. "We also have strong community partnerships that allow our students to have access to a variety of clinical opportunities throughout Minnesota. There is still a great need for nurses across the state. Communities are looking for qualified, caring nurses as the population ages and local hospitals look to grow and expand services. We are proud of our recent ACEN accreditation and are excited for our students and community members who will directly benefit from the exceptional Nursing programs we strive to provide every day."

To learn more about the Rasmussen College School of Nursing or apply for the Fall term, please visit http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/nursing/.

1Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. hlcommission.org | 800-621-7440

2The Rasmussen College Practical Nursing Diploma program in Mankato and St. Cloud and its Professional Nursing Associate's degree program in Bloomington, Mankato and St. Cloud, Minnesota is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850 Atlanta, GA 30326, 404-975-5000 acenursing.org

3Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term.

4The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at Rasmussen College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20001, 202-463-6930, aacnnursing.org/CCNE

ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE:

Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college that is dedicated to changing lives and the communities it serves through high-demand and flexible educational programs. Since 1900, the College has been committed to academic innovation and providing the highest standard of education while empowering students to pursue a college degree. Rasmussen College offers Certificate and Diploma programs through Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs online and across its 22 Midwest and Florida campuses. A pioneer in online education, the College is helping lead advancements in innovations such as competency-based education and comprehensive student support services that help working adults advance their careers. The College is also committed to providing a positive impact on society through public service and a variety of community-based initiatives. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit rasmussen.edu.

Contact: Hannah Ingebrand

Phone: 952-806-4660

Cell: 651-361-0693

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Rasmussen College

Related Links

http://www.rasmussen.edu


CERRITOS, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rego Payment Architectures, Inc. (OTCQB: RPMT) announced today the completion of its Oink Web App, which allows parents to enroll themselves and their children into the Oink financial educational and payment platform. The web app gives the parent or guardian a stylish and intuitive interface to monitor and fund their child's account, set allowances, specify rules for shopping, allow peer to peer transactions, create chores and send educational content. The Oink Web App, which is currently undergoing final testing, will be publicly released in conjunction with the Oink iOS and Android Apps later this month.

Oink is the only financial platform that is COPPA compliant which helps websites and other online services comply with the law and still have a financial relationship with children and parents. The Child Online Protection Privacy Act (COPPA) was enacted in 1998 by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with the sole purpose of protecting children's identity, location and interactions online.

"This represents a significant milestone for the tech team at Rego as we complete the final stages of our COPPA compliant payment platform and ready ourselves for launch. This is the first phase of our two-phase project, to take our proprietary platform to the mobile device. Our immediate addressable market is estimated to be over 80 million children alone in the United States." -- David Knight CEO of Oink.

About Oink:

Oink is a mobile payment app designed for children 8 to 17. Oink provides a platform to aid children with financial responsibility and literacy and to make adults active participants in providing that aid.

For information about Oink visit www.oink.com.

SOURCE Rego Payment Architectures, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.oink.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Verigold Jewelry announced today that its parent company Renaissance Jewellery Ltd. has been presented the prestigious award from the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) of India for the country's largest exports in studded precious metal jewelry category for the year April 2016  March 2017. Renaissance has been judged based on their excellent export performance, value additions to their company and their investment in R&D.

Renaissance Jewellery has received this distinguished award for the 7th time.

The company's continuous investment in product development and design innovation has set it apart as an industry-leading manufacturer. Over the past 10 years Verigold Jewelry has grown in scale and breadth, covering Diamond Fashion, Diamond Bridal and Gemstone product. The company also further differentiates its product offering through licensing, branding and by creating unique collections for key retailers. The creative and dedicated partnership between Verigold and its customers have brought forth many successful collections and key products. Due to Verigold's investment in building its various product assortments, it is in a unique position to be able to provide jewelry ranging from gemstone countertop product to fine diamond bridal.

Mr. Sumit Shah, the Vice Chairman of Renaissance Jewellery Ltd., attributed the success to innovative designs and continued investment in product development. He stated, "A focus on design and product innovation, focus on newer geographies and product categories is the key to our success". He further added, "Renaissance believes that a well-run corporate set-up coupled with good governance practices alone will provide stability, sustenance and growth in a volatile business environment."

For additional information please visit

http://www.renjewellery.com/press-releases/press.asp

About Renaissance Jewelry New York (dba Verigold Jewelry)

Renaissance Jewelry New York (dba Verigold Jewelry) is the US division of Renaissance Jewellery Ltd. (RJL) which is based in India and is publicly traded on the Indian Stock Exchange (BSE symbol: RJL). Renaissance Jewellery Ltd is engaged in the business of design, manufacturing, and sales of various types of jewelry  gold, silver, platinum jewelry, studded with diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones. Categories under which the products sell are Diamond Fashion, Diamond Bridal and Gemstones. Renaissance has sales subsidiaries in USA, UK, and UAE and its manufacturing facilities are in Mumbai, Bhavnagar (Gujarat), UAE and Bangladesh with a workforce of over 4,000 people. It exports products to USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Hong Kong and Australia. For more information please visit www.renjewellery.com.

SOURCE Verigold Jewelry
GLENDORA, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Peyman Saadat and Reproductive Fertility Center are celebrating the opening of their newest office in Glendora at 315 East Route 66, Suite 202, Glendora, CA 91740. Continuing in the tradition of their West Hollywood, Burbank, Diamond Bar and Riverside offices, the Glendora location will provide exceptional fertility treatments to intended parents. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Saadat and Reproductive Fertility have raised the bar on service and success. They have consistently reported higher than the national average success rates, as shown by official SART statistics.

Peyman Saadat, M.D.

In an effort to provide care to as many diverse areas as possible, RFC has chosen Glendora as the latest location. Reproductive Fertility Center has always prided itself on offering its intended parents an inclusive experience related to fertility, with all of its locations seeing patients for IVF, egg donor and surrogacy cycles, gender selection and more. The Glendora office will also offer these services, in a warm and caring environment. RFC is staffed with dedicated and compassionate people that treats each other and intended parents like family.

RFC is now seeing both new and established patients in its Glendora office, and will be honored to help intended parents from all over become the parents they are meant to be. To reach the Glendora office to schedule an initial consultation, call 626.335.0053 or 0054, or the main office in West Hollywood at 310.278.7590.

About Dr. Peyman Saadat & Reproductive Fertility Center

Peyman Saadat, M.D., FACOG is the founder and medical director of Reproductive Fertility Center. Dr. Saadat completed his medical school, residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a subspecialty Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility all at the University of Southern California. Dr. Saadat is Board-Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Reproductive Fertility Center is a group of 4 renowned fertility clinics located across Southern California, USA  that are focused on treatments including IVF, sex selection, surrogacy, egg donation, and tubal reversal procedures. To learn more, visit www.ReproductiveFertility.com, call 310-278-7590 or email: [email protected].

Media Contact:

Audrey Golding

310-278-7590

[email protected]

SOURCE Peyman Saadat M.D. d/b/a Reproductive Fertility Center

Related Links

http://www.ReproductiveFertility.com


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigilon Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops immune-privileged living therapeutics, today announced that Rogerio Vivaldi, M.D., has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Vivaldi joins the Sigilon team from Bioverativ, a Sanofi company. Paul Wotton, Ph.D., who has stepped back from the role of CEO to manage a family health issue, will remain with the company in an advisory capacity and will continue to hold a seat on the company's board.

"We thank Paul for his leadership through Sigilon's first phase of growth, establishing a firm footing for the company's product platform, building a product pipeline, securing and developing a significant pharma partnership and attracting a top-notch leadership team," said Doug Cole, M.D., Managing Partner at Flagship Pioneering and Chairman of the Board at Sigilon. "We welcome Rogerio to lead Sigilon's next phase of growth. His deep therapeutic and commercial experience, expertise and viewpoint across various therapeutic modalities and drug development will be invaluable to building Sigilon to its full potential."

Founded by Flagship Pioneering in 2016, Sigilon has grown rapidly and marked promising milestones in the development of its Living Therapeutics product platform. Sigilon's platform represents an unprecedented opportunity to treat previously untreatable conditions with long-lasting cell therapies that can safely exist within the body. The company's Afibromer technologywhich does not trigger fibrosis, the body's natural protective response to foreign objectsrepresents a new class of breakthrough implantable biomaterials. Engineered cells inside these Afibromer capsules secrete therapeutic cell proteins, providing patients safe and long-lasting treatment for chronic diseases.

"I've been privileged to work alongside a talented team as we designed the company for success. The company has achieved promising milestones in multiple therapeutic areas and is in a strong position for the future," said Dr. Wotton. "I am excited that Rogerio has joined Sigilon and look forward to seeing the company's growth under his leadership."

Under Dr. Vivaldi's leadership, Sigilon plans to move into the clinic and toward regulatory approval and commercialization of its multi-product pipeline. The company also plans to expand into new therapeutic disease areas, beyond its initial pipeline in diabetes, hemophilia and lysosomal storage disorders.

"Sigilon's platform represents exciting new opportunities for patients with hematologic, enzyme deficiency, endocrine and metabolic disordersand this is just the beginning," said Dr. Vivaldi. "I look forward to advancing the company's vision, mission and promising pipeline to meaningfully impact the lives of people with chronic and serious disorders."

An industry veteran and a rare disease pioneer with more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Vivaldi joins Sigilon with significant clinical and business experience. Dr. Vivaldi is a trained physician who spent 18 years caring for patients, specializing in endocrinology. Most recently, Dr. Vivaldi was Executive Vice President, Chief Global Therapeutic Operations Officer at Bioverativ, which was acquired by Sanofi in 2018. He has also held leadership roles at Spark Therapeutics and Genzyme. Dr. Vivaldi also co-founded and served as CEO of Minerva Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company developing products for patients with neuropsychiatric diseases. He holds a medical degree from the Universidade do Rio de Janeiro Medical School. He completed a residency in endocrinology at Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and a fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital Center in New York in the department of genetics. He also holds an MBA degree from COPPEAD, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

To learn more about Sigilon and to read Dr. Vivaldi's full bio, please visit the company's website at www.sigilon.com

About Sigilon Therapeutics

Founded and created by Flagship Pioneering in conjunction with Daniel Anderson, Ph.D., and Robert Langer, Sc.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sigilon Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops immune-privileged living therapeutic implants for the treatment of chronic diseases. Treatments based on Sigilon Therapeutics' Afibromer technology platform include cell implants that act as responsive "living therapeutics," providing more natural control for diseases that are currently treated with intermittent injection or infusion. Initial areas of focus include hematologic, enzyme deficiency, endocrine and metabolic disorders. For more information please visit www.sigilon.com or follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sigilon_Inc.

SOURCE Sigilon Therapeutics

Related Links

http://sigilon.com


DETROIT, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Entrepreneurs Association and Lawrence Tech University have teamed up to host the 2018 Entrepreneur and Small Business Conference: Small Business Doing Big Business, a one day event designed to train entrepreneurs to successfully grow their businesses. The conference will feature networking, keynote speakers, panel discussions and breakout sessions on a variety of topics including funding, government contracting, corporate contracting, overcoming obstacles and digital marketing. The event will take place October 3, 2018 from 9am to 4pm at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield Michigan.

Conference Networking

"The importance of this conference can not be understated as small businesses have helped to transform the local economy, providing jobs, attracting new talent and stimulating growth. We support this effort," stated ZaLonya Allen, PhD, President of the National Entrepreneurs Association. There will be three panel discussions. The first, "Grow to the Next Level" will be moderated by Camille Walker Banks, Executive Director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and will consist of entrepreneurs who have graduated from the program discussing their experiences. The second, "Funding and Finance" will be moderated by Dr. Ken Harris, President of the National Business League. Panelists will consist of representatives from area banks including Comerica, CIBC and Chase. The third panel, "Women in Business" will be moderated by Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley and will consist of women business owners discussing how they overcame obstacles.

Media personality Mark S. Lee will lead a fireside chat with 13 year old Millionaire Entrepreneur Alina Morse, founder of Zollipops sold in over 7,000 stores worldwide including Kroger and Whole Foods. The conference will conclude with an awards presentation to entrepreneurs who serve as role models in the business community. Joseph Anderson, Chairman and CEO of Tag Holdings, a company that has generated millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs throughout the country, will receive the NEA Lifetime Achievement Award.

The conference will showcase 30 exhibitors consisting of entrepreneurs and service providers such as the Small Business Administration. Sponsors include Lawrence Tech University, CIBC, QT Business Solutions, Michigan CRA Association and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. The event is open to the public. Registration is $97 and includes breakfast, lunch, exhibitor showcase and all sessions. To register call 248-491-3146 or visit nationalentrepreneurs.org.

CONTACT: ZaLonya Allen, PhD

Phone: 248.491.3146

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE National Entrepreneurs Association
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Auto Finance (TDAF), a subsidiary of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, received the Highest score in Dealer Satisfaction with Floor Planning, according to the 2018 J.D. Power U.S. Dealer Financing Satisfaction StudySM.

TDAF achieved a score of 994 in the Floor Planning segment of the Study, 59 points ahead of the industry average. Dealers evaluate their experience in three key areas and TDAF achieved the highest score in the following factors: relationship; floor plan portfolio management; and finance provider credit line.

"Floor Plan is a cornerstone of our national growth strategy in automotive and these results indicate that we're on the right track," said Greg Braca, President and Chief Executive Officer, TD Bank. "I'd like to thank all of the dealers that provided us with the opportunity to respond to their feedback. Our vision is to Be the Better Bank and the team is excited to see how we can leverage these insights to provide even greater value to our dealers."

The J.D. Power Dealer Finance Satisfaction Study profiles dealer satisfaction with auto finance providers in four segments of lenders: Non-Captive, Captive Mass Market, Captive Luxury Market and Floor Plan. Dealers also evaluated TDAF in the Retail Credit  Non-Captive segment and TDAF received a score of 917, exceeding the industry average by 97 points.

"We recently expanded the Floor Plan offering nationwide and we're pleased our customers see value in what we are delivering," said Andrew Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, TD Auto Finance. "The Floor Plan product is a vital piece of a dealer's business and it's especially exciting to see high scores in the relationship components of the Study that reflect TDAF's focus on the Dealer Experience."

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com.

SOURCE TD Bank

Related Links

http://www.TDBank.com


"In recent years, our investment promotion activities tended to attract investment in targeted types of business activities," Dr. Somkid said. "We must not forget that investments are crucial to support national transformation.

"From now, we have to make sure that investment promotion activities can also effectively address the three major national agendas - increasing national competitiveness, reducing income and social disparity, and promoting sustainability."

He cited the development of the bioeconomy as an example. In promoting investment in the bioeconomy, value will be added to the country's backbone industries. While a bioeconomy would increase national competitiveness, it also generates an income for people and that directly contributes to the reduction of income disparity and points to a long-term sustainable outcome. In terms of environment and resources, the bioeconomy is also focused on environmentally friendly business activities, which contributes to environmental sustainability.

Dr. Somkid also advised the BOI to promote an investment ecosystem. He said that to attract entrepreneurial ventures, the country should not only provide investment incentives but also assist other activities that support the development of startups. Education, people training, infrastructure and a supply chain in the related industries should all be developed to help investors ensure success.

The BOI, which regularly reviews and adjusts its policy and direction to address changing economic and business trends and national agendas, also released its foreign investors' confidence survey for this year.

The board's processes have contributed to a significant improvement in investors' satisfaction and confidence.

The survey showed that investors' confidence reached the highest level in five years, with 98.5% of the respondents confirming that they would continue to invest in Thailand. Out of the 600 companies that responded to the survey, 33% said they planned to expand investment, while 65.5% said their investment in Thailand would continue.

The top three reasons that boosted their confidence in continuing and expanding their investment in Thailand were given as: the availability of raw materials and parts (54.7%), sufficient suppliers (50.8%) and attractive investment incentives (44.5%).

"From this year's survey, it was clear that the ecosystem and supporting industries play an important part in investors' confidence," said Ms. Duangjai Asawachintachit, Secretary-General to the BOI. "Having extensive resources, parts, raw materials and suppliers is key to this success.

"Realizing this, the government and BOI have been promoting local supporting industries throughout these years. New investment promotion incentives have also been customized and offered in response to rapid technology development and more intense business competition."

Survey respondents also expressed improved satisfaction towards BOI's level of service, incentives, services and assistance in visa and work permit solutions. They also cited information provided on its website, the services at BOI's OSOS center, easy access to services and service speed.

For more information, please contact:

Thailand Board of Investment

Email: [email protected]

Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111

Website: www.boi.go.th

SOURCE Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)

Related Links

http://www.boi.go.th


Last year, The Common Application, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process, convened a group representing 2-year and 4-year colleges, student advocacy groups, and education policy experts to identify key barriers to access for post-traditional students. Their findings led to the development of a redesigned Common App for transfer which takes into account the unique circumstances of today's transfer and adult student populations.

In the 2018-19 application year, more than 650 member colleges and universities will use the new Common App for transfer to improve the pathways and outcomes for bachelor's degree seekers hoping to transfer from one 4-year college to another 4-year institution, those who want to transfer from a community college to a 4-year institution, active military members and veterans, online learners, as well as adults returning to school to complete their degree.

University of Lynchburg, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is one of those institutions launching the new transfer application this year. "The University of Lynchburg is committed to the success of transfer students from the search process to their graduation and beyond," said Rita Detwiler, Vice President for Enrollment Management, University of Lynchburg (VA). "We were honored to work with the Common App team to launch an application to serve their specific needs. The Common App for transfer provides a conduit for this critical student population to broaden their search to find the best fit college."

Students can now explore hundreds of colleges and universities that will use the new transfer application and learn how to apply. Common App member institutions continue to be added to the search feature on commonapp.org as their programs go live with the transfer application. Students can also find the latest list of live Common App members accepting the new Common App for transfer in the Applicant Solutions Center along with additional resources.

Just as the support needs of transfer students often differ from those of traditional undergraduates, so too does the admissions process. For that reason, The Common Application and its membership of more than 800 colleges and universities worldwide set out to reimagine the transfer application process in collaboration with technology partner Liaison International, the leading graduate and professional admissions solution provider. Last year, The Common App convened a Transfer Advisory Committee that included a diverse pool of Common App member institutions, organizations with expertise in the transfer space including The Aspen Institute, and community colleges - where nearly 40 percent of transfer students start their higher education.

Transfer applicants are more likely to be first-generation students, often having to overcome the barriers of balancing their education with job and family responsibilities. For the 2017-18 college application year, 38 percent of transfer students using the Common App were the first in their families to apply to college. The organization and its members recognized that in order to help transfer students realize their potential and pursue their bachelor's degrees, The Common App needed to provide them with an application that's relevant to their life story while also making the process of applying more efficient by simplifying the way fee waivers, transcripts, and other documents are submitted.

"One of the best things we can do to increase educational attainment  especially for underserved populations  is to ensure the transfer admissions process works well for everyone; we must make it a top priority," said Jon Boeckenstedt, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, DePaul University (IL).

DePaul University, a founding member of the Transfer Advisory Committee, was one of nine early adopter institutions of the new Common App for transfer to further reach the large population of student veterans who transfer from local community colleges.

"DePaul is a top destination for veteran students in Chicago; we have 600 student vets on our campus, and 25 percent are over 24 years old," said Jim Rohde, Assistant Director of Transfer Admission and Adult Enrollment, DePaul University (IL). "We're excited for The Common App's new transfer application because we understand the needs of this significant group of adult learners. Now is the time to ensure that those who've served our country feel welcomed during the college admission process and are aware of their options  especially with the recent expansion of the GI Bill."

Some of the new enhancements delivered in the Common App for transfer enable institutions to provide students with:

Targeted application experience via the Extended Profile that includes tailored pathways and programs based on age, goals, degree status, and credits earned.





Prerequisite coursework feature, so applicants can select courses they completed to apply toward prerequisite requirements for a given academic program.





Expanded document collection to centralize collection of documents, including those applicable to transfer applicants such as DD214, Joint Services Transcript, and financial transcript.





Tracking of experiences and achievements that allows transfer applicants to report volunteer, internship, and work experience, as well as any awards or honors they've accumulated outside of the classroom.





Common App Recommendation Portal, so applicants can choose recommender types: Academic, Professional, Personal, and deliver a personal message with deadline date to each recommender.





Additionally, with centralized transcript collection, applicants using the new transfer application need only to request transcripts from their most recent institutions - where they were previously or are currently enrolled - once, thus reducing transcript request fees and time spent completing their applications. Transcripts are easily scanned, verified and attached to the applicant's record.

"When many people think about today's college student, they may picture a recent high school graduate living on campus. In reality, she has a full-time job and a family to support. She may be a returning military veteran seeking a new career. Or, she may have a variety of other life circumstances that have prevented her from pursuing a direct path to her future," said Jenny Rickard, President & CEO of The Common Application. "We're committed to providing better pathways and equitable opportunities for the talented and growing group of individuals who didn't take the so-called "traditional" path to college but are determined to achieve their educational goals. The Common App and our members are just as determined to meet these applicants where they are in their lives and help them pursue their dreams."

About The Common Application

The Common Application is a not-for-profit member organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year, more than one million students, one-third of whom are first-generation, apply to college through the Common App's online application. Founded in 1975, The Common App serves more than 800 member colleges and universities worldwide. To learn more, visit commonapp.org, follow @CommonApp, and #CommonApp.

SOURCE The Common Application

Related Links

http://www.commonapp.org


For Fall 2018, Cole Haan isn't pushing boundaries, it's breaking them. The newest disruptor in the staid world of dress footwear, the 3.ZERGRAND, focuses on creating a unique anatomical fit experience from heel to toe that highlights the lightweight, flexibility and cushioning that they're known for.

"We thrilled to introduce the 3.ZERGRAND," said David Maddocks, Chief Marketing Officer & General Manager of Business Development at Cole Haan. "Since introducing the ZERGRAND in July 2014, we've continued to push boundaries and create footwear that is designed and engineered for modern on-the-go people who demand stylish and versatile products that don't sacrifice performance and comfort."

With breakthrough silhouettes for both men and women, all styles feature the iconic GRAND Fit Chassis that provides support, rigidity, flexibility and cushioning where the foot needs it most. Underfoot, Cole Haan's GRAND Energy Foam provides outstanding heel-to-toe cushioning and multi-directional traction. The 3.ZERGRAND is a boldly innovative shoe designed for boldly innovative people. It's an ethos which Cole Haan has proudly upheld since day one. Welcome to the evolution of ZERGRAND, a true original. The future is here in the form of the 3.ZERGRAND.

"Our favorite thing about the design of 3.ZERGRAND, is that it stays true to what made the ZERGRAND an icon  360 design that solves the needs of our Cole Haan customers while disrupting the status quo of what's acceptable to wear from dress to casual, work to weekend", said Cole Haan's Chief Creative Officer, Scott Patt.

The GRAND Fit Chassis is uniquely anatomic and crafted for the functional needs of men and women. It provides hugging and contouring support from midfoot to heel, natural forefoot flexibility, and exceptional underfoot cushioning for an incredibly holistic fit experience. These innovative functional elements blended with supreme craftsmanship result in yet another step forward in Cole Haan's long tradition of untraditional shoemaking.

The 3.ZERGRAND collection is available on www.ColeHaan.com and in US and international Cole Haan Stores. The men's and women's 3.ZERGRAND collection ranges from $200 - $400.

About Cole Haan

Cole Haan LLC, with its Global Headquarters in Greenland, New Hampshire and Creative Center in New York City, is an iconic American lifestyle accessories brand and retailer of premium men's and women's footwear, handbags, leather accessories, outerwear and eyewear. Cole Haan stands for its commitment to craftsmanship, timeless style and design innovation. For more information, visit ColeHaan.com and follow @ColeHaan.

For more information, contact:

Kimry Blackwelder, Cole Haan

Phone: +1 (212) 763-3060

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Cole Haan

Related Links

http://www.colehaan.com


FORT WAYNE, Ind., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tippmann Innovation was proud to host Usoshi Chatterjee, a graduate student from The Ohio State University, as one of their summer interns. Usoshi was a major asset to the company's Quick Freeze division by creating reports on test data aggregate from Tippmann Innovation's Patented Quick Freeze In-Rack Freezing technology. The reports she created were essential in illustrating the efficiency of QF+ In-Rack Freezing over traditional blast freezing methods.

Tippmann Innovation Hosts OSU Food and Biological Engineering Graduate Student for Summer Internship Usoshi Chatterjee - OSU Graduate Student

Usoshi is passionate about helping create new ways of integrating sustainability in the food supply chain. Her research includes analyzing the molecular structure various food types to help determine quality assurance for products at all stages of the food processing cycle. "The goal of our research is to eliminate waste before it ever reaches the consumer," says Chatterjee. She and her team determine which parts of the food processing cycle to optimize through shelf life and package testing. By examining factors such as heat and mass transfer principles in the scope of protein and dairy, and reviewing enzyme reactions and varying levels of moisture loss, they can determine which products on the market will help maintain quality assurance and reduce energy waste.

"I like being able to control food sustainability from the ground up. It is very exciting. Many people think of sustainability as it pertains to engineering; however, I enjoy being able to translate non-engineering related processes to a variety of industries that can help multiple infrastructures. It allows me to make as much change as possible."

- Usoshi Chatterjee

Usoshi is on track to get her PhD in Food and Biological Engineering and would like to focus on research and development or possibly academia. Tippmann Innovation would like to thank Usoshi for all of her hard work this summer and wish her the very best as she continues her studies in the fall.

About Tippmann Innovation: Tippmann Innovation is an award winning specialty, industrial cold storage builder that develops buildings around a business plan, ensuring that an investment becomes a profit center. Tippmann Innovation utilizes time-honed expertise and advanced technology solutions to create efficient buildings that scale with a business, and are designed to maximize profitability through fully integrating operations and supply chain, by design. Tippmann Innovation provides a full suite of cold storage construction services, including master site planning and operations guidance. Tippmann Innovation's technologies include the Patented QF+ In-Rack freezing and thawing system, coupled with the T2 spacer that creates the fastest system available. Tippmann Innovation has offices in Indiana, Illinois, and Florida and operates internationally.

For more information: Rob Adams, Ti: 260-424-2222

Media inquiries: [email protected]

SOURCE Tippmann Innovation
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has been recognized as the top hospital in the Tampa-St. Pete Metro Area, and one of the nation's top 50 hospitals in six medical specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News also ranked TGH second among all hospitals in Florida.

The annual Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 29th year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or for common elective procedures.

TGH was ranked as one of the top 50 hospitals nationally in these six medical specialties:

Diabetes & Endocrinology

Gastroenterology & GI Surgery

Nephrology

Orthopedics

Pulmonology

Urology

In addition, TGH received "High Performing" ratings in three medical specialties: cardiology & heart surgery, geriatrics, and neurology & neurosurgery.

"This recognition reflects the commitment of our staff and physicians working as a team to provide the best outcomes for our patients," said TGH President and CEO John Couris. "And we will continue in our efforts to become a top-tier, world class hospital that is focused on patient safety and quality."

"For nearly 30 years, U.S. News has strived to make hospital quality more transparent to healthcare consumers nationwide," said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. "By providing the most comprehensive data available, we give patients and their physicians information to support their search for the best care across a range of specialties."

The U.S. News Best Hospitals methodologies in most areas of care are based largely or entirely on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators.

Best Hospitals was produced by U.S. News with RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

For more information about the 2018-19 rankings, visit our FAQ. The rankings will be published in the U.S. News "Best Hospitals 2019" guidebook (ISBN 9781931469906), available for pre-order now from the U.S. News Online Store and for purchase at other bookstores in late September.

For more information, visit Best Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital is a 1,010-bed Level 1 trauma center on the west coast of Florida that serves as the region's only center for comprehensive burn care. It is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers, and a nationally designated magnet hospital for quality nursing care. TGH is the only nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center in Hillsborough County and is also a state-certified spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation center. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

CONTACT: Ellen Fiss, [email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital

Related Links

http://www.tgh.org


BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO), the leading provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing services (CRM/BPO) in Latin America, and one of the top five providers worldwide, managed calls through its volunteer employees to raise funds for UNICEF in the "Un Sol para los Chicos" program. Atento's volunteers contributed to raise 3.5 million dollars is the 2018 edition of this campaign.

More than 1,000 volunteer employees answered calls from the customer relationship centers that the Company has in Argentina in Martinez, Mar del Plata, Cordoba, Salta, Chaco and Tucuman. Over the last years, Atento volunteers have helped UNICEF to surpass the amount of money raised during all the previous editions of the program.

As every year, Atento's infrastructure, logistics, project coordination, and telephone customer service were donated to UNICEF as a way of collaborating with the organization.

"Un Sol para los Chicos" is UNICEF's most important annual fundraising campaign in Argentina, through which the entity supports its work for the rights of children and adolescents in the country.

About Atento

Atento is the largest provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing (CRM BPO) services in Latin America, and among the top five providers worldwide, based on revenues. Atento is also a leading provider of nearshoring CRM/BPO services to companies that carry out their activities in the United States. Since 1999, the company has developed its business model in 13 countries where it employs 150,000 people. Atento has over 400 clients to whom it offers a wide range of CRM/BPO services through multiple channels. Atento's clients are mostly leading multinational corporations in sectors such as telecommunications, banking and financial services, health, retail and public administrations, among others. Atentos shares trade under the symbol ATTO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2016, Atento was named one of the Worlds 25 Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Place to Work for a fourth consecutive year. For more information visit www.atento.com

Press relations

Maite Cordero

+ 34 91 740 74 47

[email protected]

Investor relations

Shay Chor

+55 11 3293 5926

[email protected]

Felipe Joaquim Martins de Souza

+ 55 11 3779-8053

[email protected]

SOURCE Atento S.A.

Related Links

http://www.atento.com


NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the Board of Directors of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation ("DNB" or the "Company") (NYSE: DNB) in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by a consortium led by CC Capital, and funds associated with Thomas H. Lee Partners. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, DNB shareholders will be entitled to receive $145.00 in cash for each DNB share they own.

WeissLaw is investigating whether DNB's Board acted to maximize shareholder value prior to entering into the agreement. Notably, the per-share cash consideration only offers DNB shareholders a 13% premium over the Company's August 8 trading price of $127.26.

Additionally, DNB recently announced GAAP revenue of $439.6 million in the second quarter of 2018, representing annual increase of 8% when compared to the figures reported in the same period of the previous year.

Given these facts, WeissLaw is investigating whether DNB's Board acted in the best interests of DNB's public shareholders to maximize shareholder value prior to entering into the agreement. If you own DNB shares and would like more information about your rights or our investigation, or if you have information to share with us, please contact Joshua Rubin by telephone at (888) 593-4771 or by email at [email protected].

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected] or fill out the form on our website, http://www.weisslawllp.com/the-dun-bradstreet-corporation/

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP

Related Links

http://www.weisslawllp.com


Jerusalem, Aug 14 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo in May over the issue of the Gaza Strip, a media report said on Monday.

The Hebrew-language Channel 10 TV news reported Monday that the Israeli Prime Minister's Office was not immediately available for comments, but quoted anonymous US officials as saying that Netanyahu and a few of his advisors took a flight to Cairo on May 22 to meet with Sisi.

The meeting focused on Egypt's efforts to advance a diplomatic solution to the situation in Gaza, which includes the reinstatement of the Palestinian National Authority's rule in Hamas-run Gaza and a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Xinhua quoted the report as saying.

In return, Israel and Egypt would significantly ease their 11-year crippling blockade imposed on the Palestinian enclave to enable its rehabilitation.

The two leaders also discussed the new US peace plan that the White House has been working to advance for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The latest severe escalation of fighting between Israel and Gaza came last week, as Israel struck hundreds of sites in Gaza, killing three, while Gaza militants launched about 200 rockets toward southern Israel without causing casualties.

Egypt and the US have been key players in the efforts to achieve a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Sisi and Netanyahu held their first official meeting in New York in September 2017, when they discussed possible ways to restart the long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Washington, Aug 14 : Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who said in a text message that he would help prevent US President Donald Trump from ever winning the White House, was fired by the agency, media reports said on Monday.

According to a statement issued by his attorney Aitan Goelman, FBI Deputy Director David L. Bowdich fired Strzok on Friday, although the head of the internal FBI office that generally deals with disciplining employees had decided Strzok only be demoted and suspended from his duties for 60 days.

The firing comes months after private texts surfaced in which Strzok and his girlfriend discussed Trump's candidacy during the 2016 election campaign, Efe reported.

In those texts, an FBI lawyer with whom Strzok was pursuing a romantic relationship at the time asked him if Trump would ever become president and he responded that he would not because "we'll stop" him.

Goelman said that the firing "isn't the normal process in any way more than name," adding "This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans".

Strzok, a 22-year-old veteran of the FBI, helped lead the agency's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and participated in investigating the use of private e-mail servers by Trump's rival, Hillary Clinton.

When the text exchange between Strzok and his then-girlfriend came to light, the FBI removed him from the Russia investigation, now being headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Trump has frequently used Strzok as a foil to attack the Mueller probe, which is examining alleged links between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

True to form, Trump did not delay in reacting on Twitter to Strzok's firing, tweeting: "Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped?"

In a subsequent tweet, Trump said that Strzok "was in charge of the Crooked Hillary Clinton sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!"

In early August, Strzok testified before Congress and asserted that there is "no evidence of bias in my professional actions".

Although he had been escorted out of the FBI building in June and relieved of all duties at the agency, Strzok had remained on the FBI payroll until his recent firing.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar has joined hands with director Anurag Basu for a multi-starrer relationship drama.

Basu, who will be directing the film, is currently working on finalising the actors for the project.

"I have had a great association with Bhushan. When I shared the idea of this project with him, he instantly decided to come on board. I have been working on the project for some time now and really looking forward to directing it. It's again going to be a ride of emotions on the silver screen," Basu said in a statement.

Kumar is also looking forward to the project.

"Anurag is a master storyteller and brings magic to celluloid in the way his stories pan out and the trajectories his characters follow. Both of us are super thrilled to be working together on a very special project with some very talented actors which we will be happy announce soon," said the music industrialist-turned film producer.

T-Series has given hit films like "Hindi Medium", "Tumhari Sulu" and "Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety". And Basu is known for films like "Murder", "Gangster", "Life in a... Metro", "Kites", "Barfi" as well as "Jagga Jasoos".
Yangon, Aug 14 : A 40-year-old woman has been killed in a shooting incident in Myanmar's Mandalay city, media reported on Tuesday.

A bike-borne gunman attacked a couple on a bike on Monday. When he failed to snatch the woman's purse, he shot at them, Xinhua news agency reported.

The woman was hit on the head and she died on the spot. Her husband was hit on his left chest and is critical.

The incident occurred in the Chanmyathazi town.
Canberra, Aug 14 : A former Catholic archbishop will serve a maximum 12-month sentence in home detention for concealing child sexual abuse, an Australian court has ruled.

The decision means Philip Wilson, who resigned as archbishop of Adelaide after his conviction, will avoid jail, the BBC reported.

Wilson, 67, is the world's most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of covering up sexual abuse. His lawyers said they would lodge an appeal on Tuesday.

A magistrate said Wilson would commence his sentence immediately at a relative's home, where he would be monitored by a tracking device. He will be eligible for parole after six months.

As he left court on Tuesday, Wilson did not respond to an abuse survivor who confronted him to demand an apology, the BBC reported.

During his trial, Wilson denied knowing that paedophile priest James Patrick Fletcher had abused altar boys in the 1970s.

However, the court ruled in May that Wilson had been alerted to the abuse by victims, and failed to report it.

Fletcher was convicted of nine child sexual abuse charges in 2004, and died in jail in 2006.
Islamabad, Aug 14 : People all across Pakistan on Tuesday celebrated the country's 72nd Independence Day with traditional zeal and fervour.

As the clock struck midnight, fireworks began across the county while buildings were lit up to celebrate Independence Day.

The day-long festivities began with thanksgiving prayers and the hoisting of the national flag at all important public buildings in the country, which had been decorated with bunting and lights ahead of August 14, reports Dawn online.

The day began with a 31-gun salute in the capital, followed by 21-gun salutes in all four provincial capitals.

Pakistan Rangers officials at the Wagah border crossing exchanged sweets with Indian Border Security Force personnel.

The main ceremony will be hosted at the Islamabad's Convention Centre, where President Mamnoon Hussain is expected to hoist the national flag. Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, the three chiefs of the armed forces and other notable personalities will be in attendance.

Change-of-guard ceremonies were also held at the mausoleums of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal in Karachi and Lahore, respectively.

People across the country flocked to stalls that lined up streets to purchase national flags in different sizes, t-shirts, badges and other merchandise to display their national pride.
Islamabad, Aug 14 : Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has come under fire over a promotional video made by the national flag carrier in collaboration with a Polish tourist who is seen doing the 'Kiki challenge' inside an empty aircraft.

On Monday, a video went viral of Polish tourist Eva Bianka Zubeck performed the popular 'Kiki challenge' with the national flag wrapped on her body, Dawn news reported.

"Eva Zubeck from Poland/England is a Global Citizen travelling around the world, but now her heart is set on Pakistan! She has been exploring Pakistan flying #PIA. She will be celebrating Independence Day in a style never before attempted in the world! Stay tuned for updates," the airlines said in a tweet along with the video.

However, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) later in the day said the woman not only disgraced the flag but also violated the security codes of the national airlines.

"We want to know that who allowed the woman to go into an empty aircraft and dance at the airport," an NAB spokesman told Dawn news.

He said the NAB will officially send a letter to the PIA on Wednesday to seek its management's point of view on the issue.

"We want to ascertain that who had permitted the women to freely move into a highly-secured runway of the airport."

Due to the immediate escalation of the issue, Zubeck had to issue a clarification.
Hyderabad, Aug 14 : Walking through the sprawling, newly-opened IKEA store here needs energy and the company is making sure that customers get to recharge at its trademark restaurant. The 1,000-seater restaurant is the biggest among the Swedish home furnishings retailer's global network in 50 countries.

The thousands of customers who flocked IKEA's first India store that opened on August 9 had a massive range of 7,500 world-class products to choose from. With 1,000 products priced below Rs 200, the affordability and the quality of the international brand was the talk of the town.

So also was the restaurant, with half its menu offering Indian and the other half Swedish food -- in line with the company's global practice.

"We cater to the local taste wherever we have our operations and half of our food here is Swedish," Henrik Osterstrom, Country Food Manager, IKEA Food, told IANS at the restaurant, teeming with hundreds of customers.

At the India store, chicken meat balls have replaced beef meat balls, a popular dish on IKEA's menu globally. It has also dropped pork from the menu for India.

"Since many people in India don't eat beef, we are not selling it. As there are many Muslims, we are respecting their sentiments as well by not selling pork," Osterstrom said.

The menu includes vegetable biryani, salmon fillet, dal makhni, cakes, green salad, fruit salad, cinnamon buns and and variety of beverages.

Osterstrom is happy with the customers' response so far. "It's fantastic to see so many people coming here. We are selling a lot of biryani, chicken meat balls, veggie balls and dal makhani as well," he said.

Like its home furnishing products, IKEA is also offering a menu to suit all sizes of wallets. Vegetable biryani is priced at Rs 99, chicken meat balls at Rs 149 and veggie balls at Rs 129.

"We have ensured that the food is affordable, of high quality and of good taste. We call it Swedish-feel Indian-appeal," said Osterstrom.

The Swedish dishes include chicken meat balls, salmon fillet, lingonberry juice and cinnamon buns.

Customers have to serve themselves -- right from picking up trays and trolleys to collecting food and later leaving the trays and trolleys at designated points. The service is quick as customers collect their orders in a couple of minutes while moving in the queue along the food counters and the billing is done while heading towards their tables.

Why choose India for the company's biggest restaurant globally? "It became like that. I think food is starting point in India. We have large restaurants in other countries, especially in Asia, where food is vital. We wanted to give a nice atmosphere and make sure that it is not crowded," he said.

Globally, restaurants contribute 10 percent of IKEA's sales but Osterstrom hopes it will be higher in India as big footfalls are expected. "People in India llove food. It's just the beginning and we will see more customers."

Over 40,000 customers visited IKEA store on the first day. The company expects at least 60 lakh footfalls annually at the store, which has come up with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore in the heart of HITEC City, the information technology hub.

IKEA plans to open 25 stores across India by 2025. The next store will open in Mumbai next year followed by Bengaluru and Delhi.

The concept of a store is integral to IKEA, founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943.

"Our founder, from day one, had this idea. As our showrooms are huge and it takes time for customers to go around the entire store, they feel hungry. We also have a play area for kids. It should be fun day for the whole family," Osterstrom explained.

The restaurant is located such that if customers feel hungry, after walking through one home furnishings section of the store, they should get new energy to enter the next phase of shopping, that is, the market hall.

And, after another long walk through the market hall and checkout, customers find in front of them a cafe for refreshments. Here they get a wide range of cookies, chocolates and other delicacies. A samosa costs just Rs 10 while frozen yogurt, which tastes like soft serve ice cream, is also available at the same price.

(Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)
New Delhi : As India gets ready to celebrating its 71st Independence Day, concerns over honing its human capital come to the fore. These mus be addressed if the nation is to seize the opportunity offered by a demographic dividend for sustainable and inclusive digital growth.

The growing working population, which is expected to increase by 1.3 million every month between now and 2025 (World Bank, 2018) demands a focus on higher education and skilling to create a pool of human capital in the ongoing digital revolution and take India on a higher growth trajectory. While India already lags behind its peers in terms of employment generation owing to various socio-economic reasons, growing digitalisation can further accentuate the frictions in the job market if the country doesn't align the skills of its rapidly growing workforce to the demands of the new digital economy.

It is, thus, essential to adapt to the new technology to tap the full potential of digital disruption and reduce inequality in the society.

This could be achieved in part by transforming the higher education system in India in a way that it enables students to prepare for the challenges of future jobs. This, however, requires an understanding of the way innovations are going to impact the country's labour market. There seems to be a likely increase in the demand for the high skilled workers who use non-routine cognitive and ICT skills and the low skilled workers who use non-routine manual skills, while the mid-level skilled workers who are in their routine occupations are more likely to experience a decline in demand for their skills because of the automation of the repetitive tasks.

A 2017 OECD study, "Future of Works and Skills", points out that employment in high skilled occupations in India experienced a 6.3 percentage point increase over 2002- 2014, while employment in medium skilled routine occupations declined 5.3 percentage points over this period.

Sectoral analysis of the Indian economy reveals that the manufacturing sector has a high potential for automation, with an estimate of 69 percent of the tasks that could be automated in organised manufacturing in India (World Bank Group Foresight Report, 2016).

The automobile sector is expected to buy 60 per cent of all industrial robots sold in India (ET Auto, 2015), which could be used for doing a large number of routine tasks such as welding, polishing and painting in the manufacturing plants, leading to a consequent decline in such jobs.

Further, looking at the services sector, e-commerce provides an example of India's industry where technology-enabled innovations, such as digital payments, hyper-local logistics, analytics driven customer engagements and digital advertisements are expected to support the growth of the sector. While the sector is set to grow from $38.5 billion in 2017 to $200 billion by 2026 and, consequently, expected to generate employment in e-commerce and the allied industries such as logistics, transport and warehousing, there is a greater likelihood of displacement of small to medium retail enterprises and shop floor salespersons they have, because of the increasing demand for the automation skills in the industry.

The IT sector has been undergoing a huge technology transformation and has seen tremendous growth over the last 20 years. Its contribution to India's GDP rose to approximately 9.5 percent in 2015 from 1.2 percent in 1998. However, the sector is expected to experience a 14 percent decline in its workforce by 2021 on account of application of machine learning and Cloud computing technologies which will automate the routine and backend tasks.

Thus, IT sector workers need to upskill themselves on the SMAC (Social, Mobility, Analytics and Cloud) technologies to overcome the labour market frictions arising out of the digital transformation. The SMAC market is expected to grow to $225 billion by 2020 and create employment opportunities in related capabilities.

The impact of automation technologies has also been felt in the financial sector, where there is already an extensive use of chatbots and internet banking at the customer services end. While there will be some job displacements for the digital transactions which are non-risky in nature, there will always be a requirement for human intervention when it comes to risky transactions and investing money. In fact, digital finance is expected to create 21 million new jobs by 2025.

A review of the future of work in India across various sectors on account of the ongoing digital revolution necessitates the need for transforming its system of higher learning to deliver a workforce which is industry ready. This could be achieved by learning from the success stories of countries such as Russia, Singapore and Switzerland, which have developed special industry-specific programmes to prepare their people for future jobs, and also analysed the in-demand future skills to provide appropriate skill-based training to young people.

Further, encouraging more private sector participation in setting up higher education institutes catering to the needs of industry can bridge the skill gap experienced by the Indian economy.

However, the government needs to ease the regulatory requirements for setting up universities to encourage greater private investments. In addition, emphasis should be laid on outcome-based indicators, such as the number of students who get employment after graduating from the university, instead of input-based measures, such as the gross enrollment ratio for a university. Moreover, online courses from platforms such as Coursera, edX and Udacity, which have emerged as the online solution to the demand supply skill gap, should be awarded credits in the undergraduate/graduate studies, to encourage greater student participation.

At this juncture in the global economic scenario, India must make significant revisions to its higher education system to make their future workforce industry ready. While change is difficult, it is also inevitable.

(Amit Kapoor is chair, Institute for Competitiveness, India. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in and tweets @kautiliya. Deepti Mathur, senior researcher at large, with the Institute has contributed to the article)
New Delhi : Landmark reforms like RERA and GST, as also demonetisation, have brought about much-needed transparency in transactions, helping the real estate sector to free itself of fraud, malpractices and other problems faced by consumers and investors. Yet, the sector needs more reforms to break free of the various ills that still plague it in order to realise its full potential as a major contributor to the country's GDP.

The reform-oriented Narendra Modi government, which is fine-tuning and reinforcing the reforms undertaken by it to increase their on-ground efficacy, has its task cut out to free real estate from high transaction costs, especially to achieve the success of its flagship mission of "Housing for All".

Though the interest subsidy scheme (CLSS) under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has proved to be a big boost for first-time home buyers in the EWS, LIG and MIG category, yet high transaction costs are a deterrent to home ownership. Currently, GST, stamp duty and registration costs act as a dampener. There is an average stamp duty of six percent and it is not uniform and is much higher in some states. Further, in many cities, there is the anomaly of collector rates of property being higher than the market rates.

As such, home buyers end up paying more stamp duty and registration fee. Home buyers need to be given freedom from high transaction costs to boost sales and revive residential real estate, facing a slowdown for long. And this can be achieved by either rationalising stamp duty or simply subsuming stamp duty in GST. Similarly, while GST has imporved ease of doing business by doing away with multiple taxation, there is still a need to lower its 12 per cent rate, which is almost double the VAT and Service tax prevalent in pre-GST era, especially when Input Tax Credit provided by the government is not having the desired effect. Further, the high GST on cement should be brought down as in the case of paints, to bring down the cost of homes.

Home buyers also need freedom from the double burden of rent and EMI, particularly as hundreds of thousands of housing projects across the country are facing long delays. Earlier, the home buyers would get possession of their homes in 3-4 years but now, in many cases, it has almost doubled, causing great hardships to home buyers in terms of dual burden of rent and EMI. Some developers are helping home buyers tide over this problem by offering schemes to pay EMI only after possession. But ready homes is a sound solution to this problem as they do not have any development risk and, moreover, home buyers save on 12 per cent GST.

That's why ready-to-occupy homes are being lapped up by home buyers. Here, the concept of "Build and Sell" can provide a long-term solution. Under RERA, a developer can't start his project without land and all mandatory permissions in place. Also, there is not only a ban on funding projects through customer advances by way of pre-launching of projects but there is also a strict check on (mis)utilising funds collected from customers through the implementation of the escrow account mechanism.

As such, it makes sense for developers to adopt the "Build and Sell" model which is common in advanced countries. Leading developer DLF has already announced it would adopt this model. And, if the government organises cheap bank funding for at least developers of affordable housing, many of them will take to "Build and Sell", to the advantage of property consumers.

Red-tapism is also proving to be a big bane of the real estate sector as the unduly long time taken by authorities in giving construction permits and other multiple sanctions adds the developers' debt, in turn increasing home costs. And, since the sanctioning authorities do not come under the purview of RERA, there is no check on project delays due to the unduly long time taken in according project sanctions and giving completion certificates.

The ideal solution to this problem is a single window mechanism for project sanctions/clearances. Since this is not happening, the government should fast-track the process of online permissions/sanctions and make this time-bound.

Last but not the least, there should be freedom from defective and fraudulent land/property titles to make property transactions easier and safer. Thus, there is an urgent need to set up a Land Titling Authority in states to prepare and maintain a digitised registry of all immovable properties. This, together with introduction of Title Insurance for providing protection against any financial loss due to title deficiencies, will considerably help in enforcing contracts and prevent property deals from falling through, thereby effectively checking high litigation due to property ownership disputes.

The transparency brought in by this will further boost the confidence of foreign investors, thereby helping in putting foreign investment in Indian real estate on the fast track.

(Vinod Behl is editor, Realty Plus, a leading real estate monthly. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at vbehl2008@gmail.com)
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Amarnath Sehgal is best known for his sculpted marvels, S.H. Raza for his work with the brush. Little or nothing is known about their penmanship -- particularly about the trauma of Partition.

As India enters the 72nd year of its independence, IANS, with special permission from curator Shruti Isaac, delves into the archives of Sehgal, who left behind an unpublished memoir. Raza's memoir has been published but very little of it is known in India.

Born in Campbellpur, in what is not Pakistani Punjab, Sehgal (1922-2007) was witness to the tragedy of the Partition, an event he described as a "holocaust".

"My nerves were shattered, having witnessed the holocaust, with millions killed and many more millions uprooted from their ancestral hearths and homes, on both sides of the border, to seek refuge, solace, security and peace, keeping their bodies and souls together," he writes in "American Education: An Experience" sometime in the 1960s that dealt extensively with his three-year sojourn in the US from 1949.

Shifting to the Kullu Valley in the wake of Partition, Sehgal applied to study sculpture in the US coupled with the motive to "get out of India", he writes in the memoir, explaining why the tragedy led to his search for a foreign land.

"I was sad, I had lost my sleep then. I wanted to be away from the environments, where there were cries which were unheard," he writes.

"Such were days when I wanted to jump across to unknown frontiers to live in peace and express myself," pens the sculptor, who developed a deep sensitivity towards human suffering, reflective in many of his works.

His 1958 bronze sculpture "Cries Unheard" stems from his tragic experiences and is housed in the permanent collection of Delhi's National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA).

The 2008 Padma Bhushan awardee, who returned to India in 1951, also writes about a "strange pull" that spurred him to come back to India for the second time and work for the revival of folk arts in the country's rural space.

"Having lived in America for three years, I had a chance to get the resident status. But the lure of my own country, my home, my mother, provided a strange pull, and motivated me to pack up and leave," he writes.

The memoir now resides in Amarnath Sehgal Private Collection in Delhi, a space which was formerly the sculptor's studio.

On his part, Raza describes Partition as "an extremely difficult time" for his family, then based in Mandla (in the modern day Madhya Pradesh) in "Itinerary" (2003), originally written in French during his more than five-decade-long sojourn in the European nation.

Raza (1922-2016) writes that his family was absolutely against the division of the country, and all was peaceful till tensions mounted following Partition.

"After the Partition, there were killings in the (adjacent) region of Damoh, and it became very difficult for my sister and her family. My older brother, Yusuf Raza, who worked as Editor of the Hindi journal 'Vishwamitra', was well informed on what was happening."

He goes to write about his family members having to vacate their homes and migrate to Pakistan.

"As the tensions increased... they decided to leave their homes one night. The house was burnt; they found shelter elsewhere and finally arrived in Lahore in Pakistan," he writes.

Interestingly, the painter's family had to move to Mandla from Delhi after the First War of Independence in 1857 since "they knew (we) opposed British rule".

The painter, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1981, the Padma Bhushan in 2007 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013, is known for harboring a deep connect with Mandla's soil, and also recollected his staying back in India.

"Even though the Partition was a tragedy in my eyes, I decided to stay and I never regretted staying back. I am happy to have kept my name, my religion, my passport and to remain an Indian citizen even after 52 years in France," Raza writes.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)
Kochi, Aug 14 : The Kerala High Court on Tuesday turned down accused Malayalam actor Dileep's demand for a copy of the video of the abduction of an actress and her harassment at the hands of the perpetrators who took her around in a vehicle in Kochi for two hours in February 2017.

A lower court had in February turned down the same request. The assailants had dumped her near a director's house after committing the crime.

Later Dileep approached the high court.

While the Angamaly magisterial court rejected his plea on the grounds of the victim's privacy and that it could be misused, the high court was convinced that this was a delaying tactic as the trial was set to commence soon.

The abduction took place when the actress was on her way to Kochi from her house. A gang of criminals led by Pulsar Suni, who is the prime accused, took her hostage.

Dileep was arrested on July 10, 2017. After 85 days in jail, he got conditional bail.

A total of 12 persons, including Dileep are accused in the case, while his former wife Manju Warrier, is a key witness.

The actor was given over 700 pieces of evidence in the case, but not the video. However, the lower court did allow him and his counsel to view it.

He has also sought a Central Bureau Investigation probe into the abduction case.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : A picture is worth a thousand words, and Sonali Bendre's latest photographs are proof that the actress has a strong support system in her close friends Sussanne Khan and Gayatri Oberoi, as she battles cancer.

Sussanne shared three photographs in which she is seen in warm and friendly shots with Sonali and Gayatri.

In an accompanying emotional post, Sussanne wrote: "What I know for sure... I know for sure that no matter what the tide brings in we have each other to carry on our backs and swim safely to the shore.

"I know for sure in a world filled with question marks, these have all my answers, and I definitely know how beautiful the future is going to be because I have them to share it with. My force field Sonali Bendre, Gayatri Oberoi. All for one, one for all."

Sonali is getting treated in New York, and has been receiving messages of support from film fraternity members and fans galore.
New Delhi : August 15 this year marks the 71st anniversary of Indian independence. As the Prime Minister unfurls the national flag at the Red Fort, it is a celebratory moment; yet, a certain sense of bleakness and despondency is palpable. There is a deeply ingrained perception that anarchy is spreading in the country and that the state has abdicated in its primary responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of every citizen, irrespective of religion, caste, class and gender. Recent events bear testimony to this mood.

In an unprecedented development, the Attorney General (AG) of India K.K. Venugopal informed the Supreme Court in an anguished manner that there was an incident of major rioting every week in different parts of the country and that they often go unpunished. The AG noted: "Kanwarias (a sect of Hindu pilgrims) are overturning vehicles in DelhiAThere is an incident of major rioting every week, even by educated groups. Marathas in Maharashtra, SC/ST (scheduled caste/scheduled tribe)A nothing is done."

Earlier, a former Chief Justice of India, T.S. Thakur, asked a very pertinent question: "When we see day in and day out, mobs lynching people, it's a complete failure of rule of law. If a mob can take the law into its hands and administer summary justice, what kind of rule of law is this?"

The sub-text in both cases is that the Indian State has become selective in how it applies the law and that there is a tacit indifference to the safety and welfare of the minority citizenry.

Thus what is disturbing is the pattern that emerges in the disaggregation of the violence that is ostensibly spontaneous -- be it the rioting mob, the beef-lynchings or now the Kanwarias, the annual north Indian ritual of carrying water from the Ganga to one's home.

Thousands of Hindu devotees walk long distances in July-August to collect the sacred water and, over the years, the numbers have been swelling and the entire event has acquired a huge carnival profile with music, dancing, et al. Given the religious significance attached to the event and the majority Hindu sentiment nurtured by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Kanwaria pilgrimage also has an electoral relevance. This has clearly become more acute in the run-up to the 2019 national election.

Indian politics and the gradual absorption of the religious leader to high office is exemplified by the election of Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk, as the Chief Minister of India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017. This was a significant development at the time for South Asia, for not even Pakistan, which was created on the basis of religion, had appointed an Islamic cleric to such office.

Thus, in August, India witnessed an unusual spectacle -- that of Kanwarias being showered with rose petals from a helicopter by none less than the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and senior police officials. That some of these Kanwarias have become a law unto themselves has been brought to the attention of the courts - but as the AG noted, "nothing is done".

The ascendancy of religious orientation in Indian politics and the BJP's empathy for unbridled Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) fervour has an electoral dimension to it. Uttar Pradesh is the swing state that will shape the outcome at the in 2019 elections. Thus the pandering to the majority community is predictable -- but this comes with a very heavy price.

Citizenship in India is no longer equal and the law, alas, is not applied equitably. On its 71st independence anniversary, one cannot ignore the conjecture that India, which had determinedly rejected the two-nation theory in August 1947, is now moving towards it in a visible manner. The question whether the silent Indian majority, that is Hindu, subscribes to the ugly manifestation of Hindutva and the violence associated with it, remains moot. But the state cannot abdicate and the exhortation of the Attorney General should not be ignored.

(The author is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. The article is in special arrangement with South Asia Monitor)
Valencia (Spain), Aug 14 : Forward Kevin Gameiro said during his presentation as a Valencia CF player that he expects to score at least 20 goals this season and to help his new team finish higher than former club Atletico Madrid.

"For six years I have won a title at the end of each season and I hope to do that at Valencia CF," the French international said here on Monday, reports EFE news agency.

Gameiro won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and three successive Europa League titles with Sevilla before joining Atletico, where he was part of a squad that finished second in the Champions League in 2016-2017 and hoisted the 2017-2018 Europa League trophy in May.

Atleti sent the Frenchman to Valencia for a transfer fee of 16 million euros ($18 million).

Gameiro said he was looking forward to facing his old team in the Aug. 20 La Liga opener between Valencia and Atletico.

Atletico finished second to Barcelona last season, while Valencia were fourth.

Acknowledging that he was no longer young, the 31-year-old Gameiro stressed his fitness and his experience in both domestic and European competitions.

"I hope to contribute my experience, my pace, and that all of that is good for the group," he said with his wife and children at his side.
Jalandhar, Aug 14 : Kerala Police on Tuesday questioned Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Roman Catholic Diocese here in Punjab following allegations of sexually abusing a nun, an official said. No arrest has been made so far.

The Bishop's quizzing began late on Monday and ended on Tuesday morning.

There was high drama before questioning as the Bishop avoided meeting the Kerala team which reached Jalandhar, around 155 km from Chandigarh, on Friday.

The Kerala Police team also questioned Father Antony and Jalandhar Diocese Chief Public Relations Officer Father Peter.

Three journalists from Kerala also alleged manhandling by the Bishop's private security when they tried to speak to Mulakkal.

The Kerala Police team, which was given protection by their Punjab counterpart, arrived at the congregation of Missionaries of Jesus, the headquarters of Christian centres in the region, for investigation.

Earlier, the team met former nuns of the Jalandhar diocese on Friday and Saturday.

The Punjab Police, fearing law and order trouble, provided protection to the Kerala team.

Several followers of the diocese had gathered at its campus in Jalandhar on Friday after hearing about the arrival of the six-member Kerala police team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.T. Subhash.

A nun had alleged in June that Mulakkal sexually abused her several times at a convent in Kuruvalangadu near Kottayam in Kerala between 2014 to 2016.

An FIR was registered against the bishop and a 114-page detailed statement was taken from the nun and other inmates of the convent.

Mulakkal has denied any wrongdoing.

A spokesman for the diocese told the media that no wrong had been done by the bishop and that the allegations were being made by the nun at the instigation of people with vested interests.

Earlier, statements were taken from the Head of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and also a few other former nuns who were residents at the convent.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : As a new web series titled "Lal Bahadur Shastri's Death - An Unfinished Story" is set to release on Independence Day on Wednesday, the former Prime Minister's son Sunil Shastri says that even 52 years after his father's death, the family lives in a hope that they will know the truth someday.

The story of the web series revolves around the mysterious death. The narrative is in the form of a docu-drama based on conversations with Shastri's family members who have raised some important questions about his death.

Sunil said in a statement: "There is still a big question mark on how Shastri died. When my father called from Tashkent, my family informed him that people here were very upset with his decision of signing the treaty. However, he had full faith that when he comes back and explains, everybody will be very happy. But as fate had it, they never let him reach or speak to anyone.

"Cook Jan Mohammed was the prime suspect in my father's death. He is believed to be the one who poisoned him. Strangely, he was hired just after the Tashkent declaration and was also the cook to Ambassador TN Kaul, further fuelling our suspicions."

Sunil says his grandmother had wondered, "It's surprising that a country's Prime Minister is dead and nobody raised a question on it?", after she saw Shastri's body.

Shastri died in 1966.

Sidharth Nath Singh, Shastri's grandson, said: "The fateful day when we got a call, my mother told me that the telephone operator started crying saying that Shastriji is no more. When his body came to India, it had cut marks all over and his face had blue marks. It was a clear indication of poison - till date we do not have a death certificate, nor there was any post-mortem done."

"Is it a coincidence that Shastriji who was a heart patient - wasn't staying at the pre-decided place? The room he is put up in, has no buzzer - oddly his house help and his doctor's room was very far?"

Sunil added: "52 years after his death, the family lives in a hope that we will someday know the truth."

Veteran journalist Kuldeep Nayyar also features in the docu drama, which will stream on ZEE5.
San Francisco, Aug 14 : A budget version of the newly-launched BlackBerry KEY2, which is likely to be named BlackBerry KEY2 Lite or KEY2 LE, may be launched at the upcoming IFA 2018 in Berlin, Germany.

"TCL -- the manufacturer behind the BB brand -- has sent out 'save the date' invites for an IFA event. It will be held on August 30 and while it offers no official details on what will be announced, there is only one rumoured phone in our database -- the BlackBerry KEY2 LE," GSM Arena reported late on Monday.

Similar to Key2, the physical keyboard experience would be the smartphone's main USP.

"KEY2 will have less processing power on tap -- the Snapdragon 660 chipset will be swapped out for a 636 and RAM capacity will drop to 4GB (still better than the Keyone)," the report added.

The device is expected to replace the 12+12MP dual camera set-up of KEY2 with a 12MP+5MP model.

The KEY2 Lite is faintly reminiscent of the BlackBerry Q5, which was a cheaper alternative to the flagship Q10. Like the KEY2 Lite, the Q5 had a playful, colorful aesthetic, and lower-spec internals, according to The Next Web portal.
United Nations, Aug 14 : The Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) is looking to carry out opportunistic attacks, but has low operational capability in India, according to a UN report.

"AQIS is relatively isolated owing to increased security measures within the wider region, but the group continues to seek security gaps for opportunistic attacks," according to the report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team for Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) released on Monday.

"The group, Al Qaeda's newest affiliate, is ideologically inclined to carry out attacks inside India but its capability is believed to be low," the report said.

AQIS was formed in 2014 and was led by Asim Umar, who is said to be an Indian belonging to the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, which was itself an Al Qaeda sponsored organisation.

Al Qaeda in Arab Peninsula (AQAP) was entrusted with carrying out propaganda for AQIS along with other Al Qaeda groups, the UN team's report said.

For the South Asia region, the report said that Al Qaeda posed a longer-term threat, even though the IS was seen as an immediate threat.

It said: "Al Qaeda still maintains a presence in South Asia. It adapts to the local environment while trying to embed itself into local struggles and communities. It is closely allied with the Taliban."

Quoting a UN member nation it did not identify, the report added that although the IS "posed an immediate threat, Al Qaeda was the 'intellectually stronger group' and remained a longer-term threat".

It also said that Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden's son, Hamza, were reported to be in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas.

But the report asserted that Islamabad had taken steps to reduce terrorism-related activities near the border.

"In Pakistan, extensive counter-terrorist operations are reported to have led to a reduction in the number of terrorists and terrorist training facilities, and in the quantity of locally available explosive material in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Some of the terrorists were displaced across the border into Afghanistan," it said.

The report said that members and leaders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have joined the IS and make up a majority of its cadres in Afghanistan estimated to number between 3,500 and 4,500.

Globally it noted that "while there was as yet little evidence of a re-emerging direct global threat from Al Qaeda, improved leadership and enhanced communication will probably increase the threat over time, as will any rise in the tendency, already visible in some regions, of ISIL supporters to join Al Qaeda".

The UN team's assessment of the AQIS capability in India was similar to that made separately in 2017 by an independent terrorism expert, Mohammed Sinan Siyech of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore.

In a paper published online by the Washington-based Middle East Institute last September, Siyech wrote: "Al Qaeda's presence in India was modest, at best -- comparable to that of its rival the Islamic State, which, despite its remarkable worldwide propaganda and networks, did not manage to accomplish any large-scale attacks and whose very limited appeal among Indian Muslims, according to official accounts, further dwindled."

He attributed it to "the rigorous scrutiny of Indian security agencies, the influential role of the family-oriented Indian Muslim community, along with the vehement opposition by the country's major madrasas and movements".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
New Delhi, Aug 14 : The East European nation of Moldova is wooing Indian investors in the areas of textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and IT among others as it is set to open an embassy in this country in 2019, 28 years after attaining independence following the dissolution of the USSR.

"This year I took the decision of opening three new embassies from the beginning of next year - in Argentina, in Ghana and, of course, number one in India," Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Tudor Ullanovschi told IANS in an exclusive interview here.

Ullanovschi, who assumed office in January this year, is the first Moldovan Foreign Minister to visit India after the country came into being in 1991.

"We have a strong interest in increasing our trade balance," he said. "At this point we have 30-plus million euros (around $34 million/over Rs 2 billion) of bilateral trade."

Stating that Moldova imports much more from India than it exports, he said both countries have agreed to synchronise the certification of food and agricultural products.

"Moldova has organic fruits and vegetables. We have very good quality apples, plums, walnuts, and other types of fruits as also sunflower oil, grains, cereals," he said.

"So the export of Moldovan agricultural products is a priority that we have."

Ullanovschi also said that Indian producers can use the "extremely high quality" agricultural land in his country.

He said that Moldova invites Indian companies to explore its market because of the advantageous position it is in.

Moldova has free trade agreements with the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Turkey.

"Now we are discussing a free trade agreement with EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries - Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland," the Foreign Minister said.

"The Moldovan government provides extraordinary fiscal incentives for investments. If a company invests more than $1 million in a free economic zone in Moldova, it does not have to pay taxes for three years."

Ullanovschi said that he would like to send a message Indian companies, be it in textiles or pharmaceuticals, involved in production activities to come to Moldova.

"In September, we are going to send a delegation of 10-12 textile business people of Moldova to India to see what are the benefits of cooperation to either buy yarn or fabric from India," he said.

He also said that of the around 300 Indians living in Moldova, over 280 are students of the Moldova State University of Medicine and Pharmacy in the country's capital Chisinau.

He said that another area of interest for both Moldova and India is the IT and ICT sector.

"Moldova is among the top 10 countries with the fastest internet speed in the world," Ullanovschi said.

Stating that his country has a unique tax system for the IT sector, he said: "If a foreign company invests in the IT sector in Moldova, there is only one tax of 7 per cent. You invest and you will have a successful business in the IT sector."

Ullanovschi said that both Moldova and India have nearly finalised a memorandum of understanding on setting up ICT knowledge centres in both countries.

He also said that his country is interested in an economic and trade agreement as also a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement with India.

He stressed on a visa agreement between Moldova and India as Indians need an invitation from Moldova to visit that country now.

"We have to remove the barriers between our countries, so people can travel freely for tourism to flourish," Ullanovschi said.

In this connection, he said that his country is also interested in signing an air services agreement with India.

"The Republic of Moldova is a member of the European Common Aviation Area and there is no limit in the number of flights from Moldova to the EU," he said.

"One idea could be to sign an inter-airline or code-share agreement between the Moldovan airlines and Indian air operators."

Stating that there was 35 per cent increase in the number of Indian tourists to Spain after Indian films were shot in that country, the Moldovan Minister invited Bollywood to explore his country.

With Moldova being one of the top wine exporters in the world, another point of interest for Indian tourists, Ullaovschi said, will be the 200-km-long underground wine cellar in his country, which figures in Guinness World Records for being the world's largest.

For Moldovans, an area of interest in India is medical tourism.

"We are thinking of vacation packages that will include consulting doctors in India and then going on vacation to places like Goa," Ullanovschi said.

(Aroonim Bhuyan can be contacted at aroonim.b@ians.in)
Beijing, Aug 14 : China on Tuesday expressed strong dissatisfaction with the US government as it passed and signed a new defence legislation that was seen as targeted at Beijing.

US President Donald Trump on Monday signed the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 into law. The bill included clauses such as directing a whole-of-government strategy on China and submitting the assessment and plan on strengthening Taiwan's force readiness.

Beijing urges Washington to abandon its Cold War mentality and the concept of a zero-sum game, and objectively view its relations with China, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

"China has repeatedly made clear its position and lodged solemn representations with the US," he added.

Lu called on the US to adhere to the one-China policy and the principle of the three joint communiques, as well as not to implement the negative China-related clauses to avoid damaging relations and bilateral cooperation in key areas.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : Actress Alia Bhatt, whose personal life is garnering a lot of interest in the midst of a buzz about her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor, says she does not react to rumours and won't as long as someone is not entering her bathroom.

Alia interacted with the media here when she walked the ramp for Caprese's new bag collection on Monday.

On the professional front, Alia is on a roll with the success of "Raazi".

Asked how she reacts to rumours about her personal life, especially when there is speculation that she might get married next year, she said: "I don't react to rumours. Rumours are not meant to be reacted upon.

"As long as you aren't entering my bathroom, I am fine. If people are not talking about me, then maybe I am not relevant enough. So if people are talking about me, then I am something... But yes, honestly I am at a very good space personally and professionally, so no issues whatsoever."

Alia is working with Ranbir in "Brahmastra".

She was asked how working in a film with a co-actor who also happens to be the person she is dating, affects or adds to the performance.

She said: ""I think when you are an actor, your job is to act and so, when you are in front of the camera, it doesn't matter who you are dating or who you are not dating and whether you are tall or short, fat or thin, unhappy or really happy.

"Sometimes there are days, when I go on set with an upset frame of mind, but I have to dance around and feel very excited... That's the whole process of being an actor".

Alia's other new projects include Zoya Akhtar's "Gully Boy", Abhishek Varman's "Kalank" and Karan Johar's "Takht".
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  The country has hosted the 1st World Coconut Congress that showcases latest trends and product innovations, with industry players and medical experts to share their insights.

Organized by the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) in cooperation with the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Department of Trade and Industry, the conference started on August 14 and runs until Aug. 16 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

With the support of various chambers of commerce, the event also has series of talks and exhibits about export and free-trade agreements, and integrated coconut processing, and other relevant topics.

The Philippines is the world's top exporter of the commodity but it has yet to reach its full potential with regards to its production and value adding and still lags behind India and Indonesia.

In 2017, the coconut industry in the Philippines became the top agricultural export revenue generator with over $1.461 billion total exports, according to the UCAP.

The coconut tree or the "tree of life" is known for its versatility, it said. "From its roots to its leaves, many products such as food, pharmaceuticals, personal care, crafts and even furniture can be made."
Hyderabad, Aug 14 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's daughter-in-law N. Brahmani was among the industrialists who attended a meeting of CEOs addressed by Congress President Rahul Gandhi here on Tuesday.

The presence of Brahmani and Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Minister N. Lokesh, T. G. Bharath, son of TDP MP T. G. Venkatesh and some industrialists considered close to the TDP was significant in view of the recent political developments.

Bharath told reporters that Rahul Gandhi promised that if voted to power at the Centre, the Congress would accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh as committed by the Congress-led UPA government in 2014 at the time of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana.

In March, the TDP pulled of the BJP-led NDA over its refusal to accord the special status. Subsequently, Naidu had shared the dais with Rahul Gandhi during the swearing-in ceremony of H. D. Kumaraswamy as the Karnataka Chief Minister.

Last month, the Congress party also backed the no-confidence motion moved by the TDP against the Narendra Modi government.

During the interaction with the industrialists, Rahul Gandhi shared his vision and what he plans to do for industry, especially the small and medium enterprises.

He noted that demonetization and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had dealt a blow to the industry. According to Bharath, the Congress President promised to improve the implementation of the GST and address the concerns of the industry.

Rahul Gandhi also promised to bring transparency for greater ease of doing business.

Leading Telugu film producer D. Suresh Babu, who was also present, said it was a positive interaction. He said that Rahul Gandhi has a good vision and thoughts.
: Craig Reedie, president of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), attends a press conference at the Main Press Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 8, 2018. The ... Image Source: Xinhua/Bai Xuefei/IANS

PYEONGCHANG, Feb. 8, 2018 - Craig Reedie, president of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), attends a press conference at the Main Press Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 8, 2018. The Pyeongchang ... Image Source: Xinhua/Bai Xuefei/IANS

Glasgow, Aug 14 : World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Craig Reedie on Tuesday confirmed that he would leave his post in 2019 November.

Reedie, who has been head of WADA since 2014, told Tass news agency in an interview that he will not bid for the post again.

"My mandate finishes at the world conference in early November 2019, so that's it. I can't say that I would like to stay on. The presidential run will almost certainly go to a figure from government, from the public authorities, because there is a rotation system," Reedie said.

"The IOC (International Olympic Committee) was keen to have an independent person, but I don't think the governments are happy with that. My guess is that it will be a government person," he added.
Rome, Aug 14 : A section of a highway bridge in the Italian city of Genoa collapsed during heavy rain on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people and injuring five, officials said.

Emergency services were deployed to the site where a 100-metre (328-feet), two-lane section of the bridge collapsed into a river in the afternoon. Authorities were searching for people trapped in their vehicles under the rubble, the BBC reported.

Italian Interior Ministry sources confirmed the toll to Efe news. The bridge, built in the 1960s, is known as the Morandi bridge. The missing section was dozens of metres in length, and ran across the span of the Polcevera stream.

"I am following with utmost apprehension what has happened in Genoa and which is looking like an immense tragedy," said Italian Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli.

Video footage appeared to show one of the towers holding up the suspension bridge collapsing in stormy weather.

One image posted by the regional emergency services showed a truck perched at the end of the surviving bridge section immediately before the drop and said rescue workers were operating en masse at the scene.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica described that part of the city as "densely inhabited".
New Delhi, Aug 14 : In the midst of the BJP's push for "One Nation, One Poll", the Election Commission on Tuesday appeared to rule out simultaneous polls to assemblies and the Lok Sabha given the present logistics and constitutional provisions.

Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat said, however, the commission would continue to deliver its responsibility of conducting polls whenever the term of a state assembly comes to an end.

"On the issue of One Nation, One Poll, the commission had given inputs and suggestions in 2015 itself. Logistics arrangements with reference to 100 per cent availability of voter verified paper audit trail (VVPATs) will be a constraint," Rawat told the media.

He also said if the term of some state assembly needed to be curtailed or extended then a constitutional amendment would be required. Other requirements of additional police force and polling personnel was also needed.

"The commission will continue to deliver its responsibility of conducting elections whenever the term of state assembly comes to an end," Rawat said.

The Chief Election Commissioner's remarks come amidst the push by the BJP for simultaneous parliament and assembly elections over which the party President, Amit Shah, wrote a letter to the Law Commission on Monday.

There was speculation that the ruling party could aim at limited simultaneous polls by either advancing the Lok Sabha polls along with assembly polls in states like Maharashtra and combine them with elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh later this year.

Or in the alternative, the year-end polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram could be postponed till the Lok Sabha polls next year.
Jaipur, Aug 14 : A delegation of Rajasthan Congress on Tuesday complained to the the Election Commission against what they called 40-45 lakh bogus votes on the electoral lists in the desert state.

The delegation that met Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat in Delhi included state unit President Sachin Pilot, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, C.P. Joshi, Rameshwar Dudi and Rajasthan party affairs incharge Avinash Pandey.

Pilot told IANS that 40-45 lakh of the total 4.75 crore voters in Rajasthan were fake and that the matter needed to be investigated thoroughly.

"The electoral list data from the Election Commission website was downloaded and we were stunned to see that names of more than 100 persons with similar age and address particulars was duplicated many times over."

The Congress leader also expressed surprise over the fact that 70 lakh new voters had been added to the state in the last four-and-a-half years. "The rate of population growth seems to be less vis-a-vis the increase in voters numbers," he quipped.

Pilot said that Rawat had assured the delegation of a fair probe.

Elections to the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held by year-end.
Jammu, Aug 14 : A Mata Vaishno Devi temple pilgrim died on Tuesday apparently due to cardiac failure in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, police said.

The 65-year-old from Uttar Pradesh collapsed after returning from the hill shrine, a police officer said.
Colombo, Aug 14 : The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) will ink an agreement with Alibaba's travel arm Fliggy to bring 1,000 travellers weekly to the country in order to expand its growing tourism sector, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said on Tuesday.

Amaratunga said after obtaining the necessary approval, his ministry will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Alibaba next week, Xinhua news agency reported.

Supreme Global Holdings Limited, the local company that has tied up with Alibaba, will work closely with SLTPB on the project implementation, which is expected to result in a positive large-scale impact on Sri Lanka's tourism.

Further, Supreme Global also intends to promote Alipay actively in Sri Lanka upon receiving the necessary clearances thus taking Sri Lanka Tourism to new heights, especially among Chinese tourists, Amaratunga said.

The minister expressed confidence that Sri Lanka would comfortably achieve the 2.5 million target set for this year, while noting that the country could achieve 3.5 million arrivals in 2019 provided the global tourism outlook remains favourable.

Over 1.3 million tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in the first seven months of 2018, recording a 13.7 per cent growth compared with the same period of last year.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his condolences over the death of Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon, saying "the widely respected figure will always be remembered".

Tandon breathed his last in the Raipur Medical College in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. He was 91. The Governor was admitted to the hospital late on Monday because of sudden illness. He was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) early on Tuesday and was put on life support as his health condition turned critical.

"Saddened by the demise of Balramji Dass Tandon. We have lost a widely respected public figure whose service to society will always be remembered. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this hour of grief," tweeted Modi.

The Prime Minister said that Tandon spent decades working for peace and progress in Punjab.

"Passionate about sectors like industry and labour welfare, his administrative experience added great value to the state. He will be remembered for his courage while opposing the Emergency," wrote Modi.
Rome, Aug 14 : A section of a highway bridge collapsed in the Italian city of Genoa during heavy rain on Tuesday, plummeting vehicles up to 90 metres to the ground and killing at least 22 people, officials said.

The vice minister for infrastructure, Edoardo Rixi, said the death toll was expected to rise, while Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said it was likely to be "an immense tragedy", the BBC reported.

The 100-metre (328-feet), two-lane section of the Morandi bridge collapsed in the afternoon. Firefighting crews were searching alongside urban search and rescue teams for people trapped in their vehicles under the rubble.

The police linked the disaster to what they called "a violent cloudburst". According to reports, the collapsed section had mostly fallen on to rail tracks below. The bridge stands on the A10 toll motorway, which serves the Italian Riviera and southern coast of France.

It was built in the 1960s and the missing section was dozens of metres in length. It ran across the span of the Polcevera stream. Video footage appeared to show one of the towers holding up the suspension bridge collapsing in stormy weather.

"It was just after 11.30 when we saw lightning strike the bridge," eyewitness Pietro M all'Asa was quoted as saying by Italy's Ansa news agency. "And we saw the bridge going down."

Traffic was queuing on the bridge at the time, another eyewitness told Italian public television.

One image posted by the regional emergency services showed a truck perched at the end of the surviving bridge section immediately before the drop.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted a message of sympathy to the people of Italy and said he was ready to offer any necessary aid.

Local media estimated that around 10 vehicles could be trapped in the rubble.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Asserting that India was at the cusp of achieving many of its long-awaited goals, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said "contentious issues and extraneous debates" should not distract the people.

In his address to the nation on the eve of 72nd Independence Day, he referred to various issues and said these may have held true 10 or 20 years ago or even earlier to some extent but "even so we are at a juncture in our history that is different from any period that we have so far experienced".

"We are at the cusp of achieving many of our long-awaited goals. Universal access to electricity, the elimination of open defecation, the elimination of homelessness, the very elimination of extreme poverty is achievable and attainable. We are at a pivotal moment. Let contentious issues and extraneous debates not distract us," he said.

Kovind said if freedom was defined in narrow political terms, then August 15, 1947 marks a closure.

"But freedom is a broader concept. It is not fixed and finite. Freedom is a constant and relentless endeavour. Even decades after 1947, each one of us can contribute in the manner of a freedom fighter. We can do so if we expand the frontiers of freedom and of opportunity for our fellow Indians and our beloved India."

Referring to the resolve of various sections in nation building, the President said that the reality was that every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment, who contributes to society by being true to a professional ethic, be it the doctor's ethic, the nurse's ethic, the teacher's ethic, the public servant's ethic, the factory worker's ethic, the business person's ethic, the ethic of those who have to care for ageing parents - each of these and many others are in their own way upholding the values of freedom.

"They are providing the fruits and goods and services of freedom to fellow citizens. Every citizen of India who does his or her duty sincerely, fulfils a personal and professional obligation and keeps to a given word is, at a fundamental level, upholding the principles of our freedom struggle," he said.

"I would argue that every Indian who does not jump the queue and respects the civic space and rights of those ahead in the line also lives up to the principles of our freedom struggle. It's a very small gesture. Let us try and abide by it."

Kovind said the freedom that came at midnight on August 14-15, 1947 was the result of years and decades and centuries of sacrifice and valour on the part of India's ancestors and freedom fighters.

"They could easily have compromised and settled for some personal benefit, but they did not. Their commitment to India - to a free, sovereign, plural and egalitarian India - was absolute. It was my privilege to honour these freedom fighters on the anniversary of 'Quit India Day' on August 9 in Rashtrapati Bhavan."

The President said after four years India would be marking the 75th anniversary of Independence and in less than 30 years the people would celebrate the 100th anniversary of India as a free nation.

"The decisions we take today, the foundations we lay today, the projects we undertake today, the social and economic investments we make today - whether for the immediate future or for the medium term - will determine where we stand. The pace of change and development in our country is rapid and appreciable. And as per our civilisational traditions, it is driven by our people, by civil society and by a partnership between citizen and government. Its focus, again in keeping with the essence of Indian thought, is on a better life for the less fortunate," he said.

He also referred to the beginning of commemoration of the 150th birthday on Mahatma Gandhi on October 2 and said Gandhi did not just lead India's freedom struggle.

"He was and still is our moral compass. In my capacity as the President of India, I have been fortunate to have travelled around the world, particularly to a few countries of Africa. Everywhere, across continents, Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India," he said.

Recalling Gandhi's cleaniness campaign along with his wife Kasturba in Bihar's Champaran even in the middle of struggle for freedom, the President quoted him as saying: "Struggle was not just for political power but for empowering the poorest of the poor, educating the uneducated and ensuring the right to a dignified life."

He also referred to Gandhi's principle of non-violence and said each Indian should adopt his ideas and maxims in everyday work and conduct.

"Together we can eliminate, illiteracy and inequality. We can and we must do this together. The government has a leading role but not the sole role. Let us use the government's programmes and projects to further our own efforts. Let us make that sense of ownership our motivation," the President said.
Ajman, Aug 14 : Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the UAE's Supreme Council Member and Ruler of the Emirate of Ajman, has ordered the release of 90 prisoners days ahead of Eid ul-Adha.

The prisoners were selected on factors making them eligible for release and good conduct, the agency reported on Tuesday.

Commenting on the announcement, Major General Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of Ajman Police, said the move reflected the ruler's keenness to give second chances to individuals, reuniting them with their families.

He also called on the freed inmates to commit themselves to be engaged members of society and strive for a better future.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Major Aditya Kumar, at the centre of a controversy following the death of three Kashmiri civilians in Army firing in January, and Rifleman Aurangzeb, gunned down by militants while he was on his way to celebrate Eid with his family, were on Tuesday named for the third highest peacetime gallantry award.

Sepoy Vrahma Pal Singh, who was killed in November last year in a shootout with militants, has been given Kirti Chakra - the second highest peacetime gallantry.

Major Aditya Kumar and Rifleman Aurangzeb (posthumous) were both honoured with the Shaurya Chakra -- an Indian military decoration awarded for valour and self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards after Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra.

The Major hogged the headlines when his unit allegedly opened fire at a stone-pelting mob in Shopian district on January 27. Three people were killed.

The officer was first reportedly named in an FIR by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for the civilian deaths in a controversial move that was challenged in the Supreme Court.

In March, the central government filed a petition in the court seeking quashing of the FIR.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, however, told the court that the Major was not named as an accused in the FIR after the apex court restrained the state police from taking any coercive steps against the officers of the Army unit.

Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry's Rifleman Aurangzeb, a known anti-terror face in the state, was kidnapped and killed by militants on June 14 when he was on his way to his home to celebrate Eid with his family in Poonch in Jammu division.

Aurangzeb was posted in a militant hotbed of south Kashmir district of Shopian with 44 Rashtriya Rifles. The 24-year-old had joined the Indian Army in 2012. He is survived by his wife, parents and three brothers.

The soldier was believed to have been instrumental in many anti-terror operations including the one that led to the killing of dreaded Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sameer Tiger.

He was on a Hizb hit list along with his company commander Major Rohit Shukla, who sustained a nonfatal bullet injury in the April 29 operation in Drubgam village of Pulwama in south Kashmir.

The Kirti Chakra awardee Vrahma Pal Singh of the Rajput Regiment was posted with 44 Rashtriya Rifles. On November 6, 2017, the Army launched an anti-militancy operation in Pulwama. Three militants, including a top Jaish-e-Mohammad commander and nephew of its Pakistan-based chief Moulana Masood Azhar, were killed.

The soldier received a bullet and succumbed to his injuries in a Srinagar hospital.

The three soldiers are among the 131 bravehearts approved for 131 gallantry awards by President Ram Nath Kovind, in his capacity as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

These include 20 Shaurya Chakras, three Bar to Sena Medals, 93 Sena Medals, 11 Nao Sena Medals and three Vayu Sena Medals.

The President has also awarded 26 Mention-in-Despatches to Army Personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations which include 25 (three posthumous) for 'Operation Rakshak', one (posthumous) for 'Operation Rhino' and one additional name approved by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : Khan Academy, an educational mobile app developer, on Tuesday launched LearnStorm India -- a free, six-week online learning challenge -- that will help students to master core academic subjects, motivate classrooms and build confidence.

Driven by teachers, the programme for students from 3 to 12 grades will run from September 5 to October 19. Teachers can sign up in LearnStorm using their Khan Academy account, or by creating one, the company said in a statement.

"With Khan Academy's teacher-specific tools, educators can finally leverage technology to deliver on the dream of personalising learning for every student. We're excited to give teachers a fun way to engage students with LearnStorm India," said Sandeep Bapna, India MD, Khan Academy.

The first 500 classrooms to register will receive a LearnStorm Class Kit -- fun and motivational goodies -- for their students.

At the end of the six weeks, 10 schools, among those with the highest levels of participation in LearnStorm, will win the 'Keep Going, Keep Growing' grand reward.

One school stands a chance to win the grand prize that includes a 'Khan Super Day' filled with exciting activities for all the winning LearnStorm participants.
Pune, Aug 14 : Taking serious note of massive deficits in crop loan targets, a Maharashtra farm panel on Tuesday warned banks that if any farmer commits suicide, the concerned officer shall be charged with 'culpable homicide'.

Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalambi Mission (VNSSM) Chairman Kishore Tiwari told top bankers at a review meeting with the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) to clear their set crop loan targets by August 30 for the current Kharif season.

This year, the state has set a target of total Rs 43,873 crore as Kharif crop loans to the farmers, of which PSBs will give Rs 24,253 crore, district cooperative banks Rs 13,193 crore and the rest shall be disbursed by by private or rural banks, he explained.

"We were shocked to learn that the public sector banks have disbursed hardly 30 percent and the district cooperative banks disbursed around 63 percent of the crop loan targets for the current Kharif season 2018-19," Tiwari told IANS after the meeting.

He asked the SLBC to clear the Maharashtra government's plans to extend fresh crop loans to farmers as the state wants to bring around 80 percent debt-trapped farmers under the banking system to arrest suicides in 14 worst-affected districts.

"Against their target of Rs 24,253 crore for the current Kharif season, the PSBs have disbursed barely Rs 7,492 crore and the DCCBs have given out Rs 82,81 crore (against a target of Rs 13,193 crore), mainly due to the hostility of the banks and their officials who seem to be 'anti-farmers'," Tiwari said.

This is a matter of grave concern as the non-cooperative attitude of the bankers further hampers the government's proposal to give fresh loans to previous defaulters, he pointed out.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced the agriculture loan write-off covering farmers between 2001 and June 2017. But after 14 months, confusion continues to prevail in finalizing the online lists of beneficiaries on account of the banking bureaucracy, Tiwari alleged.

Tiwari issued a deadline of August 30 to the PSBs to wipe out their current season Kharif crop loans targets, failing which the responsibility for any farmer's suicide would be pinned on the concerned banks and their officers.

An estimated 1,200 farmers have ended their lives in different parts of the state since January this year, prompting the National Human Rights Commission to send a notice to the state and the Centre seeking an explanation.
Kolkata, Aug 14 : Upping the ante on her opposition to the draft NRC in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that 38 lakh Bengali-speaking persons -- both Hindus and Muslims -- were left out of the list.

"Unfortunately, most Indian citizens left out of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam speak Bengali (language)... Out of over 40 lakh persons left out, around 25 lakh are Hindus and 13 lakh Muslims who speak Bengali," she told reporters here.

"People not included in the list are being branded as either infiltrators or refugees by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and harassed," the Trinamool Congress chief said, adding that people's freedom cannot be snatched in the name of NRC.

She also said about two lakh people who speak languages other than Bengali did not find a place in the list.

Showing documents of persons left out of the NRC even though residing in Assam for several years, Banerjee asked: "Are they infiltrators or refugees, or Indian citizens? According to an agreement inked in 1971, people who had come to India till March 24 that year (1971) are very much Indian citizens. The name of a freedom fighter's grandson is also missing."

Referring to her interaction with members of the United Bengali Forum, the Trinamool supremo claimed that those left out have not been allowed to protest and that fake cases are being slapped against them.

"As many as 1,200 persons have been sent to a detention camp, including children and people from Bengal's Murshidabad. Why are 400 companies of central forces being deployed in a small state like Assam? It is an attempt to suppress the voice of the people," the Chief Minister claimed.

She also dubbed the NRC preparation as a "political strategy of the BJP" in view of the coming elections in the country.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Banerjee said: "Does (BJP chief) Amit Shah's father have an original birth certificate? I do not have (my father's birth certificate). That is why I am asking. How many political leaders in India will be able to furnish their father's or mother's birth certificates?"

While the draft NRC published in Assam on July 30 included the names of 2,89,83,677 persons, the names of 40,07,707 others were missing. A total of 3,29,91,384 persons had applied for inclusion of their names.

The filing of claims and objections, forms for which are available at Seva Kendras in Assam, will start on August 30 and continue till September 28.

Banerjee also said the NRC issue is "not about Hindu or Muslim", it is about citizenship.

"I do not understand what the problem of speaking in Bengali is. People have been left out of the list because of their language. Why do you (Amit Shah) get angry with Bengali speaking people? I love people who speak in other languages," she said.
Hyderabad, Aug 14 : The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to Telangana Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary and others in a contempt of court case filed by two Congress legislators.

The Speaker was asked to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for not implementing court orders to revoke the expulsion of lawmakers Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and S.A. Sampath Kumar. Chary was asked to submit a reply by August 28.

Justice B. Siva Sankara Rao also issued notices to Law Secretary V. Niranjan Rao and Assembly Secretary V. Narasimha Charyulu and directed for their personal appearance in court on August 17 for deliberately not implementing the court orders.

These officials were directed to present the details of MLAs' salaries and Assembly register before the court.

Show-cause notices were also issued to the Director General of Police and Superintendents of Police of Nalgonda and Gadwal districts for not providing security to these MLAs.

The court, in its April 17 order, had restored the Assembly membership of both the MLAs after setting aside their expulsion and the state government's gazette notification to declare vacancies for Nalgonda and Alampur (SC) constituencies.

As their membership was not restored despite court orders, the Congress MLAs filed contempt petitions against the two Secretaries.

The Speaker was issued the notice as he did not give permission to the Assembly Secretary to denotify the vacancies, said counsel for the petitioners.

Last week, the two Secretaries had filed appeals before a Division Bench against the order of a single Judge to revoke the lawmakers' expulsion. Their appeals are yet to come up for hearing.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, during a news conference on Monday, found fault with the single Judge's order and maintained that the Speaker acted within his powers. He said he felt that all those working within the purview of the Constitution should respect each other.

The MLAs were expelled in March for alleged unruly behaviour during Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan's address to the joint session of both houses of the state legislature. The Legislature Secretary subsequently notified the vacancies for the two constituencies.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : The six Indian Navy women officers who circumnavigated the globe earlier this year were on Tuesday awarded Nao Sena medals - a gallantry award for courage and devotion to duty in the naval force.

Lieutenant Commanders Vartika Joshi, who led the team, and Prathibha Jamwal, and Lieutenants Swathi Patarpalli, Aishwarya Boddapati, Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta spent over eight months at sea, sailing around the world in six legs on the Indian Naval Sailing Vehicle (INSV) Tarini.

Lt Commander Joshi volunteered for the expedition, Navika Sagar Parikrama, during which the crew spent 194 days at sea and nearly 8 months away from home port.

It was the maiden attempt by an all women naval officers crew to sail around the globe in a yacht, covering a distance of nearly 22,300 nautical miles (41,255 kmm).

During the Sep 10, 2017-May 18, 2018 expedition that began at Goa, the officers crossed the equator twice, sailed across four continents and three oceans, and passed south of the three Great Capes -- Leeuwin, Horn and Good Hope in their eight-month journey.

The crew made stops in Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), Cape Town (South Africa) and Mauritius.

The entire voyage was completed using sails, regularly negotiating 10-meter waves and over 100 kmph winds with the temperatures varying between four and 40 degrees Celsius as the vessel traversed through different parts of the world, Joshi's award citation reads.

"Successful completion of circumnavigation voyage over 194 days at sea is a testimony of the raw courage, endurance and professionalism displayed by the officer and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Navy."

Captain P. Rajkumar of the Navy was given the Shaurya Chakra who rescued four survivors from the rough seas when a very severe cyclonic storm Ockhi struck the southern coast of India last year.

On December 1, the officer was captaining naval helicopter Sea King flying sorties all day on search and rescue operations braving the fury of nature and undertaking rescue missions.

A fisherman, adrift at sea, was reported to have been spotted as the crew thought the day's work was over.

"The aircraft had flown continuously with two hot re-fuelling and there was considerable risk involved in undertaking a fresh mission. However, with no regard to his safety, Rajkumar took a tough call and decided to fly the life threatening mission on the stormy night of cyclone to save the solitary survivor in the raging sea," reads his citation.

There were no night vision devices available immediately.

Flying on a pitch dark night, the Captain descended his helicopter to as low as 200 feet to search for the survivor. About 25 minutes into the search, the survivor was sighted clutching onto a capsized boat.

The officer brought the enormous aircraft into a hover at 25 feet over the raging sea and dispatched the diver, maintaining an extremely difficult manual hover for almost 30 minutes.

"Anything could have gone wrong at this stage, as both the men and machinery were operating at their extreme limits."

But the daring act of the officer enabled saving a human life in extreme conditions.
New Delhi/Bengaluru, Aug 14 : The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on Tuesday awarded 13.42 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of the river water to Karnataka as against its demand for 36.66 tmcft, said an official statement.

"The tribunal has allocated Karnataka 13.42 tmcft, Goa 24 tmcft and Maharashtra 1.3 tmcft in its final decision," said the statement from the Chief Minister's Office in Bengaluru.

The Tribunal has assessed that 188.06 tmcft water is available at 75 per cent dependability.

Of the 13.42 tmcft water for Karnataka, 5.5 tmcft is meant for use within the river basin (1.5 tmcft) and for diversion to Malaprabha reservoir (4 tmcft).

"The state has also been allowed to generate power at Mahadayi hydro-electric project using 8.02 tmcft," said an official.

The three-member Tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice J.M. Panchal, Justice Viney Mittal and Justice P.S. Narayana, submitted its final recommendation to Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Union government had set up the inter-state Tribunal on November 16, 2010 for the adjudication of the Mahadayi basin water allocation among Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.

"Karnataka claimed 36.558 tmcft, including 7.56 tmcft for the Kalasa-Banduri canal project to supply drinking water to the four drought-prone districts in the state's northwest region," noted the statement.

The four districts are Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, about 400-550km from Bengaluru.

The neighbouring states of Goa and Maharashtra claimed 122.6 tmcft and 6.35 tmcft of the river water, respectively.

The Tribunal, which commenced sittings on September 6, 2012, held 1,209 sittings over the last 6 years.

Supreme Court senior counsel F.S.Nariman represented the state before the Tribunal.

The Tribunal's Chairman and two members inspected the river basin area across the three coastal states from December 12 to 24, 2013.

The 77km Mahadayi or Mandovi river originates at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in Belagavi district and flows into the neighbouring Goa and joins the Arabian Sea off the West Coast.

Though the river flows 29km in Karnataka and 52km in Goa, its catchment area is spread over 2,032km in the southern state as against 1,580km in the western state (Goa).

Karnataka has been asking Goa since 2001 to release 7.6 tmcft of the river water to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of its people in the drought-prone districts.

Karnataka plans to build two canals across Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of the river in the state, to divert and supply the water to the four districts.

The Tribunal, headed by J.N. Panchal, on July 28, 2016 rejected the state's petition for releasing the water, citing various grounds, including ecological damage the twin canal projects may cause.
New Delhi, Aug 14 : The Supreme Court will hear next week a plea against siphoning off of thousands of crores of scholarships money meant for Scheduled Castes and Tribes students in various states.

The Public Interest Litigation by lawyer M.L. Sharma claimed that the amount involved is Rs 18,000 crore and sought registration of an FIR and prosecution of those involved in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Sharma also challenged the vires of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act that mandates prior government approval for prosecuting a public servant, labelling it illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional, void and ultra vires of the Constitution.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that the plea would be taken up next week after Sharma mentioned the matter on Tuesday.

He has also sought an investigation by a SIT consisting of a retired Supreme Court Judge and monitoring by the apex court.

The advocate cited a Comptroller and Auditor General's report in support of his allegations.
Mumbai, Aug 14 : UTI AMC on Tuesday said that its Board has appointed Imtaiyazur Rahman as the company's Acting CEO.

According to the company, the Board of UTI AMC appointed Rahman, Group President and Chief Finance Officer, as the Acting CEO with effect from August 14, 2018.

He will look after the day to day operations of the company and work closely with the rest of the senior leadership team.

"The Board is pleased to appoint Imtaiyazur Rahman as Acting CEO of UTI AMC. He has been with UTI for a long time and has performed a good job in various functional areas," D.K. Mehrotra, Director, UTI AMC, was quoted as saying in a statement.

"He brings with him a rich experience and maturity which will help bring the team together and take UTI forward."
New Delhi, Aug 14 : On the occasion of 72nd Independence Day, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday greeted the defence forces personnel and remembered the martyrs.

"My best wishes to the officers and jawans of Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and other defence establishments, posted in both, peace and conflict areas on the borders and in the remotest corners of the country," the Defence Minister said in the customary radio address.

"As we celebrate this festival of freedom, my heart goes out to those brave martyrs of the soil and their families who gave the supreme sacrifice to protect our motherland. We remember them with gratitude and the nation will always remain indebted to them," she added.

She said to recognize and honour the gallantry of our soldiers, the National War Memorial under construction near India Gate will soon be inaugurated.

She said that the government would be endeavouring to provide all dues and facilities to the soldiers, and added that all 'one rank one pension' (OROP) arrears have been cleared with over Rs 10,788 crore spent. More than 65.81 lakh defence pensioners have benefited from this, she said.

"In line with the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, we have taken the decision to pay the uniform allowance and clarity has been brought in with respect to what is covered within the ambit of the allowance and what clothing items will be provided by the Government...," she said.

Sitharaman said that greater financial and decision making powers have been delegated to the services headquarters and other lower functionaries.

She said the reformation of Indian Army has started in and the first phase of the reforms involves redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers, JCOs, ORs and civilians.

She also mentioned various welfare measures for the personnel and their families including the liberalised family pension, enhancement of monetary allowances for Gallantry Award winners, recruitment of disabled ex-servicemen and dependents in Group C and D posts in public sector enterprises, housing scheme for Army personnel and their widows on "No Profit, No Loss" basis and Army Battle Casualties Welfare Fund among others.

"The country looks at you with great pride and you must keep on guarding the border-lines with all the might and be always prepared to reply to any aggression by the forces inimical to the nation. Let us give our very best in the service of Mother India," Sitharaman said.
Jammu, Aug 14 : On the eve of Independence Day, Indian Army's Tiger Division held an oral hygiene camp at the Tiger Asha School, Satwari Cantt, here, roping in nine doctors, who checked up 62 students in all.

The "Special Smiles Programme" was organised by the Family Welfare Organisation, Tiger Division.

The programme was also used to celebrate "Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day" and "50 years of Special Olympics".

It was assisted by doctors from India Dental Association-Jammu Chapter and from Colgate-Palmolive.
Bengaluru/New Delhi, Aug 14 : Karnataka would study the final award of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, which on Tuesday recommended 13.42 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of the river water to the state before deciding on its next move, said an official statement here.

"We will respond to the final award of the Tribunal after detailed study of its recommendations to the Union government. An appropriate decision will be taken after studying the award in 12 volumes and consulting with the concerned," Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said in a statement here.

The three-member Tribunal awarded 13.42 TMC of the river water to Karnataka as against its demand for 36.66 TMC, said an earlier statement.

"I have discussed the ruling with the state water resources department and legal experts," added the Chief Minister.

One of the counsels who represented Karnataka before the Tribunal, Mohan Kataraki, said the immediate water needs of the state's drought-prone districts Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, have been addressed by the award.

"While the immediate water requirement has been met by the Tribunal's award, we will take steps for any additional water requirement after going through the verdict," Kataraki told reporters in New Delhi.

Congress state unit President Dinesh Gundu Rao said the party is partially satisfied with the award.

"We are partially satisfied with the Tribunal's verdict as the award for Karnataka is less than the water we had demanded," Rao told reporters here.

Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President B.S. Yeddyurappa, however, hailed the award as "historic".

"We are happy with what has been awarded to the state and welcome the Tribunal's decision," Yeddyurappa said.
Bengaluru, Aug 14 : Security has been stepped and vigil heightened in Bengaluru in view of celebration of the country's 72nd Independence Day, police said on Tuesday.

"About 1,800 policemen have been deployed at the Manekshaw parade ground here for security of the public and VIPs participating in the I-Day celebrations on Wednesday," city Police Commissioner T. Sunil Kumar told reporters here.

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will unfurl the Tricolour here, receive salute from the armed forces and address the people in the presence of dignitaries, invitees and officials.

"The surrounding area has been sanitised and movement of people and vehicles will be monitored. Vehicular traffic will be restricted around the ground and parking has been banned till afternoon," said Kumar.

Nine Deputy Commissioners of Police and 16 ACPs will oversee the security measures and keep vigil in and around the ground.

"In addition to the policemen, nine platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, five of the City Armed Reserve force and two Quick Reaction Teams have been stationed at vital installations and sensitive areas in the state capital to prevent untoward incidents and maintain law and order," reiterated Kumar.

The police has also installed 50 surveillance cameras, four baggage scanners at the entry gates and pressed dog and bomb-detection squads.

Visitors to the event have been advised not to carry water bottles, eatables, video and still cameras, radios and helmets.

Special Force commandoes have also been deployed to secure the state Secretariat (Vidhana Soudha) in the city centre.
New Delhi, Aug 15 : Financially-challenged Jet Airways on Tuesday said its Chairman Naresh Goyal met Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey to discuss matters concerning the sector and the airline.

The company that recently deferred its first quarter results has maintained that the Indian aviation sector, which has seen robust traffic growth, is passing through a tough phase primarily due to increase in Brent rates as well as a depreciating INR.

According to the company, the meet took place on Monday.

The airline has been evaluating various funding options to meet its liquidity requirements on priority.

On certain concerns raised by its employees, the airline said that it "has a transparent and open culture and employees as well as the management regularly engage to discuss matters of mutual concern via internal, defined, consultative processes".

"Over and above that, the management team conducts quarterly town hall sessions where our cost, revenue and customer service initiatives are discussed freely," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

"All of the airline's employees, including its pilots and engineers, have already publicly stated their resolve of standing loyal, committed and unified with the company and any external attempt to disturb that unity via rumours and speculations is in bad taste and needs to be curbed."

On Monday, the airline had reiterated that all of its accounts with lenders are "standard" without any overdues.

"There have been no delays in discharging any of our loan obligations to any of the lenders. The company's account has been consistently 'standard' over the last several years," the airline said in a statement.

The reassurance from the airline comes days after its board deferred consideration of the first-quarter financial results. The deferment led to a slide in the airline's stock.

"The recent news on deferment of our quarterly results was mainly due to certain additional time requested by the management to its Audit Committee to complete its accounts which was accepted," the statement said.

"There are no differences of opinion whatsoever between the company and its statutory auditors. Both B.S.R. & Co. (KPMG affiliate) and DTS & Associates continue to be the statutory auditors of the company."
Washington, Aug 15 : More than 300 "predator priests" from six Catholic dioceses across US state of Pennsylvania have been accused of sexually abusing over 1,000 child victims, according to a new grand jury report released on Tuesday.

State Attorney General Josh Shapiro said that over 1,000 children victims were identifiable from the church's own records, and the grand jury believes there are more.

"We believe that the real number - of children whose records were lost, or who were afraid ever to come forward - is in the thousands," Xinhua quoted the grand jury report as saying, issued by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, accusing church leaders of a "systematic" coverup effort over more than six decades.

Church leaders in these Catholic dioceses were more interested in safeguarding the church and the "predator priests" than helping their victims, the report said.

"The main thing was not to help children, but to avoid scandal," the report added. "Priests were raping little boys and girls and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing: They hid it all."
Tehran, Aug 15 : The Iranian Ministry of Industry banned the export of five types of commercial items, media reports said on Tuesday.

The exports of packing paper, tissue paper, powdered milk, bulk and packed tea, and over 500g packets of butter will be prohibited from August 23 in a move to regulate domestic market, Xinhua quoted the Ministry as saying.

Due to the reinstatement of US sanctions, the Iranian administration is considering amendments to the country's exports and imports regulations.

In the meantime, to support the domestic products and services, main companies and their subcontractors have been prohibited from purchasing foreign products and equipment.

Iranian Oil Ministry has also passed an order to ban the import of 84 items and equipment which could be produced inside the country.
Washington, Aug 15 : US State Department said on Tuesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with South Korea's Foreign Minister over phone to discuss the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, and they vowed to keep close coordination on the issue.

In a statement released by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo and Kang Kyung-hwa "discussed DPRK denuclearization efforts and the need to maintain pressure" until "the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK" was achieved.

The two officials also "vowed to maintain close coordination and communication and they affirmed the enduring strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) held senior-level talks on Monday at a border village of Panmunjom, and agreed to hold a summit in Pyongyang between the two nations' top leaders before the end of September.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean top leader Kim Jong Un signed the Panmunjom Declaration after their first summit meeting on April 27. Under the declaration, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation and exchanges.
Together with the rapidly growing demand for steel Investa Sp. z o.o. develops its services, which is why it decided to invest in a new production and warehouse facility in the city of Wroclaw. The company has signed a long-term agreement with Panattoni Europe to lease 4,300 sq m of

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Research from JLL suggests the re-rating of neighbourhood shopping centres is reflected in the convergence of yields of neighbourhood and sub-regional centres.

Andrew Quillfeldt, Director  Strategic Research, JLL, notes that while average yields have trended down and converged, the yield spread between the strongest and weakest centres in all formats is unusually wide, with considerable overlap between the neighbourhood and sub-regional sectors.

Clearly investors have become very discriminating in the pricing of retail assets, said Quillfeldt.

A range of factors  demographics, location, management quality and tenant mix  are all key drivers of value at the individual asset level.

Increasingly these factors dictate value rather than the simple categorisation of a centre.

This reassessment of the retail sector creates opportunities for centre owners and active managers to add value by re-positioning their assets.

Quillfeldt says owners of sub-regional centres have been actively driving rental growth by changing the tenant mix towards more F&B, retail services and convenience uses categories which typically pay higher average rents than other uses, such as apparel, and bolster the performance of shopping centres over the longer term.

Investor demand and competition for neighbourhood shopping centres has been strong since 2014, driven primarily by private investors.

The competition for neighbourhood centre assets has resulted in capital value growth and yield compression in all retail formats, but more so in the neighbourhood category.

The lower price point makes neighbourhood centres accessible to a wide range of private investors seeking yield.

The non-discretionary nature of tenancies often operating in neighbourhood centres also offers stability of income.

This trend has been complemented by capital market conditions conducive to private investors, given the low cost of debt finance and subdued returns available from many other investment classes, said Quillfeldt.

We expect shopping centre formats and performance profiles will evolve as urban density continues to increase and shopping habits change, which will have implications for how they are valued and priced.

JLL suggest it's the first yield cross-over on record and while it is too early to know whether this is a permanent shift, it is evidence that investors are re-assessing neighbourhood centres that have historically traded at a discount to other retail formats  sub-regional and regional centres as well as CBD retail assets.

According to Peri Macdonald, Executive General Manager  Retail, Frasers Property Australia, the change in the retail investment hierarchy can be attributed to a number of factors, not least the evolution of shopping towards a more convenient, non-discretionary focus.

Population growth and increased density in inner city catchments are giving rise to greater demand for new forms of convenience retail, as more health and lifestyle uses emerge and demand for food and retail services increases, Macdonald says.

This growth reveals a distinct opportunity for the emerging super-neighbourhood class of shopping centre, which mirrors the locally-curated tenancy mix of neighbourhood centres on a size scale similar to sub- regional centres.

As planning regulations increasingly embrace more integrated and mixed-use forms of development, both in inner-city areas as well as for greenfield town centre sites, investment interest in the neighbourhood and super-neighbourhood categories can be expected to intensify.

While there has traditionally been a clear hierarchy in retail in terms of risk profile for each shopping centre category, the changes in physical format to the traditional neighbourhood shopping centre, including the emergence of the super-neighbourhood centre concept, will support the recent convergence of yields between the two retail formats.
3-D Printing to the Rescue More than ever, these treatments for birth defects are close to reality.

From reconstruction of craniofacial syndrome effects, whose social stigmas were recently depicted in the movie Wonder, to a better understanding of congenital heart defects, 3-D printing is providing exciting approaches to more successful birth defects treatments, according to editors of the latest special issue of Birth Defects Research (DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1367).

The special issue just published by the Teratology Society with John Wiley & Sons, focuses on the exciting and rapid strides made in 3-D printing technology. Birth defects are often extremely complex and challenging to treat and differ from one individual to another, explained Michiko Watanabe, PhD, co-editor of the special Birth Defects Research issue and professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The reviews chosen for this issue illustrate how 3-D printing strategies may help to improve treatment for a growing child with birth defects to avoid multiple surgeries over time, and why they are being considered for use in many clinics as an essential tool for individualized education and medical therapy. Models provided by 3-D printing allow for practicing complex surgical or other interventions that could greatly improve outcomes."

The utility of 3D printing for diagnosis and surgical planning of complex cardiac defects in children has been described in the review, 3-D printing and virtual surgery for congenital heart procedural planning, (Moore, R. A., DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1370). It is now possible to use 3D printed heart models for advanced planning of surgical and catheterization based procedures, and virtual surgeries can potentially improve surgical outcomes, said Deepa Prasad, MD, a pediatric cardiologist (advanced cardiac imager) at the Banner Cardon Childrens Medical Center, clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona and guest editor of the special journal issue. The technical process for creating 3D heart models has been outlined in detail in the review, 3D printing and modeling of congenital heart defects: A technical review, (Townsend, K., Pietila, T., DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1342).

Additional subtopics covered in the issue include the expertise of doctors treating craniomaxillofacial congenital anomalies using 3-D printed cartilage and bone for reconstructive surgery of the head and face (DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1345), and Future of 3D printing: How 3D bioprinting technology can revolutionize healthcare (DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1351), authored by Steven Morris, the CEO of BIOLIFE4D, who is working to combine stem cell and 3-D technologies in the hopes of eventually engineering human hearts capable of growing with a child.

The potential for printing living tissues that will grow with the child is not science fiction, but close to reality now, said Dr. Prasad. Additionally, 3D printing methods for eliminating bacterial growth on implants used in some birth defect treatments is also on the horizon as described in Dr. Anna CS Samia and colleagues review (DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1352). More than ever, these treatments for birth defects are close to reality.

About the Teratology Society

The Teratology Society is an international and multidisciplinary group of scientists including researchers, clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals from academia, government and industry who study birth defects, reproduction, and disorders of developmental origin. The Teratology Society is made up of nearly 700 members worldwide specializing in a variety of disciplines, including developmental biology and toxicology, reproduction and endocrinology, epidemiology, cell and molecular biology, nutritional biochemistry, and genetics as well as the clinical disciplines of prenatal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatology, medical genetics, and teratogen risk counseling. Scientists interested in membership in the Teratology Society are encouraged to visit http://www.teratology.org.

The societys official journal, Birth Defects Research, is published by John Wiley & Sons in partnership with the Teratology Society.

# # #

Media Contact: Nicole Chavez, 619-368-3259, nchavez@teratology.org.
Al Rowe, an Alabama native and US Navy veteran who served in three wars, has completed his book The Pretty Color Ribbons of War: a compelling story of love and war.

Johnny T. Moore is poor boy who grew up in the devastated South during the Depression. A rich girl named Jeanne loves him, but her father, a crook, forces the boy away from his daughter and into the Second World War.

The boy becomes a highly decorated hero. After his release, he returns to California, never knowing that Jeanne has had his baby. He returns to the Navy as an officer, stationed in China. There he meets a gorgeous Chinese girl and her brother, who are high-ranking Communist officers working undercover against the American soldiers. They fall deeply in love but are forbidden by US military policy to marry. They are secretly wedded in a Buddhist ceremony, but Johnny is forced to evacuate and return to America shortly after. Both are utterly devastated.

The Korean War breaks out, and Johnny is now recruited to go to North Korea to rescue an important colonel who was shot down and taken prisoner by the revolutionaries. Johnnys long-lost wife is the top officer with whom he must negotiate for the colonel. They are reunited, but she is killed by her brother, who could never accept that his sister loved a hated American. Johnny escapes, saving the lives of the captured airmen, and returns to California as a civilian, crushed by the weight of his lost loves.

One day at the beach, a young girl is drowning. The man dives in and saves the girl, not knowing it is his daughter. Will Johnny ever find happiness again?

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Al Rowes book is a sweeping love story encompassing fifteen years in the life and service of a dashing and heroic yet unassuming war hero.

Readers who wish to experience this engrossing work can purchase The Pretty Color Ribbons of War at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York-based full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of accomplished authors and publishing professionals allows writers to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
"David's and Bennett's deep industry experience, functional expertise and passion for HR technology perfectly aligns with AllyOs mission of making recruiting delightful and efficient for everyone. -- Shobhit Gupta, Head of Business Operations, AllyO

AllyO, a Silicon Valley-based AI technology company, today welcomed David Bernstein as Head of Partnerships and Bennett Sung as Head of Marketing. Bernstein and Sung join AllyO as the company continues to expand across new channels and educate talent acquisition and HR leaders on integrating AI in their end-to-end recruiting processes.

Bernstein will be responsible for creating and executing AllyO's partner channel strategy. In this role, he will leverage his deep expertise of talent acquisition and his strong understanding of the talent acquisition ecosystem to develop AllyOs channel and alliance network to further drive its value proposition in the market. Bernstein started his career as a recruiter before taking on leadership roles at PeopleSoft, Solectron and Hitachi. Beyond the workplace, he serves to educate future HR and talent acquisition leaders as an adjunct professor of HR Analytics at Palo Alto University.

Sung will apply his expertise in employment branding and HR technology to generate demand at scale and strengthen AllyOs brand and market awareness. Prior to joining AllyO, Sung held a variety of marketing leadership positions spanning over 25 years and has received multiple Creative Excellence Awards for his work with clients like PwC, Alaska Airlines and Amazon. He has also overseen and expanded market growth for companies like ADP VirtualEdge, Jobscience, Mighty Recruiter and Koru.

We are pleased to have David and Bennett join our leadership team to help AllyO accelerate our growth by creating market awareness on next generation of AI-led recruiting and bringing our AI solutions to the market through new channels, said AllyOs Head of Business Operations, Shobhit Gupta. "David's and Bennett's deep industry experience, functional expertise and passion for HR technology perfectly aligns with AllyOs mission of making recruiting delightful and efficient for everyone.

About AllyO

AllyO is an AI technology company with a simple mission  make recruiting delightful and efficient for everyone. It addresses the traditional inefficiencies of lost applicants and conversions due to poor candidate experience, high cost of recruiting due to overburdening of menial tasks on hiring teams and lack of visibility and control for HR leadership. It utilizes deep workflow conversational AI to fully automate end to end recruiting workflow by intelligently engaging via texting over mobile and web. It is used by Fortune 500 enterprises that have experienced 2-6X increase in applicant capture and conversion rate, 91 percent application completion rate and over 50 percent reduction in cost and time to hire. AllyO is backed by leading investors such as Gradient Ventures (Googles AI fund), Randstad Innovation Fund, Bain Capital Ventures and Cervin Ventures. AllyO is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For additional information please visit us at http://www.allyo.com, LinkedIn or Twitter.
Bob Eberly, Label Sales Specialist Bobs years of success guiding customers in the selection and implementation of barcode labels and RFID tags will provide immediate benefits for our manufacturing, warehousing and distribution customers, who will improve productivity and process quality with optimized label and tag solutions.

CSSI Technologies, Inc., a technology firm based in Lewisburg, PA, announces the appointment of Bob Eberly as Label Sales Specialist. Eberly brings to the role over 20 years of experience in guiding customers as they research, specify and implement pressure sensitive labels and RFID tags in their manufacturing and warehousing operations. Eberly will work with CSSI Technologies throughout the East Coast.

We are excited to welcome Bob to our team here at CSSI Technologies, said company president Joe Tosolt. Bobs years of success guiding customers in the selection and implementation of barcode labels and RFID tags will provide immediate benefits for our manufacturing, warehousing and distribution customers, who will improve productivity and process quality with the implementation of optimized label and tag solutions.

In his 20+ years creating solutions for intricate label and tag applications, Bob has accumulated an extensive knowledge of pressure sensitive label facestocks, adhesives, liners, tag materials, and construction. From bar code labels and tags to laser labels, thermal labels and tags, coupon labels, and piggyback labels, CSSI Technologies can develop and create labels for any labeling project no matter how complex it might be. Further as an expert in the specification and implementation of the highest quality industrial printers from industry leaders such as Zebra Technologies and Honeywell, CSSI is a one-stop shop for printing solutions.

About CSSI Technologies, Inc.

CSSI Technologies, Inc. (https://cssi.com/) boosts business productivity with the smart integration of auto ID, mobile computing, and business software. CSSI offers a complementary range of services which include: Barcoding and Mobility Solutions, Custom Software Development, and sales & support for Microsoft Dynamics GP as well as Microsoft Power BI analytics software. From headquarters in Lewisburg, PA, CSSI supports customers across the United States.

CSSI Technologies, Inc.

145 North 15th Street

Lewisburg, PA 17837

(570) 524-4424

http://www.cssi.com
BigHand More and more, clients are asking for help in managing their centralization and resource optimization efforts in a bid to maximize performance and well be sharing our experiences and market insight with ILTA attendees.

BigHand, specialists in voice, workflow, document production, financial management and reporting solutions for law firms, have today announced their plans for ILTACON 2018. This year BigHand will be hosting a client and industry expert panel talk on the current trends affecting law firm back office administration and discussing the ways that firms are streamlining processes to become more effective. Additionally, the BigHand team will be conducting personal meetings and group document creation sessions throughout the show,

The legal industry is facing the greatest pace of change in decades. Law firms are having to contend with increased competition from non-traditional providers as well as heightened price pressure from customers, making efficiency and cost control a top priority. From August 19  23, BigHand invites ILTA attendees to visit booth #715-717 to review their firms back office technology and structure, and to discuss their route to operational excellence.

BigHand is encouraging attendees to register in advance for demonstrations of their award-winning voice, document and workflow solutions, as well as the newly acquired technologies, BigHand Evaluate and BigHand Quantum (formerly of DW Reporting). On Tuesday, August 21 at 11:30am in the ILTACON Education Hub, Eric Wangler, President, BigHand North America will be joined by clients from DLA Piper as well as Legal Mosaic founder and the CEO, Mark A. Cohen and President/CEO of LegalShift LLP, Dan Safran, for an interactive panel discussion on Driving Efficiency and Efficacy in Back Office Operations. Also, for those involved in document creation, there will be twice daily education sessions on improving the quality and turnaround times of legal documents with the BigHand Produce suite of products.

Eric Wangler comments: Our mission at BigHand is to help law firms to become more efficient and productive. In our interactions with clients, we regularly discuss how firms are addressing the challenges and pressure to remain competitive in todays highly dynamic marketplace. More and more, clients are asking for help in managing their centralization and resource optimization efforts in a bid to maximize performance and well be sharing our experiences and market insight with ILTA attendees. Were also excited to showcase our two newest technologies from the recent DW Reporting acquisition - BigHand Evaluate, a legal matter pricing, budgeting and tracking tool and BigHand Quantum for business intelligence, analytics and financial reporting.

To find out more about BigHand at ILTACON 2018, to book a meeting or demonstration, or to reserve you place at Tuesdays panel discussion, please visit http://www.bighand.com/en-us/ILTA2018

About BigHand

BigHand is a software technology company with a big difference. Established in 1996, BigHand has developed a range of speech, workflow, document creation and process improvement solutions that help customers achieve more in less time. BigHand is based in Chicago, Eindhoven, London, Sydney, Temecula and Toronto and currently has over 545,000 software licenses in use in over 3,000 global organizations.
Buzz Franchise Brands has sold renowned mosquito control company Mosquito Joe to Dwyer Franchising, LLC (Dwyer Group), one of the worlds largest parent companies for home services brands. This is the first company sale for Buzz Franchise Brands and the first acquisition for Dwyer Group under its new private equity partner, Harvest Partners.

After acquiring local mosquito control business Mosquito Joe in 2012, Buzz Franchise Brands sold the first Mosquito Joe franchise in January 2013. In just over five years, the company has grown to 288 operating units across 34 states plus the District of Columbia and established itself as a leader in the outdoor pest control industry.

Bringing Mosquito Joe into the fold makes Dwyer Group the holding company to 21 service brands operating domestically and internationally.

Mosquito Joes rally cry is Outside is fun again, and we think their service combined with their professionalism and high customer satisfaction marks are the perfect fit for Dwyer Group and our Neighborly offering, said Mike Bidwell, President and CEO of Dwyer Group. Mosquito Joe is a current market leader in this space, and we look forward to continuing to support their growth.

Buzz Franchise Brands mission is to build companies that get people talking. It is parent company to pool cleaning and maintenance franchise Pool Scouts, currently operating in nine states, and residential cleaning brand Home Clean Heroes, which will begin franchising this summer.

Its bittersweet to let Mosquito Joe go, said Kevin Wilson, CEO of Buzz Franchise Brands, But we know the brand is in good hands with Dwyer Group, and were looking forward to focusing on the continued development of Pool Scouts and Home Clean Heroes, as well as launching new brands in the years to come.

For more information about Buzz Franchise Brands, visit http://www.buzzfranchisebrands.com.

About Buzz Franchise Brands:

Founded in 2012 and based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Buzz Franchise Brands is a fast-growing multi-brand franchising organization that builds companies that get people talking. With a primary focus on providing quality services to the home, Buzz Franchise Brands includes pool cleaning and maintenance company Pool Scouts and residential cleaning company Home Clean Heroes. For more information about Buzz Franchise Brands and our franchise concepts, visit http://www.buzzfranchisebrands.com/.

About Mosquito Joe:

Virginia Beach, VA-based Mosquito Joe provides mosquito, tick and flea control treatment to residential and commercial customers nationwide. Technicians are trained mosquito control experts dedicated to getting rid of mosquitoes so people can enjoy being outside again. While each Mosquito Joe is an independently owned franchise that offers customers reliable and effective service from a trusted community member, it is also backed by a national network of technical expertise. For more information or franchising opportunities, visit http://www.mosquitojoefranchise.com.

About Dwyer Group:

Founded in 1981 and based in Waco, Texas, Dwyer Group is a holding company of 21 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 todays 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 http://www.getneighborly.com and http://www.getneighbourly.ca, respectively. Learn more about Dwyer Group at http://www.dwyergroup.com.

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BVM (http://www.brazosvalleymarketing.com) is proud to offer free blueprint strategies sessions to help businesses of all sizes in Houston, TX maximize their SEO strategies.

It boils down to our goal of helping help our clients reach their goals, says Dustin Ogle, BVM founder and owner. During the blueprint strategy session, we ask a series of questions to get to understand who the prospective clients ideal customer is, the companys most popular products/services, and lastly where business is currently at versus where they would like to be in the next 12 months. We also break down and go over some additional marketing concepts, like the lifetime value of a client and the cost to acquire a client.

Then, using the questionnaire they filled out before the call, we break down how SEO can help them hit those goals. Based on keyword search volume, we can reverse engineer what sort of traffic we can get once on the first page. As we are selecting the highest intent keywords, we can also know that these people are less likely to be just window shoppers and more likely to be serious buyers.

Ogle concludes, Finally, using the competition level, we can give Houston, Sugar Land and The Woodlands businesses a loose estimate to how long it would take to get these rankings.

In addition to SEO services in Houston, BVM also helps clients with lead generation and web design. To learn more visit http://www.brazosvalleymarketing.com/seo.

About BVM:

BVM was founded with the local business owner in Houston and Sugar Land, TX in mind, and helps both those starting out and those already established take their business to the next level through web design, social media marketing, lead generation, unquiet content generation, AdWords, SEO and more.

Contact Details:

Dustin Ogle

BVM

5850 San Felipe Street

Suite 500

Houston, TX 77057

Phone: 979-272-6991

Email: dustin(at)brazosvalleymarketing.com

Source: Brazos Valley Marketing (BVM)
CAMEROUN :: Security Crisis in South West Region of CAMEROON: Suspension of CAFECO S.A Activities.

Following a press release entitled "Greenpeace Africa expresses dismay at the activities of WIJMA in CAMEROON" written by Eric INI, the forestry campaigner for Greenpeace Africa, published on August 6th 2018 in the website www.greenpeace.org, Greenpeace Afrique indexes the company WIJMA CAMEROON and its subsidiary CAFECO to operate in a conflict zone.

In order for all to be better edified, and in accordance with the law N 90/052 of December 19th, 1990 and its subsequent modifications on the freedom of the social communication in Cameroon, we bring the following clarifications:

1-Initially, it must be said to denounce the incongruities of a release of Greenpeace which comes at the moment when activities of CAFECO S.A were suspended in the region of southwest CAMEROON.

2- This statement says: "It is outrageous that WIJMA and CAFECO continue to exploit timber with FSCTM certification, under armed escort in the Southwest region just very recently". It is not so. Due to the prevailing insecurity in the region, the workers and the CAFECO S.A company have been subject of various threats (leaflets, threat of kidnapping and ransom demands). The site has been looted several times, shops broken, vehicles stolen by unidentified people. Worse still, on June 26, 2018, a worker was kidnapped in Nguti before being released the next day.

3- Faced with this climate of insecurity and in order to protect the workers, the forest operations located in the Eyumojock area and the Nguti factory were put in stop on June 26, 2018. Notification was made to the Departmental Delegate of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, administrative supervision of CAFECO SA in Cameroon. Since that day, all workers have returned to their homes. Our site is secured by our guards with the support of the administrative authority. As a result and contrary to what Greenpeace claims, CAFECO SA never exploited or transported wood under armed escort in southwest Cameroon.

4 -Greenpeace also claims that "WIJMA has silently exploited this loot without demonstrating corporate social responsibility." Another incongruity that does not comply with CAFECO S.A who practices the forest management method in accordance with the FSCTM principles and belong within the scope of the group FSCTM certificate of Wijma Cameroon which is the first certified company in the Congo Basin. Moreover, in front of this "case of major strength" that constitutes the insecurity in the zone, the company CAFECO S.A showed social responsibility. In order to preserve jobs, avoid bankruptcy or default, the Company has been put to sleep and will resume operations once security conditions are restored in the area.

For CAFECO SA The Chairman of the Board

Mr TAYO Villien
The partnership signifies a vote of confidence in our screening solutions by yet another high caliber client.

ClearStar, the technology and service provider to the background check industry, is pleased to announce that it has been named the preferred contract labor screening provider by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, which designs, manufactures, and supports technologically-advanced business-jet aircraft. Following ClearStars selection by Gulfstream last year to provide background screening services for its direct hires, Gulfstream has now requested that the over 50 contract labor suppliers that place over 3,000 workers each year with the aerospace corporation also utilize ClearStars screening services. ClearStar provides both domestic and international screening services for Gulfstream and its contractors.

ClearStars selection as Gulfstreams partner for screening both direct hires and contract labor was based on a thorough due diligence and demonstration process. Gulfstream demands their contractors meet the same screening requirements as Gulfstream does for its internal screening provided by ClearStar, and contract labor suppliers are required to submit any screen conducted by another vendor to Gulfstream for approval. By utilizing ClearStars pre-approved services, suppliers will be able to expedite the screening process as well as benefit from the companys mobile screening solutions that have been designed to meet the needs of the contract labor market.

Gulfstream has led the evolution of business and personal aviation since the 1958 debut of the Gulfstream I, the worlds first purpose-built business aircraft. Today, headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, U.S., Gulfstream operates facilities on four continents and employs more than 15,000 people worldwide. Gulfstreams parent company is General Dynamics, a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems; armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. General Dynamics workforce numbers more than 95,000 employees worldwide.

Robert Vale, CEO of ClearStar, said: We are confident that our unique set of mobile screening tools, which have already made us a mainstay in the contract labor industry, will bring value to Gulfstream and its contractors by making it easier and faster to screen on the go. The partnership signifies a vote of confidence in our screening solutions by yet another high caliber client and testimony to our ability to meet the particularly high security requirements demanded by the aerospace industry. As a result, we expect to receive further interest from this market as well as gain more business from the contact labor suppliers who, after utilizing our services for Gulfstream, are moving more of their business to ClearStar.

About ClearStar

ClearStar, Inc. is a leading and trusted background check technology, medical screening, strategic services, and decision-making information provider to employers and background screening companies.

A seven-time Inc. 5000 honoree and founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners, ClearStar has provided innovative technology solutions to businesses in the human capital management industry from its corporate offices in Alpharetta, Georgia since 1995. For more information about ClearStar, please visit: http://www.clearstar.net.
Commercial Credit, Inc. Receives Middle Market Leader Award Its an honor to be recognized alongside the areas top performing companies for our sustained growth and our contribution to the Charlotte region.

Equipment and accounts receivable finance company, Commercial Credit, Inc. (CCI), parent company of Commercial Credit Group Inc. (CCG) and Commercial Funding Inc., has made the inaugural Middle Market Leaders list for the Charlotte region.

To qualify for the list, a company must be headquartered within the sixteen counties that comprise the Charlotte region; have an annual revenue of between $50 million and $2 billion for 2017; an annual revenue growth rate of higher than 15% over a three-year period; and have continued employment growth. Dan McDonough, president and CEO stated, Its an honor to be recognized alongside the areas top performing companies for our sustained growth and our contribution to the Charlotte region. We look forward to continuing to provide outstanding service to our customers and opportunities for our employees.

Commercial Credit, Inc. was one of two financial services companies recognized and the only financial services company specifically focused on the business-to-business market. The seventeen companies were recognized at a dinner event, hosted by the Charlotte Business Journal, on August 9, 2018 and will be featured in the August 17, 2018 issue of the Charlotte Business Journal.

About Commercial Credit, Inc.:

Commercial Credit, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries Commercial Credit Group Inc. (including its division Manufacturers Capital) and Commercial Funding Inc., provides equipment loans and leases to small and mid-sized businesses in the construction, fleet transportation, machine tool and manufacturing and waste industries and accounts receivable factoring in a variety of industries. Since its inception in 2004, CCG has originated over $3.5 billion of finance receivables. The companys sales force is located throughout North America. Commercial Credit, Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and operates full service offices in Buffalo, NY, Naperville, IL, Hamilton, ON and Salt Lake City, UT. For more information, please visit http://www.commercialcreditgroup.com, and http://www.commercialfund.com.
MasterLiquid ML360R RGB

Cooler Master, a global leader in manufacturing CPU coolers, computer components and peripherals, introduces its first 360mm all-in-one (AIO) liquid CPU cooler. The MasterLiquid ML360R features addressable RGB LEDs on both the fans and water block and is certified compatible with ASUS, MSI and ASRock motherboards.

16.7 Million Color Customizing with Software or Wired Controller

The MasterLiquid ML360R RGB features Cooler Masters newly designed pump with 12 addressable RGB LEDs on the water block and eight addressable RGB LEDs on each fan, capable of 16.7million color options. Users can easily customize each LED, individually, through the addressable RGB software from ASUS, MSI and ASRock motherboards, or with Cooler Masters MasterPlus+ software for complete ambient control.

Cooler Masters MasterLiquid ML360R RGB comes equipped with a new addressable RGB LED controller for use and compatibility with non-addressable RGB components and easy lighting and mode control. A 5-in-1 addressable RGB splitter is also included in the packaging.

Innovative Quality Design and More

Exclusively designed in-house, the MasterLiquid ML360R RGB is constructed with a low-profile, dual chamber pump that separates incoming coolant from the radiator-bound heated coolant. Cooler Masters unique pump design maximizes CPU cooling results and assists in maintaining ideal system temperatures. In addition, the MasterLiquid ML360R RGB features a precision machined microchannel cold plate to quickly dissipate heat, FEP tubing on the interior and sleeved tubing on the exterior for a premium look and extended durability.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB



Addressable RGB LED pump with 16.7 million colors

Dual chamber pump design to separate incoming and outgoing coolant

3 x MasterFan MF120R ARGB (Addressable RGB fans)

Double Layer Tubing - Inner FEP Tubing, Outer Sleeve Tubing

Low Resistance 360mm Radiator

Wired addressable RGB Controller and addressable RGB splitter cable

Availability:

The MasterLiquid ML360R RGB is available for purchase today, August 14, 2018, at a starting MSRP of $159.99 USD on Newegg. For more information, please visit: http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-liquid-cooler/masterliquid-ml360r-rgb/

Images:

MasterLiquid ML360R: https://coolermaster.egnyte.com/fl/8oyiXsQtWv

Cooler Master MasterPlus+ Lighting Software:

Cooler Masters MasterPlus+ software is currently in open beta and is available for download. Users are still able to use the provided addressable RGB controller for lighting mode control. To download the MasterPlus+ software, please visit: http://www.coolermaster.com/microsite/masterplus/

List of Compatible Addressable RGB Sync Motherboards:

ASUS AURA SYNC: https://www.asus.com/campaign/aura/us/index.html

ROG Maximus X Formula

ROG Maximus X Code

ROG Maximus X Hero (Wi-Fi AC)

ROG Maximus X Hero

ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming

ROG Strix Z370-F Gaming

ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming

Rampage VI Extreme

Prime X299-Deluxe

ROG Strix X299-XE Gaming

ROG Strix X299-E Gaming

ROG Zenith Extreme

ROG Strix X399-E Gaming

ROG Strix X370-I Gaming

ROG Crosshair VI Extreme

MSI: https://www.msi.com/Landing/mystic-light-motherboard#mystic

Z370 Godlike Gaming

Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC

Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon

Z370I Gaming Pro Carbon AC

ASRock: https://www.asrock.com/mb/index.us.asp

Fatal1ty H370 Performance

Fatal1ty B360 Gaming K4

H310M-G/M.2

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About Cooler Master: Cooler Master is a Taipei-based, global computer components company with more than a 25-year track record in releasing innovative products that truly advance the industry. We are driven by a passion for the things that make building a PC such a unique, rewarding experience, and sustained by a vision that we can reinvent the way these machines are designed, made and used. From our landmark release of the first ever aluminum PC case to our groundbreaking switch to the modular format, Cooler Master is committed to bringing our customers and fans the utmost in choice and control. For more information on Cooler Master, please visit http://www.coolermaster.com or follow us on Facebook
I have been an avid reader of the Digital Diary so when James released his new book 'The A-Z of Digital Marketing' I ordered right away. Super impressive, helped me out in at least a few places where I was completely confused, and I know I will be turning back to it again and again as a reference

There is no shortage of people who have the mistaken idea that becoming a success in digital marketing is easy and doesn't require, study, knowledge, and skill. Publisher of the popular marketing blog The Digital Diary, James Gaubert, certainly doesn't fall into that category, instead he insets a great deal of time and energy into helping people succeed in the digital marketing space. In exciting news, these efforts have now moved beyond his blog and other work, with the release of his new book The A-Z of Digital Marketing: Buzzwords and Jargon to Turn You Into a Digital Unicorn on Amazon.com. The much-anticipated work has been greeted eagerly.

If you are trying hard at digital marketing, but you don't know the meaning of terms like SoLoMo, VTR, SERP, trendjacking, permalinks, CX, IRM, and DMP, you are potentially at an extreme disadvantage, commented Gaubert. My new book breaks all of this and much more down to help digital marketers establish a sound foundation and baseline to build off of. This is a great field, but it's highly competitive and if you want to do your best 'The A-Z of Digital Marketing' can be a big help.

According to the author, the ultimate goal of his new book is to get readers caught up with the latest in digital marketing jargon, terms, acronyms, and other probably mysteries allowing them to communicate with the greater digital marketing world with a much greater sense of understanding and insight. The positive impact this kind of education can deliver is clear, especially when coming from a well-known authority on the subject, and at a very affordable price for either the Kindle or paperback edition of The A-Z of Digital Marketing.

Gaubert also continues to update his Digital Diary blog on a regular basis touching on topics like SEO, social media, PPC, innovation and much more.

Early feedback for the new book has been extremely positive.

Christine S., from Boston, recently said in a five-star review, I have been an avid reader of the Digital Diary so when James released his new book 'The A-Z of Digital Marketing' I ordered right away. Super impressive, helped me out in at least a few places where I was completely confused, and I know I will be turning back to it again and again as a reference in the future. Fully recommended.

For more information, be sure to visit https://amzn.to/2HC7Bzh.
An example of a photograph that could submitted in the contest, running until October 1. Each participant can submit up to three photographs featuring flora, fauna, people or scenes featuring the Appalachian Trail.

Franklin County Visitors Bureau recommends entering the 2018 Appalachian Trail Photo Contest now through Oct. 1. This contest is being offered by the Greater Waynesboro, PA Area Appalachian Trail Community for the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System.

Each participant can submit up to three photographs featuring flora, fauna, people or scenes featuring the Appalachian Trail. Judging of these photographs will be done by both popular vote and a committee and will be separated into amateur and professional work.

For both categories, the winner receives a guided photo hike on the AT within our local area and the top three placing winners all receive a Greater Waynesboro PA Area Community t-shirt.

These photos will be placed on display at Market Day (Oct. 6) downtown Waynesboro to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System. They will also be eligible to be displayed at the Franklin County Visitors Bureaus new location, 11/30 Visitors Center opening this fall at 15 S. Main Street in Chambersburg.

Photos submitted can be of all materials, including but not limited to photo paper prints, canvas and metal prints. Framed photographs are asked to have picture wire and no saw-tooth hangers. Unframed photographs must have a good backing such as mat board or foam core to be displayed. The maximum size for photographs that will be accepted is 16x20.

Submit photos by October 1 to the Mainstreet Waynesboro office at 13 West Main Street

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore Franklin County PA and enjoy the trails of history, art, recreation, natural beauty, and fresh foods. Experience the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive to Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Discover more. Plan a visit soon at ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or by contacting 866.646.8060.
GuestCentrics The Digital Future of your Hotel roadshow comes to Edinburgh on September 5 GuestCentric has announced one more The Digital Future of your Hotel roadshow event, the first in Scotland. The workshop will take place in Edinburgh, September 5, at The Glasshouse Hotel. International leaders in hospitality and technology OTA Insight and eRevMax are also joining GuestCentric.

GuestCentric, the leading provider of cloud-based digital marketing software for hotels, has announced one more The Digital Future of your Hotel roadshow event, the first in Scotland. The workshop will take place in Edinburgh, September 5, at The Glasshouse Hotel. International leaders in hospitality and technology, namely OTA Insight and eRevMax, are also joining GuestCentric.

Michael Territt, GuestCentrics UK Regional Director for Key Accounts, will be one of the speakers at the event in Edinburgh. His presentation will focus on the digital marketing tools available to independent hotels and boutique brands that help hoteliers increase their revenue by driving more direct bookings.

We believe that were entering the age of direct bookings and we aim to provide hoteliers with the best tools to fulfill that future. With this type of events, we and our partners aim to share our knowledge with hoteliers so that they can develop a successful, integrated digital strategy that accounts for the rise of direct bookings and also for OTAs and other players, such as metasearch websites or price comparison engines, said Pedro Colaco, CEO of GuestCentric.

Tom Edwards, OTA Insights Business Development Manager for UKI, will address the audience on the challenges posed to hoteliers by the everchanging landscape of online distribution, from to the role of OTAs and metasearch engines to the emergence of new players coming into the hospitality industry.

OTA Insight is excited to be participating in these innovative educational workshops: we look forward to providing hoteliers with insights and details on current trends to help them understand the changing digital distribution landscape, said Gino Engels, Co-founder and CCO of OTA Insight.

Alin Lazar, VP of Sales for eRevMax, will address the hotels struggle to simplify their connectivity and technology tools. In the last decade, the requirement was to manage OTAs easily; in 2018, hotels need to manage their multiple tools easily and efficiently, moving away from chaos and into clarity.

This is a fantastic opportunity for hospitality professionals to get together and connect with their peers while sharing ideas and being part of discussions about what's happening in the industry. A must not miss event!, said Alin Lazar, VP of Sales for eRevMax.

Admission for the September 5 event in Edinburgh is free upon prior registration. Availability is limited and reserved for hoteliers only. For more information and registration, click here.

The Digital Future of your Hotel roadshow objective is to bring together industry experts and hoteliers to discuss new tools and new market trends that present challenges but also opportunities for independent hotels and boutique brands. The Digital Future of your Hotel roadshow will take place in several cities in Scotland, Spain, Portugal, England, Netherlands and Denmark, from May till December. The next workshops will take place at Bilbao, Spain, on September 25, and at Lisbon, Portugal, on October 2. To see a full list of events and to register, please click here.

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric is a leading provider of cloud-based digital marketing software and services that help extraordinary hoteliers promote their brand, drive direct bookings and connect with customers on all digital platforms. GuestCentric's all-in-one platform provides hotels with the only unified solution for managing their guests online journey: award-winning, high impact websites; an integrated, easy-to-use booking engine; social media marketing and publishing tools; a GDS chain code and a channel manager to offer rooms on Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia, Galileo, Google, Sabre, TripAdvisor and hundreds of other channels.

GuestCentric is a proud provider of solutions that maximize direct bookings to hotel groups and independent hotels from collections such as Design Hotels, Great Hotels of the World, Leading Hotels of the World, Relais & Chateaux and Small Luxury Hotels.

GuestCentric is featured on Skift Travel Tech 250, a list of the top 250 travel tech companies shaping the modern-day travel experience.

For more information, please visit http://www.guestcentric.com.
"As active members of the South Florida community, we want to help ensure that all students statewide have equal access to educational opportunities, said Larry Kraska, Interim HealthCare Inc. CEO and President. We are proud to support Step Ups mission and support our future leaders.

Interim HealthCare Inc., a leading national franchisor of home care, hospice, and healthcare staffing, donated $25,000 to Step Up For Students which helps run the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. This program aims to provide lower-income children in Florida with more learning opportunities through scholarships solely based on financial need.

Interim HealthCare Inc.s donation will help K-12 students attend a private school, based on their specific academic needs.

As active members of the South Florida community, we want to help ensure that all students statewide have equal access to educational opportunities, said Larry Kraska, Interim HealthCare Inc. CEO and President. We are proud to support Step Ups mission and support our future leaders.

Step Up For Students empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children. The tax-credit scholarship supports economically disadvantaged families in Florida who lack the financial resources to access education options. Families may choose between financial assistance for private school tuition and fees or transportation costs to attend a public school in another district.

We are excited about the opportunity to give back to our local community through our donation to Step Up, said David Waltzer, Interim HealthCare Inc. CFO. Step Up provides immeasurable benefits to school-aged children in Florida by promoting equal access and educational options, and were glad we can help further its cause.

A study last year by the Urban Institute found that student recipients of the scholarship program who use the scholarship for four or more years are up to 43 percent more likely to attend college and up to 29 percent more likely to earn an associate degree than their peers in public school. During the 2017-18 school year, more than 105,000 students used the scholarship.

About Interim HealthCare Inc.

Interim HealthCare Inc., founded in 1966, is a leading national franchisor of home care, hospice and healthcare staffing. It is part of Caring Brands International, which also includes UK-based Bluebird Care and Australia-based Just Better Care, both well-known franchise brands in their countries. With more than 530 franchise locations in seven countries, Caring Brands International is a global health care leader.

Interim HealthCare in the United States is unique in combining the commitment of local ownership with the support of a national organization that develops innovative programs and quality standards that improve the delivery of service. Franchisees employ nurses, therapists, aides, companions and other healthcare professionals who provide 25 million hours of home care service to 190,000 people each year, meeting a variety of home health, senior care, hospice, palliative care, pediatric care and healthcare staffing needs. For more information or to locate an Interim HealthCare office, visit http://www.interimhealthcare.com.

About Step Up For Students

Step Up For Students is a nonprofit organization that helps administer the income-based Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Students who qualify for the national free or reduced-price lunch, or those who are homeless or in foster or out-of-home care, may qualify. The scholarship program provides tuition assistance to the private school of their parents choice or financial assistance to offset the transportation cost to an out-of-district public school. Since 2001, Step Up has awarded more than 680,000 scholarships.

Step Up also helps administer the state-funded Gardiner Scholarship for Florida students with certain special needs, plus two new scholarships, the Hope Scholarship for public school students who are bullied and the Reading Scholarship Accounts for third- through fifth-grade students enrolled in public schools who struggle with reading.

For more information, visit: http://www.StepUpForStudents.org.
The implementation of GDPR had people worldwide paying far more attention to privacy issues than ever before. But even as GDPR has become a de facto global standard, the push towards greater consumer privacy has not stopped there.

Io-Tahoe LLC, a pioneer in machine learning-driven smart data discovery products that span a wide range of heterogeneous technology platforms, today announced the next in its educational webinar series entitled, The Pendulum on the Move: Privacy Regulations after GDPR, and the need for AI-driven solutions.

Date & Time: Tuesday, August 21, 2018, 12:00 p.m.  1:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Guest: Evan Schuman, Founder, The Content Firm

Why Attend?

The implementation of GDPR had people worldwide paying far more attention to privacy issues than ever before, but even as GDPR has become a de facto global standard, the push towards greater consumer privacy has not stopped there. With additional regulations, such as Britain's updated Data Protection Act, California's new Consumer Privacy Act, and the forthcoming ePR initiative in the European Union, the pendulum will continue its course away from the "no privacy on the Internet" attitude of the 1990s.

Special guest Evan Schuman will join host Steve Friedberg. A journalist for more than 30 years, Evan Schuman's background includes news reporting for radio networks (including CBS Radio News, National Public Radio, AP Radio and CNN Radio), consumer news organizations (including The New York Times, BusinessWeek, USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution), wire services (Reuters, AP and UPI) and technology/business publishers. He served as an editorial manager for 11 years at CMP Media, where his posts included News Editor at InformationWeek, News Editor at TechWeb, Editor of The Internet Business Report and Editorial Director for the Custom Publishing division.

In this Webinar, attendees will learn:



why many approaches to online privacy are not viable and won't work

why California companies may already be doing more than the law requires (without even knowing it)

why artificial intelligence/machine learning must be part of your compliance strategy

Learn More & Register Here: https://io-tahoe.com/webinars/

Tweet this: .@IoTahoe Hosts Webinar Entitled, The Pendulum on the Move: Privacy Regulations after GDPR, and the need for AI-driven solutions. https://io-tahoe.com/webinars/ #DataPrivacy #Analytics #AI #ML #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #GDPR #ePR

About Io-Tahoe

Io-Tahoe is a pioneer in machine learning-driven smart data discovery products that enable organizations to discover data across a wide range of heterogeneous technology platforms, from traditional databases and data warehouses to data lakes and other modern repositories, helping enterprises trace data elements across their systems in spite of outdated metadata definitions. The product utilizes machine learning algorithms to dramatically increase the accuracy, intelligence and speed of learning of complex data elements and data relationships throughout the entire business environment.

Our product has been custom-built by a team with a deep understanding of data challenges, giving us first-hand insight and appreciation into our customers diverse and complex data needs. Our product is particularly valuable to businesses with large numbers of customers and diverse data sets, such as those in the financial services, utilities, retail, transportation, insurance, healthcare and manufacturing industries. For further information, please visit: http://www.io-tahoe.com.
| BY Ricki Green |

CB Exclusive  Campaign Brief can reveal that Host/Havas chief creative officer Darren Spiller is departing the agency after 18 months. Spiller was the agencys first chief creative officer.

Spiller joined DDB Melbourne in 2012 as ECD, replacing Grant Rutherford, and was promoted to CCO in February 2015, a move which saw a major creative restructure for the agency. During his time at DDB Melbourne, the agency enjoyed a creative resurgence, developing high-profile work for Westpac, Devondale and RSL amongst others.

Prior to joining DDB Melbourne, Spiller held the role of CCO at Fallon USA, moving to Minneapolis in June 2009. Before Fallon, he was regional creative director of Publicis Mojo Australia and New Zealand.

Says Spiller: We are approaching the first birthday for Host/Havas and by any measure, its been an excellent 12 months. It was always my intention to help deliver the successful integration of Host and Havas Sydney before stepping aside to allow others to take it forward. The agency is in the shape of its life, so now feels like the right time for that to happen. The ECDs are incredibly talented and more than capable of taking the reins, and I wish them all the very best.

Host/Havas confirmed that Spillers role will not be replaced with his duties being shared amongst the agencys executive creative directors, Seamus Higgins, Ant Melder and Jon Austin.

Says Laura Aldington, CEO, Host/Havas: I have been lucky enough to call Daz both a great friend and a great colleague over the years. It has been a genuine pleasure to partner with him again in the creation of Host/Havas and I am grateful for everything he has done to set us up for success. He leaves us in very safe hands with a formidably talented line up of creative leaders, and Im excited about where theyll take us next.

Says Anthony Freedman, chairman, Havas Group: I would like to thank Darren for his passion, commitment and creativity and wish him every success in whatever adventures lie ahead.
Jeff Cook Real Estate We have to be stubborn about the vision, but flexible about the journey.

Jeff Cook Real Estate expands again! The West Ashley office was the first satellite location for Jeff Cook Real Estate in the dawn of the residential real estate firms expansion and it has come time to move again! Though they will remain in West Ashley, continuous growth of the office has moved them to 1836 Ashley River Road where the team can enjoy a more spacious work environment to further empower them to deliver the best service to clients.

The West Ashley team currently has 40+ sales agents dedicated to servicing the Charleston area with home buying and selling needs. The West Ashley office is not the only one growing, the I-26 location in Summerville recently upgraded to a larger sales office and the company is expanding outside of the Charleston area with new offices in Columbia and Greenville.

This year Jeff Cook Real Estate celebrated 15 years of service with a complete brand redesign that will be unveiled in September. In addition to the Rebrand, 2018 holds many more milestones for Jeff Cook and his business. His team was ranked the #16 best real estate team in the nation by REAL Trends and for another year named the #1 team by sales volume in South Carolina. His need for full-time sales agents sparked the creation of Charleston Real Estate School in Summerville; the only real estate school in Summerville. The two week long licensing course (as opposed to the traditional 4 week long course) opened its doors to students in July and thrives on the booming housing market and its promise to deliver the best education at the lowest price in town.

Cook, a native of Charleston, explained, We have to be stubborn about the vision, but flexible about the journey. This vision being to redefine the method in which real estate is sold by empowering his team to deliver the best service to clients. His team now spans 6 locations across South Carolina as well as an entire operational staff to assist the agents in advertising and transactions. Jeff Cook Real Estate is projecting to serve 1400+ families in 2018 in the home buying or selling process and now holds a team of 140 agents.

To learn more about Jeff Cook Real Estate or the West Ashley real estate market, call 888-JCRE-Nation or visit http://www.JeffCookRealEstate.com . The site includes a blog with timely real estate area news as well as a convenient home value feature that will instantly provide you with your homes worth.
Founder Jing Jingsourcing has successfully served over 1500 Amazon sellers in 3 years. Past News Releases RSS

Jingsourcing, a rapidly expanding sourcing company dedicated to helping small to medium businesses source reliable product suppliers from China, is now the most preferred choice for many Amazon sellers. Since the inception of the company in 2015, they have successfully served over 1,500 Amazon sellers. They have also launched a professional program to help Amazon sellers find reliable factories in China and ship their goods directly to Amazon FBA.

In the recent years, Amazon has quickly emerged as the worlds favorite online marketplace and lots of individuals are now willing to utilize this platform as sellers to make money. Interestingly, a very high percentage of products available in Amazon are from China. However, finding the most reliable suppliers of these products from China can be extremely difficult. In order to make an impact on Amazon, it is important for the sellers to ensure competitive pricing and good product quality. This is exactly where Jingsourcing comes in, providing a competitive edge to their clients.

You dont need to have experience in importing from China. You just tell our customer representatives what products you want to import. They will help you pick out 2-3 of the best from hundreds of suppliers, says Jing, the founder of Jingsourcing. Moreover, 70% of our customers are Amazon Sellers. We know what kind of products can help you make money on Amazon. We also have a thorough understanding of Amazon's FBA requirements for the measurement and weight of the different goods.

Jingsourcing operates with the sole objective of helping the small business importers grow. Unlike them, most of the Chinese sourcing companies serve medium and large importers such as Wal-Mart and Target. As a result, the new and inexperienced exporters are left with no other alternative but to try and find suppliers on Alibaba, or from different Chinese exhibitions. Naturally, this makes it extremely difficult for them to find a sourcing company they can bank on.

As it happens with many startups across the globe, the founder of Jingsourcing, Jing Zhu started his business from the living room of his home in early 2015. In the past three years, the company has grown by leaps and bounds. At present, Jingsourcing has more than fifty employees, and is the most popular sourcing company on the internet. The company hopes to soon become the next big name for importing items from China.

I always get confused and dizzy when finding factories on Alibaba, too many suppliers, crazy!!! Maybe because my order was small, I didn't get an immediate response or a reasonable price even after many emails. Then I asked Jingsourcing for help, and got what I wanted. In addition, I learned a lot from Jingsourcing about importing from China, said Justin C from California, a highly impressed customer of Jingsourcing.

Hundreds of clients like Justin recommend Jingsourcing for the help they have received from the company to constantly grow their business.

More information about Jingsourcing and their services is available here.

About Jingsourcing: Jingsourcing is a China based sourcing company dedicated to helping small to medium business source reliable product suppliers from China. In three years since the inception of the company in 2015, they have grown from one to fifty people, and have become the most famous sourcing company on the Internet for Chinese products.

They are the first company offering free sourcing service. With no upfront charges, the importers can enjoy complete import services including sourcing, production follow up, quality inspection, and shipping arrangement.
Charlotte, NC, is the new home of the Vape Showcase. These gatherings give industry participants a way to see, up close and in person, how great custom labels would look on their products.

The vape industry is unique, dynamic and always evolving. Companies that manufacture or sell vape products - including e-cigarettes, e-liquid and more, can take advantage of industry events such as the Vape Showcase to network, learn about present and future conditions and adopt best practices.

Lightning Labels will be one of the exhibitors at this year's Vape Showcase, held September 15-16 in Charlotte, NC. Representatives will show off the potential value associated with using high-quality custom labels for vape products. Packaging not only contains essential information required for regulatory compliance, it's also a major component of marketing. Manufacturers that haven't refreshed their products' appearance in a long time have plenty to gain from a visual refresh.

Discover the 2018 Vape Showcase

The Charlotte Vape Showcase, an industry gathering with a focus on advocacy for vaping, was founded in Houston in 2015. In the years since, it has grown and solidified its place in the vape world. On both of the convention's two days, vendors and badge-carrying buyers are first invited to interact with one another before the doors open to the public. After that, admission is free, and vendors can sell their wares to a general audience.

In addition to meeting up with potential partner organizations on the expo floor, brand representatives can make vital connections at parties and networking gatherings scheduled around the convention. Creating favorable partnerships with providers of essential services - labeling included - is an important part of running a vape-industry business.

"We make a point of sending representatives to key vape events throughout the year" said Lightning Labels Director of Sales and Client Services Gary Paulin. "These gatherings give industry participants a way to see, up close and in person, how great custom labels would look on their products."

Learn the Value of Vape Labels

Industry attendees at the 2018 Vape Showcase will be able to learn about the potential value of improved labeling directly from Lightning Labels. As a presence in the industry for years, Lightning Labels has mastered the art of labeling for vaping supplies, combining compliance with effective branding and promotion. The sector has come a long way in a relatively short time, and creating an appealing look today means standing out from an increasingly bright and vibrant group of competitors.

Industry gatherings such as the Vape Showcase bring professionals together, giving each participant a close look at other companies' offerings. When it becomes clear that a business is falling behind in packaging or design, representatives can stop by the Lightning Labels booth #533 and learn more about custom vape labels. Working with a state-of the art printing partner such as Lightning Labels enables brands to get the custom labels they need, on a schedule that makes sense for them, in any quantity they desire.

About Lightning Labels:

Lightning Labels uses state-of-the-art printing technology to provide affordable, full-color custom labels and custom stickers of all shapes and sizes. From small orders for individuals to the bulk needs of big businesses, Lightning Labels is equipped to handle and fulfill custom label and sticker projects of all types. Best of all, like the name implies, Lightning Labels provides a quick turnaround for every customer's labeling needs. Uses for Lightning Labels' custom product labels and custom stickers include food packaging and organic food labels, wine and beverage labels, bath and body labels, and nutraceutical products, such as vitamins, essentials oils, and herbal remedies, as well as event stickers, adhesive window stickers and more. Lightning Labels strongly supports the development of environmentally friendly printing materials and carries EarthFirst PLA, a new kind of green label material made from corn instead of petroleum. While operating as a high-tech printer, Lightning Labels prides itself on its personalized customer service. Lightning Labels provides one stop shopping for all of your custom label needs. For more information and to place orders online, visit LightningLabels.com. For the latest in packaging news and labeling promotional offers, find Lightning Labels on Twitter (@LightningLabels), Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and LinkedIn.
MaintenX firmly believes in supporting the work of nonprofits in their local communities.

As part of its philosophy of philanthropy and community involvement, MaintenX has donated $1,000 to the Skills Center of Tampa. The money will help the Skills Center, a local nonprofit, further its mission of creating academic and leadership success for youth through the power of sports. MaintenX tries to give back whenever they can, and this gift is part of its observance of National Nonprofit Day.

I cannot express my gratitude enough for [MaintenXs] help, said Jenn Townsend of the Skills Center. You are helping an amazing organization that is doing amazing things in our community!

The Skills Center was founded ten years ago by a trio of concerned community members who, drawing on their own experience and expertise, set up a program to help at-risk youth excel both inside and outside of school. Using sports, their specialists instill children with strong values and the discipline to succeed.

MaintenX firmly believes in supporting the work of nonprofits in their local communities, and looks forward to participating in further National Nonprofit Days. However, MaintenX supports local nonprofits all year long. Bill Schaphorst, MaintenXs VP of Business Development, notes that their company tries to give to organizations committed the community whenever they can.

Supporting nonprofits is something we think is incredibly important, Schaphorst said. We love when an organization asks for help and we can say yes.

National Nonprofit Day, observed annually on August 17, was founded by Sherita Herring in 2017 to educate, enlighten and empower others to make a difference, while acknowledging those that are in the trenches. The Day celebrates the altruism of nonprofits along with their social and economic impact.

You can learn more about MaintenX and The Skills Center online.

ABOUT MAINTENX INTERNATIONAL:

MaintenX International is a fully-licensed, facilities repair company. They are one of the largest national self-performing facility maintenance and repair companies in the U.S. MaintenX has created a network of knowledgeable and professional technicians throughout the country. With their team of well-trained technicians, MaintenX self-performs and manages facility maintenance for clients. In the event there is not a MaintenX technician in the area, the company has fostered a network of preferred vendor partners throughout the country to provide superior service for their clients. For more than 35 years, MaintenX has been expertly serving multi-location retail stores, restaurant chains, and Fortune 500 companies nationwide.
Russell has a track record of delivering top results by capitalizing on competitive opportunities,  said David MacIntosh, Chief Revenue Officer of Metrostudy.

Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company and the leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and related industries nationwide, has hired Russel Tam as Director of Business Development, Education Segment. Based in San Francisco, Tam will also assist in work collaboratively with Budd Brumbaugh, Director of Business Development, to optimize growth opportunities in Northern California.

Russell has a track record of delivering top results by capitalizing on competitive opportunities,  said David MacIntosh, Chief Revenue Officer of Metrostudy. Russell brings a diverse and multifaceted point of view within our industry and has a proven track record of high performance. His expertise in driving growth, building relationships and customer intimacy position him well to lead our Education Segment.

Most recently, Tam was the Regional Sales Director for the Northern California and Colorado regions for Meyers Research. Prior to Meyers Research, Tam owned his own Real Estate brokerage for 15 years, and was a platinum top 50 realtor five years in a row in the Austin, TX market. Tam has over 21 years of sales, management, automation and distribution experience and has served in leadership positions at Harting Inc., DELL and Rockwell Automation.

About Metrostudy

Metrostudy is the leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and residential construction industry. Metrostudys actionable business intelligence informs investment decisions that mitigate risk and grow revenue for builders, developers, lenders, suppliers, retailers and manufacturers. Its the construction industrys only integrated data intelligence solution supported by the most extensive U.S. geographic coverage. Learn more at Metrostudy.com.

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, both digital and print, high-profile executive events, and strategic marketing solutions. To learn more, visit hanleywood.com
Last Call; photo by Melisa Cardona We are proud to support this group of visionary artists, who represent the tremendous aesthetic diversity and vitality of theater today

The New England Foundation for the Arts announces $840,000 in eight National Theater Project Creation and Touring awards.

The National Theater Project (NTP) promotes the development and touring of artist-led, ensemble, and devised theater works. Modeled on NEFAs National Dance Project, NTP functions as a full system of support for devised theater, which in addition to funding, animates an informed, interactive network of producing theaters, presenters, and ensembles.

Since the first round of NTP grants in 2010, NEFA has infused over $6.31 million into the field through the program. To date, 57 new theater works have been supported through Creation and Touring grants; touring of those works has reached 43 different states across the U.S. NTP projects have toured to large and small arts presenters, military bases, universities, regional theaters, and festivals. NEFAs National Theater Project is made possible with lead funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and with additional support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

We are proud to support this group of visionary artists, who represent the tremendous aesthetic diversity and vitality of theater today. We are grateful to our long-term funding partners at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and for new support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Their commitments enable NTP projects to reach communities and support theater makers across the United States, said NEFA executive director Cathy Edwards.

Grants for this round ranged from $100,000-$110,000. In addition to the Creation and Touring grant, each recipient will also receive $10,000 towards capacity building for touring the project. The eight grant recipients are:



Andrew Schneider Performance, Brooklyn, NY, for NERVOUS/SYSTEM

Combat Hippies, Miami, FL, for AMAL

Dahlak Brathwaite, San Francisco, CA, for Try/Step/Trip

Dancing Earth, Santa Fe, NM, and San Francisco, CA, for Between Underground and Skyworld (BTW US)

Last Call, New Orleans, LA, for Alleged Lesbian Activities

Lucky Plush Productions, Chicago, IL, for Rink Life

Progress Theatre, Missouri City, TX, for Plantation Remix

Sandglass Theater, Putney, VT, for Babylon: Journeys of Refugees

In addition, NTP will award Finalist Development grants totaling $40,000 to assist in further development of four applicant projects.

These are eight amazing and important projects, reflecting the diversity of artists and issues in todays theater. This is theater that is relevant and engaging, and we are very happy to be able to offer NTP support, said Quita Sullivan, program director for theater at NEFA.

Organizations interested in presenting any of these works  or works from previous grant rounds  may apply for an NTP Presentation Grant after contacting its tour coordinator; learn about all the projects with NTP touring support available on a searchable directory on http://www.nefa.org. NTP also provides travel support for arts presenters interested in seeing projects. Contact program director Quita Sullivan at qsullivan(at)nefa.org or 617.951.0010 x531 to learn more.

About NEFA

The New England Foundation for the Arts invests in the arts to enrich communities in New England and beyond. NEFA accomplishes this by granting funds to artists and cultural organizations; connecting them to each other and their audiences; and analyzing their economic contributions. NEFA serves as a regional partner for the National Endowment for the Arts, New Englands state arts agencies, and private foundations. Learn more at http://www.nefa.org.
MagicEzy Tile Fix

House-proud home owners and tenants everywhere can now save money and end embarrassment over chipped and cracked tiles, thanks to MagicEzy Tile Fix, a revolutionary, all-in-one pre-colored, repair solution just released by Aussie nanotechnology repair innovators, MagicEzy.

Stress cracks around bathroom drains, and damaged kitchen tiles resulting from dropped pots and plates can be found in almost any home. The damage looks ugly, causes embarrassment, and its often difficult to repair without going to the trouble and expense of replacing the tile or retiling.

Until now, there hasnt been a one-part repair solution that allows home owners to easily, affordably and quickly repair tiles in a way that lasts; without replacing the tile.

According to MagicEzy CEO, Warwick Lindsay, conventional repair systems are difficult to use, weak and rigid which mean the repair often pops out, attracts dirt, or doesnt match the color of the tile, and the repair ends up looking worse than the original crack or chip.Replacing individual tiles isnt practical either. Even professional tilers dislike doing repairs

Assuming people can find a matching tile, removing the grout and replacing the tile then takes a lot of hard work and skill and the end result can look patchy and second-rate, said Lindsay.

MagicEzy TileFix solves that problem. Using their super strong, world-first patented nano-technology, MagicEzy has developed a one-part, pre-colored solution that offers structural grade adhesion and is highly flexible so it stretches and shrinks with tile movement, plus it has a glossy sheen that matches the tile or can be adjusted to look matte or flat.

Color-matching is another problem that the product solves.

TileFix offers a perfect color match for any tile thanks to their Starter Kit which includes four base colors that can be easily blended to match any grey or light beige color..

Tiles arent the only thing that MagicEzy TileFix repairs. Its also a multi-repair system that fixes damage to stone benchtops, door frames, stone, ceramics, chipped skirting boards, and even laminates.

MagicEzy is so confident of the owners satisfaction that they offer a 60 day no questions asked, money back guarantee. Customers can simply return their purchase for a full refund even if they buy the wrong color, plus the repairs durability is guaranteed for 3 years.

TileFix is the sister product to the highly popular, MagicEzy GroutFix which recolors unsightly grout fast and gives bathrooms an affordable makeover without retiling.

MagicEzys pre-colored, nanotechnology sealants have already proven themselves in the marine industry with their tough range of all-in-one repair products which are now sold in over 50 countries. MagicEzys full range includes Tile Fix, Grout Fix, Hairline Fix, 9 Second Chip Fix and Mega Fusion.

For a list of MagicEzy stockists or to become a distributor visit http://www.MagicEzy.com
Pittsburgh-based investors Next Act Fund is pleased to announce its recent investments in Cherryvale Farms, and Ariel Precision Medicine. With these two investments, Next Act Fund is now directly invested in five companies. Additionally, Next Act Fund has invested in Enova Funds I, II, and III at BlueTree Allied Angels.

Ariel Precision Medicine is an integrated genomic and digital health company headquartered in Pittsburgh that helps doctors treat patients with chronic health conditions, starting with pancreatic disease. In 2017, Ariel launched the first comprehensive 12-gene genetic test for pancreatitis, PancreasDx, integrating robust clinical data and environmental information to advance insights into management and treatment decisions for each patient. Ariel is closing a $2.5 M note and is now providing services to clinicians at over 27 leading academic centers across the country.

"Our goal is to provide unique insights about each patient's condition so their doctor can make an early diagnosis and select appropriate treatment. Many of these patients have been suffering for years without knowing why. With the launch of PancreasDx we have been able to provide answers for the first time and it is making all of the difference in patient's lives, and we are just getting started. As a female entrepreneur I have really appreciated the support of Next Act Fund, which has not only invested in Ariel but also provides access to a sophisticated network of successful entrepreneurs. This is the type of fund that is going to create capital access for women and has not often been available.

Cherryvale Farms launched six years ago in Santa Cruz, CA. The company makes healthy, convenient, naturally delicious, plant-based foods that can be enjoyed at home or on the go. Beyond its initial line of fruit-focused baking mixes, the company also offers Instant Indulgence mug cake mixes (e.g. brownies that can be made in a mug in one minute), and Love It! Whole Grain Snack Bars. All of their products are made with plant-based ingredients, and contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Cherryvale Farms is currently raising their Series A1 round, and plans to use the new investment to add sales and marketing staff and expand their product offerings. Cherryvale is headquartered in California, but its products are available nationwide, including Pittsburgh at Whole Foods Markets, and the East End Co-Op.

Lindsey Rosenberg, Founder, and CEO stated we are excited about adding funding partners such as the Next Act Fund, who are so focused on women entrepreneurs. I sought out venture partners who invest in women, because I think that it's important to grow that sector of our economy. We look forward to using our new investment dollars to bring healthy, plant-based foods to a wider variety of people.

Yvonne Campos added Both Ariel Precision Medicine and Cherryvale Farms are excellent additions to our portfolio. Jessica Gibson is building our ecosystem in Pittsburgh and bringing important improvements to the digital health market. Lindsey Rosenberg and Cherryvale Farms produce a delicious selection of products, and are poised to add more to the market. She is a smart addition to the natural food sector, and we look forward to watching her grow her company to new heights.

About Next Act Fund

Next Act Fund was founded in 2017 with the intent of investing in early-stage, women-owned/led companies, thereby positively impacting women, the region, and the nation. Next Act Fund, which is the first of its kind in Southwestern Pennsylvania, is also focused on member education, hosting monthly educational sessions open to its members and the public, as well as a series of educational sessions targeting future investors.
| BY Ricki Green |

Filmgraphics is delighted to announce that Daniel Borjesson has joined its roster for representation in the Australasian region.

Swedish born Borjesson is a diverse commercial and music video director noted for his compelling work as a visual storyteller. Borjesson caught the directing bug while attending film school in Los Angeles. Remaining in the US, he utilised his film school studies and began working in the film industry as an assistant director and assistant editor on a variety of projects, before returning to his homeland as a producer, before becoming a director.

Says Borjesson: Using my background as a producer helps me a great deal, especially in times like these when you have to be more efficient and be able to create more for less.

Like every storyteller, concept and idea comes first to Borjesson. This has led him to build a reputation of being a strong visual director and a well-known name in the industry. His enormous talent and sense for detail has earned him numerous awards and prestigious work for big-league clients and artists such as Kylie Minogue, Axwell, Giorgio Moroder, BMW and Coca-Cola to name a few.
In todays fast paced tech industry where innovation is a constant driver and employees are more connected to work than ever before, PowerChord recognizes the importance of investing in employees and company culture.

A local SaaS company based in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, PowerChords digital solutions help manufacturers grow online engagement and in-store sales through their dealer networks. Established in 2001, the company was built on the philosophy that prioritizing a positive work environment leads to higher employee productivity, inspires more creativity, and increases overall collaboration.

Over the past 17 years, PowerChord has grown into an award winning business that operates in 28 countries, 18 languages, and 11 currencies. As theyve increased in size, theyve put a significant emphasis on monthly company events to expand team building and encourage work-life balance.

PowerChord events include frequent potluck lunches and cook-offs, with competitions judged through Slack polls and winners receiving gift cards to local DTSP businesses. Off-site events include happy hours, Tampa Bay Rays games, and holiday charity drives.

These efforts culminate each year with an annual employee recognition event at the Sheraton Sand Key hotel on Clearwater beach. With employees based across the United States and in Europe, the summer beach event is designed to bring together the companys entire team and their families to celebrate their hard work and many accomplishments throughout the year.

In addition to events, the company also emphasizes healthy lifestyles with a state-of-the-art kitchen thats fully stocked each week with fresh produce, snacks and personal requests to fuel teams throughout the work day. In 2017, PowerChord also purchased brand new 36 curved monitors to increase productivity, helping employees to work smarter and not harder.

Were continuously striving to create a culture where employees feel valued and part of the bigger company mission, said PowerChord CEO, Lanny Tucker. It takes a village to deliver a global solution to our customers and the personal growth and well-being of our employees are a direct contribution to that success.

"Todays average employee is spending a third of their life in the office, added Nicole Clemens, Manager of People & Culture. This means its more important than ever to PowerChords mission to ensure were offering an environment that thrives on investing in our people - and that includes everything from career development to a community beer on a Friday afternoon."

About PowerChord

A leading SaaS company that offers digital solutions for brands with dealer networks, PowerChords advanced technology works with global manufacturers to provide brand-specific, local websites to their dealer networks. These Digital Storefronts help manufacturers protect their brand, engage customers and grow local revenue - while giving independent dealers the ability to compete against large, online retailers. The PowerChord Platform also includes hyper-local Digital Marketing strategies that scale national campaigns into personalized dealer campaigns, and flexible Digital Services to win local search and drive dealer sales.

PowerChord is a BIA/Kelsey GOLOCAL award winner and has been recognized as a Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company, a Inc. 5000 company. They currently operate in 28 countries and service over 10,000 local sites worldwide, with employees based across the United States and Europe. Learn more about PowerChords end-to-end digital solutions at http://www.PowerChord.com.
Savannah Dental Solutions

Those with missing or failing teeth may have a reduced quality of life. Whether the teeth are simply missing, or traditional dentures are used to replace them, chewing, laughing, smiling, and talking are often compromised. Dental implants can vastly improve patients lives. For August 2018, Savannah Dental Solutions is offering a complimentary dental implant consultation.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the closest alternative to natural teeth. Dentures rest on the gums and are prone to slipping and pinching. Crowns can erode the neighboring teeth, and they must be placed on healthy tooth structure. Dental bridges are anchored by two crowns, vastly raising the risks for future dental issues.

A dental implant is a sliver of biocompatible titanium that replaces the tooth root in the jaw. It can halt and even reverse jawbone loss, and it provides a secure, stable foundation for a replacement tooth. One dental implant can replace one missing tooth. An implant supported bridge can replace several teeth in a row. An All-on-Four can even support an entire fixed arch of replacement teeth on just four immediate-load implants.

Of course, no solution is correct for all patients. Nearly everyone can be a candidate for dental implants, but some require extra preparation. For example, those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure must get those conditions under control. Those who need additional dental work such as fillings or root canals must complete those procedures first. People with extensive jawbone loss will need bone grafting. Savannah Dental Solutions will provide an in-depth consultation to provide patients with all the information they need to decide whether to move forward with dental implants.

About Savannah Dental Solutions

Married dentists Chad and Alexandra Schnabel welcome new patients to Savannah Dental Solutions. From caring childrens dentistry to high-tech cosmetic procedures and even full-mouth reconstruction, they blend the latest technology with traditional customer-oriented values. Those who are ready to start their journey to better oral health can call today at (912) 354-1366 or visit the website at http://savannahdentalsolutions.com/. The office is located at 9A Medical Arts Center, Savannah, GA 31405.
Mary Lenehan of Crestwood Associates has been selected to present a session at the upcoming GPUG Summit in Phoenix, Arizona on October 15th through the 18th. The topics for discussion include divulging the hidden features of Microsoft Dynamics GP, specifically within SmartLists and Navigation Lists, and how to maximize efficiency with Add-Ons. Ms. Lenehan is the resident SmartList expert and produces regular content for Crestwood on this popular feature.

Were very proud of Mary for being selected, brags Brian McGuckin, Partner at Crestwood Associates. Having our associates chosen for speaking roles like this just reinforces Crestwood as experts in this industry.

The Dynamics GP Users Group, commonly referred to as GPUG, is a large community of Dynamics GP users whose goal was to connect and share resources with each other to constantly educate, learn, and ultimately maximize value. It was created for users, by users; it is a member-driven and member-run organization that is not directly dependent on Microsoft. The annual Summit is an opportunity for members of GPUG chapters across the country to network with peers, rub elbows with experts, and learn valuable information from the many speaker-led educational sessions.

About Crestwood Associates, LLC

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Mount Prospect, Illinois, Crestwood Associates is a premier Cloud Service Provider (CSP), Gold Certified Microsoft Dynamics Partner, 10-time Presidents Club Award Winner, and 2017 Inner Circle recipient. In addition, Crestwood was honored to be chosen as Acumatica's US Partner of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Crestwood delivers a variety of business solutions, including: Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft Dynamics CRM (now called Dynamics 365 for Sales), Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Acumatica Cloud ERP, and Greentree applications. From accounting and financial reporting, to CRM, manufacturing, distribution, payroll and human resources, Crestwood Associates provides the tools and services that help businesses perform above and beyond the competition. In a cloud-first world, you can rely on Crestwood to provide the right tools to run your business. The Crestwood team is comprised of over 45 certified professionals who provide in-depth industry experience and functional expertise.
Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center in Harrisonburg, VA

SWaMfest is the premier networking, educational, and professional development event for small, minority-owned, & women-owned businesses in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The conference is October 3rd and 4th in Harrisonburg, VA.

The Shenandoah Valley Conference Center was chosen because of its facilities and proximity to James Madison University, creating a conducive environment for conference attendees to explore the latest products and services from hundreds of SWaM businesses; engage with 350 decision-makers from VASCUPP institutions, prime contractors, corporations; and attend exciting showcase workshops and networking opportunities.

We are hoping that the small, women, & minority-owned companies that attend will help us tear down walls by building up our knowledge with their unique perspectives, says Jack King, Supplier Diversity Business Operations Manager at the University of Virginia.

This year, the SWaMfest theme is BEYOND, where all of the workshops, sessions, speakers, and content seeks to push comfortable boundaries and go beyond the status quo, beyond mediocrity, beyond business-as-usual, and beyond the horizon by exploring what tomorrow may hold. The event kicks off October 3 with a vendor fair that showcases businesses and procurement organizations from across the Commonwealth and encourages the growth and development of meaningful business connections. On October 4, the event will feature keynote presentations, breakout seminars, and powerful networking opportunities.

Chris Beahm, chair of the 2018 SWaMfest planning committee and Senior Buyer at James Madison University says, There are 5 powerful drivers impacting every organization at every level, which is workforce development, technology, marketing and sales, supplier diversity, and logistics. We plan to address these areas and, hopefully, attendees will walk away with innovative strategies.

Conference attendees will also be able to take advantage of Hotel Madisons full-service dining at its flagship restaurant Montpelier Restaurant & Bar, opening Fall 2018.

Tickets may be purchased online at swamfest.com

About Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center

Hotel Madison is a 230-room hotel and conference center complex privately owned by Hotel Madison, LLC and managed by Maryland-based dpM Hotels, LLC. This new lifestyle hotel concept offers full-service lodging and amenities amidst the energy of downtown Harrisonburg and is designed to appeal to out of town and local guests that are looking for upscale lodging in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Hotel Madison and Shenandoah Valley Conference Center is a public-private partnership between JMU, the JMU Foundation, the City of Harrisonburg and a group of private investors led by dpM Partners, LLC,. More information at HotelMadison.com

About VASCUPP

The Virginia Association of State College and University Purchasing Professionals (VASCUPP) (https://vascupp.org/) provides opportunities for Virginias public colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education to address and share information regarding the procurement process. VASCUPPs structure is designed to promote increased opportunities for cooperative procurement among institutions of higher education and professional development among its members. VASCUPP is committed to helping Virginias SWaM businesses remain strong, vibrant and successful while connecting them to our Purchasing Power.
Our physicians are dedicated to our patients care and we know they will be a great addition to our practice and to our patients.

The Cardiac & Vascular Institute (TCAVI) is pleased to announce Interventional Cardiologists Christopher Estel, M.D. and Roja Pondicherry-Harish, M.D. have joined our practice as of August 1, 2018.

"We are very excited to welcome Interventional Cardiologists Drs. Christopher Estel and Roja Pondicherry-Harish to The Cardiac and Vascular Institute, says Interventional Cardiologist Christopher Caputo, DO, Medical Director at The Cardiac & Vascular Institute. Both physicians provide a great blend of top- notch clinical education and knowledge from the University of Florida and Indiana University, with a strong passion for providing community-based care. Our physicians are dedicated to our patients care and we know they will be a great addition to our practice and to our patients."

Dr. Christopher Estel graduated Summa Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science in Biology from West Virginia University. He completed medical school and his residency at West Virginia University going on to complete his Fellowship and Interventional Fellowship here in Gainesville at the University of Florida. In addition to his numerous publications and academic honors, Dr. Estel is a member of the American College of Cardiology, American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Societies. He is board certified in Cardiovascular Diseases, Interventional Cardiology, Echocardiography and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Roja Pondicherry graduated Summa Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia having gone on to receive his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. His Residency brought him here to The Gator Nation with his Fellowship taking him to Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Pondicherry holds board certifications in Cardiovascular Diseases, Echocardiology, Nuclear Cardiology, and Internal Medicine. His clinical interests include coronary artery disease, valvular and structural heart disease, and peripheral artery disease.

The Cardiac & Vascular Institute is committed to providing the highest quality health services to our patients. Although TCAVI continues to grow, adding more physicians and services, the number one priority and reason for existence remain the same: the care for our patients. TCAVIs focus is understanding and resolving patients health care needs. The Cardiac & Vascular Institute is dedicated to providing the highest quality medical care to our patients.

For more information on the practice or to schedule an appointment with The Cardiac & Vascular Institute, please contact (352)375-1212 or visit http://www.TCAVI.com.

About The Cardiac & Vascular Institute

The Cardiac & Vascular Institute (TCAVI) has offices in both Gainesville and Lake City, Florida. The physicians of TCAVI are board certified in every aspect of cardiology providing state of the art diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive cardiac services by utilizing the best in both the technology and the art of medicine.

CONTACT:

Jennifer Massenburg, The Cardiac & Vascular Institute

(352) 375-1212

jmassenburg@tcavi.com
The Quinism Foundation has sent correspondence to Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calling on its Division of Global Migration and Quarantine to emphasize important safety warnings in the approved U.S. drug labels for tafenoquine and mefloquine. The foundation is requesting that these warnings be reflected in the Divisions Travelers Health products and publications, including CDCs Health Information for International Travel (the "Yellow Book"), particularly as recommendations for use of tafenoquine for prevention of malaria are added to this material.

Tafenoquine was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of malaria and will be marketed for this indication by 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Arakoda.

"It is the position of The Quinism Foundation that, as with mefloquine, while taking tafenoquine for the prevention of malaria, any psychiatric symptoms that develop including symptoms as seemingly mild as insomnia, abnormal dreams, or nightmares, should be considered prodromal to more serious adverse effects," said Remington Nevin, MD, MPH, DrPH, executive director of The Quinism Foundation. "This position appears to be echoed in warnings in the FDA-approved U.S. labeling for tafenoquine, which advises patients to be 'promptly evaluated by a medical professional' should psychiatric symptoms such as insomnia, abnormal dreams, anxiety, or changes in mood be severe, or continue for 3 days or longer while taking the drug."

In its correspondence, Dr. Nevin noted The Quinism Foundation's concerns that unless these warnings are properly emphasized in CDC's recommendations, that these may be overlooked by travel medicine practitioners, as similar warnings for use of mefloquine were overlooked years earlier.

"We recommend that prescribers schedule a visit with the patient prior to travel, to assess for the development of psychiatric symptoms following administration of the tafenoquine loading dose. Access to healthcare, as recommended in the FDA-approved U.S. tafenoquine drug label, may be limited once travel begins," said Dr. Nevin. "We also recommend that tafenoquine should not be prescribed prior to sleep-disrupting travel across time zones, to which insomnia as a side effect of tafenoquine may be misattributed. In addition, tafenoquine should not be prescribed with hypnotics or other sleep-aids, which may confound recognition of insomnia as a side effect.

Other psychiatric side effects of tafenoquine, including changes in mood, anxiety, abnormal dreams or nightmares, may similarly risk being misattributed to the effects of certain forms of travel, including military deployments and travel for humanitarian emergencies and disaster response. Tafenoquine should not be prescribed prior to such travel, as this may similarly confound recognition of such side effects.

"As with mefloquine, we also recommend that tafenoquine should not be prescribed for travelers with existing psychiatric symptoms or disorders.

"Publicly-available data support a conclusion that tafenoquine shares the liability to central nervous system (CNS) neurotoxicity of mefloquine," said Dr. Nevin. "In a randomized blinded trial of tafenoquine in comparison to mefloquine for prophylaxis, users of tafenoquine reported a comparable rate of neuropsychiatric symptoms as users of mefloquine." [1]

"However, in comparison to data from the most recent Cochrane review of mefloquine in comparison to the non-neurotoxic alternative, atovaquone-proguanil, for prevention of malaria, there is clear evidence of under-reporting of neuropsychiatric adverse effects from mefloquine in this trial." [2]

"Assuming equal underreporting in each arm, as would be expected in a randomized blinded trial, and adjusting for such apparent underreporting, symptoms of anxiety and depression would be expected to be 'common' with use of tafenoquine for prophylaxis, occurring in 1-10% of users. Similarly, symptoms of abnormal dreams and insomnia would be expected to be 'very common', occurring in greater than 10% of users. As with mefloquine, tafenoquine has also been reported to be associated with reports of psychosis and other more 'severe' and 'serious' neuropsychiatric adverse effects, which may occur with continued use of the drug after prodromal symptoms occur."

"Given the new availability of tafenoquine," said Dr. Nevin, "we are asking that CDC update its recommendations for the use of mefloquine to align with those of international militaries and a growing number of other countries civilian travel advisory bodies, by declaring mefloquine a 'drug of last resort' for prevention of malaria among healthy adult travelers. We are also asking that CDC reconsider its recommendations for use of the drug in pregnant women, and in pre-verbal infants and children, among whom current U.S. drug label guidance creates challenges for the appropriate use of this medication."

Dr. Nevin noted that although mefloquine continues to be recommended by the CDC for pregnant women, infants and children, the development of prodromal symptoms in pre-verbal infants and children and in the developing fetus cannot be reliably identified and acted on in accordance with the FDA-approved U.S. mefloquine drug label.

"The U.S. mefloquine drug label warns that psychiatric symptoms should require the drug's discontinuation," said Dr. Nevin. "Although a pregnant mother, or mother traveling with her pre-verbal child may herself tolerate mefloquine, she cannot exclude the possibility her developing fetus or pre-verbal child may be experiencing psychiatric symptoms, including abnormal dreams or nightmares, which would require the drug's discontinuation in an adult traveler."

About The Quinism Foundation

The Quinism Foundation, founded in January 2018, in White River Junction, Vermont, promotes and supports education and research on quinism, the family of medical disorders caused by poisoning by quinoline drugs, including mefloquine and tafenoquine.

Executive director Dr. Nevin is a board-certified occupational medicine and preventive medicine physician and former U.S. Army medical officer and epidemiologist. He is author of more than 30 scientific publications on malaria and the quinoline antimalarials.

1. Nasveld PE et al. Randomized, double-blind study of the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of tafenoquine versus mefloquine for malaria prophylaxis in nonimmune subjects. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2010; 54(2), 792798.

2. Tickell-Painter M et al. Mefloquine for preventing malaria during travel to endemic areas. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2017;10(10):CD006491.
Walead Atiyeh joined HNTB's national rail systems team as project manager. His skills will help our clients advance their programs and achieve their fundamental vision to improve mobility by ensuring easy access, convenience and safety for riders.

Walead Atiyeh joined HNTB Corporations national rail systems team as project manager. He is based in the firms Santa Ana office and currently supports the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Atiyeh has more than 17 years of experience in construction and engineering projects, focused on transit and rail systems. His diverse skill set includes strategic management, planning, estimating, sourcing and project implementation. Additionally, Atiyeh brings significant leadership experience, having spent much of his career overseeing multidisciplinary teams.

Walead has a proven ability to oversee and deliver a variety of complex projects, drawing upon his extensive leadership capabilities, said Ian Choudri, HNTB national rail and transit business development director and senior vice president. His skills will help our clients advance their programs and achieve their fundamental vision to improve mobility by ensuring easy access, convenience and safety for riders.

Prior to joining HNTB, Atiyeh worked on several high-profile rail projects, including the I-255 Light Rail Project for the Regional Transportation District in Denver, where he was the systems manager through design and construction.

He also served on the Denver Union Station Redevelopment Project for RTD and the Colorado Department of Transportation, RTDs Denver Transportation Expansion Project, and Sound Transit Link Light Rail.

Additionally, Atiyeh has extensive experience with numerous transit and rail disciplines, including transit systems integration, train communication construction, and project engineering and controls.

Atiyeh earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver Daniels College of Business.

HNTB is currently involved with, or recently served, many of the nations most high-profile transit programs, including Los Angeles METRO Sepulveda Pass Alternative Assessment; Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authoritys BART Silicon Valley Phase II; Sound Transits West Seattle-Ballard Link Extension; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance Oversight and Systems GPC; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority GPC and Engineering On-call Contracts; Chicago Transit Authoritys Wilson Station; and the Charlotte Area Transit Systems LYNX Blue Line Light Rail Extension in North Carolina.

About HNTB

HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With more than a century of service in the United States, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program management and construction management. For more information, visit http://www.hntb.com.
| BY Ricki Green |

Harley-Davidson Australia/NZ has marked world relaxation day by releasing a guided meditation track where the only instrument is the metronomic sound of a Harley ticking over.

The idea was conceived by 303 MullenLowe Sydney and brought to life by Sonar Music using ASMR (Autonomous sensory meridian response) recording techniques designed to elicit a relaxing sensation throughout the body.

Says David Roberts, CD, 303 MullenLowe: The boom in mindfulness apps shows the need people have to escape their daily stress. And for a passionate tribe out there, this is the sound of freedom and relaxation.

Says Keith Waddell, marketing director, Harley-Davidson ANZ: Harley riders always talk about the feeling of freedom they get out on their bike. So for those times they cant be out riding, this is the next best thing.

The binaural audio experience begins with a rider going through their pre-ride rituals, before taking off on a 2018 Softail Street Bob. A practicing meditation instructor was cast to narrate their journey.

Spotify has selected the project to be part of its global Be Heard initiative that explores the possibilities of audio advertising. A short version will run across the Spotify platform which links to the full version on the H-D meditation site.

Harley-Davidson ANZ

Marketing Lead: Hayley Walton

Marketing Director: Keith Waddell

303 MullenLowe Sydney

ECD: Gary McCreadie

CD: David Roberts

Art Director: Leila Cranswick

Managing Partner & Digital Innovation: Brad Morris

Managing Partner: Matt Clarke

Producer: Ana Pinheiro

Senior Digital Producer: Robin Swire

Senior Digital Designer: Andreas Pratikto

Designer: Jasmine Xie

Developer: Susanna Klein

Sound Post Production:
In 2015, entrepreneur Matthew Cockerill, publisher Jon Croft, and writer Nadia Arumugam launched the 1,000 Cookbooks project, which aimed to compile the best and most essential cookbooks of all time. The project has since evolved into a digital subscription service, called CKBK, which bills itself as the Spotify for Cookbooks. In early July, CKBK unveiled a Kickstarter campaign in anticipation of its commercial launch later this fall.

CKBK has raised more than $55,000 (surpassing its $25,000 goal), with more than 5,000 people signing up for the service's wait list. Kickstarter pledgers of more than $59 will gain access to the service in September as "Founder Subscribers," and Cockerill anticipates the broad commercial launch in October or November.

Like Spotify, for a fixed monthly fee ($8.99 in the U.S.), users can browse CKBKs collection of more than 500 cookbooks, and 100,000 recipes, which Cockerill said was just a starting point. We have a huge pipeline of content that we will add to the service as it grows, he said. He and Arumugam serve as the founders, with Croft stepping back from day-to-day involvement. Cockerill leads the technical side of the business from London, while New York-based Arumugam heads up editorial.

Cockerill describes himself as someone with a combined love of food, technology and science. After attaining a PhD in biology, he left academia in 1995 to cofound BioMed Central, an open access scientific publishing model, which is now a part of SpringerNature. He left Springer in 2014, and felt there was a similar opportunity in the world of food. Print cookbooks continued to be a successful area of trade publishing in print, but no one had yet taken the opportunity to make the best cookbook content radically more useful and accessible by bringing it together online with a flat monthly subscription fee, said Cockerill. This was simply crying out to be done.

Authors on the CKBK platform include Tyler Florence, Rose Levy Beranbaum, and the duo behind Thug Kitchen. The platform is designed not just for accessing cookbooks by famous names, but, with extensive crosslinks and recommendations users can fall down a rabbit hole to discover the best culinary content, said Cockerill. Extra material includes reference content like On Food and Cooking, the Oxford Companions to both food and wine, and Auguste Escoffiers Laide Memoire Culinaire. Cockerill also turned to the estates of legendary culinary figures, like MFK Fisher and Marcella Hazan, to secure rights for content. "This has required extensive detective work on a book-by-book basis, but the end result is that we have build up an enviable library of 'lost classics' to complement the contemporary works licensed from publishers," said Cockerill.

CKBK has struck licensing deals with major publishers, including Simon & Schuster, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Workman, and Rodale, many of whom are among the beta testers of the service. New agreements are being signed on an ongoing basis, according to Cockerill. The Kickstarter has triggered a flood of new licensing inquiries from publishers, in fact, he said. We certainly get the sense that publishers are recognizing this to be a model whose time has come.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Rose Levy Beranbaum's name.
In a deal that unites two illustrated book publishers, Insight Editions has acquired Weldon Owen from Bonnier Publishing USA for an undisclosed price.

Weldon Owen was first acquired by Bonnier Publishing USA parent company, Swedens Bonnier AB, in 2006. In August 2016, the company was made incorporated into the newly formed Bonnier Publishing USA as part of an effort to grow the U.S. operation into a $100 million business. Other parts of Bonnier Publishing USA include the childrens book publisher Little Bee Books and Bluestreak Books. The latter, a gift publisher, will move to Insight Editions with Weldon Owen where Bluestreak's current list will be released. At present there are no plans to add new titles.

With the sale, Weldon Owen International will become a subsidiary of Insight Editions. The alliance of our two companies provides an ideal synergy, said Raoul Goff, Insights founder and CEO, in a statement. Goff noted that Weldon Owens lines of cookbooks, lifestyle, childrens reference and educational titles are a wonderful fit with Insights product offering.

Roger Shaw will remain president and publisher of Weldon Owen and work with CEO Michael Madden, who is moving over from Insight Editions. In addition, John Owen, who co-founded Weldon Owen with Kevin Weldon in 1984, will return to the company with responsibility for the childrens division. Owen said he is "looking forward to helping Weldon Owen return to its roots by focusing on the children's educational category which has always been a particular passion of min."

Under Insight Editions, Weldon Owen will sharpen its focus in the areas of co-edition publishing, packaging, and custom publishing. It will also continue, selectively, to publish titles for its own imprint. The company's distributor will remain Simon & Schuster.

This article has been updated to clarify the future of Bluestreak.
The African American Book Expo comes to Los Angeles County this weekend, importing an indie publishing phenomenon to the West Coast. The Expo, which brings readers of African-American books together with publishers and authors, is set for Saturday, August 18, at the SOL Venue, an event space in Carson, Calif.

Author and publisher Myss Shan launched the first Expo in May 2017 at a recreation center in her hometown of Dallas. The organizers packed 40 entrepreneurial indie publishers and authors into a single gymnasium, and an estimated 1,000 readers attended the free event.

One year later, more than 25 authors signed up to exhibit at the New York edition of the Expo, an event held at The Tillary Hotel in downtown Brooklyn. Shan estimates that around 1,500 people passed through the doors of the April event. We did it mixer style, said Shan. We had author tables set up on the hotel rooftop. We had drinks and food. There were no speeches or anything like that. People were getting to know each other, and then you had the authors pitching their books.

Brooklyn-based songwriter and author L. Joevon paid to promote his novel, Seeds In The Concrete, at the Brooklyn Expo. He sold around 50 books, and estimates he met at least 1,000 new readers over the course of the afternoon.

I was kind of shocked, he said. I met people from Virginia, Delaware, all throughout the East Coast. It was an intimate setting. It didnt feel like a book expo, it felt more like a networking event. It was people getting to know us authors, with food and wine. I met a lot of African-American literature and independent authors pitching their projects.

In all, Shan has hosted four African American Book Expos: one in Texas, one in Maryland, and two in New York. Readers and bloggers get into each event for free, but authors and publishers pay for spaces. An author vendor table costs $175 and a publisher table costs $300.

Before launching her career as a publisher, Shan was an author of urban fiction novels. I had a really big fan base, and people would ask me for publishing tips, Shan said. So I put accepting submissions in the back of my books, and all of a sudden I got a flow of manuscripts in my inbox.

Shes worked as a publisher for four years, building one of the more influential companies in her favorite genres: African-American Urban Fiction, Romance, and Street Literature Books. Her indie press, Shan Presents, now counts 80 authors, four editors, and around 500 different titles.

Shan already has plans to host another Expo in Brooklyn next year, and hopes to expand to South Carolina and Philadelphia as well.

After a successful experience in Brooklyn, Joevon has already purchased a spot at the this weekend's Expo. He says the cross-country trip will be worth it. I make my money on the streets of Brooklyn and New York, but I need to go to California, he said, explaining why he chose to make his first trek to the West Coast Expo. Even though Im making a living off the book, I have to figure out a way to reach the masses. Its exposure. Getting your book in the right hands means something, he said.
Kenya is set to be treated to a rare twin migration of two of the most spectacular wild animals, set to leave billions behind its tracks and attract millions of tourists.

Kenya is set to witness the annual spectacular wildebeest migration and the rare humpback whale migration all being eagerly awaited.

According to Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Najib Balala the country is expecting over 1.7 million tourists in the three-month wildebeest and humpback whale migration, the highlight of the current tourists season.

It is a major tourist boom for us, we have about 800,000 wildebeest already in the Mara and the humpback whales swimming to our coasts, Said Balala at the Mara Serena lodge in the heart of the Maasai Mara during a promotional tour.

The whale migration will see whales swimming from North Antarctica to the Kenyan coast of Watamu while the wildebeest will cross from Serengeti National Park, Tanzania to Masai Mara game reserve, Kenya attracting tourists from all over the world.

Each year, humpback whales are first sighted along the coast of East Africa in early June as they make their annual migration north from Antarctica.

It is believed that they travel to warm tropical inner reefs for protection to enable them to breed and give birth to their calves, which remain with the mothers for about two years, until weaned. They then make the return journey in October, swimming over 4,000km to the cold food-rich seas of Antarctica, their main feeding area.

Also read: 11 places in Kenya where you can never miss a chance to spot the endangered black rhino

Already hotels are doing brisk businesses with booking currently standing at 98 percent.

Here at the Mara hotels and camps are fully booked, tourists are here to witness the rare phenomenon. Kenya is now a safe destination and the sector is now and the sector is now at 18 percent in growth, we are projecting it to get to 50 per cent in the next five years Said Balala.

Taunted as the eighth wonder of the world, over a million wildebeests and about 200,000 zebras and gazelles cross the border of Kenya and Tanzania for a four month stay (July-October) in the savannah of this national reserve.

The migration was expected to begin two weeks ago but delayed.
This is not the first time the Mayor has given the Key to the City of Worcester to a Ghanaian celebrity as celebrated musicians like Shatta Wale, Okyeame Kwame and Actor Abraham Attah have all been given the Key during their respective visits to the City

The 'Asansa Akroma' crooner was given the key on Sunday during his performance at this years Amakye Dede US Tour for his contribution and excellence in the creative arts industry.

The tour which commenced on August 12, is expected to have Amakye Dede together with his Apollo High Kings Band thrill Ghanaian and US music fans with world-class performances in over 10 cities in America(USA.)
Speaking at a press conference to inaugurate the Tax Dialogue Initiative Tuesday, Mr Ofori-Atta said the failure of 7 local banks must be blamed on individuals who stole depositors funds for their personal use.

I think as a nation, we are really soft about enforcement of laws and hopefully what we are going to do in the banking sector, everybody will begin to realize that those periods are gone, and if I am going to have to spend 5.6 billion to bail out the banking system because I have to protect depositors, the question is not one of a banking failure.

I need to be able to tell you that that managing director or that shareholder stole that money and it has to be very upfront because thats 5 billion that Im using as opposed to School Feeding, maternal issues, and the issue of sentiments are out of it. It is not a bank failure. It is individuals who have done something to bring us to this compromising position and I think it is that same sense of social justice that we should bring to bear in the tax administration system.

The licenses of 5 banks were revoked recently by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr Ernest Addison.

The banks are Sovereign bank, Beige Bank, Construction Bank, Royal Bank and uniBank.

READ ALSO: I pray for the Capital Bank Staff who lost their job

Meanwhile, in 2017 UT and Capital Banks collapsed first. The 2 banks were taken over by GCB on the instructions of the Bank of Ghana.
Speaking at the launch of the Youth in Afforestation Programme, on Monday, 13th August, 2018, at Jubilee Park, Kumasi, President Akufo-Addo stated that the launch of the programme is in line with the NPPs 2016 manifesto commitment of reforestation, forest rehabilitation and forest protection activities.

"That is why, today, we are deploying an army of twenty thousand young men and women who are going to help restore our degraded forests. The Programme, which has an initial two-year life span, will be extended based on satisfactory results," he said.

President Akufo-Addo was, nonetheless, confident that the initial phase of the Programme will be a success, and indicated that Government has already begun preparations for the second and subsequent phases of the programme.

With some sixty thousand applications received by the Forestry Commission for employment, and with only twenty thousand recruited, President Akufo-Addo assured that all hope is not lost for the forty thousand unsuccessful applicants.

"I am engaging with the Minister for Finance to seek additional funds to support this programme, so that these remaining applicants can be recruited. The Forestry Commission is also examining actively how it can also use some of its internally generated funds to support the programme," he said.

President Akufo-Addo reiterated the commitment of his Government to rolling out policy initiatives which will create jobs for the teeming masses of Ghanaian youth.

He noted further that the importance of the Youth in Afforestation Programme should not be lost on anyone, as "what we make of our natural resources would be what determines our existence."

READ ALSO: Anas escapes death in Malawi during latest undercover expose

The President reaffirmed that his Government is in full support of every action that prevents forest degradation and deforestation, and also increased the countrys forest cover, citing the fight against galamsey as a case in point.

"It is my hope that, in the next ten years, God willing, Ghana will be green again, as all trees, which are being planted today, will be nurtured to grow and increase the forest cover, and help us also to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation," he said.
The Pastor has come under the spotlight in the past week, following reports that he was aware about a GHc610 million liquidity support from the Bank of Ghana which was wrongly diverted into other businesses.

In a statement, the preacher said he was Board Chairman of the Capital Bank in a non-executive role.

He explained that I was therefore not involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the Bank.

Read the full statement below:

Press Release from Pastor Mensa Otabil

Re: Capital Bank And Related Matters

Greetings!

1. I have observed with concern, the ongoing media discussions regarding developments in the Banking Sector and my role either directly or indirectly.

2. I accepted to be Board Chairman of Capital Bank in a bid to help strengthen a promising Ghanaian enterprise that had potential but also challenges. I was excited about the prospects of a young man from a disadvantaged background who was daring to create opportunities and employment.

3. My position was a non-executive role. I was therefore not involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the Bank.

4. In the course of time, some decisions made turned out well while some did not turn out as well as had been anticipated. As far as I can tell, everything was done with the best of intentions and the interest of various stakeholders in mind.

5. My foremost concern, as has been the case over the past year, is for the well-being of those who lost their jobs and those who may have been adversely affected in any way as a result of these developments. My heart goes out to them and to their dependents. I continue to pray for Gods guidance and sustenance as they navigate the course of their lives.

6. Since the takeover of the bank exactly a year ago today, various mandated state institutions have been investigating and working to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of what happened, why it happened and who was responsible for what. I have been invited by EOCO and I have submitted myself to their processes and answered all their questions faithfully.

7. For some time now, many discussion platforms have made varied references to me and to my perceived role. Some have reached out to me for clarications regarding issues that have been raised. I have preferred not to respond in the public domain, not as an admission of guilt, but out of respect for the due process and the ongoing investigations.

8. Notwithstanding some unforeseen outcomes, I remain resolute in my belief in the Ghanaian and African entrepreneurial spirit. I will therefore continue to lend my support and mentorship to inspire others who dare to dream and work towards the promise of Africas growth and transformation.

9. Meanwhile, as a believer in the rule of law, I will continue to cooperate with the mandated institutions of state as they complete their investigations. I am condent that in the process, the national interest and the rights of all parties involved will be protected.

Shalom, peace and life to you.
| BY Ricki Green |

London International Awards (LIA), an international Awards Show that believes in creative excellence and perpetuating the spirit of global creativity, has today announced it is partnering with McCann Health, one of the worlds most creatively awarded global health communications networks, to boost the promotion of its Gorilla Doctors creative competition. The entry deadline has been extended to the new date of September 7th.

The Gorilla Doctors are dedicated to conserving Wild Mountain and Eastern Lowland gorillas through life-saving veterinary medicine and a One Health approach. This international team of veterinarians is the only group providing these critically endangered animals with direct, hands-on care in the wild.

Says Aussie expat June Laffey, chief creative officer, McCann Health New York: Were incredibly proud to partner with LIA to help promote the Gorilla Doctors competition and encourage more members of the global creative community to get involved in this worthy cause. Helping these doctors maintain a thriving gorilla population impacts more than the individual gorillas: it also benefits the local communities, other wildlife, and the ecosystems they share.

Says Marcia Goddard, chief creative officer, McCann Health New Jersey and president of the 2018 LIA Medical Jury: Weve also galvanized the McCann Health global creative community to come up with a powerful creative idea to help raise awareness of the great work these doctors are doing and motivate more people to support them as well.

Says Barbara Levy, president of LIA: It is wonderful that the Gorilla Doctors are getting such positive support from the creative community. I am confident we will see amazing ideas from all over the world to help protect and preserve a species that shares so much of our human DNA. In helping these mountains gorillas, we are helping mankind.

There is no fee to enter. All entries must be submitted by September 7th, 2018

The Prize: The winning individual or team will win an Ecotour donated by Terra Incognito Ecotours for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to visit Rwanda, home to the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas. In addition, the team will be invited to participate at LIA 2019 in Las Vegas. The prize will be awarded to two person maximum.

All entries received will be judged on site during the London International Awards judging and Creative LIAisons program in Las Vegas on October 6th.

To learn more about Gorilla Doctors and their global campaign to identify the emergence of new infectious diseases in wildlife that could pose a major threat to human health visit: http://www.gorilladoctors.org/.
According to her, government has found properties of the businessman which can be used to defray the debt he owes the State.

Mr. Woyome has been involved in a legal tussle with the state for some years, after being illegally paid 51 million for helping Ghana raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.

However, after being ordered by a court to refund the money, the businessman has moved to pay 4.6 million of the debt he owes the State.

But the Attorney General insists the State will not relent until Mr. Woyome refunds the 46.6 million which he still owes.

Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, Gloria Akuffo said the issue at hand is not of politics, but of justice.

She added that government has found properties of the businessman which could be sold offset the debt he owes the state.

People should know that this is not about politicsit is about justice. The court has made a decision that he is liable to pay an amount to the state which he is resisting. Natural justice requires that he is heard which is what is going on, the Attorney General said.
Few days after the swearing-in of Nana Addo as the President, an increase cases of political vigilantism was widely heard due to the appointment of some members of the party into some key positions.

It all started with the hijacking and dragging out of office an appointed Ashanti Regional Security coordinator by an NPP vigilante group which caused confusion and destruction in court when they were arranged for court proceedings.

READ MORE: Kandahar Boys of NPP chase out CEO of Tamale Hospital

Some days later, a police man was killed along Tema motor way and a number of such have happened.

The big question to be asked: WHAT IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF POLITICAL VIGILANTISM?

People who have no jobs hide behind vigilante groups to perpetrate heinous crimes in the country because those groups get the backing and protection of the political elite.

About 30 angry youth affiliated to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) besieged the NADMO office on Wednesday.

When they attempted to break into the Regional Directors office, the group was initially prevented by his aide but they eventually overpowered him.

Five people believed to have masterminded the attack were subsequently arrested and hauled in court.

The Wa circuit court presided over by Justice Baah Forson Agyepong in February, 2018 remanded the five persons into police custody.

Meanwhile, staff of NADMO in the region who were on strike in protest of the attack have subsequently called off the action.

Some of the vigilante groups are Kandahar Boys, Delta Force, Invincible Force and Bolga Bull dogs.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has stated that the recent unrest in some regions by some youth of the NPP will not in any way hinder government's commitment to ensure that the Rule of Law is respected throughout the country.

He said the application of the laws of the land will occur, in the words of the judicial oath, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without recourse to the political, religious or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land.

According to him, "when you fall foul of the law, you will be dealt with accordingly, and the law enforcement agencies, including the Judiciary, must ensure this is done."

Just yesterday, Monday, August 13, Kandahar Boys, locked up the offices of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr David Zaawumya Akolbila, on allegations that he was incompetent.

Since Dr Akolbila was not in the office when the group arrived, the members chased out his secretary, after which they locked up the offices and took the keys with them.

Moments after the Kandahar Boys had left the scene, some other young men, also said to be sympathisers of the NPP, stormed the facility purportedly to stop the Kandahar Boys from carrying out their threat of forcing Dr Akolbila to resign as the CEO of the teaching hospital.
He said the NPP is worse than the world acclaimed terrorist organisation.

This is not a President you can trust because already he has not been able to provide for his promises and it makes it difficult for anyone to trust him", he said.

He said I will rather join Al-Qaeda than the NPP.

President Akufo-Addo on his 5-day tour of the Ashanti Region declared that his NPP government is fulfilling most of the promises they made to Ghanaians.
And one of the appointees that got an elevation was the Deputy Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

Akufo-Addo replaced his trusted aide Mustapha Hamid with Oppong Nkrumah as the Information Minister. And for many who have keenly followed the career of the broadcast journalist turned politician, its not surprising.

Up stepped Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Then unknown in the Ghanaian media scene, Kojo sat in for the Boss Player with perfection.

Nkrumah joined the Kokomlemle based Joy FM from British American Tobacco the same year Komla Dumor exited. Undaunted by the huge shoes he had to fill, the soft spoken Oppong Nkrumah made the Joy Super Morning Show his.

Kojo kept Accra glued to the dial 99.7 every morning till he bowed out of Joy FM in 2014 to pursue other interests.

Graduating with an MBA in Marketing from the University of Ghana in 2012, he topped it up by obtaining a LLB from the GIMPA School of Law in 2014.

While away from the consul at Joy, Kojo joined a private equity firm, West Brownstone Capital while juggling it with his studies.

As envisaged by many due to his eloquence, Oppong Nkrumah finally announced that he will be contesting as a Member of Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Ofoase-Ayirebi Constituency in the Eastern Region in 2015.

Kojo was called to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 2016 and he joined Kulendi, Attafuah and Amponsah @ Law.

During the 2016 general elections, Oppong Nkrumah won the Ofoase-Ayirebi seat with a majority to gain entry into the Ghanaian Parliament.

Despite him being a rookie in the law making house, he has been impactful and serves on the Finance and Constitutional Committees in Parliament.

His elevation to Minister of Information has been greeted with a lot of optimism by many political pundits. His suave, poise, and calm nature is best suited for such a sensitive position in government; many of his backers have said.

Outgoing Minsiter Mustapha Hamid had this to say about his successor, "I, with the acceptance of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made Kojo Oppong Nkrumah my deputy. The President was gracious to me, when he asked me to be minister for Information, he was gracious to me by saying, I want you to nominate somebody who shall be your deputy, and I said to him that, I want Kojo, first of all because, I had developed a relationship with Kojo over the years, I trusted his expertise in this area and experience and when I suggested it to the President, the President said you have it."

"So quite frankly, of the three deputies, he is the only one that I personally had a hand in choosing, I personally brought to the place and Kojo knows that. He just told me a week ago that my brother, I think that this time, it is time for you to make the public know, because people say all sorts of things in the public space, that they don't know what they are talking about, so I brought him, and I have absolute confidence in him, he added.
On Monday, members of a vigilante group, the 'Kandahar Boys', chased out the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region.

The group was also alleged to have attacked clients who had visited the hospital, before locking up the office of the hospitals CEO.

The vigilante group accused the CEO, Dr. David Zaawumya Kolbila, of being incompetent and misused hospital funds.

They alleged that they were instrumental in his appointment as the CEO but has since ignored them.

The keys to Mr. Kolbilas office are reportedly still in possession of the vigilante group, almost 24 hours after the incident.

However, the Police has revealed steps to re-open the administrative offices of the Tamale Hospital, with or without the keys.

In an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, the Northern Region Police PRO, ASP Mohammed Tanko, said the Police is working to have the offices opened for work to continue on Tuesday.

ASP Mohammed Tanko said they got to the scene after the incident had happened and were unable to make an arrest.
He is the only person who currently holds the record as having served both as the Minority Leader, during the Fourth Parliament, and the Majority Leader, during the Fifth Parliament.

He is currently the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

Bagbin also served in various ministerial capacities, including helmsman at the Health Ministry under late President Atta Mills.

He was the Minister for Health until February 2013 when Sherry Ayittey took over the position.

He is also the MP for Nadowli Kaleo in the Upper West region.

Bagbin announced his intentions to run for president in 2008 on the NDC ticket, but he never stood for the primaries.

He became the Majority leader in parliament in 2009. Following a cabinet reshuffle in January 2010, he was appointed Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing by Atta Mills.

He has also been confirmed as Majority leader of Parliament under President Mahama's tenure of office, he succeeded Dr Benjamin Kunbuor who was appointed as the Minister of Defense.

Some organisers of the NDC are making a special request to the echelon of the party to allow Alban Bagbin, to go unopposed for the party's approaching presidential primaries.
Mr Woyome was paid 51 million for helping Ghana raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.

However, an Auditor General's report released in 2010 said the amount was paid illegally to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) financier.

Then Attorney General Martin Amidu had Woyome arrested and charged for causing financial loss to the state. Two others, including Nerquaye Tetteh, the chief state attorney were also arrested.

Whilst prosecuting the case, Martin Amidu was sacked from government under mysterious circumstances with Marietta Brew Hammond appointed to take his place.

Amidu, however, proceeded to the Supreme Court as a private citizen and managed to retrieve for the state millions of cedis said to have been paid illegally to Waterville.

In governments bid to retrieve the rest of the money, it has been trying to trace properties of Mr Woyome. The court has also ordered Mr Woyome to present himself in court for cross-examination to show his properties.

Mr Woyome took the matter to African Human and Peoples Right Court in Arusha [Tanzania] that his rights were being violated.

Monies collected or recovered from the garnisheed order 167,565.62 and monies paid as a result of settlement is 4.5 million so the two sum up to the 4.667.566.62 million, The Controller and Accountant General disclosed to the Committee.

But the current Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo recently said government is resolved in retrieving the money from Woyome.

She said that she is expecting that in October, government will continue the interrogation of Mr Woyome to ensure that he pays the money.

People should know that this is not about politicsit is about justice. The court has made a decision that he is liable to pay an amount to the state which he is resisting. Natural justice requires that he is heard which is what is going on", she said.

I can say that we are not relenting on our efforts to retrieve the money and I am hopeful that the time will come to retrieve the moneyeven legal tussles have their ends", he added.
WorldRemit, a digital money transfer service, has signed a partnership with Safaricom to enable instant cross-border money transfers to 28.6 million M-PESA mobile money accounts in Kenya.

The direct partnership marks the culmination of years of rapidly growing volumes of international money transfers to M-PESA accounts by WorldRemit users and supports the companys plan to serve 10 million customers connected to emerging markets by 2020.

Our direct integration with Safaricom comes as both companies recognise the impressive growth in international remittances to M-PESA accounts and WorldRemits leading position in sending to mobile money.

Our partnership will enable us to work even more closely to serve customers abroad and back home in Kenya, offering its 3 million strong diaspora access to our best in class money transfer experience. Sharon Karuga Kinyanjui, Head of East & Central Africa at WorldRemit said.

Through WorldRemit, Kenyans abroad can now send money to Kenya through bank deposit, cash pickup, mobile money transfer and as airtime.

The global digital money transfer service founded by entrepreneur Ismail Ahmed in 2010, already works with financial partners such as KCB Bank, Barclays, Equity Bank, Standard Chartered, National Bank, Co-operative Bank, Upesi Money Transfer, DTB Bank and now Safaricom.

Every day, M-PESA empowers more than 28.6 million customers with diverse financial capabilities to send and receive money, and to make seamless payments. Partnerships have been the cornerstone of this transformation and we are glad to have WorldRemit as a key partner to provide our customers with a world-class remittance experience. Sitoyo Lopokoyit, Director of Financial Services at Safaricom added.

With a diaspora of half a million living in the US, UK and France, remittances are playing an increasingly important role in Kenyas economy.

A decade ago, Kenyans abroad sent home $645 million. Today, the World Bank now estimates that Kenya receives nearly $2 billion in remittances annually  a nearly 200% increase in ten years.

Kenyans for instance sent home a record Sh26.8 billion ($266.2 million) in June 2018 compared to Sh25.5 billion ($253.7 million) they sent in May.

Kenya is currently the 4th largest remittance recipient in Africa and, according to the Central Bank of Kenya diaspora remittances have overtaken revenue from tea, coffee, and tourism as the top foreign exchange earner.

WorldRemit customers currently make over a million money transfers to Kenya each year.
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the country's Acting President ordered the overhauling of the security operatives following persistent public complaints.

Before now, Nigerians across social media have called for an end of the security operatives through #EndSARS campaign and organised various rallies and protest against the police unit.

Some of the reasons for the call include the non-identification of the SARS operatives, mode of dressings and lack of respect for law and human rights by the operatives during raids.

In a statement released on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, Laolu Akande, media aide to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, stated that all uniform operatives should bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.

"Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more."

What the Police chief should do

- Ensure that all operatives in the merging Unity conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and due regards to international Humanitarian law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.

- The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.
The two-day event is scheduled to hold at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial nerve centre, between August 23 and 24, 2018.

The event will feature delegates from various African countries who will engage in discussions on efforts to put the continent on the path of economic growth.

African Liberty Forum speakers

Dr George Ayittey of the Free Africa Foundation will lead discussions around the Importance of Free Trade and Rule of Law in Africa, among other keynote international economists, development and policy experts.

Also, a foremost entrepreneur, June Arunga Kimani of Usafi Comfort will lead conversations on Driving growth through entrepreneurship.

Other speakers include Garreth Bloor of the South African Institute of Race Relations, John Socrates Mugabi of Action for Liberty and Economic Development, a Uganda-based think tank, Aimable Manirakiza, Executive Director of Centre for Development and Enterprises Great Lakes, among many others.

Nigerias Olumide Makanjuola of The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) and Bishop Chukwuemeka Ezeugo of the Global African Christians for Liberty Initiative (GACLI) will lead conversations on Living Together.

A statement by the organisers said the event will engage in extensive discussion on private property rights, free markets and trade barriers, economic migration, institutional corruption and improving transparency. Participants, the organisers said, would have opportunities to contribute to conversations on geared towards formulating economic policies that will drive prosperity and proffer local solutions developmental challenges facing the continent.

The forum will also feature dialogues on institutional progress, government accountability, student-led movements and careers in advancing freedom across the continent. Participants expected at the event include top businessmen, investors, policy experts, entrepreneurs and gender equality rights activists on the continent.

Atlas Network is a nonprofit organisation that strengthens freedom movement around the globe by connecting more than 450 independent partners in over 95 countries that share the vision of a free, prosperous and peaceful world.
| BY Lynchy |

Kelloggs Southeast Asia launched a heart-warming social experiment to celebrate hard-working moms and their kids appreciation for them, for Mothers Day in Thailand on Sunday 12th August. The video has already garnered some 1.3 million Facebook views via the Kelloggs Thailand page and KOLs.

Based on research conducted by Kelloggs, it became apparent that many parents, especially mothers, are too busy to enjoy breakfast in the morning. And with women comprising almost half of the countrys overall workforce, Thailand has the highest percentage of working women in the region.

We wanted to not only celebrate the number of amazing women who juggle both motherhood and career, but also to encourage families to find and take the time to have breakfast together, explains Anoop Abraham Managing Director, South East Asia. For over 100 years Kelloggs cereals have been an integral part of peoples morning routines all over the world and we want family breakfast to be part of daily life in Thailand. Sharing breakfast together not only leads to a better day overall but also helps nourish your childs greatness.

Gaurav Lalwani, General Manager and Regional Business Director, J. Walter Thompson Singapore said, We partnered with Kelloggs to create a social experiment, prompting people to the realization that missing breakfast with Mom means missing out on fun time with her. And by reminding families of this, we aim to remind everyone that breakfast time is quality time.

Farrokh Madon, Chief Creative Partner, J. Walter Thompson Singapore added, We wanted to create not just a film, but a movement. Mothers Day should signal not just one day when we make moms feel good, but a day from which mums begin to enjoy every morning with their kids.

The video shows a group of young children answering a range of questions about their moms jobs, favourite animals and pastimes  and then What does your mom like to eat for breakfast? resulting in the realization that their mothers are usually too busy to enjoy breakfast with the family. Their working moms are then paged to a meeting room where a Mothers Day surprise breakfast awaits them, and their children pledge to help out more in the mornings, to free up more time for family breakfast.

Credits 

Gaurav Lalwani  General Manager & Regional Business Director

Farrokh Madon  Chief Creative Partner

Gerri Hamill  Head of Broadcast

Malati Afridi  Senior Planning Director

Heeru Kishnani  Regional Account Director

Vishant Tejwani  Senior Producer

Minzie Liyu  Creative Director (Art)

Aarti Nichlani  Creative Director (Copy)

Apeksha Joshi  Senior Account Manager

Anna Choi  Account Manager

Hasheer Aslam  Junior Art Director

Sally Chua  Account Executive

Anoop Abraham  Managing Director, South East Asia, Kelloggs Company

Su Yin Seah  Marketing Director, South East Asia, Kelloggs Company
In a statement released on Monday, August 13, 2018, NNPC said the project, Assa North and Ohaji South gas development scheme, is one of the seven critical gas development projects that will boost gas production and infrastructure development.

Maikanti Baru, NNPC GMD, said the project was being promoted by the corporation and Seplat to develop, build, operate and maintain the Assa North-Ohaji South (ANOH) Gas Processing Plant, with an initial capacity of 300 million standard cubic feet per day in Imo, Southeastern Nigeria.

He said the NNPC will do everything possible to ensure that the project was successfully delivered.

Baru urged the gas processing company to work hard and deliver the project on schedule, within budget and to specification.

On his part, Austin Avuru, the Chief Operating Officer of Seplat, described the ANOH Gas Processing Plant as a landmark project which captures the essence of the gas infrastructure development initiative of the Federal Government as encapsulated in the 7 Big Wins and 12 Business Focus Areas programmes.

He expressed confidence that AGPC would deliver the project within the next 18 months and achieve its objective of being a key gas supplier to both the domestic and export market.

Here are the agreements signed for the medium-term gas supply

1. AGPC Shareholders Agreement between AGPC, NGPTC and Seplat

2. AGPC Share Subscription Agreement between AGPC, NGPTC and Seplat

3. Wet Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement between, NNPC, Seplat and AGPC

4. Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement between AGPC and Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC)

5. Gas Marketing Agreement between AGPC and NGMC

The Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC) and the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company are all gas and power subsidiaries of the NNPC.
Ayade made the announcement at the closing ceremony for the 2018 `Batch B Orientation Course.

Ayade made the announcement at the at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Obubra Local Government Area during the closing ceremony for the 2018 `Batch B Orientation Course on Monday, August 13, 2018.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Asu Okang, the governor said that the upward review of the corpers allowance became necessary following the high cost of goods and services in the country.

ALSO READ: NYSC promises to give priority to corps members welfare

He said, ''dear corps members, I must salute you for the successful completion of your three weeks orientation programme which I believe was interesting.

I am happy to announce to all of you that we have increased your monthly allowance from N3,100 to N5,000 starting from your batch,

The governor also said the corps members are trustees of the state adding that their contributions in Cross Rivers will not go unnoticed.

He said, since the creation of Cross River, the largest contributor to the socio-economic development of the state is the NYSC.

This is evident in the kind of Community Development Services provided by members of the corps across the state.

While we continue to appreciate your predecessors for making a historical landmark in the state, I charge you to outshine their legacies by going the extra mile towards supporting the dream of a new Cross River.

We are also confident that as the cloud of the next general elections begins to gather, your neutrality will help in giving the guarantee for free, fair and credible elections, he said.

NYSC DG promises to ensure FG increase allawee

Meanwhile, Corps members across the country are hoping that the Federal Government will increase their allowance soon.

Following the alleged increment in corps members allowance which the NYSC described as a rumour, the scheme has promised to prioritize the corps members welfare.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-General Suleiman Kazaure made the promise in Ibadan on Thursday, August 9, 2018.
The protesting students according to Daily Trust started the protest from their school premises to Ibrahim Taiwo road, Unity area and to Government House.

Accompanied by men of the Department of State Security, the students carried placards chanting aluta songs asking the government to pay their lecturers salaries.

ALSO READ: ABU students launch campaign against fake news

The protests, however, led to a crisis as men of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force reportedly released tear gas on the protesting students which made the students retaliate by throwing stones at the policemen.

Abia polytechnic students protest on behalf of their lecturers

Similarly, a week after striking lecturers at Abia State Polytechnic disrupted matriculation ceremony to protest the nonpayment of their 11 months salary arrears, the polytechnic students have joined in the protest in support of their lecturers.
In a since-deleted post, the voluptuous actress revealed how she has been keeping herself busy sexually for a year now on her Instagram page.

"Some of you all wonder how Ive been single over a year well thats the secret You all my s3xy dildo it satisfies me than 99.9% of the guys Ive ever dated," the post read. She has however deleted the post from her page.

Princess Shyngle is one celebrity who is always in the news for making controversial statements. About a week ago, she took on the controversial topic of having sex on the first day which she said doesn't make the person cheap.

Princess Shyngle says sex on a 1st date doesn't make you cheap

Ghana-based Gambian actress/ model, Princess Shyngle, has asserted that she doesn't see any big deal about having sex on the first date. To the actress, it is just relationship interview and if youre called back then you got the job.

Princess Shyngle made this assertion on Instagram as a caption to a photo she shared. The actress looked entirely voluptuous wearing a body-hugging dress with a bump bag across her slender waist.
In a statement released by the group director Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, August 13, the group admits to having sent a petition to the NBC to place ban on the song.

We asked Falz to withdraw the video or we would sue him.

Instead of showing remorse he dared us. We knew he could delay the court case for years because he is a lawyer and he would use every trick in the books to frustrate us. That was why he was boasting.

Therefore, instead of going to court, we decided to ambush him by sending a petition to the video board. This week, the NBC banned the video and others like it.

He should be the one to go to court now if he likes. Let him go and show how brilliant he is in court.

He and his fans laughed at us when we complained about his provocative and vulgar video. But there is no doubt that he who laughs last laughs best. It is hoped that Nigerian artistes will borrow a leaf from this episode.

MURIC used Fela Kutis activism as a point of reference, saying the Afrobeat progenitor never attacked any religion.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti used his songs to fight military dictatorship and other ills in the Nigerian society, but he never attacked Muslims or Christians.

Neither did he incite Nigerians against any ethnic group. He criticised religious groups but never in a vulgar manner and he never exposed Muslims or Christians to ridicule.

MURIC said the video for Falzs This is Nigeria could have resulted in a religious crisis but they handled it intellectually, adding that Nigerians do not appreciate their efforts.

This is Nigeria should remain banned until the provocative and vulgar scenes are removed. The video can still go on air with slight modifications, the group said.

Not every Nigerian is a criminal. As we have the Evans, so do we have the Oloyedes, the Ahmadu Alis, the Femi Falanas and the Sowores. Even Falz himself is not a criminal.

Therefore Falz and other artistes should encourage the youth to emulate our heroes instead of pushing them to ape rogues. Finally, we commend NBC and the video censors board for acting swiftly. the group concluded.

Pulse have made attempt to reach Falz for comments but we are yet to get any response.

SERAP calls on NBC to lift ban on 'This is Nigeria'

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately lift the ban it placed on a radio station in Jos, Plateau state recently.

NBC had ordered a Jos based radio station, JayFM 101.9 to stop playing songs on its ban list that includes Falz's 'This is Nigeria' for vulgar lyrics as well as fine of N100,000.
In setting the record, Arla Foods organized the winning relay event with 650 people using Dano UHT milk to achieve this feat.

The event, which drew both government and non-governmental nutrition stakeholders, also featured a notable collection of celebrities featuring OC Ukeje, Omawumi, Lamide Akintobi, Eyinna Nwigwe, Mai Atafo, Lala Akindoju, Chuey Chu and Gbemi O.

Speaking at the official presentation of the certificate, Arla Foods Marketing Manager, Ifunanya Obiakor, lauded the efforts of the team who worked tirelessly to achieve the record event.

She described the record achievement as a testament to the fact that anything the mind conceives can be achieved despite contrary circumstances. According to her, The success of the project is largely attributed to a resilient & focused team that was undeterred by contrary circumstances. We believe this award speaks to the fact that the human mind can achieve whatever it conceives; all that is required is the inner strength to follow through with the vision despite hard times. This is what the Arla Dano brand aims to represent in Nigeria - to always strive to inspire & empower the Nigerian consumers.

Category Manager for the Milk Powder category, Nathaniel Adewusi, further highlighted the significance of the world record and how it resonates with the brands current priorities This record is a milestone for us as a brand that is always trying to connect more with our consumers. The record-breaking event was successfully executed in the face of multiple challenges and we see this as a pointer to the importance of resilience and inner strength in achieving goals."

"We know our consumers face similar challenges in the course of their day, so we want to be the brand that gives them the inspiration to push forward even when things seem difficult. We want them to draw strength from within to break barriers and achieve the impossible in their day to day lives He added.

With the current record, Arla Foods becomes the first dairy brand to successfully execute a Guinness World Record event in Nigeria.
The pair were filmed in a video which showed one of the crooks making a confession concerning how he operates with his partner.

A post on IG confirms that they were caught were trying to rob an old woman whose residence they entered with a fake identity.

We go around pretending to be NEPA staff and intimidate people by saying we want to cut their power supply. We do this just to extort them, one of the robbers was quoted in a statement.

Man may face the wrath of Allah for robbing cow seller who helped him

A 19-year-old man, Juli Umar, who once served under a cow seller fears the wrath of Allah after robbing his former master of money and other assets.

The police in Niger State confirmed yesterday the arrest of Umar and accomplices Adamu Amudu and Aliyu Isah who are both of the same age with him.

Punch News gathered that the trio operate around the Zaragi Maito Fulani Camp of the state.

According to Punch, the armed robbers "attacked their victim with cutlasses, single barrel gun and robbed him of N87,000, two sets of wrapper and a Tecno handset".

ALSO READ: Two lawyers beat up policemen to protect armed robbery suspects

Crime does not pay

Juli Umar who is reportedly the organizer of the attack regrets his action involving the duo of Amudu and Isah as the arrests now seem a blight on their future.

The primary suspect is also sorry for harming his former boss who helped and gave him a cow after serving him for six months.

I shouldnt have done what I did after all he did for me, Allah will punish me severely.

"My master did not in any way offended me and as such did not deserve this kind of treatment from his servant.

I have made the biggest mistake in my life, I am even sorry to have deceived Amudu into participating in this heinous crime that has ruined our lives, Umar shares his note of regret.

ALSO READ: These dangerous thieves are as deadly as Offa robbery suspects

Punch confirmed that the items used in the robbery has been seized by the police.
The deceased has been unconscious since he was apprehended on Sunday, August 5, 2018. He reportedly died at the Owo General Hospital despite efforts to save his life.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) confirms this.

Mr. Femi Joseph, a spokesperson for the police disclosed news of the kidnapper's death today.

The suspect died nine days after we arrested him; we thought he would be revived so that he could help us in our investigation. Unfortunately, he died yesterday (Monday).

This could be connected with the high intake of Tramadol which he took.

We are using this opportunity to further educate the public, especially parents, to monitor their wards and the kind of company they keep," says Joseph.

ALSO READ: Tramadol user goes mad in Lagos

The Ondo State Police Command had hoped on the recovery of the suspect to help with an investigation into the attempted abduction of a pharmacist who made for an exit door as soon as a gang of criminals arrived at his office.
The deceased Yulia was 18 years old before her passing. According to Yahoo News UK, she died from an ax attack in Chaykovsky, Russia.

Her killer Degirmendzhy has been apprehended by law enforcement agents. She was reportedly arrested at a train station while trying to catch a train to the city of Izhevsk located 36 miles away from her home.

Reports gathered that the mum and her daughter have been having issues relating to domestic violence few months into her alleged murder.

The investigation found that during the last three months, the suspect and the victim had been constantly in domestic conflicts.

The suspect said she committed the murder on the basis of personal dislike, says a statement which was given by a police spokesperson.

A 15-year jail term awaits Tatiana Degirmendzhy if found guilty of killing her daughter.

ALSO READ: Woman suspects murder after returning home to missing dog

Hungry man kills mum over choice of food

"An hungry man is an angry man". In Anambra State, Nigeria, a man is an example of this statement when he killed his mum over a choice of food.

It was a sad event for their family members on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, when the incident occurred.

The tragedy was preceded by an argument over the deceased decision to cook yam porridge against the killer's preference for pasta.

Punch News confirmed this from a relations who confirmed that the pair have been at each other's throats prior to the murder.

An argument ensued over the choice and the mother went on with the preparation of the yam porridge for breakfast.

But shortly after that, pandemonium ensued and when we rushed to know what happened, the man had killed the mother in the kitchen," a Family member told Punch.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  President Rodrigo Duterte will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits Israel next month, two years after his controversial remarks comparing his anti-drug campaign to the Holocaust.

In a statement Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Sept. 2 to 5 trip will be the first visit of a Philippine President to Israel since diplomatic ties were established in 1957.

"The President and Prime Minister Netanyahu are expected to discuss common concerns and ways of expanding cooperation in the areas of labor, tourism, trade, agriculture, counterterrorism, and security and law enforcement," the DFA statement read.

Israel supplies weapons to the Philippines, which is fighting communist rebels and Islamic militants.

Duterte will meet with his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin. He will be joined by a "business delegation" which will attend a forum.

"Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit," the statement added without elaborating.

Duterte will also meet members of the Filipino community in Israel, the DFA said.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing Tuesday that Duterte will fly to Jordan following his Israel visit.

"We want to promote ties with all peoples of the Middle East," Roque explained.

A trip to Kuwait in still in the works, Roque added.

The President's visit to Israel in May last year was cancelled when war broke out in Marawi City following a siege by militants aligned with the Islamic State group.

In September 2016, Duterte drew criticism from human rights groups after saying that just like Adolf Hitler's massacre of Jews during the Holocaust, he would be happy to slaughter millions of drug addicts in the Philippines.

He later apologized, saying he did not intend to "derogate the memory of the six million Jews murdered by Germans."
Dozens of pro-life activists rallied in front of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons offices on Monday to urge confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Members of the Pro-Life Court Coalition showed up at his offices in West Palm Beach in the morning and in Downtown Fort Myers in the afternoon for a press conference, all part of a swing that will take the group to Nelsons offices in Gainesville, Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Pensacola over the next few days.

The group was led by Jill Stanek, national campaign chair of the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) and Laurie Lee, the groups Florida state field director in a national drive to get Kavanaugh confirmed with the help of Democratic senators up for re-election this year, especially those they see as having poor records on voting.

The president has the right to pick Kavanaugh and the people of America elected Donald Trump by and large to elect judges that are constitutionally sound, Lee said. This is a chance for the Supreme Court to segue to constitutionalist judges and not make laws from the bench.

The press-conference had a rally feel to it as supporters booed when the names of Nelson, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and the radical abortion lobby came up and cheered for Trump, Kavanaugh and themselves, led on by Stanek.

A recent poll commissioned by the SBA List said 56 percent of Florida voters want Nelson to confirm Kavanaugh, and 54 percent believe abortion policy should be decided by the people of Florida through their elected officials, not the Supreme Court.

These are numbers Stanek jumped on.

Sen. Nelson has a choice to make. Will he stand with Florida voters who showed their trust in President Trump or will he cave to Chuck Schumer (boos), Nancy Pelosi (more boos) and the abortion lobby? Stanek said. This pick could tip the balance on the court about abortion.

Stanek said Democrats up for re-election, such as Nelson, are potentially amenable to backing Kavanaugh.

President Trump is doing the job the voters elected him to do. Were asking Sen. Nelson to do his job and confirm Judge Kavanaugh, Stanek said, adding the United States is one of seven nations that allows elective abortions after 20 weeks, which she said the Washington Post fact-checked as being true.

About three dozen supporters, most carrying signs, took part in the Fort Myers event, a fraction of the roughly 3,000 who showed up at Nelsons office Saturday for the Caloosahatchee Death March.

Lee said she isnt too worried that people here seem more preoccupied by the water quality as it is also a pro-life issue.

People value life and the water quality issues are a good segue to life, Lee said. People need water to sustain life. The life issue touches on every tenet of what people believe, Lee said. When people hear that Nelson voted for partial-birth abortions, they are shocked.

The Susan B. Anthony List is a non-profit pro-life political organization that seeks to reduce and ultimately end abortion in the U.S. by supporting anti-abortion politicians, primarily women, and enact pro-life policy.
Onche, who participated during the 2018 African Cultural Festival in Bern which showcased varieties of dishes, arts and craft exhibition as well as cultural display from the continent, said Nigerian delicacies are unbeatable.

Most of the Europeans who came to my pavilion ate the Jollof rice and bought take away because they enjoyed our food

She said she got comments like. This is so tasty and spicy. This tastes good! This smells so good. What spices did you put?

While speaking on the challenges food vendors faced , she decried the high cost of running a restaurant in Bern, saying that the cost of rent alone was a major shortcoming.

Also speaking, Mr Abdullahi Isah, organiser of the African Cultural Festival in Switzerland, tasked food vendors and restaurant owners on good presentation of African cuisines.

Isah in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN), said that if the presentation of African dishes met international standard , it would promote food tourism.

However, Isah who was a former Chairman of the Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation(NIDO)Switzerland, said that in the area of preservation , African food does not require much .

Unlike other continental dishes , our food have little or no preservatives, dishes are freshly made and eaten. Therefore preservation is not a challenge

Although some of the ingredients can not be locally sourced he added.

According to him, the annual festival is aimed at bringing the African diaspora together with Swiss people to foster relations between them and to promote integration.

Similarly thers who spoke to NAN expressed gratitude to the organisers for hosting the festival saying that it would further deepen relations between Swiss people and the African diaspora.
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While she was not the named dignitary on the note and we still await the day heroes of yesteryears like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti or Moremi or Dora Akunyili grace a Naira note, we should appreciate one who already has.

Ladi Kwali

Pottery is an African craft that children of the lower middle class to the lower class of Nigerian social class used to dabble in. Equally, it is a craft with deep historical roots across Africa and Asia.

Some people have however become legends over it and secured immortality by leveraging their pottery skills.

Enter, a legendary potter; a woman who became the only female potter on Abujas Cardew Pottery Training Centre in 1954; an international grade artisan and 1963 Member of the British Empire; Dr. Hadiza Ladi Kwali Hajiya.

Birth

Dr. Ladi Kwali was born in the Gwari region, close to Abuja in Northern Nigeria in 1925  although debatable; the 1984 Nigerian yearbook suggested that she was born in 1920.

One thing is however clear, her named Ladi is significant and meaningful  it roughly translates to Born on a Sunday.

She was born into a family of potters where women, like in other parts of the country moulded things with their bare hands and she learned pottery as a child.

As she grew, she became an apprentice for her aunt and mastered the pottery technique of coiling and pinching.

A Purple article about her documents that her masterful pot designs soon marked her out. Reports suggest that as her reputation soared, the Emir of Abuja, Alhaji Suleiman Barau took it upon himself to visit her and admire her handiwork. He was reportedly won over and bought several designs for use and decoration.

Through school, she developed her skill level till she took it up professionally.

1954: Cardew Pottery Training Centre

Around 1950, Ladi moved to Abuja. It coincided with the visit of Michael Cardew, the legendary British potter to Nigeria around the same time.

It is claimed that Michael Cardew encountered Ladis work at the Emir of Abujas palace and was so drawn to her work that he chose to stay back in Nigeria to nurture Ladi and propel her into a global phenomenon.

In 1954, Cardew founded the Cardew Pottery Training Centre in Abuja where Ladi became the first woman.

Some reports claim that it was Cardew who convinced her to move to Abuja in 1954, but it conflicts with her timeline. She was likely in Abuja before 1954 because by that time, she must have been 29 and had been on her own for a number of years.

Nigerian Popularity

As her reputation soared, so did her skill level and then first, national recognition.

On Independence day, October 1, 1960, her work was on display as one of the select few to mark the craftsmanship fabric in Nigeria.

Global Recognition

In 1962, she was named a Member of The British Empire (MBE) and she demonstrated at the Winchcombe Pottery, England.

A little later, her works started showing at the Berkeley Galleries, London. While in England, she was also invited to lecture at certain institutions, despite never being formally educated.

Till date works continue to grace foreign platforms.

Aftermath

After her English sojourn and successful tour, she was so amped up, Purple says that, she was so excited about her experiences in London that she narrated them to everyone who cared to listen.

It continues that, the staff of Cardew Pottery Training Centre in Abuja sarcastically nicknamed her Radio London.

In 1977, she was named a honorary doctor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State where she was also a part-time lecturer and demonstrator.

The same year of 1977, the Smithsonian Institute awarded her the Silver Award of Excellence.

The accolades didnt stop there as she received the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award in 1980  the apex national honour for academic achievement.

The year 1980 saw her named an Officer of the Order of the Niger.

Death and Legacy

Despite being married, Ladi died without an issue on August 12, 1984 and with her name permanently etched into immortality as a feminist trailblazer during a time of immense disadvantages.

Her major legacy is being a symbol of limitless possibilities despite disadvantages  she was never formally educated. She could neither read nor write English. She couldnt speak the language either.

Yet, she was celebrated by the culture that owns the language and lectured at their universities. She was a testament of limitation being only a figment of the imagination once one is blessed with a gift one excels at.

In summation of her legacy, she became the first woman on a Naira note  the N20 note.
The National Agency for Prohibiting Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) visited to Saudi Arabia to document the problem.

The Problem

The BBC documents Dame Julie Okah-Donli, the Director-General of NAPTIP, saying, A lot of evil things are happening to our girls in Saudi Arabia. Weve had reasons to speak to some of them who are still stuck in Saudi. Weve been able to rescue about two of them and there are still many more still stranded in Saudi.

On the crux of the matter, she continues, Cases of sexual abuse, forced domestic labour for about 18 hours-a-day, very poor hygienic conditions, feeding and the beating and, psychological trauma; things like that

The organized crime in recruitment

During NAPTIPs visit to Saudi Arabia, they spoke to over 50 Nigerian girls, but they discovered there are over thousands of them enduring similar fates. Apparently, the style is that travel agents recruit them and then advertise them on the internet, in a modern day slavery type of way.

Dame Okah-Donli herself likened the style to organized crime. After her interviewer asks her how the girls get to Saudi Arabia, she says, Its like organized crime. Working in collaboration with the madames and the ogas, get their tickets for them, get their passports for them and come up with some fake packages of work in Saudi and get these girls to sign their lives away and they get taken out of the country.

Apparently, these girls also sign two year contracts where these agents get payment from the buyers upfront.

ALSO READ:13 victims rescued by NAPTIP from Abuja hotel

What is organized crime?

This is basically a syndicated organization where crime is the primary means of revenue generation. It is organized because each of these organizations have rules, styles, modes of operation and hierarchies of power.

They also work in tandem with other syndicates and revenues are split in organized manners. Of course, they double cross and betray each other, but they are more organized than petty thieves and are much worse.

Sources of income include gambling, counterfeiting, human trafficking, bootlegging, prostitution, arms dealing, drugs and other vices.

While it is unclear, the organizations that engage in the trading of Nigerian girls to Saudi Arabia, are not quite dissimilar to the human trafficking antics of crime syndicates like the Bratva of Eastern Europe, the Yakuza of Japan and the Triad of China.

These organizations are however more aggressive. Some of them kidnap these girls.

Human trafficking has long been an issue in Nigeria. In the 90s, it usually came with forced labour, usage as drug mules and sometimes, prostitution  although, sometimes, some of these girls chose prostitution.

Misconception where it matters

When asked why those girls were constantly falling victim to human traffickers, Dame Okah-Donli says, the girls are being trafficked because they are being tricked, to put it straight to you. They are being deceived by these fraudulent guys who take advantage of the fact that most of them are vulnerable, most of them are brought from the rural areas and they are ignorant; some of them dont have jobs.

She continues by illuminating on the issue of elevated promises of false dawns. While that is a problem, it is not the real problem. Most Nigerians want to travel out  they see it as the ultimate dream, but desperation is written over the reason some of these girls accept these jobs. Otherwise, why would you think tickets and passports are free?

The real problem is why these girls are desperate; the slight promise of a better life. A life their government continually fails guarantee them. We can visit the issue as much as we want, but the problem isnt going away till these girls have something good to hold on to in their respective locales; social amenities, education, shelter, employment opportunities and so forth.

The Solution

The Nigerian Dream is still of elusive definition, but most millennials would agree that it somehow involves taking abode in western colonies. While people of the lower middle class to the lower class in the Nigerian social hierarchy are more susceptible to falling victim to human trafficking tactics, The Nigerian dream is a widely accepted millennial reality.

Again, almost everyone wants to travel out. It is why even that upper middle class child who studied in England feels special and wants to go back  he knows he can boast of what everyone wants, but only a few have.

The problem though is how to shelve the tendency of the lower middle class to lower class Nigerians from constantly falling victim to human traffickers and frankly, its not a good look and it seems the people in power have a wrong idea.

Granted, it is not a days job, but the pragmatic process should start by first identifying the fundamental problem; the continued failure of people charged with responsibilities to secure these girls.

Yes, even with provision of basic amenities in a Utopian society, there will always be victims, but at this time, incredible reduction in the alarming rates of human trafficking leading to exploitation and degrading treatment in a place where choices are few will represent a significant win. Dame Okah-Donli thinks spreading awareness is sufficient work by NAPTIP and that is not good enough.
The wife of the President, who was Suwon City, South Korea to receive the award, expressed gratitude to the management of the university for finding her worthy of the award.

Mrs Buhari through her social media handle said,  Im overwhelmed today for the goodwill I received at Ajou University, for recognising me with a leadership award and naming of the IT centre Aisha Buhari Centre.

She said that the award will serve as encouragement for her to continue with her efforts at assisting the less privileged, especially the internally displaced persons.

In his remark, the President of Ajou University, Prof. Hyungju Park, said the university has a tradition of rewarding personalities, who dedicate their lives to serving humanity.

According to him, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has shown such attributes through her pet project the Future Assured Initiative, where she empowered women and children in need.

Park said good governance was essential to secure the lives of common people, especially women and children.

He called on the leaders around the world to join forces against bad governance.

He, therefore, believed that the award to Mrs Buhari will encourage leaders to aspire to good leadership.

Park said the greatness of a nation lies in its ability to safeguard the lives of its citizens.

ALSO READ: Aisha Buhari receives honorary Doctorate degree

While quoting Mrs Buharis mantra if there is no corruption in governance and public life, there would be enough resources in any nation to meet the needs of the common people including women and children, Park urged women in Nigeria to emulate Mrs Buhari.

Also speaking, the Dean, College of Humanities in the university, Professor Han Ho, said the award was in recognition of her ability to champion advocacy against child abuse and education of the less privilege families in Nigeria.
Adanyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Makurdi that the state government had collected more than N300 billion from the federation account and had no reason to owe workers.

If you look at the receipts from the federation account from June 2015, N300 billion has accrued to Benue. At the beginning, the state was receiving N3 billion monthly, while the wage bill was N5 billion.

We defended the governor at that time because the price of crude oil at the international market was less than 40 dollars per barrel.

The situation has since changed with improved oil prices; allocations to Benue from the federation account sometimes go beyond N15 billion monthly. To gather this much in the state coffers and still owe salaries is inexplicable, he said.

He accused Gov Samuel Ortom of illegal transfers of monies from state coffers to other accounts, saying that such situation forced the lawmakers to begin impeachment proceedings against him.

When we discovered that N20 billion was being moved from one particular account to another in a manner we considered fishy and questionable, we asked Ortom to show cause why he should not be impeached.

Adanyi accused Ortom of throwing Benue into massive debts by his constant borrowing habit, and wondered where such loans were being deployed to, since workers were being owed while projects were non-existent.

The State House of Assembly has graciously allowed Ortom to take loans; we granted bonds and all these monies were accessed, but there is nothing to show for it, he lamented.

Adanyi, who is aspiring to be Benue governor on the platform of the APC, said that his aim was to take the people out of poverty and underdevelopment.

He promised to provide visionary leadership that would put Benue on the path of industrial revolution, and accused the governor of converting some state industries into private companies.

Reacting to the allegations, the Chief Press Secretary(CPS) to Ortom, Mr Terver Akase, dismissed the claims as mischievous.

Adanyi should prove the allegations. He is desperate to paint the governor black and should not be taken seriously, he said.

According to him, Adanyi, as the Majority Leader of the House, had presented many executive bills and was in a good position to know how much Benue had received from the federal account and internal sources.

It is shocking to us that people that should know better have thrown honour to the winds and adorned the toga of falsehood.

We challenge Adanyi to tender evidence to prove that the Ortom administration has received and spent 300 billion in three years as he claims. He should also show proof that Ortom has acquired government companies for his private use.
Osinbajo had ordered the IGP to overhaul the operations of SARS and an investigation into the alleged human right violations by the unit.

In a statement made available to , on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said the IGP has appointed a Commissioner of Police to head the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) nationwide.

Under the new arrangement, FSARS has been moved to the Department of Operations with the Commissioner answerable to the IGP.

The Inspector General of Police in compliance with the Presidential directives has ordered the immediate overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against some of the personnel of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from members of the public in some parts of the Country, Moshood stated.

In the new arrangement, a new Commissioner of Police has been appointed as the overall head of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.

The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad previously under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) is henceforth to operate under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. The Commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the Inspector General of Police through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.

In observance of full compliance with the Presidential directives, the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad will be intelligence driven and will be restricted to the prevention and detection of Armed Robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.

New FSARS Commanders are being appointed for the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) across the country that will now exist and operate in the State and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of Police (F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. A Federal SARS Commander of a Rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) but not below Superintendent of Police (SP) will be in charge of FSARS in State and Zonal Commands across the Country.

All Commissioners of Police have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to comply with this directive with immediate effect and warn their personnel not to pose as SARS operatives. The IGP X-Squad and Monitoring Unit have been mandated to go round the Commands and Police Formations nationwide to ensure strict compliance with the Presidential directives and apprehend any erring police officer.

A new Standard Operational Guidelines and Procedures, and code of conduct for all FSARS personnel to ensure that the operations of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad is in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regards to international human rights law and constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects will be enforced in totality by the Commissioner of Police, FSARS. Other measures to be implemented by the Force in observance of full compliance with the presidential directives are as follows:

Human Rights Desk Officers for FSARS in every State to take complaints from the public and forward same to Force Headquarters, the officer will be answerable to the Commissioner of Police, FSARS at the Force Headquarters and not Commander FSARS in the States.

Medical/Psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel will be carried out immediately.

Redesigning of new uniform with identity name tag for all FSARS personnel throughout the Country will be done immediately.

Henceforth, FSARS personnel will not perform Stop and Search duties except on distress call to respond to armed robbery and kidnapping offences only.

The Force will be transparent, cooperate, and work cordially with the National Human Right Commission on the special panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of FSARS to address grievances from the public against the personnel of FSARS in compliance with the presidential directives.

Furthermore, a new training program to be organized by the Force in collaboration with some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local and International NGOs, and other Human Rights Organizations on core Police Duties, Observant of Human Rights and Handling, Care and Custody of Suspects have been directed by the Inspector General of Police for all Federal SARS personnel nationwide with immediate effect.

A committee of Senior Police officers, Technical Consultants, Human Rights/Civil Society organizations (CSOs) has been setup to review the activities of FSARS under the new arrangement. They are to pay unscheduled visits to FSARS formations across the country with particular attention to States with high complaints index, to assess facilities and situations in these States and submit report to the Inspector General of Police on regular basis.

However, aggrieved members of the public who have any complaint in the past or present of violation of their rights by any Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) personnel anywhere in the country are to report through any of the following channels for investigation and redress.
This information is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ajisafe Olusola, the NIS comptroller in the state and made available to newsmen in Katsina on Tuesday.

Olusola said that the suspects were arrested by the NIS operatives attached to Magama, Jibia Control Post three days ago.

According to the statement, all the suspects are between the ages of 11 and 44 years, and that six of the victims are females and only one is a male.

He said investigations revealed that the victims possessed travelling documents that were obtained from the same place, despite the fact that they were from different states of origin.

The comptroller said that the suspected human trafficker, Rita, 44, was in possession of a residence visa of Libya and her passport indicated that she travelled frequently.

He further alleged that the trafficker wanted to cross Niger Republic with her victims and then Libya, or any other country in Europe.

"I want to reiterate our determination to effectively man our borders to put an end to the menace of human trafficking, he said.
Since last year, numerous Nigerians have taken to social media to accuse officers of the unit of several misconducts ranging from harassment, extortion, assault to extra-judicial killings. This has led to relentless calls for the unit to be completely scrapped to ease the fears of Nigerians who live in dread of the unit.

In a statement issued by Osinbajo's spokesperson, Laolu Akande, the Acting President ordered the IGP to shut down the unit "with immediate effect".

The statement read, "Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.

"The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Humanitarian Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification any time they are on duty.

"In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Committee that will conduct nation-wide investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress."

While speaking at a town hall meeting at the launch of National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, Clinics in Ibadan, Oyo State on June 26, 2018, Osinbajo had disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari was concerned with the operations of SARS and had already ordered a review of the unit.

The vice president further said the unit cannot be scrapped but be rehabilitated to curb the atrocities of the bad eggs.

End SARS campaign

When the earlier calls for the scrapping of the unit grew in December 2017, IGPIdris ordered the reorganisation of SARS' operational roles and activities.

Under the new arrangement, a Commissioner of Police is now the overall head of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja.

The IGP also ordered for all SARS personnel nationwide to undergo a new training program to be organized in collaboration with some civil society organisations, local and international NGOs, and other human rights organisations.
Ogundipe, who covers security for Premium Times, was picked up on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

The report said that sources at the police headquarters said the IG of police ordered that Ogundipe should be detained.

This is coming as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ordered the police IG to shut down the unit with immediate effect.

Police IG is angry

According to Premium Times, Idris is angry that the letter which he wrote to the Acting President on theinvasion of the National Assembly was leaked to the media.

Ogundipe was reportedly harassed and asked to reveal his source.

The report also stated that Premium Times Editor-In-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed and another reporter, Azeezat Adedigba were also arrested.

The police later released Adedigba after three hours of gruelling interrogation.

The daily revealed that a DCP at the IGP Monitoring Unit, Sani Ahmadu, in a bid to hold Ogundipe for long, directed lawyers to obtain a court warrant for his detention.

Premium Times reports that Mojeed told the DCP that it was wrong to force a journalist to reveal his source.

ALSO READ: Dr Sid gets harassed by SARS officers

He said the police was acting within the law and that Samuel would remain detained unless he discloses those who gave him the document.

Ogundipe's bank account frozen

Premium Times also reports that Ogundipe's bank account has been blocked by the police.

According to the daily, the officer handling the case, Emmanuel Onyeneho said the reporter's bank account was blocked, so he will be incapacitated.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have expressed satisfaction with Acting President Osinbajos order to shut down SARS.
Gov. Rick Scott has declared a seven-county state of emergency due to red tide.

As a result of the executive order issued Monday, Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will now be eligible for various types of emergency funds, including an additional $900,000 for Lee County.

As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of red tide, we will continue taking an aggressive approach by using all available resources to help our local communities, Scott said in a prepared statement. Today, I am issuing an emergency declaration to provide significant funding and resources to the communities experiencing red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts. This includes making additional FWC biologists and scientists available to assist in clean-up and animal rescue efforts, more than $100,000 for Mote Marine Laboratory and $500,000 for VISIT FLORIDA to establish an emergency grant program to help local communities continue to bring in the visitors that support so many Florida families and businesses.

In addition to the emergency order, I am also directing a further $900,000 in grants for Lee County to clean up impacts related to red tide bringing total red tide grant funding for Lee County to more than $1.3 million. While we fight to learn more about this naturally-occurring phenomenon, we will continue to deploy all state resources and do everything possible to make sure that Gulf Coast residents are safe and area businesses can recover.

Red tide is a naturally occurring algae that has been documented along Floridas Gulf Coast since the 1840s and occurs nearly every year, the release from the governors office states. The current bloom off the coast here has been lingering off-shore since October before washing into on-shore waters where is has resulted in fish massive kills along beaches from Marco Island to Tampa Bay.

As of last Thursday, Sanibel had collected 267 tons of dead sea life from its beaches alone.

In addition to millions of fish, the bloom has resulted in the death of sea turtles, porpoises, manatees and even a whale shark on Sanibel.

Lee County has posted red tide signs at more than 170 beach access points along the Lee County coastline. The red tide signs provide details on respiratory issues, health precautions, and resources for FWC, Mote Marine and current beach conditions.

The city of Cape Coral has also posted all of its waterfront parks but that is not due to red tide, its in reaction to the bloom of an unrelated toxic algae, cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae.
For the federal government and concerned Police stakeholders, the unit is an indispensable core of Nigeria's security architecture that could never be jettisoned even if millions of people bayed for blood.

In the concluding months of 2017, Nigerians started taking to social media to cry foul over the many atrocities of SARS including, but not limited to, harassment, extortion, assault and extra-judicial killings.

The social media campaign started gaining traction that even the international media started to take notice of the movement that was soon hashtagged "#EndSARS".

One story of misconduct by officers of the special unit started to pool into hundreds of other citizen with tales of unfortunate, unprofessional conducts suffered in the hands of people that should protect them and serve their interests, each story worse than the last.

When SARS was created as one of the numerous units under the purview of the NPF, they were charged with arresting, investigating and prosecuting suspected armed robbers, murderers, kidnappers, hired assassins and others involved in violent crimes.

While the success of the unit in diligently fulfilling this mandate is arguable, their reign of organised terror to the average innocent citizen is well-documented with an overwhelming stream of evidence of misconducts.

SARS operatives have gained notoriety for profiling citizens, especially young Nigerians, and extorting them through threats and assault like the violent criminals they're charged to protect against.

A belated Presidential order

On Tuesday, August 14, 2018, Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, directed the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to "overhaul the management and activities of SARS".

In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Laolu Akande, he said the persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the unit informed his decision and directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Committee that will conduct nation-wide investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS.

The Acting President further directed the Police Force that whatever unit emerges from the overhaul process must be strictly restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders of said crimes.

"The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Humanitarian Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification any time they are on duty," the statement read.

While Osinbajo's directive has been rightly hailed by Nigerians as a victory akin to finally seeing the end of the dreaded police unit, a little caution might be needed here.

A history of false dawns

Two years before #EndSARS became a trending hashtag, the atrocities committed by the men of the Police unit were not exactly secret.

In fact, it was so well-publicised that, in 2015, then-IGP, Solomon Arase, split SARS into two units in an effort to curb numerous human rights abuses.

He directed that the same officers cannot make arrest and investigate the same case, thereby, isolating the operational men from human rights abuses and other allegations.

The #EndSARS campaign suggests that this measure, taken three years ago, has not worked out well; and this is the same case with IGP Idris' 'reorganisation' directive from last year.

When the #EndSARS campaign came to a head in 2017, with unrelentless social media clamouring, IGP Idris ordered the reorganisation of SARS' operational roles and activities.

Under the reviewed arrangement, state Commissioners of Police were installed as overall heads of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.

The IGP also ordered that all SARS personnel nationwide should undergo a new training program to be organized in collaboration with some civil society organisations, local and international NGOs, and other human rights organisations.

Even though this quietened the campaign a little, with many still asking for a total scrapping of the unit, the campaign kicked off in full gear again in 2018 when more evidence showed that the IGP's band aid could not cover the rot in the Police Force.

So what exactly will change this time?

What is Osinbajo's new directive worth?

It is a matter of public record that the man at the top of the Police food chain is a serial defiant of authority, the irony.

In just 2018 alone, the IGP has refused to honour several invitations by the National Assembly to answer questions on insecurity and has defied President Muhammadu Buhari's directive to relocate to Benue State when dozens of Nigerians were getting slaughtered.

Considering that despite the president's public irritation at the IGP's failure to comply with that order, no official reprimand was recorded over it even though he promised to investigate and call his appointee to order. This either suggests that the IGP has more authority than the president or the president is content with him flouting a direct order in such a public manner.

Whichever it is, it will be interesting to see how promptly the IGP will comply with the executive directive of Osinbajo who will remain Acting President for only a few more days before Buhari returns from his 10-day vacation to reassume power. Will this directive hold as much water then?

It's important to note that many have always questioned Buhari's political will to resolve the SARS issue as he's failed to even publicly comment on it during the months of intense outcry by Nigerians; so it remains in the realm of speculation if he approves with this directive himself.

Putting Buhari's political will and the IGP's history of insurbodination aside, Osinbajo's directive still leaves a lot of room for certain questions that only offer unsatisfying answers.

For instance, "overhaul the management and activities of SARS" sounds more like a cosmetic makeover and less like a definitive strike at the very essence of what has made the unit such a notorious disgrace on law enforcement.

In a significant revelation of the federal government's plan for SARS, while speaking on the #EndSARS campaign in June 2018, Osinbajo said the unit cannot be scrapped but be rehabilitated to curb the atrocities of the bad eggs.

When his directive is picked apart, it sounds eerily close to the same 'reorganisation' that the IGP ordered in 2017 that has been so abysmally ineffective in dealing with the core of the problem.

Reducing the operational scope of a possibly reborn unit may appear spotless on paper but laughably ineffective in implementation. The problem has never been that clear mandates were not given, it's that they're usually casually treated as mere suggestions by law enforcement officers who become their own authority.

What this points to is a rotten system that needs more scrutiny and goes way beyond SARS. SARS as a unit is not the problem, it's a mere manifestation of a system that gives room for impunity that is so terribly dangerous. If this core decay is not appropriately checked, we'll have another SARS problem on our hands in only a matter of months.

Osinbajo's directive to "overhaul" SARS is a welcome development that might suggest the government hears what the citizens cry about, but this is not the end of SARS.
DSS operatives took over the National Assembly complex early on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, and prevented lawmakers and journalists from gaining access into the premises in what many believed to be a plot to implement Saraki's impeachment.

Many Nigerians, especially in the opposition, have called on the federal government to set up an independent inquiry into the events of the invasion, and Saraki has once again called on the president to look into the "assault on our democracy".

Taking to his Twitter account (@bukolasaraki) on Tuesday, August 14, he posted, "The very serious questions about last Tuesday's siege on the National Assembly can only be answered through a thorough and neutral investigation.

"I call on Mr. President to immediately institute an independent judicial panel of inquiry to look into that assault on our democracy."

Cabal planned NASS invasion for months - Saraki

During a world press conference addressing the invasion on Wednesday, August 8, Saraki alleged that the plan was implemented by a 'government within this government', popularly called a cabal, that doesn't have the interest of Nigerians at heart.

According to the senate president, the siege by the DSS was an attempt to illegally remove the leadership of the Senate in flagrant disregard of the law.

He disclosed that the invasion was planned for months and questioned how it was allowed to happen in a democratic government.

He said, "This is an incident concerning which we have it on good authority that it has been in the planning for months, and yet it was allowed to happen. How is it that such an atrocity was not prevented? How is it that the masterminds were not deterred? Very serious questions remain that can only be answered by a full investigation.

"We call for an investigation, and we demand that all perpetrators are brought to book. We owe it to ourselves to ensure that such a situation never occurs again. Many agencies have abused their powers and acted outside the ambit of the law on occasion. Where abuses occur, similar actions must be taken immediately and full investigation instituted."
Saraki arrived Obasanjos house around 5:30pm on Monday, August 13, 2018, according to Punch.

The Senate President has been under fire from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)since he moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ruling party is demanding that Saraki resigns as Senate President, and rumours of plots to impeach him have been making rounds in the media.

Saraki in Minna

The Senate Presidents meeting with the former President is coming days after he met with former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.

Why Saraki visited Obasanjo

According to Punch, Saraki said he was in Ogun state to see OBJ because he missed the inauguration of the Presidential library.

The former President launched the library when he in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Saraki said You know, I missed the official opening of the library and that is why I have decided to come and see the place and, honestly, it is beautiful.

We are very proud of what he has done here.

Sources also say the meeting could be connected to the current crisis in the National Assembly.

OBJ Vs Buhari

In recent times, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has openly condemned President Buhari and his administration.

ALSO READ:Obasanjo describes Buhari as an ignorant President

Obasanjo, in several letters, criticised the President's body language regarding the killings by Fulani herdsmen and his handling of the Nigerian economy.

The former President at one time, described Buhari as an ignorant President.
The plan to impeach Saraki as senate president is now at an advanced stage and the APC isnt even hiding it anymore.

In press statement after press statement, the APC has made it clear that all it wants for now is Sarakis impeachment.

Here is a breakdown of whats been going on in the plot to have Saraki impeached:

1. The APC has held caucus meetings where signatures were collected to impeach Saraki.

2. The senator in charge of collecting signatures for Sarakis impeachment, Ovie Omo-Agege told Punch soon after that: Our position is very clear. The moment Saraki defected from the APC to the minority party, he no longer has the moral, political and legal rights to remain as the senate president.

We have requested of him to step down. We have requested him to do the honourable thing, to do the needful by stepping down. It is a request we are going to continue to make and any opportunity we have, we are going to insist that he must step down.

3. APC Chairman Adams Oshiomhole hasinsisted that Saraki has to be impeached for the nation to know peace (Ok, we exaggerated a bit there, but whatever).

4. Omo-Agege says the APC caucus in the upper legislative chamber now has the requisite number to carry out Sarakis impeachment.

We have the numbers to remove Saraki, which I can tell you. We have the requisite number to remove Saraki as Senate President.

Saraki knows that he has lost the confidence of the majority of members in the senate and you will be surprised by what will happen when the opportunity arises. He cannot survive this, trust me. You can take this to the bank. He cannot survive this. He must step down.

5. So, whenever the senate reconvenes, impeaching Saraki will be topmost on the minds of all APC senators.

6. Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara have indefinitely postponed reconvening of the national assembly, earlier scheduled for this week,on grounds that there is no electoral report from a joint senate and House of Reps committee, to deliberate upon.

Until the committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, Saraki and Dogara said in a joint press statement.

7. It is believed that the postponement of the resumption of the national assembly, has everything to do with putting a spanner in the works of the APC caucus who are daily holding meetings; with impeaching Saraki as the sole agenda.

8. Saraki has met with former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida in the last couple of weeks, ostensibly to discuss the crisis in the national assembly.

9.The APC says "it is already talking to some PDP senators to achieve the legitimate goal" of impeaching Saraki. The senate requires two thirds majority to impeach its leader. The APC can't boast of that number at the moment, meaning it has to poach some PDP senators to achieve Saraki's impeachment.
Momodudisclosed this on Monday, August 13, 2018, during a question and answer session on his Twitter account (@DeleMomodu).

When asked who he'll support next year, Momodu, a candidate in the 2011 presidential election, said he'll support candidates that contest against the All Progressives Congress (APC) if Buhari emerges the party's flag bearer.

He further went on to state that even though he wishes Buhari well, Nigeria deserves a stronger president.

He posted, "When the candidates emerge, I will proudly support one against APC, if BUHARI goes ahead to run... In a country of nearly 200m, I see and know a lot of vibrant candidates, young or old... If APC presents a different candidate, my choice may change but I won't follow sheepishly!

"I may support a fresh candidate in any party including APC... There is nothing personal about BUHARI other than that in his present state, which is due to no fault of his, Nigeria deserves someone stronger... I wish him well always..."

Buhari to run for re-election

The president ended months of speculation when he officially announced his intention to seek re-election in the 2019 presidential election during a meeting with the National Executive Committee of the APCon April 9, 2018.

President Buhari made history when he defeated then-president, Goodluck Jonathan, in the 2015 presidential election by more than 2.5 million votes, the first time a sitting president lost an election in Nigeria.
Then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP lost the popular vote to then opposition backed Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

A lot has been shared about the moment Jonathan placed a concession phone call to Buhari. However, one more account from wont hurt.

The state-by-state announcement of election results by the Chairman of INEC, began at noon on Monday, March 30. I joined a few colleagues from the Economic Management Team at the office of one of the presidential advisers where a team was monitoring the results, Okonjo-Iweala wrote in her book Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous, the story behind the headlines.

Okonjo-Iweala captures the moment when it dawned on the room that Jonathan was going to lose the election:

The atmosphere was electric. Throughout the day, vote counts came in from different states, mostly from the South-South and South East. The president was leading, but his margin was getting slimmer. And the results from the northern statesthe opposition strongholdhad not yet come in. By 8pm, these results began to arrive, and the tide turned against the president. By 10pm, it became clear that the Jonathan administration was now on a losing streak.

Announcing the votes

When the counting and announcement of results resumed at noon on March 31, Okonjo-Iweala wrote that, we all assembled again in the advisers officewhich we now called our situation room. A couple of hours later, the Minister of Aviation, called me to say that a concession speech was being drafted by the presidents speech writer, and they wanted my contribution. What did I think he should emphasize in the speech?

I drafted a few thoughts on the economic achievements of the administration, the presidents legacy and the difficult economic challenges facing the nation that needed immediate attention. By 4pm, I felt I had enough material and decided to go to the Villa to talk to those working on the speech. I wondered where the president was and what he was doing.

Okonjo-Iweala writes that when she got to the Villa, she found a group of politicians urging Jonathan not to accept defeat and another group cajoling him to throw in the towel because it was all over.

At the Villa, I was met outside the residence by Osita Chidoka, who collected my input for the speech and told me the president was in the residence. When I entered the Villa, the president was in one of the living rooms with the Vice President, some advisers, and a group of politicians who were arguing passionately about the conduct of the elections and irregularities of which they said they had evidence, such as videos of underage voting in certain parts of the country.

They were urging the president not to concede the election. More politicians came in and joined them. On the opposite side of the room were the Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka; the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Minister of Agriculture, They were relaying a dissenting view, arguing that the president should concede.

A whisper that worked

Okonjo-Iweala says she was one of those in the room who advised Jonathan to throw in the towel.

I was immediately drawn into the argument as everyone turned to hear my views. I said I thought the president should concede and do so before the announcement of the vote count was completed. The Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs, a politician, whom I expected to side with the politicians, also said he sided with those who thought the president should concede.

A heated argument ensued. Throughout the discussion, the president said not a word. He kept his own counsel and just kept welcoming guests and party loyalists who were joining us at the Villa.

According to the announcements we were all following on the big screens, only a few more states were yet to report their election results.

Okonjo-Iweala recalls the moment when she whispered to Jonathan to concede.

I sat next to the president and whispered to him that if he was going to concede, he probably should do so before the announcement of election results ended.

Suddenly, he got up and left the room. We all thought he had gone off for a few moments of quiet. He returned about twenty minutes later and sat down without saying a word. I decided to take a chance and press him again on a timely concession. As I whispered again for a second time, the president responded to me out loud, CME(Coordinating Minister of the Economy), it is done. I have called President-elect Buhari and conceded!

We were stunned! He had said not one word to us, but it was clear that this was a man who had made up his mind and done what he thought was right. The president repeated something he had often said to his ministers and advisers: I have always said that power for Jonathan is not worth shedding a drop of blood of a single Nigerian.

Buhari won the 2015 presidential election with 15,424,921 votes. Jonathan came a close second with 12,853,162. It would be the first time an incumbent president would lose an election in Nigeria.

About Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala served as Minister in the administrations of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

Okonjo-Iweala was Minister of Finance under Obasanjo from July 15, 2003 to June 21, 2006.

Okonjo-Iweala also had a brief spell as Foreign Affairs Minister under Obasanjo from June 21, 2006 to August 30, 2006.

She is credited with achieving debt forgiveness for Nigeria under Obasanjo.
In a statement jointly issued by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, they noted that recalling members at the moment would be 'irresponsible' as joint Senate and House Committees don't yet have reports on the budget request sent by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

The statement read, "The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, have directed that we inform all Senators, Honorable members and the public that a date has not been set for the reconvening of the Senate and the House of Representatives to consider the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2019 elections budget request forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 17, 2018.

"The leadership of the two chambers had met and agreed to reconvene to consider the proposal this week before which a meeting between the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters and officials of the INEC must have held on or before Monday August 13, 2018.

"The joint committees were also expected to meet with the joint Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Loans and Debts on the Eurobond loan request after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers.

"However, no such meeting had taken place yet as a result of which both Senate and House of Representatives cannot reconvene as there is no report to consider.

"Until the Committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj."

NASS on recess till September

The national assembly adjourned legislative sittings till September 25 during plenary on July 24, amid a controversial clampdown by security operatives on Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in what has been described as a witch-hunt orchestrated by the executive.
The APC has relentlessly called for Saraki's impeachment since he defected from the APC to the PDP last month and both sides have made several public allegations of evil plots by the other party.

In a statement signed by the APC's Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, the party said Saraki has met with some senators and hatched a plot to harm APC lawmakers to prevent his impeachment.

The party said several APC lawmakers will be lured to a meeting by PDP and then harmed with hired thugs to prevent them from attending legislative sittings that could lead to Saraki's impeachment.

The statement read, "Our attention has been drawn to sinister plans by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to attack some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators as part of the PDP's desperate bid to ensure that Dr. Bukola Saraki clings to the position of Senate President.

"By this statement, we call on security agents to protect APC Senators. If any Senator is harmed, the PDP and Saraki should be held directly responsible. We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack APC Senators is real and imminent.

"We were informed that the plot was hatched in the private residence of a PDP leader in Maitama-Abuja on Sunday night. The meeting was attended by 15 pro-Saraki Senators including the Senate President himself.

"We learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APC's Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC Senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings. The PDP have recruited thugs for this purpose, we have now learnt.

"'During Sunday's meeting, the PDP Senators planned several types of attack, one of which is to lure some of them (APC Senators) out at night in the guise of inviting Senators to a political settlement meeting and thereafter instigate a violent confrontation during the meeting and unleash standby PDP thugs on APC Senators,' our source privy to the meeting informed us."

Saraki tried to buy APC Senators with N100m each - APC

The ruling party further alleged that the plot is a follow-up to Saraki's previous attempt to buy over APC Senators with N100 million each to upset the party's majority in the Senate.

The statement, "This revelation has not come to us as a surprise because the Senate President through proxies has made several failed attempts to buy over APC Senators with N100million each.

"As a Party, we don't believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve our legitimate goal of removing Saraki as Senate President. We will get the support of some PDP Senators to get the required 2/3 vote and impeach Saraki. We are already talking to some of PDP Senators who believe and support the direction of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to achieve our legitimate goal."

The APC once again called on Saraki to resign from his position as leader of the "APC majority Senate", vowing to impeach him instead.

Reconvene National Assembly - APC tells Saraki

In the Tuesday statement, the APC described Saraki's failure to reconvene the National Assembly as an action bothering on high treason. The party said it was another display of the lawmaker's penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government.

The statement read, "As Chairman of the 8 National Assembly, Saraki's decision not to reconvene the National Assembly done with the support of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara further buttresses our position that Saraki is ever ready to pursue his selfish interests over National Interest.

"This is another brazen display of his penchant for abuse of powers and sabotage of government, however the cost and implication.

"While Saraki and his cohorts continue to postpone their doomsday regarding the imminent Senate leadership change, the yet-to-be considered 2019 budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dangerously delayed.

"Clearly, Saraki's actions as Senate President now bother on high treason."

Why National Assembly won't reconvene soon - Saraki, Dogara

In a statement jointly issued by Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, they noted that recalling members of the National Assembly at the moment would be 'irresponsible' as joint Senate and House Committees don't yet have reports on the INEC budget request sent by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

The statement read, "The leadership of the two chambers had met and agreed to reconvene to consider the proposal this week before which a meeting between the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters and officials of the INEC must have held on or before Monday August 13, 2018.

"The joint committees were also expected to meet with the joint Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Loans and Debts on the Eurobond loan request after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers.

"However, no such meeting had taken place yet as a result of which both Senate and House of Representatives cannot reconvene as there is no report to consider.

"Until the Committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj."

The national assembly adjourned legislative sittings till September 25 during plenary on July 24, amid a controversial clampdown by security operatives on Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in what has been described as a witch-hunt orchestrated by the executive.
Currently, South Sudan has just one renown female pilot, Captain Aluel James Bol, who made history in 2011 after graduating as the country's first female pilot. The 34-year old worked at Ethiopian Airlines and Fly Dubai before joining Delta Airline where she currently works as pilot.

Evidently, Aluel has set a precedent for other young women from Sudan such as Amel to follow in the same footsteps and become trailblazers in male dominated careers. Speaking to Hot in Juba, Amel revealed that she studied at the Kenya School of Flying, a professional flight training school based at Kenya's Wilson Airport. The course took two and half years and even though she has no job at the moment, she disclosed that she's working on something and in a few months, she will be ready for piloting.

The soon-to-be 21 year old, when asked what are some of the challenges she underwent during her training said that generally, female pilots face a lot of sex discrimination, but was glad that increasingly, women are taking on the career.

She advised fellow young women not to limit themselves, to dream of success and work for it, without forgetting that discipline is key.

Back at home, Captain Irene Koki made headlines by becoming the first African female to become certified as a Captain of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Currently, she's a Captain of the B787 withKenya Airways.
The youthful senator had an early morning meeting with his father at his Senate office after which he shared photos of the visit.

Today I had a special visitor in my office in the person of my Dad. We had an opportunity to pray for Gods grace and guidance in the difficult tasks ahead of us in our different careers. May God guide him in his pastoral duties. Amen, Murkomen tweeted.

However, Kenyans were impressed by the youthful look spotted by the senators father.

The elder Murkomen, who is a pastor, has aged gracefully to the extent that some netizens observed that he looked younger than his son.

"Your Dad looks younger than you! Amazing," Kisame said in response to the senator's post.

"He is obviously and rightly a very proud father," city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi tweeted.

Other commentators replied to the photo by condemning a past statement by Siaya Senator James Orengo that claimed that Kipchumbas father sired an idiot.

Kipchumba, who is turning 40 this year, is one of the youngest political leaders in Kenya, having been elected to the senate at the age of 35 years.
An Auckland man with multiple sclerosis has lost access to a life-enhancing medication after his condition worsened.

Brendan Rochford used to use MS drug Tysabri, which is funded by the Governments drug buying agency Pharmac.

But when he lost the ability to walk 500m without assistance, he no longer met Pharmacs criteria for the drug because his condition had progressed too far.

I could go blind, I could go deaf, I could lose my power of speech

Once you cant walk five hundred metres, theyll take you off the drug. The problem is that, with MS, often peoples lower limbs are affected, so that walking thing, theres got to be quite a few people that meet that criteria, he told RadioLIVEs Mark Sainsbury.

He says there is no doubt that if he cant take Tysabri, he will suffer the consequences.

I could go blind, I could go deaf, I could lose my power of speech. There are hundred and hundreds of things that could happen.

Mr Rochford estimates that the medication costs between $25,000 and $30,000. Nevertheless, he argues that he still is contributing to the New Zealand economy.

Listen to the full interviews with Brendan Rochford and Helmut Butzkueven above.

Morning Talk with Mark Sainsbury, 9am - 12pm Weekdays and streaming live on 'rova' channel 9 - available on Android and iPhone.

RadioLIVE.
Netflix said the show promises to bring middle east folklore into the modern world, exploring contemporary themes of jinn mythology but with a coming of age supernatural story about friendship, love and adventure.Produced by Lebanons Kabreet Productions, the drama will be directed and executive produced by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya (Very Big Shot) and executive produced by Elan and Rajeev Dassani (SEAM), with Elan also serving as head writer.The six-episode series will be available for streaming by Netflix subscribers globally in 2019.Jinn follows a group of Arab teenagers as their friendships and budding romances are tested when they unknowingly invite the supernatural forces of jinn into their world.Salma Malhas star as Mira, a rebellious teen still devastated after the loss of her mother. She learns to love again when she meets a Jinn called Keras, played by Hamza Abu Eqab. The show also features Hamza Abu Eqab and his supernatural friendship with vengeful Vera, played by Aysha Shahalthough.At Netflix, were always looking for local stories with an interesting and relatable perspective to bring to screens all over the world, said Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series at Netflix. With Jinn, we aim to create a fantastical show about young people in the Middle East in Arabic that's real, authentic and action-packed. This Netflix show will be full of intrigue, adventure and amazing storytelling from Jordan and for our audiences around the world.Executive producer and head writer Elan Dassani said: The freedom Netflix gives producers really allows us to delve deep into the nature of storytelling and bring Arabic stories to life. Arab youth are just like teens everywhere, trying to find the balance between embracing modern culture whilst keeping true to their rich history. Were excited to be able to bring a show reflecting this to Netflix fans across the world.Executive producer and contributing writer Rajeev Dassani added: Creating Netflixs first Arabic original , and one of the first teen-focused shows ever from the Arab world, has been an unforgettable experience. Weve had so many local teens tell us theyve never seen themselves accurately represented on screen, and it is both our pleasure and our responsibility to bring that to them and, in doing so, showcase all that the region has to offer.
If special counsel Robert Mueller indicts the former Trump adviser, it could mark a turning point in the Russia investigation.
With not just Sen. Claire McCaskill's seat but control of the U.S. Senate potentially at stake, Missouri Democrats have changed their platform, excising a paragraph that welcomed abortion dissenters.
WASHINGTON -- In the era of President Trump, politics is reduced to a fatuous, debilitating spectacle. We screech, we weep, we laugh bitterly. We don't seem to think much.

Yet there is an underground. I speak not of some political resistance movement but of quiet, intellectually serious debates taking place around the country that relate neither to Trump nor to our political parties. Although you can take a side in these discussions if you wish, their virtue is that they encourage us all toward nuanced views and genuine dialogue.

To make the case that we have not entirely lost our ability to use our minds, I offer the examples of three lively arguments that shed light on how we might move forward as a nation.

Local vs. National As Washington politics becomes increasingly rancid, a disheartened nation turns toward the many good things happening at the grass roots. In cities and towns across the country, civic and political leaders are -- honest and true! -- solving problems and finding new missions for old places. Words like "rebuilding," "reclaiming" and "renewing" are the stuff of local life.

This is a perspective that David Brooks has been advancing in his New York Times column, and it is reflected in James and Deborah Fallows' engaging account of their journey across the United States, "Our Towns," published earlier this year.

As Deborah Fallows told Slate's Isaac Chotiner, the conversations she and her husband had during their travels were "heavily weighted toward in my neighborhood, at my schools, on our main street, what people need here, what people want from my town.

"I don't know if people had just given up on the national scene," she added, "or they didn't want to talk about it anymore."

It's striking that those working to better their patch of ground are rarely ideological about whether to rely on government, businesses or not-for-profits. They know all three have to pull together to make a place work. You can put this another way: these community-builders have common sense.

My vote is to celebrate all this while remembering, as many localists do, that some problems require national action. We're better off having a federal Social Security and Medicare program, and it will take a comparable effort to get health insurance to everyone. It's also true that a nationwide economic market needs more than patchwork regulation, and that wealthy places can better maneuver through their difficulties than poorer localities. The country's hardest hit places can use outside assistance to turn the corner. And we can never forget that it took federal power to enforce civil rights across the land.

But the new localism should make us think harder about how national policy can encourage local innovation and initiative.

Social Mobility vs. Economic Equality The basic question is whether we are primarily interested in a society that provides expansive opportunities for people to rise, even if we maintain large disparities in income and wealth; or if instead we see the priority as closing those wealth and income gaps and offering better pay to those in poorly compensated lines of work.

I'd argue that this is a false choice. As former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has pointed out, high levels of inequality are associated with lower rates of social mobility -- and "economic mobility in the United States has not changed much in the last several decades." If you care about mobility, you have to care about inequality, too.

Nonetheless, this is a productive controversy because it requires us to be more precise and more candid about what we mean when we talk about "the American Dream."

Guaranteed Jobs vs. Guaranteed Income: The growing concentration of wealth and the threat posed to work by technological change has heightened interest in establishing a universal basic income (UBI), the subject of Annie Lowrey's recent book "Give People Money."

Although UBI is, broadly speaking, a progressive idea, some conservative thinkers such as Charles Murray have embraced versions of it. Critics of the UBI from the right just don't like redistributive income guarantees. On the left is a fear that, as the economist Jared Bernstein has argued, the UBI would be used to rationalize dismantling all manner of other social programs. I am partial to using aspects of the UBI in tandem with guarantees of well-paid work that focus on parts of the country with substantial unemployment.

OK, we can now return to the president's latest tweet. But please don't believe anyone who tells you that we are no longer a thinking people.

(c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/13/2021



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FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!

Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!

Which couples are still together and which MAFS couples have broken up and divorced? And where are they now?

has followed 44 different couples who got married at first sight during it's first twelve seasons -- so which couples are still together, who has broken up and divorced, and where are they all now?Each season of -- which debuted in the United States seven years ago and is based on a Danish series -- features couples (previously three couples, but four couples on Seasons 8 and 9, and five couples beginning with Season 10) being matched together by relationship experts and agree to marry when they first meet.Complete strangers become husband and wife in a matter of minutes, and the couples' lives are then documented by TV cameras over the course of the next four to eight weeks (eight weeks, in the case of 's most recent seasons).The couples typically enjoy their first night together in a hotel after exchanging vows -- with some couples deciding to consummate their marriage immediately -- and then embark on a honeymoon, move in together, and simply attempt to deal with the struggles of daily life as man and wife.At the end of the extreme marriage experiment, each couple must decide whether they'd like to stay married or get a divorce on "Decision Day."has experienced very mixed results over the years. While a significant number of couples decide to stay together and continue their new marriage at the end of their season, the real world seems to hit them hard after the cameras leave, resulting in the couple splitting up only months later.Do cast members see a different side of their spouses once cameras are gone, or do the romances naturally fizzle over time?Some couples are still together to this day and are extremely happy. Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner from Season 1, for example, have had two children.Several other couples have also had children -- including Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre Danielle Bergman and Bobby Dodd , and Deonna McNeill and Greg Okotie However, there are also relationships that ended badly. Jessica Castro from Season 2, for instance, accused Ryan De Nino of alleged death threats, and she went on to file a restraining order and lawsuit against him.Some couples have also never even made it to "Decision Day" and ended their marriage prematurely, including Season 4 couple Heather Seidel and Derek Schwartz as well as Season 6 couple Molly Duff and Jonathan Francetic Are the remaining couples now lovers, friends or enemies?! What about early season couples like Cortney Hendrix and Jason Carrion, Jaclyn Methuen and Ryan Ranellone, Vanessa Nelson and Tres Russell, Sonia Granados and Nick Pendergrast, and Lillian Vilchez and Tom Wilson?And how about more recent season couples like Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek Sheila Downs and Nate Duhon Jaclyn Schwartzberg and Ryan Buckley Dave Flaherty and Amber Martorana , and Tristan Thompson and Mia Bally Keith Dewar and Kristine Killingsworth , and AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen Click thelink below to see photos of each couple and find out!

BEGIN GALLERY >>

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!
At 21 years old, you might be about to graduate college or try your first drink. But for Josie Dunne, shes going on tour.
UGA students should not let memes define their personal or political identity. Memes shouldnt have power in our political elections, nor should they be a commodity to be bought or sold.
The Books for Keeps annual Book Sale returns once again during the final two weekends of August, and its looking to build off past years of s
Serbia's president abandoned his plan to forge a quick deal on repairing ties with Kosovo after German Chancellor Angel Merkel said there would be no redrawing of borders in the Balkans.

Aleksandar Vucic has pledged since last year to present a plan to tackle the issue of Kosovo, which broke away after a 1998-1999 war in an event that many Serbs refuse to accept as they see it as their historical heartland. After Merkel shot down a proposal floated this week to partition Kosovo along ethnic lines, the president said that normalizing ties with Serbia's neighbor will now take longer than thought.

"For Germany, redrawing borders is a done deal, so how can I go against that?" Vucic told reporters in Belgrade. "It's now obvious that this will take much longer than some had planned. The fact that some had thought that this will be done within two or three months -- forget about it."

Almost two decades after the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia in Europe's bloodiest conflicts since World War II, redrawing borders anew would threaten to destabilize a region still simmering with tension between groups that include Serbs, Albanians, Croats, and Bosnian Muslims. In the past three decades, the European Union and NATO have expanded into the Balkans, where they compete for influence with Russia, China and Turkey.

Merkel dismissed any plan for Serbia to take control of areas in Kosovo with majority ethnic-Serb populations, saying that the region's borders were fixed and no changes would be discussed. Kosovo, an ethnic-Albanian majority state of about 1.7 million people that declared independence in 2008, rejected the idea and flagged a counter-proposal under which it would expand its borders into Serbia's south to include three more municipalities.

EU officials have made clear that Serbia can't join the world's largest trading bloc, which it hopes to do next decade, without coming to an agreement with Kosovo. That poses a problem for the country of 7 million people. Backed by Russia and China, Serbia has vowed to never recognize its neighbor. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has called for EU-mediated talks to conclude with recognition that would allow Kosovo to join the United Nations.

Vucic, who typically boasts of a close friendship with Merkel, has also bolstered ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has repeatedly argued that Serbia must also benefit from a compromise on Kosovo. He's also said that any agreement will need consent from Germany, the EU, the U.S., Turkey, Russia and China.

"I will continue to go and fight for Serbia," he said. "If there is something in it for Serbia, fine. If I can do something for Serbia fine. If not, then fine again."
FARMINGTON  American Red Cross is asking individuals to give blood and platelets now and help end an emergency summer blood shortage that began last month.

A critical need remains as many regular donors delay giving to take final summer vacations and prepare for school to start. To ensure lifesaving treatments remain available for patients in the coming weeks, donations are needed now, especially type O.

In thanks for helping at this urgent time, all those who come to donate blood or platelets through Aug. 30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. (Restrictions apply; see amazon.com/gc-legal. More information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.)

Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to give again. Blood can be safely given every 56 days, and Power Red donations can be given every 16 weeks.

Barkhamsted: Aug. 29, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Praise Christian Fellowship, 52 New Hartford Road

Kent: Aug. 28, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Kent Town Hall, 41 Kent Green Blvd

New Milford: Aug. 24, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., New Milford Fitness and Aquatics Club, 130 Grove St.

Aug. 29, 1:30-6:30 p.m., New Milford Hospital, 21 Elm St.

Terryville: Aug. 23, 1-6 p.m, The Lyceum, 181 Main Street

Torrington: Aug 24, 1-6 p.m., St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 837 Charles St.; Aug. 31, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, 540 Litchfield St.; Aug. 31, 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, 540 Litchfield St.

Watertown: Aug. 15, 1:45- 6:45 p.m., Watertown Fire Department, 935 Main St.

Winsted: Aug. 29, 1-6 p.m., Winsted Area Ambulance Association, 655 Main St.

To donated, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nations blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, visit RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross
The Torrington Police Department reported the following arrests:

FAILURE TO APPEAR: Matilda Gbeh, 36, 203 Ivy Mountain Road, Goshen, was arrested Aug. 7 and charged with second-degree failure to appear. She was released on a $1,000 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington Aug 20.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Patrick Murphy, 54, 25 Harwinton Ave, 1st floor, Torrington, was arrested Aug. 7 and charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal mischief. He was released on a promise to appear in Superior Court in Torrington Aug. 20.

BREACH OF PEACE: Robert Rollins, 18, no known address, was arrested Aug. 7 and charged with second-degree breach of peace and third-degree assault. He was released on a $500 non-surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington Aug. 20.

DUI: Patricia Zimmerman, 75, 54 Lindberg St., Torrington, was arrested Aug. 5 and charged with driving under the influence and evading arrest. She was released on a $500 non-surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington Aug. 20.

BREACH OF PEACE: Richard Surridge, 43, 349 Park Ave., Torrington, was arrested Aug 10 and charged with second-degree breach of peace and violating a protective order. He is now scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington Sept. 6 .

TRESPASSING: Richard Surridge, 43, 349 Park Avenue, Torrington, was arrested Aug. 11 and charged with first-degree criminal trespassing, second degree harassment and violating a protective order. He was held on a $2,500 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington on Sept. 6 .

DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Mahogany Hill, 21, 181 Chestnut Ave., Torrington, was arrested Aug. 11 and charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal mischief. She was released on a $1,500 non-surety bond and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington Sept. 27 .
Cambodian authorities should overturn the politically motivated conviction of prominent land rights activist Tep Vanny and unconditionally release her, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday, on the eve of the two-year anniversary of her arrest.



Tep Vanny, 38, was arrested on Aug. 15, 2016 after participating in a demonstration, handed six days in prison for insulting a public official and, instead of being released when the sentence was served, charged with aggravated intentional violence for a protest she held more than three years earlier in front of the home of Prime Minister Hun Sen.



On Feb. 23, 2017, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted Tep Vanny of assaulting two security officers during the protest at Hun Sens home, sentencing her to 30 months in prison and 9 million riels (U.S. $2,250) in compensation to the officers.



The Phnom Penh Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court upheld the sentence in August 2017 and in February this year, respectively.



On Tuesday, HRW called the charges on which she was convicted baseless and part of a bid to silence her peaceful activism in fighting a land grab at Phnom Penhs Boeung Kak Lake, where some 3,500 families were evicted from a surrounding neighborhood.



Tep Vanny has now spent two years behind bars on fabricated charges and should be released immediately, said Phil Robertson, HRWs deputy Asia director.



This is just one of many outrageous cases in which the authorities have misused Cambodias justice system to harass and imprison peaceful land rights activists.



HRW has dismissed the criminal trials against Tep Vanny, saying the charges lacked factual basis and were apparently fabricated.



Trial judges did not require the prosecution to present evidence to substantiate the charges against her, disallowed testimony from defense witnesses, and rushed proceedings to prevent cross-examination of prosecution evidence, according to the group.



HRW noted that authorities have also sentenced Tep Vanny to six months in prison for taking part in a 2011 protest, but have yet to order her to serve the sentence.



The rights group said Tuesday that the prosecution of Tep Vanny and other activists violates their rights to the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as their right to a fair trial, protected under Cambodias international commitments and the countrys constitution.



Tep Vannys plight should be at the center of demands by foreign governments and donors to the Cambodian authorities to immediately release all political prisoners, Robertson said.



The governments treatment of Tep Vanny and other detained activists is a critical indicator of its engagement with the international community after the widely derided July elections.



Other calls for release



Head human rights investigator Am Sam Ath of the Cambodia-based rights group LICADHO told RFAs Khmer Service Tuesday that after unjustly spending two years in prison, Tep Vanny should be set free.



She worked to prevent land grab and human rights abuses, so it is time to stop painting her as a criminal, he said.



Instead of prosecuting activists, the authorities should work to promote and protect human rights. Additionally, they should be working to improve law enforcement and justice in the country.



Chan Puthisak, an activist representing the Boeung Kak Lake community, told RFA that Tep Vannys supporters plan to hold a gathering on Wednesday to honor her advocacy on the second anniversary of her imprisonment.



We will put up posters with pictures of Tep Vanny and light candles spelling out her name, with Buddhist monks blessing her in a ceremony that will include speeches and songs about her work, he said.



We plan to call for Tep Vannys release, while letting the people of Cambodia and the international community know that she has been unjustly imprisoned.



Tep Vanny was awarded the 2013 Vital Voices Global Leadership Award for her work campaigning on behalf of the community evicted from Boeung Kak Lake, which was later filled with sand to make way for a development project with ties to Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP).



The CPP has claimed it won some 77 percent of the vote and likely secured all 125 parliamentary seats in play in Cambodias July 29 general election, which was widely dismissed as unfree and unfair, following the dissolution of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in November.



While ballots are still being counted, with an official announcement expected on Wednesday, unconfirmed preliminary results indicate a strong CPP showing, ensuring long-ruling strongman Hun Sen will add another five-year term to his 33 years in office.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Concerns are growing over the health of a detained rights activist in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, who has been held for nearly two years in pretrial detention.



Ge Jueping was among a group of at least nine rights activists detained in Jiangsu's Suzhou city since 2016, when China played host to the G20 leadership summit in Hangzhou.



Ge was already diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland when he was incarcerated, Fuzhou-based rights activist Zhuang Lei told RFA on Tuesday.



"He had had surgery ... but this illness requires him to take medicine every day," Zhuang said. "The doctor gave him a prescription for traditional Chinese herbal medicine, but his family have been worried because he has been cut off from his supply of medicine for such a long time."



"There is no dispensary in the detention center; nor are there facilities for brewing up [herbal] medicines," he said.



Ge was detained in September 2016 on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power," and later formally arrested on the same charge.



His wife Lu Guoying was detained at the same time on public order charges and later released on bail.



"When the lawyer went to visit him last month, [my husband] told the lawyer that he could feel some kind of discharge in the ear where the surgery was," Lu told RFA.



"His thyroid gland has also gotten bigger, and he can't swallow. He has made an application to be fed rice gruel."



Lu said Ge's lawyer had applied to the court for his release on bail in June, but has yet to receive a response.



'Dragging their feet'



Ge was indicted on subversion charges in April, but no trial date has yet been set. According to Lu, the process has been delayed by her husband's refusal to fire his lawyer and accept an officially appointed one instead.



She said the charges against him were linked to his public support for another activist.



"He received the indictment on April 16, and the trial should have taken place by July 16 at the latest, according to law," Lu said. "Now they are dragging their feet, mainly because Ge Jueping hired a lawyer of his own, and refused to have a lawyer hired by the government."



She said the authorities are basing the case against him partly on his public support for evictee Fan Mugen, who was jailed for eight years in May 2015 for killing two of the demolition team sent to destroy his home.



Another reason was Ge's support for four prominent rights lawyers who traveled to Jiansanjiang city near the Russian border to investigate claims that the Falun Gong practitioners were being held illegally in a "black jail," or extrajudicial detention center, Lu said.



They were detained for more than two weeks before being released, with two of them detailing extreme physical abuse while in detention and a third describing torture while in custody.



The indictment also cited Ge's criticism of the police killing of a petitioner at the Qing'an railway station in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang in May 2015, amid widespread public doubts about the credibility of the governments investigation of the shooting, Lu said.



She said she believes that none of her husband's action amounted to incitement to subversion.



Veteran evictee



The initial protest in support of Fan Mugen and related detentions came in the immediate wake of mass detentions and security operations around the G20 Summit in nearby Hangzhou, and some of the Suzhou activists were accused of making "politically sensitive" posts to social media during the summit.



Retired People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldier Fan Mugen was found guilty of "intentional wounding" by the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court following his trial in February 2015, and jailed for eight years.



Fan's case is politically sensitive as it comes amid growing public anger over the use of violent forced evictions, often with no warning or due process, by local governments to reclaim land for lucrative redevelopment or speculation.



Fan attacked two members of a demolition gang that came to evict his family from their home on Dec. 3, 2013, and who he said beat up his wife. The two men later died.



Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong have released an outspoken democracy activist and retired university lecturer and his wife, after holding them under surveillance at a hill resort outside the provincial capital, Jinan.



Sun Wenguang, 84, who has repeatedly criticized the ruling Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, was taken away by police who burst into his home and interrupted a live interview with Voice of America (VOA) TV on Aug. 2.



He was released alongside his wife late on Monday, although the couple will likely remain under surveillance, and with limited freedom to move around or contact others.



"They took us both away for [about] 10 days," Sun told VOA after his return home. "We went to four different guesthouses, some of which had the windows blocked out, so they were basically unofficial jails."



He said the authorities' claim that he had simply taken a vacation was "fake."



"They had ... my wife put out a statement saying we were going on vacation, but that wasn't the case at all," Sun said. "We weren't on vacation; that was just a facade they want to create, with a photograph and everything, just to post online."



Meanwhile, VOA journalist Ye Bing and a news assistant detained as they tried to interview Sun after his return home were released in the early hours of Tuesday.



Repeated calls to Sun's cell phone and landline rang unanswered on Tuesday.



An officer who answered the phone at the Shanda Road police station near Sun's Shandong University in Jinan declined to comment.



"I can't tell you that," the officer said. "I have no way of confirming your identity."



Terror tactics



Yang Sen-hong, president of the Taiwan Association for China Human Rights, accused the authorities of trying to "terrorize" Sun.



"These are basically terror tactics," Yang told RFA. "The authorities are now so weak that they even fear the words of a man like Sun Wenguang, who has been a scholar all his life."



"This incident shows just how influential Sun Wenguang is in China," he said, adding that Sun's detention was likely ordered at the highest level.



"I don't think the state security police in Shandong were targeting the wrong person," he said. "This is national-level policy, and had all the power of the state behind it."



A friend of Sun's who gave only her surname Hu said that international media attention may have contributed to the couple's return home.



"Yes, I do think that it puts pressure [on Beijing], because they do listen to these opinions from the international community, whether they are good or bad," she said.



"Of course [international attention] brings some pressure to bear; we just don't really know to what extent, or to what degree."



Sun's outspoken views resulted in a jail term during the political turmoil and violence of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) under late supreme leader Mao Zedong.



Sun was among countless intellectuals and professionals in that era locked up in "cow-pens" while their jobs were taken over by the "revolutionary masses."



In a statement on Monday, the U.S. State Department expressed "deep concern" over Sun's detention.



"We strongly condemn China's worsening abuse of human rights, in particular the suppression of the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly and the unlawful detention of activists, lawyers, journalists, and civil-society leaders seeking to defend those freedoms," a State Department spokesperson said.



"We continue to call on China to allow all individuals to express their views without fear of retribution and for journalists to do their jobs without interference."



Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Hong Kong pro-independence politician Chan Ho-tin (C), also known as Andy Chan, talks to reporters after delivering a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong, Aug. 14, 2018.

The Hong Kong government on Tuesday hit out at the city's Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) after it went ahead with plans to allow a pro-independence politician to speak at a lunch event in the face of widespread criticism from ruling Chinese Communist Party officials and supporters.

Chan Ho-tin, also known as Andy Chan, who heads the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party (HKNP), gave his lunchtime address to the club in spite of warnings and threats from Hong Kong officials, and amid calls for the government to evict the club from its premises in the downtown Central district.

"It is totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any person to openly promote and advocate the independence of Hong Kong," a government spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday. "As such, it is also totally inappropriate and unacceptable for any organization to provide a public platform to espouse such views."

Chan's political views are a "direct affront to the national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China," the statement said.

Under the terms of the 1997 handover agreement, Hong Kong was promised the continuation of its existing freedoms of speech, association and publication for 50 years, and the FCC brushed aside any suggestion that Chan should have been denied a platform because of his political views.

"Hosting such events does not mean that we at the FCC either endorse or oppose the views of our speakers," the club's first vice-president Victor Mallet told journalists at the event. "Our bottom line is freedom of speech and freedom of the press."

"As long as that's legal, then we're legal," he said.

Earlier, the club's board of directors posted a statement that was unavailable on Tuesday, as the FCC's main site was offline.

"Were working on getting the site back up ASAP!" the FCC said via its Twitter account.

Meanwhile, Chan said there was scant legal basis for objecting to his speech.

"If I really have broken any law, then the government really should arrest me immediately, rather than seeking to put pressure on the foreign media," Chan told reporters at the event. "They [don't want] the foreign media to report anything that has to do with Hong Kong independence or sovereignty, because that would give a platform to those ideas."

"They want to set a precedent, so that the local media doesn't dare to report it either, or to invite me onto programs to be interviewed," he said.

Chan said the moves to silence him and his party by preventing the HKNP from registering as a civil society or company had little basis in current Hong Kong law.

"This is a political matter, and of course the government is going to ban us," he said. "If the pursuit of human rights, liberty and dignity is treason, or if it's said to be harming state security, then we have no choice but to harm it."

FCC turned a blind eye

Pro-Beijing lawmakers called on Tuesday for the government to terminate the FCC's lease on its premises early, while some said the club should be banned in the city.

Junius Ho told government broadcaster RTHK that the club could run afoul of existing "sedition" legislation under section 10 of the Crimes Ordinance.

"Assisting anyone who publicizes seditious statements in Hong Kong would also be subject to prosecution under section 10 of the Crimes Ordinance," Ho told the station.

"The FCC, knowing full well the background of the case, turned a blind eye and chose to ignore the situation, and I think they are stepping on very thin ice," he said.

Former Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who now holds a high-ranking advisory post in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has made repeated reference to the club's lease in comments on Facebook this month.

Chan said Leung's comments "definitely constitute a threat."

The FCC said in an Aug. 6 statement that Hong Kong "rightly prides itself" in its rule of law and freedom of speech.

"We believe that in free societies such as Hong Kong it is vitally important to allow people to speak and debate freely, even if one does not agree with their particular views," it said.

Moves by the Hong Kong government to ban the HKNP, which advocates independent status for the city, have been widely criticized as representing the end of its traditional freedom of speech and association.

Hong Kong police have gathered more than 700 documents as "evidence" supporting their call to ban the Hong Kong National Party, citing many public speeches and comments made by Chan.

Critics have hit out at the government for criminalizing speech in the city, which was promised the continuation of its existing way of life for 50 years, under the terms of the 1997 handover to China.

The Hong Kong government shelved its initial bid to bring in subversion and sedition laws following a mass street protest of around half a million people in 2003, but the ruling Chinese Communist Party has said it expects the administration to introduce a new bill to Hong Kongs Legislative Council (LegCo).

Under the United Nations-endorsed Johannesburg Principles governing national security and human rights law, restrictions to freedom of speech on the grounds of national security aren't legitimate if they seek to "entrench a particular ideology," rather than to stave off a violent threat of a military or internal nature.

Reported by Lam Kwok-lap for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Rohingya refugees from Myanmar line up at an aid relief distribution center at the Balukhali refugee camp near Cox's Bazar in southeastern Bangladesh, Aug. 12, 2018.

Myanmar political analysts on Tuesday expressed doubts about the success of an agreement between the government and two United Nations agencies that lays out the responsibilities of the parties in the return and resettlement of Rohingya refugees to violence-ridden Rakhine state.

Myanmars Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population signed a confidential MoU with the United Nations development (UNDP) and refugee (UNHCR) agencies on June 6.

RFAs Myanmar Service obtained a copy of the draft document outlining the general principles and the scope of the parties cooperation in returning and reintegrating some of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled northern Rakhine state after brutal crackdowns by security forces in October 2016 and August 2017.

The U.N., United States, and rights groups have said the latter crackdown amounted to ethnic cleansing, if not genocide, and the International Criminal Court is weighing whether it can exercise jurisdiction over the countrys alleged deportation of Rohingya to neighboring Bangladesh.

Ba Shein, a lawmaker from the Arakan National Party, which represents the interest of Rakhine ethnics in multiethnic Rakhine state, criticized the MoU for not taking into account input from Buddhist Rakhine communities.

This MoU is not in accordance with what the Myanmar people want, especially the needs of the ethnic Rakhine people, he told RFA, adding that the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) government signed the MoU out of fear of reprisal by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries.

In May, the worlds top Islamic intergovernmental body condemned Myanmars military for targeting Rohingya Muslims in what it called systematic ethnic cleansing during the crackdown that began in August 2017, which forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, and called on its 57 member-states to exert pressure on Naypyidaw over this.

The OICs Council of Foreign Ministers also formed a special committee to handle allegations of human rights violations carried out against the Rohingya.

It seems Myanmars government has signed several MoUs and memorandums of action because it is afraid of the OIC countries interference along with that of Western countries and the U.N., he said.

Ba Shein also cautioned that there would likely be disagreements and difficulties over the places where the returning Rohingya refugees want to live in Rakhine state and where the governments wants to resettle them.

According to the MoU, refugees who voluntarily return to the country from neighboring Bangladesh will be sent to their original places of residence or to a secure place of their choice nearest to those locations.

Rakhine ethnics, however, fear that the returning refugees will encroach upon their territory.

We Rakhine ethnics dont have sovereignty; the Myanmar government and Myanmar leaders have it, Ba Shein said. When we lose our land, livelihoods, and our cultural and religious heritage because of these MoUs, the one who will lose its sovereignty is the Myanmar government.

No solution to the crisis

Tun Khin, chairman of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, also cast doubt upon the MoU.

We welcome the MoU, but I dont think it will work because it is not transparent and doesnt contain a solution [to the crisis], he told RFA.

These refugees want to return home as citizens under the protection of international organizations, he said. The Myanmar government must give them rights equal to those of other ethnic groups, such as the rights to education, travel, marriage, doing business, and working in government departments.

The Rohingya will trust the Myanmar government only if they get these rights, he said.

Myanmar views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and systematically discriminates against them by denying them citizenship, freedom of movement, and access to educations, jobs, and health care.

The MoU says the returning refugees will have the same freedom of movement as other Myanmar nationals in Rakhine state, but makes no mention of the possibility of granting them citizenship or of the government providing them access to basic services.

Nanda Hla Myint, spokesman for the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said that despite pressure from the international community on Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis, his party has always suggested that the government handle the repatriation process according to existing laws and signed MoUs.

The governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an MoU in November 2017 to repatriate Rohingya refugees, though the start of the program has been beset by delays.

Nanda Hla Myint also noted that the government should adhere to Myanmars 1982 Citizenship Law when dealing with the returning refugees.

The law sets out a citizenship verification process but does not recognize the Rohingya as one of the countrys official ethnic minorities, so that members of the group cannot obtain government documentation by identifying themselves as such.

We have suggested this because there can be terrorists among the returned refugees, and they can threaten local peoples lives and livelihood, he said.

Deadly attacks on border guard stations and police outposts by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a Muslim militant group, in October 2016 and November 2017 sparked the crackdowns on Rohingya communities by Myanmar security forces.

Living simply and freely

Maung Maung Ohn, the ethnic Bamar former chief minister of Rakhine state from 2014 to 2016, told RFA that the resettlement plan for the returning Rohingya must have the support of ethnic Rakhine communities in order to succeed.

The Rakhine people want to live simply and freely in their territory, but at least they have to get along with other people, even though they dont want to live together, he said.

When we are trying to choose a compatible way, the Rakhine ethnics have to accept it, the government has to control them, and the international community has to operate within this framework, he said.

The comments come as Bangladeshs Foreign Minister Abdul Hassan Mahmood Ali wrapped up a four-day visit to Rakhine state to discuss issues related to the repatriation of the Rohingya. Ali and a Bangladeshi delegation also visited resettlement villages in Rakhine to verify Myanmars preparation for the planned repatriation of the refugees.

Bangladesh wants the refugees to return, and Myanmar wants to receive them, Maung Maung Ohn said. The two countries have no problems with it, but the refugees must have the willingness to return home and must pass through the repatriation process step by step.

If they agree to do it step by step, then I believe the Myanmar government is ready to receive them and will work for them accordingly, he said. The important thing is that they need to return. If they dont start coming, the move will not work.

Reported by Nay Rein Kyaw and Khin Khin Ei for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Authorities in northwestern Chinas Qinghai province have released a Tibetan man jailed for six years for sharing information on self-immolation protests with outside contacts, Tibetan sources say.



Namkha Jam, 56, was freed on Aug. 10 and returned to his home in Jangkya village in the Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures Rebgong county, a local source told RFAs Tibetan Service.



No word was immediately available on Jams state of health following his release.



Jam, who had worked as a teacher for 30 years in Rebgong, was arrested by Chinese police in 2012, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



They had accused him of sending information about protests to people outside the area, the source said.



In 2013, the Malho Peoples Intermediate Court convicted him of inciting separatism and sentenced him to six years in prison, to be followed by three years deprivation of political rights, he said.



Sentenced at the same time as Jam were three other TibetansYangkyab Gyal, who was given a six-year term, Chagthar, who was given a four-year term, and Gonpo, who was given a three-year termwho had also been charged with inciting separatism, the source said.



Accusations made against the four included charges they had sent photographs of self-immolation protests challenging Chinese rule to Tibetan separatist organizations outside and inside Tibet, sources said in earlier reports.



Chinese authorities had tightened controls in Tibet and in Tibetan prefectures of Chinese provinces to check the fiery protests, cutting communication links with outside areas and jailing Tibetans they believed were linked to the burnings.



Sporadic demonstrations challenging Beijing's rule have continued in Tibetan-populated areas of China since widespread protests swept the region in 2008.



Reported by Palden Gyal for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Police in central Chinas Henan province have arrested a Chinese landlord who rented his home to three ethnic Uyghurs without approval from the police, charging him with violating safety precautions under a provision of Chinas Counter-Terrorism Law.



The landlord, a Han Chinese identified by the surname Zhao in a police notice obtained by RFAs Uyghur Service, had rented his home in Zhenping countys Shifosi village to three Uyghur bread-sellers, and was turned in to police by an area resident.



On Aug. 8, 2018, at 8:40 p.m., our police station received a report from a civilian revealing that someone in Shifosi village had privately rented out his house to some Xinjiang Uyghurs, the notice reads.



This act is identified as a violation of Article 91 of the Counter-Terrorism Law of the Peoples Republic of China, the notice said.



The Uyghursidentified in the police notice as Wali MIjit, Jinishahan Haliq, and Tursun Zayitwere not detained, and only Zhao was taken into custody, a police officer at the Shifosi station told RFA in a telephone interview.



The Uyghurs werent arrested. We only arrested the landlord, the officer said, adding that the three men were advised by police to return as soon as possible to their homes in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Republic (XUAR).



Of course, we will definitely inform the Xinjiang police about their situation, he said.



'Refusal to cooperate'



Article 91 of Chinas Counter-Terrorism Law, approved in December 2015 and put into force early the next year, punishes refusal to cooperate with relevant departments counter-terrorism safety precautions, levying fines of from 2,000 to 10,000 yuan, and from 5 to 15 days of detention in cases where serious consequences are caused.



No mention is made in the law of prohibitions against renting to Uyghurs, but the racial profiling and banning of ethnic minorities has been a common practice in Chinese guesthouses and hotels, especially in the run-up to important international gatherings hosted by China, sources say.



Speaking to RFA, Uyghur American Association president Ilshat Hasan said that the expulsion of the Uyghurs from their rented home in Henan and the arrest of their Han Chinese landlord show that Chinas Counter-Terrorism Law is applied mostly to Uyghurs.



This tells us that the Uyghur people themselves are regarded as the enemy of China, he said.



China regularly conducts strike hard campaigns in Xinjiang, including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people, including videos and other material.



While China blames some Uyghurs for "terrorist" attacks, experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from the Uyghurs and that repressive domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence there that has left hundreds dead since 2009.



Reported and translated by Kurban Niyaz for RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The executive editor of Vietnams official Tuoi Tre newspaper, which was recently suspended for publishing fake news, is facing punishment after he posted an article on social media said to promote divisions between the northern and southern halves of the country.



Executive editor Nguyen Ngoc Vinh had penned an editorial on his Facebook page last month entitled The [ruling Communist] Partys Chief Must be From The North And Have Strong Ideology, prompting the newspapers leadership to order him to write a self-criticism by July 7 for encouraging discord in Vietnam.



After he refused to write the self-criticism, his supervisors wrote him a letter dated July 26which Vinh posted a copy of to his Facebook page on Sundaysaying that his article violated Vietnams laws and Tuoi Tres internal rules because it gave some indication of dividing regions and undermining the peoples unity.



The article was not true, fabricated, and disrespects a number of organizations and individuals, the letter said, adding that the newspapers management is currently reviewing his case and will issue a punishment.



Vinh on Tuesday dismissed the letters claims, telling RFAs Vietnamese Service that the allegations lacked evidence and saying he had done nothing wrong.



I have abided by all laws and Tuoi Tres internal rules, he said.



They not only quoted the rules of Tuoi Tre, but also other legal documents and 10 ethics that journalists must follow, to prove that I am wrong, but I disagree.



He noted that many Vietnamese journalists write articles on social media about topics they think are difficult to convey through official media.



Site shut down



The accusations against Vinh came a week after authorities shut down Tuoi Tres online news site for three months, accusing the popular media outlet of spreading fake news and promoting division between North and South Vietnam.



The July 16 decision by Luu Dinh Phuc, head of the Media Department of Vietnams Ministry of Information and Communication, cited especially a June 19 article saying that Vietnams president had called for a law allowing public protests, calling the story false, local media said.



Meanwhile, a May 26, 2017 Tuoi Tre story had drawn a reader comment suggesting an absence of superhighway development projects in southern Vietnams Mekong Delta was due to regional bias on the part of officials in the countrys north, an opinion that officials said promoted disunity in the country.



Tuoi Tre was also handed a fine of 220 million Vietnamese dong (U.S. $9,500 approx.), and only the newspapers online version was affected by the suspension, media reports said.



Speaking on condition of anonymity, a journalist working in Vietnam described the governments action against Tuoi Tre as a landmark in the states restrictions on free speech, saying, For the press, this is an historical event, because Tuoi Tre is a symbol of the press in Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City] in particular, and more generally in Vietnam itself.



Tight controls



Around 900 official media outlets operate in Vietnam under the oversight of the Central Committee for Propaganda and Training, according to the Ministry of Information and Communication.



Dissent is not tolerated in the Communist nation and authorities routinely use a set of vague provisions in the penal code to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.



Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in April that while Vietnams traditional media are completely controlled  citizen-journalists defend the freedom to inform with great courageand the governments response has been merciless.



In September 2015, Do Hung, the deputy executive editor of the official Thanh Nien newspapers online edition, was demoted and his journalism license revoked after he posted a joke about Communist revolutionary leader founder Ho Chi Minh and late war hero Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap on his Facebook page to mark Vietnams National Day.



Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
As the United States reinstates crippling economic sanctions on Iran, Washington's ally in the region, Afghanistan, could become collateral damage.

A first wave of U.S. sanctions against Iran that had been eased under a 2015 nuclear deal went back into effect on August 7, targeting the country's economy.

But Washington's censures of Tehran will also hurt Afghanistan, which has forged increasingly strong economic links with its western neighbor.

As Iran's financial woes worsen, an exodus of Afghan migrant workers is expected and an economy in Afghanistan that relies on remittances flowing in from Iran will suffer.

The new U.S. sanctions could also lead to landlocked Afghanistan losing access to Iran's sea routes and a budding trade could be scaled back.

Analysts also warn that Iran could retaliate to U.S. sanctions by ramping up its covert support for the Afghan Taliban, the militant group that has fought against U.S. forces since 2001.

"Afghanistan is at risk of becoming an unintended casualty of heightening tensions between Washington and Tehran," says Ahmad Majidyar, the director of the IranObserved Project at the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

In May, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal that eased international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. A second wave of U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector and financial system will be reinstated in November.

'Significant Decline' In Economy

A record 440,000 Afghans migrants left Iran this year, with nearly half of them returning to their homeland voluntarily, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The IOM says the mass exodus has been largely driven by Iran's crippling economic crisis, which has sent unemployment soaring and the national currency plummeting, hitting migrant workers particularly hard.

The demand for work in the informal economy, where most Afghans are active, has declined sharply. Iran's currency, the rial, has weakened against the afghani and is at record lows against the U.S. dollar, which is widely used in Afghanistan.

"As all Afghans [living in Iran] typically send home the main parts of their earnings in the form of monthly remittances, the Afghan economy itself will suffer direct and immediate effects," says Nick Bishop, emergency-response officer for IOM Afghanistan.

Afghanistan suffers from around 40 percent unemployment, is heavily dependent on dwindling foreign aid, and is in the midst of the worst drought in decades. Humanitarian groups say the returnees from Iran, should they stay, could exacerbate the problems Afghanistan is facing.

"[There will be] less money coming from working males who are instead returning home to [Afghanistan] to few jobs, combined with an ongoing drought and resource competition with other returnees will mean a significant decline in the economy, worsening impacts of the drought linked to migration, and potentially the conflict itself," Bishop adds.

'Undercut Regional Connectivity'

Pakistan has historically been Afghanistan's biggest trading partner but Iran has now taken its place. Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce and Industries said in March that trade between the two countries in the past year amounted to nearly $2 billion, an almost 30 percent increase from the previous year. In comparison, trade with Pakistan amounted to $1.2 billion.

Afghanistan's economic future is also linked with Tehran via Iran's Chabahar port complex, a project that is part of a new transportation corridor for Afghanistan that could potentially open the way for millions of dollars in trade and cut its dependence on rival Pakistan, its neighbor to the east.

The project is a key part of developing the Afghan economy, a major goal of the U.S. strategy to end the United States' longest war.

But the project could be derailed by U.S. sanctions. "The return of U.S. sanctions on Iran undercut Afghanistan's regional-connectivity ambitions, as the sanctions make it harder for India to develop Iran's Chabahar port," analyst Majidyar says.

Afghanistan has applied for a sanctions waiver for Chabahar, but Washington has yet to make a final decision.

Washington has indicated that it would not sabotage the Chabahar port project. The Pentagon and the U.S. State Department have encouraged India to use Chabahar to increase its investments in Afghanistan.

"But as U.S. sanctions on Iran are reinstated, many Indian and international companies would be reluctant to be involved in the project, fearing U.S. secondary sanctions," Majidyar adds.

Those secondary sanctions include existing U.S. sanctions linked to Iran's human rights record, alleged support for terrorism, and its ballistic-missile program that forbid U.S. and foreign companies from doing most forms of business with Tehran. Secondary sanctions could leave big banks and multinational companies worried they could still be prosecuted for doing business in Iran.

'Covert Support For Taliban'

Analysts also warn that U.S. sanctions on Iran could have security ramifications for Afghanistan. "The big risk for Afghanistan of U.S. sanctions on Iran is that Tehran could retaliate by ramping up its covert support for the Taliban," says Michael Kugelman, South Asia associate at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.

Iran has been long been accused of providing support to the Taliban, an allegation it denies. Tehran has confirmed it has contacts with the Taliban but insists that it is aimed at ensuring the safety of its citizens in Afghanistan and encouraging the Taliban to join peace talks.

"Iran has already provided small arms and other support to the insurgents, and the sanctions regime could give it a powerful incentive to increase that support in an effort to strengthen Washington's enemy," Kugelman adds.

Rising support from a powerful regional actor would be a blow to Kabul and Washington, who are trying to convince the Taliban to agree to a negotiated end to the 17-year-long war.
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharian has been released from a pretrial detention facility after the country's Court of Appeals ruled that he cannot be prosecuted for the 2008 postelection violence in Yerevan.

Ruben Sahakian, Kocharian's defense lawyer, said on August 13 that the appeal courts decision was based on Article 140 of the constitution that states, "During the term of his or her powers and thereafter, the president of the republic may not be prosecuted and subjected to liability for actions deriving from his or her status."

Kocharian, 63, was arrested in July after he was charged with involvement in a postelection crackdown in which 10 people, including two police officers, were killed.

Kocharian has denied charges of "overthrowing Armenia's constitutional order," calling them politically motivated.

Kocharian's arrest came as the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has stepped up legal action against officials linked to the previous government.

The case dates back to late February and early March 2008 in the wake of a disputed election to determine Kocharian's successor.

Kocharian's ally, Serzh Sarkisian, was declared the winner, angering the opposition and setting off 10 days of nonstop protests that led to the deadly crackdown.

Pashinian's administration has also brought cases against several other former officials and close relatives of Sarkisians family for a variety of alleged crimes.

Pashinian, an anticorruption campaigner, was elected prime minister in May, after weeks of mass protests against graft and cronyism.
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has disputed whether the 1995 Srebrenica massacre was a genocide committed against Muslim Bosniaks, and called for the forming of an "unbiased" international investigation into the tragedy.

"The Srebrenica crime is a staged tragedy with an aim to satanize the Serbs," Dodik told the National Assembly in Bosnia-Herzegovina's predominantly Serbian entity, Republika Srpska.

Dodik on August 14 demanded that the legislature revoke the 2004 report compiled by a previous Republika Srpska government, when Dodik was in the opposition. He also called for a new investigation into the events that occurred in the Podrinje region, where Srebrenica is located, during the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

Dodik's call was seen as an attempt to secure the support of hard-line Bosnian Serbs ahead of general elections in October.

Sehida Abdurahmanovic, a member of the Mothers of Srebrenica rights association, called Dodik's move "shameful and inhumane toward the victims."

Some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces who overran the town of Srebrenica in July 1995, during the Bosnian war. It was the worst mass killing in Europe since the end of World War II.

In 2007, the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled that the killings were genocide.

But Dodik disputed that, alleging that the number of those killed was manipulated.

"Many of those buried were killed in fighting and on that list [of buried victims] there are people still alive," he added.

The UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which is also based in The Hague, has sentenced Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic and his military commander, Ratko Mladic, over the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities during the war.

With reporting by AP and dpa
The European Union has welcomed the decision by an Azerbaijani court to release opposition politician Ilqar Mammadov after more than five years in prison.

"The European Union has been following Mammadov's case very closely together with the Council of Europe," said a statement by Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Mammadov, the leader of the opposition Republican Alternative (REAL) party, was released from prison on August 13 after serving more than five years of his seven-year term.

"The European Union expects the unconditional release and rehabilitation of all those currently imprisoned or under restriction of movement in Azerbaijan on political grounds in line with Azerbaijan's international commitments as a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe," Kocijancic said on August 14.

A court of appeals in the northern city of Saki ruled on August 13 that Mammadov's remaining prison term must be suspended.

The court also ruled that Mammadov be given a two-year probation period during which he will not be allowed to leave the country.

Mammadov called the ruling "not a complete victory," saying that that he and his lawyers had demanded "a full acquittal."

Mammadov was arrested in February 2013 and charged with helping organize riots in the town of Ismayilli, northwest of Baku. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2014.

The opposition leader has insisted that the case against him was politically motivated.

In April, the REAL opposition movement announced it was now a political party but said it would not seek formal registration by the state.

Rights groups and Western governments have urged the Azerbaijani authorities to release Mammadov and other political prisoners in the oil-rich South Caucasus country for years, and criticized the former Soviet republic's government for persistent clampdowns targeting independent journalists and rights defenders.

President Ilham Aliyev, who has ruled the Caucasus nation of almost 10 million people with an iron fist since shortly before his father's death in 2003, has shrugged off the criticism.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
Peter Strzok, an FBI agent who was removed from an investigation of ties between Russia and U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign over anti-Trump text messages, has been fired by the agency, his lawyer said.

Strzok, who in private text messages once called Trump a "disaster," was fired late last week by FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, attorney Aitan Goelman, said on August 13.

Goelman claimed that the 21-year veteran of the FBI was removed because of political pressure over his politically charged texts, and to "punish" him for "political speech protected by the First Amendment" of the Constitution.

Goelman also said the FBI had overruled the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility, or OPR, which he said had determined that a 60-day suspension and demotion from supervisory duties was "the appropriate punishment."

Trump and his allies in Congress seized on Strzok's texts -- which called Trump an "idiot," a "menace," and "loathsome" during his election campaign -- saying they showed the FBI's Russia investigation was tainted by political bias.

In a statement on August 13, the FBI said Strzok was subject to a standard FBI disciplinary process and defended Bowdich's decision to overrule the OPR, saying he has the authority to do so when it is in "the best interest of the FBI."

Strzok, whose texts were mostly exchanged with FBI lawyer Lisa Page, defended himself at a combative House hearing in July.

Strzok repeatedly insisted the texts, including one in which he said "we'll stop" Trump from getting elected, did not reflect political bias and had not affected his work.

Trump had called for Strzok's ouster, and in a tweet on August 13, called him a "bad player" who had "finally" been fired.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Four Azerbaijani citizens have been sentenced by a Kazakh court to six months in prison on charges of illegally fishing within Kazakhstan's territorial waters of the Caspian Sea.

The Qaraqiya district court in the western Manghystau region said on August 14 that the Azeris, whose identities were not disclosed, were found guilty of illegal border crossing and illegally fishing for sturgeon in Kazakhstan's territorial waters.

The court also ruled that the four men will not be allowed to enter Kazakhstan for five years after they complete their prison terms.

Kazakh border guards apprehended the four men in March. Authorities said then that the border guards had to use firearms to stop and detain them.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan signed a new convention on August 12 on the legal status of the resource-rich Caspian Sea -- a matter disputed between the five neighbors for more than 20 years.

A draft of the agreement, posted briefly on Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's website in June and obtained by RFE/RL, suggested that the countries would agree the Caspian was a sea rather than a lake.

That means the five countries would draw lines extending from their shores to the midway point with littoral neighbors. Classifying it as a lake would mean the resources would be divided equally among those five countries.

Debates on whether the Caspian is a sea or a lake have been ongoing since the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991, leaving five countries with shorelines on the inland sea instead of two -- the Soviet Union and Iran.

Based on reporting by Lada.kz and KazTAG
Russian officials say four Russian mountaineers are in very serious condition at a hospital in Dushanbe after a deadly August 13 helicopter accident in Tajikistan's Pamir Mountains.

The Russian Embassy in Dushanbe said four of the 10 Russian mountaineers who survived the crash sustained "very serious" injuries.

Tajikistan's State Emergency Committee said earlier that three Russian mountaineers -- Aleksandr Abrosimov, Ruslan Tarakanov, and Timur Barabanov -- were killed in the crash along with two Tajik members of the helicopter crew.

The committee said the Mi-8 helicopter was carrying 13 Russians, one Belarusian, and one Spanish mountaineer after they reached the Ismoili Somoni peak, the highest in the former Soviet Union. The Belarusian and Spanish mountaineers both survived but were also hospitalized.

Tajik authorities say bad weather conditions may have contributed to the accident.

The Interior Ministry said it launched investigations into what it described as the helicopter's "crash-landing."

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has expressed condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the crash.

With reporting by TASS and Interfax
Iran has unveiled a next generation short-range ballistic missile and vowed to further boost its capabilities, defying U.S. demands to stop the development of such sophisticated weapons.

Iranian state media reported on August 13 that the new Fateh-e Mobin, or "Bright Conqueror," missile has "successfully passed its tests" and can strike targets on both land and sea.

"As promised to our dear people, we will not spare any effort to increase the missile capabilities of the country, and we will certainly increase our missile power every day," Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on state media.

"Nothing can stop this missile because of its high degree of flexibility," Hatami said, adding that the new version of the Fateh Mobin was "100-percent domestically made...agile, stealth, tactical, [and] precision-guided."

"Be sure that the greater the pressures and psychological warfare against the great nation of Iran, our will to enhance our defense power in all fields will increase," he said.

Hatami did not mention the new missile's range, but previous versions had a range of around 200 to 300 kilometers, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think-tank in Washington.

U.S. officials told Fox News last week that a "Fateh-110 missile" was test-fired by Iran during naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz last week.

Sending A Message?

A U.S. general described the exercises as designed to send a message as Washington prepared to impose a first round of sanctions against Iran on August 7 after withdrawing from its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in April.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iran to negotiate a new nuclear deal that would entirely rid Iran of nuclear weapons capability and also curb its development of ballistic missiles, which has been a point of contention between Tehran and Washington for years.

Iran's announcement about the new Fateh missile came on the same day that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei officially rejected Trump's call for direct talks with Washington over a new nuclear deal. At the same time, Khamenei ruled out getting into a war with the United States.

"Along with sanctions, Americans have recently raised two more options: war and talks," Khamenei said on state television. "War will not happen and we will not enter talks."

Khamenei said recent talk out of Washington has "exaggerated the possibility of a war with Iran."

"We have never started a war, and they will not confront Iran militarily," he said.

But "America's withdrawal from the nuclear deal is clear proof that America cannot be trusted" to negotiate a new deal, Khamenei said. "I ban holding any talks with America."

The United States and its European allies have opposed Iran's missile development program in part because it poses a threat to Westerm allies in the region such as Saudi Arabia and Israel.

But Iran has insisted that the missiles are only to be used for defensive purposes.

With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Reuters


The presidents of Serbia and Kosovo have said they may consider changes to their joint borders as a way out of a diplomatic impasse, two decades after fighting a war. Some local residents in the area worry it might actually exacerbate lingering ethnic tensions.
Hundreds of villagers in northwestern Pakistan staged an angry protest against the killing of a local man in a police operation on August 14. The residents of a village in the Swabi district placed the dead body on a road and staged a sit-in. They demanded that the government arrest the police officers responsible for the killing.
YEREVAN -- Dozens of protesters have disrupted plans for a press conference by former Armenian President Robert Kocharian, a day after his release from a detention facility where he was awaiting trial on charges of "overthrowing Armenia's constitutional order."

Kocharian cancelled the August 14 event at the Erebuni Plaza business center in Yerevan after dozens of protesters entered the building and occupied the room where the press conference was to be held.

About 100 people also rallied outside the building in protest against the decision by the Armenian Court of Appeals to release Kocharian from pre-trial detention.

Ruben Sahakian, Kocharian's defense lawyer, said the courts decision was based on Article 140 of the constitution. It states: "During the term of his or her powers and thereafter, the President of the Republic may not be prosecuted and subjected to liability for actions deriving from his or her status."

Kocharian. 63, was arrested in July on charges that he was involved in a 2008 post-election crackdown by authorities in which 10 people, including two police officers, were killed.

Kocharian denies the charges, calling them politically motivated.

Earlier on August 14, protesters rallied in front of the Prosecutor-General's Office to demand that Kocharian be rearrested. The demonstrators included relatives of those killed during the 2008 crackdown.

Kocharian's arrest in July came as the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian steps up legal action against officials linked to the previous government.

The case against Kocharian dates back to late February and early March 2008 following a disputed election to determine Kocharian's successor.

Kocharian's ally, Serzh Sarkisian, was declared the winner. That angered the opposition and set off 10 days of nonstop protests that culminated in the deadly crackdown.

Pashinian's administration has also brought cases against several other former officials and close relatives of Sarkisians family.

Pashinian, an anticorruption campaigner, was elected prime minister in May after weeks of mass protests against corruption and cronyism.
Romania has opened an investigation into alleged police violence at a mass protest against the government last week that left hundreds of people injured, prosecutors said as protests continued for a fourth day on August 13.

As many as 80,000 people -- many of them Romanians living abroad who had returned home for the protests -- demonstrated late on August 10 in Bucharest, accusing the government of corruption and urging it to resign.

To disperse the crowd, police used water cannons, tear gas, pepper spray, and batons, leaving more than 450 people injured, including 30 police, and around 30 arrested. The incident prompted widespread criticism both in Romania and from the European Union.

"Until now we have received about 30 complaints, and my colleagues are interviewing those who were injured," military prosecutor Ionel Corbu said on August 13, adding that "all those suspected to have acted against the law" will be questioned.

Prosecutors will also analyze videos of the security forces interacting with the media and demonstrators, some of which were posted on social media showing violence at the end of the protests on August 13.

Smaller, more peaceful demonstrations were held on August 11 and 12 in cities around Romania, and the protests continued for a fourth straight day on August 13, with around 2,000 people rallying in the center of Bucharest.

Police have said they responded to the protests last week in a "gradual and proportionate" manner and blamed the violence on what they said were dozens of hooligans who tried to break the police cordon in Bucharest and threw rocks and water bottles at security forces.

'Inconceivable In A European State'

Romania's center-right President Klaus Iohannis, a critic of the leftwing government, in a televised message on August 13 again condemned "the brutal intervention of the police."

"To attack innocent people, journalists, women, and children, is inconceivable in a European state," said Iohannis.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country currently holds the EU rotating presidency, also criticized the clashes, in which a cameraman for Austria's public broadcaster was injured.

Monica Macovei, a former Romanian justice minister and member of the European Parliament, also decried the violence on August 13 and called for an investigation in a statement quoted by Hotnews.ro.

"A state battering its citizens is a criminal state and a dictatorship. Prosecutors need to investigate impartially and swiftly, and sue all the culprits," she said.

EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova urged the Romanian government on August 13 to rethink recent changes to the justice system that led to the widespread protests.

Protesters have cited recently passed legislation, which decriminalized some graft violations by politicians.

In a piece in the German newspaper Die Welt, Jourova said the legislation threatens the independence of judges and limits the authority of state prosecutors, thereby undermining public confidence in the justice system.

Romania has seen frequent protests against corruption in the last year and a half, though violence has been rare.

In the last 15 years, around four million Romanians -- many citing government corruption and a lack of economic opportunity -- have left the country to live elsewhere in the EU.

With reporting by dpa, AFP, and RFE/RL's Moldovan Service


Russia has reiterated that the country finished eliminating its chemical arsenal last year, in response to a new U.S. demand that Moscow allow chemical weapons inspectors into the country after the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy.

Russia eliminated its chemical arsenal "under strict international control in full compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on August 13.

The ministry claimed that the United States, not Russia, is now the "only participant in the Chemical Weapons Convention that has significant reserves of military-grade toxic substances."

For that reason, it said the U.S. insistence on Russia allowing inspections "appears especially hypocritical."

In 2017, Russia said that it completed the destruction of some 40,000 tons of chemical weapons that it had declared to the global chemical-weapons watchdog.

But the United States last week said it would expand sanctions against Russia if it does not allow inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to confirm that it no longer has chemical weapons within 90 days of an August 22 deadline.

The U.S. demand was triggered under a 1991 U.S. law governing incidents involving the use of chemical and biological weapons. The law was applied against North Korea in March, for example, after leader Kim Jong Un's brother was killed with the chemical agent VX in Malaysia last year.

Russia: U.S. 'Undermines' Inspectors' Authority

The United States, Britain, and other Western allies have accused the Russian government of being responsible for the near-fatal poisoning in March of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a military-grade nerve agent, Novichok, in the English city of Salisbury.

British Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russia of flouting its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention by running an undeclared chemical weapons program.

Months after the Skripal incident, another English couple fell ill from exposure to Novichok contained in a perfume bottle they found discarded near Salisbury, in an incident British police believe is connected to the Skripal poisonings.

While both Skripals were released after a slow and painful recovery in a Salisbury hospital, the second woman who was exposed to the Novichok died shortly afterwards. Her partner, who found the perfume bottle and unknowingly gave it to her, is recovering.

Russia has repeatedly denied that it was involved in either of the nerve-agent incidents in England. Western nations say that Novichok was originally developed in the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

With reporting by dpa and Interfax


MOSCOW -- A member of Russia's Presidential Advisory Council On Human Rights, Zoya Svetova, says the state of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov's health is "bad" as a result of his three-month hunger strike in a Russian prison.

Svetova made the remarks to RFE/RL on August 14 after she spent two hours visiting with Sentsov at a penal colony in Labytnangi in Russia's northern region of Yamalo-Nenets.

She said her meeting with Sentsov was conducted in the presence of the penal colony's warden and two other police officers.

Svetova said Sentsov himself described his health condition as "precritical," adding that the doctor who treats the filmmaker warned that Sentsov's internal organs may stop functioning any time unless he ends his hunger strike.

"He does not plan to stop the hunger strike," Svetova said. "He believes in his noble goal. He did all he could and says that now everything depends on a political decision. He does not see any other way at this point than to continue his hunger strike."

Svetova's visit came hours after the meeting was approved by Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) on August 14.

A vocal opponent of Russia's 2014 takeover of Crimea, Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted by a Russian court in 2015 of conspiring to commit terrorist acts -- charges he and human rights groups say were politically motivated.

Sentsov, 42, has been on a hunger strike there since mid-May and is demanding that Russia release 64 Ukrainian citizens he considers political prisoners.

He has indicated that he is prepared to die of starvation to press the cause, vowing to continue his protest "to the end."

On August 10, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue of Sentsov's plight during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin promised "to respond and quickly release details on Sentsov's health," the French presidency said.

'Catastrophically Bad' Health

Meanwhile, the European Union on August 10 urged Russian authorities to move Sentsov to a medical facility and give him appropriate medical care.

Sentsov's lawyer, Dmitry Dinze, said on August 10 that Sentsov was "ready to die" and after visiting him on August 7 said his client had lost 30 kilograms.

On August 11, the FSIN rejected Dinze's statement, saying his remarks about Sentsov's losing 30 kilograms "does not correspond to reality," and adding that Sentsov did not require emergency hospitalization.

Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini, said the EU expected Russia "to provide [Sentsov] with appropriate treatment in an institutionalized medical setting."

Sentsov is currently being sustained with water and a drip with glucose and vitamins. In addition to losing 30 kilograms, Dinze also said earlier this week that Sentsov's heart rate had slowed and his red blood cell levels were very low.



A cousin of Sentsov said on August 8 that the filmmaker was in a "catastrophically bad" state of health and could be close to death.



Ukrainian Ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said on August 9 that "rapid actions" were needed to save Sentsov's life.

Several governments and prominent figures have called on Putin to pardon Sentsov. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said he would have to formally request a pardon himself before it could be considered.

Sentsov has said he will not ask for a pardon because he has not committed a crime.

With reporting by RTVi
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has welcomed recent decisions by Tajik authorities to allow two children of exiled dissidents to leave the country and reunite with their families who live abroad.

"Even though the governments actions were very late in coming, it has acted correctly in allowing ordinary Tajik citizens to leave the country," the U.S.-based international rights group said on August 14.

Early in August, Tajik authorities removed 10-year-old Fatima Davlatova, along with her grandmother and uncle, from an international flight just before takeoff. The move stopped them from traveling to Europe to reunite with Fatimas mother, activist Shabnam Hudoidodova.

But on August 11, following an international outcry, Tajik security officers gave the family new flight tickets to make the journey, HRW said.

Tajik authorities had also prevented 4-year-old Ibrohim Hamza from traveling abroad for necessary medical treatment, before giving him and his mother travel documents on August 1.

Hamzas father, Ruhullo Tillozoda, is a leading member of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT).

HRW said Hamza and Davlatova had "effectively been held hostage for years -- banned from leaving the country since a severe human rights crackdown picked up steam in 2015 -- to punish their parents abroad for peaceful political and human rights work.

Allowing the two children to leave Tajikistan "is only the very tip of the iceberg in terms of ending the government's practice of harassing relatives of exiled activists and politicians, or indeed of ending the human rights crisis that has gripped the country for the last three years," HRW said.

The Khujand City Court is scheduled on August 15 to start hearing an appeal from Tajik journalist Hairullo Mirsaidov, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in July for alleged financial crimes.

The 39-year-old Mirsaidov and rights groups have rejected the charges as politically motivated.


Taliban fighters have overrun an Afghan National Army operations base in northern Afghanistan while, further to the south, security forces are battling for a fifth consecutive day against Taliban militants who seized the city of Ghazni.

Defense Ministry spokesman Ghafor Ahmad Jawed said Taliban fighters gained control of the base in the Ghormach district of the northern province of Faryab late on August 13.

Jawed said 17 Afghan soldiers were killed and at least 19 wounded in the battle.

An army spokesman, Mohammad Hanif Rezaee, said 100 Afghan soldiers were at the base, known as Camp Chinaya, when the Taliban began their assault against it on August 12.

"It is a tragedy that the base fell to the enemy," Rezaee said. "Some soldiers were killed, some captured, and some fled to nearby hills."

Hashim Otaq, a member of Afghanistan's parliament who represents Faryab Province, said about 40 Afghan soldiers had been captured by the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 57 Afghan soldiers surrendered to the Taliban and another 17 were captured. He said Taliban fighters seized eight military Humvees -- four-wheeled armored vehicles that had been provided to the Afghan forces by the United States.

Faryab Provincial Council Chief Mohammad Tahir Rahmani said the base fell to the Taliban because the Afghan soldiers did not receive reinforcements and had run out of ammunition, food, and water.

The battle began after the Taliban launched an assault early on August 10 and captured Ghazni, a strategic city located on the main highway linking Kabul with the southern city of Kandahar.

Afghan officials said security forces, backed by air support, later pushed the militants back from most of Ghazni, which is Afghanistan's seventh largest city.

Interior Ministry spokesman Nasart Rahimi said on August 14 that security forces were searching the city of 270,000 people for Taliban fighters.

Ghazni Provincial Council member Nasir Ahmad Faqiri wrote on Facebook that Taliban forces had slowly retreated from within the city to areas on Ghazni's outskirts that are under Taliban control.

However, the militant group said sporadic gunbattles were still ongoing inside the city.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says between 110 and 150 civilians reportedly have been killed or injured in the fighting, adding that the number of civilian casualties still needs to be verified.

Late on August 13, Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami said about 100 police officers and soldiers were killed in the battle, along with at least 20 civilians. Bahrami said 341 Taliban fighters were killed or wounded in the battle for Ghazni.

Information from Ghazni was difficult to verify with telecommunications services being shut down due to the clashes.

Afghanistan's 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.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
A U.S. Army special forces soldier has died from wounds he received earlier this month in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province, the Defense Department said on August 13.

Sergeant 1st Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, of Hawaii, died on August 12 at a hospital in Germany. He was wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated near him while he was on patrol, the department said.

Transfiguracion was a staff sergeant when he was wounded but was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class, said Major Beth Riordan, spokeswoman for 1st Special Forces Command.

Officials said the incident that killed him was under investigation.

While Afghan security forces are conducting most of the fighting against the Taliban and other insurgent groups, U.S. troops operate alongside them in a training capacity and are frequently on the front lines.

Transfiguracion was an engineer assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, based in the U.S. state of Washington.

Born in the Philippines, he enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard in 2001. He joined the active duty Army in 2008, and later went through special forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Transfiguracion deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2008. His latest war tour in Afghanistan started in March.

Among his numerous awards, Transfiguracion received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a Meritorious Service Medal as a result of his Afghanistan service. It was the second Purple Heart he received during his military career.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP


Despite the military defeat of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and most of Syria, the extremist group still has around 20,000 to 30,000 militants in the two countries, according to a United Nations report.

The report circulated on August 13 said the estimate came from governments it did not identify. It includes a "significant component" of foreign fighters.

The militants were equally divided between Iraq and Syria, said the report to the Security Council by experts monitoring sanctions against the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.

Many of the key IS operatives were being relocated to Afghanistan, where the group has between 3,500 and 4,000 fighters and is growing, the experts said.

The militant group led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi also has significant affiliated supporters in Libya, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.

Islamic State overran large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, but by January 2018, the group was confined to small pockets of territory in Syria.

According to the UN report, IS "is still able to mount attacks inside Syrian territory. It does not fully control any territory in Iraq, but it remains active through sleeper cells."

The flow of foreign fighters to IS in Syria and Iraq has come to a halt, the experts said, but "the reverse flow, although slower than expected, remains a serious challenge."

They said Al-Qaeda's global network also "continues to show resilience," with its affiliates and allies much stronger than the IS group in some spots, including Somalia, Yemen, South Asia, and Africa's Sahel region.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa


U.S. prosecutors have rested their case against President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, after 10 days of testimony alleging how he hid millions he earned for political consulting work in Ukraine to escape taxes.

Manafort's defense team is set to decide on August 14 if it will call any witnesses. Judge T.S. Ellis said he will ask Manafort whether he wants to take the stand in his own defense, something that legal experts say is highly unlikely.

Manafort is being tried on 18 counts of tax and bank fraud. If found guilty on all charges, he may face eight to 10 years in prison.

The government says Manafort hid at least $16 million in income from U.S. tax authorities between 2010 and 2014 by disguising money he earned advising politicians in Ukraine as loans and hiding it in foreign banks.

The trial is the first courtroom test for U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who indicted Manafort in October 2017 as part of his probe into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Manafort's lawyers on August 13 asked for the charges to be thrown out, claiming that the prosecution failed to show Manafort willfully broke the law.

Dan Goldman, a former U.S. prosecutor who attended the proceedings, said such moves for dismissal are common, but "very rarely are they successful."

During the trial, more than two dozen witnesses took the stand and portrayed Manafort, 69, as a lavish spender with little regard for the law.

As a political consultant for Kremlin-friendly politicians in Ukraine, Manafort earned some $60 million between 2010 and 2014.

Stashing the money in 31 offshore bank accounts, he skirted taxes by wiring it directly to vendors to snap up real estate and luxury goods, the witnesses said.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14)  Former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo on Tuesday said she was personally against the clamor for her brother to return the money paid to his company by the Department of Tourism.

"Ang unang desisyon ko ay hindi pwede. I said mahirap kasi nagastos na ang pera. They already paid, marami nang nagawa," she said during the first Senate hearing on the controversial advertising deal between DOT and state-run television PTV-4.

When Senator Risa Hontiveros prodded her again, Teo still said no.

"Personal na tingin niyo po ay dapat isauli ang pera? Hindi rin? I'm disappointed to hear that," the senator said.

Teo said her former lawyer Ferdinand Topacio advised her to suggest to Ben to return the money paid to his media company, Bitag Media Unlimited Inc.

According to PTV, Bitag Media was paid P71.6 million  or 75 percent of the DOT-PTV-4 deal  for the placement of Tourism ads on blocktimer Kilos Pronto, which was hosted by Ben and Erwin Tulfo and Alex Santos. Topacio earlier announced Ben agreed to return it.

The resigned secretary said she "forced" Ben upon her legal counsel's prodding, but the decision was ultimately up to her brother.

"Nagawa na kasi, natapos na ang kontrata. Nagastos na ang pera. Saan kukunin ang perang pambayad?" she said.

Related: Wanda Tulfo-Teo insists 'nothing illegal' in Tourism ad placements on PTV, Bitag Media

Tulfo remained firm in his stand against returning the millions of pesos to the government, taking into consideration the legal advice of Bitag Media's lawyers.

"Why would we return the money when we have faithfully delivered? Returning the money is tantamount to saying we did something illegal... That would extinguish the legality of my contract with PTV," he said.

Tulfo added that returning the earnings will imply that there was a conspiracy between him and Teo.

"Wala sa isip kong magsauli kasi wala akong ginawang illegal. Papanindigan namin ang kontrata," he said.

Tulfo said it's unfair that there is a perceived conflict of interest just because they are siblings. He said he has never asked for favors from the former Tourism chief. He even said they are not close as a family.

Hontiveros said there is clear indication that there is a conflict of interest in the deal involving DOT and Bitag Media.

"This is precisely why I'm asking the question about the necessity of returning the money, kasi mukhang product talaga ng conflict of interest na prejudicial sa republika," the senator said.

She added there is also a violation of ethical standards of government employees when Teo's former agency entered the transaction with her brother's company.

"Higit pang mataas sa legalidad ay 'yung etika. Kung ang isang alleged conflict of interest ay maaaring sabihing legal, pero ayon sa batas, hindi po iyan etikal," Hontiveros concluded.

Tulfo-Teo maintained there was no conflict of interest, insisting all deals were aboveboard. She added she was unaware Kilos Pronto was hosted by her brothers.

The Commission on Audit found there was a "possible conflict of interest" in the DOT-PTV deal.

Teo is facing an investigation before the Ombudsman. Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Trillanes is mulling filing plunder charges against Teo, Ben, and Erwin for their refusal to return the money.
HELP is at hand for students who fail to get the grades they hoped, a health trust is reminding them.

School nurses are urging pupils to keep their hopes up and not compare themselves with friends.

And if exam performance causes anguish, staff at the Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are available to chat.

The advice comes the week that A-level results are due to be announced  and one week before GCSE grades are released.

Barbara Murray manages CAMHS for the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust (RDaSH).

She said: Receiving exam results can be a stressful time. If a young person receives grades lower than they were expecting there is always help at hand.

Whether its taking exam resits or looking at different opportunities, there are always alternatives.

Barbara added: If you are a young person, or know a young person, who has got lower grades and is feeling upset about them, please encourage them to get in touch with us  we can offer them help and support.

Students can access help through CAMHS by calling 01709 304808 in Rotherham, 01302 796191 in Doncaster or 01724 408460 in North Lincolnshire.

Doncaster CAMHS staff also have a drop-in clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout August, from 10am to 4pm, at East Laith Gate House, Doncaster.
(idexonline.com) - Retailers in Hong Kong, the critical pathway to the vital diamond and jewelry market in mainland China, have been seeing excellent figures since the start of this year after a year or more where store sales dropped alarmingly. The retail industry has enjoyed double-digit growth in the first half of this year, according to recently released government figures, and stores believe the second half of the year will also be a success. There are, however, two possible flies in the ointment: the continuously escalating US-China trade war and a weakening yuan which could cause mainland China shoppers to scale back their purchases.




Image credit: GJEPC

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) organised the Jewellers for Hope Gala Charity Dinner on 9th August 2018.The Jewellers for Hope is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the GJEPC which has donated a total of $ 0.15 mn to one or more NGOs doing sterling work in supporting the underprivileged.This year, the Jewellers for Hope dinner was organised by the GJEPC in association with the De Beers Group of Companies and was powered by GIA. The Chief Guest at the function was Paul Rowley, Executive Vice President, Global Sightholder Sales, De Beers Group. The Guest of Honour was the renowned Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kailash Satyarthi who has devoted his energies to the cause of childrens welfare for the last many decades.The Chairman of the GJEPC Pramod Agrawal spoke about the immense contribution that the gems and jewellery industry has been making over the years to society and social causes. We set up the Jewellers for Hope charity where we collect money to donate to organisations doing meaningful work for social welfare. We also introduced the Swasthya Ratna scheme under which companies can enrol to take health insurance policies for their workers. The Council also contributes to a portion of the policy premiums.We are a US$ 41 bn industry and employ 5 mn people. By 2022, we aim to raise that figure to 7 mn by creating an additional two million jobs. Towards realising this we are strengthening our training institutes, setting up Common Facility Centres (CFCs), and we will soon set up the first Jewellery Park in Mumbai. This is an industry which believes in giving back to society, Agrawal concluded.Rowley applauded the philanthropic work being done by the Indian industry, and particularly the hope being spread by Jewellers for Hope.GJEPC Vice Chairman Colin Shah thanked De Beers and the GIA for coming forward to support the event. He emphasised that the gems and jewellery industry had also contributed to the sum to be donated.While recipient charity organization outlined the work of their organizations, Nobel Laureate Satyarthi traced his journey over the decades when he gave up a career in engineering to work for childrens rights and their welfare.
Angolas Catoca appoints new CEO, promises to boost output

14 august 2018 News

Angolan mining company Sociedade Mineira da Catoca has appointed Benedito Paulo Manuel as its new chief executive.

He took over from Sergei Amelin, a Russian, who served in the position for three years, according to Macauhub.

Manuel said Catoca would in the next five years focus on improving operational efficiency to boost diamond output and tax contribution.

Catoca produces more than 80 percent of Angolas total output in volume terms.

The company was expected to produce 7 million carats this year from 7.4 million carats registered in 2017.

The projected drop in output was due to attention being focused on the launch of the Luaxe mining project, which was owned by Endiama and Alrosa.

Luaxe was projected to record an annual output of between 8 million carats and 10 million carats.

Catocas shareholders were Endiama and Russian group Alrosa, with equal stakes of 41 percent with the remaining 18 percent held by LL International Holding B.V.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Rough&Polished
Rockwell Diamonds said it is going ahead with plans to dispose of its investment in its Cayman Island subsidiary, N9C, whose main asset is the shares of Rockwell RSA.It said discussions with a potential buyer were still ongoing and the transaction was contingent on the successful acquisition by the same purchaser of all claims in all three subsidiaries.The proceeds from such sale will accrue to the company for the purposes of settling with trade creditors of the company and making an offer to shareholders to acquire their shares in a going private transaction, it said.The two debenture holders in the company have indicated that they will not seek repayment and will surrender their debentures. In this outcome, they have indicated that they would accept the purchase of shareholders' interest in priority to their claims, in order to implement an orderly wind down of the company's affairs.Rockwell said any other potential buyer of the assets of the three subsidiaries, may impact on the sale of N9C to an investor and would therefore frustrate the ability of the company to wind up its business in an orderly manner.Rockwells shares were delisted at the end of August 2017 from the Toronto Stock Exchange and concurrently listed on the NEX, a separate board of the TSX Venture Exchange.Trading of its shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Limited in South Africa was suspended since March 24, 2017.
Sanibel Sea School campers recently embarked on a 10-day expedition to Belize.

Participants ages 15-18 spent three days in the rainforest before venturing to a field station on South Water Caye to explore the Belize Barrier Reef and its surrounding habitats. Belize is a small Caribbean nation in Central America.

Upon arrival, the group boarded a bus for the six-hour ride to Blue Creek, a small Mayan village near the countrys southern border. They stayed in rustic accommodations and learned about the plants, animals and people that call the area home.

A local shaman led us on a hike through the forest and showed us the plants traditionally used to treat different ailments, such as snake bites, dizziness and fever, Emily Roudebush said.

Campers also went snorkeling in a cave, tasted local delicacies like fry jacks, and visited Mayan ruins.

One morning we looked for howler monkeys and were able to hear them, but it started pouring rain, so unfortunately we didnt get to see one up close, Roudebush said.

After a few nights in the humid jungle, often with large spiders as roommates, everyone was ready to travel to their next destination. South Water Caye is a marine reserve surrounded by mangrove islands, healthy seagrass flats, and beautiful coral reefs.

Participants had multiple opportunities to snorkel each day, and many saw spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, moray eels, parrotfish, bonefish and much more. Each camper was asked to study and present about one species in the evening and to complete a creative project of their choice during the week.

Other highlights from the expedition included a night snorkel with sightings of squid, plankton, shrimp and octopuses, exciting game nights, and a colorful holi powder ceremony to celebrate the high school seniors who are graduating from The Sanibel Sea School this year.

This is really designed as our capstone program, Director of Education Nicole Finnicum said. We take a deeper dive into coral reef ecology and conservation, and we try to incorporate everything the campers have learned with us. Many of them have been attending our programs since they were young children and have built up quite a bit of knowledge.

The Sanibel Sea School is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the oceans future, one person at a time. For more information about the organization, visit sanibelseaschool.org.

The Sanibel Sea School is at 455 Periwinkle Way.
Mamata Banerjee

Attacking the BJP-led central government over exclusion of 40 lakh people in the final draft of Assam-NRC, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the saffron party of being "anti-Bengalis". Taking a swipe at the BJP, the Trinamool Congress chief asked if hilsa fish, Jamdani saree, sandesh and mishti doi, which are originally from Bangladesh, would also be branded as "infiltrators or refugees". Asserting that these 40 lakh people are "very much Indians", she questioned the criteria on which they have been excluded.

National Register for Citizens

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Banerjee said that even she would not be able to produce the birth certificate of her parents if the government asks for it. "Do not know my parents' birth dates. I only know the dates of their death. I would not be able to provide any documents for their date of birth but there should be a clear system about such cases...you cannot blame the layman," she told reporters at her chamber in the state assembly.

Banerjee has been attacking the BJP government at the Centre over National Register for Citizens (NRC) which has excluded names of over 40 lakh citizens in the final draft for want of necessary documents in Assam. "What is going on in the country is injustice. The BJP with their extremist ideology is trying to create division among the people. I think they are playing the politics of revenge among the countrymen. We are not for this kind of politics," she said. She accused the BJP of being "anti-Bengalis" and "anti-West Bengal".

What is BJP's problem with (West) Bengal?

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"They (the BJP) must not forget that speaking Bengali is not a crime. It is the fifth most spoken language in the world. What is BJP's problem with (West) Bengal. Are they scared of the intellect of the Bengalis, their culture. They must not forget that (West) Bengal is the cultural mecca of the country," she said. The TMC chief said "the culture practised by them does not have any respect for people speaking Hindi, Bengali, Maratha and the South Indian (languages)".
Navjot Singh Sidhu

The Local Government Minister, Punjab, Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu has sounded a tough warning note to the companies indulging in half hearted sewerage works in the cities and instructed them to get the works back on track within 1 month and submit monthly report after fixing the timeframe of completing the works. The minister was presiding over a review meeting of 8 Clusters with the representatives of the various companies here today at the Punjab Municipal Bhawan in the presence of his cabinet colleagues Mr. VijayInder Singla and Mr. Sunder Sham Arora besides MLAs of concerned cities and higher officials of the department.

The Minister during the meeting also cautioned that if within one month the works are not done according to the expectations of the people then he would go in for blacklisting the companies apart from going in for registration of the criminal case against those wasting hard earned public money. Expressing unhappiness over the functioning of the 3rd parties WAPCOS and Engineers India Limited (EIL) engaged in financial and technical audit, Mr. Sidhu said that had these parties conducted audit in a forthright manner then the complaints with regard to the sewerage works wouldn't have arisen.

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Local Government minister meets representatives of companies

He instructed the departmental officials to take due action keeping in view the performance of the audit companies. During the course of todays meeting, the MLAs of the concerned constituencies expressed unhappiness over the sewerage works being done by the various companies in their respective cities. Giving an example of his city, the PWD Minister Mr. VijayInder Singla who is MLA from Sangrur, said that owing to the company not executing work the people are very dissatisfied and air their grievances to him for he being their chosen representative. He also listed the problems of the budhladha city. He said that the company has not done any planning regarding the works.

Detailing more, MLA Mr. Kuljit Singh Nagra said that on the eve of elections the sub-pipes of the sewerage were laid at Fatehgarh Sahib whereas the main line was not laid at all. He also said that the company also doesn't possess the requisite machinery and the common people are facing harassment owing to the incompetence of the companies who have availed contracts worth crores. He further said that where the work has been sublet by the companies to the contractors there is no attention paid to the quality control coupled with no inspection of works at all.

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Sidhu has sounded a tough warning note to the companies

On the occasion, MLA from Faridkot Mr. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon said that on one hand the companies in their race to earn additional profits are using sub-standard material, on the other hand there is also the dearth of required contractors. He said that if the company is facing is facing shortage of contractors then the services of atleast the locally based reputed contractors be availed. On the apprehensions expressed by the MLAs, the minister took report from the each concerned company regarding works being done by them in each city for which the company has been awarded the contract.

Warning the officials from the M/s. Shapoorji Pallonji Limited, G.D.C.L. Krishna G.V. companies, Triveni Eng. Industries and M/s Girdhari Lal Aggarwal Contractors Pvt Ltd. Mr. Sidhu said that he would never ever tolerate the hard earned money of the people going down the drain. He instructed the company to hand over the details of their works today itself and explain the finishing time of each work. The company was also instructed to divulge the info about the work undertaken by each contractor with details about the material being used and the machinery at their disposal.

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The minister took report from the each concerned company regarding works being done

The MLAs also expressed apprehensions over the matter that the companies have sublet the work to the small time contractors who dont have necessary machinery and when the arrangement of machinery is made from the other city then it leads to the work being stopped for many days. Mr. Sidhu instructed the companies that after a period of 1 month he would personally visit all the cities and inspect the works. If any discrepancy is found then that would result in him recommending the blacklisting of the company concerned but also the registration of a criminal case.

He also divulged that the department has nominated nodal officers for each of the works who would give report of the work assigned to them to the department as well as the local MLAs. It is worth noting that the M/s. Shapoorji Pallonji Limited is undertaking works in 9 while the G.D.C.L. Krishna G.V. is doing works in 8 cities. Elaborating further, the minister disclosed that the previous regime awarded sewerage works worth crores to the companies in whose work many shortcomings are there which has lead to the miserable condition in many cities. He said that the department has undertaken many steps aimed at the proper execution of the works.

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Expressing unhappiness over the functioning of the 3rd parties WAPCOS & EIL

These steps include Geo tagged attendance of the entire field staff right from the J.E. to Chief Engineer, Microplanning on weekly basis of the works of labourers, machinery and other works, Online permissions, Increasing the inspection visits by the 3rd party and the online inspection of their reports, SMS based notification in case of no field inspection in fixed time, Conducting checking the quality of the material on the construction site, Geo tagged photographs and daily inspection through video mode, and online applications for the billing of works.

The minister further said that despite the measures initiated by the department the people are not happy with the works being done by the companies and that explains why he is warning one last time that he would initiate strict action in case the work is not done in accordance with the expectations of the people. On the occasion, MLA Mr. Dalvir Singh Goldy and Mr. Gurpreet Singh G.P. ex-MLA Mr. Muhammad Sadiq, Bhai Rahulinder Singh Kukku, Principal Secretary Local Government Department Mr. A. Venu Prasad and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the PMIDC Mr. Ajoy Sharma were also present.
Sukhbir Singh Badal today met Home minister Rajnath Singh

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today met Home minister Rajnath Singh along with a high level party delegation and urged him to resolve all pending issues of the Sikh community submitted to the ministry of home affairs by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at the earliest. The SAD delegation also presented a memorandum along with SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal which called for formation of a special court for day to day trial of all cases of 1984 Sikh genocide in Delhi to ensure time bound delivery of justice.

It also urged for commuting Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoanas sentence to life imprisonment while pointing out that he was already incarcerated for 21 years. It also called for release of all Sikh prisoners languishing in various jails in India even after completion of their jail terms. The representation while urging the Home minister to examine these issues expeditiously, said they were linked with the sentiments of the Sikh community. The SGPC president brought it to the notice of Shri Rajnath Singh that these cases were being pursued by the religious organization with the home ministry continuously.

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SAD delegation also presented a memorandum along with SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal

The delegation members, including Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Naresh Gujral, Manjit Singh GK and Tarlochan Singh, urged the centre to pay compensation to all Jodhpur Sikh detainees saying only 40 detainees out of total of 365 had been paid compensation. It also urged for citizenship to all Hindu and Sikhs who had been forced out of Afghanistan since 1989 besides restoration of Gurdwara Dong Maar Sahib and hand over of its management to the Sikh community.

The delegation took up the issue of free passage to Gurdwara Kartarpur in Pakistan from Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side. It said Kartarpur housed the Gurdwara related to Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, the founder of Sikhism. It said with the 550 th birth anniversary of the great Guru being celebrated in 2019 there was a huge demand from Sikhs worldwide that a corridor be provided from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur to allow devotees free access to the religious site.

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urged the centre to pay compensation to all Jodhpur Sikh detainees

It also briefed Shri Rajnath Singh as to how Sikhs were being discriminated against in Jammu and Kashmir and urged they be granted micro minority status to get fair representation in government jobs and schemes. The delegation also asked the Home minister to look into the plea of the SGPC and ask the Maharashtra government to review its decision to amend the Takth Sri Hazur Sahib Abchalnagar Sahib Board, Nanded Act 1956 which was yet to be passed by the State assembly. It said as per the proposal the State government wished to nominate six more members to the Board which was being objected to by the SGPC as well as the Sikh sangat worldwide.

It also brought the decision of the UT Chandigarh administration to amend its motor vehicle act to exempt only women wearing turban or headgear from wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers to the notice of the home minister. It said Sikh women could not wear a helmet which was like a cap and symbolized slavery in their religion and urged this notification be withdrawn. The delegation also urged the home minister to ensure the rights and security of Sikhs who were being asked to shift from their houses in Sikkim.

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Ensure the rights and security of Sikhs who were being asked to shift from their houses in Sikkim

It also pointed out that the Mumbai administration was trying to forcibly shift Sikhs residing in a colony in the heart of the city which was earlier a refugee camp before the community bought ownership rights in 1957. It urged the home minister to intervene and ensure this move was stopped. Afghanistan Sikh Association representatives Khajinder Singh and Tarvinder Singh also formed part of the delegation.
Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif appeared before an accountability court hearing corruption cases against him and his family, the first court appearance in the remaining two graft cases following his incarceration. Following the hearing, the accountability court Judge Arshad Malik adjourned the hearing and summoned the investigation officer of the cases on August 15. For the first time since his jailing, 68-year-old Sharif appeared before the Islamabad-based court for hearing in the two graft cases - the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and the Hill Metal Establishment case.

Pak court hears remaining 2 graft cases against Sharif

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Sharif, along with his daughter Maryam, 44 and his son-in-law Capt (Retd) Muhammad Safdar are already serving jail terms of 10-years, seven years and one year respectively in the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, after an accountability court convicted them on July 6 over the family's ownership of four luxury flats in London. Sharif was brought to the court in an armoured vehicle and was taken back to the high-security jail after the hearing. Strict security measures were taken on the occasion and authorities even banned the entry of the media.

Islamabad High Court

Meanwhile, gunshots were heard outside as Sharif appeared before the court. "A shot was fired by anti-riot force policeman," a police official said. "We are looking into the matter to know why the gun was loaded," he added. The pending corruption cases against Sharif and his two sons were transferred by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on August 7 on the application of Sharif to another accountability court headed by judge Malik.

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Pending corruption cases against Sharif and his two sons were transferred by IHC

Three corruption cases were filed against Sharif and family last year following a decision by Supreme Court on July 28 of the same year. The formal trial of the Sharif family started on September 14 and was to be completed in six months but later the deadline was extended at least thrice. Apart from Sharif, his two sons -Hassan and Hussian - are also co-accused on all three corruption cases. The court has already declared the two sons as absconders due to their persistent failure to appear before the court.

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They have been blacklisted by the authorities, barring them from travelling on their Pakistani passports. The ownership of the four London flats by the Sharif family surfaced in the Panama Papers in April 2016, indicating that the posh properties were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharif's children. The Panama Papers cases were launched on September 8, 2016 following the Supreme Court verdict of July 28 that disqualified Sharif as prime minister and ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe cases against him.
Despite researchers having little fondness for them, a large fraction of the world's biodiversity consists of parasites. Natural populations of organisms are often strongly affected by factors of their environment, most notably the effect of predators. Yet, the most outstanding arms race, produced by millions of years of coevolution, is seen between parasites and their hosts. Bats, the second-most diverse mammal order worldwide, are parasitized by numerous lineages of arthropods; bat flies are the most conspicuous. In turn, bat flies themselves can be parasitized by Laboulbeniales, fungal biotrophs of arthropods. This example of hyperparasitism -- a condition where a secondary parasite develops within or on another parasite -- of bats, bat flies and fungi, is a severely understudied phenomenon.

In a new paper in Trends in Parasitology, researchers Danny Haelewaters, Harvard University, Carl Dick, Western Kentucky University and Thomas Hiller, the University of Ulm, review what is known about the tripartite study system with bats, bat flies and fungi. Known are a few reports from the early 20th century, two more in 1980, and then relatively nothing until 2017, when some studies revealed many new hosts, host associations and undescribed taxa, hinting at a much larger diversity of these unique fungi than currently known. "Only about 10% of Laboulbeniales species parasitize flies," says Haelewaters. "The genus is by far the largest with hundreds of species, of which only 24 species are on flies."

The lack of study of hyperparasitism raises several underexplored questions: How did such associations evolve? What population limitations are necessary to maintain these relationships? How strict are the species-level relationships? In their review, the team pointed out that we know virtually nothing about the biology, host associations or phylogenetic relationships of the different organisms involved. This tripartite system involving bats, bat flies and Laboulbeniales fungi is intriguing and ripe for future study. Hiller says studies on biodiversity rarely include the associated parasites, missing out on important information on host population and ecosystem health. "Host-parasite-systems, like this tripartite association, are often complex and studies on host as well as parasite ecology are crucial for correct interpretations of mere species lists'

The production of robust phylogenetic reconstructions for both bat flies and Laboulbeniales on a global scale is critical to future studies of the ecology, evolution and co-evolution of this tripartite system. "Studies in hyperparasitism lay bare the fact that the natural world remains underexplored," explains Dick. "Our understanding of hyperparasites pales in comparison to our knowledge of parasites, which in turn pales in comparison to our knowledge of hosts." In addition to patterns and processes in ecology and evolution, studies in this and other multi-tiered systems will advance the continued discovery of true global biodiversity. "No one has looked at these organisms in the field in about 100 years," says Haelewaters. "We have gone to the Darien Gap in Panama to study this tripartite system in a small reserve and yet we found three undescribed forms and new findings for the bats and bat flies. Even after the Golden Age of discovering, naming and organizing a tremendous amount of biodiversity back in the 18th and 19th centuries, we are still exploring."

Large field surveys and well-curated museum collections will help produce a database of tens of thousands of bat flies, which can be searched to find associations between parasitism by Laboulbeniales on the one hand and ecological and life history traits of bats and bat flies on the other. Such comprehensive datasets can provide insight into broader-ranging questions, such as how habitat disturbances can shape symbiotic relationships.
Somewhere in the American Southwest or northern Mexico, there are probably the ruins of a scarlet macaw breeding operation dating to between 900 and 1200 C.E., according to a team of archaeologists who sequenced the mitochondrial DNA of bird remains found in the Chaco Canyon and Mimbres areas of New Mexico.

Remains of a thriving prehistoric avian culture and breeding colony of scarlet macaws exist at the northern Mexican site of Paquime, or Casas Grande. However, this community existed from 1250 to 1450, well after the abandonment of Chaco Canyon, and could not have supplied these birds to Southwest communities prior to the 13th century, said Richard George, graduate student in anthropology, Penn State.

Historically, scarlet macaws lived from South America to eastern coastal Mexico and Guatemala, thousands of miles from the American Southwest. Previously, researchers thought that ancestral Puebloan people might have traveled to these natural breeding areas and brought birds back, but the logistics of transporting adolescent birds are difficult. None of the sites where these early macaw remains were found contained evidence of breeding -- eggshells, pens or perches.

"We were interested in the prehistoric scarlet macaw population history and the impacts of human direct management," said George. "Especially any evidence for directed breeding or changes in the genetic diversity that could co-occur with different trade networks."

The researchers sequenced the mitochondrial DNA of 20 scarlet macaw specimens, but were only able to obtain full sequences from 14. They then directly radiocarbon-dated all 14 birds with complete or near complete genomes and found they fell between 900 and 1200 CE.

"We looked at the full mitochondrial genome of over 16,000 base pairs to understand the maternal relationships represented in the Chaco Canyon and Mimbres regions," said George.

Mitochondrial DNA exists separate from the cell nucleus and is inherited directly from the mother. While nuclear DNA combines the DNA inherited from both parents, mitochondrial DNA can show direct lineage because all siblings have the same mtDNA as their mother, and she has the same mtDNA as her own siblings and mother, all the way back through their ancestry.

Scarlet macaws in Mexico and Central America have five haplogroups -- genetically similar, but not identical mitochondrial DNA lines -- and each haplogroup has a number of haplotypes containing identical DNA lines. The researchers found that their scarlet macaws were all from haplogroup 6 and that 71 percent of the birds shared one of four unique haplotypes. They report the results of this analysis today (Aug 13) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers found that the probability of obtaining 14 birds from the wild and having them all come from the same haplogroup, one that is small and isolated, was extremely small. A better explanation, especially because these specimens ranged over a 300-year period, is that all the birds came from the same breeding population and that this population existed somewhere in the American Southwest or northern Mexico.

"These birds all likely came from the same source, but we don't have any way to support that assumption without examining the full genome," said George. "However, the genetic results likely indicate some type of narrow breeding from a small founder population with little or no introgression or resupply."

However, no one has found macaw breeding evidence dating to the 900 to 1200 period in the American Southwest or northern Mexico.

"The next step will be to analyze macaws from other archaeological sites in Arizona and northern Mexico to narrow down the location of this early breeding colony," said Douglas Kennett, professor and head of anthropology, Penn State, and co-director or the project.
Mountain hare numbers on moorlands in the eastern Highlands have declined to less than one per cent of their initial levels, according to a newly published long-term scientific study.

Counts of mountain hares from six decades of consistent spring counts on moorland managed for red grouse shooting and on neighbouring mountain land were analysed in the research by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the RSPB.

From 1954 to 1999 the mountain hare population on moorland sites decreased by nearly 5% every year. This long-term moorland decline is likely to be due to land use changes such as the loss of grouse moors to conifer forests, and is reflective of wider population declines that mountain hares are facing across their range.

However, from 1999 to 2017 the scale of the moorland declines increased dramatically to over 30% every year, leading to counts in 2017 of less than one per cent of original levels in 1954.

The dominant land use in these sites was intensive grouse moor management. Here, the unregulated practice of hare culling as a form of disease control, ostensibly to benefit red grouse, has become part of the management of many estates since the 1990s, despite the absence of evidence that it has any beneficial impact on total numbers of grouse shot.

On higher, alpine sites numbers of mountain hares fluctuated greatly, but increased overall until 2007, and then declined, although not to the unprecedented lows seen on moorland sites.

The Mountain hare is the UK's only native hare and was listed as Near Threatened in a recent review by the Mammal Society indicating that the species is of conservation concern in the UK.

Dr Adam Watson, of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, who was lead author of the work, comments: "Having reached the age of 88 I am both delighted and relieved to see this paper published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. Having counted mountain hares across the moors and high tops of the eastern Highlands since 1943, I find the decline in numbers of these beautiful animals both compelling and of great concern. We need the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage to take action to help these iconic mammals of the hill -- I hope they will listen to the voice of scientific research"

Professor Jeremy Wilson, RSPB's Head of Conservation Science in Scotland who assisted in analysis of the data, said: "It has been an honour to support Dr Watson in the analysis of his extraordinary long-term data set. These data reveal severe recent declines on grouse moors that are strongly correlated with the start of mountain hare culls for which there is no clear scientific justification. Urgent action is needed if the future conservation status of mountain hares is to be secure."

Duncan Orr Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland said: "The mountain hare is a keystone native species of the Scottish uplands. This authoritative research suggests that we should be very concerned about its population status in its former strongholds. We consider that large-scale population reduction culls are both illegal under EU law and unwarranted as a method for controlling grouse disease.

"Management of this species should now be more tightly controlled by Scottish Natural Heritage to safeguard mountain hare populations. We expect this subject to be given thorough consideration by the current independent grouse moor enquiry, which is looking at how grouse moors can be managed sustainably and within the law."
Observational data clearly shows that Greenland's mighty ice sheet is, slowly but surely, losing the race with rising global temperatures. Each summer Greenland's glaciers transport more and more ice and meltwater to the ocean. There, among other things, the meltwater contributes to global sea-level rise. But does it also change the chemistry and biology of the oceans? According to a common theory, nutrients in the meltwater trigger plankton blooms off Greenland during the summer months. "The timing of these summer blooms is actually unusual for plankton, so the connection with the meltwater seems obvious," says Dr. Mark Hopwood, Chemical Oceanographer at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

However, Hopwood and colleagues from GEOMAR, as well as from the US, the Netherlands and Greenland have found that this connection is more complex than previously thought. "Our samples and data show unambiguously that a retreat of glaciers in-land will lead to a decrease in the extent of summer plankton blooms," says Dr. Hopwood. The team has published its results today in the international journal Nature Communications.

It was already clear that more factors than simply the amount of meltwater affect plankton blooms. "The main nutrient that plankton lack around Greenland is nitrate, while glacier meltwater contains mostly iron and silicon," explains Dr. Hopwood. The fact that the meltwater can cause plankton blooms is due to the way glaciers release meltwater below sea-level at the coastline.

The outermost tongues of over 200 of Greenland's glaciers directly end in the sea and extend to depths of several hundred meters below the surface. Meltwater, which flows below the glaciers into the sea, is less dense than the seawater and therefore rises, often violently, to the surface. This upwelling process transports nitrate-rich deep seawater to the upper layers of the ocean and thus triggers plankton blooms in the light-flooded surface layers.

"In our study we have calculated this relationship between meltwater discharge and the resulting nutrient change from deep seawater quantitatively for the first time," says Dr. Hopwood. The result: the deep seawater contributes over 90 percent of the nutrients that fertilize the surface layers, the actual meltwater only about ten percent.

Based on this result, the team has further calculated what happens when the affected glaciers continue to melt and retreat inland. "The fertilizing effect of the upwelling works only for a certain depth range of the glaciers terminating in the sea. This depth is likely to vary regionally but is generally between about 700 and 500 meters," says the lead author Mark Hopwood. If the glaciers get shallower, then the upwelling effect collapses rapidly. In simple terms this means that the relationship between meltwater volume and ocean fertilization is complex. It depends very strongly on the location of the glacial terminus.

"So, the study shows that further melting of Greenland's glaciers only leads to stronger summer plankton blooms under very specific conditions, an effect that will ultimately end with very extensive further melting," Hopwood summarizes the results of the study.
Studies of ancient preserved plant remains from a medieval archaeological site in the Pamir Mountains of Uzbekistan have shown that fruits, such as apples, peaches, apricots, and melons, were cultivated in the foothills of Inner Asia. The archaeobotanical study, conducted by Robert Spengler of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, is among the first systematic analyses of medieval agricultural crops in the heart of the ancient Silk Road. Spengler identified a rich assemblage of fruit and nut crops, showing that many of the crops we are all familiar with today were cultivated along the ancient trade routes.

The Silk Road was the largest vector for cultural spread in the ancient world -- the routes of exchange and dispersal across Eurasia connected Central Asia to the rest of the world. These exchange routes functioned more like the spokes of a wagon wheel than a long-distance road, placing Central Asia at the heart of the ancient world. However, most historical discussions of the ancient Silk Road focus on the presence of East Asian goods in the Mediterranean or vice versa. The present study, published in PLOS ONE, looks at archaeological sites at the center of the trans-Eurasian exchange routes during the medieval period, when cultural exchange was at its highest. Additionally, scholarship has focused on a select handful of goods that moved along these trade routes, notably silk, metal, glass, and pastoral products. However, historical sources and now archaeological data demonstrate that agricultural goods were an important commodity as well. Notably, higher value goods, such as fruits and nuts, spread along these exchange routes and likely contributed to their popularity in cuisines across Europe, Asia, and North Africa today. Ultimately this study helps demonstrate how the Silk Road shaped what foods we all eat today.

Our everyday fruits and nuts have their roots in the Silk Road

Spengler analyzed preserved ancient seeds and plant parts recovered from a medieval archaeological site in the foothills of the Pamir Mountains of eastern Uzbekistan. The site, Tashbulak, is currently under excavation by a collaborative international Uzbek/American project co-directed by Michael Frachetti, of Washington University in St. Louis, and Farhod Maksudov, of the Institute for Archaeological Research, Academy of Sciences in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The plant remains recovered from this site represent one of the first systematic studies of the crops that people were growing along the Silk Road. In the article, archaeobotanical data are contrasted with historical and other archaeological evidence in order to discuss the timing and routes of spread for the cultivated plants. These plant remains date to roughly a millennium ago and include apple, grape, and melon seeds, peach and apricot pits, and walnut and pistachio shells.

This study helps demonstrate that there was a rich and diverse economy in Central Asia during this period, including a wide array of cultivated grains, legumes, fruits, and nuts. The site of Tashbulak is located at 2100 meters above sea level, above the maximum elevations at which many of these fruit trees can be grown, suggesting that the fruit remains recovered at the site were carried from lower elevations. Historical sources attest to the importance of fresh and dried fruits and nuts as a source of commerce at market bazaars across Inner Asia. These trade routes facilitated the spread of many of our most familiar crops across the ancient world. For example, the earliest clear archaeological evidence for peaches and apricots comes from eastern China, but they were present in the Mediterranean by the Classical period. Likewise, grapes originated somewhere in the broader Mediterranean region, but grape wine was a popular drink in the Tang Dynasty. We can now say that all of these fruit crops were prominent in Central Asia by at least a millennium ago, likely much earlier. As Spengler points out, "The ecologically rich mountain valleys of Inner Asia fostered the spread of many cultivated plants over the past five millennia and, in doing so, shaped the ingredients in kitchens across Europe and Asia."

Central Asia is a key homeland and dispersal point for many important arboreal crops, such as apples and pistachios

Spengler also points out that many economically important fruit crops originated in the foothill forests of eastern Central Asia. For example, studies suggest that much of the genetic material for our modern apples comes from the Tien Shan wild apples of southeastern Kazakhstan, and pistachios originated in southern Central Asia. Despite the importance of these arboreal crops in the modern world economy, relatively limited scholarly focus has gone into the study of their origins and dispersal. The data from Tashbulak are an important contribution to that study. The article shows the importance of archaeological research in Central Asia, highlighting its role in the development of cultures across the ancient world.

In his forthcoming book, "Fruit from the Sands," Spengler traces the spread of domesticated plants across Central Asia. In the book, set to hit shelves in April 2019, he states, "The plants in our kitchens today are archaeological artifacts, and part of the narrative for several of our favorite fruits and nuts starts on the ancient Silk Road."

Excavations at Tashbulak are ongoing, with support from Washington University in St. Louis, the Max von Berchem Foundation, and the National Geographic Society. Over the next few years, the research team expects that their research will better elucidate the nature of interaction and contact in the mountains of Central Asia. Frachetti notes, "The insights gained from this archaeobotanical study help link the juicy details of ancient cuisine to our modern tables, and in doing so highlights the long-term impact of interactions between diverse communities and regions on a global scale."
In the first study of its kind, researchers characterized the skin microbiome of a population of free-ranging snakes to begin to understand how the animals' environmental microbial community may promote disease resistance as well as how it may be disrupted by infection.

The study, which was recently published in Scientific Reports, a Nature research journal, focused on eastern massasaugas in Illinois. This species of endangered rattlesnake is highly susceptible to the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, which causes snake fungal disease (SFD). SFD results in disfiguring sores on snake skin, has a high mortality rate, and poses a significant threat to snake populations in North America and Europe. The mechanism by which the pathogen causes disease is unknown.

"Globally, fungal pathogens are increasingly associated with wildlife epidemics, such as white-nose syndrome in bats and chytridiomycosis in amphibians," said Dr. Matt Allender, a faculty member at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and an affiliate of the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), part of the university's Prairie Research Institute. "Snake fungal disease has been identified in a number of snake species, but very little is known about contributing factors for infection."

Dr. Allender, who heads the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, has been investigating SFD for more than 8 years. In 2014 he introduced a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test to quickly identify the fungus from a swabbed sample.

"In a 20-year collaborative study led by INHS researchers, we have been the primary investigator of numerous studies documenting disease trends in the eastern massasauga including overall health, but none of these health parameters seemed to explain the emergence of SFD. This study was undertaken in light of recent promising findings about the importance of environmental microbial communities in animal and human health."

Based on their analysis of 144 skin swabs collected from 44 snakes in 2015 and 52 snakes in 2016, all near Carlyle Lake, Ill., researchers determined that infection with SFD altered the bacterial and fungal diversity of the snakes studied. On the infected snakes, Ophidiomyces was present even at locations on the snakes' bodies distant to the open sores, indicating that the skin's entire microbiome is altered by the infection.

No Ophidiomyces spores were detected on SFD-negative snakes, as would have been expected had those snakes' microbiome proven protective against the pathogen.

Findings related to the specific bacteria and fungi found in greater or lesser abundance depending on the disease status of the snake are detailed in the study.

The researchers believe their findings will have broad relevance to other snake species and habitats and will provide insight into mechanisms of pathogen emergence, fluctuations in wellness of individuals, and development of therapeutic interventions.
Fakir Musafar did a lot of ordinary things, like walking on the beach, playing the trumpet and listening to classical music.

He also did things that were less ordinary, like lashing himself with whips, poking himself with spears, suspending himself from trees, scorching himself with branding irons and piercing his penis with needles.

That last activity he first performed at the age of 14, while holed up in the basement of his family home in South Dakota and looking at pictures of body-piercing South American natives in old issues of National Geographic magazine. It was one of the few interesting things to do while growing up in South Dakota, he always said.

Musafars parents wanted him to become a Lutheran minister, but his path led elsewhere. The first step involved his mothers clothes pins.

He was extremely curious, and extremely bored, recalled his wife, Cleo Dubois. When people would say what he was doing was weird, he would say, Why do you think its weird?

Musafar, born Roland Loomis and known as a pioneer of body piercing and as the Father of Modern Primitives, died Aug. 1 of lung cancer in his Menlo Park home. He was 87.

A former Silicon Valley ad man and Korean War veteran, Musafar and his dominatrix wife were familiar sights in San Francisco, especially at the weeklong body-piercing workshops Musafar would lead. They were also regulars at the annual Folsom Street Fair, where like-minded people and their handcuffs gather every fall.

There is a big difference between pain and what Musafar lovingly called intense sensation.

Pain is like stubbing your toe, he would say. You dont choose to do it. Placing a hot branding iron against your bare skin is different.

The home Musafar shared with Dubois in Menlo Park was neatly stuffed with whips, ropes and bondage essentials. He was well known for reviving the lost American Indian art of being suspended from a tree  Dont call it dangling, Dubois said  by hooks inserted in his chest skin. Its called O-Kee-Pa, a coming-of-age ritual with a sensation more intense than most.

Doing it, Musafar said, enabled him to meet God.

Her husbands work will go on, Dubois said, with the series of Fakir Intensive workshops taught by his disciples. A $2,000 comprehensive piercing workshop scheduled for September is already sold out, but space remains for a $2,000 advanced piercing workshop in November that covers orifice-related piercing and scar issues.

Stephen Lam / Special to The Chronicle 2017

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.

Musafar was a graduate of Northern State University in South Dakota and of San Francisco State University, and before branching out he was a ballroom dance instructor at the Arthur Murray chain of dance studios. He was a friendly man with a warm grin and a slender build that became more slender when corseted.

In a farewell message to his followers that he posted online as his cancer progressed, Musafar recalled the dizzying, fun, enlightening, and delightful experience of seeing so many embrace body piercing and body rituals  I never expected our passions and practices to grow to a global phenomenon.

Goodbye dear friends, he wrote, and may you all have as wonderful a journey as I have had.

Musafar is survived by Dubois, his wife of 28 years. A memorial celebration will be at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at Public Works, 161 Erie St. in San Francisco.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF
The surprise decision last week by an Alameda County judge to reject a plea agreement in the high-profile Ghost Ship case is unusual but unlikely to result in a trial, legal experts said Monday.

Superior Court Judge James Cramer startled an Oakland courtroom Friday by tossing the plea-agreed sentence for Derick Almena, master tenant of the warehouse where 36 people died in a 2016 fire, saying he wasnt convinced of Almenas remorse. Cramer said he thought the deal for co-defendant Max Harris, creative director of the artist collective, was appropriate, but because the plea bargains were made as a package deal, Harris was set aside, too.

The judge instructed the attorneys to move the case forward to trial, but experts said the chances of such a scenario remain slim.

This is just a signal, frankly, to the lawyers to go back and renegotiate the deal, said Rory Little, a professor at UC Hastings College of the Law. You dont want any trial if you can reach the same result without a trial. ... Probably, you will see the lawyers return to the court with a new deal, and youll see Almena say something more remorseful.

Over a two-day sentencing hearing, several dozen friends and relatives of the victims packed the courtroom gallery. Parents brought portraits of their children, and others wore buttons and shirts emblazoned with the faces of victims. One by one at the lectern, they spoke about the last time they saw their loved ones alive and the devastation of their deaths.

Nobody should go out like that, said Alberto Vega, whose brother, Alex Vega, died in the fire. Every time he drives past a house with smoke coming from a chimney, Vega said he has to stop, wondering if the people inside need rescuing.

Many told Cramer they felt the plea deal was insufficient compared with the magnitude of the life lost. Some said they wanted a jury trial because it could shed light on new facts.

The plea bargain consisted of a six-year county jail sentence for Harris and nine years for Almena. Each had pleaded no contest to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter for creating the dangerous conditions inside the warehouse. With time served and half-time credit for good conduct, Almena could have been released in 3 years and Harris in under two years.

Judges cannot alter plea agreements made by attorneys and must accept or reject them wholesale. Robert Weisberg of Stanford Law School said the judge has to leave them guessing about what he will decide.

Theres a little Kabuki theater going on here, Weisberg said. Everybody wants to hear from the judge, Whats the deal you want and will agree to? ... But he cant get involved in any specific deal. Hed be doing whats forbidden by due process. Hed be plea-bargaining with the defendants.

In the judges chambers, Cramer told the courtroom, he had questioned the attorneys on how they arrived at six and nine years. His superior, Presiding Judge Morris Jacobson, away on leave last week, had overseen the hearings that culminated in the plea agreement.

Curtis Briggs, an attorney for Harris, said he understood that the deal was never guaranteed.

We knew when we came back and it was a different judge that we might have been starting over, Briggs said.

Briggs said he hoped that the plea agreements could be disconnected and that Harris could still get his half of the bargain. He said the sentencing hearing was productive in that it highlighted the differences between Harris and Almena and showed the families Harris willingness to take responsibility for his actions.

In California, an involuntary-manslaughter charge can lead to a sentence of two to four years in jail. Multiple convictions can be served concurrently or in succession. In announcing the charges more than a year ago, District Attorney Nancy OMalley said the defendants were facing up to 39 years in prison.

Cramer said the Ghost Ship is unlike anything I or Alameda County have seen and does not fit into the typical case analysis. He said he wrestled with his decision all week before making it official on Friday. In finding that Almena had yet to take full responsibility, Cramer relied on a lengthy essay that Almena had submitted to a probation officer in which he called himself a victim and blamed others for the Dec. 2, 2016, fire.

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I had pages and pages of excuses and explanations and apologies and proof and evidence, and its insignificant now, Almena told families from the witness stand. Im sorry. ... I should have died that night.

In addition to weighing the expression of remorse, Cramer was required by law to take into account statements of the victims families, Little said. The judge made clear he was moved by those.

In advocating for the families, Deputy District Attorney Autrey James on Friday appeared to dampen enthusiasm for the plea agreement that he and his office had devised.

Every one of them believed this deal  this amount of time  is not enough, James told Cramer after talking to the families during a lunch break. They do not believe that this negotiated disposition is enough.

Some friends and relatives expressed frustration with not only the plea deal, but also the absence of criminal charges for the property owner, Chor Ng, or any government official.

Little said that seems to be a big problem hanging over the case. Even though the landlord could have a defense of ignorance, and city employees good-faith immunity, Little said, such cases wouldnt be impossible to prove.

Its not just these two guys at the scene who are easy targets, he said. Its a sad example of the entire system breaking down, and were determined to hold someone accountable and get a pound of flesh.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
Despite a San Francisco jurys verdict last week that the cancer racking the body of a Bay Area school groundskeeper was caused by a widely used Monsanto herbicide, there will not be warning labels on the companys Roundup or Ranger Pro weed-killing products any time soon.

Thats because a federal judge, in a courtroom just 90 miles away, has prohibited California from requiring the warnings under the states Proposition 65 law after concluding that a heavy weight of evidence showed the herbicide, glyphosate, was safe.

Both the Superior Court jury, in its $289 million verdict Friday, and U.S. District Judge William Shubb of Sacramento, in rulings in February and June, had access to the same conflicting scientific reports. On one side was a 2015 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based on a report from 17 scientists, finding that glyphosate was a probable cause of cancer in humans. On the other were studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and regulatory bodies in Europe that found that the chemical does not cause cancer.

One difference between the two cases was that the San Francisco trial was about a human being, Dewayne Lee Johnson of Vallejo, whose life may have been drastically shortened by his years applying Monsantos Ranger Pro to weeds and shrubs on the property of the Benicia Unified School District.

While judges decide the law, a jurys job is to determine the facts of the case presented at trial. Jurors heard Johnson testify about his exposure to the herbicide and his phone calls on a Monsanto hotline pleading for an explanation of his symptoms, saw photos of the painful lesions and welts that covered most of Johnsons body, and heard testimony from one of his doctors that the 46-year-old is unlikely to survive until 2020.

Richard B. Levine/TNS

The jury unanimously found that glyphosate had caused Johnson to suffer non-Hodgkins lymphoma, diagnosed in 2014, and had acted maliciously in failing to warn Johnson or the public about the products dangers. The verdict included $250 million in punitive damages.

His case, expedited because of his declining health, was the first to go to trial of more than 4,000 lawsuits filed against Monsanto in courts around the country. In San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria has allowed about 450 individual lawsuits to proceed against Monsanto  despite finding that the evidence of a link to cancer was shaky  and will let a few of them go to federal juries as test cases.

Shubb, by contrast, heard arguments only from opposing lawyers. On one side, were lawyers representing agribusiness organizations led by the National Association of Wheat Growers, along with Monsanto. On the other side was Attorney General Xavier Becerras office, representing the state.

Shubbs rulings focused, as required, on whether a state-imposed warning label would violate a companys freedom of speech. He said California was entitled to include glyphosate in its Prop. 65 list of chemicals believed to cause cancer or birth defects, but could not require Monsanto to use its right of free expression to post a warning without more-compelling evidence.

Another reason the two cases have moved in opposite directions is that the law makes it easier to award damages for the harm allegedly caused by a product than to require its manufacturer to issue warnings to consumers.

To allow Johnsons case to go to trial, Judge Suzanne Bolanos merely had to conclude that a jury could reasonably decide, based on disputed evidence, that Monsantos products caused his non-Hodgkins lymphoma. To rule in his favor, jurors had to find only that it was more likely than not that the herbicides caused his illness. To award punitive damages, they had to find by clear and convincing evidence that Monsanto had acted with malice or oppression toward Johnson or the general public.

On the other hand, to require Monsanto to add cancer warnings to the labels of its glyphosate products, Shubb would have had to find that the warnings were purely factual and uncontroversial. The U.S. Supreme Court set that standard in a 1985 false-advertising case, saying the government violates the First Amendment by requiring businesses to warn consumers about their products or services, unless there is no serious factual dispute about the content of the warnings.

Tobacco companies invoked that standard in an unsuccessful challenge to the warnings that currently appear on cigarette packages. Free-speech claims are central in two pending Bay Area cases: a beverage industry lawsuit disputing San Franciscos requirement of health warnings in display ads for sugary drinks, and a challenge by cell-phone companies to a Berkeley law requiring them to notify customers that they might be exposed to radiation above federal standards if they carry switched-on phones near their body.

The Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco is scheduled to hear the soda case on Sept. 25. The appeals court upheld the Berkeley cell-phone law last year, but the Supreme Court has ordered it to reconsider the case based on a high court ruling in June. That ruling overturned a California law that required antiabortion clinics to notify patients that the state provides abortion services for the poor at little or no cost.

Becerra has asked Shubb to delay further action on the glyphosate case until the appeals court rules on soda and cell phones. But the judge expressed little doubt in his earlier rulings about where he stands.

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Californias proposed warning would be inherently misleading, Shubb said in February, because it was based on the finding of a single international agency, while apparently all other regulatory and governmental bodies have found the opposite.

Becerras office then proposed a halfway measure, telling consumers that an international agency has linked the herbicide to cancer while the EPA has tentatively found otherwise. But Shubb said in June that the suggested label was one-sided and misleading by falsely implying that there is equal weight of authority on both sides.

The state could appeal Shubbs ruling, but an appeal would be tough to win, said David Levine, a law professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco who has written extensively on civil litigation.

There is an evolving standard on commercial free speech moving further in the direction of the corporation, Levine said Monday.

He also predicted that either Bolanos or higher courts would reduce Johnsons damage award but would probably leave intact the jurys finding that Monsanto was responsible for his cancer.

Because the jury awarded Johnson substantial compensation  $2.3 million for past and future economic losses, $37 million for pain, suffering and loss of his life expectancy  judges, following Supreme Court guidelines, would probably reduce the $250 million punitive damage award to around $40 million, reasoning that the combined award was enough to teach the company a lesson, Levine said. He said Bolanos might also decide that the $37 million award  $1 million for each year of Johnsons normal life expectancy at the time of his 2014 cancer diagnosis  was excessive.

As for the underlying verdict, Levine said, the jury was allowed to believe one set of experts over the other. ... A different jury could have found differently, but, if jurors heard evidence connecting Monsantos products to Johnsons life-threatening illness, I think that part (of the verdict) would stay.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@BobEgelko
San Francisco Ethics Commissioner Quentin Kopp filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday to force the Secret Service to turn over documents detailing how much it cost taxpayers to protect Donald Trump Jr. while he was on a business trip to India on behalf of the Trump Organization.

In February, Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son and executive vice president at the Trump Organization, traveled to India for a weeklong tour to promote Trump-branded luxury properties across that country.

The tour featured a dinner with Trump Jr., for which prospective condo buyers paid a $38,000 booking fee, according to the complaint, which cited reporting by national media outlets.

The trip  and the perception of potential conflicts of interest  were assailed by critics at the time who raised concerns that Trump Jr. was using his relationship with the president to promote the private family business. President Trump has repeatedly been criticized for blurring the lines between the familys real estate enterprises and his role as head of state.

According to Kopps complaint, Trump Jr. was also accompanied by Secret Service members throughout his trip to provide him with security.

In an effort to determine how much taxpayer money was spent to protect him, Kopp submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act seeking, among other things, the number of Secret Service personnel accompanying Trump Jr. on the trip, details about their salaries and other costs incurred and clarification around the agencys rules relating to justification, responsibility and duties of Secret Service detail members on such a trip.

Mason Brayman, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said the agency was aware of the lawsuit but unable to comment on pending litigation. The Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment.

Kopp, a retired judge who previously served as a San Francisco supervisor and state senator, claims the Secret Service has refused his requests for information. He said the agency insisted Kopps request was too broad and that after some back and forth correspondence, the Secret Service has ignored him since May.

Theres been a wholesale use of taxpayer assets by the Trump family, led by the president of the United States, Kopp said. Its almost as if hes acting in the true form of a crook  to take taxpayer money and to use it for private business. Im a taxpayer. I resent it.

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Its customary for the Secret Service to provide round-the-clock security for a presidents immediate family. In September, the New York Times reported that Trump Jr. wished to forgo the protection, not long after reports surfaced that the presidents large family and its itinerant lifestyle were straining the agencys resources.

Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is being spent and why their money is being spent to protect the adult son of the president on a trip designed solely to support the interests of the Trump organization, said Kopps lawyer, Justin Berger, an attorney at the Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy law firm in Burlingame. Kopp and Berger said they intend to file similar FOIA requests about the Trump familys activities involving taxpayer money.

This is the first step in that process, in determining whats been violated and how its been violated, Berger said.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
All thats left of a monument on San Franciscos waterfront to honor American veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade who fought fascism in the Spanish Civil War is a steel skeleton.

The rest of the 40-foot-long memorial dedicated just 10 years ago was quietly hauled away last month for major repairs, a victim of flawed design and neglect.

Im actually glad they took it down. It was unacceptable, said Marina Garde, executive director of the New York-based Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, which donated $400,000 to erect the monument and for many years paid for its upkeep.

We wanted the monument to be taken care of, she said, but the city didnt do it.

The San Francisco Arts Commission, which is responsible for 700 monuments and statues, including the Lincoln Brigade monument, says the city did its best. The monument has to be repaired because the original design had a serious flaw that caused portions of it to fade and crack.

Garde said the problems were with the design and also with neglect, because the city was slow to make repairs. She called the slow pace of repairing the monument a nightmare.

Brant Ward / The Chronicle 2012

The damaged portions are the heart of the monument. They were 44 panels made of onyx stone that told the story of the Lincoln Brigade in words and pictures  how 2,800 American volunteers fought against fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. The reporter Martha Gellhorn was quoted on one panel: They deserved our thanks and respect, and got neither.

Peter N. Carroll, a Stanford teacher who is chairman emeritus of the Lincoln Brigade Archives, called it a beautiful monument.

Though it may have been beautiful, the design, by Ann Chamberlain and Walter Hood, didnt hold up. The words and pictures were engraved on onyx, which produced a translucent look in the sunlight, a reminder of the Spanish landscape, Hood said.

It was striking, but changes in temperature, even in San Franciscos mild climate, caused the onyx to crack, said Allison Cummings of the Arts Commission.

Hood thought the moisture in the air on the waterfront was also a factor. He said he had tested the material in a mockup of the monument in his Oakland studio, without problems.

But the San Francisco location was different, he said.

The onyx panels began to fail six or seven years after the monument was dedicated. Cummings said the city removed the cracked panels, one by one. By 2016, eight years after the monument was installed, a third of the panels had been taken away.

Cummings said then that the monument would be repaired in six months if all went well.

By this summer, two years later, only half the panels were still in place, and some of those had been damaged by graffiti. The monument looked so unsightly that Garde said it was an insult to the memory of the Lincoln Brigade.

The Arts Commission then decided to remove all the panels and re-create the monument using laminated glass instead of onyx.

All the panels were removed by late July. The only part left is the steel frame, which looks like a piece of construction equipment.

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Is this a monument? asked Fran Herman, who was visiting the Embarcadero with her children last week. It looks like a piece of the Bay Bridge.

The long delay in removing and repairing the monument is frustrating to the Lincoln Brigade Archives. The Arts Commission is very nice, Garde said, but the city is so slow. Its moving slowly, but its moving. Its been a nightmare.

Hood said the restoration should be finished in the first part of 2019. The project will cost about $140,000, with the city and the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives each paying half, Cummings said.

Whats left of the Lincoln Brigade monument is still on its original site, just behind the Vaillancourt Fountain, across the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building. Though Cummings insisted that the decline of the monument was not due to neglect, the area was in a forlorn state last week.

The back end of the fountain was adorned with blue graffiti. Pigeons roosted on the fountain and their droppings were all over the skeleton of the Lincoln Brigade monument. There was a small homeless encampment under the nearby palm trees.

Its a mess, said Herman, who was passing by. The city never cleans up anything.

Carroll, the chairman emeritus of the Brigade Archives, said he will be pleased to see the monument restored, no matter how long it takes.

It will be a big deal, he said. These men and women proved that there is a time and a place to stand up for an ideal, to stand up and take a risk. And history proved them right.

Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf
Bus delays, always a burden for residents trying to get around San Francisco, got worse after the Municipal Transportation Agency closed the Twin Peaks Tunnel for repairs in June.

The shutdown of a crucial link between downtown and the west side required the agency to pluck drivers from popular Muni bus lines and reassign them to shuttles that loop around the tunnel  causing an increase in delays as the average number of missed bus runs on weekdays increased fivefold.

Muni officials say theres little they can do to speed up service while the project continues, as theyre also grappling with a chronic shortage of drivers. The citys transit agency has struggled for years to recruit and pump people through its training courses, and to retain drivers who grow weary of abuse from fed-up passengers.

Has it gotten worse? Oh, absolutely, said Roger Marenco, a bus driver and president of the Transport Workers Union.

Thats little comfort to the San Franciscans who depend on Muni each day, or to the City Hall politicians who field complaints from their constituents whenever the bus system sputters.

Im hearing from my constituents that they cant rely on Muni to get their kids to school or to get to their doctors appointments on time, said Supervisor Vallie Brown, who represents the Fillmore and Western Addition, Hayes Valley, Lower Haight, Haight-Ashbury and Japantown. She recently called for a hearing to address problems with the bus system, which got so bad that Muni officials issued a public apology to riders.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Marenco accused Muni of failing to adequately prepare for a disruption its top brass knew was inevitable. He suggested the bus systems managers should have consulted drivers before drafting a service plan, because we know whats going on at an hourly basis.

John Haley, the SFMTAs director of transit operations, acknowledged the driver shortfall in an internal memo in October, saying it was leaving bus routes open, squeezing light-rail service, and forcing staff to work overtime. The memo was first reported by the San Francisco Examiner.

Demand for drivers has risen as the number of drivers Muni employs has fallen. At the time of Haleys memo, the transit system needed 2,230 drivers for its buses, light-rail vehicles, trolleys and cable cars, and it was short 159. With the tunnel closure, Muni needs 2,260 drivers, and its deficit has grown to 245, said SFMTA spokeswoman Erica Kato.

Still, the agencys director, Ed Reiskin, downplayed the worker shortage during a recent interview with The Chronicle. He said the Twin Peaks Tunnel closure came at an inopportune moment, right as Muni was training workers to drive a new fleet of German light-rail cars.

We basically had a perfect storm of things come together, Reiskin said.

Though he said Munis problems are temporary, records obtained by The Chronicle show that dozens of lines are running fewer buses.

Marenco said he felt the effects of this summers patchwork-service plan on a recent weekday morning, when he was marooned for 35 minutes at Geary and Powell streets, waiting for the 38 bus.

Thats a bus thats supposed to come every eight minutes, he said.

Most transportation officials view the Twin Peaks Tunnel shutdown as short-term pain for long-term benefits: After 100 years of ferrying streetcars and light-rail trains, the 2.3-mile stretch needed new tracks, better drainage systems, and a structural retrofit to keep it standing in the next earthquake.

You cant do something this big without affecting the whole system, Haley said. Youre talking about the heart of the rail system, and the rail system is the heart of the overall system.

During the two-month construction period between June 25 and Aug. 24, Muni is running shuttle buses to serve riders who would otherwise take the K, L and M light rail through the tube, to get to the Sunset and surrounding neighborhoods. SFMTA filched drivers from other popular lines  including the 38-Geary and the 14-Mission  to drive those shuttles.

As summer wore on, the strain started to show. SFMTA measures service gaps by the number of runs missed in a day  in bus-speak, a run is a drivers daily assignment. According to the agencys records, the average number of missed runs jumped to 168 on weekdays in July  up significantly from last years average of 34.

For some dates, that number grew more than sevenfold. On July 10, for instance, Muni missed 169 runs throughout its system  up from 26 on the same date last year. And on July 18, the system missed 156 runs, compared with 20 last year.

Riders say theyve noticed changes: longer gaps between buses, bigger crowds and occasional bunching, meaning two or three buses arrive at the same time.

The buses have been a lot more crowded, said Benjamin Josloff, 25, waiting for the 38 on Geary near Powell Street on a wind-whipped Thursday night.

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Nearby on Kearny Street, a man glanced anxiously at a bus-scheduling app on his cell phone, which said the 45-Union was supposed to arrive in seven minutes. But it said the same thing 10 minutes ago, he grumbled.

Brown, the Fillmore district supervisor, said that shes been snowed with calls and emails about Muni delays, and that people have approached her to vent their frustrations at neighborhood meetings.

The SFMTA predicted issues and service delays in the summer of 2018, she said. Well, its summer, and all of a sudden were getting these accelerated complaints.

With pressure mounting from City Hall, Haley appears sanguine. He said that the agency plans to recruit and train more drivers, and that it will soon convert 60 part-time drivers to full time.

Yet Marenco said the starting wage of $22.71 an hour for drivers is too low to attract and retain people, considering the cost of living in the Bay Area and all the abuse that comes with the job.

He ticked off a list of hazards and annoyances: street protests; Uber and Lyft drivers who pull into bus lanes; electric scooters that zig-zag through traffic; bicyclists who cut in front of buses; angry passengers who harass and sometimes assault drivers.

It seems like everything thats happening now is geared to make things more difficult for Muni drivers, he said.

And since drivers serve as the face of Muni, people believe were the ones causing the bus-run cuts and the delays in service, he said. But actually, its the agency that caused this debacle.

A previous version of this story misstated the neighborhoods Supervisor Vallie Brown represents. The story has been altered to reflect this change.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @rachelswan
In a city where filthy sidewalks are many residents No. 1 complaint, City Hall has come up with a new way to deal with No. 2.

It sounds like silly elementary school banter, but its real. San Francisco is about to launch the Poop Patrol.

In about a month, a team of five Public Works staffers will begin patrolling the alleys around Polk Street and other hot spots in a vehicle equipped with a steam cleaner.

Theyll begin their shifts in the afternoon, as the city starts losing its sheen from overnight cleaning. The Poop Patrols mission? To spot and clean piles of feces before anybody complains about them.

Were trying to be proactive, explained Public Works director Mohammed Nuru. Were actually out there looking for it.

Were all out there looking for it, our eyes trained on the sidewalks as we walk so as to avoid that awful squishy feeling.

I admit to giggling when Nuru told me about plans for the Poop Patrol the other day. But in a city where people called 311 to report feces a whopping 14,597 times between Jan. 1 and Monday morning, public piles of poop are serious business.

For the record, thats about 65 calls regarding sidewalk poop every day. And its 2,427 more calls on the stinky subject than were made in the same time period last year.

The Poop Patrol idea sprung from conversations between Nuru and Mayor London Breed, both of whom have expressed disgust with the filthy conditions of our sidewalks.

Breed took one of her unannounced walks Monday morning to see sidewalk conditions up close, this time going from 18th and Castro streets to Market Street and then east for about a block. We didnt see any feces, which tends to be more prevalent in the Civic Center, Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, but the mayor said its a major concern.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Ive been talking to the Department of Public Works director on a regular basis, and Im like, What are we going to do about the poop? she told me in what may be the first conversation Ive ever had with a mayor that included the word poop.

He and I talked about coming up with some different solutions, she continued. I just want the city to be clean, and I want to make sure were providing the resources so that it can be.

She and Nuru said a lot of the waste on the sidewalks comes from dogs, and dog owners need to do a far better job picking up after their pets.

(Seriously, dog owners? Why is this still an issue 40 years after the Board of Supervisors passed Supervisor Harvey Milks pooper scooper ordinance to make it illegal for pet owners to not pick up their animals droppings? Have some decency.)

Of course, an obvious solution to all the human waste on the sidewalks would be to install more public bathrooms so homeless people dont have to use the sidewalks as toilets.

Breed did commit a sliver of the citys new $11.1 billion budget to that goal, allotting $1.05 million to construct five Pit Stop public toilets and expand operating hours at five existing locations.

There are 22 Pit Stop toilets around the city, but many of them are open only until the late afternoon or evening. There are few options for homeless people to relieve themselves overnight.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Mel Llamas, a 52-year-old resident of Treasure Island, thinks there should be twice as many Pit Stop toilets as there are now. And he should know. He monitors the one at Castro and Market streets. Hes there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and another monitor overlaps with him from noon to 8 p.m.

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Llamas said about 75 people use the toilet every day, and 90 percent of them use it as intended. Among that other 10 percent? A couple using the toilet as, Llamas politely put it, a motel. The man who entered the toilet fully clothed and emerged wearing only socks. People who try to shelter inside overnight or use it as a shooting gallery.

But Llamas said the vast majority treat the bathroom with respect, as long as he treats them with respect before they go inside.

Doniece Sandoval is the founder of Lava Mae, which provides mobile shower stalls and toilets to homeless people around San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles. She got the idea after learning San Francisco had a measly 16 shower stalls for homeless people.

We need our streets cleaned up, so I love that theyre doing the Poop Patrol, she said, giggling at the name like I did. But theres no doubt about the fact that we need more public bathrooms. Everywhere we can, we need to make them available. For our unhoused neighbors and everyone in the city, when you need to be able to find a facility, it shouldnt be this massive challenge.

In an ironic twist, a co-worker of mine stepped in a pile of poop in front of the Department of Public Health at Polk and Grove streets on Monday morning, experiencing that stomach-churning feeling so common to frustrated San Franciscans.

If only it had been prevented by the Poop Patrol.

Chronicle staff writer Dominic Fracassa contributed to this column.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @hknightsf
Californias electric utilities have taken their fight to change wildfire liability rules to the television screen, backing ads throughout the state.

That the companies back the ads, however, isnt obvious from the commercials themselves.

Instead, the ads urge viewers to support the BRITE Coalition, a group pushing to reform the states liability rules concerning fires triggered by utility equipment. All three of the states large investor-owned utilities  Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Co.  are members.

So are various chambers of commerce, a wind-energy association, a climate-change education group and the main union representing PG&E employees.

The utilities have spent months lobbying Sacramento legislators to change a system known as inverse condemnation, which holds them liable for wildfire damage tied to their equipment even in cases where the company did nothing wrong.

California fire investigators have blamed PG&Es equipment for starting 16 of the wind-driven wildfires that tore across Northern California last fall. In 11 of those fires, investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, found evidence that PG&E violated safety laws. Estimates of the companys potential liability range as high as $17 billion. Cal Fire has not yet announced the cause of the most destructive wildfire last fall, the Tubbs Fire in the Wine Country, which tore through neighborhoods in Santa Rosa.

Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed ending the system of automatically holding utilities financially liable for wildfire damage linked to their power lines, although his proposal would not apply to last years fires.

The issue has touched off a pitched battle of lobbyists and groups representing people and companies with a stake in the outcome.

Some of the lawyers and homeowners suing PG&E have their own advocacy group, Up from the Ashes, trying to thwart the utilities in the state Capitol. Insurance companies have another, bluntly titled Stop the Utility Bailout.

The BRITE Coalition (the acronym stands for Building Resilient Infrastructure for Tomorrows Economy) is ramping up its efforts as the end of the legislative session nears. With three weeks left, the group held a press conference Tuesday in Sacramento, and its smoothly produced television ads  also popping up on social media  started running early this month.

If a tree falls in a forest and hits a power line through no fault of anyones, the utilities are now the insurers of all that fire loss, and thats not fair, said Rob Fong, a former Sacramento city councilman, at the BRITE press conference. And more importantly, its not healthy for the financial stability of this state.

To its opponents, BRITE is nothing more than an astroturf group, a campaign backed by corporations but designed to look like a grass-roots effort.

Its nothing more than a name to put on the end of a television commercial other than PG&E, said Jamie Court, president of the Consumer Watchdog advocacy group. Its as phony as they come.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

The coalition may have a hard time persuading lawmakers to tackle such a sensitive and complicated issue in the sessions waning days. Tuesday afternoon, two of the state Senates top Republicans called for delaying any action on inverse condemnation, saying the Legislature should focus on fire prevention instead.

We believe it is in the best interest of the public for the Legislature to defer discussion of inverse condemnation to a later time, wrote Republican leader Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel (Orange County) and Jim Nielsen of Gerber (Tehama County), chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, in a press release. The Legislature should instead focus on more immediate issues that we can realistically address by the end of this month, such as improving the safety of electricity delivery systems, and reducing the risks of wildfires by fixing laws and regulations that have led to a proliferation of unmanaged forests and unprecedented levels of fuel.

PG&E touts BRITE as a broad-based effort. The utility, Californias largest, views the wildfire liability fight as part of a much larger issue: how the state will pay for the damage wrought by climate change. Massive wildfires, the company argues, have become more common in recent years because global warming and the recent drought have killed an estimated 130 million trees in the state.

We believe this is frankly the most critical issue facing California today, and we believe its really important that voices are heard on this, said Steven Malnight, PG&Es senior vice president of strategy and policy, speaking of the BRITE Coalition. Its a substantial group. Thats why were proud to be a part of it.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Malnight, speaking Tuesday with Chronicle editors and reporters, declined to say how much PG&E has donated to the group. A search of the state website that tracks campaign financing and lobbying expenses turned up no records with the groups name.

A form PG&E filed with the state detailing its lobbying expenses for this years second quarter listed $1.14 million spent on grassroots and other advocacy related to state wildfire legislation.

The Bay Area Council, a business-backed public policy group, has also joined BRITE. Geisha Williams, the CEO of PG&E Corp., sits on the groups executive committee.

But Jim Wunderman, the councils president, said that regardless of that personal connection, the group does not want to see the current liability system bankrupt PG&E. The utility filed for bankruptcy once before, during the states electricity crisis of 2000-01.

We do not want to end up with a bankrupt PG&E, he said Tuesday. Weve seen that before, and it wasnt pretty. Our residents require a functional utility.

The same fear also motivates the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, another BRITE member. The union often backs PG&E on issues it considers a threat to the company or the utility industry.

We learned this from our experience with PG&E going bankrupt during the energy crisis  the bankruptcy court has the latitude to cancel our labor agreement, has the latitude to remove the pension fund and use it to make payments to creditors, said Hunter Stern, business representative for IBEW Local 1245, speaking with reporters Tuesday after the Sacramento press conference.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Melody Gutierrez contributed to this report.

David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Monday that California could nip the threat of deadly wildfires with more aggressive forest management, a suggestion that critics dismissed as a shameless invitation for more logging.

Zinkes remarks, which came during his trip to California for a two-day visit to the site of Reddings Carr Fire, speak to widespread concern that the states woodlands have become too dense with brush and trees, and are supercharging fires.

Zinke called for thinning Californias forests and retrieving whatever lumber could be salvaged from burned areas.

Theres so much dead and dying timber, he said in an interview with Sacramento television station KCRA. Its just a timebomb.  We have to go back to actively managing our forests.

While forestry experts agree that Californias overgrown wildlands are intensifying fire activity, many questioned Zinkes motives as he downplayed global warming as a factor in recent fires and emphasized the need for commercial timber production.

Make no mistake, hes not proposing to thin small trees and shrubs, said Chad Hanson, research ecologist for the John Muir Project, a group thats been critical of timber production in Californias forests. Hes talking about intensive commercial logging projects.

Republicans in Congress, with the support from the Trump administration, have been pushing for changes in federal environmental policy that would reduce the level of review required for timber operations on public lands. Their latest proposal is being debated for inclusion in the Farm Bill. The goal, they say, is reduce fire risk.

Last week, President Trump tweeted that environmental laws were exacerbating Californias fires by keeping water from firefighters and leaving too much explosive vegetation in forests. Fire officials have said water shortages are not a problem.

Zinke said this week that the president is right, at least on the forest issue.

This is the path that the president and I feel strongly about, he said. Were going to actively manage our resources.

Zinke also was critical of environmentalists who have sued to stop logging projects in California.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

America is better than letting these radical groups control the dialogue, he said. Extreme environmentalists have shut down public access. They talk about habitat, and yet they are willing to burn it up.

Zinke acknowledged that temperatures were rising and that the fire season is getting longer, but he said that had little to do with the extreme fire behavior. Fire experts disagree.

He was joined by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in Redding. The Carr Fire, which has burned more than 200,000 acres, became Californias sixth most destructive wildfire when it killed seven people and destroyed more than 1,500 buildings last month.

Critics took issue with the cabinet members using Californias wildfires to promote their forest agenda.

For the Trump administration to exploit these recent human tragedies to try to roll back environmental laws and enrich their timber allies is incredibly wrong, Hanson said.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
A San Jose mother has died after being shot, along with her husband, by the couples son in an alleged plot to collect an inheritance, authorities said Tuesday.

Kim Lan Ly died Aug. 10 in a San Jose hospital where she was being treated for a gunshot wound to the face, according to the San Jose Police Department. Ly was shot in the grisly May 20 attack at the familys residence in a mobile home park on Senter Road.
The arrest of a juvenile girl Monday afternoon on Market Street led to a tense standoff between dozens of police officers and witnesses who accused law enforcement of using excessive force in apprehending the girl, who they say went limp after police slammed her into the ground and a car.

The incident took place around 1 p.m. when officers entered Downtown Smoke and Vapes store at 1072 Market St. Witnesses at the scene said police brought the girl out of the store handcuffed. She was struggling and resisting when they slammed her  first against the sidewalk and then into a car, witnesses said.

Several witnesses said the girl went limp and lost consciousness during the arrest. A video shot from an office building across the street shows emergency medical personnel putting a white bag, known as a spit hood, over the girls head before strapping her onto a stretcher and putting her into an ambulance. Before that, the girl was propped sitting against a fire hydrant and did not appear to be moving.

Now Playing: This 10-minute video, taken by Alex Orozco from a building across from the smoke shop on Market St. in San Francisco, shows a red-haired juvenile, described by her friends as a 14-year-old, leaning up against a fire hydrant in the moments after witnesses say police slammed her into the ground and into a car. She appears not to be moving. Twenty-seven seconds into the video, a paramedic puts what appears to be a white spit hood over her head. She is strapped into a stretcher and wheeled into the ambulance. Video: Alex Orozco

Police did not immediately explain why the hood was used.

They slammed the girl into the car, and when they let her up she was completely limp, said Eric Dyer, a witness who lives near the smoke shop.

Friends of the girl at the scene said she is 14 years old.

Police spokesman Office Joseph Tomlinson said that the girl was wanted on a warrant and resisted arrest while she was apprehended. She was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries, he said.

Confirmation of the girls age and information on what she was wanted for was not immediately available.

Ben Assiter, a tourist from London, said the police presence was overwhelming.

There were 15 cop cars here in about 15 seconds, he said. Im from London. I was surprised to see such a response.

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.

Market Street was blocked off for about 30 minutes after the incident. A row of police officers stood between the angry crowd and the smoke shop, where investigators were interviewing witnesses. Several members of the crowd that gathered shouted anti-police slogans and demanded the names of the officers involved in the incident. One onlooker who was shouting at police was handcuffed but not charged.

Now Playing: What are your chances of becoming a victim of violent crime or property crime in San Francisco compared to other major US cities. Video: Ted Andersen, SFGATE

Witness, David Sherman, said the force used by police was excessive.

When they brought her outside, they slammed her against the car and hit her in the face, he said. They could have killed her.

The smoke shop is in a row of retail shops beneath the Islamic Society of San Francisco. It sits on a transitional block of Market Street next to a 300-unit luxury apartment under construction at 1066 Market St.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SFjkdineen
A pair of Bay Area restaurants, one a star-studded affair perched atop a former Divisadero auto shop and the other a neighborhood favorite in Oaklands Fruitvale district, have snagged two coveted spots on Bon Appetit magazines annual top list naming Americas 10 best new restaurants.

The list was whittled down from 50 nominees across the country, which the magazine released in late July.
Crazy Rich Asians was destined to be a phenomenon even before the film reached theaters.

Its the first major Hollywood release to feature an all-Asian leading cast since The Joy Luck Club, which came out 25 years ago. We should all buy four tickets, whether planning to step foot in the theater or not, just on principle.

And yet the solid movie stands on its own, separate from the growing hype and its-been-way-too-long buildup. Director John M. Chu (Step Up 2: The Streets; Justin Bieber: Never Say Never), who had shown only flashes of promise in previous films, guides an excellent cast through some turbulent storytelling, then finishes strong with a satisfying emotional climax. There are book-to-movie problems, too much exposition and too many characters. But the film delivers a good time.

Crazy Rich Asians has such a focus on travel and fashion, the experience is at times like scrolling through a big-screen Instagram feed. Even before the movies centerpiece wedding, small characters shuttle through scenes so quickly the plot feels like a cinematic receiving line.

And yet the filmmakers never lose track of their central characters, and what makes them interesting. Although theres very little forward momentum in the movie, Chu compensates by giving every scene a strong sense of familiarity  as if weve already gotten to know these people after several seasons of television. In pacing and just general vibe, Crazy Rich Asians feels more like the first Sex and the City movie than any other cinematic experience.

A lot of credit for this welcoming atmosphere goes to Constance Wu, who is lovely, strong and relatable in the central role. A star best known for TVs Fresh off the Boat, she absolutely shines on the big screen.

Now Playing: FOX 5's Kevin McCarthy spoke with Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, stars of the new film, Crazy Rich Asians. Video: Fox5DC

Wu is Rachel Chu, a young economics professor whose boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding), has invited her to Singapore. Unbeknownst to Rachel, he is a celebrated heir to one of the richest families on the island country. As Rachel gets a whirlwind introduction to dozens of relatives, friends and hangers-on of varying importance, she locks into a battle of wills with domineering mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), whose contempt for Rachel borders on bigotry.

Yeoh is another acting pillar in the movie, delivering stoic and dismissive lines (When children are away from the home for too long, they forget who they are ...) like slaps across the face.

Although the tone in Crazy Rich Asians is always on point, the story occasionally travels off the rails. One subplot involving Nicks fashion-forward cousin and her insecure husband has no connection to the central story and is a distracting drag on the film.

Small characters pop in and out constantly. Sometimes they are welcome, especially Oliver Santos and Awkwafina as Americanized friends who take on Cinderella/fairy godmother roles during Rachels style transformations. And sometimes its confusing who is related to whom, and why theyre onscreen again.

(Pro tip: Sit next to someone who read Kevin Kwans 2013 Crazy Rich Asians book and can explain the 50 or 60 things you missed, when youre both walking out to your car.)

But the centerpiece comedy and drama moments almost always deliver. Rachels entry to the wedding feels like one of the all-time stunning dress reveals. And her maneuvering and confrontations with mean mom Eleanor are completely satisfying.

Crazy Rich Asians is full of cultural moments, and jokes that will resonate with Asian audiences. Reds a lucky color, right? Rachel asks a friend, when modeling a dowdy red dress she might wear to meet Nicks family.

Yeah, if youre an envelope, comes the reply.

But the moments that could possibly cause confusion for non-Asian audiences are few and far between. Chus movie has many more cultural teaching moments than inside jokes, whether you know about the Chinese red envelope gift-giving tradition or not.

The end result is flawed, but also funny, heartfelt and inclusive movie making. Crazy Rich Asians isnt just a good Hollywood movie for the Asian American population, and one that is overdue by about 24 years. Its a good movie, period.

Peter Hartlaub is The San Francisco Chronicles pop culture critic. Email: phartlaub@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @PeterHartlaub
Police in Lake County were reeling Monday after a Clearlake father on probation for domestic violence and failing to register as a sex offender shot his four young children, killing three of them, and then turned the gun on himself.

The children, ages 4, 2 and 9 months, died of gunshot wounds, but a 5-year-old was found alive amid the carnage. Their father, Ricardo Garcia Lopez, 39, was found dead in the driveway from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

He had been arrested twice before on spousal battery charges and was barred from possessing a gun.

The horror began shortly after midnight Sunday when the childrens mother called 911 and told police that her husband was firing a gun outside the family home on the 4700 block of Yarrington Court, in the rural town of Clearlake, about 110 miles north of San Francisco.

Clearlake police Sgt. Tim Hobbs said the woman, whose name was not released, fled when Lopez, who worked as a laborer, began his rampage.

She ran away to get help, Hobbs said in a statement.

When police arrived they found Lopez in a pool of blood in the driveway, the apparent murder weapon by his side. His four children were inside an SUV parked outside the home, Hobbs said.

The 5-year-old was alive despite suffering a gunshot wound to the chest and was rushed to Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital and then flown to a trauma center in another county. The child was listed in stable condition Monday, according to police.

Detectives did not say what kind of gun Lopez used or how he obtained it, but he was no stranger to local police.

Lopez was arrested March 10 on a felony charge of attacking his wife. He later pleaded guilty to battery on a non-cohabitating partner, according to Lake County Superior Court records. He was sentenced to three years probation and barred from owning or possessing a firearm, and a restraining order was issued, court clerk Luanne Hayes told the Associated Press.

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.

He was arrested again on May 24 on charges of spousal battery, a misdemeanor, and released on $25,000 bail, but he failed to show up for his July arraignment and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, Hayes told the AP.

Lake County sheriffs records show that Lopez had failed three times to register as a sex offender, but the details of that case were not available.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
AFP Contributor#AFP /

A firefighter was killed battling the two fires known as the Mendocino Complex fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement Monday.

Jonathan Cox, the Cal Fire battalion chief for Northern California, confirmed the death Monday evening but said the name would not be released until next of kin had been notified. Fire officials said he was from Utah and was on the fire line Monday when he was injured. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died.
The California fires are a fearsome sight. San Francisco and the East Bay from Richmond south have been spared so far, but for how long? These fires, horrendous hurricanes and floods east of California, immense and destructive typhoons in the Philippines and elsewhere in the western Pacific, burning heat in India and Africa, are all ultimately caused by global warming. Those words are unmentionable in President Trumps America. But if we dont act very quickly to try to stop the continued rise in the temperature of our climate, these problems will worsen indefinitely. I had hoped California would lead the way to stop all use of fossil fuels, stop fracking, forget about natural gas, as well as giant agribusiness, another huge global warmer. But all this is still going on in California, all contributing to the rising temperatures. Concerned? There will be a march for the climate in San Francisco on Sept. 8, starting at 10 a.m., beginning at Embarcadero Plaza. For more information, visit https://350bayarea.org.

Jean Nandi, Berkeley

Illogical thinking

Concerning Wildfires make GOP vulnerable on environment (Page One, Aug. 13): Its shameful that GOP Rep. Tom McClintock, whose district includes the area where the Ferguson Fire is burning, has voted for cuts to the Forest Service and no funding increases for fighting wildfires.

The anti-science, global warming-denying Republican Party will have to defend its illogical thinking in the November midterm elections, especially to traditional supporters who have lost their homes, property, or loved ones to these horrific infernos.

Henrik Lundquist, Larkspur

Commend the staff

Regarding Five-star service (Letters, Aug. 10): I would just like to second the authors letter. I had almost an identical experience when I renewed my drivers license at the Vallejo Department of Motor Vehicles in June. I had an appointment for 3 p.m. I was also greeted at the door and again once I got inside, and everything was explained to me in a kind, helpful manner. I can top the authors experience, however, in that I was in and out in 30 minutes! I then received my license in the mail less than a week later. I dont know if the Vallejo DMV is the exception or the rule, but I certainly had no complaints, and would like to commend all the hardworking, helpful staff there.

Suzanne Thompson, Benicia

Give alternatives

Regarding Lenient court puts burglars back on streets (Page One, Aug. 12): We have a broken prison system. Yes, this criminal with a prolific criminal record is back on the streets without doing time.

What would time in prison have done? What we know is that it hardens criminals, so that they get back on the street with better techniques, better networks, and are better able to do more serious crimes. It does give them a criminal record, so if they want to get a good job and start over, it is very hard to do. Instead, we need to give people alternatives. We need to give them job training so that they can get a decent job.

We need to have that basic income that liberals keep talking about, so that folks can buy food and pay rent. We need to be taking care of each other.

Amy Dewey, Oakland

Wait for perp walk

Regarding Trump belongs in Walk of Shame (Aug. 12): I agree with the letter regarding President Trumps Hollywood Star moving from Walk of Fame to Walk of Shame. But personally, Im holding out for a perp walk.

Larry Coy, Palo Alto

Food delivery

This might not work for large companies, but my company in Palo Alto has found a solution to the office cafeteria problem. We have a local restaurant deliver delicious food on Tuesday and Thursday.

On Monday and Friday, we have food delivered from a larger company that sources from a variety of restaurants. On Wednesday, we go out to nearby restaurants in small groups (Walk Out Wednesday). Good wholesome food, variety, and we support the local restaurants.

Ann Maier, San Francisco

Growing tension

Regarding Trump meets his match in CNN correspondent (Aug. 13): While I agree with columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. that the current exchanges between journalists and the White House occur in a circus-like atmosphere, I dont fault CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta for speaking out against a president who calls the free press the enemy of the people. Trumps inflammatory words are what caused Acosta to experience physical and verbal threats during his coverage of a political rally in Florida.

When journalists have to worry about their own physical safety in reporting news in the U.S., they might  as Acosta has  feel defensive.

Its unfortunate (and revealing) that White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders would not refute President Trumps assessment of the press, since calming words might help de-escalate the growing tension between our government and the Fourth Estate.

Carolyn Crawford, San Francisco

Strong fire reporting

Regarding Claimed by fire, alive in his heart (Page One, Aug. 12) and Few recruits as volunteers dwindle (Page One, Aug. 12): Thank you for the real and pulsating description of Ed Bledsoes gripping grief after the fires. Please keep reporting on the reduction of recruits for firefighting in California. This needs to be placed squarely in our faces and those in government.

Katy Byrne, Sonoma

Homeless space

Regarding Costly transit center seeks way to pay bills (Aug. 13): I read that it will cost an annual $8 million to police the new Transbay Transit Center so that San Franciscos homeless population doesnt colonize the park on the roof.

Given the shortage of shelter beds for homeless men, and, after all, they have to sleep somewhere, why not re-purpose the empty space waiting for the trains to arrive  that will take years as a shelter, perhaps with a breakfast program, showers, and washing machines and dryers? It is a large space.

Kaaren Strauch Brown, San Francisco

Lend some expertise

As a native of Stockholm, I was saddened to read Wildfire-ravaged Sweden looks to state (Page One, Aug.7). Like California, Sweden is now experiencing wildfires due to unprecedented heat and drought. I hope that the Golden State can lend its expertise to my home country to deal with these catastrophic fires.

This news story truly shows that the warming occurring on our planet is global.

Barbara Sandstrom, San Francisco
In California, children as young as 5 years old are prosecuted in juvenile court. As a probation chief with nearly 30 years of experience, I can attest that the justice system is no place for very young children.

Early in my career, I met a 10-year-old child who was referred to the justice system and detained in juvenile hall. The offense was not very serious, but he had a troubled home life and was detained throughout his court case. The image is seared into memory  we had to give him a box to stand on so he could peer out the window of his cell. He couldnt reach the privacy curtain in his cell to use the toilet. And he felt so alone and scared that we bought him stuffed animals to comfort him.

California Senate Bill 439, authored by state Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, would exclude children age 11 and under from juvenile court prosecution, except for the most serious, violent offenses. The bill would protect young children from the negative impacts of formal justice system involvement. Currently, 21 states and the U.S. Territory of American Samoa have a minimum age of juvenile justice jurisdiction, but California does not. This means that in our state, a child of any age can be prosecuted in juvenile court.

We all know that children who are 5, 6, even 11 years old have a lot of growing up to do. Theyre in elementary school. They do childish things because they are children. Its not surprising, then, that the vast majority of young children are referred to the justice system for typical childish behaviors like school fights, being incorrigible or drawing on school property.

For example, in 2017, there were 637 children under 12 in California who were referred to probation. The vast majority were for minor violations: 66 percent were referred for status offenses  acts such as truancy or curfew violations that are not considered criminal if committed by an adult  and misdemeanor offenses.

Shockingly, five of these children were just 5 years old when referred to probation; three children were 6-year-olds and five were 7-year-olds. This means they were actually arrested by a police officer for activities like fights, curfew violation and trespassing. Though most of the cases ultimately were dropped, a few of these youth went through the formal court and ended up on probation.

These young children do not pose a public safety threat. From 2010 to 2017, no young child under 12 was found guilty of homicide or rape. In the unlikely event that this does happen, there is a special exception in the law to allow prosecution for the most serious law violations, regardless of the young persons age.

Based on my long history of working with youth in the justice system, I know its not the right place for young children. The programs in place are ill suited to them. In Santa Clara County, we have a wide array of evidence-based programming that works for adolescents. But the programs are not tested on young children, and in our experience dont work for them. For example, many programs require a degree of reflection and insight that exceeds the abilities of children who are 7, 8 or 9 years old.

In Santa Clara County, weve made changes that acknowledge the developmental differences of young children. In 2010, we were the first county in California to divert children under 13 from juvenile detention. The decision followed a report from the Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission that looked at the specific circumstances of youth that had been detained. The commission found that these young children were not a threat to public safety, but instead had needs that were best met outside the justice system. The majority of the children were clients of the countys Department of Family and Childrens Services and had been physically or sexually abused. More than one-third had a mental health diagnosis. We worked with nonprofit organizations and the community at large to develop genuine options for these youths. And its been a success.

Importantly, this year, the state budget included a $37 million for the Youth Reinvestment Fund, which would provide counties with funding for community-based services to divert youth from formal justice system involvement.

If a young child needs services, he or she should be provided services. Anything that we as a justice system can do for really young children, another child-serving system can do better. California has the opportunity to take a leadership role in protecting our young children by excluding them from juvenile court jurisdiction now.

Laura Garnette is the chief probation officer for Santa Clara County.
The state Senate will begin considering a bill on Wednesday with dire implications for the morality and effectiveness of our criminal justice system.

If enacted, the bill would trample on our constitutional rights, set criminal justice reform efforts back decades and destroy countless lives by unnecessarily incarcerating thousands upon thousands of people. It would also increase crime and cost the public untold hundreds of millions of dollars.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 10, seeks to replace Californias money bail system with a regime under which virtually anyone accused of a crime can be thrown in jail while awaiting trial  even if they are innocent, have been wrongfully arrested, pose no risk of flight and are not a threat to the community.

There is no doubt that our money bail system is broken, creating two separate and unequal systems of justice  one for the wealthy and one for the poor. In recent decades, a much-needed bail reform movement has been gathering steam across the nation. Finally, last year, supporters succeeded in bringing a bail reform bill before the Legislature.

But that original bill has been gutted by special interests that want to take power away from the community and concentrate it in the hands of probation officers and judges. Although the unjust money bail system must end, the Legislatures proposed remedy is now far worse than the disease.

By locking the vast majority of people up before trial, SB10 would effectively do away with a bedrock principle of our criminal justice system: that you are innocent until proven guilty.

The legislation would also undermine our constitutional right to equality before the law by sorting defendants using crude risk assessment tools that are notoriously biased against people of color and the poor. It would then erode due process rights by granting judges overly broad powers to throw these people in jail before trial without input from defense attorneys or the community.

All of this has ruinous consequences for individuals. Even a few days in jail destabilizes lives: It causes people to lose their jobs and housing, wrecks their physical and mental health, exposes them to sexual violence, and even leads them to lose custody of their children. It also exposes undocumented people to the brutality of detention and deportation by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This makes all of us less safe. Proponents of SB10 say it would create a system of preventive detention, but the truth is the bill could actually promote crime. One recent study shows that spending just two to three days in jail makes even low risk people 39 percent more likely to be rearrested while awaiting trial.

Whats more, all the unjust, unnecessary incarceration created by SB10 will cost the public tremendous amounts of money, diverting tax dollars to courts and probation departments and away from programs, such as housing, schools and social services, that can improve the lives of people in our communities. Indeed, the draft legislation isnt just unconstitutional; its also bad policy.

To be fair, SB10 does call for some positive changes:

improved (though still insufficient) data collection,

expedited appeals, and

a prohibition on charging defendants fees for court-ordered supervision.

Most important, the legislation would eradicate the predatory for-profit money bail industry  a goal of the reform movement and all those committed to equal justice.

But replacing a wealth-based system of discrimination with a system where virtually everyone is detained pretrial is not the answer. Thats why most of SB10s original sponsors, including the ACLU, no longer support it.

Nor does the San Francisco Public Defenders Office, and countless other advocates for criminal justice reform across the state. I hope youll join us by calling your elected representatives, sharing this on social media, and vocally opposing this disastrous bill.

Jeff Adachi is the public defender in San Francisco. He can be contacted at jeff.adachi@sfgov.org.
In Word for Words 25th anniversary show, human stream of consciousness doesnt merely idle on tangents. Near pristine in its isolation, its always burrowed so deep in some wayward rabbit hole that you cant imagine it finding its way back to planet Earth. And down in that warren lies a whole universe of pipe dreams and castles in the air. Theyre silly and shameful, these whimsies, built on our pettiness, our prejudice, our privilege, our regrets. But theyre so vividly conjured, so singular in their construction, characters cant help but indulge them, teleporting back to empirical reality only when forcibly tugged.

Such rich interior lives are usually the province of prose, not performance. But thats precisely what makes Word for Word so special in the Bay Area theater scene. The company transcribes short stories to the stage without changing a word of them, keeping even every he said and she said intact. With Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders: Deep Kiss and Victory Lap, Word for Word dives even deeper than usual into the forbidden terrain of that which is thought but not uttered.

If the result is perhaps not as imaginative as the stories themselves are, the show, which opened at Z Space on Saturday, Aug. 11, nonetheless paints these imaginings lucidly. And hearing deviant words spoken aloud, as opposed to merely reading them, adds to the feeling of delicious transgression. You emerge from the theater feeling both more defensive of your own vagabond musings and perversely tempted to voice them and see what happens.

Wolffs Deep Kiss, directed by Joel Mullennix, follows a young love lost  a loss that seems to keep happening over and over again in the life of Joe (Adam Elder). In high school, for three months, he dates Mary Claude (Blythe de Oliveira Foster), and their kissing chemistry is so electric that theyre stitched together at the mouth, as his mother (Susan Harloe) puts it.

But one day, on an errant impulse, he ignores her, which ruined everything. That loss bleeds into other, later losses  the sickness of Joes father (Paul Finocchiaro), his own childrens growing-up  turning up again and again as a road not taken, but one that seems just as real as his medical practice, as mowing the lawn on a sweaty summer day.

If Mullennixs direction can feel more didactic than dramatic, illustrating scenes as if theyre pictures in a book instead of the live, urgently unfolding present, Elders unaffected, unhurried delivery gives Wolffs words just the right touch. He sets each new thought afloat as if hes gently casting a paper boat out to sea.

Saunders Victory Lap, directed by Delia MacDougall, lets its characters reveries fly even farther afield. Cosseted high schooler Alison (Isabel Langen) sees herself as a benevolent princess, befriending woodland creatures, getting courted by suitors, feeding the worlds poor. In Langens uproarious rendering, Alison wafts through her charmed world as if always in a ballet recital or giving an acceptance speech, as if she carries a magic wand.

"Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders: 'Deep Kiss' and 'Victory Lap'": Written by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders. Directed by Joel Mullennix and Delia MacDougall. Through Sept. 2. Two hours, five minutes. $20-$50. Z Space, 450 Florida St., S.F. 415-626-0453. www.zspace.org See More Collapse

By contrast, her classmate and neighbor Kyle (Alexander Pannullo) is always doing subconscious battle with his parents recriminations. He cant touch a toe on the floor of his own home without sullying it; even when Kyles alone after school, his father (Finocchiaro) is nonetheless so present that hes liable to pop out of the woodwork. And then theres an unnamed stranger (Mohammad Shehata), who refers to himself as the king while also painting himself as the flunky of other no-goodniks.

Saunders makes these three wild streams of consciousness intersect, jarring all of them out of the comforts of the minds eye. Though his plot mechanisms can veer sensationalized and lurid, the stuff of suburban worst nightmares, he ultimately reveals our mental bubbles, the fantasy lands we build for ourselves, as a precious treasure. Once we lose them, all we have left is reality or nightmare.

Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak
Rep. Nancy Pelosi has starred in roughly one in every five Republican-made House campaign ads across the country this year, usually as a device to tar a fellow Democrat running in a conservative area as beholden to her liberal San Francisco values.

But almost no Pelosi-themed ads have aired yet in her largely Democratic home state. That is about to change, as two Republican groups are planning to use Pelosi in attack ads warning that if Democrats take GOP-held House seats in California, it will mean higher taxes for all Americans.

Republican groups have purchased ad time in Orange County districts to tie Pelosi to the Democratic opponents of Republican Young Kim, who is running to replace retiring Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton, and Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Irvine. They are also planning to use Pelosi in ads in Central Valley districts held by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock (Stanislaus County), and Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford (Kings County).

The anti-Pelosi ads typically raise the specter of her returning as speaker should Democrats flip the 23 seats they need to recapture the House. Several California races are key to determining which party will control the chamber for the next two years.

The attacks have driven dozens of Democratic candidates  44 challengers and seven incumbents, by an NBC News count last week  to promise not to vote for Pelosi as speaker should Democrats prevail.

In California, the anti-Pelosi roster includes Democrat Gil Cisneros, who is running for Royces Orange County seat, and Andrew Janz, who is challenging GOP Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare. T.J. Cox, the Democrat challenging Valadao in the Central Valley, declined to commit one way or the other.

When I win and when we take back the House, thats the point in time that I will look at who the leadership should be, Cox said in a television interview.

Pelosis favorability rating is low nationally (29 percent)  much like that of GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin (30 percent) and Congress itself (16 percent)  and Republican operatives say they are targeting her because their internal polling shows she is particularly unpopular in the areas of California where the competitive House races are being run.

In Denhams Central Valley district, 57 percent of voters disapprove of Pelosi, according to internal Republican research shared with The Chronicle. In Walters Orange County district, 55 percent disapprove, GOP polling indicates.

In districts around the country, including in California, Pelosi is easily the most unpopular national figure of any political party, said Jack Pandol of the National Republican Congressional Campaign, which is planning Pelosi-themed ads. Associating her with Democratic candidates makes them radioactive.

Corry Bliss, executive director of the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC, which works to elect Republican House candidates, said that to the average American  not the average Republican, the average American  Nancy Pelosi and her San Francisco liberal values are completely removed from reality.

That means the resistance movement and everything that comes along with it  raising taxes, getting rid of ICE, trying to impeach Trump, Bliss said.

Pelosi doesnt support doing away with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Nor does she support impeaching President Trump  she has actively opposed billionaire activist Tom Steyers impeachment petition drive as politically unwise and a distraction.

But conservative operatives dont sweat those details because their research shows that Pelosi is an avatar for San Francisco values, an amorphous catch-phrase that Republicans have used for more than three decades as shorthand for positions far to the left of the mainstream.

And unlike Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. or other top Democrats, people know who Pelosi is  in part because shes been a star of Republican attack ads for so long.

One of the factors why shes so toxic is that her name ID is nearly 100 percent, said Courtney Alexander, a spokeswoman for the Congressional Leadership Fund, which has raised $95 million in the 2018 cycle toward protecting the GOPs majority in the House. Shes been around so long that people know what its like to have her and her agenda in power.

Pelosis name has been invoked in more ads this year than in the entire 2014 and 2016 campaign seasons, said Mitchell West, a senior analyst with Kantar Media, which measures political advertising. The company estimates that Pelosi has starred in about 20 percent of GOP House ads this year.

The only politician whose name has been used more often: Trump. He was featured negatively in 13 percent of the nearly 300,000 local broadcast political ads aired through June 4 of this year, according to the nonpartisan Wesleyan Media Project. Pelosi has been featured negatively in 6.5 percent of those ads during that period  nearly three times as often as Schumer and nearly 20 times as often as Ryan.

There are a number of districts that are up for grabs in California this year, and Nancy Pelosi is just as much of a political liability as she is in Columbus, Ohio, said Ken Spain, a former GOP operative who first used anti-Pelosi ads a decade ago when he was the communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

And Spain says the ads work. Whether or not Democrats win the House in 2018, it is likely they will leave five to 10 seats on the table simply because of the prospect of Nancy Pelosi returning to the speakers chair, he said.

Some who study such things, however, say theres no proof anti-Pelosi ads persuade voters who are on the fence.

I have not seen any research like that, said Travis Ridout, a professor of political science at Washington State University and co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project.

I suspect that these ads are less designed to appeal to the independent voters than to get their base to turn out, Ridout said. A lot of these candidates have decided that they are for Trump and this is their way to win: Get their voters out and the heck with the middle.

Pelosi, 78, has given no sign of stepping down from the Democratic leadership. Asked in May about the Democratic candidates who were backing away from her, she said, If they have to do that to win the election, Im all for winning.

California voters see through the pathetic, dark-money-funded ads that dont work, said Pelosi spokesman Jorge Aguilar. They show the GOPs desperate attempts at demonizing strong, effective women and the bankruptcy of their ideas because they have nothing to run on.

One reason more Democrats dont advocate pushing Pelosi aside: She continues to be one of the partys strongest fundraisers. She has raised $87.4 million in the 2018 election cycle.

Using Pelosi in ads in California shows that Republicans dont have a compelling case to either make for their candidates or against the Democrats, said Katie Merrill, strategic adviser to Fight Back California, a super PAC focused on flipping Republican House seats.

The biggest mistake both parties make is when they try to nationalize their message, Merrill said. When voters hear something like (anti-Pelosi ads), Democrats go to one corner, Republicans go to another corner and the people in the middle tune out. Voters want to hear about issues that affect their district.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Rep. Nancy Pelosi has starred in roughly one in every five Republican-made House campaign ads across the country this year, usually as a device to tar a fellow Democrat running in a conservative area as beholden to her liberal San Francisco values.

But almost no Pelosi-themed ads have aired yet in her largely Democratic home state. That is about to change, as two Republican groups are planning to use Pelosi in attack ads warning that that if Democrats take GOP-held House seats in California, it will mean higher taxes for all Americans.

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Republican groups have purchased ad time in Orange County districts to tie Pelosi to the Democratic opponents of Republican Young Kim, who is running to replace retiring Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton, and Rep. Mimi Walters, R-Irvine. They are also planning to use Pelosi in ads in Central Valley districts held by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, and Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford (Kings County).

The anti-Pelosi ads typically raise the spectre of her returning as speaker should Democrats flip the 23 seats they need to recapture the House. Several of the California races are key to determining which party will control the chamber for the next two years.

The attacks have driven dozens of Democratic candidates  44 challengers and seven incumbents, by an NBC News count last week  to promise not to vote for Pelosi as speaker should Democrats prevail.

Pelosis favorability rating is low nationally (29 percent)  much like that of GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin (30 percent) and Congress itself (16 percent)  and Republican operatives say they are targeting her because their internal polling shows she is particularly unpopular in the areas of California where the competitive House races are being run.

In districts around the country, including in California, Pelosi is easily the most unpopular national figure of any political party, said Jack Pandol of the National Republican Congressional Campaign, which is planning Pelosi-themed ads. Associating her with Democratic candidates makes them radioactive.

Democrats say Republicans might like to think that, but theres no proof the ads work.

The biggest mistake both parties make is when they try to nationalize their message, said Katie Merrill, the strategic adviser to Fight Back California, a super PAC focused on flipping Republican House seats. When voters hear something like (anti-Pelosi ads), Democrats go to one corner, Republicans go to another corner and the people in the middle tune out. Voters want to hear about issues that affect their district.

Read the full story here.

Deep dives and late takes

Democrats are hoping to turn the California wildfires into an environmental issue and score gains at Republicans expense.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is blaming environmentalists for conditions that made this summers huge fires possible.

A billionaire venture capitalist gives up on his hope of dividing California into three states after the state Supreme Court tosses the idea off the ballot.

Activists are pressuring the University of California to sell holdings in companies that do business with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Donald Trumps presidency inspired no fewer than 15 papers, presentations and symposiums at the American Psychological Associations convention.

Does East Bay Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell want to be president? If his Iowa travel schedule is any indication, the answer is yes.

Billionaire San Francisco activist Tom Steyer will spend $10 million trying to get people who have signed his Trump impeachment petition to vote in November.

Republican candidate for governor John Cox is working the long, long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles to try to win votes.

Outside Lands added a political element this year, as Democratic candidate for governor Gavin Newsom showed up to tout his candidacy to music fans.

A San Francisco supervisor candidates forum and a talk on rent control highlight the Bay Area political calendar.

The Political Punch newsletter publishes every Tuesday and Thursday between noon and 3 p.m. It is produced by the staff of the San Francisco Chronicle and edited by politics editor Trapper Byrne. Email: tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
A 50-year-old commercial fishing boat ran aground near a popular Santa Cruz beach early Sunday, spewing 200 gallons of diesel fuel into the water and leaving behind wreckage that remained on the beach into Tuesday.

The boat, the 56-foot "Pacific Quest," grounded on the rocks in a cove near Natural Bridges State Beach about 2 a.m. Sunday. Its fuel line was ruptured by the surf, and it was battered to pieces by the crashing waves.

REAL ESTATE: Former nudist colony in Santa Cruz listed for $35 million

The vessel's captain and his dog who was aboard both escaped uninjured, according to the Coast Guard.

The boat, valued at approximately $500,000, is owned by Quest Sportfishing Charters. They reportedly tried to call for a tow when the boat first ran aground, but in the hour it took to arrive, the boat took on water and was unsafe to be pulled off the rocks, Gary Clisby, the company's president, told KSBW.

At low tide on Monday, crews worked to contain the fuel before the boat was broken apart even more by the waves, officials told local news outlet Good Times. The spill occurred near the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

ALSO: The terrifying years when multiple serial killers stalked Santa Cruz

As of Monday afternoon, the source of the oil spill was secured and there was no visible oil sheen on the surrounding water, nor was there any visibly oil-slicked wildlife in the surrounding area, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

About 720 gallons of fuel were pumped from the boat's fuel tanks by Monday evening, according to the Coast Guard. With the focus shifting from preventing pollution to recovering debris from the wreck, Monterey Bay Diving has been hired to help, and the Coast Guard is asking boaters and surfers to be alert for debris from the wreck.

"We're fisherman and we harvest fish from the ocean," said Clisby. "The last thing we want to do is contribute to pollution or any spill or anything else like that."

Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter
Yosemite Valley reopened Tuesday, three weeks after the deadly Ferguson Fire forced the closure of the popular summertime tourist attraction.

Yosemite Valley Lodge, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Half Dome Village and Housekeeping Camp came back to life just a day after the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. But even as businesses turned on their lights and people returned to work, 839 firefighters continued to battle the blaze that has killed two firefighters and destroyed 10 structures.

The fire had burned 96,606 acres by Tuesday night and was 87 percent contained.

Its one of 11 large wildfires burning in California that has more than 12,500 firefighters working. So far, the fires have burned some 740,000 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Heres a look at some of the other major fires in California:

 The Mendocino Complex: The blaze, made up of the Ranch and River fires, burned 354,910 acres as of Tuesday night in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties.

The 305,990-acre Ranch Fire was 64 percent contained Tuesday evening, while the River Fire was fully contained at 48,920 acres on Monday.

Fire crews on the Mendocino Complex were mourning the loss of Utah firefighter, Matthew Burchett, 42, who was killed after arriving Aug. 2 with five other firefighters from the Draper City Fire Department.

We have different engine crews and different fire crews working doing structure defense that are in the threatened areas, said Christian Linnemann, a Cal Fire spokesman. The morale is affecting everybody, especially with the death on the line Monday.

Burchett was the sixth firefighter to die battling wildfires in California this year, making 2018 the deadliest fire season for firefighters in the past decade. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances that led to Burchetts death.

Since Monday, one more residence was destroyed in the blaze, bringing the total to 147 homes. A total of 1,025 structures remained under threat.

The inferno is expected to be fully contained Sept. 1.

 The Carr Fire: The conflagration had consumed 211,019 acres and was 65 percent contained by Tuesday night.

A mandatory evacuation order was lifted Tuesday afternoon for the Rainbow Lake area.

By Tuesday evening, 4,101 personnel were working to control containment lines while facing challenges posed by dense timber, dry vegetation and windy conditions.

The states sixth-most destructive fire has killed eight people, including three firefighters and a great-grandmother and her two great-grandchildren, in addition to destroying 1,599 structures.

 The Holy Fire: This fire in Orange and Riverside counties was 59 percent contained and had burned 22,986 acres by Tuesday night.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
The extremes and disruptions of climate change could carry a $1 trillion price tag for America during the next decade as droughts, fires and other climate extremes accelerate, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Monday.

Cantwell and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked in 2015 that the nonpartisan General Accounting Office do a study on costs of global warming, a task that took two years and delivered a sharply worded report last October.

"They said climate change had cost something like $625 billion over a 10-year period, which is about to go up to $1 trillion in the next decade: This is costing us real money," Cantwell said in an interview.

RELATED: Connelly: Cantwell passes $10M in fundraising for 2018 campaign cycle

The GAO report came out last October, at a time when the Trump administration was planning to scrap the Obama administration's Clean Power plan and pulling the United States out of the Paris Climate Accords.

It flagged the fact the the government had directly spent $350 billion since 2007 on extreme weather and fire events, not counting the cost of floods and hurricanes and droughts to the wider economy. Ocean acidification carries a price tag in the Northwest.

"The federal government has not undertaken strategic government-wide planning to manage climate risks by using information on the potential economic effects of climate change to identify significant risks to craft appropriate federal responses," the GAO concluded.

"By using such information the federal government could take the initial steps in establishing government-wide priorities to manage such issues."

The Trump administration been burning with misinformation over the past week, from the President's tweets on California fires to on-the-ground ruminations by his Cabinet secretaries.

In California over the weekend, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke puts put the blame for fires on what he described as "radical groups" and "extreme environmentalists." The solution, he argued, is more logging.

"I've heard the climate change argument back and forth: This has nothing to do with climate change, this has to do with active forest management," Zinke said over the weekend, visiting California's massive Carr Fire.

RELATED: Republican House majority vital to protect Trump -- Nunes on secret tape

Around the West, however, warmer temperatures have extended the fire season -- to year-around in much of California -- bringing drought, lower river flows, lower humidity and higher winds. Fire can create its own weather.

Yet, said Zinke, "Extreme environmentalists have shut down public access. They talk about habitat and yet they are willing to burn it up."

In Washington's Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, however, and on adjoining state lands, logging has in many places replaced Ponderosa pines -- famous for withstanding fire -- with dense growth of lodgepole pines.

Of the Trump brass, Cantwell said Monday, "They would probably think of Theodore Roosevelt as an environmental extremist." (Roosevelt created major national parks and expanded the national forest system.)

The summer of 2018 is shaping up globally as the fourth-warmest on record, trailing only the summers of 2015, 2016 and 2017. Seventeen of the 19 record warm years since record-keeping started have taken place since 2001.

Glacier National Park in Montana recorded a 100 degree temperature over the weekend for the first time in its history. The park's glaciers are all expected to vanish by the year 2030.

"It's not a wake-up call anymore: It's now absolutely happening to millions of people around the world," Cynthia Rosenzweig, manager of climate impacts group at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, told the New York Times.

As Zinke was debunking climate change, 100 degree-plus temperatures were being recorded through the Inland Northwest, a region stricken (along with British Columbia) by record fires over the past few summers.

RELATED: Connelly: Banish Marcus Whitman, bring Billy Frank to the U.S. Capitol

The bipartisan team of Cantwell and Collins sponsored legislation that would require every major federal department to prepare an adaptation and mitigation plan, anticipating that the country will be living climate change.

This was 10 years ago.

"We got it through the Senate Commerce Committee, but not through the full Senate," Cantwell said.

As the world and nation swelter, and deal with droughts, fires, hurricanes and floods, carbon emissions grew to record levels in the first year of the Trump administration.

(SeattlePI.com columnist/bogger Joel Connelly can be reached at joelconnelly@seattlepi.com)
CLEARWATER, Fla.  A Florida judge on Tuesday kept bond at $100,000 for a man charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a man who assaulted him outside a convenience store in a dispute over parking.

Judge Joseph Bulone in the Pinellas County court on Tuesday said that if Michael Drejka posts bail, he must surrender all of his guns to the sheriff, wear an ankle monitor and not leave the county. He said he didnt have the money to hire a private attorney, which means a public defender will be appointed. Drejka appeared in court from the county jail via video.
(CNN)  Tens of thousands of Romanians flooded the capital Bucharest on Saturday for a second night of anti-government protests, a day after violent clashes injured more than 400 people.

About 40,000 demonstrators gathered in the city's Victoriei Square, blowing horns and shouting "Resignation!, Resignation!" to protest what they say is a corrupt government, according to Reuters.

However there was not the kind of violence seen on Friday night, when the crowds were larger and police, or gendarmes, fired tear gas as they clashed with protesters, state-run news agency Agerpres reported.

Over 400 people received medical care at the square that night and two gendarmes were attacked, it said.

In a statement issued Friday night, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis condemned the "brutal intervention of the Gendarmerie," saying their actions were "strongly disproportionate with the demonstrations of the majority of people in Victoria Square."

He called on the country's Interior Ministry to "urgently explain" the way in which the event was managed, saying: "The attempt to defeat the will of the people through a violent reaction of the law enforcement forces is a condemnable solution."

During Friday's rally, protesters also held a moment of silence in memory of those who died in the 1989 Revolution and several speakers accused the political system of lacking alternatives, state media reports.

Protesters are angry over what they say is entrenched corruption, low wages and attempts by the governing Social Democrats (PSD) to weaken the judiciary, Reuters reported.

The Council of Europe's anti-corruption group, GRECO, published a report earlier this year, which pointed to Romania as being among a handful of countries in which legislative initiatives either reversed anti-corruption measures or risked breaching international anti-corruption standards.

Romania was ranked 49th out of 180 on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for last year, below most other European nations.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Romania protests: Thousands rally against government for second night"
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. AUG 15, 2014

A representative for Kaila Klassen has now come forward.

Her lawyer, Welsey Forgione says, Ms. Klassen disputes the allegations and will be defending the matter before the courts.

AUG 14, 2014

Too many chefs in the kitchen is to blame for the delay of Kelownas newest downtown restaurant opening its doors on time.

As it turns out, the month-long delay in opening Krafty Kitchen+Bar was due to the restaurant's high profile partner  MasterChef finalist Kaila Klassen.

Now a local celebrity, Klassen was the original face of Krafty Kitchen. She announced the opening of a new farm to table restaurant with her then boyfriend and Top Chef Canada contestant Chris Shaften, shortly after she was kicked off MasterChef.

Now, Shaften and Klassen are on the outs and Ms. MasterChef has been removed from the business on less than pleasant terms.

As Head Chef and Owner, Shaften says he cannot say much about the separation, but concedes Klassen is no longer a part of the restaurant and court documents will be filed against her by the corporation this week.

Kaila has moved on, says Shaften, who explains he was in a long distance relationship with Klassen when they decided to look into a joint venture together.

She didn't have a business plan and very little restaurant experience, so I offered up a business plan I had created a couple years ago. I did the numbers and developed the food and design concept. And I realized this restaurant, in the Kelowna market, could actually be something really special and really great, explains Shaften.

According to Shaften, Klassen had presented herself as someone who had a lot of experience in business, finance, and had access to a lot of equity. With that understanding he gave up a successful personal chef business in Calgary and moved out to Kelowna to open the restaurant with Klassen.

He says he knew she did not have a lot of experience in the business, but initially felt with the right consultant, it could work out. Instead it turned into a very troublesome situation.

The outspoken MasterChef contestant, who made it to the final three in the reality cooking show was portrayed as someone who did not play well with others, and it seems she did not get along well with her business partners either.

Klassen's 'local celebrity' status was set to be a marketing pull for the new restaurant. However, Shaften feels their hard work, service and product will be what gets customers in the door.

At the end of the day this is a business about hospitality. We are in the business of making people happy and serving people and making their experience great.

With the drama behind them, Shaften is exuberant about the restaurant that he will run with new partner and friend Philippe Grandbois.

Grandbois has a long list of accomplishments, credentials and successes in the restaurant and culinary world. He was originally brought in as a consultant to teach Klassen how to run a dining room, but has now joined Shaften full time.

They have also brought in a team of chefs and cooks from Calgary they have worked with in the past, whom they feel will really make the restaurant shine.

What is true beyond all the rumours is that the business is amazing, the location is great, the market is awesome and the food, wine and drink here are incredible to work with.

Shaften says the restaurant is 'fine dining in a casual atmosphere' and will take advantage of the plethora of local ingredients available.

This area has access to the best ingredients on the planet. Food, wine, cheese -- and it is all right at our fingertips, and there is no one else doing fine dining quality in a casual atmosphere in Kelowna.

The menu will feature an all-day option as well as a lunch, dinner and brunch menu. They call their menu 'happily shared,' with everything fitting a farm to table, grape to glass model highlighting the Okanagan. Local meats, seafoods and vegetarian options will be showcased alongside a hand picked BC wine menu.

There is no firm opening day as they will quietly open their doors at the end of next week in order to test the menu. They expect a grand opening will take place later this month.

Photo: CTV Kaila Klassen on MasterChef.

-- This story was adjusted at 9 a.m. August. 15 - the video was taken down as the audio was cutting out, it will be reinserted once it is fixed. Castanet was unable to reach Klassen for comment.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Heavy rains triggered flash flooding in parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania on Monday, closing down a heavily travelled interstate and sending water into homes in the mountainous coal regions.

State highway and emergency management officials reported numerous closed roads in a wide swath of the state from Williamsport to the Philadelphia suburbs, and some motorists had to be rescued.

Hazel Coles said water rose so quickly at her home in Darby, outside Philadelphia, that she had to evacuate through a window. She said there was about three feet of water on her street, and some people had to be evacuated by boat. She said the Red Cross was helping displaced residents.

"It's just crazy," she said. "I thank God it wasn't worse."

The National Weather Service in State College said there were numerous reports of six inches of rain or more in Schuylkill and Columbia counties.

Water rescue teams from Lehigh and Northampton counties were dispatched to an area near Slatington after a rafting company reported that they could not account for nearly 150 rafters.

The Morning Call reported that emergency officials have talked to the company and they said they believe everyone is accounted for and on their way home.

Police in Bloomsburg set off a mandatory evacuation siren late Monday afternoon for a few hundred people in the west end of town after Fishing Creek came out of its banks and was rising rapidly.

Columbia County emergency official Dave Witchey said a fire hall in Berwick was accepting evacuees, and another shelter may be opened if necessary.

In the Benton area, three helicopters with a group run by the National Guard and the state Fish and Boat Commission performed about 10 rescues, including people plucked from the roofs of their homes, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

The agency also said that in Columbia County a helicopter team rescued nine people off of roofs, three of which were children.

High water in Port Carbon caused some evacuations and prompted firefighters to launch rescue boats and rafts. Parts of Pottsville were inundated, and three shelters were set up.
CHARLESTON, W.Va.  A $42,000 antique desk. A $32,000 blue suede sectional sofa. A $7,500 inlaid wooden floor map of West Virginias 55 counties.

A scandal involving lavish office renovations and other financial abuses by the highest court in one of the poorest states in America has triggered an extraordinary move by one branch of government to essentially fire another.

The West Virginia House of Delegates on Monday impeached four justices of the state Supreme Court on charges of extravagant spending and other misconduct, setting the stage for a Senate trial that could lead to their removal.

One of those impeached retired on Tuesday, averting the prospect of sitting through a proceeding that is sure to explore the justices fancy tastes in embarrassing detail. And the courts fifth member retired under pressure last month.

Some Democrats have decried the impeachment drive against the elected justices as a power grab by the Republican-controlled House and Senate, strategically timed to allow GOP Gov. Jim Justice to name their temporary replacements.

Republican Delegate John Shott, who oversaw the House Judiciary Committee hearings that drew up the articles of impeachment, said the courts spending of more than $3 million in office renovations earlier this decade came at a time when the state was struggling so hard it made tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts.

Justice Robin Davis, who has identified herself as a Democrat even though justices are elected in nonpartisan races, spent $500,000 in upgrades to her office alone  the kind of money it would take most West Virginians a decade or more to earn.

Davis announced her retirement Tuesday rather than face a Senate trial.

Like the vast majority of you and many West Virginians, I find many of these purchases offensive, Delegate Chad Lovejoy, a Democrat, said during the House debate. I find them to be outrageous, and I find them to be out of touch with our citizens.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 17.9 percent of West Virginians live in poverty, the fifth-worst rate in the nation. The states median household income is near the bottom at $43,385, or about $14,000 below the national figure.

But some Democratic lawmakers worry that their GOP colleagues might be exploiting the opportunity to take control of a branch of government that is supposed to be chosen by the voters.

Were taking away from the people, said Democratic Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer.

Tuesday was an important deadline: Any justice who left or was removed by that date would be replaced by way of a special election in November.

After that, any vacancies on the court would be filled by the governor.

John Raby is an Associated Press writer.
LONDON  A car struck and injured several pedestrians and cyclists, then crashed into a security barrier just outside the Houses of Parliament in London early Tuesday, in what the police said they were treating as a terrorist attack.

About a dozen armed police officers swarmed a silver Ford Fiesta and pointed their weapons at it before handcuffing the driver, who was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses. The police said the driver, in his late 20s, was the only person in the car and that no weapons had yet been found in the vehicle.

Neil Basu, the counterterrorism chief of the Metropolitan Police, said the department was treating the incident as one of terrorism, given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the sensitive location and the method used. Parliament has been attacked before and past terrorist attacks have involved cars driving into pedestrians.

The Counter-Terrorism Command is leading the investigation, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Our priority now is to formally establish the identity of the suspect and establish his motivation, Basu said. He is not currently cooperating.

We dont believe this person was known to MI5 or to counterterrorism policing, he added, referring to Britains domestic intelligence service.

Officers set up a security cordon around Parliament Square with around a dozen police cars and ambulances parked at the site while helicopters circled above. Armed officers stood guard and video footage on Twitter showed them urging people to leave the area.

Westminster Bridge was closed to vehicles, pedestrians were directed to alternative routes, and the nearby, heavily used Westminster subway station was closed. None of those injured were believed to be in life-threatening condition, police said.

Westminster, the locus of British politics, has been under tight security since March 2017 when an assailant driving a sport utility vehicle mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and stabbed a police officer, prompting the evacuation of the prime minister. At least four people, including the assailant, were killed and at least 40 others wounded.

The Parliament building, also called the Palace of Westminster, is bounded by some of the citys busiest streets, with traffic passing much closer than it does to the White House or the U.S. Capitol, for example, making security a challenge.

Witnesses told television stations that the episode seemed deliberate; the car was traveling too fast, they said, and did not try to avoid striking people or the security barrier.

One witness, Jason Williams, told ITVs Good Morning Britain: Basically, Ive seen a man driving a vehicle and hes gone into one of the bollards. There was a loud bang. Straight away I thought, Oh no, this is another terrorist attack. So I just started to run and the police were saying, Get out, get out of the area.'

Another witness, Barry Williams, told the BBC that the car had accelerated after hitting a group of cyclists rather than trying to slow down.

A security camera recording broadcast by the BBC showed the car making a sharp turn to go the wrong way onto a one-way set of traffic lanes, then driving over an island in the middle of the street before entering a side lane where it hit the barrier.

George Pascal, 31, a maintenance worker at the Parliament building, said that there was big smoke and everyone was sent to safe places, and that the building had been locked down. It felt quite claustrophobic because you couldnt move anywhere.

Everything happened so quickly, he said. Police were running around with guns and everyone was mobilizing.

Declaring the episode a terrorist incident allows the police to detain the driver for up to 28 days without charging him rather than the usual limit of three days. Under some circumstances, the designation can also allow the police to restrict the mans access to legal advice.

According to a police statement, At 7.37 a.m. today, a car was in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament. The statement said that the male driver of the car had been detained by officers at the scene. A number of pedestrians have been injured, it continued.

Prime Minister Theresa May said on Twitter, My thoughts are with those injured, and she thanked the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response.

A month after the Westminster attack last year, a 27-year-old man carrying knives was arrested near Parliament by the police, who charged him with planning a terrorist attack. No one was hurt.

And in June that year, three men killed six civilians near London Bridge and the nearby Borough Market, and wounded dozens more.

Parliament was already surrounded by lines of crash bollards, balustrades and steel barricades, put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and the bombings on July 7, 2005, in London. Terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels in 2016 led to even tighter security.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times
Photo: The Canadian Press

The growth of Canada's soon-to-be-legal recreational pot industry is starting to create a buzz among job hunters.

The job website Indeed has released new numbers that show cannabis-related searches, while still small, were more than four times higher last month compared to the year before. The data say weed-related searches increased to 26 out of every 10,000 searches, up from six.

Employers, the data found, have also been looking for more help within the expanding cannabis industry  from retail "budtenders," to production assistants, to quality assurance. New help-wanted ads in the sector were up three-fold last month, compared to a year ago, and now make up 25 out of every 10,000 new jobs on the website.

"Cannabis-related searches and job postings remain a small corner of the Canadian labour market, but they're growing rapidly," Indeed economist Brendon Bernard wrote in the report.

The economic possibilities and job-producing prospects of the cannabis industry have been rising in the leadup to Oct. 17, the date Canadians will be legally allowed to purchase and consume recreational marijuana.

The growth potential is sure to attract workers on its own, but some could be lured by the opportunity to make a living in an industry emerging after decades of prohibition.

Job seekers' searches for cannabis-related work spiked at the start of 2018, which coincided with media headlines about surging stock prices of several Canadian marijuana firms, the report said.

From there, a greater number of employers moved into hiring mode in the months that followed. There was a 50 per cent jump in cannabis-related job postings between April and early May.

More than half the country's pot-related want ads were for jobs in Ontario, which the report notes is also home to the headquarters of major players in the industry.

"With aggressive hiring plans, Canadian cannabis companies are posting openings across a wide range of job types," Bernard wrote.

"The main roles in demand are for workers to grow the product and for others to sell it."

The most-advertised cannabis roles on the website included quality assurance, retail workers, production assistants, maintenance technicians, executive assistants and nurses, which is likely connected to the existing medical marijuana market. Want ads in the recreational market will also add to opportunities in the already established medicinal pot industry.
Photo: Contributed

Just in time for the end of summer Angus Reid has released a new poll on drinking preferences and what that could say about your politics.

New Ontario Premier Doug Ford has launched a buck-a-beer campaign and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley frequently promotes craft beers.

The Angus Reid Institute took a run at trying to determine how crowd-pleasing liquor policies really are and what your choice of alcoholic beverage might say about you.

Ask imbibers who are past New Democrat, Liberal and Conservative voters which alcohol they drink most often  and more than four-in-ten in each group say theyll crack a beer, while close to the same number across each voting segment will instead pop a cork. However, each cohort does have its own unique palate.

Turns out Conservatives are more likely to prefer liquor, Liberals more likely to prefer wine, and New Democrats more likely to prefer beer according to the study.

NDP supporters are twice as likely as Conservatives to enjoy craft beer, while preference for domestic beer is nearly identical across each party.

There is no shortage of issues that divide Canadians in 2018. From trade, to the environment, to asylum seekers, one of the best indicators of disagreement is the political affiliation crosstab in Angus Reid Institute data tables. Alcohol however, is a rare source of unity  sort of.

To begin, Canadian drinking habits by political preference are close to identical. Yes, past Conservative voters are slightly less likely to drink regularly, but the numbers are close to indistinguishable. Theres a reason North American politicians have been enticing voters with booze since the days of George Washington.

Canada ranks 39th in the world in per capita beer consumption, well behind heavyweights such as the Czech Republic, Germany and Ireland. Meanwhile, we are now consuming twice the amount of wine as we were in 1990.

The Angus Reid Institute also asked Canadians to choose up to three types of drinks that they prefer, regardless of how often they consume each one. Wine emerges as the big winner, with domestic beer and imported beer rounding out the top three. Vodka is the top choice of spirit, with whiskey and rum close behind.
California college graduates have some of the smallest amounts of student debt in the United States, according to a recent WalletHub report.

The study finds that residents from California graduate from college with the 48th highest average student debt in the nation (out of 51, since it includes Washington, D.C.). Only students from Wyoming, Hawaii and Utah carry a smaller debt burden. According to a 2018 ValuePenguin.com report, the average student debt held by a California resident was $22,744.
Leonard Pozner says he spends hours every day trying to erase online conspiracy theories that the death of his 6-year-old son Noah at the Sandy Hook Elementary School was a hoax.

He has taken Alex Jones of Infowars, by far the most visible Sandy Hook denier, to court. He has put pressure on major tech companies to take action against the conspiracy theorists who flourish on their platforms.

But the bulk of his work is more methodical. Sandy Hook conspiracies are strewed around the internet on various outlets, each with its own opaque rules and reporting mechanisms. So Pozner has studiously flagged countless videos and posts for a wide variety of offenses  invasions of privacy, threats and harassment, and copyright infringement  prompting Facebook, Amazon and Google to remove false material about his son.

Twitter has been less receptive to his claims and some smaller sites have simply not responded at all. But one company, Pozner says, has actively pushed back against his attempts.

WordPress, one the internets biggest blogging platforms, is operated by a San Francisco company called Automattic, which also runs a wide array of smaller sites and internet services. Sandy Hook conspiracy theorists have been able to remain on WordPress thanks, in part, to policies put in place to resist previous campaigns to get content removed from its service, particularly through the strategic use of copyright claims.

Posting conspiracy theories or untrue content is not banned from WordPress.com, and unfortunately this is one of those situations, Automattic said. It is a truly awful situation, and we are sympathetic to the Pozner family.

Last week, Apple, Facebook and Googles YouTube removed videos and podcasts from Jones and Infowars, the conspiracy site he created, from their platforms. Facebook, after fielding criticism about its decision, wrote a blog post about its commitment to free expression and the difficult questions it faces in allowing baseless conspiracy theories and other offensive material on its sites. Twitter, like WordPress, has allowed the content to remain.

These debates have put tech companies into a sort of existential crisis. But for Pozner and others like him, the arguments have long been much more personal, as they struggle with images of family members being repurposed in horrifying new ways and experience harassment themselves because of misinformation online.

The only items that concern me is when his image is being used in a negative, ugly way  denying the tragedy, calling him a crisis actor and everything else that the typical global village idiot on the net does, Pozner said.

In the absence of uniform online policies about hoaxes, Pozners most effective tool has been filing copyright claims on images of Noah. He has filed such claims with Automattic about photos of Noah appearing on posts that labeled him a crisis actor who had been spotted in Pakistan after Sandy Hook and others that claimed he was a fiction and that photos of him were created using images of his older half brother.

Automattic has repeatedly responded to Pozner with form letters saying because we believe this to be fair use of the material, we will not be removing it at this time. The letters explain that fair use could include criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. They also warn that the company could collect damages from people who knowingly materially misrepresent copyrights.

The responses from their support people are very automated, very generic, very cold and theres just no getting through to them, Pozner said.

They have taken this incorrect interpretation of freedom of speech to an extreme, he added. The only thing WordPress has taken out  and where Ive been successful  is if someone posts personal information like my drivers license or address.

Automattic said the responses Pozner received were a predefined statement that is used in copyright situations. We regret that it was used in this situation, the company said. We offer our apologies to the family for the response we gave to them.

For years, Automattics strident response to copyright abuse earned praise from digital rights advocates. Now, this approach has effectively lumped in Pozner with the abusers. Strictly from a copyright perspective, WordPress response is outside the norm, said Tom Rubin, a lecturer at Stanford Law School who oversaw Microsofts copyright group and takedown process for 15 years.

They avoid getting involved because fair-use determinations are notoriously complex and fact specific, Rubin said of online platforms. Platforms would rather eliminate their own potential liability by taking the content down and leaving it to the parties to battle amongst themselves in court.

Matt Mullenweg, chief executive of Automattic, suggested in a recent interview with Recode that the company was confronting misinformation. For things that we host and run and provide our kind of company backing to, implicitly through hosting it, we do avoid hate speech, he said. He added that egregiously fake or harmful things  were pretty good at getting off the system.

In the case of Pozner, however, Automattic suggested that its approach was imperfect. While our policies have many benefits to free expression for those who use our platform, our system like many others that operate at large sale, is not ideal for getting to the deeper context of a given request, the company said in a statement.

Although the posts reported by Pozner are not violating any current user guidelines, or copyright law, the company said, the pain that the family has suffered is very real and if tied to the contents of sites we host, we want to have policies to address that.

Pozner, who has created a nonprofit group called the Honr Nework devoted to stopping the continual and intentional torment of victims of major tragedies like Sandy Hook, has become an expert on the many compliance procedures and content-governing bureaucracies that exist inside tech companies.

He has removed photos of Noah from Facebook by relying on policies that protect the privacy of children under 13, a process that has required him to send the company his drivers license and a copy of his sons birth certificate. Pozner has also successfully filed such reports with Google.

You cant even measure the volume of content Ive taken down at this point, Pozner said.

Pozner said he was tired of hearing technology companies say they do not want to be arbiters of truth, an oft-repeated refrain, particularly as concerns around misinformation on social media grow.

Technology platforms have had this misguided, futuristic vision of freedom of speech and everything was built around that, but it doesnt really fit into the day-to-day use of it, Pozner said. By not taking action, they have made a choice. They are the arbiters of truth by doing nothing.

Sapna Maheshwari and John Herrman are New York Times writers.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A pair of Canadian students bemoaning what appeared to be a routine delay aboard their train through Italy learned they were just minutes from a disastrous bridge collapse that killed at least 20 people on Tuesday.

Speaking from the train shortly after the tragedy, Tamar Bresge, 23, said she and her friend Melissa Light, 22, both of Toronto, were still processing what had happened.

"Our train would have gone under it in minutes, like less than five minutes," Bresge said. "We just missed it."

A huge section of the Morandi Bridge  on a main highway linking Italy and France  collapsed Tuesday in the port city of Genoa during a violent storm, sending vehicles and twisted steel and concrete plunging 45 metres into a heap of rubble below. Italian officials said at least 20 people were killed and others injured.

Bresge and Light were en route from Nice to Milan when the storm struck.

"There was really bad thunder and lightning when it collapsed, so I thought I was just hearing thunder but we were so close that I probably heard something collapsing and just thought it was part of the storm," Bresge said.

The train made an unscheduled stop at the airport station in Genoa after earlier short delays. Without giving details, train staff announced the delay was indefinite and for the first while, the pair didn't know what was happening. People thought it was a typical train delay.

"Everyone collectively groaned," Bresge said.

It was only after the train stopped that the two Canadian women, who do not speak Italian, began to learn of what had happened from fellow passengers. The enormity of what was unfolding a few hundred metres away began dawning as passengers saw images on their phones.

"We thought at first that it was a train crash. Then we understood a bridge collapsed," Bresge said. "We were stopped so close to the site, we could hear sirens going."

When her father in Toronto awoke, he called her and played news of the incident over the phone, allowing them to finally understand exactly what they had just missed, she said.

After about two hours, the train moved on into Genoa, allowing them to see the bridge in the distance.

"It was completely severed. There was a completely empty portion," Light said. "It's crazy. We both feel very grateful that we were on the train before the crash and not underneath it. It definitely feels surreal."
The case seems like a familiar story turned on its head: Avital Ronell, a world-renowned female professor of German and Comparative Literature at New York University, was found responsible for sexually harassing a male former graduate student, Nimrod Reitman.

An 11-month Title IX investigation found Ronell, described by a colleague as one of the very few philosopher-stars of this world, responsible for sexual harassment, both physical and verbal, to the extent that her behavior was sufficiently pervasive to alter the terms and conditions of Mr. Reitmans learning environment. The university has suspended Ronell for the coming academic year.

In the Title IX final report, excerpts of which were obtained by The New York Times, Reitman said that she had sexually harassed him for three years, and shared dozens of emails in which she referred to him as my most adored one, Sweet cuddly Baby, cock-er spaniel, and my astounding and beautiful Nimrod.

Coming in the middle of the #MeToo movements reckoning over sexual misconduct, it raised a challenge for feminists  how to respond when one of their own behaved badly. And the response has roiled a corner of academia.

Soon after the university made its final, confidential determination this spring, a group of scholars from around the world, including prominent feminists, sent a letter to NYU in defense of Ronell. Judith Butler, author of the book Gender Trouble and one of the most influential feminist scholars today, was first on the list.

Although we have no access to the confidential dossier, we have all worked for many years in close proximity to Professor Ronell, the professors wrote in a draft letter posted on a philosophy blog in June. We have all seen her relationship with students, and some of us know the individual who has waged this malicious campaign against her.

Critics saw the letter, with its focus on the potential damage to Ronells reputation and the force of her personality, as echoing past defenses of powerful men.

We testify to the grace, the keen wit, and the intellectual commitment of Professor Ronell and ask that she be accorded the dignity rightly deserved by someone of her international standing and reputation, the professors wrote.

Reitman, who is now 34 and is a visiting fellow at Harvard, says that Ronell kissed and touched him repeatedly, slept in his bed with him, required him to lie in her bed, held his hand, texted, emailed and called him constantly, and refused to work with him if he did not reciprocate. Reitman is gay and is now married to a man; Ronell is a lesbian.

Ronell, 66, denied any harassment. Our communications  which Reitman now claims constituted sexual harassment  were between two adults, a gay man and a queer woman, who share an Israeli heritage, as well as a penchant for florid and campy communications arising from our common academic backgrounds and sensibilities, she wrote in a statement to The New York Times. These communications were repeatedly invited, responded to and encouraged by him over a period of three years.

Two years after graduating from NYU with a Ph.D., Reitman filed a Title IX complaint against his former adviser, alleging sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking and retaliation. In May, the university found Ronell responsible for sexual harassment and cleared her of the other allegations.

Reitmans lawyer, Donald Kravet, said he and his client have drafted a lawsuit against NYU and Ronell and are now considering their options.

Both Reitmans and Ronells descriptions of their experiences echo other #MeToo stories: In Reitmans recollection, he was afraid of his professor and the power she wielded over him, and often went along with behavior that left him feeling violated. Ronell said that Reitman desperately sought her attention and guidance in interviews she submitted to the Title IX office at NYU, which The New York Times obtained.

The problems began, according to Reitman, in the spring of 2012, before he officially started school. Ronell invited him to stay with her in Paris for a few days. The day he arrived, she asked him to read poetry to her in her bedroom while she took an afternoon nap, he said.

That was already a red flag to me, Reitman said. But I also thought, OK, youre here. Better not make a scene.

Then, he said, she pulled him into her bed.

She put my hands onto her breasts, and was pressing herself  her buttocks  onto my crotch, he said. She was kissing me, kissing my hands, kissing my torso. That evening, a similar scene played out again, he said.

He confronted her the next morning, he said.

I said, look, what happened yesterday was not OK. Youre my adviser, he recalled in an interview.

When he got to New York, the behavior continued, he said, when after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, Ronell showed up at his apartment because her power had gone out. He said that, despite his objections, she convinced him that they could both sleep in his bed together. Once there, she groped and kissed him each night for nearly a week, he said.

Professor Ronell denies all allegations of sexual contact in their entirety, Mary Dorman, Ronells lawyer, wrote in a submission to the Title IX office. Ronell said she only stayed for two nights after the hurricane, at Reitmans invitation.

The Title IX report concluded that there was not enough evidence to find Ronell responsible for sexual assault, partly because no one else observed the interactions in his apartment or her room in Paris.

In the semesters that followed, Reitman said he was expected to work with Ronell, often at her apartment, during lengthy work sessions nearly every weekend. Ronell frequently detailed her affection and longing for him, according to emails from her that Reitman provided to The New York Times.

I woke up with a slight fever and sore throat, she wrote in an email on June 16, 2012, after the Paris trip. I will try very hard not to kiss you  until the throat situation receives security clearance. This is not an easy deferral! In July, she wrote a short email to him: time for your midday kiss. my image during meditation: were on the sofa, your head on my lap, stroking you [sic] forehead, playing softly with yr hair, soothing you, headache gone. Yes?

In a submission to the Title IX office, Ronell said she had no idea Reitman was so uncomfortable until she read the investigators report.

Reitman also said that Ronell retaliated against him for complaining to her about her behavior, in part by sending pro forma recommendations on his behalf, thwarting his job prospects. But the Title IX report found that her recommendation letters were comparable to those for other former students and he did secure two postgraduate fellowships.

Ronell and some who are backing her have attempted to discredit her accuser in familiar ways, asking why he took so long to report, and why he seemed so intimate with Ronell if he was, in fact, miserable. Maybe, Ronell suggested, he was frustrated because he just wasnt smart enough.

His main dilemma was the incoherency in his writing, and lack of a recognizable argument, Ronell said in a January 2018 interview submitted to the Title IX office.

Diane Davis, chair of the department of rhetoric at the University of Texas-Austin, who also signed the letter to the university supporting Ronell, said she and her colleagues were particularly disturbed that, as they saw it, Reitman was using Title IX, a feminist tool, to take down a feminist.

I am of course very supportive of what Title IX and the #MeToo movement are trying to do, of their efforts to confront and to prevent abuses, for which they also seek some sort of justice, Davis wrote in an email. But its for that very reason that its so disappointing when this incredible energy for justice is twisted and turned against itself, which is what many of us believe is happening in this case.

Title IX was intended to address a long history of sexual harassment and assault of women at school, according to Dana Bolger, a co-founder of Know Your IX, a national advocacy group that teaches students about their Title IX rights.

I would say that the vast majority of Title IX cases are protecting male victims from male perpetrators, or female victims from male perpetrators, Bolger said.

In addition to the suspension, which the university never publicly announced, NYU is investigating further claims of retaliation related to the professors letter.

John Beckman, a spokesman for the university, wrote in a statement to The Times that NYU was sympathetic to what Reitman has been through.

But, Beckman added, given the promptness, seriousness and thoroughness with which we responded to his charges, we do not believe that his filing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the university would be warranted or just.

Both Ronell and Reitman feel they have been miscast in this #MeToo story.

Reitman said he never intended to become any kind of public figure in a national conversation about gender, and that he started the process before the movement took off. It didnt come from #MeToo, he said.

In March 2018, Ronell pointedly complained that Reitman had a penchant for comparing me to the most egregious examples of predatory behaviors ascribable to Hollywood moguls who habitually go after starlets.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A one-alarm fire late this morning at a home in San Francisco's Ingleside Heights displaced 10 people, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.



The blaze broke out just before 11:30 a.m. at 235 Ralston St., fire officials said.



The fire was initially reported in the home's attic. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze within about 20 minutes.



No injuries were reported, according to fire officials.



Four people who live in the home's upstairs unit were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.



Four adults and two children living in the home's lower unit were also displaced. Those residents, however, declined the Red Cross' services, fire officials said.



A cause for the fire remains under investigation.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



San Francisco Ethics Commission vice chair Quentin Kopp has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service for their failure to comply to a Freedom of Information Act request regarding Donald Trump Jr.'s trip to India in February, according to a news release.



Kopp, a former state senator and superior court judge, planned a news conference this morning on the steps of the federal courthouse in San Francisco announcing the suit.



"For a president who boasts about his personal wealth and donating his salary, it is inconsistent for taxpayers to foot the bill for his adult children's security on private business trips," Kopp said in a statement. "The Trump Organization can and should pay for those costs. Taxpayers should not."



Kopp and the Cotchett, Pitre and McCarthy LLP law firm are teaming together on the lawsuit, which aims to release records related to taxpayer costs for Trump Jr.'s personal business trip in February.



According to Kopp, Trump Jr. discussed foreign policy during a private business trip to promote a Trump-branded luxury apartment development, something that drew the ire of ethics experts.





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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A mother on Tuesday will return to the same corner where her teenage son was fatally gunned down 12 years ago in San Francisco's Western Addition, in a bid to help solve the killing.



On Aug. 14, 2006, 17-year-old Aubrey Abrakasa Jr. was shot multiple times at the corner of Grove and Baker streets around 3:15 p.m.



The boy was taken to a hospital where he later died.



Police at the time believed two men approached Abrakasa before shooting him and then fleeing. Police were never able to locate the suspects and the killing remains unsolved.



Abrakasa was a student at Raul Wallenberg Traditional High School at the time of his death.



Police have since offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.



Since his death, Abrakasa's mother, Paulette Brown has been advocating for her son, as well as for the families of other homicide victims, according to police.



On Tuesday, Brown and police officers will be handing out fliers at the intersection where her son's slaying occurred.



Police are asking that anyone with information call the San Francisco police tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message. Tipsters can opt to remain anonymous.





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A man suspected of assaulting and threatening his elderly mother died after a struggle with Redwood City police Monday evening, police said today.



The 55-year-old man has not been identified. Police said that he was arrested after a 911 call reporting that he had assaulted his 83-year-old mother and threatened to kill her.



Police first responded to the home in the 500 block of Lanyard Drive at 7:20 p.m.



When police arrived, neighbors were outside trying to restrain the man. The first officer who arrived tried to help the mother, but the man attacked the officer, according to police.



More officers arrived and tried to stop the man, but he continued resisting and as he struggled with police he fell unconscious. He was taken to a hospital where he died.



A statement by police did not specify what methods the officers used to restrain the man.







Grief counselors are at the University of California at Berkeley's School of Law today in response to the possible death of a student who slipped and fell while taking a photograph at a waterfall in Oregon on Sunday afternoon, a school spokesman said.



Brian Lewinstein, 23, was scheduled to begin his second year at Berkeley Law this fall and to graduate in May 2020, according to law school spokesman Michael Bazeley.



Lewinstein crossed a safety fence to take a photograph from above the Toketee Falls in Umpqua National Forest when he slipped and fell down a steep embankment on Sunday afternoon, Douglas County sheriff's officials said.



Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Brad Odell said deputies are continuing to search for Lewinstein today.



Bazeley said Lewinstein worked as an intern in juvenile defense at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley and was planning to intern there again this fall.







A marked Oakland police vehicle was stolen early this morning but was then found shortly afterward, a police spokeswoman said.



The vehicle was reported stolen at 1:44 a.m. from the 2600 block of 74th Avenue.



Eleven minutes later, the car was found unoccupied in the area of Tompkins and Vale avenues, police spokeswoman Officer Johnna Watson said.



Nothing was stolen from inside the vehicle, Watson said.



No arrest has been made in the case as of this morning.







San Francisco Ethics Commission vice chair Quentin Kopp has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service for their failure to comply to a Freedom of Information Act request regarding Donald Trump Jr.'s trip to India in February, according to a news release.



Kopp, a former state senator and superior court judge, planned a news conference this morning on the steps of the federal courthouse in San Francisco announcing the suit.



"For a president who boasts about his personal wealth and donating his salary, it is inconsistent for taxpayers to foot the bill for his adult children's security on private business trips," Kopp said in a statement. "The Trump Organization can and should pay for those costs. Taxpayers should not."



Kopp and the Cotchett, Pitre and McCarthy LLP law firm are teaming together on the lawsuit, which aims to release records related to taxpayer costs for Trump Jr.'s personal business trip in February.



According to Kopp, Trump Jr. discussed foreign policy during a private business trip to promote a Trump-branded luxury apartment development, something that drew the ire of ethics experts.







A 56-year-old man who died in a car crash near Gilroy on Monday morning has been identified as Juan Sosa Santos of Castroville, according to the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office.



California Highway Patrol officers responded to the crash at 7:55 a.m. on northbound U.S. Highway 101 just south of Old Monterey Road.



A man was driving a 2012 Ford van behind a 2018 Peterbilt big-rig when he failed to notice the big-rig was driving slower and crashed into its trailer, according to the CHP.



The force of the collision pushed the Ford van into another lane, where it crashed into a 2005 Ford Explorer.



Santos was a passenger in the Ford van, and died due to his injuries. The Ford van driver, another passenger and the big-rig driver had minor injuries, according to the CHP. The Ford Explorer driver was uninjured.







A man who died in a solo vehicle accident on Mines Road in unincorporated Alameda County on Sunday morning has been identified by the Alameda County coroner's bureau as 19-year-old Jon Gullette of Tracy.



According to the California Highway Patrol, Gullette was traveling in a white Ford Mustang in a rural area around 8 a.m. Sunday when he lost control of the car around a curve and careened off a steep hill into trees, where he became trapped.



Other vehicles were traveling with Gullette and stopped after they saw the crash but they couldn't reach emergency responders because of the lack of cellphone service, CHP Officer Derek Reed said.



Gullette's friends were able to extricate him from the car and drove to an area with cell service, where they called 911, according to the CHP.



Emergency responders arrived and took Gullette to a trauma center, where he died.







Fairfield police have identified a woman who died in a hospital after she was found bleeding in a parking lot last week as Letha Bell Portis, 51, of Fairfield.



Portis was found unconscious in the 1700 block of North Texas Street around 11 p.m. on Aug. 6. Police are investigating her death as a homicide.







Police are seeking two suspects connected to a shooting Monday afternoon in San Francisco's Hunters Point neighborhood that left a man with life-threatening injuries.



The shooting occurred around 12:15 p.m. in the 100 block of Kiska Road, according to police.



The two suspects allegedly approached the victim, a 43-year-old man, and then shot him.



The victim was taken to a hospital, police said.



The suspects reportedly fled in a vehicle and officers were unable to locate them. A description of them was not immediately available.







A fire destroyed a home outside of Brentwood on Monday morning, displacing the resident and his elderly mother, according to the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.



The fire at 3811 Concord Ave. was reported at 11:05 a.m., according to the fire district.



Firefighters arrived and found the whole home burning. They had difficulties entering at first because the flames were reaching a power line and had to wait until PG&E cut off power across the street, fire officials said.



Once the power was shut off, the firefighters were able to enter and extinguished the flames.



But by then, the interior was destroyed and the outside sustained heavy damage. The residents, a renter who cares for his elderly mother, are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.



It appears that an electrical issue started the fire, according to the fire district.







A small mountain lion sighting was reported by a resident in San Mateo this morning but police officers did not find the animal after checking the area, police said.



The sighting was reported at about 6:45 a.m. in the area of Fernwood Street and 31st Avenue by a woman who said the mountain lion walked out of view into a backyard and didn't act aggressive in any way, according to police.



Officers are continuing to search the area for the animal this morning and have notified schools in the area.







State Highway 1 in Marin County just north of the Sonoma County line is closed until around 7 p.m. today for bridge construction, Caltrans officials said.



The highway will be closed from Valley Ford Road to the north to Tomales Petaluma Road to the south. Workers are pouring concrete on a section of a bridge deck of the new Estero-Americano Bridge in Marin County.



The new bridge will have improved height clearance over the flood-prone creek below, according to Caltrans.



Motorists will be detoured around the construction at Tomales Petaluma Road and Valley Ford Road and back onto Highway 1. Delays are expected and motorists should consider taking alternate routes, Caltrans officials said.





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Grief counselors are at the University of California at Berkeley's School of Law today in response to the possible death of a student who slipped and fell while taking a photograph at a waterfall in Oregon on Sunday afternoon, a school spokesman said.



Brian Lewinstein, 23, was scheduled to begin his second year at Berkeley Law this fall and to graduate in May 2020, according to law school spokesman Michael Bazeley.



Lewinstein crossed a safety fence to take a photograph from above the Toketee Falls in Umpqua National Forest when he slipped and fell down a steep embankment on Sunday afternoon, Douglas County sheriff's officials said.



Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Brad Odell said deputies are continuing to search for Lewinstein today.



Sheriff's officials said on Monday that, "Some information is circulating that the man (Lewinstein) had been located," but that wasn't true.



Sheriff's officials said Lewinstein's next of kin have been notified of his disappearance.



Bazeley said Lewinstein worked as an intern in juvenile defense at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley and was planning to intern there again this fall.



Lewinstein said on his LinkedIn account that he planned to graduate in May 2020 with a certificate of specialization in Public Interest and Social Justice.



He said that during law school, he planned on pursuing interests in racial justice and civil rights law, especially as they relate to police misconduct.



Lewinstein said he "ultimately envisions himself working in impact litigation or on public policy regarding structural conditions that serve as barriers to success for marginalized youth."



According to his LinkedIn account, Lewistein graduated magna cum laude in political science and government from University of California at Los Angeles and interned for Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Los Angeles County, from December 2015 through March 2016.





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.
Photo: BC Wildfire Service Shovel Lake wildfire

Politicians in Northern B.C. are sounding the alarms and calling for more resources to fight a series of massive wildfires threatening Fraser Lake and the surrounding First Nation communities.

Nechako Lake MLA John Rustad says the Chief of the Nadleh Whut'en First Nation, north of Fort Fraser, has contacted him with questions and concerns about why there is no security on site preventing people from entering evacuation areas.

The Chief hasnt been kept in the loop, Rustad said. Health centre facility and other structures are only a few kms away from the front of the fire without structural protection units.

It sure feels like something is in serious disarray. I know the firefighters and staff are doing their best but they desperately need more resources, he added.

The 20,000-hectare Shovel Lake wildfire is burning north of Fraser Lake and remains completely out of control. The BC Wildfire Service warns there are two geographical channels on the south flank of the fire that could send the blaze towards homes, which spurred expanded evacuation orders Monday night.

The 13,000-hectare Island Lake fire burns to the south. It has burned right up to the southern shores of Francois Lake, but is being contained on the east with a swamp and in the west with a machine guard. Regardless, that blaze has all of Fraser Lake on evacuation alert.

I suggest to start gathering your personal and important items that you would like to have with you in case of an evacuation order, Fraser Lake Mayor Dwayne Lindstrom said on Facebook.

The mayor of nearby Vanderhoof, Gerry Thiessen  which is not under evacuation alert  said their local hospital is preparing to receive patients from evacuated facilities.

He said Forests Minister Doug Donaldson has told him the bulk of the 200 Canadian Armed Forces committed to the province Monday will be deployed to the area.
Photo: CTV

A Christian university in the Fraser Valley will no longer require students to adhere to a covenant forbidding sex outside of heterosexual marriage.

The board of governors at Trinity Western University voted last week to make the school's "community covenant" voluntary for students this school year.

The private post-secondary institution in Langley had proposed a law school in 2012 and applied to provincial law societies for accreditation, but was denied in B.C. and Ontario because of the covenant.

In June, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that requiring a person to behave contrary to their sexual identity is "degrading and disrespectful," in two landmark decisions that said law societies have the right to deny accreditation to the proposed law school.

The high court said law societies in Ontario and B.C. were entitled to ensure equal access to the bar, support diversity and prevent harm to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students.

A university statement issued today says Trinity Western will also work to determine ways in which its Christian identity can continue to be strengthened while welcoming the unique value of each member of its diverse student body.

The legal action pitted two significant societal values  freedom of religion and promotion of equality  against one another.
Photo: BC Wilderness Committee

Early talks on the development of a national park in the South Okanagan have been focused on the southern areas around Mount Kobau and the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected area.

Parks Canada held a teleconference Tuesday to update the public on progress towards the contentious proposed park, which was announced was back in the works last year.

Kevin McNamee, director of parks establishment, says they have started to prepare a park concept to bring out to the public for consultation, as well as look at potential boundaries.

Within the three parties that are doing this work, the focus has been on the southern component  which includes the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected areas, he said. Not the final boundary or suggested boundary, but our area of interest.

McNamee was referring to a proposed map tabled by the provincial government in 2015. Area 3, in the Willowbrook/White Lake region, isnt totally off the table but hasnt gotten much attention.

The province drew up a fairly large area that included places like Willowbrook, if we do something in the north it wouldnt be in the size of that and certainly would not include any of the communities like Willowbrook.

Parks Canada hopes to have a proposed boundary nailed down down spring/summer 2019, so formal negotiations can be complete by the start of 2020 if possible.

The idea of a national park has long polarized the South Okanagan, with signs in favour and opposed to the plan a fixture on private property throughout the region. Opponents of the park are worried about its impact on ranchers, who have grazed cattle in the area for well over 100 years.

McNamee says they are considering allowing ranchers access to park land, and stressed that no expropriation of property will be taking place.

With the exception of the fairly unique Rouge National Urban Park, McNamee said you would have to look as far back as the creation of the Bruce Peninsula National Park in the 80s for the last time a national park was created in such a populated area.

But even for most of the remote parks created over the past decade, McNamee said you have a range of concerns that people raise with us. It's not uncommon that there are very strong voices of support, voices of opposition.

He said consultation and talks with stakeholders, to be managed by project manager Sarah Boyle, will be ramping up through the end of this year.

Weve been a bit like a submarine, right now all you can see is the periscope, he said. But there is a lot of people working on the submarine, and we hope to come up with a plan soon.
Photo: The Canadian Press Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Members of Canada's Muslim community say recent tensions between Ottawa and Saudi Arabia are affecting some people's ability to perform what's seen in the faith as a fundamental religious right.

They say many currently embarking on hajj, a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, are anxious about their travel arrangements in light of the simmering spat, which has seen the country's state airline cancel flights to and from Canada.

At least one travel agent also says some would-be pilgrims decided not to follow through on their travel plans after tensions between the two countries flared up unexpectedly earlier this month.

The diplomatic dispute began when Canada's Ministry of Global Affairs sent a tweet calling for Saudi Arabia to "immediately release" two women's rights activists currently detained in jail.

The kingdom reacted by severing diplomatic ties, suspending future trade, recalling students from Canadian schools and cancelling the state airline's operations in Canada.

People in contact with hajj participants say the move involving the airline has complicated return travel plans for many, and add that they are anticipating other post-pilgrimage issues.

"We are having a lot of problems," said Syed Ahmed, Operation Manager at King Travel agency specializing in trips related to hajj and other religious occasions. "Almost we can say 25 per cent of people are asking for a refund."

Ahmed said travellers booked with the Mississauga, Ont., agency frequently flew to the kingdom using Saudia, the state airline that previously operated at least two direct routes departing from Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

But Saudia cancelled those routes effective Monday, leaving travellers who used their services to reach the country with questions as to how they can return home.

Ahmed said Saudia has offered to cover the costs of transferring tickets to other airlines, but said spaces  already at a premium during the hectic hajj season  are extremely hard to find.

But logistical arrangements are only part of the problem, according to Imam Syed Soharwardy, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada.

Hajj, which officially gets under way later this week, looms large in the consciousness of all practising Muslims, Soharwardy said.

All followers of Islam with the physical and financial means to make the pilgrimage are expected to do so once in their lifetime, he said. Those who undertake the trip to Mecca seek forgiveness of past sins and hope to draw closer to God.

The annual pilgrimage draws people from around the world to Saudi Arabia each year. The crowds, squeezed shoulder to shoulder in prayer five times a day, fill the city of Mecca and surrounding areas to perform a number of physically demanding and intricate rites.

Soharwardy said members of congregations spanning from Montreal to Vancouver who are making the trip fear they won't be in a fit state to deal with the hassles of shifting, uncertain travel arrangements.

"Whether the person is a very young man or woman or old man or woman, they get so tired because hajj is not easy," he said. "Hajj is a very cumbersome, tiring ritual and some people get sick."
Osama Bin Laden led terror group Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), is "ideologically inclined" to carry out attacks inside India. However, according to the UN report, its capability is assumed to be low and is relatively isolated owing to increased security measures in the region. The 22nd report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team was submitted to the United Nations Security Council Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee in New York. The report said that AQIS is "relatively isolated owing to increased security measures within the wider region, but the group continues to seek security gaps for opportunistic attacks." The group is "ideologically inclined to carry out attacks inside India but its capability is believed to be low," it said, adding that according to member states, the strength of AQIS in Afghanistan is estimated at several hundred people, located in Laghman, Paktika, Kandahar, Ghazni and Zabul provinces. Also Read: Terrifying! Video shows plane makes an emergency landing on busy street of California

According to one member state, although the ISIS poses an immediate threat, Al-Qaeda is the "intellectually stronger group" and remains a longer-term threat.

Some members of the Al-Qaeda group, along with Aiman al-Zawahiri and son of slain Al-Qaeda former leader Osama bin Laden, Hamza bin Laden are reported to be in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

Other members of the Al-Qaeda core may leave for more secure areas, the report added.

The report also stated that that around 25,000 ISIS fighters remain in Iraq and Syria and among these, there is still a significant component of the many thousands of active foreign terrorist fighters.

Also Read: Indonesia earthquake: Death toll reaches 430, more bodies to recover

One member state reports that some recent plots detected and prevented in Europe had originated from ISIL in Afghanistan. In addition to establishing a presence across Afghanistan, ISIL also attempts to have an impact on other countries in the region.

"According to one Member State, ISIS in Afghanistan is responsible for at least one attack in the Kashmir region," the report said. However, no details about the attack in Kashmir were given in the report.

Also Read: These are the major signs of sex addiction

"In Kabul, Herat and Jalalabad, ISIS already has sleeper cells and has committed disruptive, high-profile attacks, including against both government and Taliban targets during the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire," it added.

As per the report, ISIL has between 3,500 and 4,000 members in Afghanistan, between 600 and 1,000 in northern Afghanistan (both numbers on the rise).

It is led by Abu Sayed Bajauri who is not listed and the majority of its members and leaders were formerly members of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and it may represent an emerging threat to the Central Asian States.

Read More On Catch: For the first time! This is what Mother of 9/11 attacker Alia Ghanem has to say about his global terrorist son Osama Bin Laden

With inputs from PTI
The Voice of Karachi (VOK) and South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation (SAMAF) Chairman Nadeem Nusrat has said that relentless suppression of ethnic and religious minorities in certain parts of South Asia, Pakistan in particular, continued to raise serious questions about partition of India in 1947.

It were the fears and apprehensions of minorities that had brought about India's division. If these minorities were still without their basic human rights then questions about the partition of India was bound to be raised and discussed, said Nusrat in a statement here on Monday on the eve of 71st Independence Day of Pakistan.

The statement said this August 14 marked the 71st year of the Indian subcontinent's division and the creation of India and Pakistan. The division of India, which most historians referred to as the Partition, divided hundreds of millions of Indian Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and others into two sovereign nations: India and Pakistan.

A division that was meant to resolve the issue of minorities ended up with an even bigger human tragedy by dividing millions of families into two hostile nations, Nusrat pointed out. Armed with the belief that a separate Muslim homeland would be an ultimate solution to their apprehensions and fears, the Muslim minorities played a critical role in India's partition.

The first president of the All India Muslim League, the founding political party of Pakistan, was Sir Agha Khan III, an Ismaili. It was his financial support that helped the All India Muslim League become an important voice for Muslims in the region. The founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was a Shiite. Raja Sahab of Mahmoodabad, an ultra-rich landlord whose fortunes greatly helped Jinnah to successfully pursue his political ambitions, was also a Shiite Muslim. Pakistan's first Foreign Minister Sir Zafarullah Khan was an Ahmadi.

Those Muslim religious minorities that had made huge physical and financial sacrifices for Pakistan did not fare any better. The statement further elaborated that soon after the ethnic Bengali Muslims in East Pakistan parted ways and created their own homeland, Bangladesh, Ahmadis were declared non-Muslims by Pakistani Parliament in a bid by the so-called progressive Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to win the support of religious parties.

The Shiite Muslims have also been systematically targeted since 1947 after being branded as infidels in Pakistan by the very elements that were opposed to the creation of Pakistan. Places of worships belonging to Ahmadis and Shiites were routinely attacked and members belonging to both religious groups were attacked and killed on a regular basis by religious extremists who enjoy overt and covert support from the state itself.

In one of the worst attacks against religious minorities in Pakistan, in May 2015, at least 43 people belonging to the Ismaili community were killed in broad daylight when armed men opened fire inside a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community in Karachi.

In the last few years, members belonging to moderate Sufi and Barelvi Muslim sects have also come under brutal attacks from religious extremists. A number of Sufi shrines were blown up by the Taliban and other terrorist outfits.

Members of a tiny Sikh community, settled mostly in the north-west KPK province of the country, have been facing persistent terrorist attacks that have left a number of Sikhs dead. The peaceful and apolitical Christian minority is not safe from this campaign of terror either, as a number of Christian churches in recent years have faced deadly suicide attacks that have left scores of Christians dead and injured. In Quetta, the capital city of restive Balochistan province, five Christians were gunned down in May this year. Cases of forced conversion of Hindus in Sindh province are also reported on a regular basis.

Nadeem Nusrat further stated that in Quetta, members of the minority Hazara Shiites have been forced to live in just two enclaves and those who dare to venture out are attacked and killed by religious extremists.

Hundreds of members of minority Hazaras have been killed in recent years alone. The majority indigenous population in the disputed Gilgit-Baltistan region is being systematically turned into a minority by Pakistani military establishment. As per reports received from the local activists, vast tracts of land where non-locals are being housed have been allocated to some Punjab-based and Chinese groups in a bid to change the demography of the region.

"The reason why we see a complete absence of justice being handed out in such cases is because of Pakistani deep state's overt and covert involvement in such incidents. Pakistan's powerful military establishment, which is dominated by people from mainly Punjab province, uses religious proxies and non-state actors to suppress both religious and ethnic minorities. In Balochistan, Sunni extremist outfits are being used against Baloch nationalists who are demanding autonomy for their region," said Nusrat.

He further said that in Karachi, the financial hub of Pakistan whose taxes run Pakistan, banned religious outfits enjoyed visible impunity and were routinely unleashed against secular and inclusive Mohajirs, the majority ethnic group in the city that has been brutally dealt with by Pakistani military since Pakistan's creation.

Nusrat stressed that the way the Pakistani military openly sided in recent election with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, an avowedly admirer of the Taliban, did not bode well for the future of religious minorities in Pakistan. "It is on record that Madrassah Haqqania, the religious seminary where the Taliban was conceived and brought up, was awarded hundreds of millions of official grants by Imran Khan's PTI-led government in KPK province that shares hundreds of miles long border with Afghanistan. His party's provincial government also offered the Taliban an office in the province," he added.

South Asia Minorities Alliance Foundation Chairman further said that the current US Administration's decision to make the issue of religious freedom worldwide a cornerstone of its policies has given hope to hundreds of millions of members of ethnic and religious minorities throughout the world who are suffering persecution, ethnic cleansing, and even genocide, in their own countries. Persecuted minorities in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan, would hope to see a positive change in their lives as result of the initiative.

In the wake of this situation, the appointment of former Kansas Senator and Governor Samuel Brownback as U.S. Ambassador at Large by the current administration seemed a very positive step in the right direction, he said. "The way his department and the U.S.

Commission of Religious Freedom (USCIRF) are advancing the issue of religious freedom on a global scale provides all religious and ethnic minorities with a substantial room for optimism," he added.

Nadeem Nusrat said that Pakistan's current constitution and the administrative distribution of its geographical regions have both proved outdated and inadequate to resolve the issues faced by Pakistan's ethnic and religious minorities. Pakistan at the moment needs a consociational system of democracy as well as creation of multiple autonomous administrative units where local population should be in control of their own affairs.

He asserted that an autonomous Karachi was vital for peace and stability in South Asia, and without this, Pakistan was certain to face continued unrest among its minorities and questions about its viability.

(ANI)
A bear trapped in a car burst out and gamboled to freedom after a sheriff's deputy fired his gun at the rear window in South Lake Tahoe, video released Tuesday showed.

The unexpected furry intruder was rooting through a Honda Civic in South Lake Tahoe when the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office got a call asking for help dealing with the situation.

MORE: Video captures bear casually opening car door, stealing snack

"He does not seem very happy," the caller can be heard telling the responding deputy in video of the incident. "He's huge."

"Well, it's a small car," he replies with a chuckle.

Rather than open the car door and risk getting close to the bear, the deputy fired several beanbag rounds to break the vehicle's rear window.

"Alright, he's done a little bit of damage in there," he notes. "We're gonna try and get him out, because he's not happy at all. I'm going to try to break out the back window with a beanbag."

ALSO: Man who always wanted to see mountain lion finds four on his porch

Sure enough, after three shots, the safety glass gives in, and after four, the bear pops its head out, leaps into some bushes, and scrambles across the driveway into the trees, to freedom.

"Yes... bears can open doors," the Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. "A reminder from EDSO to leave your vehicles locked and remove all food from inside, especially in bear country."

Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter
NEWCASTLE, Australia  The most senior Roman Catholic cleric convicted of covering up child sex abuse was ordered by an Australian court Tuesday to serve his 1-year sentence in home detention rather than jail.

Newcastle Magistrate Robert Stone on Tuesday ordered former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson to be detained at his sisters house for at least 6 months before he is eligible for parole. He will be under strict supervision including having to wear a tracking device that would alert authorities if he left the house.
LONDON  Police flooded central London streets and cordoned off the citys government district Tuesday, after a speeding car plowed into cyclists and crashed outside Parliament in what authorities were treating as an act of terrorism.

With the driver in custody, counterterror detectives were working to uncover the motive behind what they suspect is the fourth vehicle attack in Britain  and the second on Parliament  in 18 months.

Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, Britains top counterterrorism officer, told reporters.

A rooftop camera recorded the silver Ford Fiesta driving past Parliament and suddenly veering sharply to the left, striking cyclists waiting at a set of lights, then crossing the road and crashing into a barrier outside Parliament. Armed police surrounded the car within seconds, pulling a man from the vehicle. Police said the driver was alone and no weapons were found in the car.

Three people were hurt, none critically.

Police arrested the 29-year-old driver, a resident of Englands Midlands region who was not previously known to counterterrorism police or the intelligence services. Basu said the suspect was not cooperating with police.

Security Minister Ben Wallace said the man, whose name was not released, was a British citizen originally from another country.

Police said the car was driven from Birmingham in central England to London late Monday and was in central London for more than seven hours before the crash. Detectives were searching two properties in Birmingham and one in another Midlands city, Nottingham.

Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka are Associated Press writers.
BEIJING  China blamed anti-China forces on Tuesday for the growing criticism of Beijings policies in a far western region where large groups of ethnic Uighurs are being detained in internment camps.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said anti-China forces had made false accusations against China for political purposes after a U.N. human rights committee raised concern over reported mass detentions of ethnic Uighurs. He also said a few foreign media outlets misrepresented the committees discussions and were smearing Chinas anti-terror and crime-fighting measures in Xinjiang.
KABUL  The Taliban overran a base in northern Afghanistan, killing 17 soldiers while Afghan forces battled the insurgents for the fifth straight day in the eastern provincial capital of Ghazni on Tuesday, trying to flush them out of the citys outskirts, officials said.

There were fears for the fate of the other troops from the base, known as Camp Chinaya, as the Taliban claimed that dozens had surrendered to them while others were captured in battle.

Along with the 17 troops killed in the attack in northern Faryab province, in the district of Ghormach, at least 19 soldiers were also wounded, according to the spokesman for the defense ministry, Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed.

The Taliban had besieged the base, which housed about 140 Afghan troops, for three days before the massive push late on Monday night, said the local provincial council chief, Mohammad Tahir Rahmani.

Rahmani said the base fell to the Taliban after the soldiers, who had resisted the three-day onslaught, failed to get any reinforcements and ran out of ammunition, food and water. He said 43 troops were killed and wounded in the attack but didnt give a breakdown.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying 57 Afghan soldiers had surrendered to the Taliban while 17 others were captured in battle. He said eight military Humvees were also seized.

Meanwhile, Afghan security forces on Tuesday pushed back the Taliban from Ghazni, the provincial capital of a province with the same name, and were trying to flush the insurgents from the citys outskirts.

The operations came on the fifth day after a massive Taliban attack on Ghazni. Hundreds of people have fled the fighting in the city, which has so far killed about 100 members of the Afghan security forces and at least 20 civilians.

Nasart Rahimi, a deputy spokesman at the Interior Ministry, said security forces were searching every inch of Ghazni on Tuesday for remaining Taliban fighters.

Military helicopters were supporting the ground forces operations in Ghazni, said Abdul Karim Arghandiwal, an army media officer in southeastern Afghanistan.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, denied the insurgents have been routed from Ghazni and said sporadic gunbattles were still ongoing.

Rahim Faiez and Amir Shah are Associated Press writers.
ANKARA, Turkey  Turkeys president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions.

Addressing a conference of his ruling party faithful in the capital, Recep Tayyip Erdogan added fuel to the spat with the U.S., even as local business groups called on his government to settle it.

Investors seemed to look through the fiery rhetoric, pushing the lira off record lows on confirmation that Turkish and U.S. government officials met on Monday.

We will implement a boycott against Americas electronic goods, Erdogan told the conference. He suggested Turks would buy local or Korean phones instead of U.S.-made iPhones, though it was unclear how he intended to enforce the boycott.

The move is seen as retaliation for the United States decision to sanction two Turkish ministers over the detention of an American pastor on terror-related charges, and to double tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports.

Behind the scenes, however, diplomatic dialogue appears to have resumed. U.S. officials say National Security adviser John Bolton had met with the Turkish ambassador to Washington on Monday.

That helped ease the turmoil in financial markets, with the Turkish lira stabilizing near record lows. It was up about 5 percent on Tuesday, at about 6.52 per dollar, having fallen 42 percent so far this year, with most of those losses coming in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the lawyer representing Andrew Brunson, the American pastor at the center of the dispute, renewed an appeal for his release from house arrest and for a travel ban imposed on him to be lifted. It was not clear when the court would consider the appeal.

Brunson, 50, is being tried on espionage and terror-related charges, which he and the U.S. government vehemently deny.

Suzan Fraser is an Associated Press writer.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Tuesday's episode of TV Land's "Younger," a comedy-drama from "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star, features scenes shot aboard the Staten Island Ferry.

The series starring Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff and Miriam Shor has happily taken a journey to the once forgotten borough of Staten Island.

But will they get off the boat? You'll have to tune in at 10 p.m. to see.

Miriam, who made her directorial debut with an episode that aired earlier in the season, sees her character Diana head to Staten Island to visit her boyfriend, Enzo (played by Staten Island native Chris Tardio, also of Showtime's "Ray Donovan").

Some great Staten Island Ferry scenes unfold -- among others.

"We filmed the scene on the Staten Island Ferry with permission of the people in charge -- and with a limited crew and extras in the background," Miriam said.

"And it's free both ways. I always tell friends and family: 'Go to a restaurant for the night either on Staten Island or in Manhattan. It's a great night out. And the Staten Island Ferry is my go to for boat travel in New York."

Miriam said she loves the storyline of her character, Diana Trout.

"She is very set in her ways and her taste pertains to Manhattan," Miriam said. "But she falls in love with a man on Staten Island and she expands her horizons considerably and she dreams when she's on the ferry -- visions of the film 'Working Girl' -- and the tunes from that film repeat in her head."

Tardio's character, Enzo, is supposedly employed as a plumber from Staten Island.

In the script Diana has a run in with Enzo's mama, who is a very challenging Italian born middle-aged woman -- and who pushes Diana's buttons.

TV Land's "Younger" also films in Brooklyn and Queens and the other boroughs, but in this particular episode, executive producer Darren Star ("Sex and the City," "Melrose Place" chose to focus on Staten Island.

"I got to spend time in Italy so I get to use my Italian when I talk to my Italian plumber boyfriend's mom," Miriam said.

A little about Miriam: A film stage and TV actress and song-stylist was born in Minneapolis, but relocated to Italy where her academic father was teaching and studying.

Active in the arts in high school, she was among the first people in the newly formed BFA theater program at the University of Michigan. She first made headlines as Yitzhak in the original off-Broadway production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"

During the spring, Miriam was seen in the final season of FX's Emmy-nominated "The Americans" where she portrayed a bedridden cancer patient and wife of a nuclear arms negotiator.

On "Younger," her character has been dubbed "Trout Pout," the temperamental head of marketing at the publishing house where Liza Foster (Sutton Foster) got a job by pretending to be 26 years old -- 14 years younger than she actually is.

BTW: The TV Land show is also available to watch On Demand.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Today's archive page is from Oct. 23, 1922.

Judge Joseph B. Handy, candidate for Congress, declares that if he is elected he will set aside one day a week to meet his constituents.

He says: "It is my purpose to set aside at an appointed place one day every week where I can be found and consulted by the residents of this district."

He adds that this will occur when Congress is not in session.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the opioid epidemic rages and marijuana legalization looms, a small team of New York police officers are studying and guiding policy related to drugged driving enforcement.

As part of our "United States of Weed" special project, we interviewed two Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) for our second podcast episode, "NYPD Policing: Drug Experts Educate Officers To Detect Drugged Drivers."

You can list to it via iTunes (linked above), or by clicking on the YouTube clip at the top of this story. The episode and series are also available on Spotify.

Earlier this year, SILive and the Advance published an in-depth series called "The United States of Weed" that focused on multiple angles of legalized marijuana in Oregon, and other facets of pot in the U.S.

Our first podcast, called "Touring Oregon," is available here.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ever wonder what it's like to be in solitary confinement?

The New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (CAIC) is hosting an exhibition on injustice in the prison system on Thursday at the South Shore YMCA in Eltingville.

The event is from 6 to 8 p.m., and will have a panel presentation, discussion and a replica of a solitary confinement cell.

The discussions will focus on efforts to end the practice of solitary confinement and how to challenge the prison system.

Those who have been subjected to solitary confinement and incarceration, including women, will discuss their experiences.

The Correctional Association of New York, Coalition for Women Prisoners, JustLeadershipUSA, the Bridge Multi-Cultural Project and Move Forward Staten Island have partnered with CAIC to join in the event.

The CAIC, a non-profit organization, brings together advocates, formerly incarcerated persons, family members of currently incarcerated individuals, concerned community members, lawyers, and individuals in the human rights, health and faith communities throughout New York state.

The panel, which is made up of people directly affected by solitary confinement, has been working with legislators on the HALT bill, which would end solitary confinement and other forms of extreme isolation in state prisons and local jails.

All are welcomed to join.

To RSVP, click here.

The South Shore YMCA is located at 3939 Richmond Ave.

For more information on the event, contact Victor Pate at VPate@nycaic.org.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The first free-standing Lands' End store -- known for its line of school uniforms and casual clothing for men, women and children -- in the New York metropolitan area is opening in the Staten Island Mall, New Springville, on Saturday.

The retailer's Back-to-School Shopping Grand Opening celebration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday with a ribbon-cutting by Staten Island Chamber of Commerce members and the local chapter of the non-profit MOMS Club.

The new 5,000-square-foot store is opening near the Mall entrance on the first floor of its new wing. The addition of Lands' End is part of the Staten Island Mall's 242,000-square-foot expansion, that has welcomed more than a dozen new retailers and restaurants to the Mall.

"We're excited to offer products for the entire family to Staten Island shoppers, many of whom have been loyal customers for decades," said Jerome Griffith, chief executive officer and president, Lands' End. "The new store is a place where everyone can experience in person our fit, quality and products with a purpose, just in time for back-to-school shopping."

Lands' End formerly existed within Sears in the Staten Island Mall until that retailer downsized its store.

"We are super-excited to come back to Staten Island," said Claudia Mazo, Lands' End senior vice president of retail. "We were at the Mall with Sears before they started their redevelopment. We wanted to expand our presence in Staten Island and bring our own brand experience to our customers in Staten Island."

Said James Easley, Mall general manager: "One of the great aspects of our redevelopment has been the ability to introduce new retailers, restaurants and experiences to the Staten Island community. We know our guests have been looking forward to the Lands End grand opening and we are excited to welcome yet another new tenant to the Staten Island Mall."

Because of the company's online platform, Lands' End research shows the company has a large customer base in the borough.

"We know she [the Staten Island female shopper] loves our brand in Staten Island," said Mazo. "We wanted to be part of all the new, added brands the Mall decided to bring in. ... We saw this was quite a destination in Staten Island."

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY & SCHOOL UNIFORMS



The store offers digital technologies -- such as checkout anywhere in the store and a digital kiosk -- that can enhance customers' experience.

For example, at the kiosk, shoppers can find the full Lands' End collection online at landsend.com, including school uniforms.

Lands' End School provides uniforms to more than 5,000 schools across the country, including some on Staten Island. Through the kiosk, parents will find additional sizes and the recently launched Universal Collection, an inclusive line of adaptive clothing designed for easy dressing.

The easy dressing line includes kids' tops and bottoms that look just like the best sellers, but with new, innovative features, such as rip-and grip-closures and sensory-friendly seams.

Coming soon, parents of kids at uniform schools can find the right fit for their child's uniform at the Staten Island store, which is one of several of the retailer's "try-on stores" in the United States.

Staten Island is the third of the four to six stores Lands' End plans to open in 2018. This brings the total number of Lands' End stand-alone stores to 14 locations in the United States.





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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A city-wide effort to reduce violence in high-crime areas will make its final stop this week on Staten Island.

"Occupy the Streets," is a community outreach event spearheaded by the National Action Network (NAN), which calls on residents and activists to sleep over night in the streets most impacted by violent crime.

"Normally, a lot of violence occurs late at night," said Cynthia Davis, president of the NAN Staten Island chapter. "So we're trying to reach the people who are out there at night."

Organizers will hand out voter registration cards and information regarding free Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) classes and job programs, as a way to promote education and empowerment in community's struggling economically.

The protest is split into two nights, at two locations.

The first campout is scheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Jersey Street and Benziger Avenue in New Brighton.

On Wednesday, a cookout and refreshments will kick things off at 5 p.m. at Tompkinsville Park, followed by another night of community activism and camping.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Odin, the adventurous St. Bernard who brought his bucket list to Staten Island last month, died last week, according to his owner, Bobbie Jo Ledford.

Odin was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer, which gave him only a few months to live.

Following his diagnosis, Ledford set out to make the best of the St. Bernard's time and created a list of activities for Odin to do.

On July 31, Odin checked off his bucket list item to meet the Yankees when he visited Richmond County Ballpark in St. George and met the Staten Island Yankees and countless fans who came to the ballpark.

"My experience at the Staten Island Yankees game was amazing,'' Ledford said. "I didn't know how beautiful the ballpark was. It was wonderful to see all the people who came out to visit Odin."

Odin walked the bases, but Ledford was at first unsure he'd be able to make it all the way around because of a limp he had developed. But, "Odin enjoyed" the experience, she said.

"Everyone just loved him," Ledford said, adding that "He also met some of the Yankee players and mascot. Odin enjoyed all of his belly rubs and hotdogs."

Following his Staten Island Yankees visit, Odin checked off three more bucket list items, concluding with meeting New Jersey Devils legend Patrick Elias.

Above all, Ledford said that the bucket list was a positive experience for Odin and herself.

"We made a family of 7,000 people for the love of Odin,'' she said. "He captured the hearts of everybody within his eye."

Odin died on Aug. 7 in the company of Ledford.

In the midst of her loss, Ledford said that the community has helped her immensely. "I would be lost without them," she said. "All the love and support helped me with the tough times."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- We posted this photograph on our Instagram and Facebook pages last month and it sparked a lot of curiosity among our followers

The two men were digging tunnels in the 1920s for a proposed subway connecting St. George to Bay Ridge.

You wondered what happened to the project.

So, here's the story, according to our archives.

Actually, you have to go back to 1898 when Staten Island was incorporated into New York City. The reason for consolidation was to give the borough access to city services, particularly to improve transportation options -- fast forward to 2018 and you can see how that worked out.

(Footnote: In 1993, 65 percent of Staten Islanders voted to secede from NYC. That was stymied by the state. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves -- that's a story for another day).

Turns out the earliest known plans for a Brooklyn-Staten Island passenger and freight rail connection were studied 10 years before consolidation by railroad businesses, but the first serious proposal for a trans-Narrows tunnel was pitched in 1912 by George Cromwell, Staten Island's first borough president, according to Advance archives.

The plans and designs changed in the intervening years, but then, there it was: On a sunny day in July 1923, crowds of Staten Islanders lined the St. George waterfront for a lavish groundbreaking ceremony.

The Police Department marching band escorted Mayor John F. Hylan, the city's borough presidents and a cadre of high-ranking city officials off the ferryboat to meet John Lynch, Staten Island's fifth borough president.

At the time, the Advance wrote that they spoke before "one of the largest crowds which ever assembled" on Staten Island.

Onlookers clustered around the platform at the ferry, crammed into windows and doorways at Borough Hall and the courthouse and stood along vantage points on Richmond Terrace, Advance archives show.

City officials took "about a dozen healthy swings" with a silver pickaxe to break ground on the Brooklyn-Richmond Freight and Passenger Tunnel, the New York Times reported at the time.

A similar groundbreaking was held at Shore Road in Bay Ridge a few months earlier.

The tube would have cost about $27 million to build and would have been the longest underwater tunnel at the time when it was complete in 1929.

But much like they do today, grand transportation projects are left to die: Work halted only a year after it began. The idea continued to be kicked around for a while before ultimately being abandoned in the 1930s.

By 1932, the only sign of the project were four huge holes cordoned off by rickety wooden barriers, Advance archives show.

The holes -- two in each borough that contained the headings for the tunnel -- plus the land bought on Staten Island for the railway cost the city at least $6 million.

Why the sudden stoppage?

The reasons remain murky, according to Advance archives.

When bids were being advertised for further construction to be done in early 1925, those with railroad interests opposed the freight line and convinced Albany to block the project. Soon after, the bid advertisements ceased and the city engineers for the project were reassigned.

Another speculation, according to Advance archives, is that Mayor Hylan sabotaged the project because of his quarrels with the owners of Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit, who probably would have benefitted from the tunnel.

One more theory: New York Gov. Alfred Smith stopped the tube because he had investments in the Pennsylvania Railroad, which had monopoly control of rails entering the city from the south.

The real story is probably buried underneath those subway tunnels for good.

But this is what we do know: Another heralded project for Staten Island commuters was stopped in its tracks.

Sound familiar?
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The Commonwealth Bank's wealth business failed to direct 15,000 clients' superannuation contributions into no-frills accounts as required by a law change in 2014, it was revealed at the royal commission.

And although the bank admitted to the breaches and that subsequent communications with customers was misleading, there was no enforcement action taken against it by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).

Colonial First State executive general manager Linda Elkins said the breaches were an "error" on the bank's part but denied its concerns were driven by revenue. Credit:Webcast

CBA's Colonial First State on Tuesday faced a grilling over problems in moving members to MySuper products - low-cost, commission-free super accounts introduced by the Gillard government for people not make an active choice about their retirement savings.

Senior counsel assisting the commission, Michael Hodge QC, revealed the bank realised it had breached this requirement soon after it came into effect in January 2014, which he said was an "offence". After initially believing 13,000 customers were affected, the bank later found the number was 15,000.
The fierce scrutiny of bank misconduct is eating into the profits of National Australia Bank, which said it would take extra provisions in the second half for "regulatory compliance investigations."

NAB flagged the extra provisions - money set aside to cover a liability - in a trading update on Tuesday, which said unaudited cash profit was 3 per cent lower in annual terms in the June quarter, at $1.65 billion.

NAB's bottomline result dipped because of higher spending on investment and credit impairment charges. Credit:Pat Scala

After Commonwealth Bank's profits last week fell 5 per cent because of its many compliance woes, NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn signalled the bank would also be feeling the impact of compliance shortcomings in its second half.

"As we make progress towards resolving several previously disclosed regulatory compliance investigations, we expect to recognise additional provisions in the 2H18 result, noting there are significant uncertainties in determining a provisioning outcome at this time," he said in a statement.
Trump has lashed out more than a half-dozen times against the Milwaukee-based maker of the iconic motorcycles after praising the company early in his presidency.

"Great," the president said. "Most other companies are coming in our direction, including Harley competitors. A really bad move! US will soon have a level playing field, or better."

President Donald Trump, using Twitter again to criticise a company he once hailed as a "true American icon," gave his backing to Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners who may boycott the manufacturer if it moves some production out of the US.

The relationship flipped after Harley announced plans earlier this summer to shift production of bikes destined for Europe to overseas facilities. It acted after Trump's administration imposed steel and aluminum tariffs that promoted retaliatory measures from the European Union that Harley-Davidson said would increase its costs by $US2,200 ($3,025) for each bike shipped there.

Harley doesn't sell motorcycles in the US that are built overseas, and the company has said that won't change.

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On Sunday, it referred to comments by Chief Executive Officer Matthew Levatich in an interview with CNBC July 30. Levatich said then that Harley-Davidson prefers to supply customers around the world from the US Still, it has set up manufacturing internationally over the last two decades because trade and tariff restrictions in certain markets may make them prohibitive, and the company may lose access to some customers based on price, according to a transcript of the interview.

Trump's pronouncement came a day after he welcomed biker supporters to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, and a New York Times article cited some Harley-Davidson owners criticising the company at a rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.
Female-led companies are a better investment. Why? Well they return more than their male counterparts. On average female tech entrepreneurs generate a 35% higher return. Even if you know little about investing, the numbers are compelling.

So why is so little being invested in their businesses and how can we support them better?

Holly Stephens is the founder of Triangles.

Several reasons have been put forward as to why women raise less money. They include: - lower projections, underselling the opportunity, female-focused products that male venture capitalists have less experience with, and an overall availability bias. Many VCs have been shown to make decisions using their gut and with fewer successful female entrepreneurs in their portfolio, they turn down the opportunities to invest.

If VCs would like to beat public markets on return on investment, which they havent in the last two decades, this needs to change.
Independent analysts remain in the dark about the full calculations behind the Turnbull government's flagship energy plan, with a Senate call to release the modelling turning up a blank.

The government on Tuesday tabled its response to a Greens request for the disclosure of the economic modelling underpinning the National Energy Guarantee (NEG).

Mt Piper Power Station, near Lithgow: energy policy is being fiercely debated this week. Credit:Nick Moir

A letter from senator Simon Birmingham, who represents Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg in the Senate, merely pointed back to the final design of the plan on the website of the coordinating body, the Energy Security Council (ESC).

Adam Bandt, the Greens climate spokesman, said the response confirmed "what analysts feared - that there is no proper modelling, just a single Excel spreadsheet".
Zain (Zain Al Rafeea, who was discovered working as a delivery boy) is a reluctant worker in his feckless parents business selling opioids into the local prison, where an older son acts as fence; he runs away for good when they sell his beloved younger sister to their landlord as a child bride.

Children fending for themselves have a long history in the cinema. Here, Nadine Labakis picaresque story of a foul-mouthed but ferociously positive little survivor on Beiruts meaner streets recalls both the Italian neo-realists and the more recent hit Slumdog Millionaire.

Various adventures lead him to kindly Ethiopian refugee Rahil (Yordanos Shiferaw), who takes him into her slum home to look after her baby while she works.

When Rahil is arrested, Zain must take sole responsibility  or not  for a helpless infant. Grim as this sounds, Labaki infuses his story with warmth and sunbursts of humour, while guiding her feral young cast in what are truly astonishing performances.

Winner of the Jury Prize in Cannes, Capharnaums straightforward narrative of misfortunes was dismissed by some critics as overly simplified and manipulative. Its a tear-jerker, all right  but then, its hard to see how it could remain true to reality and be anything else.
An ad for horror film The Nun has been pulled from YouTube. Credit:Roadshow Films

Myriad Twitter and Reddit users complained about: 1) having to watch an unskippable ad that interrupted their YouTube viewing time, and 2) nearly suffering a heart attack in the wee hours of the morning while binge-watching YouTube videos.

The jump-scare ad was over in an instant, but it's apparently so startling to many who've seen it that their complaints reached YouTube, which decided to take it down.

The YouTube ad begins with a volume sign, its familiar white bar dancing left then right before finally switching to mute. For one second, there is only the mute sign against a black background. And then, abruptly, the grisly, zombielike face in a nun's habit leaps at the viewer, accompanied by a piercing sound.

"I advise you look away and/or turn down the volume if you have anxiety or just straight up jumpscares, pls rt to save a life," says one tweet that has been retweeted 130,000 times since Sunday.

YouTube replied to that tweet Monday, saying it has removed the ad because it violates the video-sharing website's "shocking content policy."

Google, YouTube's parent company, has advertising policies that prohibit what it considers to be shocking content. Ads that contain "gruesome or disgusting imagery" and that "are likely to shock or scare" aren't allowed on the platform.

A jump scare is a technique commonly used in horror movies. For several seconds, the character sees or hears nothing, and then suddenly, something or someone appears from behind, or in a nearby mirror.

"A good jump scare is a magic trick," screenwriter C. Robert Cargill told The Verge. "It's 'I'm going to get you to look over here while I'm doing this,' and then out of nowhere - bam! - something's going to get you."
The Sydney basin faced the prospect of more coal mining after the Berejiklian government sought submissions of interest in what would be the first new exploration licence in the region in more than two decades. It also applied for the extension of several other licences.

South32's Endeavour Coal is indicated an interest in exploring for coal in a 4087-hectare region just north of Picton on Sydney's south-western edge, according to the Government Gazette.

The last licence to be issued in the Sydney basin was in 1993. The government, though, has also applied to have three much larger exploration licences in the basin renewed after they expired, and has sought to have a fourth renewed before it expires next May.

Kate Smolski, chief executive of the NSW Nature Conservation Council, said it beggars belief that the government has done this just one week after it declared the whole of NSW drought-affected.
Enraged Hunter abuse survivor Peter Gogarty called the Catholic Church a disgusting corrupt organisation outside Newcastle Courthouse on Tuesday in dramatic scenes as Archbishop Philip Wilson started home detention for concealing Hunter priest Jim Fletchers child sex crimes.

Mr Gogarty called on Wilson to say sorry and show contrition, accused a Wilson supporter of calling him rubbish, and vowed to continue standing up to the church only weeks after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull backed his campaign to have Wilson resign or be sacked, that ended with Pope Francis accepting the archbishops resignation.

Where is the contrition from former Archbishop Philip Wilson? His Grace, as somebody just said upstairs, has shown no grace, said Mr Gogarty, who once knew Wilson well enough to call him Phil, and whose family knew Wilson as a young Hunter priest from the mid-1970s.

This man (Wilson) said two weeks ago that he was resigning because of the hurt to people like me. But Im still here still hurting and hes now going to lodge an appeal, and we could wait months and months and months for that process to play out, said Mr Gogarty, after telling the media he was beside myself about this as Wilson left to begin home detention.
Not many people have seen what Jan Clifford has when it comes to terrible deaths.

During her 30-year career as a physiotherapist in intensive care, she saw hundreds of people die in ways they never would have wanted, given the choice.

Jan Clifford and Geoff Millar want the right to debate the introduction of voluntary euthanasia laws in Canberra. Credit:Jamila Toderas

Now that shes nearing 70, Ms Clifford said it become even more important to her that she might have the choice of how and when to die when the time comes.

For the past 10 years she has been a member of the ACT chapter of Exit International, the international non-profit organisation advocating the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Canberrans flocked to the region's peaks on Sunday to take advantage of a snow dump that created spectacular views across the city.

As many woke to views of the snow-capped Brindabella Ranges, ranger Brandon Galpin was already out and about in Namadgi National Park.

Snow covers the landscape on Bendora Road about 7.40am on Sunday. Credit:Brandon Galpin

Mr Galpin took photos of the snow on Bendora Road and at the Bendora Arboretum early in the morning, before heading to the Bulls Head picnic area later in the day.

"There were a lot of people up there to see snow, bringing their dogs and four-wheel drives for some good old-fashioned family fun," he said.
Ric Baxter of Umina Beach has seen some interesting signs in my life but this one, on a cottage in Davistown on the Central Coast, has to take the cake: Nothing in this house is worth dying for!'' Maybe steer clear of the cake.

"Interesting to see, on a recent visit, that the city of Xi'an (China) is home to the 'Dental Club of St Paul,' writes Denis Martin of Annandale. "Perhaps this is the sort of club which would evoke a Groucho Marx-type response."

Still in China, Marion Jordan of Crookwell will never forget a Beijing establishment serving Dumpling filled with the ovary and digestive glands of a crad.

Hugh OKeefes tale of "Hoisting Hills" (C8) during the blackouts of the 1980s took Barry Sexton of Primbee, back to the same era. He sets the scene: Severe power restrictions. Domestic electric clothes dryers banned, except in hospitals, etc. My apartment is a recycled 19th-century flour mill. No roof area or balconies, so no Hills Hoist, thus the electric dryer is my only option. I phone the emergency hotline seeking exemption. I'm told quite firmly that no exemptions are possible. I remonstrate, equally as firmly, to be told, even more firmly, it is a blanket ban! I retort: I dont want to dry my bloody blankets, just my smalls!'

"According to ABC evening news," writes Rik Dillon of Ballina: "Farmers can apply for a licence to shoot kangaroos online or by phone, rather than in person. So if you see a kangaroo online or on a mobile, warn them!"
A Sydney woman charged with murder following Fridays alleged fatal samurai sword attack is "distressed" following her arrest and has never previously been in jail, her lawyer says.

Police allege that Hannah Quinn, 23, was a minor player in the violent death of Sydney rapper Jett McKee at Forest Lodge in Sydney's inner west last week.

Sydney hip-hop artist Jett McKee, who performed under the name Scepaz, has been identified as the victim at the attack at Forest Lodge. Credit:YouTube

The Herald understands that Mr McKee, 30, had attempted to rob the home where Ms Quinn and her boyfriend Blake Davis, who has also been charged with murder, lived together in Forest Lodge when an altercation allegedly took place.

Mr McKee allegedly hit Mr Davis in the face with knuckle dusters, and he took off into the street.
A high-profile literary agent suing Australian author Kate Morton over breaching an agreement between the pair didn't "believe in contracts", a court has heard.

The author of The Shifting Fog has given evidence before the NSW Supreme Court that she was told by former friend and fellow Australian author Kim Wilkins about the way agent Selwa Anthony dealt with clients.

Australian author Kate Morton leaves the NSW Supreme Court. Credit:AAP

"She thinks that people who don't get along well should be free to go their separate ways," Ms Morton recalled Ms Wilkins saying of Ms Anthony before she became the bestselling author's agent.

"She doesn't believe in contracts."
Party for peace

Thousands of people cheered, sang, and danced in the streets of Sydney from 5pm until midnight last night. Although there had been no final announcement of the Japanese acceptance of the Allied terms, the crowds seem to feel the certainty of peace. They celebrated with the true spirit of victory - with joy, but without hooliganism. There was none of the infantile excesses of the two previous nights.

Birthday present from artist

When Dame Mary Gilmore was entertained at a party by members of the Lyceum Club yesterday in honour of her eightieth birthday, her portrait, painted by Mr. Joshua Smith for the Archibald Memorial prize last year, was presented to her by the artist. Mr Smith brought the portrait by train from Dulwich Hill and carried it on the platform to present it to Dame Mary  whose birthday will be celebrated tomorrow.

Letter to the Editor: Atomic bomb 
A 20-year-old man has been questioned by police after a motorhome belonging to a New Zealand couple was shot at on Monday morning near Rockhampton.

A man and woman, aged 65 and 56, were camped in a quiet area off Yaamba Road when a vehicle came over a crest and shone its headlights on their motorhome.

They reported hearing two loud cracks and the motorhome's windscreen was shattered, leaving them shaken and distressed.

Police declared the vehicle a crime scene and found a bullet inside the motorhome on Tuesday morning.
My amma (mother), Mittu, has been a practising solicitor in this country for more than two decades.

She migrated to Australia at the age of 19, completed her tertiary education, entered the workforce, established a home for our family and strived to contribute to our society in her professional capacity.

Maneesha Gopalan and her mum, Mittu.

She is the best person I know. She has always put her heart and soul into her profession. I have watched her weep as she sang prayers for clients who were doing it tough. I have driven with her to provide home-cooked meals to clients who had recently become single parents to make their days a little easier.

For the past few years, I have witnessed her single-handedly build her own practice with the sole intention of providing expert legal advice and services in the most cost-effective manner.
Tech companies, like Mozilla, care about encryption because its key to keeping the sensitive information were trusted with as secure as possible. Its our job to provide people with tools that make their lives easier, and to do our best to ensure that information they give us is treated with respect. As more companies are doing business online, this should be the standard.

Encryption is used by hundreds of millions of people everyday to make online banking, shopping, and even texting more secure. And many of the most secure products we use are designed with "end-to-end" encryption. That means communication can only be seen by the people involved in the conversation - to the exclusion of everyone else, including the company facilitating the communication.

Despite the critical importance of security to digital life, the Australian government yesterday made good on its threat to undermine encryption, releasing a legislative proposal that would compel nearly all actors in the digital ecosystem to cooperate with government demands to compromise user security.

Yet the Australian governments recently released bill would force businesses to make our tools less secure. They are asking industry to provide a way for the government, and only the government, to look at the contents of a message. Putting aside the concerns we may have with the data security practices of the Australian government, weakening the security of one person or device generally puts the security of all people at risk.

The reason is simple: if you create a weakness in encryption for one person, there is no way to stop hackers, malicious actors, or even foreign agents from exploiting that same weakness for other ends. Just as 2+2 still equals 4, in Australia as everywhere else, all security experts agree that these kinds of mandated vulnerabilities are a bad idea.

The governments demand that companies compromise user security is also an existential threat to user trust, the lifeblood of any company. Why would someone trust a product they know is vulnerable? Moreover, many companies do not have the resources and the engineering know-how to protect the security holes the government is asking them to create. This makes all of us less secure.

People want more not less security, and companies should be able to build the best security for their users that they can provide. Instead of relitigating arguments that were debunked two decades ago around encryption, it would be much more fruitful for Australians if the government focused on how we can make the internet more secure.

Denelle Dixon is the chief operating officer of Mozilla, the makers of the Firefox web browser.
Nick Falos, 58, who was last seen in 2003. Credit:Victoria Police

Police have arrested an 84-year-old man over the cold-case disappearance of Brunswick man Nick Falos.

The case was reopened last month, 15 years after Mr Falos' red Porsche was found burnt out at the edge of a forest.

A warrant was executed by police on Tuesday morning at a residential property in Melbourne's southeast.

A Devon Meadows man was arrested and will now be interviewed by police.
A man has dragged a teenager into a secluded CBD laneway, with large gates he knew he could lock, and sexually assaulted her.

The man held the young woman captive behind the high metal gates before attacking her.

Detective Sergeant Dale Lapham said the lane, used for garbage disposal, was unlocked for a three-hour window each night.

What concerns us is how he knew this would be an area he could take someone, he said.

It was unfortunate that it was open for him to drag her off the road.
An 18-year-old man has been arrested after police raided a home in Melbourne's south-east and found what is believed to be an AK-47 assault rifle.

Police executed a search warrant at a home in Oakleigh East about 1.15pm on Tuesday and found the firearm, as well as an imitation gun.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after police executed a search warrant at a home in Oakleigh East at about 1.15pm on August 14 and found an AK-47 firearm as well as an imitation firearm. Credit:Victoria Police

The weapons were seized, as was a quantity of what is believed to be cannabis.

The teenager was arrested at the scene and is assisting investigators with their inquiries.
An 18-year-old man has been charged with possessing what is believed to be an AK-47 assault rifle following a raid at a home in Melbourne's south-east.

The Oakleigh East man has been charged with possessing a controlled weapon an imitation firearm and cannabis, and breaching an intervention order.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with possessing a firearm. Credit:Victoria Police

The assault rifle is currently with ballistics experts for analysis. On Wednesday morning police said is could be a fake.

A police spokesman said the charges could be upgraded if the AK-47 was found to be real.
SMART drumline technology has previously been used in New South Wales successfully as an alternative to shark culls. WA author, diver and shark expert Hugh Edward agreed the move was a positive step forward, and the decision to run the trial in WA's South West made more sense than previous metropolitan Perth strategies. "We've got to be careful if we're doing things for the reasons of politics, because the drumlines that were done by the Barnett government in the metropolitan area which cost 1.5 million dollars didn't catch a single great white shark," he said. "The last attack in the metropolitan area was in 2012, and a critical area has been the Gracetown and Geographe Bay area, so it's an excellent area for a trial." Surf breaks around Gracetown have a notorious reputation, with several fatal shark attacks taking place over the past 10 years.

In April this year father-of-two Alejandro Travaglini was attacked by a suspected great white sharkat Cobblestones surf break off the coast of Gracetown. Just hours after the first attack, a second man was bitten just two kilometres south of where Mr Travaglini was attacked. Jason Longrass after being attacked at a closed beach in Gracetown - which likely spooked event organisers into cancelling the Pro - earlier this year. In 2013 surfer Chris Boyd, 35, was killed by a shark at Lefthanders surf break, while Brad Smith, 29, died in a shark attack in 2004 at the same surf break. Father-of-two Nicholas Edwards died after being attacked by a large shark at South Point break near Gracetown in 2010. Cowaramup Boardriders Club president Peter Caewood said Tuesday's announcement would mean surfers using the popular breaks could feel safer.

"We haven't stopped using the water. We've continued to use it, but we've just tried to be a bit more aware," he said. "Myself, I sometimes compromise my surfs to be the eyes on the beach or on the coast when my children are in the water. "The majority of our members will embrace the news [about the trial]. "It appears to have been very successful over in the eastern states, and it's something that I think we should implement here. "Anything that assists in the management and protection of our local ocean users we're positive about."

Fisheries Minster Dave Kelly. Credit:David Allan-Petale The WA Nationals welcomed the WA government's willingness to give drum lines a go on WA's coast. Up until now the McGowan government has shown utter contempt for regional WAs coastal communities," Nationals Fisheries spokesman Colin de Grussa said. "The Nationals have been calling on the Fisheries Minister to act for months  its pleasing he has finally heeded our calls." Warren-Blackwood MP Terry Redman, whose electorate takes in the beaches near Gracetown, said the governments inaction had damaged the South West economy.

Businesses in Margaret River and surrounding communities have taken a hit since the dual attack in April, Mr Redman said. Finally  after almost 18 months in power  the McGowan Government has pulled its head from the sand and agreed to a SMART drumline trial." Mr Kelly told 6PR's Gareth Parker he couldn't yet put a dollar amount on how much the trial would cost the state government. "Somewhere around a couple of million dollars," he said. "I cant give you an exact figure as were still making decisions around how many drumlines well use and whether it will be done by the department or by contractors.
The West Australian government is going ahead with a 12-month trial of new SMART drumline technology to try to prevent shark attacks.

Drum lines are a key feature of NSW's shark bite mitigation measures.

Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly says the trial is needed because a NSW trial didn't provide enough information to determine if the technology would work in WA.

The independent trial, to be conducted by Chief Scientist Peter Klinken, will catch, tag, relocate and release sharks around the Gracetown area over 12 months.

Surf breaks around Gracetown have a notorious reputation, with several fatal shark attacks taking place over the past 10 years.
An ABC staffer has won the latest stage of a six-year fight for compensation after her treatment at work left her suffering anxiety and depression.

Peta Martin has been absent from the national broadcaster's studios in Renmark, South Australia since what she described as a "breakdown" in 2012 that followed more than 18 months of alleged bullying.

She stopped working after she failed to secure a new permanent job in the ABC that she hoped would move her away from her manager, who she said was bullying her.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal on August 3 found the federal workplace insurer was wrong to deny her compensation and said it owed her this for the "adjustment disorder" that followed her employment with the ABC.

Lawyers for Ms Martin, who saw her case move up to the High Court before it returned to the appeals tribunal, warn that her battle may not be over as Comcare could appeal the decision or reject her later claims for rehabilitation and treatment.
The Turnbull government deserves praise for its decision to commit $443 million in the May budget to protect the Great Barrier Reef but it has failed to explain why it chose to pay all the money up front to a private foundation in a manner that appears to sidestep normal government controls.

Even the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which learnt it was in line for the money only a few days before the budget, has admitted it was surprised by the decision and had not formally applied for the money.

Mitigation can buy time for the Great Barrier Reef. Credit:Gary Cranitch

Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg has said the foundation can mobilise private sector expertise and funds in the battle to save one of Australias greatest natural wonders.

That is a fine goal. If global warming continues nothing can save the reef but mitigation measures can help buy time to slow the rise in sea temperatures that is killing the coral.
Labor is holding out against a swift decision on the carbon target for the National Energy Guarantee, in a new stand-off that threatens to stymie a national deal on energy and climate change.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused the federal government of devising a Frankensteins monster of a policy that did not do enough to tackle global warming, signalling a fight in Parliament and at the next election on the scale of the cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

The Labor stance means the Turnbull government could struggle to pass its plan in Federal Parliament while facing demands from states and territories that could stall the National Energy Guarantee, the mechanism meant to cut emissions and increase reliability.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg claimed victory in the Coalition party room on the National Energy Guarantee. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Greens leader Richard Di Natale sought to heighten pressure on federal Labor to vote against the emissions target, declaring the energy guarantee was a dud and the vote was a personal test for Mr Shorten.
Senator David Leyonhjelm has introduced laws to allow assisted dying. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Emotions are running high in the Senate, where a private member's bill that would clear the way for assisted dying to be legalised across Australia looks set to gain a majority vote.

If passed, the bill, which was introduced by Liberal Democratic Party senator David Leyonhjelm, would allow the ACT and Northern Territory to make their own laws on voluntary assisted dying.

Euthanasia became legal in the Victoria last year and the Northern Terriroty had legal assisted dying for a short time until the law was overridden by federal parliament legislation.

Senators speaking in favour of the bill on Tuesday outweighed those taking a stance against euthanasia during the debate on Tuesday, with many citing their own personal anguish at watching loved ones suffer a painful death.
The federal opposition has pledged to fight for wider changes to the government's electronic health records system to address "significant" privacy and security concerns, including for children and domestic violence victims.

Labor called on Tuesday for a Senate inquiry into My Health Record to run a fine-tooth comb over the legislation governing the system amid "ongoing privacy and security concerns", before the opt-out period ends on November 15.

Labor's health spokeswoman Catherine King said the government's decision to switch to an opt-out model, which Labor originally supported, gave rise to "a whole range of significant privacy and security issues that we don't think were thought of in the original enabling legislation".

"I think at some point there will be a breach of this data": Labor's health spokeswoman Catherine King. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

All Australians with a Medicare card will be automatically enrolled in My Health Record if they do not opt out by the November 15 deadline.
Catholic priests would be compelled to report abuse of children disclosed in confessionals to the police under a Victorian Coalition government.

If it wins the November election, the Coalition will make it a criminal offence for a priest to refuse to report a perpetrators confession of child sex abuse.

Currently, Catholic priests are exempt from having to report such disclosures made in confessionals.

Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh says the safety of children should take precedence over the confidentiality of the confessional. Credit:Eddie Jim

Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh said the Coalitions new policy was based on a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Opposition Leader Mike Nahan has said he has been "black banned" by The West Australian and its reporters will not attend Liberal press conferences or include comments from shadow ministers in its stories.

Dr Nahan said his office had been told by the newspaper it would not be providing the Opposition with any "vehicles for us to communicate" after he said in a Liberal party conference speech on Sunday that voters in the Darling Range byelection were not listening to traditional media.

But he denied the speech was meant as a criticism of the state's only daily newspaper.

"It wasn't an attack on The West Australian, it was me telling my Liberal colleagues that in the future, if we're going to duplicate Darling Range, we're going to have to go more grassroots, social media and door knocking," he said.
Beijing: China has condemned measures targeting it in a new US defence act, saying it exaggerated antagonism and that Beijing would take a close look at aspects that beef up the role of a US panel that reviews foreign investment proposals.

China's complaints about the act come as the world's two biggest economies engage in an increasingly bitter fight over trade, levying tariffs on each others' products.

US President Donald Trump signed a $US716-billion defence policy act on Monday that authorises military spending and waters down controls on US government contracts with China's ZTE Corp and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.

The National Defence Authorisation Act, or NDAA, strengthens the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews proposals to determine if they threaten national security. That measure was seen as targeting China.
Geneva: China has rejected allegations raised by a United Nations panel that 1 million Uighurs may be held in internment camps in the restive Xinjiang region, but said that some people underwent re-education after being deceived by extremists.

Hu Lianhe, a senior Communist Party official, said authorities in the far western Xinjiang region guarantee citizens freedom of religious belief and protects "normal religious activities".

Uighur security personnel patrol near the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar in western China's Xinjiang region. Credit:AP

China says that Xinjiang faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists who plot attacks and stir up tensions between the mostly Muslim Uighur minority who call the region home and the ethnic Han Chinese majority.
Rome: Another few metres and he would have been dead.

Antonio Rubino slammed on the brakes of his car just short of the point at which the bridge in Genoa collapsed.

The driver of a Basko supermarket delivery van reacted in time, screeching to a halt just short of the drop. Credit:AP

A few seconds later and he would have plunged into the void - as did all the cars and trucks in front of him.

He was one of several drivers to cheat death on Tuesday when the Morandi bridge collapsed during a heavy thunderstorm and torrential rain.
Accused child sex abuser Malka Leifer (right) is being held in Israel. Credit:AP

Jerusalem. Accused child abuser Malka Leifer, who is wanted in Australia on dozens of counts of sexual abuse, has been found fit to face an extradition hearing, according to two psychiatric reports.

The expert psychiatric assessments conducted by Jerusalem psychiatrists Dr Barash and Dr Weisbrodt have yet to be seen in court, but have been signed off by the citys chief psychiatrist, a Jerusalem court heard on Tuesday.

Judge Hannah Miriam Lomp set a court date in three months time to hear psychiatrists' evaluations to rule whether the former Melbourne school principal is mentally capable of standing trial for extradition to Australia.

The 54-year-old, who was not present in court, is behind bars after videos from an undercover police operation emerged showed her living a normal, healthy life  despite being declared unfit for extradition due to mental illness during previous Israeli court attempts to extradite her in 2014 and 2016.
Omari has been accused of coming up with the idea of the Munich operation, as the head of the Black Septembers operations branch. And just one grave across lies Atef Bseiso, another PLO operative who was killed in Paris in 1992 and was accused of being involved in the Munich operation. Then Labour MP, now Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is shown at a wreath laying ceremony in a Tunisian graveyard that has led to accusations he was honouring terrorists. Credit:Facebook The claim that Corbyn honoured a Black September terrorist isn't new, but the pictures made it stick. Corbyns comeback was fairly weak. A wreath was indeed laid by some of those who attended the conference to some who were killed in Paris in 1992, he said on Monday.

I was present when it was laid, I don't think I was actually involved in it. He said he was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident because we have to end it. His statement didnt clear up much at all, not least because it added to the confusion over dates, people and places. Its entirely possible Corbyn himself is confused about all three. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, had little doubt. He tweeted that the laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre  deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit:AP

Corbyns spokespeople continued to insist he was there to honour the victims of a 1985 attack on the PLOs Tunis HQ, and did not lay any wreath at the graves of those alleged to have been linked to the Black September organisation or the 1972 killings. But unless and until more evidence emerges it seems fairly certain that Corbyn, knowingly or unknowingly, did play a front-row part in the laying of a wreath in memory of some people accused of horrendous crimes. Dr Yair Wallach, lecturer in Israeli Studies at the University of London, points out its not as simple as that. The wreath was placed on the tomb of Abu Iyad, Salah Khalaf, the Fatah ideologue, [Yasser] Arafat's close adviser, who is also said to be connected to Black September, Wallach wrote on Twitter. Khalaf may have been responsible for Munich. But he was also involved in pushing the PLO to recognise Israel. Loading

[There are] good reasons to think Khalaf was involved in targeting civilians, maybe Munich, and other attacks. [And there are] good reasons to think he was fully behind the move towards negotiations and [the] end of the PLO armed struggle. Does it make him worthy of commemoration? Your call. Wallach doesnt think the Tunis memorial merits the scandal it created - especially given that the PLO and Fatah people involved became so clearly identified with the peace process and negotiations with Israel. There's nothing to show that [Corbyn] thought he was commemorating the Munich massacre perpetrators, Wallach says. However he adds that Corbyn has been much clearer in his sympathy or tolerance for other militant groups at other times, despite his claim to be against terrorism in all its forms. The parallel to Labours anti-Semitism row is clear. Loading

There, too, Corbyn has claimed to be against racism in all its forms, but his actions left him open to claims he was against some forms more than others. In July the Labour national executive adopted a new code of conduct on anti-Semitism that deviated from the widely accepted international definition of anti-Semitism, written by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Labours code sought to finesse the IHRAs examples of hatred towards Jews when it came to criticising the state of Israel and Jewish attitudes towards it. It was responding to concerns that cries of anti-Semitism were sometimes used to shut down legitimate criticism of Israel. There's nothing to show that [Corbyn] thought he was commemorating the Munich massacre perpetrators, Wallach says. Credit:Facebook This part of the IHRA code has been criticised before - in 2016 a House of Commons committee, considering definitions of anti-Semitism, concluded the IHRA code needed clarification  to ensure that freedom of speech is maintained in the context of discourse about Israel and Palestine.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, calling her a "dog" as his fellow former reality TV star continued to publicly release recordings from her time in Trump's orbit.

The Trump campaign also filed an arbitration action against Manigault Newman on Tuesday, alleging breach of a secrecy agreement.

A campaign aide told the Associated Press that it is filing the claim with the America Arbitration Association in New York, claiming her explosive new book and media tour breached her 2016 confidentiality agreement with the campaign.

Manigault Newman has acknowledged signing a confidentiality agreement with the campaign in 2016.
~ Non-Payment of Hospital Services Investigation moving, Jeffry placed in garde a vue.- Vice Prosecutor YVES Paillard.~

MARIGOT:--- About 30 gendarmes and other French Law Enforcement officers circled the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital LCF on Monday morning. They then went inside the hospital and detained Dr. Louis Jeffry who was taken through the back door of the building in handcuffs to a waiting vehicle.

French law enforcement officers have been busy investigating the lack of payment to all French hospitals in the French Caribbean that treated patients from the Dutch side of the island and were never paid for their services.

Just recently CHU Pointe A Pitre launched a case against Dr. Louis Jeffry while there is an ongoing investigation regarding the lack of payment to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital. The French Health Care Services ARS also have been busy with this case.

At the moment law enforcement agencies are tightlipped about the detention of Dr. Louis Jeffry. As soon as the Prosecutor of Gendarmerie makes a statement this article will be updated.

SMN News wrote several articles relating to the lack of payment to LCF for Dutch side patients that were treated on the French side. At the moment Ducth side patients that are insured by USZV are denied treatment at LCF unless they pay cash.

USZV St. Maarten Social Insurance Bank made several payments to the association Observatoire St. Martin (OBS). Dr. Louis Jeffry created the association in 2010 and has been the president of the association that was intended to enhance healthcare cooperation between the French Caribbean Islands and Dutch St. Maarten.

In May 2018 SMN News published an article that stated that USZV has an outstanding bill at LCF for Euros 353,412.67. That sum has since increased and so far no payments were made by OBS or Careaway that is operated within the confines of LCF.

Vice Prosecutor Yves Paillard confirmed via press release that some five gendarmes conducted searches at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital (LCF) on Monday morning. Paillard said that the searches were conducted between 10am and 1pm without incident.

The searches were conducted in the presence of the representative of the medical team and the Public Prosecutors Office.

Paillard further states that the searches and arrest of at least one doctor is part of a preliminary investigation aiming at checking the relations between a doctor who is a member of the hospital medical commission and foreign companies as well as a subsidized association , which may be penalized in particular for illegal taking of interest. Paillard says the doctor remains in custody and enjoys the rights on the presumption of innocence and this is also understood by the gendarmes that are conducting the investigation.

Click here to read about the non-payment of hospital bills.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Finance Committee of Parliament will meet on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

The Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for 1.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance and representatives of Algemeen Pension Fonds St. Maarten (APS) will be present.

The agenda point is:

1. Discussion on the effects of Irma on the pension fund and an update on the fast tracking of projects post Irma (IS/476/2017-2018 dated April 20, 2018)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Three members of the recently established GVS-Committee,( Geneesmiddelenvergoedingssysteem)who were appointed through national decree, were installed by the Minister of Public Health, Social Development, & Labor, Emil Lee, on August 9, 2018.

Minister Lee said that when the GVS are operational, the public and private sector would see some tangible benefits reflected in lower cost due to efficient management of the system regulating the remuneration cost of Pharmaceuticals. The public will pay less for particular drugs and it is estimated that the Social & Health Insurances (SZV)will save approximately Naf. 6 million. The benefits are there, Minister Lee pointed out.

The GVS-Committee is designated to advise the Minister of Public Health on matters pertaining to the system regulating the remuneration cost of pharmaceuticals, referred to in Article 20 of the Landsbesluit vergoeding kosten geneesmiddelen (the national decree regulating the remuneration cost of pharmaceuticals).

The following members of this Committee were appointed by means of national decree dated June 19, 2018, no. LB-18/0356;

1. Mr. Peter Hendrik Bruns, Attorney of Law, appointed to serve as the independent Chairman;

2. Mr. Andwele D. Illes, Pharmacist, appointed to serve as the independent Pharmacist;

3. Dr. Gabe Gerben van Essen, Internist, appointed to serve as the independent Medical Physician;

4. Miss. Luchienne Wespel, prescription control officer at the Social & Health Insurances (SZV), selected by the Director and SZV board, appointed to serve as member of the GVS Committee.

Their tasked consist of;

a. assessing applications submitted for inclusion into the annexes accompanying the previously mentioned national decree;

b. provide an informed advice to the Minister of Public Health on the GVS Committee's assessment in respect to submitted applications; and

c. the solicited and unsolicited advice to the Minister on all matters, including proposed amendments to the previously mentioned national decree.
COM and Interreg provided subsidies to OBS.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Observatoire St. Martin (OBS) got the full support of Minister of VSA Emil Lee, who gave Dr. Louis Jeffry a letter on February 9th 2016 as Dr. Jeffry was seeking subsidies from Interreg. The letter clearly states that OBS focus was to improve cooperation in healthcare, yet the Minister of Health allowed USZV to deal with OBS to take care of patients that are transferred to the French side. While USZV made payments to OBS for some of its services LCF, CHU and other hospitals were not paid for the care and services they rendered to Dutch side patients.

Currently, patients from Dutch St. Maarten are not able to receive care at LCF unless they pay cash. USZV cancelled its contracts with Health Destination to do business with OBS and to date USZV has maintained its stance that they will not deal with the only recognized company that is charged with the transfer of patients to the French hospitals.

The ARS and representatives of Caribbean on Call met with the Minister of VSA in April 2018 to discuss their working relationship but to date USZV and the Minister of VSA did not follow up after that meeting.

OBS also received subsidy from the Collectivity of St. Martin in 2015 since the Collectivity benefits from EU funding. The money given to OBS was to enhance cooperation in matters related to Healthcare.

Currently, an investigation is underway to determine Dr. Jeffrys role with foreign companies since he is a member of LCF administration. Besides that authorities are also investigating OBS role especially since they received subsidies.



Click here to read the letter Minister Emil Lee gave to Dr. Louis Jeffry.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Since 1997, the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, together with other islands of the Dutch Caribbean, has been the worldwide example for charging an environmental user fee to users of the National Marine Parks. However, the current dive tag system has issues keeping up with the demand. Production costs, administration, risk management, and logistics are becoming more and more costly and time consuming.

To overcome the issues described above of the actual over the counter divers tag payment method and to profit from new trends in how tourists use Internet to plan their vacations, the St. Maarten Nature Foundation has been working with Reef Support BV to develop an online payment system. The Nature Foundation is proudly the first to launch this new online system for marine park tags.

The online system will allow visiting divers and other Marine Park users to prepay their tags before arrival to their dive shop. With this system we hope to reduce the efforts of making over the counter sales of our Marine Park Diver tags. We expect not only to increase St. Maarten Nature Foundation revenue but also to save much of the valuable time of dive operators, whilst we provide our visitors with a modern, fast, and easy way to pay their tags says Tadzio Bervoets manager of the Nature Foundation.

The new system generates a unique Tag for each user that is received by the buyer via e-mail. Upon arrival in your Dive Shop, operators can check for validity through a print version, in the diver phone or by simply login into the system and scanning the QR code of the tag. After an initial marketing effort, dive operators wont need to sell tags over the counter anymore and it will take only 3 seconds to check validity of customers tags stated Ramon de Leon Founder and Director of Reef Support.

The help of the dive operators was instrumental in the past to make our Divers Tag a success, we are asking once again for the assistance of the dive operators to introduce this new system, which can only succeed with their help to spread the link of the payment page. Dive operators are asked to incorporate the link into their websites, bookings systems, and email communications with their customers. As we are trying to reduce our single-use plastics on the island, we are very happy to move to an electronical alternative to substitute the plastic Marine Park Tag stated Nature Foundations Project Officer Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

The Internet based payment system is up and running and ready to be used, St Maarten Marine Park Tags can now be purchased directly online via www.sintmaarten.reefsupport.org.
Cost effective AIS vessel management system

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

IUU also occurs not only in high seas, but also in the exclusive economic zones of coastal States by national and foreign vessels and in river and inland fisheries. However, in marine fisheries, while it is difficult to estimate precisely the total IUU catch in tonnage or value terms, the level of IUU fishing has reached major proportions for some species. These catches, in many cases, are being made by both authorized and non-authorized fishers.

IUU fishing undermines national and regional efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks and, as a consequence, inhibits progress towards achieving the goals of long-term sustainability and responsibility.

Moreover, IUU fishing greatly disadvantages and discriminates against those fishers that act responsibly, honestly and in accordance with the terms of their fishing authorizations. This is a compelling reason why IUU fishing must be dealt with expeditiously and in a transparent manner. How to get this phenomen under control?

The state of the art technology which is used to control, monitor and overcome the existing problems of IUU is a technology which is used at commercial vessels for traffic monitoring since 2000, which is a technology called ?AIS?. ?AIS? stands for ?Automatic Identification System? for vessels.

AIS transponders, mounted on vessels, automatically transmit the position and velocity of the ship at regular intervals via a VHF radio built into the AIS. The position and velocity originate from an integral GPS receiver.

Other information, such as the vessel name and VHF call sign, is entered when installing the equipment. The signals are received by AIS transponders fitted on other ships or on land based monitoring systems.

In order to ensure that the VHF transmissions of different AIS transponders do not occur at the same time they are time multiplexed.

This ?AIS? technology is also ideal to be used for monitoring small fishing vessels. A small simple transmitter, like the size of a smartphone, but slightly thicker transmits the actual position of the small fishing vessel. The transmitter is battery driven and can last before recharge up to 5 days. Alternatively it can also be connected to the battery of the vessel or the generator of the vessel.

With that device, the local authorities as the Boarder Guard, the Coast Guard of the Ministry of fishing can monitor the activities of the fisherman in the economic zones of the coastal states.

In addition, this system is also used an intelligent tracking system that fulfills all requirements for naval border security. Tracking and identifying objects are big needs for authorities and to know ?friend or foe? will minimize terror risks.

As an example ? Malaysia has got such a system already in use with products from Germany, from the company Weatherdock. Malaysia did decide for these devices due to reliability, high end technology and certification expertise these devices do have. Weatherdock is the world market leader in small vessel tracking devices. For further information please contact the company Weatherdock under www.easyAIS.com

At the worlds leading trade fair for the maritime industry, the upcoming SMM in Hamburg (04.-07.09.2018) Weatherdock is going to present all relevant products which are useful but cost effective to fulfil all requirements of IUU. Weatherdock AG is located at B6-405.

Weatherdock Cooperation, Germany (Founded 2003)

? World leader in AIS based, commercial vessels approved, personal locator beacons in

the VHF band

? Founder of the year 2008

? Among the best 100 midsize companies in Germany (12.000 applicants for that award!)
From iGaming Pioneer to Crypto and Block Chain Hub

Posted by Publisher Internet

Over the years, Malta has gained renown as one of the top online gaming and betting jurisdictions for businesses wanting to establish themselves and prosper under local and EU regimes. This reputation primarily owes itself to Malta being the first EU Member State to regulate online gaming, thus gaining experience in the constant refinement of regulatory changes to accommodate the industry.

?The same impetus has recently been invested in crypto currencies and block chain innovations. Both technologies have been the subject of bad publicity spurred on mainly by banks and governments due to their complexities and lack of regulation worldwide. Malta, however, has sought to acknowledge the potential of such concepts and related technologies in relation to current financial frameworks. Over the past year, this has led to a joint effort between the Maltese government and local and foreign experts, whereby extensive studies and discussions have been undertaken in order to create and promulgate a regulatory regime covering crypto currencies and block chain technologies, say the Ecovis experts.

Approval of the Three Bills

This collaboration has culminated in three bills ? the Virtual Financial Assets Act, the Innovative Technology Arrangements and Services Act, and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority Act. These were published on 23rd May, 2018, which were eventually approved and enacted by Parliament.

The Acts provide broad-based principles within which market participants are expected to conduct themselves, as well as strict rules which market participants are bound to abide by. The legislation also focuses on merit-based and disclosure-based criteria. Under merit-based criteria, the regulator assesses and examines the service providers and products sold to investors and consumers, whilst disclosure-based criteria are designed to define what should be disclosed with respect to the platform or virtual/digital asset or currency.

The newly established regulatory body, the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (?MDIA?) will oversee the process of recognition and authorisation of virtual and digital assets and/or currencies and will establish whether the product is a currency or an asset according to set classification criteria. Furthermore, the MDIA will have the power to authorise and issue licences to service providers wishing to trade in the market.

Crucially, the Acts aim to ensure:

consumer and investor protection, by providing transparency by means of due diligence, disclosure obligations, and recourse procedures through the investigatory and enforcement powers of the MDIA

stability within the economy, by establishing standards promoting integrity and competence within the market. Virtual and digital assets/currencies and any related technologies will be vetted and audited by experts and specialists prior to being issued and sold to investors/consumers. Moreover, market participants will be subject to continuous disclosure requirements and advertisement controls to avoid any misleading contents being divulged to investors/consumers.

economic efficiency and safeguarding confidence and trust in the system, by imposing strict anti-money laundering, data protection, investment and financial regulations, consumer protection, and competition law obligations, through coordination with other local and international authorities and organisations

Apart from the above general objectives, Ecovis explains that the intent of the proposed legislation is to secure the promotion and development of the technologies and related entrepreneurship, whilst fostering progress in accordance with the general principles of the law.

The legislation has since attracted the attention of a number of key players in the industry worldwide, including some major experts and professionals. As had happened with the iGaming industry, the pioneering development of a legislative framework has provided the impetus required to put Malta on the map in relation to another innovative industry, with exciting prospects ahead.

Author:

Maximilian Ebejer LL.D., lawyer, specialising in regulatory compliance and tax, ECOVIS GRC Limited, Balzan, Malta

?

Ecovis is a leading global consulting firm with its origins in Continental Europe. It has over 5,000 people operating in over 60 countries. Its consulting focus and core competencies lie in the areas of tax consultation, accounting, auditing and legal advice.

The particular strength of Ecovis is the combination of personal advice at a local level with the general expertise of an international and interdisciplinary network of professionals. Every Ecovis office can rely on qualified specialists in the back offices as well as on the specific industrial or national know-how of all the Ecovis experts worldwide. This diversified expertise provides clients with effective support, especially in the fields of international transactions and investments ? from preparation in the client?s home country to support in the target country.

In its consulting work Ecovis concentrates mainly on mid-sized firms. Both nationally and internationally, its one-stop-shop concept ensures all-round support in legal, fiscal, managerial and administrative issues.

The name Ecovis, a combination of the terms economy and vision, expresses both its international character and its focus on the future and growth.

www.ecovis.com
Protect physical assets from cyber-attacks

Recent cyber-attacks have disabled and even shut down physical assets. Robust foundational security and training staff, able to recognise an attack can help mitigate the threat, as ABBs Rob Putman explains. Edge devices and data analytics As cyber security specialists, we must navigate an ever-changing threat landscape, one that is made even more complex by the increased interconnectivity between Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT), as companies look to leverage edge devices and data analytics, as well as remote connectivity, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the threat surface evolves, the industry must guard against attacks on key physical infrastructure, carried out by a range of malicious actors, including nation states and criminals intent on blackmail. The chemicals sector, a high-value target for cyber-criminals Cyber-criminals view the chemicals sector, as a high-value target, because of the potential cost In 2017, not long after a ransomware attack that targeted Maersk, the worlds largest shipping firm, made the news around the world. Another cyber-attack, this time targeting physical industrial assets, generated fewer headlines, and yet could have resulted in both real, as well as financial, damage. Cyber-criminals view the chemicals sector, as a high-value target, because of the potential cost, both financial and reputational, to the operator, should production be interrupted or stopped entirely. Cyber security vulnerabilities put physical assets at risk The attack in question, a Triton custom malware attack on a petro-chemical facility in Saudi Arabia, targeted a safety system, taking over system controllers. Bugs in the code triggered an emergency shutdown, but could have led to the release of toxic and explosive gases. It was a vivid reminder of how cyber security vulnerabilities are increasingly putting companies key physical assets at risk. Two more-recent high-profile incidents illustrate my point. In February, a Florida water treatment plant was hacked. The malicious actor remotely accessed the system for three to five minutes, during which time they opened various functions on the screen, including one that controls the amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the water. The hacker changed the NaOH from about 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million, which could have resulted in a mass poisoning event. Colonial Pipeline cyber-attack incident Then, in May, the Colonial Pipeline system that originates in Houston, Texas and carries gasoline, and jet fuel, suffered a ransomware attack. Using a VPN, hackers targeted back-office IT systems, forcing Colonial to shut down IT hosts and network infrastructure, severing communication with those OT systems that are responsible for communicating transactional data associated with fuel delivery. In this instance, a single compromised password disrupted Colonials ability to invoice its customers. This dependency on OT data stopped pipeline and business operations, and the company was elected to pay the hackers an initial ransom of US$ 4.4 million, in order to restore operations. The Colonial attack was multi-dimensional, in that it not only impacted Colonials business, but also the wider US economy and national security, since the pipeline transports nearly half of the east coast's fuel supplies. Outdated IT system elevates physical risk The increased interconnectivity between IT and OT can also create vulnerabilit Attacks such as these prove that, armed with little more than a laptop, an email account and access to the dark web, determined hackers can cause disproportionate damage to physical infrastructure. As mentioned at the outset, the increased interconnectivity between IT and OT can also create vulnerability. Producers often want to know: Is it risky to connect a production asset or their operational environment to the Cloud? My answer is, if you do so without having done any risk audits around people, processes and technology, or without enhancing and maintaining that environment, then yes, that is risky. For example, we often observe that the life cycle of a production asset far outlasts the IT systems that are used to run it. Take a cement kiln. Several generations of plant operators may have come and gone, but that asset may still run, using legacy software, such as Windows XP and why not? Need to replace aging distributed control systems Well, thats fine, if you are not concerned about having that asset compromised, and all that entails. A flat IT network, an aging distributed control system, and machines with legacy versions of Microsoft Windows, all these elements, which are still commonplace in many industries, make it much easier for attackers to find and infiltrate a company, without needing sophisticated tools. The age-old mantra of not interfering with a piece of equipment or software that appears to be working, often applies to the individual assets. For example that cement kiln that are still controlled by the same Windows XP-based control software. However, if were honest, things have changed quite a bit, not because something was broken, but because innovation came in. That same kiln control system is most likely connected to other systems, than when first commissioned and that opens it to exposure to threats that it was never designed for. The human element There is a misconception that IoT-connected devices can open companies to risk There is a misconception that IoT-connected devices can open companies to risk, but many recent, high-profile cyber-attacks have been conducted from a laptop, by hacking someones VPN, or are a simple phishing/malware attack. In all these cases, the human element is partly to blame. Take the Florida attack. The compromised computer at the water treatment facility was reportedly running an outdated Windows 7 operating system and staff all used the same password, in order to gain remote access via the Teamviewer app, which the hacker was then able to use. Physical and human assets, key to robust cyber security Discussion on the best way to mitigate the threat is often framed solely around specific technical solutions and ignores the fact that robust foundational cyber security is really driven by two very different, but equally important, types of capital: physical assets (e.g. production machinery), and human assets. The truth is that smart digital software and industry-renowned cyber security applications, while critical, are in many cases, only as good as the weakest human link in the chain. Industry would, therefore, do well to ask itself the following question: Do we have a security problem, or a complacency problem? At this juncture, it is important to point out that the majority of companies that ABB works with, are at least aware of the threat posed by cyber attackers, and the potential impact of an attack, on their revenues, reputation and bottom line. User error and human-generated exposures Making sure staff are aware of the threat and training them to respond properly, if they are targeted, is vital However, user error and human-generated exposures are where most of these attacks occur. Those human failures are mostly not due to malicious intent from employees, but to the lack of training of the employees on secure behavior. Making sure staff are aware of the threat and training them to respond properly, if they are targeted, is vital. However, there are also age demographics at play here. Much of the operations employee base is heading towards retirement and often, there is no plan or ability to backfill these people. Need to invest in new digital and automated technologies If you think you don't have enough people now, in order to stay on top of basic care and feeding of the OT environment, with regards to security, what is that going to be like in 20 years? For this reason, there must be a major industry reset, when it comes to its workforce. Companies must invest in new digital and automated technologies, not only to ensure that they stay ahead of the curve and mitigate risk, but also to attract the next generation of digitally literate talent. Robust cyber security is built on solid foundations When we talk about foundational cyber security, we mean fundamentals, such as patching, malware protection, high-fidelity system backups, an up-to-date anti-virus system, and other options, such as application allow-listing and asset inventory. These basic controls can help companies understand their system setup and the potential threats, identify vulnerabilities, and assess their risk exposure. The Pareto principle states that around 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes. In the context of cyber security, that means 80% of exposure to risk comes from 20% of the lack of security. If companies do the foundational things right, they can manage out a significant amount of this risk. Importance of maintaining and upgrading security controls However, having basic security controls, such as anti-virus software in place, is just the first step on that journey. Equally important is having someone within the organisation, with the requisite skill set, or the extra labour bandwidth, to operate, maintain and update those security controls, as they evolve. Educating, training and recruiting existing employees, and the next generation of talent, along with forging partnerships with trusted technology providers, will ensure that industry can leverage the latest digital technologies, in order to drive business value, and secure physical assets against cyber-attacks.
A color composite image of planetary nebula HuBi1 reveals a low-excitation inner shell, and high-excitation outer shell, effectively appearing to be inside out. (Image credit: Nature Astronomy (2018)/M. Guerrero et al.)

The nebula of a dying star has a "inside-out" appearance, scientists announced in a new study  and this may be our sun's ultimate fate.

Four years ago, astronomer Martin Guerrero from the Astrophysics Institute of Andalucia in Granada, Spain, discovered something puzzling: The shell-shaped remains of a stellar explosion  known as a planetary nebula  looked like it was inside out and seemingly born-again in a rare cosmic occurrence.

"I was at a telescope in La Palma, a beautiful island here in Spain, and I was repeatedly making images of planetary nebulas," Guerrero told Space.com. [Glowing Nebula Decorates Space in Hubble Image]

Planetary nebulas have rounded, shell-like shapes. An example is NGC 6818, also known as the Little Gem Nebula, seen in this image. (Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA)

When Guerrero first looked at the planetary nebula HuBi1, things seemed normal.

"I made the image in the high-ionization filter; I saw some structures, nothing very impressive," he said. But then things got surprising. "The image in the low-ionization stage was something completely crazy. So my first idea was that I'm sleepy and I used the wrong filter!"

Ionization occurs in all planetary nebulas; it's a phenomena by which the radiation of an energetic central star strips electrons off atoms in the clouds of dust and gas. "In almost all cases, atoms closer to the intense light source are likely to have more of their electrons stripped than do atoms further away," Bruce Balick, an astronomer at the University of Washington and a close collaborator on other projects with Guerrero, told Space.com in an email.

But HuBi1 showed unusual high ionization at the outside edge of the shell shape, and low ionization near the center.

After more scientists came on board to perform other tests, like stellar evolutionary modelling, Guerrero and his team put the pieces of the HuBi1 puzzle together.

And to explain, Guerrero used a fruit.

The Ring Nebula. (Image credit: AURA/STScI/NASA)

"Imagine the center of a star of a planetary nebula is something like an apple. So you have most of the apple is the flesh, and there is a very thin skin. Imagine that the star, this apple, is mostly carbon and oxygen," he said.

"This inner material is never going to get to the pressure and to the temperature where the carbon and oxygen are going to start fusing ... so this is very stable." [Ghost of a Dying Star Hints at Sun's Future]

Then, Guerrero discusses the skin of this astronomical apple.

"The skin is hydrogen and helium. In 80 to 90 percent of the cases, nothing is going to happen: The star at this stage is getting its energy from burning hydrogen on the surface of the star into helium. But, in about 10 or 15 percent of the cases, this helium layer is going to get to a critical mass.

"At this critical mass," Guerrero said, "the helium is going to start burning, it's going to produce carbon and oxygen atoms by fusing three or four helium atoms. The funny thing here is that because this happening on the surface of the star, this is a very explosive event. So, as soon as the helium starts producing carbon, the temperature and the pressure are going to increase and these tensions are going to explode into space."

It's this wave of carbon material, now ejected into space, that is shock-heating the atoms at the nebula's outer rim, giving it a born-again appearance, with fresh recombining atoms.

The middle of the apple doesn't realize the skin is coming apart, in Guerrero's example. And the team proposes that, in fact, the central star is fading rapidly: it's "optical brightness has declined continuously by 10 magnitudes in a period of 46 years," the study authors said. Balick called this "amazing!!"

The researchers determined that the star was once about 1.1 solar masses, and deduced that HuBi1 could be an example of what will happen when the sun dies, in 5 billion years.

The new work was published on Aug. 6 in the journal Nature Astronomy.

Long-term spectro-photometric evolution of IRAS 17514, the central star of HuBi1. This graph is derived from observations made from July 1996 to May 2017, and shows the star's rapidly diminishing brightness. (Image credit: Nature Astronomy (2018)/M. Guerrero et al.)

Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter @salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  It was a pretty good morning to be looking up.

Mars hung low over my shoulder, close and bright and fiery, as I stood on a causeway across the Banana River Sunday (Aug. 12) here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A slight breeze kept the mosquitoes away, and Perseid meteors popped up every now and again, carving brief and slender slivers of light into the predawn sky.

And then, at 3:31 a.m. EDT (0731 GMT), that dark sky lit up in a flash of brilliant orange as a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, one of the most powerful boosters flying today, lifted off the pad. [Launch Photos! NASA's Parker Solar Probe Blasts Off to Touch the Sun]

That flash was silent at first, like the view of a faraway nuclear blast. But about 30 seconds in, a wave of vibrations spawned by the rocket's massive engines washed over the causeway. Those vibrations drowned out the insect-like clicks of camera shutters and the frantic splashing of predator-evading Banana River fish in a monumental wall of noise.

The Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA's Parker Solar Probe carves a fiery trail into the predawn sky in this long-exposure photograph taken on Aug. 12, 2018. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA)

NASA's $1.5 billion Parker Solar Probe mission was on its way into the heavens, in a whole lot of style.

"I'm in awe," Thomas Zurbuchen, the head of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, told reporters shortly after the successful liftoff. "It was a really clean launch."

There was one slight hiccup, however: The mission team lost telemetry about 40 minutes into flight, right around the time when the Parker Solar Probe was scheduled to separate from its rocket ride and start flying solo. But the connection was quickly re-established, eliciting raucous cheers from the folks in launch control (and from those of us at the press site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, which is also here at Cape Canaveral).

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launches NASA's Parker Solar Probe on Aug. 12, 2018, from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA)

If all goes according to plan, the Parker Solar Probe will fly through the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, 24 times over the next seven years. The spacecraft will get within 3.83 million miles (6.16 million kilometers) of the solar surface, zooming through space at up to 430,000 mph (690,000 km/h) during these close flybys.

Both of those figures will shatter spaceflight records: No other spacecraft has ever gotten closer to the sun than 27 million miles (43 million km) or traveled faster than 165,000 mph (265,000 km/h).

The data gathered by the Parker Solar Probe during these close encounters should help scientists solve some long-standing solar mysteries, NASA officials have said  for example, why the corona is so much hotter than the solar surface, and how the particles that make up the solar wind are accelerated to their tremendous speeds. (These subatomic bits are moving between 900,000 mph and 1.8 million mph, or 1.45 million and 2.9 million km/h, by the time they reach Earth.)

Those data will start arriving in early November, when the probe makes its first solar close approach. (However, an orbit-sculpting flyby of Venus in late September should yield interesting information about the second planet from the sun.)

That moment can't come soon enough for the mission's namesake, pioneering astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who predicted the existence of the solar wind back in 1958.

The 91-year-old Parker  a professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago, and the first living person to have a NASA mission named after him  came down to Cape Canaveral for Sunday's launch. Zurbuchen spoke with Parker shortly after liftoff.

Parker was deeply moved by the launch but "immediately switched to the next step, which is, 'I can't wait for the data  when are the data coming in?'" Zurbuchen said with a laugh. "It's like, 'OK, I'll send them to you, Gene. The moment we learn something new, I'll send it to you.' But it's going to be a while."

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology compiled hundreds of satellite images collected between 1992 and 2011 to measure how the ground in California rises and falls during the wet and dry seasons. When the images are put together, the result is a dramatic animated graphic showing the land seeming to inhale and exhale water.

"What we see through the rising and falling of the ground surface is the elastic response of the land to regular changes in groundwater level," Bryan Riel, lead author and geophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a statement.

Riel and his colleagues compiled 18 years of publicly available radar data captured by the European Space Agency. They focused on the area between San Fernando, northwest of Los Angeles, down to Irvine, in Orange County. The aquifers in this area are heavily tapped throughout the year to meet the water demands of the millions of residents and abundant farms in the region. The graphic the researchers made reflects the annual fluctuation of high and low groundwater levels that correspond with California's wet and dry seasons. [Photos: Stunning Images of Earth from GOES016 Weather Satellite]

The researchers point out that the fluctuation appears less dramatic in more recent years as water- management authorities began focusing on replenishing the aquifers and avoiding depletion. The trend occurred after the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act that California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in 2014, which dictates that groundwater managers must avoid permanent ground lowering.

But subsidence, or ground lowering, has already occurred on a more permanent level in many parts of the area by several dozen feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and groundwater levels are likely to continue declining in the future.

The new results were published April 20 in the journal Water Resources Research.

Original article on Live Science.
Model of SpaceXs Crew Dragon Capsule

Mike Wall/Space.com

A model of SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft, as seen during a media day at the companys headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on Aug. 13, 2018. In the background is the first SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket first stage ever to successfully land during an orbital mission.

First Landed Falcon 9 First Stage

Mike Wall/Space.com

A closer look at the Falcon 9 first stage, which launched from (and landed at) Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in December 2015.

Falcon 9 First Stage Landing Legs, Engines

Mike Wall/Space.com

A look at the booster's engine nozzles and huge landing legs.

Looking Out

Mike Wall/Space.com

A look out at the Crew Dragon model from a room at SpaceX headquarters. The real (non-mockup) Crew Dragon is scheduled to debut with an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station in November 2018 and fly two crewmembers on a trial mission to the ISS in April 2019.

Inside the Model

Mike Wall/Space.com

Inside the mockup Crew Dragon.

Draco Thruster

Mike Wall/Space.com

As part of the media day, SpaceX displayed a variety of Dragon tech, including this Draco thruster used on a robotic Dragon cargo mission to the ISS.

SuperDraco Engine Chamber

Mike Wall/Space.com

A SuperDraco engine chamber, which SpaceX makes using 3D printers. SuperDraco engines power Crew Dragon's escape system, which is designed to get astronauts out of harms way during an emergency during launch or any other phase of the trip to orbit.

SpaceX Spacesuit

Mike Wall/Space.com

The spacesuit that Crew Dragon astronauts will wear.

Another Look

Mike Wall/Space.com

A view of the suit from the side.

Crew Dragon Seat Prototype

Mike Wall/Space.com

An early version of the Crew Dragon seat. The vehicle can accommodate seven passengers but will take a maximum of four NASA astronauts during contracted missions to and from the ISS.

Crew Dragon Simulator

Mike Wall/Space.com

The Crew Dragon simulator that astronauts train on, to get used to the real thing.
SpaceX personnel and NASA astronauts stand in front of the in-work Crew Dragon on Aug. 13, 2018. From left to right: SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell; astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who will fly the first crewed test mission of the capsule; astronauts Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover, who will fly the first operational Crew Dragon mission; former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, SpaceXs senior advisor for human spaceflight; and SpaceX director of crew mission management Benji Reed.

HAWTHORNE, Calif.  The first crewed flight of SpaceX's new astronaut taxi is less than a year away, and its participants can't wait to get off the ground.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is slated to fly veteran NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to and from the International Space Station (ISS) on a test mission in April 2019, provided that an uncrewed flight to the orbiting lab this November goes well.

If current schedules hold, Behnken and Hurley will become the first astronauts to launch from American soil since NASA's space shuttle fleet was grounded in 2011, leaving Russian Soyuz spacecraft as the only rides to and from orbit. (Like SpaceX, Boeing has been developing a spaceship under a NASA ISS-crew-transport contract. But Boeing is targeting mid-2019 for the first crewed test flight of its CST-100 Starliner capsule.) [Photos: Behind-the-Scenes Look at SpaceX's Crew Dragon Spaceship]

That milestone will mean a lot to Behnken. During a media event yesterday (Aug. 13) here at SpaceX headquarters, he stressed the importance of returning human spaceflight to the United States.

"For those of us who've launched on space shuttles, it was just something special for us to go through," said Behnken, who flew on two shuttle missions, both aboard the orbiter Endeavour, in 2008 and 2010. "It was special for our families to be able to see that, the schoolkids and folks that we try to bring our missions back to and inspire, or at least share our experiences with. It's a little bit different if they can do it in their own backyard, and I'm just really happy to be a part of that process."

The Crew Dragon capsule that will make the vehicles first crewed flight  currently scheduled for April 2019  under construction in a clean room at SpaceX headquarters. (Image credit: Mike Wall/Space.com)

Behnken and Hurley are former test pilots, as are the two NASA astronauts who will fly on the first operational, contracted Crew Dragon mission to the ISS, Mike Hopkins and Victor Glover. All four space flyers were present at yesterday's event, which was held in front of a SpaceX clean room containing the under-construction capsule that Behnken and Hurley will ride. SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell was also there, as were SpaceX Director of Crew Mission Management Benji Reed and former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, the company's senior adviser for human spaceflight.

Behnken, Hurley, Hopkins and Glover all described the opportunity to break in a brand-new spaceship as a dream come true.

"As we've all said, being able to fly a first flight of a vehicle as a test pilot is a once-in-a-generational type of opportunity," said Hurley, who also has two shuttle missions under his belt, including the final shuttle mission, the STS-135 flight of Atlantis in July 2011.

But, he added, "We are in it for the long haul. We're going to make these vehicles great for our friends back in the astronaut office that maybe haven't even gotten hired yet that are going to fly these vehicles someday. So, we take that job very seriously  to make this the best possible spaceship that we can make."

Flying the Crew Dragon will be very different from piloting the space shuttle or a fighter jet. The new spaceship has neither a joystick nor a yoke, just a set of controls arrayed on large touch screens.

And the astronauts won't have to tap those controls much, if all goes according to plan. Crew Dragon is designed to be autonomous, and the first backup layer resides at mission control on the ground, SpaceX representatives said during yesterday's event, which also included a tour of some capsule mock-ups and training gear.

Crew Dragon and Starlinerare designed to fly up to seven people, though both capsules will fly a maximum of four astronauts on their NASA-contracted missions. At the moment, there are six such flights on the books for each private spacecraft; these operational missions will begin after the crewed test flights and a subsequent certification process, NASA officials have said.

NASA unveiled the pioneering commercial-crew astronauts earlier this month. Eric Boe, Nicole Aunapu Mann and Chris Ferguson were selected for the first crewed test flight of Starliner, and Sunita Williams and Josh Cassada were chosen to fly that vehicle's initial operational mission to the ISS.

Oh, and about those target launch dates: They're not set in stone. The crewed-flight schedules for both SpaceX and Boeing have slipped multiple times over the years. Shotwell expressed confidence that Behnken and Hurley would indeed get off the ground in April 2019, but there are no guarantees in spaceflight.

"We are not going to fly until we're ready to fly these folks safely," she said yesterday. "So, first and foremost, safety is going to be our primary concern."

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Asset Marketing Services' 50th Anniversary Apollo 11 Robbins medallions, shown here in copper and silver-plated copper, were minted using engravings of the 1969 dies.

A memento flown by the astronauts on the first moon landing has been recreated for the first time in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the historic NASA mission.

Asset Marketing Services, working with the astronauts' families and Sunshine Mint, has restruck the Apollo 11 Robbins medallions using dies created from the 1969 originals. The new 50th anniversary-edition medallions are making their public sale debut on Tuesday (Aug. 14) at the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in Philadelphia. They will become more widely available beginning in September.

The Robbins medallions, called such for the company that minted them for the crew, were the one unique space-flown souvenir that was created for and only available to the astronauts. First minted for the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968, the medallions were struck for each of the subsequent Apollo missions and have continued to be produced for every U.S. human spaceflight since. [Makings of Moon Landing: 50 Years Ago, Apollo 11 Was One Year From 'Giant Leap']

The medallions, which were produced in silver and gold, feature a rendering of their respective mission patch on the front and are stamped with the flight dates on the back  for example, in the case of Apollo 11, the launch date, the date of the landing on the moon and the date the crew returned to Earth. The silver medals were available for purchase by the crew and other astronauts in NASA's corps at the time. The gold medallions were limited to the mission's crew only.

Packed among the crew's personal preference kits, the medallions often become gifts for family and friends after the mission was over.

For Apollo 11, the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts, minted three gold and 450 silver medallions. All but 10 of the silver medallions flew to the moon. (The 10 that didn't fly went missing from the crew's quarters before their launch; some of them resurfaced years later.)

As a point of interest, the Apollo 11 medallions featured the crew's intended design for their mission patch, showing an eagle approaching the surface of the moon with an olive branch in its beak. The insignia was altered before the mission to move the branch to the eagle's talons to avoid it looking too hostile, but remained as originally envisioned on the medallion.

In the decades since, the Apollo 11 Robbins medallions became prized and highly-sought after collectibles on the secondary, or collectibles, market. Examples of the silver medallions have sold in recent years between $35,000 and $50,000 each.

The dies used to mint the Apollo 11 Robbins medallions were at some point given to Neil Armstrong, the commander of the mission and the first human to step foot on the moon. Mark Armstrong, the late astronaut's son, recently provided the half-century-old dies to Asset Marketing Services for new dies to be engraved.

The new dies were modified to include additional inscriptions, "50th Anniversary" and "1969-2019," on the reverse of each new medallion. The modification ensures the new issues cannot be confused for the flown medallions.

Asset Marketing Services, through its brands ModernCoinMart and GovMint.com, will offer the 50th anniversary Apollo 11 Robbins medallions in several editions. [Should We Open Some Sealed Apollo Moon Samples?]

A flown Apollo 11 Robbins medallion from the collection of the late Apollo 11 moonwalker Neil Armstrong. (Image credit: CAG)

On Tuesday, sales began on copper and silver-plated copper editions at the World's Fair of Money. The open edition copper medallions retail for $19.95 each. The silver-plated edition, which mimic the look of the original Robbins medallions and are packaged with an embroidered Apollo 11 patch, are limited to 50,000 pieces and priced at $39.95.

Asset Marketing Services plans to introduce additional versions, including silver and gold medallions with a finish featuring Apollo-flown metal. All four editions will be available for purchase through the ModernCoinMart website in September.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the 50th anniversary Apollo 11 Robbins medallions will given to charities supported by the Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins' families.

"It was our goal to design the special symbolic commemorative that celebrates and gives back to the space community," said Bill Gale, Asset Marketing Services chief executive officer, in a statement. "The charitable donations from these commemorative medals are endorsed by the Apollo 11 astronauts' families."

In addition to the anniversary-edition medallions, the World's Fair of Money is also hosting an exhibit of items from the Armstrong Family Collection, as presented by the Collectibles Authentication Guaranty (CAG). The artifacts, which will be sold by Heritage Auctions beginning in November, include Armstrong's Apollo 11 flown gold Robbins medallion.

See the original die used to mint the Apollo 11 Robbins medallions at collectSPACE.com.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2018 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(ALEXANDRIA, Va) -- Attorneys for Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman who is on trial for financial crimes in federal district court Alexandria, Virginia, will not call additional witnesses to present a defense.



The defense rests, Manaforts lead attorney Kevin Downing said in court on Tuesday.



Government prosecutors from Special Counsel Robert Muellers office rested their case on Monday, so without a defense, the jury is expected to begin deliberations following closing arguments.



Legal experts told ABC News this strategy is common but risky.



This is very common after prosecution rests to file a motion saying they didnt meet the burden beyond a reasonable doubt, said former homeland security official and ABC New contributor John Cohen. Typically, this doesnt work.



This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.







Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
STAMFORD  An attorney for the embattled former city schools contractor says his client has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Al Barbarotta, CEO of Bridgeport-based AFB Construction Management, had been under local and federal investigation after a high-ranking Stamford official reported concerns of possible extortion in 2016.

The decisions to close the investigations were conveyed to me by both the Stamford States Attorneys Office and the U.S. Attorneys Office, attorney Robert Frost wrote in an email Tuesday to Hearst Connecticut Media.

Stamford States Attorney Richard Colangelo declined to comment.

The office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut John Durham did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

In August 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice subpoenaed the Stamford Board of Education for all records pertaining to its business with AFB, Barbarotta and Conveo Energy, a company in which Barbarotta is a partner, according to a copy of the document obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media.

The subpoena was connected to an FBI investigation into AFB dating from March 2016, when Stamford police began looking into a possible charge that the company used its position to win business with another city contractor.

Hearst Connecticut Media also reported that a similar subpoena was issued to the city of West Haven, where AFB also managed school buildings.

The Justice Department also issued a separate subpoena to the Town of Trumbull, where AFB managed schools until 2014.

Stamford police conducted their own probe after being alerted to a June 2015 email in which Barbarotta offered to help ConEd Solutions obtain state certificates needed for outfitting public buildings in exchange for a $10,000 monthly payment, according to an affidavit.

Barbarotta has been a friend of Gov. Dannel Malloy since the 1990s, when Malloy was mayor of Stamford and Barbarotta obtained his first contract with the city. Stamford ended its relationship with AFB in March 2017, when ABM Industries was hired to manage the citys school buildings.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
Youve probably thought about exercising more for years -- or at least every January. But how often have you considered becoming more mentally fit?

Im not just talking about doing a crossword puzzle to combat dementia. Im talking about becoming mentally strong. When you do, youll likely be better equipped to regulate your thoughts, manage your emotions and boost your productivity.

Here are 12 things mentally strong people do.

1. They practice gratitude.

Instead of focusing on their burdens or what they dont have, mentally strong people take stock of all the great things they do have. There are a whole host of ways to practice gratitude, but a simple way to start is to think of three things youre grateful for each day. You can also start a gratitude journal to jot down all the good things you experienced throughout the day or adopt gratitude rituals like giving thanks before a meal.

Related: Why Entrepreneurs Should Always Express Gratitude

2. They aren't afraid to say, "No."

Difficulty in saying no can lead to stress and burnout, and many mentally strong people know that and think critically before accepting every social invitation or helping colleagues out on projects. This way, they can make sure to complete their own work first and not overextend themselves.

Related: I Started Saying 'No' to These 6 Things. My Life and My Business Got a Lot Better.

3. They overcome their inner critic.

If you think youre a failure, you may be more likely to fail. It can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Use that idea to your advantage by believing youre going to succeed. This can be a challenge, but its possible if you pay attention to your thoughts. Dont ignore those negative thoughts -- acknowledge them, then do something positive to distract yourself.

Take a look at the evidence on both sides. By jotting down the good and the bad, youll notice that some of those negative thoughts are irrational. Find balance -- rather than beat yourself up, look at your flaws as ways to improve.

Related: If You Want to Be a Successful Entrepreneur, Get Comfortable With Your Vulnerability

4. They expose themselves to pain.

Muhammad Ali once reportedly said that he didn't count all of his sit-ups; he only started counting them when it hurt because those were the ones that counted.

Mentally strong people are often willing to endure pain as long as there's a purpose. They dont go through a challenging workout, for example, just to prove how tough they are -- they do it to build strength.

Related: The Best Way to Improve From Failure Is to Feel the Pain

5. They create their own definition of success.

When I started my first business, things were tough -- especially when it failed. It was especially difficult to see my neighbors purchasing new cars and high school friends posting pictures of their travels. For them, maybe that was the definition of success. But even though my business failed, I told myself I was still successful. I had an amazing wife and knew I could pick myself up. Today, Im a successful entrepreneur.

That's not to boast. My point is that the successful have their own definition of success. For example, I work with freelancers who dont make what some would consider a lot of money. But they see themselves as successful because theyre doing what they love with a flexible schedule.

Related: 6 Steps to Writing Your Own Definition of Success

6. They delay gratification.

Delaying gratification could be paramount to success. Thats why people with mental strength have the strength to think long-term and do just that. They know that results only take place after theyve put in the time and effort.

Related: A Eulogy for Delayed Gratification

7. They dont blame others.

Mentally strong people avoid blaming others for their mistakes or shortcomings. They take full responsibility for their actions. Doing so means they dont give power to others, remain stuck or become negative people.

8. They practice realistic optimism.

Mentally strong people tend to be optimistic, but they also understand that they cant be overly optimistic. As Dr. Mara Karpel explains, Its unproductive to believe that challenges will magically disappear or goals will be manifested without taking any action in the real world.

Mentally strong people practice realistic optimism instead. This means they take into account the challenges facing them and focus on what they can do to accept or overcome those realities. Many start with scheduling things ahead of when they need to be done so that they have wiggle room.

Related: You Can Reprogram Yourself to Be a Positive Person and You Should

9. They acknowledge their limitations.

Although the mentally strong push themselves, they also know when its time to throw in the proverbial towel. Theyre aware of their weaknesses, and they dont hesitate to ask for help when needed.

While some leaders are hesitant to show vulnerability, doing so enables them to learn more and become better than they were yesterday. Enhancing their skill set is more important than protecting their ego.

Related: 7 Startup Strategies to Gain From Your Limitations

10. They dont compare themselves to others.

Mentally strong people are intentional about how they spend their time and energy, and they know it's futile to use it worrying about what others are doing. Feelings like jealousy and resentment arent just exhausting -- theyre essentially pointless.

The mentally strong appreciate others and celebrate their accomplishments with them, and that optimism is often a win-win for everyone. According to a Harvard University study, a sense of optimism may be correlated with a reduced risk from dying of major causes, such as cardiovascular disease.

11. They don't run from fear.

Most people run away from their fears, but not the mentally strong. They not only seek them out but also, in a way, enjoy the fear as a method of getting out of their comfort zone. As a result, they often experience new things, meet new people and learn more about themselves.

There are also health benefits associated with some levels of fear, including keeping your brain vigilant and alert, balancing bodily functions like your immune system and motivating you to accomplish goals.

Related: The 7 Fears All Entrepreneurs Must Conquer

12. They respect, and even like, their competitors.

Mentally strong people arent afraid, intimidated by or jealous of their competitors. In fact, many respect and even like them, realizing that their competitors can be their greatest teachers. Mentally strong people know to pay attention to what the competition did right or wrong and use it to see what differentiates them -- as well as use it as inspiration for their own next move.

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates reportedly had a strained relationship. However, both men ultimately supported and respected each other, with Gates once saying, "Id give a lot to have Steves taste." Jobs admitted, "I admire him for the company he built -- its impressive -- and I enjoyed working with him. Hes bright and actually has a good sense of humor."

Becoming mentally strong doesn't happen overnight, but it's worth the journey. It can make you -- and your business -- resilient enough to withstand anything life throws at you.

Related:

12 Things Mentally Strong People Do That Nobody Else Does

29 Things You Should Accomplish Before You're 30

Train Yourself to Read Faster and Smarter for Less Than $20



Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
At 9:48 a.m. on Aug. 7, 2018, Elon Musk tweeted two sentences that landed him with an SEC probe, an internal board review and an incalculable amount of online speculation.

Am considering taking Tesla private at $420, he wrote. Funding secured. That price was at the time a 20 percent premium over the share price at the time. Musk planned for current shareholders to have the choice to remain as such -- if they preferred a buyout, theyd receive the approximate value he tweeted about.

Today, the Tesla CEO is attempting to set the record straight on any speculation with a new company blog post. He sheds more light on his actions over the past week, including more on the why, writing that going private could help Tesla better focus on the long term. Entrepreneur reached out to Tesla for comment and will update this story if the company responds. Analysts at several top investment banks declined to comment, likely due to the sensitive nature of the company in recent months.

Heres what you need to know about Musks latest announcement.

How likely is Tesla to go private?

In a letter to Tesla employees, Musk wrote: If the process ends the way I expect it will, a private Tesla would ultimately be an enormous opportunity for all of us. The key takeaway from this is that Musk does indeed expect Tesla to go private. But analysts at JPMorgan arent quite as sure, assigning a 50 percent probability to the potential move. Before Musks announcement, JPMorgan valued the companys shares at $195 each. The day after his tweet, analysts updated that valuation to $308 per share.

Who is the backer behind Musks funding secured claim?

Musk says the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund first approached him in early 2017 about taking Tesla private, a chief reason being they were interested in investing in more than just oil. According to Musks blog post, he met with fund representatives several times over the course of the next year -- including July 31, 2018, after the Saudi fund bought close to 5 percent of Tesla stock. As for the funding secured part of Musks tweet? Obviously, the Saudi sovereign fund has more than enough capital needed to execute on such a transaction, he wrote. But Musk also clarified that hes also in talks with other investors.

How much more debt could cash-strapped Tesla incur for the move?

Musk plans to leverage equity in the company rather than debt to fund Teslas potential move to private. I do not think it would be wise to burden Tesla with significantly increased debt, he wrote, disparaging reports that the move could cost the company more than $70 billion. He currently estimates that about two-thirds of all investor-owned shares would roll over into a private Tesla.

Whats next?

Musk says hell continue investor meetings to get a better idea of how many of Teslas current public shareholders would remain shareholders if the company goes private. The companys board is currently setting up a special committee to evaluate any final proposal, followed by regulatory approvals and -- one of the last steps -- a vote by Tesla shareholders.

Related:

Elon Musk revela su nuevo plan para privatizar Tesla

Elon Musk Reveals New Plan for Privatizing Tesla

Elon Musk esta jugando a la 'Gallina Ciega' con 72 mil millones de dolares?



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
A day doesn't go by that I don't think about how I could have done a better job of running my business, which until my partners and I sold it, was an American restaurant called Molly's Lone Star, located in the French town of La Rochelle.

Related: Want to Be More Like Amazon? Start By Making Your Startup More Data-Driven.

So, every time I walk into a restaurant, which is almost every day, I look at how other people are running their business. I look at how the waiters do their side work, how the traffic flow of clean and dirty dishes is organized, and I peer at the latest point-of-sale technology. I daydream about how much easier our work would have been, and how much more profitable we could have become.

Labor is by far the hardest thing to manage in a restaurant -- you constantly have to think about having enough people during rushes, scheduling time off for your full time staff, making sure your employees are presenting your restaurant in the right light, and making sure your best staff aren't poached by a competitor.

It may sound simple, but you can't really do all that effectively without a crystal ball -- or basic artificial intelligence (AI). How do we do on Sundays? How about Sundays at the end of a long weekend? Sundays during the summer versus the fall? If it's rainy but unseasonably warm?

Who's making good tips? Who has too many hours? Who can we find to fill in for a line cook who's about to go on vacation?

These are the kinds of issues for which there were no easy answers back in the late 1990s. You can keep the most accurate records possible, but at least where our management team was concerned, there were simply too many variables to hold in our minds at one time.

Related: 5 Reasons Machine Learning Is the Future of Marketing

AI wasn't available to us then -- and to the extent that it existed, it was too expensive. Massively, ridiculously, unapproachably expensive.

That was actually the case for most technology, especially specialized software. Today, though, a company our size could have easily afforded cloud software. And today, cloud software is becoming more sophisticated and easy to use than even the most expensive software of the past, all while remaining more accessible to small businesses like ours than ever before.

Probably the biggest stumbling block to implementing AI is the fear it seems to generate -- not only because it's the 50th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, which introduced the world to HAL 9000, the milky-voiced AI imbued with enough self-awareness to turn malevolent at the expense of its human users.

Serious academics like Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee have written about the lurking danger of "technological unemployment," and even people who should know better (I'm looking at you, Elon Musk) have warned about the looming robot apocalypse. The MIT economists write that "as digital technologies race ahead, they have the potential to leave many workers behind."

But, it turns out that quite the opposite is happening. AI is making many jobs more enjoyable and fulfilling -- especially the types of jobs Brynjolfsson and McAfee warned were most at risk. The evidence for this is mounting as we speak.

Related: Top 10 Best Chatbot Platform Tools to Build Chatbots for Your Business

AI is a job creator.

According to a recent study of the impact of automation in the U.K. by Deloitte, automation could create four times more jobs that it eliminates -- at a higher rate of pay, no less. "AI often means that employees can spend more time on complex tasks for which they are uniquely suited, like interacting with customers or brainstorming innovative new campaigns," notes VentureBeat in its report on the study.

"Automation will displace many jobs over the next 10 to 15 years, but many others will be created and even more will change," notes McKinsey in a recent story. The McKinsey Global Institute also recently estimated that between 20 million and 50 million jobs will be created by 2030 thanks to automation.

Jobs -- even restaurant jobs -- are also likely to become more interesting, as the more tedious and repetitive tasks are the ones most likely to be automated. That will leave people to perform the parts of those jobs that are more variegated and thus inherently more interesting.

Alexandra Guajardo, the morning shift leader at a Dunkin' Donuts shop in Corona, Calif., is more likely to stick with her employer longer now that it has automated parts of her job, she told the Wall Street Journal. "I don't have to constantly be worried about other smaller tasks that were tedious ... I can focus on other things that need my attention in the restaurant," she said.

Indeed, it turns out that most employees -- the very people economists and other prognosticators worry about -- are more than on board with AI; they're bullish on it. Asked to pick three from a list of eight potential impacts on their jobs, employees said AI will improve operational efficiencies (59 percent), enable faster decision-making (50 percent), significantly reduce cost (45 percent), enable better customer experiences (40 percent) and improve the employee experience (37 percent), according to a recent survey by HR advisory and research firm Future Workplace, and Oracle, my employer.

Ninety-three percent also said they would trust orders coming from a robot, probably because they're already used to taking orders from Siri and other home digital AI gizmos. As employees, "they see the potential of AI," notes Dan Schwabel, research director at Future Workplace.

Related: Artificial Intelligence Is Likely to Make a Career in Finance, Medicine or Law a Lot Less Lucrative

Love the one you're with.

To be sure, there is a cautionary note underlying the sanguine surveys from McKinsey and Deloitte: Some jobs will be automated out of existence, and people will have to "reskill." Depending on your perspective, the term "reskill" sounds like something either a bloodless technocrat or a timid human resources professional would say.

But, yucky jargon aside, anyone old enough to be reading this has seen this before. Remember secretarial pools, pink notes with phone messages written by the office receptionist while you were out to lunch and word processors -- not the machines; actual people whose job it was to turn executive scribbles into legible type?

No one misses those jobs, and those of us who worried about the job prospects for the people doing them were unfairly underestimating their ability to adapt. It turns out there were more satisfying, more highly paid jobs for those people to do.

One thing I'm certain of: If I ever open another restaurant, I'll make use of inexpensive AI and cloud technologies to help me make better decisions.

Related:

Artificial Intelligence Can Help Leaders Make Better Decisions Faster

Deep Learning and 'Hyper-Personalization' are the Future of Marketing Automation

Why I Wish Artificial Intelligence Was Around When I Started My Business



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
What are the arguments for and against the international institutions President Trump criticized in his trip to Europe in July and earlier? Forty-two scholars of international relations published a statement in the New York Times supporting the international order and the accompanying institutions formed under the leadership of the United States after 1945, as well as condemning Trump's recent attacks. As of Monday, 572 people had signed on. (Disclosure: We led the effort to both publish the statement in the Times and collect additional signatures.)

Some readers might think that this was simply liberal academics taking an opportunity to criticize the president. But these are people who have devoted their lives to researching, studying and analyzing how the globe works. Many disagree with one another quite profoundly about a variety of issues. And not every scholar in this discipline signed on; those who objected reveal significant debates among those who study these institutions.

Here's what most scholars agree on about postwar international institutions

Four broad points unite the scholars who signed the original statement or have joined our open letter - despite serious differences about how international institutions should be restructured.

1. The postwar order has produced unprecedented peace and prosperity, including the longest period in modern history without war between major powers.

What scholars call the "long peace" has been built in part on bipolarity, the competition between the United States and Soviet Union; nuclear weapons, the threat of which has deterred some aggression; and the spread of democracy. But none of these account for the post-World War II growth of economic interdependence and the resulting prosperity, which have also contributed to peace. Most research suggests that such international economic institutions as the European Union, the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund have contributed immensely to the success of this international order.

2. U.S. leadership is essential.

Peace and prosperity do not arise spontaneously. They require thoughtfully designed institutions, carefully exercised authority and, above all, a vision that inspires nations to cooperate for the common good. The United States has for decades been the keystone in the arches bridging its surrounding oceans.

3. Although the United States has paid a significant portion of the costs of this order, it has also benefited greatly from its rewards.

The institutions that Trump criticizes as unfair have, over the long run, generally served U.S. interests around the globe. True, U.S. allies in NATO have not contributed equally, either financially or militarily. But the United States has always commanded NATO and shaped its policies - first to deter the Soviet Union and later Russia, and since then in the Yugoslav civil war, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya and elsewhere.

Similarly, while the World Trade Organization has occasionally found the United States to be in violation of its rules, for the most part, the organization has consistently reflected U.S. interests. For instance, the WTO has liberalized manufacturing trade while largely sidestepping the domestically sensitive issue of agricultural subsidies.

4. President Donald Trump's actions risk undermining this favorable order.

The administration has called into question the U.S. commitment to NATO, threatened to pull the United States out of the WTO and NAFTA, and imposed tariffs on our partners under dubious national security rationales. In doing so, the president not only abdicates U.S. leadership of these international institution but also threatens the order built by his predecessors. Institutions are much easier to destroy than they are to create.

Some scholars argue with aspects of the liberal international order

But despite that broad agreement, some scholars have long been critical of the liberal international order. In brief, they argue that its peace and prosperity have rewarded countries in the North Atlantic while leaving out much of the world; that it has been less than fully liberal, with the United States sometimes backing authoritarians elsewhere around the globe; and that it has been less orderly than proponents claim and has exacerbated inequality within countries.

Academics who chose not to sign the statement appear to come from three schools of thought. Unilateralists or nationalists agree with Trump's America First policy and his attempt to use U.S. power to extract better deals from both allies and adversaries. Conversely, anti-globalists support a more managed approach to trade and investment flows and better social safety nets for displaced workers. Both of these positions believe that international institutions overly constrain the United States, albeit in different ways and affecting different constituencies. Their critiques imply that the most appropriate course is to dismantle the international order and replace it with one more aligned with contemporary U.S. interests.

Third, neo-realists have always been skeptical of international institutions, questioning the need for and benefits of U.S. leadership, and advocating instead restraint and the use of local client states to protect U.S. interests.

For instance, Stephen Walt wrote a piece recently that explains why he did not sign the statement. His reasoning reflects a long-standing split between security specialists and international political economists. Security specialists tend to emphasize the stability provided by nuclear deterrence; political economists often highlight the role of free trade and institutions in promoting cooperation.

When past scholars issued similar warnings, they predicted accurately

In 1930, 1,028 economists signed a famous letter of protest of the pending Smoot-Hawley Tariff. In 2002, 33 security scholars placed a statement in the New York Times against the Iraq War, followed by an open letter, signed by more than 850 experts. In neither case did academics sway the nation's political leaders against the policies they were set on pursuing.

We are not so naive as to believe our statement will have any greater effect on the present administration. But these past petitions suggest that experts knew in advance what consequences would probably follow from these policies. Smoot-Hawley led to a retaliatory spiral of tariffs that worsened the Great Depression. The Iraq War was begun under false pretenses, became one of the longest wars in U.S. history and ultimately failed to create a stable democracy in the Middle East, as its proponents envisioned.

Existing global arrangements can certainly be criticized and improved. And yet a large number of scholars have gone on record defending the institutions that are the pillars of the postwar order, criticizing Trump's attacks. The signatories are academics from many different, often opposing, points of view. They broadly agree that the United States is now following a misguided policy.

The president and Congress, the one body that might constrain the executive, may wish to consider these viewpoints informed by lifetimes of research and analysis.

- - -

Lake is Jerri-Ann and Gary E. Jacobs Professor of Social Sciences and distinguished professor of political science at the University of California at San Diego. Gourevitch is distinguished professor emeritus of political science at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, of which he is the founding dean, at the University of California at San Diego. For other commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by a group of political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage
The following editorial appears on Bloomberg Opinion:

The Trump administration's new sanctions against Russia, imposed last week in response to the poisoning in the U.K. of a former Russian spy and his daughter, are welcome. They are also confusing, contrasting as they do the words and behavior of President Donald Trump himself, who has repeatedly and publicly lavished praise on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

One hopes the real U.S. strategy is to stand strong against Russia's transgressions. But unless the president speaks up forcefully, no amount of punishment will deter Putin from his agenda.

The Trump administration has found many ways to stand up to Russia. It has built on Crimea-related sanctions begun by the Barack Obama administration, approved the sale of so-called lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine, struck Syrian military sites after Syrian President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons and expelled scores of Russian diplomats from the U.S. (also in response to the spy poisoning). The Justice Department recently indicted 13 Russians for cyberhacking. The administration also rightly opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would carry gas directly from Russia to Germany.

Equally important, many of the U.S. penalties imposed on Russia have been smartly targeted at members of Putin's inner circle, leading financial institutions and major industries; the International Monetary Fund says that Western sanctions in their entirety could shrink the Russian economy by 10 percent.

On the other hand, there has been some backsliding, which reflects the president's own apparent reservations. The administration has on several occasions dragged its feet on implementing sanctions passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress, which Trump called "flawed legislation."

Most seriously, on the issue of Russian election meddling, Trump has publicly sided with Putin against U.S. intelligence agencies. He has also denied that Russia is an American foe, and has called the news media "the real enemy of the people." He has lauded Russia's "cooperation" in Syria, which has consisted of propping up a murderous dictator, attacking U.S.-backed rebels and allowing Iran to set up a proxy force on Israel's border. He has consistently snubbed the U.S.'s most important European allies. And, most ominous, he still refuses to disclose what he and Putin discussed behind closed doors last month in Helsinki.

Little wonder that when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared recently before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, its chairman, Bob Corker of Tennessee, asked bluntly: "Why does he say these things?" It's a very good question, because Trump's rhetorical contradicting of U.S. policy has real consequences.

It undermines sanctions, for instance. While these measures have some direct effects, as in Iran, they work mainly by marking a state as a global pariah. So they have a strong effect only if they are accompanied by clear moral condemnation and an international effort to pressure the offending country to change its ways.

The Skripal sanctions in particular will inevitably need shoring up. Unless Russia proves it has abandoned its chemical and biological weapons programs within the next few months, the administration will need to follow through with additional punishments. Trump's job is to back up the sanctions with a clear message to Putin that the U.S. stands with Europe in its intolerance for murder attempts on foreign soil and Russia's broader aggressions. His administration cannot make that clear without his public support.
I t is time to impose tighter regulation on technology platforms that carry news and current affairs. When democracy and the rule of law are at risk, then the argument in favour of independent, regulatory oversight is compelling.

Politicians, regulators and even advertisers, who do so much to fund online content, are stepping up the pressure on both sides of the Atlantic in a so-called techlash.

Facebook, which suffered a 20% plunge in value in July after reporting slowing growth and a fall in user numbers in Europe in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, is the biggest target.

That is why Facebook has been running a big ad campaign, insisting fake news is not our friend and using trusted, established media outlets such as newspapers and posters to get out its message.

All the tech companies are vulnerable because they are finding it increasingly difficult to abdicate responsibility for the content they allow on their platforms.

Apple pulled five InfoWars podcasts, hosted by Right-wing US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, from iTunes last week because of concerns about hate speech, a move that prompted Facebook, YouTube and Spotify (but not Twitter) to take similar action.

The social media companies, in particular, are on the back foot as they face a double whammy of political pressure and investor concern. Shares in Twitter and Snap as well as Facebook have fallen in recent weeks because of slowing user growth.

The Commons digital, culture, media and sport select committees report into fake news and disinformation, published in July, laid down an important marker about the need for greater online regulation in the UK.

Damian Collins, the committee chair, was withering about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbergs refusal to testify about Cambridge Analyticas shocking misuse of data that could have undermined the integrity of the US Presidential election and the Brexit referendum.

Collins demanded that tech companies take greater responsibility for misleading and harmful content on their sites and provide greater transparency for users on the origin of content that has been presented to them. Importantly, that content could include misleading or harmful ads, especially political messaging. The committee also raised the possibility of an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into fake accounts.

It would be easy to dismiss the MPs report as well-meaning rhetoric but regulatory intervention is possible.

Sharon White, the chief executive of Ofcom, said last month that the tech companies need to be more accountable and the argument for independent regulatory oversight has never been stronger.

White suggested that social media companies must make greater efforts to protect consumers from harmful content and a regulator should have powers to enforce standards and to act if these are not met.

Advertisers have an important role to play because tech companies get most of their revenues from digital advertising, which is worth upwards of 10 billion a year in the UK.

There is still limited evidence of a swingback towards trusted, premium content but, following last years YouTube brand safety scandal, marketers have recognised that it is a mistake to depend on algorithms to buy online audience reach, without caring about the context of where an ad appears.

Advertisers also dont like the fact that Facebook, Google and others mark their own homework when it comes to setting standards for viewability  how long an ad is viewed  and sharing audience data.

Im fed up with it, its not right and we need to change it, WPPs Robin ONeill, arguably the most influential buyer of online advertising in London, told a recent conference, hosted by Newsworks, the trade body for the newspaper industry.

ONeill, who is UK managing director of digital trading for WPPs media-buying arm, Group M, warned the status quo suits tech platforms and discriminates against premium environments where users have a greater engagement with content.

He went on to cite new research that showed that an advertisement that appears on a newspaper website is 42% more cost-effective in terms of user engagement and brand awareness, compared with an online ad bought on the open market.

Advertisers anger combined with consumers distrust may be having some effect.

Investment bank Liberum Capital says it has heard from a leading, unnamed media agency that Facebooks UK ad revenues fell in June, which would be a big deal after years of uninterrupted, double-digit growth.
O nce again it looks like Parliament has been the target of a terror attack. The facts of what happened are still being established but we know this much: just after 7.30am this morning a man drove a car into the security barrier outside the St Stephens entrance to the Palace of Westminster, on the route leading to the House of Lords car park. Pedestrians and cyclists were injured but  thankfully and by sheer good fortune  none appear to be in a life-threatening condition. We wish them all a full recovery.

The police reacted immediately to the threat and the driver has been arrested. These brave officers put their lives at risk to protect the lives of others, something PC Keith Palmer did over a year ago at another entrance to Parliament and was killed as a result. We still honour his memory. What we dont know yet is what the attackers motives were, or whether he acted alone, and we should not rush to judgment until we do.

But one question that will inevitably loom is this: can we go on allowing traffic to flow freely around the Houses of Parliament? It is a shame we have to ask. For the home of our democracy has long been at the centre of our bustling capital and, unlike many other parliaments and congresses, it remains surrounded by some of the busiest roads. It is a place where thousands of people work, and tens of thousands visit. It is metaphorically open to the world, and its physical access has reflected that.

But over the years, and in response to previous terror attacks, that access has been restricted. When Airey Neave MP was murdered by the Irish National Liberation Army in 1979, while driving out of the car park, new gates and checks were introduced. After 9/11, bollards and barriers were erected along the streets. In 2004 a bomb-proof glass screen was placed across the front of the public gallery inside the chamber of the House of Commons. In the past year, the Carriage Gates where PC Palmer died have been made more secure.

Many of these changes have predictably been criticised in advance, either because of cost or disruption, with the claim that it is letting the terrorists win. But we quickly come to accept them and, far from the terrorists winning, the measures have allowed our Parliament to go on being open to the public. Now, for the second time in just over a year, Westminster has been targeted by someone using a car as a weapon. We should ask ourselves: what if the vehicle that drove into the barrier today, outside the main public entrance to our Houses of Parliament, had been a car-bomb? The death and damage would have been horrific. Many in the police and intelligence services have argued that we need at least to close one side of Parliament Square, and Abingdon Street along the side of Parliament, to traffic. Politicians have been understandably reluctant, again because of the cost, the disruption and the symbolism. Its time for a rethink. We keep our democracy open to the public by keeping the home of our democracy safe.

Honestly, Mr Corbyn?

Some may say this is the wrong day, because of the attack at Westminster, to discuss Jeremy Corbyns visit to the Tunisian graves of those terrorists who killed innocents more than 40 years ago. We dont agree because it raises basic questions not just about the past associations of the man who wants to be our Prime Minister but also about his present relationship with the truth. His claim that he was present when a wreath was laid to honour the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich Olympics murders but I dont think I was actually involved is demonstrably false. He was photographed holding the wreath.
W hat do the avenging tribes of the Markle family, the (sort of) aide who has released a recording made in the White House situation room to a US news network and Boris Johnson have in common? I refer you to Big Birds anthem in Sesame Street: Who is a bird who stands out in a crowd? Me! Wonderful me!

By harping on about being denied the chance to give a speech at the royal wedding  after selling staged paparazzi pictures  Thomas Markle wants to show us his wounds and blame the cold-blooded royals. A chorus of indignity about hurt, selfishness and sociopathy from the poisonous relatives provides the backing track.

Elsewhere in the sociopathy champions league Omarosa Manigault Newman, the reality TV star turned White House junior aide, ate her revenge hot after being fired for serious integrity breaches by the Presidents chief-of-staff. She has aired a recording of a conversation about her sacking made illicitly in the high-security briefing room.

Back home, Johnson has been keeping up the pressure for a bronze in the show-off Olympics, stockpiling off-message pronouncements, from his f*** business outburst to lavish praise for Donald Trumps abilities and now a wholly unnecessary storm about the burka, at a time when the last thing the Government needs is an uninvited culture war.

Anne McElvoy

These stories have different objectives and milieu. Collectively they demonstrate a shift in norms, in which individuals regard themselves as much more important than any institution or previous loyalty.

Markle initially aroused sympathy as a sad dad with a mini-series load of family and health problems feeding his public dejection. He might add that, like Americas founding fathers, he owes no respect to a royal family thousands of miles away. But the tone of his rants treats his daughters privacy and dignity as mere collateral damage in his revenge and even an addled dad must realise that he is adding a sour note to transatlantic memories of a cheerful wedding day and adding stress to his daughters marriage.

Remind me, if you will, that revenge is as old as the Old Testament  but humans do show extraordinary ingenuity in turning the knife in different ways. One impact of the immediate score-settling and the breakdown of rudimentary ideas of what information it is proper to share (and what isnt) has caught us all off guard: when in doubt, shout it out. A refreshing burst of whistleblowing and a decline in deference has turned fast into a culture in which denunciation is more ogled at than questioned.

Manigault Newmans leak from the situation room in Washington was a major threat to safety  and another sign that institutions which pride themselves on control now lag behind the pace of change in our mores.

True, its hard to keep a straight face at the President being out-Trumped by one of his own hires. Brought on board to add a veneer of TV glam to his poor relations with African Americans, she has appalled her former master by behaving exactly like he does. He has, in turn, regressed to his P T Barnum incarnation, tweeting: Wacky Omarosa, who got fired three times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time.

Ah well, Britain is not America. Not for us the sour slew of insults garnered to grab 15 minutes of heedless fame. Well, not so fast with the sage smugness. One insidious effect of the Brexit rows has been to raise the temperature of politics to a rolling boil while lowering the bar for self-awareness on both sides of the divide.

"The balance of individual advancement in politics and loyalty to your party is often unstable"

It is the perfect subject for those who want to vent their self-importance, secure in the knowledge that their team will cheer and their opponents boo, whatever the quality of their arguments. This is the mood that Johnson is milking in the burka row.

Until he fired off the verbal Gatling gun in his newspaper column, there was no obvious reason for the former Foreign Secretary to bring the matter up at all. It did not seem to perturb him much in office so why now  except to gather leadership votes as a Ukip-lite candidate?

Sound arguments can be made that the burka and the niqab conceal more than just the face. I would share Johnsons conclusion  face-covering is an unwelcome accretion that is by no means central to Muslim life in Britain. My conclusion is that a liberal society can discourage such attire but not forbid it  and Johnson has worked his way around to that view

Nevertheless, how and when sensitive subjects are raised does matter  the more so when you are a prospective leader. At least Jack Straw, after lighting on the subject in the early 2000s, then continued to explain his logic. Unless I am wrong about its importance to Johnson, this looks more likely to create a dog-whistle effect and shore up his support on the Right  before he heads off to the next useful topic.

The balance of individual advancement in politics and loyalty to your party is often unstable. We forget, because the Westland helicopters affair has lapsed into the Trivial Pursuit archive, how Michael Heseltines challenge to Mrs Thatcher aggrieved so many Tories in the mid-Eighties.

One of the most telling leaked memos from the Blair era was one in which he sought eye-catching initiatives with which I am personally associated. Politics is the trade of the star rather than the compliant corps de ballet. But a core sense of loyalty is the asset which, once lost, is hard to regain. In the ostentatious age of Wonderful Me, were mislaying it a bit too often.
 Are you the Trump of Birmingham ? That was one of the most common questions from the media during last years campaign to be Mayor of the West Midlands, just because Id left my role at John Lewis for politics. No, no, no, Id splutter, listing all the differences.

On both sides of the Atlantic, a number of individuals have crossed from business into politics. Some of them I dont mind being compared to  others Id rather not. Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City, is an example of someone who made a successful transition: he brought the vision, rigour and pragmatism of his business career to city hall.

Last week I joined him at a gathering of mayors from around the world. In the US, mayors are powerful figures who have transformed cities, from New York to San Francisco.

The challenges we face in the West Midlands are unique but we all shared one thing in common: we must get on and deliver. Otherwise, come election time you will be out.

Its no secret that regional economic imbalances have plagued the UK economy. A key role of metro mayors is to bridge the economic divides. With Brexit edging ever closer, it is important that mayors in the UK accelerate the reforms we were elected on.

Uncertainty has postponed investment decisions. In the West Midlands, were looking to the future  testing autonomous vehicles on roads and manufacturing electric cars. But we need frictionless trade for supply chains to work seamlessly, and to retain local talent and connectivity that ensures companies such as Jaguar Land Rover continue to invest here.

What will happen after the end of EU funding, which builds museums, funds skills training for young people, and supports small businesses, is unclear. So, mayors must work with government urgently to make sure that whatever comes next, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund continues to support this work.

If part of the reason people voted to leave the EU was that they felt that the institution was not acting in their interests, what better way to respond than to take back control in city-regions?

While negotiations rumble on in Westminster, my fellow mayors are setting out a positive vision for the future of their city-regions.

With a business-like approach, collaboration transcends traditional party politics. I have worked with Labour and Conservative mayors on practical things to help people in our city-regions; ensuring our residents have the skills to fit our new economies.
W hile welcome, the US State Department announcement that (almost meaningless) sanctions will be placed on Russia in relation to the Salisbury Novichok poisonings reveals the powerlessness of the UK [Russia hits back at draconian US sanctions after Salisbury nerve agent attack, August 9]. Despite calls for action from across the UK political spectrum and the expulsion of Russian diplomats, the Government has taken no sanctions action against Russia.

The Government has had to rely on the US Congress and the Trump administration to do its dirty work.

Politicians such as the Foreign Secretary, who point to this US action as standing firm with the UK, are kidding themselves. A 1991 US law requires the imposition of sanctions on any state that violates international law by using chemical weapons.

Furthermore, far from their traditional use as a tool of foreign policy, sanctions in Washington are increasingly a tool of domestic politics in the fractious relationship between Congress and the White House.

We still await a meaningful response from the Government to the poisoning and murder of its own citizens on its own soil by a foreign power.

Tom Keatinge

Royal United Services Institute

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Tom

As you note, there is nothing that states the UK should follow the US in piling up sanctions as a response to the Novichok attack on the Skripals. I suspect, moreover, that the US is responding with the latest sanctions for their own discreet reasons and purposes  there is an echo of the belligerence towards Iran and the EU countries trading with Iran.

After the initial round of expelling diplomats the UK now seems to be pursuing a forensic approach to the Salisbury poisoning episode, with the hope of naming the suspects and charging them, whatever the forlorn hope of bringing them to court. In this they are following the path of the Litvinenko affair from 2006. Before long we must know who the UK police and agencies think the perpetrators are and their provenance. It is all far from clear at the moment.

Reaching for the sanctions blunt instrument may be costly and counter-productive. Too often sanctions arent all they are cracked up to be for delivering short-term political advantage.

Robert Fox, Defence Editor

This country has to become better at negotiating with the EU

If the UK is serious about avoiding a no-deal Brexit, it will have to get better at negotiating with the EU.

So far, the UK appears to be negotiating much as it did as a member state: be clear on your intentions in the Council, and build alliances both in Brussels and with like-minded member states. But this is not a viable strategy for Brexit. For starters, British ministers should publicly acknowledge that the Commission works on behalf of member states, not against them.

Government will also need to work a lot harder to convey the wider benefits of a strong UK-EU relationship. Brexit should be framed as an opportunity for the EU to come up with bold ways to work with third countries, which build on but also advance existing arrangements. A fresh approach could just be the key to securing EU support for the Prime Ministers proposals.

Georgia Wright

Chatham House

Writers who speak for black children

It was encouraging to read that actress Lupita Nyongo intends to launch a book promoting the image of black children [My first book will tell all children they are valuable before its too late, August 6]. She is following a well-trodden path laid down by writers such as Rita Phillips Mitchell, whose prizewinning Hue Boy captures the anguish of a black boy worried about his height and other aspects of growing up. He longs to be reunited with his father.

Any parent whose child has recently started school will recognise the trials and tribulations of a little black girl whose attempts to make friends are so sensitively depicted in The Gotcha Smile. All power to these writers, and their laudable efforts to correct the distorted image of young black people transmitted through the social prism.

Nigel Wade

Keep bad art out of our beautiful parks

Perhaps you would be kind enough to print another photo of the London Mastaba taken at a different time of day, so that your readers can see that, far from it being a shining example of modern art, it is yet another piece of uninspired, repetitive and cheap-looking dross that is currently defacing the natural beauty of Hyde Park [Shining example of modern art, August 9].

It follows in the wake of the hollow metal rectangles and random pieces of plywood and scrap metal inflicted on our lovely open spaces in the past few years.

There is absolutely no need for these structures to be permitted, and I would appeal to the Parks committee to resist any further applications by such artists to have their works displayed in London parks.

Mark Williams

End poverty wages or we pay the price

Workers at the Ministry of Justice, Health Care America, and Kensington and Chelsea Town Halls are striking to demand an occupational sick pay scheme, parity of pay and conditions with directly employed staff, and the London Living Wage. It is hugely disappointing that in all three cases the employers have rejected United Voices of the Worlds repeated invitations to meet and negotiate a settlement to these disputes.
A merican activist Chelsea Manning will make her first public appearance in the UK when she is honoured by the Institute of Contemporary Arts in October.

The arts organisation and gallery will host Manning at the second Annual Friends of the ICA Dinner on October 1, which aims to pay tribute to a global figure who associates with both a historically significant mission and the work of the London-based institute.

Stefan Kalmar, director of the ICA, said: Honouring Chelsea Manning in todays media and political landscape will, I hope, show that the power of an individual can change the world through bravery, courage, determination and vision.

She will be honoured at an invite-only dinner at the Royal Institute, but will also take part in a public Q&A session beforehand, in which she will discuss how technology can be a tool to aid political transparency, but will also discuss Cambridge Analytica and how technology can be used to undermine democracy.

Manning will also discuss her role as an advocate for transgender and queer rights, and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Manning was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment after she released classified documents while working as a government intelligence analyst, revealing human rights abuses connected to the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I f youve trifled with the Tudors and dabbled with the Dark Ages, you may think you know your history.

A trip round London's museums will tell you otherwise  theres an awful lot more history out there than that.

The capitals museums are home to objects that date back not just hundreds, but thousands and even millions of years.

From tusks to toys, axes to dead sea creatures, these are the oldest objects in some of Londons most famous museums.

Egyptian paddle doll at V&A Museum of Childhood

(Courtesy of V&A Museum of Childhood) / Courtesy of V&A Museum of Childhood

How old? 3,318 years old

Believe it or not, an object that it over 3,000 years old is actually the youngest in this list. Apt, perhaps, that it was made for very young people. This paddle doll made from carved wood dates back to ancient Egypt (pharaohs.etc) and would have originally had more of a head with hair, and longer arms. You can still, however, make out the painted pattern on the clothing.

Sarcophagus of Seti I at Sir John Soanes Museum

Courtesy of Sir John Soane's Museum

How old? 3,380 years old

Getting a little older, and a little more gruesome, is this sarcophagus  an ancient Egyptian stone coffin  which held the body of pharaoh Seti I. Made of alabaster, it was also once filled with a bright blue pigment, which can still be seen in flecks around the inside. Sir John Soane, whose house has been turned into the museum, bought it at auction following the death of the Egyptologist who excavated it from Setis tomb.

Mammoth tusk at Museum of London

Courtesy of Museum of London

How old? 200,000 years old

Skip back a hundred thousand years of two and youll find this mammoth tusk  which was in turn found under Ilford in the nineteenth century. This jaw fragment was discovered by workers digging for clay for bricks in east London, and is now in the collection of the Museum of London. Mammoths in London? Yes indeed, but this one is thought to have come to a sticky end after drowning in a flash flood.

Olduvai stone chopping tool at British Museum

How old? 1.8 million years old

The British Museum has a staggering 8 million objects in its collection, and this one is probably the oldest. Found in a early human campsite in Tanzania, the Olduvai stone is an example of the very first form of technology. Basalt has been crafted to make a sharp edge, which could be used for slicing wood and meat. No, its not a computer, but chopping tools were pretty revolutionary two million years ago.

The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures 1 /15 The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Natural History Museum UNSPLASH/Daniel Rauber The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures V&A Museum Peter Kelleher The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Science Museum Plastiques Photography/Science Museum Group The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures British Museum British Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Imperial War Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Design Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Wellcome Collection PA Archive/PA Images The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Charles Dickens Museum Siobhan Doran The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures V&A Museum of Childhood PA Archive/PA Images The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Sir John Soane's Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Museum of London The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Horniman Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures National Maritime Museum Getty Images The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures London Transport Museum The museums you have to visit in London - In pictures Coming soon: East End Women's Museum

Paleolithic flint axe at Science Museum

How old? Between 3.3 million years old and 11,500 years old

The Bluewater shopping centre is famous for shopping, right? Not in archaeological circles. The chalky north Kent area around the retail arcadia is a veritable treasure trove for seriously old finds, including the Science Museums flint hand axe. It dates somewhere amid the fairly wide remit of the Palaeolitihic area, which is often defined as the age when humans first used tools.

Ellipsocephalus hoffi fossil at Horniman Museum

Courtesy of Horniman Museum

How old? Between 541 million and 485 million years old

If a million years seems unfathomable, how about a few hundred million? There were no humans around when these guys were around  this hunk of rock from the Horniman Museum shows fossilised trilobites. These prehistoric creatures  arthropods, to be specific  lived on, under and swimming above the sea bed back in the Cambrian period.

Vigarano meteorite at Natural History Museum

Courtesy of Natural History Museum, London

How old? 4,568 million years old
Review at a glance









L ocated in the heart of a new luxury development near Tower Bridge, superficially the Coal Shed is exactly what you would expect from a top-class steak restaurant, but theres soul behind the rich-wood, emerald marble and huge slabs of meat.

Menu

This is a steak restaurant for meat-lovers with big appetites. Yet surprisingly, its the pleasant smell of seafood that wafts from the kitchen when you first walk in.

This is the third restaurant from executive chef Dave Mothersill, who now splits his time between them all. The Coal Shed in London combines the best of his other two restaurants in Brighton  his original steak restaurant The Coal Shed, and fish restaurant The Salt Rooms.

The rare-breed steaks, signature Moroccan spiced-smoked Goat, and British seafood are all cooked over charcoal, in the closed barbeque Spanish oven known as the Josper Grill.

Mothersill says: Were trying to deliver uncomplicated food with a love of cooking stuff over fire.

The result is melt-in-your-mouth meat and fish, that really pushes the flavour of the star ingredient.

Meat-lovers paradise: The goat to share / Paul Winch-Furness

Atmosphere

Do not be misled by the title of Londons best sustainable restaurants, the design and atmosphere of The Coal Shed is city-slick. Split over two floors, those on the ground-floor get a window into the workings of the kitchen, while upstairs the backdrop is one of (reclaimed) leather belts showcasing wine bottles, illuminated by globe pendant lighting.

The service is friendly but professional and the tables are nicely spaced apart, so you can enjoy intimate conversations or laugh loudly while enjoying the buzz created by the kitchen, bar and other diners.

London's best sustainable restaurants 1 /10 London's best sustainable restaurants Native Cub Cub is the joint venture of cocktail legend Ryan Chetiyawardana and chef Douglas McMaster. The latter earned a reputation for sustainable dining at Brightons zero-waste restaurant Silo, which is moving to Hackney Wick later this month. As well as purchasing their food from renewable sources, Cubs interior is also made from reused materials. The tables are ingeniously crafted from recycled yoghurt pots, while the air inside the venue is filtered through the breathable clay used to construct the walls. The food is absolutely delicious too: fellow Silo alumni Michael Thompson is head chef, and serves dishes such as confit Jersey Royals with fermented potato, whey and mustard, as well as kid goat with spring greens and wild garlic. Caravan Spring Skye Gyngells Spring at Somerset House goes further than most organic and sustainable restaurants and offers a menu designed specifically around surplus produce. The pre-theater scratch menu is made from ingredients that would otherwise have been wasted, and at three courses for 25 its an affordable way to support a good cause. The daily changing menu is only revealed on the restaurants social media about an hour before it is available (only between 5.30pm and 6.30pm), but the sample dishes hint at the likes of braised lamb shank with polenta, spinach and fennel top salsa and a chocolate Swiss roll. Kanishka Bean & Wheat Roganic The Duke Of Cambridge Pub fans are spoiled for choice when it comes to boozers in Islington, but the Duke Of Cambridge offers something unique. The St Peters Street setting is Britains first certified organic pub, with its focus firmly on serving sustainable food. Absolutely all of the ingredients used in its kitchens are organic, and never imported via air freight or grown in heated greenhouses. In addition, any surplus food is collected and processed through an anaerobic digester, which turns the waste produce into energy. Dishes include chicken sourced from the organic Rhug Estate, served with escalivada and garlic cream, as well as a ricotta and ewes milk cheesecake. Gourmet Goat Melissa Thompson

Ethics and sustainability credentials

After sharing a starter of oysters and bream ceviche, followed by 900 grams of 60-day dry-aged Herefordshire steak and a trio of (divine) desserts, we left feeling extremely full.

I also felt more than a little guilty about how much I had consumed. This, clearly, is not a sustainable way to eat on a regular basis and bringing home a token slither of steak in a doggy bag for my partner did little to alleviate the guilt. Admittedly, two or three slithers would have been more favourable  and, Im sure, more gratefully received.

However, if youre going to have a treat then do so in a restaurant like this. The superior sourcing of the ingredients what gives this place its sustainable credentials.

The meat is sourced from farms that specialise in rare breeds. This means the beef is slower-grown and predominantly grass-fed, which leads to more depth to the flavour as well as being more humane.

Its about quality but its also about the future, says Mothersill.

In a similar vein, the wild fish is sustainably caught by day boats with wild monkfish and turbot from the Cornish and Sussex coast. The Rope grown mussels are from St Ives, the prawns from Ireland, the lobsters Native and the scallops hand-dived.

Good for: Meat & fish-lovers

Cost: 

Sustainability rating 3/5
T he capitals restaurant scene will get another cheesy addition this winter.

Londons favourite gooey pit stop the Cheese Bar plans to open a new restaurant later this year  with the help of the public.

Following the success of its first crowdfunding campaign for the Camden Market site, which raised 100,000 in just three days, founder Mathew Carver is launching another to help generate funds for the central London opening.

The project will launch on Monday August 20, with a goal of reaching 200,000.

The restaurant will be using Crowdcube, an equity crowdfunding platform, meaning anyone who invests will own part of the business and will be eligible to receive perks, including free meals.

The best mac and cheese spots in London 1 /3 The best mac and cheese spots in London Claw Carnaby Street's Claw has a mac and cheese loaded with Bermondsey raclette, Ogleshield cheese, and Salcombe crab and theres unlimited mac and cheese on Mondays throughout July for 15. Bob Bob Ricard Bob Bob Ricard is known for its luxurious touches and its mac and cheese is no different, it even comes with a lobster tail elegantly placed on top - just be prepared to spend a little more on this dish. Bob Bob Ricard Mac & Wild Mac & Wild offers an indulgent truffle mac and cheese as a side, as well as a Scottish take on the cheesy staple; a haggis mac and cheese.

The new restaurant and wine bar will be the second permanent home for the Cheese Bar.

Similar to the Camden branch, the menu will be made of up innovative cheesy plates, as well as the famous gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Guests can choose from small plates like the smoked mozzarella sticks with jam and truffle Baron Bigod or larger dishes including a blue cheese raclette with salt beef and leeks.

All produce will be British and will be sourced from Carvers favourite urban cheese markers, including La Latteria and Gringa Dairy.

The basement of the new venue will boast a candlelit wine bar with a 70 bottle wine list to complement the cheeses on offer.
D etectives investigating the murder of Nikolai Glushkov in London are trying to trace a van driver after the Russian businessman was found dead at his London home.

A Volkswagen van was spotted near the 68-year-olds home the day before he was found dead earlier this year, Scotland Yard said.

An inquest opening heard his cause of death was compression to the neck.

Nikolai Glushkov: the Russian was found 'strangled' at his London home / AP

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "The Volkswagen van was seen in and around Clarence Avenue between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on Sunday March 11.

"Detectives are keen to identify the van and driver, who they believe could have information that may help with their inquiries."

Mr Glushkov fled Russia after being accused of fraud during his time as deputy director of the Russian airline Aeroflot, and had lived in London for two years.

Appeal: Police are trying to trace the driver of this black van / Metropolitan Police

Last year, during a trial in absentia he was sentenced to eight years in a Russian prison, convicted of stealing 87 million from the airline.

He was due to attend the commercial court in London to defend himself on March 12 - the day his body was discovered.

Forensics investigators work at the home of Nikolai Glushkov earlier this year / REUTERS

Police, who launched a murder investigation four days after his death, say they have obtained a total of 286 witness statements and have seized 1,086 exhibits to date.

There is currently nothing to suggest any link to the attempted murders in Salisbury, or any evidence that he was poisoned, the force added.

No arrests have been made.
C ounter-terror police are investigating after a car ploughed into cyclists and pedestrians and crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament today.

Three people were injured before the driver of the silver Ford Fiesta then accelerated into barriers protecting Parliament shortly before 7.40am.

Two people were taken to hospital and one was treated at the scene. A man was discharged from St Thomas before midday, and a woman was still receiving treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Horrifying video footage shows the moment the car swerved hitting the group of cyclists at up to 50mph before ploughing into barriers outside Parliament.

Pictures on social media showed a man in a black puffer jacket being pulled out of the car at gunpoint and led away in handcuffs.

Police said a man in his late twenties had been arrested on suspicion of terror offences. No weapons were found in the vehicle, they added.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said the suspect was refusing to co-operate and is not thought to have given officers his name.

Police do not believe he was known to either MI5 or counter-terror officers, Mr Basu disclosed.

After footage emerged appearing to show police vehicles behind the Fiesta, Mr Basu said: There was not a police car in pursuit of the vehicle.

He added that no other suspects had been identified and there was no intelligence at this time of further danger to Londoners.

An injured man lies on the ground after a car ploughed into cyclists outside Parliament / BBC News

Witnesses said the car was travelling at up to 50mph and appeared to intentionally swerve towards Parliament and smash into a security checkpoint barrier near the St Stephens entrance, used by visitors.

A builder who saw the crash told the Evening Standard: There were 10 to 15 cyclists in their lane and he went through them. He kept driving on and smashed into the gates. There were about three or four cyclists left on the floor. There were people chasing after him and shouting for him to stop.

It all happened so quick. The police were there so quickly with their guns running up the road.

Barry Williams, who works for the BBC in Millbank, said two police officers dived out of the way as the car raced into the barriers.

Within minutes of the incident, police threw a terror cordon around Westminster, closing the Underground station and roads around Parliament Square. Armed officers stood guard outside the Tube and bomb squad experts and sniffer dogs were brought in to examine the crashed car.

Palace Gates, the main entrance to the House of Commons for traffic, was closed until further notice, as were entrances to the Lords and near St Stephens Gate. Officers in armoured vests were placed on sentry duty, while armed officers patrolled the estate.

A man is held by police after a car crashed into pedestrians outside Parliament / Sky News

MPs are away for the summer recess but any parliamentary staff were told to work from home unless they had already arrived at Westminster. Those inside the estate were able to move freely.

The incident comes 17 months after fanatic Khalid Masood, 52, mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before stabbing Pc Keith Palmer to death at the gates of Parliament. In total five people were killed and more than 50 injured.

In the wake of the attack on March 22 last year, a network of steel and concrete security barriers was reinforced around Parliament.

This morning a police spokesman said: At 7.37am, a silver Ford Fiesta collided with a number of cyclists and pedestrians, before crashing into barriers outside the Houses of Parliament. The driver of the car, a man in his late-20s, was arrested at the scene by armed officers. He has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in police custody.

There was nobody else in the vehicle, which remains at the scene and is being searched. No weapons have been recovered at this stage.

Forensics officers outside Parliament / AFP/Getty Images

The spokesman added: At this stage, we are treating this as a terrorist incident and the Mets Counter Terrorism Command is now leading the investigation.

Witnesses saw a woman cyclist lying flat on her back being treated by paramedics. Other cyclists were seen looking dazed and shocked amid bikes strewn across the road.

Parliament Crash - In pictures 1 /23 Parliament Crash - In pictures A Man detained (circled) by Police on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Sky News Forensic officerS attend the scene near the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Alex Lentati Police activity on Millbank, London after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Good Morning Britain Neil Basu Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism makes a statement paul grover Police recover the silver Ford Fiesta involved PA Sky News PA Good Morning Britain A forensic officer attends the scene near the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA BBC News BBC News PA Reuters Sky News PA PA Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police on Westminster Bridge, central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Armed police stand in the street after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster REUTERS Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police forensics officers work at the scene outside the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty Images Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside Parliament PA

One witness said: There were cyclists and bikes lying in the road with armed police rushing past shouting to get back. It was terrifying.

Geoffrey Woodman, a strategy consultant from Battersea, had stopped at the traffic lights by Parliament Square on his cycle to work when the car swerved into cyclists and towards the security barriers.

He said: I was getting off the bike and put my foot down, then there was a sound like tyres screeching. This car turned round to the left and swerved into the wrong lane of traffic and into the bank where all the cyclists wait.

He said most people managed to jump off their bikes to safety but one woman who seemed in some distress was clipped by the bonnet of the car as it passed. It went through everyone and turned round, continuing down the next 50 metres before turning into the lay-by where taxis pick up politicians, smashing into the barrier.

Moment man is led away by police after car smashes into Parliament in London

Mr Woodman said paramedics from a passing ambulance, captured on camera passing behind the car, stopped to help the cyclists and armed police arrived on the scene within 10 seconds. They reacted really quickly and the area felt pretty secure. Id say their response was outstanding, he added.

Eyewitness Ewalina Ochab said: I think it looked intentional: the car drove at speed and towards the barriers. I was walking on the other side of the road when I heard some noise and someone screamed.

It was driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement. She added that the vehicle did not appear to have a front registration plate when it crashed.

A man is led away from the scene by police / Sky News

Businessman Jason Williams, 45, from Kennington, was walking to work when he saw the incident. He said: He had driven it at speed  more than 40 mph. There was smoke coming out of the car. I was told basically to move away, to run. I have run for my life.

In response, Prime Minister Theresa May wrote on Twitter: My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response.

Mrs May was informed before 8am of the incident and made a series of phone calls to officials but is not expected to cut short her Swiss walking holiday.

The Cobra emergency committee was meeting in Whitehall today to discuss the incident and decide if further action is needed to protect the public.

Police at the scene of a suspected terror attack in Westminster on August 14 / REUTERS
P olice have revealed the movements of a car driven by a suspected terrorist who mowed down pedestrians and cyclists outside Parliament.

Three people were injured when a silver Ford Fiesta veered across a busy road shortly after 7.30am on Tuesday before crashing into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament.

Scotland Yard has revealed the vehicle, which has the registration number FL10 CWZ and is privately owned, was driven from Birmingham to London late on Monday night.

The suspect, a 29-year-old man, arrived in the London area just after midnight.

Police investigation: Forensics officers work near the car that crashed into security barriers outside Parliament / AP

The vehicle was in the Tottenham Court Road area from about 1.25am until 5.55am.

It was then driven around the Westminster and Whitehall area from around 6am and stayed in this area until the time of the incident.

A man and a woman were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and have now both been discharged, police said. Another man was also treated at the scene.

Parliament Crash - In pictures 1 /23 Parliament Crash - In pictures A Man detained (circled) by Police on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Sky News Forensic officerS attend the scene near the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Alex Lentati Police activity on Millbank, London after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Good Morning Britain Neil Basu Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism makes a statement paul grover Police recover the silver Ford Fiesta involved PA Sky News PA Good Morning Britain A forensic officer attends the scene near the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA BBC News BBC News PA Reuters Sky News PA PA Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police on Westminster Bridge, central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Armed police stand in the street after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster REUTERS Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police forensics officers work at the scene outside the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty Images Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside Parliament PA

Kirsty Moseley, of Brixton, south London, was a passenger in the first car behind the "wall" of up to 12 cyclists hit at what she estimated was 25mph.

"He went straight through them. People were thrown everywhere," the 31-year-old said.

"(He had) two hands on the steering wheel and he did not look back over his shoulder to look at the damage he'd created - he was just looking deadpan straight in front of him," she added.

Geoffrey Woodman, from Battersea, south-west London, had stopped at the traffic lights by Parliament Square on his cycle to work when the car swerved into cyclists and towards the security barriers.

"I was getting off the bike and put my foot down, then there was a sound like tyres screeching," he said.

"This car turned round to the left and swerved into the wrong lane of traffic and into the bank where all the cyclists wait."

Pedestrians injured in Houses of Parliament car crash

On Tuesday evening, counter terrorism officers are also carrying out searches at three addresses in the Midlands as part of an ongoing investigation.

These include two addresses in Birmingham and an address in Nottingham.

The driver of the car, who is a UK national, was arrested at the scene by armed officers on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.

Video shows car that smashed into Parliament

He was taken to a south London police station where he currently remains in police custody.

There have been no other arrests in connection with the investigation.

A Met Police spokeswoman said: Given that it appears to have been a deliberate act, the method used and the iconic location, it is being treated as a terrorist incident and the investigation is being led by officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command.

At this early stage, there is no intelligence of further danger to Londoners or the rest of the UK in connection with this incident.

Officers are appealing to anyone who may have seen the vehicle or the driver either in the Tottenham Court Road area in the early hours of this morning (14 August), or in the Westminster area from 6am today, to contact them on 0800 789 321.

Anyone with footage or images of the incident are also asked to send these to the investigation team via our website www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk
W itnesses have told of their panic and described hearing "screams" as a car travelling at "up to 50mph" ploughed into pedestrians outside Parliament.

Scotland Yard said the Met's Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation into the incident but that officers were keeping an "open mind".

Onlookers described seeing armed police swoop on the vehicle and a man, dressed in a black jacket, being led away from the scene with his arms behind his back.

Witnesses said they heard "screams" as the car drove "at speed" close to the railings outside Parliament and that smoke was coming from the vehicle's bonnet after the crash.

A man is led away from the scene after a car struck pedestrians outside Parliament / Sky News

Ewalina Ochab said: "The car drove at speed and towards the barriers."

Police stand in the street after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster / REUTERS

She said: "I was walking on the other side [of the road]. I heard some noise and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving very fast close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement."

Jason Williams told Sky News: I saw a man driving in a dark vehicle towards Houses of Parliament and hes gone into the bollard at high speed and it was about 40 to 50mph.

I didnt hear any shouting but then I saw smoke from the vehicle. He got out of the car, I dont know if he was asked. I heard a loud bang and Im seeing whats going on, but I couldnt hear.

Its very scary.

Mr Williams added: I think this is massive, this is huge.

Describing the police on the scene, Mr Williams said the specialist officers were acting very quickly.

Police said the crash happened at about 7.30am / Sky News

A bus driver who was driving towards the scene said he was told by police to go no further.

Victor, who did not offer his last name, told Sky News: I was just driving through the light. I saw the car crash into the barrier and a lot of smoke started coming out immediately. So I said were not moving anywhere.

The police told us to move back, they said they didnt know what was happening. I would not be able to say if it was a regular road traffic accident, but I dont think it looked like one.

MPs have also expressed their shock at the incident.

The Metropolitan Police said it is not believed anyone is seriously injured / PA

Labour MP David Lammy said: Awful news from Westminster. My thoughts are with all those injured. Thanks for a quick response from @metpoliceuk. Parliament security and the London Ambulance Service.

A Met Police spokesman said: "At 07.37am today, a car was in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament.

"The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene. A number of pedestrians have been injured.

"Officers remain at the scene. We will issue further info when we have it."

Officers later added: A number of pedestrians have been injured. We await an update on their condition, however officers do not believe that anyone is in a life-threatening condition.

Officers remain at the scene and cordons are in place to assist the investigation.
A second heatwave is on the way for parts of the UK, bringing an end to the recent period of muggy and damp weather.

London and the south east are expected to see temperatures rise to almost 30C at the end of the week, with plenty of spells of sunshine, forecasters have said.

Cloudy and grey skies will start to clear, moving north in the days leading up to Sunday, when the mercury is set to hit 29C.

The warm weather is expected to remain in the southern parts until the end of August, however elsewhere it will be cooler.

The Met Office said the UK as a whole is set for "changeable" weather over the coming days, with some heavy rain expected on Wednesday.

Weather forecast Wednesday 15 July

Showers are forecast over Northern Ireland, western Scotland the north west around Manchester and Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

Then the rains will sweep over Birmingham and Derby in the early hours, hitting London in the morning and Kent later in the day.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: "We're looking at temperatures to increase towards the weekend with some heat in the south east, while elsewhere it's simply temperatures that are typical for this time of year.

"We often find in late summer we get some cooler weather and then a return to the heat."

The pattern is due to a build up of high pressure from the west which pushes waves of hot and cold fronts over the UK.

Ms Maxey added: "The positioning of that will determine if we get the hot dry weather, or cooler air with clouds and rain."

Map showing the affected areas as tidal floods may hit this evening (August 14) / Met Office

Meanwhile, there are currently 24 yellow alerts for tidal flooding across the UK, with two in place on the Thames, spanning Thames Barrier to Teddington Weir, due to peaks in Astronomical Tides.
J eremy Corbyn called for former US President Ronald Reagan to cancel a disgraceful planned visit to a German Military Cemetery at Bitburg in 1985, on the grounds that it contained the graves of 49 Nazi SS officers.

The visit, which was organised in the spirit of reconciliation between the US and Germany, involved Reagan honouring the German dead from the Second World War with a wreath.

While there was no suggestion that Reagan would be anywhere near Stormtrooper graves, their very presence, Corbyn argued, would cause offence.

In an early-day motion on May 2, 1985, Corbyn  then a backbench MP  condemned the official engagement as an offence to the memories of Jews and so many others persecuted and murdered by the Nazis, and described it as insensitive and ill-advised.

He asked the Conservative government at the time to urge Reagan in the name of good relations between our countries and between all the allies in the war against Nazism to cancel that visit. The early-day motion stated: This House believes there can never be any reconciliation with fascism...

The motion was signed by a large number of Members. Reagan went ahead with the visit on May 5, 1985, but to acknowledge the outcry, particularly from Holocaust survivors, he went first to commemorate the 50,000 murdered at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, among them Anne Frank. Reagan laid wreaths at both sites  at Bitburg it was at the base of a memorial tower.

There are interesting echoes in this weeks revelation that Corbyn laid a wreath in a cemetery in Tunis which houses the graves of members of Black September, the Palestinian terrorist organisation responsible for the murder of 11 athletes and a West German police officer at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Corbyn argued that his visit was made in the spirit of peace and reconciliation. You cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence. The only way you pursue peace is a cycle of dialogue.

Play fare, cry C2s stranded liberals

First they killed the Sloane Ranger Express (the 22), now TfL threatens north London medias C2 bus, which wends from Parliament Hill through Camden to the BBC. Hands off the C2! shouts Alan Rusbridger. I leave Kentish Town for a holiday and this happens, wails Polly Curtis of the Huff Post. Ill be manning the barricades, enjoins BBC Politics Nick Eardley. Giles Coren called the C2 a marvellous descriptor of the socio-economic class of the people compelled to use it. This morning he added: It brings the liberals into London.

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The late VS Naipaul was once invited to Francis Ford Coppolas house. Against his own instincts, Naipaul arrived on the West Coast, the LRB relates. At the hacienda, Coppola informed him that the only other guest apart from family would be George Lucas. Naipaul was amazed. Georg Lukacs, the Hungarian philosopher? I thought he was dead?

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Sources close to the Israeli embassy are wondering whether Benjamin Netanyahus Twitter attack on Corbyn last night bore the hallmarks of ambassador Mark Regev. When Netanyahu was elected he persuaded Regev to stay on as official spokesman. Did he reprise his old role by helping compose the tweet?

Carr parks up for festival comedy

Global gathering: Jimmy Carr and Karoline Copping / Dave Benett/WireImage

Comedian Jimmy Carr took a break from his UK tour last night and headed to the cinema for the premiere of The Festival.

The film follows a group of hedonistic twentysomethings as they navigate a music festival.

Hugh Coles  who plays Rex  admits that he drew from life for his performance, having had a wild time at a trance event.

All the horrible things that happened in The Festival very much happened to me at Global Gathering, says Coles.

It was like the last days of Rome, it was mad. Welsh harpist Claire Jones and swimwear designer Kimberley Garner were among the guests at the event at Cineworld Leicester Square, as was Dermot OLeary.

The presenter will return to The X Factor as host for the next series and has recently released his latest fragrance with M&S, part of his grooming range with the high street staple. Turns out the smell of success is Earl Grey and Sandalwood.

SW1A

Andrea Jenkyns (below), Tory MP for Morley and Outwood, released another video saying she was standing up for Brexit last night. Sadly, she doesnt appear to sit down for Brexit: she has the lowest attendance record on the committee and has missed the last five evidence hearings on the Brexit select committee on which she sits. Writer Matthew Holehouse says Jenkyns quit as a PPS to spend more time on the committee. Luckily, her toddler son is nicknamed Brexit Clifford.

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John McTernan, a former adviser to Tony Blair, has been reported to Labours General Secretary for saying anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism on Twitter. A member took offence, replying: I wish to lodge a formal complaint. McTernan sighed, This, sadly, is todays Labour.

Confirmation of that Boris Johnson rumour from ex-BBC producer Jane Bradley: Hed always ruffle his hair right before the camera started rolling.

Jah to new vote, says Reggae Reggae Levi

Second chance: Levi Roots (Photo Samir Hussein/WireImage) / WireImage
J eremy Hunt today warned European leaders they face a strategic choice over Brexit that will affect the EUs future security and prosperity.

The Foreign Secretary launched a drive to sell Theresa Mays Chequers proposals as the only Brexit deal that would work in the EU and Britains mutual interests.

Arriving in Helsinki for talks, he said that Britains ability to play a full role in defending Europe from terror and Russian interference could be at stake.

His trip comes in the run-up to a summit in Salzburg where Britain hopes EU leaders will show they are not ruling out the Chequers plans, which have been criticised by the European Commission.

Government sources say there are signs leaders including French president Emmanuel Macron are grappling with the detail of the proposals behind the scenes, rather than simply dismissing them.
J eremy Corbyn has admitted he did lay a wreath near the graves of Palestinian terrorists linked to the murder of Israeli Olympic Athletes.

Mr Corbyn had previously said he did not think he laid a wreath, but admitted he was present at a 2014 memorial in the Palestinian Martyrs Cemetery in Tunisia.

The Labour Leader changed his remarks as he told Channel 4 News on Tuesday afternoon a different account.

He said: I witnessed many other people laying many wreaths.

"I laid one wreath along with many other people, as I have said, in memory of all those who died in the awful attack in 1985, which, as I keep repeating, was condemned by the whole world."

Mr Corbyn had recently come under fire for his attendance after photos published by the Daily Mail showed him holding a wreath at the cemetery where members of Black September, the terror group which massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, are buried.

When first reacting to the photos, he told Sky News: I was present when it was laid, I dont think I was actually involved in it.

Corbyn doesn't 'think' he laid wreath

"I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere."

The Israeli Prime Minister Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit out at Mr Corbyn on Twitter after photos were published.

He tweeted: The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone  left, right and everything in between.

The Standard had previously revealed that Mr Corbyn may of faced a parliamentary investigation for not declaring his controversial trip.

The Labour leaders office today refused to say who paid for his flights and accommodation during the trip to Tunisia in 2014.

It was not declared by Mr Corbyn in the annual Register of MPs Interests because, claimed his spokesman, the costs fell below the threshold for declarations, which was then 660.

A spokesperson for the Labour leader said: The cost of the trip did not meet the declaration threshold.
J eremy Corbyn may face a parliamentary investigation for not declaring his controversial trip where he attended a wreath-laying ceremony allegedly to honour Palestinian terrorists, the Standard can reveal.

The Labour leaders office today refused to say who paid for his flights and accommodation during the trip to Tunis in 2014.

It was not declared by Mr Corbyn in the annual Register of MPs Interests because, claimed his spokesman, the costs fell below the threshold for declarations, which was then 660.

The Standard has spoken to another parliamentarian who attended the same conference who says his trip was paid for by the Tunisian government. Muslim Tory peer Lord Sheikh made a full declaration.

Corbyn appears to hold his hands in prayer at the wreath ceremony / Palestinian Embassy Tunisia

Conservative Party deputy chairman James Cleverly said: If, as it seems, Mr Corbyn failed to declare this visit it should be looked into.

The latest twist adds new pressure on the Labour leader to explain why he attended a ceremony ceremony separate from the conference that critics believe was held to honour terrorists responsible for a massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Mr Corbyn was condemned by the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after it emerged he was present when a wreath was laid honouring a Palestinian suspected of involvement in the murders.

The Labour leader caused confusion by saying he had been present when a wreath was laid to those that were killed in Paris in 1992, but he did not think he was involved in laying it during a visit to the Martyrs Cemetery. Labour said he attended the event only to remember victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike on Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) offices in Tunis. A photograph unearthed by the Daily Mail clearly shows the left-winger holding a wreath.

Israeli secret service Mossad was accused of killing terrorists behind the Olympics attack, including Atef Bseiso, a PLO intelligence chief, who was killed in the French capital in 1992.

His trip has led to outrage from those within his own party, which has been engulfed in a row about anti-Semitism. Jewish MP Luciana Berger said Mr Corbyn being present is the same as being involved.

A spokesperson for the Labour leader said: The cost of the trip did not meet the declaration threshold. But this morning the leaders office could not confirm who had paid for it.

It has been suggested that Mr Corbyns trip may have been shorter than Lord Sheikhs, which may account for how it came under the reporting threshold. However a Labour source said: Unless he got the deal of the decade, it seems highly unlikely that a return flight to Tunisia and hotel accomodation and meals provided would have come under the threshold.
J eremy Corbyn has clashed with the Israeli prime minister as a row escalated over claims the Labour leader laid a wreath at the grave of a Palestinian terrorist.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Corbyn deserved "unequivocal condemnation", accusing him of laying a wreath on the grave of one of those behind the 1972 Munich terror attack.

The right-wing Likud leader also criticised the Labour leader for drawing parallels between Israeli actions against Palestinians and Nazi atrocities.

Mr Corbyn hit back in the Twitter spat, saying the accusations were "false" and blasting Mr Netanyahu's policies in Gaza.

Labour said he attended the event in Tunisia in 2014 only to remember victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike on Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) offices in Tunis.

Israeli secret service Mossad was accused of killing terrorists behind the Olympics attack, including Atef Bseiso, a PLO intelligence chief, who was killed in the French capital in 1992.

Jeremy Corbyn said he did not 'think' he was involved in laying the wreath / Getty Images

Writing on Twitter, Mr Netanyahu said: "The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone - left, right and everything in between."

Mr Corbyn was quick to deny the claims, saying: "What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children."

The Labour leader faced calls to quit on Monday over his controversial visit to the cemetery four years ago.

The row erupted after the Daily Mail published pictures of the Labour leader holding a wreath in the cemetery, which it said were taken in front of a plaque honouring the founder of Black September.

The Palestinian terrorist group killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Corbyn deserved 'unequivocal condemnation' / AP

Asked about the incident during a visit to Walsall on Monday, Mr Corbyn said: "A wreath was indeed laid by some of those who attended conference to those that were killed in Paris in 1992.

"I was present when it was laid. I don't think I was actually involved in it [laying it].

"I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere because we have to end it.

"You cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence. The only way you pursue peace is a cycle of dialogue."

Criticism came from the Conservatives and from within Mr Corbyn's own party.

Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger said: "Being 'present' is the same as being involved.

"When I attend a memorial, my presence alone, whether I lay a wreath or not, demonstrates my association & support.

"There can also never be a 'fitting memorial' for terrorists. Where is the apology?

The widows of the Israeli athletes said they were "extremely disturbed" by claims about the visit.

Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis said the row showed Mr Corbyn was "unfit for senior public office, never mind his position as the official Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition".

Writing in Tuesday's Daily Mail, Mr Lewis said that "decent" Labour members should be questioning whether Mr Corbyn should continue to lead "a party that has long fought to promote anti-racism and social justice".

Mr Lewis added: "At such a crucial time for Britain's future, this cannot continue. I feel only foreboding."

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: "Jeremy did not lay any wreath at the graves of those alleged to have been linked to the Black September organisation or the 1972 Munich killings.

"He of course condemns that terrible attack, as he does the 1985 bombing."

Mr Corbyn said last year he had spoken at the conference and "I laid a wreath to all those that had died in the air attack that took place on Tunis, on the headquarters of the Palestinian organisations there".

Writing in the Morning Star at the time of the visit, Mr Corbyn said wreaths had been laid not only at the memorial, but also "on the graves of others killed by Mossad agents in Paris in 1991".

The pictures emerged amid continuing controversy over Labour's refusal to adopt in full an international definition of anti-Semitism, including a list of examples of anti-Semitic behaviour.

Labour launched a consultation with Jewish groups over the code, after protests that the version agreed by the party's ruling National Executive Committee omits four examples relating to criticism of the state of Israel.
P ictures have emerged of Jeremy Corbyn with a wreath and holding his hands out in prayer near the graves of Palestinian terrorists linked to the Munich Olympics massacre.

The Labour leader has clashed with the Israeli Prime Minister over the photographs, which were taken at a Palestinian martyrs cemetery in Tunisia in 2014.

Mr Corbyn has admitted he was present when a wreath was laid but said it was for some of those killed in Paris in 1992. He added: I dont think I was actually involved in it.

The photos show him at the cemetery where members of Black September, the terror group which massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, are buried.

The Labour leader has been criticised by Israel's Prime Minister / Palestinian Embassy Tunisia

Labour said he attended the event only to remember victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike on Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) offices in the Tunisian capital.

But Mr Corbyns remarks, his first since the Daily Mail published the pictures on Saturday, suggest that another wreath-laying took place related to attacks in Paris in 1992.

Corbyn doesn't 'think' he laid wreath

Israeli secret service Mossad was accused of killing terrorists behind the Olympics attack, including Atef Bseiso, a PLO intelligence chief, who was killed in the French capital.

Israels right wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu has said Mr Corbyn deserves unequivocal condemnation after the emergence of the pictures.

Writing on Twitter, he said: "The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorist who perpetrated the Munich massacre and his comparison of Israel to the Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone - left, right and everything in between."

Benjamin Netanyahu said Mr Corbyn deserved 'absolute condemnation' / AP

Mr Corbyn was quick to deny the claims, saying: "What deserves unequivocal condemnation is the killing of over 160 Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces since March, including dozens of children."

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: "Jeremy did not lay any wreath at the graves of those alleged to have been linked to the Black September organisation or the 1972 Munich killings.

"He of course condemns that terrible attack, as he does the 1985 bombing."

Asked about the incident during a visit to Walsall on Monday, Mr Corbyn said: "A wreath was indeed laid by some of those who attended conference to those that were killed in Paris in 1992.

"I was present when it was laid. I don't think I was actually involved in it (laying it).

"I was there because I wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere because we have to end it.
A familiar sight that is usually only seen in womens toilets could be coming to mens loos.

Sanitary bins, that are traditionally only seen in female public toilets, are set to be introduced into male bathrooms to try and cut down on fatbergs in Londons sewers.

It is hoped the new bins could help to reduce the number of wet wipes that are flushed down mens toilets.

The Greater London Assemblys environmental committee is calling for sanitary bins to become a regular feature in male toilets.

Caroline Russell, of the Green Party and chair of the LGA environment committee, said there needs to be more awareness raised about the issue of blockages from bathrooms.

She said: Public awareness around single-use plastics, in terms of disposable water bottles and coffee cups, is high. But what about other daily products  wet wipes, nappies and period products?

We urgently need to educate people not to flush these items down the toilet, and take some practical steps to help the situation.
T heresa May today revealed that police and security services are currently running 676 investigations into suspected terrorism.

The Prime Minster described this mornings apparent attack on Parliament as an appalling incident and urged the public to come together and carry on as normal.

In a statement released by her office she said: The twisted aim of the extremists is to use violence and terror to divide us. They will never succeed.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid was rushing back from holiday this evening, interrupting a break with his wife and children in order to oversee the response to the incident. The Javids only flew out this morning.

A Ford Fiesta ploughed into cyclists on Westminster Bridge / Alex Lentati

Downing Street said the number of live counter-terror investigations had increased this year from a level of over 500 in March.

The security forces had foiled 13 plots by Islamic extremists since March 2017, plus four by by far-right groups

Parliament Crash - In pictures 1 /23 Parliament Crash - In pictures A Man detained (circled) by Police on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Sky News Forensic officerS attend the scene near the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Alex Lentati Police activity on Millbank, London after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament Good Morning Britain Neil Basu Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism makes a statement paul grover Police recover the silver Ford Fiesta involved PA Sky News PA Good Morning Britain A forensic officer attends the scene near the Houses of Parliament, Westminster in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA BBC News BBC News PA Reuters Sky News PA PA Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police on Westminster Bridge, central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Armed police stand in the street after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster REUTERS Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police activity on Millbank, in central London, after a car crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Police forensics officers work at the scene outside the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty Images Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside Parliament PA

Mrs May is on holiday in Switzerland but being kept informed. Her full statement read: Todays suspected attack outside of the Houses of Parliament is shocking.

For the second time in as many years the home of our democracy, which is a potent symbol of our precious values of tolerance and freedom, has witnessed terrible scenes just yards from its door.

Moment man is led away by police after car smashes into Parliament in London

My thoughts are with the innocent members of the public who were hurt in this appalling incident. I wish them a speedy recovery and we must be thankful that nobody suffered life-threatening injuries.

I also wish to praise the formidable courage of our emergency services, who were on the scene immediately and in significant numbers.

Once again, they did not flinch and ran towards a dangerous situation in order to protect the public. The country is hugely grateful for their calmness and professionalism.

The threat to the United Kingdom from terrorism remains severe. I would urge the public to remain vigilant - but also to come together and carry on as normal, just as they did after the sickening attacks in Manchester and London last year.
V irgin Atlantic has been offering welcome carts filled with food and drink for travellers experiencing long delays at Heathrow.

The airline is handing out water, crisps, biscuits and confectionery to travellers in the arrivals halls at Terminal 3 amid two-hour queues at passport control.

It has called for urgent action after complaining of international visitors to the UK being greeted with lengthy waiting times to clear immigration.

With 23 international arrivals per day into London Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic set up a Greet and Treat trolley service to provide a better first impression of Britain.

One woman takes a snack from the Virgin Atlantic Greet and Treat trolley at Heathrow / Virgin Atlantic

This summer significant queues at Border Control mean that thousands of visitors have faced two-hour queues to get their passports checked, leaving them frustrated before theyve even started their trip, chief executive Craig Kreeger said.

At Virgin Atlantic, were doing our bit to try and help our international customers  providing extra staff, as well as drinks and snacks for the queue  but only the Border Force can resolve these unacceptable queue times and they must take action.

He added that the UK needs to show the world it is open for business with a great first impression upon arrival.

Around 76 per cent of tourists travel to the UK via air and account for 87 per cent of tourist spending, according to Visit Britain.

The longest time non-EEA passengers spent queueing was two hours and 36 minutes on July 6.

Virgin is the latest company to complain of lengthy queues at Heathrow / Virgin Atlantic

Virgin has joined British Airways in criticising the lengthy waiting times, with BA chief executive Alex Cruz saying it was becoming the norm.

Following Virgins complaint about the long delays, Twickenham MP Vince Cable tweeted: Warnings from @VirginAtlantic about long delays at @HeathrowAirport.

Three hour waits. Is this Global Britain in action? Or Take Back Control keeping foreigners out? Probably incompetence.

A Home Office spokesperson said it is deploying 200 extra staff to Heathrows Border Force team as it recognises passengers frustration.

"The vast majority of people who arrive at Heathrow get through the border within our service standards, they added.
A ship carrying 141 migrants rescued at sea has been refused permission to dock in Italy, with the country's transport minister suggesting the vessel head to the UK.

Danilo Toninelli said "the United Kingdom should assume its responsibility to safeguard the castaways."

MV Aquarius has been 'stuck' at sea since Friday after it rescued migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean on wooden boats.

The Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre informed the ship that it would not "provide a place of safety and instructed Aquarius request a place of safety from another Rescue Coordination Centre," according to Doctors Without Borders.

On Monday, both Malta and Italy denied the ship permission to disembark.

The vessel is carrying 141 migrants rescued from wooden boats / EPA

Italian transport minister Danilo Toninelli said that as the ship is flying under a Gibraltar flag, the UK should take them in: "The boat is now in Maltese waters and has a Gibraltar flag.

"At this point, the United Kingdom should take responsibility for the safeguarding of the shipwrecked."

Italy has refused to take in ships, requesting that migrants be taken to Libya.

Aquarius is run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders.

According to Doctors Without Borders, the vast majority of those onboard originate from Eritrea and Somalia while there are also people onboard from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Morocco and Ghana.

Migrants are seen resting on board MV Aquarius / REUTERS

It comes just a day after Libya's coast guard confirmed that it had rescued 60 Europe-bound migrants including women and children, off the Mediterranean coast.

Spokesman Ayob Gassim says the migrants, including 19 women and four children, were rescued after their rubber boat ran into trouble on Monday off the coast of the western town of Zawiya.

Libya has become a major transit point to Europe for those fleeing poverty and civil war elsewhere in Africa.
U p to 80 cars were set on fire by "youths" during a night of mayhem across Sweden.

Fires were reported in the cities of Malmo, Gothenburg and Helsingborg on Monday evening as chaos descended across the country.

Video footage showed dozens of cars ablaze while there were also reports that stones were thrown at officers trying to intervene.

Police said, in total, around 80 cars were set on fire across the region.

According to Swedish police, young people were behind the rampage and an investigation has been launched into whether the various fires across the country were linked.

The fires happened on Monday night across the region / Zagros Hama

Local reports suggested that Gothenburg police and fire services were alerted to the first fire at about 9pm local time.

Following this, several calls are said to have come in from areas including Trollhattan, Lysekil and Falkenberg some 100 kilometres away.

Johan Eklund, emergency control room officer in the greater Gothenburg area, told Swedish news agency TT: We have been to around 20 places in Gothenburg. Its mainly vehicles that have burned  cars, some trucks, caravans.

A police spokesperson also told TT : "We know from experience that these kinds of fires more often happen the week before schools start than other weeks.

Swedish media reported that groups of up to ten youths had been seen throwing stones and lighting cars on fire in Gothenburg districts Gardsten, Hjallbo and Frolunda.

Up to 80 cars are said to have been set on fire across the region / Zagros Hama

There were also reports of young people setting cars on fire in Hjallbo and Malmo.

Swedish police said no injuries were reported from the night of destruction, according to the Daily Mail.

"While most fires started within a short period of time, it can not be excluded that there is a connection between the fires, the case will be investigated," police said.
U S President Donald Trump failed to mention John McCain, who is seriously ill with brain cancer, at the signing of a bill named after him.

President Trump signed a $716bn defence bill, which was named after Republican war veteran Mr McCain, on Monday.

The bill, called the John S McCain National Defence Authorisation Act, will authorise military spending at the US armys Fort Drum base in upstate New York, boosting military pay by 2.6 per cent.

As well as this, Mr Trump said the bill will introduce thousands of new recruits to active duty, replace ageing tanks, planes, ships and helicopters.

Mr Trump said: Hopefully well be so strong well never have to use it. But if we ever did, nobody has a chance.

Mr Trump at the signing of the bill / BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

When signing for the new bill, Mr Trump failed to acknowledge or say Mr McCains name  even when saying the name of the bill.

This prompted outrage on social media towards Mr Trump.

Howard Fineman, an NBC anchor, said it was almost beyond comprehension.

He tweeted: I was in Hanoi with @SenJohnMcCain in 2000; saw where he was shot down and the prison in which he nearly died. Now hes bravely facing death again. Its almost beyond comprension that @realDonaldTrump could be so petty. Almost, but not.

Another reporter, Felicia Sonmez also tweeted her shock at Mr Trump.

The Washington Post reporter wrote: Wow. At event to sign the John S. McCain National Defence Authorization Act, President Trump makes no mention of John McCain.

Mr McCain, who is seriously ill and suffering from brain cancer, simply tweeted he was proud of the bill.

He wrote: I'm proud the NDAA is now law & humbled Congress chose to designate it in my name. As Chairman of the Armed Services Cmte, I've found high purpose in service of a cause greater than selfthe cause of our troops who defend America & all that she stands for.

Mr Trump and Mr McCain have previously spoken out about one another before.
R epresentatives of Donald Trump have launched legal action against former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault Neman.

The US president's campaign has filed a claim in New York claiming that the former aide's new book and media tour breaches a 2016 confidentiality agreement.

Ms Manigualt Newman, who accused Mr Trump of using racial slurs in her new book, has acknowledged signing a confidentiality agreement with the campaign in 2016.

She claims that when she left the White House she was offered 11,747.25 ($15,000) a month to serve in a "senior position" on Trump's 2020 re-election campaign in return for her silence.

No love lost: Omarosa Manigault Newman and Donald Trump / AFP/Getty Images

Mr Trump lashed out at the former Apprentice star on Twitter.

Mr Trump wrote: "Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will.

"She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart. I would rarely see her but heard... really bad things."

Omarosa Manigault Newman was the former White House aide to President Donald Trump. / EPA

In her book, Ms Manigault Newman said she had heard an auto tape of him using racial slurs while they worked on the Apprentice.

The president insisted: "I don't have that word in my vocabulary, and never have."

He said Ms Manigault Newman had called him "a true Champion of Civil Rights" - until she was sacked.

Responding to his tweets on NBC, Ms Manigault Newman said: "I think it's sad that with all the things that's going on in the country that he would take time out to insult me and to insult my intelligence."

First lady Melania Trump, meanwhile, is disappointed that Ms Manigault Newman "is lashing out and retaliating in such a self-serving way, especially after all the opportunities given to her by the president", according to White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.
A t least 35 people have been confirmed dead after a major road bridge collapsed during a violent storm in the northern Italian city of Genoa.

Italian authorities say there were around 10 cars on the bridge when it collapsed at around 11.30am local time (9.30am UK time).

Vehicles plummeted 300ft into a river and grassland when the Morandi Bridge came crashing down over an industrial part of the city.

A major rescue mission was under way after the bridge crumbled on Tuesday morning as firefighters, ambulance and police rushed to the scene.

Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures 1 /40 Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures A green lorry stopped just short of the point of collapse on the bridge Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA Firefighters work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa AP A general view of the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the port city of Genoa, Ital REUTERS Rescuer workers continued to search for possible survivors EPA Devastating images showed the aftermath of the bridge collapse Getty Images A helicopter arrives at the scene of the tragedy AFP/Getty Images Rescue teams search for survivors among the rubble AP An injured person is winched from the rubble AFP/Getty Images Emergency services are desperately searching for survivors Getty Images Helicopter crews arrive on the scene of the collapse Getty Images A map shows where the bridge is Reuters An injured man talks to reporters as he leave the site where the Morandi highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, northern Italy AP A truck pictured after falling from the bridge Getty Images The Morandi Bridge collapsed in torrential rain Reuters Fire crews released images of rescuers on site EPA A desperate search for survivors is underway EPA Rescue workers are seen at the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy Reuters Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images The middle section of the main bridge collapsed, with dozens of motorists feared to be dead EPA A truck is pictured at the end of the surviving bridge section Reuters Rescue work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa AP Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy EPA A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP The bridge is located near the northern Italian port city of Genoa Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA Rescue teams on the site of the collapsed bridge EPA Rescuers at work amid the rubble after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern ItalY AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy, AP Rescue teams work at the site of the bridge collapse EPA The bridge was built in the 1960s EPA A motorway bridge which collapsed on Tuesday near the northern Italian port city of Genoa is seen in this pic Polizia di Stato Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said some 200 firefighters were responding to the accident, with some searching the rubble with dogs for survivors.

"We are following minute by minute the situation for the bridge collapse in Genoa," Salvini said on Twitter.

Rescuers examine the wreckage after a bridge collapsed in Italy killing 11 people / AP

A witness told Sky Italia television he saw the bridge when it collapsed in what he said was an "apocalyptic scene".

A major rescue mission was under way after the bridge collapsed in Genoa / EPA

Pictures from the scene showed huge sections of rubble on the ground underneath the middle section of the bridge.

A truck perches near the edge of the surviving bridge section / Reuters

One photo shared by Italian firefighters showed a truck balanced near to the end of the surviving section.

Italy's transport minister said in a tweet that the incident was likely to be "an immense tragedy".

"I'm following with great apprehension what has happened in Genoa, which appears to be an immense tragedy," Danilo Toninelli tweeted.

A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy / EPA

Italian television showed images of the collapsed bridge, which was built on the A10 toll motorway in 1967. Restructuring work on the bridge was carried out in 2016.

Also known as the Polcevera Viaduct, the bridge is named after its architect Riccardo Morandi.

Rescuers at the scene of the bridge collapse / EPA

The 1,100m structure is said to be the first cable-stayed concrete bridge built in Europe and connects Italy to France and other vacation resorts on the eve of a major Italian holiday on Wednesday, Ferragosto.

Traffic is said to have been heavier than usual as many Italians travelled to beaches or mountains.

The structural breakdown started from one of the bridges columns at Via Fillak in the Sampierdarena area, Italian media reported.

Footage shared by the police suggests a major vertical support, as well as the road itself, played a part in the collapse.

ANSA said that authorities suspected that a structural weakness caused the collapse.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica described that part of the city as densely inhabited.
E xperts have said a bridge which collapsed during a storm leaving at least 26 people dead in Italy must have been flawed in construction or suffered wear and tear over time.

Dozens of vehicles were sent plummeting 300ft into a river and onto grassland when the Morandi Bridge came crashing down in the northern city of Genoa on Tuesday morning.

Witnesses said the road bridge was hit by lightning moments before it collapsed, but experts have since said this would not have prompted the disaster.

Agathocles Giaralis, deputy director of the University of London's Civil Engineering Structures Research Centre, said it was more likely the bridge had flawed foundations.

Morandi Bridge collapse: the structure came crashing down on Tuesday morning / REUTERS

Speaking to the Mail, he added: It couldn't have been lightning. I don't see how that would be possible as it's reinforced concrete and it's certainly never happened before.

Dr Giaralis told the news website that the bridge, which was completed in the 1960s, may also have suffered from extensive corrosion.

He was also reported as saying that severe weather may have triggered the collapse, but that would not have been the underlying cause if the bridge was not already damaged.

A rescue mission was underway after the bridge came crashing down / AFP/Getty Images

Autostrade, a unit of the infrastructure group Atlantia, manages the section of the toll highway that collapsed.

"The collapse was unexpected and unpredictable. The bridge was constantly monitored and supervised well beyond what the law required," Stefano Marigliani, the Autostrade official responsible for the Genoa area, said.

Marigliani said there had been no indication that the bridge was dangerous.

The firm said it would work with investigators, and that it was already assessing how to rebuild the bridge. It said work to reinforce the slab under the road surface was going on at the time of the collapse.

Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures 1 /40 Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures A green lorry stopped just short of the point of collapse on the bridge Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA Firefighters work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa AP A general view of the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the port city of Genoa, Ital REUTERS Rescuer workers continued to search for possible survivors EPA Devastating images showed the aftermath of the bridge collapse Getty Images A helicopter arrives at the scene of the tragedy AFP/Getty Images Rescue teams search for survivors among the rubble AP An injured person is winched from the rubble AFP/Getty Images Emergency services are desperately searching for survivors Getty Images Helicopter crews arrive on the scene of the collapse Getty Images A map shows where the bridge is Reuters An injured man talks to reporters as he leave the site where the Morandi highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, northern Italy AP A truck pictured after falling from the bridge Getty Images The Morandi Bridge collapsed in torrential rain Reuters Fire crews released images of rescuers on site EPA A desperate search for survivors is underway EPA Rescue workers are seen at the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy Reuters Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images The middle section of the main bridge collapsed, with dozens of motorists feared to be dead EPA A truck is pictured at the end of the surviving bridge section Reuters Rescue work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa AP Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy EPA A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP The bridge is located near the northern Italian port city of Genoa Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA Rescue teams on the site of the collapsed bridge EPA Rescuers at work amid the rubble after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern ItalY AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy, AP Rescue teams work at the site of the bridge collapse EPA The bridge was built in the 1960s EPA A motorway bridge which collapsed on Tuesday near the northern Italian port city of Genoa is seen in this pic Polizia di Stato Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA

The Standard has approached Autostrade for further comment on Dr Giaralis's claims.

Residents have also said how they were worried for a long time that the bridge was not safe as it emerged the design of the structure had been heavily criticised in the past.

Genoa resident, named only as Elizabeth, told the BBC: The state of the bridge always concerned us. Nobody has ever crossed that bridge with a light heart.

Firefighters work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa (AP / AP

Everybody has always done it praying that the bridge wouldn't fall down. Today that happened."

Italian media reported that 35 people were feared dead with at least 20 fatalities confirmed by the Italian Civil Protection Agency.

Horrifying footage showed an 80m swathe of the bridge plunge 90m onto a road, railway tracks, buildings and a river below.

The disaster was described as an enormous tragedy by the the countrys transport minister Danilo Toninelli.

Aerial footage of collapsed Genoa bridge

The design of the bridge has been criticised in the past. Antonio Brencich, a professor specializing in reinforced concrete construction at the University of Genoa, called the span "a failure of engineering" in an interview in 2016.

"That bridge is wrong. Sooner or later it will have to be replaced. I do not know when. But there will be a time when the cost of maintenance will be higher than a replacement," he told Italian media Primocanale.

The CNR civil engineering society called for a "Marshall Plan" to repair or replace tens of thousands of bridges in Italy that have surpassed their lifespans, having been built in the 1950s and 1960s with reinforced concrete.

It said the bridges were built with the best-known technology of the time, but that their working life is 50 years.

An injured man talks to reporters as he leave the site where the Morandi bridge collapsed / AP

In many cases, the cost to update and reinforce the bridges is more than it would cost to destroy and rebuild them, it said.

Other engineers said corrosion or weather conditions could have been part of the reason for the collapse.

"As this reinforced and pre-stressed concrete bridge has been there for 50 years, it is possible that corrosion of tendons or reinforcement may be a contributory factor," said Ian Firth, former president of The Institution of Structural Engineers, a London-based international network.

He called the bridge "an unusual design."

An Italian fire and rescue service helicopter flies over the site as rescuers work amid the rubble and wreckage / AFP/Getty Images

In shocking footage of the collapse, one man can be heard screaming oh my god, oh my god as the bridge crumbles amid torrential rain with some witnesses claiming it was struck by lightning.

Devastating images showed concrete slabs on the roofs of factories and buildings while helicopter footage showed the horrific aftermath of the tragedy.

One poignant photograph showed a green lorry stopped just short of the point of collapse while further video showed injured victims being airlifted from the scene.

Almost 300 rescuer workers were sifting through rubble in search of survivors after at least 10 cars plummeted from the bridge around 11.30am local time (9.30am UK time) today.

Between 30 and 35 cars and three heavy trucks were involved in the tragedy including those crushed by huge slabs of falling concrete, officials said.

Mr Toninelli told state television that the disaster pointed to a lack of maintenance.
S hocking helicopter footage shows the devastating scale of a motorway bridge collapse in Italy that left at least 35 people dead .

The dramatic footage, filmed by Italian fire service Vigili Del Fuoco, pans over the scene of the horror collapse near the port city of Genoa.

It shows debris from the vast 80m bridge and support towers scattered over the factories, buildings and the river below.

Cars and lorries are seen stranded either side of the devastated remains of the bridge.

Huge slabs of concrete plunged from the 50m high section of the Morandi Bridge which collapsed amid torrential downpours on Tuesday.

Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures 1 /40 Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures A green lorry stopped just short of the point of collapse on the bridge Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA Firefighters work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa AP A general view of the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the port city of Genoa, Ital REUTERS Rescuer workers continued to search for possible survivors EPA Devastating images showed the aftermath of the bridge collapse Getty Images A helicopter arrives at the scene of the tragedy AFP/Getty Images Rescue teams search for survivors among the rubble AP An injured person is winched from the rubble AFP/Getty Images Emergency services are desperately searching for survivors Getty Images Helicopter crews arrive on the scene of the collapse Getty Images A map shows where the bridge is Reuters An injured man talks to reporters as he leave the site where the Morandi highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, northern Italy AP A truck pictured after falling from the bridge Getty Images The Morandi Bridge collapsed in torrential rain Reuters Fire crews released images of rescuers on site EPA A desperate search for survivors is underway EPA Rescue workers are seen at the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy Reuters Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images The middle section of the main bridge collapsed, with dozens of motorists feared to be dead EPA A truck is pictured at the end of the surviving bridge section Reuters Rescue work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa AP Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy EPA A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP The bridge is located near the northern Italian port city of Genoa Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA Rescue teams on the site of the collapsed bridge EPA Rescuers at work amid the rubble after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern ItalY AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy, AP Rescue teams work at the site of the bridge collapse EPA The bridge was built in the 1960s EPA A motorway bridge which collapsed on Tuesday near the northern Italian port city of Genoa is seen in this pic Polizia di Stato Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA

Debris hit the roof of a factory and crushed at least one truck, officials said.

Authorities said around 10 cars were thought to have been on the bridge when it crumbled at around 11.30am local time (9.30am UK time).

At least 30 people are feared dead with authorities warning that the death toll could rise significantly.

Many others are "seriously injured", they added

A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa / AP

A witness told Sky Italia television he saw eight or nine vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed in what he said was an apocalyptic scene.

Some 200 firefighters are involved in a dramatic rescue, the fire service said.

Italian news agency ANSA said two survivors had been pulled out of the rubble under the collapse.

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli told Italian state television the disaster showed the dilapidated state of Italys infrastructure and a lack of maintenance, adding that those responsible will have to pay.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is travelling to Genoa this evening, his office said.
M alta has allowed a ship carrying 141 migrants to dock with those on board set to be distributed between a number of EU countries.

The ship will dock in Valetta and the migrants sent to France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.

The move ends a European standoff over who should accept the ship named Aquarius.

A Maltese government statement said: "Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so.

"Malta will serve as a logistical base and all of the reportedly 141 migrants on board will be distributed amongst France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain."

On Monday, Italian transport minister Danilo Toninelli said "the United Kingdom should assume its responsibility to safeguard the castaways".

He said that as the ship is flying under a Gibraltar flag, the UK should take the migrants in.

"The boat is now in Maltese waters and has a Gibraltar flag," he said.

"At this point, the United Kingdom should take responsibility for the safeguarding of the shipwrecked."

Aquarius is run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders.

According to Doctors Without Borders, the vast majority of those onboard originate from Eritrea and Somalia while there are also people onboard from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Morocco and Ghana.
W omen and their partners could be entitled to paid bereavement leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth in New Zealand.

A bill legislating three days leave will be discussed by members of New Zealands parliament after Labour MP Ginny Andersen sponsored it.

She stated that miscarriage was still a taboo subject in the country.

But the idea of paid leave to grieve the loss of a baby at any stage of the pregnancy has made the subject a talking point.

Currently, the bereavement provisions of the Holidays Act 2003 are ambiguous in their application to miscarriage.

A petition supporting the bill says that it would remove this ambiguity by making it clear that the unplanned death of a foetus constitutes grounds for bereavement leave for the mother and her partner or spouse.

It has so far garnered over 3,000 signatures.

Kathryn van Beek, who had a miscarriage two years ago and started the petition, said: Everyone reeling from the grief of miscarriage should have the option to take bereavement leave if they want to.

Viktoria Negligan, who signed the petition, commented: Having suffered a miscarriage it would have been nice to have my husband home to support me, and me him.

Currently, each employee in New Zealand gets bereavement leave for a minimum of three days for a loss of a spouse or partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild and a spouse or partners parent.

Workers are entitled to bereavement leave every 12 months as long as they meet the criteria.

The Ministry of Health describes miscarriages as fairly common and says it can take a long time to recover from.

Having the right support around you will help you to deal with these feelings, it adds.

According to the Guardian, Ms Andersen said: The lack of clarity has meant some women have been in the position of having to argue with their employer about whether they are entitled to leave because they have lost their unborn child.
B ritish holidaymakers are flocking to Turkey to cash in on the countrys currency crisis.

The Turkish lira has been hit by concerns over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's economic policies and a trade and diplomatic dispute with the United States, a NATO ally.

The lira was around 6.55 per dollar Tuesday, up 6 percent from the previous day, when the central bank freed up cash for banks. It remains not far from the record low of 7.23 per dollar hit Sunday.

The currency has nosedived over the past week, accelerating a months-long decline that has seen it drop 45 per cent this year.

Sales of Turkish lira to British holidaymakers have gone through the roof, according to the Post Office.

Currently, the Post Office is offering an exchange rate of 1 GBP to 8.1649 TRY  marking a record low for Turkey.

The Turkish lira is falling amidst concerns Turkey is on the brink of an economic crisis / REUTERS

The number of flights to popular Turkish tourist resorts are also said to have skyrocketed.

The Times reported that Jet2, Britians second biggest tour operator, has doubled the number of seats on sale this summer to Turkey.

And Antalya airport, on Turkeys southern coast, has overtaken popular Brit holiday resorts like Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife as Thomas Cooks most popular destination for tourists.

Turkey appears to be welcoming a potential tourist boom, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly telling citizens: "If they have their dollars, we have our people, our God.

The lira's value has fallen by more than 40 per cent since the start of the year.

Its fall has been exacerbated by a diplomatic row with the United States, which has led to the US increasing steel and aluminium tariffs.

US President Donald Trump and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrive for the Nato Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 11 July 2018. / EPA

On Monday, President Erdogan said the US were responsible for the crisis.

He said: We are together in NATO and then you stab your strategic partner in the back.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Monday the Trump administration is monitoring the financial situation in Turkey "very closely" after the Turkish currency fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Monday.

"We're monitoring it very closely. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin is monitoring it very closely," Hassett, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, told MSNBC.
U S Defence secretary Jim Mattis says a Space Force is necessary to protect American satellites from attack weapons by China and Russia.

Speaking in Brazil, Mr Mattis said the US has no plans to put weapons in space but emphasised the vital and growing role that satellites play not just in military operations but in the world economy.

He recalled China's use of a ground-based missile to destroy one of its own nonfunctional weather satellites in January 2007, and suggested it was a calculated demonstration to the United States of Chinese capabilities.

Mr Mattis said: "We understand the message that China was sending - that they could take out a satellite in space. Since then our intelligence services have watched other nations, including Russia, develop a space attack capability."

President Donald Trump announced plans to set up a US Space Force / REUTERS

He added that the US cannot ignore potential threats to satellites that are crucial to communication, navigation, weather information and other underpinnings of modern life.

"We are not initiating this. We are saying we will be able to defend our satellites in space. At the same time, if someone is going to try to engage in space with military means, we will not stand idly by. We don't intend to militarise space.

"However, we will defend ourselves in space if necessary," he said.

He did not say this meant the U.S. would respond to a satellite attack by attacking the aggressor's satellites or with any other use of force. But that scenario is one that worries many who have warned that space could become the next global battlefield.

The U.S. military has worked on anti-satellite weaponry in the past but has no deployed weapon dedicated to that mission today.

Asked later to elaborate on how the U.S. would respond to an attack on a satellite, Mr Mattis said he preferred to maintain ambiguity.

"I don't tell adversaries in advance what we will do or what we will not do," he said.

"We will not stand idly by if someone tried to deny us the use of space."

Mattis' point about countering the space capabilities of other nations was reinforced Tuesday by the State Department's top arms control official, Yleem Poblete, speaking in Geneva at the U.N. Conference on Disarmament.

Mr Mattis said that the US could not ignore any potential threats to satellites / AFP/Getty Images

She said that despite Russian claims it wants to prevent an arms race in outer space, Moscow is developing new anti-satellite missiles and has given its forces a mobile laser system.

She also voiced suspicion about Russia's deployment last October of a satellite whose behaviour she said was inconsistent with its supposed purpose of conducting in-orbit space inspections.

"Russian intentions with respect to this satellite are unclear and are obviously a very troubling development," Ms Poblete said. Russia denies any hostile intent.

The timing of Mattis's visit to Brazil, so soon after Pence announced the Space Force plan last Thursday, was coincidental. Mattis's trip, which includes follow-on stops in Argentina, Chile and Colombia, had been in planning for many months.

In a speech prior to fielding questions from the war college students, Mattis made a detailed pitch for closer U.S.-Brazilian security relations. He noted that Brazil was an ally during World War II; later he visited a monument in Rio to Brazil's role in the conflict.

He emphasised U.S. interest in partnering with Brazil in space research, an area in which China has shown growing influence in South America. The Chinese operate a space centre in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

Brazil's Alcantara space centre is located near the equator, making it advantageous for space launches. The closer a launch is to the equator, the more velocity the rocket gets from the Earth's rotation.
A mir Khans wife has issued two apologies after she referred to herself as a p*** on Instagram before swiftly editing the post.

Faryal Makhdoom, 27, apologised for any offence caused by her use of the derogatory term after sharing a picture of herself dressed in a Shalwar kameez  a traditional Pakistani outfit.

She captioned the shot: The P*** inside of me @deluxe.collections.

But Makhdoom, who is of Pakistani descent and was raised in the US, quickly edited p*** to Pakistani after a fierce backlash saw fans brand her disgusting.

One user commented: Disgusting for you to use the word P***! Its a term used by racists and not terminology to be proud of!

Another wrote: The word is used in a derogatory way and shouldnt be ok to use end of whether ur white or brown or black.

But others jumped to her defence claiming she has a right to refer to herself in that way, while others claimed the word only has negative connotations in the UK.

Amir Khan talks marriage breakdown on Loose Women

One wrote: Also Faryal please stop apologizing. People need to chill. Its not like youre white and saying the word.

Another posted: "Im a P*** living in America. Nothing wrong with the word. Not derogatory at all just like calling the British brits. Or Australians Aussie.

Apology: Faryal Makhdoom posted a statement on Instagram / Instagram/ Faryal Makhdoom

Makhdoom apologised on Instagram, telling fans she didnt mean any harm whatsoever.

She wrote: Sorry guys, Im American and saying p*** - short of Pakistani isnt offensive here. But I believe it is in the UK, so apologies

Im fully Pakistani myself so I would NEVER mean to say it in any wrong way apologies x.
J eremy Kyle will be taking the Good Morning Britain hot seat next week alongside Kate Garraway and Charlotte Hawkins.

Kyle will front the ITV breakfast show from Monday to Wednesday in place of Piers Morgan who is currently on holiday.

Kyle will co-host with Garraway, who has been standing in for Susanna Reid for several weeks, while Hawkins will take care of the news reporting.

The presenter is no stranger to the show, having previously stood in for Morgan in February and during last years summer break.

Host: Jeremy Kyle will step in to present Good Morning Britain / Ken McKay/ITV/REX

Kyle garnered a mixed reaction after leaving some viewers irritated by shuffling his yellow papers, something he and Garraway later made light of.

The Jeremy Kyle Show frontman is the latest stand-in for Morgan, after Eamonn Holmes took over duties last week and will appear again this Thursday.

Other replacements have included comedian Adil Ray and ITV regular Ranvir Singh.

Morgan celebrated leaving the show for his holiday in Los Angeles holiday last month.

Piers Morgan celebrates last day on Good Morning Britain

Opening the final programme before the break, Morgan said: Last day syndrome, little big de-mob happy.

Boarding a plan, whooshout of the country!

Showbiz reporter Richard Arnold joked that the break would give him some air time over the summer while Hawkins whooped and cheered mockingly.

Morgan and Reid will return to their roles in September.
T he family tree show, Who Do You Think You Are?, is based on a formula which grows more familiar with every episode.

If the programme in question is a success it will be because it has found a celebrity, or possibly just an actor, with an interesting back story. That is a matter of research.

We may presume that the work is done before the show is filmed, in order to justify those trips to far-flung places, in which the celebrity, or actor, faces the camera and emotes.

Its not a simple thing, getting teary about a theoretical ancestor, but most of the celebrities or actors manage to wring it out, even if they cant all reach the heights of Danny Dyer, the plebeian gurner whose unscripted excitement condemned him to inhabit the zeitgeist.

Earlier this year, he encapsulated the contradictions of Brexit but in 2016 he was on WDYTYA?, discovering that his 22-times great-grandfather was Edward The Furred.

Such was the delight caused by the revelation that the rough-hewn fictional landlord was as royal as the Queen Vics plaster bust that His Royal Highness is to be granted a sequel, the better to understand the various tributaries of his blue blood.

A Passage to Britain (BBC1, 9pm) comes from the same stable as WDYTYA? but it is less concerned with celebrity.

The show, presented by historian Dr Yasmin Khan, uproots the family tree by tracking down the living relatives of passengers on the RMS Viceroy of India, a luxury liner which ran throughout the 1930s between what was then Bombay and London just as Britains colonial hold over India was beginning to weaken.

Pictured: Dr Yasmin Khan / BBC/Wall to Wall/Louis Caulfield

The log for the voyage in question has just 25 Asians on board but their stories are fascinating. Netra Dutt, a 21-year-old student, travels to London to sit the Indian civil service exam but was he also being taken away from the revolutionary activity which was beginning to engulf Calcutta?

Mulk Raj Anand wrote much of his first book on the journey to England, where he fell in with the Bloomsbury set (EM Forster helped him get published). And Ruth Martin, an Indian nanny (or ayah), was forced to sleep on deck while her family enjoyed more luxurious hospitality. The show presents an understated, gently subversive hour of history, with obvious parallels to today. Most of the Asians travelling to Britain were given no choice but to try and blend in, while their descendants are more free to be themselves.

Mark Kermodes series of cinematic essays (co-written with Kim Newman) concludes with a fascinating analysis of the rules of horror (BBC4, 9pm).

Pictured: Mark Kermode / BBC/Richard Ansett

These rules are not fixed  they can be disobeyed in order to play around with audience expectations but the basic notions seem to be that a horror movie should have a journey, a monster, an ominous atmosphere (with optional freaky peasant), a scary setting, a thoughtful attitude towards the use of sound (David Lynch buried the ashes of his old sound effects man Alan Splet under his home sound studio so that he can keep haunting his films), a savant (Peter Cushing is ideal), a final girl and an exorcism. Not necessarily in that order.

This series has been a treat. Lets hope it encourages others to start thinking aloud on television. It might even catch on.

London Live

American Psycho II: All American Girl - London Live, 10.30pm

Long before Patrick Bateman was spending afternoons in Manhattan covering his furniture in plastic wrapping ahead of his evenings hobby, he severely traumatised a young girl. Thats what this sequel contends with, that victim dedicating herself to stopping serial killers.

Skip several years and Rachael (Mila Kunis) now studies criminology at university, keen to stop other Batemans, only for the subject matter to have a strange effect on her in this black comedy.

Spooks - London Live, 9pm

Earlier this year Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko faked his own death  his clothes were riddled with fake bullet holes and he even swilled a little pigs blood so that it dripped from his mouth  in a sting operation overseen by Ukrainian intelligence to capture Russian spies.
G oogle tracks the movements and locations of its users even when it is explicitly told not to, a new investigation has found.

Many of the tech giants services on iPhones and Android devices reportedly store location data even if the user activates a privacy setting that is supposed to prevent it from doing so.

According to an investigation by the Associated Press (AP), even when Location History is paused, some Google apps automatically store time-stamped location data without asking.

Google is for the most part upfront about asking permission to use location information and apps like Google Maps remind users to allow access to location if you use it for navigating, AP said.

And if it is allowed to record locations over time, Google Maps will display that history in a "timeline" for the user that maps out daily movements.

Storing minute-by-minute travels carries privacy risks and has been used by police to determine the location of suspects such as a warrant that police in North Carolina, served on Google last year to find devices near a murder scene.

The company will let you "pause" a setting called Location History. Google said that will prevent the company from remembering where you've been.

Google's support page on the subject states: "You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored."

But the investigation found that this is not true. Even with Location History paused, some Google apps automatically store time-stamped location data without asking.

For example, Google stores a snapshot of where you are when you merely open its Maps app.

Automatic daily weather updates on Android phones pinpoint roughly where you are. And some searches that have nothing to do with location, like "chocolate chip cookies," or "kids science kits," pinpoint precise latitude and longitude - accurate to the square foot - and save it to the users Google account.

The privacy issue affects some two billion users of devices that run Google's Android operating software and hundreds of millions of worldwide iPhone users who rely on Google for maps or search, AP said.

Storing location data in violation of a user's preferences is wrong, said Jonathan Mayer, a Princeton computer scientist and former chief technologist for the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement bureau.

Responding to the investigation's findings, Google said in a statement to the Standard: "Location History is a Google product that is entirely opt in, and users have the controls to edit, delete, or turn it off at any time.

"As the story notes, we make sure Location History users know that when they disable the product, we continue to use location to improve the Google experience when they do things like perform a Google search or use Google for driving directions."

A researcher from Mayer's lab confirmed the AP's findings on multiple Android devices. The AP conducted its own tests on several iPhones that found the same behaviour.

"If you're going to allow users to turn off something called `Location History,' then all the places where you maintain location history should be turned off," Mayer said. "That seems like a pretty straightforward position to have."

Google said it is being perfectly clear.

"There are a number of different ways that Google may use location to improve people's experience, including: Location History, Web and App Activity, and through device-level Location Services," a Google spokesperson said in a statement to the AP.
M illions of dollars could be stolen from banks across the world in a highly-coordinated ATM attack, says the FBI.

The USs federal security agency has issued an alert to banks warning that an attack, named ATM cash-out, could take place as soon as this weekend.

The global fraud scheme could see criminals hacking a bank or payment card processor and use cloned cards at cash machines around the world to withdraw millions of dollars, according to security expert Brian Krebs who broke the news on the memo.

The FBI alert said: The FBI has obtained unspecified reporting indicating cyber criminals are planning to conduct a global Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cash-out scheme in the coming days, likely associated with an unknown card issuer breach and commonly referred to as an unlimited operation.

Here's what you need to know about the global ATM scam

The unlimited operation that the FBI is concerned about is when hackers compromise a financial institution like a bank or a payment card process with malware.

This then gives them access to bank customer card information and allows them to exploit network access, as well as remove fraud controls.

After doing this, they can then coordinate the large-scale theft of funds from ATMs.

The cyber criminals typically create fraudulent copies of legitimate cards by sending stolen card data to co-conspirators who imprint the data on reusable magnetic strip cards, such as gift cards purchased at retail stores.

At a pre-determined time, the co-conspirators withdraw account funds from ATMs using these cards, said the FBI.

According to Krebs, unlimited operations have been carried out before on a small bank in Virginia, the National Bank of Blacksburg. The bank underwent two unlimited operation stings, with a total of $2.4 million stolen between May 2016 and January 2017 in two ATM cash-outs.

In this instance, the attackers phished someone who worked at the bank. This made it possible for them to compromise the banks system that manages credits and debits to customer accounts.

If a global hack was going to happen on ATMs, its likely it would take place over a weekend when the banks are closed, making it harder to deal with an attack.

Emily Orton, co-founder and director of AI security firm Darktrace told the Standard: "Like many of todays threats, we simply cannot predict how this attack will unfold.

"The reality is that even the worlds largest banks cannot pre-empt everything that might go wrong. Heeding the FBIs warning, banks and financial institutions must now pay special attention to unusual behaviours developing across their digital infrastructure.



What can be done to prevent the global ATM scam?

The FBI has advised banks to review their security messages. For instance, banks should implement strong password requirements and two-factor authentication for account balance or withdrawals above a specified threshold.

The agency has also said banks should monitor for network traffic from any unusual regions outside the institutions remit.

Orton advises: Organizations need to develop their own digital immune systems to stand a chance of discovering and responding to these threats before a crisis unfolds. AI will be critical in fulfilling this requirement because it learns independently and identifies malicious behaviours on the fly, whether it is dealing with a PC or an ATM.

Rich Turner, VP EMEA at CyberArk, told the Standard: Though a wide scale attack on ATMs is the subject of a new FBI warning  and billions have been netted from similar schemes in the past  the vulnerabilities that will potentially be taken advantage of are the same that all organisations must be aware of.

He advises companies to patch their systems, making sure there are no open invitations into the network.

As well, Turner also said to check for upgrades. Windows XP has been the backbone of ATMs for a decade, and it reached End of Support (EOS) in April 2014. This means there are no more security updates. A cyber attack is far more costly than an upgrade.

Finally, make sure to block and contain the attack as early as possible.

Control applications on endpoints, remove local admin rights from standard users, and lock down privileged accounts throughout your environment. These three steps can help you limit an attackers ability to establish a foothold inside your network and prevent lateral movement if theyre able to get inside, he added.



Taking cyber security seriously has never been more important.

This week, security researchers Check Point released new analysis that warned fax machines are posing a major risk to businesses thanks to vulnerabilities in the communications protocol.
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The first prosecutor of the Bucharest Military Prosecutor's Office Ionel Corbu on Tuesday said that no military prosecutor was present in the command centre of the gendarmes last Friday at the rally in Victoriei Square.

When asked if legally, a military prosecutor had to be present there, Corbu said: "Under no circumstances."

The Internal Affairs minister Carmen Dan earlier on Tuesday said that a military prosecutor had been supervising the entire coordination of the gendarmes' intervention in the night of 10 August during the anti-government rally in Victoriei Square.
The man who stole the gun off the woman gendarme injured in the protests of Friday night in Victory Square in Bucharest was identified and taken for hearings, a detainment ordinance in his name being issued, while investigations continue to find the stolen gun and to identify the other participants in the aggression, the Bucharest Police announced.

On the basis of information remitted by a citizen to police officers with the Ilfov County Police Inspectorate the man in the publicized photographs was identified and, following actions undertaken by the Bucharest General Police Directorate - the Homicide Department, the man was found and led to hearings, the Bucharest Police said on Tuesday morning.

Following the actions undertaken, the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Bucharest Tribunal issued a detainment ordinance for the 32-year-old man, who is accused of infringing the regime for weapons and munitions (by stealing a weapon) and disturbing the peace.The actions were undertaken with the support of the Special Operations Directorate, the Territorial Unit for Information Analysis Bucharest, the National Criminalistic Institute and the Special Activities Independent Service of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police.
The Center for Independent Journalism (CJI) condemns, and at the same requests the Romanian Gendarmerie, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) to swiftly look into and sanction the abuse made by the gendarmes, who, on Friday night, attacked journalists while they were doing their job, according to a press release published Monday on CJI's website.

"We request the law enforcement to act in good faith and with respect towards the right to free speech and the journalist profession, the role of which is to inform the public," reads the CJI press release.

According to CJI, the gendarmes "physically and verbally abused journalists", during Friday night's protest in Victoriei Square, among them being Robert Mihailescu - Hotnews.ro, Ioana Moldovan - Documentaria.ro, Cristi Stefanescu - DW correspondent and Silviu Matei.Robert Mihailescu said that he was hit by a gendarme with a fist. "I was doing the live intervention of the gendarmes. The man in white grabbed me by the hand and snatched my phone. I shouted that I am a journalist and I raised my hands above my head, with the credentials that were around my neck. (...) One of the gendarmes hit me with his fist and pushed me towards the back of the line, while another gendarme kicked me in the back (...)," said Mihailescu, according to the CJI press release.In her turn, Ioana Moldovan declared that during Friday night's protest she had her press badge visible. "From a small group of gendarmes next to me, one of them approached me, and gave me a squirt of gas, from his gas tank, straight into my eyes, at a distance of a few centimeters," she said.Cristi Stefanescu, Deutsche Welle correspondent, said: "I stood for a few dozen of seconds on my knees, on the wet asphalt, waiting for my pain to go away, and when I opened my eyes, I saw in front of me several pairs of boots. (...) I got up and I showed them my journalist badge. One of them grabbed me by the shoulder, and another pinned my shoulder with the shield, they seemed confused as to whether to push me outside the square or to get me away from them."Silviu Matei said: Even we, from the press, started getting kicked, for no reason, other than being there and doing our job. One of them, with whom I got into an argument because I wanted to do a good deed, namely to pick up a TV tripod that had fallen on the ground, kicked me and wanted to hit me with his shield, as well as with the baton, although I was showing him my press badge at the same time."CJI also says that during Friday night there were several cases of injured journalists who were doing their job, documenting the protests and the gendarmes' intervention."Press insignia - no matter in what form (notebook, card, badge, inscription vest) - are the only ways in which one can prove the rank of a journalist to anyone. Brandishing the press insignia is one of the first rules of any journalist who takes part, in a professional manner, to events, even more those with potential conflict. (...) It's so hard to understand and justify the gendarmes' aggressions against the journalists, some of them taking place in the reserved spot of the press," CJI underlines.The organization requests "the changing from the foundation" of the MAI's work procedure with the mass-media, so that the job of a journalist can be carried out freely."We condemn, also, the aggressions of the gendarmes against citizens that were documenting with their own ways the unfolding of the events and remind that the role of the Gendarmerie, is, firstly, to protect citizens' safety, including those who protest," CJI says.
The Chamber of Deputies' Defence Committee Bureau decided on Tuesday to send invitations to Interior Minister Carmen Dan, Bucharest Prefect Speranta Cliseru and Gendarmerie officials to hearings into the August 10 street protests.

The hearings are scheduled for next Tuesday at 10:00hrs, local. The Defence Committee would like to start the hearings with Minister Dan.

"The priority is the minister of the interior, it is where our main control power lies, but also those responsible in the Gendarmerie and also the Bucharest prefect, who gave that control order. The hearings should start next Tuesday at 10:00hrs. Our procedural wish is to start with the interior minister Mr Caprar [the chairman of the Defence Committee] has accepted our request to send all the invitations and our priority is the interior minister," said Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee Ovidiu Raetchi of the National Liberal Party (PNL).He considers that after the start of the parliamentary session, the lawmakers of the ruling coalition will be less able than in the parliamentary recess to block the hearings on procedural reasons."Our desire will be to also include in these talks the citizens who have been victims of violence, because we are the Parliament of Romania and we have to listen to the citizens," added Raetchi.MP Bogdan Rodeanu stressed the importance of starting the hearings with the interior minister, because the minister must "describe how the state bodies worked" on August 10."The citizens who had to put up with the violence of the previous days should address the Military Prosecutor's Office first, but let us not mix politics with the area of investigation," Rodeanu said.Defence Committee Chairman Dorel Caprar said before the meeting of the committee's bureau that he did not believe that the protesters on August 10 in Bucharest's Piata Victoriei had come from the diaspora.The meeting of the Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies was suspended Tuesday for lack of a quorum. The agenda included PNL's request to hear some officials over the August 10 protests.
The Gendarmerie's handling during the anti-government protest on Friday evening was completely unprofessional, as clearing the entire square would not have been necessary, and available information points to a diversion staged to justify the gendarmes' blunt-force intervention, Dumitru Coarna, leader of the Police and Contractual Staff National Trade Union (SNPPC) told AGERPRES.

"I want prosecutors to investigate this violence I saw on Friday evening, and all those who misstepped and broke the law - both on the side of the gendarmes and and of the provocateurs - to be held accountable, and I am referring here to the two or three groups that attempted various violent behavior to provoke the gendarmes; if they were acting on someone's commission, the prosecutors should provides us the answer," said Coarna.

He explained that there are a lot of unclear aspects about the events on that evening."I remarked a lot of contradictions: Mrs. Minister said that a military prosecutor was at the scene, in the square, the military prosecutors say they had no representatives there. Also look at the reaction of the [injured] gendarme girl who exclaims 'Where the hell have you taken me, bros?'," the union leader said.In his opinion, all these prove that a diversion had been at play for the Gendarmerie to have a reason for a force intervention."A diversion created by someone who would have been interested in provoking that intervention of the Gendarmerie, because on Saturday and Sunday you saw that nothing happened. On Friday it seems - and I am increasingly more inclined to believe - that there has been a plan to provoke and create the circumstances for the Gendarmerie's use of force," Coarna argues.According to him, the Gendarmerie leaders should step down after this incident. Coarna also said the presence in the law enforcement formation deployed at such a high-scale mission, of a young woman aged just 23, was completely unprofessional."However, I don't think the Gendarmerie has en-bloc issues, but just at the top. This is where things have not been properly managed," he added.Asked if Interior Minister Carmen Dan should resign after these incidents, Coarna said he would not give a direct response, because it would give rise to political interpretation. "I can tell you just this: this is the Interior Ministry's weakest management team since the Revolution," the police union leader said.
The Romanian Trade Union of Journalists (SRJ) MediaSind, founder member of the FAIR-MediaSind Culture and Mass-Media Federation - an affiliate to the International Federation of Journalists and to the European Federation of Journalists - condemns the actions of law enforcement who on August 10, 2018 physically and verbally attacked journalists who were in the line of duty.

In a release to AGERPRES, SRJ MediaSind cautions that the journalists' task is to keep the public informed and state institutions are required - as per the provisions of the Constitution of Romania and of the international conventions Romania is a party to - to protect mass-media workers when they perform their job in risky situations. Only by respecting this requirement is the industry's freedom of speech guaranteed.

"For this reason, SRJ MediaSind considers that the actions of the gendarmes who brutally attacked journalists on mission must be urgently punished. Therefore, SRJ MediaSind calls on the competent institutions to proceed to the speedy investigation of both the gendarmes who acted illegally and of those who gave the respective orders," the cited source said.According to SRJ MediaSind, in the Medellin Declaration on Securing the Safety of Journalists and Combating Impunity, UNESCO calls on member states "to promote awareness and train their armed forces and police forces to respect and promote the safety of journalists in situations of risk, and to ensure that journalists are able to work in full security and independence in their territory.""Under these circumstances, the Gendarmerie's public attitude is inexplicable. Their spokesman considered the gendarmes' brutal actions against journalists are justified, arguing that these professionals must submit to the same rules as all the participants in the protest rally," SRJ MediaSind underscores.
The past weeks have shown how part of the American establishment is weighing the pros and cons of the Trump administrations strategies around the world. I have a strong feeling that in the coming weeks we will see the destabilizing effects of American politics, especially towards its closest allies.

A disastrous flip of events appears to be on its way, in case Trump were to lose the November midterm elections (the House and Senate elections). If this were to happen, the Trump administration would probably exploit the Russia gate conspiracy claiming that Moscow had now acted in favour of Democrats. Trump could argue that Moscow was disappointed by the lack of progress in softening US sanctions against Russia; indeed, by Trumps measures against Russia (expulsions, sanctions, property seizures) and its allies (China, Iran and Syria).

Trump would not hesitate to claim Russian interference in the midterms to aid the Democrats, citing intelligence reports. He would say that Russia aims to create chaos in the US by placing roadblocks in the way of attempts to Make America Great Again and handing the House and Senate to the Democrats. He would use the electoral defeat to blame his accusers of getting aid from Russia. In doing so, he would be accelerating the implosion of his administration in an all-out war with the establishment. The mainstream media would dismiss Trumps accusations against the Democrats of collusion with Russia as a conspiracy theory of an unravelling presidency. All this, summed up, would lead to the Democrats having majority in both houses, easily proceeding to the impeachment of Trump.

Italy is piggybacking on the US, operating side by side with Washington to expand its role in North Africa, especially in Libya. However, Rome will have to offer something in return to please Trump. Evidence points to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) as the quid pro quo, the US encouraging Italy to complete it in order to put pressure on Germanys North Stream II project and undermine Russian gas deliveries to the EU. I have the impression that the only card available for Italy to play (and which interests Trump) is an endorsement of Washingtons positions on Iran, given that Italy already shares in common with Washington differences with Paris and Berlin on many issues. In this sense, Contes words about US intelligence info on the JCPOA paves the way for further decisions:

"I didn't take a specific stand. I said we are willing to evaluate the necessity to take more rigorous stances if the (nuclear) accord is shown to be ineffective. We are waiting to have elements of intelligence, Italy would like to evaluate it with its EU partners

As evidence of Washington's failed strategy towards Iran, India continues to buy crude oil from Iran, increasing the amount in the last month by 52%. China is also increasing its importation from Iran. Meanwhile, Iran is working with other countries to circumvent the US dollar in order to sustain their mutual trade within a new framework of agreements. Washington is especially disappointment with New Delhi, with American officials continuing to reiterate that Indias intentions align with Washingtons. Since November, with the imposition of counter-sanctions on countries that continue to work with Iran, Washington's bluff will become evident to everybody, much to the disappointment of the Trump administration.

In the meantime, relations between Canada and Saudi Arabia have almost completely broken down on account of human rights. Ambassadors have been expelled and there is a continuing war of words, with trade between the two countries being brought to a stop. This is the latest example of the divisions manifesting themselves within the Western elites, with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Trump administration being in opposition to the likes of France, Germany and Canada.

What is also clear is that the issue of energy is central to Washingtons strategy. Between criticism of the German Nord Stream II and invitations to Italy to finish the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, it is clear that both the Trump administration and the policy makers of the deep state are strongly concerned about what actions allies and enemies could take to overcome the pressure brought to bear by Washington on the issues of energy, Iran, and sanctions. This shows that the US is very fearful of de-dollarization, especially coming from its allies.

Bypassing sanctions with currencies other than US dollar, or creating creative finance structures that bypass the SWIFT payment system, are the only means of maintaining relations between countries in spite of Washington's sanctions. The US strategy is limited in the short term and certainly harmful in the long term for US Dollar financial hegemony.

That Washingtons allies are even entertaining such possibilities places US financial hegemony at great risk in the long run. This worries the American deep state a great deal, even without Trump, who in any case will not be in charge past 2024 (should he be re-elected in 2020). One of the points of greatest tension is precisely this strategic difference between the Trump administration and the policy makers in the deep state (AKA Langley and Foggy Bottom). While the former can increase the pressure on allies (through NATO, the JCPOA, TTIP and TPP) to obtain immediate solutions and benefits, the latter must above all consider the effects in the medium and long term, which are often harmful for US interests. The imposition of sanctions on Iran, and the obligation of European allies to comply with this directive, is a prime example.

Another of Washingtons strategies revolves around the price of oil. The United States would have no problem seeing the price of crude oil skyrocket. Secretly, many in the administration hope that Iran will take the first false step by closing the Strait of Hormuz (Teheran will not make this move as things stand now); some even hope that the crisis between Canada and Saudi Arabia will have some impact on the cost of crude oil.

Even trade war and tariffs should be seen as part of Trumps short-term strategy to demonstrate to his base that something is being done against countries that he thinks are taking advantage of the United States. In reality, Trump knows, or should know, that there is no way of stopping Chinas growth, a result of globalization that has been the engine of free-market capitalism, making the western elite richer than ever before. Trump deceives his base with trade wars and tariffs, but in the long run the costs will be borne by American consumers, many of whom are Trump's voters.

Trump thinks in the very short term, constantly aiming to present himself before his electors with a list of ticked boxes ( Peter Lavelle of Crosstalk gets trademark of this definition), confirming that he is fulfilling his electoral promises. In this way he hopes to win the midterms in November. To succeed in this endeavor, the economy must pick up to a gallop (for now this is happening thanks to a series of tax cuts and the continuous pumping of easy money from the Fed) and he must put pressure on his allies as well as aggressively confront Iran, Russia and China through sanctions, cutting energy supplies and forcing Tehran to negotiate once again the nuclear agreement.

What many analysts struggle with when trying to analyse Donald Trump is that there is no overarching strategy uniting his actions into a coherent policy. Trump acts extemporaneously, often with a very short strategic outlook and for internal political motivations.

Nevertheless, if there is something that worries the deep state, it is the long-term impact of tariffs, trade war, sanctions and impositions on allies; or, to put it most simply, de-dollarization. If there is anything that scares the Trump administration, it is remaining entangled in a destabilizing war with Iran that would lead to the early end of the Trump presidency and destroying its legacy, as Bushs legacy was destroyed by Iraq.

In all this uncoordinated and inconsistent behaviour, there is the hope of a major rise in the price of oil that would help slow down Chinas growth and transform the US shale-gas industry into an ultra-profitable business, further boosting the US economy and allowing Trump to present further evidence to his base of his ability to improve their lives.

The United States is in the terminal phase of its unipolar moment and is struggling to come to terms with the downsizing of its role in the world. Its ruling elite cannot accept the prospect of sharing power, preferring to oppose by all means possible the transition to a world order involving more powers. If this situation is already complex for any superpower enough to manage, a president has been elected who has little regard for compromise and mediation.

Ultimately, in addition to an obvious problem in defining Washington's role in the world over the next few years, the United States finds itself with a president who is in almost open warfare with an important part of the US establishment. The deep state is still living on the hope of impeaching Trump to halt the loss of US influence, deluding themselves that things can return to how they were at the height of the unipolar moment in the 1990s.
Russia, Iran, China, and now Turkey are in the same boat, as all have become the target of US sanctions. But none of those nations has bowed under the pressure. Russia had foreseen the developments in advance and took timely measures to protect itself. The Turkish national currency, the lira, is plummeting now that Washington has introduced sanctions as well as tariffs on steel and aluminum, in an attempt to compel Ankara to turn over a detained American pastor. Turkish President Erdogan said it was time for Turkey to seek new friends, and Turkey is planning to issue yuan-denominated bonds to diversify its foreign borrowing instruments. On Aug. 11, President Erdogan said Turkey was ready to begin using local currencies in its trade with Russia, China, Iran, Ukraine, and the EU nations of the eurozone.

The recent BRICS summit reaffirmed Ankaras commitment to the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) that is geared toward de-dollarizing its member states economies, and the agreement to quickly launch a Local Currency Bond Fund gives that policy teeth. Turkey has also expressed its desire to join BRICS.

Ankara is gradually moving toward membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). It has been accepted as a dialog partner of that organization. Last year Turkey became a dialog partner with ASEAN. On Aug. 1, the first ASEAN-Turkey Trilateral Ministerial Meeting was held in Singapore, bringing together Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who is serving as the 2018 ASEAN term chairman. The event took place under the auspices of the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting that attracted foreign ministers and top diplomats from 30 countries.

Ankara is mulling over a free-trade area (FTA) agreement with the Eurasian Union. This cooperation between Ankara and the EAEU has a promising future.

Meanwhile, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has provided a $3.6-billion loan package for the Turkish energy and transportation sector. Turkey and China have recently announced an expansion of their military ties. As one can see, Turkey is inexorably pivoting from the West to the East.

Russia has a special role to play in this process. The US Congress has prohibited the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey because of the risk associated with Ankara's purchase of the S-400 air-defense system. In response, Turkey is contemplating a purchase of Russian warplanes. Ankara prefers Russian weapons over the ones offered by NATO states. As President Erdogan put it, Before it is too late, Washington must give up the misguided notion that our relationship can be asymmetrical and come to terms with the fact that Turkey has alternatives.

On Aug. 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Erdogan discussed the prospects for boosting economic cooperation. Both nations are parties to the ambitious Turkish Stream natural-gas pipeline project. Ideas for ways to join forces in response to the US offensive were also on the agenda during the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Turkey, Aug. 13-14, although Syria was in the spotlight of the talks. One mustnt forget that Russia was the first country to be visited by the Turkish president after the failed 2016 coup.

As a result of some tough times resulting from US sanctions, Iran is redoubling its efforts at building foreign relationships. Under US pressure, European companies are leaving Iran, with China gradually filling the void. Now that US and European airspace companies are moving their business ventures out of Iran, this presents a good opportunity for Russian aircraft, such as the MS-21 or IL-96-400M. The Russian automaker GAZ Group is ready to supply Iran with commercial vehicles and light trucks powered by 5th generation engines.

Tehran is an observer state in the SCO, and it is to become an essential hub for the Chinese Belt Road Initiative (BRI). On June 25, a freight train arrived in the Iranian city of Bandar-e Anzali, a port on the Caspian Sea, having passed through the China-Kazakhstan-Iran transportation corridor and entering the Anzali Free Zone that connects China to both the Kazakh port of Aktau and to Iran, thus creating a new trade link to the outside world. This gives a boost to the BRI. On Aug. 12, the five littoral states (the Caspian Five) signed the Caspian Sea Convention  the fruit of 22 years of difficult negotiations. This opens up new opportunities for Iran and other countries of the region as well as the BRI. The idea to form a new economic forum was floated at the Caspian Five summit.

China and Russia back the idea of Irans full-fledged SCO membership. In May Tehran signed an interim FTA agreement with the EAEU. Greater EAEU-BRI integration under the stewardship of the SCO is also on the horizon.

According to the Daily Express, Iran could band together with Russia and China in an anti-US alliance. Iran may also get an observer status in the CSTO. Iran-Turkey trade has recently revived, and that bilateral relationship includes burgeoning military cooperation.

Nothing can be viewed in just black and white, and every coin has two sides. The US sanctions do negatively affect the economies and finances of the targeted countries, but in the long run, they will also push the nations hit by them to move closer to each other, thus encouraging the emergence of the multipolar world the US is trying so hard to resist.

Photo: Aluminium Insider
The commander of the 21,000 AU (African Union) peacekeeper force has ordered peacekeepers to permanently attach themselves with army units and operate together as a joint force. This is another effort to deal with the poor discipline, corruption and uneven performance of Somali Army units. All the AU troops are African and, while Somalis have a high opinion of themselves, it will be interesting to see how they react to daily examples of other African soldiers demonstrating superior discipline and capability. This may be a cure or a source of fatal friction between the Somali soldiers and the peacekeepers.

Al Shabaab is also having personnel problems. Although the Islamic terror organization has established a new source of income (via providing immunity from attack in return for regular payments) this protection scheme enables al Shabaab to pay the salaries and benefits for leaders and monthly pay for full-time members. Al Shabaab always takes care of its payroll because it has discovered in the past that unpaid members often just walk away. The current pay levels are enough to keep most members on the job but not enough for expansion or foreign operations. Before 2011, when al Shabaab still controlled much of Mogadishu as well as other ports like Kismayo and a percentage of the pirate ransoms (which dried up after 2011) there was a lot more cash to work with and al Shabaab was a lot more dangerous. Now they are a persistent local problem. They are trying to establish themselves among the Somali minority in Kenya but that is proving difficult. In part, it is because most of the hundreds of Kenyan Somalis who joined al Shabaab in Somalia have died or deserted and returned home disillusioned. In Somalia, this means al Shabaab is concentrating more on recruiting via kidnapped or enticed children (teenaged boys). Until they get older and more experienced these recruits are cheap and expendable. Taking these kids is considered another form of taxation rural Somalis have to deal with.

Noisy Neighbors Next Door

Over the last week, there has been another outbreak of ethnic violence next door in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. The governor of the region was replaced (after he was arrested) and federal forces were sent in to calm things down between ethnic Somalis and other groups (particularly Christians). Unrest among ethnic Somalis next door in Ethiopia was a problem for much of 2017 but by the end of 2017, the government had restored the peace and Ethiopians displaced by the violence began returning home. The Ethiopian government returned its attention to the Somali problem in Somalia.

The Ethiopian problem was not about violence against Somalia but between ethnic Somalis in eastern Ethiopia and the non-Somali Oromo people who live to the west. The Ethiopian province of Ogaden, which comprises most of eastern Ethiopia contains a largely ethnic Somali population. To the west of Ogaden is Oromia, where the largest minority in Ethiopia (the Oromo) predominate. There have long been territorial disputes along the Ogaden-Oromia border and these have flared up again in 2017 and took a while for the government and armed forces (many withdrawn from Somalia) to deal with.

Meanwhile, many Somalis believe Ogaden belongs to Somalia. Islamic radicals in Somalia have long sought to conquer Ogaden but the Ethiopians have been defeating these efforts for generations. That is not going to change, especially since oil and gas have been discovered in Ogaden, and drilling is underway. In 2015 Somalia and Ethiopia signed an agreement to not provide rebels from the other nations with sanctuary.

Earlier in 2018 Kenya hosted another round of peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front). This was part of a larger effort to bring peace to Somalis throughout the region (mainly Somalia but also Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti). Somalia is playing a role in trying to make peace between Ethiopia and its Somali minority. For example, in August 2017 Somalia arrested Abdikarin Sheikh Muse, an ethnic Somali who was an Ethiopian rebel leader hiding out in Somalia. Muse was taken to the Ethiopian border and turned over to Ethiopia, which had requested this. That, as expected, caused some protest demonstrations by Somalis who believe Ogaden belongs to Somalia. The newly elected Somali president survived this and remains popular. Most Somalis have mixed feelings about Ogaden. The Ethiopians have been defeating Somali efforts to seize Ogaden for generations. That is not going to change, especially since oil and gas have been discovered in Ogaden, and drilling is underway. Abdikarin Sheikh Muse is a leader in the ONLF and Somalia has long been a convenient refuge. In 2015 Somalia and Ethiopia signed an agreement to not provide rebels from the other nations with sanctuary. Meanwhile, Ethiopia is having problems in Oromia, the region east of the Ogaden, which is populated by Moslems who are hostile the Christian Ethiopians who run the country and the Somalis in neighboring Ogaden. That is another issue that Ethiopia has to handle on its own but solutions never seem to last long.

August 8, 2018: In the south (Lamu, across the border in Kenya) al Shabaab raiders used a roadside bomb and gunfire to kill five Kenyan police, wound six and destroying their truck. Kenyan police believe these attackers were among the many hiding out in the nearby Boni Forest, which has long been a refuge for outlaws because the thinly populated woodlands are on both sides of the border. Kenya spends $20 million a year providing security for the 360 kilometers Somalia border. Because of the continuing al Shabaab violence in Somalia, there are plenty of people (refugees, smugglers) crossing illegally besides Islamic terrorists and bandits.

August 5, 2018: In Mogadishu, a bomb hidden in a truck went off near a popular restaurant leaving six dead. Al Shabaab was believed responsible, as it was an earlier incident where two al Shabaab gunmen were killed at a checkpoint. Some 30 kilometers southwest of the city an al Shabaab suicide car bomber attacked the entrance to the Afgoye army base, killing three soldiers. Al Shabaab gunmen then tried to get into the camp but were repulsed. There were more casualties on both sides before the Islamic terrorists fled.

August 2, 2018: Some 120 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu an American UAV used a missile to kill four al Shabaab men. That is the 19th such attack (UAVs and missiles) so far in 2018. There were 31 attacks in 2017 and 15 in 2015. The main purpose of the UAV operations in Somalia (including Puntland and Somaliland) is to deal with international Islamic terrorists like ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) or al Qaeda (which al Shabaab technically belongs to). There were some attacks against ISIL in 2017 but none in 2018. There are still some ISIL in Somalia but the few that remain are hiding out in the Puntland highlands getting by as bandits, too busy with that to pose much of an international threat. There are still some al Shabaab factions that show up (in chatter or whatever that foreign intel agencies can detect) as still trying to support violence outside of Somalia. Often this is other African states like Kenya or Uganda. Since these two countries supply many of the AU peacekeepers, the Americans go after any al Shabaab cells that appear to be planning violence in neighboring states.

July 30, 2018: Another thousand Ugandan soldiers deployed to Somalia. The contingent replaces the current Ugandan battle group serving with the AU peacekeepers.

July 23, 2018: In the south (outside Kismayo) about a hundred al Shabaab attacked an unused (but still guarded) base. Two suicide car bombs hit the main gate followed by gunmen. The initial attack killed four soldiers guarding the gate. About a dozen soldiers died before the guard force was ordered to retreat and let the reinforcements take care of the more numerous al Shabaab. The attackers fled when reinforcements arrived and took more losses in the process. There wasnt much (that was portable) to steal. At least six of the attackers were killed in the operation. Al Shabaab was apparently the victim of poor intelligence because although this camp sometimes hosted Kenyan and American troops that was not the case when the expensive (in terms of men and resources) al Shabaab attack took place.

July 20, 2018: In the north al Shabaab took control of the town of Urur, again. The government soon regained control. Al Shabaab got in because the garrison left before its replacements arrived and al Shabaab took advantage of that to do some looting. Taking Af Urur can be dangerous because in mid-2017 Puntland executed seven al Shabaab men who had been captured after they attacked both the military base and adjacent village of Af Urur and killed about fifty people. The village and base are near the coast and a main road south so the government fights to keep control.

July 19, 2018: The United States amended its description of al Shabaab (as an international terrorist organization) to include the Kenyan branch (Al Hijra). In the past (since it was formed in 2008) Al Hijra often described itself as a separate Islamic terrorist group but its members are almost all ethnic Somali Kenyans and the group survives because of its connections with al Shabaab.
TICKERS: GOT

Source: John Newell for Streetwise Reports (8/13/18)

John Newell, technical analyst and portfolio manager with Fieldhouse Capital Management, profiles a prospect generator exploring in and around British Columbia's Golden Triangle.



Goliath Resources Ltd. (GOT:TSX.V) is a precious metals project generator focused in the prolific Golden Triangle and surrounding area of northwestern British Columbia.

Why the Golden Triangle?

Much has been written about British Columbia's Golden Triangle, as it is one the richest reservoirs of metal in the world. The Golden "Triangle," "rectangle" or more aptly, a "Golden Corridor," as we like to call it, is one of the most richly mineralized areas in the world. This Golden "Corridor" is a small part of a much larger geological feature of the Pacific "Ring of Fire." It is associated with some of the largest and richest mineral deposits in the world, from Indonesia through Japan, Alaska, the Yukon, down through Nevada, to the metal-rich Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and the massive copper deposits of Chile.

The Golden Triangle is at a much earlier stage of exploration than other mineral-rich areas like Nevada and Chile. However, with the recent snowpack and glacial abatement in the area, new exciting targets are now being exposed at surface and being seen for the first time in +12,000 years. Also, the success of Pretium Resources Inc. (PVG:TSX; PVG:NYSE) that began production last year and Seabridge Gold Inc.'s (SEA:TSX; SA:NYSE.MKT) massive, ever-expanding KSM and Valley of the Kings deposits have encouraged new infrastructure buildout, such as new roads, rail and power lines. The Golden Triangle is coming of age, after more than 120 years of mining history, men's dreams built and broken, looking for the sweet spot by having to drill through hundreds of meters of ice.

The northern British Columbia deposits are large porphyry copper-gold deposits, but the area has a variety of other deposits. An example is Eskay Creek (Stikine SKZ.V) a Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide deposit that produced more than 3 million ounces of gold, 160 million ounces of silver with grades of 49 grams per ton and 2405 grams per ton of silver, respectively. But it was not an overnight success; first walked over and drilled in 1935, the project was revisited in the years that followed until Stikine, a junior explorer, drilled over 100 holes into the property during the 1990s. Finally the company hit and was later bought out by Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX:TSX; ABX:NYSE). Below is the chart of Stikine; it shows the move after it hit and the incredible wealth that can be made when you explore and discover a precious metal deposit. It also shows that shares are volatile; some investors bought at $0.50, someone sold at $0.30, and then it went to $60.00. Investors must ask themselves why they are in the story, Dimes or Dollars, there is no wrong answer; however, the management of Goliath believe they are on to something important. Aben Resources Ltd. (ABN:TSX.V; ABNAF:OTCQB), also in the Golden Triangle, saw shareholders that sold last week and maybe forgot to ask themselves this important question.





Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

Goliath has options to acquire 100% of four highly prospective precious metals properties that include Bingo, Golddigger, Lucky Strike and Copperhead, covering 44,003 hectares.

Shares outstanding: 87,356,532 (believed that ~40,000,000 is in strong hands with family, friends, institutions, geologists and industry professionals).

Fully Diluted: 156,464,036 (average warrant strike price ~$0.18). This would raise abut ~$12,000,000. Therefore, no need to raise additional funds in the market.

Current Market Capitalization: ~ $12,000,000

Special Note: Private Placement shares issued April 12, 2018, become free trading this month.

Corporate Website and Corporate Presentation.

The founder, CEO and president of Goliath, Roger Rosmus, has extensive experience in the capital markets and resource sector. Goliath acquired its four property options from the J2 Syndicate, a private project generator focused on precious metals. The J2 Syndicate managing director and founder, Bill Chornobay, is a well-established project generator and dealmaker, and forms part of Goliath's senior technical advisors, corporate development and exploration management. This team includes members of the original group that generated, prospected and staked the Coffee Creek claims in 1998. They also discovered the gold in soil anomaly in 1999 and 2000 that now forms the nucleus of the Supremo zone. This discovery evolved into a 5-million-ounce gold resource that was recently bought by Goldcorp for $520 million. The team also includes some of the original members who staked and generated the Plateau Project in the Yukon for Goldstrike Resources Ltd. (GSR:TSX.V), which recently completed an unprecedented CA$53 million JV deal with Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM:NYSE).

Goliath Resources is a prospect generator with four excellent properties. Any one of these properties could be a company maker, as they all have the potential to have elephant-size deposits that would move the needle for senior mining companies looking to replace their depleting reserves in a safe political jurisdiction like Canada. The project generator model is an ideal corporate structure, because if any one of these properties has an economic deposit discovery, that project can be joint ventured, spun out and/or sold, and the company can separately carry on prospecting with the other properties.

All four of Goliath's properties have returned widespread mineralization of high-grade gold, silver and/or copper grades from exposed bedrock at surface. The new discoveries at Copperhead and Lucky Strike will be drilled shortly during the 2018 exploration program, and those properties will be highlighted today.

In 2017, Goliath purchased a 10% interest in the DSM Syndicate. This private company was formed by Bill Chornobay to pool geological knowledge and expertise relating to certain properties identified in an area of northwestern British Columbia south of Terrace. It staked a total of six properties and is marketing these properties with the intention to option or sell the interests. This would provide Goliath with 10% of all the economics of cash and/or shares when any deals are completed.

All these new discoveries are the result of the dramatic glacial recession and snowpack melting in geological settings where world-class deposits have been found within the Golden Triangle and surrounding area, thus making it easier for companies to find economic mineral deposits. (See picture below).

Responsible Mineral Development:

Goliath Resources notes that it is committed to "working shoulder to shoulder with its stakeholders to achieve responsible development of its projects, and to contribute to the sustainable development of the communities in which we work. Our work programs are all carefully planned to achieve high levels of environmental and social performance."

The map below shows the location of the four properties:

Lucky Strike Property:

The Lucky Strike Property is a drill ready project and is located approximately about 30 km north of Terrace, BC, with logging road access and is only 3 km from a major highway, power and the infrastucture of a northern city, Terrace, with daily airline service.

The Prosperity Bulls Eye Zone is 2.4km x 3.4km on the Lucky Strike Property and is going to be drilled starting mid-August 2018. It has a classic textbook geophysical and geochemical porphyry signature with the central zone extending over 2500 x 1500 x 500 meters and remains open to depth. This massive porphery drill target also registered high gold, copper and molybdenum anomalies, and is believed to be the source of the placer gold and large nuggets found in the streams as well as placer creeks that surround this zone. You can view the 3D video model by clicking here.

Click here to read complete news release.

Initial prospecting on the Lucky Strike property in 2018, has already resulted in the discovery of several new significant zones of widespread mineralization at surface, and Goliath has expanded its drill program to test one of these new zones (Gold Source - 400 x 200 meters) that returned 3.1 ounces per tonne gold from a hydrothermal breccia grab sample.

You can view the most recent project update video (August 13, 2018) by clicking here.

Goliath's website is very detailed and has a lot of information. The history of the property goes into much more detail than we can discuss in this short article. The complete Lucky Strike project information can be viewed on the website.

Copperhead:

The Copperhead property covers 4,354 hectares with logging road access, 6 kilometers to the nearest road and power line. It is located ~35 kilometers southwest of Smithers, BC, and situated south of the Golden Triangle area. It resides within the Skeena Arch, a belt-scale structural corridor associated with significant mineralization that will be drilled in August 2018.

The newly discovered and sampled Copper King Trend measures 2 kilometers long x 350 meters wide and remains open. It is defined by:

Widespread massive and semi-massive sulphide volcanic breccias at surface in an area of sparse outcrop over a 450 meter area containing potassic alteration. Grab samples with mineralization up to 7.97% Cu and 45.41 g/t Ag were taken from this brecciated system that remains open in all directions;

11 meter chip sample from a volcanic breccia containing massive and semi-massive sulphides returned 0.17 g/t Au, 4.28 % Cu and 45.41 g/t Ag. The chip sample started and ended in mineralization that remains open;

8 meter chip sample returned 0.08 g/t Au, 1.57 % Cu and 12.45 g/t Ag. The chip sample started and ended in mineralization that remains open;

SkyTEM aerial magnetics and electromagnetic data discovered an intense magnetic high and adjacent resistive zone, consistent with a hydrothermal alteration system. Extensive mineralized breccias extending over 450 meters, widespread potassic alteration and a corresponding magnetic high and adjacent resistive zone are consistent with a hydrothermal alteration system; and

Geochemically, many of the samples taken display elevated As, Bi, Co, Mn, Mo, Pb, Sb and Zn signatures.

Technically speaking, Goliath met its first share price target and corrected before rebounding sharply from its corrective low and then pulled back again to test the rising trend line. We did not expect such a deep retracement; however now it has corrected to just above the rising trend line. We believe we are in the postal code of a low and have an excellent opportunity to buy cheap shares in a company with multiple compelling drill targets that could deliver up significant new ore bodies.





Charts courtesy of StockCharts.com.

In summary, Goliath Resources appears to be an exciting, high probability ground floor opportunity in the high-risk, high-reward part of the early discovery mining cycle in mining. (See chart above). The company is committed to create shareholder value through systematically prospecting and exploring newly discovered ground that is highly prospective that has been uncovered by the very rapid glacier and snow-pack abatement in this area. This has revealed some spectacular drill targets at multiple projects that are near surface in both base metal and precious metals that experts say have been covered in ice for 12,000 years. And, finally, Goliath is in a safe political jurisdiction, in an area with good infrastructure, close to power, rail and roads. Last year I followed and charted Novo, Garibaldi, GT Gold and a few others with success, and Goliath appears to have a great chance of duplicating its spectacular 2017 runs.

John Newell is a portfolio manager at Fieldhouse Capital Management. He has 38 years of experience in the investment industry acting as an officer, director, portfolio manager and investment advisor with some of the largest investment firms in Canada including Scotia McLeod, CIBC Wood Gundy and Richardson Greenshields (RBC Capital Markets). Newell is a specialist in precious metal equities and related commodities, and follows a disciplined proprietary approach incorporating equity research, analytical frameworks and risk controls to evaluate and select long and short stocks primarily from the Canadian small and mid-cap coverage. Many large, midcap and junior precious metal companies use his technical charts. Newell is a registered portfolio manager in Canada (advising representative).

[NLINSERT]

Disclosures:

1) John Newell: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: I do not have a personal position in Goliath Resources, but family and friends do. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company currently has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. Funds controlled by Fieldhouse Capital currently do not hold Goliath Resources shares, but could initiate a position at any time. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector. Additional disclosures/disclaimer below.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Pretium Resources, Aben Resources and Seabridge Gold. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) The 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 interview, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Goliath Resources, Aben Resources and Pretium Resources, companies mentioned in this article.

Additional Disclosures and Disclaimer from John Newell, Fieldhouse Capital Management, August 13, 2018:



Disclosures and Disclaimer:

It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these pages will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Examples presented on these pages are for educational purposes only. These set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. The authors, the publisher, and all affiliates assume no responsibility for your trading results. There is a high degree of risk in trading.

Hypothetical and historical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical and historical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any trading program. One of the limitations of hypothetical and historical performance results is that they are generally presented with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical and historical trading may not present the financial risks and returns for future trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all which can adversely affect actual trading results.

Disclaimer: This Publication is protected by Canadian and International Copyright laws. All rights reserved. No license is granted to the user except for the user's personal use. No part of this publication or its contents may be copied, downloaded, stored in a retrieval system, further transmitted, or otherwise reproduced, stored, disseminated, transferred, or used, in any form or by any means without prior written permission. This publication is proprietary.

Neither the information, nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase of an investment program. Any further disclosure or use, distribution, dissemination or copying of this message or any attachment is strictly prohibited; such information, whether derived from Fieldhouse Capital Management or from any oral or written communication by way of opinion, advice, or otherwise with a principal of the company is not warranted in any manner whatsoever, is for the use of our customers only and may be obtained from internal and external research sources considered to be reliable.

Images provided by the author.
Opposition leader Simon Bridges is standing by his MPs, saying he doesn't believe one of them leaked his travel expenses to media.

Simon is defending the roughly $84,000 he clocked up travelling around the country in a Crown limousine between April and June.

He says he might never get to the bottom of who leaked the information before it was due to be published but said it was not his caucus.

The National Party leader lives in Tauranga - previous Opposition leaders have lived in Wellington or Auckland - which has contributed to some of the cost.

Simon says getting out and about the country is a crucial part of the job and suggested the government would be wise to do more of it.

The latest update on MPs' expenses, leaked to Newshub, show Simon spent $113,973 on travel and accommodation between April and June.

Most of that - $83,693 - was spent travelling in the crown limousine.

Former Labour leader Andrew Little spent roughly $35,000 less on travel during the same period last year.

Asked whether it was a good use of money, Simon told RNZ it was.

"I've been working incredibly hard to get out and around New Zealand regionally, to understand what's happening, to get a real sense of what's going on with businesses," he says.

"It's really important for National - given that we represent... nearly half of New Zealanders all around the country - that I get out and do this hard mahi [work]."

Simon concluded a 12-week national town hall roadshow last month, holding almost 70 meetings around the country.

"If the government got out of the Beehive bubble and did a bit more of this, they would have a better sense of what's driving the plummeting business confidence and also the economic downturn."

He says he did not know who leaked his expenses, which were due to be publicly released later this week, to the media.

The Speaker of the House receives information about MP expenses and the whips of each party also get given the information to pass on to MPs.

"It does seem pretty strange but I haven't turned my mind to any of those issues yet."

"Already I'm getting a sense that this is not from my party, that there's something different at play here. As I say though, I don't have perfect information on that. It may be over time we see what the truth is but it does seem pretty strange."

Asked whether he could rule out his own MPs leaking it, Simon says, "the information I've had so far suggests that's not the case''.

-RNZ
A Tauranga barber's mission to get men to open up has taken him to Puhoi.

Sam Dowdall, also known as The Barter Barber, was one of the many drawcards at the Puhoi Village Market recently.

Sam became increasingly troubled by the number of his friends and clients who ended up committing suicide.



About a year and a half ago, Sam decided he had to do something about it.



He hit on the idea of touring the country in an old van, talking to men about mental health issues while cutting their hair.



At Puhoi it was no different.



I met a lot of really neat people and had some conversations with men of all ages. It was a positive experience. I will be back, he says.



Sam says many men will open up to a barber when they might otherwise stay silent. He says this partly reflects tradition  barber shops have a reputation for being places where men can banter.

And partly it has to do with the vulnerability of the client in the chair being attended to a man wielding a pair of sharp scissors or a cut-throat razor.



If a man is willing to trust me to cut his hair, then quite often he is willing to trust me with other things as well, Sam says.



He adds that he often reaches men who would never think of going to see a counsellor.



A lot of guys  especially with all the suicides going on in the rural sector  know there is an issue, they just dont know what to do about it.



Sam talks to men about how they can look after their own mental health, stay happy, and how they can help other men going through dark periods.



He says a lot of it is about delivering relevant information rather than counselling and assisting men to see where they can get further help.



Convinced that money should be no barrier to accessing information, Sam does not charge cash for his haircuts. Instead, he will accept things like gas vouchers, the use of a shower, a meal or even a good story as payment.



But he admits going cashless does have its problems.



You cant pay your parking tickets with loaves of bread  and believe me, Ive tried, he says.

-Local Matters.
Click the image above to watch the video

In today's forecast we are expecting cloudy periods with a chance of morning showers, then becoming fine in the evening. A strong southwesterly developing during the middle of the day should be easing by nightfall.

It's a three-clothing and one-windproof layer day today with a high of 16 and an overnight low of 8 degrees. Humidity is 78 per cent.

High tide is at 9.20am and low tide is at 3.40pm. There's a sea swell of .2m with a sea temperature of 15 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 5.35pm.

If you're going fishing today the best fish bite time is between 6.30 and 10am.

In NZ history on this day in 1881 Helen Connon became the first woman in the British Empire to gain her Master of Arts degree. Her academic career started with education in Dunedin, New Zealand.

In 1945 on what became known as VJ Day, Japan's surrender following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the Second World War. More than 200,000 New Zealanders had served during the war and more than 11,500 had died.

In 1951 the troopship Wahine was wrecked en route to Korea. After three decades on the LytteltonWellington ferry run, and service in two world wars, the TSS Wahine was chartered by the New Zealand government to transport Kayforce troops to the Korean War. Shortly after leaving Darwin the Wahine ran aground on Masela Island in the Arafura Sea, east of Timor. There were no fatalities but the ship became a total loss.

In world history on this day in 1057 King Macbeth was killed at the Battle of Lumphanan. In 1248 the foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral, built to house the relics of the Three Wise Men, was laid.

In 1914 the Panama Canal opened to traffic. In 1939 the Wizard of Oz premiered in Los Angeles, California. In 1947 India and Pakistan gained Independence from British rule. In 1965 the Beatles played to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City, an event later regarded as the birth of stadium rock.

In 1977 the Big Ear, a radio telescope operated by Ohio State University as part of the SETI project, received a radio signal from deep space; the event is named the "Wow! signal" from the notation made by a volunteer on the project.

Today is the birthday of Napoleon Bonaparte. Born in 1769 he was a military leader and became Emperor of France from 1804-1815, and once said "A leader is a dealer in hope" and "Victory belongs to the most persevering".

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!
Syracuse police hung yellow tape on the Memorial Unit side of Crouse Hospital after a man jumped from a fifth floor window. The man later died in what police are calling an apparent suicide.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man has died Monday evening after he jumped from a fifth-floor window at Crouse Hospital, Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Richard Helterline said.

Someone at the hospital called 911 at 4:42 p.m. to say a man had jumped from the fifth floor of the Memorial Unit on the west side of Crouse Hospital.

When emergency crews arrived, they reported the man was in "very critical condition."

The man was taken next-door to Upstate University Hospital, where he later died, Helterline said.

A Crouse Hospital security guard stood in front of the hospital while police investigated a suicide near Monday afternoon. A man jumped from the fifth floor of Crouse Hospital's Memorial Unit, police said.

The man had been seen and discharged from Crouse Hospital's emergency room earlier Monday, hospital spokesman Bob Allen said.

Police believe the man jumped with the intent to commit suicide, Helterline said.

Security guards stood outside Crouse Hospital while police investigated. A member of the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office and Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler also were at the scene.

"At this time, this is not considered a criminal investigation," Helterline said.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Sen. John DeFrancisco's bill to set up a prosecutorial conduct commission might be unconstitutional, according to the state attorney general's office.

The bill, which is on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk awaiting his signature, passed both houses of the state legislature in June. It was the last piece of legislation sponsored by the 26-year state senator before he retires at the end of the year.

If signed by the governor, the bill would set up an 11-member panel to investigate claims of misconduct against district attorneys and their assistants. The panel could recommend discipline, including removal, to the governor, who already has the power to dismiss district attorneys.

Attorney General Counsel Leslie Dubeck wrote a memo to the governor this week raising concerns about the bill, according to a report by The New York Law Journal.

According to the report, Cuomo's office asked the AG for guidance on the bill. The AG's office supports the goals of the bill, Dubeck wrote, but isn't sure whether it will pass legal muster and could survive challenges in the courts.

Dubeck wrote in her letter that separation of powers issues could arise due to the bill. She specifically named the executive power granted to district attorneys, and the role of the state judiciary in appointing members to the panel, serving on the panel and executing discipline recommended by the panel.

Dubeck's memo notes New York's constitution doesn't allow the legislature, or a commission mostly appointed by the legislature, to discipline prosecutors.

The bill would also grant additional powers to the state judiciary, which critics have said could violate the constitution.

The District Attorneys Association of New York has fiercely opposed the bill since it was first introduced in 2015.

Dubeck shared some of the concerns the group has raised about the bill, including how the commission could interfere with ongoing cases.

The bill's drafters added a section during negotiations that instructs the commission to suspend activities related to ongoing cases.

Still, critics note the existence of the commission could affect prosecutor's decision-making.

That, in part, is the point, DeFrancisco has said.

"It changes conduct," he said during an interview with Syracuse.com. "They're more likely to follow the rules."

DeFrancisco has said he would be open to amending the bill to make "reasonable" changes in order to convince the governor to sign on.

Cuomo has not publicly shared an opinion of the bill. He has until Aug. 20 to sign or veto it.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
To the Editor:



I read with interest the article, "With fewer refugees coming to CNY, cities and programs suffer" (Aug.1, 2018). The article detailed the dwindling number of refugees coming to central New York. One result was a decrease from six and one half positions to one and one-half positions for refugee resettlement at Catholic Charities. The agency had budgeted $1.5 million for this program, but now expects a $600,000 decrease for this program. The article then went on to explain how this "hole" in the budget might be covered. In part, it may be covered by funding from New York state.

My question is, what hole? With five fewer employees, a decrease in program funds is simply logical. Why do state taxpayers have an obligation to provide funds for a program that does not need them?



George Checksfield

Liverpool
Rome, N.Y. -- Madison Misencik won't remember meeting the president of the United States, but her parents sure will.

Five-month-old Madison was in her father's arms at Griffiss International Airport Monday when President Donald Trump walked from the airplane to the crowd of cheering supporters.

In the front row were Ryan and Rebecca Misencik and their two daughters, Emily, 14, and Madison, all of Whitesboro. Trump touched Madison on the arm and greeted the family, who were invited guests of a White House aide.

"It was absolutely amazing," said Rebecca Misencik, who got it all on camera.

Rebecca Misencik's parents, Susan and Duane Evans, who sit on the Oneida County Republican Committee, also got to meet Trump Monday.

"It was their dream," Misencik said. "My dad is the most proud Marine and Vietnam veteran, and was so honored when the president shook his and my mom's hands yesterday."

The Misenciks were among about 100 people gathered on the tarmac to await the president's arrival from Fort Drum, where Trump had signed a $716 billion military spending bill. Trump spent several minutes greeting the crowd at Griffiss, autographing trademark "Make America Great Again" hats and even one woman's flag-print shawl.

Trump then got into the presidential limo and went to Utica, where he spoke at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney and a rally afterward at the Hotel Utica.

Misencik said Trump "has done an outstanding job" in his first two years.

"I feel he along with his staff have followed through keeping our country's best interest at heart," she said.

Misencik said her best friend's nephew works at the White House, and scored tickets for the family to be at Griffiss to meet the president.

"This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Misencik said as she loaded Madison into a car seat in the Griffiss parking lot. "We were truly honored."

Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | Google + | (315) 470-3251
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to a debate with Cynthia Nixon before the upcoming Democratic primary for New York governor.

The 2018 gubernatorial candidates will face off Aug. 29 at Hofstra University on Long Island, their campaigns said. WCBS-TV will host the debate.

The New York Times reports Nixon, a former actress on "Sex & The City," had repeatedly challenged Cuomo to a debate over the past three months, claiming he was afraid to "have an honest debate."

The two-term incumbent governor previously refused to debate Zephyr Teachout, his Democratic primary opponent in 2014, the Associated Press added. At the time, he said such a debate would be a "disservice to democracy."

According to the AP, Cuomo previously pledged to debate Nixon, but had declined earlier invitations. Their debate later this month is expected to be their only showdown before Primary Day on Sept. 13.

Rebecca Katz, a senior adviser to Nixon, said the Cuomo campaign negotiated the debate details and format with CBS without consulting his opponent's campaign.

"The result: a debate at Andrew Cuomo's chosen location and TV station, in his preferred format, with a favorable audience, and on a date in the last week of August when a minimum of New Yorkers will be watching," Katz told the Times in a statement. "CBS management has acknowledged that the only way to get Governor Cuomo to show up is by giving him everything he wants. We weren't even given a seat at the table."

"Cynthia will debate Governor Cuomo backwards and in high heels if she has to."

The Times reports Byron Brown, the chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, and Cuomo spokeswoman Lis Smith both suggested the delay in agreeing to a debate was tied to tax returns. Nixon has released one year of tax returns, but Brown and Smith say she should release at least five years' worth.

"Tricky Nixon is trying to change the topic. It's time for Nixon, who filed as a corporation, to release five years of her taxes," Smith said. "What is she hiding?"

Additional details of the debate are expected to be released soon. Sources told the Times that the debate is expected to last one hour in front of an audience of 150, with political correspondent Marcia Kramer and CBS anchor Maurice DuBois proposed as moderators.

A Siena poll released last month said Cuomo currently has a 2-to-1 lead over Nixon, with 60 percent of Democratic voters favoring the incumbent compared to 20 percent for Nixon. Cuomo also leads by 21 points in Upstate New York.
UTICA, N.Y. -- Hundreds of people flooded the streets of Utica Monday as Donald Trump made his first visit to Upstate New York as president, turning the city into a roiling political battleground for more than three hours.

Protesters jammed city sidewalks for more than three blocks outside the Doubletree Hotel Utica, where Trump was headlining a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney.

Anti-Trump demonstrators filled the south side of the street while the president's supporters gathered near the hotel on the north side. Traffic on Genesee Street slowed to a crawl as activists, cops and media filled the corridor.

Divided by four lanes of traffic, the opposing sides spent hours trading chants, cheers and occasional insults. That left cars pinned between two lines of dueling demonstrators.

Stuck in sluggish traffic, drivers showed support for one side or another. Some shouted vulgarities about Trump, others hurled insults at his protesters. A pair of motorcyclists circled the block with giant Trump flags, revving their engines to drown out protesters.

The anti-Trump demonstrators outside greatly outnumbered the supporters. There appeared to be at least 500 protesters, compared to about 100 Trump supporters. Cops on the street weren't able to provide a crowd estimate.

The result was a raucous scene with non-stop horns honking and chants like "Lock him up!" filling the air. Local police did their best to manage traffic and pedestrians, and to avoid any serious confrontation.

Outside the state office building down the street from the fundraiser, activists organized an official event to speak against Trump and Tenney. Indivisible Mohawk Valley and the healthcare workers union, 1199 SEIU, were among the groups leading the event. It featured an inflatable chicken with Trump's likeness and a cardboard cut-out of Tenney covered in corporate logos.

People sported signs with slogans denouncing Trump, Tenney and supporting Tenney's opponent, Anthony Brindisi. One man wore a costume depicting Trump as a baby. Another wore a Tyrannosaurs Rex costume. One man walked around with a red GOP sign speaking in a Russian accent, saying "Trump loves Putin," among other things.

Volunteers with Brindisi's congressional campaign wandered the crowd with clipboards, asking for people's email addresses and whether they'd like to aid the campaign. Others registered people to vote.

Jen DeWeerth helped organize that event. She said it was intended to hold Tenney accountable to the people, and to give regular people a chance to share how they've been hurt by Republican votes on a tax bill and limits on refugees.

Daniel Jezer, Rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Solom-Chevra Shas and an adjunct professor at Le Moyne College, said he got stuck behind the President's motorcade on the Thruway during their drive into Utica.

Jezer ran through the 10 Commandments, denouncing Trump throughout his speech.

"Trump is not only a disaster," Jezer said in a quiet moment afterward, "he betrayed the values of this country. Claudia Tenney is right along with him. They're a great danger to this country."

Jezer told the crowd Trump has told more than 4,000 lies since taking office, later explaining he got the figure from a Washington Post fact-checking database.

His wife Rhea, an environmental activist, spoke at the protest, saying Trump has declared war on air, water, food and shelter.

"We'll stop this ugly, demented person from changing our environment," Rhea told the crowd.

Down the street, about 100 Trump supporters filled the sidewalk outside the hotel. Many waved American flags and wore gear stamped with Trump's 2016 campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."

They crowded around police barricades to see the president enter the hotel. Most saw only glimpses of his motorcade as it arrived around 4:50 p.m.

Rebecca Sklaney and Howard Griffith drove together from Syracuse Sunday night to be in Utica for Trump's event. They said they got here early to scope out the area, including driving by Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome.

Griffith described himself as a hardcore Trump fan who hates Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He held an "Indict Cuomo" sign outside the event. Scores of those signs were distributed among Trump's supporters.

"New York is just getting so crazy," Griffith said.

At one point, Trump supporters started chanting, "USA! USA!" The anti-Trump people joined in. The two groups stood across the intersection from one another, both shouting the same phrase at the other.

It quickly faded, and they went back to other chants and shouts.

Reporter Nate Mink contributed to this story.
President Donald Trump told a room full of supporters Monday in Utica that Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised he would never challenge him in a presidential election.

Trump, speaking to more than 300 people at a fundraiser for Rep. Claudia Tenney at the Hotel Utica, was critical of Cuomo's handling of the state's economy, taxes and gun control.

"Cuomo wants to take away your Second Amendment (rights)," Trump told an audience that spent from $1,000 to $15,000 per ticket to hear him speak for a little more than half an hour.

"Now, he called me and he said, 'I'll never run for president against you.' But maybe he wants to?" Trump said of Cuomo, who has been among Democrats often mentioned as potential candidate for president in 2020.

"Oh, please do it," Trump said, mocking the two-term governor. "Please. Please! He did say that. Maybe he meant it. The one thing we know, and they do say, 'Anybody that runs against Trump suffers.' That's the way it should be."

Cuomo's office had no immediate comment about Trump's claim.

Trump blamed Cuomo for the economic woes in Utica and Upstate New York, and suggested that the governor missed an opportunity by refusing to allow fracking for natural gas in New York state.

"It's a shame, because you could have had no taxes," Trump said. "You could have had the lowest taxes instead of the highest taxes. And it's very sad to see what happened with New York...With the use of brain power and common sense, you could have had a boom town up here."

Trump and Cuomo have publicly feuded since 2017 over issues that include the Affordable Care Act, immigration and the Republican tax overhaul.

Earlier Monday, Cuomo wrote a sarcastic open letter, welcoming Trump back to New York, the "progressive capital of the nation."

"Despite being a native New Yorker, since you took office you have attacked our healthcare, passed a tax law that punished New York in order to fund corporate tax cuts, ripped immigrant New Yorkers from their families, launched an assault on our environment, and undermined the basic values on which this state and this nation were built," Cuomo wrote.

The governor added: "Perhaps you can use this trip to New York to help you remember what truly makes this state and this nation great."

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Utica, N.Y. -- President Donald Trump spoke for more than 30 minutes in front of of a Claudia Tenney sign in the Hotel Utica's Crystal Ballroom today, but he didn't have much to say about Tenney.

After a closed fundraiser elsewhere in the hotel for Tenney, with seats costing up to $15,000, Trump addressed a crowd of more than 300 supporters jammed into the ballroom. Some had waited more than three hours to meet him.

"I'm here for Claudia," Trump said at the beginning of the talk. "She has been incredible in Congress. She has helped us so much." He offered no specifics.

Trump spent most of the next half hour detailing his administration's accomplishments, including low unemployment rates, moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, ending the "horrible, one-sided Iran deal," instituting a travel ban from several countries, and imposing tariffs to combat what he says are unfair trade practices.

"We've imposed tariffs on countries that have taken advantage of us, and have for decades," he told the cheering crowd.

When Trump said his administration has started construction in Southern California of a border wall with Mexico, the crowd began the familiar chant of, "Build that wall! Build that wall!"

Trump said he thinks Tenney, in her first term in Congress, will easily defeat Democrat state Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi.

"She's running against someone who is a total puppet of (House Minority Leader) Nancy Pelosi," Trump said.

Earlier in the day, at Fort Drum, Trump had signed a $716 billion bill named John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. Trump never mentioned McCain during the signing at Fort Drum, but he did make a veiled reference to the Arizona senator at the Utica rally, alluding to fellow Republican McCain's vote against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act last year.

After ending the mandate that individuals must buy health insurance, Trump said, he wanted to repeal the entire act.

"I would have gotten rid of all of it, but our wonderful senator put his thumbs down at 2 o'clock in the morning," Trump said.

Local businessman Jim Brock said he waited in front of the podium at the hotel ballroom for three hours to shake hands with the president.

"President Trump is a rock star," said Brock, who runs an insurance agency in Utica. "He makes you feel good about being an American again, and nobody has done that since Ronald Reagan."

Luke Radel, 14, an entrepreneur who has his own news website, waited with Brock to get his school yearbook signed by Trump. Trump's signature takes up nearly an entire page.

"Say what you will about his policies," Radel said, "but he's a larger-than-life presence."

Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | Google + | (315) 470-3251
President Donald Trump gave supporters who spent up to $15,000 to see him in Utica on Monday more time than they expected at a fundraiser for Rep. Claudia Tenney.

Trump spoke for about 35 minutes inside a banquet hall at the Hotel Utica packed with more than 300 people, according to one of the guests, Randy Potter, regional director of Central New York for Trump.

"It was notable for the heat," Potter said after the event. "Some people had to be escorted out to cool down. It was very, very hot."

Trump, who was due to speak for 15 minutes, ended up going on an extended speech in which he asked Republican supporters to help elect Tenney and the GOP's U.S. Senate candidate, Chele Farley, who was in attendance.

But the president spent more time criticizing Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and other Democrats rather than touting Republicans.

Before Trump's speech, those who spent $5,000 to $15,000 per ticket were treated to a private reception upstairs that included an opportunity to have their photo taken with the president, Potter said.

The VIPs dined on medallions of filet mignon and shrimp, Potter said. Among the Republican leaders in attendance were New York Republican Chairman Ed Cox, Erie County GOP Chair Nick Langworthy and Onondaga County GOP Chair Tom Dadey.

Few elected Republicans attended the fundraiser. Potter said he did not see any of Tenney's GOP House colleagues or members of the state Assembly and Senate.

Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood was among the elected officials in attendance from Central New York. He was joined by Laura Lavine, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Syracuse mayor last year, and her brother, Gary Lavine, a longtime Republican presidential delegate.

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Geddes, N.Y. - Victor Ramirez plans to share a kitchen secret at the 2018 New York State Fair.

The owner and chef at Madison Bistro says he's going to teach people what to do with carrot tops during one of his talks at the Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen in the Art & Home Center on the fairgrounds.

"People turn them away all the time," he said. At Madison Bistro, he laughed, "we're turning trash into cash."

Ramirez is one of several new area chefs and farmers who are joining the kitchen demo lineup this year.

Mark Pawliw, the founder of Farm to Fork 101, is behind the change. With Farm to Fork, Pawliw connects area farmers and chefs with diners, hosting monthly meals that encourage people to learn more about who is growing food and what to do with it in the kitchen.

Pawliw says he aims to bring that same connection to the demo kitchen. The state fair hired him this year as the superintendent charged with coordinating the cooking demonstrations.

"We're going to have more of a farm-to-table theme," he said last week. He's also asking chefs, if they want, to participate in the fair's daily themes, which range from beef and dairy to maple and student day.

Fairgoers who come, Pawliw said, will learn more about where and how people work, both in commercial kitchens and on farms.

"A lot of people in this community can really cook," he said. "It's a great opportunity to get to know the farms. A lot of chefs support that mission. It's nice to see it come together."

The kitchen demo is a popular event, drawing 50 to 250 people to five daily sessions during the fair's 13 days. As in the past, chefs from Wegmans will start each day at 10 a.m.; the one exception is the first day of the fair, when the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que holds a food contest.

This year's lineup includes chefs and owners from some of the area's newest and innovative restaurants, including The Chef & The Cook, The Ridge Tavern, Defi Cuisine, Sweet Praxis Bake Lab, and Sugar & Co. (Find the full list, with daily schedule.)

"This doesn't look like what we've done in the past," said fair spokesman Dave Bullard. "There's a lot more farm emphasis. There's a lot more culinary emphasis."

Pawliw said he started building the schedule by contacting some area farmers.

Barry Sperat and his family run 2 Kids Goat Farm in Fabius. This year will be his first in the demonstration kitchen. "I'm not a chef, so I'm going to stick to what I know," he said. He's planning to show people how to make fresh cheese, whipped cream and butter.

Some favorite chefs, such as Sam Mondello of Vince's Gourmet Imports, are returning. Mondello says he plans to show people how to make homemade ricotta, lasagna and meatballs during his various talks. (Mondello's meatballs are repeat winners and contenders at the annual Meatball Madness competition each spring.)

Meatballs from Vince's Gourmet Imports in North Syracuse, N.Y.

John D'Amore of Strada Mia 313 is also coming back for his fifth year - with his popular meatless eggplant meatballs. On dairy day, he plans to teach how to make a quick mac and cheese and ice cream.

The kitchen demos are just that. No tasting is allowed. But each session includes a chance to win a door prize.

Kaleigh Ligoci, the pastry chef at Sugar & Co., is a newcomer to the fair's kitchen. She plans to show how to make an Italian meringue butter cream. "It's my go-to staple butter cream," she said. "It's so light and so much better than a typical butter cream." She'll also give piping and decorating tips.

A green smoothie by Alexandra Shytsman, creator of thenewbaguette.com and author of Friendsgiving.

Alexandra Shytsman, the author of "Friendsgiving" and who writes The New Baguette blog, is going to talk about plant-based cooking. She'll make a green smoothie with local produce that can serve as a mid-day snack or a whole meal.

And Pawliw has added a little alcohol to the schedule. Aaron Carvell of Old Home Distillers is going to show how simple syrups can turn a mixed drink into a cocktail.

Rich Strub, a chef who's planning on opening Eden restaurant in Hanover Square later this year, will talk about how to tackle food waste by using the most out of every item brought into the kitchen. "There's not much that he throws out," Pawliw said.

The Elvis Burger from Madison Bistro in Wampsville, N.Y.

Ramirez cooks that way too. That's why, he said, he's excited to show fairgoers how to use - rather than waste - their carrot tops. He wouldn't give the secret away; for that, check out his talk on Sept. 1.

And on the last Sunday of the fair - a food truck day - Ramirez is going to make something worthy of a food truck king. He's going to show how to construct the Elvis Burger -- topped with cheddar, bacon and fried onions - which came in fourth in the New York Beef Council's recent best burger contest.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday released a sweeping grand jury report on sex abuse in the Catholic Church, listing hundreds of accused clergy and detailing 70 years of misconduct and church response across the state.

The release is the culmination of an 18-month probe, led by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, on six of the state's eight dioceses - Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton, Erie and Greensburg - and follows other state grand jury reports that revealed abuse and coverups in two other dioceses.

Some details and names that might reveal the 300 clergy listed have been redacted from the report. Legal challenges by clergy delayed the report's release, after some said it is a violation of their constitutional rights. Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ruled last month that the report must be released but with some redaction.

The report has helped renew a crisis many in the church thought and hoped had ended nearly 20 years ago after the scandal erupted in Boston. But recent abuse-related scandals, from Chile to Australia, have reopened wounding questions about accountability and whether church officials are still covering up crimes at the highest levels.

The new wave of allegations has called Pope Francis's handling of abuse into question as many Catholics look to him to help the church regain its credibility. The pope's track record has been mixed, something some outsiders attribute to his learning curve or shortcomings and others chalk up to resistance from a notoriously change-averse institution.

The Pennsylvania grand jury report follows the resignation last month of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, a towering figure in the U.S. church. The former archbishop of Washington, D.C., was accused of sexually abusing minors and adults for decades. Both have further polarized the church on homosexuality, celibacy and whether laypeople should have more power. It has also triggered debate about whether statutes of limitations should be expanded.

"We're dealing with a long-term struggle not only about the meaning of justice, but about the meaning of memory," said Jason Berry, a reporter and author who has covered the sexual abuse crisis for decades. "And how honest church has been about this crisis. Most bishops, besides apologies, have not been on the cutting edge of change."

Church officials have already begun bracing for the aftermath of the report. On Monday, Washington Archbishop Cardinal Donald Wuerl, former longtime leader of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, warned his priests in a letter that the probe will be "profoundly disturbing."

Harrisburg's bishop Ronald Gainer said earlier this month that he'd remove the names of all accused bishops from diocesan buildings and rooms. Erie Bishop Lawrence Persico last month told PennLive.com, a digital news site based in central Pennsylvania, that the report will be "sobering" and "is rather graphic."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday that one lawyer's filling suggests "more than 90 'offenders' will be listed" in Wuerl's former diocese. Wuerl is one of Pope Francis's closest U.S. advisers, and sits on the Vatican's bishop oversight committee. The bishop is expected to retire in the next few years.

"While I expect that this report will be critical of some of my actions" in Pittsburgh, "I believe the report also confirms that I acted with diligence," Wuerl wrote to Washington's clergy.

The looming question is who the report will implicate. The Post-Gazette reported that it reveals not just "how bishops handled or mishandled cases of abusive priests, but whether they were aided by community and political leaders in alleged obstruction of justice."

The investigation took about two years. The report's length is expected to be from 8oo to 1,000 pages, the Post-Gazette reported. It covers all dioceses except the two already studied - Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown. Pennsylvania is believed to have done more investigations of institutional child sex abuse than any other state.

The report will recommend systemic changes and can be a catalyst for criminal charges, some involved said; two priests have been charged since the probe began.

Some named in the report have already disputed its findings. Two dioceses tried to shut down the investigation last year, the Post-Gazette reported, arguing its contents should be the focus of a local prosecutor. Some of its findings may be challenged.

Yet it comes at a time of new openness among Catholics and even the top hierarchy to serious criticism.

Berry said the report - coupled with the McCarrick scandal and others - shows the church needs a major overhaul in how it polices itself. He said the church needs a "separation of powers, an independent oversight."

"Canon law is not equipped for this kind of thing. It's an enormous criminal sexual underground. It's been surfacing like jagged parts of an iceberg for 30 years," Berry said.

Yet others fear the progress made by the church since the early 2000s is being overlooked. The number of new allegations is down, and the vast majority took place decades ago.

"The church has done things right since 2002 - Dallas was a game-changer," said Nick Cafardi, former dean of Duquesne University School of Law, a Catholic school in Pittsburgh, referring to the city where the church passed its crackdown rules on child sex abusers in 2002. "But what was done before Dallas is indefensible."

Yet the fact that such a small number of high-level clerics - as opposed to parish-level priests - have been held responsible is glaring to many Catholics.

The question of whether the church's sins have been confronted remains raw. Wuerl in an interview earlier this month with the Catholic station Salt & Light said he doesn't think "this is some massive, massive crisis." He then suggested the creation of an oversight board of bishops. Some critics saw his comments as tone-deaf.

That same week, Albany Bishop Edward Scharfenberger said the slew of recent scandals signals a new phase.

"While I am heartened by my brother bishops proposing ways for our Church to take action in light of recent revelations . . . I think we have reached a point where bishops alone investigating bishops is not the answer," he wrote.

Worldwide, the Vatican is dealing with law enforcement targeting abuse with in the church. In Chile, prosecutors and police are staging raids on church offices, confiscating documents and looking for evidence of crimes that went unreported to police.

As part of the probe, a prosecutor's office has summoned the archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, to testify amid accusations that he was involved in the coverup of abuse.

"People are basically revolting against what had been these sacred cows," said Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean abuse victim who earlier this year spent several days with the pope. "In the 1970s and 1980s, the church was a lighthouse for the country. And it's incredible to see this 180-degree turn. People who venerated the church, now they actually despise what they're doing."

The crisis in Chile is just one case in a new wave of abuse-related revelations that have raised pressure on Pope Francis to deal more forcefully with abuse. In France, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin is facing an upcoming trial on criminal charges for not reporting sexual abuse. In Australia, one archbishop was recently convicted in a criminal court for concealing sexual abuse, and a top Francis lieutenant, Cardinal George Pell, will soon stand trial on charges related to sexual offenses.

"Accountability from inside the church is not happening," said Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, which that tracks sexual abuse cases. "But secular society is beginning to affect the most change."

Doyle said the Pennsylvania grand jury report could also lead the way for the state to reform statute of limitations laws related to abuse.

Todd Frey, 50, who says he was abused when he was 13 by a priest in Lancaster County, spoke to the grand jury. He said he told church and law enforcement officials over the years, but nothing was done. The report will be his first opportunity to see if the priest is accused of abusing others, and who in the church knew.

"Who else did he pick?" Frey said Monday, as his lawyer David Inscho listened in. Survivors like Frey, who is unable to work, "know their little part," Inscho said on the phone call, "what they saw through eyes of a 12- or 13-year-old and now they can see everything. And that is really, really important - the validation of it. The having been heard by law enforcement. Actually caring makes a big difference instead of saying 'We can't do anything.'"
A car and debris in Seneca Lake after flooding on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018.

LODI, N.Y. -- Firefighters rushed to the shore of Seneca Lake on Tuesday morning to rescue residents stranded by flooding.

But the fast-moving floods blocked roadways with a 4-foot wall of trees and brush, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The water trapped firefighters with the residents they were trying to save.

Firefighters and others are working to rescue approximately 50 people trapped in Lodi near Seneca Lake in Seneca County.

Cuomo discussed the flooding and rescue efforts during a news conference late Tuesday morning near the Sunset on Seneca Campground on Lower Lake Road.

Heavy rounds of rain pounded Seneca County on Tuesday, creating major flooding in the southern half of the county. And the flooding could get worse.

"We have more rain coming," Cuomo said. "Time is not on our side."

While workers with excavators scramble to clear debris from clogged roadways, responders are crossing Seneca Lake on boats to rescue residents, Cuomo said. But the lake is not easy to navigate.

"There's a sea of debris that is floating out there in the lake," Cuomo said. "Propane tanks, sheds...I mean, it looks like a garbage heap floating in the water."

Sarah Osgood was evacuated from a vacation home near Lodi Point State Park around 11 a.m. The Syracuse woman said her family waded through water to meet a rescue truck.

Her mother-in-law suffered a cut, Osgood said, but was treated quickly. The family is now on a bus headed to a church in Ovid.

Cuomo said one minor injury had been reported.

Seneca County Sheriff Tim Luce has declared a state of emergency in Covert, Lodi, Ovid, Romulus and Interlaken.
The NUS is facing fresh charges of anti-semitism, ever since three of its executive committee candidates were revealed to have posted offensive comments online.

Tweets of Ali Milani, a current member of the National Executive and president of Brunel University students union, emerged from 2012 and 2013, in which he claimed that Israel was a land built on colonialism and ethnic cleansing, and has no right to exist. Milani, who is running for the post of Vice President of Union Development, also tweeted in a reply to another user that Nah u wont mate, itll cost you a pound #Jew, insinuating that Jews are stingy, and seems to defend the terrorist group Hamas firing rockets into Israel. He writes: Oh fuck off! Hamas firing into southern Israel was a retaliation!

Another candidate, Sean ONeill, tweeted in 2012 using the hashtags #heilhitler and #fuckslutskilljews. Tweets of current NUS LGBT+ officer Noorulann Shahid were also found which contained links to a comedy video titled Black and Jewish (Black and Yellow parody), which includes various anti-Semitic tropes performed by two black women dressed in traditional Jewish attire, making jokes about Jews having big noses and being stingy. Lyrics include my ass and nose, theyre both big, and dont spend no money but you know Im rich. Shahid writes: I LOLd at this.

Josh Nagli, campaigns director at the Union of Jewish Students, told the Independent he was appalled by the absolutely disgraceful comments, all of which are extremely offensive to Jewish students, and that The regularity of anti-Semitic comments being made by candidates is exceptionally worrisome and shows complete disregard for the welfare of Jewish students, as well as for the anti-racist, anti-fascist values that NUS and many of these individuals claim to uphold  particularly when those comments invoke the memory of the Holocaust. He urges these candidates to step down, a move which is entirely appropriate in light of the severity of their comments which not only fails to uphold their claims of true student representation, but also, as Nagli puts it, are reflective of a wider culture of wilful tolerance towards anti-Semitism from members of the far left of the student movement that has been present for a number of years.

The revelations are, perhaps, no surprise for those who remember similar charges against Mali Bouattia, who was elected NUS president in April 2016. In a report published in October, the NUS president, who is seeking re-election, was repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism by the Jewish student community. Subsequently, a report was published by the cross-party Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, which highlighted incidents Bouattia committed before and after her appointment. For example, she said in a recorded speech at a conference in 2014 that With mainstream Zionist-led media outlets resistance is resented as an act of terrorism. She has also referred to the University of Birmingham as being something of a Zionist outpost in British higher education. The report concludes that The current president of the National Union of Students, Malia Bouatti, does not appear to take sufficiently seriously the issue of anti-Semitism on campus, and has responded to Jewish students concerns about her previous language with defensiveness and an apparent unwillingness to listen to their concerns, The Independent reports.
Forward-looking: Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has demoed Turing and brought ray tracing graphics processing into real-time. Turing is Nvidia's new GPU architecture for AI, Deep Learning and Ray Tracing.

SIGGRAPH has long lost its exclusively "cinematic arts" roots and evolved into a mix of industry, prosumer and consumer technologies. While last year saw AMD make all the noise, this year... well, this year it sounds like the trophy goes to Nvidia, if CEO Jen-Hsun Huang is to be believed.

Taking to the stage in traditional garb (i.e. leather jacket), Jen-Hsun casually introduced the world to its next-generation of Quadro graphics cards, the Quadro RTX, powered by Nvidia's next-gen GPU architecture, Turing. It took just a few minutes to build up the narrative, the one about lighting being key to photorealism, from the early attempts of J. Turner Whitted at Ray Tracing on a VAX-11/780 to the holy grail that is what Nvidia is calling real-time Global Illumination, or the ability to accurately replicate light effects in an environment to the point where it is photorealistic.

This is something which, until today, was considered server farm material for processing over hours or even days. Then the Nvidia CEO whipped out the goods.

Nvidia formally introduced three new Quadro cards, the Quadro RTX 5000, RTX 6000 and RTX 8000, summarised below:

Jen-Hsun hailed it as the biggest achievement since the introduction of CUDA, ten years ago. And possibly with good reason. It is the first commercially available real-time ray tracing graphics processor.

At the core of these cards, Jen-Hsun told, is the Turing GPU consisting of:

The Streaming Multiprocessor (SM) core which provides compute and shading power, all in one;

The Real Time Raytracing (RTRT) core, which provides, well... real-time ray tracing;

The Tensor Core for Deep Learning and AI;

Video subsystem, which provides HEVC 8K Encode;

Memory subsystem, with a 384-bit bus and GDDR6 running at 14Gb/sec;

NVLink subsystem which now shares framebuffer across all cards at 100GB/sec;

Display subsystem which powers 4 displays + VirtualLink.

So what does Turing bring to the table? Well, if you know Volta, some parts are familiar, while one major architectural change stands out: what Nvidia is calling the Real-time Ray Tracing (RTRT) core.

Very little is known about it thus far -- except maybe a metric Nvidia is trying to establish, 'Gigarays' -- but we assume a lot more will be known over the coming days. Nvidia did discuss some techniques it is using in ray tracing, and how it is leveraging Deep Learning to teach the GPU to do better lighting effects. Jen-Hsun claims the real-time ray tracing performance on Turing is 6x that of Pascal (although we'd hardly use Pascal for comparison).

For actual CUDA performance we won't risk calculating much of what's going to happen at the Streaming Multiprocessor core, as it is a re-engineerd pipeline of FP and INT. Apart from this, Turing also introduces a new NVLink, which blows away the looming limitation of framebuffer sharing.

Yes. With the new NVLink, framebuffers are now cumulative instead of mirrored. This means two RTX 8000 cards are effectively sharing 96GB of GDDR6.

The Tensor cores are rated at 500 trillion operations per second, however, we've noticed that Nvidia seems to have 'dumbed down' from Volta. Jen-Hsun made no reference to single-precision (FP32) or double-precision (FP64) operations, focusing only on FP16 (125 TFLOPS), INT8 (250 TOPS) and INT4 (500 TOPS). This may provide a matter for controversy. Nvidia will take flak for its design, we're sure.

Out of curiousity, and as a matter of comparison, Turing has a massive die size of 741mm2 (Volta was 815mm2), and packs 18.6 billion transistors under the hood (Volta was 21.1 billion). These remain massive GPUs, and we cannot help but imagine what happens with defective dies.

Availability for Turing will be limited during Q4 2018, but is expected to be generally available going into 2019.
What just happened? The long-running battle between ZTE and the US government may have reached a conclusion. Yesterday, President Trump signed the Defense Authorization Act, which bans US government agencies and contractors from using certain tech from ZTE, Huawei, and other Chinese companies.

Back in April, ZTE was banned from trading with US firms for seven years. The punishment was for failing to fire employees who were involved in selling US-made technology to Irana violation of US trade sanctions.

With US businesses providing as much as 30 percent of the components used in ZTE products, the ban devastated the company, leading it to ceasing major operations soon afterward.

Eventually, the US said it would lift the denial order if ZTE paid a fine of at least $1.3 billion and replaced its senior management and board. But the US Senate voted to reinstate the ban, though attempts to bring back the sanctions were abandoned last month.

The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which contains the ban that goes into effect across the next two years, covers anything that is a substantial or essential component of any system. And while some components from the Chinese companies are allowed, they cant be used to route or view data.

Huawei said the inclusion of its products in the act was "ineffective, misguided and unconstitutional.

"It does nothing to identify real security risks or improve supply chain security, and will only serve to stifle innovation while increasing internet costs for US consumers and businesses," Huawei said in a statement. "We believe that the American people deserve equal access to the best possible connections and smart device options, and will keep working to make this happen."

The US government has issued warnings about the alleged security threats posed by Huawei and ZTE products since 2012. At the start of this year, bosses from six US intelligence agencies said using a telecoms device from one of the companies could put you at risk of having personal data accessed or stolena result of their close ties with the Chinese government.
Bottom line: Now that Samsungs Galaxy Note 9 has been unveiled, the company is looking toward its next handsets: the Galaxy S10 and foldable Galaxy X. Despite many firms working on similar devices, Samsung wants to be the first to get a bendable phone to market.

Speaking to journalists at the Note 9s Unpacked event in New York, Samsung mobile president DJ Koh said it was "focusing on developing innovations that will be genuinely accepted and liked by consumers." With everyone from Huawei to Microsoft to Apple reportedly working on a foldable phone, Koh emphasized that Samsung doesn't want to "lose the 'worlds-first' title."

Rumors surrounding Samsungs foldable Galaxy X handset have been around for years, but the last 12 months have seen suggestions that it is finally edging closer to a release. June brought reports that it would launch next year and carry a $2,000 price tag. This was followed a month later by claims of a 6000mAh battery and a possible CES 2019 unveiling.

As per ZDNet, Koh said the Galaxy Xs reveal wasnt far away and that the firm has overcome the many design issues presented by the foldable device. He also hinted that it could become part of a series, much like the S and Note lines.

We wouldn't have started [the project] if it was a going to be a one-time thing," Koh said.

Another area where Samsung is competing against rival firms is in the race to release the first 5G-capable smartphone. South Korea is expected to launch its 5G networks in March, and Koh said Samsung is working with the nations carriers to release the first 5G phone, though it wont be the Galaxy S10Koh added that a separate device would have this honor. Whether it will be the foldable Galaxy X, the Note 10, or a completely different handset remains to be seen.

Koh also addressed reports that the Galaxy S and Note series would be merging as a result of disappointing sales. "For the immediate future, there won't be a change in launching the S series in the first half and Note series in the second half of the year," he said.
In brief: Australia introduced legislation today that would require tech companies like Google and Facebook to help authorities decrypt some types of encrypted information  primarily communications such as text messages. The proposed measure would impose an AU$10 million (US$7.3 million) fine on companies that do not comply with the legal summons.

According to ABC, the Australian government says that the law is intended to help fight against terrorism, fraud, child abuse, and other crimes.

The risk here is that criminals, terrorists, pedophiles, and drug smugglers are getting away with their crimes without us being able to hold them to account, said Cyber Security Minister Angus Taylor.

It says the new legislation is needed because law enforcement is relying on decades-old laws that date back to the days of the landline. Tech companies fear that it will compel them to create backdoors into their systems as has been tried in the US and EU. However, the government assures companies that it does not want to do anything to weaken consumer privacy protections.

We believe encryption is absolutely crucial to protecting Australians. So the legalization explicitly excludes the potential for law enforcement to ask industry to create a weakness in their encryption systems.

Instead of creating a backdoor in their systems companies will help agencies "intercept" communications. For example, when one user sends a message to another that message is encrypted when it is sent and decrypted on the other end. Agencies want access to the information at the point of decryption. It is somewhat similar to a phone tap. Agencies can intercept the data and record it upon decryption, but will not have access to the device per se.

"Those crimes in the case of a computer access warrant must be serious. It's not any crime, it's got to be a serious crime. So it's three years' imprisonment or higher."

The law will apply similarly to how law enforcement goes after phone records. Strict guidelines will be enforced to ensure that the communications are essential to an investigation and the crime is serious enough (three-year jail sentences or more). Then companies will be subject to three levels of summons.

First, the intercepting agency will ask for the companys voluntary assistance. If it does not comply, it will escalate to a Technical Assistance Notice, which is more of an insistence that the company cooperates. If that fails, law enforcement can seek a Technical Capability Notice, which can only be issued by the attorney general and forces the company to comply under threat of a fine.

The law is currently in a one-month consultation period. If it passes, tech companies could see a sharp increase in information requests from Australian authorities. ABC reports that since 2013, the Aussie government has requested data from Facebook 6,977 times. Interestingly Facebook has granted 67 percent of those requests.
A Chinese tourist passed away after being bitten by a hippopotamus while trying to get a closer glimpse of the animal in Kenya.

Chang Ming Chuang, 66, was pounced by the giant mammal on the shores of Lake Naivasha in a wildlife resort located outside Nairobi. The unfortunate animal attack happened just hours after a local fisherman in the same area was killed while he was preparing his nets for a fishing expedition.

According to witnesses, the animal bit the victim on the chest after he got too close while trying to take photos near Sopa Hotel. The man bled profusely and was rushed to a hospital. However, it was too late.

"The man was bitten on the chest and his injuries were serious and he died minutes after he was retrieved from the lake," said Gideon Kibunja, Rift Valley head of criminal investigations.

Another Injured Colleague

Wu Peng Te, 62, another Chinese tourist, also obtained injuries in the attack on the night of Aug. 11 and was treated at Naivasha District Hospital. The organization tweeted that Chang's colleague survived with minor bruises. Furthermore, The Kenya Wildlife Service is already tracking the animal.

@kwskenya is sad to announce the death of a #Chinese tourist who was attacked by a #hippo while taking pictures on the shores of Lake Naivasha yesterday evening. His colleague survived with minor bruises and was treated at #Naivasha District Hospital. We are tracking the hippo  KWS (@kwskenya) August 12, 2018

Hippopotamus are mostly herbivorous animals. So far, six people have been killed by the animal on Lake Naivasha this year. According to environmental experts, the conflict between the hippos and humans has amplified due to the encroachment into the grazing area of the animals.

Furthermore, Paul Udoto, spokesman for Kenya Wildlife Services said that the attacks on tourists do not happen usually because they are protected by guides most of the time.

Environmental Issues

David Kilo, Chairman of the Lake Naivasha Boat Owners Association said that the hippo that attacked Chang was looking for grassland near the hotel.

He added that this is not the first time it happened and the case have been happening multiple times in the last couple of weeks. Many hippos are forced to stray into the hotels and farms for grazing because of the increasing water level. This has significantly increased the contact between humans and the animal.

According to Kilo, the attacks are probably going to continue in the wake of the encroachment of the riparian land by the pastoralists, farmers, and fishermen.

Additionally, the attack happened after the closure of the wildlife corridors around the lake. He said that they have seen cases of farmers who are fencing their land. Because of this, animals are locked in the water and can attack people while they are searching for new routes.

Hippos have very sharp teeth and can weigh up to a staggering 3 tons. It kills around 500 people every year in Africa.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung has reconfirmed that it wants to be the first manufacturer to launch a foldable smartphone and added that it would not be the Galaxy 10.

while speaking to the press on the sidelines of a Galaxy Note 9 event, Koh Dong-jin, president of the South Korean company, said the firm is focusing on developing innovations that will be accepted and loved by its consumers.

"We focus on innovations that consumers really like and accept rather than being the first in the world, but we do not want to lose the first [position] in foldable phones," Koh said.

First Foldable Smartphone In The Market

In 2016, the CEO and president of Samsung already alluded the idea to release a foldable smartphone. It was said that the model has been in its development stage with a commercial launch in mind for the future.

In January this year, the company had stated that it was planning to launch the product in 2018 but will release it commercially when it is ready. It has been postponed again to 2019.

"I would like to hear that Samsung Electronics built it properly when it puts a foldable phone on the market," Koh added.

Meanwhile, Samsung's biggest competitors such as LG, Apple, and Huawei have all reported that they are preparing to introduce a foldable smartphone as well. As a matter of fact, Huawei is racing with Samsung in creating the world's first foldable smartphone.

Samsung's Future Plans

Furthermore, Koh stated that the launch of the foldable phone is not far away and the company has passed many challenges in its durability and quality.

"We wouldn't have started [the project] if it was a going to be a one-time thing," he added.

This makes people believe that the foldable device will be the first of a series of smartphones. Additionally, the company's president has also denied rumors that Samsung is currently combining the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S series.

Next year, mobile carriers will be releasing the 5G smartphone. Although it is yet unclear whether it will be the first-ever foldable smartphone, Koh confirmed that its first 5G phone will not be the Galaxy S10, adding that it is going to be a separate model.

Apart from the first 5G phone, the company is preparing for other devices to offer to its consumers. Samsung is an all-around electronics company that manufactures multiple devices and the company intends to use this edge to set them apart from their competitors.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mazda has introduced some changes to its beloved MX-5 roadster, providing it with more power for its 2019 edition.

From a meager 155 horsepower in its 2017 and 2018 editions, the Mazda MX-5 Miata now comes with the same 2.0-liter engine, but its output is now 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 151 pound-foot of torque at 4,000 rpm.

According to a report by Joseph Capparella of Car and Driver, Mazda's vehicle dynamics engineer Dave Coleman described the MX-5 Miata's engine changes for 2019 as a "standard hot-rodding procedure."

To boost the engine's power, Coleman said Mazda made the throttle body, intake valves, exhaust valves, and their corresponding ports larger. Also, the pistons and connecting rods are much lighter, while the crankshaft is stiffer.

Higher Output Engine For 2019 MX-5 Miata

The MX-5 Miata now also runs with a fuel-injection system that operates at a higher pressure, resulting in a higher redline at 7,500 rpm compared to the old engine's 6,800 rpm limit. The adjustments also resulted in additional 26 more horsepower that MX-5 Miata enthusiasts will surely love.

Mazda coupled the engine improvement on the Miata MX-5 with new a new exhaust system and a dual-mass flywheel. While the flywheel adds more weight to the roadster, it will remain the same as the additional bulk is in the center. The drivetrain remains the same, as Mazda used the old six-speed manual transmission for the 2019 model, per Auto Week.

According to Wesley Wren of Auto Week, the additional power has no effect in Miata's "core mission of letting you drive the car to its limit, which is mercifully low enough to avoid a lasting jail sentence." Wren said the additional power could be utilized in a useful manner, and it makes the engine more efficient in the process.

Additional Power Barely Improves Miata's Performance

Capparella, in his report, said the MX-5 Miata's performance advances on the track are barely noticeable. The more powerful 2019 edition was 0.1 just second quicker to 60 mph and quarter mile compared to the 2016 MX-5, the fastest that the magazine tested.

Despite having an additional 26 horsepower under its hood, the 2019 MX-5 Miata accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and 14.5 seconds in the quarter mile. The softtop edition of the car needed between 6.1 to 6.2 seconds to reach 60 mph and 14.8 seconds to finish the quarter mile.

The MX-5 Miata has seven different versions in 2019, with prices starting at $27,000. For the Club RF, with an optional Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, and BBS wheels, the base price is $32,345. The GT RF comes with a price of $33,335.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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GONZALES  If commuter rail service is developed between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Gonzales wants to be ready.

Plans have been drawn up for a 300-foot-long, open-air platform, along with an enclosed passenger waiting area and, perhaps, a public plaza. A recently completed master plan for the train station envisions a reinvigorated downtown, with pedestrian and biking paths leading to and from the train station. A new park in the oldest part of the city is possible, too.

"A rail station would not only serve the city's residents, but act as an attractive gateway to the city," says the report, completed this month by the Houston office of Arup, an international architectural and engineering firm.

Gonzales paid Arup $100,000 for its suggestions. The study was funded 50 percent by the city and 50 percent by a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration that was awarded by the Southern Rail Commission.

City officials and representatives from Arup will present the master plan to the public at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 at City Hall.

Twice-daily trains along the $260 million commuter rail line would connect downtown Baton Rouge with downtown New Orleans. Intermediate stops are planned for suburban Baton Rouge, Gonzales, LaPlace, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Jefferson Parish.

"We're not going to start building a train station, until the commuter line is a reality," Gonzales Mayor Barney Arceaneaux said last week. "By the same token, we want to be ready."

This summer, a consultant unveiled preliminary concepts for Baton Rouge stations in downtown and near the Baton Rouge General and Our Lady of the Lake hospitals.

+8 First look: Proposed BR-N.O. rail service includes greenscapes, development A few dozen Baton Rouge residents on Tuesday got a first look at what rail stations for a long-discussed passenger rail service to New Orleans

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In Gonzales, the property on North Bullion Avenue where a train station would stand was purchased by the city in 2015 for that purpose. Largely an undeveloped field now, the site had once been home to a train depot in years past.

Gonzales was along a rail line that provided daily passenger service between Kansas City, Missouri, and New Orleans until the 1960s. The Southern Belle train stopped in Baton Rouge on each trip. Gonzales was a "flag stop," meaning trains stopped only if someone wanted to board or exit.

+2 Group trumpets potential Gonzales train station in hopes of winning support for commuter rail GONZALES  A field shaded by oak trees and crape myrtles may end up being the first physical reality of a long-discussed commuter train line b

"The big picture of the study is the surrounding road network and access" to the new train station the city hopes to have in the future, city engineer Jackie Baumann said last week.

"Basically, the design team gave ideas on how existing streets could be modified to one day accommodate bike paths, sidewalks and on-site parking for the station," Baumann said.

The master plan goes from those big-picture ideas down to the details of what would be needed inside the train station itself, estimated project costs and a timeline of actions the city would need to take to bring the station to Gonzales.

The Arup firm estimates the cost of the platform and station at approximately $5.8 million.

"We believe there are some grants out there, not just for Gonzales, but for the whole group" of communities involved, Arceneaux said.

"It's a long process," said John Spain, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission. "We are still trying to develop funding for the infrastructure improvements that would be needed."
The misuse of a village fuel card led to a grand jury indictment Tuesday of French Settlement's police chief, although his attorney said the chief just made a mistake and used the wrong card to fill up his personal pickup truck.

A parish grand jury indicted Police Chief Harry Brignac on one felony count of malfeasance in office, said Livingston Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux.

Brignac, 71, was arrested July 11 following an investigation by the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office.

The police chief was accused of using the fleet fuel card to buy $60 worth of gas for his personal pickup truck at a convenience store on La. 16 in French Settlement. Sheriff Jason Ard said the May 15 purchase was not authorized by the village and was captured on surveillance video.

Brignac's attorney, A. Wayne Stewart, said the chief is disappointed by the indictment and called the situation a "shame."

"He has devoted 34 years of his life to this town," Stewart said. "For it to come to this is absolutely a shame, for him and the citizens of the town."

Stewart did not deny Brignac ever used the town card for his personal car, but blamed it on a mix-up.

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"It appears there is at least one occasion he may have accidentally used the town card instead of his own card, which is very similar in size and appearance," Stewart said.

Stewart said the chief, who is elected, does not plan to resign from office.

French Settlement is a village of about 1,200 people in southern Livingston Parish. The village police department employs two police officers and a chief of police.

French Settlement Mayor Toni Guitrau said she brought questionable fuel charges to the sheriff's attention after a routine review of the fuel records revealed "discrepancies."

+2 French Settlement police chief arrested on felony malfeasance charges Wednesday LIVINGSTON  French Settlement Police Chief Harry Brignac was arrested Wednesday after being accused of using a village credit card to buy $60

Brignac is scheduled to be arraigned before 21st Judicial District Judge Douglas Hughes on Sept. 12, according to the district attorney's office.

Brignac is free on $50,500 bond.
DENHAM SPRINGS  The grass was cut and the headstones straightened when Fred Banks pushed open the gates at Plainview Cemetery on Monday.

Banks, the cemetery committee chairman, wanted the historic cemetery to look nice when community members came back for the first time since the August 2016 flood.

+8 In Denham Springs, 'approaching the end' of casket reburial after August 2016 flood DENHAM SPRINGS  A small backhoe inched past a row of stone vaults last week, stopping at a spot in the middle of the grassy Plainview Cemeter

The cemetery holds the graves of some of Livingston's most prominent black leaders, including West Livingston School Principal Louise Lockhart. And it was also the first site of Roberts United Methodist Church.

"It's looking better. It's looking good. It's looking real good," said Donald Boyd, 64, of Denham Springs, who came to visit some of his relatives' graves Monday morning.

Plainview Cemetery sits in a clearing off Louisiana 64, less than half-mile east of the Amite River. The graveyard suffered the most damage of the 74 cemeteries damaged in the August 2016 flood. The bloated Amite River tore through the cemetery, dislodging burial vaults and carrying them far from what was to be their final resting places.

Guarded by a chain link fence and a sign that said "Department of Homeland Security, No Trespassing, Keep Out," the cemetery was shut while church leaders, state officials and forensic scientists worked to identify people inside the tombs and put the bodies back where they belonged.

"I didn't ever think it could do so much harm, but it did," Banks said.

In total, some 260 to 300 graves were disturbed by the flood, and 119 bodies had to be identified, according to data from the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, which coordinates repairs for disaster-damaged cemeteries.

+7 Here's what officials may have to do to identify washed up caskets, end 'traumatic 'struggle Officials working to figure out who's inside all the caskets washed out of graves during last month's floods are using a process of eliminatio

Ruth Wisher, a spokeswoman for the AG's office, said in a statement 70 of the 74 cemeteries damaged by the flood have been returned to their pre-storm condition. Two, including Plainview, are close to completion, and two others are still in the recovery process.

"Thanks to the communities involvement and diligence by those involved, the cemetery recovery efforts are nearly complete," she said in a statement.

State officials from the AG's office and the LSU FACES put up army tents inside the graveyard and documented the remains inside the displaced tombs. They compared the clues they found, including name tags, medical conditions and funeral outfits, with memories from local residents.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency funded most of the costs of new vaults and re-interring the caskets. Friends and family of people whose graves were disturbed could file for individual assistance to repair the grave, and they turned that money over to Livingston Parish to fund the work.

In the end, the group was able to identify all but 15 of the bodies, Banks said. Those people have been placed inside concrete vaults with metal tags with the words "Unidentified," "Great Flood 2016" and an identification number. The vaults will be cemented to a slab in the back of the cemetery for people to visit.

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While the cemetery has been restored to basically the same as before the flood, there is one significant change: From now on, people will be buried below ground, Banks said.

Most of the approximately 820 vaults at the graveyard sit above ground, a Louisiana tradition that has the unfortunate side effect of making it easier for coffins to float away in a flood.

Also, anyone buried there must now have an identifying tag placed on his or her wrist, and the cemetery has also been mapped for the first time.

"I don't know if FEMA or the parish would come in here and help us again if we didn't take care of it," Banks said.

Despite warnings, Livingston Council waives flood-related grave requirements for Springfield cemetery LIVINGSTON  After the August 2016 flood disturbed hundreds of graves, the Livingston Parish Council passed an ordinance meant to prevent such

One of the first buried since the flood below ground is Laurel Addison, who died in March 2017. Her husband, Billy Addison, 65, said he was happy to finally have the chance to visit her grave. He hadn't seen been able to pay her a visit since the funeral.

"Finally," he said, "I can rest a little better."

Experts talk missteps, lessons learned and plans for future on flood anniversary Computer modeling that indicated a tremendous amount of rain could fall on the Capital region two years ago this month seemed so out of line w

+5 What's changed in Louisiana's housing codes since 2016's epic flooding? Not much Two years after a flood ravaged the capital region, construction of new homes proceeds in much the same way.

+12 'A totally new normal': Two years later, recovery mixed in communities hit hard by historic flood DENHAM SPRINGS  On one end of Capitol Street, a local developer believes a dilapidated shopping mall can bounce back if he transforms it into
DENHAM SPRINGS  A small backhoe inched past a row of stone vaults last week, stopping at a spot in the middle of the grassy Plainview Cemetery to dig a new grave.

It was time  at last  to start burying the 14 community members who died after the August 2016 floods. Their bodies temporarily have since laid in a row of vaults near the entrance, waiting for the graveyard to be restored so they could be buried in family plots.

Thirteen months ago, water rushed into the cemetery not far from the Amite River, cracking vaults, pushing caskets loose and toppling tombstones. Anthropologists, forensic scientists and dutiful church leaders then set to work on restoring the place, one of 74 cemeteries that flooded last fall in 19 parishes across southeast Louisiana.

Through a laborious process of identification and reconstruction, almost all of the 801 disturbed graves have been returned to their restful states, said Ryan Seidemann, chief of the lands and natural resources section in the civil division of the state Attorney General's office, which led the statewide effort.

"We're approaching the end," he said.

Of all the cemeteries affected by the flooding, Plainview Cemetery north of Denham Springs had it the worst. Nearly 300 of the 820 graves there were disturbed, with the remains of 119 people needing to be identified before they could be re-interred, Seidemann said. There are 40 graves left to fix and 15 caskets need to be identified  the only still unidentified remains from the August flood.

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As time passes, it is probably "unavoidable" that some will need to be reburied in an unknown section, said Fred Banks, chairman of the Plainview cemetery board.

Marked graves at Plainview date back to 1927, but the predominantly black cemetery is even older than that. It originally also housed a church built in 1894 and the first primary school for black children in the area, said Lawrence Jordan, 87, a longtime member of Roberts United Methodist Church, which owns the cemetery.

He and his brother Morris, 88, have known the cemetery their whole lives. As kids, they brought water to their father as he dug the graves. This year, the brothers have been active in identifying the lost caskets, which floated away from the vaults that are partially above ground.

"It really hurt, because everybody in here, we know. We know the family of them. Denham Springs is a very small place. It hurt to see that happen," said Lawrence Jordan as he walked among the vaults, now dotted with newer concrete ones that are replacements since the flood.

The months-long efforts are still visible at Plainview. Sitting next to a subdivision that grew up much later than the cemetery, the graveyard  still closed to the public  has a fence and a sign that reads: "Department of Homeland Security, No Trespassing, Keep Out."

In the middle of the cemetery are two army tents, a semi-truck trailer, a dumpster and a pile of broken vaults.

Shortly after the floods in 2016, the attorney general's office started collecting reports to local governments about damaged graves across the state. Those reports are still trickling in, with somebody last week notifying them of disturbed graves at a rural Port Vincent graveyard.

A small team of people travels to each site to document the problems. At Plainview, water had inundated the low-lying grassy field. It caused 119 caskets to become separated from their tombstones and require identification, according to the attorney general's office. Few of those caskets had a name inscribed or attached to them.

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Seidemann called in the LSU FACES lab, which assembled a team of forensic scientists and graduate students to help document the remains and caskets. Army tents were used as mini-laboratories for the forensic reviews.

They checked first for the most obvious clues: A hospital tag or a memory blanket with an embroidered name.

When that would happen we would breath a sigh of relief, said FACES lab director Ginesse Listi.

+2 Livingston Parish Council to consider amending new ordinance on securing burial vaults LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Parish Council may amend a new ordinance aimed at keeping burial

When that failed  as it often did  they photographed the coffin and documented the remains inside. Helpful information included hairstyles, jewelry, scars, tattoos or mementos.

Working with leaders at local churches, the team  which included Seidemann, a research associate, a health department official and a specialist in disaster mortuary work  found community members who remembered and could identify the dead. The parish coroner also helped find those people.

In one case, a community member was able to identify a woman remembered for having severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, recalled Christine Halling, a research associate at the attorney general's office, who assisted with the project.

"We just had no leads. There was no family information. We couldn't get a hold of anybody from the church," she said. "But really starting to reach out with the community members and they remembered a whole lot of details that helped us get a positive identification."

Restoration of Plainview and the other cemeteries has been paid for primarily by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Once a body was identified, a family member or friend had to claim it and file for individual assistance to repair the grave. Those checks, in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000, needed to be turned over to Livingston Parish government, which arranged for a contractor to do the restoration work.

It was a process that Mark Harrell, director of the office of homeland security and emergency services, said could have been done faster and cheaper through the public assistance program, for which the parish would have paid ten percent. As it stands, the parish has had to coordinate with more than a hundred individuals to wrangle checks and coordinate construction.

Banks, chair of the Plainview Cemetery board, said he has been happy with the cooperation between the government agencies and the community. And he feels grateful that they were able to get the funding from FEMA to do the work.

"It all fell in place," he said. "Hopefully, it wont happen again."

Some measures have been put in place to help ensure there won't be a repeat. A new parish-wide ordinance requires information including the person's name, death date, cemetery name and burial plot location to be affixed to each casket. It also requires that the vault lids be secured to the vaults, which in turn must be secured to the ground. At Plainview, new vaults that replaced the broken ones are now marked with bar codes to track them.

Seidemann and Halling said they are looking now at how other states are tracking caskets.

"Broadly the state is looking at ways to deal with this, but nothing has been implemented in any kind of uniform fashion yet," Seidemann said.

Anyone who believes a friend or family member's grave was affected by the 2016 floods and has not yet made contact with authorities should contact Attorney General Jeff Landry's Office at 225-326-6000.
A state judge has found a prominent Baton Rouge body shop in violation of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act and ordered the company to change some of the ways it deals with customers.

District Judge Todd Hernandez specifically ruled that Owens Collision's refusal to allow customers and their agents to view their vehicles while in Owens' custody "is absurd, unethical, unscrupulous, and has proven to be substantially injurious to its customers."

Hernandez ordered Owens to give insurance adjusters, vehicle owners and their agents full and complete access to any vehicle in Owens' custody during the company's regular business hours.

Woman accuses Baton Rouge body shop of holding wrecked car 'ransom' A Baton Rouge woman testified Thursday in the state's lawsuit against a local body shop that her wrecked car was held for "ransom" after she h

The judge also said Owens is prohibited from misrepresenting the intent, terms, conditions and obligations of customers signing the company's repair contract.

Some automobile owners who had their wrecked vehicles towed to Owens testified at a hearing in June that they were forced to sign a repair contract even though they didn't want the company to fix their vehicles.

Hernandez's July 31 ruling dismissed all claims against company owner Greg Owens individually.

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Owens Collision attorney Ashly Earl said Tuesday the vast majority of the states allegations against the company were found to be baseless, and he said Owens will continue to provide quality repair work to its customers.

Earl blamed insurance companies for the lawsuit that the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office filed in May against Owens Collision and Greg Owens in Baton Rouge state court.

The real fight here is between Owens Collision and the automobile insurance companies who pushed the Attorney Generals office to bring this suit because they didnt like it when Louisianas citizens had their vehicles repaired by a company that they didnt control, Earl alleged.

The Attorney Generals Office chose not to comment Tuesday on Hernandezs ruling.

The judge said whether he agrees or disagrees with the practice of a private business is of no relevance. He said he wont restrain free enterprise and micromanage a private companys business methods or practices unless evidence submitted establishes that such methods or practices offends established public policy, is unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous, deceptive, or it is substantially injurious to consumers.

Owens Collision also is being sued by an individual plaintiff in federal court in Baton Rouge. That suit seeks monetary damages and involves much of the same conduct complained of in the states suit.
Public school districts in East Baton Rouge and Lafayette parishes are among those qualifying for discounts on 142 cleaner-burning buses as part of a court settlement, state officials said Monday.

Auto manufacturer Volkswagen pleaded guilty last year to cheating on emissions standards tests and agreed to pay $2.9 billion in damages. As part of the settlement, states received money to promote clean air. Louisiana has decided to spend much of its $18 million in settlement money to replace some diesel-powered school buses.

Volkswagen settlement money to help buy cleaner emission Louisiana school buses Volkswagen will be picking up as much as half the tab when Louisiana school districts purchase new buses following the company's agreement to 

Seven school districts applied for new buses to be powered either by propane or cleaner-burning diesel engines. Rapides Parish has qualified for the most new units  60 new cleaner diesel-fueled buses to be delivered over the next three years. East Baton Rouge plans to receive 50 propane-powered buses through 2020, while Lafayette has requested help buying 13 buses fueled by propane.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is overseeing the program. Authorities said a new diesel bus costs about $90,000 to $100,000, and propane buses typically run $100,000 to $110,000. Settlement money will pay half the cost of a propane bus and a quarter the cost of a cleaner-diesel bus, because in terms of air quality, propane offers "more bang for the buck," said DEQ Deputy Secretary Denise Bennett.

"I'll take 50 percent on a bus any day," said Gary Reese, chief of student support services for the East Baton Rouge Parish School District.

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The district already has 20 propane buses in its 535-bus fleet, Reese said. Depending on funding, East Baton Rouge buys between five and 50 new units each year. Officials are working to transition to an all-propane fleet, though they had to buy older diesel-fueled models in the scramble to replace units after the 2016 flood.

To qualify for the current program, districts have to scrap an in-service, pre-2009 diesel bus so it is no longer in service, DEQ attorney Amber Gremillion Litchfield said.

The Volkswagen money will be paid out over several years. Districts that didn't apply last year will have another opportunity to seek funds in the fall, Litchfield said.

While DEQ has focused on school buses, Bennett encouraged applicants to apply for other approved projects. Most people who have contacted the state about the settlement have written in to encourage DEQ to build more charging stations for electric vehicles. Through a separate but related part of the settlement, Volkswagen has agreed to build three charging stations in Sulphur, Breaux Bridge and a third site to be determined.

+2 Charging ahead: Electric vehicle stations gaining some traction in Louisiana For years, as electric vehicle sales lagged in Louisiana compared with other states, so too has the availability of public, fast-charging stat

Louisiana will also spend some money replacing diesel-powered state equipment, or at least swapping out their engines. DEQ and the Department of Transportation and Development are still working out the details, but the money could go toward dump trucks, bucket trucks, wreckers and truck tractors.
Putting aside for a moment the question of whether Jeff Sadow or the pope can better speak to the theology of the Roman Catholic Church, I wri
The transformation of the Esplanade Avenue and Gov. Nicholls Street wharves into public park space was one of former Mayor Mitch Landrieus last major project announcements, with promises of the Mississippi Riverfront along the French Quarter extending to a 3-mile long linear park linking Spanish Plaza to the 9th Ward.

The plan came with the city turning over its Public Belt Railroad over to the Port of New Orleans, and Landrieu also considered tapping the area as a specially taxed economic development district to generate some city revenue. Public hearings would help determine the future of the riverfront, which would create a contiguous green space from Woldenberg Park and the Moonwalk to Crescent Park.

Last week, in an essay for TIME, author and Tulane University professor Walter Isaacson, who also serves on the New Orleans City Planning Commission, wrote that the Esplanade Avenue wharf where I once worked as a kid is being converted into a music and performance venue to draw visitors from nearby Frenchman Street and the French Quarter.

+9 'A historical moment': City officials lay out plans for riverfront redevelopment The final pieces of Mayor Mitch Landrieus landmark plan to create what could be the longest continuous stretch of public riverfront park in a

That part of the piece  in which Isaacson writes that his nostalgia for the Mississippi River has grown to an appreciation of the economic potential of the citys port  caught the attention of some downtown residents, who called City Hall with concerns that wharf plans were predestined, or are already in the works, or that a music venue could be too disruptive on that side of downtown.

Isaacson tells Gambit he doesnt know what the plans are and was pointing to the park project as an example of the citys vision of tourism expansion, with the wharf turning into something like Crescent Park or the Moonwalk or other public parks, where theres venues for art and music and tourism. As for its specific use as a music venue, I obviously dont know for sure, because there have been no hearings or proposals on it, he said.

Isaacsons piece argues that as the city looks to wring more tourism-related dollars from new districts and venues like the park, it also should seek to improve the port. My point was we romanticize, but we must also respect its economic potential, including opportunities for better local wages and racial equity, he said.

Isaacson writes: We devote a lot of energy, especially in places like New Orleans, thinking of ways to increase tourism. Thats fine. But we also need to focus on nurturing and improving our port. Like other ports, it suffers from our national inattention to critical infrastructure. The money spent on seemingly mundane things like new cranes and terminals will generate jobs in local port-related industries and also enhance distribution for the agricultural and industrial products from the 40 [percent] of America whose shipping needs are served by the Mississippi.

In a Jan. 22 letter to Landrieu, members of New Orleans state delegation  including now-At-Large Councilmember Helena Moreno  called for a briefing, as soon as possible, on plans for the project, so that we may be able to provide information, and clarity, to our constituents who have concerns regarding this development.

The Audubon Commission, which entered into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the city to operate the park space, is expected to preview the public process for hearings on the wharf at a City Council committee meeting Aug. 14.

District C Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, whose district encompasses the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny, requested the Audubon Commission appear at the Councils Governmental Affairs and Transportation committees, according to an Audubon spokesperson.

Audubon is pleased to be partnering with the City on these important riverfront projects and will be providing updates at the Committee meetings tomorrow, Audubon said in a statement to Gambit.
Call it the long game. Food + Wine magazine this week published a story listing the 40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years. New Orleans is well represented, with a reach that goes beyond the city itself.

The magazines digital restaurant editor Maria Yagoda described the list as recognizing restaurants that have paved the way for the country's current dining landscape. Some are much older than 40 years; some are still relative newcomers but have already become canon.

Such lists are bound to (and often designed to) provoke different opinions. But in the long hot New Orleans summer, anything that gets people around the country thinking about the citys dining scene is generally good news here.

Nationally, the magazines list includes heavyweights like Eleven Madison Park, Spago, the French Laundry and Chez Panisse, and also much more casual eateries, including the Kogi food truck in Los Angeles (famous for Korean tacos), Princes Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville and Rodney Scotts BBQ in Charleston.

Here are the New Orleans (and New Orleans-related) restaurants on the list:

Commanders Palace, for its role in establishing NOLA as an American culinary capital and hotbed of talent with the early superstar examples of Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse.

Dooky Chases Restaurant, for its cuisine and history in the civil rights movement, and for helping raise the national profile of gumbo and fried chicken, two of its specialties.

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Compere Lapin, though much newer than the others here (it opened in 2015), for chef Nina Comptons role as an essential ambassador of contemporary New Orleans dining."

Some New Orleans names were included for restaurants outside New Orleans too. They include:

Brennans of Houston, the longtime Texas offshoot from the Commanders Palace branch of the Brennan restaurant family, for launching careers and enduring as one of the best Southern restaurants in the country.

Emerils New Orleans Fish House, in Las Vegas, for helping launch modern Vegas dining culture and solidifying Lagasses celebrity and his New Orleans-adjacent brand, which he would continue to spread across the country with quality restaurants and television shows.
Standing in a cavernous bay of the Michoud Assembly Facility's 2.2 million square feet of manufacturing space, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said Monday that he is "very confident" that in 2020 the first of the massive liquid hydrogen tanks being built there will go farther into space than any human has ever been.

Bridenstine's comments came near the end of an hour-long tour of the facility, his first trip to the New Orleans East site since being confirmed as NASA's chief in April.

"This is our rocket factory," Bridenstine said. "Michoud is focused on SLS and Orion."

The first scheduled test flight of NASA's Space Launch System was originally scheduled for this year but has been delayed until at least late 2019. Mid-2020 is a more realistic target. That launch will be unmanned. A crewed mission is currently scheduled for 2023.

The Orion spacecraft will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, sustain them there and bring them back safely. It will be launched on the SLS, NASAs new heavy-lift rocket.

The SLS was first developed as a way to get humans to Mars, a plan that still exists. But under the Trump administration, that directive was refocused on the moon and building a sustainable presence there.

Americans should consider using any natural resources available on the moon as well, Bridenstine said.

As he spoke at the end of the tour, behind him lay one of the massive SLS fuel tanks. One tank, the larger, will be more than 130 feet long and will hold about 537,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen; the second will hold 160,000 gallons of liquid oxygen.

Both fuels must be kept liquid, which means they need to be super cold. The hydrogen must be kept at -423 degrees Fahrenheit; the oxygen must be kept at -293 degrees.

Construction of the tanks, which together help form what's known as the core stage of the rocket, is a central focus of the manufacturing effort at Michoud. The tanks are made by combining a series of cylinders, known as "barrels," capped at each end by a dome.

Those barrels are welded together in a room that is more than 200 feet high before being covered with a special insulating foam that keeps the fuels at the required temperatures.

Elsewhere in the massive Michoud facility, engineers and astronauts are working on a far smaller but more intricate part of getting humans off the planet. The Orion space capsule bears a resemblance to its Apollo program forebears but is different in many ways, said Scott Wilson, a NASA program manager.

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"Physics drives you to a certain shape," he said. But the technology is vastly different. The Orion will use solar arrays and batteries instead of fuel cells, which will give it far longer life. Its avionics  the systems that control how it flies  will be vastly superior to those on the Apollo missions.

Perhaps most notable to its pilots, the Orion is bigger than the Apollo crew capsule. The first of the Orion capsules, for the 2020 mission, has already been sent to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The second, the one that will be used for the manned mission in 2023, is currently being built at Michoud.

Sending missions to the moon and beyond is a key to American foreign policy, Bridenstine said.

Can't see video below? Click here.

Taking such a scientific lead is an effective tool of "soft power" and diplomatic leverage that can only help the United States, he said. And while he said he supports President Donald Trump's desire to create a new armed service to be called the Space Force, he stressed that NASA's mission is scientific in nature.

"We do science, we do discovery, we do technology, we do exploration," Bridenstine said. He said he wants to keep NASA apart from national security or defense operations. "We want partners from around the world."

He also noted that some of those partners would be private companies like SpaceX or Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin.

"We want to be one among many customers and we want many providers," he said. The proliferation of private space companies  all of which are currently working on low-earth orbit projects  helps NASA focus on major deep-space projects.

If it works as planned, the first SLS missions will slingshot away from the Earth toward the moon before swinging out wide in a moon orbit, going farther from the Earth than anyone ever has before returning to Earth and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

"This isn't flags and footprints," Bridenstine said. "For us it's not just to get to the moon, but to stay at the moon."
A state district judge has sided with the St. Tammany Parish School Board in a lawsuit filed by a parent who wanted the board to create a French immersion program for students entering kindergarten and first grade this fall.

The suit, filed by parent Anne Ogden in March, was heard by 22nd Judicial District Judge Raymond Childress late last month.

Ogden claimed that she and other parents who wanted the program had met all the requirements of a state law with a petition that included the electronic signatures of the parents of 36 children about to enter kindergarten and 27 going into first grade.

School systems are required by state law to provide French immersion programs if requested in writing by the parents or guardians of at least 25 students going into either kindergarten or first grade by March 1 of the previous school year.

Ogden's suit alleged that the St. Tammany school system created an application form that's not included in the state law  and did so just seven days before the deadline, telling her she was responsible for getting all those interested to fill out the form.

Ogden claimed the form was designed to harass and intimidate parents. Among other things, it said that if more than 25 children signed up, a lottery would be used, and for students who ended up not being placed in the immersion program, their parents had to waive their right to attend the school whose attendance boundaries they live in.

Ogden was not able to get enough parents to fill out the School Board's form.

She and another parent testified at the hearing, along with Regina Sanford, assistant superintendent in charge of curriculum.

Childress ruled that although the requirements in the system's form are "onerous," they reflect what is in the state statute and are "necessary for any school board to make the commitment necessary to create a foreign language immersion program."

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Should the requisite number of students commit to the program in future years, Childress said, the St. Tammany board will be required to abide by the provisions of the law.

Superintendent Trey Folse said system officials were reviewing the ruling and "looking at the implications it could have for any future program applications of this kind."

Ogden said she was disappointed with the decision.

"I think if the School Board had the best interest of the children at heart, they would have gone with what the Legislature has made very clear: that the immersion programs are so beneficial to children," she said.

"We will be back," she added. "This immersion request is not going away."

Chuck Branton, Ogden's attorney, said he was surprised that the judge accepted the School Board's form because it gives the system the right to use a lottery, which is not provided in the state law.

By leaving the form in place, Branton said, the court was implicitly saying that it is valid. "But it's a major deterrent," he said. "If your kid is the 28th child, and youve waived your rights (to attend the nearest regular school), what then? The law doesnt say (the program) is limited to 25 (students per grade), just that its the minimum."

Branton said that smaller, less affluent school districts than St. Tammany offer French immersion programs elsewhere in Louisiana.

"Hopefully, the parents will regroup. It would be nice if the school system would try to work with the parents instead of fighting them tooth and nail," he said. "There's no legitimate reason not to put this in place."

Andrew Canulette contributed to this report.
Family members of a man who was beaten to death Friday while allegedly trying to steal someone's wallet identified the man Monday as 31-year-old Kerwin Anthony Duncan.

A cousin who asked not to be identified by name said that Duncan had fallen on hard financial times and that family members hope prosecutors will bring criminal charges against his killer.

That man's attorney, meanwhile, appears to be preparing to argue self-defense.

Police quickly arrested Duncans accused killer  Simon Morris, also 31  and recommended that prosecutors charge him with manslaughter, defined as a killing immediately following a provocation that would ordinarily cause someone to lose their composure.

Manslaughter has no mandatory minimum punishment but can carry up to 40 years in prison, while a murder charge would call for an automatic life sentence.

Morris family has hired attorneys Seth Bloom and David Gremillion to defend him. Bloom said his client's actions were justified as he fended off a man who had harassed and then robbed him.

While Morris is white and Duncan was black, Bloom said there is no indication race factored into the deadly encounter.

Facts are still coming out, but we plan on providing a robust defense for my client, who was the victim of a theft, really, and was defending himself, said Bloom.

According to police, Duncan approached Morris and asked him for a dollar at the Express Mart Gas Station at 4140 S. Claiborne Ave. just after 8 a.m. Friday. Duncan then allegedly reached into Morris back pocket, grabbed his wallet and ran across South Claiborne at Milan Street.

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Morris chased Duncan and caught up with him at the back driveway of Hi Class Customs, a window tinting and upholstery shop about a block away. Morris took back his wallet and then began striking Duncan with his fists and feet for what seemed like five minutes, police said, citing eyewitness accounts.

Duncan tried to cover his face and body as he was begging Morris to stop, police said.

Investigators said at least two people tried to restrain Morris before he was pulled off of Duncan, who was later pronounced dead at University Medical Center.

Without elaborating, Bloom said there was more to the story than the polices initial account of the incident. He said he planned to file a motion in court to reduce the $150,000 bail set for Morris following his arrest.

A man with Morris name and date of birth has prior arrests in the area of Tampa, Florida, on allegations of marijuana possession and domestic violence battery, according to court records.

Duncan received a two-year prison sentence in October 2008 after pleading guilty in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court to purse snatching, records show.

A week before his death, Orleans Parish prosecutors had dropped a simple burglary charge against him. He was due in court this week in connection with a separate felony theft charge.

Duncan was working odd jobs through a temporary agency and was struggling to make ends meet recently, the cousin said.

The cousin added, "He was going through a rough patch, but we definitely don't think he deserved death."
John Stewart was released on parole recently after spending nearly 14 years in prison for an armed robbery in Ascension Parish, but his legal problems are not over.

New Orleans police on Monday jailed Stewart, 39, in connection with a botched carjacking that left a Tennessee pastor dead in New Orleans in 2002. He would face life imprisonment  or potentially the death penalty  if convicted of the first-degree murder count on which he was booked.

According to police, Stewart and a man named Norman Tilford tried to steal the Rev. Alfred Hills car at gunpoint near Earhart Boulevard and Magnolia Street about 11 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2002.

Hill, of Memphis, was shot several times but managed to speed away in his car before stopping on the Pontchartrain Expressway and flagging down a passing driver for help, police said at the time. Hill, 55, was taken to the now-defunct Charity Hospital but died there.

Police said Stewart and Tilford then went to the parking lot of a Taco Bell at South Claiborne Avenue and Toledano Street, stole an idling car and drove to their hometown of Prairieville, in Ascension Parish. Authorities there nabbed the pair after they carried out another stickup, New Orleans police said.

Roughly five months later, New Orleans homicide detectives obtained a warrant to arrest both Stewart and Tilford in Hills killing. However, they were not booked at the time.

Both were sent to prison for the robbery in Prairieville.

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Convicted in September 2004, Stewart was scheduled to be released on parole on Saturday; instead he was taken to jail in New Orleans.

He made an initial appearance in front of Orleans Parish Magistrate Commissioner Brigid Collins on Monday night. Records show hes being held without bail.

Tilford wont be released from Angola on the robbery case before May 29, according to records.

An Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office spokesman said the agency has not decided whether to pursue charges against Stewart in Hills death. The deadline for that decision is in December, the spokesman said.

Hill was in town vacationing when he was killed. As the head of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, he dedicated his life to helping young people, a mission his widow continued after his murder.

"Those two young men who killed my husband ... I had to forgive them so I could go on with my life," Doris Hill told the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper in 2012. "I have nothing to say to them, but I do wonder still what might have happened with them if someone had intervened earlier in their lives."
A financial planner in a battle to "rebate" commissions paid by Colonial First State to his clients warned the wealth manager that one of its policies on kickbacks was not a "good look," and these comments looked prescient on Tuesday.

As part of the commission's scrutiny of Commonwealth Bank-owned Colonial, senior counsel assisting, Michael Hodge QC, on turned to a debate among some advisers about investments products that Mr Hodge said were described as "commission free."

Colonial First State executive general manager Linda Elkins appearing before the royal commission. Credit:Webcast

Banks and wealth managers have been banned from entering into new conflicted remuneration arrangements since 2013 under Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) laws. However, it is still legal to pay "grand-fathered" commissions agreed to before this date.

Mr Hodge said there were some Colonial products that had commissions built into them, and in cases where the customer did not have an adviser, Colonial was keeping the commission for itself.
Whitehaven Coal is "uniquely positioned" to capitalise on rising Asian demand for coal, managing director Paul Flynn declared on Tuesday, as the company lifted its full-year net profit 29.7 per cent and declared a special dividend.

Strong Asian appetite for thermal coal and significantly higher coal prices were key drivers behind the company's fiscal 2018 profit surge to $525.6 million.

Whitehaven Coal will pay a special dividend after a big increase in net profit. Credit:Louie Douvis

Mr Flynn told investors and analysts that "the centre of coal consumption, as highlighted by the IEA [International Energy Agency], is in our backyard, which is very positive. We know that Asia is the growth centre for coal consumption over the next 25 years".

Whitehaven released figures showing electricity demand in Asia was forecast to rise from 9874 terawatt hours in 2016 to 16,032 terawatt hours in 2030. According to IEA forecasts, coal's share of Asian generating capacity would rise from 35 per cent in 2016 to 41 per cent in 2030, it said.
Politicians need to pass the Turnbull government's energy policy, then step back to let the market actually work, former AGL boss Michael Fraser says.

Mr Fraser, the current chairman of gas pipeline company APA, said it was time Canberra reached consensus as the energy sector didn't need yet another failed policy.

However, other energy leaders believe even with an energy policy in place, power prices will continue to hit consumers hard.

Speaking as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull secured the support of the party room for the National Energy Guarantee (NEG), Mr Fraser said there had been a number of different energy policies that could have worked during his 30-year career in the sector.
While the middle-aged protagonists of Winter Sleep were in retreat, feeling their heyday rapidly receding, his new film centres on the disappointments of youth.

Modern cinematic master Nuri Bilge Ceylan follows his Cannes laureate Winter Sleep with another long, dense, discursive and deeply empathetic examination of the passage of life  in particular, intellectual life  in his native Turkey.

The Wild Pear Tree proves that making great art in Turkey is still possible. Credit:MIFF

Aspiring writer Sinan (Aydn Dogu Demirkol) has a dreadfully important experimental novel to get published before he knuckles down to making a living as a teacher; he comes home to try to find a sponsor.

Contemptuous of everybody  his family, the peasants in his home village, even the older writer he chases for advice and then dismisses as a sell-out  Sinan in all his arrogance is not an ostensibly endearing figure.

Ceylans achievement is to create a complex sympathy with Sinan regardless, through his frustration with his father, a charming gambling addict; his sense of betrayal when he finds his first love succumbing to an arranged marriage; and the hopelessness of his literary ambitions.

Education is great, but this is Turkey, a local moneybags dismissively tells Sinan.

To make great art in Turkey is still possible, however; this film is living proof.
An man has admitted mutilating his housemate's Staffordshire terrier, after he was found covered in blood and holding the dog's severed head in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other.

James Alexander Rech, 19, appeared by video-link in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to ill-treating an animal and a number of other offences over a five-day period in July.

At an earlier bail hearing, prosecutor Manfred Wojtasik told the court a member of the public found Rech holding the head and cleaver in the middle of a road, with his clothing covered in blood.

Mr Wojtasik said police then attended the home he shares with a housemate, the owner of the dog, and were confronted with a "bloodbath" and parts of the dismembered dog's body.

Rech had dog bites on his body, the court heard, and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.
Brisbane City Council has deleted all traces of a job advertisement after the wording of it was questioned by the opposition and called absolutely inappropriate by lord mayor Graham Quirk.

On Tuesday afternoon, opposition leader Peter Cumming questioned lord mayor Graham Quirk about the wording in a council job advertisement for a communications officer for the $650 million Kingsford Smith Drive project.

Lord mayor Graham Quirk says the wording of the ad was "extremely concerning" and asked it to be reviewed immediately. Credit:Glenn Hunt

"The ad states that to be successful in the role the applicant must have, and I quote, the ability to apply a level of political awareness in managing effective communication strategies, Cr Cumming said.

The Brisbane City Council Code of Conduct states employees will, and I quote, accept and value their duty to provide advice which is objective, independent, apolitical and impartial.
A septuagenarian tried to murder his wife, leaving her an emotional wreck in a "tangled mess" before he drove in front of a train and survived, a court has been told.

Albert Tedford, 77, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday to the October 16 attempted murder of his then 62-year-old wife Bridie with a knife, after she changed his colostomy bag.

He has also pleaded guilty to reckless conduct endangering serious injury when he drove in front of an oncoming train at Coburg, placing the driver and passengers at risk.

The court was told the pair had been in a relationship for 25 years and married for eight, but their union was sometimes acrimonious.

Mrs Tedford had moved into a bungalow at the rear of the house.
A former Education Department official embroiled in two separate corruption inquiries has won a payout from the state after arguing his sacking left him mentally incapacitated for work.

Former south-east regional director John Allman was sacked for misconduct in April 2015 after confessing to an Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission hearing that he destroyed evidence about the so-called 'banker school' scandal.

John Allman leaving the County Court after giving evidence at an anti-corruption hearing Credit:Eddie Jim

Mr Allman had a win in the County Court last week after initially being refused workers' compensation on the grounds that the department's actions were reasonable.

The Education Department will now pay Mr Allman weekly compensation payments, legal costs and ongoing medical costs.
It's about time: those of us who live here, and who aren't involved in the marketing of Melbourne, know this metropolis of almost 5 million people is not the world's most liveable city. Far from it.

Vienna has claimed top spot.

On Tuesday, the announcement by the Economist Intelligence Unit that it had ranked Vienna the worlds most liveable city  overtaking Melbourne after seven consecutive years  came as a relief to those of us who follow urban affairs closely.

I've reported on many of the past decades Economist Intelligence Unit liveability ranking releases. The first time we won, while the response from political leaders was little short of euphoric, the response from Age readers was more of a "meh".

The self-congratulatory response last year from our then lord mayor, Robert Doyle, was predictable.
The immense challenge facing the Turnbull government was put into words by Victorian Liberal MP Sarah Henderson when she urged her colleagues to back the National Energy Guarantee.

Henderson told the party room meeting on Tuesday about the grave risk facing MPs in marginal seats, herself included, if there was any further disunity on energy and climate.

She aimed her remark at Tony Abbott and everyone in the room knew it. She looked at the former prime minister as she called for all sides to get behind the policy.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott during question time at Parliament House on Tuesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Abbott, in turn, had a message for Henderson. I helped you get elected, he interjected, a reference to her victory in the electorate of Corangamite in 2013.
Labor-led states and the ACT are preparing for increased pressure from the Turnbull government to approve its national energy policy even though their main concerns have not been addressed.

Shane Rattenbury, the territory's climate minister, said the issues raised about the National Energy Guarantee were "simply falling on deaf ears".

"Josh Frydenberg, [the federal environment and energy minister] is postponing the day of reckoning when these issues will have to be resolved," he said after a phone hook-up with COAG energy council ministers on Tuesday evening.

Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says the federal government has held up its end of the bargain when it comes to energy policy. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Rattenbury described the 25-minute call as "functional", largely formalising an agreement reached at last Friday's ministerial gathering in Sydney.
Washington: The US will return a set of church bells to the Philippines seized as war booty by American soldiers more than a century ago as it looks to mend ties with firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has told Congress of the plan to return the bells, which were seized from the burnt-out belfry of a church following a 1901 attack by Filipino independence fighters that killed 54 American soldiers, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Two of the Bells of Balangiga at FE Warren Air Force Base outside Cheyenne, Wyoming. Credit:AP

For more than two decades, the Philippines has asked for the bells to be returned to the Church of San Lorenzo de Martir in the central town of Balangiga. Duterte, whose pivot toward China has strained ties with the Philippines' sole treaty ally, has also brought up the issue.

"We welcome this development as we look forward to continue working with the US government in paving the way for the return of the bells to the Philippines," Harry Roque, Duterte's official spokesman, said in a statement.
Kabul, Afghanistan: More than 100 members of Afghan security forces and 20 civilians have been killed in four days of heavy fighting with the Taliban in a strategic city, officials said on Monday, illustrating the potency of the insurgency even as the US pursues peace talks.

The clashes in Ghazni, about 90 miles (144 km) southwest of Kabul, the capital, began early on Friday and have forced throngs of residents to flee the city by road while others have taken shelter in their homes.

Afghan police officers search a vehicle at a checkpoint on the Ghazni highway. Credit:AP

About 1000 Afghan troops were sent as reinforcements Monday and helped "to prevent the collapse of Ghazni city to the enemy," but fighting was ongoing, Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami told reporters in Kabul.

US military advisers were sent to Ghazni to assist Afghan forces, and US warplanes launched airstrikes that killed 140 suspected insurgents since Friday, according to the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation coalition. Afghan officials said a total of nearly 200 Taliban had been killed in the fighting.
KFC was used to corral a large boarish pig on the loose through the streets of a New Zealand town.

The estimated 150-kilogram hog hit the pavements of the Waikato town of Waihi late on Sunday night, sparking an emergency response.

Police with the large pig on Sunday night. Credit:Stuff.co.nz

"We got into a pursuit with a pig," Waihi police Constable Harley North told Gold FM on Tuesday.

Constable North was unable to say how the swine got loose, believing it was likely someone's pet that had broken out.
BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2018, 2018 -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels 501(c)(3) non-profit organization celebrates its 20th year in the fight funding pediatric cancer research and will present Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center with a $100,000 Hyundai Impact Award. This institution is one of 21 recipients of this year's award, which is given to pediatric oncology departments at select children's hospitals nationwide. The $100,000 Hyundai Impact Award will be officially presented to Roswell Park on Wednesday, August 15th at 10:00 a.m.

In 2018, Hope On Wheels will award over $15 million toward pediatric cancer research and programs. This brings the organization's donation total to $145 million since Hyundai joined the fight against pediatric cancer 20 years ago in 1998. With this latest grant, Roswell Park has received $200,000 in grants from Hope On Wheels.

"Throughout the country, talented doctors are working tirelessly to help kids fight cancer by conducting research or providing bedside care," said Scott Fink, chairman, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board of Directors. "Our goal at Hope On Wheels is to provide these doctors with the grant funds they need to perform their lifesaving work."

Roswell Park provides specialized care for children with cancer in its Katherine, Anne and Donna Gioia Pediatric Hematology Oncology Center as part of the Roswell Park Oishei Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Program  a regional care collaboration with Oishei Children's Hospital and UBMD Pediatrics.

During the event, children who have received treatment for cancer at Roswell Park will participate in the program's signature Handprint Ceremony, in which they'll dip their hands in paint and place their handprints on a white canvas. Their colorful handprints on the canvas will represent their individual and collective journeys, hopes and dreams.

For more information about Hyundai Hope On Wheels and to view a complete list of this year's grant winners, please visit HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org/research. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at facebook.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels, twitter.com/HopeOnWheels or instagram.com/HyundaiHopeOnWheels.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. HHOW is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $145 million towards childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile fully-transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a community united by the drive to eliminate cancer's grip on humanity by unlocking its secrets through personalized approaches and unleashing the healing power of hope. Founded by Dr. Roswell Park in 1898, it is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. Learn more at www.roswellpark.org, or contact us at 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or ASKRoswell@roswellpark.org.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook
MORE: CAED (Consortium For Automotive Education) The Auto Channels Automotive Teaching Institutions Guide And Weekly Auto Lab Radio Archives

ATLANTA--Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) continues to expand its technician training and development programs to tackle the critical shortage of qualified automotive technicians in the U.S. The luxury automotive manufacturer, which recently became the first to establish a Registered Apprenticeship Program for veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, today launched a partnership with Jefferson Community & Technical College (JCTC) in Louisville, Kentucky. This partnership is the latest addition to a growing number of technician education programs offered by MBUSA.

Announced at a ribbon cutting ceremony that included remarks by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, Kentucky Secretary of Education and Workforce Development Derrick Ramsey, Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer and MBUSA Vice President of Customer Service Christian Treiber. The partnership is the first-of-its-kind in the state and an important addition to the curriculum at JCTC.

The Mercedes-Benz partnership with JCTC will help to meet a critical and immediate need for qualified, skilled automotive technicians, said Governor Bevin. This innovative collaboration with an iconic, world-class company is a perfect addition to the Commonwealths top-notch registered apprenticeship programs. High-tech, cutting-edge educational training programs such as this one are strengthening Kentuckys workforce and positioning our citizens and businesses for sustained success.

The JCTC educational program prepares students to become a level one Mercedes-Benz Certified Systems Technician in just three semesters. Students will train on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, intern at a Mercedes-Benz dealership and have the opportunity to gain full-time employment after completing the program.

The new Mercedes-Benz and Jefferson partnership is where the rubber meets the road, said JCTC president Dr. Ty J. Handy. Employers in the Louisville area depend on us to grow the workforce in order to fill thousands of vacant positions. This program answers that call.

This is the most recent example of MBUSAs efforts to elevate technician training and meet the needs of its dealerships across the nation. The company currently offers Mercedes-Benz DRIVE, which became part of the governments National Apprenticeship System in 2017 and is the first automotive dealership-focused training program certified by U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs and National Association of State Approving Agencies. Offered to veterans and nonveterans, the technician training is available with nearly 400 seats in locations across the country including Long Beach, Calif.; Dallas, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; and coming in 2019, Robbinsville, N.J. MBUSA also offers an ongoing training program with Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgias largest technical colleges, with plans to introduce more in the coming years.

The need for educational programs like these are important as we face an acute shortage of qualified technicians, said Christian Treiber. The shortage largely comes from the outdated image of mechanics and increase in demand. Todays mechanics must now have a completely different skillset; they are technologists that cater to increasingly complex vehicles. Training programs like the ones at JCTC are critical to help close this technician gap.

About Jefferson and KCTCS

Jefferson Community & Technical College is the largest of the 16 colleges forming the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) with more than 12,000 students. Jefferson prepares students for transfer into baccalaureate programs and for high-wage, high-demand careers. The Kentucky Community & Technical College System is the Commonwealths largest postsecondary institution with more than 70 campuses. KCTCS is also Kentuckys largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, the system aligns its programs to meet the needs of local employers. For more information, visit kctcs.edu.
MORE: Advance Auto Parts News Archive

ROANOKE, Va.--Advance Auto Parts, Inc. , a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers, today announced the appointments of Jeffrey W. Shepherd to Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Reuben E. Slone to Executive Vice President, Supply Chain. Additionally, Nigel Travis, Executive Chairman of Dunkin Brands, was appointed to the Board of Directors.

Since April, Shepherd served as Advances interim CFO in addition to his responsibilities as Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. He joined Advance during the first quarter of 2017 from General Motors where he served most recently as Controller for General Motors Europe. Prior to that role, Shepherd served in various accounting and finance leadership roles at General Motors. A certified public accountant, Shepherd also worked at Ernst & Young for more than 15 years and was a partner with the firm. Shepherds CFO appointment was effective August 12, 2018.

After conducting an extensive search for a CFO, I am thrilled to have Jeff taking on this important role, said Tom Greco, President and CEO, Advance Auto Parts. During his time at Advance, Jeff has been a tremendous thought partner and trusted advisor to me and the entire leadership team. In addition to Jeffs impressive global finance background, he is a highly respected leader throughout our organization and has played an integral role in building a talented and highly cohesive Finance organization. I am confident Jeff is the right leader for this critical position, and the entire team and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him.

Slone, who will join Advance on October 3, 2018, will be responsible for the companys Supply Chain and Procurement functions. He will assume the supply chain responsibilities as Leslie Starr Keating, Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Strategy and Transformation, will be retiring at the end of the year. In the coming months, Keating and Slone will work together to ensure a seamless transition.

Slone joins Advance from Walgreens, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, and was responsible for inventory management and replenishment, imports, transportation, distribution center operations and logistics. Prior to Walgreens, Slone served in a number of senior supply chain and operational leadership roles at OfficeMax, General Motors and Federal-Mogul, among others. He also has served as a member of Advances Board of Directors since 2016. With his new appointment, Slone will resign from his role on Advances Board of Directors effective October 3, 2018.

We are extremely excited to have Reuben join our executive leadership team at this point in our transformation, said Greco. After serving for more than two years on our Board of Directors, Reuben has a deep understanding of our business and our strategic vision for the future. This knowledge, coupled with his proven track record in leadership roles as well as his extensive omnichannel fulfillment experience, will be a great addition to our already strong Supply Chain team.

After serving on Advances Board of Directors, I am even more confident in the opportunities that lie ahead, said Slone. I am delighted to join this experienced management team and look forward to working with Advances talented Team Members as we continue on our transformation journey. In addition, I am grateful to have worked with Leslie as she developed the supply chain strategy and I look forward to working even more closely with her during the next few months until her retirement.

Greco added, Leslie came out of retirement early in 2017 to join Advance at my request to help build our end-to-end supply chain strategy, strengthen our Supply Chain leadership team and ultimately, help us find her successor. She has delivered flawlessly against all of these objectives and positioned us well for continued success. We thank her for her numerous contributions and wish her nothing but the best in her retirement.

Nigel Travis, who currently serves as Dunkin Brands Executive Chairman, recently retired from his CEO position at the company after serving as Chairman and CEO. Previously, Travis also served in executive leadership roles at several global companies within the retail and restaurant industries.

Adding Nigel to the Board is wonderful for Advance, our shareholders and our customers, said Jeffrey C. Smith, Chair of the Board of Directors. He is a highly respected global executive who will complement what is already an extremely talented Board. While at Dunkin Brands, Nigel architected what is viewed as one of the more successful turnaround stories in recent history and we look forward to leveraging his wealth of experience as we continue our own transformation at Advance.

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of April 21, 2018, Advance operated 5,044 stores and 131 Worldpac branches in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Advance also serves 1,225 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands and Pacific Islands. Additional information about the Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.
Andrew Cuomo. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

After months of ignoring Cynthia Nixons requests for a debate, New York governor Andrew Cuomo finally agreed on Monday. According to the New York Daily News, Cuomo agreed to debate Nixon on August 29 on CBS. The debate comes during a heated primary race for governor between Nixon and Cuomo.

The announcement was made by the chair of the state Democratic Party, Buffalo mayor Byron Brown. The debate will reportedly be one hour long and hosted on Long Island at Hofstra University. A source told the Daily News that the debate will be moderated by CBSs Maurice DuBois and Marcia Kramer.

A press release posted to Cynthia Nixons website stated that Cuomo has agreed to participate in a debate hosted by WCBS, with the format and all of the details negotiated in advance, then presented to our campaign on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.

CBS management has acknowledged that the only way to get Governor Cuomo to show up is by giving him everything he wants. We werent even given a seat at the table, read the statement.

Cynthia will debate Governor Cuomo backwards and in high heels if she has to, the statement concluded, reiterating previous sentiments that Nixon is serious about her run for governor.

Nixon is one of many women in 2018 who have run Democratic primary campaigns to unseat an established incumbent. Other anti-Establishment Democratic candidates  such as Zephyr Teachout, Julia Salazar, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez  have pushed their opponents and members of Democratic leadership further left on certain topics. This will be Governor Cuomos first one-on-one debate in 12 years.
Ashley Benson and Cara Delevingne. Photo: Getty Images

More than ten months ago, model Cara Delevingne, 26, and Pretty Little Liars actress Ashley Benson, 28, were first spotted leaving a concert together  an incident that at first seemed insignificant, but is now regarded as the start of the pairs relationship. But for nearly ten months, they have done the impossible: refuse to confirm whats going on between the two, despite being caught making out and cuddling and grabbing each others butts. At this point, do we really still have to refer to the celebrities as rumored girlfriends?

Below, an exhaustive timeline of their relationship.

May 1: This is where it all apparently begins. On a Tuesday night, paparazzi catch Delevingne and Benson leaving a Lauryn Hill concert at the Apollo Theater in New York City. One notable person whos not present: Paris Jackson, Delevingnes rumored girlfriend at the time. (Delevingne and Jackson apparently became close at the 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards, and in March 2018, they made out while on a double date with Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song.)

May 3: Benson posts a selfie of herself and Delevingne to her Instagram Stories, which is captured by a number of her followers.

May 18: Delevingne and Benson are spotted holding hands after leaving Lucky Strike in Soho, New York City. The images that surface of them elicit countless tweets from fans who ship the relationship so hard.

May 20: Just weeks after the Lauryn Hill concert, its pretty clear that theres something romantic going on between Benson and Delevingne, but neither of them confirm the relationship. At a Saturday Night Live taping, a number of people catch the two making out in the audience, though no pictures exist, as phones arent allowed in during filming.

soooo cara delevingne and ashley benson were sitting next to me at @nbcsnl and were making out ! #whatislife  sarah (@srob0420) May 20, 2018

May 27: Delevingne gives Benson one of those romantic hugs from behind as she pays a parking meter in West Hollywood. Around this time, Australian teen magazine Girlfriend publishes an enthusiastic story proclaiming that the pair are officially dating and WHAT. Theres still no official confirmation from either Benson or Delevingne, though.

July 27: More than two months go by without the pair appearing in public together. Was something up, or did the Delevingne and Benson simply seek some privacy? Who knows. But by the end of July, theyre seen with Canadian dancer Tati McQuay at the Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles.

Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson on Tati McQuay's instastory. pic.twitter.com/gmO92p92ez  CARAUPDATES (@US_CARA) July 28, 2018

August 7: Per the Daily Mail, Delevingne and Benson enjoy a low-key outing, including a trip to the spa and an iced beverage run in West Hollywood.

August 12: Delevigne throws herself a star-studded 26th birthday in Hollywood, where Zoe Kravitz, Kate Beckinsale, and Margot Robbie show up to party. According to an Instagram of the event that she posts on August 26, shes still giggling with MERmazing memories.

August 14: We arrive at what the Daily Mail describes as a passionate kiss at Heathrow airport. While Delevingnes hair is truly unfortunate, the pictures that surface are undeniably cute: The model has her arm wrapped around Benson, whos wearing a necklace with a C pendant, which the Daily Mail attributes to her love for Delevingne.

August 24: When asked by People Now to either confirm or deny the relationship, Benson says she has always been private, and that she believes thats the best way to be. (So  theyre dating.)

September 9: The two go together to the Toronto Film Festival, where The Standard reports that they party together.

September 28: Benson heads to Paris to sit front-row at the Balmain runway show, which Delevingne just so happens to be walking in. Following the show, the two leave together.

January 4: The couple hits a relationship milestone: Benson publicly grabs Delevingnes butt.

February 14: On Valentines Day, Delevingne is photographed helping Benson  or, at the Daily Mail refers to her, her girlfriend  load her luggage.

March 5: Following Karl Lagerfelds final Chanel show in Paris, stylist Jamie Mizrahi posts a photo of Delevingne and Benson having a post show cuddle puddle in the backseat of a car. The emoji Mizrahi includes in the caption  the one of two women kissing  says it all.
Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Representative Keith Ellison is denying allegations that he was abusive toward his ex-girlfriend, an environmental activist named Karen Monahan, with whom he said he had been in a long-term relationship until 2016. Ellison was the first Muslim person to be elected to the U.S. Congress, and has served as the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee since 2017.

Monahans son alleged in a Facebook post on Saturday that Ellison had sent threatening messages and had been abusive toward his mother, and claimed he had seen a video in which Ellison had violently dragged Monahan out of bed while calling her a bitch.

In a statement to CBS Minnesota on Sunday, Ellison said that never happened. This video does not exist because I never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false.

I still care deeply for [Monahans] well-being, Ellison also said.

Monahan is an environmental justice advocate based in Minnesota, and has been mentioned in Ellisons Twitter account numerous times. She regularly tweets about issues pertaining to the #MeToo movement and has tweets from 2017 discussing abusive messages from an unnamed partner. She publicly acknowledged that the tweets were about Ellison after the Facebook post made by her son went viral.

I am so proud of my son for his courage. But this situation impacted me. If you have anything to say, please say it me and leave him out of it. No nasty comments to him https://t.co/UC84loHz1m  Karen Monahan (@KarenMonahan01) August 12, 2018

The allegations come in the final days of a hotly contested Democratic primary race for the Minnesota attorney general  Ellison is one of seven candidates running for the seat. He stepped down from his congressional seat in order to run for attorney general. Two of Ellisons opponents, Tom Foley and Debra Hillstrom, both released statements calling on Ellison to address the accusations.

A statement from Foley stated that serious accusations deserve a serious response, while Hillstrom described the allegations as troubling and tweeted that Domestic Violence is never ok.

MPR News reviewed over 100 text messages between Monahan and Ellison, and its review showed no evidence of the abuse alleged in the Facebook post. MPR reported that much of the conversation dealt with details about the end of their relationship, including coordinating when Monahan would retrieve her belongings from Ellisons house.

Her son told the StarTribune: I only know what I saw and I know whats true. It was my job to stand up for my mother, he said, adding that he had no reason to tear down Rep. Ellison.
The film reportedly takes place in the 19th century - a time when LGBTQI rights were basically non-existent.

According to The Sun, Whitehall will take the role of a fun, effete man who makes clear he has no interest in women.

Disneys always been incredibly supportive of the LGBTQ community.

This latest script, set at a time when it wasnt socially acceptable to be gay, is another significant turning point.

The film is reportedly based on Disneylands ride of the same name, where travellers are taken on a boat ride through a perilous jungle.

Last year, Disneys live action take on Beauty & The Beast featured the House of Mouses first exclusively gay movement.

It came during an exchange between LeFou (Josh Gad) and the villainous Gaston.

LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston, director Bill Condon revealed.
Kirby Northey from Australia is expecting a child and wanted to do something unique for her maternity photo shoot. She enlisted the help of her sister Kayarna and started brainstorming some ideas.

The pair decided the most logical place to do the shoot would be KMart, since they both have a mutual love of the department store.

"It made Kirby feel happy because she got to do something that is not your typical maternity shoot." Kayarna told the Daily Mail.

"We were laughing the whole time and had a blast just having fun together," she added.

Check out some of the hilarious pics below...
A clock and the motto "In God We Trust" over the Speaker's rostrum in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber on Dec. 8, 2008 in Washington. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

Alabama School Board to Post In God We Trust in Schools

The Blount County school board in Alabama is poised to allow the motto In God We Trust, which is printed on U.S. currency, to appear in its schools, following action by the state legislature last month approving the maxim for government buildings.

When the school board does act, it will have joined in a decades-long struggle about what role public expressions of religion should play in American society.

Since at least the Supreme Court decision Engel v. Vitale in 1962 that banned prayer in public schools, there has been a culture war over what role faith should play in society, with advocates on each side arguing religion does or does not belong in the public square.

Naturally, the Blount County school board expects legal challenges.

Blount School Superintendent Rodney Green told news website Al.com that a policy could be crafted within the next month, with the advice of an attorney.

You would think that something that passes the Legislature wont be challenged in the courtroom but we all know that it can and probably will, Green said.

Blount County will be following the lead of neighboring Tennessee, which in March passed a law requiring that In God We Trust be displayed in all public schools.

The Tennessee action has also inspired similar laws in Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

Meanwhile, on Nov. 6, Alabama voters will decide on a referendum that will allow the display of the Ten Commandments in government buildings.

Those seeking greater public religious expression have no doubt been encouraged by President Donald Trumps example.

For instance, in his speech to the National Prayer Breakfast in February, Trump explained that our rights come from our Creator.

That is why the words Praise be to God are etched atop the Washington Monument, and those same words are etched into the hearts of our people, he said.
Another Firefighter Dies Battling California Wildfire

A firefighter died battling the largest recorded blaze in California history, authorities announced on Aug. 13, marking the latest fatality in a horror fire season.

Authorities say the man from Utah died on night or Aug. 13 at a hospital after he was injured at the site of the massive Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco.

Details havent been released.

Firefighters from all over the country have been helping California battle a series of deadly and devastating wildfires in recent weeks that have spread through drought-parched forests and rural communities.

Six firefighters have died in those wildfires.

The deadliest wildfire, the Carr Fire, has left a total of eight people dead, including three firefighters.

Two firefighters have died fighting a fire near Yosemite National Park.

The Mendocino Complex  actually twin fires being fought together  has burned for more than two weeks. The fire has burned nearly 150 homes and about 547 square miles of brush and forest. Thats an area larger than the city of Los Angeles.

Evacuations At Glacier National Park

Across state lines, a wildfire destroyed structures and forced evacuations from the busiest area of Montanas Glacier National Park on Aug. 13.

Glaciers Sprague Creek campground was closed and evacuated, a day after a fast-moving fire triggered the evacuation of dozens of guests from the historic Lake McDonald Lodge late Aug. 12.

Park officials said in a statement that structures on the north end of Lake McDonald were lost, but they did not provide details on the number and type. The fire grew to between 2 and 4 square miles by Aug. 13 afternoon.

It just completely exploded. Yesterday we were watching it grow all day, and now its so smoky you cant see anything, said Kyersten Siebenaler with Glacier Outfitters, which rents boats in Apgar, a small community at the south end of the lake.

The outfitting company was trying to help tourists who evacuated find places to stay on the east side of the park, where it was not as smoky, Siebenaler said.

A second campground, a motel and private residences inside the parks boundary also were evacuated.

Triple-digit temperatures across parts of the state  paired with lightning from passing thunderstorms  set the stage for several new large fires to take hold in Montana in recent days.

Among them was a 3-square-mile fire that triggered an evacuation order for residents of 15 houses southwest of the town of Ennis, Montana. The fire was burning in challenging mountain terrain with a mix of pine, fir and spruce trees, said fire information spokesman Dave Sabo.

Yosemite Set To Re-Open

Yosemite National Park in California was scheduled to reopen Aug. 14 after being largely closed since July 25 because of smoke from fires in remote areas that choked the scenic Yosemite Valley.

The closure caused upheaval for thousands of tourists whose summer trips were cancelled. Visitors were warned to expect limited hours and services as the park returns to normal.
Trump Aide Bolton Meets With Turkish Ambassador to Discuss Detention of Pastor

National security adviser John Bolton met with Turkeys ambassador to the United States on Aug. 13 to discuss the detention of American evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson, according to the White House.

At the Turkish ambassadors request, Ambassador John Bolton met with Ambassador Serdar Kilic of Turkey today in the White House. They discussed Turkeys continued detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson and the state of the U.S.Turkey relationship, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.

Bolton and Kilic met as the Turkish currency, the lira, fell to another record low as a result of sanctions imposed by the White House. President Donald Trump on Aug. 10 authorized the doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from Turkey, triggering a currency collapse.

The sanctions were imposed by the White House in August. Trump threatened to impose sanctions on July 26 and called on Turkey to release Brunson. The White House followed through on Aug. 1 and sanctioned two top Turkish officials.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has resisted pressure by American officials to free Brunson.

Turkish authorities moved Brunson to house arrest after the pastor spent more than a year in jail awaiting the result of a trial. Erdogan had previously suggested releasing Brunson in exchange for the extradition of a Muslim cleric residing in the United States.

Brunson was arrested in October 2016, after Turkey accused him of aiding terrorist organizations. Brunson has denied the charges.

The U.S. Senate in June prohibited Turkey from buying F-35 fighter jets in part because of Brunsons detention. Ankara has vowed to buy liquid natural gas from Iran in defiance of Washington sanctions.

Despite news reports that the United States had set a deadline for Turkey to hand over Brunson, U.S. officials said no deadline had been set.

There has been no sign that the United States was prepared to negotiate with Turkey over Brunson, with Trump seemingly content for now to let economic pressures continue to weigh on Turkeys economy.

Reuters contributed to this report.
An electric vehicle arrives at China's largest electric vehicle battery recharging station in Beijing, on May 30, 2012. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

China Takes Control of Cobalt Mines as It Advances Its Battery Industry for Electric Vehicles

A new source of energy can be found at the forefront of electric-vehicle development in the 21st century, and China is beginning to dominate in controlling the worlds supply of this so-called new petroleum: the mineral cobalt.

Cobalt is one of the key components of the lithium-ion batteries used to power electric vehicles (EVs).

While Japanese electric carmakers are struggling to acquire the mineral and called for government assistance during a July 24 industry meeting in Tokyo, Chinese companies have been able to control one of the worlds key sources: mines in the central African nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is one of the worlds poorest countries.

More than half of the worlds cobalt originates from Congo, and Chinas control of the cobalt industry is as if it had total control over oil fields in the Middle East, an unidentified official with Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told Nikkei.

Nikkei, citing information from the government agency, Japan External Trade Organization, pointed out that China had provided $9 billion in financial aid to Africa from 2007 to 2009.

The aid is a perfect example of Chinas dollar diplomacy, whereby the Chinese regime provides large sums of loans and investments to foreign countries in order to exert its influence in the region.

Most recently, in November 2017, China provided financial aid of $6 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to Congo, according to an announcement at the time by Chinas Ministry of Commerce. This investment allowed China to gain certain mining rights to copper and cobalt deposits in Congo. Chinas deep-rooted connections in Congo have thus prevented Japanese companies from accessing these mineral deposits.

Poor Labor Practices

However, the Congolese cobalt mining industry has come under scrutiny because of unlawful labor practices. A November 2017 report by Amnesty International documented the exploitation of Congolese child labor. Cobalt mined by children and adults ended up at a Chinese processing company called Huayou Cobalt, according to the Amnesty International report. The cobalt, in turn, ended up in batteries used for electronics and electric cars.

Some electronics-makers that have begun investigating their supply chains in relation to Huayou Cobalt include Apple, Dell, and Hewlett Packard.

Huayou Cobalt, a publicly listed company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, is headquartered in the coastal province of Zhejiang.

Everything has become Chinese, said Richard Muyej, the governor of Lualaba Province in Congo, at a mining conference on June 15, according to Bloomberg. Lualaba has most of the countrys copper and cobalt deposits.

Chinas grip of Congo cobalt was further cemented this June, when the 35-member Union of Mining Companies with Chinese Capital (USMCC) association was founded under the initiative of Chinas embassy in Congo, according to Bloomberg. Included in the association are Huayou Cobalt and state-run China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group.

CATL and Government Subsidies

Chinas desire to control the cobalt supply is connected to its desire to develop its electric-vehicle industry. Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), founded in 2011 and headquartered in Ningde City in southern Chinas Fujian Province, is currently the worlds largest manufacturer of battery cells to power EVs.

CATL has a strong presence in Congo. According to multiple Chinese media, CATL has control over the mining company, Societe de Mines dOr Resources SARLU, which has mining rights to lithium deposits in Congo. Lithium is another key mineral used to manufacture lithium-ion batteries used to power EVs.

According to a May 25 article by Chinese news portal Sina, CATL is also a shareholder of Canadian company Tanalex Resources, which has mining rights in Congo to lithium, cobalt, and tantalum deposits.

In March, CATL announced that it increased its stakes in the Quebec-based mining company North American Lithium to become the controlling shareholder with 90 percent of the companys shares, according to Chinas state-run English media China Daily. It mines in the Quebec region, where there are significant lithium deposits.

CATLs meteoric rise to become a world battery manufacturer has much to with the Chinese regimes subsidy programs. According to a July report by a state-run publication The Time Weekly, Beijing provided a subsidy of 59 billion yuan (about $8.6 billion) in 2015, and 83 billion yuan (about $12.1 billion) in 2016, based on incomplete central government data and The Time Weeklys own estimates.

While there is no public data available detailing how much in total CATL had received from the state over the years, Yicai, a major Chinese business newspaper, reported that CATL had openly admitted it received a total of 440 million yuan (about $64.2 million) from government authorities in 2017.

In China, local governments also provide subsidies to local businesses. According to the Chinese regimes mouthpiece newspaper Peoples Daily, the provincial government of Fujian, where CATL is based, provided a total of 110 million yuan (about $16 million) in research and development subsidies to 431 tech companies, 12.7 million (about $1.85 million) of which went to CATL.

BYD, a Chinese battery manufacturer based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, received 630 million yuan (about $92 million) in government subsidies in the first quarter of this year, according to a May 22 report by Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily.

The Chinese regime also put in place preferential policies to protect domestic battery makers from foreign competition.

For example, back in 2014, three South Korean lithium-battery makersSamsung SDI, LG Chem, and SK Innovation (SKI)all began to invest in China through joint ventures that would manufacture lithium batteries in Chinese factories. But in June 2015, Beijing rolled out a preferential subsidy program, open only to domestic EV makers if they used a domestically produced battery, according to state-run magazine Electronic Engineering & Product World (EEPW). The subsidy program forced the three South Korean companies into a limbo by the end of 2016: SKI halted its battery production in Beijing, while struggling to deal with dwindling orders from Chinese EV makers.

Overseas Recruitment Program

Aside from hefty government subsidies, Chinas rapidly growing battery industry also relied on another national policy: recruitment programs to lure Chinese and foreign professionals to come work in the country.

One such recruitment program is the Thousand Talents Plan, begun in 2008 to attract workers in science and tech fields to work in China through offering lucrative financial packages. The objective of the program is to advance Chinas tech sectors and eventually enable Chinas industries to supplant global supply chains.

Two employees at CATL were recruited under the plan. Liang Chengdu is the research and development director at CATLs research institute. After getting his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2005, Liang was hired as a scientist at the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he led a number of projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Meanwhile, Robert Galyen, currently the CFO (chief financial officer) of CATL, was recruited under the plan in 2012. According to Chinas state-run news site China.com.cn, Galyen was given a financial package of 4.1 million yuan ($598,932). According to his LinkedIn page, he had an extensive career in the United States, including 21 years at General Motors; nine years at Tawas, a battery testing company; and two years at the e-car division of Magna International, a Canadian automotive supplier based in Ontario.

In 2014, Galyen was awarded the title of national distinguished expert by the Thousand Talents Plan program, according to his LinkedIn page.

CATL was also able to recruit overseas talent through a recruitment program under the Fujian provincial authorities. According to multiple Chinese media, CATL hired seven professionals through the local recruitment program known as the Hundred Talents Plan.
Drenching Rains Close Roads, Prompt Rescues in Pennsylvania

DARBY, Pa.Overnight rains triggered flash flooding in parts of central and eastern Pennsylvania on Aug. 13, closing down a heavily traveled interstate and sending water into homes in the mountainous coal regions.

State highway and emergency management officials reported numerous closed roads in a wide swath of the state from Williamsport to the Philadelphia suburbs, and some motorists had to be rescued.

Hazel Coles said water rose so quickly at her home in Darby, outside Philadelphia, that she had to evacuate through a window. She said there was about 3 feet of water on her street, and some people had to be evacuated by boat. She said the Red Cross was helping displaced residents.

Its just crazy, she said. I thank God it wasnt worse.

The National Weather Service in State College said there were numerous reports of 6 inches of rain or more in Schuylkill and Columbia counties.

Police in Bloomsburg set off a mandatory evacuation siren late afternoon of Aug. 13 for a few hundred people in the west end of town after Fishing Creek came out of its banks and was rising rapidly.

Columbia County emergency official Dave Witchey said a fire hall in Berwick was accepting evacuees, and another shelter may be opened if necessary.

Bloomsburg, a town of 15,000 residents about 130 miles (209 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia, evacuated some residents about a month ago over high waters on Fishing Creek and the Susquehanna River.

If it keeps coming up, it could be a lot worse, said Bloomsburg Mayor William Kreisher, who said a state-of-emergency declaration was being prepared.

National Weather Service meteorologist Aaron Tyburski said the latest downpours followed weeks of a stalled weather pattern that is drawing moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, hitting some communities repeatedly.

Its been quite a rough go for them over the past three weeks, Tyburski said.

In the Benton area north of Bloomsburg, three helicopters with a group run by the National Guard and the state Fish and Boat Commission performed about 10 rescues, including people plucked from the roofs of their homes, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

High water in Port Carbon caused some evacuations and prompted firefighters to launch rescue boats and rafts. Parts of Pottsville were inundated, and three shelters were set up.

Schuylkill County emergency management director John Matz said water levels were starting to fall by early afternoon of Aug. 13, and officials were making plans to assess the damage. He said the recent flooding could have caused more damage than the high water that hit the county a few weeks ago and affected several hundred structures.

The difference now is, once we hit the center part of the county, its a more populated area, Matz said.

In the Philadelphia area, the Schuylkill Expressway was closed in both directions at the busy King of Prussia Mall exit. The waters affected dozens of stores and a parking garage at the mall.

Upper Darby and Montgomery County police reported numerous rescues of people trapped in cars by flooding.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads.

Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Gov. Tom Wolf activated the Commonwealth Response Coordination Center on the morning of Aug. 13, and the National Guard was notified to be ready to help, if needed.

The forecast calls for storms to continue and cause flooding in the southcentral, northcentral and eastern parts of the state through Aug. 15.

By Matt Rourke

Mark Scolforo, AP writer, contributed to this report
FDA Recalls Thyroid Tablets Made by Chinese Firm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of Westminster Pharmaceuticals thyroid tablets due to the risk of adulteration.

In an Aug. 9 statement, the FDA said that Levothyroxine and Liothyronine 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg thyroid tablets are being recalled as precautionary measures.

They were manufactured using active pharmaceutical ingredients that were sourced prior to the FDAs import alert regarding a Chinese firm that made the products, the agency said.

A 2017 inspection of Chinas Sichuan Friendly Pharmaceutical Co. drugs discovered deficiencies and could represent the possibility of risk being introduced into the manufacturing process, the FDA said.

Westminster Pharmaceuticals said it hasnt received any reports of adverse incidents related to the products.

According to the FDA, Appropriate adjustments of the various therapeutic measures directed at these concomitant endocrine diseases are required. Thyroid is not associated with serious adverse reactions and does not have a known tumorigenic potential.

Because these products may be used in the treatment of serious medical conditions, patients taking the recalled medicines should continue taking their medicine until they have a replacement product, it said.

The products in the recall are in 100-count bottles, and consumers are urged to inspect the products NDCs, product description, lot numbers, and expiration dates, said the FDA. The list of drugs that are subjected to the recall can be found here.

Westminster is notifying its direct accounts by email and by phone to immediately discontinue distribution of the product being recalled and to notify their sub-wholesale accounts of this product recall and make arrangements for impacted product to be returned to Westminster. Instructions for returning recalled products are given in the Recall Notice Letter and Recall Response Form. Consumers that have these products, which are being recalled should not discontinue use before contacting their physician for further guidance, the FDA said.

Defective Drugs

It comes as the FDA expanded its recall of the blood pressure and heart drug valsartan, primarily manufactured by Chinas Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticala major global manufacturer of generic valsartan. The FDA said the drug had been contaminated.

The valsartan recall, as well as the recall of the thyroid pills, highlights how defective medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients made by Chinese firms pose a health danger in the United States.

There is a lack of trust in medicines made in China now, Rosemary Gibson, a senior adviser at The Hastings Center, told The Epoch Times in July.

Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

The public wants their medicine to be safe. This carcinogen hidden in valsartan raises the question whether other products that are made in China have been made contrary to the global standard we came to accept, Gibson said.

In an annual report, the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission said that China is now a prolific source of defective and counterfeit drugs in the United States, adding that Chinese consumers may prefer U.S. pharmaceutical products due to concerns over the quality of domestic drugs.

China has been a prolific source of counterfeit and defective medicine. In 2012, Chinese authorities seized 77 million domestically produced gel capsules that were created from industrial waste and contained excessive levels of cadmium, the commissions report noted.

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Golden State Killer Charged with 13th Murder

The alleged Golden State Killer has been charged with a 13th murder.

Officials announced on Aug. 13 that Joseph DeAngelo, who is believed to be the infamous Golden State Killer, murdered Claude Snelling, a journalism professor at the College of Sequoias.

Snelling was shot in September 1975 while reportedly trying to stop the kidnapping of his 16-year-old daughter in Visalia, California.

Golden State Killer Appears at 2 a.m.

Snellings daughter Elizabeth Hupp, then-16, said that she woke up around 2 a.m. to a man wearing a ski mask, hovering over her.

The man told her to stay silent and follow him out of the house, or he would kill her.

She told the Visalia Times-Delta that when she and the man were going out the back door, he father spotted them.

I heard a yell and saw my dad charge out the back door, Hupp said. [The kidnapper] threw me down and shot my dad twice. Then he pointed the gun at me.

The man then hit her with his gun but ran off.

The fact that he died saving my life means the world to me, Hupp said. My mom always said it wouldnt have mattered if there were 20 guys outside with guns, he would have saved me.

I missed seeing this originallymay many breath a sigh of relief. h https://t.co/ibF44LcGTv  Cynthia Griffin (@thiafinart) August 13, 2018

Evidence Links DeAngelo to Attempted Abduction

Officials said the evidence that links DeAngelo to Snellings death included information from Hupp, witnesses, physical evidence, and the linkage of the gun used in a burglary that was also used in the murder.

Today I have instructed my staff to file first degree murder charges against Joseph DeAngelo for the 1975 murder of Mr. Claude Snelling. And in doing so, I hope we can take what is really our first step in not only holding him accountable for the crime in Visalia but really providing justice not only to the victims family but to a community at whole, said Tim Ward, Tulare County District Attorney, Bustle reported.

DeAngelo, 72, a former police officer, was arrested in April after DNA evidence from genealogy websites led the police to him.

DeAngelo is suspected of killing 13 people as well as committing dozens of rapes and home invasions across 10 California counties during the 1970s and 1980s.

He covered his trail very well, Contra Costa County cold case investigator Paul Holes said, NBC reported. What he didnt account for was DNA technology.

From NTD.tv
Great White Shark Attacks Seal, Turns Water Red

A great white shark attacking a seal was recorded off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on Aug. 2.

This video shows multiple angles of the attack, as well as a clip of the shark swimming underwater with a part of the seal in its mouth. The video was released later in August.

The research team recorded this close up footage of a seal predation in clear water about 100 yards from the beach off Wellfleet, MA, said the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, according to Fox News. The video shows a rarely seen window into the world of the Atlantic white shark in Cape Cod water, it said.

Sharks have been the focus of heavy media coverage in the past several weeks.

On Aug. 9, there were reports that a Texas man was rushed to the hospital after he was bitten by a shark. The victim reportedly told first responders: The shark bumped me. Then he wanted to taste me.

Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

The Houston Chronicle noted that there have been 43 unprovoked shark attacks in Texas since 1837, according to the International Shark Attack File.

According to National Geographic, great white sharks can range from 15 feet to more than 20 feet in length, weighing 2.5 tons or more.

Of the 100-plus annual shark attacks worldwide, fully one-third to one-half are attributable to great whites. However, most of these are not fatal, and new research finds that great whites, who are naturally curious, are sample biting then releasing their victims rather than preying on humans. Its not a terribly comforting distinction, but it does indicate that humans are not actually on the great whites menu, National Geographic says.
Judge Allows Bail for 5 Adults Arrested at New Mexico Compound

A state judge in New Mexico set bail for five defendants in a child-abuse case, over the objection of prosecutors who claim that the defendants were training their own children to conduct terrorist attacks.

District Judge Sarah Backus set bail at $20,000 for each defendant on Aug. 13 and ordered them to wear ankle monitors and meet weekly with their attorneys. She also banned them from using alcohol and firearms.

While prosecutors said in court documents that the defendants were giving firearms instruction to the children, who ranged in age from 1 to 15, in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit school shootings, Backus said she wasnt satisfied that the defendants would be dangerous if released awaiting trial.

The state alleges that there was a big plan afoot, Backus said, in rendering her decision. But the state hasnt shown to my satisfaction, in clear and convincing evidence, what that plan was.

Backus was appointed in 2011. Before that, she was a deputy attorney general in California and deputy public defender in San Francisco. Shes a lifelong Democrat and the New Mexico Democratic Party appointed her to head election-protection efforts in 2008 and 2010, The Taos News reported.

Death and Exorcism

The defendants kept their 12 children at a squalid compound in the desert. Law enforcement found the children hungry and wearing rags.

Prosecutors said the defendants performed an exorcism-like ritual on Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, 3, after his father Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 39, allegedly abducted the boy from his mother in December. The boy couldnt walk and required constant care because of a condition caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth.

Defense attorneys said prosecutors sought to criminalize their clients for being black Muslims.

If these people were white and Christian, nobody would bat an eye over the idea of faith healing, or praying over a body or touching a body and quoting scripture, defense lawyer Thomas Clark told reporters after the hearing. But when black Muslims do it, there seems to be something nefarious, something evil.

Prosecutors didnt appear to have a problem with the faith healing itself. While the father put his hand on the boys head and recited verses from Quran, the 3-year-old fell unconscious and died, according to prosecutor John Lovelace, who cited interviews with Ibn Wahhajs 15-year-old and 13-year-old sons.

FBI special agent Travis Taylor testified that the 15-year-old son recounted one of the adults telling him that the spirit of the dead 3-year-old would return as Jesus to direct the group in carrying out violent attacks. Taylor said prospective targets would include the financial system, law enforcement, the education system.

Law enforcement raided the compound on Aug. 3 and located one semi-automatic rifle and several guns.

On Aug. 7, Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said remains of a child were found at the compound. Relatives believe the remains belong to the boy, though a medical examiner hasnt yet officially identified the body. Hogrefe testified on Aug. 13 that the body was found in tunnels dug from inside the compound to an opening 100 feet away, the Associated Press reported. No charges have been filed in connection with the death.

For now, the focus of the governments case remains as 11 counts of felony child abuse filed against each of the defendants.

Clark said Ibn Wahhaj would remain in custody due to a fugitive warrant against him in Georgia, stemming from the cross-country manhunt that led investigators to the New Mexico compound.

Prominent Family

All the defendants and the children were related to prominent Brooklyn imam Siraj Wahhaj, 68, and included his son, Ibn Wahhaj; daughters, Hujrah, 38, and Subhanah, 35; son-in-law, Luqman Morton; and daughter-in-law, Maryam Jany Leveille, 35.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, please [pray] for the safe return of our children and grandchildren, the imam wrote in a Jan. 5 Facebook post.

The imam said he didnt understand why his son had taken the family and disappeared into the desert, but suggested a psychiatric disorder was to blame.

My son can be maybe a little bit extreme, he said, though he added that he never thought he was extreme enough to kill anyone.

The imam leads the Muslim Alliance in North America and was also the former vice-president of the Islamic Society of North America. Hes expressed opposition to extremism.

But his mosque has been connected with Islamist extremists, including a man who later had a role in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Wahhaj has espoused support for radical Muslim causes and was an unindicted co-conspirator in the [bombing], according to a 2011 training material (pdf) for new FBI agents.

He appeared as a defense witness at the trial of the Blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted in 1995 of plotting terrorist attacks in the United States.

Linda Sarsour, one of the organizers of the Womens March in 2017, called imam Wahhaj her mentor, and motivator, and encourager and her favorite person in this room, during her speech at the 2017 convention of the Islamic Society of North America.

Black Magic

One relative of the Wahhaj family said that Maryam Leveille, Ibn Wahhajs wife, was behind the groups decision to move into the desert and acted as a religious guru of sorts.

Mariam is the one whos practicing that black magic on them, said Tariq Abdur Rashid, whose daughter is married to Ibn Wahhajs brother in an interview with The Epoch Times. The brother and his wife werent involved in the New Mexico affair.

Rashid said he saw evidence of Leveilles performing rituals he recognized as a form of occultism not unusual in Haiti, which he said was Leveilles country of origin.

He said Leveille convinced Ibn Wahhaj and others that she was a messiah.

She set herself up as the interpreter of Gods word, he said.

Another person familiar with Leveille confirmed Rashids account, though wouldnt go as far.

She was doing something that was not right, said the person, who wished not to be named so as to not antagonize the people involved. They really believed she was getting revelations from God.

Clark, the defense attorney for Ibn Wahhaj, told The Epoch Times the case hasnt progressed far enough yet to determine who was to blame for the groups moving into the desert.

Leveilles attorney, Kelly Goligthley, didnt immediately respond to a request for a comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Correction: The article has been updated to correct the spelling of the name of Jany (Maryam) Leveille.

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Malaysia's Prime Mininster Mahathir Mohamad addresses a press conference at the prime minister's office in Putrajaya, on Aug. 13, 2018. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images)

Malaysia PM Aims to Renegotiate One Belt, One Road Projects While Visiting China

KUALA LUMPUR/BEIJINGMalaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is set to visit China on Aug. 17 seeking to renegotiate, and perhaps cancel, billions of dollars worth of Chinese-invested projects entangled in domestic graft probes.

Ties between the two countries have been strained since a stunning election victory returned Mahathir to power in May as he suspended unpopular Chinese projects authorized by former premier Najib Razak.

During his decade-long rule, Najib courted Chinese investment and was a cheerleader for Chinas One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road) initiative in Southeast Asia.

But Mahathir has vowed to discuss the unfair deals on his visit.

Where we can drop the project, we will, Mahathir told reporters this week. But we may have to postpone some because we have made agreements, and to breach the agreements will cost us a lot.

The centerpiece of Chinas infrastructure push in Malaysia is the ambitious $20 billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, which has suspended construction pending discussions over pricing and graft accusations.

Hit by ballooning costs, lack of transparency, and the risk it could saddle Malaysia with uncomfortably large debt, the 428-mile (688-kilometer) project has come to symbolize Najibs scandal-ridden administration.

Najib, charged with money laundering and corruption over state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During his election campaign, Mahathir was critical of the benefits of the Chinese projects, which helped him win.

His government also halted work on two projects worth more than $2.3 billion awarded to the China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau that has been linked to graft at 1MDB.

Mahathirs trip is set to run until Aug. 21, but he will first visit the eastern city of Hangzhou to meet Chinese e-commerce giant Alibabas chief Jack Ma before flying to Beijing, the source said.

Chinas eagerness to save the OBOR from another embarrassing setback leads some analysts to believe it might be open to striking a pragmatic compromise with Malaysia.

They dont want a failure to taint their name, said one Malaysian source involved in the contract reviews. They dont want to be involved in a project that is clear-cut corruption.

Other major projects that have hit hurdles include a rail link from Indonesias capital of Jakarta to southeastern Bandung and the ports of Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Gwadar in Pakistan.

The Chinese are open to ideas and negotiation in many OBOR countries where projects run into problems, said Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of Kuala Lumpurs Malaysia-China Friendship Association.

But Malaysia has to be clear on what it wants.

Mahathir has courted Japan in recent weeks, announcing plans for a big yen-denominated loan when he visited Tokyo.

By Liz Lee, Philip Wen, Ben Blanchard, & Joseph Sipalan
Car Crashes Outside British Parliament: Man Arrested on Suspicion of Terrorism

LONDONThree people were injured when a man crashed into barriers outside the UK Parliament building in central London just after 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 14, police said.

The 29-year-old driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene, Londons Metropolitan police said in a statement on Twitter.

At 0737hrs today, a car was in collision with barriers outside the Houses of Parliament. The male driver of the car was detained by officers at the scene. A number of pedestrians have been injured. Officers remain at the scene. We will issue further info when we have it.  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 14, 2018

The London Ambulance Service said they treated two people at the scene before taking them to the hospital. Officials said one man has been discharged while one woman is still being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries. Another man was treated at the scene but was not taken to the hospital.

The Mets counter-terror chief Neil Basu said the suspect is being held in a South London police station and police are searching the vehicle. He confirmed the force is treating the crash as an act of terrorism.

Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident and the investigation is being led by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command, he said.

No other suspects were arrested at the scene.

Police said that counter-terrorism officers were carrying out searches at three addresses in the Midlands in connection with the crash.

There is no intelligence of further danger to Londoners or the rest of the UK in connection with this incident, he said.

Westminster underground station was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident.

Witness Jason Williams told Sky News, Someone driving toward parliament at speed, it wasnt a normal  its not like a road traffic incident.

Barriers were put in place at the scene as officers investigated the crash.
Kevin Downing (C), lead attorney for Paul Manafort, is pursued by reporters after leaving the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse during the eleventh day of Manafort's trial August 14, 2018 in Alexandria, Virginia. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Manafort Lawyer Says Prosecutors Failed to Prove Case; Defense Rests

Attorneys for Paul Manafort rested their case on Aug. 14 without calling any witnesses, including the former Trump campaign chairman himself, who told the judge he didnt want to testify in his own defense against bank- and tax-fraud charges.

Manafort lawyer Kevin Downing said Manaforts legal team chose not to mount a defense because prosecutors hadnt met the legal bar needed to prove their case.

Weve rested because Mr. Manafort and his legal team do not think the government has met its burden of proof, Downing said.

The defenses decision means that the closely watched case is expected to go to the 12-person jury on Aug. 15, after prosecutors and Manaforts lawyers make their closing arguments, and instructions are issued to the jury.

Special counsel Robert Mueller indicted Manafort as part of an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. None of the charges against Manafort are related to election meddling.

Manafort, who has watched silently as the case against him was argued in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, was asked by Judge T.S. Ellis whether he wanted to testify.

No, sir, he replied.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the advice hed received from his attorneys, Manafort said, I am, your honor.

That exchange took place without jurors in the courtroom. On Aug. 14, jurors were recalled to hear of the defense teams decision and then were dismissed for the day.

Manafort isnt required to testify because of his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Manafort made millions of dollars working for Ukrainian politicians, before taking an unpaid position with then-candidate Donald Trumps campaign that lasted five months. The charges against Manafort involve activities that predate his tenure with the Trump campaign.

If found guilty on all charges, Manafort could face eight to 10 years in prison, according to sentencing expert Justin Paperny.

Manaforts lawyers moved on Aug. 13 to have all the charges dismissed, in part arguing the prosecution hadnt proven he willingly committed crimes. The motion was a standard defense request and was viewed by legal experts as unlikely to succeed.

They are all jury issues, Ellis said, explaining that he believed it should be up to the jury to decide.
Medicare Patients Could See Benefits Under Proposed ACO Rules

WASHINGTONThe average person probably hasnt heard of an Accountable Care Organization, or ACO as its called in the health care world, but that could change if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) changes how ACOs are governed.

ACOs are groups of health care providers, such as hospitals or physicians in private practices, that work together to meet certain health care savings and quality care goals for Medicare patients.

Under a program called the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), they are given incentives to both provide better care and to save money, and if they do, they share in the savings with Medicare.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the program would save the government $4.9 billion by the end of fiscal year 2019. But CMS says that the 649 ACOs that are currently part of the program are costing the agency hundreds of millions of dollars. Some of the ACOs are not meeting their benchmarks for savings, and most are not sharing in the cost when they overspend. As a result, Medicare is picking up the majority of the difference. In 2016, the agency paid $231 million above what was benchmarked.

Medicare cannot afford to support programs with weak incentives that do not drive towards savings, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in a statement. ACOs can be an important component of the move to a value-based system, but after six years of experience, the program must evolve to deliver value. The time has come to put real accountability in Accountable Care Organizations.

The agency has come up with a number of proposals to reform the program, called Pathways to Success, that, among other things, involves getting Medicare patients involved in the program.

An estimated 10.5 million Medicare recipients see a health care provider who is part of an ACO, but most dont know it because there is little incentive, and no requirement, for health care providers to tell them.

As part of CMSs plan, ACO health care providers would be required to disclose that theyre in an ACO and to give patients incentives to choose certain services.

CMS proposes to require that each ACO provide a standardized written notice to its Medicare beneficiaries, informing them at their first primary care visit of a performance year that they are in an ACO and what that means for their care, Verma writes.

Patients who see a health care provider in what is called a two-sided trackin which an ACO shares in both savings and risks with Medicarecould receive up to $20 from their provider per qualifying primary care service.

CMS is also seeking public input on a rule that would require Medicare patients to opt in, instead of being assigned, to an ACO.

Pathways to Success Highlights

ACOs were established in 2012 as a way to save taxpayers money while getting a wide range of health care providers to work together to coordinate a patients health care for improved care. ACOs are given certain spending benchmarks, and depending on which track they are in, they can share in savings with Medicare if they go below the benchmark, or also take on the risk if they go over. Those that choose to take on more risk also get a greater percentage of the savings if they are below the benchmark.

But under the current regulations, ACOs can stay in what is called the upside-only track, or Track 1, that allows ACOs to only share in Medicares savings, for their first six years in the program. About 82 percent, or 460 of the 561 ACOs, are in this track. To save taxpayers money, Pathways to Success would change that timeframe to two years. It also provides carrots to those in the upside-only track to transition more quickly to a two-sided track.

Providers join ACOs voluntarily. The National Association of ACOs (NAACO) warns that there will be an exodus of ACOs from the program if CMS implements the changes. Earlier this year, it took a survey of 35 ACOs that started with the program in 2012 or 2013 and are in the upside-only track. Of those, about 25 said they would leave the program if Pathways to Success were implemented.

Its naive to think that ACOs that arent ready can be forced to take on risk, given that the program is voluntary, NAACOS President and CEO Clif Gaus said in a statement. The more likely outcome will be that many ACOs quit the program, divest their care coordination resources and return to payment models that emphasize volume over value.

He argues that ACOs already take on significant investments to coordinate patients care and that the rules change could jeopardize years of progress. NAACO proposes creating more realistic benchmarks and letting ACOs that are achieving or going below their benchmarks be allowed to stay in the upside-only track.

Jeff Micklos, executive director at Health Care Transformation Task Force, a consortium of patients, health insurance companies, and health care providers, said he also expects some attrition but dosent necessarily see that as a bad thing.

Or maybe some new ACOs may decide not to come online, and thats one of those balancing acts where, we certainly want to promote value, but we also need organizations that are moving forward, and making their way toward value. So maybe you need better-performing ACOs rather than more ACOs, he said.
New Mexico Compound Suspects Expected to Be Released on Bond

The suspects accused of keeping 11 children in squalid conditions at a New Mexico compound are expected to be released on bond, which goes against the wishes of the FBI, prosecutors, and the Taos County Sheriffs Department.

Judge Sarah Backus said the suspectsSiraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40; Lucas Morton, 40; Jany Leveille, 35; Hujrah Wahhaj, 37; and Subhannah Wahhaj, 35can be released on $20,000 bond each on Aug. 13. They were ordered to wear ankle monitors, ABC News reported.

The two men and three women were arrested last week at a makeshift compound in Amalia. The sheriffs department said they found 11 emaciated children living in filthy conditions.

The Taos County sheriff, the undersheriff, prosecutors, and an FBI agent in the case said that the five shouldnt be released, KOAT reported.

State prosecutors said there was evidence that some of the suspects could have been planning an attack, adding that Wahhaj, who faces child abduction charges in Georgia, took weapons classes and books found at the compound described how to build firearms, KOAT reported.

During the Aug. 3 raid, weapons and ammunition were found. Officials said that the children were allegedly told how to load and fire assault rifles, according to the KOAT report.

A defense attorney said that prosecutors claims were too vague. In this particular case, again, based on what was presented to the judge, I think she had no choice but to rule in the way that she did, one of the defense attorneys told KOB-TV.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, meanwhile, said that she strongly disagreed with Backuss decision. Unfortunately, it highlights how extreme the New Mexico Supreme Court has been in dictating pretrial release for all kinds of dangerous criminals, she said.

Wahhaj also apparently received a letter from his brother that invited him to go to New Mexico to die as a martyr, according to KOAT. In an initial statement on the arrests, Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said, We had learned the occupants were most likely heavily armed and considered extremist of the Muslim belief.

Elder Siraj Wahhaj Speaks Out

Siraj Wahhaj, the father of the suspect who is a Muslim imam, told CBS News from New York City that my son can be maybe a little bit extreme. He said that the children on the compound were his grandchildren.

Im very concerned with the condition of my grandchildren, he said.

In the interview, he also said that remains found on the compound belong to his 3-year-old grandson. He said he didnt know the cause of death, adding that family members told him. Whoever is responsible, then that person should be held accountable, Wahhaj said.

Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

The elder Wahhajs mosque has drawn radicals in the past, including the man who tried to bomb the World Trade Center in 1993. Wahhaj has espoused support for radical Muslim causes and was an unindicted co-conspirator in the [bombing], states a 2011 training material for new FBI agents.

He reportedly expressed a preference for an Islamic state over the American constitutional republic and also appeared as a defense witness at the trial of the Blind Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was convicted in 1995 of plotting terrorist attacks in the United States.

The elder Wahhaj didnt respond to requests for comment. Naeemah Rashid Wahhaj said in a Facebook message that the family was not ready to talk and didnt wish for her or anyone to talk either.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
North Carolina Man Sentenced for Illegally Voting in Two Elections

A North Carolina man has been sent to prison for illegally voting in two separate elections, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

In two instances, on Nov. 6, 2012, and Nov. 8, 2016, Roberto Hernandez-Cuarenta, of Zebulon, voted illegally. While the 57-year-old is a legal resident of the United States, he is not a U.S. citizen, meaning he is not eligible to cast a vote.

Hernandez-Cuarenta was sentenced on Aug. 9 for two counts of Voting by Alien and will serve time for both counts amounting to four months behind bars. He is a native citizen of Mexico.

Robert J. Higdon Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, said that his crime undervalues the vote from true American citizens.

The right to vote is a precious privilege available only to citizens of the United States, he said. When a non-citizen votes in a federal election, it serves to dilute and devalue the vote of American citizens and places the decision-making authority of the American electorate in the hands of those who have no right to make those choices.

Hernandez-Cuarenta was granted a Special Agricultural Worker application in June 1992, according to evidence presented at his sentencing. He was given legal and permanent-resident status as a seasonal agricultural worker but was never naturalized as a U.S. citizen. There were also no pending applications or petitions on his behalf.

Higdon said that his office would do its part to protect the rights of American citizens to freely cast their vote and be counted fairly.

During the 2016 elections in North Carolina, state auditors found that about 500 people illegally voted. Of those, more than 441 were suspected felons and 41 were noncitizens with legal status.

Aside from those, auditors also discovered 24 substantiated cases of double-voting through tips and data, and two cases of voter impersonation that were referred to prosecutors, according to a 2017 report by the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

A number of non-citizens said they were not aware that they were prohibited from voting. Interviews and evidence show that some non-citizens were misinformed about the law, the report said.

President Donald Trump has long been a critic of voter fraud, but a commission he formed to look into it was forced to close.

Despite substantial evidence of voter fraud, many states have refused to provide the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with basic information relevant to its inquiry, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in January. Rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, today President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to dissolve the Commission.

Plea Deals

On Aug. 13, five North Carolina residents who voted illegally during the 2016 election, accepted plea deals to lesser charges in Alamance County Superior Court.

All five individuals were originally facing felony charges of voting while on probation; as part of the plea deals, prosecutors dropped the felony charges.

The clients, represented by the Southern Coalition of for Social Justice, pleaded to misdemeanor obstruction of justice. The five individuals will each complete 24 hours of community service and be placed on unsupervised probation for 12 months.
An old woman presents her change at a housing sales office on September 12, 2016 in Nanyang, Henan Province of China. (VCG/Getty Images)

Retired Prosecutors Crime Exemplifies How Fraudulent Investment Schemes Have Crippled Chinese Society

A retired prosecutor from Henan Province, China, was executed on Aug. 7 for killing or injuring a dozen students at a local school two years ago. His story exemplifies how fraudulent financial schemes can push ordinary citizens to extremes.

Ma Gaochao, a retired prosecutor in Nanyang City, drove a car into Nanyang No. 1 High School as students were leaving the school in February 2016. He allegedly sped up to hit the students as they were crossing the road, killing one student and injuring another 11.

After Ma retired as head of the Nanyang City Procuratorate, he began working as a salesman for an investment company under Daxin Real Estate in Nanyang. But when the company got into financial trouble and the boss fled, Ma was cornered by investors who were seeking the return of their money.

Ma told the Nanyang Intermediate Court on April 25, 2017, what had transpired. He said his company had made an offer: invest in the firm, and he would get 2 percent interest after one month. So, Ma lent 3 million yuan ($440,000) from his own pocket and convinced a friend to lend 9 million yuan ($1.3 million) to the Daxin company.

Because the company was running a pyramid scheme, Ma, as with many other investors, didnt get any returns and also lost his investment. He said his resentment toward the company and the boss angered him enough to want to retaliate against society and commit an egregious crime.

Ma said he chose the school as his target was because Nanyang No. 1 High School was the best high school in the city, and the incident would cause a great deal of attention.

In May 2016, business magazine Caixin commented that Mas deed was the result of the sudden collapse of the Nanyang property market, as well as the prolific presence of illegal pyramid schemes.

Ma was sentenced to death in July 2017 by the Nanyang Intermediate Peoples Court, and was unsuccessful in an appeal to the Henan Provincial Higher Peoples Court, before his execution by the Nanyang Intermediate Peoples Court.
Riot police use water cannon against protesters in front of the Romanian Government headquarters in Bucharest, Romania on Aug. 10, 2018. (ADRIAN CATU/AFP/Getty Images)

Romanian Government Faces Renewed Pressure After Protest Clashes

Romanias government faces renewed pressure over its controversial overhaul of the judiciary after hundreds of protesters who oppose the changes were injured in clashes with riot police, the first time demonstrations that began 1 1/2 years ago have turned violent.

Tear gas and a water cannon were used Aug.10 in Bucharest as some officers were attacked with stones and other objects. More than 400 people needed hospital treatment. As well as sparking fury at home, the governments reform plans have irked the U.S. and the European Union, swelling the list of disputes with other ex-communist members over the rule of law.

Theres a lot of pressure on the government and the ruling coalition now, Cristian Pirvulescu, dean of Bucharests Political Science University, said by phone. Its difficult to say whether its enough to tip the scales.

The Black Sea nation of 20 million people, one of the EUs poorest members, has rattled the bloc by following Hungary and Poland in seeking to politicize its legal system, also moving to shield crooked officials from censure. Aug. 10 rally, led by members of Romanias diaspora, attracted more than 100,000 people in the capital and other major cities. The turnout suggests theres still life in a protest movement whose numbers have dwindled of late.

Brutal Intervention

Smaller rallies were hastily arranged for Aug. 11 and Aug. 12 to voice outrage at the polices tactics. President Klaus Iohannis, a critic of the governments agenda, condemned the brutal intervention. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila firmly condemned the violence and accused political leaders of using the clashes for electoral reasons. Prosecutors are investigating the police response.

The majority of the governments plans for the criminal code and the judiciary has been approved by parliament, though Iohannis hasnt signed the changes into law yet. Ruling-party boss Liviu Dragnea, Romanias de facto leader, is himself likely to benefit from the overhaul as he seeks to avoid prison by challenging the latest of two convictions. Iohannis was forced last month by the Constitutional Court to fire Romanias chief anti-graft prosecutor, who was instrumental in convicting hundreds of corrupt officials.

While not as big as the 500,000 people who forced the government into a temporary retreat in January 2016 over its legal-reforms, the diaspora added a new element as they arrived from places like the U.K., Italy, and Spain.

No Criminals!

These politicians should goRomania needs early elections to choose new people because this government is the worst weve ever seen, said 66-year-old Radu Viorica, who came from Chicago to attend Aug. 10 protest in front of the government building, where demonstrators shouted thieves! and no criminals!

Romania still needs to learn the workings of a democracy, he said.

About 5 million Romanians live abroad, lured to Europes richer west by higher wages. Many maintain ties to their homeland and send money back to family who remain there.

From Bloomberg
Seattle Airplane Theft Prompts Review of Security Measures

SEATTLEThe spectacular theft of a 76-seat plane from the Seattle airport by a ground crew employee is prompting an industrywide review of how to thwart such insider security threats, though it remains unclear what steps airlines might take.

This is too big a deal. Its not going to go away, said Glen Winn, a former Secret Service agent who teaches in the University of Southern Californias aviation security program. Theres going to be a lot of discussion, a lot of meetings, a lot of finger-pointing, and its going to come down to: How do we stop it?

Investigators are continuing to piece together how 3-year Horizon Air employee Richard Russell stole the empty Bombardier Q400 turboprop on Friday evening and took off on a roughly 75-minute flight, executing steep banks and even a barrel roll while being tailed by fighter jets. He finally crashed into a forested island south of Seattle.

Russell was killed. No one else was hurt. In conversation with an air-traffic controller, he described himself as just a broken guy, said he wasnt really planning on landing the aircraft, and claimed he didnt want to hurt anyone else.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Courtney Gregoire called the theft from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport truly a one-in-a-million experience, but added, That doesnt mean we cant learn from it.

She said airport officials have been in touch with other airports and airlines to begin to assess procedures. Sea-Tac has added security guards in the cargo area where the plane was parked when Russell stole it, she said.

Were not waiting, Gregoire said. We expect a national-level conversation. We expect the federal government may have some ideas about regulation.

The industry group Airlines for America confirmed it is closely reviewing the incident but would not comment further. The National Transportation Safety Board referred questions to the FBI, which has released limited information about the investigation.

Theres a lot of discussion about: What does this tell us? said Michael Huerta, who retired in January as head of the Federal Aviation Administration. I wouldnt be surprised if the individual airlines came together with the regulators and made a decision that we need to do more.

Potential solutions could include additional vetting or monitoring of employees; changes in who can access the planes and when; having parked aircraft monitored by closed-circuit television or by security patrols; requiring electronic or digital passcodes to start a planes engines; or requiring locks that could prevent an unauthorized person from manipulating a planes throttle, experts said.

Aviation professor Jeff Price of Metropolitan State University in Denver said he expects a renewed focus on insider threats and warned that there is a real possibility Russells actions could inspire terrorists or copycats.

Countering an insider threat remains challenging, given the number of peoplecaterers, mechanics, cleaning staff and otherswho have access to aircraft.

Such workers already undergo background checks and drug and alcohol screenings. At some airports, including Sea-Tac, they are also subject to physical screenings the way passengers are.

Russell was not believed to have had a pilots license. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them and handling baggage.

Many planes in service were designed decades ago and are started up by manipulating levers and switches in a certain sequence, rather than by, say, an ignition key.

Experts said Russell had to have known how to start the plane, taxi and take off, but its not clear where he learned to do so. He told the air-traffic controller he didnt need much help flying because he had played video games.

John Cox, a veteran pilot and aviation security expert with Washington, D.C.-based Safety Operating Systems, said that given the rarity of commercial airplane theft, there should be no rush to adopt additional measures that might bog down airlines or otherwise be counterproductive.

The investigation, once complete, will likely show any shortcomings that need to be remedied, he suggested.

He also cast doubt on some ideas suggested by others, saying it would probably be prohibitively expensive to retrofit older planes with measures such as computer passcodes.

Its not as simple as putting a key fob in your pocket and getting in your car and pushing a button, he said.

Cox also questioned the effectiveness of having more guards monitoring parked planes.

If youre a guard and a person comes up in a pushback tug, in uniform, with proper credentials, its only at the point the engine starts that youd notice somethings amiss, he said. By then its too late.

By Gene Johnson

Associated Press writer Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this report
Justice Robin Jean Davis at a news conference this morning in the Supreme Court announcing her retirement from the Court. (Jennifer Bundy/The West Virginia Judiciary)

Top West Virginia Judge Retires After Impeachment Vote

A West Virginia Supreme Court justice has retired, a day after state lawmakers voted to start impeachment proceedings against the full court, accusing four judges of lavish spending that included a total of more than $1 million in office renovations.

Justice Robin Davis, 62, said on Aug. 14 that she would retire, after state legislators accused her of corruption and neglect of duty, including spending $500,000 on office renovations that featured a $20,000 rug and an $8,000 desk chair.

Davis, a Democrat, retired on the last possible day that would trigger a special election to choose her replacement, instead of having Republican Governor Jim Justice appoint a new judge. She accused Republican lawmakers of deliberately timing their impeachment vote to make it easier for the governor to name replacements.

The will of the people is being denied, Davis told local media. I just cannot allow the finalizing of their plot to come to fruition.

The court has been mired in scandal since June, when the states House of Delegates began an investigation.

Davis, Republican Justice Allen Loughry and Democratic Chief Justice Margaret Workman are charged with illegally overpaying senior status judges, semi-retired jurists who handle less than full caseloads. All three, as well as justice Elizabeth Walker, a Republican who was elected in a nonpartisan vote, were impeached for failing to control expenses.

The courts fifth justice, Democrat Menis Ketchum, resigned in July and pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Voters will choose his replacement in a special election in November.

The majority of impeachment articles that were approved Aug. 13 named Loughry, who was indicted in June on federal charges of fraud, false statements, and witness tampering. He has been suspended from the court and faces up to 395 years in prison if found guilty.

The delegates voted Aug. 13 to have the state Senate begin an impeachment trial. The Senate will now vote on whether the remaining justices will be forced from office.
Train Hits Truck Carrying Hundreds of Tires in Louisiana

A truck carrying hundreds of tires was smashed by a train in Slidell, Louisiana, according to the Slidell Police Department.

In a Facebook post and video on Aug. 13, the police department stated that the early morning train crash in Slidell caused roadways to be shut down for several hours.

Miraculously, no one was seriously injured in the crash, police said.

The driver of the truck, 43-year-old Lee Henderson Jr., stopped at a red light before the rear of his vehicle got stopped on the train tracks. Then, a freight train operated by Norfolk Southern approached the intersection, but Henderson wasnt able to move in time.

The momentum of the train caused the truck to spin, which then struck a 2001 Toyota Corolla. The driver and passenger of the truck had minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota Corolla was uninjured, the office stated.

Henderson was cited by police for the crash.

The crash caused significant damage to the locomotive of the train, which had multiple intersections shut down for several hours. A replacement locomotive was sent in this afternoon to haul off the crippled train, as other crews picked up the tires and hauled off the wrecked truck. Around 1:00 p.m., the crash was cleared and all intersections were opened, the office said.

**12:50 p.m. UPDATE** The accident has been cleared and all intersections are open!**11:10 a.m. UPDATE** The crossing Posted by Slidell Police Department on Monday, August 13, 2018

The office added: Henderson was listed at fault in the crash, and was cited for L.R.S. 32:171, Failure to Obey Signal to an Approaching Train. The law indicates that when there is clearly a visible electric or mechanical signal, any vehicle crossing a railroad crossing must stop within fifteen feet of the track, on either side. A vehicle may not proceed over the tracks until they can safely do so.

Stop. Trains Cant

According to roadside assistance firm AAA, in the state of Louisiana, Any person driving a motor vehicle that approaches a railroad crossing must stop between 15 and 50 feet of the railroad crossing if 1 of the following occurs: (1) a clearly visible signal device gives warning of the approach of a railroad train; (2) a crossing gate is lowered, or a human flagman stops traffic; (3) a fast moving railroad train approaching within approximately 900 feet of the highway crossing emits a signal; (4) an approaching train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to such crossing; and (5) a stop signal is at the railroad grade crossing.

Meanwhile, Any motor vehicle carrying passengers for hire, school buses, and any vehicle carrying hazardous material must stop between 15 and 50 feet of all railroad crossings and then proceed when it is safe to do so, the AAA said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation in recent years launched an ad campaign to increase public awareness about train crossings.

Although accidents at railroad crossings are an old problem, the problem is easily avoidable. This ad is the latest in a three-year, focused effort to reverse the uptick in railroad crossing fatalities, the agency said.

The slogan is: Stop. Trains cant.

It said that between 2012 and 2016, 1,225 people died while trying to cross railroad tracks. In 2016, there were 2,041 railroad crossing incidents, and also in 2016, 264 people died while trying to cross the tracks, according to the agency.
Trump Campaign Seeks Millions from Omarosa: Report

The campaign for the re-election of President Donald Trump has filed for arbitration proceedings against former campaign aide and White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman, alleging that she broke a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) by denigrating the president in her recent book.

Manigault Newman, who was fired from a community-outreach job in the Trump administration in December, says she secretly recorded other Trump administration officials, and she even released a tape of chief of staff John Kelly firing her. That conversation, she said, took place in the ultra-secure White House Situation Room, where personal devices are forbidden.

An unidentified Trump campaign official told The Washington Examiner that Manigault Newman committed egregious violations of the agreement, and the campaign is seeking millions of dollars in compensation. The campaign may also claim ill-gotten profits from her book.

Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. has filed an arbitration against Omarosa Manigault-Newman, with the American Arbitration Association in New York City, for breach of her 2016 confidentiality agreement with the Trump Campaign, the official said, adding that the president is well known for giving people opportunities to advance in their careers and lives over the decades, but wrong is wrong, and a direct violation of an agreement must be addressed and the violator must be held accountable.

The agreement prohibits Manigault Newman from divulging proprietary information about the president, his companies, or his family and to never disparage the Trump family during the term of your service and at all times thereafter, according to a copy obtained by the newspaper.

While Manigault Newman said she didnt sign an NDA with the administration, the campaign claims that her NDA with the campaign is still in effect.

In her book, Manigault Newman has accused Trump of racism, alleging he used a racial slur during the production of the reality television show The Apprentice, on which she worked with Trump for years.

Trump and multiple insiders, however, have denied that claim and others in the book.

She claims to have heard from someone who heard from me that I heard Trump use the N-word, political consultant Frank Luntz said in an Aug. 10 tweet. Not only is this flat-out false (Ive never heard such a thing), but Omarosa didnt even make an effort to call or email me to verify.

Manigault Newman claimed theres a tape of Trump using the slur and released a recording where shes discussing the tape with Katrina Pierson, spokeswoman for the Trump 2016 campaign.

Pierson said in a statement to Fox News that she was indeed looking into rumors about the tape and that its clear now that those rumors were always being circulated by Omarosa and her alone.

Omarosa fabricated the story by conflating numerous discussions, Pierson said.
U.S. Special Forces Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

An Army Special Forces soldier died on Aug. 12, five days after he was wounded in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, of Hawaii, died at a hospital in Germany. The attack with an improvised explosive device occurred in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Transfiguracion was deployed to Afghanistan in March, the Army Times reported.

Before that, he was an engineer sergeant at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Washington.

He was a mentor to all of us, said Transfiguracions brother, via Hawaii News Now. He always had this Special Forces Green Beret poster in his room growing up. That was his dream. He did what he had to do and achieved his dream. Im beyond words of how proud and how much I appreciate his efforts and success.

Transfiguracion was in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Freedoms Sentinel. He was born in Sarrat Ilocos Norte, Philippines, on May 20, 1982, The News Tribune reported. He moved to Hawaii and joined the Hawaii National Guard, before becoming a part of the active Army, and then a Green Beret soldier.

Transfiguracion was deployed to Iraq with the National Guard from 2005 to 2006. After he became an active-duty soldier, in 2008, he was deployed to Iraq again. In 2010 and 2011 he was deployed for a period of time in the Philippines, the Army Times reported.

His awards include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, a Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Badge, the Special Forces Tab, a Combat Infantryman Badge, a Basic Parachutist Badge, as well as an Air Assault Badge, the Army Times reported.

After his death he was promoted to sergeant first class and given a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal.

The Situation in Afghanistan

Operation Freedoms Sentinel is one of two missions that began in Afghanistan right at the end of Operation Enduring Freedom. NATOs Operation Resolute Support is the other, according to DoD Live.

After removing the Taliban from power during the 13-year Operation Enduring Freedom, Resolute Support is meant to support the transition of Afghanistan to its new government and ultimately bring stability to the region. Resolute Support is composed of troops from over 40 countries.

Freedoms Sentinel aids Resolute Support, while also dealing with the remaining terrorists in Afghanistan. The purpose is to prevent anymore attacks like the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

On Aug. 14 the Taliban attacked a military base in northern Afghanistan and killed 17 soldiers. The Taliban claims that in addition to the casualties, dozens of Afghan soldiers surrendered and others were captured in battle. The base housed about 140 Afghan troops, AP reported.

Local provincial council chief, Mohammad Tahir Rahmani, of Faryab Province, said the base was besieged for three days before the Taliban terrorists were able to overrun it. The Afghan soldiers didnt get reinforcements and ran out of ammunition, according to AP.

From NTD.tv
The view from the bell tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Stephansplatz, Vienna, in this file photo. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Vienna Is the Most Livable City in the World, According to Global Survey

LONDONAustrian capital Vienna has been named the worlds most livable city, the first time a European city has taken the top spot.

Vienna beat Australias Melbourne in the annual Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) survey, which rates 140 cities worldwide.

The Global Livability Index uses factors like political and social stability, education, healthcare, and crime to rank cities.

Survey editor Roxana Slavcheva told the BBC that security had improved in several western European cities and Viennas placing at the top of the list showed there had been a relative return to stability across much of Europe.

Previously, Melbourne was ranked top for seven years running, but this year the Australian city came second.

Sydney and Adelaide did, however, make the top 10.

Least Livable City

The survey also reveals the least livable city, which this year is Damascus in Syria, followed by Dhaka in Bangladesh, then Lagos in Nigeria.

The 10 cities at the bottom of the survey all had problems with war, civil unrest, or crime, the Economist Intelligence Unit said.

Several of the worlds most dangerous cities such as Kabul and Baghdad arent included in the survey.

While in the past couple of years cities in Europe were affected by the spreading perceived threat of terrorism in the region, which caused heightened security measures, the past year has seen a return to normalcy, the EIU said in a statement, according to Reuters.

A long-running contender to the title, Vienna has succeeded in displacing Melbourne from the top spot due to increases in the Austrian capitals stability category ratings, it said, referring to one of the methods used to rank cities.

Indeed, it was the stability rating that clinched the top spot for Vienna. Both it and Melbourne scored maximum points in healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Vienna also has a low crime rate, survey editor Roxana Slavcheva said.

One of the sub-categories that Vienna does really well in is the prevalence of petty crime  Its proven to be one of the safest cities in Europe, she told Reuters.

Bigger Cities Out of Favor

The EIU says it tends to favor medium-sized cities in wealthier countries, because larger and more crowded cities often have higher crime rates and pressure on infrastructure.

In Vienna, for example, public transport is efficient and low cost. With a population of about 1.8 million and plenty of green spaces, its claim to being the worlds most pleasant city looks set to continue.

London, meanwhile, ranked 48th.

However, Manchester in the north of England showed the greatest improvement of any European city, rising 16 places to 35th on the list.

Last year, the survey demoted Manchester following a terrorist attack in which 22 people died.

Slavcheva told the BBC Manchester had shown resilience in the citys recovery from a recent, high-profile terrorist attack, which previously shook up stability.

The 10 most livable cities 2018

1. Vienna, Austria

2. Melbourne, Australia

3. Osaka, Japan

4. Calgary, Canada

5. Sydney, Australia

6. Vancouver, Canada

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Toronto, Canada

9. Copenhagen, Denmark

10. Adelaide, Australia

The 10 least livable cities 2018

1. Damascus, Syria

2. Dhaka, Bangladesh

3. Lagos, Nigeria

4. Karachi, Pakistan

5. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

6. Harare, Zimbabwe

7. Tripoli, Libya

8. Douala, Cameroon

9. Algiers, Algeria

10. Dakar, Senegal
5 Seconds of Summer continues to take the world by storm. The Australian pop group, also known as 5SOS, is touring in support of its new album, Youngblood, which dropped in June.

Youngblood follows the bands self-titled 2014 debut and 2015s Sounds Good Feels Good, each of which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. Sounds Good Feels Good hit the top spot in 12 countries, including the United States and Australia.

5SOS brings its Meet You There Tour to Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday, Aug. 29, with special guest, The Aces. Hailed by Rolling Stone as the biggest new rock act in the world, 5SOS features guitarists Luke Hemmings and Michael Clifford, bass player Calum Hood and drummer Ashton Irwin. All four contribute vocals.

The musicians discussed their new record in an interview last month with BBC reporter Mark Savage. After Savage mentioned 5SOS had said Youngblood was the first album we recorded as adults, he asked: When did you first feel like a proper grown-up?

Hemmings, 22, said, Its hard to explain because we have to do serious, adult things  we run a business and people work for us  but we're still like kids. I just bought a Nintendo Switch!

Clifford, also 22, said, I think we looked at songwriting in a more adult way this time. When youre young, you write off instinct and you sponge off other artists. Once you get to adulthood, you start to come up with different ideas.

Hemmings added, Yeah, our second album is very much, Were a band and were going to play... so screw you! On this one, we only added guitar parts and harmonies when they were needed.

5SOS is known for such hits as Amnesia and Shes Kinda Hot. The band has earned numerous honors, including an American Music Award, a Peoples Choice Award and five MTV European Music Awards. Earlier this month, on Aug. 12, the quartet collected a pair of Teen Choice Awards, one of which was for Youngblood.

Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville. Wednesday, Aug. 29, 7:30 p.m. $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. Floor is general admission, standing only, no chairs. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com
Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief Jason Feifer has five book and magazine recommendations for you in August, including stories from Malcolm Gladwell, Chuck Klosterman and Danica Patrick.

Whether you're looking for a series of essays about the future, a book about nature or a story about how to accept uncertainty, these five choices can provide you with a new way of thinking that can help you grow -- and help your business grow as a result.

Image Credit: Penguin Random House

1. But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past

In But What If We're Wrong?, New York Times bestselling author Chuck Klosterman asks a simple question: How will the future remember us? What will endure about our time, and would we be surprised by the answer?

Feifer says: Chucks premise is undeniable: The world is ever-changing, and the things we think of today as true (how gravity works! The everlasting appeal of the Beatles) will almost certainly be wrong. So, what do we do now?

Image Credit: Penguin Random House

2. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

In Daring Greatly, University of Houston research professor Brene Brown shares her vision for the way we lead, live and love. It's all about dealing with uncertainty, risks and the emotional exposure that comes with those things.

Feifer says: Brown argues that courage and strength comes from our willingness to be vulnerable. Theres almost no more important (but challenging) message for entrepreneurs to absorb. Well never be successful leaders by puffing ourselves up. Well do it by stripping ourselves down.

Image Credit: Hachette

3. What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures

Malcolm Gladwell is one of the most famous writers, due in part to No. 1 bestsellers like Outliers. However, he has also been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996, and What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures is a collection of his best pieces for the magazine.

Feifer says: Every essay in here is insightful, but pay particularly close attention to The Talent Myth, a piece about why companies hurt themselves by promoting the wrong people. Gladwells argument: Were thinking about talent all wrong.

Image Credit: Penguin Random House

4. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Bill Bryson's book, A Walk in the Woods, will soon be a movie starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. However, as the title suggests, the story isn't about Hollywood or glamor -- it's about the history and ecology of the Appalachian trail.

Feifer says: Its easy to get lost in our work. If you cant escape the office to clear your head, at least let this Bill Bryson do it for you: He walks the Appalachian Trail, and reports back with delight and insight.

Image Credit: Nigel Parry

5. Danica Patrick Spent Years Preparing To Retire By Laying The Groundwork For A New Career

Danica Patrick is Entrepreneur's cover story for July, and her story is a fascinating one. She has recently retired from racing, but she's been preparing for life after car racing for years. Her feature for Entrepreneur breaks down how Patrick fought against becoming complacent and how she's ready for what's next.

Feifer says: Theres a downside of success: Once weve reached some level of achievement, many of us lose our appetite for risk. We become trapped maintaining what we have, rather than building bigger, or better, or simply anew. Thats why I loved this Entrepreneur cover story of now- retired race car driver Danica Patrick, who very much escaped that trap.

Related:

5 August Reading Recommendations From Editor-in-Chief Jason Feifer

My Book and Baby Are Due the Same Day! Follow Along on My Journey. Episode 8: Sometimes You Need to Cry It Out.

5 Must-Read Books to Build Your Personal Brand by Women Authors Who Know How to Get It Done



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Aliza Sherman has spent her career redefining the norms for women in technology and business at large. The Latina entrepreneur started Cybergrrl, Inc. as the first woman-owned, full-service internet company. She followed by founding Webgrrls International, the first global organization created to help women learn about -- and benefit from -- the internet. She's written 11 books about her experiences, including "cybergrrl! A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web" and "The Happy, Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact Without Burnout."

As part of this ongoing series, Sherman shared her advice, tips and insights as a cannabis entrepreneur out there doing business battle on a daily business. (Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.)

What brought you into the cannabis industry?

I initially began researching the cannabis industry as a way to expand my digital marketing business when I saw cannabis companies struggling to promote their products and services. The more I learned about cannabis -- especially the reasons why cannabis was banned in the first place and how I spent decades believing false information about the plant -- I discovered it could be personally beneficial to me for health and wellness reasons.

The more I immersed myself in the cannabis industry, the more I saw direct parallels to my years in the tech industry dating back to the early 1990s. Pioneering a new business within an emerging industry felt familiar to me, so I dove in and began producing content and building a community for women focused on cannabis for health and wellness.

Ellementa is an international network that is the bridge between cannabis, CBD and wellness companies and the women they want to reach: 35-plus who are seeking health and medicine alternatives to address a myriad of conditions. The company is run by three women formerly from the tech industry: Melissa Pierce, Ashley Kingsley and me.

Ellementa was born out of the belief that women would be instrumental in changing the conversations around cannabis. Women make the majority of the healthcare decisions and purchases in U.S. households, so they not only hold the key to their own care but often are involved in the care of their partners, children and even their parents and circle of friends.

Ive been marketing products and services to women for years, so marketing cannabis and CBD to women -- particularly knowing they can improve peoples quality of life and even save lives -- makes my move from tech into cannabis incredibly meaningful and gratifying. I know that my business partners, Melissa and Ashley, feel the same.

Related: Why These Teenage Girls Started a CBD Lifestyle Brand

What obstacles and challenges have you experienced while operating within this industry?

Because I chose to establish an ancillary cannabis business -- meaning we dont touch the plant -- my company has faced fewer obstacles in the industry than those growing, manufacturing and selling cannabis. Our challenges are the basic startup ones: capitalization, growth, scaling.

One cannabis-specific challenge is the stigma and ignorance that makes it challenging to advertise and market cannabis and CBD, particularly on social networks or any media outlet that gets federal funding, like National Public Radio.

Related: How Cannabis Ecommerce Challenges Are Driving Web Innovation

How have you overcome these obstacles?

Were closing our first round of funding to address the growth and scaling issue. What were building is global in scope, so we must address the different legal landscapes: locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. We like to say Ellementa is legal anywhere free speech and educating women is legal. Even though we arent hampered by restrictive cannabis laws, we need to be aware of what is happening locally to properly inform women about which products they can and cannot obtain or use where they live.

In terms of the limitations of advertising and marketing options, particularly online, weve built a multi-pronged digital and offline network through Ellementa to reach women more directly than social media.

As a woman in cannabis, do you believe you're at an advantage or a disadvantage (or both)? Why?

Ive found the cannabis industry to be incredibly welcoming to women and empowering for women. Theres a strong sentiment of were in this thing together among many of the cannabis entrepreneurs I know. Collaboration is key to succeeding in this industry.

Having experienced a great deal of sexism through the years in the tech industry, I feel like those barriers are less prevalent in the cannabis industry, although as more of those in power in other industries move into cannabis, Im concerned they will bring old-school thinking into what currently feels very welcoming and open.

The old attitudes that hold women back in business are powerful and difficult to overcome. Im hopeful that women -- particularly women of color -- will get a strong foothold in the cannabis industry before old attitudes negatively influence it.

Related: Will the Cannabis Industry Be the First True Gender Equalizer?

Which of your achievements in this industry are you most proud of?

I love watching a vision become reality. A little over a year ago, I had an aha! moment when I realized women could benefit from access to better information about cannabis and CBD and the connections to other women who could bring this knowledge to them.

Since then, Ive brought two smart women on board to help turn Ellementa into an active network of nearly 40 cities in North America where women organize monthly meetings to bring women, experts and brands together to share information about cannabis and CBD for health and wellness. Were growing and proving our business model and the value of the network were building. Were making a difference not only in our industry but in womens lives.

What's your greatest lesson learned?

Im learning so many lessons every day. More than anything, Ive learned women are incredibly passionate about improving their lives and the lives of their loved ones. They're eager to connect with the products and services to help them do this. But more important, they are hungry for meaningful communities with like-minded women to engage in some of the most basic of human needs: connecting and belonging.

Related: Band of Sisters: These Organizations Help Women in Weed Unite

Which trait do you rely on most when making business decisions? Why is this useful for you?

I rely most on honesty, which leads to transparency. Being truthful and open is the only way to do business -- and the best way to live. Being in the cannabis industry often means facing stigma, ignorance, fear and even some anger from those who do not understand what cannabis is and does.

Operating openly, both within our company and with partners and stakeholders as well as consumers, makes a huge difference when dealing with something as misunderstood and controversial as cannabis. By being completely open, it is easier to build trust. Gaining trust means less friction when transacting business. Our industry needs honesty and transparency to help overcome the limiting misperceptions about what we do and can help us normalize cannabis more quickly.

Related:

She Broke Barriers in Tech and Now Runs the Largest International Cannabis Women's Network

She Wants to Change the Face of the Industry

She Took Her Yale MBA Into Cannabis and Now Funds the Industry's Largest Deals



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist who became one of the richest men in world history through his company, Carnegie Steel. He sold Carnegie Steel to J.P. Morgan in 1901 for $480 million -- according to Time, that number equated to more than 2 percent of the American GDP. He was worth the equivalent of $372 billion today, and he spent the last several years of his life donating the majority of that money to universities, libraries and other public causes.

Carnegie wrote The Gospel of Wealth in 1889, when he still ran Carnegie Steel, to advise others on how to best follow his lead. Here are his words in full. You can listen to Carnegie read it below.

The Gospel of Wealth by Andrew Carnegie

The problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth, so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relationship. The conditions of human life have not only been changed, but revolutionized, within the past few hundred years. In former days there was little difference between the dwelling, dress, food and environment of the chief and those of his retainers. The Indians are today where civilized man then was. When visiting the Sioux, I was led to the wigwam of the chief. It was just like the others in external appearance, and even within the difference was trifling between it and those of the poorest of his braves. The contrast between the palace of the millionaire and the cottage of the laborer with us to-day measures the change which has come with civilization.

This change, however, is not to be deplored, but welcomed as highly beneficial. It is well, nay, essential for the progress of the race, that the houses of some should be homes for all that is highest and best in literature and the arts, and for all the refinements of civilization, rather than that none should be so. Much better this great irregularity than universal squalor. Without wealth there can be no Mcenas. The "good old times " were not good old times. Neither master nor servant was as well situated then as to-day. A relapse to old conditions would be disastrous to both -- not the least so to him who serves -- and would sweep away civilization with it. But, whether the change be for good or ill, it is upon us, beyond our power to alter, and therefore to be accepted and made the best of. It is a waste of time to criticize the inevitable.

It is easy to see how the change has come. One illustration will serve for almost every phase of the cause. In the manufacture of products we have the whole story. It applies to all combinations of human industry, as stimulated and enlarged by the inventions of this scientific age. Formerly articles were manufactured at the domestic hearth or in small shops which formed part of the household. The master and his apprentices worked side by side, the latter living with the master, and therefore subject to the same conditions. When these apprentices rose to be masters, there was little or no change in their mode of life, and they, in turn, educated in the same routine succeeding apprentices. There was, substantially social equality, and even political equality, for those engaged in industrial pursuits had then little or no political voice in the State.

But, the inevitable result of such a mode of manufacture was crude articles at high prices. Today the world obtains commodities of excellent quality at prices which even the generation preceding this would have deemed incredible. In the commercial world similar causes have produced similar results, and the race is benefited thereby. The poor enjoy what the rich could not before afford. What were the luxuries have become the necessaries of life. The laborer has now more comforts than the landlord had a few generations ago. The farmer has more luxuries than the landlord had, and is more richly clad and better housed. The landlord has books and pictures rarer, and appointments more artistic, than the King could then obtain.

The price we pay for this salutary change is, no doubt, great. We assemble thousands of operatives in the factory, in the mine and in the counting-house, of whom the employer can know little or nothing, and to whom the employer is little better than a myth. All intercourse between them is at an end. Rigid castes are formed, and, as usual, mutual ignorance breeds mutual distrust. Each caste is without sympathy for the other and ready to credit anything disparaging in regard to it. Under the law of competition, the employer of thousands is forced into the strictest economies, among which the rates paid to labor figure prominently, and often there is friction between the employer and the employed, between capital and labor, between rich and poor. Human society loses homogeneity.

The price which society pays for the law of competition, like the price it pays for cheap comforts and luxuries, is also great; but the advantage of this law are also greater still, for it is to this law that we owe our wonderful material development, which brings improved conditions in its train. But, whether the law be benign or not, we must say of it, as we say of the change in the conditions of men to which we have referred: It is here; we cannot evade it; no substitutes for it have been found; and while the law may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it insures the survival of the fittest in every department. We accept and welcome therefore, as conditions to which we must accommodate ourselves, great inequality of environment, the concentration of business, industrial and commercial, in the hands of a few, and the law of competition between these, as being not only beneficial, but essential for the future progress of the race. Having accepted these, it follows that there must be great scope for the exercise of special ability in the merchant and in the manufacturer who has to conduct affairs upon a great scale. That this talent for organization and management is rare among men is proved by the fact that it invariably secures for its possessor enormous rewards, no matter where or under what laws or conditions. The experienced in affairs always rate the MAN whose services can be obtained as a partner as not only the first consideration, but such as to render the question of his capital scarcely worth considering, for such men soon create capital; while, without the special talent required, capital soon takes wings. Such men become interested in firms or corporations using millions; and estimating only simple interest to be made upon the capital invested, it is inevitable that their income must exceed their expenditures and that they must accumulate wealth. Nor is there any middle ground which such men can occupy, because the great manufacturing or commercial concern which does not earn at least interest upon its capital soon becomes bankrupt. It, must either go forward or fall behind: to stand still is impossible. It is a condition essential for its successful operation that it should be thus far profitable, and even that, in addition to interest on capital, it should make profit. It is a law, as certain as any of the others named, that men possessed of this peculiar talent for affair, under the free play of economic forces, must, of necessity, soon be in receipt of more revenue than can be judiciously expended upon themselves; and this law is as beneficial for the race as the others.

Objections to the foundations upon which society is based are not in order, because the condition of the race is better with these than it has been with any others which have been tried. Of the effect of any new substitutes proposed we cannot be sure. The Socialist or Anarchist who seeks to overturn present conditions is to be regarded as attacking the foundation upon which civilization itself rests, for civilization took its start from the day that the capable, industrious workman said to his incompetent and lazy fellow, "If thou dost net sow, thou shalt net reap," and thus ended primitive Communism by separating the drones from the bees. One who studies this subject will soon be brought face to face with the conclusion that upon the sacredness of property civilization itself depends -- the right of the laborer to his hundred dollars in the savings bank, and equally the legal right of the millionaire to his millions. To these who propose to substitute Communism for this intense Individualism the answer, therefore, is: The race has tried that. All progress from that barbarous day to the present time has resulted from its displacement. Not evil, but good, has come to the race from the accumulation of wealth by those who have the ability and energy that produce it. But, even if we admit for a moment that it might be better for the race to discard its present foundation, Individualism -- that it is a nobler ideal that man should labor, not for himself alone, but in and for a brotherhood of his fellows, and share with them all in common, realizing Swedenborg's idea of Heaven, where, as he says, the angels derive their happiness, not from laboring for self, but for each other -- even admit all this, and a sufficient answer is, "This is not evolution, but revolution." It necessitates the changing of human nature itself a work of oeons, even if it were good to change it, which we cannot know. It is not practicable in our day or in our age. Even if desirable theoretically, it belongs to another and long-succeeding sociological stratum. Our duty is with what is practicable now; with the next step possible in our day and generation. It is criminal to waste our energies in endeavoring to uproot, when all we can profitably or possibly accomplish is to bend the universal tree of humanity a little in the direction most favorable to the production of good fruit under existing circumstances. We might as well urge the destruction of the highest existing type of man because he failed to reach our ideal as favor the destruction of Individualism, Private Property, the Law of Accumulation of Wealth, and the Law of Competition; for these are the highest results of human experience, the soil in which society so far has produced the best fruit. Unequally or unjustly, perhaps, as these laws sometimes operate, and imperfect as they appear to the Idealist, they are, nevertheless, like the highest type of man, the best and most valuable of all that humanity has yet accomplished.

We start, then, with a condition of affairs under which the best interests of the race are promoted, but which inevitably gives wealth to the few. Thus far, accepting conditions as they exist, the situation can be surveyed and pronounced good. The question then arises -- and, if the foregoing be correct, it is the only question with which we have to deal -- What is the proper mode of administering wealth after the laws upon which civilization is founded have thrown it into the hands of the few? And it is of this great question that I believe I offer the true solution. It will be understood that fortunes are here spoken of, not moderate sums saved by many years of effort, the returns on which are required for the comfortable maintenance and education of families. This is not wealth, but only competence which it should be the aim of all to acquire.

There are but three modes in which surplus wealth can be disposed of. It can be left to the families of the decedents; or it can be bequeathed for public purposes; or, finally, it can be administered during their lives by its possessors. Under the first and second modes most of the wealth of the world that has reached the few has hitherto been applied. Let us in turn consider each of these modes. The first is the most injudicious. In monarchical countries, the estates and the greatest portion of the wealth are left to the first son, that the vanity of the parent may be gratified by the thought that his name and title are to descend to succeeding generations unimpaired. The condition of this class in Europe today teaches the futility of such hopes or ambitions. The successors have become impoverished through their follies or from the fall in the value of land. Even in Great Britain the strict law of entail has been found inadequate to maintain the status of a hereditary class. Its soil is rapidly passing into the hands of the stranger. Under republican institutions the division of property among the children is much fairer, but the question that forces itself upon thoughtful men in all lands is: Why should men leave great fortunes to their children? If this is done from affection, is it not misguided affection? Observation teaches that, generally speaking, it is not well for the children that they should be so burdened. Neither is it well for the state. Beyond providing for the wife and daughters moderate sources of income, and very moderate allowances indeed, if any, for the sons, men may well hesitate, for it is no longer questionable that great suns bequeathed oftener work more for the injury than for the good of the recipients. Wise men will soon conclude that, for the best interests of the members of their families and of the state, such bequests are an improper use of their means.

It is not suggested that men who have failed to educate their sons to earn a livelihood shall cast them adrift in poverty. If any man has seen fit to rear his sons with a view to their living idle lives, or, what is highly commendable, has instilled in them the sentiment that they are in a position to labor for public ends without reference to pecuniary considerations, then, of course, the duty of the parent is to see that such are provided for in moderation. There are instances of millionaires' sons unspoiled by wealth, who, being rich, still perform great services in the community. Such are the very salt of the earth, as valuable as, unfortunately, they are rare; still it is not the exception, but the rule, that men must regard, and looking at the usual result of enormous sums conferred upon legatees, the thoughtful man must shortly say, "I would as soon leave to my son a curse as the almighty dollar," and admit to himself that it is not the welfare of the children, but family pride, which inspires these enormous legacies.

As to the second mode, that of leaving wealth at death for public uses, it may be said that this is only a means for the disposal of wealth, provided a man is content to wait until he is dead before it becomes of much good in the world. Knowledge of the results of legacies bequeathed is not calculated to inspire the brightest hopes of much posthumous good being accomplished. The cases are not few in which the real object sought by the testator is not attained, nor are they few in which his real wishes are thwarted. In many cases the bequests are so used as to become only monuments of his folly. It is well to remember that it requires the exercise of not less ability than that which acquired the wealth to use it so as to be really beneficial to the community. Besides this, it may fairly be said that no man is to be extolled for doing what he cannot help doing, nor is he to be thanked by the community to which he only leaves wealth at death. Men who leave vast sums in this way may fairly be thought men who would not have left it at all, had they been able to take it with them. The memories of such cannot be held in grateful remembrance, for there is no grace in their gifts. It is not to be wondered at that such bequests seem so generally to lack the blessing.

The growing disposition to tax more and more heavily large estates left at death is a cheering indication of the growth of a salutary change in public opinion. The State of Pennsylvania now takes -- subject to some exceptions -- one-tenth of the property left by its citizens. The budget presented in the British Parliament the other day proposes to increase the death-duties; and, most significant of all, the new tax is to be a graduated one. Of all forms of taxation, this seems the wisest. Men who continue hoarding great sums all their lives, the proper use of which for -- public ends would work good to the community, should be made to feel that the community, in the form of the state, cannot thus be deprived of its proper share. By taxing estates heavily at death the state marks its condemnation of the selfish millionaire's unworthy life.

It is desirable;that nations should go much further in this direction. Indeed, it is difficult to set bounds to the share of a rich man's estate which should go at his death to the public through the agency of the state, and by all means such taxes should be graduated, beginning at nothing upon moderate sums to dependents, and increasing rapidly as the amounts swell, until of the millionaire's hoard, as of Shylock's, at least

"_____ The other half

Comes to the privy coffer of the state."

This policy would work powerfully to induce the rich man to attend to the administration of wealth during his life, which is the end that society should always have in view, as being that by far most fruitful for the people. Nor need it be feared that this policy would sap the root of enterprise and render men less anxious to accumulate, for to the class whose ambition it is to leave great fortunes and be talked about after their death, it will attract even more attention, and, indeed, be a somewhat nobler ambition to have enormous sums paid over to the state from their fortunes.

There remains, then, only one mode of using great fortunes; but in this we have the true antidote for the temporary unequal distribution of wealth, the reconciliation of the rich and the poor -- a reign of harmony -- another ideal, differing, indeed, from that of the Communist in requiring only the further evolution of existing conditions, not the total overthrow of our civilization. It is founded upon the present most intense individualism, and the race is projected to put it in practice by degree whenever it pleases. Under its sway we shall have an ideal state, in which the surplus wealth of the few will become, in the best sense the property of the many, because administered for the common good, and this wealth, passing through the hands of the few, can be made a much more potent force for the elevation of our race than if it had been distributed in small sums to the people themselves. Even the poorest can be made to see this, and to agree that great sums gathered by some of their fellow-citizens and spent for public purposes, from which the masses reap the principal benefit, are more valuable to them than if scattered among them through the course of many years in trifling amounts.

If we consider what results flow from the Cooper Institute, for instance, to the best portion of the race in New York not possessed of means, and compare these with those which would have arisen for the good of the masses from an equal sum distributed by Mr. Cooper in his lifetime in the form of wages, which is the highest form of distribution, being for work done and not for charity, we can form some estimate of the possibilities for the improvement of the race which lie embedded in the present law of the accumulation of wealth. Much of this sum if distributed in small quantities among the people, would have been wasted in the indulgence of appetite, some of it in excess, and it may be doubted whether even the part put to the best use,that of adding to the comforts of the home, would have yielded results for the race, as a race, at all comparable to those which are flowing and are to flow from the Cooper Institute from generation to generation. Let the advocate of violent or radical change ponder well this thought.

We might even go so far as to take another instance, that of Mr. Tilden's bequest of 5 millions of dollars for a free library in the city of New York, but in referring to this one cannot help saying involuntarily, how much better if Mr. Tilden had devoted the last years of his own life to the proper administration of this immense sum; in which case neither legal contest nor any other cause of delay could have interfered with his aims. But, let us assume that Mr. Tilden's millions finally become the means of giving to this city a noble public library, where the treasures of the world contained in books will be open to all forever, without money and without price. Considering the good of that part of the race which congregates in and around Manhattan Island, would its permanent benefit have been better promoted had these millions been allowed to circulate in small sums through the hands of the masses? Even the most strenuous advocate of Communism must entertain a doubt upon this subject. Most of those who think will probably entertain no doubt whatever.

Poor and restricted are our opportunities in this life; narrow our horizon; our best work most imperfect; but rich men should be thankful for one inestimable boon. They have it in their power during their lives to busy themselves in organizing benefactions from which the masses of their fellows will derive lasting advantage, and thus dignify their own lives. The highest life is probably to be reached, not by such imitation of the life of Christ as Count Tolstoi gives us, but, while animated by Christ's spirit, by recognizing the changed conditions of this age, and adopting modes of expressing this spirit suitable to the changed conditions under which we live; still laboring for the good of our fellows, which was the essence of his life and teaching, but laboring in a different manner.

This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of Wealth: First, to set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him; and after doing so to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is called upon to administer, and strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community -- the man of wealth thus becoming the mere agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience and ability to administer, doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves.

We are met here with the difficulty of determining what are moderate sums to leave to members of the family; what is modest, unostentatious living; what is the test of extravagance. There must be different standards for different conditions. The answer is that it is as impossible to name exact amounts or actions as it is to define good manners, good taste or the rules of propriety; but, nevertheless, these are verities, well-known although undefinable. Public sentiment is quick to know and to feel what offends these. So in the case of wealth. The rule in regard to good taste in the dress of men or women applies here. Whatever makes one conspicuous offends the canon. If any family be chiefly known for display, for extravagance in home, table, equipage, for enormous sums ostentatiously spent in any form upon itself, if these be its chief distinctions, we have no difficulty in estimating its nature or culture. So likewise in regard to the use or abuse of its surplus wealth, or to generous, free-handed cooperation in good public uses, or to unabated efforts to accumulate and hoard to the last, whether they administer or bequeath. The verdict rests with the best and most enlightened public sentiment. The community will surely judge and its judgments will not often be wrong.

The best uses to which surplus wealth can be put have already been indicated. These who would administer wisely must, indeed, be wise, for one of the serious obstacles to the improvement of our race is indiscriminate charity. It were better for mankind that the millions of the rich were thrown in to the sea than so spent as to encourage the slothful, the drunken, the unworthy. Of every thousand dollars spent in so called charity to-day, it is probable that $950 is unwisely spent; so spent, indeed as to produce the very evils which it proposes to mitigate or cure. A well-known writer of philosophic books admitted the other day that he had given a quarter of a dollar to a man who approached him as he was coming to visit the house of his friend. He knew nothing of the habits of this beggar; knew not the use that would be made of this money, although he had every reason to suspect that it would be spent improperly. This man professed to be a disciple of Herbert Spencer; yet the quarter-dollar given that night will probably work more injury than all the money which its thoughtless donor will ever be able to give in true charity will do good. He only gratified his own feelings, saved him- self from annoyance -- and this was probably one of the most selfish and very worst actions of his life, for in all respects he is most worthy.

In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to use the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all. Neither the individual nor the race is improved by alms-giving. Those worthy of assistance, except in rare cases, seldom require assistance. The really valuable men of the race never do, except in cases of accident or sudden change. Every one has, of course, cases of individuals brought to his own knowledge where temporary assistance can do genuine good, and these he will not overlook. But, the amount which can be wisely given by the individual for individuals is necessarily limited by his lack of knowledge of the circumstances connected with each. He is the only true reformer who is as careful and as anxious not to aid the unworthy as he is to aid the worthy, and, perhaps, even more so, for in alms-giving more injury is probably done by rewarding vice than by relieving virtue.

The rich man is thus almost restricted to following the examples of Peter Cooper, Enoch Pratt of Baltimore, Mr. Pratt of Brooklyn, Senator Stanford and others, who know that the best means of benefiting the community is to place within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise -- parks, and means of recreation, by which men are helped in body and mind; works of art, certain to give pleasure and improve the public taste, and public institutions of various kinds, which will improve the general condition of the people -- in this manner returning their surplus wealth to the mass of their fellows in the forms best calculated to do them lasting good.

Thus is the problem of Rich and Poor to be solved. The laws of accumulation will be left free; the laws of distribution free. Individualism will continue, but the millionaire will be but a trustee for the poor; intrusted for a season with a great part of the increased wealth of the community, but administering it for the community far better than it could or would have done for itself. The best minds will thus have reached a stage in the development of the race in which it is clearly seen that there is no mode of disposing of surplus wealth creditable to thoughtful and earnest men into whose hands it flows save by using it year by year for the general good. This day already dawns. But, a little while, and although, without incurring the pity of their fellows, men may die sharers in great business enterprises from which their capital cannot be or has not been withdrawn, and is left chiefly at death for public uses, yet the man who dies leaving behind many millions of available wealth, which was his to administer during life, will pass away "unwept, unhonored, and unsung," no matter to what uses he leaves the dross which he cannot take with him. Of such as these the public verdict will then be: "The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced."

Such, in my opinion, is the true Gospel concerning Wealth, obedience to which is destined some day to solve the problem of the Rich and the Poor, and to bring "Peace on earth, among men Good-Will."

Related:

'The Gospel of Wealth' by Andrew Carnegie

A Modernized Version of Andrew Carnegie's 'The Gospel of Wealth'

11 Great Quotes on Money From Andrew Carnegie's 'The Gospel of Wealth'



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Cherry

By Nico Walker

Knopf. 336 pp. $26.95

---

You won't hear Nico Walker on book tour anytime soon because he's serving two more years in prison for bank robbery. But don't wait to pick up his lacerating new novel about the horrors of war and addiction. "Cherry" is a miracle of literary serendipity, a triumph born of gore and suffering that reads like it's been scratched out with a dirty needle across the tender skin of a man's forearm.

The story of how this autobiographical novel evolved is almost as remarkable as the story of how its debut author survived. In 2005 and 2006, Walker served as an Army medic in Iraq, where he was commended for valor and saw many of his buddies blown to pieces. Returning to civilian life depressed and traumatized, he became addicted to heroin, a habit he funded with extravagant success by robbing 10 banks in four months.

In 2013, when Walker was behind bars in the Federal Correctional Institution in Ashland, Ky., his journey from hero to thief became the subject of a harrowing profile in BuzzFeed. One of many people struck by that story was Matthew Johnson, a publisher at the independent press Tyrant Books. Fascinated by the historical tradition of war vets taking up bank robbery, Johnson sent Walker books and encouraged him to write about his life. Eventually, through one of those wildly circuitous trajectories that make up the map of literary history, Walker's disheveled manuscript ended up at Alfred A. Knopf, the nation's most prestigious publishing house.

In a gracious and unusually detailed acknowledgment at the end of "Cherry," Walker credits Tim O'Connell, his editor at Knopf, with transforming those typewritten pages into this tour de force. But when I contacted O'Connell, he claimed he did nothing but edit Walker's manuscript as usual. "It is the fruit of his hard work and remarkable natural talents," O'Connell said, "especially his voice, which is unlike any other. Nico simply poured everything he had into it."

That sounds right - and true to the searing authenticity of this novel, which tries to answer the question, "How do you get to be a scumbag?" But in the process of laying out the road to perdition, Walker demonstrates the depths of his humanity and challenges us to bridge the distance that we imagine separates us from the damned.

We meet the unnamed narrator in 2003 when he's a listless college student raised by a nice middle-class family. From the start, his tone is one of mournful candor with a trace of straight-faced wit. "I sold drugs but it wasn't like I was bad or anything," he says. "I wasn't bothering anybody; I didn't even eat meat. I had a job at the shoe store. Another mistake I made. No interest whatsoever in shoes. I was marked for failure."

With the same rueful smirk, he enlists in the Army "because I'd been saying I would." The inane tests, the screaming sergeants, the empty slogans - none of it impresses him. "You just had to remember it was all make-believe," he says. "We were pretending to be soldiers. The Army was pretending to be the Army."

But there's nothing make-believe about the blood that's soon gushing across these pages. As an Army medic, he goes on missions that are vaguely explained, often impromptu, frequently disastrous. His fellow soldiers are regularly called upon to brutalize the local people. The Iraqis, for their part, are experts at planting IEDs in the roads. "I was supposed to pretend to be some kind of great healer," the narrator says, but his medical expertise rarely involves more than scraping up bits of his friends and zipping them in bags. "I was not a hero," he says.

Of course, we've heard these stories before, in superb fiction and nonfiction by other soldiers. But Walker, 33, brings a raw and casual brutality to the narrative of battle. His rambling collection of chaotic anecdotes involve drugs and porn, acts of cruelty and kindness, unending boredom pierced by spikes of terror. These juxtapositions convey the fundamental disorder of the American mission and its deleterious effect on the young people forced to implement it. His language, relentlessly profane but never angry, simmers at the level of morose disappointment, something like Holden Caulfield Goes to War: "I'm glad I missed the battle because it was probably bulls--- and the Army just murdered your dog anyway."

But Walker also channels an even older novelist who saw the carnage of war. His prose echoes Ernest Hemingway's cadences to powerful effect like this: "By the time it was fall you could tell we were all a little off. In that state none of us could have passed in polite society; those of us who'd been kicking in doors and tearing houses up and shooting people, we were psychotic. And we were ready for it to end. There was nothing interesting about it anymore. There was nothing."

Ironically, that sense of sliding into the abyss accelerates when the narrator leaves the carnage of Iraq and returns to Ohio. Suicidally depressed, suffering flashbacks, blackouts and chronic insomnia, he grows so addicted that his entire life revolves around dope. "I was only ever afraid of one thing in my life," he says, "that I wouldn't be able to get heroin." Under the pressure of that insatiable desire, the narrative becomes a swirl of buys, highs and crashes, punctuated by increasingly risky negotiations that leave him ripped off or in debt. "Life was just slow death," he says, "regrets and forgetting everything you ever had believed in."

Even as I hyperventilate about this novel, I'm wary of the tendency to romanticize criminals, to treat their descriptions of degradation as unconscious art, to feel aroused by the vicarious thrill of illegality. There is, I know, the danger of re-enacting some kind of ridiculous literary version of the hysteria over Jeremy Meeks, whose mug shot turned him into an internet sensation.

But I honestly don't think I've been hypnotized just by this novel's relentless horrors. No - it's that unflappable (BEGIN ITAL)voice(END ITAL). "Cherry" is written without an ounce of self-pity by an author allergic to the meretricious poetry of despair. In these propulsive pages, Walker draws us right into the mind of an ordinary young man beset by his own and his country's demons. In the end, his only weapon against disintegration is his own devastating candor.
Edwardsville - Eighteen years ago, Patty Navin, an Edwardsville resident at the time, and Sheri Goleanor of Edwardsville began the Horizon of Hope Dinner to raise money for cancer research. Together the duo raised over $165,000 in 17 years, but Navin relocated to Ohio with her husband in 2016 and in 2017 the dinner didnt happen.

This year Alice Bartels, through her breast cancer awareness organization, Stridin & Survivin, is taking over Navin and Goleanors mission by hosting the 18th Annual Horizon of Hope Dinner on Aug. 27 in the Leclaire Room on the NO Nelson campus of Lewis and Clark Community College.

I started the dinner to try and make a little difference after meeting someone that had just gone through breast cancer treatment, Kathy Toelke, who was my first speaker when we started the dinner, Navin said explaining how the Horizon of Hope Dinner came into existence.

Bartels could appreciate Navins efforts to battle cancer because Bartels knows all to well the devastating effects of cancer. I am a 13 year breast cancer survivor and there has been a lot of cancer in my family, she explained. My father, aunt and grandmother had stomach cancers. Two aunts had breast cancer, one had lung cancer and one had leukemia.

My husband, two of his sisters, a sister-in-law and his mother have all had cancer, Bartels added. I have also lost several friends to this disease. I have children and grandchildren and would like to find a cure so that none of them have to deal with cancer.

Bartels began the Stridin & Survivin organization 11 years ago in an effort raise money for breast cancer research. Her organization has donated over $266,000 over the past 11 years to the local Relay for Life Teams, St. Louis Ovarian Cancer (SLOCA) Friends of Kids with Cancer and the Siteman Center in St. Louis.

Bartels pointed out that she wanted to carry on Navin and Goleanors Horizon of Hope Dinner because she had attended the annual dinner for 11 years herself and always enjoyed the event as well as the impact the event has had in the fight against cancer.

While this years 18th Annual Horizon of Hope Dinner will remain a breast cancer event, Bartels said they are also including other cancers. She pointed out that the proceeds of the event will be donated to several local cancer organizations. One of the recipients (St. Clare Share Gas Card Program) is a local program that provides gas cards for patients traveling to chemo treatments. Individuals that administer this program will be speaking at the event, Bartels said.

The Horizon of Hope Dinner features a sit down dinner, basket raffle and silent auction. Circle of Hope bracelets will also be available for purchase.

The event will take place on Aug. 27 in the Leclaire Room on the NO Nelson campus of the Lewis & Clark Community College campus located at 600 Troy Rd. in Edwardsville.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be ordered online at stridinandsurvivin.org or reserved by calling Bartels at 618-973-6298 or emailing her at info@stridinandsurvivin.org Doors open at 5 p.m. for the silent auction, raffle and cash bar while dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. RSPV by Aug. 17.
38 nabbed in foreign Ponzi scheme scam

BANGKOK: Thirty-eight suspects have been arrested for allegedly conning victims out of up to B10 billion in a Ponzi scheme run by a foreign holding company.

crimepolice

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 14 August 2018, 09:07AM

A police briefing poster shows chief investigator Pol Maj Gen Surachate Big Joke Hakparn of the police call-centre suppression division and the organisation chart of the alleged OD Capital pyramid scheme. Photo: Tourist Police Bureau

Those arrested included Chinnawat Noiwan, an executive of OD Capital. He is among 48 suspects wanted in the case. The whereabouts of nine suspects remains unknown  but four are believed to have fled abroad.

Pol Maj Gen Surachate Big Joke Hakparn, head of the Royal Thai Polices call-centre scam suppression operation centre, said yesterday (Aug 13) that the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) also seized more than B130 million in assets from the suspects.

He also urged victims to lodge complaints with police to recover their money, which would be taken out of the seized assets.

Maj Gen Surachate, said a probe found that OD Capital is a holding company with subsidiaries registered in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States.

However, the firm failed to apply for commercial registration at the Department of Business and Development. The company also does not have a business operating licence granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Office of the Consumer Protection Board.

Maj Gen Surachate said even though some suspects have denied the allegations, investigators were confident they have enough evidence to prosecute the case.

In July, 15 locations were raided by a joint force of police and Amlo officials, led by Maj Gen Surachate, which resulted in an initial 29 suspects being arrested.

Nawaporn DJ Kob Taothong, who was among the victims, said Saharat Werot, 34, one of the arrested members, lured her into investing B200,000 in the OD Capital scam, promising hefty returns.

Saharat allegedly told her the company would pay Ms Nawaporn a commission if she succeeded in persuading others to join the scheme. However, the firm failed to pay up, citing a malfunction of its financial system.

Ms Nawaporn later filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division, which managed to reclaim her money.

She encouraged other victims to seek help from police to recover their money.

Read original story here.
Chinese tourist drowns at Nai Harn

PHUKET: A Chinese tourist has drowned at Nai Harn Beach after a week of warnings that the surf has been dangerous to enter. Rescue workers found the body of the woman, Yang Qianyao, 31, from Yunnan, washed up on the beach at about 10:30pm last night (Aug 13).

tourismChinesedeathmarineSafety

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 14 August 2018, 10:44AM

Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos (centre) at Nai Harn Beach last night (Aug 13). Photo: Rawai Municipality

The alarm was raised at about 7pm after lifeguards had closed the beach at sunset.

Two lifeguards who had remained behind were informed that two people, a man and a woman, both Chinese tourists, were missing after entering the water, prompting a search for the couple.

The man, Jing Tao, 33, was found and brought ashore. He was taken to the Accident & Emergency Centre at the still-under-construction Chalong Hospital and later transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

Mr Jing is now reported to be in a safe condition.

However, the search for Ms Yang continued, with Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos ordering more officials from Rawai Municipality to join the search.

Her body was found washed ashore at the north end of Nai Harn Beach at 10:30pm.

Ms Yangs body was taken to Vachira Hospital and the Chinese consulate was informed of her death, officials confirmed.

Lifeguards reported that yesterday they had posted red No Swimming flags along nearly the entire length of the beach to prevent people from entering the dangerous surf, which was pounding the entire west coast amid a monsoon surge. (See story here.)




Today, McDonalds announced that the company and its franchisees are investing approximately $168 Million in Tennessee throughout 2018 and 2019 on the construction and modernization of 240 McDonalds restaurants, transforming the customer experience inside and outside the restaurant. In total, McDonalds and franchisees are investing $6 billion to modernize most U.S. restaurants by 2020, including most restaurants in Tennessee.With this construction investment, the transformed restaurants will feature:- Modernized dining rooms with globally and locally inspired decor, new furniture and refreshed exterior designs- Enhanced customer experience with digital self-order kiosks that make ordering and paying for a meal easier.Kiosks empower guests to browse the menu, find options and tailor their meal just the way they want- Remodeled counters allow for new table service that offers guests the opportunity to relax while their food is being made- Bright and easy to read digital menu boards inside and at the drive-thru- New designated parking spots for curbside pick-up through mobile order and pay- Expanded McCafe counters and larger display casesThis is an exciting time for McDonalds and were proud to be investing nearly $168 Million to provide a new experience, look and feel for guests at 240 McDonalds locations across Tennessee, said McDonalds Owner/Operator Michael Retzer, Jr. We are also pleased that our modernization supports local architecture, engineering and construction jobs across the great state of Tennessee.In addition to the investments to modernize the restaurant, McDonalds has also introduced McDelivery with Uber Eats at more than 5,000 U.S. restaurants.
Hope floats to raise the Phoenix

PHUKET: After weeks of preparations, a team of salvage operators are today (Aug 14) hoping to complete the recovery of the Phoenix tour boat, which sank in a storm squall of Koh Hei (Coral Island) on July 5.

tourismdisastersdeathmarineSafety

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 14 August 2018, 10:14AM

Of the 89 tourists that the Phoenix was carrying when it capsized and sank late that afternoon, 47 Chinese tourists died.

The stricken vessel now lies on the seabed at a depth of about 45 metres, some 1.5 nautical miles off Koh Hei, south of Phuket.

Marine Department Director-General Jirut Wisanjit arrived in Phuket yesterday (Aug 13) in the hope of announcing that the Phoenix had been refloated, but strong wind and waves again delayed progress in the salvage operation.

Also present for the fanfare were former Phuket Marine Chief Phuripat Teerakulpisut, who is currently Director of the Marine Department Region 3 office, near Bangkok, and fellow former Phuket Marine Chief Surachai Burapanontachai.

Wiwat Chitchertwong, who is the Director of the Ayutthaya Regional Harbor Office but is now Acting Director of the Phuket Marine Office, was also present.

Mr Wiwat was appointed Acting Phuket Marine Chief after Surat Srisaiyason, the incumbent Director of the Phuket Marine Office, was transferred in the aftermath of Phoenix disaster, though the official Phuket Marine Office website still lists as him the Phuket Marine Office Chief. (See website here.)

Of note, Mr Surat has not been named among any of the people under investigation for the disaster.

Marine Department Director-General Mr Jirut explained late yesterday that the salvage team had managed to attached three of the four tethers to the hull of the sunken Phoenix, but efforts to continue had been hampered by poor weather.

Due to the sea waves and the strength of the tide, this could not be done safely, he said.

Tomorrow (today, Aug 14) we will have another boat in position to get the ship up straight. It is expected that the boat can be raised and hopefully back on land by tomorrow evening (Aug 14), he said.
Phoenix tour boat owner to fight charges, renounces confession

PHUKET: The lawyer representing the owner of the Phoenix tour boat, which capsized and sank in a storm off Phuket on July 5, killing 47 Chinese tourists, made a public statement today (Aug 14), vowing to fight the recklessness causing death charge in court and renouncing any testimony already given to police.

tourismdeathdisastersChinesemarineSafety

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 14 August 2018, 07:04PM

Lawyers Nalin and Nipit Intarasombat (left and right), representing the owner of the Phoenix, 26-year-old Phuket resident Woralak Yui Rerkchaikarn, meet the press in front of Phuket Provincial Polcie Station today (Aug 14). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The boat owner, 26-year-old Phuket resident Woralak Yui Rerkchaikarn, remains in custody at Phuket Prison after the court denied her bail on the charge of recklessness causing death.

Speaking in front of Phuket Provincial Police Station, the lawyer, Nipit Intarasombat, told the press that Ms Woralak made every effort possible to provide assistance to victims and those affected immediately after the disaster.

She did much to help victims and relatives, and to support volunteers and support rescue teams, he said.

Regardless, Ms Woralak has been charged with recklessness causing death, he said, adding that Phuket Provincial Court had denied her to post bail.

We are working on an appeal to allow her to post bail, but the court has declined, he explained.

We appreciate that police are working in a clear, straight-forward manner, and that police have disagreed with filing a charge that the company used nominee shareholders, Mr Nipit added, referring to initial allegations by Tourist Police that TC Blue Co Ltd, which operated tours on the Phoenix, had used nominee shareholders.

Investigators from the Tourist Police questioned her and later said that she had confessed but every conversation has been recorded  and this is important as evidence to present to the court and the NACC (National Anti-Corruption Commission), he said.

A letter has been sent to today to Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen to inform him that anything that the owner has done to assist police with their investigations is void.

From today, the owner of the boat will not give any testimony to investigator anymore. Any testimony from investigation will be considered inadmissible (in court), Mr Nipit warned.

Regarding any aspects of the boat that are deemed to be not meet standards, you have to check who registered the boat. You have to clarify who has been reckless or caused the accident, he added.

We are confident that this boat is legal. On that day, it was a severe storm that was a critical factor in the accident.

We will fight all charges in court, and please let the court decide who is guilty, Mr Nipit said.

The announcement today came while a contracted salvage team were hopeful of recovering the Phoenix from the seabed some 1.5 nautical miles off Koh Hei (Coral Island), south of Phuket. (See story here.)

Late this afternoon came confirmation that efforts to recover the boat today were again hampered by the weather, but the salvage team will try again tomorrow.

Once the boat has been recovered, it will be taken to the Rattanachai Shipyard in Rassada, where investigators will have 30 days to inspect it. (See story here.)
MONTREALCanadas diplomatic clash with Saudi Arabia is threatening a key pillar of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.s growth plan.

The Montreal-based builder gained additional exposure to the kingdom with its two biggest acquisitions, the 2014 purchase of Irelands Kentz Corp. and last years deal for WS Atkins of the U.K. SNC chief executive officer Neil Bruce is counting on business in the Middle East to bolster his drive to increase profit more than 50 per cent by 2020.

SNC is getting caught in the crossfire after the kingdom froze diplomatic ties and new business deals with Canada last week, following a call by Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland for Saudi human rights activists to be released from prison. The flare-up spooked investors in Canadas biggest construction company, which gets about 11 per cent of sales in Saudi Arabia.

Read more:

Editorial: Canada needs to stand fast on Saudi Arabia

SNC-Lavalin settles shareholder class actions in Ontario and Quebec for $110 million

This dispute adds a whole new level of risk to the SNC story, Chris Murray, a AltaCorp Capital analyst in Toronto, said in a telephone interview. The problem is, no one is sure how to quantify the magnitude of the risk. There is a range of outcomes here. The work they do in Saudi Arabia isnt exactly low-margin work.

SNC posted its biggest weekly decline in more than a year in the wake of the dispute. The shares fell again Monday in Toronto, dropping less than 1 per cent to $53.18, the lowest price in more than five months.

The builder said its still assessing the impact of Canadas increased tensions with Saudi Arabia.

If a widespread commercial embargo on Canadian commercial interests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were to be implemented on a prolonged basis, there will be an impact on our future financial performance, the company said in a statement last week.

SNC, which has about 10,000 employees across the country, declined further comment.

At stake for the company is almost $1 billion in annual revenue in Saudi Arabia. The company has another $639 million in sales in the rest of the Middle East, where countries such as the United Arab Emirates sided with Saudi Arabia in the dispute with Canada.

Last month, SNC signed a five-year agreement to provide engineering services to a joint venture between Saudi Aramco, the worlds biggest exporter of crude oil, and Kuwait Gulf Oil Co.

SNC is already building various facilities at a gas processing plant operated by Saudi Aramco, which ranks among the Canadian companys 10 biggest clients based on 2017 billings. SNC also has non-oil business in Saudi Arabia, since Atkins was working on a subway project in Riyadh at the time of its acquisition.

Lately theyve done well in the Middle East, so the markets concern is legitimate, said Massimo Bonansinga, a fund manager at CI Investments Inc.s Signature unit in Toronto, which oversees about C$55 billion in assets. In an area of the world where they have been so successful, SNCs business model is now called into question by this political disagreement.

Bonansinga said he has avoided SNC shares because of another source of risk: a possible fine in Canada tied to unrelated corruption allegations. Other CI funds hold SNC shares, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

SNC is targeting adjusted consolidated profit of $5 a share by 2020, up 56 per cent from last year. Its backlog of future work jumped to a record $15.2 billion as of June 30. The company didnt break down the figure by region.

Saudi Arabia would probably think twice before replacing SNC on construction projects and potentially causing delays, said AltaCorps Murray. But the risk for SNC is rising.

When you work in the Middle East, these are some of the issues you have to be able to mitigate, Murray said. Will SNC be able to adjust over time? Sure. The question is how much of their future work will really be impacted, and no one can answer that right now.

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EDMONTONAn Alberta MP is taking heat after she said its an utter embarrassment for Canada and the Canadian judicial system that a lawyer who used to represent Omar Khadr was appointed as a federal judge.

Shannon Stubbs, a Progressive Conservative MP representing the Lakeland riding northeast of Edmonton, posted the tweet on Aug 10. She called out the now federal judge  John Norris  as a man who defended a confessed murderer and terrorist.

She went on to say in another tweet on Aug. 11 that every lawyer has the right to choose who to defend. The prime minister is out of touch with Canadians.

The tweet got a lot of attention from people on both sides of the issue, but Steven Penney, a law professor at the University of Alberta, said the comments by Stubbs show that she has a lack of understanding about the fundamental principles of law in Canada.

Its disappointing that a parliamentarian would say something thats so clearly at odds with a fundamental tenet of liberal democracy and the criminal justice system, he said, referring to the rights of people accused of crimes to have representation and the right for defence lawyers to do their jobs.

Khadr spent years at Guantanamo Bay after he was caught and accused of throwing a hand grenade that killed a U.S. special forces member in Afghanistan in 2002. The Torontonian returned to Canada in 2012 to finish out his eight-year sentence handed down after he plead guilty to a number of charges in front of a U.S. military commission. He would later go on to say he pleaded guilty to get out of Guantanamo and that he didnt remember if he threw the grenade.

After Canadas Supreme Court ruled that his charter rights had been violated in 2010, Khadr filed a $20-million lawsuit against the government and in 2017 it was reported that he got a $10.5-million settlement, which was a point of controversy.

But for Penney, the right for an accused to have ethical representation and the right for a lawyer to provide that service is a critical part of democracy.

If we allow elected officials to denigrate, shame and attempt to criticize a lawyer for doing his job, then we have a problem, said Penney of Stubbs tweet.

If the country didnt have the right for people accused of crimes to have representation, Penney said, there would be many wrongful convictions without the ethical and responsible oversight of defence lawyers.

For an elected politician to make these comments, to not retract or apologize for them, to reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of the way that the system works? I mean (there is) almost universal endorsement of that system by lawyers, judges (and) legal scholars, he said. I would be shocked if you could find any reputable, experienced lawyer or legal scholar who would say anything different from what Im telling you about this.

Stubbs was not available for comment but a spokesperson said similar to how 71 per cent of Canadians disagreed with the $10.5-million payout to Omar Khadr, the vast majority of her constituents also disagree with this appointment.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould said in an emailed statement to StarMetro that a rigorous process occurs before the selection of a federal judge.

Concerning Justice Norris specifically, he earned an exceptional reputation for his work as defence counsel over the years, she said. He appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada more than 25 times, often acting pro bono on behalf of public interest groups.

Norris was also a lawyer on the roster of special advocates (top-secret security-cleared lawyers that act independent of the government on issues concerning the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act), Wilson-Raybould said. He was appointed to the roster in 2008 by the Harper government.

The comments posted by Stubbs demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of both Canadas legal system and the central role that defence counsel play in advocating for accused persons, as well as the process by which judges are appointed, said Wilson-Raybould.

I was proud to appoint Justice Norris to the Federal Court.

With files from The Canadian Press.

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EDMONTONWhile a plan to make every neighbourhood in Edmonton contain at least 16 per cent affordable housing was lauded for improving the lives of the working poor, representatives from inner city neighbourhoods said the math wasnt fair.

The City of Edmontons executive committee voted forward a motion Monday to have city council consider implementing a set of Affordable Housing Investment Guidelines, that would set what Christel Kjenner, acting director of housing and homelessness for the city, described as an aspirational and long-term guideline of a 16 per cent minimum of affordable housing in each neighbourhood.

While the target is long-term and ambitious, it describes the true need for affordable housing not only today, but as our city grows, said Kjenner, addressing the executive committee Monday.

The idea is to prioritize government investment to disperse affordable housing throughout the city, so low-income citizens dont have to choose where they live solely by what they can afford.

The 16 per cent target was set based on the current number of Edmontonians paying more than 30 per cent of their before-tax income on housing.

According to the report presented to the Executive Committee, in 2016, 48,550 renters in Edmonton spent more than 30 per cent of their household income on housing. Of those, 22,350 spent more than half of their income on rent, putting them in the category of severe housing affordability challenges as defined by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Menghisteab Menghistu, with the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative, said when he immigrated from Eritrea with his wife and four children in 2004 as a skilled worker, he struggled to support his family and afford their three-bedroom apartment.

The rent was very expensive, and most of my monthly salary was going to my rent, said Menghistu, adding, I remember how hard it was to support my family, and how stressful it was.

Yvonne Chiu, a founding member of the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative, said many newcomer families find themselves in the same situation, some spending more than their entire working income on rent, relying on tax breaks like the Canada Child Benefit to make ends meet.

It is a reality known by many, Chiu said.

Ione Challborn, executive director of the Edmonton Canadian Mental Health Association, said many become impoverished or at risk of homelessness because of the social and financial impact of serious mental illness, of which one in five Canadians are at risk.

It does not discriminate between young and old, families or singles, or any class or culture. For these people, healthy supportive homes mean everything, Challborne said.

While the Canadian Mental Health Association currently has 146 affordable housing units in Edmonton, Challborn said their waiting list is overflowing with more than 70 people currently waiting for a space.

Cameron McDonald, executive director of the non-for-profit Right At Home Housing Society, said he hopes the 16 per cent target becomes a minimum standard.

Sixteen per cent, as a proposed target, is in keeping with whats in the overall need in all of Edmonton, but we are hoping that 16 per cent will be considered a reasonable minimum and there is some room in some communities, in certain contexts of some communities, where we can go a little bit higher, McDonald said, citing neighbourhoods with access to transit or larger shopping centres.

But not everyone at Mondays meeting was so supportive.

Warren Champion, past president of the Central McDougall Community League, said the guideline ignores other types of non-market housing in their formula, including emergency shelters and transitional housing which he says has been concentrated in inner city neighbourhoods, bringing disorder.

If you dont look at all the social housing that can affect the community, then whats the point of even doing the exercise? Champion said.

Based on the citys 2018 non-market housing inventory data, Central McDougall has between a 10 per cent and 16 per cent affordable housing ratio.

But Champion said almost half of the total social housing in central McDougall  including housing not counted in the guideline  is transitional housing and group homes.

Kjenner said shelter beds, private group homes and transitional housing spaces are not considered by this policy because they are not a solution to the long-term affordable housing crisis.

They provide short term, temporary emergency accommodation rather than long-term housing solutions, Kjenner said.

Phil OHara, a resident of McCauley and former city employee, called ignoring these types of housing in the guidelines formula a mistake.

It doesnt consider the impact of the current status quo on neighbourhoods, he said. It treats the situation like we are all starting at ground zero.

OHara said some neighbourhoods, like Virginia Park or Woodcroft, look like they have high rates of affordable housing already, but those units are largely reserved for seniors.

Representatives from both Central McDougall and McCauley called for an affordable housing moratorium in five core neighbourhoods where social services are over concentrated  namely McCauley, Eastwood, Queen Mary Park, Alberta Avenue and Central McDougall  so that the spirit of the policy to have affordable housing resources dispersed across the city will be achieved.

City councillor Mohinder Banga, representing Ward 12, questioned whether investing in projects in more expensive parts of the city would reduce the value of the governments investment, but Ward 6 councillor Scott McKeen said if affordable housing is to be dispersed throughout the city, government is going to have to suck it up and pay more money.

In the past, however, getting more money has crippled social housing initiatives.

Fine as this policy might be, the limited amount of money that is available to do anything about non-market housing means that the chance to put this policy into action is going to be very limited, said Gurnett.

Jim Gurnett, a member of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness board, said a city auditors report highlighted a lack of funding as a shortcoming of the citys Cornerstones Grant Program, founded in 2006 to offer subsidies to developers who committed to offering units at below market rates for a set period of time.

While there was interest in the program, Gurnett said there wasnt enough money to pay for it.

The lack of funding will continue to have the same result, Gurnett said, adding, there needs to be continual pressure on those other levels of government.

Mayor Don Iveson said that in prior talks with the provincial government, he was assured there would be money available if the city can get consensus on how it should be spent.

There is money on the table, Iveson said.

Iveson said city officials have to approach other levels of government from the premise that decent, affordable housing is a fundamental right.

This is going to pay for itself, said Iveson, in terms of increasing educational opportunities, reducing crime and improving health outcomes easing the burden on the health care system.

While some at Mondays meeting called for the city to set a smaller target, Jackie Foord, manager of social development in the department of citizen services, said anything less wouldnt meet the needs of Edmontonians currently struggling to afford housing.

We need policy that doesnt give up before we start, said Ward 8 city councillor Ben Henderson.

After it was passed by the executive committee on Monday, the Affordable Housing Investment Guidelines will be put in front of city council for debate and a final decision.

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EDMONTONA historic building perched nearly 3,000 metres high in the mountains on the border between Alberta and British Columbia is being threatened by soil erosion.

The Abbot Pass Hut, a national historic site and the second most elevated permanently habitable building in Canada, has been closed because of safety concerns as experts evaluate its stability.

We will do everything we can to assess whats going on there, said Keith Haberl, marketing manager with the Alpine Club of Canada, the group that facilitates booking and accommodations at the hut.

Haberl confirmed the club has cancelled all bookings and refunded hikers who had planned visits.

Were telling everybody to be patient and well update them when we can.

Swiss guides working for the Alpine Club built the hut in the summer of 1922 and it opened in 1923, as a base for mountaineers to stop to eat and rest before they continued hiking the next day.

Haberl said many use it for the same purpose today, while others hike up to the hut as its own destination and come back down after their stay.

The two-storey building has a kitchen and living space on the main floor and a sleeping loft upstairs that fits 24 people.

He said the hut is booked solid through the summertime but is closed during winter for safety reasons.

Its located on the continental divide, the point where the direction of water flow changes, which is the dividing line between provinces and between Banff and Yoho national parks.

We like to say that you can make your dinner in Alberta and then eat it in B.C., Haberl said.

The club sent members up to the site Monday via helicopter with engineers from Parks Canada.

Haberl said its too early to give a prognosis or a timeline for the facility possibly reopening.

Alex Kolesch, a land use manager with Parks Canada, said the site will be closed until they can ensure the buildings safety and stability.

If there is any risk to either of those factors, either visitor safety or the hut itself, then well explore all feasible options to mitigate those risks, he said.

Joel Hagen, an interpreter who lives in Lake Louise, Alta., said news of the hut closing was a shocker.

He stayed there in 1992 and said he still has a great deal of fondness for the hut.

Its a magical place, he said.

When youre up there, you can sort of feel the spirit of everybody whos ever been there. Theres kind of a slight patina of mountaineering sweat and toil. I really enjoyed being up there.

Hagen often takes people up the nearby Plain of Six Glaciers hiking trail with a distant view of the hut that he said is awe-inspiring.

Its a little piece of our historic legacy that is really important. Im concerned and I sure hope that they can shore it up, Hagen said.

Just knowing that place is there, its like an old friend  even if you havent seen that old friend for a long time.

Blogger Kate Hurley visited the hut earlier this month and posted a photo Aug. 3 that appeared to show soil erosion when compared to photos from earlier years, which generated concern among mountaineers.

Haberl said the Alpine Club will post updates on the huts status through its social media channels.

The hut is named for Philip Stanley Abbot, who fell to his death while climbing nearby Mount Lefroy.

Banffs Neil Colgan Hut is Canadas only permanent habitable structure at a higher elevation than Abbot Pass, beating it by about 30 metres.

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EDMONTONAs the clock winds down on Greyhound, the province of Alberta is hoping to pave the way for replacements with grants for regional transit.

The province announced the Alberta Community Transit (ACT) Fund on Tuesday. The program is designed to get municipalities and transit commissions or authorities working together to expand green transit initiatives.

Up for grabs is $215 million  available to cities, villages, improvement districts and Metis settlements  over a five-year period for investments in low or zero-emission transit vehicles.

Speaking at Edmonton Transit Services Ferrier Garage in the citys southeast, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson joined Charlene Smylie, the mayor of Wabamun, and Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason for the announcement.

As a former bus driver myself, I know firsthand the difference public transportation can make in peoples lives, Mason said. Whether its a senior trying to get to a medical appointment, a student who needs to get to college or university, or someone who doesnt have a car who needs to get to work.

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Pulling $115 million from carbon revenues generated through the provinces Climate Leadership Plan, the ACT Fund encourages regional bodies to collaborate and compete for funding by submitting applications that are judged by merit according to a point system. More points are awarded to those applications that show regional collaboration, as well as social and environmental benefits.

I encourage municipalities and other organizations across the province to put forward their best and most innovative projects to reduce congestion on our roads, to help people get to where they want, to reduce their carbon footprint, and to reduce pollution in our cities and towns, Mason said.

Iveson, who was particularly interested in the programs value for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which includes more that one million people from 24 surrounding municipalities, said the announcement was music to our ears.

Edmonton is already in the process of creating a Regional Transit Services Commission for the metropolitan region, initially focusing on commuter service with St. Albert, northwest of the city.

But, Iveson added, within the last week, other municipalities in the region, including Spruce Grove, Leduc and Strathcona, as well as Parkland County, have signed on to the next phase of work on the project.

This funding and this announcement couldnt come at a better time as we seek to collaborate more effectively and deliver better service across the metropolitan region, he said.

ACT Fund applications are open until the end of the year, and are available online along with the application guidelines and criteria.

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For a novel X-ray lens with unprecedented properties, a research team headed by DESY group leader Sasa Bajt has been awarded the 'Microscopy Today Innovation Award' by the magazine Microscopy Today. The team's High numerical aperture, high efficiency X-ray lenses were judged as one of the ten best microscopy innovations in the 2018 competition, and the prize was awarded on Wednesday during the Microscopy & Microanalysis 2018 meeting in Baltimore (USA). Microscopy Today is the official magazine of the Microscopy Society of America (MSA). Team members are Sasa Bajt (DESY), Andrzej Andrejczuk (University of Bialystok, Poland), Sabrina Bolmer (DESY), Henry Chapman (DESY and University of Hamburg), Andrew Morgan (DESY), and Mauro Prasciolu (DESY).

The penetrating nature of hard X-rays and their short wavelengths below about 0.1 nanometres (millionths of a millimetre) make them attractive for imaging of objects such as biological cells at resolutions beyond that of visible light and without sectioning or thinning the sample as needed for transmission electron microscopy. However, these properties of X-rays also make them difficult to focus. One way is to use specialised X-ray optics called multilayer Laue lenses (MLLs). These lenses consist of alternating layers of two different materials with nanometre thickness. In contrast to conventional optics, MLLs do not refract light but work by diffracting the incident X-rays in a way that concentrates the beam on a small spot. To achieve this, the layer thickness of the materials has to be precisely controlled. The layers must gradually change in thickness and orientation throughout the lens.

The scientists made several innovations in the fabrication process to achieve high efficiency and to extend the numerical aperture (NA) far beyond what was previously possible, to enable imaging at spatial resolutions below 10 nanometres, with diffraction efficiencies exceeding 80 per cent. The new lenses consist of over 10000 alternating layers of a new material combination, tungsten carbide and silicon carbide. To focus an X-ray beam in the vertical and horizontal directions it has to pass through two perpendicularly oriented lenses. By using this set-up, a spot size of 8.4 nanometres by 6.8 nanometres was demonstrated. The resolution of the new lenses is about five times better than achievable with typical state-of-the-art lenses.
WESTLOCK, Alta. - Police are asking farmers and other property owners in an area northwest of Edmonton to check their land for any sign of a small plane that never arrived at its destination.

RCMP at Westlock say they were told Monday by the Coast Guard Rescue Co-ordination Centre that a Cessna 172 with just the pilot on board was overdue in their area.

They say the plane left Edson, Alta., just before 5:30 p.m. Sunday and was due to land in Westlock at 7 p.m. that same evening.

It never arrived and no contact has been made with the pilot.

Mounties say the plane is white with black and red stripes.

Land owners in the Evansburg, Mayerthorpe, Barrhead and Westlock areas are being asked to let police know if they have any idea where the aircraft may be, or if they think they may have seen it flying over.

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PARRY SOUND, ONT.Officials say a large forest fire burning in northeastern Ontario has successfully been contained for nearly a week, allowing area residents to return to their homes.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says the fire known as Parry Sound 33 remains at 113 square kilometres.

It says people have been able to return to their homes and cottages since Friday, but a daytime travel restriction is still in place for Pickerel River and Key River as a result of the ongoing efforts to fight the fire.

The ministry says there are 116 forest fires currently burning in the province  11 of which are out of control.

The province has received support from across Canada, the United States and Mexico to battle the fires, with more than 300 firefighters currently in the province.

Officials say recent rainfall has helped in cutting back the blazes.

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MONTREALU.S. authorities are seeking to extradite a former Uber driver from San Francisco who was being investigated on rape charges before vanishing and then emerging in Montreal earlier this summer.

Court documents filed last month in Montreal say Mohamed Ben Azaza is wanted in California after failing to show up for a meeting in early March with detectives investigating the case.

The Tunisian-born Ben Azaza, 38, was being investigated for an alleged sexual assault involving an intoxicated 19-year-old passenger in October 2017.

Prosecutors say Ben Azaza picked up the alleged victim from a party and had non-consensual sexual intercourse with her before she woke up in his bed the next day.

In a police interview, Ben Azaza denied having sex with the woman. He said she had requested permission to sleep in his car and that he later let her inside his home for breakfast and to call someone to pick her up.

He also told authorities he was no longer working for Uber and agreed to meet investigating officers to provide a DNA swab.

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He did not appear as planned last March 8 and, as detectives could not reach him later, a warrant was issued on a rape charge in late June.

The court filing seeking his extradition notes the penalty upon conviction is a minimum of three years imprisonment.

The accused has been detained since early July, when Montreal police arrested him after noting an outstanding warrant when he filed a complaint about the theft of his identification papers.

U.S. authorities believe Ben Azaza is an imminent flight risk and that extradition is necessary because Canada may send him to Tunisia, which has no extradition treaty with the United States.

Ben Azaza is currently detained and faces an extradition hearing in Quebec Superior Court on Sept. 21.

Canadian authorities, including the federal Justice Department, declined comment on Tuesday.

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With just over 60 days to go until cannabis is legalized, Brent Parsons has found himself grappling with an ever-changing playing field.

It seems like every two weeks theres a big change, said Parsons, who co-runs a Toronto-based website about cannabis news and events. You cant prepare, because its all unknown.

One day after Premier Doug Ford announced plans to allow private cannabis stores by next spring, Parsons was attending the start of the three-day Marijuana Business Conference and Expo International in downtown Toronto.

More than 2,000 people from 31 countries are expected to attend the event, which is holding workshops on regulations and licensing, investments and science to help attendees learn how to navigate Canadas soon-to-be-legal cannabis market.

Parsons and his brother run dankr.ca, a website that promotes cannabis events and products in Toronto. Arriving at the conference Tuesday, the brothers wore shirts that said Its 4:20 somewhere.

Parsons said its been difficult to see how legalization will play out  and as a small company, they dont have the financial or legal means that larger corporations may have to respond quickly to a changing landscape.

To come here and see some of the speakers, who actually have a team of lawyers who have been up all night reading about it, that does definitely help, he said.

Parsons said he doesnt think another two months is enough time to sort everything out  such as delivery, regulations and tourism  prior to legalization. Theres so many question marks that you cant really set anything in stone and prepare going forward.

To help manage that uncertainty, Parsons said he and his brother planned to use the conference to network.

You never know what legal doors will be opened in the future, he said. And (were) just trying to prepare and not do anything illegal.

Brad Ungar, founder of the website Save on Cannabis which promotes U.S. marijuana brands by providing coupon codes, said he came to the conference to gain a good understanding of the Canadian industry. I know the California market very well, but I dont know the Canada market, he said.

The monopolized system in Canada means the country is a whole different player in the cannabis market, Ungar said.

So Im actually curious to see  especially in Ontario where they just started to open up licences for retail  how it gets a little more open. Because its a very tight and closed-off world right now.

Cassandra Farrington, CEO and co-founder of Marijuana Business Daily, which runs the conference, said the Ontario governments move will create a significant number of private business opportunities.

In the wake of the provincial announcement, Farrington said the conference will help attendees understand whats happening, who they need to know, what approach they need to take, what steps they need to take to be able to capitalize on that amazing opportunity that Doug Ford just opened up.

About 125 exhibitors packed the conferences expo, where businesses could network and be introduced to different technologies and other businesses in the industry.

Convectium, a California-based company, creates equipment, branding and packaging for the cannabis industry. Account manager Lindsay Grace explained the company has created a machine that fills 100 vape cartridges in 30 seconds with oil extracted from marijuana.

Our goal is to get extracted oil to dispensary countertops in minutes, Grace said.

Canadas a huge market, Grace said, thats going about marijuana legalization the right way with regulations. Weve been really excited to work with all of the companies in Canada.

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When a lawyer told newlyweds Fraser Landry and Laura Papsin, Youll never forget this day, they thought it was kind, if not a little obvious. Of course they wouldnt forget. It was their wedding day.

They married in a courtroom at Osgoode Hall on Aug. 14, 2003. Not long after, at 4:11 p.m., a swath of the Northeastern U.S. and Ontario, including Toronto was abandoned by the power grid.

The couple didnt know any of that, with no social media updates buzzing in the pockets of their guests. Their photographer was excited to be taking pictures inside the famed building, and so instead of sounding ominous, the advice strangers were doling out sounded strange, like: I hope your photographer has enough light to take pictures.

I said yeah, hes a professional photographer, Landry recalled.

When they walked outside, a friend first told them about a horrible power failure, but it was really on the 40 minute drive to their reception at a nearby restaurant when the reality of the situation sunk in. Office towers had emptied to the streets. It was evening rush hour with no transit options, save for the odd bus, no traffic lights, and streets and sidewalks flooded with people coming up from the subways and down from the office towers. Thats when the reporter found them, looking a little crestfallen but remarkably composed on the sidewalk in front of the Rosewater Supper Club on Toronto St. Papsin was clutching her rose bouquet, wearing an off white Lowon-Pope gown, Landry was in his black suit. Both were telling their guests theyd reschedule. All they had was cake and alcohol.

It was funny, the guy from the Star  he was a fashion reporter, and I guess when this thing hit, they kicked him out and told him to go and find the story. So he found us, Landry said.

(The Star story on Landry and Papsin from the next day was written by then-fashion reporter David Graham.)

At a nearby intersection, lawyer Peter Carayiannis was one of the many civilians directing traffic. He had been walking back to the office and was transfixed by the chaos around him.

Nobody was really angry, but nobody was moving either.

Without ever consciously making the decision I found myself walking into the intersection in complete safety, because everything was totally locked, he said. I stood right in the middle, and whistled really hard, sort of put my fingers in my mouth. It was a real loud blast.

Everybody stopped and looked at him, like, What are you going to do now? He looked back at them, and raised his arms, stopping one direction while he beckoned the other drivers forward.

He was soon wearing a reflective vest a city worker gave him and blowing a whistle a bicycle courier handed him. Drivers gave him high fives and bottles of water, and as the day wore on his expressions and gestures became somewhat grand, like a silent film star. (Interestingly enough I have a very long history in amateur theatre going back to my university days, he said.) When Star photographer Rick Madonik noticed him, Carayiannis was giving drivers the skunk eye, his hands in front of him in a dont even think about it stance. Its a look his sons would recognize now, he said.

He was an energy lawyer at the outset of his career in 2003, and when the lights went out he and a client were talking about what we would do in the case of a catastrophic power outage, he remembered. Im not joking. We were literally talking about the clause in the contract that would deal with the unlikely event. They postponed the meeting, not realizing that 50 million people had lost power in Ontario and eight U.S. states, and it would take 41 hours for most to get it back.

The blackout was later traced to overloaded transmission lines in Ohio, and a domino effect across the grids of nearby states and provinces, including Ontario.

At least three people died in Ontario during the outage, including Lewis Wheelan, 22, who was found dead in his North York apartment after nearly 24 hours without power. Two years earlier, Wheelan lost his legs and an arm after he was electrocuted while clearing bush near hydro lines that were being repaired. He had needed constant air conditioning to keep his grafted skin from overheating, Star photographer Steve Russell reported.

When Carayiannis realized the entire downtown core was affected, he called his girlfriend (now wife) on an unaffected pay phone because she worked on a nearby floor in the upper reaches of Scotia Plaza. By the time she had walked down 60 flights of stairs with his stuff, he was directing traffic, and he couldnt leave, could he? He was there for four hours until police took over.

Back at the Rosewater Supper Club, Landry and Papsins wedding reception was cancelled for safety reasons, but the wedding party decamped to another restaurant around the corner, lit by skylight, for cake and drinks until it got dark.

Many people actually made it, Papsin said. I think everyone really wanted to come because I got married for the first time at 44, and people were really happy.

The couple went home at 10 p.m. and cobbled together a wedding dinner of cheese and bread. They wanted ice cream, but it was all melted.

I think it was on Canada AM, I told the whole world because we didnt have air conditioning in the house it was boiling hot, and so I didnt sleep upstairs with my husband on my wedding night, she said, laughing. I slept down where it was cooler on the first floor, with cold compresses on my head.

They had a proper reception in September at the Rosewater, and dressed up for a second time, which felt a little strange, but fun.

It was just so ridiculous, Landry began, You had to laugh, Papsin finished.

Its been the story forever, she said.

Now with his own firm, Carayiannis is downtown a lot, and every time he passes the Bay-Adelaide intersection, he thinks of the blackout.

I never want to minimize the seriousness of the event, because it was serious, and there were even a few fatalities that we learned about shortly afterwards, he said, but in the moment none of us understood the context of what was happening. Id have to say yeah, it was a little bit fun.

The next day, his photo was in the paper, and later, the BBC interviewed him.

This picture, lets be honest. Its kind of a funny picture. I dont mean that in a bad way, its just funny to see a guy in a suit and tie do that.

When the Star left him a voicemail on the eve of the 15th anniversary, he and his wife listened to it.

We both giggled, because on the first anniversary, there were phone calls and on the fifth anniversary there were phone calls, he said. Its very humbling and a nice thing, but I have to think its because of that photo. Everybody still gets a laugh at it.
Premier Doug Ford used his new governments majority muscle Tuesday to push through a controversial bill cutting the size of Toronto city council in half with municipal elections just 10 weeks away, a move NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called a blatant abuse of power.

The legislation, named the Better Local Government Act, also scraps planned Oct. 22 elections for regional chairs in Peel, York, Niagara and Muskoka as it enlarges Torontos wards to match federal and provincial riding boundaries.

We have 25 MPs, 25 MPPs and were going to have 25 councillors, Ford said in the legislature, which adjourned until Sept. 24 after a rare summer sitting that followed the Progressive Conservatives June election victory.

The people want smaller government.  They want a city of Toronto that is functional, a city of Toronto that can build transit, he added, insisting that having too many councillors has made debate on issues lengthy and cumbersome.

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Horwath and other critics of the bill said it flouts local democracy  and noted Ford, who lost the Toronto mayoralty to John Tory in 2014, did not specifically campaign on the changes.

Now he pretends like he was talking about it all along.  This is, by definition, a hidden agenda, she thundered in the legislature during heated final debate, charging the premier is drunk on power.

The bill, introduced suddenly two weeks ago when the legislature was first expected to rise for a summer break, will leave an ugly mark that will haunt the Progressive Conservatives for years, Horwath said.

The premier just cant rip up the election rule book, she added, noting Ford was a city councillor from 2010 to 2014 while his late brother, Rob, was mayor during a chaotic term.

Its about an insecure and vindictive premier looking to settle scores and control local democracy, she said.

At least one legal challenge to the legislation is being mounted. A Superior Court judge ordered on Tuesday that Rocco Achampong, a lawyer and council candidate, present his case against the act on Aug. 31. The city of Toronto is now considering whether it, too, will present arguments to the court on that day.

The legislation does not target any city council other than Torontos. The city was expecting to have 47 councillors following the election in two months, up from 44 currently, in addition to the mayor. Ford has said his streamlining will save Toronto taxpayers $25 million over four years.

Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark, a former mayor of Brockville, which has eight city councillors for a population of about 30,000, said the Progressive Conservatives campaigned on reducing the size and cost of government.

The problem with big government is that it only works for the politicians. The 47-ward system the NDP defends is wrong. It costs more and creates more dysfunction, he told MPPs, citing endless debate.

We refuse to let democracy take a back seat to keep a bunch of incumbent councillors on the payroll.

Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) said the legislation is absolutely just unconscionable given that Ford is promising consultations with parents on a new sexual education curriculum but not with Toronto voters on the size of city council.

It is a sad day, she added. Theyre cutting debate short.

The bill was not sent to a legislative committee of MPPs for further study, as is common with major legislation.

The government has no plans to cut the number of MPPs at the legislature, which now has 124 members, up from 107 before the June 7 election after 17 new ridings were added.

Clark said the changes will also make it easier for voters to know who their councillor is, although councillors have complained the workloads of their offices will increase dramatically as they scramble to meet the needs of constituents looking for help with problems in larger wards.

Cancelling the regional chair elections in York, Peel, Niagara and Muskoka will not save any money because those posts will be filled with councillors selected by their peers.

The defeated Liberal government passed a bill in 2016 to set up the regional chair elections, but, as revealed by the Star, the votes in Niagara, York and Muskoka appear to be collateral damage because Ford sought to cancel the vote in Peel.

Thats where his predecessor as PC leader, Patrick Brown, planned to run for chair. Brown is now seeking to unseat Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey.

Former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Del Duca was running for regional chair in York until the changes were announced in late July.

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A Toronto councillor wants to halt any new drug injection sites from being created in her downtown ward because she says the existing ones have resulted in a rash of violence, disorder and drug dealing.

Ward 28 Councillor Lucy Troisi released a statement Tuesday, one day after the provincial government announced a freeze on plans for three new injection sites, one of which was supposed to be in Toronto.

Troisis ward has two overdose prevention sites on Dundas St. E. and a supervised injection site on Queen St. E., plus the Moss Park site that recently moved across the street. Close by, but technically in Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tams Ward 27, is a supervised injection site run by Toronto Public Health on Victoria St.

Critics say Troisi is aligning herself with conservative policies and simplifying the issues surrounding substance use.

But Troisi said the proliferation of injection sites in her ward is unreasonable and harmful to other residents. If elected, she is promising to bring a motion for a moratorium on injection sites in Ward 28 at the next regular council meeting. She has also requested to meet with Health Minister Christine Elliott to share her views.

Theres a lot of violence, disorder, drug dealing and drug dealers, and kids are afraid to walk to their local park, people are afraid to walk on Sundays through their neighbourhood or to invite friends and families over for a Saturday barbecue, Troisi said.

They do want people with mental health and addiction to get the treatment they need, but they also dont want to be afraid for their children to walk to school alone.

Troisi found an unlikely ally in Wong-Tam, who agreed theyd seen a dramatic increase of criminal activity, assault and theft in the neighbourhood.

The concentration of drug consumption is creating a very difficult to manage situation, Wong-Tam said. I absolutely agree we need to spread this out and other communities (in Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke) need services.

All of Torontos eight injection sites were approved by the provincial government. They are intended to prevent overdose deaths by providing safe places for people to use drugs under the supervision of a volunteer. Half are overdose-prevention sites, which differ from supervised injection sites in that they have short-term exemption status and are not embedded in an existing community facility.

In Toronto last year, 303 people died of an opioid overdoses.

Mayor John Tory acknowledged the challenges of supervised injection sites, and said mental health and addiction treatment supports need to be expanded dramatically.

I know supervised injection sites are saving lives and I have been relentless in urging city staff and Toronto Public Health to address challenges around the sites so that we can continue to save lives and actively address community concerns. It should not be either/or, he said, pointing to efforts in June to bolster city services and police presence in the downtown east area.

Toronto Public Health runs the supervised injection site on Victoria St. and said its seen a notable increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness because of the warmer weather and significant local housing challenges.

As a result, we have increased our security team and are adding outreach workers, spokesperson Rita Shahin said. We are still less than one year in providing this new and extremely important health service to this community in response to the overdose crisis.

There are many lessons to be learned here and we are connecting with our peers in other jurisdictions to learn from their experiences and update our approach as we move forward.

Troisi was appointed to council in 2017 following the death of Pam McConnell. At that time, Troisi vowed not to use the appointment as a springboard to seeking office in the 2018 municipal election, but she is now running.

McConnells daughter Heather Ann released a statement Monday on behalf of the family that was critical of Troisis stance on the injection sites.

This is a complicated and concerning issue and Pam would not simply have aligned herself with the policies of the conservative government at Queens Park, said the statement. She would have brought together community groups and agencies  Even if it was difficult, they would make a proper decision together.

In nearby Ward 20, Councillor Joe Cressy said his office has not received a single complaint about the injection site near Kensington Market.

Cressy said substance use and crime are a result of poverty and homelessness, not injection sites.

The solution is not to stop the provision of life-saving health care, but to provide treatment opportunities for those experiencing poverty and homelessness, he said.
KABULHundreds of people have fled four days of fierce fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban over the key provincial capital of Ghazni that has killed about 120 security forces and civilians, the defence minister and witnesses said Monday.

Nearly 200 insurgents, many of them foreigners, have been killed, the government said.

Between the civilians have left the city and those too fearful to venture from their homes into the streets, Ghazni has become a ghost town, said Ghulam Mustafa, who made it to neighbouring Maidan Wardak province with 14 of his relatives.

The city became so dangerous, the 60-year-old Mustafa told The Associated Press while stopped briefly at a checkpoint where police searched for wounded Taliban fighters.

The Talibans multipronged assault, which began Friday, overwhelmed Ghaznis defences and allowed insurgents to capture several parts of it in a major show of force. The Taliban pushed deep into the strategic city about 120 kilometres (75 miles) from the capital, Kabul.

The United States has carried out airstrikes and sent military advisers to aid Afghan forces in the city of 270,000 people. The fall of Ghazni, which is the capital of the province of the same name, would be an important victory for the Taliban, cutting Highway One, a key route linking Kabul to the southern provinces, the insurgents traditional heartland.

A spokesman for the U.S. military, Lt. Col. Martin ODonnell, said the city remains under Afghan government control, and the isolated and disparate Taliban forces remaining in the city do not pose a threat to its collapse, as some have claimed.

He added that attempts by the insurgents to hide among the residents does pose a threat to the civilian population, who were terrorized and harassed by this ineffective attack and the subsequent execution of innocents, destruction of homes and burning of a market.

Sporadic clashes are continuing, ODonnell said.

Afghan authorities insist the city will not fall to the Taliban and that Afghan forces are in control of key government positions and other institutions.

The Taliban have failed in reaching their goal, said Col. Fared Mashal, the provincial police chief.

Gen. Tareq Shah Bahrami, Afghanistans defence minister, said about 100 Afghan police and army and 20 civilians have been killed in Ghazni, the first official casualty toll released by the government since the Taliban launched the massive assault.

At a news conference in Kabul, Bahrami said the casualty figures are not definite and that the numbers might change. Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said nearly 70 police were killed.

About 1,000 additional troops were sent to Ghazni, Bahrami said. He added that 194 insurgents, including 12 Taliban leaders, were killed  with fighters from Pakistan, southern Russias region of Chechnya and various Arab countries among the dead.

The Taliban destroyed a telecommunications tower on Ghaznis outskirts, cutting off landline and cellphone links to the city, where shops are closed. The fighting severely damaged Ghaznis historic neighbourhoods and cultural treasures, Bahrami said, adding that he believes the next 24 hours would turn the tide in the battle.

Mustafas wife, Razia, said they had no food, water or and electricity for four days.

There were so many dead bodies under the bridges, at the side of roads and under the destroyed houses, she said.

Their son and two daughters were wounded by shrapnel from an airstrike on the Taliban near a mosque.

Another witness, Abdul Wasih, 59, said his son was wounded in the leg by a mortar attack Sunday that killed five of his close relatives.

I went to the hospital, but it was full of dead bodies with a very bad smell, he said. Bodies wrapped in sheets lay in open wooden coffins in the hospital.

Wasih said that since his sons wound was not serious, he decided to take him to Kabul for treatment.

The U.N. expressed concern for the civilians caught up in the fighting.

Humanitarian officials report that the heavy fighting has resulted in more than 100 civilian casualties, said U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

Communications networks and electricity supply are currently down in the city, resulting in water shortages, and food is also reportedly running low, Haq said.

Rik Peeperkorn, acting U.N. humanitarian co-ordinator for Afghanistan, said residents have seen their city turn into a battlefield since Friday morning, with fighting and clashes reportedly still ongoing.

The insurgents began the attack by entering homes in Ghazni and then slipping out into the night to attack security forces.

A 14-year-old girl who goes by only one name, Fereshta, said the infiltration of the city was the first time in her life that she had seen a member of the Taliban.

Top security and government officials, including the military chief of staff, were now in Ghazni, leading the clearing-up operations in different parts of the city, Barmak said.

Khair Mohammad, a police officer in neighbouring Maidan Wardak province, told the AP he was searching all vehicles coming from Ghazni and looking for any wounded Taliban. Mohammad said locals were coming out of Ghazni and military convoys were heading in.

In recent months, the Taliban have seized several districts across Afghanistan, staging near-daily attacks on security forces, but they have been unable to capture and hold urban areas.

The U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, but have since then repeatedly come to the aid of Afghan forces as they struggle to combat the resurgent Taliban.

President Ashraf Ghani is said to be considering a ceasefire offer to the Taliban for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which starts Aug. 21. A three-day holiday ceasefire in June brought rare quiet to much of the country, but the insurgents rejected a government request to extend it.

The Taliban seem to be intent on seeking a position of strength ahead of expected talks with the United States, which has been at war in Afghanistan for nearly 17 years.

The Taliban say they met with Alice Wells, the top U.S. diplomat for South Asia, in Qatar last month for preliminary talks. Washington neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, but acknowledged Wells was in Qatar, where the Taliban maintain an office. The Taliban said they expect another round of talks.

Earlier this year, the U.S. sent more military advisers to Afghanistan. It also shifted A-10 attack planes and other aircraft from striking Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq to Afghanistan. These and other moves boosted the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan by at least 3,500, to a total of more than 14,000.

Losing Ghazni to the Taliban would essentially cut Afghanistan in half, closing its second-busiest trade route. Although Kabul is also supplied from Pakistan, the trade route to Iran and the Gulf supplies the northern half or the country with many essentials.

It would also be the most important strategic victory for the Taliban since they lost control of the country after the 2001 U.S. invasion. At the height of the troop surge ordered by former U.S. President Barack Obama, thousands of NATO troops were deployed in the city and province, including more than 2,500 from Poland.

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Prosecutors rested their case Monday against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort after two weeks of testimony detailing the million-dollar lies they say he told to the IRS and banks that loaned him money.

The six-man, six-woman jury in Alexandria, Virginia is expected to hear closing arguments later this week, and Mondays session ended for the day without defence lawyers signalling how many witnesses  if any  they intend to call to rebut the governments case.

The judge is expected to decide Tuesday on whether to grant a defence motion to dismiss the case before the case goes to the jury  a frequent defence request that is rarely granted.

Manafort, 69, faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison if he is convicted on many of the 18 charges of lying on tax forms and loan applications in the case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and related matters.

Prosecutors say Manafort lied to the IRS to hide millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts and then, when that money ran out, lied to bank executives to get loans to maintain his seven-figure lifestyle of expensive suits and luxury homes.

In the course of testimony from more than two dozen prosecution witnesses, the biggest arguments were not between prosecutors and defence lawyers, but between prosecutors and U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III.

Read more:

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Paul Manaforts loans were green-lit despite red flags, banker says

The judge has repeatedly expressed skepticism over points raised by the government, to the frustration of prosecutors, who have urged him not to misstate facts or law in the jurys presence. Twice, the prosecution team filed formal requests that the judge tell the jury to ignore a prior statement of his; he did so once.

The prosecution had planned to rest its case last week, but an unknown issue that the judge decided to keep under seal delayed the start of proceedings for several hours that day. On Monday, defence lawyers filed a sealed motion, and prosecutors filed a response also under seal. Neither side gave any indication what the issue was, but the judge indicated that it would be revealed after the trial was over.

What we do will not be permanently sealed, he told reporters and onlookers in the courtroom, as he prepared to have another sealed discussion.

Prosecutors also Monday called an executive from Federal Savings Bank to testify about loans Manafort received in 2016 and 2017.

By that time, according to investigators, the millions of dollars Manafort had been making every year as a political consultant in Ukraine had dried up. His main client, former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, had fled the country in 2014, and Manafort had not found new clients, according to witnesses.

As his business hemorrhaged money, Manafort decided to take out loans on various properties he owned, but prosecutors say he lied about his debts and income to get those loans approved.

James Brennan, a vice president at Federal Savings Bank, which issued two loans worth a total of $16 million (U.S.), testified Monday that Manafort didnt declare on his applications that he had mortgages on two properties in New York  information that would have made it harder for him to secure a loan.

Other bank officials saw red flags in Manaforts loan application and wanted to reject it, he said. On the forms, Manafort claimed more than $4 million income for his business in 2015, but other documents showed he made less than $400,000, Brennan testified.

Those concerns were overruled by the banks chief executive, Steve Calk, according to Brennan and another witness. Calk had hoped to land a Cabinet-level position in the new Trump administration, a former bank executive testified Friday.

When Manafort changed the terms of a proposed loan, the banks president wanted to reject it but was overruled by Calk, Brennan testified.

It closed because Mr. Calk wanted it to close, Brennan said.

One of the loans received a rating of four  the lowest possible grade an application could get and still be approved, Brennan said, adding that he would not have approved the loan. The only reason the rating was even that high was because Calk pushed for it, Brennan said.

The $16 million represented the largest loans the bank had ever issued up to that point in time, Brennan testified.

Brennan testified that the loans have not yet been repaid, and the bank has written them off as a loss.

Before prosecutors rested for the day, they sparred with defence lawyers about a technical issue that may become key in closing arguments. The case against Manafort has long centred on whether he lied when he claimed not to control any foreign bank accounts. As the prosecution case neared its end, defence lawyers said they intended to argue that Manafort did not own enough of his company to require him to disclose such accounts.

One of Manaforts lawyers, Thomas Zehnle, said they plan to tell the jury that Manafort had no obligation to report foreign bank accounts in the years he owned only 50 per cent of his firm, Davis Manafort International.

Its very clear that if you do not own more than 50 per cent of the entity, you do not have a responsibility, Zehnle said.

The other half of the firm is owned by Manaforts wife, and they file joint tax returns.

Prosecutor Uzo Asonye countered that when Manafort filed paperwork as a foreign agent in 2017, he described himself as owning 100 per cent of the business.

Manafort faces a second trial next month in the District on charges of failing to register as a lobbyist for a foreign government and conspiring to tamper with witnesses.

Separately Monday, a federal judge upheld the constitutionality of Muellers appointment, finding that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein lawfully named Mueller in May 2017 in response to a challenge to an indictment brought by a Russian firm accused of funding an internet trolling operation targeting U.S. voters.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a 2017 appointee of U.S. President Donald Trump to the District Court for the District of Columbia, was the latest trial-level judge  including ones appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents  to cast doubt on arguments advanced by conservative legal thinkers, led by Northwestern University law professor Steven Calabresi, about the validity of Muellers appointment.

Some advocates have said they are seeking to get an appeal before the Supreme Court. Calabresi is a founder and current chairman of the Federalist Society.

Friedrich became the second federal judge to find that higher-court precedents make clear that the Acting Attorney General has the necessary statutory authority to name a special counsel under the appointments clause of the Constitution. Rosenstein was put in charge of the Russia probe as acting attorney general after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself.

Attorneys for Concord Management and Consulting argued in the case that the appointments clause requires that the special counsel either be a principal officer nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, or be put in place only after Congress passes a law specifically allowing the deputy attorney general to confer the attorney generals prosecutorial authority on an inferior officer.

Concord has pleaded not guilty to charges that it conspired to obstruct the 2016 U.S. election by funding a coordinated social media propaganda campaign, run by the internet Research Agency of St. Petersburg, that pushed voters toward Republican candidate Donald Trump and away from Democrat Hillary Clinton.

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ALEXANDRIA, VA.Lawyers for Paul Manafort rested without calling witnesses Tuesday in their clients trial on bank and fraud charges, a stark contrast from the prosecutions case that included testimony from nearly two dozen people and hundreds of documents entered into evidence.

Before they rested, Judge T.S. Ellis III denied a motion to acquit Manafort. The trial was expected to next move to closing arguments. Ellis scheduled closing arguments to begin Wednesday morning.

Prosecutors for special counsel Robert Mueller had rested Monday after mounting what appeared to be a powerful case that Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman, had evaded taxes on roughly $16.5 million in income and fraudulently obtained more than $21 million in bank loans.

The core of the governments case rested on more than two days of testimony by Rick Gates, Manaforts onetime trusted aide, who has pleaded guilty to two felony charges and is hoping his cooperation will keep him out of prison. Gates recounted helping Manafort hide his income in foreign bank accounts and trick banks into extending him loans that he was not qualified to receive.

Manaforts lawyers had assailed Gates as a liar, adulterer and thief who had committed all of the crimes that Manafort was accused of, and more. On the stand, Gates admitted to a host of offences, including stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manaforts bank accounts and concealing $3 million of his own income from tax authorities. While he appeared confident when prosecutors questioned him about Manaforts criminal activity, he grew less sure when defence lawyers confronted him with questions about his own misdeeds.

Asked about how he embezzled funds by filing false expense reports, for example, Gates replied at one point: It wasnt a scheme. I just added numbers to the reports.

The trial, the first for Muellers office, did not relate to the Trump campaign or Russias campaign of interference in 2016 presidential election, but Ellis had ruled that Muellers mandate was broad enough for him to pursue the case.

While it was not a focus, references to the Trump campaign emerged intermittently during the trial. Gates testified that Manaforts political consulting firm, for which he worked for years, had no clients or income at the time the Trump campaign hired the two men in March 2016. Manafort managed delegates to the national convention, rose to campaign chairman in two months, then was forced out in late August amid allegations that he had failed to report his work for oligarchs in Ukraine who were allied with Russia.

Gates, who stayed with the campaign through the election, testified that it was possible that he stole money then from the Trump inaugural committee while serving as its executive director.

Defence attorneys attempted to question him about the special counsels interest in the campaign, perhaps in the hopes that jurors would see the Manafort prosecution as part of a politically inspired effort to gather evidence against the president. Trump routinely condemns Muellers investigation as a witch hunt.

But they dropped that line of questioning after the prosecutors objected and the judge apparently ruled it was out of bounds. He sealed the transcript of the discussion of the issue at the bench after prosecutors argued that they needed to protect an ongoing investigation.

The defence's decision to rest without presenting its own case is relatively common, experts said, given that the burden of proof is on the prosecution.

The defence believes it has made its point through cross-examination that the governments proof is not judicial, said Nancy Gertner, a Harvard Law School professor and a former federal judge. Theyre relying on the jury to agree with them.

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TAOS, N.M.A state judge on Monday cleared the way for five defendants who were arrested on child abuse charges at a remote New Mexico compound to be released pending trial despite authorities suspicions that the group was training children to use firearms for an anti-government mission.

Judge Sarah Backus set a $20,000 (U.S.) bond for each defendant and ordered that the two men and three women wear ankle monitors, have weekly contact with their attorneys, not consume alcohol and have no firearms.

Police raided the property  a squalid makeshift living compound near the Colorado state line  more than a week ago in response a report of children living in filth, severe hunger and dangers including a leaky propone tank. Five adults were arrested and 11 children were placed in state custody.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj provided some of the children with firearms training  including tactical skills such as speed loading guns and firing while in motion. Aside from some rifles, handguns and ammunition, authorities say they found books on being effective in combat and building untraceable assault-style rifles.

Defence attorneys argued that prosecutors were unfairly painting their clients as armed militants as the rifles and handguns found on the property are common guns that can be bought at retail stores and their clients made no aggressive efforts to defend their compound as authorities closed in to serve search warrants earlier this month.

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There was no gun battle, there was no resistance, said Tom Clark, the attorney representing Siraj Ibn Wahhaj.

Clark said his client had permits to carry his weapons and no criminal record  accusing prosecutors of holding adults at the compound to an unusual standard because of their race and Muslim faith.

They are Black and they are Muslim, Clark said. If these were white people of Christian faith who owned guns, its not a big deal. ... But they look different and they worship different than the rest of us.

Prosecutors denied any discriminatory treatment based on religious background or race, and warned that the defendants came to New Mexico with their children on a violent and dangerous mission.

This was not a camping trip and this was not a simple homestead of the kind that many people do in New Mexico, said Deputy District Attorney Timothy Hasson.

Judge Backus said prosecutors failed to articulate any specific threats or plan against the community, despite providing concerning information.

What Ive heard here today is troubling, definitely. Troubling facts about numerous children in far from ideal circumstances and individuals who are living in a very unconventional way, Backus said.

Despite the release terms, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is likely to remain in jail pending a warrant for his arrest in Georgia on accusations that he abducted his own son, Abdul-ghani, from the boys mother in December and fled to New Mexico. The four other defendants  Jany Leveille, Lucas Morton, Subhannah Wahhaj and Hujrah Wahhaj  may be released on house arrest as soon as Tuesday.

Family members say the remains of a boy found at the compound last week are those of Wahhajs disabled son, though state medical examiners have not yet identified the body conclusively. Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe testified Monday that the remains of a young boy were found inside tunnels that had been dug from inside the compound to an opening 100 feet away.

Testimony from an FBI agent shed some new light on the fate of the disabled child Abdul-ghani.

Agent Travis Taylor described interviews with two children from the compound, ages 13 and 15, after they were taken into protective custody by the state.

The 15-year-old described attempts to cast demonic spirits from Abdul-ghanis body through a ritual that involved reading passages from the Quran while Siraj Ibn Wahhaj held a hand on the boys forehead, and that Abdul-ghani apparently died after one of the sessions, Taylor said.

He said the children were told that Abdul-ghani would be resurrected as Jesus and would instruct others on the property about what corrupt institutions to get rid of, in reference to financial and government institutions that might include schools.
ANKARA, TURKEYTurkeys president appeared to escalate a dispute with the United States that has helped foment a Turkish currency crisis, claiming Tuesday that his country will boycott U.S.-made electronic goods. Behind the scenes, however, diplomats resumed contact to ease tensions.

Addressing a conference of his ruling party faithful in the capital, Recep Tayyip Erdogan added fuel to the spat with the U.S., even as local business groups called on his government to settle it.

Investors seemed to look through the fiery rhetoric, pushing the lira off record lows on confirmation that Turkish and U.S. government officials met on Monday.

We will implement a boycott against Americas electronic goods, Erdogan told the conference. He suggested Turks would buy local or Korean phones instead of U.S.-made iPhones, though it was unclear how he intended to enforce the boycott.

The move is seen as retaliation for the United States decision to sanction two Turkish ministers over the detention of an American pastor on terror-related charges, and to double tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum imports.

Behind the scenes, however, diplomatic dialogue appears to have resumed. U.S. officials say National Security adviser John Bolton had met with the Turkish ambassador to Washington on Monday.

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That helped ease the turmoil in financial markets, with the Turkish lira stabilizing near record lows. It was up about 5 per cent on Tuesday, at about 6.52 per dollar, having fallen 42 per cent so far this year, with most of those losses coming in recent weeks.

Investors are worried not only about Turkeys souring relations with the U.S., a longtime NATO ally, but also Erdogans economic policies and the countrys high debt accumulated in foreign currencies. Independent economists say Erdogan should let the central bank raise interest rates to support the currency, but he wants low rates to keep the economic growth going.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the industrialists group TUSIAD and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges called on the government to allow the central bank to raise interest rates to help overcome the currency crisis.

The business groups also urged diplomatic efforts with the United States and an improvement in relations with the European Union, which is Turkeys major trading partner.

The finance chief, Berat Albayrak is due to address hundreds of foreign investors on Thursday in a teleconference, the state-run Anadolu Agency said. On Tuesday, he said the government is working on steps to help banks and support companies affected by the currency crisis.

Meanwhile, the lawyer representing Andrew Brunson, the American pastor at the centre of the dispute, renewed an appeal for his release from house arrest and for a travel ban imposed on him to be lifted. It was not clear when the court would consider the appeal.

Brunson, 50, is being tried on espionage and terror-related charges, which he and the U.S. government vehemently deny. Although he was released to home detention, he faces a prison sentence of up to 35 years if he is convicted at the end of his ongoing trial.

The United States top diplomat in Turkey, Jeffrey Hovenier, visited Brunson on Tuesday and called for his case  and those of others detained in Turkey  to be resolved without delay and in a fair and transparent manner.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov voiced support for Turkey during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, saying that the wide use of sanctions reflect the U.S.s desire to dominate and secure advantages for its businesses.

He said Russia and Turkey have set a goal to switch from dollars to national currencies in mutual trade.

Independent economists caution it would be difficult to unseat the dollar as the top reserve currency as it is used widely in the global economy, for example to trade in oil and for commercial deals.

We view the policy of sanctions as unlawful and illegitimate, driven mostly by a desire to dominate everywhere and in everything, dictate policies and call shots in international affairs, Lavrov said. Such policy cant be a basis for normal dialogue and it cant last long.

Erdogan on Tuesday maintained that Turkeys economy was under attack and that the currency turmoil did not reflect its strength. He renewed a call on Turkish citizens to convert their dollars into the local currency.

Believe me, if we divert our money to foreign currency . . . then we will be in the position of having surrendered to the devil, Erdogan said.

A group of small business owners earlier gathered in front of a currency exchange office in Ankara to change dollar bills they held in their hands in a show of support for Erdogan, local media reports said.

In Istanbul, 35-year-old Sukru Gumus, one of millions of Turks grappling with the countrys economic crisis, said the crisis was raising costs for his business.

The owner of a store that sells goods for brides-to-be said the liras devaluation against foreign currencies has affected his ability to import goods.

Most of the products we sell come from abroad, the raw materials . . . Thats why we are directly impacted in an extreme way.
Yosemite National Park reopened its scenic valley Tuesday after a nearly three-week closure due to nearby wildfires but advised visitors to expect some smoke in the air and limited lodging and food services in the popular California park.

Meanwhile, a blaze in Montana prompted a hasty evacuation of hundreds of visitors at another national park.

At least nine homes and cabins in a historic district of Glacier National Park were destroyed in a wildfire that raged through the Montana parks busiest area, with hundreds of summer homes, cabins and a lakefront lodge.

Park officials said the lost buildings include the so-called Big House at Kellys Camp, a resort developed early last century serving auto travellers along Glaciers famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Glacier Conservancy Executive Director Doug Mitchell says its a gut punch to lose some of the parks iconic buildings.

Firefighters managed to save several historic structures that caught fire. Among them were the Lake McDonald Ranger station and the Wheeler Cabin, built by the family of Montanas former U.S. Sen. Burton Wheeler.

The wildfires raging through parts of the West Coast have caused massive financial losses to parks and nearby communities and also forced thousands of tourists to cancel visits.

Yosemites 20-day closure came during the busiest month for tourism. The park draws more than 600,000 visitors during a typical August, according to the National Park Service.

Undeterred by lingering haze, cars packed with visitors lined up at Yosemite entrance gates where tourists said they didnt mind the slightly obscured vistas.

Its smoky, but you can see most of the mountains  just not the tops, said Dutch tourist Gert Lammers, who entered a gate on the western side of the park near the town of El Portal, driving past fire crews and burned out cars and structures.

We feel lucky that its open today, said Lammers, 48, who heads back to Holland on Friday after a three-week tour of California with his wife and two children.

Tens of thousands of visitors from across the globe had to cancel their trips to Yosemite, which shut its famed valley on July 25 due to smoke from a nearby wildfire that has burned 150 square miles (389 square kilometres) and killed two firefighters since it started July 13. Though the blaze didnt reach the heart of Yosemite Valley, it burned in remote areas of the park and choked popular areas with smoke.

Park spokeswoman Jamie Richards said Tuesday that Yosemite was still calculating the financial impacts to the park, noting that not all campsites were reopening immediately and visitors should check the parks website to see what services were still closed.

Yosemite Valley and the majority of Yosemite National Park is reopened to all visitors, however services within the park will be limited, Richards said, including some lodging and food services. We are working to get campgrounds back up and running.

A major road from the south, Hwy. 41, and a popular park attraction known as Glacier Point will remain closed for likely at least another week for fire operations, park officials said.

Air quality in the park will vary depending on the time of day and location.

You are going to smell and see smoke, Richards said, adding however that from her office in Yosemite Valley she was looking out at clear, blue skies Tuesday morning.

Visitor bureaus in the area and the park are estimating roughly $50 million (U.S.) in combined tourism losses, said Steve Montalto, creative director at Visit Yosemite Madera County.

From an economic standpoint, its majorly significant to the region, said Montalto, who visited one of the most popular attractions at the park, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, when it reopened Monday ahead of the larger opening Tuesday.

Its like a big breath of fresh air to be able to get in there and explore these places again, he said.

Officials are trying to get the word out that the park is back open. They have posted pictures of themselves and visitors at attractions holding red paddleboards that say #YosemiteNOW, and theyre encouraging visitors to do the same.

The parks reopening couldnt come soon enough for Douglas Shaw, who runs a hotel just outside Yosemite. Hes one of hundreds of business owners in small communities surrounding Yosemite who depend on traffic to and from the park.

Shaw says the parks closure wiped out his savings account and cost him $200,000 in lost revenue. He had to lay off eight of his 43 employees, and is considering early retirement to avoid a possible future with similar devastating wildfires.

If I hadnt had savings, which is depleted, Id be scrambling for money or I wouldnt have a business, Shaw said Monday. Its a huge setback.

While hotel owners and other business are relieved about the opening, they say it will likely be weeks before their bookings return to normal.

Shaw said his hotel probably wont be more than 45 per cent booked this week, when normally its sold out well in advance. There were just 10 people staying there Monday night, he said.

Once the closure hit that three-week mark, theres a full panic across the board for visitors, whether theyre from Beijing or Paris or San Francisco, he said.

As for the park, the dent in visitor fees will impact park improvements, such as fixing roads and updating facilities, Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman said.

Because those projects are planned years in advance, all improvements for this year will be covered but projects in the future will be affected, Gediman said, though it was too soon to know which ones.

The so-called Ferguson Fire near Yosemite is one of several devastating blazes in California that have killed at least a dozen people  the latest being a firefighter from Utah who died Monday while battling the largest fire in recorded state history north of San Francisco.
As an aid worker from South Sudan, I have been implementing a large Canadian-funded project that empowers women farmers in my country. In honour of World Humanitarian Day on Sunday, I would like to share my story.

This year I travelled to Canada for the first time. It was wonderful to be in a country that places such a strong focus on the fight for womens rights. For me, that fight is each and every day.

I was once a refugee girl from South Sudan who was forced to flee my home because of war. Life for a young girl in a camp can be brutal. Refugee girls are in constant danger, at risk of violence and early marriage. But thanks to a UN-funded school in the camp, I had an opportunity to earn a scholarship and create a better life.

Today, I am an agricultural scientist who has returned to South Sudan to end hunger and inequality in one of the most fragile countries on Earth. Through the FEED program, funded by the Canadian government, local women farmers have gone from subsistence, to sustainable, to surplus.

We used to import vegetables, and it was very expensive. But now a local womens group has become a major supplier of fresh, local produce in Juba, our capital city.

My education has allowed me to improve lives in my community. I always tell people that if we educate women and girls, there will be no hunger in the world.

In my country, traditionally, everything depends on women  feeding the family, child care, shopping. So much productive work is done by women,  yet we have a long way to go to reach equality. But if you can educate a girl, you can educate a nation. Community gender training has changed perspectives. In the past, it wasnt easy for women. A woman couldnt make decisions in the family. A woman couldnt own land. Everything was owned by men.

But since our project was implemented, that has changed. Now, women can take care of their own money. The men listen more, they give women the opportunity to voice ideas, and are more supportive. Women are being elected as leaders. Gender-based violence is declining.

Whats more, young girls in the community are inspired by me, an educated woman from South Sudan who is making a difference. I advise them on how they should continue in school, and change their lives. We are living in a hard time, but I tell them they have to keep on.

My dream is to change the system. Because of my education, I see that it is me who can support my people. It is me who can help them learn how to grow food. It is me who can do away with the hunger we are going through. And it is me who can help end inequality in my country.

Canada is supporting more women like me. This year at the G7 Summit in Quebec, Canada showed leadership, influencing other nations and organizations to pledge $3.86-billion for the education of girls in crisis. This was a critical moment because when these funds are committed, more stories like mine will be possible. Please join our humanitarian fight.

Aryemo Sunday Ocaya helped implement the Canada-funded FEED program in South Sudan with World Vision. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Science degree in Agronomy.

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In our interconnected and globalized world a tweet, like the proverbial flutter of a butterflys wing, may have profound effects far away. Saudi Arabias decision to jail prominent womens rights activists Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah sparked a concerned tweet by Global Affairs Canada and one by Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland that set off a diplomatic and trade relations commotion.

Over the last week the spat rapidly escalated, and Canadians are wondering can the Saudi Arabian government legally take this course of action from a trade and human rights perspective? How could two innocuous tweets have such grave ramifications?

There have been occasional flare ups between Canada and Saudi Arabia related to human rights issues in the past, and while the countries are not particularly close, diplomatic relations have not been effected  likely to allow discussions on difficult issues to continue.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chyrstia Freeland expressed concern last week that Saudi Arabia had expelled Canadas ambassador, but emphasized that our embassy in Riyadh will continue its regular operations and specifically invited diplomatic dialogue on human rights.

Opposing view: Has Canada mishandled its relationship with Saudi Arabia? Yes

Have your say

International human rights are the responsibility of all nations so expressing of concern about Saudi Arabian actions is not interference by Canada. Arbitrary detention, torture and corporal punishment are contrary to international human rights and humanitarian law. All nations are subject to these norms and are expected to comply with and uphold them. Womens rights are human rights, recognized by the United Nations (UN) since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

In taking a strong position urging Saudi Arabia to release peaceful human rights activists, Canada is expressing the position that womens rights are human rights and are equally deserving of universal respect and protection. This is consistent with the feminist foreign and international assistance policy articulated by the Canadian government.

The current Liberal government also characterizes itself as feminist and has strengthened domestic implementation of gender analysis in policy making. Canada supports the Joint Declaration on Trade and Womens Economic Empowerment made at the World Trade Organizations (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in 2017.

Additionally, Canada has been including or seeking to include gender language in new and renegotiated trade agreements and the empowerment and education of girls and women was a key theme for the G7 Summit hosted by our country this past June. The G7 Summit led to significant financial commitments to support education for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable girls and women.

Saudi Arabia is not a major trading partner for Canada, but it is unfortunate to disrupt potential increases in trade, especially for a country that needs to develop a modern economy and diversify away from heavy reliance on oil.

Saudi Arabia has been a member of the WTO since 2005 and therefore is subject to basic rules against discriminatory trade practice. The WTO agreements create a credible and reliable system of international trade rules that ensures fair and equitable treatment, stimulates economic activity, and promotes trade and development through progressive liberalization. Any Saudi Arabian trade measures directed against Canada would need to be compliant with basic WTO obligations.

At the same time, Canada is a trading nation with connections and potential opportunities in every region of the world. This means that the issue of trade and human rights will flare up when important trading relations are being negotiated with countries whose governments have a poor human rights record.

THE BIG DEBATE: For more opposing view columns from Toronto Star contributors, click here.

In the past this incongruence was dealt with, for example, through discussion tables, diplomatic communications, and policy forums on exchanging information and training.

The storm created by the butterfly flutter of Twitter has shown that while the social media allows for succinct, timely and public positioning on current affairs, international relations is too subtle a task to be conducted through Twitter alone.

To support Canadas feminist foreign policy there needs to be ongoing, deep diplomatic engagement and dialogue to advance the economic and political empowerment of women in both Canada and Saudi Arabia. This would not be interference by either country, but working together to make a better world for all.

Oonagh Fitzgerald is the director of International Law Research at the Centre for International Governance Innovation where she established and oversees international law research.

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The purpose of Canadas diplomacy is simple  influence the behaviour of other countries and advance the interests of Canadians. The diplomatic brouhaha we are having with Saudi Arabia suggests improvements are necessary.

Many would consider the unprecedented Saudi response to a Global Affairs Canada tweet to be more the consequence of an impetuous thin-skinned crown prince than the result of a calculated cohesive strategy. While the tweet alone is not responsible for the extreme response, it has clearly not advanced Canadian interests.

In my view, the tweet was misguided, unprofessional and counterproductive as it failed to achieve any of our objectives. It failed to improve the circumstances of the rights activists; it failed to encourage Saudi Arabia to better respect human rights; and it failed to advance the interest of Canadians, which is, after all, the purpose of foreign policy.

Most unfortunately, we may have lost our best opportunity to influence the development of human rights in the kingdom with the departure of tens of thousands of students and their families who have been experiencing life in our diverse tolerant society and building lifelong ties with Canada and Canadians.

Opposing view: Has Canada mishandled its relationship with Saudi Arabia? No

Have your say

So, what went wrong?

Tweeting is not diplomacy. Diplomacy cannot be conducted effectively through tweets. Effective diplomacy is a complex undertaking requiring an understanding of the interests and motivations of ones counterpart; a concerted sustained effort to effect change; collaboration with like-minded countries; and a dialogue based on respect.

Gratuitous sanctimonious preaching is not dialogue. We need to understand that other countries are not waiting for us to extol our values to them or tell them what they should believe or how they should behave. Gratuitous criticism from what we believe is high moral ground may make us feel virtuous, but it does not change behaviour abroad and only damages our relations and the interests of Canadians.

Naivete. Saudi Arabia is a conservative, traditional monarchy viewed by many Canadians as a severe autocracy that behaves in ways inimitable to our morals, ethics and sensitives. It is also a regional power in a volatile neighbourhood vying with Iran for regional influence and the home to the two holy cities for 1 billion Muslims. As a G20 member with the largest economy in the Gulf region, it is the largest exporter of oil in the world and has a burgeoning economy with a very young population. The other G7 countries see Saudi Arabia through the lens of their much larger commercial and security interests, not just human rights.

Hubris and ignorance. Saudi Arabia is a kingdom, not a democracy. Its people are subjects, not citizens who have rights or a say in how they are governed. While Saudi Arabias actions will certainly further damage its reputation, interests and its people, it behooves us to understand that, whether we like it or not, public criticism of the Saudi legal system, however valid, will be taken as a criticism of the royal familys legitimacy and right to rule.

Political interference. Most importantly, however, is that the approach Canada has taken toward Saudi Arabia  and in many other of our important relationships  reflects a trend dating back at least 10 years  the politicization of our foreign policy. Canadian politicians have developed a tendency of pandering to the sensitives of certain electorally important constituencies and of acting without a clear understanding of our interests and how to advance them.

During my time as the Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and South Korea, I discovered the influential political and communication advisers working for the minister and prime minister too often knew too little and cared too little about how to advance Canadas substantive interests abroad. Their overarching focus was on how our actions or inactions could provide their party with political or electoral advantage. The current government unfortunately appears to be continuing these practices.

We need to get back to having our foreign policy contain more policy and less politics so that it can advance the interests of all Canadians  be they farmers, business people, educators or civil society activists  and not just the temporary interests of whichever party is currently in power.

THE BIG DEBATE: For more opposing view columns from Toronto Star contributors, click here.

David Chatterson is a former Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia and to South Korea.

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Is there a guide to being a widow?, August 13

The English poet Percy Shelley once wrote, Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. Perhaps today he would have made that claim for gunmen instead.

Its regrettable that so much emphasis gets placed on the shooters motive, when our prime focus ought to be on the means used to wreck so many lives. Bill C-71 doesnt go nearly far enough.

The U.K., Germany and Australia are countries that learned from their mass shooting tragedies. The time to make rapid-fire guns nearly impossible to acquire is now.
We can directly change the life of refugees right now.

In 2015, the horrific image of Alan Kurdi, a 3-year-old refugee found drowned, jump-started Canadians into incredible actions, including private sponsorships. Today, however, support has dwindled while the number of refugees in need of resettlement, just like Alan Kurdi, have reached all-time highs.

The Blended Visa Office-Referred Program is a unique initiative of the Canadian government, which supports half the costs of the resettlement, with groups of private citizens responsible for the other half. The BVOR program has 1,500 openings for 2018, but a majority of them remain unfilled.

These openings are meant for refugees whom the UN deems to be in urgent need of resettlement, given the situation in their home countries  refugees who have gone through all the stringent background and security checks. The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program, and key local organizations like Refugees 613, stand ready to be guides through every step of the process. Donors like the Shapiro Foundation have offered to help with costs.

If these 1,500 spots are not filled, they will be lost. Refugees who could be given a chance at the safety and stability that should be afforded to everyone in this world will instead be stuck in limbo in their vulnerable conditions. Furthermore, the government may not be encouraged to open up as many spots in the future.

Canadians need to step up once again.
EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man facing mandatory life in prison after allegedly killing two men in Alton Acres is representing himself in a trial set to begin Aug. 20  just three months after he was charged.

Circuit Judge Richard Tognarelli told defendant Vincent Gordon, 35, of the 900 block block of Easton Street that he could have more time to put his case together, if he asked, but Gordon did not ask. Murder cases often take a year or more to resolve.

Gordon appeared before the judge Monday for a pre-trial conference, in which he discussed details of his defense, including his ability to use the lap to computer in the Madison County Jail to view a video the prosecution intends to use.

Gordon also told the judge he intends to offer an alibi defense, but Tognarelli told him he must submit a document explaining what his alibi witnesses are expected to say.

Another pre-trial conference is set for Thursday, but after, that, he will not be able to ask for a delay of his case, the judge said.

Gordon is charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Derrick Vaughn and Elijah Ingram on May 21. There are two theories behind each of the victims cases. The victims are Elijah S. Ingram, 30, and Derrick J. Vaughn, 28, both of Alton. Bail is set at $5 million.

Gordon is also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and escape. He allegedly possessed a weapon after having been convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon in 2015. He was also charged with escape for allegedly removing an electronic monitoring device place on his ankle when he was released on parole.

The victims, who did not live at the public housing complex, died in an apartment at 3156 Lawn St. Police found the mens bodies after responding to a 10:31 p.m., 911 call about shots fired.

The criminal charges say Gordon allegedly shot Vaughn in the head, and Ingram multiple times about his body, intending to kill both men.

Gordon has a record dating to 2000, when he was convicted of robbery, armed criminal action and kidnapping in Missouri. He also has convictions for probation violation, reckless homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was out on parole when he allegedly shot and killed the two victims.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, Gordon was paroled from Graham Correctional Center on March 22 after being sentenced to a six-year prison term Feb. 21, 2017, on a conviction of felon in possession of a firearm.

Vincent Gordon and his younger brother Vontarious Gordon, were charged in a 2015 case with aggravated battery with a firearm for shooting into a crowd in a Venice tavern. Vincent Gordon pleaded guilty to a count of unlawful possession of a weapon in exchange for a prosecution agreement to drop other charges.

Vontarious Gordon pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
LA GRANGE  Congressmen Darin LaHood and Rodney Davis were scheduled to host the assistant secretary of the Army Corp of Engineers at La Grange Lock and Dam this afternoon to discuss continued funding for the facilities as well as the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program.

On June 7, LaHood and Davis announced the administration will provide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers $10 million in funding for major rehabilitation work for the LaGrange Lock south of Beardstown.
Ivanka Trump visited the River Bend last week but didnt stop by my book shop.

I honestly thought that after touring the state-of-the-art Weber Workforce Development Center at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, the presidents daughter would pay me a visit. Such a deep thinker as The Donald surely instilled a love of reading in all his children.

Had she entered my book shop, I would have treated her with the same degree of courtesy due any customer. My differences with her father, however profound and irreconcilable, wouldnt have justified any rudeness on my part. I disagree with the Old Testament admonition that the sins of the fathers will be visited on their children.

While refusing to blame Ivanka Trump for her dads misdeeds, however, I must hold this young woman responsible for her actions. Had she stopped by my book shop, I would have congratulated her for visiting a facility that will train American workers for gainful employment. Then, however, I would have pointed out the inconsistency of her support for American jobs while running a business empire that markets products manufactured abroad.

The Donald proudly hosted a White House conference last month to promote American-made products. Yet, as NBC News pointed out, many Trump family products couldnt be displayed at this event because theyre foreign-made. The president and his daughter largely manufacture Trump-branded products in countries like China, Indonesia, Turkey and Canada, the report stated.

I wish I could have asked Ivanka about a Washington Post article last year that stated assembly-line workers in China produce Ivanka Trump woven blouses, shoes and handbags. Laborers in Indonesia stitch together her dresses and knit tops. Suit jackets are assembled in Vietnam, cotton tops in India and denim pants in Bangladesh  a country with a huge apparel industry where garment workers typically earn a minimum wage of about $70 a month and where some have recently faced a harsh crackdown from factory owners after seeking higher pay.

An equally disturbing 2017 article in the South China Morning Post stated, A China factory that has produced shoes for Ivanka Trump and other U.S. companies is the worst labor rule violator among dozens of similar production plants checked by undercover investigators.

This is unacceptable behavior for any employer, Ivanka, I would have gently chided her. And its especially unacceptable when the employer is the presidents daughter.

Ivanka probably would have needed some time to mull over all this. After a few minutes, I would have made a suggestion that, had it been taken, would have changed the lives of any number of struggling American families. Ivanka, think of all the jobs you could create in the United States if you relocated your clothing-manufacturing plants to our nation.

Of course she would have to pay good wages to American employees. Supporting a family on $70 a month is hard enough in Bangladesh but altogether impossible in the United States. Still, if Ivanka cares about Americans workers even half as much she claims, shell be glad to offer them the kind of hourly wages that ensure their financial security. And shell welcome the unionization of her workers.

Yes, unionization. Ivanka, I would have told the First Daughter, if your dad is serious about making America great again, urge him to renounce his support of right to work. The decline of the American middle class parallels the decline of our unions.

Ivanka might not be aware that many union members voted for her papa. A president doesnt reward the loyalty of his supporters by pushing for legislation that undermines their unions, I would have admonished her. Your dad would be betraying the very voters who helped to put him in the White House.

By this time, Ivanka might have needed a drink. Fortunately, Mikes Ten-Pin Lounge is located next door to the book shop. I would have picked up her tab, of course.

John J. Dunphy is the author of Lewis and Clarks Illinois Volunteers and Abolitionism and the Civil War in Southwestern Illinois. He owns The Second Reading Book Shop in Alton.
Sometimes when I see how selective and manipulative our news sources can be it becomes a real and scary concern.

The American people have a plethora of choices when they choose what, when and from whom they absorb their latest information.

First of all some clarifications. I am a Democrat, I just turned 76, so the turnip truck I fell out of is long gone. Ive led a pretty decent life considering how I abused myself in my younger years. I think people need a dose of hard times so they can appreciate their good fortune if it comes their way.

When Tricky Dick said I am not a crook, I could have cared less. At that time in my life I was chasing what I thought was important and it sure wasnt politics.

Then came some real game-changers. President Kennedy  gone; Bobby Kennedy  gone; Dr.Martin Luther King  gone. Then Lyndon Baines Johnson came along spilling young blood like water in Vietnam.

Time rolls on and here we are today with Donald Trump as President of the United States. Lets just imagine some voters were not swayed by Vladimir Putins assault on information  they truly believed that here was an outsider, not the weasels on both sides of the aisle that appropriately speak out of both sides of their mouths. Even though he evaded the war in Vietnam because of bone spurs or better said as B.S., he talked tough, he was going to keep America lily white, why he never heard of David Duke!

Those voters, that often quoted 35 percent of America saw and heard what they wanted to hear. Keep America white and Anglo, no brown-skinned immigrants taking my job. Anything that they dont want to hear is Fake News to quote their billionaire buffoon.

Those voters want something to believe in. Some work two jobs to make ends meet, some dont work at all, some have been laid off. Many probably have only a high school education.

I believe a caveat is in order here. There are hundreds of high school millionaires and thousands of very successful people with no more education than high school. That said, I personally know well-educated folks that think Trump is their golden haired savior, come to rid the country of whatever or whoever doesnt conform to their way of thinking.

Enough of my personal feelings and the 35 percent. As I said before, I just turned 76 so I am not WW II vintage but I have known and talked with people who saw the insane horrors of that war. When I think of the German people casting about for something or someone to pin their future on and to listen to a madmans propaganda and fall in line seems insane but it happened. Ive seen the newsreel footage and read the orders.

Women and children over here for a shower, able men over there, old men go over that hill; Small children under the age of five will be cared for; Dont believe in the free press in other countries, believe Der Fuerer who wants a super race of white, blond, blue-eyed Ayrans.

I hope history doesnt repeat itself.

Charles R. Hausmann

Godfrey
The Uganda Bureau ofStatistics (UBOS) is a semi-autonomous body established by the Uganda Bureau ofStatistics Act, 1998, to promote the production of reliable official statisticsand ensure the development and maintenance of the National Statistical System(NSS). The mandate of the Bureau is the production, coordination and disseminationof official statistics. The Bureau intends to conduct the Uganda BusinessInquiry 2018/2019.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed actor Dileep's petition seeking visuals of the actress abduction and assault case. This comes as a major setback for the actor who is one of the eight accused in the case.

The HC said that the visuals cannot be handed over to the actor as this would affect the victim's privacy. Dileep, who said he had the right to access all evidence in the case, had submitted 11 petitions seeking the assault visuals. The state government had however told the high court that these were Dileep's attempts at delaying the case trial. An affidavit filed by the Kerala governemnt earlier stated that Dileep's demand for CBI probe into the sensational case is aimed at hindering the trial. An accused has no right to demand a probe by a particular agency, it added.

On February 17, 2017, a leading actress was brutally assaulted by thugs in a moving car in Kochi.

According to prosecution, the conspiracy to assault the actress had been first hatched in 2013 with Dileep forcing Sunil Kumar aka Pulsar Suni, the key accused in the case, to execute his plan.

Sunil, who was promised Rs 1.5 crore to commit the crime, had made at least five unsuccessful attempts to abduct the actress and capture her objectionable images and video footage as directed by Dileep, the police had stated in its report. They could not execute the plan because of the presence of the actress's father, who used to accompany her to the sets. However, following the actress's father's death on September 24, 2015, Dileep allegedly persuaded Suni to carry out the plan.

The chargesheet says Dileep, the eighth accused, told Pulsar Suni, that he wanted to blackmail the actress with videotaped visuals so that she remains under his command even after her imminent marriage.

Suni was asked to record her intimate visuals with different people, the chargesheet says. He was also instructed to make sure that the ring on her finger was clearly visible in the videos. The police suspect that Dileep had assumed that she was wearing her betrothal ring.

Main accused Pulsar Suni and his gang of criminals, who waylaid the actress and assaulted her in the car, were apprehended soon after the crime.

Almost six months after the crime, the police arrested Dileep on July 10, 2017. Dileep's second wife, Kavya Madhavan, was also under police scanner and was quizzed by ADGP B. Sandhya.

After 85 days in prison, Dileep was granted bail on October 3. In November, the special investigation team (SIT) submitted a subsidiary chargesheet naming Dileep as the eighth accused. More importantly, the chargesheet named Dileep's former wife Manju Warrier as a witness with the police claiming that Dileep held a grudge against the victim for wrecking his marriage with Manju.

-with inputs from Onmanorama
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have been the talk of town for quite some time now, with rumours rife about their wedding. Though they have never officially confirmed their relationship, the couple's display of affection on social media lately is proof enough.

Ending all rumours, a report in Filmfare confirmed that Ranveer and Deepika are set for a November 20 wedding in Italy. Filmfare magazine quoted a source as saying, "It's a very special day for both Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone which is why they just want the close ones to be present for their wedding ceremony. Mostly it will be their families and a few close friends."

"The guest list consists of merely 30 people and that's exactly how these two want it. Italy is a favourite destination of both Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone so they want to keep their big day more of a private affair. They are looking forward to hosting grand receptions once they're back in India post the wedding."

Actor Kabir Bedi took to Twitter to confirm the news. "Great couple! Great locale in Italy! Great event! Wishing @RanveerOfficial and @deepikapadukone a wonderful wedding, and a lifetime of happiness, he tweeted.

Great couple! Great locale in Italy! Great event!

Wishing @RanveerOfficial and @deepikapadukone a wonderful wedding, and a lifetime of happiness.  https://t.co/pPY6gBol8Z  KABIR BEDI (@iKabirBedi) August 13, 2018

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have acted together in Goliyon ki Leela  Rasleela, Bajirao Mastani and the recent Padmavat.
Congress president Rahul Gandhis arrival in Telangana on Monday was followed by hectic political activities in the state. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the opposition Congress party targeted each other during the two-day visit of Rahul.

Rahul landed in Hyderabad on Monday and addressed party's women workers at a convention centre. As his scheduled meetings were underway, the TRS held their state committee meeting at their party office and hurriedly convened a press conference in the evening in what could be seen as a clear move to deprive Rahul of a better news coverage.

Talking to media, chief minister and TRS supremo K. Chandrashekar Rao hinted at an early elections which could be held in December along with other states including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The state elections are scheduled to be held simultaneously with the general elections in May, 2019.

This cannot be called early elections as according to the election commission of India, they can conduct elections anytime before six months of the scheduled date, said KCR before adding that they were prepared for any eventuality.

He said the list of assembly candidates will be announced in September. Party's decision to hold a big public meeting on September 2 is seen as a move to kickstart its poll campaign.

The chief minister criticised Congress partys Delhi-centric politics and said that they would be rejected by the Telangana voters. He also accused Rahul of speaking lies to defame their party. He mocked the grand old party and predicted that they would not be able to form a government in the next elections.

The war of words only intensified on Tuesday. After an informal media interaction with senior journalists where he spoke about Rafael deal, poll alliances and BJPs rule, the Congress president addressed a public meeting in Saroornagar. At every interaction, he sounded confident that the Congress party is going to win the state elections.

Speaking to a massive gathering of Congress workers and supporters, he accused the TRS of being hand-in-love with BJP in pushing anti-people policies. Taking potshots at the prime minister, he said Modi had redesigned the Rafale deal and gifted it to industrialist Anil Ambani. Nowadays corruption is called redesign, said Rahul and added that the Telangana chief minister was also famous for that.

Rahul said BJPs policies like demonetisation and GST were praised by the TRS and that the leaders of both parties believed in grabbing land of poor families. He accused the TRS government of not doing enough in the fields of employment, education and health in the state. Soon after the meeting, Rahul left the city.

Within a few hours, IT minister and son of the chief minister, K.T. Rama Rao lashed out at Rahul on Twitter. He reminded Rahul about the scams that had taken place during the Congress party rule and pointed out that many state Congress leaders sharing stage with him were out on bail in corruption cases.
Even as BJP president Amit Shah wrote a letter to the Law Commission on Monday arguing for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls, party sources have indicated that the Narendra Modi government could push to 'club' assembly elections in up to 11 states with the Parliament polls in 2019.

Party sources told PTI that the BJP is mulling delaying assembly elections in three statesMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarhthat are currently ruled by it and advancing the same in several other states.

Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are due by November-December this year. The tenure of the Assembly in Mizoram, ruled by the opposition Congress, is also scheduled to end in the same time frame.

The last Lok Sabha elections coincided with state elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana and this precedent is expected to continue in 2019. The BJP is mulling advancing elections in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtraagain three states ruled by the saffron partyto hold them alongside the Lok Sabha polls.

However, the 'surprise' entry among the list of states that the BJP is considering advancing elections in is Bihar, which last had an assembly election in late 2015. While the JD(U) has publicly dismissed claims of polls being advanced, political observers claim early elections may suit Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as he bargains for more seats in the assembly with the BJP, his partner. The BJP had won the largest number of seats in the last Lok Sabha election in Bihar.

The BJP sources however told PTI that the party has yet to make a concrete proposal for deferring/advancing the state polls given the need to ensure the constitutional validity of such a step.

Given the need to impose governor's rule in states when elections are deferred, the BJP may face political opposition. Former Lok Sabha secretary general P.D.T. Acharya questioned the legal validity of the BJP's proposal, given the need for governor's rule, which can only be imposed in the event of a breakdown of the constitutional machinery.

(With PTI inputs)
The Congress on Tuesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha and advance general elections to be held along with the Assembly polls slated for end of 2018.

This is a counter to the BJP's reported plans to hold elections in 11 states together with the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for May, 2019. This would involve postponing elections in the states that go to polls later this year, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

"Modiji should dissolve the Lok Sabha and move forward Lok Sabha polls to be held together with the Assembly elections. We are ready for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections being held together," AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot said.

Modi and his party have made a strong pitch for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. And the ruling dispensation is reported to be toying with the idea of holding Assembly polls in 11 states together with the Lok Sabha elections. Besides postponing some Assembly elections and putting those states under President's rule, the idea would involve advancing elections in some other states.

Throwing the gauntlet to Modi, Gehlot said the Prime Minister can announce early Lok Sabha elections either in his independence day speech or in his Mann Ki Baat.

Gehlot said that the Congress has already told the Law Commission that simultaneous elections are not possible.

"Had Modiji and Amit Shahji been sincere about it, they would have consulted other political parties and taken everyone on board. They are doing all this only to try and gain political mileage," Gehlot said.

He claimed that Modi and his party have realised that they are not going to win in the coming round of Assembly polls as well as in the Lok Sabha elections, hence they have resorted to talking about simultaneous elections.

We will, in fact, welcome early Lok Sabha polls. It will come as a big respite for the people who do not want to live in an atmosphere of fear and hatred anymore, Gehlot said.

Meanwhile, Vivek Tankha, who heads the party's legal cell, said that if any attempt is made to postpone Assembly elections and place the states going to polls under President's rule, the Congress will definitely move court.
Nearly an year after the 2-month-long Doklam standoff between the Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) ended, troops from China have intruded over 300 metres into Ladakh and pitched tents there.

Media agencies reported that the incursions into Demchok in Eastern Ladakh happened in early July with the PLA intruders pitching five tents. After the Indian Army raised the issue in talks with the PLA, some of the intruders dismantled three of their tents and withdrew; but others are reportedly still in Demchok. The PLA intruders reportedly arrived as cowherds, accompanied by cattle.

The 73-day-long standoff at Doklam lasted from June to late August when a Chinese road-building party arrived in the Doklam trijunction area between India, China and Bhutan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had announced that they would instruct their militaries to work towards de-escalation measures to avoid situations like the one at Doklam.

Modijis so called Laal Aankh is absolutely shut, as post Doklam, China again intrudes in our territory. This time in Ladakh!



Modiji,



Drumbeating Rhetoric & Agenda Less Visits to China wont do!



Stop being a Lameduck Govt compromising on our National Security! pic.twitter.com/EVVuuQbYAd  Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 14, 2018

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the Modi government on the Ladakh incursion. He tweeted Modijis so called 'Laal Aankh' is absolutely shut, as post Doklam, China again intrudes in our territory. This time in Ladakh! Modiji, Drumbeating Rhetoric & Agenda Less Visits to China wont do! Stop being a Lameduck Govt compromising on our National Security!
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked senior separatist leader and chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Yasin Malik to appear before it in September with respect to a case involving violation of foreign exchange regulations.

Malik has been asked to appear before the ED in person or through an authorised representative on September 5 or 6.

The notice to Malik was issued under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for an alleged foreign exchange regulation violation amounting to Rs 48.23 lakh in 2001.

Jammu and Kashmir Police had seized $100,000 (about Rs 48.23 lakh the value in Indian currency at that time) from Mushtaq Ahmad Dar and his wife Shamima alias Shazia alias Bitti.

Dar had revealed to police that the money was meant for Malik.

He told police the money was given by a person in Nepal. When the case was registered, Malik was arrested but released on bail.

The ED notice sent to Malik, Dar and Shamima reads, ''This is to inform you that after considering the cause shown by you to the show cause notice, the assistant director is of the opinion that adjudication proceedings as contemplated in subsection 1 of Section 13 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 should be held against you.

You are required to present yourself personally or through authorised representative before the assistant director for personal hearing on September 5 or September 06 at 10:30am at zonal office, Durani House, near Rajbagh police station, Srinagar, reads the notice.

The notice warns the three persons against neglecting or refusing to appear as required by sub-rule 3 before the adjudication authority under Rule 4 (7) of the Foreign Exchange Management Adjudication Proceedings and Appeal Rule, 2000.

Malik is part of the separatist Joint Resistance Leadership, which had threatened to launch a mass agitation if the Supreme Court struck down Article 35A of the Constitution that authorises the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to define permanent residents of the state and reserves rights for them to own land, seek government jobs and participate in elections.

Article 35A, also called Jammu State Subjects law, bars those who are not permanent residents of the state from owning property and settling in the state.

Kashmir and parts of Jammu have witnessed continuous protest against the move to get Article 35A scrapped by the Supreme Court.
Pollution from Kanpur, the worst 'contributor' to the current condition of the Ganga river, is finally being tackled.

Minister for Water Resources, Rivers and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 20 restored ghats in Kappur and Bithoor on Monday and announced a slew of projects to tackle pollution at the two hotspots in KanpurJajmau (industrial effluents) and Sisamau (domestic sewage).

Gadkari announced a 20mld common effluent treatment plant at a cost of Rs 554 crore in the first phase for Jajmau. He also said that the complete tapping of Sismau nala would be done by October. On average, 140mld untreated sewage has been drained into the river from this nalla on a daily basis. Over the last one year, 80mld was diverted to the treatment plant at Bingawan. The rest will be diverted too, by October.

Gadkari said that there was no shortage of funds for the purpose of Ganga cleaning. He, however, suggested that there should be ways of monetising the waste itself. One of Gadkari's favourite suggestions has been to generate methane from the sewage, which can be used as bio-CNG for running the city's transport system.

Pollution from Kanpur has been a big hurdle in the Ganga's clean-up. First, the Centre didn't get sufficient support from the previous Samajwadi Party government. Under the Yogi Adityanath government, these Centre-state issues have got resolved.

However, the quantum of pollution is so enormous in Kanpur and the layout of the city so complex that the task is mind-boggling. Authorities have, since months, been working at connecting the various tanneries to centralised effluent treatment plants, not an easy task given the haphazard way in which the industries have come up, with no plans or maps to refer to. Yet, once the Kanpur stretch gets treated, much of the pollution into the Ganga will be tackled.
The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite...
After organising Aero IndiaAsia's largest military aviation exhibitionin Bengaluru for the last 22 years, the ministry of defence is now mulling shifting the event to another venue. Out of several names that have been floating in the corridors of South Block is Lucknow, which is considered to be the first choice of the ministry, led by Nirmala Sitharaman.

Last week, a joint team of officials from the ministry of defence and Indian Air Force had visited the Bakshi Ka Talab airbase in Lucknow. Bakshi Ka Talab, situated on the outskirts of Lucknow, falls under the Central Air Command.

Sources have told THE WEEK that the IAF had some reservations over organising the mega event at Bakshi Ka Talab due to multiple reasons. First, at the moment, the infrastructure required to organise an air show like Aero India is not developed at Bakshi Ka Talab and this will take at least 15-18 months to develop. Secondly, the airbase is small and there is no radar facility there. Thirdly, the airstrip is currently being resurfaced and the length of the runway is too 'short' to operate big transport aircraft.

Moreover, the road connecting Lucknow to Bakshi Ka Talab is not in good shape. But, eventually, the Indian Air Force has to agree to the government's wishes on Aero India.

"No final decision has been taken in this regard [venue for Aero India]. Several states have approached the ministry to organise the air show at their venue. The issue is under consideration at the moment," said a senior defence ministry official.

During the inauguration of the first defence industrial corridor in Aligarh on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had publicly asked Sitharaman to shift Aero India to Lucknow. Eyeing the 2019 general elections, the Narendra Modi government is also considering Uttar Pradesh as its first choice to organise the mega event. However, the IAF is believed to have suggested Agra and Hindon airbase in the national capital region as venues for Aero India, if the government was keen on organising it in Uttar Pradesh.

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had written to Modi and Sitharaman, insisting that Bengaluru would be the best choice for the biennial event. "Bengaluru, being the hub for defence and aviation majors of the country, is certainly the most suitable place to conduct the show," Kumaraswamy reportedly wrote in his letter.

The voice of dissent on the Aero India issue is also emanating from within the BJP, as Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda requested Sitharaman to drop the move to shift the event from Karnataka, his home state.

And in an attempt to dispel the notion of friction within the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar tweeted, "There is no decision on shifting #AeroIndia 2019 venue out of Bengaluru to Lucknow, as clarified by Defence Min officials. I have spoken to @nsitharaman ji, who has confirmed the same. There were similar rumours last time too, which were proved to be unfounded."

Earlier, the defence ministry had faced criticism over shifting DefExpo, touted as the biggest international land, naval and internal homeland security systems exhibition in Asia. DefExpo, a biennial event like Aero India, used to happen in the national capital. But, then defence minister Manohar Parrikar, first took the event to his home state Goa in 2016 and then, Sitharaman, his 'full-time' successor, moved it to Chennai in Tamil Nadu, her home state.
On Monday, three people were killed and 30 injured when a KSRTC bus collided with a lorry on a bridge in Kerala. Many speculate that the accident took place because of the driver sleeping at the wheel. A video that captured the accident clearly shows the bus going to the wrong side and ramming into the lorry.

But while many speculate, accidents caused due to sleep deprivation is quite common on Indian roads. Like many states, which are aware of such incidents, the West Bengal government in March this year classified chatting at the wheel as negligent driving. As a road safety requirement, violation of this could lead to dismissal for drivers employed by the State Transport Undertaking in the state. Although, it is important to understand that sometimes, conversations might keep an excessively sleep-deprived driver awake at the wheel.

A report on road accidents in India released by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in 2016 stated that at least 4,80,652 accidents were reported in the country. And, while India does not record accidents caused due to drowsiness, many police officers say that people dropping off at the wheel is often a major cause for road accidents. Once signed into law by the President, it is hoped that the Motor Vehicles (MV) Amendment Bill could help achieve the UN mandate for road safety and help in reducing road accidents by a huge margin.

The bill was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha and deliberated upon this month by the Rajya Sabha. A nation-wide strike against the Centers Motor Vehicles (MV) Amendment Bill was held on August 7, which brought the traffic in most cities to a screeching halt. The All India Coordination Committee of Road Transport Workers Organisations called for the strike claiming that the bill would prove unfavorable to the citizens of the country.

The bill provides for a radical amendment on the decades-old Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and offers high penaltiesalmost five-fold of previously levied finesfor various traffic offences, and a ten-fold increase in compensation for families of accident victims.

However, it does not give any provisions for the transport drivers, especially the bus drivers who mostly suffer from sleep deprivation. Usually, the bus schedules are harsh for the drivers who end up working two or three shifts often overnight. Even after copious amounts of coffee, betel leaves and other drugs, they are unable to stay awake at the wheel and succumb to drowsiness and fatigue.

A number of studies of shift workers, especially professional drivers, have documented the occurrence of changes in sleep architecture over time. The associated symptoms, including poor quality of sleep, fragmentation due to OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), and sleep deprivation and/or restriction, were thought to explain the ES (Excessive Sleepiness), fatigue, health deficits, possible driving errors, and serious accidents, says a study on sleep disorders as a cause of motor vehicle collisions published in the International Journal of Preventative Medicine.

Despite such crucial issues to be considered, many hail the bill as being noteworthy for focusing on various other aspects of road safety. These include provisions for alterations of vehicles to make it suitable for specially-abled people, the removal of cap on liability of third-party insurance and a motor vehicle accident fund that will provide necessary insurance cover to all road users in India for certain kinds of accidents.

However, the transport sector workers also increasingly fear that privatisation of the transport sector to create a National Transportation Policy that the bill proposes could lead to job losses. The public transportation system is currently under the direct control of the state government and operated by the state transport undertakings (STUs). The workers claim that once the public transport system comes under the absolute control of private entities, the small transport operators will be pushed out. The monopolisation and increase in fares, along with the already rising fuel prices, would become a harsh reality for the common working class people.

Still, the fact remains that drivers in the transport sector who should be given importance in the bill have not been included successfully. Sleep deprivation impairs reflexes and critically slows down the reaction time of drivers of heavy and commercial vehicles such as buses, lorries and trucks. Private and public transport providers do very little to ensure drivers get sufficient amount of sleep and do not need to rush to destinations because of impossible schedules.

Complete privatisation of the transport sector in the country could mean for more efficient operation of services and facilities. In such a case, it could drastically help drivers by providing them with driving schedules that ideally do not stretch beyond one shift lasting not more than eight hours a day. On the other hand, the monopoly of transportation could also mean little or no competition in the sector and therefore, poor working conditions and treatment of workers. Hence, it is vital to create provisions focused on the workers as well to safeguard for their welfare and employment.

Under the proposed section 66A such a National Transportation Policy is to be created only after meeting and discussing it with states and forming a Centre-state consensus for which a procedure is to be set up. Moreover, the bill states that civic agencies, contractors and consultants will be held accountable for poor construction and maintenance of roads leading to fatalities, while also holding accountable manufactures of vehicles, if they provide sub-standard components in production. The government will have every right to recall such faulty vehicles, which do not meet the required standards.

The discussion will resume in the Rajya Sabha when the next Parliament session starts.
In the early stages of Alzheimers, Beatriz sat at a park with her grown daughter but grew paranoid when she thought her daughter had taken her purse. In a middle stage of the disease, she sat in her living room, but a roar filled the air and the shadow of a man jerked violently against the wall. She cried out for help. The roar turned out to be the noise from a fan, and the menacing shadow disappeared once her daughter opened the windows, letting light fill the room.
Former Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson was spared the torments of jail time when the Newcastle Court Magistrate Robert Stone allowed the 67-year-old to serve his detention at home. Wilson is the oldest cleric to be convicted of concealing child sex abuse.

Prison authorities who assessed Wilson said he suffered from a range of health issues, including heart disease, faced by former archbishop.

Wilson was ordered to begin serving his detention on Tuesday in New South Wales state and would be eligible for parole in February 2019, the court said, without disclosing the address of where he would be held.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. Television showed Wilson being driven away from the court in Newcastle, about 170 km (105 miles) north of Sydney. It said he would be staying at his sisters house.

Wilson has said he planned to appeal against his conviction for failing to disclose to police abuse by a priest, Father James Fletcher, after being told about it in 1976 by two victims.

Wilson resigned as archbishop of Adelaide in July, two months after being convicted. He wanted to hold on to the position until he completed his appeal but came under pressure from Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, fellow clerics and abuse victims to quit.
(Eds: Updating with reaction, more details)

New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Ending a protracted water dispute, the Mahadayi River Water Tribunal today ordered that Karnataka will get 13.4 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the river, while Goa and Maharashtra will be allowed to use 24 TMC and 1.33 TMC of water respectively.

The order of the Tribunal, set up in 2010, comes after the three states -- Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra -- demanded 36.71 TMC, 122 TMC and 6.5 TMC of water, respectively, from the Mahadayi river.

In a 12-volume judgement, the Tribunal said the equitable distribution of Mahadayi waters among three states is "neither necessary nor feasible" at this stage.

"In the absence of any apportionment of water amongst the party states, the activities related to water resources development for the benefit of the society must not stop and people of the party state must not suffer," the tribunal observed while passing the order.

In a partial relief to Karnataka, the Tribunal has allowed to it to utilise 13.4 TMC of water, out of which the state has been permitted to divert 2.18 TMC of Mahadayi water at proposed Bhanduri dam and 1.72 TMC of water at proposed Kalasa dam subject to certain conditions.

The Kalasa-Bhandura projects aims to supply drinking water to four parched districts of north Karnataka. Goa had raised concern over the potential ecological disaster that would be likely created if water was diverted.

As per the order, Karnataka will also get 1.5 TMC of water for in-basin use for irrigation and water supply and 8.02 TMC for generating power at the Mahadayi Hydro Electrictity Project.

The Tribunal, however, rejected Karnataka's demand for deverision of 5.53 TMC of water of Mahadayi river to the Supa reservior of the Kali Hydro Electric Power Project and diversion of 7 TMC of surplus water from the proposed Kotni reservoir of the Mahadayi Hydro Electric Power (MHEP) Project.

In case of Goa, the Tribunal said the state will get 24 TMC of water against its demand of 122 TMC. This would be over and above the existing utilization of 9.395 TMC by the state.

The state has been allowed to use 24 TMC water for 59 identified projects after getting necessary clearances by the competent authorities, the order said.

For Maharasthra, the Tribunal ruled that the state will get 1.33 TMC of water from Mahadayi river against the demand of 6.5 TMC. Out of this, the state has been asked to revise features of the Virdi Large MI Project and prepare a modified detailed project report (DPR) to utilize a maximum 0.56 TMC of water for various purposes within the basin.

The Tribunal has permitted 0.77 TMC of water for four minor irrigation projects namely Moachi Rai, Virdi B, Dhangarwadi and Ambadgaon.

The Tribunal also directed the central government to constitute the Mahadayi Water Management Authority to implement its decision.

Reacting to the development, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said: "I am happy that the Mhadei (Mahadayi) Tribunal with its final verdict has done justice to Goa."

"I thank the legal team and everyone who have fought relentlessly for protecting our lifeline Mhadei," said Parrikar who is in the US for medical treatment.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said: "The final award recommendation of the Tribunal is about 12 volumes and (government) will take appropriate decision only after studying it in detail and consulting with all concerned."

He said in a statement that he has already discussed the issue with officers of the Water Resources Department and legal experts.

His brother and PWD Minister H D Revanna described the verdict as "shocking" and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to meet Karnataka's demand of additional 7.54 tmcft water.

The Congress, the ruling coalition partner of Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal (Secular), said Karnataka had not been given "full justice", while the opposition BJP welcomed the tribunal recommendations, saying it was a victory for farmers.

Noting that Karnataka has succeeded partly, advocate for the state Mohan Katarki said: "The Tribunal should have considered allocation of more water to Karnataka."

After studying the voluminous judgement, the state will take the next course of action of either appealing before the Supreme Court or filing reference for explanation or guidance before the Tribunal, he said.

The present level of utilization of waters of Mahadayi river basin is not more than 5 per cent of the water availability at 75 per cent dependability.

The Tribunal mentioned that the projection of future requirements of waters of Mahadayi river basin by the respective states for various purposes is not fully justified as the estimates are not based on adequate and consistent data/information or scientific research and studies, and are without proper evaluation and consideration of social, economic and ecological issues.

The Mahadayi river basin drains an area of 2032 sq km, out of which an area of 375 sq km lies in Karnataka, 77 sq km in Maharashtra and rest in Goa. PTI LUX/PR/RPS/ BDN/GSN LUX RT

RT
Jammu, Aug 14 (PTI) The department of Legal Metrology has penalised two wall putty manufacturing companies in Jammu allegedly for not passing on the benefit of GST rate cut to consumers.

The two companies did not mark revised rates on their products after the central government slashed GST slab on such items from 28 per cent to 18 per cent.

The cases of both the companies were compounded and penalty of Rs 75,000 was imposed and recovered, an official spokesman said.

He said a team of the Legal Metrology department conducted a surprise inspection of the clearing and forwarding (C&F) establishments of two leading companies at Kunjwani and Trikuta Nagar.

It was found that after the reduction of tax slab from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, both the C&F conducted the sale of wall putty with tax slab of 18 per cent and issued the sale bill to dealers but reduced MRP for the benefits of consumers was not marked on the wall putty bags, the spokesman said.

The Centre has issued directions that all such pre-packed commodities with reduced GST slab must bear revised MRP so that consumers can avail the benefit of tax reduction.

The team seized all the documents related to sale of such bags and stopped any further selling of the products till the necessary rectification was done by the management of the two companies, the spokesman said.

The management assured to comply with all the provisions.

The reduced MRP was marked on the wall putty bags, the spokesman said. PTI TAS CK

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Mumbai, Aug 14 (PTI) The censor board today justified its decision of censoring a movie's subtitles, saying it was to curb the "mischief" done by some filmmakers of inserting additional words after a film is certified.

The Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) filed its affidavit in the Bombay High Court in response to a petition by the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), challenging the censor board's direction to submit subtitles of a movie for censorship.

The IMPAA approached the high court in July claiming that the new rule introduced by the CBFC was arbitrary.

On April 27, the petitioner received a notice from the CBFC, saying producers of a movie are required to obtain a separate censorship certificate for the film's subtitles.

The censor board in its affidavit said it was duty-bound and obligated to ensure that filmmakers do not insert any words or visuals after a film is duly certified.

"The rationale behind the impugned notice is to curb the mischief noticed in a number of films where subtitles were introduced or added after the film's certification by the CBFC. This amounts to an alteration in the film. This mischief needs to be plugged or curbed," the affidavit said.

It cited examples where makers mute the cuss words when they present their films before the CBFC, but after certification, they add those words in the subtitles.

"Dubbing and subtitles constitute an integral part of a film. In this context, translation errors can sometimes result in grave prejudice," the CBFC said.

A division bench headed by Justice R M Borde posted the petition for further hearing on August 20.

According to the CBFC notice, producers have to first obtain a certificate for the film and thereafter when the sub-titling is done in a different language, they are required to go for fresh censorship.

The petition said that earlier the CBFC certification was needed only for the film and there was no requirement or practice of certification for subtitles.

The petition claimed that programmes which are freely available on the Internet and other electronic media, do not require such a certification or censorship from any authority.

The IMPAA alleged that the CBFC's move was only to harass producers and extort money from them.

Such a rule was also resulting in the films' release getting delayed, it said.

The petitioner requested the high court to quash this procedure. PTI SP GK ZMN

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Peshawar, Aug 14 (PTI) At least 11 people were injured in a grenade attack in Baluchistan province today, police said.

Two unidentified men riding a motorcycle lobbed a hand grenade at a shop situated at Masjid Road in Nushki area, they said.

All the 11 injured have been admitted in a hospital and their condition are stable now, they said. PTI CORR SCY

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There are no plans to reopen Howells and Hood, which is named after the architects of the iconic neo-gothic building and occupies a massive 17,300 square feet of ground-floor space and a 5,000-square-foot patio on the tower's plaza. But the company that owns the restaurant, Bottleneck Management, owns 15 other restaurants, most in Chicago and the suburbs, and it is our intent to transfer as many if not all of our employees at all of our Chicago restaurants, said co-owner Chris Bisaillon. Bottlenecks other Chicago restaurants include Sweetwater downtown, Boundary in Wicker Park and Old Town Pour House in Old Town.
Islamabad, Aug 14 (PTI) The son-in-law of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to prison today after undergoing treatment at the country's top hospital here, according to a media report.

Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, the son-in-law of Sharif, was shifted back to the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the Express Tribune reported.

Safdar, 54, was shifted to the prison after his health improved, the report said.

Safdar is married to Sharif's daughter and heir-apparent Maryam, who is also in the Adiala Jail along with Sharif.

The trio were sentenced by a Pakistani accountability court on corruption charges over the ownership of four luxury flats in London owned by the Sharif family.

While Sharif, 68, is serving a 10-year jail term, Safdar was sentenced to one year. Maryam, 44, is serving a jail term of seven years.

On August 9, Safdar was taken to the PIMS after his health deteriorated following a liver surgery.

Last week, a medical board of PIMS said Safdar had to remain in hospital due to health concerns. They performed an ECG to determine the condition of his cardiac stent and also conducted a liver test. Safdar is said to be suffering from diabetes and a liver ailment, the report said.

Sharif was also briefly shifted to PIMS after ill-health. PTI AKJ AKJ

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Washington, Aug 14 (PTI) US President Donald Trump today continued his attack against former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, calling her "that dog", a tirade that drew a severe backlash.

"When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didn't work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!" Trump tweeted today.

Newman, 44, commonly known by her first name Omarosa, is facing Trump's wrath as she promotes her new book 'Unhinged' about her time in the White House and she has released an audio recording from 2017 in which Trump is heard expressing surprise that she had been fired from his administration.

Newman first gained fame as a contestant on Trump's reality show 'The Apprentice', and then secured a USD 180,000-a-year staff job at the White House.

While Trump is known not to hold back on Twitter, his calling Newman a "dog" was particularly low and demeaning of his office.

Former CIA director John Brennan replied to Trump's tweet on the micro-blogging site and said in a tweet it is "astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent, & honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our nation".

Trump had lashed out at Newman yesterday, writing in a tweet "Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will. She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her".

"She was vicious, but not smart. I would rarely see her but heard....really bad things. Nasty to people & would constantly miss meetings & work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me - until she got fired!" Trump tweeted.

In December, Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly fired Newman in the Situation Room in the White House, considered the most secure conference room. Newman recorded that conversation and released the recording.

Newman also expressed willingness to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Moscow -- and indicated that she had already been contacted by Mueller's office. PTI YAS KUN

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Washington, Aug 14 (PTI) The US hopes to further strengthen ties with Pakistan in the years ahead and work with its people and government to advance shared goals of security, stability and prosperity in South Asia, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said.

Wishing the people of Pakistan on the country's 72nd independence day today, Pompeo, in a statement, said for more than seven decades, the relationship between the US and Pakistan has "rested on the strong foundation of close ties between our two peoples."

"In the years ahead, we hope to further strengthen these bonds, as we continue to look for opportunities to work with the people and Government of Pakistan to advance our shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia, he said in the statement.

Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan last week said that Pakistan and the US should strengthen their relations based on trust, amidst tensions in bilateral ties over Islamabad's support for terror groups.

The relations between Pakistan and the United States nosedived this January after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists.

The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year.

The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year. PTI YAS PMS

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New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Two CRPF jawans from Kashmir who laid down their lives in the line of duty have been bestowed with country's top police gallantry medal --PPMG-- as the government today announced service decorations for a total of 942 state police and paramilitary personnel on the eve of the 72nd Independence Day.

Constable Sharief-ud-din Ganaie and Head Constable Mohd Tafail of the CRPF have been decorated with the President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) posthumously even as 89 other personnel from the force have been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) for undertaking dare-devil action in militancy-affected Jammu and Kashmir and anti-Naxal operations in various states.

This is the highest-ever gallantry medals tally for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) till date, a senior official said.

The CRPF was followed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police that has been accorded 37 PMsG along with the Odisha Police (11), Border Security Force (10), Maharashtra Police (8), Chhattisgarh Police (6) among others.

A total of 177 PMsG have been awarded this time, a government release said.

"With counter-insurgency and militancy operations stepped up in the Kashmir valley, the maximum number of gallantry medals have come in this theatre for the forces. These operations are jointly conducted by the CRPF, the JK Police and its special operations group (SOG) and the Army," a senior official said.

As per the release issued by the Union Home Ministry, a total of 675 meritorious service medals and 88 distinguished service medals have been accorded to the police personnel this time. PTI NES ACB DIP

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New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Amid talks of simultaneous polls, the Congress today dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the Lok Sabha early and announce general elections along with polls in four states where the terms of the assemblies end this year.

Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot said postponing the upcoming state assembly elections and conducting these with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 is "not possible" under the Constitution or the law.

He said elections in Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh will have to be conducted before the terms of these assemblies end.

"There is only one way of holding simultaneous elections. The prime minister should dissolve the Lok Sabha and hold polls along with the four state assembly elections," Gehlot told a press conference.

"The Congress will welcome it. We are prepared," he said.

Gehlot's comments come a day after BJP president Amit Shah made a pitch for holding elections to 12 state assemblies including the present four along with 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The former Rajasthan chief minister said it will be in the "best interest of the country to dissolve the Lok Sabha early, given the all-pervasive atmosphere of fear, intolerance and intimidation".

"The Congress will not only welcome an early Lok Sabha election, we are all geared to fight the BJP and eliminate it," he said.

The Congress alleged that the BJP's intentions behind the 'one nation, one election' debate were not clean.

"Their approach from day one has been wrong. If they were serious, they would have called all political parties for a meeting, discussed ways and means of implementing a proposal and debated solutions for cases where the Lok Sabha or state assemblies are dissolved before their term. But the government did not do any such thing," he said.

Gehlot said the 'one nation, one election' slogan is just a gimmick to deflect attention of people from government's failures.

He also said the BJP was floating this idea because it fears the losing of upcoming state elections, in which case it will be in a very weak state to face the electorate in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress legal cell head Vivek Takha said the party will move court if the government attempts to postpone upcoming state assembly elections.

"This cannot be done without a constitutional amendment," he said. PTI SKC ZMN

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(Eds: Adding details about police probe)

New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) A day after he was attacked by an unidentified assailant here, JNU student leader Umar Khalid today alleged the real culprits were people breeding an "atmosphere of hatred, bloodlust and fear" from their seats of power and those providing a complete impunity for "assassins and mob lynchers".

On a day when the Delhi Police handed over the case to its special cell, which incidentally is already probing an old sedition case against him and two other students, Khalid also referred to the 'Tukde Tukde' hashtag being prefixed to his name when it was the BJP leaders who "openly support those who say they will do "tukde tukde" of the country (break the country into pieces) if a certain movie is released".

Khalid, who has often been target of the right-wing trolls on social media platforms with allegations of being anti-national ever since some anti-India slogans were allegedly chanted at an event in JNU, also alleged that he has been a victim of a media trial for the last two years without any evidence or charge sheet.

While the attack, which took place in the national capital's high security zone outside the Constitution Club at a short distance away from Parliament and just two days before Independence Day, has already raised questions about security cover of the city, Khalid launched a no-holds-barred attack on the government in a Facebook post and said he always got a "callous response" whenever he sought security from Delhi Police in the last two years.

In the post, he also tagged a picture in which he is seen with journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead last September in Bengaluru.

"With the repeated death threats against my life, and having seen the assassinations of one activist after the other in the last few years, I somehow knew that someday a gun may be turned against me too," he wrote.

"Dhabolkar, Kalburgi, Pansare, Gauri Lankesh the list of assassinations has been ever-growing. But can I say that I was ready for this? Can anyone ever say that they are ready for such an eventuality for real? No," he said.

Khalid said the fact that he was attacked by an armed assailant in one of the most "high security" zones of the national capital two days before Independence Day proved how some people felt they enjoyed impunity under the current regime.

He said he did not know his attackers but they were not the real culprits.

"The real culprits are those who from their seats of power have been breeding an atmosphere of hatred, of bloodlust and fear. The real culprits are those who have provided an atmosphere of complete impunity for assassins and mob lynchers," he said.

"The real culprits are those spokespersons of the ruling party and the prime time anchors and TV channels who have spread canards about me, branded me anti-national based on lies and virtually incited a lynch-mob against me," Khalid continued.

"Why is it that hashtags like "Tukde Tukde" has literally become a prefix to my name, whereas BJP leaders openly support those who say they will do "tukde tukde" of the country if a certain movie is released?" he asked.

Khalid was attacked when he was on his way to take part in a an event at the Constitution Club after having tea at a shop outside the venue.

The police has said they were not "intimated" about the event in which Khalid was participating.

A police officer, privy to the probe, said police had seized the weapon and preliminary forensic examination suggested that the pistol had jammed.

He said they were yet to ascertain whether shots were fired as no empty cartridges were found on the spot.

The attacker had dropped the weapon and fled the spot, police and witnesses said. A case of attempt to murder was registered by the police later. PTI SLB KND TDS TDS BJ

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Jaipur, Aug 14 (PTI) After 36 years in a Pakistan jail, Gajanand Sharma was finally reunited with his family here today.

The family members had come to local MP Ramcharan Bohras house where several other people too had gathered to welcome Sharma, now 68, to his home city.

Sharma's wife Makhni Devi garlanded him. Family members including his grandson and granddaughters greeted him with sweets.

Later, the family left for their own home in the citys Brahmpuri area.

Yesterday, watching the news on a mobile phone, Makhni Devi's eyes had welled up when she saw Gajanand Sharma walk into India through the Wagah-Attari border.

"Yes, he is my husband, but he has become very weak and lean," she had said at her home, surrounded by her family, neighbours and reporters.

He is said to have crossed into Pakistan inadvertently.

"I will definitely ask him how he reached Pakistan and how he spent all these years, but I will not complain, Makhni Devi said yesterday.

Sharma is among the 30 Indian prisoners released by Pakistan yesterday on the eve of its Independence Day.

Sharmas family came to know in May that he was lodged in a prison in Lahore after Jaipur (Rural) police received a request for verification of his nationality.

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New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) The National Commission for Women today said it has ordered inspection of all 559 government-run Swadhar Grehs following reports of sexual abuse of inmates at some of these shelter homes.

"The NCW is going to inspect all 559 Swadhar homes. To start with we will go to six states. It is not just to see the condition of women living in these homes but also to work for their rehabilitation and how we can make them self reliant," NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said.

An NCW official said the six states are Bihar, Karnataka, Mizoram, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The development comes after 11 girls last month went missing from 'Swadhar Greh', the shelter home run by the NGO of prime accused Brajesh Thakur in the infamous Muzaffarpur girls' shelter home rape case, she said.

Another case was the recent deaths of two women under mysterious circumstances at a shelter home in Patna in Bihar that prompted the NCW to order inspection of all Swadhar Grehs (shelter homes), the official said.

In Deoria in Uttar Pradesh, 24 girls were rescued allegedly from sexual abuse and 18 are still missing, while in Pratapgarh, 26 girls were reported missing.

Following these reports, the NCW constituted a three-member committee today to inquire into the working of all shelter homes run under the Swadhar Greh Scheme of the Women and Child Development Ministry and action taken by authorities, the official said.

The Swadhar Greh Scheme was launched by the government for women victims of difficult circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation.

The inspection would include interacting with inmates of Swadhar Grehs, authorities concerned, officials and non-officials, and other such persons as considered necessary to ascertain facts and to finalise its findings and make recommendations, the official said.

The inspection of the shelter homes, in the six states, will be completed within 45 days, she said. PTI UZM UZM AQS

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Rs 14.50 lakh looted from finance company staff in Motihari

Motihari, Aug 14 (PTI) Miscreants today looted Rs

14.50 lakh from the staff of a finance company in Bihar's East

Champaran district, police said.

Three staff of a Bharat Finance Company Pvt Ltd were

going to deposit money in a bank when the bike borne

miscreants looted Rs 14.50 lakh at gunpoint from them near

Chandmari chowk, Sadar Sub-Divisional Police Officer

(SDPO) Murli Manohar Manjhi said.

The SDPO said that the staff of the finance company

has claimed that Rs 14.50 lakh was looted from them at

gunpoint.

The police have started investigation, he added. PTI

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The restaurant, formerly known as the Rock n Roll McDonalds, occupies a block bounded by Ohio, Ontario, Clark and LaSalle streets with an undeniably modern presence. While the remodeling effort will change the McDonalds streetscape broadly, Christensen said not to expect anything resembling the new flagship restaurant to pop up in the suburbs anytime soon.
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Two plots of land have been identified in west Delhi for artisans making Ravana effigies before the upcoming festive season, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) told the Delhi High Court today.

The court asked the SDMC, which had decided to charge Rs five per square feet from the artisans for the land, to charge only Rs 1.50 per square feet per month for this year as there was hardly any time left for them to do their work.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V Kameswar Rao asked the authorities to conduct a survey and provide data to help frame guidelines for the future.

The court said the artisans are required to vacate the land immediately after the Dussehra festival scheduled on October 19, and listed the matter for further hearing on November 15.

SDMC counsel Monika Arora told the court that the authorities have identified two pieces of land in Beri Wala Bagh and Subhash Nagar to give it to the artisans for two months.

She said they will also provide facilities like toilets and fire security to the artisans at the allotted land.

The artisans told the court that at the rate of Rs five per square feet, they would end up paying Rs 22,000-Rs 30,000 each month, which they cannot afford.

They sought the usage charges to be reduced to Re 1 per square feet which was affordable.

The bench had earlier termed as exorbitant the rates prescribed by the SDMC for the use of land for making of the effigies by artisans.

The court was hearing a PIL initiated on its own after it came across a news report saying that several Ravana effigies, built by artisans who came here from Rajasthan for Dussehra, were destroyed or confiscated by the SDMC for allegedly encroaching on public land.

Last September, it had asked the Delhi government and the corporation to formulate a policy for allocating land to the artisans. Thereafter, a draft policy was framed by the Delhi government after holding meetings with the corporations and other civic bodies.

The policy laid down the modalities for utilising land identified for use by the artisans. Under the policy, there is a registration fee of Rs 500 per applicant and usage charges of Rs 5 per square feet per month.

It stated that the artisans would have to register with the corporations two months before the start of the work and once a site was allotted, it would be for only two months. On expiry of the period of allotment, the artisans would have to vacate the site. The document also said that the artisans would have to ensure that there was no pollution of any kind at the site allotted to them. PTI SKV HMP ARC

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Hyderabad, Aug 14 (PTI) The Hyderabad High Court today issued notice to the Telangana Assembly Speaker on a contempt plea filed by two Congress MLAs over non-restoration of their membership despite the court's order.

Justice B Siva Sankara Rao, while dealing with a contempt petition filed by expelled Congress lawmakers Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and S A Sampath Kumar against the Telangana Legislative Assembly Secretary and Law Secretary, also issued notices to the two officials.

On March 13, the two MLAs were expelled from the assembly, a day after "unruly" incidents during the Governor's address to the joint sitting of legislature.

Subsequently, the two had jointly filed a petition in the High Court, challenging their expulsion from the Assembly.

On April 17, the High Court quashed the notification issued by the Legislature Secretary expelling the two MLAs.

Again in June this year the two MLAs had filed a contempt petition against Legislature Secretary and Law Secretary for not restoring their membership.

Justice Sankara Rao issued notice under Form 1 of the Contempt of Courts Act to the Legislature Secretary and Law Secretary, directing them to respond as to why they should not be punished for contempt of court.

The judge also impleaded the Telangana Director General of Police and Superintendents of Police of Nalgonda and Jogulamba Gadwal districts, asking them why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for their 'failure' to provide police security to them (Reddy and Kumar).

The judge also called for information from the Pay and Accounts Department why the salary bills were not prepared and passed in respect of the two MLAs.

The two Secretaries have failed to take any step towards implementation of the judgement of the court, despite the fact that both of them are aware of the judgement and also the consequences of violating the judgement, Justice Rao observed.

The judge also issued a show cause notice to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, directing him to explain as to why action cannot be initiated against him for contempt of court.

The Judge directed the case to be listed on August 28. PTI COR VVK GDK APR RT

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Hyderabad, Aug 14 (PTI) Gearing up the party organisation in Telangana ahead of elections next year, Congress President Rahul Gandhi today held separate interactions with senior leaders and booth committee presidents here.

Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to Hyderabad, his first after becoming the party President, addressed a tele-conference with the party's booth-committee presidents in the state, Congress sources said.

He was given a 15-minute presentation on the Leader Development Mission in Reserved Constituencies (LDMRC) undertaken by the party in Telangana.

LDMRC aims at promoting leadership from backward communities.

The Congress President had one-to-one meetings with a number of senior leaders, including MPs, MLAs, MLCs and ex-MPs focusing on ways to strengthen the party, P Sudhakar Reddy, Deputy Leader of Congress in state Legislative Council told reporters here.

Reddy said he stressed on better coordination and unity among party leaders and workers to take on rivals.

Gandhi held an interactive session with Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) yesterday.

He promised to support the women SHGs if the Congress came to power after next year's Legislative Assembly polls in Telangana.

He addressed a public meeting at Serilingampalli last evening where he said the party, if elected to power, would honour the commitments made to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act. PTI SJR RS ROH DV

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\R Banda (UP), Aug 14 (PTI) A 32-year-old bank cashier was allegedly shot dead by three unidentified men in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district, police said today.

Rajnish Karwariya -- a cashier in a co-operative bank in Banda, around 180 km south of Lucknow -- was returning home after having dinner at a roadside eatery late last night. The three unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants, who apparently wanted to loot Karwariya, shot him and fled from the spot, a police officer said.

Karwariya was admitted to a hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, the officer said.

A case has been registered against unknown assailants and an investigation is on, he added. PTI CORR NAV HMB

HMB
Chandigarh, Aug 14 (PTI) School children and the income tax department of the Ludhiana region have sent over 25,000 thank you letters to the Border Security Force troopers (BSF) stationed at the Indo-Pak border in Punjab.

The cards and letters were sent to all units and establishments of BSF under Punjab frontier and they would be distributed among jawans deployed at border put posts, said a BSF official.

The BSF officers and jawans expressed their gratitude towards the 'loving and caring' children and IT officials. PTI CHS PTI IND

IND
Maha Govt mulling police housing projects in big cities

Mumbai, Aug 14 (PTI) A proposal to allot government

land for housing projects for police personnel in major cities

of Maharashtra is under consideration, Chief Minister Devendra

Fadnavis today said.

The government was considering a proposal to provide

houses to police personnel in cities such as Nagpur,

Aurangabad, Nashik, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune by providing

land to state housing agencies CIDCO and MHADA, the chief

minister said.

Also, 43 projects including 21 residential ones for

police personnel worth Rs 1,690 crore are in progress in the

state, Fadnavis said at a review meeting, officials informed.

Tenders are being issued for 5,611 projects worth Rs

1,280 crore. These projects are located in suburban Goregaon,

Mulund and Marol in Mumbai, and at Akola, Satara, Jalgaon,

Thane, Beed, Nanded, Raigad, Malegaon and Osmanabad.

The chief minister asked the police commissioners and

superintendents of police to personally monitor and speed up

the process to provide house to every police personnel,

officials added.

Minister of State for Home Ranjeet Patil, Director

General of Police Datta Padsalgikar, Mumbai police

commissioner Subodh Jaiswal and other senior officials were

present at the meeting. PTI MR

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(EDS: Recasting intro and changing word in last para)

Chennai, Aug 14 (PTI) Chennai, Aug 14 (PTI) DMK leader M K Stalin today said he literally 'pleaded' with Chief Minister K Palaniswami to provide space for burial of party supremo M Karunanidhi on the Marina beach front.

The government, on its part, maintained that its decision to allot burial space for the Dravidian stalwart elsewhere was taken considering legal issues, but asserted it gave "unprecedented respect" to the leader by ensuring state honours.

Stalin, DMK working president, said he decided not to pay heed to his senior colleagues' suggestion that he need not meet Palaniswami to make a plea on the issue and that they would do the job.

"I was prepared to lose my dignity and honour for the sake of Thalaivar (leader--Karunanidhi) and met the chief minister where we made our case (for space at Marina).

"He cited rules to say it was not possible and that even legal opinion was in this regard," he said at an urgent meeting of the DMK executive committee to mourn

Karunanidhi's demise.

"I told (the CM) that legal advisers will only reflect the government...I literally pleaded with the chief minister, holding his hands, and asked his support for us in fulfilling our Thalaivar's desire (of being buried near the Anna memorial)," he said.

DMK founder CN Annadurai, fondly addressed as Anna, is the mentor of Karunanidhi from whom the latter took over the reins of the party and the government after his death in 1969.

A grim-faced Stalin, who broke down occasionally while reminiscing about his father, said Palaniswami "did not oblige and just said the matter will be considered to see us off."

Later, the state government announced allocating space near the memorials of former chief ministers C Rajagopalachari and K Kamaraj at Guindy, following which DMK knocked at the court door, he said.

Stalin credited the DMK's legal wing for securing a favourable verdict in the case.

The DMK working president said his father had endured so many struggles with success, adding "even after his death he won".

Reacting to the criticism, the ruling AIADMK said the government could not initially allot space at the Marina beach for burying the DMK leader due to pending cases against construction of memorials on the famous sands.

Senior party leader and state Fisheries minister D Jayakumar said an AIADMK delegation led by deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam had earlier visited Karunanidhi's residence at Gopalapuram to enquire about his health when he

was ill and that it was a matter of "political decency."

"We later paid respects (to his mortal remains) led by the chief Minister at Rajaji Hall. On behalf of the government, I had participated in his burial on the direction

of the chief minister," he told reporters.

The government had offered land elsewhere as possible legal issues could crop up with his body lying in state, but "we accepted the court order," directing the government to allot space at the Marina, he added.

Adequate police protection was provided even during Karunanidhi's hospitalisation and his susbequent death, Jayakumar said.

"The Amma (Jayalalithaa) government provided him unprecedented respect by ensuring state honours," he said.

Jayakumar said criticism against the government would have been fair only if it had not allotted burial space at the Marina for Karunanidhi even if there were no cases.

The government showed "no political vendetta," in this matter, he said.

Taking on DMK's ally Congress on the matter, he said even former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao was not cremated (rpt cremated) in Delhi after his death. PTI SA BN TVS

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\R Lucknow, Aug 14 (PTI) A man posing as underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and threatening BSP MLA demanding Rs 1 crore was today arrested in Gurgaon, police said.

Rahul Kumar Gaur was arrested by a police team in the morning at Maruti parking in Sector 22, Gurgaon, a police spokesman said here.

BSP MLA from Rasra assembly seat in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh Uma Shankar Singh had, on August 9, filed a complaint at Gomti Nagar police station alleging that he received a mail from the man, introducing himself as Dawood Ibrahim, asking him to pay Rs 1 crore.

"On August 8, I received a mail which read 'last warning, jeena yaa marna (dead or alive) Rs 1 crore'," he had said.

"It also said 'Uma Shankar, you are serving the people of Ballia. If you want to continue this, then give Rs 1 crore, else one bullet is enough for you. And we can kill you at any point of time'," the legislator had said.

The man had also attached a photograph of the underworld don with the mail, Singh said.

Police said they found Guar a drunkard, who owed about Rs 10 lakh to his friends.

To pay the money he tried to extort Rs 1 crore from the MLA, they said. PTI ABN AQS

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The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago also grabbed top honors, ranking as the No. 1 hospital for rehabilitation in the country for the 28th year. The AbilityLab, which opened in a new $550 million facility in Streeterville in 2017, replaced the old nonprofit Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago building on East Superior Street, changing its name in the process.
The Hershey Co. engages in the manufacture and market of chocolate and sugar confectionery products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America; and International and Other. The North America segment is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company, as well as its grocery and snacks market positions, in the United States and Canada. The International and Other segment is the combination of all other operating segments which are not individually material, including those geographic regions where the company operates outside of North America. Its brands include Hershey's, Reese's, and Kisses. The company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 and is headquartered in Hershey, PA.

Read More
CAE Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies simulation equipment and training solutions to defense and security markets, commercial airlines, business aircraft operators, helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, and healthcare education and service providers worldwide. The company's Civil Aviation Training Solutions segment provides training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as end to end digitally-enabled crew management, training operations solutions, and optimization software. Its Defence and Security segment offers training and mission support solutions for defense forces across multi-domain operations, and for government organizations responsible for public safety. The company's Healthcare segment provides integrated education and training solutions, including surgical and imaging simulations, curriculum, audiovisual and centre management platforms, and patient simulators to healthcare students and clinical professionals. The company was formerly known as CAE Industries Ltd. and changed its name to CAE Inc. in June 1993. CAE Inc. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Canada.

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The New York State Writers Institute has announced some of its programs and guest authors for its inaugural Albany Book Festival, which will take place at the University of Albany's Uptown Campus on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29.

The two-day affair will include author appearances, panel discussions, a "community-building dynamic dance party," with with the Literacy Project, and more, according to a Monday press release.

The festival will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Campus Center Ballroom with a ceremony to honor the New York State Author and New York State Poet, whose names will be announced at a later date.

The following day will include several panels with authors on topics such as food, history, mystery and "New Americans." Other authors, including "Wicked" writer and Albany native Gregory Maguire, historian and bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin, and the Writers Institute's founder William Kennedy, will give presentations through the day. Workshops and events catered to young adults and children are also on the schedule.

More of the authors who are scheduled to participate include:

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Annette Gordon-Reed, "The Hemingses of Monticello"

Gilbert King, "Devil in the Grove"

Radha Agrawal, "Belong: Find Your People, Create Community and Live a More Connected Life"

Francis Lam, host of "The Splendid Table"

Laura Lippman, author of the Tess Monaghan series

Khizr Khan, Gold Star father and author of "Am American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice"

"Fall book festivals are a mark of vibrant American cities," said Writers Institute Director Paul Grondahl, in a statement. "They underscore a collective commitment to the culture of literacy, the creative imagination, and the value of the literary arts in our lives. We hope to draw thousands of book lovers to the magnificent University at Albany campus and to bring together our students, faculty, staff, and community for a family-friendly event that will appeal to readers of all ages."

All events are free and are open to the public. For more information and a schedule of events, visit albanybookfestival.com or contact the institute by calling 518-442-5620, or by visiting nyswritersinstitute.org.
San Francisco

Google wants to know where you go so badly that it records your movements even when you explicitly tell it not to.

An Associated Press investigation found that many Google services on Android devices and iPhones store your location data even if you've used a privacy setting that says it will prevent Google from doing so.

Computer-science researchers at Princeton confirmed these findings at the AP's request.

For the most part, Google is upfront about asking permission to use your location information. An app like Google Maps will remind you to allow access to location if you use it for navigating. If you agree to let it record your location over time, Google Maps will display that history for you in a "timeline" that maps out your daily movements.

Storing your minute-by-minute travels carries privacy risks and has been used by police to determine the location of suspects  such as a warrant that police in Raleigh, North Carolina, served on Google last year to find devices near a murder scene. So the company lets you "pause" a setting called Location History.

Google says that will prevent the company from remembering where you've been. Google's support page on the subject states: "You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored."

That isn't true. Even with Location History paused, some Google apps automatically store time-stamped location data without asking. (It's possible, although laborious, to delete it .)

For example, Google stores a snapshot of where you are when you merely open its Maps app. Automatic daily weather updates on Android phones pinpoint roughly where you are. And some searches that have nothing to do with location, like "chocolate chip cookies," or "kids science kits," pinpoint your precise latitude and longitude  accurate to the square foot  and save it to your Google account.

The privacy issue affects some two billion users of devices that run Google's Android operating software and hundreds of millions of worldwide iPhone users who rely on Google for maps or search.

Storing location data in violation of a user's preferences is wrong, said Jonathan Mayer, a Princeton computer scientist and former chief technologist for the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement bureau. A researcher from Mayer's lab confirmed the AP's findings on multiple Android devices; the AP conducted its own tests on several iPhones that found the same behavior.

"If you're going to allow users to turn off something called 'Location History,' then all the places where you maintain location history should be turned off," Mayer said. "That seems like a pretty straightforward position to have."

Google says it is being perfectly clear.

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"There are a number of different ways that Google may use location to improve people's experience, including: Location History, Web and App Activity, and through device-level Location Services," a Google spokesperson said in a statement to the AP. "We provide clear descriptions of these tools, and robust controls so people can turn them on or off, and delete their histories at any time."

Google's explanation did not convince several lawmakers.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia told the AP it is "frustratingly common" for technology companies "to have corporate practices that diverge wildly from the totally reasonable expectations of their users," and urged policies that would give users more control of their data. Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey called for "comprehensive consumer privacy and data security legislation" in the wake of the AP report.

To stop Google from saving these location markers, the company says, users can turn off another setting, one that does not specifically reference location information. Called "Web and App Activity" and enabled by default, that setting stores a variety of information from Google apps and websites to your Google account.

When paused, it will prevent activity on any device from being saved to your account. But leaving "Web & App Activity" on and turning "Location History" off only prevents Google from adding your movements to the "timeline," its visualization of your daily travels. It does not stop Google's collection of other location markers.

You can delete these location markers by hand, but it's a painstaking process since you have to select them individually, unless you want to delete all of your stored activity.

You can see the stored location markers on a page in your Google account at myactivity.google.com, although they're typically scattered under several different headers, many of which are unrelated to location.

But disabling "Web & App Activity" prevents Google from storing information generated by searches and other activity. That can limit the effectiveness of the Google Assistant, the company's digital concierge.
Colonie

Albany Countys airport is getting a $92 million makeover that will upgrade the terminal, increase parking and reshape the way drivers arrive at the Albany International Airport.

State officials on Tuesday announced that $72 million in state grants are slated to assist with the multi-million-dollar project, with an additional $18.25 million coming from the Albany County Airport Authority and $1.8 million in federal funding.

Improvements will include modernization of the airport terminal, construction of a new parking garage and upgrades to the existing garage that will offer another 1,000 spaces, and the long-talked about reconfiguration of Exit 4 of the Northway.

Its really going to give a shock to the economy that we havent seen for a while, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said. Its really going to enhance the travelers experience and make them want to come back here.

Work on the terminal is scheduled to begin next month with all the improvements slated for completion by November 2020.

Albany will receive a $22.1 million state grant for the terminal and garage upgrades from the $190 million Upstate Airport Economic Development Revitalization Competition, which has provided grants to four upstate airports for major capital projects.

Its been 20 years since any major renovation at the airport on Albany Shaker Road, the last being a new terminal, concourses and a five-level parking garage. The increasing number of boardings each year has stretched indoor parking thin during peak travel periods.

With government funding it will allow us to make improvements that we will not have been able to do on our own, airport CEO John ODonnell said.

The proposed $27 million parking garage would be built along the entry road to the terminal. A pedestrian bridge would connect the garage to the terminal, while a roadway through the garage would provide access to the private Million Air facility that serves corporate, charter and private aircraft.

The new parking garage will be ticketless, allowing patrons to register their license plate number and a form of payment for quick and easy entry, ODonnell said. The technology will also direct drivers to available parking in the garage as well as help people locate their cars, he said.

Changes to Exit 4 also will improve travelers experience coming to the airport, making it easily navigable for those outside the Capital Region.

Think of it from the perspective of someone from Vermont. The current exit from the Northway puts drivers onto old Wolf Road, and they must take a left turn past various businesses, leaving drivers wondering exactly where the airport is.

Only when they turn right onto Albany Shaker Road does the airport become visible.

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You have to change your mindset to not being a Capital Region resident, ODonnell said.

The changes to Exit 4 would add a northbound exit ramp over the Northway that would feed traffic onto the westbound lanes of Albany Shaker, providing a more direct route to the airport.

The plan would also enable reconstruction of the Exit 4 interchange and the Exit 5 southbound on-ramp. The state has $50 million slated for these changes through Gov. Andrew Cuomos $100 billion Infrastructure Renewal Plan.

While the multimillion-dollar project will improve a visitors experience to the Albany County airport, officials said it should also spark more development and interest in the region.

It has a stimulating factor when you start a new project in the airport, ODonnell said, noting the authority is working with more airlines and destinations and current tenants are looking to grow.

Cuomo was scheduled to make the announcement Tuesday, but Empire State Development CEO Howard Zemsky stood in for the governor at the private Million Air facility next to the main terminal. Cuomo instead went to the scene of flooding in the Southern Tier and Central New York.

"Accessible, modern airports can help spur regional economic development and growth, and these investments in Albany International Airport will pay dividends for decades to come," Zemsky said in a news release.
ESTACADA, Ore. - Justice is an 8-year-old American quarter horse who used to be named Shadow. And when he was named Shadow, he suffered. At a veterinarian's exam last year, he was 300 pounds underweight, his black coat lice-ridden, his skin scabbed and his genitals so frostbitten that they might still require amputation.

The horse had been left outside and underfed by his previous owner, who last summer pleaded guilty to criminal neglect. And now Justice, who today resides with other rescued equines on a quiet wooded farm within view of Oregon's Cascade mountains, is suing his former owner for negligence. In a lawsuit filed in his new name in a county court, the horse seeks at least $100,000 for veterinary care, as well as damages "for pain and suffering," to fund a trust that would stay with him no matter who is his caretaker.

The complaint is the latest bid in a quixotic quest to get courts to recognize animals as plaintiffs, something supporters and critics alike say would be revolutionary. The few previous attempts - including a recent high-profile case over whether a monkey can own a copyright - have failed, with judges ruling in various ways that the nonhumans lacked legal standing to sue. But Justice's case, the animal rights lawyers behind it contend, is built on court decisions and statutes that give it a stronger chance, particularly in a state with some of the nation's most progressive animal protection laws.

VIDEO: Scientists in Siberia recently found the remains of a horse dating back 30,000 to 40,000 years.

"There have been a lot of efforts to try to get animals not only to be protected but to have the right to go to court when their rights are violated," said Matthew Liebman, director of litigation at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which filed the suit in Justice's name. Those "haven't found the right key to the courthouse door. And we're hopeful that this is the key."

These efforts have been made amid broad growth in legal protections and advocacy for animals. Three decades ago, few law schools offered courses in animal law; now, more than 150 do, and some states have created animal law prosecutorial units. All 50 states have enacted felony penalties for animal abuse. Connecticut last year became the first state to allow courts to appoint lawyers or law students as advocates in animal cruelty cases, in part because overburdened prosecutors were dismissing a majority of such cases.

These developments count as progress, animal rights lawyers say, in persuading lawmakers and courts to expand the traditional legal view of animals - as property - to reflect their role in a society in which dog-sitting is big business and divorces can involve cat custody battles.

"Our legislature acknowledged that people care a lot about animals, and that's something that's evolving and increasing," said Jessica Rubin, a University of Connecticut law professor who serves as an advocate in that state's cruelty cases. "The law, hopefully, is catching up to where our morals are."

But expanding the protections for animals is quite different from granting them legal standing, which courts have not been willing to do. In 2004, a federal appeals court shot down a suit in the name of the world's cetaceans, in which President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were sued over the U.S. Navy's use of sonar. In 2012, a U.S. District Court dismissed a suit filed on behalf of five SeaWorld orcas, which argued that their captivity was a violation of the 13th Amendment's prohibition on slavery. This spring, a federal appeals court ruled that a crested macaque that took its own photo could not sue for copyright protection, saying "this monkey - and all animals, since they are not human - lacks statutory standing under the Copyright Act."

In New York courts, a group called the Nonhuman Rights Project has for several years sought writs of habeas corpus for captive chimpanzees, arguing that they are "legal persons" - a term that can apply to corporations and ships - and have a right to freedom. While judges have occasionally praised the effort, they have ultimately rejected it, saying chimpanzees cannot bear the duties and responsibilities required of legal persons.

Against that backdrop, Liebman says Justice's case is "more reasonable" than the others. It does not involve the Constitution or historically weighted concepts such as slavery or a writ of habeas corpus. It's not so, well, silly-sounding as copyright for a monkey.

Instead, he and colleagues say, it is a logical next step. Their argument goes like this: While some state cruelty laws were written to protect animal owners or public morals, Oregon's anti-cruelty law makes plain it is intended to protect animals, which it calls "sentient beings." What's more, state courts have ruled that animals can be considered individual victims. And because victims have the right to sue their abusers, the lawsuit says, Justice should be able to sue his former owner.

Justice, of course, has no idea he is suing. Sarah Hanneken, an Animal Legal Defense Fund attorney in Portland, says that Justice's ignorance of the lawsuit is irrelevant.

More for you PETA calls for end to annual wild pony swim, auction at Chincoteague

"This whole idea of somebody who has been injured by the acts of another and not being able to speak for themselves in court, so having an adult human do it for them, this is not new," Hanneken said. "Children are allowed to bring lawsuits, because we recognize that children have interests that laws protect."

According to court filings, Justice's former owner, Gwendolyn Vercher, surrendered the horse to a rescue organization in March 2017 at the urging of a neighbor in Cornelius, west of Portland. In a letter to law enforcement, an equine veterinarian who examined the horse at the time said he was "severely emaciated," lethargic and weak. That poor condition probably contributed to a lasting problem - the animal's penis had prolapsed, and his inability to retract it led to frostbite, trauma and infection.

"When I got him, he was a lot worse than I anticipated," said Kim Mosiman, executive director of Sound Equine Options, which takes in and finds homes for about 100 horses each year.

Justice, whom Mosiman fondly describes as "like a grumpy old man," has gained weight and become more social. On a sun-soaked afternoon at the dusty farm in Estacada, he nibbled grass alongside a retired racehorse named Flick and used his nose to nudge the notebook of a visiting reporter. But the lawsuit says his penis may require partial amputation and that his medical conditions will demand long-term care.

"I'm trying to find someone who wants to adopt him," Mosiman said. "But if they find out they're going to have to be financially responsible for him, he's never going anywhere."

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Some animal law experts warn that Justice's lawsuit is extreme, even dangerous. Richard Cupp, a Pepperdine University law professor who has been critical of the chimpanzee personhood cases, said he thinks the horse case has even more radical implications.

Allowing Justice to sue could mean any animal protected under Oregon's anti-cruelty statute - a class that includes thousands of pets, zoo animals and even wildlife - could do the same, he said. (Livestock, lab animals, hunting targets, rodeo animals and invertebrates are exempted.) If this approach were adopted elsewhere, Cupp said, a stampede of animal litigation could overrun courts.

"Any case that could lead to billions of animals having the potential to file lawsuits is a shocker in the biggest way," Cupp said. "Once you say a horse or dog or cat can personally sue over being abused, it's not too big a jump to say, 'Well, we're kind of establishing that they're legal persons with that. And legal persons can't be eaten.' "

Cupp emphasized that he supports Oregon's progressive animal cruelty laws and rulings. But legislation is a more reasonable way of expanding animal protections, he said. Justice's case, for example, could be addressed through a law requiring an abuser to cover an animal's future care. "This would not be bad for society," Cupp said. "We do need to evolve. We're not doing enough to protect animals."

Cupp points to a Connecticut law as one that maintains an important distinction between animals and people. It focuses on "the interests of justice," not the animals' interests.

Geordie Duckler, a Portland animal law attorney who represents Vercher, said he views the horse lawsuit as a publicity stunt, one he does not expect Oregon courts to take very seriously.

"There's a massive chasm between saying a thing is a victim and saying now it must have rights, and the rights are apparently the full panoply of rights, and must include a right to sue," Duckler said. "There's no such thing as a right in a vacuum. . . . As soon as you have animal rights, then you'd better have animal jails and prosecutions against animals."

The slippery-slope arguments are familiar to Mosiman, who calls her group an animal welfare, not animal rights, organization. When she considered Justice's long-term needs, though, she had no qualms about signing him up as a plaintiff, she said.

"It was pretty clear-cut: If he wasn't starved, this wouldn't have happened," Mosiman said as Justice languidly scratched his neck and head against a towering pine tree. "It's about him."

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Video: Justice, an 8-year-old American quarterhorse who now resides on a rescue farm in Gresham, Ore., is the plaintiff in a negligence case against his former owner.(Joyce Koh/The Washington Post)

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Washington

Peter Strzok, the FBI agent whose anti-Trump text messages to a colleague during the 2016 campaign have been cited by the president as evidence of bias within the agency, has been fired.

Strzok initially helped lead the bureau's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and possible complicity by the Trump campaign, which remained secret until after the election. When his texts with an FBI lawyer, Lisa Page, were disclosed last year by the agency's inspector general, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III immediately removed Strzok from the team.

Strzok had initially been demoted and given a 60-day suspension after the bureau's traditional independent review. But on Friday, FBI Deputy Director David L. Bowdich overrode that decision and ordered his firing, according to Strzok's attorney, Aitan Goelman.

"This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans," Goelman said in a statement. "A lengthy investigation and multiple rounds of congressional testimony failed to produce a shred of evidence that Special Agent Strzok's personal views ever affected his work."

The FBI has not responded to a request for comment.

The firing of Strzok, a 22-year FBI veteran and one of its senior counterintelligence agents, is an unexpected turn of events for him, but in keeping with FBI Director Christopher A. Wray's promise back in June to "hold people accountable."

The decision to fire him  in the wake of repeated attacks on Strzok by the president and his allies in Congress, who cheered the news  will do little to quell concerns the agency and the Department of Justice may not be acting independent of politics.

Strzok's lawyer was quick to hit that theme.

"In his decades of service, Special Agent Strzok has proved himself to be one of the country's top counterintelligence officers," Goelman said in his statement. Strzok's firing, he said, leads "to only one conclusion  the decision to terminate was taken in response to political pressure, and to punish Special Agent Strzok for political speech protected by the First Amendment, not on a fair and independent examination of the facts."

Trump, who just Saturday tweeted that Strzok was among the "clowns and losers" at the FBI, on Monday weighed in on Twitter to applaud the firing, and again to paint the Russia probe as a hoax.

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"Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI  finally," Trump tweeted. "The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction  I just fight back!"

When FBI Inspector Gen. Michael E. Horowitz told Mueller last summer that Strzok, then the lead agent on his team, had been exchanging anti-Trump messages with Page, Mueller removed Strzok the following day. That did not satisfy the president and his defenders, who have sought to focus the public's attention on Strzok and Page, who had a romantic relationship, to discredit the broader investigation.

Trump has mocked the pair as "FBI lovers." Page, who had left the Mueller team before the texts became public, resigned from the FBI in May.

"Will the FBI ever recover it's (sic) once stellar reputation, so badly damaged by Comey, McCabe, Peter S and his lover, the lovely Lisa Page, and other top officials now dismissed or fired?" Trump wrote on Saturday, referring also to former FBI Director James B. Comey and Comey's deputy, Andrew McCabe, both of whom were fired.

"So many of the great men and women of the FBI have been hurt by these clowns and losers!" Trump added.

Strzok, who was a deputy assistant director for counterintelligence at the bureau, has apologized for sending the messages and testified before Congress that they reflected personal views that did not affect his work.
ALBANY  An Albany County prosecutor who secretly freelanced for prominent defense attorney Cheryl Coleman worked on the criminal appeal of Alexander West, the alcohol-impaired boater convicted of manslaughter for recklessly taking the life of 8-year-old Charlotte McCue on Lake George in 2016.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Sharp also worked on the appeals of a convicted murderer in Chenango County, a drug-dealing defendant in Washington County, and a former Cornell University wrestler convicted of sexually abusing a student during a burglary in Ithaca, according to court records and people familiar with the cases.

The Times Union reported earlier this month that Sharp's appeals work was done without the knowledge or approval of Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who last week suspended Sharp with pay.

Through his spokeswoman, Soares declined to comment Monday.

Sharp, who makes $112,164 a year as bureau chief of the General Felony Unit, admitted in a sworn affidavit on July 26 that he drew up briefs on four appeals for Coleman over a four-year period. He said none of the cases were in Albany County. The appeals were all within the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court, Third Department, which handles appeals in 28 counties including the Capital Region.

The 33-year-old's work included the appeal of West, a 26-year-old who is serving 5 to 15 years in prison for the July 25, 2016, boat crash that killed Charlotte McCue and maimed her mother, Courtney McCue.

West partied at Log Bay Day, then an annual booze-filled party on the east side of the lake. Warren County prosecutors said West drank beer and mixed drinks, sniffed cocaine and recklessly crashed a 21-foot Larson motorboat into a 28-foot Gar Wood boat piloted by the dead child's grandfather. West and his friends then fled the scene.

In 2017, a jury convicted West of second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault, alcohol-impaired boating, reckless operation of a vehicle and leaving the scene. He is serving his time at Collins Correctional Facility, a medium-security lockup in Erie County.

Martin West, the father of Alexander West, told the Times Union that Coleman fully disclosed to her Sharp's involvement in the appeal. He said he had no problem with it.

"He did good work," Martin West said.

Soares has made cracking down on driving while intoxicated cases a focus for his office. In 2008, he established mandatory penalties for defendants to accept when taking plea deals on misdemeanor DWIs. Soares later fired a prosecutor for allegedly violating the plea policy.

Sharp worked on three other appeals:

Ganesh R. Ramsaran, who was convicted in 2014 for the murder of his wife, Jennifer, who disappeared on Dec. 11, 2012, in New Berlin in Chenango County. Her body was discovered in 2013. Ramsaran appealed and was granted a new trial by the Appellate Division. The Court of Appeals reinstated the conviction and sent the case back to the Appellate Division, which affirmed it.

Michael A. Nicholas of Washington County, a repeat felon convicted in 2013 of third-degree drug sale and possession for allegedly selling crack cocaine to an informant. The Appellate Division reversed the conviction in 2015.

Peter J. Mesko, a former wrestler at Cornell University who was convicted in 2015 in Tompkins County of second-degree burglary and first-degree sexual abuse for attacking a woman during a 2013 house party in Ithaca. The jury had deadlocked on a first-degree rape charge. The Appellate Division upheld Mesko's convictions in May.

It is highly uncommon for a prosecutor in one county to moonlight on challenges to cases brought by district attorneys in other counties. All district attorneys in the Capital Region  including Soares  have policies barring such work.

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On Monday, when asked about Sharp's work on an opposing brief, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said, "Thanks for your email. I don't have any comment on this matter."

Coleman said she and Sharp collaborated, but she always had ultimate control on arguments made.

On cases in which she had been the trial attorney, Coleman said, she wanted to make sure the case was getting a fresh set of eyes and an experienced writer.

Coleman said Sharp impressed her she faced him in court.

"He's one of the smartest lawyers I've ever met," Coleman said. "I thought that he was not only the smartest person over there (in Soares' office), but there aren't too many people who know how to write good appeals. I think I do, but I also know how busy my trial schedule is."

Sharp and Coleman were on opposite sides in the case of Jordan Prusinski, which brought Sharp's side work to light. Sharp successfully prosecuted Prusinski, who was convicted at trial in April of attempted murder for firing 11 shots and striking two people at the intersection of Lark and Hamilton streets last summer.

Prusinski's attorney on appeal, Matthew Hug, brought Sharp's work to the attention of acting Supreme Court Justice Roger McDonough in a June letter. McDonough rejected Hug's argument that Sharp's work should prompt a new trial, and last month sentenced Prusinski to 22 years to life in prison.

Soares has not explained why he waited more than a month to suspend Sharp after learning about his side work for Coleman.
ALBANY  For the second time in less than a year, a Maryland law firm has filed a federal lawsuit against Excelsior College, alleging the school misleads students who are hoping to become registered nurses.

The class action federal complaint was filed Monday in New Yorks Eastern District by John Hermina of the Hermina Law Group on behalf of a dozen plaintiffs. It seeks $10 million in punitive damages.

The suit argues that Excelsior engaged in "insistent, persistent and unending fraud, and alleges that the school's officials knew about but ignored problems due to the desire for revenue.

Jim Lettko, Excelsiors chief operating officer, said the school would "vigorously defend our nursing program against these baseless allegations. He declined further comment, citing the pending litigation.

Herminas firm filed a similar federal suit in October 2017. In that action, plaintiffs alleged that Excelsior didnt warn students about the difficulty of the school's Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination, the required test for those seeking to become registered nurses. That case is still in progress.

Excelsior's CPNE test, which is given in a dozen locations nationwide, costs almost $2,300 each time it is taken.

Some of the earlier allegations are echoed in Mondays lawsuit, although this suit appears to emphasize the amount of time it can take to actually earn a degree, given that thousands are enrolled in the program and there are only a dozen test locations.

"Thousands of Excelsior consumers wait to take the final program test, but there are only a dozen testing sites in which to take the test," the complaint states. Students are located all over the country, including some remote locations.

Mondays suit also alleges the school has continued to offer misleading information about its exam pass rates and the length of time needed to become a nurse.

In truth and in fact, consumers wait over a year to take the final test, not three (to) five months, the suit alleges.

One of the plaintiffs, Florida resident Jessica Willis, has been an licensed practical nurse since 2010. She enrolled in Excelsior in 2015 believing she could finish the RN requirements in a year and a half.

According to the lawsuit, Willis was never told that the CPNE exam has a pass rate of less than 50 percent. She took the test in Queens in 2018 and failed. She currently carries loans of $29,512 related to her Excelsior classes and tests.

"I haven't been given a test date," said another plaintiff, Heidi LaMeyer, an LPN in Minnesota.

Initially, she said that Excelsior College told her she could probably take the exam within about three months of her completing her coursework. But she finished in January and now fears she won't get a slot for the test until February 2019.

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The health care company where she works is poised to give her a substantial promotion once she gets her RN certification, she said in a phone interview.

College officials have previously conceded that the nursing program, which was a mainstay of the school, had problems. It was downsized in 2016 amid realization that admission requirements may have been too lax.

The programs enrollment subsequently shrunk from 21,000 to 8,000 students between 2015 and 2018, the Times Union has reported.

More for you Changes rattle Excelsior College

Excelsior College opened in 1971. Its known largely as a completion college that helps students turn the credits they may have earned in different schools or courses into usable degrees. It also offers online courses.

Excelsior serves about 29,000 mostly adult working students who live across the country and internationally. About 16 percent are in New York state and half are either active-duty military or veterans.

The Hermina firm led an even earlier lawsuit against Excelsior College dating to 2014.

In that instance, plaintiffs who failed the test were awarded $200 and $2,500 when the case was settled, according to court documents.

karlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU
ALBANY  Opponents of a gas-burning power plant proposed in the Finger Lakes region gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday and called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to kill the project.

Many members of the groups who are fighting the plan were also behind efforts four years ago that led Cuomo to ban natural gas fracking in New York. But they said the plan to convert a nearly 65-year-old coal-fired plant to one that would burn fracked gas represents an end-run around the state's efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions.

"A huge power plant is unnecessary, expensive and polluting," said Sandra Steingraber, a biologist and co-founder of New Yorkers Against Fracking. "It's time to close this dangerous, uneconomic fossil-fuel dinosaur, and move forward with renewable energy."

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing the potential environmental impacts of the project.

"DEC has received a permit application for the conversion of one boiler to natural gas at this facility and is conducting an extensive and thorough environmental review designed to deny any permit that is found not to be protective of public health and the environment," said Erica Ringewald, a spokeswoman for the agency.

The opponents, including residents of the area where the plant conversion is proposed along the shore of Cayuga Lake, said the plans include trucking fracked gas to the plant at rates of 50 to 120 trucks per day.

"I find the proposal to supply gas to the Cayuga plant via this army of trucks poorly conceived, dangerous and unacceptable," said Karen Edelstein, a resident of the town of Lansing, where the project is proposed. "The trucks would come and go from the plant between 6 a.m. and 3 in the afternoon. This time frame would squeeze the proposed truck traffic into a time when the residents are traveling to work and children are going to and from school."

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Some local elected officials and union groups have supported the project, citing the jobs that would be preserved or created at the power plant.

The opponents contend the project is out of line with Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision plan, which sets the goal of producing 50 percent of the state's electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030.

"The health and safety of New Yorkers is our top priority, which is why there is a rigorous and transparent review process on the books," said Richard Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo. "This process is overseen by experts at DEC and we rely on their determinations, which are based on facts, science and merit."
STILLWATER  A missing 84-year-old from Stillwater was found safe at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in New Milford, Pa., according to the Saratoga County sheriff's office.

Joseph Mehan's family members became concerned for him after they were unable to contact him and did not find him at home, deputies said.
To be clear, Anheuser-Buschs craft beer supremacy exists in one very specific metric at the moment; IRI tracks sales in grocery, big box, drug and convenience stores. When factoring in draft and liquor store sales, Beer Marketers Insights estimates that Boston Beer remains ahead of Anheuser-Busch in terms of both volume and dollar sales. But the passing of that torch is all but an inevitability during the next year or so. The method by which Anheuser-Busch is gaining supremacy is also raising eyebrows: phenomenally aggressive  that is, cheap  pricing as needed to build presence.
NEW CANAAN  Sisters and former school cafeteria workers could be serving lunch in prison after being charged with stealing nearly a half-million dollars in the past five years.

Joanne Pascarelli, 61, of Stratford, and her sister Marie Wilson, 67, of Wilton, turned themselves in to New Canaan Police over the weekend after warrants were issued for their arrest. Both have been charged with larceny and defrauding a public community for purportedly stealing $478,588 from 2012 to 2017.
"If they would just confirm to us that my brother is alive, if they would just let us see him, that's all we want. But we can't get anyone to give us any confirmation. My mother dies a hundred times each day. "

Those are the words of a Yemeni woman, quoted in a recent report by Amnesty International, "God Only Knows if He's Alive," on her nation's 3-year-old civil war  a war that the United States has helped perpetuate.

Yemen had long been a troubled country under President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled the country for more than 30 years with a tight grasp. Following the Arab Spring demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia in 2011, protests broke out in Yemen and Saleh was forced to resign. The ensuing political vacuum led to the gradual rise of Al-Houthi militants.

Houthi rebels, who are Shiite Muslims, tried to oust the Yemeni government, which is controlled by Saudi Arabia, a predominantly Sunni country. Saudi Arabia joined in because a Houthi victory threatened its control over Yemen; it justified its interference in a civil war by calling the Houthis "terrorists" supported by Iran, Saudi's biggest rival for power in the Middle East.

Since 2015, America has sold weapons, ammunition and logistical support to Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen, for three reasons: First, since 2001, America has waged war on terrorists. Second, the Saudis are, some assert, America's greatest ally in the Middle East. And third, Iran is a potential nuclear threat there.

In this war, as always in war, innocent civilians suffer the worst consequences.

Yemeni citizens suffer a desperate humanitarian need for food, medicine and shelter. They are victims of rampant war crimes, on both sides, that violate international law. America, because it helps the Saudi side conduct the war, is complicit in these war crimes.

The Amnesty International report documents how thousands of Yemeni wives, parents, siblings, and children suffer as their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers are arrested in the middle of the night and disappear to be detained and tortured in hidden prisons for long periods with no trial  all blatant war crimes.

"We have no idea where he is," said one woman of her brother. "God only knows if he's alive our father died of a broken heart a month ago. He died not knowing where his son is."

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Please, America, listen to these voices. End Yemen's suffering. U.S. participation in Yemen's civil war violates the U.S. Constitution because, like all U.S. wars since World War II, this one is not authorized by a congressional vote as required by the "war powers" clause. Further, the Houthis in Yemen, even if they are terrorists, had no part in the 2001 attack on the World Trade Tower, so even under the U.S.'s war on terror, action against them is unjustified.

First President Barack Obama and now President Donald Trump have put American taxpayers in the midst of what is called the "world's largest humanitarian crisis" and the "largest war crimes in recent history."

It is time to demand that the U.S. government, both Congress and the president, end America's role in Yemen.
Saratoga Springs

The next stop for Whitney Stakes runner-up Mind Your Biscuits could be on the final Saturday of the meet at Saratoga Race Course. Or it might not.

Trainer Chad Summers said Monday that the popular New York-bred will run in either the Grade I, $750,000 Woodward here on Sept. 1 or the Grade III, $200,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Sept. 29. Both races are run at 1 1/8 miles.

"No decision yet," Summers said by cellphone Monday.

Summers did say that the next race for Mind Your Biscuits, the 2017 New York-bred Horse of the Year, would be around two turns. The Whitney was the first time he tried that as well as the 1 1/8-mile distance. The Whitney was won by Diversify, also a New York-bred. Diversify will run next in the Grade I, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 29 at 1 1/4 miles.

Summers said that 5-year-old Mind Your Biscuits will return to galloping at Saratoga on Tuesday. Since the Whitney, the horse walked for a week and jogged for four days.

"He is doing very well," Summers said, "I am very happy with him. He always lays it out on the line."

Gronk has new rider

Gronkowski, the surprise second-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes, will have a new rider for the Travers. Trainer Chad Brown said that Joel Rosario will ride Gronkowski, who is named for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Gronkowski, 24-1 in the Belmont, was ridden by Jose Ortiz. However, Ortiz also rides Good Magic, who figures to be the morning-line favorite in the Travers. Both horses are trained by Chad Brown, the leading trainer at the Spa meet.

Rosario was on board Gronkowski for the first time Sunday when he worked five furlongs in 1:01.44 on the main track. That was his fourth work at the Spa since arriving here.

"The horse worked extremely well," Brown said. "His gallop out was strong. We've got him where we need him."

Other Travers works

Wood Memorial winner Vino Rosso, coming off a third-place finish in the Jim Dandy, got a Travers work in on Saturday and Tenfold, winner of the Jim Dandy, worked on Sunday. Also, Curlin champ Hofburg also worked on Sunday.

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Vino Rosso worked four furlongs in company with Alberobello, a 3-year-old filly who won an allowance race here on July 26. They went in 48 seconds.

"He came out of it very well," trainer Todd Pletcher said of Vino Rosso. "We expected him to work well, and he did. It seemed like he was moving well and we weren't looking for too much more than that."

Alberobello is nominated to Saturday's Grade I, $600,000 Alabama but Pletcher said he may wait until the $1 million, Grade I Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 22. She has not finished worse than second in four career starts.

"She's been a filly we've always had high hopes for," Pletcher said. "I'm just not positive that coming back off a kind of short rest in the Alabama is something that she's quite ready for,"

Tenfold had his first work since winning the Jim Dandy, going five furlongs in 1:01.23.

Hofburg worked in company with Elate, last year's Alabama winner, and the colt got the faster time, going five furlongs in 1:00.54; Elate, who is being pointed to the Personal Ensign on the Travers undercard, was timed in 1:00.71.

twilkin@timesunion.com  518-454-5415  @tjwilkin
STAFF at University Hospital Limerick and across UL Hospitals Group, which includes Nenagh Hospital, are gearing up for their annual charity 5k run /walk to take place on Friday, August 24, at 6.30pm.

The event will see staff of all abilities taking part in a 5k run/walk around the Dooradoyle / Raheen area in the annual event.

Nenagh Hospital also holds its own annual 5k run as part of the wider effort to promote Healthy Ireland in the region.

This year, the event is in aid of Learning for Lives, Ghana and Pieta House, UL Hospitals Group current charity partner.

Learning Lives of Ghana was formed in 2016 by UL Hospitals Group and its academic partner the University of Limerick to deliver medical training programmes in the remote Upper West Region of Ghana.

Promoting exercise in the workplace is part of UL Hospital Groups commitment to health and wellbeing, a commitment formalised in the publication of the Groups Healthy Ireland Implementation Plan 2016-2019.

Healthy Ireland is at the centre of government health policy, promoting physical and mental health and wellbeing with a view to reducing the burden of chronic disease in the decades to come.

Hospital groups, including UL Hospitals Group, have adopted plans in line with the national strategy to promote health and wellbeing. The UL Hospitals Healthy Ireland Implementation Plan 2016-2019 identifies 60 priority actions to do just that for the c 473,000 people it serves and the some 4,000 staff it employs in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.

Laura Tobin, project lead for Healthy Ireland at UL Hospitals Group, commented: "We have been holding Meet & Train evenings every Monday for the past number of weeks and are looking forward to the event. The main objective is to get runners and walkers of all abilities involved. Last year we had almost 200 participants including our own staff, retired members of staff and some members of the public as well from the area, we are hoping for a great turnout again this year.

Members of the public are welcome to join the run on August 24, and can register on the evening at main reception, UHL from 5pm to 6pm. The eventstarts at 6.30pm.

The run / walk will be chipped and timed, with each participant receiving a specially designed t-shirt and, on completion, a medal. Trophies will be awarded to the first three men and women home.

Registration costs 10, including the race t-shirt and number with official chip times, all proceeds to Pieta House and Learning for Lives, Ghana.
[August 13, 2018] ANEXIO President and CEO Named a Top Entreprenuer of 2018

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ANEXIO, the leading "Desktop to Data Center" infrastructure-as-a-service company, today announced that Tony Pompliano, President and CEO was named one of the "Top 30 Entrepreneurs to Look for in 2018" by the business publication Mirror Review Magazine. Pompliano earned the recognition in large part due to his customer-centric vision, mission-critical infrastructure strategy, and ANEXIO's rapid growth. Pompliano built ANEXIO to help mid-market customers make a smooth transition from legacy IT environments to a more efficient Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure. Mid-market businesses are essential to America's long-term economic success, but suffer from a lack of IT managed services that can help their companies run more efficiently and securely. The United States mid-market is comprised of 200,000 companies who account for $10 trillion in annual revenue and 30 million jobs. With a focus on supporting these organizations, ANEXIO has grown more than 1,400 percent since 2013 and continues to expand into new markets as it builds and offes services that support emerging technologies.



"On behalf of ANEXIO employees everywhere, it is an honor to receive this 2018 Entreprenuer award," said Tony Pompliano, ANEXIO President and CEO. "At ANEXIO, we go the extra mile to differentiate our offerings in a way that creates long-term customer value. This recognition is proof positive that we are on the right track." New customers interested in learning more about ANEXIO and the company's full suite of desktop, data center and network services can call (919) 295-9120 for an appointment or email info@anexio.com.

ABOUT ANEXIO ANEXIO is transforming the IT industry with Desktop to Data Center solutions designed specifically for customers seeking a smooth transition from legacy IT environments to a more efficient Hybrid Cloud infrastructure. The Inc. 500 company's Mission Critical Infrastructure strategy is anchored by eight Tier III SOC-2 certified data centers, an IT solutions center and a nationwide IP Network. ANEXIO's offerings include colocation, networking, Cloud services, storage, disaster recovery, Managed IT and Managed VoIP. Every ANEXIO product and service is backed up by United States-based customer support. Visit www.anexio.com for more information. Media Contact: Alyssa Armstrong (919) 985-6427 aarmstrong@boltpr.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anexio-president-and-ceo-named-a-top-entreprenuer-of-2018-300696367.html SOURCE ANEXIO

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[August 13, 2018] Lumileds Wins Jury Verdict of Liability for Intellectual Property Theft Against Elec-Tech International Co., Ltd., Donglei Wang, and Gangyi Chen

On August 10, 2018, a jury of six men and six women rendered a verdict in favor of one the world's leading LED companies, Lumileds LLC, based in San Jose, finding that a Chinese competitor stole trade secrets related to Lumileds core technology for making high power LEDs used in flash phones, automotive headlights, and general illumination. The case, Lumileds LLC v. Elec-Tech International Co., Ltd., Donglei "Tony" Wang, and Gangyi Chen, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara, found the defendants liable for damages in intellectual property theft. The jury awarded Lumileds $66 million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180813005694/en/ Mark Adams, Chief Executive Officer at Lumileds Inc. (Photo: Business Wire) The jury concluded that ETI (News - Alert) , Wag and Chen misappropriated Lumileds trade secrets, took them to China, and used them to develop ETI's LED technology. The award of $66 million is the amount of research and development costs that the jury concluded ETI saved by using Lumileds trade secrets rather than engaging in its own development.



"At Lumileds, we invest heavily in innovation to support our customers," said Mark Adams, Lumileds chief executive officer. "We will continue to work with the judiciary, law enforcement, and appropriate government agencies, to defend and protect our valuable intellectual property rights." The circumstances of the trade secret theft involved ETI's CEO, defendant Wang, and a former scientist employed by Lumileds, defendant Chen. Wang authorized a substantial payment to be made to Chen four months before he left Lumileds to go to work for ETI in China, effectively putting him on the payroll of ETI while he was working daily with Lumileds most confidential trade secret technology.

Lumileds was represented in the matter by senior vice president, General Counsel, Cheree McAlpine and outside lead counsel Brian Roche, partner, Reed Smith LLP. "We are pleased that the jurors recognized the clear intellectual property theft by Chen, Wang and ETI, and the extent of the damages caused by this misconduct," said Cheree McAlpine. "The precedent set by today's verdict sends a clear message to the industry that intellectual property will be guarded and enforced to safeguard the health of our business." About Lumileds For automotive, mobile, IoT and illumination companies who require innovative lighting solutions, Lumileds is a global leader employing more than 9,000 team members operating in over 30 countries. Lumileds partners with its customers to push the boundaries of light. To learn more about our portfolio of lighting solutions, visit lumileds.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180813005694/en/

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For the uninitiated, Cincinnati chili can taste shockingly mild. Because neither the brothers nor the mostly German immigrants in the area cared much for spicy chiles, it has essentially no capsaicin kick. For many, this would make it a pretty boring bowl of chili, but what it lacks in heat, Cincinnati chili makes up for with a beguiling background of what we usually identify as sweet spices. That almost always includes cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, though many more are usually in play. These spices hover delicately in the background, never aggressively fighting for the spotlight. (Though chocolate often is rumored to be an ingredient, Woellert adamantly denies that it is ever used.)
[August 13, 2018] GrafTech Announces the Closing of Its Secondary Offering and Concurrent Share Buyback

GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) (the "Company") today announced the closing of its secondary offering of 23,000,000 shares of its common stock. The shares were sold by the majority stockholder, an affiliate of Brookfield Business Partners LP, a publicly listed business services and industrials company of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., at a price to the public of $20.00 per share. In connection with the offering, the selling stockholder granted the underwriters a 30 day option to purchase up to an additional 3,450,000 shares of common stock. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC acted as joint lead book running managers and as representatives of the underwriters for the offering; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and BMO Capital Markets Corp. acted as joint book running managers for the offering. CIBC Capital Markets, National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC acted as co-managers for the offering. A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective as of August 8, 2018 by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offerin was made only by means of the written prospectus forming part of the registration statement. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or via telephone: 1-866-803-9204; or Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, or by telephone at (800) 221-1037, or by email at newyork.prospectus@credit-suisse.com.



In addition, pursuant to a share repurchase agreement with the selling stockholder, the Company repurchased 11,688,311 shares from Brookfield. The price per share paid by the Company is equal to the price paid by the underwriters in the offering net of underwriting commissions and discounts. The Company funded the share repurchase from cash on hand. The share repurchase was consummated concurrently with the offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

GrafTech International Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of high quality graphite electrode products essential to the production of electric arc furnace (or EAF) steel and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release regarding the Company that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180813005699/en/

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[August 13, 2018] MTO Global Selects Oracle Cloud to support blockchain based customer loyalty programme, M2O

Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service to drive innovation, security and scale SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle today announced that MTO Global, an integrated membership platform company, has selected Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service to support its innovative customer loyalty platform, M2O (Membership & Mileage To Opportunity). The program aims to revolutionise mileage-based programs by providing an innovative way to transfer value and enhance the customer experience. Contrary to the original intention, the value of loyalty programs has diminished over the years for consumers and businesses due to increasingly limited use and expiration of points. Rather than driving an ongoing relationship, these programs are instead being seen as a liability. By taking a different, innovative approach and adopting a new business model that brings improvements to consumers ability to realise value, MTO aims to re-ignite how loyalty programs are delivered and perceived. The new offering will integrate with MTO's existing mileage-based loyalty system. It aims to provide new opportunities for end users to gain additional value from their mileage points and generate new revenue for MTO and the companies that use it to deliver their loyalty programmes. Thedistributed ledger technology (DLT) is being used to hold data on accumulated mileage, user history and points converted, as well as personal information, all in a confidential manner. The system aims to empower users to accumulate points, trade and exchange them across the various companies  such as airlines and retailers  participating in the scheme, as well as use points to buy goods in the 'real world'.



"Once we decided that blockchain would be the ideal technology to help bring our 'From Mileage to Opportunity'  M2O  loyalty program to life, we went through a rigorous approach to find the right vendor," said Soowan Kim, CEO, MTO. "We were confident that Oracle's pre-assembled blockchain cloud service could quickly help us realize a trusted platform that empowers users to convert credit card points and air miles to tokens. It also provides us with easy onboarding of new participants, and all the underlying security, scalability, and resilience that are needed for a production solution like this." M2O is based on Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service. Built on top of The Linux Foundation's Hyperledger Fabric, the service allows organizations to easily build blockchain networks to drive more secure and efficient transactions and to track goods or services. It is pre-assembled with underlying dependencies, management tools and security services, and offers broad plug-and-play integration capabilities with Oracle Cloud, third party cloud services and on-premises applications for faster integration with diverse systems of record.

Changnam Choi, Executive Director of Oracle Korea's Cloud Business said "MTO Global is a great example of the growing number of companies finding innovative uses for blockchain technology. It clearly shows how DLT can be used to deliver real value back to end users and companies alike. We want to help other companies follow suit by making it as easy as possible for them to establish a blockchain network and service underpinned by enterprise levels of security, stability and availability." About Oracle

The Oracle Cloud offers complete SaaS application suites for ERP, HCM and CX, plus best-in-class database Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) from data centers throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information about Oracle, please visit us at oracle.com. Trademarks

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467598/Oracle_Logo.jpg

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[August 13, 2018] Avanade Acquires Loud&Clear And Creates Its First Digital Innovation Studio In Asia Pacific

Acquisition enhances Avanade's ability to offer clients innovation-led design experiences focused on the Microsoft ecosystem MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Avanade, the leading digital innovator on the Microsoft ecosystem, announced today it has acquired Loud&Clear, an independent enterprise technology and experience design agency headquartered in Melbourne. Loud&Clear's employees will continue to support clients as part of Avanade. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Avanade's clients will benefit from Loud&Clear's capabilities and experience in User Experience (UX), Digital Strategy, Marketing Automation as well as their expertise in Sitecore and Drupal solutions. Loud&Clear will become Avanade's first Digital Innovation Studio in the region and be part of a global network of studios focused on creating and building user-centric experiences from proof-of-concept and prototyping through to market launch and scaling. The acquisition allows Avanade to continue to rapidly scale its operations in the region. "Loud&Clear's digital expertise combined with the agility of their agency approach will enable us to bring the 'art of the possible' to our clients as they look to transform in the digital world," said Anna Di Silverio, Avanade Growth Markets Area President. "We share a similar culture of innovation as well as the experience and expertise required to deliver the best customer and employee experiences, digital marketing, ecommerce and digital advisory solutions for our clients." Loud&Clear has built digital solutions for clients from a broad range of industries such as retail, financial services, utilities, healthcare, education, agriculture, telecommunications and sports. Over the years of its business growth, Loud&Clear has also incubated start-ups internally and partnered with clients to help bring innovative digital solutions to market. "We are very proud of the company that we've built with Loud&Clear," said Ben Beath, Managing Director and co-founder. "This is absolutely the right time for us to join Avanade to achieve even greater success working on a regional and international scale. It's an exciting time for both companies." Loud&Clear's Chief Operations Officer Luke Evans added, "Our unique way of working - with cross-functional squads delivering Experience Design, Strategy and Development at high velocity - will underpin continued growth with the scale and reach of Avanade." About Avanade

Avanade is the leading provider of innovative digital and cloud services, business solutions and design-led experiences delivered through the power of people and the Microsoft ecosystem. Our professionals bring bold, fresh thinking combined with technology, business and industry expertise to help fuel transformation and growth for our clients and their customers. Avnade has 30,000 digitally connected people across 24 countries, bringing clients the best thinking through a collaborative culture that honors diversity and reflects the communities in which we operate. Majority owned by Accenture, Avanade was founded in 2000 by Accenture LLP and Microsoft Corporation. Learn more: www.avanade.com.



About LOUD&CLEAR

Loud&Clear is Australia's largest independent digital agency, founded in 2009 by Ben Beath, Joel Beath and Cade Witnish. Over the last nine years we've grown to a team of 150+ focused on delivering world-class Experience Design, Sitecore and Drupal development and Digital Strategy for enterprise. We're the turbo-boost for organisations looking to deliver innovative customer-centric products and experiences to their audiences. We're design-led, data obsessed, pixel perfect and future thinking. We solve challenges that exist right now and deliver outcomes that help enterprise scale and transform. Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

These include, without limitation, risks that: Avanade and Loud&Clear will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties' ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Avanade; Avanade's business could be negatively affected if the company cannot expand and develop its services and solutions in response to changes in technology and client demand; the management consulting, systems integration and technology markets are highly competitive and Avanade might not be able to compete effectively; Avanade's business could be negatively affected by economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on its clients' business and levels of business activity; Avanade's work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting process; clients may not be satisfied with Avanade's services; Avanade could have liability or its reputation could be damaged if it does not protect client data or information systems or if its information systems are breached; Avanade's business could be negatively affected by legal liability that results from providing its solutions or services; Avanade's results could be adversely affected if its clients terminate their contracts with the company; liabilities could arise if subcontractors or other third parties with whom the company partners cannot deliver their project contributions on time or at all; Avanade's results of operations may be adversely affected by the rate of growth in the use of technology in business and the type and level of technology spending by its clients; Avanade's profitability may suffer if it is not able to maintain favorable pricing rates and utilisation rates or if the company cannot control costs; Avanade's global operations are subject to complex risks, some of which might be beyond its control; Avanade's business may be adversely affected if it is unable to keep its supply of skills, including those personnel currently employed by Loud&Clear and resources in balance with client demand; Avanade may be unable to achieve its business objectives if the company cannot manage the organisational challenges associated with the scope of its operations; Avanade has only a limited ability to protect its intellectual property rights, and its services or solutions could infringe on the rights of others or it could lose its ability to use the intellectual property of others; Avanade's ability to attract or retain business may depend on the company's reputation in the marketplace; loss of the company's significant corporate relationships with Accenture and Microsoft could reduce its revenue and growth prospects; Avanade has a limited ability to set its own independent strategies, and its business strategy and direction may be dictated by Accenture's overall business strategy; Avanade relies on Accenture for the majority of its revenue, and the loss of that revenue would have a significant adverse impact on Avanade's results of operations and may affect its ability to continue to operate; Avanade's global delivery network relies on Accenture, and the loss of that network would increase Avanade's operating expenses; Microsoft has certain minority rights, and may exercise those rights to protect its own interests, which may not align with Avanade's; and Avanade is committed to using Microsoft-related technologies, and the company's inability to use those technologies would adversely impact its results of operations. Statements in this press release speak only as of the date they were made, and Avanade undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Avanade's expectations. MEDIA CONTACTS:

Avanade: Cheryl Yab

Email: cheryl.yab@avanade.com N2N Communications: Kieron Stevenson

Email: kieron.stevenson@n2n.com.au SOURCE Avanade

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[August 13, 2018] 9 things you can't miss at CLOUDSEC 2018

SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- It's the time of the year again for cybersecurity industry's most exciting annual event -- CLOUDSEC 2018. Organized by Trend Micro, a leading global cybersecurity technology provider, CLOUDSEC 2018 will take place on 16 August, at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Cybersecurity matters continue to confuse and befuddle governments, businesses, and users at large today. Compounding the issue is the fact that the conversation is constantly evolving. In 2017, the keyword in the industry was ransomware. This year, IoT-related attacks and GDPR have taken over as the hottest topics. In an ecosystem where things change almost every day, it is essential that government officials and companies keep themselves informed of the latest discussions in cybersecurity. This year's CLOUDSEC provides a platform for different parties in the ecosystem to mingle and learn from each other, be it the latest threats or the newest cybersecurity technologies. Only by exchanging experience and knowledge can we move forward as an industry. Here are 9 reasons why CLOUDSEC 2018 is the cybersecurity event of the year. 1. Are you afraid to connect? Fear not! This year's theme is Freedom to Connect , in line with the rapid developments in IoT, smart everything, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and more. Today, businesses know they have to be connected to the internet, but they are simultaneously concerned about exposing themselves to various cyber threats and data breaches. During the conference, we will share tips and best practices of securing internet-connected operations. 2. Beware of false horizons Digital transformation is creating a lot of anxiety and hype. Facing a growing collection of cybersecurity technologies, companies are often confused about which one to adopt, and how to connect the dots between different technologies. In his talk, Dhanya Thakkar, Vice President for the AMEA region, will share tips and advice on how to utilize and integrate new technologies such as endoint detection and response (EDR), AI, cloud workload protection, and more into one holistic and all-round strategy.



3. Leap into the cloud conversation We are honored to have our cloud partners -- AWS and VMWare -- to join us this year. Together, the cloud service providers will hold a panel discussion and a series of breakout sessions sharing their insights on securing the various types of cloud. Is your organization transitioning to cloud? Are you looking into the container technology? This is the best opportunity to meet the cloud experts and ask them your questions.

4. IT meets OT -- cyberattacks targeting smart manufacturing Beyonics, a precision-driven manufacturer headquartered in Singapore managing seven factories, has seamlessly integrated its information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT) environments. David Tay, CIO, will share with us his experience managing connected manufacturing; securing IoT devices in Beyonics' factories; and why an integrated cybersecurity should be the way to go. 5. Hear from the industry analysts Dane Anderson and Jinan Budge, analysts from Forrester, will participate in this year's Fireside Chat to talk about how to stay ahead of rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscapes. They will also discuss how modern day CISOs should continue to influence the board towards better cybersecurity, and vice versa - what are the board's expectations of security. 6. Learn about the new, never-seen-before threats and new tech Trend Micro researchers will be sharing findings and first-hand insights about emerging threats that are gaining momentum, such as cryptocurrency and security risks found in smart buildings and connected vehicles. With the rise of new threats, new cybersecurity technologies are also springing up. Learn about how machine learning works to identify and block new threats from our experienced threat research engineer Joy Nathalie Avelino. 7. BEC meets writing analysis Trend Micro is the first in the industry to release an AI-powered writing style analysis tool designed to spot email fraud. Brian Cayanan, the lead for Trend Micro's malware technology research, will share how the tool utilizes AI to blueprint a user's style of writing, employing 7,000 writing characteristics; and how this can help protect companies against the growing popularity of business email compromise (BEC). 8. Old and new tricks of incident response Kevin Ripa, President of The Grayson Group and a SANS instructor, will conduct a talk on the art of incident response in the cloud era. Kevin will also look into the crystal ball and share unorthodox solutions to dealing with incident response now and into the future. 9. Rub shoulders with luminaries in the cybersecurity field The event will see attendance from CIOs and CISOs from various companies in the Southeast Asian region, as well as prominent figures from SingTel, CSA, and more, giving feature talks. With more than 6,500 attendees globally in 2017, CLOUDSEC has become one of the biggest international cybersecurity events that attract professionals from various fields looking to improve their cybersecurity practices. Here you will find some of the most influential people in cybersecurity, and it's the perfect opportunity to ask them questions and have a meaningful conversation. CLOUDSEC is an invitation-only event. Registration is open for media. Please RSVP to this email (trendmicro@text100.com.sg) by 15 August if you are interested in attending. SOURCE Trend Micro

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[August 14, 2018] Lumeon's Care Pathway Management Platform Rapidly Gaining Industry Recognition

Lumeon, the leader in Care Pathway Management (CPM), today announced that its Care Pathway Management (CPM) platform has earned two prestigious industry recognitions. In the 15th Annual International Business Awards, Lumeon took home a Gold Stevie Award for Best New Product in the Healthcare Technology Solution category, and in Healthcare Tech Outlook's Patient Engagement special edition, it was listed as a Top 10 Solution Provider for 2018. Both the International Business Awards and Healthcare Tech Outlook recognized the CPM platform for its ability to combine a digital plan of care with intelligent orchestration, automation and patient engagement technologies, which empowers care managers to oversee and optimally manage patient tasks. By enabling providers to operationalize a longitudinal plan of care for every patient, Lumeon's CPM platform dynamically adjusts the care plan based on a patient's preferences, risks and severity, optimally coordinating the most appropriate care resources to deliver better outcomes more cost efficiently, along with exceptional patient experience. "We are proud to be honored with continued industry accolades, particularly at a time when emphasizing the patient experience is so critical in the shif to value-based care," said Lumeon CEO Robbie Hughes (News - Alert) . "We are thrilled that our CPM platform has been recognized for the value it brings to providers, helping them amplify their care teams through virtualized and automated patient engagement."



"This year's Stevie Award winners in the International Business Awards are the most distinguished group of winners we've had yet," said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. "We raised the minimum average score from the judges required to qualify as a Stevie winner, so 2018 winners should be especially proud of their achievements." Alex D'Souza, Managing Editor of Healthcare Tech Outlook said, "We take pride in honoring Lumeon for enabling healthcare organizations to automate systems and processes, bringing together the full potential of their organization to deliver high performance, team-centered healthcare in the Patient Engagement arena."

Lumeon will be accepting its Gold Stevie Award at the 2018 International Business Awards Gala at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel in London, England on October 20th. For more information on Lumeon's CPM solution, visit here: https://www.lumeon.com/platform/ About Lumeon

Lumeon enables healthcare organizations to orchestrate and automate systems and processes, bringing situational awareness to care operations to deliver high performance, team-centered healthcare. The industry-leading Lumeon Care Pathway Management (CPM) platform and suite of solutions empower health organizations to take control of their end-to-end care delivery model and maximize the use of resources. By iteratively designing and deploying efficient pathways, organizations reduce cost and minimize variation, while flexibly adapting to emerging needs. With headquarters in the USA and Europe, Lumeon serves some of the largest health enterprises across the globe, managing over six million patients on its platform. Find out more at www.lumeon.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005158/en/

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[August 14, 2018] A.S. Watson Celebrates Launch of New Concept Makeup Store

LONDON, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorlab by Watsons opens in China with plans to roll out 50 stores this year A.S. Watson, the world's largest international health and beauty retailer, has teamed up with L'Oreal to launch Colorlab by Watsons, a new concept makeup store in China. The striking black interior signals the modern vibe of the store. These new stores offer customers a fashionable and trendy experience-led makeup space, with access to on-hand makeup artists who can offer advice and expertise, as well as the opportunity to try out different looks and play around with colour cosmetics. One of the most eye-catching areas in these stores is the makeup counter of L'Oreal Paris and Maybelline, two of the most popular makeup brands under L'Oreal. The number of their products displayed in store occupies over 30% and such arrangement is exclusive to Colorlab only. In addition to L'Oreal, the stores also include Watsons own makeup brands Makeup Miracle and Collagen, as well as brands new to Watsons stores including Japanese makeup brand Kiss Me and Korean makeup brand CLIO. Take a look around the first Colorlab store in Shenzhen, China, at the video here: http://www.aswatson.com/watsons-china-colourlab/ With the rise of online shopping and changing shopping behaviours of younger customers, the focus on innovative physical spaces and refreshing the shopping experience will help attract younger generations. Vibrantly decorated to attract the fashionistas and beauty-goers, the first Colorlab store launched in Shenzhen, China in January 2018 and following its success three further stores have opened, two in Guangzhou and one in Shanghai. These new experience-based makeup stores are already proving popular, with annual sales of cosmetics up 74% since opening[*], and plans are in place to roll out a further 50 stores across China by the end of this year. As recent data from Mintel[1] shows that the growth rate of the cosmetics market in China exceeds the overal market for beauty care and estimates that between 2017-2022, the market will grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 10.2% and achieve RMB (Chinese Yuan) 49,662 million by 2022[2]. This insight coupled with A.S. Watson's customer insights and market intelligence allowed the retailer to identify a need to develop Watsons makeup offering.



The opportunity was shared with L'Oreal who advised on the best way to attract a larger customer base and target a younger demographic who want access to knowledge, expertise and a wider product range, and together they founded Colorlab by Watsons. Wang Mei-fen, a customer of Colorlab in Shenzhen, China, thinks: "The shopping environment of Colorlab by Watsons is stylish and fashionable. There are many international-renowned makeup brands. It's not only a shopping paradise but also a place for beauty enthusiasts to discover, experience and play."

Malina Ngai, Group Chief Operating Officer at A.S. Watson Group, says, "Makeup was identified as a huge growth area for Watsons and working with L'Oreal on the development of this new store concept meant that we had the expertise of an established makeup supplier at the forefront. Colorlab stores put the customers experience first and rather than just purchasing makeup, we wanted to give customers access to advice and expertise from skilled makeup artists, as well as the opportunity to try out different looks and play about with new products." Samuel du RETAIL, L'Oreal China Vice President, Consumer Products Division General Manager, comments: "Watsons has the reputation as the best health & beauty brand in Asia and we are excited to be working in partnership to launch Colorlab, a concept we are sure will be seen as one of the best stores for beauty. These new stores offer customers more than just a wide range of makeup products, they offer a makeup experience with access to instore makeup artists for consultations as well as a wide range of collateral on makeup trends and new looks to inspire them." About A.S. Watson Group Established in Hong Kong in 1841, A.S. Watson Group is the world's largest international health and beauty retailer with over 14,400 stores in 24 markets. Each year, over four billion customers and members shop with our 12 retail brands, both in stores and online. In Hong Kong, we operate more than 600 stores under four retail brands - Watsons, PARKnSHOP, FORTRESS, and Watson's Wine. In addition, we manufacture and distribute high quality drinking water brand Watsons Water, as well as the famous juice drinks Mr. Juicy and Sunkist. For the fiscal year 2017, A.S. Watson Group recorded revenue of HKD156.2 billion. We have over 140,000 employees worldwide, including 12,900 in Hong Kong. A.S. Watson Group is also a member of the world-renowned multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, which has five core businesses - ports and related services, retail, infrastructure, energy and telecommunications in over 50 countries. Please visit www.aswatson.com for more in-depth information about A.S. Watson Group and its brands. You may also stay in touch with us via our digital presence (eCommerce, social media, mobile app & more); more details are at http://www.aswatson.com/our-customers/digitalasw/

[*]This is compared to sales of a previous Watsons store which took this site and is based on total sales from March to May 2018 vs. March to May 2017.

[1]http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/beauty-and-personal-care/global-colour-cosmetics-sales-to-exceed-us-48bn-as-mintel-identifies-4-growth-areas

[2]http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/beauty-and-personal-care/lipsticks-lead-growth-in-chinas-colour-cosmetics-market

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[August 14, 2018] Openspace Ventures Closes Fund 2 at Hard Cap of US$135mm

SINGAPORE, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Openspace Ventures (previously NSI Ventures) is pleased to announce the final close of Fund 2 on August 10, 2018 with total subscriptions accepted up to US$135mm. Including Fund 1, Openspace now has in total US$225mm committed capital from its limited partners (excluding managed co-investments). Investors in Fund 2 include a range of institutional investors from US, Australia, Europe, Japan, China, Korea and Singapore across pension funds, university endowments, insurance companies and family offices. Disclosed investors include Stepstone Group and Temasek. "We are very grateful for the ongoing support of our long-term investors - many of whom have invested with us over multiple funds since 2014. We also welcome as part of this close, a group of new institutional investors to the Openspace family and look forward to a long-term partnership and dialogue," commented Shane Chesson, Founding Partner of Openspace. In a report issued by Preqin in March 2018, Openspace Ventures' inaugural fund was ranked as the 3rd best performing venture capital fund amongst 2003-2015 vintage funds1. It has also consistently tracked top 5% performance amongst 2014 vintage venture capital funds according to Cambridge Associates global venture capital benchmarks. The portfolio of 19 companies to date includes Go-Jek, in respect of which Openspace was the first institutional investor, Singapore fast fashion e-commerce player Love, Bonito, Vietnamese online education company Topica, Indonesian online credit provider, FinAccel and Bangladesh's leading ride sharing and food delivery player, Pathao. Openspace has helped raise over US$2.6 bn of follow-on capital for its portfolio companies thus far (including 13 Series B rounds) and has been embedded in the scene as the Southeast Asian opportunity has developed from promising to compelling. In Openspace's view, the opportunities for technology-led innovation in Southeast Asia have broadened into major sectors of the regional economy and the longer-term opportunity for value creation is still nascent. Openspace Ventures now comprises of a team of 17 including on-ground resources in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. As well as investment and business development expertise, Openspace has a full-time operating team helping portfolio companies with tech, marketing, HR, legal and finance issues. "This close of our Fund 2 at its hard cap of US$135mm is a testament to the hard work of our entrepreneurs and their ability to address the wave of opportunities in our region. We have the resources now at Openspace to continue to be very hands-on in building value into our portfolio. We have seen immense opportunities from being able to work with our portfolio company to solve complex on-ground regional execution issues and we will intensify our efforts in these areas," added Hian Goh, Founding Partner of Openspace.







1 View full report here. The fund is referred to as "NSI Ventures" in the report.

About Openspace Ventures Openspace Ventures focuses on Series A and B investments in technology companies based in Southeast Asia. Key areas of investment for Openspace Ventures include fintech, healthtech, edutech, consumer applications and cloud-based solutions. Openspace Ventures is currently investing its second fund and has approximately US$225mm in total committed capital. Openspace has invested in 19 companies, including Go-Jek, Love, Bonito, Topica, CXA, FinAccel, HaloDoc and Pathao. For more information, visit www.openspace.vc. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180814/2211497-1 SOURCE Openspace Ventures

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[August 14, 2018] New CINC Pro Broker Solution Gives Indie Brokers the Upper Hand

MARIETTA, Ga., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CINC (Commissions Inc), the #1 real estate technology solution powering elite teams, introduced a new solution specifically for independent brokerages effective August 1. With an increasing amount of real estate teams shifting to an indie broker model, CINC has responded with a new holistic solution for real estate agents interested in growing and building an independent firm from the ground up. "Entrepreneurs who have built their own real estate businesses as independent brokers have the huge advantage of creating a practice that is truly their own," said Jason Hoback, CEO of CINC. "We've always been a technology solution created for Realtors by Realtors, and with the increasing number of Indie Brokerages in the market, we've worked quickly to develop the right solution to help accelerate the growth of these organizations and the unique obstacles they're facing." The new CINC Pro Broker solution, launching this month for all markets in the U.S. and Canada, provides Indie Brokers with a single resource for lead generation, virtual ISAs, lead nurturing, an exclusive market center, relationship management, and transaction management. "CINC has let me take on the big boys in my market," shares Brian North, founder of Nort&Co. in Phoenix, AZ. "CINC handles it all, from the front-end lead generation to all of your communication on the back-end  mass texting capabilities, auto-dialers, email drip campaigns. Not only does it manage all the clients you have, but it nurtures them and speaks to them intuitively, as if understanding their personality. I'm delighted that more Indie Brokers will have affordable access to the tools I use to power and grow my business daily."



CINC Pro Broker provides a complete set of tools for Indie Brokers, including: Complete access to the CINC CRM platform and customized lead generation campaigns

An exclusive Marketing Center

Virtual ISA services via CINC Exchange

Skyslope transaction management As always, CINC's products are supported by complete training programs, a dedicated success partner, and membership to CINC's exclusive community of over 30,000 top performing agents and team leaders across North America.

Visit here to learn more. About CINC (Commissions Inc) Founded in Marietta, Georgia in 2011, CINC (Commissions Inc) is the leading provider of web-based real estate marketing and CRM software for elite agents and teams across North America. The solution includes a consumer website that integrates with local MLS data, a complete CRM platform that allows real estate agents to nurture clients and monitor their business, and lead and team management on the go with the CINC family of apps. Built with the support and input of some of North America's top brokers, CINC powers the business for over 30,000 agents and connects them with millions of consumers every month. Press Contact:

Brandy Commodore

Marketing and Communications Manager

brandy.commodore@cincpro.com

855-259-7277 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-cinc-pro-broker-solution-gives-indie-brokers-the-upper-hand-300696408.html SOURCE CINC (Commissions Inc)

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[August 14, 2018] Meet LEO at the Thomson Reuters 24th Annual LPC Loan Conference

Loan Ecosystem Online (LEO) is headed to New York City this September for Thomson Reuters (News - Alert) LPC's Loan Conference! Now in its 24th year, the conference is well established as one of the leading annual loan market events. In addition to sponsoring the event, LEO will be exhibiting and is encouraging attendees to visit their booth and see a demo of their newly launched online loan syndication platform. Thomson Reuters LPC's conference is the longest-running loan market convention of its kind, and LEO is excited to be joining the tradition. Drawing in key contributors from private equity, originators and loan veterans, this year's event will be highlighting the risks and opportunities in a high-stakes loan market. Re-imagined for 2018, the conference will be leaner with a sharper focus, and a reduced entry fee. "We're thrilled with the initial responses we're seeing to Loan Ecosystem Online, and we can't think of a better venue than Thomson Reuters LPC to share the platform with the broader community," said Patrick Livney, CEO of LEO. Featuring keynotes from loan market veterans and panels spotlighting market strategy with private equity, the conference will also provide a look at what's shaping tomorrow's loan market from top market leaders and industry analysts. "As loan industry technology and trends continue going through rapid change, it becomes increasingly important to stay on the cutting edge. We're happy to support events like these that take on te important mission of keeping our industry informed," Livney said.



The Thomson Reuters Annual LPC Loan Conference is Wednesday, September 12th at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, NYC. Those interested in attending can register for the event online here. Attendees are encouraged to stop by LEO's table to learn firsthand how their new platform is disrupting the loan syndication process.

About LEO LEO is a new fintech platform that streamlines the syndicated loan process, eliminating the current guesswork and manual process utilizing excel spread sheets and gives all parties complete transparency into the loan syndication process. The platform conforms to the highest standards of communication and data security. What the LEO platform can mean to you: For Originators and Syndicators, LEO delivers a unique process for selling loans. Not only are you able to sell loans to a targeted lender group (private) or make the loan available to the broader, pre-approved LEO lender base (public), you're able to monitor lender activity in real-time (page views, document views, downloads) and gage their interest. For Agents, LEO's state of the art data room is designed specifically for the syndicated loan market, providing users with an intuitive interface and workflow, enhanced functionalities and increased efficiencies. LEO has an extensive API that may be used to automatically synchronize LEO with your platform. For Institutional Lenders, LEO represents an online space to apply to originators and syndicators, find a loan, request access, commit to purchase and monitor all on the platform. For Sponsors and Borrowers, LEO provides a system to manage access to portfolio company information, monitor lender activity and distribute documents to lenders securely. Learn more about LEO at https://loaneco.net/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005093/en/

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[August 14, 2018] Agenda for OpenStack Summit Berlin Is Now Live

Open infrastructure builders and users from a diverse swath of industries and open source technologies will meet in Berlin November 13-15 at the OpenStack Summit where they will share their work on integration of open infrastructure technologies and offer an inside look at their deployments and use cases. The agenda for the event is now live and features 100+ sessions addressing more than 35 open source projects, including new projects hosted at the OpenStack Foundation: Kata Containers, Zuul, Airship and StarlingX. The Summit agenda is organized into nine tracks covering open infrastructure use cases including container infrastructure, private and hybrid cloud, continuous integration/continuous development (CI/CD), edge computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and NFV. Sessions and topics of note include: Oerlikon ManMade Fibers , a machine manufacturer for the textile industry, will detail its OpenStack-based edge computing architecture and how it enables their customers to output millions of tons of fibers from geotextiles to fibers so thin that one 15kg bobbin can stretch from Earth to the moon and back.

, a machine manufacturer for the textile industry, will detail its OpenStack-based edge computing architecture and how it enables their customers to output millions of tons of fibers from geotextiles to fibers so thin that one 15kg bobbin can stretch from Earth to the moon and back. Driven by the demand of rapid customer growth and increased security needs, the team at Workday , a leading human resources software-as-a-service solution, scaled its OpenStack deployment from 50,000 cores to 300,000.

, a leading human resources software-as-a-service solution, scaled its OpenStack deployment from 50,000 cores to 300,000. CERN has spent significant time making sure the integration of containers with its storage systems enables them to scale easily while maintaining high performance. Their Berlin session will discuss the configuration that provides their users auto provisioning of volumes on Kubernetes, and is just one of 45 sessions discussing Kubernetes strategy and implementation. If you want to get started in Berlin, there is a hands-on workshop led by City Network that will show attendees how to deploy a Kubernetes cluster template and a Kubernetes cluster, to an OpenStack Magnum environment.

has spent significant time making sure the integration of containers with its storage systems enables them to scale easily while maintaining high performance. Their Berlin session will discuss the configuration that provides their users auto provisioning of volumes on Kubernetes, and is just one of 45 sessions discussing Kubernetes strategy and implementation. If you want to get started in Berlin, there is a hands-on workshop led by that will show attendees how to deploy a Kubernetes cluster template and a Kubernetes cluster, to an OpenStack Magnum environment. eBay (News - Alert) Classifieds Group will discuss how they updated their 80,000-core private cloud for Spectre and Meltdown with an automated process using Ansible Playbooks and OpenStack APIs. Additional OpenStack users discussing security include NASA Goddard's NASA Center for Climate Simulation and the awsey Supercomputing Centre .

will discuss how they updated their 80,000-core private cloud for Spectre and Meltdown with an automated process using Ansible Playbooks and OpenStack APIs. Additional OpenStack users discussing security include and the . Volkswagen Financial Group and Verizon (News - Alert) will join an industry panel to discuss data protection and their strategy for leveraging OpenStack and container technologies to serve both persistent and non-persistent workloads.

and will join an industry panel to discuss data protection and their strategy for leveraging OpenStack and container technologies to serve both persistent and non-persistent workloads. BMW will discuss the CI requirements for software projects at BMW like autonomous driving and how they use Zuul to develop software at scale.

will discuss the CI requirements for software projects at BMW like autonomous driving and how they use Zuul to develop software at scale. Oath will guide a hands-on workshop around upgrading your OpenStack environment based on their experience upgrading at massive scale. Adobe (News - Alert) Advertising Cloud and the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council , which provides around 4,000 vCPU cores and supports thousands of scientists, will share their upgrade case studies.

will guide a hands-on workshop around upgrading your OpenStack environment based on their experience upgrading at massive scale. and the , which provides around 4,000 vCPU cores and supports thousands of scientists, will share their upgrade case studies. Interested in how Kata Containers compares to Google's gVisor? Xu Wang, a member of the Kata Containers Architecture Committee, will provide an overview of both projects and discuss the performance tradeoffs of the various methods of workload isolation.



Airship, Kata Containers, StarlingX and Zuul-as well as an update on the Foundation strategy. A number of collaborative sessions will be offered at the Forum, where open infrastructure operators and upstream developers will gather to jointly chart the long-term future of the OpenStack project and discuss topics ranging from fast-forward upgrades to networking models and how to contribute.

The Berlin Summit is the first OpenStack Summit to be held in Germany, a Top 10 country in terms of OpenStack community membership that ranks third by number of OpenStack User Survey respondents. The OpenStack ecosystem in Germany ranges from independent consultants like B1 Systems to major service providers such as Deutsche Telekom (News - Alert) and large enterprise users like BMW and Volkswagen Financial Group. Data sovereignty and regulations such as GDPR are driving growth in the German OpenStack public cloud market, where there are six public cloud availability zones operated by City Network, Deutsche Telekom, Enter.IT, teutoStack, Cloud&Heat and vScaler. Headline sponsors for the Berlin Summit are: Canonical

Deutsche Telekom

Huawei (News - Alert)

Intel

Red Hat Sponsorships are available until early October. Early Bird registration ends on August 21. Analysts and members of the media can contact jennifer@cathey.co for information about event registration. About the OpenStack Foundation The OpenStack Foundation (OSF) supports the development and adoption of open infrastructure globally, across a community of 90,000 individuals in 187 countries, by hosting open source projects and communities of practice, including datacenter cloud, edge computing, network functions virtualization (NFV), CI/CD and container infrastructure. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005173/en/

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NYACK, N.Y.  Liev Schreiber is facing a harassment charge in suburban New York, where his lawyer said the actor is accused of shoving a photographer's camera.



The Rockland County district attorney's office says the star of Showtime's "Ray Donovan" is due for arraignment Tuesday in a village court in Nyack (NEYE'-ak). The harassment charge dates to June 7 and is a violation, not a crime.



The DA's office wouldn't say more Monday.



Schreiber's lawyer, Jonathan Ripps, told The Journal News the actor maintains his innocence. Ripps hasn't immediately responded to messages Monday.



Ripps told the newspaper Schreiber is accused of pushing the camera away after its flash went off. Ripps says the allegation "doesn't rise to the level of any law being broken."



"Ray Donovan" has been filming recently in Nyack.



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[August 14, 2018] The World Digital Mining Summit is about to begin -- BITMAIN and BITKAN collaborate to kick start the new era of mining

TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's global cryptocurrency mining industry, China's bitcoin network computing power takes the lead, accounting for half the total. However, with cryptocurrency mining gradually attracting the attention of other countries such as Japan, Vietnam, Russia, the mining competition get fiercer, and the future direction of cryptocurrency mining becomes more uncertain. This results in a question: Where is the next breakthrough in global mining development? All the answers are urgently sought to be announced by the top experts in the cryptocurrency mining industry. On September 21-23, the World Digital Mining Summit 2018, hosted jointly by BITMAIN and BITKAN, will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia. This summit will gather 1,000 participants including: senior miners, mining machine manufacturers, mining pools and hashpower owners, to explore the development of cryptocurrency mining and the coming challenges and opportunities. Among the keynote speakers: Jihan Wu, CEO, BITMAIN

Roger Ver, CEO, Bitcoin.com

Yu Fang, CEO, BITKAN

Jason Zhuang, Project Director, BTC.com

Lingchao Xu, Project Director, AntPool

Yuan Zhang, Co-founder, DEx.top

Olsen Su, VHead of Global Mining Farm, Bitmain

Marco Streng, CEO and Co-founder, Genesis Mining

Sean Walsh, CEO, HyperBlock

Batyr Hydyrov, CEO and Founder, Uminers

Dmitry Ozersky, Managing Partner, Electro.Farm You will get whole new insights of the cryptocurrency mining industry from the leading figures, as they conduct extensive exchanges and discussions around the latest topics of cryptocurrency mining. I) Challenges and opportunities coexist as the billion dollar market await further exploration With the tranition of cryptocurrency mining from CPU era, GPU era, FPGU era to ASIC era, we have witnessed the evolution of mining machine chip generation. The strategic value of cryptocurrency mining has gone beyond imagination, and the global mining competition has formally entered a fiery stage. However, as the price of cryptocurrency keeps fluctuating, the market is still highly volatile, and the pressure to challenge the global cryptocurrency mining industry will continue to expand.



The cryptocurrency mining industry has now formed a market of 100 billion CNY around the world. The rise of large international players has gradually formed. This is an important turning point for the global cryptocurrency mining industry, and also an opportunity for cooperation among miners. II) Strong communication and exchanges is the strongest pushing force for the global mining industry

The summit will bring together mining elites, as well as the influence of the organizers. Founded in 2013, Bitmain is the world's leading company producing bitcoin mining machines, custom chips and operating mining pools. In August 2018, Bitmain received $1 billion in Pre-IPO financing and plans to build a $500 million blockchain data center and mining facility in Texas as part of its expansion into the US market. Another co-organizer, BitKan, is one of the world's leading service providers of blockchain and cryptocurrency. Since 2012, BitKan has provided stable industry information, real-time market, mining monitoring, wallet services and other functions to millions of global users. The new feature "K Site", rolled out in 2018, is a content community vertical to the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, tapping on BitKan's global brand influence. The summit is located in the capital of Georgia and the political, economic, cultural and educational center, Tbilisi. Georgia has become a regional leader in the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain, and the world's first cryptocurrency terminal was born in Tbilisi, which provides Lari (Georgia legal tender) with the opportunity to exchange Bitcoin and Litecoin in Georgia. Under the joint efforts of many industries, this global mining summit will certainly have a whole new spark to it. The market predicts that the cutting-edge innovation and competition in the mining industry will continue to heat up in the next few years. The global mining industry needs to be integrated and developed. The summit lasts for 3 days, and insights will be shared unreservedly to all participants. Industry experts will discuss the ways to attain breakthroughs and the new opportunities for industry development. For more information, search "World Digital Mining Summit 2018" on Google or the click the link below. Summit Name: World Digital Mining Summit 2018

Summit Time: September 21-23, 2018

Summit Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Summit Website: https://www.miningconf.org/?=prnews View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-world-digital-mining-summit-is-about-to-begin----bitmain-and-bitkan-collaborate-to-kick-start-the-new-era-of-mining-300696691.html SOURCE BitKan

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[August 14, 2018] Avalon GloboCare Appoints Dr. James L. Gajewski, Former Medical Director at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, to Head Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board

FREEHOLD, N.J., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avalon GloboCare Corp. (OTCQB: AVCO), a leading global developer of cell-based technologies, announced today that the Company has appointed James L. Gajewski, M.D., M.A.C.P., to head its Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board.

Dr. James L. Gajewski received his A.B. degree in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and his M.D. degree from Temple University School of Medicine. He subsequently completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati Hospital and fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at UCLA Hospital and Clinics. His early medical career at UCLA focused on scientific and clinical research in the area of unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Many of the unrelated marrow donor transplantations he performed in 1988 and 1989 became the worlds longest survivors. Dr. Gajewski is one of the pioneers in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), the need for better immunosuppression after unrelated donor transplant, as well as the need for use of molecular HLA typing to select for appropriate unrelated marrow donors. He further ventured into haploidentical transplantation and contributed to important clinical data with the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) on transplant outcomes. During his tenure at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Gajewski served as Professor of Medicine and Clinical Chief at the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Co-Medical Director of the Hematology Disease Site Center, Co-Medical Director of the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation Laboratory, as well as Deputy Chair of the Division of Cancer Medicine. He also played a leadership role as Managed Care Co-Medical Director at MD Anderson Cancer Center and as advisor to the Physician-in-Chief and the Presidents Office. Dr. Gajewski has also played a pioneering role on national payment policy focusing on CPT codes to adequately describe transplantation services, which has led to his appointment as member to the American Medical Association (AMA) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) which defines payment value for all physician provided patient care. Because of this achievement, Dr. Gajewski has been appointed to serve in committee leadership roles establishing episodes of care measures by acumen for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implementation of the recent MACRA legislation. Dr. Gajewski was founding committee member of both the Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and National Comprehensive Cancer CenterNetworks leukemia and lymphoma clinical guidelines committee. He also served as the American Society for Bone Marrow Transplantation expert liaison to the FDA cellular therapeutics advisory committee. Dr. Gajewski currently serves on the Oregon Medical Associations board of trustees and is President of the Oregon Society of Medical Oncology.



Dr. Gajewski has maintained a strong research interest in cellular therapy despite his numerous state and national committee roles. He has co-authored 162 peer reviewed publications and has written 15 book chapters. He has been a frequent speaker at national and international meetings in hematology, stem cell transplantation, and cellular therapy. He is also member of the journal editorial board in Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Transfusion, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Pediatrics, and others. In 2016, Dr. Gajewski was honored by the American College of Physicians (ACP) as recipient of the prestigious ACP Mastership Award for lifetime achievement for his contribution in stem cell transplantation, cellular therapy, and public policies promoting access to healthcare. Dr. David Jin, President and CEO of Avalon GloboCare, stated, We are honored and pleased to welcome Dr. James Gajewski to head our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board. He brings to Avalon GloboCare an impressive clinical background in stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy, as well as a wealth of knowledge and experience in regulatory affairs and medical economics. Jim will be an invaluable asset as we establish a leadership role within the regenerative medicine and cellular therapy sectors.

Dr. James Gajewski commented, I am delighted to join and lead Avalons Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board. I look forward to helping Avalon advance its mission of accelerating translational research, clinical development, and commercialization of cellular technologies and therapeutics. About Avalon GloboCare Corp. Avalon GloboCare Corp. (OTCQB:AVCO) is a global intelligent biotech developer and healthcare service provider dedicated to promoting and empowering high impact, transformative cell-based /technologies and their clinical applications, as well as healthcare facility management through its core platforms, namely "Avalon Cell" and "Avalon Rehab." In addition, Avalon provides strategic advisory and outsourcing services to facilitate and enhance their clients' growth, development, as well as competitiveness in both domestic and global healthcare markets. Avalon also engages in the management of stem cell banks and specialty clinical laboratories. Through its U.S. subsidiaries, namely GenExosome Technologies Inc. and Avactis Biosciences Inc., Avalon will further establish our leading roles in the fields of CAR-T therapy, liquid biopsy, precision medicine and regenerative medicine. Forward-Looking Statements



Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release. Contact Information:

Avalon GloboCare Corp.

4400 Route 9, Suite 3100

Freehold, NJ 07728

PR@Avalon-GloboCare.com Investor Relations:

Crescendo Communications, LLC

Tel: (212) 671-1020

avco@crescendo-ir.com

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[August 14, 2018] Driver Assistance System (DAS) Market for Locomotive is Set to Reach US$ 18 Mn by 2026 - TMR

ALBANY, New York, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research, "Global Driver Assistance System (DAS) Market for Locomotive - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2018-2026" expanding at a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period. In terms of revenue, the market is expected to reach US$ 18 Mn by 2026. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) The global driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9% between 2018 and 2026, according to a new research report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). According to the report, the global market is likely to be influenced by a range of political, economic, social, technical, and industry-specific factors. Latin America is expected to witness rapid rise in demand for driver assistance system in public transits such as trains, with the market in the region anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 27% during the forecast period. Browse Research Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/driver-assistance-system-locomotive-market.html Human safety is of utmost importance for any industry. Trains are considered to be a risky mode of transportation. Control over a train cannot be achieved within possible time due to its speed and size. This is supported by the statistics on the fatalities caused by train accidents. In 2016, more than 50,000 people lost their lives due to rail accidents. In the 28 nations of the EU, 1,723 persons were killed in train accidents, which is 6% rise from the previous year (2015). India has serious issues associated with rail transportation. Every year, more than 15,000 people in India lose their lives owing to train-related fatalities. There needs to be a system which can monitor the train and improve driving conditions for the driver and traveling conditions for passengers. Driver assistance systems provide greater functionality and effectiveness for trains. Various regulations are imposed by regulatory bodies on the automotive industry and mandated several systems or applications for vehicles to curb the accident rate. Such regulations are likely to be imposed on trains. However, train component manufacturers need to include DAS in old running and new trains in order to comply with such regulations. This is likely to boost the driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive. Request a Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=48240 Developing and under-developed countries in Latin America are more focused on implementation of long-distance trains in the region. Governments of countries such as Chile and Argentina are spending more on railways in their budgets. Expansion of the IT sector is providing a boost to the economy in the region. Usage of suburban, monorail, and metro as modes of public transit is increasing in order to commute within urban areas. Monorails are highly preferable in the city with less population and space. Trams are an older mode of public transport. Trams are not suitable for large cities or metropolitan areas. Therefore, the tram segment is likely to expand at a sluggish pace, as compared to other train type segments. Older trams are likely to be equipped with DAS. In terms of revenue, the long distance train segment is expected to reach US$ 3.6 Mn by the end of 2026, expanding at a CAGR of more than 20% during the forecast period. Download Report TOC for in-depth analysis at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/48240 Based on DAS application, the driver assitance system (DAS) market for locomotive can be segregated into emergency braking, automatic door open & closure, switch detection, rail detection, fog pilot assistance system, rail signal detection, and anti-collision system. The DAS has various applications in trains such that one or more than one application is integrated within the train. Rail signal detection system is a recently evolved application and the segment held a minor share of the market in 2017. It is likely to expand at a higher growth rate during forecast period. In terms of DAS component, the LiDAR segment is expanding at significant pace due to its multi-functionality and declining price.



Request for Customization Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=48240 Europe held a major share of the global driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive in 2017. Countries in Europe exhibit greater awareness about the environment. Therefore, people in the region are more inclined toward using public transport instead of personal vehicles. Increase in public transport is estimated to boost the usage of trains in the region. The human safety body of the European Union has mandated some norms for component manufacturers to include driver safety modules including some DAS applications for trains. This is likely to boost the market. Revised taxes, expansion of business during Brexit, and tariffs imposed by the U.S. on the nations in Europe are expected to hamper the production and sales of components/technology in Europe, which in turn is anticipated to hamper the driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive. Governments establish IT zones outside major cities, which increases the border of cities in countries such as India, Large population, large area, increased distance between cities, raising wages, increasing purchasing power, and increased in standard of living are key factors that drive the market in Asia Pacific.

Request for Multiple Chapters of this Report at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=MC&rep_id=48240 Advancements in processes used to manufacture driver assistance systems, development in the materials utilized to produce the components that are employed to manufacture DAS, and development in design of systems that are compact and highly effective are fueling the driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive. The global driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive is highly cohesive as design, analysis, and manufacturing of the driver assistance system requires advanced technology, highly equipped labs, high investment, considerably skilled workers, and high precision. Moreover, the market witnesses the presence of major manufacturers working in the transportation industry for several years. Major share of the driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive is held by major manufacturers. Major players operating in the driver assistance system (DAS) market for locomotive include Thales Group, Alstom S.A., Hitachi Ltd, Bombardier Transportation, Ansaldo STS, SIEMENS AG, Mitsubishi Electric, CRRC Corporation Limited, Kawasaki Heavy industries, Ltd., General Electric, ABB, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A., CalAmp, Beijing Traffic Control Technology Co., Ltd, Bharat Forge limited, Wabtec Corporation, SBB, Robert Bosch GmbH, Knorr-Bremse AG, and Woodward, Inc. Browse Press Release at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/driver-assistance-system-locomotive-market.htm The Global Driver Assistance System (DAS) Market for locomotive has been segmented into: Global Driver Assistance System (DAS) Market for Locomotive, by Train Type Long Distance Train

Suburban

Tram

Monorail

Subway/ Metro Global Driver Assistance System (DAS) Market for Locomotive, by Driver Assistance Application Emergency Braking

Automatic Door Open & Closure

Switch Detection

Rail Detection

Fog Pilot Assistance System

Rail Signal Detection

Anti-collision System Global Driver Assistance System (DAS) Market for Locomotive, by DAS Component RADAR

LIDAR

Optical Sensor & Camera

Odometer

Infrared Sensor

Antenna

Others Global Driver Assistance System (DAS) Market for Locomotive, by Region North America U. S. Canada

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Europe Germany U. K. France Italy Spain

Asia Pacific China India Japan ASEAN

Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa

& Popular Research Reports by TMR: Driver Safety Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2022 : https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/driver-safety-market.html



https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/driver-safety-market.html Autonomous Car Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2025 - 2035: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/autonomous-cars-driverless-cars-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact

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Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://transparencyjournal.com/ SOURCE Transparency Market Research

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[August 14, 2018] Farmer's Business Network, Inc. Launches F2F Genetics NetworkTM

Farmer's Business Network, Inc., the independent farmer-to-farmer network, today announced the F2F Genetics Network, a new seed line, model for the future of seed development and direct-to-farm distribution. The F2F Genetics Network will bring farmers conventional (non-GM) and post-patent seeds in corn, soybeans, and other crops direct to FBN members with greater transparency on genetic identity, yield performance and prices. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005243/en/ With farmers input prices continuing to rise as Big Ag consolidates and crop prices decreasing, farmers are looking for a way to find profit where they can. Farmers Business Network is cutting the excess from the value chain that adds unnecessary cost increases, and is putting farmers closer to the seed breeders with F2F Genetic Network. Direct-to-farm corn and soybean seed at a price every farm can afford. (Graphic: Business Wire) As seed companies consolidate and competition is reduced, high seed prices for farmers continue to hurt family farm incomes. Agrichemical companies have promoted increasingly expensive biotech traits to farmers, limiting the availability of non-GM seeds. Practices such as non-transparent pricing, regional Zone Pricing, relabeling, rebates, and hidden discounts have become seed industry standards at the expense of family farm profitability. "FBN members are fed up with high seed costs and reduced competition from industry consolidation," said Ron Wulfkuhle, Head of Seed at the FBN network, who will lead the F2F Genetics Network. "In the F2F Genetics Network, farmers go from seed consumers and price takers to seed creators and market drivers." A New Model For Seed: The F2F Genetics Network The F2F Genetics Network combines a new independent breeder network, with the FBN farmer-to-farmer network and agronomic data science platform. The F2F Genetics Network puts farmers closer to the breeders than before, enabling farmers to actively co-develop genetics through data, creating a new era of high-performance seeds delivered at vastly lower costs for farmers. The F2F Genetics Network was created to put Farmers FirstSM in seed, with these core principles: Interactive and Independent Network of Breeders and Farmers: Farmers take an active role in seed development through data to develop better performing varieties for their specific environments. By being totally independent, the F2F Genetic Network can find the best genetics from breeers, universities, and novel technology companies. Performance: F2F seeds will be uncompromising on performance with the flexibility to select and target the highest performing genetics from our independent breeder network. Farmers' seed-soil placement, population, fertility and disease management, will be assisted through the FBN analytics network. Transparency: FBN members will get for the first-time greater transparency on genetic identity, trial and yield performance, and pricing. Fore genetic identity, seed parental lineages and relabeling matches will be shown up front. FBN members will get access to both pre-commercial breeder trial and actual in-field performance from other FBN members, instead of just the "promotional" test plots traditionally used to sell seed. Fair Pricing: The F2F Genetic Network will use national, transparent pricing, and eliminate the practice of discriminatory regional zone pricing. By selling direct-to-farm through the FBN DirectSM e-commerce platform, we will be able to keep seed prices exceptionally low. Freedom to Keep Seed: Seed keeping will be enabled with the Soy+1SM program, restrictive bundles are eliminated with flexible financing and discounts on other inputs in FBN DirectTM.



Farmers Business NetworkSM, and the opportunity to actively shape the future of seed." said Wulfkuhle. Farmers Business Network is steadfast in putting Farmers First and leveling the playing field.

"Farmers Business Network at its core believes transparency, competition and innovation are keys to farmer profitability," said Amol Deshpande, CEO of Farmers Business Network. "Input prices, specifically seed, continue to grow fast than the commodity prices farmers receive. We are looking to reverse this unsustainable trend by fighting for farmer profitability with innovative solutions that give farmers leverage, even if they are unpopular with the industry, or downright contrarian." Farmer Freedom Through Keeping Seed: The Soy+1 Program For decades, seed companies have barred U.S. soybean farmers from saving seeds after harvest to plant the following season at vastly lower cost - which has allowed seed companies to charge full price every year. The F2F Genetics Network's Soy+1 program will allow farmers, for a fee, to keep, clean and replant F2F Genetic Network-branded soybean seeds. F2F Genetics Network Seeds Now Available for 2019 Orders and commitments for F2F Genetics Network seed have already commenced, with a limited supply available for the 2019 season. Initial products will include five conventional corn hybrids (RM 102 - 112) and four glyphosate tolerant soybean varieties (RM 2.2 - 3.1). These seeds have multiple years of production history, and are bred to be suitable in the mid-latitudes from Nebraska to Ohio. Additional hybrids and varieties, as well as other crops are rapidly being added to the network. Early order participants, who complete a credit application and qualify, will also receive 0% extended terms and the F2F UnbundleSM with discounts on an unrestricted selection of inputs offered through FBN Direct. Creating an Independent Farm Economy to Put Farmers First The idea for the FBN network originated from farmers who wanted to create an independent, farmer-driven information and commerce network. With the launch of F2F Genetics Network, farmers are one step closer to having an totally independent full-farm profit system: from FBN Direct's input ecommerce platform; to FBN Analytics comprehensive agronomic-network data analytics & decision support; to FBN Crop Marketing's premium contracts, production contracts, advisory & risk management, and price intelligence powered by a global buyer network. Yearly FBN membership costs only $700 with no punishing acreage fees, making it easily affordable for farms of all sizes. About Farmer's Business Network, Inc. Farmer's Business Network, Inc. is an independent farmer-to-farmer network, built by and for Farmers, representing Farmers FirstSM. FBN members receive comprehensive farm benchmarking, real world seed performance, input optimization and pricing analytics based on over 160 million acre events of real-world precision agronomic data. The FBN Direct e-commerce platform provides national, transparent pricing on ag chemicals, fertilizers, seeds, technology and services. FBN Crop Marketing provides farms premium contracts, production contracts, risk management, and price intelligence powered by a global buyer network. The FBN network has grown to covering more than 25 million acres of member farms in the U.S. and Canada. Blending the best of Midwestern agricultural roots and Silicon Valley technology, the company has offices in San Carlos, Calif, and a National Operations Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., and employees spanning 44 states and Canadian provinces. The FBN Network's mission of creating a better farm economy has earned the support of world-class technology investors GV (formerly Google (News - Alert) Ventures), DBL Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers LLP, Bow Capital, Acre Venture Partners, Temasek, and T. Rowe Price. To learn more, visit: www.farmersbusinessnetwork.com. The sprout logo, "FBN" and "Farmers Business Network" are registered service marks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. F2F is a service mark of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. F2F Genetic Network branded seed products are offered by FBN Inputs, LLC and are available only in states where FBN Inputs, LLC is licensed. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005243/en/

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[August 14, 2018] Great Lakes Energy Lights Up Northern Michigan with Calix Vantage Services, AXOS E9-2 Intelligent Edge GPON, and Calix Whole Home Wi-Fi Solution

PETALUMA, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced Great Lakes Energy Cooperative (GLE) has partnered with the Calix Services team to plan, deploy, and manage its network transformation. GLE has selected the Calix Vantage Support Service to accelerate its Truestream fiber network initiative that will bring advanced services, including gigabit internet, voice, and managed whole home Wi-Fi to its members in northern Michigan. The fiber network will expand over the next 8-10 years across GLEs 26 county service area in western lower Michigan. By partnering with Calix, GLE expects to reduce its time to deploy new services and reduce deployment risk by leveraging the expertise and experience developed by the Calix team through hundreds of engagements with service providers.

As GLE builds its next generation network on the Calix AXOS E9-2 Intelligent Edge System, the new Calix Vantage Support Service will help them quickly scale their operations. The Calix Professional Services team will also help GLE accelerate their network deployment through AXOS Enablement and Wi-Fi Enablement services. These services will support GLEs whole-home and managed Wi-Fi services delivered through Calix GigaCenters, 804Mesh satellites, and Calix Support Cloud.



Over 80 years ago, GLE was formed to provide critical electric service to rural areas that other utilities would not serve, and that tradition continues today as we introduce a world-class fiber network to our members, said Bill Scott, Great Lakes Energy President and CEO. As we seek to bridge the digital divide in our rural communities, we believe reliable energy and communications solutions will enhance our members quality of life and promote a more vibrant economy for all. We are excited to partner with Calix Services to help us launch, ramp and successfully manage our Truestream fiber network. Expanding on a foundation of excellent customer support and a member-first mission, GLE  under the Truestream brand - has embarked on a fiber network build to enhance the broadband experience for its members. GLE is also driving economic development by enabling work from home capabilities and local business expansion. Its next-generation GPON network will deliver high-performance applications such as video streaming, video conferencing, online education, telemedicine, and gaming. GLE will also benefit from new capabilities to monitor and maintain the electric system, respond to outages faster, and identify and deploy system upgrades. With construction already underway, GLE is pre-registering members in a limited area for service that begins later this year. GLE plans to offer new services to all of their 125,000 members upon completion of the fiber network.

To accelerate this service delivery timetable, GLE has engaged Calix to provide Vantage Support Services. Vantage is the premier support service offered by Calix and it is designed for service providers who want to solve problems faster and improve customer satisfaction without adding headcount. Vantage will provide: The highest level of software and hardware support offered by Calix

Proactive, analytics driven network monitoring and management

A Vantage Service Director who will provide guidance on strategies to improve network performance and reliability We are proud to partner with GLE as it introduces advanced broadband services to underserved members who are eagerly anticipating all the benefits that these new services will deliver, said Greg Billings, Calix senior vice president of services. Calix Professional and Support Services are well suited for new broadband service providers like GLE who can leverage our network design, implementation, and support expertise to ramp deployment and deliver services faster to subscribers. By expanding their operational expertise through guidance from our experienced Calix network engineers, our Vantage Support Services help service providers lower risk, maintain brand integrity, and keep resources focused on growing their business. About Calix Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)  Innovative communications service providers rely on Calix platforms to help them master and monetize the complex infrastructure between their subscribers and the cloud. Calix is the leading global provider of the cloud and software platforms, systems, and services required to deliver the unified access network and smart premises of tomorrow. Our platforms and services help our customers build next generation networks by embracing a DevOps operating model, optimize the subscriber experience by leveraging big data analytics and turn the complexity of the smart home and business into new revenue streams. This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calixs business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. Press Inquiries:

Neila Matheny

707-766-3512

Neila.matheny@calix.com

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[August 14, 2018] Telkonet Announces Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Company Experiences Substantial Quarterly Net Revenue Growth and Market Expansion

Teleconference and Webcast to be Held Today at 4:30 P.M. EDT WAUKESHA, Wis., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telkonet, Inc. (OTCQB: TKOI), (the Company, Telkonet), creator of the EcoSmart platform of intelligent automation solutions designed to optimize comfort, energy efficiency and operational analytics in support of the emerging Internet of Things (IoT), today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Telkonet management will hold a teleconference to discuss these results with the financial community today at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT. Telkonet has encountered a dramatic expansion in growth and understanding of the market for commercial automation and IoT solutions since the beginning of the year, stated Jason Tienor, Telkonets President and CEO. This growth has had a very positive impact on Telkonets current and future performance demonstrated by 40% net revenue growth over the prior years same quarter. Operating and Financial Highlights Comparison for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017: Loss from continuing operations decreased $0.7 million (76%) to $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $0.9 million in the prior year period; while also decreasing $0.7 million (36%) to $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $2.1 million in the prior year period

Net revenues increased $0.9 million (40%) to $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $2.1 million in the prior year period; while also increasing $0.6 million (13%) to $4.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $4.0 million in the prior year period

Operating expenses decreased $0.2 million (8%) to $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $1.9 million in the prior year period; while also decreasing $0.6 million (14%) to $3.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $4.1 million in the prior year period

Achievement of 51% gross margin in the quarter

Completion of several marquee integrations including: Sonifi, Assa Abloy, and Volara

Announced upcoming release of Companys evolutionary new platform, Symphony, at Hospitality industrys largest annual event, HITEC Recent Events: Telkonet awarded large multi-year consumer housing project worth approximately $1MM

Company experiences significant growth and success of its annual Partner Week

Initiated strategic review of business positioning with engagement of Roth Capital Partners Telkonets strategy of business development has seen significant success through expansion of our OEM, VAR and ESCO relationships thus far in 2018, continued Tienor. Looking forward, were expecting a continued ramp of activity and success in our target markets in line with our second quarter performance, while taking advantage of key projects both domestic and international to boost Telkonets full-year performance.

Financial Results Review 2018 Quarter to Date and Year to Date Revenue : Total revenue from continuing operations increased $0.9 million to $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $2.1 million for the comparable period in 2017. For the six months ended, revenue increased $0.6 million to $4.6 million compared to $4.0 million for the comparable period in 2017. Product Revenue : Product revenue, which principally arises from the sales and installation of our EcoSmart energy management platform, increased 40% to $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $2.0 million for the comparable period in 2017. For the six months ended, product revenue increased 13% to $4.3 million compared to $3.8 million for the comparable period in 2017. Gross Margin Gross profit percentages increased to 51% for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from 48% for the comparable period in 2017. For the six months ended, gross profit percentages decreased to 45% from 47% for the comparable period in 2017. Net loss : The Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $0.9 million for the comparable period in 2017. For the six months ended, the Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $1.4 million compared to $2.1 million for the comparable period in 2017. Teleconference Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Time: 4:30 p.m. EDT (3:30 p.m. CDT, 1:30 p.m. PDT) Investor Dial-In (Toll Free US & Canada): 877-407-9171

Investor Dial-In (International): 201-493-6757 A replay of the teleconference will be available until August 28, 2018, which can be accessed by dialing (877) 660-6853 if calling within the US & Canada or (201) 612-7415, if calling internationally. Please enter conference ID # 13649459 to access the replay. NON-GAAP Financial Measures Telkonet will post to the Company's investor relations web site (www.telkonet.com) any reconciliation of differences between non-GAAP financial information that may be required in connection with issuing the Company's financial results. The Company, as is common in its industry, uses adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, a non-GAAP measurement gauge to demonstrate earnings exclusive of interest and non-cash events. The Company manages its business based on its cash flows. The Company, in its daily management of its business affairs and analysis of its monthly, quarterly and annual performance, makes its decisions based on cash flows, not on the amortization of assets obtained through historical activities. The Company, in managing its current and future affairs, cannot affect the amortization of the intangible assets to any material degree, and therefore uses adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations as its primary management guide. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations is not, and should not be considered, an alternative to net income (loss), income (loss) from continuing operations, or any other measure for determining operating performance of liquidity, as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). In assessing the overall health of its business for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company excluded items in the following general category described below: Stock-based compensation: The Company believes that because of the variety of equity awards used by companies, varying methodologies for determining stock-based compensation and the assumptions and estimates involved in those determinations, the exclusion of non-cash stock-based compensation enhances the ability of management and investors to understand the impact of non-cash stock-based compensation on our operating results. Further, the Company believes that excluding stock-based compensation expense allows for a more transparent comparison of its financial results to the previous period.

Bonuses paid to executives in 2017, upon sale of discontinued operations: The Company does not consider the bonuses of $87,750 associated with the sale of Ethostream to be indicative of current or future operating performance. Therefore, the Company does not consider the inclusion of these costs helpful in assessing its current financial performance compared to the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations and other non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, a measure of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, investors are cautioned that there are inherent limitations associated with the use of the non-GAAP financial measure as an analytical tool. In particular, the non-GAAP financial measure is not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and many of the adjustments to the GAAP financial measure reflect the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in the Company's financial results for the foreseeable future. The Company compensates for these limitations by providing specific information in the reconciliation included in this press release regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from the non-GAAP financial measure.

ABOUT TELKONET Telkonet, Inc. (OTCQB: TKOI) provides innovative intelligent automation platforms at the forefront of the Internet of Things (IoT) space. Helping commercial audiences better manage operational costs, the Companys EcoSmart intelligent automation platform is supported by a full-suite of IoT-connected devices that provide in-depth energy usage information and analysis, allowing building operators to reduce energy expenses. Vertical markets that benefit from EcoSmart products include hospitality, education, military, government, healthcare and multiple dwelling housing. Telkonet was founded in 1977 and is based in Waukesha, WI. For more information, visit www.telkonet.com. For news updates as they happen, follow @Telkonet on Twitter. To receive updates on all of Telkonets developments, sign up for our email alerts HERE. www.telkonet.com FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements included in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as competitive factors, technological development, market demand and the Companys ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net revenue due to variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and internal issues in the sponsoring client. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Companys financial results, can be found in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and in its Reports on Forms 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

TELKONET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended

June 30, Six Months Ended

June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenues, net: Product $ 2,820,805 $ 2,013,922 $ 4,324,463 $ 3,824,307 Recurring 153,357 110,201 254,895 213,043 Total Net Revenue 2,974,162 2,124,123 4,579,358 4,037,350 Cost of Sales: Product 1,376,729 1,065,914 2,370,966 2,073,959 Recurring 66,482 32,627 126,479 62,645 Total Cost of Sales 1,443,211 1,098,541 2,497,445 2,136,604 Gross Profit 1,530,951 1,025,582 2,081,913 1,900,746 Operating Expenses: Research and development 431,856 444,557 870,636 823,013 Selling, general and administrative 1,291,103 1,438,069 2,568,006 3,207,762 Depreciation and amortization 16,628 9,880 33,543 19,789 Total Operating Expenses 1,739,587 1,892,506 3,472,185 4,050,564 Operating Loss (208,636 ) (866,924 ) (1,390,272 ) (2,149,818 ) Other Income (Expenses): Interest income (expense), net 4,054 4,428 1,524 (5,925 ) Total Other Income (Expense) 4,054 4,428 1,524 (5,925 ) Loss from Continuing Operations before Provision for Income Taxes (204,582 ) (862,496 ) (1,388,748 ) (2,155,743 ) Provision for Income Taxes 2,000 6,910 2,000 7,901 Net loss from continuing operations (206,582 ) (869,406 ) (1,390,748 ) (2,163,644 ) Discontinued Operations: Gain from sale of discontinued operations (net of tax)    6,384,871 Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)  18,855  590,657 Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ (206,582 ) $ (850,551 ) $ (1,390,748 ) $ 4,811,884 Net income (loss) per common share: Basic - continuing operations $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.02 ) Basic - discontinued operations $  $ 0.00 $  $ 0.05 Basic  net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) $ 0.04 Diluted - continuing operations $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.02 ) Diluted - discontinued operations $  $ 0.00 $  $ 0.05 Diluted  net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ (0.00 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) $ 0.04 Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding  basic 133,989,919 133,015,191 133,843,329 132,894,833 Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding diluted 133,739,919 133,015,191 133,961,689 133,490,201





RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS FROM

CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA

(Unaudited) Three Months Ended

June 30, Six Months Ended

June 30, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Net loss from continuing operations $ (206,582 ) $ (869,406 ) $ (1,390,748 ) $ (2,163,644 ) Interest (income) expense, net (4,054 ) (4,428 ) (1,524 ) 5,925 Provision for income taxes 2,000 6,910 2,000 7,901 Depreciation and amortization 16,628 9,880 33,543 19,789 EBITDA  continuing operations (192,008 ) (857,044 ) (1,356,729 ) (2,130,029 ) Adjustments: Stock-based compensation 1,531 3,516 3,061 318,202 Bonus paid to executives upon sale of discontinued operations    87,750 Adjusted EBITDA $ (190,478 ) $ (853,528 ) $ (1,353,668 ) $ (1,724,077 ) Media Contacts:

Telkonet Investor Relations

414.721.7988

ir@telkonet.com





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O'Reilly Uncovers Top Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Trends Ahead of Upcoming AI Conference

O'Reilly, the premier source for insight-driven learning on technology and business, today announced new survey findings and usage data that reveal growing trends and topics in artificial intelligence (AI). The results will be explored in a post titled, "3 Promising Areas for AI Skills Development," as well as at the Artificial Intelligence Conference co-hosted by O'Reilly and Intel AI, taking place September 4-7 in San Francisco.

Following a survey released earlier this year, "How Companies are Putting AI to Work through Deep Learning," O'Reilly has continued to monitor interest in topics relevant to building AI products and systems, specifically areas that warrant investment in skills development. By examining usage across all content formats on O'Reilly's online learning platform from January - June 2018, as well as the results of its new survey, "The State of Machine Learnng Adoption in the Enterprise," some of the key findings include:







Alongside Kubernetes and blockchain, machine learning has been a fast-growing, high-volume search topic. Searches for machine learning increased 98% YOY.

Key search topics associated with AI experienced double-digit growth. Top terms included deep learning and neural networks (77%), AI (72%) and machine learning (30%).

User data showed strong growth for interest in reinforcement learning (64%) and PyTorch (53%). In particular, Finance and Banking industry personnel are the top consumers of content in reinforcement learning.

Deep learning and TensorFlow remain areas of strong interest among users of O'Reilly's online learning platform.

"It's one thing to learn about an individual technology or a specific class of modeling techniques, but ultimately organizations need to be able to design robust AI applications and products," said Ben Lorica, chief data scientist at O'Reilly. "As such, we've assembled trainings, tutorials, case studies and a world-class lineup of speakers to shed light on these topics at the upcoming AI Conference in San Francisco."

Lorica, who serves as an AI Conference program chair alongside Naveen Rao (Intel), Roger Chen (Computable Labs) and honorary co-chairs Tim O'Reilly (O'Reilly) and Peter Norvig ( Google (News - Alert) ), has created a conference program that covers important emerging AI techniques and technologies with a focus on real-world implementations. Keynote speakers include executives from leading organizations such as Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) , Intel AI and Accenture.

Additionally, O'Reilly and Intel AI will present the new AI Business Summit in conjunction with the conference. The event will provide concise, high-level executive briefings on the most promising developments in AI for business. Attendees will hear detailed case studies of successful AI projects from Google, IBM, Microsoft, Baidu, SAP (News - Alert) Concur and more.

Conference registration is now open, and a limited number of media passes are available for qualified journalists and analysts. For questions regarding media credentials, contact maureen@oreilly.com; for media queries or scheduling interviews, contact OReilly@famapr.com. Follow @TheAIConf or #TheAIConf on Twitter (News - Alert) for the latest news and updates.

About O'Reilly

For almost 40 years, O'Reilly has provided technology and business training, knowledge, and insight to help companies succeed. Our unique network of experts and innovators share their knowledge and expertise through the company's Safari training and learning platform and at O'Reilly conferences. As a SaaS (News - Alert) learning platform, Safari delivers highly topical and comprehensive technology and business learning solutions to millions of users across enterprise, consumer, and university channels. For more information, visit www.oreilly.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005145/en/
[August 14, 2018] schuh Partners with Namogoo to Give Online Journey Hijacking the Boot

Namogoo, a company that helps online businesses prevent Online Journey Hijacking, today announced the addition of UK footwear retailer schuh to its growing roster of leading retail brands. schuh is using Namogoo to increase conversion rates and improve the online customer experience by blocking unauthorized competitor ads from their eCommerce site. Namogoo's Online Journey Hijacking Prevention software revealed that nearly 19 percent of all schuh web sessions were infected by various forms of injected ads throughout the customer journey, disrupting the intended customer experience. Ads are injected when consumers are unknowingly infected with malware on their computers or smartphone. Since the ads are injected on the consumer's browser, they are not visible to schuh's online team. Utilizing Namogoo's software has provided visibility into the magnitude of the issue and the potential sales increase from blocking these unauthorized ads. "When Namogoo first approached us about this solution, they revealed a significant problem our customers were facing while visiting our site," said Stuart McMillan, deput head of eCommerce at schuh. "We were surprised to learn that an issue so disruptive to online retail could be flying under our radar. Once we saw the results, we realized Namogoo's technology delivered significant value, which increased our site conversion and overall revenue."



Blocking unauthorized ads with Namogoo's solution drove a substantial increase across eCommerce KPIs. By working with Namogoo, schuh experienced a nearly 15 percent increase in average conversion rate and 29 percent decrease in checkout abandonment rate for infected users and an overall conversion increase of 2.78 percent. "Most eCommerce professionals are not aware that Online Journey Hijacking is happening on their site or that they are losing customers and revenue as a result. This growing issue has an untold impact on the online economy," said Chemi Katz, co-founder and CEO of Namogoo. "With Namogoo, retailers can easily ensure they are preserving a distraction-free customer experience by protecting their brand and winning back customers and revenue."

To learn more about how schuh is using Namogoo to protect its online customer journey and win back stolen revenue, download the full case study. About schuh

Schuh is a Scottish high street and internet branded footwear retailer, operating 130 stores throughout the British Isles, Ireland and Germany. They also have a substantial online presence and are one of the UK's busiest online footwear retailers. The company is predominantly a branded shoe stockist, selling over 80 brands, including: Converse, Vans, UGG, Nike, adidas as well as its own schuh label. About Namogoo

Namogoo is pioneering the market of Online Journey Hijacking Prevention. Namogoo's holistic platform enables online businesses to deliver a distraction-free customer journey by blocking unauthorized product ads injected into consumer web sessions and providing complete visibility and intelligence into the impact of all third and fourth party services on site performance and business KPIs. The world's largest online brands rely on Namogoo to gain control over their online customer experience and consistently improve business metrics. For more information, visit namogoo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005048/en/

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[August 14, 2018] Start-up Uses Oracle Cloud to Launch AI-Powered Hub for Social Networks

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle today announced Virtual Artifacts has launched its mobile application network, Hibe, with Oracle Cloud. The company has developed Hibe as a new social network for mobile applications that lets consumers communicate with each other from their social platform of choice. To prepare for rapid growth, Virtual Artifacts invested in Oracle Cloud, including Oracle Autonomous Database, Oracle Cloud Platform, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Hibe helps different mobile applications to seamlessly communicate with each other without fear of data or privacy spillage. Built on an AI-driven proprietary privacy engine, users are able to easily connect, interact, and transact together, each from their own favorite communication tools. The new network removes the inconvenience of having to switch between applications by keeping communications synched and in one place. "With 4.7 billion users on 6 million mobile apps, our ability to grow our database exponentially and globally was critical," said Stephane Lamoureux, COO, Virtual Artifacts. "We wanted a cloud provider that shares our values on privacy, is agile, and can work closely with us to build specific solutions. Oracle was the only vendor that could meet all of our requirements. With Oracle Autonomous Database, we no longer need to worry about manual, time-intensive tasks, such as database patching, upgrading, and tuning." With Oracle Autonomous Database, the industry's first self-driving, self-securing, and self-repairing database, Virtual Artifacts can avoid the complexities of database configuration, tuning, and administration and instead focus on innovation. Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse Cloud provides an easy-to-set-up and use data store for Hib data, enabling Virtual Artifacts to better understand customer behavior.



The Hibe platform uses a number of Oracle Cloud Platform and Infrastructure services to support its current operations and anticipated growth. Using Oracle Mobile Cloud's AI-driven intelligent bot on Hibe, Virtual Artifacts will be able to answer developers' questions and make it easy for app providers to access the platform. The integration of Oracle's mobile applications and chatbot technology on Hibe will also enable customers to directly engage with consumers, making it possible to quickly understand key audiences and improve the mobile experience. Additionally, Virtual Artifacts will work with Oracle to develop the Hibe Marketplace, including an advertising engine to match items with interested consumers connected to Hibe through their respective mobile applications. The Hibe platform will also host and distribute content. By using Oracle's blockchain platform, Virtual Artifacts and other content contributors on the platform will be able to track usage, distribution, and copyright attribution to help ensure it is being used and credited properly.

"The launch of the Hibe platform showcases the capabilities of Oracle's Autonomous Cloud," said Christopher Chelliah, group vice president and chief architect, Oracle Asia Pacific. "We essentially become the back end globally, leaving Virtual Artifacts to concentrate on the Hibe platform. This means that as a native cloud startup, we are supporting Virtual Artifacts from zero-to-production, and beyond. The combination of the strength of Oracle Cloud and Virtual Artifacts' innovative privacy engine has the potential to revolutionize the app-to-app ecosystem." About Virtual Artifacts

Based in Montreal, Canada, Virtual Artifacts is committed to deliver privacy-centric technologies that bridges the gap between online and real-life interactions and fundamentally transform how individuals, brands, and organizations meet, connect, communicate and transact online. These proprietary technologies both protect individual privacy and disrupt many online industries, including ecommerce, advertising, shipping, mobile and the manner in which brands manage key relationships with customers. Over the last 10 years, the company has developed decision-making AI engines and a centralized blockchain-like data structure to host, contextualize, distribute and ensure confidentiality of online activities powered by the company's technologies. For more information about Virtual Artifacts, please visit us at www.virtualartifacts.com and www.hibe.com About Oracle

The Oracle Cloud offers complete SaaS application suites for ERP, HCM and CX, plus best-in-class database Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) from data centers throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com. Trademarks

Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/start-up-uses-oracle-cloud-to-launch-ai-powered-hub-for-social-networks-300696481.html SOURCE Oracle

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[August 14, 2018] Profusa Closes $45 Million Series C Financing

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Profusa, a company dedicated to the development of tissue-integrating biosensors for continuous monitoring of body chemistries, today announced it has raised more than $45 million in a Series C financing. New investors, VMS Investment Group, Tasly Pharmaceutical Group and Maxim Integrated Ventures, joined existing investors, 3E Bioventures Capital and Atinum Investment, in this latest round of funding. Profusa plans to use the proceeds from this financing to advance the commercialization of its first product on the market  the Profusa Lumee Oxygen Platform https://profusa.com/lumee/ for continuous, real-time monitoring of tissue oxygen  and to accelerate the development of its transformative glucose biosensor technology. "With this financing, we continue to build the financial strength necessary to advance our innovative biosensor platform," said Ben Hwang, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Profusa. "We appreciate the support and confidence of our new and existing investors. Together, we are working to realize our vision of revolutionizing the management and utilization o personalized healthcare data."



Profusa's first clinical offering, the Profusa Lumee Oxygen Platform, is CE Marked for use in the European Union. Lumee is designed to report reliable tissue oxygen levels at various regions of interest, both acutely and long-term. Potential applications include monitoring of compromised tissue, such as peripheral artery disease that results in narrowing of blood vessels and reduced blood flow to the lower limbs; chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores that do not heal properly; sleep apnea; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and reconstructive surgery. "Profusa has made significant advances since its inception and is now on the cusp of revolutionizing the type of real-time data that can be gathered and shared between physicians and patients to drive truly personalized care," said Karen Liu, Ph.D., a partner of 3E Bioventures Capital and a current board director. "The company understands the enormous value that real-time, clinical-grade data derived from simple-to-use devices can have on an individual's health care and is taking a leadership role in transforming blood chemistry analysis into a continuous streamlined, digital experience."

About Profusa Profusa is leading the development of bioengineered sensors that become one with the body to detect and continuously transmit actionable, medical-grade data of body chemistry for personal and medical use. Overcoming the foreign-body response to in-body monitoring for long-term use, its tissue-integrated biosensors open the door to accessing, connecting and applying body chemistry in unprecedented ways, transforming the management of personal health and disease. Profusa's Lumee Oxygen Platform is CE Marked for sale in the EU for monitoring tissue-oxygen perfusion as a general indication with specific marketed application in the clinical management of peripheral artery disease and chronic wounds. In the U.S., Lumee is an Investigational Device limited by U.S. law to Investigational Use. Profusa Inc. is a privately held company based in South San Francisco, Calif. Please visit profusa.com for more information. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/profusa-closes-45-million-series-c-financing-300696522.html SOURCE Profusa, Inc.

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Nobody tunes into us to, you know, get political wisdom or get their outrage stoked or get pointed toward activism, he said. People tune into us for a break from all of that. We spend time talking to the audience afterward and every time we do that people come up and they tell me how much it means to them to have us at the end of the week giving them a break. And they mean that just in terms of, you know, how tough the week is and then they get to Wait Wait Dont Tell Me! And it's funny and it's enjoyable and it's goofy and that's such a pleasure.
[August 14, 2018] Progressive Care Inc. Reports Largest Six-Month Revenue Period in Company History in Q2 2018 Financial Filing

MIAMI, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB: RXMD), a personalized healthcare services and technology company, today announced financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2018, and provided an overview of recent operational highlights along with updates on the Companys strategies.

Progressive Care dispensed more than 67,000 prescriptions in Q2 2018, a 21.45% increase over Q2 2017, and 133,000 prescriptions for the six-month period ending June 30, a 23% increase over the same period in 2017. Pharmacy revenue for the six-month period ending June 30, 2018, was approximately $10.3 million, the largest six-month period in the Companys history and an increase of 3.41%. Progressive Cares total assets were $3,503,769 as of June 30, 2018, compared to $2,447,865 as of June 30, 2017  an increase of 43.13%. The Company continues to generate positive cash flow from its operations, with positive operational cash flow of approximately $69,000 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2018. Progressive Care also reported raising over $1.4 million for 340B charitable organizations during Q2 2018, and $2.7 million total for the six-month period ending June 30, 2018. The Companys total reported revenue included approximately $125,000 in fees earned on dispensing prescription medications to patients under 340B programs managed by two non-profit healthcare organizations in Florida. The Company expects expanded revenue growth through the signing of two new 340B contracts in July 2018. The contracts with Hope and Help Center of Central Florida and Care 4 U Management will begin on Oct. 1, 2018. We are proud to announce another quarter of significant growth compared to last year, said S. Parikh Mars, CEO of Progressive Care Inc. During this quarter, we completed our acquisition of Touchpoint Rx, continued developing our healthcare technological offering with the introduction of the PharmCo Smart-Pack Pouch Packaging system and the development of our own proprietary tele-pharmacy software called Tele-PharmCo. Mars continued: Finally, through the launch of our alternative pain management therapies, we were able to begin diversifying Progressive Cares suite of services and further position ourselves as a preferred online provider of healthcare resources for patients, physicians and providers. We hope that through these efforts, Progressive Care will be able to continue delivering increased value to our shareholders. Progressive Care anticipates that future growth will be driven by continued expansion into new market territories, concentrated efforts toward developing its compliance and adherence services provided to medical providers, and enhancement of technological opportunities that boost loyalty and customer satisfaction. Areas of current development include market penetration of Palm Beach and Martin Counties through the acquisition of Touchpoint Rx, LLC; the development of its Tele-PharmCo platform for its wholly owned subsidiary, PharmCo, LLC; the development and deployment of its online prescription management solution; and implementation of MTM protocols. SECOND QUARTER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS

During the second quarter of 2018, Progressive Care Inc. achieved the following milestones and significant events: Reported record-breaking year-over-year sales and growth numbers

In Q2 2018, the Company reported a total of $10.3 million in revenue, the largest single six-month period in its history to date. Progressive Care also experienced increases in prescriptions filled, reporting a 21.45% increase compared to the same quarter in 2017. Progressive Cares pharmacy services revenue growth is a result of the Companys expanding breadth of services, manufacturer price increases, new drugs coming to market, newindications for existing drugs, volume growth with current clients, and addition of new customers due to its focus on higher patient engagement and clinical expertise.



The Company dispensed a total of 66,800 prescriptions in Q2 2018, a 21.45% increase over Q2 2017. Progressive Cares total assets were $3,503,769 as of June 30, 2018, compared to $2,447,865 as of June 30, 2017  an increase of 43.13%. Furthered growth and expansion plans through pharmacy acquisition

The Company executed a definitive agreement to purchase the Touchpoint Rx pharmacy in Palm Beach County. Under this agreement, PharmCo assumed all day-to-day management of the pharmacy, which included assumption of all revenue and expenses. The acquisition will facilitate the Companys growth plans by decreasing the cost of servicing its delivery radius into Martin County, which includes Jupiter and Stuart, and will decrease costs of expansion and increase prescription dispensing efficiency.

Expansion of robot pharmacy machinery fleet

The Company purchased and installed a new Automated Pouch Packaging System for its Miami-Dade County PharmCo location. Progressive Cares wholly-owned subsidiary, PharmCo, LLC, is one of the first in South Florida to offer this new packaging system PharmCo Smart-Pack that allows patients to receive customized dosage pouches according to their daily prescription needs. Continued development of technology driven healthcare service options

The Company rolled out its online prescription management solution allowing PharmCo patients to visit www.pharmcopharmacy.com and access the companys prescription management platform, making the prescription request process even easier. The web-based forms are user-friendly and fully integrated for easy processing and quick turn-around on new, transfer and refill prescriptions. Additionally, the Company started the development of its own proprietary tele-pharmacy software, Tele-PharmCo, to digitally communicate with patients, physicians, pharmacists and caretakers across the world. This state-of-the-art multi-platform technology will be capable of running on kiosk, desktop and mobile devices. The move comes as part of Progressive Cares overall effort to expand its current kiosk program. Provided further education on alternative treatments to opioids

The Company launched a new program designed to educate patients and providers on treatment alternatives to opioids available through the company. The campaign is part of the Companys initiative to spread awareness of available alternative therapies that can improve a persons quality of life and, in many cases, prevent tragedy caused by opioid abuse and solve the nationwide epidemic. Maintained steady investor relations activity

The Company actively communicated with its customers and shareholders through various investor announcements. These efforts included: Acting to alleviate pressure caused by naked short positions in the Companys stock. The Company contacted several broker/dealers, clearing firms and reached out to FINRAs Division of Market Regulation about the problem naked shorting is causing in the market for the Companys securities.

Partnering with CMW Media as its public relations agency of record as part of Progressive Cares overall effort to expand marketing and communications activities for the company and all subsidiaries.

as its public relations agency of record as part of Progressive Cares overall effort to expand marketing and communications activities for the company and all subsidiaries. Engagement with The Benchmark Company, LLC as a financial advisor as it moves forward with the process of re-registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and pursuing a listing on a national securities exchange. SECOND QUARTER 2018 FINANCIAL RESULTS Net Revenue: For the six-month period ending June 30, 2018, Progressive Care showed net sales of $10,268,886, as compared to net sales of $9,930,422 for the six-month period that ended June 30, 2017, an increase of 3.41%. Balance Sheet: Total Assets for the company were $3,503,769 as of June 30, 2018, compared to $2,447,865 as of June 30, 2017, an increase of 43.13%. Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Operating cash flow increased from ($272,769) to $69,444 year-over-year, which is an increase of over 125.45%. For more information about Progressive Care, please visit the companys website . Connect and stay in touch with us on social media: Progressive Care Inc.

https://www.facebook.com/ProgressiveCareUS/

https://twitter.com/ProgressCareUS PharmCo, LLC

https://www.facebook.com/pharmcorx/

https://twitter.com/PharmCoRx About Progressive Care Inc.

Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB: RXMD), through its PharmCo, LLC, is a South Florida health services organization and provider of prescription pharmaceuticals, compounded medications, provider of tele-pharmacy services, the sale of anti-retroviral medications, medication therapy management (MTM), the supply of prescription medications to long term care facilities, and health practice risk management. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Companys expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the intended terms of the offering, closing of the offering and use of any proceeds from the offering. When used herein, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, upcoming, plan, target, intend and expect and similar expressions, as they relate to Progressive Care Inc., its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Public Relations Contact:

Tory Patterson, CMW Media

Tory@cmwmedia.com

www.cmwmedia.com Investor Relations Contact:

Armen Karapetyan, Progressive Care

Senior Advisor Business Development

Armen@progressivecareus.com

www.progressivecareus.com

www.pharmcopharmacy.com

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[August 14, 2018] Indiana Office of Technology Implements Safe-T for Improved Data Security

SHORT HILLS, New Jersey, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Safe-T, a leading provider of software-defined access solutions for the hybrid cloud, announced today that Indiana's Office of Technology (IOT) has implemented Safe-T's Software-Defined Access solution to securely store and share information across more than ninety state agencies. Safe-T's Secure File Access protects government information both in transit and at rest while enforcing advanced authentication policies for the entire network. It provides a unified security solution for all of IOT's agencies, which is more robust and less costly than having each agency protect their data independently. IOT successfully utilizes Safe-T's Software-Defined Access for multiple use cases, such as person-to-person file transfers, secure vault encrypted storage and connectors to Data Loss Protection (DLP) and Anti-Virus Scanners. IOT was able to easily integrate the Safe-T solution with existing platforms to further protect networks without hindering their streamlined security process. "IOT searched high and low for a security solution that offered a high level of protection while maintaining a user-friendly intrface, and Safe-T's solution addressed all our needs," said Craig Boyer and Kiszka Ward, at IOT. "By consolidating our data access and exchange solutions, we can reduce our points of failure while improving our cost and labor efficiency."



"Government agencies are faced with huge challenges as they are becoming targets for high profile cyber-attacks," said John Parmley, CEO of Safe-T USA. "We are proud to deliver the comprehensive protection IOT needs to protect their citizens' privacy in the most cost-effective way possible." About Safe-T:

Safe-T Data (www.safe-t.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Safe-T Group Ltd. (TASE: SAFE) (OTCQB: SFTTY), is a leading provider of software-defined access solutions which mitigate attacks on enterprises' business-critical services and sensitive data. Safe-T solves the data access challenge by masking data at the perimeter, keeping information assets safe and limiting access only to authorized and intended entities in hybrid cloud environments. Safe-T enhances operational productivity, efficiency, security, and compliance by protecting organizations from data exfiltration, leakage, malware, ransomware, and fraud. With Safe-T's patented, multi-layer software-defined access, financial services, healthcare, utility companies and governments are able to secure their data, services, and networks from internal and external data threats. About Indiana Office of Technology The Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) delivers enterprise support for approximately 30,000 state employees, including hardware, network and infrastructure support to more than 100 state agencies, separately-elected officials and the judiciary. IOT provides measurable, secure, consistent, reliable enterprise-technology services at cost-effective prices to our partner agencies so they can better serve our mutual customer, the Hoosier taxpayer. Media Contact

Mack Falstein

Fusion Public Relations on behalf of Safe-T

Mack.falstein@fusionpr.com

+1-646-452-7102 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indiana-office-of-technology-implements-safe-t-for-improved-data-security-300696418.html SOURCE Safe-T

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[August 14, 2018] HashedIn Partners With AWS, Salesforce, and Redis Labs to Support Next-Gen Intelligent SaaS Companies

SUNNYVALE, California, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With nearly a decade of demonstrated technical expertise in delivering robust Cloud solutions to clients worldwide, HashedIn is one of the top 10 companies from India to earn the AWS Advanced Consulting partnership status and among the top 5 companies to get AWS 50 Certified. The partnership enhances the agility and developmental capabilities of the team to deliver high performing, innovative Cloud solutions. HashedIn is also a tech p artner for Redis Labs for consulting, support and specialized workshops. Moreover, the company has a strong partnership with SalesForce Heroku platform which enhances their capabilities to build digital solutions like bots, analytics, portals and loyalty apps. These partnerships with the giants of the digital ecosystem will enable HashedIn to build revolutionary intelligent SaaS products and deliver greater value o clients.



"We are an innovation-driven company and our focus has always been to build the right partnerships and technology to deliver intelligent SaaS solutions," said Himanshu Varshney, Founder & CEO, HashedIn Technologies. He added, "With HashedIn as their Digital Technology Partner, companies can access cost-effective, powerful solutions to scale their business." HashedIn is continuously innovating and improving their technologies to achieve better performance. The team has created popular open-source frameworks like SQueaLy. HashedIn's own product portfolio includes MeetNotes, a meeting assistant tool, and RDB tools, a cross-platform GUI for optimizing Redis. Using their technical proficiency, and advanced SaaS capabilities, the company develops winning SaaS applications that are powered by AI/ML, Integrated, Analytics-driven, and designed with modern UI/UX features.

The strategic partnerships further enhances the team's capabilities to deliver a range of specialized IT services including product innovation, modernization, cloud migration, integration, data analytics for insights, machine learning, API Management and more. Learn about Intelligent SaaS Solutions, visit: http://www.hashedin.com About HashedIn HashedIn is an IT services and consulting company that builds intelligent SaaS solutions for its global clients. With nearly a decade of SaaS expertise, HashedIn has built robust solutions for 100+ clients worldwide, including companies like Honeywell, NetApp, WinZip (a Corel Company), and Aruba. Media Contacts:

Ankur Richhariya

VP - Global Service

HashedIn Inc.

940 Stewart Drive #271

Sunnyvale, CA 94085, United States

Phone: +1(669)268-2247

Email: media@hashedin.com

Website: https://hashedin.com/

SOURCE HashedIn Technologies Private Limited

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[August 14, 2018] TMC Selects the Votacall Cloud Phone System as a Winner of the 2018 Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award

BOSTON, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Votacall announced today that TMC , a global, integrated media company, has awarded Votacalls business-class hosted VoIP phone system as a 2018 Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award.

To Votacall, the term customer experience is not marketing fodder. In fact, we believe that the customer experience is a tangible and measurable feature present in all products. We take the customer experience seriously; it is the foundation with which our service, support and success are built upon. It is what differentiates us to our clients and it is what drives us daily to enhance the customer experience. Votacalls business-class cloud phone system is a feature-rich solution delivering UCaaS functionality and a complete Call Center Suite designed, implemented and fully managed by Votacalls award-winning support team. This award is recognition of our undying commitment to the delivery of a better class of service and a better class of customer experience to our business VoIP clients, said Andy DeAngelis, Chief Operating Officer, Votacall. Votacall believes that business communication technology should be a differentiator, altering corporate efficiency and productivity daily. It is our ontention that Hosted VoIP should be an experience that has the power to deliver true wow moments to business users globally. Hosted VoIP is not just about savings; it is about the experience and this award solidifies Votacalls cloud phone system as a leader in the business communications market.







Congratulations to Votacall for being honored as the winner of the Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award, said Rich Tehrani , CEO, TMC. Votacalls cloud phone system is truly an innovative product and is amongst the best communications products and services available in 2018. I look forward to continued excellence from Votacall in 2018 and beyond. About Votacall

Votacall is a leading provider of cloud-based voice solutions and business communication systems, with expertise in VoIP, unified communications and call center design and deployment. The company is committed to delivering best-in-class solutions to its customers - helping them stay ahead of the technological curve at the lowest total cost-of-ownership.

For more information, visit www.votacall.com.





About TMC

Through education, industry news, live events and social influence, global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. As a result, leading technology vendors turn to TMC for unparalleled branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities. Our in-person and online events deliver unmatched visibility and sales prospects for all percipients. Through our custom lead generation programs, we provide clients with an ongoing stream of leads that turn into sales opportunities and build databases. Additionally, we bolster brand reputations with the millions of impressions from display advertising on our news sites and newsletters. Making TMC a 360 degree marketing solution, we offer comprehensive event and road show management services and custom content creation with expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter , @tmcnet . For more information about TMC, visit www.tmcnet.com . Votacall Contact Andy DeAngelis COO adeangelis@votacall.com TMC Contact: Stephanie Thompson Manager 203-852-6800, ext. 139 sthompson@tmcnet.com

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[August 14, 2018] Galaxy Next Generation Announces Another 23 Unit New Installation of its Computer Touch Screens in Bacon County School District

TOCCOA, Ga., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. (OTC: FLCR) (Galaxy), a U.S. distributor of interactive learning technology hardware and software that create fully collaborative instructional environments, today announced the completion of the third phase of a four phase installation of its SAM series G2 computer touch screens for the Bacon County School District in Alma, Georgia.

The Bacon County School District, an early adopter of our technology, chose to standardize their classrooms with our industry-leading SAM series of G2 touch-screen panels, stated founder and CEO Gary LeCroy. Weve now completed 75% of the total project installs and anticipate completing the final phase of installation over the next 12 months. The Bacon County School District project includes the installation of approximately 110 SAM series G2 panels. With the completion of the third phase of the installation, approximately 80 units have been installed, including 23 in the current reporting period, generating an estimated $100,000 in revenue for Galaxy. Commenting on the installation, Shane Bennett, Technology Director of Bacon County School District, stated, Galaxy stood out from the competition as we explored a variety of options available to upgrade our classroom technology experience. Their turnaround time from purchase order has been very quick, and their support team, based here in the U.S., has provided excellent service. The SAM series G2 touch-screen panels are built with industry-leading specifications, including 20 points of interactive touch, 360-dgree infra-red sensors, and a built-in Android OS, bringing state-of-the-art touch-driven interactive whiteboard collaboration to classrooms and more.



This is another project that provides a clear demonstration of the seismic shifts in technological demands and innovation driving industry growth. With a proven history of customer success stories and industry-leading technology, were well-positioned to capitalize on this significant opportunity, continued LeCroy. Were very pleased with our strong start to the new fiscal year. We anticipate 200% growth over fiscal 2018 this year, generating between $20 million and $22 million in sales, with approximately $3 million in net income. The global education technology market surpassed $17.7 billion in sales in 2017 and is expected to grow to $40.9 billion, an 18.3% CAGR, by 2022.

About Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. Galaxy Next Generation is a U.S. distributor of interactive learning technology hardware and software that allows the presenter and participant to engage in a fully collaborative instructional environment. Galaxys products include Galaxys own private-label interactive touch screen panel as well as numerous other national and international branded peripheral and communication devices. Galaxys distribution channel consists of 22+ resellers across the U.S. who primarily sell the Companys products within the commercial and educational market. Galaxy does not control where resellers focus their resell efforts, although generally, the K-12 education market is the largest customer base for Galaxy products  comprising nearly 90% of Galaxys sales. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for FLCR's business and operations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. FLCR's forward-looking statements in this report are made as of the date hereof and FLCR disclaims any duty to supplement, update or revise such statements on a going forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, change, expectations or otherwise. In connection with the "safe harbour" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 FLCR is identifying certain forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the merger of GALAXY into GMS, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of FLCR. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause further events or results to vary from those addressed in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties arising from the ability of FLCR to successfully complete the merger, to implementation of Galaxy's business plan; uncertainties relating to the ability to realize the expected benefits of the merger; unanticipated or unfavorable regulatory matters; general economic conditions in the region and industry in which GALAXY operates, and other risk factors as discussed in FLCR' s other filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Craig Brelsford

RedChip Companies

407.644.4256

craig@redchip.com

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[August 14, 2018] Universities Space Research Association Scientist, Ludovic Brucker, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, receives the Cryosphere Early Career Award

COLUMBIA, Md. and WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Universities Space Research Association scientist, Ludovic Brucker, is a recipient of the prestigious 2018 Cryosphere Early Career Award presented by the American Geophysical Union (AGU). He was awarded this honor for his outstanding contributions integrating observations with models that have significantly improved international assessments of the cryosphere with respect to climate change. The AGU Award honors and recognizes the "sustained and unique contributions that enlighten our understanding of the Earth and its atmosphere and oceans, and of the solar system and exoplanets." The recipients of these awards through their scientific advancements have made significant advances to the well being of our planet. Dr. Nicholas White, USRA's Senior Vice President, Science, notes, "Dr. Brucker has in less than 10 years demonstrated exceptional skill in conducting and leading field experiments in unforgiving environments, and has a remarkable ability to interweave his field results with his theoretical work and scientific knowledge." Among its various awards that AGU bestows every year are 21 awards for early-career scientists (up to 10 years post-Ph.D.). All the awardes will be recognized for their achievements at AGU's Fall Meeting in December 2018 in Washington, D.C.



More information is available on https://eos.org/agu-news/2018-agu-section-awardees-and-named-lecturers. About USRA

The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology and engineering. USRA was founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities, and conducts other major research and educational programs, under Federal funding from NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Department of Energy, and other agencies. USRA engages the university community and employs in-house technical leadership and project management expertise. The governance of USRA is grounded in 110 major research universities. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu. PR Contact:

Suraiya Farukhi

Universities Space Research Association

sfarukhi@usra.edu

410-740-6224 (O); 443-812-6945 (Cell) View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universities-space-research-association-scientist-ludovic-brucker-at-nasas-goddard-space-flight-center-receives-the-cryosphere-early-career-award-300696770.html SOURCE Universities Space Research Association

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[August 14, 2018] Matthews Marking Systems Donates CPG Printer to University in New Orleans

WILSONVILLE, Ore., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Matthews Marking Systems, a Matthews International company and global supplier of printing solutions for the CPG market, is set to donate a thermal inkjet (TIJ) printing system to the University of Holy Cross' Food Sciences Program later this month. The system donated to the University is Matthews' VIAjet L-Series L25, a high-resolution thermal inkjet printhead that is ideal for marking on primary packaging, a significant portion of the Food Science Program, along with a MPERIA Lite controller. The MPERIA Lite is Matthews' most compact controller, which can manage multiple print technologies all from one single interface. The MPERIA marking and coding automation platform centralizes control of primary, secondary and tertiary marking. In addition to donating a system, Matthews Marking experts are scheduled to present industry solutions for marking and coding packaged goods to the program's group on August 29th, 2018. For more information, contact Jennifer Adams at Matthews Marking Systems at 971.224.1616, jeadams@matwcom or visit matthewsmarking.com.



ABOUT MATTHEWS MARKING SYSTEMS Matthews Marking Systems is a global supplier of printing solutions for product identification, branding, and traceability, designed to help our customers increase productivity, reduce waste and improve overall efficiency. We offer robust and reliable systems of unmatched quality for marking needs across packaging and industrial applications, including a full line of high-resolution inkjet, laser, and drop-on-demand valve jet technologies, high-performance inks, and integrated solutions for marking and coding automation. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and with subsidiaries in Sweden, Germany and China, we serve customers worldwide through an extensive sales, service and distribution network. With over 160 years of marking and coding experience, Matthews Marking Systems has established a global reputation as a premier innovator and manufacturer in the marking and coding industry.

ABOUT MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Matthews International Corporation is a global provider of brand solutions, memorialization products and industrial automation solutions. The SGK Brand Solutions segment is a leader in the delivery of brand development, activation and deployment services that help build our clients' brands and consumers' desire for them. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memorialization products (memorials, caskets and cremation equipment) to cemetery and funeral home customers that help families move from grief to remembrance. The Industrial segment designs, manufactures and distributes marking, coding and industrial automation technologies and solutions. We have more than 10,000 dedicated employees in more than 25 countries on six continents that are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/matthews-marking-systems-donates-cpg-printer-to-university-in-new-orleans-300696325.html SOURCE Matthews Marking Systems

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[August 14, 2018] ITA Group Acquires Experiential Design and Production Leader Hartmann Studios

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ITA Group, a worldwide leader in corporate engagement solutions, has announced its acquisition of experiential design and production company Hartmann Studios. With offices in San Francisco and Atlanta, Hartmann Studios is a full-service experiential design and production studio whose specialty lies in conceiving, creating and executing a vision to transform unique spaces into experiential environments for some of North America's most prominent brands. The addition of capabilities such as creative content development, turnkey production, stages and sets, audio/visual and lighting will allow ITA Group to bring experiential design and production completely in-house and enhance synergy between strategy and execution. The acquisition was effective as of August 1, 2018. "ITA Group is thrilled with the strategic acquisition of Hartmann Studios," said Tom Mahoney, ITA Group chairman and CEO. "As event management continues to rapidly evolve, major clients are demanding a partner who can deliver unique, full-service engagement solutions. Hartmann Studios shares a similar passion around team members, unleashing their talents and expertise to deliver remarkable experiences for clients and event attendees. We believe the combined resources and expertise of both companies will provide the industry with a unique engagement agency. Together, we'll provide clients with better ideas that produce better results." ITA Group, Inc.along with is subsidiaries Hartmann Studios and market research and strategy leader Chadwick Martin Baileyand its 750-member team create a one-stop partner experience for end-to-end engagement solutions featuring data-driven insights, program design, activation, and experiential events. Additional expertise in the areas of motivation and communications support heightened engagement strategy, while visionary event design, branded activations and creative components promote overall event elevation.



Mark Guelfi, Hartmann Studios president and CEO, added, "Together, ITA Group and Hartmann Studios are able to offer fully developed, holistic solutions for live eventsexperiential design, creative content, stunning production, and a full range of attendee services covering everything from travel and hospitality to comprehensive communications." He concluded, "But what really sets us apart is the superior level of customer service and attention to detail that serves as the bedrock for both our organizations." About ITA Group

ITA Group custom-designs solutions that excite, engage, and delight every organization's most important asset: its people. With operations in every region of the U.S., ITA Group infuses strategies proven to fuel advocacy and drive business results for some of the world's biggest brands. Find out more at itagroup.com.

About Hartmann Studios

Hartmann Studios is a full-service experiential design and production studio with offices in San Francisco and Atlanta. Their specialty lies in conceiving, creating and flawlessly executing a vision to transform unique spaces into experiential environments, and their distinctive approach to immersive experiences revolves around thematic consistency, stunning environments and a steadfast commitment to collaborative creative development. For more information, visit www.hartmannstudiosproductions.com. About CMB

CMB is an AMA Gold Top 50 market research and strategy firm partnering with a select group of the world's leading brands. CMB collaborates on game-changing initiatives including market identification and segmentation, brand health invigoration, rejuvenating tired trackers, loyalty and advocacy growth, and product and service development. For more information, visit http://www.cmbinfo.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ita-group-acquires-experiential-design-and-production-leader-hartmann-studios-300696341.html SOURCE ITA Group

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[August 14, 2018] H5 Data Centers Secures Customer Expansion at Its Denver Data Center

H5 Data Centers, a national colocation and wholesale data center provider, today announced an expansion at its Denver data center, located at 5350 S. Valentia Way in the Denver Tech Center. The data center expansion includes the build-out of a 5,000 square-foot, private raised floor suite, which has been pre-leased by an existing Fortune 500 customer. "We continue to focus on deepening our relationships with our growing wholesale customer base," said Josh Simms, founder and CEO of H5 Data Centers. "After completing the major renovation and expansion of our Denver Tech Center data center two years ago, we have more than doubled our enterprise customer base and worked to expand the capacities of most existing customers. H5 Data Centers will make available additional mechanical and electrical infrastructure as our customer ecosystem expands further." Denver Data Center Highlights: 300,000 SF data center capus

Concurrently-maintainable data center design

24x7 on-site engineering and security teams

Private data center suites

Over 17.5 MWs of emergency generator power capacity



About H5 Data Centers

H5 Data Centers is one of the leading privately-owned data center operators in the United States with over 2 million square feet of data center space under management. The company designs and engineers flexible and scalable data center solutions to address the core infrastructure and edge requirements of its customers. H5 Data Centers operates data centers in Albuquerque, Ashburn, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Phoenix, Quincy, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, and Seattle. For more information, visit www.h5datacenters.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005251/en/

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[August 14, 2018] The Buck Institute, Insilico Medicine, and Juvenescence Found Napa Therapeutics to Develop Drugs to Impede Age-Related Disease

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Insilico Medicine, and Juvenescence Ltd announced today that they have formed Napa Therapeutics, Ltd to develop drugs against a novel aging-related target. The Buck Institute is one of the leading research centers in the world focused solely on research on aging and the elimination of age-related disease. Insilico Medicine is an AI company focused on a range of verticals devoted to aging. Insilico Medicine stands to earn more than $100M in milestone payments should the program be successful. Juvenescence is a company focused on developing drugs to modify aging and the diseases of aging. Napa Therapeutics is based on groundbreaking research in NAD metabolism conducted in the lab of Eric Verdin, MD, President and CEO of the Buck Institute. The Verdin lab will collaborate with Napa, using Insilico's drug development engine to speed the discovery of new compounds. "This is a unique opportunity to use cutting-edge AI to accelerate drug discovery," said Dr. Verdin. "The Buck is excited to join forces with Insilico and Juvenescence as we work to eliminate the threat of age-related disease for this and future generations." "I am most excited by this model and the ability to combine the quality science of the Buck Institute with the remarkable deep learning engine at Insilico Medicine. To me this is another big step in the evolving process of using AI with HI (human intelligence) to extract the best of both systems," said Gregory Bailey, MD, CEO of Juvenescence. "Napa Therapeutics lets Juvenescence deepen our collaboration with the Buck Institute and with Insilico Medicine. We hope to shorten the time required to identify molecules that can be brought to the clinic and most importantly help patients." "We are very happy to partner with the Buck Institute and Juvenescence around a very promising set of targets in apathway overlooked by the pharmaceutical industry. Aging research is among the most altruistic causes that will improve and extend the lives of everyone on the planet and reduce the pain and suffering associated with the age-associated diseases. However, in order to scale, our efforts must become sustainable and provide reasonable returns to investors. If successful, Insilico Medicine alone stands to earn in excess of $100 million in milestone payment from this deal", said Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine.



### About Napa Therapeutics. Ltd

Napa Therapeutics, Ltd. is a biotechnology company focused on a novel target linked to one of the fundamental processes of aging. A privately held British Virgin Islands company with an office in the Isle of Man, Napa is developing small molecule drugs to address this target. About the Buck Institute for Research on Aging Our success will ultimately change healthcare. At the Buck, we aim to end the threat of age-related diseases for this and future generations by bringing together the most capable and passionate scientists from a broad range of disciplines to identify and impede the ways in which we age. An independent, nonprofit institution, our goal is to increase human health span, or the healthy years of life. Globally recognized as the pioneer and leader in efforts to target aging, the number one risk factor for serious diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes, the Buck wants to help people live better longer. Learn more at: https://buckinstitute.org About Juvenescence, Ltd. Juvenescence Limited is a company focused on developing therapies and drugs to increase human longevity and complementary investments in related sectors. It was founded in 2017. The Juvenescence team are highly experienced entrepreneurs and drug developers focused on life science and commercial drug development. Juvenescence creates new ventures and invests time and money directly in both start-up and in conjunction with established longevity related companies offering operational support. Juvenescence believes that advances in science have made real the possibility of slowing, halting or potentially reversing some elements of ageing and is assembling a pipeline of therapeutic agents through joint ventures. About Insilico Medicine, Inc. Insilico Medicine is an artificial intelligence company with R&D offices and resources in the US, Belgium, Russia, the UK, Taiwan and Korea, sourced through hackathons and competitions. The company and its scientists are dedicated to extending human productive longevity and transforming every step of the drug discovery and drug development process through excellence in biomarker discovery, drug development, digital medicine and aging research. Insilico pioneered the applications of the generative adversarial networks (GANs) and reinforcement learning for generation of novel molecular structures for diseases with a known ligand and with no known targets. In addition to working collaborations with large pharmaceutical companies, the company is pursuing internal drug discovery programs in cancer, dermatological diseases, fibrosis, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, diabetes, sarcopenia, and aging. Through a partnership with LifeExtension.com the company launched a range of nutraceutical products, compounded using advanced bioinformatics and deep learning techniques. It also provides a range of consumer-facing applications, including Young.AI. In 2017, NVIDIA (News - Alert) selected Insilico Medicine as one of the Top 5 AI companies for potential in social impact. In 2018, the company was named one of the global top 100 AI companies by CB Insights. In 2018 it received the Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) 2018 North American Artificial Intelligence for Aging Research and Drug Development Award accompanied by industry brief. Brief company video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l62jlwgL3v8. http://www.insilico.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005286/en/

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During the course of three concerts at the universitys Logan Center for the Arts, the Grossman Ensemble will offer 12 world premieres by university faculty, students and guest composers. In a most unusual feature, the musicians will conduct eight rehearsals before each performance, allowing composers time to revise their works before the premieres, a luxury by todays standards; and the public will be invited to attend an open rehearsal preceding each concert. The ensemble features flutist Tim Munro, oboist Andrew Nogal, clarinetist Katie Schoepflin, saxophonist Taimur Sullivan, hornist Matthew Oliphant, percussionists Greg Beyer and John Corkill, harpist Ben Melsky, pianist Daniel Pesca and the Spektral Quartet. Performances in the Logan Center Performance Hall, 915 E. 60th St.; $15.
[August 14, 2018] Kennebec Savings Bank Chooses Gro Solutions to Power Fast Digital Deposits and Seamless Mobile Access for Customers

Gro Solutions, a leading provider of digital growth solutions for banks and credit unions, announced Augusta (News - Alert) , Maine-based Kennebec Savings Bank ($1 billion in assets) has chosen Gro's Digital Sales Platform to help power its digital deposit account onboarding and provide a fast, seamless mobile experience for its customers. Kennebec Savings Bank identified Gro as the partner best suited to provide its customers with a quick and easy online experience, allowing them to open deposit accounts in less than five minutes. Additionally, the bank plans to leverage Gro's Digital Sales Platform to help meet the needs of its growing number of mobile-first customers, reducing the friction of the application process, and providing them a better overall user experience, regardless of how they engage. "Meetin and exceeding customer expectations is something we hold in high regard and anything we can do to help enhance and streamline their experience is important," said Craig Garofalo, COO for Kennebec Savings Bank. "Gro allows us to not only give our customers the digital and mobile banking features they need, but provide them a better, faster customer experience, as well."



Kennebec Savings Bank is planning to launch the new Gro services later this year. "More and more of today's bank customers are demanding fast, simple online account processes that match their mobile-first priorities and digital lifestyles," said David Eads, CEO of Gro Solutions. "We are excited for the opportunity to help Kennebec Savings Bank meet those demands and deliver a delightful digital banking experience to their customers."

About Kennebec Savings Bank Kennebec Savings Bank is a $1 billion state-chartered community bank, part of a mutual organization with a team of 140 employees and locations throughout central Maine. KSB is committed to excellence in service, teamwork, and community, and the continued success of its customers, employees, and the communities it serves. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. About Gro Solutions Founded in 2015, Gro Solutions provides a digital sales platform to drive acquisition growth for banks and credit unions, across all channels of their business. The Gro Digital Sales Platform features innovative and intuitive software solutions designed to optimize both the financial institution and end user experience for digital sales tasks, such as account opening and loan origination. For more information, visit www.grobanking.com, or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) , @GroBanking. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005364/en/

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[August 14, 2018] RDP Announces Affordable ThinBook 11.6" With User-Friendly Features

HYDERABAD, India, August 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RDP has launched 'ThinBook' India's most stylish and slimmest 11.6-inch laptop at the most affordable price to make computing available for everyone. It has got a huge attraction and response from all over India. RDP laptop has created disruption in the Indian market with its low pricing and technical values. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/730408/ThinBook_1130.jpg )

Design, Build: The RDP ThinBook is sleek, matty black colored and 11.6 inch IPS screen gets immense appreciation, it has a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. As for the display, the screen is reflective but the viewing angles are pretty decent. The company has made a pretty fair choice by utilizing an HD IPS panel despite the budget constraint. Media consumption on this laptop is fairly substantial - the video quality is crisp, sharper and viewing angles are remarkably good - thanks to the HD IPS display. Longer periods of watching videos wouldn't be an issue. The keyboard and trackpad of ThinBook are much better than expected, the palm rest area is spacious and there's a generous trackpad with great trackpad buttons. The keyboard area consists of well-spaced chiclet keys and there are LED status lights above the keyboard for power, num lock and caps lock. The touchpad is small, but it's surprisingly responsive and smooth with intuitive smart gestures. Performance: As far as performance is concerned, RDP ThinBook does fairly well. The ThinBook is built on an Intel Quad Core x5-Z8350 Processor, which has a burst frequency of up to 1.92GHz. It is also equipped with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage and an integrated Intel HD 400 graphics. As stated earlier, it also features an Optional HDD/SSD slot (DIY Model:customers can expand themselves based on their convenience with an additional HDD/SSD drive) and micro SD card slot.



The laptop ships with Windows 10 operating system and it runs relatively smooth on this ultra-cheap portable device. Even though, the laptop is powered by the Intel HD graphics we wouldn't recommend trying any high-performance games. It can be used for regular Windows Store games that use less RAM. The multi-touch trackpad on this cost-effective laptop is a bit tricky to use. Though the trackpad is comfortably placed, gestures are a bit off and one could be facing a lot of accidental clicks and unnecessary page zooms when using it for scrolling. On the other hand, boot time was fairly good, with the laptop up and ready in a matter of seconds from the time one hits the power button.

Battery life: The battery life of the laptop is great. A single charge can get more than 10 hours of mixed usage, this is completely subjective and will differ from user to user and how they uses it. What makes the battery last longer is the use of power-efficient hardware, that does not heat up. Using a flash storage instead of a hard drive also adds to the battery life. Recharging this battery takes a little more than 3 hours to top up. Audio: However, the audio output is pretty loud when placed on a flat surface. Media consumption shouldn't be a problem with these dual speakers. But one would be better off with an external speaker or with headphones for movies and music. Verdict: It is designed mainly for those who want to buy a compact and portable laptop. It is also good for those who need an affordable Windows PC to perform their daily tasks and is portable to be their companion. The battery is also good, so users can carry it along on business and personal trips. Only storage could be the problem for few but users can always expand the storage using external storage solutions (optional HDD slot/microSD card slot). For more details, visit http://www.rdp.in/laptop/thinbook-1130.html Availability: The product is available with leading online stores across India. Buy at Amazon http://amzn.in/4t4bA7V (or) Flipkart https://bit.ly/2MJfHZt About RDP: RDP, India's leading IT hardware & mobility manufacturing company was founded on 3rd January 2012 with a mission to provide simplified, affordable, computing solutions. RDP entered into mobility on August 3rd, 2016 by launching India's most affordable Laptop for INR 9999/- and caught the customer attention towards it. RDP Product line comprises a wide range of Laptops, Tablets, Thin Clients, Mini PC's & Desktop PC's equipped with highest commercial grade components offering the features and functionalities required to address the users increasingly varied computing needs. RDP is a result oriented company, with a passion to help its partners and clients in their quest for excellence. RDP has developed a strategic association with ecosystem players Microsoft and Intel. With over a 1,00,000+ clients in India and abroad, RDP has the experience, resources and the technological expertise to help organizations succeed in computing needs. For more media queries, please contact:

Concept PR

Hari

+91-9618883774

hariprasad@conceptpr.com





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[August 14, 2018]

SwRI establishes Collaborative Robotics Laboratory

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Research Institute has launched a Collaborative Robotics Laboratory to deliver advanced automation technology to the heavy industry and manufacturing sectors.

The facility features collaborative robots, or "cobots," in a flex-lab where engineers develop agile, mobile, automated capabilities. Lab facilities include meeting rooms for industry events and training.

"Cobots, when combined with adaptive perception-rich software, can perform complex tasks safely next to humans," said Paul Evans, director of SwRI's Manufacturing and Robotics Technologies Department. "Demand for SwRI's technical expertise in these areas inspired this capital investment in next-generation robotics."

While conventional industrial robots are typically walled off from humans for safety, cobots are different; they work alongside human operators performing manual tasks and heavy lifting. SwRI develops deep-learning algorithms, perception technologies and advanced path planning capabilities that enable cobots to collaborate with humans while performing multiple tasks.

"The lab's goal is to demonstrate how robots and humans can interact in safe, mutually beneficial ways," Evans said. "Our projects often work across disciplines like biomechanical engineering, robotics and software development."

Engineers use the lab as a test bed for software development, working in close proximity to smaller cobots before porting advanced capabilities to larger industrial robots. The SwRI-managed ROS-Industrial Consortium also uses the lab for open-source Robot Operating System (ROS) projects, including a robotic arm that fuses markerless motion capture technology with machine learning to autonomously pick and place objects from human hands.







The Collaborative Robotics Laboratory will support client projects, internal research, industry workshops, software development, and manufacturing assistance with science and engineering solutions from SwRI's diverse technical disciplines, ranging from deep sea to deep space and everything in between.

The lab's meeting space has already hosted workshops, code sprints and training. The SwRI-managed Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) South Central region is also developing courses to learn about integrating robotics into operations and supply chains.

"We want to introduce small- and medium-sized manufacturers to robots that will support the workforce while creating career opportunities for skilled human operators," Evans added.

https://www.swri.org/press-release/swri-establishes-collaborative-robotics-laboratory

To learn more about SwRI's robotics programs, visit https://www.swri.org/industries/industrial-robotics-automation. View a Collaborative Robotics Laboratory video here: https://youtu.be/r7zcLnmTjtQ.

About SwRI:

SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization based in San Antonio, Texas, with nearly 2,600 employees and an annual research volume of more than $528 million. Southwest Research Institute and SwRI are registered marks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Contact: Robert Crowe  (210) 522-4630 or rcrowe@swri.org

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/swri-establishes-collaborative-robotics-laboratory-300696793.html

SOURCE Southwest Research Institute
[August 14, 2018] Sony's Best Selling 3D 8MP 4K Medical Monitors for 2018 Including the LMD-X310MD & LMD-X310MT by Ampronix

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampronix is keeping itself at the forefront of healthcare technology by equipping healthcare providers with high-quality medical displays from HYBRIDPIXX and Sony. "Converting to ultra-high-definition 4K technology in the medical industry is now a standard in 2018," said Michael Thomas, Director of Marketing at Ampronix. "We are honored to help lead this technological shift, working with our partners to supply the latest in state-of-the-art medical monitor innovation." The HYBRIDPIXX medical display is the ideal choice for reproduction of multiple images. This 8MP 4K 58-inch vivid, precise, display delivers consistent uniform images that can be scaled and maneuvered to highlight the most vital picture and minimize the less important. Users have the ability to view 6-18 separate images simultaneously in the Cath lab or operating room on one display. The lightweight monitor delivers the stability and reliability of a custom engineered hardware solution suitable for most medical applications. Sony has combined 4K 8MP and 2D/3D imaging technology in four of their latest surgical monitors. The displays are able to upscale a video signal from HD to 4K, allowing medical teams and surgeons to view high-resolution images from endoscopes or surgical microscopes at a higher resolution. The 55-inch LMD-X550MD and the 31-inch LMD-X310MD 4K 2D LCD monitors display high-quality two-dimensional color video images with a 4K resolution. These models can be used with surgical endoscopes and laparoscopic camera systems. The 55-inch LMD-X550MT and the 31-inch LMD-X310MT 4K 3D/2D LCD monitors display both 2D and 3D video images in 4K or HD. The monitors can be used with surgical robotic systems such as da Vinci and with endoscopic/laparoscopic systems, surgical microscopes, and other compatible medical imaging systems.



All monitors have a larger screen with a narrow bezel which maximizes screen size. They also come with Sony's Advanced Image Multiple Enhancer (A.I.M.E. ) technology, which can be used to accentuate subtle color differences or highlight the outline structure of displayed objects. Ampronix currently has Premier Pricing available on all products mentioned in this release.

Contact Ampronix: Email: info@ampronix.com

International Sales: +1 949-273-8000

Domestic Sales: 1800-400-7972 for US and Canada Follow Us:

Facebook, Twitter, Linked In About Ampronix Ampronix is a renowned authorized master distributor of the medical industry's top brands as well as a world-class manufacturer of innovative technology. Since 1982, Ampronix has been dedicated to meeting the growing needs of the medical community with its extensive product knowledge, outstanding service and state-of-the-art repair facility. Ampronix prides itself on its ability to offer tailored, one-stop solutions at a faster and more cost-effective rate than other manufacturers. Ampronix is ISO 13485:2003, and ANSI/ESD S20.20-2014 certified. Related Images sony-lmdx550mt.jpg

Sony LMDX550MT

Sony LMD-X550MT 3D 4K Medical Display Monitor sony-lmdx550md.jpg

Sony LMDX550MD

Sony LMD-X550MD 4K Medical Display Monitor ampronix-hq.jpg

Ampronix HQ

Ampronix Headquarters hybridpixx-4k-8mp-cath-lab-display.png

HYBRIDPIXX 4K 8MP Cath Lab Display

4K 8MP Cath Lab Display - HYBRIDPIXX Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcZH_pOw43A View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sonys-best-selling-3d-8mp-4k-medical-monitors-for-2018-including-the-lmd-x310md--lmd-x310mt-by-ampronix-300696622.html SOURCE Ampronix

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[August 14, 2018] Mark Farrah Associates Assesses Individual Health Insurance Membership Comparisons and Competitor Insights

Mark Farrah Associates ( MFA (News - Alert) ), www.markfarrah.com, released an analysis brief providing insights into individual health insurance market developments with state-by-state membership comparisons. In "A Brief Analysis of the Individual Health Insurance Market," Mark Farrah Associates reported enrollment in individual, non-group medical plans totaled 15.75 million as of March 2018, representing an 11.1% decline from the 17.7 million members in March 2017. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports combined with data from MFA's Health Coverage Portal, 75% of these members were enrolled through the exchanges at first quarter 2018 with the remaining 25% of this segment, or 4 million covered lives, enrolled in off-exchange plans. Centene, Kaiser, Guidewell Mutual Holding Group (the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliats operating in Florida), and Anthem all reported more than 1.1 million individual medical covered lives as of first quarter 2018.



Based on statutory financial statements filed by health insurers, carriers collectively reported underwriting gains of almost $1.7 billion in the individual segment last year; a surprising difference from the $4.7 billion loss reported in 2016. In addition, as of first quarter 2018, plans have shown improved profitability over that seen in 2017. Premiums PMPM have increased and the aggregate medical expense ratio stands at 68%, down from 75.2% in 1Q17. Although enrollment in this precarious segment has been continually declining each year, due to the slight market stabilization and improved financial performance, many insurers are considering expansion plans for 2019. Mark Farrah Associates will monitor individual health insurance developments as the industry continues to brace for further market changes. To read the full text of "A Brief Analysis of the Individual Health Insurance Market," visit the Analysis Briefs library on Mark Farrah Associates' website.

About Mark Farrah Associates (MFA) Mark Farrah Associates is a leading business information provider in the health insurance sector. We provide health plan market data and analysis tools for the healthcare industry and our primary products include Health Coverage Portal, County Health Coverage, Health Plans USA, Medicare Business Online and Medicare Benefits Analyzer. To learn more about our products, access the product brochures and preview informational videos from the "Our Products" tab at www.markfarrah.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005450/en/

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[August 14, 2018] Mennonite Mutual Selects Finys for Core System Replacement

TROY, Mich., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Finys , developer of the Finys Suite, a modern enterprise core administration platform for property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies, is pleased to announce that Mennonite Mutual Insurance Company (Mennonite Mutual) recently selected Finys to replace their aging core administration systems.

Chris Blough, CEO of Mennonite Mutual



Founded in 1895, Mennonite Mutual provides faith-based and agribusiness policies throughout Ohio and Indiana. Mennonite Mutual prides itself on adoption and utilization of leading-edge technologies and was one of the first companies in the insurance industry to use FAA-licensed, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilots to deploy dronesfor pre-inspection of churches. In order to achieve and maintain the high levels of customer experience and satisfaction the company aspires to, Mennonite Mutual undertook an evaluation of available solutions to determine which would best facilitate modernization of the companys core administration processes.



We have been operating with a series of legacy systems and not getting the efficiency, speed or responsiveness that we feel reflects the core values of our company, said Chris Blough, CEO of Mennonite Mutual. We looked at a number of replacement options and found an ideal partner in Finys. Their depth of insurance knowledge, ease of use, past track record, and forward-thinking thoroughly impressed us. Mennonite Mutual and Finys teams will collaborate going forward to launch all of Mennonite Mutuals lines of business in both states, Ohio and Indiana, on Finys Suite solutions. Mennonite Mutual is looking forward to the ease of use and operational efficiencies that Finys will bring to its processes both internally and for its agency partners.

Mennonite Mutual wanted a solution that will bring new levels of speed and efficiency to basic administration and business processing, and that also has callouts to third-party data providers to enable application pre-fill capabilities, flexible APIs for easy integration with additional partners, and a SaaS delivery model for maximum uptime and scalability, said Scott Hinz, director of sales at Finys. The Finys Suite is a proven, modern core administration solution with a solid track record of delivering results for P&C insurers. We are looking forward to working with the Mennonite Mutual team on this implementation. The Finys Suite includes components for core administration (policy, billing and claims), as well as regulatory reporting and agent/consumer portals which support mobile access on-demand and is available as a pre-integrated suite or as standalone components. About Finys

Finys offers a modern enterprise platform, the Finys Suite (Finys), for property and casualty (P&C) insurance organizations. Finys includes components for core administration (policy, billing and claims), as well as portals and mobile access to support all personal and commercial lines of business for insurers, agents, vendors and insureds. Used by dozens of insurers to reduce operational costs and improve time to market, Finys is available for onsite or SaaS deployment. For more details please visit www.finys.com . Media Contact:

Jennifer Overhulse

St. Nick Media Services

(859) 803-6597

jen@stnickmedia.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1641ee9-b39d-4e98-aa41-6bf6cfdeffe3

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[August 14, 2018] New Reality: PIXO VR and HP Announce High Tech Alliance

ROYAL OAK, Mich., Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIXO VR and Silicon Valley titan HP Inc., are joining forces to bring virtual reality training to enterprises around the world. PIXO VR is the virtual reality software designer thats been making headlines and tantalizing both investors and major corporations alike with its first-to-market feature set and state-of-the-art, AAA-game quality VR training experiences. The stated goal of the tech alliance: provide global business with a complete, out-of-the-box, virtual reality training solutionhardware and software, end-to-end.

VR Training for Manufacturing and General Industry - https://www.pixovr.com



Virtual Reality Training for Construction - https://www.pixovr.com











For decades, Palo Alto, Calif. blueblood HP has supplied the business and consumer world with tech hardware, namely PCs, gaming systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions. More recently, the company has been expanding its reach into the virtual world with a suite of innovative virtual reality hardware products, putting cutting-edge VR technology into the hands of more businesses than ever. But, amazing hardware needs amazing software to complete the picture. Enter PIXO VR, a Michigan-based startup thats building eye-popping, photo-realistic training solutions for industry verticals including construction, manufacturing, energy and utilities. The two companies are working to ensure PIXO VRs fully immersive, 3D, active learning experiences take full advantage of the HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset and the HP VR Backpack, which offers users a tetherless experience, complete with hot-swappable batteries that enable continuous usage. When combined with PIXO VRs behavior-changing narratives, the result is an experience to beat all others.

Were really excited. Businesses may understand what VR can do, but they need a viable path for how to integrate it within their organizations and training programs. They want a complete solution, said PIXO VR CEO, Sean Hurwitz. HP hardware combined with PIXO VR software provides just that. We couldnt ask for better partners. Hurwitz went on to say HP brings more than just hardware to the table. Theyre Silicon Valley royalty. HP brings a level of trust, credibility, and reassurance you cant buy. They built that. And Im excited to build something great together. HP is known for building great hardware. PIXO VR builds great software. But really, we both build great experiences. Thats the passion for both companies, said Jay Fraser, HPs Global Head of VR for Training. Were cutting the last few cords with the physical world and allowing users true freedom. Freedom to explore new experiences, new realities, new ways of learning and doing. Those looking to sample the VR partners wares can do so at the SIGGRAPH conference Aug. 14-16 in Vancouver, British Columbia, where tetherless HP hardware will run PIXO VR training software. The tech mecca will be the two companies first official combined event in the wake of their groundbreaking alliance announcement. For more information, visit www.pixovr.com or www.hp.com/go/reinventreality PLEASE CONTACT:

Marco Maceri,

313.204.8943

marco.maceri@pixovr.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/86bbbe94-d4d5-4e22-be41-90ed9d442cf0 //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd46ac29-019a-453f-9bd5-dd9e44424593

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[August 14, 2018] NCSBN Launches Global Regulatory Atlas

CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NCSBN has published the groundbreaking Global Regulatory Atlas that charts the nursing regulatory landscape and provides a comprehensive online compendium of nursing regulation worldwide. The atlas was created with the assistance of health care regulators worldwide, and currently holds information from 181 jurisdictions representing more than 15 million nurses. Additional jurisdictions are being added on a monthly basis.

This is an exciting development and one that provides an essential resource to all those involved in delivering high quality patient care, education and research, comments NCSBN CEO David Benton, PhD, RGN FFNF, FRCN, FAAN. We are delighted by the enthusiasm of regulators from around the world in contributing to this new tool that helps us all protect the public and learn from each other. Uniquely positioned to offer nurses, educators, researchers and health care administrators detailed information about regulatory bodies across the globe  including their nursing population statistics, licensure orregistration requirements, levels of nursing, education and much more  the Global Regulatory Atlas is an invaluable and vital resource. Users can easily access in-depth information, explore global metrics, and compare and contrast jurisdictions. Reports can be saved and downloaded for future use.



This essential resource is offered free of charge and can be accessed at regulatoryatlas.com About NCSBN

NCSBN marks its 40th anniversary milestone in 2018 with the inspiring theme of Regulatory Excellence Surging Toward the Future. Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was initially created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together boards of nursing (BONs) to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. It has evolved into one of the leading voices of regulation across the world.

NCSBNs membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories  American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also 30 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories. NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 4.8 million licensed nurses. Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection. The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing. Contact: Dawn M. Kappel

Director, Marketing and Communications

312.525.3667 direct

312.279.1034 fax

dkappel@ncsbn.org

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[August 14, 2018] Cogeco Connexion to introduce next generation Internet protocol television (IPTV) platform

MONTREAL, Aug. 14, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Cogeco Connexion, a subsidiary of Cogeco Communications Inc. (TSX: CCA), is proud to announce that it has entered into an agreement with MediaKind (previously Ericsson Media Solutions) to offer its customers the MediaFirst next generation Internet protocol television (IPTV) platform in Canada. Cogeco Connexion is taking its customers into the future with the introduction of MediaKind's state-of-the-art solution, enhancing their experience with highly customizable video content, wireless receivers, voice activated controls, and access to Android Google Mobile Services for a complete video offering. This evolution toward IPTV will further enhance Cogeco Connexion's TV platform offering, demonstrating the Company's ability to truly listen to and adapt its services to changing market dynamics and customers' needs. "At Cogeco Connexion, we always make our customers' needs central to our priorities and decision-making process," stated Ken Smithard, President of Cogeco Connexion. "Trends in TV viewing clearly show that operators must always innovate in order to offer a rich and customized customer experience. After careful consideration, we are confident that the MediaFirst IPTV platform is the best vehicle to fulfill our promise to Canadian viewers by offering a cutting-edge tecnology with personalization features and greater ease of use for the kind of viewing experience our customers want and deserve."



"Once integrated, Cogeco Connexion's new MediaFirst Video Experience will be entirely IPTV-based, voice activated, and will rely entirely on a media-optimized cloud-based TV platform," explained Michel Blais, Vice President, Engineering and Operations, Cogeco Connexion. "We expect to make the service available to customers throughout our footprint by mid-year 2019 and it will then become the standard video experience offered to new customers." Customers currently enjoying our existing video services, including the advanced TiVo solution, will continue to be offered their current services in the future as MediaFirst will coexist with these video platforms.

"This announcement is great news for Cogeco Connexion and its customers. The introduction of an IPTV solution allows for a transition to a more efficient all-Internet protocol video delivery solution providing Cogeco Connexion with access to a broader video equipment ecosystem," added Luc Noiseux, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Strategy Officer, Cogeco Communications Inc. ABOUT COGECO CONNEXION

Cogeco Connexion regroups the Canadian cable operations of Cogeco Communications Inc. Cogeco Connexion is the second largest cable operator in Ontario and Quebec in terms of the number of basic cable service customers served. It provides its residential and small business customers with Internet, video and telephony services through its two-way broadband cable networks. Cogeco Communications Inc. is a communications corporation and is the 8th largest hybrid fibre coaxial cable operator in North America operating in Canada under the Cogeco Connexion brand name in Quebec and Ontario, and in the United States through its subsidiary Atlantic Broadband in 11 states along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. Through Cogeco Peer 1, Cogeco Communications Inc. provides its business customers with a suite of information technology services (colocation, network connectivity, hosting, cloud and managed services), through its 16 data centres, extensive FastFiber Network and more than 50 points of presence in North America and Europe. Cogeco Communications Inc.'s subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA). SOURCE Cogeco Connexion

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[August 14, 2018] Velocity Solutions Creates the Industry's Most Robust Overdraft Management Solution with the Acquisition of BSG's CourtesyConnect/CourtesyLimit Cloud-Based Software

Velocity Solutions, LLC, the leading provider of revenue enhancement solutions to regional and community financial institutions, through a subsidiary, has completed the acquisition of CourtesyConnect/CourtesyLimit, the automated overdraft management system provided by CourtesyCloud Management Solutions, LLC, a BSG Financial Group company. CourtesyConnect is the industry's first cloud-based courtesy overdraft management system. The software and processes allow financial institutions of all sizes to automate their overdraft service and manage it as a line of business - for enhanced account holder experience, compliance and revenue. CourtesyLimit is the risk management component of the system. It provides innovative data analysis capabilities to create dynamic overdraft limits tailored to an individual's repayment capacity. "This acquisition establishes Velocity Solutions as the industry's unrivaled leader in automated overdraft management solutions using dynamic limits," said Christopher Leonard, CEO of Velocity Solutions. "The addition of CourtesyConnect/CourtesyLimit to our existing product suite creates the industry's most powerful overdraft management product set. This acquisition allows us to provide our overdraft solutions to a broader base of financial institutions, including those who are seeking a cloud-based solution." Leonard continued, "we are better equipped than ever to help financial institutions of all sizes achieve the optimal balance of revenue, service and compliance-the three essential pillars of a complete and proactive overdraft management system." "Velocity Solutions is a seasoned veteran in the overdraft space. For years,we've coexisted in the industry as peers, with very similar goals of offering compliant and consumer-centric solutions, developing consultative relationships with our clients, and continuous innovation of our software, systems and processes," said W. Barrett Nichols, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BSG Financial Group. "This acquisition creates the opportunity to provide enhanced overdraft product offerings and unrivaled service to our combined client base, as well as to prospective financial institutions. With Velocity's existing suite of products, strong leadership team, and focus on responsible solutions using innovative technology, they are well-positioned to leverage the acquisition of CourtesyConnect/CourtesyLimit to solidify their position as the industry's leading overdraft management provider."



For more information, please contact Velocity Solutions at info@myvelocity.com. About Velocity Solutions, LLC

Velocity Solutions is the leading provider of digital revenue enhancement solutions to regional and community banks and credit unions. Founded in 1995 and servicing the transaction accounts of over 25 million consumers and business owners, Velocity has unparalleled expertise and insight into deposit account activity and transactional trends. Velocity's solutions are designed to automate overdraft services, drive new profitable accounts, provide digital consumer and business lending platforms, generate new non-interest income, and address regulatory scrutiny. For more information, please visit www.myvelocity.com. About BSG Financial Group Louisville, Kentucky-based BSG Financial Group is a group of independently organized companies that provides revenue-enhancement and compliance solutions for financial institutions nationwide. BSG Financial Group has been a provider of innovative overdraft programs since 1999, including the industry's first cloud-based overdraft management solution, CourtesyConnect/CourtesyLimit. The company's additional revenue-enhancing solutions include: Fee-Based Packaged Checking Accounts; Digital Lending Solutions; Vendor Management; Social Media Management; and CD Pricing and Selling Strategies. BSG Financial Group includes the following companies: CourtesyCloud Management Solutions, LLC; BSG Financial, LLC; and IQ Development, LLC. For more information about the company, visit www.bsgfinancial.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005329/en/

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O'Leary is right. Mental-health experts say the first steps in recognizing possible mental illness in your children are to know their habits and patterns, to notice when they deviate from them, and to create an environment in which they feel comfortable talking with you.
[August 14, 2018] BioAmber Provides Update on Liquidation Process

MONTREAL, Aug. 9, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - BioAmber Inc. (OTCPK: BIOAQ) announces that following a court order issued on July 31, 2018, the company, along with its monitor, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), has initiated a liquidation process pursuant to which offers will be solicited from liquidators and/or strategic buyers to proceed with the liquidation of the company's assets or a recapitalization transaction with the goal of realizing the greatest value on behalf of the company's creditors. Binding offers from the liquidators or strategic buyers must be received by 9 a.m. on August 21st, 2018, and if acceptable offers are received, the company will seek to obtain court approval of the retained offer on August 28th, 2018 and close the transaction on August 31st, 2018. Potential investors can contact Claudio Filippone or Christian Bourque from PWC, or Richard Eno, the company's CEO, in order to express interest in acquiring the assets or investing in the business. Note that there can be no guarantee that the company will be successful in securing an acceptable ofer in connection with the liquidation of its assets, and if an acceptable offer is received, the liquidation of the company's assets will almost certainly result in no residual value for non-secured creditors and equity investors.



About BioAmber

BioAmber (OTCPK: BIOAQ) is a renewable materials company. Its innovative technology platform combines biotechnology and catalysis to convert renewable feedstock into building block materials that are used in a wide variety of everyday products including plastics, paints, textiles, food additives and personal care products. For more information visit www.bio-amber.com. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve significant risks and uncertainties about BioAmber. BioAmber may use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," "would," "plan," "projected" or the negative of such words or other similar words or phrases to identify such forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things, whether BioAmber will be able to obtain an acceptable offer related to the liquidation of its assets. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by BioAmber, see disclosures contained in BioAmber's public filings with the SEC, including the risks discussed under the heading "Item 1.A Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, and under the heading "Risk Factors" of the recently filed prospectus supplement. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included in this press release and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and BioAmber undertakes no obligation to update such statements as a result of new information.

SOURCE BioAmber Inc.

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[August 14, 2018] Blank Rome Welcomes Seasoned Government Contracts Partner in D.C.

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Luke W. Meier has joined the Firm as a Partner in the Government Contracts group in the Washington, D.C., office. Luke's practice will focus on helping clients navigate regulations that apply when doing business with the federal government, including investigating and defending allegations of fraud typically brought under the False Claims Act ("FCA"). Luke joins Blank Rome from Covington & Burling LLP where he was special counsel in the firm's Government Contracts practice group. "Luke's previous involvement working for a major defense contractor as an on-site consultant at the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness, combined with his impressive private practice experience, will bring a unique perspective to our government contracts team," said Alan J. Hoffman, the Firm's Chairman and Managing Partner. "We're thrilled to welcome Luke to Blank Rome." Highly skilled in navigating the FCA and government contracts-related disputes, such as caims, award, and bid protests, Luke also provides his clients with counsel to establish and refine internal controls as well as strategic advice on a range of matters, including domestic sourcing requirements, personal and organizational conflicts of interest, and ethics policies and training. Luke's regulatory compliance counseling also includes providing advice regarding the Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts and General Services Administration schedule contracting.



As it relates to investigations and defending allegations of fraud, Luke has managed the response to numerous audits by the Defense Contract Audit Agency or an agency Office of Inspector General, and has successfully defended several government contractors from allegations of fraudulent mischarging. His litigation background includes complex commercial disputes and numerous bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and U.S. Court of Federal Claims. "Luke's background in government contracts law and litigation will be an excellent complement to our nationally recognized team," said David M. Nadler, Chair of Blank Rome's Government Contracts group. "His experience will have a powerful impact on the strength of our practice and our ability to provide strategic counsel to our clients."

"I'm delighted to be joining the talented attorneys at Blank Rome," said Luke. "The Firm's lawyers are not only incredibly skilled in their respective practice areas, but they are also great people. I look forward to working with a government contracts group poised for growth and contributing to the future success of this team." In addition to providing counsel to his government contracts-related clients, Luke will bring to Blank Rome a passion for pro bono work. In his pro bono practice, he has significant experience in helping clients seeking asylum in the United States. Luke earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Brown University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. He also serves as the co-chair of the University of Michigan Law School Alumni Club in D.C. About Blank Rome LLP Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 13 offices and more than 600 attorneys and principals who provide comprehensive legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industries, and are recognized for their commitment to pro bono work in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Rome's culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of our clients, and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, please visit blankrome.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005651/en/

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[August 14, 2018] DXC Technology Signs Agreement to Modernize Wisconsin's Medicaid Management Information System

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) awarded DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) a contract to manage the technology and business processes associated with its Medicaid program. The contract has an estimated value of $400 million over a five-year base period and also allows for five, one-year additional renewal options. Under the contract, DXC will provide fiscal-agent services for the state's Medicaid program, which serves about 1.2 million members annually. DXC will manage the current systems and operations and will enhance the state's Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). Over the course of the new contract, business modules will be strategically carved out and integrated to modernize, rather than replace, the state's MMIS. DXC's long-established Medicaid Process Management Services touch more than 45.8 million lives. Its interChange Healthcare Platform, leveraged by the state of Wisconsin, helps government healthcare agencies lower administrative costs, reduce fraud and abuse, and improve the quality of services for individuals. "DXC has deep expertise providing fiscal-agent services for government health programs and brings nearly 5,000 years of Medicaid knowlede to this contract based on the cumulative experience of the DXC team," said John McCabe, general manager and vice president of DXC's Americas Public Sector division. "It's also deeply personal, as our employees are passionate about serving their communities through this work."



The contract extends DXC's longstanding relationship with the Wisconsin DHS; through its legacy companies, DXC has partnered with the Wisconsin DHS for over 40 years. More than 550 DXC employees live and work in Wisconsin to support the contract. Resources:

DXC Government Health

DXC Government Healthcare Solutions

New pathways to Medicaid innovation About DXC Technology DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) is the world's leading independent, end-to-end IT services company, serving nearly 6,000 private and public-sector clients from a diverse array of industries across 70 countries. The company's technology independence, global talent and extensive partner network deliver transformative digital offerings and solutions that help clients harness the power of innovation to thrive on change. DXC Technology is recognized among the best corporate citizens globally. For more information, visit dxc.technology. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180814005723/en/

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[August 14, 2018] Max Sound Corporation Midyear Shareholder Update

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Max Sound Corporations (MAXD) CEO provides the following update to its shareholders.

Dear MAXD Shareholders, I want to thank each of you for your continual support as we strive towards finally achieving the sales and share value that we feel will be in our sites before the end of 2018. STOCK MANIPULATION FROM ILLEGAL NAKED SHORT SELLING Earlier this summer Max Sound Corp. engaged a leading provider of Regulation SHO compliance monitoring, short sale trading statistics and market integrity surveillance to examine substantial short selling of its stock. The results were shocking and disturbing: Max Sound Corporation (MAXD) has and is being victimized by Manipulative Trading Practices and Abusive Naked Short Selling for the past three years with the culprits objective to lower the price and harm the Company, said John Blaisure  CEO, Max Sound Corp. We asked the SEC and FINRA to act on MAXDs complaints and accelerate their investigations on the five major Market Makers, which are performing these illegal naked short selling activities, share counterfeiting and failing to deliver shares, added Mr. Blaisure. For anyone who doubts the reality of Naked Short Selling as a way that these market makers steal around 70 billion dollars a year of real equity from American middle class and blue collar investors who believe in the Small American Business Microcaps they are the primary investors of, here is a letter the Company received on July 23, 2018 along with a 198 page published report from the first court recognized expert on the subject of Naked Short Selling  Attorney Wes Christian of Christian Smith and Jewel. Several months ago I was hired as a Naked Short Selling Expert for a particular case in Federal Court of the Southern District of Florida (the Case). In the Case, which was tried before the court last week, I opined that: a) 40 to 70 percent of the daily trading volume (from Sept 2007 to Sept 2008) were counterfeit shares in the form of fails to deliver; and b) there were another 45 million shares in hidden fails, which were revealed by virtue of a new Cusip number assigned to the replacement shares issued after a 4500 to 1 reverse split. This reverse split required to redeem your physical share(s) with the old Cusip number for a new share(s) with a different Cusip number. The final conclusion I reached was that there were 100 million counterfeit shares sold when the total shares issued by the company were only 65 million. The SEC and the DOJ filed NO REBUTTAL TO MY REPORT. In fact, they accepted my report into evidence and told another lawyer from Kravath (after both sides rested) that they did not rebutt anything because they were TERRIFIED OF ME AND MY FINDINGS. This is, to my knowledge, the first time: 1) a court has accepted anyone as a naked short selling expert; and 2) allowed such report (and my rebuttal report) to be put into evidence. This is important to all of us litigating in this space, as we now have a precedent for this. In addition, the revelation of the level of counterfeit shares was compelling. I have enclosed my report and all exhibits for your review. Please note the number of sanctions and fines against wall street which single spaced is 25 pages, the vast majority of which is for mis-marking tickets long when they are short, not borrowing shares, and failing to deliver etc. MAXDs Market Makers are Knight/Virtu (NITE), Cantor Fitzgerald (CANT), Canaccord Genuity (CSTI), Citadel (CDEL) and eTrade/G1 (ETRF). Many of our investors have been following and asking about the Naked Short Selling that has been happening to their various penny stocks (including MAXD) and are interested in knowing more about stock manipulation and the corresponding SEC and FINRA-filed complaints. Again today, in conjunction with release, we have filed our third set of complaints with the SEC and FINRA and are requesting once more that they enforce the law that is there for them and requires them to stop this activity. Since MAXD filed complaints with the countrys top regulatory bodies, these same bad actors have continued their all-out assault on the Companys stock, but we are confident that either a short squeeze, or FINRA and/or SEC intervention is eminent to eliminate this blatant theft of our shareholders equity continued Mr. Blaisure. We estimate that there are currently 22 billion shares short which is about 4 times the number of shares issued and outstanding. We believe there will soon be significant buy-ins so it will be interesting to see if any of the 5 market makers blinks first. Technically, there are only enough shares for one of the market makers to financially survive the short squeeze we are working on. To learn more here is a primer on the subject: http://counterfeitingstock.com/CounterfeitingStock.html and here is a powerful article put into actual practice https://theintercept.com/series/penny-stock-chronicles/



HD AUDIO TECHNOLOGY AND LICENSING Late last year I had a tremendously positive trip to China and met with industry leaders at the Hong Kong Summit trip . The opportunity to port onto an enormous mobile chipset market with MAX-D Voice became evident and we are significantly far along in the completion of the development phase.

During the first and second quarters of 2018, at the request of several large OEMs, the Company conducted Audio Lab tests to greatly improve cellular voice calls with our improved technology and it is finally becoming clear to many Mobile Phone OEMs that the demand for a higher quality, clearer phone call is very important to consumers. MAXD LITIGATIONS Since 2014, most of you have been following the ongoing ups-and-downs of our litigation battles with Google. The first battle related to the Optimized Data Transmission patents, including U.S. Patent 339, sometimes labeled David vs. Googleiath was where Google sent back a road-map of the technology theft on yellow Post It notes , and the second was the Attia litigation, including the Court-granted leave to amend the complaint to add causes of action against defendants for civil violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (commonly known as RICO). The 339 Patent matter for Optimized Video Data Transmission is up for Appeal this fall and the positive outcome there will substantially affect our financial success going forward. In the Attia matter, the Fifth Amended Complaint was just filed along with Attias Stipulation for Entry of Order of Dismissal, said Mr. Blaisure. This allows the State Case for Trade Secret Theft and Misappropriation to go back to the State Court at the present time, and the RICO case to go to the Appeals Court where we will get a fair hearing, instead of the Court in Googles backyard where the court nearly always rules in their favor regardless of right or wrong. We know we have a good likelihood of success associated with these lawsuits and continue to fight on towards either a beneficial settlement or a court ordered verdict. Both cases are on a contingency and there is a third party litigation funder looking to cover the costs going forward. In either case, MAX-D has dramatically lowered its costs going forward so our upside has been improved while substantially eliminating our future cost risk to get to the finish line. THE COALITION AGAINST GOOGLE In response to the overwhelming number of requests from various individuals and small businesses harmed by the internet giant, last year Max Sound committed to lead THE COALITION AGAINST GOOGLE . Since that announcement, many victims have come forward and joined this coalition. Our team has been working daily, compiling an ever-growing database of Google victims and released, The Catalog of Google Crimes. You can visit http://GoogleCrimes.org and download this Catalog. The site also allows anyone to add their stories to the Catalog by using the submission page and lastly, you can delete Google and all of its products from your life permanently by following the step-by-step supplement at http://GoogleCrimes.org/take-back-your-privacy . We have been informed that in addition to the nearly 8 billion dollars of fines since last year against Google for Anti-trust violations that there are many other potential damages of that magnitude or greater that Google will potentially face down the road, continued Mr. Blaisure. COMPANY DEBT As you can imagine, running a Company that is simultaneously developing and deploying its core technology, fighting Google while dealing with naked short sellers who are also RegSHO violators takes a lot of resources. We are truly grateful to our strong shareholder base that continues to buy stock even as it gets sold short with counterfeit shares by market makers. We also are grateful that our convertible debt notes were recently bought out by an investor friendly to the Company, which we expect will soon help with the stock price and dilution. OTHER AREAS OF PROGRESS AND COMPANY ASSETS Last June, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued patent 9,679,427 on MAXD IP for Biometric Audio Security . A great deal of interest was generated at the Hong Kong Asia Summit and we will continue to seek license opportunity discussions with these interested companies in 2018. The Company has been granted the following registered trademarks: Max Sound, MAXD and MAX-D Audio Perfected and HD Audio. The MAX-D API (Application Programming Interface) allows the MAX-D algorithm to be inserted into applications such as streaming services, auto head units, DSP memory in chips and speakers, developer platforms and web-based applications. Our MAX-D HD Audio App is used and enjoyed by a user base of well over 500,000 subscribers and MAX-D continues to play a role in the hearing health initiatives of our youth and is working towards reversing this silent epidemic. A few years ago we announced the successful results of a University of Florida study demonstrating MAX-Ds hearing health benefits, and our Chairman met with leaders in Washington DC from the Congressional Hearing Health Caucus and the National Institute of Health. ONWARD TO SUCCESS We continue to strive and move forward with our technologies and litigations while at the same time minimizing debt and dilution as much as possible. While nothing has moved nearly as fast as we had all hoped, with the progress weve made we are more optimistic than ever that success through major brand recognition and revenue is imminent in 2018. Thank you sincerely for taking up your valuable time to go over this with us and for your continued support. Very truly yours,

John Blaisure - CEO

Max Sound Corporation ABOUT MAX SOUND COROPORATION

MAX-D is to audio what HD (High Definition) is to video. The MAX-D Audio Process makes everything sound better and can convert any audio file to high definition quality while significantly reducing the file size. Visit us www.maxd.audio Max Sound and MAX-D are Registered Trademarks and Patent Pending technologies wholly owned by Max Sound Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ABOUT MAX-D HD AUDIO TECHNOLOGY

The MAX-D HD Audio Technology is currently delivering Clean, High Definition Audio without increasing file size - fitting life-like HD Audio into our existing gigantic ever-growing compressed audio eco-system. We believe that we are nearing additional licensing adoption with a number of companies interested in the cost savings provided by MAX-D as we reduce data streaming costs while providing a higher quality HD Audio experience. In parallel to providing reduce data streaming costs, we also provide additional savings to potential licensors by delivering a nearly seamless low cost changeover. The MAX-D Technology can now be added quickly and economically to any industry or audio platform, as there is no need for bigger pipes, bigger servers, new consumer appliances, or higher data costs (which would be rejected by todays cost-conscious consumers and data providers). Although smaller file sizes and cost savings are beginning to captivate companies who are looking closely at their bottom-lines. The average consumer is interested in the CLEAN HD SOUND! Whether your music is streamed with MAX-D or voice is processed with MAX-D - MAX-D HD Audio Simply Sounds Better. Consumers agree that MAX-D MP3 files sound incredible (yet remains one-tenth the size of a .wav file). MAX-D provides more clarity, dimension, articulation and impact in every range of the audio spectrum while random artifacts and harshness are gone. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Statements in this press release which are not purely historical, including statements regarding Max Sound's intentions, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions, trends in the products markets, variations in the company's cash flow or adequacy of capital resources, market acceptance risks, technical development risks, and other risk factors. The company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Max Sound disclaims any obligation and does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release. Expanded and historical information is made available to the public by Max Sound Corporation and its Affiliates on its website www.maxd.audio or at www.sec.gov SOURCE: Max Sound Corporation

Phone: 800-327-MAXD

Email: info@maxsound.com

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[August 14, 2018] GoDaddy Inc. Announces Proposed Sale of Shares of Common Stock

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY), the world's largest cloud platform dedicated to small, independent ventures, announced today an underwritten public offering of 10,398,942 shares of its Class A common stock pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as bookrunner for this offering. Selling stockholders are offering 10,390,942 shares of Class A common stock. Selling stockholders participating in the offering consist of entities affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., Silver Lake Partners and YAM Special Holdings, Inc., an entity owned by GoDaddy founder, Bob Parsons. GoDaddy will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders. GoDaddy is also offering 8,000 shares of its Class A common stock and intends to use the proceeds of the offering to pay the transaction expenses incurred in connection with the offering and ny remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes.



GoDaddy filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3, which was effective upon filing on April 5, 2016, including a base prospectus dated April 5, 2016. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the registration statement and the other documents GoDaddy has filed or will file with the SEC for more complete information about GoDaddy and this offering. The proposed offering is being made only by means of an effective shelf registration statement, including a base prospectus and final prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained, when available, from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About GoDaddy GoDaddy powers the world's largest cloud platform dedicated to small, independent ventures. With 18 million customers worldwide and 77 million domain names under management, GoDaddy is the place people come to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers and manage their work. Our mission is to give our customers the tools, insights and the people to transform their ideas and personal initiative into success. Source: GoDaddy Inc. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/godaddy-inc-announces-proposed-sale-of-shares-of-common-stock-300697164.html SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.

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The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are Apple's flagships now and top our best phone list, but you can still get the older iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max at a discounted price. Of the two, I prefer the 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max ($999/999), thanks to its ginormous screen and longer battery life.

The 5.8-inch iPhone XS ($899/899) has all the same enhancements as its supersize sibling, including a fast A12 Bionic processor that blows away most Android phones, as well as improved cameras with Smart HDR and impressive bokeh controls.

To see how Apple's 2018 iPhones compare, check out our iPhone XS vs iPhone XS Max vs iPhone XR face-off.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Cheat Sheet

The cameras are good, and the new Depth Control for portraits works well.

Apple's A12 Bionic chip is once again faster than any Android phone.

The iPhone XS Max is more compelling than the regular iPhone XS because of its larger 6.5-inch screen and longer battery life.

The lack of USB-C fast charging out of the box for both phones is a bummer.

The iPhone XS Max and iPhone XS are worth upgrading to if you own an iPhone 7 or earlier device, but some may prefer the cheaper iPhone XR or new iPhone 11.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS price and deals



The iPhone XS starts at $899/899 for 64GB of storage. We'd prefer the 128GB you get with the Galaxy Note 9's base model. But you can upgrade to 256GB and 512GB on the iPhone XS for $1,049/1,049 and $1,249/1,249, respectively. The iPhone XS Max starts at $999/999 for 64GB, and goes up to $1,149/1,149 for 256GB and a whopping $1,349/1,349 for 512GB.

For our money, we would go for 256GB if possible. Opting for 512GB of storage will be overkill for most people when you factor in how much you can store in iCloud Storage.

When you break down the phone's price to monthly payments (available in the US only), the cost varies by carrier, but figure about $42 a month for the iPhone XS and $46 for the iPhone XS Max. Be sure to check out our frequently updated best iPhone XS deals to make sure you get the best price. We're also tracking the best Black Friday deals and best Cyber Monday deals.

Design: Regular and Supersized

As someone who carried the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus for more than a year before moving on to the 5.8-inch iPhone X, the iPhone XS Max feels familiar in my hands and pocket. Note I didn't say that it feels great. That's because the iPhone XS Max is about the same size as the larger iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus while packing in a larger 6.5-inch display.

The good news is that you get more screen real estate in the same size chassis as Apple's Plus handsets, minus the bezels and Home button. The bad news is that this is definitely not a skinny-jeans phone (not that anyone should ever wear them), and that you'll need two hands to use this 7.3-ounce behemoth comfortably. By comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is a lighter 7.1 ounces but it's also taller and a little bit thicker.

The 5.8-inch iPhone XS is better optimized for one-handed use, as it's shorter and narrower than the iPhone XS Max while weighing a lighter 6.24 ounces.

Whichever iPhone model you choose, it looks gorgeous in gold. I like the way the glass back plays with ambient light to deliver different shades, while the shiny color-matched stainless steel adds a hint of bling. Apple says this phone has the most durable glass ever on a smartphone, but we have not yet been able to test that claim. (The iPhone X finished third the last time we tested smartphone durability.)

Early drop tests on the iPhone XS look promising, though. YouTuber TechSmartt dropped the handsets from pocket height, head height (6 feet) and while standing on a picnic table with arm extended, and Apple's phones can through without cracking.

Extended warranty company SquareTrade gave the iPhone XS a high breakability score following its drop tests, but it started at an unrealistic height of 6 feet.

Apple has upped the durability in another way, as the iPhone XS and XS Max are both IP68 rated for dust- and water-resistance. That means they can withstand being submerged in 2 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, compared with 1 meter of water for the same amount of time on the iP67-rated iPhone X and iPhone 8.

Display: The Max Steals the Show

Bigger and bolder than anything Apple has ever put in a phone, the iPhone XS Max's OLED display is a sight to behold. Not only is it ginormous at 6.5 inches, you can use split-view mode in various Apple apps, such as Mail and Calendar. The phone looks and feels more like a desktop. However, the Galaxy Note 9 can run two separate apps side by side, including third-party apps.

When Danny Rand started running down the street with yellow and red neon lights toward a speeding truck, and then sheared off its front with a punch of his glowing Iron Fist, I felt like I was in Chinatown. I could make out all the creases in his yellow face mask, and the resulting sparks from the punch really popped.

The Super Retina Displays on both of the new iPhones are searingly bright, with the iPhone XS' registering 611 nits on our light meter and the iPhone XS' Max hitting 606 nits. (The Galaxy Note 9's 6.4-inch screen reached 604 nits.) Their OLED panels are pretty colorful, too, covering 123 percent of the sRGB color gamut. The Note 9's screen, however, reaches 224 percent.

The hues on the new iPhones' screens are more accurate, however, as they achieved a Delta-E rating of 0.25 and 0.22 for the XS and XS Max, respectively. A score of 0 is perfect. The Galaxy Note 9 fared slightly worse on this test with a Delta-E rating of 0.34.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max Specs



iPhone XS iPhone XS Max Starting Price $999/999 $1,099/1,099 Processor A12 Bionic A12 Bionic Screen 5.8-inch OLED (2436 x 1125 pixels) 6.5-inch OLED (2688 x 1242 pixels) Storage 64GB, 256GB, 512GB 64GB, 256GB, 512GB Face ID Yes Yes Rear Camera Dual 12MP wide (/1.8) and telephoto (/2.4) Dual 12MP wide (/1.8) and telephoto (/2.4) Front Camera 7MP, /2.2 7MP, /2.2 Battery Life 9:41 10:38 Metal Frame Stainless steel Stainless steel Colors Gold, Silver, Space Gray Gold, Silver, Space Gray Weight 6.2 ounces 7.3 ounces Size 5.7 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches 6.2 x 3.1 x 0.3 inches

Camera: Catching Up to (and Sometimes Beating) Pixel 2

If there's one area where the Apple needed to improve the iPhone, it's the camera. Google's Pixel 2 beat the iPhone X in our face-off, especially in low light. The iPhone XS and XS Max even the score with dual 12-MP cameras that have bigger and deeper pixels that let in up to 50 percent more light without sacrificing sharpness.

Examine this photo in a bar we shot on the iPhone XS, Pixel 2 XL and Galaxy Note 9. The Note 9's shot is the most vibrant, but the iPhone X delivers stunning detail when you zoom in, allowing us to read the text on the bottles. Plus, the upper-left area of the image didn't get blown out as it did on the other two phones.

The iPhone XS also benefits from a new Smart HDR mode, which Apple says takes advantage of faster sensors, an enhanced ISP and advanced algorithms to offer more highlights and shadow details in photos. I saw the improvement in shots like this, where I could see more of the eagle in the iPhone XS that got lost in the original iPhone X's image.

In this shot of colorful cupcakes, the iPhone XS once again delivers more detail, especially when you zoom in to see the frosting and the sugar crystals. The Note 9's shot is a close second because it's simply brighter and a bit more inviting.

Click above to expand

The iPhone XS now gives you Depth Control, so you can tweak the depth of field after you shoot. This worked extremely well when I captured this picture of my colleague Adam. Using a slider, I could adjust the blur effect so that I could see the trees and some passersby behind him or make it so that I could see only hints of those objects.

Does the iPhone XS beat the Pixel 2 XL at portraits with its two rear cameras? Not quite. In this shot of my colleague Caitlin, the iPhone XS' picture looks a bit too warm, while the exposure on the Pixel 2 XL looks more natural given the lighting conditions. Plus, you can make out more detail in her hair and her face looks brighter. The Note 9's shot looks great, but the left side of Caitlin's face looks blown out.

The iPhone XS' camera is good at close-ups, too, but the Pixel 2 XL edged it out. While the iPhone captured a brighter photo of this yellow flower, Google's camera let us see the specs in the leaves better, and the green leaves around it look more saturated.

Click above to expand

In one more low-light test, the iPhone XS took the brightest shot of this clock in Grand Central, and there's less noise on the signs in the background as you zoom in. But the gold resonates more on the clock in both the photos from the Pixel 2 XL and the Note 9.

The 7-MP TrueDepth front camera on the iPhone XS and XS Max both benefit from the same advanced bokeh controls and Smart HDR. The Stage Light effect, which blacks out everything but your face, is still hit or miss. But I thought the Contour Lighting effect did its job without looking like too-heavy makeup.

Performance

The A12 Bionic processor is the first 7-nanometer chip in a phone, but what's more important is what that enables. Apple claims that the two high-performance cores in this 6-core processor are up to 15 percent faster, and that the 4-core GPU is up to 50 percent faster.

Before we even get to the benchmark scores, it's important to note that Face ID is faster on the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max than on the iPhone X. That's because of improved algorithms in iOS 12 and the speedier A12 chip. It's just a half-second difference or so, but it's noticeable, and I appreciate being able to unlock my phone faster than on last year's iPhone X.

The iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max also shined in other real-world tasks, such as video editing. It took Apple's phones just 39 seconds to transcode a 2-minute 4K clip to 1080p. The Galaxy S9 took 2:32, and the OnePlus 6 finished in 3:45.

How about opening apps? The iPhone XS took 20.8 seconds to open Fortnite, 4.9 seconds for Pokemon Go and 6.17 seconds for the Asphalt 9 racing game. The Note 9 was slower across the board at 35 seconds, 7.2 seconds and 9.1 seconds, respectively. The older iPhone X was also slower than the iPhone XS at 26, 7.2 and 10 seconds for the above apps.

MORE: The Best Smartphones Available Right Now

On Geekbench 4, which measures overall speed, the iPhone XS Max scored 11,515, while the iPhone XS hit a slightly lower 11,420. Those scores smoke the fastest Android phones around, including the Snapdragon 845-powered Galaxy Note 9 (8,876) and the OnePlus 6 with 8GB of RAM (9,088).

To test graphics performance, we ran 3DMark Slingshot Extreme, and the iPhone XS Max scored 4,339 and the iPhone XS hit 4,244. Both of those numbers are below the Galaxy Note 9's 4,639, but they're a lot higher than the 2,227 turned in by the older iPhone X.

In a separate graphics benchmark that has a more intense workload, GFX Bench 5, the iPhone XS Max crushed the the Galaxy Note 9. Apple's phone scored higher Aztec Ruins test (1,604.7 frames to 851.7 frames) and on the Car Chase test (1,744.44 frames to 1,103 frames).

Neural Engine and AR

The next-generation Neural Engine inside the A12 Bionic on the iPhone XS is now up to nine times faster than what the A11 offered, which can give a sizable boost in augmented-reality apps. For instance, in the new elemenTao puzzle game, the iPhone XS Max was faster to load the experience than on the iPhone X, and it was able to scan for and place the virtual world on a table more quickly.

From there, I could zoom in on a landscape, complete with clouds, mountains and water, and use the wind and even bolts of lightning to move a ball toward its goal. I also had a blast playing Smash Tanks, which allowed me to fling tanks around slingshot-style. The graphics rendered smoothly even when there were big explosions.

I was also completely engrossed in the game when I tried shopping on the Magnolia Market website and pulled up a leather bag I could place right in front of me. I could make it bigger or smaller with pinch-to-zoom, and get up real close to see the stitching and zipper. Apple's usdz file format makes this a reality.

I still think AR apps could be more compelling, though more are on the way using Apple's ARKit 2.0. For instance, the HomeCourt app leverages your iPhone's camera to show you how many basketball shots you make and miss during a given session, and a multiplayer Galaga game from Directive Games that lets you and some friends shoot alien spaceships in the same room at the same time. It makes Head's Up feel like Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Audio: Sweeter Stereo

The audio boost in the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max is so good that you'll think twice about connecting to a Bluetooth speaker. Apple says it widened the stereo sound to deliver more detail, and I immediately appreciated the difference when I put the iPhone X and the iPhone XS side by side.

MORE: Smartphones with the Longest Battery Life

When listening to Imagine Dragon's "What It Takes," Dan Reynolds' vocals sounded much more present on the iPhone XS . On the iPhone X, his voice seemed to recede into the background. The drums had more punch on the new phones, too.

Battery Life and Charging

Based on a teardown of the iPhone XS and XS Max, the iPhone XS packs a 2,658 mAh battery, which is smaller than the 2,716 battery in the iPhone X. The iPhone XS Max has a larger capacity of 3,174 mAh, based on regulatory filings.

The iPhone XS Max the phone to get if you want longer endurance. On the Tom's Guide Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over LTE on 150 nits of screen brightness, the iPhone XS Max lasted a good 10 hours and 38 minutes. That's above the category average but below the Galaxy Note 9's time of 11:16. The Pixel 2 XL lasted an even longer 12:09.

The iPhone XS turned in a just-OK runtime of 9 hours and 41 minutes. That's shorter than the iPhone X's endurance, with that phone lasting 10 hours, 49 minutes when we tested it last year. When we retested the original iPhone X recently as part of our battery testing for the new phones, that time fell to 9 hours, 51 minutes, which could be because the websites we use in our browsing test are using more Javascript and other code than before, putting stress on the phone's bqttery.

While the iPhone XS supports faster wireless charging, Apple still doesn't include what you need for fast wired charging in the box, even though every other Android phone maker does with its flagships.

So, if you want to charge your iPhone XS or iPhone XS to 50 percent in 30 minutes, you'll have to invest in a USB-C power brick ($49) and USB-C-to-Lightning cable ($20). Apple should have made the switch to native USB-C with these iPhones or at the very least include an accessory.

Some iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max owners are reporting a bug where the phones will not charge when the devices are plugged in and the screen is off. However, a fix should be coming with the iOS 12.1 update.

iOS 12: New features added, including Apple News+, Apple Arcade and Apple TV+



iOS 12 has a lot of enhancements under the hood, but the one I appreciate most is Instant Tuning, which is, essentially, easier control over notifications. If you keep getting alerts from an app that you find annoying, you can disable them right from the Notification screen.

If you're into Animoji or Memoji, you can have lots of fun with your avatar on the new phones. The iPhone XS and XS Max can map 50 facial movements with its TrueDepth camera, and you can insert yourself in outgoing messages. You'll also be able to use Animoji and Memoji during FaceTime chats, but a promised group-calling feature with up to 32 people isn't coming until later.

Other iOS 12 highlights include Screen Time for keeping better tabs on your app usage, smarter search in photos and the ability to schedule Do Not Disturb mode.

But I'm most excited by Siri Shortcuts, an app that will let you accomplish multiple tasks (including those using third-party apps) with a single phrase. For instance, saying "Im going home" could turn on your Nest thermostat, text "Im coming home" to a loved one and open up the Maps app to provide directions.

iOS 12.1 brings several new features. These includes Group FaceTime, which allows you to conduct video calls with up to 32 people. And there's now Depth Control in real-time preview, which lets you adjust the bokeh effect in portraits as you're shooting.

Dual SIM support is a welcome upgrade for travelers, professionals or anyone who wants to use two phone numbers on the same iPhone. And there are 70 new emoji in iOS 12.

With iOS 12.2, the iPhone XS and XS offer access to the new Apple News+, which lets you subscribe to more than 300 magazines and The Wall Street Journal for $9.99 per month.

Other services coming soon include Arcade Plus for enjoying 100+ premium games per month for $9.99, Apple Channels (think Amazon Channels for iOS) and the premium Apple TV+ service this fall.

Gigabit LTE and Dual-SIM

The iPhone XS and XS Max now support Gigabit-class LTE, thanks to a new enclosure that has additional antennas that enable what's called 4x4 MIMO. The result was blazing speeds on T-Mobile's network using the Speedtest.net app. Downloads reached as high as 103 Mbps on the iPhone XS and 96.9 Mbps on the iPhone XS Max. The iPhone XS Max averaged 58.2 down, and the iPhone XS averaged a faster 67.2 Mbps.

Uploads on the iPhone XS averaged 18.6 Mbps; the iPhone XS Max pulled ahead here with 25.4 Mbps. By comparison, the older iPhone X averaged just 15.5 Mbps down and under 6 Mbps uploads.

Third-party testing by SpeedSmart.net found similar LTE results, with the iPhone XS offering nearly double the download rates on some networks.

In side-by-side tests against the Galaxy Note 9, the iPhone XS Max delivered slower download speeds but slightly faster uploads. We ran Speedtest.net multiple times in three different locations in New York City, and the iPhone averaged 45 Mbps downloads and 21.8 Mbps uploads, compared to 53.8 Mbps down and 18.6 Mbps up for the Galaxy.

iPhone XS and XS Max vs iPhone XR

I know what you're thinking. Why spend $999 on the iPhone XS or $1,100 on the iPhone XS Max when you can get the 6.1-inch iPhone XR for just $750? There's a very good case to be made for this more affordable option.

The iPhone XR offers many of the same top features as the iPhone XS and XS Max, including the same powerful A12 Bionic processor, great camera quality (including portraits) and Face ID. Plus, the iPhone XR lasted longer on our battery life test at 11 hours and 26 minutes, compared to 10:38 and 9:41 for the iPhone XS Max and XS.

Apple offers the iPhone XR in six colors, while the iPhone XS comes in three finishes.

On the other hand, the XR's LCD screen doesn't offer the same black levels or wide viewing angles as the OLED panels on the iPhone XS or XS Max. You also don't get two rear cameras on the iPhone XR for 2x optical zoom.

Bottom Line

The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are among the best phones you can buy, and if you've been holding off on upgrading your iPhone 7 or iPhone 6s, either one of these handsets will feel like a huge leap forward. The cameras are miles better  especially in low light  and the A12 chip provides a big speed boost.

Between the two, I'd opt for the iPhone XS Max because of its bigger and more immersive 6.5-inch display and longer battery life, but the iPhone XS is the new iPhone to get if you want something more one-hand friendly.

If you're deciding between iOS and Android, the $999/899 Galaxy Note 9 is an excellent alternative to the iPhone XS Max, offering an even more colorful display, double the storage and the handy S-Pen. The Google Pixel 3 XL is the ideal choice if you want an even better camera than the iPhone XS along with a big display.

For those sticking with the iPhone, many will prefer the cheaper iPhone XR, which offers nearly all of the great features in the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max for $749/749. But if you want a superior OLED display, dual rear cameras and less bezel, I'd splurge on the iPhone XS Max for it's even bigger screen.

Credit: Tom's Guide
LAS VEGAS  Your fax machine may not be as safe to use as you think -- especially if it's part of an all-in-one printer/scanner with Wi-Fi, USB and Bluetooth access.

(Image credit: The HP OfficeJet 4650, one of the affected models. Credit: HP)

That's what two Israeli security researchers revealed Sunday (Aug. 12) at the DEF CON 26 hacker conference here. Eyad Itkin and Yanav Balmas, both of whom work at Check Point, demonstrated how an HP OfficeJet Pro could be remotely hacked through the its telephone line by literally sending the machine a malicious fax document. They then used the hacked printer to take over a connected PC.

"This attack works on any recent HP OfficeJet printer," Balmas said, which might be only a slight exaggeration. A security bulletin issued by HP earlier this month lists some 150 printer models, not just OfficeJets, that are affected by this flaw and need to have their firmware updated.

The other option, Balmas said, would be to simply stop sending and receiving faxes  a tall order when many legal and government actions depend on faxed forms.

Why All-in-One Printers are Vulnerable

Fax-machine technology hasn't changed substantially since 1985, Itkin and Balmas explained. It was designed with no security in mind, even though faxes move and handle a substantial amount of data. Thirty years later, faxes are still used by ships at sea, by lawyers and bureaucrats, and by the occasional homeowner. Most businesses in North America have a fax number, and you can even fax the White House.

Yet this 1980s technology is bundled into millions of office and home all-in-one printers that also have USB, Wi-Fi and often Ethernet and Bluetooth connections.

Those more modern forms of electronic communication have security measures built in. But what if you could attack an all-in-one unit over the phone line? Iktin and Balmas showed that you can.

The researchers bought an HP OfficeJet Pro 6830 because it was cheap, but they had a hard time learning how its software operated internally until they found an online repository of firmware for almost every device HP has ever made.

MORE: Best All-in-One Printers

Even then, they had a hard time decompiling the binary file, or turning the machine code into something human-readable. It turned out the HP all-in-one firmware used a rare compression format used by Softdisk, a Louisiana company that among other things published some of the Commander Keen series of PC games in the early 1990s.

Once they'd figured that out, Balmas and Itkin had a stroke of luck: In July 2017, news broke of a remote-code-execution vulnerability in the SOAP protocol, a communication used by many web applications. The flaw was labeled "Devil's Ivy" and involved a buffer overflow, in which memory allocated to a specific process overflows its boundaries and bleeds into other processes, letting the controller of the overflowing process control the others.

Among other things, the researchers' HP all-in-one printer used SOAP.

Using that flaw, the researchers were able to send a malicious fax that created a buffer overflow in a SOAP operation. The catch was that it required 2GB of data, which took about seven minutes of continuous transmission over the telephone lines.

Then Balmas and Itkin discovered that faxes don't just come in black and white. They can be in color as well. A standard black-and-white fax is actually a TIFF image file, but a color fax is a JPEG, the most common type of image file used online and one that is well understood.

JPEG files are compressed images, and each file contains a compression table buried in its code that tells the receiving software exactly how to decompress the data and render a full image. Balmas and Itkin found they could manipulate the data in a JPEG's compression table to create another buffer overflow in the receiving fax machine's memory, letting them seize control of the machine.

Such a malicious fax wouldn't noticeably be longer to transmit than a regular fax, but it would let a malicious attack completely take over an all-in-one device in a home or office network. From there, the hacked machine could reach out and try to infect other machines on the network.

Itkin and Balmas did just that onstage at DEF CON, sending a malicious fax to their HP OfficeJet Pro and taking it over. Their malware contained the EternalBlue Windows network exploit stolen by Russian hackers from the NSA (and later used in the WannaCry ransomware outbreak in May 2017).

When they connected a laptop to the hacked printer, the printer infected the PC and made the calculator tool pop up on screen. ("Popping the calculator" is a time-honored indicator of compromise in proof-of-concept hacks.)

How to Protect Yourself

The researchers told HP of their attack several months ago, and Itkin even flew to the HP research campus in Vancouver, Washington, to demonstrate it. As mentioned above, a patch was issued in early August, so if you have an HP printer, make sure to check the page to see if your model is included,.

If so, find the support page for your specific model  this is the support page for the OfficeJet Pro 6830  and follow the instructions to update the firmware.

In general, Balmas said, the fax line is an unsecured avenue of attack into millions of offices and homes. He suggested that you disconnect the fax line when not sending or expecting a fax, although that's going to be tough for governmental and legal offices that require receiving certain types of documents as either printed or faxed.

It's not likely that faxes will go away any time soon, as least not in the United States. Until then, you'll have to be wary of who's on the other end of the line.

Balmas and Itkin's presentation slides are available on the DEF CON website.
If you're in the market for a big-screen phone, the 6.4-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has pretty much everything you could ask for in an Android flagship.



In addition to a large canvas, the Note 9 offers a big battery that lasts nearly all day, a new AI camera for taking better photos and an improved S Pen that doubles as a remote control for the phone. In fact, the Note 9 beats the iPhone X in multiple ways.

But the iPhone X claims an edge over the Note 9 on other fronts, including performance, biometric security and software. Here's how Apple's flagship outshines Samsung's.

Faster performance

The benchmarks are in, and unsurprisingly, the Note 9 isn't as fast as Apple's flagship. The iPhone X's A11 Bionic chip is simply more powerful than the Snapdragon 845 processor inside Samsung's phone. On Geekbench 4, which measures overall performance, the iPhone X scored 10,357, compared with 8,876 for the Note 9.

On Slingshot Extreme, which measures graphics performance, the Note 9 hit 4,639, which was once again behind the iPhone X (4,994). Note that those Note 9 results came from the base model, which has 6GB of RAM, and you can expect better performance from the model with 8GB. But at that point, you're talking about spending $1,249 to close only some of the gap with the iPhone X.







Face ID

Samsung gives you a handful of options to unlock the Note 9, including facial recognition, iris scanning and a fingerprint sensor. But Apple keeps things simple with its easy-to-use Face ID.



The True Depth camera on the front of the iPhone X recognizes you instantly, and all you have to do to log in is stare at the phone and swipe up on the screen. The face scanning on the Note 9 isn't as secure because it's not 3D.

AR Emoji and Memoji

Samsung didn't mention its AR Emoji a single time during the company's news conference for the Note 9, and there's a reason for that. To be fair, it's not a new feature; it debuted on the Galaxy S9.

But AR Emoji aren't worth bragging about, either, as Samsung's animated avatars don't offer the realistic facial movements that the iPhone X's True Depth camera does. With iOS 12, Apple is taking things to the next level with Memoji, personalized AR emoji you can customize any way you want and use in both the Messages app and FaceTime.

MORE: AR Emoji vs. Animoji: It's Not Even Close

No bezels

You may hate the notch in the iPhone X, but it allowed Apple to create a phone that has next to no bezel around its display. The screen on the Note 9 has bezels on both the top and the bottom. I wouldn't call it an eyesore necessarily, but it looks a bit less modern than Apple's handset.



In fact, aside from a slightly flatter backside and a centered fingerprint reader, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the Note 8 from the Note 9.

A smarter assistant

Based on our testing of Bixby on the Note 9, it still has a long way to go to catch up to not only Google Assistant but also Siri. For example, Samsung's assistant couldn't understand a request to book reservations at a couple of New York restaurants  one of the new features Samsung touts.



(Image credit: Apple)

However, an attempt to book an Uber through Bixby worked well. The problem is that Bixby can be slow to respond and often mishears you. Siri sometimes has issues hearing what you said correctly as well, but at least at this stage, it remains more polished than Bixby.

Whereas the new Android Pie is already available for the Google Pixel 2, the Note 9 ships with the old Android Oreo software, and there's no timetable for when the new OS will be available for Samsung's flagship. In the meantime, you'll miss out on Google's time-saving App Actions feature, new gesture controls and a better Recents screen.



When the new iPhones come out, they'll all be running iOS 12, and existing phones will be able to upgrade to iOS 12 with ease.

Easier-to-use interface

The iPhone X's gesture-based interface makes it easy to get around iOS. For example, you don't have to tap to make the home button appear when you're watching a movie; you just swipe up to go back to the home screen. Nor do you need to press a Recent Apps button to see your open apps; just swipe up from the bottom of the display.



It takes a little adjustment for those coming from earlier iPhones, but there's a reason why Google is adopting a gesture-based navigation system for Android Pie: It's simply better for full-screen phones.

Credit: Tom's Guide
Real-Time Ray-Traced Image

Yesterday, Nvidia announced the newest generation server-class Quadro graphics processors, the Quadro RTX family, which can handle ray tracing in real time. Nvidia will tell you that ray tracing is the holy grail of graphics rendering technology, but what, exactly, is it? And why is it so important?

To put it simply, ray-tracing is a rendering technique that produces photorealistic graphics with true-to-life lighting and shadow formations. The process accounts for the physical properties of rendered objects and their material composition to accurately simulate how light interacts with them, including the level of light reflection, refraction or absorption.

How it Works

The ray-tracing rendering engine maps the trajectory of the light rays that reach the viewport (read: your eye) by working backwards and casting raysone for each pixel of your display-- in a straight line from the viewport and capturing the point where the rays intersect with a digital surface. The material properties of the objects surface, such as the color, reflectiveness, and opacity, inform the color of the object and how it interacts with light rays. Because the rays propagate from your viewport, the lighting and shadows interact naturally when you change the viewing angle.

Ray tracing calculates how light rays would bounce off surfaces. It also determines where shadows would form, and whether light would reflect from another direction to illuminate that space. As a result, ray-traced graphics can produce shadows with soft, smooth edgesespecially when theres more than one light source in the scene.

Ray tracing also has the distinct advantage of being able to simulate transparent materials such as glass or water, and how light refracts when it passes through such objects.

No Rasterization, No Shaders

Traditional computer graphics rely on a technique called rasterization, which converts 3D rendering into a 2D output for your monitor. Raterized graphics then rely on complex shaders to give the scene a sence of depth. With ray-traced graphics, the depth is an integral part of the scene and you dont need a shader to bring it to life.

Computationally Intensive

Ray tracing technology isnt new, and we can almost guarantee that youve encountered ray-traced graphics before. Hollywood uses ray tracing in movies to blend digital special effects seamlessly with live-action film. However, ray tracing is extremely computationally intensive, and it can take days or even weeks to process those scenes with a traditional render farm, which is why ray-traced graphics for games exist only in pre-rendered cut-scenes.

Nvidia has been pushing ray-tracing technology for at least a decade. In 2008, it acquired a ray-tracing company called RayScale, and two years later at Siggraph 2010, it showed the first interactive ray-tracing demo running on Fermi-based Quadro cards. After witnessing the demo first-hand, we surmised that we would see real-time ray-tracing capability in a few GPU generations.

A few generations turned into six generations, but Nvidia finally achieved real-time ray tracing with the new Quadro RTX lineup. When the company releases gaming-class GPUs that support real-time ray tracing, which could happen as soon as next week, we should see a big improvement in graphics fidelity in future video games. Real-time ray tracing is a foundational step towards game graphics that are indistinguishable from the real world around us.
This experience put me in a new place where I realized I need to do everything I can to let people know about organ donation, she said. Its important that people understand the surgery to donate is not that difficult. I want people to understand you can do your job and take care of your family and save a life. I want people to consider donating. Just open your heart to it.
One of those states is Kansas, and the contentious, disputed result of last week's GOP primary there is not boosting the chances of Republicans retaining the governor's mansion. "Kansas Democrats watch with glee as Republicans Colyer, Kobach fight over election," reads the blazing headline of the top story on the best-read website covering state politics, a toxic narrative for whoever comes out on top, and one that could easily have been prevented.
Seg. 1: Kansas City Mayor Defends Pre-K Sales Tax. Seg. 2: Is Kansas Swimmer Olympic Bound? Segment 1: If approved, the proposed 3/8-cent sales tax to fund expanded early childhood education in Kansas City will be on the November ballot. With the less than a year until he leaves Kansas City's top office, Mayor Sly James is pushing for an expanded early childhood education system to serve 4-year-olds across the city.

In this softball interview Mayor Sly uses his "charm" (ugh) to win over public radio newsies forso that City Hall funds can not only fund taxpayer incentives for luxury living space but also throw some Lunchable scraps the way of youngsters before they start provisionally accredited local schools.Checkit:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A new poll released after the Aug. 8 primary shows incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D - Missouri) in a tie with Republican Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley. The poll, conducted Aug. 8-9 by Missouri Scout, shows the race tied, which is in line with a series of polls conducted in the race since this spring.
Parson doesn't agree with kneeling during anthem but says players 'have right to express themselves' KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he doesn't agree with players kneeling in protest during the National Anthem but said they have a right to express themselves. Parson attended the last day of Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, Tuesday for Military Appreciation Day.

Culture war reality invaded this PR visit as the new Guv attempted to play politic and seemingly understood any answer would offend a great many of his constituents.Read more:
A Missouri nun smuggled 2 pounds of cocaine into Australia using her high heels - but claims she was duped into the act by a man she met online. Denise Marie Woodrum, 51, was caught arriving into Sydney Airport last August while making her way through customs - when officers discovered the drugs stuffed into the heels of her shoes, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday.








Devising Kansas City Broke-Ass Options

Community leaders think of options other than payday loans KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Local businessman Richard Moseley, who ran a fraudulent payday lending scheme, is required to pay a civil money fee of $1, because he's unable to pay back the $69 million he made in profit.

Former Kansas City G-Man Shares Hot Take On Fired Prez Trump Hater Fed

Former FBI agent in KC sees no bias in Strzok's conduct, or in his firing Few analysts were surprised to hear that longtime FBI agent Peter Strzok was fired over his anti-Trump messages that he sent to a girlfriend during the presidential election. Former FBI agent and local security expert Michael Tabman told KMBZ that during his time as an agent, another president was in the crosshairs of federal investigators.

Lesson In Pricey Media Hot Mess

Former JCCC adviser removed after misspending $21K of media organization's money The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Corbin Crable sent a statement Monday to members of Kansas Collegiate Media acknowledging falsifying reports to cover up his misuse of funds. (AP)

Deadly Biker Lady Crash Report

Motorcyclist dies in crash Tuesday in south Kansas City Bill Klinkhardt/KMBC SOURCE: Bill Klinkhardt/KMBC Kansas City police are investigating a fatal crash late Tuesday morning on the Outer Road of Interstate 49 near Missouri 150. Police said the single-vehicle crash, involving a motorcycle, happened in the southbound lanes of the Outer Road. The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old woman from Grandview, lost control and put the biek down.

Local Winning Verse

Collection Of Poetry Published By Kansas City's BkMk Press Wins American Book Award The Before Columbus Foundation announced the winners of the 39th annual American Book Awards on Monday. And Bojan Louis's "Currents," a debut poetry collection published by BkMk Press at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is on the list. "I'm celebrating!" Ben Furnish, managing editor of BkMk Press, wrote to KCUR in an email.

Quick daydream for our blog community . . .Closer to home, these links define our local discourse for the moment . . .And this is thefor right now . . .








Standoff Double Arrest Aftermath

2 wanted people in custody after standoff KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man is in custody after he barricaded himself inside a residence early Monday afternoon. The suspect was arrested around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police said they saw who they believed to be wanted people driving a car. The pair bailed from their car, and one person was immediately taken into custody.

Kansas City For Rent

KC's rentership rate nears 50 percent, Zillow study shows - Kansas City Business Journal The rentership rate, the percentage of homes that are rented rather than owned, increased in nearly all of the 50 largest U.S. metros, a new study by Zillow shows. In Memphis, Tenn., the number of renters increased by more than double that amount - 11 percent - over that same time period.

Local Mother's Little Helper Program Amid Ongoing Opioid Epidemic

JoCo Politicos Love Developers

Shawnee council votes moves forward with hotly debated development project SHAWNEE, Kan. - Even after long discussion at Monday night's city council meeting in Shawnee, council members ultimately voted to move forward with rezoning for Kenneth Estates. The 60-acre, privately owned spread of land has people in the city hotly divided. Extra chairs were moved into the meeting room to accommodate all the people who turned out.

Kansas City Search For Justice Continues After Double Tragedy

Two years later, killer of two Kansas City boys still on the loose Jayden Ugwuh's and Montell Ross' family members say they their lives forever changed two years ago.

Local Teen Head Check

Mental health program gains acceptance in area high schools Breaking News A program designed to tackle mental health issues and reduce teen suicides is expanding in the Kansas City area. The YouBeYou program expands to 13 new schools this year, from Olathe to Lee's Summit to the Turner District in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kansas City Forecast Today

First Alert: Scattered showers for your Tuesday Scattered showers and thunderstorms likely on and off throughout the morning and afternoon. Look for a high near 80 degrees.

Quick review of the online discourse for Tuesday, which is mostly about boobs:Closer to home, here's a collection of local news links that's slightly less captivating but probably more important . . .is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
Large-scale jury selection process kicks off Motel 6 murder trial in Lawrence Potential jurors filled two courtrooms - the main courtroom and an overflow room - as Douglas County District Court's third murder trial in a month got underway Monday morning. With not one but three defendants facing murder plus other violent felony charges, the group of jurors called to be on hand was exceptionally large for [...]

Hotel party updaterelated to thebut it's hard not to see a trend . . . This fun local road trip is often perilous, usually turns out badly for the college town and reminds us that local crime spreads far beyond the urban core . . . Read more:
One of the most difficult questions to answer in the auto industry these days doesnt involve supercars, luxury cars, or even premium cars. It involves crossovers and SUVs, specifically the question of which is the best of its kind among those priced at a certain cost point. In this case, our cost point is $20,000, which means that a lot of todays compact crossovers are involved in this difficult, if not impossible, discussion. And like every question posed in this business, answers vary depending on who you ask. In our case, ask us which are the best SUVs under $20,000, and these are our answers.

There are really no right or wrong answers here, especially when you factor in how much a person is willing to spend

The Kia Soul is a plucky little crossover. Its not the most appealing crossover in the world  the design is hit or miss  but where it lacks in service-level musings, it makes up for it in the areas that matter.

The Soul, for example, boasts one of the best-looking cabins in its segment. Theres something inherently fresh and cool about its interior design, a characteristic that few in its class can compete with. Interior space also isnt an issue for the Soul. The crossover has 24.2 cubic feet of space with the seats upright and 61.3 cubic feet when the seats are folded. The volume isnt going to wow you, but it has more total cargo room than models like the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V. That counts for a lot when youre buying a car for less than $20,000. On the performance front, the Soul comes with two engine options: a 1.6-liter engine with 130 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque (24 mpg city/30 mpg highway) and a bigger 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit with 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque (25 mpg city/30 mpg highway). Throw in the Souls excellent reliability, towing capacity of 2,400 pounds, and starting price of $17,095, and you have an award-winning crossover thats in the running as one of the best in its segment.

Read our full review on the 2018 Kia Soul.

If you want a specialized compact crossover that you can bring in your off-road adventures, the Jeep Patriot fits that mold to a tee. Its one of the most capable off-road crossovers at its price point, though if you are getting the model, you should know that beyond its off-road capabilities, it doesnt offer much else thats worth the money youre paying for it.

See, thats the crux with the Patriot. Its largely a one-trick pony. No ones going to complain when you take it out in the outdoors, but there are some things about it that fall short compared to its rivals. It doesnt have as many standard and available features, the interior looks cheap, and the engines - 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower, and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 172 horsepower  are either sluggish or thirsty. Fuel economy is about average at 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Interior space falls behind the competition and comfort isnt any better, at least compared to whats out there. Towing capacity approaches 2,000 pounds, but youre going to have to avail the optional towing package to get it. Even the Patriots 53.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo room falls below industry standards. If youre buying the $18,890 Patriot, youre actually better off getting the much more delightful Renegade.

Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Patriot.

125 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque

The Nissan Juke casts a big shadow over its successor, the Nissan Juke. Fortunately, the latter has been able to hold its own in a market that has no shortage of new models.

The Kicks isnt as funky-looking as the Juke, and thats a good thing. The gimmicky design of the Juke worked for others, but it turned off some people, too. With the Kicks, Nissan has a more conventional-looking compact crossover that also comes with a lot of useful features. One of the Kicks biggest strengths is its interior space. Theres a lot of it, be it for the driver and passenger or for cargo, the latter of which returns a class-leading 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold down the back seat and the volume increases to 53 cubic feet. The interior design isnt spectacular, but Nissan does have a grocery list of standard and optional features and amenities that you can get to spice up your Kicks. Engine options are middle-of-the-road at best, but the fuel economy - 31 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway - is the biggest reason why youre going to want to part with $18,965 to buy one.

Read our full review on the 2018 Nissan Kicks.

Did you say that you want a fresh compact crossover that has some attitude in it? Well, if you are looking for such a model, the Hyundai Kona is for you.

Its literally a fresh model that was launched a year ago. Give Hyundai a lot of credit, then, because it developed what is turning out to be one of the best crossovers in the market today. It has an aggressive design that makes it look fiercer and bigger than its actual size. It has an attractive interior that can be personalized to look more energetic. Cargo volume is hit or miss depending if the seats are up or not. If theyre up, the Kona offers 19 cubic feet of cargo space, which ranks right up as one of the best in its class. Put the seats down and the cargo volume only adds up to 46 cubic feet, well below most competitors.

The Kona also has an engine lineup that includes a turbocharged four-banger with 175 horsepower and fuel economy returns that are rated at 26 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Towing capacity also hits north of 2,000 pounds. Best of all, Hyundai was able to blend all of those elements together and still have enough quality to turn the Kona into one of the most agile crossovers in its field. Youre going to have to a little bit of a premium to buy one  the 147-horsepower Kona SE base unit costs $19,000  but that shouldnt be an issue. That money is going to be well-spent.

Read our full review on the 2018 Hyundai Kona.

Jeep makes another appearance on this list. Who knew, right? Well, the Jeep Renegade is a more appealing choice than the Patriot, in large part because it is actually a more evolved version of the Patriot.

The Renegade is a certified Jeep, in large part because of its excellent off-road capability. The crossover can hold its own in any surface, be it smooth pavement or rough roads. It can even hold its own in the smoother confines of urban driving, something the Patriot isnt as adept at. Throw in a maximum cargo volume of 50.8 cubic feet and amenities like a touch screen, a rearview camera, and Bluetooth  all are standard in the Renegade  and you have an intriguing model that should be worth a serious look. That said, the Renegade isnt a perfect crossover. Its mileage isnt the best in the segment - fuel economy sits at 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway - and its towing capacity maxes out at just 2,000 pounds. If you really want to experience the best of what the model has to offer, youre going to have to go all-out on and buy the range-topping Trailhawk trim. Thats going to set you back in excess of $25,000, whereas the base Renegade starts off at just $19,090.

Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Renegade.

Different crossovers are good at different things. In the case of the Mazda CX-3, its good at being a sporty crossover. It sounds cliche, but its true. Mazda did a great job designing and developing the CX-3 that it rightfully deserves to be called one of the best models in its class.

The sporty design of the CX-3 is the first of its many highlights. It also has one of the best-looking interiors of any crossover. It has quality materials and a long list of features. On the side of performance, the CX-3 comes with fuel-efficient engine options that complement its superb handling and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. Its even one of the safest crossovers you can buy, a distinction it earned after posting excellent crash test scores. About the only thing this model falls short on is interior space. The CX-3 has a paltry 12.4 cubic feet of space behind the back seats and 44.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. If you need lots of it, there are better options out there like the Honda HR-V. But if youre fine with what the CX-3 has to offer, you cant go wrong with it. All that and youre only paying a base price of $19,960 for a car that returns 29 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway? Thats a good deal.

Read our full review on the 2019 Mazda CX-3.

The Fiat 500X is proof that looks can take a crossover very far. The 500Xs design is, without question, its biggest strength. Even the interior is well-dressed. There are enough quality materials in it that can do its Italian roots proud.

But for the 500X to stand out, it needs to have more than just good exterior looks and an upscale interior. Its these shortcomings in other areas that prevent it from really standing out. The engine options, for example, arent anything home to write about. Theyre fine if you want to get from point A to point B, but the journey itself leaves something to be desired (fuel economy is average at 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.) Cargo space is also a bit iffy at just 12.3 cubic feet, though thats to be expected for a Fiat, anyway. Theres a lot of appeal in a car like the 500X if you really want a crossover thats going to catch the publics attention. Just make sure that if you do buy it  the base price is at $19,995  youre prepared to accept it for the things it cant do.

Read our full review on the 2018 Fiat 500X.

Sometimes, expecting something that isnt there is a bigger disappointment than knowing what youre getting into from the beginning. The Ford EcoSport is not a bad crossover. Its not a particularly good one, either. It is, for lack of a better term, decent.

Arguably its two biggest strengths are its ride height and Fords SYNC3 infotainment system, which, while being one of the best systems in the business, also happens to be a pay-to-install feature. The EcoSport is a good choice for a crossover if you want to see into traffic better. Just dont expect the drive to be one of the best. The engines, while competent, are somewhat underpowered. Fuel economy is at 27 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway while towing capacity maxes out at around 2,000 pounds. The interior design is cool, but the materials Ford used arent. Hard plastic covers a big part of the EcoSports surface. Some of you may not mind that, but others are more particular with the quality of their crossovers interior. Fortunately, the front seats are comfortable, and for its size, it has 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up and 50 cubic feet if the seats are folded. You need to know what you want in a crossover if youre going to give the Ford EcoSport a chance, and with a base price of $19,995, that might take some a lot of convincing.

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Ecosport.

Ever since it arrived in 2016, the Honda HR-V has been one of the best compact crossovers in the market. A few years into its life hasnt changed that sentiment.

The HR-V is like the jack-of-all-trades among all compact crossovers. It doesnt shine in any one category, but it is good in a lot of them. Passenger and cargo space arent issues in the HR-V, specifically the latter, which boasts a class-leading maximum cargo space of 58.8 cubic feet of room. The crossover also has a more impressive-than-expected ride, a testament to the kind of quality that Honda has been able to develop in recent years. It doesnt have the refinement as some other crossovers do, but there is something to be said, too, for an interior that eschews fancy styling and details for a more straightforward approach thats anchored on a clean look. Truth be told, there are sportier, more upscale, and more off-road capable crossovers out there. But if you want the best combination of quality and value  the HR-V starts at $20,520 and returns 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway  youd be hard-pressed to do better than Hondas new compact crossover.

Read our full review on the 2018 Honda HR-V.

The Chevrolet Trax offers up a good fight against a lot of the modes on this list. It rides well and has an agility to it thats, well, surprising. But the Trax suffers nevertheless, not because of what it cant do, but because the things it can do, others can do better.

Its a lonely place to be in, but it is where the Trax has found itself in after only three years in the market. New models like the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Kicks, and Honda HR-V have elevated the level of competitiveness in the segment. The Trax is fine in the things where most crossovers are fine. Its a great crossover to drive in the city where power and performance arent premium requirements. It even returns 25 mpg in this environment. But take it out on the highway, and the Trax doesnt do as well, though, to be fair, its 33 mpg rating is about average for its class.

Still, there are worse choices out there and the Trax, given what it can and cant do, is still a compact crossover thats worthy of a serious look. Heck, it has 19 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in use, which is enough room for vacation luggage or a cooler and chairs for when you head to a cookout. Thats a victory! Fold the rear seats down, and you have more than 48 cubic feet, too. Score!

All jokes aside, make sure you know that if you end up buying Chevy Trax, youre going to pay  starting price is at  $21,200  more than you probably want for it.

Read our full review on the 2018 Chevy Trax.

Conclusion

There are plenty of good choices here, and I wouldnt begrudge anybody if they end up buying any one of these models. But my choice is the Hyundai Kona. Its one of the newest models in this list, and it combines a lot of exciting features with a ride thats not going to disappoint. It has its flaws  the fuel economy is below average and its priced higher than a lot of its rivals  but like I said, if youre willing to look past what it cant do as well and focus on the things it offers and does better than others, theres a good chance that youre not going to be left disappointed in what you buy.
Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund has a stake of almost five percent in Tesla, but a new report from Bloomberg claims that the Middle Eastern nation wants to raise its stake by being a part of any investor pool that will be created in response to Elon Musks plan to take the electric car maker private. Its unclear if these plans will gain any traction because the process of taking Tesla private is going to be a difficult task.

Turning Tesla private could carry a price tag of $82 billion, a staggering sum even for a company thats growing at the pace that it has in recent years

There are obviously a lot of layers to this story, but from the perspective of the Saudi Kingdoms Public Investment Fund, this is all about becoming more involved in the future affairs of the electric car brand. The sovereign nations wealth fund already has a stake of a little under five percent in the company, but previous reports indicated that the fund was looking to get a bigger piece of that pie, only to be rebuffed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

That sentiment could change in the wake of Musks announcement to take Tesla private. That announcement created a maelstrom of reactions from all corners, including intense scrutiny from current investors, a lot of whom were taken aback by Musks tweet last week announcing his plans with a proclamation that he had already secured funding to get the process of turning Tesla private started.

Turning Tesla private could carry a price tag of $82 billion, a staggering sum even for a company thats growing at the pace that it has in recent years. Still, as mesmerizing as that figure looks, its not a foregone conclusion that the deal is going to get overwhelming support from investors and the U.S. government. According to separate reports, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has already started examining the validity of Musks plans. Even if the SEC discovers that Musks plans are above board, theres also the matter of how much money its going to take to actually buy the business back from public shareholders. Even with musk owning 20 percent of Tesla, the estimates being thrown around reveal that more than $60 billion would be needed to turn Tesla private.

Past attempts to take Tesla private have failed because of the amount of money its going to take

Where the company is going to get that amount is the big question. The Bloomberg report claims that Musk wants to avoid having one or two large shareholders in the company, presumably because he doesnt want to undercut his authority on the company he built. The report adds that Musk prefers to gather the funds from a large investor pool, which, in turn, could be the key for the Saudi Kingdoms Public Investment Fund to achieve its own goal of increasing its shares in the company.

All of this isnt going to be easy for Tesla, especially if you take history into consideration. Past attempts to take Tesla private have failed because of the amount of money its going to take and the expected bureaucracies thats going to come from investors who will be jostling with another to gain more influence in the affairs of the company.

Its easy to see why the Saudi Kingdoms Public Investment Fund is interested in raising its stake in the electric car maker. Tesla is on the upswing as a company, day-to-day shortcomings notwithstanding, and having a bigger stake in the company is seen as a way for the country to hedge its bets against oil by diversifying its resources for the future. But until Tesla lays out clear terms of engagement on its plans to turn the company private - that process itself is going to take a long time  any outside interest is going to remain just that.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.

Read our full review on the 2017 Tesla Model X.

Read our full review on the 2017 Tesla Model S.

Check out everything weve got on Elon Musk

Read more Tesla news.

Source: Bloomberg
She was a 15-year-old honor student whose future seemed full of promise before she became an innocent victim of a gang war on the South Side. He was a troubled 17-year-old who had drifted in and out of school and in and out of trouble before he encountered police one night on a busy street on the Southwest Side.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 14

Two anti-aircraft guns have been installed at Shaheed Nand Singh Chowk also known as Fauji Chowk in the city.

These guns are the one which were very used during the war in 1971. Their range of fire is up to three km.

Naib Subedar Nand Singh had bravely fought with Japanese in the Burma war before Indias independence and this brave soldier of the Sikh regiment was honoured with Victoria cross.

Later, in 1947, he took upon enemies at Srinagar, but died while fighting as a bullet hit him.

For his bravery, he was honoured Mahavir Chakra. Later, a statue was installed in the city in his remembrance.

For the past many years, various organisations have been demanding beautification of the chowk and now the district administration, with help of Army authorities, has installed two anti-aircraft guns.

Ex-servicemen Welfare Organisation, Punjab, president Balbir Singh Sidhu appreciated the step and to uplift the other chowks or places in the name of martyrs, meetings are regularly held.

Earlier, Fauji Chowk was asymmetric in shape. It was given an oval shape for smooth flow of traffic.
laxmi@tribune.com

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

Wilful defaulters of farm loans in Punjab may be debarred from getting financial support from any bank in future as bankers are startled by a whopping 37% jump in non-performing assets (NPAs) pertaining to agriculture sector of Punjab in the past one year.

Though the state government had announced a loan waiver scheme for small and marginal farmers up to Rs 2 lakh, the rate of default is quite high among rich farmers whose loan amounts are much beyond the Rs 2 lakh cut-off. They are not servicing their debt in anticipation that the government would eventually waive their loans because of ensuing General Election, bankers working for commercial and cooperative banks said.

Farmers default has already started affecting farm credit in Punjab. The total crop loan disbursement has declined by 30% in the first quarter of the current fiscal. Against the target of Rs 28,078 crore, the banks disbursed only Rs 19,701 crore on the grounds that the defaulters are not eligible to avail fresh loans.

Banks NPAs under agriculture loans have risen sharply by 37% to Rs 7,858 crore as on June 30 as compared to Rs 5,731 crore a year ago. The bad loans are around 9.52% of the total agricultural credit of Rs 82,501 crore.

The Punjab government had issued the debt waiver notification on October 17 last year. In around 10 months, the state has disbursed around Rs 1,750 crore to the marginal farmers who had taken loans from the cooperative banks.

The announcement of debt waiver scheme for farmers has adversely affected the recovery process as farmers have stopped making repayment of their crop loans. Even rich farmers, other than small and marginal, are not making repayments in the hope of debt waiver, PNB General Manager and convener, State Level Bankers Committee (Punjab), PK Anand said. The quarterly review meeting of the committee was held in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Bankers say farmers are under impression that once they repay their debt, they would not be eligible for the state-announced debt waiver. The repayment made by them will not affect their eligibility for debt waiver as the cut-off date for determining the eligibility is fixed at March 31, 2017, Anand said.

The bankers added that accounts of small farmers are slipping into NPAs, making the banking sectors recovery a Herculean task. It is not only adversely affecting their CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau India Ltd) records but they have also being deprived of the interest subvention available for regular payments.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore and several leaders of political parties have expressed grief over the demise of Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Dass Tandon.

In his condolence message, Badnore said Tandon was one of the founder members of the Jan Sangh. With the passing away of Tandon, the nation, especially Punjab, had lost a seasoned politician, a true statesman and above all a good human being. Punjab would always remember him for his great social and political work.

Badnore conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul. Member of Parliament Kirron Kher and former union ministers Pawan Kumar Bansal and Harmohan Dhawan also expressed grief over his death.

The last rites will be performed on August 16 at 1.30 pm at the cremation ground in Sector 25, Chandigarh.

In view of the demise of Tandon, August 16 will be observed as a mourning day by the UT Administration. A meeting of BJP workers was held under the chairmanship of senior vice-president Raghubir Lal Arora at the party headquarters, Kamlam. The meeting was attended by all state office-bearers, district presidents and morcha presidents. Partys organisational general secretary Dinesh Kumar was also present.

Wreaths laid on body

The body of Balramji Dass Tandon reached the city around 10.30 pm on Tuesday. Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore, MP Kirron Kher and senior UT officials, including the Adviser, laid wreaths on the body.

No cultural ceremonies

There will be traditional observance of the countrys 72nd Independence Day on August 15 at the Raj Bhawan, but no cultural ceremonies will take place. The At Home functions at both the Punjab Raj Bhawan and the Haryana Raj Bhawan also stand cancelled.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 14

The Punjab state cyber crime cell has reportedly rounded up an accused in the card cloning fraud.

Sources said the accused, Sumit Kumar, had been rounded up in Lucknow.

A police party is on its way from Lucknow to Mohali after rounding up Sumit Kumar, one of the key accused in the ATM/credit and debit card fraud in which nearly 20 persons have lost around Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh in the Mohali area, said sources.

Cyber sleuths have already nabbed Sourabh, who was working at a bar-cum-restaurant in Phase 5, in this connection.

According to an official of the cyber cell, it was an organised gang of around 10 miscreants, which was active in various parts of the country and committed frauds of several lakhs through card cloning.

Most of the accused have been identified. Police teams have also been sent to some other parts of the country, including Mumbai, to look for the other accused, said the sources.

Meanwhile, Sourabh was produced before a local court on Tuesday, which has extended his police remand by five days.
Ajai Sahni

Ajai Sahni

Executive Director, Institute for Conflict Management

FLUSH with funds, with a frenetic campaign to drum up support, and sponsorship schemes to fly people from across the world and provide free accommodation in London  particularly targeting youth in Pakistan and Afghanistan  the Khalistani Referendum 2020 still ended up as a damp squib. There are crucial lessons here for India (and not just in the context of Khalistani extremism).

The most significant of these is that the echo chambers of the Internet are not an index of actual support for a cause. The Referendum 2020 campaign had established a strong presence across the Web, aggressively marketing the Trafalgar Square London Declaration rally on August 12. There was a gathering impression among official Indian sources of a significant congregation, given the kind of financial and logistics support provided. Indeed, India initiated diplomatic efforts to block the rally, but was refused by the UK government on grounds of the freedom of expression.

There has been much talk over the past years, particularly after the dramatic rise of the Islamic State (aka Daesh) about cyber radicalisation. Significantly, Khalistani elements across the world have created and deployed massive cyber resources, including bigoted news, songs and reams of propaganda material seeking to create a sense of grievance, alienation and oppression among the Sikh community. These resources cannot be ignored, and response capabilities must be created to neutralise any potential or peripheral influence they have. Nevertheless, as with the near-comprehensive failure of Daesh efforts in India, it is evident that Khalistani cyber-radicalisation has failed to find significant traction in the Sikh community.

This reality demands close attention: the core processes of radicalisation occur overwhelmingly among communities, in homes, neighbourhoods and religious institutions. What occurs on the Internet is (with rare exception) mobilisation or recruitment of elements who have already been radicalised within their immediate social environment. The preponderance of efforts and resources, consequently, need to be directed at this environment.

The failure of Referendum 2020, despite the cyber-blitz, is an index of the degree to which the idea of Khalistan has been rejected, and the Sikh radical fringe isolated. Instead of harping on growing Sikh radicalisation, it is time to mobilise the community against extremism. Despite well-supported efforts to revive terrorism in Punjab, the terrorist leaderships in havens in Pakistan and the West, have failed to secure significant traction in Punjabi soil. The most voluble Khalistanis are located abroad and they have secured a disproportionate presence in the politics of the Sikh diaspora in their host countries, through sheer stridency and periodic intimidation. This is despite the fact that the quiescent majority of Sikhs has little to do with this clamorous fringe. India has given extraordinary prominence to its diaspora and mobilising this powerful segment to neutralise Khalistani (and other anti-national) radicals should be a crucial policy objective, along with domestic efforts to undercut marginal trends to radicalisation within Punjab.

The more urgent tasks of preventing subversive mobilisation within communities need to be addressed, so that the messaging of cyber-radicalisers falls on barren ground; and to recognise that even very small numbers of such radicalisers can always inundate the Web with propaganda. This objective of addressing Sikh communalism is, however, difficult to pursue within a widening environment of majoritarian radicalisation and polarising politics that is everywhere in evidence.

The failure of the Trafalgar Square rally is also a demonstration that the Khalistanis are now at a low point, not only within the community, but also among opportunistic political groupings in their host countries. There was little visible support from domestic politicians in the UK, with the exception of the discredited Pakistani-British India-baiter, Lord Nazir Ahmed, and a couple of marginal politicians who likely know little or nothing about the issue.

At this juncture it is crucial to follow through. The funding and sponsorship of this event, not only in the UK, but also among groups who organised advertising and support campaigns in other countries, provides significant opportunities. The covert money and sponsorship chains need to be investigated by Indian agencies, where possible, in collaboration with domestic agencies in the host countries. Domestic laws in these countries can be exploited to target the groups receiving resources from hostile intelligence agencies or from terrorism-linked organisations. It must be recognised that the tolerance for terrorism and even for lesser forms of extremism has significantly diminished across the world, and avenues for constructive counter-terrorism cooperation are continuously expanding. It is the lack of committed Indian resources that has failed to consolidate advantages in this direction.

Indias gravest counter-terrorism failings have been rooted in the tendency to quickly lapse into passivity once a crisis has passed. The entire system needs now to be reoriented to ensure that threats that have substantially been defused, have no opportunity to re-emerge. This requires sustained attention, translated into policies, strategies and resources directed against every dimension of the problem; not just the sexy bits that command transient media attention. Counter-terrorism demands focus, determination and will; in their absence, new opportunities, new campaigns and new terrors will inevitably emerge.
Gulzar Singh Sandhu

Gulzar Singh Sandhu

Former Editor, Punjabi Tribune

The birth of the Hindi and Punjabi editions of The Tribune this day in 1978 may be attributed to the Hindi-Punjabi agitation, which was a fall-out of the Partition in 1947. It did leave an unfortunate division of the united Punjab in two separate states of Haryana and Punjab way behind in 1966, but it was yet to witness the terrorism sparked by Khalistanis and Operation Bluestar in 1984 which led to Indira Gandhi's assassination on October 31, 1984.

The introduction of the Punjabi Tribune was meant to balance the communal frenzy of the vernacular press of those days. The rumour about the Punjabi edition was in the air for a couple of years, but it clicked only after MS Randhawa joined as a member of The Tribune Trust in that year.

Fortunately, The Tribune at that time was under the command of a stalwart journalist, Prem Bhatia, who had once earlier also taken up this responsibility in 1969 on return from Nairobi where he was the Indian Ambassador to Kenya since 1965. Bhatia was shrewd enough to pick up Barjinder Singh as editor to start the Punjabi Tribune. Before joining the Punjabi Tribune, Barjinder Singh was the founder-editor of Drishti, a monthly literary magazine. He had launched the magazine after falling out with his father Sadhu Singh Hamdard. Brajinder abandoned Drishti following the call from The Tribune Trust to head the new daily that was sure to have a wider impact on Punjabi readers. Starting the Punjabi Tribune was not a smooth affair as the Hindi lobby would not yield space for a Punjabi edition unless a Hindi edition was brought out simultaneously. Again, it was the intervention of the resolute MS Randhawa that got the matter resolved amicably and it was decided to bring out both the editions.

The publication of the Punjabi Tribune made an instant mark on the readers, with its credible and secular approach that was also welcomed by the Leftist sections of the region. They were the ones who popularised and propagated the newspaper in the far-flung rural areas of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Being the first-ever newspaper to give an honorarium to its contributors, prominent authors with journalistic prudence started writing for this newspaper and made its foundation durable enough.

The sober and adventurous Barjinder Singh, who was in his thirties at that time, was keen to outdo his father, the founder of the Ajit daily. He weathered the initial handicaps with his pleasant approach to men and matters. He was the one who handled the Khalistani threats with tact and patience. I am witness to his keeping a revolver in the dashboard of his car while driving in and out of station during the dark days of Punjab.

This steady progress was halted, though, with the sudden demise of Barjinder Singh's father Sadhu Singh Hamdard when the son, perforce, had to take the reins of the Ajit in Jalandhar. The time was the late eighties of the previous century.

It was then that I was approached to take up the thread left by Barjinder at the bidding of MS Randhawa. Prem Bhatia was known to me from my New Delhi days. Unfortunately, while I was seeking leave from the Government of India to take up the new assignment with the Tribune Trust, censorship was enforced on the newspapers of Punjab in the wake of Indira Gandhi's murder. From a journalistic angle, however, it was a blessing in disguise for The Tribune Trust that it was based in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Since they could carry all material without any censoring, the circulation of these newspapers, especially that of the Punjabi Tribune which was competing with Jalandhar press, shot up unprecedentedly.

A little after I joined the Punjabi Tribune, however, the censorship was lifted to my dismay and those fond of wanton reading went back to their original papers of Jalandhar origin. It goes to the credit of The Tribune Trust that it took all these developments in its stride and stood the ground with dignity without compromising with its secular and liberal approach withstanding the pressure from militant organisations and other illiberal elements of Punjabi society. It also goes to the credit of Punjabi readers for sticking to their values in all kinds of onslaughts that had been taking place every now and then from times immemorial, Punjab being the border state.

One of the most spectacular reasons for the success of the Tribune Trust publications is that its editorials and Oped page articles bear the stamp of all the three editors of the Trust. Irrespective of the editors coming and going frequently, the practice of holding a joint meeting in the morning to chalk out the programme of the day continues. The established convention is to have an equal say of the editors of the Punjabi and Hindi editions with a view to taking an appropriate line. The vernacular language editors are free to take a different line for their readers, but it should be in consonance with the core values of the Tribune Trust.

This healthy and positive approach has drawn the best of talent to write for the Punjabi Tribune. Having been the editor of two Punjabi language dailies  the Punjabi Tribune and the Desh Sewak  I can say with authority that the young writers feel satisfied and okay only after their writing is accepted by the Punjabi Tribune for publication.

I have been an avid reader of The Tribune since the 50s when I was a undergraduate student at Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur) and through my post-graduation days in Camp College, New Delhi. It is very rarely that I find it getting strayed from its vision and views. To err is human goes the adage, though.

I am sure the language readers will continue to have the same satisfaction from the Punjabi Tribune in the times to come as my generation got from reading The Tribune.
harinder@tribunemail.com

Prateek Chauhan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 13

Interstate narcotics drug cartel, who used to buy drugs from naxal affected areas in Jharkhand, has been busted by Delhi Police Special cell, who have arrested three key members: Akhtar Ali (41), Jahangir (29)  both resident of Delhi and Jenulabdin (49), resident of Jharkhand; with 3 kg of heroin and 1 kg of Alprazolam worth Rs 15 crores in international market, said police.

The members were arrested from near Ambedkar Nagar bus stand, MB Road here; and a Swift Dezire car used for supplying drugs has also been seized, police said.

Special Cell (South) were working on an information that an interstate narcotics cartel is active in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, UP and Delhi, said DCP P.S Kushwah (special cell).

Members of this cartel are involved in supply of high grade heroin in Meerut (UP), Delhi and adjoining states. This information was further developed through human surveillance. During this process, members of this cartel including the kingpin Ali were identified and their activities were kept under discreet surveillance, he said.

On August 11, information was received by the cell officer that two persons including Ali would deliver a big consignment of heroin to one of their contacts near Ambedkar Nagar bus stand between 1 am to 2 am. Accordingly, the police laid a trap near the bus stand in the intervening night of August 11-12, the DCP said.

At about 1 am, Ali and Jahangir arrived near the bus stand in the car and were waiting for a person, who came from the Khanpur side and stopped near the car. Ali handed over a packet to the third person, identified as Jenulabdin. Police swooped in and apprehended all the three persons, he said.

Three kgs of heroin and 1 kg of Alprazolam were recovered from the trio, DCP Kushwah added.
harinder@tribunemail.com

INDIA at 71 has come a long way from 1947. But the defining spirit and mood of its governance and administrative structures still reek of ineptness. A sustained spell of rain in Himachal Pradesh has snapped transport lifelines and left commuters and Army supplies to forward posts stranded. That six national highways were among the 923 affected roads in Himachal Pradesh tells a tale of misgovernance and graft that allowed unabated encroachments and denuding of forest cover since the late 60s. The saving grace is the semblance of post-disaster and humanitarian assistance machinery that helps people pick up pieces of their disrupted lives.

Kerala prides in benchmarking its development indices with Europe. It has built an intricate network of dams in the Western Ghats for flood control and hydro-generation. Yet, one sustained spell of rain and the simultaneous opening of sluice gates left some Kerala districts looking like Brahmaputra-ravaged Assam. For the people of eastern India, especially, there has been no freedom from the uncertainty of dislocation and disruption during every monsoon with the concomitant breakdown of public services. Even under the new dispensation, the zeitgeist of a rapidly changing India is lacking. One the immediate emergency has been clumsily tackled, the ball is kicked off to the corner to wait for the next season of misery when the wheels again fall off.

Throughout our journey in Independent India we have been handed out narratives that remain unfulfilled. This is not about unfocused resentment or lack of resources. The plain truth is that people of India have not got a decent bag for their tax bucks to liberate them from the seediness of inner cities or to deliver a fair law and administration system and provide decent and affordable healthcare and education. The grand ascendance from being bullock capitalists to citizens of a state that honours its social contract with the citizens still remains a far cry.
editorial@tribune.com

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

Social justice activism may be gaining momentum for bringing about change, but it has also given rise to a class of activists indulging in blackmail. Taking note of their increasing numbers, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has minced no words to say illegal gain was their singular objective.

So-called social activists have cropped up in the recent past in a large number, inasmuch as they are generally found blackmailing the official machinery and the system with the sole motive of unlawful gain, observed Justice Ramendra Jain.

The assertion came as Justice Jain dismissed a petition by Dalbir Singh Saroha for impartial investigation into an unnatural death more than two decades back. Justice Jain asserted that the petitioner had no locus standi to file the petition as he was not even remotely related to deceased Vinod Kumar.

Justice Jain noticed that the police were, on July 2, 1997, chasing dreaded criminal Karamveer, aka Dhira, allegedly involved in more than 20 criminal cases. During the process, Dhira allegedly started firing on the police party. In the crossfire, Vinod, allegedly accompanying Dhira, sustained bullet injuries before he died.

Initially, a case for attempt to murder and other offences was registered at the Sonepat City police station on July 3, 1997, under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act.

Dissatisfied with the investigation, Vinods father Om Parkash Chugh had filed a criminal complaint against police officials, alleging his sons murder in a fake encounter. After legal rigmarole involving filing of petitions and applications, a fresh FIR for murder was registered on March 3, 2000. After due investigation, cancellation report by the police was accepted by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in December 2003 after recording the complainant-fathers protest statement.

Justice Jain observed that Chugh or any of his close relatives did not raise grouse against cancellation since 2003, but the petitioner, as a public person and so-called social activist, filed the petition for fair and impartial inquiry after 14 years.

Describing it as a futile effort to harass the police and state machinery for exerting undue pressure to favour him, the state counsel asserted that the petitioner had been booked in four cases between 2009 and 2016 and was acquitted in two FIRs while facing trial in other cases.

The filing of 20 different petitions by the petitioner seems to be his blackmailing device to put undue pressure upon the police. After 14 years of submission of cancellation report, no fruitful purpose can be achieved by reinvestigation into the matter against the death of a person in 1997, around 21 years ago, Justice Jain concluded.
What weve seen happen is that law enforcement (officers) dont decipher that there is a difference, necessarily, between people with mental illnesses and intellectual developmental disabilities, and how thats important because they may need to provide different services for someone or they may need a different referral depending on what type of disability the person has, Davis said. And the more that they (officers) know about the persons disability, the more likely they can de-escalate a situation.
editorial@tribune.com

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, August 14

The district police have arrested three youths in connection with the double murder that took place near the local mini-secretariat on August 8. A local girl, Mamta, and a police sub-inspector accompanying her were shot dead in a case of honour killing.

The biological as well as foster parents of the girl have already been arrested.

On Tuesday, her cousin Mohit alias Manglu and two suspected shooters, Pravit alias Prince and Prashant alias Toni of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, were arrested after an encounter with a police party.

As per the police, the youths had come to Singhpura village on Tuesday to kill Mamtas brother-in-law Dinesh and his mother Saroj. The family members of Mamta, a Jat girl, were not happy as she had eloped with and married Dalit youth Sombir of Singhpura village in the district.

Rohtak SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said they got a tip-off that a car bearing an Uttar Pradesh registration number had been spotted near Singhpura village in the district on Tuesday morning.

Two teams were constituted and rushed to the area in which the car had been seen. On seeing the police vehicle, the occupants of the car fired at the police party and tried to drive away.

The police team also fired at the youths and one of them got injured. Following that, all three youths were nabbed by the police team. The arrested youths have been identified as Mohit alias Manglu of Taja Majra Gaddi Kheri village in Rohtak district and Pravit alias Prince and Prashant alias Toni of Meerut.

Six pistols and several live cartridges have been seized from the arrested persons. As per the police, Pravit, who was injured in the encounter, is a shooter of the Bhadauri gang of Uttar Pradesh and works with the Merchant Navy.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Bhanu Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 14

Restoration work is in full swing as rain took a break in Himachal and over 300 out of 923 blocked roads were likely to be opened by Tuesday afternoon.

However, roads in tribal and remote areas and link roads are expected to be opened by Wednesday.

Shimla-Kalka, Mandi-Pathankot and Shimla-Matour highways have been opened after clearing the debris but traffic is moving at a snail's pace as the risk of landslides looms.

As many as 624 heavy machines, including JCBs and tippers, have been deployed for clearing the roads, said a PWD official.

As many as 353 roads were blocked in Shimla zone, 255 in Mandi zone, 164 in Hamirpur zone and 152 in Kangra zone.

The region had a sunny day in the morning but the sky became overcast later. The local MeT office has predicted light to moderate rain in low and middle hills for the next three days but there is no warning of heavy rain.

Light rain and thundershowers are likely at isolated places in Chamba, Bilaspur, Kangra and Una districts in the next three hours, said MeT office director Manmohan Singh.

The total loss to government and private property was estimated at Rs 775 crore during the current monsoon season, which included a loss of Rs 460.51 crore suffered by the PWD alone. Revenue officers have been asked to assess the damage.

Heavy rain had wreaked havoc in various parts of Himachal in the past 24 hours, leaving 16 people dead and triggering massive landslides that left traffic blocked and commuters stranded on highways.

A government advisory asked people to avoid travel as the weather officials warned of heavy rain in the state till Tuesday and thereafter on August 16 and 17.

The government has ordered the closure of schools on Tuesday as well.

Solan district bore the brunt of monsoon fury as eight people lost their lives in rain-related incidents. Four members of a family were killed in a landslide in Kandaghat subdivision, while a boy was swept away in the swollen Kaushalya river near Parwanoo. Four people died in Mandi, two in Hamirpur and one each in Bilaspur and Una.

Six national highways, including the Chandigarh-Shimla, Kangra-Shimla, Mandi-Kullu and the Mandi-Pathankot, were among the 923 roads affected.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 14

The Army on Tuesday said two Pakistani soldiers were killed in "calibrated operations" on Monday night in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district.

On Monday, Army soldier Sepoy Pushpendra Singh of Mathura was killed while foiling an infiltration bid in the same sector.

In the retaliatory action to unprovoked ceasefire violation and repeated attempts to facilitate infiltration by the Pakistan Army in Tangdhar sector, own troops carried out calibrated operations on Monday night in which two Pakistani soldiers were killed, Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said.

There are also reports that Pakistan and Indian armies exchanged fire on Tuesday morning for at least an hour at Sudoora Tangdhar.

There was, however, no loss of life during the ceasefire violation at Sudoora, a senior police officer in Kupwara said.

It is the first major ceasefire violation along the LoC after Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan had agreed in May to fully implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in letter and spirit.
shalender@tribune.com

Clean take

Gurpreet Singh

I had joined NCC (National Cadet Corp) and participated in training camps during my childhood. It was an awesome patriotic feeling, as I lived the way the Army does. I feel as a responsible citizen of India, my contribution will be to go the clean-green way. I believe in Swachh Bharat mission.

Responsible citizen

Sneha Wagh

Im a proud Indian. And somewhere within my heart, I want to make my country proud. For me, being a responsible citizen starts in the smallest of ways. So, from keeping my surroundings clean to ensuring I responsibly take up the initiative of not wasting water, saving electricity and not littering the streets in anyway, I make sure of doing my bit.

Small steps

Shashank Vyas

Everyone can do the simplest of things like obeying traffic rules, not throwing garbage outside the window and more. These are the smaller things that can be done by everybody.

Lead by example

Himmanshoo Malhotra

As a responsible citizen, we all are required to obey the rules and regulations not because we will get punished if we dont do that, but because by doing that we ourselves set an example for our next generation to follow. Always lead by your own example.

Lawful approach

Shivin Narang

As a responsible citizen, I follow laws, obey traffic rules, pay taxes on time and contribute towards any campaign like Swacch Baharat Abhiyan. Its good for you as well as the government. One can also contribute to various NGOs and help others on the personal level.

Follow rules

Jasmin Bhasin

This year I am not in the country. I am in Argentina for a shoot, but I am proud to be an Indian every day. I never break rules and wont let others do it too.
editorial@tribune.com

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

Buoyed by pre-poll survey results of upcoming state elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the Congress on Tuesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dissolve the 16th Lok Sabha and hold an early General Election.

Turning the BJP-led one nation-one poll debate on its head, the Congress said while postponing state elections until 2019 was impossible without a constitutional amendment, preponing Lok Sabha elections and holding them with four due state elections was possible.

Taking the lead, Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot said the Congress would welcome an early dissolution of the Lok Sabha by the PM and simultaneous elections to the next LS along with polls in Mizoram, Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh.

The Congress suggestion comes in the wake of BJP chief Amit Shahs pitch for one nation-one election.

The BJP is talking of postponing the upcoming state polls and holding 12 state elections with Lok Sabha next year  a move Congress calls constitutionally impossible.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat on Tuesday reiterated what the Congress had been arguing. Simultaneous elections are not possible without a legal framework as any extension or curtailment of the term of assemblies will require a constitutional amendment, the CEC said.

Gehlot attacked the BJP on the issue and said the PMs intent was only to play politics on the matter and his intentions were not clear. Had the BJP been serious and clear hearted on the issue, its leaders would have called a meeting of all parties to debate the issue and find solution to vexed problems of possible dissolutions of Assemblies and Lok Sabha. But that wasnt done because the intention is to just throw another slogan, deflect attention from government failures and mean nothing, he said.

The former Rajasthan CM indicated the Congress preparedness for polls. There is only one way the PM can hold simultaneous polls. He can dissolve the LS early and hold General Election with state elections. But the BJP is anguished and fears defeat in the coming polls, Gehlot said.

Fake voters in Rajasthan

The Congress alleged there were 42 lakh duplicate entries in the voters list in Rajasthan and urged the EC to remove such inconsistencies. It alleged that 70 lakh voters had been added to the voters list from 2013 to 2018

Congress leaders submitted a memorandum to the CEC, requesting the EC to sanitise electoral roll as published by the Rajasthan CEO on July 31, 2018, and remove inconsistencies
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Hapur (UP), August 14

Another four days and it will be two months since a man was lynched and another seriously injured, allegedly by cow vigilantes.

While 45-year-old Qasim from Pilkhuwa succumbed to injuries, 65-year-old Samiuddin of Madapur village, is still battling for life at a hospital in Ghaziabad.

The Supreme Court on Monday took note of a petition by Samiuddin that he and his family were living in a state of fear with the local police forcing them to lodge a complaint of road rage, rather than lynching over alleged cow slaughter.

The apex court directed a senior Uttar Pradesh police officer to probe the Hapur lynching, terming the survivor's allegations "serious".

Madapur residents dismissed the rumours that the victim was involved in anything to do with cow slaughter, wondering: Where is the cow?

The uproar was over a cow, but there was no cow at the spot. There was no cow, or a knife or an axe. Samiuddin had a sickle to cut fodder on his one-and-a-half bigha piece of land, he said. The police version, now challenged in the Supreme Court, was that a mob thrashed the two men after a motorcycle hit a youth. Madapur residents told PTI that Samiuddin had to attend a funeral on June 18, the day he and his companion were attacked by a mob.

Samiuddin's son had gone to another village to work as a construction labourer, and there was nobody to fetch fodder for the cattle the family kept, a resident, who did not want to be named, said.

Not sure when he would return from the funeral, Samiuddin decided to bring jowar' from his field, which is equidistant from Muslim-majority Madapur and Hindu-majority Bajheda Khurd village, before leaving for the funeral, he said.

That is where he was attacked by a mob, local people said.

"He was hit with lumps of earth, bricks, a sickle, absolutely anything that the mob could lay hands on," said another man.

An elderly man from the village said he was in Ghaziabad when somebody told him over the phone about the incident.

The man said a mob from Bajheda had taken away two of our villagers. I asked him to call the village head. The village head was not there. So the villagers called the police emergency number, he said. "The policemen arrived there but the mob did not stop and killed Qasim, he alleged.

The elderly man recalled that there has hardly ever been any incident of violence in his village, certainly none of this magnitude.

There have been minor scuffles over time. Once, 15 years ago, a stick fight broke out due to a dispute over water from the stream. Three or four people were injured in the incident, he said.

Samiuddin in his plea before the Supreme Court has sought setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure an impartial, competent and fair investigation" into "the barbaric incident of mob lynching on June 18.

The petition said Samiuddin and Qasim, were assaulted by a mob of the majority community from the neighbouring village, in the name of cow vigilantism". PTI
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Muzaffarnagar, August 14

In a suspected case of honour killing, a teenage girl was allegedly poisoned by her father who waited for her to die as she sat on a bench near a crematorium, police said on Tuesday.

He had planned to dump his daughter's body in the Ganga river, on the banks of which the crematorium is situated, so that no one could trace it, they said.

Tanu, believed to be about 16, died during treatment at the Bhopa Primary Health Centre here last evening, Station House Officer of the Bhopa Police Station, V P Singh said.

A group of Army aspirants, who practice running at an empty ground of the crematorium every evening, found her trembling in a semi-conscious state, he said.

The girl, who had studied till Class 7, signalled them for help, V P Singh said, adding when they drew close to her, she blurted out her name and that "her father had poisoned her".

The aspirants had seen a man standing near the girl, who was a resident of Ghaziabad, but he vanished while they were talking to her, the SHO said.

The youths immediately informed the police control room after which a police team reached the spot and rushed her to the PHC, he said.

The girl made the same statements before the police that she had made before the Army aspirants, V P Singh said, adding after sometime she died.

A police team arrested her father, Sunder Singh, from a forest near Raikheda village, where his sister lives, he said.

Sunder Singh confessed to giving poison to her, the police officer said.

The accused told police that he was a resident of Sikrod village in Ghaziabad and worked as a farmer.

Sunder Singh alleged that after his wife's death around five months ago, he learned about his daughter's "bad character", the SHO said.

In a bid to change her, Sunder Singh sent his daughter to his sister Kusum's house in Raikheda village here two months ago.

The accused told the police that when he got complaints about her from the people here also, he decided to kill her, the police officer said.

Sunder Singh brought some tablets, apparently insecticides, from a shop in Ghaziabad and went to his sister's house on the pretext of some ceremony before Rakshabandhan, he said.

Last afternoon, he took Tanu to visit some places in Shukratal, a place of religious importance located 30 km from the Muzaffarnagar city, the SHO said.

After visiting several places, Sunder Singh and Tanu sat on a bench in the crematorium premises, which was situated on the Ganga river's bank, he said.

There he gave her water, laced with the poison, Sunder Singh told police.

Within minutes of drinking the water, she started shivering and called the youths.

Sunder Singh told the police that he had planned to tell his sister's family that she went to some other relative's house.

An FIR was registered against the accused on the charges of murder and causing hurt by use of poison, the police officer said.

The accused was sent to judicial custody by a court here, the SHO added. - PTI
uttara@tribuneindia.com

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

Amid concern over a large number of Indians being left out in National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that Indian citizens who moved to Assam from other states before or after March 24, 1971, cut-off date will be included in the National Register of Citizens.

The central government made it clear that the concession would be applicable to only those who do not have any origin in Specified Territory (Bangladesh) and they will be included in the NRC if the citizenship of such persons is ascertained beyond reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the authorities disposing of claims and objections.

In the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) drafted to deal with claims and objections of those left out in the exercise, the Centre told the top court that the authorities examining the claims will exercise great caution to ensure that no illegal persons name is included.

The top court had on July 21, 2015 order said that "Indian citizens, including their children and descendants, who may have moved to the State of Assam subsequent to 24th March, 1971, would be eligible for inclusion in the NRC on adducing satisfactory proof of residence in any part of the country (ourside Assam as on 24th March 1971".

The Final Draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam published last month had excluded 40 lakh people i.e. 12 per cent of Assams population, and the Supreme Court had on July 31 said "it can't form the basis for any action", as it was only a draft NRC. To be recognised as citizens, all residents had to produce documents proving that they or their families lived in India before March 24, 1971.

The top court had asked the Centre to prepare an SOP for deciding claims and objections against exclusions and inclusions by August 16, the next date of hearing. It said the process adopted had to be fair and every affected person must be given proper opportunity to be heard before their claims and objections were disposed of.

The Bench had said once the SOP was prepared it would approve it if the process adopted was fair, else it would correct it. The court will consider the SOP on August 16.

The Centre has suggested extending the time for filing claims and objections regarding inclusion of names in the draft NRC from the one to two months.

Claims involving children of 14 years who have been left out from the draft NRC and whose parents have included in it "will be segregated and pre-claim verification undertaken by CRCR to ascertain the shortcomings in linkage documents or any inconsistencies thereof".

The DRCR concerned will cause specific hearings for the composite family in respect of these children and oral and written evidences from parents will be available. This "special consideration" was needed as adequate documentary evidence may not be available for children less than 14 years, the Centre submitted.
harinder@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, August 14

Amid concern over a large number of Indians being left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that citizens who moved to Assam from other states before or after March 24, 1971, cut-off date will be included in the NRC.

The government clarified that the concession would be applicable to only those who do not have any origin in specified territory (Bangladesh) and they will be included in the NRC if the citizenship of such persons is ascertained beyond reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the authorities disposing of claims. In the Standard Operating Procedure drafted to deal with claims of those left out, the Centre said the authorities will exercise caution to ensure no illegal persons name is included. TNS
amansharma@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, August 14

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday asserted that contentious issues and extraneous debates should not be allowed to distract us at a pivotal moment when the country is at the cusp of achieving many long-awaited goals.

In his televised address to the nation on the eve of countrys 72nd Independence Day, Kovind recalled Mahatma Gandhis most noble mantra on the power of ahinsa (non-violence) being far greater than the power of hinsa (violence), remarks that come against the backdrop of incidents of lynching and mob violence in some parts of the country.

The power to stay your hand is far greater than the power to strike with your hand and hinsa has no place in the society.

Touching upon a range of issues, the president also said women were entitled to a life of their choice and security to fulfil their potential, amid concerns over their privacy and safety.

We are at a juncture in our history that is very different from any period we have so far experienced. We are at the cusp of achieving many of our long-awaited goals.

Universal access to electricity, the elimination of open defecation, the elimination of homelessness, the very elimination of extreme poverty is achievable and attainable. We are at a pivotal moment. Let contentious issues and extraneous debates not distract us, Kovind said.

The President said every Indian who does not jump the queue and respects the civic space and rights of those ahead in the line lives up to the principles of the countrys freedom struggle.

Its a very small gesture. Let us try and abide by it, Kovind said.

Highlighting the role of farmers in providing food security to fellow citizens and the contribution by the countrys armed and police forces in battling terrorism and ensuring law and order, he said every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment is upholding the principles of our freedom struggle.

He said the decisions the country takes today, the foundations we lay, the projects we undertake, the social and economic investments we make today  whether for the immediate future or for the medium term  will determine where we stand.

The pace of change and development in our country is rapid and appreciable. And as per our civilisational traditions, it is driven by our people, by civil society and by a partnership between citizen and government. Its focus, again in keeping with the essence of Indian thought, is on a better life for the less fortunate, the president noted.

Stressing that women have a special role in society, he said the expansion of freedom in our country in many senses amounts to the expansion of freedom for women in our country. This is true whether we see them as mothers, sisters, daughters or simply as women who are entitled to a life of their choosing  and deserving of the opportunity and the security to fulfil their potential.

The President said women could do this as sheet-anchors of families or as absolutely critical entrants to institutions of higher learning and Indias workforce.

The choice is theirs; as a nation and as a society we must ensure that they have the right and the ability to exercise that choice, the president said.

Kovind said the reality is that every Indian who does his or her job with sincerity and commitment, who contributes to society by being true to a professional ethic, be it the doctors ethic, the nurses ethic, the teachers ethic, the public servants ethic, the factory workers ethic, the business-persons ethic, the ethic of those who have to care for ageing parents who brought them up with love and sacrificeeach of these and many others are in their own way upholding the values of freedom.

He said Independence Day is always special, but this year there is an unusual significance attached to it as in a few weeks, on October 2, India will begin the commemoration of the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

Everywhere, across continents, Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India, the president said.

Kovind said Gandhi spoke of swadeshi with an uncommon zeal and to him Indian civilisation was defined by open windows and not closed doors.

This was his concept of swadeshi and it is still relevant to us as we engage with the world  whether for our economy, our health, education and social aspirations, or our policy choices, the president said, and asked all to adapt Gandhis ideas and maxim to everydays work to celebrate our freedom and Indianness.

He said this Indianness is not for us alone. It is part of what our country and our civilisation bring to the global stage. Kovind said the outcome of education is not merely a degree or a diploma, but the commitment to help improve the life of another in a way that is sustainable.

This is empathy and fraternity in action. This is the Indian spirit. This is India, because India belongs to the people of India  not just to the government, he added.  PTI




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
I dont understand how politicians dont understand that if you dont have enough money to pay for the water now, how are you going to be able to pay for it in the future if the rates keep going up and up and up? he said.
editorial@tribune.com

Nagpur, August 13

Gangster Arun Gawli, serving life sentence for murder, has topped an exam based on Gandhian thoughts. An inmate of the Nagpur central prison, Gawli scored 74 out of 80 marks in the examination, based on the concept of the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.

Around 160 prisoners appeared for the examination, conducted by NGOs Sahyog Trust, Sarvoday Ashram and Mumbai Sarvoday Mandal in October last year. The result was declared last week, Sahyog Trust trustee Ravindra Bhusari said. Appearing for the exam is not mandatory and prison inmates appear for it out of choice, he said.

In the exam, inmates have to answer 80 objective type questions. Those who pass the exam receive a certificate and Khadi clothes as a prize.

Before the exam, study material on Gandhiji's books was provided in the jail," he said. The examinees included convicts, under trials and those serving jail terms, he added. Gawli is serving a life sentence for the 2007 murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamalakar Jamsandekar.  PTI
gspannu7@gmail.com

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

Shocked to know about sexual abuse of 1,575 children revealed in an all India survey of shelter homes, mostly run by NGOs, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to frame a child protection policy to prevent recurrence of such horrific incidents.

1,575 boys and girls are victims of sexual and physical abuse. What have you done about it? Which are the shelter homes where they are kept? What action the states have taken on this, a three-judge Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur asked Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand.

We cant shut our eyes to what is coming out in newspapers, said the Bench which had on August 7 lamented that women and girls were getting raped left, right and centre across India.

According to the survey of shelter homes conducted across India, 1,289 girls and 286 boys were sexually abused and 189 children were victims of pornography, amicus curiae Aparna Bhat told the Bench after perusing the report that was submitted to the court.

Bhat said 94 per cent of these homes were run by NGOs.

Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand said the Centre sent the report to states and informed them about it last year itself.

It means nothing happened for one year and the children continued to be sexually abusedWe are concerned whether children living in shelter homes are being abused or looked after properly, said the top court.

The Bench, which had on August 2 taken suo motu cognisance of rape of 42 girls and women inmates of a shelter home at Muzaffarpur, asked the Centre to frame a child protection policy with prevention point of view to check recurrence of such incidents.

The direction to frame a child protection policy came after Bhat told the Bench that in Muzaffarpur even a Child Welfare Committee member and the District Child Protection officer was accused of raping minor girls.

Bhat said social audit by an outside agency was important as it exposed the shortcomings in the statutory mechanism.

It also directed the Bihar Government to make public the social audit report of 111 shelter homes in the state prepared by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) after senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing the Nitish Kumar government said it had no objection to it.

The Bench, which also included Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta, asked the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to take into account a note submitted by TISS on how to conduct social audits while conducting such exercises.

Kumar told the Bench that three organisations, including Bangalore-based Parivartan and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, were already looking into the psycho-social aspect of the girls allegedly raped at a shelter home run by an NGO in Muzaffarpur.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to take up on August 20 a petition filed by over 350 army personnel challenging the CBI probe against security forces in disturbed areas.

Challenging dilution of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the petitioners contended that military operations against insurgency would be adversely affected by such probe against Armymen.

CJI Dipak Misra posted it for hearing on Monday after advocate Aishwarya Bhati, representing the petitioners, told the Bench headed by Justice Misra that military operations in border areas will suffer if dilution of AFSPA in disturbed areas was allowed as it exposed security forces to unnecessary risks.

Protection of soldiers acting in good faith under AFSPA is imperative to protect the soldiers engaged with direct and proxy enemy and insurgency and cannot be diluted without a specific and categoric amendment in law, the petitioners submitted.

The petition comes barely two weeks after CBI director Alok Kumar Verma told the Supreme Court that the agency had filed two chargesheets against 15 security personnel in connection with fake encounter killings and 14 of them had been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.

Verma, who was summoned by the top court to explain the delay in implementing the courts order, had told a Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur on July 30 that five more chargesheets/final reports would be filed by the end of August.

The Supreme Court had in July 2017 directed a CBI probe into alleged extra-judicial killings by Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police in the insurgency-hit state. It had asked the CBI Director to appoint an SIT to conduct the probe into the alleged killings. The order had come on a PIL seeking probe and compensation in the alleged 1,528 extra-judicial killings by security forces in Manipur between 2000 and 2012.

The petition by Armymen is essentially against the top courts recent orders to the CBI to register FIRs, investigate and prosecute security forces for alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur during operations in the insurgency-hit northeastern state in the past two decades.

The petitioners have demanded laying down of specific guidelines to protect the bona fide action of soldiers under AFSPA, so that no soldier is harassed by initiation of criminal proceedings for actions done in good faith in exercise of their duties, as mandated by the Union of India, in protection of sovereignty, integrity and dignity of the country.

The petition demanded adequate compensation for the affected serving personnel and their families who had been unnecessarily embroiled in mala fide criminal proceedings for discharging their bona fide duties.

They have also sought a direction to the Government to take all steps to protect the soldiers protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the nation from persecution and prosecution by motivated and indiscriminate FIRs against the mandate of law.
editorial@tribune.com

Ahmedabad, August 14

Two senior BJP leaders in Gujarat, a former parliamentary secretary Shamjibhai Chauhan and former Rajkot mayor Ashok Dangar, along with their supporters joined the Congress on Tuesday.

They were welcomed into the party by state Congress president Amit Chavda and AICC in-charge of state affairs Rajiv Satav.

Both Chavda and Satav said people were feeling cheated under the BJP governments at the Centre and state and that more frustrated BJP leaders would join the Congress in the coming days.

Dangar, who was formerly with the Congress but had joined the BJP ahead of the 2012 Assembly elections, said he had joined the saffron party hoping that he would do something good for his community  the Other Backward Classes.

But after six years in the ruling party, he only had bitter experience and was feeling frustrated. Chauhan said the ruling party had betrayed the expectations of the Koli community that had voted for the saffron party but got nothing in return.  OC
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that D. Bala Venkatesh Varma will be the next Indian Ambassador to Russia.

The appointment comes at a crucial time when Delhi-Moscow ties have been strained with the shadow of United States looming on both countries and attempts were made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to re-energise ties during the informal Sochi summit recently with President Valdimir Putin.

A 1988-batch diplomat, Venkatesh Varma is currently Indias ambassador to Spain. He is expected to take up his assignment shortly. His predecessor Ambassador Pankaj Saran has been appointed Deputy National Security Adviser in the Prime Ministers Office.

Venkatesh Varma studied Russian in the Foreign Service and has served in Moscow earlier as Third Secretary at the Embassy from 1990-1992 and as First Secretary from 2000-2003. In his diplomatic career, he served as Director in PMO as well as Joint Secretary (Disarmament & International Security Affairs) in MEA. Prior to his posting as envoy in Madrid, he was the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament.

Additionally Rahul Chhabra, presently Ambassador of India to Budapest, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Kenya.

A 1990-batch IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officer, Partha Sathpathy, presently Joint Secretary at MEA Headquarters, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Ukraine.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Hyderabad, August 14

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday remarked that he is married to the party.

He made the comment during an interaction with editors when asked about his marriage plans. Gandhi, on a two-day visit to Hyderabad, said Narendra Modi would not become Prime Minister in 2019.

He predicted that the BJP would not get even 230 seats and hence there was no question of Modi again becoming the PM. The BJP tally would be cut primarily due to the alliance among non-BJP parties in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, he said.

The Congress president evaded a direct reply to a question as to who would be the PM in the event of the Congress and other non-BJP parties getting a majority. He said they would work it out.

Gandhi said the party's state units were free to have alliances with like-minded parties. He was confident that the Congress would come to power in Telangana.

Asked about Andhra Pradesh where the Congress drew a blank in the 2014 polls, he said the party was improving its position.

He voiced concern over the growing intolerance in the country. He said the minorities were feeling insecure.

He called for addressing the problems of farmers and providing employment to the unemployed. He said Modi had failed to keep his promise of providing two crore jobs annually.

"China provides employment to 50,000 people in 24 hours while in India only 458 people get employment during this duration," he said. IANS
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Barnala, August 14

Five former AAP leaders from Mehal Kalan constituency have been booked for allegedly misbehaving with the security staff of party MP Bhagwant Mann.

The Mehal Kalan police have registered a case against Nirmal Singh, Karamjit Singh, Pargat Singh, Gagan and Amandeep Singh under Sections 353, 186, 341, 174 and 149 of the IPC.

In his complaint, Lakhvir Singh, a constable posted with Mann, alleged that the accused misbehaved with him on Monday when the MP was leaving Pandori village after the cremation of Kaka Singh, father of AAP MLA Kulwant Singh Pandori. He also alleged that the accused tore his clothes.

Karamjit Singh, former AAP office incharge, Mehal Kalan, said: We helped Mann win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Now, he has no time to spare for us. We did not misbehave with his security staff. Rather, they misbehaved with us when we tried to meet him.

Mann must remember that these leaders worked hard for him. Its surprising that he has got an FIR registered against them through his security guard. I strongly condemn this action, said Pirmal Singh Dhaula, AAP MLA from Bhadaur. When contacted, ASI Kulwinder Singh said he had started an investigation into the case.
editorial@tribune.com

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune New Service

Barnala, August 14

On the complaint of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the police have registered a case against two persons for allegedly misusing debit card details of several persons for making online payments of electricity bills. Preliminary investigations have detected a fraud of Rs 31.21 lakh.

Gurvir Singh, SHO, Barnala city, said: Naresh of Mansa used to offer his services to residents to pay their electricity bills online in lieu of cash. So far, we have detected that he had paid bills worth Rs 31.21 lakh through fraudulent transfers from various bank accounts. We are conducting raids to arrest him.

The police have registered a case against Naresh, Soni and some unidentified persons under Sections 419, 420, 120-B IPC and 66(C), 68(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The SHO said: The NPCI, which keeps a watch over online payments through various apps, has alleged in its complaint that it had found the misuse of 171 debit cards and all fraudulent transactions were done in Barnala district to deposit power bills of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

He said during the investigation, it had come to light that two local shopkeepers, who used to deposit electricity bills online from their bank accounts, were approached by Naresh last year. Naresh offered them commission if they outsourced the work to him. We are conducting investigations to ascertain the role of both the shopkeepers and the amount of commission Naresh offered to them, said Gurvir Singh.

Meanwhile, the incident has caused panic among people who have been using their debit cards for online payments and purchases in the city.

Kulwinder Singh, a local resident, said: While the government is promoting cashless transactions like anything, it has failed to make the system foolproof.

Barnala SSP Harjeet Singh said he had directed the SHO to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. We need to know about the modus operandi and the extent of fraud, which is possible after Nareshs arrest. Our teams are conducting raids to nab him. We are also trying to reach out to the victims whose debit cards were misused. It appears to be a big scam, he said.

Modus operandi
harinder@tribunemail.com

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

Summons will now be delivered electronically to litigants in the form of e-summons with the Supreme Court on Tuesday launching new apps.

Almost 25-30 per cent cases in lower judiciary are pending because summons do not get delivered. Now, a process server would be provided with a smartphone that would end the practice of incorrect reports about non-delivery of summons, said Justice Madan B Lokur, who is spearheading the project for use of IT in judiciary.

At a function to launch the new apps, Justice Lokur said it had been mandatory for them to come back either with an electronically signed receipt or a photograph of the locked premises. Now, the GPS tracking system would ensure they went to the right place for delivery, he added.

He said Nstep  a real-time tracking of process server  would speed up cases pending for non-delivery of summons. Lawyers can also digitally pay court fee and fines.
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Ravi S.Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday assured a delegation Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by its president Sukhbir Singh Badal, that the government is examining issues raised before it by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

They include constituting of a special court for the day-to-day trial of 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases and commuting death sentence of terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana to life sentence. He has been convicted in the former Punjab CM Beant Singh assassination case.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur, Gobind Singh Longowal and Manjit Singh (GK), SGPC and DSGMC presidents, respectively; MPs Naresh Gujral and Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and former MP Tarlochan Singh were other members on the delegation.

The delegation's meeting with Singh lasted for about an hour in his North Block office.

The meeting is a follow up to earlier two meetings of SAD delegations with Singh in the past one month. Singh had assured to hold a joint meeting of Sikh leaders and Home Ministry officials around Independence Day with regard the issues pertaining to the community.

The delegation batted for grant of citizenship to all Hindus and Sikhs who were forced to leave Afghanistan since 1989. It drew a distinction between illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam, and those from Afghanistan who were forced to leave on ground of religious persecution.

Also, demand was made for free passage for devotees from Dera Baba Nanak located on the Indian side to the historical Gurdwara Kartarpur in Pakistan in view of the celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of the Guru in 2019.

The delegation also sought the Centre's intervention with state of Jammu and Kashmir over minority status to Sikhs. They alleged that the community was being "discriminated" against in the state with regard fair representation in government jobs and schemes, even the Centrally-sponsored schemes regarding minorities.

Besides, Centre's intervention with the Maharashtra government for review of its decision to amend the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Abchalnagar Sahib Board, Nanded Act was sought. The state government proposes to nominate six more members on the Board which was being opposed by the SGPC.

It also demanded rescinding of the amendment to law by the Chandigarh administration, which has made it mandatory even for Sikh women wearing turban or headgear to use helmets while riding a two-wheeler and ensuring security of Sikhs in Sikkim.
Sherry has never been told in writing of any allegations of misconduct against him relating to his 2006 arrest, the lawsuit said. Now that 12 years have elapsed, and all potential criminal statutes of limitations have long since expired, it is clear that the City of Chicago and its Department of Police will never provide Tom Sherry with a hearing.
editorial@tribune.com

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

Balramji Dass Tandon was one of the founding members of the Jan Sangh in Punjab. He had, in fact, dedicated himself to the RSS since his teenage.

Tandon is also known to have played a vital role in the bond that the BJP has with its long-time ally SAD. He was Deputy Chief Minister in the Justice Gurnam Singh-led SAD-Jan Sangh government during 1969-70.

A man of his word, Tandon served as Cabinet Minister during 1977-79 and again during 1997-2002 in the Badal government. He was elected MLA from Amritsar in 1960, 1962, 1967, 1969 and 1977 and from Rajpura in 1997. He always remained committed to the party values.

Tandon served as the secretary of the Jan Sangh between 1951 and 1957. He was the president of the state unit during 1995-97.

He was jailed from 1975 to 1977 during the emergency. Despite several suggestions against contesting elections when terrorism was at its peak, Tandon contested the 1991 Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar. Based largely in Amritsar for his party activities, Tandon later shifted his base to Chandigarh. He had also played an important role in the settlement of refugees after the Partition.

State BJP president Shwait Malik remembers Tandon as the torch-bearer of the party in the state. He was a pracharak of the RSS along with my father. I have vivid memories of his clarity of thought for his ideals. He have inherited his legacy of commitment for the party. The loss is personal.

Former state BJP chief Manoranjan Kalia said: Tandon was a father figure to me. He worked along with my father Manmohan Kalia. I was the general secretary of the party when he was the president. Our relations with him go far beyond usual pleasantries of party colleagues. He was a philosopher and a guide to all those who came contact with him.

Senior BJP leader Chunni Lal Bhagat said: I dont have words to express my feelings. A vacuum has been created in the party.

Avinash Rai Khanna, former state BJP chief, remembered Tandon as a towering personality who was instrumental in his joining the party. He had a rare quality of putting across his argument based on facts.

Tandons two daughters Alka Kawatra and Poonam Batra are based in Delhi. His son Sanjay Tandon is president of the BJPs Chandigarh unit.

State mourning tomorrow

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh condoled the death of Balramji Dass Tandon. The state as well as the country has lost a seasoned administrator and grassroots leader, Capt Amarinder said. As a mark of respect, the government has declared one-day state mourning on August 16. The government also declared a half-day holiday on Tuesday. TNS
editorial@tribune.com

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, August 14

When Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala here on August 12, she was overcome with emotion. Teary-eyed, the minister said Hussainiwala belonged to the freedom fighters who had sacrificed their life for their motherland. She could not have put it better.

It was in 1931 on the evening of March 23 at 7.30 pm that revolutionaries Bhagat Singh and his comrades Sukhdev and Rajguru were hanged to death at the Lahore Central Jail. Prison officials, fearing a revolt, secretly transported their bodies to Hussainiwala, breaking the jails rear wall.

It is believed that the bodies, dumped in sacks, were unceremoniously set afire in the dark of the night on the banks of the Sutlej. The following morning, residents of the area found the half-burnt bodies which they cremated after the last rites. It is at this site that the National Martyrs Memorial was later raised on the banks of the Sutlej, which has since changed course.

It took 37 long years for the nation to raise a befitting memorial to its gallant freedom fighters. Worse, more than five decades of its existence, the memorial is still struggling for the attention it deserves.

After Partition, the area in Hussainiwala enclave was marked as international border. Till 1961, the memorial site was part of Pakistan. It was owing to the countrys first PM Jawaharlal Nehru that it was transferred to India in exchange of 12 villages near the Sulemanki headworks in Fazilka.

Later, freedom fighter Batukeshwar Dutt was cremated at this site, as per his last wish. Bhagat Singhs mother Vidyawati too was cremated here.

The stone for the memorial was laid in 1965 by YB Chavan, then Union Defence Minister. However, work could not commence because of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. Little did these gallant sons of the soil know that soon India would be fighting not the British, but a nation carved out of it, remarked Kulbir Singh Sidhu, a retired IAS officer, who was Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur between 1999 to 2001.

The memorial was dedicated to the nation in 1968 by the then Punjab CM, Lachhman Singh Gill, who belonged to Ferozepur. He got the project completed in 40 days at a cost of Rs 1.84 lakh. During the second Indo-Pakistan war in 1971, Pakistani armoured troops attacked the place on the night of December 3. They ransacked the memorial and took away the busts of the three martyrs. These were later retrieved via diplomatic channels owing to the efforts of Swaran Singh Boparai, then Deputy Commissioner.

The busts were dumped into oblivion in one of the stores of the DCs office until these were found inside an old trunk in 2000 by the then DC, Sidhu. The memorial was rebuilt in 1973 owing to the efforts of Giani Zail Singh, who was then Chief Minister, but drew scant attention subsequently.

Leaders from various parties have visited the memorial from time to time, promising it would be brought on the international tourist map. However, the promises have proved hollow. Every year on March 23, Shaheedi Mela is organised here. The leaders pay mere lip service and leave, remarked a disappointed Jaswinder Sandhu, president of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Society.

The previous SAD-BJP government earmarked huge sums for new memorials in the state. Hussainiwala, perhaps, skipped the governments attention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the memorial in 2015 but did not announce steps to develop it. Holding out hope, Punjab Local Bodies and Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu during his last visit here announced the Centre had agreed to spend Rs 10 crore on the National Martyrs Memorial. It is high time the memorial gets its due.
editorial@tribune.com

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

Painful memories of Partition return to haunt Punjab residents every year when the nation celebrates Independence Day. However, Amar Kaur (96) fondly remembers the rare incidents of brotherhood between Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs that saved her and many others.

One of the few living survivors of the 1947 mayhem, Amar Kaur says their Muslim neighbours in Icchra (Lahore) first protected them and later took pains to locate them in India and send them their household goods.

When she reached her parental house at Khanpur (Hoshiarpur) after days of travelling on bullock carts, she was amazed to find that her family had been protecting the young daughter of a Muslim neighbour.

Sitting in her house at Shergarh village near Hoshiarpur, she insists: Bas roula vich pae gaye. Bande sab changey si (People were nice. They were just caught in the storm).

She was 25 in 1947, married to a mason for a couple of years. We used to have fun in Lahore. I loved shopping in that city. I have never seen such fine cloth in my life. I remember each nook and cranny of Anarkali Bazaar, she says.

When violence erupted, her family, like thousands of others, had no idea what would happen next. We anxiously spent days and nights on the rooftop. Our Muslim neighbours helped us all along. But for them, we would not have been alive.

Her husband sent his brothers, sisters and her a few days before Independence Day to Hoshiarpur. Our neighbours didnt want us to leave, but we had to move to India. At Khanpur, my brothers had saved a Muslim neighbours family. A Muslim girl cried all night in my arms. Next morning, they and others left for Pakistan as many Sikh and Hindu families had reached the village, she adds. We were all hoping that Partition, the violence and rapes, were all part of a bad dream, she recalls. As the family members started picking up the pieces, they were pleasantly astonished to receive a letter from their erstwhile neighbours. They told us they had despatched the household items to the family of a common friend in Tarn Taran. That shows how nice people were in those days, says Amar Kaur.

She later gave birth to three daughters and two sons. Her husband moved to Shergarh village and did odd jobs. Later, he migrated to Jordan. Her granddaughter, Manpreet Kaur, recalls that her nana (Amar Kaurs husband) died a few years ago with only one wish on his lips  to stroll on the streets of Lahore.

My nani often says she wants to visit Anarkali Bazaar at least once before she breathes her last. I wonder if that would be possible, asks Manpreet.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 14

Kerala Police grilled Bishop Franco Mulakkal for over nine hours on Monday night. The Bishop's questioning ended at around 5 am.

However, no arrests have been made so far. The police said they needed to examine the case scientifically.

It was on Monday that the Kerala Police team, which arrived in Jalandhar four days back to investigate the alleged rape case lodged by a nun, finally entered the premises of the Bishop House.

As the Bishop arrived in a convoy at 7.45 pm, his guards and some supporters allegedly manhandled mediapersons from Kerala. The Kerala police team also quizzed Father Antony and Jalandhar Diocese PRO Father Peter at the Police Lines.

His lawyer said he just got a notice that the Bishop should appear before police at 8 pm. The Bishop was around, so he came back, he added.

The team had met some nuns and ex-nuns at the Missionaries of Jesus and priests in the past few days and recorded their statements.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 14

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced that civilian flights would be started from the Halwara airport very soon. The Chief Minister said the Union Government had given its nod and necessary approvals. He was in the city on Tuesday to meet industrialists and the newly elected members of the General House of the Municipal Corporation on the invitation extended by the Mayor.

Addressing the long pending demand of industrialists of air-connectivity in the industrial city of Ludhiana, the Chief Minister said being a pilot, he knew that the Sahnewal airport was certainly not a viable option as it had some peculiar problems. He said for two or three months in a year, the airport witnessed foggy conditions due to which the visibility remained very low. Further, a longer strip could not be established at the Sahnewal airport as buildings were constructed all around. So, Halwara is the better option and it will provide respite to industrialists, he added.

He said the industrial policy was the need of the hour and now it had come. There is every scope of amendment as and when needed for the industrys growth, he said.

He said the government was able to revive several sick units in Mandi Gobindgarh. He said no government was free from corruption but he was making possible efforts to curb it. He asked industrialists to come forward, complain about the system or officials and the government would certainly bring the guilty to book.
laxmi@tribune.com

Genoa, August 14

Italys Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday that 30 persons have been killed after a motorway bridge collapsed in the northwestern port city of Genoa.

Unfortunately there are around 30 dead and many injured in a serious condition, Salvini told reporters in the Sicilian city of Catania.

The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, and the countrys deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further.

Rescuers scouring through the wreckage, strewn among shrubland and train tracks, said there were tens of victims, while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged to the ground.

Cars and trucks were trapped in the rubble and nearby buildings damaged by vast chunks of concrete, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

Italian media reported that 200 metres of the Morandi bridge had fallen away. A fire service spokesperson said the bridge had mostly fallen on rail tracks 100 metres below and that cars and trucks had fallen with the rubble.  AFP
gspannu7@gmail.com

Washington, August 14

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday continued his attack against former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, calling her that dog, a tirade that drew a severe backlash.

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog! Trump tweeted today.

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2018

Newman, 44, commonly known by her first name Omarosa, is facing Trumps wrath as she promotes her new book Unhinged about her time in the White House and she has released an audio recording from 2017 in which Trump is heard expressing surprise that she had been fired from his administration.

Newman first gained fame as a contestant on Trumps reality show The Apprentice, and then secured a USD 180,000-a-year staff job at the White House.

While Trump is known not to hold back on Twitter, his calling Newman a dog was particularly low and demeaning of his office.

Former CIA director John Brennan replied to Trumps tweet on the micro-blogging site and said in a tweet it is astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent, & honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our nation.

Trump had lashed out at Newman yesterday, writing in a tweet Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will. She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her.

She was vicious, but not smart. I would rarely see her but heard....really bad things. Nasty to people & would constantly miss meetings & work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me - until she got fired! Trump tweeted.

In December, Trumps Chief of Staff John Kelly fired Newman in the Situation Room in the White House, considered the most secure conference room. Newman recorded that conversation and released the recording.

Newman also expressed willingness to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Moscowand indicated that she had already been contacted by Muellers office.  PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Washington, August 14

The US hopes to further strengthen ties with Pakistan in the years ahead and work with its people and government to advance shared goals of security, stability and prosperity in South Asia, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said.

Wishing the people of Pakistan on the countrys 72nd independence day on Tuesday, Pompeo, in a statement, said for more than seven decades, the relationship between the US and Pakistan had rested on the strong foundation of close ties between our two peoples.

In the years ahead, we hope to further strengthen these bonds, as we continue to look for opportunities to work with the people and Government of Pakistan to advance our shared goals of security, stability and prosperity in South Asia, he said in the statement.

Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan last week said Pakistan and the US should strengthen their relations based on trust, amidst tensions in bilateral ties over Islamabads support for terror groups.

The relations between Pakistan and the United States nosedived this January after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but lies and deceit and providing safe haven to terrorists.

The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistans defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year. PTI
The groups proposed that the department be required to create a policy that encourages officers to use the least intrusive response appropriate under the circumstances as reasonably understood by the officer at the time in dealing with minor offenses. The suggested policy would encourage police to give warnings or divert people to mediation or public health program(s) rather than citing or locking them up. For a number of offenses, a supervisor would need to approve the arrest unless not practicable under the circumstances. Those crimes range from gambling and prostitution offenses to obstructing, resisting or assaulting a police officer
Murdered security officer Kimraj Jagessar was looking forward to celebrating Divali next Thursday with his wife and children.

He had already made plans for a big celebration with lots of food, family, lights and music that would have started early that day.

He never got the chance.
It has been a good week for heritage art.

Two different sets of stolen cultural treasures were returned to their rightful owners earlier this week from the countries which had stolen them.

The most famous of the lot was the Benin Bronze depicting Oba, the King of Benin, which was looted by British soldiers in 1897. The sculpture, valued at US$4 million, was returned to Nigeria by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
Re: Flying country to country up from Costa Rica in Dec/Jan

4. Re: Flying country to country up from Costa Rica in Dec/Jan

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Husband and I are in our 60s and planning on spending a month Feb/March 2019 in Cambodia and Vietnam (with emphasis in Vietnam).

Originally I had planned to fly roundtrip to Bangkok from US and first go to Siem Reap and then Saigon - Can Tho- Hoi An - Hanoi- Halong Bay- Ninh Binh- Hanoi and fly out of Bangkok.

I am now considering flying into Saigon and out of Hanoi (omitting Bangkok which save hotels and days). We would need to get a multi entry VISA which is more expensive but that is fine.

Here is my new itinerary. I've added more time to Mekong Delta and would like thoughts on that part of trip. I've listed the # of nights and the full days that we will be at each place.

Arrive in Saigon - 3 N/ 2 full days

Can Tho - 2 N/1 full Day - travel via bus or private car and stay at Nguyen Shack

Chau Doc - 2 N/ 1 full Day - travel via bus and arrive early afternoon

Phnom Penh - 2 N/ 1 full Day - travel via high speed boat and arrive at noon

Siem Reap - 5 N/ 4 full days - travel via mini bus 6 hours or maybe fly- arrive mid afternoon

Hoi An - 5 N/ 4 full days- fly to Danang and taxi to hotel

Hanoi- 1N - fly to Hanoi and arrive by noon

Halong Bay - 1N / 2 half days - do Dragon Pearl 1 night cruise

.

Ninh Binh - 3 N/ 2 full days - private car from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh. Do 2 day motor bike touring of area.

Hanoi - 5 N/ 4 1/2 full days- either train or private car from Ninh Binh. Arrive Hanoi by noon. Flights to US usually leave at midnight so we need to book extra night on last day so we have a room.

Total is 30 days. - 1 week Cambodia (Siem Reap & Phnom Penh) and 3 weeks Vietnam (Saigon, Mekong Delta, Hoi An, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh)

Since we would be arriving the last week of February I prefer to get South Vietnam and Cambodia done first before hitting Central/North Vietnam. I'd like the weather to be a bit warmer when we are in Hoi An and Hanoi.

For Mekong Delta part just plan to stay at homestay in Can Tho and do floating markets etc. Not quite sure what we are doing in Chau Doc but have a full day there so we aren't rushing around as much.

Appreciate feedback. I am making all travel arrangements myself (hotel, flights etc) and will pick up local tours when we are on the ground.

Thanks for your help.

Mary
My family and I will be in Japan for the first time for seven full days this spring during the cherry blossom season. We have an open jaw flight that arrives in Osaka and leaves in Tokyo, with us planning to first see Kyoto and then Tokyo. After coming back from our summer vacation, we really realized how much we all hate crowds. All the supposedly best sites that we were to see ended up being very crowded and touristy, which completely ruined the experience. Because we are visiting Japan in the most crowded season (we have to because of our schedule), we are starting to question whether or not it would make sense to Kyoto or maybe even Tokyo. Would Kyoto still have other amazing temples to see that wouldnt have too many tourists, even during the peak season? Basically what we want to do is go to uncrowded/not touristy temples/shrine/castles that are still good, hike in nature that is not too crowded, and wander around interesting areas. Are their alternative places to visit that meets this criteria? (We dont want to go too far to like Okinawa or Hokkaiko) Would Tokyo still be a place to visit? Advice would be appreciated.
The day after the shooting, while at an LA Fitness gym in the South Loop to play basketball, Williams told Finner that he "was feeling bad that the girl got killed but they were only trying to shoot guys" from 4-6 Terror, according to Finner's statement to prosecutors. He also said he was glad he wasn't the gunman, prosecutors said.
Re: 20 Days in Japan - can anyone help with our itinerary

3. Re: 20 Days in Japan - can anyone help with our itinerary

If you more into mountains, i would suggest to consider Kamikochi or around (like Hirayu Onsen) instead of Shirakawago. Shirakawa is a nice rural village, a bit overrun by tourists in my view, Kamikochi is the place for mountain lovers.

We only stopped in Okayama (for garden visit) on a way from Hiroshima to Kurashiki (lovely small town with very good art museum).

Another memorable experience (at least for us) was a stay with monks in Koysan (from Osaka).

japan-guide is really a superb resource to plan your trip, Tripadvisor is good to check when you some doubts about itinerary.

Enjoy your planning!
Re: 5 Days in Fiji in October with kid

1. Re: 5 Days in Fiji in October with kid

With only 5 days you would need to stay at one resort.

One nice kids resort on the coral coast in the Shangri-La Fijian resort.

The local Sunday papers run specials all the time with Fiji islands so check them out.
- ICT CS said personal information such as physical location, marital status would be collected during the exercise

- He said the data would be given top security to avoid breach of privacy

- CAK is in the process of mapping out building and monuments under the National Addressing System

Biometric registration of Kenyans will start in September, 2018, an exercise that is expected to run for three months.

Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said the exercise aims at collecting personal information on all Kenyans in the country and their physical locations.

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ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Gicheru said the exercise aims at collecting personal information on all Kenyans living in Kenya and their physical locations. Photo: KBC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: CS Joe Mucheru refutes claims government is using advertising as tool to suppress press freedom

Speaking to delegates during African Telecommunication Union on Monday, August 13, Mucheru said the information captured will be given top security to avoid the breach and misuse of personal information, KBC reports.

He said marital status, health status, physical location, education as well as professional qualifications are some of the data to be captured in the exercise.

The CS said the data collected will help the government in social and security planning.

READ ALSO: Jubilee CS in court for denying his wife her conjugal rights

Early 2018, the government rolled out a National Education Information Management System that collected data on the primary and secondary school students with each student given a unique identification number.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) is in the process of mapping out buildings and monuments under the National Addressing System.

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Phenny Awiti Story: Meet HIV Positive Mom Raising HIV Negative Kids | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke
- Sakaja noted Jubilee will not field a candidate to run for the Migori senatorial race

- The party will instead drum support for the ODM candidate

- Sakaja said this was because the party felt Raila's choice was the best

The ruling Jubilee party will not field a candidate to run for the Migori senatorial seat left vacant by the demise of Ben Olouch.

Nairobi Senator, Johnson Sakaja, who was speaking on Monday, August 13, at a funeral in Rongo Sub-county said the party would instead support the candidate fielded by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party for the race.

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Sakaja, said Jubilee will support the candidate fielded by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party for the race. Photo: Johsnon Sakaja

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: ICEA insurance fires manager who killed nephew to get millions

A report by Citizen TV indicated Jubilee opted not to field a candidate for the seat because they were confident the choice made by ODM leader Raila Odinga was the best.

We decided that, as Jubilee, we will have no candidate because were supporting the choice of Baba due to the handshake, said Sakaja.

READ ALSO: Prostitutes flock Mombasa targeting 10,000 primary school headteachers on annual conference

The legislator further stated MPs allied to the ruling party would assist the ODM party in drumming support for their candidate when campaigns kick off.

Six candidates have so far been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to run for the Migori by-election slated for October 8, 2018.

READ ALSO: I know the people who want me dead - Likuyani MP

They include Ochilo Ayako (ODM), Jobando Peter Osikeo (Green Congress Party of Kenya), Ogolla Dickson Ogolla (independent candidate), Eddy Gicheru Oketch (Federal Party of Kenya), Otieno Samwel Otieno (independent candidate) and Rugaria Solomon Hodo (PDP).

Prior report by TUKO.co.ke indicated FORD Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula had endorsed Hodo for the seat.

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Phenny Awiti Story: Meet HIV Positive Mom Raising HIV Negative Kids | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke
- The suspects were arrested following a tip off from a supplier who was seeking payment

- Among them was a former aspirant who lost in Kwanza constituency during the 2017 election

- Over 700 laptops and three government vehicles were recovered

- The suspects had posed as Ruto's security team while acquiring the laptops

Police on Monday, August 13, recovered over 700 laptops and three government vehicles from a house in Loresho, Nairobi County in an operation targeting cons posing as Deputy President Wiliam Ruto's security

Among the seven suspects arrested during the operation included an aspirant who lost in Kwanza constituency in western Kenya during the 2017 elections.

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READ ALSO: Kutana na bintiye Gavana Ferdinand Waititu; ni mrembo ajabu

Among the seven suspects arrested during the operation included an aspirant who had lost in Kwanza constituency. The Standard.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Bobi Wine escapes death, driver shot dead by police

A report by the Standard indicated the police claimed the aspirant had rented the house.

He and his co accused have been importing the laptops using the DPs name and conning unsuspecting suppliers, said one of the officer.

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stickers were also found in the house and documents showing suspects had signed a deal of lending goods worth KSh 317 million.

READ ALSO: ICEA insurance fires manager who killed nephew to get millions

The operation was reported to have been conducted by officers attached to the DP's office following a tip off by a supplier who went to seek payments from the office.

The seized government vehicles have stickers similar to those Ruto uses in his convoy.

Those close to the DP can own such stickers and we believe they took that advantage to requisition for the gadgets and were to sell them later, added an officer.

READ ALSO: I know the people who want me dead - Likuyani MP

The gadgets were still in their boxes when the team arrived there. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

Preliminary findings showed suspects used fake LPOs to con members of the public claiming that it was the DPs office which was procuring the goods.

Police said they were investigating to know if there were more suspects in the racket.

The gadgets were still in their boxes when the team arrived there.

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.

Meet 78-Year-old Sound System Master At Faces of Kenya On TUKO TV.

Source: Tuko
- Bobi Wine's driver was shot and killed by security forces on Monday, August 13

- The MP claimed he was the target but instead his driver was killed

- According to Bobi's wife, the MP and seven of his team members lost touch with the family after the shooting

Tension is high in Uganda following the shooting of Bobi Wine's driver in Arua town, Uganda during a campaign, which left the legislator missing.

According to his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi, Wine and seven of his team members lost touch with the family after the incident happened and their phones have been off since then.

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READ ALSO: Kutana na bintiye Gavana Ferdinand Waititu; ni mrembo ajabu

Barbie Kyagulanyi said Wine and seven of his team members lost touch with the family after his driver was shot dead in Arua, Uganda.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Bobi Wine escapes death, driver shot dead by police

"I have no idea where my husband and a team of about seven of his people are at the moment,we have lost touch," wrote Barbie on her Facebook page.

"All their phones are not reachable and we are all watching out the window to see or hear the next news coming in. Thanks for checking on us, we appreciate the concern. Keep us in your prayers," she added.

READ ALSO: Aspiring MP among cons posing as DP Ruto's security, arrested with over 700 laptops

Prior reports by TUKO.co.ke indicated the Kyadondo East legislator was with several other opposition MPs in Arua to campaign for former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) MP Kasiano Wardi when his driver was shot dead.

Ugandan police have since accused the Opposition supporters for the shooting and death of Wine's driver on Monday, August 13, near Hotel Pacific in Arua town.

READ ALSO: William Rutos Weston hotel is built on public land, should be demolished - Economist David Ndii

The legislator earlier announced his hotel was cordoned off by the police following the incidents.

Senior press secretary Don Wanyama claimed the chaos was sparked off after Wardi and Bobi Wine's supporters attacked President Yoweri Museveni's convoy.

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.

Massive Demolitions in Kileleshwa as JAVA House and Shell Station down - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke
Popular Churchill Show comedian David the Student has finally addressed rumours stating he has been conning Kenyans living in the US.

The lean bodied entertainer even admitted to conning a couple of people off their money and refusing to pay it back.

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READ ALSO: Kutana na bintiye Gavana Ferdinand Waititu; ni mrembo ajabu

READ ALSO: Prostitutes flock Mombasa targeting 10,000 primary school headteachers on annual conference

In a detailed Instagram post seen by TUKO.co.ke, the comedian went ahead to say he was living under pressure and coping with life abroad had became too unbearable.

To him, comedians often try to keep up appearances as the comedy scene does not pay well and their promoters often pocket money belonging to the artistes.

READ ALSO: Radio presenter Mwalimu Racheal shows off where she invests her millions

A guy by the name Njoroge Frank previously came forward alleging David developed the tendency of lying his relatives were down with cancer, prompting well wishers to dig deep into their pockets and help support him.

He also accused the entertainer of borrowing money from a couple of people and failing to return it.

In his defence, David said he never mentioned having an ailing relative but admitted to failing to pay his debts.

"I apologise to everyone I borrowed from and those who lent me money but I failed to refund. I take full responsibility and I am ashamed," the comedian wrote.

To the entertainer, life is crazy especially for a famous person who has no money to brag about.

"Comedy in Kenya does not pay," he concluded.

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- The UN diplomat said Uhuru was setting pace for the continent in the fight against corruption

- The diplomat was on a HonestService campaign which sensitises the youth against corruption

- Earlier on, outgoing US ambassador applauded the efforts of the government agencies in the fight against corruption

A top United Nations diplomat has applauded President Uhuru Kenyatta's fight against corruption saying he has set the pace for the continent.

Speaking at State House Nairobi during a meeting with Uhuru on Monday, August 13, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa's (UNECA) Executive Secretary Vera Songwe praised the president's fight against corruption adding he was a great leader the continent was following in admiration.

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A top United Nations diplomat has applauded President Uhuru Kenyatta's fight against corruption saying he has set pace for the continent. Photo: UGC

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Land Commission boss Swazuri, 6 others arrested over fraudulent SGR compensations

"You are our anti-corruption champion. Your government's sustained onslaught against corruption, economic crimes and impunity in Kenya is setting the pace for the rest of the continent," Songwe noted.

The diplomat visited the president to brief him about UNECA's HonestService Campaign which aims at sensitising the youths against corruption by tweeting with the hashtag #HonestService every time they receive government services without having to pay a bribe.

The meeting came a day after the president asked the youths to support government efforts in the fight against corruption during International Youth Day in Kisii County on Sunday, August 12.

READ ALSO: Stop harassing, embarrassing corruption suspects - Lawyers tell detectives

The government has been applauded by other diplomats for its ongoing war on corruption and impunity.

On Thursday, August 9, outgoing US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said joint effort by Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, Director of Criminal Investigations and Judiciary in fighting corruption was commendable.

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To a father aging gracefully, nothing is dearer than seeing his son grow into a responsible man and above all a respectable national leader.

And in deed, when Mzee John Murkomen, father to Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, made a maiden visit to his son's office on Monday, August 13, he had one thing in mind; that is to pray for more God's grace and blessings upon his son.

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READ ALSO: If there is one man who sired a fool, then it is Murkomens father - Orengo

Kipchumba Murkomen and his father when he paid the senator a courtesy call. Photo: Kipchumba Murkomen/Facebook.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Kutana na bintiye Gavana Ferdinand Waititu; ni mrembo ajabu

"Today I had a special visitor in my office in the person of my dad. We had an opportunity to pray for Gods grace and guidance in the difficult tasks ahead of us in our different careers. May God guide him in his pastoral duties. Amen," posted the Senate Majority Leader.

The outspoken senator used the opportunity to introduce his 'youthful' dad to the public and in deed, he could easily pass off for the politician's younger brother.

Murkomen senior is a trader, pastor, farmer and started off as a driver working hard to educate his children.

Obviously, Kenyans online were impressed to see Mzee John with some making sly comments urging him to look for an equally young woman so they could remain forever young.

READ ALSO: A look inside Kipchumba Murkomen's life; his wife and four children

Here are some comments TUKO.co.ke managed to sample.

READ ALSO: Stop undermining President Uhuru - Sakaja warns Murkomen

READ ALSO: Kutana na bintiye Gavana Ferdinand Waititu; ni mrembo ajabu

The senator is a lawyer by profession and boasts of a wealth of experience in public policy, trade, investment and lobbying, having worked for an international law firm and leading a lobbying firm in Washington DC.

He also boasts of having previously taught in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, the University of Nairobi and Moi University.

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- The Tongaren MP said the illegal sugar report would have survived if Opposition was strong

- Eseli argued the Raila, Uhuru handshake had neutralised the Opposition especially in oversight

- The MP said Opposition leaders had abdicated their roles to support the executive

- MP Otiende Amollo differed with Eseli's sentiments saying Parliament, not Uhuru and Raila failed Kenyans by dismissing report

FORD Kenya Secretary General Eseli Simiyu has blamed the controversial flopping of illegal sugar report in Parliament on the handshake between Opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Tongaren MP said it was a shame for a report highly anticipated to point out ills ailing the sugar sector, reveal masterminds behind sale of contraband sugar and give safety status of the the commodity to be prematurely dismissed.

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FORD Kenya Secretary Eseli Simiyu and Opposition leader Raila Odinga in a past event. Eseli said sugar report flopped because Opposition had abdicated their oversight role. Photo: Daily Nation.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: MPs accused of receiving KSh 10k bribe to save cabinet secretaries, trash report on bad sugar

Speaking during a talk show on NTV on Tuesday, August 14, Eseli said Opposition MPs misunderstood the Friday, March 9, handshake between Raila and Uhuru thinking they were part of government.

"John Mbadi the Minority leader was more vociferous than Aden Duale the Majority leader which just shows you how the Opposition had lost focus. Some of our members confused the handshake thinking it was a call to stop us from doing oversight," Eseli said.

FORD Kenya Secretary General said the warmth and friendship between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta watered down the quality of debate in Parliament. Photo: Eseli Simiyu/Facebook.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Aspiring MP among cons posing as DP Ruto's security arrested with over 700 laptops

According to the MP, it was saddening to see the Minority leader defending the executive with much vigour and concluded the handshake effect had contributed to the situation and subsequently the flopping of the illegal sugar report.

"When the Minority defends the executive it gives everyone reason to believe the Opposition is dead. If this report would have come in the previous Parliament, there could be a healthy debate and it would have possibly sailed through," he argued.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo howvere differed with Eseli saying MPs were to blame for the dismissal of report. He told Eseli to stop invoking name of Raila and Uhuru in the matter. Photo: Citizen Digital

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Aspiring MP among cons posing as DP Ruto's security arrested with over 700 laptops

But Rarieda MP Otiende AMollo dismissed his counterpart's claims and said it as unnecessary to drag Uhuru and Raila's names.

"The way the report was dismissed was shameful and I have apologised to the public on behalf of our counterparts who fronted the agenda. It is unnecessary to invoke the name of Raila and Uhuru in our failures. What did you do now that you claim you are the official opposition?" Amollo challenged Eseli.

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Stephensons decision went against calls for transparency from attorneys representing six news organizations, including the Chicago Tribune, who sought to make the filings public. Attorneys for the news outlets argued that Stephenson has no reason to keep the documents secret because she is presiding over a bench trial for the officers, and therefore there are no jurors who could be tainted by the release of the information.
- The members of the Meru Handshake Forum commended Uhuru for taking a firm stand on fight against graft

- They also lauded DCI, DPP and EACC for rising to the occasion in the ongoing anti-graft war

- The 27 member group called on leaders opposing the Uhuru-Raila building bridges initiative to stop

- They accused a section of Jubilee and Opposition leaders of using church and political forums to insult Raila

A group of politicians and business people from Meru region have commended Uhuru Kenyatta for taking a firm stand in the war against corruption and impunity and urged the president not to give in to any blackmails by those opposed to his new style of doing things.

The group dubbed Meru Handshake Forum comprised of 27 members on Tuesday, August 14, held a closed-door meeting with NASA leader Raila Odinga at his Capital Hill office and lauded the former prime minister for supporting the graft war.

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Meru handshake Forum leader Kilemi Mwiria urged President Uhuru Kenyatta not to give in to the lords of graft and impunity and those trying to blackmail him. Photo: Nation.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Row erupts in GEMA after group meets Raila in Nairobi

Speaking to journalists shortly after the Capitol Hill meeting, the Meru Handshake Forum leader and former Education assistant minister Kilemi Mwiria called on the rest of the Kenyan leaders to join hands with Uhuru and Raila in the ongoing fight against corruption.

"Lords of graft should not win.They fought Professor Wangari Mathaai for warning against degrading the environment. Now they are fighting the president for writing the wrongs. The Commander-in-chief should not give in," Mwiria said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 9, 2018, entered into a peace agreement with Opposition leader Raila Odinga and agreed to work together towards uniting the country.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Meru is NASA and Jubilee is the devil!  Meru Woman sensationally claims

The ex-minister also asked politicians opposed to the handshake and who used every forum to throw insults and tantrums at Raila to stop.

"We ask our colleagues, especially some notorious MPs to stop insulting Raila Odinga during their every Sunday church harambees," Mwiria said.

TUKO.co.ke understands he was referring to Deputy President William Ruto and his allies who have in the recent past held a series of Church harambees during which politics revolving around the 2022 succession battle and the handshake effect take centre stage.

READ ALSO: Raila in rare meeting with Mt Kenya business community members

A section of politicians allied to the DP's camp led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen have openly opposed and fought decisions made by Uhuru including the lifestyle audit and the Mau forest evictions.

The president nevertheless warned no one would be spared in the ongoing war on graft and impunity, no matter who they are or how much money the have.

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- One of the suspects had KSh 1 million bounty on his head

- They denied all the charges and were released on bail pending full hearing

- Chief Magistrate Andayi set hearing of the case on September 4

The government lined up 54 witnesses on Tuesday, August 14, at Milimani law courts in a case in which six individuals are accused of allegedly plotting to carry out twin bomb attacks in Nairobi.

The court heard Abdimanjit Adan, Mohamed Osman, Anthony Makau, John Kiarie, Lydia Mburu and Francis Karishu all of whom were arrested in February 2018 intended to bomb Jogoo House and Milimani law court.

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Six individuals who allegedly plotted to carry out twin attacks in Nairobi on different dates were charged with at least three counts of terrorism.Photo: The Star.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Double tragedy as KDF soldier is killed in Somalia and father remanded

Jogoo House headquarters the National Police Service.

Adan and Osman were found in possession of explosive weapons for purposes of committing criminal offenses while Makau was additionally charged with abetting a crime by facilitating his co-accused, Osman and Adan, to purchase a vehicle meant for terror activities.

On their part, Kiarie, Mburu and Karishu were jointly charged for making a forged Kenyan ID card for Jirma Galgalo, who was felled by the police officers, thereby supporting an illegal organised gang.

Chief magistrate Francis Andayi released the accused persons on KSh 1 million bond or KSh 500,000 cash bail after they denied the charges. The case resumes on September 4.

READ ALSO: Kutana na bintiye Gavana Ferdinand Waititu; ni mrembo ajabu

This came two months after the police placed a KSh 1 million bounty on Karishu's head and revealed he was a facilitator of the al-Shabaab terror group and was actively aiding militants to enter the country illegally.

His arrest and subsequent prosecution, while not dramatic, highlighted the herculean task faced by security agencies as they tackle extremists amid the changing face of terror.

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After chastising Rueckert for not using other accepted methods to serve Hunter  such as registered mail  Gaughan said Hunter should be alerted that she wont be able to attend the murder trial if she continues to duck service of the subpoena. He rescheduled the hearing for Thursday morning.
After appointing several heads of mission last week, at least one has taken up duties.
A court has arrested for two months a citizen of Belarus who fought on the side of terrorists in the Somalia battalion in Donbas and took an active part in the seizure of Donetsk Airport in 2015, the press service of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office reported on Tuesday.

"In November 2014, a 30-year-old citizen of the Republic of Belarus joined the ranks of 'DPR' militants. Having received the title of a 'senior sergeant,' the man began military service in the first detached tank battalion 'Somalia' as a tank commander, for which he received a monthly reward. He also took an active part in fighting against units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other military formations of Ukraine involved in carrying out the ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] in Donetsk region. In particular, he directly participated in the capture of Donetsk Airport in 2015," the report reads.

It notes that in the same year, the terrorist left the service, but returned in 2017, joining a "DPR" military unit and actively participating in armed clashes with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On August 10, 2018, the man arrived in Ukraine to continue his illegal activities and was immediately exposed by SBU officers and prosecutors.

The citizen of Belarus was notified of a suspicion of committing a criminal offense stipulated in Part 1, Article 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (creation of a terrorist group or terrorist organization).

The court upheld a petition from the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office and ruled to arrest the man for 60 days.

The pre-trial investigation continues.

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Most recently, just before 12:40 a.m. in South Austin, a 21-year-old man was shot while walking on the sidewalk in the 200 block of North Parkside Avenue. Someone in a gray SUV fired, hitting the man in the right leg, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and was stabilized.
PGW Defence Technologies of Winnipeg will be delivering its LRT-3 .50 calibre sniper rifle to Ukraines military.

In an interview with Ukrainian media outlet, UATV, Ross Spagrud, the owner of Winnipeg-based PGW Defence Technologies, confirmed that the firm is providing Ukraine with the LRT-3, .50 BMG bolt action rifle. He said the deal is worth around $1 million.

The rifles will be equipped with suppressors.

According to Spagrud, the weapons can be delivered in the autumn.

ish
Ukraine's consul in Milan maintains constant contact with the Italian police in order to find out if there are Ukrainians among those killed or injured in the collapse of a bridge in Genoa.

The Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported this on Twitter.

"A bridge collapse in Genoa. Dozens of people killed and injured. Ukraine's consul in Milan maintains operational contact with the police," the report says.

Dozens of people were killed after a bridge collapsed in the northern Italian city of Genoa on Tuesday.

op
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, authorizing $716 billion for national defense, the press service of the White House has said.

"The NDAA helps develop a more lethal and resilient force, and grows the size of our forces by authorizing an increase of 15,600 troops across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps," the report says.

In particular, the law provides for the provision of $250 million in security assistance to Ukraine.

Earlier, the U.S. Department of State approved the decision to sell Javelin anti-tank missile systems to Ukraine.

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Finland calls on Russia to provide Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov with medical treatment and to release all Ukrainian political prisoners.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland wrote this on Twitter.

"Health of Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov in prison is deteriorating rapidly. We expect Russia to provide him with medical treatment and to release all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens," the statement reads.

Earlier, well-known French artists and officials, including French Minister of Culture Francoise Nyssen, as well as film directors Jean-Luc Godard and Ken Loach, wrote an open letter calling for the release of Oleg Sentsov and international mobilization to accelerate this process.

Sentsov, who was illegally sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony, on May 14, 2018 declared a hunger strike demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. On May 28, Sentsov agreed to supportive therapy.

On August 7, his lawyer Dmitry Dinze said that Sentsov's health condition had deteriorated.

ish
Ukraine's Embassy in the United States has thanked the U.S. for providing Ukraine with security assistance worth $250 million, the embassy has said on its Facebook page.

"We are sincerely grateful to our key strategic partner, the United States of America, for its consistent and effective support in the fight against Russian aggression," the statement said.

As reported, U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which was previously approved by the Senate and House of Representatives. The document provides for the allocation of $250 million to the U.S. Department of Defense for the provision of security assistance to Ukraine, including in the form of lethal defensive weapons.

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The Ukrainian diaspora in Portugal has urged local film makers to appeal to the president of Russia with a demand to release Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov and other political prisoners of the Kremlin.

The relevant appeal was published on the official website of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal.

"We believe that the art of cinema made the world more open, humane and peaceful. It united the continents and opened a completely new dialogue between cultures, despite language and political barriers. And we believe that people who make movies continue to do their job in order to change the world for people to live without violence, tension and military conflicts ... So, the Ukrainian community in Portugal is asking you, our friends, to give your voice for the liberation of Oleg Sentsov and other political prisoners in Russia. Please, write a joint letter from the film makers of Portugal to President Putin demanding the release of Oleg Sentsov," the letter reads.

Earlier, well-known French artists and officials, including French Minister of Culture Francoise Nyssen, as well as film directors Jean-Luc Godard and Ken Loach, wrote an open letter calling for the release of Oleg Sentsov and international mobilization to accelerate this process.

Sentsov, who was illegally sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony, on May 14, 2018 declared a hunger strike demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin. On May 28, Sentsov agreed to supportive therapy.

On August 7, his lawyer Dmitry Dinze said that Sentsov's health condition had deteriorated.

ish
The procedure for electing judges is expected to last seven months.

Chairman of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine (VKKSU) Sergii Koziakov says the commission expects a tender to elect judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) will be over in the first half of February 2019.

He said the procedure for electing judges, according to the commission's schedule, should last seven months, the Ukrainian media outlet Hromadske reported.

Read alsoPoroshenko signs law on establishing High Anti-Corruption Court

Koziakov recalled the VKKSU should give recommendations, after which the High Council of Justice should endorse the candidates, then the decision should be submitted to the presidential administration where a relevant decree must be signed by the president.

"I think the court will be formed in March. But I did not say it would start working [immediately]. This requires a little more time. I think it will happen by the end of spring," he said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on July 12 adopted bill No. 7441 in general to amend the Law on the Judicial System and the Status of Judges in connection with the adoption of the Law of Ukraine on the High Anti-Corruption Court and to define the jurisdiction of appeals in existing corruption-related cases.

Under the bill, appeals in corruption cases filed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau cannot be considered by other courts except the HACC Appeals Chamber.

On August 2, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine announced a competition for judges of the High Anti-Corruption Court.
The invaders are still seeking to secure the 20 for 300 exchange formula.

First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Gerashchenko says that Ukraine is ready to pardon "several dozen criminals" who fought in the ranks of Russian-controlled militants to ensure the liberation of Ukrainian hostages in Donbas.

"Oleh Sentsov continues his hunger strike demanding the release not only of himself but all Ukrainian political prisoners held in the Russian Federation. The same demand is made by the Ukrainian side at all negotiations," Gerashchenko said.

She recalled that, according to the information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and human rights organizations, which carefully document all the facts of illegal detention of Ukrainians, today in the prisons of Russia and in the occupied Crimea, about 70 Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars are being held illegally, for political reasons. "A few dozen Ukrainians - military and civilians  are being illegally kept by the gangs in the occupied parts of Donbas," said Gerashchenko.

Read alsoOver 100 Western filmmakers call on Russia to free Sentsov

"Ukraine has not received a response to the initiative to transfer 36 Russians - criminals and terrorists - for the sake of liberation of our people, and we are also ready to pardon several dozen criminals involved in the war in Donbas in the ranks of pro-Russian gangs in order to get our people out of there. We do not draw a difference between Ukrainians held in the prisons of Russia, Crimea and Donbas  our priority is the liberation of all of them," Gerashchenko stressed.

According to her, "representatives of ORDLO in Minsk are trying to play a Kremlin scenario of 'exchanging all who are confirmed for all confirmed [on the other side]', arguing that there are only 20 Ukrainians in their dungeons, while demanding 300 from us. It is a shame that some OSCE representatives do not go into details and publicly play along with these shameful and unacceptable scenarios."

Read alsoRussia confronted at UN over torture in occupied Crimea

"We stand for a different formula: Ukrainians illegally detained in the Russian Federation are on the list of confirmed individuals, as the whole world knows where Sentsov, Sushchenko, Balukh, Karpuk, Panov, Kuku, Kolchenko, and others are being held. We are waiting for Russia to respond to our proposal: take away 36 of yours - give back ours! Give your puppets in Donbas an order to pick up a few dozen criminals and give back our heroes," Gerashchenko said.

"We proposed that the Ukrainian Ombudsperson, Liudmyla Denisova, meet with her Russian counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova in Minsk on August 21-22, within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group, and make efforts to unblock the process of releasing the detainees. Ukraine is ready for this," Gerashchenko said.

"We stand on the position of Oleh Sentsov and demand to release everyone!" she stressed.
The organization says the enormous share of campaign funding in Ukraine remains in the shadow.

Chairman of the Voters' Committee of Ukraine, Oleksiy Koshel, says Ukrainian politicians are in the lead among their European colleagues in terms of money spent on campaigns.

"We are the record holders among the EU states in terms of funds that parties spend on their political activities, first of all, on campaigning. Now we are surprised by the fact that 10 months before the election, certain potential candidates are already conducting a full-fledged campaign onTV and through billboards, city-lights, large-scale events, street campaigns, etc. That's natural when six months before elections, politicians boost their activity. But it's nonsense when they conduct a direct agitation campaign," Gazeta.ua quoted Koshel as saying on August 13.

Read alsoElection expert suggests prosecuting organizers of illegal referendums

Ukrainian political forces and candidates spend twice or thrice more as much money than Polish parties do in the elections to the Sejm or candidates in presidential elections. But there is another problem, namely the enormous share of campaign funding (3/4 or 4/5) remaining in the shadow," Koshel said.

The official stressed that, with the launch of the new political season, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, should make changes to the legislation on presidential elections in order to limit the huge election funding.
Sentsov's cousin Natalia Kaplan noted that the tone indicates that the Ukrainian filmmaker is not going to be released.

For the pardoning procedure to be launched, the Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov must personally appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin with the corresponding request, as stated in the response on Sentsov mother's request that came from the office for ensuring constitutional rights of citizens under the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

The document, the text of which was released by Hromadske, the Putin administration said that the request of Liudmyila Sentsova, the prisoner's mother, was forwarded for preliminary consideration to the acting governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Area.

Read alsoKremlin may have decided to let Sentsov die as example to others - media

"At the same time, we explain that in accordance with the Regulations on the procedure for considering petitions for pardon in the Russian Federation,... the pardon procedure begins with the convict's personal appeal for pardon, in which they address the President of the Russian Federation in writing through the administration of the correctional facility, where they are serving their sentence," the response says.

The Putin administration also noted that the final decision on pardon is taken by the Russian president.

Read alsoOver 100 Western filmmakers call on Russia to free Sentsov

In the commentary to Hromadske, Sentsov's cousin Natalia Kaplan said that the response indicates that the Ukrainian filmmaker is not going to be released.

"My mother reacted quite well. I think she simply did not realize the essence of the document, and we will think with a lawyer what we do next. Of course, Oleh will not write an appeal for pardon. I'd say that this response indicates that they still don't intend to release Oleh. They still call him a Russian citizen and have made it clear that his mother's appeal did not work," Kaplan said.
This longstanding and well-reasoned threshold balances the need to foster fair, equitable and harassment-free workplaces across the state with the lopsided burden that discrimination claims impose upon small businesses and startups as compared with large businesses, Rauner said in his veto message.
The arrest comes after investigations by a German newspaper estimated that Ukraine loses some $4.8 billion a year to customs corruption, with smugglers employing elaborate schemes to dodge taxes.

A Ukrainian court ordered the arrest of Denys Aminiev, a former customs official in Odesa alleged to be involved in stealing $5.7 million worth of cargo from sealed shipping containers.

Aminiev, was detained last week for activities that Natalia Nepriakhina, a spokesperson for the State Fiscal Service, wrote on Facebook were related to smuggling, according to OCCRP.

Read alsoAnti-graft watchdog detains ex-top managers of Ukraines Seaports Authority - media

She said that the service began conducting a pre-trial investigation into Aminiev after seizing stolen, unopened containers in mid-June. Video recordings from customs and testimony led officials to believe that he appropriated them under the guise of sending them to another warehouse.

The arrest comes after investigations by a German newspaper estimated that Ukraine loses some $4.8 billion a year to customs corruption, with smugglers employing elaborate schemes to dodge taxes.

That investigation detailed one scheme in which hundreds of shipping containers were relabeled in Odesa's ports so as to dodge taxes levied on them. Customs officials and police were in on the scheme, said investigators.

Nepriakhina emphasized that no current customs officials were detained in connection with Aminiev's scheme.
Sentsov is kept in a "good and clean" four-bed ward.

Russian human rights activist Zoia Svetova has been allowed to visit illegally convicted Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike in a Russian penal colony since May 14, 2018; she spent two hours in his jail ward on August 14.

Svetova has been talking with Sentsov for two hours in the presence of the colony's head and two other employees, she told RTVi, a New York-based international Russian-language privately owned television network.

According to her, he is kept in a "good and clean" four-bed ward.

"The colony's doctors whom Sentsov trusts  they do what they can do, but they do not give any forecasts. The lawyer said he [Sentsov] gets infusion and nutritious mixtures. But this is a situation that cannot save his life," Svetova told RTVi.

According to Svetova, Sentsov himself described his condition as "pre-crisis."

Read alsoFinland's FM urges Russia to provide Sentsov with medical treatment

According to her, Sentsov does not plan to stop his hunger strike. Svetova also said that the goal of Sentsov's hunger strike remained the same: the release of Ukrainian political prisoners from Russian prisons. According to the human rights activist, the problem of the swap of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners should be resolved as soon as possible.

According to RTVi, Sentsov promised to stop his protest action if the Russian authorities release Ukrainian political prisoners. He did not include himself in their list. On August 10, Sentsov's lawyer Dmitry Dinze said that the Ukrainian film director was ready to stop the hunger strike if at least two or three people from his list are released.

As was earlier reported, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia (FSIN) allowed Svetova to visit Sentsov in the penal colony.

Read alsoOver 100 Western filmmakers call on Russia to free Sentsov

"The Human Rights Council asked the FSIN to allow Zoia Svetova to visit penal colony No. 8 in the town of Labytnangi, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. The permission of the FSIN has just been received," adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, Mikhail Fedotov, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday, August 14.

UNIAN memo. Sentsov was arrested in Russian-occupied Crimea in spring 2014 and in August 2015 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison following an unfair trial where he faced "terrorism" charges stemming from his opposition to Russia's occupation of Crimea. He has been serving his term in a penal colony in the town of Labytnangi, Russia's Yamal. Sentsov began his hunger strike on May 14, 2018, in protest against the politically motivated jailing of dozens of Ukrainians in the Russian Federation.
Two Ukrainians leave their country every minute in search of a better life.

Over 400,000 citizens of Ukraine have left their country since late March 2018 to work abroad.

Such a statistics is presented by the Ukrainianpeopleleaks platform, which is an online count tool used to estimate migrant workers leaving Ukraine.

Read alsoOver 360,000 Ukrainians leave their country since March 2018 for work abroad

Two Ukrainians leave their country every minute in search of a better life, the platform says, referring to Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin's words. According to him, 100,000 people leave Ukraine for work abroad every month.

The Social Policy Ministrys estimates are more ambitious and frightening: labor migration has already involved nine million Ukrainians.
According to the presidential adviser, information about the trials remains classified.

Ukraine's new self-propelled howitzer, Bohdana, which some military experts have already criticized, is just a sample of a prospective weapon that is being tested, according to an adviser to the President of Ukraine, Assistant Minister of Defense, Yuri Biryukov.

"Who told you that it is in service? They showed a model of a prospective type of weapons, now it is being tested," Biryukov told Obozrevatel.

According to the official, all information about the self-propelled howitzer is strictly classified, as well as all information about the tests.

Read alsoUkraine's Bohdana self-propelled howitzer needs to be honed  expert

In addition, Biryukov denied the reports that Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak allegedly stated that he would make a decision on August 10 to pass Bohdana to the Army.

"The statement was quite different  Poltorak said he would make a decision after August 10. After the tests are over, he will make a decision immediately. After August 10, this decision will be made on any given day," he said.

Earlier, a military expert criticized the Ukrainian Bohdana howitzer, noting that major characteristics of the sample had not been worked out to claim it is a successfully made weapon.
According to intelligence reports, two enemy troops were killed and another five were wounded.

Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 41 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA).

"According to intelligence reports, two occupiers were killed and another five were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on August 14, 2018.

Read alsoDonbas update: One Ukrainian soldier wounded amid 14 enemy attacks on Aug 13

The shelling took place near the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Troyitske, Novozvanivka, Novoluhanske, Pivdenne, Maiorsk, Zalizne, Sieverne, Opytne, Novotroyitske, Bohdanivka, Hnutove, Lebedynske, Pavlopil, Vodiane, and Shyrokyne. Along with this, the enemy fired 122mm artillery systems to attack the defenders of Novotoshkivske, 120mm mortars were used to shell Ukrainian positions near Zalizne, Sieverne and Bohdanivka. The positions near Novozvanivka, Troyitske, Avdiyivka and Vodiane came under 82mm mortar fire.

It is reported the enemy used grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms during the shelling. In certain areas, the invaders used infantry fighting vehicles and anti-tank missile systems. They also resorted to 122mm artillery systems and mortars.

"Since Tuesday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted two attacks on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Pavlopil and Shyrokyne," the report says.
An SMM patrol came to check a logistical compound on the western edge of Smile.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine has said a member of illegal armed formations in eastern Ukraine pointed a rifle at an SMM patrol in the village of Smile, Luhansk region.

"At 10:50 on August 13, an SMM patrol consisting of five members and two armored vehicles arrived at a logistical compound on the western edge of Smile (non-government-controlled, 31km north-west of Luhansk). The SMM saw two stationary covered cargo trucks (KAMAZ) outside the compound and 15 men, seven of whom were armed (AK variants), standing between the trucks and the compound's gate," the OSCE said in a spot report on August 13.

Read alsoOSCE spots amassing of heavy weapons, new ammunition crates in occupied Donbas

"Two patrol members stepped out of the SMM vehicles and walked to the compound's gate to meet with a member of the armed formations there. At the same time one of the trucks left. When the two SMM patrol members were passing the other stationary truck, on their way to the gate, one of the men (in his forties) positioned himself next to that truck, about four meters from the SMM vehicles, and disengaged the safety of the rifle (AK-variant) he was holding close to his body at a waist level. The man watched the SMM vehicles for the rest of its stay," the monitors said.

"At 11:03, when the SMM was leaving the area, it saw the man dropping on his knee and pointing the rifle towards the departing SMM vehicles. At that time the vehicles were approximately five meters from him. The patrol arrived safely at its base in Luhansk city at 12:02," reads the report.
The NDAA provides for the total amount of $716 billion for national defense.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, authorizing $250 million in security assistance for Ukraine.

Read alsoU.S. Senate passes NDAA with $250 mln in security assistance to Ukraine, incl. for lethal weapons

"The NDAA will strengthen the efforts of the United States to bolster the defenses of its European partners, including $250 million dedicated to security assistance for Ukraine," the White House said in a statement.

It is reported the NDAA provides for the total amount of $716 billion for national defense. It authorizes end strengths of 487,500 in the Army; 335,400 in the Navy; 186,100 in the Marine Corps; and 329,100 in the Air Force. The NDAA also authorizes $7.6 billion to procure 77 F-35 fighter jets and $24.1 billion to fund the construction of 13 new battle force ships and accelerates funding for several future ships.
The assessments, based on a broad range of intelligence, indicate that the Kremlin believes the July 16 summit delivered a better outcome than it had expected, but that Moscow is perplexed that Trump is not delivering more Russia-friendly policies in its aftermath.

Russian officials were "pleased" with the Helsinki summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, U.S. and Western intelligence agencies have found, according to two intelligence sources with knowledge of the assessments.

The assessments, based on a broad range of intelligence, indicate that the Kremlin believes the July 16 summit delivered a better outcome than it had expected, but that Moscow is perplexed that Trump is not delivering more Russia-friendly policies in its aftermath, as reported by CNN.

The intelligence sources say the Russians were particularly satisfied with the press conference the two leaders gave in Helsinki after Trump and Putin met for about two hours without staff and accompanied only by translators. In the 45-minute press conference, Trump discredited U.S. intelligence and American policies more broadly, saying "the United States has been foolish" about ties with Russia, a country that has engaged in ongoing attacks on U.S. democracy.

Read alsoWhite House: Trump 'open' to meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow  media

A spokesperson for the Office of Director of National Intelligence declined to comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The administration's decision last week to impose sanctions on Russia for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter left Russian officials puzzled that the President is not delivering more favorable policies.

Trump has repeatedly called for warmer relations with Moscow, but the Kremlin is neglecting to factor in the considerable role that Congress and others play in U.S. policy-making, a Western intelligence official said.

Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov's comments last week reflected the deflated Russian hopes for improved ties with Washington or at least less punitive U.S. policies.

Read alsoCNN: Trump administration slaps more sanctions on Russia after Skripal poisonings

"President Putin said in Helsinki that Russia still has hopes for the creation of a constructive relationship with Washington...We are sorry that often we are not met with cooperation on this account," Peskov said August 9 in a regular press call with reporters.

Peskov's comments contrasted sharply with the evaluation Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov offered immediately after the summit, when he said that the talks had been "better than super."

Trump's performance in Helsinki sparked unusually public criticism, even from within his own party.

The administration's decision to impose the sanctions followed a July 26 letter from GOP Congressman Ed Royce, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, urging the White House to comply with a law requiring the U.S. to levy sanctions against countries that violate the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons and Warfare Elimination Act.
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Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom said in its fresh report that the company had found it harder to promote Russian nuclear technologies on global markets in 2017 and vowed to work on minimizing risks amid increased attempts to disadvantage the Russian nuclear industry.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th August, 2018) Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom said in its fresh report that the company had found it harder to promote Russian nuclear technologies on global markets in 2017 and vowed to work on minimizing risks amid increased attempts to disadvantage the Russian nuclear industry.

"Not only did the competitors use significant financial resources and state support, but also attracted non-governmental organizations and private businesses. [We noted] increased attempts to use international platforms to amend existing and emerging international norms and guidelines in the field of nuclear energy that could negatively affect Russian nuclear industry," the company said in its annual report.

Rosatom's Deputy Director General for International Relations Nikolai Spassky explained how the company was planning to minimize risks related to existing problems.

"First of all, we must enter the global market with a proposal, primarily one for price, quality and timing, that our competitors do not have. The best insurance against discriminatory measures against you is to be indispensable," Spassky said.

In addition, the official said that the company's commitment to its promises, notwithstanding the political situation, adherence to international norms in the nuclear sector and clear statement of bilateral obligations in international projects, were prerequisites for successfully overcoming the challenges Rosatom faced.

The United States, EU member states and a number of other Western nations introduced their sanctions against Russia in 2014, citing Moscows alleged involvement in the military conflict in Ukraines eastern Donbas region and Crimea's reunification with Russia as a result of a referendum. Russia has denied having a role in the conflict and said that the Crimean referendum had been held in line with international law. Moreover, Moscow imposed a food embargo on products from the states which had targeted it with restrictions.

The West's anti-Russia sanctions have significantly expanded since then, targeting major private and state-owned companies as well as senior businesspeople and officials.

Rosatom has not been directly targeted by the foreign restrictions. However, the company's CEO, Alexei Likhachev, has been featured on the so-called Kremlin list, which included Russian businessmen who could potentially be sanctioned. At the same time, several of Rosatom's partners face foreign pressure with regard to their cooperation with the Russian company.
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ZANZIBAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 14th Aug, 2018) Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, headed a UAE delegation to Zanzibar where discussions were held surrounding the enhancing of bilateral relations and cooperation.

During the visit, Al Hashemy reaffirmed the UAE's foreign policy to strengthen bilateral ties and build bridges of cooperation with the African continent based on the principles of humanitarianism laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The Minister of State for International Cooperation met with President Ali Mohamed Shein of Zanzibar, along with senior government officials. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the means to boost cooperation between the UAE and Zanzibar in numerous sectors, including trade and investment, tourism and development.

Al Hashemy also met with Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Augustine Mahiga, in Dar es Salaam towards the end of her visit.

During the two-day tour, the UAE delegation met with a number of officials in Pemba Island, the second largest island of the Zanzibar archipelago, where they held discussions on enhancing ties across multiple sectors. The delegation included representatives from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, DP World, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, and Dubai Cares.
Police were still investigating the causes of the earlier crash, but some eyewitnesses told local media that the bus carrying members of the Sur Oscura fan club that accompanies Barcelona to all its away games was seen trying to overtake other vehicles shortly before the crash.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 14th Aug, 2018) The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, TRA, has launched its information security awareness campaign, dubbed, "Dont be Deceived," by organising more than 15 live episodes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The live episodes will discuss the most important information security topics to boost public awareness among various segments and age groups.

The campaign was implemented in cooperation with the National Emergency Response Team, aeCERT, in the TRA. It has been adopted as an innovative means for raising public awareness in line with global information security standards and practices, to protect and support the ICT sector infrastructure in the UAE from online risks and hacks of individuals, and to build a safe and secure IT culture.

Mohammed Gheyath, Executive Director of Information Security Regulatory in the TRA, said, "The TRA seeks to use all available channels and platforms to communicate with the public and deliver its message of social responsibility, inspired by our wise leaderships directives to enhance communitys happiness through government entities social responsibility. The UAE has been at the forefront of using social media to listen to peoples opinions and respond to their suggestions and comments, which lead to improving services and developing policies and methods of government work.

In this context, the UAE has achieved remarkable progress in the United Nationals e-Participation Index, advancing from the 32nd rank in 2016 to the 17th in 2018, which reflects the general impression that the UAE is open to all new media platforms in communication with the society."

The live online episodes have gained importance through cooperation with the TRAs strategic partners such as the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Community Development and the Sharjah Media Corporation in addition to the UAE media sector such as Al Bayan, Gulf news and Khaleej Times. The episodes were aired in Arabic, English and sign language.

Regarding the initiatives working mechanisms, Sara Al Marzooqi, Training and Development Specialist of mGovernment Programmes, said, "It is important to recognise social media as a mean and not an aim in itself. It is important to use social media platforms to achieve the entities strategic objectives as it is unlikely to reach a complete system of any entity or department seeking to provide best services without these channels, which have become an inseparable part of our professional and personal daily life."
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The 71st Independence Day was celebrated here today with national zeal and fervor.

BAHAWALPUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :The 71st Independence Day was celebrated here today with national zeal and fervor.

The day dawned with special prayers for progress and prosperity of the country at Masajid.

The main event was held at Dring Stadium where flag was hoisted by Commissioner, Nayyar Iqbal.

March past was conducted by Elite Force, District Police, Rescue 1122 and Boys Scouts.

Flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur where Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qaiser Mushtaq hoisted the flag.

Later, Vice Chancellor, Deans and other staff of the university cut the cake to mark Independence Day.

Registrar Government Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur Prof Naseem Akhtar hoisted flag in a ceremony held under the auspices of Nazria-e-Pakistan Society.

Rescue 1122 took out flag march from headquarter situated near Sadar Pulli and went through various areas of the city.

All the government offices and buildings were lit up and decorated with national flags and buntings. Earlier, Commissioner Bahawalpur Division and Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur lit up candles at Derawari Canon opposite to Sadiq Dan High school at midnight followed by excellent display of fireworks.
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A prestigious ceremony was held to celebrate the Independence Day with national zeal at the Punjab Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :A prestigious ceremony was held to celebrate the Independence Day with national zeal at the Punjab Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday.

Punjab Chief Secretary Akbar Durrani and Inspector General of Police Syed Kaleem Imam hoisted the national flag at the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, the chief secretary said: "Pakistan was created after a long struggle and sacrifices by our elders. Every Pakistani should work with sincerity and devotion to play his role in progress and prosperity of the country." He mentioned that freedom is a blessing and it must be accorded value. He said the 14th of August is a day to pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for creation of Pakistan or safeguarding the homeland, adding that police, rangers, army and civilians had scarified their lives for the country. "We have to fight unitedly against the forces that want to weaken our country. This is our motherland, we have to safeguard it," he maintained.

He said that the 14th of August is a day to pledge that it is collective responsibility of all to make the country peaceful and prosperous.

Participants prayed for peace and progress of the country.

At the end, police personnel saluted the national flag whereas special police band presented tunes of national anthem and national songs.

On this occasion, the building of the Civil Secretariat was decorated with flags and lights.

The ceremony was attended by administrative secretaries of different departments, officers and a large number of government employees.

Later, the chief secretary participated in a ceremony organized by the Walled City of Lahore Authority in connection with Independence Day celebrations.

Speaking to the participants, the chief secretary said he was happy to see zeal and fervor of people of the walled city to participate in the celebrations. Alive nations celebrated their Independence Day in the same manner, he remarked.
Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has said that the continuity of the democratic process would usher a new era of development and prosperity in the country.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has said that the continuity of the democratic process would usher a new era of development and prosperity in the country.

Taking to the media after National Flag hoisting ceremony Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani said that "we must take into account our past mistakes under a self accountability process and review the factors hindering our national development in comparison to the other nations." said a press release issued by Senate of Pakistan here on Tuesday.

"We should make sure that our differences do not become inertia in the national development agenda and must make collective efforts to eradicate the evils of law lawlessness and terrorism from our soil." Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani was of the view that the emerging regional scenario and fast changing political situation has brought a major impact on regional socio-economic conditions of Pakistan over the past few years, which has resulted not only in creating security issues but also economic issues for country.

He said that we as a nation took bold steps to eradicate the menace of terrorism and extremism.

The armed forces and law enforcement agencies rendered sacrifices for restoration of peace and stability in the country and achieved marvelous success.

He said that the political forces of the country are in consensus on the overall development of the country and achieving goals aimed at the prosperity of growth of the country.

"It is high time for soul searching and self accountability to reckon the mistake that led towards slackness on socio economic fronts" Sanjrani remarked. He stressed the need for collective efforts to overcome challenges and work together for strengthening the foundations democracy in the country.

He said that we need to focus all our energies on the growth of the country. He said that the country would usher into a new era of socio economic development.

Earlier, Chairman Senate congratulated the nation on the occasion of 71st Independence Day.

In his felicitation message, the Chairman Senate said that the nation is celebrating the Independence Day with new enthusiasm and zeal.

He said that we must ensure that this day brings a message of political, economic and social stability for the country.
(@mahnoorsheikh03)

The German ambassador was happy to see the green flags everywhere.

Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News  14th August, 2018) German Ambassador to Pakistan Martin Kobler has send wishes to Pakistan as the nation is celebrating 71st Independence Day today.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, the German ambassador shared a video message wishing a Happy Independence Day to the people and government of Pakistan.

Dear Pakistanis, German govt and I wish the entire nation a Happy Independence Day and the formation of a new government. A new government is always a fresh start. I want to see Pakistan happy, strong and developed in the new government, he said in his video message.

The German ambassador was happy to see the green flags everywhere.

Pakistani Flags everywhere! Happy #IndependenceDay2018 to you and your families and friends! he captioned the post.

Martin Kobler has completed one year in Pakistan and he terms it an amazing one.

Sharing a collage of his many pictures from Pakistan in a tweet last night, Kobler said that he has experienced a lot in this past one year, including amazing adventures, beautiful landscapes and delicious meals. However, the best part of Koblers first year in Pakistan was the hospitality of Pakistanis.
Like in past, the tech giant Google has marked Pakistan's 71st Independence Day with a doodle featuring the country's national flag.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :Like in past, the tech giant Google has marked Pakistan's 71st Independence Day with a doodle featuring the country's national flag.

At a time when Pakistan is celebrating its independence with traditional fervour and enthusiasm, the google doodle has been rendered in national colours to mark the occasion.

Google has been paying tributes to Pakistan on its Independence Day for last many years now and releases its doodle to pay tributes to Pakistan.

The doodle had also been paying tributes to legendary musicianNusrat Fateh Ali Khan, philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and Shehenshah-e GhazlMehdi Hassan and other famous people of the country on their birthdays.
To celebrate 71st Independence Day of Pakistan, a flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels, in which Pakistani community in Belgium and Luxembourg participated in large number, with full enthusiasm.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :To celebrate 71st Independence Day of Pakistan, a flag hoisting ceremony was held at the Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels, in which Pakistani community in Belgium and Luxembourg participated in large number, with full enthusiasm.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg Naghmana A Hashmi raised the flag while national anthem played in the background, a message received here from Brussels said.

In her address Ambassador Hashmi called upon following Quaid-i-Azam's principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline in better interest and spirit for achieving respect in community of nations. She said that our identity remains Pakistani no matter where we go in the world.

Ambassador Hashmi paid tributes to the people of Pakistan. She said as a nation the people of Pakistan made huge sacrifices for not only attaining independence but even afterwards.

She reminded of loss of lives of over 70,000 people including armed forces, police, rangers and civilians in the past few decades.

Ambassador Hashmi reiterated the need to remember inclusive vision of Quaid-i-Azam that envisaged respect for all the religions and ethnicities in Pakistan.

The spirit of unity irrespective of cast and creed was the greatest need of the hour, she asserted.

An exhibition of pencil sketches of Quaid-i-Azam by an Antwerp based Pakistani artist Tajammul Hussain was also arranged on the occasion. A painting competition of children on the theme "Mera Piyara Pakistan" was also arranged in which more than 30 children participated in two categories.

Messages of president and prime minister of Pakistan were read out by Economic Minister Omar Hameed and Minister Press Syeda Sultana Rizvi respectively.

National songs were presented by a group of students from Ghent led by Saba Kazmi and also by Mian Adil Sardar Ghani, Mian Shahbaz Ghani and Mazhar Iqbal, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Hassan Iqbal. Seven year old Maham Pervaiz also made a speech on the occasion.

Community members from different cities of Belgium including Brussels, Ghent, Liege and Leuven as well as Luxembourg participated in the event with full fervour.

Certificates and prizes were distributed among the participants of painting competition, national songs and Quiz competition.
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The joint opposition has nominated member provincial assembly of MMA, Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel for office of Chief Minister KP.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :The joint opposition has nominated member provincial assembly of MMA, Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel for office of Chief Minister KP.

Nisar Gul was nominated by JUIF-Leader and former CM KP, Akram Khan Durrani who will contest against PTI's Mehmood Khan for office of CM KP.

Nisar Gul was elected from Karak district on the ticket of MMA with vast political experience and administrative experience.

He had served as Provincial Minister for Prisons after winning 2008 election as independence candidate and later joined ANP Govt.

He elected MPA for the first time on PTI ticket in 2002 elections and became the parliamentary leader of his party during 2002-08 when PTI and MMA made alliance at that time.

The nomination papers for office of CM would be submitted on Wednesday and next CM would be elected soon after completion of speaker and deputy speaker election in KP Assembly.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The strategically important Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project achieved a historic landmark as the project on Tuesday attained its maximum generation capacity of 969 MW.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :The strategically important Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project achieved a historic landmark as the project on Tuesday attained its maximum generation capacity of 969 MW.

All units of the project are generating power to their maximum, a WAPDA press release said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) has congratulated Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project's management, WAPDA engineers and other employees on this historic achievement.

Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project has four generating units, each of them having a generation capacity of 242.25 MW. WAPDA has commissioned this project in a phased manner.

The first unit was commissioned in April this year, followed by the remaining three units coming into operation after one month's interval each.

The fourth and last unit was synchronized with the National Grid yesterday, and attained its maximum generation capacity today.

Neelum Jhelum is a state-of-the art hydropower project with 90% being underground and beneath the high mountainous areas.

The project, constructed on River Neelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has a dam at Nauseri, an underground waterway system consisting of 52-km long tunnels and an underground powerhouse at Chattar Kalas with four power generating units. The project will provide about 5 billion units of electricity to the National Grid every year with annual estimated benefits of Rs.55 billion.

Neelum Jhelum HydropowerProject will significantly contribute to meet the electricity requirements inthe country.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The strategically important Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project achieved a historic landmark as the project on Tuesday attained its maximum generation capacity of 969 MW.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :The strategically important Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project achieved a historic landmark as the project on Tuesday attained its maximum generation capacity of 969 MW.

All units of the project are generating power to their maximum.

WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Muzammil Hussain has congratulated Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project's management, WAPDA engineers and other employees on this historic achievement, said a press release issued here.

Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project has four generating units, each of them having a generation capacity of 242.25 MW.

WAPDA has commissioned this project in a phased manner. The first unit was commissioned in April this year, followed by the remaining three units coming into operation after one month's interval each.

The fourth and last unit was synchronized with the National Grid yesterday, and attained its maximum generation capacity today.

Neelum Jhelum is a state-of-the art hydropower project with 90% being underground and beneath the high mountainous areas.

The project, constructed on River Neelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has a dam at Nauseri, an underground waterway system consisting of 52-km long tunnels and an underground powerhouse at Chattar Kalas with four power generating units.

The project will provide about 5 billion units of electricity to the National Grid every year with annual estimated benefits of Rs 55 billion.

Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project will significantly contribute to meet the electricity requirements in the country.
According to prosecutors, Moore was 21 when he fatally shot Reuel Van Ness during a robbery with his younger brother, and used the money to buy drugs and pornography. Moore fatally shot Maynard Helgeland by himself five days later, saying he wanted to prove he could take a man's life by himself. Moore was arrested a week later. He was charged and convicted of first-degree murder, while his 14-year-old brother was convicted of second-degree murder.
Pakistan Railways (PR) has announced free of charge travelling facility for senior citizens who are 65 or above on first two days of Eidul Azha.

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2018 ) :Pakistan Railways (PR) has announced free of charge travelling facility for senior citizens who are 65 or above on first two days of Eidul Azha.

In a statement issued here on Monday, a spokesperson for PR said that senior citizens could get their seats reserved on photo state copy on their CNIC.

He, however, clarified that they had to produce their original CNIC to Ticket Examiners during travelling. He said the facility would be available on all classes of all trains on first two days of Eidul Azha on August 22 and 23, adding that senior citizens could avail the advanced booking facility by showing their CNICs to reservation staff.

During travelling if any senior citizen could not produce Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), he would be considered ticketless passenger, the spokesperson informed.

Apart from, PR has given 25 pc concession to other travellers on first two days of Eid on all classes, he said and added that instructions had been issued to Divisional Superintendentsin this connection.
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Barrister Syed Ali Zafar Tuesday said Pakistan was a great nation and had the capacity to take the country to new heights of progress and prosperity with hard work and perseverance.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Barrister Syed Ali Zafar Tuesday said Pakistan was a great nation and had the capacity to take the country to new heights of progress and prosperity with hard work and perseverance.

Speaking after inaugurating a miniature paintings and photographic exhibition here at Pakistan National Council of the Arts, he said, "We all have to ponder on the occasion of Independence Day what we have given to our country." He said, "Everybody says what Pakistan has given to us, but we have to think what we have given to this country and what more we can do for it." Congratulating the organizers of the exhibition, he said he was proud that he was part of the Pakistani nation. He said the passion and fervour of the people on the independence day was exemplary.

Pakistanis with their determination and persistence could achieve the progress of ten years in a single year, he added.

He said arrangement of such an exhibition on Independence Day was a welcome step, adding in this exhibition the art pieces of artists and artisans of the friendly country China were also put on display.

Later speaking to audience of a cultural show held at PNCA, he said today was a day of great importance for Pakistani nation as this day reminded of the Pakistan movement and our forefathers who rendered sacrifices which led to the creation of Pakistan.

The minister said the incoming government would confront many challenges but immense opportunities were also available as Pakistan had abundant resources and the need was to implement the right kind of policies.

He said, "Culture plays a great role in bringing happiness and love to society and binds the world." Ali Zafar thanked the Chinese artists for being part of the Independence Day Celebrations. This gesture of Chinese reflected the level of friendship and understanding between the two nations, he added.

He appreciated the services of prominent Pakistani artist Bashir Ahmed.

The impressive miniature and sculpture exhibition was titled Ustad-Shagird" and featured work of legend miniature painter Ustad Bashir Ahmed and his students. Special feature of the exhibition was 30 art pieces from China on display. More than 200 paintings and 100 sculptures were displayed in the four galleries and the grand hall. The show presented a whole range of Bashir's work including miniature paintings, graphite drawings, acrylics, sculptures and ceramics. The show also included the early works of some of his pupils alongside images produced by Chinese artists during a Miniature Painting workshop in China. The photographic exhibition titled " Mera Pakistan" had 100 photographs depicting the culture of Pakistan. The exhibition was the outcome of all Pakistan based photograph competition. Winner of the competition were awarded with cash prizes and shields. The exhibition highlighted beautiful landscapes, people and their sentiments and expressions, street life and diverse wildlife of Pakistan.

The aim of the exhibition was to promote the scenic beauty of country with a special focus on Northern Areas.

Pakistani and Chinese artists performed at the grand cultural show which was enjoyed by a large number of people from all walks of life. The 32 member Chinese cultural troupe specially flew from China to participate in Independence Day Celebrations. Pakistani and Chinese artists presented national songs, folk tunes and dances. The National performing art group presented colorful folk dances of Pakistan including Balti Dance, Kalash Dance, Sindhi Jhoomer dance and Mehergarh dances. Renowned instrumentalists played Pakistani folk tunes. The Chinese artists sang popular Pakistani songs, Dil Dil Pakistan and presented their traditional dances.
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An impressive ceremony was held at the residence of the Ambassador of Pakistan in Tehran on Tuesday to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :An impressive ceremony was held at the residence of the Ambassador of Pakistan in Tehran on Tuesday to celebrate Pakistan's Independence Day.

The ceremony commenced with the hoisting of national flag by Ambassador Riffat Masood was attended by a large number of Pakistani community members from all walks of life, a message received here from Tehran said.

Children from Pakistan Embassy International school and College, Tehran recited the national anthem.

The messages of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were read out on this auspicious occasion.

Ambassador Riffat Masood, in her address, extended felicitations to members of the Pakistani community living in Iran on the Independence Day and urged them to renew their pledge to serve their country with dedication.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan was moving on the path of democracy and this is the third parliament being convened.

Referring to the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected parliamentarians, she described it as a victory of the people of Pakistan.

She said the participation of youth, women and minorities in the recent elections was high and encouraging, which is a sign of continuation of democratic process in the country.

Referring to the scourge of terrorism and extremism in the country during the past years, she said the anti-terrorism operations of Zarb e Azb and Radd ul Fassad launched by the armed forces have broken the back of terrorists.

She said the law and order situation in the country has also improved.

The Ambassador said the people and the government have joined hands for the progress and development of the country and several mega projects are underway which would bring economic stability in Pakistan.

Referring to the Kashmir issue, the Ambassador said Pakistan will not leave the Kashmiri brothers alone and would continue to stand with them extending full support in their just struggle to achieve self-determination.

Saying that several posters have been placed on billboards in Tehran and Mashhad with congratulatory message of Iran's Supreme leader on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day, the Ambassador described it as a sign of deep Pakistan-Iran friendship.

A group of students from Pakistan Embassy International School and College sung national songs. The ceremony ended with prayer for peace and prosperity of Pakistan.
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World largest national flag in connection with 71th Independence Day was put on display, at Quaid-e-Azam Stadium Burewala during ceremony "Salam Pakistan", here on Monday.

VEHARI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2018 ) :World largest national flag in connection with 71th Independence Day was put on display, at Quaid-e-Azam Stadium Burewala during ceremony "Salam Pakistan", here on Monday.

The national flag was prepared by students of private college and school, in collaboration with Municipal Committee and civil society workers. The flag is prepared with 4500 metres cloth which is comprised about 37000 square meters. It took six months to complete.

Deputy Commissioner Irfan Ali Khathia inaugurated the flag display ceremony which was also attended by DPO Ahmed Nasir Virk, Assistant Commissioner Burewala Muhammad Azeem Rabbani, Chairman Municipal Muhammad Aashique, Principal Superior College Asif Sardar and others.

Addressing the ceremony, DC Vehari Irfan Khathia stated that he was feeling immense pleasure to be the part of the ceremony.

He stated that students, civil society workers and other citizens demonstrated matchless unity to make the largest national flag of world. He paid rich tribute to the people who contributed to the preparation of the largest national flag.

He urged people to utilize their potential and plant maximum trees. He stated that tree helped to reduce pollution and reduce temperature.

DPO Ahmed Nasir Virk also urged citizens to forge unity among their ranks and work for progress and prosperity ofthe country.
At least 23 people were killed and 52 others injured during fresh tribal violence in the western South Sudanese town of Tonj over the weekend, a local government official said on Monday.

JUBA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Aug, 2018 ) :At least 23 people were killed and 52 others injured during fresh tribal violence in the western South Sudanese town of Tonj over the weekend, a local government official said on Monday.

James Ayiik Dak, Tonj State Minister of Information, told Xinhua by phone that the violence started on Friday after four local pastoralists from the Dinka tribe were killed during a foiled cattle raid.

Dak said the community of the slain herders launched a counter attack on a neighboring community which they suspected to have carried out the failed raid, leading to scores of causalities.

He said calm has returned to the region after a joint military force made of army soldiers and police was deployed.

"After the clashes ended on August 11, we confirmed a total of 23 people dead and 52 wounded from both sides. But calm has returned to the area and there is no major security threat," Dak told Xinhua.

According to statistics from the UN food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the East Africancountry is home to more than 38 million livestock, mainly cattle, goats and sheep.

But for decades, livestock-related violence has been a major challenge among pastoralist communities in South Sudan as thousands of people are estimated to have been killed in violent cattle raids.
Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan embarked on his working visit to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on Monday, the Armenian Defense Ministry's press service said in a statement on Monday.

YEREVAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th August, 2018) Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan embarked on his working visit to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on Monday, the Armenian Defense Ministry's press service said in a statement on Monday.

"As part of the working visit the Armenian defense minister together with Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh's endonym] Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan visited one of the military units deployed in the north east of the contact line," the press service's statement said.

According to the ministry, the two counterparts have also visited positions on the contact line, acquainted themselves with the strategic situation in the region and awarded distinctions to servicemen.

The conflict in Armenian-dominated Nagorno-Karabakh started in 1988 with the autonomous region announcing its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1991, the Armenia-backed region proclaimed independence from Azerbaijan and the creation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This move triggered a military conflict, which led to Baku losing control over the region.

In 1994, the warring sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities. However, the violence escalated again in 2016, leading to multiple casualties on both sides despite the ceasefire.
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Austrian Ambassador to Tehran Stefan Schulz said on Tuesday that Austria was planning to foster its ties with Iran in water resources, renewable energy and sustainable tourism

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) Austrian Ambassador to Tehran Stefan Schulz said on Tuesday that Austria was planning to foster its ties with Iran in water resources, renewable energy and sustainable tourism.

The ambassador is currently visiting Iran's central province of Yazd.

"Environment-friendly supply and security of water resources, renewable energies and sustainable tourism are among the objectives specified for the economic plan to cooperate with Iran," Schulz said, as quoted by the Iranian Fars news agency.

The ambassador added that numerous Austrian companies were ready to enter the Iranian market in the renewable energy sector.

Iran's economy has been put to the test after the United States effectuated a part of its anti-Iranian sanctions, lifted under the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iranian nuclear deal. Washington withdrew from the JCPOA in May and announced it would re-impose restrictions against Tehran and third parties doing business with Iran. The country's Currency, the Iranian rial, collapsed to record lows against the US Dollar since Washington's announcement of its plans to bring the restrictions back.
An explosion occurred in Damascus as the Syrian army was destroying an underground tunnel used by militants between Jobar and Zamalke suburbs in the east of the Syrian capital, a source in the country's security forces told Sputnik on Tuesday.

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) An explosion occurred in Damascus as the Syrian army was destroying an underground tunnel used by militants between Jobar and Zamalke suburbs in the east of the Syrian capital, a source in the country's security forces told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, a Sputnik correspondent reported that a blast the reasons for which were not known took place in Damascus.

"The blast, which was heard in Damascus, was the result of the army exploding a tunnel between Jobar and Zamalke," the source said.

Syria has been torn by civil war since 2011, with the government fighting numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations.
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ASTANA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The first meeting of a working group on implementation of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea may be held in autumn in Azerbaijan, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said on Tuesday.

According to Abdrakhmanov, foreign ministers of the five Caspian held a meeting on the eve of the summit and decided to establish a special working group under the auspices of the foreign ministries, which would handle implementation of the convention's provisions.

"There is already an agreement between us that our group will meet and proceed directly to work in autumn this year. We are preliminary considering Azerbaijan for the meeting," the minister told reporters.
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The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which the leaders of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan signed on Sunday, lays "solid and efficient" groundwork for the five countries' cooperation, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said on Tuesday

ASTANA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which the leaders of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan signed on Sunday, lays "solid and efficient" groundwork for the five countries' cooperation, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said on Tuesday.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow signed the historic document, which had been 22 years in the making, in the southern Kazakh city of Aktau.

"With the signing of the convention, a solid and efficient framework for the development of large-scale cooperation on many areas between the Caspian states was created," Abdrakhmanov said.

Kazakhstan's top diplomat added that by signing the convention, the five leaders had proved their "firm commitment to the establishment of a zone of peace, security, cooperation and sustainable development in this huge region.

"

The division Caspian Sea among the five bordering states had been hampered by the fact that its legal status as either a sea or lake was to be determined; the two bodies of water are regulated by different provisions of international law.

The recently signed convention closed the door to this uncertainty by dividing the sea bed and subsoil between the five states on the basis of international law, while the major surface of the sea will be shared. The document regulates such issues as fishing and pipeline construction, establishes rules for maritime navigation in the sea, and bans any activities threatening the sea's biological resources.
Defendants, from left, Hujrah Wahhaj, Lucas Morton, Siraj Wahhaj and Subbannah Wahhaj enter district court in Taos, N.M., for a detention hearing on Aug. 13, 2018. (Roberto E. Rosales / AP)
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Montevideo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :With huge new scandals rocking the political elite in Argentina and Peru, and several former Central American presidents in court, Latin America is once again being buffeted by a wave of corruption.

But experts say that despite the sense the region is suffering a recurring nightmare, there is reason to believe the judicial system is finally gaining the upper hand in the fight against graft.

- Latin America's 'dirty dozen?' - In Central America, jailed former Salvadoran president Elias Antonio Saca recently admitted to diverting more than $300 million during his 2004-2009 term in office. His successor Mauricio Funes is accused of similar crimes and has taken refuge in Nicaragua.

Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli was not so lucky -- he was extradited in June from the United States to face charges in a raft of corruption cases.

From Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva down through the list of the last four Peruvian presidents, "there are a dozen ex-presidents in prison, on the run, involved, or dismissed" in similar corruption cases, says Peruvian lawyer Jose Ugaz, former head of the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International.

The scandals in Peru have not only ensnared presidents, but the judiciary too, after the broadcast of audio recordings in July.

On tape, judges can be heard negotiating over the sentencing of defendants. Justice Minister Salvador Heresi, Supreme Court chief justice Duberli Rodriguez and Orlando Velasquez -- the president of the judicial council which appoints judges and prosecutors -- have been forced to resign.

In response to the scandal, Peru's President Martin Vizcarra announced a major reform of the judicial system and the holding of a referendum to ensure public backing for it.

- Money and politics - Some of the most notorious cases embroiling current and former governments involve the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which operated a slush fund amounting to hundreds of millions of Dollars across Latin America to grease the palms of politicians, and in the process, the wheels of its lucrative public works empire.

"The relationship between money and politics is at the heart of the matter," says Gaspard Estrada, head of the Observatory on Latin America at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris.

From Brazil to Argentina, "we find the same mechanisms, with crooked entrepreneurs and politicians seeking to finance their campaigns," he said.

In Argentina, the so-called notebooks scandal has rocked the world of big business and politics.

Oscar Centeno, a chauffeur, used school notebooks to detail the delivery of tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks he was responsible for ferrying to various politicians, including to the homes of Cristina Kirchner when she was president.

The alleged kickbacks were paid by business executives to secure public works contracts for their companies.

Several former officials and corporate executives are under arrest and Kirchner herself, who was president from 2007-2015, was summoned to a court hearing on Monday by the judge leading the massive anti-corruption case.

The defiant 65-year-old refused to answer questions but took to the defense of leftist former leaders like herself who have been swept away by a right-wing surge across Latin America.

"This is a new regional strategy to outlaw leaders, movements and political forces that expanded rights and allowed millions of people out of poverty during the first decade and a half of the 21st Century," Kirchner wrote Monday on Twitter.

The big question on legal minds is how to "move away from this dependence and break this vicious circle," says Estrada.

Stricter legal frameworks governing political donations are vital, he says. "There should be limits to the donations of private persons and this should go hand in hand with a strict public funding." "The big institutional problem in Latin America is the lack of mechanisms of checks and balances," laments Raul Ferro of the Center for Openness and Development in Latin America (CADAL).

That is something that Argentina's notebooks scandal has highlighted, according to Nicolas Solari of the Poliarquia consultancy.

"There is no doubt that the copybooks describe in detail the way in which the Kirchners raised money illegally for seven years without any alarm going off at any oversight agency," says Solari.

- 'More difficult' to cheat - "In Latin America, there is a history of corruption, there will always be business, it is the nature of the human being," says Ferro.

Nevertheless, he is "optimistic, without being naive," about the future.

"What's important is that it's getting harder and harder to do it, and easier to see where it's going on. Every breaking scandal is a small step forward," he says.

"The 'car Wash' case in Brazil has launched a dynamic in the region, to which the public has added its voice, which is new and interesting. Thousands of people have marched in the streets to denounce corruption -- this is a reason for hope," insists Jose Ugaz.

But he says anti-corruption watchdogs must not now drop their guard, just when the tide of Latin American corruption might just be turning.

"It's just that it must not amount to a straw fire, like the Arab Spring, that's why the public must remain alert."
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The Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), an influential US-based Greek lobby, which advocated against the transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, welcomed on Tuesday US law halting the F-35s supplies.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), an influential US-based Greek lobby, which advocated against the transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, welcomed on Tuesday US law halting the F-35s supplies.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA) into law. The act includes a limitation halting the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Ankara.

"The language included in the NDAA barring the transfer of F-35s to Turkey is but the first step in a long-overdue reassessment of the US-Turkey relationship," HALC Executive Director Endy Zemenides said, as quoted by the Kathimerini newspaper.

US-made weapons cannot be used to threaten Washington's allies like Greece and occupy US strategic partners like Cyprus, he stressed.

"We're happy that the Trump administration is increasing pressure on [Turkish] President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, but temporary measures need to be part of a comprehensive re-evaluation of American long-term policy toward a Turkey which had made clear its intent to turn away from the West and from democratic standards," Zemenides concluded.

HALC said it lobbied the decision in the Congress in partnership with the Armenian National Committee of America and the In Defense of Christians charity.

US-Turkish bilateral relations have deteriorated over US pastor Andrew Brunson's detention in Turkey in 2016. Brunson, who was arrested on suspicion of ties to the Gulen movement, which is accused of orchestrating the 2016 failed military coup in Turkey, was released from prison in late July and placed under house arrest.

Most recently, US President Donald Trump authorized the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, up to 50 and 20 percent, respectively, which resulted in the Turkish lira falling to a new historical low, after also freezing the assets of two Turkish ministers who allegedly contributed to human rights abuses in the country. Earlier in the day, Erdogan accused Washington of an "economic attack" announcing that the country would boycott US-made electronic goods.
A large business delegation from Russia will take part in the Damascus International Fair in September and plans to meet with Syrian businesspeople on its sidelines, Fares Kartally, the fair's director general, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) A large business delegation from Russia will take part in the Damascus International Fair in September and plans to meet with Syrian businesspeople on its sidelines, Fares Kartally, the fair's director general, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"Russian participation will be quite large, and it has 500 square meters [5,382 square feet] of space allocated. This year, the fair will be marked by the presence of large business delegations, the fair will also feature the second Russian-Syrian meeting of businessmen," the official said.

He added that the fair, which will cover 90,000 square meters, would begin on September 6, and that, apart from entrepreneurs, trade and economy ministers of some participating countries also planned on attending.

According to the official, 48 countries are going to participate in the exhibition some of them officially via embassies, and others through companies.

"We have 24 countries registered to official participate via embassies, the most notable of which are Russia, Iran, China, Belarus, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon. Argentina and Venezuela are among the countries which are unofficially involved. Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom are participating through companies," Kartally said.

Russian companies that planned on participating in the fair represented the construction and engineering, mining, and agricultural industries, he noted.

"Russia is not only a military partner, but a strategic partner in all dimensions economics, medicine, agriculture and others and we hope that it will play an outstanding role in the country's [Syria's] reconstruction," the official concluded.

Syria has been restoring its cities and infrastructure that were destroyed during its civil war. Russia is actively helping the country return to peace.
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Large-scale international military exercises Anakonda-18 will be held in Latvia between November 7 and November 16, the country's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

RIGA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) Large-scale international military exercises Anakonda-18 will be held in Latvia between November 7 and November 16, the country's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"Anakonda-18 is a tactical field exercise of the division level.

Units of the armed forces of the United States, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, as well as countries participating in the NATO-Latvia combat group deployed in Latvia, plan to participate in them," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the task of the exercises is to work out the interaction between the elements of the NATO command and regional forces when performing tactical operations.

Over 500 foreign servicemen are expected to take part in the exercises, the ministry added.

Latvia became a member of the European Union and NATO in 2004.
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The effectiveness of the meeting of the "Caspian Five" in Kazakh city of Aktau, which resulted in the signing of the convention on the status of the Caspian Sea and a number of intergovernmental agreements, was the best compared to previous inter-Caspian talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The effectiveness of the meeting of the "Caspian Five" in Kazakh city of Aktau, which resulted in the signing of the convention on the status of the Caspian Sea and a number of intergovernmental agreements, was the best compared to previous inter-Caspian talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.

On Sunday, the leaders of five states bordering the Caspian Sea Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan signed the convention regulating the status of the worlds largest landlocked body of water. The document regulates access to the surface water and sea bed as well as various issues, including fishing, pipeline construction and environmental concerns.

"The effectiveness of this event is absolutely record for all inter-Caspian talks," Lavrov said in an interview with Kazakhstan president's broadcaster.

The presidents of the five countries, during their statements to the press, also gave their highest praise for the summit, using such words as "historical" and "epochal," Lavrov recalled.

"It is not an exaggeration. The work [on the convention] lasted almost 22 years  it was not easy. Initially, opposing views collided, whether it is a sea or a lake ... As a result, the desire to reach a consensus prevailed," the minister said.

According to the minister, it was crucial that the convention determined the legal status of the Caspian Sea and laid the foundation for the final coordination of issues that had not yet been resolved.

He also stressed that the intergovernmental agreements on trade and economic cooperation and transport, intergovernmental agreement on the prevention of incidents in the Caspian Sea, and three intergovernmental protocols on combating terrorism, organized crime and cooperation between border services were also important results of the summit.

The status of the oil-and-gas-rich Caspian Sea had long been regulated by agreements reached between Iran and the Soviet Union until the dissolution of the latter and following the emergence of five new independent states that would come to surround the body of water.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to visit Azerbaijan on August 25 in a bid to drive existing bilateral relations forward, Azeri Foreign Ministry's spokesman Khikmet Gadzhiyev told Sputnik on Tuesday.

BAKU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to visit Azerbaijan on August 25 in a bid to drive existing bilateral relations forward, Azeri Foreign Ministry's spokesman Khikmet Gadzhiyev told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"Merkel's visit to Azerbaijan is scheduled for August 25. This visit is aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation  Baku and Berlin have friendly relations that are based on mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation. We hope that the visit will give impetus to the expansion of bilateral ties," he said.

Gadzhiyev added that the visit had been in the works on both sides for some time.

Merkel is also expected to visit Georgia on August 23-24, the Georgian 1TV channel reported, citing the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

"We have recently held talks with our German partners. I have paid one of my first official visits to Berlin. Germany supports Georgias integration into European and Euro-Atlantic entities, and this visit [Merkel's] is very important given the challenges our country is facing," Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said, as cited by 1TV.

The final date for Merkels visit is to be set by the German Embassy, according to the media outlet.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) Soumaila Cisse, an opposition presidential candidate in Mali, on Monday rejected the results of the runoff before the official results were published, media reported.

On Sunday, Malians went to polls to cast their ballots either for Cisse or for incumbent President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

According to Mali Jet outlet, Cisse addressed his supporters, claiming victory and rejecting the official results in advance.

The official tally will reportedly be published in the next few days.

In the first round, the incumbent president won 41.4 percent of the vote, while Cisse secured 17.7 percent. Cisse is a member of Mali's National Assembly and is running in the presidential election as a candidate from the Union for the Republic and Democracy.
Russian military police have deployed four posts next to the Bravo Line along the demilitarized zone at the Golan Heights, two more will be deployed soon, the deputy commander of Russian forces in Syria said

QUNEITRA PROVINCE (Syria) (UrduPoint news / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) Russian military police have deployed four posts next to the Bravo Line along the demilitarized zone at the Golan Heights, two more will be deployed soon, the deputy commander of Russian forces in Syria said.

"At the moment, there are four posts of the Russian military police.

In the near future we will deploy two more, there will be six of them. Subsequently, we plan to raise their number to eight, if necessary," Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko said.

"We render all possible assistance to the UN mission in order to ensure that the UN flag is hoisted at all posts and the mission works in full capacity in the demilitarized zone," the official added.
Six people, five of them police, were killed in a "terrorist attack" in eastern Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said late Monday.

Ouagadougou, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2018 ) :Six people, five of them police, were killed in a "terrorist attack" in eastern Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said late Monday.

Five people -- four gendarmes and a civilian -- were killed on Saturday when their vehicle struck a mine about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Fada N'Gourma, the chief town in the east of the Sahel country, it said in a statement.

A sixth person, also a gendarme, was killed later in a shootout with the assailants.

The attack happened while their convoy was returning from escorting a mission to a mining complex at Boungou, the ministry said.

"The lead vehicle hit a mine. The rest of the convoy came under heavy fire," it said.

Burkina Faso has been battling an escalating wave of jihadist attacks over the last three years, beginning in the north of the country but now spreading to the east, near the border with Togo and Benin.

The security forces have carried out a series of arrests in recent months, detaining hundreds of people in connection with the attacks.
Sudan is calling on the European Union as well as the members of the troika United Kingdom, the United States and Norway to provide support for the ongoing peace process in South Sudan, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

KHARTOUM (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th August, 2018) Sudan is calling on the European Union as well as the members of the troika United Kingdom, the United States and Norway to provide support for the ongoing peace process in South Sudan, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

The third round of peace talks between South Sudan's warring sides started earlier in the day in Sudanese capital Khartoum. The latest round, mediated by the troika, will reportedly last for a week.

According to the statement obtained by Sputnik, Sudanese Foreign Minister Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed met earlier on Monday with the ambassadors of the troika countries and the European Union. The Sudanese minister called on "the international community to provide support and assistance to the peace process [in South Sudan] and called on the troika countries in particular to provide direct assistance to the peace deal.

"

On August 5, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed a final power-sharing deal in Khartoum to end the conflict ongoing since 2013. The peace deal follows a ceasefire agreement signed by the sides in Khartoum in late June.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan following a referendum in 2011, in which majority of the voters supported the move. In 2013, a civil war erupted in the country, as Kiir of the Dinka tribe accused Machar, an ethnic Nuer, of planning a coup.
The Catholic Church officiates a reconciliation mass which seeks to bring together all sectors of the community that had become divided following the Chilean abuse scandal, at the San Mateo cathedral of Osorno, Chile, Sunday, June 17, 2018. (Fernando Lavoz / AP)
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The second round of negotiations between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the central government are taking place in Damascus with the sides discussing the issue of the Kurds' self-governance, the co-chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Riad Darar said.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The second round of negotiations between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the central government are taking place in Damascus with the sides discussing the issue of the Kurds' self-governance, the co-chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Riad Darar said.

In late July, an SDC delegation held talks with the authorities in Damascus and discussed a basis for a more extensive and large-scale dialogue on the solution of pressing problems and the settlement of the Syrian crisis.

Darar told Al-Watan newspaper that the second round of talks "is focused on self-governance issues" for the Kurds.

The Syrian Kurds announced the creation of the Federal region of Rojava in 2016, with Damascus saying the move has no legal power. Later that same year, the region was renamed to the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. In late September 2017, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Damascus was ready to discuss the issue of the Syrian Kurds' self-governance once the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organization (banned in Russia) ends.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th August, 2018) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats must brief Congress on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen, 30 members of the House of Representatives, all Democrats, said in a letter.

"We write to express our deepening concern regarding the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and to request a briefing for all House members during the first week of September on the policy objectives of the United States with respect to Yemen," the letter said on Tuesday.

The briefing should include an update on Defense Department assistance to the Saudi-led coalition conducting military operations in Yemen, counter-terrorism activities against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and against the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia), according to the letter.

"Specifically, we would like an update on the situation in Al Hudaydah as a recent escalation in the port city threatens to worsen the humanitarian crisis and undermine a negotiated political settlement," the letter said.

Three years into the conflict, 22 million people require humanitarian assistance and almost 18 million people lack access to food, the members of Congress pointed out in the letter.
A misunderstanding was behind the shooting of a US Marine by a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Operation Inherent Resolves Deputy Commander for Strategy and Support Felix Gedney said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) A misunderstanding was behind the shooting of a US Marine by a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Operation Inherent Resolves Deputy Commander for Strategy and Support Felix Gedney said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

On February 17, A US Marine killed a SDF member who had just shot another Marine in Syrias middle Euphrates River Valley.

I dont think we fully understand the motive behind what happened, and I think most likely it was a tragic misunderstanding that led to the use of lethal force, Gedney told reporters.

The incident was an anomaly and is not representative of the relationship the coalition has with partner forces both in Iraq and Syria, Gedney said.

There have been no changes in the vetting process for anyone who joins the SDF, Gedney said. The process is still effective, he added.

Gedney said he is not aware of any other similar incidents that have occurred with the coalition.

The US-led coalition of more than 70 members has been conducting military operations against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq since September 2014. The coalition's strikes in Iraq are conducted in cooperation with Iraqi officials, but those in Syria are not authorized by the government of President Bashar Assad or the UN Security Council.
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UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt starts on Tuesday his three-day visit to Finland, Latvia, Denmark and the Netherlands in order to discuss the United Kingdom's relationship with its European partners following its withdrawal from the European Union, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt starts on Tuesday his three-day visit to Finland, Latvia, Denmark and the Netherlands in order to discuss the United Kingdom's relationship with its European partners following its withdrawal from the European Union, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

"Mr Hunt will meet the Foreign Ministers of all four countries and outline the UKs determination to build a new relationship with Europe after Brexit which will offer a bright future that benefits all on our continent," the statement read.

The United Kingdom voted for withdrawing from the European Union in June 2016. The UK-EU Brexit negotiations started in 2017 and are set to be completed by late March 2019. The post-Brexit economic partnership between the two sides, namely, the customs arrangements, is challenging the negotiations.

"We share history and values with our partners in Europe ... Im delighted to be visiting four close European partners this week to reiterate that these strong ties will not diminish once we leave the EU," Hunt was quoted as saying by the Foreign Office.

The minister added that the United Kingdom aimed at building a "deep and special partnership with the remaining member states."

Another UK official, the country's minister of state for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mark Field started his visit to Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines and Thailand earlier on Tuesday.

According to the poll that Sky Data conducted on July 20-23 among 1,466 people, 51 percent of respondents believe that Brexit will be "actively bad" for the country, and 50 percent welcome the idea of holding another referendum.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed its concern on Tuesday over Libyan militias forcibly evicting 1,900 internally displaced people (IDP) from a settlement in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed its concern on Tuesday over Libyan militias forcibly evicting 1,900 internally displaced people (IDP) from a settlement in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

"The UN Refugee Agency, is concerned about the forced eviction by militias of 1,900 internally displaced persons from Triq Al Matar settlement in Tripoli, Libya ... UNHCR is concerned that IDPs moving to other settlements in Tripoli are at risk of further eviction." a statement by the agency's spokesperson William Spindler, published on its official website, said.

According to UNHCR, which cited local residents, the militia raided the settlement of Triq Al Matar several times arbitrarily arresting 94 people and threatening to rape some of the female residents, thus forcing people to abandon their homes. The agency added that 12 of the detained residents had not been released yet.

Some of the evicted people have moved elsewhere, while others have to sleep in their cars, UNHCR noted.

"UNHCR calls for the respect of human rights, the protection of civilians and for the right of displaced persons to decide about their own future," the UN agency added.

The Triq Al Matar IDP settlement has since 2011 been home to hundreds of families from the town of Tawergha close to Misrata. Tawergha residents, known for their darker skin, were ethnically cleansed from the town after its capture by anti-government militias from Misrata during the Libyan civil war. The residents have been accused of leading the siege of Misrata by forces loyal to late leader Muammar Gaddafi and have since been persecuted and prevented from returning home.

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, a total of 197,000 Libyans were internally displaced as of 2017 after the breakout of the first civil war in 2011.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th August, 2018) The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year of 2019 provides lethal defensive assistance to Ukraine while urging the need for reforms in the country.

" [The bill authorizes] support robust security sector assistance for Ukraine, including defensive lethal assistance, while promoting necessary reforms of the defense institutions of Ukraine," the text of the 2019 NDAA, signed into law by President Donald Trump on Monday, revealed.

The funds President Donald Trump requested for Ukraine include $250 million for lethal defensive items, the NDAA said. The bill introduces funds for Ukraine under the category of measures to counter Russia's military aggression.

The legislation also authorizes extra support for Georgia while the country is exploring an opportunity to become a member of NATO. Under the NDAA for 2019, the United States aims to increase the frequency and scale of military drills in the Black Sea in collaboration with Ukraine and Georgia.

Trump signed the defense spending bill earlier in the day in Ft. Drum, New York.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that the US-NATO military activities and buildup near Russias borders are provocative while arming Ukraine will only escalate the conflict.
In this image provided by The White House, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of the national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House on May 1, 2011. (The White House / Getty Images)
Nine patients and nurses are dead after a fire broke out at a hospital in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei. Other patients were evacuated as the building burned.

By Alastair Wanklyn

Hospital staff pushed patients on trolleys into the street, where other patients sat in chairs.



Fire fighters aimed a jet of water at the building's burning upper floors.

Taiwan's state news agency said the fire broke out inside a hospice that was part of a large government-run hospital.



The nine people who died included patients, nurses and other caregivers. They suffered heart attacks, the news agency said. Other survivors were taken to nearby hospitals.



The fire began in the early hours on Monday. At that time of day, many of the staff were migrant workers covering the night shift. The family of one survivor was quoted praising the actions of an Indonesian nurse who carried patients out of the building on her back.



There's no confirmation how the fire began. The Taipei fire department is quoted saying it may have been an electrical fault in a life support system.



Officials said the bed mattresses appear to have burned too easily. But they added, the blaze was out in less than one hour. It appears the hospital's own fire prevention system was working. Images inside the building showed water sprinklers drenching wards.
Advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Cambodian government to immediately release a prominent housing rights activist jailed on fabricated charges in 2016.

Tep Vanny, an advocate for the Boeung Kak Lake community, who were mostly displaced by a conglomerate owned by a close ally of Prime Minister Hun Sen, was jailed in August 2016 for taking part in a protest in Phnom Penh.

In a statement on Tuesday, HRW called for her immediate and unconditional release.

Tep Vanny has now spent two years behind bars on fabricated charges and should be released immediately, Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Asia division, was quoted as saying in the statement.

This is just one of many outrageous cases in which the authorities have misused Cambodias justice system to harass and imprison peaceful land rights activists, he added.

Vanny, 38, received an award for leadership in 2013 for her campaigning on behalf of the Boeung Kak families.

She was detained on charges of causing intentional violence and found guilty in February 2017. Her conviction was upheld by a Supreme Court decision in February of this year.

Chin Malin, a justice spokesman, could not be reached for comment.

Sok Eysan, a ruling party spokesman, said that HRW was biased against the government. Although she [Vanny] is lauded in the West she is not a good woman or a hero. She is a hero only to those who serve the interest of individuals and groups that are biased to the Wests ideology, he said.

When the time comes, she will be released automatically. We dont need Human Rights Watch coming to put pressure or expressing opinions to impose conditions on the government, he added.

Vannys imprisonment stemmed from an allegation that she insulted a public official during a protest, for which she was sentenced to six days in prison. But once jailed the prosecutor reactivated a series of dormant charges against her for which she was found guilty.
Across Harlem Avenue and a few miles north, a man she does not know is running for Congress. He wants to be her representative in the U.S. House. He managed to emerge as the Republican nominee in the 3rd Congressional District. His name is Arthur Jones. He is a Nazi sympathizer and Holocaust denier who believes the stories of torture and death of more than 6 million Jews during World War II are grossly exaggerated. He is incapable of confronting his own vulgarity in saying so.
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The world will soon have its first batch of commercially available 3-D-printed concrete homes. A consortium of the Dutch municipality of Eindhoven, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), and three private firms has joined forces to build five of these unique homes in the hub city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands. VOAs Julie Taboh has more.
Tariffs imposed on goods imported from China, Europe and other parts of the world could hurt American consumers and small businesses more than help them. Analysts point out that in today's global economy, most manufacturers produce parts and import others to make a final product. Tariffs imposed on Chinese electronic parts have already forced a U.S. TV factory to close down, and there are concerns that U.S. farmers could lose big markets overseas. VOA's Zlatica Hoke has more.
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Turkey's currency, the lira, continues to slide as the country's central bank failed to halt the decline Monday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the United States of purposely trying to damage his country's economy. More from VOA's Bill Gallo.
As the five-year anniversary of Egypts Rabaa massacre comes Tuesday, some human rights groups say the country has not done enough to address the human rights issues demonstrated in the killing.

The Rabaa massacre was an attack in Cairo on supporters of ex-President Mohamed Morsi who were conducting a sit-in in the nations capital. A month earlier, Morsi had been ousted in a military coup.

On July 3, 2013, current general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi led the coup against Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected civilian president. According to the Human Rights Watch, 817 civilians were confirmed killed, but it is likely that at least a thousand died.

"The Egyptian authorities repeated failure to respect the rights of protesters, and their failure to hold anyone accountable for mass murders, has contributed to an environment in which the security forces feel empowered to violate human rights with absolute impunity," Najia Bounaim, North Africa Campaigns director for Amnesty International, said in a statement.

The Egyptian government is currently conducting a mass trial against 739 people involved in the protest, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood  a Morsi-allied group since banned in the country  and journalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, also known as "Shawkan." The charges range from murder to "illegal gathering."

"My brother is being held without charges in prison," Zeid's brother, Mohamed, told Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr. "He was detained during the dispersal of Rabea, and his detention has been renewed since then. My brother never held a gun. He was simply doing his job."

In July, an Egyptian court referred 75 of the defendants for a death sentence, requiring approval from the countrys highest Islamic law official, grand mufti Shawki Allam. Their sentences are currently subject to an appeal. Zeid was not among those sentenced.

In a statement, Amnesty International alleged that prosecutors had "failed to submit evidence establishing the individual responsibility" for individual defendants.

"This can only be described as a parody of justice. It casts a dark shadow over the integrity of Egypt's entire system of justice and makes a mockery of due process," Bounaim said.

The Egyptian parliament passed a law granting immunity to members of the nations armed forces selected by el-Sissi for actions undertaken between July 3, 2013, to Jan. 10, 2016, including the Rabaa massacre.

"It seems that fostering an environment of impunity and a disrespect for international laws, the Egyptian constitution and the basic tenants of justice, are the objective," Bounaim said.
Syrian rebels are readying for a government assault on the countrys northwestern Idlib province, their last major stronghold in a country thats been wracked by a seven-year war, leaving half a million dead and more than 5 million Syrians languishing as refugees in neighboring countries.

Rebel commanders fear an offensive will be launched by mid-September, when a de-escalation agreement negotiated by Russia and backed by Iran and Turkey expires. With President Bashar al-Assad saying his forces intend to retake control of Idlib, U.N. officials have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis, fearing for the well-being of 2.5 million to 3.3 million people estimated to be living in the province, half of them displaced by fighting in other parts of the country.

Assads forces have stepped up their bombing campaign on the province, according to Syrian civil society activists. On Monday, a girl and two women were killed and half a dozen civilians wounded in government shelling of the towns of al-Tih and Tahtaya. Dozens of airstrikes, as well as artillery shelling, pummeled villages and towns in the mainly rural province Friday, monitors said.

Its the most intense bombing since Idlib was declared a de-escalation zone last year, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP.

Last week, David Miliband, a former British foreign minister and now president of the International Rescue Committee, lamented the sidelining of the United Nations when it comes to the endgame of the Syrian war and urged the Security Council to reassert itself quickly to head off an assault on Idlib.

Armed opposition groups from elsewhere in the country have been deported there under so-called reconciliation agreements and are preparing for a last stand against the Assad regime, he wrote in an opinion article for The Washington Post. Standing between rebels and the regime are 2.6 million civilians, half of whom have already been displaced at least once by fighting. One million seven hundred thousand people already need humanitarian aid to survive, he added.

Charles Lister, author of the book The Syrian Jihad and an analyst with the Middle East Institute, agrees an Idlib assault would lead to a bloodbath.

Should the regime unleash what would inevitably be a brutal military campaign upon Idlib, it would be civilians who would suffer immeasurably  and in larger numbers than ever before, he said.

It remains unclear whether Assad will mount a province-wide offensive when the de-escalation agreement expires Sept. 19. The decision will depend heavily on Russian leader Vladimir Putin, said analysts. The Russian president is being urged by his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to green-light an attack by Assad, whose regime only survived thanks to Moscows military intervention.

Erdogan has declared Idlib, where an estimated 70,000 armed rebels are holed up, off-limits to Assad. In an interview with VOA last month, one of his advisers said Turkey has warned Damascus off Idlib, which borders a swathe of Syrian territory to the east occupied by Turkish forces. He said Ankara would not stand by if Damascus moved on Idlib. Idlib is a red line for us. As you know, we have our forces deployed there," the adviser said.

That message was reiterated to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived Monday in Ankara to plan for an international summit next month on Syria led by Russia and Turkey.

Turkish forces have set up a dozen military observation posts across Idlib province, which abuts Turkey, as part of the de-escalation agreement with Tehran and Moscow reached under the Astana peace negotiations. An assault on Idlib would prompt another refugee crisis for Turkey and challenge Turkish influence in northern Syria.

If Putin accedes to the Turkish entreaties, Assad would be in a tough spot, according to Aron Lund, an analyst at the U.S.-based Century Foundation. He said the Syrian army would have trouble retaking Idlib without Russian support. Most key decisions are now in the hands of outside powers, with understandings and misunderstandings among Russians, Americans and Turks most likely to decide the future shape of Syria, he said in an email.

Russian officials have said they are opposed to an escalation in hostilities in Idlib.

Some analysts question whether Assad can be restrained. It is unclear whether Russia or Turkey have what it takes to deter Assad from initiating a major military campaign, said Lister in an email.

For Russia, an assault on Idlib presents the risk of a military clash between Turkey and Syria, in effect, two Russian allies.

The best solution for the Kremlin, say some analysts, may be to persuade Ankara to agree to Assad launching a limited offensive aimed at taking back the southern part of Idlib province but leaving Turkish influence in northwest Syria largely unchallenged.

Writing in the World Policy Review, Lund noted, It wouldnt be a clean end to the war, but does Moscow really need that? From Moldova to South Ossetia and eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin has a habit of letting messy situations linger to its advantage.
Michael Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, offered some details on his policy views Tuesday as he weighs an outsider Democratic bid for the White House.

Fresh off a visit to early-voting Iowa, Avenatti said he would release more information over time, but said "people want to know how I stand on the issues at 20,000 feet."

In a new policy document, Avenatti said he supports a "basic Medicare plan for all Americans," with an option to purchase additional coverage, and backed a path to citizenship for the young immigrants known as Dreamers. He also wants to see a national paid family leave program.

Marijuana should be decriminalized at the federal level, so-called assault weapons should be banned and the United States should re-join the Paris climate accord, according to Avenatti.

Those positions generally align Avenatti with the left flank of potential 2020 Democratic presidential prospects, but he is more moderate on some of the issues. On the federal government's chief immigration enforcement agency, Avenatti said: "We should not eliminate ICE but we must change the way ICE carries out enforcement."

Some Democrats have gone further. Senator Kristen Gillibrand told CNN recently that "You should get rid of it, start over, reimagine it and build something that actually works." And Senator Kamala Harris of California has said the government "maybe" or "probably" should "start from scratch" on an immigration enforcement agency.

Avenatti is a self-styled provocateur who has gained national attention for representing Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump following an alleged 2006 affair, which the president denies. For months, he's been a fixture on cable news shows, taunting Trump in interviews and baiting him and his lawyers in tweets. Avenatti also has a blistering Twitter feed and a knack for a catchy slogan.

He pledged that should he run, he will not take corporate PAC money  putting him in line with a number of potential 2020 prospects.

Avenatti is more general on some issues in the brief outline, saying he wants an economic plan that "delivers good quality jobs" and that college must be "more affordable for all Americans." He promised a detailed infrastructure plan called the "Real Deal."

On trade, he said America must "be aggressive in dealing with countries that have gamed the system  but smart about how we fight back to avoid inflicting unnecessary harm on American workers and farmers." And on international relations, he said the United States must "negotiate denuclearization agreements with North Korea and Iran."

Avenatti said he is studying the issues and consulting experts and will be releasing more information, including a "detailed economic infrastructure plan in the coming weeks."

The document also serves as a statement of principle for the attorney who has never run for office. It stresses his support for all Americans "regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity." He fully backs unions and said teachers need more financial support, according to the document.
A bill signed by President Donald Trump on Monday asks the Pentagon to pursue more options for defeating U.S.-bound North Korean missiles by using radar and more missiles to spot and shoot down inbound threats.

The National Defense Authorization Act gives the Pentagon $716 billion, with almost $10 billion going to the Missile Defense Agency to fund the expansion of missile defenses, emphasizing the need to stop any North Korean or Iranian attacks.

The military is already exploring whether the United States can add another layer to defenses to those already in place for intercepting incoming missiles in flight, Keith Englander, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's director for engineering, said at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, last week.

The Missile Defense Agency's head, Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, has said he wants to integrate the Aegis Combat System into the current ICBM defenses of the U.S. homeland. The Aegis system, mainly found on ships, could be fitted with the Standard Missile 3 Block IIA (SM-3 IIA) interceptors that are being developed in a joint venture between Raytheon Co and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

The Lockheed Martin-made Aegis system is currently deployed aboard 36 U.S. Navy ships, as well as at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Hawaii.

If given the new mission, the ships could patrol the Pacific Ocean and augment the network of Ground-Based Midcourse Defense interceptor missiles in Alaska and California that protect the nation from intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) attacks.

This is one of several avenues the Pentagon is studying to knock down inbound missiles. These include shooting the missile down soon after takeoff, stopping it in space as it flies above the Earth's atmosphere, and killing it soon after it re-enters the atmosphere before hitting its target.

Growing concern

Concern about U.S. missile defenses has grown with the escalating threat from North Korea. Last year, North Korea conducted about a dozen missile tests, including the launch of a suspected ICBM that could hit the U.S. mainland and the test of a purported hydrogen bomb.

North Korea and the United States are struggling to agree on how to bring about the North's denuclearization, after Kim vowed to work toward that goal at a landmark summit in June in Singapore with Trump.

The potential new defenses must first be tested to make sure the intercepting missile can take out what could be an ICBM fired by Pyongyang.

In a previous spending bill, Congress mandated that the Missile Defense Agency perform an intercept test with the SM-3 IIA missile against an ICBM by the end of 2020.

Last year, Reuters reported that the Pentagon was investigating adding a missile defense layer under the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system.

In May 2017, the Missile Defense Agency held its first live-fire test of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense against a simulated ICBM, and hailed the successful intercept as an "incredible accomplishment."
Palestinian postal service employees are working overtime to sort through some 10 tons of letters and packages blocked by Israel for up to eight years, Palestinian officials said Tuesday.

The parcels, dating from between 2010 and this year, had been prevented by Israel from entering the West Bank via Jordan but were released in a one-time deal, the officials said.

The goods range from simple letters to medicine and even wheelchairs for the disabled, AFP journalists found at the sorting center in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho.

Palestinian Telecommunications Minister Allam Mousa accused Israel in a statement of having blocked the delivery and of delaying the implementation of an agreement on postal services.

Israeli authorities confirmed the packages had been transferred and said an agreement was in the works, but did not comment in detail.

Ramadan Ghazawi, an official at the sorting center in Jericho, said he understood some items had been blocked for security reasons, while others were barred on administrative grounds.

A few days ago Israel allowed more than 10 tons of postal parcels that were stuck in Jordan, he told AFP.

He said it would take his staff another two weeks to sort through all the parcels and get them delivered to their recipients.

Israel controls all entrances and exits to the West Bank and can prevent goods passing through as it sees fit.

Palestinian officials say such control cripples their economy and freedom of movement.

In the sorting center, hundreds of bags were piled on top of each other as workers picked through them in the stifling summer heat.

Ghazawi said that the parcels and letters, mostly the former, had been sent from all over the world.

Many were goods ordered online by Palestinians that never arrived.

A note attached to a wheelchair said it was sent from Turkey in 2015 and meant to be delivered to the Gaza Strip.

COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civilian coordination in the Palestinian territories, said the release was part of confidence building measures after the two sides agreed on a postal entry deal about a year ago.

It said while the deal had not yet gone into force for future deliveries, it had allowed a one-time transfer of approximately ten and a half tons of mail that had been held in Jordan.

Some of the transferred goods had been broken, and Ghazawi said that to avoid complaints they were delivering them along with a statement saying Israeli authorities had delivered them in this condition.
A leading rightist presidential candidate blamed the left on Tuesday for Brazil's rise in crime as he promised to give further protection to one of the most lethal police forces in the world.

Legislator Jair Bolsonaro, who is running second in polls on the October election, published a platform of generic suggestions for the economy, education and health care. But he also loaded it with criticism of human rights groups and left-leaning politicians, accusing them of permissiveness that he says has fueled the rise in violence and drug use.

Bolsonaro registered the plan at Brazil's top electoral court in Brasilia, saying that "policemen need to be sure they will be protected by a judicial backbone in the exercise of their professional activities.''

He calls for an extension of the right of self-defense, which human rights groups see as an authorization for police to kill without prosecution when they commit excesses.

A report released last week counted an average of 14 deaths a day at the hands of Brazilian police officers last year, which it said was a 20 percent increase over 2016.

Homicide leader

Overall, a record 63,880 people were slain in Brazil in 2017, the report said. The South American country is the world leader in overall homicide numbers, and now its per capita homicide rate is one of the highest.

In a crowded presidential field, Bolsonaro trails only jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in opinion polls, but the popular ex-leader is expected to be barred from the ballot by Brazil's electoral justice.

Bolsonaro released his platform on the same day that he faced questions about using government funds to pay for the upkeep of a vacation home.

He denied wrongdoing in payments to Walderice Conceicao dos Santos, listed by his office as a secretary.

The newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported Tuesday that dos Santos had been fired following news reports that she actually worked selling acai in Angra dos Reis, about 105 miles (170 kilometers) southwest of Rio.

Bolsonaro told the newspaper that she helped take care of his vacation home near Angra dos Reis.

The congressman's office said that he had no further comment.
Rakbar Khan, 28, was walking home with two cows he had bought when he was accosted and beaten last month by a group of suspected cow vigilantes in Indias Rajasthan state. He later died in the hospital of the injuries he sustained.

Three weeks later, it appears to be just another quiet day in Khans village which lies in neighboring Haryana state  children play, cows and buffaloes lie languidly. But both old and young are huddled in small groups as anxiety and anger grow in Kolgaon.

The latest assault by so-called cow protection groups on those they suspect of taking cows for slaughter or of eating beef has raised fears in his Muslim-dominated village that their traditional occupation  dairy farming, is under threat.

Such deadly incidents have surged since the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) rise to power emboldened fringe Hindu groups. Hindus consider the cow a holy animal.

The victims family says Khan took a loan to buy the cows so that he could supplement his meager income as a laborer and look after his seven children  a common practice in his village where nearly every family has reared animals for generations.

He had five cows which have stopped giving milk, says his cousin Mohammad Akbar. He thought two more cows would provide milk for his kids and he could also sell some in the market to support his family.

Poorer residents in this economically backward village prefer to purchase cows because they cost less than a quarter of the price of buffaloes. Four cows give 60 kilograms of milk. People sell it and the money looks after their daily needs, said 60-year-old Fazruddin Khan.

There are about 1,500 heads of cattle in this village of 5,000 people. But village elders say residents here will no longer add to their stock, even though cows are their economic lifeblood. This incident has shocked us and we will not venture out to buy cows anymore. We will leave this occupation if we have to, said Khan.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the attack. But that has not eased fears and the young in the village also worry that the cow has become a lethal purchase. Their concerns are exacerbated because Kolgaon village borders the state of Rajasthan where Rakbar Khan was attacked and cow vigilantes have been active. With the atmosphere around, the incidents that are happening, we dont feel like rearing cows. We are scared, said Hasim Khan, who grew up helping his family rear cows.

While attacks by cow vigilantes have taken place across the country, more have been reported in northern India. According IndiaSpend, a data journalism website, almost all the 60 attacks involving cow-related violence since 2010 were recorded after the BJP came to power in 2014.

The report said 24 out of the 28 people killed were Muslims. Besides Muslims, low caste Hindus have also been targeted by cow protection groups. These groups patrol highways, stop trucks transporting animals, or accost those like Khan with cows.

The BJP has distanced itself from such groups and condemned the attacks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly criticized cow vigilantism, saying that most of them were anti-socials masquerading as cow protectors and called on state governments to crack down on those who incite violence in the name of cow protection. And in a recent interview to the Times of India newspaper, he said that there should be no shade of doubt that his government is committed to protecting the life and liberty of every citizen.

But as Khans village suffers the deadly consequences of such attacks, there is bewilderment here as to why the cow has become a polarizing animal since the BJPs rise to power.

Rakbar Khans distraught mother in law, Kareeman Khan, who has come to console her daughter, points out that the cow is a much-loved animal in such villages -- it helped take care of her daughters large family. We rear these cows with even more love than our children, we bathe them, give them water, feed them, we nurture them longer than our own kids, she laments.

Khans death has shocked both Hindus and Muslims in a village known for the harmony in which its residents have lived for generations. The atmosphere here is very cordial. We neither shout slogans for Hindus or for Muslims. We are like brothers, said Har Lal, the former village council head.

Political analysts also question why authorities are not doing more to rein in the cow vigilantes, which they say are fostering a sense of insecurity in the countrys Muslims, who number about 14 percent of Indias population.

There is a certain climate that has been created, that certain kinds of crime, people will get away with, said independent political analyst Neerja Chowdhury in New Delhi. It is not A episode, B episode, which could be anti-social elements taking the law into their own hands. It is a message that has gone that this is where we are not going to be hauled up.

In Rakbar Khans case, for example, police action has come under scrutiny after it came to light that they took nearly three hours to take the injured man to the hospital because they first took the cows to a shelter.
A Democratic Supreme Court justice in the U.S. state of West Virginia said hours after she was impeached Tuesday that she was retiring, triggering a special election for her replacement and denying the Republican governor a chance to name her successor.

The citizens of West Virginia now "will be afforded their constitutional right to elect my successor in November," Justice Robin Davis said as she announced her departure at the state capital.

Davis announced her resignation after being impeached for committing wrongful acts, including spending $500,000 on office renovations.

The House of Delegates voted Monday to impeach all four remaining justices over spending issues. They will be brought to trial in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, as is the House.

Davis said their impeachment was a travesty of justice and a brazen attempt by one branch of government to seize control over another.

Justice Menis Ketchum retired earlier this year. Any of the three remaining justices who are considering resigning must do so by the Tuesday deadline in order for their replacements to be decided in a November special election. Gov. Jim Justice will appoint replacements who will serve until the election.

All four justices were impeached for failing to control expenses and for not maintaining policies over matters involving state vehicles, working lunches and the use of office computers at home.
The European Commission on Tuesday stepped up its latest legal case against Poland, where the ruling nationalists stand accused of bulldozing the independence of courts and judges, thereby undercutting democracy.

Governed by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, the EU's largest ex-communist state has most recently enacted laws forcing into early retirement many Supreme Court judges. The bloc, rights groups and domestic political opposition decry that as going against the rule of law.

These moves came after the PiS had already exchanged many judges at the Polish Constitutional Tribunal and heads of many regular courts, while also tightening its grip on public media and controls over non-government groups since coming to power in late 2015.

Now, the head of the Polish Supreme Court has been defying the new law and the situation risks paralyzing the court, which validates election results in the country of 38 million people.

The Commission maintains that the Polish law is incompatible with EU law as it undermines the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges, the EU's executive on Tuesday as it took to a second level a formal infringement procedure against Warsaw.

Poland now has a month to make amends or the Commission will file a lawsuit at the bloc's top European Court of Justice.

But the PiS remains defiant and enjoys broad public support  largely thanks to generous social spending  despite its many bitter feuds with the EU.
The Islamic State terror group may be far more resilient, stronger and dangerous than U.S. officials have been willing to let on, boasting a fighting force in Iraq and Syria that comes close to what it fielded at its peak.

After four years of bombings, the elimination of key IS leaders, and other U.S. and coalition backed efforts, there are still anywhere from 28,600 to 31,600 IS fighters in Iraq and Syria, according to information given by the Defense Department to the lead inspector general for Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Pacific EaglePhilippines.

At the groups height in 2015, U.S. intelligence officials estimated the terror group had about 33,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria, for a time, bolstering its numbers by bringing in thousands of foreign fighters every month.

Yet the new estimates suggest after spending $14.3 billion on more than 24,000 airstrikes, the U.S.-led coalition has managed to achieve only mixed results. While the Islamic States self-declared caliphate that spanned part of Iraq and Syria is no more, the U.S.-led effort has done little to erode ISs overall might.

Thousands of IS fighters in Iraq & Syria

Instead, the inspector generals quarterly report, citing Defense Department figures, shows IS may now be able to boast more than 17,000 fighters in Iraq.

Another 13,100 to 14,500 IS fighters are active in Syria, the report said, of which only 4,000 to 6,000 remained in the U.S. militarys areas of operation in northeastern Syria. The rest appear to be operating in areas controlled by the Syrian regime and its Russian and Iranian allies.

Taken at face value, the U.S. government is saying ISIS has the same number of fighters in Iraq and Syria today as when the bombing campaign began, said Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, using an acronym for the terror group.

They are saying that ISIS was able to replace its entire force structure despite fighting multiple adversaries in both countries, he added, noting the Pentagons 2017 claim that the bombing campaign and other efforts had killed 70,000 IS fighters.

VOA reached out to the Defense Department for more information on the estimates of IS fighters in the inspector general report. A spokesman said the department was looking into the matter.

There are concerns, internally, that the numbers may be at least misleading. A senior defense official told VOA it is possible the estimates could include fighters as well as family members or others with strong connections to IS, though not necessarily capable themselves of taking up arms or conducting terror attacks.

IS discipline intact

But the U.S. may not be alone in putting the number of IS fighters in Iraq and Syria in the tens of thousands. A new United Nations report Monday, based on intelligence from member states, estimated there are between 20,000 and 30,000 [Islamic State] individuals, roughly equally distributed between the two countries.

According to the UN report, those numbers include a significant component of the thousands of foreign terrorist fighters who flocked to Iraq and Syria to join the self-declared caliphate, warning they are not breaking rank.

Despite the damage to bureaucratic structures of the so-called caliphate, the collective discipline of ISIL is intact, the report continued, using another of the terror groups acronyms. Although he is reported to have been injured, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remains in authority.

Many U.S. military and counterterrorism officials, especially of late, have been reluctant to share intelligence on the number of IS fighters, calling such estimates, at best, an imperfect science. They also have tried to focus on the control of territory and on capabilities as more precise measures of the terror groups strength.

'Hiding in onesies and twosies'

But the new estimates for the number of IS fighters in Iraq and Syria stand in stark contrast to what some officials have previously said publicly.

You know, they are out in remote, sparse areas, or they are hiding in onesies and twosies amongst the population, then Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, Col. Ryan Dillon told VOA during a briefing this past April when asked about the IS presence in Syria.

Any of the ISIS elements that the Iraqi Security Forces have encountered or found in Iraq, they have not exceeded four people at any one time, he added at the time. So that goes to show, potentially, a snapshot of what ISIS looks like when they don't hold territory.

They're really in the disarray, French Brig. Gen. Frederic Parisot, director of civil-military operations for the coalition, told Pentagon reporters last month (July), estimating only a few hundred IS fighters were likely left.

The largest public estimate of the number of IS fighters in Syria came July 31, when the coalitions deputy commander, strategy and support, British Maj. Gen. Felix Gedney, said it's likely more than 1,000 IS fighters were holed up in Hajin, near the Iraqi border, describing it as the last remaining pocket of ISIS-held territory east of the Euphrates River.

Islamic State still a potent threat

Still, few officials, even those citing a shrinking number of IS fighters in Iraq and Syria, have been willing to downplay the threat, or the difficulty of eliminating the terror group.

I won't make any predictions about timing or anything on that. It will be done when it's done, U.S. Central Commands Gen. Joseph Votel told Pentagon reporters last week when asked about the coalitions push into the last bastions of IS control in Syria. Like most of our fights against ISIS, I expect that this will be a difficult one.

There is hard fighting ahead. That's all there is to it, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned a day earlier. I don't declare victory until it's in the rearview mirror.

Yet the new inspector general report is just one of several that suggest it could be some time before victory can be declared in Iraq and Syria, or elsewhere.

U.S. counterterrorism officials told VOA last week the IS province in Afghanistan, known as IS-Khorasan, has more than 1,000 fighters, almost double what the terror group had at this time last year two decapitation strikes and the use of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal on a suspected IS cave and tunnel complex.

Another report, published this month by the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point, estimated there are also approximately 6,000 Islamic State fighters in Africa today, spread over a total of nine Islamic State cells.

Even in places like the Philippines, where the IS presence has been beaten back, a couple hundred fighters continue to hold on, supported in part by criminal gangs that specialize in drugs and money laundering, according to U.S. defense officials.

ISIS is in the process of a largely successful transition to a networked terrorist organization, albeit evoking more of a global consciousness than al-Qaida, according Nicholas Glavin, formerly a researcher at the U.S. Naval War Colleges Center on Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups.

This illustrates the mounting challenge faced by our partners in Iraq and Syria to deliver ISIS an enduring defeat, Glavin said.
Former President Jose Mujica resigned his senatorial seat Tuesday despite having the right to remain as a Uruguayan lawmaker until 2020.

Mujica said in a letter read in the Senate chamber that he was stepping down for personal reasons. He first announced his resignation in 2016 but had postponed it.

"I'd say it's exhaustion after the long journey," Mujica said.

The 83-year-old former guerrilla leader was long imprisoned before he became a politician.

While serving as president in 2010-2015, his homespun oratory, simple ways and social reforms such as the legalization of marijuana and gay marriage made him wildly popular abroad. But critics said his administration failed to deal with problems in education, security and environmental protection  all pillars of his presidential agenda.

Mujica still lives on a flower farm with his wife and drives an old VW Beetle. He said that after resigning as a lawmaker he plans to travel to Europe and attend the Venice Film Festival for the premiere of a movie that chronicles his life, directed by Emir Kusturica.

But Mujica added in his letter that he will not retire from politics.

"While my body is functioning, I can't renounce solidarity and the fight for ideas," he said.

Although Mujica has said he will not be a candidate in next year's election, there is speculation he resigned from the Senate so he can run for the presidency again. He also had denied he would run before he won the presidency in 2010.
Hong Kong independence activist Andy Chan denounced China as a modern-day colonial power in a speech before a group of foreign journalists that Beijing wanted cancelled.

Andy Chan, a founder of the Hong Kong National Party, told members of the Foreign Correspondents Club that Hong Kong, as a nation, "is quickly being annexed and destroyed by China."

Chan is one of many young activists who have openly criticized the mainland's tightening grip on the former British colony, which was granted a huge level of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" formula established when Beijing regained control of the territory in 1997. The activists are split between seeking full independence for Hong Kong on one side, with others calling for even greater autonomy.

A Hong Kong government spokesman earlier Tuesday said it would be "totally inappropriate and unacceptable" for someone to "promote and advocate" for the city's independence, as well as for any group to "provide a public platform to espouse such views."

But the FCC defended its decision to host Chan on Monday, saying "it is vitally important to allow people to speak and debate freely, even if one does not agree with their particular views."

Dozens of people demonstrated outside the FCC clubhouse during Chan's speech, split between pro-Beijing advocates and a mix of pro-democracy and pro-independence activists.

Authorities in Hong Kong have taken initial steps to outlaw the Hong Kong National Party, the first time the government has taken such an action since the 1997 handover.
The death in India of a 28-year-old Muslim man after he purchased two cows is the latest attack blamed on cow vigilantes. Such deadly incidents have surged since the rise to power of the Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, emboldened fringe Hindu groups. Anjana Pasricha traveled to the victims small Muslim-dominated village in Haryana state to find growing anger and anxiety about how such attacks will impact their traditional occupation  dairy farming.
Iranian rights groups say authorities have jailed a civil society activist in central Iran while releasing another activist who completed a 10-year prison term for photographing an alleged mass grave.

In the case of the newly jailed civic activist, the Iran-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) and the U.S.-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) published reports Monday saying intelligence agents arrested Mohammad Davari last Friday in the west-central Iranian city of Yasuj.

HRANA's report quoted a source close to Davari's family as saying the agents detained Davari at the home of the activist's father and seized Davari's personal belongings, including a laptop computer and notebook.

HRANA did not say what prompted Davari's detention or where he was initially held. But it quoted the family friend as saying authorities transferred the activist to Yasuj's prison on Monday for a two-month interim detention.

Davari, who is in his mid-20s, previously had been arrested in Yasuj in March of this year on charges of acting against Iran's national security. He was released days later on bail of 500 million rials, or $12,000.

In the case of the released Iranian activist, CHRI posted a tweet saying authorities freed 40-year-old Jafar Eghdami from a prison in the northern city of Karaj on Monday, as he finished serving a 10-year sentence for taking photos at a sensitive site  the Khavaran cemetery on the southeastern outskirts of Tehran.

Earlier this year, HRANA reported that Eghdami had been arrested for photographing a 2008 ceremony at Khavaran, where family members had gathered to commemorate political prisoners who were executed and buried at the site in 1988.

Human rights groups have said Iran's Islamist rulers secretly executed thousands of political prisoners in 1988 and buried them in unmarked mass graves, including at Khavaran. Most of those killed were members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) group.

Prior to his 2008 conviction, Iranian authorities had arrested Eghdami several times in relation to his civic activism.
A Kenyan court on Monday charged the heads of the agency that manages public land and of the state railway with fraud over land allocation for a new $3 billion train line linking the capital with East Africa's biggest port.

The line between Nairobi and Mombasa, funded by China, is one of the biggest infrastructure projects of President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose government this year embarked on an anti-graft drive.

Mohammed Abdalla Swazuri, chairman of the National Land Commission, Atanas Kariuki Maina, managing director of the Kenya Railways Corporation and 16 other businesspeople and companies pleaded not guilty to the charges. Court documents said fraud had led to loss of public funds amounting to 221.4 million shillings ($2.20 million).

Public prosecutor Noordin Haji ordered the arrests after investigations suggested that officials had siphoned taxpayer money through phony compensation claims for land used for the railway.

The land and rail bosses appeared before Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi.

Kenya has been hit this year by a series of scandals related to the alleged theft of hundreds of millions of shillings by officials from government bodies.

Kenya launched the more than $3 billion railway last year.

The prosecutor's office said on Saturday no Chinese companies or individuals were named in the case.

Opposition leaders and Kenyan economists have criticized the railway's funding for increasing the country's debt burden, which the International Monetary Fund estimated at between 54-55 percent of economic output (GDP) in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

($1 = 100.6000 Kenyan shillings)
I use so many examples in my own family of you know, my mom packing meat dumplings in like containers when I go to school, Chu said. But as you get older, you start to see how proud you can be of those things. I was going through a very similar experience of realizing how proud I am to have that heritage. It doesn't mean thats exactly who I am right now, but it does mean to revisit those ideas of family.  What do I want to pass on to my daughter? What do I want to be proud of?
Rep. Keith Ellison, the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and first Muslim elected to Congress, sought his party's nomination Tuesday for Minnesota attorney general in a race clouded in the final days by an ex-girlfriend's allegation of domestic abuse.

The allegation surfaced the weekend before Tuesday's primary when the son of Ellison's former girlfriend, Karen Monahan, posted on Facebook that he had seen angry text messages from Ellison to his mother and a video that showed him dragging Monahan off a bed.

Monahan, a Minneapolis political organizer, said via Twitter that her son's posting was true but did not respond to an Associated Press request to review the messages and video. She later told Minnesota Public Radio News that she would not release the video because it is humiliating.

Ellison denied any abuse or threatening messages and said the supposed video does not exist because I have never behaved in this way.

Ellison, 54 and divorced, is a six-term congressman and a leader within the Democratic Party. He became deputy chairman of the DNC last year after falling just short of the top job.

Ellison was among candidates rushing to file for Minnesota's attorney general office after incumbent Lori Swanson made a late decision to run for governor.

He said he wanted to push back against President Donald Trump's policies that he argued were hurting people, adding that he admired Democratic attorneys general in other states who had done so. He said his priorities included protecting former

President Barack Obama's health care law and restoring so-called net neutrality provisions scrapped by the Federal Communications Commission under Trump.

With a huge fundraising advantage and star power over his opponents  including a visit from 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders  Ellison was considered the heavy favorite before the Monahan allegation surfaced.

Also running in the Democratic primary were state Rep. Debra Hilstrom, former Department of Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, former Ramsey County Attorney Tom Foley and attorney Matt Pelikan.
A $42,000 antique desk. A $32,000 blue suede sectional sofa. A $7,500 inlaid wooden floor map of West Virginia's 55 counties.

A scandal involving lavish office renovations and other financial abuses by the highest court in one of the poorest states in America has triggered an extraordinary move by one branch of government to essentially fire another.

The West Virginia House of Delegates on Monday impeached four justices of the state Supreme Court on charges of extravagant spending and other misconduct, setting the stage for a Senate trial that could lead to their removal.

One of those impeached retired Tuesday, averting the prospect of sitting through a proceeding that is sure to explore the justices' fancy tastes in embarrassing detail. And the court's fifth member retired under pressure last month.

Some Democrats have decried the impeachment drive against the elected justices as a power grab by the Republican-controlled House and Senate, strategically timed to allow GOP Governor Jim Justice to name their temporary replacements.

Republican Delegate John Shott, who oversaw the House Judiciary Committee hearings that drew up the articles of impeachment, said the court's spending of more than $3 million in office renovations this decade came at a time when the state was struggling so hard it made tens of millions of dollars in budget cuts.

$500K in upgrades

Justice Robin Davis, who has identified herself as a Democrat even though justices are elected in nonpartisan races, spent $500,000 in upgrades to her office alone  the kind of money it would take most West Virginians a decade or more to earn.

"Like the vast majority of you and many West Virginians, I find many of these purchases offensive,'' Delegate Chad Lovejoy, a Democrat, said during the House debate. "I find them to be outrageous, and I find them to be out of touch with our citizens.''

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 17.9 percent of West Virginians live in poverty, the fifth-worst rate in the nation. The state's median household income is near the bottom at $43,385, or about $14,000 below the national figure.

But some Democratic lawmakers worry that their GOP colleagues might be exploiting the opportunity to take control of a branch of government that is supposed to be chosen by the voters.

"We're taking away from the people,'' said Democratic Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer.

Tuesday was an important deadline: Any justice who left or was removed by that date would be replaced by way of a special election in November. After that, any vacancies on the court would be filled by the governor.

Davis announced her retirement Tuesday rather than face a Senate trial. Most of the money spent in her office went for construction costs. There also was $28,000 spent for rugs, $23,000 in design services, an $8,100 desk chair and $1,600 on painting.

Justice Allen Loughry rang up $363,000 in office renovations, including the blue suede sofa; the floor map of West Virginia with a different colored piece of wood for each county; $16,000 for eight chairs; $6,400 for window treatments; a $2,500 coffee table, and $1,700 for throw pillows.

Indicted on 25 counts

He also had the state-owned antique desk moved into his home and drove a state car to book signings. Loughry, who wrote a 2006 book chronicling West Virginia political corruption, was suspended earlier in the year and has been indicted in federal court on 25 counts, including two fraud charges added Tuesday over the personal use of a state vehicle and credit card.

The Senate trial of Loughry, Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justice Beth Walker has yet to be scheduled.

Supreme Court officials have said there will be no interruption in the handling of cases. The court is in summer recess and is not scheduled to begin hearing cases again until September.

The retired fifth justice, Menis Ketchum, has agreed to plead guilty in federal court to a charge related to the personal use of state cars and fuel cards.

Workman and Walker announced separately Tuesday afternoon that they wouldn't resign.

"There is no basis for my impeachment,'' Workman said in a statement. Walker said she looked forward to explaining herself before the Senate.

Even if the justices escape conviction, lawmakers have questioned whether they have the public confidence necessary to continue serving.

Under the West Virginia Constitution, the Supreme Court essentially sets and controls its own budget. A proposed amendment on November's ballot would give the legislature more control.

Shott said the impeachment articles overall accused the justices of a "culture of entitlement.''

Impeachments in state government are rare in the U.S., especially among Supreme Court justices. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Judge Rolf Larsen was removed by impeachment in 1994 for voting on whether to hear cases based on input from an attorney who was also a political supporter. But impeaching an entire slate appears to be unheard of.

"The state of West Virginia has lost confidence in the court  the whole court,'' said Republican Delegate Mike Folk. "They think they're better than everybody in this state that works a blue-collar job.''
The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said on Tuesday his group was stronger than ever and would "very soon" celebrate victory in Syria, where it has been fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad.

Nasrallah was speaking on live television to mark the anniversary of a 2006 war it fought with Israel, which regards Iran as its biggest foe and Hezbollah as the top threat on its borders.

"The resistance in Lebanon today, in its possession of weapons and equipment and capabilities and members and cadres and ability and expertise and experience, and also of faith and determination and courage and will, is stronger than at any time since its launch in the region," Nasrallah said.

Israel has repeatedly struck Hezbollah in Syria, where the group and its Iranian ally have played a key military role in fighting rebels alongside Assad's forces, backed by massive Russian air power.

Assad now holds most of Syria, although a swathe of the northwest remains in rebel hands and U.S.-backed Kurdish forces control the quarter of the country east of the Euphrates river.

Israel has told Iran it must quit Syria, and said last year it had carried out air strikes there to stop Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah.

Assad and his allies last month recaptured the area bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, while avoiding a wider escalation involving Israel, Iran and Hezbollah.

Concerns about such an escalation rose sharply in May, when Israel said it had launched its heaviest barrage since the Syrian war began in 2011 at Iranian targets in the country, prompting retaliatory rocket fire in the following days.
The United Nations refugee agency says nearly 2,000 members of a persecuted ethnic minority group in Libya fled a displaced persons camp last week after raids by local militias. The agency says the Tawergha are now dispersed in a precarious state throughout the country.

The UNHCR says the entire population of the IDP settlement in Tripoli was forcibly evicted following three nights of indiscriminate raids.



UNHCR spokesman William Spindler says 94 residents were arbitrarily arrested by local militia. He says some women and girls were threatened with rape.

The IDPs had to flee their homes at short notice, taking only a few belongings with them. The IDPs are now dispersed, living in various areas in which they have relatives or acquaintances, including other IDP settlements. Some families who owned cars are now sleeping in them.

The Tawergha are descendants of black-skinned African slaves. Their treatment under deposed dictator Muammar Gadhafi was better than under previous regimes. During the civil war, the Tawergha were viewed as being in support of Gadhafi, which enraged his enemies.



As a form of collective punishment, the Libyan militia forced all 40,000 residents of Tawergha city to flee in 2011, turning the city into a ghost town.



Spindler tells VOA the Tawergha continue to be subjected to persecution and discrimination.



We are concerned about them moving to other settlements where they could also face similar attacks and we have seen people from the city of Tawergha in other settlements also fleeing already in anticipation of being attacked, he said.



Spindler says the Tawergha so far have been prevented from returning to their city of origin, though there are moves to allow them to return.



Last December, the internationally backed government in Tripoli announced a plan that would allow the Tawergha to go back to their homes in February. However, they were prevented from doing so by a local militia.
Defense lawyers for Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, rested their case at his tax and bank fraud trial Tuesday without calling any witnesses or having him testify.

Judge T.S. Ellis rejected Manafort's bid to drop the 18 charges against him. The judge said that one of his lawyers and a prosecutor would make closing arguments in the case on Wednesday before the 12-person jury begins deliberations on Manafort's guilt or innocence.

Ellis asked the 69-year-old Manafort if he wanted to testify in his own defense. Manafort replied, "No, sir." If convicted, he faces a lengthy prison sentence. He also is set to stand trial on related charges next month.

Prosecutors for special counsel Robert Mueller presented two weeks of testimony against Manafort, accusing him of hiding millions of dollars in offshore accounts he earned while lobbying for deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in the years before Manafort headed Trump's presidential campaign for several months in mid-2016.

The case, heard in an Alexandria, Virginia, courtroom just outside Washington, has drawn particular interest in the United States because it is the first trial conducted by Mueller's prosecutors in their wide-ranging investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

They are probing whether Trump associates conspired with Russia to help him win the White House and whether Trump, as president, obstructed justice by trying to thwart the investigation.

The case against Manafort, a long-time Washington lobbyist, only peripherally touched on the campaign. Instead, it dealt almost totally on accusations that he hid millions of dollars overseas and used the funds to finance a lavish lifestyle in the U.S., with millions spent on palatial homes and landscaping, new suits and jackets, electronics and other high-priced items.

The prosecutors alleged Manafort's vast sums from Ukraine dried up after Yanukovych was ousted in a popular 2014 uprising before he fled to Russia. Then, the government alleged, Manafort committed bank fraud by falsifying the amount of his assets on loan applications to finance the lifestyle he had become accustomed to with the millions he was receiving from Yanukovych.

The key witness against Manafort was Rick Gates, his longtime deputy in his lobbying operations and also Trump's deputy campaign manager.

Gates had already pleaded guilty before Manafort's trial to helping him hide millions in income from U.S. tax authorities. He is awaiting sentencing. Along with hours of testimony about Manafort's finances, Gates acknowledged that he stole millions from Manafort, in part to finance an extra-marital affair in London.




Primary elections were underway Tuesday in Wisconsin and Minnesota, two Upper Midwestern U.S. states where Democrats hoped to regain strength that has been eroded by President Donald Trump's popularity among working-class voters.

Democrats seem to be particularly energized in Wisconsin, where Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to win in 32 years, although by 1 percentage point, in the 2016 elections. Eight Democratic candidates, led by state schools superintendent Tony Evers, are vying for the chance to oppose Republican governor Scott Walker in the November mid-term elections.

In Wisconsin's Senate primaries, Republicans are trying to deny Democratic senator Tammy Baldwin a second term in office. The effort is being led by two Trump supporters, former Marine Kevin Nicholson and state lawmaker Leah Vukmir.

Union organizer Randy Bryce and educator Cathy Myers, both Democrats, are locked in a bitter fight to win the seat of retiring Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan.

In Minnesota, where Trump lost by less than 3 percentage points and where a Republican presidential contender has not won since 1972, voters will choose candidates for governor, the Senate and the House.

Democratic senator Tina Smith is on Tuesday's ballot as she seeks her first full term. She replaced fellow Democrat Al Franken, who resigned in December amid multiple allegations of unwanted sexual touching. Smith faces Democrat Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush.

Three progressive women are leading the race to replace Democratic Representative Keith Ellison  the first Muslim elected to Congress  in the primary for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. They are: state senator Patricia Torres Ray, the first Latina in the Minnesota Senate, former Minnesota House representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the second woman to serve as Minnesota House Speaker, and the nation's first Somali-American legislator, freshman state representative Ilhan Omar.

Former two-term governor Tim Pawlenty is the leading Republican candidate in the race to replace outgoing Democratic governor Mark Dayton.

The Democratic field for governor features U.S. Congressman Tim Walz, state Representative Erin Murphy and Attorney General Lori Swanson.

Primary contests are also being held in the heavily Democratic northeastern states of Vermont and Connecticut.

Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has not ruled out a second run for the presidency in 2020, is seeking a third term as senator.

In Connecticut, five Republicans and two Democrats are battling to replace outgoing Democratic governor Dan Malloy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling the detention of an American journalist at Ben Gurion Airport Sunday an "administrative mistake."

Peter Beinart, a columnist for the liberal Jewish newspaper Forward and a critic of the Israeli government, was held and questioned about his politics for about an hour.

He was in Israel to visit family.

Beinart said he was asked if he was involved with groups that advocate violence in Israel or threaten Israeli democracy.

Netanyahu wanted to know why Shin Bet intelligence agents held Beinart for questioning and was told it was an "administrative mistake."

"Israel is an open society which welcomes all  critics and supporters alike. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where people voice their opinions freely and robustly," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Beinart called his experience "trivial" and said he will accept an apology only when Netanyahu "apologizes to all the Palestinians and Palestinian-Americans who every day endure far worse."

Beinart said he is a supporter of Israel but has written columns critical of Israeli polices toward Palestinians.
The nonprofit Miles4Migrants uses frequent flyer rewards to relocate "those displaced by war and persecution" to new homes.

Since its beginning almost two years ago, the organization has collected some 3.1 million frequent flyer miles  points given by airlines to reward loyal customers. But after the last eight days, Miles4Migrants is sitting on more than 24 million miles  all because of a tweet.

"My husband travels a lot. Downside: he's gone a lot. Upside: frequent flyer miles. We just used some to fly a 3-yr-old and his dad, who had been separated at the border, from Michigan."

Beth Wilensky, a law professor at the University of Michigan, had been following the fate of 55 children who had been separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border and brought to Michigan. She'd donated a car seat when "I saw a post that said, 'We need frequent flyer miles. Anybody have some to donate?'"

Wilensky's husband had miles, and she had Twitter followers who she thought might also have miles to donate.

Her tweet went viral.

Miles to go

Michigan Support Circle, a grassroots organization that provides immediate care for migrant families that are already in the United States, put the Wilenskys in touch with the father and son mentioned in her tweet.

The organization is needs-based, working on a case-by-case basis by pairing donors to specific requests from families. To date, Michigan Support Circle has 260 pledges to book flights to reunite families. They're now partnering with Miles4Migrants to help with booking airline tickets.

Most of Miles4Migrants' work has been internationally focused, according to co-founder Andy Freedman.

"The classic case would be a father of a Syrian family [who] has made it to the United Kingdom or Sweden or Brussels and has filed for family reunification visas for the rest of the family. When they are granted that approval, they now need to book a flight and don't have the financial means to do so. That's where our partners loop us in," Freedman told VOA.

After the U.S. federal government mandated family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border and then rescinded the policy, leaving thousands of children waiting to be reunified with their parents, Miles4Migrants began operating nationally.

"We've had plenty of opportunity abroad, but with everything happening on the ground with families being separated, we knew we wanted to do something," Freedman said.

"We hadn't made much progress until that tweet struck last Monday, and now we have a number of partners that we're working with to identify these cases."

More than miles

With 24 million miles, Miles4Migrants can book 1,250 airline tickets. But those tickets will come with an additional cost in booking fees and taxes. Freedman estimates that the organization will need about $60,000 to $70,000 to pay for the costs with ticketing.

"We have a huge opportunity here. What comes with that is some pressure but also people wanting to help, whether that be giving money, helping with the actual booking process and then just generally managing the influx of questions and inquiries," Freedman said.

Nicole Paraggio first donated miles to reunite a mother and two children with their husband/father in Europe in 2016. "It just really tugged at my heartstrings. The fact that these families hadn't seen each other in years. And I was sitting on all these miles that just weren't going to use."

She recently donated again after the family separation crisis, rejoining a different mother and two children with their father. In both instances, she booked the flights herself. And in each case, she received a letter from the father with heartfelt thanks for bringing his family to him.
Italian authorities said Wednesday at least 37 people died in Tuesday's highway bridge collapse in Genoa.

Several people were still missing as rescuers continued to search through the rubble from the fallen section of the Morandi Bridge, which came down during a violent storm.

The collapse sent dozens of cars plunging 45 meters, while huge pieces of concrete and steel fell onto warehouses in an industrial park below the bridge. According to authorities, all of the deaths involved drivers on the bridge and no one standing near it was killed.

Italy's Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli cast blame Wednesday on the company that manages the bridge, Autostrade per l'Italia, saying the company did not live up to its contract. Toninelli also said the government would launch a nationwide inspection of all aging bridges and tunnels.

The bridge connected two major highways between Italy and France. It was opened in 1967 and has made engineers uneasy in recent years because of what they said has been its gradual deterioration.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday's disaster shows Italy has to spend more on its infrastructure, even if it means breaking EU budget rules.

"We should ask ourselves whether respecting these limits is more important than the safety of Italian citizens. Obviously for me, it's not," he said.

The bridge underwent renovation in 2016, and more work was scheduled. But Salvini also publicly demanded the names of those he said may be responsible for the disaster.

"They will have to pay  pay for everything, and pay a lot."
The Russian military said Tuesday that its forces in Syria will help U.N. peacekeepers fully restore patrols along the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, reflecting Moscow's deepening role in mediating between the decades-old foes.

The Russian deployment in the area has also highlighted Moscow's growing clout in the region, where it seeks to balance the sharply conflicting interests of Israel and Iran.

"The Russian flag is the guarantor of peace and security on that land," said Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, speaking to international reporters on a trip to the area organized by the Russian Defense Ministry. He noted that Russian and Israeli officials have maintained regular communications, adding that "operations by Russian military police help ensure the security of Israel."

Russia has been President Bashar al-Assad's number one backer against rebels seeking to oust him. Moscow's military intervention in Syria has turned the tide of the war in his favor, helping his forces recapture key areas from the opposition. Russian military police have been deploying in all areas recaptured from rebels, including on the edge of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, after Syrian government forces regained control of the area last month.

Kuralenko said that the Russian military police have set up four checkpoints on the edge of the demilitarized zone and plan to add another four.

"The Russian military police work in close interaction with the U.N.," he said, adding that they have set up a hotline with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and held regular meetings to coordinate their actions.

He noted that a top priority for the Russian military police is to help clear mines left by militants. He said Russian forces have inspected the demilitarized zone and adjacent areas to help UNDOF map safe routes.

"We are offering all possible assistance to the U.N. mission to allow it to resume its operations in the demilitarized zone in full," Kuralenko said, adding that the Russian military police will be ready to leave once the U.N. mission fully takes charge.

Syria's defense minister, Gen. Ali Ayoub, meanwhile met with Maj. Gen. Francis Vib-Sanziri, the commander of the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, to discuss the situation in the Golan Heights, state news agency SANA said.

SANA said the officials discussed coordination between the Syrian government and the U.N. command on the deployment of peacekeepers along the cease-fire line. The two sides also discussed an agreement for reopening the Quneitra gate, which would allow Syrians living in the Israeli-occupied part of the Golan Heights to cross into Syria, it said.

The U.N. peacekeepers first deployed in the area in 1974 under a deal to separate Syrian and Israeli forces after Israel occupied the Golan Heights in the 1967 war, but they were driven away by al-Qaida-linked militants in 2014.

Kuralenko said most U.N. facilities in the area were heavily damaged during fierce fighting between al-Qaida and Syrian government forces.

"The main problem is a large number of explosive objects left," he said. "We see our mission not only in clearing mines, but also in training local personnel. We are helping train Syrian military engineers so that they can do the job themselves."

By deploying its forces along the Syrian-Israeli frontier, Moscow has sought to assuage Israeli concerns about the Iranian presence in Syria.

Israel has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran, or its proxy Hezbollah militia, to establish a permanent presence in postwar Syria. Moscow, which has played a delicate diplomatic game of maintaining friendly ties with both Israel and Iran, warned that it would be unrealistic to expect Iran to fully withdraw from Syria.

But in a bid to accommodate Israel's security interests, Moscow announced two weeks ago that it struck a deal with Tehran to keep its fighters 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the Golan.

While Russia and Iran have teamed up in Syria to shore up Assad's government, their interests don't always converge.

Iran is loath to surrender any of its hard-won gains in Syria, but it can't afford a falling out with Moscow amid the continuing tensions with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Washington's withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal has made ties with Russia even more important for Tehran.
People in South Korea and Taiwan unveiled monuments and staged protests on Tuesday to mark Japan's wartime use of "comfort women," a euphemism for girls and women forced to work in Japan's wartime brothels.

In South Korea, a new monument was unveiled as part of its first "Memorial Day for Japanese Forces' Comfort Women Victims," which threatens to exacerbate a sensitive diplomatic issue with Japan, South Korea's neighbor and a key ally of the United States in efforts to contain North Korea.

"My hope is that this issue will not lead to a diplomatic dispute between South Korea and Japan. I also do not think that this will be solved by a bilateral diplomatic solution," South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in commemoration of the day.



Moon said the issue involves "the entire world" and human rights of women as a whole, and pledged the South Korean government will respect the women as the main parties of the issue, and pursue commemorative projects to restore their honor and dignity including discovery, preservation and propagation of records.



Japan has said the issue was resolved by a 2015 deal, struck by a previous, Conservative South Korean administration, under which Japan apologized to the victims and provided 1 billion yen ($9.03 million) to a fund to support them.

But South Korean President Moon Jae-in's administration has spotlighted the emotionally-charged issue and has called for Japan to do more, despite backing down in January from formally renegotiating the deal.



In March, Moon described Japan's wartime use of comfort women as "crimes against humanity," with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga calling Moon's remarks "extremely regrettable."

Tokyo has protested over other existing monuments in South Korea dedicated to comfort women, including one in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, as well as the move late last year to establish a day to remember comfort women.

August 14 was chosen because on August 14, 1991, South Korean comfort woman victim Kim Hak-sun became the first to give a public testimony about her experience, according to the country's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

A think tank funded by the South Korean government devoted to researching the issue also opened earlier this month.

The comfort women issue has been a regular cause for contention between Japan and neighbors including China and North and South Korea since the war.

On Tuesday morning, over 50 activists joined a sit-in protest in front of Japan's de facto embassy in Taiwan's capital, Taipei, asking for a formal apology and demanding monetary compensation for Taiwanese who were forced to work in its wartime brothels.

"Japanese government should apologize," the crowd shouted, wearing black shirts with their faces covered by white masks.

A bronze statue symbolizing comfort women was also unveiled in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan on Tuesday morning, according to Taiwans leading newspaper United Daily News.

The unveiling, attended by former President Ma Ying-jeou, was organized by a local group and had nothing to do with the city government, an official from Taiwan's Department of Information and International Relations told Reuters.

Japan colonized the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945 and occupied parts of China before and after the war.

Japan says the matter of compensation for the South Korean women was settled under a 1965 treaty. It says that in 2015, it agreed to provide the funds to help them heal "psychological wounds."
Syrian government officials vowed Monday to ensure the safe return of refugees and urged Western countries to encourage the process by lifting sanctions.

Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said the refugees' return is a top priority for Damascus, adding that "the Syrian government will facilitate their return by all means." He added that the country would welcome any foreign assistance, provided it comes with no preconditions.

Public Administration Minister Hussein Makhlouf said authorities are working to rebuild hospitals, schools and other infrastructure to help accommodate refugees.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces, with Russian air support, have won a series of victories in recent months against opposition fighters, who are now mainly confined to the northern Idlib province. The fighting is over in much of the country, but many of the more than 5 million refugees fear mandatory conscription or reprisal from government forces if they return. Others have nowhere to go after their homes and businesses were destroyed.

Speaking to international reporters in Damascus, Makhlouf claimed that the government has restored more than 5,000 schools and 250 hospitals, and that about 3.5 million internally displaced people have regained their homes in Syria.

"The return of refugees is a necessary condition for the country's rebuilding and development," he said.

Makhlouf called on Western countries to lift an economic embargo imposed early in the seven-year conflict that was aimed at pressuring Assad to step down, noting that it would help restore the Syrian economy and encourage the refugees' return.

His statement echoed calls by Russian officials, who urged the U.S. and its Western allies to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria and help rebuild its economy.

The Russian military in Syria set up a mechanism to help settle issues related to the refugees' return. Moscow, which has provided crucial military support to Assad, is eager to show that the situation in Syria is normalizing now that the government has recaptured most opposition strongholds.

Filippo Grandi, the head of the U.N. refugee agency, said he would be visiting Syria in "a few days" to assess the situation for displaced people.

"We think that it's premature to promote returns. Syria is still very insecure, there's still a lot of war going on in Syria," he said Monday, after meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin. "If some people decide, they make their own personal voluntary choice, we need to see how we can support them. But I think it's premature to think of a mass repatriation program."

Speaking to reporters on a trip to Syria organized by the Russian Defense Ministry, Maj. Ruslan Nigmatulin said that Russian military officers are working with Syrian authorities to help settle organizational, medical and other problems faced by refugees.

Nigmatulin, who is in charge of one of the five checkpoints set up on the border with Lebanon to facilitate refugees' return, said that about 5,000 Syrians have come back to the country since the checkpoints opened Aug. 1. He said those who lack IDs and other documents are quickly issued new ones by Syrian officials stationed at the checkpoints.
Taliban militants have seized control of an army base in northern Afghanistan, killing and capturing dozens of government soldiers.

The fall of Camp Chenaya in the Ghormach district of Faryab province late Monday followed two days of intense fighting. Officials say the Afghan National Army (ANA) base was lost after soldiers failed to receive reinforcements and air support, and ran out of ammunition and other supplies.

Regional military and government officials Tuesday confirmed to VOA that 40 of the 70 soldiers stationed at the base surrendered to the Taliban. They said the rest have either been killed or fled to nearby mountains during the clashes.



The capture of Camp Chenaya comes as Afghan security forces, with the help of U.S. airstrikes and military advisors, regained control of the southeastern strategic city of Ghazni following days of deadly fighting with the Taliban.

The Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman, Jawed Ghafoor, told VOA that security forces have cleared the central parts of the city of insurgents and that cleanup operations were underway on the outskirts of Ghazni.



Separately, provincial governor Waheedullah Kalemzai, confirmed to VOA by phone that insurgents have been flushed out of the capital city. Afghan security forces currently are conducting clearing operations in four areas of the city and life is returning to normalcy in Ghazni.



There was no immediate reaction available from the Taliban.



Army officials have confirmed the killing of 100 Afghan soldiers and police personnel as well as 30 civilians since the Taliban assaulted the city on Friday, though local media gave much higher numbers of fatalities among government forces.



Defense Minister Gen. Tariq Shah Bahrami said Monday soldiers backed by allied airstrikes killed nearly 200 insurgents, including Arab, Chechen and Pakistani nationals.



U.N. officials said they were still trying to verify reports that the fighting for the control of Ghazni has resulted in up to 150 civilian casualties.



But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid swiftly rejected the official claims, saying insurgents have surrounded Afghan forces in parts of the city.



It was not possible to independently confirm the claims. Insurgents often issue inflated details about their battlefield gains.

A U.S. military statement Monday said the city remains under Afghan control. It said U.S. advisers are assisting Afghan forces, and since Friday U.S. airpower has delivered decisive blows to the Taliban, killing over 140.

A spokesman for the U.S. military, Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, said "the isolated and disparate Taliban forces remaining in the city do not pose a threat to its collapse, as some have claimed.''

"That said, clearing operations are ongoing and sporadic clashes with the Taliban, particularly outside the city, continue," he said.

The provincial capital is located on the main highway linking northern and southern Afghan provinces, including the national capital of Kabul. The fighting had brought traffic to a halt, stranding thousands of passengers for the past five days.

The International Committee for the Red Cross said a break in the fighting Monday allowed its staff to provide the provincial hospital with fuel and emergency medical supplies.

Residents and staff said the facility was running out of space.

Acting U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan Rik Peeperkon called Monday for the warring sides to take urgent steps to mitigate the suffering of Ghaznis besieged residents and protect civilian lives.

Vital telecommunications networks and the electricity supply are down in the city of 270,000 people, which has impacted on the water supply, and food is also reportedly running low. ... Notably, parties to the conflict need to ensure that access to medical services is not denied and respect for medical facilities and staff is upheld, Peeperkon said.

Hostilities in Ghazni have disrupted telecommunication services, making it nearly impossible to verify conflicting claims about the fighting.
The Afghan Taliban is demanding freedom for a member of the militant Haqqani network along with other insurgent prisoners in exchange for the release of an American professor and his Australian colleague who were kidnapped two years ago, officials revealed Tuesday.

Kevin King, 60, and Timothy Weeks, 48, from Australia were teaching at Kabul's American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) before gunmen took them hostage near the campus in August 2016.

We believe that they were kidnapped by the Haqqani network, and the reason we believe that is because the abductors did make a demand after they were kidnapped for the release of one of the Haqqani family members who is being held by the Afghan government, said Kenneth Holland, the president of the AUAF.

Holland was apparently referring to death row prisoner Annas Haqqani, who is the youngest son of Jalaluuddin Haqqani, founder of the Haqqani network. The United States has declared the network a global terrorist.

Holland spoke to reporters in Kabul in connection with the second anniversary of the abduction of King and Weeks. He again called for the insurgents to immediately release his two English professors.

Holland said his university has seen some videos made by the captors but other than that, they have very little information about where King and Weeks are being held and whether they are in Afghanistan or some other country.

Their health is deteriorating and their lives are in danger. They do not have access to medical treatment, and they are being held in a very cruel and inhuman manner, Holland noted without further elaboration. So, we ask the captors immediately to release these two gentlemen and to let them return to their loved ones, let them go back to their homes. This is the moral thing to do. This is the right thing to do under Islam ... to release these two innocent individuals.

Holland said the AUAF is working closely with Afghan, U.S. and Australian governments to secure the freedom of King and Weeks. He explained the kidnappers have not asked for any ransom money, and the university has no influence over the Afghan government to secure a prisoner exchange deal.

$1 million reward

Holland noted that he discussed the prisoner exchange issue with President Ashraf Ghani and understood the compulsions facing the Afghan government on the matter.

Basically, these prisoners are terrorists. They were charged with very serious crimes, including murder. They were convicted of those crimes, and they were sentenced to death. I think the Afghan people are demanding justice because they are the victims of these terrorist acts, Holland said.

The U.S. has posted a $1 million reward for any information leading to the safe recovery of King.

Just weeks after the kidnapping incident, heavily armed militants attacked the AUAF campus. The raid killed 15 people, including students, professors and security personnel.

The U.S. government has since provided funds to upgrade the security of the university where international staff is still undertaking teaching jobs, though they are no longer allowed to live off campus as they did before, Holland said.

In October 2017, the Taliban released a video message from the two Western hostages, stating King's deteriorating health condition required urgent and better medical treatment for him. The Islamist insurgency at the time called for acceptance of its demands for the safe release of King and Weeks.

In an earlier video message from the hostages, both men urged U.S. President Donald Trump and the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to negotiate their freedom with the Taliban.

The Taliban has repeatedly said they have forwarded their demands to relevant officials but it had never revealed the identity of prisoners they want in exchange for the two hostages.



While responding to the Taliban video at the time, U.S. officials said the administration was committed to seeing its citizens returned safely to their families and that the department worked closely with agencies across the government to do so. They also urged the kidnappers to swiftly release the hostages.
President Donald Trump is daring New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to challenge him in 2020, warning the Democrat that "anybody that runs against Trump suffers.''

In remarks Monday night at a fundraiser in upstate New York, Trump said that Cuomo once called him and promised that he wouldn't run against him. Cuomo's office did not immediately dispute Trump's claim.

The challenge came as Trump raised money for the re-election of Republican congresswoman Claudia Tenney. Trump's visit to Utica, New York, marked his first as president to an area he won in 2016.

A New York native, Trump spent much of the event attacking his home-state governor as well as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is also thought to have White House ambitions.
Two senior members of the Trump administration are surveying damage from large wildfires in California that have killed at least eight people.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue toured neighborhoods devastated by the fires as cooler temperatures Monday allowed firefighters the chance to make gains against a string of fires burning across the state.

Zinke told local KRCR-TV that officials must remove dead and dying trees to maintain healthy forests and to prevent the rapid spread of wildfires.

The fires have destroyed thousands of homes, forced tens of thousands of people to flee their dwellings and caused the closure of state parks, including Yosemite National Park.

Officials said Monday that firefighters have the deadly Carr Fire 61 percent contained. That fire, which has killed eight people, has burned through 82,000 hectares about 160 kilometers (99 miles) north of San Francisco.

Also in Northern California, firefighters are battling the Mendocino Complex Fire, the state's largest-ever wildfire, which now covers 139,000 hectares. Officials said that fire is now 68 percent contained and has so far burned an area the size of Los Angeles. Officials said it may be September before they are able to fully contain it.

In Southern California, the Holy Fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate from Orange and Riverside counties and has destroyed thousands of hectares of national forest land.

Overall, a dozen fires are burning in California, making this year's fire season one of the worst the state has seen.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said some 14,000 firefighters, including inmates and firefighters from overseas, are battling the fires across the state.

Officials said Yosemite National Park is scheduled to reopen Tuesday after being largely closed for over two weeks due to smoke from fires in the region.
A hotly contested by-election in Northern Uganda turned violent Monday evening, when unknown assailants shot a driver on the opposition side. A window in President Yoweri Musevenis car was smashed in the chaos. Police have since arrested two journalists and dozens of opposition supporters, an act that human rights groups are calling an abuse of power.



Violence rocked the Arua district of Northern Uganda on Monday as President Yoweri Museveni and legislator Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, campaigned for candidates in the by-election.



The chaos erupted just after candidates and their supporters were heading back to their offices and homes after campaigning.



Shortly after, Kyagulanyi tweeted, Police have shot my driver dead thinking they've shot at me. My hotel is now cordoned off by police and Special Forces Command.



The Special Forces Command protects the president.



Presidential spokesman Don Wanyama also tweeted, posting photos of Musevenis armored car with the hind window completely smashed. The spokesman said the presidents car had been attacked by opposition supporters.



Museveni was said to be uninjured.



Speaking Tuesday, police spokesperson Emilian Kayima blamed opposition legislators for attacking the presidents car.



Supporters of candidate Kasiano Wadri with imported support groups led by members of parliament Robert Kyagulani, Francis Zaake, Paul Mwiru, Gerald Karuhanga and former MP Michael Mabike obstructed and violently attacked the presidential motorcade during which one of the vehicles bearing the presidential coat of arms had its windscreen smashed, said Kayima.



There was no immediate comment from the lawmakers, who remained in police custody.



Kayima said a total of 34 people have been arrested, including journalists Herbert Zziwa and Muwanga Ronald, who were reporting on Tuesdays violence. Police have charged the two with inciting violence and malicious damage.



Robert Sempala, the national coordinator of the Human Rights Network for Journalists, decried the arrests.



This is certainly abuse of power. Its abuse of office. It is acting with impunity. But we also think that it points to an election that is certainly riddled with injustice or that is likely to be not free and not fair, he said.



The hotly contested seat in Arua fell vacant after the assassination of Arua municipality legislator Ibrahim Abiriga in June. Twelve candidates are vying to replace him.



Some Ugandans are asking why Bobi Wines driver, Yasin Kawuma, was shot and killed.



The security owes an explanation to Ugandans in respect to the circumstances under which this innocent young man was shot dead," said Expedito Sebayiga, a resident of Arua. "Am convinced that, he had parked. And being that he was just sitting in the vehicle, for what reason was such a person shot?



The by-election is set for Wednesday, with the ruling National Resistance Movement party led by Museveni fighting to retain the seat.


An estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans had fled the crisis-wracked country as of June, mainly to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, the United Nations said Tuesday.



U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that those fleeing  about 7 percent of Venezuela's 32.8 million people  cite lack of food as the main reason for leaving. U.N. humanitarian officials report that 1.3 million of those who fled were "suffering from malnourishment," he said.



Oil-rich Venezuela has been sinking deeper into an economic and political crisis. Hyperinflation and widespread shortages of food and medicine are battering the country, and the International Monetary Fund projects inflation could top 1 million percent by year's end.



Socialist President Nicolas Maduro often blames Venezuela's poor economy on what he claims is an economic war being waged by the United States and Europe. Despite widespread discontent over the country's economic and political problems, he won a second six-year term as president in a May election that his leading challenger and many nations have not recognized as legitimate.



Dujarric said severe shortages of basic medicines and medical supplies in Venezuela "have led to a sharp deterioration of the quality of hospitals."



U.N. officials say more than 100,000 HIV patients are at risk due to lack of access to necessary medication, the U.N. spokesman said. Formerly eradicated diseases including measles, malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria "are present and on the rise," he added.



As a result of the dire economic and health care situation, rising numbers of Venezuelans are joining in an exodus that has set off alarms across Latin America.



According to a report cited by the International Organization for Migration in April, population outflows from Venezuela "considerably increased" in recent years, with an estimated 1.6 million Venezuelans abroad in 2017 compared with 700,000 in 2015.



Of the 1.6 million, it said approximately 885,000 were in South America, 308,000 in North America, 78,000 in Central America, 21,000 in the Caribbean and the rest scattered elsewhere.



The exodus has been more dramatic this year.



Last week, Ecuador declared a state of emergency in three of its provinces in an effort to cope with the growing influx of migrants from Venezuela. The Foreign Ministry said up to 4,000 Venezuelans are seeking entry into Ecuador each day.



Before leaving office Aug. 2, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos granted 440,000 refugees from Venezuela temporary residency permits for two years and urged Maduro's government to stem the spreading humanitarian crisis.
The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on the Iran-based leader of the Bahraini al-Ashtar Brigades militant group for allegedly engaging in plots to overthrow the U.S.-backed government of Bahrain.

Qassim Abdullah Ali Ahmed, leader of al-Ashtar Brigades who is commonly known as Qassim al-Muamen, has recruited terrorists in Bahrain and provided al-Ashtar Brigades members with funding, weapons and explosives to carry out attacks against the Bahraini government, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

Todays designation seeks to deny al-Muamen the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks, the statement said. Among other consequences, all of his property and interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.

The State Department blacklisted the Shiite militant group, Al-Ashtar Brigades last month due to its ties to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It accused the group of adopting the IRGC branding and working to enhance Irans agenda in the Gulf region.

The Shiite Saraya al-Ashtar, or al-Ashtar Brigades, was established in 2013 with the main goal of resisting the monarchy on the small Arab island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. It claims to represent the angry voices of the countrys Shiite population, who despite being an overwhelming majority, are ruled by the Sunni al-Khalifa clan.

Mondays statement from the State Department said al-Muamen also facilitated the training of weapons and explosives for al-Ashtar Brigades members. It said the terror designation would isolate and expose him to U.S. law enforcement authorities and international community.

The government in Bahrain has revoked al-Muamens citizenship and sentenced him to life in imprison in absentia on terror charges.

Last November, Bahraini authorities said al-Muamen, then 28, led a terror cell of five members in al-Ashtar Brigades to attack three oil pipelines and assassinate prominent national figures.

The U.S. government has imposed a series of sanctions against the Iranian regime and its allies in the Middle East and beyond since May when the U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
This week Taiwan's president is in Los Angeles, marking the first time in 15 years that a Taiwanese leader is speaking publicly in the United States, in another sign of growing ties between Washington and Taipei.

President Tsai Ing-Wen met with U.S. lawmakers and Taiwanese Americans on Monday and Tuesday, drawing an official protest from China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province.

The division between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan sharpened this year when the U.S. Congress unanimously passed the Taiwan Travel Act, which allows U.S. officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan and for high-ranking Taiwanese officials to visit the United States.

Tsai Ing-Wens trip to the U.S. this week is the first since the Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump, and there is support for greater engagement.

Rep. Brad Sherman, Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, told VOA that he looks forward to welcoming Tsai in Washington in the future.

There may be a time when the president of Taiwan addresses to the joint session of congress but I think that will be a willing in the next decade, Sherman, who called himself a strong advocate for U.S.-Taiwan alliance, said. It will begin not with the presidential visit but perhaps at the foreign ministerial level.

China routinely objects to U.S. support for Taiwan and meetings with its leaders, but many U.S. lawmakers champion support for the democracy as a key American foreign policy priority. On Tuesday, Chinas Taiwan Affairs office reiterated its opposition to any attempt to promote Taiwans independence.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. We firmly oppose any attempt to create two Chinas, one China, one Taiwan and Taiwan independence in the international arena, it said in a statement responding to a question from AFP.

Championing democracy

During a brief speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library during her two-day stopover in Los Angeles, Tsai vowed to defend the values of freedom and democracy.

Everything was negotiable except two things: our freedom and our future, Tsai quoted from former U.S. President Reagans remarks in her talk, adding that this is also how Taiwanese people feel at the moment.

We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy, she said.

Although there are no official diplomatic ties between the governments of the U.S. and Taiwan, the U.S. sees the island as a strategic partner in the region, and Washington has long been Taipeis strongest informal ally and chief arms supplier.

Im excited to welcome President Tsai to the U.S. Its a great opportunity to continue to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan, Senator Cory Gardner, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, told media before his meeting with Tsai.

Besides Senator Gardner, three U.S. Congress members from California also met with Tsai during her short visit to Los Angeles, including Ed Royce, Brad Sherman and Judy Chu.

However, the Trump administration on Tuesday rejected speculation there was any change in policy toward Taiwan.

"Our policy on Taiwan has not changed," State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters.

She said of Tsai's stop that the United States allows "from time to time representatives of the Taiwan authorities to transit the United States. Those are largely undertaken out of consideration for the safety and the comfort of those travelers, and that is in keeping with our One-China policy."

Bullying tactics'

Recently China has stepped up a pressure campaign against Taiwan as it tries to assert Chinese sovereignty.

Beijing has ordered foreign companies, including U.S. airlines companies, to label Taiwan as a part of China on their websites and is excluding Taiwan from many international forums.

I think the U.S. needs to be extremely tough when it comes to Chinas bullying tactics,Senator Gardner said, "I think it's unacceptable for U.S. companies to be bullied by China and I have encouraged along with my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats to stand up against Chinas bullying behavior and tactics that try to intimidate U.S. companies over the way they recognize Taiwan.

Rep. Ed Royce, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, told VOA that the focus of his work has been to develop policy to deepen U.S.-Taiwan economic relations.

What we have tried to do is to have policies that will strengthen Taiwan Travel Act, and at the same time keep up the security in peace in strength, Royce, who announced his retirement next January, said. Most of my focuses have been what we can do to keep Taiwan economically strong. So we are working on a lot of trade initiatives, more investments, investments between the US and Taiwan. We think that is the right focus in terms of long term security.

Tsai arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday for a transit stop on the way to a state visit to Paraguay and Belize, two of 18 nations that still have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. She is expected to make another U.S. stopover in Houston on her way back on Aug. 18.
People who come in totally clueless are not sure what theyre getting into, Ernst said. We spend a lot of time talking to them. Then they leave, go home and do the homework. A good percentage we dont see again. Then, theres the other ones who come back and say, I was on the YouTube videos. Theyre so excited. They come in naming birds they would like to talk about.
The heart of Yosemite National Park in California, shut down for nearly three weeks due to a deadly wildfire, was reopened to the public on Tuesday, but smoke lingered in the air and a key route to the park's best known landmarks remained closed.

The reopening of Yosemite Valley, by far the most heavily visited area of the park, came as firefighters continued to make slow, steady progress containing the last hot spots of the Ferguson Fire, which erupted July 13 at the edge of Yosemite.

The blaze, one of the largest of dozens that have burned across California this summer, has charred nearly 97,000 acres in and around the park's western end, but fire crews have carved containment lines around 86 percent of its perimeter.

The park closure has taken a major toll on the area's local economy. Some 4.3 million visitors spent an estimated $452 million last year, most of that during the summer.

Two roads into Yosemite Valley and the valley itself were reopened on Tuesday for the first time since July 25. But the north-south entrance route, Highway 41, remained closed, along with a road to the famed Glacier Point overlook and the Merced Grove of giant sequoia trees due to fire in those areas, park spokeswoman Jamie Richards said.

Visitors were cautioned to expect diminished visibility in Yosemite Valley. Richards said a haze of smoke lingered high above the valley on Tuesday but did not impede views of such attractions as Bridalveil Fall and the towering granite monoliths of El Capitan and Half Dome.

At its worst a week or two ago, smoke grew so thick in the valley that "you could not see 20 feet in front of you, like you were in a big fog bank," Richards told Reuters by phone.

Park employees reported a surge in wildlife sightings due to the lack of human activity during the closure.

"We saw bears walking down the road. We saw bears out playing in the river," Richards said.

Visitors began trickling back as closures were lifted at 9 a.m. local time, and by midday it was "almost like an average day in August," with valley parking lots and lodging facilities "fairly packed," she said.

No major landmarks or structures have been lost inside the park, but the latest valley shutdown was the second longest in Yosemite's history, eclipsed only by a two-month closure of the entire park in early 1997 due to severe flooding, according to Richards.

Two firefighters were killed last month by the Ferguson fire, one of three fatal California wildfires this season.

The state's largest-ever fire, raging at the southern end of the Mendocino National Forest since July 27, claimed the life of a firefighter from Utah on Monday, even as containment of the blaze rose to 68 percent. That conflagration has now scorched 354,000-plus acres.

Three other firefighters perished in the devastating Carr Fire, which also killed four civilians and a utility worker and burned more than 1,500 structures. The Carr fire stood at 65 percent containment after blackening 207,000 acres.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has fired agent Peter Strzok, who had become the target of Republican anger over his text messages disparaging President Donald Trump, Strzok's lawyer said Monday.

Strzok was a key figure in the early stages of the FBI's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, until his anti-Trump text messages to his lover, former FBI attorney Lisa Page, were discovered.

In one of them, Strzok vowed to keep Trump from winning the election, though there was no evidence he and Page imposed their political views on the investigation. Earlier, Strzok helped investigate Trump's Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton, over her use of a private email server while she was the U.S. secretary of state.





Trump praised the firing, saying in a Twitter comment, "Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally."

The U.S. leader said the "list of bad players" at the FBI and the Justice Department "gets longer & longer." He said that "based on the fact" that Strzok once played an important role in special counsel Robert Mueller's criminal investigation of Russian meddling in the election, "will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction - I just fight back!"

Trump called the Clinton email probe a "sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!"

Mueller's investigation is now in its 15th month. He has secured guilty pleas from several Trump associates, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and ex-foreign affairs adviser George Papadopoulos, both of whom pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about their contacts with Russia. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is currently on trial for bank and tax fraud in connection with his lobbying efforts for Ukraine that predated his work on Trump's campaign two years ago.

The FBI office that normally handles disciplinary actions had recommended that Strzok be demoted and suspended for 60 days over the anti-Trump texts, but FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich ordered the firing last Friday.

Strzok's attorney, Aitan Goelman, criticized his client's ouster, saying, "The decision to fire Special Agent Strzok is not only a departure from typical bureau practice, but also contradicts Director (Christopher) Wray's testimony to Congress and his assurances that the FBI intended to follow its regular process in this and all personnel matters."

Goelman said Strzok's dismissal after a 22-year FBI career should be deeply troubling to all Americans. A lengthy investigation and multiple rounds of congressional testimony failed to produce a shred of evidence that Strzoks personal views ever affected his work.

Last month, Strzok told a House of Representatives hearing that the anti-Trump text messages he exchanged with Page reflected his personal opinions and that he had never let his beliefs interfere with his work for the FBI.

In the key exchange between Strzok and Page, she texted him that Trump is "not ever going to become president, right? Right?!" Strzok replied, "No. No he won't. We'll stop it."

In a lengthy review of FBI actions over the last two years, Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz weeks ago concluded there was no evidence the pair acted on their views, but said the exchange was "not only indicative of a biased state of mind, but even more seriously, implies a willingness to take official action to impact the presidential candidates electoral prospects.
Zimbabwe is at a tense standstill as the presidential inauguration has been delayed due to the opposition's legal challenge to the July 30 election results. This was the first election without Robert Mugabe on the ballot, and analysts are not entirely sure what to make of this moment in the country's history.

Zimbabweans went into last month's general elections, the first in 38 years without Robert Mugabe atop the ballot, with great hopes.



Even before results were announced, opposition supporters took to the streets of the capital, Harare. At first, they celebrated. Then, they protested the delay in results. Finally, they ran for their lives after security forces fired live rounds, killing six people.



Now, two weeks after the poll, the declared victor  incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over in November after Mugabe's resignation  still has not been inaugurated.

He is held in limbo as the opposition Movement for Democratic Change alliance challenges his narrow, 50.8 percent win.



They say challenger Nelson Chamisa, who officially got 44 percent of the vote, won the poll.

Lawyers for the party filed their case on Friday, saying they believe the poll was not conducted in according to "standards of fairness, transparency and accountability."



International observers praised the poll for being peaceful but raised concerns over the environment around the vote and the campaign.



Under Mugabe, the outcome of every poll was predictable. Over his decades of rule, he was accused, often and credibly, of poll-rigging and intimidating voters.



But for the first time in ages, even analysts say they're not quite sure how this will end. Professor Annie Chikwanha, of the University of Johannesburg said it is a very "precarious" situation, "sort of like hanging over a cliff, not very dangerously, but somehow, dangerously. And that's because of the uncertainties surrounding what will happen once the Constitutional Court has given its verdict."



What analysts say needs to happen is unlikely: two men from different generations, different temperaments, and different ends of the political spectrum need to come together. Chamisa has outright dismissed suggestions of entering into a government with Mnangagwa, and said the two men have not spoken.

Chikwanha said they need to mend that bridge.



"Politically, it is important for whoever wins to take in, or bring the other one on board," he said. "They may not want to do it, but there has to be some form of appeasement that would appeal to the general electorate and to the voters, or to the public that supports the loser."



Analysts say they hope Zimbabwe can move forward, and that this election will be a blip in that journey.



Professor David Moore of the University of Johannesburg recalled that he had said "far in advance of the 2017 coup that this would be an election that wouldn't count."

"2023 would count," he continued, "because the younger generation, which cut their teeth in the early 2000s against the regime, are now gaining maturity, having experience. And if they can maintain a hold over the MDC, and perhaps other opposition parties that might emerge, we will see a much different election."



But right now, as Zimbabwe waits, that may be cold comfort for this very divided nation.
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If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

One of Central America's most active volcanoes, Fuego in Guatemala is in near-permanent explosive eruption with intermittent phases of increasing activity that generate lava fountains, lava flows and pyroclastic flows.

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If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

Ibu in Halmahera is one of the most active, but rarely visited volcanoes in Indonesia. A spectacular lava dome is growing inside the volcano's breached crater, with frequent explosions.

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"One of the most eye-catching guides to the world's volcanoes ever published.

A luxury tour in Italy with a volcanologist to discover the famous volcanoes of Italy: Mt Vesuvius that destoyed the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, smoking Vulcano and Lipari, famous for its obsidian and pumice deposits, erupting Etna and Stromboli... Last but not least, very nice accommodation and delicious food wait for you!

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The preliminary cause of the fire points to improper use of a portable fire pit, officials said. Firefighters made entry into the home to wake up and safely evacuate one resident and the family dog, officials said.
But the lone public voice behind the Saudi funds interest in Tesla, so far, has been Musks. The Saudi fund has not commented on whether it discussed the plan with Musk or even if it has interest. Two people familiar with the Saudi funds finances told the Wall Street Journal that they doubted the potential deal and that the fund was already struggling to cover its current investments.
After the 2020 Census provides an updated account of where people live, it will be up to the states to adjust their districts to fit that new reality. Elections to the U.S. House will operate under the new maps starting in 2022 and for the following 10 years.
Many of my favorite dishes are tucked into the latter pages of the menu, where youll find plates under such headings as Sichuan chefs specials, country-style entrees and Shaanxi snacks. The superb beef soup, which comes bloated with par-baked pieces of unyeasted pita, is a variation on a classic Xian dish, the flatbread behaving more like chewy pieces of pasta than soup sponges. The spicy trotters are a brooding plate of pigs feet, at once chewy and gelatinous, which Ive come to view favorably as a kind Sichuan bone marrow. The housemade wontons in chile oil are so meaty they practically burst the seams on their wrappers, apparently as eager as I am to dip into the viscous oil infused with ginger, garlic, star anise, cumin and the other aromatic stars of the Sichuan pantry.
Then there are the touches you might not think of, but are definitely appreciated. When youre putting together your bnb, youre really creating an environment, explains Anthony DArgenzio, a creative consultant and stylist whose rental, This Old Hudson, is in Hudson, N.Y. When people come to stay at his two-unit property, theyre looking for a getaway, and DArgenzio provides them with extras that make their stay feel seamless. All guests at This Old Hudson are greeted with a bottle of wine from a local wine shop and other goodies found in town, along with a map, curated by DArgenzio and his wife, of fun places to shop, eat and drink. They also put coffee out on the counter along with a grinder and a French press, nice glassware, and sometimes chocolate or a cheese plate.
For all the fear about #MeToos aftereffects  for all the predictions that merely dodgy or merely clueless men would be put in the same pen as felonious men  the difference between Weinsteins outcome and Ansaris or Hardwicks outcome illustrates that were not treating them all the same. Were not treating them the same legally, or institutionally, or culturally. We are, in fact, doing the hard, unpleasant work of figuring out who belongs in jail pens and who belongs in pig pens. (And who shouldnt be penned up at all.)
Dear Readers: Your credit score is important when you are building your financial future. Your credit score is a number (from 300 to 850) that considers many factors: if you pay your bills on time, how many credit accounts you have, how much you use that credit, how many new accounts you open, any delinquent accounts you may have and other things.
The first restriction relates to the quantity of the items removed. Many hotels experience guests taking an unusually high amount of these items throughout their stay, reasoning that they paid for these items in the cost of the room, says Robert Koenig, an expert in hospitality management at New York Institute of Technology School of Management. That increases a hotels operating costs over time, perhaps pressuring it to add a few dollars a day to its resort fee or to raise room rates.
Batavia police at the time said Hunter allegedly shot at the teen and at least two others in the same car during a conflict stemming from how long the teen had been parked in the drive-thru lane. People inside the teen's car said it had been parked for less than a minute before police believe the shooter's car entered the drive-thru lane behind it to place a food order.
The district has looked for inspiration as far as High Tech High, which opened as a small charter school in San Diego and grew into a network of schools. Alexandria has also examined other systems that have just one high school, Anthony said. The school system may also look to forge public-private partnerships, she added.
The case illustrated a conundrum that has vexed education advocates for decades: Neither the word school nor education appears in the Constitution, and federal courts have largely shied from establishing a special right for children to receive an adequate education. That has posed formidable hurdles for those who turn to the courts for help when their school buildings are falling down, or their children are enduring long stretches in classrooms without real teachers, or even when they see evidence of discrimination.
He grabbed her purse, police said, and tried to take it. But it was strapped around her, and she tried to break free. Then, police said, she saw that the robber had a knife, and she surrendered the purse.
Jealous will need to work out a way to infuse some pizazz into his campaign within the next month, in order to give himself at least a modicum of momentum for the fall campaign, pollster Patrick Gonzales said. The burden is always on the Republican in deep-blue Maryland, but the Democrat still does need some positive thrust.
As the man being chased came out of an entrance near a Target, a gun fell to the ground and discharged, Purvis said. The round from the gun flew through the mall entrance and ricocheted before grazing the front of a bystanders pants where his wallet was, Purvis said. The man was not injured.
Attorneys for Concord Management and Consulting argued in the case that the Appointments Clause requires the special counsel either be a principal officer nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, or be put in place only after Congress passes a law specifically allowing the deputy attorney general to confer the attorney generals prosecutorial authority on an inferior officer.
D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who leads oversight of public safety agencies, said he understood why officials were guarding white supremacists to prevent violence. Just like everyone else, I hate seeing tax dollars and other things go to defend something I would spend a lifetime arguing against, but our police officers and law enforcement have a responsibility to make sure the city was safe during that event, he said. We certainly saw from a year ago when law enforcement doesnt coordinate, when law enforcement doesnt take it seriously, we saw what happened with devastating and deadly outcomes.
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But a few songs in, someone from Thorogoods crew came up and asked if Chuck wanted to come onstage and watch from the wings. Thanks to George, who I could only guess saw him somehow in that sea of people, Chuck had the best seat in the house, Mike said. It was one of the best moments of his life. (Chuck died in 2003 at age 52.)
In a statement, agents said they determined Nicoll Gutierrez, who was traveling with her U.S.-born toddler, was an intending immigrant  a term used to describe visitors likely to overstay their visas and try to remain in the United States illegally. They also cited her use of legally available government health benefits in 2016, when she visited Maryland while pregnant and experienced complications, as one reason for her exclusion.
Drivers have so many blind spots, Billing continued, and if you let the driver pass on a curve and another car is coming, the passing driver may forget about the biker and slam back into the lane to avoid the oncoming car. Sometimes it may feel like they are intentionally holding back traffic but what they are literally trying to do is keep everybody safe.
Brown filed 2,512 signatures to qualify for the ballot. The lawsuit claims that in addition to 35 allegedly forged signatures submitted by Taylor aides, more than 1,600 signatures are invalid because the signers do not live in the district and include other technical problems. Without those signatures, the lawsuit says, Brown would not meet the 1,000-signature threshold to be placed on the ballot.
Bonser said its the right time in his life to close up shop, but he will wait until he finds another buyer. He and his wife plan to move to Florida some time after he sells the building.
The Badgers said law enforcement officers from the sheriffs department and the New Mexico State Police visited the site and spoke to members of the group at the entrance to the compound on at least two occasions in January and February to address the Badgers eviction concerns. But the couple said police never entered the property, despite having the Badgers permission to do so.
Though the duck boat operator has said the storm came on suddenly, taking everyone by surprise, Coleman has said that the company knew that a storm was brewing and decided to take the water segment of the tour first to get ahead of it. As the boat  along with a second duck boat on the lake  attempted to go back to shore, it was overcome. Coleman was sucked into the lake as the boat went down, but she escaped from under the boats canopy and swam to the surface.
Outside the war zone, nobody knows much about who is holding him or why. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading directly to his location, recovery and return. According to his family, Mr. Tice filed his last story and planned to leave Syria for Lebanon on Aug. 14, 2012, having just turned 31 years old. He got into a taxi in the Damascus suburb of Daraya but never made it to the border. Five weeks later, a 43-second video emerged that showed Mr. Tice being held by a group of unidentified armed men. The only message attached was Austin Tice is Alive. The family says, This is the only information we have received from his captors. No one has contacted us to claim responsibility, because of this, we cannot say for certain who is holding him.
The most critical quality of a Supreme Court justice is his or her willingness to support all of the Constitution, not just the portions that suit his or her political objectives. It is my understanding that Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh is on the record as stating that he feels that sitting presidents should not be subject to investigations. However, the Constitution includes the ability of the House to impeach the president and the Senate to try the president on those charges. But how could an impeachment and trial be done without an investigation to ascertain the facts? Any such impeachment and trial without an investigation of facts would be nothing more than a partisan kangaroo court or a witch hunt (whichever term you prefer).
But maybe thats the heart of it, and maybe thats the heart of the Trump era: permitting cruelty without consequence for the powerful. Its harmful to the weak  birds, in this case, whose beauty needs no argument  but also to the strong who, in the exercise of cruelty, become less humane, less human. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ tells His followers that not a single sparrow falls from the sky without Gods knowledge. Maybe this is why a person like Len Howard, with her deep and steadfast love of knowing her fellow creatures, seemed in some sense like St. Francis preaching to his birds, graced. But ours is not a graced age. So many more birds will die now, drowning in waste pits with greased feathers and electrocuted on power lines. We wont even know.
None of this is to suggest a major rollback; we are better off for the sunshine. But for the best of reasons, transparency has risen to sacred status, and even moderate change will be difficult. A news media accustomed to rummaging through email records and visitor logs may be especially unsympathetic. Still, its time for us all to consider broadening the definitions of what communications should remain confidential and to grant more leeway for the kinds of meetings that are often essential to producing workable compromises.
In 1989, as he was pondering a run for mayor of New York, the city was shocked by the rape and beating of a white investment banker while she was jogging in Central Park. The real estate magnate ran full-page ads in the citys four major newspapers calling for the death penalty for the five teenage boys  four black and one Hispanic  who had been accused of the crime. After years in prison, they had their convictions vacated, but Trump has never apologized or shown any second thoughts about his assumptions of their guilt.
Trump and his allies have kept a number of current and former White House aides  including ousted deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh, personal bodyguard Keith Schiller and former spokesman Sean Spicer  on the payroll of affiliated groups, from the 2020 reelection campaign to a super PAC. Johnny McEntee, the personal aide who spent more than a year by Trumps side before being fired for online gambling, is now a campaign employee. Continuing to pay employees often discourages them from sharing negative information about the employer.
Judge Kavanaugh was nominated 35 days ago and began meeting with senators the following morning. Meanwhile, Senator Schumer pledged to oppose Judge Kavanaughs nomination with everything I have, and his caucus launched a partisan campaign of obstruction, White House spokesman Raj Shah said Tuesday in a statement to The Washington Post. A number of Democratic senators (including those in leadership and on the Judiciary Committee) have declined or not responded to invitations to meet with Judge Kavanaugh, who has made himself available for meetings with senators for more than a month now.
If elected in November, Christine Hallquist, a former utility company executive, would be the first transgender governor of any state, and Jahana Hayes, a former national teacher of the year, would be the first black woman to represent New England in the House. Ilhan Omar, a Somali American in Minnesota, is now positioned to be one of two Muslim women elected to the House in the fall, along with Rashida Tlaib, who was nominated for a Democratic-leaning seat in Michigan last week.
Last month, that court decided on an 8-7 vote not to reconsider a decision striking down a trial judges ruling that the federal law against selling firearms across state lines is unconstitutional. All four Trump appointees on that court would have reconsidered the case, opening the door to overturning a longstanding federal gun law. Since then, another Trump nominee has been confirmed to that court and there is another vacancy that Trump can seek to fill.
The Palace of Westminster, where Parliament convenes, bolstered security around the buildings in March 2017, after Khalid Masood drove his car into crowds along Westminster Bridge, killing four people. In that attack, Masood leaped from his smashed car with a knife and began slashing at police and passersby. He killed one policeman before he was shot and killed by armed officers.
The figures, contained in reports by the U.S. government and the United Nations, are far higher than previous estimates of Islamic State strength following its major defeats last year, when the militants were driven out of their territory in Iraq and most of their key strongholds in Syria. The U.S. military has not released any figures since last year, but comments by military officials had indicated there were not many more than 10,000 fighters left.
They just came after all my people, everybody. Everybody they think is associated with me, they came after, he said. Its going to have a terrible impact (on the village). Some of the people that they are cutting out of the budget are in critical positions, and its certainly going to alter the services that they render to the residents.
Austin is a talented journalist who took on significant risk to cover a war that many here did not understand, said Frederick J. Ryan Jr., publisher of The Post and a speaker at the anniversary event. Six years after his disappearance, we are reminded of the dangers reporters endure in order to shed light on the dark corners of the world, uncovering truth others would rather keep hidden. This global tragedy has caused an unimaginable amount of pain for Austins friends and family, particularly his parents, who have been relentless in their focus on his return. It is time for him to be released without further delay.
Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor who now works in private practice in Chicago, said a conviction on at least some of the counts seemed likely, given the trial evidence. These are paper cases, and its about the bank records, loan applications, income tax returns and emails, Cotter said. The side with the best paper usually wins, and in this case, all the paper is on the prosecutions side, and theres almost no paper on the defense side.
The prosecution had planned to rest its case last week, but an unknown issue that the judge kept under seal delayed the start of proceedings for several hours that day. On Monday, defense lawyers filed a sealed motion, and prosecutors filed a response also under seal. Neither side gave any sign what the issue was, but the judge indicated that it would be revealed after the trial was over.
The White House took issue in particular with certain provisions that appeared to be responding to prior Trump comments. In March, for example, Trump seemed to threaten to pull the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea if he did not get the trade deal he wanted with Seoul, though he later said a withdrawal was not on the table. Other provisions sought to box the administration into taking a harder line against Russia after Trump spelled out his desire for warmer relations with Moscow and left open the possibility of recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea, the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
By late Tuesday, the Taliban appeared to have lost the first war, with the smoldering city relatively calm and most insurgent fighters in retreat. A U.S. military spokesman, Lt. Col. Martin ODonnell, said that no enemy activity was reported in the city all day. In an email, he included aerial images of the Ghazni prison and other intact buildings that the Taliban claimed to have captured or destroyed. He also said the attack served no purpose other than to generate sensational headlines, adding that the Taliban remains incapable of holding territory defended by Afghan forces.
Police said the man who was shot matched the description of someone who had shot someone at around 2 p.m. in the 400 block of Suwanee Street in Park Forest, which is just a few blocks east of where the police-involved shooting took place.
A former Anglican priest who raped a young girl on the pew of a Canberra church had a long-history of molesting children.

Justice Michael Elkaim on Monday sentenced John Philip Aitchison, 67, to nine years jail on five charges of sexual intercourse with a young person and seven counts of acts of indecency on a young person.

The ACT Supreme Court heard he had been convicted of offences against children in the United Kingdom, NSW, Victoria, and the ACT.

However, he had only served two years behind bars.

Justice Elkaim said the offender had been "dealt with leniently" in the past, on one occasion a NSW court found he had pyschological issues.
But it does have a bigger point, says Bubalo, formerly an Australian diplomat and now a principal at Nous, a public policy consultancy: "It's a message targeted at the Saudis internally. The family and MbS personally will dictate the pace of reform. Some of the activists they've arrested in the last few months have been asking for exactly the reforms that MbS has enacted." Like women's right to drive. "The second part of it is to whip up some Saudi nationalism to paper over some of the dissent internally at the pace of the improvement in life." And, according to Bubalo, the furious response is also designed to convey a message to other countries - "If you criticise us, you will put your economic interests at risk". So is the demonstration working as intended? The US has been conspicuously quiet in support of its big neighbour and ally. The two are supposed to share the values of democracy and freedom.

Yet Donald Trump has disparaged Canada repeatedly and last week, rather than supporting Canada's stand on human rights, he threatened to impose trade sanctions on Canadian car exports to the US. Illustration: Andrew Dyson Trump is far more supportive of the autocrats of Arabia. The first country he visited as President was Saudi Arabia. He signed a $US110 billion deal to sell arms to MbS. He supports the Saudi war in Yemen, and he endorses the Saudi trade embargo of its neighbour Qatar. In fact, MbS feels "emboldened by the friendship of US President Donald Trump", says former Canadian attorney-general Irwin Cotler, and by "the culture and community of resurgent global authoritarianism".

Similarly, Britain and the European Union have kept quiet about their supposed commitment to human rights and democracy. We do not have a single friend in the whole entire world, concluded Rachel Curran, a policy adviser to the former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper. And Australia? "Its important that the Australian government stand with Canada on this," says the head of Human Rights Watch in Australia, Elaine Pearson. "Saudi Arabia is clearly trying to suppress any foreign criticism of its appalling human rights record, and it will set a dangerous precedent if it seems to succeed with no pushback from rights respecting countries." Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop should stand with Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland in publicly calling for the release of detained womens rights activists in Saudi Arabia, says Pearson. So what is Australia's position? "While we welcome recent reforms promoting women's rights, I in fact raised the issue of the detention of women's rights activists with Saudi Foreign Minister al-Jubeir in the G-20 meeting in May," Julie Bishop tells me, her first public comment on the matter. Saudi Arabia has been locking up women who led the protests against the ban on women driving. Credit:AP "Our diplomats have held discussions with Saudi officials on this issue in Saudi Arabia last week. Australia's long-standing position is to support gender equality and freedom of speech." So Bishop on Australia's behalf is standing up for principle in dealing with Saudi Arabia. And these comments make that public.

But she does not take the further step of explicitly siding with Canada in this dispute, nor does she go so far as supporting the call for the immediate release of the 18 activists detained so far: "We do not seek to interfere in the judicial processes of other countries," says the Australian minister. Can Ottawa withstand the economic pain of the Saudi measures? Its two-way trade with Saudi Arabia amounts to only 0.24 per cent of its total. If Ottawa can't endure such minimal cost, we'll know that no country can again be expected to stand up for any principle. Australia's two-way trade with Saudi Arabia is in similar proportion at a scant 0.3 per cent, according to trade economist Tim Harcourt. Loading Obversely, if Canada does stick to its guns and emerges unbowed and unharmed, it will have called the Saudi bluff.
Instead, the money  borrowed on the backs of taxpayers there from 2008 through 2010  largely went into a black hole of accountability, with the hotel to this day left half-gutted and Harvey residents on the hook to make loan payments of more than $20 million, with little to no record of exactly where it went, the Tribune wrote.
A Rainbow Beach tour company accused of racial vilification after a Maori Niuean employee was given an empty sunscreen canister labelled Black Guy Repllent [sic] last year claims the incident was simply a practical joke between friends.

The canister was given to Mr Tupetagi in November 2017, he claims.

On Friday, Rainbow Beach Adventure Company filed its response to a statement of facts made by its employee, McDuff Tupetagi, in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission last week.

The company, owned by travel and tour conglomerate Website Travel Group, and two of its employees, Mervin ONeill and Joel Mahon, were named in court documents filed by Mr Tupetagi, who is suing all three for racial vilification.

Employed as a mechanic at the company since 2014, Mr Tupetagi alleges he was frequently called "the black fella" and made the butt of jokes, as well as being told he didnt need a sunshade because of his skin tone.
Mr Pasin warned that the scheme only had a bloody brave assumption on price reductions and that more was needed to put pressure on generators to ease pressure on households. Sydney backbencher Craig Kelly, a longstanding and vocal critic of aspects of the energy guarantee, expressed concern about turning the 26 per cent emissions target into a mandatory objective with tough penalties on companies. Mr Kelly criticised the modelling showing the scheme would help cut household prices and reserved his right to oppose the scheme in Parliament. There was no vote at the end of the Coalition party room meeting but MPs who spoke against the energy guarantee told Fairfax Media that Mr Turnbull summed up the outcome fairly as a show of strong majority support for the policy. The outcome came after a split within the ranks of Coalition MPs who support the use of coal to produce electricity, with former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce telling reporters he was not on the same side as Mr Abbott.

This is not a case of being in a team with Abbott or being in a team with somebody else. Not that at all, Mr Joyce said before the party room meeting. In fact, I find that, to be honest, a complete misreading of it. Some of the Liberals and Nationals who back the idea of a new coal-fired power station, or upgrades to existing coal-fired power stations, supported the energy guarantee in the party room in a clear break with Mr Abbott. Those who spoke against the policy included Liberals Andrew Hastie and Tony Pasin as well as Mr Abbott. Those who spoke in favour included Liberals Jim Molan, Ian McDonald, Rowan Ramsey, Warren Entsch, Ted OBrien, Ann Sudmalis and Chris Crewther.

The full meeting of the Coalition party room on Tuesday followed a formal vote by the Coalition backbench committee on energy on Monday night, where Mr Abbott was also outnumbered. The committee meeting heard concerns about the energy guarantee from Mr Kelly and Liberal National Party member Ken ODowd, who argued for more discussion but did not join Mr Abbott in rejecting the entire policy. Mr Turnbull emerged from the party room meeting to declare the time had come for Labor to indicate where it stood on the bill that will be put to Parliament in this fortnight to meet the 26 per cent target. The Labor Party has to decide whether they want to support cheaper and more reliable electricity, the Prime Minister said. We have got to bring to an end the years of ideology and idiocy which have been a curse on energy policy for too long.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has rejected the governments 26 per cent target in favour of a 45 per cent target across the economy, raising the question of the specific target Labor will choose for the electricity sector. Observers estimate that Labor may have to achieve cuts of 60 per cent in electricity to minimise reductions in agriculture and spark a backlash from farmers. Loading Labor could vote in favour of the government target of 26 per cent and declare it would amend the law if it won power at the next election, but Labor could also reject the government bill in the hope it could set a higher target under a Labor government. Mr Turnbull cited a letter he received from Mr Shorten last year that called for a bipartisan energy policy.

Hes got everybody lined up supporting, in industry, consumer groups, supporting the National Energy Guarantee, Mr Turnbull said. Now is the time for him to support it and vote for it. In fact, groups including the Smart Energy Council are strongly objecting to the NEG and believe the emissions target must be much higher and the mechanism itself is flawed, putting pressure on Labor to insist on changes to the government plan. Mr Turnbull said he was ready for a fight at the next election over the Coalitions target of 26 per cent against the Labor target of 45 per cent. Well gladly have that debate with them because if you were to have a higher target than 26 per cent it would increase costs on consumers, he said.

We welcome a clear political debate on the cost of power. Labor energy spokesman Mark Butler said the governments 26 per cent target was effectively a reduction of only 2 per cent over the decade to 2030 and therefore inadequate. Asked if he would support the Coalition bill and seek to scale up the target under a Labor government, Mr Butler said lets not get ahead of ourselves and argued that more time was needed. Weve had a decision by the party room, we dont yet have a final decision by COAG, which is a precondition for this, he said. The governments always been clear that step one in this process was a decision by COAG to develop or agree or not agree on a National Energy Guarantee framework. Without that framework, the commonwealth legislation has no work to do.

It would be rather bizarre for us to be debating legislation without knowing whether or not the whole framework, to which it attaches, has or hasnt been agreed by COAG. Mr Butler did not nominate an alternative scheme to the NEG and did not offer a definitive comment on whether federal Labor wanted the emissions target to be increased by regulation or legislation  a non-negotiable issue for the Coalition in response to calls from the Labor state government in Victoria. Loading Mr Butler left the door open to voting against the federal bill in order to fight at the next election on the competing targets. He suggested there was no rush to make a final decision on the target, pointing out the emissions benchmarks are not needed in the NEG until 2020.
Senior WA Liberals say they are backing Opposition Leader Mike Nahan in the face of an editorial in The West Australian calling for his sacking and reacted angrily to what they say are attempts by the newspaper to dictate who they choose as their leader.

On Sunday Dr Nahan told a Liberal party conference that voters in the Darling Range byelection were not listening to traditional media.

"Dr Nahan has shown a complete lack of judgment and proved himself unsuitable to lead the party," the editorial said.

Mike Nahan is standing firm against an editorial from The West Australian calling for to be sacked over his comments about traditional media. Credit:AAP Image/Rebecca Le May

"He should resign as leader. If he does not, then his colleagues should toss him out."
London: A terror suspect is believed to have travelled through the night from Birmingham to stake out Westminster for more than an hour and a half before mowing down cyclists outside the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old man, believed to be of Sudanese origin, waited until the morning rush hour before swerving on to the wrong side of the road and hitting cyclists who were waiting at traffic lights, then crashed into barriers outside the entrance to the House of Lords.

As darkness falls, forensic officers work by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament. Credit:PA

The man, who has British nationality, had driven from his home in Birmingham, sparking suggestions that it was an attempted "copycat" attack to that perpetrated by Khalid Masood a year earlier which killed six people.

Masood had lived just 10 minutes from the suspect's home in the Sparkbrook area of Birmingham.
NUAMES Charter High School Expands to WSUs Ogden Campus

August 14, 2018

OGDEN, Utah  Beginning fall semester 2018, the Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering & Science (NUAMES) will expand to educate 200 additional students, grades 10-12, on Weber State Universitys Ogden campus.

For more than 10 years, NUAMES has partnered with WSU, to provide a rigorous, supportive, early college education to 750 students on the WSU Davis campus in Layton.

Weber State and NUAMES have a shared vision of preparing students for success in college and careers, particularly those engineering and technology careers in high demand in Northern Utah, said Bruce Davis, vice provost of academic affairs, who has helped oversee the partnership.

NUAMES North, as the Ogden location will be known, will make its home primarily in the Lind Lecture Hall. Eventually, the charter school will be housed in the Noorda Engineering & Technology building, which will be built to replace the Technical Education Building. NUAMES will contribute $7.5 million toward construction.

NUAMES would not have been able to have the success we have had without our Weber State University partnership, said Kelli Booth, NUAMES executive director. Our students have the unique opportunity to have a quality early college experience right on a college campus. We appreciate all those who helped facilitate this expansion allowing more students this opportunity.

More than half of NUAMES students go on to attend Weber State, and more than half of the seniors earn a WSU associates degree upon high school graduation. The Utah Pace Report Card has recognized NUAMES as the No. 1 high school in Utah for the past five years.

Having NUAMES on campus helps the university build strong relationships with these high-potential students, Davis said. We have a pipeline of students who are motivated to pursue higher education.

A few student spaces are still available in the new Ogden location. For information on enrolling email sdavis@dsdmail.net.

For information about NUAMES, visit nuames.org. For questions, email ntaggart@dsdmail.net.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
At one time a couple years ago, we had two standing United States ambassadors that were both graduates of H-F. And we had the former United States deputy of the Treasury, who was second in command at the Treasury, the highest-ranking female in the history of (that) department, she said. They were under the Obama administration.
No disrespect to star names on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but the abundance of them, increasing by the year, is a sign of geriatric Geronimo: the fringe of alternative comedy has been coiffed and curated in a grey thatch of ghostly familiarity. While critics pay special attention to Summerhall, the biggest ticket buyers  in the middle-aged and senior citizen categories  are flocking to the schlock of the not so new.

One happy alignment of this phenomenon with genuinely interesting new work is TV favourite Robert Bathurst  star of Cold Feet  in Christopher Reid's bitter verse comedy The Song of Lunch at the Pleasance. On a most ingenious design of animation and cartoons, Bathurst plays a denizen of old Soho returning to an Italian trattoria haunt for a date with an old flame (Rebecca Johnson) who's joined him for lunch from Paris where she's married to the poet's colleague and rival.

Su Pollard's TV glory days were decades ago on Hi-de-Hi but she's gung ho-de-ho in Harpy

Bathurst is playing to packed audiences delighted to discover he's got the comedy depth and expertise of Richard Briers and Donald Sinden. He's a total gas, and so is Reid's evocative and heartfelt narrative poem. Su Pollard's TV glory days were decades ago on Hi-de-Hi but she's gung ho-de-ho in Philip Meeks' Harpy at the Underbelly on Cowgate as a murderous spinster clinging to the wreckage, like an unfocused remnant of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. She's also grabbing a chance to prove what an emotionally powerful and underrated actress she is, and can be.

Talking of which, Nichola McAuliffe has a new play called, suitably enough, Revenants, and Maureen Lipman has returned to Edinburgh after fifty years to proclaim I'm Up For It. Peter Straker has celebrated a half century in show business with a stunning re-tread of his Jacques Brel cabaret, a pair of newbies are wallowing in glorious mud with Flanders and Swann, and Barry Cryer, the Methuselah of mirth, the kosher Abanazar of hernia humour, still trading old gags for older ones, is flogging what he calls "pre-hysterical sit-down comedy".

Daniel Kitson and Simon Munnery, thank heavens, are still making a stand at The Stand, while Clive Anderson is looking his age, Tony Slattery is making a come-back (again) and Frank Skinner has written a play, having controversially cadged a "promising new playwright" gig from the BBC.

At least you can't accuse Gyles Brandreth of being past it. He revelled in being past it before he even arrived, and he sumptuously delivers a rapturously received stream of anecdotal reminiscences about Larry, Johnny and Ralphie (Olivier, Gielgud and Richardson to you and me) in Break a Leg! at the Pleasance, duetting with a pre-recorded June Whitfield (second place in the nonagenarian stakes only to Nicholas Parsons, who's "live", this year) in a nostalgia number from Gigi.

Benet Brandreth makes the grey thatch brigade feel thoroughly at home

There is, literally, a lot of dad dancing, or parent polka, this year, with Arthur Smith recalling his POW pa in Syd, Esther Rantzen appearing with her daughter, and the twin sons of Pleasance supremo Anthony Alderson alternating the role of the boy in Druid's meticulous and moving Waiting for Godot as part of the EIF at the Lyceum; that show has a surreal senior shadow in A Joke at Assembly, with a white-face, white-suited trio of Sylvester McCoy, John Bett and American TV star Robert Picardo  a revelation, it turns out, as a stage actor  playing the fool, and the spoons, in a celestial void of discovery ("Eureka!" "So are you!").

Best of all father's sons is Benet Brandreth, an unapologetic chip off the old blockhead, and a dazzling QC to boot, spinning a glorious narrative of loserville and romantic recovery in A Hero of Our Time at the Gilded Balloon, joshing the audience with his educated superiority while plumbing the abyss in the Lermontov novel he takes as a template, but substituting the gambling dens of St Petersburg with the scrabble games of suburbia...just so the appreciative grey thatch brigade feel thoroughly at home. We all stood up at the end, because, dammit, we jolly well could. Just about.
Include a visit to The Dark Side of F Street in your Halloween hauntings! Take some canned foods and grocery ...

When you see the flags flying at schools, you dont generally think about who put them up or how they...
Mayor Harriet Rosenthal said things have changed since the days of Floral Park and Pear Tree. She said since then One Deerfield Place was built to provide affordable housing for seniors and the disabled. She said she has seen attitudes change greatly in Deerfield over the years.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/8/2018 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fast-food aficionados rejoice  a new fried chicken contender is here.

Winnipeg's first Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is opening this weekend, and there are more to come; the franchisee and his partners have inked a deal to open locations across the city, province and in northwestern Ontario.

"Were working on additional stores right now," said co-owner Jonathan Enright of the Enright Group, which includes his father Richard and sister Karley David. "Were negotiating on a number of properties at the moment and we would like to expand the brand."

Enright wouldn't elaborate on the number of locations or when they might open, citing confidentiality.

"Nothing concrete, but we do have a deal signed," he said.

He's enthusiastic about bringing the restaurant to Manitoba.

"Weve been customers of the brand for a long time," he said. "Great concepts start with great food.... That was kind of the initial thing that attracted us to it. The concepts got lots of energy."

Construction at Popeyes will be finished in time for the first Winnipeg franchise to open this weekend in Seasons of Tuxedo adjacent to the Outlet Collection mall. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

The restaurant's location  in Seasons of Tuxedo adjacent to the Outlet Collection mall at Kenaston Boulevard and Sterling Lyon Parkway  was ideal, he said.

"It brings people from all corners of the city and the province," Enright said. "Between the large anchor tenants that are in close proximity to our site as well as the outlet mall, we felt like it was a great place to introduce the brand."

The first restaurant is 2,584 square feet, with a drive-thru and seating for 60.

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The partners have restaurant experience  Enright Group already owns and operates 16 Boston Pizza franchises in the province, but the quick-service restaurant style will be a new endeavour.

"This is a new learning opportunity," said Enright.

The New Orleans-based fried chicken and seafood company opened in 1972 and its first location in Canada was in Toronto in 1984, but started expanding rapidly into the rest of the country in 2014 and 2015, opening 30 restaurants in 18 months.

In 2015, the company's regional leader for Canada told the Free Press it was planning to expand into Winnipeg. The company had 2,600 locations in the U.S., three territories and 27 other countries as of 2016.

In spring 2017, Restaurant Brands International Inc. bought Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. for about US$1.8 billion. RBI also owns Tim Hortons and Burger King.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Travellers in the U.S. heading back to Manitoba wont be able to enter Canada at the Cartwright border crossing for the time being.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/8/2018 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Travellers in the U.S. heading back to Manitoba wont be able to enter Canada at the Cartwright border crossing for the time being.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said it is closed because asbestos was found at the port of entry facility 225 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg on Highway 5.

"The health and safety of employees and Canadians is important to us, and we took immediate action," CBSA regional spokeswoman Jacquie Callin said in an email Monday.

On Saturday, the CBSA issued a press release saying the port of entry to Canada was closed until further notice, without any explanation. The closure, it said, has no impact on travellers heading south to the U.S. and it recommended alternate border crossings at Boissevain, which is open 24-7; Lena, (at Hwy 18) open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and the crossing at Crystal City, which is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause cancer and other diseases, according to Health Canada.

Before 1990, asbestos was mainly used for insulating buildings and homes against cold weather and noise and for fireproofing, Health Canadas website says.

There are no significant health risks if materials containing asbestos are isolated and left undisturbed, but people can be exposed to asbestos when a home or building is being renovated or demolished, it says.

On Monday, Callin could not say how and when the asbestos at Cartwright was detected.

The union representing officers who work at Canadas ports of entry says it wants to make sure theres no asbestos at the other border-crossing facilities in Manitoba.

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"The main concern we do have now is getting similar ports across Manitoba tested," said Mark Weber with the Customs and Immigration Union.

"The concern is that since there are many similar ports they be tested as well," said Weber, a national vice-president in Toronto.

The union is waiting to hear from the CBSA on when the ports were last tested for asbestos, he said.

"I dont know of any specific health concerns, but when youre working in a building where theyve found asbestos, its a concern," Weber said.

Canada Border Services says it will issue a notice once the port at Cartwright is reopened.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
The Manitoba Trucking Association says its opposed to reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians until city hall can prove its safe and engages the community in a meaningful consultation process.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/8/2018 (1173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Trucking Association says its opposed to reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians until city hall can prove its safe and engages the community in a meaningful consultation process.

Terry Shaw, the associations executive director, said based on the information released so far  essentially only a consultants report  no case has been made to reintroduce pedestrians and the MTA is opposed on safety and efficiency grounds.

Shaw said the Perimeter Highway isnt a viable alternative for trucks and the long-planned inner-ring road is incomplete, explaining that truckers inevitably must go through Portage and Main to get to their destinations and they dont want anything to impede truck travel.

"If you want to go east to west or north to south, our city is hub-and-spoke and that hub is Portage and Main. Its the dead centre of our city," Shaw said. "Our alternatives to avoiding that intersection are incredibly limited and as such it is a critical intersection, one that we need to maintain safe and efficient access to."

Shaw said he wrote to Mayor Brian Bowman on July 26 outlining the association's concerns and opposition to the plan but to date hasn't received a response.

"The most significant question that remained unanswered by the MTA Board was, in an era of well understood infrastructure budgetary challenge, why is this project being considered a priority?" Shaw said in his letter to the mayor.

"This question remains unanswered.Until the safety and efficiency concerns are better understood and addressed as part of the Portage and Main plan the MTA Board is on record as opposing this project at this time."

A response to the MTA letter "is forthcoming," a spokesman for Bowman said.

Jonathan Hildebrand, the mayor's director of communications, said council shares many of the trucking industrys concerns about the as yet unknown implications of reopening the intersection. And thats why Bowman supported councils October directive to require the public service to return to council with an implementation plan outlining costs, as well as traffic and transit implications, before any pedestrian traffic is reintroduced on a phased-in basis, he said.

Bowman supports placing the issue on the Oct. 24 civic election ballot, "allowing all Winnipeg residents to have their say on this matter," Hildebrand said.

Allowing pedestrians to cross Portage and Main has never been identified as a priority on the citys Master Transportation Plan, Shaw said, adding city hall should concentrate on dealing with that plan's stated priorities.

"Infrastructure funds are limited. This is a trade corridor. Why are we investing in a project that will reduce safety and efficiency on a Winnipeg trade corridor, especially when other projects identified on the transportation master plan remain unaddressed?" he said.

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Shaw said the trucking industry might have a different response if the city had completed a conceptual design and study showing safety and delay issues can be addressed and presented it to the public for input.

A preliminary transportation study was completed by Dillon Consulting, which looked at five different options for pedestrians to cross at the intersection. The study, which focused on pedestrian, private vehicle and transit travel times travel times, recommended one that would generate only minor traffic-flow delays.

Dillon acknowledged that the interaction of pedestrians and turning vehicles poses safety risks and that the simulation models it used on the various options could not address them, but did say safety could be enhanced with improvements to driver sightlines and traffic signals.

A second consulting contract, based on the Dillon study, that would have produced the conceptual design the trucking industry and others are waiting for has been withdrawn pending the outcome of the Oct. 24 referendum.

Shaw said the trucking association isnt planning any public campaigning leading up to the ballot question and doesnt believe its necessary.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
Mayor Dave Kaptain said having the neighborhood association in the same 31 S. Grove Ave. building as the chamber will make it easier for anyone who needs to deal with both organizations. The citys decision not to charge them rent is a way to emphasize what they provide is beneficial to Elgin and a part of city services, he said.
A Blumenort man who claimed he was offering a new type of therapeutic massage to female clients has been convicted of sexual assault.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/8/2018 (1173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Blumenort man who claimed he was offering a new type of therapeutic massage to female clients has been convicted of sexual assault.

Kenneth Wall was offering massages out of his home as a private-practice massage therapist when seven women came forward to police to report Wall had touched them inappropriately during massage appointments between 2010 and 2014. He claimed he was performing pain-relieving breast and vaginal massages with his patients' consent, but a provincial court judge disagreed.

On Monday, more than a year after his provincial court trial ended, Wall was convicted on four counts of sexual assault from 2014 and for violating a court order in November 2014 that prohibited him from contacting one of the complainants. He'd phoned the woman's brother to ask if they could meet to discuss the allegations she'd reported to RCMP.

He was acquitted of four other charges after provincial court Judge Carena Roller decided the Crown had not proven them beyond a reasonable doubt. Roller found Wall guilty of sexual assault but not guilty of sexual interference after he gave a breast massage to a 15-year-old girl without her consent. The charge of sexual interference requires proof of a "sexual purpose" and the judge ruled there was no evidence Wall got "sexual gratification" from performing the massage.

The seven women testified in court during Wall's trial last year, and none of them suggested Wall was massaging them for his own sexual gratification. They testified Wall didn't properly explain his techniques, never used the words breast or vagina, and never got their consent.

One of the women told court she agreed to a breast massage to help with her neck pain and asked Wall to stop when she was uncomfortable, which he did. He was acquitted of that sexual-assault allegation. He was also acquitted of sexual assault for an incident the judge decided could have been an accidental, brief touch of a woman's vagina. As well, Roller found Wall not guilty of anally penetrating another female patient.

When he testified in his own defence, the 45-year-old married father of five denied sexually assaulting his patients and said he believed he had their consent to perform what he called "inguinal massage"  a term, Roller wrote in her decision, that he may have coined himself.

"Wall has told untruths when it suits him," Roller wrote in her decision, which was released Monday. In a letter and text messages to a representative of the Alberta-based Natural Health Practitioners of Canada Association, Wall repeatedly and falsely suggested he had been cleared of the charges against him. Wall had been a member of that association before he was charged. He has a massage therapy certificate from 2010, completed after he took a year-long course that involved one instructional session per week.

In her decision, Roller noted no massage-therapy experts were called to court to explain whether breast massages or internal vaginal massages are legitimate massage therapy techniques.

The case is an example of why massage therapy needs to be a regulated profession in Manitoba, says George Fraser, executive director and registrar of the Remedial Massage Therapists Society of Manitoba.

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"Standards have to be in place, and the conviction of Mr. Wall on four charges indicates the sooner, the better," Fraser said.

Fraser, who was present during Wall's trial, said he respected the women who came forward and he wished the judge would've been given more information about proper massage therapy techniques.

"He crossed professional boundaries that should not be crossed."

Wall remains on bail awaiting sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set. The decision was delayed for more than a year, and Judge Roller returned from a medical leave to deliver it Monday.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
A mega-meth weekend in Winnipeg included three separate incidents involving the drug that police say has become a scourge in Winnipeg.

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This article was published 13/8/2018 (1173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A mega-meth weekend in Winnipeg included three separate incidents involving the drug that police say has become a scourge in Winnipeg.

It began Friday just after 7 a.m. when a man coming down from methamphetamine with machetes taped to his arms in a residential area was outside yelling at police to shoot him.

Then, on a sweltering Saturday afternoon, police seized more than $6,400 of the brain-poisoning drug from a vehicle with all its doors left open.

Just after midnight, after a driver who was allegedly impaired hit a chain link fence in Crestview, police discovered nearly $2,000 worth of meth in the vehicle.

The three incidents happened in different parts of the city and involved different people, but they all had one thing in common that police say is becoming more of problem: methamphetamine.

"At some point, you hope it goes down," Winnipeg Police spokesman Const. Jay Murray said at a Monday morning press conference that kicked off with the bizarre, frightening incident involving the man with large machetes taped to his hands.

"He'd made specific plans to attack officers and force them to shoot him," Murray said. The 34-year-old man who is known to police called 911 himself just after 7 a.m. to report a male armed with a machete in the Robertson neighbourhood, which is bordered by McPhillips Street on the west, Carruthers Avenue on the north, Arlington Street on the east and Mountain Avenue on the south.

The situation was stressful for police and the man's family members watching it unfold and the possibility that a passerby or gawker could trigger the unpredictable man at the centre of it, Murray said.

"He indicated he was willing to injure people to get police to shoot him," Murray said.

Area residents stayed indoors and the police tactical support unit kept its distance while trying to de-escalate the situation by talking to the man. The man, advancing on police and yelling for them to shoot him, had prepared a makeshift shield designed to protect him from being hit by an electrical Taser, Murray said. Police had to use an alternative form of non-lethal force to restrain him, Murray said. He wouldn't divulge what that was, but said the situation ended peacefully.

Officers took him into custody. He's been charged with possession of a weapon and failing to comply with probation order.

The use of meth in the city has led to a "drastic increase" in the number of "use of force" encounters," Murray said. "There's tremendous difficulties in communicating with individuals high on meth."

"Some people will hear you, some won't," he said.

"Not every individual high on meth is going to act in the same way," Murray said. "The last thing we ever want to do is use force on someone... The ultimate goal is to safely take individuals into custody."

Friday's potentially deadly incident involving the meth user was followed Saturday by two incidents involving alleged meth traffickers.

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Just after 1 p.m. Saturday, officers with Winnipeg's street crime unit were patrolling near Sargent Avenue and Furby Street when they observed a vehicle parked with its doors open and a man and woman standing beside it. When police officers went to speak with the man and woman, they saw a canister of bear spray and the knife inside the vehicle, Murray said. The couple was taken into custody.

Police said they searched the vehicle and seized several items, including 43 grams of methamphetamine that police say has a street value of $6,450, cocaine, marijuana, a "cocktail" of several prescription drugs, three mobile phones, packaging materials and $1,160 in cash.

Harley James McLeod, 29, and Kaitlynn Rae Burke, 26  both of Kenora, Ont.  face several weapons and drug charges, including possession for the purposes of trafficking.

At midnight on Saturday, emergency workers found a vehicle parked up against a chain link fence in Crestview. The lone occupant of the vehicle parked near Buchanan Boulevard and Hamilton Avenue was taken into custody and police searched the vehicle, Murray said. Police seized a number of items, including an Airsoft-style gun, a knife, a collapsible baton, tools believed to be used for break and enter, $280 in cash and 13 grams of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $1,950, he said.

Christian Charles Dennis Caron, 35, of Headingley faces numerous charges, including impaired driving, possession of methamphetamine for the purposes of trafficking, possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime, failure to comply with conditions of a recognizance by a judge, possession of a weapon and possession of break-in instruments. He was detained in custody.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Many of us have moms and dads or older friends and relatives in nursing home facilities. We care very much about their well-being and the supports they receive. But whos caring for the care aides who do the bulk of the front-line work in nursing homes? Their welfare is almost entirely overlooked in the health system. And the health of the care aide affects the quality of care they deliver.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/8/2018 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Many of us have moms and dads or older friends and relatives in nursing home facilities. We care very much about their well-being and the supports they receive. But whos caring for the care aides who do the bulk of the front-line work in nursing homes? Their welfare is almost entirely overlooked in the health system. And the health of the care aide affects the quality of care they deliver.

Care aides, also known as nurse aides, personal support workers or continuing care assistants, are the largest workforce in nursing homes in Canada. Research suggests between 75 and 90 per cent of direct care to residents is provided by care aides, including physical care, such as helping those they care for to eat, bathe and dress, as well as emotional care and social interaction. Their role is central to the quality of care and quality of life of nursing home residents.

Yet up until recently, weve known little about them. When the health force is studied at all, typically care aides and registered nurses are lumped together, even though their job functions are distinct, and their educational, social and ethnic backgrounds  as well as their positions in the hierarchy of the health-care workforce  are often significantly different.

So what happens when you focus specifically on the contributions and the health of nursing home care aides? You discover care aide burnout in Canada is rampant.

Along with our colleagues at Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC), we recently published a study in the International Journal of Nursing Studies that surveyed almost 1,200 care aides from 30 nursing homes in three Western Canadian provinces. We found that care aides, despite high belief in their professional abilities and finding their work meaningful, were at high risk for emotional exhaustion and cynicism.

What is burnout, exactly?

Burnout is a psychological condition that results from work-related stress and can present itself as emotional exhaustion, such as a lack of emotional response or a lack of physical energy. It can present as a negative and detached attitude and a lack of feeling of accomplishment in your work. Research shows that those who are burned out report providing lower quality care.

In our study, we found that care aides work efficiently, sometimes under challenging conditions and with a strong sense that what they do is meaningful  but the risk for burnout is great.

More than 60 per cent of the residents in the nursing homes where care aides work have a dementia-related condition. High stress demand on care aides is linked to this complex and demanding care. We found that, on average, care aides had experienced at least three dementia-related behaviours in the last five shifts.

Combine these complex care demands with often inadequate staffing, limited or nearly non-existent continuing education and training opportunities and a lack of decision-making opportunities for the residents they care for and its no surprise that the threat of burnout is high.

The consequences of burnout are significant  and costly.

If care workers are not healthy, their work suffers and so does the quality of patient care. Care aide burnout can also result in job dissatisfaction and affect workplace productivity, high staff turnover and poor staff retention, as well as high absenteeism.

So what can be done?

Based on this study and more than 10 years of research in nursing homes, we have a number of recommendations aimed at improving our understanding of the care aide workforce:

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 We need the implementation of national training and continuing education program standards for care aides. Care aides increasingly need to know how to deal with complex residents such as those with dementia  and need opportunities to learn the latest best practices and have the skills to provide quality care.

 Improving the work culture for care aides would also help with burnout, including strategies to engage them in decision-making about the residents they care for.

 We need co-ordinated efforts across governments to track the care aide workforce, including numbers and migration patterns across Canada. We also need mandatory provincial care aide registries.

The regulation of the care aide workforce must be addressed, particularly given the frail, highly vulnerable population of older Canadians who are in their care. And whats good for the caregiver turns out to be good for the nursing home resident, too.

Carole A. Estabrooks is a professor in the faculty of nursing at the University of Alberta and scientific director of the Knowledge Utilization Studies Program (KUSP) and the pan-Canadian Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) research program hosted at the University of Alberta. Stephanie Chamberlain is a doctoral candidate at the University of Alberta. She is an Alzheimer Society of Canada doctoral fellow and a Revera Scholar.

 Troy Media
In Indigenous traditions, being gifted with a star blanket is a high honour.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/8/2018 (1173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In Indigenous traditions, being gifted with a star blanket is a high honour.

Sewn or stitched in the middle with a morning star, the brightest light in the dawn sky, the blanket is given to leaders and wrapped around their shoulders in ceremony.

Its intended to protect, honour, and -- most importantly -- recognize the work an individual does to forge a path to the future. Most of this involves taking the brave step of bringing light in the darkest of times.

Just like the morning star.

This week, a building in Winnipeg is being recognized as doing this work.

Metis mural artist Kenneth Lavallee is leading a project to cover the entirety of the Helen Betty Osborne building, located at 511 Ellice Avenue, with a star blanket.

"I want to wrap this place," Lavallee said on the first day of work and covered in primer, "and recognize the hope thats here."

Located at the University of Winnipeg, the building houses Education programs and the Wii Chii Waakanak Learning Centre, where Indigenous education and cultural programming take place.

Painting four sides of a two-storey building is a huge project but one Lavallee has experience in. Its the fourth installation of his Star Blanket Project series, with sister sites located at Edge Gallery, the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, and the Red Road Lodge.

SUPPLIED An artist's conception of what the Helen Betty Osborne building on Ellice Avenue will look like after mural artist Kenneth Lavallee completes the project.

Still, this is the biggest project Lavallee has undertaken. Partnering with Synonym Art Consultation, he is being assisted by seven artists working around the clock to be finished this week. The mural will be unveiled Saturday at noon with a BBQ and DJ music to follow.

"I not only wanted to give jobs to artists but activate this space, recognizing the jobs people do and can do to grow a community," Lavallee said.

The mural embodies Lavallees belief that people must reclaim spaces where they live, particularly in cities, where Indigenous peoples have endured violence and marginalization.

The mural therefore is dedicated to murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit peoples, an issue deeply felt in the neighbourhood where the mural is located.

This is also why the Helen Betty Osborne Building was chosen for the project. Osborne, a Cree woman from Norway House, was abducted and murdered near the Pas in 1971. Four years ago, Lavallee was speaking to his mother about Osbornes story and realized he had to do something to honour her. Approached by the University of Winnipeg last year, he received his chance.

Constructing the mural is as complicated as stitching a star blanket itself. Creators have to perform a delicate balance between mathematics and art, focusing on precision and creativity while ensuring nothing is out of sync.

A typical star blanket has 288 small diamonds woven into sets of 25, 36, and 200 larger diamonds  combining eventually into an geometrically-even eight-pointed star. One mistake can destabilize the entire project, so an incredible amount of attention is necessary at all times.

"Ive got a lot of math this week," laughed Lavallee, "but there are lines already in the cement and that helps."

Star Blankets are not given just to honour work but to encourage it to continue. This is the message the University of Winnipeg wanted to share when contacting Lavallee and Synonym Art to do the mural.

"We wanted something that exemplifies our message that Indigenous education is inclusive and accessible here," said Jarita Greyeyes, Director of Community Learning and Engagement, "and demonstrates our commitment to making Indigenous space here."

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kenneth Lavallee prepares to paint a mural on the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre at the Helen Betty Osborne Building.

Its hard to imagine physical Indigenous spaces at the University of Winnipeg, a place full of modern, block-style architecture and high rises. While new buildings and spaces have been built or renovated recently, few embody Indigenous principles.

"We hope this will be a bold statement and an anchor to our Indigenous programming on campus," said Greyeyes, "We are experiencing a transformation on campus with our Indigenous course requirement but now people can see it in the physical spaces we work in."

The University of Winnipeg requires that all students enrolled in programs on campus take a course with primarily Indigenous content in order to understand the knowledge, history and relationships that embody Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Canada. Its one of only two universities to take this step.

And now the campus has a centrepiece for this learning.

I spent the morning at the Helen Betty Osborne Centre. I remarked to Lavallee and Greyeyes how much the place has changed since I attended as an undergraduate in the 1990s.

While there, I never read a book written by an Indigenous person. There were no courses taught by Indigenous peoples, never mind an Indigenous Studies Department.

There was one Indigenous faculty member, the late Dr. Mary Young, but her office and the Indigenous student lounge was housed physically underneath the Theology department.

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When I hung out with my friends, we were literally located underneath people studying Christianity. Nothing triggering there.

Now, the Helen Betty Osborne Building is bustling, full to the brim with Indigenous students and families working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff to make paths for themselves. I also noticed many non-Indigenous students studying and a large contingent of new Canadians working on computers. Most of all, people were visiting, talking, laughing.

The last time I was in the building was a few years ago, taking free Indigenous language classes with my daughter. We even learned how to sing Frere Jacques in Ojibway.

Now, as I return to the university where I began, I see a Star Blanket wrapping itself around a campus and community trying to make a place where a future can thrive.

Where light can shine.

Wrapped in warmth.
Canada will absolutely not get rid of its dairy, egg and poultry supply management system, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated this week as he began a visit to Prince Edward Island.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/8/2018 (1173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada will "absolutely not" get rid of its dairy, egg and poultry supply management system, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated this week as he began a visit to Prince Edward Island.

Canadian milk producers will be glad to hear that. They are nervously watching Canadas trade negotiations with the United States for fear of losing the advantages of supply management.

Canada will absolutely not get rid of its dairy, egg and poultry supply management system, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated this week. (Olivier Matthys / The Associated Press)

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed impatience with Canadas restrictions on dairy trade. While he has shown no interest in the details, he has loudly complained about the 270-per-cent tariff barrier that Canada uses to close its market to dairy imports.

Short of abolishing Canadian dairy supply management, however, there is plenty of room to negotiate. Canada already showed in its trade deal with the European Union and its tentative deal with Japan and nine other Pacific Rim countries that the dairy rules are negotiable.

Canada is quite happy to cut loopholes through supply management as part of a trade deal that is, on the whole, advantageous to its interests.

The easiest solution, since Mr. Trump has made an issue of the 270-per-cent tariff, would be a dramatic reduction in that figure.

It is a purely theoretical number in any event, intended to ensure that no one will ever import a product it applies to. It would probably have the same effect at 100 per cent or 50 per cent. Canada could grant Mr. Trump a huge numerical concession he could boast about, though it would make no difference to any part of the dairy trade.

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European cheese makers wanted access to the Canadian market. The Canada-Europe trade treaty, negotiated by the former Stephen Harper government and concluded by the current Trudeau government, provided that Canadian cheese producers and retailers could import 18 million kilograms of European cheese duty-free every year  as they are now doing.

Dairy producers and processors were promised $350 million in government subsidies for the supposed injury to their business. They grumbled, but not much.

U.S. dairy, egg and poultry producers were similarly eager to sell their products into Canada when the former Obama administration was negotiating the Trans-Pacific trade treaty. As a result, the treaty allows for duty-free imports into Canada eventually adding up to about 3.25 per cent of the Canadian market. Mr. Trump pulled the U.S. out of that treaty and now the rules have to be discussed all over again among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. But Canada has already shown the size of the loophole it is willing to open in its supply management system.

The supply management system is especially popular in Quebec, whose small-scale, high-cost producers are kept in business by the production quotas and the import ban. Now that Quebec Liberal Premier Phillippe Couillard is fighting for his political life in a general election, Mr. Trudeau is not about to give any fresh sign that supply management is negotiable.

Quebec, however, will hold its election Oct. 1. Once that is out of the way, Ottawa will have some latitude to find out what advantages the U.S. can offer in return for access to Canadas supply-managed markets.

There is not much doubt about the access Canada can offer, since we already tipped our hand in the Europe and Pacific trade deals. The question remains what the U.S. can offer in return.
We had crews this summer ready to come in and fill in the tank and grade it out, he said. We had volunteers lined up to do a lot of it but we were told to stop by the village. We occupy the building but it's not ours. So weve always been limited in what we can do.
Cutting-edge Milwaukee performance artists and the community that supports them will convene Aug. 2526 for the third annual Milwaukee Fringe Festival.

The lineup of dancers, actors, musicians, puppeteers and everything in between has never been fringier. But the overall goal remains to entertain, educate and enlighten audiences, says Eric Engelbart, the festivals director of operations.

Weve been able to draw on a bigger pool of talent, both here at home and from other cities, says Engelbart, a local filmmaker and author. The festivals scope is growing and the quality of performances is getting better and better.

The 30-plus performances will take place in theaters and performance spaces inside and outside the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Organizers abandoned their prior dependence strictly on outdoor musical concerts to accommodate a more eclectic schedule.

The 2016 festival, which included 20 local bands performing at Pere Marquette Park, may have been too ambitious, Engelbart acknowledged. The band performances, combined with performances at the Marcus Center, attracted 1,300 attendees, roughly half of whom showed up for the music.

In 2017, the festival was pared back, eliminating the bands. It attracted about 700 attendees over two days.

Organizers hope to increase that number this year by offering more diverse programming in a more concentrated space.

We have more theater, more dance and less music than the first year, Engelbart says. We (still) have traditional bands and string quartets, so I feel our programming is better balanced than it has been in the past.

This years most unusual act

Engelbart says comedian Tyler Anthony Smiths R-rated performance is of Mein Comps, described as a gay fantasia about a certain dictator selling discounted theater tickets.

Smith will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 in the Todd Wehr Theater.

His one-man Hitler show is pretty funny, but its probably not one youd want to bring the kids to, Engelbart says.

WiG asked Engelbart and Fringe Festival board members John Schneider and Selena Milewski to choose their must-see favorites from this years lineup.

Eric Engelbart

Pius XI High Schools Only We Know Best (Aug. 25, 1 p.m., Vogel Hall): The local Catholic high schools show, staged in the form of a town-hall meeting, is a witty and incisive look at the modern political environment.

Michael Lucchesis The Fall 1959 (Aug. 25, 1 p.m., Todd Wehr Theater): A staged reading of Lucchesis second show, the performance is a poignant period piece that centers on the dissolution of a marriage over the course of an afternoon filled with revealed secrets.

Dream City Strings Unwound (Aug. 25, 2:15 p.m., Todd Wehr Theater): This string quartet performs musical compositions in boundary-pushing fashion  everything from Led Zeppelin to Vijay Iyer.

Selena Milewski

John Schneiders WHERE OR WHEN: The Life and Songs of Lorenz Hart (Aug. 25, 3:45 p.m., Todd Wehr Theater): Marquette University theater professor and Theater X veteran John Schneider unites his dual passions for theater and the Great American songbook. Lyricist Lorenz Hart, a pioneer of American songwriting, was a gay man living in a culture that made him neither safe nor welcome. His story is tragic but inspirational. Master pianist Connie Grauer of Mrs. Fun accompanies Schneider.

Independent Eyes Survival (Aug. 25, 6 p.m., Todd Wehr Theater): Given their strong ties to Milwaukees experimental theater movement, Independent Eye co-artistic directors Conrad Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller  Theater X veterans now based in Sebastopol, California  are sure to be an incredible addition to this years festival. Survival features Fuller in a fascinating dual role she describes as two halves of herself, one of them an inner clown.

Angry Young Mens Full Frontal Puppetry (Aug. 25, 9 p.m., Vogel Hall): This unique puppet collective has been entertaining Milwaukee since 2007 with wacky, wild and even gruesome antics. Similar in style and voice to Jim Hensons Muppets, the Angry Young Mens puppets are distinct for their adult humor and exaggerated satire. This one is not for kids.

John Schneider

Catey Ott Dance Collectives Effervescent (Aug. 25, 3:45 p.m., Vogel Hall): World-premiere modern dance works inspired by the permanent collection at the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University and performed to the music of Louis Vierne and Brooklyn composers Bora Yoon and Randall Woolf. The performances subject is the need for positive energy when the country is in chaos.

SueMo: A Dance Experiences New Works (Aug. 26, 3:30 p.m., Vogel Hall): This is a world premiere of contemporary dance works by Melissa Sue Anderson and Morgan Mo Williams sensational Milwaukee-based repertory company. Their work blends ballet, modern and urban dance styles, with dancers well trained in all disciplines.

Chad Piechocki and DIY Chamber Musics Valentine 4: Happy, Happier, Happiness (Aug. 26, 4:30 p.m., Todd Wehr Theater): This is a world premiere from Piechocki, a highly original performance artist. He gathers excellent co-performers and co-creates strange and stirring multidisciplinary shows. The DIY trio of Lauren Finn (harp), Olivia Dobbs (flute) and Maggie Iken (bass) will perform the music of Milwaukee composers Joshua Backes, Erik Johnson and Riles Walsh.

The third annual Milwaukee Fringe Festival is Aug. 2526 at venues inside and outside the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee. Tickets are $15 per performance, $30 for a one-day pass and $45 for a two-day pass. Tickets can be purchased at the Marcus Center box office, by calling 414-273-7206, and online at mkefringe.com.

Also, on Aug. 25, the Marcus Center will be sponsor A Taste of Islands, a daylong event celebrating the food, music and culture of Jamaica.
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Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on Aug. 14 announced a lawsuit against Trump International Hotel & Tower  Trump Tower  in Chicago for violating environmental laws and jeopardizing fish and aquatic life in the Chicago River.

Madigan filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Trump Tower for failing to comply with environmental laws that protect rivers and lakes.

She alleged Trump Tower releases millions of gallons of water into the Chicago River per day without having conducted federally mandated studies of the impact its facility has on the rivers fish and without the required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

Trump Tower, located along the Chicago River, pulls in nearly 20 million gallons of water from the river per day to cool the buildings heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

Due to the amount of water the building takes in daily, federal law requires extensive studies of Chicago River fish populations and the impact of the buildings water intake system.

Madigans lawsuit alleged Trump Tower failed to submit study results to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in 2013 as required by law.

The federal Clean Water Act regulates cooling water intake structures because they can pull large volumes of fish into a buildings cooling system. Fish and other aquatic organisms can also get trapped against intake screens.

Trump Tower continues to take millions of gallons of water from the Chicago River every day without a permit and without any regard to how it may be impacting the rivers ecosystem, Madigan said in an Aug. 14 news release. I filed my lawsuit to make sure Trump Tower cannot continue violating the law.

The complaint also alleged that Trump Tower has continued to release millions of gallons of heated water per day into the Chicago River even though its NPDES permit allowing it to do so expired on Aug. 31, 2017.

Like other buildings along the river that use river water for cooling purposes, Trump Tower is required by law to obtain an NPDES permit that limits the intake and discharge of water and also requires monitoring and reporting of water use and water temperature to prevent harm to the rivers ecosystem.

The Sierra Club and Friends of the Chicago River announced plans to sue Trump Tower regarding continuing violations of the Clean Water Act.

Previously, in 2012, Madigan filed a complaint with the Illinois Pollution Control Board alleging that Trump Tower was releasing heated water into the Chicago River without an NPDES permit.

The matter was settled and Trump Tower was ordered to obtain an NPDES permit, pay a fine and comply with environmental laws.

The building sought a modified NPDES permit in 2013 after initially misreporting the amount of water being withdrawn and discharged into the Chicago River each day.

Madigans lawsuit seeks to prevent further violations of state environmental laws, as well as civil penalties.
President Donald Trump's call for a boycott of Harley-Davidson motorcycles forced Gov. Scott Walker and other Republicans to either criticize the president or stick with the Milwaukee-based company just ahead of today's primary, where Trump allegiance has been a central focus.

Trump on Sunday tweeted it was "great" that "many" Harley owners planned to boycott the company if manufacturing moves overseas, continuing a steel tariff dispute he's had since June with the company.

Walker, perhaps the state's most prominent Harley owner, faces a tough re-election bid in November. He issued a statement that did not directly address the boycott call.

"I want Harley-Davidson to prosper here in the state of Wisconsin," Walker said. "And one of the best ways for that to happen is to do what the president has called for and that is to get to no tariffs."

Trump's attacks on Harley have put Walker in a tough spot politically as he runs for a third term in November.

Eight Democrats are running in today's primary for a chance to take on Walker who is seeking a third term.

"By attacking Wisconsin workers to cover for failed economic policy President Trump took a page right out of Scott Walker's playbook," said Mahlon Mitchell, one of the eight candidates and the head of the state firefighters union. He has more backing from labor unions than any other candidate.

Democratic candidate Kelda Roys accused Walker of "cowering before Trump" and the president's "attempts to destroy an iconic Wisconsin business."

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is up for re-election in November, was more forceful than Walker in her reaction to the Trump tweet.

"You can't run our economy with tweets," Baldwin tweeted to Trump. "Wisconsin businesses like @harleydavidson need better trade deals, not tweets and trade wars."

Kevin Nicholson and state Sen. Leah Vukmir are running in the Republican primary for chance to take on Baldwin. Both were running as strong Trump supporters, but the president has not endorsed in the race.

Nicholson pushed back against Baldwin without addressing Trump's boycott call.

"We do need better trade deals, not the ones engineered by you and other members of the political class," Nicholson tweeted at Baldwin. "We must bring trade partners back to the table and do away with tariffs. You don't fight for WI and you don't understand our economy."

Vukmir, who won the endorsement of the Wisconsin Republican Party, was making a final campaign swing in southeast Wisconsin, including a stop with retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan. Vukmir's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In July, Harley-Davidson said it expects new tariffs to cost the company as much as $100 million annually.

Polls have shown the Senate race to be a dead heat.

In the governor's race, State Superintendent Tony Evers had a double-digit lead in the Democratic gubernatorial primary based on polls in the months leading up to the election.

But others in the race who had raised enough to advertise on television  including Mitchell and Roys  are hoping for a late swing in their favor, particularly among younger voters.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary will enter the final three months of the race at a financial disadvantage to Walker. He had $4.8 million cash on hand in August, while the top tier Democrats were likely to be tapped out after spending on the primary.

The Wisconsin Democratic Party and the Democratic Governors Association have been raising money and building infrastructure in preparation for Aug. 15, to help the winner of the primary get a fast start against Walker.
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Cellcom Israel Ltd. operates and maintains a cellular mobile telephone system in Israel. It operates in two segments, Cellular and Fixed-line. The company offers cellular communications services, such as basic cellular telephony services comprising voice mail, cellular fax, call waiting, call forwarding, caller identification, and conference calling; text and multimedia messaging; and cellular content and data services. It also provides international roaming services; value-added services, such as short message and multimedia messaging; cloud backup; and content services, including Cellcom Volume music, Cellcom TV, and other applications. In addition, the company sells handsets, tablets, streamers, smart watches, and home security cameras, as well as offers repair services. Further, it provides internet infrastructure and connectivity services, over-the-top TV services, international long distance services, and landline telephony and transmission services; transmission and data services through fiber-optic infrastructure and complementary microwave links; IP switchboard services; and cloud services and data protection products, as well as operates and manages business telecommunication systems to selected business customers and telecommunications operators. As of December 31, 2019, the company had approximately 10.6 million cellular subscribers. Cellcom Israel Ltd. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Netanya, Israel.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Laboratory Co. of America: 1957285 Ontario Inc. dba Quality Underwriting Services, 2089729 Ontario Inc., 2248848 Ontario Inc., 3065619 Nova Scotia Company, 3257959 Nova Scotia Company, 896988 Ontario Limited, 9279-3280 Quebec Inc., Accupath Diagnostic Laboratories Inc., Alpha Medical Laboratory LLC, Assets of Pathology Inc, Beacon LBS IPA Inc., Beacon Laboratory Benefit Solutions Inc., CannAmm GP Inc., CannAmm Limited Partnership, Center for Disease Detection International, Center for Disease Detection LLC, Centrex Clinical Laboratories Inc., Chiltern, Clearstone Central Laboratories (U.S.) Inc., Clearstone Holdings (International) Ltd., Clipper Holdings Inc., Colorado Coagulation Consultants Inc., Colorado Laboratory Services LLC, Correlagen Diagnostics Inc., Covance Inc., Curalab Inc., Cytometry Associates Inc., Czura Thornton (Hong Kong) Limited, DCL Acquisition Inc., DCL Medical Laboratories LLC (DE), DCL Medical Laboratories LLC (FL), DCL Sub LLC, DIANON Systems Inc., DL Holdings Limited Partnership, Decision Diagnostics L.L.C. (aka DaVinici/Medicorp LLC), Diagnostic Services Inc., DynaLifeDX, Dynacare - Gamma Laboratory Partnership, Dynacare Company, Dynacare G.P. Inc., Dynacare Holdco LLC, Dynacare Laboratories Inc., Dynacare Laboratories Limited Partnership, Dynacare Northwest Inc., Dynacare Realty Inc., DynalifeDX Infrastructure Inc., Endocrine Sciences Inc., Esoterix Genetic Counseling LLC, Esoterix Genetic Laboratories LLC, Esoterix Inc., Execmed Health Services Inc., FirstSource Laboratory Solutions Inc., GDML Medical Laboratories Inc, Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratories GP Inc., Gamma Dynacare Central Medical Laboratory Limited Partnership, HHLA Lab-In-An-Envelope LLC, Health Trans Services Inc., Home Healthcare Laboratory of America LLC, IDX Pathology Inc., Impact Genetics Corp, Impact Genetics Inc., Kaleida LabCorp LLC, Lab Delivery Service of New York City Inc., LabCorp BVBA, LabCorp Belgium Holdings Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Canada) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (China) Inc., LabCorp Central Laboratories (Singapore) Pte., LabCorp Development Company, LabCorp Employer Services Inc., LabCorp Health System Diagnostics LLC, LabCorp Indiana Inc., LabCorp Japan G.K., LabCorp Limited, LabCorp Michigan Inc., LabCorp Nebraska Inc., LabCorp Neon Ltd., LabCorp Neon Switzerland S.a.r.l., LabCorp Specialty Testing Billing Service Inc., LabCorp Specialty Testing Group Inc., LabCorp Staffing Solutions Inc., LabCorp Tennessee LLC, LabCorp UK Holdings Ltd., LabWest Inc., Laboratoire Bio-Medic Inc., Laboratory Corporation of America, Lifecodes Corporation, LipoScience Inc., Litholink Corporation, MEDTOX Scientific Inc., MNG Laboratories, Medical Neurogenitics LLC, Medtox Diagnostics Inc., Medtox Laboratories Inc., Monogram Biosciences Inc., Monogram Biosciences UK Limited, Myriad Autoimmunes Vectra Testing Business, NWT Inc., National Genetics Institute, New Brighton Business Center LLC, New Imaging Diagnostics LLC, New Molecular Diagnostics Ventures LLC, Orchid Cellmark Ltd., Orchid Cellmark ULC, PA Labs Inc., Path Lab Incorporated, Pathology Associates Medical Lab LLC, Pee Dee Pathology Associates Inc., Persys Technology Inc., Pixel by LabCorp, Princeton Diagnostic Laboratories of America Inc., Protedyne Corporation, ReliaGene Technologies Inc., SW/DL LLC, Saint Josephs-PAML LLC, Sequenom Biosciences (India) Pvt. Ltd., Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine LLC, Sequenom Inc, Sequenom Inc., Southern Idaho Regional Laboratory, Tandem Labs Inc., The LabCorp Charitable Foundation, Tri-Cities Laboratory LLC, Viro-Med Laboratories Inc., Visiun, and Yakima Medical Arts Inc..
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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Ralph Lauren Corp. engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products. The firm offers apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and other licensed product. It operates through the following segments: North America, Europe, and Asia. The North America segment consists of sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Club Monaco. The Europe segment caters to sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in Europe and the Middle East, excluding Club Monaco. The Asia segment covers the sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The company was founded by Ralph Lauren in 1967 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Tenet Healthcare: 1 Subsidiaries of this entity in which Tenet Healthcare Corporation directly and indirectly held a 95% ownership interest at December 31 2020 are set forth in the table below., 25 East Same Day Surgery L.L.C., 300 PBL Development LLC, 45th Street MOB LLC, 601 N 30th Street I L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street II L.L.C., 601 N 30th Street III Inc., AHM Acquisition Co. Inc., AIG Holdings LLC, AIGB Global LLC, AIGB Group Inc., AIGB Holdings Inc., AIGB Management Services LLC, AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #3 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #4 L.L.C., AMC/North Fulton Urgent Care #5 L.L.C., AMI Information Systems Group Inc., AMI/HTI Tarzana Encino Joint Venture, APN, ARC Worcester Center L.P., ASC Old Co. LP, ASC of New Jersey LLC, ASJH Joint Venture LLC, Abrazo Health Network EP Clinical Services LLC, Abrazo Surgical Outpatient Center LLC, Advanced Ambulatory Surgical Care L.P., Advanced Center for Surgery  Vero Beach LLC, Advanced Regional Surgery Center LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Metairie LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Sarasota LLC, Advanced Surgery Center of Tampa LLC, Advanced Surgical Care of St Louis LLC, Advanced Surgical Concepts LLC, Advantage Health Care Management Company LLC, Advantage Health Network Inc., AdventHealth Surgery Center Celebration LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Mills Park LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Wellswood LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Center Winter Garden LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers Central Florida LLC, AdventHealth Surgery Centers West Florida LLC, Adventist Midwest Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Alabama Cardiovascular Associates L.L.C., Alabama Digestive Health Endoscopy Center L.L.C., Alabama Hand and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Alamo Heights Surgicare L.P., All Star MOB LLC, Allegian Insurance Company, Alliance Surgery Birmingham LLC, Alliance Surgery Inc., Alvarado Hospital Medical Center Inc., Ambulatory Surgical Associates LLC, Ambulatory Surgical Center of Somerville LLC, American Institute of Gastric Banding Ltd., American Institute of Gastric Banding Phoenix Limited Partnership, American Medical (Central) Inc., Amisub (Heights) Inc., Amisub (Hilton Head) Inc., Amisub (North Ridge Hospital) Inc., Amisub (SFH) Inc., Amisub (Twelve Oaks) Inc., Amisub of California Inc., Amisub of North Carolina Inc., Amisub of South Carolina Inc., Amisub of Texas Inc., Anaheim Hills Medical Imaging L.L.C., Anaheim MRI Holding Inc., Anesthesia Partners of Gallatin LLC, Arizona Care Network  Next L.L.C., Arizona Health Partners LLC, Arlington Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Arrowhead Endoscopy and Pain Management Center LLC, Asia Outsourcing US Inc., Aspen Healthcare, Atlanta Medical Center Inc., Atlanta Medical Center Interventional Neurology Associates L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists L.L.C., Atlanta Medical Center Physician Group L.L.C., Atlantic Coast Surgical Suites LLC, Atlantic Health-USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Avita/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., BBH BMC LLC, BBH CBMC LLC, BBH DevelopmentCo LLC, BBH Imaging Jasper LLC, BBH NP Clinicians Inc., BBH PBMC LLC, BBH SBMC LLC, BBH WBMC LLC, BCDC EmployeeCO LLC, BHC-Talladega Pediatrics LLC, BHS Accountable Care LLC, BHS Affinity LLC, BHS Integrated Physician Partners LLC, BHS Physician Performance Network LLC, BHS Physicians Alliance for ACE LLC, BHS Physicians Network Inc., BHS Specialty Network Inc., BT East Dallas JV LLP, BW Cardiology LLC, BW Cyberknife LLC, BW Hand Practice LLC, BW Office Buildings LLC, BW Parking Decks LLC, BW Physician Practices LLC, BW Retail Pharmacy LLC, BW Sports Practice LLC, Bagley Holdings LLC, Baptist Accountable Care LLC, Baptist Diagnostics LLC, Baptist Health Centers LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance ACO LLC, Baptist Physician Alliance LLC, Baptist Plaza Surgicare L.P., Baptist Surgery Center L.P., Baptist Womens Health Center LLC, Baptist/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bartlett ASC LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Baylor Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Blue Star LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Granbury LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Mansfield LLC, Baylor Surgicare at North Dallas LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano LLC, Baylor Surgicare at Plano Parkway LLC, Bear Creek Surgery Center LLC, Beaumont Surgical Affiliates Ltd., Bellaire Outpatient Surgery Center L.L.P., Berkshire Eye LLC, Bloomington ASC LLC, Blue Ridge/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Bluffton Okatie Primary Care L.L.C., Bluffton Okatie Surgery Center L.L.C., Bon Secours Surgery Center at Harbour View LLC, Bon Secours Surgery Center at Virginia Beach LLC, Bozeman Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Bozeman MOB LLC, Briarcliff Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Bristol Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Broad River Primary Care L.L.C., Brookwood - Maternal Fetal Medicine L.L.C., Brookwood Ancillary Holdings Inc., Brookwood Baptist Health 1 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 2 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Health 3 LLC, Brookwood Baptist Imaging LLC, Brookwood Center Development Corporation, Brookwood Development Inc., Brookwood Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Brookwood Garages L.L.C., Brookwood Health Services Inc., Brookwood Home Health LLC, Brookwood Occupational Health Clinic L.L.C., Brookwood Parking Associates Ltd., Brookwood Primary Care - Homewood L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Inverness L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Mountain Brook L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Oak Mountain L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care - Vestavia L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Cahaba Heights L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care Hoover L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Care The Narrows L.L.C., Brookwood Primary Network Care Inc., Brookwood Specialty Care - Endocrinology L.L.C., Brookwood Sports and Orthopedics L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Care L.L.C., Brookwood Womens Diagnostic Center LLC, C7 Technologies LLC, CGH Hospital Ltd., CHIC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CHN Holdings LLC, CHRISTUS Cabrini Surgery Center L.L.C., CHVI Tucson Holdings LLC, CML-Chicago Market Labs Inc., CRNAs of Michigan, CS/USP General Partner LLC, CS/USP Surgery Centers LP, California Joint & Spine LLC, Camp Creek Urgent Care L.L.C., Camp Lowell Surgery Center L.L.C., Captive Insurance Services Inc., Cardiology Physicians Associates L.L.C., Cardiology Physicians Corporation L.L.C., Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates L.L.C., Cardiovascular Clinical Excellence at Sierra Providence LLC, CareSpot of Austin LLC, CareSpot of Memphis LLC, CareSpot of Orlando/HSI Urgent Care LLC, Carmel Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Carondelet St. Marys-Northwest L.L.C., Cascade Spine Center LLC, Castle Rock Surgery Center LLC, Catawba-Piedmont Cardiothoracic Surgery L.L.C., Cedar Hill Primary Care L.L.C., Cedar Park Surgery Center L.L.P., Centennial ASC LLC, Center for Advanced Research Excellence L.L.C., Center for the Urban Child Inc., Central California Healthcare Holdings LLC, Central Carolina Physicians - Sandhills L.L.C., Central Carolina-IMA L.L.C., Central Jersey Surgery Center LLC, Central Texas Corridor Hospital Company LLC, Central Valley Quality Alliance LLC, Central Virginia Surgi-Center L.P., Centura Ventures Surgery Centers LLC, Centura/USP Colorado Springs Surgery Centers L.L.C., Chalon Living Inc., Chandler Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Endoscopic Surgery Center LLC, Chattanooga Pain Management Center LLC, Chesterfield Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Chesterfield Anesthesia Associates of Missouri LLC, Chico Surgery Center L.P., Childrens Hospital of Michigan Premier Network Inc., Citrus Heights ASC RE LLC, Clarkston ASC Partners LLC, Clarksville Surgery Center LLC, Coast Healthcare Management LLC, Coast Surgery Center L.P., Coastal Carolina Medical Center, Coastal Carolina Medical Center Inc., Coastal Carolina Physician Practices LLC, Coastal Carolina Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Coastal Endo LLC, Colorado GI Centers LLC, Commonwealth Continental Health Care Inc., Community Connection Health Plan Inc., Community Hospital LLC, Community Hospital of Los Gatos Inc., Conifer Care Continuum Solutions LLC, Conifer Ethics and Compliance Inc., Conifer Global Business Center Inc., Conifer Global Holdings Inc., Conifer Health Solutions LLC, Conifer Holdings Inc., Conifer Patient Communications LLC, Conifer Physician Services Holdings Inc., Conifer Physician Services Inc., Conifer Revenue Cycle Solutions LLC, Conifer Value-Based Care LLC, Conroe Surgery Center 2 LLC, Coral Gables Hospital Inc., Coral Ridge Outpatient Center LLC, Corpus Christi Surgicare Ltd., Covenant/USP Surgery Centers LLC, CreAtiv Management Company Inc., Creekwood Investors LLC, Creekwood Surgery Center L.P., Crown Point Surgery Center LLC, DH/USP SJOSC Investment Company L.L.C., DH/USP Sacramento Pain GP LLC, DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Education & Research, DMC Harper University Hospital Premier Clinical Co-Management Services LLC, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, DMC Imaging L.L.C., Dallas Surgical Partners LLC, DeTar/USP Surgery Center LLC, Delray Beach ASC LLC, Delray Medical Center Inc., Delray Medical Physician Services L.L.C., Denton Surgicare Partners Ltd., Denton Surgicare Real Estate Ltd., Denville Surgery Center LLC, Des Peres Physician Network LLC, Desert Cove MOB LLC, Desert Regional Medical Center Inc., Desert Ridge Outpatient Surgery LLC, Desoto Surgicare Partners Ltd., Destin ASC RE LLC, Destin Surgery Center LLC, Detroit Education & Research, DigitalMed Inc., Dignity/Abrazo Health Network LLC, Dignity/USP Folsom GP LLC, Dignity/USP Grass Valley GP LLC, Dignity/USP Las Vegas Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Metro Surgery Center LLC, Dignity/USP NorCal Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers II LLC, Dignity/USP Phoenix Surgery Centers LLC, Dignity/USP Redding GP LLC, Dignity/USP Roseville GP LLC, Dignity/USP/John Muir East Bay Surgery Centers LLC, Doctors Hospital of Manteca Inc., Doctors Medical Center Neurosciences Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center Orthopedics Clinical Co-Management LLC, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto Inc., Doctors Outpatient Center for Surgery LLC, Doctors Outpatient Surgery Center of Jupiter L.L.C., EPHC Inc., EPIC ASC LLC, East Atlanta Endoscopy Centers LLC, East Cobb Urgent Care LLC, East Cooper Coastal Family Physicians L.L.C., East Cooper Community Hospital Inc., East Cooper Hyperbarics L.L.C., East Cooper OB/GYN L.L.C., East Cooper Physician Network LLC, East Cooper Primary Care Physicians L.L.C., East Portland Surgery Center LLC, East West Surgery Center L.P., Eastgate Building Center L.L.C., Effingham Surgical Partners LLC, Einstein Montgomery Surgery Center LLC, Einstein/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., El Mirador Surgery Center L.L.C., El Paso Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy LLC, El Paso Day Surgery LLC, El Paso Urology Surgery Center Curie LLC, Emanate/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Emanuel Medical Center, Emerson Surgery Center LLC, Encinitas Endoscopy Center LLC, Endoscopy Center of Hackensack LLC, Endoscopy Center of South Sacramento LLC, Endoscopy Consultants LLC, European Surgical Partners Ltd., Eye Center of Nashville UAP LLC, Eye Surgery Center of Nashville LLC, FMC Medical Inc., FMCC Network Contracting L.L.C., FPN  Frisco Physicians Network, FREH Real Estate L.L.C., FRS Imaging Services L.L.C., FSC Hospital LLC, FSH IT Services LP, First Choice Physician Partners, Flatirons Surgery Center LLC, Folsom Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Fort Bend Clinical Services Inc., Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate LP, Fort Worth Surgicare Partners Ltd., Foundation Bariatric Hospital of San Antonio LLC, Foundation San Antonio Borrower Sub LLC, Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, Fountain Valley Surgery Center LLC, Franklin Endo UAP LLC, Franklin Endoscopy Center LLC, Fresno Surgery Center L.P., Frisco Medical Center L.L.P., Frontenac Ambulatory Surgery & Spine Care Center L.P., Frye Regional Medical Center Inc., FryeCare Boone L.L.C., FryeCare Morganton L.L.C., FryeCare Physicians L.L.C., FryeCare Valdese L.L.C., FryeCare Watauga L.L.C., FryeCare Womens Services L.L.C., GCSA Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Gamma Surgery Center LLC, Gardendale Surgical Associates LLC, Garland Surgicare Partners Ltd., Gastric Health Institute L.L.C., Genesis ASC Partners LLC, Geneva Surgical Suites LLC, Georgia Endoscopy Center LLC, Georgia Gifts From Grace L.L.C., Georgia Musculoskeletal Network Inc., Georgia North Fulton Healthcare Associates L.L.C., Georgia Northside Ear Nose and Throat L.L.C., Georgia Physicians of Cardiology L.L.C., Georgia Spectrum Neurosurgical Specialists L.L.C., Georgia Spine Surgery Center LLC, Glen Echo Surgery Center LLC, Golden Ridge ASC LLC, Good Samaritan Medical Center Inc., Good Samaritan Surgery L.L.C., Grapevine Surgicare Partners Ltd., Grass Valley Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Graystone Family Healthcare - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Great Lakes Surgical Suites LLC, Greater Dallas Healthcare Enterprises, Greater Northwest Houston Enterprises, Greenville Physicians Surgery Center LLP, Greenwood ASC LLC, Greystone Internal Medicine - Brookwood L.L.C., Gulf Coast Community Hospital Inc., HCH Tucson Holdings LLC, HCN Emerus Management Sub LLC, HCN Emerus Texas LLC, HCN Laboratories Inc., HCN Physicians Inc., HCN Sunnyvale Holdings LLC, HCN Surgery Center Holdings Inc., HDMC Holdings L.L.C., HMA/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, HMH-USP Surgery Centers LLC, HMHP/USP Surgery Centers LLC, HNMC Inc., HNW GP Inc., HNW LP Inc., HPI Holdings LLC, HPI North LLC, HPI Physicians LLC, HSRM International Inc., HSS Palm Beach Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, HSS/USP Surgery Center LLC, HUG Services Inc., HUMC/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Hacienda Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Hagerstown Surgery Center LLC, Hardeeville Medical Group L.L.C., Hardeeville Primary Care L.L.C., Harlingen Physician Network Inc., Harper-Hutzel AHP Services Inc., Harvard Park Surgery Center LLC, Haymarket Surgery Center LLC, Hazelwood Endoscopy Center LLC, Health & Wellness Surgery Center L.P., Health Horizons of Kansas City Inc., Health Horizons of Murfreesboro Inc., Health Horizons/Piedmont Joint Venture LLC, Health Services CFMC Inc., Health Services HNMC Inc., Health Services Network Care Inc., Health Services Network Hospitals Inc., Health Services Network Texas Inc., HealthCorp Network Inc., Healthcare Compliance LLC, Healthcare Network Alabama Inc., Healthcare Network CFMC Inc., Healthcare Network DPH Inc., Healthcare Network Georgia Inc., Healthcare Network Holdings Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals (Dallas) Inc., Healthcare Network Hospitals Inc., Healthcare Network Louisiana Inc., Healthcare Network Missouri Inc., Healthcare Network North Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network South Carolina Inc., Healthcare Network Tennessee Inc., Healthcare Network Texas Inc., Healthcare Partners Investments LLC, Healthmark Partners Inc., Healthpoint of North Carolina L.L.C., Heart and Vascular Institute of Michigan, Heritage Park Surgical Hospital LLC, Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hialeah Hospital Inc., Hialeah Real Properties Inc., Hickory Family Practice Associates - Tenet North Carolina L.L.C., Hill Country ASC Partners LLC, Hill Country Surgery Center LLC, Hilton Head Health System L.P., Hilton Head Regional Healthcare L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional OB/GYN Partners L.L.C., Hilton Head Regional Physician Network LLC, Hilton Head Regional Physician Network  Georgia L.L.C., Hinsdale Surgical Center LLC, Hitchcock State Street Real Estate Inc., Holston Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Holy Cross Hospital Inc., Home Health Partners of San Antonio LLC, Hoover Doctors Group Inc., Hoover Land LLC, Horizon Ridge Surgery Center LLC, Hospital Development of West Phoenix Inc., Hospital RCM Services LLC, Hospital Underwriting Group Inc., Houston Northwest Partners Ltd., Houston PSC L.P., Houston Specialty Hospital Inc., Houston Sunrise Investors Inc., Hyde Park Surgery Center LLC, ICNU Rockford LLC, Imaging Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., InforMed Insurance Services LLC, Integris/USP Health Ventures LLC, International Health and Wellness Inc., Irving-Coppell Surgical Hospital L.L.P., JFK Memorial Hospital Inc., JFP UAP Sugarland LLC, Jackson Surgical Center LLC, Jacksonville Endoscopy Centers LLC, Journey Home Healthcare of San Antonio LLC, KHS Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, KHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Kingsport Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Laguna Medical Systems Inc., Lake Endoscopy Center LLC, Lake Health Care Facilities Inc., Lake Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lake Surgical Hospital Slidell LLC, LakeFront Medical Associates LLC, Lakewood Regional Medical Center Inc., Lakewood Surgery Center LLC, Lancaster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Lansing ASC Partners LLC, Lawrenceville Surgery Center L.L.C., Lebanon Endoscopy Center LLC, Legacy Warren Partners L.P., Legacy/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Leonardtown Surgery Center LLC, Liberty Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Lifemark Hospitals Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Florida Inc., Lifemark Hospitals of Louisiana Inc., Lone Star Endoscopy Center LLC, Longleaf Surgery Center LLC, Los Alamitos Medical Center Inc., Lubbock ASC Holding Co LLC, MASC Partners LLC, MCSH Real Estate Investors Ltd., MH Memorial City Surgery LLC, MH/USP Bay Area LLC, MH/USP Brazoria LLC, MH/USP Kingsland LLC, MH/USP Kingwood LLC, MH/USP Kirby LLC, MH/USP Main Street LLC, MH/USP North Freeway LLC, MH/USP North Houston LLC, MH/USP Richmond LLC, MH/USP Sugar Land LLC, MH/USP TMC Endoscopy LLC, MH/USP West Houston L.L.C., MH/USP Woodlands Parkway LLC, MSH Partners LLC, MSV Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MVH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, MacNeal Management Services Inc., MacNeal Medical Records Inc., MacNeal Physicians Group LLC, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of San Luis Obispo Inc., Magnolia Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Manchester Ambulatory Surgery Center LP, Maple Lawn Surgery Center LLC, Marion Surgery Center LLC, Mary Immaculate Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mason Ridge Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mayfield Spine Surgery Center LLC, McLaren ASC of Flint LLC, Meadowcrest Hospital LLC, Medical House Staffing LLC, Medical Park Tower Surgery Center LLC, Medplex Outpatient Medical Centers Inc., Medplex Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Memorial Hermann Bay Area Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann Endoscopy & Surgery Center North Houston L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Endoscopy Center North Freeway LLC, Memorial Hermann Specialty Hospital Kingwood L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Surgical Hospital L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Brazoria LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Cypress LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Katy LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kingsland L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Kirby LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Main Street LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Memorial City L.L.C., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Northwest LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Pinecroft LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Preston Road Ltd., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Richmond LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Southwest L.L.P., Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Sugar Land LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Texas Medical Center LLP, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Woodlands Parkway LLC, Memorial Hermann Surgery Center  The Woodlands LLP, Memorial Hermann Texas International Endoscopy Center LLC, Memorial Hermann West Houston Surgery Center LLC, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers II L.P., Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers III LLP, Memorial Hermann/USP Surgery Centers IV LLP, Memorial Surgery Center LLC, Memphis Urgent Care #1 L.L.C., Memphis Urgent Care #2 L.L.C., Merced Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Mercy/USP Health Ventures L.L.C., Metro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Metro Surgery Center LLC, MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice LLC, Metrocrest Surgery Center L.P., Metropolitan New Jersey LLC, Michigan ASC Partners L.L.C., Michigan Pioneer ACO LLC, Michigan Regional Imaging LLC, Mid Rivers Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Mid State Endo UAP LLC, Mid-State Endoscopy Center LLC, Mid-TSC Development LP, Middle Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Midland Memorial/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Midland Texas Surgical Center LLC, Midwest Digestive Health Center LLC, Midwest Pharmacies Inc., Midwest Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Millennium Surgical Center LLC, Mobile Imaging Management LLC, Mobile Technology Management LLC, Modesto Radiology Imaging Inc., Monocacy Surgery Center LLC, Mountain Empire Surgery Center L.P., Munster Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Murdock Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, NHSC Holdings LLC, NICH GP Holdings LLC, NKCH/USP Briarcliff GP LLC, NKCH/USP Liberty GP LLC, NKCH/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., NKCH/USP Surgery Centers LLC, NMC Lessor L.P., NMC Surgery Center L.P., NME Headquarters Inc., NME Properties Corp., NME Properties Inc., NME Property Holding Co. Inc., NME Psychiatric Hospitals Inc., NME Rehabilitation Properties Inc., NSCH GP Holdings LLC, NSCH/USP Desert Surgery Centers L.L.C., NUCH of Georgia L.L.C., NUCH of Massachusetts LLC, NUCH of Michigan Inc., NUCH of Texas, Nacogdoches ASC-LP Inc., Name of Entity, National ASC Inc., National Ancillary Inc., National Diagnostic Imaging Centers Inc., National HHC Inc., National Home Health Holdings Inc., National ICN Inc., National Imaging Center Holdings Inc., National Medical Services II Inc., National Outpatient Services Holdings Inc., National Surgery Center Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Holdings Inc., National Urgent Care Inc., Network Management Associates Inc., New Dimensions LLC, New England Physician Performance Network LLC, New H Acute Inc., New Horizons Surgery Center LLC, New Medical Horizons II Ltd., New Mexico Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, New Salem ASC RE LLC, Newhope Imaging Center Inc., North Anaheim Surgery Center LLC, North Atlantic Surgical Suites LLC, North Campus Surgery Center LLC, North Carolina Community Family Medicine L.L.C., North Central Surgical Center L.L.P., North Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, North Fulton Cardiovascular Medicine L.L.C., North Fulton Hospitalist Group L.L.C., North Fulton Medical Center Inc., North Fulton Primary Care - Willeo Rd. L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Windward Parkway L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care - Wylie Bridge L.L.C., North Fulton Primary Care Associates L.L.C., North Fulton Pulmonary Specialists L.L.C., North Fulton Womens Consultants L.L.C., North Garland Surgery Center L.L.P., North Haven Surgery Center LLC, North Miami Medical Center Ltd., North Shore Medical Billing Center L.L.C., North Shore Medical Center Inc., North Shore Same Day Surgery L.L.C., North Shore Surgical Suites LLC, North State Surgery Centers L.P., NorthPointe Surgical Suites LLC, NorthShore/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Northern Monmouth Regional Surgery Center L.L.C., Northridge ASC RE LLC, Northridge Surgery Center L.P., Northwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Georgia Orthopaedic Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Regional ASC LLC, Northwest Regional Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgery Center LLP, Northwest Surgery Center Ltd., Novant Health/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Novant/UVA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, OCOMS Imaging LLC, OCOMS Professional Services LLC, OLOL/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Okatie Surgical Partners L.L.C., Oklahoma Center for Orthopedic and Multi-Specialty Surgery LLC, Old Tesson Surgery Center L.P., Olive Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Olive Branch Urgent Care #1 LLC, Ophthalmology Anesthesia Services LLC, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Orlando LLC, Optimum Spine Center LLC, OrNda Healthcorp, OrNda Hospital Corporation, Orlando Health/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., OrthoArizona Surgery Center Gilbert LLC, OrthoLink ASC Corporation, OrthoLink Physicians Corporation, OrthoLink Radiology Services Corporation, OrthoLink/ Georgia ASC Inc., OrthoLink/Baptist ASC LLC, OrthoLink/New Mexico ASC Inc., Orthopedic Associates of the Lowcountry L.L.C., Orthopedic South Surgical Partners LLC, Orthopedic and Surgical Specialty Company LLC, PAHS/USP Surgery Centers LLC, PDN L.L.C., PHPS Inc., PHPS-CHM Acquisition Inc., PHS/USP Health Ventures LLC, PM CyFair Land Partners LLC, PMC Physician Network L.L.C., PPRE LLC, PSS Patient Solution Services LLC, Pacific Endo-Surgical Center L.P., Pacific Endoscopy and Surgery Center LLC, Pain Diagnostic and Treatment Center L.P., Paley Institute Global LLC, Palm Beach Gardens Community Hospital Inc., Palm Beach International Surgery Center LLC, Palm Valley Medical Center Campus Association, Palos Health Surgery Center LLC, Paramus Endoscopy LLC, Park Cities Surgery Center LLC, Park Plaza Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., ParkCreek ASC LLC, Parkway Recovery Care Center LLC, Parkwest Surgery Center L.P., Patient Partners LLC, Peak Gastroenterology ASC LLC, Pediatric Surgery Center  Odessa LLC, Pediatric Surgery Centers LLC, Physician Performance Network L.L.C., Physician Performance Network of Arizona LLC, Physician Performance Network of Detroit, Physician Performance Network of South Carolina LLC, Physician Performance Network of Tucson LLC, Physicians Performance Network of Houston, Physicians Performance Network of North Texas, Physicians Surgery Center at Good Samaritan LLC, Physicians Surgery Center of Tempe LLC, Physicians Surgical Center of Ft. Worth LLP, Physicians Surgery Center of Chattanooga L.L.C., Physicians Surgery Center of Knoxville LLC, Piccard Surgery Center LLC, Piedmont ASC LLC, Piedmont Behavioral Medicine Associates LLC, Piedmont Cardiovascular Physicians L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina OB/GYN of York County L.L.C., Piedmont Carolina Vascular Surgery L.L.C., Piedmont East Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Piedmont Express Care at Sutton Road L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Rock Hill L.L.C., Piedmont Family Practice at Tega Cay L.L.C., Piedmont General Surgery Associates L.L.C., Piedmont Internal Medicine at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Physician Network LLC, Piedmont Pulmonology L.L.C., Piedmont Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care Center at Baxter Village L.L.C., Piedmont Urgent Care and Industrial Health Centers Inc., Piedmont/Carolinas Radiation Therapy LLC, Placentia-Linda Hospital Inc., Pleasanton Diagnostic Imaging Inc., Point of Rocks Surgery Center LLC, Practice Partners Management L.P., Premier ACO Physicians Network LLC, Premier ASC LLC, Premier Adult and Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Premier Endoscopy ASC LLC, Premier Health Plan Services Inc., Premier Medical Specialists L.L.C., Prince William Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Professional Anesthesia Services LLC, Professional Liability Insurance Company, Pros Temporary Staffing Inc., Providence/UCLA/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Providence/USP Santa Clarita GP LLC, Providence/USP South Bay Surgery Centers L.L.C., Providence/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Pueblo Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, R.H.S.C. El Paso Inc., RE Plano Med Inc., RHC Parkway Inc., RLC LLC, Reading Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Reading Endoscopy Center LLC, Reagan Street Surgery Center LLC, Redmond Surgery Center LLC, Renaissance Surgery Center LLC, Republic Health Corporation of Rockwall County, Resolute Health Physicians Network Inc., Resolute Hospital Company LLC, Resurgens East Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Fayette Surgery Center LLC, Resurgens Surgery Center LLC, Rheumatology Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Richmond ASC Leasing Company LLC, Rio Grande Valley Indigent Health Care Corporation, River North Same Day Surgery L.L.C., Riverside Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Rock Bridge Surgical Institute L.L.C., Rock Hill Surgery Center LLC, Rockwall Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.P., Rocky Mountain Endoscopy Centers LLC, Roseville Surgery Center L.P., Roswell Surgery Center L.L.C., SCNRE LLC, SFMP Inc., SFMPE - Crittenden L.L.C., SL-HLC Inc., SLH Physicians L.L.C., SLH Vista Inc., SLPA ACO LLC, SLUH Anesthesia Physicians L.L.C., SMSJ Imaging Company LLC, SMSJ Tucson Holdings LLC, SPC at the Star LLC, SRRMC Management Inc., SSI Holdings Inc., Sacramento Midtown Endoscopy Center LLC, Safety Harbor ASC Company LLC, Saint Agnes/Dignity/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Agnes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Saint Francis Cardiology Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis Cardiovascular Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Billing Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital Medicare ACO LLC, Saint Francis Hospital Pro Fee Billing L.L.C., Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett Inc., Saint Francis Medical Partners East L.L.C., Saint Francis Medical Partners General Surgery L.L.C., Saint Francis Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis Quality Alliance LLC, Saint Francis Surgery Center L.L.C., Saint Francis Surgical Associates L.L.C., Saint Francis-Arkansas Physician Network LLC, Saint Francis-Bartlett Physician Network LLC, Saint Thomas Campus Surgicare L.P., Saint Thomas Surgery Center New Salem LLC, Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers II L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Saint Thomas/USP  Baptist Plaza L.L.C., Saint Vincent Physician Services Inc., Salmon Surgery Center LLC, Same Day Management L.L.C., Same Day SC of Central NJ LLC, Same Day Surgery L.L.C., San Antonio Endoscopy L.P., San Fernando Valley Surgery Center L.P., San Gabriel Valley Surgical Center L.P., San Martin Surgery Center LLC, San Ramon ASC L. P., San Ramon Ambulatory Care LLC, San Ramon Network Joint Venture LLC, San Ramon Regional Medical Center LLC, San Ramon Surgery Center L.L.C., Santa Barbara Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Santa Clarita Surgery Center L.P., Savannah Endoscopy Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Schertz Surgery Center LLC, Scripps Encinitas Surgery Center LLC, Scripps/USP Surgery Centers L.L.C., Seaside Surgery Center LLC, Shands/Solantic Joint Venture LLC, Shelby Baptist Affinity LLC, Shelby Baptist Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Shore Outpatient Surgicenter L.L.C., Shoreline Real Estate Partnership LLP, Shoreline Surgery Center LLP, Shrewsbury Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Pacific Surgery Center LLC, Sierra Providence Health Network Inc., Sierra Providence Healthcare Enterprises, Sierra Vista Hospital Inc., Silicon Valley Outpatient Surgery Centers LLC, Silver Cross Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Silver Cross/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Sinai-Grace Premier Clinical Management Services LLC, Siouxland Surgery Center Limited Liability Partnership, Solantic Corporation, Solantic Development LLC, Solantic Holdings Corporation, Solantic of Jacksonville LLC, Solantic of Orlando LLC, Solantic/South Florida LLC, South Carolina East Cooper Surgical Specialists L.L.C., South Carolina Health Services Inc., South Carolina SeWee Family Medicine L.L.C., South County Outpatient Endoscopy Services L.P., South Denver Musculoskeletal Surgical Partners LLC, South Florida Ambulatory Surgical Center LLC, South Fulton Health Care Centers Inc., SouthCare Physicians Group Neurology L.L.C., SouthCare Physicians Group Obstetrics & Gynecology L.L.C., Southeast Ohio Surgical Suites LLC, Southern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine L.L.C., Southern States Physician Operations Inc., Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Southwest Childrens Hospital LLC, Southwest Endoscopy LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital LLC, Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Hospital Real Estate LLC, Southwestern Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Spalding Regional Medical Center Inc., Spalding Regional OB/GYN L.L.C., Spalding Regional Physician Services L.L.C., Specialty Surgery Center of Fort Worth L.P., Specialty Surgicenters Inc., Spinal Diagnostics and Treatment Centers L.L.C., Spine & Joint Physician Associates, Springfield Service Holding Corporation, St. Augustine Endoscopy Center LLC, St. Christophers Pediatric Urgent Care Center - Allentown L.L.C, St. Josephs Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Josephs Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, St. Josephs Surgery Center L.P., St. Louis Physician Alliance LLC, St. Louis Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Urology Center LLC, St. Lukes/USP Surgery Centers LLC, St. Marys Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, St. Marys Hospital Cardiovascular Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Hospital Surgical Co-Management LLC, St. Marys Levee Company LLC, St. Marys Medical Center Inc., St. Vincent Health/USP LLC, St. Vincent/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Stockton Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Subsidiaries of USPI Holding Company Inc., Suburban Endoscopy Center LLC, Summit View Surgery Center LLC, Sun View Imaging L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group I L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group II L.L.C., Sunrise Medical Group IV L.L.C., SurgCenter Camelback LLC, SurgCenter Northeast LLC, SurgCenter Pinellas LLC, SurgCenter Tucson LLC, SurgCenter at Paradise Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Deer Valley LLC, SurgCenter of Glen Burnie LLC, SurgCenter of Palm Beach Gardens LLC, SurgCenter of Plano LLC, SurgCenter of Southern Maryland LLC, SurgCenter of St. Lucie LLC, SurgCenter of White Marsh LLC, Surgery Affiliate of El Paso LLC, Surgery Center at Mount Pleasant LLC, Surgery Center at University Park LLC, Surgery Center of Atlanta LLC, Surgery Center of Canfield LLC, Surgery Center of Columbia L.P., Surgery Center of Coral Gables LLC, Surgery Center of Okeechobee LLC, Surgery Center of Pembroke Pines L.L.C., Surgery Center of Peoria L.L.C., Surgery Center of Richardson Physician Partnership L.P., Surgery Center of Santa Barbara LLC, Surgery Center of Scottsdale LLC, Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate II L.L.C., Surgery Center of Tempe Real Estate L.L.C., Surgery Centers of America II L.L.C., Surgery Centre of SW Florida LLC, Surgical & Bariatric Associates of Atlanta Medical Center L.L.C., Surgical Clinical Excellence at Desert Regional LLC, Surgical Elite of Avondale L.L.C., Surgical Health Partners LLC, Surgical Institute Management LLC, Surgical Institute of Reading LLC, Surgical Specialists at Princeton LLC, Surgicare of Miramar L.L.C., Surginet Inc., Surgis Inc., Surgis Management Services Inc., Surgis of Chico Inc., Surgis of Phoenix Inc., Surgis of Redding Inc., Surgis of Victoria Inc., Sutton Road Pediatrics L.L.C., Sylvan Grove Hospital Inc., TENN SM LLC, TFPS IV L.L.C., TH Healthcare Ltd., TH International Services Florida LLC, THV Park Cities LLC, THVG Arlington GP LLC, THVG Bariatric GP LLC, THVG Bariatric L.L.C., THVG Bedford GP LLC, THVG Bellaire GP LLC, THVG DSP GP LLC, THVG DeSoto GP LLC, THVG Denton GP LLC, THVG Fort Worth GP LLC, THVG Frisco GP LLC, THVG Garland GP LLC, THVG Grapevine GP LLC, THVG Irving-Coppell GP LLC, THVG Lewisville GP LLC, THVG North Garland GP LLC, THVG Park Cities/Trophy Club GP LLC, THVG Rockwall 2 GP LLC, THVG Valley View GP LLC, TLC ASC LLC, TMC Holding Company LLC, TOPS Specialty Hospital Ltd., TPG Hospital LLC, TPR Practice Management LLC, TPS VI of PA L.L.C., TRMC Holdings LLC, TSPE LLC, Tamarac Surgery Center LLC, Tempe New Day Surgery Center LP, Templeton Imaging Inc., Tenet Business Services Corporation, Tenet California Inc., Tenet Central Carolina Physicians Inc., Tenet EKG Inc., Tenet El Paso Ltd., Tenet Employment Inc., Tenet Finance Corp., Tenet Florida Inc., Tenet Florida Physician Services II L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services III L.L.C., Tenet Florida Physician Services L.L.C., Tenet Fort Mill Inc., Tenet Global Business Center Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Bucks County L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Graduate L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Hahnemann L.L.C., Tenet HealthSystem Medical Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Nacogdoches ASC GP Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Philadelphia Inc., Tenet HealthSystem Roxborough LLC, Tenet HealthSystem St. Christophers Hospital for Children L.L.C., Tenet Hilton Head Heart L.L.C., Tenet Hospitals Limited, Tenet Network Management Inc., Tenet Patient Safety Organization LLC, Tenet Physician Resources LLC, Tenet Physician Services - Hilton Head Inc., Tenet Rehab Piedmont Inc., Tenet Relocation Services L.L.C., Tenet SC East Cooper Hospitalists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Gastrointestinal Surgical Specialists L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Island Medical L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Lowcountry OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet South Carolina Mt. Pleasant OB/GYN L.L.C., Tenet Unifour Urgent Care Center L.L.C., Tenet Ventures Inc., TenetCare Frisco Inc., Terre Haute Surgical Center LLC, Teton Outpatient Services LLC, Texan Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Texas Endoscopy Centers LLC, Texas Health Venture Arlington Hospital LLC, Texas Health Venture Baylor Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Carrollton LLC, Texas Health Venture Centennial LLC, Texas Health Venture Ennis LLC, Texas Health Venture Fort Worth L.L.C., Texas Health Venture Granbury LLC, Texas Health Venture Heritage Park LLC, Texas Health Venture Keller LLC, Texas Health Venture Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Venture Mansfield LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Endo LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano LLC, Texas Health Venture Plano Parkway LLC, Texas Health Venture Texas Spine LLC, Texas Health Ventures Group L.L.C., Texas Orthopedics Surgery Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical Center LLC, Texas Regional Medical in Sunnyvale, Texas Spine and Joint Hospital LLC, The 6300 West Roosevelt Partnership, The Ambulatory Surgical Center of St. Louis L.P., The Healthcare Insurance Corporation, The Healthcare Underwriting Company a Risk Retention Group, The Huron Corporation, The Outpatient Center LLC, The Southeastern Spine Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., The Surgery Center at Jensen Beach LLC, The Surgery Center at Williamson LLC, The Tresanti Surgical Center LLC, Theda Oaks Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center LLC, Titan Health Corporation, Titan Health of Chattanooga Inc., Titan Health of Hershey Inc., Titan Health of Mount Laurel LLC, Titan Health of North Haven Inc., Titan Health of Pittsburgh Inc., Titan Health of Pleasant Hills Inc., Titan Health of Princeton Inc., Titan Health of Sacramento Inc., Titan Health of Saginaw Inc., Titan Health of Titusville Inc., Titan Health of West Penn Inc., Titan Health of Westminster Inc., Titan Management Corporation, Titusville Center for Surgical Excellence LLC, Toms River Surgery Center L.L.C., Total Joint Center of the Northland LLC, Tower Road Real Estate LLC, Tower/USP Surgery Centers LLC, Treasure Coast ASC LLC, Trophy Club Medical Center L.P., True Medical Weight Loss L.P., True Medical Wellness LP, True Results Georgia Inc., True Results HoldCo LLC, True Results Missouri LLC, Tucson Digestive Institute LLC, Tucson Hospital Holdings Inc., Tucson Physician Group Holdings LLC, Turlock Imaging Services LLC, Turlock Land Company LLC, Tuscan Surgery Center at Las Colinas LLC, Twin Cities Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Twin Cities Community Hospital Inc., UAP Las Colinas Endo LLC, UAP Lebanon Endo LLC, UAP Nashville Endoscopy LLC, UAP Scopes LLC, UAP of Arizona Inc., UAP of California Inc., UAP of Missouri Inc., UAP of New Jersey Inc., UAP of Oklahoma Inc., UAP of Tennessee Inc., UAP of Texas Inc., UCC Tucson Holdings LLC, UMC Surgery Center Lubbock LLC, UMC-USP Surgery Centers LLC, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, USP 12th Ave Real Estate Inc., USP Acquisition Corporation, USP Alexandria Inc., USP Assurance Company, USP Athens Inc., USP Atlanta Inc., USP Austin Inc., USP Bariatric LLC, USP Beaumont Inc., USP Bergen Inc., USP Bloomington Inc., USP Bridgeton Inc., USP Cedar Park Inc., USP Chesterfield Inc., USP Chicago Inc., USP Cincinnati Inc., USP Coast Inc., USP Columbia Inc., USP Connecticut Inc., USP Corpus Christi Inc., USP Creve Coeur Inc., USP Denver Inc., USP Des Peres Inc., USP Destin Inc., USP Domestic Holdings Inc., USP Effingham Inc., USP Encinitas Endoscopy Inc., USP Fenton Inc., USP Festus Inc., USP Florissant Inc., USP Fort Lauderdale Inc., USP Fort Worth Hospital Real Estate Inc., USP Fredericksburg Inc., USP Fresno Inc., USP Frontenac Inc., USP Gateway Inc., USP HMH Surgery Center at Shore LLC, USP Harbour View Inc., USP Houston Inc., USP Indiana Inc., USP International Holdings Inc., USP Jersey City Inc., USP Kansas City Inc., USP Knoxville Inc., USP Little Rock Inc., USP Long Island Inc., USP Louisiana Inc., USP Lubbock Inc., USP Maryland Inc., USP Mason Ridge Inc., USP Mattis Inc., USP Michigan Inc., USP Midland Inc., USP Midland Real Estate Inc., USP Midwest Inc., USP Mission Hills Inc., USP Montana Inc., USP Morris Inc., USP Mt. Vernon Inc., USP Nevada Holdings LLC, USP Nevada Inc., USP New Hampshire Inc., USP New Jersey Inc., USP Newport News Inc., USP North Carolina Inc., USP North Kansas City Inc., USP North Texas Inc., USP Northwest Arkansas Inc., USP OKC Inc., USP OKC Manager Inc., USP Office Parkway Inc., USP Ohio RE Inc., USP Oklahoma Inc., USP Olive Inc., USP Orlando Inc., USP Philadelphia Inc., USP Phoenix Inc., USP Portland Inc., USP Reading Inc., USP Richmond II Inc., USP Richmond Inc., USP Sacramento Inc., USP San Antonio Inc., USP Santa Barbara Surgery Centers Inc., USP Securities Corporation, USP Silver Cross Inc., USP Siouxland Inc., USP Somerset Inc., USP South Carolina Inc., USP Southlake RE Inc., USP St. Louis Inc., USP St. Louis Urology Inc., USP St. Peters Inc., USP Sunset Hills Inc., USP TJ STL Inc., USP Tennessee Inc., USP Texas Air L.L.C., USP Texas L.P., USP Torrance Inc., USP Tucson Inc., USP Turnersville Inc., USP Virginia Beach Inc., USP Washington Inc., USP Waxahachie Management L.L.C., USP Webster Groves Inc., USP West Covina Inc., USP Westwood Inc., USP Winter Park Inc., USP Wisconsin Inc., USP-HMH Surgery Center at Central Jersey LLC, USP/Carondelet Tucson Surgery Centers LLC, USP/SOS Joint Venture LLC, USPI Group Holdings Inc., USPI Holding Company Inc.1, USPI Holdings Inc., USPI Physician Strategy Group LLC, USPI San Diego Inc., USPI Stockton Inc., USPI Surgical Services Inc., Ulysses True Results NewCo LLC, Underwood Surgery Center LLC, United Anesthesia Partners Inc., United Real Estate Development Inc., United Real Estate Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners Holdings Inc., United Surgical Partners International, United Surgical Partners International Inc., Universal Medical Care Center L.L.C., University Surgery Center Ltd., University Surgical Partners of Dallas L.L.P., Upper Bay Surgery Center LLC, Upper Cumberland Physicians Surgery Center LLC, Urgent Care Centers of Arizona LLC, Utica ASC Partners LLC, Utica/USP Tulsa L.L.C., VB Brownsville LTACH LLC, VBOA ASC GP LLC, VBOA ASC Partners L.L.C., VHM Services Inc., VHS Acquisition Corporation, VHS Acquisition Partnership Number 1 L.P, VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 1 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 11 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 12 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 3 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 4 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 5 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 6 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 7 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 8 Inc., VHS Acquisition Subsidiary Number 9 Inc., VHS Arizona Heart Institute Inc., VHS Brownsville Hospital Company LLC, VHS Chicago Market Procurement LLC, VHS Childrens Hospital of Michigan Inc., VHS Detroit Businesses Inc., VHS Detroit Receiving Hospital Inc., VHS Detroit Ventures Inc., VHS Harlingen Hospital Company LLC, VHS Harper-Hutzel Hospital Inc., VHS Holding Company Inc., VHS Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital Inc., VHS Imaging Centers Inc., VHS New England Holding Company I Inc., VHS Outpatient Clinics Inc., VHS Phoenix Health Plan Inc., VHS Physicians of Michigan, VHS Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Inc., VHS San Antonio Imaging Partners L.P., VHS San Antonio Partners LLC, VHS Sinai-Grace Hospital Inc., VHS University Laboratories Inc., VHS Valley Health System LLC, VHS Valley Holdings LLC, VHS Valley Management Company Inc., VHS West Suburban Medical Center Inc., VHS Westlake Hospital Inc., VHS of Anaheim Inc., VHS of Arrowhead Inc., VHS of Huntington Beach Inc., VHS of Illinois Inc., VHS of Michigan Inc., VHS of Michigan Staffing Inc., VHS of Orange County Inc., VHS of Phoenix Inc., VHS of South Phoenix Inc., Valley Baptist Lab Services LLC, Valley Baptist Physician Performance Network, Valley Baptist Realty Company LLC, Valley Baptist Wellness Center LLC, Valley Health Care Network, Vanguard ASC LLC, Vanguard Health Financial Company LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company I LLC, Vanguard Health Holding Company II LLC, Vanguard Health Management Inc., Vanguard Health Systems, Vanguard Health Systems Inc., Vanguard Holding Company I Inc., Vanguard Holding Company II Inc., Vanguard Medical Specialists LLC, Vanguard Physician Services LLC, Ventana Surgical Center LLC, Veroscan Inc., Victoria Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Virtua-USP Princeton LLC, WHASA L.C., Walker Baptist Affinity LLC, Walker Street Imaging Care Inc., Warner Park Surgery Center LLC, Watermark Physician Services Inc., Webster Ambulatory Surgery Center L.P., Wellington Endo LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture I LLC, Wellstar/USP Joint Venture II LLC, West Boca Health Services L.L.C., West Boca Medical Center Inc., West Boynton Urgent Care L.L.C., West Bozeman Surgery Center LLC, West Palm Healthcare Real Estate Inc., West Suburban Radiation Therapy Center LLC, Westgate Surgery Center LLC, Westlake Hospital LLC, Westlawn Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Center LLC, Westminster Surgery Centers LLC, White Fence Surgical Suites LLC, Willamette Spine Center Ambulatory Surgery LLC, Wilmington Endoscopy Center LLC, Wilshire Rental Corp., Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center L.L.C., Wisconsin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Wymark Surgery Center LLC, and YNHHSC/USP Surgery Centers LLC.
He said the radio dispatch he got while on duty that day was vague and at first appeared to be a domestic-related call. But, he said, as soon as he arrived on scene in the 100 block of Clyde Avenue in Evanston, he quickly realized the seriousness of the situation when he saw two other police officers frantically tending to the lifeless baby in a hallway.
Workers at People First Federal Credit Union in Allentown, Pennsylvania went on strike Friday resisting demands by management that they bear a larger share of health care costs.

The 114 bank tellers, clerks, loan officers and other employees already endure miserably low wages, with starting pay for tellers set at just $11.75 an hour. Despite this, management wants workers to begin making health insurance co-pays of $30 and $40 a month.

Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the credit union has branches throughout the Lehigh Valley. Originally set up to serve workers at Mack Trucks, the credit union now serves most people in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

Cheryl Scott, a single mother works as a product specialist who handles loans and mortgages and makes just $12.70 an hour told the Allentown Morning Call that she worries that she will be unable to pay her own mortgage.

None of us are asking for something that is unreasonable, Scott told the newspaper. I cant support myself on what I make here.

Scott is not alone. Even working full time, which many at the credit union dont, a worker earning $11.75 or $12.70 an hour would make just $24,440 and $26,414 a year respectively. This is slightly above the dismally low federal poverty level of just $23,050 for a family of four and less than half of the Pennsylvania median household income of $54,895.

The average one bedroom apartment in Allentown rents for $1,067 a month with a two bedroom apartment costing $1,287 a month, according to the rentjungle.com website. Rents, according to the website, have increased in the city by over $100 a month in the past six months alone.

Workers have been without a contract since the beginning of the year. Their previous contract provided yearly raises of only 50 cents per hour. The credit union has offered to increase base pay by just $.55 cents an hour or $22.00 a week for a full time employee.

The workers are members of Teamsters local 773, which has indicated that it would be willing to accept the credit unions poverty wage increase and call off the strike if the credit union would only withdraw its demand for cost shifting in health care.

Rusty Wetherspoon, vice president of Teamsters Local 773 told the Allentown Morning Call the sticking point on a new contract was health care costs. I would think that if health care came off the package, we can probably get a settlement, Wetherspoon told the paper on Saturday.

In fact the Teamsters are preparing the groundwork to force workers to accept the cuts to health care by isolating the strike. As of Monday afternoon, the Teamsters have not even publicized the strike on the homepage of its website and their was no apparent link to it on other pages.

For its part, People First Federal Credit Union has made it clear that it has no intention of dropping its demand for imposing cuts to health care. The company is using management and other non-striking employees to keep most of their branches open.

There is growing anger at low wages and cuts in benefits throughout the Lehigh Valley area. Last week, workers at the Allentown Housing Authority, also members of Teamsters Local 773, voted unanimously to strike.

Workers at the housing authority have been working under a contract extension since December 31, 2016 when their last contract expired. The housing authority is seeking to impose increased health care costs for employees ranging from 200 to 300 percent.

Despite the unanimous support for a strike, the Teamsters has not set a strike date, instead saying they will meet with the authority on August 31.

The strike in Allentown is one of several local strikes being isolated by the Teamsters. Last week 275 Coca Cola United workers, members of Teamsters Local 991, struck in the Mobile, Alabama area over management demands for increased insurance payments and a wage cut for new employees.

Some 240,000 United Parcel Workers (UPS) are set to vote on a sellout deal being pushed by the Teamsters that creates a new category of low paid hybrid drivers that will further divide the workforce and drive down wages. Meanwhile, the Teamsters have forced UPS workers to stay on the job past the contract expiration deadline as the union seeks to ram through the rotten deal.
Niles Niemuth is the Socialist Equality Partys candidate for Congress in Michigans 12th Congressional District, which includes Lincoln Park.

Over the weekend, a tragic house fire in the Downriver community of Lincoln Park killed three people and destroyed a home and a family.

The house belonged to Shawn and Kaira Chapman. Kaira, 28, who was two months pregnant, was among the three victims. Neighbors told us that her husband, Shawn, was able to make it out alive only because he was staying on the first floor near the back entrance of the house due to an injury to his legs. Also lost to the fire was a family caretaker, 50, who neighbors said was considered family by Shawn and Kaira. The third victim was a 4-year-old boy, the nephew of Shawn and Kaira.

The Socialist Equality Party extends its deepest condolences to the surviving family members and friends, who have suffered a terrible loss.

The burned out home on Mayflower Avenue

Neighbors reported that by the time the fire department arrived around 4:40 am, the house was ablaze from front to back and impossible to enter. Shawn reportedly made several attempts to go in to rescue his family, but neighbors stopped him due to the advanced state of the fire.

While we visited the site, mourners came by to place balloons, flowers and other memorabilia in the yard to express their support and condolences. The neighbors told us that the community is very tight knit. Many have lived in Lincoln Park for generations, including Chapman family.

While the cause of the fire is still unknown, such tragedies invariably illustrate, in the most heartbreaking manner, the need for social planning and the diversion of resources to ensure quality, safe housing for everyone.

The home of Shawn and Kaira Chapman, for example, was among the oldest in the neighborhood, probably built about 100 years ago. It is likely that the age and structure of the home played a role in how quickly the fire was able to spread.

In a rationally planned economy, enormous resources would be allocated to ensure the safety of homes, replace deteriorating infrastructure, fund fire departments and other social services and employ the most advanced fire detection and combatting technologies to prevent such tragedies.

Instead, under capitalism, where human need is subordinate to the accumulation of profit, the working class is subjected to such horrors as the one that occurred on Saturday on a daily basis.

A memorial was erected outside the home

Fire departments in the US respond to an estimated 358,500 home fires per year. These fires cause about $6.7 billion in direct damage and kill over 3,000 people every year.

The areas most impacted by house fires are poor and working-class neighborhoods, where people are struggling to make ends meet and to find affordable, safe housing and heating, under conditions of poorly enforced housing safety regulations and rampant utility shutoffs.

Deadly house fires have become a distressingly regular occurrence in Detroit and the surrounding areas. The majority occur in the winter months, as families seek to stay warm with space heaters or rig their own electrical circuits after having their utilities shut off from unpaid bills. Just this summer, over a six-week period in June and July, 2,000 households in Detroit had their water service disconnected following the regular winter hiatus.

Among the most tragic of these disasters was that which befell Sylvia Young, who at the time of the fire in 2010 was a 30-year-old mother of seven. She lost three children when her home in Detroit caught flames from a faulty space heater. Hours before the fire, Sylvia had pleaded with a representative of DTE Energy not to discontinue her gas and electric service, explaining that her landlord was in charge of utilities to her home.

The media, utility company and city authorities sought to foist the blame on the grieving mother. The Socialist Equality Party defended Sylvia Young and wrote dozens of articles on the issue.

Similar cases of needless deaths of workers and youth go unreported every day. And while thousands of working class and poor people are burned to death in preventable fires every year, billions of dollars are hoarded by a fraction of society who control production, and trillions are squandered on wars abroad by Democrats and Republicans alike.

The constant refrain from Democratic and Republican politicians is that there is no money to address such issues. This is a contemptible lie. The only way to unchain the massive resources in society from the stranglehold of the profit system is by overthrowing capitalism and implementing socialism, a system by which the working class can democratically decide how resources are allocated and conscientiously address the issue of how tragedies like the one in Lincoln Park can be prevented.
In the spring, the German government used the so-called BAMF affair, in which the Federal Office for Immigration and Refugees (BAMF) office in Bremen was accused of wrongfully granting asylum to more than a thousand refugees between 2013 and 2016 whose applications had been dismissed in other federal states, in order to whip up anti-refugee sentiment.

Now, it is launching its next xenophobic campaign.

On last Thursdays Tagesthemen TV news programme, Social Democratic Party (SPD) mayor Soren Link ranted against European Union (EU) nationals who were allegedly flocking to Germany to fraudulently obtain social welfare payments such as child benefits. Since then, leading Social Democrats have been banging the drum for cuts in child support payments to families of European workers and plying racist sentiments in the style of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), among other things.

We have about 19,000 people from Romania and Bulgaria in Duisburg, Sinti and Roma. In 2012, we only had 6,000, Link agitated. They do not come for work, but for social benefits. He had to deal with people here, who spill rubbish on the streets and exacerbate the rat problem. Neighbours felt disturbed by mountains of garbage, noise and rat infestations. He had set up a task force to tackle the alleged problem properties of the Sinti and Roma.

Links statements are no different from those of the far-right. In a Facebook post on August 9, the AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel wrote almost word for word: More and more child support is flowing into other European countries. ... In addition, many cities are sounding the alarm because they can no longer cope with the great immigration of poverty. In Duisburg alone, the number of Roma and Sinti increased by 13,000 to 19,000 within six years. Mayors of many cities speak of a targeted migration into the social system.

The chairman of the Central Council of Sinti and Roma in Germany, Romani Rose, sharply criticised Links statements: Racist stereotypes are being deliberately used here to produce scapegoatseven at the risk of violent attacks.

The SPD is aware of the dangerous consequences of its policy. According to the federal government, there were more than 700 attacks on refugees and refugee shelters in the first half of 2018 alone. According to the government, the offences include grievous bodily harm, aggravated arson, property damage, incitement, libel and violations of the weapons law. Altogether, 120 people had been injured in xenophobic attacks.

Despite this, the Social Democrats are pushing ahead with their right-wing campaign. SPD leader Andrea Nahles has announced a summit meeting with mayors and local politicians on September 27 under the slogan Partial problems in the work migration complex in order to curtail the social rights of EU nationals in Germany. What we need to tackle urgently, for example, are the scams surrounding family and social benefits, she said.

Among other things, Nahles and her party colleague and federal finance minister, Olaf Scholz, want to push through a so-called indexation of child benefits at European level. What that means was made clear by Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD): The amount of child support must be based on the cost of living of the country in which the child resides, he said on Friday. The previous regulation leads to disincentives. The corresponding European regulations must be adapted accordingly.

The plans of the SPD violate existing European law and have therefore been repeatedly rejected in the past by the European Commission. EU citizens are entitled to seek work in another EU country and live there for that purpose, the European Commission writes on its web site. EU nationals must be treated just like nationals of the host country in terms of access to employment, working conditions and all other social benefits and tax benefits.

The SPDs campaign aims to divide the working class and divert it from the widening gulf between rich and poor and advance the grand coalitions right-wing policy of social cutbacks, militarism and state armament. Like the alleged abuses in BAMF, the allegations about supposed child benefit abuse are completely fictitious.

In an interview with Die Zeit, the spokesman of the Federal Employment Agency, Christian Weinert, said there had so far been no evidence of abuse of child benefit claims by families whose children live abroad. The number of children entitled to child benefit from other EU countries would rise, because there are also more employees from these countries in Germany. The number of employees from the eastern European countries of the EU has increased in the past two years by 295,000, to over 1 million. And anyone who works and pays social insurance contributions here is also entitled to child benefit, in most cases.

According to government figures, the number of children living outside Germany in the EU or in the European Economic Area and receiving child benefits has increased by 7.2 percent since the previous year. This concerns just 268,336 children, of whom 31,512 have a German passport. As of the end of June, around 3 million out of a total of 15.29 million children receiving child support have foreign papers, most of whom live and work in Germany.
Richard Russell, a ground crew worker for Horizon Air, was found dead Friday after taking an airplane from a maintenance area at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and going on an hour-long joyride before crashing onto a largely unpopulated island in the Puget Sound near Tacoma, Washington. The tragic circumstances surrounding Russells death have called renewed attention to the working conditions experienced by ground crew workers at Horizon and throughout the airline industry.

Russell, known as Beebo to friends and coworkers, stole one of Horizons fleet of 76-seat Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin turboprop airplanes from a northern section of the airport after his shift ended Friday evening, using a tow vehicle to point the plane in the direction of the runway.

Just after 7:30 p.m. Friday evening, Russell took off in the plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, located 11 miles south of Seattle, and began flying south over the Puget Sound, performing aerobatic maneuvers and speaking intermittently with air traffic controllers.

In an audio recording of his communications Russell described himself as a broken guy, expressing a desire for this to be the end and apologizing to his family for disappointing them, while repeatedly stating his desire not to harm anyone.

Ive got a lot of people that care about me, and its going to disappoint them to hear I did this. I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. Never really knew it until now, Russell says in the recording.

Asked to explain what drove him to steal the plane, Russell told air traffic controllers,  Minimum wage , we'll chalk it up to that. Maybe that will grease some gears a little bit with the higher-ups.

Two North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) F-15 fighter jets were scrambled from Oregon to tail Russell and, likely, to shoot the airplane down if the opportunity presented itself. In the recordings, air traffic controllers first urge Russell to land at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, a large military base in the area, which Russell refuses, fearing that those guys would rough me up if I tried landing there  theyve probably got anti-aircraft.

Later, they urge Russell on several occasions to fly out over open water, where his downing would pose less risk of harming others, saying: If you could, you just want to keep that plane right over the water, maybe keep the aircraft nice and low.

About an hour after takeoff, Russells plane crashed onto heavily forested Ketron Island, located at the southern end of the Puget Sound between Tacoma and the state capitol, Olympia, creating a forest fire that was quickly extinguished by responding fire crews.

Russel, 29, leaves behind his wife of about seven years, Hannah. He had worked for Horizon Air since 2015, when he moved with his wife to Sumner, Washington from Coos Bay, Oregon, where they had operated a bakery for three years, to be closer to family.

The couple often traveled and Russell used the benefits from his Horizon job to fly to Alaska, where he spent most of his childhood after moving from Florida at age 7, to visit his family. According to a blog he maintained, Russell had been pursuing a Bachelors Degree in social sciences and hoped to move up to a management position at Horizon or join the military or law enforcement.

Ground services workers at Horizon are responsible for guiding aircraft to the appropriate gate, handling baggage, tidying the passenger compartment and other tasks. In addition to handling luggage, Russell worked on a tow team, a two-person crew responsible for moving planes on the tarmac. One member of the team operates a vehicle known as a tow tug that pulls the plane into position, while the other communicates with the air traffic control tower from the cockpit and can apply the planes brakes in the event of an emergency.

Tow teams are given training in the operation of some of the planes other systems, including auxiliary power, radios and hydraulics. However, it is unclear where Russell learned to fly an airplane and carry out such perilous maneuvers.

A former ground crew supervisor who worked with Russell told The Seattle Times: He was a quiet guy. It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. I feel really bad for Richard and his family. I hope they can make it through this.

Horizon Air is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, which also includes Virgin America, that specializes in short passenger flights to small and medium-size airports around the Pacific Northwest and western United States with its fleet of Bombardier Q400 airplanes. Alaska and its subsidiaries have been the subject of multiple lawsuits over worker pay and conditions.

Faced with chronic understaffing, Alaska Horizon ground crew workers are forced to work long hours at a relentless pace in order to meet the airlines 20-minute guarantee to have all checked luggage on the baggage claim carousel within 20 minutes of arrival at the gate. A 2017 investigation by The Seattle Times found that ground service workers are often paid less than the city of SeaTacs minimum wage of approximately $15 per hour, which Alaska Air fought a bitter campaign to defeat during the City Councils 2013 deliberations on its so-called living wage measure.

While the mainstream media has unanimously dismissed the economic context behind Fridays tragedy, including dismissing Russells remark about minimum wage, they have mounted a hysterical campaign over the supposed insider threat posed by airline workers. All evidence, however, points to Russells actions as an act of desperation motivated by the low wages, stress, depression and alienation that are all too familiar to workers in the transportation, shipping, service and other industries around in the United States and internationally. As a coworker told King 5 News, He was going to show them that they pushed a good guy to his limits.
In last months scandal around the beating of peaceful protesters on May Day by a close aide of French President Emmanuel Macron, Alexandre Benalla, Unsubmissive France (LFI) formed a bloc with the right-wing The Republicans (LR) and the neo-fascists. LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon echoed the police, who insisted that the only issue in the assault was Benallas violation of the police chain of command. When it is a matter of protecting the state and respecting the norms of the Republic, we come together with the right wing, Im not ashamed to say it, he said.

What underlies this declaration of loyalty to the police is emerging ever more clearly. As Macron collapses in the polls, Melenchon is extending a hand to explicitly right-wing politicians, inviting LR together with the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF), the social-democratic Socialist Party (PS), and the Generation.s party of former PS presidential candidate Benoit Hamon to the LFI summer school. The foundation of this alliance is the common support of LFI, the PS, LR and also the neo-fascist National Rally (RN, formerly National Front, FN) for French militarism.

LR deputies Marianne Dubois and Olivier Marleix will represent LR at the LFI summer school. Dubois will speak at a round table on defense issues, while Marleix will discuss the controversial privatization of engineering firm Alstom. Duboiswho is close to LR leader Laurent Wauquiez, a long-time advocate of closer ties to the FN/RNhas been on the National Defense and Armed Forces committee of the National Assembly since 2012. She is involved in formulating the Army and Citizens plan for the Defense Ministrys plans for citizen involvement, i.e., the draft.

LFI campaign director Manuel Bompard defended the invitation to LR, telling Le Figaro: The goal is to show that faced with Emmanuel Macrons policy, the leading force of political opposition will give the floor to the entire political spectrum, despite our divergences.

What follows from Bompards statement is that LFI wants opposition to Macron to be tied to explicitly right-wing perspectives. After the collapse last year of the PS, Frances main social-democratic party of government since its foundation after the May-June 1968 general strike, the PS rump and its various Stalinist and pseudo-left allies are desperate to block the emergence of organized political opposition on Macrons left.

PS deputy and party spokesman Boris Vallaud will attend, as well as PS European parliamentarian Emmanuel Maurel, a former associate of Melenchon from his time in the PS, who will discuss the proposed Trans-Atlantic Free-Trade Agreement. Generation.s deputy Regis Juanico and PCF deputy Stephane Peu will discuss constitutional reform. Sonia Krimi, a member of Macrons The Republic on the March (LRM) party who is said to be a dissident because she asked for more humanity and dignity on welcoming immigrants, briefly thought of attending before deciding not to.

LFI has not invited the neo-fascists to avoid provoking a new scandal, as when LFI deputy Daniele Obono invited neo-fascists to criticize Macron over the Benalla affair, but this is only a tactical decision. Significant layers of neo-fascists around Marine Le Pen have long been anxious to obtain Republican respectability. A nominally Republican regroupment could therefore also prepare a rallying of LFI to sections of Le Pens movement.

Whatever the exact nature of the alliance that Melenchon is preparing, the hand he is extending to the right must serve as a warning to the workers: the LFI leaderships populist politics will prove violently hostile to the working class.

Three years after LFIs Greek ally, Syriza (The Coalition of the Radical Left) took power in Greece and formed a coalition government with the far-right Independent Greeks, Syriza is imposing a reactionary austerity policy. While overseeing a massive social retrogression, Syriza is also building detention camps for refugees and attacking the constitutional right to strike.

In France, LFI refused to take any position in the run-off of last years presidential election, though most of its own voters rejected a vote either for the investment banker Macron or for Le Pen.

The Socialist Equality Party (France) was the only party to call for an active boycott of the second round, for the development of a political movement of the working class against whichever of the two reactionary candidates won the election. Events subsequently vindicated the SEPs warnings. Amid an unprecedented crisis of capitalism and rising social anger among workers, including against Macron in France, the pseudo-left parties are passing into the camp of the right. The key issue is the building the SEP as the Trotskyist alternative to the petty-bourgeois populist pseudo-left.

After the publication of Melenchons 2014 book The Era of the People, the WSWS had already warned that he was preparing an opening toward the right. The WSWS wrote, An examination of Melenchons book makes clear that what is driving his shift into the camp of the right is his fear of the death agony of capitalism and a renewed struggle for socialism by the working class. On the middle-class forces around Melenchon, the WSWS added: Frightened by the discrediting of the bourgeois left parties, accepting in a sinister fashion the inevitability of world war and economic collapse, desperate to impose austerity on the workers, they hysterically insist that socialism is dead. This is another political fraud.

Instead of socialism and Trotskyism, Melenchon called for a citizens revolution, that is, a national and perhaps anti-capitalist revolution that is neither socialist nor led by the working class. Such a perspective is, however, historically linked in France to the far-right nationalist movement of the first half of the 20th century. Indeed, Melenchons meetings with and ties to Le Pen and to top LR officials like Claude Gueant during the drafting of The Era of the People were reported in the press.

Melenchon also defended Eric Zemmour, the journalistic promoter of the Nazi-collaborationist Vichy regime. Zemmour subsequently went on to denounce the renowned American historian of Vichy, Robert Paxton, who was the first to clearly expose the extent of Vichys participation in the militarist and genocidal policies of European fascism.

After Zemmour was criticized for asserting that crimes are disproportionately carried out by Arabs, Melenchon said: I know Zemmour. He should say he made a mistake. He is not racist. Hes a brilliant intellectual, but like all intellectuals, he is stubborn as a mule. Later on, Melenchon aligned himself on Zemmours position and denied French involvement in the Holocaust last year.

Now, amid rising working-class anger against social cuts imposed by Macron in France and similar governments worldwide, and particularly the Trump administration in the United States, panic is again seizing Melenchon and his entourage. LFIs invitation to the right points to the advanced state of political degeneration of the affluent middle-class layers that form the social base of LFI, the PS and their pseudo-left satellites like the Pabloite New Anticapitalist Party.

In the struggles of the working class that are now being prepared, the decisive issue will be the struggle between the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals socialist and internationalist program for the working class and the national-populism of the reactionaries around Melenchon.
In his July 28 Peruvian Independence Day speech to the nation, President Martin Vizcarra called for a national referendum based on four proposals: the reform of the National Council of Magistrates (CNM), the panel that appoints judges and prosecutors; ending the re-election of Congressmen; the prohibition of private funding for political parties; and the return to a bicameral national legislature.

Vizcarra, who assumed the presidency last March after his predecessor, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, resigned in the face of an impeachment vote and amid a swirling corruption scandal linked to the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, admitted in his speech that the judicial system has collapsed and that the country faces serious corruption of public administrative institutions.

Since Vizcarra took office, the country has been rocked by a series of new scandals, including the leaking of audiotapes of powerful judges negotiating bribes from defendants in return for light sentences or acquittals. A series of high-level resignations has been accompanied by protests against corruption.

Vizcarra coupled his message with a denunciation of a sexist macho culture that has produced thousands of killings of women in the country during the last yearsone of the most currently debated topics in Peruand gave his support for a national policy of gender equality. The Peruvian pseudo-left received both parts of the speech with approval.

Our goal is to build a strong, united, and globally integrated Peru; and we are moving forward on that path, said the president, portraying Peru as a stable country for investment. In his effort to improve the countrys image in the eyes of foreign capital, he cited its hosting of the 8th Summit of the Americas last April and its assumption of the presidency of the UN Security Council.

Wall Street, however, has more concrete demands for the new Vizcarra government to create conditions for a renewal of capital flows into the country.

These include not just the tackling of corruption, but a further deregulation of mining and, above all, the suppression of the class struggle and social opposition to the exploitative activities of the big transnational mining companies.

On the night following the presidential speech, the National Police of Peru (PNP) began a mega-operation in which 400 people participated, raiding 21 private homes and arresting 11 individuals implicated in a criminal gang known as the White Collars of the Port, which included lawyers, public servants and a former judge already under detention.

From their timing, the arrests appear aimed at generating support for Vizcarra and his referendum as he negotiates its terms with Congress, which is dominated by the right-wing fujimorista party, Fuerza Popular (Popular Force-FP).

The presidents message has received an overwhelmingly positive reception from the media and the political establishment, which views it as an attempt to save the reputation of the discredited state in order to be in a better position to satisfy demands imposed by foreign capital.

Vizcarras statement that the judicial system has collapsed points to the depth of Perus crisis of governability, which is partly a manifestation of the countrys recent economic misfortunes, led by the fall of global commodity prices, especially in the mining sector, which is Perus main source of exports.

Due to a recent increase in demand for mining products, investments in Peru have been recovering since 2017 (12.3 percent), after continuous declines of 50.8 percent in 2016, 11.2 percent in 2015 and 8.4 percent in 2014. Given the fragile world economic situation, dominated by trade war between major imperialist countries, the volatility of metal prices remains very high. The brief recovery could lose its momentum, which would renew recessionary pressures on Peru.

To comply with foreign capital demands, Vizcarra must deal with growing social unrest.

In recent days, miners have been on strike at Milpo Company mines, where according to management, the only pending issue is the request to incorporate 25 workers from the Tecnom contractor company to the Milpo payroll.

During the course of the last 12 months, miners at projects worth billions of dollars have threatened or gone on strike. In addition to Milpo, this has included miners at the Southern Company (Grupo Mexicano) and Cerro Verde (Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Arizona) as well as, in La Oroya, smelter workers who blocked the road to the north that connects Lima with Cerro de Pasco and Tarma, the gateways to the central jungle, which feeds the capital with timber and fruit produce.

Other sectors of workers who have gone on strike are the countrys 525,000 public school teachers and 250,000 employees of the public health sector. It is estimated that Peru needs 55,000 more health professionals.

According to the INEI (Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas e Informacion), currently more than 420,000 workers are unemployed. Limas unemployment rate in the first quarter stood at 8.1 percent.

While analysts have started to debate whether Vizcarras proposals are feasible, and the right-wing FP opposition has proposed adding measures such as the death penalty for pedophiles and a ban on same-sex civil unionsboth unconstitutionalto the referendum, the Peruvian pseudo-left has hailed the presidents proposals.

Even before his Independence Day speech, they were trying, along with the media, to prop up the presidents image before a disenchanted population. In the days leading up to the speech, the new minister of justice declared that the government would revise former president Kuczynskis pardoning of former president Alberto Fujimori (part of a filthy deal for stopping an impeachment vote last year); this prompted daily Diario Uno to place Vizcarra on its cover with the overline He [Vizcarra] leaves the passivity and listens to the people and the headline Vizcarra confronts Fujimorismo.

For much of its history, Diario Uno was identified with the left in Peru and published columns by pseudo-left figures and union bureaucrats. Now, it is so preoccupied with the stability of the capitalist state that it has no problem with lionizing a common right-wing politician.

Equally revealing was the response by former presidential candidate and current face of the pseudo-left Veronika Mendoza, who in an interview hailed Vizcarras referendum proposals saying that he has finally assumed his historical role before this crisis.

Her initial comments were followed by a public letter this week sent to the president praising the referendum. We have welcomed his initiative to propose a referendum to consult the public about the urgent reforms that our country needs, and we firmly believe that it is time to listen to the sovereign people, she wrote.

Then she launched an attack against the leader of Fuerza Popular, saying the referendum will help bypass FPs control over Congress. According to recent polls, Keiko Fujimori, the partys leader, stands as Mendozas principal rival in the next presidential elections scheduled for 2021.

Finally, she added an appeal to the population to mobilize in support of the referendum: It is important that citizens continue to participate and continue to mobilize and continue to pressure the Congress of the Republic and President Vizcarra himself so that he does not back down and that the referendum is really an opportunity to at least open a great national dialogue.

It is clear from these comments that Mendoza is nothing more than a pseudo-left defender of capitalism. The purpose of her proposal is to divert the growing movement of the Peruvian working class back under the wing of a state that is controlled by foreign capital, along with Perus financial oligarchy and CEOs.
The Australian pseudo-left organisation Socialist Alternative responded to Labors victory in a series of federal by-elections late last month by hailing the partys right-wing leader, Bill Shorten, and his strategy of using populist demagogy to win electoral support.

Within 24 hours of Labors July 28 wins in four of the five by-elections, Socialist Alternative published a comment by Tom Bramble, headlined Turnbulls government comes a cropper. For a full-day, the organisations website RedFlag featured a picture of a smiling Shorten and his wife celebrating on election night.

Brambles article reads as though it were drafted by a public relations consultant for Shorten, or by one of the Labor-aligned unions with which Socialist Alternative closely collaborates.

It declared that Labors victories in the Queensland seat of Longman and the Tasmanian seat of Braddon, demonstrated that Labors strategy of running an us versus them campaignmoney for hospitals not the banksworked a treat.

The article favourably cited Labor leader Bill Shorten and national president Wayne Swan. It declared that Swan was dead right in summing up the lessons when he stated that the results were a rejection of Turnbulls program of corporate tax cuts and trickle-down economics.

Bramble continued: Labor demonstrated in Longman that it can win by tapping into popular discontent. As leader Bill Shorten said: Voters want to see better hospitals, not bigger banks. They want to see pensioners prioritised, not multinational company taxation cuts. They want to see our schools properly funded; they dont want to see corporations get large tax cuts.

In other words, Bramble presented as good coin Labors utterly fraudulent claims to be defending healthcare and education. The RedFlag article did not mention that Shorten was a senior minister in the previous federal Labor governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, which cut billions of dollars from both sectors and opened them up to the full force of the capitalist market. Instead, it absurdly declared that big business hates Shortens populist demagogy and asserted that he was being subjected to a destabilisation campaign.

Significantly, the RedFlag article identified Socialist Alternative with Shorten in the ongoing factional conflicts within the Labor Party. It declared that the by-election results were a blow to Shortens enemies inside the ALP, who it claimed want to push the party to the right. The article counterposed Shortens rhetoric to openly pro-business statements by Labor figures such as Anthony Albanese and others.

In reality, Shortens posturing over social inequality is so much hot air. He and Labor shadow treasurer Chris Bowen have both signalled their support for the sweeping corporate tax cuts they claimed to oppose during the by-election campaigns.

Moreover, a Labor government, upon taking office, would immediately discover a budget black hole, backtrack on its promises of limited funding increases and implement further austerity measures.

Labors pro-business program was underscored by an event held the week following the by-elections. The party held a two-day business summit, with hundreds of corporate CEOs paying thousands of dollars for exclusive access to Labor leader Bill Shorten and his senior economic team.

The event was one indication that sections of big business, frustrated with the inability of the Coalition government to impose their demands for sweeping austerity measures, are considering throwing their weight behind the election of a federal Labor government.

To secure such an outcome, however, a campaign is required to lessen the unprecedented hostility that exists in the working class toward not only the Coalition, but Labor as well.

Contrary to Socialist Alternatives claims, the Longman and Braddon by-elections did not result in a significant turn back to Labor. In Longman, despite a major swing away from the government, Labors vote increased by just 4 percent, far below the rise for right-wing populist candidates posing as opponents of both parties. In Braddon, Labor was dependent upon the second preference votes of a so-called anti-politician candidate.

Under conditions of chronic political instability, Socialist Alternative, speaking for an affluent layer of the upper-middle class embedded in the trade unions, the public sector and academia, has offered its services to try and boost support for Labor by covering up the record of Shorten and sowing illusions that his anti-business rhetoric is genuine.

Shorten in fact personifies the pro-business character of the Labor and trade union apparatus. As national secretary of the Australian Workers Union, prior to entering federal parliament, Shorten oversaw a series of union-brokered enterprise agreements with major corporations that slashed the wages and conditions of cleaners and other low-paid sections of workers.

US diplomatic cables, published by WikiLeaks, revealed that Shorten, along with other trade union and Labor Party officials, had operated as a protected US source for years. In other words, he has acted as an informant for the US government and intelligence agencies. Shorten is a trusted proponent of the US-Australia military alliance and Australias integration into the massive US military build-up in the Asia-Pacific, initiated under the Gillard Labor government, in preparation for war with China.

Socialist Alternatives promotion of such a figure is in large part bound up with its relations with the union apparatus. The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU), which Socialist Alternative fraudulently presents as a left-wing and militant union, is a key base of support for Shorten.

Earlier this year, the CFMMEU intervened to shut down the Victorian Labor Party conference to prevent motions from being moved that criticised Shortens support for the bipartisan program of consigning asylum-seekers who arrive in Australia by boat to squalid detention camps in the Pacific. Socialist Alternative, which regularly claims to defend refugees, did not say a word.

In every industrial dispute, Socialist Alternative functions as a cheerleader for the corporatised unions. It invariably covers up their role in enforcing the destruction of jobs, wages and conditions, and suppressing any independent political or industrial struggle.

Socialist Alternative has also promoted the unions bogus Change the rules campaign. Union officials have postured as opponents of the Fair Work industrial legislation, which was introduced by the previous federal Labor government with the full support of the unions themselves. The cynical marketing effort, hailed by RedFlag, is explicitly aimed at channeling workers back into supporting Labor.

Amid a developing radicalisation of workers and young people, which presages major social struggles, Socialist Alternative is moving to shore-up not only Labor, but the parliamentary system as a whole.
On Sunday, some 500 workers for the heating and air conditioning maker Trane Co., based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, went on strike over forced overtime, rising health insurance premiums and low wages.

The workers are members of two lodges of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union (IAM). Lodge 21 is the bargaining agent for approximately 470 production and maintenance workers, and Lodge 1115 represents more than a dozen tool and die makers at Tranes La Crosse plants.

On June 26, 2018, IAM Lodge 21 reported on its Facebook page, We have continued to work on all non-economic proposals between the shop committee and company and have tentative agreements on a couple of them for Lodge 21 and have reached tentative agreements on all non-economic subjects for Lodge 1115. Lodge 21 is still working on several issues meaningful to the membership.

On Saturday the workers voted down the contract offer worked out between the company and the bargaining committee. Neither lodges Facebook page provides details of the proposed contract.

The general issues of the strike reflect broader issues affecting the entire working class internationally such as rising healthcare costs, unsafe working conditions and mandatory overtime. Rather than hire more workers, companies force mandatory overtime resulting in workers working 10 hour shifts six days a week. The spouse of a welder at the Trane Co. plant commented on Facebook, He has been working mandatory OT for over a year. He has Sunday off. The pay is crap.

Meanwhile, Mike Lamach, the CEO of Ingersoll, Tranes parent company, reportedly received $19.4 million in executive compensation in 2015. The firm employs 30,000 workers worldwide and has manufacturing plants in more than one dozen countries.

A previous strike by Trane employees in 1991 lasted 55 days.

In the 1980s, Trane employed over 4,800 workers making it the largest employer in the La Crosse region. As a result of deindustrialization and the cutting of thousands of jobs they now employ less than 2,000 at the manufacturing facility. Further job cuts occurred when Trane was purchased by international conglomerate Ingersoll-Rand in 2008.

Trane and the rest of the industrial corporations carried out the slashing of thousands with the full assistance of the unions, whose executives act as labor managers to suppress the strivings of rank-and-file workers as they carry out the orders of their corporate bosses.

The IAM is using the strike as a safety valve, allowing workers to let off steam as union executives actively work to reach a new backstabbing agreement with Trane. The last scheduled bargaining meeting took place Monday.

The unions hypocrisy was made clear by District Lodge 66 Directing Business Representative Neil Kamrowski who said, Our brothers and sisters feel they are overworked, overstressed, and underappreciated. Mandatory overtime has been a plague for the last four years. People cant have a life outside of Trane if they are at work all week. The proposal that failed to ratify had too many negative changes and not enough positive changes to allow a better balance between work and family.

But how did this plague come to be? Indeed the deal Kamrowski now denounces was accepted by the IAM. Thus, the union is attempting to rewrite history and to cover up its role in role in pushing through the previous strike sellout and now is attempting to do the same all over again.

The strike has gained sympathy from broad layers of workers, with some taking to Facebook to voice their support for better conditions and to warn against the union conspiring to betray the workers by ramming through a sellout contract. A Union Pacific employee commented, Dont let the Union sell you out, like the RR (railroad) unions did to us.

Another worker compared the struggle of Trane workers with that of AT&T workers. AT&T did the same thing. Millions of dollars in tax breaks, then laid off 1,000s of workers, then the CEO gave himself a raise.

This struggle must be seen in the context of the growing class struggle, nationally and internationally. The record of the unions in betraying countless struggles points to the need for Trane workers to take the conduct of the strike into their own hands and build independent rank-and-file committees democratically controlled by the workers and completely independent of the unions.

At the same time Trane workers must turn out and fight to connect their struggle with that of the thousands of United Parcel Service workers resisting a sellout contract under the Teamsters and other sections of workers now coming into struggle, including brother Trane workers overseas.
New Yorks City Council passed legislation last week capping the number of cars operated by the app-based services Uber and Lyft for a year in order to evaluate their impact on traffic congestion, together with a second bill that would allow the city to set a minimum wage for drivers. Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign both bills into law.

Hailed as a major blow to Uber by taxi driver advocacy groups and left-posturing Democratic politicians, the combined bills are little more than a temporary glitch for the app-based ride hailing services and will do little to address the underlying crisis of public transportation in the country's largest metropolis. As in the case of public education, where the claim of no money has been the excuse for slashing government spending in order to promote for-profit charter schools, Lyft and Uber have arisen and profited from the decades-long underfunding of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which has resulted in an unprecedented number of breakdowns and delays.

According to an October 2017 report from the citys Independent Budget Office (IBO), subway delays have soared by roughly 200 percent over the past five years as the agency has struggled to upgrade its outdated infrastructure, the aging equipment buckling under an increase in ridership.

The delays disproportionately affect workers with longer commutes from outer boroughs who have lost wages and in some cases their jobs as a result. The IBO report found that the hours that riders have lost during a typical morning rush hour have increased on every line by at least 24 percent from 2012 to 2017. Declining subway service is costing New York City workers about $1.2 million in lost wages each workday, the report continues. That comes out to about $307 million in income lost to transit woes each year.

As a result, since 2017, ridership has begun to fall, as those who can afford alternative means of transportation have headed for the exits. A New York Times report earlier this month revealed that annual subway ridership fell in 2017 to about 1.73 billion trips, down about 2 percent from 2015, according to statistics from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and subway officials said ridership continues to slip, falling during the first five months of this year by about 2 percent.

The fall-off in ridership has prompted the moves against Uber and Lyft as ready scapegoats for a crisis that threatens to further undermine the revenues of the transit authority, a state agency controlled by New York Governor Andrew Cuomos office in Albany. Revenues from lost fares since 2015 reach upward of $95 million. It has also intensified the conflict between the governors office and that of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio. The former has long argued that the city should be responsible for a larger share of financing for the MTA, while the latter, beholden to Wall Street, has already had to back down once in 2015 in the face of the Ubers determined resistance to anything impinging on its profits for wealthy investors and shareholders.

In the run-up to the City Council vote, Uber ran a pseudo-populist ad campaign on platforms such as the music-sharing app Pandora appealing to people of color who lived in the outer boroughs, and who as a result, the ad said, were often ignored by government, urging them to make their voices heard by opposing the cap on Uber.

The company argued that the imposition of a minimum wage for drivers would only make Uber rides more expensive, decreasing demand and availability, thus harming rather than improving the livelihood of taxi drivers, a number of whom have committed suicide out of desperation at their financial plight.

The company, valued at $68 billion and poised to go public with its shares later this year, is already preparing counter-measures to circumvent the cap. Uber spokesman Josh Gold told the Washington Post that the company will shift its strategy from opposing efforts to freeze the number of vehicles to gobbling up the outstanding for-hire vehicle licenses available under the new cap. Ride-hailing services have an estimated 80,000 of the 120,000 available for-hire vehicle licenses in New York, the companies say.

There is little doubt that studies undertaken by the mayors office over the next year will confirm what previous studies have already shown, namely that the app-based services increase traffic congestion in major urban areas, including New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago, in part by pulling from more sustainable modes of public transportation.

How much the necessary upgrades to the transportation infrastructure will cost fluctuates widely depending on who you ask, but the answer is always too much.

The recently appointed president of the New York City Transit Authority Andy Byfords sweeping plan to fix the subways comes with a $19 billion price tag, according to a Times headline in May.

The proposals to raise necessary funding to upgrade the transit system, such as congestion-based pricing in the city center, which is favored by the Uber and Lyft because it does not single them out, or revenue taxes on the ride-hailing apps which they oppose, would fall short of the funding required and have little chance of passing the state legislature.

Even without such measures, funding for the rational upgrading of the transportation infrastructure to meet the needs of twenty-first century urban centers exists; it is just one more thing that the American oligarchy sees no need to deprive itself to pay for, preferring to spend money on private jets, helicopters, limousines and yachts rather than on public transportation. The one-third share that the Trump administration recently floated for cutting the capital gains tax$102 billion over 10 years, with two-thirds of that, or $66 billion, accruing to the top 0.1 percent of Americanswould easily cover the funding required over the same period to upgrade a system that transports 1.7 billion riders annually.

See also: Another New York City taxi driver commits suicide

[21 June 2018]

I mpoverishment pushes another New York City taxi driver to suicide

[1 June 2018]
The turnout at the Washington neo-Nazi rally Sunday gave a glimpse of the real character of the fascist and white supremacist forces in the United States. Amid a blare of media publicity, grossly exaggerating the popular support for the ultra-right, less than two dozen people turned up for the Unite the Right 2 rally in Lafayette Park, across from the White House.

The entire affair should be described as a state-sponsored provocation rather than an actual rally. The handful of neo-Nazis were given their own private car on the Washington Metro, separated by police from other passengers. They rode through subway stations patrolled by more police, were escorted from the Foggy Bottom Metro station through a private exit, escorted by still more police on the walk to Lafayette Square, and protected there by hundreds of riot police, who kept away anti-fascist protesters who outnumbered the neo-Nazis at least a hundred to one. After the rally, the fascists boarded white vans, supplied either by the police or Metro, and were whisked away to safety.

At every point, the neo-Nazis were outnumbered by the journalists covering the non-event. Dozens of reporters trailed Jason Kessler, the organizer of the rally, recording his every word. As for the scale of the media hype, the number of hours of cable television coverage proved to be greater than the number of neo-Nazis in attendance.

And this was not primarily Fox News, which was somewhat embarrassed by the pro-Trump character of the white supremacist rally. CNN and MSNBC provided virtually unlimited airtime, and National Public Radio granted Kessler a seven-minute-long interview to spew his racist filth virtually uninterrupted to a nationwide audience. The effect was to build up the neo-Nazis as a potentially formidable force, out of all proportion to their actual support among the American people.

Kessler called the rally to spit on the memory of Heather Heyer, the anti-fascist protester murdered by a white supremacist in Charlottesville, Virginia, exactly a year before, during the first Unite the Right rally in that university town. But it was clear that he miscalculated. While Charlottesville in 2017 was the scene of a full-scale fascist riot involving hundreds of torch-bearing racists, ostensibly defending Confederate statues from planned removal, Lafayette Park in 2018 was a debacle.

Many of the racist groups that took part in Charlottesville decided not to come to Washington, at least in part because of the planned left-wing counterprotests. Also, much of the Virginia-based ultra-right is engaged in the campaign of Republican Senate candidate Corey Stewart, who is openly appealing to racism and anti-immigrant bigotry and is being shunned by the Republican Party establishment, although not by Trump, who has effusively endorsed him.

It is worth pointing out that efforts to organize counterprotests to Unite the Right 2 were censored by Facebook, on the thoroughly bogus grounds that they represented an artificial movement supposedly instigated by the Russian government to set Americans against each other. Facebook shut down one website promoting the counterprotest claiming that it showed signs of inauthentic activity.

In reality, thousands of young people and working people turned out for the counterprotest, with some traveling from New York City or even further to show their hatred for the fascists as well as their hostility to the Trump administration, which they clearly regarded as the moral author of the neo-Nazi rally, if not the actual sponsor.

It was Unite the Right 2 which better deserved the label inauthentic since it was made possible only by state and media manipulation, attracted almost no one, and had no genuine popular support.

The debacle in Lafayette Park does not mean that neo-Nazis and white supremacists can be dismissed or ignored. But it showed where the real danger lies: not as yet in any significant mass support for their ultra-reactionary politics, but in the systematic promotion of such forces by the capitalist state, both by the Trump administration and through police forces at every level, from ICE and the Border Patrol down to the local cops.

Fascist elements are promoted to intimidate popular opposition to the Trump administration, and to create the impression that there is significant support for its right-wing rampage against immigrants and its all-out backing of police violence and brutality against the working class.

A particularly foul role is played by the corporate media, backed by sections of the pseudo-left, who present the white supremacist groups as having widespread support, in keeping with their habitual slanders of white workers as being incorrigibly racist.

For nearly two years, the Democratic Party and its media allies have peddled a racialist explanation for the election of Trump and the right-wing policies being pursued by his administration. According to this narrative, Trump won the presidency because of a white racist vote in the working class in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The claims that America is awash in racism, and that Trumps election proves it, have been repeatedly disproven by serious analyses of the voting patterns in 2016 (see: The myth of the reactionary white working class).

It is especially absurd, given that the same states voted twice for Barack Obama, the first African-American president, and several were won by Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries over Hillary Clinton. It was only the right-wing campaign of Clinton, who made not the slightest appeal to the working class, that drove down turnout among both white and black workers and gave Trump the opening to win support on the basis of economic nationalism and populist demagogy.

The author also recommends:

Facebook censors the left

[3 August 2018]
Battlefield 6 Confirmed to be Coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Photo credit: Showtime

From Esquire

In five episodes, Sacha Baron Cohen's Who Is America? has made for a handful of insane moments-taking down politicians, lobbyists, and exposing the worst in a few everyday Americans. But while he's dabbled in the art world, music, and reality television, he's left one major American export untouched: the tech industry. And on Sunday night, Cohen went after Silicon Valley, making ousted Rap Genius founder Mahbod Moghadam look like a total dipshit in the process.

So far, Cohen's character Gio-playboy photographer for the super rich-has been one of the weakest links on Who Is America?. But, in Episode Five, Moghadam (aka Mahboo, as he explains to the camera is his hip-hop name), does a photoshoot with Gio, during which the comedian encouraged the tech bro to "do something like a black guy."

At the suggestion, Moghadam makes the Blood sign with his hands and mimics firing a gun at the camera, saying "pop, pop." He follows that up with an absolutely embarrassing rap freestyle. It's both humiliating and racist, from the founder of a website that explains itself as such:

Genius started as a platform for annotating clever rap lyrics-our original name was Rap Genius. Over the years, weve expanded our mission to include more than hip-hop, and more than just lyrics. Every song has a story that needs to be told, and the biggest names in music-including Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, and Lin-Manuel Miranda-come to Genius to give the world insight into their art.

Moghadam was fired from the company in 2014 after posting disgusting annotations on a mass murderer's manifesto on the Genius website. Since then, he's launched his own competitor to Wikipedia called Everipedia.

If it weren't already bad enough, the tech bro then allows Gio to photograph him on a green screen to stage phony photos of him helping feed children in Sudan, complete with product placement and a cringeworthy use of a doll's arm.

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Moghadam may be the first tech jerk on Who is America?, but hopefully he's not the last. It's an industry that certainly gives Cohen a lot to work with.

('You Might Also Like',)
As President Donald Trump signed a defense spending bill, named in honor of John McCain, he neglected to mention the Arizona senator even once.

Trump noticeably snubbed the 81-year-old Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, who is battling brain cancer, when he signed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act on Monday at Fort Drum in New York.

I want to thank our wonderful Vice President, Mike Pence, and say a special hello to the incredible patriots of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division. Special people. Thank you, Trump began his speech.

Though he also thanked Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik among others, Trump never named McCain  and even omitted his name from the title of the bill.

Im here today to sign our new defense bill into law and to pay tribute to the greatest soldiers in the history of the world: the United States Army, the president said.

RELATED: John McCain Wants Mike Pence to Attend His Funeral Instead of Donald Trump: Report

Donald Trump

We believe our warfighters deserve the tools, the equipment, and resources they have earned with their blood, sweat, and tears. In honor of that sacred obligation, I will put my signature on the National Defense Authorization Act, Trump said. This authorization will give Americas warfighters the firepower they need to win any conflict quickly and decisively.

That same day, McCains longtime aide Mark Salter tweeted, For those asking did I expect Trump to be an a today. No more than I expected it to be Monday.

Meanwhile, McCain released a statement on his website, choosing not to mention Trumps snub.

Im proud the NDAA is now law & humbled Congress chose to designate it in my name. As Chairman of the Armed Services Cmte, Ive found high purpose in service of a cause greater than selfthe cause of our troops who defend America & all that she stands for, he said.

McCains wife Cindy celebrated her husband on Twitter, writing, Im so proud of @SenJohnMcCain and his work on NDAA. Incredibly humbled at the naming of this after my husband.

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Im so proud of @SenJohnMcCain and his work on NDAA. Incredibly humbled at the naming of this after my husband.  Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 13, 2018

RELATED: Kelly Sadler, Aide Who Mocked John McCains Cancer, No Longer Employed by the White House

Trump and McCains relationship has been rocky these past few years.

Days after he announced the cancer diagnoses in 2017, McCain voted against the Republican bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which angered Trump.

While giving a speech in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the president criticized McCain for his decision, although he opted out of mentioning McCain by name.

Most memorably in 2015, Trump accused the former Vietnam prisoner of war of not being a hero because he had been captured.
The Feast of the Assumption is one of the five major feast days in our Liturgical Calendar and the Blessing of the Grapes is important to our community as it gives families in our community an opportunity to celebrate Armenian identity, tradition and culture, Pentezian said.
Marquee Midwest races set after historic primary night originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Primary season continued its steady march toward November Tuesday night as voters in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin took to the polls to choose candidates for a number of competitive general election contests.

In Vermont, Democrats made history by nominating the first transgender candidate for governor in U.S. history.

Christine Hallquist, the former chief executive of the Vermont Electric Cooperative, won the Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday evening, The Associated Press projected. The AP also has projected that incumbent Gov. Phil Scott will win the Republican gubernatorial primary to face Hallquist in November.

PHOTO: Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist, holding clipboard, a transgender woman and former electric company executive, shakes hands with her supporters during her election night party in Burlington, Vt., on Aug. 14, 2018. (Charles Krupa/AP)

(MORE: Progressive Christine Hallquist becomes 1st transgender gubernatorial nominee for major party)

Scott faced a primary challenge from first-time candidate Keith Stern, who mounted a serious challenge to the incumbent by running to Scott's right. The Republican Governor's Association invested more than $1 million in a PAC supporting Scott's re-election, according to FiveThirtyEight. Scott infuriated pro-gun factions of his base by supporting gun-control measures, the AP reported.

The AP also projects that Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers will win the Democratic nomination for governor in Wisconsins primary election. Evers was one of eight Democrats competing to challenge Scott Walker. A recent NBC News/Marist poll showed Walker trailing Evers by 13 points in the general election.

Facing Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin in November is Leah Vukmir, who the AP projects to win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

Vukmirs victory Tuesday night marks a historic milestone for women running for office: A record number of women are now nominated for the U.S. Senate in 2018. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, 19 women will be on the ballot in U.S. Senate races this November, breaking the previous record of 18 set in 2012.

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Also out of Wisconsin, House Speaker Paul Ryan's former aide Bryan Steil is projected to win the Republican primary for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District. Steil is running to replace his former boss, who endorsed him in the primary. In 2016, with the support of a substantial white working-class population, the district swung in favor of Donald Trump.

Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, center, is greeted by his supporters after returning to the watch party, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, in Plymouth, Minn. (AP)

Facing Steil in the general election is ironworker Randy Bryce, who is projected to win the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Bryce, who has raised nearly $5 million in his campaign and gained national attention. He earned the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders but the Army veteran also has a history of arrests, including one for drunk driving.

In Minnesotas gubernatorial race, the AP projects that Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson will win the Republican nomination for governor, and Rep. Tim Walz is projected to win the Democratic nomination.

The Minnesota governors race will replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. Johnson, the 2014 Republican nominee for governor, was the party-endorsed candidate and blocked a comeback bid from former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in the primary.

Democratic nominee Walz mounted a run for governor over re-election in the 1st Congressional District, but the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsed state Rep. Erin Murphy over Walz. Republicans have not won a statewide election in Minnesota in over a decade, but Trump came within 2 percentage points of winning the state in 2016, giving the Republican nominee a fighting chance.

In this July 18, 2018, file photo, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., asks a question at a House Committee on Financial Services hearing in Washington. (AP)

The AP also projected that Rep. Keith Ellison will win the Democratic nomination for Minnesotas attorney general primary election. Ellison garnered nearly 54 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state at the time of the AP projection.

After opting to not run for his safe congressional seat, Ellison defeated the 5 other contenders in the attorney general race amid allegations that he abused a former girlfriend. Ellison has denied those allegations. The Republican primary in this race has not been called.

Also in Minnesota, the AP projects that Sen. Tina Smith will win the Democratic primary in the special election to replace former Sen. Al Franken. After Franken resigned due to allegations of sexual misconduct, Smith was appointed to fill his seat earlier this year. She now has a chance to finish his term but Smith will face state Sen. Karin Housley, who is projected to win the special elections Republican primary.

The general election ballot is set to feature two female candidates in the wake of the #MeToo movement that led to Franken's resignation.

The AP has also projected that Ilhan Omar will win the Democratic nomination in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, a deep blue district that covers Minneapolis.

We started this campaign to prove people are ready and willing to fight for an America that works for all of us. To every staff member, volunteer, donor, and voter, this win is just as much yours as it is mine. Together, we will move our district, state and nation forward.  Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 15, 2018

Omar is a Somali-born hijab-wearing refugee, and was favored to win after running on a strong progressive platform. She was also endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and could potentially be the second Muslim woman in Congress if she wins in November. The first was former Michigan state Rep. Rashia Tlaib, who won last weeks Democratic primary. Omar will compete against Jennifer Zielinski, who was projected to win the Republican nomination, in November.

Candidates are also set for two Minnesota congressional districts where the GOP hopes to go on offense this cycle.

The AP also projects that Iraq War veteran and Obama administration official Dan Feehan will win the Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District. Feehan, who is on the DCCCs Red to Blue list for top-tier candidates, will face former U.S. Treasury Department official Jim Hagedorn, who the AP projects will win the Republican primary in this district. The 1st Congressional District is a seat vacated by Walz, who won the Minnesota Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Former state Rep. Joe Radinovich will win the Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District, the AP also projected, and will compete against retired police officer and current St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber, according to APs projection. This is another open seat to succeed Rep. Rick Nolan, who had planned to retire but instead joined Lori Swansons ticket in her bid for governor.

In Connecticut, the AP is projecting that Greenwich-based cable television executive Ned Lamont will win the Democratic gubernatorial race, defeating Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim.

Lamont was endorsed by the Democratic party over Ganim, a convicted felon who returned to Connecticut politics in 2015 when he was elected to a sixth term as mayor after serving seven years in prison for corruption.

Connecticut gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont celebrates after defeating Joe Ganim in the Democratic primary in New Haven, Conn., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. (AP)

Lamont previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2006 against Joe Lieberman, won the nomination but was defeated by Lieberman in the general election after Lieberman ran as an Independent. He also ran for governor in 2010 against current Gov. Dannel Malloy, but lost.

Lamont will face the winner of the crowded five-way Republican primary, which has not been called. The candidates include businessmen Bob Stefanowski, Stephen Obsitnik and David Stemerman, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst.

Also in Connecticut, the AP has projected that former National Teacher of the Year and first-time candidate Jahana Hayes will win the Democratic primary for Connecticuts 5th congressional district.

Hayes will be the Democratic nominee in the race to replace Rep. Elizabeth Esty, who did not seek re-election after mishandling a sexual harassment scandal involving her chief of staff. Sen. Chris Murphy encouraged Hayes to run, however, he did not issue a formal endorsement in the race.

Governorships and U.S. Senate seats are up in all four states holding primaries, and both parties are again watching to see which candidates emerge victorious and advance to November. A combined 22 U.S. House seats are also at stake in the states voting Tuesday, many of which could factor heavily into the balance of power in Congress' lower chamber this fall.

Here's a look at some of the key storylines and races the ABC News Politics team is tracking on this primary night:

Wisconsin a barometer of the Midwest

Donald Trump's 2016 victory in Wisconsin was the first for a Republican presidential candidate since 1984, and now the state faces yet another test of its political identity on Tuesday.

PHOTO: Vermont Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist, a transgender woman and former electric company executive, smiles during her election night party in Burlington, Vt., on Aug. 14, 2018. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Gov. Scott Walker is running for a third full term, which presents yet another chance for Democrats to defeat the former presidential candidate and longtime foe. The Democratic primary is a crowded and complicated field of eight candidates all vying to take on Walker and flip one of a number of Midwestern gubernatorial seats that had fallen out of their grasp in recent years.

The top candidates on the Democratic side include Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers, former state lawmaker Kelda Roys, the African-American leader of a state firefighters union, Mahlon Mitchell, former state Democratic Party chair Matt Flynn, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and state lawmaker Kathleen Vineout. Whoever emerges from the crowd Tuesday has a tall task in unseating Walker, who alongside the state GOP has built a powerful infrastructure in the state that has allowed him to win two full terms and survive a recall election in 2012.

(MORE: Ohio special election too close to call, GOP claims victory; Primary results come in)

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is also up for re-election this cycle, and the GOP primary to take her on in November has been a bitter battle between state lawmaker Leah Vukmir and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kevin Nicholson.

Vukmir won the endorsement of the state GOP last month and has the backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan, while Nicholson, a former Democrat whose catchphrase is "send a Marine" to Congress, has attempted to paint himself as a political outsider taking on a party insider. The race is a true test of the state party's infrastructure versus the deep pockets of GOP megadonor Richard Uihlein. Uihlein and the conservative group Club for Growth have backed Nicholson to the tune of $10 million in ads boosting the candidate.

Hope for Democratic victories in the state were bolstered by special election wins in a state Supreme Court race and for a number of state senate seats, and losing Baldwin's seat would be a large blow to the party's hopes of taking back control of the U.S. Senate.

The liberal Baldwin, the Senate's first openly gay member, is one of 10 Democratic incumbents up this cycle in a state that Donald Trump won in the 2016 presidential election.

GOP on offense in Minnesota

While Republicans are likely to lose a number of U.S. House seats this cycle, the state of Minnesota presents the GOP a rare chance to go on offense in a year where they are almost exclusively playing political defense.

The retirement of Rep. Rick Nolan in the state's 8th Congressional District and the decision by Rep. Tim Walz in the state's 1st Congressional District to run for governor has given Republicans hopes that they could gain seats in a year where the national political environment is less than favorable.

PHOTO: Pete Stauber, Republican candiate for the U.S. House in Minnesotas 8th District, waves to the crowd after being introduced by President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Amsoil Arena, June 20, 2018, in Duluth, Minn. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

While Donald Trump narrowly lost Minnesota in the 2016 election, he carried both the 1st and 8th congressional districts by more than 15 points -- another factor that makes these open-seat races highly competitive. Army veteran Dan Feehan, a former acting assistant secretary of Defense in the Obama administration, is the candidate with the backing of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party and is on the DCCCs Red to Blue list for top-tier candidates.

The Republican race in the 1st District is between state Sen. Carla Nelson and Jim Hagedorn, who has been the GOP nominee against Walz the last two cycle.

Democrats have held the 8th District in all but one congressional election since Harry Trumans administration -- Republicans held it from 2011 to 2013, but with voters leaning to Trump, it may open the door for the GOP.

(MORE: Bredesen, Blackburn win Tennessee primary elections for Senate)

Five Democrats have run to succeed Nolan, including Nolans former campaign manager Joe Radinovich. State Rep. Jason Metsa leads all Democrats in total fundraising. Republican candidate Pete Stauber, who campaigned with and has the backing of President Trump, leads the field in fundraising and will face former Duluth school board member Harry Welty.

Vermont Democrats poised to make history

Phil Scott has cemented himself among the rare breed of popular Northeast Republican governors and is in solid position to win re-election this cycle.

But Scott's popularity will likely not stop Democrats in the state from making history by nominating Christine Hallquist, who would be the nation's first transgender woman to hold a governor's seat if she is able to win Tuesday's primary and pull an upset against Scott in November.

Hallquist, 62, is the former chief executive of the Vermont Electric Cooperative and said she is seeking to utilize both her local experience and national profile in a potential race against Scott.

"Thats how I want to be known in Vermont," Hallquist said of he progressive platform and executive experience in a recent interview with the Associated Press, "Nationally, I want to be known as the first trans candidate."

Other key races to watch:

Connecticut governor: In a counter to the conventional wisdom that Democrats have the advantage in 2018, the Nutmeg State may provide an opportunity for Republicans to make inroads in a typically blue state.

Incumbent Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy leaves office as one of the least popular governors in the nation, and several Republicans are trying to take advantage. The GOP primary has seen a similar embrace of Trump that we've seen in races across the country, but there's no way to know how that strategy will play out in a state that is deep blue in presidential cycles, but much more purple in gubernatorial races and off-year elections.

PHOTO: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker arrives at an event in Milwaukee, Feb. 6, 2018. (Scott Olson/Getty Images, FILE)

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who fell short in a run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2014, has the backing of the Republican Party in advance of the primary and is running against former nominee for state treasurer, Tim Herbst, and businessmen Stephen Obsitnik, David Stemerman and Bob Stefanowski.

Democrats have backed a familiar name in state politics in businessman Ned Lamont, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2006 in a challenge to then-Senator Joe Lieberman. Lamont has the state partys backing, but will have to defeat Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim.

Connecticuts 5th Congressional District: In the Connecticut district that includes some of the most Republican parts of the state, Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty is stepping aside after allegations that her chief of staff committed sexual assault.

PHOTO: Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy speaks during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 25, 2016. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP, FILE)

Democrats have endorsed Mary Glassman, a former lieutenant governor candidate who served as First Selectman-- a similar position to mayor in other states-- of Simsbury. She will face Jahana Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year and first-time candidate who received encouragement to run from Sen. Chris Murphy. Murphy, however, has not issued a formal endorsement in the race.

Republicans may have the opportunity to pick up their first congressional victory in the state in a decade, with three candidates throwing their hats in the ring for the seat-- former Meriden mayor Manny Santos, businessman Rich DuPont and retired professor Ruby Corby ONeill.

Minnesota governor: The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes is another spot where Republicans will potentially be able to reverse the tide of the Blue Wave, as they may be able to ride the name recognition of a former Governor who wants another crack at the office.

Tim Pawlenty, former governor and Republican presidential candidate, has decided to run for his old job, but has stumbled a bit in the early going. Pawlenty lost the party endorsement to Jeff Johnson, the previous nominee in 2014, but is still favored in Tuesdays primary.

PHOTO: Candidate Jahana Hayes addresses delegates during the Democratic convention for the 5th District, May 14, 2018, at Crosby High School in Waterbury, Conn. (Jim Shannon/Republican-American/AP, FILE)

If Pawlenty withstands Johnsons challenge, he will face a tough battle against the winner of a Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary with several viable candidates. The focus, however, has been on the late decision by Attorney General Lori Swanson to run for governor, a move that triggered Rep. Keith Ellison to run for the newly open Attorney General post.

Swanson faces a difficult primary against Rep. Tim Walz, who decided to run for governor over re-election in the 1st district. Along with two high-profile candidates, the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party added an additional wrinkle when it endorsed the bid of state representative Erin Murphy, who supports a statewide single-payer healthcare system.

Democrats may have a slight advantage, as Republicans have not won a statewide election in over a decade, but considering that Trump came within 2 percentage points of winning the state in 2016, Republicans may have a fighting chance.

(MORE: Rising star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wins primary in district she was not running in)

Minnesota U.S. Senate Special Election: Democrats will have a relative advantage in both of their Senate elections, as in addition to popular Senator Amy Klobuchar running for her regularly scheduled re-election, there will also be a special election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Al Franken.

Sen. Tina Smith, appointed to the seat earlier this year, is facing an unconventional primary challenge from Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer for George W. Bush. Painter, a former Republican, has become a vocal anti-Trump voice on Twitter and has leveraged his social media presence during his campaign.

PHOTO: Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn., speaks to the CPAC Conference held by the American Conservative Union in Washington, Feb. 10, 2010. (Bill Clark/Roll Call/Getty Images, FILE)

Smith, however, has the endorsement of most Democratic leaders in the state as well as from Senate colleague Elizabeth Warren.

Republicans have a three-way primary, but the only candidate who has filed contributions with the FEC has been state senator Karin Housley.

Minnesota 2nd Congressional District: Incumbent Rep. Jason Lewis could have a more challenging re-election bid now that a CNN report has unearthed Lewis previous statements. Lewis referred to women as sluts and that African-Americans have an entitlement mentality.

The general election is all set, however, as no Republican is running against Lewis. Presumptive Democratic nominee Angie Craig will likely attempt to take advantage of Lewis attacks for the general election campaign, as she is running unopposed. Craig has been backed by progressive organizations including EMILYs List and the Human Rights Campaign.

(MORE: Oklahoma's teacher candidates surge to November after success in primary elections)

Both Democrats and Republicans have listed the race as a target for extra funds, which makes sense for a largely suburban district that has been decided by one point or less in the last two presidential elections -- Obama won it in 2012 while Trump won it in 2016.

Minnesota 3rd Congressional District: Democrats have identified Republican Rep. Erik Paulsens seat as a potential target, as the 3rd district has backed Democrats in the last three presidential elections.

Paulsen has continued to survive in the suburban Twin Cities districts with a relatively moderate voting record and has distanced himself from Trump.

Democrats will seek to take advantage of a relatively favorable electorate in the 3rd District and have given extra financial support to Dean Phillips, the owner of a local coffee chain. Phillips has run on a progressive platform including Medicare-for-All and ending Citizens United.

If Democrats want to successfully take back the House of Representatives, this seat will be crucial to their path to control.

Minnesota 5th Congressional District: DNC vice chair Keith Ellison won this seat in 2007 and became the first Muslim-American elected to Congress and may be succeeded by the first Muslim woman elected to Congress.

Ellison stepped aside to run for Minnesota attorney general and the local Democratic-Farmer-Labor party has endorsed state Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born hijab-wearing refugee. Omar has run on a strongly progressive platform and has faced controversy for her criticism of Israel, but is favored in her primary race.

PHOTO: In this Jan. 10, 2015 file photo, Minnesota Democratic Lt. Gov. Tina Smith speaks to attendees at the North Star Ball in St. Paul, Minn. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP, FILE)

Four other candidates, including state Sen. Patricia Torres Ray and former State House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, are also running in the Democratic primary.

Three Republicans are running in the primary but will face a tough battle in a seat where Ellison won his last election with 69 percent of the vote.

Wisconsin 1st Congressional District: While Republicans need to defend all the seats they can in 2018, losing this seat would be especially painful as it currently belongs to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

Ryan is not running for re-election and six Republicans have jumped into the race. Ryan has endorsed former staffer Bryan Steil, but arguably the most prominent candidate among Republicans is Paul Nehlen, who lost the support of the conservative website Breitbart for his white supremacist views and anti-Semitic comments.

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar smiles while speaking during the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party endorsement convention in Minneapolis, June 17, 2018. (Emilie Richardson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Democrats have a pair of candidates in teacher Cathy Myers and ironworker Randy Bryce, but the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has backed Bryce, who has raised nearly $5 million in his campaign. Bryce, an army veteran who has gained national attention, has earned also earned the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The district swung Trumps way in 2016 thanks to the support of its substantial white working-class population, but if Bryce wins, Democrats may be able to rely on his background as an ironworker and his pro-labor policies to earn enough support to flip the seat.
Good Morning America

As Democrats this week scrambled to close the deal on President Joe Biden's landmark social spending legislation, Liuba Grechen Shirley, a mom of three, said it has been "heartbreaking" to watch as federal paid family and medical leave appear less and less likely to be included in the final bill. "It's heartbreaking because after the last year, after the pandemic, after seeing so many women pushed out of the workforce, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally change our policies," said Grechen Shirly, of Long Island, New York. "The fact that it's even a debate about whether we should have paid family leave, that's the problem."
Suspects in New Mexico compound case expected to be released despite sheriff's pleas originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

A New Mexico judge agreed on Monday to release five suspects who were arrested on child abuse charges and were alleged to have been training the children to carry out school shootings. The decision to release the suspects on bond came against the wishes of the sheriff's department and FBI.

The suspects -- two men and three women -- were arrested last week at a makeshift compound in Amalia, New Mexico, where authorities rescued 11 emaciated children living in filthy conditions with very little food and no clean water, according to police.

Judge Sarah Backus ordered the suspects -- Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40, Lucas Morton, 40, Jany Leveille, 35, Hujrah Wahhaj, 37, and Subhannah Wahhaj, 35 -- released on $20,000 bond each on Monday evening and ordered them to wear ankle monitors until trial, the Taos County Sheriff's Office announced.

PHOTO: A 'no trespassing' sign outside of the location where people camped near Amalia, N.M., Aug. 5, 2018. (Jesse Moya/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP)

(MORE: Investigators working to identify remains from New Mexico compound)

Leveille, who is a native of Haiti, was transferred to custody of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday, the Taos County Sheriff's Office said.

Wahhaj is still being held on an outstanding warrant from Georgia stemming from the allegation he kidnapped his 4-year-old son.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the other three defendants remained in jail pending fulfillment of their conditions for release, according to the sheriff's office.

Jany Leveille sits in court during a hearing, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Taos, N.M. Leveille was among several people arrested after authorities raided a property and found 11 children living on a squalid compound on the outskirts of tiny Amalia, N.M. (AP)

District Court Judge Sarah Backus outlined her reasons for granting release to the suspects in a 19-point written order filed on Tuesday.

"The Court is aware that it will receive criticism about this decision," Backus wrote. "The canons of judicial ethics require that judges not concern themselves with public opinion and base their decisions on the law and the evidence presented in Court. The defendants are innocent until they are proved to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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"In Court, the burden was on the prosecution to prove its case and it did not do so," the written order went on to say. "For that reason, the Court has denied the motion for detention without bond."

The order does outline 12 strict conditions for their release, including weekly contact with their attorneys, adding that the suspects must also cooperate with the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Division (CYFD), where the children are being held in protective custody. They will remain under house arrest, have ankle-monitoring bracelets, may not possess drugs or weapons, and must not visit the compound.

The Taos County sheriff, undersheriff, prosecutors and an FBI agent involved in the case had argued the five adults should not be released, Albuquerque ABC affiliate KOAT reported. The judge, however, said they failed to articulate a "specific threat."

Eleven children were held with little food or water in a makeshift compound in Amalia, N.M., for an unknown period of time before police raided the location on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. (Taos County Sheriff's Office)

Eleven children were held with little food or water in a makeshift compound in Amalia, N.M., for an unknown period of time before police raided the location on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. (Taos County Sheriff's Office)

(MORE: New disturbing details emerge from New Mexico compound where 11 abused children found)

Police discovered the decrepit compound, located near the Colorado state line, while searching for Wahhaj's 4-year-old son, Abdul, but he was not there. His mother reported him missing late last year and claimed his father kidnapped him.

Investigators found the malnourished children, ages 1 to 15, barefoot and wearing "rags for clothing," according to a complaint. Authorities recovered the buried remains of a young boy during a subsequent search of the compound on Aug. 9.

Eleven children were held with little food or water in a makeshift compound in Amalia, N.M., for an unknown period of time before police raided the location on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. (Taos County Sheriff's Office)

(MORE: Remains of young boy found on filthy compound where authorities rescued 11 children)

Prosecutors believe the remains were that of Wahhaj's son, who is disabled, according KOAT, but investigators say it could take weeks to verify the child's identification.
It has been one year since race-fueled violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, saw hundreds of members of various hate groups, including neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klansmen, march through the University of Virginia campus shouting messages of anti-Semitism and white supremacy. The rally, named Unite the Right, turned violent when it was met with counterprotesters, which resulted in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, who was killed by a 20-year-old neo-Nazi after he drove his vehicle into the crowd.

Today, as the Unite the Right 2 rally occurred in Washington on the anniversary of Charlottesville, hundreds of demonstrators also gathered in Charlottesville to honor Heyer and once again denounce racism. Meanwhile, white supremacists shifted the location of their march: A small group of white nationalists, about two dozen, marched in downtown Washington, D.C., making their way to Lafayette Square Park near the White House, where they were met with thousands of counterprotestors that were divided by metal fences and heavy police enforcement. Though the events permit submitted by Jason Kessler, which was issued by the National Park Service, planned for up to 400 participants, the group of white nationalists proved to be much (much) smaller than anticipated, and indeed much smaller than last years display.

While tensions rose as counterprotestors dwarfed white nationalists on Sunday, the Trump administration remained characteristically tight-lipped. President Trump did acknowledge the Charlottesville anniversary on Twitter, reversing his statement from last year that claimed there was blame on both sides, writing yesterday, The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division. We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans! Daughter Ivanka Trump also took to the platform to speak of last years protests. While Americans are blessed to live in a nation that protects liberty, freedom of speech and diversity of opinion, she said on Twitter, there is no place for white supremacy, racism and neo-nazism in our great country.

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Below, influential figures remember Charlottesville. Plus, some coverage of todays rally.

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When someones being sarcastic to you, you probably pick up on it fairly quickly. For someone with autism, thats not the case. They take things more literally and are unable to read body language that indicates a joke is a joke. They dont understand things such as sarcasm, irony, euphemisms, or any expression thats a different way of saying what you mean,

Living in the age of technology has its inarguable perks. A lot of people can work from home whenever they feel like it, your schedule is more flexible, and you can even reap some of the benefits of working outside. But, according to a new study, published in the journal Academy of Management Proceedings, the feeling of being on-call 24/7 isnt doing your overall well-being any favors.

According to William Becker, a Virginia Tech associate professor of management in the Pamplin College of Business and co-author of the study, bringing your work home with you puts a strain across much of your life.

The competing demands of work and nonwork lives present a dilemma for employees, which triggers feelings of anxiety and endangers work and personal lives, Becker said.

But even when you dont have actual work to do in your off-hours, simply knowing that your boss can email you with a question or an assignment at any hour can prevent people from taking a much-needed break from their jobs.

Our research exposes the reality: flexible work boundaries often turn into work without boundaries, compromising an employees and their familys health and well-being.

Not only does anticipating an email from your boss raise your stress levels, but it can also make you more likely to ignore your family members and personal responsibilities, which come at a real emotional cost. And while expecting your employees to be on the clock all the time may seem like a good idea in theory, in practice it results in less mentally healthy and productive employees. As such, Becker recommends that employers maintain stricter boundaries with their employees.

Its an idea thats already being considered by New York City, where city council member Rafael Espinal recently introduced a Disconnecting from Work bill that would make it illegal for employers to contact employees after work hours have ended.

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Theres a lot of New Yorkers out there that dont know when their work day begins or when their work day ends, because were all so tied to our phones, Espinal told WCBS. You can still work, you can still talk to your boss, but this is just saying that, when you feel like youve hit your boiling point and you cant do it anymore, youre able to disconnect and decompress for a while.

When a job requires an employee to be on-call 24/7, Becker proposes clearly stating that expectation in the hiring process, or establishing acceptable off-duty hours for work-related communication.

If the nature of a job requires email availability, such expectations should be stated formally as a part of job responsibilities, Becker said.

He also suggests employees practice mindfulness.

Employees today must navigate more complex boundaries between work and family than ever before, he said. Employer expectations during nonwork hours appear to increase this burden, as employees feel an obligation to shift roles throughout their nonwork time. Efforts to manage these expectations are more important than ever, given our findings that employees families are also affected.

For more on how our tech addiction is negatively affecting our personal lives, check out Heres Why Your Phone Is Making You a Terrible Parent.

To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click here to sign up for our FREE daily newsletter!
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina's five living former governors delivered an extraordinary rebuke Monday to the Republican-dominated legislature for two constitutional amendments that lawmakers put on the fall ballot, saying they would shred gubernatorial power and government checks and balances if approved.

The ex-governors  three Democrats and two Republicans  gathered for a rare appearance in the old Capitol, urging voters to defeat the two November ballot questions.

Democrats Jim Hunt, Mike Easley and Beverly Perdue and Republicans Jim Martin and Pat McCrory served from 1977 through 2016. Some would appear to be unlikely allies. Perdue narrowly defeated McCrory in the 2008 gubernatorial election.

"It would be a mistake to say this is a partisan fight between Republicans and Democrats. It's worse  it's legislators versus governor," said Martin, governor from 1985 to 1993.

Hunt, a four-term governor who left office in 2001, added the amendments are "really about whether or not a few politicians in the legislature will increase their power at the expense of the people of North Carolina."

Current Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper didn't attend, but has sued to prevent votes on the two amendments this November. He contends the questions are so false and misleading as to be unconstitutional themselves. Later this week, a three-judge panel will hear legal requests from Cooper and from interest groups that sued to get four questions off the ballots.

The former governors' event emphasized the stakes and the potential rebalance of government powers if the amendments are approved. Governors would no longer have sole power on filling nearly all judicial vacancies and would be cut out of making appointments to the state elections and ethics board and possibly other key state boards and commissions.

"Never have five of us gotten together and stuck it to you on the same issue," said Easley, governor from 2001 to 2009. "So you can believe we believe in what we are saying to you."

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Republican House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger said in a release they "respectfully disagree with these governors" and "it's not surprising former governors oppose checks and balances on the unilateral authority of their office."

Before the news conference, other Republican lawmakers struck hard, listing in a release lapses linked to the former Democratic governors. That included Easley entering a felony plea in 2010 for an improperly filed campaign finance report.

One amendment would shift control of filling vacant judgeships away from the governor and toward the legislature. Instead, the governor would have to choose from at least two recommended candidates from a pool deemed qualified by a "nonpartisan judicial merit" commission.

The ballot question says the new system would rely "on professional qualifications instead of political influence when nominating justices and judges," but opponents say that's not true, insisting lawmakers would just pick friends and political allies.

The second amendmen t would give the legislature appointment powers over the state elections board. The governor has made the appointments for over 100 years, but lawmakers have tried to wrest that control from Cooper since he was elected in November 2016.

The amendment also would state that the legislature controls the appointments and duties of any board or commission it creates. Republicans call this clarifying language after a pair of state Supreme Court rulings  one initiated by Cooper and another by McCrory, Martin and Hunt  that found lawmakers retained too much power over several state panels.

But the governors say it would give the General Assembly tremendous power over potentially hundreds of boards and commissions, especially those where the governor gets to appoint some or most of the members.

Easley, also a former attorney general, said "the power of the executive" rests in commissions, which often set the permits and the rules everyday people must follow.

"I couldn't find one thing to help the people of North Carolina, and I find that very troublesome," Perdue said.

McCrory said if lawmakers want "to take on the responsibility of the governor, then have the courage to run for governor and win ... don't hijack our constitution, especially through two deceitful and misleading amendments."

Other amendments on fall ballots would mandate photo identification to vote in person, lower the maximum income tax rate allowed from 10 percent to 7 percent, create a right to hunt and fish and expand the rights of crime victims.

Republican legislators, who have been in charge of the General Assembly since 2011, hope some amendment questions will attract conservative voters to the polls and help them retain their majorities. The state Democratic Party is opposing all six amendments.
6-year-old Caitlin stands next to her haul of toys after her mother left her unattended with her Amazon account. (Photo: Ria Diyaolu via Twitter)

Like their first smile, their first steps, their first laugh  a childs first scam is something a parent will cherish forever. In most cases, a kids first scam is entirely amateur, albeit adorable, like stealing cookies from the cookie jar, secretly staying up late to watch a scary movie, or maybe even hiding something they broke and feigning innocence when asked where it went.

Six-year-old Caitlin, though? Shes a pro already, and its almost intimidating. If shes pulling off scams at this level, its only a matter of time before theyre basing an Oceans 8 sequel on one of her jobs.

For her birthday, Caitlin was allowed to order a Barbie doll using her mothers Amazon account. Under supervision, she did just that. However, later, she asked her mom if she could return to the website to track her package. This is when Caitlin presumably discovered the joys of the add to cart button and one-day delivery option.

The next day, boxes upon boxes arrived outside Caitlins home in Utah.

My badass little cousin ordered $300 worth of toys w/o my aunt & uncle knowing. This is a picture of how everyone found out. pic.twitter.com/wHWVhsMBYI  princess ria (@R_tatas) August 11, 2018

Caitlins older cousin Ria Diyaolu told BuzzFeed, Her mom went on her Amazon account and saw three pages of things she had ordered.

Caitlin, on a shopping spree that would make any kindergartner green with envy, purchased $350 worth of toys, video games, and board games.

According to Ria, Caitlin was not grounded  but all the toys, except the Barbie doll, were returned to Amazon.

Twitter users commented that Caitlins mother wasnt alone in raising a fellow scammer.

When my son did it they offered to extend my prime membership for an additional 3 months for free He ordered $473 worth of toys.. And a white comforter   Ashley V. (@SuperSaiyan19xx) August 13, 2018

One mentioned that her son racked up a $473 bill on toys  and a white comforter. Why a white comforter?

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So he could sleep in the $400 bouncer he ordered.  pic.twitter.com/OyWiCLXvC1  Ashley V. (@SuperSaiyan19xx) August 13, 2018

So he could sleep in his newly purchased bounce house, of course.

Meanwhile, sometimes the whole neighborhood can benefit from children knowing how to log into their parents Amazon account.

My neighbors 10 year old told Alexa to send him a case of dishwashing soap. We all got some   Joy (@Joyjoysilva) August 13, 2018

Wonder what that 10-year-olds obsession with dishwashing soap was.

Diyaolu did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyles requests for comment.

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Adele at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 12, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo: John Shearer/WireImage)

In a highly personal post to her 32 million followers Monday afternoon, Adele revealed that her best friend, Laura Dockrill, recently survived postpartum psychosis, a mental illness that strikes one to two out of 1,000 women who give birth each year. Characterized by paranoia, hallucinations, and rapid mood swings, it is an affliction thats often overlooked in discussions of maternal health  making Adeles post all the more powerful.

This is my best friend. We have been friends for more of our lives than we havent, Adele writes. She had my beautiful godson 6 months ago and it was the biggest challenge of her life in more ways than one. Dockrill, who also attended the BRIT School for the Performing Arts in England, is a writer and illustrator who has decided to use her own experience to make others feel less alone, Adele says.

She has written the most intimate, witty, heartbreaking and articulate piece about her experience of becoming a new mum and being diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, Adele writes. Mamas talk about how youre feeling because in some cases it could save yours or someone elses life x

Dockrills piece, published on the blog Mother of All Lists, goes into excruciating detail about what its like to endure postpartum psychosis. For the U.K. artist, the symptoms began immediately after giving birth in February. After a dream of an easy pregnancy, Dockrill said her birth experience was horrifying, involving an emergency C-section and the revelation that her son was severely underweight.

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In the days after his birth, Dockrill says she was left sobbing and in pain, both from the wounds of her C-section and a rapid sense of doom about her new role as a parent. The second I got home and into bed I was drenched in this terrifying overwhelming sense of fear and dread, she writes. Like that Sunday-night-before-school feeling times a million. I felt like I was dying. My breath was short and tight, my heart was pounding out of my chest and my stomach churned.

As the weeks went on, she says the feelings of panic and dread only worsened  eventually leading to severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and full-blown paranoia. My psychosis took a dark turn. I still cant exactly work out what exactly happened or what form it took on, all I know is I was completely terrified, lost, confused and scared for myself and my son, she writes. I didnt trust ANYBODY  I even accused Hugo [my boyfriend] of kidnapping our baby.

Dockrill says her family moved into her living room with blankets and shopping bags full of baguettes and fruit and set up camp to help. But at that point Dockrill was too sick to even understand why they were there. My personal compass had gone, my maternal instinct had vanished, she writes. I was an insecure self-hating soulless shell with no confidence, I lost all faith in myself. I felt like I had done something terrible in my past and I was being punished for it.



After watching her teetering on the edge of collapse, her family staged an intervention, which landed Dockrill in the hospital for two weeks. Through medicine, therapy, and lots of support, the dark cloud finally lifted and the artist and new mother began to feel like herself again. But getting there took an enormous amount of strength  something she wants to help other women find.

Talking about this has been a huge part of my recovery and I was constantly searching for any stories that offered me hope or salvation in this dark and testing time, so thats why Ive shared this and to raise awareness of this awful sickness and to confront the stigma, she writes. Birth and motherhood are]a shock to the system and traumatic, and we shouldnt have to suffer in silence.

Her story  beyond brave  sheds light on the overlooked issue of maternal mental health. Karen Kleiman, a maternal health expert, author, and founder of the Postpartum Stress Center in Pennsylvania, says understanding these issues ahead of time is key. Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental illness that requires immediate medical intervention and hospitalization, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Onset is rapid and occurs as early as two to three days after childbirth.

Kleiman, who has also written multiple books on maternal mental health, says recognizing that something is wrong early on can help with treatment. For warning signs, she lists hyperactivity, excitability, overactive preoccupation with strange beliefs, thoughts or delusions, religious references, paranoia, lack of trust, not able to sleep or less need for sleep, speaking rapidly, racing thoughts, and confused speech.

Although the strongest predictor for the condition is a history of bipolar disorder, Kleiman says it can also occur in women with no history of mental illness  another reason that vigilance is key. Often, it is people closest to mom who first notice that something feels off, Kleiman tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Any concern that mom is not acting like herself should be taken extremely seriously and called to the attention of her healthcare provider.

Susan Benjamin Feingold, a clinical psychologist, author, and advocate for postpartum psychosis, echoes the need for a quick reaction. Women with postpartum psychosis are delusional; therefore, its not safe. They can hurt themselves or their baby, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Its an emergency situation that requires immediate hospitalization.

Feingold, one of the nations leading experts on postpartum psychosis, says that Dockrills birth story sounds like the perfect storm  one that puts a much-needed microscope on a stigmatized condition. Good for this woman for having the perseverance and endurance to stick around and come forward, Feingold tells Yahoo Lifestyle. The more people know about these things, the more they need to get help so things dont get worse.

With treatment  medicine and therapy  women can make a full recovery. But in some cases, those who dont can end up in situations that turn deadly. Of the women with postpartum psychosis, approximately 4 to 5 percent commit suicide, and 1 to 4 percent commit infanticide (killing their own infant), Feingold says. Thats the absolute worst-case scenario.

Although some countries  including the U.K.  offer protection for mothers who commit infanticide, there is no federal law in the U.S. that keeps women in these situations safe. Hoping to change that, Feingold helped pass an Illinois law that took effect in June and is the first law in the nation that protects women with postpartum psychosis from facing criminal sentences.

While shifting the legal landscape is vitally important, Feingold says that stories like Dockrills prove that there can be a happy ending when treatment takes place. Its excruciating, but it is a chemical imbalance that is treatable, she says. The more people are talking about this, the more likely they will be to get help or to prepare someone else to look for the signs if they are at risk.

 A post shared by LauraLeeDockrill (@lauraleedockrill) on Apr 22, 2018 at 3:22am PDT

Secrecy about the condition is something Dockrill says exacerbated the symptoms. I tried to hide my illness from my family and friends because I was so full with shame and guilt because there is a huge expectation on women to be perfect beautiful glowing mama queens that are all encompassing wonderbeasts that can manage anything and hold it all together whilst wearing one of those hippy wrap-around slings, in cool Nike trainers and red lipstick but it is HARD and FALSE, she writes. And sometimes  like in my case, way too big to hide  now I know hiding it is the worst thing you can do.

Now shes reclaiming her story  and hoping to prevent it from happening to someone else.

Its not easy to admit that the worst time of your life was when your baby was born, Dockrill says. Social media gives a very shiny exterior of life to be frank and its not the full picture, so I wanted to unlock some doors and be honest  Ive been somewhere I cant unsee and  in case there is anybody out there struggling  to open up a dialogue and say its OK.

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The electric guitar  an icon of American culture  is standing the test of time.

Despite a lot of bad PR in recent years, manufacturers and sellers say demand is strong for American-made guitars 10 years after the 2008 financial crisis hammered the industry.

There are some underlying trends that are really helping to fuel the industry, Fender CEO Andy Mooney told Yahoo Finances Final Round. There are 125 million people we estimate paid for streaming music services last year. So interest in recorded music is an all-time high.

Mooney added that the record 86 million people who attended Live Nation concerts last year corroborate the notion that there are more people interested in music than ever before, and millennials are a large part of that audience.

That interest has translated into an impressive retail guitar market.

Theres opportunity out there

Earlier this year, famed Nashville-based guitar maker Gibson Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But that doesnt mean that the entire industry is in dire straits.

The notion that the electric guitar is dead is not what were experiencing, Jack Higginbotham, COO at PRS Guitars, told Yahoo Finance. Were experiencing the opposite. If the manufacturers are listening to the consumer and delivering the product the consumer wants, theres opportunity out there for manufacturers.

A worker on the Paul Reed Smith factory floor works on a guitar. (Picture: Paul Reed Smith)

According to the National Association of Music Merchants, a trade organization in the music industry, the demand for American-made guitars rose year-over-year with unit sales increasing by 7.03%. And overall, the total retail value of guitars sold  $1.3 billion in 2017  indicates a rebounding industry.

Generally speaking, even people from  other countries want to buy American guitars, Nate Westgor, who runs Willies American Guitars, a vintage guitar shop in St. Paul, Minnesota, told Yahoo Finance. There are so many things about an American guitar thats so different  the metals, the fret material, the magnets, the type of wood, how the wood has aged.

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At bankrupt Gibson, sales of electric guitars grew 10.5% to $122 million in the 12 months through January from a year earlier. Even Guitar Center, the nations largest chain retailer and a holder of more than $1 billion in debt, recently said that guitar sales over the past year have been the strongest weve seen in our history.

Illustrations by David Foster for Yahoo Finance.

Over at Fender, one of the biggest manufacturers of guitars, the trends are strong.

Sales of fretted instruments  electric and acoustic, plus ukuleles  have been growing in the mid to high single digits for five years, Mooney told Yahoo Finance.

Mooney added that while growth was strong in the acoustic guitar space, electric guitar figures were outpacing acoustics for the past 18 months.

Its very much an American thing

Why is business booming? One of the main reasons for its vitality is its place in American culture.

As an American industry, we invented folk and rock, blues and jazz. The instruments that make them. Its very much an American thing, explained Westgor, the manager of Willies American Guitars. We invented all these genres, and invented the instruments that make them  and its still a multi-billion [dollar] industry.

The industry boomed in the 60s as The Beatles and other rock bands burst onto the music scene, inspiring teenagers to buy electric guitars and bases. Gibson was one of the companies that rode along this wave, and companies including PRS Guitars joined the fray as interest remained high through the 70s and 80s.

Higginbotham, for instance, joined master luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. He said that consumers have evolved along with guitar manufacturers.

The consumer has a higher expectation today than they did 30 years ago, said Higginbotham. Maybe the internet has been the tool thats helped that happen. Guitar players in general are aware there are high-quality things that are out there, and they want them within their grasp.

Jack Higginbotham, COO at PRS, in the workshop. (Picture: Paul Reed Smith)

Our audience is getting younger

Some argue that changing tastes in music is causing guitar sales to decline.

The electric guitar was new and fascinatingly exciting in a period before Jimi [Hendrix] and immediately after, former Beatles band member Paul McCartney said in an interview with the Washington Post last year. Now, its more electronic music and kids listen differently.

However, another reason for the industrys vitality is steady interest from millennials.

For us, our audience is getting younger. I think of that as incredibly powerful and good, Higginbotham said. As our industry, if you were to look at our industry as a whole, its an aging demographic. But if you took a snapshot of us, you would see that compared to 15 years ago, our average age of our buyer has come down quite a bit.

Howie Statland, who sells vintage guitars made by such companies as Gibson, Fender, and Martin, at Rivington Guitars in downtown New York, agreed: We have a lot of millennials buying from us.

Ty Dolla $ign, born in 1985, players a Fender American Professional Precision Bass. (Picture: Fender)

The key reason for capturing that age group, Higginbotham said, was to price it more competitively.

He explained that by introducing cheaper, more affordable ranges such as the SE line in 2001 and the S2 line in 2013, the company offered a price range between $499 to $1,499 to bring people into the family of Paul Reed Smith.

That opened up an age group, and the sensibility of the designs of the guitars spoke to the indie musicians, Higginbotham said. That line brought our age group down considerably.

Purest and most direct forms of self-expression

With the music streaming industry booming, manufacturers are also using social media and working with prominent artists to increase brand awareness.

Mooney said that Fender is spending twice as much on consumer-focused marketing than it was three years ago. And the company is using social platforms like Instagram and YouTube to connect with its millennial audience by creating content that appeals to them.

Paul Reed Smith collaborated with Grammy Award-winning musician John Mayer, to create the PRS Silver Sky based off Mayers and Smiths favorite elements from 1963 and 1964 vintage instruments.

John Mayer with the PRS Silver Sky. (Picture: Daniel Prakopcyk via Paul Reed Smith)

Looking to the future, confidence abounds about the American guitars staying power.

I believe the guitar itself is so deeply ingrained in American culture its not gonna go away, said Statland, the vintage guitar seller in New York. It will be around as long as Mamas Apple Pie or Coca-Cola.  Its one of Americas purest and most direct forms of self-expression.

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The district will continue exploring a later start time for Glenbrook North High School, according to the report. By November, the district plans to conduct a financial analysis of the districts current transportation contract and how a change in start time will impact the district and feeder districts in seeking a new transportation agreement, according to the report.
Luanda (AFP) - An Angolan army sergeant was jailed for 18 years on Tuesday for shooting dead a 14-year-old boy at a protest two years ago, in a sentence welcomed by rights groups.

Rufino Antonio died after the military opened fire in August 2016 at a demonstration against the demolition of houses for an industrial project in Zango, a working class suburb on the outskirts of the capital Luanda.

Witnesses said the soldiers fired without warning into the air and at protesters' feet to disperse the crowd, with Antonio shot fatally in the neck in an incident that caused widespread anger in Angola.

The judge at the court in Luanda sentenced Jose Alves Tadi, who was found guilty of the killing, to 18 years in jail and ordered him to pay 1,000,000 kwanza ($3,700) to the boy's family.

"We hope today's verdict and sentence will send a clear message that nobody is above the law in Angola," Zenaida Machado, Angola specialist at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

Family lawyer Luis Nascimento confirmed the sentences, but called for higher compensation.

Three other soldiers were sentenced to one year in jail.
Moscow (AFP) - Touting military cooperation and "instructors," arms deals and investment, Russia is making a comeback in Africa after years of inactivity and now aims to rival European countries and even China, analysts say.

Moscow has worked hard over the last three years to strengthen its position in Africa, a pace that seems to have accelerated in recent months, they say.

Its effort is most prominent in the Central African Republic (CAR), a grindingly poor and unstable country that traditionally has turned to the former colonial power France for help.

Since the start of the year, Russia has supplied weapons to the CAR army after gaining UN authorisation to do so and provides security for President Faustin-Archange Touadera, whose security advisor is Russian.

It has also sent five military officers and 170 civilians as "instructors" for CAR's armed forces, even though its troops are already being trained by the European Union.

Experts believe the "instructors" could be from a shadowy mercenary group named Wagner whose forces are reportedly fighting in Syria -- three Russian journalists were killed in the CAR last month while investigating their activities.

Elsewhere, Russia is shipping arms to Cameroon for its fight with Boko Haram jihadists and forged military partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Uganda and Angola and cooperation on nuclear power with Sudan.

It is also working with Zimbabwe's and Guinea's mining industries -- sectors where China is an emerging force in Africa.

Africa remains "at the bottom" of Russia's foreign policy priorities, but is "starting to gain more importance," said Dmitry Bondarenko of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Since 2014 and the annexation of Crimea, Russia is in confrontation with the West and openly demonstrates its desire to become a global power once again. Therefore it can't ignore this part of the globe."

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But the interest, he argued, is less for economic gain and more for "political advancement".

- Strategic shift -

The Soviet Union maintained a very strong presence in Africa as part of its ideological war against the West, backing African liberation movements and sending tens of thousands of advisors to countries that had ended colonial rule.

But the collapse of the Soviet Union, economic problems and internal conflicts in Russia during the 1990s caused Moscow to abandon its African projects.

Lack of funds meant many embassies and consulates closed, aid programmes were cut short and ties drastically reduced.

A decade or so ago, the Kremlin started to rebuild its old networks and gradually return to the continent, seeking new partners as ideological concerns gave way to contracts and arms deals.

President Vladimir Putin began the process with visits to Algeria, South Africa and Morocco -- the countries that, with Egypt, it had traditionally had close ties.

His successor for one term, Dmitry Medvedev, visited Angola, Namibia and Nigeria, pitching for business with a delegation of 400 people.

This year, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov toured five African countries, Putin flew to Johannesburg for a BRICS summit that was also attended by Angola, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda, and Russia showcased African business at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

- 'Tangible alternative' -

For some African countries, improved ties with Russia are attractive, enabling them to play the competition card with Europe and China, say commentators.

It means "having another partner, that is, another channel for investment and development and the support of a country that's powerful on the international scene," said politics expert Yevgeny Korendyasov, a former Soviet and Russian ambassador to several African countries.

In addition, Russia has none of Europe's colonial burden in Africa -- something that may appeal to African countries, where many top officials received university education in the Soviet Union.

The CAR seems to be the first example of the benefits of Putin's shift.

During the Cold War, the country was never close to the Kremlin, but it now eyes Russia to help its troops roll back the militias who control most of the country's territory.

"Before, the countries that the West did not want to cooperate with, such as Sudan or Zimbabwe, could only turn to China," said Bondarenko.

"Now Russia is presenting itself as a tangible alternative."

This new situation "could perceptibly change the geopolitical order on the continent."

burs-or-pop-am/oc/ri/jta
After a baggage handler at Sea-Tac International Airport managed to steal a passenger plane Friday, many were left wondering how a man with zero flight experience could pilot such an aircraft.

Richard Russell , 29, was apparently able to climb into an otherwise empty 76-seater Horizon Air turboprop, take off and fly for around an hour while pulling off daring aerial maneuvers. He eventually crashed and was killed.

Inside Edition found videos on YouTube showing pilots at the controls of the same model of plane, along with tutorials showing how to take off.

Very likely he had some desktop simulator time and desktop simulators are very sophisticated machines, it's not your average video game, aviation expert and author of Paper Wings Les Abend told Inside Edition.

Abend showed Inside Edition how easy it is to learn the basics on a flight simulator.

More is also being learned about Russell and what drove him to pull off what is being called a suicidal stunt.

Nicknamed Beebo, he was raised in Wasilla, Alaska.

Russell and his wife, Hannah, ran a bakery in Oregon for three years. They sold the business in 2015 and moved to Washington state, where he got a job for Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air.

He seemed to be bored with his job as a baggage handler but was fascinated by flying and even posted a video on Facebook of a flight in a private plane over Alaska. He traveled the world with his wife and outwardly seemed happy.

But that's not how he saw himself, as he revealed in the exchange with air traffic control before his death.

Just a broken guy who has got a few screws loose I guess. Never really knew it until now, he told the tower.

Russell never bothered to learn how to land and crashed on a remote island in Puget Sound.

I wouldn't know how to land [the plane]. I wasnt really planning on landing it, he said.

The NTSB is now reviewing the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder that were recovered from the crash site.

Story continues

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BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP)  The leader of Bosnia's Serbs denied on Tuesday that genocide was committed in Srebrenica and called for the withdrawal of a government report that acknowledged the massacre of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in the eastern Bosnian enclave in 1995  triggering possible new tensions in the war-scarred Balkan state.

Milorad Dodik spoke at a parliamentary session of the autonomous Bosnian Serb republic, demanding that the legislature revoke the 2004 report compiled by a previous Bosnian Serb government. He said the report is biased and does not mention Serb victims.

The parliament dominated by Dodik's supporters later Tuesday voted to reject the report, saying it is "not objective and is untrue." It instructed the current Bosnian Serb government to officially annul it.

Dodik, who advocates that Bosnian Serb territories should split and join Serbia, has repeatedly rejected rulings by a U.N. war crimes court that genocide was committed in Srebrenica. He accused the U.S., the West and rival Bosnian Muslims of staging the massacre that is considered the worst carnage in Europe since World War II.

"The Srebrenica crime is a staged tragedy with an aim to satanize the Serbs," Dodik said without elaborating.

He called for the forming of an "unbiased" international investigation into the Srebrenica massacre "in order to stop manipulation" with the number of victims.

Srebrenica survivors were outraged.

"Dodik's initiative is shameful and inhumane toward the victims," said Sehida Abdurahmanovic, a member of the Mothers of Srebrenica rights association. "Genocide was confirmed in Srebrenica. We cannot allow that someone changes the number of victims for something that is definite. We are again returning to the facts that we thought were confirmed."

The European Union said in a statement that it rejects any denial "or misinterpretation of the genocide in Srebrenica."

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"We call upon all political leaders and others in positions of authority in BiH (Bosnia-Herzegovina) to lead the way in honoring victims and promoting reconciliation," the EU office in Sarajevo said.

Bosnian Serbs overran the majority Muslim town on July 11, 1995, rounding up Srebrenica's Muslims and killing more than 8,000 men and boys.

The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has sentenced Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic and his military commander Ratko Mladic over the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities of the 1992-95 war.

Although the international court has labeled the Srebrenica killings as genocide, Serbs have never admitted that their troops committed the ultimate crime and nationalist politicians have viewed Mladic and Karadzic as heroes.

It is widely believed that Dodik's reopening of the debate over Srebrenica is intended to secure the support of hard-line Bosnian Serbs ahead of the Oct. 7 general election. Dodik has had the support of Russia for his separatist stands.

Belgrade political analyst Bosko Jaksic said Dodik's initiative is "a cheap, irresponsible and dangerous provocation."

"It's clear that it will provoke and add to the tensions in chronically unstable Bosnia," Jaksic said. "Mr. Dodik belongs to politicians in the region who are thinking that by aggressively promoting nationalism they can stay in power."

___

Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia, and Radul Radovanovic from Srebrenica, Bosnia.
Photo: Getty Images

A church has apologized to a breastfeeding mom for telling her to cover up because the sight of a bare breast causes men to lust and stumble.

On Fathers Day, a member of the Naz Church in Brighton, Mich., allegedly sent a private Facebook message to mother of three Amy Marchant, 29, asking her to be discreet, after she was spotted nursing her 1-year-old child while waiting for her 4-year-old twins to finish Sunday school, according to a Monday story published by news outlet Livingston Daily.

She said a few people were uncomfortable with my breastfeeding and she gave me three options: to either cover up or nurse in two private rooms in the church, Marchant, a mental health therapist, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. I was shocked because we had been attending this church for two years, and I had nursed before with no problems.

Later that week, Marchant recorded a Facebook Live video about her experience, captioned, This is how women get silenced. In the footage, she tearfully explains, I see women all the time who shut down and stop trying to nurse because of this discrimination.  I chose to stand up for this issue for every future woman who walks through those church doors, that she will never have to go through that.

Two weeks later, Marchant met with the pastor to discuss the matter and to clarify her rights under Michigan law, which allows women to publicly breastfeed without penalty. However, Marchant tells Yahoo Lifestyle the pastor was argumentative, especially as it pertained to breastfeeding laws and insisted that her actions could cause men to lust and stumble.

Pastor Ben Walls, who did not return Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment, told Livingston Daily, That is what we want to say  we have nothing against breastfeeding and we are in favor. Its very hard because we understand that she was very hurt and we apologize to her. Were very sorry for the embarrassment and hurt caused when she was asked to cover or use one of those rooms. We apologize for her hurt and embarrassment; that wasnt the intention.

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Its such a tough thing, Walls said. We believe in [breastfeeding], were sorry for the way it was handled and we have apologized on many occasions, and I have written an apology and we have sat down and tried to think it through.

We are not against anyone breastfeeding anywhere in the church, he added. That is not what the problem was. Both breasts were totally exposed.  From their perspective, its natural, we know, but we felt it inappropriate for boys and men, and we werent trying to shame, we were trying to deal with others who were uncomfortable and how they felt. Hurt, embarrassment, and shame was not intended.

Marchant denies that her breasts were completely exposed. However, Ive chosen not to fight that issue because it shouldnt matter whether a mothers breasts are exposed while feeding her child, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

On July 31, Merchant met with Walls for a second time, this time with her attorney Bill Amadeo and Barbara Robertson of the Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor, in the hopes of obtaining a public apology and a commitment from the church to educate its community about the rights of breastfeeding moms.

However, Marchant says the meeting was equally unproductive. She has left Naz Church but is hopeful that her experience will help others who face similar discrimination. I want mothers to know that change can happen, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Women are just trying to feed their kids.

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Washington (AFP) - A year after American white supremacists marched with flaming torches through a southern university and delighted in President Donald Trump's response after protests turned deadly, the so-called "alt-right" is in disarray, riven by infighting and struggling financially.

The divisions became clear Sunday, when a rally in Washington, organized by the same man behind last year's "Unite the Right" event in the Virginia city of Charlottesville, turned into a fiasco.

Jason Kessler had estimated about 400 demonstrators would come but only a couple dozen showed up, protected by scores of police officers and drowned out by thousands of counter-protesters.

Barred from carrying rifles and other weaponry, as some had done in Charlottesville, the extremists looked vulnerable and, at times, terrified.

The rally marked a low point for the neo-Nazi movement, which less than two years ago welcomed Trump's election with cries of "Hail Trump" and Nazi salutes, and saw his victory as the moment their views would slide into the American mainstream.

In the immediate aftermath of Charlottesville, which culminated in a woman's death when a man drove into a crowd of counter protesters, neo-Nazi groups were jubilant that Trump initially failed to condemn white supremacists.

He famously said there was "blame on both sides" for the violence, condemning the anti-fascists who came "with clubs in their hands," and praised "very fine people" from both the protest and counter-protest groups.

Trump "refused to even mention anything to do with us," Andrew Anglin, founder of the neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer, wrote at the time.

"When reporters were screaming at him about White Nationalism he just walked out of the room."

David Duke, a former KKK leader and avowed racist and anti-Semite, praised Trump's "honesty and courage."

- 'Deplatforming' -

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But in the months since, the neo-Nazi movement has been hammered where it hurts most -- the wallet.

Silicon Valley responded by refusing to host extremist sites and shut down PayPal accounts associated with fundraising for neo-Nazis.

Daily Stormer now solicits donations via cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

Heidi Beirich, an expert at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) who has been tracking hate groups since 1999, said white extremists are also reeling from a process called "deplatforming," where they lose access to social media networks.

And, she noted, several people who marched in Charlottesville have been hit with lawsuits.

"It's not been a good year for the participants of Charlottesville and Kessler has been personally blamed for that," Beirich told AFP.

"That explains why so few people came out to support him."

- 'Doxxing' and 'cucks' -

Experts observed that another reason for Sunday's dismal turnout was that would-be participants are afraid of their identities being revealed.

After Charlottesville, several marchers lost their jobs after online sleuths posted photos and asked for people to identify them. This form of online shaming is sometimes known as "doxxing."

"If you show up at this event, and you are identified, your life will be ruined," Anglin wrote.

Anglin also points to another division in the alt-right -- their aesthetic.

Many participants in the Charlottesville rally, realizing that jackboots and swastikas would not endear them to a broader public, donned smart polo shirts and chinos.

But some on the extreme right saw this as kowtowing to the politically correct.

In a blog this year, white supremacist Christopher Cantwell called this "optics cucking."

A "cuck" in extreme right parlance is a submissive male that is "cuckolded" by a woman.

Anglin insists the neo-Nazi movement should try to be "hip, cool, sexy, fun.

"We need to speak to the culture. We do not want the image of being a bunch of weird losers who march around like assholes while completely outnumbered and get mocked by the entire planet," he said.

- 'A billion times better' -

Despite these divisions, the neo-Nazi movement is still having an impact.

In liberal Portland, Oregon, two far-right groups, Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys, marched in support of the first group's founder Joey Gibson, who is running as a Republican for the US Senate in neighboring Washington state.

Several openly racist or white nationalist candidates are seeking elected office this year including avowed Nazi Arthur Jones of Illinois, who won his district's Republican party primary and is running for Congress.

And in Wisconsin, Paul Nehlen, the leading Republican running to fill the seat in Congress currently held by retiring Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, has emerged as a leader of the alt-right movement.

Beirich, of the SPLC, noted the alt-right still feels emboldened with Trump in the White House, and are thrilled with his anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies.

"They just thought that he was a billion times better than anything they'd seen in their lifetimes," she said.

"And I don't think that their enthusiasm has diminished on that front."
Bogota (AFP) - Colombia's ELN guerrilla force announced Tuesday it would release nine hostages to comply with a demand by new President Ivan Duque in order to continue peace talks with his government.

The rebels' chief negotiator Pablo Beltran said the group was discussing how to carry out the releases with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"The protocols include coordinates of the place where the delivery will be made, and a nearby region in which neither the army, nor the police, nor the ELN, will be allowed take offensive actions in the days before the releases," Beltran told Colombia's Blu radio.

Beltran added that the conditions for the release should be in place "within eight days."

Colombia's defense ministry said Monday that it had activated a protocol for the release of hostages held by the ELN.

"The next step is the delivery, by the ELN, of the coordinates to proceed with the release of the hostages," the ministry said.

Talks between the previous government of Juan Manuel Santos and the ELN -- Colombia's last active rebel force since the disarmament of the FARC -- have been dragging on since February last year.

Duque, who assumed power last week, was elected on the back of campaign promises of taking a hard line in talks with the guerrillas. He lost no time in warning the ELN to hand over the hostages if it wanted to continue peace negotiations.

"The message is singular and very clear: if the ELN really has the desire to demobilize, disarm and rejoin (civil society), it must liberate the hostages quickly and without conditions," Duque said Friday in a town close to the Ecuadoran border known for drug-trafficking violence and insecurity.

Since the end of the last round of the Cuban-hosted talks on August 1, the ELN have kidnapped nine people in different areas of Colombia -- four military, three police, and two civilian contractors.

Beltran justified the kidnappings by claiming the ELN's right to detain outsiders who attempt to pass through areas under its control.

The ELN has some 1,500 combatants and an extensive support network. Experts have pointed out the difficulties in negotiating with the group because of its federated structure and doubts over its unity of command.
The biggest race as Connecticut residents goes to the polls for Tuesday's primaries is for the governor's office.

There is an open seat, with Democrat Governor Dannel Malloy not seeking re-election; Republicans believe they have a good chance of winning it back after losing control in 2010. Control of the narrowly divided General Assembly is also in play, especially the state Senate, now equally split between Democrats and Republicans.

Democrats would have a lot of advantages in the state, with more registered Democrats than Republicans, and the fact that the entire Congressional delegation is currently Democrat. But Mr Malloy had grown deeply unpopular, offering Republicans a chance.

For the Democrats, businessman Ned Lamont is up against Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. Mr Ganim previously served as Bridgeport mayor for more than a decade and was able to win re-election to the role in 2015 following a seven-year stint in federal prison for political corruption.

For the GOP, it is David Stemerman, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, the party's endorsed candidate; Tim Herbst; Madison businessman Bob Stefanowski; and Westport tech entrepreneur and former US Navy officer Steve Obsitnik.

In Congress, Republicans will choose between business owner Matthew Corey and Dominic Rapini as their candidate to challenge Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.

In western Connecticut's 5th congressional district, where Democrat Representative Elizabeth Esty is not seeking re-election to the House, Mary Glassman and Wolcott teacher Jahana Hayes are vying for the Democratic nomination. Former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos, retired university professor Ruby O'Neill of Southbury and Watertown manufacturing consultant Rich Dupont are seeking the Republican nomination.

Tuesday also also sees primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Vermont.

Please wait a moment for the live blog to load

Associated Press contributed to this report.
Virginian Pilot

Tom Luckman used to sit on a bench in his backyard, sipping coffee and taking in the view. He and his wife, Sis, live on hole No. 3 of the shuttered Signature at West Neck golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer, in the southern part of the city. The Luckmans home, in the Villages of West Neck, backs up to the fairway where golfers hit onto the green. His wife, who had a massive stroke years ...
Another Glenview resident reported to police Aug. 2 that a payment for Lollapalooza tickets was made on Craigslist. The resident told police they became suspicious and tried to cancel the purchase, but the $90 transaction processed, according to police reports.
Lava could flow through the streets of Melbourne if a string of volcanoes sitting under it erupt (Wikipedia)

A series of dormant volcanoes ominously lying underneath Melbourne could erupt at any given moment, according to one expert.

The Newer Volcanic Province contains some 400 volcanoes that stretch from Melbourne to Mount Gambier in southern Australia.

Volcanologist Doctor Rebecca Carey warned that locals should prepare for the worst  even though the last eruption was around 5,000 years ago.

Dr Carey told 60 Minutes: From what we can establish now, were in a long phase of dormancy and that there is the possibility of an eruption in this province.

Maar volcanoes like South Australias Mount Gambier have the potential to be highly explosive (Rex)

If the volcanoes were to erupt, lava would be sent flowing into the city streets, with unprepared locals being put at severe risk.

Dr Carey, who is currently studying the active Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, added: The impacts will of course be the same as here in Kilauea, where potentially properties are inundated with lava or the products of explosive eruption.

But I think the impacts will be related to ash and aviation that is a scenario that could happen in Melbourne.

The manifestation of eruptive activity that we are seeing at Kilauea  low level explosions, lava ocean entry, lava flows  is typical of the type of eruptive activity thats occurred in that [Victorian] province.

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Mount Gambiers Blue Lake is a maar volcano  one that has the potential to be incredibly explosive.

Monash University volcanology lecturer Jozua van Otterloo told ABC: The groundwater just sits there, and as it mixes with that groundwater it becomes very, very explosive and it just excavates a big hole in the ground, which gives us that big crater, which we call a maar.

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Without any possible indication of when the explosions may occur, residents should be cautious of their surroundings and have an action plan, to prepare for the worst.

Residents have been warned to be aware of gentle tremors, which could be the first signs of a volcano about to erupt.




Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is a 63-square-mile spot of land in the Pacific Ocean. In 1995, science writer Jared Diamond popularized the collapse theory in Discover magazine story about why the Easter Island population was so small when European explorers arrived in 1772. He later published Collapse, a book hypothesizing that infighting and an overexploiting of resources led to a societal ecocide. However, a growing body of evidence contradicts this popular story of a warring, wasteful culture.

Scientists contend in a new study that the islands most iconic features are also the best evidence that ancient Rapa Nui society more sophisticated than previously thought, and the biggest clue lies in the islands most iconic features.

The iconic Easter Island heads or moai, are actually full-bodied but often partially buried statues that cover the island. There are almost a thousand of them, and the largest is over seventy feet tall. Scientists hailing from UCLA, the University of Queensland, and the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago believe that, much like Stonehenge, the process by which these monoliths were created is indicative of a collaborative society.

Their research was published Monday in the Journal of Pacific Archeology.

Study co-author and director of the Easter Island Statue Project Jo Anne Van Tilburg, Ph.D. is focused of measuring the visibility, number, size, and location of the moai. She tells Inverse that visibility, when linked to geography, tells us something about how Rapa Nui, like all other traditional Polynesian societies, is built on family identity.

Van Tilburg and her team asy that understanding how these families interacted with the craftsmen who made the tools that helped create the giant statues is a major clue to how different parts of Rapa Nui society interacted.

Easter Island statues, or moai.

Previous excavations led by Tilburg revealed that the moai were created from basalt tools. In this study, the scientist focused on figuring out where on the island the basalt came from. Between 1455 and 1645 AD there was a series of basalt transfers from quarries to the actual location of the statues  so the question became, which quarry did they come from?

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Chemical analysis of the stone tools revealed that the majority of these instruments were made of basalt that was dug up from one quarry. This indicated to the scientists that, because everyone was using one type of stone, there had to be a certain level of collaboration in the creation of the giant statues.

There was more interaction and collaboration

We had hypothesized that elite members of the Rapa Nui culture had controlled resources and would only use them for themselves, lead author and University of Queensland Ph.D. candidate Dale Simpson Jr. tells Inverse. Instead, what we found is that the whole island was using similar material, from similar quarries. This led us to believe that there was more interaction and collaboration in the past that has been noted in the collapse narrative.

Simpson explains that the scientists intend to continue to map the quarries and perform other geochemcial analysis on artifacts, so they can continue to pain a better picture about Rapa Nui prehistoric interactions.

After Europeans arrived on the island, slavery, disease, and colonization decimated much Rapa Nui society  although its culture continues to exist today. Understanding exactly what happened in the past there is key to recognizing a history that became clouded by colonial interpretation.

What makes me excited is that through my long-term relationship with the island, Ive been able to better understand how people in the ancient past interacted and shared information  some of this interaction can be seen today and between thousands of Rapa Nui who still live today, says Simpson. In short, Rapa Nui is not a story about collapse, but about survival!

Photos via Dale Simpson Jr., Flickr/David Berkowitz

More From Inverse
Rome (AFP) - Five European countries on Tuesday offered to take in the 141 migrants marooned on board the Aquarius rescue vessel after it was given permission to dock in Malta, resolving a new standoff over the charity ship.

Spain offered to take 60 people and Germany said it would take "up to 50".

France said it would accept 60 from the Aquarius as well as a second rescue boat that arrived earlier in Malta, and Portugal offered to welcome 30 people. Luxembourg was also part of the deal.

The agreement is the fifth of its kind between Western European governments since June when Italy began turning away migrant rescue ships.

EU sources said the five host countries would send immigration officials to Malta to vet their asylum claims and identify possible economic migrants, who would be returned to their countries of origin.

The boat was initially refused entry by Italy and Malta after rescuing the migrants in two separate missions off the Libyan coast on Friday.

The Aquarius first hit the headlines in June after being stranded with 630 migrants on board, causing a major diplomatic row.

Spain's new Socialist government helped resolve the first standoff by allowing the boat to dock in Valencia and said it was again at the forefront of the solution to the latest one on Tuesday.

"Spain has coordinated a pioneering agreement with six countries to share the hosting of the people on the Aquarius... Spain will take 60 people," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter.

But Malta and France said the deal to allow the ship disembark its passengers, many of them unaccompanied teens from violence-wracked Somalia and repressive Eritrea, was their initiative.

"Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so," said a Maltese government statement posted on Twitter.

Thanking Malta for its gesture, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter: "There is no alternative to cooperation."

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But EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned that Europe could not rely on "ad-hoc arrangements".

Calling in a statement for "sustainable solutions", he said: "It is not the responsibility of one or a few member states only, but of the European Union as a whole."

- European attitudes hardening -

After elections in March that brought a populist, anti-immigrant government to power in Italy, far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini began turning away rescue ships operated by foreign NGOs.

For years, Italy had pleaded with its EU partners for help with a massive influx of arrivals that has seen 700,000 people land in the country since 2013, most of whom had made the short but treacherous sea crossing from Libya.

On Saturday, Salvini said the Aquarius would "never see an Italian port" again, accusing it of encouraging smugglers and migrants to take to the water in the knowledge that they will be rescued.

The Italian coast guard continues to rescue migrants, however.

Malta's government initially defended its decision to turn the Aquarius away, saying it was "neither the coordinating nor the competent authority for such a rescue" and had "no legal obligation" to provide a place of safety.

The government of the British territory of Gibraltar also announced late Monday that the ship would no longer be allowed to operate under its maritime flag.

The increasingly hostile stance reflects hardening public opinion in Europe towards migrants -- despite arrivals dipping sharply since 2015, when over a million people fleeing war or poverty crossed the Mediterranean.

The Aquarius has become a symbol of the unwillingness of many European countries to accept more newcomers, with Italy siding with conservative governments in eastern Europe intent on keeping out migrants.

At a summit in late June EU leaders agreed to consider setting up migrant processing centres outside the bloc, most likely in North Africa, in a bid to discourage them from boarding smuggler boats.

They also agreed to look at setting up "controlled centres" on European soil to sort refugees in need of protection from economic migrants -- but no country has offered to host any such centres.

The proposals are due for discussion at an EU migration summit in Austria in September.
Brussels (AFP) - The EU on Tuesday stepped up its legal threats to Poland over its controversial supreme court reforms, giving Warsaw one month to comply or risk being hauled before the bloc's top court.

The move raises the stakes in a bitter, long-running confrontation between the European Commission and Poland's right-wing government over the rule of law in the former communist state.

Brussels launched so-called infringement proceedings against Warsaw on July 2 over the controversial changes that critics say put the judicial system under government control and are a threat to the country's democracy.

The European Commission said that after carrying out a "thorough analysis" of Warsaw's response, it had now decided to begin the second step of legal action against Poland.

"The response of the Polish authorities does not alleviate the Commission's legal concerns," the European Commission said in a statement.

"The Polish authorities now have one month to take the necessary measures to comply with this Reasoned Opinion. If the Polish authorities do not take appropriate measures, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU."

Poland could face huge fines if the EU's top court rules against it.

The retirement law came into effect last month and lowers the pension age of judges from 70 to 65.

It affects 27 of the Supreme Court's sitting 73 judges including chief justice Malgorzata Gersdorf, who has refused to step down, slamming the measure as a "purge" that breaches her constitutionally guaranteed six-year term ending in 2020.

In December Brussels triggered unprecedented Article 7 proceedings against Poland over "systemic threats" to the rule of law, which could eventually see Warsaw's EU voting rights suspended.
VALLETTA (Reuters) - Maltese police on Monday evicted scores of migrants from a converted cowshed on a farm outside Valletta, shutting down accommodation condemned as inhumane but leaving most of them homeless. The mostly African workers had been paying up to 200 euros ($230) a month to live in the building, which had been sub-divided into small rooms with beds. The farm near the capital "was illegally housing over 110 foreign workers in inhumane conditions... The shower and lavatory facilities were a health hazard," Planning Authority official Charles Gafa said. The migrants said they had reached Malta by ferry from Italy. Some told local reporters they were moving in with friends but about 80 said they had nowhere to stay and were asking for help. The planning authority said it would ensure the farm was no longer used to house migrants. The Aditus foundation, a Maltese rights charity, called for an investigation. It said there had been repeated reports of "severe labor exploitation of migrant workers in the agriculture sector, at times amounting to forced labor, slavery and trafficking for labor exploitation." The planning authority had no immediate comment. Malta has in recent weeks been thrust uncomfortably to the forefront of Europe's migration crisis, having joined Italy in denying safe harbor to several rescue boats that have picked up refugees seeking to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa. ($1 = 0.8766 euros) (Reporting by Chris Scicluna, editing by Steve Scherer and John Stonestreet)
ADEN (Reuters) - A roadside bomb in Yemen's southern city of Aden targeted the convoy of a Saudi-backed provincial governor but he was unhurt, witnesses said on Tuesday. Some people were injured in the attack on Ameen Mahmood, governor of Taiz province and a member of Yemen's internationally recognised government in exile. "The governor was not injured, but some of the escorts were injured and taken to hospital," an official at the governor's office told Reuters. The Western-backed alliance of Sunni Muslim Arab states intervened in Yemens war in 2015 to restore the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi who was ousted from the capital Sanaa by the Houthis. Coalition forces quickly retook Aden and smaller coastal towns, but since then neither side has made much progress in the war, widely seen as a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The number of assassinations and bombings in Aden has increased dramatically despite the presence of the Yemeni president and his government in the coastal city. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari, additional reporting by Mohammed Mukhashaf; Writing by Hadeel Al Sayegh; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and David Stamp)
By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The heart of Yosemite National Park in California, shut down for nearly three weeks due to a deadly wildfire, was reopened to visitors on Tuesday, but smoke limited visibility and a key route to the park's best known landmarks remained closed. The reopening of Yosemite Valley, by far the most heavily touristed area of the park, came as firefighters continued to make slow, steady progress containing the last hot spots of the Ferguson Fire, which erupted July 13 at the edge of Yosemite. The blaze, one of the largest of dozens that have burned across California this summer, has charred nearly 97,000 acres around the park's northwestern corner, but fire crews have carved containment lines around 86 percent of its perimeter. The park closure has taken a major toll on the area's local economy. Some 4.3 million visitors spent an estimated $452 million last year, most of that during the summer. The road into Yosemite Valley was reopened on Tuesday for the first time since July 25, along with two highways into the park. But the north-south entrance route, Highway 41, remained closed, along with a road to the famed Glacier Point overlook and the Merced Grove of giant sequoia trees. Visitors were cautioned to expect smoke to obscure visibility in Yosemite Valley, site of such attractions as Bridalveil Fall and the towering granite monoliths of El Capitan and Half Dome. Two firefighters were killed last month by the Ferguson, one of three California wildfires that have proven fatal this season. The Mendocino Complex, raging at the southern end of the Mendocino National Forest since July 27, claimed the life of a firefighter from Utah on Monday, even as containment of the blaze rose to 68 percent. That conflagration has now scorched more than 354,000 acres, the most consumed by a single wildfire on record in California, and destroyed at least 288 structures, about half of them homes. Three other firefighters perished while battling the devastating Carr Fire, which also killed four civilians and a utility worker and burned more than 1,500 structures. The Carr fire stood at 65 percent containment after blackening 207,000 acres. This summer ranks as one of California's worst fire seasons, as numerous blazes burned with extraordinary intensity and speed across the drought-parched state, stoked by erratic winds and record temperatures. Tens of thousands of residents have been displaced, and large regions have endured weeks of unhealthy air quality from smoke and soot. (Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; editing by David Stamp and Cynthia Osterman)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a proclamation declaring his intention to withdraw from the JCPOA Iran nuclear agreement in the Diplomatic Room at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan

Lawrence J. Korb

Security, Middle East

From stable oil prices to avoiding war, the deal was working and Washington will not get a better one.

Five Reasons for the Global Pushback on New Iran Sanctions

Not surprisingly the Trump administrations precipitous withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)known as the Iran Nuclear Dealhas lead to significant pushback from the other five signatories to the deal as well from several other nations which have benefitted from the agreement. This strong disagreement has also been amplified by President Trumps decision to re-imposition sanctions on Iran which the Obama administration had canceled as part of the JCPOA.

The first sanctions were re-imposed on August 7, 2018. They included a ban on purchases of U.S. dollars by Iran and also prevent trade on gold, medals, and automobiles. The second, more draconian sanctions, which will go in effect November 4, 2018, the thirty-ninth anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, and will sanction all Iranian oil exports to any country as well as any importers. The pushback against these sanctions is coming for at least five reasons.

First, the JCPOA was working much better than any previous multi-national arms accord. According to eleven reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has conducted the toughest inspections ever imposed on a country, Iran was complying with both the spirit and letter of the deal and its nuclear program had become exclusively peaceful. Since the inception of the deal in 2015, the Iranians have modified their heavy-water facility so that it could not produce plutonium suitable for a bomb as well as reducing its stockpile of enriched uranium by 98 percent and cut the number of centrifuges installed to enrich uranium by 13,000.

Second, since the JCPOA, Iran has increased its daily oil exports from about 1 million barrels a day to nearly 3 million. This increase has helped keep the global price of oil significantly below the levels of 2011 and 2012 when it reached more than $100 a barrel. Americas re-imposition of sanctions will not only increase oil prices but could lead to another global recession similar to the one that occurred a decade ago.

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Third, the JCPOA allowed the comparatively moderate Iranian government of President Rouhani to win reelection because the deal allowed the Iranian economy to achieve more growth than it did during the period when the sanctions existed. Before Trump announced he was pulling out of the agreement, the Iranian economy was expected to grow by 4.3 percent this year. It is now expected to increase by only 1.8 percent.

Fourth, it has prevented a nuclear arms race or even a war in the Middle East. Had Iran continued on the path to developing a nuclear weapon, there is little doubt that countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE would have undertaken a program to develop their own nuclear weapons. Moreover, there was a possibility that Israel would have launched a preemptive strike had Iran continued to make progress toward developing a nuclear weapon.

Fifth, the U.S. withdrawal and re-imposition of sanctions appears not to be based on a clear strategy or have realistic objectives. Some of Americas allies and competitors wonder if Washingtons real goal is regime change, a policy that at least two European diplomats, involved in the negotiations with the United States over how sanctions will be imposed, believe is the goal. Others believe that the administration hopes, as Secretary of State Pompeo pointed out, that the sanctions can force Iran back to the bargaining table and get it to permanently end all its enrichment and its development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, return all American citizens, withdraw its forces from Syria and end its support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.

This pushback has come from both U.S. allies, strategic competitors and potential partners. All five of the other signatories of the JCPOA have said that they will ensure that Iran can still export its oil and gas. China, which imports 650,000 barrels of Iranian oil a day says it will not reduce its input. Turkey says that it will honor its contract to buy 9.5 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas over the next decade. India, which gets 18 percent of its oil from Iran and buys more oil than any country other than China, will continue to buy oil from Iran because the UN has not re-imposed sanctions.

While this pushback is understandable, there is little chance that it will get the Trump administration to change its mind. These sanctions will obviously hurt Iran and will most likely result in a situation that will not be good for the world or America. The Trump sanctions will further fray U.S. relations with America's major European allies, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, who are already upset by Trump's erratic behavior at the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit, the G-7 meeting, the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord and Trump's threats of steel tariffs.

In addition, re-imposing sanctions will empower Americas competitors. Russia, whose economy is extremely dependent on oil exports, will profit from the higher oil prices. China, which is not dependent on the U.S. banking system, like U.S. European allies, will increase its influence in Iran. Moreover, the U.S. withdrawal will make it more difficult to achieving its goal of establishing a strong defense partnership with India, which not only depends on Iran for much of its oil but is also investing $500 million to develop Irans Chabahar Port as a transit hub for Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the International North-South Transport Corridor. Finally, it will make it more difficult for the United States to make progress in getting North Korea to denuclearize. In fact, North Koreas foreign minister came to Iran the day the U.S. imposed sanctions and was told by President Rouhani that America could not be counted on to keep its commitments.

As the United States contemplates increasing sanctions on Iran over the next ninety days, it should not only reflect on the pushback from other nations but on a warning former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew made in a 2016 speech. He warned that there is a risk that overuse of sanctions could reduce Americas capability to use sanctions effectively by driving global financial transactions and business away from the United States.

Dr. Lawrence J. Korb is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and served as assistant secretary of defense from 1981 through 1985.

Image: FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a proclamation declaring his intention to withdraw from the JCPOA Iran nuclear agreement in the Diplomatic Room at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

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Ottawa (AFP) - A German tourist shot on a highway in western Canada while driving with his family is flying home Tuesday for treatment of his brain injury, a consular official said.

Police are still investigating the mysterious incident, which occurred August 2 while the 60-year-old man was on a highway about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of Calgary, Alberta.

His wife and two others in their vehicle also were treated for minor injuries sustained in the ensuing crash.

German consular official Hubertus Liebrecht said the man, who has not been identified by police under Canada's strict privacy laws, remains in "critical condition" and "shows symptoms of severe and life-changing injuries."

"The doctors were not able to remove the bullet from his brain, as they would have to cause further damage."

He was to be flown aboard a special aircraft to Germany, "where he will be further treated in a hospital specialized on brain injuries," Liebrecht said.

Police have ruled out road rage as a motive, suspecting instead the man was targeted because he was mistaken for someone else, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Laurel Scott told AFP.

"None of the occupants of the (German tourist's) truck were the intended targets of the shooting," she said.
A GoFundMe account for embattled former FBI agent Peter Strzok that launched shortly after his termination was publicized raised nearly $41,000 in five hours.

The account was started by an anonymous organizer, listed only as Friends of Special Agent Peter Strzok, with a stated goal of raising $150,000. The costs will go towards Strzoks legal fees and supplementing his lost income since he is currently unemployed.

Strzoks attorney, Aitan Goelman, said in a statement Monday that the Deputy Director of the FBI had fired his client last Friday, overruling the FBIs Office of Professional Responsibility that had recommended Strzok receive a 60-ay suspension and a demotion. David Bowdich is currently Deputy Director of the FBI.

The decision to fire Special Agent Strzok is not only a departure from typical Bureau practice, but also contradicts Director Wrays testimony to Congress and his assurances that the FBI intended to follow its regular process in this and all personnel matters, said Goelman.

Strzok, a two decade veteran of the FBI, had overseen Hillary Clintons email server investigation as well as the beginning of the investigation into Russian meddling in the election. But he was reassigned to the Human Resources Department after Michael Horowitz, the inspector general in the Department of Justice discovered texts he had sent to another FBI agent, Lisa Page  with whom he was having an extramarital affair  that contained anti-Trump sentiments. Although Horowitz concluded the text messages displayed bias, he does not conclude that bias affected any of the investigations.

This decision should be deeply troubling to all Americans, Goelman said. A lengthy investigation and multiple rounds of Congressional testimony failed to produce a shred of evidence that Special Agent Strzoks personal views ever affected his work.

But the news of Strzoks termination was met with glee by President Trump, who claimed in a tweet, without evidence, that the investigation Strzok oversaw into Clintons e-mail server was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone.

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Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction  I just fight back! Trump wrote in another tweet.

Just fired Agent Strzok, formerly of the FBI, was in charge of the Crooked Hillary Clinton sham investigation. It was a total fraud on the American public and should be properly redone!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018

Agent Peter Strzok was just fired from the FBI - finally. The list of bad players in the FBI & DOJ gets longer & longer. Based on the fact that Strzok was in charge of the Witch Hunt, will it be dropped? It is a total Hoax. No Collusion, No Obstruction - I just fight back!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018

The organizers of the account did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The website of the account argues that the money is necessary beceause Strzok has been victimized by conservatives, and that the FBI fired him because they were ceding to political pressure. Unlike those who typically become the focus of partisan investigations in Washington, Pete is not politically connected, hes not a wealthy lobbyist and hes not interested in using his notoriety for personal gain, the website states.
Various branches of the federal government worked in tandem to time interviews with migrants in order to arrest and sometimes deport them more expeditiously, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts alleges in a lawsuit.

Emails made public Monday as part of the lawsuit that the ACLU filed against Department of Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen show that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services communicated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to schedule interviews with undocumented immigrants seeking legal status in such a way that would prevent the public from finding out about the arrests. The plaintiffs are immigrants who were handed orders of removal but are seeking legal status through their citizen spouses.

These were coordinated arrests, Matthew Segal, one of the lawyers for the ACLU, told The Boston Globe. And the marriage interviews that our clients had to go through were in fact set-ups.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorneys office in Massachusetts, which is representing the federal government in the lawsuit, declined to comment to the Globe. ICE also declined comment and USCIS had yet to respond to a HuffPost request for comment.

One of the emails shows ICE officer Andrew Graham writing to a USCIS staffer last October about conducting the interviews and subsequent arrests en masse.

As far as scheduling goes, I would prefer not to do them all at one time as it is [not] only a strain on our ability to transport and process several arrests at once, but it also has the potential to be a trigger for negative media interests, as we have seen in the past, he wrote.

Information uncovered by documents and depositions shows USCIS actively coordinated with ICE to schedule and facilitate arrests at USCIS offices.



Learn more about the case and read the latest filing: https://t.co/WIHui6TbgN#FamiliesBelongTogether pic.twitter.com/aXPMEYWQfu  ACLU Massachusetts (@ACLU_Mass) August 13, 2018

ICE argued in the emails that it reserves the right to arrest those with final removal orders, immigration lawyers told the Globe. So far this year, 17 such people have been detained across New England, ICE said.

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CIS completes the interview while our officers are en route, Graham wrote. In my opinion, it makes sense for us to arrest aliens with final removal orders as they represent the end of the line in the removal process. They are typically the easiest to remove . . . and at the end of the day we are in the removal business and its our job to locate and arrest them.

Both agencies are under fire for playing a part in the Trump administrations zero-tolerance policy, which namely has included the mass separation of children from their parents at the border. The ACLU has filed several lawsuits against the administration for a variety of offenses, including withholding the phone numbers of parents waiting to be reunited with their children from lawyers and denying asylum to victims of gang or domestic violence.

Related...

Immigrant Parents Unwittingly Signed Away Right To Reunite With Children, Lawyers Say

ACLU Sues Jeff Sessions For Denying Asylum To Victims Of Domestic Or Gang Violence

ICE Withheld Deported Parents' Phone Numbers From Lawyers, ACLU Says

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Genoa (Italy) (AFP) - Rescue workers toiled through a second night Thursday in a desperate bid to find survivors in the rubble of a Genoa bridge which caved in during a heavy rainstorm, killing at least 39 people and injuring 16 more.

A vast span of the Morandi bridge collapsed in the northern port city on Tuesday, sending about 35 cars and several trucks plunging 45 metres (150 feet) onto railway tracks below.

Italy's government has blamed the firm that operated the collapsed bridge for the disaster and announced a state of emergency in the region.

Children aged eight, 12 and 13 were among the dead, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said, adding that more people were still missing. Sixteen people were injured.

The driver of a green lorry left precariously close to the edge told Italian media how he had escaped the "hell" of the bridge collapse.

"It was raining very hard and it wasn't possible to go very fast," he told the Corriere della Sera daily.

"When a car overtook me I slowed down... (then) at a certain moment everything shook. The car in front of me disappeared and seemed to be swallowed up by the clouds. I looked up and saw the bridge pylon fall," he said.

"Instinctively, finding myself in front of the void, I put the van into reverse, to escape this hell," he added.

Three Chileans, who live in Italy, and four French nationals were also killed.

The tragedy has focused anger on the structural problems that have dogged the decades old Morandi bridge and the private sector firm Autostrade per l'Italia, which is currently in charge of operating and maintaining swathes of the country's motorways.

Deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio said the tragedy "could have been avoided".

"Autostrade should have done maintenance and didn't do it," he alleged.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also confirmed that his government would push to revoke the company's contract for the A10 motorway, which includes the bridge, while Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the company should be fined up to 150 million euros ($170 million).

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The firm, which said the bridge had been undergoing maintenance work, however, released a statement refuting accusations of underfunding of motorway infrastructure.

"In the last five years (2012-2017) the company's investment in the security, maintenance and strengthening of the network has been over one billion euros a year," it said.

- 'I went down with the car' -

Survivors recounted the heart-stopping moment when the bridge buckled, tossing vehicles and hunks of concrete into the abyss.

Davide Capello, a former goalkeeper for Italian Serie A club Cagliari, plunged with his car but was unscathed.

"I was driving along the bridge, and at a certain point I saw the road in front of me collapse, and I went down with the car," he told TV news channel Sky TG24.

As cars and trucks tumbled off the bridge, Afifi Idriss, 39, a Moroccan truck driver, just managed to stop in time.

"I saw the green lorry in front of me stop and then reverse so I stopped too, locked the truck and ran," he told AFP.

While around a dozen apartment blocks that stand in the shadow of the viaduct were largely spared the impact of the falling concrete, the Liguria regional government said some 634 people had been evacuated.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the homes would have to be pulled down.

- 'A tragedy waiting to happen' -

The incident is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of a faltering economy.

The Morandi viaduct, completed in 1967, spans dozens of railway lines.

The bridge has been riddled with structural problems since its construction, which has led to expensive maintenance and severe criticism from engineering experts.

On Tuesday engineering website "Ingegneri.info" called it "a tragedy waiting to happen".

Conte also announced after a cabinet meeting Wednesday that a national day of mourning was being planned. Media reports said it would be held on Saturday to coincide with some of the funerals.

There would also be a 12-month state of emergency in and around Genoa, Conte added, with five million euros of funds going into recovery work.
Michael Peck

Security, Europe

First, China developed long-range "carrier-killer" ballistic missiles. Now, Russia's Iskander ballistic missile system may have the same mission.

The Iskander Ballistic Missile May Be Russia's Newest Ship-Killer

First, China developed long-range "carrier-killer" ballistic missiles. Now, Russia's Iskander ballistic missile system may have the same mission.

In late July and early August, Russia conducted two simulated "electronic launches" of the 9K720 Iskander-M (NATO code name, SS-26 Stone) against ships in the Black Sea, according to Russian media.

"An 'electronic' launch likely means a field combat simulation where the missile unit prepares and performs all procedures for a real-world launch without firing a live missile," explains the Russian Defense Policy blog.

But exactly which missile did Russia pretend to launch? The Iskander, developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the Scud, is a road-based mobile launch system that can fire several models of ballistic and cruise missiles. The Iskander-M is a single-stage ballistic missile, armed with a conventional or nuclear warhead, and a range of 500 kilometers (311 miles).

However, the Russia Beyond news site describes how the Iskander system can fire anti-ship versions of the R-500 Kalibr cruise missiles with a range of 500 kilometers (311 miles).

"These missiles are readjusted for targeting second and third-class destroyers  basically ships that are capable of carrying Tomahawk missiles and parts of the Aegis ballistic missile defense system," Russia Beyond writes. "Ships of this class  aside from the USS Ticonderoga  act as the main launching pads for Washingtons precision-guided Prompt Global Strikes.

The anti-ship missiles can fly towards their targets at 2,000 kilometers per hour (1,243 miles). They also skirt above the water  at an altitude of only 5 to10 meters (16 to 33 feet), which means hitting it with any sort of sea-based anti-missile defense systems is practically impossible. The missiles payload ranges from 200 to 500 kilogram (441 to 1,102 pounds). The lighter ones normally target destroyers, while the heavier ones are intended for cruisers."

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"Theres no running from these assassins," Russia Beyond dramatically declares. In fact, a missile traveling at slower than Mach 2 can be shot down by missiles or point defense cannon.

But the implications of the Russian tests -- and the publicity in the Russian media -- is clear. Russia is sending a message that it can use ballistic missiles -- or at least ballistic missile launchers -- as anti-ship weapons.

If this sounds familiar, it is. While China may copy a lot of Russian weapons, Russia may be taking a page from China's "carrier-killer" missiles, which are modified DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Though the DF-26 has the U.S. Navy worried for the safety of its aircraft carriers, ship-killing ballistic missiles are still an untested weapon, dogged by questions such as their ability to long-distance moving targets like a ship.

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But also note that the DF-26 has an estimated range of 2,500 miles, much greater than a Kalibr or an Iskander-M. A 300-mile missile may be a useful coastal defense weapon in confined waters like the Baltic or Black Seas, enabling Russia to prevent NATO ships from getting too close to its territory. But it's not a long-range access denial weapon.

The obvious question is: If Russia can launch short-range anti-ship cruise missiles from ballistic missile launchers, then why not long-range ballistic missiles like China does? A major stumbling block would be whether these long-range anti-ship missiles, because they could potentially carry nuclear weapons, would violate U.S.-Russian arms control treaties. Nonetheless, it would not be surprising to learn down the road that Russia has developed its own carrier-killer ballistic missiles.

Michael Peck is a contributing writer for the National Interest. He can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Image: Creative Commons.

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Warfare History Network

History, Middle East

The Sherman in its various configurations filled gaps in the Zahal order of battle over the course of several decades, until the Israelis gradually were able to purchase more modern tanks.

How Israel Used Old World War II Tanks To Win War After War

From its inception, Zahal, the Israeli Army, has been forced to use ingenuity and improvisation to arm itself against its Arab enemies. In the first years of its life, the tiny nation of Israel, surrounded by enemies pledged to its destruction, found modern weapons few and hard to come by. Such armaments were desperately needed, and the Israelis became adept at filling the gaps in their inventory by acquiring whatever weapons they could from a variety of unusual sources. Once in hand, these weapons often had to be rebuilt or modified to remain effective. Many of them would have been considered obsolete on a European battlefield, but the Israelis made them work. They had no choicedefeat meant the annihilation of their state.

One of the best examples of Israeli ingenuity is their long use of the American-built M4 Sherman tank, that ubiquitous Allied workhorse of World War II. Often decried as inferior to its German opposites because of its relatively thin armor and less effective armament, the Sherman was nonetheless rugged, reliable, and capable of being modified and improved. It was this last quality that enabled the Israelis to use it so effectively.

At its birth, Israels military possessed a limited number of armored vehicles, mostly scout cars and truck chassis hastily converted into armored cars with the addition of armor plating and a machine gun or two. Israels initial tank force consisted entirely of old French Hotchkiss tanks, obsolete even in the beginning of World War II. Desperate for better tanks, the Israelis literally went to the scrap heap: junkyards in Palestine, Europe, and as far away as the Philippines together contained hundreds of tanks left over and abandoned during the recent global war.

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A British scrap yard in Palestine contained the salvageable hulks of one or two Shermans (sources differ). At least one more came from an Italian junkyard. These tanks were smuggled back to Israel, at times disguised or mislabeled as tractors, to become parts of the motley collection of weapons that could be used to preserve Israels newfound existence. Since these tanks came from junkyards, they were generally unserviceable and required extensive work to get them into shape for combat. Some of the tanks had been demilitarized specifically to prevent anyone from reusing them. Often, this was done by drilling holes in the cannon tube or other mechanisms needed for the main weapon. Repairs were made, and the Shermans returned to action with the Israeli Army.

The polyglot nature of the Israeli Army meant troops often were grouped into units based on their native languages. One Sherman tank and two ex-British Cromwell tanks were grouped together in an English Company, so named because its members all spoke English. This company was part of the 82nd Tank Battalion that helped capture Lydda Airport during the 1948 war. It also fought at Latrun, where some of its tanks were lost to an Arab Legion 6-pounder antitank gun. Fortunately for the Israelis, the Arab forces operating against them were not particularly well-mechanized for the most part.

The Improvised Sherman Tanks of Israel

After the United Nations cease-fire took hold in mid-1948, Israel used the breathing room to increase the size of its armored and mechanized forces. Although unable to purchase new vehicles, the Israelis had plenty of leftover World War II materiel to choose from, and this formed the backbone of Zahals strength. Quickly, a force of some 300 half-tracks and 50 tanks was assembled. Most of the tanks were Shermans, still being gathered from scrap yards throughout Europe and elsewhere. The collection was a varied one, including M4A1 and M4A2 models with diesel engines. Their armament was a cross-section of guns the Shermans had carried into battle in Europe a few years before: 75mm and 76mm cannon and 105mm howitzers; a few of the tanks even sported World War I-era German-built 77mm field guns made by Krupp. These were installed to replace damaged guns or demilitarized weapons Zahal ordnance workers had been unable to restore to firing condition.

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While the haphazard nature of the Zahal tank force meant a varied assortment of M4s was gathered, these followed the basic proportions of the Sherman tank. An M4A1 weighed in at 66,500 pounds. It was 19 feet, four inches long and eight feet, seven inches wide, and sat nine feet high. The crew of five included a commander, gunner, loader, driver, and assistant driver-hull machine gunner. The tank could achieve 24 mph on roads and 15-20 mph cross-country. Range varied from 100 to 150 miles, depending on engine type. The Shermans normally carried one coaxial and one hull-mounted .30-caliber belt-fed machine gun. While a .50-caliber M2 machine gun was usually fitted atop the turret, Zahal was at first short of these potent weapons and often fitted old German and Czech machine guns in their place. Later, when the French began to supply M2s, they were mounted in their original place. The Israelis gave the collective designation of M1 to its entire Sherman force.

During the 1948 war, Zahal had used its few tanks primarily in an infantry-support role, and initially that doctrinal role was retained. However, by the early 1950s this was changing. The original 82nd Tank Battalion had merged with the 9th Commando and 79th Mechanized Battalions to form the 7th Armored Brigade. Under the leadership of Uri-Ben Ari, a more offensive mind-set and tactics were practiced. In its 1952 and 1953 war games, Israeli infantry found themselves in mock retreat from attacking Shermans. This so impressed one observer of the maneuvers, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, that he ordered more Shermans acquired at once.

By fortuitous coincidence, Israel found France a willing seller of surplus Shermans at this point. At the time, the French were fighting a guerrilla war in Algeria, and Egypt was giving the rebels support. In retaliation, France approved military assistance to Israel. Besides training Zahal officers at French military schools, the French also sold them 100 new AMX-13 light tanks and 60 surplus Shermans. With this fresh infusion of equipment, the Israelis were able to form two more armored brigades.

Shermans in the Suez

In 1956, Israel began to cooperate with France and Great Britain, which had plans to seize the Suez Canal after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized it. Israel, for its part, was upset over Egyptian border raids. With renewed fighting impending, Israel asked France to supply 100 improved Shermans known as the M50. This tank mounted a long-barreled 75mm high-velocity cannon used in the AMX-13. To accommodate the new gun, an extension was built on the turret rear and a new gun mantlet was designed. Some models used a gasoline motor for propulsion, while others employed Cummins diesel engines. These improved tanks were referred to as Super Shermans and had a marked increase in firepower to offset the newer Soviet T34/85s the Arab nations were then starting to receive. Only a few of the Shermans were available in time for the 1956 war. Ironically, many of the Egyptian armored vehicles initially placed in the Sinai peninsula were also Shermans, including one company of M4/FL10s, a Sherman hull that mounted an AMX-13 turret. Equivalent to the Israeli M50s, they were also French-built, although by a different company.

During Operation Kadesh, as the Israelis labeled their part in the 1956 fighting, one battalion each of the 7th, 27th, and 37th Brigades were equipped with Shermans, including the few Super Shermans. The 7th fought at Abu Ageila and sent a detachment to aid Zahal paratroopers at Mitla Pass. Both the 7th and 37th Brigades fought at Um Katef, where the commonality of tanks on the two sides caused a tragic friendly-fire incident. On November 1, as Israeli units advanced against Egyptian positions from different directions, they mistook each other for the enemy. The 7th knocked out eight of the 37ths tanks before the situation was brought under control. (The Arab troops had quietly withdrawn before the Israeli arrival.) Overall, however, the Israelis fought well, skillfully using their old Shermans.

The M51 Isherman: A Fearsome Sherman Upgrade:

After the war Israel, now recognizing the utility and power of its armored formations, decided to increase the number of armored brigades from three to nine and organized these units into ugdas, division-sized groups that combined brigades for specific operations. As the nations opposing Israel began to shift into the Soviet bloc, Egypt and Syria in particular started receiving more advanced tanks, including T34/85s and T54s. This caused the Western nations to agree, in turn, to supply Israel, clandestinely in some cases but later openly. American M47 and M48 Pattons and British Centurions began to trickle into Zahals inventory. Until enough were on hand, Israel had to make do with its force of now-outgunned Shermans and AMX-13s. Something was needed to plug the gaps.

That something was the M51, also called the Isherman. This was the ultimate evolution in Sherman battle tanks. Atelier de Bourges, the French company that developed the M50 Super Sherman, developed a 105mm cannon with lower recoil that the Sherman hull and a modified turret could withstand. These T23 turrets also had new mantlets and a rear turret extension. This potent modification made the tank heavier, and to compensate for the added weight, a new Cummins 460hp diesel engine, wider tracks and a new hydraulic system were also installed. Some 200 of Israels Shermans were altered, breathing new life into the old design.

From Six-Day to Yom Kippur: The Shermans Waning Use

The tanks went into combat alongside Zahals newer ones in 1967s Six-Day War. Israel, convinced that its neighbors were coordinating an all-out attack, decided to strike first, concentrating against Egypt before turning to Syria. Jordan also became involved. Shermans were used on all three fronts. A battalion of Ishermans took part in the attack on Abu Ageila, diverting the defenders attention while a combined infantry-airborne assault took the position.

On the Jordanian front, the Sherman-equipped units had a harder time against Jordans M47 and M48 Pattons. In one engagement, the Jordanians claimed 17 Shermans, destroyed around Jenin and YaAbad. In another fight, the Shermans came out on top, however. As a column of Jordanian M48s was retreating, it ran into a patrol of Israeli Shermans. A sharp fight broke out at point-blank range, and the Jordanians left behind 15 tanks on the field. Against the Syrians, Israeli tank losses were heavy because of the intense fighting. Ironically, the Syrian Army was equipped with refurbished World War II-era Panzer IV and Sturmgeschutz IV assault guns purchased from Francethe same tanks the Shermans had faced two decades earlier.

Although the Shermans had done their part in the Israeli victory of 1967, after the war more modern tanks began entering the service, and the old workhorses were showing their age. The M51 models were kept, but many of the M50s were retired, a few being sold and others having their chassis converted into different types of vehicles. A few remained operational, and during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Sherman tanks still served, although they had been largely supplanted by newer designs.

Sherman Conversions: Stretching the Service Life of the Platform

The Shermans service was not yet over, however. The chassis of the venerable workhorses were used to create new vehicles and fill other roles in the Israeli arsenal. The first was the Model 50 self-propelled howitzer. Zahal had a large number of French-built Mle50 155mm howitzers on hand; these were mated to a Sherman chassis. The engine was moved to the front of the hull and the gun mounted in an open-topped compartment in the rear. Batteries of the guns served in both the 1967 and 1973 wars before passing into reserve use. The Mle50 howitzer had a range of 11 miles. An interesting variant of the vehicle was a fully tracked ambulance for evacuating wounded soldiers under fire. The Israelis have always been protective of casualties, and make every effort to evacuate wounded troops. The ambulance could carry four wounded soldiers and a medic in a fully enclosed rear compartment. When evacuating under fire, the vehicle had the advantage of being able to park its front end toward the incoming fire. This placed its thickest armor and entire engine compartment between the enemy and the evacuees, as long as the incoming fire was not of sufficient caliber to disable the engine with penetrating fire.

A second self-propelled gun also was built. The L33 conversion of the Sherman chassis mounted a Soltam M68 155mm howitzer in a large, fully enclosed armored superstructure, giving the crew protection from overhead shell bursts and fragments. The Soltam cannon had a range of 141/2 miles. They first entered service in the Yom Kippur War and also served in the 1982 war in Lebanon.

Another ingenious conversion was the Makmat 160mm mortar carrier. This vehicle has an open-topped compartment forward (the engine is retained in the rear) that holds a Soltam 160mm mortar. The high-angle fire of a mortar requires an open top. The front and side panels of the compartment can be folded down to provide easier access and more room for the crew, although at the sacrifice of some protection. The mortar carrier entered service in 1968. Two further Sherman variants included a multiple rocket launcher carrying four 290mm rockets and an observation vehicle with an extendable platform in place of the turret. The platform could be raised up to 90 feet and was used along the Suez Canal as a mobile observation post.

The Sherman in its various configurations filled gaps in the Zahal order of battle over the course of several decades, until the Israelis gradually were able to purchase more modern tanks. With French assistance, these Shermans were kept viable with upgrades to their weapons, engines, and hydraulic systems. When their usefulness as tanks ended, the chassis found new life as artillery and mortar carriers and a variety of battlefield support vehicles. If necessity is the mother of invention, then the Israeli Shermans are a testament to both the need and the ingenuity of the Israeli Army.

This first appeared in Warfare History Network here.

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Libreville (AFP) - Violence in northern Cameroon by Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadists has diminished but rooting out their threat will need deft handling, the International Crisis Group (ICG) warned on Tuesday.

"The intensity of the conflict against Boko Haram in Cameroons Far North has diminished, though the movement still poses a threat and the humanitarian situation remains precarious," the thinktank said.

Two major challenges must be overcome to consolidate long-term stability, it said: "First, dealing with former combatants and other Boko Haram members; and, secondly, determining the future of community self-defence, or vigilante, groups."

A militant movement that reviles Western influence and seeks to impose an Islamic state based on Sharia law, Boko Haram has caused the deaths of at least 20,000 people since it took up arms in Nigeria in 2009.

Its insurgency has spilled into neighbouring countries, including Cameroon's Far North Region.

Since 2014, the group has killed 2,000 civilians and soldiers and kidnapped about 1,000 people in Cameroon, according to the ICG's estimates.

The main tools to fight the jihadists in the Far North include encouragement to desert, and the use of around 14,000 vigilantes to provide intelligence for the security forces and protection for villages.

"Since October 2017, the Cameroon government has been more willing to accept Boko Haram deserters. To date, almost 200 have surrendered," the ICG said.

But the government should strengthen this policy by announcing that it will protect surrendering Boko Haram members "and afford them due process."

It should also devise a programme of support to help former jihadists reintegrate in the community, the report said.

As for the vigilantes, the authorities should keep closer supervision of their activities, train them better, demobilise them in areas where they are not needed and investigate all accusations of abuses by them.

"International support for measures to deal with former Boko Haram members and vigilantes will be critical, given the lack of local expertise and the strain on public finances, with the October presidential election looming and Cameroon hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019," the report said.
Board members argued over whether or not that type of referendum was necessary given that no such tax proposal is pending, but an article in Crains Chicago Business in May reported that three members of the Federal Reserve Board had made such a suggestion as a way to fund state pension liabilities.
White House advisor Kellyanne Conway said none of us would be at the White House if Donald Trump was racist, following allegations from former presidential aide Omarosa Manigault-Newman.

Ms Conway told ABC News in the two years she has been working for Mr Trump she has never a single time heard him use a racial slur about anyone.

Ms Conways comment was a response to allegations in a new book by Ms Newman, a former contestant on the 2004 version of Mr Trumps reality television show The Apprentice,

Ms Newman said recently she heard an audio recording of the president using the n-word several times while on the shows set.

She had not heard the tape herself while writing the book, but only after it went to press but had heard it recently and said, for her, it confirmed that he is truly a racist.

She also called him a bigot and misogynist in the book, according to advance copies.

The White House has denied the allegations and Mr Trump has called Ms Newman a lowlife.

Ms Conway said she thought Ms Newmans comment unfortunately has undercut her own credibility.

The White House aide and noted Republican political strategist noted Ms Newman said she had never heard the president use the racial slur upon her leaving the White House in December 2017, after she was sacked by chief of staff John Kelly.

However, it is unclear when exactly Ms Newman heard the tape for herself or if it will be released publicly at some point.

Ms Conway claimed the only reason Ms Newmans story changed is that shes now selling books.

She also said Ms Newman is a tremendous disappointment here because she should be taking credit for all the great gains that this president has made with respect to that low unemployment number among African-Americans.

While it is true black unemployment rates hit a historic low of 5.9 per cent in June 2018, it is still higher for blacks than any other racial group, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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It is also true the rate actually began falling under Barack Obamas administration and have been in steady decline since then, so full attribution for that likely does not lie with Ms Newman or the Trump administration.

During the ABC News interview, Ms Conway was also pressed to name a single senior White House advisor among the 55 top-paid staffers who is African-American.

She named Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson and JaRon Smith, special assistant to the president for domestic policy, which operates under the overall Executive Office of the President.

Neither are in the West Wing of the White House.

Ms Conway deflected and said she didnt say that there wasnt a single African-American West Wing adviser, but that people should focus on the presidents actions not who he has hired.

Related Video: Trump Lashes Out at Omarosa on Twitter

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By Cate Cadell BEIJING (Reuters) - Filip Liu, a 31-year-old software developer from Beijing, was traveling in the far western Chinese region of Xinjiang when he was pulled to one side by police as he got off a bus. The officers took Liu's iPhone, hooked it up to a handheld device that looked like a laptop and told him they were "checking his phone for illegal information". Liu's experience in Urumqi, the Xinjiang capital, is not uncommon in a region that has been wracked by separatist violence and a crackdown by security forces. But such surveillance technologies, tested out in the laboratory of Xinjiang, are now quietly spreading across China. Government procurement documents collected by Reuters and rare insights from officials show the technology Liu encountered in Xinjiang is encroaching into cities like Shanghai and Beijing. Police stations in almost every province have sought to buy the data-extraction devices for smartphones since the beginning of 2016, coinciding with a sharp rise in spending on internal security and a crackdown on dissent, the data show. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the numbers behind China's push to arm security forces with high-tech monitoring tools as the government clamps down on dissent. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Public Security Bureau, which oversee China's high-tech security projects, did not respond to requests for comment. The scanners are hand-held or desktop devices that can break into smartphones and extract and analyze contact lists, photos, videos, social media posts and email. Hand-held devices allow police to quickly check the content of phones on the street. Liu, the Beijing software developer, said the police were able to review his data on the spot. They apparently didn't find anything objectionable as he was not detained. The data Reuters analyzed includes requests from 171 police stations across 32 out of 33 official mainland provinces, regions and municipalities, and appears to show only a portion of total spending. The data shows over 129 million yuan ($19 million) in budgeting or spending on the equipment since the beginning of 2016, with amounts accelerating in 2017 and 2018. For a graphic on China's investment on surveillance, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2vz5gRN In Shanghai, China's gleaming international port city, two districts budgeted around 600,000 yuan each to purchase phone scanners and data-ripping tools. Beijing's railway police budgeted a similar amount, the documents show. "Right now, as I understand it, only two provinces in the whole country don't use these," said a sales representative at Zhongke Ronghui Security Technology Co Ltd, a Shaanxi-based firm that produces the XDH-5200A, one of the scanners detailed in several police procurement documents. The representative said police stations across the whole country could consult a centralized repository of extracted data. "Almost every police station will have the equipment." Chinese-made devices cost as little as about 10,000 yuan for smaller ones, to hundreds of thousands of yuan for more sophisticated ones, according to prices seen at a police equipment fair in Beijing earlier this year. The scanners have not been immediately apparent in cities like Shanghai and Beijing. At recent checks at Beijing bus and train stations, and the heavily guarded Tiananmen square area, there were no signs of the devices. But a police officer at Beijing Railway Station confirmed they "have access when needed" to smartphone forensic technology. SCANNER DATA These sorts of scanners are used in countries like the United States but they remain contentious and security forces need to go through a lengthy legal process to be able to forcibly break into a suspect's phone. In China, while a number of firms say they have the ability to crack many phones, police are generally able to get users to hand over their passwords, experts say. The procurement documents show some police stations asked for tools that can pull data from a phone user's accounts on Twitter , Facebook and its WhatsApp chat service, Alphabet Inc's Google Chrome browser and Japan's Line messaging platform. A May 25 filing from a customs bureau in Beijing budgeted 5.7 million yuan for smartphone forensic tools from two providers, Meiya Pico and Resonant Ltd. It listed messaging platforms and "overseas" apps the devices could read. "Basic content collection functions" must include "mobile phone passwords, address books, call history, SMS records, MMS, pictures, audio and video data, calendars, memos and mobile app data," the document said. Others listed tools that can breach well-known smartphone brands such as Samsung Electronics <005930.KS>, Blackberry, China's own Xiaomi <1810.HK> and Huawei [HWT.UL], as well as Apple Inc's tough-to-crack iPhone. Samsung, Blackberry, Xiaomi and Huawei did not respond to requests for comment. Apple declined to comment. Wu Wangwei, an engineer at the Beijing-based Dasi Kerui Technology, which trains police personnel to use the scanners said the equipment had become "very common". "The smartphone has become the most important source of evidence," he said. Police will always use it "if the case needs it". Chinese court cases often cite "electronic investigations," including the collection and accessing of smartphones and tapping into social media accounts, but it is unclear what forensic equipment is involved. EXPANDING OUTWARD China spent roughly 1.24 trillion yuan on domestic security in 2017, accounting for 6.1 percent of total government spending and more than was spent on the military. Budgets for internal security, of which surveillance technology is a part, have doubled in regions including Xinjiang and Beijing. "A good bunch of that went to some very obscure, miscellaneous security spending categories ... including technology," said Adrian Zenz, an academic who specializes in Chinese security spending. According to two officials at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, including one who worked on police projects in Xinjiang, surveillance techniques are tested in the region before being rolled out in other provinces. The projects get both public and private financing. Those that have been tested in Xinjiang and later adopted in other provinces include surveillance camera systems, database software and smartphone forensics hardware, one of the officials said, requesting anonymity because the plans are not public. "Even if it is not the original plan, if the technology can be tested then it will be cheaper so it can easily be deployed some other place," the person said. CRACKS IN THE MACHINE China's high tech surveillance gadgets, sometimes referred to as "black tech", often make the headlines. They include police glasses with built-in facial recognition, cameras that analyze how people walk, drones and artificially-intelligent robots. A fast-growing industry has developed supplying the government's surveillance needs, propelling firms like the camera maker Hangzhou Hikvision <002415.SZ> and SenseTime, a fast-growing facial recognition firm. The scanners though are key to harvesting data from individuals, whether on the militarized streets of Xinjiang or behind closed doors in Shanghai or Beijing. In a cramped training center at Jundacheng Technology in Beijing's tech district, engineers showed Reuters one such machine: a gray, shoebox-sized computer that was hooked up to and ostensibly extracting data from a Samsung smartphone. The training firm is one of many that has cropped up to meet a demand for surveillance tools from military, police and private firms. The scanner was made by Cellebrite, an Israeli company, but firms including Xiamen Meiya Pico <300188.SZ>, Hisign Technology and Pwnzen Infotech also make versions widely used in China. Marketing materials promise the ability to crack into most smartphones, including iPhones. The hype though can run beyond the reality, experts say. Chinese scanner makers often tout the ability to crack smart phone security systems, including Apple's iPhone, but industry insiders admit this usually doesn't mean the latest models. "I can only recover older iPhone versions, the most recent ones I can't," Zhang Baizheng, who heads digital forensics training school Beijing Judacheng, told Reuters during a recent visit to the center. Apple is also taking steps to stop devices like those used by Chinese police from cracking its phones. New versions of its iOS operating platform disable the USB port after an hour without password access, blocking a key cracking route. According to one of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officials, such security precautions may not matter. Most people in China would comply with police requests to unlock their devices, he said. "In China, it's not wise to refuse." (Reporting by Cate Cadell; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Philip McClellan)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - About 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled their crisis-hit country mainly because of a lack of food as severe shortages of medicine has left thousands at risk, the UN spokesman said Tuesday.

The Venezuelans have fled to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.

"People cite the lack of food as their main reason for leaving," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. About 1.3 million Venezuelans are suffering from malnourishment.

Severe shortages of medicine and medical supplies have led to a "sharp deterioration of the quality of hospitals," he said, citing UN humanitarian officials.

More than 100,000 Venezuelans living with HIV/AIDS are "at risk due to lack of access to necessary medication," he said.

Diseases that had been eradicated such as measles, malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria have reappeared and are on the rise.

Oil-rich Venezuela has been in an economic freefall since a drop in oil prices in 2014 left a gaping hole in the country's finances.

President Nicolas Maduro has faced criticism for his handling of the economy and accusations that he is sliding towards authoritarianism.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  The Latest on Paul Manafort's financial fraud trial (all times local):

5:45 p.m.

The judge in Paul Manafort's financial fraud trial has closed the courtroom from the public while he hears argument on a sealed motion filed by the former Trump campaign chairman.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III says the proceedings and the motion will be kept secret until after Manafort's case concludes.

The hearing comes after the judge delayed Manafort's trial for hours last Friday without explanation. The judge left the courtroom that day, walking toward the jury room. He later admonished jurors repeatedly to not discuss the case.

The prosecution has rested its case after presenting evidence they say shows Manafort concealed millions of dollars in offshore accounts from the IRS and fraudulently obtained loans. Manafort's lawyers have yet to say whether they will put on a case.

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5:05 p.m.

The prosecution has rested its bank fraud and tax evasion case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Prosecutors finished presenting their evidence Monday after weeks of sometimes dramatic testimony from two dozen witnesses. Longtime Manafort deputy Rick Gates said he teamed up with his former boss to commit crimes intended to protect Manafort's finances. Gates was also forced to admit embezzling a fortune from Manafort and having an extramarital affair.

The government says Manafort hid at least $16 million in income from the IRS between 2010 and 2014 by disguising income he earned advising politicians in Ukraine as loans and hiding it in foreign banks. Defense lawyers say Gates is a liar trying to avoid jail time under his plea deal.

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4:20 p.m.

A Chicago-based bank lost $11.8 million because it had to write off a significant portion of two loans it made to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

That's according to the testimony of Federal Savings Bank executive James Brennan in Manafort's financial fraud trial.

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Brennan says the losses stemmed from loans of $9.5 million and $6.5 million made to Manafort. He says they were the two largest loans the bank had made when they were issued in late 2016 and early 2017.

Other witnesses in the trial have said the loans were pushed through by bank chairman Stephen Calk because he wanted a job in the Trump administration.

Manafort is accused of fraudulently obtaining the loans by inflating his income and concealing other financial information. He is fighting the charges.

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3 p.m.

A bank executive said he found several red flags with Paul Manafort's finances while the former Trump campaign chairman was being considered for $16.5 million in bank loans.

The testimony, on the 10th day of Manafort's financial fraud trial, comes as the prosecution is expected to rest its case later Monday.

James Brennan, a vice president at Federal Savings Bank, says Manafort failed to disclose mortgages on his loan application. He says he also found several "inconsistencies" in the amount of income Manafort reported for his business.

That information led senior executives to reject one of the loans. But Brennan says that rejection was overruled by Federal Savings Bank chairman Stephen Calk.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP)  The Latest on the counting of provisional ballots in the tight Republican primary for Kansas governor (all times local):

8:30 p.m.

Democratic nominee for Kansas governor Laura Kelly is launching attacks against Republican opponent Kris Kobach now that Gov. Jeff Colyer has conceded the GOP nomination to him.

Kelly said on Tuesday evening that Kansas families suffered under former Gov. Sam Brownback, who left office earlier this year for a position in President Donald Trump's administration. The state senator form Topeka slammed Kobach for his pledge to return to what she called Brownback's failed policies and Kobach's extreme partisanship and self-promotion.

Kobach, currently the secretary of state, is promising to push for lower income and sales tax rates and tighter controls on local property taxes a year after bipartisan supermajorities in the state Legislature rolled back past income tax cuts championed by Brownback.

Kelly said she would push for strong schools, good jobs, balanced budgets and steady leadership.

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7:40 p.m.

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer has conceded in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary, saying he will endorse Secretary of State Kris Kobach a week after their neck-and-neck finish threatened to send the race to a recount.

Colyer accepted defeat Tuesday evening after a review of some provisional ballots from most Kansas counties failed to find enough votes for him to overcome a deficit of 110 votes at the time of poll closing in the Aug. 7 primary, out of more than 311,000 votes initially counted.

Kobach will face Democrat Laura Kelly in the November general election.

Colyer is a 58-year-old plastic surgeon from suburban Kansas City. He served as lieutenant governor for seven years and took over as governor in January when Sam Brownback resigned to become ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

Kobach had the support of President Donald Trump.

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5:40 p.m.

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Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is still leading Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican race for governor after provisional votes were counted in the state's most populous county.

Several counties were tallying provisional votes Tuesday, a week after the primary election.

Johnson County released its count Tuesday evening, which pushed Kobach over Colyer by just 345 votes out of more than 315,000 cast.

That's a slight increase from earlier in the day, when the state's second largest county, Sedgwick County, released its numbers and put Kobach ahead of the sitting governor by just 298 votes.

Kobach has been narrowly ahead since the Aug. 7 election.

Provisional ballots are cast when a voter's eligibility is questioned. Those votes are now being counted by state's 105 counties in a process that's expected to stretch into Monday.

But under state law, the candidates must decide by Friday whether to seek a recount.

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11:40 a.m.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has slightly widened his lead over Gov. Jeff Colyer in the state's Republican primary for governor.

The state's second largest county released its count of provisional ballots late Tuesday morning.

With the updated Sedgwick County numbers, Kobach now leads the sitting governor by just 298 votes out of more than 314,000 cast.

Kobach had a 206-vote lead on Monday, the first day of counting provision ballots.

The state's largest county, Johnson County, isn't expected to release updated numbers until late Tuesday afternoon.

Fourteen smaller counties also began canvassing votes Tuesday, a week after the primary election.

On Monday, more than two-thirds of the state's counties reviewed provisional ballots, which are given at the polls to voters when their eligibility is in question.

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6 a.m.

Kansas county election officials are set to continue reviewing some 9,000 provisional ballots Tuesday as the two candidates in the state's tight GOP primary for governor dig in for a long battle.

On Monday, more than two-thirds of the state's counties reviewed provisional ballots, which are given at the polls to voters when their eligibility is in question.

How to handle such ballots emerged on the first day of canvassing as the most contentious issue in the razor-thin race for the Republican nomination for governor.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach led Gov. Jeff Colyer by about 200 votes when the vote counting stopped for the day Monday, with 43 counties left to report results in the coming days. Fourteen counties are to begin canvassing Tuesday.
PAYSON, Utah (AP)  The Latest on a small plane that crashed into a Utah home (all times local):

11:10 a.m.

Authorities say a man killed after crashing a small plane into a Utah house appears to have intentionally flown into his own home just hours after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife.

Police in the city of Payson, south of Salt Lake City, say Duane Youd's wife was in the home when the plane hit early Monday but survived.

Sgt. Noemi Sandoval says Youd was arrested Sunday night after witnesses reported seeing him assault his wife in a canyon where they had been drinking. Youd posted bail.

Sandoval says Youd flew a plane that investigators believe belongs to his employer directly into the house about 2:30 a.m. Monday.

The front of the house was engulfed in flames, but his wife and a child got out. Sandoval says it's unknown if the child is related to Youd.

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6:40 a.m.

A small plane has crashed into a house near the mouth of Utah's Payson Canyon, and the pilot was killed, according to media reports.

The crash happened about 2:30 a.m. Monday near 600 East Canyon Road in Payson, Fox 13 News reported.

The two occupants of the home reportedly were unhurt. The Utah County Sheriff's Office confirmed to Fox that the pilot died.

No further details were immediately available.

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This story has been corrected to say the crash happened about 2:30 a.m., not 2:30 p.m.
Laverne Cox tweeted an emotionally charged essay on Monday about the impact of deadnaming and misgendering people in the trans community and why it needs to stop.

I have been saying for years that misgendering a trans person is an act of violence. When I say that I am referring to cultural and structural violence. The police misgendering and deadnaming trans murder victims as a matter of policy feels like a really good example of that cultural and structural violence, the actress wrote on Twitter.

Coxs post appears to have been prompted by an in-depth report by ProPublica on the practice of deadnaming and the murders of several transgender women in Jacksonville, Florida.

Deadnaming is the use of trans peoples birth name, often corresponding to the gender they do not identify with, as opposed to their chosen name.

The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office referred to three recently killed transgender black women as men and refused to use their chosen names.

1/ Jacksonville is reeling from three murders of black transgender women in the city this year. The crimes remain unsolved and the way the cops are handling the cases may only be making matters worse. https://t.co/SqDC6vfiUy  ProPublica (@ProPublica) August 10, 2018

ProPublica looked into every reported killing of a transgender person in the U.S. since January 2015 and found that 74 of the 85 victims were deadnamed or misgendered by law enforcement.

In Coxs essay, she detailed a time when she felt suicidal and planned to have a note in her pocket instructing that she be referred to only by the pronouns she indicated and by her chosen name of Laverne Cox.

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Being misgendered and deadnamed in my death felt like it would be the ultimate insult to the psychological and emotional injuries I was experiencing daily as a black trans woman in New York City, the injuries that made me want to take my own life, she wrote.

Coxs post has received much praise on social media, with many thanking her, including one sending love and light her way.

You can read the entire ProPublica report here.

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
At least 100 Afghan security forces have been killed as troops backed by US airpower struggled to push the Taliban from embattled Ghazni city, officials said Monday, while residents reported food and medicine shortages four days after fighting began.

The Afghan government said it had sent reinforcements to the strategic city, which lies barely two hours drive from Kabul on the main highway connecting the capital with the country's south. US forces in Afghanistan said they had been conducting airstrikes daily since the fighting began.

The assault, which the Taliban launched late Thursday, comes as the insurgents are under increasing pressure to join peace talks and highlights the difficulty of repelling their repeated attacks on urban centres crowded with civilians, with residents among the dead.

"About 100 security forces have lost their lives and between 20 and 30 civilians have been killed," defence minister Tariq Shah Bahrami told a press conference in Kabul, offering the first high-level official casualty figure since the insurgents entered the city.

He also said that 194 insurgents had been killed and 147 wounded.

The Taliban swiftly responded, saying the government's claims were "baseless" and that talks were "under way for their surrender".

Doctors were struggling to treat dozens of wounded at hospitals in the eastern provincial capital, where residents said insurgents roamed the streets.

At a hospital in the city wounded people could be seen groaning in agony on stretchers, while uncovered wooden coffins filled with bodies were laid on the floor.

A doctor in the hospital's intensive care unit said they had received over 80 dead bodies as of Sunday and had treated more than 160 patients, many of whom were had been injured by gunshots or shrapnel.

"There are no police or soldiers to guard the hospital. They bring their wounded and then leave," the doctor, Mohammad Arif Omari, said.

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"The hospital is overwhelmed," Andrea Catta Preta, a spokeswoman for the International Red Cross in Kabul, told AFP.

With residents reporting power remained out in the city, she said the Red Cross was able to reach the hospital on Monday during a brief lull in fighting, providing nearly 200 litres of fuel for its generator and medical supplies for over 100 people.

"Everybody is requesting assistance, so we have been doing what we can whenever we have a window of security to do something," she added.

An AFP reporter in the city said late Sunday that militants were going door to door and commandeering supplies including water, tea, and wheelbarrows to move injured fighters.

- Confusion and rumour -

Ghazni residents who arrived in Kabul after fleeing the violence told AFP that the dead bodies of militants and soldiers continued to litter the streets, while government offices have been set ablaze by Taliban fighters and food prices are rising.

"Everyone wanted to find a way to flee the city. Most of the people are still hiding in their basements as fighting is going from street to street," said Ghazni journalist Fayeza Fayez, who arrived in Kabul late Sunday after fleeing the city.

Communication networks in Ghazni remained mostly down, and officials have been reticent, making any information difficult to verify and fuelling rumours of high tolls. Most officials contacted by AFP in Ghazni and Kabul had switched their phones off.

The United Nations called on all parties to respect the rights of civilians caught in the crossfire.

The onslaught was the latest attempt by the Taliban to overrun an urban centre, and comes as pressure increases on the insurgents to begin peace talks with the government to end the nearly 17-year-old war.

It was also the largest tactical operation launched by the Taliban since an unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces and the Taliban to a temporary pause, providing war-weary Afghans some welcome relief.

Ghazni lies along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively serving as a gateway between Kabul and the militant strongholds in the south.

US forces in Kabul denied reports that the highway had been blocked by the insurgents, saying Afghan forces remained in control of the area and were carrying out a clearance operation targeting militants.

Confusion over one deployment of commandos headed for Ghazni also raised concerns, with local media reporting up to 100 special forces troops were missing.

An official at the Ministry of Defense denied the reports.

bur-us-emh-ds/st/gle
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said on Tuesday his group was stronger than ever and would "very soon" celebrate victory in Syria, where it has been fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad. Nasrallah was speaking on live television to mark the anniversary of a 2006 war it fought with Israel, which regards Iran as its biggest foe and Hezbollah as the top threat on its borders. "The resistance in Lebanon today, in its possession of weapons and equipment and capabilities and members and cadres and ability and expertise and experience, and also of faith and determination and courage and will, is stronger than at any time since its launch in the region," Nasrallah said. Israel has repeatedly struck Hezbollah in Syria, where the group and its Iranian ally have played a key military role in fighting rebels alongside Assad's forces, backed by massive Russian air power. Assad now holds most of Syria, although a swathe of the northwest remains in rebel hands and U.S.-backed Kurdish forces control the quarter of the country east of the Euphrates river. Israel has told Iran it must quit Syria, and said last year it had carried out air strikes there to stop Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah. Assad and his allies last month recaptured the area bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, while avoiding a wider escalation involving Israel, Iran and Hezbollah. Concerns about such an escalation rose sharply in May, when Israel said it had launched its heaviest barrage since the Syrian war began in 2011 at Iranian targets in the country, prompting retaliatory rocket fire in the following days. (Reporting By Angus McDowall and Laila Bassam; Editing by Gareth Jones)
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Federal prosecutors investigating the alleged forced disappearances of 36 people in the northern Mexico border city of Nuevo Laredo have inspected a marine base in the city.

Investigators from the Attorney General's office for forced disappearances made the visit Monday with relatives of the missing people observing. Some relatives accuse marines of seizing the missing people.

In a statement late Monday, the Attorney General's Office said that its investigators inspected vehicles, weapons and radios.

The Nuevo Laredo Human Rights Committee said in a statement that the inspections should have been made months ago.

In May, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Mexican government to "take urgent measures to stop the wave of forced disappearances in Nuevo Laredo and surrounding areas."
While Pierce contends her dog was not abused or sick, when Brown found it he thought it may have been hit by a car because of the way it was crying. Lee said Brown took it to a veterinarian and the veterinarian said the only sensible thing to do, since it had no collar and tags or chip, was to euthanize the animal because it was suffering.
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) addresses a rally against education funding cuts outside the U.S. Capitol in July 2017. Days before the Democratic primary for Minnesota attorney general, his campaign was shaken by domestic abuse allegations. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

All but a few prominent Democrats and progressive groups have stayed silent on an ex-girlfriends allegations of domestic abuse against Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, a progressive leader and deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee running for the states attorney general.

Their reticence to speak reflects a desire to see more evidence before judging his guilt, rather than an interest in shielding him from scrutiny, top progressives said privately.

The DNC, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Our Revolution and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who led calls for the resignation of then-Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), declined requests for comment. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Credo Action, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin and spokespeople for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a key Ellison ally, did not immediately respond to HuffPosts inquiries.

Democracy for America, one of many liberal groups that backed Ellisons run for chairman of the DNC, offered a statement affirming female accusers without commenting on the veracity of the claims made by the ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan, a Sierra Club organizer.

Democracy for America is not in a position to evaluate allegations made against a candidate in the closing hours of an election, but, as an organization, we believe that every woman who tells her story deserves to be heard, said DFA spokeswoman Annie Weinberg. Domestic violence of any kind is unacceptable and has no place in our politics, period.

MoveOn tweeted a statement saying it is deeply concerned about allegations regarding Keith Ellison.

We will closely monitor this situation as more facts come to light, the group added.

Were deeply concerned about allegations regarding Keith Ellison. Our society must have absolutely no tolerance for domestic violence, and hold everyone to the same standard. We will closely monitor this situation as more facts come to light.  MoveOn (@MoveOn) August 13, 2018

The Democratic Attorneys General Association is not calling on Ellison to withdraw from the race. The group applauded the resignation of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in May amid overwhelming domestic abuse evidence and has supported an investigation of Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, who remains in office as he battles allegations of groping.

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Any time we see allegations, we take it seriously, and we are watching what is happening in Minnesota to understand the facts of this particular situation, said the DAGAs executive director, Sean Rankin.

The accusations against Ellison came to light on Saturday night, less than three days before Tuesdays competitive primary for the Democratic nomination for Minnesota attorney general.

In a Facebook post, Karen Monahans son Austin Monahan said his mother went through pure hell after ending her relationship with Ellison. Austin Monahan wrote that in mid-2017 he found a two-minute video showing Ellison violently dragging her off a bed as he cursed at her. Austin Monahan also said he found hundreds of text messages between his mother and Ellison that showed Ellison alternating between an affectionate and apologetic tone and victim shaming, bully[ing] her, and threaten[ing] her if she went public. The post tagged two of Ellisons rivals in the Democratic attorney general primary: former state Supreme Court clerk Matt Pelikan and state Rep. Debra Hilstrom.

In a tweet on Sunday afternoon, Karen Monahan confirmed the accuracy of what her son wrote.

Every statement he made was true, she said. Apparently addressing Ellison, she added, You know you did that to me.

Ellison acknowledged that he was in a relationship with Monahan that ended in late 2016 and flatly denied the existence of a video documenting physical abuse.

I still care deeply for her well-being, he wrote in a statement. This video does not exist because I never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false.

In a follow-up report, Minnesota Public Radio analyzed hundreds of text messages between Ellison and Monahan that she provided. MPR said it found an exchange in which she told him that she planned to write about their journey in a memoir of some kind, and Ellison responded, Horrible attack on my privacy, unreal. In December 2017 she reportedly mentioned a video of him dragging her off the bed, and he did not respond.

None of the text messages offered evidence of physical abuse, according to MPR. And in a long statement on Sunday night detailing what she called narcissist abuse at Ellisons hands, Monahan did not once refer to such a video.

She told CNN, in a story published Monday, that she had misplaced the thumb drive where she was storing the video after moving homes and that in any event, the onus was not on her to produce the embarrassing and traumatizing video. However, CNN spoke with three of her friends who remembered her recalling the incident in the months after it allegedly happened.

This is also not the first time a woman has accused Ellison of abusive behavior. Amy Alexander alleged in October 2006 that he acted like a little dictator during an affair they had in the mid-2000s and that he shoved her during a confrontation in which he was trying to silence her. He subsequently secured a restraining order against her.

Just two groups have called on Ellison to withdraw from the race: the online womens rights group UltraViolet, and the National Organization for Women.

We believe women. We believe Karen Monahan.



Domestic abusers do not belong in any position of power. Keith Ellison should withdraw his candidacy for Minnesotas Attorney General and resign from the House of Representatives now. Our statement: https://t.co/13cqimp760 pic.twitter.com/csIvlM8FWt  UltraViolet (@UltraViolet) August 13, 2018

Toni Van Pelt, the president of NOW, told HuffPost that MPRs account of Monahans accusations and Ellisons response to them was enough to convince her of Ellisons guilt. She interpreted Ellisons angry response to the idea that Monahan would write about their relationship as a chilling, threatening message.

He should withdraw from the election, and every man considering an election run with a similar history of abuse should rule it out as well, Van Pelt said.

She rejected the notion that Monahans claims were less credible because of their timing so soon before the primary. Women who have survived abuse often suffer feelings of shame and fear of censure that prevents them from coming forward, Van Pelt said. Theyre silenced by our system of oppression, she said.

As national organizations debate how to respond to the allegations against Ellison, his rivals in the attorney general race are showing no such hesitation. Before the scandal erupted, he was widely favored in the contest.

One of his opponents in the race, former Ramsey County Attorney Tom Foley, called Ellisons denial of the charges very Trump-like.

Ellisons brief response pales in comparison to the specific details offered by a son who said he saw video on his mothers computer of her physical abuse, Foley said in a statement published by Fox 9, a MinneapolisSt. Paul TV station.

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Taking Security Seriously

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) talks with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) before the start of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing concerning the roles and responsibilities for defending the nation against cyberattacks, on Oct. 19, 2017.

With Liberty And Justice...

Members of Code Pink for Peace protest before the start of a hearing where U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 18, 2017. Committee members questioned Sessions about conversations he had with President Donald Trump about the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, the ongoing investigation about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and other subjects.

Whispers

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), right, speaks with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) before a confirmation hearing for Christopher Sharpley, nominee for inspector general of the CIA, on Oct. 17, 2017.

Not Throwing Away His Shot

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the musical "Hamilton," makes his way to a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies in the Rayburn Office Building during a round of meetings to urge federal funding for the arts and humanities on Sept. 13, 2017.

Medicare For All

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), center, speaks on health care as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), left, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), right, listen during an event to introduce the Medicare for All Act on Sept. 13, 2017.

Bernie Bros

Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pack his office on Sept. 8, 2017. Members of the "Draft Bernie for a People's Party" campaign delivered a petition with more than 50,000 signatures to urge the senator to start and lead a new political party.

McCain Appearance

Sen. John McCain, second from left, leaves the Capitol after his first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer. He arrived to cast a vote to help Republican senators narrowly pass the motion to proceed for the replacement of the Affordable Care Act on July 25, 2017.

A Narrow Win

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, center, speaks alongside Sens. John Barrasso, left, John Cornyn, right, and John Thune, rear, after the Senate narrowly passed the motion to proceed for the replacement of the Affordable Care Act on July 25, 2017.

Kushner Questioning

Jared Kushner, White House senior adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump, arrives at the Capitol on July 25, 2017. Kushner was interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee in a closed-door meeting about contacts he had with Russia.

Hot Dogs On The Hill

Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) prepares a hot dog during the American Meat Institute's annual Hot Dog Lunch in the Rayburn Office Building courtyard on July 19, 2017.

And Their Veggie Counterparts

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) visits the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals veggie dog giveaway on July 19, 2017, countering a National Hot Dog Day event being held elsewhere on Capitol Hill.

Poised For Questions

Callista Gingrich, wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, waits for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on her nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican on July 18, 2017.

Speaking Up

Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 17, 2017.

In The Fray

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks to members of the media after announcing the revised version of the Senate Republican health care bill on Capitol Hill on July 13, 2017.

Anticipation

Christopher Wray is seated with his daughter Caroline, left, as he prepares to testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be the next FBI director on July 12, 2017.

Up In Arms

Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 10, 2017.

Across A Table

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Capitol Hill on June 29, 2017.

Somber Day

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks about the recent attack on the Republican congressional baseball team during her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill on June 15, 2017.

Family Matters

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), right, and his sons, Jack, 10, and Brad, arrive in the basement of the Capitol after a shooting at the Republican baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 14, 2017.

A Bipartisan Pause

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), right, coach of the Republican congressional baseball team, tells the story of the shooting that occurred during a baseball practice while he stands alongside Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), left, a coach of the Democratic congressional baseball team on June 14, 2017.

Hats On

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) reacts about the shooting he was present for at a Republican congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, as he speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 14, 2017.

Public Testimony

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is sworn in to testify before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on June 13, 2017.

Comey's Big Day

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Capitol Hill on June 8, 2017.

Conveying His Point

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats testifies at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on his interactions with the Trump White House and on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act on June 7, 2017.

Selfie Time

Vice President Mike Pence takes a selfie with a tourist wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda on June 6, 2017. The vice president walked through the rotunda after attending the Senate Republican policy luncheon.

Budget Queries

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney testifies before the House Budget Committee about President Donald Trump's fiscal 2018 budget proposal on Capitol Hill on May 24, 2017.

Flagged Down By Reporters

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, leaves a closed committee meeting on Capitol Hill on May 24, 2017. The committee is investigating possible Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.

Shock And Awe

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) hold a news conference on the release of the president's fiscal 2018 budget proposal on Capitol Hill on May 23, 2017.

Seeing Double

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) arrives in the Capitol for the Senate Democrats' policy lunch on May 16, 2017.

Honoring Officers

President Donald Trump speaks at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on the West Lawn of the Capitol on May 15, 2017.

Whispers

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.), right, and ranking member Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) talk during a hearing with the heads of the U.S. intelligence agencies in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 11, 2017.

Skeptical

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates arrives to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election on Capitol Hill on May 8, 2017.

Differing Opinions

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) gives a thumbs-up to protesters on the East Front of the Capitol after the House passed the Republicans' bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on May 4, 2017. The protesters support the ACA.

Real Talk

United States Naval Academy Midshipman 2nd Class Shiela Craine (left), a sexual assault survivor, testifies before the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Military Personnel with (2nd from left to right) Ariana Bullard, Stephanie Gross and Annie Kendzior in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 2, 2017. Kendzior, a former midshipman, and Gross, a former cadet, were both raped twice during their time at the military academies. The academy superintendents were called to testify following the release of a survey last month by the Pentagon that said 12.2 percent of academy women and 1.7 percent of academy men reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact during the 2015-16 academic year.

In Support Of Immigrants

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), center, is joined by dozens of Democratic members of the House of Representatives to mark "Immigrant Rights Day" in the Capitol Visitor Center on May 1, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Democratic legislators called on Republicans and President Donald Trump to join their push for comprehensive immigration reform.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Elon Musk may soon be tweeting at President Donald Trump, again.

Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 on Monday, hours after Musk said he has been in talks with the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund to take Tesla private. Musk has complained about Chinas auto tariffs in a tweet at Trump. And now, his plan to take the automaker private could be threatened by a giant defense bill Trump signed on Monday.

The $716 billion defense law includes the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA), which strengthens the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, the interagency committee tasked with assessing foreign-funded deals to ensure they do not compromise national security.

The measure has expanded the types of deals that are reviewed by the CFIUS. Its common for sovereign wealth funds to make passive investments (or non-controlling investments). Passive investments, deals in which an investor takes a less than 10% stake in a company, are usually a Safe Harbor for CFIUS jurisdiction. Now under the new measure, fewer deals in critical technology or infrastructure companies are likely to be deemed passive.

Any investment from the Saudi fund, even its not controlling, will be subject to CFIUS review, Jeffrey Gordon, a professor at Columbia Law School, said in an email. A CFIUS review looks into the national security concerns of a deal. After a lengthy and opaque process, the agency decides whether to approve or block a transaction. In rare circumstances, CFIUS may also refer a transaction to the president for a final decision. President Barack Obama, for example, blocked a Chinese companys bid to buy a German semiconductor company, Aixtron, in December 2016.

Gordon thinks Tesla will likely be subject to review because of its cutting-edge technology. Of particular interest is whether Tesla owns or operates critical infrastructure, develops critical technologies, or maintains or collects U.S. citizens personal data that may be exploited in a manner that threatens national security, wrote Gordon.

Story continues

The newly signed defense bill could affect Elon Musks plan to take Tesla private. (Photo Credit/CNBC)

The U.S. government has been concerned with artificial intelligence. With everything Tesla is doing with AI, the deal is definitely on top of regulators mind, said Lawrence Ward, a partner at Dorsey & Whitney which specializes in international business and U.S. national security law.

But a lot of terms in FIRRMA, including passive investment and critical technology, still need to be defined. Theodore H. Moran, nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, believes that the Saudi investment will not have to go through CFIUS review because the Saudis will not take over control of Tesla technology, Moran wrote in an email to Yahoo Finance.

Will Tesla investors stick around for the ride?

Tesla stock has a wild ride in the past month. (Screenshot/Yahoo Finance)

The risk of a CFIUS review hinges on its shareholders. In his post to investors, Musk said he estimated two-thirds of Teslas current shareholders would remain invested in Tesla after it goes private. But Musk also admits he needs some time to understand shareholders thoughts.

If most of Teslas public shareholders remain for the ride, the Saudi investment would be relatively small meaning the fund would have a minority stake in Tesla. Since Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund already has amassed a 5% stake in Tesla, its likely a buyout would grant it more than 10% of Tesla shares.

If the Saudi sovereign wealth fund needs to buy out a significant amount of Teslas public shareholders, it may raise serious concerns about control rights and technology sharing. The uncertainty may also give the board a pause when it votes for Musks plan to go private.

Even if CFIUS give the Saudi investment a pass, Congress may have something to say. There have long been concerns about the conservative Muslim countrys ties to radical organizations and its potential financial support of terrorists. Certain members of Congress believe Saudi funds are related to activities that they consider nefarious, said Ward. The U.S. has been careful not to sanction the country on the whole, but target at certain parties.

Krystal Hu covers technology and economy for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

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By Keith Coffman

DENVER (Reuters) - Nine people were injured, one critically, on Tuesday when a natural gas explosion leveled a Denver apartment building, a fire department spokesman said.

First responders rescued two victims trapped inside the building, described as a "fourplex," in Denver's historic Baker neighborhood, said Denver Fire Captain Greg Pixley.

No one else was believed trapped in the rubble, Pixley said, but firefighters were making sure the structure was stable before conducting a thorough search.

Fire crews were working with Xcel Energy Inc , the Denver utility that supplied the building, to ensure all gas was eliminated from the area, Pixley said.

Xcel Energy spokeswoman Michelle Aguayo said by phone the utility was working with the fire department to determine the cause of the blast.

Two people hurt in the explosion were transported to Denver Health Medical Center, said hospital spokesman Simon Crittle. One had severe traumatic injuries while the other's injuries were not as severe, he said.

Seven other people who suffered minor injuries were treated at the scene, the Denver Fire Department said on Twitter.

A man who lives in the area told Denver television station FOX31 he smelled gas as he was walking to the store, before an explosion sent bricks flying into the street.

The fire department posted pictures of the apartment building on Twitter showing its roof collapsed in the explosion, which sent wooden beams and other rubble cascading across the sidewalk.

(Reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver; Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; editing by Bill Tarrant and James Dalgleish)
David Axe

Security,

As recently as 2016 the Navys warships were badly out-gunned by Russian and Chinese ships. In 2018, the U.S. fleet was on the cusp of reversing that dynamic.

The Navy Wants Lots of Ship-Killer Missiles to Fight Russia or China

In 2016 the U.S. Navy possessed just one surface-launched anti-ship missile type  Boeings Harpoon, a munition that first entered the fleet in the 1970s.

Two years later, the Navy had added no fewer than five additional ASM types to the fleet and also updated the Harpoon. The fast expansion of the U.S. fleets ship-sinking arsenal pointed to escalating seaborne threats from Russia and China.

The U.S. Defense Departments budget for the 2018-to-2019 fiscal year, continues the work of the department to maximize as many munitions production lines as possible  particularly those specific to the high-end fight, according to a U.S. Senate summary.

As part of the budget, the Navy was asking Congress for $27 million to being upgrading its Harpoons to the new Block II+ version, which adds GPS and a data-link allowing missile to switch targets mid-flight.

At the same time, the Navy was buying its second batch of new Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles from Lockheed Martin, adding 35 of the new munitions to the initial batch of 25 it bought in 2017.

The Navy was also paying Raytheon to begin modifying old Tomahawk land-attack missiles for anti-ship missions  part of a $78-million account for the fiscal year. Raytheon was under contract to provide the first 32 Maritime Strike Tomahawks in 2020.

At the same time, the Navy had just tapped Raytheon and Norwegian firm Kongsberg to build, under an initial $15-million contract, their Naval Strike Missile for the Navys Littoral Combat Ships and future frigates.

Finally, the Navy was paying Raytheon to modify in-service SM-2 and SM-6 ship-launched surface-to-air missiles for the anti-ship role, as part of the services $490-million investment in the Standard Missile program for the fiscal year  a sum that also paid for 125 new missiles.

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The explosion of new missile efforts represented a remarkable turnaround for the U.S. fleet. In early 2016 Robert Work, then the U.S. deputy defense secretary, warned of a resurgent Russia and a rising China on the high seas.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Works boss, laid out the argument. We face competitors who are challenging us in the open ocean, Carter said, and we need to balance investment in those capabilities  advanced capabilities  in a way that we havent had to do for quite a while.

During the Cold War, the Navy excelled at sinking enemy ships. It possessed what were, at the time, two of the worlds best anti-ship missiles  the Harpoon and a first-generation Tomahawk anti-ship missile.

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With these two weapons, the U.S. Navy was prepared to engage Soviet warships if the Cold War had ever turned hot. But after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the U.S. fleet shifted its attention to land. It launched missile and air raids on Iraq, Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq again, Libya and Syria, among others.

The U.S. has been neglecting its anti-ship capabilities since at least the early 1990s, Eric Wertheim, an independent naval analyst and author of Combat Fleets of the World, said in 2016. Confident that at-sea combat was history, the Navy decommissioned all its Tomahawk anti-ship missiles and removed Harpoons from many ships.

The result was a yawning gap in American naval power. U.S. ships were adept at hitting targets on land but on the high seas they were all but powerless. When the Chinese navy began its build-up in the early 2000s, and, a few years later, Russia began restoring its own neglected fleet, both countries exploited the American gap.

Moscow and Beijing equipped their ships with a wide range of highly capable anti-ship missiles with greater range and destructive power than the aging Harpoon possesses.

A Harpoon can hit a ship at a maximum range of around 100 miles. Russias Klub missile, by contrast, can travel as far as 400 miles. Chinas YJ-18 is roughly equivalent to the Klub and might even be an illicit copy of the Russian munition.

The surface-warfare imbalance persisted for years. Then in 2011, Pres. Barack Obama announced that his administration would pivot to the Pacific and dedicate more military, diplomatic and economic resources to the region as a counterweight to China. In 2014, Russian troops invaded Ukraine, a de facto announcement of Russias return to great-power status.

The Navy realized it could no longer assume it would never have to wage a war at sea. It also realized that it lacked the weaponry to do so.

Working under the radar over several years, military engineers and their civilian defense-industry counterparts devised a wide range of new anti-ship weapons. The Pentagons 2017 budget paid for the first significant production of the LRASM as well as anti-ship modifications for Tomahawks and SM-6s.

A Tomahawk can travel as far as 900 miles. A LRASM  200 miles. The SM-2 and SM-6 in surface-to-air mode can reach 90 miles and 150 miles, respectively. The Naval Strike Missile roughly matches the Harpoons 100-mile range.

As recently as 2016 the Navys warships were badly out-gunned by Russian and Chinese ships. In 2018, the U.S. fleet was on the cusp of reversing that dynamic.

When significant numbers of new anti-ship missiles reach the front-line fleet in coming years, the U.S. Navy could return to its Cold War status as the worlds leading surface-warfare force.

This first appeared in WarIsBoring here.

Read full article
Chicago (AFP) - Nebraska on Tuesday carried out America's first execution using fentanyl -- the opioid at the center of the country's deadly overdose crisis -- as part of a previously-untested, four-drug combination.

Carey Dean Moore, sentenced to death for two 1979 murders, was the first prisoner executed in the Midwestern state in 21 years, in what was its first ever lethal injection.

The 60-year-old was pronounced dead at 10:47 am (1547 GMT). The execution lasted approximately 20 minutes, according to Scott Frakes, director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

Moore's execution survived a last-minute legal challenge from a drug company and protests about the new lethal injection protocol.

It was a pivotal test for Nebraska, where the state legislature abolished the death penalty in 2015, only to see voters reinstate it the next year in a referendum. The state last performed an execution in 1997 by electric chair.

"I recognize that today's execution impacts many people on many levels," said Frakes.

The execution was carried out with "professionalism, respect for the process and dignity for all involved," he said.

- Questions about drugs used -

The lethal injection consisted of the sedative diazepam to bring on unconsciousness, the painkiller fentanyl citrate, the muscle relaxer cisatracurium to stop breathing, and potassium chloride to stop the heart.

Only potassium chloride has been used before in executions.

Robert Dunham, director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said the new procedure was an indication of the trouble states are having in acquiring death penalty drugs.

"It indicates that states are looking for drugs that are available," Dunham told AFP.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers and providers have been increasingly hostile to selling such drugs to states. Officials across the country have had to scramble to find the execution drugs they need or find alternatives.

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Dunham said Nebraska's use of fentanyl was problematic, because use of the powerful opioid is closely controlled by law, and the state has not disclosed its source for the drug.

"The manner in which they obtained it is highly questionable," he said.

- Courts weigh in -

Last week, German drug maker Fresenius Kabi challenged Nebraska with regards to two other drugs in the protocol, claiming the company was the likely source of the substances, and if so, Nebraska improperly obtained them.

It demanded that the state disclose the source of its drugs.

But the state insisted the drugs were legally acquired and both a federal judge and an appellate court sided with Nebraska.

Even the pope himself was not able to change Moore's fate.

Two weeks ago, Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church's teaching, declaring the death penalty "inadmissible" in all cases.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, a Catholic who supported the reinstatement of the death penalty, was resolute.

"While I respect the pope's perspective, capital punishment remains the will of the people," Ricketts said.

A handful of demonstrators gathered during the rainy morning to protest the execution. A small group also gathered in the early evening in the state capital Lincoln to criticize the governor's decision.

"Ricketts would kill Jesus," one protester's sign read.

The American Civil Liberties union also criticized the governor, saying he had carried out an execution "shrouded in secrecy."

"The 38-year-long journey to this execution further proves what we've been saying all along: The ACLU believes the death penalty in America is a broken process from start to finish and should be abolished nationwide," the group said in a statement.

- 'I am guilty' -

Moore had been on death row for 38 years and did not want further delays of his execution.

In 1980, while still in his early 20s, he was sentenced to death for the killings the year prior of two Omaha taxi drivers five days apart.

Expressing contrition, he admitted to fatally shooting the first driver during a robbery committed with his brother, and killing the second driver to "foolishly" prove to himself that he could commit murder on his own.

In his final words, Moore alluded to a written statement dated August 2, in which he pointed to other Nebraska death row inmates who claim their innocence.

"I am guilty, they are not," he wrote. "Why must they remain there one day longer?"

Moore also asked forgiveness from his brother.

Moore's execution was the 16th in the United States this year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Federal appeals court gives go ahead for execution on Tuesday on grounds it is the will of the people

Nebraska prison officials are preparing to execute Carey Dean Moore on Tuesday for the 1979 murders of two Omaha cab drivers. Photograph: AP

The first execution in the US using the opioid drug fentanyl is expected to take place on Tuesday after a federal appeals court rejected a German pharmaceutical companys move to block the killing.

The court gave the go ahead on Monday for Nebraska to put to death Carey Dean Moore on the grounds it is the will of the people. Moore has been on death row for four decades for the 1979 murders of two cab drivers in Omaha.

Nebraska has included fentanyl  a synthetic opioid found in more than 20,000 overdose deaths in 2016 alone  in the cocktail of drugs it intends to use for its first execution in 21 years after struggling to buy pharmaceuticals in the face of opposition from manufacturers and distributors.

Moore, who has said he wishes to die, is among the longest serving prisoners on death row in the US.

Moore will be given the sedative Valium alongside fentanyl, a combination increasingly found in drug overdose deaths because they both suppress breathing.

The legal challenge to the execution by the German drug maker, Fresenius Kabi, was brought over the use of two other drugs included in the fatal cocktail which the company accuses Nebraska of obtaining illegally, potassium chloride to stop Moores heart and a muscle relaxant.

The pharmaceutical company said it took no position on the death penalty but that its contracts with drug distributors bar sales for use in capital punishment.

Fresenius Kabi said there is a risk of grave harm to its reputation because it said Nebraska has not properly stored the drugs and that could lead to a botched and painful execution.

The director of the states prisons, Scott Frakes, has refused to make public how Nebraska bought the drugs but said that those made by Fresenius Kabi expire within weeks and that, if they are not used now, the state would have to find new supplies.

The appeals court on Monday upheld a lower court ruling that said blocking the execution would frustrate the will of the people because 61% of voters in Nebraska voted to reinstate the death penalty two years ago after the state legislature abolished it.

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The appeals court said that Fresenius Kabi was not likely to suffer irreparable injury from the use of its product.

The American Civil Liberties Union in Nebraska has accused the states governor, attorney general and prisons department of failing to obey open records laws and described secrecy around the execution as incredibly troubling.

While more states are turning away from the death penalty, Nebraska officials are rushing to carry out an execution cloaked in secrecy with an untested four-drug scheme that carries immeasurable risks for unnecessary pain and a botched execution, said Danielle Conrad, director of the ACLU Nebraska.

The state is not alone in seizing on fentanyl as an option, as the potent drug flooded into the US and moved to the heart of the opioid crisis.

A judge in Nevada indefinitely postponed an execution last month after another drug company objected to the use of one of its drugs in an execution where fentanyl was intended to provide the fatal dose.

In that case, the state was accused of deceiving one of the countrys largest pharmaceutical distribution companies into believing the drugs were intended for the prison hospital system.
BISMARCK, N.D.  Police in Bismarck, North Dakota, requested funding in the citys 2019 budget for equipment that includes AR-15 rifles for school resource officers.

Bismarck Public Schools and the Bismarck Police Department plan to share the cost of purchasing nearly $26,000 worth of AR-15s, gun safes, additional bulletproof vests and medical kits, the Bismarck Tribune reported .

The district wont fund the acquisition of firearms and the rifles will be locked up in the schools, according to district officials.

Police and school officials began considering rifles for school resource officers after a gunman in February killed 17 people at a school in Parkland, Florida, said Lt. Jason Stugelmeyer, who oversees the departments Police Youth Bureau. The bureau includes six school resource officers.

The Bismarck officers currently carry handguns, which Stugelmeyer said wont help if they need to shoot from a distance.

I fully believe that we have some solid preventative measures in place, and generally our schools are safe, he said. But we have to do everything we can to be prepared for something if it did happen.

District leaders also agree the rifles would increase school safety.

I think we have to take any kind of threat to our kids seriously, said district Interim Supt. Jim Haussler. I dont think (the police departments) request wouldve been made without them believing that (the rifles) will provide them with the tools necessary.

The 2019 city budget has not yet been finalized. If the request is approved, Bismarck police will receive the funds in January.
Sebastien Roblin

Security, Asia

Yes, you read that right.

North Korea Could Strike with Swarm Weapons (From 1947)

The threat of being swarmed by low-observable biplanes has apparently led South Korea to acquire two An-2s of its own, so that its F-15 fighters can practice interceptions, according to this article in NK News. The reality is that, while an An-2 infiltration swarm would be difficult to repel, it would still likely be a suicide mission for many of the pilots. However, the aircraft are expendable, costing less than most of the guided missiles that might be fired at them, and North Korean infiltrators have exhibited a willingness to sustain heavy casualties and fight to the death during their many previous misadventures.

The North Korean Peoples Air Force is predominantly composed of Soviet jet designs from the 1950s, or at least their Chinese clones, plus a smaller number of aircraft from the 1970s and 1980s. However, the most numerous aircraft in North Korean service is even more antiquated: a single-engine biplane transport that first flew in 1947. North Korea operates over three hundred An-2 and Y-5 biplane transports in at least six regiments, and they play a key role in its military strategy.

(This first appeared several months ago.)

How could these chunky biplanes pose a threat to adversaries fielding guided missiles and supersonic stealth fighters? North Korea has a found a way, banking on its own experience in the Korean War.

Even when the first An-2 prototype was unveiled in the Soviet Union in 1947, its biplane configuration seemed anachronistic. Aircraft with two wings exhibit more lift, lower stall speeds and superior maneuverabilitybut the extra drag created by the second wing imposes steep limitations on maximum speed. This led biplane designs to rapidly fall into obsolescence by the start of World War II.

However, renowned air transport designer Oleg Antonov had appreciated how slow two-seat Po-2 utility biplanes had proven highly successful at harassing German troops at night, and landing supplies and secret agents behind enemy lines; they were difficult for fast fighters to detect and intercept, and their excellent low-speed handling allowed them to operate from very short, unprepared fields. Antonovs idea was to basically scale the Po-2 up to a light transport for agricultural and civilian use from primitive airfields across the USSRs vast, lightly populated frontiers.

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The basic An-2 has a single, throaty one-thousand-horsepower ASh-62r radial engine that rattles like a tractor. This can push the fabric-and-aluminum aircraft to maximum speeds of little more than 160 miles per hour and out to a range of 560 miles. Its cargo compartment can accommodate up to twelve passengers, or between one or two tons of cargo. Though a bit of a tail dragger, the An-2 is a remarkably forgiving aircraft, as the added lift from its biplane configuration and two sets of full-wing length flaps means it can operate at speeds as slow as thirty miles per hour without stalling.

In fact, if flown into a sufficiently strong headwind, an An-2 can almost hover in place, or even briefly fly backwards. These low-speed characteristics give An-2s an almost helicopter-like ability to take off or land from short and very rough, unprepared airfields, as you can see in this video. Of course, helicopters are even more flexible and fly at comparable speeds, but they are also considerably more expensive and maintenance-intensive. An-2s on the market typically cost between $30,000 and $100,000.

Soviet economic and military planners caught on to the An-2s potential after Stalins death and it became a global hit, with exports to more than fifty countries and production eventually moving to Poland. China also license-built thousands of An-2 clones, called the Y-5. More than eighteen thousand of the pokey biplanes were eventually built, with Polish factories not ending production until 2001. China is still building Y-5s, and I have frequently observed the biplanes overflying dusty rural regions in northern China.

Although most renowned for civilian service as passenger liners, air ambulances and crop dustersthe An-2 was nicknamed Kukuruznik (Corn Eater)the An-2 also had plenty of useful military applications (NATO codenamed it Colt), ranging from logistics to parachute training, artillery observation and infiltrating special-operations troops. Dozens of specialized variants were developed, including An-2V floatplanes and even ski-equipped Colts for arctic operations.

By one count, An-2s were used in over forty conflicts, primarily in transport, observation and occasionally light attack roles. A quartet of North Vietnamese An-2s once attacked a secret U.S. base in Laos with rockets and mortar shells dropped out a side doorthough one was shot down by small-arms fire from a Huey helicopter. In 1991 the newborn Croatian Air Force used an An-2 to ferry supplies to the besieged city of Vukovar, and even attacked Serb forces using barrel bombs made out of boilers and fuel drums.

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During the Korean War, North Korea had used Po-2 utility planes in a similar fashion as the Soviets had in World War II to launch night raids behind UN lines, which sometimes inflicted considerable damage. U.S. ground-based radars struggled to detect the slow and low-flying intruders, while sophisticated radar-equipped night fighters only succeeded in shooting down thirteen.

The KPAAF received its first An-2s before the wars end, but its not clear if they saw action. However, the KPA clearly saw the potential for the An-2 to pick up where the Po-2 had left off. The An-2s capabilities synergized especially well with the emphasis North Korea accords to infiltrating its special-forces branchthe largest in the world, numbering around two hundred thousand personneldeep behind South Korean lines to create a second front.

Ground-skimming An-2s would offer a useful platform to parachute or air-land elite commandos to attack key bases and installations, disrupt supply lines and generally spread chaos. Indeed, in 2015 the KPA conducted three separate large-scale parachute exercises involving fifteen thousand commandos. The An-2s have featured prominently in state media; for example, in 2015, Korean Central News published a photo of Kim Jong-un sitting in the cockpit of a new An-2, which he ostensibly had tested personally.

The same year, the press proudly announced the An-2s had received a new camouflage scheme (green on top, blue on the bottom) to make them hard to distinguish from both the ground and air. In fact the An-2s have reportedly been maintained to a higher standards of readiness than the KPAFs dilapidated fleet of jet fighters.

Wouldnt such primitive aircraft be vulnerable to South Korean air defenses and fighters? Yes, but only to a point. The An-2 already has a reduced radar profile due to its fabric surface, which is less radar reflective. The KPAF has reportedly replaced additional aluminum surfaces on its An-2s with canvas and fabric, and even installed wooden propellers to further reduce the signature. Additionally, the An-2s ability to hug the terrain of Koreas famously rugged mountains would help mask it from the radars of ground-based surface-to-air missiles, and pose a challenge to airborne radars. Finally, the Kukuruzniks slow speed may cause some radars to eliminate it from the track as background noise.

This is not to say that the An-2 is an invulnerable stealth plane. Some will inevitably be detected, and they would be exposed to any short-range air defenses, including heat-seeking shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, heavy machine guns and rapid-fire autocannons. However, surging dozens or hundreds of difficult-to-detect An-2s could easily overwhelm the air defenses on the DMZ, even if the losses sustained in doing so might be considered unacceptable to a Western military mentality.

North Korean An-2s have also been modified to fire unguided rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and bombs, perhaps to provide air support for the special operators after they have been dropped off. You can see a video from 2014 of Kim Jong-un looking on as a rocket-equipped Il-2 blasts a target on a grassy field herefollowed by a similar demonstration from a Yak-18 two-seat trainer, which was employed successfully as a night intruder during the Korean War.

The Drives Tyler Rogoway has also suggested An-2s could serve as a delivery system for a small nuclear bomb, although this would only be possible if North Korea develops a sufficiently lightweight nuclear warhead. Furthermore, given the dicey odds of any one individual An-2 penetrating the air-defense gauntlet, such a strategy would likely require warheads redundantly deployed on multiple aircraft.

The threat of being swarmed by low-observable biplanes has apparently led South Korea to acquire two An-2s of its own, so that its F-15 fighters can practice interceptions, according to this article in NK News. The reality is that, while an An-2 infiltration swarm would be difficult to repel, it would still likely be a suicide mission for many of the pilots. However, the aircraft are expendable, costing less than most of the guided missiles that might be fired at them, and North Korean infiltrators have exhibited a willingness to sustain heavy casualties and fight to the death during their many previous misadventures.

Pyongyangs antiquated combat aircraft have limited prospects in a head-to-head confrontation with South Korean airpower, let alone that of the United States. The KPAs continued investments in its An-2 is an example of how it has put considerable thought and effort in finding ways for its outdated hardware to project a credible asymmetric threat.

The An-2 will remain in service for many more years in the twenty-first century, largely in peaceful civilian roles. Hopefully a bloody conflict on the Korean Peninsula will not become part of its colorful history.

Sebastien Roblin holds a masters degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring.

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Secret recordings of Trump and his chief of staff are seen as security breach and have also left lingering questions



Omarosa Manigault Newman, former White House aide, released secret recordings of her conversations with Donald Trump and his chief of staff, John Kelly. Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Omarosa Manigault Newman has released secret recordings of her conversations with Donald Trump and his chief of staff, John Kelly, which have made international headlines but have also left lingering questions.

What happened?

Manigault Newman says she secretly recorded Kelly firing her in the White House Situation Room in December 2017, and she played the recording on NBCs Meet The Press on Sunday. On Monday, she released another recording, aired on NBCs Today program, in which Trump appears to express surprise that she had been ousted.

The former White House aide, who had previously been a contestant on Trumps reality television show The Apprentice, shared the recording as part of her promotional tour for her new book about her stint in the White House, Unhinged. The Guardian first reported excerpts from the book, which also included claims that Trump has used racial epithets.

Is this normal?

Juliette Kayyem, a former assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs in the Department of Homeland Security, pointed to Manigault Newmans recording device as signifying the lack of security culture in the Trump administration. The former Obama administration aide noted that Trump has essentially mocked this ideal of a security culture. She pointed out instances such as White House staffers working without security clearances, Trump using an unsecured phone and his 2017 dinner with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe about North Korea among diners at Mar-a-Lago.

Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer in Washington, noted that it was unusual for a personnel meeting to happen in the Situation Room. In his opinion, the most obvious reason would be that the White House had its own suspicions that she was the type of person who might try to secretly record [the meeting], and put it in the Situation Room.

Is this a security risk?

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Moss also told the Guardian that Manigault Newmans use of a recording device presented counterintelligence risks. All it takes is one foreign agency hacking [the recording device], and setting it to passive record mode, said Moss. The result would mean all conversations, not just those Manigault Newman chose to record, would be accessible to foreign entities.

This concern was shared by Kayyem. There might be the perception, particularly by our enemies, that the entire White House might be compromised, and thats kind of scary, she said, adding: The audience isnt just us and Omarosa and Trump. Its the Chinese and the Russians.

Is recording in the Situation Room a crime?

Moss said, however, that just because the conversation occurred in the Situation Room, which is actually a secured series of connected rooms, there is no real obvious criminal liability. All staffers entering the area must lock away their cell phones and other insecure electronic devices. But he noted the violation would likely be enough to deny Manigault Newman a security clearance if she ever wishes to work for the federal government in the future.

What has the White House said?

The very idea a staff member would sneak a recording device into the White House Situation Room shows a blatant disregard for our national security, said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders. She added: Then to brag about it on national television further proves the lack of character and integrity of this disgruntled former White House employee.




LONDON (Reuters) - Anglo-American biotech company Orchard Therapeutics has raised a further $150 million to fund its work in gene therapy, building on earlier fundraisings worth more than $140 million. The new financing comes four months after its acquisition of a portfolio of GlaxoSmithKline rare disease medicines, including the gene therapy Strimvelis for ADA severe combined immune deficiency (ADA-SCID), or "bubble baby" disease. Gene therapy is a hot area for drug research - highlighted by Novartis's $8.7 billion acquisition of AveXis in April - but products sold to Orchard are viewed as too niche for GSK as it refocuses its drug research under CEO Emma Walmsley. Strimvelis has so far been used to treat just a handful of patients since its launch in Europe two years ago. Orchard, which has previously said it would consider an initial public offering (IPO) as the company develops, said on Monday the latest financing had been led by Deerfield Management, with further money from new and existing investors. Orchard was incorporated in September 2015 and is focused on ex-vivo gene therapy, in which stem cells are taken from the patient and genetically corrected outside of the body before being transplanted back. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Keith Weir)
That's the primary thing that we're talking about, Hill said. It gives us a lot more authority in enforcing housing regulations and it will give us a lot more authority in nuisance abatement issues and crime-free housing. It will give us a lot more leeway in dealing with the 2 percent that we have in the community that doesn't want to get with the program.
Defense attorney Kevin Downing makes a statement to the media after leaving federal court Tuesday. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The trial of President Trumps former campaign manager Paul Manafort is coming to a quieter than expected end. Manaforts defense team rested its case on Tuesday without presenting any evidence, which means the trial will move on to closing arguments from both sides at a federal courthouse in Virginia on Wednesday.

The veteran political operative is being tried by a team of prosecutors from special counsel Robert Muellers office on a slew of charges related to financial crimes and money laundering.

Kevin Downing, the attorney whos leading Manaforts defense, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The special counsels office declined to comment.

While the defenses decision not to present witnesses to rebut the governments case raised some eyebrows, it is in line with a common legal strategy, according to Shanlon Wu, a former federal prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney.

Its a standard thing to do, Wu said of the defense strategy, including the decision not to have Manafort take the stand himself.

Its certainly not unexpected not to put on Manafort because its always risky to put on the defendant, he said.

Slideshow: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manaforts trial in Alexandria, Va. >>>

Wu stressed that he has no access to confidential information in the case, though he has been a close observer of Manaforts trial. He previously represented Rick Gates, who worked as Manaforts deputy at a political consulting firm.

Gates agreed to cooperate with government prosecutors and became a key witness against Manafort after facing his own charges of conspiracy and lying to the FBI. Wus representation of Gates ended with that deal to testify.

According to Wu, the decision to rest without presenting a case can be viewed as a sign of confidence by Manaforts defense team.

Manaforts attorneys may feel they did enough during cross-examination to make their case in closing arguments, he suggested. Theyre also trying to send a signal to the jury that, not only have we done enough, but really the government just hasnt proven its case, Wu added.

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Paul Manafort leaves Federal District Court in Washington after a hearing in May. (Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Throughout the Manafort trial, which began late last month, prosecutors have detailed an alleged scheme by Trumps former campaign manager to dodge taxes on tens of millions of dollars his firm made working for a Ukrainian political party allied with the Kremlin. According to the prosecutors, Manafort became accustomed to a lavish lifestyle and sought to maintain it by lying to obtain loans when the money dried up.

Manaforts defense has tried to counter the complex and detailed case against him by suggesting that Gates was responsible for some of the financial improprieties and that any alleged misrepresentations by Manafort were immaterial to decisions to grant him loans.

Prosecutors have argued that Gates worked directly under Manafort, who had ultimate control and authority at their company. They have also shown emails and documents indicating Manafort was well aware that making false statements in loan applications was a crime and that he attempted to use his political connections to have bank executives give preferential treatment.

For his part, Wu said the defense team had at least made a credible argument that Gates could have acted on his own. Wu specifically cited the fact that Manaforts attorneys were able to detail instances where Gates stole from the company, and those details were not disputed by Gates or by the prosecutors.

While Downing, Manaforts lead attorney, did not respond to requests for comment after resting his case on Tuesday, he said during a recess last week that he was always optimistic about his cases.

Thats a good way to live, Downing added.

Regardless of the outcome in this case, Manafort continues to be investigated by the special counsel as part of the larger probe into whether the Trump campaign cooperated with Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The charges relating to Manaforts finances could be an effort by the special counsel to get him to cooperate in the investigation into Trump. Along those lines, Manafort may have decided to face the charges rather than make a deal with prosecutors in hopes for a presidential pardon from Trump.

The president, who has denied that any collusion with Russia took place, has sent multiple tweets stressing that Manafort worked for him for a short time and emphasizing that the trial was not directly connected to the election. On Monday, as Trump returned to the White House following a lengthy stay at his club in New Jersey, reporters asked if he had a message to Manafort. Trump ignored the question.

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Read more from Yahoo News:
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro released an 884-page report on sexual abuse in six Roman Catholic dioceses of the state on Tuesday. He was flanked by victims of the abuse at a news conference announcing the release. (Photo: Attorney General Josh Shapiro/Facebook)

Pennsylvanias attorney general released on Tuesday the long-awaited results of a damning grand jury investigation into how six Roman Catholic dioceses in the state covered up sexual abuse by 301 predator priests over 70 years.

The 884-page report is the largest, most comprehensive investigation on the churchs sex abuse scandal by a U.S. state, according to Attorney General Josh Shapiro. The grand jury identified over 1,000 victims in the six dioceses examined in the report: Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. But the jurors suspected the real number of victims could be much higher.

Shapiro said the report, which was delayed for months while individuals named in it raised legal challenges over what portions should be redacted, showed that senior church leaders in these dioceses and even at the Vatican knew abuse was occurring but systematically covered it up.

The pattern was abuse, deny and cover up, Shapiro said during a news conference Tuesday.

Listen to Attorney General Josh Shapiros news conference with victims below.

Most of the victims identified in the report were boys, but some were girls. The abuse documented included groping, being made to masturbate with assailants, and being raped orally, vaginally or anally.

The jurors accused Catholic Church leaders in the state of working hard to avoid public scandal and protect abusers. The grand jury found that victims were brushed aside, in every part of the state, by church leaders who preferred to protect the abusers and their institutions above all.

Church officials routinely and purposefully described the abuse as horseplay and wrestling and inappropriate conduct. It was none of those things. It was child sexual abuse, including rape, Shapiro said.

Matt Haverstick, an attorney representing the dioceses of Harrisburg and Greensburg, insisted in a statement that the Catholic Church discussed in the grand jury report no longer exists.

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The Dioceses Ive gotten to know so well over the past two years are incredibly sorry for the harm to these survivors, Haverstick said. Todays Church has listened and learned from its mistakes, and its reforms over the past two decades keep children safe.

At the end of their report, jurors included hundreds of pages of previously hidden church documents that illustrate how officials handled reports of abuse. The release also included response statements from the six dioceses. Some of the individuals named in the report included their own rebuttals of the claims made by the grand jury.

In one egregious case in the Diocese of Scranton, a priest impregnated a young girl and then arranged an abortion, the report reads. The priest resigned in 1986 and was sent to a Catholic psychiatric treatment center. One year later, in 1987, he was reassigned to another Pennsylvania parish. In 1989, the victim received a settlement from the diocese and, in exchange, was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Meanwhile, the priest continued in active ministry until 2002.

In the Diocese of Allentown, the report claims a priest who freely admitted to sexually molesting a boy was allowed to continue in ministry for several years after his confession. The diocese concluded at the time that the experience will not necessarily be a horrendous trauma for the victim.

In the Diocese of Pittsburgh, church officials dismissed a report that a priest had abused a 15-year-old girl, claiming the girl had literally seduced him into a relationship.

Tim Lennon, president of the Survivors Network of those Abused By Priests, told HuffPost he was saddened and angered by the report. He believes it proves the church hierarchy was complicit in the abuse. They knew abuse was happening and didnt work hard enough to discipline abusers, he said, which in turn enabled more abuse to happen over the years.

They knew for years if not decades of this vile corruption. Those in the church hierarchy went to great lengths to hide and dismiss the suffering of survivors, Lennon told HuffPost. How many children were raped and sexually abused because the church authorities covered up sexual abuse and did nothing?

During the investigation, which began in July 2016, the grand jury heard from dozens of witnesses and reviewed over 500,000 pages of documents from diocesan archives. The probe led to the arrests of two priests on child sexual abuse charges.

However, most of the priests identified in the report may never be brought to justice. Shapiro said most of the accused either are dead or the alleged crimes are too old to prosecute.

The grand jury report faced heated, behind-the-scenes challenges on its road to publication. A group of individuals named but not indicted in it argued that their right to due process would be violated if they couldnt hold hearings to challenge parts of the grand jury report and try to protect their reputations. In June, the states Supreme Court decided to block the reports publication.

Shapiro fought the decision  at one point appealing to Pope Francis to step in and persuade the individuals to drop their efforts to block the report. Seven news organizations also petitioned the state Supreme Court to try to force the reports release  including the Associated Press, Telemundo Mid-Atlantic, NBC subsidiaries, and several Pennsylvania-based publications.

In the end, the report was published with the names of some Catholic clergy redacted. The state Supreme Court plans to consider oral arguments on those individuals claims in September, the AP reports.

Shapiro said most of the accused in the report either are dead or the alleged crimes are too old to prosecute. (Photo: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

Previous investigations have uncovered widespread clergy sexual abuse in the states other two dioceses, Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown.

Smaller states, including Maine and New Hampshire, have issued reports on the extent of the Roman Catholic Churchs sex abuse scandal. But Pennsylvania is the largest state to date that has conducted such an investigation.

In April, the Erie diocese tried to get ahead of the report by releasing the names of 51 former priests and lay leaders who were credibly accused of sexual misconduct, ranging from providing pornography to minors to sexual assault.

Eries Bishop Lawrence Persico said in a statement that it was shocking to read the graphic details in the grand jury report. In a letter that was read aloud in all 97 parishes of the 13-county diocese on Sunday, the bishop said it was clear that church leaders failed to adequately address the problem.

The most important thing I want to do at this moment is to express my sorrow to the victims of sexual abuse that occurred within the Diocese of Erie, Persico wrote in the letter. As the grand jury report demonstrates, they have experienced cruel behavior by the very individuals who should have had the greatest interest in protecting them.

Harrisburg Bishop Ronald Gainer holds a news conference about child sexual abuse by clergy on Aug. 1, 2018. (Photo: Mark Scolforo/AP)

The Harrisburg diocese followed Eries example in August, when it released a list of 71 priests and other members of the church who had been accused of sex abuse. The diocese also removed the names of accused bishops from its church buildings.

On Friday, Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik said a few priests named in the report were still in ministry. He said diocesan investigations had concluded that those allegations were unsubstantiated.

Currently, Pennsylvania law states that adults in their 30s and older who were abused as children cant sue for damages. Criminal charges cant be filed after the alleged victim turns 50.

The grand jury had four recommendations moving forward  removing the criminal statute of limitations, establishing a temporary window for victims older than 30 to sue the dioceses, tightening laws about mandatory reporting, and making sure confidentiality agreements dont give either party the right to decline to cooperate with criminal investigations.

The church has opposed moves to change the statute of limitations, claiming it would be financially crippling to Pennsylvanias Catholic schools and parishes. Fifteen U.S. Catholic dioceses or archdioceses have filed for bankruptcy protection because of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, according to the watchdog group BishopAccountability.org.

Lennon applauded Shapiros courage in empaneling a grand jury. But he said the work of exposing sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is far from over.

We see that when civil society investigates we get the truth, Lennon said. There must be a grand jury in every state.

This story has been updated with more details from the report.

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Police arrested at least four people during demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Sunday, August 12.

Demonstrators marched through Charlottesville to mark the anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in which Heather Heyer was killed, as well as to protest the Unite the Right 2 rally taking place in Washington the same day.

This footage shows police arresting Martin E. Clevenger, 29, and Veronica H. Fitzhugh, 40. NBC reported they were arrested by police for one count each of disorderly conduct after allegedly a verbal altercation became physical. Both individuals were released on a summons.

Police initially blocked off 4th Street at the intersection with Water Street to stop people from going to the exact spot where Heyer was killed and dozens were injured when a car rammed into the crowd. Heyers mother and a small group of protesters were later allowed access to the site. Credit: Sean CW Korsgaard/News2Share via Storyful
(FORT DRUM, N.Y.)  President Donald Trump on Monday signed a $716 billion defense policy bill named for John McCain but included no mention in his remarks of the Republican senator, who is battling brain cancer at home in Arizona.

Trump and McCain are engaged in a long-running feud that dates to Trumps 2016 presidential run. At campaign rallies, Trump regularly castigates McCain  without outright naming him  for casting a dramatic thumbs-down vote that doomed Trumps effort last year to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted by President Barack Obama.

Trump said there was no better place than right here at Fort Drum to celebrate passage of the defense bill, which will boost military pay by 2.6 percent, giving service members their largest increase in nine years.

The bill  formally named the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act but referred to by Trump as simply the National Defense Authorization Act  will introduce thousands of new recruits to active duty, reserve and National Guard units and replace aging tanks, planes, ships and helicopters with more advanced and lethal technology, Trump said.

Hopefully, well be so strong well never have to use it. But if we ever did, nobody has a chance, he said.

The bill also authorizes billions of dollars for military construction, including family housing.

Besides setting policy and spending levels, the bill weakens a bid to clamp down on Chinese telecom company ZTE. It allows Trump to waive sanctions against countries that bought Russian weapons and now want to buy U.S. military equipment. The bill provides no money for Trumps requested Space Force but authorizes the military parade he wants in Washington in November. The White House has said it will outline a budget for the space force next year.

The measure also addresses child-on-child sexual assault at U.S. military bases worldwide, an issue an Associated Press investigation revealed this spring.

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The compromise bill removes a provision reinstating penalties against ZTE and restricting the companys ability to buy U.S. component parts. ZTE was almost forced out of business after being accused of selling sensitive information to nations hostile to the U.S., namely Iran and North Korea, in violation of trade laws.

Trump warned in May that the ban was causing heavy job losses in China, and the Commerce Department reached a deal to lift the ban in June, allowing business with U.S. companies to resume. The bill retains language blocking U.S. government purchases and contracts with ZTE.

The measure also includes provisions designed to improve how the Defense Department handles reports of sexual assaults among the tens of thousands of children and teens who live and go to school on the military bases where their parents serve. An AP investigation documented broad failures of justice when military kids report incidents.

Among the changes, the bill creates new legal protections for students at Department of Defense Education Activity schools and requires the school system and the Pentagon to develop new policies for responding to reports on bases more generally. Schools and the armed services also must start tracking incidents  AP identified nearly 700 over 10 years, but that was a certain undercount.

The annual measure sets policies and a budget outline for the Pentagon and will be followed by a later appropriations bill.

Trump and McCain have had a strained relationship for years. During his election campaign, Trump declared that McCain, who was a prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam, was not a war hero, and he has publicly and privately blamed McCain for submarining the Republican health care bill last year.

In May, a West Wing aide dismissed McCains negative opinion on Trumps CIA nominee during a closed-door meeting by saying of the senator that hes dying anyway. Trump, who has long prided himself on never apologizing, believing it shows weakness, did not apologize, but the aide was later fired.

On Monday, McCain expressed pride in the bill signing in a statement he issued afterward.

Im proud the NDAA is now law & humbled Congress chose to designate it in my name. As Chairman of the Armed Services Cmte, Ive found high purpose in service of a cause greater than self_the cause of our troops who defend America & all that she stands for, he tweeted.

His wife, Cindy McCain, meanwhile, retweeted a tweet from CBS News that noted Trump had neglected to mention McCain at the signing.

President Trump just signed a defense spending bill, named in honor of Sen. John McCain. In doing so, he neglected to mention McCain's name even once in his speech. https://t.co/qKWR9Gpv7C pic.twitter.com/ML5Ir9AfCR  CBS News (@CBSNews) August 13, 2018

___

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
Republican House member Bob Goodlatte's son announced he gave the maximum donation allowed to the Democratic candidate running for his father's Congressional seat in Virginia: Alex Wong/Getty Images

A Republican Congressmans con has donated the maximum amount allowed to the campaign of the Democrat running for his fathers seat in Virginia in the midterm election.

US Representative Bob Goodlatte, who serves as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, had said he would not be seeking re-election for his seat.

His son Bobby tweeted: I just gave the maximum allowed donation to Jennifer Lewis, a democrat running for my father's congressional seat.

He also said he had asked five others to donate the maximum amount to Ms Lewis campaign, adding 2018 is the year to flip districts - lets do this!

According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which governs US campaign finance rules, individuals are allowed to give up to $2,700 (2,116) to each candidate for the 2018 election. There is no limit on the total an individual can donate to certain types of political action committees (PACs).

I just gave the maximum allowed donation to Jennifer Lewis, a democrat running for my father's congressional seat. I've also gotten 5 other folks to commit to donate the max. 2018 is the year to flip districts  let's do this! https://t.co/bYCKta2Bhs  Bobby Goodlatte (@rsg) August 13, 2018

Ms Lewis, whose website the younger Mr Goodlatte included in his tweet, is campaigning on a platform of Medicare for all, or universal healthcare, legalising marijuana in the tobacco-heavy state, and instituting a $15 minimum wage.

The mental health professional who primarily serves at-risk youth is also campaigning as a fierce advocate for the environment.

She is taking on Republican state Delegate Ben Cline to represent much of the central-west portion of the state including Roanoke, Lynchburg, and the Shenandoah Valley.

According to the think tank Center for Responsive Politics, Ms Lewis has raised $72,679 as of 30 June compared to Mr Clines $393,129.

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He has also spent more than $300,000 of those funds on his primary and campaign against Ms Lewis. She has spent $34,989.

Ms Lewis has also committed, as several in a new wave of 2018 Democratic candidates, not to accept any money from corporate political committees or those with fossil-fuel interests.

The elder Mr Goodlattes decision not to run again came on the heels of the hotly contested Virginia governor race in November 2017, which Democrat Ralph Northam won against Republican Ed Gillespie.

The district has historically been a Republican stronghold, but experts have said Mr Northams win could shift the tides.

The House members son, according to his Twitter bio, is based in San Francisco and works as a product designer & angel investor for several startups.

Other Silicon Valley venture capital leaders praised Mr Goodlatte for his public announcement.

Chris Sacca, an investor who has appeared on ABC's Shark Tank programme during which investors are pitched business ideas, tweeted: Bobby is a friend and I am so moved by his bravery in standing up for his beliefs.
A sixth first responder has died battling this years wildfires in California, fighting what has become the largest wildfire in Californias history.

The firefighter, who was from Utah but has not been named, was fighting the Mendocino Complex blaze along the Mendocino National Forest when he suffered fatal injuries on Monday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

Were extremely heartbroken for this loss. We are dedicated to investigating what happened and will release more information as it becomes available, Mendocino Complex incident commander Sean Kavanaugh said at an evening press conference.

A firefighter monitors a backfire while battling the Mendocino Complex blaze on Aug. 7 near Lodoga, California. So far this year, six people have died fighting wildfires in the state. (Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

The firefighters death is the first attributed to the Mendocino Complex fires, which as of Tuesday morning had spread across more than 305,400 acres and was 68 percent contained, Cal Fire said. In comparison, 2017s massive Thomas Fire  which until last week held the record for the largest wildfire in the states history  consumed 281,000 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

On Aug. 9, Cal Fire heavy equipment operator Andrew Brake, 40, was killed in a traffic crash while heading to help battle the Carr Fire in Shasta County, San Francisco station KGO reported.

On July 29, Fire Capt. Brian Hughes of the Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks was killed after being hit by a falling tree while battling the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park.

On July 27, Don Ray Smith, 81, a contract bulldozer operator, died after becoming overcome by the Carr Fire while assisting firefighters, the Redding Record Searchlight reported.

On July 26, fire inspector Jeremy Stoke of the Redding Fire Department, died after his vehicle was caught in flames while volunteering to help battle the Carr Fire, ABC 10 reported.

On July 14, Cal Fire bulldozer operator Braden Varney, 36, died in the Ferguson Fire after crashing his vehicle down a mountainside, San Francisco station KQED reported.

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Trees burned by the Mendocino Complex Fire near Lodoga, California. (Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on Sunday surveyed parts of the Carr Fires destruction and encouraged thinning Californias national forests as a way to prevent wildfires.

He also pushed back against linking the fires to climate change.

America is better than letting these radical groups control the dialogue about climate change, he told local TV news station KCRA. Extreme environmentalists have shut down public access. They talk about habitat, and yet they are willing to burn it up.

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California's Mendocino Wildfire Becomes The Largest In State History

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Its Official: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Is An Ostrich About Wildfires

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Stephen Miller, senior policy adviser to President Donald Trump, was called out on his immigration hypocrisy by his uncle in a scathing op-ed published Monday on Politico.

David S. Glosser, a retired neuropsychologist, accused both his nephew and Trump of becoming numb to the resultant human tragedy and blind to the hypocrisy of their policy decisions.

I have watched with dismay and increasing horror as my nephew, who is an educated man and well aware of his heritage, has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our familys life in this country, Glosser wrote in his piece.

Miller is credited with crafting some of the Trump administrations most controversial immigration policies, including family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border and the travel ban, which targets immigrants from five mostly Muslim countries.

Glosser pointed out that Millers family has benefited from American immigration policies the Trump administration is seeking to corrode. Millers relatives gained citizenship though family-based immigration, which the Trump administration pejoratively refers to as chain migration, according to Glosser. The policy also likely helped first lady Melania Trumps parents become U.S. citizens last week.

President Trump wants to make us believe that these desperate migrants are an existential threat to the United States; the most powerful nation in world history and a nation made strong by immigrants, Glosser wrote.

He continued: Trump and my nephew both know their immigrant and refugee roots. Yet, they repeat the insults and false accusations of earlier generations against these refugees to make them seem less than human.

In June, Yahoo News reported that Millers great-grandfather flunked his naturalization test in 1932. The report found Millers maternal grandparents came to Ellis Island in 1903 to escape anti-Semitic pogroms in Belarus.

Unless your ancestors came on a slave ship or youre Native American, you came here as an immigrant, Jennifer Mendelsohn, who created the #resistancegenealogy hashtag, told Yahoo News.

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The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Read Glossers entire op-ed at Politico.

Related...

Immigration Protesters Rally Outside Stephen Miller's Apartment

Stephen Miller Is Probably Loving This

Melania Trump's Parents Likely Became U.S. Citizens Through 'Chain Migration' Donald Trump Blasts

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Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, has been branded an immigration hypocrite by his uncle, David S. Glosser, in a column in which Glosser describes his Jewish familys immigrant roots and makes a veiled comparison between the Trump administrations policies and Nazism.

Miller is an architect of several of the Trump administrations controversial immigration policies, including the travel ban and family separation. Behind the scenes, Miller has also helped reduce the number of refugees being allowed into the U.S. to its lowest level in decades.

Millers uncle, David S. Glosser, a retired neuropsychologist, wrote in Politico: If my nephews ideas on immigration had been in force a century ago, our family would have been wiped out.

Glosser told the story of his father, Wolf-Leib Glosser (Millers grandfather), a Jewish refugee from Antopol, in what is now Belarus, who arrived in the U.S. in 1903 after fleeing anti-Jewish violence.

I shudder at the thought of what would have become of the Glossers had the same policies Stephen so coolly espouses  the travel ban, the radical decrease in refugees, the separation of children from their parents, and even talk of limiting citizenship for legal immigrants  been in effect when Wolf-Leib made his desperate bid for freedom, Glosser wrote.

The Glossers came to the U.S. just a few years before the fear and prejudice of the America First nativists of the day closed U.S. borders to Jewish refugees, he continued. Had Wolf-Leib waited, his family would likely have been murdered by the Nazis along with all but seven of the 2,000 Jews who remained in Antopol. I would encourage Stephen to ask himself if the chanting, torch-bearing Nazis of Charlottesville, whose support his boss seems to court so cavalierly, do not envision a similar fate for him.

Glossers comments come just a day after the first anniversary of the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally, during which white nationalists marched while chanting you will not replace us and one anti-fascist counter-protester was killed. Only a smattering of white nationalists showed up for an anniversary march in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, and they were greatly outnumbered by counter-protestors.

President Trump wants to make us believe that these desperate migrants are an existential threat to the United States; the most powerful nation in world history and a nation made strong by immigrants, Glosser wrote. Trump and my nephew both know their immigrant and refugee roots. Yet, they repeat the insults and false accusations of earlier generations against these refugees to make them seem less than human.
London (AFP) - A car swerved into passers-by then slammed into a barrier protecting Britain's Houses of Parliament in a suspected terror attack on Tuesday.

A 29-year-old British man, not previously known to the security services, was arrested at the scene by armed officers. Three people were injured.

Police, who initially said the man was refusing to co-operate, were holding him at a London police station on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.

Following a briefing, Home Secretary Sajid Javid urged people to keep an open mind about what was behind the incident, as police raided three properties in central England.

Last year, five people were killed when a car mowed down pedestrians in an attack outside parliament.

"There are understandably a lot of questions," said Javid, the interior minister.

The police and security services "are doing everything they can to find out more about the incident.

"We must keep an open mind about what has happened and I'm sure when they do have more information they will say more."

Prime Minister Theresa May said the suspected attack was "shocking" and an "appalling incident" as she condemned the "twisted aim of the extremists".

Footage shows the silver Ford Fiesta veering across an intersection, hitting cyclists and pedestrians, before speeding into a barrier outside the Houses of Parliament at 7:37 am (0637 GMT).

Armed officers swooped in to arrest the driver, removing him from the vehicle at gunpoint.

Images showed police holding the man, dressed in jeans and a black puffer jacket, in handcuffs.

"Given that it appears to have been a deliberate act, the method used and the iconic location, it is being treated as a terrorist incident," police said in a statement.

Police said there was nobody else in the vehicle, which remains at the scene and was being searched. No weapons have been recovered.

- 'Deadpan' driver -

A man and a woman were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both have since been discharged. Another man was also treated at the scene for minor injuries.

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Witness Kirsty Moseley, 31, from south London, was a passenger in a nearby car.

"I heard a few shouts, looked up and this silver car was driving at high speed the wrong way into the cyclists," she said.

"It's absolutely amazing there was only one cyclist seriously injured, he went straight through them. People were thrown everywhere."

The driver "wasn't shouting anything, he wasn't screaming, he didn't look crazed or out of control -- he was just deadpan."

Searches are being carried out at two addresses in Birmingham and one in Nottingham in central England.

Police said the privately-owned car travelled from Birmingham to London late on Monday, arriving in the capital just after midnight.

It was in the Tottenham Court Road area from around 1:25am until 5:55am, then was driven around Whitehall and Westminster, where the parliament and government ministries are, from around 6:00am until the time of the incident.

May urged the public to "remain vigilant but also to come together and carry on as normal".

"The twisted aim of the extremists is to use violence and terror to divide us. They will never succeed," she said.

No other arrests have been made and police have said there is no intelligence of further danger to Londoners.

- Crazy animals, says Trump -

May's spokesman said there were 676 live investigations being carried out by the security services and counter-terror police at the end of June, up from more than 500 in March.

Some 13 Islamist and four far-right extremist plots have been foiled in the past 18 months, he added.

US President Donald Trump urged tough action.

"Another terrorist attack in London... These animals are crazy and must be dealt with through toughness and strength!" he tweeted.

Westminster was the scene of a terror attack last year when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British convert to Islam, drove a car at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge over the River Thames, before fatally stabbing a policeman on guard outside parliament.

The attack left five people dead and around 50 injured, and only ended when police shot Masood dead.

Britain endured a tumultuous period following the March 22 rampage, with four further terror attacks within months.

Britain's national terror threat level is set at severe, the second-highest of five levels, meaning an attack is considered highly likely.
Chief School Business Official Jay Strang the district also plans to start upgrading in the intercom systems in all of the school and door locks in each classroom. Because the district has so many schools and classrooms, the work will require multiple years to complete, he said.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The political wing of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) went to Damascus last week for a second round of talks with the government, its co-chair said on Tuesday. A delegation including members of the U.S.-backed SDF, which controls roughly a quarter of Syria, held talks with Damascus this month in their first declared visit to the capital. The visits highlight efforts by the Kurdish-led authorities to open new channels to President Bashar al-Assad's government, as they seek to negotiate a political deal that keeps their autonomy within Syria. Negotiations could also raise new questions for U.S. policy in Syria, where the U.S. military has deployed into SDF territory during the battle against Islamic State. The SDF is spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, which has mostly avoided conflict with Assad and has said it aimed to secure Kurdish rights rather than topple the government. This has set them apart from rebel factions fighting to bring down Assad since 2011, which have now been defeated in much of the territory they once held. The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) went for new talks on decentralization and the constitution, co-chair Riad Darar said on Tuesday. The "long dialogue" included a proposal from Damascus for the de facto autonomous region to take part in the state's local elections next month, he told Reuters. The SDC insists on preserving its structure of governance and self-rule in any future elections, he said. "The delegation from Qamishli decided it would return for more discussions." State officials tabled many issues that the SDC saw as premature, Darar added. "We need to agree on service provision first and this could build trust between us and with the people." The SDF seized swathes of land with U.S. help, though Washington opposes their ambitions of autonomy. The region they control spreads across much of northern and eastern Syria, rich in farmland, oil, and water. Damascus says the U.S. forces are occupiers. For the first time, Assad said in May that he was "opening doors" for talks with the SDF, but also threatened force and said the Americans would leave one way or another. (Reporting by Ellen Francis; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
BEIRUT (AP)  Representatives from Syria's Kurdish-run northeastern region met with the government in Damascus last week to discuss self-administration in a postwar Syria, a leading Kurdish official said Tuesday.

It was the second meeting between the two sides, and they agreed to continue their discussions, said Ilham Ahmed, the co-president of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Council.

The SDC delegation pressed for constitutional reforms to enshrine regional self-administration, said Ahmed, who described the government's response as "not positive."

"We have lots of work ahead of us, and I don't think this will be easy," said Ahmed.

The Syrian government has vowed to reassert its rule over the whole country after surviving seven years of civil war.

President Bashar Assad is demanding the departure of U.S. troops, who are embedded with the military arm of the SDC, the Syrian Democratic Forces, in the northeast Rojava region.

U.S. forces supported the Syrian Democratic Forces in their campaign against the Islamic State group in northeastern Syria. An estimated 2,000 U.S. troops and military advisers are in northern Syria, and the U.S. operates air bases in the Kurdish-administered region.

The Trump administration remains noncommittal about its plans for northern Syria.

Ahmed said the Kurdish-run region would not participate in nationwide local elections slated for next month, despite pressure from the government.

She said the SDC delegation met with officials from Damascus's authority on local administration and the ruling Baath Party's National Security Bureau, which oversees all intelligence operations in Syria.

Also Tuesday, Syrian state media said five drones were shot down in the coastal Latakia province as they approached a Russian air base in the area.

The air base, known as Hemeimeem, is the headquarters for Russia's military operations in support of Assad's forces. Russia has been a major ally and has turned the tide of the civil war in his favor.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says the drones were downed late Monday. It says this is the fifth time in as many days that drones have been shot down as they tried to reach the air base.

The Observatory and Syrian state media say the drones were launched by rebels holding territory in the neighboring Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
Taliban fighters overran an army base in northern Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday, killing at least 17 soldiers with dozens feared captured in a stinging blow to security forces already struggling to push insurgents from eastern Ghazni.

The fall of the base in Ghormach district of volatile Faryab province came with security forces -- who have struggled to hold back the Taliban since NATO combat troops pulled out in 2014 -- already stretched by the days of fighting in Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital two hours from Kabul.

Militants gained control of the base after days of heavy fighting, according to army spokesman for northern Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Rezaee.

He said around 100 soldiers were on the base when it was first attacked Sunday.

"It is a tragedy that the base fell to the enemy. Some soldiers were killed, some captured and some fled to nearby hills," Rezaee told AFP.

At least 17 were killed in the attack, according to defence ministry spokesman Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed, while a local MP said Taliban fighters captured another 40 in the base, known as Chenaya.

"Preparations are underway to launch an operation to recapture the base," said the ministry's spokesman.

Tahir Rehmani -- head of Faryab's provincial council -- said the base fell after the soldiers begged for reinforcements and air support from Kabul but were ultimately ignored.

"They were too busy with Ghazni," said Rehmani.

Ghazni, further east and which the Taliban first assaulted late Thursday, remains in government hands, officials have said.

But fears of civilian casualties in the city were growing as Afghan security forces backed by US air power struggled to push the Taliban out five days after the assault began.

A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, said there had been "no reported enemy activity" so far Tuesday, though he added that "some Taliban forces remain in the city".

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With reports of fighters hiding among the civilian population, O'Donnell said residents had been "terrorized and harassed".

"The Taliban, who falsely and repeatedly claim that they do not target civilians, have executed innocents, destroyed homes, burned a market and created the conditions for a potential humanitarian crisis with this attack," he said.

The United Nations said unverified reports put civilian casualties at more than 100, with residents also at risk from several days of US air strikes.

O'Donnell said no air strikes had been carried out yet Tuesday.

Bombs placed along the road leading north and south from the city also "prevented civilians from safely fleeing the violence", said a UN report.

Communication networks remained largely down in Ghazni, making any information difficult to verify.

But residents said the violence continued.

"Ghazni is a ghost city now. The Taliban are going from house to house to find government officials or their relatives to kill," said one resident, Sayed Zia.

"Those who can are fleeing."

Another resident also said the Taliban were killing civilians who refused to help them.

"I saw two trucks full of coffins going toward a cemetery in the city. They all seemed to be civilians," said Abdullah, who asked to only use one name.

"The city is full of smoke. Everywhere they go they set the places on fire," he said, adding that shops were being looted, with water and food scarce.

- 'Let us go home' -

On Monday, the Afghan defence minister said at least 100 security forces had been killed in the fighting in Ghazni so far.

Afghan security forces, beset by desertions and low morale, have suffered staggering casualties in recent years.

Analysts have said the insurgents may be seeking to demonstrate strength as they come under increasing pressure since an unprecedented ceasefire in June to join peace talks.

"Clearly the Taliban have paid no heed to the calls of the Afghan people for them to reconcile and join the peace process," the US spokesman O'Donnell said Tuesday.

The assault on Ghazni and the fall of the Chenaya base also illustrate how stretched Afghan forces are across the country, said analyst Abdul Hamid Sofof.

"The Taliban know this and they make Afghan forces fight on several fronts, making them run thin," said Sofof.

The insurgents have overrun provincial capitals before, including western Farah in May and northern Kunduz in 2015. Each time, they failed to hold the city, pushed out by security forces within days.

Ghazni lies along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively serving as a gateway between the capital and the militant strongholds in the south.

Hundreds of people trying to reach Kabul from Iran and other provinces were stranded at a bus station in southern Kandahar Tuesday, unable to travel further due to the fighting, an AFP reporter there said.

Some said they had been stuck for days, and were running out of money and food.

"For God's sake," one man told AFP. "Stop fighting and let us go home."
By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan troops backed by U.S forces gained control of most of the embattled city of Ghazni on Tuesday, officials said, while a Taliban attack in another province raised new questions about Afghanistan's defenses against the insurgency. After five days of fighting, Ghazni, a strategically vital center two hours from Kabul on the main highway between the capital and southern Afghanistan was a city of burned-out buildings and vehicles with bodies lying in the streets. Local officials had been warning for months that the Taliban's growing control over surrounding districts had left Ghazni vulnerable to attack and President Ashraf Ghani faced bitter accusations over the failure to protect the city. The government has faced accusations of incompetence, neglect and complacency, as well as anger at its repeated assurances that the Taliban attack had failed, even while hundreds of fighters were roaming at will through the city. "The government knew about Ghazni very long ago and did little to protect it. "All we heard from officials were lies and deceit and the people know this," said Etemadi, who added that fighting was still going on. The assault, which shocked the country, raises fresh questions over parliamentary elections scheduled for Oct. 20 as well as over hopes for peace talks with the Taliban, which had grown following a three-day truce in June. A senior Taliban official said the attack on a strategic city so close to the capital was intended as a demonstration that the insurgents held the upper hand on the battlefield, which would strengthen their position in talks. "We wanted to convey a message to the Americans, their allies and the puppet government in Afghanistan that if we want, we can target them anytime and anywhere," he said. Hundreds of people have been killed and wounded in the fighting, some of the heaviest seen in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized the northern city of Kunduz in 2015. Government officials said nearly 100 members of the security forces have been killed while the U.S. military said it had carried out more than 30 air strikes that had killed more than 220 Taliban since Friday. There have been no reliable estimates of civilian casualties but the city's hospitals have been overwhelmed. "Bodies of Taliban fighters and police can be seen in the streets. I saw two bodies that were eaten by dogs," said Abdul Hakim Sulaimankhel, 37, who owns an auto parts shop in Ghazni. He said shops and a big carpet market had been burned out and a neighbor's granddaughter had died of illness because her family could not take her to hospital. "There is no bread and shops have all been destroyed. It will take months for it all to be rebuilt," he said. ATTACK IN NORTH "The Taliban, who falsely and repeatedly claim that they do not target civilians, have executed innocents, destroyed homes, burned a market and created the conditions for a potential humanitarian crisis with this attack," Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. He said some Taliban fighters remained in the city but did not pose a threat and clearing operations were underway by Afghan forces. While the security forces appeared to reassert control over Ghazni, the Taliban attacked and seized large parts of an army base in the northern province of Faryab, killing at least 10 soldiers and capturing dozens over two days of clashes, officials said. Mohammad Tahir Rahmani, head of the Faryab provincial council, said the insurgents had seized tanks and ammunition. "We have not been able to enter the base. Large parts of it are still under the Taliban control," Rahmani said. Another official in Faryab said the Taliban had captured 40 soldiers, while 30 militants had been killed. The Taliban are fighting to expel foreign forces, topple the government and impose their version of hardline Islamic law 17 years after they were ousted by U.S.-backed forces. The fighting has underlined the struggle security forces have been facing to confront the insurgents, who have steadily extended their control over the countryside even though they have been unable to take and hold a major city. Western diplomats said the fighting raised questions about the viability of the U.S. strategy to end the war, which for the past year has focused on pressing the militants, largely with more air strikes, to force them to the negotiating table. An unprecedented three-day truce during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June and a meeting between a senior U.S. diplomat and Taliban representatives in Doha had raised hopes of further moves but the fighting in Ghazni had dampened optimism. "The Taliban are asserting themselves on the battlefield even as U.S. officials talk of hopes for peace. War and peace talks cannot happen together," said one diplomat in Kabul. Ghazni parliamentarian Chaman Shah Etemadi said the events in Ghazni would destroy confidence in a government which had proved incapable of providing security. "It doesn't make much difference if government troops secure full control of Ghazni, it is a disaster - destruction, burned out buildings and panic," he said. It will be impossible to encourage people to take part in democratic processes like elections." (Additional reporting by Jibran Ahmad in PESHAWAR; Ahmad Sultan, Writing by Rupam Jain and James Mackenzie; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Robert Birsel, Richard Balmforth)
LONDON (Reuters) - Thomas Markle has not spoken to his daughter Meghan since her star-studded wedding to Britain's Prince Harry and fears she will not contact him again, the Sun newspaper reported on Monday. "I dont expect to see her or hear back from her and thats OK," the British tabloid quoted him as saying. Former U.S. actress Meghan, 37, now the Duchess of Sussex, married Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson and sixth-in-line to the throne, in a glittering ceremony at Windsor Castle in May. However, the immediate build-up to the wedding was overshadowed by her father, a former lighting director for U.S. TV soaps and sitcoms, who pulled out days beforehand after undergoing heart surgery. It also emerged that he had staged photos with a paparazzi photographer which contributed to the furor around him ahead of the wedding. In an interview with another British tabloid The Mail on Sunday, Markle, who lives in Mexico, said how he had hung up the phone on Harry, 33, before the wedding after the prince berated him over the staged pictures. He told the Sun that since talking to the media after the wedding to give his account, he had heard nothing from his daughter and he believed he had been "locked out for ever" by the British royals. "I've had no way of contacting her. The phone number I called doesn't work any more. The liaison with the royal family never answers back and there's no address I can write to," Markle said in video clips on the Sun website. He said he missed his daughter and wanted to be part of her life. "I would like my relationship with Meghan to be like father and daughter like we've always been," he said. "I would like to put our differences behind us and get together. I miss you veery much. If I have a message to Harry, is, get over it, I'm your new father-in-law." Harry's office, Kensington Palace, said it had no comment on the interviews. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Bobby Goodlatte, son of retiring Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), has announced his support for the Democratic candidate running to fill his fathers seat.

The younger Goodlatte tweeted Sunday that he had given the maximum donation to Jennifer Lewis, a mental health worker and community advocate seeking to represent Virginias 6th Congressional District.

2018 is the year to flip districts  lets do this! tweeted Bobby Goodlatte, a product designer and angel investor in several tech companies.

I just gave the maximum allowed donation to Jennifer Lewis, a democrat running for my father's congressional seat. I've also gotten 5 other folks to commit to donate the max. 2018 is the year to flip districts  let's do this! https://t.co/bYCKta2Bhs  Bobby Goodlatte (@rsg) August 13, 2018

Overwhelmed with the support weve seen today. But dont just retweetdonate!! https://t.co/mHrKwy8obb https://t.co/wpx3hOTOXk  Bobby Goodlatte (@rsg) August 13, 2018

Hours later, Bobby Goodlatte tweeted that he was deeply embarrassed that his fathers political grandstanding contributed to the recent firing of FBI agent Peter Strzok.

As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Goodlatte has accused Strzok of being biased against President Donald Trump while helping lead special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Strzok was removed from Muellers team in mid-2017 after Justice Department investigators discovered texts he wrote disparaging Trump.

Im deeply embarrassed that Peter Strzoks career was ruined by my fathers political grandstanding. That committee hearing was a low point for Congress.



Thank you for your service sir. You are a patriot https://t.co/3dNN3AlXCZ  Bobby Goodlatte (@rsg) August 13, 2018

Rep. Goodlatte announced in November that he would not seek re-election in 2018. He has served in the House since 1993. The 65-year-old congressman is one of more than two dozen Republican lawmakers set to retire from Congress this year.

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If they want my help, theyll have it, he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in May, when asked before the primary whether he would support the Republican nominee.

Neither Goodlatte immediately responded to HuffPosts requests for comment.

Lewis, 36, supports Medicare for all, a $15-per-hour minimum wage, legal marijuana, tougher bank regulations and an end to corporate personhood. Her Republican opponent is state Del. Ben Cline, a staunchly anti-abortion Trump supporter and former aide to Rep. Goodlatte.

Virginians will decide their fate on Nov. 6.

This story has been updated to include Bobby Goodlattes tweet about Peter Strzok.

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A passenger has accused WestJet of outing her as a trans woman. (Photo: Ziggy1/Getty Images)

The Canadian budget airline WestJet has issued an apology after a passenger on a recent flight went public about being outed as a trans woman by an employee.

CBC News reports that Lenore Herrem was traveling from Calgary to Saskatoon last Wednesday when a WestJet gate agent questioned her government-issued ID, which labels her as male. Herrem also presents as male in the photo featured on her 5-year-old health care card.

Lenore Herrem was leaving Calgary when she says a WestJet agent outed her in front of fellow passengers. https://t.co/ovVSq4WvMO @sarahcrgr  CBC News (@CBCNews) August 11, 2018

She got upset and said, They dont match, but her colleague said, Yes, they do, its fine, go ahead,' Herrem told the news agency, describing her exchange with the gate agent.

So I gently and discreetly expressed to her, Its because Im transgender. Thats why they dont match up. But my face is the same and my ID matches the name on my boarding pass.'

Herrem, who said she hasnt had issues with her ID before, was allowed to board the plane. About 10 minutes later, both agents approached her and again asked to see her ID.

She said something like, Oh, thats not the name I remember seeing on the computer when I looked at it, and she started spouting off different, other womens names that were not mine, Herrem said.

She rolled her eyes at me and said, Are you sure it wasnt your girl name that was on the computer?  She outed me in front of the whole airplane.

The incident left Herrem feeling unsafe, vulnerable, belittled in front of her fellow passengers.

I was in shock, she said. It was quite traumatizing  especially the way she did it so loudly and in front of everyone; it was really unprofessional.

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WestJet has since addressed the issue in a statement to CBC. It has offered Herrem a credit for the flight and has vowed to investigate the matter.

WestJets inclusive culture is a point of pride for WestJetters and our goal has always been to create a safe and inclusive environment for all, the company said.

We have extended our apologies to the guest and are reviewing the matter as we are continuously assessing and evolving our practices and policies to maximize inclusiveness and celebrate diversity.

Herrem has accepted the apology.

I was pleased with the way [the representative] did deal with it, she said. She expressed that they will be implementing training to staff to deal with these sorts of situations better in the future, which was the most important thing for me to hear.

Yahoo Lifestyle has contacted Herrem for comment.

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President Trump on Tuesday continued to lash out at Omarosa Manigault Newman over explosive claims his former Celebrity Apprentice co-star turned White House aide makes about him in her new book, Unhinged.

When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didnt work out, Trump tweeted. Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!

Trump has a history of using the phrase like a dog to disparage people, especially those who are fired. But several observers noted that in recent weeks, Trump has used racially charged rhetoric in responding to prominent African-American critics. Others, including Trump supporter Geraldo Rivera, condemned the comments as being beneath the office.

In just the *last two weeks*, the president of the United States has:  called (again) Rep. Maxine Waters "very low IQ"

 said LeBron James is dumb

 called Omarosa "that dog"  Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) August 14, 2018

This kind of language is unbecoming of a President of the United States. There is no excuse for it, and Republicans should not be okay with it. https://t.co/0TLmRT7y22  Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) August 14, 2018

Fear my friend @realDonaldTrump undermines himself by using intemperate, boorish language to describe his enemies. I can't stand @OMAROSA a bully, back stabber & big mouth. But to call her a 'dog' & 'low life' is beneath dignity of the office of @POTUS & open to ugly connotation.  Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) August 14, 2018

At the White House on Tuesday afternoon, press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trumps tweet had absolutely nothing to do with race.

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I think the president is certainly voicing his frustration with the fact that this person has shown a complete lack of integrity, Sanders told reporters.

The president wanted to give her a chance, she said when asked why Trump would hire someone he now calls a lowlife.

Sanders also blamed the media for continuing to create a large platform for somebody they know not to have a lot of credibility.

Manigault Newman responded to Trumps dog remark in an interview with MSNBC earlier Tuesday.

I think that it just shows you that if he would say that publicly, what else would he say about me privately? she said. He has absolutely no respect for women, for African-Americans.

She added: He is unfit to be in this office and to serve as president of the United States.

Manigault Newman at March 2017 White House meeting. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Trump seemed frustrated by secret recordings of conversations Manigault Newman made while she was employed at the White House, including one of a call she had with him the day after she was fired by chief of staff John Kelly.

In a recording of their conversation, Trump appeared unaware Manigault Newman had been fired.

I didnt know that, Trump says after she informs him of her termination. Goddamn it.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Trump claimed that Manigault Newman begged him for a position in his administration, and that he gave her a job despite how disliked she was.

Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time, the president tweeted. She never made it, never will. She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart.

I would rarely see her but heard really bad things, he added. Nasty to people & would constantly miss meetings & work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me  until she got fired!

On Monday night, Trump responded to another claim that Manigault Newman heard a tape of Trump using the N word on the NBC reality show, and that several Trump advisers had discussed the alleged recording during the 2016 campaign. According to the president, Mark Burnett, the shows executive producer, had called him to refute the story.

@MarkBurnettTV called to say that there are NO TAPES of the Apprentice where I used such a terrible and disgusting word as attributed by Wacky and Deranged Omarosa, Trump wrote. I dont have that word in my vocabulary, and never have. She made it up.

Look at her MANY recent quotes saying such wonderful and powerful things about me  a true Champion of Civil Rights  until she got fired, the president continued. Omarosa had Zero credibility with the Media (they didnt want interviews) when she worked in the White House. Now that she says bad about me, they will talk to her. Fake News!

When pressed by reporters, Sanders said shes never asked Trump if hes used the N word, and refused to say whether Trump ever used it.

Appearing on MSNBC Monday night, Manigault Newman said she has plenty more recordings. But she declined to say how many more tapes shell make public.

I dont know. Im going to watch to see, she said. Im expecting that theyre going to retaliate and so Im just going to stand back and wait.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
The six-passenger Tuk Tuks can travel up to 25 mph and hit Naperville streets in October 2016. The company began with two vehicles, and added two more to its fleet in July 2017. The fifth Tuk Tuk, a red vehicle acquired from a similar company going out of business in Pennsylvania, became part of the fleet in April.
Tunis (AFP) - Tunisian authorities on Tuesday denied accusations by Italy that migrants it arrested as they tried to cross the Mediterranean for Italian shores were "terrorists".

Tunisia's interior ministry on Monday announced the arrest of 15 people heading for European shores, stating that nine of them were considered by police as "Salafists", or fundamentalist Muslims.

On Tuesday Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini tweeted about the arrest of nine "ISLAMIST EXTREMISTS" attempting to travel to Italy, saying: "That's for those who say 'terrorists don't arrive by boast.'"

Salvini, who is also leader of the far-right League party, in March described migrants arriving illegally to Italy as "delinquents".

Reacting to Salvini's tweet, spokesman for Tunisia's National Guard Houssemeddine Jebabli told the country's Mosaique FM radio that "there was no terrorist project against Italy in this attempt to migrate illegally".

"They wanted to flee Tunisia in search of a better life, like other migrants," Jebabli told AFP, adding that those arrested were men aged 28 to 42 and that none of them were suspected of having links to terrorist groups.

A growing number of Tunisians seeking a better future are trying to cross the Mediterranean and enter Europe illegally.

In the first half of 2018, Tunisian authorities arrested 2,659 people for trying to cross the sea illegally, compared to 564 people during the same period last year.

Hundreds have drowned in a series of deadly shipwrecks in recent months -- that latest on June 3 left 87 people dead.

Separately on Tuesday, the interior ministry announced the arrest of two youths suspected of having received training over the internet from Islamic State group jihadists on how to make explosives and carry out knife attacks.
Istanbul (AFP) - A Turkish court on Tuesday ordered the release of two Greek soldiers detained since March on espionage charges for illegally crossing the border in a case that has stoked tensions between Athens and Ankara.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras immediately welcomed the move as an "act of justice".

Their release will "contribute to a reinforcement of friendship, good neighbourliness and stability in the region," Tsipras said in a statement.

The statement added that Greek officials would travel overnight to the Turkish city of Edirne and then return with the two men to Thessaloniki airport in northern Greece in the early hours of Wednesday.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported earlier that a court in the Edirne region had ruled that the two soldiers would now be tried without being held in detention but did not make clear if that meant they could return to Greece in the meantime.

The court had previously refused several requests for them to be released from detention.

The case added to a long list of troubles between Turkey and Greece which, though both NATO members since 1952, have tense relations.

The European Union had also backed member state Greece in the dispute, condemning the detention of the soldiers and calling for their release.

The release order for the two men -- which was wholly unexpected -- comes as Turkey is engulfed in a bitter dispute with its NATO ally the United States which has seen the Turkish lira plunge to record lows.

The soldiers, Lieutenant Aggelos Mitretodis and Sergeant Dimitros Kouklatzis, told prosecutors shortly after their arrest that they mistakenly crossed the border after getting lost in the fog.

But they were charged with "attempted military espionage" by prosecutors as well as entering a forbidden military zone.

The prosecution said the pair testified they entered the Turkish side by tracking footsteps in the snow and filmed images on their mobile phones to send to higher ranking officials.

Courts had until now repeatedly turned down requests from their lawyers for the release of the pair.

Athens and Ankara have also clashed over Turkish demands that Greece extradite eight Turkish troops wanted over the July 2016 attempted coup aimed at unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Washington (AFP) - The crisis in US-Turkish relations, which already has put Turkey's economy under massive strain, also risks souring military ties between the two NATO allies, unleashing unknown geopolitical consequences.

US President Donald Trump last week announced new tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, causing the country's currency to plummet, over his frustration with Ankara's continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

Then on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote in The New York Times that unless Washington can "reverse this trend of unilateralism and disrespect," Turkey will "start looking for new friends and allies."

The warning came after Erdogan held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss economic and trade issues, as well as the Syria crisis.

Military ties between Turkey and the US are already fraught over Washington's support to Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG, which Ankara sees as little more than an offshoot of the "terrorist" Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

And tensions were heightened further after Turkey, despite being a NATO ally, entered into an understanding to buy Russia's advanced S-400 air defense system.

Such a move would defy US sanctions on Moscow, and Turkey's increasingly cozy relationship with Putin has alarmed both the US and the European Union.

Trump on Monday signed a defense authorization act that notably prohibits the delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey if it goes ahead with the S-400 purchase.

Retired Admiral James Stavridis, an ex-NATO supreme allied commander, urged Washington and Ankara to do all they can to improve relations.

"To lose Turkey would be a geopolitical mistake of epic proportions," he told MSNBC on Monday.

"Hopefully we can pull them back, but Turkey has to make the first step at this point."

Trump's national security advisor John Bolton met with Ambassador Serdar Kilic of Turkey on Monday to discuss "Turkey's continued detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson and the state of the US-Turkey relationship," the White House said.

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Turkey's dialogue with Russia has led some to question its reliability as a NATO partner, and even whether it should remain in the alliance.

But Joshua Landis, director of Center for Middle East Studies, told AFP that Turkey's ejection from NATO would be disastrous.

"There's no upside to kicking Turkey out, it'll just force Turkey into Russia's hands," he said.

- Key air base -

Experts are looking to Incirlik, a Turkish air base in southern Turkey, just 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the border with war-torn Syria. The base has been a frequent pawn during decades of ups and downs in US-Turkey relations.

Incirlik's location relative to the Middle East makes it a key strategic asset for the US military and for NATO, and the United States until recently flew bombing runs from there as it fought the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

Separately, the facility is thought to hold a stockpile of about 50 American nuclear bombs.

The arrangement works for Turkey too, as the US military provides Turks with intelligence and drone surveillance over the border region, and helps Ankara monitor the outlawed PKK.

Last year, Muharrem Ince, the main opposition candidate in Turkey's presidential election, threatened to shut Incirlik unless the US extradited Fethullah Gulen, the exiled Muslim preacher Ankara blames for an attempted coup in 2016.

Ince went on to lose the election to Erdogan by a large margin, but Incirlik remains a key issue.

Following the coup attempt, the Turkish base commander at Incirlik was arrested on suspicion of complicity in the plot.

And according to Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, pro-Erdogan lawyers have filed a lawsuit calling for the arrest of US troops at Incirlik on similar suspicions.

Both sides stand to lose if US-Turkey military relations go south, but experts say it would hurt Turkey more.

For instance, the diplomatic crisis with Turkey could jeopardize a $1.5 billion deal that Ankara has made with Pakistan to sell 30 Turkish-made helicopter gunships.

Because the choppers use US parts that require an export license, the sale could ultimately be at risk.

"Turkey is going to be hurt the most because it's weaker and America is just a big elephant," Landis said.

In situations like this, it "ultimately hurts the smaller countries a lot more."
(This version of Aug. 10 story corrects name of expert in paragraph 12, fixes typographical error in paragraph 3) By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - A United Nations human rights panel said on Friday that it had received many credible reports that 1 million ethnic Uighurs in China are held in what resembles a "massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy." Gay McDougall, a member of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, cited estimates that 2 million Uighurs and Muslim minorities were forced into "political camps for indoctrination" in the western Xinjiang autonomous region. "We are deeply concerned at the many numerous and credible reports that we have received that in the name of combating religious extremism and maintaining social stability (China) has changed the Uighur autonomous region into something that resembles a massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy, a sort of 'no rights zone'," she told the start of a two-day regular review of China's record, including Hong Kong and Macao. China has said that Xinjiang faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists who plot attacks and stir up tensions between the mostly Muslim Uighur minority who call the region home and the ethnic Han Chinese majority. A Chinese delegation of some 50 officials made no comment on her remarks at the Geneva session that is scheduled to continue on Monday. The U.S. mission to the United Nations said on Twitter that it was "deeply troubled by reports of an ongoing crackdown on Uighurs and other Muslims in China." "We call on China to end their counterproductive policies and free all of those who have been arbitrarily detained, the U.S. mission said. The allegations came from multiple sources, including activist group Chinese Human Rights Defenders, which said in a report last month that 21 percent of all arrests recorded in China in 2017 were in Xinjiang. Earlier, Yu Jianhua, China's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said it was working toward equality and solidarity among all ethnic groups. But McDougall said that members of the Uighur community and other Muslims were being treated as "enemies of the state" solely on the basis of their ethno-religious identity. More than 100 Uighur students who returned to China from countries including Egypt and Turkey had been detained, with some dying in custody, she said. Yemhelhe Mint Mohamed, a panel member, referred to "arbitrary and mass detention of almost 1 million Uighurs" and asked the Chinese delegation, "What is the level of religious freedom available now to Uighurs in China, what legal protection exists for them to practice their religion?" Panelists also raised reports of mistreatment of Tibetans in the autonomous region, including inadequate use of the Tibetan language in the classroom and at court proceedings. "The U.N. body maintained its integrity, the government got a very clear message," Golok Jigme, a Tibetan monk and former prisoner living in exile, told Reuters at the meeting. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Tom Miles and Alison Williams)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - An American Christian pastor standing trial in Turkey on terrorism charges has appealed again to a Turkish court to release him from house arrest and lift his travel ban, his lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday. Relations between the two NATO allies have spiraled into a full-blown crisis over the trial of Christian pastor Andrew Brunson, who was held for 21 months in a Turkish prison until his transfer to house arrest last month - a move Washington dismissed as insufficient. The appeal document seen by Reuters said the court should halt any unlawful political interventions and lift judicial control provisions imposed on Andrew Brunson. Brunson, who has been living in Turkey for more than two decades, was accused of helping supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric who Turkish authorities say masterminded the 2016 coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan. "The court should prevent unlawful political interventions by lifting judicial control provisions on the defendant," the document said. Turkish lira plunged on concerns over the deepening rift between Washington and Ankara, hitting a record low of 7.24 against U.S. dollar and weakening some 45 percent so far this year. The United States imposed sanctions on two Turkish ministers and doubled customs tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports after Brunson was placed in house arrest. Brunson's lawyer, Ismail Cem Halavurt, said the court had up to seven days to decide. Brunson, who faces up to 35 years in jail if found guilty, denies the charges. Brunson's next hearing as part of the trial is scheduled for October 12. (Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Catherine Evans, Ece Toksabay, William Maclean)
Carey Dean Moore was executed using fentanyl - Nebraska Department of Correctional Services

A killer has been executed using the controversial opioid fentanyl for the first time in the United States.

Carey Dean Moore, 60, who had been on death row for 38 years, died by lethal injection in Nebraska.

An unprecedented combination of four drugs, including the first use of fentanyl in an execution, was employed to put him to death.

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is at the centre of the US opioid crisis, which is claiming tens of thousands of lives a year. Prince, the late musician, died after taking fentanyl in 2016.

Fresenius Kabi, a German drug company, tried to block the Nebraska execution by alleging the state had illicitly obtained drugs, but a judge refused to stay it.

The company accused Nebraska of improperly using its drugs. Nebraska argued that one of its execution drugs was set to expire on Aug 31, and that prison officials would not be able to purchase more.

It was the first execution in Nebraska since 1997.

At a glance | Fentanyl

Moore was one of the nation's longest-serving death row inmates.

His execution came three years after Nebraska abolished the death penalty, only to have it reinstated the following year in a referendum when 61 per cent of voters backed capital punishment.

Moore died at the at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.

He had been convicted of the 1979 shooting deaths of two Omaha cab drivers, Maynard Helgeland and Reuel Van Ness Jr.

The unprecedented Nebraska lethal injection cocktail called for an initial IV dose of diazepam, commonly known as Valium, to render the inmate unconscious.

Fentanyl was then administered, followed by cisatracurium besylate to induce paralysis and stop the inmate from breathing, then potassium chloride to stop the heart.

After each injection prison officials sent saline through the IV to flush out any residue and ensure all the drugs have entered the inmate's system.
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump's administration denied Tuesday any change to its "One-China" policy after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen made a political speech in the US, the first time in 15 years a Taiwanese leader has done so.

Beijing said that it had lodged an official protest with the United States over Tsai's speech Monday in Los Angeles, where she said Taiwan's freedom and future was not negotiable.

Tsai spoke at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library while in transit on a trip to Paraguay and Belize, two of the few countries that continue to recognize the government in Taipei.

State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the speech did not represent any move by the Trump administration to alter the official US stance that accepts Beijing as the sole government of China, and does not officially recognize Taiwan's government.

"Our policy on Taiwan has not changed," she told reporters.

"The United States in regard to this trip facilitates from time to time representatives of the Taiwan authorities to transit the United States."

"Those are largely undertaken out of consideration for the safety and the comfort of those travelers, and that is in keeping with our One-China policy."

Yet previous US administrations have prevented Taiwan leaders from making speeches in the United States that would implicitly elevate their diplomatic status and irk Beijing.

Tsai's transit in Los Angeles was the most high-profile since former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian's 2003 stopover in New York, where he accepted a human rights award and delivered several public speeches.

Tsai, a firm defender of Taiwan's independence, said in the speech Monday that "We will keep our pledge that we are willing to jointly promote regional stability and peace under the principles of national interests, freedom and democracy."

Tsai's stopover came amid a rise in tensions between China and Taiwan that has raised concerns in Washington.

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In April the Chinese military held live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait in what was widely seen as a move to intimidate Taipei.

In Singapore in June, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned China not to alter the security status quo in the region.

Last month, Beijing forced several international airlines, including US carriers, to begin listing Taiwan as a part of China in advertising their services.
First Lt Hierls promotion comes just a year after she became one of only two women to pass through the forces famously tough 13 week infantry officer course: Alamy

A 24-year-old has become the first ever woman to lead an infantry platoon in the US marines.

First Lieutenant Marina Hierl has 35 male soldiers under her command in the Third Platoon of 4th Echo Company.

Her promotion to the position comes just a year after she became one of only two women to ever pass through the forces famously tough 13 week infantry officer course. Some 37 women have previously attempted it.

I wanted to lead a platoon, First Lt Hierl told The New York Times. I didnt think there was anything better in the marine corps I could do I wanted to do something important with my life. I wanted to be part of a group of people that would be willing to die for each other.

The Pennsylvania native first became interested in joining the military after a meeting with a recruiting officer while at school, the newspaper reports.

After studying at the University of Southern California, and following the lifting of a ban on women in combat roles in 2015, she applied to become an officer.

Now, based at Camp Pendleton, also in California, she is currently leading her platoon on six months of training exercises in northern Australia.

Her commanding officer, Captain Neal T Jones, praised her attitude and strength.

If youre the first to do something, that implies you have so many positive traits, he said. And thats not always the case when it comes to every lieutenant  including myself.

Lance Corporal Kai Segura, 20, is among the soldiers in her platoon. He admitted there was scepticism among some troops at first, but said First Lt Hierl had won over any doubters. Shes one of us, he said.

Despite growing opportunities, the US military remains hugely male dominated, with women making up just 15 per cent of 1.3 million troops. Of 184,473 marines, only 15,885 are women, and only 80 of those serve in combat roles.
Debris is seen wedged in the smashed windscreen of a lorry, which was driven into a Christmas market in Berlin in 2016 - AP

A driver has been arrested on suspicion of terror offences after a car collided with cyclists and pedestrians before crashing into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament today.

The man, in his late 20s, is being held in custody at a south London police station after armed officers swarmed the scene following the suspected terror attack just before 7.40am.

This kind of event has become worryingly common in Europe in recent years, with hundreds of people killed and injured in vehicle attacks since 2016. Cars and vans are easy to obtain, and pedestrians in crowded streets are vulnerable targets. Many of these attacks  often known as rampage attacks or ramming attacks  have been attributed to Islamist terror, though motives can vary.

Protective bollards are now commonplace around crowded areas in city centres and at events, and politicians have discussed ways to prevent extremists from hiring vehicles. However, the number of pedestrian fatalities caused by deliberate violent acts remains small in contrast to the death toll from accidental crashes.

Although we don't know what was behind the Westminster incident yet, here's a look at the other vehicle attacks that have happened across Europe in the last three years.

The van used in the London Bridge terror attack Credit: LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE

Grosser Kiepenkerl, Munster, 7 April 2018

A grey Volkswagen minibus was driven at speed into the outdoor seating area of a popular pub in Muenster, killing two people and injuring around 20 more. The 48-year-old driver, who killed himself shortly after the attack, is not thought to have links to Islamist terror groups.

Las Ramblas, Barcelona, 17 August 2017

A hired van drove down Barcelona's Las Ramblas district on a sunny afternoon, killing 13 people and injuring 50 more.

The van is understood to have been hired from the Telefurgo rental chain. Anybody with a driving licence can hire this sort of van  prices in Spain are around 50 to 100 per day, depending on the age of the driver.

Story continues

Levallois-Perret, Paris, 9 August 2017

A BMW 2-Series Active Tourer was driven into a group of soldiers in a suburb of Paris. Six people were injured, three seriously. The driver was then stopped on the A16 motorway, being shot several times in the process.

The hired BMW was equipped with a GPS tracking system, making it easy for the police to locate.

Champs-Elysees, Paris, 19 June 2017

A Renault Megane containing explosives and weapons (an AK-47 rifle and handguns) was driven into a Gendarmerie vehicle on the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris. Only the attacker was killed in what is understood to be a 'botched' suicide attack.

What is autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and could it prevent terrorist attacks?

Finsbury Park, London, 19 June 2017

A rented van was driven into a group of people outside a Mosque. The driver was heard saying "I want to kill all Muslims" and "this is for London Bridge". One person died.

London Bridge, London, 3 June 2017

A rented van was driven into pedestrians in the London Bridge area. The three attackers then got out of the van and began stabbing people, before being shot by police. A further 8 people died and 48 people were injured, 21 critically.

Drottninggatan, Stockholm, 7 April 2017

A hijacked lorry was driven into crowds on a popular shopping street in Stockholm. Five people were killed, and 14 were seriously injured. A home-made explosive was found in the lorry after the attacker had abandoned it.

The lorry used in the terror attack in Stockholm Credit: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND /AFP

Westminster, London, 22 March 2017

AHyundai Tucson was driven into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge. The driver then got out and stabbed a policeman to death, before being shot. Five people were killed in the car attack, with 49 injured.

Breitscheidplatz, Berlin, 19 December 2016

A stolen lorry was driven into pedestrians at a Christmas market in Berlin. The attacker had shot the driver of the lorry in order to take it, and then killed 11 pedestrians. There were 56 non-fatal injuries.

Promenade des Anglais, Nice, 14 July 2016

A lorry was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day near the seafront at Nice. 87 people were killed, including the attacker, and a further 458 were injured.
Scott Walker (right), the incoming chairman of the Republican governors' association, opposed Mr Trump before he endorsed him: (AP)

Wisconsin voters head to the polls in the state's primaries, with a large pool of candidates fight for the chance to unseat Governor Scott Walker and replace House Majority Leader Paul Ryan.

There are eight Democratic candidates vying for the partys nomination to go up against Mr Walker, the incumbent Republican governor hoping to hold onto his seat. Tony Evers, the state superintendent and the only Democrat in the race to have been elected in a statewide vote, was leading the polls ahead of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a close race is underway for Mr Ryans seat, with numerous Republican and Democratic candidates alike hoping to take over the southeastern 1st Congressional district. The House majority leaders former aide Bryan Steil is leading the polls in the Republican primaries, while Randy Bryce and Cathy Myers are facing off on the Democratic ballot. Both candidates have railed against Mr Ryan for his tenure leading Republicans in the House, criticising the party's controversial tax bill and claiming Mr Ryan allegedly provided tax loopholes to the wealthy.

A host of other state seats are also up for grabs on Tuesday, including secretary of state, legislature, treasurer and lieutenant governor. While nearly half of the states registered voters typically participate in November gubernatorial elections, primaries in Wisconsin often see just 15 to 20 per cent of overall voter turnout.

Wisconsin is one of four states holding primaries on Tuesday, with voters also making decisions in Vermont, Connecticut and Minnesota.

Follow along for The Independents live coverage of Tuesdays primaries.

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Tuesday marks the 11th day of the bank- and tax-fraud trial of Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign manager. The defense rested its case without calling any witnesses after the judge denied a motion to acquit Manafort on four of the 18 counts against him. It comes just a day after prosecutors wrapped up their case on Monday after more than a week of testimony from dozens of witnesses.

The prosecution alleged Manafort intentionally broke the law by hiding income he earned while working for then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who is pro-Russian. Prosecutors also alleged Manafort resorted to fraudulent bank loans to uphold an extravagant lifestyle after Yanukovych was ousted in 2014.

Rick Gates, Manaforts former business partner, was the prosecutions star witness. Gates, also charged with financial crimes, pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Manafort in a deal struck with the special counsel back in February. Gates testified that his crimes were committed under the direction of Manafort who hid millions of dollars from the IRS in foreign bank accounts by falsifying tax returns.

Manaforts former accountant, Cindy Laporta, also testified that under the direction of Gates, she helped falsify Manaforts tax records, saving him about $400,000 in taxes.

Prosecutors tied up their case with testimony from Federal Savings Bank official James Brennan who said the bank disregarded red flags to grant Manafort $16 million in loans in 2016.

Brennan testified that his banks founder and chairman, Stephen Calk, wanted a position in the Trump administration and helped push through the risky loans.

Whats next? Closing arguments are set to begin Wednesday morning. After that, the jury will begin deliberations to decide Manaforts fate. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges of tax and banking crimes.
The Indonesian island of Bali is popular with tourists arriving from Australia - AFP

A New Zealand tourist holidaying on the Indonesian island of Bali has reportedly been arrested for attempted murder after what he claims was an accidental incident with a scooter driver.

Matty Isiah, a security guard who lives in Western Australia, was leaving a night club in the resort town of Kuta in the early hours of Sunday morning when he struck the driver while putting out his arm to flag down a taxi, reported the New Zealand Herald.

A co-worker, Regan Jhonson, claimed that although the incident was a misunderstanding, he had been arrested for attempted murder.

"He came out of a nightclub to flag a taxi, he's put his arm out and a scooter's ridden up along the footpath and driven straight into his arm and straight away he was mobbed by locals because they thought he had hit the rider and then he was arrested," he said.

Bali, Indonesia: where to go in pictures

Mr Jhonson alleged the Kuta Police had requested $7,000 for Mr Isiah's release, threatening to process him in prison if the money did not emerge.

The police reportedly said the money was for the other person involved in the collision.

Wendy Clark, Mr Isiah's mother, told Ngaarda Media she was looking for a lawyer who could help the family. "It is very distressing to see my son in a one-metre cell on the floor. There's urine and it's flea infested.

"He's not allowed a seat, he hasn't got a bed and I am not leaving Bali until I get my baby out of there," Ms Clark said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta was providing consular assistance.
A furore over alleged anti-semitism in Britain's main opposition party widened on Monday when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn exchanged accusations on Twitter over Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed.

Labour has been wrestling accusations of anti-semitism for months, and Corbyn has previously apologised for what he has described as "pockets" of anti-semitism in the organisation.
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai posted a Facebook post on Monday referring to the Eurovision Song Contest: "'They are driving the Eurovision contest away, like they did with Messi."

"The event, which is being broadcast to billions of people around the world, will showcase Israel's beautiful sides which many are unfamiliar with," Huldai added.

The municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo is ready to join the national effort and absorb the costs of the concert hall Perhaps this will help those who climb trees instead of trying to find solutions," the mayor concluded.
Cpl. A., the Maglan soldier who suffered a serious back injury after jumping off a Hummer jeep, regained consciousness for the first time on Monday, two weeks after being injured.

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Cpl. A. was wounded during training when he was requiredas part of the tradition in the elite unit to jump off a Hummer jeep into thorny bushes.

He was rushed to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon and then transferred to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, where he had undergone a series of operations.

Maglan unit training (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

On Monday, he woke up for the first time, started breathing on his own, and was speaking to his family. He has a long rehabilitation ahead of him.

In addition to Cpl. A., another soldier in the unit was moderately injured in a separate incident, during Krav Maga training. He was not evacuated to the hospital on time.

Brig. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, the commander of 98th Paratroopers Division, headed the investigation of the two incidents and decided to remove the two commanders of the two soldiers from their position.
Police arrested 22 residents of northern Afula, Nazareth, Busmat Tivon, Kiryat Haim and Haifa on Tuesday on suspicion of drug trafficking.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 60, were arrested following the activities of an undercover agent. During police raids on the suspects' homes, a rifle, a smoke grenade, and some NIS 72,000 were seized.

The suspects were brought to the Nazareth Magistrate's Court for a remand hearing.
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is "virtually done," an Israeli official told the Los Angeles Times on Monday.

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The Hamas leadership continues holding talks in Cairo on the reported deal , which includes a ceasefire with Israel and resuming the reconciliation process between Hamas and Fatah.

On Wednesday the heads of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are scheduled to meet in Ramallah for a discussion about the deal as well.

Defense Minister Lieberman, center, with IDF chief Eisenkot holding situation assessment (Photo: Shahar Levi/Defense Ministry)

ease some restrictions on Gaza after two days of complete quiet on the volatile border.

After weeks of regular exchanges of fire, no mortars or incendiary balloons have been fired at Israel from Gaza for the past two days. Security officials said that the aim of easing the restrictions is to show the people of Gaza that quiet is rewarded accordingly.

Israel is expected to expand the Gaza fishing perimeter and re-open the Kerem Shalom border crossing on the proviso that the border remains quiet.

This move appears to be part of the understandings reached between the two sides with the mediation of Egypt and of UN envoy to the region Nickolay Mladenov.

Saleh al-Arouri and Ismail Haniyeh meet in Gaza (: EPA)

The Hamas delegation to Cairo is headed by the organization's deputy chairman Saleh al-Arouri and includes very senior officials. The delegation arrived in the Egyptian capital a week and a half ago after a series of discussions in Gaza, which saw the entire Hamas political leadership under one roof.

In tandem with the talks in Cairo, Hamas is also holding discussions with the other Palestinian factions in the strip about the ceasefire with Israel. Hamas wants the approval of the other factions to the deal, even though they are not part of any of the fundamental discussions about it.

The ceasefire agreement is complex and includes several stages. The first stage entails the gradual return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza with it taking control over some of the institutions in the strip. This point is still under negotiations between Fatah and Hamas.
LONDON - A man has been arrested after a car smashed into barriers outside London's parliament building on Tuesday, Britain's Press Association reported on Tuesday.

Footage on social media showed heavily-armed police response units arriving at the scene, with the area outside the parliament building in central London sealed off.
The Foreign Ministry and the Israeli delegation to the United Nations are preparing to thwart a Palestinian move aimed at suspending or permanently removing Israel from the UN in light of its controversial Nation-State Law.

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The Palestinians will argue that Israel disregards UN Security Council resolutions, defies the the Charter of the United Nations, and encourages apartheid through the Nation-State Law.





The UN General Assembly (Photo: AFP)

Israeli officials say the Palestinians are taking similar steps to those taken against South Africa during the Apartheid era. South Africa was then suspended from the UN and was not a member for several years.

To temporarily suspend or permanently remove Israel from the UN, the Palestinians need the consent of two-thirds of the votes in the General Assembly (GA) and an additional nine votes of UN Security Council's members, including its five permanent membersthe United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

The Palestinians can also try to revoke Israel's right to vote in the GA.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon (Photo: EPA)

However the Palestinians' chances of obtaining the consent of all Security Council permanent members are slim, and in any case the US will veto the move.

Nevertheless, they have a good chance of passing the resolution in the General Assembly, since they have an automatic Muslim majority there.

If the Palestinian resolution passes, it would be an unprecedented victory of Palestinian propaganda and diplomacy.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley (Photo: Reuters)

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, is working with US Ambassador Nikki Haley and several other countries to torpedo the Palestinian initiative. "This is a cynical attempt by the Palestinians to spread lies from the UN stage," Danon said.
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon confirmed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt in May to discuss a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

A spokesman for Netanyahu had declined to comment on the meeting after it was first reported on Monday by Channel Ten News.

Asked on Army Radio whether he had known of the meeting, Kahlon replied "Yes." He added that "everything that will happen in Gaza will be done with Egyptian mediation and involvement".
The Israel Police rejected a request by Elor Azaria for a gun license, it said on Tuesday.

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The former IDF soldier was convicted of manslaughter and imprisoned for shooting dead a seriously wounded neutralized terrorist in Hebron in March 2016.

Azaria was released from military prison in May and submitted an official request to the Public Security Ministry for a gun license, which was rejected by the police who said his actions prove he poses a danger to the public.

Azaria upon his release from prison (Photo: Yair Sagi)

Furthermore, police intelligence found no security threat to Azaria's safety.

Several months ago, Likud MK Nava Boker asked the state to allow Azaria to carry a firearm, claiming he was receiving threats and was in danger.

As a result, Azaria was required to file an official request to the Firearm Licensing Department at the Public Security Ministry. The department is required to accept the position of the police, the Health Ministry and other government bodies on an applicant.

Azaria responded to the police decision shortly after, describing it as another knife in the back and a spit in the face.

Two months ago I submitted an application to the Interior Ministry to carry a gun license due to the terror threats made toward myself and my family  not out of fear, but rather out of a desire to be prepared and ready for a situation in which anyone tries to harm my family, Azaria wrote.

Today, when I read the news, I came across an article that came from nowhere without any warning saying that it had they had decided to reject my request for spurious reasons, and they claimed that there is no danger to my life or my family, the former soldier continued.

According to Azaria, the security forces have a "substantial number" of requests on the issue. "They have evidence", he added and addressed the suggestion that he is "dangerous to the general public"

I never thought, in my dream I would hear these words in relation to me. As a reserve combat soldier am I good enough to carry a weapon? After everything I have given and been through for the security of the state, it hurts and tears me apart inside. I will repeat: Despite everything, I have no other country, he concluded.

Normally, the Israel Police intervenes in gun license requests for two reasons. Either it objects to giving a person a license to carry a firearm because he poses a danger to the public due to a criminal record or intelligence information concerning him, or if there's an individual reason to grant someone a gun license even if he fails to meet the criteriasuch us a mayor receiving threats.

The police determined that Azaria "does not meet the criteria for the police to provide an individual recommendation to allow granting him a license to carry firearms."
A woman from east Jerusalem was indicted Monday for incitement to violence and to terrorism and support for a terrorist organization over posts she made on Facebook and Instagram.

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According to the charges, posts made by Suzanne Abu Ghanem, 39, from A-Tur, on social media are full of praise and sympathy for Hamas and called for acts of violence and terrorism.

In her posts, the accused praises the terrorist who murdered Yotam Ovadia in the settlement of Adam about three weeks ago, as well as the terrorist who murdered Rabbi Raziel Shevah about six months ago.

Last May, Abu Ghanem's Facebook account was shut down, but she opened a new one and continued posting inciting messages.

The indictment detailed a long list of online posts and statements made by Abu Ghanem praising terrorists and calling on others to follow suit.

On the night of the Adam attack, Abu Ghanem posted a picture of terrorist Mohammad Tareq Yousef, along with a message the terrorist wrote before committing the heinous act.

Next to his picture, the defendant wrote: "The time has come for a revolution. God forgive us for failing to do something about Al Aqsa. Memorize thisthis is the will of the shahid (martyr)."

The late Yotam Ovadia

Abu Ghanem's son was killed by Israeli police during Muslim protests against the installation of metal detectors at the entrance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque following the deadly attack that claimed the lives of the two Israeli police officers.

The day after her son was killed, the defendant posted a picture of Ahmed Jarar, one of the members of the terrorist group that murdered Rabbi Shevah, along with a picture of her son.

"Goodbye hero, the stronghold cries over your loss," Abu Ghanem wrote.



On the anniversary of the assassination of Masbah Abu-Sabihthe terrorist who killed Levana Malihi, 60, and decorated police officer Yossi Kirma at the Ammunition Hill light rail station in JerusalemAbu Ghanem posted a picture of the terrorist on the backdrop of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque with a caricature of a person holding a slingshot. The inscription on the picture read: "The RevolutionJerusalem."

In addition to the pictures, Abu Ghanem also posted the following statement: "The lion's inner voice will be heard, with the help of God, no matter how the devious disappoint, Aqsa does not miss anyone like it misses your heroism and bravery, the lion of Al-Aqsa."

The checkpoint following at Har Adar, following the attack (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)

The defendant also praised the terrorist who carried out the Har Adar shooting attack, in which a Border Policeman and two civilian security guards were killed.

On the day of the attack, Abu Ghanem wrote a Facebook post that praises terrorism"God is Great and we are grateful, three Zionists were killed in a shooting attack in occupied Jerusalem"along with the hashtag "#therevolutioncontinues."

In addition, after the attack on the Temple Mount a little over a year ago, Abu Ghanem posted a pictures of the terrorists who murdered Staff Sgt. Maj. Ha'il Satawi and Staff Sgt. Maj. Kamil Shnaan, writing: "The Shahada (an Islamic creed ) is in this earth and in the sky. Your smile in heaven is more beautiful with the help of God."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday Moscow was ready to discuss its newest strategic weapons with the United States even though they were not part of the INF arms control treaty, Russian state news agency RIA reported.

The arms control agreement, known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, was signed in the late 1980s between the Soviet Union and the United States and Soviet Union.

Days after a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Helsinki last month Russia showed off "super weapons"a new generation of nuclear and conventional missiles.

Ryabkov also said that the US had violated another bilateral arms agreementthe Strategic Arms Reduction Treatyby modernising its weapons, TASS reported.
An IDF force stopped three suspects identified by military observers near the village of Deir al-Hatab on Tuesday.

A search found four pipe bombs in their possession.

The suspects were detained and taken for questioning.
All these movements, even though they are not promotional, they are still movements that you have to figure out: the timing, what team they are going to go to, what their new role is going to be. So thats always a challenge, Adkins said.
Three years after the Cabinet decided to expedite the demolition of terrorists' houses, two months is considered record time in carrying out the policy meant to deter future attackers.

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During the second intifada, territorial brigade commanders had the authority to order the demolition of terrorists' houses within 24 hours from the attack. But today, the average time it takes to demolish the house is months, with legal contraints serving as the main obstacle.

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

According to the IDF, 35 terrorists' homes were demolished while five others were sealed between 2015 and 2017. So far in 2018, four houses have been demolished and one sealed, with three other demolitions pending.

The three include the home of the terrorist who murdered Yotam Ovadia two-and-a-half weeks ago in the settlement of Adam, the home of the terrorist who murdered Duvdevan soldier Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky two-and-a-half-months ago, and the home of the terrorist who murdered Adiel Kolman at the Lion's Gate in Jerusalem some five months ago.

A legal battle is being waged on the third case, with the terrorist's family submitting objections to the demolition.

In recent years, there has been a significant decline in the number of actual demolition of terrorists' homes. The National Union faction in Bayit Yehudi party has turned several times to Dina Poliak, the Ministry of Defense's Freedom of Information officer, as well as to the Public Security Ministry, the Israel Police and the IDF, asking why many terrorists' homes have yet to be razed.

One of the prominent cases that failed the legal test is that of the terrorist who murdered three members of the Salomon family in Halamish about a year ago. Since the attack, in tandem with the criminal trial against the terrorist, the Salomon family has been waging a legal battle for the demolition of the stabber's home in the village of Kobar.

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

The Salomon family's legal struggle shows that protracted judicial proceedings essentially nullify the effectiveness of demolishing terrorists' houses as a deterrence policy against further terror attacks.

Following the attack, the IDF quickly made the decision to demolish the first floor of the murderer's house, but left the floor and the stairs leading to the second floor standing.

The Salomon family petitioned the High Court of Justice demanding that the entire structure be demolished, making it impossible to construct other building on the ground.

A moment before the court's ruling, it became clear that the terrorist's family had rebuilt the second floor and asked not to destroy it. The court rejected the Salomon family's petition, leaving the second floor in place.

"We cannot say for certain that demolishing terrorists' houses has lost its effectiveness, but the facts speak for themselves," said a source familiar with the details of the case.

"The terrorist who murdered the late Yotam Ovadia in Adam came out of the same village. There are those who will say that this case shows that demolishing terrorists' houses has lost its effectiveness in preventing terror attacks," the source added.

The National Union submitted a query to the Defense Ministry regarding the matter.

"For months we have been trying to get an answer regarding the destruction of the terrorists' homes. Unfortunately the answer is that we are being tossed around, from one official to the next without getting a real answer," says National Union party's chairman, Ofir Sofer.

"It must be understood that the destruction of terrorists' homes is an important tool in the fight against terror. We demand answers and severe measures to be taken against terrorism," Sofer proclaimed.

According to government's policy, the demolition of a terrorist's home is carried out only if the terrorist is a Palestinian, not an Arab-Israeli, who has taken the life of an Israeli.

In cases in which an Israeli victim is critically injured or paralyzed, the terrorist's house is not destroyed.

Several official bodies are involved in the demolition process, while, generally, the person who oversees the operation and initiates the decision is the legal advisor of the Judea and Samaria Division.

Only a few hours after every attack, the legal advisor begins procedures for a house demolition. A day or two later, IDF forces raid the terrorist's house and put the necessary preconditions in place. First, they map the structure and take measurements, and in less than a week a professional opinion offering different demolition plans is formulated.

Afterwards, the Shin Bet submits a security report regarding the demolition procedure, which is usually submitted at a relatively advanced stage of the procedure after a sufficient amount of evidence is collected that unequivocally proves the terrorists motives, in case the terrorist's family attempts to claim otherwise.

The two aforementioned steps usually last for up to one month, and include a filing of the case that includes expert opinions from security officials and engineers, intended for approval and examination of the Ministry of Justice and the attorney general.

Only following the approval, the security forces are able to present a letter to a terrorists family, informing them of the demolition. Usually, once an IDF overview is submitted, it is initially rejected due to preliminary preparations, and less than a week after, the terrorists family is issued with another notice, 72 hours ahead of the demolition. During that time period, the family has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Generally speaking, the High Court of Justice does not tend to intervene and allows the demolition after an accelerated hearing. However, there have been instances when the court has ruled that only an area of the house previously occupied by the terrorist can be demolished.

It is not all black or white in these cases and there are complexities  Sometimes the terrorists are minors and the house they lived in is owned by their family, or they lived in a room in an apartment in a six-story residential building in the middle of a crowded village. So what do you do? Demolish the whole building? Cause collateral damage to the rest of the families who live in the same building? explained one security source.

Since the policy on the issue has been updated by the Security Cabinet, all the bodies involved in the procedure have been asked to put this as their top priority, similar to the Palestinian Authority's tendency to immediately assist the families whose houses have been demolished, by providing them with fully furnished and equipped apartments.
Two students from a high school in northern Israel were sent back to the country over the weekend due to inappropriate behavior at the Majdanek concentration camp in Poland, with one of the students exposing his behind at the memorial site.

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During the high school field-trip to the memorial site, one student, out of the 150-members group, was expelled from the trip for the obscene display.

Majdanek concentration camp (Photo: AP)

Following the incident, which was reported Monday morning on Kan, a second student returned to the country, after apparently going along with the act but not exposing himself.

Before they returned home, the two received a fine and were questioned by local policemen who watched the incident on Majdanek's security tapes.

Majdanek concentration camp IN 1978 (Photo: AFP)

According to a source in the education system, after the incident took place, a talk was held with the participation of all 150 members of the group, where teachers explained why the two students were sent home.

"Too bad it happened. This is a good delegation  These two are the exception, not the rule. Overall, this is an exceptional case that does not reflect the spirit of the field trip," the source said.

The Ministry of Education said in response: "The Ministry condemns any behavior that could harm the status and values of what this trip represents. Regarding this incident, in light of the students' improper and inappropriate behavior, disciplinary measures have been taken.

"The students were sent home, and the educational institution intends to exhaust all disciplinary proceedings concerning the teenagers' inappropriate act," the ministry added.
At least 35 people were killed late Tuesday morning when a motorway bridge collapsed over the northern Italian port city of Genoa during torrential rainfall, Italian news agency ANSA reported, citing the Interior Ministry.

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ANSA reported that five people are injured and in serious condition. The Interior Ministry press office could not immediately confirm the fatalities.

An official with Italian firefighters, Amalia Tedeschi, told RAI state TV that some 20 vehicles, including cars and trucks, had been involved in the collapse. She confirmed that two people had been extracted alive from vehicles and were being transported by helicopter to a hospital.





Tedeschi said that sniffer dogs are at work in the rubble looking for more injured and victims. In addition, heavy equipment was being moved in so they could lift pieces of the bridge.

Tedeschi said the part of the bridge that collapsed was about 80 meters in length, with media reports saying it came down over a river, railroad tracks and buildings, and firefighters told The Associated Press that there are concerns about gas lines.

Italian television showed images of the collapsed bridge, which was inaugurated on the A10 toll motorway in 1967. Restructuring work on the bridge was carried out in 2016.

The highway operator said work to shore up the foundation of the bridge was being carried out at the time of the collapse, adding that the bridge was constantly monitored.

The Bridge is 90 meters high, just over a kilometer (about three-quarters of a mile) long, with the longest section between supports measuring 200 meters.

The ANSA news agency said that authorities suspected that a structural weakness caused the collapse on Tuesday.

The bridge is an important interchange between the northern regions of Lombardy and Piedmont and the beaches of Liguria, and to the main highway heading westward into France.

The collapse happened on the eve of a major Italian holiday on Wednesday, Ferragosto, and traffic would have been heavier than usual as many Italians traveled to beaches or mountains.

Photos published by ANSA on its website showed a huge gulf between two sections of the highway.

Video captured the sound of a man screaming: "Oh god, oh, god." Other images showed a green truck that had stopped on the bridge just meters (yards) short of the gaping hole in the bridge.

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a tweet that he was "following with great apprehension what seems like an immense tragedy."

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said some 200 fire fighters are responding to the accident. On Twitter he says "we are following minute by minute the situation of the bridge collapse in Genoa."

Shares in Atlantia, the toll road operator which runs the motorway, were suspended after falling 4.6 percent after news of the collapse.
LONDON - Britain's counter-terrorism police chief said investigators believe a man deliberately drove a car into pedestrians before crashing into barriers outside parliament on Tuesday and the arrested suspect was not cooperating with detectives.

"Our priority now is to formally establish the identity of the suspect and establish his motivation if we can. He is not currently cooperating," London Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu told reporters.

"Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method, and this being an iconic site, we are treating it as a terrorist incident."
GENEVA - The United States voiced deep suspicion on Tuesday over Russia's pursuit of new space weapons, including a mobile laser system to destroy satellites in space, and the launch of a new inspector satellite which was acting in an "abnormal" way.

Russia's pursuit of counterspace capabilities was "disturbing", Yleem D.S. Poblete, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, told the UN's Conference on Disarmament which is discussing a new treaty to prevent an arms race in outer space.

A Russian delegate at the conference dismissed Poblete's remarks as unfounded and slanderous.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday afternoon that if the calm on the Gaza border continues, the Kerem Shalom border crossing will be opened on Wednesday morning.

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After a situation assessment the defense minister held Tuesday with IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and other defense heads, it was also decided to also expand the fishing zone off the coast of the strip back to a distance of 9 miles from the shore.

Lieberman visits the Kerem Shalom crossing (Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Ministry of Defense)

If the quiet on the Gaza border that has prevailed since the beginning of the week is preserved until tomorrow morning, the Kerem Shalom crossing will be opened at 9am and the fishing zone will be expanded once again up to a distance of nine miles from the shore, Lieberman said at the conclusion of the meeting.

The opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, after three days of quiet, is intended to indicate to the population in Gaza that maintaining quiet is first and foremost an interest for Gazas residents, he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lieberman announced the closing of the Kerem Shalom crossing last month, as well as the cutting off fuel and gas supplies to the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire agreement was violated earlier that day when a rocket was fired into southern Israel. Medicines and food were, however, allowed to pass through the crossing.

Eight days later the crossing was partially reopened and some restrictions were eased, only to be closed two weeks ago after the situation at the Gaza border escalated yet again.

Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Photo: Reuters)

The renewed opening is part of an agreement reached between Hamas and Israel in ceasefire agreement brokered by Egyptian and UN envoy to the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, that was hammered out to put an end to weeks of border flare-ups and exchanges of fire.

Against this background, an Israeli official told the Los Angeles Times on Monday that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is "virtually done.

Hamas, meanwhile, continues to hold intensive discussions in Cairo and a delegation of Palestinian Liberation Organization heads will convene in Ramallah on Wednesday to discuss the matter.

At the beginning of the week, a delegation of senior Hamas officials met in Cairo to discuss the situation in Gaza and ways to alleviate the crisis gripping the coastal enclave.

The plan included calming tensions with Israel and implementing a reconciliation deal with its rival Fatah party that reins in the West Bankan agreement that was signed at the end of 2017 but crumbled shortly after.
The Russian military said Tuesday that its forces in Syria will help UN peacekeepers fully restore patrols along the volatile frontier between Syria and the Israeli Golan Heights.

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The Russian deployment in the area has highlighted Moscow's growing clout in the region, marking a successful attempt to balance the sharply conflicting interests of Israel and Iran.

"The Russian flag is the guarantor of peace and security on that land," said Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko. He noted that Russian and Israeli officials have maintained regular communications, adding that "operations by Russian military police help ensure the security of Israel."

UN peacekeepers observing border from Israeli side (Photo: EPA)

Kuralenko said that the Russian military police have set up four checkpoints on the edge of the demilitarized zone and plan to add another four.

"The Russian military police work in close interaction with the UN," he said, adding that they have set up a hotline with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and held regular meetings to coordinate their actions.

Speaking to international reporters on a trip to the area organized by the Russian Defense Ministry, Kuralenko noted that a top priority for the Russian military police is to help clear mines left by militants. He said Russian forces have inspected the demilitarized zone and adjacent areas to help UNDOF map safe routes.

"We are offering all possible assistance to the UN mission to allow it to resume its operations in the demilitarized zone in full," Kuralenko said, adding that the Russian military police will be ready to leave once the UN mission fully takes charge.

The UN peacekeepers first deployed in the area in 1974 under a deal to separate Syrian and Israeli forces after Israel captured the Golan Heights in the Six-Day War, but they were driven away by al-Qaeda-linked militants in 2014. Russia-backed Syrian government forces have recently regained control of the area.

Kuralenko said most UN facilities in the area were heavily damaged during fierce fighting between al-Qaeda militants and Syrian government forces.

"The main problem is a large number of explosive objects left," he said. "We see our mission not only in clearing mines, but also in training local personnel. We are helping train Syrian military engineers so that they can do the job themselves."

By deploying its forces along the Syrian-Israeli frontier, Moscow has sought to assuage Israeli concerns about the Iranian presence in Syria.

Israel has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran, or its proxy Hezbollah militia, to establish a permanent presence in postwar Syria. Moscow, which has played a delicate diplomatic game of maintaining friendly ties with both Israel and Iran, warned that it would be unrealistic to expect Iran to fully withdraw from Syria.

But in a bid to accommodate Israel's security interests, Moscow announced two weeks ago that it struck a deal with Tehran to keep its fighters 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the Golan.

While Russia and Iran have teamed up in Syria to shore up President Bashar Assad's government, their interests don't always converge. Iran is loath to surrender any of its hard-won gains in Syria, but it can't afford a falling out with Moscow amid the continuing tensions with the US and the Saudis. Washington's withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal has made ties with Russia even more important for Tehran.
A study published by the Science and Global Security journal claims to be able to confirm that Israel conducted an illegal nuclear test over the Indian Ocean in 1979.

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On September 22, 1979 at 12:53am, an American satellite named Vela 6911 recorded a double flash near the Prince Edward Islands in the sub-antarctic Indian Ocean, located between Africa and the Antarctic.

The fact that a double flash could be a sign of a nuclear explosion is what contributed to the theory that a country had carried out a nuclear test there. Many experts said that this was an experiment carried out by Israel in cooperation with the Apartheid regime in South Africa.

Over the years, however, other hypotheses have been raised for the unusual flash, such as a meteor shower. International experts said that had this indeed been an Israeli nuclear test, it would have been a violation of both international and American law.

Former US President Jimmy Carter admitted in his memoirs that American officials at the time had speculated that it was an experiment carried out by Israel and South Africa.

The new research is headed by Christopher Wright of the Australian Defense Force Academy and Lars Erik de Geer, a former member of the Swedish Defence Research Agency.

The two claimed that in October and November of 1979, a few weeks after the Vela 6911 findings, traces of radioactive Iodine (I-131) had been discovered in several dead sheep in Australia.

According to the study, samples from the sheeps thyroid glands were sent for tests in the United States, but the test's results were never made public.

In their study, the researchers write that the findings may indicate that the sheep ate some of the grass in the area where nuclear fallout occurred when the September test was conducted.

According to the study, due to stormy weather in the region at the time, the fallout might have been scattered throughout many parts of Australia.

In their study, the researchers also analyze descriptions of an underwater sound wave that was monitored by an American listening station, simultaneously to the occurence of the double flash.

(Photo: Getty Image Bank)

The wave had been talked about in the past, and those who believe that the nuclear experiment indeed took place view it as evidence that reinforces their claim.

Following the findings, a nuclear weapons expert from the US, Leonard Weiss of Stanford University, wrote that the new evidence effectively removes any doubt about the occurrence of the nuclear test.

In the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Weiss emphasized that the circumstantial evidence that the experiment was carried out by Israel keeps growing.

"Israel is the only country that had the technical capability and the political motivation to conduct such a discreet experiment," Weiss wrote. His assertion is based on the assumption that in 1979 none of the major nuclear powers had the need to conduct a secret nuclear test.

Israel's Ambassador to New Zealand Itzhak Gerberg told the local New Zealand Herald newspaper the claims that Israel was the one responsible for the nuclear test "are simply ridiculous.